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Ex  LlBRIS 

The  Pennsylvania 

Horticultural  Society 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST, 

FOR  THE 

Farm,    Garden,    and   Houseliold. 


ORANGE     JVDIt,     A.M., 

EDITOR    AND    PROPRIETOR. 
Office,   41  Park  Row,    (Tin.es  Bulldir.E«0 

VOLUME  XXII— No. 


ESTABLISHED  IN  1842. 

Published  both  in  English  and  German. 

^p^VOKkTI^TJARY,    1863. 


$1.00    PEE  ANNUM,    IN  ADVANCE 

SINGLE  NUMBEK,  10  CENTS. 
For  Contents,  Terms,  etc.,  see  page  33. 


NEW  SERIES— No.  192. 


^,°  ./eacharH,     He  credited  to  **•»»  i**MVK 


Suggestions  and  Notes  for  the  Month. 


We  take  pleasure  in  beginning  our  work  for 
the  year  by  presenting  to  each  of  our  readers,  the 
•'Compliments  of  the  Season."    That  the  year 
now  opening  may  be  to  each  and  all  of  them  a 
"Hvtpy  New- Year,"  ia  our  earnest  wish.  May 
it  be  rendered  happy  from  the  beginning  to  the 
close— to  the  farmer  by  abundant  and  profitable 
returns  for  his  labors  in  the  field;  to  the  house- 
keeper by  a  diminution  of  anxious  care,  by  free- 
dom from  severe  illness  in  her  family,  by  suc- 
cess in  all  her  efforts  to  render  home  more  at- 
tractive, more  home  like,  than    ever  before; 
to  the  children  and  youth,  by  exemption  from 
sickness,  by  vigorous  growth  of  both  body  and 
mind,  and  by  improvement  in  their  habits  and 
morals;  to  our  common  country  by  the  return 
of  peace,  founded  upon  such  principles  as  shall 
render  that  peace  a  perpetual  one.— That  our 
readers  may  secure  the  happy  year  we  wish 
them,  we  shall  on  our  part  spare  no  labor  or 
thought.    "We  look  at  half  a  million  sheets  of 
pure°white  paper  already  in  store,  with  as  many 
more  to  be  added,  and  the   thought  comes    up 
that  all  of  these  are  to  be  covered  with  the  sym- 
bolic  marks   that  convey  ideas,   and  then    be 
scattered  broadcast  over  the  land.    May  we  be 
able  to  send  forth  such  words,   such  thoughts, 
such  hints  and  suggestions,  as  shall  be  best  cal- 
culated to  promote  the  pleasure  and  profit  of  all 
who  peruse  these  pages.-We  note  down  in 
these  first  columns  some  hints  which,  if  not  spe 
chilly  instructive,  will  at  least  serve  as  remind- 
ers of  work  to  be  done.   The  labors  of  the  month 
will  always  go  on  more  regularly,  and  be  better 
done,  if  a  well  digested  plan  be  laid  down.  Our 
first  hint  then  is:     Sit  down  with  paper,  and 
pen  or  pencil,  and  layout  the  work  for  Janu- 


•     What  must  be  done,  what   ought  to  be 
done,  how  much  can  be  done,  what  must  be 
done  the  first  week,  the  second,  and  so  on.  Into 
this  calculation  must  enter  the  probable   inter- 
ruptions and  delays.     This   and  the   following 
month  are  essentially  the  farmers'  resting  season, 
though  the  care  of  stock,  the  providing  of  a 
rear's  fuel  where  wood  is  burned,  the  unfinish- 
ed work  in  the  grain  department,   and  perhaps 
among  out-standing  corn,  especially  at  the  West, 
with  other  items  detailed  below,  will  keep  many 
farmers  pretty  fully  occupied.    It  is  well  to  re- 
member, however,  that '  a  bow  that  is   always 
bent  looses  its  elasticity;    so,  every  farmer  at 
least  should  at  this  season,  lay  on  some   extra 
muscle,  and  recruit  his  vigor  for  the  exhaustive 
labors  of  the  Spring,  Summer  and  Autumn. 
Work  for  the  Farm,  Household,  etc. 
Account  Keeping.  -  Some     system   of    keep- 
ing accounts  is  essential  to  the  best  success  of 
every  farmer.    A  sheet  or  two  of  paper  with  a 
debtor  and  creditor  side,  is  better  than  nothing. 
On  one  side  put  down  every  item  owed,  and  to 
whom-  and  on  the  other,  note  every  item  due. 
Sum  up  the  condition  of  your  wordly  posses- 
sions in  two  columns.    Every  day's  transactions, 
whether  cash  or  credit,  should  be  written  down 
with  the  date.    This  should  include  every  pur- 
chase for  ready  money,  or  on  time,  of  a  neigh- 
bor, or  at  the  store,  etc.    It  would  pay  well  to 
have  a  debt  and  credit  account  with  each  kind 
of  farm  labor,  with  each  field,  each  kind  of  ani- 
mals, of  family  expenses,  etc.     Such  accounts 
lead  to  thinking,  to  investigation,  to  carefulness. 
The  written  record  to  refer  to,  would  prevent 
not  a  few  of  such  scenes  as  are  portrayed  on 
uage  9     Skill  in  book-keeping  is  not  required ; 
"quail  tracks  on  paper,"  barely  plain  enough 
to  be  understood,  are  far  better  than  no  record. 
McKn^-Replacing  a  shingle  on  the  roof  of 
the  house  or  barn  may  save  much  damage  from 
leakage.    Hundreds  of  roofs  fall  in  every  year 
from  accumulations  of  snow.    If  the  rafters  and 
covering  are  known  to  be  abundantly  strong,  no 
further  care  is  needed;  otherwise  remove  any 
extraordinary   deposits   of   snow.     A  wooden 
hoe  on.  the   end  of  a  long  pole  will  answer. 
An  extra  strip  of  wood,  or  of  listing,  on  the  win- 
dow or  door  casings  may  shut  out  much  cold. 
We  have  seen  a  man  using  half  his  spare  time 
in  cutting,  hauling,   and  carrying  in  wood   to 
keep  up  a  rousing  fire,  when  there  was  an  inch 
crack  under  the  outer  door  that  let  in   cold 
air  enough  to  use  half  of  the  heat  produced.  An 
hour  in  stopping  that  crack  would  have  saved 
•forty  hours  spent  at  the  wood  pile,   and  added 
greatly  to  the  comfort  of  the  house.     He  "saved 
at   the    tap    and   wasted    at  the   bung-hole. 
Better  spend  one  day  in  stopping  up  the  cracks, 
than  ten  in  keeping  up  the  fire.     Some  time 
since  we  showed  how  cotton  was  worth  $iu  a 
pound ;  a  pound  of  it  in  the  cracks  and  crevices 
shut  out  more  cold  than  $10  worth  of  fuel  could 


drive  out We  repeat  last  month's  hint,  that 

the  less  outside  protection  a  man  or  animal  has, 
the  more  food  must  he  consume  to  keep  up  the 
internal  fire.    Make  not  only  the  house,  but  *ho 
stalls,  the  sheds,  and  the  styes,  warm ;  mak      >e 
animals  comfortable,  and  far  less  food  will    >e 
needed.  A  double  floor  or  a  warm  cellar  under- 
neath will  also  save  fuel  and  food,  and  proa  >te 
health.     See  "  Children  on  the  Floor,"  page  !1. 
Cattle.— In  brief,  make  them  comfortable ;  they 
will  look  better,  feel  better,  eat  less,  be  more 
healthy,  and  be  worth  far  more  in  Spring.  Every 
animal   should  have  some  shelter  from  wind, 
rain,  and  snow.  If  not  a  stall,  then  a  good  shed 
If  on  a  new  farm  on  the  prairie,  where  tim- 
ber is  yet  too  scarce  and  costly  for  your  means, 
a  rail  pen  covered  around  and  above  with  straw 
or  stalks,  will  well  pay  for  its  cost,  in  the  better 
condition  and  growth  of  the  animals.    If  water 
is  scarce,  better  melt  snow  over  the  fire  than  to 
compel  them  to  eat  snow.    Extra  fuel  (food) 
must  be  supplied  to  keep  up  the  fire  in  their 
bodies,  if  snow  is  melted  there.     The  extra  di- 
gestion required  for  this,   detracts  from  health, 
vigor,  and  growth.    Remember  the  salt  rations 
atleast  twice  a  week.     That  weak  animal  will 
continue  a  "runt,"  if  kept  from  a  full  supply  of 
food  and  from  shelter,  by  another  overbearing 
animal.    Give  it  some  protecting  division  line. 
Cellars.— Fowl  air  breeds  decay.    All  rubbish, 
or  rotting  vegetables  should  be  removed.    Fam- 
ilies living  in  a  new  or  swampy  country  suffer 
from  malaria ;  decaying  vegetables  in  the  cellar 
send  up    similar  gases  through  the  house  or 
barn  cellar.    If  damp,  a  few  boards  or  straw  on 
the  bottom,  to  walk  on,  may  save  wife  a  cold, 
perhaps  a  fit  of  sickness,  if  she  goes  there  often 
from  a  warm  room,  with  thin  shoes  on.   Ven- 
tilate as  often  as  the  weather  will  permit,  but 
stop  out  the  thief  Jack  Frost,  with   an   extra 
bank  of  earth  or  tan  bark,  if  the  walls  be  not 
amply  thick  and  impervious.    An  hour's  frost 
may  destroy  the  products  of  weeks  of  toil.    A 
coat  of  whitewash,  put  on  the  walls  and  ceiling 
even  now,  will  promote  neatness  and  sweetness, 
and  save  the  necessity  of  an  extra  light,  if  the 
windows  be  deficient  or  in  part  covered.    The 
best  windows  are    those  with    double    glass, 
half  an  inch  to  an  inch  apart,  and  the  sash  on 
hinges.     Room  may  be  saved  by  having  the 
sash  hung  at  the  top  to  swing  up  to  a  hook. 

Coite.-See  hints  on  page  U.  Care  in  breed- 
ing and  in  feeding  also,  has  produced  our  im- 
proved horses.  Stinted  colts  make  stunted  hors- 
es By  means  of  good  nourishing  food,  jsot  over- 
graining,  you  may  develop  lug  mmrtes,  strong 
bones,  capacious  healthy  lungs,  and  turn  out  I, 
far  more  valuable  horse  for  any  kind,  of  wo;  k. 


Club  Meetings.— Farmers  need  the  benefit  of 
these  more  than  any  other  class.  Mechanics, 
merchants,  and  business  men  generally,  come 
more  in  contact ;  their  ideas  are  rubbed  up  bright 


344 


» 


2 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[January, 


by  practice ;  they  learn  from  each  cither's  methods  ; 
they  talk  more  about  their  work  and  the  best  way 
of  doing  it,  than  farmers  who  are  separated  from  con- 
stant intercouse  by  their  broad  acres.  The  meet- 
ings for  social  chat  about  farm  matters  held  at  the 
school  house,  or  from  house  to  house,  are  of  great 
utility.  No  one  ever  attended  such  a  meeting  with- 
out carrying  home  some  new  hint,  or  having  anew 
train  of  thought  started.  Too  much  formality,  too 
long  a  constitution  and  bye-laws,  are  to  be  avoided. 
The  more  familiar,  conversational  they  are,  the 
better.  Every  neighborhood  in  which  they  arc 
held  will  be  beuetitcd,  and  their  effects  will  be  seen 
not  only  in  greater  crops,  better  roads,  tidier  farms, 
and  better  stock,  but  in  healthier,  and  happier  in- 
habitants. Especially  should  the  young  men  be 
induced  to  take  part  in  these  meetings  :  they  should 
be  taught  that  agriculture  is  ever  progressive,  and 
that  he  who  does  not  keep  pace  with  it,  must  be, 
like  Tim  Bunker's  neighbor,  Jake  Frink,  always 
"  runuin  astarn."  (See  Dec.  Agriculturist,  page  364.) 

Hogs. — Those  to  be  slaughtered  will  lay  on  fat 
all  the  faster  for  being  kept  warm.  Those  having 
large  numbers  fattening  on  the  western  prairies  may 
hasten  their  plans  and  save  corn,  by  providing  good 
nests,  if  not  in  warm  pens,  then  among  the  stalks, 
or  in  straw  heaps.  It  will  pay  to  dig  pits  for  them  in 
the  ground,  covering  with  straw  or  sheltering  to 
shut  out  cold  and  storms.  Feed  the  lighter  grains 
and  soft  corn  first,  finishing  off  always  with  good 
sound  corn.  Experience  proves  that  it  pays  well  to 
grind  and  steam  hog  food.— Store  hogs,  those  kept 
over,  will  at  the  East,  almost  pay  for  their  board  in 
making  manure,  if  rightly  managed.  See  rules  for 
making  "  Prime  Pork,"  on  another  page.  Supply 
them  plentifully  with  coarse  litter,  forest  leaves, 
straw,  etc.,  and  they  will  manufacture  a  valuable 
fertilizer  without  the  help  of  machinery,  without 
the  help  of  an  overseer,  even  without  instructions. 
Give  fattening  hogs  plenty  of  cooked  food,  and  pro- 
vide good  shelter  for  all. 

Horses. — Avoid  sprains  and  hoof  diseases  from 
frozen  ground,  or  snow  and  mud  slush,  by  prompt 
and  careful  shoeing;  prevent  coughs  and  colds  by 
comfortable  blanketing  when  standing  in  cold  winds 
and  promote  general  health  by  just  enough  of  good 
food,  and  by  comfortable,  clean,  light,  and  ventilated 
stables,  and  frequent  cleaning  aud  rubbing 

Humbugs. — Look  out  for  them.  They  always 
come  upon  one  unawares  in  a  new  and  attractive 
garb — golden-tinged.  When  anything  is  offered  as- 
tonishingly cheap,  look  out  for  a  eat  in  the  meal, 
especially  if  it  is  au  article  with  which  you  are  not 
familiar.    See  notes  elsewhere. 

Ice. — Get  in  a  full  supply  as  soon  as  sufficiently 
thick  and  solid.  In  the  belter  preservation  of  food 
in  hot  weather,  aud  in  case  of  sickness  alone,  it  may 
be  worth  its  full  cost,  to  say  nothing  of  the  luxury 
of  having  at  hand  a  supply  of  "  pickled  coolness  " 
iu  midsummer  weather.  Ice  is  not  difficult  to  keep. 
A  rough  shed  about  18  feet  square  aud  10  or  12  feet 
high,  well  roofed  and  out  of  the  sun,  with  enough 
of  clean  saw-dust  to  fill  in  five  or  six  inches  thick 
between  the  ice  and  the  boards,  and  also  to  cover  it 
well,  will  preserve  enough  ice  for  a  season's  sup- 
ply for  an  ordinary  family.  If  the  shed  isnot  built, 
erect  the  frame  aud  cover  it ;  then  pack  in  the  ice 
in  freezing  weather,  and  sprinkle  on  water  enough 
to  fill  up  and  make  the  pile  a  solid  block.  Then 
commence  at  the  bottom  to  fasten  on  the  outside 
boards  and  fill  in  the  sawdust  as  the  boards  rise. 
A  double  frame  that  would  admit  of  «liding  the 
boards  in  between  the  posts,  would  enable  the  fil- 
ling to  be  done  in  this  way,  year  after  year. 

Implements. — There  may  be  a  scarcity  of  farm  la- 
borers during  the  coming  season,  and  those  who 
secure  the  best  labor-saving  implements  will  be  for- 
tunate. Though  these  can  not  all  be  practically 
testad  in  yViiU-.r,  it  is  well  to  be  on  the  lookout  for 
infora'-.iti  m  relative  to  them.  Visit  first  class 
farmers,  bring  up  the  subject  in  fanners'  club  meet- 
ings, and  read  agricultural  publications.  A  day  de- 
voted to  finding  an  implement  that  will  save  a 
week's  labor,  besides  paying  good  interest  on  its 
coat,  is  time  well  spent.    By  all  means  see  that 


those  already  on  hand  are  in  good  repair,  and  well 
preserved  from  rust,  rot  and  accident.  As  hither- 
to frequently  suggested  in  the  Agriculturist,  a  coat- 
ing of  three  parts  of  lard  and  one  of  rosin  melted 
together  and  rubbed  on  them,  will  prevent  iron  and 
steel  from  rusting. 

Munure.— Our  Westum  readers,  on  the  virgin 
soils,  where  organic  matter  yet  abounds,  usually 
skip  the  manure  articles.  Eastern  farmers,  on  the 
old  lands,  are  annually  learning  more  of  the  value 
of  good  manure.  A  few  loads  of  good  manure  per 
acre  will  often  double  a  crop  without  increasing  the 
other  expenses  of  preparing  the  gro.md,  seed,  aud 
cultivation.  Every  kind  of  animal  or  vegetable  mat- 
ter, from  the  dead  carcass,  to  the  black  earth  in  the 
woods  or  swamp,  will  by  decay  furnish  nutriment 
to  any  growing  crop.  The  compost  heap  is  the  gold 
mine  of  the  farm.  Into  this  heap,  let  every  hand- 
ful of  animal  droppings  go,  and  with  these  all  the 
vegetable  matter  possible,  the  leaves  from  the  for- 
ests and  elsewhere,  black  earth  from  the  woods  and 
swamps,  sods,  weeds,  etc.  The  heterogenous  mass, 
frequently  forked  over  and  well  rotted,  will  tell  on 
next  Summer's  crops.  See  article  on  covering  ma- 
nure, page  14. 

Marketing. — An  important  feature  in  successful 
farming  is  judicious  marketing.  Many  farmers 
must  sell  as  soon  as  possible,  but  it  is  desirable  to 
hifve  good  facilities  for  reaching  the  market,  and 
also  to  be  so  forehanded  as  not  to  be  obliged  to  sell 
when  fair  prices  can  not  be  obtained.  The  farmer 
can  then  watch  the  market  reports  aud  study  the 
probable  home  aud  foreign  supply  and  demand,  and 
determine  with  considerable  accuracy  when  it  is 
best  to  sell.  The  farmer  who  gets  $1  per  bushel  for 
his  wheat  realizes  double  the  profit  that  he  does 
who  only  gets  80  cents,  provided  the  cost  of  pro- 
ducing is  with  both  60  cents  per  bushel.  It  pays  to 
study  marketing  well,  and  also  to  prepare  aud  put 
up  iu  the  best  manner  all  perishable  produce,  such 
as  butter,  poultry,  fruit,  pork,  vegetables,  etc. 

Plow  heavy  soils  deeply,  in  mild  spells  of  weath- 
er, when  dry  enough,  and  thus  secure  the  benefits 
of  freezing  andsnow,  which  are  often  of  great  value. 

Poultrg  will  pay  for  good  housing,  feed,  and  care 
now.  Eggs  retail  here  in  the  city,  at  this  season, 
for  25  to  35  cents  per  dozen,  and  the  buying  price 
i6  correspondingly  high.  Give  the  fowls  gravel  and 
sand  to  scratch  in,  with  grain  aud  bits  of  meat.  A 
little  lime  or  powdered  oyster  shells,  vegetables, 
ashes,  and  plenty  of  pure  water  should  also  be  sup- 
plied. The  opinion  that  fowls  need  no  water,  leads 
to  the  prevalent  custom  of  leaving  them  to  get 
their  liquids  from  the  filthy  yard,  or  by  eating  snow 
aud  ice.  Give  the  fowls,  especially  the  laying  hens, 
a  constant  supply  of  clean  water. 

Moots  stored  in  cellars  or  in  pits  for  feeding  out, 
may  require  additional  protection  from  frost.  They 
need  some  ventilation,  otherwise  the  dampness 
from  evaporation  of  their  juices  which  is  continual- 
ly going  on,  will  make  the  surrounding  air  a  good 
conductor  of  heat,  and  they  may  be  frozen.  If  any 
are  decaying,  remove  them  at  once.  In  feeding,  give 
them  as  a  relish  with  dry  food,  rather  than  as  a  sta- 
ple article  of  diet. 

Seeds.  Keep  in  a  dry  and  cool  place,  away  from 
rats  and  mice;  these  are  particularly  fond  of  pump- 
kin and  squash  seeds.  A  little  care  now  will  save 
much  annoyance  at  planting  time.  Now  is  the 
time,  if  not  already  done,  to  get  ready  all  seed  need- 
ed in  Spring.     It  is  always  high  at  seeding  time. 

Sheep  need  a  few  roots,  turnips  or  potatoes,  daily, 
with  the  other  dry  food.  Do  not  suffer  them  to 
lose  flesh  uow.  Keep  sheep  separate  from  other 
animals,  liable  to  worry  or  injure  them.  It  is  not 
too  late  to  put  bucks  with  ewes  for  lambs  to  be 
dropped  during  the  first  of  June. 

Steers.  Commence  handling  while  young,  as  they 
are  then  more  within  one's  power,  and  readily  be- 
come accustomed  to  being  controlled.  Do  not  load 
them  heavily,  or  treat  them  harshly,  Give  them 
full  opportunity  to  learn  what  you  want  of  them, 
before  expecting  obedience. 


Wood.  Store  a  plentiful  supply  in  a  dry  place. 
The  finer  it  is  cut,  the  more  thbronghly  it  will  dry, 
the  quicker  it  will  boil  the  dinner,  and  the  better 
answer  every  good  purpose.  See  remarks  on  green 
and  dry  wood  in  November  Calendar. 


Orchard  and  Nursery. 

Not  much  active  work  can  be  done  in  this  de- 
partment the  present  month,  and  but  few  hints  are 
needed  in  this  month's  Calendar.  In  laying  out  the 
plans  for  the  year,  it  may  be  well  to  inquire,  whether 
more  trees  may  not  be  planted  with  profit.  Fruit 
trees  do  not  require  much  ground  the  first  five 
years,  and  When  they  do,  their  products  repay  the 
loss  of  surface.  How  much  does  it  cost  to  raise 
and  to  annually  tend  a  tree  that  in  a  few  years  will 
return  large  crops  of  apples  or  other  fruits  ?  It  will 
be  economy  to  now  look  up  and  engage  the  trees 
desired  in  Spring,  so  that  they  may  be  provided  for, 
and  ready  to  come  at  the  best  dates.  Most  of  the 
leading  nurserymen  have  catalogues  of  names  and 
prices,  which  they  furnish  free  to  applicants  inclos- 
ing a  stamp  for  postage.  See  valuable  list  of  pears 
on  page  17. 

"  A  penny  saved  is  earned."  A  single  day's  labor 
seasonably  and  judiciously  devoted  to  precautiou- 
ary  measures  in  the  Orchard  and  Nursery,  may  save 
both  money  and  vexation  of  spirit.  Domestic  ani- 
mals, rabbits,  mice,  strong  winds,  etc.,  are  ever  li- 
able to  produce  injury,  and  should  be  fully  guarded 
against.  Good  fences,  kept  in  good  repair,  are  the 
best  protection  against  domestic  animals,  but  these 
are  of  little  avail,  if  the  gates  are  left  open,  as  is 
often  the  practice  in  Winter.  Various  methods  are 
employed  to  protect  the  trunks  of  trees  from  the 
attacks  of  rabbits.  They  may  be  bound  with  pa- 
per near  the  base,  which  is  to  be  besmeared  with 
tar.  One  of  the  simplest,  easily  applied,  and  most 
effective  protections  of  the  base  of  the  trunks  of 
small  trees,  is  to  set  around  them  two  horse-shoe 
drain  tiles,  fasting  them  together  with  a  wire 
wouud  around.  Of  course,  neither  mice  nor  rabbits 
can  injure  trees  so  protected.  Dried  grasses  or 
weeds,  or  banks  of  snow  furnish  good  breeding- 
places  for  mice.  The  removal  of  the  rubbish,  and 
the  hard  tramping  of  deep  snow  around  the  trunk 
should  be  attended  to  when  mice  are  troublesome. 

Occasional  attention  should  be  given  to  staking 
and  tying  up  trees  swayed  by  strong  winds. 

Cious  for  grafting,  and  cuttings  for  propagation 
may  be  made  in  January  or  February  before  the 
sap  starts.  Put  them  in  boxes  of  barely  moist  sand 
or  earth,  in  a  cool  part  of  the  cellar.  They  will 
thus  keep  well  for  months.  Cut  these  from  thrifty, 
well  matured  wood  of  last  season'6  growth. 

Drainage  is  quite  as  important  for  fruit  trees,  as 
for  farm  crops.  Trees  standing  in  a  wet,  damp  soil 
are  injured  by  freezing,  and  the  soil  is  cold  and 
damp  all  the  year.  No  water  should  stand  in  hol- 
lows around  the  trees.  A  deep  drain  run  near  a 
fruit  tree  often  acts  like  magic  upon  its  growth  and 
fruit  bearing.  In  open  weather  this  month,  new 
drains  may  be  opened  to  advantage. 

Large  fruit  trees  and  deciduous  (leaf  shedding) 
shade  trees  may  be  moved  with  convenience  and 
safety  during  the  coldest  weather,  by  cutting  out 
and  taking  up  around  the  roots  a  considerable 
mass  of  frozen  earth.  We  assisted  in  successfully 
moving  a  shade  tree  two  feet  in  diameter.  A  deep 
channel  was  cut  around  the  trunk  at  the  distance 
of  4  to  5  feet.  The  frozen  mass  was  dug  underneath, 
and  boards  worked  under,  with  one  end  on  the  sur- 
face. Bundles  of  trees  were  placed  around  the 
bark  to  protect  it,  which  were  held  in  place  with 
a  heavy  chain,  to  this  were  attached  three 
yokes  of  oxen.  A  dozen  ropes  from  the  branches 
on  every  side,  to  steady  the  tree  aud  keep  it  up- 
right, were  held  by  several  neighbors,  who  volun- 
teered to  assist.  The  tree  was  slid  along  on  boards 
and  planks  laid  down,  and  it  was  thus  moved  some 
50  feet  into  a  new  hole,  and  loose  soil  packed 
in  around  the  frozen  earth.  A  large  heap  of  stones 
put  on,  kept  it  from  blowing  over  during  t]je  first 
year.    The  tree  grew  and  flourished,  as  if  nothing 


:■: 


1863.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


had  happened  to  it.  Smaller  trees  may  be  read- 
ily moved  without  so  much  labor. 

Stakes  and  labels  should  be  prepared  in  Winter. 
Some  recommend  to  make  them  more  durable  by 
soaking  them  in  a  solution  of  1  lb.  of  blue  vitriol 
in  3  gallons  of  water.  Straight  grained  pine,  sawed 
into  suitable  lengths,  and  split  and  whittled  smooth, 
are  the  simplest  and  most  easily  made.  A  notch  is 
required  on  both  sides  of  one  end,  to  tie  by.  A 
little  thick  white  paint,  rubbed  on  with  a  cloth  be- 
fore marking,  preserves  them,  makes  the  letters 
more  visible,  and  the  paint  fastens  the  pencil  marks. 

Those  intending  to  plant  trees  next  Spring,  are 
recommended  to  excavate  large  holes  uow  (if  not 
already  done)  where  trees  are  to  be  set.  The  frost 
and  snow  greatly  ameliorate  the  subsoil.  Besides 
this  benefit,  important  time  in  the  busy  season  is 
gained.  It  pays  well,  at  least  on  heavy  soils,  to 
expose  the  Subsoil  of  the  whole  area  of  the  new 
orchard,  in  Winter,  to  the  action  of  snow  and  frosts. 


Kitelien   aud    Fruit  Garden. 

In  northern  localities  the  ground  is  either  frozen 
or  covered  with  snow  so  that  but  little  can  be  done 
during  the  present  month.  Still,  the  garden  should 
occasionally  be  visited  to  see  that  all  is  going  on 
well.  If  water  stands  on  any  places  occupied  by 
crops  it  should  be  removed  by  surface  drains,  if  uu- 
derdrains  be  not  practicable  at  once.  See  that  fences 
are  tight  and  gates  properly  fastened,  to  all  enclo- 
sures containing  fruit  trees  and  shrubs.  A  hungry 
stray  animal  will  do  irreparable  injury  in  a  few 
hours  if  allowed  to  enter  the  garden.  Much  can  be 
done  in  planning  to  facilitate  Spring  work.  Every 
garden  of  moderate  dimensions  should  be  mapped 
at  leisure,  and  all  projected  alterations  or  im- 
provements indicated.  The  place  for  all  the  main 
crops  should  be  marked  upon  the  map.  It  is  quite 
important  to  have  a  regular  rotation  of  crops,  there 
fifing  scarcely  any  vegetable,  save  onions,  that  suc- 
ceeds well  on  the  same  ground  year  after  year.  In 
arranging  the  planting  map,  those  plants  liable  to 
mix  should  be  put  as  far  apart  as  possible;  this  is 
especially  important  for  squashes  and  melons  and 
the  different  varieties  of  sweet  corn.  In  open  weath- 
er the  grouud  may  still  be  plowed  if  not  too  wet. 

Sean  poles,  Stakes'-ot  all  kinds,  Pea  Brush,  etc. 
Now  is  the  best  time  to  get  a  good  supply.  If  left 
until  Spring  work  begins,  it  is  very  apt  to  be  hur- 
riedly done  or  neglected.  If  the  lower  ends  of  the 
poles  be  soaked  in  a  solution  of  lib.  of  blue  vitriol  in 
13  quarts  of  water  they  will  be  more  durable.  White 
birch,  where  obtainable  makes  good  pea  brush. 

Cold  Frames. — Protect  in  severe  weather  by  straw 
mats  covered  by  boards  or  shutters.  A  covering  of 
6now  helps  protect  the  plants.  In  mild  weather 
ventilate  and  let  the  plants  have  light. 

Cuttings  of  Currants,  Gooseberries,  etc.  If  these 
were  not  made  in  Autumn,  secure  a  supply  now,  at 
times  when  they  are  not  frozen.  Bury  them  in 
moist  but  not  wet  sand  or  soil,  in  boxes  in  the  cel- 
lar. They  may  be  buried  in  the  cellar  bottom,  if 
moderately  dry  ground. 

Sot-Bed  Frames  and  Sashes.— Old  ones  should  be 
put  in  order  and  new  ones  made  or  purchased. 
Every  garden  should  have  a  hot-bed ;  they  are  cheap- 
ly constructed  and  easily  managed  by  any  one  of 
ordinary  intelligence.  Almost  all  kinds  of  vegetables 
are  easily  obtained  some  weeks  earlier.  The  sash 
should  be  six  feet  long,  and  wide  enough  to  con- 
tain 4  rows  of  7x9  glass.  The  sides  of  the  sash 
should  be  heavy  enough  to  prevent  springing ;  this 
may  be  obviated  by  an  iron  rod  secured  midway 
across  the  sash.  Unless  one  is  a  very  clever  work- 
man, it  will  be  found  cheapest  to  purchase  the  sash 
ready  glazed.  The  glass  should  lap  about  %  of  an 
inch  and  be  well  secured  by  points  and  putty  at  the 
sides.  No  putty  is  required  where  the  panes  over- 
lap. The  frames  should  be  made  of  plank,  firmly 
nailed  together.  They  may  be  one  foot  high  in 
trout  and  two  feet  high  at  the  rear,  and  of  a  length 
suitable  for  two  or  three  sashes  if  so  many  are  used. 

Seeds. — Examine  the  supplies  on  hand,  and  see 
that  they  are  safe  from  mice.    Note  the  kinds  which 


it  will  be  necessary  to  purchase  and  examine  seeds- 
men's catalogues.  Experienced  persons  can  judge 
of  the  quality  of  seeds  by  inspection ;  where  there 
is  any  doubt,  it  is  safer  to  test  them  before  purchas- 
ing a  supply.  Placed  in  earth  or  sand,  not  too  wet, 
in  a  warm  room,  they  will  soon  germinate  if  good. 

Tools. — See  that  all  are  in  good  repair  and  care- 
fully housed.  One  man  with  good  tools  will  do  as 
much  work  as  two  men  with  poor  tools,  yet  the 
difference  in  the  cost  may  be  less  than  the  expense 
of  a  very  few  days'  work. 


Flower  Garden   ami  Lawn. 

If  any  improvements  are  to  be  made  here,  let  the 
plan  be  well  considered  and  placed  upon  paper  so 

as  to  be  worked  from When  snow  accumulates 

on  evergreens,  a  slight  jarring  will  throw  it  off  and 

prevent  their  being  broken   down Walks  and 

carriage  drives  may  be  made  during  mild  weather. 
Dry  walks  should  be  secured  by  placing  a  drainage 
of  coarse  stones  below  the  gravel.. .  .Prepare  an 
abundance  of  neat  labels  and  stakes,  in  anticipa- 
tion of  the  busy  season Flower  pits  should  be 

allowed  air  freely  when  the  temperature  is  not  too 
low.  Give  water  sparingly  if  the  soil  is  very  dry ; 
keep  them  carefully  closed  and  covered  during  very 

cold  weather.    Look  out  for  mice If  trees  are  to 

be  planted  in  the  Spring,  holes  may  be  made  now 
whenever  the  ground  is  open.  The  frost  will  g  reat- 
ly  ameliorate  the  soil  and  fit  it  for  the  reception  of 
roots.  Large  trees  may  be  moved  with  a  ball  of 
frozen  earth,  as  suggested  under  Orchard  above. 


Green  and  Hot-IE onscs. 

Care  and  judgment  will  be  required  to  maintain 
a  proper  temperature.  Listing  the  cracks  and  put- 
ting on  shutters  in  very  cold  weather,  will  save  a 
large  amount  of  wood  or  coal — the  latter  an  import- 
ant matter  at  its  present  price.  Iu  the  Green-House, 
where  but  little  or  no  growth  is  desired,  the  tem- 
perature should  be  kept  between  40°  and  50°.  In 
the  Hot-House  the  range  should  be  from  65-°  to  70°, 
and  moisture  of  atmosphere  and  other  conditions  of 
rapid  growth  maintained.  Look  alter  ample  ven- 
tilation when  the  out-door  temperature  is  not  low, 
and  arrange  for  plenty  of  light.  The  importance 
of  light    is  not    always    apparent   to  novitiates. 

Azaleas  require  water  as  they  increase  in  growth. 
*  Bulbs. — Those  desired  to  bloom  soon  are  to  be 
transferred  from  the  Green-House  to  the  Hot-House, 
where  the  higher  temperature  will  favor  their  rapid 
growth.     Change  water  in  glasses  every  two  weeks. 

Calceolarias. — Re-pot  those  needing  it.  Turn  fre- 
quently, presenting  all  sides  equally  to  the  light  to 
induce  upright  growth. 

Camellias  should  now  delight  the  lovers  of  the 
beautiful,  with  a  flue  bloom.  Water  and  syringe 
foliage  every  three  or  four  days,  but  avoid  wetting 
the  flowers,  as  this  will  hasten  their  decay. 

Carnations,  etc. — Set  cuttings  to  provide  plants 
for  early  Summer  bloom  iu  the  open  air.  Stake 
those  iu  bloom,  and  water  frequently.  Those  be- 
coming pot-bound  need  shifting  to  larger  pots. 
Cuttings  also  of  petunias,  verbwnas,  pelargoniums, 
etc.,  for  bedding  out  iu  Spring,  may  now  be  made. 
Those  planted  last  mouth  are  ready  to  pot  off. 

Fuchsias. — Re-pot  growing  plants.  The  imperfect 
ones  will  answer  well  for  cuttings. 

Grapes. — Those  well  advanced  require  plenty  of 
air  and  but  little  water  at  the  roots.  If  mildew  ap- 
pear, syringe  with  water  in  which  a  little  sulphur  is 
spriukled.     Thiu  out,  and  prune  if  needed. 

Insects. — Guard  against  them  as  much  as  possible, 
by  cleanliness,  washing  or  syringing  foliage,  hand 
picking,  etc.  If  they  appear,  use  tobacco  fumes 
for  thrips  or  green  fly,  soap  and^water  for  scale,  and 
clear  water  with  sponge  or  syringe,  for  red  spider. 

Manure. — Stimulate  growiug  plants  every  two 
weeks  or  so  with  dilute  liquid  manure,  until  plants 
are  about  to  bloom,  then  discontinue. 

Oranges,  Lemons,  Oleanders,  and  Myrtles  should 


now  be  put  in  a  situation  to  favor  a  moderate  growth. 
Clean  their  trunks  and  branches  from  insects. 

Peach,  Nectarines,  Figs,  and  other  fruit  trees  In 
pots,  should  now  have  a  warm  growing  position, 
and  re-potting  if  needed.  Give  liquid  manure  occa- 
sionally, and  look  for  fruit  the  latter  part  of  June. 

Soil. — Have  a  supply  ready  for  use  where  it  will 
not  freeze.  Directions  for  its  preparation  have 
been  frequently  given  in  previous  numbers. 

Seeds  of  many  hardy  annuals  may  now  be  sown 
for  transplanting  early  to  open  air  borders. 

Water  will  be  needed  frequently  this  month,  es- 
pecially in  those  houses  requiring  considerable 
heat.  A  mere  sprinkling  of  the  surface  is  not  suf- 
ficient. It  is  well  to  piunge  the  whole  pot  into  the 
water  tank  if  the  foliage  begins  to  wilt.  Fire  beat 
often  dries  the  earth  in  the  bottom  of  the  pot  when 
the  surface  is  moist.  Keep  a  tank,  cistern,  or  bar- 
rel, always  full  of  water  in  the  house  itself,  that  it 
may  be  of  the  same  temperature. 


Apiary  in  January. 

This  is  a  period  of  inactivity  iu  the  hives.  For 
those  out  of  doors  little  can  be  done  except  to  se- 
cure proper  ventilation,  which  is  quite  as  neces- 
sary now  as  at  other  seasons,  and  to  guard  against 
the  depredations  of  mice.  Ice  may  chance  to  'lose 
every  aperture  and  the  bees  be  smothered.  If  mild 
weather  occurs,  and  the  frost  leaves  the  hives,  they 
may  be  lifted  to  allow  the  removal  of  dead  bees 
and  accumulated  filth.  Mice  and  other  vermin  may 
be  kept  out  by  closing  the  openings  with  wire 
cloth,  leaving  a  hole  large  enough  for  the  passage 
of  a  single  bee.  When  snow  covers  the  hives  let  it 
remain,  if  proper  care  has  been  taken  to  keep  out 
the  mice.  While  the  sun  should  be  allowed  to  fall 
upon  the  hives  in  very  cold  weather,  they  should 
be  shaded  during  the  warm  spells.  The  bees  may 
be  tempted  to  fly  during  mild  days,  and  may  be  al- 
lowed to  do  so  unless  the  ground  is  covered  with 
recently  falleu  snow.  Bees  that  are  housed  require 
but  little  attention,  and  should  not  be  disturbed 
any  more  than  is  necessary  to  make  sure  that  they 
are  secure  from  the  attacks  of  vermin. 


Seasonable  Directions  for  Mess  Pork. 


The  following  standard  rules,  known  as  "Getty's 
Directions"  are  those  given  for  putting  up  Prime 
Mess  Pork,  to  meet  the  requirements  of  the  English 
market.  They  are  also  adopted  and  made  impera- 
tive, in  the  contracts  given  out  for  Army  Sup- 
plies by  the  United  States  Government. 

Quality  and  Weight  of  Pigs. — The  Pigs  to  weigh 
from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  sixty  pounds  each, 
and  to  be  in  good  condition,  strictly  corn-fed  or  hard  Pork. 
For  the  United  Stales  army  lite  weight  may  be  extended 
to  one  hundred  and  seventy  pounds. 

Parts  excluded.- The  head  Is  to  be  excluded,  also 
the  fore  leg  up  to  the  breast  or  brisket,  the  hind  leg  in- 
cluding the  hock  or  gambrel  joint,  and  the  rump,  if  the 
hams  are  not  cut  up  with  the  sides. 

What  constitutes  a  Barbel  op  Prime  Mess. — A  bar- 
rel of  Prime  Mess  Pork  consists  of  fifty  pieces  of  four 
pounds  each.  If  the  hams  are  cut  up  am!  put  in,  there 
shall  not  be  less  than  twenty-three  side-pieces;  if  with- 
out hams,  not  less  than  thirty  side-pieces. 

How  to  Cut  and  Cure.  —  After  the  Pig  has  been  split 
through  the  back,  cut  each  side  longitudially  into  two 
strips  :  pack  the  strips  into  large  casks  or  vats,  and  fill  up 
with  brine,  having  saltpeter  attded  at  the  rate  of  one  ounce 
to  three  gallons<ir»f  brine;  leave  the  strips  in  the  biine 
for  eight  or  ten  days  to  extract  the  blood,  and  for  the  lean 
meat  to  take  a  pink  color. 

When  ready  to  he  packed  into  barrels,  have  each  strip 
carefully  cleaned,  using  a  knife  and  brush  if  necessary  ; 
cut  thern  into  four-pound  pieces  as  nearly  as  may  be: 
Mess  (select  the  pieces)  as  indicated,  and  pack  neatly  and 
compactly  in  layers,  with  sufficient  salt  to  preserve  it. 

Barrels. — The  barrel  should  be  twenty-eight  inches 
long,  and  seventeen  and  a  half  inches  over  the  end  (when 
finished,)  made  of  seasoned  white  oak  free  from  sap.  full 
bound  with  hickory  or  white  oak  hoops,  and  one  iron 
hoop  (one  inch  wide)  on  each  end  next  below  the  chine 
hoop. 

Theory  of  Messing. — Pigs  averaging  say  one  hundred 
and  forty-five  pounds,  will  work  up  in  messing  about  us 
follows:  When  the  side,  Including  the  ham,  Is  cut  up 
there  will  be  twenty-three  or  twenty-four  pieces  of  side- 
meat,  eight  pieces  of  ham  and  saddle,  and  eighleen  or 
nineteen  of  shoulder  and  neck  to  the  barrel  ;  excluding 
the  hams,  the  number  of  side-pieces  will  he  increased  to 
thirty-one  or  thirty-fwo.  In  no  case  should  there  be 
more  than  six  pieces  of  the  leg  part  of  the  shoulder  put 
Into  a  barrel. 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[January, 


Seeds  for  Tree  Distribution  to  all  Subscri- 
bers for  1863  (Vol.  22.) 

See  General  Remarks  on  Page  8,  ajul  the  Descriptive 
Notes  below. 

Ecery  subscriber  to  the  Agriculturist  for  1888,  is  invited  to 
select  three  or  four  parcels  of  seeds  from  the  list  below. 

These  seeds  lire  all  valuable.  Of  the  63  kinds  offered, 
many  are  comparatively  new  varieties,  but  we  iuclude  some 
common,  useful  sorts  for  convenience  of  tliose  without  access 
to  good  seeds. 

Most  of  them  are  annuals  (reproducing  seed  the  first  sea- 
son), and  in  all  cases  there  will  be  enough  to  yield  a  supply 
of  seed  for  future  use.  Our  aim  Is,  to  furnish  the  germs  of  fu- 
ture abuudance  in  each  locality  where  these  seeds  go. 

Many  of  these  seeds  were  grown  by  ourselves,  the  past 
year;  the  others  are  obtained  of  the  best  growers.  The 
distribution  will  begin  In  February.  A  description  is  given 
In  the  next  columns. 

Mode  of  Distribution.— The  Beeds  may  be  called 
forattheofflce,  after  March  1.,  or  be  applied  for  by  mall  at 
any  time  now,  to  be  forwarded  as  soon  as  ready.  The  post- 
age is  only  1  cent  per  ounce  under  1500  miles  ; 
and   3  cents  per  ounce  when  over   1500  miles. 

Those  sending  for  seeds  to  be  forwarded  by  mail,  will 
please  carefully  observe  the  following 

DIRECTIONS— (1)  Select  from  the  list  below,  any  three 
or four  parcels  desired,  and  write  plain  ly  on  a  slip  of  paper  the 
numbers  (only)  of  the  kinds  of  seeds  wanted.  (These  num- 
bers are  used  on  our  seed  drawers,  seed  bags,  etc.) 

(£)  Enclose  the  slip  in  a  prepared  envelope— directed  in  full 
to  your  oicn  address  (not  John  Smith's),  and  put  on  it  post- 
age stamps  to  the  amount  of  one  cent  for  earn  ounce 
of  seeds  to  be  enclosed,  if  to  go  — 
under  1500  miles,  or  two 
cents  if  to  go  over  1500  miles. 

(Most  places  west  of  the  Mississippi 
river  are  over  1500  miles.)  N.B.— The 
total  amount  of  Btamps  required  can 


John  Smith, 
Albia, 


MlonroeCountyA 
Iowa.     ' 


be  reckoned  from  the  table  of  seed?  | 
below.  Any  fraction  over  even L 
ounces  will  need  an  extra  1-c.  or  two  1-cent.  stamps  accord- 
ing to  distance.  Forward  the  above  prepared  envelopes  to 
this  office,  in  a  letter,  and  the  seeds  will  be  enclosed  accord- 
ing to  the  numbers  on  the  slip.  To  save  postage,  let  there 
lie  no  marks  on  the  envelopes  except  the  address  and  stamps. 
About  2  ounces  will  go  in  a  common  sized  envelope. 

Field*  and  Vegetable  Garden  Seeds. 

No.  Weight  of  package, 

191— Mammoth  Millet About  one-half  ounce. 

lit— Darling's  Early  Sweet  Corn About  one  ounce. 

186— St o well's  Evergreen  Sweet  Corn..  .  About  one  ounce. 
187 — Conn.  Broad  Leaf  Tobacco. Less  than  one-eighth  ounce. 
188— Genuine  Havana  Tobacco. Less  than  one-eightti  ounce. 

8— Daniel  OTiourke  Pea About  one  ounce. 

9— Champion  of  England  Pea About  one  ounce. 

U9 — Green  Kohl  llabi ,. About  one-fourth  ounce. 

145 — Flat  Dutch  (Winter)  Cabbage. About  one-fourth  ounce. 
sj  18— Early  Sugar  Loaf  Cabbage;  ...About  one-fourth  ounce. 
199— Red  Dutch  Cabbage      .About  one-fourth  ounce. 

04 — Extra  early  Round  Turnip  Radish  ;  one-fourth   ounce. 

19— Ruund  Spinach About  one-half  ounce. 

14-7— Neapolitan  Cabbage  Lettuce.  .About  one-fourth  ounce. 
191— Improved  Long  Orange  Carrot  .About  one-half  ounce. 
149 — Extra  early  Bassano  Beet About  one-half  ounce. 

95— Hubbard  Saaash,  pure. About  one-fourth  ounce. 

193—  Fcjee  &  Italian  Red  Tomato.  .About  one-eighth  ounce. 

154 — Ice  Cream  Water  Melon About  one-eiglith  ounce. 

^17— Fine  Nutmeg  Melon About  one-eighth  ounce. 

194: — Hollow  Crown  Parsnip  About  one-fourth  ounce. 

153— Fine  Large  Cheese  Pumpkin    About  one-fourth  ounce. 

17— Red  Strap-Leaf  Turnip About  one-fourth  ounce. 

195— Early  Short  Horn  Carrot. ...  .About  one-fourth  ounce. 

196— Green  Curled  Kale About  one-fourth  ounce. 

198— Improved  Purple  Egg  Plant.  ..About  one-eighth  ounce. 
197— Linnaeus  Rhubarb About  one-half  ounce. 

Flower  and  Ornamental  Seeds* 

89— Cotton  Plant  (2  kinds,  mixed) One-half  ounce. 

Ill— Castor  Oil  LJean  .One-half  ounce. 

On  an  average  any  five  of  the  following  varieties  will  go 
under  one  1-cent  /stamp,  (or  two  stamp*  if  over  1500  miles.) 
200— Fancy  Gourds,  (mixed 


varieties)  (ha) 
33— Mignonette,  (ha) 
30-Tassel  Flower,  {ha) 
31— Chinese  Pink,  (ha) 
37— Beautiful  Zinnias,  (Mix- 
ed) (Art) 
49— Candytuft,  (ha) 
51— Dinmmond's  Phlox(Art) 
123— Gilia  nivalis,  (ha) 
124—  Whitlavia,  (ha) 
126— Long    tubed    Centran- 

thus,  (Art) 
164— S\\»;etscented      Agera- 

lum,  (Art) 
169— Clarkia  pulchella,  (ha) 
173— Mixed  Larkspur,  (ha) 
177— Graceful       Quaking 

Grass,  (ha) 
1H3—  Sweet  Alvssum,  (Art) 
183— Fine     Mixed     German 
Asters,  (Art) 


203— Mixed  G'n  Poppy,  (Art) 
204— Mixed  Fr'h  Poppy  (ha) 
305— Double  French    Mari- 


306— Golden  Straw  Flower, 

(everlasting)  (ha) 
310— Con  volvulus  minor,  (Aa) 
312— Fine  Sweet  Peas,  (Aa) 
219— Martvnia  in  oar.  (ha) 
220— Peril  fa  Nan  fclnenSiB(Aa) 
321— Striped  Mirabilis  (Aa). 

37— Cockscomb,  (/a) 
323— Convolvulus  variegata, 

(ta) 
316 — Acroclinium      roseum, 

(A  Aa) 
133— Mixed     Canterbury 

Bells,  (hb) 
170— Evening  Primrose,  (A6) 

43— Foxffcve,  (Ah) 
309— Dw'fBlueLarkspnr.(Ap) 
223— Mourning  Bride,  (hp) 


•(Art,)  hardy  annual;  (hha,)  half  hardy  annual;  (ta,)  tender 
annual;  ifthb.,)  half  hardy  biennial;  aft.)  tender  biennial; 
(hp,)  hardy  perennial;  (hhp,)  naif  hardy  perennial ; 
(tp,)  tender  perennial. 

Descriptive  Notes. 

The  notes  below  will  afford  some  information  upon  the 
character  and  cultivation  of  the  several  plants,  wherever 
,the  seeds  may  be  obtained,  and  they  should  be  preserved 
for  reference  in  the  Spring  planting  season.  More  full 
directions  for  the  culture  of  these  and  other  plants  will, 
of  course,  be  given  from  time  to  time,  in  separate  articles. 
The  Calendar  of  Operations,  from  month  to  month,  will 
also  suggest  the  time  of  sowing  or  planting.  Most  of  the 
field  seeds  are  necessarily  in  too  small  quantities  for  a 
crop,  but  with  a  little  care  In  culture  each  parcel  will  pro- 
duce  a  fair  supply  for  a  good-sized  crop  the  next  year. 
To  avoid  confusion,  and  save  lime  by  system,  we  shall  no£ 


begin  the  mailing  until  all  seeds  and  parcels  are  ready, 
say  the  latter  part  of  February,  except  those  sent  to  very 
distant  points. 

For  brevity,  the  Numbers  are  always  used  in  putting  up 
and  sending  out  seeds,  and  subscribers  are  particularly 
desired  to  note  this  in  their  application.  To  avoid  confu- 
sion, we  use  anew  number  for  each  addition,  dropping 
the  numbers  of  any  seeds  previously  offered,  but  not  re- 
tained in  this  list. 

Field  and  Garden  Seeds. 

No.  8.— Daniel  O'Rourke  Pea.— An  early  sort  of  fair 
quality,  grows  2  feet  high,  and  may  be  eaten  in  40  or  45 
days  from  planting.  Sow  from  first  to  last  of  April,  ac* 
corcing  to  climate,  or  any  time  in  May  to  multiply  seed. 

No.  9. — Champion  of  England  Pea. — A  later,  tall- 
growing  variety.  One  of  the  very  best;  is  our  chief  de- 
pendence for  a  table  pea  through  the  season.  Sow  as  No. 
8,  or  at  intervals  until  Juiy,  if  seed  is  plenty. 

No.  12.— Green  Kohl  Rabi,  or  Cabbage  Turnip. — 
The  eatable  part  resembles  a  turnip,  and  grows  above 
ground.  Plant  early  in  May,  the  same  as  turnips,  and 
for  table  use  boil  the  bulbs  only  while  still  tender. 
This  is  largely  used  for  catttle  and  sheep  in  England. 

No.  17.— Red  Strap  Leaf  Turnip.— A  very  quick- 
growing  variety  of  the  flat  Dutch  sort,  with  a  reddish  or 
purple  top.  They  are  good  for  the  table,  while  growing, 
and  for  stock  during  Autumn  and  early  Winter.  Sow  in 
drills  from  the  first  of  April  to  August. 

No.  19. —Round  Spinach.— The  best  for  Spring  and 
Summer  greens.  Sow  in  good  soil  in  drills  15  inches 
apart  and  thin  to  8  inches  in  the  rows. 

No.  64.— Early  Turnip  Radish.— A  quick-growing 
round  sort,  crisp  and  sweet.  Sow  at  any  time  after  frost 
is  out  in  early  Spring,  and  at  intervals  until  September. 
If  the  early  sowings  are  allowed  to  go  to  seed,  a  second 
crop  may  be  raised  from  this  seed  the  same  season.  It 
always  reproduces  seed  the  first  year. 

Ns.  95.— Hubbard  Squash. — The  best  Winter  Squash 
we  have  tried.  Keeps  until  Spring.  Plant  middle  of  May. 
Color,  light  bluish  green,  hard  shell,  rich,  dry  flesh.  It  is 
good  also  for  Autumn  use,  even  when  cooked  green. 

No.  101. — Improved  Orange  Carrot. — A  fine  yellow 
variety,  suitable  for  the  table  and  for  stock.  Sow  early 
in  May,  on  deep,  rich  soil,  in  rows  15  to  18  inches  apart. 

No.  141. — Darling's  Early  Sweet  Corn. — We  have 
tried  many  other  sorts,  but  come  back  to  this,  as  combin- 
ing sweetness  and  early  maturity.  It  is  quite  small  in 
stalk  and  ear,  and  may  be  planted  in  hills  or  drills  2  to  1% 
feet  apart,  unless  other  crops  are  put  between  the  rows  to 
occupy  the  ground  after  this  is  out  of  the  way,  which  will 
be  before  mid-summer,  if  planted  early.  It  may  he 
planted  all  Summer  for  a  succession. 

No.  145.— Flat  Dutch  Cabbage.— A  Winter  sort  ex- 
tensively grown  for  market,  frequently  under  the  name 
of  *'  drumhead."  The  heads  are  large,  and  require  to  be 
2  feet  apart,  in  2,V  feet  rows. 

No.  147.— Neapolitan  Cabbage  Lettuce.— A  large 
solid  sort  which  has  proved  valuable.  Sow  at  any  time 
in  April,  May,  or  June,  covering  seed  lightly.  Leave  best 
plants  for  seed,  which  is  produced  the  same  season. 

No.  149.— Early  Bassano  Beet.— Fine  quick-growing, 
turnip-shaped  for  early  use.     Sow  in  drills  1  foot  apart. 

No.  152.— Large  Cheese  Pumpkin.— One  of  the  best 
for  general  culture.  A  large, flat,  cream-colored  variety, 
sweet,  and  good  Keeper.  Plant  middle  of  May,  allowing 
ample  space  for  them  to  run. 

No,  154.— Ice  Cream  Water  Melon.— One  of  the  best 
sorts,  sweet  and  tender.  Plant  in  open  ground  about  the 
middle  of  May  ;  can  be  started  earlier  in  hot-bed. 

No.  186.— Stowell's  Evergreen  Sweet  Corn. — A 
much  larger  variety  and  slower  grower  than  No.  141,  re- 
mains in  the  milk  a  long  time,  hence  called  evergreen. 
Good  for  later  table  use,  and  for  fall  drying.  If  to  be  ri- 
pened for  seed,  plant  early  ;  for  table  use,  from  May  15  to 
June  20,  hills  or  drills  %%  to  4  feet  apart. 

No.  187.— Connecticut  Seed-Leaf  Tobacco.— One 
of  the  best  for  Northern  culture.  A  thimble  full  of  seed 
will  furnish  plants  for  an  acre.  Sow  in  a  sheltered  seed- 
bed about  the  middle  of  April,  and  plant  out  middle  of 
June,  on  rich  dry  soil,  3  feet  apart  each  way,  or  3X  feel 
by  2  feet,  to  facilitate  working  with  a  horse  hoe.  For  after 
treatment,  see  last  volume  of  Agriculturist. 

No.  188.— Havana  Tobacco.— Treat  as  No.  187,  save 
that  it  requires  a  little  less  room. 

No.  191.— Mammoth  Millet.— An  annual,  very  pro- 
ductive in  seed  and  foliage.    Cut  green  it  makes  good 


hay,  or  left  to  ripen,  the  straw  is  good,  and  the  seed  val- 
uable for  slock  and  poultry.  Sow  thinly  half  an  inch 
deep,  at  any  time  in  May. 

No.  193. — Fejee,  Called  also  Italian  Tomato.— 
Large,  smooth  and  solid,  the  best  we  have  grown.  Sow 
in  hot-bed,  April  1st,  or  1st  of  May,  in  open  ground. 

No.  194.— Hollow  Crown  Parsnip.— A  large,  sweet 
variety,  with  a  depressed  crown.  Sow  in  deep,  rich  soil, 
early  in  May,  in  rows  18  inches  apart,  covering  lightly. 

No.  195. — Early  Short  Horn  Carrot. — A  fine  yellow 
variety  for  early  table  use.  Sow  in  light  soil,  last  of  April 
or  first  ot  May,  in  drills  1  foot  apart,  covering  lightly. 

No.  196. — Green  Curled  Kale  orBorecole. — A  kind 
of  cabbage  which  does  not  head.  The  whole  top  is  boiled 
for  greens,  usually  in  Spring,  as  it  bears  standing  out  over 
Winter,  with  (and  often  without)  a  slight  covering  of 
straw  or  brush.     Treat  the  same  as  late  cabbages. 

No.  197.— Linnaeus  Rhubarb.— Sow  in  deep  mellow 
soil  in  April  or  May,  covering  %  inch.  Keep  well  hoed, 
and  transplant  the  following  Spring  when  a  few  stems 
may  be  pulled  for  cooking.  A.  full  crop  can  not  be  had 
until  the  3d  year,  on  which  account  it  is  better  to  purchase 
and  plant  roots,  when  they  can  be  had.  It  furnishes  a 
fine  material  for  early  sauce  and  pies,  and  should  be  in 
every  garden.  We  have  a  fine  lot  of  pure  seed,  as  noted 
last  month.  In  a  few  instances  last  year's  seed  sent  out 
by  us,  appears  to  have  produced  new  varieties  that  may 
prove  even  an  improvement  upon  the  original  good  va- 
riety itself. 

No.  19?. — Purple  Egg  Plant.— Sow  in  a  hot-bed,  early 
in  April,  and  plant  out  18  inches  apart,  the  middleof  May, 
or  after  all  danger  of  frost  is  over.  It  is  still  better,  sown 
in,  or  transplanted  into  small  pots,  keeping  them  under 
glass  until  June,  when  they  may  be  transferred  to  the  soil, 
without  disturbing  the  roots. 

No.  199.— Red  Dutch  Cabbage.—  Highly  valued  for 
pickling  and  for  "  cold  slaw."  Heads  small,  sugar  loaf 
form,  and  solid.  Set  plants  15  to  18  inches  apart  each 
way.    Its  color  is  fancied  by  most  persons. 

No.  217.— Fine  Nutmeg  Melon.— One  of  the  best  sorts. 
May  be  planted  in  the  ground  after  the  soil  becomes 
warm,  but  may  be  obtained  much  earlier  if  the  seeds  are 
started  in  a  hot-bed  upon  pieces  of  sods,  and  these  plant- 
ed out  in  well  manured  hills  6  or  8  feet  apart. 

No.  21S.— Early  Sugar  Loaf  Cabbage.— We  have 
found  this  to  be  one  of  the  best  early  varieties  ;  it 
forms  a  good  sized  head  of  excellent  quality.  Start  in 
a  hot  bed  for  the  earliest  and  in  the  open  ground  for 
succession. 

Flower  and  Ornamental  Seeds. 

No.  23. — Mignonette  (Reseda  odorata) — An  annual  in 
this  climate.  The  flowers  not  conspicuous  but  yield  a 
rich  odor.  Its  habit  is  low,  branching  upon  the  ground  ; 
flowers  profusely  from  midsummer  until  frost;  sow  in 
pots  for  winter  blooming.  A  great  favorite.  Sow  as 
early  as  the  ground  can  be  worked— the  seed  is  long  in 
coming  up. 

No.  27.— Cockscomb  (Celosia  cristata.)— A  very  curious 
and  common  annual,  native  of  the  East  Indies.  Flowers 
in  fantastic,  irregular  spikes,  inclining  to  the  fan-shape, 
like  the  comb  of  the  cock,  and  of  the  richest  crimson  col- 
or.    Sow  in  rich  soil,  early,  and  thin  to  18  inches  apart. 

No.  30. — Tassel  Flower  (Cacalia  coccinea). — Called 
also  "  Venus'  Paint  Brush."  A  delicately  beautiful  an- 
nual, growing  1  to  2  feet  high,  and  blossoms  freely.  The 
scarlet  flowers  are  perfect  little  tassels,  very  bright  and 
pretty.  Sow  in  May,  thin  out  or  transplant  to  6  or  10  inches. 

No.  31.— Chinese  Pink  (Diahthus  St7iensis).—X  very 
pretty  little  annual  of  this  fine  class,  most  of  which  are 
perennials.  It  is  not  flagrant  like  the  Sweet  William,  nor 
does  it  grow  in  clusters.  Color  varies  from  maroon  and 
crimson  with  pink  edging,  to  white  with  a  red  renter. 
They  flower  for  many  weeks  in  succession;  desirable  in 
every  flower  plot.  Sow  in  early  Spring.  The  roots  fre- 
quently survive  the  Winter. 

No.  37.— Zinnias,  (mixed)  (Zinnia  elcgans),— This 
beautiful  Mexican  plant  is  a  brilliant  addition  to  the  flow- 
er garden.  It  is  tall,  elegant  and  showy,  with  flowers  of 
many  colors,  purple,  crimson,  orange,  scarlet,  violet  and 
white.     Sow  middle  of  May,  keep  plants  18  inches  apart. 

No.  42. — Foxglove  (Digitalis  alba,  purpurea,  etc). — A 
perennial,  blooming  the  secon,d  year  from  seed.  The 
flowers  are  very  pretty,  often  beautifully  mottled  with 
purple  and  brown  spots.  It  blooms  upon  a  spike  a  to  4 
feet  high,  beginning  at  the  bottom,  and  continues  for  sev- 
eral weeks.  The  medicine  digitalis  is  the  leaf  of  this 
plant.  Sow  in  early  Spring,  The  roots  often  die  out  af- 
ter flowering  a  year  or  two. 

No.  49.— Candytuft  (Iberis  umbcllata,  and  amara).— 
Suitable   for  massing  or  for  borders.     An  annual   with 


1863.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


clusters  or  umbels  of  small  flowers,  of  various  colors, 
from  pure  white  to  purple.  Grows  6  to  12  inches  high, 
and  blooms  most  of  the  season.    Sow  early  in  Spring. 

No.  51.— Drummomd's  Phlox  (Phlox  Drummo?idii).—A. 
very  beautiful  annual,  the  delicate  flowers  of  which  ex- 
hibit a  very  great  variety  of  marking.  Grows  12  to  13 
inches  high,  requires  little  care,  blooms  constantly,  and 
is  beautiful  in  masses.    Sow  early  in  May. 

No.  89.— Cotton  Plant  {Gossypium  herbaceum  and 
Barbadense).—The  Upland,  with  a  little  Sea  Island  Cotton 
Seed,  both  in  the  same  package— the  Upland  downy,  the 
Sea  Island  naked.  The  Upland,  sown  in  the  Spring,  and 
protected  from  frost,  will  mature  its  bolls  in  the  Autumn, 
south  of  40°  or  41°,  but  will  bloom  wherever  corn  suc- 
ceeds. The  plant  grows  3  feet  to  5  feet  high  ;  the  flowers 
are  showy— bright  yellow,  with  purple  eye.  Sow  at  corn 
planting,  in  drills,  and  thin  to  18  inches  apart.  Our  par- 
cels are  designed  for  ornamental  and  small  experimental 
plots. 

No.  111.— Castor  Oil  Bean  (Ricinus  communis).— A 
stately  plant,  5  to  10  feet  high,  with  broad  tropical  foliage, 
which  is  showy  and  beautiful.  It  is  a  very  rank  grower, 
and  needs  a  rich,  warm  soil.  Sow  in  the  open  ground, 
and  leave  3  to  6  feet  apart. 

No.  122.— Canterbury  Bell  (Campanula  media).— 
Showy,  flowering  the  second  year  from  seed,  and  some- 
times living  3  or  4  years.  They  bloom  along  a  spike  2  to 
3  feet  high ;  flowers  of  perfect  bell  shape,  large,  and  in 
some  varieties  double;  white,  lilac,  blue,  and  intermedi- 
ate shades.  Sow  anytime  in  Mayor  June,  and  trans- 
plant in  the  Fall  to  1  foot  apart  in  rows,  or  set  in  groups. 

No.  123.— Gilia  <G.  nivalis).— An  annual  of  1  foot  in 
hight,  delicate  growth,  and  finely  divided  leaves;  flow- 
ers usually  white,  growing  in  panicles.  Good  for  mas- 
sing.   Sow  early  in  Spring. 

No.  124.— Whitlavia  (IV.  grandifiora).— This  Califor- 
nia annual  pleases  us  much,  blooming  5  to  6  weeks  from 
sowing,  and  continuing  until  October.  Its  blue,  bell- 
shaped  flowers  resemble  the  Campanulas.  Sow  early  in 
May,  and  thin  to  6  inches  apart  ;  grows  1  foot. 

No.  126.— Long-tubed  Centranthus  (C.  macrosi- 
phon).—\n  annual  of  rather  delicate  appearance,  but 
hardy  and  desirable.  Flowers  fascicled,  (in  bundles  or 
clusters,)  tubular,  borne  on  stalks  10  to  12  inches  high. 
Bloom  until  frost.    Sow  early,  and  thin  to  six  inches. 

No.  164.— Sweet  Scented  Ageratum.  (Ageratum 
Mexicanum.)—A  pale  blue  or  white  annual,  desirable  for 
bedding  or  massing.  The  plants  may  be  taken  up  in  the 
Fall  and  put  in  the  conservatory  or  hot-house  where  they 
will  flower  during  the  Winter.     Sow  early  in  Spring. 

No.  169.— Beautiful  Clarkia  (Clarkia  pulchella.)—k 
hardy  Rocky  Mountain  annual,  growing  1  foot  high. 
Flowers,  light  purple,  opening  from  June  to  Sept.  Sow 
about  the  first  of  May.    A  good  border  flower. 

No.  170.— Evening  Primrose.  ((Enotkera  biennis,  ma- 
crocarpayetc.)— Fine  biennials  which  are  not  sufficiently 
known.  Most  of  the  species  are  low,  with  light  yellow 
flowers,  some  of  which  are  4  or  5  inches  in  diameter,  and 
expand  in  the  evening,  whence  the  name.  Sow  in  May 
and  transplant  in  October,  setting  2  feet  apart.  Some 
species  have  a  white  bloom. 

No.  173.— Mixed  Larkspurs  (Delphinium  cons olida.) — 
Annuals  of  white,  rose,  pink,  blue,  and  variegated  colors, 
growing  irom  2  to  3  feet  high.  Some  of  the  species  are 
double  and  very  pretty.  Flowers  in  spikes  for  a  long 
time  in  succession.  Sow  very  early,  as  the  seeds  lie  long 
in  the  ground  ;  they  are  very  hardy. 

No.  177.— Quaking  Grass  (Briza  gracilis.) — A  beauti- 
ful nodding  grass,  growing  3  feet  high.  The  heads  or 
panicles  resemble  the  rattles  of  the  rattlesnake,  and  dry 
so  as  to  be  very  ornamental  in  bouquets  of  dried  flowers. 
Sow  in  early  Spring. 

No.  182. — Sweet  Alvssum  (Alyssum  maritimum.) — An 
annual,  nearly  1  foot  In  hight,  flowering  in  long  racemes, 
from  June  to  November,  or  until  killed  by  frost.  Sweet- 
scented  ;  flowers  white.  Sow  in  early  Spring,  and  thin  to 
1  foot  apart,  unless  massed,  for  which  it  is  well  suited. 

No.  183.— Improved  French  and  German  Asters.— 
A  beautiful  hardy  annual.  The  common  '  'China  Asters" 
give  no  idea  of  the  beauty  of  these  improved  varieties, 
some  of  which  are  nearly  as  large  as  Dahlias,  and  very 
double.  We  have  grown  nearly  half  an  acre  for  seed  for 
distribution,  though  from  the  little  seed  in  perfect  flowers, 
the  parcels  are  necessarily  small.  Sow  in  open  ground 
in  May.    They  bear  transplanting  to  any  desired  position. 

No.  200.— Fancy  Gourds  (Lagenaria  vulgaris,  in  var.) 
—Cultivated  for  the  singularity  or  beauty  of  the  fruit ; 
vines  climbing.  Plant  like  cucumbers,  near  a  trellis,  or 
provide  poles ;  protect  against  insects.   Our  seed  consists 


of  all  the  seeds  from  the  prize  collection  of  75  varieties  ex- 
hibited at  the  recent  show  at  the  A  gricultnrist  office. 
They  were  necessarily  mixed  for  general  distribution. 

No.  203  and  204.— German  and  French  Poppies  (Pa- 
paver  somniferum  and  Rhazas  Jl.  pi.] — Of  these  common 
yet  very  showy  species  there  is  an  infinite  variety  in  form 
and  color.  The  culture  is  simple.  Sow  in  beginning  of 
Spring,  thin  out  to  several  inches  apart  ;  bloom  in  July. 

No. 205. — Double  French  Marigold  (Tagetcs patula.) 
A  very  showy  annual  of  2  or  3  feet  high  ;  flowers  bright 
yellow  to  dark  brown,  and  often  beautifully  striped  and 
margined.    Sow  first  of  May  ;  blooms  from  July  to  frost. 

No.  206. — Golden  Straw-flower  (Helickrysum  brac- 
teatum,  etc.) — One  of  the  most  common  of  the  immortelle 
or  everlasting  flowers  :  blooms  yellow,  white,  pink,  and 
scarlet.  Grows  2  or  3  feet  high.  Sow  in  borders  in  May. 
Pick    flowers   before  expanded,  for  Winter  bouquets. 

No.  209.— Dwarf  Blue  Larkspur  (Delphinium  farmo- 
sum). — A  fine  herbaceous  perennial,  blooming  first  season, 
18  inches  high ;  flowers  ultramarine  blue,  very  rich ; 
blooms  July  to  September.    Sow  early  in  May. 

No.  210.— Dwarf  Morning  Glory  (Convolvulus  mi- 
nor).— A  very  showy  annual,  growing  14  to  20  inches  high  ; 
the  funnel  shaped  flowers,  blue,  white  and  yellow.  Sow 
early  In  May.    Blooms  from  June  to  October. 

No.  212. — Sweet  Peas  { Lathy rus  odoratus). — A  famil- 
iar annual,  valued  for  the  remarkable  sweetness  and 
beauty  of  its  flowers.  Its  habit,  mode  of  flowering,  etc., 
is  much  like  the  garden  pea,  but  it  is  much  more  delicate. 
The  flowers  are  of  many  bright  colors,  (red,  white  and 
blue,)  beautiful  in  bouquets. — A  great  favorite.  Sow 
early,  in  good  soil,  seeds  2  inches  apart ;  requires  brush- 
ing ;  grows  2  to  6  feet  high. 

No.  216.— Accroclinium  (A.  roscum).—  An  everlasting 
flower.  Grows  1  to  2  feet  high  ;  flowers  rose-color,  very 
pretty.  Sow  middle  of  May,  in  sandy  loam,  or  grow  in 
pots  and  turn  out  Into  the  open  border  first  of  June.  In 
stiff  soil,  make  drills,  and  cover  lightly  with  sandy  soil. 

No.  219.— Martynia.  (iVf.  proboscidea,  etc.)— This,  some- 
times called  "  Buffalo  Horn,"  from  the  form  of  the  pod 
is  a  vigorous  annual  about  2  feet  high,  of  a  spreading 
habit  and  rather  coarse  foliage.  The  flowers  are  shaped 
somewhat  like  those  of  the  foxglove,  of  various  colors 
and  very  showy.  The  curiously  shaped  fruit  makes  very 
good  pickles  if  taken  while  tender.  Sow  in  good  soil 
after  all  danger  of  frost  is  over  and  leave  the  plants  about 
3  feet  apart. 

No.  220.— Nankin  Perilla.  {Per ilia  Nanlcinensis.) — 
A  hardy  annual  cultivated  for  its  singular  foliage  which 
Is  of  very  beautiful  dark  purple  color,  and  makes  a  fine 
contrast  with  other  flowers  in  the  border.    • 

No.  221.— Striped  Mirabilis.  (Mirabihs  Jalapa,  in 
var.)— The  new  varieties  are  a  great  improvement  on  the 
old  Four  o'clock.  The  plants  grow  2  to  2^"  feet  high. 
The  long  fleshy  roots  may  be  taken  up  after  the  frost  has 
cut  down  the  plant,  and  preserved  like  Dahlias  to  be 
planted  the  following  Spring. 

No.  222.— Convolvulus  Variegata.— A  low  twining 
variety  remarkable  for  its  beautifully  variegated  foliage. 
Flowers  purple.  Should  be  started  in  pots  and  put  out 
in  the  ground  in  settled  warm  weather. 

No.  223. — Mourning  Bride.  (Scabiosa  atropurpurea.) 
— A  hardy  perennial  which  blooms  the  first  year,  if  plant- 
ed early.  Leaves  divided  ;  flowers  dark  crimson  purple, 
rose-colored  and  white. 


DeatH  ofa  Prominent  Agriculturist. 

Our  foreign  exchanges  bring  the  mournful  news  of  the 
death  of  Mr.  Jonas  Webb,  of  Babraham,  England,  whose 
name  has  so  often  appeared  in  these  columns  as  one  of 
the  most  noted  and  successful  breeders  of  stock,  particu- 
larly of  South-Down  sheep.  For  forty  years  Mr.  Webb 
made  the  improvement  of  these  animals  a  constant  sub- 
ject of  study  and  experiment,  ami  by  his  skill  raised  his 
flock  to  a  grade  that  gave  them  a  world-wide  reputation. 
America  and  Europe  acknowledge  him  as  a  public  bene- 
factor. His  success  in  improving  sheep  has  given  ad- 
ditional value  to  whole  provinces.  It  was  our  good  for- 
tune to  enjoy  several  pleasant  chats  with  him  at  the  Roy- 
al Agricultural  Show  in  London  last  Summer.  We  found 
him  daily  at  his  post,  describing  the  merits  of  his  four 
magnificent  Short-Horn  cows,  on  the  good  points  of  which 
he  was  all  enthusiasm.  His  tent  was  the  center  of  attrac- 
tion to  multitudes  of  stock  breeders  from  all  parts  of  Eu- 
rope. Mr.  Webb  was  66  years  old  on  the  day  of  his  de- 
cease. The  circumstances  attending  it  were  particularly 
painful.  The  death  of  his  wife  was  an  overwhelming 
blow,  under  which  he  sank  on  the  evening  of  her  funeral, 
and  on  the  day  set  apart  for  the  marriage  of  his  son. 


Containing  a  great  variety  of  Items,  including  many 
good  Hints  and  Suggestions  which  we  give  in  small  type 
and  condensed  form  for  want  of  space  elsewhere. 

I\o  More  Premium  Maps.— Letters  con- 
tinue to  come  in  daily,  asking  for  premium  Maps.  Our 
offer  was  distinctly  limited  to  the  end  of  November.  We 
stated  in  the  December  Agriculturist,  that  owing  to  the 
increased  cost  of  our  own  paper,  and  the  higher  price  of 
the  Maps,  we  could  no  longer  afford  this  premium, 
though  we  have  continued  to  send  them  when  asked  for 
by  those  living  too  remote  to  apply  before  the  close  of 
November.  We  repeat,  that  except  in  special  cases,  and 
for  strong  special  reasons,  no  more  Maps  can  be  given. 
The  price  is  25  cents  each  for  the  large  map  of  Virginia 
and  that  of  the  Southern  States,  and  50  cents  for  the  map 
of  the  United  States,  including  the  Canadas  and  New 
Brunswick.  When  desired  at  these  rates,  we  will  pro- 
cure and  send  them  post  paid  by  mail. 

Premiums-Last  Call  (?)  We  publish 
our  premium  list  in  full  this  month,  probably  for  the  last 
time,  though  all  the  offers  will  be  continued  until  further 
notice — how  long  we  can  not  exactly  tell,  as  it  will  de- 
pend upon  the  future  price  of  printing  paper.  Those 
who  wish  to  get  any  of  our  valuable  premiums  will  do 
well  to  set  about  it  at  once.  There  is  yet  time  to  fill  up  the 
lists  already  commenced  and  to  start  new  ones.  A  good 
article  can  he  easily 'obtained  now,  without  outlay  of 
money. — N.B.  It  will  be  seen,  that  the  terms  of  two  or 
three  articles  are  slightly  changed,  owing  to  the  advance 
in  their  market  price. 

Fruit    CJrower's    Meeting-— Change 

of  Hour.— The  time  of  meeting  on  Thursday  of  each 
week  will  hereafter  be  at  one  o'clock  P.  M.  These  meet- 
ings will  he  found  the  source  of  much  valuable  informa- 
tion. Leading  practical  growers  are  always  present  to 
describe  the  best  kinds  of  fruits,  the  modes  of  planting, 
culture,  etc.,  with  other  topics  of  interest  relating  to  the 
orchard,  garden,  etc.   All  interested  are  invited  to  attend. 


Buy  your  Books  now, — Like  everything 
else  depending  upon  the  price  of  paper  (except  the  Agri- 
culturist) the  prices  of  books  have  advanced  from  25  to 
50  per  cent.  Anticipating  this  rise,  we  laid  in  a  partial 
stock  of  those  most  called  for  from  our  office,  and  these 
stand  at  the  old  price  in  our  list  on  page  30.  Persons 
wishing  any  of  these  books  will  do  well  to  apply  for 
them  at  once,  as  our  price  list  must  be  advanced  to  that 
of  the  publishers,  as  soon  as  the  present  supply  runs  out. 
It  will  be  seen,  that  a  few  books  in  our  list  are  already 
advanced  a  little.  Persons  calling  for  premium  books 
will  please  note  the  changes  from  time  to  time,  as  we 
must  be  governed  by  the  rates  announced  each  month. 

Honest  Postmasters,— Almost  every  day 
we  get  letters  containing  subscription  money,  but  unsealed, 
some  of  them  from  California  even.  We  are  happy  to 
announce  the  safe  arrival  of  so  many  such  letters,  but 
would  advise,  for  the  sake  of  keeping  Postmasters  honest, 
and  especially  when  gold  dollars  are  enclosed  which 
might  drop  out  in  the  mail  bags,  that  all  money  letters  be 
securely  sealed. 


Town  Hedges.— J.  W.  Buclier,  Northum- 
berland Co.,  Pa.  If  to  turn  cattle,  use  heavy  Locust  or 
Buckthorn.  For  a  screen  simply,  we  prefer  the  Arbor 
ViUe.  In  both  cases  It  is  advisable  to  buy  plants  from 
nurserymen  or  hedge-plant  growers,  who  sell  them 
cheaply  by  the  100  or  1,000.  The  American  Arbor  Vitse 
Is  best  for  quick  growth  and  cutting  to  any  desired  form. 
The  Siberian  variety  grows  slowly  in  neat,  cone-like  form, 
and  is  beautiful  when  planted  singly  or  in  close  rows  :o 
form  a  compact  screen  or  hedge. 


**  Agriculturist  "  Wanted.- Willinm 
Beal,  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  writes  that  one  of  his  neigh- 
bors who  takes  no  agricultural  paper,  recently  sold  « 
flock  of  sheep  enough  below  their  value  to  have  paid  for 
the  Agriculturist  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  not 
"posted"  as  to  the  market.  The  reading  of  a  single  ar- 
ticle in  our  number  for  November,  would  have  saved 
him  all  his  loss.  This  is  a  sample  of  many  similar  tes- 
timonials recently  received. 

To  Advertisers.— One  who  has  advertised 
his  business  very  extensively  in  most  parts  of  the 
country,  writes  that,  "the  American  Agriculturist  did 
me   as   much  good  as  all  the   other   papers    together.*' 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[January 


8mall-]»ox.  in  Sliecp.— Tins  is  reported  to 
have  been  quite  prevalent  of  late  in  England,  and  to  prove 
the  efficacy  of  vaccination,  the  Government  has  purchased 
200  sheep  to  experiment  with.  They  propose  inoculating 
a  portion  of  them  with  the  virus  direct  fi  om  the  cow. 

Poultry  Profitable.— Mr.  R.  W.  Davey, 
of  Middlesex  Co.,  Mass.,  in  a  letter  to  the  American  Ag- 
riculturist, says  he  finds  it  pays  well  to  give  poultry  warm 
quarters  with  plenty  of  feed.  He  reports  the  cost  of 
keeping  six  fowls  II  months,  from  January  1st,  to  Decem- 
ber 1st  at  $6. (14.  The  returns  were:  551  eggs  at  16;3e. 
per  doz.  $7.66.  Poultry  sold.  $4.70.  Fowls  added  to 
stock,  $1.50;  total  $13.S6— a  net  profit  of  $7.82,  or  more 
than  $1,25  for  each  fowl.  This  is  certainly  a  very  good 
showing  on  a  small  scale.  Mr.  D.  justly  attributes  this 
success  to  the  care  bestowed  upon  his  poultry,  which  he 
does  not  include  in  reckoning  the  cost. 


The  I&ens  Do  Lay. — "  A  Constant  Read- 
er" writes  ;  M  I  have  21  liens,  good  layers,  but  they  en- 
tirely ceased  giving  eggs  in  the  latter  part  of  Hummer. 
Acting  upon  a  hint  in  my  American  Agriculturist,  on  Oct. 
1st,  I  sent  to  the  soap-fat  triers,  and  got  a  50  pound  cake 
of  scraps  at  one  cent  per  pound,  and  placed  it  in  a  clean 
corner  of  the  barn-yard.  The  hens,  though  abundantly 
supplied  with  grain,  pitched  into  the  scrap  cake  as  eager- 
ly as  a  boy  would  into  a  pound  cake,  though  they  found  it 
hard  work  to  get  off  much  of  the  substance  until  after  a 
rain  had  soaked  it.  Two  weeks  after,  the  eggs  began  tj 
be  dropped,  and  now  how  they  do  lay  !  We  have  kept  no 
account,  but  we  must  have  got  a  dozen  and  a  half  a  day 
for  some  time,  as  we  have  consumed  all  we  could  eat  in 
the  family,  and  have  sold  a  surplus  oflO  dozen  at  the  rate 
of  five  for  a  shilling,  or  $3,  which  I  enclose  herewith  for 
three  copies  of  the  paper  for  myself  and  two  friends,  as 
named  below.  The  eggs  eaten  at  home  more  than  paid 
for  the  meat  (not  yet  half  gone)  and  the  other  feed." 

Mow  MucH  Grain  for  Fowls?— C.  N. 

Bement,  writes  to  the  American  Agriculturist,  that  he  has 
ascertained  by  actual  experiment,  that  in  the  months  of 
December,  January  and  February,  a  common  sized  fowl 
will  consume  on  an  average  one  gill  per  day  of  coin,  bai- 
ley, or  buckwheat,  if  permitted  to  take  it  at  pleasure. 


Fowls  Cuanging;  Color. — E.  P.  Berrian, 

Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  writes  that  he  has  a  2-year  old 
black  Spanish  hen,  which  was  originally  a  jet  black,  but 
during  the  last  six  months  she  has  been  changing  her 
coat,  and  is  now  almost  entirely  white.  He  asks  the  Ag- 
riculturist readers  to  account  for  the  phenomenon. 


As»e  of  Poultry. — C.  N.  Bement,  writes  to 
the  American  Agriculturist,  as  follows:  "It  is  easy  to 
judge  of  the  age  of  a  plucked  fowl  by  the  state  of  the 
legs.  If  a  hen's  spur  is  hard  and  the  scales  on  the  legs 
rough,  she  is  old.  Examine  the  head  also.  If  the  under 
bill  is  so  stiff  that  it  can  not  be  bent  down,  and  the  comb 
is  thick  and  rough,  leave  her,  no  matter  how  fat  or  plump, 
unless  a  lough  case  is  preferred.  A  young  hen  has  only 
the  rudiments  of  spurs,  the  scaleson  the  legs  smooth,  glos- 
sy, and  fresh-looking,  whatever  the  color  may  be  ;  the 
claws  tender  and  short,  the  nails  sharp,   the  under   bill 

soft,  and   the  comb   thin  and  smooth. An  old  goose 

when  alive,  is  known  by  the  rough  legs,  the  strength  of 
the  wings,  particularly  at  the  pinions,  the  thickness  and 
strength  of  the  bill,  and  the  fineness  of  the  feathers  ;  and 
when  plucke  ',  by  the  leg*,  the  skin  under  the  wings,  by 
the  pinions  and  bill, and  the  coarseness  of  the  skin.  Ducks 
are  distinguished  by  the  same  means,  with  this  addition- 
al mark, that  a  duckling's  bill  is  much  longer  in  proportion 
to  the  breadth  of  its  head,  than  the  bill  of  on  old  duck. 

Oyster  Shells  for  Poultry.— H.  Afc Sla- 
ter, Hartford  Co.,  Conn.  These  broken  fine  are  as  good 
or  better  than  slaked  lime  ;  they  answer  in  part  for  grav- 
el, as  well  as  lime. 


Thanksgiving;    Turkey  Sacrificed. 

—A  subscriber  (Pliny  N,  Ward),  of  Worcester  Co.,  Mass., 
in  renewing  his  subscription  to  the  American  Agricultur- 
ist for  1S63,  writes:  " 1  know  of  no  agricultural  pub- 
lication equal  to  yours  in  several  respects.  Its  rich  vein 
of  sound,  practical,  common  sense,  causes  its  perusal  to 
do  good  like  a  medicine  ;  and  I  should  wish  for  its  month- 
ly visits  if  I  did  nolown  a  single  foot  of  land,  for  its  moral 
and  religious  influence.  You  will  believe  my  statement 
above,  when  I  assure  you  that,  our  Thanksgiving  Turkey 
was  sold  to  obtain  the  dollar  herein  forwarded."  [Such 
kind  appreciation,  and  this  letter  is  only  a  sample  of 
many,  Is  certainly  a  strong  stimulus  to  increased  effort  on 
the  part  of  the  Editors.] 


"  Fs*yptinn   SorgSio    or  linphce." — 

M.  Beck,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist  from  Wayne  Co., 
O.,  that  he  planted  17  rods  of  what  was  called  Egyptian 
sorgho  there,  on  a  rich  clay  soil,  rows  two  feet  apart,  and 


canes  4  to  5  inches  distant,  which  grew  luxuriantly  and 
ripened  in  October.  The  juice  evaporated  on  Cook's  pan, 
yielded  40  gallons  as  fine  syrup  as  he  ever  saw.  This 
was  at  the  rate  of  375  gallons  per  acre. 

Barley— Weight  of  a  Bushel  in  Me. 

—On  page  375  of  December  Agriculturist,  the  weight  of 
barley  given  at  56  lbs.,  is  a  typographical  error;  it  should 
have  been  46  lbs. 


Prolific  Bean.— S.  G.  Willard,  Windham 
Co.,  Conn,,  says,  a  subscriber  to  the  American  Agricul- 
turist in  that  County  raised  326  merchantable  beans  of  a 
large,  white,  running  sort,  from  one  seed  trained  on  a  pole 
5  feet  high.    He  thinks  the  "Agriculturist  did  it." 

Northern  Cotton — Specimens  lately 

Received.— Ten  pounds  of  Upland,  well  grown,  but 
rather  short  staple,  from  Rev.  J.  A.  Bent,  Washington 
Co.,  111.— Small  samples  from  6  pounds  of  two  varieties, 
grown  by  G.  D.  Furber,  Macoupin  Co.,  111.,  from  seed 
s?nt  out  by  the  Agriculturist.     Both  of  these  (Upland  and 

Sea  Island,)  are  well-grown  and  fine. Specimen  long 

staple  from  H.  Davison,  Defiance  Co.,  O.,  grown  from 
Alabama  seed,  which  proved  too  late  for  that  climate. — 
Also  specimen  of  short  staple,  fine  fiber,  from  J.  G.  Stack- 
pole,  Meigs  Co.,  0.,  from  plants  growing  five  feet  high. 

Sillc  in  Ohio. — From  the  Census  report  of 
1860,  we  learn  that  2,166  pounds  of  cocoons  were  pro- 
duced in  Ohio  (hat  year.  Michigan  comes  next,  that 
Stale  being  credited  with  1,043  pounds.  Correspondents 
who  have  frequently  asked  where  they  can  obtain  eggs, 
will  douhtless  find  them  by  addressing  prominent  agri- 
culturists in  those  States. 


Tree  Cotton  Seed.— Mrs.  B.  Davis,  Ash- 
tabula Co.,  O.  There  is  none  of  this  seed  that  we  know 
of,  to  be  had  in  this  country.  The  parties  who  set  forth 
the  wonderful  merits  of  the  plant  a  few  months  since, 
proved  unreliable,  disappointing  many  parties  who  had 
paid  money  for  the  seed. 


Sweet  Potatoes  Profitable  at  the 
North. — Several  years  of  experience,  always  success- 
ful, and  a  great  many  reports  from  those  who  followed 
our  advipe  last  Spring,  and  tried  them,  fully  confirm  the 
belief  that  it  pays  well  to  cultivate  at  least  a  small  plot  of 
sweet  potatoes  for  home  use,  in  any  garden  south  of  lati- 
tude 42°,  where  a  light  warm  soil  can  be  had,  and  even 
further  North  in  favorable  localities. 


Cesspool  Slops.— W.  Gilbert,  N.  T.  Cess- 
pool slops  are  among  the  most  valuable,  especially  if  the 
chamber  slops  are  added,  or  water  closet  pipes  enter  into 
the  cesspool.  Clean  out  frequently,  mixing  the  contents 
with  muck,  and  a  rich  compost  will  be  formed. 

Salt  Preserves  Timber. — Asa  M.  Holt, 
Middlesex  Co.,  Conn.,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist  that  he 
built  an  out-cellar  in  1828,  covering  the  roof  with  sawed 
chestnut  timber  laid  from  the  ridge  pole  down  over  the 
rafters.  Upon  this  was  put  three  feet  of  earth,  with  an 
outer  roof  of  pine  boards  to  turn  rain.  The  roof  lasted 
ten  years,  and  then  fell  in.  He  then  had  a  similar  roof 
put  on  by  the  original  builder,  but  before  covering  will) 
earth,  a  bushel  or  more  of  coarse  salt  was  sown  over  the 
timber  roof.  This  last  roof  has  been  on  24  years,  and 
bids  fair  to  last  some  time  longer. 


Hardy  Apples  in   Minnesota.— H.   D. 

Ives,  Napello  Co.,  Iowa,  referring  to  an  item  with  the 
above  head  on  page  288,  August  Agriculturist,  says  the 
Roxbury  Russet  bursts  its  hark  in  their  prairie  soil,  and 
is  lender  beside.  The  same  is  true  of  the  Baldwin  and 
R.  I.  Greening,  though  in  a  less  degree. 

Vicar's  Improving*. — "Don't  touch  the 
Vicar's,"  was  the  advice  of  an  old  woman  who  has  sold 
pears  in  Washington  Market  for  I  he  past  ten  years,  lo  a 
person  about  negotiating  for  some  of  this  variety.  "They 
won't  sell,"  added  she.  True,  as  ordinarily  grown  and 
ripened,  they  are  uninviting  to  sight  or  palate,  but  as  of- 
fered at  the  Agriculturist  Fruit  Growers*  Meeting,  they 
wove  really  good.  The  secret  lies  just  here.  Thin  the 
fruit  while  growing,  pick  late  in  the  season,  handling 
with  care.  A  little  frost  don't  hurt  them.  Put  in  a  barn 
or  other  building  for  a  week,  to  sweat,  then  take  to  acool 
cellar,  and  if  packed  in  cut  hay,  oats,  or  oat  chaff,  all  the 
better.  Two  weeks  before  wanted,  bring  them  to  a  warm 
room — say  65°  to  75° — ar.d  they  will  often  coloj"  up  finely, 
and  if  they  are  not  No.  1,  they  are  more  than  good,  at  a 
time  when  very  few  pears  of  any  kind  are  to  be  had. 

Ignoramus  Quince.— Such  is  the  label 
on  a  very  fine  specimen  of  pear  quince  on  the  Agricultur- 
ist tables,  which  has  a  history.  A  progressive  farmer  in 
New-Jersey  asked  his  neighbor  why    he    was  culling 


down  his  quince  trees.  The  reply  was  they  were  worth- 
less,  and  he  could  not  succeed  in  raising  quinces.  Our 
friend  advised  him  to  take  the  American  Agriculturist, 
where  he  had  seen  good  directions  for  growing  quince.*. 
But  he  did  not  want  any  "  booh  fudge."  '•  I  left  him,  but 
took  away  a  few  twigs  of  his  ouince  trees,  cut  from  the 
brush  heap,  and  treating  Ihe  cuttings  and  the  trees  they 
produced  according  to  the  directions  given  by  -book 
fudge,'  I  now  have  as  fine  healthy  trees  as  one  could 
wish,  from  which  I  picked  the  specimen  here  sent,  and 
some  60  other  fine  quinces.  I  have  shown  the  trees  and 
fruit  to  *  Ignoramus,'  and  if  he  don't  come  down  with  the 
dollar,  I  think  he  will  get  a  present." 

Prune  the  Orape   Vines  Hfow#— Don't 

leave  them  so  late  that  the  pressing  sap  in  the  Spring  will 
force  its  way  through  the  partially  hardened  cut.  We 
much  prefer  November  and  December,  or  at  laiest,  Janu- 
ary for  the  annual  trimming.  Prune  judiciously,  rutting 
out  lo  within  one  eye,  the  lasl  hearing  cane  orshoot,  w  hei  e 
the  renewal  system  is  followed,  and  taking  nut  a  portion 
of  the  old  wood  of  old  vines  allowed  to  ramble  over  an 
extensive  trellis,  or  on  the  side  of  a  building.  The  new 
growth  should  also  be  shortened  in  somewhat,  bearing  in 
mind,  however,  that  this  is  lo  be  the  next  fruiting  wood. 

Delaware  Grafts.— J. Borland, Bucks  Co., 
Pa.,  in  a  letter  read  at  the  Agriculturist  Fruit  Growers' 
Meeting,  says  he  raised  Delaware  grapes  from  grafts  in- 
serted in  old  roots.  He  advises  laying  an  old  vine  in  a 
trench  early  in  Spring,  and  graft  by  splitting  it  at  inter- 
vals, and  running  the  wedge  of  an  ordinary  graft  peri  en- 
dicularly  through  this  split  ;  then  cover  with  3  lo  4  inches 
of  earth,  leaving  one  bud  out  of  ground. 

What  Grapes  to  Plant.— This  is  a  puz 

zling  question  to  the  amateur,  even,  and  much  more  so 
to  a  novice.  In  order  to  settle  the  question,  the  Fruit 
Glowers'  Meeting  have  appointed  a  judicious  committee1 
to  bring  in  lists,  from  which,  afler  discussion,  probably  for 
weeks,  a  selection  will  be  made  and  adopted  as  the  So- 
ciety's list. 


Grafting  Large  Plum  *lo<lts  v»  illi 

Apricots.— J.  Webster,  Marion  Co.,  III.  Belter  graft 
in  the  branches,  if  the  trees  are  three  inches  through. 
Small  seedlings  of  one  or  two  years'  growth  are  best 
budded  close  to  the  ground. 

"A   Pomologieal  Congress   of  I%a- 

1  ions''  is  announced  in  the  Revue  Horticole  to  be  held 
at  Namur,  Belgium,  Sept.  28,  1863.  to  which  delegate*  are 
invited  from  all  countries.  The  special  object  is  to  form 
a  standard  nomenclature,  which  will  prevent  a  great  ileal 
of  confusion,  and  not  a  little  loss,  especially  to  our  own 
nurserymen  and  fruit  growers,  who  often  import,  at  a 
heavy  expense,  what  they  already  have  growing  under 
another  name. 


Fruit  Growers'  Magazine.— E.  New- 
berry, Evansville,  Ind.  There  is  no  periodical  in  this 
country  devoted  wholly  to  fruit  growing,  and  none  gh  ing 
more  space  to  this  subject  than  the  Agriculturist. 


Goo<1  Currants.— A.  A.  Davison,  Mason 
Co.,  III.,  says  he  picked  12b quarts  of  Red  Dutch  currants 
from  33  bushes,  some  of  which  were  too  young  to  bear  a 
full  crop.  The  older  ones  bote  6  to  8  quarts-  per  plant. — 
From  one  three-year  old  Houghton's  Needling  Gooseber- 
ry bush  he  picked  3  quarls  of  fruit.  This  will  do  for  a 
beginning,  but  a  much  larger  yield  may  be  looked  for. 


Brush  for  Scraping  Trees.- We  have 
lately  seen  a  brush  made  of  metal  instead  of  hair,  for 
cleaning  trees  of  moss  and  dead  bark.  It  is  a  French  de- 
vice, which  TanTtee  ingenuity  could  improve' upon.  But 
a  house  broom, c til  offfoa  stub,  answers  very  well.  Fol- 
low this  up  with  some  alkaline  wash. 


Fruit    Xallc  2SO  Years     Ago.— <■  The 

names  of  appelles  which  I  had  (her  graffes  from  BrEn ten- 
arch,  from  one  Mr.  Pace;  Item,  the  appelle  out  of  L's- 
sex  ;  the  Lether-col  or  Russet  appelle,  ;  the  London  pip- 
pin ;  the  Ken  gnei  line,  or  ihe  Croke  ;  the  glass  appelle 
or  pearmain  ;  the  red  stear :  the  Nemes  appelle  or  pi  en- 
ling;  the  Belleabone  ;  the  appelle  out  of  Dorshetsheer  ■ 
the  Domtne  quo  vadis  ;  the  Paces  pear  ;"  etc.  etc.  (Ex- 
tract from  the  Common  Place  book  of  Jehn  Trevelyau,  of 
Somersetshire,  1562.)- 


Flowers    from  Vermont.— Miss   A.  M. 

Allen,  Lamoille  Co.,  Vt.  Your  "  Eupatorinm  "  is  Veron- 
ica Virginir.a.  ,l  Fall  Crocus*' is  Colchirum  atttumntile, 
or  meadow  Saffron,  while  ihe  bulbous  rooled  flower  proves 
tube  OrnithagaJum  umbel  latum  or  Star  of  Bethlahem. 
The  while  flower  is  probably  Achillea  Ptannrca.  "  Sibe- 
rian Ash"  is  Pyrus  Americana,  and  "  Lady  of  Ihe  Lake  " 
we  judge  from  the  specimen  lobe  Physostcgia  Virginiana, 


1863." 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


Keeping:  J* utter. —George  W.  Pomeroy, 
Montgomery  Co.,  Ph.,  says  lie  tried  the  recipe  of  D.  E. 
Smith,  given  by  a  subscriber  in  the  Agriculturist  on  page 
13S  of  last  volume  (May  No.)  and  injured  his  butter  there- 
by. The  recipe  says  :  "Work  Mayor  June  butter  two 
or  three  times,  adding  at  last  working  one  grain  saltpeter 
and  a  teaspoonful  loaf  sugar  to  each  pound  of  butter. 
Pack  in  stone  jars  to  within  two  inches  of  top,  and  fill 
with  strong  brine,  cover  tightly  and  bury  in  a  cellar  bot- 
tom."   Has  any  one  else  tried  it? 

Steamed    Carrots    For    Cows. — M.    S. 

Wickersham,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  writes  to  the  American 
Agriculturist,  that  his  cow  has  improved  in  yield  of  milk 
since  commencing  to  feed  steamed  in  place  of  raw  Car- 
rots. We  believe  cooked  roots  to  be  best  for  feeding  ; 
the  question  not  yet  fully  decided  is,  whether  the  cost  and 
Additional  labor  will  be  repaid  by  increased  thrift  of  the 
animal. 


Sawdust  in  Stables. — Rhode  Island  will 
find  by  referring  to  volume  18,  page  357  (lb59)  of  the  Ag- 
riculturist, that  his  suggestion  is  not  a  new  one.  We  are 
glad  to  receive  his  testimony,  that  it  makes  a  clean  and 
comfortable  bed  and  greatly  increases  the  value  of  the 
manure  by  absorbing  the  liquids. 

."\o  Use  for  Manure. — J.  H.  Hayes,  Car- 
roll Co.,  Ind.,  writes  to  the  American  Agriculturist,  that 
Its  teachings  on  the  general  use  of  manures  are  valueless 
in  that  region,  because  the  land  is  already  rich  enough  to 
yield  80  bushels  of  corn  and  25  to  40  bushels  of  wheat  per 
acre.  Just  so  it  was  once  on  thousands  of  acres  in  Vir- 
ginia, where  now  the  land  will  scarcely  bear  the  shadow 
of  grain.  Manure  is  needed  at  the  West,  to  keep  the  land 
good.  Jt  is  true  that  not  so  much  will  be  required,  as 
whereby  neglect  of  manuring  the  soil  has  become  ster- 
ile ;  but  sooner  or  later  all  land  not  fed  will  grow  lean, 
and  so  will  its  owners'  pockets. 


Flowing-  Swamp  Land.— H.  G.  Cbani- 
berlin.  Land  covered  with  muck,  like  yours,  will  not  be 
benefited  by  flowing,  unless  it  is  planted  with  cranber- 
ries. It  would  injure  the  tame  grasses  of  mowing  lands 
to  allow  water  to  stand  on  them  for  a  few  days  even. 
Cranberry  lands  may  profitably  be  covered  with  6  inches 
of  water  from  the  middle  of  Nov.  to  the  middle  of  April. 


Sorghum  Seed. — Wm.  Fulke  complains,  as 
do  many  others,  of  the  difficulty  of  procuring  good  seed. 
Sorghum  and  its  allies  are  merely  sweet  varieties  of  the 
common  Broom  Corn,  just  as  Sweet  Corn  is  a  variety  of 
Indian  Corn,  and,  like  that,  is  liable  to  lose  its  peculiarity 
or  "  run  out."  Experiments  are  needed  to  determine  the 
mode  of  cultivation  which  shall  perpetuate  or  even  im- 
prove the  variety.  Here  is  a  useful  and  profitable  field 
for  some  one,  for  we  cannot  afford  to  import  our  seed 
each  year.     Who  will  try? 


American  Jiite.— This  name  has  been  given 
to  a  fibre  prepared  by  a  process  patented  by  W.  S.  Can- 
telo,  from  the  Hibiscus  Moscheulos,  or  Swamp  Rose  Mal- 
low. The  plant  grows  native  on  our  salt  marshes  or  river 
banks  near  the  coast,  and  around  salt  springs.  It  throws 
up  numerous  stout  stems  4  or  5  feet  high,  which  bear 
large  rose-colored  flowers,  much  like  those  of  a  single 
Holy  hoc  k.  It  belongs  to  the  Mallow  family,  the  plants 
of  which  are  remarkable  for  their  tough  bark,  The  Cot- 
ton plant  belongs  to  the  same  family.  It  is  claimed  that 
three  and  a  half  tons  of  fibre,  fit  for  manufacturing  pa- 
per, and  worth  $100  per  ton,  can  be  raised  from  an  acre. 
Should  this  statement  be  only  partially  true,  much  land 
that  is  now  unprofitable  could  be  devoted  to  its  culture. 

Materials   for  Making;  Paper. — The 

scarcity  of  Paper  stock  has  led  to  experiments  upon  va- 
rious vegetable  fibers,  some  of  which  we  have  noticed  in 
other  items.  The  fiber  of  the  wood  of  the  Linden, 
or  common  Basswood,  has  been  for  some  time  success- 
fully used.  A  patent  has  recently  been  obtained  for  mak- 
ing Paper  from  corn  husks.  The  common  Life  Bverlast* 
ingiGnaphatium  polycephalum)  has  been  converted  into 
talei  able  Paper,  and  we  notice  that  in  England  the  com- 
mon "Eel-grass,"  (Zostera  marina)  is  proposed  as  a  ma- 
terial for  the  same  purpose.  This  latter  is  found  abun- 
dantly along  the  coast,  and  is  often  incorrectly  called 
Seaweed,  the  latter  being  an  entirely  different  plant.  It 
is  used  to  some  extent  to  fill  matrasses,  cushions,  etc. 


A  Troublesome  Weed.— W.  M.  B.,  Tip 

pecanoe  Co.,  Ind.,  should  have  sent  a  specimen  of  tiie 
plant  which  causes  so  much  trouble.  It  cannot  be  the 
common  Wild  Morning  Glory,  which  grows  in  low, 
moist  ground,  and  which  we  never  have  seen  disposed  to 


encroach  upon  cultivated  land.  Perhaps  the  plant  is  the 
European  Bind  Weeil,  having  a  perennial,  creeping  root 
by  which  it  spreads  rapidly.  It  is  a  mistake  to  suppose 
that  particular  weeds  can  be  killed  by  some  specific  ap- 
plication, as  that  which  will  destroy  weeds  will  also 
kill  useful  plants.  Like  other  evils,  prevention  is  easier 
than  cure.  The  most  obstinate  weeds  are  easily  erad- 
icated when  young,  but  when  they  once  get  possession 
of  the  soil,  the  task  becomes  very  difficult. 

The  Cultivation  of  Peppermint. — 

"A  Subscriber,"  Butler  Co.,  Iowa,  thinks  Peppermint 
might  be  cultivated  with  profit,  if  there  were  a  regular  and 
steady  demand  for  the  oil.  The  plant  has  been  profitably 
cultivated  in  St.  Joseph  Co.,  Michigan,  which  has  during 
the  last  ten  years  produced  the  largest  portion  of  the  Oil 
of  Peppermint  used  in  the  world.  Not  only  our  own 
country,  but  Europe  has  been  largely  supplied  from  this 
quarter.  The  product  varies  greatly  in  different  seasons, 
and  the  price  fluctuates  accordingly.  The  amount  of  Oil 
produced  per  acre  ranges  from  1  to  20  pounds,  and  the 
price  from  $1.25  to  $4.00  per  pound. 

A  detailed  account  of  its  culture  may  be  found  in  the 
proceedings  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association 
for  1858. 


California  Milkweed. — T.  J.  D.  sends 
us  from  Sacramento  the  potls  of  a  species  of  Milkweed, 
[Asclepias)  suggesting  that  it  may  be  useful  to  paper- 
makers.  In  the  absence  of  leaves,  we  are  unable  to  iden- 
tify the  species,  but  the  pod  much  resembles  that  of  the 
common  mitkweed,  Asclepias  incarnata.  The  hairs  or 
down  upon  the  seeds  of  the  various  species  of  Milkweed 
are  among  the  articles  which  have  been  proposed  as  a 
substitute  for  the  ordinary  kinds  of  paper  stock.  We 
are  not  aware  that  any  experiments  have  been  tried  with 
it,  but  doubt  whether  it  has  sufficient  strength  of  fiber. 


CnD««-erl"oof — TTo  Several  Inquirers  : 

— Ginger  is  a  lender  plant  and  will  not  stand  our  winters, 
though  it  may  be  grown  in  the  open  ground,  by  taking  it 
into  the  Green-House  during  Winter,  and  giving  it  plenty 
of  water. 


"  I^ive  tor  Ever." — Scdum  Tclrphium. — This 
plant,  known  also  as  Orpine  and  Aaron's  Rod,  is  reported 
by  a  subscriber  in  Connecticut,  to  become  a  troublesome 
weed  in  some  localities.  If  any  of  our  readers  have  had 
any  experience  in  exterminating  it  we  shall  be  glad  to 
hear  from  them. 

Propagating  from  Diseased  Trees. 

— F.  G.  W  ilson,  New  London  Co.,  Conn.  Experienced 
nurserymen  object  to  propagating  by  grafting  with  cions 
from  diseased  trees. 

Trees  vs.  Flowers. — It  must  be  acknowl- 
edged that  tree-planting  has  this  superiority  over  the 
making  of  flower  gardens,  that  the  former  is  designed 
chiefly  for  the  benefit  of  a  succeeding  generation,  while 
the  latter  is  for  our  immediate  personal  gratification. 

•  Euonymim. — How   to  Propagate. — 

From  Fulsom,  Rockingham  Co.,  N.  H.  The  Enonymus 
atropurpureus,  called  the  Burning  Bush,  and  at  the  West 
the  Wahoo,  is  one  of  the  finest  of  our  native  shrubs,  being 
very  brilliant  in  autumn,  when  covered  with  its  scarlet 
fruit.  It  is  raised  both  from  seeds  (to  be  had  of  seedsmen), 
and  by  cuttings  or  layers.  Plants  of  this  as  well  as  of  the 
European  varieties  can  be  had  of  nurserymen  at  25  to  50 
cents  each. 


To  Enjoy  Your  Garden. — Keep  within 
your  means  :  both  in  respect  to  the  size  of  it,  and  the  la- 
bor, time  and  cost  of  keeping  it  in  good  order.  There  is 
a  great  deal  of  enjoyment  in  snugness. 

A.  Fragrant  Fancy.- — A  highfaJutin  cor- 
respondent of  a  certain  paper,  writing  from  his  garden- 
bower,  says:  "The  Chionanthus  fragrans  has  been,  for 
the  last  six  weeks,  covered  with  expanded  blossoms  in 
our  shrubbery  border.  It  hlooms  best  as  a  standard  bush. 
The  fragrance  not  only  perfumes  the  garden,  but  all  the 
neighborhood  ;  and  in  the  direction  of  the  wind,  (  a  gen- 
tleman informed  me,)  it  may  besme.lt  half  a  mile  off  I  At 
certain  seasons,  when  this  and  a  few  other  plants  are  in 
flower,  a  stranger  may  literally  smell  his  way  to  my  gar- 
den '."     Whew ! 

To  IHalce  a  Garden  Roller.—11  Mary," 
Vergennes,  Vt.  A  pretty  good  home-made  roller  can  be 
constructed  as  follows :  Take  a  straight  log  from  the 
forest,  say  2  feet  through,  and  IX  to  2  feet  long,  the  ends 
sawed  off  square ;  remove  the  bark,  and  fasten  into  a 
frame  by  means  of  iron  pins  in  the  center  of  each  end. 


This  will  answer  for  the  lawn  or  gravel  walk.  They  are 
sometimes  made  by  nailing  narrow  planks  upon  circular 
end  pieces,  the  edges  rounded  off  to  make  a  smooth  cir- 
cular surface,  and  a  box  of  stones  or  other  weight  fitted 
on  top.  If  of  pine  or  other  light  wood,  the  roller  can  be 
made  larger  in  diameter,  so  as  to  roll  more  easily  without 
being  too  heavy  for  hand  use. 


Double  Crocus.- In  reply  to  the  queries 
of  "  Hordeola,"  and  our  own  comments  in  the  November 
No.,  T.  J.  James,  M.  D.,  of  Rochester,  sends  to  Hordeo- 
la, through  us,  a  neat  box  containing  flowers  of  the  double 
Autumnal  crocus.  We  understood  Hordeola  asreferring 
especially  to  the  Spring  crocus,  but  the  Autumnal  is  very 
beautiful  and  rare. 

Case-Knife  and  Lima   Iteans.— Wm. 

R.  Davey,  Mass.,  asks  whether  the  Case-Knife  Beans 
can  be  improved  by  planting  the  large  Lima  among  them. 
Most  of  the  ordinary  Beans  are  varieties  of  the  same  spe- 
cies, and  will  cross  and  mix  freely,  while  the  Lima  is  a 
distinct  species,  and  will  not  do  so.  As  the  large  Lima 
does  not  succeed  in  his  locality,  we  recommend  him  to 
try  the  small  Lima;  by  starting  them  in  a  frame  upon 
pieces  of  sod,  and  not  planting  out  until  settled  warm 
wealher,  they  have  succeeded  in  a  much  colder  locality 
than  Massachusetts. 


Chili  Potatoes.— Large  Yield.— Geo. 

Nichols,  of  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  writes  that  he  obtained 
from  4  "  Chili  Potatoes"  a  yield  of  42  lbs',  probably  re- 
fers to  the  "Garnet  Chili."  They  were  cut  inlo  pieces 
with  two  eyes  each,  and  planted  w  ithout  any  unusual  pre- 
paration of  the  soil.  We  have  had  two  years'  experience 
with  this  very  productive  variety,  but  found  it  always 
hollow  in  the  centre.    Have  others  found  similar  trouble  ? 

Rig*  Bassano  Iteet. — Isaac  Beemer,  of 
Litchfield,  N.  J.,  reports  fine  success  with  this  variety  of 
Beet  from  seeds  received  from  the  office  of  the  Agricul- 
turist. One  of  his  specimens  measured  26  inches  in  cir- 
cumference, and  asksif  any  one  can  beat  that  Beet.  He 
recommends  planting  in  a  seed-bed,  and  transplanting, 
and  thinks  it  is  not  generally  known  that  Be  ets  may  be  as 
readily  transplanted  as  cabbage. 


Topping-  or  Facing.—"  C.  C,"  of  James- 
burg,  N.  J.,  says  we  must  not  spare  the  "  little  sins,"  us 
some  are  inclined  to  call  the  deception  used  in  "  topping  " 
or  "facing,"  apples,  potatoes,  etc.  He  regrets  that  the 
practice  has  become  so  common,  that  words  are  even 
coined  to  express  it,  and  thinks  that  the  corruption  in 
government  even  may  be  traced  back  to  such  beginnings. 
We  recently  saw  a  striking  instance.  A  very  poor  lame 
man  had  managed  to  get  togther  money  enough  to  buy  a 
basket  of  apples  to  peddle.  He  took  the  basket  from  a 
barge  at  the  wharf,  brought  it  upon  his  back  with  much 
exertion  for  him,  and  sat  down  near  our  door  to  com- 
mence business.  The  first  two  layers  were  fine  fair  ap- 
ples, but  all  below  them  were  hard,  gnarly  specimens  that 
a  pig  would  squeal  over.  Instead  of  making  a  profit,  the 
poor  man  lost  half  of  all  the  money  he  had  in  the  world. 
That  was  at  least  one  degree  below  stealing. 


Parasites. — Those  plants  which  live  upon 
the  juices  of  other  plants,  are  of  two  kinds:  Those 
which  take  the  crude  or  ascending  sap,  and  those  which 
live  upon  the  elaborated  or  descending  sap.  The  former 
receive  the  crude  sap  and  elaborate  it  in  their  own 
green  leaves,  and  can,  like  the  Misletoe,  live  upon  widely 
different  plants,  while  the  others,  living  on  material  al- 
ready prepared  for  them,  are  without  green  foliage,  and, 
like  the  Beech  Drops,  are  always  found  on  the  same  or 
closely  related  species. 


Sweet  Potatoes  for  Co  flee.— E.  Still- 
well,  of  Monmouth  Co.,  N.  J.,  sends  us  a  sample  of 
Sweet  Potatoes  prepared  for  Coffee  according  to  the  fol- 
lowing directions:  "Wash  the  potatoes  clean,  cut  into 
thin  slices,  dry  in  the  sun  or  an  oven,  and  then  roast  the 
same  as  coffee.  For  12  persons,  take  %  cup  of  ground 
coffee,  and  ZA  cup  of  roasted  potatoes  not  ground  but  left 
in  slices,  and  add  water  in  the  usual  manner."  We  tried 
the  sample'as  directed,  and  find  it  of  fair  quality,  but 
having  a  little  more  coffee  taste  than  the  mixture  of  rye  and 
coffee  more  common  in  the  market.  The  potatoes  may 
have'been  roasted  a  little  too  much  in  this  instance.  Po- 
tatoes too  small  for  ordinary  cooking  can  be  used  thus. 


Extract  of  Flcsli,  or  Solidified*  Beef 

Tea. — This  articie  is  recommended  not  only  for  use  in 
hospitals,  but  as  a  concentrated  and  readily  portable  food 
for  soldiers.  It  is  prepared  by  chopping  beef,  free  from 
fat  and  bones,  as  if  for  sausage  meat,  and  mixing  it  with 
its  own  weight  of  cold  water.    It  is  then  slowly  heated  to 


8 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[January, 


boiling,  and  allowed  to  boil  one  or  two  minutes.  The 
liquid  portion  obtained  by  squeezing  in  a  cotton  cloth,  is 
then  evaporated  to  dryness.  The  evaporation  should  be 
done  carefully,  by  placing  the  vessel  in  another  larger  one 
containing  hot  water.  Half  an  ounce  of  this  extract  rep- 
resents a  pound  of  fresh  beef,  and  when  dissolved  in  a 
pint  of  water,  makes  a  strong  and  nourishing  soup.  Peo- 
ple at  the  West,  where  beef  is  so  cheap,  can  readily  pre- 
pare a  valuable  nutriment  for  their  friends  in  the  army. 

designating:  Nails— Why  *'I*eniiy?" 

— "  L.  F.  P. /'inquires  of  the  Agriculturist,  why  common 
nails  are  designated  sixpenny,  eightpenny,  etc. — The 
word  penny  appears  to  be  a  corruption  of  the  wordpound. 
Nails  were  counted  by  the  six  score  (120),  and  by  the 
great  score  or  1200.  Sixpenny  nails  were  those  of  a  size 
to  weigh  six  pounds  to  th«  1200  ;  tenpenny  nails  those 
weighing  ten  pounds  to  the  1200 ;  and  so  of  other  sizes. 


Beolc    on     Skeletonizing:    Plants. — 

This  beautiful  art  has  been  several  times  referred  to  in 
the  American  Agriculturist,  and  some  illustrations  have 
been  given  with  a  brief  description.  It  consists  mainly 
in  preparing  leaves  and  capsules  of  plants  so  as  to  retain 
the  delicate  veins  and  fibrous  tissue  perfect,  but  bleached 
white.  Many  of  the  specimens  equal  in  beauty  the  most 
exquisite  tracery  in  marble.  The  essential  part  of  the 
process  is,  to  place  the  leaves,  etc.,  in  warm  water,  and 
then  let  them  lie  in  the  same  place  for  several  weeks  un- 
til the  skin  and  cellular  tissue  decay  so  that  they  can  be 
removed  with  a  soft  brush.  The  skeleton  is  then  bleached 
in  a  weak  solution  of  chloride  of  lime  or  other  bleaehing 
preparation.  The  art  may  well  be  practiced  by  every  lady 
at  very  little  outlay  of  time  or  expense  ;  the  specimens 
obtained  are  far  more  beautiful  than  the  most  elaborate 

ornaments  that  can  be  worked    with   the    needle. We 

have  received  from  the  Publishers  (Messrs.  Lippincott  & 
Co.,  Phila.,)  a  little  volume  of  50  pages  from  the  pen  of 
Dr.  Parish,  called  the  "Phantom  Boaqutt,"  describing  the 
process  particularly  and  giving  some  exquisite  engrav- 
ings of  prepared  leaves.  The  paper,  press  work,  and  il- 
lustrations are  admirable.  It  may  be  had  at  this  Office. 
Price  $1,  (which  includes  postage  when  sent  by  mail). 


Agricultural  College    of   Penn.-A 

pamphlet  of  63  octavo  pages  giving  a  succinct  history  of 
Agricultural  Colleges  generally,  and  of  this  one  in  partic- 
ular, has  been  sent  us  by  Dr.  Pugh,  the  President  of  the 
College.  It  opens  with  the  origin  of  agricultural  educa- 
tion In  Europe,  by  briefly  tracing  its  history  to  the  present 
time  ;  it  notices  the  several  attempts  to  found  agricultur- 
al colleges  in  this  country,  but  is  mainly  devoted  to  the 
history  of  the  Agricultural  College  of  Pennsylvania. 
.—This  Institution  has  been  full  during  the  session 
just  closed — 110  students  having  been  in  attendance.  The 
large  and  commodious  buildings  of  the  college  about  be- 
ing completed,  at  an  expense  of  over  $100,000,  will  be 
ready  for  students  next  year.  The  next  session  opens  on 
February  22.  Persons  wishing  further  particulars  can 
address  Dr.  E.  Pugh,  Agr.'l  College  P.  O.,  Center  Co.,  Pa. 


The  Itasket  Overflowing.— Our  cor- 
respondents will  please  have  patience.  The  paper  is 
full,  and  we  still  have  a  large  number  of  good  basket 
items,  as  well  as  other  articles  which  must  wait  for  room. 


Our  Seed  Distribution  for  1863. 

On  page  4  Js  a  list  of  seeds  offered  to  our  readers  this 
year  together  with  the  method  of  distribution.  The 
design  of  the  annual  distribution  is  simply  this :  With 
our  special  facilities  for  raising  and  purchasing  good 
seeds,  and  by  a  wholesale  system  of  operations,  we  are 
able  to  put  up  and  send  out,  at  an  expense  comparatively 
small  for  each  subscriber,  though  large  in  the  aggregate, 
a  few  parcels  of  choice  seeds,  either  new  or  specially 
valuable,  which  may  serve  as  germs  to  future  abundance 
in  each  locality  where  they  are  grown.  Most  of  the 
seeds  are  annuals,  and  will  therefore  multiply  rapidly. 
A  single  plant  of  some  varieties  will  yield  seed  enough 
for  two  or  three  plots  another  year,  and  by  the  next 
year  the  single  original  seed  may  supply  a  dozen  or  more 
neighbors. — Our  aim  is  not  to  furnish  a  seed  store  for 
those  accessible  to  good  seeds  and  able  to  buy  them,  but 
rather  by  the  free  presentation  of  a  few  seeds  w  here  they 
would  not,  or  could  not  be  purchased,  to  awaken  a  taste 
for  experiments,  and  for  the  cultivation  of  beautiful  and 
useful  plants.  We  introduce  seeds  of  many  common 
kinds,  mainly  for  the  benefit  of  those  living  remote  from 
any  access  to  good  seeds,  to  whom  they  will  prove  accep- 
table. Most  persons,  however,  will  find  in  the  list  some 
seeds  they  have  not  yet  met  with  or  at  least  have  not  tried. 

Explanations.—  We  regret  to    make  the  list  of   seeds 


smaller  than  it  has  been  in  past  years,  or  is  likely  to  be  in 
the  future,  and  also  to  limit  the  parcels  to  only  three  or 
four.  Nor  can  we  introduce  a  large  number  of  new 
seeds  inlended  for  this  year,  for  the  following  reasons  : 
First,  the  enormous  rise  in  the  cost  of  printing  paper, 
(see  page  3:1)  leaves  us  no  margin  of  profit  for  seed  ex- 
penses. 2d.  Several  plots  of  seeds  we  were  raising 
specially  for  distribution  turned  out  badly.  For  example, 
we  sowed  four  acres  of  an  imported  heavy  oat,  intending 
to  make  a  specially  large  distribution  of  the  seed.  They 
were  promising  finely,  but  just  before  filling  out,  a  furious 
wind  and  rain  storm  prostrated  and  literally  destroyed 
the  whole  crop.  3d.  While  in  Europe,  we  arranged 
with  several  parties  to  order  from  them,  if  desired,  an 
unusually  large  supply  of  extra  fine  seeds  of  many  new 
kinds.  But  the  duty  of  30  percent  added  to  imported 
seeds,  with  the  thirty  odd  per  cent  premium  upon  the 
money  in  which  the  duly  must  be  paid,  the  advance  of 
foreign  exchange  to  145  and  150,  and  other  increased 
expenses  of  importation  will  double  the  first  cost  which 
is  very  high  for  such  choice  seeds.  We  should  have  en- 
dured even  this,  however,  had  not  the' greatly  increased 
cost  of  our  paper  rendered  it  impractible,  without  raising 
the  subscription  price,  a  thing  we  do  not  wish  to  do. 

With  these  explanations,  we  present  the  list,  hoping 
that  it  will  be  more  than  acceptable  to  our  readers.  The 
supply  of  several  kinds  is  limited,  but  we  will  do  the 
best  we  can  under  the  circumstance,  begging  the  in- 
dulgence of  our  readers  if  we  are  unable  to  do  all  they 
would  desire. 


What  our  Agricultural  Bureau  ought  to  Do. 


"When  the  new  Agricultural  Bureau  was  pro- 
vided for  by  Act  of  Congress,  we  had  some  hopes 
that  good  would  corne  out  of  it.  That  the  Gen- 
eral Government  should  do  something — should 
do  mucji — to  foster  and  develop  the  greatest  in- 
terest of  our  country,  its  agriculture,  is  too  evi- 
dent to  require  argument.  That  no  change  for 
the  worse  could  he  made  upon  the  system  pur- 
sued during  several  years  past,  seems  almost 
equally  evident.  The  appointment  ofaheadto 
the  new  department  being  a  matter  of  so  much 
importance,  we  tried  to  indicate  to  the  President 
that  in  the  selection  of  the  Commissioner  he 
should  not  be  guided  by  his  kind  hearted  feel- 
ings, by  family  considerations,  or  by  impor- 
tunity, but  appoint  the  best  man,  the  one  of  the 
most  comprehensive  views,  of  activity,  ex- 
perience, administrative  talent,  and  enterprise. 
How  far  he  was  guided  by  such  considerations 
we  do  not  pretend  to  say.  The  appointment 
being  made,  we  determined  to  judge  of  it 
by  the  result  produced.  So  far  we  have 
waited  and  are  still  waiting  to  see  what  will  be 
done.  Any  real  good  accomplished  we  stand 
ready  to  approve.  Whatever  hints  we  may 
offer  to  the  gentlemen  in  charge  of  the  Bureau, 
are  therefore  given  in  the  kindest  spirit.  The 
Department  belongs  to  us,  in  common  with 
every  other  person  interested  in  the  agriculture 
of  the  country. 

What  ought  it  to  do  ?  First,  we  say,  that  it 
should  aim  at  investigation,  at  the  collection  of  in- 
formation and  statistics  which  can  not  be  attempted 
by  individuals.  To  illustrate :  The  distribution 
of  seeds,  excepting  those  of  rare  and  costly  char- 
acter, can  be  done  by  individuals.  Our  Agri- 
cultural Department  at  Washington,  has  been 
mainly  a  free  government  seed  store,  largely  de- 
voted to  collecting,  at  public  expense,  a  great 
number  of  seeds,  mostly  common,  and  of  good, 
bad,  and  indifferent  quality.  These,  together 
with  an  annual  volume  of  little  value,  have  been 
distributed  at  random  by  members  of  Congress 
as  political  instrumentalities.  It  is  well  for  the 
Government  Bureau  to  collect  rare  and  new 
seeds  from  other  countries,  and  test  their  utili- 
ty in  different  parts  of  our  own  country.  But 
this  should  be  only  incidental. 

Here  are  a  few  of  the  things  we  would  pro- 


pose for  the  attention  of  the  Agricultural  Bureau : 

I. — The  opening  of  a  comprehensive  and  sys- 
tematic correspondence  with  leading,  reliable, 
and  intelligent  cultivators,  at  least  one  in  each 
county  in  the  United  States,  after  the  plan  of 
M'Killop's  commercial  agency  in  this  city.  At 
that  agency  one  can  learn,  on  the  instant,  the 
exact  status,  the  financial  condition  of  any  bus- 
iness man  in  the  entire  country.  Such  a  sys- 
tem of  government  correspondence  would  ena- 
ble the  Agricultural  Bureau  to  gather  prompt 
information  on  any  topic  of  general  interest. 

II. — The  collection  of  accurate  early  infor- 
mation from  the  whole  country  in  regard  to  the 
amount,  condition  and  prospects  of  the  growing 
crops.  This  information  to  be  gathered  fre- 
quently during  the  growing  season,  say  from 
May  to  September,  and  the  general  result  to  be 
published  for  the  guidance  of  both  farmers  and 
commercial  men,  and  to  be  given  to  the  public 
at  once — not  a  year  afterwards  when  of  no  par- 
ticular value.  The  special  announcement  by 
telegraph,  that  "full  returns  to  the  Agricultural 
Bureau  indicate  a  given  amount  of  wheat  or 
corn  growing,  and  that  the  prospects  at  a  given 
date  indicated  an  average  or  a  deficient  or  a  sur- 
plus yield,"  would  be  hailed  by  all  classes  as 
something  tangible  and  useful. 

III. — A  thorough  discussion,  founded  on  com- 
prehensive and  general  information,  of  two  or  three 
leading  crops,  each  year.  To  illustrate:  Grass, 
or  the  forage  crop,  is  the  most  important  one 
of  the  country.  Could  not  the  Bureau  of  Agri- 
culture,  with  its  facilities,  set  on  foot  and  carry 
out  an  investigation  which  would  tell  us  defin- 
itely :  what  are  the  peculiar  characteristics  of  the 
Blue  Grass  regions  of  Kentucky,  and  into  what 
other  portions  of  the  country  that  grass  might  be 
introduced  with  advantage;  what  kind  of  grass 
proves  to  be  the  best  for  prairie  soils  in  the 
different  localities,  and  why ;  and  the  same  of 
clay  soils,  loams,  bottom  lands,  etc.,  in  the  va- 
rious climates,  and  at  different  elevations  ; 
the  relative  value  of  timothy,  clover,  lucerne,  red- 
top,  etc.,  for  growing  cattle,  working  animals, 
dairy  purposes,  also  for  horses,  sheep,  etc. 
The  information  should  not  be  an  Essay  for  the 
Report,  at  so  many  dollars  per  column,  by  one 
man,  founded  on  his  own  limited  observation,  but 
it  should  embrace  the  results  of  a  collection  of 
reliable  information  from  the  whole  country.  Let 
the  whole  force  of  the  Department  be  coneen- 
•  trated  upon  one,  two,  or  three  crops  a  year,  ac- 
cording to  its  facilities  for  doing  it  thoroughly. 

IV. — The  introduction  and  testing  of  new 
seeds  and  plants.  The  present  system  is  wholly 
wrong.  It  is  worse  than  useless  to  collect  a 
great  mass  of  seeds,  and  scatter  them  broad-cast 
over  the  land,  at  the  caprice  of  Congressmen 
who  use  them  at  random  as  electioneering  or 
political  appliances.  Let  the  Department  se- 
cure amoderate  supply  of  several  new  seeds  and 
put  a  portion  into  the  hands  of  a  few  persons  of 
known  skill  and  enterprise,  in  a' sufficient  num- 
ber of  localities  to  make  the  experiment  gener- 
al for  the  whole  country,  and  let  careful  returns 
of  the  results  be  obtained  and  published.  A 
hundred  parcels  of  seed  thus  tested,  would  fur- 
nish more  information  than  a  million  parcels 
scattered  promiscuously.  One  or  two  hundred 
specimens  of  a  new  plant  thoroughly  tried  in  as 
many  localities,  would  be  amply  sufficient  to  test 
its  value,  and  the  results  obtained  from  their 
careful  trial  in  judicious  hands,  and  under 
specific  instructions,  would  be  decisive. 

The  above  are  a  few  suggestions  we  would 
offer  to  the  managers  of  the  new  Bureau  of  Ag- 
riculture.    We  may  arid  others  hereafter. 


1803.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


9 


END    OF    THE 

The  above  sketch  by  our  German  artist,  A. 
Hochstein,  is  designed  as  a  sequel  to  the  picture 
of  last  month,  in  which  two  litigants  were  tugging 
with  all  their  might,  the  one  at  the  horns  and 
the  other  at  the  tail  of  a  cow,  while  a  lawyer 
was  quietly  seated  upon  a  pile  of  books,  draw- 
ing his  fees  (mills.)  We  have  here  the  final  re- 
sult of  the  suit.  The  cow  is  wasted,  her  flesh 
has  gone  into  the  milk  pail — and  the  milk  has 
been  required  to  sustain  judges,  lawyers,  sher- 
iffs, jurors,  witnesses,  etc.  The  contestants  arc 
unusually  lucky  if  they  have  not  wasted  the 
ralue  of  half  a  dozen  other  cows,  to  say  noth- 
ing of  loss  of  time  and  strength.  The  original 
cause  of  the  lawsuit  was,  or  might  have  been, 
(for  we  have  known  of  just  such  a  case,)  a  differ- 
ence of  recollection  as  to  whether  the  cow  was 
sold  to  "come  in"  about  the  first  of  May,  or  after 
that  date,  the  purchaser  refusing  to  pay  without 
a  reduction  of  $3  for  loss  of  milk  during  eight 
weeks.  The  illustration  is  not  aimed  at  the  legal 
profession  per  se,  for  we  are  free  to  say  that  it  is 
an  honorable  one,  when  honored  by  its  members. 
Below  we  give  place  to  one  of  several  protests 
from  the  profession,  which  spiritedly,  and  in  the 
main  justly,  sets  forth  its  value,  importance,  and 
dignity,  and  we  need  add  nothing  more  on  that 
point.  The  writer  admits  the  prevalence  of 
just  what  our  illustrations  are  intended  to  dis- 
courage, viz. :  a  propensity  to  run  into  litigation 
about  every  real  or  fancied  difference  of 
opinion  concerning  property  rights.  We  re- 
commend our  legal  friends  who  protest  so 
Strongly  against  our  last  month's  engraving,  to 
read  the  article  appearing  with  the  original  il- 
lustration in  the  September  Agriculturist,  1859, 
(vol.  18,  p.  265.)  We  repeat  a  few  paragraphs : 
"  The  picture  portrays  the  character  of  very 
many  of  the  lawsuits  carried  on  in  our  country. 
So  long  as  the  cow  gives  milk,  it  will  be  required 
for  'expenses,' and  when  this  fails,  the  worth- 
less carcass  of  the  animal  may  perhaps  be  ob- 
tained by  the  litigant  who  has  the  most  money,  or 
the  greatest  physical  endurance — each  of  them 
having  in  the  mean  time  sacrificed  the  entire  use 


LAWSUIT-DIVISION    OF 

{Designed  and  Engraved  for  the  American  Agriculturist.) 
of  the  cow,  and,  besides,  time  and  strength  enough 
to  have  acquired  half  a  dozen  better  animals. 
"  With  most  men,  the  first  impulse,  on  having 
a  slight  difference  with  a  neighbor,  is,  to  '  go  to 
law  about  it.'  To  submit  the  case  quietly  to  the 
arbitration  of  disinterested  persons,  and  yield  to 
their  decision,  would  not  quite  satisfy  the  digni- 
ty, nay,  the  belligerent  propensity  of  the  parties. 
How  few  men,  comparatively,  there  are,  who 
have  lived  forty  years  without  having  '  been  in 
court '  one  or  more  times.  And  how  few  are 
the  instances  where  even  the  victorious  party 
has  not  lost  more  than  has  been  gained — in  time, 
worry  of  mind,  expenses — to  say  nothing  of  the 
trouble  entailed  upon  others  who  have  been 
drawn  into  the  conflict  as  witnesses,  interested 
spectators,  jurymen,  etc.  We  have  a  vivid  re- 
collection of  being  called  from  pressing  business 
to  go  fifteen  miles  to  attend  '  county  court,'  and 
of  waiting  four  whole  days  to  give  evidence  as  a 
witness,  in  a  case  of  which  we  personally  knew 
nothing;  and  to  cap  the  climax,  the  case  was 
'adjourned  over'  three  months,  when  two  days 
more  were  consumed  in  waiting.  Our  protesta- 
tions that  we  knew  nothing  of  importance,  and 
that  all  we  did  know  was  hearsay,  amounted  to 
nothing  with  those  in  eager  fray.  The  idea 
seemed  to  be  that  that  side  would  be  the  strongest 
which  could  bring  the  most  persons  on  the  stand  as 
witnesses,  and  so  with  more  than  twenty  others 
we  danced  attendance.  The  whole  amount  at 
issue  was  less  than  our  individual  loss  of  time 
in  one  of  the  days  spent  at  court.  We  received 
in  return  one  shilling  (12i  cents!)  'in  advance.1 

"  There  is  no  doubt  that  most  persons  who 
would  first  sit  down  and  count  the  cost  of  a  suit 
at  law,  would  be  deterred  from  litigation,  but 
for  a  feeling  of  false  dignity.  'I  would  expend 
the  last  cent  before  I  would  allow  him  to  tram- 
ple on  my  rights,'  is  the  common  expression. 

"  But  the  pecuniary  loss,  serious  as  it  often 
may  be,  is  not  the  worst  feature  in  the  business. 
The  hatred  engendered,  and  bad  passions  nour- 
ished, re-act  sadly  upon  the  parties  engaged. 
Said  one   who  had  finally  obtained  his  suit, 


THE    PROPERTY. 


involving  a  large  amount,  and  one  which  he 
could  ill  afford  to  lose :  '  Had  I  foreseen  the 
anxiety  and  vexation  I  have  suffered  from  this 
business,  I  would  have  given  a  receipt  in  full  for 
the  amount,  rather  than  have  commenced.' 
Many  others  will  bear  the  same  testimony. 
There  are  cases  where  it  is  positive  duty  to  in- 
voke the  aid  of  law  to  secure  or  preserve  rights, 
but  reason,  not  passion,  should  preside  when 
such  interests  are  involved. — If  any  of  our  read- 
ers are  tempted  to  indulge  in  'law,'  let  them 
first  give  this  picture  a  careful  study,  and 
then  inquire  if  it  will  not  be  better  to  lose 
the  milk  at  once,  than  to  hold  the  cow  with 
might  and  main,  for  an  indefinite  period,  and  in 
the  end  find  all  the  labor  lost." 

We  are  happy  to  say  that  we  have  but  slight 
obligations,  good  or  bad,  to  cancel  with  our 
legal  friends.  We  have  got  along  more  than 
forty  years  without  being  actually  called  into 
court  as  a  defendant  or  plaintiff,  and  hope  to  be 
equally  fortunate  the  rest  of  our  days.  A  libel 
suit,  claiming  $10,000  damages  against  us,  for  an 
article  cautioning  our  readers  against  land  spec- 
ulators, was  commenced  some  three  years  since, 
but  the  parties  failed  to  intimidate  us  into  si- 
lence, though  the  complaint  is  still  on  file  in 
some  court.  Our  good  legal  friend,  Wm.  E. 
Robinson,  Esq.,  put  in  a  rejoinder  which  (thanks 
to  his  legal  skill,  and  in  this  ease  legal  brevity,) 
seems  to  have  set  the  matter  at  rest. 

But  we  will  now  give  room  to  our  able  and 
worthy  friend  to  put  in  his  rejoinder  to  our 
pictures.  Adhering  to  our  rule  not  to  contest  'a 
case'  if  to  be  avoided,  we  make  no  response,  but 
submit  the  whole  matter  to  the  jury  of  readers. 

LAW,    LAWYERS,   AND   LAWSUITS. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist  : 

I  have  taken  and  read  your  paper  for  half  a  dozen 
years  or  more,  and  prize  it  highly.  It  has  dona 
much  to  change  my  homestead  from  a  email  city 
lotto  a  twenty  acre  farm  in  the  suburbs  of  New- 
Haven.  Tou  have  contributed  not  a  little  to  my 
stock  of  horticultural,  agricultural  and  pomologi- 
cal  Knowledge.     Warmed  by  your  enthusiasm  I 


10 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[January, 


hnvehad,  at  different  times  and  with  various  degrees 
ol'  intensity,  the  pear  fever,  the  berry  fever,  the 
poultry  fever,  and  the  hog  fever — to  say  nothing  of 
other  distempers.  From  some  of  them  I  have  not 
yet  entirely  recovered.  I  have  reproached  myself 
al  times  for  not  giving  you  something  of  my  ex- 
perience, for  he  who  always  receives  and  never  re- 
ciprocates, is  liable  to  be  suspected  of  selfishness. 
Butpressure  of  other  duties  has  thus  far  prevented. 

I  belong  to  the  best  abused  and  the  least  defend- 
ed profession  in  the  world— the  Legal— having  been 
a  member  of  it  for  upwards  of  sixteen  years,  during 
which  time  I  have  had  my  full  share  of  business, 
and  all  the  professional  success  to  which  I  was  en- 
titled. I  mention  it  not  egotistically,  but  only  to 
enable  you  to  see  that  I  ought  not  to  be  ignorant 
of  the  subject  about  which  I  purpose  to  write. 

A  well  digested  system  of  just  and  equitable  laws, 
and  courts  of  justice  to  properly  enforce  aud  ad- 
minister them,  are  absolutely  indispensable  for  the 
security  of  life,  liberty,  and  property.  No  civilized 
community  can  exist  without  them.  Destroy  them 
in  this  eouutry  to-day,  and  we  will  relapse  into  bar- 
barism with  a  fatal  rapidity  unequalled  by  our  won- 
derful  progress  thus  far  in  all  that  constitutes  na- 
tional greatness.  The  confidence  and  security  with 
which  we  lie  down  and  sleep  at  night,  in  both  city 
and  country,  is  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  protect- 
ing shield  of  law  is  above  and  around  us,  and  that 
we  have  courts  to  redress  our  wrongs.  I  will  not 
enlarge  upon  this — its   truth  will   be   admitted   by 

every  oue  who  will  pause  to  think  and  reflect. 

«  This  being  the  case  then,  every  one  engaged  in  the 
work  of  ridiculing  the  tribunals,  and  their  officers, 
which  are  constituted  for  the  purpose  of  adminis- 
tering justice  between  man  aud  man,  is  prosecuting 
a  very  bad  business.  His  blows  are  aimed  at  the 
pillars  of  the  State.    He  stabs  at  the  nation's  life. 

In  your  December  No.  you  illustrate  your  idea  of 
lawsuits  by  a  picture  which  is  a  fair  caricature  of 
some  lawsuits,  and  of  some  lawyers  and  their  clients. 
[Exactly  what  we  designed  it  to  be. — Ed.]  It  may 
in  some  cases  do  good — in  many  its  tendency  will 
be  bad,  if  it  prevents  your  readers  from  obtaining 
ihat  justice  to  which  they  are  entitled,  and  which 
they  can  not  have,  except  through  the  agency  of  the 
courts.  There  is  much  litigation  that  might  aud 
should  be  avoided.  It  is  equally  true  that  there  is 
much  that  should  be  encouraged.  Sweeping,  indis- 
criminate censure  of  lawsuits  and  lawyers  is  an  easy 
matter.  Any  one  can  do  it.  It  is  much  easier  than 
just  and  fair  discriminations.  Such  reformers  need 
to  he  themselves  reformed.  They  trim  dead  and 
diseased  branches  by  cuttiug  down  the  tree  at  the 
root.  Tour  picture  is  of  this  character.  No  line  or 
word  gives  to  yonr  many  readers  the  fact  that  your 
illustration  is  a  truth  only  as  it  describes  exception- 
al eases,  aud  that  it  is  a  monstrous  falsehood  so  far 
as  it  conveys  the  idea  that  our  courts  and  lawyers 
are  engaged  not  in  the  god-like  employment  ol  ad- 
ministering justice  between  man  aud  man,  but  in 
extorting  money  unjustly  from   credulous   clients. 

The  picture  you  say  has  already  caused  some  cli- 
ents to  settle  their  cases  by  compromises.  If  so,  it 
by  no  means  follows  that  they  were  wisely  settled. 
Vet  you  conclude  such  was  the  case  without  know- 
ing apparently  the  facts.*  An  insurance  company 
refused  to  pay  a  widow  $2000  upon  a  policy  which 
she  held  upon  her  late  husband's  life.  I  helped  to 
recover  for  her  a  verdict  of  over  S:il00  for  debt,  in- 
terest, and  costs.  She  had  two  lawyers,  and  the 
case  was  taken  to  the  court  of  errors  by  the  com- 
pany, and  there  abandoned,  leaving  the  verdict  of 
the  jury  in  force.  After  my  associate  and  myself 
had  received  all  the  "  milk"  we,  wanted,  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  paying  to  the  happy  widow  over  $3000, 
Now,  while  the  case  was  pending,  had  she  seen  your 

[*Here  is  one  of  the  oases.  Two  neighbors  in  this  State 
had  commenced  a  suit  about  a  cow  which  promised  to  be 
u  long  one.  They  happened  at  the  Post  Office  in  a  coun- 
try store,  as  the  Agriculturist  arrived,  to  which  they  Vvere 
both  Subscribers.  Each  opened  his  paper  and  saw  the 
engraving.  They  laughed  over  it,  approached  each  oilier 
in  good  humor,  and  settled  their  difficulty  on  the  spot  by 
rqutuai  concession  and  agreement.  They  sent  us  a  re- 
port, and  we  shall  not  tell  how  large  n.  fee  was  presented 
tou^  in  acknowledgment  ,,1 1,  -al  ^i  vices  rendered. — Ed.] 


illustration  of  the  beauties  of  litigation,  and  com- 
promised her  claim  for  $1000  by  reason  of  it,  you 
would  have  had  another  opportunity  of  congratu- 
lating your  readers  upon  the  happy  iufiuence  your 
picture  was  exerting  in  diminishing  and  settling 
suits.  But  your  picture  would  have  cost  the  poor 
widow  $1000  in  cleau  cash !  I  would  recommend 
this  case  to  your  "artist."  I  could  till  many  num- 
bers of  your  paper  with  other  instances  that  have 
come  under  my  observation,  illustrating  the  same 
great  truth,  but  it  is  unnecessary. 

To  rush  into  litigation  to  redress  every  little  real 
or  imagined  wrong  would  lie  foolish,  and  there  is 
in  my  judgment  no  class  of  men  in  the  eommuuity 
who  do  so  much  to  discourage  it  as  the  lawyers.  I 
have  had  abundant  opportunities  of  knowing  this 
is  true  of  the  attorneys  of  this  State  as  a  body,  and 
I  believe  it  true  of  every  other  State.  The  most 
unselfish  advice  to  settle  and  to  quietly  submit  to 
little  wrongs,  is  given  constantly  by  the  men  who 
are  so  liberally  maligned.  [Such  men  we  admire 
aud  honor — if  there  were  not  many  exceptions,  t  here 
would  have  been  no  occasion  for  our  picture. — Ed.] 
A  bad  man  loses  his  case  and  he  abuses  the  law- 
yers. A  rogne  is  convicted  of  crime,  and  he  curses 
the  courts.  A  man  wishes  to  be  a  villain  and  is 
afraid  of  justice — he  thinks  society  would  be  im- 
proved if  «he  law  books  were  all  consumed.  A  wit- 
ness, bribed  or  biassed,  has  his  falsehoods  exposed 
on  the  cross-examination,  anil  he  hides  or  tries  to 
hide  his  dishonor  by  a  prodigal  abuse  of  the  legal 
fraternity.  A  political  editor  having  large  self  es- 
teem, a  longing  for  office,  and  a  narrow-minded 
jealousy,  delights  to  ridicule  and  stab  the  legal  pro- 
fession, some  of  whose  members  he  imagines  are  a 
little  in  his  way.  Aud  sometimes  a  clergyman,  who 
has  failed  as  a  lawyer,  prefers  to  place  ins  change  of 
employment  upon  the  ground  that  he  is  too  good 
a  man  for  so  bad  a  business.  Aud  now  and  then  the 
editor  of  an  agricultural  paper  pauses  in  his  enthu- 
siastic admiration  of  fat  pork  and  poultry,  large 
cows,  cabbages  and  eolts,  to  circulate  libeis  upon 
one  of  the  most  laborious  and  useful  professions. 
[Is  the  holding  up  to  ridicule  the  practices  of  those 
foolish  men  whom  good  lawyers  themselves  try  to 
keep  out  of  the  law,  auy  "  libel  "  upon  the  profes- 
sion ?— Ed.] 

In  the  meantime  the  lawyers  as  a  body  smile  at 
the  narrow-minded  folly  of  their  assailants,  and  an- 
swer by  a  dignified  silence.  I  stand  almost,  if  not 
entirely,  alone  in  attempting  a  reply.  I  do  it  in  part 
to  pay  a  debt,  for  I  feel  that  I  owe  you  an  article  or 
two.  Another  time  I  will  select  a  subject  more  ap- 
propriate to  your  columns.  Fair  Play. 

New-Haven,  Conn.,  Dec.  1,   1862. 


Treatment  of  Wounds  in  Animals. 

A  correspondent  inquires  for  directions  as  to 
the  best  treatment  of  flesh,  wounds  in  animals, 
what  salve  or  liniment  should  be  used,  etc.  It 
is  a  mistaken  notion  that  any  plaster,  salve,  lini- 
ment, or  other  nostrum,  will  heal  a  wound.  The 
divided  parts  must  grow  together  by  the  action 
of  vital  power  in  the  flesh  itself.  The  most  we 
can  do  in  the  matter  is,  to  place  the  separated 
portions  under  the  most  favorable  position  for 
milling,  and  then  let  nature  work.  Of  oourse 
Hie  liny  of  blood  must  first,  be  stopped.  ..tluless 
some  large  blood  vessel  lias  been  wounded, 
bleeding  will  usually  soon  cease.  If  however 
it  continues  long,  aud  especially  if  the  blood 
be  of  a  bright  red  color,  and  comes  out  by 
jets  or  spirts,  showing  that  an  artery  is  di- 
vided, prompt  measures  are  necessary,  usually 
requiring  some  surgical  skill.  It  is  sometimes 
needful  to  hold  open  the  edges  of  the  wound,  find 
the  ends  of  the  blood  vessel,  and  tie  them  with 
strong  white  silk,  leaving  the  silk  long  enough 
to  hang  out  of  the  wound.  In  less  severe  cases, 
the  application  of  cold  water,  or  of  alum  water, 
or  pressure,  will  aid  in  stopping  hemorrhage. 

In  a  simple  cut,  it  is  not  necessary  to  cleanse 


the  wound  from  blood.  Its  coagulation  will  aid 
in  the  healing  process,  if  the  parts  can  be 
brought  together  and  kept  in  contact.  Foreign 
substances,  a3  dirt,  splinters,  etc.,  must  lie  re- 
moved before  a  cure  can  be  looked  for. 

When  bleeding  has  mostly  ceased,  firing  the 
parts  in  close  contact,  and  secure  them  by  nar- 
row strips  of  adhesive  plaster.  This  article, 
which  can  be  procured  at  any  druggist's,  should 
always  be  at  band.  If,  however,  the  laceration 
be  extensive,  it  will  be  necessary  to  sew  the 
parts  together.  Some  means  should  be  adopted 
to  prevent  displacement  of  the  parts,  after  heal- 
ing commences.  To  relieve  the  itching  and  ir- 
ritation, the  animal  will  endeavor  to  scratch  or 
rub  the  wound,  and  thus  often  make  it  worse 
than  at  first.  Bandages  are  useful,  where  they 
can  be  applied.  They  should  not  be  too  thick, 
for  fear  of  heating  and  consequent  inflamma- 
tion. The  animal  should  be  kept  entirely  quiet, 
and  the  diet  be  made  rather  low.  If  much  in- 
flammation appears  in  spite  of  these  precau- 
tions, an  occasional  moderate  dose  of  Glauber's 
salts,  together  with  the  application  of  cold  wa- 
ter to  the  wound,  will  check  it.  These  general 
directions  will  answer  for  wounds  not  severe 
enough  to  require  a  veterinary  surgeon.         * 


Imprisoned  Animals. 

Animals  need  shelter,  but  imprisonment  is 
neither  necessary  nor  beneficial.  The  horse 
and  cattle  stalls  in  too  many  instances  supply 
only  one  requisite,  viz.  :  warmth.  Animals  are 
frequently  penned  up  from  week  to  week,  in 
narrow  quarters,  reeking  with  filth  which  fills 
the  air  with  noxious  effluvia,  where  little  or  no 
light  can  enter,  as  though  they  were  undergoing 
punishment.  Now  even  the  best  accommoda- 
tions that  can  be  provided,  are  in  a  measure  Un- 
natural. Our  domestic  animals  at  the  North 
are  natives  of  warmer  climates,  where  they  are 
accustomed  to  roam  at  will  during  the  entire 
year.  Every  important  change  from  this,  their 
natural  condition,  will  more  or  less  interfere 
with  their  best  development,  If  abundant 
and  wholesome  food,  pure  air,  and  plenty  of 
light  be  supplied,  the  benefits  of  shelter  will 
more  than  counterbalance  the  loss  of  freedom. 

Confinement  of  animals  should  not  be  too 
strict.  Some  amount  of  exercise  is  indispensa- 
ble. The  horse  that  is  kept  standing  ou  the 
stable  floor  for  weeks,  will  be  troubled  with 
swollen  limbs,  loss  of  appetite;  will  be  likely  to 
acquire  the  habit  of  cribbing;  and  when  finally 
used,  will  over-exert  himself,  and  then  quite 
likely  be  laid  up  for  a  time  with  stiffened  mus- 
cles. Cattle  become  restless  and  feverish  Gram 
long  confinement,  and  will  not  lay  on  fat,  or 
give  a  full  flow  of  milk,  without  a  moderate 
amount  of  exercise  daily.  A  good  plan  is  to 
turn  them  loose  in  a  sheltered  yard  after  the 
first  feeding,  while  the  stables  are  being  cleaned. 
Animals  as  well  as  men  enjoy  a  change  of  place, 
and  with  these  their  health  and  comfort  are 
intimately  connected. 


Cure  for  Foot  Rot  in  Sheep. 

A.  A.  Qofij  Parmington,  Ohio,  contributes  to 
the  American  Agriculturist  the  following  prepara- 
tion for  curing  foot  rot  in  sheep,  which  he  says 
has  been  very  effective  in  his  neighborhood: 
"  Mix  o  oz.  each  of  blue  vitriol  (or  sulphate  of  cop- 
per), white  vitriol  (or  sulphate  of  '.'uc),  verdigris 
(or  acetate  of  copper),  and  gunpowder,  with  £ 
pint  each  of  alcohol,  spirits!  i  irpenliue,  and  strong 


1863.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


11 


vinegar.  Cork  lip  tightly  a  few  days  before 
using;.  It  is  easily  applied  from  a  vial  having  a 
quill  inserted  through  the  cork.  By  dropping 
this  mixture  into  the  affected  parts  three  times, 
once  in  ten  days,  a  cure  will  be  effected." 

One  of  the  ingredients  of  the  above  mixture, 
viz.:  sulphate  of  copper,  in  strong  solution,  has 
long  been  used  by  successful  sheep  owners,  as 
a  specific  for  the  cure  of  foot  rot.  Randall,  in 
his  work  on  Sheep,  details  numerous  cases 
cured  by  himself  with  this  treatment.  Wheth- 
er the  addition  of  the  other  articles  is  beneficial, 
we  are  in  doubt,  and  should  recommend  to  try 
it  only  after  the  sulphate  of  copper  had  failed. 

In  applying  either  remedy  it  is  essential  to 
pare  away  the  hoof  from  the  affected  parts  to 
get  at  the  diseased  tissues,  and  thoroughly  sat- 
urate them  with  the  liquid.  The  solution  of 
blue  vitriol  should  lie  used  as  hot  as  can  be 
borne  by  I  lie  hand.  Extended  directions  for  Hie 
treatment  of  this  disease  were  published  in  the 
Agrieultwi-ist,  Vol.  20,  page  141  (May  18G1). 

For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Raising  and  Training  Colts. 

The  earlier  in  life  the  education  of  any  ani- 
mal commences,  the  easier  will  be  its  train- 
ing and  the  more  certainly  will  its  habits  be 
fixed.  Horses  learn  most  of  their  vices  before 
they  are  three  years  old,  and  in  a  large  number 
of  instances  the  work  of  "breaking"  them  does 
not  commence  before  the  second  or  third  year. 

Begin  when  the  colt  is  one  month  old.  Put  on 
him  a  leather  or  web  halter,  without  the  hitch- 
ing strap.  Let  it  remain  there  and  you  will  have 
control  over  him  when  you  wish  to  handle  him. 
Have  a  leather  hitching  strap  with  a  buckle  or 
clasp  on  one  end,  to  fasten  into  the  halter  ring 
when  you  wish  to  lead  or  tie  the  colt.  Never 
tie  a  rope  or  a  rope  halter  around  the  neck.  Al- 
low the  colt  to  nibble  at  his  clam's  feed  while  she 
is  eating.  After  he  has  become  accustomed  to 
the  halter  and  to  being  led  about  and  handled, 
you  can  tie  him  alongside  of  his  dam  at  feeding 
time,  watching  him  the  first  time  to  prevent  his 
pulling  back,  and  afterward  if  he  shows  a  dispo- 
sition to  pull.  Never  speak  harshly  to,  or  abuse 
either  dam  or  colt.  You  can  do  more  by  kind, 
firm  treatment  than  by  abuse  of  any  kind. 

Wean  the  colt  at  his  seventh  month,  keeping 
him  out  of  sight  and  hearing  of  his  dam  for  several 
weeks.  Give  him  a  pint  of  good  oats  with 
plenty  of  sweet  hay  morning  and  evening,  also 
fresh  pure  water.  As  he  grows  larger,  increase 
his  feed,  always  giving  the  best,  Remember  the 
colt  is  now  forming  the  bones  and  muscles  upon 
which  his  future  usefulness  depends,  and  he 
cm\  not  form  strong,  solid  ones  without  good 
strong  feed  and  good  shelter.  Give  a  feed  of 
chopped  stuff  and  cut  straw  several  times  during 
tin'  week,  to  keep  his  system  cool,  and  to  pre- 
vent the  "lampas."  If  he  should  take  them, 
put  him  on  soil  feed,  occasionally  giving  him  a 
bran  mash,  until  the  lampas  disappear.  Keep 
the  colt  under  shelter  during  the  Winter  nights, 

:  1  on  stormy  days  and  nights  at  any  season  of 
the  vear.  A  loose  box  or  stable  in  which  he  can 
be  placed  without  tying,  is  best ;  next,  a  stall  six 
feet  wide  in  a  stable  well  lighted,  drained  and 
ventilated.  Have  a  ring  and  staple  driven  into 
the  manger  bar,  to  tie  to.  The  best  plan  for  ty- 
ing, is  to  pass  tlu:  halter  strap  through  the  ring 
mid  tie  it  to  a  small  weight,  heavy  enough  to  keep 
the  strap  always  drawn  tight.  Have  the  strap 
long  enough  for  the  colt  to  lie  down  with  his 
bead  flat  on  the  floor ;  the  weight  will  always 
keep  the  strap  stretched  so  that  he  can  not  get 


his  feet  over  it.  Keep  the  stall  well  littered  at 
night  and  perfectly  clean  during  the  day.  Do 
not  put  the  litter  under  the  manger  when  clean- 
ing out  the  stall  in  the  morning,  but  throw  it 
under  a  shed  outside  of  the  stable,  to  dry  before 
using  at  night.  The  ammonia  arising  from  the 
urine  decomposing  in  the  litter  is  very  injurious 
to  both  eyes  and  lungs.  Frequently  sprinkle 
some  good  deodorizer  on  the  floor  to  absorb  and 
destroy  all  noxious  gases.  Accustom  your  colt 
to  harness,  and  to  saddle  and  bridle,  by  putting 
them  on  frequently,  and  letting  them  remain  on 
for  a  half  hour.  Train  the  colt  without  blind- 
ers on  the  bridle.  Never  draw  the  check  rein 
tight.  For  fast  driving,  it  is  better  to  dispense 
with  it  entirely.  I  would  not  advise  an  inex- 
perienced person  to  use  the  bitting  bridle,  but 
if  used,  let  the  reins  be  loose.  If  possible,  it  is 
best  to  let  the  colt  run  until  three'  and  a  half 
years  old,  and  if  very  valuable,  until  five  years 
of  age  before  putting  to  regular  service.  You 
can  teach  the  colt  the  use  of  the  lines  before  he 
is  fit  for  service,  by  putting  on  a  surcingle  with 
rings  fastened  to  it,  two  thirds  down  each  side 
of  the  colt.  Put  the  reins  through  the  rings  and 
buckle  to  the  bridle.  Walk  behind  the  colt  and 
teach  him  the  use  of  the  lines.  The  rings  on 
the  surcingle  will  prevent  the  reins  from  slip- 
ping up  over  his  back  if  he  should  try  to  turn ; 
by  holding  your  hands  low,  it  is  impossible  for 
him  to  turn.  If  he  backs,  touch  him  lightly  with 
a  stiff  whip.  By  the  above  training  the  colt 
at  three  years  of  age  will  be  ready  to  put  to  light 
work,  though  I  would  advise  waiting  a  few 
months  longer.  The  subsequent  training  will 
depend  on  what  use  the  horse  is  intended  for. 
Alleghany  Co.,  Pa. 


R.  S.  W. 


Colvin's  American  Milking  Machine. 

Our  recent  files  of  English  papers  have  much 
to  say  of  this  apparatus.  The  Agricultural  Ga- 
zette sent  out  a  special  reporter  to  witness  re- 
cent trials  in  the  dairying  districts  of  England, 
and  a  single  number  of  that  journal  has  some 
ten  columns  upon  the  performance  of  the  ma- 
chine. The  inventor  appears  to  have  met.  much 
better  pecuniary  success  abroad  than  at  home. 

Two  or  three  years  since,  the  machine  was 
brought,  to  our  office  with  a  request  for  a  favor- 
able notice  in  the  Agriculturist.  It  did  not  seem 
to  us  to  meet  the  high  claims  made  by  the  in- 
ventor, and  before  deciding  as  to  its  merits,  we 
asked  permission  to  try  it  upon  our  own  place. 
This  was  not  acceded  to,  and  the  exhibitor  left, 
remarking  that  it  waa  all  right,  and  that  it 
would  be  sure  to  go  with  the  people  whether 
we  endorsed  it  or  not, 

At  the  recent  International  Exhibition  in  Lon- 
don, one  of  the  proprietors  was  on  hand  with 
the  apparatus,  where  its  novelty  immediately  at- 
tracted great  attention,  and  we  were  informed 
that  large  sales  were  made.  We  tried  to  wit- 
ness it  in  operation,  but  were  unable  to  be  pres- 
ent at  the  exhibition  at  the  right,  hour.  After  a 
very  careful  examination  of  the  apparatus  itself, 
our  previous  impressions  of  its  value  were  not 
changed.  The  machine  is  arranged  with  India- 
rubber  sockets  to  receive  the  cow's  teats,  and 
the  milk  is  drawn  out  by  an  ingeniously  con- 
structed pump  attached  to  the  pail.  If  such  an 
apparatus  can  do  the  work  well,  it  is  a  most  de- 
sirable invention,  but  we  fuel  strong  doubts  as 
to  its  practical  success.  The  operation  of  hand- 
milking  most  nearly  resembles  the  sucking  of 
the  calf,  and  is  therefore  likely  to  be  most  effec- 
tive. In  the  Agricultural  Gazette  reports,  it  is  ad- 


mitted that  the  cows  were  not  all  milked  clean, 
that  some  of  them  proved  refractoiy,  and  others 
held  up  their  milk.  These  objections  were 
met  with  the  excuse  that  November  is  not  the 
time  to  begin  with  the  machine,  after  the  cows 
have  been  hand-milked  all  Bummer;  that  in 
Spring  they  will  yield  more  readily.  If  this  ex- 
cuse be  admitted,  the  sales  will  probably  go  on 
in  England  during  the  Winter,  and  an  opportu- 
nity will  be  given  for  the  American  public  to 
learn  the  final  results.  We  are  quite  willing 
that  English  farmers  shall  be  at  the  expense  of 
the  doubtful  experiments,  and  that  the  manu- 
facturers there  shall  make  the  first  investments 
in  the  patent.  We  are  quite  ready  to  sa}'  a 
good  word  for  the  machine,  if  the  patentees  can 
show  by  fair  practical  experiments  that  cows 
can  be  milked  clean  with  it,  at  saving  of  labor. 


Feeding  Turkeys  in  'Winter. 

Where  corn  is  cheap,  and  the  bins  are  full, 
nothing  better  is  needed.  But  unfortunately 
many  who  like  roast  turkey,  have,  their  bins  near- 
ly empty,  where  corn  is  nearly  a  dollar  a  bush- 
el. These  birds  will  eat  longer  of  corn  than  of 
any  ol  her  food.  They  seem  never  to  get  enough 
of  it,  But  they  are  by  no  means  dainty  in  their 
diet,  and  will  eat  any  thing  coming  from  1he 
kitchen  that  a  pig  will  devour,  if  it  be  properly 
prepared.  They  will  work  up  the  refuse  mate- 
rial from  the  farm  and  garden,  about  as  well  as 
pigs. Boiled  potatoes,  fed  warm,  are  high- 
ly relished  by  them.  In  this  way  potatoes, 
that  are  too  small  for  marketing  and  for  seed, 
may  be  turned  into  roast  turkey  on  very  short 
notice.  If  the-parings  and  slops  from  the  kitch- 
en are  boiled  and  mashed  with  them,  it  is  all 
the  better.  But  they  need  a  variety  of  food, 
green  as  well  as  cooked,  in  order  to  thrive  most 
rapidly.  They  are  very  fond  of  cabbage,  and 
will  feed  upon  the  refuse  plants  that  have  not 
headed,  until  the  stumps  are  picked  bare.  If 
these  are  not  on  hand,  raw  turnips  chopped  up 
fine  will  be  readily  eaten.  They  need  also  some 
animal  food  to  promote  growth  in  Winter.  Beef 
scraps  from  the  tallow  chandlers  or  butchers  are 
as  highly  relished  as  by  hens.  Nothing  in  the 
way  of  animal  food  comes  amiss.  It  is  of  more 
importance,  that  the  food  should  be  abundant 
and  various,  than  that  it  should  be  select, 

In  fattening,  some  shut  them  up  in  a  room 
partially  darkened,  and  feed  with  scalded 
meal  and  pounded  charcoal ;  but  we  object 
to  the  confinement  of  the  turkeys.  It  is  almost 
impossible  to  keep  the  food  clean  and  to  prevent 
waste,  and  they  are  quite  as  restless  as  when 
they  have  their  liberty.  With  regular  full  feed- 
ing at  night  and  morning,  they  will  not  wander 
far  from  the  yard,  and  will  take  no  more  exer- 
cise than  will  be  for  their  health,  and  the  best 
flavor  of  the  flesh.  By  this  process  of  feeding, 
a  late  brood  of  turkeys  may  be  brought  up  and 
fattened  in  Winter,  without  any  serious  en- 
croachment upon  the  corn  bin.  With  turkey 
at  fourteen  cents  a  pound,  it  is  a  very  conveni- 
ent article  of  barter,  at  the  village  store,  and  not 
hard  to  dispose  of  in  the  home  market,  The  re- 
lief from  salt  junk  by  the  winter  feeding  of 
turkeys  is  immense. 


Questions  for  Quack  Doctors. — Will  eat- 
ing roast  duck  give  a  man  a  fowl  stomach  ?  And, 
if  so,  will  the  flesh  of  neat  cattle  be  a  good 
cleansing  agent?  Does  eating  green  corn  pro- 
duce huskiness  of  voice?  What  kind  of  hose 
should  be  used  for  corns,  particularly  where 
there    are    several    achers   under    cultivation  ? 


13 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Januabt, 


MALLORY    &    SANFORD'S 

Prospects  for  Flax  Culture— An  Improved 
Brake. 


The  long  and  prosperous  reiga  of  cotton  as 
king  of  textile  materials,  has  in  good  measure 
thrown  into  obscurity  the  plant  that  from  ear- 
liest history  gave  royal  robes  of  fine  linen  to 
monarchs  and  comfortable  apparel  to  their  sub- 
jects. In  the  memory  of  many  now  living,  no 
fanner's  stock  of  implements  was  complete  with- 
out the  flax  brake  and  the  hackle  at  the  barn, 
and  the  foot  spinning-wheel  by  the  fire-side, 
with  which,  and  the  loom,  were  wrought  from 
the  annual  crop,  clothing  for  the  present  use,  and 
for  the  daughters'  dowry.  It  is  consoling  to 
know  that  if  the  accustomed  supply  of  cotton 
be  cut  off  by  the  desolating  storm  of  war,  we 
have  yet  resources  which  have  in  former  times 
proved  adequate  to  furnish  the  necessities,  if  not 
all  the  luxuries,  of  late  years  supplied  by  the 
southern  staple.  Numerous  costly  experiments 
have  been  long  in  progress  to  discover,  if  possible, 
some  mode  of  treating  flax  to  render  it  capable 
of  taking  the  place  of  cotton,  and  though  the 
end  is  not  yet  fully  reached,  advancement  has 
been  made,  and  ultimate  success  is  not  hopeless. 
A  large  establishment  in  New-England  former- 
ly used  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  goods,  we 
believe,  has  recently  been  purchased  by  a  com- 
pany for  the  purpose  of  working  flax  on  cotton 
machinery,  under  new  patents,  for  the  produc- 
tion of  what  is  called  flax-cotton. 

But  even  if  flax  can  not  be  manipulated  so  as 
to  come  into  competition  with  cotton,  and  sup- 
posing the  supply  of  the  latter  to  be  fully  re- 
stored, there  is  ye.t  a  good  prospect  that  flax- 
growing  will  prove  remunerative.  The  supply 
of  the  staple  for  the  manufacture  of  linens  and 
other  fabrics  has  been  growing  more  and  more 
scanty  for  some  time  past.  A  year  or  two  since 
an  agent  was  sent  to  this  country  from  Great 
Britain  to  inquire  concerning  the  amount  pro- 
duced here,  and  to  take  measures  if  possible  to 
increase  the  breadth  of  land  devoted  to  this  crop. 
In  addition  to  the  call  for  flax  for  manufac- 
turing purposes,  the  seed  is  in  constant  request, 


IMPROVED  FLAX  BRAKE. 

and,  by  itself  alone,  is  considered  in  many  sec- 
tions as  good  a  paying  crop  as  wheat  or  corn. 
It  is  evident  that  to  make  flax-growing  pay 
well,  at  least  in  ordinary  times,  it  is  neces- 
sary to  employ  improved  machinery  in  pre- 
paring the  fiber  for  market.  Flax-dressing  by 
hand  is  too  slow  to  be  profitable.  Mills  in  va- 
rious parts  of  the  country  are  ready  to  perform 
this  work,  but  they  can  serve  for  only  a  limit- 
ed area ;  flax  in  the  straw  is  too  bulky  to  allow 
of  distant  transportation.  On  account  of  this 
difficulty  the  fiber  has  been  wholly  neglected  in 
large  districts  where  the  plant  is  cultivated,  and 
only  the  seed  has  been  saved,  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  oil.  We  have  recently  examined  a  new- 
ly invented  flax-brake  intended  to  meet  this 
want,  which  if  successful  will  do  much  to  stim- 
ulate flax  culture.  The  machine  is  shown  in  the 
above  engraving.  It  consists  of  a  series  of 
fluted  iron  rollers,  seen  at  the  top,  between 
which  the  flax  is  drawn  from  the  feeding  board. 
A  peculiar  vibratory  motion  is  given  to  the 
rollers  by  means  of  ingeniously  arranged  gear- 
ing seen  near  the  base  of  the  machine,  which 
causes  the  flax-straw  to  pass  repeatedly  back 
and  forth  between  the-rollers,  and  it  comes  out 
with  the  "  boon  "  or  woody  part  so  thoroughly 
broken  that  a  very  large  part  of  it  (64  per  cent, 
it  is  claimed)  can  be  readily  shaken  out  of  the 
fiber  without  any  further  dressing.  Machines 
for  a  similar  purpose  are  already  in  operation 
at  flax  mills,  but  they  require  trained  workmen 
to  tend  them,  greater  power  to  work  them,  they 
leave  a  large  part  of  the  "  shoove  "  or  broken 
straw  mixed  with  the  fiber,  and  their  operation 
is  not  without  danger  to  the  workmen.  Nu- 
merous iustauces  of  the  loss  of  an  arm  have  oc- 
curred to  inexperienced  operators.  The  Mal- 
lory  &  Sanford  brake  can  be  run  by  an  ordina- 
ry horse-power,  and  any  laborer  can  use  it  with- 
out danger.  Another  advantage  claimed  for 
the  new  brake  is  a  great  saving  of  fiber.  In 
experiments  made  in  the  flax  mill  at  Union  Vil- 
lage, Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  500  lbs.  of  flax 
straw  dressed  on  a  brake  of  the  old  pattern, 
yielded  02i  lbs.  dressed  flax,  43  lbs.  coarse  tow, 


and  9  lbs.  fine  tow.  A  like  quantity  of  the  same 
quality  under  the  new  brake  gave  1104  lbs. 
dressed  flax,  16  coarse  tow,  and  3  lbs.  fine  tow 
— a  gain  in  good  fiber  of  over  3£  per  cent.  The 
greater  weight  of  tow  in  the  first  lot  above  the 
10  lbs.  saved  in  the  "line"  or  dressed  flax,  was 
owing  to  the  larger  quantity  of  "shoove"  or 
broken  straw  remaining  among  it,  rendering  it 
of  less  value  than  the  tow  from  the  new  brake. 
The  capacity  of  the  above  machiue  is  said  to  be 
from  twenty  to  twenty  five  hundred  lbs.  of  llax- 
straw  per  day  often  hours.  If  the  above  claims 
of  the  inventors  are  reliable,  and  they  appear  to 
be  well  substantiated,  the  machine  will  greatly 
aid  in  making  flax  culture  more  profitable. 
Further  information  concerning  this  apparatus 
can  be  obtained  from  Messrs.  Mallory  &  San- 
ford, corner  of  Center  and  White  streets,  in  this 
city,  where  the  brake  may  be  seen  in  operation. 
We  consider  the  subject  of  flax  culture  of  such 
importance  that  we  are  preparing  to  give  dur- 
ing this  year  the  fullest  possible  information 
on  all  the  practical  points  involved.  We  are 
already  in  communication  with  those  wTho  have 
had  much  experience  in  the  business,  and  shall 
lay  the  result  of  our  investigations  before  our 
readers  in  time  for  putting  in  the  next  crop. 
We  will  also  esteem  it  a  favor  if  those  of  our 
subscribers  who  are  familiar  with  flax  culture 
will  contribute  their  knowledge  on  the  subject 
for  the  general  benefit,  giving  particulars  as  to 
best  soil,  proper  preparation  of  ground,  time 
and  manner  of  sowing,  quantity  of  seed  per 
acre,  after-culture  and  treatment;  in  short  all 
the  items  that  the  inexperienced  desire  to  know. 


Agricultural  Inventions  in  1861. 


In  the  last  number  of  the  American  Agriculturist 
page  326,  we  gave  a  synopsis  from  the  latest 
official  list  of  some  of  the  patents  issued  in  the 
year  1861.  The  topic  is  worth  referring  to  again, 
for  there  is  perhaps  no  better  indication  of  the 
progress  making  in  agricultural  science  and 
practice.  The  progress  already  made  is  very 
great.  It  is  probably  safe  to  estimate  that  the 
inventions  of  1861,  as  compared  with  the  imple- 
ments in  common  use  only  twenty  years  ago, 
will  effect  a  saving  of  the  labor  of  more  men  than 
are  enrolled  in  our  great  armies,  even  if  these 
men  were  all  taken  from  the  farm.  The  de- 
mand which  calls  forth  these  inventions,  shows 
that  farmers  are  not  satisfied  with  the  old  meth- 
ods, but  are  looking  for  something  better.  As 
long  as  people  were  content  to  mow  an  acre  a 
day  with  the  hand  scythe,  no  machine  was 
thought  of;  capable  of  doing  the  same  work  in 
a  fifth  part  of  the  time,  and  with  brute  force  in- 
stead of  human  muscles.  The  same  may  be  said 
of  the  horse-rake,  which  puts  the  larger  part  of 
the  afternoon  work  of  the  hay  field  upon  the 
horse.  So  of  all  the  other  inventions  that  light- 
en the  labors  of  the  husbandman  and  increase 
his  profits;  they  have  their  origin  in  the  conscious 
imperfection  of  the  old  implements.  The  list  of 
inventions  furnishes  a  good  mirror  of  the 
thoughts  of  the  farming  population,  and  shows 
whither  the  current  is  tending. 

We  find  in  the  list  for  1861,  twenty-five  inven- 
tions pertaining  to  bee-hives,  showing  that  a 
new  impulse  has  been  given  to  this  branch  of 
rural  economy.  The  interest  in  hoed  crops  is 
represented  by  fifty-three  patents  for  cultivators. 
When  it  is  recollected  that  in  each  one  of  these 
patents  are  represented  a  number  of  unsuccessful 
applicants,  it  will  be  seen  that  a  great  amount 
of  study  has  been  bestowed  upon  a  field  of  in- 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


13 


quiry  already  pretty  thoroughly  explored.  With 
the  steel  tooth  cultivators  of  former  inventors, 
or  with  Share's  horse-hoe,  there  was  no  difficul- 
ty in  doing  nine-tenths  of  the  tillage  of  the  corn 
crop  in  the  most  satisfactory  manner.  There  are 
nine  patents  for  seed  drills,  showing  that  there 
is  dissatisfaction  with  the  common  mode  of  sow- 
ing grain  broadcast.  There  are  ninety-seven 
patents  for  harvesters,  mowing  machines,  reap- 
ers, and  their  various  appendages.  The  inven- 
tive skill  of  the  country  seems  to  be  specially 
directed  to  the  most  economical  method  of  gath- 
ering our  hay  and  grain  harvests.  The  problem 
is  solved,  for  we  have  now  machines  that  put 
all  the  exhausting  labor  of  the  hay  and  grain 
field  upon  the  muscles  of  the  horse,  and  greatly 
lessen  the  drudgery  of  the  farm,  almost  turning 
it  into  agreeable  pastime.  The  great  West  and 
the  boundless  prairies  speak  in  these  inventions. 

One  might  think  on  inspecting  any  of  four 
large  agricultural  warehouses,  a  (single  one  of 
which  enumerates  more  than  a  hundred  kinds,) 
that  plows  were  nearly  perfected.  Our  inven- 
tors are  not  of  that  mind,  for  we  find  in  the  list, 
sixty  patents  for  plows  and  their  appendages. 
Something  must  be  the  matter  with  the  old 
methods  of  dropping  seed,  for  we  find  thirty- 
seven  new  seed  planters,  most  of  them  for  corn. 
The  days  which  shall  see  a  boy  dropping  corn 
from  a  basket  with  a  man  covering  with  a  hoe, 
are  nearly  numbered.  The  writer  tried  one  of 
these  horse  corn  planters  last  Spring.  A  man 
and  boy  easily  planted  ten  acres  a  day  with  it, 
which  is  some  improvement  upon  one  acre  a 
day.  The  corn  came  up  as  well  and  made  as 
good  a  crop  as  if  it  had  been   planted  by  hand. 

Beside  these,  there  are  a  great  variety  of  seed- 
ing machines,  grain  separators,  thrashing  ma- 
chines, machines  for  sowing  fertilizers,  spading 
machines,  straw-cutters,  horse-rakes,  feed  cut- 
ters, corn  shellers,  and  over  twenty  new  churns, 
showing  that  the  war  has  very  little  affected 
the  inventive  genius  of  our  people,  or  impaired 
our  capacity  to  feed  ourselves  and  the  world. 
■»  i —    m    — i  » 

Evans'  Rotary  Digger. 

The  report  given  below  indicates  that  this 
implement  is  at  least  au  approach  to  what  has 
long  been  desired,  as  an  improvement  upon  the 
plow:  "The  undersigned  committee,  appointed 
to  examine  '  Evans'  Rotary  Digger,'  exhibited 
by  Mr.  H.  C.  Hepburn,  at  the  State  Fair  at 
Rochester,  respectfully  report,  that  the  machine 
was  submitted  to  them  in  operation  on  a  field 
near  the  Fair  grounds.  The  soil  was  a  loam  of 
medium  texture  between  the  sandy  and  clayey, 
and  had  been  cropped  the  past  season  with 
beans.  The  machine  was  drawn  by  a  pair  of 
farm  horses  rather  under  the  average  strength, 
making  at  each  passage  over  the  field  a  cutting 
twenty  inches  wide  and  eight  or  nine  inches  deep.  It 
moves  on  three  wheels,  and  weighs  in  its  pres- 
ent condition,  as  stated  to  the  committee,  1,200 
pounds.  The  operation  of  the  revolving  teeth 
or  diggers,  upon  the  soil,  is  similar  to  forking. 
One  passage  over  such  soil  as  that  on  which  it 
was  tested  before  the  committee,  appeared  to 
loosen  and  pulverize  it  to  the  full  depth  of  the 
teeth  or  diggers,  but  when  twice  passed  over 
the  same  cutting,  the  weeds  and  grass  had  near- 
ly all  disappeared,  and  the  soil  was  made  so 
loose  that  persons  walking  over  it  sank  as  they 
would  in  a  mass  of  newly  fallen  snow.  The 
committee  take  pleasure  in  saying,  that,  on  the 
whole,  they  have  been  well  pleased  with  what 
they  have  seen  of  the  practical  working  of 
'Evans'  Rotary  Digger,'  and  concur  in  the  opin- 


ion that  it  is  in  a  fair  way  of  being  made  a  ma- 
chine of  great  value  for  the  pulverization  of  the 
soil.  All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 
Lewis  F.  Allen,  of  Erie ;  Samuel  L.  Fuller, 
of  Livingston  ;  P.  Barrt,  of  Monroe,  Committee." 


Inoculating  Meadows. 

m^ ' 

In  a  foreign  exchange,  we  find  mention  made 
of  Wedlake's  "  turf-separating  machine."  This 
is  nothing  very  new.  It  is  a  machine  with  which 
to  lay  down  parks,  meadows  and  lawns  by  in- 
oculation. It  resembles  somewhat  a  common 
straw-cutter,  and  is  used  as  follows :  The  land 
to  be  treated  must  be  plowed,  harrowed,  cleared 
of  all  lumps,  weeds  and  large  stones,  and  then 
rolled  smooth.  Go  now  with  a  paring-plow  to 
some  common  or  roadside,  where  the  turf  is  of 
good  quality,  and  having  sliced  off  a  suitable 
quantity,  stack  it  up  in  small,  loose  heaps,  where 
it  will  become  partially  dry,  and  easily  broken 
into  fragments.  This  prepares  it  for  the  machine, 
into  which  it  is  put,  and  torn  and  separated  into 
small  fibres,  or  numberless  distinct  plants  with 
roots.  Before  the  plants  become  much  wither- 
ed, take  them  by  the  basket  full  and  walk  over 
the  field,  sowing  them  broad-cast,  like  grain. 
(It  should  be  said,  however,  that  this  sowing 
should  be  preceded  by  a  light  scarifying  of  the 
surface  with  a  harrow.)  After  the  sowing,  fol- 
low with  a  roller,  which  will  compress  the  roots 
a  little  into  the  earth  and  give  them  a  hold  on 
the  ground.  This  process  in  a  good  grass 
season    insures  a   fine  turf  in  a  single  year. 

^— « —      ^  #  ^n  i    » 

Turning  out  to  the  Right,  or  Left  ? 

— ■ 

Long  custom  is  not  easily  changed,  and  rea- 
sons "  as  thick  as  blackberries  "  are  always  to 
be  found,  for  "  doing  as  our  fathers  did."  This 
has  been  fully  verified  by  the  mass  of  communi- 
cations called  out  by  the  article  in  the  American 
Agriculturist,  (Oct.  No.,  Vol.  21,  page  302,)  show- 
ing the  desirableness  of  teamsters  adopting  the 
English  practice,  and  turning  to  the  left,  when 
meeting.  An  anonymous  writer,  "  E.  O."  pre- 
sents the  opposite  view  quite  forcibly.  His  rea- 
sons for  opposing  the  changes  are:  the  difficul- 
ty of  obtaining  common  consent;  the  existing 
laws  to  the  contrary;  the  necessity  of  altering 
the  construction  of  all  one-horse  sleighs,  the 
thills  of  which  are  now  placed  in  accordance 
with  the  present  manner  of  turning  out.  He  is 
however  in  favor  of  the  driver  changing  his 
seat  to  the  left,  that  he  may  better  keep  his  ve- 
hicle from  collision.  He  gives  an  additional 
reason  for  this  in  the  fact  that  the  step  upon 
carriages  is  on  the  left  side,  and  if  a  lady  is  first 
handed  in,  the  driver  must  crowd  past  her  to 
his  place  on  the  right — not  easily  done  in  these 
crinoline  times.  He  has  practised  driving  seat- 
ed on  the  left  for  years,  and  likes  it  much  better. 

Perhaps  our  correspondent  can  use  the  whip 
well  with  his  left  hand,  otherwise  both  he  and 
his  lady  would  occasionally  find  it  awkward 
business  for  him  to  give  a  strong  right-handed 
blow,  while  seated  on  the  left.  The  necessary 
change  in  sleighs  would  cost  less  in  the  end 
than  the  damage  resulting  from  collisions — par- 
ticularly in  crowded  cities,  aud  as  for  laws  and 
customs,  they  should  be  helps  and  not  hindran- 
ces to  improvement.  If  the  propriety  of  a 
change  of  custom  be  generally  agreed  upon,  it 
will  not  take  long  to  make  all  needed  legislation, 
and  to  re-model  the  one-horse  sleighs  when  used. 
After  hearing  both  sides  pretty  fully,  we  adhere 
to  our  position  on  the  question,  and  all  things 
considered,  it  is  better  to  "  Turn  out  to  the  left." 


Branched  Bean  Poles, 

"Y."  of  Saratogo  Springs,  N.  Y,  communicates 
his  experience  to  the  American  Agriculturist  as  fol- 
lows: I  have  been  for  a  number  of  years,  a 
successful  cultivator  of  Lima  beans,  and  now 
give  you  my  modus  operandi.  My  poles,  which 
are  dwarf  maple,  hickory,  etc.,  say  nine  or  ten 
feet  in  hight,  are  cut,  leaving  their  tops  on. 
These  poles  (which  I  put  under  cover  in  the 
Winter,)  usually  remain  sound  five  or  six  years. 
Early  in  the  Spring,  I  have  my  bean  patch 
well  worked,  then  have  holes  dug,  say  two  feet 
by  eighteen  inches,  then  dump  into  each  hole, 
about  j  a  bushel  of  fresh  horse  manure,  cover 
with  rich  earth ;  then,  with  the  aid  of  a  crowbar, 
set  the  poles,  and  plant  the  seed  in  a  circle  around 
each — say  half  a  dozen  beans,  with  the  eyes 
downward.  These,  after  they  get  beyond  the 
reach  of  grubs,  I  thin  out,  leaving  three  in  a  hill, 
and  I  have  never  failed  in  raising  a  good  crop. 
True,  I  am  compelled  at  times  to  cover  them 
up  nights,  by  placing  newspapers  arovaifl  them, 
held  down  by  stones  or  lumps  of  dirt,  to  protect 
them  from  frost,  but  I  am  well  repaid  for  the 
trouble.  I  can  raise  from  the  same  number  of 
hills,  with  brush  on  tlte  poles,  more  than  double  the 
quantity  of  beans  that  can  be  raised  on  the  old- 
fashioned  crowbar  pole. 

■ i        ^#* i      i » 

For  the  Antcrican  Agriculturist. 

Good  Way  to  Make  an  Asparagus  Bed. 

With  a  two-horse  plow  turn  a  deep  furrow 
each  way,  this  will  open  a  ditch  two  feet  wide 
to  the  depth  of  the  soil.  Then  run  the  plow 
in  the  bottom  of  the  furrow  and  loosen  the  clay, 
or  subsoil,  as  deep  as  possible,  and  throw  this 
out  with  a  shovel  upon  one  side.  Place  in  the 
ditch  six  inches  of  half  rotten  manure,  cover  it 
with  a  slight  coat  of  the  soil,  then  make  a  small 
mound  of  sand  or  fine  earth  (sand  is  best),  every 
two  feet,  in  the  center  of  the  ditch.  Set  the 
crown  of  the  plant  upon  it,  and  cover  with  sand 
slightly;  then  shovel  or  plow  the  soil  over  the 
plants  three  inches  deep,  which  will  bring  the 
surface  level  again.  Next  take  the  plow  and 
one  horse  and  run  close  to  this  row,  throwing 
the  soil  from  it,  then  turn  the  other  way  and 
throw  the  subsoil  on  the  first  planted  row  where 
it  may  remain.  Clean  out  this  second  ditch  with 
the  shovel  and  proceed  to  plant  the  asparagus 
roots  as  before ;  and  in  the  same  manner  ex- 
tend the  bed  to  any  desired  size. 

The  planting  should  be  doue  in  the  Fall,  and 
the  clay  that  is  thrown  on  the  top  will  be  pul- 
verized by  the  frost  and  sufficiently  enriched  by 
a  coat  of  four  inches  of  manure,  which  should  lie 
spread  over  the  bed  as  soon  as  the  frost  has  de- 
composed the  clay  upon  the  bed.  This  I  think 
the  cheapest  way  of  making  a  good  bed,  for  it 
must  be  made  deep  to  be  durable.  One-year-old 
plants  are  best.  I  have  them  now  from  seed  ob- 
tained from  the  American  Agriculturist\a%i  Spring, 
that  have  a  circle  of  roots  over  a  foot  in  length. 
By  setting  them  upon  a  cone  as  described  above, 
they  are  placed  exactly  in  their  natural  position, 
with  the  ends  inclined  downward  towards  the 
manure  and  moisture ;  and  the  earth  coming  in 
closest  contact  with  them.  And,  by  the  way, 
this  is  the  proper  plan  for  setting  all  kinds  of 
plants,  or  trees,  that  have  fibrous  roots,  between 
which  the  earth  will  not  readily  pass,  the  great 
object  being  to  get  the  earth  in  closest  contact 
with  the  roots.  A  good  coat  of  manure  and  salt 
should  be  spread  over  the  asparagus  bed  every 
Fall ;    and  it  will  produce  for  an  age. 

Montgomery  Co.,  Md.  w.  11. 


14 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[January, 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Shall  we  Teach  Agriculture  in  Common 
Schools  ? 


This  question  has  been  agitated,  more  partic- 
ularly in  New-England,  for  the  last  few  years, 
and  from  Eke  multiplicity  of  articles  upon  the 
subject  in  the  papers  from  this  quarter,  «i' 
see  is  still  up  for  discussion.  Manuals  have 
been  prepared  and  those  who  publish  school- 
books  and  understand  the  engineering  necessary 
to  gel  them  introduced  to  the  school,  are  the 
busy  advocates  of  this  branch  of  agricultural 
reform.  To  show  precisely  what  is  aimed  at, 
we  quote  the  words  of  one  of  these  reformers 
as  given  in  an  agricultural   address. 

"Botany,  or  the  study  of  plants,  grains  and 
vegetables,  should  be  a  prominent  study  in  our 
common  schools,  commenced  with  the  alpha- 
bet, and  continued  to  graduation,  so  that  every 
boy  and  girl  14  years  of  age,  can  not  only  tell  the 
growth  and  food  of  every  grain  and  grass  and 
vegetable,  but  also  what  soil  and  season,  and 
fertilizers  are  best  for  it.  Chemistry  also  should 
be  studied  from  the  earliest  period  to  the  latest, 
as  we  now  study  arithmetic  and  geography.  It 
is  vastly  more  important  for  a  person  to  know 
the  prime  gases  than  the  prime  numbers.  Arith- 
metic, geography,  and  grammar,  are  studied  to 
the  neglect  of  other  more  important  and  attrac- 
tive branches  of  knowledge.  Teachers  should 
be  trained  in  our  Normal  schools  not  in  Algebra 
and  geometry  only  or  chiefly,  but  in  botany  and 
chemistry,  and  meteorology." 

If  we  understand  this  reformer  aright,  he 
would  have  all  the  natural  sciences  which  have 
a  bearing  upon  husbandry  taught  in  the  free 
schools,  and  have  the  children  indoctrinated  in 
these  sciences,  by  the  time  they  are  fourteen. 
Botany  is  of  no  more  use  to  a  farmer  than  zool- 
ogy, entomology,  geology,  and  perhaps  we 
should  add  ichthyology  and  concholog}-.  If  it 
is  profitable  for  him  to  understand  the  science 
of  plants,  it  must  also  be  useful  for  him  to  know 
something  of  the  insects  that  destroy  them. 
Fish  and  shells  make  excellent  manure,  and  so 
would  come  appropriately  under  the  young  farm- 
er's studies.  But  these  are  only  the  auxiliary 
sciences  to  the  great  study  of  husbandly,  a  bus- 
iness that  requires  more  varied  knowledge  than 
almost  any  other  avocation. 

The  unreasonableness  of  the  demand  of  these 
reformers  is  apparent,  if  we  consider  that  chil- 
dren in  the  free  schools  have  already  more  stud- 
ies than  they  can  master  in  the  brief  period  of 
attendance.  It  is  not  profitable  or  hardly  safe 
to  send  a  child  to  the  drill  of  the  school  room  be- 
fore he  is  seven  years  of  age.  Before  this  age, 
his  best  place  is  in  the  nursery  and  the  open  air, 
attending  to  physical  growth.  Surely,  the  seven 
years  previous  to  fourteen  are  not  too  long  a 
period  to  master  the  branches  usually  taught  in 
the  free  schools.  „A  farmer  should  know  how 
to  read  and  write  well,  or  he  might  not  be  able 
to  keep  posted  in  the  various  branches  of  nat- 
ural science,  after  he  commenced  business.  Ho 
should  be  ready  at  figures,  or  his  pecuniary  af- 
fairs might  suffer  loss.  The  farmer  sustains  cer- 
tain relations  to  society  and  is  as  liable  as  other 
men  to  be  called  to  fill  positions  of  trust  and  re- 
sponsibility. It  is  therefore  important  that  he 
should  know  how  to  use  good  English,  whether 
he  get  the  "prime  gases"  in  due  order  or  not. 

The  natural  sciences  are  appropriately  studied 
in  our  higher  schools  and  colleges.  .Men  and 
women  of  adult  years  and  with  all  the  advan- 
tages of  laboratories,  collections  of  specimens, 
accomplished  lecturers,  and  months  if  not 
years  of  study,  are  only  able  to  get  the  firsl 
principles  of  these  sciences.  So  little  pro- 
gress is  made  in  the  ordinary  college  course  of 


study,  that  unless  a  young  man  has  a  peculiar 
taste  for  these  studies  and  pursues  them  zeal- 
ously in  his  vacations,  and  after  graduation,  they 
are  never  of  much  practical  value  to  him.  They 
make  him  more  intelligent,  and  the  discipline  is 
valuable,  but  he  does  uot  so  far  master  these 
sciences  in  his  college  course,  as  to  make  them 
of  much  use,  or  to  make  him  a  fit  teacher  of 
them.  How  then  can  it  be  expected  that  a 
child  of  fourteen  is  to  get  knowledge  enough  of 
these  sciences  to  be  of  great  advantage  to  him. 

We  have  not  the  teachers  of  requisite  knowl- 
edge to  instruct  children  in  these  studies,  even 
if  it  were  desirable.  Most  graduates  when  called 
to  teach  any  one  of  these  branches  as  a  spec- 
ialty, feel  the  need  of  extra  preparation  and 
training  to  fit  them  for  their  work  Much  less 
then  could  it  be  expected  of  our  common  school 
teachers,  to  instruct  our  children  in  sciences  they 
have  never  studied.  It  would  take  years  of 
special  training  to  prepare  them  for  it,  and  when 
they  were  fitted  they  could  not  afford  to  teach 
at  the  wages  now  given  in  the  free  schools. 
Higher  qualifications  in  the  teacher,  of  course 
imply  the  necessity  of   higher  remuneration. 

Then  we  have  not  the  conveniences  for  teach- 
ing these  sciences  in  our  common  school  houses, 
and  can  not  have  them  without  a  total  change 
in  our  system  of  education.  The  teacher  of 
chemistry  needs  his  laboratory  with  some  ap- 
paratus, lamps,  retorts,  blow  pipes,  jars,  earths, 
metals,  etc.  All  the  natural  sciences  need  ap- 
paratus and  specimens,  to  bo  studied  with  profit. 
We  can  not  have  these  in  the  school  house,  for 
it  is  not  built  for  the  purpose.  Any  effort  to 
introduce  these  studies  would  naturally  divert 
the  minds  of  the  children  from  the  branches 
commonly  taught,  which  are  necessary  for  all 
classes.  It  would  result  in  a  smattering  of 
knowledge  without  thoroughness  in  any  thing. 

Then  it  would  inevitably  provoke  the  jealousy 
of  other  classes  not  engaged  in  farming.  The 
shoemaker  and  the  blacksmith  would  be  afraid 
that  the  children  of  farmers  would  have  more 
than  their  share  of  the  teacher's  attention,  if 
the  study  were  optional;  and  if  it  were  compul- 
sory, it  would  breed  a  rebellion,  and  oust  the 
teacher  or  school  committee.  Every  one  who 
has  had  much  experience  in  the  management 
of  these  schools,  can  see  that  the  thing  would 
not  work.  It  is  a  common  school,  and  only  for 
those  studies  which  are  the  common  want  of  all. 

We  want  as  a  preparation  for  entrance  to  ag- 
ricultural schools,  pupils  well  drilled  in  the 
branches  now  taught  in  the  common  school,  and 
the  time  now  allotted  to  these  studies  is  none 
too  long.  Farmers  should  stand  upon  a  level 
with  other  classes  in  these  studies,  as  well  as 
have  special  knowledge  of  their  own  business. 
This  will  have  to  be  learned  in  schools  special- 
ly devoted  to  agriculture,  and  upon  the  farm. 
Though  this  will  not  be  so  well  for  manufac- 
turers of  school  books,  we  have  no  doubt  it  will 
be  better  for  farmers.        A  New-Englander. 

Remarks  on  the  Above. — It  appears  to  us 
that  in  the  above  article  the  writer  has  taken 
rather  too  strong  ground,  though  probably  right 
in  the  main.  The  common  branches,  reading, 
writing,  spelling,  arithmetic,  and  geography, 
should  certainly  be  the  first  studies,  and  be  well 
mastered.  But  along  with  these,  partly  as  a 
recreation  perhaps,  may  well  be  introduced 
easy  primary  lessons  in  chemistry,  in  what  is 
termed  Natural  Philosophy,  in  botany,  physiol- 
ogy, hnd  geology.  The  teacher  is  poorly  fitted 
for  his  or  her  sphere  of  labor  who  can  not  give 
to  a  whole  school  ai  least  some  "talks"  on  tl 
branches.     If  not  prepared  to  do   bo,   he  should 


omit  some  evening  parties  and  "study  up." 
Fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  time  in  the  school 
room  daily  devoted  to  a  short  talk  on  these 
branches,  will  scarcely  retard  progrei  S  ill  other 
studies,  and  will  afford  a  pleasant  relief  to  both 
scholars  and  teachers.  A  little  knowledge  of 
the  elements,  of  physiology  or  the  care  of  the 
body,  of  the  first  principles  of  natural  philoso- 
phy, of  botany  or  the  structure  and  growth  of 
plants,  of  geology  or  the  way  soils  are  made 
up  and  arranged,  will  awaken  interest  and  in- 
quiry, cultivate  a  taste  for  these  studies,  and  be- 
get an  important  habit  of  observation — to  say 
nothing  of  the  practical  utility  to  the  future  citi- 
zen, of  even  a  little  such  knowledge.  The  trite 
saying,  that  "a  little  knowledge  is  a  dangerous 
thing,"  is  false  as  a  rule.  The  great  mass  of  chil- 
dren will  never  (jet  any  idea  of  these  useful  and  in- 
teresting sciences,  if  it  be  not  got  in  the  common 
school  before  the  age  of  fourteen.  A  few  ideas 
inculcated  there,  will  lead  to  useful  reading, 
thought  and    investigation,   afterward — to   the 

less  reading  of  trashy,  exciting  novels. Not 

much  apparatus  is  required.  A  few  very  sim- 
ple experiments  are  enough  to  awaken  interest, 
and  explain  the  first  principles.  The  best  chem- 
istry class  we  ever  examined  was  one  of  boys 
and  girls  in  a  common  school,  from  12  to  lli 
years  old.  The  teacher  expended  on  simple  ma- 
terials, $8,  contributed  by  a  few  individuals. 
The  first  electrical  machine  we  ever  saw  (and  a 
very  effective  one  it  was),  we  made  while  yet  in 
the  public  school,  with  materials  found  wholly 
on  the  farm,  except  a  single  glass  jar  for  the 
main  cylinder.  For  a  guide  we  had  an  old 
Comstock's  philosophy  sent  as  a  present  by  an 
Eastern  friend. — O.  J. 


Profit  of  Sheltering'  Manure. 


It  is  now  pretty  well  settled  by  the  experi- 
ments of  intelligent  agriculturists,  that  manure 
protected  from  the  weather  is  much  better  thau 
that  which  has  lain  for  six  months  or  more  in 
the  open  yard.  Every  farmer  Who  has  cleaned 
out  under  his  stable  floor  where  there  was  no 
cellar,  or  has  used  the  manure  made  on  the  floor 
of  the  sheep  barn  or  shed,  has  had  occasion  to 
suspect  as  much.  Crops  fertilized  with  such 
protected  manure  started  with  great  vigor,  show- 
ing a  dark  green  color,  and  pushed  on  rapidly 
to  maturity.  There  must  he  something  in  such 
manure  that  the  unsheltered  article  loses. 

An  English  experiment  shows  that  manure 
which  was  kept  covered  byniue  inches  of  earth, 
produced  several  bushels  more  of  grain  per  acre 
thau  the  same  amount  of  manure  applied  to  the 
same  extent  of  land,  but  which  had  lain  exposed 
to  the  weather  during  the  Winter.  Another 
experiment  shows  a  difference  of  about  four 
tuns  or  nearly  one  hundred  bushels,  between 
the  produce  of  two  acres  in  potatoes,  the  one 
of  which  had  20  loads  of  covered,  and  the  other 
20  loads  of  uncovered  manure. 

A  gain  of  fifty  bushels  of  potatoes  to  the  acre, 
just  from  the  difference  in  the  quality  of  the  ma- 
nure, is  worth  looking  after.  It  will  he  seen 
that  this  is  nearly  all  clear  profit.  There  i 
more  expense  for  seed,  for  handling  manure,  or 
for  tillage.  The  only  additional  item  would  be 
the  increased  labor  of  harvesting.  The  convic- 
tion that  the  housing  of  manure  is    good  I  COIIO- 

niv  is  pretty  general,  and  yet  not  a  fourth   part 

of  our  farmers  pay  any  attention  to  it.  The 
open  yard  without  a  barn  cellar,  and  even  with- 
out sheils,  is  siill  a  very  common  spectacle. 

The  best  substitute  for  lack  of  cellar  is  a  cov- 
ering of  earth,  or  muck,  for  the  manure,  as  fast 


X 


1863.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


15 


as  it  is  collected  If  the  open  yard  were  kept 
■well  supplied  with  muck,  and  the  manure  were 
to  be  plowed  tinder  every  month  but  without 
draining  off,  it  would  not  waste  much.  Where 
straw  is  plenty,  as  in  the  wheat  growing  dis- 
tricts, it  makes  a  very  good  covering  for  manure. 
This  is  the  practice  of  some  of  the  best  man- 
agers. But  it  requires  a  much  larger  quantity 
of  straw  than  most  of  our  farmers  have  for  lit- 
ter. The  straw  is  thrown  out  frequently,  and 
the  yard  is  kept  nearly  dry  for  the  cattle  to  lie 
on.  Muck  usually  costs  nothing  except  the 
drawing  and  hauling,  and  rightly  managed  it 
makes  a  good  protection  for  manure.  It  should 
be  scattered  frequently  over  the  yards  and  un- 
der the  sheds,  and  the  heaps  kept  well  covered. 
A  Caution. — A  Canadian  subscriber  to  the 
Agriculturist  complains  that  he  has  followed  our 
advice,  and  that  his  manure  dried  up,  heated, 
and  was  nearly  spoiled — in  otner  words  it  "fire- 
1'anged."  This  reminds  us  to  repeat,  that  while 
no  liquids  should  be  allowed  to  run  from  the 
manure  heap,  it  should  always  be  kept  moist.  The 
heap  should  be  frequently  examined,  and  if 
found  drying  out,  water  should  be  added.  The 
test  plan  is  to  pile  the  manure  in  a  tight  vault 
or  excavation  that  will  hold  the  liquids.  If  not 
under  a  roof,  a  cover  of  loose  boards  will  an- 
swer, as  a  little  rain  falling  through  will  do  no 
harm.  Then,  as  often  as  needed,  pump  up  or  dip 
up  with  a  bucket,  the  liquid  from  below  and 
spread  it  over  the  heap.  This  liquid  manure 
will  hasten  the  decomposition  of  the  straw  and 
other  coarse  materials,  and>tll  the  heap  will  be 
equally  rich. 


The  "Dakota  Potato,"  or  Ground  Nut. 

(Apios  Tuberosa.) 


To  the  Editor  of  the  American.  Agriculturist, 

This  plant,  Eaton,  in  his  Botany,  more  than 
thirty  years  ago,  said :  "ought  to  be  generally 
cultivated."  And  it  appears  by  the  December 
Agriculturist,  others  have  taken  the  hint,  as 
well  as  the  undersigned,  in  making  the  trial. 
Six  or  eight  years  ago  I  procured  some  of  the 
tubers  from  the  State  of  Maine,  and  some  also 
from  this  immediate  vicinity,  (Middletown,  Ct.,) 
and  planted  them  in  my  garden,  but  I  am  sorry 
to  say  my  success  has  been  poor  indeed.  So  far 
as  my  own  experiments  can  be  relied  on,  they  do 
not  appear  to  improve  by  cultivation,  in  the  least, 
nor  even  to  grow  as  well  as  they  do  in  the  wild 
stale.  I  have  not  yet  been  able  in  my  garden  to 
produce  tubers  as  large  as  are  often  found  in 
their  native  situation.  I  purpose  to  continue  the 
experiment  a  few  years  longer,  however.  J.  J. 


Sweet  Potatoes  in  Ireland. 


"Hibernia"  inquires' if  sweet  potatoes  will 
flourish  on  his  farm  near  Belfast,  iu  the  North 
of  Ireland.  We  judge  not.  If  we  remember 
rightly,  the  soil  thereabouts  is  not  sufficiently 
sandy  and  warm.  A  light,  moderately  sandy, 
warm  soil  suits  this  crop  best,  though  we  have 
grown  them  well  on  a  pretty  stiff  loam,  by  high 
hilling.  Probably,  however,  the  soil  would 
answer,  if  there  were  sufficient  sun  light.  In  the 
sea-girt  islands  of  Great  Britain  the  air  is 
almost  always  moist,  and  bright  skies,  warm 
clear  days,  such  as  the  sweet  potato  flourishes 
best  under,  are  not  the  general  rule  there.  Per- 
haps the  longer  absence  of  frost,  owing  to  the 
proximity  of  the  never-freezing  ocean,  may  in 
part  make  up  for  the  less  sunlight.  It  would  be 
well  to  try  the  experiment.  The  common  Nan- 
setnoml  variety  can   be  purchased  in  our  mar- 


kets. These,  packed  in  dry  sand  in  a  box,  and 
kept  from  freezing,  can  be  carried  over  at  any 
time  during  Winter.  Put  them  into  boxes  of 
earth  in  a  green-house  or  hot-bed  in  March,  and 
abundant  sprouts  will  start  out.  When  6  to  10 
inches  high,  break  them  off  from  the  tuber, 
keeping  as  many  fine"  roots  on  the  stems  as  pos- 
sible, and  transplant,  out  into  high  hills  or 
ridges,  when  the  soil  is  warm  and  danger  of 
frost  past.  The  ground  should  be  well  sup- 
plied previously  with  thoroughly  rotted  ma- 
nure. For  directions,  see  American  Agriculturist 
for  April,  1862,  (vol.  21,  page  108),  and  an  ar- 
ticle to  be  published  a  month  or  two  hence. 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

An   Iowa  Corn-Marker. 

Iowa  is  well  adapted  to  the  cultivation  of 
corn,  yet  many  are  so  careless  that  weeds  often 
get  the  mastery,  hence  they  get  a  poor  remuner- 
ation for  their  hard  toil.  One  great  reason  is, 
that  after  fitting  the  land  for  seeding,  they  spend 
several  days  in  "  furrowing  out  each  way,"  with 
a  shovel  plow,  jogging  along  in  a  zigzag  manner, 
so  crooked  that  a  squirrel  can  hardly  find  the 
rows  after  it  comes  up.  This  requires  much 
labor,  and  is  of  no  benefit  except  in  making 
easy  planting.  The  corn  is  placed  too  deep  to 
feel  the  warmth  of  the  sun  when  it  needs  it  the 
most,  and  the  farmer  has  to  wait  too  long  for 
the  corn  to  get  large  enough  to  keep  from  cov- 
ering it  up  the  first  time  through  with  a  plow  or 
cultivator.  Com  needs  light,  air,  and  warmth 
to  vegetate  and  grow  rapidly ;  to  obtain  these 
abundantly  I  can  not  think  a  deep  furrow  fa- 
vorable. My  way  is  to  plow  deep  and  har- 
row lightly  to  level  the  surface,  then  make  a 
marker  after  this  fashion. Take  two  hard- 
wood poles,  or  scantling,  fourteen  feet  long,  lay 
them  parallel,  and  pin  to  them  at  right  angles 
four  blocks  two  feet  long  and  two  inches  thick, 
at  a  distance  of  three  and-a-half  feet  apart.  Slant 
off  the  front  ends  of  these  blocks,  making  them 
like  sled  runners.  Turn  the  apparatus  over, 
fasten  a  tongue  to  the  middle  of-front  pole,  and 
the  marker  is  complete.  Hitch  on  the  horses, 
t  uke  your  place  on  the  center  of  the  marker  and 
drive  ou  until  tiie  field  is  marked  in  one  direc- 
tion ;  then  cross-mark  in  the  same  way.  Stakes 
should  be  set  at  each  end  of  the  lot  to  guide  by, 
instead  of  merely  trying  to  run  parallel  with  the 
last  mark.  Fifteen  acres  can  thus  be  marked 
each  way  in  a  day.  C.  J.  Rhodes. 

Tama  Co..  Iowa. 


How  Corn  is  Made  in  Egypt  (111.). 

[The  following  plain,  straight-forward  account 
of  the  common  mode  of  cultivating  corn  in 
Southern  Illinois,  from  Wm.  O.  Marvin,  of  Ran- 
dolph Co.,  will  give  a  partial  picture  of  farm 
life  there,  and  perhaps  afford  a  hint  or  two. 
The  plan  described  is  doubtless  susceptible  of 
improvement.  A  brief  description  of  the  meth- 
ods pursued  in  different  sections,  not  only  with 
corn  but  other  crops,  would  be  useful  to  others:] 

"  We  prefer  for  Indian  com,  wheat  stubble  un- 
broken until  plowed  for  planting  in  the  Spring : 
First,  the  cut  worms  trouble  it  very  little ;  second, 
should  the  season  be  dry  it  bears  the  drouth 
much  better  than  our  other  lands ;  and 
third,  such  land  is  most  easily  kept  clean. 
The  plowing  should  be  at  least  eight  inches 
deep,  and  all  the  growth  of  weeds  and  grass  be 
turned  to  the  bottom.  After  it  is  well  broken, 
we  lav  it  off  one  way  in  rows  four  feet  apart,  and 
5  to  6  inches  deep,  with  a  one  horse  plow.    It  is 


then  crossed  with  the  marker,  making  six  rows 
to  the  round.  Our  children  usually  drop  the 
seed.  Some  cover  it  by  throwing  ou  one,  and 
some  two  furrows  with  the  small  plow,  and  just 
before  it  is  up,  harrow  it  down  level.  Others 
cover  with  the  harrow  alone.  Others  cover  by 
dragging  a  suitable  flag  stone  across  the  rows, 
which  is  by  no  means  a  bad  way,  as  we  have  no 
stones  in  our  fields  to  interfere  with  culture. 
But  we  think  the  hoe  is  the  best  implement  of 
all  to  cover  with,  and  this  is  the  only  use  we 
make  of  the  hoe  iu  producing  the  crop. 

When  the  corn  is  up  so  that  it  can  be  worked, 
we  remove  the  front  tooth  (or  share)  from  a  cul- 
tivator, and  with  a  span  of  horses  run  it  astride 
the  rows,  first  one  way,  and  then  across.  This 
works  the  soil  between  (lie  rows,  and  close  up 
to  the  hills,  in  both  directions,  leaving  it  clean 
and  in  a  condition  little  inferior  to  the  best  hoe- 
ing, and  the  hills  are  made  around  the  corn. 
[This  lets  in  the  sun  to  -warm  the  roots  and  pro- 
mote their  growth.]  The  labor  is  not  half  that 
of  hoeing.  The  after  culture  depends  upon 
circumstances.  If  rains  harden  the  surface,  the 
plow  may  be  required.  After  plowing,  a  one- 
horse  cultivator  is  run  between  the  rows  to  lev- 
el off  the  surface,  as  we  prefer  flat  culture  to 
high  ridging  around  the  hills.  By  the  above  pro- 
cess we  get,  in  common  years,  from  40  to  60  bush- 
els per  acre,  according  to  the  quality  and  con- 
dition of  the  soil." 

Change  the  Locality  of  Seed— An  Exam- 
ple of  Selection. 

— * — 

A  contributor  to  the  American  Agriculturist 
writes  thus:  It  is  the  general  testimony  of 
those  who  have  tried  it,  that  the  productiveness 
of  seeds  of  many  crops — among  which  may  be 
mentioned  wheat,  corn,  and  potatoes — is  greatly 
increased  by  changing  their  locality.  Will  it 
not  be  well  for  farmers  to  bear  this  in  mind  now, 
and  not  wait  until  some  unlooked-for  delay  may 
chance  to  embarrass  Spring  work?  Perhaps 
the  benefit  is  not  owing  so  much  to  change  in 
latitude  or  longitude,  as  to  change  of  soil.  If 
not,  then  it  .will  do  as  well  to  exchange  with 
some  neighbor  who  has  seed  raised  on  a  differ- 
ent soil.  But  what  has  been  proved,  is  safest, 
and  those  who  can  procure  seed  from  a  distance 
should  do  so.  It  is  not  too  early  to  be  looking 
about,  and  making  arrangements  to  that   effect. 

[That  to  change  the  locality  of  seed  is  beneficial, 
seems  to  be  the  general  opinion,  and  therefore 
it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  there  must  be  some- 
thing iu  it,  though  we  do  not  understand  why 
this  is  so,  nor  are  we  certain  that  the  popular 
opinion  is  not  an  erroneous  one.  On  our  old 
paternal  homestead  the  same  varieties  of  wheat, 
corn,  and  pottitoes,  were  grown  continuously, 
perhaps  for  twenty  years  or  more,  and  instead 
of  deterioration  in  quality  or  product,  there  was 
a  constant  improvement,  so  much  so  that  most 
of  the  wheat  raised  was  in  demand  for  seed.  A 
system  of  selection  was  followed.  No  potatoes 
smaller  than  liens'  eggs,  and  no  over-grown  tu- 
bers, were  planted.  The  seed  wheat  was  obtain- 
ed by  hand-screening,  with  a  sieve  made  spec 
ially  for  the  purpose  which  retained  about  one 
third  of  the  largest  and  plumpest  kernels.  The 
two-thirds  passing  through  the  sieve  was  still 
first  grade  in  the  market,  at  least  after  this  selec- 
tion of  seed  had  been  practiced  a  few  years.  Ed.] 


Why  is  a  woman  mending  her  husband's 
clothing  after  he  has  retired  to  rest,  like  the 
enemy  of  the  human  race?  Because  she  is 
sowing  tares    while  the    good   man    is  asleep. 


16 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


f.lANTTAlIT, 


SPECIMENS    OP    GOURDS    AT    THE    "AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST    EXHIBITION.' 


1.  Valparaiso  Squash.  2.  California  Squash.  3.  Hubbard  Squash.  4.  Crook-neck  Squash.  5.  Turban,  or  Turk's-head  Squash.  6.  Golden  Winter  Scallop.  7.  Vegetable 
Marrow.  8.  Green  Striped  Bush.  9.  Lagenaria  Vitata.  10.  Gourd  from  Hindostan,  new.  11.  Mock  Orange.  12.  Pear  Gourd.  13.  Sandwich  Island  Gourd.  14,15.  Unknown. 
16.  Hercules'  Club.    17.  Artichoke  Gourd.    18.  Long  Orange  Gourd.    19.  Cucumis  Dipsacius,  Japan.    20.  Cucurbila  Striata.    23.  Bottle  Gourd.    24.  Boston  Marrow  Squash. 


The  Gourd  Family. 


Few  persons,  except  professional  seedsmen, 
have  an  idea  of  the  number  of  varieties  belong- 
ing to  the  gourd  tribe,  named  Gucurbitacece  by 
botanists.  Until  recently,  comparatively  little 
attention  has  been  paid  to  their  cultivation,  ex- 
cept in  the  case  of  the  squashes  and  pumpkins, 
which  occupy  time-honored  places  in  the  gar- 
den and  the  field.  Within  a  few  years,  fancy 
and  ornamental  gourds  have  been  coming  into 
favor  for  decorative  purposes,  and  their  number 
and  beauty  have  been  greatly  increased  by  im- 
portation from  foreign  countries,  and  hybridiza- 
tion with  old  varieties.  The  recent  exhibition 
of  these  vegetables  at  the  Office  of  the  American 
Agriculturist,  called  out  a  most  beautiful  display. 
About  one  hundred  different  kinds  of  the  gourd 
family  were  represented,  from  the  Mammoth 
Valparaiso  Squash  weighing  2704  lbs.,  to  the  di- 
minutive striped  gourd,  that  when  full  grown 
scarcely  equals  a  black  walnut  in  size. 

The  above  engraving,  drawn  from  specimens 
at  our  exhibition,  shows  some  of  the  more 
curious  and  otherwise  noteworthy  varieties. 
Part  of  these  will  be  recognized  as  established 
favorites  in  the  garden  and  on  the  table:  others 
are  new  and  striking.  The  specimen  numbered 
5,  the  Turban  Squash,  bears  a  striking  resem- 
blance to  a  Turkish  head-dress,  and  from  its 
beautiful  coloring  is  a  most  attractive  object. 
It  is  also  edible,  and  by  some  considered  to  be 
of  fine  quality.  No.  13,  the  Sandwich  Island 
Squash,  was  trained  while  growing,  into  a  good 
resemblance  to  a  swan  without  wings ;  the  bill 
is  well  represented  by  the  stem.  No.  10,  is  a  new 
and  singular  specimen  raised  by  W.  P.  Heins, 
from  seed  sent  to  the  Agriculturist  office  from 
Hindostan.  From  its  pungent  quality  we  sus- 
pect it  belongs  rather  to  the  capsicum  family 


than  to  the  cucurbitse.  No.  19,  might  be  called 
the  'vegetable  caterpillar.'  It  is  about  three 
inches  long  and  half  an  inch  in  diameter,  of 
bright  green  color,  and  thickly  studded  with 
stiff  hairy  spines.  It  was  grown  from  seed  re- 
ceived from  Japan.  We  have  no  knowledge  of 
the  use  made  of  it  there.  It  forms  a  unique  or- 
nament. No.  18,  the  long  orange  gourd  with 
dark  green  bottom,  is  one  of  the  most  pleasing 
varieties  for  ornament.  The  vine  trained  upon 
a  rustic  trellis  or  over  rock-works  in  some  cor- 
ner of  the  grounds,  is  a  beautiful  object  when 
laden  with  its  rich  parti-colored  fruit,  aud  the 
gourds  when  ripened  are  very  attractive.  The 
markings  of  green  are  varied  with  each  speci- 
men, making  them  still  more  pleasing.  The 
different  kinds  of  gourds  are  so  easily  hybrid- 
ized, that  it  is  less  difficult  to  procure  an  almost 
endless  number  of  sorts,  than  to  preserve  any 
desired  variety  true  to  the  original.  It  can  only 
be  done  by  covering  the  flowers  designed  for 
seed,  with  some  protection  against  insects,  aud 
fertilizing  them  with  pollen  of  their  own  spe- 
cies. A  single  bee  entering  a  blossom  may 
bring  with  him  pollen  from  several  different 
species  gathered  in  other  localities,  aud  thus 
impregnate  the  flower  and  cause  its  seed  to  vary. 
Attractive  as  are  the  ornamental  features  of 
the  gourd  family,  most  of  our  readers  will  be 
more  particularly  interested  in  edible  varieties. 
For  excellence  both  as  a  sauce  and  for  pies,  the 
Hubbard  squash  (No.  3  in  the  engraving)  still 
remains  at  the  head  of  the  list.  It  has  made  its 
way  but  slowly  into  the  markets.  Its  dark  green 
color  gives  the  idea  of  unripeness,  and  we  have 
known  parties  growing  it  for  the  first  time,  to 
throw  away  the  fruit  and  pronounce  it  a  hum- 
bug, supposing  the  season  to  be  too  short  for 
its  maturity.  But  after  having  once  become 
acquainted  with  its  excellence,   its  color  is  no 


longer  an  objection.  Next  to  the  Hubbard  stands 
the  Boston  Marrow,  already  so  well  known  as 
to  need  no  description.  With  this,  perhaps, 
even  superior  to  it  for  pies,  the  African  squash 
takes  rank.  It  is  much  larger  than  the  Mar- 
row, but  this  is  rather  an  objection  for  ordina- 
ry family  use.  One  specimen  could  hardly  be 
wholly  used  before  spoiling. 

The  cultivation  of  squashes  and  pumpkins  is 
not  difficult,  though  a  few  important  particulars 
must  receive  attention  to  secure  the  best  results. 
Being  mostly  natives  of  tropical  climates  they 
should  have  a  warm  situation,  as  a  southern  ex- 
posure, or  under  protection  of  a  building  or 
high  wall.  It  will  be  very  advantageous  to  start 
them  early  in  a  hot-bed  or  in  the  house,  aud 
transplant  them  when  they  have  attained  the 
third  leaf.  Of  course,  there  should  be  great  care 
to  leave  the  roots  entire,  and  the  earth  around 
them  undisturbed.  An  easy  way  of  accomplish- 
ing this  is  to  scoop  out  large  turnips,  fill  them 
with  rich  earth,  and  plant  one  seed  in  eaeh. 
When  ready  to  transplant,  cut  off  the  bottom  of 
the  turuip,  and  the  roots  will  soon  find  their 
way  out;  the  remaining  substance  of  the  tur- 
nips will  decay  and  feed  the  plants. 

The  best  soil  for  growing  these  vegetables,  is  a 
deep,  warm,  sandy  loam,  well  enriched  with 
stable  manure.  Not  only  should  the  hill  be 
made  rich,  but  also  the  surrounding  soil  where 
the  vines  will  send  out  rootlets  to  gather  nour- 
ishment. Too  little  room  is  usually  allowed  to 
each  plant,  They  need  space  enough  to  run 
without  crowding  and  shading  each  other.  The 
area  required  will  of  course  depend  upon  the 
kind  cultivated.  It  is  a  good  plan  to  sow  at  in- 
tervals a  number  of  extra  seeds  in  each  hill  as 
food  for  insects,  which  will  attack  the  young 
plants,  and  leave  the  first  to  grow  too  strong  to 
be  consumed  by  them ;  they  can  be  easily  thinned 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


17 


out  as  needed.  More  minute  .  directions  for 
treatment  of  the  vines  will  be  given  at  the  ap- 
propriate season,  in  our  Calendar  of  Operations. 

«_ mil  I   ■ 

About  Earth  or    "Angle"  Worms. 

■ — 

The  common  earth  worm  (Lumbricus  terrestris), 
has  no  eyes,  feet,  or  other  external  appendages, 
and  the  head  differs  from  the  tail  only  in  being 
more  narrow  and  pointed.  Its  stomach  consists 
of  two  pouches,  and  the  alimentary  canal  ex- 
tends from  stem  to  stern.  At  about  one  third 
of  its  length  from  the  mouth,  there  is  a  sort  of 
belt,  encircling  the  body,  consisting  of  from  six 
to  nine  rings,  among  which  lie  the  organs  of 
reproduction.  As  the  worm  is  hermaphrodite, 
each  individual  carries  this  belt.  It  has  the 
senses  only  of  taste  and  touch,  the  latter  being 
acute,  as  everybody  knows  who  has  touched 
it  on  peering  from  its  hole.  Its  taste  is  coarse, 
since  it  feeds  upon  the  soil  it  lives  in,  swallow- 
ing it  and  its  half-decayed  organic  substances, 
and  passing  them  through  its  body. 

It  is  not  certainly  known  whether  these  worms 
breed  oftcner  than  once  a  year.  They  produce 
their  young  sometimes  from  eggs,  and  some- 
times already  hatched.  The  eggs  are  laid  at  a 
considerable  depth  in  the  ground,  and  in  clus- 
ters. They  are  laid  mostly  in  the  Spring,  and 
hatched  in  June  or  July.    The    »v  1L 

egg  is  about  the  size  of  a  pea,  |Ljj  uvM 

elliptical,  with  a  tubular  hole  ^j  ^f 

at  one  end,  through  which  the 
young  escapes.    In  the  cut  an- 
nexed, a  represents  an  egg,  6  the 
same  after  the  embryo  becomes  visible,  and  cthe 
same  with  the  worm  beginning  to  shift  for  itself. 

The  common  notion  that  if  this  worm  be  cut 
into  any  number  of  pieces,  each  portion  will 
live  and  soon  become  a  perfect  worm,  is  hardly 
true.  But  if  any  part  of  its  body  be  cut  off  be- 
hind the  belt,  the  remainder  will  be  reproduced. 
If,  however,  it  is  cut  in  two  at  the  belt,  or  be- 
tween the  belt  and  the  head,  it  is  sure  to  die. 

The  natural  uses  of  the  worm  seem  to  be  to 
furnish  food  for  moles,  frogs,  toads,  snakes,  bird?, 
fishes,  and  some  kinds  of  insects.  It  is  some- 
times asserted  that  they  are  useful  to  vegetation, 
by  boring  the  earth  and  loosening  it,  rendering 
it  permeable  to  air  and  moisture,  and  even 
adding  to  the  depth  of  the  soil.  But  this  is 
probably  a  mistake.  The  frequent  boring  of 
the  ground  makes  the  adjacent  parts  firmer.  The 
worm-casts  thrown  up  above  the  worm-holes 
are  water-tight,  and  so  prevent  the  descent  of 
water  into  them.  Their  subsoiling  does  not 
amount  to  much.  On  the  other  hand,  they  do 
positive  injury.  They  disfigure  walks  and  lawns 
by  their  casts,  and  eat  into  roots  of  plants,  es- 
pecially those  which  are  feeble. 

These  worms  can  be  destroyed  wherever  they 
congregate  in  considerable  numbers.  As  they 
are  quite  thin-skinned,  any  hot  or  caustic  liquid 
will  kill  them.  An  excellent  caustic  is  made  by 
dissolving  quick-lime  in  water,  at  the  rate  of 
half  a  pound  of  lime  to  six  quarts  of  water,  to 
be  applied  through  a  common  sprinkling  pot. 
Wherever  worm-casts  appear,  sweep  these  off 
with  a  stiff  broom,  and  then  apply  the  caustic 
freely.  In  a  short  time,  the  worms  will  come 
to  the  surface,  and  die. 


Varieties  op  the  Horse-chestnut. — The 
number  of  species  and  varieties  is  greater  than 
is  commonly  supposed.  Beside  the  common 
one,  with  white  flowers,  tipped  with  pink,  there 
is  a  scarlet,  and  a  rose-colored,  a  double  white, 


Michaux's,  Whiteley's  red,  a  cut-leaved,  and  the 
common  Buckeye.  These  belong  to  the  genus 
JEsculas.  If  we  include  that  of  Pavia,  which  is 
smooth-fruited,  we  have  a  yellow-flowered,  a 
red,. a  pendulous  dwarf  red,  a  downy-leaved, 
a  purple,  a  flesh-colored,  etc.,  etc.  The  scarlet 
is  particularly  fine.  We  have  seen  a  striking 
effect  produced  by  grafting  the  alternate  limbs 
of  the  old  white  with  the  scarlet ;  the  result 
was  a  brilliant,  mammoth  bouquet. 

Important  List  of   Pear  Trees  for  the 

Vicinity  of  New-York,  Kipening  in 

Succession  through  5  to  6  Months. 

In  the  previous  volume  we  have  frequently 
referred  to  the  Fruit  Growers'  meetings  held 
weekly  at  the  office  of  the  American  Agriculturist, 
on  each  Thursday  at  1  o'clock  P.  M.  Though 
almost  entirely  informal  in  their  character,  the 
discussions  of  matters  pertaining  to  fruit  grow- 
ing have  been  highly  interesting  and  valuable. 

Several  weeks  since  we  suggested  to  the 
gentlemen  present,  the  desirableness  of  agreeing 
upon  a  list  of  varieties  of  pears  for  family  use — 
with  some  regard  to  marketing,  and  to  ripening  in 
succession  throughout  the  entire  season — which 
could  be  recommended  at  least  for  the  vicinity 
of  New- York  City.  The  importance  of  such  a 
selection  was  urged  in  view  of  the  greatly  in- 
creased general  interest  in  fruit  growing,  and 
from  the  fact  that  the  list  of  trees  grown  by  nur- 
serymen has  become  so  extended  as  to  require 
no  little  pomological  knowledge  to  select  a  good 
assortment  from  their  crowded  catalogues.  We 
also  desired  such  a  list  as  a  reply  to  very  nu- 
merous inquiries  from  our  readers  for  a  list  of 
good    pears   for  family  use,   and  for  market. 

A  competent  Committee  was  appointed,  and 
a  request  made  that  as  many  as  could  make  it 
convenient  should  present  lists  of  20  varieties, 
with  the  number  of  each  recommended  to  make 
up  an  assortment  of  100  trees.  Such  lists  were 
furnished  at  subsequent  meetings  by  Charles 
Downing,  Parsons  &  Co.,  T.  W.  Field,  W.  S. 
Carpenter,  A.  S.  Fuller,  Dr.  Ward,  J.  G.  Bergen, 
and  others,  all  practical  fruit  growers  of  large 
experience.  These  lists  were  compared  and 
their  merits  fully  discussed  at  six  successive 
meetings.  The  following  list  was  finally  agreed 
upon  and  recommended  almost  unanimously. 
Reference  was  had  specially  to  varieties  known 
to  be  successful  in  the  region  of  country  around 
New-York  City,  but  the  list,  with  slight  modi- 
fications, is  valuable  for  the  whole  country: 

LIST  ADOPTED  BY  THE  FRUIT  GROWERS  MEETING. 

3  Doyenne  tl'Ete July  15  to  Aug.  10 

3  Beurre  Giffard Aug.    1  "      "      15 

4  Tyson "      10  "      "      30 

10  Bartlett "      15  "  Sept.  15 

4  Belle  Lucrative "      15  "  "      15 

6  Flemish  Beauty Sept.     1"  "      35 

4  Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey "      10"  Oct.    10 

4  Seckel "      15  "  "      15 

4  St.  Michael  Archauge "      15  "  "      15 

G  Beurre  Bose Oct.     1"  Nov.    1 

10  Dueliesse   d'Angoulcnie "       1  "  "      20 

4  Bergen "       1"  "      20 

6  Beurre  d'Anjou "     10  "  "      25 

4  Beurre  Clairgeau "     15  "  Dec.  15 

4  Beurre  Diel "    15"  "        1 

4  Urbauiste Oct.         "  Nov. 

4  De  Tongres "          "  Dec.  15. 

4  Winter "Nelis Nov.       "  Dec. 

8  Lawrence "          "  " 

6  Vicar  of  YTmklield "          "  Jau. 

The  Urbaniste  was  adopted  with  the  under- 
standing that  it  comes  late  into  bearing,  and  the 
De  Tongres  was  added  as  promising  exceedingly 
well,  though  not  sufficiently  proved  to  warrant 
an  unqualified  recommendation. 

The  Louise  Bonne,  Duehesse,  Beurre  Diel,  and 
Vicar,  were  considered  lest  on  quince,  while 


Bartlett,  Flemish  Beauty,  Seckel,  Beurre  Bosc, 
Beurre  Clairgeau,  De  Tongres,  Winter  Nelis 
and  Lawrence,  were  recommended  on  pear,  or 
double  worked  on  quince.  The  remainder  of 
the  list  may  be  on  either  pear  or  quince. 

At  first,  strong  objections  were  raised  against 
the  Vicar  of  Winkfield,  on  account  of  quality, 
but  these  were  over-ruled  by  those  who  explain- 
ed that  they  were  not  generally  well  ripened. 
Some  specimens  exhibited,  though  prematurely 
ripe,  were  pronounced  really  fine,  with  a  spright- 
liness  not  found  in  many  other  sorts.  Pears  of 
this  variety  should  be  picked  late,  put  in  a  cool 
cellar  or  other  place,  and  be  kept  until  the  first 
or  middle  of  December ;  then  after  exposing  for 
one  week  in  a  moderately  warm  room,  they  col- 
or up  finely,  and  are  of  fine  flavor  at  a  season 
when  but  few  others  are  to  be  had.  They  can 
be  kept  back  until  the  middle  of  January.  The 
Vicar  is  one  of  the  most  vigorous  growers  and 
constant  producers  of  large  crops  that  we  have. 

There  was  much  discussion  over  the  Beurre 
Bosc— the  nurserymen,  while  admitting  all  its 
good  qualities,  say  it  costs  twice  as  much  to 
raise  as  many  other  sorts,  and  they  fear  if  a 
person  plants  out  two-year  old  trees,  he  will  lose 
half  of  them,  so  difficult  are  they  to  carry 
through  the  first  few  years  of  growth.  After  be- 
coming established,  and  especially  on  branches 
of  large  trees,  this  sort  does  pretty  well,  and  the 
quality  of  the  fruit  is  of  such  excellence,  that  it 
finally  received  a  strong  vote. 

Persons  wishing  to  plant  00  trees  can  take 
half  the  various  kinds  named  in  the  above  list, 
or  if  they  do  not  wish  so  great  a  variety,  let 
them  select  from  those  having  the  highest  num- 
bers, keeping  in  mind  the  succession  in  maturing. 


For  Peach  Trees. 


A  correspondent  of  the  American  AgrimUtirist 
writes  thus :  B.  F.  Seaver  of  Orange  Co.,  N. 
J.,  whose  peach  trees  had  not  borne  fruit  for 
several  years,  had  a  good  crop  the  past  year, 
some  trees  yielding  3  to  4  bushels  each,  and  the 
trees  were  very  thrifty.  He  attributes  his  suc- 
cess to  the  application  of  a  method  recommend- 
ed to  him  by  Mr.  Plummer  of  Newark.  In 
early  Spring,  as  soon  as  the  frost  began  to  come 
out  of  the  ground,  a  teakettleful  of  scalding-hot 
water  was  poured  over  the  crotch  of  each  tree, 
(the  crotch  being  generally  not  far  up  from  the 
ground.)  The  water  circulating  round  the 
trunk  enters  the  ground,  and  kills  the  grubs 
which  produce  the  "yellows"  later  in  the  sea- 
son. A  small  puddle  hole  iu  the  ground  around 
the  base  of  the  trunk  should  first  be  made,  to 
hold  the  water  as  it  falls,  and  if  you  will  exam- 
ine afterwards,  you  will  find  the  dead  worms. 
You  can't  have  the  water  too  hot,  and  need 
have  no  fear  of  injuring  the  bark  of  the  trees. 
Of  course  the  excellent  fruit  season  had  much 
to  do  with  the  large  crop  realized  last  year,  but 
as  several  duplicate  trees*of  previous  years,  in 
the  same  locality,  had  died  of  yellows,  it  is  rea- 
sonable to  suppose  the  above  operation  had  a 
good  effect.  [We  can  not  affirm  that  the  hot 
water  was  useless,  but  we  can  hardly  see  howJ.t 
could  be  beneficial.  It  could  not  of  course  run 
up  into  the  holes  of  borers,  and  if  it  did,  it 
would  not  be  hot  enough  to  disturb  them  after 
running  down  the  trunk.  Oilier  insects  would 
hardly  lie  found  on  the  surface  at  a  time  when 
the  frost  is  just  coming  out  of  the  ground.  A 
continuous  stream  of  hot  water  would  be  likely 
to  soon  destroy  the  vitality  of  the  bark.  Per- 
haps we  are  wrong,  but  without  the  success  of 
the  method  in  other  years  than  the  past  one,  we 
should  not  recommend  it  for  general  adoption.] 


18 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[Jantjary, 


Curious  Trees. 


Useful  trees  have  their  place,  and  so  do  orna- 
mental trees.  But  in  addition  to  these  there  is  a 
class  which  may  be  called  distinctively  curious; 
and  of  these  a  few  notes  may  be  interesting  : 

The  Cow  Tree  is  a  native  of  Venzuela,  South 
America.  It  is  often  found  growing  on  the 
poorest  and  must  rocky  soil.  Its  leaves  are  dry 
and  leathery  in  appearance,  and  for  several 
months  of  the  year  not  a  shower  falls  to  moisten 
its  roots  and  branches.  Yet,  by  piercing  the 
bark,  it  yields  a  liquid  resembling  milk,  which 
is  sweet  and  nourishing.  At  sunrise,  this  fluid 
seems  to  be  especially  abundant,  and  at  this 
hour  the  natives  go  to  the  trees  in  great  num- 
bers to  get  their  daily  supply. 

The  Sorrowful  Tree  is  found  near  Bombay, 
India.  It  is  so  called,  from  its  habit  of  bloom- 
ing only  at  night.  While  the  sun  is  shining,  not 
an  expanded  flower  is  visible ;  yet  in  half  an 
hour  after  the  sun  is  below  the  horizon,  the  tree 
is  full  of  them.  There  is  little  beauty  in  tbem, 
though  the  odor  is  pleasant.  At  sunrise,  the 
petals  close  up  or  drop  to  the  ground.  This 
tree,  it  would  seem,  must  have  some  sort  of  re- 
lation to  the  night-blooming  Ceres. 

The  Dwarf  Tree  is  found  upon  high  lands  near 
Cape  Horn.  Its  maximum  hight  is  two  and  a 
half  feet,  and  the  spread  of  its  branches  about 
four  feet,  and  a  stiff,  thorny  mat  at  that. 

The  Mammoth  Trees  of  California,  are  worthy 
of  note  here.  They  are  found  three  hundred 
feet  high,  and  29  feet  in  diameter  at  five  feet 
from  the  ground.  A  hollow  section  of  a  trunk 
was  lately  exhibited  at  San  Francisco,  which 
presented  a  large  carpeted  room,  with  a  piano 
and  seats  for  forty  persons.  On  a  recent  occa- 
sion, one  hundred  and  forty  children  were  ad- 
mitted without  inconvenience. 

The  Ivory  Nut  Tree  is  found  in  South  America, 
and  belongs  to  the  palm  tribe.  The  natives  use 
it  in  building  their  huts,  and  out  of  its  nuts  they 
make  buttons  and  various  trinkets.  Of  late 
years,  the  nuts  have  found  their  way  to  other 
countries  where  the}-  are  worked  up  into  all 
sorts  of  fancy  articles. 

The  Cannon  Ball  Tree. — What  can  lie  more  in- 
teresting than  this  tree  in  our  warlike  times ! 
It's  a  pity  that  it  grows  only  in  the  tropics.  It 
rises  about  sixty-five  feet  high,  has  beautiful 
crimson  flowers,  in  clusters,  and  very  fragrant. 
The  resemblance  of  the  fruit  to  cannon  balls  has 
given  it  its  martial  name.  When  fully  ripe,  the 
balls  burst  with  a  loud  report.  The  shells  are 
worked  into  cups  and  a  great  variety  of  other 
useful  and  ornamental  household  utensils. 

The  Bread  Fruit  Tree. — Here  is  something  use- 
ful, as  well  as  curious.  Would  that  it  grew 
somewhere  besides  in  the  islands  of  the  Pacific. 
The  fruit  attains  the  size  of  a  child's  head  ten 
years  old.  If  wanted  for  food,  it  needs  to  be 
gathered  a  little  before  it  is  fully  ripe,  and  then 
baked,  like  hoecake,  mhot  ashes.  When  prop- 
erly cooked,  it  resembles  not  a  little  the  taste  or 
a  good  wheaten  loaf.  Nor  is  this  the  only  use 
of  the  tree.  Its  timber  is  excellent  for  house- 
building, for  making  canoes  and  agricultural 
implements.  The  sap  is  a  gummy  substance, 
very  useful  as  a  pitch  for  caulking  the  seams  or 
vessels.  The  fiber  of  the  inner  bark  is  used  by 
the  natives  for  making  cloth.,  which  in  that  cli- 
mate answers  a  good  purpose.  It  is  the  favorite 
tree  of  its  native  region;  and  well  it  may  be. 
The  UpasjTree.— The  "  deadly  Upas,"  of  which 
we  have  all  read  and  heard  from  childhood, 
which  was  supposed  to  diffuse  a  poisonous  air, 
fatal  to  animals  or  men  who  came   beneath  its 


branches,  has  no  existence,  and  never  had.  The 
only  possible  ground  for  the  superstition  was 
this:  On  a  certain  island  of  the  East  Indies, 
there  is  a  valley  iu  which  there  is  a  constant  de- 
position of  carbonic  acid  gas.  This  gas  spreads 
itself  amoug  a  few  trees  of  the  neighborhood, 
and  of  course,  if  birds,  animals  or  men  inhale 
much  of  this  gas,  it  will  quite  surely  be  fatal  to 
them.  But  this  is  no  fault  of  the  trees,  which 
have  been  found  to  possess  no  poisonous  quality. 

The  Tallow  Tree  is  a  veritable  fact.  It  lives  in 
China,  and  yields  au  oily  substance  resembling 
tallow,  and  which  answers  well  as  a  substitute 
for  it.  The  tree  is  of  only  medium  size,  at  ma- 
turity.   It  would  not  be  hardy  in  America. 

The  Varnish  Tree  is  Japanese,  though  found, 
also,  sparingly  in  China.  This  is  the  tree 
which  produces  the  black  Japan  varnish,  so 
useful  an  article  of  commerce.  It  resembles,  in 
general  appearance,  the  white  ash  tree  of  this 
country.  It  does  not  furnish  its  peculiar  liquid 
in  large  quantities,  until  nine  or  ten  years  old. 


Tree  Planting  Societies. 


Several  years  ago,  mention  was  made  in  the 
American  Agriculturist,  of  a  Rural  Art  Society 
established  in  one  of  our  towns,  the  leading  ob- 
ject of  which  was  to  encourage  planting  road- 
sides and  yards  with  shade-trees,  and  to  fos- 
ter a  general  public  taste  for  rural  improve- 
ment. This  article  was  copied  into  an  influen- 
tial paper  in  London,  with  a  commendatory 
note  by  the  Editor.  A  year  after,  a  gentleman 
who  had  read  the  article,  was  led  to  recall  and 
re-read  it.  His  reading  set  him  a-thinking,  and 
his  thinking  set  him  a-writiug.  He  wrote  sev- 
eral articles,  urging  the  rural  embellishment  of 
London  and  the  surrounding  villages.  Other 
pens  became  enlisted  in  other  parts  of  the  king- 
dom, the  subject  got  a  good  airing,  and  some- 
thing practical  is  likely  to  grow  out  of  it- 
One  of  these  articles  urges  the  formation  of 
rural  societies  like  those  in  America.  Here  are 
a  few  sentences :  "  The  idea  of  promoting  these 
objects  by  an  association  is  a  happy  one;  and  in 
this  age  of  co-operation,  such  a  society  can 
easily  be  established.  Owners  of  property  in 
and  around  villages  would  belong  to  such  a  so- 
ciety, because  the  embellishment  would  enhance 
the  value  of  their  property.  Men  of  taste  would 
belong  to  it,  for  the  gratification  it  would  afford 
them,"  etc.,  etc.  So  it  would  seem  that  the  good 
seed  sown  by  our  agricultural  papers,  often 
springs  up  and  bears  unexpected  fruit. 


For  the  American.  Agriculturist. 

A  Parmer  on  our  Native  Porest  Trees. 


Mr.  Editor  :  It  seems  to  me  that  there  is  too 
much  of  a  rage  for  foreign  trees  and  plants,  to 
the  neglect  of  the  productions  of  our  own 
country.  I  know,  indeed,  that  all  the  good 
things  are  not  confined  to  this  nation,  but  I  be- 
lieve we  have  enough  for  our  own  use.  Not  a 
few  persons  are  fond  of  having  a  root  or  cut- 
ting of  something  which  once  grew  on  a  fa- 
mous man's  estate  in  England  or  Prance — no 
matter  whether  it  is  adapted  to  our  climate  or 
not.  They  are  forever  hunting  after  something 
rare,  something  uncommon,  something  which 
ordinary  people  can  not  hope  to  possess. 

Now,  I  go  in  for  the  natives.  We  have  here 
at  home  enough,  and  more  than  enough,  to  sat- 
isfy every  reasonable  desire  and  taste.  If  a  per- 
son wants  to  increase  his  variety,  here  is  oppor- 
tunity enough.  The  fact  is,  only  a  few  persons 
know  what  a  long  and  varied  catalogue  we  pos- 


sess. The  planters  and  nurserymen  of  England 
and  the  Continent  are  continually  sending  over 
here  for  our  trees  and  plants,  knowing  them  to 
be  the  finest  that  the  world  possesses  :  but  are 
they  not  as  good  for  us  as  for  them?  If  you 
should  send  an  order  to  any  intelligent  nursery- 
man in  England,  for  a  dozen  of  his  best  orna- 
mental trees,  irrespective  of  their  origin,  and 
adapted  to  a  northern  climate,  rest  assured  he 
would  send  you,  among  others,  the  cucumber 
tree  (Magnolia  acuminata,)  the  tuljp  tree,  white 
elm,  sugar  maple,  hemlock,  and  white  pine,  all 
of  them  indigenous  to  North  America.  That's 
worth  thinking  about. 

Then,  there  is  a  certain  claim  of  self  respect. 
If  a  person  is  continually  undervaluing  his  own, 
and  hankering  after  the  things  which  others 
possess,  it  indicates  weakness,  and  it  lowers 
him  in  the  estimation  of  others.  Now,  if  we 
respect  ourselves  as  Americans,  I  think  we  shall 
put  a  due  estimate  on  our  own  possessions ;  we 
shall  feel  a  sort  of  national  pride  in  them.  For 
one,  I  feel  proud  of  whatever  belongs  to  us  as 
a  people.  Our  country,  in  its  vast  extent  and 
resources,  in  its  scenery  and  climate  and  people, 
is  one  of  which  we  may  well  think  highly. 
Our  civil  and  political  institutions  cost  us  a  great 
deal  to  purchase,  and  now,  much  more,  oh,  how 
much,  to  maintain  and  preserve !  Now,  sir,  I 
can't  help  appropriating  somewhat  of  this  na- 
tional feeling  to  our  native  productions — to  our 
very  grasses,  and  grains,  and  fruits,  and  trees, 
I  dearly  love  them,  because  they  belong  to  my 
own  native  laud.  Let  us  all  prize,  more  and 
more,  the  trees  which  clothe  our  hills  and  adorn 
our  valleys,  and  the  vines,  shrubs,  and  plain:;, 
which  smile  all  over  the  landscape.      Farmer. 


Hints   from   Mr.    Loudon. 


In  turning  over  an  odd  volume  of  Loudon's 
Magazine,  lately,  we  met  in  his  description  of  a 
country  seat,  a  hint  or  two  worth   recording: 

"Here  we  found  Tliwibergia  alata,  in  great 
luxuriance,  sowing  itself  every  year,  a  proof  that 
it  maybe  treated  as  an  annual.  Maurandya  Bar- 
cbiijana  here,  as  iu  some  other  places,  is  found  to 
be  perfectly  hardy.  The  top  dies  down  to  the 
ground  in  the  Pall,  but  new  shoots  spring  up 
vigorously  in  the  Spring.  And  this  we  presume 
will  prove  to  be  the  ruse    with  a   multitude  of 

other   plants  which  we  have  not    tried The 

collection  of  choice  shrubs  and  ornamental  trees 
here  is  remarkable,  considering  the  limited  extent 
of  the  place,  the  secret  of  which  is,  that  few 
common  plants  or  duplicates  are  admitted. . . . 
There  is  not  a  greater  mistake,  in  planting 
pleasure  grounds,  than  the  mixing  of  the  com- 
mon or  indigenous  shrubs  of  the  country  with 
foreign  or  improved  species.  It  is  as  bad  in  a 
garden,  as  it  would  be  in  architecture  to  mix 
Grecian  ornaments  with  Gothic  ones."  He  al- 
so speaks  of  thorns  being  tied  around  the  stems 
of  young  trees  to  guard  them  from  animals. 
Also,  of  certain  plants  which  require  au  abun- 
dance of  light,  but  can  not  endure  the  direct  rayi 
of  the  sun;  these  arc  accommodated  by  being 
set  where  they  get  only  the  light  reflected  from 
a  high  wall  which  had  been  whitewashed. 
Query:  Would  not  this  answer  for  rhododen- 
drons and  laurels? Lastly,  he   publishes  the 

letter  of  a  head-gardener  who,  in  speaking  of 
the  trenching  of  the  ground  done  for  planting  a 
lot  of  young  magnolias,  says :  "  The  subsoil  on 
this  place  we  have  not  yet  been  able  to  prove, 
having  gone  down  deeper  than  five  feet ;  but  to 
that  depth,  it  is  all  sandy  loam."  Think  of  that, 
ye  American  trenchers  !     Only  five  feet  down  I 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


19 


Land  ou  Slopes  of  Steep  Hills. 

A  subscriber  of  the  American  Agriculturist,  in 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  inquires  "what  to  do  with  a  plot 
of  ground  on  a  hill  side,  above  a  stone  quarry 
that  prevents  building  a  stone  wall  around  it. 
It  has  a  stiff  clay  subsoil,  resting  on  a  layer  of 
red  greasy  clay.  The  surface  soil  is  inclined  to 
'  slip,'  but  if  it  can  be  improved  it  is  valuable  for 

a  grapery." Probably  bastard  trenching,  that 

is,  digging  it  deeply  but  not  inverting  the  soil, 
and  placing  under-drains  and  surface  drains  so 
as  to  carry  off  washing  water,  would  put  it  in 
shape  for  tillage.  The  grape  vine  roots,  after 
once  filling  the  soil,  would  help  keep  it  in  place. 
In  some  favorite  grape  localities  along  the  Rhine, 
where  peculiar  qualities  of  wine  are  produced, 
but  where  the  surface  lies  but  a  few  degrees 
from  a  perpendicular,  they  even  go  so  far  as  to 
place  baskets  of  earth  among  the  stones  and 
rocks,  and  fill  up  between  them  with  soil.  The 
baskets  hold  tire  earth  until  the  grape  roots 
spread,  and  take  their  place  as  they  decay. 

On  the  steep  side  hills  around  Stuttgart,  in 
Wurtemberg,  in  mauy  places  along  the  Rhine, 
and  among  the  hills  between  Lyons  and  Geneva, 
and  in  other  places  in  Switzerland,  France,  and 
German}',  we  examined  vineyards  upon  the  sides 
of  hills  that  were  naturally  so  steep  that  one 
could  scarcely  climb  them.  The  usual  method 
pursued  is,  to  build  stone  walls  along  the  hill,  a 
few  feet  or  rods  above  each  other,  and  level  off 
a  plot  of  soil  between  the  walls,  making  a  suc- 
cession of  terraces.  Stone  and  bush  drains  are 
provided  to  convey  currents  of  water  that  would 
otherwise  wash  down  the  soil.  On  the  steep, 
high  hills  over-shadowing  Stuttgart  on  the  south, 
the  terrace  walls  are  of  almost  regular  solid 
masonry,  with  cut-stone  gutters  to  couvey  the 
water.  The  cut-stone  steps  leading  up  through 
the  plots  are  in  many  cases  laid  solid,  and  hol- 
1  o  w  ed  out  to  serve  as  water  courses  during  heavy 
rains.  Large  sums  have  been  expended  in  thus 
making  artificial  soils,  but  the  luxuriant  crops 
of  grapes,  such  as  we  saw  growing,  doubtless 
pay  a  good  interest  on  the  original  outlay.  These 
steep  hill  sides,  especially  when  the  soil  is  work- 
ed deep,  and  thus  thoroughly  drained  as  it  must 
necessarily  be,  seem  to  be  just  the  places  grapes 
most  delight  in.  There  are  many  such  locali- 
ties in  our  country.  Hill  sides,  now  worthless, 
maybe  fitted  up  for  vines,  with  little  more  labor 
than  it  would  pay  to  expend  on  any  soil  devoted 
to  successful  grape  growing.  Any  suggestions 
on  this  topic,  such  as  would  help  our  Pittsburgh 
correspondent,  and  others  similarly  situated, 
will  be  acceptable. 


A  Compliment  from  John  Bull. 

■ 

In  these  days  of  trial,  when  England  turns 
the  cold  shoulder  to  us,  it  is  comforting  to  re- 
c  all  the  pleasant  things  she  has  said  and  done 
in  former  times.  Here  is  a  morsel :  Several 
years  ago,  when  Mr.  Loudon  was  giving  in- 
struction to  a  committee  of  gentlemen  in  refer- 
ence to  the  embellishment  of  a  public  park,  he 
said :  "  In  that  portion  of  the  Park  where  it  is 
desirable  that  the  greatest  beauty  and  interest 
should  be  created,  the  trees  of  North  America 
should  be  planted.  To  these  may  succeed  the 
trees  oS  Greece  and  Italy ;  next,  those  of  France 
and  Germany ;  then,  the  British  trees ;  and 
lastly,  those  of  the  north  of  Russia,  and  of  Swe- 
den and  Norway." 

One  would  have  thought  that  British  trees 
would  be  placed  high  in  the  list ;  and  that  those 
of  the  classical  lands  of  Rome  and   Greece,  if 


not  also  those  of  France  and  Germany,  would 
precede  those  of  our  own  wild,  democratic 
country.  But  lo  !  our  trees  are  put  at  the  head 
of  the  catalogue  of  all  the  nations  ! — How  about 
our  men  and  women  raised  on  the  soil  that  grows 
these  trees  ? 


For  the  American  Agriculturist, 

On  Pitting  up  a  Home— Confessions  of  an 
Amateur. 

Every  fruit  grower  and  gardener  has  to  edu- 
cate himself,  and  generally  pays  very  dear  for 
his  education.  Multitudes  get  possession  of  the 
house,  and  a  home  lot,  and  the  means  to  adorn 
it,  before  they  get  the  knowledge  requisite  to  lay 
out  their  money  to  good  advantage.  Many  go- 
ahead  without  consulting  architect,  artist,  or 
gardener — build,  lay  out  grounds,  plant  trees — 
for  it  is  the  weakness  of  a  Yankee  to  the  manor 
born  to  think  that  he  can  do  almost  any  thing 
as  well  as  if  he  had  never  done  anything  else. 
Such  go-ahead  improvers  after  a  few  years'  la- 
bor begin  to  get  hold  of  the  principles  of  laud- 
scape  gardening,  especially  if  they  travel  much, 
and  observing  other  well  kept  places,  discover 
that  they  have  made  several  blunders,  if  not 
more.  The  gate  is  in  the  wrong  place,  the  car- 
riage drive  has  taken  the  wrong  turn,  the  Nor- 
way spruces  hide  objects  that  ought  to  be  seen, 
and  a  good  deal  is  brought  into  view  that  were 
better  hidden.  He  has  at  length  educated  his 
taste  so  that  he  can  enjoy  nothing  that  he  has 
done,  and  he  has  to  "change  his  base"  and  begin 
again.  The  walks  are  moved,  new  hedges  are 
planted,  half  grown  trees  are  transplanted,  some 
are  cut  down,  fruit  trees  are  thinned  out,  and 
the  work  of  years  is  destroyed  in  a  day.  Many 
can  never  summon  resolution  enough  to  make 
the  change,  and  go  ou  cherishing  the  blunders 
of  their  early  years.  They  have  gained  a  good 
deal  of  knowledge  by  their  experience,  but  it 
comes  a  little  too  late  for  them. 

I  do  not  come  altogether  under  this  latter 
category,  for  I  have  already  changed  many  of 
my  blunders,  but  a  few,  alas !  must  remain  for 
another  generation.  I  am  willing  to  put  some 
of  these  blunders  upon  record  for  the  benefit  of 
those  who  are  just  building  new  homes  or  be- 
ginning to  improve  them.  First,  then,  is  the 
neglect  of  the  architect  and  the  landscape  gar- 
dener. There  is  a  wide  spread  prejudice  against 
these  characters,  probably  from  the  fact  that 
both  professions  have  their  unworthy  repre- 
sentatives, miserable  pretenders  who  do  not  un- 
derstand the  first  principles  of  their  business. 
But  Downing  has  his  worthy  successors,  and 
the  man  who  wishes  to  avail  himself  of  their  aid, 
can  easily  find  them.  Two  or  three  hundred 
dollars  seems  a  large  outlay  for  the  plan  of  a 
house  and  outbuildings,  but  in  an  expenditure 
of  fifteen  or  twenty  thousand  dollars,  or  even 
half  that  sum,  it  is  of  trifling  importance.  The 
plan  determines  the  character  of  the  house,  and 
the-  comfort  of  the  household  for  their  whole 
lives.  A  door  in  the  wrong  place,  or  the  want 
of  one  in  the  right  place,  is  matter  of  daily  an- 
noyance. Bad  arrangements  in  the  kitchen  and 
dining  room  make  a  great  deal  of  unnecessary 
labor  for  which  you  have  to  pay.  The  lodging 
room  and  nursery  upon  the  second  or  third 
story,  instead  of  the  first,  make  a  multitude  of 
weary  footsteps  for  the  wife  and  mother  already 
overtaxed.  The  continued  health  of  a  wife  and 
well  being  of  children  may  depend  upon  so  small 
a  matter  as  the  right  location  of  a  bedroom. 
No  rewards  are  better  earned,  noue  are  cheap- 


er to  the  purchaser,  than  those  of  the  architect 
who  plans  a  house  to  meet  the  wants  of  your 
condition  in  life  and  your  family.  The  problem 
to  be  solved  varies  with  almost,  every  family. 
It  is  the  business  of  the  architect  to  study  these 
wants  and  to  meet  them  in  the  most  economi- 
cal manner.  Many,  more  than  save  the  price  of 
their  services  in  the  increased  economy  which 
they  secure  in  building,  and  in  the  future  labor 
in  the  household.  Some  houses  are  so  badly 
arranged  that  it  requires  three  servants  to  do  the 
work  which  two  would  easily  perform  in  another. 

The  arrangement  of  the  grounds  around  the 
dwelling  is  another,  of  less  importance  indeed, 
but  still  not  to  be  overlooked.  Every  gem  wants 
its  appropriate  setting,  and  a  tasteful  house  may 
be  half  spoiled  by  its  surroundings.  We  want 
the  apples  of  gold  in  pictures  of  silver.  Trees 
and  shrubs  may  be  so  planted  as  to  highteu  the 
charms  of  the  dwelling,  and  to  give  it  addition- 
al shelter  and  warmth  in  Winter.  They  may 
be  so  arranged  as  to  command  the  most  beau- 
tiful objects  in  the  distance,  or  to  obstruct  the 
view.  One  of  my  neighbors  has  entirely  buried 
himself  up  in  his  trees.  His  home  stands  on  an 
eminence  commanding  a  beautiful  view  of  the 
distant  sea  and  its  islands,  but  he  can  not  see  a 
sail  from  the  window  of  the  sitting  room,  where 
the  family  spend  most .  of  their  leisure  hours. 
The  windows  look  out  pleasantly  upon  a  lawn 
of  four  or  five  acres.  Butalarge  clumpof  ever- 
greens completely  obstructs  the  view.  He  is 
sheltered  indeed,  but  he  has  cut  off  the  cheerful 
light  of  the  sun,  and  the  pleasing  aspects  of  na- 
ture around  him.  He  might  have  bid  defiance 
to  the  winds,  and  at  the  same  time  have  wooed 
the  sunlight.  He  is  surrounded  with  green  fields 
but  he  can  hardly  get  a  glimpse  of  them. 

This  may  seem  to  be  a  small  matter  to  people 
without  taste,  but  it  has  a  good  deal  to  do  with 
the  happiness  of  the  family.  We  ride  miles  to 
get  a  pretty  view  from  the  summit  of  a  hill,  and 
enjoy  the  whitening  sails  of  the  sea,  or  the  steam- 
ers that  leave  behind  them  their  long  trails  of 
smoke.  Such  a  view,  or  any  other  pleasing 
prospect,  would  seem  to  be  worth  preserving 
at  home.  I  am  a  little  old-fashioned  in  my 
tastes,  but  really,  I  prefer  to  have  these  pictures 
out  of  doors,  rather  than  their  imitations  upon 
the  walls  of  the  parlor. 

Twenty  years  ago,  I  planted  a  clump  of  ev- 
ergreens, mostly  Norway  spruces  and  hemlocks, 
to  hide  a  neighbor's  barn  across  the  way.  They 
have  grown  wondrously,  and  more  than  accom- 
plished their  object,  for  they  have  hidden  a 
glimpse  of  a  sheet  of  water  that  lies  at  the  fool 
of  a  hill  a  mile  away.  The  trees  are  too  beau- 
tiful to  be  cut  away,  it  would  be  sacrilege  to 
trim  them,  and  I  am  in  a  quandary  to  know 
what  to  do  with  them.  In  tree  planting,  one 
needs  to  look  ahead  a  little,  and  see  what  a  tree 
will  become  when  it  is  well  developed.  Small- 
er evergreens  would  have  hidden  my  eyesore, 
and  saved  my  lake.  Henry  Herbert. 

Culture  of  the  Pansy. 

Few  flowering  plants  give  greater  satisfaction 
than  the  Pansy.  Less  brilliant  and  showy  than 
the  verbena,  petunia,  scarlet  geranium,  and  the 
like,  it  yet  has  excellences  to  winch  they  can 
lay  no  claim.  It  is  easily  cultivated,  requires 
little  or  no  protection  in  Winter,  commences 
blooming  early  in  Spring,  and  with  a  slight 
check  in  the  heat  of  mid-summer,  continues  in 
flower  all  the  season,  and  furnishes  an  almost 
endless  variety  of  colors,  shades  and  markings. 
In  answer  to  many  inquiries  about  the  prepa- 


20 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[January, 


ation  of  the  soil  and  general  management,  we 
quote  from  an  English  work  on  the  Pansy, 
which  is  the  highest  authority  in  that  country : 
"  The  results  of  various  experiments  relative  to 
the  growth  of  this  flower,  amount  simply  to  this, 
that  to  produce  fine,  large  blooms,  due  attention 
must  be  paid  to  soil,  sit- 
uation, and  often  trans- 
planting. Young  plants 
are  generally  found  to 
produce  the  largest  and 
finest  marked  blooms. 
Soil  and  Situation. — 
Pansies  delight  in  a  cool, 
shady  situation,  and  in 
a  light,  rich,  loamy  soil. 
A  composition  of  good 
loam,  enriched  either 
with  rotten  dung,  or  lea! 
or  vegetable  mold,  will 
grow  them  in  the  high- 
est perfection ;  yet  they 
will  grow  well  in  any 
good  garden  soil.  But 
by  using  proper  earths, 
often  transplanting,  and 
due  attention  to  shading, 
situation  and  watering, 
you  may  have  a  succes- 
sion offine,  large  blooms 
for  nine  months  of  the 
year."  (Nine  months  of 
the  English  year,  of 
course,  but  not  of  our 
colder  country  and 
of  our  shorter  season.) 
To  the  above,  we  will 
add  that,  in  our  own 
experience,  a  deep  soil, 
enriched  heavily  with 
well  decayed  cow-dung, 
mixed  with  a  little  sand, 
leaf-mold,  and  common 
earth  in  equal  portions, 
makes  the  perfection  of 
soil  for  this  favorite 
plant.  Shade,  for  part 
of  the  day,  is  quite  de- 
sirable. The  seed  may 
be  sown  in  the  open 
ground,  in  September, 
where  they  will  get  a 
good  start  before  Win- 
ter sets  in,  and  they  will 
make  a  fine  show  the  fol- 
lowing season.  Or  seed 
may  be  started  in  March 
or  April  in  boxes  in  the 
house,  or  in  a  hot-bed, 
and  then  'transplanted 

into  the  border  as  soon  as  Spring  fairly  opens. 
They  should  be  set  a  foot  apart  in  the  beds,  at 
which  distance  they  will  soon  cover  the  ground. 


ly  adapted  for  vase  edging  for  rustic  stands  or 
boxes.  The  most  pleasing  disposition  of  it, 
however,  will  be  in  a  suspended  pot  or  basket 
in  the  sitting  room,  where  its  bright  petals  and 
gracefully  drooping  runners  will  give  a  charm- 
ing aspect   of   cheerfulness.    It  is  said  to  be 


NEW 


A  New  Convolvulus. 

The  engraving  above' will  give  some  idea  of  a 
new- trailing  plant  from  southern  Europe,  re- 
cently introduced  into  florists'  collections.  It 
is  known  in  the  catalogues  by  the  alarming 
name  Convolvulus  Cantalricus  stellatus  novus — in 
plain  English,  the  new  Spanish  Star  Morning 
Glory.  The  flowers  are  of  a  beautiful,  soft, 
pink  color,  with  a  pure  white  double  star  in  the 
center,  aud  being  produced  in  the  greatest  pro- 
fusion, it  forms  a  fine  bedding  plant,  either  as 
an  edging,  or  in  an  isolated  bed.    It  is  peeuliar- 


PLANT    FOR    HANGING    BASKETS. 

{Engraved  for  the  American  Agriculturist.) 


very  easily  cultivated  in  good  loam  with  the 
addition  of  a  little  thoroughly  rotted  leaf-mold. 
The  rustic  basket  containing  it,  shown  in  the 
engraving,  is  worthy  of  notice.  An  almost  end- 
less variety  of  designs  for  such  receptacles  can 
be  made  of  twisted  pieces  of  grape  vines, 
gnarled  branches  of  oak,  irregular  roots  of  va- 
rious sorts,  etc.  These,  neatly  varnished,  will 
be  more  pleasing  than  the  most  costly  vases. 


Mixed  Flower  Gardens. 


It  is  a  great  mistake  to  mix  shrubs  and  herba- 
ceous plants  in  the  same  beds.  They  can  not 
thrive  well  together,  and  the  one  injures  the 
effect  of  the  other.  It  no  doubt  looks  very  pic- 
turesque, in  a  wild  wood,  to  see  trees,   shrubs, 


vines  and  fiowering  plants  mingled  together, 
each  striving  for  the  mastery ;  but  a  flower  gar 
den  is,  and  should  be,  something  quite  different 
from  natural  scenery.  It  is  designed  to  culti- 
vate plants  better  than  when  growing  wild. 
Every  experienced  gardener  knows  that  few 
plants  attain  perfection 
when  overhung  and 
shaded  by  trees,  or  in  -a 
soil  penetrated  by  their 
roots.  But  this  is  the 
Condition  of  many  her- 
baceous plants  when  set 
in  borders  partly  filled 
with  shrubbery.  They 
become  drawn  up,  lank 
and  spindling,  or  one- 
sided, and  they  make 
a  comparatively  feeble 
growth.  Yet,  how  could 
this  be  otherwise  when 
the  soil  is  exhausted  by 
the  rank-feeding  bush- 
es ?  And  besides,  there 
is  no  harmony  of  effect 
between  trees  &  shrubs. 
For  illustration,  take 
an  extreme  case :  A 
tree  awakens  the  idea  of 
dignity  and  grandeur. 
One  needs  to  stand  at 
some  distance  to  exam- 
ine and  comprehend  it. 
The  expression  of  an 
herbaceous  plant  in 
bloom,  is  that  of  brilli- 
ancy of  color,  and  beau- 
ty of  detail,  and  the  eye 
must  be  brought  near  to 
examine  it.  To  enjoy 
trees,  one  must  look  up; 
to  enjoy  plants  he  must 
look  down.  The  paral- 
lel holds,  somewhat,  be- 
tween shrubs  aud  plants. 
The  works  of  the  best 
artists  are  marked  by 
unity  of  design ;  so  will 
the  works  of  the  best 
gardeners  be.  If  we 
want  to  enjoy  trees  and 
shrubs,  let  us  have  them 
grouped  by  themselves ; 
and  the  same  of  flowers. 
Aud  here  let  us  say, 
that  too  little  attention 
is  given  to  shrubs.  They 
are  beautiful  in  them- 
selves, and  they  form 
an  appropriate  link  be- 
tween trees  and  plants.  Their  habits,  as  to 
hight,  form,  color,  etc.,  should  be  made  a  con- 
tinual study,  and  their  arrangement,  in  groups 
and  scattered  specimens,  should  be  as  carefully 
planned  as  that  of  trees.  They  may  be  set  in 
grass-ground,  if  the  soil  is  kept  well  stirred 
around  them  a  few  years,  until  they  are  firmly 
established  ;  after  this,  the  grass  may  be  suffer- 
ed to  grow  up  to  their  stems  They  should  be 
set  at  suitable  distances  apart,  to  allow  of  their 
full  growth  without  becoming  crowded  into  a 
confused,  ill-shapen  mass,  as  in  a  wild  scene.  It 
was  a  standing  rule  of  Mr.  Loudon,  that  "  as  a 
garden  is  a  work  of  art,  and  a  scene  of  cultiva- 
tion, every  plant  or  tree  should  be  so  placed  as 
never  to  be  mistaken  for  a  tree  or  plant  placed 
there  by  accident,  nr  so  as  to  prevent  the  prae 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


31 


tices  of  good  cultivation  from  being  applied  to 

it."   This  is  a  very  good  rule  for  the  planting 

of  shrubs  and  flowers,  as  well  as  of  trees. 

»-. —    ■»»     — ►-» 

large  Rhubarb  from  Seed. 

Hugh  Miller,  of  Charlevoix  Co.,  Mich.,  wrote 
to  the  Am.  Agriculturist,  Oct.  11 :  "  The  Linnfeus 
Rhubarb  seed  received  through  your  Seed  Dis- 
tribution iu  the  Spring,  was  planted  in  common 
garden  soil  of  fair  quality,  and  appears  to  have 
produced  two  or  three  new  sorts.  The  largest 
kind  is  a  dark  green,  and  some  of  the  stalks 
measure,  at  this  date,  12  i  inches  from  the  ground 
to  the  leaf,  and  4j  inches  in  circumference  at  the 
bottom.  The  stalk  is  round  on  the  under  side, 
and  flat  above.  The  leaf  is  20i  inches  long,  and 
21i  inches  across." This  is  certainly  a  re- 
markable growth  from  seed  the  same  season. 
As  we  distributed  many  thousands  of  packets 
of  seed,  it  is  quite  likely  that  several  improved 
seedlings  have  been  produced  which  will  be 
worth  propagating  and  diffusing  elsewhere. 
The  quality  of  the  stalk,  or  of  its  juice,  as  well 
as  size  of  growth,  must  be  taken  into  account  in 
deciding  upon  the  merits  of  the  new  seedlings. 

TOE   M(DO§MI(D3LID0 

Smart  Parents  have  Dull  Children. 


The  truth  of  this,  as  au  almost  universal  rule,  can 
be  substantiated  in  every  community.  We  should 
naturally  expect  the  contrary.  Striking  character- 
istics are,  in  part  at  least,  transmitted  from  parents 
to  children.  Why  then,  do  so  few  sous  and  daugh- 
ters of  intelligent,  active,  and  successful  parents 
develop  equal  energy  and  achieve  equal  success  ? 

Probably  the  following  suggestions  explain  the 
difficulty  and  indicate  a  remedy.  With  rare  excep- 
tions, a  man's  success  depends  less  upon  his  natural 
abilities  and  opportunities,  than  upon  his  self  reli- 
nnee,  and  consequent  exertion  of  his  powers.  These 
traits  are  mainly  developed  in  youth.  Take  au 
Illustration.  We  have  a  friend,  an  equal  partner  in 
a  firm  doing  business  iu  one  of  the  large  marble 
blocks  in  this  City.  His  natural  intellect  is  not 
above  average.  Left  au  orphan  at  the  age  of  four 
years,  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  an  uncla  who  was 
Btriet  to  austerity  in  his  moral  rule,  but  otherwise 
careless,  and  the  boy  was  left  mainly  to  shift  for 
himself.  To  obtain  pocket  money,  and  much  of  his 
clothing,  he  peddled  apples,  gingerbread,  etc.,  at 
shows,  general  trainings,  and  similar  gatherings, 
and  also  made  and  sold  various  simple  mechanical 
articles.  The  strict  discipline  of  his  uncle  kept  him 
out  of  vice,  but  the  necessity  of  depending  upon 
his  own  exertions,  and  the  early  practice  of  laying 
out  his  own  plans  and  enjoying  their  results,  de- 
veloped ingenuity,  foresight,  and  self-reliance.  At 
manhood  he  came  to  New-York  and  entered  a  store 
as  porter.  His  strict  moral  habits,  and  his  developed 
abilities,  were  soon  noted,  and  he  was  made  clerk 
iu  the  packing  department.  From  this  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  selling,  and  then  to  the  purchasing  de- 
partment, and  upon  the  death  of  one  of  the  part- 
ners, was  gladly  taken  in  as  one  of  the  firm.  His 
business  abilities,  with  his  small  savings,  were  con- 
sidered a  full  equivalent  to  the  greater  money  cap- 
ital invested  by  the  other  partners. 

Thus  it  has  been  in  numberless  instances.  The 
children  of  the  poor,  thrown  upon  their  own  re- 
sources, have  risen  to  competence  and  wealth. 
Their  disadvantages  have  educated  their  abilities. 
But  what  has  this  to  do  with  the  subject  of  the  pres- 
ent article  ?  A  good  deal.  Those  parents  who  are 
"  smart "  themselves,  generally  do  most  of  the  work 
themselves,  or  at  least  take  the  whole  direction  of 
it.  That  active  mother  finds  it  easier  to  do  her 
housework,  than  to  leave  it  to  the  daughter.  The 
daughter  knows  that  mother  will  look  after  it,  and 
exercises  no  care  or  oversight.    The  father  looks 


after  every  thing  himself.  The  son  is  a  mere  ma- 
chine worked  by  the  father,  and  thus  he  grows  up, 
incapable  of  successfully  directing  his  own  powers. 
Though  naturally  sharp,  his  faculties  are  dulled 
by  inaction,  and  inherited  talents  are  of  little  avail. 
Our  opinion  is,  that  while  parents  should  abate 
nothing  of  strictness  of  discipline  in  general  matters, 
they  should  throw  their  children  more  upou  their 
own  resources.  Let  the  sou  have  his  plot  of  ground, 
his  animals,  his  own  personal  property,  entirely 
uuder  his  own  direction,  for  the  care  of  which  he 
shall  be  wholly  responsible,  and  upon  the  proper 
management  of  which  shall  depend  somewhat  of 
his  own  pleasure  and  profit.  Let  the  daughter  at 
an  early  age  have  the  oversight  of  certain  depart- 
ments of  household  labor,  particularly  those  which 
relate  to  her  own  comfort.  Let  them  thus  grow 
up  habituated  to  the  exercise  of  their  owu  thinking 
aud  planning  powers,  and  their  natural  abilities  will 
develop  aud  give  them  a  measure  of  success  iu  adult 
years,  which  will  do  credit  to  their  inherited  talents. 


About  Pocket  Handkerchiefs. 


•  The  pocket  handkerchief,  though  not  a  promi- 
nent article  iu  the  outfit  of  a  lady  or  gentleman,  is 
yet  worthy  of  some  little  attention.  Care,  but  not 
fastidiousness,  in  minor  points,  marks  refinement 
in  either  sex.  It  would  excite  ridicule  for  a  well- 
dressed  lady  to  display  an  old-style  cotton  pock- 
et handkerchief,  blazing  with  red  and  yellow  de- 
vices, such  as  are  in  great  request  at  the  South  for 
turbans  for  the  negresses; 
aud  all  the  more  justly,  be- 
cause a  neat  linen  article  can 
be  had  at  no  greater  cost. 
To  make  the  apron,  or  the 
fingers  perform  the  service 
required  of  a  handkerchief, 
is  an  abomination  not  to  be 
tolerated  in  decent  society. 
For  persous  afflicted  with  catarrh,  silk  handkerchiefs 
are  preferable  to  linen,  being  softer,  and  less  apt  to 
chafe  the  skin ;  they  are  also  more  serviceable. 
Care  should  be  taken  not  to  keep  them  in  use  an 
unreasonable  length  of  time  because  they  do  not 


easily  show  soiled  places.  They  collect  dust  and 
other  matter  offensive  to  cleanliness  as  readily  as 
linen,   even    if   it  he    not    manifest  to  the   eye. 

A  neatly  ornamented  border  or  marking  for  the 
handkerchief  for  ladies  is  desirable.  Expensive 
lace  edgings  and  exquisite  needlework,  costing 
large  sums,  only  show  a  love  of  ostentatious  dis- 
play, not  in  accordance  with  good  taste.  Accom- 
panying this  article  are  several  original  designs  for 
ornaments  around  the  name,  or  initials  of  the  own- 
er, to  be  marked  upon  the  coruer,  which  will  be  ac- 
ceptable to  the  ladies.  These  designs  can  easily  be 
traced  upon  the  linen  with  a  fine-pointed  pencil,  by 
laying  it  upon  the  paper,  and  holding  it  against  the 
window  pane.  Afterward  they  can  be  readily  work- 
ed with  the  needle,  or  drawn  with  indelible  ink. 
«-■ — i*_ .-» 

A  Child  allowed  to  govern  those  who  should  re- 
strain him  in  infancy,  will  usually  grow  up  without 


the  power  of  self-government,  and  be  a  slave  to 
his  own  passions,  or  the  tool  of  designing  men. 


Children  on  the  Floor. 


The  floor  is  always  the  coldest  part  of  a  room  iu 
the  first  story,  except  in  the  few  instances  where 
the  cellar  contains  an  unshielded  iron  furnace  that 

heats  the  whole  air  there,  and  the  floor  above. 

In  our  owu  dwelling  we  use  just  such  a  furnace,  at 
the  expense  of  extra  fuel,  aud  to  the  detriment  of 
vegetables  and  food  stored  in  the  cellar,  because  by 
this  means  the  floors  of  the  room  above  arc  kept 
warmed  for  the  baby  and  the  smaller  children,  and 
for  the  feet  of  all,  young  and  old.  Another  cellar 
is  used  for  the  storage  of  most  vegetables  aud 

fruits. When  the  sun  is  shining  into  a  room,  stir 

up  a  little  dust,  and  observe  the  currents  of  air.  It 
will  be  seen  that  the  warm  air  from  the  stove  or 
register  constantly  rises  toward  the  ceiling,  while 
the  cold  air  from  the  cracks  and  crevices  about  the 
doors  and  windows  flows  downward  and  along  the 
floor.  Young  children,  therefore,  when  sitting  or 
frolicking  on  the  floor,  are  in  the  coldest  part  of  the 
room.  The.  feet  of  those  sitting  or  standing,  are 
also  the  coldest.  If,  added  to  this,  there  is  a  cold 
cellar,  or  cold  current  of  air  beneath  the  single  lay- 
er of  boards  in  the  floor,  it  is  no  wonder  that  the 
hands  and  feet  and  bodies  of  children  get  so  cold, 
while  the  persons  sitting  or  standing  feel  comforta- 
ble. There  is  perhaps  no  help  for  the  currents  of 
cold  air;  but  when  the  baby  is  set  on  the  floor,  or 
the  youngsters  are  playing  there,  they  may  be  made 
more  comfortable,  by  spreading  an  extra  carpet  or 
piece  of  drugget,  or  even  a  blanket  under  them. 
In  the  morning,  and  whenever  the  Are  gets  low,  or 
the  floor,  or  the  air  of  the  room  is  unusually  cold, 
the  children  should  be  elevated — the  babe  in  the 
crib,  and  others  on  chairs.  Every  lady  knows  (hat. 
her  feet  are  warmer  wheu  placed  on  a  foot  stool, 
even  if  but  a  few  iuehes  high,  than  when  they  are 
upon  the  floor.  The  higher  position  of  the  head, 
neck,  and  arms,  explains  why  these  are  warmer 
than  the  lower  extremities,  though  the  latter  are 
well  covered,  while  the  former  are  bare.  This  may 
seem  a  small  matter  for  discussion  in  the  Agricul- 
turist, but  on  attention  to  such  Utile  things  much 
of  our  comfort  and  health  often  depend.  At  any 
rate,  while  yon  yourself  feel  warm,  don't  forget  that 
the  baby  on  the  carpet  is  in  a  colder  region,  and 
may  be  actually  suffering  while  you  are  warm. 


Boots  and  Shoes— Warm  Feet. 


Those  who  have  half  a  dozen  active  children, 
more  or  less,  to  keep  shod,  have  probably  found  out 
ere  this,  that  leather  has  gone  up  in  price  almost 
(but  not  quite)  as  rapidly  as  printing  paper.  If  any 
one  can  tell  us  how  to  get  cheap  shoes,  or  any  kind 
of  shoes  that  will  not  cost  about  a  dollar  a  month 
for  each  youngster,  he  will  confer  a  special  favor,  and 
we  will  hasten  to  publish  the  fact  for  the  benefit  of 
the  rest  of  mankind.  Much  cau  be  done  to  lessen 
the  expense  of  shoe  leather,  even  at  the  present 
prices,  by  judicious  selection  and  proper  care  of 
boots  and  shoes.  A  great  mistake  is  made  in  buy- 
ing thin  shoes,  with  thin  soles,  for  girls,  while  boys 
are  provided  with  thick-soled  high  boots.  A  pair 
of  strong  boots  will  last  a  girl  longer  than  several 
pairs  of  thin  ones,  and  will  allow  her  to  enjoy  the 
air  aud  exercise  which  are  necessary  to  health. 
There  is  no  reason  why  the  feet  of  girls  and  women 
should  be  more  thinly  clad  than  those  of  boys  and 
men — "  Fashiou  kills  more  than  the  sword." 

Some  of  the  means  taken  to  preserve  leather  are 
injurious  to  it,  while  others  are  injurious  to  the 
feet.  It  is  not  desirable  that  a  boot  should  be 
thoroughly  waterproof;  when  this  is  the  case,  the 
perspiration  is  confined,  and  the  feet  rendered  un- 
comfortable and  unhealthy.  The  "  waterproof  or 
varnish  blacking"  so  frequently  used,  is  injurious 
to  the  leather,  rendering  it  less  pliable.  It  confines 
the  perspiration,  and  keeps  the  feet  cold  by  mak- 
ing the  leather  and  stocking  better  conductors  of 
heat.  All  those  preparations  which  claim  to  ren- 
der leather  waterproof  should  be  discarded.    The 


22 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[January, 


method  which  we  have  found  most  satisfactory  is 
to  apply  melted  tallow  freely  to  the  soles  of  the 
hoots  and  shoes,  and  to  the  upper  leather  about  an 
inch  high  around  the  soles.  In  this  way  the  great- 
er part  of  the  upper  leather  is  left  in  its  natural 
condition,  and  will  allow  the  perspiration  to  escape 
through  the  pores,  while  the  soles  are  kept  pliable 
and  waterproof.  The  application  of  hot  tar,  as 
recommended  in  an  article  going  the  rounds  of  the 
press,  makes  the  sole  leather  stiff,  and,  being  un- 
yielding, it  wears  off  iu  contact  with  stones  and 
frozen  ground  more  rapidly  than  when  rendered 
pliable  by  tallow.  Neat's  foot  oil,  when  accessible, 
is  preferable  to  tallow,  When  one  is  walking  or 
working  iu  deep  snow  or  mud,  it  may  lie  necessary 
to  apply  a  single  coat  of  grease  or  oil  over  t lie 
whole  upper  leather.  We  have  found  from  expe- 
rience that  ungreosed  boots  and  shoes  last  much 
longer,  and  are  more  comfortable  than  those  made 
air  and  waterproof  by  oil  or  by  impervious  blacking. 
"Keep  the  head  cool  and  the  feet  warm,"  is  a 
trite  prescription  for  health.  The  feet  are  always 
in  a  colder  atmosphere  uear  the  ground,  as  well  as 
exposed  to  dampness  ;  and,  worse  than  all,  a  foolish 
Chinese  fashion,  requires  them  to  be  cramped  in 
shoes  too  small  to  admit  free  circulation  of  the 
blood  which  is  the  source,  or  rather  the  convey- 
or of  animal  heat.  Special  care  is  therefore 
needed  to  keep  them  warm.  India-rubber  over- 
shoes are  very  good  if  worn  only  out  of  doors,  and 
removed  when  coming  in.  Sandals,  open  over  the 
foot  are  best,  except  when  obliged  to  wade  in  snow 
or  mild.  Nothing  contributes  more  to  health  and 
comfort  than  a  frequent  change  of  stockings. 
When  stopping  exercise  at  the  close  of  a  day's 
work,  we  invariably  remove  the  socks  tilled  with 
perspiration  through  the  day,  and  put  on  dry  ones 
for  our  long  ride  home  to  the  country.  Much 
comfort,  and  greater  freedom  from  cold  has  result- 
ed from  this  practice.  The  current  opinion,  iu 
some  parts  of  the  country,  is,  that  wet  socks  should 
be  dried  on  the  feet.    This  is  not  philosophical. 


Humbug  Doctors. 

We  are  heartily  tired  of  answering  private  letters 
inquiring  about  the  character  of  this,  that,  and  the 
other  New-York  "  Doctor,"  whose  flaming  cards  till 
up  so  many  columns  of  the  papers,  (often  unpaid, 
tor, )  and  whose  circulars  are  sent  broadcast  over 
the  land.  There  are  electrical  doctors,  Indian  doc- 
tors,  doctors  of  eyes,  doctors  of  ears,  doctors  of 
"specific  diseases"  of  the  male  sex  and  of  the  fe- 
male sex,  doctors  of  the  feet,  corn  doctors,  and 
more  abundant  thau  all  others,  the  lung  doctors. 
We  do  not  advertise  their  cards,  though  frequently 
offered  large  sums  to  do  so,  and  it  is  hardly  fair  that 
we  should  be  called  upon  for  so  much  time  in  in- 
vestigating and  replying  to  particular  cases.  Let 
us  say,  once  for  all,  to  the  readers  of  the  American 
Agriculturist,  that  we  do  not  know  a  single  one  of 
these  large  advertising  so-called  "  doctors,"  whom 
we  would  employ  in  any  case  ourselves,  or  re- 
commend  to  others  to  do  so.  The  half  of  them  are 
not  to  be  found  at  home  when  we  hunt  for  them  ; 
and  the  other  half 'are  charlatans,  who  seize  upon 
ae  particular  ailment,  and  announce  themselves 
as  Specific  Doctors  for  that  disease.  Their  opera- 
tions are  carried  on  mainly  through  the  mails. 
Some  have  an  office  oi-rooms,  and  by  artful  words 
beguile  their  patrons  into  submitting  to  their  oper- 
ations, after  paying  well  for  it.  As  a  rule,  those 
who  make  the  greatest  show  in  advertisements  are 
the  veriest  quacks,  without  skill  or  ability  to  suc- 
ceed iu  regular  practice.  Not  a  few  of  these  are 
scapegraces,  figuratively,  if  not  literally,  kicked  out 
of  the  back  door  of  medical  colleges,  for  lack  of  ap- 
plication to  study,  or  for  other  just  causes.  We 
may  say  more  on  this  point,  but  one  illustration 
will  serve  now  :  A  family  had  a  son  who  began  to 
be  a  little  hardof  bearing.  Beeinga  spread-eagle 
advertisement  of  a  Specific  Ear  Doctor,  the  parents 
opened  a  correspondence  with  him,  and  were  by 
his  letters,  exciting  their  fears,  and  parading  his 
own  superhuman  skill,  induced  to  take  the  boy 
three  hundred  miles,  and  stay  several  weeks.     Cer- 


tain mystical  applications  of  an  electric  machine 
were  made  daily  for  a  month,  and  the  parents 
and  child  were  kept  away  from  home  at  a  heavy  ex- 
pense. After  making  a  sufficient  show  to  warrant 
him  in  charging  S150,  (lie  so-called  doctor  applied  a 
mysterious  wash,  and  in  an  hour  after,  the  deafness 
was  gone.  The  parents  went  home  joyful,  though 
it  had  cost  them  the  savings  of  several  years,  and 
much  disturbance  of  their  business  for  the  season. 
Why  should  they  not  rejoice,  when  their  only  son 
had  been  restored  to  soundness.  They  proclaimed 
the  doctor's  skill,  gave  him  a  glaring  certificate, 
and  induced  others  to  follow  their  example.  Now 
for  the  secret.  The  electrical  applications  were  all 
a  sham,  used  for  effect  upon  the  parents.  The 
drums  of  the  boys's  ears  had  become  a  little  thick- 
ened with  wax,  and  incipient  deafness  had  resulted, 
the  same  as  if  they  had  been  filled  with  cotton. 
The  mysterious  car-wash  used  in  the  end,  was  sim- 
ply a  little  warm  soap  and  water,  which  washed  i  mt 
the  wax,  and  restored  the  hearing.  Any  half-skilled 
country  physician,  if  applied  to,  could  have  dis- 
covered the  cause,  and  prescribed  the  simple  reme- 
dy. We  notice  by  advertisements  iu  our  exchanges, 
that  just  now  a  large  numbe.r  of  these  quack  doc- 
tors are  perambulating  the  country,  stopping  a  day 
or  two  at  a  time,  now  here,  now  there — just  loug 
enough  to  gather  up  the  spare  money  of  the  credu- 
lous, nervous  people,  and  then  they  are  off.  A  few 
temporary  stimulants,  and  the  faith  of  the  people  in 
pretentions  advertisements,  give  them  a  temporary 
credit,  and  then  they  take  care  to  get  out  of  reach 
of  their  victims.  We  caution  our  readers  against 
any  faith  in  "Electric  Physicians,"  rt  id  ornne  germs. 


Gizzards— Teeth— Stomachs. 

Plato  having  defined  .Alan  to  be  a  "  biped  without 
feathers,"  Diogenes  threw  before  his  pupils  a 
plucked  fowl,  saying:  "There  is  Plato's  man." — 
Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  Agriculturist  has 
Diogoues  rediviflUB,  as  a  critic,  we  shall  venture  an 
improvement  upon  Plato's  definition,  thus:  "Alan 
is  a  biped  without  feathers  and  without  a  gfesard." 
This  definition  applies  to  man  as  he  is  constructed, 
though  not  perhaps  as  he  ought  to  be.  Indeed,  most 
people  seem  to  act  upom  the  idea  that  Nature  has 
made  a  mistake  in  not  placing  a  gizzard  at  the  en- 
trance to  the  stomach  ;  rather  they  act  as  if  there 
was  one  really  there.     Let  us  see: 

The  stomach  is  a  receptacle  with  soft  thin  mem- 
branous walls,  fitted  for  holding  and  dissolving  food 
after  it  is  reduced  to  a  fine  pulpy  state.  Iu  this  or- 
gan the  food,  if  properly  prepared  previously,  is 
mixed  with  a  fluid  called  gastric  juice;  then  it  pass- 
es into  the  duodenum,  (the  little  stomach  or  enlarge- 
ment of  the  upper  intestine) where  it  is  mixed  with 
bile  from  the  liver,  aud  with  the  pancreatic  fluid. 
These  fluids  combining  with  the  nutritious  portion 
change  it  into  chyle  or  a  milk-like  fluid.  As  the 
food  moves  on  through  the  25  feet  of  intestines,  the 
chyle  is  extracted  by  myriads  of  little  tubes  with 
mouths  opeuiug  upon  the  inner  surface  of  the  in- 
testine. These  tubes  convey  the  chyle  into  a  re- 
ceptacle in  front  of  the  spine,  near  the  small  of  the 
back,  whence  it  is  carried  by  a  larger  tube  and  pour- 
ed into  the  blood  in  a  vein  just  below  the  left  col- 
lar bone.  The  blood  distributes  the  nutriment  to 
all  parts  of  the  body  as  needed.  But  suppose  a 
piece  of  meat,  or  a  lump  of  potato,  orof  apple,  the 
size  of  a  large  marrowfat  pea,  happens  to  get  into 
the  stomach.  Having  no  crushing  power,  it  can 
only  roll  the  lump  over  and  over,  wearing  and  dis- 
solving off  a  little  from  the  surface,  perhaps.  The 
food  heats  and  sours,  if  not  dissolved,  producing 
pains  and  dullness,  aud  heartburn,  and  if  there  be 
much  of  it  in  this  condition,  sickness  and  vomiting, 
followed  by  a  natural  effort  to  eject  the  irritant.  But 
usually,  the  undissolved  lamps  pass  on  alter  a  time, 
and  make  their  way  through  the  entire  iutestiues. 
As  these  have  a  peristaltic  or  worm-like  motion, 
they  are  constantly  irritated  by  contact  with  the 
hard  substances,  producing  paius,  colic,  inflamma- 
tion, resulting  often  in  diarrhoea,  or  perhaps  in  dys- 
eiitery.  Every  lump  of  food  voided  iu  an  undigested 
condition  has  beeu  a  source  of  derangement — per- 


haps not  serious  to  a  vigorous  person,  but  still  in- 
jurious. Most  of  the  headaches  result  indirectly 
from  undigested  food  in  the  stomach  or  intestines. 
But  a  gizzard  at  the  entrance,  with  its  strong  hard 
sides  and  supplied  with  gravel  stones,  would  mash 
up  the  lumps,  and  leave  the  stomach  to  go  on  with 
its  natural  functions;  more  nourishment  would 
come  from  the  same  food;  heartburn  or  stomach- 
aehe  and  irritation  of  the  bowels  would  not  BE 
ly  be  produced.  Fowls  swallow  their  food  whole, 
and  thegizzard  does  the  grinding. 

Shouldn't  man  have  a  gizzard  then?  Not  nec- 
essarily. Nature,  in  her  wisdom,  has  givenhima 
"gristmill"  right  at  the  entrance  of  the  alimen- 
tary canal— sharp  incisors  in  front  to  cut  tin  : 
aud  back  of  them  molars  or  grinders  to  crush  it 
as  between  an  upper  and  nether  millstone.  Let 
these  do  their  full  work  upon  every  morsel  of  food, 
mashing  it  to  powder  and  half  dissolving  it  in  the 
saliva  of  the  mouth,  and  the  troubles  below  will 
cease— if  only  so  much  be  swallowed  as  the  stom- 
ach can  conveniently  hold  and  work  up.  If  the 
teeth  be  sore  or  defective,  cut  or  mash  every  atom 
of  food  to  the  smallest  possible  fragments,  while 
still  on  the  plate.  This  course  rigidly  followed  will 
lessen  the  physician's  bills,  will  aid  to  prevent  or 
cure  dyspepsia,  will  save  aches  aud  pains  in  the 
stomach,  in  the  bowels,  and  in  the  head,  and  will 
produce  far  more  nutriment,  strength  and  vigor, 
from  the  same  amount  of  food. 

PHLLDUEX'S   EATING. 

What  is  said  above,  applies  with  especial  force  to 
children.  How  often  their  evacuations  are  filled 
with  undigested  food,  yet  these  lumps  of  apples,  of 
potatoes,  and  other  vegetables,  etc.,  can  not  pass 
through  the  body  without  producing  disturbance 
and  pain  all  along  the  alimentary  channel.  No 
wonder  they  suffer  so  much  "pain  under  the 
apron."  No  wonder  they  are  so  often  sick,  are  b  i 
often  puny,  and  that  so  many  of  them  die  with 
summer  complaints.  The  writer's  rule  is  this:  Un- 
til children  are  old  enough  to  understand  the  sul 
or  become  habituated  to  masticate  every  item  of 
food  swallowed,  care  is  taken  to  have  their  neat 
cut  fine,  the  potatoes  mashed  on  the  plate,  and  other 
vegetables  either  cut  or  mashed.  At  breakfast  and 
dinner  they  eat  what  others  eat,  if  prepared  as 
above.  As  they  retire  early,  the  last  meal  is  a  very 
light  one,  consisting  of  a  small  quantity  of  bread 
aud  milk,  or  mush  aud  milk,  or  bread  slightly  but- 
tered. Since  we  learned  to  adopt  the  above  pre- 
caution in  regard  to  preparation  of  food,  and  light 
suppers,  they  have  scarcely  been  sick  at  all,  t  hey  do 
not  complain  of  pain,  have  had  no  bowel  com- 
plaints, Summer  or  Winter,  they  show  no  signs  of 
"starvation,"  tint  are  vigorous  iu  body  aud  mind 
beyond  their  years;  and  they  sleep  sweetly  aud 
soundly,  very  seldom  waking  from  7  P.  M.  to  near 
or  after  6  A.  M.  Any  variation  from  uniform  good 
health  has  been  traced  directly  to  failure  in  carry- 
ing out  our  rules.  We  firmly  believe  that  if  these 
rules  were  generally  adopted  and  thoroughly  prac- 
tised out,  nine-tenths  of  the  pain,  sickness,  and 
deaths  among  children  would  be  prevented. 


How  to  Prepare  Hominy. 

E.  Avery  writes  to  the  American  Agriculturist: 

"  As  we  are  frequently  inquired  of  at  the  table,  how 
we  treat  homiuy  to  make  it  so  white  and  soft,  I 
send  you  the  process  for  publication.  Take  strong 
lye,  put  it  over  a  brisk  fire  aud  when  boiling,  turn 
in  sound  white  shelled  corn  as  much  as  the  lye  will 
cover.  Boil  and  stir  briskly,  until  the  bran  is  loose 
(from  1  to  3  minutes),  hurry  it  into  clean  water  and 
wash  aud  rub  it  thoroughly,  to  remove  all  specks  of 
bran.  Soak  it  severai  hours,  changing  the  water 
each  hour:  it  will  then  look  white  and  clean.  As 
much  may  be  hulled  at  a  time  as  there  is  lye  to  cov- 
er, and  after  the  lye  is  out.  it  can  be  spread  and 
dried  for  use. — In  boiling  the  hominy,  par-boil  for 
a  short  time,  then  put  it  iu  boiling  water,  and  as  you 
till  up,  do  it  with  boiling  water.  Cold  water  would 
set  it  and  it  would  get  no  softer.  Boil  very  mod- 
erately S  or  10  hours  without  stirring,  or  it  will  burn 
In  preparing  it  for  the  table,  put  some  iu  a  frying 


1863.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


23 


pan,  nnd  when  warm  mash  with  a  potato  masher. 
Season  with  salt  and  gravy  or  use  in  milk.  In  cold 
weather  19  out  of  20  prefer  it  to  the  best  potatoes." 


A  $150  Doll. 


If  the  value  of  an  article,  should  be  computed 
from  the  amount  of  benefit  derivable  from  it,  the 
following  calculation,  originating  with  some  un- 
known author,  is  not  far  out  of  the  way,  and  is  well 
worth  considering  by  the  parents  of  every  little  girl. 
It  is  unnecessary  to  say  that  the  passion  for  dolls 
with  girls,  as  that  for  a  whip  and  a  knife  with  boys, 
is  universal.  It  can  be  gratified  almost  without  ex- 
pense ;  the  materials  may  be  found  in  every  rag- 
bag. But  we  believe  a  few  shilliugs  may  be  well 
expended  for  something  more  attractive  than  the 
ordinary  rag  baby.  Let  the  child  have  as  good  an 
imitation  of  a  '  real  live  baby '  as  can  be  found,  and 
her  interest  in,  and  care  for  the  precious  treasure 
ivill  be  greatly  increased.  Here  are  the  figures 
as  set  down  by  one  who  has  tried  the  experiment: 

The  increased  attractiveness  of  home  to  the  child  is 

worth  during  her  en  lire  girlhood  at  least $55.00 

The  relief  In  die  busy  and  often  feeble  mother  while 

the  child  i.s  amused  with  the  doll 25.00 

The  cultivation  of  a  cheerful  disposition 25.00 

The  development  of  -the  oesft  affections —  25.00 

The  knowledge  of  dress-making,  millinery,  etc., 

gained  by  dressing  the  doll 25.00 

The  motives  to  faithfulness  in  other  duties,  which 

may  be  inspired  by  judicious  management 25.00 

Total $150.00 

Who  will  say  that  a.single  item  in  the  above  ac- 
count is  too  high  ?  Neither  can  it  be  justly  assert- 
ed that  such  trifles  as  dolls  for  children  are  un- 
worthy the  grave  attention  of  the  Agriculturist. 
Whatever  ministers  to  home  comfort  and  improve- 
ment, is  matter  for  study:  and  besides,  in  judging 
of  the  importance  of  what  pertains  to  children,  we 
should  in  part  look  through  their  eyes.  What  lit- 
tle girl  does  not  conceive  this  subject  to  be  one  of 
the  very  highest  possible  moment  ?     A  Mother. 


German  Economy. 

Some  of  the  pleasantest  pictures  of  rural  life  in 
Europe,  are  those  drawn  by  Mr.  Howitt.  Particu- 
larly in  Germany,  does  he  find  much  to  interest  him. 
One  thing  which  struck  him  quite  forcibly,  was  the 
carefulness  with  which  the  country  people  save 
everything  which  can  be  turned  to  use.  For  in- 
stance, the  roadside  is  not  always  set  with  forest 
trees  for  shade  and  ornament,  but  is  planted  with 
fruit  trees,  and  these  are  protected  and  cultivated 
hardly  less  than  those  of  the  orchard  and  garden. 
Again,  more  pains  are  taken,  than  with  us,  in  saving 
and  drying  all  kinds  of  fruit  for  domestic  use  and 
for  sale  in  market.  Cows  are  not  generally  pastured 
in  Summer,  but  are  kept  in  sheds  or  small  yards, 
where  they  are  fed  in  various  ways.  Grass  and 
clover,  refuse  fruits,  vegetables  and  meal,  etc.,  are 
carefully  provided  for  this  purpose.  In  some  cases, 
the,  women  and  children  go  out  with  sickle  and 
basket,  to  cut  up  and  gather  grass  and  weeds  from 
the  roadside;  the  boys  go  into  the  marshes  and 
woods  to  gather  tall  grass  and  even  to  cut  shrub- 
bery, all  for  the  useful  cow.  Yes,  the  useful  cow; 
for  not  only  is  every  drop  of  her  milk  saved  and 
turned  to  account,  but  her  other  droppings  are  as- 
siduously collected,  aud  applied  where  most  useful. 

The  tops  of  potatoes,  refuse  of  hemp,  and  stalks 
of  beans  serve  as  bedding  for  the  cow  ;  and  even 
1  lie  rough  stalks  of  poppies,  after  the  heads  have 
been  gathered  for  oil  and  seed,  are  converted  into 
manure  for  the  land.  Children  are  often  sent  into 
the  woods  to  collect  baskets  and  bags  of  moss  for 
cattle  bedding,  which  afterward  goes  into  mauure. 
In  the  Autumn,  the,  falling  leaves  by  the  roadside 
and  everywhere  are  swept  up  and  stacked  for  the 
Mime  purpose.  The.  cones  of  evergreens  are  gath- 
ered and  dried  for  lighting  fires.  While  the  women 
:ire  tending  their  poultry  and  their  cows,  the  knit- 
ting  mriiii-  keep  constantly  going.  In  short,  the 
Germaus  seem  to  have  reduced  the  scriptural  pre- 
cept to  systematic  practice:  "  Gather  up  the,  frag- 
ments, that  nothing  be  lost."  And  this  same  fru- 
gality and  industry,  we  are  glad  to  see,  prevails 
widely  among  the  Germans  who  have  chosen  this 
country  for  1  heir  home.  With  such  habits  of  living 
toiued  with  virtue,  they  are  sure  to  prosper. 


A  Good,  Cheap,  and  Wholesome  Dish. 


A  writer  in  an  Eastern  exchange,  says:  "My 
family  breakfasted  this  morning,  July  20,  main- 
ly on  boiled  wheat.  Boiled  wheat  and  milk. 
Boiled  wheat  and  maple  sugar.  Not  wheat 
flour,  lior  wheaten  groats,  nor  cracked  wheat, 
but  whole  grains  of  wheat,  shelled  from  the  best 
beads,  the  larger  the  better,  and  soaked  in 
cold  water  two  or  three  hours,  and  then  boiled 
in  the  same  water  one  or  two  hours,  or  until 
quite  soft,  and  the  water  all  absorbed.  It 
should  all  be  cooked  while  other  culinary  oper- 
ations are  going  on,  as  it  needs  to  boil  or  sim- 
mer on  a  slow  fire  for  a  good  while,  and  care 
must  be  taken  at  thejast  that  it  does  not  burn. 
To  prevent  this,  it  may  be  finished  off  by 
placing  the  kettle  in  a  pan  of  water.  How 
easy  for  our  soldiers  to  have  a  change  in  the 
bread  and  salt  meat  rations,  if  they  may  be 
allowed  to  glean  a  few  wheat  heads,  and  boil 
the  grains  in  their  camp  kettles.  How  conven- 
ient would  this  little  item  of  knowledge  in  do- 
mestic cooking  be  to  the  wife  of  many  a  farmer 
who  would  gladly  get  up  an  extra  dish  for  the 
tired  harvest  hands  !  Try  it.  How  many  fami- 
lies are  this  day  living  on  short  allowance,  right 
alongside  of  a  wheat  field,  or  with  grain  stack 
or  barn  near  the  house,  because  they  can  not 
get  it  ground,  the  mill  being  dried  up  or  broken 
down,  or  occupied  by  '  the  army,'  or  suffering 
a  -collapse,   so  that  no  grinding  can  be  had." 

Hints  on  Cooking'. 

Monselceonei-s'  "  Bteeipes  "—A  Sug- 
gestion.—Mrs.  W.  S.  Miller,  Dutchess  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  suggests  that  in  giving  recipes,  it  is  advisable 
to  have  only  such  materials  as  are  found  either  in 
the  house  or  in  an  ordinary  country  store,  and  that 
the  idea  of  economy  and  health  should  be  kept  in 
view.  [This  would  limit  this  department  to  a  par- 
ticular class. — The  greater  the  variety  the  better, 
and  then  there  will  be  something  to  suit-  all  classes.] 

4»!ocm1  Cheap  Brown  Breacl. — Mrs.  W. 
E.  Thomas,  of  DeKalb  Co.,  111.,  writes:  "....  I 
would  be  unwilling  to  '  keep  house  '  without  the 
American  Agriculturist.  We  have  been  following 
its  suggestions  to  '  use  more  corn  meal  in  our  cook- 
ing,' and  among  the  variety  of  recipes  tried  for 
'  Brown  Bread,'  the  following  has  come  into  con- 
stant use  :  Stir  thoroughly  together  2  teacupfuls  of 
corn  meal ;  2  of  rye  meal  (or  the  '  seconds '  flour  of 
wdieat);  1  of  fine  flour;  %  teaeupful  of  molasses  ; 
2)4  teacups  of  sweet  milk  ;  1  teaspoonful  of  salt, 
aud  1  of  socla ;  }4  teaspoonful  of  ginger.  Cook 
by  steamiug  3J£  hours  steadily.  It  is  pronounced 
by  all,  most  excellent,  either  warm,  or  cold." 

Mimee  IPics  without  Braii«ly. — Con- 
tributed to  the  American  Agriculturist,  by  Maria  Ray, 
Suffolk  Co.,  N.  Y.  Take  i)  lbs.  of  boiled  beef,  2  lbs. 
suet,  0  lbs.  raisins,  i  lbs.  currants,  4  oz.  cinnamon, 
3  of  allspice,  1  of  cloves,  1  quart  molasses,  7  lbs.  of 
clean  brown  sugar  boiled  down  iu  3  gallons  of  sweet 
cider  to  half  the  bulk.  Mix  all  well  together  and 
pour  the  boiling  cider  on  it.  Cover  close  until 
next  clay,  when  it  will  be  fit  to  be  made  into  pies. 
This  will  keep    good,    for    at   least    six    months. 

Potato  Custard. — Contributed  to  the  Amer- 
ican Agriculturist  by  N.  Anderson,  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.: 
1  pint  mashed  potatoes,  3  cups  sugar,  1  of  butter  or 
lard,  i  eggs,  nutmeg,  thin  it  with   milk,  and  bake. 

Crumpets. — Contributed  to  the  American  Ag- 
riculturist, by  N.  Anderson,  Franklin  Co.,  Pa.:  1 
quart  bread  dough,  8  eggs,  milk  enough  to  make  a 
batter;    let  it   rise;    bake  in  cakes  on  a  griddle. 

Opening-  Cenieiated  Fruit  Bottles. 
—Mrs.  Lucy  It.  Tatum,  New  Castle  Co.,  Del.  Place 
the  inverted  bottles  on  a  heated  stove  until  the  cement  in 
the  patty  pans  is  melted,  lift  the  bottles  from  the  pans, 
turn  them  right  side  up,  and  (he  softened  cork  can  easily 
be  removed  with  a  cork  screw,  or  even  a  stout  fork. 

Apple  Mutter.— "  J.  W.  M„"  asks  some, 
Keystone  Slate  housekeeper  to  furnish  the  American  Ag- 
riculturist with  a  recipe  for  making  the  genuine  Penn- 
sylvania Apple  Butter.  Here  is  the  writer's  method  : 
Boil  new  cider  down  one  half.    Pare,  cut,  and  core  equal 


quantities  of  sweet  and  sour  apples.  Put  the  sweet  ap- 
ples in  a  large  kettle  to  soften  a  little  first  as  they  are 
hardest.  Add  enough  boiled  cider  to  cook  it.  After  boil- 
ing half  an  hour,  stirring  often,  put  in  (he  sour  apples  and 
more  boiled  cider  Willi  molasses  enough  to  sweeten  mod- 
erately. Boil  until  lender,  stirring  to  prevent  burning. 
Pack  in  firkins  or  stone  pots  for  Winter  use.  (The  mo- 
lasses is  not  needed,  we  think,  while  it  would  injure  the 
flavor  for  many  people. — En.) 

Branfly  in  Cooking-.— Mr.  W.  W.  Nelson, 
Kent  Co.,  Del.,  alluding-to  our  remarks  on  the  use  of 
brandy  in  cooking,  on  page  372,  December  Agriculturist, 
gives  a  case  In  point— many  such  cases  have  occurred. 
A  young  man  was  reclaimed  from  apparent  ruin  by  the 
efforts  of  the  temperance  society,  and  was  getting  along 
finely,  until  he  partook  of  brandy  mince  pies  at  a  friend's 
house.  This  brought  back  his  old  appetite,  and  he  is  now 
a  perfect  so(.  "If  I  can  not  have  mince  pies  widiout 
brandy,  I  will  not  have  them  at  all." 

Cleaning-  B»f g-s'  Feet.— J.  W.  Humphreys, 
Washington  Co.,  Pa.  Put  the  feet  in  cold  water  to  soak 
over  night.  With  a  moderately  sharp  knife,  scrape  all 
parts  thoroughly  until  the  skin  is  clean  and  white.  Hold 
the  lower  ends  in  hot  water  for  a  minute  or  two,  to  part 
the  dew-claws  and  hoofs  which  can  then  be  twisted  off 
with  the  hand.  Singe  in  a  clear  flame  and  they  are  ready 
to  boil  for  souse  or  head-cheese. 


<k  IHJM^ 


ram 


The  Editor  with  Ms  Young  Headers. 

A  Happy  New- Year  to  you  young  friend  !  I  mean 
you  who  are  just  now  reading  this  line,  and  not  some 
other  girl  or  buy.— Who  spoke  first  this  time  ?— When  1 
was  a  boy,  and  it  begins  to  seem  a  great  while  ago,  though 
not  so  long  that  I  have  forgotten  iu  the  least  how  girls 
and  boys  thought,  and  felt,  and  acted,  and  I  stilt  enjoy 
playing  boy  with  the  little  ones  at  home,  for  it  is  about 
all  the  recreation  I  have  in  these  Dusy  times— but  I  was 
going  to  say,  that  when  I  was  a  boy  in  years,  there  was  a 
great  strife  to  see  who  should  say  "happy  New-Year  " 
first.  Sometimes  we  laid  awake  until  the  clock  struck 
twelve,  and  then  bounded  out  of  bed  ami  ran  to  papa 
and  mamma's  room,  and  waked  them  up  so  as  to  get  the 
start  of  every  one  else.  Well,  I  don't  see  that  boys  and 
girls  are  much  different  now.  They  have  more  books 
and  papers  to  read,  and  probably  know  more  of  the  world 
at  the  same  age,  but  they  have  boys'  and  girls'  feelings  just 
as  we  had  many  years  ago,  and  just  as  boys  and  girls  did 
a  hundred,  and  a  thousand,  and  five  thousand  years  ago. 
I  don't  believe  there  were  ever  more  than  two  persons, 
who  did  not  have  nearly  the  same  'feelings,  hopes,  anx- 
ieties, love  of  sport  and  pastime,  that  you  have.  (Who 
were  these  two  persons,  and  why  did  iney  have  no  child- 
ish sports  ?)— But  I  was  speaking  of  the  haste  to  wish  the 
"  Happy  New-Year,''  Jirst.  Do  you  never,  in  this  haste, 
forget  what  the  ivonts  mean?  If  you  really  desire  papa 
and  mamma  to  have  the  happy  year  you  wish  them,  how 
much  will  you  do,  to  make  it  so  to  them  ?  Will  you  do 
anything?  Suppose  you  begin  just  now,  to  see  how  much 
happiness  you  can  give  them  for  one  whole  day.  Wilt 
you  ?  II  was  going  to  tell  some  of  the  ways  in  which 
boys  and  girls  may  make  their  parents  happy,  but  I  see 
John  and  Mary  have  skipped  over  the  rest  of  this,  and 
have  gone  to  the  puzzles  and  stories.  So  I  will  stop  here 
simply.expressing  the  hope  that  they  will  soon  come  back 
and  in  their  own  hearts,  answer  the   above   questions.) 


A  Child's  Definition.— A  little  Sunday  school  schol 
lar,  when  asked  to  define  Chaos,  answered,  that  it  was  "j 

great  pile  of  nothing,  and  nowhere  to  put  it." Another 

when  asked  to  define  slander,  said  it  was  *'  when  nobodj 
did  nothing,  and  somebody  went  and  told  on't." 

A  liltle  girl  of  three  years,  who  was  born  away  beyond 
the  Mississippi,  where  no  orchards  were  as  yet  planted, 
was  brought  on  a  visit  to  Ohio,  w  here  she  saw  an  apple 
tree  in  full  bloom,  covered  with  a  profusion  of  white 
blossoms— a  most  beautiful  sight  by  the  way.  Lifting  her 
fat  lilt  lc  hands  in  an  attitude  of  devotion,  she  exclaimed  : 
"  See  God's  great  big  bouquet." 

A  liltle  boy  whose  mother  had  promised  him  a  present, 
was  saying  his  prayers  preparatory  to  going  to  bed,  but 
his  mind  was  running  on  a  horse,  and  he  began  as  follows  : 
"  Our  Father  who  art  in  Heaven— ma,  wont  you  give  me  a 
horse— thy  kingdom  come— with  a  siring  to  it  ?" 

To  rise  early  requires  quickness  of  decision  ;  it  is  one 
of  those  subjects  that  admit  of  no  Htrning  over. 

A  little  girl,  wdiile  rumaging  a  bureau-drawer,  found  her 
grandfather's  eye  glasses,  and  at  once  cried  out;  "Oh, 
mamma,  ganpa  has  gone  up  to  hebben  widout  his  specs." 


24 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[January 


IT'S 


Do  yon  smile  at  ttie  plight  of  this  poor  urchin  ?  Is 
there  any  fun  in  having  such  cold  fingers,  and  ears  near- 
ly frozen  ?  The  boy  thinks  not ;  he  is  crying  with  cold. 
"The  great  lubber  !"  exclaim  the  sturdy  boys  who  have 
just  come  in  from  skating  or  riding  down  hill,  with  cheeks 
glowing,  and  eyes  flashing,  and  the  blood  dancing  merri- 
ly through  their  veins,  clear  to  their  ringers'  ends.  "  Cry 
for  the  cold  !  when  a  fellow  has  such  fat  cushions  on  his 
cheeks,  and  a  stout  pair  of  legs  to  run  with  ;  that  is  too 
ridiculous,  he  ought  to  be  laughed  at,"  say  you.  True 
enough.  If  he  were  doing  his  best  in  fighting  the  storm, 
pushing  boldly  ahead,  and  were  then  unable  to  keep  from 
suffering,  we  should  pity  him.     He  would  deserve  pity. 

It  is  pretty  easy  to  foresee  what  kind  of  a  man  such  a 
boy  will  make.  If  he  has  not  pluck  enough  to  bear  up 
bravely  against  a  wintry  day,  he  will  make  but  poor  head- 
way in.  the  fiercer  battles  of  life,  when  he  must  meet 
cares,  trials,  and  disappointments.  Usually  those  are 
least  deserving  pity  who  seek  it  most.  The  boy  or  the 
man  wiio  struggles  on  with  a  stout  heart,  no  matter  what 
difficulties  beset  him,  will  always  command  sympathy 
and  respect ;  half  of  life's  battles  are  won  by  going 
straight  into  the  strife  with  a  bold  front.  Command  of 
one's  own  powers  is  in  itself  alone  a  great  victory. 


A  JSrave  EBoy  and  a  Narrow  Escape. 

One  day  while  the  writer  was  in  a  steamboat  crossing 
the  ferry  from  New-York  to  Brooklyn,  the  pilot  rang  the 
bell  for  the  engine  to  stop.  On  looking  out  to  see  the 
cause,  there  appeared  a  small  sail-boat,  just  ahead,  man- 
aged by  a  single  boy,  apparently  not  more  than  fourteen 
or  fifteen  years  old.  The  tide  was  running  strongly,  and 
the  headway  of  the  boat  could  not  be  immediately  stop- 
ped, nor  could  the  little  fellow  quickly  change  his  course, 
and  it  appeared  almost  impossible  to  prevent  a  collision 
and  the  sinking  of  the  small  boat.  Did  the  boy  lose  his 
wits  from  flight,  whimper  and  cry,  and  give  up  all  for 
lost?  Not  a  bit  of  it.  Standing  erect  at  the  helm  and 
doing  his  best  to  guide  his  boat,  he  sung  out  to  the  pilot 
of  the  steamboat  "  clear  the  track,  or  Vll  run  you  down  .'" 
Such  was  the  dauntless  spirit  of  the  little  fellow,  that  the 
passengers  cheered  him  loudly,  and  more  than  a  dozen 
stood  ready  to  plunge  in  to  his  aid,  had  his  craft  been 
overset.  Fortunately  this  did  not  happen,  though  he  es- 
caped by  only  a  few  feet,  and  passed  safely  on,  leaving 
all  who  had  witnessed  the  occurrence  in  enthusiastic  ad- 
miration of  his  presence  of  mind  and  intrepidity. 


CJirls  Skating — Hints  to  Beginners. 

A  few  years  since  any  girl  venturing  to  appear  on  skates, 
would  have  been  called  a  "  tom-boy  "  and  frowned  upon 
by  her  sex  generally.  But,  for  once  at  least,  fashion  has 
introduced  a  sensible  change,  and  girls  may  enjoy  this 
healthful  and  exhilarating  exercise.  The  writer  has  had 
the  pleasure  of  accompanying  and  assisting  many  young 
ladies  in  their  first  attempts  at  the  art,  and  has  seen  the 


good  effects  of  proper  indulgence 
in  the  sport.  It  lias  brought  roses 
to  many  pale  cheeks,  strengthened 
weak  nerves,  sharpened  poor  ap- 
petites, and  given  new  vigor  tor 
school  and  for  household  labors. 
Written  instructions  for  learn- 
ing to  skate  are  worth  little.  Go 
upon  the  ice  and  try,  is  the  only 
rule  by  which  to  acquire  the  art. 
It  is  very  well  to  lean  on  the  arm 
of  a  friend,  during  the  first  few 
attempts,  hut  the  sooner  you  trust 
your  own  powers,  the  quicker 
you  will  become  a  good  skater. 
A  few  suggestions  for  choosing  a 
pair  of  skates  may  be  of  service. 
For  beginners',  the  runner  of  the 
skate  should  be  about  a  quarter 
of  an  inch  thick  and  slightly 
grooved,  with  the  bottom  nearly 
or  quite  straight  from  the  heel  to 
I  he  upward  curve  at  the  toe. 
"Rockers,"  or  skates  having  the 
bottom  curved  from  heel  to  toe, 
are  excellent  for  skillful  perform- 
ers on  the  ice,  but  a  novice  using 
them  is  likely  to  do  most  of  his 
skating  with  his  feet  in  the  air. 
Never  buy  a  skate  with  a  long 
fanciful  curve  in  front;  though 
they  are  ornamental,  many  seri- 
ous accidents  have  been  caused 
by  the  ends  of  such  runners 
catching  in  some  obstruction. 
The  straps  should  be  stout,  and 
so  arranged  as  to  hold  the  skate 
very  firmly  to  the  foot.  The 
wider  the  strap  the  better,  as  it 
will  be  less  likely  to  hurt  the  foot. 
We  have  seen  skates  arranged  to  be  fastened  by  screws 
to  the  sole  of  the  shoe  without  the  use  of  straps,  but  they 
did  not  appear  to  be  held  with  sufficient  firmness  for  good 
skating.  Keep  the  ends  of  the  straps  well  tucked  away 
where  they  will  not  slip  and  get  under  the  runner  and 
thus  give  you  a  fall.  See  that  the  wood  of  the  skate  is 
strong,  without  cracks  and  checks,  and  that  the  runner  is 
well  fastened  to  it.  Wear  well-fitting  but  not  tight 
shoes  or  boots  of  stout  leather,  and  thick  woolen  stockings. 


When  warm  with  the  exercise,  do  not  stand  still  to 
'  cool  off,1  but  move  about  more  slowly,  and  after  skating, 
always  walk  briskly  home,  to  keep  up  active  circulation 
of  the  blood,  and  prevent  taking  cold.  Stiffness  of  mus- 
cles and  lameness  after  skating  may  be  prevented  by 
thoroughly  rubbing  the  limbs  with  a  coarse  towel  or  the 
hand,  and  putting  on  dry  clothing  if  the  garments  are  damp 
with  perspiration.  This  should  be  done  in  a  warm  room, 
to  avoid  a  chill.  Do  not  make  a  business  of  this  or  any 
other  recreation,  sport,  however  innocent,  to  the  neglect 
of  home  or  school  duties,  but  use  it  as  a  rest  from  them 
and  a  preparation  for  their  more  successful  performance. 


How   to   Save    Yonr    Shoe    Leather. 

Riding  down  hill  on  a  sleigh  is  a  fine  winter  sport. 
It  makes  the  writer  feel  young  again  to  think  of  the 
splendid  times  he  used  to  have  at  it,  when  a  boy.  But 
lie  well  remembers  also  that  the  fun  was  terribly  destruc- 
tive of  shoe-leather.  It  was  necessary  to  use  the  feet  for 
rudders,  and  even  stout  cow-hide  boots  were  soon  whip 
ped  out  at  the'toes.  In  the  engraving  below  is  shown  an 
easily  made  apparatus  for  steering  a  sled,  by  which  the 
feet  are  left  at  liberty,  and  the  waste  of  leather  prevented. 

It  is  simply  two  stout  oaken  sticks  shod  with  iron  at  the 
lower  end,  bolted  one  on  each  side  of  the  sled.  The  hole 
for  the  bolt  should  be  large  enough  to  allow  the  sticks  to 
move  freely.    By  pulling  on  the  upper  end  of  the  stick 


the  lower  part  is  brought  against  the  snow  or  ice,  and 
acts  as  a  rudder  to  turn  the  sled  toward  the  side  on  whicn 
the  stick  is  used.  This  will  guide  the  sled  more  certain- 
ly than  the  heel  or  toe  of  the  foot,  and  enable  the  rider  to 
sit  in  an  easier  position,  in  addition  to  saving  the  shoes 

The  Statesman  and  the  Ilorse. 

Edmund  Burke,  one  of  England's  greatest  Statesmen, 
retired  from  London  to  spend  his  last  days  on  his  farm. 
While  there,  a  report  was  started  that  he  had  gone  crazy, 
that  he  went  round  his  premises  kissing  the  horses  and 
cows.  A  friend  immediately  visited  him  to  learn  wheth 
er  the  report  were  true.  He  soon  found  that  Mr.  Burke 
had  lost  none  of  his  mental  faculties,  and  in  a  private  in- 
terview with  Mrs.  Burke,  he  learned  how  the  rumor 
of  his  insanity  had  been  started. 

Mr.  Burke's  only  child,  a  young  man  of  rare  promise, 
had  died  a  little  while  before,  leaving  behind  him  a  favor 
ite  old  horse.  This  animal,  so  endeared  to  him  by  asso- 
ciation with  his  son,  was  turned  into  the  field  by  Mr.Burke, 
with  directions  to  all  the  servants  that  he  should  be  treat- 
ed as  a  privileged  favorite.  One  day  as  he  was  taking  his 
morning  walk,  the  great  man  saw  the  animal  at  a  distance, 
and  noticed  that  he  was  recognized  by  him.  The  horse 
drew  nearer  and  nearer  to  Mr.  Burke,  stopped,  eyed  him 
with  a  most  pleading  look  of  recognition  which  said  as 
plainly  as  words  could  have  done,  "  I  have  lost  him  too," 
and  then  the  poor  dumb  beast  deliberately  laid  his  head 
upon  Mr.  Burke's  bosom  !  Struck  by  the  singularity  ot 
the  occurrence,  moved  by  the  recollection  of  his  son  for 
whom  he  had  never  ceased  to  mourn,  and  overwhelmed 
with  the  tenderness  of  the  animal,  the  illustrious  States- 
man clasped  his  arms  around  the  neck  of  his  son's  favor 
ite  animal,  lifted  up  that  voice  that  had  filled  the  House 
of  Parliament  with  the  noblest  strains  of  eloquence,  and 
wept  aloud.  It  was  not  weakness  of  mind,  but  strength 
of  affection,  that  bowed  the  man  who  had  through  iife 
stood  unmoved  amid  the  fiercest  storms  of  political  strife. 


Learned  it  too  Late. — "Buy  one  of  these  superior 
razor  strops  Sir,  and  I  will  tell  you  a  secret  worth  double 
the  cost  for  only  twenty-five  cents."  "  I'll  take  one," 
said  a  bystander.  Mr.  Smith  handed  him  a  strop  and  a 
box  of  paste,  and  went  on  selling.  "  Look  here,"  inter 
rupted  the  purchaser,  "you  promised  to  tell  me  some 
thing  worth  double  the  price."  "  Ah,  so  I  did,"  said 
Smith,  "and  it  is  this.  If  you  had  bought  a  box  of  the 
paste  for  five  cents  and  put  it  on  to  your  old  strop,  it  would 
have  made  it  just  exactly  as  good  as  a  new  one." 


Editor's  Notes. —Being  much  occupied  with  business, 
I  have  left  one  of  my  associates  to  prepare  this  page,  and 
must  put  in  a  word  or  two  here,  by  way  of  query.  First, — 
Is  not  that  a  poor  boy  in  the  picture,  without  clollies 
enough,  or  mittens,  to  keep  him  warm,  and  therefore  to 
be  pitied?  Second.— Was  that  boy  in  the  boat  brave  or 
reckless!  Third.— Are  there  not  other  out-door  sports 
quite  as  healthful,  and  appropriate  for  girls  as  skating? 
We  do  not  say  there  are,  for  .by  all  means  girls  should 
skate  rather  than  grow  puny  in  a  hot  room. The  skat- 
ing and  sliding  down  hill  we  can  not  write  about  from 
experience.  Like  thousands  of  our  young  readers  at  the 
West,  we  lived  in  a  new,  nearlylevel  country  without 
hills  or  ice  ponds,  and  there  were  too  many  "  chores"  for 
us  boys,  out  of  school  hours,  to  admit  of  skating  or  coast- 
ing. The  work  did  not  hurl  us,  but  we  are  glad  to  see 
the  boys  and  girls  play— if  they  do  not  shirk  all  the  work 
off  upon  their  already  overtasked  parents.— 0.  J.] 

The  person  who  received  an  Injury  from  an  accidental 
discharge  of  his  duty,  is  in  a  fair  way  to  recover  again. 


18C3.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


S5 


A  Boy  that  will  NeTer  be  a  Mam. 

In  New- York,  as  elsewhere,  it  is  becoming  quite  cus- 
tomary to  send  home  articles  purchased  at  the  stores  ; 
some  "stuck  up"  people  have  even  ordered  a  spool  of 
thread  sent  home.  Happening  into  a  book  store  this 
morning,  we  saw  a  lady  purchasing  some  books  for  her 
son  who  was  with  her— for  Christmas  presents  probably. 
When  put  up  they  made  a  package  about  ten  inches  long, 
five  inches  high,  and  six  wide.  She  ordered  them  sent 
to  her  residence  about  3X  miles  up  town.  The  booksel- 
ler said  to  her  boy  :  "  Can't  you  lake  them  up  in  the  cars 
v\iih  you,  my  man  ?  My  porter  is  sick  to-day,  and  it  is 
quite  inconvenient  for  me  to  send    them  so  far  home." 

"No!     I  don't  carry  bundles  for  a  living." We  pitied 

that  boy  from  our  heart,  and  could  not  but  feel  that  his 
mother  was  spoiling  him  by  indulging  him  in  such  no- 
tions. Here  was  a  boy  13  or  14  years  old,  who  could  not, 
or  rather  would  not,  carry  a  bundle  of  books  for  himself, 
that  was  not  at  all  bulky,  and  weighed,  perhaps,  only  five 
or  six  pounds.  He  was  above  "  carrying  bundles  " — rath- 
er he  was  below  it.  He  had  not  dignity  or  independence 
enough  to  be  seen  with  a  bundle,  though  it  was  for  him- 
self. He  probably  docs  not  read  th"  American  Agricul- 
turist, and  so  we  can  not  speak  to  him  directly,  but  to 
otner  boys  we  say,  that  if  that  boy  lives  to  be  forty  years 
old,  he  will  never  be  a  man,  in  the  true  sense  of  that  word. 
His  parents  may  leave  him  money  enough  to  keep  him 
along  awhile,  but  he  will  never  earn  or  save  much.  He 
is  coming  up  with  habils  that  will  unfit  him  for  the  real 
work  which  all  successful  men  must  go  through  with,  no 
matter  what  their  calling  or  business. Two  good  il- 
lustrations are  given  in  the  life  of  Girard  of  Philadelphia, 
who  rose  from  poverty  to  great  wealth.  "While  in  a  pro- 
vision store,  a  man  came  in  and  bought  a  fish.  Instead 
of  carrying  the  fish  himself,  he  offered  a  clerk  a  shilling 
lo  hire  some  one  to  carry  the  fish  a  few  blocks.  Girard 
at  once  offered  to  doit,  and  actually  went  by  his  side, 
carrying  tlie  fish,  and  received  the  shilling.  You  may 
guess  the  man's  surprise  when  he  afterwards  learned 
who  had  carried  his  fish.    Girard  owned  the  entire  block 

in  which  this  man  hired  a  dwelling. At  another  time, 

two  young  men  commenced  the  sail  making  business. 
Tliey  bought  a  lot  of  canvas  from  Girard,  on  credit,  a 
friend  having  agreed  to  endorse  their  note.  They  each 
took  up  a  roll  lo  carry  off,  when  Girard  remarked  :  "Had 
you  not  better  get  a  cart?"  "Oh,  no,"  they  responded, 
"it  is  not  far,  and  we  can  carry  it  ourselves." — "All  right," 
said  Girard,  "but  you  may  tell  your  friend  he  need  not 
trouble  himself  to  endorse  your  note.  It's  good  enough 
without  !"  He  well  knew  that  men  not  above  their  busi- 
ness, not  ashamed  (o  do  any  honorable  act,  were  the 
very  men  to  succeed. 


Answers  to  Puzzles  ami  Problems  in  De- 
cember No.  (page  373).  Rebus.  No.  20.  Key  pup  cur 
age  t  hoe  awl  bed  ark  :  or  by  dividing  the  words  a  little 
differently,   Keep   up  courage  though  all    be  dark. 

Arithmetical  Problem.-  No.  22. —  Paper  money  is  at 
24  8-33  per  cent  discount,  reckoning  gold  coin   at  par. 

Arithmetical  Problem.—  No.  23.— A.  should  hare  80 
cents,  B.,  20  cents  of  the  dollar  paid  by  C.  for   his  share. 

Riddle.— No.  21. — The  engraving  below  is  the  answer 
to  the  riddle  given  last  month,  which  reads:  "  A  four 
handed  rider,  on  a  two  legged  steed,  Whipped  up  the 
feathers  and  made  very  good  speed." 


No.  19.— Correctly  answered  by  "R.  G.  F.",  L.  Law- 
rence Fisher,  C,  A.  Veatch.  No.  20,  by  George  M.  Kel- 
ly, "Random,"  Orcn  Stone,  Mary  Esther  Parkin,  Frank 
B.  Conger,  T.  B.  Cunningham,  Jno.  D.  Talbot  (and  21), 


Wm.  H.  Tracy  (and  23),  Malissa  Church,  Jarvis  H.  Ar- 
nold, Waller  E.  Talmage,  Lizzie  Melcher,  Arthur  Gil- 
bert, A.  Martin.  Rufus  W.  Weeks  answers  all.  Isaac 
T.  McLain,  22,  23  ;  "C.  C.  C."  21  ;  J.  G.  Bunnel,  22,  23  , 
Cornelius  Hoagland,  Jr.  23  ;  Frederic  A.  Fill,  23;  A.  G. 
I.  C.  White,  20,  22,  23  ;    E.  M.  Swan,  20  ;    B.  F.  Nye,  22. 

Wcw  Puzzles  to  l>e  Answered. 


and 


Fig.  1.  Fig.  2. 

No.  24  and  No.  25.  Two  Picture  Puzzles  to  be  guessed. 
How  does  Fig.  1  represent  an  economical  man?  How 
does  Fig.  2  represent  an  enterprising  business  fir 
can  you   tell  how  it  also   represents  a   fortress? 

No.  26— Riddle. 
I  have  no  head,  yet  from  my  lips 
Fall  words  of  wondrous  weight  ; 
I  mark  the  course  of  mighty  ships. 
And  guide  affairs  of  state. 
Darkness  pursues  my  winding  track, 
Yet  nothing  gives  more  light : 
You'll  find  me  when  you  answer  hack, 
If  this  you  read  aright. 


eri0U&T(Sr 


No.  27.  New  Rebus  containing  a  truthful  sentiment. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  difficult  puzzles  of  the  kind  we 
have  published,  and  it  will  require  no  little  perseverance 
to  find  the  correct  answer.  m 


To     Sunday-School    Teachers     and 
Others. 

The  new  Question  Cook  referred  to  last  month,  is  now 
issued,  and  is  even  better  than  we  expected.  The  bind- 
ing is  superior  to  what  was  intended  at  first,  the  covers 
being  stiff,  and  in  the  usual  style  of  binding  such  books,  in- 
stead of  in  simple  paper  covers,  as  first  announced.  (This 
increases  the  postage  to  4  cents,  as  it  weighs  over  3  oz.) 
After  the  sheets  were  struck  off,  we  concluded  to  issue  an 
edition  at  the  Office  of  the  American  Agriculturist,  where 
it  will  be  supplied  to  all  desiring  it,  by  the  single  copy  or 
by  the  hundred,  at  the  uniform  price  of  10  cents,  or  14 
cents  by  mail— which,  at  the  present  price  of  paper, 
will  hardly  pay  expenses.  A  hundred  put  up  to  go  by  Ex- 
press or  otherwise,  will  weigh  about  20  lbs.  The  book  is 
thoroughly  evangelical,  but  not  at  all  sectarian.  It  is 
simple,  yet  comprehensive;  52  lessons,  including  the 
leading  events  in  Christ's  life,  and  in  the  introduction  of 
the  Gospel  afterward,  are  arranged  in  the  order  of  time. 
Each  lesson  is  completed  on  two  pages  opening  together. 
The  scripture  text  of  the  lesson  is  printed  in  full,  with 
the  probable  time  and  place  of  occurrence.  A  condensed 
history  of  the  events  between  eachtwo  consecutive  lessons 
is  given,  so  that  by  reading  the  lessons,  and  the  con- 
necting history,  one  gets  an  outline  of  all  Ihe  events  of  the 
Gospels  and  the  Acts,  in  order  of  occurrence.  Simple 
questions  directly  upon  the  lesson  are  given  In  larger 
type.  With  these  are  a  considerable  number  of  other  in- 
teresting and  instructive  questions,  having  the  answer 
printed  in  full,  or  more  frequently  with  the  answer  indi- 
cated by  reference  to  a  passage  of  scripture  which  gives 
a  full  explanation.  Many  interesting  items  of  informa- 
tion, not  accessible  to  the  common  reader,  are  given,  as 
will  be  seen  on  looking  over  the  questions.  The  book  is 
specially  valuable  to  the  great  mass  of  teachers  who  have 
not  access  to  commentaries  and  other  helps.  The  pro- 
nunciation of  the  more  difficult  proper  names,  is  indicated 
by  an  accent  mark.  We  are  perhaps  the  more  partial  to 
the  book,  as  it  is  the  carrying  out  of  a  plan  of  syste- 
matic   lessons  we    have    long    been   aiming  at;  the  ex- 


ecution of  the  plan  was  intrusted  to  abler  hands.  Mr. 
Beach,  Editor  of  the  N.  Y.  Sun,  a  life  long  friend  of 
Sunday  Schools  and  for  years  Superintendent  of  one  of 
the  largest  and  best  schools  in  the  country,  who  chanc- 
ed to  fall  in  with  one  of  the  first  copies,  said  in  the 
Daily  Sun  of  December  16  : 

"  The  Sunday  Schools  of  the  whole  country  have  suf- 
fered from  the  want  of  a  question  book  suited  to  their  re- 
quirements, more  than  from  any  other  single  cause. 
Every  thinking  person  has  remarked  it,  and  hundreds  of 
authors  hove  made  vain  efforts  to  fill  the  need-  In  the 
little  book  before  us,  the  practical  work  of  a  practical 
man,  practically  engaged  in  the  Sunday  School  work,  we 
for  the  first  time  discover  something  really  valuable.  It 
epitomizes  the  whole  New  Testament  history  in  chronol- 
ogical order,  and  is  both  text  and  commentary,  teaching 
Ihe  teacher  and  helping  the  scholar.  That  it  will  be 
widely  adopted  in  Sunday  Schools  we  do  not  question." 

Xhe  Two  Caterpillars* 

"  Patches  and  patches,  I'm  sick  of  patches  !"  exclaimed 
George  Rider,  as  he  sat  watching  his  mother,  who  was 
repairing  the  knees  of  his  old  pantaloons. 

"Mother,"  he  continued,  suddenly,  as  a  new  idea 
started,  "why  did  God  make  us  poor?  I'm  as  good  as 
Joe  Berry,  but  his  father's  rich,  and  he  don't  have  to  wear 
patched  clothes.  And  you  ought  to  see  what  nice  things 
he  has  for  dinner  every  day — pies,  and  cakes,  and  candy 
— and  he's  just  as  stingy  as  he  can  be." 

"  Poor  soul  !"  said  his  mother,  in  a  way  that  made 
George  open  his  eyes  wide. 

"Why,  mother,  what  do  you  mean?" 

"I  was  Ihinking  about  two  caterpillars,"  she  replied. 

"  What  a  funny  mother  you  are  !"  said  George  ;  "  what 
in  the  world  have  caterpillars  got  to  do  with  Joe  Berry  ?" 

"  I'll  tell  you  the  story,  my  son,"  said  Mrs.  Rider,  "  and 
you  may  then  answer  your  own  question." 

*Two  caterpillars  lived  in  a  large  garden  ;  they  looked 
very  much  alike,  only  one  was  covered  with  brown  hair, 
and  had  black  rings  around  his  body,  and  the  other  had 
black  hair  all  over,  without  any  rings.  The  brown  cater- 
pillar lived  on  a  large  cabbage.  It  was  a  real  palace  for 
him.  There  were  the  large  spreading  leaves,  over  which 
he  walked  with  as  much  satisfaction  as  ever  a  lord  sur- 
veyed his  extensive  parks.  He  had  fine  rooms  among 
the  openings  of  the  leaves,  where  he  could  curl  himself 
up  for  a  nap,  snugly  sheltered  from  rain  and  dew.  Right 
at  the  top  of  the  cabbage  was  his  dining-hall,  filled  with 
the  tenderest,  choicest  morsels  of  crisp  leaves,  which  cat- 
erpillars love  so  well.  Oh!  he  was  very  rich,  and  bad 
everything  a  caterpillar  could  wish  for.  The  little  ants 
that  climbed  up  to  his  palace,  and  the  humble  insects  that 
picked  up  their  living  along  the  lanes  and  streets  of  the 
leaves,  all  looked  up  to  him  wilh  awe,  and  saluted  him 
very  humbly  as  he  walked  about  his  wide  domain. 

"  The  black  caterpillar  had  his  home  on  a  humble  bur- 
dock that  grew  in  a  corner  not  far  from  the  great  cabbage. 
It  was  only  a  small  plant,  for  if  it  had  spread  itself  like 
the  cabbage,  the  gardener  would  have  quickly  rooted  it 
out.  This  poor  fellow  had  to  work  hard  for  his  living, 
and  often  to  go  hungry,  for  there  were  but  few  tender 
sprouts  for  him  to  nip.  and  he  had  to  roam  about  utJ 
pick  up  here  and  there  a  bile  as  he  could  find  it."  ' 

"But  why  didn't  he  go  to  the  big  cabbage?"  asked 
George,  who  was  becoming  much  interested. 

"  He  would  have  done  so,"  said  his  mother,  "but  the 
gardener  had  placed  a  bright  piece  of  tin  around  the  slem 
of  the  plant  to  keep  off  the  worms,  not  knowing  that  one 
had  already  taken  up  his  quarters  there.  The  tin  was  so 
smooth  that,  though  the  poor  caterpillar  walked  round 
and  round  it,  he  could  not  crawl  half  his  length  upward, 
before  back  he  would  fall  in  the  dust. 

"One  day,  while  he  was  looking  wishfully  up  lo  the 
luscious  leaves  above  him,  his  rich  neighbor  happened  to 
peep  over  the  edge,  and  the  poor  caterpillar  eagerly  ex- 
claimed :  'Brother!' 

"'  Brother,  indeed  !'  muttered  the  other,  proudly  curl- 
ing himself,  so  as  to  display  his  rings  ;  'you've  made  a 
mistake,  I'm  thinking.' 

"  '  I'm  thinking  so  ton,'  replied  the  poor  caterpillar.  He 
had  intended  to  ask  his  neighbor  to  nip  off  a  leaf  from 
the  cabbage  and  drop  it  down  to  him,  but  he  saw  it  was 
of  no  use,  so  he  crawled  sadly  back  to  his  humble  quar- 
ters on  the  burdock,  and  continued  to  grub  for  his  living. 

"  The  Summer  passed  on;  the  brown  lordling  revelled  at 
his  full  table  until  he  grew  as  fat  as  a  prize-pig,  but  the 
heart  of  the  cabbage  was  spoiled  by  his  greedy  toftfh. 
The  humble  black  laborer  worked  so  faithfully  at  his  bur- 
dock that  it  grew  but  little,  and  so  the  garden  was  kept 
free  from  its  seeds,  which  would  otherwise  have  ripened 
•end  scattered. 

"  And  now  the  Summer  was  nearly  ended,  and  the  cat- 
erpillars knew  they  must  prepare  for  the  winter's  cold. 

"  They  therefore  each  left  off  eating,  as  is  the  custom 
of  such  creatures,  and  sought  a  secure  place  where  they 
could  rest  in  safety.  The  brown  caterpillar  climbed  a 
tree  at  some  distance  from  the  garden,  and  spun  for  him- 


26 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[January, 


self  a  magnificent  hammock,  which  he  hung  from  a  stout 
branch.  He  was  so  fat  that  lie  had  plenty  of  materials 
ami  he  ma<le  his  resting-place  of  three-fold  thickness. 

"  His  poor  neighbor  sought  the  shelter  of  a  neighboring 
currant  bush,  and  from  his  scanty  store  of  silk  wove  a 
plain  nest  that  would  just  hold  his  emaciated  body.  And 
so  (hey  both  slept  through  the  long  Winter. 

••  When  the  lime  was  come,  the  Master  of  Life  sent 
forth  his  angels  to  waken  the  earth.  And  they  poured 
out  the  golden  music  of  light  until  it  filled  the  deepest 
woods,  and  the  flowers  lifted  their  heads,  and  the  air 
trembled  with  the  hum  of  glad  insects.  The  humble 
tenant  of  the  lowly  bush  heard  the  joyous  sound,  and 
struggled  forth  from  his  hiding-place  ;  how  changed  !  lie 
ivms  dollied  in  purple  and  gold,  and  a  shining  crown  was 
upon  his  head,  and  while  he  yet  wondered,  a  bright  troop 
of  winged  beings  called  him  to  mount  to  the  upper  air, 
and  spreading  his  new-found  wings,  he  soared  away  to 
bash  in  the  full  noontide. 

"  But  alas  for  the  poor,  rich  caterpillar  !  His  silken 
robes  held  him  fast ;  he  could  not  break  the  strong  bonds 
he  had  woven  for  himself,  and  there  he  must  be  a  prison- 
er forever.    And  now  would  my  boy  be  rich  ?" 

"Yes,  mother,"  said  George,  softly,  "when  God's 
spring-lime  comes." 


Grammar   Out  West. 

A  Kansas  correspondent  "T.  H.,"  writes  to  the  Amer- 
ican Agriculturist.  "  Will  you  please  point  out  the  in- 
correctness of  the  following  sentences,  which  are  almost 
universally  in  use  at  the  West.  '  Please  pass  me  those 
molasses.'  'Them's  good  molasses.'  'Did  you  make 
any  molasses?1  'Yes.,  a  few.'  'Have  you  got  any 
molasses  {to  a  storekeeper)  ?'  '  Yes,'  '  I  want  to  see  them.' 
The  above  phrases  are  so  common  and  contagious  that 
many  of  the  Yankees  have  adopted  the  error.  How  is  it 
with  oats?  In  Chester  Co.,  Penn.,  it  is  classed  with  wHeat, 
com,  rye,  etc..  in  the  singular  number;  here  it  is  \ised  in 
the  plural,  with  beans,  peas,  potatoes,  and  other  things 
ending  with  s."— The  error  in  the  sentences,  as  our  young 
grammarians  will  see,  consists  in  using  "  molasses"  as 
a  plural  noun.  "That  molasses,"  "some  molasses,"  "I 
want  to  see  it,"  would  be  the  correct  way  of  using  the 
above  examples.  The  word  "oats"  is  a  plural  noun. 
The  Chester  Co.,  custom  of  making  it  singular,  is  incor- 
rect. Wheat,  corn,  and  rye,  have  only  the  singular  form 


Itanium  Nearly  Humbugged. 

When  Barnum  was  about  to  erect  a  new  building  on  the 
siie  of  "  Iranistan,"  his  former  house,  which  had  been  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  he  was  desirous  of  giving  it  a  new  and 
classic  name.  A  friend  to  whom  he  applied,  suggested  the 
compound  Greek  word  "  Neos-kome,"  which  he  trans- 
lated as  "  New-home."  The  word  had  a  pleasant  sound  ; 
Barnum  liked  it,  and  was  about  having  it  engraved  on 
st -.ne  to  occupy  a  conspicuous  place  in  the  building :  but 
having  so  often  humbugged  others,  he  was  naturally  a  little 
suspicious  of  attempts  to  humbug  himself.  He  there- 
fore consul  let  I  one  of  the  knowing  editors  of  the  American 
Agriculturist,  as  to  the  meaning  of  the  word  "Neoskome." 
He  was  informed  that  it  was  derived  from  "  Neos,"  new, 
and  "  skome,"  njoke  or  jest,  the  nearest  word  to  humbug 
which  the  Greeks  possessed.  Barnum  concluded  not  to 
adopt  that  name. 


Dean  Swift,  in  traveling,  once  called  at  a  house.  The 
lady  of  the  mansion,  rejoiced  to  have  so  great  a  guest, 
with  much  eagerness  and  flippancy  asked  him  what  he 
would  have  for  dinner.  "  Will  you  have  an  apple  pie,  or 
a  gooseberry  pie,  sir,  or  a  cherry  pie,  or  a  plum  pie,  or  a 
pigeon  pie,  sir  ?"— "  Any  pie,  madam,  but  a  magpie,"  re- 
plied the  Dean,  in  his  usual  dry  sarcastic  manner 


Hadn't  his  Shake. — "  Mr.  Brown,"  said  an  assessor 
the"  other  day,  "  how  many  cows  do  you  own  ?" 

"  Why  do  yon  ask  ?"  was  the  query. 

"  Because  I  wish  to  levy  on  them,"  was  the  rejoinder. 

"  Well,  let  me  see,"  said  Mr.  B.  abstractedly,  "how 
many  cows  does  the  law  allow  me?" 

"  Two,"  replied  the  constable. 

"  Two  !"  said  Mr.  B.  with  good-natured  astonishment ; 
"  well,  if  the  law  allows  me  two,  I  wish  it  would  make 
haste  and  send  the  other  along  as  I  haven't  but  one  '" 


"  J  can  not  conceive,  my  dear,  what's  the  matter  with 
my  watch  ;  I  think  it  must  want  cleaning,"  exclaimed  an 
indulgent  husband  to  his  better  half,  the  other  day-. — "  No, 
pa,"  said  bis  petted  little  daughter,  "  I  know  il  don't  want 
cleaning,  because  baby  and  I  washed  it  in  the  basin,  ever 
so  long,  this  morning." 

She  who  marries  a  man  simply  for  a  "good  match," 
must  not  be  surprised  if  he  turn  out  a  "Lucifer." 

Muggins,  seeing  a  dead  dog  in  the  ditch,  stopped,  and 
after  gazing  intently,  said  to  his  companion  :     "  Another 

shipwreck." "  Where  ?" "  There  lies  a  bark  that  is 

lost  forever."— His  companion  growled  and  navigated  on. 


PREMIUM    LIST, 
For  1863— Volume  XXII. 

Good    Pay    to    Voluntary    Agents  who    attend    to 

Collecting  and  fonvarding  Clubs  of  Subscribers 

to  the  American  Agriculturist. 

(Premiums  open  to  all  who  Desire  them.) 

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year,  but  the  continued  rise  in  printing  paper  may  compel 
us  to  withdraw  the  offers  after  a  time. 

Every  subscriber  is  invited  to  renew  his  own  subscrip- 
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Ef  We  wish  it  distinctly  undehstood  that  these 
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every  one  will  be  selected  by  the  publisher  from  the  very 
best  manufactured.  They  ivill  be  the  best  sold  in  the  mar- 
ket at  the  prices  named. 

E2T"  We  make  no  distinction  between  new  and  old  subscri- 
bers in  giving  these  premiums,  but  it  is  expected  that  every 
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C^~  Every  person  collecting  names  for  premiums,  should 
send  two  copies  of  each  list  of  names— one  of  them  marked 
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B3?"  Every  person  collecting  names  for  premiums,  should 
send  the  names  with  the  money  as  fast  as  obtained,  so  that 
the  subscribers  may  begin  to  receive  their  papers ;  Two  cop- 
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made  up— if  duplicate  lists,   are  sent. 

~TW  Any  person  who  has  commenced  sending  in  names  at 
30c.  and  finally  fails  to  get  the  higher  number  of  names,  can 
fall  hack  upon  the  smaller  number,  by  remitting  the  20  cents 
extra  on  each  of  the  smaller  number  of  names  required. 
B3T"  Clubs  need  not  be  all  confined  to  one  Post  Office. 

S      II    3   S3 
Table  of  Premiums  for  18G3.        S^J  ,  <•§  \o» 

a  »    1 IE  w  Ire  » 
iva»ie.s  of  Premium  Articles.  §  J 


1— Good  "Rooks— See  terms  below 

2— Best  Family  Clothes  Wringer $7  50 

3— Nonpareil  washing  Machine $16  00 

4— Sewing  Machine,  [wheeler  &  Wilson)  845  00 
5— Sewing  Machine,  (Wilcox  &  Gibbs)  . . .  .$35  00 

G— Aneroid  Barometer..,. $7  50 

7— The  Aquarius $iQ  00 

8— Five  Octave  Melodeon  (best) $75  00 

9— gk  Octave  Melodeon  (best) $60  00 

10— Four  Octave  Melodeon  (best)   $45  00 


$7  50 
$6  72 

$5  00 
$4  4S 

$'2  24 
$1  12 
$1  23 
$2  50 


13— Worcester's  Unabridged  Dictionary 
13— Six  back  Volumes  Agriculturist," 
14— Five  do  do  do 

IS— Four  do  do  do 

16— Three  do  do  do 

17— Two    do  do  do 

18— One     do  do  do 

19— Jacob's  Portfolio  Paper  File  

30— Windsor  &  Newton's  Paints 

21— Osborn  &  Hodgktnson's  Paints $1  50 

23— Premium  Cylinder  Plow $10  00 

23— Eagle  Plow  No.  20 $9  25 

24— Hay  and  Straw  Cutter  (best) $8  00 

25— Steel-tooth  Cultivator  (best) $7  00 

36— Family  Lard  and  Wine  Press $7  00 

DESCRIPTION1  OF  THE  PREMIUMS. 

Premium  No.  1— Good  Boolcs. 

Any  person  sending  1G  or  more  subscribers,  may  select 
from  our  book  list,  (page  376.)  to  the  amount  of  12% cents, for 
each  name,  at  the  club  price  of  80  cents,  or  to  the  amount  oj 
S3J^  cents  for  each  name,  at  $1  each.  Farmers'  Clubs  have 
frequently  joined  together  and  obtained  a  good  library 
through  these  premiums.  N".  B.— The  books  will  be  deliver- 
ed to  the  recipients,  (by  mail   or  express,)  free  of  all  cost. 

E^~See  about  prices  of  Books  in  Basket  Note. 

No.  2— Family  Clothes-Wringer. 

This  is  a  first-rate  household  implement— a  great  saver  of 
garments,  and  Of  hard  work.  With  this  machine  set  on  the 
edge  of  the  wash-tub,  the  garments  are  easily  and  rapidly 
passed  between  two  India-rubber  rollers,  the  water  fall- 
ing back  into  the  tub,  and  the  garments  dropping  into  a 
basket,  in  a  drier  condition  than  they  can  he  wrung  by 
hand,  and  therefore  more  quickly  dried  on  the  line.  A 
child  can  in  a  few  minutes  wring  out  a  tubful  of  clothes. 
We  have  had  one  in  constant  use  in  our  family  for  nearly 
three  years,  and  it  is  still  as  good  as  new.  The  machine 
offered.  No.  2,  is  just  the  thing  for  family  use.  It  is  provided 
with  cogs  to  move  the  rollers  together,  so  that  it  is  not  pos- 
sible to  tear  garments,  as  is  the  case  with  cheaper  Wringers 
not  provided  with  cogs.  We  present  one  of  these  No.  2  Wring- 
ers to  any  person  procuring  and  forwarding  18  subscribers, 
at  $1  each,  or  37  at  the  lowest  club  price,  (80  cents  each.) 


Premium  No.  3— Washing  Machine. 

The  Nonpareil  Washing  Machine  wchavehad  In 
use  in  our  family  for  nearly  a  year  past,  and  it  has  not  only 
driven  out  half-a-dozen  placed  there  on  trial,  but  has  really 
given  excellent  satisfaction.  It  is  the  only  machine,  out  of 
twenty  we  have  tried,  which  the  "help"  cheerfully  use  with- 
out compulsion.  It  is  a  labor-saver  and  a  clothes-saver— two 
important  considerations.  (See  descriptive  cut,  ami  adver- 
tisement on  page  31.)  The  clothes  are  put  in,  in  quantity, 
and  quickly  washed  by  Blmply  turning  a  crank.  The 
balance-wheel  adjusts  the  force  required,  so  as  to  make  Hie 
turning  easy.  Take  it  all  In  all,  it  is  the  best  Washing  Ma- 
chine we  know  of,  and  is  -worthy  of  a  place  in  every  family. 
They  are  of  three  sizes;  we  select  No.  2,  as  the  best  size  for 
common  family  use.  The  price  of  No.  2  is  $16.  This  ma- 
chine we  will  present  to  any  one  forwarding  35  subscribers 
at  the  regular  price,  ($1  each.)  or  75  subscribers  at  the 
lowest  club  price,  (80  cents.)  The  machine  can  he  Bent  to 
any  point  as  freight,  or  by  express,  and  will  be  forwarded, 
free  of  all  expense,  except  the  freight  after  leaving  the  city 

Premium  No.   4 — Sewing    Machine. 

90   Subscribers  at  |1  each,  (or  130  at  SO  cents  each,)  will 

entitle  the  person  sending  them  to  Wheeler  <£  Witeon's  best 
84:5  Sewing  Machine,    (including    Htmmer),  new 

from  the  factory,  and  of  the  very  best  make.  There  is  no 
better  family  machine  than  this  made,  as  we  have  proved  by 
nearly  Jive  years*  use  in  our  own  family,  in  connection  with 
other  machines.  We  want  no  better.  The  terms  on 
which  it  is  offered  above,  will  enable  many  families  to  se- 
cure one  without  direct  outlay  of  money.  The  Premium 
Machines  will  be  selected  new  at  the  manufactory,  and  will 
be  forwarded,  well  boxed,  with  full  directions  for  setting  up 
and   using,  and  with  no  expense,  except  for  freight. 

Premium  No.  5— Sewing  Machine. 

G'J  Subscribers  at  $1  each,  for  98  at  80  cents  each,)  will 
entitle  the  person  procuring  them  to  WHlcox  <fc  Gibbs'  $35 
Sewing  Machine,  including  a  set  of  Hcinincrs. 
This  is  the  best  machine  of  its  kind,  (sewing  with  one  thread,) 
and  has  several  points  superior  to  other  machines.  It  is  neat, 
well  made,  simple  in  its  operation ;  and  having  tested  one  in 
our  own  family  for  more  than  two  years,  we  think  highly  of 
It,  and  can  recommend  it  to  those  who  can  not  afford  to  buy 
the  higher  priced  double-thread  machines.  Some  of  our 
neighbors  think  this  machine  ahead  of  all  others.  Premium  5 
will  be  selected  and  sent  the  same  as  No.  4. 

Premium  No.  O— Barometer. 
19  Subscribers  at  $1  each,  for  44  at  80  cents  each.)  will 
entitle  the  person  getting  up  the  club  to  one  of  Kendall'.-; 
Aneroid  Barometers,  (Price  $7  50.)  This  is  a  good, 
portable  instrument,  and  valuable  to  every  person  as  a 
weather  guide,  as  well  as  for  scientific  purposes.  See  page 
377,  December  No.  It  will  save  to  the  farmer  and  others 
many  times  its  cost,  as  a  weather-indicator.  These  instru- 
ments resemble  a  large  watch,  5  inches  in  diameter,  and  2 
inches  thick.  Each  one  is  in  a  neat  leather  case,  and  when 
seut  to  a  distance,  this  is  packed  in  cotton,  in  a  wooden 
box  4M  by  8  inches,  and  can  go  anywhere,  by  express  or 
otherwise,  with  perfect  safety. 

Premium  No.  7— The  Aquarius. 

This  is  a  capital  instrument,  valuable  to  have  in  every 
house.  It  is  a  portable  hand  force-pump,  which  any  one  can 
catch  up  at  a  moment's  warning,  and  throw  from  a  pall  or 
other  vessel  a  steady  stream  of  water  upon  a  fire  in  a  house, 
or  elsewhere.  It  is  supplied  with  both  a  jet-pipe  and  a  rose, 
or  sprinkler,  and  can  be  used  for  washing  windows,  car- 
riages, &c. ;  for  sprinkling  trees,  plants,  destroying  insects, 
&c,  &c.  With  it,  it  is  easy  to  wash  the  second  and  third 
story  windows,  and  to  sprinkle  water  upon  the  roofs,  while 
standing  upon  the  ground.  Such  an  apparatus  will  often 
enable  a  person  to  so  use  a  bucket  or  two  of  water  as  to  ex- 
tinguish a  fire  breaking  out  where  it  could  not  be  reached 
with  water  dashed  on  from  pails.  It  is  supplied  with  suction 
and  injection  India-rubber  pipes,  and  with  air-chambers  to 
keep  up  a  constant  stream.  The  weight  is  8  lbs.,  and  It  can 
be  sent  anywhere  as  freight,  or  by  express.  (Price  $10.) 
We  will  present,  an  Aquarius  complete  to  any  one  send- 
ing su  33  subscribers  at  $1  each,  (or  47  at  80  cents  each.) 

Premium  No.  8— Melodeon. 

125  Subscribers  at  $1  each,  (or  337  at  80  cents  each,)  will 
entitle  the  person  getting  up  the  club  to  one  of  Geo.  A. 
Prince  it  Co.'s  875  Mclodeons  (5  octaves).  These  Melo- 
deons  are  of  very  superior  tone  and  finish.  We  have  our- 
selves used  one  for  three  years  past,  and  it  has  given 
the  highest  satisfaction,  and  is  pronounced  by  all  who 
have  beard  It,  as  one  of  the  very  best.  The  different  priced 
instruments  are  of  equally  good  tone— the  price  varying  with 
the  size  and  style  of  finish.  The  size,  prices,  etc.,  of  these  in- 
struments can  be  learned  particularly, by  sending  a  stamp  to 
Geo.  A.  Prince  &  Co.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y..  for  an  Illustrated  de- 
scriptive catalogue.  The  Instruments  given  as  Premiums,  will 
be  sent  new  directly  from  the  factory  at  Buffalo,  ready  box- 
ed, and  without  expense  to  the  recipient,  except  for  freight. 
Schools  and  churches  can  readily  combine  their  efforts  and 
secure  one  of  these  instruments.  This  has  been  frequently 
done.    See  "N.  B.,"  under  Premium  No.  10. 

N.  B.— Any  higher  or  lower  priced  Melodeons  will  bo 
given  for  other  lists,  in  the  same  proportion.  See  table  above. 

Premium  No.   12— Best   Dictionary. 

23  Subscribers  at  $1  each,  (or  48  at  80  cts.  each.)  will  enti- 
tle the  person  getting  up  the  club  to  a  copy  of  the  large  Pic- 
torial Unabridged  Edition  of  Worcester's  Dictionary, 

(Price  $7  50.)  This  now  stands  confessedly  the  most  valua- 
ble Standard  Dictionary  published.  It  weighs  nearly  10  lbs.; 
is  12  inches  long,  10  inches  wide,  nearly  4  inches  thick,  and 
contains  1854  pages  of  S  columns  each,  giving  the  spell- 
ing and  pronunciation,  with  full  explanations,  of  every 
word  in  the  English  Language,  and  as  a  source  of  general 
information  on  all  subjects,  stands  next  to  the  Cyclopedia. 
The  Dictionary  can  be  called  for  at  our  Office,  or  be  sent 
by  Express  or  otherwise,  to   any  part  of  the  country. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


27 


Premiums     No-*.    13    to    IS— lluck    Volumes— A 
First-rute  Library. 

These  premiums  fl3  to  is.)  will  enable  any  one  to  secure 
the  previous  excellent  volumes  of  the  American  Agricultur- 
ist, us  far  hack  as  Volume  XVI,  These  will  he  sent  post- 
paid, in  clean,  new  numbers,  each  volume  by  Itself,  with  in- 
dex. The  whole  five  can  he  taken  together,  or  one  or  more 
copies  of  any  particular  volume  he  selected,  its  desired. 
They  will  be  presented  as  in  the  table  above,  viz:  For  20 
Subscribers  at  $1  each,  (or  3'»  at  so  cents  each.)  we  will  pre- 
sent six  volumes.    For  Hi  Subscribers  at  $1  each,  (or  30 

at  80  cents  each,)  we  will  present  five  volumes. For 

13  Subscribers  at  $1  each,  (or  26  at  SO  cents  each,)  four 

volumvs. For  10  Subscribers  at  Jfl  each,  (or  30  at  80 

cents  each,)  three  volumes. For  15  Subscribers  at  80 

cents  each,  two  volumes. For   10  Subscribers  at  80 

cents  each,  one  volume. Let  every  one  be  careful  to 

name  Just  Which  back  volumes  are  desired. 

Premium  IVo.  19— Best  Pile  for  Agriculturist, 
Jacobs'  Portfolio  Pile,  made  just  to  fit  the  Agri- 
cuUurist—Xhe  name  gilded  on.  This  is  a  leather  cover  or 
portfolio,  so  arranged  that  successive  numbers  of  the  paper 
can  be  inserted  in  a  minute,  aDd  be  properly  preserved  in 
book  form  for  reading.  When  one  volume  is  completed,  the 
sheets  can  be  removed  and  stitched,  and  a  ney  volume  in- 
serted. A  single  cover  will  answer  for  a  dozen  successive 
volumes.  It  Is  the  most  conjplete  file  yet  made.  The  price 
Is  W,  and  th«  postage  33  cents.  We  will  forward  it,  post- 
paid, to  any  oue  sending  eleven  subscribers,  at  the  lowest 
club  pi  Ice,  (80  cents  each.) 

Premium  No.  20 — Paints. 

20  Subscribers  at  80  cents  each,  will  entitle  the  person  get- 
ting up  the  club  to  an  assortment  of  Windsor  it  Xewtou's 
Witter  Color  Paint*— consisting  of  12  colors,  put  up  in 
a  neat  mahogany  case,  witti  brushes,  etc.  These  Paints  are 
imported  from  London,  and  are  by  all  considered  the  best 
In  the  world.  They  are  adapted  to  the  finest  work,  or  they 
will  make  a  neat  and  appropriate  present  to  any  of  our  young- 
er readers.  They  will  be  sent  post-paid  anywhere  in  the 
United  States  within  3000  miles. 

Premium  No.  21— Paints. 

15  Subscribers  at  80  cents  each,  will  entitle  the  person  get- 
ting up  the  club  to  an  Assortmentof  Osborne  dc-Hodgkiuson'n 
Water  Color  Paints,  consisting  of  24  colors  or  shades, 
put  up  in  a  neat  case  with  brushes,  cups,  etc.  These  are  of 
American  manufacture,  and  though  not  so  tine  as  the  above, 
will  answer  for  ordinary  practice  by  children  or  beginners] 
and  for  common   sketching.    Sent  same  as  No.  20. 

Premiums  Nos.  22  to  26. 

"We  have  not  space  left  to  describe  these  particularly,  this 
month.  The  Cylinder  Plow  was  described  In  this  journal 
last  year.  It  is  undoubtedly  a  great  improvement.  The 
Eagle  Plow  is  well  known,  and  so  is  the  Hay  and  Straw 
Cutter,  and  the  Steel-toothed  Cultivator,  one  of  the  most 
useful  implements  on  the  farm.  The  Lard  and  Wine  Press 
is  a  very  convenient  household  implement,  for  pressing  out 
lard  or  tallow,  the  juice  of  grapes,  currants,  berries,  &c. 
For  the  prices,  and  subscribers  required,  see  the  table  above. 


Market   Review,   Prices,    Weather,    etc. 


American  Agriculturist  Office,      / 
New-Vurk,  Thursday,  Dec  IS,  lbC2.  ( 


1.  TRANSACTIONS  AT  THE  NEW-YORK    MARKETS. 

Keoeipts.  Flour.     Client.     Corn.    Rye.    Barter/.     Oats. 

6,850  265,000  8(19.000 


24  claya  Mi*  nVtn  667.0011  3,954,000  3.7-^7,000 
2;<uiyh/(/.vnirt.hG3i;,oou  -i,;>jo,ooo  '-.'.ijo.'.ooq 


41,100   387,000  .So.OOO 


Sales.  Flour.    Wlieat.       Corn.       Rye,    Barley. 
24  days  thin  month,     418,000  3.005,0(10    3,210.000        53,250    312  000 

27  days  last  month    670,000  0,378,000    3,455,000        35.000  'Stil.OOO 

2.  Comparison  with  same  time  last  gear. 

receipts.  Flour.     Wheat.     Corn.     Rye.  Barley.  Oats. 

24dayBl862  .      667.000  3,954.000  2.787,000      6. W0  295.000     809.000 

35  (l.i>slS(il  ...  703.000  3,159,500  2,361,000  203,975  200,000  1,469,000 

SALES. 


24  days  1802. 

25  days  1801.. 


Flour. 
.  418.000 
.  773,000 


Wlieat. 
8,005,000 
5,641,000 


Corn.  Rye.  Barley. 
3,210.000  53,250  312,000 
3,229,000    204,000      27G.000 


3.  Exports  of  Breadstuff s  from  Xew-York,  Jan.  1.  to  Dec.  17. 
Flour.        Wlieat.        Corn.       Rye.       Barley.     Oat*. 

22,783    172.928 


18B2 2,888,619    24,890.341     11,531,819 

1861 2,926,328    27,503,407    12,135,055 


1,099,650 
882,240      S.000    159,845 


4.     Receipts  of  Breadstuff's  at  Chicago,  Jan.  1.  to  Dec.  8. 
Flour.      Wheat.      Corn.     Rye.     Barley.      Oats. 

1882 1,694,852    12,870,5:17    30.913,682  942,210    947.145  3  3R8  997 

1S61 1,477,615     17,542,677    20,290096    493,782    422,803  I;394J852 

Current  Wholesale  Pricks. 
Nov.  19. 
Fi/'UR- Super  to  Extra  State  $5  05    <$  6  40 

Superfine  western.,     ....    ..  5  63  la  5  80 

Extra  Western ...  5  90  @io  00 

Extra  Genesee 6  50  @  8  50 

Super,  to  Extra  Southern  . .'.  6  50  @  9  75 

Rye  Floor— Fine  and  Super,  4  25  ®  5  75 

Corn  Mkal. ,  8  70  @  A  25 

Wheat— All  kinds  of  White. .  1  50  @  1  65 

All  kinds  of  lied 116  @  1  45 

Corn— Yellow 73  @      74 

White T2  @      84 

Mixed...  65  ®      71 

Oats— Western.  67  @      69 

State    .  ....     67  @      69 

BTB       .         80  ®      90 

B  ARMEY 1  45  @  1  60 

Beans— Medium  and  Pea,  hu.  2  50  @  3  00 

Marrow  and  Kidney    3  00  @  3  25 

Hay.  In  bales,  per  100  lbs.  ..  <i5  @      80 

Cutton— Middlings,  per  lb..  .  69 K@      70 

Kich,  per  100  lbs. 7  00  @  9  25 

Hops,  crop  of  1802,  per  lb 18  @     25 

I'Eatilers,  Live  Geese,  p.  lb.  38  @      45 


Dec.  18. 

15  R0 

®    6  40 

f.  Kl> 

6  15 

(51  10  HO 

6  ij(J 

©  8  50 

6  80 

@10  00 

4  llll 

<S)  5  65 

8  SO 

(5)  4  50 

1  nil 

%  1  65 

1  SSi 

®  1  47 

811 

@ 

85 

a 

'.!> 

O      77 

m 

a    70 

w 

@      70 

H8 

®      97 

1  25 

in    1    15 

14H5 

@   i  75 

■i  50 

@  3  00 

'.5 

@      90 

66 

a 

6  75 

a  9  oo 

17 

a    25 

43 

a    45 

Seed—  Clover,  per  lb 10K®  WX@      lOjy 

Timothy,  per  bushel ....    2  00   @  2  25    @  2  8TJ* 

Sugak— Hrown,  per  lb      9    @      12  8    @      1IM 

MoLASSES.New-Orleans,  p.gl,.       40    @      50  32    @     40 

Coffkk.  Rio,  per  lb          .      .       29    @      S3  28    @      32 

Tobacco— Kent  ucky,&c,p.lb„       15    @      30  1SJ4®      30 

Seed  Leaf,  per  lb.  , 15    @      35  9    @      30 

Wool—  Domestic  tierce,  p.  lb..        55    oi      70  58    on      IC> 

Domestic,  pulled,  per  lb.  55    @      68  48    @      62 

Tallow,  per  lb. . . nj<@      11>^  10>f®      10V 

Oil  Cake,  per  tun 4100    @46  50  43  00    @51  00 

Pons— Mess,  per  bbl 12  87^13  00  14  00    fS)14  lV„< 

Prime,  per  bbl  1150    @  11  02K© 

Beef— Plain  mess.     ...  12  00    @13  50  1175    @13  00 

Lakh,  in  bids.,  per  lb 9K@      10>£  9&@      10 

Butter— Western,  per  lb 16   @     20  16   @     20 

State,  per  lb. 21    ®      25  21    @      26 

Cheese 9    @      12  9    @      13 

Broom  Corn— Der  Tb  5    @       7  7    @       8 

Eggs— Fresh,  per  dozen 20    @      22  22    @      24 

Limed,  per  doz 18    @      19  15    @      16 

Povltkv— Fowls,  per  lb 10    @      12  8    @       9 

Dncke,perlb 12    ®     14  10   @     11 

Geese,  per  St.. . 11    @     13  7   @      9 

Turkeys,  per  lb 13    @      15  10    <&      12 

Partridges,  per  pair 81    @     87  75    @     87 

Wild  Pioeons,  per  dozen...    1  75    @  2  00  75    @      87 

Wild  DtxKS,  per  pair .     50    @      75  31    @      88 

Venison,  per  ft 12    @      14  10    @      11 

Potatoes— Common,  p.  bbl..    1  25    @  1  62  1  50    @  1  75 

Buckeyes,  per  bbl l  62    ©  1  75  1  50    @  1  75 

Peach  Blow,  per  bbl    1  62    ®  1  87  1  60    @  2  00 

Mercers,  n.-r  bbl 2  00    @  2  37  1  75    @  2  50 

Sweet  Delawares,  per  bbl 2  50    <a  2  75  2  50    @  3  00 

Sweet  Jerseys,  per  bbl  1  75    @  2  00  2  00    @  2  25 

Onions,  lied  &  Yellow  p.  bbl.    2  25    @  2  50  2  25    &  2  50 

White,  per  bbl 3  00    ©  2  50    @  2  75 

Turnips— Rutabagas,  p.  bbl..       87    @  I  00  1  00    @ 

Marrow  Squashes,  per  bbl 1  25    @  1  50  1  50    @  1  75 

Pumpkins— Cheese,  per  100...    6  00    ©10  00  5  00    ©10  00 

Cabbages,  per  100.  . .  3  00    ©4  00  3  00    ©5  00 

Apples,  Western,  per  bbl 1  50    ©  1  75  1  62    ©  1  87 

Apples,  choice,  per  bbl 2  50    @  3  00 

Apples,  River,  per  bbl 1  00    ©  1  25  75    @  1  00 

Quinces,  per  bbl 2  50    ©3  00  2  00    ©3  50 

Cranberries,  Cape  Cod,  p.b'l  11  00    ©12  00  11    ©      13 

Western,  per  bbl.           9  00    ©1100  7    ©        9 

Pried  Apples,  per  lb 5V@       6  4    ©       6 

Dt;iED  Plums,  per  lb 12    ©      13  12    @      14 

Dried  Peaches,  per  lb 15    ©      18  16    @      18 

Hickory  Nuts,  per  bushel..    2  00    ©  2  50  1  75    ©  2  50 

Chestnuts,  per  bushel 5  00    ©  6  00  4  50    @  5  00 

The  condensed  Tables,  given  above,  present  in  concise 
form  a  summary  of  the  transactions  for  a  month  past. 
These  figures  are  laboriously  prepared  from  a  large 
massof  notes  collected  byusdaily,in  the  markets  and 
elsewhere.  It  is  to  be  noted,  however,  thai  the  past 
business  month  has  been  only  24  days,  owing  to  the 
occurrence  of  Thanksgiving  holiday,  to  there  being  one 
day  less  in  November  than  in  Octoher,  and  to  the  fact  that 
there  were  five  Sabbaths  in  November,  this  year,  the  last 
twoof which'are  included  in  the  month  ending  to-day. 
Still,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  receipts  were  131,000  barrels  of 
flour  in  excess  of  the  previous  month,  equivalent  to  655,- 
000  bushels  of  wheat.  The  receipts  of  Wheat  are  very 
nearly  the  same,  if  we  allow  for  the  extra  days  last  month. 
Corn,  Rye,  and  Oats,  have  come  in  more  freely.  The 
sales  of  Breadstuff's  have  been  considerably  lessened,  as 
shown  in  the  second  part  of  table  1.  By  reference  to  ta- 
ble 2}  it  will  be  seen  that  while  the  receipts  (allowing  for 
one  day  less)  have  been  about  the  same  as  last  year,  Ihe 
sales  have  fallen  off  materially.  Inland  navigation  is  now 
closed,  and  though  the  railroads  will  continue  to  bring 
forward  considerable  supplies  during  the  Winter,  the 
prices  will  depend  much  upon  the  amount  of  Ihe  supplies 
already  here.  These  are  not  believed  to  be  very  large. 
During  the  past  month  there  has  been  no  exciting  cause 
of  activity  in  Breadstuff's,  and  the  market  has  been  very 
quiet.  The  variations  in  the  value  of  Gold  and  foreign 
exchange,  have  had  the  most  to  do  with  changes  in 
prices.  As  was  shown  in  an  editorial  article  in  the  Amer- 
ican Agriculturist  for  November  (page  328),  a  rise  in  Ihe 
relative  value  of  Gold  and  currency,  produces  a  corre- 
sponding rise  in  Sterling  exchange,  in  which  case  it  is 
more  advantageous  to  send  abroad  wheat  than  gold,  and 
the  export  demand  is  consequently  heller.  During  the 
past  four  weeks  gold  has  vibrated  between  $128  and  $133, 
or  a  premium  of  28  to  33  per  cent,  upon  the  standard 
paper  currency,  and  the  prices  of  Wheat  and  Wlieat 
Flour,  and  Corn,  have  changed  nearly  in  the  same  ratio. 
The  financial  policy  to  be  adopted  by  Congress  is  not  set- 
tled. On  the  one  hand  it  is  proposed  to  raise  money  for 
the  expenses  of  Government  and  the  war,  by  selling  stocks 
at  whatever  price  they  will  bring  in  the  market.  This 
would  he  a  move  towards  returning  to  a  specie  basis.  On 
the  other  band  il  is  proposed  to  increase  the  issue  of  cur- 
rency. If  the  latter  policy  be  adopted,  and  many  finan- 
ciers think  it  the  only  practicable  mode  of  raising  funds, 
the  relative  value  of  gold  will  be  increased  with  the  in- 
crease of  paper  issues,  and  the  prices  of  farm  products 
will  rise  correspondingly.  Thus:  should  the  premium 
on  gold  rise  to  100  per  cent,  it  would  be  just  as  cheap  to 
send  abroad  Wheat  at  the  price  of  $3  per  bushel,  in  cur- 
rency, as  to  sell  it  at  $1.50  per  bushel  if  gold  were  the  pur 
standard  of  valuation.  As  we  showed  in  the  article  above 
referred  to,  farmers  are  directly  benefited  by  this  distur- 
bance in  the  relative  value  of  gold  and  paper  currency, 
whatever  may  be  the  present  or  ultimate  effect  upon  other 
classes  and  upon  the  country  at  large.  If  the  currency 
be  doubled,  the  prices  of  farm  products  go  up  according- 
ly. It  is  true  thai  these  prices  are  not  on  a  gold  basis, 
but  if  the  double  price  be  in  a  currency  that  is  at  par  in 
paying  of  debts  for  land,  or  other  liabilities,  the  increased 
nominal   price  is  directly  advantageous.     The    general 


opinion  is  that  further  issues  of  currency  will  be  made, 
and  that  the  prices  of  breadstuff's  will  go  up;  and  we  find 

dealers  disposed  lo  hold  on  tn  their  present  stocks 

Rye  has  come  in  much  less  freely,  while  the  transactions 
lit  stocks  on  hand  have  been  much  lighter  than  the  previ- 
ous, month,  and  market  prices  average  about  5  cents  per 
bushel  higher  than  at  Ihe  date  of  our  last  report..  Bar- 
ley has  not  been  so  largely  dealt  in;  the  fever  heal  of 
speculation  has  in  a  measure  subsided,  and  prices  have 
declined    from   S1.45 « $1.60  to  $1,250$1.45    per    bushel. 

Provisions  have  not  been  very  active.     Mess  Pork  has 

advanced  fully  $1  per  barrel.  Live  Hogs  are  coming  for- 
ward, for  packing  at  this  point,  more  freely  than  ever 
before,  the  receipts  for  the  past  week  being  .''3,778.  Tills 
is  caused  by  the  unsettled  condition  of  things  at  ttic 
Southwest,  and  by  the  scarcity  of  barrel-makeis  at  ihe 
West.  New-York  city  is  just  now  the  "  Porkopolib"of  the 
country... .Groceries,  Rice,  Tobacco,  and  Wool  have  been 

quiet,  without  material  change  in  prices Ray,   Hops, 

and  Seeds  have  been  in  good  demand.  The  present 
prices,  and  any  changes  since  last  month,  are  indicated  in 
our  table  of  Prices  Current. 

HT.  Y.  Mjive  Stock  Markets.- Tite  Cat- 
tle Markets  have  been  abundantly  supplied  during  the 
past  month,  the  average  being  5,3-12  per  week.  Prices 
fell  off  a  little  Nov.  25.,  advanced  ?i  c.  Dec.  2nd,  and  M 
c.  more  Dec.  9th.  At  the  last  general  market,  Dec.  16th, 
prices  again  declined  \i  c.  There  were  6,276  beeves  on 
sale,  some  of  them  very  fine.  Prices  ranged  at  10c. (a) 
12#c.  per  lb.  for  the  estimated  weight  of  the  four  quart- 
ers, for  Christmas  or  premium  bullocks;  8Xc(o)0c.  for 
prime  animals  ;  7co)8c.  for  common  to  medium  ;  while 
the  poor  grades,  some  of  them  genuine'  scallawags"  went 
at5  c.(a)%c.    The  average  of  all  sales  was  atom  "Xc. 

Veal   Calves. —Receipts  have  averaged 430 

per  week.  Fewer  calves  are  sent  to  market  now  than  at 
any  other  season  of  the  year.  They  sell  quickly,  the 
best  for  0cff6^c.  per  lb.  live  weight;  5c.(a)5%c..  for 
good  and3c.(6)4c.  for  bobs  and  coarse  overgrown  calves. 

Slieep  a«4l  I,aml>s.— Receipts,  are  falling 
off  and  prices  gradually  advancing.  Average  receipts 
10, 039 per  week,  with  a  demand  exceeding  the  supply. 
Several  thousand  dressed  sheep  are  sent  in  eacli  week, 
which  makes  up  in  part  for  the  deficiency  of  live  slock. 
Quite  a  number  of  extra  large  fat  slieep  sent  in  for 
Christmas  mutton  brought  $15  to  *18  per  head.  Some  of 
them  weighed  240  lb.  each.  Good  sheep  at  100  lbs  are 
worth  prices  equivalent  to  5^c.  per  lb.  live  weight  an.) 
fair  stock  5)4.  Pelts  are  worth  in  quantity  $2,0b|5>$2.25 
each. 

Live  Hog's— Were  never  before  so  abundant 

in  this  market.  Receipts  have  averaged  47,166  per 
week,  and  numbered  for  the  week,  ending  December  16 
53.778— Ihe  largest  number  ever  received  in  a  single 
week.  In  the  face  of  such  arrivals  hogs  are  soiling  well 
and  prices  have  advanced  a  little  during  the  month. 
Prime  fat,  heavy,  corn-fed  hogs  readily  command  5c.  5  v, 
c.  per  lb.  live  weight;  medium  hogs 43&c.*&3c.,  and  dis- 
tillery-fed 3^c./®4Xc.  Packing  is  curried  011  to  an  extent 
never  before  equaled  in  this  region. 

The  Weatlier  lias  generally  been  line  for 
winter  with  but  little  severe  cold,  the  coldest  day  being 
14°  above  zero.     We  have  had  comparatively  but  a  light 

amount  of  rain  and  one  fall  of  snow,  an   inch  deep. 

Our  Daily  Notes  condensed,  read:  November  20.  21, 
heavy  N.  E.  rain— 22,  cloudy,  cool— 23,  24,  clear,  windy— 
25,  clear  A.  M.,  cloudy  P.  M.,  rain  at  night  arid  on  26—27, 
28,  clear,  fine— 29,  clear  A.  M.,  light  rain  P.  M,— 30,  clear, 

mild. December  1,  light  rain— 2,  clear,  fine— 3,  cloudy 

A.  M.,  and  slight  rain  P.  M.— 4,  cool— 5,  cloudy  A. 
M.,  slight  rain  P.  M.,  and  1  inch  snow  at  night- 6, 
clear,  cool— 7,  coldest  day  of  the  season,  mercury  14"— 8, 
clear,  cold— 9  to  13,  fine,  clear,  mild  days— 14  to  15,  fog 
A.  M.,  clear  and  mild  P.  M.  both  days— 16,  windy  with 
showers— 17,  18,  19,  clear,  cool. 

Xlie  Rain  Fall  find  melted  snow,  for  month 
ending  Dec.  15,  amounts  to  4.03  inches  which  fell  suffi- 
ciently to  be  measured  at  six  different  times,  besides  other 
light  showers.  The  Barometer  has  shown  marked  and 
extreme  variations,  the  range  being  nearly  l1^  inches, 
from  29.35  inches  to  the  unusual  height  of  30.70  inches  on 
Nov.  16. 

Thermometer  at  6  A.  Iff.,  New-York. 

[Observations  carefully  made  upon  a  standard  Ther- 
mometer (Fahrenheit.)— r  indicates  rain— s,  snow.] 


„ 

NOVEMBER. 

13  ,..    4"r 

14  36 

15 40 

16            25 

17 39r 

18  ...     44 

19... 
20   . 
21... 
•'2   ' 

24 

2 

4 

52 

.     51 

37 

46 

..   36r 

8... 

9... 
10 

II... 
12 

32 
..35s 

41 
..36 

48r 

..   58r[26 

...5"r27.. 

...42H28.. 

. .     4Sr 

. .     3S 

5 
6   . 

...32  ,30.. 

37r 
..     35 

1 
2 

.1 

47r 

37 

...30 

4 

29 

DECEMBER. 
7...         14 
8    ....    18 
9 26 

in 
11 
12 

...26  113   . 
...34    14.. 
..   38    15.. 

..   37r 
...40 
....46 

28 


AMERICAN    AGEICULTUEIST. 


[January, 


Outline 


ap    of    Eastern    Virginia 


The  above  map  is  inserted  for  the  convenience  of  our  readers,  ■who  are  all  doubtless  interested  in  the  momentous  events  now  transpiring,  and  about  to  trans- 
pire in  the  region  indicated. A  very  large  and  very  minute  map  of  the  whole  of  the  State  of  Virginia,  giving  even  the  smallest  towns,  roads,  etc.,  can  be 

supplied  at  the  Agriculturist  Office  for  25  cents.    (Sent  post-paid  by  mail  for  the  same  price.)      (gF"'The  large  m^p  can   no  longer  be  afforded  as  a   premium. 


Exhibition    Tables  at    tlic   Oflicc    of 
tHc  American  Agriculturist* 

The  following  arUoles    have  been    placed   upon   our 
tables  since  our  report  in    the  November  Agriculturist. 

TRVIT— Apple*.— Baldwin  R.I. Greening,  Vandevere,  from 
M.  J.  Taylor,  of  Gloster,  N.  J Sweet  sour  apples,  from  Ich. 


Pope,  of  Enfleld,  Mass. .. .Gloria  Mundi,  from  C.  H.  Lillien- 
thal,  of  Yonkers,  N.  Y. . .  .Maiden's  Blush,  from  Win,  E.  Stiles, 
of  Flushing,  L.  I. ..  Hawthorndcn,  Dutch  Mlgnonne,  from  P. 
J.  Ward,  of  Bloomfleld,  N.J  ...Mellow  Heart,  from  Mrs.  D. 
Lawrence,  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  N.  T. . .  French  Pippins,  from  F. 

C.  Farley,  of  Milburne,N.  J Sweet-sour  Apples,  from  C.J. 

Minor,  of  Woodhury,  Conn  Baldwin,  Huhhardston  Non- 
such, Killam   Hill,  from   Josh.  T.  riolt,  Andover,  Mass 

Hawthornden,  Granny  Winkle,  from   E.  "Williams,  of  West 


Bloomfleld,   N.  J....R.  I.  Greening,  from  Edw.  Brown,  of 

Deer  Park,  L.I — Union  Apple  from  Greenwich,  Conn 

Gloria  Mundi,  from  P,  F.  Peck,  of  Yonkers,  N.  Y Sweet- 

sonr  Apple,  from  T.  Wilcox,  of  Bennington,  Vt Iron  Ap- 
ples, from  G-  M.  Usher,  of  Port  Richmond,  Staten  Island 

Gloria  Mundi,  from  West.  Farms,  N.  Y Gloria  Mundi,  from 

Robt.  French,  of  Weatfield,  N.  J....Penn  Winter  Apples, 
from  S.  W.  Noble,  of  Jenkinstown,  Montgomery  Co.,  Perm 
....Collection  of  Apples,  from  P.  H.  Aehton,  of  Middletown, 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


29 


Coun.... Apples  from  J.  M.  Hurlbut,  of  N.  Y.  .  Newtown 
Pippins,  from  Benj.  Clapp,  of  Wappinger's  Falls,  N.  Y. ... 
Wine  Apple,  from  Josh.  N.  Hurlbut,  ot  Winsted,  Conn.... 
Varieties  for  name,  from  Solon  Robinson,  J.  M.  Knowlton, 
J.  P.  Veeder,  and  C.  Fenton. 

Pears .— Beurre  Diel,  Beurre  Clairgeau,  Belle  de  Bruxelles, 
Vicar  of  Winklield,  Duchessed'Angouleme,  Seedling  from  J. 
H.  Gibson,  of  Keyport,  N.J. ...Vicar  of  Wlnkfleld,  Winter 
Nclis,  from  J.  W.  Evarts,  Brooklyn,  L.  I....Vlrgalieu,  from 
Dr  Trimble,  of  Newark,  N.  J.  -.  Beurre  Clairgeau,  W.  H. 
Goldsmith,  of  Lyons  Farm,  N.  J  . .  Lawrence,  Beurre  d'An- 
jou,  Dncliesse  d'Angouleme,  Oswego  Beurre,  Beurre  Clair- 
geau, from  Orange  Judd.  of  Flushing,  L.  I.... Beurre  Bosc, 
from  Aug.  A.Lcverlch,  of  Brooklyn,  L.  I.... Branch  with  ten 
pears  (magnificent,)  from  W.  D.  Voorhees,  of  Newark,  N.  J. 
....Flemish  Beauty,  Beurre  Bose,  from  Underwood  Farm,  L. 
1.'... Swan's  Orange,  from  Geo.  O.  Street,  of  Mt.  Vernon,  N. 

Y Winter  Pears,  from  Thomas  Sprunt,  gardener  to  J.  D. 

Wolfe,  of  Westchester,  N.Y.... White  Doyenne,  from  C.  S. 
Rust,  of  Fulton,  N.  T.. ..Vicar  of  Winklield,  from  Isaac  N- 
Pierson,  of  Newark,  N.  J. . .  .Bicknell  Pears,  from T.  M.  Brew- 
er, of  Bingham,  Mass. . .  .Catillac  Pear,  from  F.  C.  Farley,  of 
Milburne.  N.  J...  Gray  Doyenne,  from  Moses  J.  Taylor,  of 
Closter,  N.J...  .Catillac  Pear,  from  R.  Sterling,  of  Suspen- 
sion Bridge,  N.  Y Varieties  for  names,  from  J.  H.  Gibson, 

E.  Williams,  Solon  Robinson,  and  Moses  J.  Taylor. 

Other  £Vatiff.— Charter  Oak  Grape,  from  G.  A.  Blood,  of 
West  Farms,  N.  Y Muskingum  Grape,  from  H.  M.  Dew- 
ey. ..  .Cluster  Grape,  from  R.  Richards,  of  Tremont,  N.  V.... 
Isabella  Grape,  (very  fine)  from  S.  W.  Clarke,  of  Na- 
ples, N.  Y  .  Variety  of  Grapes  for  name,  from  Dr.  Ward  . . . 
Osage  Orange  Fruit,  from  J.  VanBrunt,  of  New  Utrecht,  L. 
I. . . . Pear  Quince,  from  Gen,  E.  R.  V.  Wright,  of  Forest  Home, 
N.J.... Pear  Quince,  from  E.  Williams,  of  West  Bloomtleld, 
N.  J.... Orange  Quince,  from  C  has.  F.  Day,  of  Oak  Valley,  X. 

J Pear  Quince,  (finest  of  the  season)  from  "Ignoraumus," 

of  Bloomfield,  N.  J  . .  Cranberries,  from  W.  J.  Spence,  of 
Eden  Vale,  L.  I.. .  California  Tomato,  (weight  2  lbs.  7  ozs,,) 
from  Mrs.  Key,  of  Fort  Lee,  N.  J.... Belle  de  Fontenay  Rasp- 
berry, from  W.  F.  Heins,  of  Woodstock,  N.Y..  ..Jar  of  Bran- 
dy Peaches,  "Late  Heath  Cling,"  from  Isaac  Fullen,  of 
Higlitstown,  N.  J. 

FLOW  Ell  S. 

Chrysanthemums,  (fine  collection)  from  Wm.  F.  Helns,  of 
Woodstock,  N.  Y....Cut  Dahlias,  from  C.  S.  Pell,  of 
New-York  Orphan  Asylum. .  ..Cut  Dahlias,  from  Orange 
Judd,  of  Flushing,  L.  I  . .  Dahlias  from  Ferd.  Schleutcr,  of 
Williamsburg,  L.  I Pompon  Chrysanthemums,  (fine  collec- 
tion! from  H.  T.  Haviland,  of  Brooklyn,  L.  I. ...Pompon 
Chrysanthemums,  from  Mr.  Lyon,  of  Rossville,  L.  I. 

VEGETABLES.  SEEDS,  ETC. 

Potatoes.— Pink  Eye  Rusty  Coat,  Bulkley's  Seedling,  Cuzco, 
Garnet  Chili,  Snow  Flake,  from  Wm,  S.  Carpenter,  of 
Eve,  X.  Y  Early  Samaritan,  from  Simeon  Allen,  of  East 
Chatham,  N.  Y  . .  Peach  Blow,  from   A.  McCotter,  of  Hol- 

brook,  L.  I Peach  Blow,  (line.)  from  James  M.  Prime,  of 

Monmouth  Co.,  N.J.  .  Peach  Blow,  from  Wm.  Robinson, 
of   Flatbush,  L.  I...  Peach   Blow,  from  D.  O.   Calkins,   of 

Brooklyn,  L.  I Prince  Albert,  (very  fine,)  from  Dr.  J.  M. 

Howe,  of  Passaic,  N.  J...  Purple  Chili,  from  H.  D.  Van 
Brunt,  of  Englcwood,  N.J  Peach  Blow,  Prince  Albert, 
from  E.J.  Swards,  Jr.,  of  Port  Chester,  N.Y.  ...Bulklcy  Seed- 
lings from  F.  Vail,  of  N.  J  . .  .Wild  Mexican,  from  G.  M.  Ush- 
er, of  Port  Richmond,  S.  I.... Potatoes  raised  on  the  High- 
lands of  New-Jersey. 

Corn— Red,  Caragna,  Yellow  Canadian,  Pop,  Rice,  Brazil- 
ian (smallest  known),  Two  Hybrids,  from  W.  F.  Heins,  of 

Woodstock,  X.  Y Pop  Corn,  from  J.  M.  Hurlbut,  of  N.  Y 

Belden.   Imperial    King  Philip,    Devereaux,    Mammoth 

Eight-Rowed,  Richard's  Treat,  from  Wm.  S.  Carpenter,  of 

Rye,  N.  Y King  Phillip,  (from  seed  distributed  from  Am. 

AgricuUuri&t  office)  from  "  Subscriber,"  of  Logan  Co.,  III.... 

North  Carolina,  from  R.  P.  Titus,  of  Glen  Cove,  L.  I Ama- 

gant  Corn,  from  Mr.  Swain,  of  Bronxvllle,  N.  Y White 

Flint  (fine)  from  A.  Hollingers,  of  West  Hoboken,  N.  J.... 
Red  (fine),  White  (curious)  from  Mr.  Hume,  of  White's 
Farm,  N.  J. ...White  Flint,  (13)4  inches  long,)  from  Mr. 
Woodward,  of  Mortonville,  N.  J. 

Other  Vegetables,  etc.—  Striped  Gourd,  from  John  Kirkman, 

of  Brooklyn,  L.  I Mock  Orange  Gourd,  from   Henry  W. 

Carey,  Fourth-av.,  N.  Y.... Fancy  Gourd,  from  T.  C.  DeMar- 
ccllin,  of  N.  Y....  White  Egg  Gourds,  from  J.  B.  Bryan,  of 
Brooklyn,  L.  I Egg  Gourds,  from  Morris  Strong,  of  North- 
ampton, Mass California  Gourd,  from  Chas.  F.  Day,  of  Pa- 

ramns,  N.  J..    Chinese  Egg  Plant  Fruit,  from  A.  P.  Ciun- 

mings,  of  N.  Y Purple  Egg  Plant,  from  A.  H.  Winship,  of 

Flatbush,  L.  I Turban  Squash,  from  Fritz  Meyer,  of  No.  25 

Second-av.,  N.  Y Cheese  Pumpkin  and  Fancy  Squashes, 

from  C.  S.  Pell,  of  N.  Y.  Orphan  Asylum Yellow  Peppers, 

(very  fine),  from  L.  Jacobs,  Staten  Island Red  Peppers, 

(fine),  from  O.  Jones,  of  Lyons  Farms,  N.  J White  Sugar 

Beet,  (weight  20  lbs.)  from  J.  VanBrunt,  of  New  Utrecht,  L. 

I Turnip  Beet,  from  Jas.  Martin,  of  North  Prospect,  N:  J. 

Curious  Beet,  (set  for  seed,  but  grew  seven  additional 

beets— all  from  original  root)  from  J.  McElwee,  of  Walker 

Valley,  N  Y Blood  Beet,  from  A.  McCotter,  of  Holbrook, 

L.I Blood  Beets,  (very  large),  from  Chas.  Harriman,  of 

Irvington,  N.  Y White,  and  Early  Horn  Carrots,    (very 

fine),  from  Jas.  P.  Fagan,  Esq.,  Supt.  Ward's  Island,  N.  Y 

Early  Short  Scarlet  Carrot,  from  John  Fleming,  of  Reading- 
ton,  N.  J Long  Orange  Carrots,  from  J.  VanBrunt,  of  New 

riiL'cht,  L.  I Long  Orange  and  Altringham  Carrots,  from 

Mr.  Halsted,  of  Rye,  N.  Y.. ..Horseradish,  (5  lbs.  weight) 
from  J.  Reeder,  of  Duck  Island,  N.  J. ...Peas  for  name, 
from   R.   Callfl',  of  East  Smithlleld,  Penn....Kohl  Rabi,  (12 

heads  from  one  root),  from  Dr.  Barker,  of  Rrooklyn,  L.  I 

Turnip  grown  around  an  iron  wrench,  from  Wm.  Ritchie,  of 

Scotch  Plains,  N.  J California  Radishes,  (very  fine),  from 

Wm,   Blair,   of   Hackensack,   N.   J Vegetable  bouquet, 

(Imitation  tlowers  cut  out  from  beets,  carrots,  turnips, 
onions,  etc.— very  fanciful  and  ingenious),  from  B.  Stephens, 

of  Washington   Market,  N.  Y Cotton   grown  in   Illinois, 

from  Rev.  J.  A.  Bent,  of  Holeton,  Washington  Co.,  111...  Sor- 
gbBfO  Seed,  from  John  Fleming,  of  Readiugton,  N.  J Pal- 
metto Tree  (in  pot)  from  Port  Royal... Red  Onions,  from 
A.  McCotter,  Holbrook,  L.I. ...White  Turnip,  from  EUsha 


Mott,  of  Glenwood,  L.  I Apios  Tuberosa,  from  MaJ.  J.  B. 

Hoffman,  Indian  Agent  of  Dakota  Territory — Buckwheat, 
(2850  seeds  growu  from  one  seed),  from  Andrew  S.  Nash,  of 

Westport,   Conn Sugar  Cane  from  New-Orleans,   (large 

growth),  from  G.Jones,  Esq.,  Times  Office,  N.  Y...  Cauli- 
flower, (fine  growth),  from  Richard  R.  Bennett,  of  Fort 
Hamilton,  L.  I.  ...Mangel  Wurzel,  (fine),  from  Chas.  Harri- 
man, Irvington,  N.  Y Jersey  Grasses,  from  J.  B.  Comp- 

ton,  of  Mauricetown,  N.  J. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

New  Corn  Husker  and  Clothes  Wringer,  irom  Haines  & 
Pell,  of  37  Courtlandt-st.,  N.  Y. . .  Rattlesnake  Skin,  (very 
large),  from  C.  R.  Tyler,  of  Bay  City,  Wis  . .  .Currant  Wine, 
from  E.  J.  Swards,  Jr.,  of  Portchester,  N.  Y. . .  Sorghum  Sy- 
rup, (fine),  from  John  Fleming,  of  Beadington,  N.  J. 

Business  Notices. 

ZW~  Sight;/  Cents  a  Line  of  xpace. 

Lands— To  All  Wanting  Farms. 

Large  and  thriving  settlement  of  Viueland,  mild  cli- 
mate, 30  miles  south  of  Philadelphia,  by  railroad  ;  rich 
soil  ;  fine  crops  ;  twenty  acre  tracts,  at  from  $15  to  $20 
per  acre  ;  payable  within  four  years.  Good  business 
openings  ;  good  society.  Hundreds  are  setllingaud  mak- 
ing improvements.  Apply  lo  CHAS.  K.  LANDIS,  Post- 
master, Vineland,  Cumberland  County,  N.  J.  Letters 
answered.    Papers,  containing  full  information,  sent  free. 

A  Constant  Exhibition. 

The  Tables  at  the  Office  of  the  American  Agriculturist 
have  constantly  during  the  entire  year  novel  and  interest- 
ing FRUITS,  FLOWERS,  GRAINS,   VEGETABLES,  ROOTS,  ETC., 

contributed  hy  Subscribers,  Nurserymen,  Gardeners 
anil  others,  and  almost  uniformly  present  a  very  attrac- 
tive and  instructive  exhibition. 

Our  tables  are  spacious,  and  the  Office  large  and  airy, 
and  Hie  best  care  will  betaken  of  the  articles  contributed. 


The  Postage  on  tlie  Agriculturist  is  posi- 
tively only  Six  Cents  a  Year, 

The  law  expressly  says  that  a  Periodical  issued  at  stated  pe- 
riods, and  not  weighing  over  3  ounces  avoirdupois,  shall  be 
charged  one  cent  per  number,  and  only  half  this  sum  if  paid 
quarterly  In  advance.  The  paper  for  the  Agriculturist  is 
purposely  manufactured  so  that  it  shall  weigh  a  little 
lesH  than  three  ounces  when  printed;  the  legal  postage  is 
therefore  only  six  cents  a  year,  if  paid  quarterly  in  advance. 

Circulation  of  the  Agriculturist. 

Beyond  a.11  doubt,  or  controversy,  tlie  circu- 
lation of  (he  American  Agriculturist  to  regu- 
lar subscribers,  is  many  thousands  greater 
tlian  that  of  any  other  Agricultural  or  Hor- 
ticultural .Journal  in  the  World,  no  matter 
what  its  character,  or  time  or  place  of  issue. 
The  publisher  is  ready  at  all  times  to  sub- 
stantiate this  statement  by  comparing  books. 

JHutisemeitts. 

Advertisements  to  be  sure  of  insertion  must  be  re- 
ceived at  latest  by  the  1 5th  of  the  preceding  month. 
TERMS—  (invariably  cash  before  insertion) : 

FOB  THE  ENGLISH  EDITION  ONLY. 

Fifty  cents  per  line  of  space  for  each  insertion. 

One  whole  column  (145  lines),  or  more,  $IK)  per  column. 

J3F~Business  Notices,  Eighty  cents  per  line  of  space. 

FOR  THE  GERMAN'  EDITION  QHLT, 

Ten  cents  per  line  of  space  for  each  insertion. 

One  whole  column  (130  lines),  or  more,  $10  per  column. 

t^Business  Notices,  twenty  cents  a  line. 


A  THOROUGH  FARMER  WANTED,  with  his 
family,  to  live  on  and  manage  150  acres.  To  an  intelli- 
gent, experienced,  and  properly  qualiiied  person,  the  best 
compensation  will  he  given,  and  a  permanent  homestead  in 
a  delightful  and  healthy  sen  slime  situation.  Address  for  in- 
formation. E.  R.  LAMBERT,  Esq.,  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

Help    Wanted. 

A  single  man— American  or  Scotchman  preferred— wanted 
to  take  charge  of  a  farm,  lie  must  be  a  practical  man  of 
experience,  industrious,  and  honest,  able  to  read  and  write. 
Also  a  neat  tidy  woman  who  can  cook,  wash,  make  butter, 
&c.    Address  .JOHN  H.  liOCHE, 

Mead's  Basin,  Passaic  Co.,  N.  J. 

A  FARM  FOB.    SALE. 

A  first  rate  farm  on  the  Genesee  flats,  in  the  town  of  Chilli 
Monroe  Co.,  New-York,  containing  about  111  acres  of  land, 
4  miles  westerly  from  the  center  of  the  city  of  Rochester. 
There  is  a  good  farm  house,  two  first  rate  barns  with  cellars 
under  theiii,  sheds,  etc. 

There  is  an  apple  orchard;  also  peach  and  pear  orchard, In 
number  about  3,500  trees,  excellent  fruit.  There  is  also  an 
acre  of  Litwton  blackberries,  also  about  100  grape  vines,  and 
considerable  quantities  of  raspberries,  &c,  &c.  The  farm  is 
now  in  possession  of  Wm.  Cronk. 


For  further  particulars  apply  to 
DAVID  S.  BR1 


o\VN,  10  Pcck-sllp,  New- York. 


;fj^-  — °  ^  If  you  want  a  Tile  Machine  (hat  will)  2 
txfiS^SSmen  and  3  horses  vou  can  make  1000  Tile  pcr- 
lioui,  address F.  M.  Mature,  Buffalo,  N.  Y„  or  J.W.  Pcnfleld, 
Willoiurliby,  0„  or  F.  M.  Mattlce  &  Son,  Iiomc.  N,  Y. 


NEW-YORK 

Agricultural  Warehouse, 

AND  SEED  STORE, 

189  and  101  WATER-STREET. 

HORSE  POWERS,  THRESHERS,  and  "WINNOWERS. 
CLOVER  HULLERS,  CORN  SHELLERS,  GRAIN  DRILLS, 
and  FANNING  WILLS. 

STRAW"  and  HAY  CUTTERS-Eurcka,  Daniel's,  Tele- 
graph, and  other  Corn  Stalk  Cutters. 

HAY  PRESSESr-Ingersoll's,  Dederlck's,  and  other  patents. 

SAUSAGE  CUTTERS  and  STUFFERS. 

LARD  PRESSES,  VEGETABLE  CUTTERS,  of  several 
patterns,  among  which  are  the  English  Cutter  used  by  Mes- 
srs. Thorne,  Faile,  Conger,  and  other  noted  stock  breeders. 

PATENT  CYLINDER  PLOWS,  the  lightest  of  draft  of  any 
in  use. 

The  largest  assortment  of  Agricultural  and  Horticultural 
Implements,  Seeds,  and  Fertilizers.    R.  H.  ALLEN  &  CO. 

OUR    "EXCELSIOR 

BURR   STONE  MILLS" 


ANTI-FRICTION 

HORSE    POWERS, 

Have  taken  the  mo  n  est  Premiums  witerevek  exhibit- 
ed! NINE  FIUST  PREMIUMS  being  received  from  West- 
ern State  Fairs  last  year. 

THE  MILL  may  be  driven  by  horse,  water,  or  steam 
power,  does  its  work  equally  as  well  as  the  best  flat  stone  mills 
in  milling  establishments,  and  requires  but  one-half  the  power 
to  do  the  same  amount  of  work.  They  are  made  in  the  best 
manner,  and  will  last  thirty  years,  and  cost  nothing  for  re- 
pairs. 

THE  HORSE-POWER  runs  npon  iron  balls,  and 
requires  but  two  and  a  half  pounds  draught  to  keep  it 
in  motion.  With  the  same  number  of  horses  It  will  do 
TWENTY-FIVE  PER  CENT,  more   work  than  any  other 

POWER  IN  USE. 

B^~EVERT  MACniNE  IS    GUARANTEED    TO    GIVE    SATISFAC- 
TION,  OR  THE  MONEY  WILL  BE  REFUNDED— jST3 

REFERENCES: 

Orange  Judd,  New-York  City.  P.  J.  White,  Closter,  N.  J. 
W.  P.  Cooper,  Philadelphia,  Pa.  Emery  &  Co.,  Chicago,  111. 
Geo.  Smith,  Walnut  Creek,  O.    E,  Whitney,  Green  Bay,  Wis. 

Liberal  discount  to  dealers— Agents  wanted.   State,  Coun- 
ty, and  Shop  Rights  for  sale. 
For  Circulars  and  further  information  address 

BENNET  BROTHERS,  Patentees, 

42  and  41  Greene-st.,  New-York, 


MILL  STONE   DRESSING  DIAMONDS, 
Set  in  Patent  Protector  and  Guide. 

For  sale  by  JOHN  DICKINSON, 

Patentee  and  Sole  Manufacturer,  64  Nassau-st.,  New- York. 
ALSO  Manufacturer  of  GLAZIER'S  DIAMONDS. 


K 


EYSTONE    CORN    STALK    CUTTER    AND 
GRINDER.    Sold  by 

GRIFFING,  BROTHER  &  CO., 
No.  60  Courtlandt-st.,  New-York". 


The   Eureka  Feed   Cutler. 

A  CUTTER  ADAPTED  TO  THE  TfANTS  OF  FARMERS. 
This  cutter  has  important  improvements.  It  crushes  and 
cuts  the  heaviest  corn  stalks,  hay  and  straw  with  great  ra- 
pidity, by  hand  or  horse  power.  Knives  are  cylindrical  with 
shear  cut,  and  ea&Uy  ground  and  kept  in  complete  cutting 
order.  It  is  well  made,  easily  operated,  simple,  durable,  and 
effective.  Hundreds  are  in  operation  to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  owners.  Send  lor  a  circular  to  DAVID  HAYTs'ES,  Pro- 
prietor, or,  H.  K.  PARSONS,  General  Agent,  Harrisbmg,  Pa. 
Sold  in  New-York  hy  E.  H.  Allen  &  Co.,  John  Vauderbllt, 
Jno.  Mayher  &  Co. 

Horse   Powers,  Hay  Presses,   Cicler 
and  Wine  Presses,  etc. 

For  sale  at  the  lowest  market  price,  by 

GRIFFING.  BROTHER  &  CO., 
No.  60  Courtlandt-st.,  New- York. 

lAtiERSOLIVS  IMPK«VEW 

IIORSE  AND  HAND  POWER 

HAY  AND    COTTON  PRESSES. 

These  machines  have  been  tested  in  the  most  tftorougl] 
manner  throughout  this  and  foreign  countries  to  the  number 
of  over  VIOO. 

The  Hop.se  Power  is  worked  bv  either  wheel  or  capstan, 
and  in  many  respects  possesses  unoquaU'd  ndvantages.  'We 
invite  those  wanting  such  machines,  to  write  foru  catalogue 
containing  full  information,  with  cuts,  prices,  etc.,  or  call 
and  examine  personally. 

Orders  promnilv  atte'nded  to,  bv  addressing 
INGERSOLL  &  I)OUGHERTY,  Greenpoint,  Kings  Co..  lTi. 

CORN  SHELLERS,  HAY,  STRAW,  &  STALK 
CUTTERS.  VEGETABLE  CUTTERS,  etc. 
Warranted  to  he  the  h<'st  in  the  market.   Sold  at  wholesale 
and  retail,  by  GRIFFING,  BROTHER  &  CO., 

No.  60  Courtlandt-st.,  New-Yurk. 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[jANrTAIlY, 


The  best  Holiday  f:  1  ft.  and  greatly,  constantly,  and  per- 
manently  useful.  Specially  lull  la  Definitions  and  Illustra- 
tions of  military  terms.    Sold  by  all  booksellers. 

RAISE    COTTON. 

Buy  Turner's  Cotton  Planter'*  Manual,  which  is  ft 
Compilation  of  Facta  from  the  Best  Authorities  on  the  Cul- 
ture of  Cotton,  its  Natural  History,  Chemical  Analysis.  Trade 
and  Consumption,  and  embracing  a  History  of  Cotton  and 
the  Cotton  Gin.    Far  sale  by  C.  M.  SAXTON, 

25  Park  Kow,  N;-w-York. 

GOOD  MEN  Wanted  in  ALL  FARTS  of  the  COUNTRY, 
To  sell  the 

HISTOKY    OF     THE     GREAT     REBELLION, 
Sold  only  by  Canvassing  Agenl  3. 
The  work  is  printed  both  in  Enulisij  find  German. 

Vol.  I.  now  ready  tor  delivery. 
Apply  to       N.  C  MILLEU,  No.  35  Park-row,  New-York. 

MME.  DEMOREST'S  MIRROR  OF  FASHIONS 
is  sent  ",o  any  address  on  the  receipt  of  35  cents,  or 
yearly,  with  a  valuable  premium.  SI  The  Winter  number 
now  ready,  is  splendid.  No.  -173  Broadway,  New-York, 
Every  lady  should  have  one  of  Mmc.  Demorests  $5  Running. 
Stitch  Bowing  Machines— a  splendid  Holiday  present. 

BOOKS    FOR    FARMERS 

AND    OT2SES5S. 

[Any  of  the  following  books  can  be  obtained  at  the  of- 
fice of  the  Agriculturist  at  the  prices  named,  or  they  will  be 
forwarded  by  mail,  pout  paid,  on  receipt  of  the  price.  Other 
books  not  named  in  the  list  will  be  procured  and  sent  to  sub 
scribers  when  desired,  if  the  price  be  forwarded.  All  of  these 
books  may  well  be  procured  by  any  one  making  up  a  libra- 
ry. Those  we  esteem  specially  valuable,  are  marked  witli  a  *.1 


American  Bird  Fancier 

American  Farmer's  Encyclopedia 

American  Florist's  Guide         

American  Weeds  and  Useful  Plants*..., 

Allen  on  the  Culture  ot  the  Grape   

Allen's  (it.  L.)  American  Farm  Hook* 

Allen's  Diseases  of  Domestic  Animals 

Allen's  (L.  F.)  Rural  Architecture 

Harry's  Fruit  Garden* 

Bement's  (C.  N.>  Rabbit  Fancier 

Bo  ussinga  ult's  (J.  li.)  Rural  Economy 

Bridgeman's  Fruit  Cultivator's  Manual 

Bridgeman'p  Young  Gardener's  Assistant*.    . 

Bridgeinan's  Kitchen  Garden  Instructor 

Brldgeiuan's  FUrisfs  Guide 

Brandt's  Age  of  Horses  * 

Bui.si's  American  Flower  Garden  Directory  . 

Buist's  Family  Kitchen  Gardener*.   

Central  Park  Guide* 

Cho rl ton's  Grape-Grower's  Guide*.  .  ..  

Cole's  {S.  W.)  American  Fruit  Book  

Dadd's  (Geo.  H.)  Modern  Horse  Doctor* 1  66 

Dadd's  (Geo.  ilj  American  Cattle  Doctor i  00 

liana's  Murk  Manual  for  Fanners 1  00 

Downlng's  Cottage  Residences* 2  50 

Dotvniug's  Frul tb  and  Fruit  Trees  of  America** 2  00 

Do wni rig's  Ladies'  Mower  Garden 1  50 

Eastwood  on  i he  Cranberry*  ...       50 

Every  Lady  her  own  Mower  Gardener 50 

Farmer's  Practical  Horse  I'anier 

Fessendua's  American  Kitchen  Gardener 

French's  Tar m  Drainage  * 125 

Field's  (Thomas  Wj  Pear  Culture 1  00 

Fish  Culture* 1  00 

Flint  (Charles  L.)  on  Grasses* l  25 

Flint's  Milch  Cows  and  Dairy  Farming.,. 1  25 

Fuller's  Strawberry  CuKurist 10 

Goodale's  Principles  of  Breeding 75 

Guenon  on  Milch  Cows 60 

Hall's  (Miss)  American  Cookery. 1  00 

Herbert's  Hints  to  Horsekeepers*" l  25 

Hooper's  Dog  and  Gun 50 

Jenning's  Horse  and  his  Diseases 1  25 

Johnson  on  Manures i 75 

Kemp's  Landscape  Gardening 1  50 

Kidder's  Bee  Culture 50 

Langstroth  on  the  Honey  Bee* 1  25 

Leueliars'  Hothouses 1  25 

Lieblg's  Lectures  on  Chemistry 50 

Linsley's  (1).  C.)  Morgan  Horses 1  00 

Manual  of  Agriculture  by  G.  Emerson  and  C.  L.  Flint.  75 

Mavliew's  Illustrated  Horse  Doctor 2  50 


SO  25 

4  00 

75 

1  50 

1  00 

1  00 

75 

1  25 

1  25 

50 

1  25 

60 

1  50 

60 

60 

50 

1  25 

75 

25 

60 

50 


60 


McMahon's  American  Gardener 
Median's  Ornamental  Trees  , 
Mllburn  on  the  Cow  and  Dairy 

Miles  on  tlie  Horse's  Foot 

Norton's  Scientific  Agriculture 

Olcott's  Sorgho  and  Iiuphee 1  00 

Our  Farm  of  Four  Acres — * cloth  50  els.,-  paper 

Onion  Culture* 

Pardee  on  Strawberry  Culture 

Parlor  Gardener 

Parsons  on  the  Uose 

Pedder's  Farmer's  Land  Measurer 

Phln's  Grape  Culture 

Ouinbv'B  Mysteries  ot  Bcc  keeping* 

Kandairs  Sheep  Husbandry    

Richardson  on  the  Hoe 

Robin's  Produce  ana  iteady  Reckoner 

Rose  Culturist 

Shepherd's  Own  Book      2  00 

1  25 


.2  00 
75 
25 
50 
60 


21 

60 

65 

1  25 

50 

1  00 

1  25 

1  25 

25 

60 

25 


Smith's  Landscape  Gardening 
Spencer's  Education  of  Chlldr 


en' 


1  00 
1  00 
1  DO 
1  25 
25 


Stewart's  (John)  Stable  Book 

Thomas'  (John  J.)  Farm  Implements* 

Todd's  (S.  E.)  Young  Farmer's  Manual 

Tucker's  Register  Rural  A  (lairs       

Turner's  Cotton  Planter's  Manual.... 1  25 

Warder's  Hedges  and  Evergreens4 l  oo 

Watson's  American  Home  Garden 1  50 

"Week's  (John  M.)  Manual  on  Bees 50 

Wood's  Class  Book  of  Botany* 2  00 

Yale  College  Agricultural  Lectures 25 

Youatt  and  Knooner  on  the  Horse 1  25 

Youatt  and  Marl  in  on  Cattle 1  25 


Youatt  on  the  Hog. 
Youatt  on  Sheep  . 


OVER    FOUR    THOUSAND    IN    USE  ! 


Those  wishing  to  enter  upon  the  manufacture  of  Staple  Sugar  and  Syrup,  if  making  money  Is 
their  object  n  ■  #\  11  1%  f~  I  n  a   •->.  should  purchase 

^  SUGAR  EmmTgjf 

k\^"  For  these  among  other  reasons:  "// 

It  saves  one  half  ths  wood.   It  produces  a  sugar  which  excels 
in  beauty  and  sells  readily  at  one  fourth  more  than  that  made  in  the  ordi- 
\  tf\    nary  way.     Thus  the  manufacturer  in  every  thousand  pounds  cf  sugar    ( 
clears  the  price  of  one  of  our  large  Pans.     That  this  is  not  an       At 
exaggeration  may  be  seen  by  the  following  testimonials  from       /L 
maple  men  :  /^ 

An  excellent  contrivance  for  boiling  down  "sap." —      /' 
,  0\  Annual  Rural  Agister.  /q 

V©\         Avery  intelligent  farmer  told  us  la?t  spring,      Aff/ 
that  Cook's  Sugar  Evaporator  was  the  best  thing  / 
for  making  maple  sugar  In,  he  bad  ever 


Been.— Field  Not?*. 

Ma*<es  Sugar  of  unusual  whiteness 
and  purity.— A7:  E.  Farmer. 
\4S\  Cook's  Evaporator  is  the 

best  of  the  new  irachines 
for  maple.  —  Country 
Gentleman. 


Q.      p     O       ff   , 


Aq.  Soc., Addison  Co.,  Vt. 
Ary/    I  have  never  yet  seen  any 
/Ay     thing  equal  to  It  in  the  manufas- 
—  /    ture  of  maple  sugar  and  syrup.     It 
takes  comparatively  but  little  fuel,  and 
the  product  Is  of  a  much  more  beautiful 
color  and  richer  flavor  than  when  male  by  the 
old  process.    J.  Ricuauds,  Tesuraseh,  Mhhi,'an. 
Designed  more  particularly  to  make  sugar  from  the 
Sorghum,  but  ecmally  well  adapted  to  making  it  from  the 
sap  of  the  maple. — Boston  Post. 
We  commend  the  Evaporator  as  one  of  the  really  valuable  improve- 
ments of  the  day,  it  being  tt  fie  Chinese  cane  what  the  cotton-gin  is 
)  cotton.—  Middleb ury  (  Vt.)  Register. 

Manufactured  by 

YER8,  BATES  & 

MANSFIELD,    O. 

PAMPHLETS    FOR   PRICE-LIST    TESTIMONIALS,    ETC. 


•aiHOAi    3HX    KI    HOIVHOdVA3    QldV^    ISOW 


How  to  get  a  Patent. 

A  3-cent  stamp  secures  a  copy  of  the  "  Inventor's  Guide." 
Address  FOWLER  &  WELLS.  308  Broadway,  New- York. 

The   Cranberry  and  its  Culture. 

The  Subscriber  has  issued  a  circular  from  the  press,  treat- 
ins  on  the  Cranberry  and  its  Culture.  Said  Circular  will 
give  persons  the  proper  information  as  to  the  commence- 
ment of  the  culture.  He  will  take  pleasure  in  forwarding 
them  to  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  to  those  sending  stamp 
to  paypostage.  Persons  wishing  plants  in  large  or  small 
quantities,  may  receive  them  by  express,  for  wet  or  dry  soil. 
Address  GEORGE  A.BATES, 

Bellingham,  Norfolk  Co.,  Mass. 

ONION  CULTURE-Third  (new)  Edition. 

This  work  comprises  in  32  pages  all  the  particulars  for  suc- 
cessful Onion  Culture,  from  Selection  of  Seed  to  Marketing 
the  Crop— being  the  practical  directions  given  by  seventeen 
experienced  Onion  Growers,  residing  in  different  parts  of  the 
country.  Price  21  cents  (or  7  stamps),  sent  post-paid.  Ad- 
dress Publisher  of  Ag?'iculturisl. 

"The  Human  Face  Divine."  A  new  system  of  Physi- 
ognomy. Eyes,  Ears,  Lips,  Mouth,  Head,  Hair,  Neck,  Hands, 
Feet,  Skin,  with  all  "Signs  of  Character,"  In 

The    Phrenological  Journal 

AND  LIFE  ILLUSTRATED,  FOR  1863,  devoted  to  Eth- 
nology, Physiology,  Phhenolooy,  Physiognomy,  Psy- 
chology, and  to  all  that  relates  to  the  Intellectual.  Social, 
Moral,  and  Spiritual  Nature  of  Man.  Amply  Illustrated,  and 
adapted  to  the  comprehension  of  all.  Samples,  10  cents. 
New  volume.    Only  $1.00  a  year.  Address, 

FOWLER  &  WELLS,  308  Broadway,  N^w-York. 


SMALL   FRUITS. 

Our  stock  of  Strawberry,  Raspberry,  Blackberry,  Currant, 
and  Gooseberry  Plants  is  unsurpassed  any  where.    Parties 
wl&bing  to  purchase  would  do  well  to  correspond  with  us. 
J.  KNOX,  Box  155,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 


WANTED— 20,000  one  year  Apple  Stocks. 
bo  20.000  one-vear  Mazzard  Cherry  Stocks. 
Address  J.  W.,  box  474,  Dayton,  Ohio. 


Al- 


EXOTIC    GRAPES. 

PARSONS    &   CO. 

OtTer  a  large  stock  of  strong  vines  of  the  best  sorts,  ol<f 
and  new,  at  low  rates.   For  lists  address  at 

FLUSHING,  near  New-York. 

GRAPE  VINES. 

Our  stock  of  all  the  leading  varieties  is  very  large  and  su- 
perior, and  as  we  have  every  facility  tor  keening  up  our  sup- 
plv,  we  offer  great  inducements  to  purchasers. 

Send  for  our  Circular.  J.  KNOX, 

Box  155,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

50.00O    PEACH    TREES, 

And  all  other  varieties  of  Fruit  and  Ornamental  Trees, 
For  Catalogues  address                      ISAAC  PULLEN, 
Jan.  1st,  1863.     * Hlglitstown.  N.  J. 

ILLUSTRATED  CATALOGUE  of  rare  and  beau- 
tiful Flower  Seeds,  Boors,  Cuttings,  &c.,  by  mall.    Sent 
free  to  all  applicants.    Address 

H.  B.  LUM,  Sandusky,  Ohio. 

Saw  Machine, 

For  sawing  wood  and  slitting  hoards.  Every  farmer  should 
have  one.    Sold  by        GKIKFINU.  BKOTBEB  &  CO. 

No.  60  Courtlandt-st.,  New-York. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


31 


TO    FARMERS, 
TO   DAIRYMEN, 

TO  COUNTRY  MERCHANTS. 

ALL  who  have  ibi*  Sale  * 
Furs      and      Skins, 
Fruits,  dry  and  green, 
Butter,  Cheese, 

"'  Lard,  Hams, 

Poultry, 


Eggs, 
Game, 
Flour, 
Seeds, 


Vegetables, 
Grain, 

&e.,  &e. 


Can  Lave  tliem  well  sold  at  the  highest  prices 
in  New- York,  with  full  cash  returns  always 
within  Ten  Days  of  their  reaching  the  City,  by 
forwarding  them  to  the  Commission  House  for 
Country  Produce,  of 

JOSIAH    CARPENTER, 

32  Jay-street,  New-York, 

N.  B. — The  advertiser  has  had  abundant 
experience  in  this  business,  and  trusts  that  he 
will  continue  to  merit  patronage  by  the  most 
careful  attention  to  the  interest  of  his  patrons. 
The  articles  are  taken  charge  of  on  their  arri- 
val, and  carefully  disposed  of  promptly  to  good 
cash  customers,  and  cash  returns  made  imme- 
diately to  the  owner.  (The  highest  charge  made 
for  receiving  and  selling  is  five  per  cent.) 

A  New  York  "Weekly  Price  Current  is  issued 
by  J.  Carpenter,  which  is  sent  free  to  all  his  pat- 
rons. A  specimen  copy  sent  free  to  any  de- 
siring it.  A  trial  will  prove  the  above  facts. 
For  abundant  references  as  to  responsibility,  in- 
tegrity, &c,  see  the  "Price  Current." 

iW  Cash  advanced  on  consignments  of 
Produce. 

SEND     FOR 

A    FREE    COPY 

O  F 

PRICES  CURRENT, 

AND  ALL  OTHER  PARTICULARS, 

TO 
JOSIAH   CARPENTER, 
32  Jay-st.,  New-York. 


BUTTER, 

CHEESE, 
POULTRY,    EGGS, 

AND    FARM     PRODUCE 

OF  ALL  KINDS 

SOLD    ON    COMMISSION. 

Constantly  on  hand,  for  sale,  Flour,  Fish,  Salt,  Mackerel, 
Pork,  Hams,  Lard,  Beans,  Dried  Fruit,  Soap,  Starch,  etc. 

ISAAC  EMENS,  226  Front-st.,  New- York. 

Refers  to  the  Editor  of  the  American  Attrieultumt. 

K.  S.  Williams,  President  market  Bank.  New-York. 

A   KILUBLE  AGENCY 

FOR  PURCHASING 

ARTICI.JJS  OF  MEKCnA^DlSE, 

IMPLEMENTS  FOR  THE  FARM,  GARDEN,  AND 
HOUSEHOLD. 

FIELD  GARDEN  AND  FLOWER  SEEDS. 

Special  attention  will  also  be  given  to  procuring  Sewing 
Machines,  Pianos,  Meloricnus,  and  other  Musical 
Instruments;  Philosophical  and  Astronomical  Apparatus; 
Books  for  Schools  and  Colleges,  and  School  Furniture. 

NO  CHARGE  MADE  TO  PURCHASERS, 

BEYOND    THE 

LOWEST  REGULAR  PRICE, 

FRUIT  &  ORNAMENTAL  TREES,  AND  PLANTS. 

DELAWARE,  CONCORD,  and  other  Grape  Vines. 
Versailles  Currants,  and  Choice  Dahlias,  each  $2  per  dozen. 

WOODRUFF'S    BAROMETER, 
Prices  $S,  and  $12.    Agents  wanted. 

UNIVERSAL  CLOTHES  WRINGER, 
Prices  $7,  and  $10. 

NONPARIEL  WASHING  MACHINE, 

Prices,  No.  1,  $12;  No   3,  $16:  No.  3,  $20. 

Send  for  Circular.     See  Premium  No.  3,  Agriculturist. 

THE  AQUARIUS,  A  Hand  Force  Pump,  $8. 
See  No.  7  Premium  List  American  Agriculturist. 

HARVEY  B.  LANE, 
No.  151  Nassau-st.,  New-York  City 

TEETH 

UPOi\     ALLEYS     SYSTEM 

CAN  BE  OBTAINED  AT 

22  Bond-st,  New-York. 

By  this  method  the  TEETH.  GUMS,  ROOF,  and  KUG.fi 
of  the  MOUTH  are  all  truthfully  represented,  reflecting  those 
delicate  tints,  shades,  and  forms  peculiar  to  the  natural  or- 
gans, thus  concealing:  from  the  observer  the  human  agency 
in  forming  them.  This  we  do  positively  accomplish,  as 
evinced  by  our  numerous  patrons.  The  natural  expression 
of  the  mouth,  and  original  contour  nf  the  face  can  also  be 
restored,  which  rejuvenates  the  waning  cheek1. 

A  descriptive  pamphlet  maybe  obtained  by  addressing 
DRS.  J.  ALLEN  &  SON.  as  above. 

A  SPLENDID  HOLIDAY  PRESENT.— Mme. 
DEMOREST'S  beautiful  and  useful  $5  running  stitch 
Sewing  Machine,  awarded  first  premium  at  the  N.  Y.  State 
Fair.  Every  lady  should  have  one.  473  Broadway.  Sent 
free  of  express  charges  when  the  $5  is  sent  with  the  order. 

$T50,  BEST  PIANOS.  $150, 

J.  P.  HALE  &  CO.  having  removed  to  their  new  ware 
rooms 

No.  478  BROADWAY, 

are  now  prepared  to  ofi'er  tlie  pul>lic  a  magnificent  NEW 
SCALE,  foil 


ROSEWOOD   PIANO, 

containing  all  improvements  known  in  this  country  or  Eu- 
rope. Over  Strung  Bass,  French  Grand  Action,  Harp  pedal, 
Full   Iron  Frame,  for 

$150    CASH. 

Warranted  for  Five  Years. 

Rich  moulding  cases 

$175  TO  $200. 

All  warranted  made  of  the  best  seasoned  material,  and  to 
stand  better  than  any  sold  for  $400  or  $500,  by  the  old  meth- 
ods of  manufacture.  We  Invite  the  best  judges  to  examine 
and  try  these  new  Instruments,  and  we  stand  ready  at  all 
times  to  test  them  with  any  others  manufactured  In  this 
country.  J.  P.  HALE  &.  CO.,  478  Broadway,  New-York. 

RUSSIA  OR  BASS  MATS,  SELECTED  EX- 
pressly  for  budding  and  tying.  GUNNY  BAGS. 
TWINES,  HAY  HOPES,  &C,  suitable  tor  Nursery  purposes, 
for  sale  in  lots  to  suit,  by  D.  TV.  MANWAUING, 

Importer,  248  Front-st..  New-York. 

BRONZE    TURKEYS.— A   fine    lot   of   Bronze 
Turkeys,  bred  from  Stock  equal  to  any  In  the  country. 
For  Bale  by  LUCIUS  JACKSON,  New-Slilford,  Conn. 


The  NONPAREIL  WASHING  MACHINE 

Has  been  in  operation  since  April,  1861,  and  the  severe  and 
varied  tests,  to  which  it  has  been  subjected,  in  country  and 
city  families  and  laundries,  demonstrate  that  two-thirds  the 
labor  and  time,  and  half  the  soap  required  in  hand  Mashing, 
are  saved  by  its  use,  and  no  injury  can  possibly  result  to 
the  most  delicate  fabric  from  its  action.  It  is  a  squeezing 
machine,  and  it  washes  with  equal  effectiveness  a  cambric 
handkerchief,  or  a  bed  quilt. 

The  machine  is  carefully  made  of  the  best  materials,  and 
its  strength  and  durability  will  be  found  iu  keeping  with  its 
extreme  simplicity.  There  is  nothing  in  its  construction 
liable  to  get  out  of  order  ;  and  no  training  is  required  to  en- 
able the  least  skillful  person  to  work  it  satisfactorily.  A  girl 
twelve  years  old  can  operate  it. 

Three  sizes  of  family  machines  are  made,  their  capacity 
being  about  the  bulk  of  five,  eight,  and  twelve  shirts  re- 
spectively.   Prices:  No.  I,  $12;  No.  2,  $16;  No.  3,  $20. 

Machines  to  go  by  Power  are  manufactured  for  the  use  of 
Hotels  and  Laundries. 

Circulars,  giving  full  descriptions,  will  be  forwarded  by 

.      OAKLEY  &  KEATING.  73  Sonlh-st.,  New-Yoi  I;.     ■ 

EST*  See  Agriculturist  Premium  No.  3. 

HOUSEKEEPERS   BUY  THE  BEST. 

Ask  your  Grocer  for  Pylc's  O.  K.  Soap,  Pylc's  S.-il- 
erntus,  and  Pyle's  Cream  Tartar.  These  are  the 
best  in  use.  The  Editors  ofnearly  all  the  New- York  papers, 
and  intelligent  persons  generally,  use  them  in  their  families. 
For  sale  by  Grocers  anywhere. 

JAMES  FYLE,  Manufacturer, 
S50  Washington,  cor.  of  Franklin-st.,  New-Yor*. 

0£t  PER  CENT.  ON  $1,  CLEAR  SAVING. 
^  *M  Send  a  stamp  for  a  Circular  of  the 

"KUHAL  KEYSTONE  CLUB." 
P.  SUTTON,  Ransom,  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa. 

THE  CRAIG  MICROSCOPE. 

This  is  the  best  and  cheapest  microscope 
in  the  world  for  general  use.    It  has  just 
received  the  First  Premium— Silver  Medal 
—at  the  Ohio  State  Agricultural  Fair.    It 
requires  no  focal  adjustment,   magnifies 
about  100  diameters,  or  10,000  times,  and  la 
so  simple  that  a  child  can  use  it.    It  will 
be  sent  by  mail,  po-tage  paid,  on  the  re- 
Sectional  View.  A,  ceipt  Of  $3.26,  or  with  six  beautiful  mount- 
Lens;  B,  Object  glass; 
C,    Diaphragm  :   D,  ed  objects  for  Three  Dollars.    Address 

Reflector.  Inntru-  HENRY  CRAIG, 

182  Centre-st.,  New-York. 

XKUSSES.—  Radical  Cure 
of  Hernia,  ok  Rupture.—  Dr.  S.  N. 
Marsh,  of  the  well-known  house  of 
Marsh  &  Co.,  No. 2  Vesev-st.,  Astor  House, 
opposite  the  church,  devotes  special  at- 
tention to  the  surgical  :»l:ipt:ition  nf  big 
Radical  Cure  Truss.  Also  every  kind  of  Trusses,  Supporters) 
Slmuider  Braces,  Elastic  stockihzs,  and  Mechanical  appli- 
ances for  Deformities.    (A  lady  attendant.! 

TO  FARMERS 

AND     OTHERS. 

"We  are  manufacturing  a  Genuine  Article  of  Fine,  Medi- 
um, and  Coarse  BONE  DUST,  or  RAW  BONE  SU- 
PERPHOSPHATE OP  LIME,  manufactured  from 
un burned  Bones,  containing  all  the  Animal  and  Chemical 
Fertilizing  Properties.  Please  address  the  Manufacturers, 
and  get  the  Intrinsic  Value  of  your  money. 
N.  B.  A  Liberal  Discount  made  to  Dealers  for  Cash, 
Address  A.  LISTER  &  iJRO., 

Tarrytown,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.t 
Or  Newark,  N.  J. 


merit  &  Incbea  big 


32 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


Contents  for  January,  1863. 

Agricultural  Bureau— Its  Work 8 

Animals— Shelter,  not  Imprison 10 

Animals— Treatment  of  Wounds  10 

Asparagus  Bed — Good  Way  to  Make 13 

Bees— Apiary  in  January 3 

Bean  Poles— Branched 13 

Book.  New— For  Sunday  School  Teachers  and  Others. 25 

Boots  and  Shoes— Warm  Feet 21 

Children  of  Smart  Parents— Why  Dull  ? 21 

Children  on  the  Floor 21 

Corn  Culture  in  Egypt,  III 15 

Corn  Marker— An  Iowa 15 

Dakota  Potato  or  Ground  Nut  15 

Doll  worth  $150 23 

Economy— German 23 

Editor  with  his  Young  Readers  ;— Boys  and  Girls1  Col- 
umns—A "Happy  New-Year"— Sayings  of  Children 
— "  Its  Cold  " — A  Brave  Boy  and  a  Narrow  Escape — 
Boys  and  Girls  Skating — How  to  Save  Shoe  Leather 
— Improvement  on  Sleighs— The  Statesman  and  the 
Horse— Learned  it  too  Late— Editor's  Notes— A  Boy 
that  will  Never  be  a  Man  —  Puzzles  —  To  Sunday 
School  Teachers  and  Others— The  Two  Caterpillars 
— Grammar  out  West — Barnum  nearly  Humbugged 

.7  Illustrations.  .23-6 

Exhibition  Tables— List  of  Contributions  28-9 

Farm  Woik  for  January l 

Flax  Culture — Improved  Brake. Illustrated..  12 

Flower  Baskets— Hanging Illustrated., 20 

Flower  Garden  and  Lawn  in  January 3 

Flower  Gardens— Mixed 20 

Flowers— New  Convolvulus   Illustrated.  .20 

Flowers— Pansy  Culture 19 

Garden— Kitchen  and  Fruit  in  January 3 

Gizzards— Teeth— Stomachs 22 

Gourds  and  Squashes  at  Agriculturist  Exhibition..///.  .10 

Green  and  Hot-Houses  in  J  anuary 3 

Handkerchiefs— Designs  for  Ornamenting  Illustrated..  21 

Hillside  Lands— Management  of 19 

Home— Fitting  up  of  a 19 

Hominy— How  to  Prepare 22 

Horses — Raising  and  Training  Colts 11 

Household— Sundry  Hints  for  —  Suggestion,  Good- 
Cheap  Brown  Bread— Mince  Pies  without  Brandy 
— Potato  Custard— Crumpets  —  Opening  Cemented 
Fruit  Bottles— Apple  Butter  —  Brandy  in  Cooking — 

Cleaning  Pigs'  Feet 23 

Humbug  Doctors 22 

Implements— Evans'  Rotary  Digger 13 

Inventions— Agricultural  in  1601 12 

January— Suggestions  on  the  Work  of  the  Month..///..  1 

Lawsuit— End  of Illustrated..   9 

Loudon— Horticultural  Hints  from 18 

Manure— Profit  of  Sheltering 14 

Map  of  Eastern  Virginia 28 

Market  Review,  Weather,  Notes,  etc 27 

Meadows — Inoculating 13 

.Milking  Machine — Colvin's •. .  .11 

Orchard  and  Nursery  in  January   2 

Pork— Direction  for  Mess 3 

Potatoes— Sweet,  in  Ireland 15 

Poultry — Feeding  Turkeys  in  Winter II 

Premiums  offered  for  1863 26 

Quack  Doctors — Questions  for II 

Rhubarb— Large  from    Seed 21 

Schools— Shall  Agriculture  be  Taught  ? 14 

Seed— Changing    Locality. 15 

Seed  Distribution  for  1S63—  Remarks  .  8 

Seeds — List  for  Free  Distribution 4 

Seeds— Notes  on  those  Distributed 5 

Sheep— Cure  for  Foot  Rot  .10 

Teams— Turning  to  Right  or  Left 13 

Tree-Planting  Societies 18 

Trees— A  Farmer  on  Nature 18 

Trees— Compliment  from  John  Bull 19 

Trees— Curious 18 

Trees—  Pears— Select  List  of  25  Varieties 17 

Trees— Scalding  Peach  Trees 17 

Trees— Varieties  of  Horse  Chestnut 17 

Wheat— Cooking   Ungronnd 23 

Worms— Habits  of  the  Earth  Worm Illustrated  .17 

INDEX    TO    "BASKET,"    OH  SHORTER    ARTICLES. 

Advertisers,  To 51  Maps,  No  more  Premium. 5 

Agriculturist  Wanted 5  Milkweed — California.     . .  7 

Agr.    College    Perm 8iNails  called  "Penny". ..8 

Apples — Hardy  In  Minn. .  .6iPaper — Materials  for 7 

Barley— Weight  of  Bushel  6  Parasitic  Plants. 7 

Beans — Case-Knife,  Lima.  71  Pears — Vicars  Improving.. fi 

Bean — Prolific.. fij Peppermint — Cultivation. .  7 

Beef  Tea— Solidified 7  Pomological    Congress    of 

Beet— Large.        7!     Nations  fi 

Hook  on  Skeletonizing. . .  .SlPostmnsters,  Honest 5 

Books,  Buy  Now 5  Potatoes — Chili 7 

Butler— Keeping 7,Potatoes  —  Sweet    at     the 

Carrots— Steamed  forCows7l     North 6 

Coffee,  Sweet  Potatoes  for."  Poultry -Age  of 6 

Cotton — Specimens  of  Nor-  (Poultry — Amount  of  Grain6 

them       61  Poultry— Changing  Color.. 6 

Cotton— Tree -Seed 6  Poultry— Meat  for  Hens  ..6 

Crocus— Double 7 IPoultry— Oyster  Shells  for.G 

Currants— Good 61  Poultry  Profitable   6 

Euonymus — Propagating.  .7;Piemiums—  Last  call 5 

Flowers  from  Vermont 61  Quinces — Ignoramus' 6 

Frag  run t  Fancy 7 'Salt  Preserves  Timber 6 

Fruit  Grower's  Magazine.  .61  Sawdust  in  Stables  7 

Fruit  Growers'  Meeting.  ..5JSheep — Small  Pox  in  ....6 

Fruit  Talk— Ancient 6 (Silk  in  Ohio.... 6 

Garden  Roller— Ho wMade.  7  J Sorgho— Egyptian fi 

Garden— To  enjoy 7 [Sorghum  Seed 7 

Ginger  Root TjSwamp  Land— Flowing. .  .7 

Grafting  Apricots  on  Plumsfi[ Sweet  Potato  Coffee 7 

Grape  Vines.  Prune  now.     fi;'1  Topping"  Produce 7 

Grapes — GraftingDelawara6  Trees — Brush  for  Bcraptrtg.6 

Hedges,  Town 5t Trees,  Propagating 7 

Jute— -A met ic an T  Trees  vs.  Flowers 7 

"  Live  for  Ever" 7  Turkey— Thanksgiving  Sa- 

Manure— Cesspool  Slops. .61    Cnficed        fi 

Manure— No  use  for 7JWebb,  Jonas— Death   of.. .5 


Paper  Has  Gone  Up. 

Yes,  it  has!  Last  Spring  such  paper  as  we  use  was 
urged  upon  us  at  $9.75  per  ream  (of  large  double  sheets,) 
and  with  any  length  of  credit  we  might  desire.  Our 
most  recent  purchase  was  at  $23.88  per  ream,  for  the  same 
or  similar  paper — cash  down  !    Paper  has  gone  up  ! 


Many  Journals  Have  Gone  TJp. 

A  large  number  of  the  newspapers  of  the  country  have 
put  up  their  subscription  rates.  This  has  been  made 
necessary  by  the  increased  cost  of  paper,  the  taxes  upon 
advertisements,  and  by  the  advance  in  things  generally. 


Some  Have  Gone  Down. 

A  considerable  number  of  papers  in  different  parts  of 
the  country  have  been  obliged  to  stop  or  to  continue  at 
a  loss.  The  list  of  suspensions  counts  by  hundreds  al- 
ready, and  includes  several  Agricultural  Journals. 


We  Go  Neither  Down  Nor  Up. 

The  Agriculturist  is  too  strong  to  go  down,  and  it  will 
not  go  up  in  price.  The  standard  rates  for  many  years 
past,  willbe  continued  for  1S63,  viz  :  $1  a  year  ;  clubs 
of  six  for  $5  ;  clubs  of  ten  or  more,  only  80  cents  each. 


One  Reason  Why. 

Our  aim  has  been,  and  is,  to  supply  a  first  class  journal, 
reliable  and  useful  in  its  character,  at  a  price  within  the 
reach  of  the  masses  of  the  people.  To  advance  the  price 
would  partially  defeat  one  great  object  of  its  publication. 


Another  Reason. 

Before  paper  rose  very  high,  we  were  fortunate 
enough  to  lay  in  a  fair  supply  ahead.  Though  our  ex- 
penses are  greatly  increased,  yet  with  the  above  advan- 
tage secured,  and  by  hard  work,  and  close  economy  in  all 
that  will  not  affect  the  intrinsic  value  of  the  paper,  we 
expect  to  go  squarely  through  the  year— or  at  least  with- 
out any  severe  loss. 


More  Reasons. 

But  the  strongest,  and  most  numerous  reasons,  just 
now,  are  the  multitudes  of  subscriptions  coming  in— both 
new  and  old.  Twenty  five  per  cent  more  names  have 
been  received,  since  September,  than  during  the  same 
period  last  year.  Such  generous  patronage  will  do  some- 
thing toward  meeting  the  increased  expense   of  paper. 


And  Now 

Our  readers  know  just  where  and  how  we  stand.  The 
Agriculturist  will  go  on  with  unabated  vigor,  and  undi- 
minished in  value,  and  yet  at  no  extra  charge,  notwith- 
standing the  greatly  increased  cost  of  publication. 
Will  it  not  be  a  pleasure,  then,  to  all  our  readers  to  re- 
ciprocate and  each  aid  in  raising  the  subscription  list  to 
the  highest  possible  point?  The  paper  would  doubtless 
be  interesting  and  instructive  to  some  friend  or  neighbor, 
if  brought  to  his  notice.  A  word  from  you  will  add  his 
name  to  our  list  and  the  result  be  satisfactory,  we  trust, 
to  all  concerned.     What  say  you  friend  ? 


American  Agriculturist  in  German. 

The  AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST  is  published  in 
both  the  English  and  German  Languages.  Both  Editions 
are  of  the  same  size,  and  contain,  as  nearly  as  possible, 
the  same  Articles  and  Illustrations.  The  German  Edition 
is  furnished  at  the  same  rates  as  the  English,  singly  or  in 
clubs.    A  club  may  be  part  English,  and   part   German. 


ALMANAC  FOR  1863. 


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VOLUME  XXII— No.  2. 


NEW-YORK,  FEBRUARY,    1863. 


NEW  SERIES— No.  193. 


Entered  according  to  net  of  Congress  in  the  year  1SG3,  by 
Ohasor  Jur>D,  in  the  Clerk's  Oflice  of  the  District  Court  of 
the  United  States  fur  the  Southern  District  of  New- York. 
63^"  Other  Journals  are  Invited  to  copy  desirable  articles 
freely,  i/ench  article  be  credited  to  American  Agriculturist. 


Suggestions   and   Notes  for   the   Month. 


In  England,  where  the  influence  of  the  sur- 
rounding sea  water  modifies  the  temperature  of 
the  atmosphere,  plowing  and  even  sowing  of 
seed  are  frequently  hegun  as  early  as  February. 
Here,  except  at  the  far  South,  all  field  opera- 
tions are  suspended,  though  the  continuance  of 
such  warm  weather  as  has  prevailed  through- 
out the  first  half  of  the  Winter  season  proper, 
would  admit  of  plowing  the  lighter  sandy  soils, 
or  all  such  as  will  not  pack  and  bake  if  worked 
in  a  wet  condition.  Other  field  work,  gathering 
stones  and  roots,  draining,  fence  building,  etc., 
could  also  be  carried  on  with  facility.  But  we 
can  scarcely  look  for  such  weather  in  February. 
Maple  sugar  making,  and  cutting  and  hauling 
fuel,  timber,  and  fencing  materials,  are  the 
chief  out-door  employments,  aside  from  the  care 
of  domestic  animals,  and  the  important  work  of 
increasing  the  manure  heap  as  much  as  possible. 
This  is  the  season  for  "  manuring  with  brains," 
as  our  friend  Tim  Bunker  would  term  it.  West- 
ern farmers  tell  us  they  do  not  need,  so  many 
Chapters  on  farm  manure ;  that  they  are  about 
as  much  troubled  to  get  rid  of  the  stuff,  as  East- 
ern farmers  are  to  procure  it.  But  Tim  Bunk- 
er's manure  will  certainly  pay,  even  on  their 
itch  virgin  soils.  We  can  not  too  often  enforce 
the  fact,  that  "  it  is  the  mind  that  makes  the 
man."  It  needs  no  argument  to  prove  that  of 
two  farmers  having  equal  health,  equal  physi- 
cal strength,  and  placed  in  similar  circumstances, 
the  one  having  the  most  brains,  the  one  who 
thinks  most,  and  plans  best,  will  achieve  the 
greatest  success,  with  the  least  wear  and  tear 
of  muscle.  Abundant  examples  in  proof  of  this 
are  to  be  found  everywhere.  We  would  im- 
press upon  farmers  the  fact  that  thinking  and 
intelligence  pay  quite  as  well  in  soil  culture,  as 
in  any  other  pursuit.  Reading  is  an  aid  to  think- 
ing.   That  man  is  to  be  pitied  who  is  so  opin- 


ionated, so  self-sufficient,  as  to  say  in  earnest, 
"I  want  none  of  your  book  farming."  What  is 
this  "book  farming"  but  the  effort  to  collect  the 
opinions  and  experiences  of  a  great  number  of 
men,  and  convey  them  in  printed,  instead  of 
spoken  words.  No  one  can  read  a  sentence  re- 
lating what  some  one  else  thinks  of  a  particular 
crop  or  mode  of  culture,  or  describing  another's 
practice,  without  being  led  into  a  new  train  of 
thought,  and  in  the  end  his  own  practice  will 
be  improved  thereby.  Then,  again,  how  much 
it  lightens  one's  labors,  how  many  weary  hours 
of  work  pass  away  more  pleasantly,  if  he  have 
new  subjects  of  thought  to  occupy  the  mind. 
How  long  the  day  is,  when  following  the  har- 
row, or  swinging  the  ax  from  sunrise  to  sunset, 
if  one  have  not  a  store  of  ideas  to  draw  upon. 
Take  as  a  single  illustration,  the  article  on  page 
52  of  this  number  of  the  Agriculturist.  Will  it 
not  relieve  the  tediousness  of  "  sprouting  pota- 
toes "  all  day,  to  see  in  each  tuber  a  beautiful 
arrangement  of  the  stem  and  eyes  ?  There  are 
ten  thousand  such  things  to  be  observed  and 
learned  in  connection  with  every  department  of 
farm  life— more  here  than  in  any  other  business 
pursuit,  because  a  greater  variety  of  objects  are 
constantly  presented  to  the  eye.  Not  only  the 
trees  and  plants,  but  even  the  sticks  and  stones 
speak  a  language  to  him  who  learns  to  read 
that  language.  And  this  passing  month  of  Feb- 
ruary is  just  the  time  to  be  reading,  thinking,  and 
planning ;  the  time  to  be  laying  in  a  store  of 
thoughts  to  be  worked  over  in  the  mind  next 
Summer  while  the  hands  and  eyes  are  occupied 
with  work.  It  may  "  please  the  flesh  "  to  lazily 
while  away  the  stormy  days  and-  the  evening 
hours  at  the  store,  in  trashy  gossip,  and  in  story 
telling;  but  the  gathering  of  information  from 
books  and  papers  treating  of  field  and  garden 
crops,  of  animals,  of  improved  implements,  of 
the  structure  of  soils  and  of  plants,  of  the  laws 
of  vegetable  growth,  etc.,  will  not  only  furnish 
food  for  thought  while  at  hard  labor,  but  will 
also  lead  to  new  plans  that  will  put  money  in 
the  purse. — As  usual,  we  place  together  here 
sundry  hints  which  are  designed,  in  the  main, 
to  be  merely  suggestive. 

Work  for  the  Farm,  Household,  etc. 

Animals. — Have  the  hints  thrown  out  last 
month  been  acted  upon  ?  They  will  bear  look- 
ing over  again.  A  full  grown  horse,  or  working 
ox,  or  milch  cow,  may  remain  about  stationary, 
if  already  in  good  flesh  ;  but  with  these  excep- 
tions, every  animal  should  be  improving  in  con- 
dition from  week  to  week.  It  is  a  mistake  to 
suppose  that  animals  must  make  their  growth 
and  lay  on  fat  during  the  Summer,  and  merely 
be  a  bill  of  expense  during  Winter.  If  a  calf, 
steer,  heifer,  sheep,  or  hog,  be  not  plainly  in- 
creasing in  weight,  there  is  some  defect  in  the 
feeding,  sheltering,  watering,  or  salting,  and  the 
defect  should  be  looked  into  and  remedied  at 
once.— The  colt,  calf,  or  lamb,  to  be  dropped  in 


Spring,  will  be  of  greater  value  if  the  dam  be 
well  cared  for  now.  It  is  well  at  this  season  to 
inquire  whether  the  breeds  of  animals  now  kept, 
are  the  most  profitable,  and  how  improved  blood 
may  be  introduced.  If  a  colt  from  one  stallion 
be  worth  $20  more  at  birth  than  one  from  anoth- 
er, will  it  not  pay  to  give  $10  more  for  the  use 
of  the  former  ?  The  breeding  and  raising  of 
a  horse  worth  $150  costs  no  more  than  for  one 
worth  only  $75  when  grown.  The  same  hints  ap- 
ply to  other  animals.  "A  word  to  the  wise,"  etc. 
Buildings. — For  those  already  constructed,  the 
directions  of  last  month  will  nearly  suffice.  If 
the  weather  admit,  painting  may  be  clone  now, 
and  during  March  or  early  in  April ;  it  is  more 
lasting  if  dried  and  hardened  during  cool  weath- 
er, than  If  applied  when  the  sun  shines  brightly 
upon  it.  A  coat  of  paint  on  weather  beater, 
clapboards  will  add  several  years  to  their  durs  . 
bility. — If  new  buildings  are  planned  for,  y. 
sooner  the  lumber  can  be  procured  an(l>  t 
seasoning,  the  better.  Study  convenient^6  ■  ,baR 
internal  arrangement  of  dwellings.  A  siiji1"1  * 
change  in  the  location  of  rooms  and  stairs  may 
save  hundreds  of  steps  daily,  for  a  life  time.  A 
cellar  under  the  whole  house  costs  only  a  little 
extra  digging  and  two  pieces  of  end  or  sido 
walls,  more  than  for  half  a  cellar.  A  two-story 
house  requires  no  more  roofing  and  flooring, 
and  but  a  little  more  siding  up,  and  wall  plas- 
tering, than  does  a  story-and-a-half  house. 

Corn,  in  the  crib,  bin,  or  still  in  the  shock 
needs  special  care  ;  it  is  one  of  the  most  diffi- 
cult crops  to  keep  in  good  condition,  owing  to 
the  moisture  in  the  cob  and  chit.  A  large 
amount  of  that  brought  to  this  market  is  sold  as 
"  unsound  "  at  considerably  less  than  the  mar- 
ket price  for  sound  corn.  A  yery  little  extra 
care  in  the  farm  storage  will  often,  add  ten  to 
thirty  per  cent,  or  more,  to  the  market  value, 
which  is  all  clear  profit,  as  the  cost  of  handling 
and  transportation  is  not  increased.  There 
should  be  no  dampness  or  heating  in  the  prib, 
or  wherever  it  is  kept.  Narrow  cribs,  with  free 
ventilation,  are  essential.  In  preparing  corn  for 
market,  it  is  advisable  to  break  off  the  tips  of  the 
ears  before  shelling,  and  feed  the  small  and  im- 
perfect kernels.  These  fill  In  the  chinks  in  meas- 
uring, so  as  not  to  increase  the  bulk  materially, 
and  do  not  add  their  feeding  worth  to  the  weight, 
while  the  plump  grain  kept  by  itself,  will  sell 
more  readily  and  for  a  higher  price.  Let  seed 
corn  for  next  year  be  selected  from  the  largest, 
soundest  ears,  and  be  kept  dry. 

Corn  Stalks,  contain  much  more  nutriment 
than  is  generally  supposed,  judging  from  the 
little  care  used  to  preserve  them  in  goocl  order. 
Cattle  can  not  be  blamed  for  refusing  them  when 
weather  beaten  by  exposure  t.p  rains,  and 
injured  by  heating  in  unprotected  shocks.  We 
know  of  an  instance  where  a  man  kept  a 
horse  and  cow  all  through  Winter,  from  grass  to 
grass,  mainly  on  the  stalks  from  1J  acres  of  well 


34 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Febhuary, 


grown  corn.  The  stalks  were  cut  early,  dried 
in  small  shocks,  and  then  stored  under  dry  oover- 
iug.  They  were  cut  very  fine,  wet,  and  a  little 
ground  stuff  sprinkled  over.  Less  than  half  a  ton 
of  hay  was  used  during  the  winter— a  small  bite 
daily.  The  animals  kept  in  excellent  flesh  and  the 
cow  yielded  a  good  flow  of  milk.  Even  in  the  dry 
state,  corn  stalks  contain  considerable  saccharine 
matter  which  is  a  directly  nourishing  food. 

Draining  is  always  important.  One  half  of  all 
the  farms  in  the  country  would  be  doubled  in  real 
value  for  cultivation,  if  freed  from  water,  which 
shuts  out  air,  keeps  the  soil  cold,  and  by  its  expan- 
sion and  contraction  in  freezing  and  thawing,  tears 
and  breaks  the  roots  of  winter  crops.  A  single  deep 
under-drain  run  through  afield  apparently  dry,  will 
show  marked  good  effects  upon  the  crops  growing 
within  twenty  feet  on  either  side.  Draining  may  be 
attended  to  this  month  where  the  ground  is  not 
frozen,  and  often  where  only  a  few  inches  of  the  sur- 
face is  bardened.  Try  one  drain  this  Winter,  if  no 
more:  it  will  speak  iu  stronger  language  than  we 
can  write. 

Grass  Land,  whether  meadow  or  pasture,  is  in- 
jured by  treading  of  cattle,  especially  when  partly 
frozen,  or  in  the  6oft  state  following  thawing  out. 
See  "Basket"  item  on  this  subject,  on  another  page. 

Hogs. — The  hints  given  last  mouth  are  important, 
and  no  additions  are  needed  this  mouth. 

Morses. — See  notes  last  month,  and  under  "ani- 
mals" above.  Good  shoeing  is  important.  There 
are  plenty  of  blacksmiths,  but  very  few  skillful 
horse-shoers.  There  should  be  schools  ofinstruction 
on  horse-shoeing.  An  acquaintance  of  ours,  bought 
a  good  family  horse  very  cheaply  because  she  ap- 
peared to  be  tender-footed,  and  was  slightly 
'  j;jbled  with  the  "heaves."  He  took  her  to  another 
Jiinsmith  who  had  6kill  enough  to  change  the 
I,ouuoitQe  shoe  on  the  lame  foot ;  and  instead  of 
Miinurfig  dry  hay,  he  cut  and  wet  all  her  food.  For 
1  m  ''f  I>as''  6Ue  has  neither  limped  nor  wheezed,  and 
being  just  the  horse  wanted  among  a  family  of 
children,  she  is  worth  $50,  perhaps  $100,  more 
than  when  purchased.  It  don't  pay  to  employ  a 
poor  horse-shoer,  because  he  works  cheaply,and 
because  his  shop  happens  to  be  hard  by. 

Sired  Help. — Now  is  the  time  to  be  looking  after 
the  summer  laborers.  To  secure  a  good  man,  bet- 
ter take  him  a  month  earlier.  It  costs  no  more  to 
board  and  care  for  a  good  hand,  than  a  poor  one. 
The  cheapest  man  we  ever  employed  cost  us  $30  a 
month,  he  boarding  at  home  on  Sundays,  while 
plenty  of  other  men  were  to  be  had  for  $10  or  $12 
a  month.  A  man  that  is  "handy,"  that  will  set 
himself  to  work  and  keep  himself  and  others  at  it, 
that  will  handle  tools  carefully  and  yet  effectively, 
that  will  not  injure  the  morals  of  your  boys  bypro- 
fane  or  lewd  talk,  is  cheaper  at  $35  a  month,  than 
one  of  the  contrary  sort  who  will  stay  for  his  "board, 
lodging  and  washing." 

Manure — Bones.— The  collecting  should  go  on 
vigorously  this  month.  Stop  that  dark  stream 
running  from  the  yard  ;  there  is  a  good  ear  or  two 
of  corn  in  every  pint  of  it.  Read  again  the  hints 
last  month.  Bones  required  for  spring  manure 
6hould  be  put  to  dissolving  now.  Take  one  or 
more  woodefl  hooped  tight  casks— old  meat  barrels 
or  molasses  hogsheads  will  do,  if  tight — and  set  un- 
der cover,  or  shelter  with  a  board.  Put  in  say  8 
gallons  of  water,  then  pour  in,  a  little  at  a  time 
to  avoid  great  heat,  3>£  to  3  gallons  of  Sulphuric 
acid  (oil  of  vitriol)  which  can  be  bought  by  the 
carboy,  for  m  to  3  or  4  cents  per  pound,  accord- 
ing to  the  distance  from  the  manufactory.  Then 
put  iu  and  punch  down  with  a  stick  all  the  bones 
the  fluid  will  cover,  or  even  more.  If  the  bones 
are  closely  packed,  the  fluid  will  rise  to  the  top 
of  the  cask.  Leave  them  to  6oak  5  to  8  weeks, 
stirriug  them  well,  and  punching  them  down  every 
three  or  four  days,  and  adding  fresh  bones  as  there 
is  room.  After  a  few  weeks  the  undissolved  pieces 
may  be  taken  out,  and  the  fluid  be  mixed  with  a 
large  quantity  of  muck  or  soil  to  dry  it  off.  This 
will  be  a  strong  fertilizer— better  and  cheaper  than 


any  thing  to  be  bought  iu  the  market — if  the 
boues  and  acid  eanbegot  at  moderate  expense.  Keep 
a  bucket  of  water  and  some  weak  lye  or  dissolved 
soda  or  potash,  or  thick  lime  water,  standing 
near  the  cask,  for  instant  use,  should  any  of  the 
strong  acid  chance  to  spatter  upon  the  hands,  feet 
or  clothing. — Much  valuable  time  will  be  saved  in 
spring,  if  manure  be  hauled  to  distant  ticlds  now.  If 
placed  in  small  heaps,  and  covered  with  a  few  inch- 
es of  muck  or  good  surface  soil,  it  will  not  be  apt 
to  fire-fang.  The  soil  on  it  will  shed  off  %vashing 
raius,  and  arrest  escaping  gases,  and  itself  become 
quite  a  good  fertilizer. 

Maple  Sugar. — For  full  directions,  see  article  in 
this  number,  also  in  Vol.  XXI,  February  No.,  p.  42. 

Potatoes. — Those  intended  forseed  should  be  kept 
cool  in  order  to  prevent  their  starting.  Though 
those  from  which  the  sprouts  have  been  rubbed 
will  throw  out  others  and  grow,  (see  page  53,)  yet 
there  is  no  doubt  that  the  first  crop  of  sprouts  will 
give  the  most  vigorous  plants.  In  some  places  the 
potatoes  have  rotted.  If  troubled  in  this  way,  pro- 
cure seed  from  localities  free  from  disease.  Many 
farmers  only  plant  one  sort  and  that  a  late  one.  A 
few  bushels  of  an  early  kind  always  meet  with  a 
ready  sale,  to  say  nothing  of  the  luxury  of  having 
them  upon  the  table  in  July.  The  seed  can  be 
looked  after  at  this  season. 

Flowing  may  be  done  on  light  soils  where  the 
ground  is  open.  A  large  Maryland  farmer  who  vis- 
ited us  on  January  15th,  stated  that  his  plows  had 
hardly  stopped  up  to  that  date.  He  turns  over  sod 
laud,  even  when  heavy  soil  and  quite  wet,  and  sur- 
face plows  it  in  Spring  when  dry  and  warm.  The 
sod  keeps  it  open  below,  and  plowing  and  harrow- 
ing in  Spring  pulverizes  the  surface  for  a  seed  bed. 
He  says  long  experience  has  proved  this  plan  to 
be  advantageous. 

Poultry. — The  directions  given  in  this  depart- 
ment and  elsewhere,  last  mouth,  will  be  pretty  cer- 
tain to  produce  an  abundance  of  eggs  now.  Eggs 
designed  for  hatching  early  chickens  should  never 
be  chilled.  As  soon  as  laid,  put  them  in  a  cool,  dry 
place  in  the  cellar,  or  elsewhere,  so  that  they  be 
not  too  warm  or  too  cold.  Handle  carefully.  New 
breeds  are  often  introduced  most  cheaply  by  pro- 
curiug  eggs.  We  wonder  why  more  persons  do  not 
provide  and  advertise  eggs  of  the  different  improved 
breeds.  Carefully  packed  in  some  soft  elastic  ma- 
terial, they  can  be  safely  sent  by  express  or  other 
conveyance. 

Sheep.—  The  demand,  atgood  prices,  will  continue 
large  for  wool,  for  mutton  sheep,  for  spring  lambs, 
and  for  growing  sheep.  The  flock  should  have  the 
best  care  and  attention  now.  For  sundry  hints,  see 
page  43. — Numerous  complaints  of  dog  depreda- 
tions have  been  recently  reported,  even  where  the 
laws  are  good  and  strong.  Stir  up  the  public  sen- 
timent in  favor  of  enforcing  these  laws.  Shoot  or 
poison  every  dog  larger  than  a  rat  terrier  that  looks 
at  your  premises.  The  sheep  already  killed  by 
dogs  the  present  winter,  are  worth  more  than  all 
the  dogs  on  this  continent.  In  view  of  the  immense 
damage  they  have  done  to  the  sheep  raising  inter- 
est of  our  country,  we  heartily  wish  every  dog  could 
be  treated  as  the  Dutchman's  dog  was — had  his 
"  tail  cut  off  short,  close  up  behind  his  ears." 

Tobacco. — If  this  is  to  be  cultivated,  the  field  it  is 
to  occupy,  should  be  prepared  by  high  manuring 
and  deep  working.  A  good  loam,  in  a  situation  not 
liable  to  early  frosts,  is  to  be  selected.  Good  barn- 
yard manure  at  the  rate  of  25  to  50  loads  to  the  acre 
should  be  plowed  in  deeply.  As  the  planting 
will  not  take  place  until  June,  the  work  of  prepar- 
ing the  soil  may  be  done  at  any  convenient  time — 
the  manure  is  to  be  looked  after  now.  Tobacco 
makes  a  heavy  draft  upon  the  soil,  and  if  cultivated 
year  after  year  upon  the  6ame  land,  will  inevitably 
ruin  it.  It  should  only  be  grown  as  part  of  a  ro- 
tation. The  culture  will  not  be  profitable  in  very 
windy  localities,  as  the  leaves  are  torn  by  high 
winds,  and  their  value  much  diminished.  The  seeds 
are  not  sown  until  April,  at  which  time  seasona- 
ble directions  will  be  given  for  the  preparation  of 
the  bed.     The  kinds  cultivated  are  the  Connecticut 


Seed  Leaf,  and  the  small  leaved  Cuba.  The  former 
is  largely  grown  in  the  valley  of  the  Connecticut, 
aud  elsewhere,  and  is  especially  valued  for  wrappers 
to  cigars.  The  Cuba  is  used  for  filling  cigars, 
making  chewing  tobacco,  etc. 

Tools.— See  "Implements"  last  month.  Now  is 
the  time  to  get  them  all  in  order,  and  to  procure 
all  new  ones  that  will  be  needed  next  Spring.  The 
best  are  the  cheapest,  without  regard  to  prices.  A 
good  steel  hoc,  rake,  plow,  orotherimplemcnt,  will 
outlast  several  soft  iron  ones,  and  do  their  work 
better.  As  we  have  somewhere  before  illustrated, 
a  man  will  cut  as  mauy  cords  of  wood  in  a  week 
with  a  first  rate  ax,  as  two  men  can  cut  with  poor 
axes,  while  the  cost  of  the  two  tools  will  barely 
vary  50  cents — hiring  a  week's  extra  work,  to  save 
50  cents  in  the  cost  of  an  ax  is  not  the  best  econo- 
my. The  illustration  holds  good  for  all  other  im- 
plements— out-door  and  in-door  as  well. 


Orchard  and  Nursery. 

The  directions  for  this  month  might  all  be  con- 
deusedinto  "get  ready  for  Spring  work,"  as  there 
are  but  few  localities  in  which  the  season  is  far 
enough  advanced  to  allow  of  much  besides  prepar- 
atory work.  The  hints  and  suggestions  of  last 
month  apply  mainly  to  this  also.  But  a  great  deal 
of  thinking  and  planning  can  be  done  now,  to  be 
executed  at  the  proper  time.  Every  little  conve- 
nience prepared  now,  will  save  valuable  time  wheu 
the  press  of  spring  work  is  upon  us. 

Cions  should  be  cut  while  there  is  abundant  time 
to  make  a  careful  selection.  Except  when  making 
experiments,  do  not  graft  an  unknown  sort  merely 
because  a  neighbor  says  it  is  good  In  grafting  over 
an  old  orchard,  select  kinds  which  are  known  to 
succeed  in  your  own  neighborhood.  Some  of  the 
finest  fruits  in  one  locality,  do  poorly  in  another 
place.  Cut  cions  from  trees  which  you  know  to  be 
true  to  name,  and  label  them  so  that  there  can  be 
no  confusion  at  grafting  time.  Select  healthy,  well 
ripened  wood,  cut  when  not  frozen,  aud  preserve  in 
earth  in  the  cellar. 

Cleanse  the  rough  and  moss  covered  trunks  and 
limbs  of  old  trees  by  scraping ;  wash  with  strong 
soap  suds  or  weak  lye. 

Fruit  stored  in  the  cellar  or  fruit  room,  should  be 
looked  over,  and  decaying  speeimcus  removed. 
Carry  that  required  for  the  table  to  a  warm  room 
to  ripen  off  a  few  days  before  it  is  needed. 

Grafting. — Those  who  go  about  to  do  grafting, 
generally  begin  very  early,  in  order  to  make  their 
season  as  long  as  possible.  Grafts  put  in  long  be- 
fore the  growing  season  commences,  are  exposed 
to  drying  winds,  and  are  liable  to  accidents.  Root 
grafting  can  be  performed  in  the  house,  the  grafts 
being  kept  in  boxes  of  6and  in  the  cellar  uutil 
the  time  for  planting  out. 

Insects. — Destroy  the  eggs  wherever  they  can  be 
discovered.  They  are  often  found  glued  to  the 
twigs.  Crush  those  in  the  cocoon  or  chrysalis  state. 

Manure. — A  good  top-dressing  placed  around  the 
trunks,  as  far  out  as  the  roots  extend,  is  of  more 
benefit  to  the  tree,  than  a  quantity  of  manure  piled 
around  the  trunk.  Fruit  trees  should  not  be  over 
manured.  Make  good  use  of  ashes  in  orchard  and 
nursery  ;  pear  trees  are  much  benefited  by  them. 

Orders. — If  you  failed  to  procure  nursery  stock  in 
the  Fall,  attend  to  it  at  once.  Nurserymen  gener- 
ally till  those  orders  first  which  are  received  first, 
aud  those  who  send  late  fare  the  worst.  Look  over 
the  catalogues  carefully,  and  have  a  full  understand- 
ing as  to  the  size  and  quality.  Better  pay  a  large 
price  to  a  good,  well-known,  honest  nurseryman, 
than  to  take  as  a  gift,  the  trees  of  those  who  will 
fill  your  order  any  way — with  some  kind  of  trees, 
if  they  have  not  an  abundance  of  what  3-ou  want. 
Some  of  the  nursery  stock  advertised  at  very  low 
rates,  is  the  most  costly  that  can  be  bought. 

Pruning. — Winter  pruning  is  generally  abandoned 
by  good  orchardists.  The  wounds  made  now  are 
exposed  to  the  weather,  aud  do  not  heal  over  as 
readily  as  when  it  is  done  iu  early  s.ummer. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


35 


Planting  should  be  done  as  early  as  the  weather 
■will  admit.  Have  the  ground  well  prepared,  and 
dou't  hurry  the  job.  Recollect  that  an  orchard  is 
for  a  life  time,  and  extra  care  in  planting;  is  time  and 
labor  well  invested.  Stake  the  trees,  to  prevent 
them  from  being  whipped  about    by  the   wind. 

Slakes,  labels,  tallies,  mats  for  packing,  etc.  See 
bhat  these  are  ready  and  in  abundance.  Labels  and 
tallies  can  be  made  at  odd  hours ;  have  the  latter 
strung  and  ready  for  use. 


Kitchen  and  Fruit  Garden. 

Here,  too,  but  little  can  be  done  except  in  prepar- 
ing for  the  season  of  work.  Where  forcing  is  car- 
ried on,  this  is  a  busy  month,  but  the  number  who 
grow  vegetables  iu  this  way,  is  limited  to  a  few  pro- 
fessional gardeners  who  do  not  need  our  sugges- 
tions. The  demand  for  early  vegetables,  which  in 
England  is  supplied  from  forcing  houses,  is  here 
satisfied  by  the  products  of  more  Southern  locali- 
ties, the  West  Indies  and  other  Islands,  and  the 
Atlantic  coast  of  the  United  States. 

Cold  Frames,  need  the  same  care  as  directed  for 
last  mouth — plenty  of  air  on  mild  days,  and  protec- 
tion from  sudden  changes  of  temperature. 

Cuttings  of  gooseberries  and  currants  may  still 
be  made  :  prepare  them  for  planting,  by  carefully 
cutting  out  all  the  eyes  from  the  portion  which  is 
to  go  below  ground.  Bury  them  in  the  cellar  or 
open  ground,  if  it  is  not  frozen. 

Grape  Vines,  should  have  been  pruned  in  the 
Fall.  Those  neglected  then,  should  be  trimmed  as 
early  as  possible  now. 

Fences. — Repair  and  make  proof  against  stray 
animals.  Sec  that  the  gates  have  fastenings  and  will 
Bwing  without  dragging.  A  few  nails  driven  in 
time  will  often  prevent  much  trouble. 

Hot-beds  for  the  family  garden  had  better  be 
left  till  next  month,  except  at  the  South.  See  that 
frames  and  sash  are  in  readiness,  and  do  all  paint- 
ing and  glazing  in  season :  read  note  for  last  month. 

Horseradish. — Dig  wherever  the  frost  will  allow. 
If  more  is  taken  up  than  can  be  marketed  or  used, 
cover  with  sand,  to  prevent  wilting.  If  a  new  bed 
is  needed,  save  the  crowns  for  planting  out. 

Manure, — Have  a  supply  of  stable  manure 
ready  against  the  time  for  making  hotbeds.  See 
that  fertilizers  from  every  source  are  saved.  Com- 
post heaps  should  be  turned  over  and  well  mixed. 
For  large  gardens  manure  may  be  carted  to  the 
places  where  it  i6  to  be  used,  and  placed  in  heaps. 

Pea  Brush  and  Bean  Poles  should  be  provided  in 
sufficient  quantities  to  meet  all  anticipated  de- 
mands. The  old  stock  that  has  been  exposed  to 
the  weather,  had  better  be  burned. 

Prune  currants  and  gooseberies,  if  neglected  in 
the  Fall— cut  judiciously  so  as  to  leave  the  bush 
well  balanced.  These  are  too  valuable  to  be  absent 
from  any  farm  or  other  garden. 

Rhubarb. — If  new  plantations  are  needed,  make 
preparations  to  operate  as  soon  as  the  ground  can 
lie  worked,  or  the  plants  will  get  the  start  of  you. 
Give  room  enough ;  4  feet  each  way  is  none  too 
much.  Give  plenty  of  manure ;  there  is  no  danger 
of  over-feeding.  Remove  the  earth  from  the 
crown  of  the  old  plants,  and  take  off  with  a  sharp 
spade  a  bud  with  a  portion  of  root  attached.  The 
roots  are  very  brittle,  and  should  be  handled  with 
care.  Get  early  supplies  by  placing  a  few  roots  in 
boxes  of  earth  in  the  green-house,  or  by  covering 
some  of  the  plants  in  the  bed,  with  a  box  or  barrel 
open  at  both  ends.  Fresh  stable  manure  is  piled 
around  this,  and  the  heat  will  soor  cause  the  plants 
to  start.  The  box  or  barrel  should  only  be  covered 
when  there  is  danger  of  frost.  If  roots  are  not 
accessible,  try  the  seed  from  our  free  distribution. 

Seeds.— Overhaul  and  supply  deficiencies— send 
orders  to  the  seedsmen  early.  Those  who  can  af- 
ford it,  can  try,  as  wo  have  done  for  some  years, 
every  novelty  that  is  offered.    For  the  guidance  of 


those  who  have  had  no  experience,  a  list  is  given 
on  another  page,  of  the  varieties  we  have  fouud  to 
be  of  good  quality.  Better  be  at  a  little  trouble  to 
obtain  seeds  from  reliable  sources,  than  to  buy  from 
irresponsible  peddlers,  who  too  often  carry  old  seed 
around,  because  they  can  buy  it  cheap.  If  a  large 
stock  of  some  favorite  variety  was  secured  from 
the  garden  last  year,  distribute  freely  to  the  neigh- 
bors and  thus  encourage  raising  good  vegetables. 

Seed  Brill. — No  garden  of  any  considerable  size 
should  be  without  a  machine  for  sowing  seeds. 
Planting  large  patches  by  hand  is  slow  and  baek- 
aching  work,  and  it  is  not  done  as  well  as  by  a 
proper  machine.  There  are  several  contrivances 
for  the  purpose.  We  have  used  the  "  Wethersfield 
Seed  Sower  "    for  several  years,  with  satisfaction. 

Tools. — Make  all  needed  repairs  now.  Get  out 
an  extra  supply  of  hoe  aud  rata  handles,  unless  it 
is  cheaper  to  buy  them.  Paint  all  the  wooden  parts 
which  need  it,  and  have  everything  in  readiness. 
In  purchasing  new  tools  get  the  best,  at  any  price.  A 
few  hours  of  time  gained  will  well  repay  the  differ- 
ence in  cost  between  a  good  and  poor  implement. 


Flower  Garden  and  Lawn. 

Unless  the  weather  is  mild  enough  to  admit  of 
transplanting,  but  little  work  can  be  done  in  these 
grounds.  Still  they  should  be  watched  to  see  that 
any  damage  from  winds  or  snow  be  avoided  or  re- 
medied. The  borders  present  a  dreary  appearance 
at  this  season.  Recollect  in  the  planting  season  to 
provide  against  this,  especially  if  they  are  where 
they  are  visible  from  the  house.  The  borders  may 
be  made  to  wear  a  cheerful  look,  even  in  Winter,  by 
a  judicious  introduction  of  evergreen  shrubbery, 
the  foliage  of  which  will  set  off  the  flowers  in 
Summer,  and  be  pleasant  to  look  upon  in  Winter. 
The  Holly-leaved  Barberry.Rhododendrons,  Tree 
Box,  Laurel,  Daphne  Cneorum,  and  others,  accord- 
ing to  the  locality,  may  be  used.  Make  all  project- 
ed improvements  on  paper,  aud  if  the  place  is  large, 
and  the  means  warrant  it,  call  in  the  services  of  a 
landscape  gardener. 

Cold  Frames  need  to  be  properly  ventilated. 
Give  water  only  when  absolutely  necessary ;  remove 
decayed  leaves.  Guard  against  the  entrance  of 
mice,  aud  cover  from  frost  in  cold  weather. 

Evergreens — See  that  the  branches  are  not  broken* 
down  by  accumulations  of  snow.  Large  snow  banks 
will  be  apt  to  break  the  lower  branches  as  they 
settle;  avoid  this  by  shoveling  away. 

Hot-beds. — Make  all  necessary  preparation.  Where 
early  annuals  are  wanted,  they  may  be  started  in 
the  latter  part  of  this  month,  but  it  is  better  to 
wait  until  the  next 

Labels  and  Stakes. — Prepare  an  ample  supply 
during  the  stormy  days. 

Manures   may  be    collected    and  carted   out. 

Protection. — Inexperienced  persons  are  apt  to  re- 
move this  as  soon  as  they  think  the  severity  of 
winter  has  passed.  Many  things  require  protec- 
tion, not  on  account  of  the  severe  cold  of  our  cli- 
mate, but  from  the  sudd<jp  alternations  of  heat  aud 
cold  in  Spring.  If  the  straw  or  other  covering  has 
been  torn  off  by  the  wind,  have  it  replaced.  A 
warm  spell  this  month  may  induce  some  things  to 
start  too  early.  Shade  these  from  the  sun.  See 
article  on  straw  mats  p.   49. 

Shrubbery — Have  an  eye  to  it  after  a  heavy  fall 
of  snow.  In  mild  weather  pruning  may  be  done. 
Pruning  does  not  mean  an  indiscriminate  cutting 
at  a  bush.  Those  shrubs  which  flower  on  the  new 
wood,  should  be  cut  in  a  way  to  induce  a  vigorous 
new  growth.  Many  flower  ouly  on  the  wood  of  the 
previous  year,  and  should  be  only  sparingly  thin- 
ned when  the  branches  are  too  crowded. 

Transplant  shrubs  and  deciduous  trees  whenever 
the  ground  is  in  suitable  condition  for  working. 
Determine  beforehand,  what  the  effect  will  be,  be- 
fore you  plant  out  or  remove  a  tree  or  shrub. 

Trellises.— Repair  old  and  make  new  ones.     If 


disposed  to  try  your  hand  at  ornamental  work, 
choose  simple  and  graceful  forms  rather  than  elab- 
orate ones.  Study  what  the  effect  will  be  when 
covered  with  vines. 


Green-Houses. 

These  will  require  but  little  to  be  done  beyond 
what  was  indicated  last  month.  Now  that  warm 
days  are  likely  to  occur,  care  should  be  taken  to  air 
freely.  The  temperature  should  be  maintained  as 
uniform  as  possible,  and  should  never  get  above 
45°,  where  plants  are  merely  kept,  not  growing  at 
present.  In  case  of  a  cold  spell,  fire  heat  will  be 
needed.    In  giving  air  be  careful  to  avoid  a  draft. 

Bulbs  which  are  growing,  should  be  placed  near 
the  glass,  to  secure  healthy  growth  and  strong  bloom. 

Decayed  Leaves. — These  should  be  carefully  re- 
moved, as  they  are  not  only  hurtful  to  the  plants, 
but  detract  from  the  neat  appearance  of  the  house. 

Insects. — Keep  up  a  constant  war  upon  these,  by 
fumigation  with  tobacco,  solution  of  whale  oil  soap, 
and  other  destroying  agents. 

Mice. — These  often  cause  great  trouble  in  the 
green-house ;  they  are  very  fond  of  carnations  and 
mauy  bulbs.     Set  traps  or  keep  a  cat. 

Prune  plants  which  need  to  be  brought  into  shape. 

Repot  all  plants  needing  it.  Have  plenty  of  earth 
and  drainage  material  always  in  readiness. 

Top-Dressing.— Loosen  the  surface  of  the  soil  in 
the  pots,  and  where  it  is  moss-covered,  replace  it 
with  fresh  earth. 

Water. — Use  but  sparingly,  increasing  the  quan- 
tity as  the  plants  commence  to  grow. 


Hot  House  and  Conservatory. 

If  the  weather  continues  as  variable  as  it  has 
been,  extra  care  will  be  required  to  maintain  a 
proper  temperature.  The  sun's  rays  have  now  be- 
come more  powerful,  and  as  many  plants  have  com- 
menced a  vigorous  growth,  great  care  should  be 
taken  to   prevent  checking  this  by  a  sudden   cold. 

Air  should  be  admitted  by  the  upper  ventilators 
whenever  the  thermometer  shows  a  temperature  of 
75"  or  80° — currents  of  cold  air  should  be  avoided. 

Annuals.— Those  required  for  early  planting  or 
for  growing  iu  pots,  may  be  sowed,  such  as  Balsams, 
Rhodanthe,  Nemophilas,  Leptosiphons,  Cobea, 
Maurandia,  etc. 

Azaleas  are  now  in  flower,  and  require  more 
water  and  frequent  syringing.  Young  plants  should 
be  repotted. 

Bedding  Plants. — A  good  stock  of  these  should 
be  propagated.  Verbenas,  Petunias,  Pelargoniums, 
Ageratums,  Gazanias,  Lantanas,  and  the  like,  will 
be  in  large  demand  at  the  season  for  planting  out. 

Bulbs. — A  constant  sueceession  of  bloom  6hould 
be  kept  up  by  bringing  in  from  the  reserve  stock 
in  the  green  house. 

Camellias. — -These  should  now  be  rewarding  the 
care  of  the  cultivator  by  abundance  of  flowers. 
Keep  the  foliage  clean,  but  avoid  wetting  the  pe- 
tals.   Look  out  for  the  red  spider. 

Carnations,  need  turning  frequently  to  prevent 
them  from  drawing  over  towards  the  light.  Give 
water  more  freely.    Propagate  by  cuttings. 

Fuschias. — These  are  now  pushing  their  growth, 
and  require  an  increased  amount  of  water.  Put  in 
cuttings — especially  of  hardier  kinds  for  bedding. 

Insects  need  watching  to  prevent  them  beeorn- 
ing  "masters  of  the  situation."  Freedom  here  is 
only  preserved  by  eternal  vigilance. 

Pelargoniums  need  more  water  now  that  they  ore 
growing.  Cuttings  may  be  made.  If  attacked  by 
the  green  fly,  they  need  fumigation. 

Repotting. — This  will  be  necessary  with  quick 
growing  plants.  Gloxinias,  Gesncrias,  and  others, 
require  plenty  of  pot  room  in  order  to  flower  welL 


36 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[February, 


Verbenas  intended  to  flower  in  pots,  will  need 
their  final  shifting. 

Syringe  often  to  niaintain  proper  moisture  in 
the  atmosphere.    Wet  the  walks  if  the  air  be  dry. 

Water,  should  be  given  according  to  the  demands 
made  by  the  foliage.  Recollect  that  an  excess  is 
as  injurious  as  too  little.  Avoid  the  use  of  wa- 
ter colder  than  the  air  of  the  house. 


Grapery  and  Orchard-House. 

In  this  latitude,  cold  graperies  and  orchard  houses 
will  require  little  attention  duriug  the  present 
mouth.  The  temperature  should  be  kept  low,  and 
injury  from  dampness  guarded  against.  In  houses 
where  a  moderate  heat  is  employed,  the  vines  may  be 
put  up  and  the  inside  borders  watered  with  liquid 
manure.  When  growth  commences,  it  should  be 
followed  up  by  judicious  pinching  in.  Sprinkle  oc- 
casionally, and  keep  the  temperature  at  45°  or  50°. 
In  forcing  houses  the  vines  are  in  all  conditions  of 
forwardness,  and  it  is  not  possible  to  give  particu- 
lar monthly  directions  for  these. 

Apiary  in  February- 
Observe  the  directions  given  last  month.  Suffi- 
cient veutilation  should  be  allowed,  and  the  air  pas- 
sages kept  open.  During  the  warm  days,  the  bees 
Will  be  disposed  to  fly,  and  they  should  be  permit- 
ted to  do  so,  except  where  there  is  newly  fallen 
suow.  Weak  hives  should  be  protected  against  the 
raids  of  marauders,  by  closing  the  entrance  so  as  to 
allow  but  a  single  bee  to  pass  at  a  time.  Cleanli- 
ness should  be  preserved  by  sweeping  off  the  floors  ; 
thus  saving  the  bees  the  labor  of  removing  the  rub- 
bish themselves.  Guard  against  vermin  as  directed 
last  month.  If  a  new  bee-house  is  to  be  built,  it 
should  be  done  during  the  fine  days  of  the  present 
mouth.  This  is  the  proper  time  to  purchase  bees  ; 
the  hives  are  most  readily  brought  home  when  there 
is  snow  upon  the  ground.  Hives  weighing  from 
35  to  40  pounds  arc  to  be  preferred  to  heavier  ones, 
provided  there  is  a  good  cluster  of  bees.  The  hive 
should  be  carried  upon  a  spring  wagon  or  sleigh, 
and  should  be  inverted.  A  piece  of  thin  muslin  is 
to  be  tacked  over  the  mouth  of  the  hive.  When 
they  are  placed  upon  the  stand,  the  hives  should 
be  at  least  4  feet  apart ;  six  feet  would  be  better. 
Weak  swarms  need  to  be  fed.  It  is  best  to  take  the 
hive  to  a  dark  warm  room,  and  place  the  honey 
where  the  bees  will  be  sure  to  find  it, 

-*-• ^*+m      *-» 

Selection  of  Garden  Vegetables. 


The  following  list  is  given  to  aid  novices  in  gar- 
dening, in  making  a  selection.  Many  in  looking 
over  a  large  seed  catalogue,  arc  apt  to  be  confused 
with  the  great  number  of  varieties  presented  to 
their  choice,  and  we  euumerate  such  as  we  know 
from  experience  to  be  good  of  their  kind,  and  wor- 
thy of  cultivation.  Those  marked  with  a  *  are  on 
our  list  of  seeds  for  free  distribution : 

Beans,  Dwarf  or  Bush.— Early  Valentine,  for  string 
or  snaps;  Yellow  Six  Weeks,  do.  do. ;  Dwarf  Horticul- 
tural, for  early  shelling. 

Pole  Beans.— Large  Lima,  In  warm  locations;  Small 
Lima,  North  of  New-York. 

Beets.— Early  Bassano",  fine  and  early  ;  Long  Blood, 
for  main  crop  ;  Swiss  Chard,  fine  for  greens  only. 

Cabbage.— Early  York,  small  but  early  ;  Early  Sugar 
Loaf*,  large  and  early  ;  Early  Ox  Heart,  do,  do.  ;  Win- 
ningstadt,  medium  early,  large,  very  hard  heads;  Flat 
Dutch*,  for  Winter;  Red  Dutch*,  for  pickles;  Marble- 
head  Drumhead,  very  large  ;  Green  Globe  Savoy,  small 
and  late,  the  richest  of  cabbages, 

Carrots.— Early  Horn*;  Long  Orange*,  for  main  crop. 

Cauliflower.— Early  Paris, fine;  Thorburn's  Nonpa- 
reil, superb ;  Large  Asiatic,  fine,  late. 

Celery.— Early  White  Solid,  for  earliest ;  Giant  White 
Solid,  for  late  crops. 

Corn.— Dwarf  Sugar,  small  ears,  4  feet  high  ;  Darling's 
Early*,  good;  Stowell's  Evergreen*,  fine  late. 

Cucumbers.— Early  Russian,  small,  early,  and  prolific  ; 
White  Spined,  best  for  table  ;  Long  Green,  for  pickle?. 

Eqo  Plant.— Long  Purple*,  earliest;  N.  Y.  Purple, 
Urge,  but  late. 

Endive.— Green  Curlod,  for  Summer  aad  Fall  salads. 


Kale.— Green  Curled  Scotch*, winter  and  spring  greens. 

Kohl  Rabi*. 

Leek.— Large  Flag,  for  soups. 

Lettuce.— Curled  Silcsian,  for  earliest ;  Neapolitan*, 
large  and  solid;  Ice  Drumhead,  fine;  Butter,  superior. 

Muskmelon.— Fine  Nutmeg",  see  Seed  List,  Jan.  No., 
p.  4;  Jenny  Lind,  very  early  ;  Green  Persian,  large  and 
good  ;  White  Japan,  the  best. 

Watermelon. — Mountain  Sprout,  productive  and  ear- 
ly ;  Ice  Cream*,  very  fine  ;  Black  Spanish,  fine  but  later. 

Onion.— Large  Red  ;  White  Portugal. 

Parsneps. — Hollow  Crowned*. 

Peas. — Princess,  extra  early  and  fine,  2X  feet;  Daniel 
O'Rourke*,  do.  do.  do.  j  Tom  Thumb,  productive,  8  to  10 
inches  ;  Bishop's  Long  Rod,  fine  dwarf,  18  inches  ;  Cham- 
pion of  England*,  for  main  crop,  5  feet ;  White  Marrow- 
fat, later  and  fine,  5  feet. 

Peppers. — Squash  for  pickling;  Sweet  Mountain,  for 
stuffed  pickles. 

Potatoes. — Ash  Leaf  Kidney,  early,  productive,  and 
good;  Early  Shaw,  early,  productive,  and  good. 

Radishes. — Early  Scarlet  Turnip*  ;  Long  Scarlet 
Short  Top. 

Salsify. — Vegetable  Oyster. 

Spinach. — Round  Leaved*,  for  early ;  Prickly,  for 
wintering  over. 

Squashes.— Summer  Crookneck,  best  early;  White 
Scalloped  Bush,  early  and  productive  ;  Boston  Marrow, 
Fall  and  early  Winter;  Hubbard*,  fine  keeping;  Vow- 
Vow,  new  and  fine. 

Tomatoes.— Large  Round  Smooth,  early;  Fejee,  or 
Italian*,  fine  and  productive  ;  Pear  Shaped,  for  preserves, 
etc. ;  French  Tree,  late,  stocky,  curious. 

Turnips.— Early  Dutch,  very  early  ;  Red  Top  Strap- 
leaf*,  for  Spring  and  Fall  ;  Yellow  Swedish,  or  Ruta 
Baga,  for  keeping. 

Winter  Cherry. — For  sauce  and  preserves. 


^> 

Containing  a  great  variety  of  Items,  including  many 
good  Hints  and  Suggestions  which  we  give  in  small  type 
and  condensed  form  for  want  of  space  elsewhere. 

Another  Agriculturist   Editor. — We 

are  glad  to  be  able  to  announce  that  the  readers  of  the 
American  Agriculturist  will  hereafter  enjoy  the  benefit  of 
the  constant  labors  of  Prof.  Geo.  Thurber,  in  addition  to 
the  previous  editorial  force.  Prof.  Thurber  is  well  known 
as  an  efficient  Botanist  and  Naturalist,  engaged  by  the 
Government  during  the  extended  Boundary  Survey  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  Mexico  in  1850  to  1853;  as 
Editor  of  that  valuable  work,  "American  Weeds  and 
Useful  Plants  ;"  and  during  three  years  past  as  Professor 
of  Botany  and  Horticulture  in  the  Michigan  Slate  Agri 
cultural  College.  Some  years  since  we  solicited  from 
Dr.  Gray  a  series  of  elementary  articles  on  plants,  of  a 
popular  and  useful  character.  His  reply  was,  that  his 
engagements  did  not  admit  of  it,  or  he  would  gladly  ac- 
cede to  our  request,  but  that  Mr.  Thurber  could  execute 
the  work  better  than  any  other  one  he  knew  of.  We 
were  then  unable  to  secure  the  desired  aid,  but  as  soon 
as  our  new  associate  gets  vvell  into  the  editorial  harness, 
we  shall  feel  relieved  of  some  labor  at  least,  and  our 
readers  will  doubtless  be  profited.— O.J. 

Advertisements,  "Tineland  Lands." 

— Several  subscribers  write  asking  if  they  are  to  under- 
stand the  admission  of  the  Advertisement  of  the  "  Vine- 
land  Lands,"  as  an  endorsement  from  us  of  all  that  is 
claimed  for  them.  We  answer,  No,  we  do  not  endorse 
this  nor  any  other  advertisement,  unless  it  be  specially 
done  in  an  editorial-  notice.  If  we  could  visit  every 
plot  of  ground  offered  for  sale,  and  thoroughly  examine 
the  soil,  the  title,  etc.;  if  we  could  look  Into  every  adver- 
tiser's books,  and  mode  of  doing  business*,  if  we  could  in 
spect  every  tree  and  plant  and  other  thing  advertised,  then 
we  might  give  a  general  endorsement.  Our  rule  is:  to 
exclude  advertisements  of  articles  or  enterprises,  known 
or  supposed  to  be  humbugs,  though  such  usually  can  af- 
ford to,  and  do  offer  the  best  pay;  all  patent  medicine 
nuisances  ;  advertisements  from  unknown  parties,  unless 
they  furnish  references  of  their  integrity  ;  also  from  those 
who  by  public  repute,  or  from  our  own  knowledge,  are 
suspected  of  dealing  dishonestly  with  their  customers. 
Our  aim  is  to  try  to  shield  our  readers  from  Imposition 
and  deception,  even  in  the  advertising  pages  as  well  as 
In  the  editorial  columns.  From  the  nature  of  the  case, 
however,  we  can  not  always  thoroughly  sift  all  that  goes 
into  the  business  pages,  though  we  believe  the  censor- 
ship in  this  department  Is  quite  as  rigid  as  that  of  any 
other  journal,  not  excepting  the  professedly  religious 
press,— In  regard  to  "  Vlneland,"  as  slated  In  November, 


we  have  not  found  it  practicable  to  visit  or  examine  the 
locality  in  person  but  hope  to  do  so  when  the  growing 
season  comes  round.  After  considerable  inquiry  we  found 
no  reason  for  excluding  the  advertisement,  and  therefore 
admitted  It. 


The   Fruit    Grower*'  itleetings    arc 

increasing  in  interest.  Except  at  the  Biennial  gathering 
of  the  American  Pomological  Society,  we  never  before 
saw  together  so  large  an  assemblage  of  real  fruit  talent, 
with  so  little  of  charlatanism,  as  at  the  meeting  held  at 
the  Agriculturist  Office  on  Jan.  Sth.  The  meeting  on  the 
16th  was  also  well  attended,  notwithstanding  the  rain 
storm.  A  President  is  appointed  at  each  meeting  for  the 
next  week,  who  culls  the  assembly  to  order,  and  takes 
charge  for  the  day.  Specimens  of  fruit,  etc.,  are  brought 
in  and  tried  and  discussed  ;  committees  report  on  the  best 
varieties  for  culture,  and  their  reports  are  thoroughly 
canvassed;  modes  of  cultivation,  etc.,  are  talked  over. 
In  short,  anything  pertaining  to  fruit  growers,  and  kindred 
topics,  is  in  order.  It  is  not  a  good  place  to  introduce  and 
advertise  any  man's  personal  hobby,  though  anything  of 
a  valuable  or  promising  character  is  fairly  treated.  The 
discussions  are  in  the  form  of  familiar  conversation.  We 
cannot  lind  room  for  full  reports;  all  said  at  any  one 
meeting  would  fill  half  a  number  of  this  journal.  The 
results  arrived  at  we  will  endeavor  to  give,  from  time  to 
time,  with  occasional  more  detailed  reports.  A  brief  re- 
port is  given  on  page  51,  and  another  one  of  the  meeting, 
on  Jan.  15,  is  crowded  out  from  this  number. 

Another  Monster  Caliiornia  Pear. 

—Every  one  doubtless  remembers  the  excitement  over  the 
great  California  pear  produced  a  few  years  ago,  in  the 
orchard  of  E.  L.  Beard,  Esq.,  at  San  Jose  Mission  ;  its 
weight  was  over  three  pounds.  Rev.  Dr.  Bellows,  Pres- 
ident of  the  Sanitary  Commission,  has  just  received  no, 
tice,  via  overland  mail,  that  another  pear,  from  the  same 
tree,  weighing  an  ounce  more  than  the  former  one,  has 
been  forwarded  to  him  by  the  steamer  leaving  San  Fran- 
cisco Dec.  20,  together  with  other  interesting  horticul- 
tural products.  Dr.  Bellows  has  kindly  proposed  to  place 
the  pear,  etc.,  on  public,  exhibition  at  the  office  of  the 
American  Agriculturist,  instructing  us  to  receive  the 
package  from  the  Express  Office  on  its  arrival.  We  shall 
look  for  it  with  interest,  but  the  steamer  is  already  several 
days  over-due,  and  we  fear  it  may  have  met  with  some 
mishap — perhaps  fallen  a  prey  to  the  piratical  "Ala- 
bama." If  the  box  reaches  us  safely,  the  fast  will  be  an- 
nounced in  the  daily  papers  of  the  city.  The  interest  Dr. 
Bellows  has  taken  in  the  welfare  of  our  soldiers,  and  the 
pleasant  interchange  of  courtesies  in  connection  with  the 
munificent  gifts  of  the  Golden  Slate  to  the  Sanitary  Com- 
mission, has  doubtless  led  to  the  sending  of  these  inter- 
esting horticultural  products  to  him. 


Agricultural    College    of  Pennsyl* 

vauia,— We  have  received  the  Fourth  Annual  Cata- 
logue of  this  Institution.  The  Faculty  consists  of  five 
professors  with  two  assistants.  Besides  these  there  are 
several  superintendents  in  charge  of  the  farm,  garden, 
and  other  departments.  During  the  last  session  it  has 
had  1 10  students,  nine  of  whom  graduated.  Upon  look- 
ing over  the  titles  of  the  theses  of  the  graduates,  we  find 
that  they  are  all  upon  subjects  relating  to  practical  agri- 
culture. The  catalogue  gives  the  standing  of  each  stu- 
dent in  the  different  studies,  and  also  in  manual  labor. 
The  officers  of  the  College  feel  encouraged  at  their  suc- 
cess thus  far.  The  next  session  opens  on  the  18th  of 
February.  The  terms  are  $100  in  advance  for  board, 
washing  and  tuition  for  a  term  of  ten  months.  Letters 
of  inquiry  should  be  addressed  to  Dr.  E.  Pugh,  Agricul- 
tural College,  Center  Co.,  Penn. 

Humbugs  to  he  Avoided.— Just  at  this 
season,  or  a  little  later,  there  usually  appear  extensive 
advertisements  and  printed  circulars  without  number, 
announcing  new  seeds,  "Egyptian  Corn,"  "Japanese 
Wheat,"  "  Tasmanian  Oats,"  "  Tree  Cotton,"  "  Northern 
Coffee,"  etc.,  etc.  It  will  be  safe  to  Jet  somebody  else  go 
into  Ihe  speculation  and  make  his  fortune  first.  Last  year 
a  new  Agricultural  paper  was  started  in  this  city,  claim- 
ing great  age,  and  offering  unprecedented  premiums  to 
Postmasters  and  others,  and  a  few  numbers  were  issued. 
We  judge,  from  the  numerous  inquiries  addressed  to  us, 
that  a  good  many  did  not  get  the  premiums,  did  not  get 
thepapers,  and  cannot  get  any  reply  to  letters  of  inquiry 
about  their  money.  Some  parties,  not  in  the  best  repute, 
are  buying  up  grape  vines,  refuse  trees,  old  seeds,  etc., 
and  offering  them  "dog  cheap."  or  for  no  money.  But 
the  varieties  of  humbugs  are  too  numerous  to  specify. 
The  better  way  is  to  buy  what  is  wanted,  of  parlies  of 
known  reliability.  The  new  plants  from  the  Old  World 
will  not  be  first  heard  of  from  an  out-ofthe-w  ay,  unsettled 
place  In  the  far  West— nor  always  from  New-York  City. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


37 


American  Short-horn  Herd  Book, 
Vol.  VI.— Owing  to  the  disturbed  condition  of  the 
country,  the  Vlh  Volume  of  this  standard  work  was  not 
called  for  so  extensively  as  expected,  and  the  compiler 
had  concluded  to  suspend  the  preparation  of  Volume  VI, 
for  the  present.  He  writes,  however,  that  numerous  ap- 
plications to  have  the  work  go  on,  have  been  received 
from  the  more  spirited  Short-horn  Breeders,  and  that  if  a 
sufficient  number  of  pedigrees  are  offered,  and  a  corre- 
sponding number  of  books  subscribed  for,  to  warrant  the 
undertaking,  the  Sixth  Volume  will  be  issued  as  soon  as 
the  pedigrees  can  be  received  and  compiled.  We  hope 
this  will  be  done  ;  it  would  be  a  pity  to  suspend  the  reg- 
ular biennial  issue.  The  temporary  depression  in  the 
value  of  this  noble  race  of  cattle  will  not  long  continue, 
and  the  purity  of  their  breeds,  and  the  perpetuation  of 
their  lineage  should  be  carefully  guarded.  Every  Short- 
horn breeder  is  interested  in  keeping  the  blood  and  line- 
age of  his  herd  on  an  indisputable  record.  The  form  and 
terms  of  application  will  be  the  same  as  hitherto",  and  we 
hope  every  one  interested  in  the  matter,  will  speedily 
communicate  with  the  Editor  of  the  work,  Hon.  Lewis 
F.  Allen,  Black  Rock,  Erie  County,  N.  Y. 


Mangers  Dangerous    to    E&orses. — 

"  S.  E.  G.,"  Norwich,  Conn.,  writes  that  the  manger  for 
ahorse  should  be  boarded  down  to  the  floor,  to  prevent 
the  possibility  of  injury  to  the  animal  by  getting  his  head 
underneath  it.  The  lack  of  such  a  precaution  cost  him 
the  eye  of  a  valuable  horse,  and  three  of  his  neighbors 
had  their  horses'  heads  caught  fast  under  the  manger. 

Xo  Prevent  Over-reaching.— S.  Ed- 
wards Todd,  in  tiie  Boston  Cultivator,  after  having  tried 
the  plan  successfully,  recommends  to  hold  up  the  head  of 
over-reaching  horses  with  a  check  rein.  This  he  says 
throws  the  center  of  gravity  of  the  animal  further  back, 
gives  more  work  for  the  hind  legs  to  do,  hence  they  are 
not  thrown   forward  against  the  heels  of  the  front  shoes. 

Many  I*5gs. — A  correspondent  writes  that 
I.  J.  Halsted,  Douglass  Co.,  III.,  owns  a  sow  that  brought 
forth  19  pigs  on  the  18th  of  December  last.  He  asks 
"  Who  can  beat  it  ?"  The  same  mail  brings  a  letter  from 
Wm.  B,  Lord,  Kendall  Co.,  III.,  saying  that  he  knew  a 
sow  in  Windham,  Conn.,  which  had  three  litters  between 
April  4th  1848,  and  March  1st  1849,  numbering  17,  23,  and 
27! — 67  pigs  in  11  months!!!  That's  the  biggest  record 
yei; ;  to  beat  it,  some  one  will  have  to  invent  a  story. 

Pumpkin  Seeds  Medicinal.— u  J.    L. 

R.,"  Jefferson  Co.,  N.  Y.,  inquires  why  Pumpkin  Seeds 
are  more  injurious  to  cattle  than  sorghum,  green  clover, 
etc.,  which  also  increase  the  amount  of  urine.  For  the 
reason  that  the  seeds  contain  a  medicinal  principle  which 
stimulates  the  kidneys,  thereby  causing  an  unnatural  se- 
cretion of.urine  from  the  blood.  They  are  often  used  as 
a  diuretic  in  domestic  practice.  Succulent  plants,  as 
sorghum,  etc.,  probably  cause  increased  flow  of  urine, 
because  of  the  large  amount  of  water  they  contain. 


Poultry  Wanted.— We  have  frequent  in- 
quiries for  fowls  of  different  breeds,  from  those  wishing  to 
purchase,  which  we  are  often  unable  to  answer,  for  want 
of  time  or  of  information  as  to  where  they  can  be  procured. 
Those  engaged  in  raising  them  for  sale  should  advertise. 


I>rills  Better  than  Hills.— T.  J.  Hol- 
lingsworth,  Armstrong  Co.,  Pa.,  writes:  Last  Spring  I 
plowed  nearly  2  acres  of  sod.  part  of  which  was  mostly 
sorrel.  I  marked  out  the  rows  about  3  feet  apart.  As  an 
experiment,  we  planted  8  rows  in  drills,  the  grains  one 
foot  apart.  We  also  had  8  rows  on  each  side  planted  in 
hills  3  feet  apart  and  3  grains  in  a  hill.  All  received  the 
same  cultivation.  At  husking  the  8  rows  planted  in  drills 
turned  out  10)4  bushels  of  corn,  the  other  16  rows— 8  on 
each  side,  turned  out  8  and  9  bushels  respectively. 


fl.oam    for  Composting,***"  R.   G."     If 

dried  peat  or  muck  is  not  at  hand,  use  virgin  loam,  as  dry 
as  possible,  to  mix  with  your  putrescent  manures.  For 
a  worn  out  soil,  this  simple  loam  is  worth  carting  a  long 
distance.  Spread  this  alone  upon  a  rod  square  of  poor 
pasture  land  in  the  Spring,  and  its  effects  will  be  visible 
all  Summer  —  It  is  doubtful  whether  night-soil  disinfect- 
ed by  sulphuric  acid  or  sulphate  of  iron,  etc.,  will  pro- 
duce as  good  and  reliable  a  manure,  as  when  mixed  half 
and  half  with  maiden  earth. 


Manure  tor  Ija.wns.-L.  D.  Peters,  Cha- 
tauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  constant  mowing  of  the  grass 
upon  lawns  makes  it  necessary  to  replenish  it  with  ma- 
nure. Yet  neanly  ail  manures  bring  in  foul  weeds  and 
coarse  grasses.  To  meet  this  difficulty,  some  gardeners 
use  soot,  scattering  it  broadcast  and   very  thinly,  in  the 


Spring.  It  is  a  powerful  agent  and  should  be  used  cau- 
tiously. Worms  can  not  abide  it.  Charcoal  dust  may  also 
be  used  to  great  advantage,  and  with  more  safety.  This 
and  ashes  should  be  applied  in  the  Fall,  so  that  the  snow 
and  rain  may  wash  down  the  gritty  particles  below  the 
reach  of  the  scythe. 


Northern  EJ ice. — We  have  had  several  in- 
quiries for  rice  which  can  be  grown  at  the  north.  A 
species  which  grows  in  India  upon  drylands  and  upon 
the  sides  of  mountains  has  been  successfully  cultivated 
in  some  parts  of  Europe.  We  do  not  know  that  it  has 
yet  been  introduced  into  this  country.  It  is  a  subject 
which  might  well  receive  the  attention  of  the  Department 
of  Agriculture  at  Washington.  The  "  Minnesota  Rice  " 
is  a  native  plant  which  is  not  confined  to  Minnesota,  but 
grows  along  the  margins  of  rivers  and  in  flooded  locali- 
ties, all  over  the  country.  It  is  known  as  "  Wild  Rice  " 
(Zizania  aquatica),  is  a  favorite  food  of  birds  and  of 
the  northern  Indians,  wiio  collect  it  in  large  quantities. 

Chichory.— C.  Allison,  Jackson  Co.,  O.  The 
seeds  of  Chickory,  or  wild  endives  as  it  is  sometimes 
called,  are  to  be  had  at  the  seed  stores.  It  is  cultivated 
in  deeply  worked  soil  in  rows  12  or  15  inches  apart,  and 
thinned  to  8  inches  in  the  row.  The  plant  being  a  bien- 
nial, enough  roots  should  be  left  in  the  ground  to  produce 
seed  the  second  year.  When  allowed  to  escape  from 
cultivation  it  proves  a  troublesome  weed. 


Qnach  Grass. — A.  T.  Nortbup,  Otsego  Co., 
N.  Y.  The  plant  known  by  this  name,  in  this  country, 
has  a  head  somewhat  like  wheat,  sometimes  with  a  short 
beard,  and  at  others  beardless.  It  is  sketched  in  Flint's 
Grasses  and  Forage  Plants,  which  figures  and  describes 
many  useful  or  troublesome  grasses.    See  our  book  list. 


Cotton  from  Illinois. — Rev.  J.  A.  Bent, 
of  Washington  Co.,  III.,  sends  as  a  sample  of  his  crop, 
10  lbs,  of  unginned  cotton.  He  has  had  encouraging  suc- 
cess, and  thinks  that  in  his  latitude  the  cultivation  will 
pay.  when  ginned  cotton  will  bring  20  cents  per  lb.  The 
staple  of  the  sample  is  rather  short,  but  an  abundance  of 
this  quality  would  find  a  ready  market. 

Sorghum  Syrnp. — Very  fine  samples  of 
clear,  thick,  honey -like  syrup  are  on  our  exhibition  ta- 
bles, manufactured  from  cane  grown  by  John  Fleming, 
Hunterdon  Co.,  N.  J. 


diseased  Pear  Trees. — F.  "Walter,  Jay 
Co.,  Ind.  Your  tree  appears  to  be  troubled  by  the  leaf 
blight,  which  is  not  regarded  as  a  permanent  disease,  but 
caused  by  some  peculiarity  of  season.  It  usually  occurs 
after  a  long  warm  rain  followed  by  hot  sunshine. 


Pears— Soldat  lLaboreur,  anil  I>u- 
chesse  de  Berrl  d'Etc— "  F.  T.  R.,"  Ottawa  Co., 
Ohio.  The  former  is  considered,  when  well  grown,  one 
of  the  finest  pears  of  its  season— Oct.  and  ETov.  The 
latter  is  ripe  about  the  last  of  August ;  the  tree  is  a  free 
grower  and  bearer;  fruit  rather  small  but  sweet  and 
melting,  but  not  yet  sufficiently  tested  to  be  recommended 
for  general  cultivation.  Both  these  pears  are  described 
in  Downing's  Fruits  and  Fruit  Trees  of  America,  a  work 
which  should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  fruit  grower.  We 
can  still  supply  it,  post-paid,  for  $2,  which  is  very  cheap 
in  these  times  of  high-priced  paper,  for  an  illustrated 
standard  book  of  760  pages. 

Clay  tor  Frnit  Trees.— J.  J.  Joslin, 
Rutland  Co.,  Vt.,  asks:  "In  transplanting  fruit  trees  into 
a  gravelly  loam  with  coarse  gravel  subsoil,  will  a  bed  of 
clay  in  the  bottom  of  the  hole  be  beneficial?"  We  judge 
not.  It  would  be  likely  to  retain  too  much  water.  If 
danger  from  drouth  be  apprehended,  it  would  be  better 
to  thoroughly  mix  a  portion  of  clay  with  the  soil  in  which 
the  trees  are  to  be  set,  which  would  enable  it  to  hold  suf- 
ficient water  without  danger  of  too  great  accumulation. 
Mulching  around  the  tree  as  far  as  the  roots  extend  will 
aid  in  keeping  a  supply  of  moisture. 


Isahella  drapes  in  "Winter. — Next  to 
Dr.  Underbill's,  perhaps  no  Isabella  grapes  are  better 
known  than  those  produced  by  E.  A.  McKay,  of  Naples, 
Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.  That  locality  and  soil  seem  to  be 
peculiarly  adapted  to  this  old  standard  native  variety. 
On  January  2d,  we  received  from  Mr.  McKay's  city  agents 
(Haley  «fc  Sayre),  a  box  of  the  grapes  In  a  good  state  of 
preservation,  and  which  would  be  hard  to  excel  in  flavor, 
and  especially  in  the  size  of  the  clusters,  and  largeness 
of  berry.  They  were  simply  laid  in  a  thick  paper  box, 
without  cotton  or  other  packing  material. 


Peach  on  Plum  Stochs.— J.  Webster, 
Marion  Co.,  III.  The  peach  grafted  on  the  plum  suc- 
ceeds much  better  in  cold  damp  soils  than  it  does  on  its 
own  roots.  The  wild  plum  is  successfully  used  and 
makes  a  very  hardy  stock.  The  peach  grown  on  plum 
stocks,  is  somewhat  dwarfed. 

Curculio—  A  NewRemedy.-A.P.  Rich- 
ardson, Norfolk  Co.,  Mass.,  thinks  that  his  success  in 
preventing  the  attacks  of  the  curculio  is  such  as  to  war- 
rant him  in  suggesting  his  plan  toothers.  As  soon  as 
the  trees  blossom,  their  trunks  are  surrounded  by  cotton 
saturated  with  Kerosene  oil.  This  is  placed  a  foot  or  two 
from  the  ground,  and  the  oil  is  renewed  once  or  twice  a 
week  as  long  as  the  curculio  continues  to  appear. 

Earth  Worms  in  an  Apple  'Free. — 
A  correspondent  at  Franklin,  N.  Y.,  writes  as  follows: 
"Standing  under  an  apple  tree,  I  discovered  a  rotten 
spot  in  the  trunk,  above  my  head,  where  a  limb  had  for- 
merly been  cut  off.  I  commenced  digging  out  the  rotten 
wood  with  my  knife,  when,  presently,  two  earth-worms 
fell  from  it.  How  came  they  there  ?"  A  bird  may  have 
inadvertently  dropped  one  in  a  crevice,  and  the  second 
one  may  be  its  progeny  ;  earth  containing  the  worms 
may  have  been  thrown  there.  In  absence  of  positive 
knowledge,  one  guess  is  about  as  good  as  another.  They 
certainly  did  not  originate  there  spontaneously. 

What  4* rapes  to  Plant.— Daniel  Chillas, 
Del.,  (and  several  other  inquirers,)  is  informed  that 
the  subject  of  grapes  is  under  consideration  by  the  Fruit 
Growers'  Meeting,  held  each  Thursday  at  the  office  of 
the  American  Agriculturist.  We  shall  publish  a  list  of 
the  varieties  they  fix  upon,  in  season  to  be  of  service  to 
those  who  intend  to  plant  next  Spring.  For  cheap  gra- 
peries see  Agriculturist  for  September,  1861,  p.  272. 


Wine  from  Grapes  Only. — At  the  re- 
cent session  of  the  Illinois  State  Horticultural  Society,  a 
committee,  to  whom  was  referred  the  consideration  of  the 
expediencyand  economy  of  making  Wine  from  Rhubarb 
or  Pie-Plant,  recommended  that  the  juice  of  the  Grape 
alone  be  designated  as  wine,  and  that  all  liquors,  the  result 
of  vegetable  compounds,  be  known  by  such  names  as  will 
not  be  likely  to  confound  them  with  grape  pi  oducts. 

Cncnmber  and  Tomato  Seeds.— S.  R. 

Parsons,  Maine.  These  seeds  may  be  readily  freed  from 
the  surrounding  mucilage  by  allowing  the  fruit  to  partial- 
ly decay.  If  placed  in  heaps  and  allowed  to  heat,  the 
seeds  would  be  injured.  The  best  way  is  to  place  them 
In  a  box  or  tub  and  keep  covered  with  water  until  suffi- 
ciently decayed  to  allow  the  seeds  to  be   washed  clean. 


Vegetable  ISonqnet. — This  must  be  seen 
to  be  appreciated.  A  finely  arranged  basket,  from  B. 
Stevens,  Washington  Market,  this  city,  represented  ca- 
mellias, roses,  dahlias,  etc.,  cut  from  vegetables.  A  tur- 
nip, beet,  carrot,  parsnep,  or  onion,  has  one  end  rounded 
off,  and  with  a  jack-knife,  petals  are  cut  out,  so  natural 
as  to  deceive  a  person  at  first  look.  The  different  color- 
ed flowers  are  then  neatly  arranged  in  a  fiat  turnip  scoop 
ed  out  for  a  basket,  and  with  a  few  green  leaves,  cran- 
berries, etc.,  tastefully  arranged,  they  form  an  interesting 
and  attractive  ornament.    They  soon  fade,  however. 

I>ahlias  and  Asters  from  Seed. — "  E. 

C.  P.,"  Caledonia  Co.,  Vt.,  says  that  where  dahlia  roots 
can  not  be  obtained,  many  have  fair  success  with  seeds.  A 
ten  cent  paper  furnished,  in  four  months  from  planting,  a 
number  of  very  perfect  varieties,as  well  as  many  worthless 
ones.  The  same  correspondent  adds  that  double  asters* 
which  generally  produce  very  few  seeds,  may  be  made  to 
seed  freely  by  pulling  out  some  of  the  center  florets  or 
petals,  as  they  are  often  improperly  called.  This  prac- 
tice gives  the  seeds  the  needed  room  to  develop. 

Mignonette  without    Fragrance. — 

S.  E.  Warner,  Fairfield  Co.,  Conn.  The  trouble  seems 
to  be  that  you  grow  it  on  too  rich  a  soil.  Use  more  sand, 
or  work  in  some  poor  earth,  and  the  Frenchman's  favor- 
ite plant  will  be  as  odoriferous  as  you  can  desire. 


Arranging-  Hyacinths. — John  D.  East- 
wood, Essex  Co.,  N.  J.  A  very  satisfactory  way,  Is  to 
prepare  a  circular  bed,  say  five  feet  in  diameter.  Set  the 
bulbs  in  circles,  one  color  to  a  circle,  and  the  bulbs  about 
three  Inches  apart.  Put  the  reds  in  the  outer  circle,  the 
whites  in  the  next,  and  the  blues  in  the  center.  Such  a 
bed  viewed  across  a  lawn,  has  a  very  striking  effect,  far 
superior  to  a  mere  melange  of  sorts  and  colors.  The 
ground  may  be  filled  with  annuals  or  bedding  plants,  as 
soon  as  the  foliage  of  the  hyacinth  decavs. 


88 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[FlSBIUJAItY, 


Cattle Trainping-Ciu'ious  Figures. 

— A  wild  heifer  belonging  in  the  neighboring  village,  that 
ought  to  have  been  "impounded"  for  sundry  previous 
misdemeanors,  ran  through  our  gate  the  other  day,  as  it 
was  opened  for  a  carriage  to  pass.  She  galloped  as  if 
mad,  up  and  down  the  garden,  over  the  beds  of  bulbs, 
across  the  lawn,  among  the  shrubbery  and  elsewhere.  We 
called  the  owner  to  account  for  letting  this  animal  loose 
for  the  third  time  contrary  to  Iaw,-and  pointed  to  her  deep 
footprints  that  spoiled  the  grass  and  plants  wherever  she 
stepped.  He  insisted  that  she  had  done  little  harm.  The 
incident  set  us  to  figuring  the  amount  of  injury  done  in 
this  case,  and  generally,  when  cattle  or  oilier  heavy 
animals  are  allowed  to  run  upon  meadows,  or  fields  of 
grain.  Suppose  a  cow  walks  once  around  a  square  field 
of  ten  acres,  taking  five  steps  to  a  rod,  and  making  a 
separate  track  with  each  foot.  If  the  foot  tramp  down 
or  spoil  a  surface  equal  to  six  inches  square,  the  single 
journey  round  will  injure  800  square  feet.  Nine  cattle 
going  three  times  round  would  spoil  half  an  acre!  Let 
the  arithmetical  reader  of  the  Agriculturist  carry  out 
these  figures,  learn  the  lesson  inculcated  by  them,  and 
act  accordingly,  especially  while  the  ground  is  soft,  as  it 
will  often  be  between  now  and  settled  weather  in  Spring. 


Too  mucli    Kindness    to  Sheep. — S. 

S.  Randall,  the  well-known  sheep  breeder  and  author, 
gives,  in  the  Country  Gentleman,  his  views  concerning  the 
great  mortality  among  young  Iambs  in  the  Spring  of  1862. 
In  many  sections,  particularly  of  Western  New-York, 
these  animals  appeared  to  be  wanting  in  physical  devel- 
opment at  their  birth,  and  thousands  died  in  a  short  time 
thereafter.  Mr  Randall  is  of  opinion  that  the  difficulty 
was  largely  owing  to  the  too  close  confinement  and  high 
feed  of  the  pregnant  ewes  during  the  month  of  February. 
Fullness  of  flesh  in  the  mother  is  unfavorable  to  the  well- 
being  of  the  offspring  before  birth.  They  should  be  strong 
and  healthy  but  not  fat.  It  is  recommended  to  allow  ani- 
mals in  this  condition,  succulent  food,  as  roots;  to  feed 
sparingly  with  grain,  and  not  to  crowd  them  in  poorly 
ventilated  sheds.  They  need  protection  from  storms,  par- 
tieularly  rain,  with  plenty  of  exercise  and  pure  air. 


Rabbits    In  Nursery  and  Orchard. 

L.  Vorles,  Madison  Co.,  III.  Trap  the  rabbits  and  make 
"  pot  pies"  of  them.  They  are  easily  caught  in  a  com- 
mon box  trap  with  sweet  apples  or  potatoes  for  bait,  or 
they  will  catch  themselves  without  bait  if  the  trap  is 
properly  arranged,  as  they  will  run  into  anything  that 
promises  them  shelter.  Where  trees  have  been  gnaw- 
ed by  rabbits,  bank  up  earth  about  them  or  bind  up  wilh 
clay  or  cow  manure. 


Fruit  Stoclf . — J.  H.  Creighton,  Zanesville,  O. 
The  Siberian  Crab  Is  of  too  slow  growth  to  make  a  good 
slock  for  the  apple.  The  pear  will  not  do  well  on  the 
common  or  Doucain  apple  stock. 


Fruit  Queries. — J.  Browncll,  Washington 
Co.,  Pa.  The  Bartlett  Pear  does  not  succeed  as  well  on 
the  quince  as  upon  the  pear  stock.  Apple  orchards  should 
be  pruned  where  the  limbs  are  crowded.  June  and  July 
are  the  best  months.  We  have  already  published  a  list 
of  pears,  and  shall  do  so  with  other  fruits,  as  soon  as  they 
can  be  determined  on.  Your  best  course  is  to  rely  upon 
the  judgment  of  successful  fruit  growers  in  your  district. 

Staking  Apple  Trees. — Subscriber,  Cof- 
fey Co.,  Kansas.  Doubtless  your  trees  might  be  staked 
without  injury  to  the  roots.  Trees  for  such  windy  coun- 
tries as  yours  should  be  grown  with  branches  very  low, 
in   the  nursery. 


Chenango     Strawberry     Apple. — T. 

II.,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.  This  is  not  much  known  at  the 
East.  One  of  our  best  pomologists  considers  it  a  good 
third-rate  apple,  but  worth  cultivating  on  account  of  its 
remarkably  fine  appearance. 

Trees  on  I*rairies. — Several  subscribers  in 
the  far  West  make  queries  upon  this  subject.  The  answer 
would  be  too  long  for  a  basket  item,  and,  as  all  the  other 
pages  are  filled,  the  reply  must  wait  till  the  next  month. 
See  article  on  the  Willow,  on  p.  39. 


Grafting-  tlie  Grape.—  L.  C.  J.  Town- 
send,  Mass.  The  grape  is  so  readily  propagated  from 
cuttings  and  layers,  that  grafting  is  seldom  practised. 
The  cions  should  be  cut  before  vegetation  starts.  The 
grafting  is  done  when  the  vine  is  in  leaf,  and  danger  of 
bleeding  has  passed.  The  earth  is  removed  from  around 
the  vine,  which  is  cut  3  or  4  inches  below  the  surface. 
The  stork  is  split  and  the  cions  inserted  in  the  usual  way 
of  cleft  grafting.  No  wax  or  other  composition  is  applied 
but   the  earth  is  merely  replaced.     Another   mode   has 


been  recommended,  which  is  to  split  a  large  vine  at  in- 
tervals of  one  or  two  feet,  and  insert  the  ends  of  the  cions, 
which  are  cut  to  a  wedge,  in  the  slits.  The  vine  is  then 
buried  horizontally  so  as  to  leave  one  or  two  buds  of  the 
cions  above  the  surface.  The  vine  so  layered  throws  out 
roots  during  the  season,  and  in  the  Fall  or  following 
Spring  may  be  cut  up  so  as  to  leave  a  share  of  roots  to 
each  graft., 


Salt  for  Insects.— UW.  C."  Waukesha  Co., 
Wis.  We  very  much  doubt  if  sufficient  salt  can  be  used 
to  destroy  ?ny  kind  of  insects  without  injury  to  the  vege- 
tation, while  the  cost  would  be  enormous.  A  ton  spread 
over  an  acre  would  be  only  a  pound  on  every  twenty-two 
square  feet,  and  that  amount  worked  into  the  soil  would 
hardly  be  heeded  by  insects.  A  positive  statement  put 
forth  by  a  professedly  agricultural  journal,  that  a  bushel 
or  two  of  salt  on  an  acre,  would  destroy  the  wire  worm 
and  other  insects,  has  gone  the  rounds  of  the  papers  for 
years.  Tins  is  the  third  time  we  pronounce  it  nonsensi- 
cal. When  land  is  plowed  in  the  Fall,  the  frosts  of  Win- 
ter will  generally  kill  great  numbers  of  them. 


Green  manure. — L.  Z.  Snyder,  Montgomery 
Co.,  Pa.  Millet  or  oats  will  make  a  good  crop  to  turn 
under  before  sowing  fall  wheat.  At  the  present  price  of 
oats,  millet  seed  will  be  much  the  cheapest.  If  the  soil 
is  infested  by  weeds,  buckwheat  may  be  used.  Sow  early 
and  plow  in  as  soon  as  it  is  in  flower,  and  then  sow  for 
another  crop  to  be  plowed  under  first,  before  sowing  the 
wheat. 

Chineli  Bugs. — "A  Reader,"  Winnebago 
Co.,  III.  The  eggs  of  this  troublesome  insect  are  not  de- 
posited in  the  corn,  but  in  the  ground,  where  the  young 
are  sometimes  found  in  great  numbers.  As  they  are 
most  numerous  in  dry  weather,  and  disappear  after  a 
rain,  it  has  been  proposed  to  shower  the  crops  to  destroy 
the  bugs,  by  means  of  a  fire  engine,  but  this  would  not 
be  practicable  on  a  large  scale,  even  if  it  were  effective. 


Obtaining  Seeds  from  Washington. 

— Several  inquirers  are  informed  that  their  best  way  to 
procure  seeds  from  the  Agricultural  Department  at 
Washington,  is  to  make  an  application  through  the  rep- 
resentative of  their  own  districts,  as  the  seeds  are  mainly 
distributed  through  the  Members  of  Congress. 


Seeds  Received.— C.  H.  Howard  of  Utah 
sends  us  seeds  of  the  currants  of  that  Territory,  and 
Wm.  Holley  of  Hall  Co.,  Nebraska  has  furnished  us 
with  the  stones  of  a  dwarf  cherry  of  that  region.  All 
these  have  been  placed  for  trial  wilh  one  of  our  most  ex- 
perienced cultivators  of  small  fruits. 

Seeds  for  a  Name.  —  "W.  G.  Fowler,  0. 
The  plant  is  Lunaria  biennis  and  is  called  Satin  Flower 
and  Honesty.  It  is  cultivated  for  the  delicate  membrane 
which  is  left  after  a  portion  of  the  pod  falls  away  ;  this  is 
used  in  making  dry  bouquets.  It  flowers  the  second  year 
from  the  seed. 

Hubbard  Squash. — Robt.  Hutchingson, 
Ashtabula  Co.,  0.  The  usual  shade  is  a  dull,  clay  blue 
color.  It  sometimes  is  of  a  dark  olive  green.  Both  colors 
are  considered  by  the  introducer  as  equally  pure. 

More  Beans.— W.  C.  Comstock  of  Fairfield 
Co.,  Conn.,  writes  that  among  his  beans  raised  last  season, 
was  one  plant  with  83  pods,  containing  456  merchantable 
beans,  of  the  kidney  variety.  He  planted  in  drills  10 
inches  apart,  in  rows  two  feet  distant. 


Red  Cabbage.— N.  C.  Laughlin,  Ct.  This 
variety  is  always  small,  but  should  grow  larger  than  the 
first.  The  pickle  is  made  by  slicing  the  cabbage,  adding 
spice  and  pouring  cold  vinegar  over  it. 


Crimson  Clover. — J.  F.  Rucklman,  Munroe 
Co.,  Pa.  We  have  only  seen  this  cultivated  on  a  very 
small  scale,  and  the  account  to  which  you  refer  is  the 
only  one  we  have  seen  of  any  extensive  experiment.  The 
plant  is  very  showy  when  in  flower.  The  seeds  can  be 
had  in  this  city.  


I>aphue  odora. — Mrs.  J.  W.  H.,  Charles- 
town,  Mass.  This  is  an  evergreen  green-house  shrub 
which  bears  clusters  of  white  or  pinkish,  very  fragrant 
flowers  on  the  ends  of  branches.  It  belongs  to  a  widely 
different  family  from  the  Tuberose  and  resembles  it  in 
odor  only.  If  grown  as  a  house  plant,  it  should  not  be  in 
loo  hot  a  room,  and  shoul  tl  have  plenty  of  air. 


Gloxinias  can  be  successfully  raised  only  where  there  is 
a  green-house.  Petunias  are  readily  grown  in  the  open 
air.  The  seeds  may  be  had  at  the  seed  stores,  and  a  paper 
may  give  you  some  fine  double  ones,  but  if  you  wish  to 
be  sure  of  these,  the  best  way  is  to  get  the  plants  from 
commercial  gardeners. 


Grloxinias    and    I*e*unias. — A  Eeadi sr, 

New-Hartford,  Conn.    These  are  raised  from  seed   and 
the  varieties  continued  by  propagation    from  cuttings. 


Camelina  sativa.  —  A.  K.  Laughlirj,  Vt. 
"We  have  no  knowledge  of  the  culture  of  this  plant  for  its 
oil  in  this  country.  The  article  in  the  Patent  Office  Re- 
port was  copied  from  an  English  journal.  It  is  known 
by  the  names  of  False  Flax,  Wild  Flax  and  Gold  of 
Pleasure,  and  is  only  known  in  this  country  as  a  not  very 
common  weed  in  old  fields. 

NemopHila  macula  la  is  the  plant  sent  by- 
Mary  Rider,  Holmes  Co.,  O.  It  is  a  native  of  Califor- 
nia. The  vulgar  name  is  Spotted  Lovegrove.  This,  with 
the  N.  insignis,  discoidalis,  and  others,  are  among  our 
most  beautiful  annuals. 


Truffles- Tnckalioe-  Geo.  H.  Gilbert,  of 
Cheshire  Co.,  N.  H.,  in  response  to  the  query,  whether 
Truffles  were  ever  found  in  this  country,  says  that  12  or 
14  years  ago  he  was  living  in  Mississippi,  and  there  fre- 
quently saw  a  kind  of  root  that  grew  in  the  ground  en- 
tirely unconnected  wilh  any  plant  or  leaf  above  the  sur- 
face; it  was  about  \%  inch  in  diameter,  and  3  inches 
long,  looking  quite  like  a  sweet  potato.  Pigs  were  fond 
of  them,  and  he  supposed  they  were  a  species  of  Truffles. 
The  substance  he  refers  to  is  doubtless  the  "  Tuckahoc," 
or  Indian  bread,  a  thing  which  has  been  a  great  puzzle  to 
naturalists.  It  has  been  classed  with  the  Fungi  (Mush- 
rooms) and  has  been  called  Lycnperdon  solidum,  but  as 
no  vegetable  structure  has  been  discovered  in  it,  its  real 
nature  remains  unsettled.  The  Tuckahoe  has  been  found 
as  far  north  as  New  Jersey. 

Dairy  Farmer.  —  California  subscriber. 
There  was  such  a  paper  published,  but  owing  to  the  times 
it  wa^pbliged  to  suspend— temporarily  we  hope. 


Ag'l.  Library  Association— A  Good 

Move.— J.  J.  Joslin,  Rutland  Co.,  Vt.,  writes  that  an 
Agricultural  Library  Association  has  just  been  formed  in 
the  town  where  he  resides,  and  agricultural  works  amount- 
ing to  $250  are  already  purchased.  A  "  Farmers*  Social 
Club"  for  discussing  appropriate  subjects,  is  connected 
with  the  association. 

Economical  Food.—"  Diffidence,"  of  Mid- 
dlebury,  Vt.,  writes  as  follows  :  "  In  these  times  of  patri- 
otic sacrifice  and  diminished  incomes,  many  of  us  would 
like  to  learn  how  to  live  comfortably  on  a  small  sum.  Nf> 
doubt  you  have  many  subscribers  like  myself,  not  far- 
mers, who  take  your  paper  for  its  other  valuable  con- 
tents. Will  not  some  kindly  disposed  lady  reader,  who 
has  to  purchase  everything  for  the  table,  with  little 
enough  money  to  do  it  with,  give  a  list  of  the  21  meals, 
such  as  are  eaten  in  her  family  for  a  week  ?  With  such 
a  list  in  the  Agriculturist,  no  doubt  many  of  us  would  be 
much  benefited."  [We  shall  be  glad  to  have  responses 
to  the  above. — Ed.] 


How  it  Paid. — The  letters  on  business,  and 
other  topics,  received  at  the  Agriculturist  office,  number 
from  75,000  to  100,000  a  year.  A  single  morning's  mail, 
sometimes  brings  in  more  than  five  hundred.  These  let- 
ters very  often  convey  hints  and  suggestions  which  are  of 
indirect  aid  in  preparing  the  paper,  when  they  are  not 
used  directly.  The  letters  for  two  months  past  have, 
more  than  ever  before,  abounded  in  kind  words  of  appro- 
bation and  encouragement,  indicating  such  a  spirit  of 
friendly  feeling  on  the  part  of  our  readers,  as  we  greatly 
appreciate  and  enjoy.  Hundreds,  perhaps  thousands, 
have  recently  given  an  account  of  some  special  way  in 
which  a  single  hint  from  the  paper  has  paid  them  far  more 
than  the  cost  of  it  for  a  year.  We  take  the  liberty  to  give 
the  substance  of  a  private  note  from  a  subscriber  (J.  M.) 
in  Shiawassee  Co.,  Mich.  " Three  years  ago  an  auc- 
tion of  bees  was  to  be  held,  which  I  had  no  thought  of  at- 
tending, until  just  before  the  sale  I  happened  to  read  an 
article  on  bees  in  my  Agriculturist,  which  led  me  to  buy 
13  swarms  that  averaged  $3  each  ($39).  The  two  heav- 
iest I  traded  for  a  3-year  old  steer  which  Isold  for  $J4, 
leaving  the  cost  of  Jl  swarms,  $15  net.  The  first  two 
years  I  took  up  7  swarms,  and  last  Autumn  12  swarms 
more,  and  a  nice  lot  of  cap  honey  which  a. together  paid 
more  than  five  times  over  for  tlie  '-are  of  tne  bees,  and  I 
now  have  26  swarms  left,  which  I  would  not  sell  at  $4 
each  or  $104  ;  so  much  for  the  $15  invesied.  This  will  pay 
for  the  Agriculturist  longer  than  I  shall  live.  lam  wholly 
indebted  to  the  paper  for  my  bees,  to  say  nothing  of  many 
other  good  ideas  obtained  from  it,  too  numerous  to  men- 
tion.    The  paper  is  certainly  a  good  investment  at  $1  '* 


1863.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


39 


The  White  Willow  Excitement. 

Numerous  letters  have  been  received  at  the  office  of  the 
Agriculturist  asking  our  opinion  on  the  use  of  the  While 
Willow  for  hedges.  Our  Western  exchanges  contain 
loud  advertisements  of  nurserymen,  and  those  who  have 
the  cuttings  for  sale,  and  the  papers  have  frequent  articles 
for  or  against  its  use.  We  have  watched  this  discussion 
with  Interest,  in  the  hope  of  finding  some  reliable  infor- 
mation on  the  subject.  From  all  we  can  gather,  and  from 
what  we  know  of  this  plant,  we  judge  that,  as  a  screen  to 
break  the  force  of  sweeping  winds,  it  will  answer  a  good 
purpose,  but  that  its  value  as  a  hedge  plant  is  as  yet  rather 
problematical.  As  it  is  destitute  of  thorns,  and  the  small 
branches  are  always  weak, it  can  only  serve  as  a  hedge 
by  presenting  a  harrier  of  trunks.  Whether  the  willow, 
or  any  other  tree,  will  grow  when  planted  near  enough 
together  for  this,  we  are  inclined  to  doubt.  A  given  area 
of  ground  will  only  sustain  a  certain  amount  of  vegeta- 
tion, and  the  strongest  plants  will  choke  and  kill  out  the 
weaker  ones.  This  happens  in  nature,  and  is  within  the 
observation  of  every  cultivator.  As  a  timber  belt,  to 
serve  as  a  wind  screen,  there  is  no  doubt  it  may  be  em- 
ployed with  benefit. 

The  following  is  the  method  of  planting  for  hedges: 
Cuttings  about  ten  inches  in  length,  cut  at  Ihe  lower  end 
with  a  slope,  are  stuck  into  the  soil,  in  a  slightly  inclined 
position,  at  six  inches  apart.  The  plants  are  hoed  and 
weeded  the  first  year,  and  the  cattle  kept  away  until 
they  become  large  enough  to  resist  them. 

The  white  willow  makes  a  large  tree,  50  to 60 feet  high. 
The  wood  is  valuable  for  charcoal,  and  makes  a  tolerably 
serviceable  timber.  Taking  advantage  of  the  present  ex- 
citement, some  persons  have  cut  up  the  common  willow 
of  the  swamps,  to  sell  as  the  white  willow.  Those  pur- 
chasing should  be  on  their  guard  against  this  imposition. 
«-. -•»  i  « 

The    Remarkable    Winter  —  Its    Effects 
upon  the  Wheat  and  Rye  Crops. 


Tims  far  the  present  Winter  has  been  note- 
worthy, we  might  rather  say,  there  has  been  a 
remarkable  absence  of  Winter.  At  the  time  of 
this  writing,  it  is  past  the  middle  of  January, 
and  yet,  with  the  exception  of  a  very  few  clays, 
early  in  December,  we  have  had  no  snow  to 
speak  of,  and  but  little  ice  in  the  vicinity  of 
this  city.  Overcoats  have  been  worn  more 
as  a  safeguard  against  expected  cold  that 
might  come  on  suddenly,  than  as  a  necessary 
protection  from  cold  actually  experienced. 
Similar  weather  has  prevailed  over  the  coun- 
try generally,  though  in  a  few  localities  snow 
has  fallen  more  abundantly.  In  two  respects 
this  weather  has  been  highly  favorable  to  farm- 
ers and  others.  There  was  so  short  a  crop  of 
hay  in  many  places  that  apprehensions  were  en- 
tertained in  regard  to  the  possibility  of  carrying 
the  usual  stock  of  animals  through  the  Winter. 
But  mild  weather  has  saved  an  immense 
amount  of  forage,  for  it  is  a  well  understood 
fact,  that  in  very  cold  weather,  a  large  propor- 
tion of  the  food  consumed  by  man  and  beast, 
is  required  to  keep  up  the  heat  of  the  body.  An 
animal  needs  nearly  double  the  quantity  of  food 
when  the  thermometer  is  at  zero,  than  is  re- 
quired when  the  temperature  is  at  summer 
heat.  Should  the  season  continue  thus  mild 
and  open,  hay  will  be  abundant  ancl  cheap  dur- 
ing the  spring  months.  "  Winter  never  rots  in 
the  skies,"  is  an  old  adage  that  generally,  not 
always,  holds  true,  and  it  will  be  fortunate  for 
those  having  short  supplies  in  their  hay  mows 
or  stacks,  if  we  do  not  have  severe  cold  weather 
all  through  February  and  March,  and  late  into 
April.  In  the  Eastern  and  Middle  States,  where 
coal  is  extensively  used,  the  supply  was  un- 
usually short  last  Autumn,  and  prices  were 
nearly  double  what  they  were  a  year  before. 
This  mild  weather  has  greatly  favored  all  who 
depend  upon  coal  for  fuel.  Owing  to  the  small 
amount  of  fire  needed,  it  has  cost  less  than  in 
ordinary  years  to  keep  the  dwellings  warm. 

But  we  entertain  serious  fears  concerning  the 
effects  of  this  weather  upon  the  winter  grains, 


wheat  and  rye.  A  continuous  frozen  condition 
of  the  soil  does  not  injure  these  crops,  while  a 
mantle  of  snow  maintains  a  somewhat  uniform 
temperature,  and  is  highly  favorable.  The  al- 
ternate freezing  of  the  surface  at  night,  and  thaw- 
ing out  by  day,  which  has  been  the  order  for 
two  months  past,  must  have  done  great  damage 
to  the  wheat  plants.  Many  of  them  have  doubt- 
less been  killed  already,and  should  this  weather 
continue,  we  fear  the  result  will  be  disastrous. 
Little  can  be  clone  to  help  the  matter.  Those 
having  an  abundance  of  manure,  or  of  straw 
that  will  not  be  used  for  feeding  or  bedding, 
may  find  it  advantageous  to  cart  it  out  and 
spread  it  upon  the  wheat  fields,  if  they  chance 
to  be  frozen  sufficiently  at  any  time  to  prevent 
injury  from  the  treading  of  teams,  and  cutting 
by  the  wheels.  A  mulch  of  this  kind  will  par- 
tially prevent  the  frequent  changes  of  tempera- 
ture. If  our  staple  crop  of  wheat  is  to  be  in 
part  cut  off,  as  it  may  already  be,  it  behooves 
farmers  to  lay  out  their  plans  for  putting  in  the 
largest  possible  area  of  spring  wheat,  where  it 
will  grow  well,  and  of  other  summer  crops. 


Tobacco  Culture— $30  Offered  for  Prac- 
tical Information . 


Our  assistants  report  that  in  at  least  a  thou- 
sand letters  recently  received,  there  is  a  call  for 
articles,  and  especially  for  a  book  on  tobacco 
culture.  We  know  of  no  such  work,  are  desti- 
tute of  practical  experience  with  this  particular 
crop,  and  scarcely  know  where  to  get  the  best 
practical  information  desired.  In  order  to  call 
out  information,  we  therefore  propose  the  fol- 
lowing cash  premiums  : 

For  the  Best  Essay  on  Tobacco  Culture $15,00 

For  the  Second  Best  Essay $10,00 

For  the  Third  Best  Essay $5,00 

The  essays  to  be  written  by  those  who  speak 
from  practical  experience  or  observation;  to 
contain  full  directions  for  culture  and  treatment ; 
from  the  securing  and  sowing  of  the  seed  to  the 
harvesting,  curing  and  marketing  of  the  crop ; 
the  best  variety,  etc.  Fifteen  pages  or  less  of 
foolscap  paper  will  suffice  for  this ;  the  less 
space  occupied,  the  better,  if  particulars  are 
given  sufficiently  full  to  meet  the  wants  of  those 
entirely  inexperienced.  The  essays  in  our  work 
on  Onion  Culture,  (see  page  61),  are  good  exam- 
ples of  what  is  wanted.  Any  illustrative  en- 
gravings required,  will  be  made  at  our  own  ex- 
pense, if  the  outline  sketches  be  furnished  by 
the  parties  who  write.  The  essays  to  be  de- 
livered at  the  Agriculturist  office  on  or  before 
March  1st.  The  sooner  they  can  be  on  hand, 
the  better,  that  the  Committee  may  have  lime 
to  look  them  over.  The  essays  will  be  submit- 
ted to  a  competent  Committee,  and  the  prizes 
paid  according  to  their  award.  One  or  more  of 
the  best  essays  will  be  published  in  the  April 
Agriculturist,  and,  if  a  sufficient  number  of  good 
articles  are  offered,  they  will  be  issued  in  cheap 
pamphlet  form,  early  in  March,  to  meet  the  re- 
quirements of  the  present  year.  In  order  that 
we  may  do  this,  we  make  it  one  condition  of  the 
offer  of  the  prizes,  that  we  have  the  right  to 
publish  any  articles  submitted.  (Ten  copies  of 
any  pamphlet  or  book  issued,  will  be  at  the  dis- 
posal of  each  person  whose  contribution  is  in- 
serted, whether  he  obtain  one  of  the  prizes  or 
not.)  The  writer  of  each  essay  will  please  en- 
close his  name  and  full  Post  Office  address,  in  a 
sealed  envelope,  along  with  his  manuscript. 
Fine  literary  style  is  not  so  much  desired  as 
to  have  the  directions  fully  and  plainly  given  ; 


we  will  put  the  writing  into  proper  shape  for 
publishing.  If  those  who  wish  to  compete  will 
notify  us  at  once,  we  can  probably  announce 
next  month  whether  a  pamphlet  will  be  issued. 


Maple  Sugar. 

This  product,  which,  if  properly  made,  al- 
ways commands  a  good  price  and  ready  sale, 
will  this  year  be  especially  valuable,  owing  to 
the  high  cost  of  every  kind  of  sweetening. 
Those  having  even  a  few  trees,  will  do  well  to 
make  the  most  of  them,  by  commencing  to  tap 
as  soon  as  the  sap  will  flow.  In  many  locali- 
ties a  large  run  may  be  had  the  latter  part  of  the 
present  month,  unless  the  Winter  should  be  pro- 
tracted unseasonably. 

Immediate  preparation  should  be  made  for 
the  work,  particularly  where  there  is  a  large 
sugar-grove.  In  such  cases  it  will  doubtless  pay 
to  procure  one  of  the  evaporators  intended  for 
Sorghum  syrup,  but  which  are  equally  fitted  for 
sap  boiling.  Cook's  is  certainly  good.  It  was 
used  in  this  way  to  some  extent  last  year,  with 
entire  satisfaction.  Samples  of  sugar  and  syrup 
made  with  it,  received  at  the  Agriculturist  office, 
were  of  the  very  finest  quality.  (See  advertise- 
ment in  Jan.  No.)  Shallow  sheet-iron  pans, 
which  can  be  made  at  the  tinman's,  will  be 
found  much  more  economical  than  the  deep 
kettles  frequently  used.  Provide  a  good  supply 
of  dry  fuel  convenient  to  the  boiling  place.  A 
shed  to  enclose  the  arch  and  kettle  will  add  to 
comfort  and  cleanliness.  Buckets  of  tin  are 
lightest  to  carry,  but  are  apt  to  be  rusted  during 
the  year,  which  would  impart  a  dark  color  to 
the  syrup  and  sugar.  Unpainted  pails,  of  cedar, 
pine  or  white-wood,  are  generally  preferred, 
These,  with  the  evaporator,  the  spouts,  and 
everything  connected  with  the  manufacture, 
should  be  kept  scrupulously  clean.  The  need 
of  clarifying  syrup,  arises  mainly  from  neglect  in 
this  respect ;  the  best  specimens  we  have  seen 
were  made  without  the  use  of  any  substance  to 
remove  impurities — none  were  suffered  to  be 
mixed  with  the  sap. 


Fig.  1. 

Spouts  are  readily  made  by  removing  the 
pith  from  pieces  of  elder,  or  from  foot  lengths 
of  inch  square  pine.  For  the  latter,  remove 
the  upper  half  to  within  two  inches  of  one  end, 
bore  or  burn  a  one-quarter  inch  hole  through 
the  thick  part  left,  and  cut  a  groove  from  the 
hole  to  the  other  end,  as  in  fig.  1.  If  elder 
stalks  are  accessible,  good  spouts  are  made  as 
illustrated  by  fig.  3,  by  sawing  half  through  at 
a  and  6,  and  splitting  between  the  cuts.  Each 
piece  then  makes  two  spouts. 

a 


-""-7 


I 


m 


Fig.! 


A  three-quarter  inch  auger  bit  is  best  for  tap- 
ping, which  should  be  clone  on  the  south  side  of 
the  tree,  boring  the  hole   about  one  inch  deep. 

It  saves  time  after  the  boiling  is  commenced, 
to  have  a  constant  stream  of  sap  trickling  into 
the  evaporator,  and  the  thickened  syrup  dis- 
charging into  a  second  vessel  for  "sugaring  off." 
Otherwise,  the  sap  collected  must  wait  until  the 
first  lot  is  finished.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  sea- 
son it  readily  sours,  and  may  soon  spoil.  It  is 
well  to  add  a  little  lime  to  the  sap  during  the 
last  running,   to  neutralize  any  existing  acid. 


40 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[February, 


No  Time  to  Run  in  Debt. 


An  Ohio  Reader  asks  :  "  Would  you  consider 
it  prudent  for  a  farmer  having  a  hundred  acres 
paid  for  and  well  stocked,  and  out  of  debt 
otherwise,  but  not  having  a  comfortable  domi- 
cile, to  incur  a  debt  of  five  or  six  hundred  dol- 
lars in  building  a  dwelling  house  i" — We  think 
not.  In  the  November  American  Agriculturist, 
we  referred  to  the  effect  of  the  increased  relative 
value  between  gold  and  currency,  and  showed 
why  farmers  should  seize  upon  this  time  to  get 
out  of  debt  and  keep  out.  The  recent  further 
advance  in  gold  gives  additional  force  to  the 
reasons  then  set  forth.  Currency  that  will  pay 
debts  is  now  very  abundant  and  will  probably 
be  more  so  for  a  time.  The  moment  the  war 
closes,  or  bids  fair  to  close,  the  country  will  be- 
gin to  turn  to  a  specie  currency;  and  then  look 
out  for  breakers.  What  now  is  called  $150 
will  begin  to  recede  toward  $100.  A  debt  of 
$100  contracted  now,  when  wheat  is  at  $1$  per 
bushel  in  this  city,  will  probably  have  to  be 
paid,  when  wheat  will  be  worth  only  $1. 
This  will  not  probably  take  place  at  once,  for 
there  will  be  a  large  amount  of  "  legal  tender" 
currency  to  be  retired  from  circulation  before 
specie  will  be  the  legal  standard,  but  the  change 
must  sooner  or  later  take  place.  If  the  old 
house  is  at  all  tenantable,  or  can  be  made  so 
with  a  little  outlay,  better  put  any  surplus  funds 
aside,  where  it  will  be  absolutely  safe  and  can 
be  called  in  dollar  for  dollar.  Then  when  prices 
of  labor,  of  timber,  and  of  other  materials  fall, 
the  money  and  its  interest  can  be  used  to  far 
greater  advantage.  If  there  be  a  mortgage 
upon  the  farm  or  house,  poor  crops  and  low 
prices  may  perhaps  not  enable  you  to  meet  it. 
This  flush  period  is  just  the  time  to  get  out  of 
debt,  keep  out,  and  lay  by  as  much  as  possible. 


Mutton  Trade  of  New- York. 

145   MILES   OP   SHEEP. 

Few  persons  are  aware  of  the  extent  to  which 
sheep  are  sold  in  this  city.  Including  those  re- 
ceived at  the  four  public  market  places,  and 
those  sent  directly  to  butchers,  an  average  of 
over  10,000  live  sheep  per  week  were  slaughter- 
ed in  this  city  during  the  past  year.  Besides 
these,  there  are  at  least  1,000  dressed  carcasses 
received  weekly.  If  the  whole  number  were 
driven  in  at  one  time,  three  abreast,  allowing 
four  feet  of  space  for  each  sheep,  the  line  would 
extend  from  New- York  to  Albany,  a  distance  of 
over  one  hundred  and  forty-five  miles. 

Since  the  commencement  of  the  war,  the  de- 
mand for  wool  has  so  greatly  increased  that 
farmers  are  adding  largely  to  their  flocks.  They 
find  that,  with  the  high  prices  of  wool  and  the 
good  demand  for  lamb  and  mutton,  sheep-rais- 
ing is  one  of  the  most  profitable  branches  of 
farming,  and  they  are  now  holding  back  their 
stock.  Prices  vary  somewhat  with  the  supply, 
but  well  fed  sheep,  which  will  weigh  100  lbs., 
alive,  have  been  selling  at  $54  a  $6  per  head  for 
a  month  past ;  they  are  now  (Jan.  15th)  worth 
$6J.  The  rise  in  wool  has  added  largely  to  the 
value  of  pelts,  mixed  lots  of  these  selling  at 
$2i  each,  and  selected  pelts  at  $2i  each. 

In  former  years  the  thin  ewes  have  been 
bought  up  by  farmers  for  store  sheep,  at  $24  a 
$3  per  head.  Oflate  this  class  has  been  mostly 
kept  in  the  country.  Those  sent  to  market  have 
been  bought  up  by  butchers  at  $34  a  $4  each. 
Contrasting  with  this  class  are  a  limited  number 
of  extra  large  fat  sheep,  usually  sent  in  about 


the  holidays  and  sold  at  high  prices.  A  few 
have  brought  as  high  as  $15  a  $20  each.  Three 
full  blooded  Leicester  sheep,  from  Canada,  were 
recently  sold  to  a  butcher  of  this  city  for  $70. 
They  dressed  471  lbs.  The  pelts  would  bring 
$2.j  each,  which  would  leave  the  cost  of  the 
mutton  a  little  over  12  cents  per  pound.  In 
view  of  these  figures  it  is  safe  to  advise  the  rais- 
ing of  more  sheep  and  fewer  dogs. 

m   I  im  J  —     »  m 

Breadstuff's,  Meat,  etc.,  for  1862. 


All  classes  of  readers  will  be  interested  in  the 
two  statistical  articles  given  on  pages  58  and 
59.  The  tables  have  been  specialty  prepared  for 
the  American  Agriculturist,  with  great  care  and 
no  little  labor,  and  they  are  arranged  to  show 
at  a  glance  the  amount  of  transactions  in  some 
of  the  leading  articles  of  farm  produce  in  the 
great  central  market  of  the  country  for  the 
year  1862.  A  comparison  with  the  previous 
three  years  is  also  given,  together  with  tables 
showing  some  of  the  transactions  in  breadstuffs 
at  Boston,  Philadelphia  and  Chicago.  The  fol- 
lowing table  shows  the  receipts  at  New-York  of 
the  leading  articles  of  Grain,  with  the  prices 
and  total  sums  paid  for  them.  This  table  in- 
cludes only  the  amounts  received  through  regu- 
lar channels  and  recorded  at  the  Corn  Exchange 
or  Custom  House.  Large  amounts,  not  here  in- 
cluded, having  been  sold  "  to  arrive,"  have 
gone  directly  to  receivers  without  being  re- 
corded, while  other  amounts  have  come  in  by 
irregular  routes.  The  prices  in  this  estimate  are 
the  average  of  the  average  prices  on  the  20th 
of  each  month,  as  given  iu  the  second  table : 

RECEIPTS    AT    NEW-YORK   FOR   1SG2. 

Average 

Kind.                      Amount.                    Price.  Value. 

Wheat  Flour 5.757,608  bhls.  at      $5.71  $32,875,941 

Wheat 27,079,259  bushels  at  1,37  37.09S.584 

Corn 17,290,234  bushels  at      64  11.065,748 

Rve   932.084  bushels  at      63  773,629 

Barley 1,151,818  bushels  at  1,05  1,209,408 

Oats 5,051,874  bushels  at      50  2,525,937 

Total  for  Flour,  Wheal  and  other  grains $83,549,247 

Tolal  amount  for  same  articles  in  1S64 $81,216,587 

Prices  in  1862. — The  following  table  gives 
the  New-York  prices  of  leading  articles  on  the 
20th  of  each  month,  the  date  of  making  up  our 
monthly  reports.  A  careful  estimate  indicates 
that  for  the  average  of  all  sales  of  the  different 
grades,  we  may  take :  for  Wheat  Flour  the  highest 
quotations  for  "Extra  State;"  for  Wheat  the 
highest  quotation  for  "  All  Kinds  of  Red  ;"  for 
Corn  the  highest  quotation  for  "Mixed;"  and 
for  Oats  the  highest  quotation  for  "  Western." 

NEW-YORK  PRICES  ON"  THE  20TH  OP  EACH  MONTH  IN  1862. 

Rye  Corn 

1862.      Flour.  Wheat.  Flour.  Meal.  Corn.  Oats.  Eye.  Barley. 

t  c.       $  c.       $  c.  $  c.  c.  c.  c.  $  c. 

Jan....    5,90       1,45        4,30  8,80  66  42  84  80 

Pet)....    6,10       1,50        4,25  3,30  05  41  85  90 

March.    5.70       1,45        4.25  3,25  CO  S9  83  1,00 

April..    5,10       1,35        4,25  3,15  59X  89  82  1,00 

May...,    4,85       1,15        4.25  8,20  61X  41  76  85 

June...     4,75        1,20         4.00  3,20  54  44  75  75 

July  .      5,25       1,28        4,10  3,25  70  47  78 

August     5,40        1,40         4,30  3,75  62  51  S3 

Sept....    5,70       1,31        4,40  3.75  60  58  83 

Oct  ... .    7.90       1,46        4,75  4.00  68  59  84  1,25 

Nov....    6,40       1,45        5,75  4,25  71  69  90  1,60 

Dec...    6,40       1,47        5,65  4,50  77  70  97  1,45 

Av'ge..    5,71       1,37        4,54       8,57       64         50       83      1,05 

In  1S81.    5.30       1,37        3,46       3,05       60         86       70         68 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  tables  and  remarks  on 
page  59,  that  the  receipts  of  wheat  and  flour, 
taken  together,  were  lower  in  1S62  than  in  1861, 
but  the  higher  prices  the  past  year  raised  the  to- 
tal product  of  sales  here,  to   a  greater  sum. 

The  Live  Stock  Table,  as  exhibited  on  page  58, 
is  also  interesting.  The  total  number  of  live 
animals  destined  for  slaughter  received  at  the 
regular  yards,  reached  1,845,605,  or  nearly 
two  million  luad !  Of  these  more  than  one- 
half  (1,098,712)  were  live  hogs,  or  about  twice 


as  many  as  were  ever  brought  to  this  market  in 
a  single  year  before.  But  the  items  are  so  fully 
set  forth  in  the  article  on  page  58  that  no  further 
explanations  are  needed  here. 


The  Department  of  Agriculture. 

The  doings  of  the  Agricultural  attachment  of 
the  Patent  Office,  were  so  severely  criticised  by 
this  and  the  other  agricultural  papers  of  the 
country,  that  a  new  Department  was  created  to 
manage  the  agricultural  operations  of  the  gov- 
ernment. With  the  change  we  looked  for  a  new 
policy,  one  which  should  be  of  actual  benefit  to 
the  agricultural  country,  and  which  should  not 
interfere  with  the  legitimate  business  of  seeds- 
men, nurserymen,  and  others.  Thus  far,  there 
does  not  seem  to  be  strong  reason  to  hope  for  a 
change  for  the  better.  Two  small  pamphlets 
emanating  from  this  Department  are  before  us. 
One  of  these  is  mainly  devoted  to  informing  the 
world  what  a  great  country  this  is,  and  the  oth- 
er is  a  catalogue  of  the  Plants,  Bulbs,  Tubers, 
etc.,  which  are  ready  to  be  sent  out  from  the 
"  propagating  garden,"  of  this  country  noted 
for  its  immense  resources. 

Upon  looking  over  the  limited  list  we  find 
it  to  be  composed,  with  but  very  few  exceptions, 
of  plants  which  can  be  obtained  at  any  nur- 
serj'.  It  is  gratifying  to  know  that  there  are 
ready,  80  varieties  of  gladiolus— why  we  have 
not  hyacinths  and  tulips,  and  the  rest  of  the 
bulbs  is  not  mentioned.  Then  there  are  100  spe- 
cimens of  the  Mist-bush  or  Smoke  tree  {Khus 
Cutinus),  which  was  introduced  into  England 
in  1856,  and  is  to  be  found  in  almost  every  old 
garden  in  the  country.  "  A  rare  old  plant  is 
the  ivy  green,"  but  the  U.  S.  has  managed  to 
propagate  600  plants.  That  novelty,  the  Chinese 
Yam,  can  be  found  at  Washington,  and  the 
common  Prickly  Pear  is  to  be  had  in  small 
quantities.  For  the  credit  of  the  country,  we 
call  upon  the  authorities  to  burn  up  or  quietly 
dispose  of  their  old  rubbish,  and  to  stop  dis- 
tributing plants  or  seeds  until  they  have  some- 
thing which  comes  within  the  letter  and  spirit 
of  the  law,  and  are  able  to  "  distribute  among 
the  people,   new  and  valuable  seeds  and  plants." 

—• —       n»a _ 

Brine  Poisonous— A  Caution. 

During  past  years  we  have  published  in  the 
Agriculturist  occasional  reports  of  bad  effects 
from  feeding  to  animals  salt  from  meat  barrels. 
In  a  recent  number  of  theHonesdale  (Pa.)  Her- 
ald, we  find  an  account  of  the  sudden  death  of 
several  valuable  imported  hogs  after  eating 
food  mixed  with  brine  from  a  beef  barrel.  In 
this  case  the  evil  effects  are  attributed  to  salt- 
peter (nitrate  of  potash)  used  in  curing  the  beef 
Whether  it  was  the  nitre,  or  the  salt,  there  have 
been  a  sufficient  number  of  instances  reported, 
to  render  it  hazardous  to  allow  any  animal  to 
consume  either  the  salt  or  brine,  from  any  kind 
of  meat.  Salt  food  of  any  kind  is  destructive  to 
fowls,  and  care  should  be  taken  to  keep  them 
from  house  slops  containing  salt.  But  refuse 
brine  and  salt  are  excellent  on  the  asparagus 
bed,  applied  in  Autumn  or  Winter,  or  at  any 
time  except  in  the  cutting  season.  It  even  pays 
to  put  on  a  good  layer  of  new  salt.  Refuse  brine 
or  salt  is  also  good  on  most  soils,  and  on  most 
field  or  garden  crops,  and  should  not  be  wasted. 

Kindness  is  a  language,  which  not  only  the 
dumb  can  speak,  but  the  deaf  can  understand. 


1803,1 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


41 


The  Indian's  View  of  Agriculture. 

9 

We  doubt  if  a  better  argument  for  improved 
agriculture  cau  be  given,  than  is  found  in  the 
speech  of  an  Indian  chief  to  his 
tribe  at  the  "West.  It  ran  thus: 
"  Do  you  not  see  the  whites  living 
upon  seeds,  -while  we  eat  flesh? 
That  the  flesh  requires  more  than 
thirty  moons  to  grow  up,  and  is  then 
often  scarce !  That  each  of  the  won- 
derful seeds  the}r  sow  in  the  earth 
returns  them  an  hundred  fold? 
That  the  flesh  on  which  we  subsist 
has  four  legs  to  escape  us,  while  we 
have  but  two  to  pursue  and  capture 
it  ?  That  the  grain  remains  where 
the  white  man  sows  it,  and  grows. 
That  Winter  with  us  is  the  time  for 
laborious  hunting to  them  a  pe- 
riod of  rest.  For  these  reasons,  they 
have  so  many  children,  and  live 
longer  than  we  do.  I  say  therefore 
unto  every  one  that  will  hear  me, 
that  before  the  cedars  of  our  village 
shall  have  died  down  with  age,  and 
the  maple  trees  of  the  valley  shall 
have  ceased  to  give  us  sugar,  the 
race  of  the  little  corn-sowers  wil1 
have  exterminated  the  race  of  the 
flesh-eaters,  provided  their  hunts- 
men do  not  resolve  to  become  sowers."  His- 
tory shows  the  truth  of  these  prophetic  words. 


a  letter  V,  with  their  cutting  edges  facing  those 
of  the  large  knives.  By  rotating  the  cylinder 
in  the  direction  of  these  blades,  the  roots  are 
reduced  to  quite  small  fragments.   By  turning  to 


A  Double  Action  Boot  Cutter. 


Farmers  arc  beginning  to  learn  the  value  of 
root  crops,  and  their  increasing  consumption 
has  led  to  the  invention  of  several  machines 
for.  slicing  or  reducing  roots  to  a  condition  for 
feeding.  We  present  an  engraving  of  a  very 
good  one,  lately  introduced  from  England.  Its 
novelty  consists  in  the  cutting  knives.  These 
are  of  steel,  placed  on  a  wrought  iron  cylinder, 
(Fig.  1)  which  revolves  in  the  bos  of  Fig.  2.  At 
the  lower  part  of  the  cylinder  as  represented 
in  the  engraving,  is  seen  one  of  these  knives  ex- 
tending the  whole  length,— it  has  an  irregular 
cuttiug  edge  elevated  about  an  inch  above  the 
cylinder,  and  an  opening  below,  which  com- 
municates with  its  interior.  The  box  in  which 
the  cylinder  revolves  has  cast  iron  sides.  If  the 
hopper  is  filled  with  roots  and  the  cylinder 
turned  in  the  direction  of  this  cutting  edge,  they 
are  rapidly  sliced  by  the  knife,  the  pieces  pass- 
ing into  the  cylinder  and  falling  through  its 
open  ends  below.  There  are  two  knives  of 
this  kind  which  divide  the  roots  into  rather 
large  slices,  suitable  for  cattle.      For  cutting- 


Fig.  1. 

smaller,  or  finger  pieces,  for  sheep  and  calves, 
there  are  two  other  sets  of  knives,  one  of 
which  is  represented  in  the  engraving,  at  the 
Side  of  the  cylinder.  These  are  stout  blades 
about  an  inch  lung,  and  are  placed  in  the  form  of 


the  right  or  left,  the  pieces  are  cut  large  or  small 
as  may  may  be  required.  The  roots  when  fed 
to  the  machine,  are  thrown  upon  an  inclined 
iron  grating,  which  forms  one  side  of  the  hopper, 
through  the  openings  of  which  any  loose  dirt 
or  small  stones  may  fall  out.  The  machine  will 
readily  cut  a  bushel  of  roots  in  from  10  to  15 
seconds,  is  substantial  in  make,  and  requires  no 
adjusting,  as  it  cuts  flue  or  coarse  by  merely  re- 
versing the  direction  in  which  the  crank  is 
turned.    TheN.  Y.  manufacturers'  price  is  $35. 


Mulching  Wheat. 


II.  M.,  of  Kent  County,  Maryland,  writes 
to  tho  American  Agriculturist  as  follows :  In 
1858  I  had  a  field  seeded,  part  of  which 
was  a  basin  of  loamy,  spongy,  black  soil.  On 
this  portion  of  the  field  the  frosts  of  Winter  did 
their  work  so  effectually,  that  I  did  not  get  my 
seed  at  harvest.  During  all  the  freezing  weath- 
er the  soil  looked  like  a  honey -eomb ;  and  in  the 
Spring,  the  wheat  which  the  land  had  thrown 
out,  might  be  gathered  up  iu  handfuls.  In  the 
fall  of  1861,  I  sowed  the  same  land,  and  imme- 
dialely  covered  the  whole  basin  with  old  wheat 
straw  ;  last  harvest  this  was  nearly  the  heaviest 
of  the  field.  Now,  for  the  science  of  this:  I 
imagine  it  consists  in  the  fact  that  the  straw 
serves  not  to  keep  the  land  from  freezing,  or  the 
wheat  from  being  thrown  out,  but  to  protect  it 
from  the  air  and  sun,  and  afford  moisture  to  the 
roots  until  they  can  again  fasten  upon  the  soil. 
It  may,  however,  be  that  the  mulch  acts  in  some 
degree  as  a  protection   from  excessive  cold.  (a). 

One  of  my  neighbors  having  similar  land  and 
looking  about  for  a  remedy,  was  told  by  a  Penn- 
sylvania farmer  to  sow  one  and  a  half  bushels 
of  gypsum  to  the  acre  on  such  laud  after  being 
seeded.  He  tried  this  witli  good  effect,  the  sup- 
position being  that  the  weight  of  the  gypsum 
kept  the  soil  more  compact  and  prevented  the 
throwing  out  of  the  plants.  What  think  you  ?  (6.) 

I  suppose,  of  course,  that  thorough  drainage 
would  operate  as  a  permanent  cure  of  such  soils  ; 
but  with  us,  where  stones  are  not  to  be  had,  and 


tiles  are  very  costly  (owing  to  transportation), 
the  next  best  plan  seems  to  be  the  one  I  have 
suggested,  giving,  besides,  a  coat  of  manure.  (.). 
(«.)  Excessive  cold  is  less  injurious  to  winter 
grain,  than  the  alternate  freezing  and  thawing 
by  which  the  roots  are  broken  and  the  plants 
"  thrown  out "  on  wet  soils,  by  the  repeated 
expansions  and  contractions  of  the  earth  around 
them.  Any  covering  of  light  material  capable 
of  holding  considerable  air,  as  snow,  straw, 
leaves,  etc.,  serves  as  a  regrflator  of  the  temper- 
ature. Thus,  on  a  warm  day  the  air  contained 
in  the  mulch  being  a  poor  conductor  of  heat, 
will  partially  prevent  the  soil  beneath  it  from 
thawing,  and  during  the  cold  nights  it  will  par- 
tially retain  the  warmth  gathered  during  the 
day,  and  prevent  hard  freezing.  The  mulch 
may  also  protect  some  of  the  roots  from  being 
killed,  until  they  can  fasten  upon  the  soil,  as 
suggested  by  our  correspondent,  but  its  chief 
value  is  probably  due  to  the  facts  noted  above. 

(6.)  One-and-a-half  bushels  of  gypsum,  sown 
broadcast  over  an  acre  of  ground,  would  have 
no  appreciable  effect  on  the  compactness  of  the 
soil.  In  the  case  mentioned  above,  the  grain 
was  probably  stimulated  to  strong  growth  by 
the  plaster,  and  the  Winter  being  very  favorable, 
the  yield  chanced  to  be  better  than  ordinary. 

(c.)  Yes,  draining  is  the  cure.  Where  neither 
tile  nor  stone  drains  are  available,  wood  drains 
as  described  in  the  June  American  Agriculturist, 
1861,  (Vol.  XX,  page  169)  will  usually  answer 
a  good  purpose,  for  a  few  years  at  least. — Ed.] 


A  New-Jersey  Corn  Marker. 

P.  S.  Brokaw,  of  Somerset  County,  N.  J., 
writes  to  the  American  Agriculturist  as  follows : 
I  propose  offering  your  Iowa  correspondent 
(C.  J.  Ehodes,  in  Jan.  No.,  p.  15)  a  New- Year's 
present,  in  the  form  of  an  improvement  on  his 
corn  marker.  When  about  dispensing  with  tho 
common  plow  in  marking  for  corn,  some  years 
ago,  we  tried  his  plan  among  other  things;  but 
by  perseverance  in  experimenting,  we  have 
found  the  common  block  sled,  with  the  improve- 
ment represented  in  the  annexed  sketch,  far 
superior.  1st.  It  is  much  lighter,  and  requires 
less  room  in  housing ;  2nd.  there  is  no  need  of 
stakes,  set  up  in  the  field  as  guides,  especially  if 


there  are  two  straight  sides  to  the  field;  3d.  the 
marks  will  all  be  of  uniform  width,  which  is  of 
great  importance  in  the  after  cultivation  of  the 
crop  by  horse  power.  In  making  the  imple- 
ment, the  runners,  r,  r,  are,  of  course,  set  as  far 
apart,  as  the  rows  of  corn  are  intended  to  be. 
To  the  middle  of  one  of  the  beams,  b,  a  guide- 
pole,  p,  is  attached,  so  as  to  admit  of  its  being 
swung  over  to  operate  on  either  side  of  the  sled. 
This  pole  is  made  twice  the  length  of  the  dis- 
tance between  the  runners:  thus,  if  the  rows 
are  to  be  four  feet  apart,  the  guide  pole  must  b6 


43 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[February, 


eight  feet  long.  Ou  the  outward  end  of  the 
guide-pole,  a  shoulder  is  cut,  to  enter  a  hole  in 
the  hlock,  m,  which  is  to  serve  as  a  marker. 
The  hlock  turns  on  the  pole,  when  the  latter  is 
changed  from  one  side  to  the  other  of  the  sled. 
A  stout  pin  is  set  in  the  lower  end  of  the  hlock, 
at  right  angles  with  it,  to  make  a  distinct  mark 
on  the  surface  of  the  ground.  Two  pins  are 
also  placed  in  the  top  of  the  runners,  to  keep 
the  guide-pole  in  place,  when  in  use. 

In  operating  with  the  marker,  the  driver  takes 
his  place  upon  the  sled,  and  marks  the  first  two 
rows  by  following  guide  stakes,  or  the  line  of 
the  fence.  The  guide-pole  being  swung  over 
on  the  side  of  the  unmarked  land,  the  marker 
traces  a  line  in  the  center  of  the  space  between 
the  next  two  rows,  aud  ou  reaching  the  end  of 
the  field,  the  horses  are  turned,  the  guide-pole 
reversed,  and  the  team  is  driven  so  as  to  keep 
the  guide-line  exactly  between  the  horses,  and 
thus  the  rows  are  made  parallel  with  those  pre- 
viously marked. 


Winter  Management  of  Sheep. 

The  old  practice  of  leaving  sheep  to  shift  for 
themselves  whenever  the  ground  was  bare,  is 
now  abandoned  by  all  good  flock  masters.  It 
is  not  denied  that  they  can  gather  a  good  deal 
of  nourishment  from  the  meadows,  if  they  have 
not  been  picked  too  bare,  but  the  grass  is  of 
poor  quality,  frost  bitten,  and  is  insufficient  in 
quantity.  It  interferes  with  the  regular  habits  of 
feeding  the  flock,  which  is  a  matter  of  some  im- 
portance with  the  shepherd,  and  a  good  deal 
more  with  the  flock.  After  they  are  once  yard- 
ed in  the  beginning  of  Winter,  it  is  better  to  keep 
them  in  confinement,  unless  it  be  for  a  run  of 
an  hour  or  so,  on  very  pleasant  days. 

Sheep  want  shelter  from  the  storms  and  pro- 
tection from  bleak  winds,  and  no  man  should 
attempt  to  keep  them  in  the  Northern  States, 
unless  he  can  furnish  covers  for  them.  These 
need  not  be  expensive.  The  instinct  of  the  sheep 
prompts  it  to  seek  high,  dry  lands,  especially  for 
lodging,  and  such  a  locality  should  be  selected 
for  the  barri.  They  want  protection  from  the 
snow  and  rain  more  than  fronS  cold.  They  will 
bear  a  very  low  temperature  without  inconven- 
ience, if  their  fleeces  be  dry.  A  barn-cellar  in 
the  side  of  a  gravelly  bill,  with  a  yard  attached, 
is  a  very  good  arrangement  for  them.  If  this 
is  not  upon  the  premises,  cheap  sheds  may  be 
built  with  board  or  thatch  roof.  The  shed  should 
be  deep  and  open  toward  the  south.  It  will  not 
be  expedient  to  confine  more  than  fifty  in  a  sin- 
gle shed  and  yard  ;  and  if  the  flock  be  not  uni- 
formly vigorous,  it  will  be  better  to  reduce  the 
number  to  twenty  five,  assorting  them  according 
to  size  and  vigor,  so  that  all  may  have  an  equal 
chance  at  the  fodder.  If  this  matter  be  over- 
looked, the  stronger  animals  will  push  away  the 
weaker,  and  take  the  choicest  portion  of  the  food. 

The  barn-cellar,  or  shed,  should  have  a  good 
layer  of  muck  or  loam  at  the  beginning  of  the 
feeding  season,  and  should  be  kept  well  littered 
WTith  straw  or  refuse  hay ;  then  the  manure 
■will  not  become  prejudicial  to  health,  and  may 
remain  until  they  are  turned  out  to  grass.  The 
sheds  should  be  furnished  with  convenient  racks 
for  feeding  hay,  grain,  and  roots.  The  sheep 
demands  a  greater  variety  of  food  than  any  oth- 
er domestic  animal.  It  is  said  that  Linnoeus, 
the  distinguished  botanist,  offered  a  variety  of 
fresh  plauts  in  succession  in  feeding  horses, 
and  found  that  they  ate  276  species  and  refused 
212;  cattle  ate  27G  species  and  refused  218;  while 
sheep  took  387  species,  and  refused  only  141. 


This  shows  that  a  good  many  plants  that  are 
rejected  by  other  animals,  may  be  turned  to 
profitable  account  in  sheep  feeding.  We  may 
save  the  small  shrubs  and  weeds  and  coarse 
grasses  which  are  often  burned  in  clearing  brush 
pastures,  always  taking  care  that  the  poisonous 
Low  Laurel  be  not  gathered  with  the  fodder.  We 
can  safely  feed  them  once  a  day  with  this  coarse 
fodder,  and  it  is  perhaps  better  that  it  be  given 
at  night.  In  the  morning  they  should  have  nice 
short  hay,  the  best  the  farm  produces,  and  all 
that  they  will  eat  up  clean,  and  no  more.  The 
same  rule  is  good  for  the  noon-day  meal,  which 
should  be  of  roots  or  grain.  The  grain  should 
be  given  whole,  as  slieep  are  furnished  with 
good  masticators,  doing  their  work  as  perfectly 
as  any  miH.  Nearly  all  the  grains  and  their 
straw  may  be  fed,  changing  occasionally  from 
one  to  the  other.  Turnips,  beets,  carrots  and  po- 
tatoes are.  excellent  food  for  sheep.  It  is  a  mat- 
ter of  a  good  deal  of  importance  that  they 
be  fed  regularly.  No  animal  knows  better  the 
appointed  hour  of  feeding,  or  is  more  impatient 
under  disappointment.  The  stomach  must  be 
kept  quiet  by  regular  feeding,  if  we  wish  the 
flock  to  thrive.  The)'  should  also  have  the  same, 
amount  of  nutriment  every  day,  as  nearly  as  it 
can  be  calculated.  Each  animal  wants  about 
three  per  cent,  of  its  live  weight  in  food,  a  little 
more  if  fed  upon  hay  and  roots,  exclusive- 
ly. If  a  sheep  weigh  a  hundred  pounds,  it 
should  have,  say  half  a  pound  of  corn  or  an 
equivalent  in  other  grain,  a  pound  of  good  hay, 
and  two  pounds  of  straw,  the  three  being  nearly 
equivalent  to  three  pounds  of  good  hay.  A  lit- 
tle observation  will  soon  fix  the  quantity  need- 
ed, aud  prevent  over  or  under  feeding,  both  se- 
rious errors.  Water  should  be  carefully  supplied 
to  the  flock,  and  if  it  is  spring  water  that  never 
freezes,  brought  in  a  pipe  to  a  trough  in  the  yard, 
it  is  all  the  better.  If  a  sheep  falls  off  in  flesh  or 
grows  weak,  it  should  be  immediately  removed 
where  it  can  have  a  full  supply  of  food,  without 
struggling  with  stronger  animals.  Salt  should 
always  be  kept  in  the  yard,  where  sheep  can  have 
free  access  to  it.  By  attention  to  these  small 
matters  at  this  season,  the  flocks  will  be  kept  in 
good  health  and  come  out  robust  in  the  Spring, 
with  full  fleeces. 

Lustre  Wooled  Sheep— The  Lincolnshires. 

The  term  lustre  wool,  is  applied  to  fleeces  of 
long  staple,  possessing  a  bright  or  lustrous  ap- 
pearance. The  Cotswold  and  Leicester  breeds 
are  the  best  known  of  this  class,  in  this  country. 
The  wool  is  in  large  demand,  particularly  for  the 
manufacture  of  what  are  termed  alpaca  fabrics. 
These  derived  their  name  originally  from  the 
animal  (alpaca)  producing  the  silky  hair,  that 
gives  a  lustrous  appearance  to  the  goods.  The 
fitness  of  lustre  wool  for  the  above  purpose, 
gives  it  a  value  above  what  it  would  pos- 
sess, if  graded  only  by  the  standard  of  fineness, 
and  it  is  worthy  the  attention  of  sheep  breeders 
to  inquire  whether  coarse-wooled  sheep  of  this 
class  may  not  bring  a  better  profit  than  the  fa- 
vorite Merino  and  Saxony  breeds,  or  even  the 
middle-wooled  South  Downs.  The  latter  breed 
is  rapidly  and  deservedly  becoming  popular,  par- 
ticularly for  supplying  superior  mutton;  but 
some  of  the  coarser  wooled  varieties  may  be 
equally  profitable  by  greater  weight  of  carcass. 
In  England,  considerable  attention  is  being  at- 
tracted to  the  Lincolnshire  breed,  for  which 
their  advocates  make  special  claims  as  lustre- 
wooled  sheep.  A  recent  writer  iu  the  Mark 
Laue  Express,  gives     figures  which  will    in- 


terest sheep-breeders.  He  states  that  the  clip  of 
six  flocks  of  Lincolnshire  long-wools,  number- 
ing 2,289  fleeces,  yielded  24,917.66  lbs.,  or  a  lit- 
tle over  10J  lbs.  per  head,  which  at  present 
prices  of  wool  of  that  grade  would  yield  nearly 
$5  for  the  fleece  of  each  sheep.  These  are  said 
to  be  "  good  clips,"  but  by  no  means  the  best  to 
be  met  with.  As  to  weight  of  carcass,  extraor- 
dinary instances  are  mentioned,  of  261,  284, 364, 
and  386  lbs.  persheep,  of  two  to  three  years  old, 
and  50  to  75  lbs.per  quarter  is  said  to  be  common. 

The  writer  of  the  above  statement  is  of  opin- 
ion that  the  Lincolnshires  can  be  successfully 
introduced,  wherever  good  natural  pasturage 
can  lie  found,  and  good  turnips,  or  good  clover 
can  be  produced,  but  that  it  is  useless  to  attempt 
their  introduction  into  mountainous  or  even  very 
hilly  districts.  They  are  particularly  suited  to 
rich  valleys  of  those  districts  not  subject  to  fre- 
quent changes  of  weather. 

Due  allowance  must  of  course  be  made  for 
the  enthusiasm  of  one  who  makes  this  or  any 
particular  breed  of  animals  a  hobby,  but  the 
facts  set  forth  are  worthy  of  consideration.  We 
are  not  aware  that  the  Lincolnshires  have  been 
tried  to  any  extent  in  this  country.  If  any  read- 
ers of  the  American  Agriculturist  have  experi- 
mented with  them,  we  should  be  pleased  to  have 
their  notes  for  the  benefit  of  the  community.    * 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Improvement  of  Pastures. 

The  condition  of  the  pastures  in  many  of  the 
older  dairying  districts  is  a  sad  spectacle.  Farms 
that  would  once  carry  forty  cows,  and  make 
eight  thousand  pounds  of  butter,  will  not  now 
support  half  that  number.  In  the  familiar 
language  of  these  districts,  the'  laud  has  been 
"  cowed  to  death."  The  pastures  have  been  fed 
by  cows  from  time  immemorial,  receiving  only 
the  manure  dropped  by  the  animals  during  the 
day.  Three  fourths  of  all  that  the  land  pro- 
duced was  carried  away  to  the  yard,  and  none 
of  this  came  back.  The  soil  grew  thin,  and 
the  grasses  died  out  for  want  of  nourishment. 
What  can  be  done  to  bring  up  such  pastures  ? 

An  ounce  of  practise  is  said  to  be  worth  a 
pound  of  theory.  It  is,  undoubtedly,  if  of  the 
right  kind.  In  the  Spring  of  1860  the  writer  came 
into  possession  of  a  two  acre  lot  of  run-down 
meadow.  It  was  used  as  a  pasture  because  there 
was  not  grass  enough  upon  it  to  pay  for  cutting. 
As  it  was  convenient  to  the  house,  I  used  it  for 
yarding  the  cows  at  night.  They  were  pastured 
elsewhere  a  part  of  the  time,  and  thus  all  the 
products  of  these  two  acres,  and  nearly  four 
more  beside,  were  dropped  upon  the  soil  by  the 
cattle.  There  has  been  a  very  great  improve- 
ment in  the  yield  of  grass  the  past  season,  and 
the  lot,  if  used  for  meadow  another  year,  will 
probably  cut  twice  as  much  hay  as  it  did  in  the 
Summer  of  1860.  The  whole-  secret  of  the  im- 
provement is,  that  more  has  been  returned  to 
the  soil  than  has  been  taken  away. 

A  similar  improvement  is  witnessed  in  pas- 
tures devoted  to  sheep,  if  they  are  not  fed  too 
closely.  Every  thing  the  land  produces  is  return- 
ed to  it  by  the  sheep,  together  with  a  good  deal 
the  land  would  not  get,  but  for  the  intervention 
of  the  feeding  animals.  It  is  sometimes  claim- 
ed that  nothing  is  gained  to  the  land  by  passing 
the  crops  through  the  bodies  of  animals;  that  a 
hundred  pounds  of  hay  rotted  upon  the  land,  is 
worth  just  as  much  as  the  hundred  pounds  fed 
out  and  returned  iu  the  shape  of  manure.  But 
this  can  not  be  so,  for  the  animal  draws  some 
elements  of  its  body  from  air  aud  water,  as  well 


1868.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


43 


as  hay,  while  the  manure  quickens  the  ener- 
gies of  the  soil,  as  the  rotted  hay  would  not. 
It  is  well  known  in  the  districts  devoted  to 
the  feeding  of  fat  cattle,  on  the  ridges  of  Dutch- 
ess and  Putnam  counties,  and  the  western  part 
of  Connecticut,  that  lauds  once  poor,  or  nearly 
run  out  by  hard  cropping  or  pasturing,  have 
been  brought  up  to  very  great  fertility,  by  plas- 
ter and  feeding  animals.  From  one  to  two 
bushels  of  plaster  per  acre  are  sown  every  year, 
and  fattening  cattle  three  years  old  and  upward 
are  kept  in  them  from  Spring  until  Fall.  When 
the  animals  are  turned  in  they  have  their 
frames  already  made,  and  there  is  no  great  draft 
upon  the  soil  for  bone  earth.  The  whole  grass 
is  returned  to  the  soil  in  the  manure,  except  the 
little  carried  off  in  the  gain  of  the  cattle.  Some 
times  a  change  of  stock  from  cows  to  fattening 
bullocks,  or  to  sheep,  will  be  all  that  is  neces- 
sary for  improving  a  worn  out  pasture.  If  cows 
are  kept,  there  must  be  top-dressing,  or  alterna- 
tion from  pasture  to  hoed  crops,  with  heavy 
manuring.  If  the  land  is  not  arable,  top-dressing 
with  compost  or  with  plaster  in  districts  where 
it  does  good,  will  be  sufficient.    Connecticut. 


Manuring  or  Mulching. 

— ♦ 
There  is  much  to  be  said  in  favor  of  top-dress- 
ing grass-lands  in  the  Fall  with  coarse  manure. 
It  protects  the  roots  from  the  severity  of  frost, 
also  from  the  cold  drying  winds,  which  often  pre- 
vail when  the  land  is  bare  of  snow.  Meadows 
so  protected  come  out  in  the  Spring  earlier, 
brighter  and  stronger.  This  no  one  will  deny. 
But  is  this  result  owing  chiefly  or  altogether 
to  the  action  of  the  manure  as  a  fertilizer? 
Doubtless  some  of  it  finds  its  way  to  the  roots 
in  liquid  form,  but  not  much  in  Winter.  The 
benefit  comes  largely  from  its  action  as  a  pro- 
tecting mulch.  And  if  so,  the  question  arises 
whether  this  is  good  economy,  at  least  where 
the  land  is  poor  and  manure  so  expen- 
sive as  it  is  at  the  East.  AVhen  practicable, 
why  not  dress  the  grass-lands  with  a  thin 
coat  of  straw,  leaves,  or  sea-weed  ?  Meanwhile, 
let  the  manure  be  carefully  housed  under  sheds 
near  the  bam,  where  it  will  be  improving  all 
Winter,  and  be  in  a  perfect  state  for  application 
in  Spring.  Perhaps  some  of  our  progressive 
farmers  will  try  the  experiment,  on  a  small 
scale.  Mulch  one  piece  of  sward  this  Fall  with 
straw,  and  another  with  manure.  In  the  Spring 
see  which  looks  best.  Give  both  the  same 
amount  of  manure  in  the  spring-plowing,  and 
see  which  yields  the  best  crops.  The  subject  is 
an  interesting  and  practical  one. 

■ -m-t ill   .-« 

Farm  Notes  from  Minnesota. 

H.  A.  Farmer  of  Goodhue  Co.  gives  to  the 
American  Agriculturist  some  notes  on  farming  in 
Minnesota,  from  which  we  extract  the  fol- 
lowing: Having  to  stack  a  part  of  his  corn, 
he  adopted  the  following  expedient  for  loading 
and  unloading  shocks :  "  I  had  thirteen  ropes, 
used  for  tying  cattle ;  one  of  these  I  would  slip- 
noose  around  a  shock,  draw  it  up  snug,  pass 
the  end  of  the  rope  to  the  man  on  the  load,  and 
then,  with  a  vigorous  toss  and  pull,  land  on 
to  the  wagon  a  shock,  that  would  turn  out  a 
bushel  and  a  half  to  two  bushels  of  ears,  leaving 
the  rope  on  every  shock — thirteen  making  a 
load.  To  unload,  drive  to  the  end  of  the  rick, 
run  a  wide  plank  to  the  wagon  rack,  take  hold 
of  the  rope,  shoulder  arms,  and  walk  the  plank." 

The  following  is  his  method  of  managing  his 


straw  stack:  "I  keep  thirty  head  of  cattle, 
young  and  old,  and  my  straw  is  quite  an  item 
for  their  winter  forage,  but  I  dislike  to  force 
them  to  eat  it.  I  had  thirty-seven  acres  of 
wheat  handy  to  the  cattle  yard,  which  I  drew 
up  and  stacked  in  two  stacks,  and  while  top- 
ping out,  I  spinkled  salt  over  every  layer  of 
bundles.  AVhen  it  was  threshed,  of  course,  the 
salted  straw  was  at  the  bottom  of  the  straw 
stack.  The  result  was,  that  my  stock  ale  the 
straw  with  avidity,  and  made  themselves  very 
comfortable  sheds  about  the  straw  stack.  The 
salt  made  no  difference  with  the  grain." 

■ "•-« *^^*w'  »   m 

For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

How  Much  Pork  in  a  Bushel  of  Corn  ? 

It  is  important  that  hog  raisers  should  know 
how  many  pounds  of  pork  can  be  made  out  of 
a  bushel  of  corn,  that  they  may  decide  whether 
it  will  pay  best  to  sell  their  corn  or  feed  it  to 
hogs,  at  the  existing  prices  of  each.  I  have  been 
making  some  experiments  and  taking  some 
notes  which  may  interest  many  of  your  western 
readers,  as  it  would  interest  me  to  see  similar 
notes  of  plans  and  results  of  others. 

On  the  13th  of  September  last  I  had  on  hand 
120  head  of  hogs,  various  sizes,  from  sucking 
pigs  up  to  250  lb.  hogs.  The  lot  weighed  8,500 
lbs.,  and  all  run  together  in  an  8  acre  lot,  about 
6  acres  of  which  is  set  with  white  clover  and 
blue  grass.  I  fed  them  from  September  13th  to 
December  1st,  660  bushels  of  corn,  by  throwing 
it  to  them  dry  on  the  ground,  together  with  all 
the  stove  coal  ashes  and  salt  they  would  eat,  (the 
coal  was  fed  to  neutralize  any  acid  in  the  stom- 
ach, caused  by  high  feeding,  and  prevent  chol- 
era or  other  diseases.)  They  were  furnished  a 
dry  place  to  sleep  in.  On  the  first  of  December 
I  sold  7,806  lb3.  of  fat  hogs,  and  found  the  entire 
lot  had  gained  9,702  lbs.,  or  14.7  lbs.  for  each 
bushel  of  corn  fed.  They  are  mostly  a  cross  be- 
tween the  Berkshire  and  Suffolk,  with  the  Berk- 
shire predominating;  some  few  have  a  cross  of 
the  Chester  White.  Hog  Raiser 

Ridge  Farm,  Illinois. 


Notes  on  Flax  Culture. 


The  numerous  inquiries  upon  the  subject  of 
flax  culture  received  at  the  Agriculturist  office, 
from  different  sections,  show  that  the  attention 
of  many  cultivators  is  already  turned  to  this 
crop,  which  at  present  promises  to  be  a  remu- 
nerative one  for  the  coming  year  at  least.  The 
following  information  derived  from  many 
sources  will  be  of  value  to  those  inexperienced  in 
growing  flax,  and  we  trust  that  any  difference 
of  treatment  called  for  by  peculiar  circumstan- 
ces of  location  and  soil,  and  additional  sugges- 
tions from  those  experienced  in  the  business  may 
be  communicated  in  time  to  be  of  use  to  our 
readers  before  putting  in  the  spring  crops. 
Flax  prefers  a  rich  sandy  soil,  but  grows  well 
upon  any  land  that  will  yielfl  good  corn.  A 
fine  deep  tilth  of  rich  soil  with  good  draining 
will  give  the  best  crops.  It  is  almost  useless  to 
attempt  the  cultivation  of  this  plant  on  a  wet 
field.  It  is  essential  that  the  ground  be  free  from 
weeds.  In  Europe,  where  labor  is  cheap,  the 
flax  fields  are  regularly  weeded ;  here,  the  pro- 
cess would  be  too  expensive,  aud  hence  the 
cleanest  land  should  be  selected.  Flax  may 
well  follow  corn  or  oats,  or  be  sown  directly 
upon  a  clover  sod.  In  the  latter  case  especially, 
it  would  be  better  to  plow  the  land  the  previous 
Autumn,  leaving  it  in  ridges,  to  allow  the  vege- 
table matter  to  decay,  and  be  more  thoroughly 


mingled  with  the  soil  by  replowing  and  har- 
rowing in  Spring.  Heavy  manuring  is  beneficial 
in  increasing  the  yield  of  seed,  but  it  makes  the 
fiber  coarser  and  less  valuable.  Flax  will  doubt- 
less do  well  after  any  previous  culture  that  has 
left  the  land  "  in  good  heart"  and  free  from 
any  troublesome  weeds. 

The  quantity  of  seed  per  acre  varies  with  the 
purpose  of  cultivation.  If  the  object  be  to  se- 
cure seed  only,  three  pecks  per  acre  is  ample. 
AVhen  sown  thus  thinly  the  stalks  throw  out 
more  branches,  and  a  larger  quantity  of  seed  is 
produced.  AVhere  the  crop  is  grown  for  the 
fiber  alone,  from  one  and  a  half  to  two  bushels 
per  acre  is  used,  according  to  the  strength  of 
the  land.  In  some  districts  of  Europe  where 
the  finest  linens  are  produced,  as  high  as  three 
bushels  per  acre  are  sown.  It  will  probably 
pay  best  to  sow  with  reference  to  raising  both 
seed  and  fiber ;  then  one  bushel,  or  on  strong 
land,  five  pecks  per  acre  will  be  the  proper 
quantity.  The  seed  may  be  obtained  at  almost 
any  city  seed  store.  That  of  good  quality  will 
be  smooth,  slippery,  and  will  sink  in  water.  It 
should  taste  sweet  when  chewed,  and  being- 
broken,  should  appear  of  a  light  yellowish  green 
color,  and  very  oily.  If  large  quantities  are  re- 
quired, it  would  be  well  to  correspond  with 
those  in  the  trade  at  Cincinnati  or  St.  Louis, 
which  are  commercial  centers  of  the  large  flax 
growing  districts,  where  the  seed  is  chiefly 
the  object  of  culture. 

The  time  of  sowing,  of  course,  varies  with 
the  latitude;  the  rule  is  to  get  in  the  crop  as 
early  as  can  be  done  without  danger  from  frost. 
In  Rensselaer  and  Washington  Co.'s,  in  N.  Y. 
State,  about  latitude  43u,  where  large  quantities 
are  cultivated  annually,  it  is  usually  sown  from 
May  1st  to  10th.  The  seed  is  thrown  broad- 
cast, and  it  requires  considerable  care  to  scat- 
ter it  evenly.  Calm  weather  should  be  chosen 
for  the  work,  or  if  that  be  not  possible,  the  sow- 
er should  always  work  with  the  wind  at  his 
side,  blowing  alternately  on  his  left  hand  and 
on  his  right  as  he  paces  up  and  down  the  field. 
A  more  uniform  distribution  of  seed  could  be 
secured  by  going  over  the  ground  twice,  and 
sowing  half  the  amount  of  seed  each  time. 
The  quicker  the  flax  germinates  and  appears 
above  ground,  the  better  the  crop  is  likely  to 
turn  out.  On  this  account,  it  is  a  great  advan- 
tage when  the  sowing  can  be  done  immediately 
before  a  shower.  If  there  be  drouth  at  the 
proper  time  for  putting  in  seed,  its  effects  can 
be  partially  guarded  against  by  a  deep  thorough 
harrowing  immediately  before  sowing.  The 
seed  is  to  be  harrowed  in  lightly,  and  the  use 
of  the  roller  after  this  last  harrowing  will  be 
beneficial  especially  on  light  soils.  Details  as 
to  harvesting  and  subsequent  treatment  of  the 
crop,  will  be  given  in  a  future  number. 

We  will  add  a  few  items  in  answer  to  those 
asking  special  information  on  the  subject :  The 
average  yield  of  an  acre  of  good  land  is  a  ton 
of  rotted  flax,  aud  from  ten  to  twelve  bushels 
of  seed.  A  ton  of  rotted  flax  properly  treated, 
will  give  from  450  to  500  lbs.  of  dressed  flax, 
about  70  lbs.  of  coarse  tow,  and  12  to  15  lbs. 
fine  tow.  It  would  not  pay  to  transport  flax  in 
the  stra.vr  to  any  great  distance ;  if  properly 
broken,  some  60  per  cent,  of  the  woody  part 
may  be  separated,  and  then  it  can  be  profitably 
baled  and  sent  to  market.  The  brake  for  this 
work  described  in  the  January  Agriculturist,  (p. 
12),  can  be  as  readily  moved  from  one  neighbor- 
hood to  another  as  the  ordinary  threshing  ma- 
chine, thus  enabling  the  farmers  of  a  large  dis- 
trict to  prepare  then'  straw  for  transportation. 


44 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[Febuuakt, 


American  Jute. 

At  the  present  time  there  is  great  interest  in 
every  plant  which  promises  to  be  available  for 
fiber.  In  the  January  Agriculturist  a  brief  notice 
was  given  of  the  American  Jute:  which  lias 
called  out  numerous  queries  as  to  the  appearance 
of  the  plant  which  furnishes  it;  we  give  an 
engraving  of  the  flower,  leaf  and  seed  ves- 
sel. This  sketch,  which  is  about  half  the  nat- 
ural size,  will  enable  anyone  to  recognize  it 
among  our  wild  plants.  The  flower  is  general- 
ly rose-colored,  but  is  sometimes  white,  with  a 
crimson  centre.  The  lower  leaves  are  more  ir- 
regular in  outline  than  those  represented  in  the 
engraving,  and  all  are  covered  on  the  lower  side 
with  a  light-colored,  velvety  down.  The  plant 
varies  somewhat  in  different  localities,  and  it 
was  formerly  supposed  that  there  were  two  spe- 
cies, which  were  named  Hibiscus  Moscheutos,  and 
Hibiscus  2>alustris ;  but  they  prove  to  be  the  same 
plant  growing  under  different  circumstances, 
one  on  the  sea-shore  and  the  other  inland,  and 
the  former  name  (H.  Moscheutos)  is  retained. 

Though  the  plant  grows  most  abundantly  in 
the  neighborhood  of  salt  water,  it  is  not  very 
rare  in  the  interior.  It  will  probably  grow  al- 
most anywhere,  but  will  doubtless  flourish  best 
in  low  grounds.  We  have  for  several  years  cul- 
tivated it  for  ornament,  in  a  very  sandy  spot, 
where  it  grew  with  great  vigor.  The  plautma'y 
be  raised  from  seed,  or  by  dividing  the  large 
clumps  of  roots.  All  our  knowledge  of  its  al- 
leged value  as  a  fiber  producing  plant  is  obtain- 
ed from  the  statement  of  the  patentee  employing 
it  for  that  use.  We  only  notice  it  as  one  of  the 
articles  now  claiming  a  share  of  public  attention. 


Flax   Cotton. 

An  interesting  sample  of  battiE  made  from 
flax  has  been  placed  on  the  Agriculturist  Exhi- 
bition tables.  It  is  intended  for  quilting  dress- 
es, comforters,  and  such  other  purposes  as  cot- 
ton batting  is  employed  for.  The  spoeimeti 
was  made  at  a  factory  in  Loekport,  N.  Y.,  which 
is  the  center  of  a  large  flax  raising  district.  The 
flax  straw  is  first  pressed  through  a  brake,  the 
invention  of  Stephen  Randall,  of  Rhode  Island, 
which  consists  of  a  series  of  fluted  rollers  so 
geared  that  they  run  at  different  speeds,  thus 
producing  a  motion  by  which  the  fiber  is  fired 
fi'Om  the  woody  portion.     After  passing  through 


a  duster,  which  further  cleans  it,  the  fiber,  if  re- 
quired white,  is  bleached,  dried  and  carded.  In 
making  yarn  or  twine,  suitable  machinery,  simi- 
lar to  that  used  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton,  is 
employed.  It  is  the  intention  of  the  company 
to  supply  an  article  which  may  be  mixed  with 
wool  or  cotton  in  fabrics,  to  make  twine,  crash, 
bags,  railroad  car  backing,  and  similar  goods. 

■  i        »»»       i  « 

About  the  Weather. 


The  remark  is  often  made,  that  this  or  that 
month  has  been  unusually  cold  or  warm.  A  few 
very  hot  or  cold  days  are  apt  to  give  the  impres- 
sion, that  the  month  or  season  has  been  very  dif- 
ferent from  the  average,  with  respect  to  tempera- 
ture. But  the  same  month  through  a  series  of 
years  shows  a  great  uniformity  of  temperature, 
and  the  years,  taken  one  with  the  other,  vary 
but  little.  The  following  table  of  observations, 
taken  by  Mr.  H.  T.  Haviland,  at  Brooklyn,  N. 
Y.,  gives  a  striking  illustration  of  this.  Here, 
but  one  observation  each  day  is  made  use  of 
—from  May  1st  to  Nov.  1st  at  6  A.  M. ;  and 
from  Nov.  1st  to  May  1st,  at  7  A.  M.  It  will  bo 
seen  here,  that  the  average  of  January  and  July 
together,  give  very  nearly  tho  average  of  the 
year ;  and  so  with  the  other  opposite  months. 
It  must  be  borne  in  mind,  that  the  average  of 
47°  is  not  tbe  mean  of  the  year,  but  only  that  of 
the  morning  observation.  Observations  taken 
in  New- York  city  six  times  a  day,  during  nine 
years,  gave  never  less  than  53°,  nor  over  55°,  as 
the  average  temperature  of  each  year : 


[  January. 
>J»ir 


j  February 
/  August .. 

j  March... 

(  September. 

t  April... 
|  October 

/May... 
\  November. 

f  June 

\  December. 

Year's  Av*ge, 


1858. 
33°  .41'. 

67°  50° 

1859. 
28°  .41'. 
66°  47° 

1860. 
29°  Av. 
65°  47° 

1861. 
27°  Av. 
66°  46X 

1 

28 
65 

24 

65    44>tf 

31 
65 

48 

27 
66 

46^ 

31 

66 

48 

27 

66 

32 

59    45,^ 

39 
59 

49 

37 
58 

47X 

34 
59 

46^ 

3*3 

61 

44 

52    48 

43 

47 

45 

43 

50 

46# 

43 
53 

48 

42 
52 

50 

38    44 

51 
42 

43 

53 
43 

48 

49 

39 

44 

53 

11 

65 

33    49 

01 
30 

45% 

61 
29 

45 

62 
32 

47 

60 
3! 

47 

47 

47 

47 

1S5S. 
17  Feb.  11° 
24     "     10 
5  Mar.  10 


COLDEST   DAYS. 
1859.         I       1860. 

10  Jan.lob.0.    Uan.    8° 

11  "  4  "  I  2  "  7 
11  Feb.rsa.  0..  2  Feb.  5 
28Dec.lO  "  S  "  8 
29    "     8  "     !17     "      12 


1861. 
13  Jan. 


14 

8Feb.4b.O. 
9  Feb.  4  a.  0. 
7  March  15 


1862. 
Av* 
65°  46X 

46>i 

47 
47 


46 
47 


1802. 
5  Jan.  10° 
•5  Feb.  17 
7  Dec.  14 

20  "     10 

21  "        7 


12    3    4    5    6    7    8    9  1(1  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  2122  23  24  25  26  27  28  29  30 

20 

15 

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i 

Valuable  Record,  for  Farmers  and  Others. 

The  accompanying  diagram  shows  a  simple 
and  very  satisfactory  plan  for  keeping  a  record 
of  matters  which  arc  subject  to  variation — as, 
for  instance  :  the  hight  of  the  thermometer,  the 
rise  and  fall  in  price  of  grain  or  other  products, 
the  a-uount  of  yearly  produce  on  the  farm,  etc. 
It  has  long  been  in  use  among  scientific 


but  is  so  admirably  adapted  for  operations  on 
the  farm  and  elsewhere,  that  thousands  of  lite 
readers  of  the  American  Agriculturist  will  be  in- 
terested in  examining  it*  working,  and  in  mak- 
ing it  useful  in  their  own  business  matters. 
Our  illustration  was  prepared  some  time  since, 
to  exhibit  the  method  as  actually  used  in  our 
office,  for  noting  the  changes  in  the  barometer ; 
but  in  a  recent  number  of  the  London  Garden- 
ers' Chronicle,  a  similar  plau  is  shown,  for  ex- 
hibiting the  increase  and  decrease  of  the  flow  of 
milk  in  a  number  of  cows,  and  that  being  a 
matter  of  very  general  interest,  we  will  illus- 
trate the  working  of  the  record  so  applied. 

The  numbers  at  the  top  of  the  diagram  desig- 
nate the  days  of  the  month,  to  each  of  which 
is  assigued  one  of  the  spaces  made  by  the  perpen- 
dicular lines.    The  figures  at  tho  sides,  1,  5,  10, 
etc.,  stand  for  quarts  of  milk,  each  space  be- 
tween the  horizontal  lines  representing  one  quart. 
The  daily  yield  of  milk  by  each  cow  is  shown  by 
the  irregular  lines,  running  from  left  to  right. 
Thus:  it  appears  by  the  above  record,  that  on 
the  1st  day  of  the  month,  one  cow   (a)  gave   8 
quarts,  and  the  other  (b)  11|  quails.    On  the  2d 
day  there  was  an  increase  in  each,  a,  yielding  94 
qts.,  b,  12  qls.    Tho  increase  continued  with  a, 
until  it  reached  11 J  qts.,  on  the  8th  of  the  month, 
when  there  was  a  slight  decline  for  a  few  days, 
after  which  the  amount  rose  to  over  19  qts.,  on 
the  17th  day,   and    then    rapidly  fell    away. 
Now,  if  notes  were  made  in  the  perpendicular 
spaces  under  the  dates,  of  the  different  kinds 
of   feed  given,   change  of  pasture,  and  other 
circumstances  supposed  to  affect  the  flow  of 
milk,  a  glance  at  the  record  would  determine 
whether  the  change  were  favorable  or  otherwise. 
The  cases  noted  above  are  imaginary  ones,  but 
they  serve  to  fully  illustrate  the  method.    The 
horizontal    spaces    can    also    denote    degrees 
for    the    thermometer   or   barometer,  bushels 
for  grain,  cents  for  the  price  of  commodities,  or. 
any  other  denomination  required;  and  the  num- 
ber of  spaces  can  be  altered  to  suit  any  busi- 
ness or  other  matter.    The  perpendicular  spaces 
can  also  be  used  to  represent  as  many  weeks, 
months  or  years  as  are  desired.     Where  several 
records,  liable  to  become  confused,  are  marked 
on  one  sheet,  they  can  be  kept  distinct  by  us- 
ing different  colored  pencils  or  ink,  or  by  mak- 
ing doited,  or  broken  lines. 
As     remarked    above,    the 
changes  of  the  barometer  are 
recorded  hi  this  manner  at 
our  office,  aud  it  perfectly 
demonstrates  the  usefulness 
of  the  plan,  to  notice  how 
exactly  the  rise  and   fall  of 
the     mercury     correspond 
with   the  variations  in  the 
atmosphere.    Where  the  in- 
dicating line  rises,   the  ac- 
companying    notes     read: 
"Fine   weather,"   where   il 
falls,     there    is    recorded : 
"  Cloudy,     rain,     snow,    or 
wind,"  etc.    A  few  years  of 
such  records,  pertaining  to 
various  farming  operations, 
would  be  invaluable  as  ex- 
hibiting the  success  or  failure  of  different  meth- 
ods of  treatment.     They  would  be  like  charts, 
pointing  out  paths  to  be  followed,  and  rocks 
to  be  avoided.    Whatever  appeals  directly  to 
the  eye,  produces  a  stronger  impression  than 
any  written  statement  can  do.     One  who,  upon 
consulting  his  chart,  should  find  his  lines  con- 
tinually running  down  hill,  would  be  strong!)' 
incited  to  a  change  of  his  present  management. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


45 


For  the  American  Agriculturist, 

Cheap    and  Convenient  Barns  for 
Countries. 


New 


Where  durable  timber  can  be  procured,  such 
as  locust  or  cedar,  cut  posts  four  feet  longer  than 
(lie  hig'ht  desired  for  the  barn ;  frame  a  tic  ou  the 
top*  of  each  four  posts;  let  the  tie  project  eight 
inches  beyond  each  outside 
post,  (i.e.,  let  the  ties  be  one 
foot  and  4  inches  longer 
than  the  width  of  the  barn). 
On  top  of  the  ties  cut  in  a 
boxing  or  groove,  li  to  2 
inches  deep,  for  the  plate  to 
rest  in.  Now  sink  holes  in 
the  earth,  three  or  three  and- 
a-half  feet  deep,  bringing 
the  bottoms  of  the  holes  all 
to  the  same  level;  which 
holes  are  to  receive  the  lower 
ends  of  the  posts.  Raise 
the  bents  one  by  one,  tam- 
ping the  earth  firmly  around 
the  posts  as  the  holes  are 
filled  up;  pin  the  plates  to 
the  top  of  the  ties ;  and  finish 
the  roof  as  for  a  frame  barn. 
For  side  covering,  take  2x4 
inch  scantling,  and  spike 
them  on  the  posts  firmly, 
with  G  inch  spikes,  as  far 
apart  as  is  desirable,  (say 
4  feet),  and  nail  the  siding 
to  them.  If  the  two  end  tie: 
and  the  two  plates  are  al- 
lowed to  project  two  inches  over  the  posts,  out- 
side, it  will  save  scantling  in  those  places.  For 
the  floor  foundation,  lay  down  three  or  four 
pieces  of  hewn  timber  across  the  width  of  the 
floor-way ;  on  top  of  these  lay  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  hewn  timbers  lengthwise  of  the  floorway, 
and  lay  the  flooring  plank  across  them.  A  piece 
of  timber  framed  in  the  posts  just  under  the 
plates,  and  over  the  floorway,  will  receive  and 
hold  fast  the  top  end  of  the  posts  to  which  the 
doors  are  hung,  while  the  lower  ends  are  mor- 
ticed in  the  floor  foundation.  Hang  the  doors 
and  the  barn  is  finished.  Though  so  little  of  a 
carpenter  that  I  do  not  know  the  names  of  the 
timbers  to  a  barn,  I  have  just  erected  one, 
without  aid  from  a  carpenter. In  this  con- 
nection I  would  suggest  a  plan  for  a  convenient 
and  economical  barn,  for  a  large  farm,  viz.: 
40  by  64  feet,  divided  into  four  bays,  each  10 
ft.  wide,  by  40  ft.  long.  Make  threshing  floors, 
and  hang  doors,  to  the  two   middle  bays  (6,  c). 


thousands  of  barns,  but  have  never  seen  any 
Which  economize  space  like  one  on  this  plan. 
Such  a  barn,  built  with  posts  set  in  the  earth, 
would  require  20  posts  ;  which  planted  3}  feet 
deep,  with  the  soil  well  rammed  down,  would 
withstand  any  wind,  without  braces ;  for 
there  would  be  20  trees  (posts)  to  be  upturned. 

Seattle,  Washington  Territory.  EoONOMT. 


IS 

18 

b 

18 
C 

16 

Drive  on  one  floor  (6,)  and  unload  the  hay  or 
grain  in  one  bay  («)  at  the*  end  of  the  barn : 
close  the  doors  to  that  floor,  and  drive  the  loads 
on  the  other  floor  (c);  fill  up  the  other  bay  (J), 
and  the  floor  first  used  {b),  and  still  there  is  a 
threshing  floor  (c)  for  use.  A  stable  can  be  made 
in  the  bay  (d)  at  the  end  of  the  barn  next  the  un- 
filled floor,  and  by  building  the  same  floor  a 
little  higher  from  the  ground,  a  convenient  cel- 
lar for  roots,  can  be  constructed.    I  havo  scon 


Farm  Gates- 


Among  all  tho  improvements  which  have  been 
made  iu  farm  conveniences,  there  is  still  a  lack 
of  a  simple,  cheap  gate ;  one  which  will  be  suf- 
ficiently strong  to  stand  constant  and  rough 
usage,  and  yet  not  so  heavy  as  to  sag.  Nothing 
is  more  annoying  than  to  be  obliged  to  carry 
half  the  weight  of  tho  gate  in  the  hands, 
every  time  it  is  required  to  be  opened  or  closed. 

Isaac  P.  Allen,  Whiteside  county,  111.,  scuds  us 
a  plan  of  a  gate,  which  he  claims  is  free  from 
the  usual  objections.  It  is  certainly  very  simple, 
and  can  readily  be  made  by  one  of  slight  me- 
chanical skill.  The  head  piece,  A,  is  made  of 
4  inch  scantling.  The  brace,  B,  and  the  bars  are 
mortised  into  this  and  secured  by  pins  or  bolts. 
The  heel  piece,  C,  is  made  of  two  pieces  of  inch 
boards,  fastened  one  on  each  side  of  the  cross 
bars.  Tho  latch  D,  is  a  simple  bar  of  hard" 
wood,  sliding  on  the  cross  bar  and  between  the 
boards  of  the  tail  piece,  and  kept  iu  place  by 
the  strip  placed  at  E.  Tho  latch  is  kept  closed 
by  means  of  a  hickory  spring  F,  which  is  fas- 
tened by  staples  to  the  latch,  and  to  the 
gate;  the  cud  of  this  spring  projects  above  tho 
latch  and  serves  as  a  handle  by  which  to  draw 
it  back.  To  hang  the  gate,  pins  of  X  inch  iron 
are  placed  in  each  end  of  the  head  piece,  and 
irons  G  and  II,  With  a  hole  punched  in  the  end 
to  receive  the  pins,  are  fixed  in  the  gate  post. 
These  are  fastened  by  an  iron  wedge  driven  iu 
by  the  side,  or  what  would  be  better,  may  have 
a  nut  fitted  so  that  they  may  be  secured  in 
place.  The  catch  is  represented  at  I ;  it  should 
be  made  of  hard  wood,  and  be  bolted  to  the 
post  at  the  proper  hight  to  receive  the  latch. 
This  will  allow  the  gate  to  be  opened  both 
ways.  There  are  now  several  weeks  in  which 
much  can  be  done  in  making  gates  and  similar 
work.  They  should  be  made  of  hard  wood  and 
well  seasoned,  the  mortises  put  together  with  a 
tight  fit,  and  every  tenon  thoroughly  pinned  Or 


bolted.  The  slats  and  brace  may  be  |  of  an  inch 
thick  and  4  inches  wide.  The  posts  should  be 
well  seasoned,  with  all  the  sap-wood  cut  off  and 
the  portion  which  enters  the  ground  well  char- 
red. They  should  be  set  at  least  3,  and  better 
4  feet  in  the  ground,  with  the  earth  well 
pounded  in  to  hold  them  firm. 


Brush-harrowing  Potatoes. 

Mr.  Jonas  Weed,  of  Fairfield  Co.,  Conn., 
writes  to  the  American  Agriculturist,  that  much 
time  and  labor  may  bo  saved,  and  weeds 
effectually  destroyed  in  potato  culture,  on  dry, 
light  soils,  by  turning  furrows  from  both  sides 
upon  the  rows  when  the  potatoes  first  appear, 
following  immediately  with  a  brush  harrow, 
which  he  constructs  as  follows :  In  a  stick  of 
timber  about  4  inches  square,  and  8  or  9  feet  in 
length,  he  bores  2-iuch  holes  18  inches  apart, 
and  fastens  the  butt  ends  of  tough  saplings,  or 
brush,  in  these  holes.  The  timber  follows  tho- 
team  at  right  angles,  the  brush  projecting 
behind  it.  The  draft  should  be  attached  to 
tho  underside  of  the  timber,  so  as  partially  to 
raise  it  from  the  ground  and  throw  its  weight 
upon  the  brush.  The  covering  of  dirt  kills  tho 
weeds,  while  tho  potatoes  are  not  injured  by  it. 
Mr.  J.  further  says  that  an  implement  made 
in  the  same  manner,  with  the  exception  of  sub- 
stituting a  plank,  instead  of  the  timber,  so  ar- 
ranged as  to  incline  forward,  is  excellent  for  pre- 
paring for  clover,  and  other  fine-seeded  crops. 

Implement  for  Cutting  Hay. 

An  unknown  correspondent,  modestly  signing 
himself"  J.  C.  M.,"  sends  us  a  neat  model  of  the 
implement  illustrated  below,  of  which  he  writes : 
"  It  has  long  been  in  use  in  England  and  in  some 
parts  of  this  country,  and  is  so  much  superior 
to  the  common  hay-knife  that  it  ought  to  tnko 
its  place.  It  is  called  the  Hay  Spade.  It  is 
made  of  steel  plate  about  I  of  an  inch  thick,  or 
less,  cut  in  the  form  here  represented,  and 
thinned  from  the  middle  to  each  side  until  the 
edges  are  sharp.  When  finished  it  measures 
about  10x14  inches,  more  or  less,  as  desired. 
The  socket  for  the  handle  is  bent  slightly  for- 
ward, to  prevent  rubbing  the  back  of  the  hands 
against  the  hay  when  cutting.  The  handle  i» 
of  wood,  about  2  or  24 
feet  long,  made  wide  at 
the  end  for  the  socket, 
and  about  the  size  of  a 
stout  fork  handle  at  the 
upper  part,  with  a  piece 
the  same  thickness  about 
five  inches  long,  across 
the  top.  Tho  handle  Is  fastened  in  its  place  by  a 
screw  nail  from  the  back  of  the  socket  I  would 
not  give  mine  for  a  cart  load  of  the  common 
kind,  if  I  could  not  replace  it  with  another ;  it 
saves  time,  hay,  and  labor,  is  cheap,  strong,  dur- 
able.   One  will  last  a  lifetime  if  used  with  care.** 


Splitting  Wood. — S.  Parsons,  says,  the  boys 
engaged  in  splitting  the  year's  fuel,  can  make  it 
easier,  and  lessen  the  danger  of  cutting  their  feet 
by  the  following  arrangement:  Take  a  large 
block  of  hard  wood,  say  two  feet  or  more  in 
diameter,  and  of  convenient  length;  set  it  up 
endwise,  and  iu  the  middle  dig  out  a  hole  seven 
or  eight  inches  in  diameter,  and  about  six  inch- 
es deep.  This  will  hold  the  sticks  upright,  and 
they  can  be  split  into  several  pieces  without 
handling.  The  hole  can  be  easily  made  in 
a  very  little  time  with   an  auger   and  chisel. 


46 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[February, 


Sorghum  Culture. 

o 

The  importance  which  is  attached  to  Sor- 
ghum, especially  at  the  "West,  is  shown  by  the 
holding  of  two  Conventions  of  those  engaged  in 
cultivating  the  plant,  and  manufacturing  its  pro- 
ducts. The  one  held  at  Rockford,  111.,  Dec.  3, 
was  attended  by  over  150  practical  men,  whose 
experience  on  various  points,  as  elicited  in  the 
discussions,  will  doubtless  be  of  value  to  the 
country  at  large.  The  subjects  proposed  for 
discussion  were :  1st.  Best  seed  and  its  prepa- 
ration ;  2nd.  Best  soil  and  its  preparation ;  3d. 
Mode  of  cultivation;  4th.  Machinery  for  work- 
ing up  the  cane  and  preparing  its  juice.  The 
discussion  upon  the  first  topic  shows  that  great 
difficulty  is  experienced  in  procuring  good  seed, 
and  that  this  is  liable  to  deteriorate.  The  fol- 
lowing is  the  report  of  the  committee  on  seed, 
which  was  adopted  by  the  convention. 

REPORT   OF  THE   CO>IMITTEE  ON  SEED. 

Your  committee,  to  which  was  referred  the  sub- 
ject of  seed,  beg  leave  to  report,  that  iu  conse- 
quence of  the  great  diversity  of  opinions  and 
experience  of  different  producers,  they  find  it  dif- 
ficult to  designate  any  one  variety  of  cane  to  he 
preferred  to  all  others.  It  appears  from  accounts 
given  by  various  members  of  the  convention,  that 
any  oue  of  the  canes  grown  in  the  country,  when 
raised  from  the  pure  seed,  with  proper  culture  and 
care,  produces  good  results.  In  the  selection  of 
seed,  therefore,  special  regard  should  he  had  to  the 
question  of  its  purity  or  freedom  from  amalgama- 
tion with  other  plants  which  tend  to  Its  deteriora- 
tion. The  production  from  the  yellow  Imphee,  or 
African  cane,  has  more  frequently  resulted  in  crys- 
tallization, than  any  other.  This  variety  is  also 
desirable  on  account  of  its  habit  of  early  maturing. 
Of  the  different  kinds  of  Chinese  cane  known  in 
this  country,  the  committee  infer  from  all  the  in- 
formation before  them,  that  neither  the  smallest, 
earliest  varieties,  nor  yet  the  largest  and  later  sorts, 
but  a  medium  between  these  two  extremes — the 
committee  know  not  by  what  name  to  designate  it 
— is  most  desirable  for  cultivation.  Asa  means  of 
success  in  the  business,  the  committee  urge  careful 
observation  on  the  part  of  all  growers,  and  recom- 
mend the  selection  of  such  crops  as  the  experience 
of  producers  has  proved  most  profitable,  always 
guarding  with  the  most  scrupulous  care  against 
every  appearance  of  mixture  with  all  and  any  of 
the  plants,  with  which  the  cane  will  hybridize. 

The  committee  would  also  recommend  the  im- 
portation of  seed  from  time  to  time,  from  localities 
where  the  climate  is  more  congenial  to  the  perfec- 
tion of  the  cane,  peradveuture  the  deterioration  in 
its  quality,  sometimes  noticeable,  may  thereby  be 
obviated.    All  of  which   is  respectfully  submitted. 

C.  A.  HtTNTrNGTON,   I  ,, ,;,,„„ 

E.H.Seward,       '[Committee. 

Mr.  Murtfeldt offered  the   following  resolution: 

Seeing  there  are  so  many  names  given  to  the 
different  Kinds  of  cane,  according  to  color  of  seed, 
or  any  other  peculiarity,  in  order  to  secure  a  more 
uniform  designation,   I   offer  *the  following: 

Sesolued,  That  iu  the  estimation  of  this  Conven- 
tion there  are  only  three  kinds  of  cane,  viz.:  Chinese 
Sugar  Cane,  having  black  seeds,  growing  in  prongs 
from  2  to  7  inches  long ;  the  second  or  tufted  varie- 
ty to  he  known  as  African  ;  the  third,  lately  intro- 
duced, to  be  known  as  the  Otaheitau,  having  long 
heads,  7  to  12  inches  long,  and  1  to  2  inches  thick. 

The  uncertainty  with  regard  to  seed  appears 
to  be  one  of  the  greatest  difficulties  of  the  culti- 
vator, and  it  is  doubtful  if  sending,  as  some 
propose,  to  more  southern  localities,  will  per- 
manently better  the  matter.  What  is  needed, 
is  a  variety  suited  to  a  northern  latitude,  which 
will  maintain  itself  year  after  year.  The  Sor- 
ghum is,  like  the  Indian  corn,  liable  to  great  va- 
riation, and  a  permanent  variety,  or  race,  can 
only  be  established  by  careful  selection  and  cul- 
tivation.    The  fact,  that  one  cultivator  raised 


twelve  varieties  from  one  kind  of  seed,  shows 
the  want  of  stability  in  the  varieties.  There  is 
no  doubt  that  by  cultivating  for  the  seed  alone, 
and  carefully  rejecting  that  from  inferior  plants; 
a  variety  may  be  established,  whicli  will  be  su- 
perior to  any  now  in  cultivation.  There  is 
needed  careful  observation  as  to  what  relation, 
if  any,  the  saccharine  quality  of  the  cane  bears 
to  the  color  and  marking  of  the  seed,  and  the 
form  of  the  heads.  Whoever  will  conduct  a 
series  of  experiments  with  a  view  to  improving 
the  Sorghum,  will  do  much  to  remove  the  un- 
certainty attending  its  culture.  The  opinion  of 
the  members  of  the  convention  upon  the  prepa- 
ration of  the  seed,  was  divided,  some  preferring 
to  plant  it  dry,  and  others  soaking  and  sprout- 
ing previous  to  sowing.  Mr.  Pardee  found  it 
advantageous,  to  soak  the  seed  24  to  30  hours 
iu  a  solution  of  "chloride  of  lime  and  vitriol  " 
(proportions  not  stated,)  he  then  puts  it  in  bags, 
and  covers  in  warm  ground,  until  it  sprouts. 

With  regard  to  soil,  nothing  especially  new 
was  brought  forward,  the  prevailing  opinion 
was  that  any  soil  being  suitable  for  Indian 
corn,  would  do  for  Sorghum.  Manuring,  and 
deep  plowing  in  the  Fall,  were  generally  advo- 
cated, and  a  number  of  speakers  gave  their 
experience  in  favor  of  ridging  the  ground,  by 
throwing  two  furrows  together,  and  planting 
on  the  ridges. 


Inquiries  for  Sorghum  Seed. 

e 

We  are  sorry  to  be  unable  to  respond  to  a 
multitude  of  inquiries  as  to  where  pure  seed  can 
be  obtained  in  quantity  for  next  year.  We  made 
diligent  efforts  to  get  a  lot  from  France  for  dis- 
tribution last  Spring,  but  found  that  there  was 
the  same  deterioration  there  as  here,  owing  to 
similar  carelessness  in  keeping  it  free  from  hy- 
bridization.. Learning  that  Messrs.  Vilmorin, 
Andrieux  &  Co.  had  sent  to  China  for  new  seed, 
we  called  upon  them  while  in  Paris  last  Sum- 
mer, to  try  and  secure  some  ;  but  they  informed 
us  that  they  would  pro'bably  be  able  to  procure 
only  a  small  quantity,  and  that  they  should 
most  likely  propagate  all  the}'  did  get,  so  as  to 
obtain  a  supply  for  the  season  of  1864.  They 
kindly  promised,  however,  that  if  they  could 
possibly  spare  even  a  small  quantity,  they 
would  send  it  to  us — but  held  out  little  encour- 
agement. We  shall  be  glad  for  any  reliable  in- 
formation as  to  where  pure" seed  may  be  obtain- 
ed, as  there  is  now  a  great  call  for  it. 
i  The  publisher  of  the  Agriculturist  feels  no  little 
gratification  at  the  result  of  his  efforts  a  few 
years  ago,  when  he  scattered  freely,  over  the 
country  tens  of  thousands  of  parcels  of  sorghum 
seed.  Though  we  charged  nothing  for  the  seed 
except  the  postage,  and  advised  a  trial  of  but  a 
small  quantity  at  first,  yet  not  a  few7  cotempora- 
ries  cried  out  "  humbug."  This  same  seed  laid 
the  foundation  for  the  immense  crop  of  sweet- 
ening grown  at  the  West  the  past  year.  Prob- 
ably three-fourths  or  more  of  all  the  sorghum 
grown  in  our  country  as  yet,  has  come  from 
the  seed  originally  sent   out  from   this   office. 


Good  for  tub  New-Hampshire  Girls. — In 
Rockingham  County,  N.  II.,  an  aged  farmer 
has  sent  three  sons  to  the  war,  leaving  him- 
self short  of  help.  Fourteen  of  the  young 
women  of  that  place  recently  collected  together 
and  husked  a  hundred  bushels  of  corn  for  him. 
Their  "lily  hands"  may  have  been  roughened 
by  the  work,  but  the  good  hearts  going  with 
such  hands,  will  be  a  treasure  to  the  fortunate 
winnars,  worth   far  more  than  delicate  fingers. 


Blinks  from  a  Lantern-  •  •  -XXXII. 


REDIVIVUS. 
DIOGENES  VISITS  RICHARD  BULLION  ESC;. 

"  It  is  capital  that  makes  good  farming,"  said 
Mr.  Bullion,  as  he  bowed  me  into  his  parlor,  and 
pointed  me  to  such  a  seat  of  silky,  downy 
softness,  as  Diogenes  rarely  sees  in  all  his  visits. 
"  With  capital,"  continued  Bullion,  in  that  self- 
satisfied  air  whicli  he  assumes  when  he  re- 
members that  lie  is  worth  a  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars,  "a  man  can  make  thelanddo 
pretty  much  as  he  pleases.  He  has  only  to 
tickle  the  soil  witli  a  hoe,  to  make  it  laugh  with 
such  a  harvest  as  the  barns   can   hardly  hold." 

Bullion  has  never  seen  better  days,  has  never 
enjoyed  himself  so  entirely  as  he  now  does.  He 
has  run  his  race  in  the  city,  has  gbt  money 
enough  to  satisfy  a  man  of  his  reasonable  tastes, 
and  has  retired  to  the  country  to  enjo}7  the 
evening  of  his  days — a  pretty  long  evening  it 
may  be,  for  he  is  now  but  just  turned  of  fifty. 
He  was  a  farmer's  boy,  but  precious  little  good 
did  his  birthplace  do  him,  for  he  left  it  for  a 
country  store  at  fourteen,  strongly  bent  on  mer- 
chandise and  a  fortune.  Though  he  never  ac- 
quired any  skill  in  husbandry  beyond  learning 
to  milk,  churn,  pick  stones,  and  ride  on  horse- 
back, ho  learned  to  love  country  life,  and  al- 
ways cherished  the  dream  of  returning  to  the 
paternal  acres  to  fix  up  the  old  homestead,  to 
keep  fat  cattle,  sheep,  and  pigs,  to  drive  a  good 
horse,  and  take  premiums  at  the  County  and 
State  Agricultural  Fairs.  It  is  not  improbable 
that  ho  might  have  made  a  farmer,  if  his  father 
had  been  a  good  one.  But  he  managed  every 
thing  upon  "the  penny  wise  and  pound  foolish  " 
principle,  worked  hard  himself,  and  never  had 
half  help  enough  to  make  his  farming  profitable. 
Every  thing  was  done  on  a  small,  mean  scale, 
aud  young  Bullion  left  home  early  with  the 
parental  consent,  determined  that  when  he  got 
ready  to  farm  it,  he  would  not  be  cramped. 
He  succeeded  in  the  city,  so  far  as  the  making 
of  money  was  concerned,  but  never  took  that 
social  position  which  his  wife  coveted  for  her 
family.  She  longed  to  be  invited  to  Mrs.  Gin- 
gerwell's  parties,  in  the  Fifth  Avenue,  but  never 
quite  accomplished  it.  She  got  invited  into  the 
Second  Avenue  frequently,  and  lived  in  the 
Ninth  herself.  For  her  part,  she  could  never 
see  why  folks  who  lived  in  the  Fifth  Avenue, 
should  feel  so  much  above  people  who  lived 
in  still  higher  Avenues.  She  left  the  city  with- 
out being  able  to  solve  the  mystery. 

But  Bullion  did  not  share  his  wife's  sympa- 
thies in  this  respect,  He  did  not  care  a  snap  for 
Mrs.  Gingerwcll's  parties,  so  long  as  old  Ginger- 
well  bought  his  groceries  of  him  and  paid  his 
bills.  He  felt  as  weTl  in  the  purchase  and  sale 
of  tea,  coffee,  wines,  and  sugars,  as  Mrs.  Ginger- 
well  did  in  the  use  of  them,  and  the  aristocratic 
notions  of  his  customers  never  troubled  him. 
Richard  Bullion  was  not  going  to  bother  his 
head  about  such  women's  notions.     Not  he! 

Well,  Richard  had  realized  his  dream,  at  least 
in  part,  had  got  back  to  the  old  homestead,  had 
reared  a  handsome  monument  to  his  parents  in 


1865.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


47 


the  grave-yard,  and  another  to  himself  on  the 
site  of  the  old  house,  the  first  done  in  marble, 
and  the  other  in  Granite.  This  granite  house  is 
a  good  notion,  and  I  wonder  people  who  have 
the  means,  do  not  oftener  use  it  for  building. 
It  is  a  classic  material,  and  suits  the  esthetic 
taste.  It  is  very  durable  if  properly  put  up,  and 
will  last  a  thousand  years  as  well  as  wood  will 
a  hundred.  We  are  having  now,  in  the  older 
parts  of  the  country,  the  third  generation  of 
houses,  and  the  most  of  those  now  upon  the 
stage  will  not  long  survive  their  hundred  years. 
Is  it  not  about  time  that  we  began  to  have  some 
permanent  houses  in  this  country  ?  The  material 
is  abundant  in  most  parts  of  the  land,  either  gran- 
ite or  limestone,  and  is  easily  wrought.  In  some 
localities  stone  would  be  the  cheapest,  and  when 
once  erected,  it  is  a  monument  to  the  builder  for 
a  thousand  years  at  least.  Some  are  troubled 
to  find  traces  of  their  ancestors  who  have  died 
only  two  hundred  years  back.  The  grave  stones 
have  crumbled,  and  no  one  can  tell  what  was 
carved  upon  them.  But  granite  will  not  crum- 
ble so  readily.  It  makes  a  very  warm  house  in 
Winter,  and  is  much  cooler  than  wood  in  Sum- 
mer. Bullion  admires  his  house  quite  as  much 
as  his  farm,  though  it  was  the  farm  more  par- 
ticularly that  I  was  invited  to  visit. 

"  This  is  the  best  house  in  the  county,"  said 
Bullion,  after  he  was  seated.  "It  cost  me  the 
sum  of  eleven  thousand  one  hundred  and  twen- 
ty three  dollars  thirteen  cents,  all  complete.  It 
has  thirty  rooms  in  it,  and  I  can  entertain  all  my 
friends  that  are  disposed  to  visit  me.  The  car- 
pets cost  me  five  hundred  dollars,  and  the  mir- 
rors nearly  as  much  more."  The  house  did  not 
need  the  self  complacent  owner's  eulogy,  for  it 
was  very  richly  furnished,  though  the  furniture 
was  not  very  tastefully  arranged,  or  selected  so 
as  to  match.  The  pictures  were  tolerable, 
though  the  gilt  frames  cost  more  than  the  paint- 
ings. They  did  not  hang  in  a  good  light ;  but 
they  were  upon  the  parlor  walls,  and  were  the 
evidences  of  Mrs.  Bullion's  social  position, 
which  was  the  main  thing  she  cared  for.  I  do 
not  suppose  she  ever  looked  at  them  five  min- 
utes in  her  life.  She  had  a  good  deal  of  sense 
but  not  much  sentiment. 

Richard  Bullion  Esq.,  was  proud  of  his  farm- 
ing— and  it  was  this  I  was  particularly  expected 
to  admire.  "  I  have  raised  this  year,"  said  he, 
"200  tons  of  hay,  1000  bushels  of  corn,  made 
three  tons  of  pork,  five  tons  of  cheese,  and 
have  taken  premiums  on  the  best  swine,  and 
the  best  cows  in  the  county.  The  sales  from 
my  farm  foot  up  about  $3,300,  besides  all  that 
has  been  consumed  on  the  farm." 

"  Well,"  said  I,  "  let  us  look  a  little  at  this 
premium  farming.  How  much  corn  did  you 
get  off  of  your  best  acre?" 

"Just  ninety  bushels  and  three  pecks,  for  I 
measured  it  because  1  entered  it  for  a  premium." 

"And  how  much  did  the  corn  cost  you?" 

"  Well  I  can  tell  pretty  near,"  said  Bullion,  "  I 
put  on  plump  fifty  cords  of  manure  for  I  meant 
to  get  the  premium  an}'  way,  and  I  dropped  about 
ten  dollars'  worth  of  superphosphate  in  the  hill. 
The  manure,  I  suppose,  was  worth  two  dollars 
on  the  field.  I  calculate  that  the  corn  fodder 
was  just  about  a  fair  offset  for  the  labor  of  plow- 
ing and  tilling,  and  gathering.  Well,  the  corn 
must  have  cost  about   $1.35  a  bushel." 

"And  what  can  you  buy  good  corn  for  in  the 
market  ?"  I  asked. 

"  Corn  ranged  from  60  to  80  cents  last  year." 

"  And  do  you  call  that  good  farming,  to  raise 

corn  at  a  cost  of  forty  cents  a  bushel  above  what 

m  it  would  bring  at   the  extreme  market  price ?" 


That  was  manifestly  putting  the  matter  in  a 
new  light,  and  Bullion  scratched  his  head.  I 
saw  abundant  evidence  in  my  further  conversa- 
tion with  him,  that  every  thing  was  managed 
upon  the  principle  of  great  crops  at  whatever 
cost.  Now  Bullion  will  unquestionably  make  a 
grand  farm  out  of  the  old  homestead,  but  it  will 
not  be  done  economically.  Land  in  good  heart 
can  be  so  managed  as  to  pay  for  its  own  im- 
provement. A  farm  is  a  machine  for  making 
money,  that  does  not  wear  out  if  it  be  skillfully 
worked.  Corn  ought  to  be  produced  at  the 
market  price,  pay  the  raiser  a  profit,  and  at  the 
same  time  leave  the  soil  in  better  condition.  It 
is  not  good  husbandry  to  lay  out  four  thousand 
dollars  to  secure  crops  that  will  sell  for  only 
thirty-five  hundred.  Farmers,  in  many  instances, 
want  more  capital,  but  they  want  more  skill 
quite  as  much.  Money  without  skill  can  raise 
big  crops,  build '  big  barns,  and  fine  houses, 
but  money  alone  does  not  make  good  farmers. 


Seeds— How  Long  will  they  keep  Good. 

There  is  no  general  answer  to  the  question,  as 
seeds  of  different  kinds,  collected  and  preserved 
with  equal  care,  will  vary  in  the  length  of  time 
they  retain  their  powers  of  germination.  Some 
seem  to  be  good  after  an  indefinite  period, 
while  others  are  not  to  be  depended  upon  after 
they  are  a  year  old.  The  seeds  of  some  trees 
will  not  germinate  at  all  if  once  allowed  to  dry, 
and  others  will  only  appear  the  second  year 
after  planting.  Works  upon  horticulture  are 
generally  deficient  in  information  upon  the  rais- 
ing of  seeds  and  the  length  of  time  they  may 
be  safely  kept.  While  it  is  safest  to  keep  them 
at  a  uniform  temperature  just  above  freezing, 
there  are  many  which  will  bear  great  extremes 
of  heat  and  cold.  Plants  have  been  raised  from 
seeds  taken  from  raspberry  jam  which  must 
have  been  exposed  to  a  heat  of  220  degrees. 
When  buried  in  the  earth,  below  the  reach  of 
those  influences  which  induce  germination, 
there  seems  to  be  no  limit  to  the  vitality  of  some 
seeds. — Among  plants  commonly  cultivated,  the 
seeds  of  carrots,  onions,  parsneps,  and  salsafy, 
are  not  to  be  relied  upon  when  over  a  year  old. 
Beets,  spinach,  lettuce,  celery  and  parsley,  will 
keep  2  or  3  years.  Radishes,  cabbages  and  tur- 
nips, 4  or  5  years.  Melons  and  cucumbers  may 
be  kept  for  10  or  more  years;  oldseeds  of  these 
are  preferred  by  some  gardeners,  as  the  vines 
are  said  to  be  more  prolific  and  less  luxuriant 
than  those  from  fresh  ones.  Good  seeds  being 
heavier  than  water  will  generally  sink  in  it,  but 
this  is  not  applicable  to  those  with  a  hairy  or 
spongy  seed-coat ;  such  seeds  will  float  even 
when  sound.  The  only  sure  test  is  to  try  to 
sprout  them  in  boxes  or  pots  of  earth.  If  they 
do  not  germinate  there,  they  should  be  rejected. 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Good  Winter  Butter  from  Roots. 

Every  person  who  has  an  acre  of  good  land, 
and  good  cows,  may  have  butter  in  January  and 
February,  equal,  or  even  superior,  to  that  which 
is  made  in  September.  Though  not  a-  fanner, 
the  writer  subscribed  for  the  Agriculturist  in 
1860.  An  article  was  published,  recommend- 
ing rutabaga  or  Swedish  turnips  as  food  for 
cows.  In  the  Spring  of  1861,  seed  was  ob- 
tained, and  planted  in  rows  3  feet  apart,  and  5 
inches  distant  in  the  rows.  The  ground  was 
not  the  best  for  roots,  yet  I  obtained  from  4 
rows,  each  100  feet  long,  roots  enough  to  feed 


two  cows,  once  a  day,  five  weeks.  The  cows 
had  commenced  to  decrease  in  the  quantity  and 
quality  of  the  milk,  after  having  been  taken  from 
the  grass,  and  before  feeding  the  roots,  but  in  a 
few  days  there  was  a  marked  increase  in  both 
respects.  The  butter  was  equal  in  quality  to 
what  was  made  in  June,  and  in  quantity  to  that 
made  in  October.  It  was  worth  3  or  4  cents  per 
pound  more  than  the  white,  oily  substitute,  gene- 
rally found  on  farmers'  tables  at  this  season  of 
the  year,  in  places  where  neither  roots  nor 
grain  are  used.  Those  who  have  even  small 
plots,  would  do  well  to  raise  roots  next  year. 
Begin  in  time  ;  select  good  soil,  manure  during 
the  Winter,  and  have  the  ground  ready  by  plant- 
ing time.  The  profit  on  the  few  bushels  raised 
this  year,  far  exceeds  the  cost  of  the  paper 
which  led  me   to  make  the  experiment.      K. 


Union  Cheeses. 

A  "  Union  Cheese  House  "  has  been  for  some 
time  in  successful  operation  at  Oriskany,  Oneida 
Co.,  E".  Y.  The  milk  from  a  large  neighbor- 
hood is  collected  and  converted  into  cheese  by 
the  aid  of  the  best  machinery  and  appliances. 
The  manufacture  on  an  extensive  scale  by  those 
who  make  it  their  sole  business  is  done  much 
more  cheaply,  and  a  more  uniform  product  ob- 
tained than  is  possible  in  the  small  way.  Be- 
lieving that  a  similar  enterprise  would  be  suc- 
cessful in  other  localities,  we  quote  an  account 
of  this  one  from  the  Utica  Morning  Herald  : 

"The  main  building  is  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
six  feet  long  by  about  forty  feet  wide,  and  two  sto- 
ries high.  This  is  used  principally  as  the  drying 
room,  and  is  furnished  with  framed  tables  running 
the  entire  length  of  the  building.  Upon  these  ta- 
bles the  cheeses  are  placed  when  taken  from  the 
"hoop,"  and  are  turned  daily,  as  in  ordinary  dairies. 
Besides  this,  there  is  a  press  room,  and  vat  room, 
some  twenty  feet  square,  each.  There  are  six  vats, 
each  holding  about  500  gallons,  in  which  the  curd 
is  prepared  for  the  hoops.  There  are  nine  "pres- 
sure hoops  "  for  300  lb.  cheeses  ;  one  for  cheeses 
of  700  to  800  lbs.  each ;  and  one  for  1,000  pound- 
ers. The  concern  receives  and  manufactures  the 
milk  of  nine  hundred  cows,  the  most  distant  being 
four  miles  from  the  factory.  As  the  milk  is  brought 
in  it  is  carefully  weighed  and  the  owner  credited 
with  the  number  of  pounds  received. — One  cent  per 
pound  is  charged  each  customer  for  his  cheese 
making.  In  addition  to  this,  the  parties  furnishing 
the  milk,  pay  a  ratable  proportion  of  the  expense  of 
salt,  cloth  for  bandages,  and  for  boxes.  The  whey 
is  an  important  consideration.  This  belongs  to  the 
company;  it  fattens  two  hundred  hogs.  Shoats 
are  purchased  by  the  company,  when  weighing, 
say  one  hundred  lbs.  each,  and  put  iuto  the  yards 
attached  to  the  establishment,  in  the  Spring.  They 
are  turned  off  in  early  November,  weighing  three 
hundred  pounds  and  over. 

Hogs  are  "  boarded  "  (fed)  for  12^  cts.  per  week 
each,  for  those  who  do  not  desire  to  have  them 
"live  with  the  family."  The  swine  have  a  large 
field  in  which  to  take  their  morning  and  evening 
walks,  and  pursue  their  amusement  of  "  rooting." 

Everything  is  conducted  in  the  neatest  manner, 
and  it  does  one  good  to  witness  the  difference  be- 
tween the  order  and  cleanliness  of  this  model  insti- 
tution, and  the  suspicious  and  slatternly  surround- 
ings of  some  home  dairies.  We  counted  seven 
cheeses  upon  the  table  that  weighed  ten  hundred 
and  forty  pounds  each!  and  ten,  that  weighed  seven 
hundred  and  thirty  pounds  each.  The  average, 
weight  of  the  cheeses  is  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  pounds  each. — The  whole  product  of  the  man- 
ufactory was  sold  in  November,  and  brought  four- 
teen cents  per  pound,  except  the  seven  large  ones 
which  brought  seventeen  cents  per  pound,  realizing 
the  sum  of  forty  thousand  dollars  or  over.  This 
sum  paid  a  very  handsome  dividend  to  those  whq 
patronized  the  establishment. 


48 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[FlCBRt  AT!'.', 


THE 


The  birds  represented  in  the  above  beautiful 
engraving  are  among  the  most  popular  with  the 
sportsman  and  the  epicure.  It  is  counted  no 
small  feat  to  bag  a  dozen  brace  of  grouse  in  a 
day's  hunting,  especially  in  settled  portions  of 
the  country,  and  enthusiastic  gunners  frequent- 
ly travel  a  hundred  miles  or  more  to  find  the 
favorite  haunts  of  this  game.  There  are  several 
species  of  grouse  in  America,  the  most  common 
of  which  are :  1st,  Ruffed  grouse  (Telrao  umldlus), 
called  pheasant  at  the  "West,  and  partridge  at  the 
East;  2nd.  the  Pinnated  grouse  (Tetrao  cupido),  or 
"prairie  hen  or  chicken."  Both  of  these  are 
sent  to  city  markets  in  large  quantities  during 
the  Fall  and  Winter,  and  almost  always  com- 
mand a  ready  sale  at  from  75  cents  to  $1  per  pair. 

The  Ruffed  grouse  is  found  in  every  State  and 
Territory  of  the  Union,  but  is  most  abundant  in 
the  portions  North  of  Maryland.  These  birds 
delight  in  craggy  mountain  sides,  and  rocky 
borders  of  small  streams,  among  thick  growths 
of  evergreens,  or  tangled  underbrush,  but  will 
breed  in  other  localities,  even  among  canebrakes. 
They  do  not  pair  permanently,  their  habits  in 
this  respect  being  like  those  of  the  common 
fowl.  In  Spring  the  male  attracts  the  female 
by  the  peculiar  and  well  known  drumming 
sound  made  by  beating  his  wings  against  his 
sides  with  increasing  rapidity,  until  it  sounds  like 
a  continued  roll  of  distant  thunder.  After  pair- 
ing time,  the  males  wander  together,  apart  from 
the  females,  until  the  approach  of  Winter,  when 
young  and  old  of  both  sexes  congregate  in 
flocks  or  coveys.  The  female  makes  her  nest 
among  dried  leaves  beside  a  fallen  tree,  or  in 
the  shelter  of  n  low  bush.    She  lays  from  5  to  12 


COVEY."— From  a  Painting  by  J. 

Engraved  for  the  American  Agriculturist. 

eggs  of  a  uniform  dull  yellowish  color.  The 
young  follow  the  mother  the  moment  they 
leave  the  egg,  and  are  able  to  fly  several  yards 
when  a  week  old.  They  are  naturally  the  shyest 
of  birds,  and  at  the  slightest  cluck  of  danger,  the 
little  ones  will  hide  so  as  to  almost  defy  de- 
tection. They  feed  upon  seeds  and  berries  of  all 
kinds,  and  when  these  are  scarce,  they  pick  the 
buds  and  leaves  of  several  kinds  of  evergreens. 
They  arc  very  fond  of  grapes,  strawberries  and 
dewberries.  They  remain  near  their  place  of 
birth  the  year  round,  unless  compelled  to  emi- 
grate by  scarcity  of  food.  The  peculiar  whirr 
made  in  the  flight  of  grouse  only  occurs  when 
they  are  disturbed  by  the  approach  of  some  foe; 
at  other  times  they  pass  through  the  air  on 
the  wing  as  quietly  as  other  birds. 

The  Pinuated  grouse,  "  Prairie  hens  or  chick- 
ens," which  are  now  confined  almost  wholly  to 
the  West,  were  formerly  found  throughout  the 
whole  North  ;  and  a  few  yet  remain  in  some 
portions  of  New-Jersey,  on  the  "plains"  of 
Long-Island,  at  Martha's  Vineyard,  Elizabeth 
Island,  and  Jit,  Desert  Island  in  Maine.  Years 
ago  they  were  so  abundant  in  Kentucky,  as  to 
be  considered  a  nuisance,  not  worth  shooting,  ex- 
cept to  prevent  their  depredations  upon  orchards 
and  grain :  but  civilization  has  driven  them  west- 
ward  with  the  Indian,  and  since  becoming  scarce, 
they  are  highly  esteemed  for  the  table.  Their  hab- 
il  s  bear  a  general  resemblance  to  those  of  the  Ruf- 
fed grouse,  except  that  they  live  more  in  the  open 
country,  sheltered  by  grass.  They  congregate 
in  flocks  in  Winter,  and  in  Spring  separate  into 
parties  of  fifty  or  more.  "When  the  love  season 
commences,  the  males  of  a  flock  all  resort,  early 


Wolf. 


in  the  morning,  to  some  particular  locality 
known  as  the  "  scratching  ground,"  where  they 
engage  in  the  most  desperate  battles,  a  dozen 
or  more  at  a  time  often  taking  part  in  the  gen- 
eral conflict.  The  victors  fly  away  to  enjoy  the 
caresses  of  their  mistresses,  the  vanquished  to 
console  themselves  as  best  they  may.  During 
this  season  the  males,  instead  of  drumming,  ut- 
ter a  peculiar  note,  called  "  tooting."  It  is  m»d« 
by  drawing  air  into  a  bladder-like  receptacle  :• 
the  neck,  resembling  a  small  orange,  and  emit- 
ting it  forcibly  at  short  intervals.  The  noise  is 
like  the  beating  of  a  muffled  drum,  and  can  be 
heard  at  a  distance  of  nearly  a  mile.  Unlike  tho 
first  mentioned  species,  the  Pinnated  grouse  are 
easily  domesticated,  and  raised  with  as  little 
difficulty  as  common  fowls.  Grouse  not  being 
iusectiverous  birds,  may  be  considered  fair  game ; 
but  the  indiscriminate  slaughter  of  them  at  all 
seasons  of  the  year  by  roaming  gunners,  can 
not  be  too  severely  reprehended.  They  are  fit 
for  the  table  from  September  to  tho  middle  ot 
February  or  a  little  later,  depending  on  the  sea- 
son, after  which  they  should  be  left  unmolested 
to  propagate  their  species.  Game  laws  for  their 
protection  exist  in  some  of  the  States,  but  from 
neglect  to  enforce  the  penalties  for  violation, 
these  birds  are  yearly  becoming  more  scarce. 


Economizing  time  wren  Hens. — C.  N.  De- 
ment writes  to  the  American  Agriculturist:  "All 
who  are  familiar  with  rearing  chickens,  know 
that  very  few  hens  will  allow  newly  hatched 
chickens  to  be  committed  to  their  care.  This  is 
probably  because  the  mother  hen  has  become 
acquainted  with  her  own  chickens,  from  color, 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


49 


marks,  etc.,  and  considers  the  new  corners  as 
intruders,  which  she  too  frequently  punishes 
with  death.  To  avoid  this,  confine  the  first  hen 
that  hatches,  in  a  coop  with  her  chickens,  until 
another  brood  is  hatched  ;  then  substitute  the 
second  hen  for  the  first,  relieving  the  charge  of 
the  former.  When  a  third  hen  hatches,  put  her 
in  the  place  of  the  second,  with  all  three  broods ; 
if  the  aggregate  number  does  not  exceed  thirty, 
a  full  sized  hen  will  take  good  care  of  the  whole. 


The  Measure  Worm. 


The  habits  of  this  pest,  which,  besides  annoy- 
ing those  who  travel  the  streets  of  our  cities, 
threatens  to  destroy  many  of  our  ornamental 
trees,  have  been  specially  studied  by  Messrs.  H. 
A.  Graef,  and  Ed.  Wiete.  They  have  published, 
with  the  sanction  of  a  Committee  of  the  Brook- 
lyn Hort,  Society,  a  pamphlet  containing  a  his- 
tory of  the  insect,  and  a  plan  for  its  destruction. 
Among  the  trees  usually  planted  in  streets,  the 
following  are  most  frequented  by  the  worm — 
they  are  named  in  the  order  of  their  liability  to 
attack :  Eurojiean  Linden,  Silver  Leaved  Maple, 
Sugar  Maple,  English  Elm,  Morse  Chestnut,  Weep- 
ing Willow,  Silver  Leaved  Poplar,  English  Ash, 
and  Money  Locust.  The  trees  found  to  be  free 
from  young  insects,  and  only  visited  by  the  old 
ones  when  other  food  becomes  scarce,  are: 
Ailantltus,  Catalpa,  Cypress,  European  Larch, 
Tulip  Free,  Paper  Mulberry,  Paulownia,  Button- 
wood,  and  Locust.  The  authors  propose  to 
save  the  trees  of  the  infested  district  in  Brook- 
lyn, by  a  systematic  onslaught  upon  the  insect 
in  its  various  stages,  beginning  with  the  eggs, 
which  are  deposited  on  the  trunks  and  branch- 
es, and  continuing  it  upon  the  worm  in  its  va- 
rious stages  of  growth.  They  propose  to  arrest 
the  worm  in  its  progress  from  the  egg  to  the 
twigs  by  means  of  tar  rings,  to  syringe  with  to- 
bacco water  to  destroy  the  young  ones,  and  to 
knock  off  the  old  ones  by  jarring  the  limbs  by 
means  of  apparatus  for  the  purpose.  Wrens 
are  to  be  encouraged  to  build  their  nests  in  the 
trees  and  lend  their  aid  to  the  work  of  extermi- 
nation. There  isnodoubt  that  killingthe  worm 
will  be  sure  to  save  the  trees,  but  whether  their 
plan  can  be  systematically  put  in  operation  over 
large  districts  will  depend  upon  the  public  spirit 
of  the  inhabitants  and  their  love  for  shade  trees. 


To  Get  Leaders  for  Evergreens. 

It  frequently  happens  that  evergreens,  of  tho_ 
rare  and  expensive  kinds,  are  propagated  from 
cuttings  or  layers  from  the  side-branches  of  the 
parent  tree.  The  young  plants  so  raised,  are 
quite  slow  to  form  central  leading  shoots.  We 
have  seen  such  young  trees  spreading  and 
sprawling  about  upon  the  ground  for  several 
years,  as  if  they  did  not  know  how  to  rise,  hav- 
ing no  central  spire  around  which   the   other 


branches  clustered,  and  not  worthy  the  name  of 
tree.  This  perverse  habit  can  be  broken  up,  and 
the  straggling  bush  can  be  forced  to  throw  up  a 
leader.  To  do  this,  after  the  plant  has  made  a 
vigorous  root-growth,  peg  down  all  the  branch- 
es to  the  ground,  as  illustrated  above.  This 
will  so  check  the  flow  of  sap  through  them,  that 
a  new  and  vigorous  shoot  will  start  up  from 
the  base,  which  will  grow  erect,  and  form  the 
nucleus  for  a  new  and  better  tree.  After  this 
central  shoot  has  become  well  established,  cut 
off  the  old  stragglers.  Keep  the  soil  well  en- 
riched and  well  tilled  for  several  years. 


Farming  for  Old  Age, 

— • — 
Every  one  with  his  eyes  open  has  seen  many 
men,  farmers  and  others,  make  great  mistakes 
in  "retiring"  early  from  business.  After  one 
has  spent  the  best  of  his  clays  in  active  employ- 
ment, it  is  quite  unnatural  for  him  to  suspeud 
all  work,  fold  his  hands,  and  sit  down  idle.  The 
fancied  pleasure  flies  from  him ;  he  was  never 
so  miserable  before.  How  much  better  is  it  to 
retire  slowly,  to  give  up  labor  and  care -by  de- 
grees, and  never  to  give  them  up  entirely.  Ac- 
tivity, bodily  and  mental,  is  necessary  to  keep 
one's  faculties  bright  and  in  a  healthy  condition. 
To  the  farmer  especially,  we  would  say,  pre- 
pare for  old  age  by  degrees.  If  your  farm  is 
large,  lay  off  a  portion  of  it  for  fruit  culture. 
Plant  an  orchard  of  the  choicest  varieties  of  ap- 
ples, pears,  plums,  cherries,  and  peaches.  If  a 
good  proportion  of  the  apples  are  Fall  and  Win- 
ter sorts,  they  will  always  be  marketable,  and 
will  yield  a  handsome  income  with  only  little 
labor.  Plant  also  a  vineyard.  The  care  of  it 
will  furnish  pleasant  occupation  for  an  old  gen- 
tleman, and  the  grapes  and  wine  yield  considera- 
ble income.  This  point  deserves  more  consid- 
eration than  it  commonly  receives.  The  profits 
of  a  farm  are  never  too  large,  even  after  the  hard 
labor  of  one's  prime  applied  to  it.  But  one  can 
not  expect  to  plow  and  hoe,  and  hoe  and  plow 
forever.  Why,  then,  should  we  not  put  our 
farms  into  such  a  condition  that  when  our  limbs 
become  stiffened  by  age,  our  lands  will  yield  us 
nearly  the  same  income  with  less  work  ?  That 
a  large  and  well  selected  fruit  orchard  will  do 
this,  no  intelligent  person  will  deny,  A  fruit- 
tree  when  young  costs  but  a  trifle,  it  occupies 
but  little  space,  does  not  exclude  hoed  crops-  or 
grass,  and  when  grown  to  maturity,  yields  an 
annual  income  of  from  $15  U>  $40.  And  besides 
the  orchard  aud  vineyard,  let  the  old  man  have 
his  garden.  In  this  way,  ho  will  have  enough 
to  do,  and  yet  not  be  oppressed  with  care  and 
labor.  Committing  the  larger  part  of  the  farm 
to  his  grown-up  sons,  he  can  give  them  the  bene- 
fit of  his  experience,  while  both  parties  will  re- 
joice in  their  prosperity  and  their  independence. 

Straw  Mats— How  to  Make  Them. 


Now  is  the  time  to  make  a  stock  of  straw 
mats,  an  article  useful  in  every  garden.  They 
serve  to  cover  half  hardy  shrubs  during  the 
Winter,  are  handy  to  throw  over  tender  plants 
to  shield  them  from  frosts,  and  where  there  are 
hot-beds,  they  are  almost  indispensable,  to  pro- 
tect them  during  the  cold  nights  of  Spring. 
They  may  be  made  of  any  size,  but  it  will  be 
found  most  convenient  to  have  them  of  a  size  to 
cover  a  single  sash.  Make  a  rough  frame  one 
foot  larger  each  way  than  the  required  mat ; 
lengthwise  of  this,  stretch  pieces  of  large,  strong 
twine,  to, serve  as  the  warp,  which  may  be  tied 
I  to  tho  frame  itself  or  fastened  tc5  pegs  placed  in 


it  for  the  purpose.  The  pieces  of  twine  should 
be  8  or  10  inches  apart,  and  the  distance  be- 
tween the  two  outer  ones  about  6  inches  less 
than  the  width  of  the  mat,  A  piece  of  smaller 
twine  3  or  4  feet  long  is  to  be  tied  firmly  to 
each  thread  of  warp,  close  to  one  end  of  the 
frame ;  these  are  to  serve  as  lacers  or  binders  to 
hold  the  straw  in  place.  The  frame  being  laid 
flat  at  a  convenient  hight  upon  horses  or  in  some 
other  way,  the  workman  stands  inside  of  it 
facing  the  end  where  the  binders  are  attached, 
he  takes  a  small  handful  of  straw  and  lays  it 
with  the  butt  ends  projecting  about  3  inches 
beyond  one  of  the  outer  pieces  of  warp,  and  se- 
cures it  by  passing  the  second  binder  over  it  and 
tying  this  by  means  of  a  half  hitch  to  the  warp. 
Another  handful  is  similarly  placed  on  the  op- 
posite side,  the  small  or  grain  ends  of  the  straw 
will  then  overlap  one  another  in  the  middle  of 
the  mat ;  all  the  binders  may  then  be  fastened. 


"T 

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i 

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it 

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1                    rinnn 

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D                                        J 

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II                                     <*'f> 

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Layer  after  layer  of  straw  is  put  on  in  this  way, 
the  operator  working  backwards,  until  the  mat 
is  of  the  desired  length.  The  binders  may  be 
lengthened  as  required,  by  knotting  other  strings 
to  them.  Care  is  required  to  maintain  a  uni- 
form tliickness  by  putting  on  the  straw  in  equal 
quantities,  and  compressing  each  layer  to  the 
same  degree  by  the  binders.  When  finished, 
the  mat  is  to  bo  cut  from  the  frame,  and  the  ends 
securely  fastened.  The  sides  are  trimmed  with 
a  sharp  knife,  using  a  straight  edged  board  as 
a  ruler.  Mats  of  this  kind,  if  properly  cared  for, 
will  last  several  years.  They  should,  of  course, 
be  thoroughly  dried  before  storing  away.  The 
engraving  given  above  shows  how  the  success- 
ive portions  of  straw  are  bound  to  tho  warp. 

m  i  atwi      — »  » 

Public  Parks. 


As  some  of  our  readers  doubtless  have  occa- 
sion, in  their  several  localities,  to  superintend  the 
planting  and  arrangement  of  public  grounds, 
we  venture  to  suggest  a  few  ideas  on  the  subject. 

Large  public  grounds  should  be  provided  with 
roads  for  carriage-drives  and  for  horseback  rid- 
ing. These  should  be  wide  enough  to  admit  of 
turning  round  and  turning  out  easily,  and  they 
should  be  hard  and  smooth.  There  should  be 
one  main  drive,  laid  out  near  the  boundaries, 
though  not  running  continuously  on  the  samo 
line,  nor  in  sight  of  the  fences.  From  this  main 
drive,  cross-roads  may  occasionally  diverge,  to 
allow  of  shorter  and  more  varied  rides  to  such 
as  may  wish  them.  But  these  subordinate  roads 
should  be  narrower,  and  they  should  be  made 
as  inconspicuous  as  possible.  Walks  may  also 
be  laid  out  by  the  side  of  the  main  road,  for  the 
use  of  pedestrians.  A  more  desirable  place  for 
walks,  however,  will  be  found  in  tho  interior 
portions  of  the  ground,  away  from  the  dust  and 
exposure  of  the  traveled  road.  These  should  be 
arranged  so  as  to  command  as  great  a  variety  of 
scenery  as  possible ;  now  ascending  eminences 


50 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[February, 


to  get  views  of  distant  hills,  or  spreading  coun- 
try, or  sheet  of  water;  then  descending  into 
quiet  valleys,  rolling  over  grassy  lawns,  skating 
ponds  or  streams,  or  winding  among  rocky  dells. 
Whoever  wishes  to  examine  some  of  the  finest 
examples  of  road  and  walk  making,  should  vis- 
it the  Central  Park  in  this  city,  especially  the 
"  Ramble,"  and  he  will  learn  more  in  a  few 
hours  than  we  can  teach  him  in  many  pages. 

The  planting  of  such  a  park  will  require  less 
study  than  a  smaller  piece  of  landscape-garden- 
ing. A  leading  object  will  be  to  secure  shade. 
Of  course,  then,  the  borders  of  the  drives  and 
paths  should  be  fringed  with  trees.  Yet  they 
should  not  be  set  in  continuous  lines  and  close 
together,  thus  excluding  free  views  of  the 
grounds.  In  addition  to  this,  wherever  fine 
prospects  can  be  had  of  distant  scenery,  the 
outlook  should  be  left  open  and  unobstructed. 
Here  and  there,  also,  groups  and  masses  should 
be  planted,  running  out  into  the  park,  to  break 
up  the  monotony  of  the  single  line. 

If  the  space  is  large  enough,  groups  and  scat- 
tered trees  may  be  planted  at  intervals ;  but 
they  should  be  set  sparingly,  as  too  many  serve 
to  contract  the  ground  and  shut  out  pleasing 
views.  Nothing,  however,  can  be  finer  than  a 
few  choice  single  trees,  set  in  the  open  lawn, 
with  ample  room  to  develop  and  exhibit  their 
perfect  forms.  Wherever  the  land  is  rocky  and 
hilly,  spiry-topped  trees  are  specially  appropri- 
ate; on  fat,  rich  plains,  those  of  broad,  rounded 
heads;  by  water-courses,  willows  and  other  pen- 
dulous trees  are  most  desirable. 

The  boundary  fences  should  be  concealed  by 
hedges  and  low  trees.  Mr.  Loudon  laid  it  down 
as  a  general  rule  that,  "  whatever  the  hight  of 
a  tree  or  shrub  may  be,  provided  it  be  greater 
than  that  of  the  human  eye  from  the  ground,  it 
ought  to  be  placed  at  such  a  distance  from  the 
walk  or  road,  as  that  the  eye  may  see  the  top  of 
it  at  an  angle  of  from  30°  to  40°.  A  tree  that 
grows  forty  feet  high,  ought  to  be  placed  about 
fifty  feet  from  the  walk."  Here  he  is  speaking 
of  trees  set  in  parks  for  observation  rather  than 
for  mere  shade.  Another  excellent  rule  was 
this :  "  Every  tree  or  shrub,  however  low,  ought 
to  be  placed  at  such  a  distance  from  the  walk, 
that  ife  branches,  luhen  fully  grown,  shall  not  reach 
nearer  to  it  than  frfim  one  to  two  feet."  A  rule  that 
ought  to  be  printed  in  letters  of  gold,  and  hung 
daily  before  every  tree  planter! 

We  need  hardly  add  that  the  soil  in  which 
the  trees  are  to  be  set,  should  be  properly  en- 
riched, subsoired,  and  drained.  Tljey  will 
then  make  a  vigorous  growth  from  the  outset. 
That  the  ground  around  the  trees  should  be 
worked  over  annually  with  hoe  and  spade,  and 
kept  free  from  weeds  for  several  years,  is  anoth- 
er obvious  fact.  For  the  first  year  or  two,  the 
roots  should  be  mulched  with  coarse  litter. 

A  park  is  not  complete  without  convenient 
seats.  These  should  be  made  of  the  plainest 
materials,  solid  and  not  likely  to  get  out  of  re- 
pair. The  appropriate  places  for  them  are, 
both  under  the  shade  for  Summer  use,  and  in  the 
sunshine  for  Spring  and  Fall ;  in  quiet,  retired 
nooks,  and  on  high  points  commanding  views 
of  surrounding  scenery.  Set  anywhere  and 
everywhere,  they  will  hardly  come  amiss. 

Tire  Norway  Maple  differs  considerably 
from  the  common  rock-maple.  Its  bark  is 
Smoother ;  the  buds  iu  Winter  are  larger  and 
blunter;  the  leaves  are  larger,  darker,  and  there 
are  more  of  them.  They  are  not  white  on  the 
under  side.  The  flowers  in  Spring  arc  yellow- 
ish.   The  tree  is   a  rapid  grower,   and  easily 


adapts  itself  to  all  soils.  In  Europe,  the  wood 
is  highly  valued  for  cabinet  work;  it  resembles, 
somewhat,  our  birds'  eye  maple.     Plant  it. 

Seedling  Fruit  Trees. 

— — « — 

It  is  singular  that  the  majority  of  our  most 
valued  fruits  are  chance  seedlings,  originating 
without  the  intervention  or  care  of  the  cultiva- 
tor. This  is  especially  true  with  pears  and  ap- 
ples, which  are  so  long  in  coming  into  bearing 
that  few  have  the  patience  to  make  the  trial. 
Peaches,  apricots,  and  other  stone  fruits,  which 
fruit  comparatively  early  from  the  seed,  are  often 
multiplied  in  this  way.  The  raising  of  seed- 
ling pears  has  received  a  new  interest  from  the 
labors  of  M.  Gregoire  Nelis,  in  France,  and  of 
the  veteran  pomologist  Thomas  Rivers,  in  Eng- 
land. The  former  has  devoted  32  years  to  bis 
experiments  in  raising  pears  from  the  seed,  and 
has  in  that  time  raised  150  varieties  worth  per- 
petuating, and  of  course,  at  the  same  time, 
thousands  which  were  rejected  as  unfit  for  in- 
troduction. M.  Gregoire  Nelis'  method  of  has- 
tening the  fruiting  of  the  seed,  is  to  transplant 
annually;  this  gives  them  a  compact  growth  and 
promotes  the  formation  of  fruit  buds.  In  this 
H'iy,  fruit  is  obtained  in  G  or  8  years  from  the 
seed.  The  experience  of  Thomas  Rivers  is  giv- 
en in  the  Gardeners'  Chronicle,  in  an  article 
which  is  so  interesting  that  it  is  a  matter  of  re- 
gret that  its  length  prevents  us  from  re-printing 
it,  He  cultivates  the  pear  seedlings  in  pots  in 
the  orchard -house,  keeping  them  in  10  inch  pots, 
and  root-pruning  and  re-polting  every  season. 
Treated  in  this  way,  the  trees  may  be  expected 
to  come  in  bearing  in  six  years.  A  general  ten- 
dency is  found  in  seedlings  from  late  pears,  to 
mature  much  earlier  than  the  parent.  His  re- 
sults with  the  progeny  of  well  known  varieties, 
is  full  of  interest  to  the  pomologist,  but  would 
not  be  so  to  the  mass  of  our  readers.  Peaches 
and  nectarines  grown  iu  pots  will  produce  fruit 
in  three  years  from  the  seeds,  and  those  raised 
from  late  kinds  show,  like  the  pears,  a  tendency 
to  produce  early  varieties.  In  the  course  of 
Mr.  Rivers'  experiments  he  found  that  nectarines 
were  produced  from  peach  stones,  and  that  the 
stone  of  the  nectarine  would  sometimes  pro- 
duce a  peach  tree,  thus  confirming  the  fact, 
which  has  been  doubted  by  some,  that  the  two 
fruits  are  only  varieties  of  the  same  species. 

The  improvement  of  our  various  fruits  by 
seedlings  from  good  sorts  may  well  claim  the 
attention  of  those  who  have  time  and  means  to 
devote  to  it,  yet  there  are  still  "native  fruits" 
in  man}'  localities  which  should  be  brought  into 
notice.  Several  of  these  have  been  presented  at 
the  Fruit  Grower's  meetings  held  each  Thurs- 
day at  the  office  of  the  Agriculturist,  and  we  in- 
vite those  who  have  seedling  fruits,  possessing 
desirable  qualities,  to  bring  or  send  them  to  these 
meetings  for  examination  of  their  merits. 


Trees  for  Nurses. 


A  good  deal  is  said  in  books  and  papers  in 
favor  of  setting  out  a  surplus  number  of  trees 
in  a  plantation,  (afterwards  to  be  removed)  for 
the  sake  of  sheltering  those  which  are  to  re- 
main permanently.  They  are  planted,  also,  part- 
ly for  the  sake  of  giving  immediate  effect. 

But  experience  is  beginning  to  testify  against 
the  practice.  It  is  found  that  when  the  ground  is 
so  thickly  filled  up  with  trees,  the  soil  becomes 
quickly  exhausted,  and  the  permanent  trees 
make  only  a  slow  growth.  Moreover  the  nurses 
overgrow  and  shade  the  permanent   trees  so 


as  to  injure  their  shape.  The  lower  branches 
make  a  much  feebler  growth  than  they  would 
if  exposed  to  abundance  of  light  and  air,  and 
the  higher  branches  run  up  iu  a  spindling  man- 
ner. Evergreens  especially  suffer  when  crowded 
by  nurses.  Their  base  branches,  which  it  is  so 
important  to  preserve,  soon  die  out.  And  yet, 
if  caution  be  used,  such  trees  may  be  sometimes 
employed.  For  instance,  they  may  be  set  on  the 
most  windy  and  exposed  side  or  sides  of  a  favor- 
ite tree,  if  they  are  planted  at  a  considerable  dis- 
tance, and  if  thej'  are  removed  after  the  first  or 
second  year.  The  danger  is  that  they  will  bo 
left  standing  several  years,  until  they  have  in- 
jured the  tree  beyond  recovery. 

«-< '  -»- .-• 

Managing  Trees  in  Windy  Places. 


Various  plans  have  been  tried  to  keep  newly 
set  trees  erect  in  bleak  places,  and  to  preserve 
their  branches  from  being  blown  and  whipped 
out  of  shape.  Stakes  of  several  kinds  are  used. 
Some  are  set  close  to  the  trunk  and  bound  to  It 
by  wisps  of  straw  or  bands  of  leather;  but  these 
are  soon  displaced,  or  the  tree  gets  badly  chafed. 
Then,  a  stake  is  often  set  a  foot  or  more  from 
the  tree,  and  the  two  are  fastened  together  by 
cords  of  some  kind ;  yet  here,  too,  the  cords 
may  be  broken  before  the  planter  is  aware  of  it. 

We  have  tried  a  plan  lately,  which  has  some 
merits.  It  dispenses  with  stakes  altogether. 
After  the  tree  is  planted,  four  or  five  stout  pegs 
are  driven  into  the  ground,  in  a  circle  around 
the  tree,  and  about  under  the  ends  of  the  branch- 
es. Flat  leather  bands,  or  stout  pieces  of  listing 
are  tied  to  the  branches  on  opposite  sides  of  the 
tree.  Strong  cords  are  then  drawn  from  these 
to  the  pegs  and  tied.  This  keeps  the  tree 
from  swaying  in  an}'  direction.  On  the  most 
windy  side,  double  the  number  of  cords  are 
used,  to  preserve  the  branches  in  good  shape. 
To  this  we  have  added,  for  weeping  trees,  light 
weights  suspended  from  limbs  which,  on  ac- 
count of  the  wind,  did  not  take  the  pendulous 
habit  that  was  desirable.  * 


For  the  A  ntericaji  Agriculturist. 

Northern  Spy  Apple. 

I  think  "Pomologist"  has  extolled  this  apple 
too  highly  on  page  367,  December  Agriculturist. 
My  experience  with  it  is  not  favorable.  In  the 
Spring  of  1850  I  set  out  four  young  trees  of  this 
variety,  and  grafted  the  tops  of  three  old  trees 
with  cions  cut  from  the  young  trees.  None  of 
the  trees  showed  even  a  bloom  until  1860.  They 
bore  well  the  two  following  years,  but  there 
were  not  two  barrels  of  marketable  fruit  from 
the  seven  trees.  The  soil  on  which  the  trees 
stand,  is  a  sandy  or  gravelly  loam,  which  pro- 
duced over  fifty  bushels  of  corn  per  acre.  I  do 
not  find  the  Spy  keeps  any  better  than  Esopus 
Spitzcnberg,  and  not  as  well  as  R.  I.  Greening, 
Baldwin,  Roxbury  Russet,  etc.  The  flavor  is 
good,  and  the  fruit  retains  its  freshness  for  a 
long  time,  which  is  about  the  only  thing  I  can 
find  in  its  favor. 

In  the  Spring  of  1855  I  grafted  an  old  tree 
with  Baldwins,  and  had  two  barrels  of  fruit 
from  it  the  third  year,  seven  barrels  the  fifth 
year,  and  six  the  seventh  year,  making  fifteen 
barrels  of  saleable  apples  in  seven  years  from 
grafting.  A.  G.  Percy. 

Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Remarks. — The  Northern  Spy  is  one  of  our 
most  variable  apples,  though  nearly  always  of 
good  flavor.  It  is  not  suited  to  a  wide  locality, 
but  in  many  places,  on  rich  soil,  it  does  remark- 


1803.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


51 


ably  well.  It  is  certainly  late  in  coming  into 
bearing,  and  it  does  not  show  all  its  good  quali- 
ties at  the  first  fruiting.  It  continues  to  im- 
prove with  age.  In  some  localities,  however, 
and  on  poor  soil,  it  often  proves  quite  refrac- 
tory, and  on  this  account  it  has  not  received  the 
universal  commendation,  which  an  apple  of 
such  fine  appearance,  and  agreeable,  sprightly 
flavor  would  appear  to  deserve. 


Experience  with  Peach  Trees. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Ten  years  ago  I  bought  and  transplanted  two 
hundred  peach  trees,  which  netted  me  two  years 
ago,  $200.  The  soil  was  too  rich,  and  they  are 
now  nearly  all  dead.  Four  years  ago,  I  bought 
an  orchard  of  900  peach  trees,  and  300  apple 
trees  set  between  them.  These  trees  are  now 
10  years  transplanted,  and  last  September  they 
netted  me  $500.  They  were  set  on  thinner 
soil  than  the  first  lot,  except  in  one  corner 
where  they  have  all  died.  lam  satisfied  that 
peaches  require  the  same  kind  of  soil  that  po- 
tatoes do,  to  prevent  their  rotting — thin,  or 
poor  upland.  Cultivation  is  necessary  to  fruit- 
bearing.  If  the  orchard  be  seeded,  you  need  not 
expect  many  peaches.  The  kinds  I  like  best, 
are :  old  Mixon,  Crawford's  Early,  Crawford's 
Late,  Melocoton,  Smock,  and  Morris  White. 

The  peach  borer  is  an  inveterate  enemy,  but 
iiie  "yellows"  is  the  great  destroyer.  Perhaps 
this  disease  is  superinduced  by  rich  soil  and 
common  farm  yard  manure.  I  think  mineral 
manures  only  are  necessary,  and  little  of  them 
if  the  land  is  properly  cultivated  b}r  raising  po- 
tatoes, or  other  low  crops — or  without  crops. 

Fairfield  Co.,  Conn.  Q.    W.    B. 


Fruit  Growers  Meetings. 


Excepting  during  the  holidays,  these  meetings 
have  been  kept  up  regularly,  and  are  increasing- 
ly interesting.  They  are  held  at  1  o'clock  P.  M. 
each  Thursday,  and  all  interested  in  fruits  and 
kindred  subjects,  are  invited  to  attend.  A  stand- 
ing committee  consisting  of  Chas.  Downing,  S. 
B.  Parsons,  W.  S.  Carpenter,  A.  S.  Fuller,  and 
Dr.  I.  P.  Trimble,  has  been  appointed  for  nam- 
ing new  fruits,  identifying  old  sorts,  and  inves- 
tigating whatever  is  about  being  sent  out  with 
high  sounding  names  and  large  claims  upon  the 
credulity  of  the  community.  This  will  guard 
against  imposition  and  fraud.  After  the  adop- 
tion of  a  list  of  20  varieties  of  pears  recommend- 
ed for  planting,  as  published  on  page  17,  Janu- 
ary Agriculturist,  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
bring  forward  lists  of  the  6  best  grapes  for  out- 
door cultivation.  Several  discussions  have  been 
had  over  the  grape  question,  and  sundry  lists 
have  been  presented,  but  no  selection  has*  yet 
been  adopted:  the  decision  will  soon  be  made 
and  published  in  ample  season  for  Spring  plant- 
ing. A  similar  committee  to  bring  forward  ap- 
ple lists  lias  also  been  appointed,  and  will  agree 
upon  a  report  in  a  week  or  two.  The  list  will 
probably  be  adopted  in  season  for  publica- 
tion in  our  next  number. 

A  great  many  winter  pears  have  been  sent  in 
from  time  to  time,  among  which  the  Vicar  of 
Winkfield  is  most  abundant.  "When  well  grown 
and  ripened  with  care,  they  are  really  good ; 
some  members  expect  to  have  them  until  Feb- 
ruary 1st.  The  Lawrence,  however,  is  pro- 
nonriced  to  be  among  Whiter  pears  what  the 
Seekel  is  among  the  Autumn  varieties.  It  was 
advised  to  plant  it  on  the  pear  stook.     The 


specimens  of  the  Glout  Morceau,  frequently 
brought  before  the  meeting,  proved  very  fine. 
Though  this  variety  is  proverbially  slow  in 
coming  into  bearing,  one  member  reported  a 
barrel  of  fruit  picked  from  a  standard  tree 
planted  nine  years  ago. 

W.  S.  Carpenter  questioned  whether  the  so- 
called  dwarf  trees  retain  any  of  the  quince  roots 
after  being  planted  a  few  years.  Nurserymen 
universally  advised  to  plant  dwarfs  a  little  be- 
low the  junction  of  the  pear  with  the  quince, 
so  that  the  pear  might  put  out  roots  of  its  own. 
These  roots  soon  become  the  leading  ones,  and 
and  from  disuse  and  deep  planting  the  quince 
roots  soon  decay.  Out  of  a  large  number  of 
dwarfs  planted  some  years  ago,  and  recently 
moved,  only  one  tree  retained  any  quince  roots. 


Prevention  of  Sap  Blight. 

John  Grable,  Doniphan  Co.,  Kansas,  writes 
to  the  American  Agriculturist  on  this  subject  as 
follows :  "  Heart  and  Bigarreau  cherries,  that 
have  been  planted  in  north-western  Missouri 
for  15  years  past,  have  come  to  nothing,  while 
Morellos  do  well.  This  is  owing  to  their  being 
killed  by  sap  blight,  which  I  have  noticed  to 
occur  in  February.  It  is  caused  by  sudden 
thaws,  followed  by  hard  freezing,  which  loosens 
the  bark  on  the  tree,  except  a  little  on  the  north 
side.  A  tree  under  these  circumstances  will 
survive  for  awhile,  but  when  the  blight  extends 
around  the  trunk,  it  is  '  done  for.'  This'  hap- 
pens, on  an  average,  every  four  or  five  j'ears. 
As  far  as  my  experience  goes,  the  best  remedy 
is,  to  prune  the  trees  to  low  heads,  and  wrap 
the  trunks  with  strips  of  old  drab-colored 
cloth,  which  preserves  them  from  sap  blight, 
and  from  rabbits.  Two  years  ago,  I  planted  23 
apple  trees  in  October,  and  thirteen  of  them 
were  ruined  by  sap-blight  in  February.  This 
seemed  to  prove  to  me,  that  Fall  planting  was 
more  critical  than  Spring  planting,  as  there 
were  many  trees  of  about  the  same  size,  planted 
in  the  same  locality  in  the  Spring  previous,  and 
not  one  of  them  suffered  from  the  blight." 


Rotation  in  the  Garden. 

Probably  many  readers  of  the  Agriculturist 
are  puzzled  when  they  see  a  plant  spoken  of  as 
belonging  to  a  certain  family.  By  this  is  meant 
that  different  plants,  though  unlike  in  many  par- 
ticulars, have  some  points  in  common,  and  have, 
as  it  were,  a  family  relationship.  Those  who 
make  an  especial  study  of  plants,  group  all  that 
are  known,  into  a  not  very  large  number  of 
families;  their  reasons  for  doing  so  are  some- 
times drawn  from  something  in  the  flower  or 
fruit  which  persons  in  general  would  not  no- 
tice, and  again  upon  resemblances  which  are 
sufficiently  striking  to  be  observed  by  every 
one.  Thus,  the  bean  and  the  pea  are  so  nearly 
alike  in  flower  and  fruit  that  we  naturally  sup- 
pose them  to  be  related,  while  carrots  and  cel- 
ery do  not  seem  to  go  together  so  readily,  be- 
cause we  are  not  accustomed  to  see  the  flower 
and  fruit.  Plants  of  the  same  family,  being 
made  on  the  same  general  plan,  are  commonly 
very  much  alike  in  their  properties,  and  take 
up  very  nearly  the  same  substances  from  the 
soil.  In  the  rotation  of  crops  it  is  desirable  that 
the  soil  should  be  occupied  not  only  by  a  dif- 
ferent plant,  but  by  one  of  another  family  from 
that  which  it  previously  bore.  In  farm  crop- 
ping, the  number  of  kinds  are  so  few,  that  there 
is  no  difficulty  in  fulfilling   this  condition  ;  but 


in  the  garden,  where  a  number  of  sorts  are 
grown,  the  arrangement  of  a  proper  rotation 
requires  some  forethought.  The  following 
grouping  of  the  common  garden  vegetables 
will  assist  in  making  out  a  proper  system  of 
succession.  Turnips,  cabbages,  cauliflowers, 
borecole,  broccoli  and  radishes  belong  to  one 
family — parsnips,  carrots,  parsley  and  celery,  to 
another — and  so  with  lettuce,  endive,  salsify  and 
scorzonera — beets  and  spinach  —  cucumbers, 
watermelons,  and  muskmelons — potatoes,  egg- 
plant and  tomatoes — beans  and  peas — onions, 
leeks  and  shallots.  Onions  are  an  exception 
to  the  rule  of  relations,  and  are  successfully 
grown  year  after  year  upon  the  same  soil.  Root 
crops,  which  grow  mainly  in  the  soil,  should 
be  followed  by  some  crop  cultivated  for  its 
leaves,  etc.  To  illustrate — in  the  above  enumera- 
tion, it  will  be  seen  that  carrots  should  not  fol- 
low or  be  succeeded  by  parsnips,  parsley  or 
celery,  as  they  belong  to  the  same  family,  nor 
by  beets  and  other  root  crops — but  may  precede 
or  follow  anything  else.  Where  circumstances 
render  it  necessary  to  plant  a  crop  successively 
upon  the  same  ground,  the  soil  should  be  well 
manured  and  deeply  and  thoroughly  worked. 


Garden  Walks  for  Exercise. 

A  friend  writes  us  that,  in  his  large  grounds, 
he  has  laid  out  a  series  of  walks  so  arranged  that 
by  going  over  one  track  a  certain,  number  of 
times,  the  extent  is  a  mile.  Against  a  wall  he 
has  affixed  an  iron  strap  pierced  with  holes,  by 
the  side  of  which  is  a  pin  suspended  by  a  small 
chain,  so  that  the  pedestrian,  by  moving  the 
pin  from  one  hole  to  another  every  time  he  pass- 
es it,  knows   exactly  the  extent  of  his  walk. 

This  is  all  very  well,  when  one  can't  do  bet- 
ter. We  have  known  persons  exercising  by  the 
clock  in  their  rooms,  or  pacing  back  and  forth 
over  a  few  rods  of  pavement,  and  amid  the  same 
scenes,  by  the  hour.  But  it  strikes  us  that  When 
one  wishes  a  smart  walk,  he  had  better  launch 
forth  from  his  garden,  and  perambulate  the  pub- 
lic street,  so  that  he  may  see  new  faces  and  new 
scenes.  Or,  if  there  is  work  to  be  done,  put  on 
the  garden  outfit,  and  with  boo  and  water-pot  or 
other  implement,  he  will  soon  get  pleasant  health- 
ful exercise.     This  is  the  writer's  experience. 


Grape  Vines. 


When  the  demand  for  choice  grape  vines  is 
greater  than  can  be  supplied  by  the  ordinary 
modes  of  propagation,  some  nurserymen  multi- 
ply them  by  cuttings  of  the  green  wood.  It  is 
the  experience  of  many  of  the  best  cultivators 
that  vines  propagated  year  after  year  in  this 
way  deteriorate  and  become  less  hardy.  The 
Delaware  is  cited  as  having  especially  suffered 
from  this  mode  of  treatment.  It  seems  very 
likely  that  continued  propagation  from  unripe 
shoots  would  produce  weak  plants.  We  should 
not  think  of  sowing  from  seed  so  immature  that 
it  is  just  capable  of  germinating;  a  feeble  plant 
would  be  produced — and,  though  the  circum- 
stances are  not  precisely  the  same  with  cuttings, 
there  is  no  doubt  that  strong  well-ripened  wood 
will  give  plants  of  greater  vigor  than  can  be 
raised  from  green  cuttings. 


Lilies  for  City  Gardens.— These  showy 
flowers  are  worthy  an  occasional  place  in  even 
small  collections  of  plants;  but  all  are  not  well 
adapted  to  growth   in   the   smoky  city  atmos 


53 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[February, 


phere.  The  large  white,  and  the  speckled 
orauge  do  well ;  the  latter  will  thrive  under  trees. 
The  Martagon,  Thunberg's,  the  tiger-streaked, 
and  Cateby's,  require  the  freer  air  of  the  country. 


Miniature  Rustic  Plant  Stand. 

While  recently  at  the  Horticultural  warehouse 
of  our  friend,  C.  B.  Miller,  who  is  well  knowu 
in  this  vicinity,  as  the  Secretary  of  the  Brook- 
lyn Horticultural  Society,  we  observed  the  beau- 
tiful miniature  rustic  plant  stand,  represented 
above,  devised  by  him  we  believe,  and  its  ap- 
pearance was  so  pleasing  that  we  ordered  an  en- 
graving of  it  to  be  made.  It  consists  of  a  simple 
oval  shaped  box,  with  slips  of  wood  tacked 
around  the  sides,  the  bark  still  adhering,  and  ail 
arched  frame  of  vine-work  raised  above  it,  the 
whole  being  nicely  varnished.  A  shell  contain- 
ing a  trailing  plant  rests  upon  the  top ;  under- 
neath this  is  suspended  a  miniature  globe 
filled  with  water  in  which  swims  a  small  gold 
fish.  Ferns  and  other  plants  are  grown  in  soil 
covered  with  moss  in  the  box  at  the  base,  and 
delicate  vines  are  trained  to  the  side  frarn^. 
The  whole  forms  a  unique  and  tasteful  orna- 
ment for  the  sitting  room,  costing  but  little  to 
make  or  to  purchase. 

m-* mm^ ■  " '     *  *    — ' — 

City  Gardens. 


Gardens  in  towns,  especially  when  of  consid- 
erable age,  are  apt  to  become  sodden,  sticky  and 
infertile.  The  trees  and  plants  set  out  in  them 
do  not  grow  well,  but  become  mossy,  cankered, 
and  even  die  outright  from  no  apparent  cause. 
It  is  not  generally  from  want  of  manure,  but 
ofteuer  from  too  much  of  it;  not  from  want  of 
water,  but  oftener  from  an  excess  of  it;  not  be- 
cause the  soil  is  too  new,  but  because  it  is  too  old. 

But  to  be  more  particular:  whoever  has  such 
a  sickly  garden,  should  look  first  after  the  drain- 
age. Very  likely,  he  will  find  the  pipes  choked 
up,  and  consequently  the  pores  of  the  soil  flood- 
ed and  clogged  with  matters  which  ought  to 
pass  off  through  the  sewers.    Water  and  ma' 


nure  are  good  enough  in  suitable  quantities,  but 
too  much  are  hurtful ;  just  as  food  and  drink  are 
good  for  the  animal  frame  when  moderately 
used,  but  in  excess  are  injurious.  Standing  wa- 
ter fills  up  the  interstices  of  the  soil,  preventing 
the  needful  free  circulation  of  air  to  the  roots. 
The  drainage  having  been  overhauled  and 
cleaned,  take  the  soil  itself.  Most  likely,  it  will 
need  trenching,  and  bringing'  up  some  of  the 
subsoil  to  mix  with  the  worn  out  top-soil.  On 
cart  off  some  of  the  surface  earth,  and  bring  in 
an  equal  quantity  of  maiden  loam  from  the 
meadows  of  the  suburbs.  By  some  means  or 
other,  change  and  freshen  the  soil.  An  occa- 
sional syringing  of  the  foliage  of  trees  and  plants 
will  be  useful,  to  clean  off  the  dust  and  smoky 
deposits  of  the  city,  but  it  is  most  important  to 
put  the  soil  in  proper  condition,  and  keep  it  so. 


Walls  for  Gardens* 


The  custom  of  surrounding  gardens  with  sub- 
stantial walls,  prevaUs  in  England  and  Scotland, 
more  than  in  our  own  country.  The  principal 
reason  is,  that  there  the  light  and  heat  of  the 
sun  are  not  intense  enough  to  ripen  some  of 
the  choicer  fruits  in  the  open  ground ;  these  need 
to  be  concentrated  by  some  artificial  means. 
With  us,  if  peaches,  pears,  plums,  and  grapes, 
are  trained  close  upon  the  sunny  side  of  a  wall, 
they  are  very  apt  to  be  dried  up  and  injured, 
both  in  foliage  and  fruit.  Yet,  there  are  uses  to 
which  walls  and  high  fences  may  well  be  ap- 
plied. In  all  elevated  and  bleak  places,  they 
are  serviceable  in  breaking  the  force  of  winds, 
and  preventing  the  too  rapid  radiation  of  heat 
from  the  soil.  For  this  purpose,  they  are  spe- 
cially useful  in  the  early  Spring.  In  a  garden  so 
protected,  grape-vines,  cucumbers,  melons,  etc., 
may  be  brought  forward  much  earlier  than  in 
one  exposed  to  cold  breezes  on  all  sides. 

Such  walls  are  very  useful  in  protecting  grape 
vines  against  unseasonable  frosts.  We  now  re- 
call a  locality  near  thecenter  of  this  State,  where 
it  is  almost  impossible  to  raise  grapes,  on  ac- 
count of  the  untimely  frosts  in  Spring  and  Fall. 
Sometimes  the  late  spring  frosts  destroy  the 
fruits  in  the  flower,  or  the  September  frosts 
freeze  them  before  they  are  ripe.  -Not  to  be  out- 
done by  king  Jack,  a  few  enterprising  fruit- 
growers have  built  walls,  mostly  of  brick,  on 
the  north  side  of  their  gardens,  on  which  they 
raise  grapes  with  considerable  success.  The  ac- 
cumulated heat  of  the  day  radiates  slowly  dur- 
ing the  night,  and  preserves  the  vines  from  harm, 
even  when  other  tender  things  in  the  open 
ground  of  the  garden  are  cut  off.  These  walls 
are  also  furnished  with  a  coping,  about  a  foot 
wide,  sustained  by  brackets  like  the  cornice  of 
a  house.  This  coping  is  removed  during  the 
mid-summer,  to  allow  the  foliage  the  full  bene- 
fit of  rain  and  dew.  To  prevent  the  vines 
from  being  scorched  by  the  sun,  they  are  trained 
upon  a  trellis  which  is  set  off  several  inches  from 
the  wall ;  this  allows  the  free  circulation  of  air 
behind.  Upon  a  wall,  facing  in  almost  any  other 
direction  than  due  south,  there  would  be  little 
danger  from  sun  scald. 


The  California  Pitcher  Plant. 


The  locality  for  that  rare  California  plant,  the 
Darlingtonia  Oalifornica  has  been  visited  by  Prof. 
Brewer  of  the  Cal.  State  Geological  Survey.  It 
grows  in  a  small  swamp  near  Mt.  Shasta,  at  an 
altitude  of  2,500  feet.  The  leaves  are  some- 
what like  thos<5  of  our  common  pitcher  plant 


(Sarracenia,)  are  about  two  feet  long,  and  have 
the  opening  of  the  pitcher  partly  covered  by  a 
curious  two-lobed  appendage,  shaped  somewhat 
like  the  tail  of  a  fish.  Though  the  plant  was 
first  discovered  by  the  botanists  of  the  U.  S.  Ex- 
ploring Exhibition  some  fifteen  years  ago,  it  has 
never  yet  found  its  way  into  cultivation.  The 
lovers  of  plants  will  be  glad  to  learn  that  seeds 
have  been  placed  in  skillful  hands,  and  that  there 
is  a  hope  that  our  collections  may  be  enriched 
by  a  plant  which  is  not  only  curious,  but  which 
bears  a  name  dear  to  every  American  botanist — 
that  of  the  venerable  Doct.  Darlington  of  Penn. 


An  Area  Conservatory. 


Those  who  have  a  real  taste  for  Horticulture, 
will  find  a  way  to  gratify  it,  no  matter  how  lim- 
ited their  means  or  circumscribed  their  space. 
Hood's  Mrs.  Gardiner,  who  proposed  to  "  cow- 
cumber  "  in  her  wash-boiler,  is  only  a  slightly 
exaggerated  illustration  of  the  way  in  which  a 
passion  for  plants  will  stimulate  the  inventive 
faculties.  A  correspondent  has  sent  u*  a  draw- 
ing and  description  (for  a  long  time  crowded 
out)  of  an  extemporized  conservatory,  which  is 
here  presented  with  the  belief  that  many  of  our 
readers  who  live  in  cities  will  be  glad  to  adopt 
the  plan,  or  such  modification  of  it  as  their 
premises  may  require.  The  engraving  repre- 
sents the  area  at  the  back  of  the  house,  enclosed 
by  sash,  thus  affording  a  conservator}'  20  feet 
long  by  8i  feet  wide,  to  which  the  balcony  serves 
as  the  roof.  One  or  more  of  the  sashes  are 
made  movable,  to  allow  of  ventilation  and 
ingress.  By  leaving  the  kitchen  windows  open, 
the  temperature  is  ordinarily  sufficiently  high; 
but  to  ensure  this  in  severe  weather,  hot  air  is 
brought  from  a  furnace  in  the  cellar  by  means 
of  a  flue.  Where  there  is  a  water  back  to  the 
kitchen  range,  the  heating  might  be  accomplish- 
ed by  pipes  connected  with  it.  The  moisture 
from  the  operations  of  cooking  and  washing, 
generally  keeps  the  air  in  the  conservatory  suf- 
ficiently humid,  but  when  it  is  necessary  to 
introduce  hot  air  from  the  furnace,  care  is  taken 


that  it  shall  pass  over  water  in  order  to  avoid  a 
dry  heat.  The  whole  cost  of  the  structure  was 
not  over  $30.  No  doubt  many  of  the  readers 
of  the  Agriculturist  have  felt  the  want  of  a  place 
for  their  plants,  and  will  be  induced,  upon  seeing 
this  simple  plan,  to  examine  their  premises 
with  a  view  to  a  similar  contrivance.  Such  a 
structure  admits  of  a  large  number  of  pots,  and 
adds  much  to  the  attractiveness  of  home. 


A  Hint  in  Transplanting. — The  practice  of 
lifting  a  tree  up  and  down  and  shaking  it,  at  the 
time  of  transplanting,  is  of  doubtful  utility.  The 
aim  is  to  settle  the  dirt  closely  around  the  roots ; 
but  then  it  draws  the  roots  out  of  their  proper 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


53 


place,  and  bends  and  breaks  many  of  them. 
Swell  trees  often  show  that  they  are  injured, 
by  throwing  up  suckers.  A  better  way  is  to 
•york  the  soil  in  among  the  roots  with  the 
hands,  and  perhaps  apply  a  little  water  to 
wash  it  in,  when  the  work  is  about  half  done. 

Good  Feet  Warmers. 


The  best  feet  warmers  are:  frequent  applications 
of  water  aDd  a  coarse  towel,  dry  woolen  socks,  thick 
boots,  and  exercise.  These  will  usually  keep  the 
feet  of  an  active  person  comfortable  in  any  but  the 
most  excessively  cold  weather.  Sometimes,  how- 
ever, it  is  necessary  to  take  a  long  ride  when  the 
thermometer  marks  a  temperature  near  zero,  dur- 
ing which  brisk  circulation  of  the  blood  can  not  be 
kept  up  by  exercise,  and  without  some  additioual 
precaution,  the  feet  are  liable  to  great  diseomlort. 
If  the  socks  be  dry  and  the  feet  be  well  warmed  be- 
fore 6ctting  out,  the  heat  maybe  retained  for  a 
long  time  by  wearing  heavy  woolen  socks  or  moc- 
casins over  the  shoes.  These  can  be  made  of  extra 
stout  yarn,  or  more  cheaply  and  easily  by  sowiug 
together  properly  shaped  pieces  of  thick  blanket. 
Moccasins  of  buffalo  skin,  with  the  hair  inward,  arc 
admirableprotectors  of  the  feet  in  traveling.  Occa- 
sionally, owing  to  feeble  health,  the  circulation  of 
blood  is  too  sluggish  to  generate  a  comfortable  de- 
gree of  heat  in  the  system,  and  persons  sutler  from 
cold,  whatever  the  amount  of  clothing  worn.  The 
extremities,  particularly,  feci  the  waut  of  a  full  sup- 
ply of  natural  animal  heat.  In  such  cases  heat  must 
be  derived  from  external  sources.  Vessels  of  hot 
water,  heated  blocks  of  hard  wood,  bricks,  etc.,  are 
commonly  used  to  keep  the  feet  warm.  A  better 
article  for  this  purpose  than  either  of  the  above 
named,  is  a  block  of  soap-stone,  which  retains  heat 
for  a  very  long  time.  Enclosing  it  in  a  convenient 
woolen  bag  will  keep  it  warm  considerably  longer 
than  if  it  be  left  exposed.  A  correspondent  of  the 
Agriculturist,  (E.  S.  Osborn,  Suffolk  Co.,  N.  Y.,)  who 
has  tried  this  material  for  several  years,  has  found 
It  so  good  that  she  thinks  it  would  be  an  excellent 
charity  to  furnish  such  blocks  in  large  numbers  to 
the  poor  in  cities.  Perhaps  it  might  abate  some 
Buffering,  provided  euough  fuel  to  heat  the  blocks 
with,  were  supplied  at  the  same  time. 

»-■ — ♦»         i  ■ — 

Slipping  Down  — "  Creepers." 

The  number  of  bruises,  broken  limbs,  sprained 
joints  and  other  casualties  resulting  from  slipping 
down  on  ice-covered  ground,  if  carefully  summed 
up,  would  amount  to  hundreds  of  thousands  every 
year.  Suppose  that  among  the  twenty  five  mdliou 
inhabitants  of  the  colder  States  and  British  Prov- 
inces, only  one  person  in  a  hundred  should  falldown 
Boas  to  receive  injury.  This  would  amount  to 
850,000 — quite  an  army  even  in  latter  days.  Old 
persons  who  are  not  agile,  and  whose  bones  are 
brittle,  and  least  likely  to  unite  quickly  if  broken, 


Fig.  1.  Fig.  2. 

are  most  apt  to  suffer.  We  have  known  of  sev- 
eral such  cases  of  very  serious  injury.  There  are 
several  contrivances  to  prevent  slipping,  two  of  the 
simplest  of  which  are  represented  in  the  accompany- 
ing engravings,  that  arc  somewhat  old,  but  not  gen- 
erally in  use.  Fig.  1,  is  a  piecu  of  flat  iron,  split 
twice  at  each  corner  with  the  sharp  points  turned 
down,  and  the  middle  pieces  turned  uj>  and  punch- 
•Jl  with  holes  for  straps.  Fig.  2,  6hows  the  method 
of  attaching  it  to  the  boot  or  6hoe  just  forward  of 
the  heel.    Any  blacksmith  can  readily  make  them, 


or  they  may  even  be  made  at  home.  The  length  of 
the  points  is  to  be  proportioned  to  the  bight  of  the 
heel ;  the  points  will  need  to  project  scarcely  more 
thau  %  inch  below  the  heel.  The  housewife  will  of 
course  see  that  these  heel 
pieces  or  "  creepers  "  are  B, 
left  behind  at  the.  door. 
Fig.  3,  represents  a  form 
usually  sold  at  the  hard- 
ware stores  for  about  25 
cents  per  pair.  They  are  of  cast  iron,  and  are  fast- 
ened on,  or  loosened,  by  turning  the  screw  (A)  at 
the  heel.  The  points  (iJ)  are  turned  inward  so  as 
to  catch  into  the  loather,  and  hold  them  on  firmly. 


Potatoes  in  the  Bins. 


INTERESTING  FACTS  FOR  "SPROUTERS"  TO  THINK  OF. 

If  the  family  supply  of  potatoes  has  been  stored 
in  a  moderately  warm  place,  they  will  soon  need  at- 
tention. They  must  be  looked  over  and  the 
sprouts  rubbed  off— or  'sprouted'  as  it  is  termed.  A 
dark,  cool  aud  dry  place  is  best.  The  cooler  they 
are  kept  without  freezing,  the  less  likely  they  will 
be  to  start.  Rubbing  off  the  sprouts  is  good  in- 
door work  for  stormy  weather,  but  as  it  is  rather 
dirty  and  monotonous,  it  is  not  a  job  that  is  much 
relished.  Persons  do  not  generally  like  any  work, 
however  easy,  provided  it  is  merely  mechanical, 
and  offers  no  employment  for  mind  as  well  as  the 
bauds.  Let  us  see  if  there  is  not  something  inter- 
cstiug  in  sprouting  potatoes.  Many  of  the  potatoes 
will  be  found  to  have  a  bit  of  stem  attached— the 
remains  of  an  under-ground  stem,  of  which  the 
potato  is  the  enlarged  end.  It  is  the  channel 
through  which  the  potato  received  all  its  nourish- 
ment, and  grew  to  such  rotund  proportions,  but 
like  many  who  have  grown  fat  aud  prosperous,  it 
seems  to  have  forgotten  the  means  by  which  it  be- 
came so,  and  instead  of  giving  back  any  of  the  rich 
stores  it  has  received  through  it,,  the  over-fed 
potato  leaves  the  little  stem  to  perish.  The  new 
sprouts  all  start  from  the  eyes  of  the  potato, 
which  are  much  more  numerous  and  closer  to- 
gether as  we  go  from  the  stem  end.  These  potato 
eyes  are  arranged  in  a  peculiar  manner.  If  we  start 
with  an  eye  near  the  stem  end  it  will  be  found  that 
the  eye  next  above  it  is  placed  a  little  to  the  right, 
the  next  a  little  to  the  right  of  that,  and  so  on, 
thus  forming  a  regular  spiral.  The  arrangement  is 
best  seen  in  the  longer  varieties.  The  sprouts 
start  first  from  the  end  farthest  from  the  stem,  and 
if  these  are  allowed  to  grow,  many  of  the  others 
will  not  start  at  all.  The  potato  having  once  made 
up  its  mind  to  grow,  is  not  to  be  easily  thwarted, 
aud  if  all  the  sprouts  are  rubbed  off,  the  operation 
very  often  has  to  be  repeated  a  second  or  third  time. 

If  we  examine  a  potato  eye  closely,  several  lit- 
tle spots  will  be  observed ;  each  of  these  are  buds 
from  which  sprouts  may  spring.  If  one  or  more 
of  these  starts  and  are  allowed  to  grow,  the  rest 
finally  perish ;  but  if  the  first  sprouts  are  removed 
then  the  reserved  forces  are  called  up,  and  a  new 
crop  of  sprouts  appear;  aud  this  is  repeated  again 
aud  again  until  the  last  one  of  the  supply  of  super- 
numerary buds  is  entirely,  exhausted. 

The,  potato  looks  like  a  stupid  thing,  but  it  seems 
to  show  a  kind  of  instinct.  The  sprouts  in  the  bin 
or  barrel,  far  away  from  the  earth,  throw  out  roots 
which  go  traveling  off  in  search  of  sustenance — as 
if  knowing  that  the  supply  for  the  young  plant, 
coutanicd  in  the  potato,  cnnH  not  last  long. 

Inside  of  the  potato  eurious  chemical  changes 
are  going  on.  The  starch  which  is  put  there  to 
supply  food  for  sprouts  or  young  plants,  under- 
goes a  transformation.  It  has  to  be  moved  in 
order  to  aid  the  young  growth,  and  as  it  is  not 
soluble  in  cold  water,  it  is  changed  so  that  it  can 
pass  to  where  it  is  needed.  It  is  partly  converted 
into  sugar,  as  may  be  seen  from  the  sweet  taste 
poorly  kept  potatoes  have  in  the  spring.  We 
have  not  said  all  that  the  occupation  of  sprout- 
ing potatoes  suggests — but  enough  we  trust  to  show 
the  readers  of  ihu  American.  Agriculturist  that  there 
is  much  to  learn  about  common  and  every  day 
thlugs,  which  apparently  possess  little  -  i    'it   re  it 


To  Prevent  "  Chapped  Hands." 

The  writer  was  formerly  much  troubled  with 
chapped  aud  cracked  hands,  so  much  so  as  to  con- 
stantly feel  uncomfortable.  Latterly,  I  have  been 
entirely  free  from  this  source  of  trouble,  and,  ex- 
cept when  obliged  to  handle  frozen  substances,  I  no 
more  think  of  wearing  gloves  or  mittens  on  my 
hands,  than  I  do  of  covering  my  face.  This  good  re- 
sult I  attribute  wholly  to  a  hiut  given  in  my  Amer- 
ican Agriculturist  a  few  years  ago,  which  I  would 
like  to  have  repeated  for  the  benefit  of  others.  It 
was  in  effect  as  follows  :  The  cuticle  or  scarf  skin 
is  designed  as  a  handprotective  covering,  and  when 
sound,  It  serves  this  purpose  admirably.  Pure  wa- 
ter does  not  affect  the  cuticle ;  but  add  a  little  soap 
or  other  alkali  to  the  water,  and  it  at  once  attacks 
the  cuticle  and  will  in  a  short  time  dissolve  it  off. 
I  now  avoid  the  use  of  soap  as  much  as  possible, 
usiug  a  brush  to  remove  most  kinds  of  soiling. 
When  soap' is  absolutely  required  to  remove  oily  or 
greasy  matters,  I  keep  it  on  the  hands  as  little  time 
as  may  be,  aud  rinse  off  the  last  vestige  thoroughly, 
leaving  none  to  corrode  and  crack  the  outer  skiu. 
Generally,  I  dip  the  hands  in  water  in  which  a  few 
drops  of  vinegar  have  been  poured;  this  neutral- 
izes the  alkali  of  the  soap.  Wife  does  the  same  on 
washing  day  wdien  the  hands  must  be  put  into  soap 
suds.  I  formerly  applied  vinegar  to  the  face  after 
shaving,  but  now  use  a  little  cheap  Cologne  water, 
or  common  whiskey,  which  removes  the  alkali, 
and  keeps  the  whiskers  black — not  faded  as  when 
nothing  was  used  after  the  lather.  Farmer. 


A  Short  Chapter  on  Bonnets. 


The  Fashion  in  I860.  The  present  Style. 

What  Next » 


About   Illuminating  or  Coal  Oils. 


Perhaps  no  household  topic  is  of  more  general  in- 
terest than  that  of  the  oils,  to  which  we  are  so  much 
indebted  for  the  comfort  and  cheerfulness  of  our 
homes.  A  few  years  has  brought  a  great  revolution 
iu  our  domestic  economy,  which  is  nowhere  more 
strikingly  seen  (ban  in  our  methods  of  illumination. 
Whale  oil  gave  way  to  the  dangerous  camphencand 
burning  fluid,  and  these  were  in  turn  superseded  by 
coal  and  mineral  oils.  The  whales  are  left  com- 
paratively unmolested,  it  being  much  easier  to  catch 
a  few  tons  of  coal  than  it  is  to  capture  one  of  those 
monsters.  Turpentine,  from  which  camphene  and 
burning  fluid  are  manufactured,  is  so  scarce,  that 
were  these  articles  in  general  use,  thedemand  could 
not  be  supplied.  Happily  (be  facility  with  which 
better  illumiu  iting  oils  can  be  procured  from  coal, 
ami  the  wonderful  discovery  of  the  oil  wells,  have 
given  us  a  belter  and  cheaper  light.  Our  readers 
are  well  aware  that  there  are  two  kinds  of  mineral 
coal;  the  hard  or  anthracite,  aud  the  soft  or  bitu- 
miuous.  The  latter,  which  is  the  kind  most  known 
at  the  West,  burus  with  a  flame,  and  is  the  kind 
used  in  making  the  oils  aud  the  gas  for  lighting 
cities.  If  bituminous  coal  be  heated  in  a  closed  iron 
vessel,  shaped  like  .a  bottle,  the  portion  which 
would  have  burned  with  a  flame,  had  the  coal  been 
on  the  open  fire,  will  be  driven  off  as  a  gas,  and  may 
be  lighted  at  the  month  of  the  bottle.  Iu  gas  mak- 
ing, the  coal  is  thus  heated,  and  the  gas,  after  being 
properly  purified,  is  carried  by  pipes  a  long  way 


ft4 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[February, 


even  miles  from  the  place  where  it  is  mane,  to  be 
burned.  The  success  in  gas  making  depends  upon 
usiu"  the  proper  amount  of  heat  to  convert  into  gas 
as  much  as  possible  of  the  volatile  matter  of  the 
coal.  A  lower  degree  of  boat  slowly  applied, 
produces  from  the  coal  but  very  little  gas,  but  What 
would  have  otherwise  been  gas,  is  obtained  as  a 
thick  tarry  oil.  This  is  the  first  step  in  preparing 
the  coal  oils,  and  by  refining  this  crude  oil,  several 
products  are  obtained.  Sulphuric  acid  (oil  of  vit- 
riol) is  added  to  the  crude  oil  which  helps  separate 
the  tar  and  other  impurities,  then  lime  is  added  to 
neutralize  the  acid,  and  the  thinner  portions  of  the 
liquid  are  poured  off  and  distilled.  This  liquid  con- 
tains several  distinct  oils  which  have  different  boil- 
ing points.  In  the  distilling  processes  the  beat  is 
applied'very  gradually ;  at  about  80s,  a  very  volatile 
liquid  is  obtained  aud  as  the  heat  is  increased,  other 
oils  having  higher  boiling  points  are  distilled,  the 
last  of  these  requiring  a  heat  of  over  500°  to  con- 
vert them  iuto  vapor. 

The  liquids  first  obtained,  which  boil  at  so  low  a 
degree,  are  unsafe  to  use  for  illumination.  They  are 
known  as  Naptha  and  Benzine,  aud  are  of  great 
value  in  the  arts.  They  have  the  power  of  dis- 
solving all  greasy  and  resinous  substances,  and  are 
used  for  cleauing  clothing,  dissolving  iudia  rubber, 
mixing  with  paint  in  place  of  turpentine,  etc. 
After  these  very  volatile  oils  have  distilled, 
others  arc  obtained,  having  higher  boiling 
points,  and  these  are  used  as  burning  oils, 
and  are  known  as  Kerosene,  and  by  a  number 
of  other  trade  names — all  beiug  essentially  the 
same  thing,  but  differing  in  their  color,  density  and 
boiling  points.  The  oils  which  are  obtained  by 
distilling  at  a  high  temperature  are  used  for  greas- 
ing machinery.  There  is  deposited  from  the  oils 
after  distillation,  a  whitish  substance  which  is  col- 
lected, purified,  melted,  and  made  into  cakes.  This 
is  Paraffine  ;  it  looks  something  like  white  wax, 
aud  is  made  into  beautiful  candles  of  great  illumina- 
ting power.  It  melts  so  readily  that  it  cannot  be 
used  pure  for  candles,  hence  those  sold  as  Paraffine 
candles  are  iu  part  composed  of  spermacetti  and 
other  substances,  to  render  them  firm  in  warm 
weather.  Great  quantities  of  illuminating  oil  are 
obtained  from  the  Petroleum  or  oil  from  the  oil 
wells.  Here  the  first  step  in  the  process  is  done  by 
nature,  and  crude  oil  is  furnished  ready  for  the  re- 
lining  process.  The  illuminating  oils  from  Pctro* 
leum,  known  as  Carbon  Oil,  and  by  other  names, 
are  essentially  the  same  as  those  made  from 
coal.  All  these  consist  of  mixtures  of  oils,  hav- 
ing different  boiling  points,  and  those  are  the 
6afest  which  have  the  least  admixture  of  naptha. 
Kerosene  and  similar  oils,  when  properly  prepared 
and  burned  in  suitable  lamps,  are  not  liable  to  form 
explosive  vapors,  but  if  from  carelessness  or  fraud 
on  the  part  of  the  manufacturer,  they  contain 
much  naptha,  they  are  dangerous.  No  oil  is  safe 
to  use  which  will  give  off  an  explosive  vapor  be- 
low 110°.  The  coal  oils  in  the  market  generally 
form  an  explosive  vapor  when  heated  to  130°  or 
110s,  and  those  from  petroleum  do  so  at  100°  to 
120°.  The  density  or  weight  of  a  sample  of  oil  is 
uo  indication  of  its  freedom  from  explosive  qual- 
ities ;  this  can  only  be  ascertained  by  experiment. 
Apparatus  is  made  aud  sold  for  the  purpose ;  but 
a  sufficiently  correct  test  can  be  made  by  putting 
a  little  of  the  oil  in  a  tin  cup,  which  is  to  be  placed 
in  a  large  vessel  containing  water  A  thermometer 
is  placed  in  the  water,  and  the  whole  put  upon  the 
stove,  and  allowed  to  heat  very  slowly.  A  lighted 
match  is  applied  from  time  to  time  to  ascertain 
when  the  oil  in  the  cup  forms  an  explosive  vapor, 
the  temperature  at  which  this  takes  place  is  indica- 
ted by  the  thermometer.  The  light  should  not  be 
applied  to  the  oil,  but  should  be  held  just  within  the 
edge  of  the  cup.  It  is  wonderful  to  think  as  we  sit 
by  the  cheerful  coal  fire  and  read  by  the  light  of  a 
Kerosene  lamp,  that  we  are  enjoying  the  same  light 
and  heat  which  came  to  the  earth  ages  and  ages  ago. 
The  plants  which  produced  the  coal  and  rock-oil 
grew  by  the  aid  of  the  sun's  rays,  and — as  every  plant 
is  now  doiug — locked  up  a  portion  of  light  and  heat 
iu  their  stems  and  leaves.  Whether  we  burn  the 
wood  which  has  grown  within  our  own  observa- 


tion, or  that  which  grew  longer  ago  than  we  can 
calculate,  and  has  become  coal,  we  only  set  free  the 
light  and  heat  which  the  sun  furnished  it  to  en- 
able it  to  grow.  Then  how  wonderful  the  human 
skill  which  takes  these  "  black  diamonds"  from  the 
dark  mine,  and  by  aid  of  chemistry  makes  them  to 
shine  aud  fill  our  homes  with  their  brilliancy. 


Tim  Bunker  on  Extravagance, 

— • 

"  Forty-five  thousand  dollars  for  jewelry  in  New- 
York,  at  one  store,  iu  one  morning!"  said  Mrs.  Bunk- 
er as  she  took  off  her  specs,  and  laid  down  the 
Times,  in  which  she  had  just  read  that  account. 

"And  how  many  stores  do  you  'spose  they've 
got  in  New-York,  where  theysellthem  'erefixius," 
inquired  Mrs.  Seth  Twiggs,  who  had  dropped  in 
with  her  knitting,  and  sat  iu  a  meditative  mood, 
while  Mrs.  Bunker  read  the  war  news.  (Seth  used 
to  take  the  daily  paper  himself,  but  since  the  rise  in 
price,  he  says  he  can't  afford  it.  Twelve  dollars  a 
year  for  a  daily  paper,  hesays,  is  a  leetletoo  mighty 
for  a  poor  man  who  works  for  his  living.  That 
would  more  than  buy  a  barrel  of  flour,  aud  it  only 
takes  two  barrels  to  carry  his  little  family  through 
the  year.  I  have  noticed,  however,  that  be  aud  his 
wife  are  more  neighborly  than  common,  since  they 
stopped  the  daily  paper.  I  am  not  particularly 
sorry,  for  Seth  is  good  company,  if  it  wasn't  for  his 
everlasting  pipe,  which  I  abominate,  as  all  sensible 
people  should.  What  upon  earth  a  man  should 
want  to  make  a  chimney  of  his  nose  for,  I  never 
could  see.  We  are  kind  o'  lonesome,  since  Sally 
got  married,  aud  John  went  off  to  the  war,  aud 
neighbors  don't  come  amiss.  Seth  also  has  a  son  in 
the  war,  and  we  have  a  considerable  fellow  feeling.) 

"  There's  a  huudrcd  of  them  stores  at  least,"  re- 
plied Mrs.  Bunker. 

"  You  don't  mean  a  hundred  on  'em !"  exclaimed 
Mis.  Jacob  Frink,  whom  the  neighbors  all  call 
"  Polly,"  for  short — except  a  few  of  us  older  people, 
who  say  "  Aunt  Polly." 

"What  a  sight  of  silver  spoons  and  forks,  tea- 
pots and  tureens,  fruit  knives  and  porringers,  they 
must  have  down  there,  if  all  the.  stores  sold  as 
much  as  that  'ere  one  you  read  about." 

"It  would  make  four  millions  aud  a  half  of  dol- 
lars, spent  in  gewgaws  in  one  morning,"  said  I, 
willing  to  increase  Aunt  Polly's  astonishment. 

"You  don't  say  so,  Squire  Bunker!"  said  she. 
"  That  is  more  than  Jacob  could  carry  in  his  cart," 

"  Well  I  guess  it  is.  It  would  line  Broadway  with 
silver,  from  the  Battery  to  Central  Park,"  said  I. 

"  Provided  you  did'nt  lay  it  on  too  thick,"  added 
Mrs.  Bunker,  squirming  iu  her  chair,  at  the  extrav- 
agant expression. 

"  I  said  line  it,  Sally,  not  cover  it."    I  responded. 

"  Wa'll,  it  is  an  awful  sight  of  money  any  way  !" 
said  Aunt  Polly.  "  I  fear  I  should  covet,  if  I  see  it." 

"And  where  do  you  suppose  it  all  comes  from?" 
asked  Mrs.  Twiggs. 

"I  can  tell  you  where  some  of  it  comes  to,"  an- 
swered Aunt  Polly.  "  You  see  Kier  has  just  got 
home  from  the  war,  wounded  in  his  left  arm.  And 
he  stopped  in  New-York  jest  to  see  the  sights,  and. 
to  get  something  to  bring  home  to  the  old  folks, 
and  to  his  family  up  at  the  White  Oaks..  Aud  don't 
you  think  he  brought  me  borne  a  pair  of  gold  specs 
aud  a  gold  thimble  for  his  wife,  and  a  silver  trump- 
et for  bis  boy,  Jacob  Frink  jr.,  who  aint  more  than 
six  mouths  old.  Now  we  didn't  need  these  things 
any  more  than  a  eat  needs  tew  tails.  I  had  a  pair 
of  steel-bows  that  Jacob  got  me  five  years  ago,  and 
they  are  jest  as  good  as  new,  aud  I  can  see  in  'em 
jest  as  well  as  iu  the  new  ones,  and  a  trifle  better. 
And  then  bis  wife  had  thimbles  enough,  rather 
more  than  she  used,  any  way,  judging  by  the  looks 
of  Kier,  when  be  used  to  drive  the  coal  cart.  She 
never  kept  bim  tidy,  and  I  don't  believe  gold  thim- 
bles will  help  her  case,  if  she  had  a  cart  load  of 'em. 
And  then  as  to  that  boy,  be  won't  be  big  enough 
under  a  year  to  blow  a  squash  leaf  squawker,  to  say 
nothing  of  trumpets.  A  silver  trumpet !  It  is  the 
only  article  of  silver  in  the  whole  neighborhood  of 
the  White  Oaks,  barring  the  small  chauge  they've 
got  stowed  away  in  their  stockings,  agin  it  comes 


iuto  fashion  agin.  Now,  Kier  paid  ten  dollars  for 
that  'ere  trumpet,  and  be  had  no  more  use  for  it 
than  his  wife  has  for  a  pianuy.  You  see,  he  had 
just  got  paid  off,  and  he  had  never  seen  so  much 
money  before  iu  one  pile,  in  all  bis  life.  lie  want- 
ed to  make  a  sensashuu  in  the  White  Oaks,  and  I 
guess  he  did  it,  when  be  bought  that  article.  Not 
less  than  twenty  five  dollars,  the  price  of  blood  as 
it  were,  all  spent  for  uothin.  I  was  riled  when  I 
see  bim  onpaek  the  things.  Ah,  if  he  had  only  got 
a  raw  hide  for  that  youngster  there  would  have  been 
some  sense  in  it." 

Aunt  Polly  paused  for  breath,  and  looked  red  in 
the  face  as  she  doubtless  remembered  the  wallop- 
ings she  had  bestowed  upon  Kier  in  his  juvenile 
days.  But  there  is  a  deal  of  sense  iu  what  the  old 
lady  says.  You  see  this  war  has  made  money  aw- 
ful plenty,  such  as  it  is,  among  a  certain  class  of 
people.  It  has  got  iuto  new  hands,  and  they  are 
itching  to  let  the  world  know  that  they  have  got  it. 
I  know  of  some  fellows  that  have  gone  to  the  war 
that  are  earniug  more  money  for  their  famibes  than 
they  ever  did  before.  There  are  Tucker's  two  boys 
that  never  did  any  thing  but  hunt,  fish,  and  loaf, 
but  they  are  now  earning  their  rations  aud  thirteen 
dollars  extra,  a  thing  they  never  did  before,  without 
the  extra.  There  are  hosts  of  contractors  for  steam- 
boats, for  irou-clads,  for  army  clothing,  for  horses, 
for  mules,  for  forage,  for  flour,  for  rations  of  all 
kinds,  that  are  getting  a  big  slice,  aud  piling  up 
money  by  the  hat  full.  This  money  is  distributed 
all  through  the  country,  aud  farmers  come  in  for 
their  share.  Well  now,  it  is  mighty  natural  when 
folks  that  have  been  6tinted  for  a  good  while,  when 
they  get  hold  of  the  cash,  to  make  it  fly.  So  it  goes 
for  jewelry,  for  bonnets,  aud  silver  trumpets,  and 
all  sorts  of  jimcracks  that  tickle  the  women  aud 
children,  and  don't  do  any  body  much  good. 

You  see,  George  Washington  Tucker  jr.,  that  en- 
listed in  the  beginning  of  the  war  sent  home  fifty 
dollars  to  his  intended,  Miss  Almeda  Georgiaua 
Bottom,  and  told  her  she  might  swell  for  once,  as 
she  had  never  had  a  fair  chance  in  life.  The  next 
Sunday  I  rather  guess  there  was  a  sensation  in  the 
Hookertown  Meeting  House  that,  kept  sleepy  folks 
awake,  if  the  sermon  didn't.  Sire  had  on  a  pair  of 
ear-rings,  a  big  gold-washed  watch-chain,  and  brace- 
lets like  Col.  Smith's  daughter,  a  monstrous  swell 
of  hoop  skirts,  one  of  those  two  story  bonnets 
with  pink  flowers  in  the  second  story  and  a  top 
knot  of  feathers,  and  to  top  all,  or  rather  to  bottom 
all,  a  pair  of  new  calfskin  shoes  that  sqneaked  like 
a  cider  mill.  She  came  sailing  in  to  meeting  just 
after  the  first  hymn,  when  Mr.  Spoon  er  was  reading 
scripture  where  it  says  "  Behold  the  lilies  of  the 
field,"  etc.  The  shoes  made  such  a  squeaking  that 
he  had  to  stop  until  the  young  woman  got  seated. 
Some  of  the  young  folks  in  the  pew  behind  me 
tittered,  and  an  old  lady  iu  my  own  pew  put  a 
handkerchief  to  her  mouth.  I  suppose  she  wanted 
to  cough  Just  then,  and  didn't  like  to  disturb  the 
meeting.  Mr.  Spooner  looked  astonished,  as  if  he 
had  seen  a  vision. 

Now  you  see  this  sort  of  thing  is  going  on  all  over 
the  country,  aud  there  is  a  good  deal  of  extrava- 
gance iu  folks  buying  jewelry  and  knick-knacks 
that  they  do  not  have  any  use  for.  I  suppose  it  is 
rather  worse  than  common  just  now,  but  there  has 
always  been  a  goud  deal  of  it.  If  a  man  buys  what 
he  don't  need,  I  call  him  extravagant,  whether  it  is 
an  extra  acre  of  land,  a  two  story  bonnet,  or  a  bo- 
gus gold  watch  chain,  without  any  watch.  If  a  man 
can  do  his  business  with  a  wheel  barrow,  he  should 
uot  invest  in  a  horse  and  cart.  If  bis  farm  only  af- 
fords occupation  for  one  horse  and  cart,  be  should 
uot  buy  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  cart.  If  be  has  only 
capital  to  work  twenty  acres  to  advantage,  he  is 
very  extravagant  to  purchase  fifty.  If  he  has  only 
feed  for  six  cows,  he  should  not  keep  eight.  This  is 
one  of  our  greatest  faults  as  a  people,  and  I  am 
afraid  this  war,  if  it  ends  in  the  triumph  of  the 
government,  as  we  hope  it  will,  will  not  remedy  the 
evil.  We  buy  cargoes  of  silks,  and  jewelry,  wines, 
and  brandies,  that  we  have  no  need  of.  Miss  Alme- 
da Georgians  Bottom  is  nut  the  only  sinner  among 
us,  not  by  many  a  hundred,  I  tell  you. 

Hookertown,    I  Yours  to  command, 

Jan.  1st,  1863.)  Timothy  Box  her,  Esq. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


55 


Adulterations. 

Mac  j  of  the  articles  in  common  use  in  families 
arc  subject  to  fraudulent  mixture,  especially  those 
which  are  sold  in  the  ground  or  powdered  state. 
Ground  spices  are,  from  their  high  price,  not  only 
adulterated  with  other  substances,  but  inferior  and 
damaged  articles,  such  as  could  not  be  sold  in  the 
whole  condition,  are  made  into  powder.  The  additi- 
ons made  to  spices  are  not  generally  of  a  deleterious 
nature,  but  are  simply  a  fraud  upon  the  buyer,  who 
gets  much  less  of  the  real  article  than  he  pays  for. 
Old  ship  biscuit  and  Indian  meal  flour,  and  ground 
oil  cake  are  among  the  substances  used,  and  tons 
of  these  are  annually  sold  at  the  price  of  spices. 
The  value  of  spices  depends  upon  the  oil  they  con- 
tain, in  some  instances  the  oil  of  cloves  and  cinna- 
mons is  previously  extracted  and  the  articles  after- 
wards ground  and  sold.  We  have  known  a  whole- 
sale dealer  to  keep  three  sorts  of  grouud  ginger, 
which  he  sold  to  retailers  at  as  many  different  pri- 
ces, under  the  names  of  fresh,  pure  and  extra. 
These  differed  only  in  the  proportions  of  meal  they 
contained.  It  is  very  difficult  to  find  pure  ground 
mustards;  much  of  that  in  the  market  contains 
very  little  of  the  flour  of  mustard  seed,  and  a  great 
deal  of  the  flour  of  wheat,  with  turmeric  to  give  a 
fine  yellow  color.  Having  occasion  some  time  ago 
to  make  use  of  a  mustard  poultice,  we  were  obliged 
to  make  four  trials,  with  mustard  bought  at  differ- 
ent places,  before  we  could  find  any  which  would 
produce  any  redness  of  the  skin,  or  even  a  feeling 
of  warmth.  Cayenne  pepper,  which,  from  being 
troublesome  to  prepare,  is  usually  bought  ready 
ground,  is  much  adulterated.  This  is  often  mixed 
with  harmless  substances,  but  sometimes  red  lead, 
which  is  poisonous,  is  used  to  bring  up  the  color. 
Pure  Cayenne  is  of  an  orange  red  color  ;  any  which 
is  bright  red  or  scarlet  should  be  looked  upon  with 
suspicion.  Where  a  spice  is  much  adulterated  the 
lack  of  proper  taste  and  smell  will  detect  it — but 
such  pungent  articles  can  be  mixed  with  tasteless 
materials  to  a  considerable  extent  without  materi- 
ally altering  the  taste  or  smell.  Adulterations  can 
be  readily  detected  by  the  microscope,  but  there 
are  few  who  have  the  skill  and  the  means  to  make 
the  examination,  and  the  only  safe  way  is  to  pur- 
chase the  articles  unground,  and  pound  or  grind 
them  in  the  house. 


Beans  and  .Peas  as  Food— Hints  on  Cook- 
ing Them, 


We  suspect  that  economical  housekeepers  are 
not  generally  aware  of  the  value  of  beans  and  peas 
as  a  source  of  nourishment,  or  these  articles  would 
be  more  freely  consumed.  They  are  similar  in 
composition,  both  containing  a  large  propor- 
tion of  nitrogenous  compounds,  which  supply 
direct  nutriment  to  the  muscles  of  the  body.  In 
fact,  they  furnish  the  most  concentrated  form  of 
streugth  imparting  vegetable  nourishment.  Trav- 
elers over  the  eastern  deserts,  who  have  occasion 
to  carry  the  greatest  amount  of  life  sustaining  food 
in  the  least  weight,  take  with  them  the  roasted 
chick-peas,  which  arc  similar  in  composition  to  our 
commou  beans  and  peas.  The  Chinese  prepare  a 
cheese  from  peas,  which  is  quite  like  a  milk  cheese. 
The  peas  are  boiled  to  a  thin  paste,  strained 
through  a  sieve,  and  the  curd  obtained  after  co- 
agulation is  treated  like  that  from  milk.  Beans  and 
peas  are  by  some  considered  to  be  difficult  of  di- 
gestion, and  constipating.  The  constipating  prop- 
erty is  probably  due  to  the  fact  that  nearly  all  the 
substance  is  converted  into  nutriment,  leaving  lit- 
tle solid  waste  material  to  excite  and  produce 
evacuations  of  the  intestines.  This  can  be  correct- 
ed by  eating  coarse  and  bulky  food  with  them.  The 
difficulty  of  digestiou  is  due  mainly,  we  think,  to 
the  method  of  cooking  too  often  practised.  The 
skin  of  the  kernels  is  almost  absolutely  impenetra- 
ble to  the  gastric  juice  of  the  stomach.  If  the  skins 
be  not  thoroughly  broken  in  cooking,  or  in  eating, 
the  gastric  fluid  can  not  do  its  work,  and  heart- 
burn or  pain  in  the  stomach  is  the  result ;  while 


the  undigested  kernels  or  parts  of  kernels  pass 
into  the  intestines,  and  by  fermentation  these  pro- 
duce gas,  leading  to  flatulence  (colic).  Let  the 
beans  or  peas  be  so  thoroughly  cooked  as  to  form  a 
soft,  mushy  mass,  and  they  will  be  easily  digested, 
and  the  evils  above  referred  to,  will  be  obviated. 
A  very  common  process  is  to  boil  them  for  a  time, 
and  then  complete  the  cooking  by  baking  them 
with  pork.  They  are  then  dry,  and  the  skin  main- 
ly unbroken,  except  slight  cracks  or  checks  upon 
oue  side,  and  being  coated  with  baked  lard,  they 
are  in  the  worst  possible  condition  to  be  easily 
transformed  into  nourishment  in  the  stomach. 
Baked  "  pork  and  beans"  is  with  some  a  favorite 
dish,  and  those  having  the  "stomach  of  an  Os- 
trich" can  manage  to  digest  a  considerable  portion 
of  this  material,  espe  cially  if  they  take  the  time 
to  chew  it  finely  before  swallowing  ;  but  as  a  rule, 
for  children  and  those  having  but  an  ordinarily 
good  digestion,  it  is  best  to  leave  out  the  pork. 
Beans  are  abundautly  rich  themselves,  without  the 
addition  of  baked  or  boiled  pork  fat.  The  best 
mode  of  cookiugis,  to  boil  them, in  soft  wrateronl}', 
to  a  mushy  condition,  so  that  the  skin  shall  be 
thoroughly  broken  up.  A  piece  of  lean  meat 
may  be  boiled  with  them  to  change  the  flavor,  if 
desired,  though  good  beans  in  a  well  cooked  soft 
state,  have  a  rich  butter-like  taste  of  themselves, 
without  any  addition  except  salt.  Soft  water  is  es- 
sential to  the  good  cooking  of  beans.  Pea  soup  is 
about  equally  nutritious  with  that  made  from  beans, 
and  their  frequent  use  will  render  them  palatable. 


Hints  on  Cooking,  etc. 

Good  Breakfast  Calces.— Mrs.  M.  Hol- 
lingsworth,  Armstrong  Co.,  Pa.,  contributes  the 
following  to  the  American  Agriculturist:  Take 
equal  parts  of  wheat  flour,  buckwheat,  and  corn 
meai  sifted,  enough  to  make  a  batter  with  1  pint 
skim  milk  (sweet),  1  pint  sour  milk,  or  buttermilk, 
1  &gg,  1  teaspoonful  each  of  salt  and  cooking  soda. 
Bake  and  serve  up  the  same  as  buckwheat  cakes. 

<«  riddle  Calces  : — Preferred  to  buckwheat 
by  the  contributor,  0.  B.  Fenner,  Marion  Co.,  111. 
1  gill  of  good  yeast,  %  teaspoonful  of  salt,  1  qt.  of 
blood  warm  water,  1  cup  of  Indian  meal,  1J.2'  cups  of 
rye  meal.  Thicken  with  flour.  Let  the  Indian  and 
rye  meal  be  sifted  through  a  coarse  seive  ;  mix  at 
night  for  the  next  morning's  use,  and  set  in  a  place 
warm  enough  for  them  to  rise.  In  the  moruiug 
they  will  be  exceedingly  light  and  spongy ;  then 
add  about  1  teaspoonful  of  saleratus,  or  enough  to 
make  them  sweet ;  (a  little  smart  taste  before  frying 
is  not  disagreeable  or  hurtful).  Fry  on  a  hot  grid- 
dle, and  eat  as  soon  as  fried. 

CornandPuinplciiti  Bread. — Mrs.  Rho- 
da  C.  Whitford,  Addison  Co.,  Vt,,  contributes  the 
following  to  the  American  Agriculturist.  Take  3 
quarts  of  corn  meal,  and  pour  on  boiling  water 
enough  to  scald  it.  Add  3  pints  of  stewed  pumpkin 
(cheese  pumpkin  i6  best),  3  pints  coarse  wheat  flour, 
buttermilk  or  sour  milk  enough  to  make  soft  dough, 
and  3  teaspoonfuls  saleratus.    Bake  3  hours. 

Saratoga  Kolls.— Contributed  to  the^inier- 
ican  Agriculturist,  by  A.  B.  Shattuck,  Chatauqua 
Co.,  N.  T.:  Take  1  pint  sweet  milk,  3  pints  flour, 
3  tablespoonfuls  butter,  4  tablespoonfuls  yeast,  and 
X  teaspoonful  saleratus.  Beat  thoroughly  and  let 
it  rise  5  or  6  hours,  or  all  night,  if  for  breakfast. 
Pour  in  a  shallow  pan  and  bake  half  an  hour. 

Mints  oil  Making  Tarts. — "  Vermont 
Subscriber"  in  a  letter  to  the  American  Agriculturist 
about  seeds,  adds  :  "  My  wife  saves  trouble  and 
patience,  things  that  ought  to  be  saved,  thus  :  In- 
stead of  cutting  out  bottom  pieces  of  dough,  and 
then  sticking  on  an  edging  or  rim  that  often  comes 
off,  she  puts  the  round  piece  of  dough  into  a  small 
scolloped  tin  plate,  about  three  inches  across  at  the 
top.  The  dough  beuded  up  at  the  sides  for  half  an 
inch  forms  a  nice  edging.  If  the  dough  be  rich  in 
shortening,  no  greasing  of  the  tin  will  be  needed." 

Sausage  Recipes. — E.  Dexter,  Windham 
Co.,  Conn.,  sends  the  following,  which  he  says  is 
pronounced  excellent  by  those  who  have  tried  it: 


To  100  lbs.  of  meat  add  9  teacups  of  salt,  5  teacups 
sage,  3  teacups  pepper,  3  teacups  summer  savory, 
and  1  teacup  of  ginger.  After  mixing  thoroughly, 
pack  closely  in  tin  pans,  make  the  surface  smooth, 
and  cover  with  melted  lard  to  the  depth  of  \i  inch. 
By  thus  excluding  the  air  it  will  keep  for  several 
months  as  fresh  as  when  first  made. 

The  above  directions  appear  to  us  to  be  too  spicg 
and  not  sufficiently  definite.  The  pepper  and  sage 
should  suffice,  we  think,  without  the  summer  sa- 
vory and  ginger.  However,  tastes  differ,  and  the 
mixture  may  suit  many.  The  amounts  of  ingre- 
dients should  always  be  stated  in  pounds  and  oz.: 
some  teacups  contain  nearly  twice  as  much  as  oth- 
ers. The  following  proportions  for  sausages  were 
furnished  at  our  request  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Cady,  Co- 
lumbia Co.,  N.  Y.,  oue  of  the  best  sausage-makers 
that  ever  supplied  the  writer's  table.  Tbey  are  :  40 
oz.  salt,  8  to  10  oz.  pepper  (according  to  taste),  and 
8  oz.  sage,  to  every  100  lbs.  meat.  * 

Superior  Pudding. — Contributed  to  the 
American  Agriculturist,  by  Mrs.  E.  E.  Vedder,  Mar- 
quette Co.,  Wis.  Boil  two  quarts  of  milk;  rub  one 
egg  in  flour  sufficient  to  make  it  dry  enough  to  rub 
through  a  sieve,  Stir  the  egg  and  flour  in  the  boil- 
ing milk ;  cool,  and  add  four  eggs  well  beaten,  and 
one  tablespoonful  of  sugar.  Bake  the  same  as  cus- 
tard. Serve  with  a  sauce  of  butter  and  sugar  well 
beaten  ;  use  any  flavoring  desired. 

Pepper  on  Salt  Pork.— A  subscriber 
writes :  After  a  layer  is  packed,  with  an  oak  stave 
press  the  pork  from  the  side  of  the  barrel  and  fill 
the  space  with  salt.  On  every  layer  put  fine  grouud 
black  pepper  enough  to  make  the  pork  look  black. 
Any  person  who  tries  this  will  never  after  omit  it. 
[This  may  impart  a  better  flavor  to  the  meat,  but 
the  use  of  so  much  pepper  is  objectionable. — Ed.] 

Stuffed  Beef  Stealc. — Pronounced  supe- 
rior, by  the  contributor  of  the  directions  for  cook- 
iug  it,  Mrs.  H.  L.  Johnson,  New-Haven  Co.,  Conn. 
Take  a  large  round  steak  free  from  bone ;  make  a 
dressing  the  same  as  for  turkey,  and  spread  it  on 
the  meat.  Roll  it  up  tightly,  put  it  in  a  cloth  and 
boil  for  one  hour  in  just  enough  water  to  cover  it. 

Suet  Pudding. — For  competition  with  the 
Queen  of  Puddings,  described  in  the  December  Ag- 
riculturist, page  373.  Contributed  by  O.  B.  Fenner, 
Marion  Co.,  111.:  1  cup  of  suet,  1  cup  of  molasses, 
1  cup  of  raisins,  1  cup  of  sweet  milk,  3  of  flour,  J^ 
teaspoonful  of  saleratus,  and  a  little  salt.  Any  spice 
added,  the  writerthinks  wasted,  but  others  can  spice 
to  their  taste.  After  mixing,  place  the  pudding  in 
a  tight  tin  kettle,  set  the  latter  in  a  boiler,  and 
steam  from  3  to  4  hours. 

WaMes. — 1  qt.  of  sweet  milk,  3  eggs,  }{  tea- 
spoonful of  saleratus  and  a  good  pinch  of  salt. 
Thicken  with  flour  to  a  batter.     Bake  in  waffle  irons. 


Good  Cough  Medicine  for  Children. 

We  have  little  faith  in  "  universal  remedies,"  and 
seldom  publish  in  the  American  Agriculturist  either 
prescriptions  or  advertisements  for  medicines  of 
any  kind.  What  is  one  man's  meat  is  often  anoth- 
er's poison.  In  giving  the  following  cough  remedy, 
we  therefore  offer  it  only  as  oue  that  for  seven 
years  has  almost  always  proved  effective  in  our  own 
family.  Put  into  a  vial  equal  proportions  by  meas- 
ure of  Syrup  of  Ipecac,  Taregoric,  and  Castor  oil. 
Shake  well  together,  and  always  shake  before  using. 
From  half  a  teaspoonful  to  a  full  teaspoonful  given 
to  a  child  ongoing  to  bed,  or  at  other  times, usually 
checks  coughing  after  a  few  minutes.  If  needed, 
the  dose  is  repeated  after  three  or  four  hours. 
It  is  well  to  begin  with  half  a  teaspoonful  and  in- 
crease the  quantity  if  needed.  The  food  should  be 
light,  or  the  syrup  of  ipecac  may  produce  a  little 
nausea. 

—-I —       ■»»         i  ■ 

"  Figures  won't  lie,"  is  an  okl  and  homely  expression  ; 
yet  few  can  look  on  a  fashionable  woman's  figure  now-a- 
day  s  and  say  as  much. 

The  coat  of  a  horse  is  the  gift  of  nature.  That  of 
many  an  ass  is  often  the  work  of  the  tailor. 

Beauty  without  virtue,  is  a  flower  without  perfume. 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[February, 


LOOKING      AT     GRANDPA'S     WATCH 

Engraved  for  the  American  Agriculturist. 


The  Editor  with  his  Young   Readers. 

AboUt,  the  Picture. 

Which  is  the  happier,  the  child  or  his  grandfather? 
The  watch  is  a  greater  wonder  to  the  little  fellow  Hum 
all  the  curiosities  of  the  Museum  would  be  to  older  per- 
sons. With  what  delight  he  looks  at  the  shining  vVheels, 
and  listens  to  the. tick-tick  which  make  it  appeaf  like  a 
living  thing.  Bui  that  is  not  the  whole  of  his  pleasure. 
Notice  the  hand  on  the  old -gentleman's  shoulder,  show- 
ing the  arm  affectionately  thrown  around  his  neck,  saying 
as  plainly  as  words  could  do,  "I  love  Grandpa."  See 
loo,  how  earnestly  the  grandfather  is  looking  at  the  watch. 
He  has  seen  it  a  thousand  Limes,  why  is  he  so  interested  ? 
He  loves  the  little  one  so  much  Hint  he  partakes  of  Hie 
chilli's  feelings,  he  sympathizes  in  his  joy.  Every  girl 
and  boy  looking  at  this  beautiful  picture  will  feel  like  say- 
ing. "  What,  a  dear  old  man."  Although  his  features  are 
sharpened  by  age,  love  makes  him  beautiful,  makes  him 
happy,  and  it  is  a  pleasure  to  look  upon  him.  And.  right 
here  is  the  secret  of  the  brightest  charm  of  life,  for  the 
young  and  for  the  old.  Selfishness  spoils  the  heart,  dis- 
figures the  face,  and  ruins  peace;  kindness,  affection, 
love,  are  sources  of  constant  joy  to  the  possessor  as  well 
as  to  those  about  him;  they  give  beauty  to  the  spirit, 
which  will  outshine  and  outlast  every  other  attraction. 


A  Harmless*  Monster, 

A  young  la  I  of  oui  acquaintance  was  one  day  weeding 
in  the  garden.  The  weather  was  "very  warm,  and  lie 
wore  neither  coat  nor  vest.  He  was  very  busy  over  a 
bed  of  carrots,  that  is,  his  fingers  were,  his  thoughts  were 
full  of  something  else,  as  you  could  see  by  his  steady  and 
almost  vacant  stare.  But  suddenly  lie  gave  a  startling 
bcream,  sprang  from  his  sitting  position,  threw  his  hand 


wildly  over  his  shoulder,  and  writhed  and  twisted  as 
though  striving  to  escape  from  the  hold  of  some  terrible 
Monster.  His  countenance  was  ghastly  with  the  agony 
of  fear.  The  writer  sprang  to  his  relief,  and  found  him 
grasping  something  which  had  made  its  way  to  hisshoul- 
per,  under  his  shirt.     Could  it  be  a  snake,  or  a  rat  ?    The 

collar  was  quickly  loosened  and    Hie  fearful    thing    CI i 

to  light.  It  was  a  Large  grasshopper  '.  From  that  time  to 
the  present,  that  boy,  who  is  now  a  man,  has  made  it  a 
rule  to  first  see  if  there  were  danger,  before  losing  his 
wits  from  causeless  fear.  A  very  good  resolution  for  all ; 
he  who  can  keep  it  will  be  likely  to  keep  his  wits  also. 

A  Cat  giving'  away  her  Kitten. 

We  have  known  instances  where  parents  have  given 
away  their  children  thai  they  might  be  better  provided  for, 
but  this  is  the  first  time  we  have  heard  of  such  a  proceed- 
ing among  animals.  A  correspondent  vouches  for  the 
truth  of  the  following  incident  winch  he  says  occurred  in 
Hie  family  of  one  of  the  subscribers  of  the  American  Agri- 
culturist. Mr.  B,  had  two  cats,  both  long  domesticated  in 
the  house.  A  short  time  since  each  had  kittens.  The 
owner  wished  to  rear  one  kitten  at  the  barn  that  it  might 
keep  the  rats  and  mice  within  bounds.  He  therefore 
took  one  cat  with  one  kitten  (having  killed  the  others  of 
her  family),  and  made  a  nest  for  them  at  the  barn,  where 
they  staid  for  a  while  quite  contentedly.  One  night  there 
occurredavery  hard  storm  of  wind  ami  rain.  The  next 
morning,  as  soon  as  the  family  were  up,  the  cat  brought 
the  kitten  to  the  house,  apparently  half  drowned,  and 
placed  it  in  a  box  containing  the  other  family  of  kittens, 
refusing  ever  alter  to  have  any  thing  to  do  with  it.  The 
children  placed  it  time  and  again  by  Its  mother,  and  every 

means  were  tried  to  induce  hof  to  take  to  it  again,  but 
without  avail.    The  other  cat.   among  whose  kittens  it 


was  placed,  received  it  kindly  into  her 
family,  and  nursed  and  brought  it  upas 
though  it  had  been  one  of  her  own  litter. 

A  Voting'  &<Iilor. 

It  is  very  seldom  that  room  can  be  spar- 
ed in  the  Agriculturist,  to  speak  of  the 
books,  magazines,  etc.,  which  publishers 
oltcnsend  to  us  for  examination  ;  all  the 
space  is  wanted  for  what  will  interest  our 
readers  more.  But  here  is  a  magazine  just 
received  from  Portland,  Maine,  about 
which  we  must  say  a  few  words.  Its 
name  is  "  King's  Lady's  Book."  It  is  about 
five  inches  long,  and  three  inches  wide 
contains  eight  pages,  besides  a  neatly 
printed  cover,  and  is  published  monthly 
at  twenty-five  cents  a  year.  Its  editor  is 
nearly  eight  years  old.  His  father  informs 
us  that  the  lad  selects  his  own  articles,  and 
sets  up  the  types  on  which  they  are  print- 
ed. We  believe  him  to  be  the  youngest 
member  of  the  profession,  and -extend  to 
him  the  right  hand  of  fellowship.  Wc  hope 
that  his  arduous  duties  will  not  impair  his 
health,  nor  stop  his  growth.  Let  his  pa- 
rents take  care  that  his  mind  be  not  de- 
veloped at  the  expense  of  his  body,  which 
too  often  occurs  with  children.  Now,  for 
some  of  you  boys,  and  girls  too,  from 
twelve  to  fifteen  or  more  years  old,  it  will 
be  a  capital  thing  to  commence  issuing 
such  a  paper  in  your  own  neighborhood. 
It  is  not  necessaiy  to  print  it.  Write  it 
out  on  foolscap  paper.  Get  your  school- 
mates to  contribute  toil,  and  come  together 
once  a  week  to  hear  it  read.  Several  jour- 
nals of  this  kind  were  started  among  our 
young  friends  a  few  years  ago,  after  read- 
ing the  advice  then  given,  for  them  to 
have  their  own  newspaper.  Perhaps  such 
an  enterprise  will  be  the  first  step  toward 
raising  up  a  future  editor  of  the  Agricul- 
turist. If  so,  he  will  be  all  the  more 
capable   for  having  commenced    young. 

Another  Perfumery  Story. 

A  correspondent   at  Racine,  Wis.,  after 
reading  the  story  of  "  The  Horrified  Dan- 
dy," in  the  November  A  griculturist,  con- 
tributes the   following  "  of  the  same  sort" 
which  he  says  actually  occurred.    When 
"boarding  round"  was  the  fashion  with 
school  teachers,  farmer  A,  on  coming  to  the 
house  at  tea  time,  was  introduced  to  the 
"  school  ma'am."  In  a  moment  he  perceiv 
cd   a  strong  odor  of   musk   which  came 
from  the  school  ma'am's    clothing.      He, 
entirely    ignorant  of    the  cause,  imme- 
diately charged  it  on  Ponto,  who  had  a  strong  propensity 
for  hunting   muskrats,  and  at   once  commanded     him : 
"  Ponto,  you  scamp,  you  have  been  killing  muslivfits  ;  go 
out    doors,    sir,   and    get    sweetened   off."     But   Ponto 
did  not  stir,  and  Farmer  A  spoke  again  more  sharply, 
"Get  out,  you'll  scent  the  whole 


house."  The  school 
ma'affl  by  this  time  was  blushing  red  as  crimson,  while 
the  girls  and  the  boys  could  scarcely  keep  from  burst- 
ing into  laughter.  One  of  them,  unnoticed,  at  last  made 
their  father  understand  how  the  matter  stood,  and  he,  ol 
course,  dropped  the  subject.  The  evening  passed  away 
rather  awkwardly  with  all,  and  the  teacher  failed  tore 
turn  the  next  day.  On  her  account,  the  affair  was  kept 
quiet  until  after  she  lefl  the  neighborhood,  when  many 
were  the  hearty  laughs -had  over  farmer  A's  error  and  the 
schoolma'am's  discomfiture.  She  omitted  musk  thereafter*. 

Learn  to  Control  tlie  Voice, 

To  keep  the  lungs  and  the  voice  in  good  condition,  it  i 
necessary  to  give  them  plenty  of  exercise.  This  is  doubt- 
less one  reason  why  it  is  so  natural  (ov  young  people  to 
laugh,  shout,  and  sing.  The  Creator  intended  that  their 
vocal  organs  should  be  well  developed  in  youth,  and 
so  it  is  found  almost  impossible  to  keep  a  child  quiet 
long  at  a  time.  But,  boys  and  girls,  you  who  are 
old  enough  to  think  about  the  matter,  do  not  let  this  nat- 
ural impulse  make  your  company  unpleasant  to  older 
persons.  Let  the  playground,  or  the  fields,  ring  with  your 
happy  shouts;  there  is  plenty  of  room  for  noise  there, 
and  it  will  do  you  good,  but  in  the  house,  learn  to  speak 
quietly.  Keep  the  voice  down  to  a  pleasant  tone.  Loud 
w.nds  are  very  annoying  to  a  tired  or  nervous  person. 
Fathers  and  mothers  would  be  "cross"  much  less  fre- 
quently, and  children  happier,  if  this  rule  were  generally 
,  bsei'ved  ,    practice   would  very  soon  make  it   a  habit. 


1863. 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


57  • 


The  Game  or  Initials. 

R.  F.  Roberts,  Racine  Co.,  Wis.,  writes  to  the  American 
Agriculturist :  "  I  used,  when  a  boy,  to  think  the  follow- 
ing game  was  very  interesting  and  somewhat  instructive, 
ami  indeed  have  joined  in  it  since  I  attained  my  21st  year. 
One  of  the  company  selects  the  name  of  some  animal, 
reptile,  fish,  or  insect,  and  gives  the  initial  letter,  mention- 
ing to  which  class  it  belongs  ;  the  company  to  guess  the 
name.  For  instance:  "P.,  in  birds."  Those  guessing, 
give  the  name  of  the  birds  they  think  of  whose  names 
commence  with  P.;  as  pigeon,  pelican,  peacock,  partridge, 
etc.  The  one  who  gives  the  right  answer  proposes  the 
next  question.  Of  course  those  names  are  selected  which 
are  supposed  to  be  least  known.  I  recollect  once  the  in- 
itials G.  IV.  r.,  in  birds,  were  proposed,  and  the  whole 
company  had  to  give  it  up.  The  name  may  not  be  in  the 
books,  but  the  bird  is  so  known  to  hunters  in  the  West. 
Can  any  of  your  boys  or  girls  name  it?  [It  would  add 
very  much  to  the  instructiveness  of  this  game  to  require 
the  questioner  to  give  a  few  particulars  of  the  habits,  lo- 
cality, etc.,  of  the  bird  whose  initials  he  selects.— Ed.] 

The   Roll  of  Honor. 

A  year  ago  we  published  a  series  of  52  Bible  Lessons 
averaging  about  1)4  verses  each,  or  39*  verses  in  all.  Our 
young  readers  were  invited  to  commit  them  to  memory, 
and  we  promised  to  publish  in  this  paper  the  names  of 
those  whose  teachers  or  parents  should  send  a  statement 
that  they  had  learned  them  all,  and  recited  them  during 
December.  Printing  paper  being  too  high  to  allow  of  a 
supplement,  we  omitted  calling  for  the  names  during  the 
last  two  months.  But  many  remembered  our  promise, 
and  the  following  53  names  have  been  sent  in  as  having 
accomplished  the  task.  (Many  others  have  written  that 
the  lessons  were  learned,  but  were  not  repeated  together, 
and  so  the  names  were  not  sent.  Indeed,  we  have  heard 
of  hundreds  who  learned  nearly  all  the  lessons,  and  prob- 
ably thousands  of  others  have  done  so.)  Here  is  the 
***********#***************#*•********+##*#*#****#****** 
;  ROLL  OF  HONOR.  J 

Name.  County.  State. 

Abigail  V.   Yotma Cape  May,  New-Jersey. 

Alexander  Thompson.. Orange,  New-York. 

Amanda  Kino  Saratoga,  New-York. 

Angeline  Carter Clay,  Indiana. 

Anne  Wade   Oregon. 

Annie  Emelte  Cole.  .  ..Bristol,  Rhode-Island. 

Aristides   Mills Crawford,  Wisconsin. 

Augustus  Thompson  Jr. Orange,  New- York. 

Bartlett  C.  Church. ..Cheshire,  New-Hampshire. 

Charles  C.  Stuart New-York,  New-York. 

Charles  E.  Pinnev       .Addison,  Vermont. 
Charles  Farquhar  ...Address  not  given. 

Charlotte  Goeble Kings,  New-York. 

Elizabeth  C  Trott.  ..Niagara,  New-York. 

Eliza  M.  Sherwood Fairfield,  Connecticut. 

Eliza  West  Canada  West. 

Emily  Healt..  . Rock-Island,  Illinois. 

Emma  C.  Homan Queens,  New- York. 

Emma  Jane  Carpenter. .Queens,  New-York. 

EmmaJane  French Queens,  New-York. 

Ermina  N.  Edwards.  ..  Fairfield,  Connecticut. 

Fannie  Morton Queens,  New- York. 

Fannie  White Queens,  New-York. 

Freddie  W.  Smith New-Haven,  Connecticut. 

George  C.  Dickerson.. Kings,  New-York. 

George  H.  Thompson. .Orange,  New-York. 

George  Robinson Address  not  given. 

Gilbert  C.  H.  Stiles. ..Queens,  New- York. 

Hattie  M.  MoNTGOMERYJefTerson,  Wisconsin. 

Irvino  Hoagland Warren,  New-Jersey. 

Jennie  K.  CuNNiNOHAMAdams,  Pennsylvania. 

Jennie  Buckleu Cayuga,  New- York. 

John  F.  Bell Kent,  Delaware. 

JosephC.  Fuller Pierce,  Wisconsin. 

Lizzie  S.  Cunningham. .Adams,  Pennsylvania. 

Lucretia  E.  DANiELsoNRockingham,  New-Hampshire. 

Margaret  Dickie    Perth,  Canada  West. 

Mary  E.  Lawrence  ...Queens,  New-York. 

Mary  G.  Pease St.  Lawrence,  New-York. 

Mary   Lamb Louisa.  Iowa. 

Mary  Morton Queens,  New-York. 

Robert  Matthews Randolph,  Illinois. 

Russell  D.  Martin Cattaraugus,  New-York. 

Sarah  Ford  Judd Queens,  New- York. 

Sarah  Jane  Udall Niagara,  New- York. 

Selina  J.  Robinson Address  not  given. 

Sophia  C.  Giddings Dutchess,  New-York. 

Susan  Buckbee Queens,  New-York. 

Susie  II. Thompson Orange,  New-York. 

Theo.  I.  King Cumberland,  Maine. 

Wilbur  S.  Edwards... Fairfield,  Connecticut. 

Wm.  H.  Eustis ...Jefferson,  New-York. 

Wh.  Orange  Judd  Queens,  New-York. 


After  giving  them  a  few  instructions  as 
to  their  various  parts,  he  retired  to  a  dis- 
tant corner  of  the  room  to  listen  to  the 
effect.  They  commenced  playing,  but 
were  soon  puzzled,  and  made  most  out- 
rageous discords.  Handel  sprang  from 
his  seat  in  a  rage,  and  rushing  furiously 
toward  the  frightened  old  gentleman  with 
the  bass-viol  exclaimed  :  "  You  play  in 
the  church— very  well,  you  may  play  in  the 
church,  for  we  read  the  Lord  is  long  suf- 
fering, of  great  kindness,  forgiving  ini- 
quity, transgression  and  sin;  you  shall 
play  in  the  church,  but  you  shall  not  play 
for  me  ;"  and  gathering  up  his  manuscripts 
he  rushed  furiously  from  the  room.  * 


A  Remarkable  Bouquet. 

The  above  engraving  looks,  at  first  sight,  simply  like  an 
ordinary  bunch  of  violets,  but  those  who  have  learned  to 
use  their  eyes  properly,  may  discover  something  more.  In 
the  group  of  flowers  are  contained  profile  likenesses  of 
Napoleon  I,  his  wife  Maria  Louisa,  and  of  Napoleon  II. 
To  find  them,  examine  each  leaf,  carefuily  :  when  once 
seen,  they  will  appear  so  plainly,  the  wonder  will  be  that 
they  were  not  discovered  at  the  first  look.  It  is  said  that 
after  the  banishment  of  Napoleon  and  the  restoration  of  the 
Bourbons  to  the  throne,  it  was  forbidden  by  law  to  exhibit 
the  portraits  of  Napoleon  or  his  family,  but  an  ingenious 
Frenchman,  who  loved  Napoleon,  devised  this  method  of 
presenting  the  desired  likenesses  without  much  fear  of  de- 
tection.   Thousands  of  them  were  readily  sold  in  France. 


A  Musical  Horse. 

The  Genesee  Farmer  gives,  at  considerable  length,  a 
good  story  of  a  musical  horse,  which  we  condense  for  the 
young  readers  of  the  American  Agriculturist.  The  horse 
was  named  Fib.  She  was  a  powerful  animal,  rather  lazy, 
and  occasionally  balky,  for  which  she  had  been  beaten 
and  tortured  many  times  without  effect.  When  she  chose 
not  to  go,  not  a  step  would  she  stir,  until  at  last  they  ceased 
trying  to  conquer  her  with  force.  It  was  noticed  that  Fib 
worked  well  in  clear  weather,  but  when  it  was  damp  and 
oppressive,  she  was  almost  sure  to  balk.  At  last  a  novel 
way  was  found  to  start  her.  One  hot  day  in  harvest,  when 
a  shower  was  rapidly  coming,  the  last  load  was  on  thewag- 
on,  and  all  was  going  smoothly  ;  but  about  ten  rods  from 
the  barn,  Fib  stopped  short.  The  men  were  furious,  and 
would  have  beaten  her  cruelly,  but  her  owner  stopped 
them,  and  called  on  the  driver,  who  was  a  capital  singer 
to  strike  up  a  tune.  He  immediately  commenced  a  Meth- 
odist hymn,  two  lines  of  which  had  a  ringing  chorus. 

The  shower  drew  nearer.  "  Sing  away,"  cried  the  own- 
er, "  sing  away  Hart,  the  old  hag  is  relenting,  I  sec  it  in 
her  eye,  and  the  lipsof  her  ear  are  playing  to  your  music 
like  a  lady's  fingers  on  the  guitar."  Sure  enough,  in  a 
moment  more  off  she  started,  and  the  load  was  safely 
housed  just  as  the  rain  commenced  falling.  After  this  a 
Methodist  hymn  would  always  start  her,  and  Hart  de- 
clared that  Fib  knew  ;i  Methodist  hymn  from  any  other, 
but  tliis  was  merely  his  imagination. 

The  Enrage  tl    JHitsician. 

Handel  the  great  German  Musician  was  a  very  nervous, 
irritable  man,  and  like  most  musicians,  particularly  sen- 
sitive where  music  of  his  own  composition  was  concerned. 
It  is  related  that  on  one  occasion  he  wished  to  have  one 
of  his  great  pieces  performed  in  a  country  village,  and  in- 
quired if  there  were  any  musicians  to  be  had.  A  large 
number  were  recommended  as  particularly  skillful,  and 
he  Pt  once  sent  for  them — "  Can  you  read  music  ?"  asked 
Handel,  when  they  were  assembled.  "  Yes  sir,"  "  cer- 
tainly," was  answered  from  all  parts  of  the  room.  "  We 
play  in  the  church."  remarked  one  old  gentleman  who 
had  brought  his  bass-viol.  "Well  then,"  said  Handel, 
"  let  me  hear  you  play  that,"  at  the  same  time  distributing 
the  manuscripts  on  which  were  written  the  musical  notes. 


Curious    Sentence. 

It  requires  no  little  ingenuity  to  make  ft 
sentence  which  shall  be  the  same  when 
read  either  forward  or  backward.  There 
are  a  few  such  in  English,  but  here  is  one 
from  the  Latin  language  which  is  ahead 
of  any  thing  we  have  met  with  elsewhere 
*' Sator  arepo  tenet  oyera  rotas."  The 
words  are  the  same  at  whichever  end 
you  commence:  but  there  is  something 
about  it  more  curious  still.  Arrange  the 
words,  one  under  another 
the  sentence  reads  the  same 
by  beginning  at  the  top  of 
the  first  column  and  going 
downward,  or  by  beginning  OPERA 
at  the  bottom  of  the  last  ROTAS 
column  and  reading  upward.  The  author  of  this  singular 
arrangement  must  have  spent  time  enough  upon  it  to 
have  written  at  least  a  number  of  the  Agriculturist.  Who 
can  tell  what  the  words  of  the  sentence  mean  ?  * 

A  soliloquising  schoolmaster,  being  asked  why  he  talked 
so  much  to  himself,  replied  :  "  In  the  first  place  I  like  to 
talk  to  a  sensible  man  ;  and  in  the  second  place  I  like  to 
hear  a   sensible  man   talk."     Two   very  good  reasons. 


thus  :  Now 
SATOR 
AREPO 
TENET 


Problems   and  JPnzzles. 

No.  28.  Arithmetical  Problem.— -"J.  D.  M.,"  Hudson.  N. 
Y.,  contributes  the  following,  which,  though  not  intri- 
cate, will  give  good  exercise  in  careful  figuring:  "In 
what  lime  would  a  bond  of  $1000  be  liquidated  by  paying 
$80  a  year,  interest  being  7  per  cent,  per  annum. 

No.  29.  Cent  Puzzle. — Find  on  the  head  of  a  new  cent, 
a  fruit ;  flowers  ;  a  house  of  worship  ;  an  animal ;  a  quan- 
tity of  grain;  and  a  protection  against  thieves. 

No.  30.— Transposition.— 0.  F.Kinsley,  Welland  Co., 
C.  W.,  asks  "  How  to  make  one  word  out  of  the  two 
words  new  door." 


No.  31.      Illustrated  Rebus.— An    excellent   motto. 


Answer*  to  Puzzles  and  Problems  in  Jan- 
uary No.  (page  25).  Picture  Puzzles  ;  No.  24,  Fig.  I  rep- 
resents an  economical  man,  because  he  is  trying  to  make 
both  ends  meet.  .No.  25,  Fig.  2,  represents  an  enterprising 
business  firm,  because  both  are  trying  to  get  a-head;  it  al 
so  is  like  a  fortress,  because  it  shows  a  strong-hold. 

Riddle,  No.  26:  The  answer  is  a  pen. 
Illustrated  Rebus,  No.  27,  reads:  S  teadig  a  in  sin  small 
thin  g  s  in  crease  wealth  mower  than  watch  in  g  and 
weighting  four  sum  great  t  h  in  g.  That  is:  Steady 
gains  in  small  things  increase  wealth  more  than  watching 
and  waiting  for  some  great  thing. 

The  following  have  sent  in  correct  answers  up  to  the 
date  of   January  I6th  ;  viz.:     Alice  P.  Talbot,  20:   Ed- 
mund J.  Young,  21,  22,  23  ;  Thos.  S.  Peck.  20,  22,  23  ;  W. 
S.  Van  Meter,  20;  Dewitt  C.  Challis,  20,  22,  23  ;  "T.  B.'. 
26;  "J.  D.   M."  20,   22,23:  H.  K.  Morrell,  27  (nearly)  ; 
1  «  Georgius  Rex,"  24,  25,  26,  27 ;  John  Tempest,  20 ;  J. 
■  McKinstry,  27  (nearly)  ;  Elbert  M.   Swan,  24;  Miss  E. 
I  W.  A.,  27  ;  C.  J.  Shrysburs  24,  25,  26  (    E.  W.  Jones,  27. 


58 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[February, 


Seeds  for  Free  Distribution  to  all  Subscri- 
bers for  1863  (Vol.  22.) 


See  Descriptive  Notes  last  month,  page  4. 

Boery  subscriber  to  the  Agriculturist  for  18G3,  is  invited  to 
select  t\\rce  or  four  parcels  of  seeds  from  the  list  below, 
if  he  can  not  get  them  conveniently  othenoise. 

These  seeds  are  all  valuable.  Of  the  63  kinds  offered, 
many  are  comparatively  new  varieties,  but  we  include  some 
common,  useful  sorts  for  the  convenience  of  those  without  ac- 
BB8B  even  to  common  good  seeds. 

Most  of  them  are  annuals  (reproducing  seed  the  first  sea- 
son), and  in  all  cases  there  will  be  enongh  to  yield  a  supply 
of  seed  for  future  use.  Our  aim  is,  to  furnish  the  germs  of  fu- 
ture abundance  in  each  locality  where  these  seeds  go. 

Many  of  these  seeds  were  grown  by  ourselves,  the  past 
year;  the  others  are  obtained  of  the  best  growers.  The 
distribution  wlllbesin  in  February. 

Mode  of  Distribution.— The  seeds  may  be  called 
for  at  the  office,  after  March  1.,  or  be  applied  for  by  mail  at 
any  time  now,  to  be  forwarded  as  soon  as  ready.  The  post- 
age is  only  1  cent  per  ounce  under  1500  miles  ; 
and  3  cents  per  ounce  when  over  1500  miles. 

Those  sending  for  seeds  to  be  forwarded  by  mail,  will 
please  carefuHy  observe  the  following 

DIRECTIONS— (1)  Select  from  the  list  below,  any  three 
or four  parcels  desired,  and  write  plainly  on  a  slip  of  paper  the 
numbers  (only)  of  the  kinds  of  seeds  wanted.  (These  num- 
bers are  used  on  our  seed  drawers,  seed  bags,  etc.) 

(3)  Enclose  the  slip  in  a  prepared  envelope— directed  in  full 
to  your  own  address  (not  John  Smith's),  and  put  on  it  post- 
age stamps  to  the  amount  of  one  cent  for  each  ounce 
Of  seeds  to  be  enclosed,  if  t»  go 
under  1500  miles,  or  two 
cents  if  to  go  over  1500  miles. 
(Most  places  West  of  the  Mississippi 
river  are  over  lfiOO  miles.)  N  .B.— The 
total  amount  of  stamps  required  can 
be  reckoned  from  the  table  of  seeds 
below.  Any  fraction  over  even 
ounces  will  need  an  extra  1-c.  or  two  1-cent  stamps  accord- 
ing to  distance.  Forward  the  above  prepared  envelopes  to 
this  office,  in  a  letter,  and  the  seeds  will  lie  enclosed  accord- 
ing to  the  numbers  on  the  slip.  To  save  postage,  let  there 
"be  no  marks  on  the  envelopes  except  the  address  andstamps. 
About  2  ounces  will  go  in  a  common  sized  envelope. 

Field,  and  Vegetable  Garden  Seeds. 

No.  Weight  of  package. 

191— Mammoth  M  llet About  one-half  ounce. 

141— Darling's  Rarly.Sweet  Corn , . .  About  one  ounce. 

lSi.—  Stowelra  Evergreen  Sweetjgpjn..  .  About  one  ounce. 
1H7— Conn.  Broad  Leaf  Tol>:  ■SSWLfss  Mian  one-eighth  ounce. 
188— Genuine  Havana  Tobacco. Less  than  one-eighth  ounce. 

8— Daniel  O'Bourke  Pea.... .About  one  ounce. 

9— Champion  of  England  Pea About  one  ounce. 

12-<iivi."i  Kohl  llabi ...     ...  .  About  one-fourth  ounce. 

145— Flat  Dutch  (Winter)  Cabbage.Abont  one-fourth  ounce. 
819— Early  Sugar  Loaf  Cabbage  ;  ...About  one-fourth  ounce. 
199— lied  Dutch  Cabbage    .About  one-fourth  ounce. 

04 — Extra  early  iiouud  Turnip  Radish  ;  one-fourth   ounce. 

19— Round  Spinach About  one-half  ounce. 

147— Neapolitan  Cabbage  Lettuce,  ..About  one-fourth  ounce. 
101— Improved  Long  Orange  Carrot  ..About  one-half  ounce. 
149— Extra  early  Baesa.no  Beet About  one-half  ounce. 

9S— Hubbard  Squash,  pure ....About one-fourth  ounce. 

193—  Fejee  &  Italian  lied  Tomato.. .About  one-eighth  ounce. 

15-4 — Ice  Cream  Water  Melon About  one-eighth  ounce. 

317— Fine  Nutmeg  Melon .About  one-eighth  ounce. 

194 — Hollow  Crown  Parsnip  .  ....About  one-fourth  ounce. 
152— Fine  Large  Cheese  Pumpkin.  About  one-fourth  ounce. 

17— Red  Strap-Leaf  Turnip — About  one-fourth  ounce. 

195— Early  Short  Horn  Carrot About  one-fourth  ounce. 

190— Green  Curled  Kale About  one-fourth  ounce. 

198— Improved  Purple  Egg  Plant.. .About  one-eighth  ounce. 
197— Linnteus  Rhubarb About  one-ball"  ounce. 

Flower  and  Ornamental  Seeds*  . 

89— Cotton  Plant  (2  kinds,  mixed) . .  One-half  ounce. 

Ill— Castor  Oil  Bean    One-half  ounce. 

On  an  average  any  five  of  the  following  varieties  will  go 
under  o/ie  1-cent  stamp,  (or  two  stamps  if  over  1500  miles.) 


John  Smith, 

Albia.    " 

Monroe CountuA 

Iowa,.     ■ 


300— Fancy  Gourds,  (mixed 
varieties)  (/w)* 
23— Mignonette,  {ha} 
30— Tassel  Flower,  i/m) 
31— Chinese  Pink,  (ha) 
37— Beautiful  Zinnias,  (Mix- 
ed)  </'"» 

49— Candytuft,  (ha) 

51— Drummond'e  Phlox(Aa) 

133— Cilia  nivalis,  (ha) 
134— Wnlttavla,  {ha) 
120— Long    tubed    Centran- 

thus,  (ha) 
164— Sweet-scented      Agera- 

iiim,  {.Ian 
109— Clarkia  pulchella,   (An) 
173— Mixed  Larkspur,  (ha) 
177— Graceful       Quakin  g 

Or  ass,  (ha) 
183— Sweet  Al/Bsura,  (ha) 
183— Fine     Mixed     German 

Asters,  (ha) 

*  (ha,)  hardy  annual ;  (hha,)  half  hardv  annual  ■  (to-,)  tender 
annual :  (hhb.,)  half  hardy  biennial;  (tb.)  tender  biennial; 
(ftp,)  hardy  perennial;  (hhp,)  half  hardy  perennial ; 
C;V  tender  perennial. 

ITF~  Special  to  Canada  Subscribers.— Owing  to 
the  fact  that  some  Postmasters  in  the  British  Provinces  insist 
upon  collecting  20  cents  an  ounce  on  Seeds  ana  Plants,  pre- 
paid here  at  the  U.  S.  rates,  It  is  hardly  safe  to  send  for  seeds 
not  worth  that  cost.  Those  living  near  the  lines  can  usually 
have  them  mailed  to  some  TJ.  S.  Post  Office,  where  they  can 
get  them  by  private  hands.  Where  clubs  of  considerable  size 
are  formed,  it  will  pay  to  have  seeds  for  all  come  together  in 
a  parcel  by  express. 


.03— Mixed  G'n  Poppy,  (ha) 
204— Mixed  Fr'h  Poppy  {ha) 
205— Double    French    Mari- 
gold, (hft) 
20G— Golden  Straw  Flower, 

(everlasting)  (ha) 
210— Con  vol  vulus  m  i  nor.  (ha) 
212— Fine  Sweet  Peas,  (ha) 
219— Marty nia  in  mav.  ih<n 
220—  Pei-iliaNankinensis(Aa) 
331— Striped  Mirahilis  (tut). 

27— Cockscomb,  (ta) 
222— Convolvulus     variega- 

tus,  (ta) 
216— Aci'oelinium      roseum, 

(hha) 
122— Mixed     Canterbury 

Bells,  (hb) 
170 — Evening  Primrose,  (hb) 

42— Foxglove,  (hp) 
209—  DwYBlueLarkspur.fftp) 
223— Mourning  Bride,  (hp) 


New  York  Live  Stock  Trade  for  1862. 


The  Live  Stock  Markets  of  New  York  city  are  by  far 
the  largest  in  this  country.  The  importance  of  these 
markets  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  during  last  year, 
nearly  two  millions  of  live  animals  were  brought  here 
for  slaughter.  At  the  Forty-fourth  street  or  Washington 
Yards  alone,  more  than  two  hundred  thousand  (200,000) 
beef  cattle  were  received  and  sold.  The  principal  transac- 
tions are  confined  to  a  few  points.  Beef  cattle  are  sold 
mainly  at  the  Washington  yards,  kept  by  A.  M.  Allerton. 
These  occupy  the  squares  bounded  east  by  Fourth 
avenue  ;  west  by  Fifth  avenue  ;  south  by  Forty-third 
street ;  and  north  by  Forty-sixth  street.  Lesser  numbers 
are  sold  at  Browning's  and  O'Brien's,  on  Sixth  street, 
near  Third  avenue  ;  at  Chamberlin's  on  Robinson  street, 
(nearly  west  of  our  office) ;  and  over  the  Hudson  river  at 
the  Bergen  yards,  near  the  old  terminus  of  the  Erie  Rail- 
road  Milch  cows,  sheep,  and   veal  calves   are  sold 

at  all  the  four  city  markets.  Hogs  are  mainly  sold  at 
West  Fortieth  street  near  the  Hudson  River. 

At  present  the  principal  weekly  market  day  for  beef 
cattle  is  on  Monday  ;  the  sales,  however,  are  continued 
into  Tuesday,  the  yards  being  generally  cleaned  out 
at  about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  of  that  day. 
Veal  calves  are  mainly  sold  on  Wednesdays.  Cows,  sheep, 
and  live  hogs  are  sold  on  all  days,  the  largest  transac- 
tions being  on  the  first  two  days  of  the  week,  especially 
for  sheep.  A  careful  reporter,  of  long  experience,  from 
the  office  of  the  American  Agriculturist,  is  always  pres- 
ent at  these  sales,  and  with  proper  assistants,  gathers  up 
all  items  of  interest,  the  number  and  derivation  of  the 
cattle,  the  number  of  other  animals  in,  the  prices  real- 
ized, notes  upon  sales,  etc.,  etc.  These  are  furnished  to 
some  of  the  journals  regularly,  including  the  Daily, 
Semi-weekly,  and  Weekly  Times,  and  the  Methodist,  and 
we  also  publish  a  condensed  report  for  this  Journal. 
Below  is  a  summary  for  the  past  year,  which  will  be  found 
interesting,  and  useful  for  reference.  Many  of  these 
figures  we  have  already  furnished  to  other  journals. 

■WEEKLY  AND  TOTAL  RECEIPTS  FOB  1862. 

Week.  Beef  Net  Milch  Yeal  Sheep,  Live  Total 

ending      Cattle. price.  Cows.  Calves  Lambs.  Iloqs.  all  Juts. 

Jan.  7.... 4041  S  133  312  7,fi-,3  42,8S8  55,055 

Jan  14....366S  1%  123  314  8,593  46,713  59,411 

Jan.  81.. ..4388  1'A  94  362  9,023  30,037  44,508 

Jan.  28.... 2384  8  46  228  7,106  24.590  84.354 

Feb.  4.... 4733  8  90  S46  5,717  27,820  3s,  706 

Feb.  11.... 3190  S#  117  314  9,383  12,319  2:>,323 

Feb.  1S....3S94  8  119  313  8,270  16,080  28,676 

Feb.  83... .3329  8K  116  301  4,760  9,188  17,694 

Mar.  4. . .  .3965  8  135  335  6.695  17.395  28,525 

Mar.  11.... 4414  7K  331  592  6,262  14,011  85,900 

Mar.  IS. . .  .3537  "t  %  156  553  4,695  15,172  21,103 

Mar.  25.... 3299  8,'<  155  551  2,978  13,498  20.475 

April    1....3477  8  367  604  5,363  11,031  20,642 

April    8. . .  .4001  8  100  855  4,717  12,333  22.U06 

April  15. ...3517  S%  127  991  6,170  9,623  20,428 

April  22.... 5059  "r£  98  916  6,597  13,291  25,9(11 

April  29.  ...3923  8  129  1070  5.124  13,567  23,813 

May  6.... 4116  W\  115  968  5,074  9,98-1  20,^.7 

May  13.... 4778  7*  104  769  5.S74  11,117  32j672 

May  20.... 3393  S}£  98  1025  7,006  7,713  19,235 

May  87...  5363  8  119  957  fi.712  8.244  21.391 

June  3. . .  .3561  8^  106  537  8,347  10,873  23,427 

June  10....  4426  8^  101  533  7,906  11,660  24,596 

June  17.... 4485  8  115  757  8,639  11,263  25,259 

Juue  24.... 4427  8^  88  489  8,376  6,403  19.792 

July  1. ..  .5187  1%  140  753  11,778  13,918  31,781 

July  8  ...4249  7H  113  503  9,796  9,562  24,228 

July  15. . .  .3552  7&  97  600  9,592  5.S71  19.712 

July  22.... 5582  7H  104  577  11,302  11.112  28,707 

July  29. . .  .3887  7^  90  593  12,725  10.280  27,485 

All"  5. . .  .4629  7>4'  62  547  9,472  11,294  26,004 

Aug.  12. . .  .4148  7  94  576  11,124  14,814  31.1)56 

Aug.  19. . .  .4130  "i%  70  350  112,54  12,663  28, 167 

Aug.  26  ...5022  1%  87  487  12,379  15,197  83.172 

Sept.  8...  4698  7^  78  441  13,546  14,210  32,973 

Sept.  9.... 5269  7*2  80  525  13,752  14,204  33,830 

Sept.  16....  6410  V.i  50  503  15,734  16,479  39,176 

Sept.  23  ..  .4890  7K  83  473  14,030  21,316  40.792 

Sept.  30  ..5245  7'i  94  660  12,191  21.252  37,442 

Oct.  7...  5133  7K  96  499  12,546  23,906  42,1*0 

Oct.  14....  5316  7^  100  746  13,931  29,534  49,657 

Oct.  21... .5417  7^  88  750  14,528  23.825  44,636 

Oct.  28.... 5360  ~i%  82  717  13,215  29,599  48,973 

Nov.  4..     5567  1%  105  767  "8,973  31.672  47,084 

NOV.  11.... 5330  7i^  107  794  18,466  40,662  59,359 

Nov.  IS.... 5723  V4  93  855  10,085  34,488  51.211 

Nov.  25. ...5461  7  62  576  10.116  32,671  43,886 

Dec.  2. .     4266  7^  86  420  10,421  62,636  67.S2SI 

Pec.  9.. ..5865  8  64  S18  10,749  49,580  66,076 

Dec.  16.... 6276  7>£  69  406  8,871  53,778  69,100 

Dec.  23.. ..5012  7H  63  433  7,924  85,154  48,586 

Dec.  30. . .  .4809  7^  120  392  4,957  62,165  71,443 

Total 9.235,660        5,253     30,258    475.722  1,098,712     1,815,605 

Weely  av.  4532       1%       101         532       9,149     221,129  35,492 

TOTAL  RECEIPTS  OF  LIVE  ANIMALS  FOR  3  YEARS. 

Veal  All 

Beef  Cattle.    Cows,    Calves.  Sheep.  Hogs.  Kinds, 

1862 235,660       5258         80.258     475,722  1 098,712  1,845,605 

1851 226,023       5816         33.:  K8     527.358  598,509  1,387.327 

I860 226,747       7154         40,162      514,191  319,628  1,107  882 

AVERAGE  WEEKLY  RECEIPTS  FOB  3  YEARS. 

Veal  All 

Beef  Cattle.    Cows.    Calves.  Sheep.  Hogs.  Kinds 

1362 4538           101            583          9149  21,129          35,492 

1801  4265            110             680           9950  11,392           86,176 

1860 4360            138             772  9883  6,147           21,305 

AVERAGE  PRICE  PER.  LB.  FOR  THE  NET  OR  ESTIMATED 
DRESSED  WEIGHT  OF  ALL  THE  BEEF  CATTLE  SOLD. 

|868  7KJ1861 71-5C.118G0 8  l-5c. 


Tlie  Supply  and  Prices. 

Beef  Cattle  have  run  remarkably  uniform  during  three 

years  past,  The  receipts  averaged  4360;  then  42C5,  and 
last  year,  4532  per  week.  The  total  receipts,  however, 
were  about  10.000  head  more  last  year  than  in  any  pre- 
vious year.  The  details  in  the  table  above,  indicate  the 
variation?  from  week  to  week,  and  at  different  seasons, 
as  well  as  tlie  effect  upon  prices,  of  a  larger  or  smaller 
supply. — The  Prices  have  varied  from  7c.  to  6V  cents  per 
pound,  for  the  estimated  weight  of  dressed  carcasses. 
This  is  the  average  of  all  sales  in  every  week.  Tlie  range 
has  been  from  4%c.  to  lie.  for  the  different  grades.  It 
will  be  noticed  that  for  exactly  the  first  half  of  the  year. 
the  average  weekly  rates  were  nearly  always  at  8c.  ot 
above:  while  for  the  second  half  they  were  always  below 
8c,  except  one  week.  The  average  of  the  weekly  aver- 
ages is  1%  cents.  As  larger  numbers  were  sold  at  the  low- 
er rales,  the  average  of  all  the  cattle  sold  has  been  al 
about  7  cents  and  6  mills.  Owing  to  the  short,  dry  pas- 
tures last  Summer,  In  many  localities,  and  to  the  general 
advance  in  other  commodities,  it  is  believed  that  higher 
prices  will  prevail  during  1S63. 

Milch  Cows. — The  receipts  for  1862  were  considerably 
less  than  during  the  previous  two  years,  and  until  just  at 
the  close,  the  prices  rated  very  low.  The  stringent  laws 
against  swill  milk  from  distilleries,  and  the  increased  fa- 
cilities for  bringing  milk  from  the  country,  have  lessened 
the  demand  for  cows  at  the  city  markets. 

Veal  Calves.— The  number  received  in  1862,  was 
smaller  than  for  the  two  previous  years.  The  prices 
ranged  fully  as  high  as  in  1861. 

Sheep.— The  receipts  of  sheep  and  lambs  for  1862  were 
51,636  head  less  than  in  lS61,and  the  markets  have  gener- 
ally been  unsupplied.  This  has  resulted  from  the  high 
price  of  wool,  and  the  consequent  increased  attention  to 
wool  growing.  Both  mutton  and  pelts  have  been  much 
higher  than  previously.  Sheep  for  slaughter,  and  for 
farm  purposes,  are  probably  higher  now  than  ever  before. 

Live  Hoas.— These  have  come  to  this  market  for  a 
year  past,  in  numbers  beyond  all  precedent.  The  closing 
of  the  Mississippi,  the  trouble  in  the  southwestern  borders 
of  the  great  corn  producing  regions,  and  the  scarcity  ot 
barrel  makers  at  the  West,  have  caused  a  large  shipment 
of  live  hogs  to  this  market.  The  receipts  for  1S62  reached 
1,098,712.  Prices  ruled  very  low  during  most  of 
1862,  and  until  the  cool  packing  weather  came  on. 

All  Kinds.— The  total  number  of  animals  of  all  kinds 
received  in  this  city  at  the  regular  yards  during  1802, 
reached  the  enormous  figures  of  1981596059  or  an  av- 
erage for  each  week  of  35,10*5. 

Derivation  of  tlie  Beef  Cattle. 

Of  the  235,660  Beef  Cattle  brought  here  last  year,  211,- 
060  were  yarded  at  the  great.  44th-street  markets,  and  of 
these  our  reporters  have  gathered  the  origin  so  far  as 
could  be  learned  from  personal  inquiry  among  the  drovers, 
and  from  the  yard  books.  The  following  table  shows 
where  the  cattle  came  from. 


From  No.    of  Head. 

Missouri... 1,71 1 

Pennsylvania 1,585 

Connecticut 589 

Canada 505 

New-Jersey 427 

Virginia 117 


From  No.  of.  Head. 

Illinois 103,7*29 

New-York 35,640 

Ohio 19,"05 

Indiana 15,840 

Kentucky 9,571 

Michigan 7,346 

Iowa 3,698 

It  is  noteworthy  that  of  the  21 1 ,060  cattle  at  Forty- fou  rth 
street,  103,729,  or  nearly  one  half,  are  credited  directly  to 
the  single  State  of  Illinois  !  But  more  than  this:  of  the 
35,640  credited  to  New-York  State,  for  example,  a  large 
proportion  were  raised  and  fed  at  the  West,  very  many 
of  them  in  Illinois,  and  brought  on  to  be  pastured  awhile 
at  the  East.  We  may  safely  estimate,  therefore,  that  lo 
the  single  gracing  and  corn-growing  Stale  of  Illinois,  wc 
are  indebted  for  much  more  than  half  of  the  oris  hundred 
and  sixty  JivemiUion  pounds  of  beef  brought  to  New-York 
during  the  year  1862  ! 

Railroads  and  Live  Stock, — The  following  table 
shows  the  routes  by  which  the  cattle  yarded  at  Forty- 
fourth  street  have  arrived  here: 

Hudson  River  R.  ft... 78,2S3|Camden  &  Amboy  R.R.I, 844 

Erie  Railroad.  68,782'HudBOn  River  Boats.  ..6,829 

Harlem  Railroad 43,9y6|On   Foot... 6.201 

N.  J.  Central  R.  R.  ..Il,72S|New-Haven  R.  R 148 

The  importance  of  our  great  railroads  is  illustrated  by 
the  receipts  of  Western  stock,  which  form  but  a  small  item 
in  their  freight  business.  To  say  nothing  of  the  million 
hogs  and  the  half  million  sheep  brought  in  mainly  by  rail- 
road, at  least  200,000  cattle  have  come  in  by  cars.  The 
curious  in  figures  may  estimate  how  long  a  line  of  cattle 
would  be  formed,  were  these  cattle  to  be  all  driven  here 
from  the  West,  in  one  continuous  drove :  how  many- 
drovers  would  be  required  ,  how  much  feed  on  the  w-ay  ; 
how  much  the  cattle  would  depreciate,  etc.,  clc 


1SU3.J 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


59 


Market   Review,   Prices,    Weather,    etc. 

American  Agriculturist  Office.      I 
New-York,  Monday  Morning,  Jan.  19,  1863.  j 

1.  TRANSACTIONS  AT  THE  NEW-YORK  MARKETS. 

Receipts.  Flour.    Wlieat.    Corn.    Rite.    Barley.    Out*. 

789,000 


24  days  (Am  m'th  317,000    739,000    S75.000 
21  days  last  m'tli  667,000  5,964,000  2,"S!,000 


o.r>oo    iii.soosii.ooo 
6,850  295,000  809,000 


Bales.  Flour.  Wlimt.      Corn.      Rye.    Barley. 

21  days  this  month    254,000  2,778,000    2,212.000       14.650    158,000 
24  days  test  month,     418,000  8,005,000    3,216,000        53,250    312,000 


3. 


Comparison  with  same  time  last  near. 


REOEfPTS.  Flour.    Wheat.    Corn.     Rye.  Hariri/.  Oats. 

24 days  1863.  .317.000    739.000     875,000     6.500  111,500     351.000 
25  days  1863 272.000      61,500       45,200    22,550    63,000     128,150 

bales.  Flour.      Wheat.       Corn.         Rye.     Barley. 

Md'ayslBSS 224.000    2,7rs,ono     2,212,000     11,050     k.x.uiio 

25  days  ISO:! 392,100       1,116,000      1,205,450    115,100      1;>S,;00 

3.  Receipts  in  New-York  during  each  of  four  years  past. 

Flour.  Wheat.       Corn.       Rye.  Barley.  Outs. 

Bbls.  Bush.         Bush.     Bush.  Bush.  Bush. 

1863... 5.757.608  27,010,259  17.290,531    !f.2,081  1.151,818  5,051,874 

1881. ..4,968,971  2s.l59,l.r,  21.126,212    705,665  1,851,304  4,xv;.iio:i 

I860. ..3,581,150  i;,072,71Ki  14,709,563     206,008  1,251,007  4.0s5,656 

18S8. .  .8.191.852  3,818.095       3,008,652    334,491  1,551,400  4,556,950 

4.  Exports  from  New-York  during  each  of  four  years  past. 

Flour.  Wheat.  Corn.       Rye.       Barley.  Oats. 

1862..  2,961,518  25,564,755  12,020,848    1,104,549     42,061      210,669 

1861.    .8,110,316  28,898,314  15,8,9,8.50     1,000,405        3.957       100,855 

1860     .1,950.505  13,538.039  4,085.082              450        8,580      108,010 

1S59...    938,516        297,58!        497,886        6,550         2,563 


/Slock  of  Flour  in  New-York  City,  January  I. 

1860.    1801.    1863.  1863. 

.681,876  569,800  447,056  721,383 
.  17,150  10,500  11,100  2,405 
.228,503      91,993      36,956      28,500 


5. 


Western  Canal  Flour,  bills 

(  .inadiiin  Klour,  bbls 

Southern  Flour,  bbls 


Total 927,529    671,993    495,112    752,283 


O 


Stock  of  Grain  in  New-York,  January  1. 

1860.      1861.      1863. 

Wheat,  bushels 1,915,388    3,535.711    2,046,052 

Corn,  bushels 79,100  2,715,000  5,573,911 

50,100         58,500 


169,574       135,472 
19 1,790       774,575 


1863. 

4,731,817 
4,353.018 
33,570 
99,835 
531,312 


liye,  bushels 30,500 

Barley,  bushels 868, 795 

Oils,  bushels 1,576,100 

7.  Exports  of  BreailstuJTs  from  New-  York.  Jan.  1,  to  Jan.  15. 
Flour.      Wheat.        Corn.       Rye.    Barley.     Oats. 

1863 99,957        485,919        155.155        1,711      

1865 156,555        845,096       522,334      67,286      ■         1,002 

8.     Receipts  of  Bread  stuffs 
1859. 

Wheat,  bushels 8,184.716 

Com,  bushels 5,410,003 

(lats,  bushels 1.813,018 

Rye.  bushels  228,179 

Barley,  bushels ■  662,187 

Total 16,298,103 

Flour  luto  wheat 3,110,000 

Total 20,008,223 

9.  Breadstuff's  atChieagoatthc  closeof  each  of  four  years. 

1863.  1861.  1860.  1859. 

Flour,  bbls 50,750  26,986  31,715  16,358 

Wheat,  bushels 935,961  1,1x5,902  871.537  533,555 

Corn,  bushels  1,036,979  1,56S,5S6  178,104  20,583 

10.  Exports  of  Breadstuff's  from  Philadelphia. 

Flour,  Wheat,  Corn,  C.Meal, 

hlils.  hush.  bush.  bhls. 

Total,  1S62 464,291  .916,613  778,525  50,149 

Total,  1861 305,552  2,051,988  893,235  81,672 

Total.  1860 595.187  811,961  390,389  49,357 

Total,  1859     175,911  54,1x4  151,015  41,464 

Total,  1858 319.871  88,199  468,181  39,773 

Total,  1857 198,861  190,400  625,526  4S.572 


at  Chicago  for  four 

years. 

1860. 

1801. 

18G3. 

14,568,429 

17,539.909 

13,137,683 

15,487,966 

86,543,333 

31,115,721 

8,029,906 

1,888,258 

8,782,423 

895,436 

479,005 

976,752 

023.005 

417.129 

800,476 

33,004,746 

40.S65.534 

49,342,904 

3,500,030 

7,230,685 

8,770.590 

30,505,172 

51.093,219 

58,619,194 

11. 


Stock  of  Brcadstuffs  on 
close  of  each  of  the 

Flour, 


bhls. 

Dec.  25,  1S62 105,800 

Deo.  57,  1861 113.100 

Dee.  31,  l-ut....  153,500 


l>eo.  31,  1x59 
Dec  80,  1838... 

Dec.  81,  1857    . 
Dee.  24,  1X.56  . . 
I)CC.  20,  1855   . 
Dee.  tx,  lx;4 
Dec.  25,  1S53.... 


..117.900 
1311,7110 
..  40,11X1 
..  55,000 
..  91,500 
..  10.500 
.  92,800 


hand  in  Philadelphia,  at  the 
last  eleven  years. 
Wheat,     C.Meal,  RyeFlour 
bbls.  bbls. 

1,000 
1,824 

7.8774 


Dec.  25,  1852 S0.300 

12. 


bush. 
107,800 
176,500 

115.XII0 
152,500 

85.900 
107,500 

95,500 
131,500 

477,000 
1110,500 
125,800 


8,878 

1,173 

18,501) 
9.350 
3,57  75 

10,325 
1,120 


Receipt  of  Breadstuff's  in  Boston. 

1863. 

mour,  barrels l,:to.',9IO 

Flour,  half  barrels    5,785 

Corn,  bushels 1,889,021 

Corn,  sacks        

Wheat,  bushels 63,015 

Oats,  bushels 1,168,991 

Bye,  luixhels 39,973 

Shorts,  bushels 283,136 

Bye  Flour,  liarrels 1,867 

Corn    Meal,  barrels 18,560 


1,155 

2,331 

650 

987 

1/105 
1,091 

950 
2.955 
1.955 
2,511 

308 


1861. 

,429,697 

8.6071 

,979,985 

1.191 

29,388 

,017,315 
3:1,156 

516,833 

865 

14,711 


We  present  above  very  carefully  and  laboriously  pre- 
pared statistics  of  the  trade  in  breadstuffs during  1 862, 
with  comparisons  for  the  two  preceding  years,  also  com- 
panitive  statements  of  the  receipls,  sales,  and  exports 
for  the  month  ending  to  day,  which  included  but  twenty 
four  business  days,  omitting  Christinas  and   New  Year's. 

It  will  be  seen  (table  3)  that  the  Receipls  of  flour  at 
(few-York  City  In  1862  exceeded  those  of  1861  by  783,637 
barrels,  which  is  equivalent   to   3,943,185    (Ol  nearly  lour 


million)  bushels  of  wheat.  The  receipts  of  wheat  in  the 
same  lime  decreased  1,349,875  bushels,  which  still  left  an 
excess  for  186-2,  of  2,593,309  bushels  over  the  previous  year. 
The  receipts  of  wheat  at  Chicago  (table  7)  last  year 
fell  off  from  those  of  1861  by  4,402,376  bushels.  This  was 
partly  counterbalanced  by  an  excess  in  flour  equivalent 
to  1,545,605  bushels,  but  still  leaving  a  decline  of  2,856,771 
bushels  in  1862. 

The  exports  from  New-York,  (table  4)  in  1862  as  com- 
pared witli  1861,  show  a  decrease  of  148.829  barrels  of 
flour,  and  3,333,559  bushels  of  wheat,  or  reducing  flour  to 
wheat,  a  decrease  of  3,977,699  bushels  of  wheat. 

The  Stocks  of  Flour  and  Wheat  on  hand  in  New-York, 
(tables  5  and  6)  are  considerably  larger  Jan.  1st,  1863  at 
the  same  date,  than  in  any  of  the  preceding  three  years. 

Similar  comparisons  may  be  made  with  respect  to  Corn, 
Rye,  etc.,  but  all  the  tables  are  so  arranged  as  to  show 
at  a  glance  the  condition  of  the  breadstuff  trade,  and  we 
hardly  need  repeat  tile  items  further. 

During  the  past  month,  the  breadstuff  trade  has  been 
almost  wholly  governed  by  the  rise  and  fall  in  gold,  the 
higher  currency  rates  in  gold  increasingthe  value  of  flour 
and  grain  for  export.  As  shown  in  the  table  of  "Current 
Wholesale  Prices,"  the  closing  prices  are  considerably 
above  the  quotations  in  our  last  report  (Dec.  18.).  Holders 
are  now  quite  firm,  under  the  expectation  of  further  ad- 
vance. This  will  depend  wholly  upon  the  price  of  gold. 
Any  financial  schemes  or  changes  reducing  the  relative 
values  of  gold  and  currency,  will  have  a  corresponding 
effect  upon  breadstuff's,  so  far  as  the  latter  are  not  in- 
fluenced by  other  circumstances— foreign  demand,  etc... 
Provisions,  especially  hog  products,  have  been  in  brisk 
demand,  partly  for  export,  and  have  advanced  in  price... 
Cotton,  Wool,  Hay,  Hops,  anil  Tobacco,  have  been  more 

freely  purchased   ;it  buoyant  prices Heavier  sales 

of  other  articles  of  general  merchandise  have  also  been 
effected.  The  table  of  Prices  will  show  both  present 
values  and  changes  since  last  month. 

Current  Wholesale  Prices, 
Dec.  18. 
Flour— Super  to  Extra  State  $5  SO  @    6  40 

Superfine  Western.. 5  80   @  6  05 

Extra  Western 6  15   ©10  00 

Extra  Genesee 6  50    ®  8  50 

Super,  to  Extra  Southern  ...      6  80    @10  00 
IIye  Flour— Fine  aud  Super.    4  00    ©5  65 

Corn  Meal 3  80    ©4  50 

Wueat-AU  kinds  of  White..    150    ©105 

All  kinds  of  lied. 122    ©147 

Corn— Yellow 80    @ 

While 85   ® 

Mixed... 76    @      77 

Oats— Western 68    ©     70 

State 69    @      70 

Rye 83   ©     97 

Barley ...    125    ©145 

Beans— Medium  and  Pea,  bu.    2  35    ©  2  75 


Marrow  and  Kidney    2  50    ©3  00 

Hay.  in  bales,  per  100  lbs 75    ©      90 

Cotton— Middlings,  per  lb..  .  66    © 

Kice.  per  100  lbs. 6  75    ©9  00 

Hops,  crop  ol  1865.  per  lb 17    @      25 

Feathers,  Live  Geese,  p.  lb,  43    ©      45 

Seed— Clover,  per  lb UIX®     10 

Timothy,  per  bushel 2  25    @  "  " 

Flax,  per  bushel 

Sugar— Brown,  per  lb 8    © 

MOLASSEs.New-Orleans,  p.gl..  82    © 

Coffee.  Ilio,  per  lb    ....  28   © 

Todacco— Kentucky.&c.p.lb.r  13M@ 

Seed  Leaf,  per  lb 9    © 

Wool— Domestic  fleece,  p.  lb..  58    © 

Domestic,  pulled,  per  lb. 48    © 

Tallow,  per  lb 10><© 


11^ 

40 

32 

30 

80 

05 

62 

10X 


Oil  Cake,  per  tun 43  00    «?,51  00 


Jan.  19. 

f  6  30    ©  7  00 

6  30    @  6  60 

6  75    ©10  00 

7  05  ©  8  50 
7  65  ©10  00 
3  50  ©  5  25 
3  95  ©  4  60 
1  58  ©  1  75 
]  30    ©  1  58K 

85  ©  87 
85  ©  95 
871    ®      85 

72  ©      74 

73  ©      74K 
90    ©  1  02« 

1  40    @>  1  55 

2  25  @  2  50 
2  50    ©  2  75 

90    ©  1  10 
72K®      73 
Nominal. 
17    ©      25 
Nominal. 
lO-tf®       U'A 
2  25    © 
2  80    @  3  00 
8«@      12X 
33    @      56 
28J4©      Sl« 
11    ®      S3 

10  @  35 
58  @  66 
06    ©      65 

11  ©      Wi 
Kominal. 


Pork— Mess,  per  bbl. 14  00  (Till  12.!.<  11  62>i<3l4  75 

Prime,  per  bbl 11621^®  1125    ©13  50 

Beef— Plain  mess  .  1175  ©13  00     1125    ©13  75 

Lard,  In  bbls.,  per  lb    .  9>4©      10  10    ©      10K 

Butter— Western,  per  lb 16  @     20  16   @     20 

State,  per  lb 21  ®      26  20    ®      26 

Cheese 9  ®     13  9    ®     13 

Broom  Corn— per  0 7  ©      8 

EGOS— Fresh,  per  dozen 22  @      '.'I 

Limed,  per  doz 15  ©     16 

Poultry— Fowls,  per  lb 8  ®       9 

Ducks,  per  it> 10  ©     11 

Geese,  per  lb ■■        7  ©       9 

Turkeys,  per  lb 10  ©     12 

Venison,  per  lb 10  ©      11 

Potatoes — Common,  p.  bbl..    150  ©1' 


Buckeyes,  per  bbl 150  ©  1 

Peach  Blow,  per  bbl    1  60  ©  2  00 

Mercers,  per  bbl 175  @  2  50 

Swni  Ihlawares,  per  bbl 2  50  r.i.  3  00 

sweet  Jerseys,  per  bbl  2  00  ©2  25 

Onions,  lied  &  Yellow  p.  bbl.  2  25  ©  2  50 

White,  per  bbl 2  50  ©2  75 

Ttjbnips— Rutabagas,  p.  bbl..  100  © 

Cabbages,  per  10o; 300  ©500 

Apples,  western,  per  bbl.  ..  1  62  ©  1  87 

Apples,  choice,  per  bbl,        ..  2  50  @  3  00 

Cranberries,  CapeCod.p.bT  11  00  ®l:t  00 

Western,  per  bbl 7  00  iffl  9  00 

Drif.p  Apples,  per  lb.       ...  4  @       6 

Dm  Kb  Plums,  per  lb 12  @      14 

IlRiF.n  1'evoiies,  per  lb 16  ©      18 

iii-K.-Rv  Ni'-rs,  per  bushel.,  175  ©2  50 

Chestnuts,  per  bushel 4  50  @  5  00 

J?|,  Y.  )L,ive  Stock  Markets.— The  Cat- 
tle Markets  have  not  been  so  well  supplied  during  the 
past  montii  as  previously,  Hie  average  being  only  4,506 
per  week,  or  less  than  foi  any  previous  month  since 
August,  hut  larger  than  usual.     Prices  have  advanced  V 

<-.  during  I  he  past  two  weeks.    This  week's  avei  ages 

not  yet  made  up  ,    at  lhe  last  general   market,  Jan.  13th, 


10 

16  a 

20  ® 

9  a 

7  © 

23  © 

15  © 

10  ® 

11  ® 

7  ® 
11  © 

8  ® 
1  25  ®  1 

1  25  ®  1  75 

2  00  ®  2  25 

2  50  ®  3  00 

3  00  ©  3  50 
2  50  a  3  00 
2  50  ®  3  50 

2  50  ©3  50 
75  ®      87 

3  00  © 

1  25  ®   1  50 

2  00  ©  5  00 
in  mi  ,„  II  mi 

8  00  ©  9  00 

4  ®         5 

10  ©      11 

13  ®      15 

1  75  ©  2  00 

5  00  ® 


with  4663  head  offered,  a  few  extra  fat  cattle  brought 
prices  equivalent  to  11  c.  la)  lljfc  per  lb.  for  the  dressed 
quarters;  prime  steers  9,Vc.  la)  10c.  ;  fair  beeves  8Xc, 
poor  6>ic.  (a)  7,Vc,  average  of  all  sales  8c.  Cattle  are 
now  selling  well,  with  a  prospect  of  good  prices  during 
the  Winter. 

Veal  Calves.  —  Receipts  have  averaged  370 
per  week  since  our  last  report.  They  sell  readily,  a  few 
choice  ones  at  S.'jC.  per  lb.  live  weight,  but  mostly  at  6c. 
for  good  veals,  and  5c.  (a)  5^o.  for  ordinary  to  fair  calves. 
Slieep  aiitl  Lambs.— Receipts  are  fallintr 
off  rapidly.  The  average  weekly  receipts  have  been  only 
6,301  during  the  past  month,  against  over  10,090  for  the 
preceding  4  weeks.  Farmers  and  graziers  are  holding 
them  back  on  account  of  the  high  prices  of  wcol  which 
make  sheep  raising  one  of  the  most  profitable  operations 
of  lhe  farm.  Skins  alone  are  worth  $2.37  (a)  $2.50  in  lots, 
while  large  selected  pelts  sometimes  sell  for  $3.00  each. 
The  short  supply  in  market  has  caused  a  rise  in  the 
price  of  sheep  equal  to  1c.  per  lb.  Good  sheep  that  will 
weigh  100  lbs.  alive,  are  worth  $6Vi  &  $6>;each.  A  mix- 
ed lot  of  1000  head  averaged  $6.55.  Ordinary  sheep  sell 
at  prices  equivalent  to  5;2'c.  (a)  6c.  per  lb.  live  weight. 

Live  Hogs  —  Receipts  have  averaged  44,1^0 
per  week,  which  is  nearly  equal  to  last  month.  For  the 
week  ending  Dec.  30,  no  less  than  G1,I65  live  and  sev- 
eral thousand  dead  hogs  were  received  in  the  city  and 
completely  glutted  the  market,  carrying  prices  down  to 
4l2C.per  lb.,  live  weight,  for  prime  corn-fed  hogs.  Prices 
have  since  recovered  %a.  being  now  5c,  (a)  5>„  c.  for  f;it 
corn-fed,  42ic  for  medium,  and  3^c.  la)  4c.  for  distillery- 
fed  hogs.  Western  mast,  or  nut  fed  hogs  are  worth  only 
3c.  fa)  Z%  c,  being  disliked  by  packers.  The  average 
weekly  receipts  of  hogs  last  year  was  21,129  against 
11.292  for  the  year  1861. 

The  Weatlier  has  been  remarkable  for  the 
season  of  the  year.  We  have  had  very  few  cold  days, 
and  not  over  an  inch  of  snow.  The  ground  has  been 
open  most  of  the  time,  and  farming  operations  have  been 
carried  on  to  an  unusual  extent.  Fears  are  entertained 
that  the  warm  weather  followed  by  sudden  freezings 
without  the  protection  of  a  snowy  covering,  has  injured 
the  winter  wheat  and  rye. Our  Daily  Notes  con- 
densed, read:  December  20.  clear,  cool,  the  thermoinele r 
at  9°  in  the  evening  and  4°  the  morning  of  the  21st,  which 
was  a  clear  day,  with  a  light  snow  fall  at  night.— 22 
cloudy,  cool — 23,  24,  clear,  mild — 25,  cloudy — 26.  cloudy, 
light  rain  at  night— 27,  28.  29,  clear,  warm— 30.  clear  A. 
M.,  cloudy  P.  M.,  rain  and  snow  at  night — 31,  N.E.  snow- 
storm, mingled  witli  rain,  1  inch   snow  remained   on    the 

ground January  1,  S,  3,  clear  and  moderating — snow 

gone — 4,  fog  A.  M.,  clear  P.  M. — 5,  clear,  warm— fi,  fog, 
rain  at  night — 7,  cooler  with  snow  squalls — 8,  clear,  fine 
—9,  cloudy— 10,  N.E.  rain,  and  at  night— 11,  12  clear  mild 
—13,  cloudy— 14,  heavy  rain  at  night— 15,  N.E.  rain  and 
heavy  fog — 16,  continued  rain— I",  18,  19,  clear,  cold. 

Xlie  Rain  Fall  and  melted  suow,  for  mouth 
ending  Jan.  15,  amounts  to  3.11  inches.  The  rise  and 
fall  of  lhe  Barometer  has  made  a  crooked  path  on  our  re- 
cording paper  during  the  month.  The  range  has  been 
from  29.18  to  30.50  inches,  rising  and  falling  rapidly,  in 
some  cases  over  an  inch  in  24  hours. 

Thermometer  at  6  A.  M.,  New-York. 

(Observations  carefully  made  upon  a  standard  Ther- 
mometer (Fahrenheit.) — r  indicates  rain — s,  snow.] 


1 

47r 
37 
30 
29 

8 

9. 
10 
11 
12 
1 1 
14. 

4 
5 
6 

18 
26 
26 
34 

,     38 
.    . .   37r 
40 

26 

27 

...  35r 

DECEM 
115   . .. 

16 

lis'.'.'.' 

Ill   ... 
120.... 
[21.... 

JANU 

8... 

ber. 
46 
58 

.32 
18 
26 

.10 

.   7 

ARY. 

30 
28 

22 

23.!!! 

24  .    . 

25... 

26 

27 

as!;;! 

10 

11... 

12 

25s 

25 
36 

46r 
.46 
.34 

31r 
,34r 
32 

129 

.35 

2 
3 
4 

|30.... 
131.... 

Avg'e 
1 

113   ... 

14 
15 

■SOr 
Ms 

32° 

6... 

7... 

1 

...30 
...14 

22 

26 

.     28 

31 
Mr 

3     . 

1  9 

50r 

Business 

1,01 

ices. 

t3ST  Eighty  Cents 

a  Lu 

e  of  space. 

Best  and  Cheapest  Fertilizer  of  the  Age, 
EXCELSIOR  POUDRETTE. 

RICARDO  &  CO.,  Maimfacliirers, 
Office  194  Front-st.,  New-York. 

Send  for  our  Annual  Circular,  giving  prices,  parliru- 
lars,  certificates,  &c.    "  Trade  supplied" 

Lands— To  All  Wanting  Farms. 

Large  and  thriving  settlement  of  Vineland,  mild  cli- 
mate, 30  miles  south  of  Philadelphia,  by  railroad  ;  rich 
soil  ;  fine  crops  ;  twenty  acre  tracts,  at  from  $15  to  $20 
per  acre  ;  payable  within  four  years.  Good  business 
openings  j  good  society.  Hundreds  are  settling  and  mak- 
ing improvements.  Apply  to  CH AS.  K.  LAND1S,  Post- 
master, Vineland,  Cumberland  County,  N.  J.  Letters 
answered.    Papers,  containing  lull  information,  sent  free. 


60 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[February, 


(ST"  Republished  with   Ckanges.  _g3 

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tion, and  to  solicit  others  to  subscribe  But  to  all  those 
who  will  take  the  trouble  to  collect  and  forward  clubs  of 
subscribers,  we  offer  a  remuneration  in  the  form  of  first- 
rate  articles,  as  named  below.  (The  pay  thus  offered  is 
much  larger  than  we  could  give  in  cash,  as  we  get  these 
articles  on  extra  good  terms  when  for  premiums.) 

[^We  wish  it  distinctly  understood  that  these 
premiums  are  offered  in  good  faith — no  cheap,  trashy,  im- 
perfect, poorly  made,  or  second-hand  thing,  will  be  sent 
out,  but  each  article  offered,  is  the  best  of  Us  kind,  and 
every  one  will  be  selected  by  the  publisher  from  the  very 
best  manufactured.  They  will  be  the  best  sold  in  the  mar- 
ket at  the  prices  named. 

B3?~  We  make  no  distinction  between  new  and  old  subscri- 
bers In  giving  these  premiums,  but  it  is  expected  that  every 
canvasser  will  not  only  gather  up  the  names  of  old  sub- 
scribers, but  also  secure  a  large  number  of  new   names. 

tW  Every  person  collecting  names  for  premiums,  should 
send  two  copies  of  each  list  of  names— one  of  them  marked. 
"For  Premiums," a nd  also  with  the  name  of  the  sender. 

tW  Every  person  collecting  names  for  premiums,  should 
send  the  names  with  the  money  as  fast  as  obtained,  so  that 
the  subscribers  may  l.egin  to  receive  their  papers ;  Two  cop- 
ies of  each  list  of  names  should  be  sent— one  of  them  marked 
at  the  top  "For  Premiums,"  and  also  with  the  name  of  the 
Bender.  The  premium  will  be  paid  as  soon  as  any  club  is 
made  up— if  duplicate-  lists  are  sent. 

S2T"  Any  person  who  has  commenced  sending  in  namcB  at 
80c.  and  finally  falls  to  get  the  higher  number  of  names,  can 
fall  back  upon  the  smaller  number,  by  remitting  the  20  cents 
extra  on  each  of  the  smaller  number  of  names  required. 
g^~  Clubs  need  not  be  all  confined  to  one  Post  Office. 


Tabic  of  Premiums  for  1SG3. 


Names  of  Premium  Articles. 


a  5 

3£ 


1— Good  Books—  See  terms  below 

2— BestFamilv  Clothes  Wringer $7  50 

3— Nonpareil  "Washing  Machine. $16  1)0 

4— Sewing  Machine,  (Wheeler  &  Wilson). £-15  00 
5— Sewing  Machine,  (Wilcox  &  Glbbs)  ....$35  00 

fi— Aneroid  Barometer.... $7  50 

7— Ttie  Aquarius $10  00 

8— Five  Octave  Melodeon  (beat) $75  00 

9 — IK  Octave  Melodeoi  (best) $00  no 

10— Four  Octave  Mclodeon  (best)  $45  00 


1/8— Worcester's  Unabridged  Dictionary 
13— Six  back  Volumes  Agriculturist," 
14 — Five  do  do  do 

15— Four  do  do  do 

1G— Three  do  do  do 

17— Two    do  do  do 

J  8— One     do  do  do 

M— Jacob's  Portfolio  Paper  File  

20— Windsor*;  Newton's Palnta 
31— Qsborn  &  Horlgkinson's  Paints... 

22— Premium  Cylinder  Plow 

»3— Eagle  Plow  No.  20. 


GDM 


$R  50 

$<;  78 

$5  60 

$1  4S 

i     $3  36 

$2  21 

$1  12 

$1  48 

.  $3  50 

..   $1  50 

.$10  00 

.   $0  25 

24—  Hav  and  Straw  Cutter  (best) $9  00 

35— Steel-tooth  Cultivator  (best).... $7  50 

2G— Family  Lard  and  Wine  Press $7  00 

description  or  the  premiums. 
Premium  No.  1— Good  Hooks. 
Any  person  sending  1G  or  more  subscribers,  may  select 
from  our  book  list,  (page  61.)  to  the  amount  of  12%  cents  for 
each  name,  at  the  club  price  of  80  cents,  or  to  the  amount  of 
83H  cents  for  each  name,  at  $1  each.    Farmers'  Clubs  have 
frequently  joined    together  and   obtained    a  good   library 
through  these  premiums.    N.  B.— The  books  will  be  deliver- 
ed to  the  recipients,  (by  mail  or  express,)  free  of  all  cost. 
B^3  See  tl>e  List  for  any  changes  in  Price. 

No.  3— Family  Clothes- Wringer. 

This  Is  a  first-rate  household  Implement— a  great  saver  of 
garments,  and  of  hard  work.    With  this  machine  set  on  the 


edge  of  the  wash-tub,  the  garments  arc  easily  and  rapidly 
passed  between  two  India-rubber  rollers,  the  water  fall- 
ing back  into  the  tub,  and  the  garments  dropping  into  a 
basket,  in  a  drier  condition  than  they  can  be  wrung  by 
hand,  and  therefore  more  quickly  dried  on  the  line.  A 
child  can  in  a  few  minutes  wring  out  a  tubful  of  clothes. 
"We  have  had  one  in  constant  use  In  our  family  for  nearly 
three  years,  and  It  is  still  as  good  as  new.  The  machine 
offered,  No.  2,  is  just  the  thing  for  family  use.  It  is  provided 
with  cogs  to  move  the  rollers  together,  so  that  it  is  not  pos- 
sible to  tear  garments,  as  is  the  case  with  cheaper  Wringers 
not  provided  with  cogs.  We  present  one  of  these  No.  2  Wring- 
ers to  any  person  procuring  and  forwarding  1.9  subscribers, 
at  $1  each,  or  42  at  the  lowest  club  price,  (80  cents  each.) 

Premium  So.  3 — Washing  Machine. 
The  Nonpareil  Washing  Machine  we  have  had  In 
use  in  our  family  for  nearly  a  year  past,  and  it  has  not  only 
driven  out  half-a-dozen  placed  there  on  trial,  but  has  really 
given  excellent  satisfaction.  It  is  the  only  machine,  out  of 
twenty  we  have  tried,  which  the  "help"  cheerfully  use  with- 
out compulsion.  It  is  a  labor-saver  and  a  clothes-saver— two 
important  considerations.  (See  descriptive  cut,  and  adver- 
tisement on  page  SI.)  The  clothes  are  put  in,  in  quantity, 
and  quickly  washed  by  simply  turning  a  crank.  The 
balance-wheel  adjusts  the  force  required,  so  as  to  make  the 
turning  easy.  Take  it  all  In  all,  it  is  the  best  Washing  Ma- 
chine we  know  of,  and  is  worthy  of  a  place  in  every  family. 
They  are  of  three  sizes;  we  select  No.  2,  as  the  best  size  for 
common  family  use.  The  price  of  No.  2  is  $16.  This  ma- 
chine we  will  present  to  any  one  forwarding  35  subscribers 
at  the  regular  price,  ($1  each,)  or  75  subscribers  at  the 
lowest  club  price,  (80  cents.)  The  machine  can  be  sent  to 
any  point  as  freight,  or  by  express,  and  will  be  forwarded, 
free  of  all  expense,  except  the  freight  after  leaving  the  city 

Premium   No.   4— Sewing    Machine. 

90  Subscribers  at  $1  each,  (or  130  at  80  cents  each,)  will 
entitle  the  person  sending  them  to  Wheeler  dt  Wilson's  best 
S45  Sewing  Machine,  (including  Heinmer),  new 
from  the  factory,  and  of  the  very  best  make.  There  is  no 
better  family  machine  than  this  made,  as  wc  have  proved  by 
nearly  five  years*  use  in  our  own  family,  in  connection  with 
other  machines.  We  want  no  better.  The  terms  on 
which  it  Is  ofi'ered  above,  will  enable  many  famil|58  to  se- 
cure one  without  direct  outlay  of  money.  The  Premium 
Machines  will  be  selected  new  at  the  manufactory,  and  will 
be  forwarded,  well  boxer],  with  full  directions  for  setting  up 
and   using,  and  with  no  expense,  except  for  freight. 

Premium  No.  5— Sewing  Machine. 

G9  Subscribers  at  $1  each,  (or  98  at  80  cents  each,)  will 
entitle  the  person  procuring  them  to  Willcox  A  Gibbs"  $35 
Sewing  Machine,  including  a  set  of  Hemmcrs. 
This  is  the  best  machine  of  its  kind,  (sewing  with  one  thread,) 
and  has  several  points  superior  to  other  machines.  It  is  neat, 
well  made,  simple  in  its  operation  ;  and  having  tested  one  In 
our  own  family  for  more  than  two  years,  we  think  highly  of 
It,  and  can  recommend  it  to  those  who  can  not  afl'ord  to  buy 
the  higher  priced  double-thread  machines.  Some  of  our 
neighbors  think  this  machine  ahead  of  all  others.  Premium  5 
will  be  selected  and  sent  the  same  as  No.  4. 

Premium  No.  6— Barometer. 

20  Subscribers  at  $1  each,  (or  46  at  80  cents  each.)  will 
entitle  the  person  getting  up  the  club  to  one  of  Kendall's 
Aneroid  Barometers,  (Price  $7  50.)  This  is  a  good, 
portable  instrument,  and  valuable  to  every  person  as  a 
weather  guide,  as  well  as  for  scientific  purposes.  See  page 
377,  December  No.  It  will  Bave  to  the  farmer  and  others 
many  times  its  cost,  as  a  weather-indicator.  These  instru- 
ments resemble  a  large  watch,  5  inches  in  diameter,  and  2 
inches  thick.  Each  one  is  in  a  neat  leather  case,  and  when 
sent  to  a  distance,  this  is  packed  in  cotton,  in  a  wooden 
box  4l4  by  8  inches,  and  can  go  anywhere,  by  express  or 
otherwise,  with  perfect  safety. 

Premium  No.  7— The  Aquarius. 

This  is  a  capital  instrument,  valuable  to  have  in  every 
house.  It  is  a  portable  hand  force-pump,  which  any  one  can 
catch  up  at  a  moment's  warning,  and  throw  from  a  pail  or 
other  vessel  a  steady  stream  of  water  upon  a  fire  in  a  house, 
or  elsewhere.  It  is  supplied  with  both  a  jet-pipe  and  a  rose, 
or  sprinkler,  and  can  be  used  tor  washing  windows,  car- 
riages, &c;  for  sprinkling  trees,  plants,  destroying  insects, 
&c,  &c.  With  it,  it  is  easy  to  wash  the  second  and  third 
story  windows,  and  to  sprinkle  water  upon  the  roofs,  while 
standing  upon  the  ground,  Such  an  apparatus  will  often 
enable  a  person  to  so  use  a  bucket  or  two  of  water  as  to  ex- 
tinguish a  fire  breaking  out  where  it  could  not  be  reached 
with  water  dashed  on  from  pails.  It  is  supplied  with  suction 
and  injection  India-rubber  pipes,  and  with  air-chambers  to 
keep  up  a  constant  stream.  The  weight  is  8  lbs.,  and  it  enn 
be  sent  anywhere  as  freight,  or  by  express.  (Price  $10.) 
We  will  present  an  Aquarius  complete  to  any  one  Rend- 
ing su  22  subscribers  at  $1  each,  (or  47  at  83  cents  each.) 

Premium  So.  8— Mclodeon. 

125  Subscribers  at  $1  each,  (or  237  at  SO  cents  each,)  will 
entitle  the  person  getting  up  the  club  to  one  of  Geo.  A. 
Prince  <fe  Co.'s  $75  Melodcons  (5  octaves).  These  Melo- 
deons  are  of  very  superior  tone  and  finish.  Wc  have  our- 
selves used  one  for  three  years  past,  and  it  has  given 
the  highest  satisfaction,  and  is  pronounced  by  all  who 
have  heard  it,  as  one  of  the  very  best.  The  different  priced 
Instruments  are  of  equally  good  tone— the  price  varying  with 
the  size  and  style  of  finish.  The  size,  prices,  etc.,  of  these  in- 
struments can  be  learned  particularly,  by  sending  a  stamp  to 
Geo.  A.  Prince  &  Co.,  Buffalo,  N.  T„  for  an  illustrated  de- 
scriptive catalogue.  The  instruments  given  as  Premiums,  will 
be  sent  new  directly  from  the  factory  at  Buffalo,  ready  box- 
ed, and  without  expense  to  the  recipient,  except  for  freight. 
Schools  and  churches  can  readily  combine  their  efforts  and 
secure  one  of  these  instruments.  This  has  been  frequently 
done 

N.  B.— Any  higher  or  lower  priced  Mclodeons  will  be 
given  for  other  lists.  In  the  same  proportion.  See  tabl<*  above. 


.Premium  No.    12— Best   Dictionary. 

25  Subscribers  at  $1  each,  (or  53  at  80  cts.  each,)  will  enti- 
tle the  person  getting  up  the  club  to  a  copy  of  the  large  Pic- 
torial Unabridged  Edition  of  Worcester's  Dictionary. 
(Price  $8  50.)  This  now  stands  confessedly  the  most  valua- 
ble Standard  Dictionary  published.  It  weighs  nearly  10  lbs.; 
is  12  inches  long,  10  inches  wide,  nearly  4  inches  thick.  :md 
contains  1854  pages  of  3  columns  each,  giving  the  spell- ' 
ing  and  pronunciation,  with  full  explanations,  of  every 
word  in  the  English  Language,  and  as  a  source  of  general 
information  on  all  subjects,  stands  next  to  the  Cyclopedia. 
The  Dictionary  can  be  called  for  at  our  Office,  or  be  sent 
by  Express  or  otherwise,  to   any  part  of  the  country. 

Premiums    Nos.    13    to    IS— Back    Volumes— A 
First-rate  Library. 

These  premiums  (13  to  IS,)  will  enable  any  one  to  secure 
the  previous  excellent  volumes  of  the  American  Agricultur- 
ist, as  far  back  as  Volume  XVI.  These  will  be  sent  post- 
paid, in  clean,  new  numbers,  each  volume  by  itself,  with  in- 
dex. The  whole  five  can  be  taken  together,  or  one  or  more 
copies  of  any  particular  volume  be  selected,  as  desired. 
They  will  be  presented  as  in  the  table  above,  viz:  For  20 
Subscribers  at  $1  each,  (or  36  at  80  cents  each.)  we  will  pre- 
sent six  volumes.    For  16  Subscribers  at  $1  each,  (or  30 

at  80  cents  each,)  we  will  present  five  volumes. For 

13  Subscribers  at  $1  each,  (or  26  at  80  cents  each,)  four 

volumes. For  10  Subscribers  at  $1  each,  (or  20  at  80 

cents  each,)  three  volumes. For  15  Subscribers  at  SO 

cents  each,  two  volumes. For  10  Subscribers  at  80 

cents  each,  one  volume. Let  every  one  be  careful  to 

name  just  which  back  volumes  are  desired. 

Premium  No.  19— Best  File  for  Agriculturist. 
Jacobs1  Portfolio  File,  made  just  to  fit  the  Agri- 
cti!turist~ihe  name  gilded  on.  This  is  a  leather  cover  or 
portfolio,  so  arranged  that  successive  numbers  of  the  paper 
can  be  Inserted  in  a  minute,  and  be  properly  preserved  in 
book  form  for  reading.  When  one  volume  is  completed,  the 
sheets  can  be  removed  and  stitched,  and  a  new  volume  in- 
serted. A  single  cover  will  answer  for  a  dozen  successive 
volumes.  It  is  the  most  complete  file  yet  made.  The  price 
now  is  $1.25,  and  the  postage  23  cents.  We  will  forward  it, 
post-paid,  to  any  one  sending  fourteen  subscribers,  at  the 
lowest  club  price,  (SO  cents  each.) 

Premium  No.  20— Paints. 

14  Subscribers  at  $1,  or  28  at  80  cents  each,  will  entitle  the 
person  getting  up  the  club  to  an  assortment  of  Windsor  A 
Newton" s  "Water  Color  Paints— consisting  of  12  colors, 
put  up  in  a  neat  mahogany  case,  with  brushes,  etc.  These 
Paints  are  imported  from  London,  and  are  by  all  considered 
the  best  in  the  world.  They  are  adapted  to  the  finest  work, 
or  they  will  make  a  neat  and  appropriate  present  to  any  of  our 
younger  readers.  They  will  be  sent  post-paid  any  where  in 
the  United  States  within  3000  miles. 

Premium  No.  21 — Paints. 

15  Subscribers  at  SO  cents  each,  will  entitle  the  person  get- 
ting up  the  club  to  an  Assortment  of  Osborne  <f ■  llodgkinson's 
"Water  Color  Paints,  consisting  of  24  colors  or  shades, 
put  up  in  a  neat  case  with  brushes,  cups,  etc.  These  are  of 
American  manufacture,  and  though  not  so  fine  as  the  above, 
will  answer  for  ordinary  practice  by  children  or  beginners, 
and  for  common  sketching.    Sent  same  as  No.  20. 

Premiums  Nos.  22  to  26. 

"We  have  not  space  to  describe  these  particularly.  The 
Cylinder  Plow  was  described  in  this  journal  last  year.  The 
Eagle  Plow  is  well  known,  and  so  is  the  Hay  and  Straw 
Cutter,  and  the  Steel-toothed  Cultivator,  one  of  the  most 
useful  implements  on  the  farm.  The  Lard  and  Wine  Press 
is  a  very  convenient  household  implement,  for  pressing  out 
lard  or  tallow,  the  juice  of  grapes,  currants,  berries,  &c. 
For  the  prices,  and  subscribers  required,  see  the  table  above. 


A  Constant  Exhibition. 

The  Tables  at  the  Office  of  the  American  Agriculturist 
nave  constantly,  during  the  entire  year,  novel  and  interest- 
ing FRUITS,  FLOWERS,  GRAINS,    VEGETABLES,  ROOTS,  ETC., 

contributed  hy  Subscribers,  Nurserymen, -Gardeners 
and  others,  and,  except  in  niid-wintet,  almost  uniformly 
present  a  very  attractive  and  instructive  exhibition. 

Our  tables  are  spacious,  and  the  Office  large  and  airy, 
and  the  best  care  will  be  taken  of  the  articles  contributed. 

•-• -*«•— .-*. 

The  Postage  on  the  Agriculturist  Is  posi- 
tively only  Six  Cents  a  Year. 

The  law  expressly  says  that  a  Periodical  issued  at  stated  pe- 
riods, and  not  weighing  over  3  ounces  avoirdupois,  shall  be 
charged  one  cent  per  number,  and  only  half  this  sum  If  paid 
quarterly  in  advance.  The  paper  for  the  Agriculturist  is 
purposely  manufactured  so  that  It  shall  weigh  a  little 
less  than  three  ounces  when  printed;  the  legal  postage  is 
therefore  only  six  cents  a  year,  if  paid  quarterly  In  advance. 
-m-+ mm*       —— 

Mail-Lost  Numbers  Supplied. 

It  is  hard  for  the  Publisher  to  alone  bear  all  the  losses 
arising  from  the  carelessness  or  oversight  of  the  20,000 
Postmasters  and  carriers  who  have  the  handling  of  the 
Agriculturist  between  the  office  and  the  subscribers 
But  since  Uncle  Samuel  monopolizes  the  carrying  busi- 
ness, and  won't  stand  any  losses,  and  vte  can't  compel 
him  to.  we  shall  cheerfully  send  a  second  copy  of  any 
number  when  the  first  one  mailed,  fails  to  reach  its  proper 
destination,  on  being  notified  of  the  fact.  Numbers  receiv- 
ed and  lostor  spoiled  will  be  forwarded  at  10  cents  each. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


Gl 


Circulation  of  the  Agriculturist. 

Beyond  all  doubt  or  controversy,  the  circu- 
lation of  the  American  Agriculturist  to  regu- 
lar subscribers,  is  many  thousands  greater 
than  that  of  any  other  Agricultural  or  Hor- 
ticultural Journal  in  the  World,  no  matter 
what  its  character,  or  time  or  place  of  issue. 
The  publisher  is  ready  at  all  times  to  sub- 
stantiate this  statement  by  comparing  boohs. 

Jbireriisements. 

Advertisements  to  be  sure  of  insertion  must  be  re- 
ceived At  latest  by  the  15th  of  the  preceding  month- 
TERMS—  (invariably  cash  before  insertion) : 

FOR  TUB  ENGLISH   EDITION  ONLY. 

Fifhj  cents  per  line  of  apace  for  each  insertion. 

One  whole  column  (145  lines),  or  more,  $60  per  column. 

C3?~Business  Notices,  Eighty  cents  per  line  of  space. 

FOR  TUF.  GERMAN*  EDITION  ONLY. 

Ten  cents  per  line  of  s/w.r  t<n-  each  insertion. 

One  whole  column  (130  lines),  or  more,  $10  per  column. 

E-Business  Notices,  twenty  cents  a  line. 


Help    Wanted. 

A  Rlngle  man— American  or  Scotchman  preferred— wanted 
to  take  charge  of  a  farm.  He  must  be  a  practical  man  of 
experience,  industrious,  and  honest,  able  to  read  and  write. 
Also  a  neat  tidy  woman  who  can  cook,  wash,  make  butter, 
&c.    Address  JOHN  H.  ROCHE, 

Mead's  Basin.  Passaic  Co.,  N.  J. 


COUNTRY  HOUSE  WANTED  IN  THE  STATE 
of  New-York,  within  30  miles  of  the  Citv,  for  a  chari- 
table institution.  House  must  contain  not  less  than  16  rooms, 
with  from  s  to  \i  acres  of  good  land  for  gardening— wanted 
to  hire,  with  the  privilege  of  purchase  in  three  years.  Rent, 
very  moderate.    Address  "lOUK,"  Station  D.,  N.  Y.  City. 

BUSINESS   STAND   FOR  SALE.— One  of  the 
very  best  on  the  Delaware    and  Hudson  Caual.    Ad- 
dress Rox  96,  Ellenvillc,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y. 

NOW    READY. 
The  First  Part  of  Dr.  SMCCKER'S  History 

OF    THE 

SOUTHERN  REBELLION, 

From  its  origin,  giving  a  full  and  reliable  account  of  all  the 
Battles,  Sieges,  Engagements,  &c,  &c. 

This  is  the  only  authentic  HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR  now 
published,  and  will  contain  over  500  Octavo  pages,  illustrat- 
ed with  numerous  tine  steel  plates,  from  original  drawings, 
by  that  eminent  artist.  SAMUEL  SARTAIN,  Esq. 

A  few  good  agents  wanted,  to  whom  the  largest  commis- 
sion will  be  paid. 

Specimen  copies  sent  on  receipt  of  the  price,  $2.50. 

bradley  &  co., 
Publishers, 

No.  66  North  Fourth  Street,  Philadelphia,  Pa 

The   Cranberry  and  iis  Culture. 

The  Subscriber  has  issued  a  circular  from  the  press,  treat- 
ing on  the  Cranberry  and  its  Culture.  Said  Circular- Will 
give  persons  the  proper  information  as  to  the  commence- 
ment of  the  culture.  He  will  take  pleasure  in  forwarding 
them  to  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  to  those  sending  stamp 
to  paypostnge.  Persons  wishing  plants  in  large  or  small 
quantities,  may  receive  them  by  express,  for  wet  or  dry  soil. 
Address  GEORGE  A.  BATES, 

Bellingham,  Norfolk  Co.,  Mass. 

FRUIT  TREES,  &c. 

FROST  &  CO.,  Genesee  Vnlley  Nurseries,  offer  for  the 
sr-KiNO  OF  1SC3  a  well  grown  :uid  large  stock  ot'FUUIT 
TREES;  both  standard  and  dwarf;  SMALL  FRUITS,  which 
Includes  a  line  slock  of  choice  NATIVE  GRAPES:  also,  of 
ORNAMENTAL  TREKS,  SHRUBS,  ROSES, GREENHOUSE 
PLANTS,  &c— all  at  Low  prices.  Catalogues  sent  on  ap- 
plication, enclosing  a  stamp  for  each. 

No.  1.  A  Descriptive  Catalogue  of  Fruits,  &c.  No.  2.  Of 
OnisHnontat  Trees,  &e.  No.  8.  Of  Greenhouse  Plants.  No 
4.  Wholesale  List  for  spring  of  1SC3.    FROST  &  CO 

Rochester,  N.  T. 

CIRCULAR. 

Our  PRICE  LIST  Of  GRAPE  TIXES,  STRAWBERRY,  RASPBER- 
RY,    BLACKBERRY    PLANTS,     and    Other    SMALL    FRUITS,  for 

Spring  of  1883.  will  be  Issued  by  the  15th  of  February,  and 
Bent  to  all  applicants. 

J.    KNOX.  Box  155,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

EVERGREENS. 

FROST  &  CO..  of  the  Genesee  Valley  Nurseries,  Roches- 
ter, N\  Y.,  have  an  immense  stock:  ami  good  assortment  of 

hardy,  well  grown  EVERGREENS,  which  have  been  trans- 
planted from  "tie  to  four  times.  They  will  he  sold  at  low 
rates  to  Nurserymen,  or  others  who  wish  to  buv  in  large 
quantities.  Prices  given  in  Wholesale  List,  of  Fruits,  Orna- 
mental Trees,  &c,  for  spring  of  18(33,  which  is  scut  on  ap 
plication 


M 


THE    MOTHER'S    JOURNAL.— A 

Literary   and  Religious    Monthly   Magazine    fo: 
Mothers  and  the  household.    One  Dollar  a  year. 
335  BROADWAY,  NEW-YORK 


■i.J 


The  best  Holiday  Gift,  and  greatly,  constantly  and  per- 
munentlv  useful.  Specially  full  In  Definitions  and  Illustra- 
tions of  literary  terms.    Sold  by  all  booksellers. 


IS4M>KS    FOR    FARMERS 
AI\1)    OTHERS. 

[Any  of  the  following  books  can  be  obtained  at  the  of- 
fice of  the  Agriculturist  at  the  prices  named,  or  they  will  be 
forwarded  by  mail,  postpaid,  on  receipt  of  the  price.  Other 
books  not  named  in  the  list  will  be  procured  and  sent  to  sub- 
scribers when  desired,  if  the  price  beforwarded.  All  of  these 
books  may  well  be  procured  by  any  one  making  up  a  libra- 
ry. Those  we  esteem  specially  valuable,  are  marked  with  a  \] 

American  Bird  Fancier SO  ,)fi 

American  Farmer's  Encyclopedia 450 

American  Florist's  Guide  .,'" 75 

American  Weeds  and  Useful  Plants* 1  50 

Allen  on  the  Culture  ot  the  Grane 100 

Allen's  (R.  L.)  American  Farm  Book* " '    1  00 

Allen's  Diseases  of  Domestic  Animals 75 

Allen's  (L.  F.)  Rural  Architecture 1  25 

Barry's  Fruit  Garden*.        , j  «ja 

Bement's  (G.  N.)  Rabbit  Fancier 50 

Boussingault's  (J.  11.)  Rural  Economy ...."     1  25 

Bridgeman's  Fruit  Cultivator's  Manual eo 

Bridgeman's  Young  Gardener's  Assistant... '    l  50 

Bridgeman's  Kitchen  Garden  Instructor ".       60 

Bridgeman's  Florist's  Guide gn 

Brandt's  Age  of  Horses" ..".",".".'i       50 

Buist's  American  Flower  Garden  Directory .....".!     1  25 

Bulst's  Family  Kitchen  Gardener" 75 

Central  Park  Guide ~    '        25 

Chorll oil's  Grape-Grower's  Guide" !.'.'.'.".".'.'       60 

Cole's  (S.  W.)  American  Fruit  Book I".'.". "..'.'. ".       60 

Dadd's  (Geo.  II.)  Modern  Horse  Doctor '.'.'.'..'.,'.    1  00 

Dadd's  (Geo.  H.j  American  Cattle  Doctor, .!!....    1  00 

Dana's  Muck  Manual  for  Farmers 1  00 

Downlng's  Cottage  Residences*.  .,,,  2  50 

Down  lug's  Fruits  ami  Fruit  Trees  of  America*" 2  00 

Dowillng'S  Ladies'  Flower  Garden \  50 

Eastwood  on  the  Cranberry" 50 

Every  Lady  her  own  Flower  Gardener 50 

Farmer's  Practical  Horse  Farrier 60 

Fessenden's  American  Kitchen  Gardener 25 

French's  Farm  Drainage  * 1  25 

Field's  (Thomas  W.)  Pear  Culture 1  00 

Fish  Culture 1  00 

Flint  (Charles  L.)  on  Grasses" 1  25 

Flint's  Milch  Cows  and  Dairv  Farming* 1  25 

Fuller's  Strawberry  Culturist 10 

Goodale's  Principles  of  Breeding 75 

Gueuon  on  Milch  Cows eo 

Hall's  (Miss)  American  Cookery  1  00 

Herbert's  Hints  to  Horsckecpers'** l  25 

Hooper's  Dog  and  Gun 50 

Johnson  on  Manures 75 

Kemp's  Landscape  Gardening 1  50 

Kidder's  Bee  Culture 50 

Langsti'Oth  on  the  Honey  Bee* 1  25 

Leuchars*  Hothouses 1  25 

Liebig'B  Lectures  on  Chemistry 50 

Linslev's  CD.  C.)  Morgan  Horses 1  00 

Manual  of  Agriculture  by  (i.  Emerson  and  C.  L.  Flint.       75 

Mavhew's  Illustrated  Horse  Doctor 2  50 

McMahon's  American  Gardener*    , 2  50 

Median's  Ornamental  Trees 75 

Milburn  on  the  Cow  and  Dairy 25 

Miles  on. the  Horse's  Foot 50 

Norton's  Scientific  Agriculture 60 

Olcott's  Sorgho  and  lmphee 1  00 

Our  Farm  of  Four  Acres..*....  (cloth  50  cts.,-  paper)....       25 

Onion  Culture* 21 

Pardee  on  Strawberry  Culture 60 

Parlor  Gardener 65 

Pin-sons  on  the  Rose  — ,.125 

Pedder'S  Farmer's  Land  Measurer    50 

Phantom  Bouquet,  or  Skeleton  Leaves      ..  1  00 

Phin's  Grape  Culture  1  00 

Oiiinbv'8  Mysteries  ot  Bee  keeping* 1  25 

Randall's  Sheep  Husbandry    Jag 

Richardson  on  tlie  Hpa 25 

Robin's  Produce  ana  Heady  Reckoner 60 

Rose  Culturist 25 

Shepherd's  Own  Book 2  00 

Smith's  Landscape  Gardening ..     1  25 

Spencer's  Education  of  Children** 1  00 

Stewart's  fjohn)  Stable  Boole...        1  25 

Thomas'  (John  J.)  Farm  Implements  *.... 1  ou 

Todd's  (S.  E.)  Young  Farmer's  Manual 1  25 

Tucker's  Register  Rural  Affairs         25 

Turner's  Cotton  Planter's  Manual l  25 

Warder's  Hedges  and  Evergreen** 1  25 

Watson's  American  Home  Garden 1  50 

Week'a  (John  M.)  Manual  on  Bees 50 

Wood's  Class  Book  of  Botany  . 2  50 

Yale  College  Agricultural  Lectures 25 

Youatt  and  Spooner  on  the  Horse 1  05 

Yi.uai r  and  Martin  ou  Cattle 1  25 

Youatt  on  the  Hog 75 

Youatt  on  Sheep 75 

ONION  CULTTJRE-Third  (new)  Edition. 

This  wort  comprises  in  32  pages  all  the  particulars  for  suc- 
cessful Onion  Culture,  from  Selection  of  Seed  to  Marketing 
the  Crop— being  the  practical  directions  given  by  seventeen 
experienced  Onion  Growers,  residing  in  different  parts  of  the 
country.  Price  21  cents  (or  7  stamps),  sent  post-paid.  Ad- 
dress Publisher  of  Agriculturist. 

IIYSIOGNOMY,  or  "Signs  of  Character,"  PHY- 
SIOLOGV,  the  Bodilv  Functions;  PHKENOLOGV, 
Brain  and  Smniis  System  ;  PSYCHOLOGY,  the  Science  of 
the  Soul ;  ETHNOLOGY,  or  Natural  History  or  Man,  are  topics 
elucidated  in  the  ILLUSTRATED  PHRENOLOGICAL 
JOURNAL  for  1S53.  No.  1,  1(1  cents,  or  {1  a  year.  Address 
FOWLRR  &  WELLS,  808  Broadway,  New-York. 

SEEDS'    SEEDS!! 

FLOWER  SEEDS. 

VEGETABLE  SEEDS. 
By  mail,  post-paid.  HARVEY  B.  LANE, 

151  Nassau-st„  New-Yuiic. 

ANTED — 10  bushels  new  crop  Osage  Orange 
Seed.    Address       THOMAS  J.  SHALLCROSS, 

Locust  Grove,  Kent  Co.,  Md. 


w 


PEACH  PITS $0.?3  per  bushel. 

PLUM  PITS  3.00     "       " 

CHERRY  PITS 3.00     "       " 

APPLE  SEED 4.00     " 

For  sale  by 

SHEPPARD  &  SEWARD, 
214  Pearl-8t„  New-York 


FRUIT 

TREES  AND   PLANTS, 

ORNAMENTAL,  TREES, 

SHRUBS,    EVERGREENS, 

AND 

EXOTIC     PLANTS. 

PARSONS   &  CO. 

Invite  the  attention  of  buyers  to  their  stock, 
which  is  in  vigorous  health,  and  of  large  size. 

They  offer  all  kinds  at  rates,  which  for  size 
and  excellence,  are  as  low  as  they  can  any- 
where be  purchased. 

They  can  sell  trees,  etc.,  by  the  hundred  : 
Apples  at  $14.        Plums  at   §30. 
Pears  at  $28.         Peaches  at  $10. 
Cherries  at  $25.    Strawberries. 
Concord    Grapes,   4  years,    at   §25. 
Delaware  and  other  hardy  Grapes. 
Exotic  Grape  Tines,  strong  growth. 
Small  Fruits  of  the  newest  sorts. 
Umlauts  Rhubarb  by  the    lOOO. 

Their  ORNAMENTAL  TREES  for  Streets 
and  Lawns  are  of  large  size  aud  fine  form. 

FLOWERING  SHRUBS  in  quantities  for 
massing,  at  very  low  prices. 

ROSES  and  EXOTIC  PLANTS  of  the  new 
and  choice  varieties. 
Catalogues  furnished  on  application 

No  orders  will  be  sure  of  attention,  unless  ad- 
dressed to  us  by  mail,  at  FLUSHING, 
near  NEW-YORK. 

CHOICE  FRUIT.  —  Local  Agents  wanted  to 
sell  trees  of  genuine  Kin&r  of  Tompkins  Co.  Apples, 
the  best  variety  grown,  which  sells  in  New-York  for  f  6  to  £8 
per  barrel.  Also  the  Wagener.  Send  for  plates  and  terms 
to  agents;  or  50  cts.  for  two  dozen  scions,  $1  for  one  each  of 
Delaware,  Concord,  Diana,  and  Rebecca  Grape  Vines,  or  $1 
for  one  each  White  Grape,  Cherry,  La  Versailles  and  Long 
Grape  Currant  Hushes,  or  50  cts.  for  one  doz.  Brinckle'8  Or- 
ange, or  Antwerp  Raspberries,  or  two  doz.  best  varieties 
Strawberry  Plants;  all  sent  by  mail,  pre-paid.    Address 

E.  C.  FROST,   Highland  Nurseries,  (P.  O.,)  N.  T. 


50.000    PEACH    TREES, 

And  all  oilier  varieties  of  Fruit  unci  Ornamental  Trees, 
For  Catalogues  address  ISAAC  PULLEN, 

Jan.  1st,  1863.  Hightstown,  N.  J. 

Pear   Trees 

Of  superior  quality,  at  the  NEW-BRUNSWICK  NURSER- 
IES, New-Jersey.  Persons  interested  are  invited  to  examine 
my  trees.    Send  lor  Catalogue.  EDWIN  ALLEN. 

Evergreen   and  other  Tree   Seeds. 

Priced  Catalogue  and  new  crop  of  seeds  now  ready, 

THOS.  MEEHAN,  Germautown,  Pa. 

Conn.  Seed  Leaf  Tobacco  Seed. 

Grown  by  contract  by  one  of  the  most  successful  growers 
in  the  valley  of  the  Connecticut.  Packets  containing  one 
ounce  will  be  mailed,  post-paid,  to  any  address— upon  re- 
ceipt of  50  cts.  in  postage  currency  or  new  stamps.  Prices 
for  larger  quantities  will  begiven  upon  application. 

B,  K.  BLISS,  Springfield.  Mass. 

ILLUSTRATED  CATALOGUE  of  rare  and  bcau- 
tii'ul  Flower  Seeds,  Roots,  Cuttings,  &c,  by  mail.    Sent 
free  to  all  applicants.    Address 

H.  B.  LUM,  Sandusky,  Ohio. 

PRINCE  ALBERT'S  WINDSOR  PIGS, 

(IMPROVED  SUFFOLKS'),  four  months  old.  at  fifteen  dol- 
lars each,  or  twenty-Are  dollars  per  pair,  boxed  for  shipping, 
and  delivered  in  New-York.  They  are  from  animals  bred  on 
Prince  Albert's  Windsor  farm,  and  selected  forj  and  import- 
ed by  me.    I  believe  them  to  he  the  best  breed  of  pigs  in  the 

world.  The  qUAJ.TTY  OF  THKIR  MEAT  IS  DECIDEDLY  BET- 
TER than  that  of  other  breeds,  and  they  will  make  more 
meat  FROM  a  given  amount  OF  feed  than  any  others.  Of 
late  years  thev  have  figured  largely  as  first  prize  takersat 
the  best  English  shows.    Address  L.  MASON,  Jr.. 

Orange,  New-Jersuy. 


63 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[February, 


FLOWER    SEEDS    FOR    1863. 

MY    NEW    ILLUSTRATED   CATALOGUE   OF 

FLOWER    AND    VEGETABLE    SEEDS 

is  now  ready  to  send  out.  It  contains  descriptions  of  all  the 
FINEST  FLO  WE  US,  both  old  and  new,  with  Engravings 
showiii"  the  character  of  some  of  those  that  are  new  and 
particularly  valuable,  with  a  full  list  of  the 

NOVELTIES    FOR    1863! 

Mv  Seeds  are  Imported  from  the  nest  Florists  and  Seed- 
Growers  of  England,  France,  and  Germany,  and  are  un- 
surpassed. 

CATALOGUES 

Sent  by  mall,  free  of  postage,  to  all  who  apply.  Send  for 
si  oipv'h'i-  yourself,  and  also  send  the  names  mid  address  ot 
the  lovers  of  cuoice  flowers  in  your  neighborhood,  to 
whom  I  will  promptly  forward  the  Catalogue  free. 

Address  JAMES  VICK,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

EARLY  VEGETABLE  SEEDS  FOR  HOT-BEDS. 

The  following  seeds  will  be  mailed,  post-paid,  to  any  ad- 
dress In  the  Union,  upon  receipt  of  the  price  atlixed,  which 
may  be  remitted  in  postage  currency  or  new  stamps. 

Fer  oz.       Per  pkt. 

Cabbage— Early  York 15c.  5c. 

'*  Early  Winningstadt 2oc.  5c. 

Cauliflower— Early  Paris       $1.25  25c. 

Cucumber— Extra  Early  Russian 20c.  5c. 

Egg  Plant—  Improved  Purple 50c.  5c. 

Lettuce— Early  Silesia  and  Tennis  Ball  ...    20c.  5c. 

Radish— Early' Scarlet  and  Olive  Shaped  .    10c.  5c. 

Tomato— Early  Apple  and  Large  Yellow.    20c.  5c. 

"  Lester's  Perfected 10c. 

"         New  Erect  French,  grows  in  the 
form  of  a  tree,  productive  and 

showy 10c. 

Descriptive  Catalogues  of  Vegetable  and  Flower  Seeds 
mailed  to  all  applicants  enclosing  a  ilireccent  stamp. 

B.  K.  BLISS,  Springfield,  Mass. 

Seeds.    Seeds.     Seeds. 

The  subscriber  has  now  on  hand  a  full  assortment  of  cull- 
nary,  VEGETABLE,  GRASS,  and  FLOWER  SEEDS,  em- 
bracing  everything  desirable,  in  both  vegetable  and  flower 
seed  department.  New  descriptive  priced  catalogues  fur- 
nished gratis,  and  all  information  as  to  prices,  for  larger  and 
staled  quantities  promptly  given  on  application. 

Also,  all  the  approved  C.  S.  Garden  Tools  and  Horticultur- 
al Books.  ALFRED  BRIDGE!!  AN, 

No.  876  Broadway,  New-York. 

CHINESE  SUGAR  CANE    (Imported  Seed.) 

The  subscriber  offers  for  sale  a  small  quantity  of  the  Gen- 
uine BobgHUU  Seed,  received  from  Messrs.  Vilmorin  & 
Co.,  of  Paris,  which  may  be  relied  upon  as  perfectly  pure. 
Packages  containing  half  a  pound  will  be  mailed,  post- 
paid, to  any  address  upon  receipt  of  S3  cents  in  postage 
currency  or  clean  stamps.       B.  K.  BLISS,  SpringflelQ,  Mass. 

SHEPPARD  &  SEWARD, 

SEED  GROWERS  AND    IMPORTERS. 

DEALERS    IN 

SEEDS,  PLANTS,  BULBOUS  ROOTS,  IMPLEMENTS,  &c 
211  Pearl  Street,  New-York. 
Catalogues  mailed  to  all  applicants  free. 

Rare  and  Beautiful  Flowers. 

If  you  wish  to  beautify  your  grounds  the  coming  season, 
semi  for  B.  K.  Bliss'  Cklebp.atkd  Seed  Catalogue,  the 
most  complete  work  of  the  kind  ever  published  in  this  coun- 
try It  gives  you  a  list  of  every  variety  worthy  of  cultiva- 
tion, wilh  full' directions  for  culture.  It  will  be  sent  to  any 
address  in  the  loyal  States,  upon  receipt  of  a  three-cent 
stamp.  B.  E.  BLISS,  Springfield,  Mass. 

LAME'S    PURCHASING   AGENCY, 
151  Nassau-street. 

FLOWER  ANP  VEGETABLE  SEEDS  for  1863. 

CLOVER  AND  GRASS  SEED. 

EVERGREEN  TREES  AND  SHRUBS. 

FRUIT  TREES  AND   GRAPE  VINES. 

WOODRUFF'iTliAROMETER, 
Prices  $8,  and  $12.    Agents  wanted. 

UNIVERSAL  CLOTHES  WRINGER, 

Prices  $7,  and  $10. 

NONPARIEL  WASHING  MACHINE, 

Prices,  No.  1,  S12;  No.  2,  SIC;  No.  S,  $20. 

Send  for  Circular.     See  Premium  No.  3,  Agriculturist. 

THE  AQUARIUS,  A  Hand  Force  Pump,  $8. 
Sec  No.  7  Premium  List  American  Agriculturist. 

HARVEY  B.  LANE,  ' 
No.  151  Nassau-st„  New- York  City. 

BUTTER, 

CHEES  E, 
POULTRY,    EGGS, 

AND    FARM     PRODUCE 

OF  ALL  KINDS 

SOLD    ON    COMMISSION. 

Constantly  on  hand,  for  Bale,  Flour,  Fish,  Salt,  Mackerel, 
Pork,  Hams,  Lard,  Beans,  Dried  Fruit,  Soap,  Starch,  etc. 

ISAAC  EMENS,  22C  Frout-st,  New- York. 

Before  to  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist. 

U.  S.  WHLiams,  President  Market  Bank,  New- York. 


TO    FARMERS, 
TO  DAIRYMEN, 

TO  COUNTRY  MERCHANTS. 


ALL  who  have  for  Sale : 
Sorghuni   Sugar   and   Syrup, 
Furs      and      Skins, 
Fruits,  dry  and  green, 
Butter,  Cheese, 

Lard,  Hams, 

Eggs,  Poultry, 


Game, 


Vegetables, 


Flour,  Grain, 

Seeds,  &c,  &c. 

Can  have  them  well  sold  at  the  highest  prices 
in  New-York,  wilh  full  cash  returns  always 
within  Ten  Days  of  their  reaching  the  City,  by 
forwarding  them  to  the  Commission  House  for 
Country  Produce,  of 

JOSIAH    CARPENTER, 

32  Jay-street,  New-Torli. 

N.  B. — The  advertiser  has  had  abundant 
experience  in  this  business,  and  trusts  that  he 
will  continue  to  merit  patronage  by  the  most 
careful  attention  to  the  interest  of  his  patrons. 
The  articles  are  taken  charge  of  on  their  arri- 
val, and  carefully  disposed  of  promptly  to  good 
cash  customers,  and  cash  returns  made  imme- 
diately to  the  owner.  (The  highest  charge  made 
for  receiving  and  selling  is,  five  per  cent.) 

A  New  York  Weekly  Price  Current  is  issued 
by  J.  Carpenter,  which  is  sent  free  to  all  his  pat- 
rons. A  specimen  copy  sent  free  to  any  de- 
siring it.  A  trial  will  prove  the  above  facts. 
For  abundant  references  as  to  responsibility,  in- 
tegrity, &c,  see  the  "  Price  Current." 

KW  Cash  advanced  on  consignments  of 
Produce. 

SEND     FOR 

A    FREE    COPY 

O  F 

PEICES  CURBENT, 

AND  ALL  OTHER  PARTICULARS, 

TO 
JOSIAH    CARPENTER, 
32  Jay-st.,  New-York. 


NEW-YORK 

Agricultural  Warehouse, 

AND  SEED  STORE, 

189  and   191  WATER-STREET. 

HOP.SE  POWERS.  THRESHERS,  and  WINNOWERS. 

CLOVER  HULLEKS,  CORN  SMELLERS,  GRAIN  DRILLS, 
and  FANNING  MILLS. 

STRAW  and  HAY  CUTTERS-Em-eka,  Daniel's,  Tele- 
graph, and  other  Corn  Stalk  Cutters. 

HAY  PRESSES— Ingersoll's,  Dcderlck's,  and  other  patents. 

SAUSAGE  CUTTERS  and  STUFFERS. 

LARD  PRESSES,  VEGETABLE  CUTTERS,  of  several 
patterns,  among  which  are  the  English  Cutter  used  by  Mes- 
srs. Thorne,  Falle,  Conger,  and  other  noted  stock  breeders. 

PATENT  CYLINDER  PLOWS,  the  lightest  of  draft  of  any 
in  use. 

The  largest  assortment  of  Agricultural  and  Horticultural 
Implements,  Seeds,  and  Fertilizers.     R.  H.  ALLEN  &  CO. 

OUR    "EXCELSIOR 

BURR   STONE  MILLS," 


ANTI-FRICTION 

HORSE    POWERS, 

Have  taken  the  bioiiest  Premiums  wherever  exhibit- 
ed! NINE  FIUST  PREMIUMS  being  received  from  West- 
ern State  Fairs  last  year. 

THE  MILL  may  be  driven  by  horse,  water,  or  steam 
power,  does  its  wort  equally  as  well  as  the  best  flat  stone  mills 
in  milling  establishments,  and  requires  but  one-half  the  power 
to  do  the  same  amount  of  work.  They  are  made  in  the  best 
manner,  and  will  last  thirty  years,  and  cost  nothing  for  re- 
pairs. 

THE  HORSE-POWER  runs  upon  iron  balls,  and 
requires  but  two  and  a  half  pottndb  draught  to  keep  it 
in  motion.  "With  the  same  number  of  horses  it  will  do 
TWENTY-FIVE  PER  CENT,  more  work  than  ant  otiirr 
power  in  use. 

Bj?~Every  Machine  is  guaranteed   to  give  satisfac- 
tion, OR  THE  MONET  WILL  BE  REFUNDED..^) 

Liberal  discount  to  dealers— Agents  wanted.   State,  Coua- 
ty,  and  Shop  Rights  for  sale. 
For  Circulars  and  further  information  address 

BENNET  BROTHERS,  Patentees, 

42  and  41  Greene-st.,  New-York. 

MILL  STONE  DRESSING  DIAMONDS, 

Set  in  Patent  Protector  and  Guide. 

For  sale  by  JOHN  DICKINSON, 

Patentee  and  Sole  Manufacturer,  64  Nassau-st.,  New- York. 
ALSO  Manufacturer  of  GLAZIER'S  DIAMONDS. 

Allen's  New  Patent  Corn  Shelfer. 

The  attention  of  Farmers  and  the  Country  Trade  is  Invited 
to  the  above  new  Shcller,  which  works  equally  as  fast  and  as 
well  as  those  of  the  old  style,  and  can  be  afforded  at  a  con- 
siderable reduction  in  price. 

Retail   Price  S5.50. 
R.  H.  ALLEN  &  CO., 

189  and  191  Waterst.  New- York. 

f-IORN  SHELLERS,  HAY,  STRAW,  &  STALK 
\J  CUTTERS.  VEGETABLE  CUTT£RS,etc. 

AVarranted  to  be  the  best  in  the  market.  Sold  at  wholesale 
and  retail,  by  GRIPPING,  BROTHER  &  CO., 

No.  60  Courtlandt-st.,  New- York. 

THE  DOUBLE  ACTION  ROOT  CUTTER.— An 
implement  long  used  in  England  by  the  best  stock 
breeders,  and  improved  by  us.  R.  H.  ALLEN  &  CO., 

'1S9  and  191  Water-st.,  New-Y'ork. 

EYSTONE    CORN    STALK    CUTTER    AND 

GRINDER.    Sold  by 

G1':IFFIXG.  BROTHER  &  CO., 
No.  60  Courtlandt-st.,  New-Y'ork. 


K 


ICE   TOOLS. 


Ice  Plows,  Saws,  Tongs,  Hooks,  Chisels.  Grooving  Bars, 
Snow  Plows,  &c,  &c.  It.  H.  ALLEN  &  CO.. 

189  and  191  Water-st,  New- York. 


Saw  Machine, 


For  sawing  wood  and  sliding  boards.  Everv  farmer  should 
have  one.    Sold  by        GRIFFING,  BROTHER  &  CO., 

No.  60  Courtlandt-st.,  New-York. 

RUSSIA  OR  BASS  MATS,  SELECTED  EX- 
pressly  for  budding  and  tying,  GUNNY'  BAGS, 
TWINES,  HAY  ROPES,  ic.,  suitable  for  Nureerv  purposes, 
for  sale  in  lols  to  suit,  by  I).  W.  MAX  WARING, 

Importer,  243  Front  st„  New-Y'ork. 

FARM  AND  GARDEN  IMPLEMENTS 

OF  EVERY  VARIETY. 

Seeds.— GARDEN,  FLOWER  and  FIELD  SEEDS,  fresh, 
pure,  and  reliable. 
Fertilizers.-BOXE  DUST,  GUANO,  POUDRETTE. 
Planls-TREES,  ROOTS,  &c„  for  6ale  at  low  prices. 

JOHN  VANDERBILT,  33  Fulton-st.,  New- York. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


63 


Wheeler  &  Wilson's 

SEWING   MACHINES 

HIGHEST      PREMIUM. 

International  Exhibition  London,  1S62.    See  the  recent  Im- 
provements.   Office  505  Broadway,  New-YorK. 

$150,  BEST  PIANOS,  $150, 

J.  P.  HALE  &  CO.  having   removed  to  their  new  ware- 
rooms 

No.  478  BROADWAY, 

nrc  now  prepared  to  offer  the  public  a  magnificent  NEW 


SCALE,  lull 


■7    OCTAVE 


ROSEWOOD   PIANO, 

containing  all  improvements  known  in  this  country  or  Eu- 
rope. Over  Strang  Bass,  French  Grand  Action,  Harp  pedal, 
Full  Iron  Frame,  for 

$150    CASH. 

Warranted  for  Five  Years. 

Klch  moulding  cases 

$175  TO  $200 

All  warranted  made  of  the  best  seasoned  material,  and  to 
stand  better  than  any  sold  for  $400  or  $500,  by  the  old  meth- 
ods of  manufacture.  We  invite  the  best  judges  to  examine 
and  try  these  new  Instruments,  and  we  stand  ready  at  all 
times  to  test  them  with  any  others  manufactured  in  this 
country.  J.  P.  HALE  &  CO.,  478  Broadway,  New-York. 


THE  CRAIG  MICROSCOPE. 

This  is  the  best  and  cheapest  microscope 
In  the  world  for  general  use.  It  has  Just 
received  the  First  Premium— Silver  Medal 
—at  the  Ohio  State  Agricultural  Fair.  It 
requires  no  focal  adjustment,  magnifies 
about  100  diameters,  or  10,000  times,  and  is 
so  6iinple  that  a  child  can  use  it.  It  will 
be  sent  by  mail,  postage  paid,  on  the  re- 
tof  Tftw.  a,  ceipt  of  $2.35,  or  with  six  beautiful  mount- 
pfcmgm  -  n',  cd  objects  for  Three  Dollars.  Address 
'■  ,     Instm.  HENRY  CRAIG, 

inches  high.  182  Centre-st.,  New- York. 


Bectih 

Lens;  B. 
C,  Din 
Reflect* 

1 1  :ri;i ;  6 


The  NONPAREIL  WASHING  MACHINE 

Has  been  In  operation  since  April,  1861,  and  the  severe  and 
varied  tests,  to  which  It  has  been  subjected,  in  country  and 
City  famines  and  laundries,  demonstrate  that  two-thirds  the 
labor  mid  time,  and  half  the  soap  required  in  handwashing, 
aresaved  by  its  use,  and  no  injury  can  possibly  result  to 
the  most  delicate  fabric  from  its  action.  It  is  a  squeezing 
machine,  and  it  washes  with  equal  effectiveness  a  cambric 
handkerchief,  or  a  bed  quilt. 

The  machine  is  carefully  made  of  the  best  materials,  and 
its  Bti-ength  and  durability  will  be  found  in  keeping  with  its 
extreme  simplicity.  There  is  nothing  in  its  construction 
liable  to  get  out  of  order ;  and  no  training  is  required  to  en- 
able the  least  skillful  person  to  work  it  satisfactorily.  A  girl 
twelve  years  old  can  operate  it. 

Three  sizes  of  family  machines  arc  made,  their  capacity 
being  about  the  bulk  of  five,  eight,  and  twelve  shirts  re^ 
ftpBCtiveSy,    Prices:  No.  1,  $12;  No.  2,  $16;  No.  3,  $20. 

Machines  to  go  by  Power  are  manufactured  for  the  use  of 
Hotels  and  Laundries. 

Circulars,  giving  full  descriptions,  will  be  forwarded  by 
OAKLEY  &  KEATING.  73  South-st.,  New- York. 

%3T  Sec  Agriculturist  Premium  No.  3. 


Acknowledged   to   be  Superior  to 
all   Others. 

495  BROADWAY,  NEW-YORK. 
"Grovcr  &  Baker's  is  the  beat."—  Am.  Agriculturist. 

TEETH 

UPOrV    ALLEN'S     SYSTEM 

CAN  BE  OBTAINED  AT 

22  Bond-st.,  New- York. 

Rv  this  method  the  TEETH,  GUMS,  ROOF,  and  RUG.E 
of  the  MOUTH  are  all  truthfully  represented,  reflecting  those 
delicate  tints,  shades,  and  forms  peculiar  to  the  natural  or- 
gans, thus  concealing  from  the  observer  the  human  agency 
in  forming  them.  This  we  do  positively  accomplish,  as 
evinced  by  our  numerous  patrons.  The  natural  expression 
of  the  mouth,  and  original  contour  of  the  face  can  also  be 
restored,  which  rejuvenates  the  waning  cheek. 

A  descriptive  pamphlet  maybe  obtained  by  addressing 
DRS.  J.  ALLEN  &  SON,  as  above. 


These  convenient  Portfolio  Paper  Files  are  for  sale  at  the 
office  of  the  American  Agriculturist.  They  are  of  various 
sizes,  from  the  large  folio  to  small  octavo. 

Those  made  expressly  for  the  Agriculturist  are  worth  G0c, 
75c,  and  $1,  according  to  quality,  to  which  23  cents  must  be 
added  if  to  be  sent  by  mail. 

ALDERNEY  BULL  AND  HEIFER  FOR  SALE, 
two  years  old  the  coming  March,  both  of  the  best   im- 
gorted  stock,  at  a  very  moderate  price.— Apply  to  JOHN  T. 
AMPBELL,  Jamesburg,  Middlesex  Co.,  N.  J. 


B  A  TJ  G  H'S 

RAW    BONE 

SUPERPHOSPHATE  OF  LIME. 
ISAUGII  &   SONS, 

MANUFACTURERS  AND  PROPRIETORS, 

No.  20  Soutli  Delaware  Avenue, 
PHILADELPHIA. 

This  Manure  is  manufactured  from  pure  Raw  Bones,  and 
warranted  to  contain  all  their  original  organic  matter — no 
burned  or  calcined  bones  a  re  used,  and  it  is  Bold  under  a  guar- 
anty from  the  manufacturers  that  it  is  free  from  adulteration. 

U3?~LaRt  season  the  demand  for  this  manure  exceeded  that 
of  any  former  one.  and  with  few  exceptions  the  results  have 
been  highly  Favorable.  No  paina  will  be  spared  to  maintain 
Its  standard  of  popularity.  [Sr"sEND  rx  your  orders  early. 

Price,   $45  per    3,<MH>  ll>s.,   Cask. 

TO  FARMERS 

AND     OTHERS. 

We  are  manufacturing  ft  Genuine  Article  of  Fixr,  Medi- 
um, and  Coarse  BONE  DUST,  or  RAW  IJOXK  SU- 
PERPHOSPHATE OP  LIME,  manufactured  from 
unburned  Bones,  containing  all  the  Animal  and  Chemical 
Fertilizing  Properties.  Please  address  the  Manufacturers, 
and  get  the  Intrinsic  Value  of  your  money. 
N.  B.  A  Liberal  Discount  made  to  Dealers  for  Cash, 
Address  A.  LISTER  &  BRO., 

Tarrytown,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Or  Newark,  N.  J. 


100,000    BARRELS 

OF    THE 

L0DI   MANUFACTURING  COMPANY'S 

P0UDRETTE, 

FOR   SALE    BY 

JAMES  T.  FOSTER, 

66  COURTLANDT-ST., 
NEW-YORK. 


In  lots  to  suit  purchasers.  This  Company  have  the  largest 
capital  and  factory  of  the  kind  in  the  world,  and  possess  the 
beBt  facilities  for  manufacturing  the  night  soil  of  New- York 
City,  for  which  they  have  the  exclusive  contract,  into  a  dry, 
inodorous,  but  powerful  manure— superior  to  any  other  fer- 
tilizer in  market,  taking  cost  and  yield  into  consideration. 
Price  $1.60  per  barrel,  free  from  cartage,  for  any  luantity 
over  7  barrels — or  only  $16  per  ton. 

E^~  Beware  of  spurious  imitations,  put  up  in  barrels  to  rc- 
resemble  this  Company's  brand. 

Attention  is  called  to  the  following  letter  from  a  farmer: 

FARMrKGTON",  N,  H„  OCTOBER  9, 1S62. 
James  R.  Dey,  Esq.,  President  Lodi  Manufacturing  Co. 

For  several  years  past  I  have  used  as  a  fertilizer,  the  Lodi 
Manufacturing  Co.'s  Poudrette.  I  commenced  in  iRr/j.  I 
then  had  a  tenant  carrying  on  my  farm  upon  shares.  Be 
agreed  to  use  such  artificial  means  as  I  should  furnish  free 
of  expense  to  him,  but  he  had  but  little  faith  in  anything  but 
barn yard  manure.  I  purchased  some  Poudrette.  He  took 
it  from  the  freight-house ;  opened  it;  came  to  me  with  eyes 
wide  open,  and  said,  "you  have  got  cheated,  this  stuff 
is  nothing  but  dirt."  I  told  him,  "I  supposed  I  had:  it 
was  nothing  new;  I  was  in  the  habit  of  getting  cheated,  but 
as  it  cost  him  nothing,  I  wanted  him  to  use  it." 

We  had  a  piece  of  poor,  sandy  loam  land,  which  he  plant- 
ed with  potatoes,  without  manure.  He  put  Poudrette  In  the 
hills  eight  rows,  then  omitted  eight  rows,  and  then  put  lime 
in  the  hill,  as  he  had  a  mind  to  try  that. 

The  result  was,  that  where  the  Poudrette  was  put,  the  po- 
tatoes came  up  three  or  four  days  before  the  others.  The 
tops  were  twice  the  size  during  the  season,  and  at  harvest- 
ing  wemeasured  two  lots  of  each, one  of  which  the  Poudrette 
gave  twice  the  quantity  of  potatoes,  and  the  other  in  the 
proportion  of  five  to  three. 

The  lime  had  no  perceptible  effect. 

We  had  a  piece  of  corn  land,  sandy  loam,  (my  tillage  land 
is  sandy  and  gravelly  loam,)  the  corn  had  a  liberal  dressing, 
say  ten  cords  of  barn  dung  to  the  acre,  spread  upon  grass 
land,  a  part  ploughed  in  the  fall  before,  the  balance  in  the 
spring.  The  tenant  prepared  a  compost  to  put  in  the  hill,  a 
mixture  of  night  soil,  hog  manure  and  loam  well  mixed,  se- 
veral times  shovelled  over,  and  well  incorporated  together. 
This  was  put  in  the  hill.  In  eight  rows  through  the  middle 
of  the  piece,  this  was  omitted  and  Poudrette  was  substituted 
instead.  The  result  was,  the  Poudrette  brought  the  corn  up 
sooner,  of  a  better  color,  and  at  the  cud  of  two  weeks  alter 
it  came  up,  nearly  twice  as  large,  and  it  maintained  it  a 
head  and  shoulder  above  the  other  during  the  season.  At 
harvesting,  we  measured  the  corn,  and  where  we  got  five 
bushels  with  the  compost,  we  had  six  bushels  with  the 
Poudrette. 

This  satisfied  me,  and  convinced  my  unbelieving  tenant 
that  it  was  something  besides  dirt.  I  have  used  it  with 
whatever  I  plant  ever  since,  and  shall  continue  to  do  so,  as 
long  as  it  maintaius  its  character,  and  is  furnished  at  reason- 
able prices.  We  sometimes  think  we  save  an  entire  crop  o( 
corn  by  the  use  of  Poudrette,  in  case  of  early  frost,  as  U 
brings  the  crop  to  maturity  at  least  a  week  earlier. 

There  has  been  an  increasing  demand  here  since  it  has 
been  introduced,  and  from  my  own  observation,  and  the  in- 
formation of  others,  I  think  it  does  as  well  on  upland  soils, 
as  upon  sandy  loam.  I  have  not  been  so  particular  since  my 
first  experiment,  but  every  year  1  left  a  few  rows  so  as  to  be 
Biire  that  it  maintains  its  character.  The  present  year  there 
is  a  verv  marked  difi'erence  in  the  appearance  of  a  few  rowe 
loft  without  the  Poudrette,  in  a  piece  of  corn  not  yet  har- 
vested. The  appearance  of  your  Poudrette  to  one  not  ac- 
customed to  it,  is  not  very  flattering.  I  will  relate  an  anec- 
dote on  this  point.  In  18(j0  I  prevailed  upon  a  neighbor  to 
try  a  couple  of  barrels,  for  which,  I  think,  he  paid  me  $4.20. 
He  informed  me  afterwards,  that  he  took  it  into  his  field  all 
alone,  and  opened  it;  said  he,  I  said  to  myself,  if  some  one 
will  come  along  and  give  me  a  dollar,  he  shall  have  both 
barrels.  No  one  coming  along,  he  tried  it,  and  has  used  it 
every  season  since,  and  thinks  very  highly  of  its  fertilizing 
qualities.  Some  of  my  neighbors  have  said  to  me,  that  they 
thought  it  had  been  worth  to  them  $r.  per  barrel.  I  have  used 
other  fertilizers,  such  as  Guano,  Superphosphate,  &  a,  most 
of  which  are  beneficial,  but  none  come  fairly  up  to  the  Pou- 
drette. One  particular  advantage  Poudrette  has  over  other 
fertilizers  is,  that  the  smell  is  not  offensive,  and  it  will  not 
kill  the  seed. 

And  again,  it  is  not  so  expensive.  My  method  is,  to  put 
it  in  the  hill  with  tiie  seed.  A  quart  by  measure  is 
ample  for  ten  hills,  at  which  rate  a  barrel  will  manure  a  thou- 
sand hills.  I  have  known  it  to  do  well  when  a  less  quantity 
was  used.  I  think  nothing  else  should  he  put  with  it.  It  is 
a  light  matter  to  put  it  in  the  hill  with  the  hand,  as  a  person 
can  drop  it  faster  than  a  boy  can  drop  corn.  And  it  does 
not  require  the  large  hole  necessary  to  put  in  dung  or  com- 
post, and  is  a  protection  against  the  wire  worm. 
Respectfully  yours, 

GEO.  L.  WHITEHOUSE. 

The  Company's  pamphlet,  containing  directions  for  use 
and  other  valuable  information,  will  be  sent  free  to  any  one 
applying  for  the  same.  Address 

J.  T.  FOSTER, 
Care  of  the  Lodi  Manufacturing  Co. 


64 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


Contents  for  February  1863. 


Adulterations  in  Spices 54 

Agricultural  Depai  unt-nt..  4u 

Apples — Northern  Spy  *>0 

Burns— Grieap  and  Convenient Illustrated.  .45 

Beans  rfnU  Teas — How  lu  Coolt 55 

Bees — Apiary  in  Feuruary 3$ 

Bonnets— Short  Chapter  on 2  Illustrations .  .53 

Boys  and  Girls'  Coluuius— Editor  wiili  his  Young  Head- 
ers—Looking at  Grandpa's  Watch— A  Harmless  Muii- 
sler— Cat  giving  away  Iier  Kitten— A  loung  Editor— 
Another  i'erlumery  Story— Learn  to  Control  tlie 
Voice— The  Game  uf  initials— The  Roll  of  Honor— 
Remarkable  Bouquet— Musical  Horse—  The  Enraged 
Musician— Amusing  Trial  ut  Skill— Curious  Sentence 

Problems  and  Puzzles ..3  1 1  lustrations.  .50,57 

Breadstufls— Wheal, -etc,  for  1862 40 

brine    Poisonous— A  Caution 40 

Butler— Good  from  Roots 49 

Cheeses — Union  at  Oiiskany,  N.  Y 47 

Conservator j     Cheap  torCay  .Dwellings..  Illustrated    52 
Cooking  llmls—  Good  Breakfast  Cakes— Griddle  Cakes 
—  Coin  anU  Pumpkin  Bread— Saratoga  Rolls— Tails 
—Sausages— Superior   Pudding— Pepper   on    Pork— 

Stuffed  beef  Steak— Suet  Pudding—  Waffles     55 

Corn  Marker— New-Jersey Illustrated.  .41 

Cough  Medicine  for  Children ;;5 

Deu;.  to  be  Avoided. ^0 

Evergreens— To  Get  Leaders  for Illustrated.  .49 

Faun  ana  Household  Work  in  February 33 

Panning  for  Old  Age 49 

Feet— To  Prevent  Slipping  3  Illustrations.  -53 

Feel  Warmers— Good -53 

Fiax  Cotton 44 

Flax  Culture  -  Notes  on 43 

Flower  Garden  and  Lawn. 35 

Flowers— Lilies  lor  City  Gardens 51 

Fruit  Grow  era'  Meetings 51 

Garden— Rotation  in 51 

Gardens— City  52 

Garden— Kitchen  and  Fruit  in  February 36 

Garden  Seeds— Best  Vegetable ■ 36" 

Garden  Walks  for  Exercise <r)l 

Gardens— Walls  for 52 

Gales — Farm Illustrated.  .45 

Grapery  and  Orchard  House 36 

Grape  Vines — Caution  to  Propagators   51 

Green  and  Hot  Houses  in  February 35 

Grouse—-'  The  Covey" Illustrated.  .48 

Hands — To  Prevent  Chapped 53 

Hay-Cutting  Implement Illustrated.  Ait 

Indian's  View  of  Agriculture 41 

Insects— Measure  Worm 49 

Jule— American Illustrated.  .44 

Lantern  Blinks— XXXII..  Visit  to  Richard  Bullion  Esq.56 

Live  Stuck  Trade  in  New- York  in  18u2 58 

Manuring  or  Mulching 43 

Maple  Sugar  Making .2  Illustrations  ..3  J 

Market  Review,  Weather  Notes,  etc 59 

Minnesota  Farm  Notes— Stacking  Com  and  Straw 43 

Mution  Trade  of  New- York 40 

Oils— Illuminating,  or  Coal 53 

Orchard  and  Nursery  in  February 34 

Parks — Hints  on  Management 49 

Pastures— Improvement  of 42 

Pitcher  Plain— California 52 

Plant  Stand— Miniature  Rustic 52 

Pork— How  Much  in  a  Bushel  of  Corn  ? -43 

Potatoes — Brush-harrowing 45 

Potatoes — Interesting  facts  for  "Sprouters" 53 

Poultry— Economy  with  Hens 43 

Premiums  Offered  for  lfe63 60 

Record— Valuable  for  Farmers  and  Others Illust.Al 

Root  Cutter— Double  Action 2  Illustrations.  .41 

Sap  Blight — Prevention  of  . .  51 

Seeds— List  for  Free  Distribution 58 

Seeds— Vitality  of 47 

Sheep — Lustre  Wooled — Lincolnshires 42 

Sheep— Winter  Management 42 

Sorghum  Culture— Western  Conventions 46 

Sorghum  Seed — Inquiries  for 46 

Straw  Mats— How  to  Make Illustrated.  .49 

Suggestions  and  Notes  for  February.  Illustrated.  .33 

Tim  Bunker  on  Extravagance   54 

Tobacco  Culture— $3tl  Premium  Offered  for  Essays.  .39 

Transplanting — Hint  on 52 

Trees  for  Nurses 50 

Trees  in  Windy  Places 50 

Trees— Norway  Maple 50 

Tiees — Peach,  Experience  with 51 

Trees— Seedling  Fruit 50 

Weather— Average  Temperature 44 

Winter— Remarkable— Effects  on  Grain 39 

Wheal— Mulching 41 

Willow— White  for  Hedges 39 

Wood— Block  for  Splitting ,  .45 

INDEX    TO    "BASKET,"    OR  SHORTER    ARTICLES. 

Advertisements--Vineland36  Grapes  Grafting 38 

Ag'l  College  in  Penu'a   .  ..36  J  Grapes  in  Winter 37 

Agriculturist  Editor— NewSfi  Grass —  Quack 37 

Agriculturist  Profitable..  .88  Horses — Over-reaching 


Apple, Chenango  Slrawb'y38 

Beans— Prolific S8 

Book— Herd,  Vol.  VI 37 

Bouquet— Vegetable., 37 

Cabbage— Red 38 

Camelina  Saliva 38 

Cattle  Tramping 38 

C  hickory 37 

Clover— Crimson 38 

Cotton  from  Illinois 37 

Cucumber  etc. — Seed. ...37 

Curculio  Remedy 38 

Dahlias  etc.  from  Seed.. .37 

Daphne  odora 38 

Drills  vs.  Hills.; 3 

Food— Economical 38 


Humbugs 36 

Hyacinths — Arranging.. .  .37 
Insects-Earth  Worms... 37 

Insects— Chinch  Bugs 38 

Insects— Salt  for 38 

Library  Ass'n — Ag'l 38 

Mangers  Dangerous 37 

Manure  for  Lawns 37 

Manure— Green 38 

Manure — Loam  for 37 

Mignonette— Scent  less....  37 
Nemophila  Maculata  ... .38 

Peach  on  Plum  Slock 37 

Pear— Monster  California. 36 

Pears  described 37 

Poultry  Wanted 37 

Fruit  Gronc is'  Meetings. 30  Pumpkin  Seeds 37 

Fruit  Queries 3s|Rabbits  in  Nurseries 38 

Fruit  Slocks 38  Rice— Northern  37 

Gloxinias  and  Petunias... 38, Seeds  for  Name 3d 


Seeds  from  Washington.. 38iTrees— Clay  for 37 

Seeds  received 38|Treeson  Prairies 3S 

Sheep— Disease  in 3s|Trees— Staking         38 

Sorghum  Syrup 37  Trees— Diseased  Pear... 37 

Squash— Hubbard 3S  Truffles— Tuckahoe 38 

Swine— Prolific 37|Wine  from  Grapes  Only.. 37 


A  Thousand  Thanks 

To  our  readers  for  their  substantial  expressions  of  good 
will.  Subscribers  have  come  in  during  the  past  month 
in  far  greater  numbers  than  ever  before.  Owing  to  the 
greatly  increased  cost  of  printing  paper,  we  expected  to 
lose  some  thousands  of  dollars  this  year,  but  it  now  be- 
gins to  look  as  if  our  readers  would  not  allow  that.  One 
name  more  from  each  present  subscriber  would  put  every- 
thing all  right— and  more.  Can  we  have  that  name  this 
month?  Will  the  reader  contribute  one  name  ?  There 
is  doubtless  some  neighbor  or  friend  who  will  be  benefit- 
ed by  perusing  the  Agriculturist  for  a  year.    It  costs 

Less  Than  Two  Cents  a  Week. 

The  Engravings  are  worth  over  Two  Cents  a  Week. 

The  Hints  on  the  Work  of  the  Month  shall  be  worth 
more  than  Two  Cents  a  Week 

The  thousand  or  more  items  given  in  The  Basket  shall 
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The  chapters  on  Farming,  Animals,  Implements, 
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Please  tell  all  your  friends  everywhere,  and  ask  them 
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lisher will  be  pleased,  the  editors  will  be  pleased— we'll 
all  be  pleased.    Let  us  have  the  good  time  this  month. 

Good  Premiums  Still  Offered. 

We  continue  the  offer  of  premiums  another  month. 
[See  remarks  in  italics  at  head  of  list  on  page  60.]  We 
are  now  sending  out  many  hundreds  of  these  good  arti- 
cles. A  little  effort  will  secure,  without  cost,  valuable 
books,  household  implements,  etc.  Lists  partly  filled 
can  be  completed,  and  new  premium  clubs  can  still  be 
commenced.     Who  will  have  a  premium  this  month? 

JE3~  Books  have  advanced  (see  list  page  61)  and  will 
advance  more  if  Congress  does  not  take  off  the  duty  on 
paper.  Now  is  the  time  to  secure  them  as  premiums,  or 
otherwise. 


Don't  Send  Money  by  Express. 

Numerous  letters  containing  small  sums,  are  continu- 
ally being  sent  by  express,  on  which  the  expense  is  ten  to 
twenty  per  cent,  of  the  whole  amount  enclosed.  It  don't 
pay  in  these  high  priced  paper  times,  to  send  ten  copies 
for  $8.  and  then  to  pay  from  50  cents  to  $1.50  in  express 
charges.  Small  sums  come  very  safely  by  mail,  if 
the  letters  are  properly  sealed  and  directed.  Larger 
sums  are  sent  cheaply  in  the  form  of  a  draft  on  a  City 
Bank,  payable  to  the  order  of  the  publisher— not  in  indi- 
vidual checks  on  distant  Banks,  which  must  be  sent  for 
collection  at  considerable  outlay  of  lime  and  expense. 


About  the  Seed  Distribution. 

On  page  58  we  republish  the  list  of  seeds,  with  some 
emendations,  and  a  special  note  to  Canada  Subscribers. 
We  regret  that  the  Canada  postage  laws,  or  rather  the 
method  of  construing  them  at  some  of  Ihe  Offices,  is  not 
more  liberal.  Of  those  sent  last  year  with  the  U.  S. 
postage  prepaid  here,  most  went  through  all  right ;  but  in 
other  cases  an  additional  20  cents  an  ounce  was  added  at 
some  offices  on  the  way  or  exacted  when  delivered.  To 
thousands  of  our  Canada  subscribers  some  of  these  seeds 
would  be  of  special  value,  but  U0  cents  an  ounce  is   loo 

great  a  tax. No  seeds  will  be  ready  for  delivery  at  Ihe 

office  or  by  express  until  March.  They  are  all  put  up  at 
our  country  place,  and  those  sent  by  mail,  are  mailed 
there.  Byourmethodofputtingup.it  sometimes  hap- 
pens that  of  two  envelopes  sent  to  the  same  person,  one 
may  be  mailed  several  days  before  the  other,  if  they  con- 
tain different  kinds  of  seeds. 


Shiliplastei'5  at   aI)iseo:icH. 

The  United  States  '"Postage  Currency"  is  the  only 
kind  of  small  bills  that  can  be  used  in  this  city.  Small 
notes  issued  by  other  cities,  by  corporations,  and  by  in- 
dividuals, can  only  be  sold  at  a  large  discount,  varying 
from  llllo  30  per  cent,  according  to  their  distance  from 
home,  and  the  known  character  of  the  corporations 
issuing  them. 

. -~-* iiHii »-*- ■ 

American  Agriculturist  in  German. 

The  AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST  is  published  in 
both  the  English  and  German  Languages.  Both  Editions 
are  of  the  same  size,  and  contain,  as  nearly  as  possible, 
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clubs.    A  club  may   be  part  English,  and  part   German. 


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Bound  Volumes  and  Back  Numbers  can 
be  Supplied. 

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unbound,  and  bound  In  neat  covers  with  gilt  lettered  backs. 

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Jmeriran   ^grintlturist. 

For  tbe  Farm,  Garden,  and  Household. 

A  thorough-going,  RELIABLE,  and  PRACTICAL 
Journal,  devoted  to  the  different  departments  of  SOIL 
CULTURE— such  as  growing  field  CROPS  ;  orchard 
and  garden  FRUITS;  garden  VEGETABLES  and 
FLOWERS ;  trees,  plants,  and  flowers  for  the 
LAWN  or  YARD;  care  of  DOMESTIC  ANIMALS, 
Ac,  Ac,  and  to  HOUSEHOLD  LABORS.  It  has  also 
an  interesting  and  instructive  department  for  CHILDREN 
and   YOUTH,   alone   worth   the   cost  of    the   paper. 

A  full  CALENDAR   OF   OPERATIONS  every  month. 

THREE  to  FOUR  HUNDRED,  or  more,  illustrative 
ENGRAVINGS  appear  in  each  volume. 

Over  TWELVE  HUNDRED  plain,  practical,  In- 
structive  articles  and  useful  items,  are  given  every  year. 

The    Editors    are    all  practical  WORKING  MEN. 

The  teachings  of  the  Agriculturist  are  confined  to  no 
State  or  Territory,  but  are  adapted  to  the  wants  of  all  sec- 
tions  of  the  country — it  is,  as  its  name  indicates,  for  the 
whole  American  Continent. 

TERMS INVARIABLY    IN    ADVANCE, 

(For  either  the  English  or  German  Edition.) 

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Six  copies,  one  year , 5  00 

Ten  or  more  copies  one  year SO  cenls  each, 

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year,  if  paid  in  advance  at  the  office  where  received. 

AH  business  and  other  communications  should  be  ad- 
dressed to  the  Editor  and  Proprietor, 

ORANGE  JUDD,  41  Park-Row,  NewYork  Cilv, 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST, 

FOR  THE 

Farm,    GrarcLen,    a,ncL   Household. 

"ACItlCULTURE  IS  THE  MOST  HEALTHFUL,  MOST  USEFUL,  A>*]>  MOST  NOBLE  EMPLOYMENT  OF  MAN."- W,,«,v«t«>. 


©RAHTCSE     JITDD,     A.M., 

EDITOR    AND    PROPRIETOR. 
OBre,    *1   Park  Row,    (Times  Buildings.) 


ESTABLISHED  IN  1842. 

Published  both  in  English  and  German. 


$1.00    PER  ANNUM,    IN  ADVANCE 

SINGLE  NUMBER,  10  CENTS. 
For  Contents,  Terms,  etc.,  see  page  96. 


VOLUME  XXII— No.  3. 


NEW- YORK,    MARCH,    1803. 


NEW  SERIES— No.  194 


Entered  according  to  net  ot"  Congress  in  the  year  1803,  by 
OKANOH  JUDD,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of 
tile  United  States  fur  the  Southern  District  of  New-York. 
£3f  Other  Journals  are  invited  to  copy  desirable  articles 
freely,  (/'each  article  be  credited  to  American  AyriciillurixL. 


Suggestions   and   Notes  for   the   Month. 

The  Calendar  tells  us  that  it  is  Spring;  anil 
though  tlic  weather  may  be  less  mild  than  dur- 
ing nearly  all  of  last  January,  yet  the  lengthen- 
ing days,  here  and  there  the  swelling  buds  of 
the  early  trees,  and  the  appearance  of  the  Liver- 
leaf  in  places  wJiere  the  snow  has  gone,  remind 
the  farmer  that  his  time  of  comparative  leisure 
is  nearly  over,  and  he  begins  to  be  impatient  to 
commence  his  season's  work.  This  month  of 
transition  from  Winter,  one  which  witnesses  the 
contest  of  the  seasons  for  the  mastery,  is  the  oc- 
casion of  many  a  skirmish  between  the  rear 
guard  of  the  retreating  forces  of  the  frost  king, 
and  the  videttes  of  Spring.  Sometimes  the  ad- 
vance is  so  slow,  delayed  by  late  snows  and 
lingering  cold,  that  the  active  farmer  chafes  at 
the  tardy  progress,  and  is  half  inclined  to  fear 
that  seed  time  may  not  come  according  to  the 
promise.  An  unusually  mild  Winter  through- 
out thecouutry  has  saved  a  great  amount  of  fod- 
der, yet  the  daily  decreasing  store  is  now  looked 
at  with  solicitude,  for  it  will  yet  be  a  long  time 
before  the  pastures  yield  food  for  the  beasts,  and 
during  many  weeks  to  come  the  provisions  al- 
ready secured,  must  be  the  sole  dependence. 
The  crude  old  couplet  "On  February,  four- 
teenth day;  Half  your  corn  and  half  your  ha}'," 
is  not  far  from  a  true  statement. 

Notwithstanding  the  teachings  of  the  journals 
and  the  example  of  thrifty  farmers,  the  agricul- 
ture of  our  country  is  characterized  by  a  great 
deal  of  careless  waste.  Many  farmers  have  not 
learned  that  saving  is  as  important  as  producing. 
In  almost  every  neighborhood  we  find  exam- 
ples of  wasteful  feeding,  where  the  cattle  tram- 
ple under  foot  nearly  as  much  as  they  eat.  There 
are  whole  districts  where  almost  every  other 
man  uses  the  public  highway  for  a  barn-yard. — 
If  the  contents  of  the  hay  mow  and  corn  crib 
have  so  far  diminished  as  to  suggest  a  lack  of 


feed  to  take  the  animals  safely  through,  the 
manner  of  feeding  should  be  looked  into,  to  see 
if  it  be  done  in  the  most  saving  way.  In  good 
feeding  there  should  be  just  as  much  put  before 
the  animal  as  it  will  eat  up,  and  no  more.  A 
correspondent  writes  us  that  "  it  is  o  sin  to  throw 
fodder  to  the  cattle  in  the  barn-yard  so  that  they 
can  tramp  on  it,  when  feeding  boxes  like  those 
described  on  page  12  of  the  Agriculturist  for  1862 
can  be  so  cheaply  made.  It  is  a  pleasure  to 
see  cattle  eat  out  of  them,  and  nothing  is  wasted." 

Bui  with  all  our  individual  faults,  agriculture, 
as  a  whole,  has  made  great  progress,  in  the  man- 
ner of  cultivating  the  main  crops  and  economy 
in  using  them,  and  also  in  the  introduction  of  a 
diversity  of  products.  The  war  has  brought 
changes  even  in  the  domestic  economy  of  the 
smallest  farms,  and  individuals  as  well  as  the 
nation  are  impelled  to  develop  their  resources. 
Besides  the  staples  of  wheat,  corn,  etc.,  sorghum, 
flax,  cotton,  and  tobacco  are  either  being  suc- 
cessfully cultivated  as  regular  crops,  or  are  the 
subjects  of  important  experiments.  Before  the 
Work  of  the  season  fairly  begins,  there  is  still 
time  to  consider  whether  any  change  shall  be 
made  in  the  usual  routine  of  crops.  The  read- 
ers of  the  Agriculturist  will  bear  us  witness  that 
we  have  never  advised  them  to  go  blindly  into 
any  new  project.  We  hold  that  there  is  a  wise 
medium  between  that  old  fogyism  which  rejects 
everything  and  that  rashness  which  adopts 
everything,  and  both  for  the  same  reason — be- 
cause it  is  new.  In  a  country  so  extended  as 
ours,  and  with  such  a  diversity  of  soil  and  cli- 
mate, the  experience  of  one  locality  will  not 
answer  as  an  infallible  guide  for  the  whole; 
hence  we  are  cautious  in  recommending  the  gen- 
eral adoption  of  new  things  until  they  have 
been  tried  in  widely  different  situations. 

With  regard  to  sorghum,  we  consider  that  it 
has  ceased  to  be  an  experiment.  The  syrup 
crop  of  last  }rear,  enormous  as  it  was,  will  prob- 
ably be  increased  during  the  present  year  by 
millions  of  gallons.  The  question,  in  a  large 
portion  of  the  country,  is  hot,  will  it  succeed, 
but  will  it  pay  on  the  small  scale  ?  With  proper 
implements,  good  and  cheap  syrup  can  be  made, 
but  the  farmer  does  not  feel  warranted  in  pro- 
curing these  to  merely  make  the"swTeetening  for 
his  own  family.  There  is  need  of  concert  of 
action  in  the  neighborhood.  The  farmer  would 
plant  the  cane  if  he  could  get  it  manufactured  at 
a  fair  rate,  and  the  one  having  the  capital,  would 
willingly  invest  it  in  a  profitable  apparatus,  if 
he  were  sure  that  there  would  be  a  demand  for  it. 
Now  is  the  time  to  canvass  this  matter,  and 
see  if  any  arrangement  can  be  made  to  enable 
more  farmers  to  grow  their  own  sweetening. 

The  scarcity  of  cotton  has  given  a  new  inter- 
est to  flax  culture.  The  manufacture  of  flax- 
cotton  or  wool,  from  which  so  much  was  hoped, 
is  yet  an  experiment,  but  one  which  is  by  no 
means  abandoned.    Manufacturers  9ay  that  they 


can  work  up  flax  if  they  can  get  the  raw  mate- 
rial, and  ask  us  to  advise  farmers  to  plant  it. 
The  farmer  is  ready  to  grow  flax  if  he  can  find 
a  demand  for  his  crop,  but  can  not  afford  to  en- 
gage in  it  at  a  venture.  While  we  cannot,  with- 
out more  light  on  the  subject  than  we'  now 
have,  advise  the  general  culture  for  the  fiber, 
we  nevertheless  counsel  farmers  to  be  awake  to 
the  subject,  and  see  what  facilities  their  particu- 
lar region  offers  for  disposing  of  flax  products. 

In  some  parts  of  the  Northern  States,  cotton 
can  doubtless,  at  the  present  prices,  be  raised  at 
a  profit,  but  we  have  not  seen  any  results  which 
show  that  it  would  be  a  paying  crop  at  the  or- 
dinary price  of  the  staple  in  peace  times. 

The  growing  of  tobacco  has  become  an  estab- 
lished fact,  even  in  localities  where  a  few  years 
ago  it  would  have  been  thought  impracticable. 
We  have  been  censured  by  some,  for  offering 
premiums  for  essays  upon  the  culture  of  this 
foul  weed.  We  can  not  argue  the  morality  of 
tobacco  raising,  any  more  than  the  growth  of 
apples  for  cider,  grapes  for  wine,  or  barley  for 
brewing.  But  ithasbeen,  is,  and  probably  will  be, 
one  of  the  staple  crops  of  the  country.  While 
we  advise  no  one  to  grow  it,  we  can  not  disre- 
gard the  demand  of  a  very  large  number  of  our 
readers  for  information  upon  the  best  modes  of 
culture.  It  is  certainly  better  that  they  should 
know  the  real  nature  of  the  crop,  than  to  grow  it — 
as  grow  it  they  will — in  ignorance  of  its  damag- 
ing effects  upon  the  soil.  Whoever  undertakes 
the  culture,  should  keep  in  mind  the  worn-out 
tobacco  fields  of  Virginia,  and  not  use  up  the 
productive  forces  of   his   machine — his  farm. 

Work  for  the  Farm,  Household,  etc. 

After  an  unusually  mild  Winter,  we  may  look 
for  more  or  less  of  cold  weather  this  month,  in 
which  case  the  hints  for  January  and  February 
should  be  borne  in  mind.  The  reader  will  un- 
derstand that  we  are  not  giving  rules  to  be 
blindly  followed,  but  suggestions  to  help  him 
"to  think  of  something  he  did  not  think  of." 

Buildings. — The  fierce  winds  of  this  month  will 
be  sure  to  find  every  loose  piece  of  siding.  See 
that  the  animals  do  not  suffer  from  a  cold  draft, 
which  the  driving  of  a  few  nails  will  stop. 
Have  a  contrivance  for  fastening  barn  doors 
open,  as  well  as  shut.  We  have  known  a  barn- 
door swinging  in  the  wind  to  inflict  serious  in- 
jury. Look  out  for  loose  blinds  and  shutters  ; 
they  soon  bang  themselves  in  pieces.  Painting 
may  be  done,  though  a  driving  rain  is  injurious 
to  a  coat  of  paint  if  it  comes  upon  it  before  it  is 
dry.  If  not  doue  early,  the  hot  sUn  will  injure 
the  permanency  of  the  paint.  As  a  rule,  au- 
tumn is  preferable  to  late  spring  painting. 

Cattle. — See  suggestions  above,  on  feeding  cat- 
tle. After  some  months  of  dry  fodder,  cattle 
long  for  something  green.  This  craving  can  be 
in  part  satisfied  by  feeding  roots.  No  animal 
should  fall  away  in  flesh;  working  cattle  should 


G6 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[March, 


be  well  fed  aud  brought  gradually  into  bard  work. 
Cows  near  calving  should  have  roomy  stalls  at 
night.    Don't  forget  to  use  the  card  on  cattle. 

Cellars— Remove  the  banking  up,  and  -ventilate  as 
soon  as  danger  from  cold  is  past.  If  cabbages  have 
been  kept  in  the  cellar,  6ee  that  no  leaves  are  left  to 
decay  and  cause  foul  odors.  Clean  out  rubbish  gen- 
erally, aud  apply  a  coat  of  whitewash. 

Clover. — This  may  be  sown  the  present  month. 
By  taking  advantage  of  a  light  fall  of  snow,  the  casts 
can  be  seen  and  the  Bowing  be  done  more  evenly. 
The  melting  snow  will  carry  the  seed  into  the  little 
crevices  in  the  earth.  We  have  had  the  best  success , 
however,  in  sowing  upon  wheat  and  rye  toward 
the  close  of  freezing  weather,  choosing  a  still  morn- 
ing when  the  surface  is  well  opened  by  frost  cracks. 
The  thawing  soil  closes  over  aud  covers  the  seed. 

Drains.—  If  the  land  is  not  underdrained,  surface 
drains  are  better  than  none.  Clear  out  open  drains 
especially  in  the  wheat  fields.  Commence  laying 
tile  or  stone  drains  as  soon  as  the  ground  will  allow 
working.  See  notes  last  month.  Obstructions 
should  be  removed  from  those  drains  already  laid. 

Fences. — Have  material  ready  to  build  as  soon  as 
the  frost  is  out  of  the  ground.  Gates  in  place  of 
bars  arc  great  savers  of  time  and  cousequently  of 
money.  There  are  plenty  of  stormy  days  in  which 
they  can  be  made.  "Where  rail  fences  are  used,  the 
appearance  of  the  whq^e  farm  is  greatly  improved 
by  sawing  the  ends  of  the  rails  square  aud  making 
them  all  of  equal  length.  . 

Oram. — Keep  free  from  injury  by  dampness,  or 
mice.  Consider  if  you  are  raising  the  best  sorts.  It 
costs  as  much  to  cultivate  a  poor,  as  a  good  variety. 

Help. -Hire as  soon  as  possible.  As  stated  last 
month,  better  secure  a  good  man  a  little  before  he 
is  actually  needed,  than  to  wait  and  take  the  chances 
when  work  presses.  Avoid  great  story  tellers,  vil- 
lage politicians,  and  bar-room  frequenters.  Where 
there  are  several  men  employed,  assign  to  each  one 
his  duty  so  definitely  that  there  will  be  no  shirking. 
A  Btfte-persaoal  responsibility  for  the  well  doing  of 
a  job,  often  incites  a  laborer  to  care  and  industry. 

Hogs. — Keep  them  at  their  proper  business — 
making  manure.  See  page  79.  Litters  of  pigs 
may  be  looked  for.  Provide  proper  bedding  for 
breeding  sows.  Cooked  roots  will  be  relished  by 
them,  and  will  be  found  nutritious. 

Horses. — As  their  work  increases,  give  more  care 
to  their  feed.  Add  carrots  to  their  daily  rations, 
if  you  have  them.  Recollect  that  it  is  as  injurious 
for  a  horse  to  stand  in  a  cold  wind  after  becoming 
warm  from  exercise,  as  it  would  be  for  yourself.  Do 
not  let  the  horses  forget  that  there  are  currycombs. 

Ice. — In  many  localities,  this,  on  account  of  the 
mild  Winter,  is  yet  to  be  secured.  Do  not  let  the 
first  opportunity  pass.  Better  take  poor  ice  than 
none.  If  the  quantity  is  small  and  the  quality  poor, 
extra  care  should  be  taken  for  its  preservation. 

Maple  Sugar. — See  hints  on  page  39,  of  last  month. 

3fanure. — This  can  be  advantageously  hauled  to 
the  fields  while  tho  ground  is  still  frozen.  Fork 
over  compost  heaps  and  see  that  fertilizers  from 
every  source  are  saved.  Muck  and  plaster  occa- 
sionally thrown  into  the  privies,  will  prevent  un- 
pleasant odors,  and  furnish  valuable  poudrette. 

Pasture  and  Orass  Lands. — Remove  bushes  and 
stones.  Read  article  on  regenerating  old  pasture 
lands  on  page  43,  last  mouth.  Meadows  are  usually 
improved  by  a  top-dressing  of  compost,  bone-dust, 
or  ashes.    Keep  stock  of  all  kinds  out  of  them. 

Poming. — There  are  few  northern  localities  where 
plowing  can  be  done  in  March.  This  is  one  of  the 
operation!  in  which  it  is  well  to  "  make  baste  slow- 
ly.". It  should  ouly  bo  done  where  the  land  is  in 
such  a  condition  that  it  will  be  left  mellow.  Have 
every  thing  in  readiness  so  that  there  may  be  no 
delay  when  the  proper  time  arrives. 

Potatoes. — In  some  places  early  varieties  may  be 
planted  the  last  of  the  month.    Secure  best  sorts. 

Poultry. — If  they  have  been  properly  kept  during 


the  Winter,  there  should  be  plenty  of  eggs  now. 
Give  cabbages  and  boiled  potatoes  for  a  change  from 
grain,  and  a  supply  of  chopped  refuse  meat.  Set 
for  early  chickens. 

Seeds. — Procure  the  needed  stock  at  once,  and  not 
put  it  off  until  planting  time.  Too  much  care  can 
not  be  given  to  secure  one  of  the  first  essentials  of 
good  culture,  good  seeds. 

Slieep. — Some  early  lambs  may  be  dropped  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  month,  they  will  need  shelter 
and  care.  Breeding  ewes  should  be  separated  from 
the  rest  of  the  flock,  aud  fed  with  a  little  grain,  and 
with  roots  if  ou  hand. 

Tools. — Are  they  all  ready  ?  Don't  neglect  them 
now  aud  waste  valuable  time  by  aud  by  in  tink- 
ering aud  sending  to  the  blacksmith.  Recall  the 
old  adage  of  "two  strings  to  your  bow,"  and  of  all 
parts  particularly  liable  to  break  or  be  lost,  such  as 
plow  points,  etc.,  have  spare  ones  on  baud  against 
accidents.  It  is  cheaper  to  keep  on  baud  three  ex- 
traplow  points  or  shares,  barrow  teeth,  whiflle-trees 
etc.,  than  to  lose  a  half  or  whole  day  in  the  best 
workiug  season,  in  going  after  or  making  the  need- 
ed implement. 


Orchard  and  Nursery. 

The  open  season  will  probably  allow  of  early  work 
in  this  department.  Send  orders  to  the  nursery- 
man as  soon  as  a  selectiou  can  be  made.  This  is 
likely  to  be  a  busy  month  in  the  nursery,  and  the 
nurseryman  should  be  prepared  with  everything 
that  will  facilitate  his  Spring's  business. 

Apple  Trees. — Scrape  the  trunks  of  old  trees,  and 
wash  with  a  strong  solution  of  soft  soap  or  weak 
lye.  Plaut  early.  See  if  there  is  not  some  unoccu- 
pied spot  that  will  admit  of  a  tree.  The  list  of  va- 
rieties determined  by  the  Fruit  Growers'  meeting, 
will  be  too  late  for  this  month's  paper,  but  will  ap- 
pear in  April.  There  are  certain  standard  sorts  that 
are  good  everywhere,  and  others  have  been  proved 
by  your  neighbors.  Plant  largely  of  the  best  market 
varieties  and  fewer  of  the  fancy  sorts  for  home  use. 

Grafting. — This  maybe  done  with  cherries.  Other 
fruits  should  be  left  until  next  mouth.  Root  graft- 
ing if  not  already  finished,  should  be  completed  and 
out  of  the  way  of  other  work.  If  you  are  so  unfor- 
tunate as  to  have  an  orchard  of  poor  natural  fruit, 
make  preparations  to  graft  it  with  good  sorts.  If 
the  cutting  of  cions  has  been  neglected  until  now, 
attend  to  it  at  once,  and  keep  them  in  earth  or  sand 
until  wanted. 

Insects. — No  trees  should  be  sent  from  the  nursery 
or  plauted,  that  are  covered  with  scale.  The  moths 
of  some  destructive  worms  asceud  the  trunks  dur- 
ing the  preseut  month.  Paper  smeared  with  tar 
mixed  with  oil  enough  to  keep  it  soft,  aud  tied 
around  the  trees,  will  arrest  a  great  number. 

Manures. — Ground  for  planting  should  be  pre- 
pared with  well  decomposed  manure.  The  pratice 
of  surface  manuring  fruit  trees  is  growing  iu  favor. 
The  soluble  portions  are  carried  down  by  rains,  and 
the  coarse  material  is  left  as  a  mulch. 

Pruning  should  this  month  be  confined  to  re- 
moving dead  limbs  and  cutting  out  small  shoots 
and  suckers.  If  necessary  to  make  a  large  wouud, 
cover  it  with  grafting  wax  or  other  composition. 

Transplanting  and  Planting  Out  may  be  done 
with  deciduous  trees  and  shrubs  as  soon  as  the  frost 
is  well  out  of  the  ground,  and  it  is  not  wet  and 
heavy.    Evergreens  should  not  be  moved  at  present. 


Kitchen  Garden. 

It  is  very  difficult  to  give  directions  for  the  pres- 
ent month,  on  account  of  our  great  diversity  of  cli- 
mate, which  is  perhaps  more  apparent  now  than  at 
any  other  season.  In  the  middle  aud  southern  States 
the  weather  will  doubtless  admit  of  extended  oper- 
ations, while  in  many  northern  localities  the  ground 
is  still  closed  by  frost.  Along  the  seaboard,  the  in- 
fluence of  the  warm  breezes  is  felt  in  rendering  the 
season  much  earlier  than  at  some  distance  inland 
in  the  same  latitude.     Hence,  while  in  many  places 


the  hints  here  given  will  be  timely,  in  others  those 
of  last  month  should  be  noticed,  and  these  reserved 
for  April.  The  notes  upon  the  small  fruits  are 
placed  under  the  separate  department  of  "The 
Fruit  Garden."  Where  the  space  is  limited,  the 
small  fruits  may  be  cultivated  with  the  vegetables  ; 
but  where  there  is  sufficient  land  available,  it  is  on 
many  accounts  desirable  to  have  a  separate  place 
for  them.  If  the  work  has  not  been  planned,  as 
suggested  in  January,  there  is  yet  time  to  do  it. 
Read  the  article  on  "  Rotation  in  the  Garden,"  on 
page  51,  in  February  Agriculturist. 

Artichoke. — This  is  seldom  cultivated  in  our 
country,  except  by  Europeans.  It  is  a  plaut  bearing 
a  large  thistle-like  head,  the  scales  or  flower  cups  of 
which  are  eaten.  Old  beds  should  be  cleared  of 
their  winter  protection,  and  a  dressing  of  manure 
forked  in.  Make  new  beds  by  planting  the  offsets 
of  old  plants,  4  feet  apart  each  way,  in  deep  rich  soil. 

Asparagus. — The  manure  placed  on  the  beds  last 
Fall,  may  be  forked  iu  as  soon  as  danger  from  frosts 
is  over.  Apply  brine  or  salt  freely.  Early  cuttings 
can  be  readily  obtained  by  forcing.  Cover  a  portion 
of  the  bed  with  a  hot-bed  frame,  bank  up  around 
the  frame  with  stable  manure,  and  cover  it  over 
with  sashes.  Lettuce  may  be  sowed  between  the 
rows  of  asparagus.  Make  new  beds,  using  roots 
one  or  two  years  old,  if  obtainable.  If  not,  sow 
seed  to  produce  roots  for  future  use.  This  is  one 
of  the  best  very  early  table  products  of  the  garden. 

Cabbages  and  Caulifloicers.— Sow  in  hot-beds  for 
early  planting  out.  The  young  plants  are  usually 
benefitted  by  ashes  aud  plaster.  Allow  plenty  of 
air  to  harden  the  plants  before  transplanting. 

Cabbage  Stumps,  set  out,  to  furnish  6priug  greens. 

ColdFrames. — These  are  frames  covered  with  sash, 
like  those  for  a  hot-bed,  and  are  placed  ou  good 
mellow  soil  without  any  heating  material.  They 
6hould  be  banked  up  slightly  with  earth,  to  prevent 
the  cold  winds  from  creeping  in  between  the  frame 
and  the  soil.  They  should  be  covered  with  mats  or 
shutters  in  cold  weather.  They  answer  to  winter 
over  many  half  hardy  plants.  Cabbages  aud  cauli- 
flowers may  be  sown  in  Autumn  and  kept  through 
the  Winter  in  this  way.  Cabbages,  lettuce,  radishes, 
etc.,  may  be  obtained  iu  them  much  earlier  than 
when  sown  in  the  open  ground.  When  the  plants 
have  started,  give  plenty  of  air  on  fine  days. 

Compost. — The  heaps  should  be  tnrued  over,  all 
coarse  stones  and  rubbish  picked  out,  and,  if  not 
sufficiently  decomposed,  some  stable  manure  should 
be  added  to  induce  fermentation.  See  item  on 
fining  manure,  on  page  73. 

Cress  or  Peppergrass. — Sow  early.  It  is  very  lia- 
ble to  attacks  from  insects, — apply  ashes  freely. 

Drains. — If  the  garden  is  not  already  drained, 
manage  to  get  iu  a  few  tiles  or  covered  stone  drains 
iu  the  wettest  places.  Well  drained  soil  can  bo 
worked  earlier  in  Spriug,  and  yields  better  returns. 

Egg  Plants. — For  early,  sow  seed  from  the  middle 
to  the  last  of  this  mouth,  in  a  sheltered  place. 

Fences  and  Gales. — Put  in  a  condition  to  repel  the 
depredations  of  poultry,  swine  and  other  animals. 

Herbs. — The  perennial  herbs,  like  wormwood, 
mints,  hyssop,  etc.,  may  be  divided  and  reset. 

Hops. — Roots  may  be  planted  and  poles  provided. 

Horse-radish. — Dig  for  family  use  and  for  market- 
ing. Though  generally  left  to  take  care  of  itself,  it 
is  much  improved  by  liberal  manuring.  New  beds 
may  be  made  by  planting  crowns  or  pieces  of  root. 

Hot-Beds. — May  be  made  from  the  middle  to  the 
last  of  the  month.  See  Caleudar  for  January,  for 
construction  of  frame  and  sash.  Fresh  horse  ma- 
nure is  the  best  material  for  generating  heat.  If 
this  is  mixed  with  an  equal  bulk,  more  or  less,  of 
leaves  it  will  give  a  more  gradual  heat,  and  will  last 
longer.  The  manure  should  be  thrown  into  heaps 
aud  when  fermentation  commences,  it  6hould  be 
turned  over  once  or  twice  before  making  the  bed. 
The  bed  may  be  made  npou  the  surface  of  the 
ground, orau  excavation  a  foot  deep,  and  a  foot  wider 
each  way  than  the  frame  maybe  made.    The  ma- 


1803.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


67 


nine  should  be  laid  evenly  and  packed  firmly  by 
striking  it  with  the  forks,  taking  care  to  till  up  the 
soft  spots  and  have  the  whole  mass  uniform.  The 
sides  should  be  laid  up  square  aud  workman-like, 
and  the  flue  manure  which  will  be  left  from  the 
heap,  be  shoveled  up  and  distributed  over  the  top. 
The  mass  of  heating  material  should  be  at  least  2 
feet  thick.  Place  on  the  frame,  and  put  in  5  or  0 
inches  of  rich  earth,  which  should  have  been  in 
readiness  the  previous  Fall.  Cover  with  the  sash, 
and  allow  the  earth  to  become  well  warmed.  The 
temperature  should  be  60°  to  70".  If  the  earth  be- 
comes too  hot,  open  the  sash.  The  seeds  may  be 
sown  when  the  earth  is  of  the  proper  temperature. 
Shade  until  they  are  well  up.  Guard  against  ex- 
cessive heat  at  mid-day,  by  lifting  or  removing  the 
sash,  and  against  cold  at  night  by  a  protection  of 
mats  or  other  cover.  The  manure,  after  hot-beds 
are  done  with  it,  is  in  good  condition  for  later  crops. 

Leeks. — Sow  in  drills  15  inches  apart  in  rich  soil. 

Lettuce. — Sow  iu  hot-beds  or  cold  frames,  aud  in 
the  open  ground  as  soon  as  it  can  be  worked. 

Manure. — The  free  use  of  manure  is  oue  secret  of 
successful  gardening.  Muck,  ashes,  kitchen  slops, 
scrapings  of  the  barn-yard,  hen  and  pigeon  manure, 
should  all  be  carefully  saved. 

Mustard  for  Spring  salads  :  sow  in  one  foot  drills. 

Onions. — Potato  or  multiplier,  top  onions,  and 
sets,  may  be  planted  for  early  use.  Seed  should 
not  be  sown  until  the  ground  becomes  warmer. 

Peas. — Some  of  the  early  kiuds  may  be  sown  in  a 
warm  spot.  Plant  where  any  well  manured  crop 
stood  the  year  before.  The  pea-weevil  may  be 
killed  by  pouring  scalding  water  over  the  peas  be- 
fore planting.    It  will  not  destroy  germination. 

Parsnips. — Those  which  have  been  left  in  the 
ground  through  the  Winter  may  be  dug  for  use  or 
market.    Leave  enough  of  the  flnest  roots  for  6eed. 

Peppers  may  be  sown  in  a  hot-bed. 

Plow  and  subsoil  whenever  the  soil  will  allow. 

Potatoes. — Plant  for  an  early  crop.  The  early  va- 
rieties are  numerous,  each  locality  having  its  favor- 
ite sort.  Around  New-York,  the  Dykemau  is  the 
one  most  cultivated.  The  Ash-leaf  Kidney  is  a  fa- 
vorite with  many.  We  have  seen  a  kind  at  the 
West,  called  Early  Shaw,  which  was  there  considered 
earlier  and  better  flian  any  other  variety.  Secure 
seed  in  season.  Those  put  iu  early,  should  be  plant- 
ed deeper  than  usual,  and  it  is  well  to  have  litter 
handy  to  throw  over  them,  if  frosts  should  occur 
after  they  are  up.  Several  days  may  be  gained  by 
starting  the  potatoes  before  planting.  They  may 
be  laid  in  a  hot-bed  or  cold  frame,  or  started  in  a 
warm  place  on  bits  of  sod,  which  are  to  be  planted 
out.  In  whatever  way  the  potatoes  are  started,  they 
6hould  have-plenty  of  light,  as  sickly  shoots  raised 
in  the  dark  will  usually  die  off  after  planting. 

Sadishes. — Sow  in  hot-beds.  They  should  have  a 
bed  to  themselves,  aud  the  tops  kept  as  cool  as  pos- 
sible.   Sow  iu  the  open  air  the  last  of  the  mouth. 

Salsify. — Dig  for  use,  leaving  enough  for  seed. 

Seeds. — Procure  the  season's  stock  if  not  already 
done.  If  you  can  not  rely  upon  your  own  experi- 
ence, consult  the  list  given  on  page  36  of  February 
Agriculturist.  See  u  Germination  of  Seeds"  on 
another  page.  Roots  which  have  been  kept  over  to 
raise  seeds  from,  should  be  put  out  early  in  good 
soil.    Let  only  the  most  vigorous  shoots  grow. 

Spinach. — Remove  the  covering  from  the  Winter 
beds,  and  stir  the  soil  between  the  rows.  Sow  seed 
of  the  round-leaved  variety  for  a  Spring  crop. 

Tools. — Have  everything  in  repair,  and  purchase 
improved  sorts.  Make  now,  all  garden  conveniences 
that  will  be  requited,  such  as  markers,  stakes,  etc. 

Tomatoes.— Sow  in  hot-beds,  to  be  transplanted  to 
another  bed,  or  potte'd  as  soou  as  large  enough. 

Trench  deep,  as  soon  as  the  ground  can  be  worked. 

Turnips. — Sow  in  a  warm  spot  for  early  table  use. 

Winter  Cherry. — Sow  in  hot-beds  for  early  frniting. 


Fruit  Garden. 

In  the  directions  for  the  Kitchen  Garden  above,  it 
is  recommended  to  have  a  separate  department  for 
fruits.  This  is  often  impracticable,  and  it  is  neces- 
sary to  grow  small  fruits  among  the  vegetables. 
Even  iu  this  case,  it  is  better  to  devote  particular 
divisions  to  vegetables  aud  fruits,  than  to  mix  them 
indiscriminately.  Where  a  new  fruit  garden  is  to 
be  laid  out,  a  place  should  be  chosen  which  is  shel- 
tered from  cold  winds,  aud  the  soil  should  be  deep 
and  well  drained."  The  garden  should  contain  an 
abundant  supply  and  variety  of  small  fruits,  and  of 
dwarf  apples  aud  pears,  peaches,  cherries,  plums, 
etc.  Dwarf  trees  occupy  little  room,  and  bear  fruit 
much  sooner  than  standards.  Strawberries  may  be 
successfully  grown  between  rows  of  dwarf  trees 
and  grapes.  In  stocking  the  garden,  procure  only 
well  established  varieties,  unless  disposed  to  expend 
time  and  money  in  testing  novelties.  New  things 
are  not  always  valuable  in  proportion  to  the  amount 
of  puffing  they  receive.  Iu  buying  nursery  stock  of 
any  kind,  procure,  that  which  is  good  aud  true  to 
name,  in  preference  to  that  which  is  low  priced. 
Except  in  very  new  countries,  there  is  generally  a 
reliable  nurseryman  within  easy  reach,  aud  where 
there  is  not,  trees  aud  plants  can  be  readily  sent  to 
a  great  distance  with  the  present  facilities  for  trans- 
portation. The  ground  should  be  prepared  early. 
In  no  place  will  thorough  manuring  and  deep  work- 
ing of  the  soil  pay  better  than  in  the  fruit  garden. 

Blackberries. — Plant  at  least  6  feet  apart,  cutting 
the  caues  back  to  within  6  inches  of  the  root.  The 
New-Rochelle  and  the  Dorchester  are  still  standard 
varieties.  The  New-Rochelle  grows  vigorously, 
beariug  abuudaut  fruit  of  large  size.  It  is  esteemed 
too  sour  by  mauy,  generally  owiug  to  the  fact  that 
it  is  gathered  too  soon.  It  blackens  some  time  be- 
fore fully  ripeniug. 

Currants. — Prune,  aud  secure  cuttings  at  once,  if 
not  already  doue  as  directed  last  mouth.  Set  out 
rooted  plants.  The  Cherry,  Red  Dutch,  aud  White 
Grape,  are  among  the  best  varieties 

Figs. — These  may  be  cultivated  in  this  latitude,  if 
the  trees  are  laid  down  every  Fall  and  covered  with 
soil,  or  surrounded  with  barrels  filled  with  earth. 
They  should  not  be  uncovered  until  settled  weather. 

Fruit  Trees. — Plant  early  and  of  the  best  varieties. 
See  article  on  Dwarf  Apples  on  page  82,  and  a  list 
of  Pears  in  the  January  No.  ou  page  17. 

Gooseberries. — Prune  and  make  cuttings,  and  set 
out  new  stocks.  The  "Houghton's  Seedling"  is 
productive  and  succeeds  almost  any  where.  The 
"American  Seedling"  is  highly  spoken  of,  but  we 
have  had  no  experieuee  with  it. 

Crapes.— It  is  now  too  late  to  prune  with  safety. 
Vines  which  have  been  laid  down  for  protection 
should  be  put  up  as  soon  as  the  weather  becomes 
settled.  In  localities  where  late  frosts  occur,  it  is 
better  to  leave  them  until  next  month.  Fork  a 
good  dressing  of  manure  into  the  borders.  See 
"What  grapes  to  Plant,"  on  page  83,  also  page  90. 

Saspberries. — If  the  weather  is  suitable,  uncover 
buried  canes,  cut  them  back  to  4  or  5  feet,  and  tie 
up  to  stakes.  Iu  making  a  new  plantation,  the 
Franconia,  pure  Red  Antwerp,  and  Brinkle's  Orange 
will  be  found  to  be  good  varieties.  The  improved 
varieties  of  the  BlaekCap  are  very  productive.  Use 
manure  freely  iu  the  soil. 

Strawberries. — The  covering  may  be  removed  as 
soon  as  Spring  opens.  Prepare  beds  for  planting 
in  April  and  May,  using  plenty  of  well  decomposed 
manure.    Muck  and  ashes  are  good  fertilizers. 

Trellises. — Put  in  repair,  and  erect  new.  Next 
month  we  intend  to  give  a  plan  for  a  grape  trellis. 


Flower  Garden    and   Liiwii. 

Novices  make  a  great  mistake  in  doing  work  in 
the  first  warm  days  of  Spring,  that  should  be  left 
until  settled  weather.  There  is  plenty  to  be  doue 
in  the  grouuds,  however.  Unless  unusual  care  has 
been  taken,  there  will  be  remains  of  last  year's  vege- 
tatiou  to  clear  up,  broken  limbs  of  trees  to  be  re- 


moved, leaves  to  be  raked  from  the  lawn,  aud  pick- 
ing up  generally,  to  be  done. 

Annuals. — Those  intended  for  early  blooming,  may 
be  started  in  a  hot-bed  or  cold  frame  or  at  the  last 
of  the  month,  Asters,  Petuuias,  Balsams,  Larkspurs. 
Phloxes,  etc.,  may  be  risked  iu  a  warm  spot. 

Bidbs. — The  covering  of  hyacinths,  crocuses,  etc., 
may  be  in  part  or  wholly  removed.  It  is  well  to 
have  a  supply  of  litter  close  at  hand  to  throw  over 
them  iu  case  it  should  become  very  cold. 

Cold  Frames. — Should  have  plenty  of  air  to  har- 
den the  plants  before  planting  out. 

Edgings. — Box  edgings  require  resetting  as  soou 
as  they  become  shabby.  The  earlier  it  is  done,  the 
better.  Grass  edgings  should  be  trimmed  with  the 
edging  knife,  aud  replaced  where  the  grass  is  dead. 

Gravel. — Old  walks  should  be  repaired  and  new 
ones  made.  A  layer  of  stones  beneath  the  gravel 
acts  as  draiuage  aud  secures  dry  walks. 

Hedges. — Buekthoru,  Privet  or  other  deciduous 
hedge  plants  may  be  set  this  month. 

Honeysuckles  and  other  Climbers. — Prune  and  ar- 
range.   Plant  out  where  needed. 

Hot-Beds  will  be  needed  for  early  annuals  and 
cuttings.  See  KiteheuGarden  for  this  and  last  month. 

Lawn. — Dead  leaves  should  be  raked  up  and  atop- 
dressiug  of  compost  or  plaster  given.  Sow  seed  on, 
or  turf  over  bare  spots. 

Manure. — This  will  be  wanted  everywhere.  There 
should  be  a  large  6tock  of  well  decomposed  com- 
post ready  for  use. 

Perennials. — Diceutra,  Perennial  Phloxes,  Lark- 
spurs, herbaceous Spirasas,  Hollyhocks,  etc.,  should 
be  divided  and  reset  to  increase  the  stock  aud  pro- 
duce finer  bloom  thau  is  given  by  overgrown  clumps. 

Hoses. — Plant  and  set  as  early  as  the  ground  will 
admit.    Trim  aud  arrange  pillar  and  climbing  roses. 

Shrubs. — Do  not  uncover  those  protected  during 
Winter,  until  the  weather  becomes  setttled.  Plant 
hardy  kinds  as  soon  as  the  ground  is  suitable. 


Green-Houses. 

The  warmth  of  the  sun  will  allow  fire  heat  to  be 
nearly  dispensed  with.  Sudden  changes  of  temper- 
ature should  be  guarded  against.  Plants  should  be 
hardened  off  by  free  admission  of  air  on  mild  days. 

Bedding  Plants. — A  good  stock  of  Verbenas,  Cu- 
pheas,  Petunias,  Pausies,  and  the  like  should  be 
hardened  off  and  ready  for  outdoor  planting. 

Cleanliness  should  be  scrupulously  observed.  De- 
caying leaves,  weeds  and  moss  ought  not  to  be  al- 
lowed to  accumulate  upon  the  pots.  Syringe  the 
foliage  to  remove  dust. 

Insects  will  now  be  on  the  increase,  and  especial 
care  will  be  needed  to  keep  them  iu  check.  Fumi- 
gation, soap-suds,  etc.,  should  be  freely  employed. 

Lemons,  Oranges  and  Oleanders  are  very  apt  to  be 
affected  with  scale.  Cleanse  with  soap-suds  applied 
with  a  stiff  brush.    Repot  and  trim  as  needed. 

Roses. — Those  rooted  for  out-door  blooming  will 
need  changing  to  larger  pots. 

Water.— The  quantity  should  be  increased  as  the 
plants  push  more  vigorously.  Its  temperature 
should  be  as  near  as  possible  that  of  the  house. 


Hot  IIou§e  and  Conservatory. 

The  changeable  weather  of  this  month  will  ren- 
der it  necessary  to  guard  against  sudden  cold.  The 
temperature  must  be  regulated  according  to  the  na- 
ture of  the  collections.  Neatness  should  be  a  char- 
acteristic of  every  well  kept  house.  Shabby  plants 
and  those  out  of  bloom  should  be  kept  in  the  back 
ground,  and  dead  leaves,  trimmings,  etc.,  removed. 

Abutilons. — These  should  be  propagated  for  plant- 
ing out.  They  make  afine  appearance  in  theground. 
Abutilon  striatum  and  venosum  grow  from  cuttings 
with  the  greatest  ease ;  while  the  insignis  needs  to 
be  grafted  on  the  free  growing  sorts. 


68 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[March, 


Acacias — Should  now  show  -if  fine  bloom.      Give 
them  little  water,  and  a  good  exposure  to  light. 
Annuals. — Pot  off  those  sown  last  month,  and  sow 
anew   if  a   larger   stock   is  to   be   provided   for. 
Azaleas  are  now  nearly  out  of  flower.    As  soon  as 
they  have  done    hloomins,    cut  back    straggling 
branches  to   preserve  a  neat  and  compact  form. 
Bidding  Plants. — Cuttings  maystill  be  put  in,  and 
those  already  rooted  should  be  potted  off  and  trans- 
ferred to  the  green-house  or  cold  frame  to  harden. 
Gamellias  are  still  among  the  attractions  of  the 
conservatory.       The    leaves    should  be    carefully 
washed  without  wetting  the  flowers,  which  would 
spoil  them.    Inarching  may  be  done  this  month. 
Chrysanthemums  may  be  propagated  by  cuttings. 
Calceularias  will  need  shifting  if  pot-bound,  and 
fumigating  if  attacked  by  green-fly.     Water  freely. 
Fuchsias  should  now  be  brought  forward.     Train 
to  a  compact  round  or  pyramidal  form,  according 
to  the  habit   of  the  plaut.     Repot  young   plants. 
Heaths  will  need  to  be  shifted  into  larger   pots. 
Insects. — These  are  the  gardeners'  constant  ene- 
mies and  need  his  constant  care  and  watchfulness. 
Zanlanas  should   be  repotted,  to   flower  early. 
Pelargoniums  should  be  brought  near  the  glass  as 
they  come  into  bloom,   frequently  turning   them. 
Parlor  Plants. — There  are  but  few  which  do  well 
in  the  dry  air  of  our  rooms.    The  dust   should  be 
removed  by  syringing,  or  careful  washing,  and  the 
pots  should  be  frequently  turned  toward  the  light, 
to  keep    the    plants    from    becoming    one-sided. 
Syringe  the  foliage   frequently,   and  keep  up  a 
moist  atmosphere  by  sprinkling  the  walls  and  floors. 

Water  should  be  given  freely  to  growing  plants, 
provided  there  is  perfect  drainage  at  the   bottom. 

Apiary  in  Marcli. 

After  their  long  winter  confinement,  the  bees 
will  be  in  haste  to  improve  the  first  return  of  mild 
weather.  In  some  sections  considerable  pollen  will 
be  gathered  this  month,  and  in  good  stocks  breed- 
ing will  go  on  quite  rapidly Where  aolouies  have 

been  kept  in  the  cellar,  or  removed  from  their  usual 
summer  stand,  let  them  be  returned  in  time  to 
commeuce  operations  early.  It  is  best  to  bring 
them  out  a  few  hives  at  a  time,  if  the  number  be 
large.  Place  them  as  far  apart  as  practicable,  and 
afterward  till  the  intervening  spaces.  This  will  en- 
able the  bees  more  readily  to  mark  their  own  loca- 
tion, and  prevent  loss  from  their  entering  the 
wrong  hives.    A  stranger  bee   usually  finds  little 

mercy  in  his  neighbor's  domicile Ascertain  the 

condition  of  each  stock  on  some  cool  morning  as 
soon  as  possible  after  removing.  Contract  the  en- 
trance of  the  weak  ones,  until  only  a  single  bee  can 
pass  at  once.  Watch  for  robbing  bees  on  the  first 
warm  days — it  requires  close  observation  to  detect 
thorn  at  first.  Ascertain  which  are  destitute  of  stores, 
and  feed  as  they  require  it,  taking  care  not  to  ex 
pose  any  honey  where  other  bees  may  get  to  it 
The  utility  of  flour  as  a  substitute  for  pollen  is 
pretty  well  established.  It  is  difficult,  sometimes, 
to  get  them  to  take  it,  especially  wheu  offered  after 
a  little  is  obtained  from  the  flowers  ;  but  when  given 
early,  and  a  taste  for  it  acquired,  they  will  use  large 
quantities.  To  feed  the  flour,  make  a  floor  several 
feet  square,  the  size  proportioned  to  the  number 
of  stocks.  Put  it  in  some  warm  place  within  a  few 
rods  of  the  apiary.  .  The  unbolted  wheat  flour  is 
best,  but  any  kind  of  flour  will  probably  do  ;  buck- 
wheat hits  been  used  extensively.  Begin  by  scatter- 
ing some  on  the  ground  or  in  the  grass  near  the 
floor ;  they  will  usually  find  it  in  a  few  hours. 
Keep  them  busy  by  feeding  every  fair  day.  Weak 
stocks  should  be  fed  with  honey,  or  6ugar  water. 
Any  stock  having  lost  its  queen  during  Winter,  will 
be  likely  to  show  it  near  evening  of  the  first  day 
they  fly  out  freely,  by  running  about  in  apparent 
confusiou.  A  queenless  colony  now  should  be 
united  with  some  feeble  stock,  unless  the  queenless 
one  is  much  superior  in  numbers,  and  in  other  re- 
Bpecta  will  make  the  best  stock  ;  in  which  case,  that 
should  receive  the  bees  from  the  other.    The  combs 


and  honey  of  a  queenless  hive,  if  all  right,  may  be 
set  away  for  a  new  swarm,  taking  care  to  smoke 
with  brimstone  once  or  twice  to  destroy  the  worms 
as  they  hatch  out.  If  the  colony  that  contains  the 
queen  is  the  one  removed,  there  will  be  some  brood 
in  the  combs,  necessary  to  be  taken  out  before 
putting  the  hive  away.  Be  careful  and  not  save 
for  a  new  swarm  any  combs  containing  foul  brood. 


Contahihig  a  great  variety  of  Items,  including  many 
good  Hints  and  Suggestions  which  we  give  here  hi  small 
type  and   condensed  form,  for    want   of  space,  elsewhere. 

The  Basket  Full.— We  have  on  hand,  in 
type,  and  in  preparation,  for  this  department,  many  ilems 
which  are  necessarily  crowded  over  to  next  number. 


Unanswered  Letters.— Our  readers  must 
excuse  us  for  not  promptly  answering  many  letters  re- 
ceived, some  of  them  asking  "an  answer  by  the  first  mail." 
We  waste  no  time,  work  hard  all  day,  and  to  a  late  hour 
at  night,  but  still  find  it  impossible  to  answer  all  the  let- 
ters marked  "  for  immediate  reply."  Our  readers  give 
us  too  much  credit  in  supposing  that  we  can  write  an 
oft"  hand  correct  answer  to  a  thousand  and  one  queries 
about  the  best  treatment  of  crops,  and  of  soils  we  have 
never  seen,  about  the  quality  of  nearly  every  implement 
manufactured,  etc.,  etc.  The  letter-writing  season  will 
slacken  as  Spring  work  comes  on,  and  we  hope  to  then  be 
able  to  respond  to  most  of  the  communications  on  hand. 

A    Cjrnpe    Vine    For    Everybody.— 

There  is  scarcely  a  family  among  our  readers,  whose 
garden-plot  or  house-yard  might  not  well  contain  one  or 
more  good  grapevines.  A  few  minutes  time  in  preparing 
the  ground  and  planting,  and  a  little  care  afterward  in 
training,  will  soon  enable  one  not  only  to  "  sit  under  his 
own  vine,"  but  to  enjoy  a  supply  of  delicious  fruit.  It 
does  not  take  long  for  a  vine  to  grow  large  enough  to 
produce  fifty  to  a  hundred  pounds  of  grapes.  The  Pub- 
lisher's offer,  on  page  96,  will  place  it  in  the  power  of  al- 
most every  one  to  get  a  vine  or  two  of  the  best  sort,  de- 
livered free.  Every  one  will  know  of  two  or  more 
friends  and  neighbors  who  ought  to  take  the  Agriculturist, 
and  who  would  be  induced  to  do  so  by  a  little  persua- 
sion, or  setting  forth  of  its  merits.  The  vine  or  vines-re- 
ceived, can  soon  be  multiplied  by  cuttings  and  layers  to 
supply  the  new  subscribers  with  vines  also.  We  have 
provided  the  vines  for  this  special  purpose,  and  hope  the 
additional  subscriptions  received  in  this  way,  will  mate- 
rially aid  in  meeting  the  greatly  increased  expenses  of 
this  year,  while  we  believe  the  distribution  of  the  vines 
and  the  circulation  of  more  papers  will,  at  the  same  time, 
be  beneficial  to  the  country.  We  trust  our  friends  will 
be  incited  by  these  triple  considerations  to  assist  in 
making   this  special    premium  a   very  successful   one. 


The  Oeneral  Preanimns  still  Con- 
tinued.— Those  interested  in  securing  any  of  the  good 
articles  in  our  premium  list,  will  find  by  referring  to  page 
89,  that  the  offers  are  still  continued.  Partial  lists  can 
therefore  yet  be  completed,  and  new  premium  clubs  made 
up.  All  names  received  from  any  person  for  this  year, 
can  be  counted  in  making  up  a  club  for  these  general 
premiums.  Names  for  the  special  grape  premium  can 
not  be  counted  in  any  other  list,  and  this  premium  applies 
only  to  names  sent  after  March  1st.  This  restriction  is 
absolutely  necessary  the  present  year. 


The  Seed  Distribution  by  mail  is  in 
progress.  The  applications  already  in  will  be  got  through 
with  before  the  close  of  March.  Seeds  to  be  called  for  at 
the  Office,  will  come  In  from  our  country  place,  about  the 
second  week  in  March.  As  before  stated,  owing  to  the 
increased  expenses  this  year,  and  no  advance  in  sub- 
scription prices,  we  cannot  be  as  liberal  in  furnishing 
seeds  free,  as  we  have  been  hitherto,  and  hope  to  be 
hereafter.  New  subscribers  coming  in  will  be  able  to 
still  get  some  of  the  seeds.  Applicants  should  now  send 
six  or  eight  numbers,  and  we  will  select  and  forward 
three  or  four  kinds,  taking  the  first  on  the  list  sent,  that 
we  chance  to  have.  Sec  last  month's  Agriculturist  (p.  58.) 

The   Advertisements    Good    Itead- 

Iii£.— Our  business  columns  are  well  filled  this  month, 
notwithstanding  the  severe  sifting  given.  Large  num- 
bers have  been  rejected— those  "from  known  parties  not 
tu  good  repute,  and  all  from  unknown  parties  not  pre- 
senting some  evidence  of  their  integrity  and  good  repute 
at  home.     All   humbugs,  patent  medicines,  ice.    are  of 


course  excluded.  Of  all  the  numerous  parties  adver- 
tising, we  think  there  are  none  who  do  not  intend  to  do 
what  they  propose  to  do.  The  advertisements  are  ar- 
ranged mainly  to  suit  the  convenience  of  the  printer  in 
making  up  the  paper,  and  not  to  give  any  preference  of 
place  to  any  one.  It  will  be  well  to  look  through  the 
whole,  and  see  what  is  offered,  and  send  for  the  circulars 
and  catalogues.  (It  may  interest  the  advertisers  to  tell 
them  their  business  notices  were  seen  in  the  Agricultu- 
rist, as  many  of  them  would  like  to  know  in  what  journal 
they  reach  the  largest  circle  of  reading,  enterprising  men.) 
Some  of  those  who  have  recently  asked  for  the  best  way 
of  investing  a  few  hundred  dollars  now,  may  perhaps  do 
worse  than  to  put  the  money  into  fruit-trees  that  will  ere 
long  pay  back  a  large  interest,  as  well  as  into  good  imple- 
ments,  seeds,  etc.,  that  will  bring   immediate   returns. 


.Books  Advancing-.— As  the  old  stock  of 
books  decreases,  and  new  ones  have  to  be  made  from  pa- 
per at  double  cost,  publishers  are  advancing  their  rates, 
though  they  have  not  nearly  doubled  them  as  yet.  From 
present  appearances,  prices  will  go  still  higher,  and  it 
will  probably  be  economy  to  purchase  now,  any  that  will 
be  wanted  this  year.  It  will  be  seen  by  our  list  on  page 
91,  that  we  have  necessarily  advanced  the  price  nf  several 
books  to  the  rales  now  charged  to  us  by  the  publishers. 
Those  choosing  book  premiums  will,  of  course,  be  guided 
by  prices  given  this  month,  and  not  by  any  pievious  list. 

Pray  Don't    Send   Seed   Envelopes 

to  Albia,  Iowa!— The  directions  were  full  and  ex- 
plicit, yet  the  Postmaster  at  Albia  (whose  office  chanced 
to  be  taken  merely  as  amodel)  writes  us  that  many  en- 
velopes for  seed-are  being  sent  to  him.  instead  of  to  us. 

To  Correspondents.— It  is  a  growing 
custom,  and  one  which  we  do  not  admire,  to  make  sever- 
al copies  of  a  communication  and  send  them  to  the  differ- 
ent agricultural  journals.  It  is  but  fair,  when  this  is  done, 
to  indicate  to  each   that  it  has  been  sent  to  other  papers. 

Write  Briefly.— We  again  repeat  that  we 
cannot  publish  long  dissertations.  We  are  always  grate- 
ful for  facts  and  records  of  practical  experience,  but  a 
page  of  real  information  is  not  improved  by  a  preface  of 
two  pages  of  general  remarks,  and   then  a  long  ending. 

Postage  Only   Six   Cents  a  Year.— 

Complaints  still  come  of  over-charges.  Will  Postmasters 
please  turn  to  Section  117  of  the  "Regulations"  furnished 
to  thern  by  the  Department  for  their  guidance?  It  is 
there  plainly  slated,  that  the  Quarterly  postage  on 
Periodicals  weighing  3  ounces  and  under,  sent  to  any  part 
nf  the  United  Stales,  is  on  monthly  issues  only  ]>£  cents. 
N.  B.— This  is  \y&  cents  per  quarter,  not  per  number. 
We  only  pay  paper-makers  for  2%  ounces  in  each  num- 
ber; they  certainly  would  not  furnish  over  "3  ounces" 
except  in  a  chance  thick  sheet,  made  in  starting  the  mills. 

Strawberry  and  Other  Exhibitions. 

—We  briefly  announce  now,  that  there  will  he  several 
Exhibitions  at  the  office  of  the  American  Agriculturist,  the 
present  year,  with  prizes  offered,  similar  to  those  held  last 
season  ;  say  one  of  Strawberries  En  June,  and  probably 
one  of  Pumpkins,  Squashes  and  Gourds  in  Autumn,  and 
perhaps  exhibitions  of  Roses  and  other  Flowers,  of  apples, 
pears,  grapes,  etc.,  and  of  several  kinds  of  vegetables. 
We  have  been  too  busy  to  arrange  the  matter,  and  merely 
make  this  announcement  now,  that  growers  may  be 
thinking  over  the  matter,  and  offer  any  suggestions  they 
have  to  make.    Further  particulars  next  month. 

Baclc  Volumes    and    lumbers.— To 

many  inquirers.— Any  full  volume  of  the  Agriculturist 
from  XVI  to  XXI,  can  be  supplied  in  numbers  at  $1.00  (or 
$1.12  by  mail.)—  If  bound  $1.50,  (or  $2.00  if  by  mail.)— Any 
single  numbers  from  1857  to  the  present  time  will  be  sent 
post-paid  for  10  cents  each.  (No  German  copies  on  hand, 
prior  to  July  1858.)— Numbers  lost  by  Mail  supplied  free. 

" I  Don't  Get  the  Papcr/'-'A  week 

ago  I  sent  you  my  subscription  for  1863,  but  I  don't  get 
the  paper.*' — The  above  Is  an  exact  copy  of  a  letter  from 
Western  Illinois,  dated  Feb.  10.  On  examination,  we 
found  the  subscription  letter  dated  Feb.  3,  mailed  accord- 
ing to  the  postmark  on  Feb.  5  ;  it  reached  us  Feb.  10; 
was  that  day  placed  on  the  entry-book  ;  and  on  Feb.  11 
the  wrapper  was  written,  and  the  January  and  February 
numbers  mailed  on  the  evening  of  the  same  day.  If  they 
went  as  fast  as  the  letter  came,  they  would  reach  the 
subscriber  on  Feb.  16,  six  days  after  his  second  letter, 
though  papers  generally  go  slower  than  letters,  often 
much  slower.  Such  is  one  case,  and  we  have  had  many 
similar  ones.  There  are  always  difficulties  occurring, 
notwithstanding  the  utmost  care  and  promptness  on  our 
part.     Sometimes,  but  not  often,  the  first  papers  sent  fail 


1S33.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


69 


to  reach  Subscribers,  through  carelessness  in  the  mails. 
Very  often  a  subscriber  writes:  "Send  my  paper  the 
same  as  last  year,"  without  telling  where.  Probably  one 
out  of  ten  of  all  the  letters  in  the  country,  no  matter  by 
whom  written  or  where  sent,  are  simply  dated  at  the 
P.  0.,  the  State  being  omitted.  Our  clerks  have  spent 
hundreds  of  hours  in  studying  out  the  postmaster's 
stamp,  or  as  that  is  very  often  illegible,  in  looking  over 
the  mail-books  to  find  which  State  a  letter  came  from.  If 
from  an  old  subscriber,  this  is  found;  if  not,  not;  and 
then  comes  a  scolding  letter,  ten  chances  to  one  with  the 
State  again  omitted,  from  the  general  habit  of  omitting  it. 
We  have  on  file  several  letters  containing  money,  on 
which  there  is  not  the  slightest  indication,  inside  or  out, 
as  to  where  they  came  from,  or  who  sent  them.  Such 
are  some  of  the  difficulties  we,  in  common  with  other 
publishers,  labor  under,  and  we  only  speak  of  them  in 
excuse  for  apparent  neglect  and  want  of  promptness.  It 
is  hardly  to  be  expected  that  some  mistakes  will  not  occur 
on  the  part  of  the  writers  of  so  many  letters.  On  an 
average,  we  have  received  a  subscriber  every  forty-seven 
seconds  of  working-time  (10  hours  a  day)  since  last  No 
vember.  These  names,  with  the  Post-Office  address  of 
each,  have  been  picked  out  of  the  letters,  placed  on  the 
entry-books,  and  transferred  to  the  alphabetical  mail- 
books,  and  so  far  not  twenty  errors  have  been  made 
When   the  name  and  address  are  fully  and  correctly  sent. 


Horn  Ail  in  Cattle.— Albert  D.  Rust, 
Montcalm  Co.,  Mich.  Horn  Ail,  or  "  hollow  horn,"  as  it 
is  sometimes  called,  is  a  symptom  or  accompaniment  of 
disease,  and  not  a  distinct  malady.  It  often  results  from 
severe  catarrh.  Any  disease  that  greatly  disturbs  the  cir- 
culation of  blood  will  pioduee  coldness  at  the  extremities, 
and  severe  inflammation  about  the  head  would  be  likely 
to  affect  the  inner  structure  of  the  horns.  Remedies 
should  be  implied  to  the  seat  of  the  disease.  Boring  the 
horns  is  condemned  by  our  best  veterinary  authorities. 


Hatching  CUiclcens.— S.  D.  Ingrali.im, 
Brown  Co.,  0.  Bement's  American  Poulterer's  Com- 
panion gives  an  account  of  the  various  contrivances  for 
hatching  by  artificial  means.  We  are  not  aware  that  ma- 
chine hatching  has  been  successfully  done  on  a  large 
scale.  The  great  difficulty  seems  to  be  to  raise  the  chick- 
ens after  they  are  hatched.  They  flourish  best  when  they 
have  the  care  and  protection  of  the  mother  hen. 


Tobacco  in  Maine. — H.  N.  K.  writes  to 
know  if  Havana  Tobacco  will  come  to  maturity  in 
Maine.  We  do  not  know.  Probably  it  will  in  favorable 
locations,  if  started  early.  Some  one  else  can  perhaps 
answer  more  definitely. 


The  Chicle  Pea.— "  Querist,"  Worcester 
Co.,  Mass.  We  do  not  know  where  Wood  gets  his  au- 
thority for  staling  that  the  Chick  Pea  is  poisonous.  It 
has  been  used  as  a  food  in  the  old  countries  for  centu- 
ries, and  we  have  frequently  eaten  it  In  Mexico,  where  it 
is  an  article  of  consumption,  and  never  heard  of  its  being 
hurtful.    We  do  not  know  the  "Indicator"  you  refer  to. 

Chinese  Yam,  {Dioscorea  batatas.) — Abner 
Smith,  Pottawatomie  Co.,  Kansas.  It  is  hardly  worth 
while  to  give  the  chapter  you  ask  on  the  cultivation  of 
this  plant,  as  it  has  been  generally  abandoned,  and  never 
had  many  claims  upon  public  attention,  except  in  the 
statements  of  those  speculating  in  the  roots.  Planted  on 
very  deeply-worked,  rich  soil,  it  sometimes  does  well, 
but  as  a   rule  it  seldom   pays  the  expenses  of  digging. 


Sweet  Potatoes  in  Iowa.— Dr.  J.  W. 

Smith,  of  Floyd  Co.,  Iowa— about  43  degrees  of  latitude 
— raised  three  bushels  of  Sweet  Potatoes  U>st  year,  and 
with  only  ordinary  cultivation.  He  obtained  the  plants 
May  31,  and  dug  the  crop  early  in  October.  Some  of  the 
potatoes  were  as  large  and  fine  as  any  grown  in  the 
country.  The  soil  was  a  sandy,  prairie  loam,  resting 
upon  a  sand  subsoil. 

Bitter  Pumpkins. — Joseph  Philbrick, 
Bloom-field,  Me.,  writes  us  that  he  has  raised  a  hybrid  be- 
tween the  common  pumpkin  and  a  small  "fancy  gourd," 
which  had  an  intensely  bitter  taste.  Those  who  raise  or- 
namental gourds  should  not  grow  them  where  there  is 
danger  of   their    mingling  with   squashes  or    pumpkins. 

Covering  Strawberries.— Win.  R.  Mor- 
gan, Harford  Co.,  Md.  The  largest  grower  of  Straw- 
berries to  our  knowledge,  covers  his  vines  with  straw, 
threshed  with  a  flail.  In  the  Spring  the  straw  is  parted 
so  as  to  uncover  the  plant,  and  left  on  the  ground  as  a 
mulch,  and  to  keep  the  fruit  clean. 


Tan  for  Hotbeds.— "Querist,"  Worcester 
Co.,  Mass.    This  as  it  comes  from  the  tannery  is  too  wet 


for  use;  it  should  be  moist,  but  not  wet.  After  it  has 
dried  sufficiently  it  is  thrown  into  a  heap  to  ferment,  oc- 
casionally shoveling  it  over  to  admit  air.  It  takes  a 
month,  more  or  less,  to  bring  it  into  heat.  Mixed 
with  manure  it  heats  sooner,  and  is  more  lasting  than 
manure  alone.  Hemlock  bark  is  considered  about  one- 
third  less  valuable  than  oak  bark. 

Currants— Best  Kinds.  —  J.  B.  Welch, 
Winona  Co.,  Minn.  The  old  Red  Dutch,  White  Provence, 
La  Versailles,  and  Cherry,  are  among  the  best  sorts. 

List  of  1,600  Dwarf  Pears.— Geo.  R. 

Underbill,  of  Queens  County,  N.  Y.,  (near  Oyster  Bay.) 
submitted  to  us  a  list  of  1,600  Fall  and  Winter  Dwarf 
Pears,  which  lie  prepared  to  plant  for  market  purposes. 
We  laid  the  selection  before  the  Fruit-Growers'  Meet- 
ing, and  there  was  a  general  concurrence  in  the  opinion 
that  it  was  a  judicious  one,  excepting  that  it  is  not  neces- 
sary to  double-work  the  Flemish  Beauty.  The  list  is: 
"100  Flemish  Beauty  (double-worked)  ;  100  Louise 
Bonne  de  Jersey;  100  Beurre  Bosc,  (double-worked); 
400  Duchesse  d'Angouleme;  200  Beurre  d'Anjou  ;  150 
Beurre  Diel  ;  50  Urbaniste;  50  Beurre  Superfin  ;  100 
Beurre  Clairgeau  (double  worked)  ;  200  Vicar  of  Wink- 
field  ;  50  Beurre  Gris  d'Hiver  Nouveau  ;  50  Doyenne 
d'Alencon  ;  50  Beurre  Langelier. 

Balsam  Poplar. — Wm.  McJunkin,  of  Al- 
leghany Co.,  Pa.,  sends  us  the  pods,  and  asks  us  what  is 
the  cause  of  the  cotton  upon  them,  and  why  it  had  not  ap- 
peared previous  to  1862.  The  cottony  hairs  are  a  natural 
attachment  to  the  seed,  and  aid  in  their  distribution  by 
the  winds.  Tiiey  were  not  seen  in  other  years  because 
the  trees  for  some  reason  failed  to   perfect  their   fruit. 

Baslcet  for  Picking'  Fruit.— Sometime 
since  we  received  from  Messrs.  Monroe  Brothers,  Fitch- 
burg,  Mass..  a  specimen  of  a  basket  which  is  quite 
convenient  forgathering,  or  rather  for  emptying  fruit, 
without  bruising.  The  top  is  round,  but  the  bottom  is 
carried  down  square,  and  is  closed  by  two  thin  boards. 
These  are  hung  on  hinges  at  the  four  corners,  so  as  to 
close  the  bottom,  or  drop  down  and  leave  it  open.  When 
closed  they  are  kept  so  by  a  double  wire  which  passes  up 
through  the  centre  of  the  basket,  and  is  held  to  the 
middle  of  the  handle  by  a  catch.  When  the  basket  is 
filled  it  is  Jet  down  into  a  barrel,  or  oilier  receptacle,  and 
by  slipping  the  catch  the  bottom  boards  drop  down  and 
discharge  the  fruit  without  the  bruising  incident  to  pour- 
ing out,  or  the  labor  of  transferring  fruit  with  the  hands. 


Fitting  Sap-Spouts.— D.  Coon,  "Waushara 
Co.,  Wis.,  writes  to  the  American  Agriculturist  that  Sap- 
Spouts  can  be  very  readily  fitted  for  insertion,  by  using  a 
hollow  auger,  such  as  wagon-makers  have  for  boring 
tenons  on  the  ends  of  wheel-spokes.  He  makes  the 
tenon  on  the  spout  half  an  inch  long,  with  a  square 
shoulder  to  fit  against  the  tree,  which  prevents  leakage. 
Before  tapping,  the  rough  outside  bark  is  shaved  from 
the  trunk.  The  remaining  bark  is  about  one-fourth  of  an 
inch  thick,  so  that  the  spout  enters  the  wood  only  about 
a  quarter  of  an  inch.  This  gives  almost  the  whole  sur- 
face of  the  cut  for  the  sap  to  escape  from. 


Water  in  Lead-Pipes.  —  A.  E.  Groff, 
Owing's  Mills,  Md.  We  cannot  say  whether  it  would  be 
safe  to  conduct  the  water  through  lead  pipes  without 
knowing  its  quality.  Very  pure  water  readily  acts  upon 
lead.  But  very  little  spring,  or  river  water  eveu,  is  so 
pure  that  it  may  be  safely  conducted  through  lead. 
Cement  pipes  are  perfectly  safe. 


A    JMil«l  Winter  in    Indiana.— E.   W. 

Weir,  of   Lagrange,  Ind.,  sent  us  specimens  of  violets 
and  pansies  in   bloom  in  the  open  air,  on  January  26th. 


Home-made  Lineu.— "M.  A.  H.,"  Mar- 
shall Co.,  Iowa,  counsels  the  ladies  to  leave  the  piano  for 
the  spinning  wheel  and  the  loom,  to  manufacture  linen  to 
take  the  place  of  cotton  for  home  consumption.  This 
may  be  advisable  in  some  remote  sections,  but  manufac- 
tories already  established  will  do  the  work  better  and 
cheaper,  provided  farmers  will  keep  them  supplied  with 
the  raw  material.  There  is  usually  work  enough  for  the 
females  of  every  household,  without  adding  spinning  and 
weaving  to  their  labors. 

Xhe  Address  of  Soldiers.— Mrs.  H.  H. 

D.,  Windsor  Co.,  Vt.  The  various  regiments  of  our 
armies  are  so  constantly  changing  their  location  that  no 
one  outside  the  War  Department  can  give  the  precise  po- 
sition at  any  time.  The  best  way  to  address  a  friend  in 
the  army,  whose  place  is  not  known,  is  to  put  upon  the 
letter  his  name,  company,  and  No.  and  State  of  the  regi- 
ment, and  address  it  to  u  Washington,  D.  C,  or  else- 


where."   It  will  then  go  to  Washington,  and  be  there  put 
into  the  regimental  box,  to  be  forwarded. 


Yankee- S.  B.  Walton,  Harford  Co.,  Md. 
This  word  is  said  to  be  derived  from  the  attempts  of  the 
Indians  to  speak  the  word  English,  which  they  called 
Yenghees  and  Yanghees. 

Xwe  Short    Horn   Herd  Book*— The 

Editor  of  this  work  {Hon.  L.  F.  Allen,  of  Black  Rock, 
Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,)  writes  February  9th  :  "  Your  noiice  of 
the  Herd  Book,  on  page  37,  of  February  Agriculturist 
partially  misapprehends  my  intention  as  to  publishing 
6th  Volume  Herd  Book.  It  will  be  published,  as  usual,  if 
pedigrees  enough  come  in  to  warrant  it,  of  which  I  have 
little  doubt,  judging  from  the  numbers  that  I  daily  receive 
for  record.  No  time  should  be  lost  in  forwarding  them, 
that  I  may  proceed  with  their  compilation.  I  shall  prob- 
ably hold  open  the  work  long  enough  to  embrace  the 
Spring  increase,  provided  they  be  seasonably  sent  to  me. 
There  never  was  a  better  time  for  our  cattle  breeders  to 
improve  and  increase  their  Short  Horn  herds  than  now. 
The  demand  for  them  must  soon  revive,  and  those  who 
have  choice  and  sufficient  stock  will  reap  the  advantage." 

Practical  I\otes  on  Onion  Culture. 

—Several  new  subscribers  inquire  "what  is  the  pam- 
phlet on  Onion  Culture  referred  to  in  our  columns?" 
Some  time  since  we  offered  a  premium  for  the  best  poe- 
tical treatise  on  onion  culture,  to  embrace  all  items  from 
furnishing  seed  to  marketing  the  crop,  to  be  written  by 
experienced  growers.  A  large  number  of  good  articles 
were  sent  in,  and  after  the  awarding  of  the  prize  by  the 
Committee,  we  selected  seventeen  of  the  best,  and  printed 
them  in  a  book  or  pamphlet  of  32  pages.  This  contains 
the  plain,  practical  directions  of  seventeen  cultivators, 
residing  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  and  is  undoubt- 
edly the  best  source  of  information  to  be  found  on  this 
topic.  It  is  sold,  or  sent  post-paid  for  21  cents,  (or  seven 
3 -cent  stamps — or  two  10  cent  currency  notes  will  answer.  J 

**Xhe  Employment  of  Women," — » 

This  is  a  subject  of  great  importance  just  now.  A 
million  men  are  in  the  army,  and  what  shall  be  done^by 
their  wives,  widows,  daughters,  and  female  friends  who 
have  hitherto  depended  upon  them?  We  are  glad  to 
announce  a  really  valuable  book  on  this  very  topic, 
prepared  by  Mrs.  Virginia  Penny,  who  has  devoted 
several  years  to  a  careful  and  laborious  investigation  of 
the  question,  and  has  collected  a  vast  amount  of  really 
useful  information,  which  is  condensed  into  a  volume  of 
500  pages.  It  is  a  sensible  book;  is  not  filled  with  a 
diatribe  upon  woman's  rights  and  woman's  wrongs,  but 
goes  right  to  the  point,  and  shows  what  women  arc  do- 
ing, and  indicates  the  branches  of  labor  and  business 
where  they  are  not  now  employed,  but  in  which  they 
might  take  the  place  of  men,  in  part  at  least.  Instead  of 
being  called  a  Cyclopaedia  of  Woman's  work,  it  might  be 
entitled  one  of  human  industry,  for  there  is  scarcely  an 
occupation  upon  which  it  does  not  contain  some  inter- 
esting information.  The  different  employments,  the 
terms  of  apprenticeship  and  rale  of  wages  are  given, 
as  well  as  the  relative  demand  and  supply  of  each  kind 
of  labor.  We  pleasantly  passed  some  hours  in  turning 
over  its  pages,  and  wonder  at  the  industry  which  col- 
lected such  a  mass  of  information,  and  admire  its  plain 
and  unassuming  style.  We  believe  that  the  author  has 
done  a  good  work  in  presenting  this  book  to  the  public. 
We  esteem  the  book  so  valuable  that  we  have  placed  it 
In  our  list  of  books  for  premiums,  and  on  sale  at  the 
office.  Price  $1  50,  (including  postage,  when  sent  by  mail.) 


**  Wool  CJrower."— J.  S.  Johnston,  Law- 
rence Co.,  Pa.  A  paper  with  the  above  heading  was  pub- 
lished for  some  time  and  then  discontinued.  Recently 
it  has  been  revived. 


**  A  Million  Postage  Stamps."— "  G. 

W.  K.,"  Penn.  The  collection  of  a  great  number  of  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  P.  O.  stamps,  one  of  each,  has  been  un- 
dertaken by  several  persons  as  a  matter  of  curiosity  ;  but 
the  collections  of  a  million  referred  to  in  your  letter,  and 
in  three  other  reported  cases,  are  no  doubt  for  bad  pur- 
poses. The  parties  buying  them  select  the  best  and  wash 
off  the  ink  carefully,  so  as  to  use  them  again.  If  they  save 
and  use  only  one  out  of  every  ten  3-cent  stamps,  they 
make  three  thousand  dollars,  and  can  well  afford  to  give 
$200  to  some  Sunday  school  or  oilier  benevolent  object  as 
a  blind.  All  such  persons  should  be  promptly  reported 
to  the  Post  Master  General  at  Washington. 


Erysipelas. — "  M.  A.  G,"  writes  that  a  strong 
infusion  of  Indian  Tobaco  {Lobelia  injlata)  in  vinegar, 
applied  to  the  part  affected,  will  allay  the  intense  burn- 
ing which  accompanies  this  disease.  Erysipelas  Is  too 
formidable  a  disease  to  be  treated  in  domestic  practice, 
and  we  give  the  suggestion  without  recommending  it. 


70 


AMERICAN    ACtPJCFLTURIST. 


[March, 


3s   Oid   fSeed  Wheat   JUcst V—  Uauitil  J. 

Bnnta,  Dubois  Co.,  Ind.,  writes  in  Hie  Agriculturist,  [hat 
lie  has  been  experimenting  upon  the  v\ lient  crop,  mid 
among  oilier  things  finds  that  seed  one  year  old  brings 
the  best  crops.  It  is  said,  by  pretty  good  authority,  ttiat 
cucumber  seeds  several  years  old  will  produce  less 
vines  and  more  fruit,  but  this  is  the  first  similar  state* 
merit  we  have  seen  with  respect  to  wheat.  A  considera- 
ble number  of  observations  in  different  localities  and  un- 
der a  variety  of  circumstances,  will  be  needed  to  settle 
the  question.    Who  have  any  facts  to  put  on  record  ? 


Wheat  Insects. — E.  D.  Hewit,  Columbia 
Co,,  Wis.  We  can  not  tell  what  the  insects  are  without 
seeing  them.    They  can  be  sent  by  mail  in  a  box. 


leister's  Superphosphate. — Solomon  S. 
Mead,  of  Fairfield  Co.,  Conn.,  sends  a  lengthy  account  of 
experiments  with  manures,  which  we  have  not  room  for. 
The  gist  of  the  matter  is,  that  in  all  his  trials  the  super- 
phosphate made  by  Lister  Brothers,  and  ground  bones 
from  the  same  source,  have  given  excellent  results.  In 
comparative  plots  of  coin  in  the  same  field  with  equal 
quantities  of  this  superphosphate,  and  "Flemish  Manure," 
the  superphosphate  gave  the  best  results  by  at  least  25  per 
cent.  As  this  superphosphate  is  honestly  made,  we  be- 
lieve, and  is  made  nearly  or  wholly  of  unburned  bones, 
simply  dissolved  in  sulphuric  acid,  we  should  look  for 
gooi^results  from  its  use.  We  applied  it  pretty  freely  to 
a  plot  of  oats  last  year,  but  were  not  at  home  to  watch  the 
effect.  The  man  in  charge  complained  that,  it  was  "  too 
good,"  causing  the  straw  to  grow  so  large  as  to  fall  down. 


Specimens  of  Grass. — Andrew  S.  Nash, 
a  young  farmer  of  Westport,  Conn.,  has  brought  us  a  col- 
lection of  the  grasses  of  his  vicinity.  We  are  always  glad 
to  see  young  people,  especially  young  farmers,  take  an 
interest  in  the  common  plants  and  objects  about  them. 
They  will  find  that  there  is  enough  to  study  without  trav- 
eling far  for  material. 

«  When  to  So w  Millet.— Robert  F.  Roberts, 
Racine  Co.,  Wis.  Hungarian  and  other  millet  may  be 
sowed  in  Spring  at  about  the  time  for  planting  corn,  and 
up  to  June  10th  or  later,  if  for  fodder.  The  Mammoth 
variety  promises  to  be  the  roost  prolific.  It  is  on  our  list 
for  free  distribution  in  small  parcels  as  abeginning. 

Paper  from  Straw. — Coarse  paper  has 
long  been  made  from  straw,  but  the  process  is  now  so 
perfected  as  to  produce  a  white  and  strong  article.  Some 
of  the  daily  papers  in  this  city  are  printed  on  straw  paper, 
and  we  have  been  shown  samples  of  excellent  writing  pa- 
per from  the  same  material  made  by  Mr.  L.  W.  Wright. 

Corn  lor  Fuel.— The  Nebraska  Farmer  says 
that  corn  is  extensively  used  for  fuel  in  some  parts  of  that 
Slate.  Two  ushels  of  corn  are  considered  worth  one 
bushel  of  coal,  and  wilh  corn  at  10c.  and  coal  20c.  per 
bushel,  farmers  think  they  may  as  well  use  the  grain  as 
the  mineral  fuel.  The  economy  of  burning  corn  was 
discussed  at  length  in  February  Agriculturist  last  year. 

Cotton  Samples. — "We  have  received  by 
mail,  samples  from  Charles  Peters,  Athens  Co.,  Ohio, 
and  O.  P.  Williams,  of  Portage,  Wis.  The  latter  thinks 
that  it  should  be  grown  as  an  ornamental  plant  even 
where  it  will  not  ripen.  We  have  distributed  seeds  for 
ornamental  purposes  several  years,  and  keep  it  on  our  list. 


Cotton  in  Utah.— E.  H.  Howard  sends  us 
from  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  a  sample  of  the  cotton  grown 
in  Utah,  The  quality  is  not  quite  equal  to  that  we 
have  seen  from  Illinois.  About  200  acres,  in  Washington 
Co.,  were  in  cultivation  during  the  past  season,  and  gave 
an  average  yield  of  375  pounds  to  the  acre. 

New  Cotton  Substitute.— Smalt  samples 

of  fiber  and  cloth  made  from  "  China  Grass,"  have  been 
placed  on  our  Exhibition  Tables  by  Messrs.  Wright  <fc 
Whitman,  of  Boston.  The  fiber  has  a  very  silky  appear- 
ance, and  takes  color  well.  There  is  also  a  specimen  of 
the  raw  material  which,  though  it  is  called  grass,  is  the 
product  of  one  of  the  nettle  family,  Boekmena  nivca. 
We  are  not  aware  that  it  has  been  introduced  into  this 
country.  It  is  largely  cultivated  in  India,  and  has  been 
raised  in  the  Royal  Gardens  at  Kew,  near  London. 


Three  Crops  of  Peas  in  a  Season. — 

E.  L.  Watts,  Lasalle  Co.,  Ill,  writes  that  he  sowed  the 
Daniel  O'Rourke  pea,  obtained  from  the  Agriculturist 
distribution,  April  10th, and  had  Ihem  in  bloom  by  the  15th 
of  May.  Snme  of  the  ripened  peas  were  scattered  on  (he 
ground  and  produced  a  second  crop,  and  Iroin  the  seed  of 
these  he  had  RTeen  pe as  by  the  middle  uf  September, 
some  of  which  ripened,  making  the  third  crop. 


Chicory. — Solon  Robinson,  Esq.,  bas  placed 
upon  our  Exhibition  Table  fresh  roots  of  chicory,  and  the 
same  article  sliced  and  dried  ready  for  roasting.  It  is 
largely  used  as  a  substitute  for,  or  to  mix  with,  coffee,  but 
for  reasons  often  given,  we   can  not  commend  its   use. 


Hubbard  Squash*— S.  M.  Bell,  Rush  Co., 
Ind.  It  will  not  do  to  plant  this  among  corn.  If  you  wish 
a  crop,  it  must  have  the  ground  all  to  itself,  and  the  soil 
must  be  well  manured.    It  is  one  of  the  very  best  sorts. 


Squash  IV  or  on  s.  —  Mrs.  C.  C.  McGinnis, 
Clinton  Co.,  111.  Your  Hubbard  Squash  vines  were 
destroyed  by  the  squash  bug  (Coreus  tristis).  Plant  the 
seeds  in  well  manured  soil  to  insure  a  vigorous  early 
growth.  Look  them  over  in  the  cool  of  the  morning  to  find 
the  bugs,  which  at  that  time  are  very  quiet.  A  little  vigil- 
ance exercised  in  time  will  free  you  from  their  ravages. 

A.  Paying-  Crop  of"  Onions. — Hanson 
Ordway,  of  West  Newbury,  raised  half  an  acre  of  on- 
ions which  yielded  at  the  rate  of  over  nine  hundred  bush- 
els to  the  acre.  Corn  land  was  manured  the  year  before 
with  ten  and-a-half  cords  of  barn  yard  manure,  which 
was  plowed  in  5  inches  deep.  In  the  Spring  it  was  treated 
with  100  bushels  of  leached  ashes,  cultivated  and  harrow- 
ed, and  raked.  The  crop,  which  took  a  premium  from 
the  Essex  Agricultural  Society,  cost  $60.50,  and  sold  (at  I 
cent  per  lb.),  for  $251.40,— a  handsome  margin  of  $170.90. 

Salt  Around  Fruit  Trees. — M.  Foster, 
Jr.,  Essex  Co,,  Mass.  Two  quarts  of  salt  can  be  safely 
spread  around  a  pear  tree,  and  frequently  with  good  ef- 
fect. Let  it  extend  to  a  distance  of  ten  feet  from  the 
trunk.    For  small  trees  a  less  amount  is  sufficient. 

Books  on  Evergreens. — B.  Albertsou, 
Bucks  Co.,  Pa.  We  know  nothing  of  the  work  by  Brown, 
to  which  you  allude.  The  last  edition  of  Downing's 
Landscape  Gardening  is  out  of  print.  Warder's  Hedges 
and  Evergreens  contains  brief  descriptions  of  the  latter. 
It  is  in  our  list  of  books  ;  see  advertisement. 


Kitchen  Ciarden  in  an    Orchard. — 

W.  Hendry,  Conestoga,  U.  C.  Vegetables  may  well  oc- 
cupy the  ground  between  rows  of  young  trees  ;  but  when 
the  roots  extend  and  need  the  ground,  let  them  have  it  ; 
good  fruit  will  pay  as  well  or  better  than  vegetables. 

Peach  Borer  Remedy. — M.  Kelly,  Fay- 
ette Co.,  Intl.,  advises  to  remove  Die  soil  for  two  inches 
in  depth,  about  the  trunks  of  peach  trees,  thus  exposing 
the  track  of  the  worms.  With  a  sharp  knife,  or  pointed 
instrument,  follow  the  worm  path,  which  usually  goes 
around  the  tree,  and  kill  every  borer.  By  attending  to 
this  in  Spring  and  Fall,  nearly  ail  the  trees  can  be  saved. 
An  expert  hand  can  worm  50  or  more  trees  in  a  day. 
Of  course  the  earth  should  be  returned  about  the   trees. 

"Worms  at  the  Roots. — Mrs  Jas.  P.  Bo- 
gardus,  Sullivan  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  Mrs.  C.  C.  McGinnis, 
Clint  jn  Co.,  111.  These  pests  are  the  larva?  of  small  flies, 
and  are  often  so  numerous  as  to  quite  destroy  certain 
crops  in  the  garden.  The  only  remedy  is  to  repot  the 
plants  with  soil  from  another  locality.  By  turning  the 
ball  of  earth  out  of  the  pots  and  placing  it  in  a  pail  of  wa- 
ter, the  soil  may  be  washed  out  without  much  injury  to 
the  small  roots.  See  that  the  roots  are  entirely  free  from 
the  worms  ami  repot  with  fresh  earth. 

Osage  Orange  Seed. — "Wm.  Polly,  Dark 
Co.,  Ohio.  In  Texas,  the  source  which  formerly  sup- 
plied the  most  of  the  seed,  it  is  cleaned  by  allowing  the 
balls  to  rot  and  then  washing  out  the  seed. 

CSrapes  tor  Australia. — James  Gamagc, 
Fairfield  Co.,  Conn.  It  is  impossible  to  tell  what  grapes 
will  succeed  best  in  Australia.  We  should  advise  taking 
but  a  small  slock  of  Catawba,  Delaware,  Concord, 
and  Creveling.  Probably  you  will  find  some  good  wine 
grapes  under  cultivation  there,  belter  adapted  to  the  coun- 
try than  any  you  can  take  out  with  you. 


Pruning  tirape  Vines. — J.  Sutton,  Bo- 
naparte. Iowa.  You  did  quite  right  with  regard  to  your 
vines.  In  pruning  always  cut  to  a  bud.  Although  a 
branch  may  come  where  there  is  no  visible  bud,  it  is  not 
safe  to  trust  to  its  doing  so. 


Cranberries. — Wm.  Kramer,  Dayton,  Ohio. 
We  have  no  facts  concerning  the  culture  of  the  cranber- 
ry on  dry  land,  away  from  the  sea-shore.    Its  success 

even  there  is  not  well  established. "Sucker."    Your 

slough  would  no  doubt  make  a  good  cranberry  patch   if 


you  have  the  means  of  flowing  the  land  during  a  part  of 
the  year— an  essential  to  the  successful  culture  of  ihio  fruit. 

Treatment  or  Flowering  Shrnhs.— 

Lulu  S.  Lauber,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  Unless  it  is  desira 
ble  to  obtain  seed,  the  flower  clusters  should  be  removed 
as  soon  as  their  beauty  is  past,  or  much  of  the  energies 
of  the  plant  will  be  expended  in  maturing  useless  seed. 


Chrysanthemum  on  a  Rosehush. — 

Mrs.  James,  Harrisonville,  Me.  We  can  not  undertake 
to  account  for  an  alleged  phenomenon  without  seeing  it. 
While  it  no  doubt  appeared  ihat  a  rosebush  bore  a  chry- 
santhemum flower,  we  have  no  doubt  that  there  is  a 
mistake  somewhere.  If  a  like  phenomenon  should  occur 
another  season,  please  let  us  see  it  by  all  means. 


Bridal  Rose.— M.  S.  Shaler,  Broom  CoM  Wis. 

Your  "  rose,"  really  akind  of  double  blackberry,  probably 
needs  repotting.     Prune  severely  and  repot  in  rich  earth. 

Flower  Seeds.— S.  M.  Bell,  Rush  Co.,  Ind. 

We  can  not  tell  why  your  seeds  did  not  come  up,  without 
knowing  how  they  were  planted.  The  most  common 
causes  of  failure  are  sowing  too  deeply  and  sowing  loo 
early,  before  the  ground  becomes  warm  enough  to  make 
them  germinate,  when  they  may  rot  or  lose  their  vitality. 


Things  in  Center  Co.,  5»a.— A  "  Sub- 
scriber of  the  Agriculturist,"  writing  from  this  Countyjust 
at  mid-winter  (Jan.  14)  says:  "A  most  remarkable  Win- 
ter we  are  having  ;  no  cold  weather,  hence  no  ice  for  ice- 
houses or  skating  ;  very  little  snow%  hence  no  sleighing; 
no  rain,  hence  almost  no  water  in  our  wells  and  springs; 
it  has  not  been  so  dry  for  many  years.  Our  last  wheat 
crop  was  good  ;  our  corn  rather  poor  ;  our  oats  destroyed 
in  some  places  by  army  worm  ;  our  potato  crop  below 
the  average,  but  no  rotting;  our  fruit  pretty  good  ;  our 
Union  men  patriotic;  our  Secessionists  rabid;  our  vol 
unteers  more  than  the  quota  ;  our  ladies  agreeable  and 
pretty  (we  think.)" 

Sees  in  a  Chimney. — L.  "W.  Leake,  New- 
York.  In  the  case  of  bees  making  a  permanent  residence 
in  a  chimney,  Mr.  Quinby  says  there  seems  to  be  no  other 
way  but  to  remove  enough  bricks  near  their  locality  to 
reach  them,  guietthem  with  tobacco  smoke,  and  remove 
the  combs.  If  it  be  desired  to  save  the  bees,  place  the 
brood  combs  with  the  bees  on  them,  as  near  as  possible 
in  a  natural  position,  in  a  hive  boltom  up,  where  the  bees 
will  soon  fasten  them;  then  turn  the  hive  over.  The 
proper  season  for  this  would  be,  after  flowers  have  ap- 
peared in  Spring,  that  the  bees  may  repair  all  damages 
and  continue  labor  in  their  new  home. 


Grain    Aphis     in     1863.— W.    Hendry, 

Conestoga,  U.  C.  '  The  grain  aphis  appeared  in  the  same 
localities  in  1862  as  during  the  previous  year,  and  also 
was  found  over  a  much  larger  extent  of  country. 

Cut  Worms. — "G.  A.,"  Harrison  Co.,  Ohio, 
writes  lhat  he  has  seen  the  cut  worm  turn  into  Hessian 
Fly.  We  have  no  dpubt  that  he  has  seen  some  kind  of  a 
fly  produced  from  the  chrysalis  of  some  kind  of  a  worm. 
What  is  generally  known  as  Ihe  cut  worm,  produces  a 
kind  of  moth  or  miller,  while  the  proper  Hessian  fly  is 
not  the  large,  long  legged,  yellow  fly  he  describes,  but  a 
little  fellow  not  more  than  an  eighth  of  an  inch  long. 

3>raining. — R.  F.  Roberts,  Racine  Co.,  Wis. 
This  subject  was  treated  of  at  length  in  several  chapters 
In  the  volume  of  the  Agriculturist  for  1861. — French's 
Farm  Drainage  is  a  work  devoled  to  the  subject,  which 
may  be  had  at  this  ofirce  for  $1,25. 

Corn  Brooms. — J.  M.  Martin,  Lewistown, 
Pa. — In  the  Jan.  and  March  numbers  of  the  Agriculturist 
for  18ti0,  two  illustrated  practical  articles  upon  this  sub- 
ject were  published.  If  you  have  not  the  back  volume 
we  can  supply  it,  or  these  two  numbers,  at  the  usual  rales. 


Water  Lime. — J.  Dunn,  Jr.,  Pa.  Hydraulic 
or  Water  Lime  is  made  from  a  kind  of  limestone  which 
contains  a  considerable  amount  of  magnesia,  silica,  elc. 
It  is  also  known  by  the  name  of  Hydraulic  Cement,  and 
is  the  kind  used  for  lining  cisterns,  or  for  similar  purposes. 


Good  Drinlc  Tor  Summer. — David  H. 
Harris,  Rock  Island  Co.,  III.  We  know  of  nothing  bet- 
ter for  a  summer  drink  than  pure. soft,  cold  water.  In  a 
limestone  country  where  spring  and  well  water  is  hard, 
or  where  from  any  reason  good  water  could  not  be  ob- 
tained otherwise,  we  should  use  a  fiiieiin^r  cistern.  One 
form  of  construction  is  described  in  this  number,  page  73. 


1803.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


The  l>cmarest  Sewing  Machine.— 

To  many  inquirers.  From  what  we  have  seen  of  it,  we 
think  this  machine  may  be  useful  to  dressmakers,  or 
those  who  have  much  sewing  to  be  done  with  a  running 
Stitch,  on  very  thin  fabrics,  such  as  poplins,  bareges,  &c, 
hut  it  is  not  adapted  to  general  family  work,  such  as  sew- 
ing sheetings,  the  thicker  calicos,  or  any  heavy  work. 


l»ost  Oflicc  Department  "I\ot  CSnal- 

ty.»-It  would  hardly  be  surprising  that  in  sending 
100,000  letters,  there  should  be  a  few  errors,  but  in  view 
of  the  great  number  of  defective  letters  received,  we, 
as  well  as  other  publishers,  are  led  to  acquit  the  Post- 
Office  Department  of  many  of  the  sins  laid  to  its 
Charge.  This  very  day  we  received  a  letter  from  a 
distant  town  to  which  it  had  been  wrongly  directed  ; 
another  from  the  dead  letter  office,  whither  it  had  been 
sent  and  opened,  from  want  of  any  proper  direction  on 
the  outside;  also  two  money  letters  entirely  unsealed,  but 
with  the  money  all  safe,  however;  it  had  passed  through 
honest  hands,  and  had  not  fallen  out ;  also  a  notice  from  a 
Wisconsin  Post  Office,  that  there  was  a  letter  there  for  us 
"  held  for  postage."  The  receipt  of  such  letters  are  of 
very  frequent  occurrence. 

The  Farm  for  Sale,  advertised  in  this  pa- 
per, is  worth  looking  after,  we  judge  from  the  statements 
of  the  owner  who  informs  us  that  it  came  into  his  hands 
rather  against  his  will,  he  having  to  take  it  to  secure  some 
money  loaned.  Anyone  thinking  of  purchasing  will,  of 
course,  in  this  case  as  in  all  other  similar  cases,  make 
careful  personal  examination  of  the  character  of  the  soil, 
the  location,  the  buildings,  title,  etc. 

A  Profitable  Cow.-D.  M.  Hays,  Fayette 
Co.,  Mich.,  writes  that  he  has  a  three-quarter  Durham 
cow,  fourteen  years  old,  which  has  given  an  average  of 
ten  quarts  of  milk  per  day,  for  twelve  years,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  two  months.  She  has  had  only  three  calves. 
The  youngest  of  these  is  now  six  years  old,  yet  the  cow 
at  the  present  time  yields  six  quarts  of  milk  per  day. 

Cause  of    Cril>-lli tints;.— A.   S.   Fraden- 

burgh,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.  Horsemen  differ  as  to  the 
cause  of  crib-biting;  some  think  it  a  mere  habit,  resulting 
from  idleness  in  the  staole,  or  learned  from  other  horses. 
We  incline,  however,  to  the  opinion  that  it  proceeds  from 
indigestion.  The  animal  seems  desirous  of  repelling  gas 
from  the  stomach  ;  this  is  a  common  symptom  of  dyspep- 
sia. Hearty  food,  with  insufficient  exercise,  and  want  of 
pure  air  will  ultimately  derange  the  stomach,  and  thus 
perhaps  induce  the  habit  of  cribbing.  The  remedy  in 
such  cases  would  be  to  restore  the  stomach  to  its  proper 
condition  by  giving  good  air,  exercise,  change  of  diet,  and 
perhaps  the  use  of  some  mild  tonic. 

Plank  Floors  and  Sweeney.- David  L. 
Phillips,  Cuyahoga  Co.,  O.  Sweeney  in  horses  is  a  shrink- 
ing of  the  muscles  of  the  shoulder,  induced  by  some  in; 
jury  which  has  prevented  those  parts  from  receiving  their 
proper  share  of  the  circulation.  Plank  floors  alone 
would  hardly  cause  sweeney  ;  but  if  there  should  be  lame- 
ness or  other  ailment  which  might  result  in  that  difficulty 
we  should  prefer  a  well  littered  flooring  of  earth  for  the 
horse  to  stand  upon. 

THe  Best  Itec-Mivcs.— D.  M.  Allen,  Geau- 
ga Co.,  O.  The  makers  of  all  bee-hives  claim  superiority 
for  their  own  ;  we  can  not  say  which  is  absolutely  best. 
Langstrolh's  is  undoubtedly  good.  They  can  be  made  of 
any  size  desired.  Success  in  bee-keeping  depends  more 
upon  proper  attention  to  the  stocks,  than  upon  the  hives 
in  which  they  are  kept.  Improvements  in  hives  are 
mainly  to  facilitate    the  operations  of   the  bee-keeper. 

Tree  niounments — A  Tree  lor  Every 
Child. — A  French  Journal  says  that,  at  Thourette,  in 
the  Department  of  Ain,  the  Cure  (priest),  who  is  nearly 
80  years  old,  has  always  insisted,  for  at  least  for  30  years 
past,  that  for  every  child  baptized  by  him,  the  parent 
,  should  plant  a  fruit  tree  of  some  kind.  The  result  is, 
that  this  Commune,  though  formerly  very  unproductive, 
now  presents  the  appearance  of  an  immense  orchard. 
That  Cure  deserves  a  monument— indeed  he  has  many  of 

them. The  day  the  writer  was  born,  a  willow  slip  was 

struck  into  the  soil  in  the  yard  in  front  "of  the  log  cabin. 
When  we  last  saw  it  some  years  ago,  it  had  a  trunk  so 
large  that  two  men  could  scarcely  embrace  it,  and  a  mass 
meeting  could  gather  nnder  the  shade  of  its  wide  spread- 
ing branches.  (With  some  of  us  it  was  not  a  favorite  in 
childhood;  its  long  slim  twigs  were  rather  too  convenient 
on  certain  occasions.)  When  we  were  in  college,  it  was 
proposed  that  the  members  of  each  successive  class  should 
plant  a  tree  on  the  "  campus  "  or  college  grounds.  The 
result  was,  a  large  collection  of  fine  shade  trees,  that  will 


yield  refreshing  shade  for  generations  to  come.  Perhaps 
our  own  sons,  and  sons'  sons,  may  find  shelter  under  the 
tree  planted  there  by  the  hand  that  writes  this.  We 
commend  the  hints  above,  to  parents,  and  to  students 
in  institutions  of  learning,  not  excepting  those  in  the 
public  schools. 


Catalogue  of  limits.— The  Amcr.  Pomo- 
logical  Society  has  issued  the  report  of  the  Committee 
on  the  revision  of  the  Society's  catalogue,  which  em- 
braces reports  from  Slate  Committees,  by  districts. 
Against  the  names  of  the  different  fr'tits  are  marks  show- 
ing in  what  districts  each  one  is  recommended.  The 
work  is  valuable,  and  we  hope  it  will  be  accessible  to  the 
public.  Will  President  Wilder  please  inform  us  on 
what  terms  copies  can  be  obtained  by  those  desiring  them  ? 

The     I\ew     *4  National    Almanac," 

just  published  by  Geo.  W.  Childs,  Philadelphia,  is  a  very 
complete  and  useful  volume,  containing,  within  its  700 
closely-printed  pages  a  vast  amount  of  statistical  and 
other  information.  It  gives  very  full  details  of  the 
different  departments  of  the  Government,  the  army, 
navy,  &c. ;  the  same  of  the  Individual  States  ;  abstracts 
of  public  laws,  excise  tax,  tariff,  records  of  public  events, 
religious  and  educational  statistics,  etc.,  etc.   Price  $1  50. 


Harris9  flnsects. — "A  Treatise  on  Some  of 
the  Insects  injurious  to  Vegetation  ;  by  Thaddeus  Wm. 
Harris,  M.  D.,  etc." — Two  editions  of  this  important 
work  were  published  during  the  author's  life,  but  under 
State  auspices,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  any  copies 
could  be  obtained  by  the  public.  It  was  a  capital  idea  in 
Mr.  Chas.  L.  Flint,  Secretary  of  the  Massachusetts  Board 
of  Agriculture,  to  bring  out  an  edition  under  circum- 
stances which  will  Insure  a  supply  equal  to  the  demand. 
It  is  published  by  Messrs.  Crosby  <fc  Nichols,  of  Boston. 
Under  the  editorial  supervision  of  Mr.  Flint,  the  third 
edition  is  enlarged  and  improved,  with  additions  from  Dr. 
Harris'  manuscripts,  and  with  original  notes  hy  the 
editor.  It  is  illustrated  with  many  engravings  drawn 
from  nature,  under  the  superintendence  of  Prof.  Aggassiz. 
The  work  contains  640  pages,  and  is  published  in  three 
forms— one  a  superb  edition,  on  tinted  paper,  at  $G  ;  one 
on  plain  paper,  with  colored  plates,  at  $4  ;  and  one  with 
uncolored  plates,  at  $3  00.  In  this  work,  in  his  original 
works  on  Grasses,  on  MilchlCows  and  Dairy  Farming,  etc., 
and  in  his  constant  energetic  labors  as  Secretary  of  the 
Massachusetts  Board  of  Agriculture,  Mr.  Flint  is  doing 
good  service  to  the  cause  of  agricultural  progress. 


Death  ol'iwrant  I'horburn. — This  well 
known  seedsman  and  florist  died  on  the  20lh  of  January, 
at  New-Haven,  Conn.,  at  the  advanced  age  of  90.  He 
came  to  this  country  when  quite  a  young  man,  and  was 
for  a  long  time  the  leading  florist  in  this  city.  His  publi- 
cations and  his  occasional  contributions  to  the  papers  are 
full  of  interesting  reminiscences  of  the  New-York  of  our 
grandfathers.  Mr.  Thorburn  retained  his  health  up  to  the 
lime  of  his  death,  and  attributed  his  fre  edom  from  illness 
to  obedience  to  the  laws  of  health,  and  temperate  habits. 

Death  of  an  Eminent  Horticulturist. 

Dr.  W.  D.  Brinckle,  died  at  Grnveville,  N.  J.,  on  the 
10th  of  December  last.  Dr.  B.  occupied  a  prominent  place 
among  the  pomologists  of  the  country,  and  was  Vice- 
President  of  the  Pennsylvania  Horticultural  Society,  and 
one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  American  Pomologi- 
cal  Society.  The  writer  well  recollects  how  his  first  visit 
to  the  horticulturists  of  Philadelphia  was  made  pleasant 
by  ihe  genial  courtesy  of  the  Doctor,  who  seemed  full  of 
enthusiasm  for  everything  connected  with  his  favorite 
pursuit.  He  originated  a  number  of  fruits  from  seed,  and 
his  name  is  especially  identified  with  the  Brincklc's  Orange 
Raspberry.  The  President,  Cope,  Wilder,  and  other  Rasp- 
berries, originated  with  him,  and  he  was  the  means  of 
bringing  many  of  our  valuable  native  fruits  into  notice. 
In  England  such  a  man  would  have  a  statue  erected  to 
bis  memory,  and  we  hope  that  in  this  country  some  me- 
morial wilt  acknowledge  the  services  of  such  public 
benefactors  as  Dr.  Brinkle  and  all  others  of  his  class. 


Uf.  Y.  State  Agricultural  Society.— 

The  Annual  Meeting  on  Feb.  11  was  interesting  with  dis- 
cussions on  various  questions,  addresses  by  the  acting 
President,  Cornell,  and  others.  Officers  elected  for 
1863 :  President— Edward  G.  Faile,  of  East  Chester, 
Westchester-Co. ;  Vice-Presidents  (One  for  each  Judicial 
District.)  1.  James  B.  Johnson,  of  New-York  ;  2.  Samuel 
Thorne,  of  Washington  Hollow,  Dutchess  Co.;  3.  H. 
Wendall,  Albany;  4.  C.  Boughton.  Saratoga;  5.  E.  Mer- 
riain,  Leyden,  Lewis  Co.;  6.  E.  J.  Hayes,  Unadilla ;  7. 
B.  M.  Baker,  Rochester ;  8.  T.  C.  Peters,  Darien.  Execu- 
tive Committee — J  as.  O.  Sheldon,  Geneva  ;  Samuel  Camp- 
bell, New- York  Mills;  D.  D.  T.  Moore,  Rochester;  J. 
McGraw,  MeGrawville  :  Oscar  Granger,  Saratoga,    Cor- 


responding Secretary — Col.  B.  P.  Johnson,  Albany 
Recording  Secretary— E.  Corning,  Jr.,  Albany.  Treasurer 
— L.  H.  Tucker,  Albany. 


Conn.  State  Agricultural   Society. 

—The  Officers  for  1S63  are:  President—  Ephraim  T. 
Hyde,  2d,  of  Stafford;  Vice-Presidents— Robbins  Battell, 
of  Norfolk  ;  D.  F.  Gulliver,  of  Norwich.  Corresponding 
Secretary— T.  S.  Gold,  of  West  Cornwall.  Recording 
Secretary— W.  W.  Stone,  of  New-Haven.  Treasurer—  F. 
A.  Brown,  of  Hartford.  Chemist— Prof.  Samuel  W. 
Johnson,  of  Yale  Agricultural  Department,  New-Haven. 
Directors — Benj.  H.  Andrews,  New-Haven  Co.;  Chas. 
M.  Pond,  Hartford  Co.;  Henry  Bill,  New-London  Co. ; 
Eliakim  Hough,  Fairfield  Co.  ;  Benj.  Sumner,  Windham 
Co. ;  Lemuel  Hurlburt,  Litchfield  Co. ;  Henry  L.  Stewart, 
Middlesex  Co.  ;  B.  R.  Chamberlain,  Tolland  Co. 

—  < — o©t— +-m. — 

"  Shall  we  Contract  our  Wool  ?*» 

So  ask  a  considerable  number  of  subscribers  to  the  AgrL 
culturist.  They  inform  us  that  already  a  considerable 
number  of  buyers  are  circulating  through  the  country, 
offering  to  contract  for  the  next  clip  at  prices  which 
would,  until  recently,  have  been  considered  very  high. 
Wool  is  now  selling  in  this  market  for  65  to  00  cents  per 
pound — the  coarse  long  grades  almost  as  high  as  the  fine 
qualities.  (For  latest  prices,  see  our  market  reports.)  It 
is  claimed  by  those  offering  to  contract,  that  the  present 
rates  will  not  continue.  They  may  not,  but  they  arc  as 
likely  to  go  higher ;  it  will  depend  upon  the  slate  of  the 
currency.  If  gold  continues  at  its  present  premium,  or 
goes  higher,  wool  will  go  up.  There  is  not  wool  enough 
produced  in  the  country  to  supply  the  home  demand,  and 
it  cannot  be  Imported  at  the  present  prices,  while  ex- 
change stands  at  170  to  175,  as  now,  and  the  high  dultes 
must  be  paid  in  gold  or  demand-notes,  which  are  50  to  60 
per  cent.,  or  more,  above  the  currency.  (The  high  tariff 
is  certainly  benefitting  farmers  now,  if  never  before.) 
We  can  hardly  advise,  for  we  know  not  what  changes  in 
the  currency  may  result  from  the  legislation  now  under 
discussion  in  Congress.  Those  offering  to  contract  for 
wool  are  likely  to  be  best  Informed  as  to  the  prospects  of 
the  market,  and  if  it  will  pay  for  them  to  contract,  will  it 
not  be  as  likely  to  pay  farmers  to  hold  on  to  it? — There  is 
another  item  to  be  taken  into  account.  If  wool  goes  up 
in  price,  the  contractors  will  be  sure  to  call  for  it.  If  it 
goes  down,  will  they  be  as  certain  to  do  so — especially 
those  irresponsible,  peripatetic  buyers  who  perhaps  can 
not  be  found  when  wanted,  unless  it  is  for  their  interest 
to  be  on  hand  ?  If  we  contracted  at  all  with  any  person 
not  a  resident,  and  not  known  10  be  responsible,  we 
should  certainly  require  a  payment  down  of  at  least  one- 
fourth.  All  contracts  should  be  plainly  stated  in  writing, 
and  a  duplicate  copy,  signed  by  both  parlies,  be  retained 
by  each. 

-•-# -MO*— •-• 

A  Work    on    Tobacco     Culture    in 

Progress. 

In  response  to  the  offers  last  month  (page  39),  a  con- 
siderable number  of  essays  have  come  in,  and  notices  of 
many  more  in  preparation  have  been  received.  We  are 
therefore  able  to  announce  that  a  sufficient  number  of  the 
best  of  the  articles  wilt  be  put  in  type,  as  soon  as  they 
can  be  selected,  after  March  1st,  to  make  a  neat,  prac- 
tical treatise  of  at  least  32  pages,  containing  the  plain  di- 
rections of  a  large  number  of  growers  in  different  parts 
of  the  country.  It  will  undoubtedly  be  the  best  available 
source  of  information  on  the  subject  of  tobacco  culture. 
The  price  will  be  about  25  cents  per  copy.  Those  de- 
siring the  work  can  send  their  orders,  which  will  be  fill- 
ed as  early  as  March  15th,  and  perhaps  before  that  time. 
In  an  article  on  page  83  we  give  directions  for  all  work 
needed  to  be  performed  before  the  printed  essays  will  be 
ready. 


International     Agricultural      Exlii- 
hit  ion. 

An  Exhibition  of  stock  and  agricultural  products  of  all 
kinds,  and  agricultural  implements  and  machinery,  will 
be  held  at  Hamburgh  in  July,  from  the  14th  to  the  2inh, 
inclusive.  The  premiums  offered  are  liberal,  and  are 
open  to  general  competition.  The  city  of  Hamburgh  is 
readily  accessible  from  the  great  agricultural  districts  of 
Europe,  and  as  the  German  agricultural  societies,  as 
well  as  other  European  societies,  co-operate  with  the 
Local  Committee,  there  is  every  prospect  that  the  Exhi- 
bition will  be  an  important  one.  No  machinery  will  be 
allowed  on  exhibition  which  is  not  directlyor  indirectly 
connected  with  agriculture.  It  is  hoped  that  our  in- 
ventors and  manufacturers  of  agricultural  implements 
will  see  that  this  important  branch  of  American  industry 
is  well  represented  at  this  exhibition.  Not  only  our 
reapers  and  mowers,  and  such   large  rrmchines,    have 


7Q 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[MaIJCTT, 


proved  superior  to  those  of  European  manufacture,  but 
the  small  tools,  like  hoes,  forks,  <fcc,  were  so  far  in  ad- 
vance of  those  in  general  use  by  European  farmers,  that 
it  should  be  a  matter  of  national  pride  to  show  to  the 
agriculturists  of  Europe  the  progress  we  have  made  in 
this  respect.  Those  who  wish  to  exhibit  farm  products 
or  implements,  can  obtain  circulars  from  the  American 
Agents,  whose  advertisement  may  be  found  in  another 
column.  There  is  direct  communication,  by  steamers, 
between  New-York  and  Hamburgh,  and  the  latter  being 
a  free  port,  there  will  be  no  duties  to  pay,  or  delays  at 
the  Custom-House.  The  time  during  which  applications 
can  be  made  is  limited  to  the  15th  of  April. 


The    Eighth  U.  S.  Census— Interesting 
Agricultural  Statistics. 

[Several  items  from  the  last  Census  have  already  been 
printed  in  this  journal.  A  very  complete,  condensed  ex- 
hibit of  the  population  of  the  entire  country,  showing  at  a 
glance,  the  number  in  each  State,  increase,  etc.,  prepared 
for  ami  published  in  the  August  Agriculturist,  1861,  has 
been  w  idely  copied,  and  is  still  going  the  rounds,  uncred- 
ited.  The  agricultural  statistics  were  not  published  until 
recently,  and  we  now  present  a  series  of  interesting  tables, 
with  accompanying  remarks,  prepared  for  this  journal  by 
our  correspondent,  Daniel  J.  Thomas  Esq.,  of  Sacramen 
to,  Cal.,  for  which  he  will  please  accept  our  thanks.— Ed.] 

All  readers  of  the  American  Agriculturist,  wheth- 
er farmers  or  not,  will  be  interested  in  fully  un- 
derstanding the  material  value  and  pecuniary 
importance  of  the  great  farming  interests  of  this 
country;  the  rapidity  with  which  land  is  being 
brought  under  cultivation,  and  the  great  increase 
of  the  agricultural  productions  of  the  country. 
These  tables  have  been  collected  from  Super- 
intendent Kennedy's  "  Preliminary  Report  on 
the  Eighth  Census."  The  work  has  involved  con- 
siderable'labor — but  a  labor  of  love,  as  well  as 
of  interest  to  the  writer.  The  general  facts  ex- 
hibited are  such  as  every  citizen,  and  particular- 
ly every  farmer,  should  be  proud  of.  No  one 
can  examine  them  without  feeling  that  notwith- 
standing her  troubles,  the  destiny  of  our  Nation 
is  higher  and  still  higher,  onward  and  still  on- 
ward until  the  illimitableness  of  her  agricultural 
wealth  shall  astonish  the  world  more  than  now 
does  the  magnitude  of  her  Minerva-born  army, 
or  the  might  of  herimproptu  navy.  (We  should 
like  to  tell  the  proportion  that  farmers,  plant- 
ers, and  rancheros,  bear  to  the  other  classes  of 
society,  but  the  present  volume  does  not  give 
the  professions,  trades,  and  occupations.  We 
must  therefore  wait  for  the  complete  report. 

Among  the  most  important  and  most  pleasing 
exhibits  are  these :  In  1850  there  were  only 
113,032,614  acres  of  improved  land  in  the  United 
States:  In  1860  there  was  163,201,389  acres, 
making  50,228,775  acres  brought  under  cultiva- 
tion during  the  ten  years,  or  rather  more  than 
Jive  millions  of  acres  per  annum  of  wild  lands  render- 
ed productive  !  Think  what  must  be  the  future 
of  a  Nation  that  yearly  adds  five  millions  of 
acres  to  her  feeding  capacity  !  Yet,  important 
as  is  this  increase  in  the  amount  of  cultivated 
lands,  the  tables  show  a  still  mightier  element 
of  success.  It  is  book-farming — the  influence 
of  such  papers  as  the  American  Agriculturist  and 
its  coadjutors  in  disseminating  both  theoretical 
and  practical  agricultural  knowledge.  Are  the 
Agriculturist,  and  other  bucolic  papers,  mention- 
ed in  the  report?  Not  directly — ;  but  it  is 
stated  there  that  the  value  of  agricultural  imple- 
ments manufactured  in  1800  was  $17,802,514, 
against  $6,842,611  in  1850,  being  $10,959,903 
more  in  the  former  than  in  the  latter  year.  The 
increase  of  laud  brought  under  cultivation  is 
about  45  per  cent.;  the  increased  yearly  require- 
ments for  implements  is  about  160  per  cent. 
Could  there  be  any  better  or  more  perfect  re- 
port hi  favor  of  the  advantages  of  book-farming 


or  of  the  agricultural  press  ?  We  think  not.  The 
value  of  implements  used  by  farmers  in  1860  was 
ninety-five  millions  of  dollars  more  than  the 
value  of  those  on  hand  in  1850.  These  facts  nat- 
urally lead  us  to  look  for  an  increased  value  in 
our  farms — and  we  find  it.  AVhile  but  forty-five 
per  cent,  more  land  has  been  brought  into  culti- 
vation, the  whole  value  of  the  land  cultivated, 
more  than  doubled.  Could  there  be  a  better 
report  in  favor  of  "  book-farming  "  as  it  is  called  ? 
The  following  is  the  showing  for  the  principal 

GRAIN   CROPS.— PRODUCT. 

isc.o.  i860. 

Kind.                        Bushels.  Bus  fiels.  Increase. 

Wheat 100,485.944  171,183,381  70.097,437 

Rve 14.188,813  20.976,286  6,787,473 

Indian  Corn 592,071, 1114  830.451.707  248,380,603 

Duckwheat 8,956.912  17,664.914  8,708,002 

Oats 146,584,179  172,554,688  25,970.509 

•Barley 5,167,015  15.635,119  10,468.104 

Incr'd  yearly  production  of  grain  in  10  years.  .471.012,128 

The  grain  crops  as  between  the  loyal  States 
and  the  twelve  seceding  States  and  Territories 
viz.:  Alabama,  Arkansas,  Florida,  Georgia,  Lou- 
isiana, Mississippi,  North  Carolina,  Tennessee, 
Texas,    Virginia,    and    New    Mexico,  stands1 

GRAIN    CROP    AS   TO    LOCALITY. 

—j  rf                    Loyal  States.  Sec'a  States.  Excess  in  L. 

■a'"a'                           bushels.  bushels.  S.,  bush. 

Wheat 144,770,275  26,413,106  11S,357,169 

Rye 18,801,953  2.174,333  16,627.620 

Indian  Corn 549,076,2-i8  281,375.419  267,700,869 

Buckwheat 17,127,796  537.148  16.590.678 

Oats 152,626.770  19,927.918  132,608,652 

Barley 15,446,713          186,406  15.262.307 

Total 897,851,795  330,614,300  567,237,495 

In  connection  with  the  foregoing  the  follow- 
ing table,  which  we  have  carefully  prepared,  of 
the  population  and  classes  of  inhabitants  of  the 
two  sections,  will  be  exceeding]}'  interesting  to 
to  those  who  have  leisure  to  study  it,  and  who 
will  take  the  trouble  to  institute  comparisons. 

TABLE   OF   POPULATION   OF  THE   UNITED   STATES. 

Loyal  S.  Sebel  S.  Loyal  Ex.  Rebel  Ex. 

White 21,150,760  5,532,417  14,618,343 

Free  Negroes*.      378.295  132,815  245,460 

Slaves 432,650  3,521.110  3,088,460 

Total 21,961,705     9,186,342     12,775.363 

*  In  this  are  included  23,140  Chinese  and  14,555  Mission  In- 
dians of  California,  making  a  total  of  37,695  in   these  classes. 

A  curious  feature  disclosed  by  the  census  is, 
that  two  of  the  slave  States  contain  the  most 
free  negroes.  Maryland  has  83,942,  Virginia 
58,442;  then  Pennsylvania  follows  with  56,849, 
New- York  49,005,  Ohio  36,673,  North  Carolina, 
another  slave  State,  being  sixth  on  the  list  with 
30,463. — But  to  return  to  agricultural  statistics. 

VALUE  OF  FLOUR  AND  MEAL  PRODUCED. 

ioyal  States.  Seceding  Stales. 

I860 $192,002,722  $31,148,647 

1650 119.315.969  16.581,817 

Increase ..$72,686,733  $14,560,830 

This  gives  about  $8.75  worth  of  flour  and 
meal  for  every  inhabitant  of  the  loyal  States, 
against  about   $3.40  for   the   seceding   States. 

The  bean,  pea,  root  and  seed  crops  increased 
throughout  the  country  during  the  decade  thus  : 

PRODUCTION. 

1850.  1S60. 

Kind.                        Bushels.  Bushels.  Increase. 

Peas  and  Beans....     9,219.901  15.I8S.0I3  5,968,112 

Irish  Potatoes....  65,797,696  110.571,201  41.773,305 

Sweet  Potatoes...   38,2(8,148  41,606,302  3,338.154 

Flaxseed 562,312  611,927  49,615 

Clover  Seed 468,978  929.010  41.0,032 

Grass  Seed 416.831  900,366  483,555 

The  above  shows  that  the  annual  production 
of  FlaxSeed  is  now  about  fifty  thousand  bushels 
greater  than  it  was  ten  years  ago.  This  increase, 
though  fair,  is  very  small  compared  with  almost 
everything  else;  and  when  we  look  at  the  pro- 
duction of  flax  itself  the  matter  is  a  very  great 
deal  worse.  In  1850  the  dressed  flax  amounted 
to  7,709,676  pounds ;  in  1860  it  was  but  3,783,079 
pounds, — -decrease  in  the  yearly  product  of 
nearly  four  million  pounds.  This  should  not  be. 
Some  means  must  be  found  to  make  flax  raising 
for  the  fibre  a  paying  crop.  Silk  cocoons,  too, 
fell  off  from  a  yearly  supply  of  10,843  lbs.  to 
C,5G2  lbs.    Rice  is  also  one  of  the  retrograding 


]SC-0-/'m.  Inn-ease. 

460.509,854  147,164.348 

105,875,133  : 0,242 

11. 01". 1)12  7.512.9s.? 

302,203,000  63,072,000 

38.863,864  4.610,444 

429,390,771  239,638.116 

26,  96,855  11.533.163 

60.511,348  7,1)94,384 


crops.  It  was  about  4,000  Ions  less  in  1860  than 
in  1850.  The  figures  are".  215,313,497 lbs.  report- 
ed in  1850  against  187,140,173  lbs.  in  1860. 
The  Cotton  crop  of  1860  was  5,196,944  bales, 
of  400  lbs.  each,  or  something  over  two  thousand 
millions  (2,000,000,000)  of  pounds,  against  2,445,- 
793  bales  (978,317,200  lbs.)  in  1850.  "  The  yearly 
production  of  hemp  is  about  seventy  thousand 
tons  greater  now  than  ten  years  ago.  In  1850 
we  had  34,871  tons,   and  in  1860,   104,590   tons. 

lS.-jO-ttw. 

Butter  313.315.306 

Cheese 105,335.893 

Hops 3,4117,029 

Sugar  (Cane) 237.1  3,000 

Sugar  (Maple)....    34.253.436 
Tobacco  199,752.655 

♦Wax  and  Honey.   14.853,690 

Wool    52.510.959 

*  Wax  1,357,864— Honey  25,028,091 

The  following  agricultural  productions,  in 
which  we  include  the  value  of  farms,  of  agri- 
cultural implements  in  use,  of  agricultural  im> 
plements  manufactured  during  the  year,  and  the 
value  of  home  manufactures  (goods  made  on 
the  farm  and  in  the  household)  are  returned  in 
dollars.  Of  these,  "home  manufactures"  are 
the  only  things  that  decreased— labor  gradually 
finding  better  pecuniary  employment  than  com- 
peting with  the  steam  engine  and  machinery  to 
make  "homespun."  The  census  of  1860  gave 
to  this  branch  only  $24,358,222,  against  $27,- 
493,644  in  1850— a  falling  off  of  $3,135,422. 
The  other  things  measured  in  dollars  are: 
1850.  I860.  Increase. 

Livestock $544,180,516   $1,107.490  216     $5fi3.3in,700 

Farms,  Value  $3,271. 575,426  6.650,672,507  3,379,267,(61 
Farm  lmplem's  151,587,638  247.027.496  95.438. S58 
Orchard  Prod's.  7,723,186  19,759,361  12,036.175 

Market  Gard's..  5,280,030  15.541,627  10.v64.997 
Slaugh'd  Anim's  111,703,142  212,671.653  101,168.511 
Agr'l  Imp.  made         6,812,611  17,802,514  10,959,903 

We  find  Hay  and  Hemp  returned  by  the  ton  : 

1850— tons.       1860— tons.        Increase. 

Hay 13,638,643  19,129,128  5,291.566 

Heinp 34,671  104,590  69,719 


The  liquid  products  are  given  in  gallons  thus: 


1850—  Oalls. 

Cane  Molasses 12,700,991 

Sorghum  Molasses 

Maple  Molasses.,     not  given. 

*Wine 221,249 


1880—  Galls.  Increase. 

16,337,080  3,636,089 

7,235,025  7,235,025 

1.944,594 

1,660,008  1,638,759 


*  Of  this  quantity  Oiiio  furnished  562.640  gallons,  Cali- 
fornia 494,516  gallons,  and  Kentucky  179,949  gallons. 

The  Live  Stock  returns  require  an  explana- 
tion. Hitherto  the  census  blanks  provided  for 
accounts  of  domestic  animals  only  from  persons 
filling  up  the  agricultural  schedules,  which,  of 
course,  left  out  the  animals  owned  by  those  en- 
gaged in  other  pursuits.  Seeing  this  deficit, 
Superintendent  Kennedy  ordered  supplementa- 
ry returns  of  the  previously  omitted  stock.  We 
have  arranged  our  condensed  tables  to  show 
both  classes.  The  ratio  of  increase  will  be  best 
gathered  by  comparing  the  first  two  columns; 
the  difference  is  shown  in  the  fifth  column. 


Oicned  by 

farmers  in 

1850. 

Horses 4,336.719 

Mules  and  Asses  .      559,331 

Hogs 30,354.213 

Sheep .21,723.220 

Milch  Cows 6.365.004 

Working  Oxen....  1,700.694 
Other  Neat  Caltie.10,293,009 
Total 


Owned  by  Otened  by 

farmers  in  oilier*  in 

18CO.  1S60. 

6,115.458  1,185,514 

1,129,553  166,780 

32.555.207  3.407.905 

2.:. 317. 756  1.505,810 

8,728,862  1,200,000 

2,240,075  300,000 

14,671,400  1,847,000 

Increase  of  Increase  in 


reported  in  those owned  total  it  um- 

1860.  by  Farmers,  her  reported 

Horses 7,300.972  1,778,739  2,904.253 

Mules  and  Asses..   1,296,339  570,222  737,008 

Hogs   36,023,272  2.201.054  6,669,959 

Sheep 24.623.565  1,594,536  3,100,316 

Milch  Cows 9,928.662  2.343,768  3,543.768 

Working  Oxen  ....   2,540.075  539.361  639,381 

Other  JNeat  Cattle  10,518,400  4,378,331  6,225,340 

The  facts  above  set  forth  are  very  suggestive 
of  thought,  and  worthy  of  study  by  not  only  the 
farmer,  but  by  the  mechanic  and  artizan,  the 
merchant  and  manufacturer,  the  politician  and 
the  statesman — in  fact  by  all  classes.  We  have 
not  space  left  for  conclusions  and  inferences,  but 
may,  perhaps,  resume  the  subject  hereafter.    T. 


1SC3.J 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


73 


Rough   Koads. 

m 

That  these  are  unpleasant  to  ride  upon,  no  one 
•will  deny.  They  torture  a  rheumatic  or  ner- 
vous man  beyond  peaceful  endurance.  They 
obstruct  business,  they  interfere  with  sociability 
between  neighbors,  and  with  that  well-known  en- 
joyment which  comes 
from  riding,  whether 
ill  carriage  or  saddle.  [ 
They  make  horse-life 
painful;  and,  more  than  [ 
this,  they  are  expensive. 
Ask  any  observing  man 
who  has  lived  indiffer- 
ent parts  of  the  coun- 
try, and  he  will  testify 
that  wagons  last  much 
longer  in  light,  sand}' 
soils,  than  in  clayey  or 
stony  lauds.  When  a 
fast-moving  vehicle 
strikes  a  stone,  it  re- 
ceives a  serious  blow. 
The  tire  is  battered, 
joints  are  started,  the  harness  strained,  and  the 
horse  strained  too,  if  not  the  rider.  Now  suppose 
such  shocks  repeated  several  times  a  day,  and 
throughout  the  year,  the  result  must  be  some- 
thing important.  At  least,  so  the  bills  at  the 
blacksmith's  and  the  harness-maker's  will  testify. 

One  who  is  tolerably  quick  at  figures,  might 
reckon  the  cost  of  a  single  fixed  stone  in  the 
highway  for  a  year.  And  if  of  one  stone,  what 
of  many  thousands  ?  An  estimate  of  the  cost  of 
stony  roads  to  this  State  was  once  made  by  a 
writer  in  the  Albany  Cultivator,  substantially  as 
follows  :  There  are  60,000  miles  of  public  high- 
way in  the  State,  50,000  of  which  are  more  or 
less  stony.  It  would  cost  about  $35,000  a  year 
to  clear  out  the  stones.  The  aggregate  value  of 
buggies  and  farm  wagons  is  about  $00,000,000. 
If  the  roads  were  kept  smooth  and  clear  of 
stones,  it  would  be  a  saving  of  about  eight  per 
cent,  of  wear  and  tear,  or  nearly  $5,000,000. 
Now,  taking  out  the  cost  of  cleaning  the  roads, 
it  would  leave  us  a  gain  of  $1,975,000,  annually, 
a  sum  not  to  be  despised  in  these  dark  days ! 
[This  estimate  is  an  exaggerated  one  ;  less  than 
half  a  dollar  a  mile  is  allowed  for  clearing  up 
the  roads;  but  make  the  cost  average  $10  a 
mile,  and  the  profit  would  still  be  very  large. 
The  moral  of  this  is,  that  it  would  pay  well 
for  the  inhabitants  of  every  neighborhood  to 
spend  a  few  days  annually,  with  crowbar  and 
pickaxe,  in  removing  imbedded  stones,  and  in 
taking  all  loose  stones  from  the  roadway.— Ed.] 


paration  of  his  manure.  Farmers  and  others 
may  learn  a  hint  from  his  example.  It  is  plain 
that  coarse,  lump}'  manure  cannot  benefit  land 
as  much  as  that  which  is  broken  up  and  finely 
diffused  through  it.  One  reason  why  liquid 
manure  and  guano  act  so  efficaciously,  is  because 
they  are   so   minutely  divided   among  the  soil. 


"Fining"  Manure. 


An  English  gardener  of  the  writer's  acquaint- 
ance makes  a  great  deal  of  what  be  calls  "  Fin- 
ing Manure."  He  means  breaking  up  the 
lumps,  tearing  in  pieces  the  long,  strawy 
parts,  and  bringing  it  all  into  such  a  fine  state 
that  it  can  be  thoroughly  mixed  with  the  par- 
ticles of  the  soil.  Having  broken  it  up,  he 
mixes  it  with  ashes,  leaves,  sawdust,  tanbark, 
and  all  the  refuse  of  his  garden,  laying  it  up  in 
thin  layers.  When  it  has  become  partly  de- 
composed, he  overhauls  it,  turning  it  over  with 
the  shovel,  and  making  it  one  homogeneous 
mass.  After  the  heap  has  lain  a  few  months, 
it  gets  another  working,  when  it  is  thor- 
oughly "fined"  and  ready  for  use  anywhere. 
He  is  a  very  successful  gardener,  and  ascribes 
no  small  part  of  his  success  to  this  careful  pre- 


Aydelott's  Automatic  Flood  Fence. 


A  correspondent  in  New  Albany,  Iud.,  who 
signs  himself  "  Q  in  a  corner,"  sends  an  account 
of  a  fence  that  he  saw  on  the  farm  of  Geo.  K. 
Aydelott  Esq.  in  Mead  Co.,  Ky.  Every  one  who 
has  had  experience  with  fences  upon  lands  lia- 
ble to  overflow  in  time  of  a  freshet,  will  be  glad 
to  know  of  this  simple  and,  according  to  our 
correspondent,  very  effective  plan  for  fencing 
such  places.  The  fence  he  saw  was  upon  a 
steep  bank  of  the  Ohio  River,  where  it  was  used 
for  a  lane  by  which  the  cattle  went  to  the  river 
to  drink.  It  was  of  some  50  sections,  had  been 
in  use  for  three  years,  and  though  it  had  been 
frequently  inundated,  it  had  not  cost  fifty  cents 
for  repairs.  The  structure  will  be  readily  un- 
derstood from  the  engraving :  the  posts  a,  are 
of  locust  or  cedar,  4  feet  long,  and  about  6x3 
inches ;  these  are  sunk  three  feet  in  the  ground. 
Near  the  bottom  of  the  posts,  pins  b,  2  inches 
in  diameter  and  2  feet  long,  are  driven,  and  upon 
the  projecting  ends  of  these,  stones  are  placed. 
These,  with  the  earth  well  rammed  in,  serve  to 
anchor  the  fence ;  the  oak  studs  c,  are  4  feet 
long,  of  4x4  stuff,  to  which  the  slats  of  the  fence 
are  nailed,  forming  a  section  of  the  fence.  The 
pins,  d,  are  of  inch  iron,  and  are  put  loosely 
through  the  lower  ends  of  the  studs  and  the 
upper  ends  of  the  posts,  so  as  to  form  a  hinge. 
The  sections  are  kept  upright  either  by  braces, 
or  by  stakes  with  a  rider  as  seen  in  the  left  hand 
figure.  When  the  water  rises,  the  supports  break 
away  or  float  off  and  the  panel  falls  down,  as 
shown  in  the  right  hand  figure.  (The  joints  are 
not  engraved  quite  right.)  It  presents  little  re- 
sistance to  the  current,  and  remains  safe  until  the 
water  subsides,  when  it  is  readily  set  up  again. 


Benefits  of  Irrigation. 

The  benefits  of  irrigation,  or  conducting  a 
stream  of  water  over  meadow  or  other  land, 
are  not,  as  some  have  supposed,  confined  to  lo- 
cations subject  to  drouth.  It  is  not  so  much 
the  water  that  the  land  needs,  as  what  the  wa- 
ter contains.  Streams  are  not  only  fed  by 
springs,  but  they  receive  much  surface  water, 
especially  during  violent  showers,  and  long 
continued  rains.  In  its  passage  over  the  soil, 
the  water  takes  up,  both  mechanically  and 
chemically,  a  large  portion  of  valuable  fertiliz- 
ing matter.    This  can  readily  be  seen  when  the 


stream  is  turbid  from  recent  storms.  The  best 
proof,  however,  of  the  presence  of  large  amounts 
of  such  matter  in  running  streams  is  found  in  the 
rich  deposits  of  muck  where  the  current  of  the 
stream  is  very  sluggish,  which  allows  much  of 
the  suspended  matter  to  fall  to  the  bottom.  The 
accumulations  in  such  places  frequently  become 
so  great,  as  to  change  the  channel  of  the  stream, 
as  is  seen  where  deltas  are  formed  at  the  mouths 
of  rivers.  Now  if  the  water  of  a  stream  is  made 
to  rest  a  while  upon  a  meadow,  a  large  part  of 
its  impurities  will  be  left  just  where  they  are 
wanted  to  fertilize  the  growing  grass.  This  is 
the  theory  of  irrigation  as  needed  in  most  parts 
of  this  country.  The  manner  of  effecting  it  will 
depend  upon  the  positions  of  the  stream  and 
fields.  Hundreds  of  brooks  that  are  now  idling 
through  the  field,  yielding  nothing  but  an  oc- 
casional drink  to  the  cattle,  might  be  made  to 
contribute   largely  toward  enriching  the  farm. 


An  Improved  Filtering  Cistern. 

Several  plans  for  filtering  cisterns  have  here- 
tofore been  published  in  the  Agriculturist,  all  pos- 
sessing some  good  features,  but  not  readily 
applicable  to  cisterns  already  constructed.  The 
one  shown  below,  was  designed  to  meet  this 
want,  and  it  may  be  of  service  to  others  desirous 
of  obtaining  the  best  kind  of  water  for  all  pur- 
poses, but  for  whom  it  may  not  be  convenient  to 
build  the  separate  cisterns  usually  recommended. 

The  engraving  represents  a  vertical  section  of 
the  cistern  and  filtering  arrangement.  C,  shows 
the  main  reservoir,  which  receives  the  water. 
A  semicircular  well  of  brick,  W,  two  feet  in  di- 
ameter, is  built  against  the  wall  of  the  main  cis- 
tern. The  bricks  are  laid  in  hydraulic  cement, 
and  the  wall  is  cemented  on  both  sides.    The 


water  flows  into  this  well  through  a  pipe,  P, 
from  the  bottom  of  the  filter,  F,  and  is  drawn 
out  through  the  tube,  T,  by  a  pump  at  the 
top  of  the  cistern.  The  filter,  F,  consists  of  a 
brick  compartment  or  box,  18  inches  in  length, 
width,  and  hight.  It  is  built  along  the  side  of 
the  main  cistern,  the  wall  of  the  well  forming 
one  end  of  the  box.  The  tube  connecting  the 
filter  with  the  well,  is  of  galvanized  iron,  having 
a  cap  punched  with  holes,  on  the  end  entering 
the  filter.  The  filtering  materials  are,  com- 
mencing at  the  well,  first  a  layer  of  gravel  3 
inches  thick;  then  a  thickness  of  cotton  flannel; 
next  7  inches  of  pounded  charcoal,  made  about 
half  the  size  of  peas ;  5  inches  of  sand,  and  3 
inches  of  gravel  for  the  last  layer.  These  lay- 
ers are  placed  before  the  box  is  covered,  and  are 
made  vertical,  as  shown  in  the  engraving,  instead 
of  horizontal  in  the  usual  manner.  Before  filling 
the  filter,  fit  a  plate  of  galvanized  iron  punc- 
tured with  fine  holes,  to  form  the  outer    end  of 


7-1 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[itfAKCH, 


the  box,  and  fasten  it  in  place.  The  filtering 
materials  can  then  be  readily  put  in  by  using 
slips  of  sheet  iron  or  tin  to  keep  them  from 
mixing  while  being  introduced.  The  slips  can 
be  gradually  drawn  out  as  the  filling  pro- 
ceeds. When  filled,  the  box  may  be  covered 
with  flat  stones,  or  with  a  sheet  of  galvanized 
iron.  All  joints  should  be  cemented  tightly. 
The  object  of  placing  the  layers  vertically, 
is  to  prevent  the  accumulation  of  sediment 
upon  the  top  layer  of  the  filter.  With  the  ar- 
rangement described  above,  much  of  the  deposit 
will  fall  to  the  bottom  of  the  cistern,  at  the  foot 
of  the  filter.  Another  advantage  is  that  the  well 
will  he  supplied  with  water  as  long  as  any  re- 
mains in  the  cistern,  for  it  will  keep  at  the  same 
level  in  both  divisions. 


About  Buying  a  Farm. 

"  Reading  the  Agriculturist  has  made  a  farmer 
of  me  in  theory,  and  now  I  intend  to  become 
one  in  practice ;  please  give  me  some  counsel  in 
relation  to  purchasing.  Where  ?  how  much  ? 
what  kind  of  soil?  etc.,  in  short,  whatever  you 
think  should  be  suggested  to  one  in  my  circum- 
stances." So  writes  a  city  subscriber,  and  many 
letters  of  similar  import  are  awaitiug   a  reply. 

First,  then,  it  may  not  be  advisable  to  buy  at 
all.  Farming  on  paper  is  easy,  pleasant,  and 
gives  a  good  show  of  profit ;  actual  cultivation 
of  the  soil  may  be  as  enjoyable  and  remunera- 
tive, provided  a  man  knows  how  to  accomplish 
work  easily,  is  enthusiastic  in  the  business,  and 
has  brains  and  experience  to  plan  wisely.  It  is 
not  always  best  for  men  of  middle  age,  brought 
up  to  other  callings,  and  possessing  limited  cap- 
ital, to  buy  a  farm.  It  requires  experience  and 
skill  as  well  as  hard  work,  to  lift  a  mortgage,  and 
most  novices  will  be  disheartened  before  it  can 
be  accomplished.  Young  men  of  nerve,  whose 
habits  of  life  are  not  jet  fully  fixed,  have  better 
prospects  of  success;  yet  in  their  case  it  would 
be  wiser  to  work  a  few  years  under  instructions, 
to  gain  at  least  the  rudiments  of  cultivation,  be- 
fore involving  themselves  by  purchasing  land. 

But  supposing  the  cost  to  have  been  counted, 
and  a  decision  made,  where  shall  he  buy  ?  The 
proper  answer  depends  upon  the  branch  of  ag- 
riculture which  is  to  be  made  prominent,  wheth- 
er dairying,  raising  of  stock,  grain,  garden  veg- 
etables, or  fruit.  For  the  last  two,  nearness  to 
market  is  almost  indispensable  ;  it  is  desirable 
in  all  cases.  For  other  purposes,  it  is  safe  to 
locate  where  others  are  successfully  engaged  in 
the  kind  of  business  desired.  Unlike  manufac- 
turing, there  is  little  danger  from  competition  in 
any  particular  locality ;  one  must  leave  a  farm 
before  another  can  enter  upon  it ;  though  on  the 
open  prairie  there  is  room  for  all. 

Buy  land  ofno  man  without  thorough  personal 
inspection.  If  inexperienced,  secure  the  services 
of  a  friend  competent  to  make  the  examina- 
tion. Ascertain  the  character  of  the  neighboring 
society  and  the  distance  from  schools  and  church- 
es. Give  a  thorough  examination  to  the  soil. 
The  growing  crops  may  not  be  a  fair  test  of  the 
capacity  of  the  laud.  An  unpropitious  season, 
or  an  unusually  favorable  one,  may  lead  to  a 
wrong  estimate.  Dig  down  through  the  surface 
soil,  in  various  fields,  and  note  its  depth.  Farms 
covering  equal  areas  may  differ  by  more 
than  one-half  in  amount  of  serviceable  soil — one 
being  scarcely  four  inches,  the  other  twelve  or 
more  inches  deep.  Observe  the  character  of 
the  subsoil,  whether  hard  pan,  requiring  drain- 
ing, or  gravel  unable  to  bear  drouth.     A  mo- 


derately firm,  deep  loam  is  desirable  for  tillage, 
and  one  containing  limestone,  is  generally 
the  best,  especially  for  wheat,  corn,  and  orchard 
purposes.  If  we  had  capital  to  drain  and  sub- 
soil well,  we  should  not  object  to  a  stiff  loam, 
approaching  clay,  for  such  soils  are  permanent, 
can  hardly  be  "  worn  out,"  and  if  well  drained 
and  thoroughly  worked,  they  make  the  best  use 
of  manure,  are  less  affected  by  drouths,  and  give 
a  good  yield  of  hay,  as  well  as  of  other  crops. 

Examine  the  slope  of  the  fields,  whether  to 
the  north  where  Winter  will  linger,  or  to  the 
warm  south,  where  Spring  loves  to  show  herfirst 
favors.  Are  the  fields  well  laid  out  and  fenced  ? 
Well  watered?  Are  there  sufficient  buildings, 
and  what  is  their  condition?  If  the  capacities 
of  a  farm  be  sufficient,  it  may  sometimes  be 
bought  to  advantage,  although  "  a  little  run 
down."  Proper  management  will  bring  up  a 
naturally  good  soil,  and  money  may  often  lie 
made  by  putting  such  a  place  into  good  heart. 
But  no  one  should  attempt  such  an  operation 
without  the  most  careful  estimate  of  the  amount 
needed,  and  the  reasonable  assurance  that  it  will 
not  be  likely  to  exceed  his  available  capital. 

When  a  favorable  decision  is  made,  engage 
the  services  of  a  reliable  lawyer  to  search  the 
title.  Fifty  or  a  hundred  dollars  expended  in 
this  way  would  have  saved  many  a  man  from 
more  than  ten  times  that  amount  of  loss.  The 
writer  has  now  in  mind  the  case  of  a  hard-work- 
ing farmer  whose  earnings  for  years  were  lost 
by  neglect  of  this  precaution.  Finally,  be  pre- 
pared to  work  hard,  to  meet  and  overcome  un- 
looked-for difficulties  which  can  only  be  known 
by  experience,  and  to  be  content  with  small  but 
steady  gains,  and  a  life  of  peaceful  independence. 
-•-. —      »i<     — »-•. 

Two   Kinds  of  Sugar— Sweetening   from 
Sorghum— Evaporators. 


There  are  two  leading  kinds  of  sugar,  known 
as  cane  sugar,  and  grape  sugar.  Cane  sugar  is 
obtained  from  the  southern  cane,  from  the  sap 
of  the  maple,  from  the  juice  of  beets,  etc. 
Grape  sugar  is  found  in  raisins,  in  those  fruits 
and  plants  generally  -which  possess  sour  or  acid 
juices,  and  in  honey.  It  can  also  he  produced 
artificially  from  starch,  from  woody  fibre,  from 
cotton,  etc.  Cane  sugar  contains  12  atoms  of 
carbon,  united  with  the  elements  of  11  atoms  of 
water,  while  grape  sugar  contains  12  atoms  of 
carbon  and  14  atoms  of  water.  We  can  change 
cane  sugar  into  grape  sugar  by  a  chemical  pro- 
cess, which  will  cause  the  former  to  take  up  the 
extra  atoms  of  water  in  chemical  combination. 
But  cane  sugar  cannot  be  produced  artificially. 
It  is  only  made  by  some  secret  process  of  Na- 
ture within  the  plants  themselves.  Cane  sugar 
readily  takes  a  solid  form  of  regular  six-sided 
hard  crystals.  Grape  sugar  crystallizes  slowly 
and  imperfectly,  as  is  the  case  with  solidified 
honey,  and  the  crystals  are  irregular,  ill-de- 
lined,  and  usually  in  needle-shaped  tufts.  A 
third  kind  of  sugar,  sometimes  called  fruit  stigar, 
is  entirely  uncrystallizable,  like  that  found  in 
molasses,  etc. 

The  above  distinctions  are  important,  in  refer- 
ence to  the  new  plant,  Sorghum.  If  the  main 
portion  of  the  sweet  clement  be  grape  sugar,  we 
cannot  hope  for  great  success  in  manufacturing 
solid  cane  sugar  from  it,  while  it  may  be  a 
source  of  sweetening  in  the  form  of  molasses 
and  grape  sugar;  for,  as  stated  above,  grape 
sugar  cannot  be  transformed  into  the  crystalliza- 
ble  cane  sugar.  A  scientific  correspondent  of 
the  American  Agriculturist  offers  the  following 
suggestions.    We  cannot  say  how  near  right  he 


may  be,  but  his  suggestions  are  worthy  of  inves- 
tigation. He  says:  "It  is  amusing  to  note  the 
claims  put  forth  by  the  different  makers  of 
evaporators,  with  regard  to  the  superior  power 
their  particular  inventions  haye  over  all  others, 
to  extract  sugar  from  sorghum.  The  fact  is, 
that  sorghum  and  imphee  contain  very  little  su- 
gar that  will  crystallize,  but  a  great  deal  that 
is  uncrystallizable ;  and  no  evaporator  can  pro- 
duce any  more  of  the  forma;  than  the  juice  nat- 
urally contains.  While  ciystallizable  sugar 
can  readily  be  converted  into  the  other  kind, 
there  is  no  process  yet  known  by  which  the 
operation  can  be  reversed.  Exposure  to  heat 
in  contact  with  the  air  will  convert  cane  sugar 
into  the  uncrystallizable  sort,  or  molasses.  One 
of  the  greatest  improvements  in  sugar  refining 
is  the  vacuum-pan,  a  closed  evaporator  from 
which  the  air  is  pumped.  In  this  the  syrup  is 
evaporated  without  coming  in  contact  with  the 
air,  and  at  a  much  lower  temperature  than  if 
exposed.  It  is  very  apparent  that  the  value  of 
sorghum  and  its  allies,  as  a  source  of  sugar,  will 
never  be  increased  by  the  inventive  genius  of 
evaporator  makers.  We  must  look  to  some 
new  variety,  or  remarkable  improvement  in  the 
old,  before  we  can  get  a  large  amount  of  crys- 
tallizable   sugar  from  this  source." 


How  Cotton  was  Grown  in  Illinois. 

The  Rev.  J.  A.  Bent,  of  Hazleton,  Washing- 
ton Co.,  111.,  whose  sample  of  10  lbs.  of  cotton  is 
on  exhibition  at  the  office  of  the  American  Agri- 
culturist, sends  the  following  statement  of  his 
experience  in  growing  cotton.  His  locality 
is  in  about  the  latitude  of  St.  Louis.  We  should 
be  pleased  to  have  the. experience  of  those  who 
have  successfully  grown  cotton  farther  north: 

"I  was  unable  to  plant  until  about  May20lh. 
I  prepared  two  pieces  of  land,  one  of  an  acre, 
and  the  other  of  half  an  acre.  The  former  had 
been  in  cultivation  several  years,  the  latter  was 
newly  rotted  prairie  sod.  The  old  ground  was 
prepared  as  if  for  corn — except  that  the  rows, 
3k  feet  apart,  were  raised  a  little  by  turning  two 
light  furrows  toward  each  other.  The  seed, 
one  bushel  to  the  acre,  was  rolled  in  moistened 
ashes  immediately  before  being  planted,  so  as 
to  increase  the  ease  of  scattering  it  uniformly  in 
the  furrow  ;  it  was  covered  with  a  hoe  one  inch 
deep.  In  the  South,  a  larger  quantity  is  usually 
planted,  and  the  plants  are  thinned  out  or  cut  off 
when  hoed,  and  in  the  decomposition  of  their 
roots,  they  serve  as  a  manure  to  those  that  re- 
main; by  this  means  a  good  start  is  rendered 
comparatively  certain.  My  seed  came  up  well, 
but  in  spots  I  lost  not  a  few  plants  by  the  rav- 
ages of  grubs  or  worms.  When  the  plants  were 
about  four  inches  high,  they  were  hoed,  or  rath- 
er the  weeds  (principally  purslane)  were  scraped 
away  from  the  cotton  to  the  middle  of  the  space 
between  the  rows.  When  the  plants  had  grown 
to  be  about  a  foot  high,  they  were  plowed  out, 
first  turning  the  earth  away  from,  and  then 
throwing  it  back  to  them.  The  plants  were 
then  thinned  to  about  16  inches  apart  in  the 
row,  where  they  were  too  thick.  The  first  blos- 
soms appeared  about  the  20th  of  July.  The 
plants  when  full  grown  were  from  2  to  5  feet  in 
bight,  and  contained  from  15  to  40  bolls  each. 
They  opened  for  picking  early  in  October,  and 
up  to  December  the  cotton  was  good.  Since 
then  the  cotton  has  been  yellowish,  and  much 
of  it  not  perfectly  developed.  The  cotton  on 
the  smaller  piece  received  less  attention,  as  there 
were  no  weeds;  it  yielded  the  best.  Owing 
to  my  failure  in  getting  a  perfect  stand,  I  really 


lSll.i.J 


AMKRTOAN    AGPIOULTURIST. 


had  what  might  be  called  a  stand  for  one  acre. 
The  amount  of  good  cotton  actually  picked,  up 
to  this  time,  is  about  three  hundred  pounds,  or 
what  is  sufficient  to  make  75  lbs.  of  ginned  cot- 
ton. Had  1  been  able  to  have  planted  mine  three 
weeks  earlier,  I  think  there  would  have  been  at 
least  enough  to  have  made  one  hundred  pounds, 
which  as  the  prices  now  are  for  Upland  Mid- 
dlings in  New- York,  would  be  worth  there  $08. 
The  charge  for  ginning  cotton  is  usually,  I  be- 
lieve, one  tenth.  The  expense  of  cultivating  and 
securing  an  acre  would  be  about  as  follows : 

l'i. winy  and  Laying  off,  and  planting $2.00 

1  L.i  bushels  of  seed  (say  at  present) 1,50 

Hoeing,  thinning,  and  cultivating 3.00 

Picking 4.00 

The  expense  of  ginning,  if  a  gin  is  near,  say.. 5.00 

•515.50 
Worth  of  Cotton  in  N.  Y.  at  present  rates  as  above.  08.00 
Net  profit  on  an  acre $52.50 

There  has  been  much  more  cotton  raised  in 
Southern  Illinois  this  year  than  usual.  The 
prospect  now  is,  that  more  will  be  planted  next 
Spring.  The  short  staple,  or  Upland  variety,  is 
the  kind  that  can  be  depended  on  to  do  well. 
To  those  who  are  willing  to  attend  to  the  busi- 
ness thoroughly,  I  would  say,  as  the  result  of  my 
experience  and  observation,  that  it  will  pay  well 
to  have  a  field  of  cotton  at  the  present  prices." 

[The  above  estimates  are  based  upon  an  un- 
precedented price  for  cotton.  What  is  here 
reckoned  at  68  cents  per  lb.,  has  usually  run 
from  8  to  13  cents  per  lb.,  and  at  these  prices 
the  cotton  crop  would  be  raised  at  a  loss.  There 
is  little  prospect,  however,  that  cotton  will  sink 
below  20  or  25  cents  for  a  year  to  come. — Ed.] 


Beet  Sugar  in  Ohio. 


In  France,  and  in  some  parts  of  Germany,  a 
very  large  amount  of  cane  sugar  is  prepared  from 
the  juice  of  sugar  beets.  Several  attempts  were 
made  a  few  years  ago  to  introduce  the  process 
in  this  country,  but  without  sufficient  success  to 
induce  the  experimenters  to  continue  their  ef- 
forts ;  and  wc  have  been  in  doubt  whether,  owing 
to  the  difference  in  climate  and  the  great  cost  of 
labor,  the  manufacture  of  beet  sugar  would 
ever  be  profitable  here,  especially  while  we 
have  so  large  an  area  at  the  South  adapted  to 
the  growth  of  the  American  sugar-cane.  Mr. 
Klippart,  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Ohio 
State  Board  of  Agriculture,  reports  at  length 
upon  experiments  made  last  season  by  Prof. 
Mot,  near  Newark,  Licking  County,  which 
seem  to  indicate  success,  and  Mr.  K.  speaks 
quite  sanguiuely.  We  extract  a  few  items  from 
the  detailed  report.  Ten  acres  of  old  corn  and 
potato  land  were  prepared  by  deep  plowing, 
only  one  acre  (of  the  potato  land)  being  sub- 
soiled.  The  seed  planted  was  of  two  kinds,  the 
"Vilmorin  Improved"  and  the  "Imperial,"  the 
former  being  much  the  best.  The  yield  of  the 
entire  ten  acres  is  estimated  at  about  190  tons. 
The  acre  subsoiled  produced  about  six  times  as 
large  a  crop  as  an  acre  in  any  other  part  of  the 
field  not  thus  prepared.  The  sugar  was  manu- 
factured by  simple  and  somewhat  imperfect  ma- 
chinery, the  roots  being  first  reduced  to  pulp, 
by  means  of  a  revolving  grater,  and  pressed. 
One  thousand  pounds  of  beets  yielded  78  gal- 
lons of  juice.  The  juice  was  treated  with  "  cer- 
tain chemicals,"  evaporated,  filtered  through 
bone-black,  and  again  evaporated  and  set  aside 
to  crystallize.  The  result  was  a  very  excellent 
article  of  brown  sugar,  obtained  at  an  expense 
of  four  cents  per  pound.  The  refuse  pulp  was 
found  to  be  an  excellent  food  for  cows.  A  cer- 
tain portion  of  the  process  is  kept  secret,  but 
there  is  uo  doubt  that  the  method  employed  by 


the  beet  sugar  manufacturers  of  France  is  as 
perfect  as  any  yet  known.  They  add  lime-water 
to  the  juice,  and  then  remove,  the  lime  by  means 
of  ammonia-alum.  The  manufacture  of  sugar 
requires  much  more  care  and  practical  know- 
ledge than  it  does  to  make  Syrup,  and  if  it  is 
found  profitable  to  enter  into  the  production  of 
beet  sugar  in  this  country,  no  doubt  the  labor 
will  be  divided  between  the  farmers  who  pro- 
duce the  roots  and  the  establishments  for  work- 
ing them  up.  The  larger  these  manufactories, 
the  greater  will  be  the  economy,  and  the  conse- 
quent profits  to  both  grower  and  manufacturer. 


Do  Potatoes  Mix  in  the  Hill  1 

This  subject  is  again  brought  toour  notice  by 
George  K.  Robinson,  of  Canada  East,  and  .1.  15. 
Wolff,  of  Colorado  Territory.  The  former  hav- 
ing found  a  red  and  a  white  potato  on  the  same 
plant,  and  the  latter  had  a  "double  potato," 
one  half  deep  blue  and  the  other  half  yellow, 
with  pinkeyes.  The  only  way  in  which  vari- 
eties of  potatoes  can  cross  or  mix,  is  by  the  fer- 
tilizing of  the  flower  of  one  sort  by  the  pollen 
of  another;  the  seed  of  those  thus  fertilized  would 
be  very  apt  to  produce  cross-breeds.  It  seems 
very  unlikely  that  the  cross  impregnation  of 
the  flower  should  affect  the  character  of  the  tu- 
ber, and  we  cam  not  admit  it  until  direct  exper- 
iments have  proved  it  to  be  the  case.  We  have 
no  doubt  that  potatoes  may  vary  or  sport.  The 
sorts  in  cultivation  are  themselves  sports,  or  it 
may  lie  crosses  of  different  varieties,  having  the 
blood,  so  to  speak,  of  different  kinds  in  them. 
It  is  not  strange  that  under  favoring  circum- 
stances these  varieties  should  vary,  or  that  some 
peculiarity  of  one  of  the  ancestors  should  break 
out  and  become  predominant. 


Why  Seeds  Fail— Practical  Hints. 

Frequent  failures  are  made  in  cultivation, 
which  are  unjustly  charged  to  the  seedsmen. 
Seeds  are  sown,  they  do  not  come  up,  and  thev 
air  set  down  as  old  or  imperfect.  While  such 
seeds  are  doubtless  sold  by  some,  our  experience 
is  that  respectable  seedsmen  generally  send  out 
reliable  seeds,  and  that  the  want  of  success  is 
oftcner  the  fault  of  the  sower.  Iu  treating  of  the 
vitality  of  seeds  iu  the  February  Agriculturist,  it 
was  shown  that  there  was  no  general  rule  as 
to  the  time  that  seeds  would  keep :  so,  seeds 
after  being  sown,  differ  as  to  their  power  of  re- 
sisting decay  if  the  circumstances  are  unfavora- 
ble to  their  immediate  germination.  Three  con- 
ditions are  necessary  to  the  growth  of  all  seeds, 
viz:  air,  moisture,  and  a  sufficient  temperature. 
Any  one  of  these  failing,  the  seeds  will  not 
grow.  The  amount  of  heat  required  for  germi- 
nation varies  greatly  with  different  seeds  ; 
those  of  the  common  chickweed  will  start 
at  a  temperature  just  above  freezing,  while 
those  of  some  tropical  plants  require  75  or  80 
degrees.  The  seeds  of  the  plants  commonly 
cultivated,  germinate  at  a  temperature  of  50  to 
GO  degrees.  Moisture  is  required  not  only  to 
soften  the  seed  coat,  but  to  enable  the  germ  to 
grow,  and  too  little  or  too  much  is  equally  fatal 
to  success.  If  the  soil  is  too  dry,  the  seeds  re- 
main unchanged ;  and  if  an  excess  of  moisture 
is  present,  the  seeds,  if  delicate,  will  decay.  Iu 
well  drained  soil  the  proper  amount  of  water  is 
held  by  capillary  attraction.  The  third  requis- 
ite, air,  is  always  present  in  recently  worked 
soil. — All  the  conditions  being  favorable,  there 
is  a  great  difference  in  the  time  that  seeds  re- 
quire for  germinatiou.    Placed  under  similar 


circumstances,  it  has  been  found  that  wheat  and 
millet  germinate  in  one  day.  beans,  radishes  and 
turnips  in  two,  and  lettuce  in  four  days,  while 
melons  and  cucumbers  require  five  or  six,  and 
parsley  thirty  or  forty  days.  The  seeds  of  sonic 
trees  and  shrubs  remain  in  Hie  ground  one,  and 
even  two  years  before  they  germinate.  The 
common  causes  of  failure  with  good  seeds  are: 
too  deep  or  too  early  sowing,  and  excess  of 
moisture.  When  small  seeds  are  planted  too 
deeply,  the  vitality  of  the  germ  is  exhausted  be- 
fore it  can  reach  the  light  and  air  necessary  to 
its  growth;  such  seeds  should  be  barely  covered 
with  soil,  and  if  there  is  danger  of  the  surface 
becoming  too  dry  it  should  be  shaded.  Very 
small  seeds  may  be  sprinkled  on  nicely  prepared 
soil,  and  then  lay  a  board  upon  the  surface  until 
they  start.  When  sowing  is  done  loo  early,  the 
ground  is  too  cold,  and  many  seeds  rot  b<  fun' 
it  becomes  of  a  proper  temperature  to  cause 
germination.  Too  much  moisture  in  the  soil  ex- 
cludes the  necessary  air,  and  this  one  of  the 
requisites  being  wanting,  the  seeds  decay. 


For  tin-  American  Agriculturist. 

Will  Poultry  Pay? 

Last  year  I  furnished  for  the  Agriculturist  a  full 
account  of  my  poultiy  keeping,  mode  of  man- 
agement, etc.,  for  the  year  ending  1861,  which 
was  published  in  the  Feb.  and  March  Nos.,  vol. 
21,  pages  41  and  74.  Having  just  closed  up  my 
accounts,  I  send  a  report  for  the    year  1882: 

Stock  on  hand  Jan.  1,  18G2 :  three  cocks  and 
72  hens;  they  laid  iu  Jan.  332  eggs;  Feb., 
44G;  March,  973  ;  April,  1,013 ;  Ma)',  982 ;  June, 
988;  July,  813;  Aug.,  818;  Sept.,  614;  Oct., 
399;  Nov.,  466;  Dec,  383  eggs— total,  8,227.  In 
bulk  equal  to  84  bbls.,  (packed  for  market);  in 
weight  1,030  His.  During  the  year  there  died  of 
the  old  stock  18,  killed  of  the  old  stock  27, 
chicks  killed  32— an  hand  Jan.  1st,  18G3,  105, 
young  and  old,  to  be  reduced  to  75  head.  All 
the  old  stock  sliould  have  been  killed  off  before 
the  moulting  season,  as  the  March  hatched 
chicks  begin  to  lay  about  that  time.  This  ar- 
rangement keeps  the  stock  young  and  vigor- 
ous; and  with  proper  care  and  attention,  en- 
sures a  good  supply  of  eggs  at  all  seasons. 

It  will  be  seen  that  in  Oct.,  Nov.,  Dec,  and 

Jan.,  when  eggs  are  scarce,  they  gave  a  good 

supply.   The  whole  year's  account  stands  thus : 

lbs. 

Jan.  1, '02.  Stock  on  hand,  75  head,  at  5  lbs.  each 375 

32  clucks  killed,  at  \y,  lbs  each,  dressed 48 

27  old  liens  killed,  4  lbs.  each,  dressed 108 

Increase  on  hand,  Dec.  31,  '62,  30  head  at  5  lbs.  each  150 
Eggs  collected  during  the  year  (in  lbs.) 1030 

Total .1,711 

75  head,  stock  for  the  new  year ...375 

Balance,  or  pounds  produced 1,336 

Each  hen  has  produced  more  than  three  times 
her  weight  in  eggs  alone,  and  it  is  easy  to  see 
the  amount  of  food  produced  in  a  year  from  a 
stock  of  72  hens,  reduced  by  death  to  an  aver- 
age of  63.  Deduct  loss  for  dressing  for  market, 
136  lbs.,  and  we  have  left  1,200  lbs.,  as  the 
product  of  the  year — besides  having  a  new 
stock    to  start  with  for  the   coming  year. 

It  is  a  pretty  large  farmer  that  lays  up  1,200 
lbs.  of  pork,  and  yet  most  people  will  persist  in 
keeping  one  or  more  pigs — the  flesh  of  which  is 
turned  into  salt  food  for  the  most  of  the  year — 
wdien  poultry  furnish  daily  a  supply  of  fresh  and 
excellent  food,  and  of  a  kind,  too,  if  more  than 
is  required  for  family  use,  which  can  be  readily 
exchanged  for  cash  or  other  products.  The  ad- 
vantage seems  to  be  decidedly  in  favor  of 
"  Barn- Yard  Pheasants"  over  "Gutter  Snipes.'' 

Staten  Island,  N.  Y.  J.   C.  THOMPSON. 


76 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Maech, 


Manure— Saving  Barn- Yard. 


W.  F.  Quinby,  Newcastle  Co.,  Del.,  sends  to 
the  American  Agriculturist  his  plan  for  saving  ma- 
nure in  the  barn-yard.  He  says,  "  the  soil  should 
be  underdrained,  then  place  a  layer  of  straw,  C, 
say  one  foot  thick  on  the  surface;  next  to  this  a 


foot  of  earth,  B,  [we  prefer  muck  if  obtainable. 
Ed.]  and  on  top  of  this,  straw,  A,  to  any  desired 
depth.  The  lowest  layer  of  straw  prevents  the 
earth,  B,  from  sticking  to  the  bottom,  and  al- 
lows the  filtered  water  to  pass  off.  The  earth 
acts  as  a  filter,  and  there  is  no  better  than  clay, 
which  absorbs  all  the  alkali  and  allows  the  wa- 
ter to  pass  off  nearly  pure.  The  upper  straw,  C, 
prevents  the  earth  from  being  tramped  into 
holes,  and  is  converted  into  manure.  At  the 
proper  season,  all  can  be  hauled  out  together 
for  use.  This  plan  would  probably  treble  the 
usual  amount  of  manure.  It  may  be  a  good 
deal  of  trouble  to  arrange  all  this,  but  there  is 
no  use  in  calling  anything  trouble,  in  these  da}'S, 
that  pays;  and  increasing  manure  will  pay." 

•-< mmm    *~m 

For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

One  Cow  to  an  Acre  of  Land. 


I  have  heard  of  farmers  who  could  keep  one 
cow,  or  its  equal,  for  every  acre  of  land  owned. 
How  many  who  have  fifty  or  one  hundred 
acres,  think  they  could  keep  50  or  100  head  of 
cattle  ?  To  show  how  it  might  be  done,  I  will 
propose  an  experiment  on  ten  acres.  Stock 
can  be  kept  on  a  variety  of  food,  as  roots,  grain, 
and  hay,  better  than  on  hay  alOne.  Suppose 
five  acres  of  the  ten,  to  be  in  meadow.  I  would 
plant  two  acres  with  corn,  one  with  beets,  and 
sow  two  with  corn  for  soiling  or  feeding  out  green. 
Commencing,  say  on  the  10th  of  June,  keep  the 
stock  in  the  stable  and  yard,  mow  the  grass,  and 
bring  it  to  them.  I  think  one  acre,  if  part  in 
clover,  so  that  it  could  be  cut  the  second  time, 
would  keep  the  10  head  from  June  10th  to  July 
15th.  By  this  time,  the  corn  which  was  sowed 
May  10th,  would  do  to  begin  to  cut,  and  I  think 
from  past  experience,  that  the  two  acres  of 
sowed  corn  would  furnish  plenty  of  feed  to  the 
15th  of  October.  If  not,  I  would  thin  the  acre, 
of  beets  (which  might  be  planted  rather  thickly) 
and  feed  them  out  between  meals.  From  Oct. 
15  to  Nov.  15,  feed  the  stalks  from  the  planted 
corn,  and  the  tops  of  the  beets,  which  would 
by  this  time  be  fit  to  pull  and  store  for  "Winter. 

Now  for  the  next  six  months,  or  from  the  mid- 
dle of  November  to  the  middle  of  May,  there 
would  be  hay  from  four  acres  of  meadow,  say 
10  tons  ;  one  acre  of  beets,  1000  bushels  ;  two 
acres  of  corn  150  bushels.  That  would  furnish 
each  animal  for  the  Winter  (200  days)  one  ton  of 
hay,  100  bushels  of  beets,  and  15  bushels  of  corn; 
or  10  lbs.  of  hay,  i  bushel  of  beets,  and  nearly 
three  quarts  of  meal  per  day.  No  doubt,  stock 
would  come  out  good  in  the  Spring  with  that 
feed.  There  remains  the  month  from  May  15th, 
to  the  10th  or  15th  of  June  to  provide  for.  It 
was  supposed  that  the  cutting  of  the  sowed 
com  might  be  commenced  in  July:  by  the  1st 
of  September  quite  a  piece  of  it  would  be  cut 


off;  this  I  would  sow  with  rye  and  grass  seed. 
As  frost  usually  occurs  by  October  1st,  the  sowed 
corn  should  all  be  cut  before  that  time,  and  the 
remainder  of  the  piece  be  sowed  with  rye  and 
grass  seed.  This  rye  would  do  to  begin  to  cut 
by  the  middle  of  May,  and  last  until  the  grass 
could  be  mowed  again.  As  the  rye  is  cut  off, 
I  would  begin  to  sow  corn  again.  Some  will 
sa}r  that  to  produce  1000  bushels  of  beets  to  the 
acre,  or  75  bushels  of  corn,  or  2|  tons  of  hay, 
will  require  rich  laud  ;  but  if  stock  be  kept  up 
the  year  round,  a  large  amount  of  available  ma- 
nure can  be  made,  which  I  consider  one  of 
the  greatest  advantages  of  the  soiling  system. 
Last  season  I  sowed  1G  rods  of  ground  with 
corn,  the  10th  of  June,  and  it  supplied  one  cow 
with  a  good  armful  twice  a  day  for  10  weeks. 
Iu  my  statement  above,  I  have  allowed  32  rods 
of  sowed  corn  for  each  animal,  in-order  to  have 
some  left  to  cure  for  feeding  after  early  frosts. 

Fairfield  Co.,  Conn.  D.  II.  S. 

Notes  on  Flax  Culture — II. 


The  time  required  for  flax  to  ripen  will  de- 
pend considerably  upon  the  character  of  the 
soil,  and  the  weather  during  the  season  :  be- 
tween three  and  four  months  from  the  sowing  is 
the  average.  When  the  leaves  turn  yellow  and 
the  last  blooms  are  disappearing,  the  crop  should 
be  examined  every  day  or  two,  to  ascertain  the 
degree  of  ripeness.  It  is  fit  to  pull  when  the 
stalk  is  of  a  yellowish  tinge,  the  leaves  having 
mainly  fallen  off,  and  the  center  boll  become  of 
a  brown  color.  Another  test  recommended,  is  to 
select  the  ripest  seed  capsule  on  an  average 
stalk,  and  cut  through  it;  when  the  seeds  have 
changed  from  the  white  milky  substance  they 
usually  show,  to  a  greenish  color,  and  are  pret- 
ty firm,  the  flax  is  fit  to  pull.  If  the  straw  be 
left  standinguntil  all  the  seed  is  fully  matured,  the 
fibers  arc  harsh  and  brittle.  If  the  proper 
time  be  observed,  the  seeds  though  not  quite 
ripened  when  gathered,  will  be  perfected  by  the 
sap  remaining  in  the  stalk  after  it  is  harvested. 
The  straw  is  usually  pulled  up  by  the  roots.  In 
doing  this,  care  should  be  taken  to  keep  the 
root  ends  even.  When  a  convenient  handful  is 
gathered,  hold  it  loosely  in  both  hands  and  let 
the  but-ends  drop  on  the  ground  several  times, 
until  they  are  uniform.  It  may  now  be  set  up  in 
rows  with  the  heads  inclining  together,  as  shown 
in  Fig.  1,  or  bound  loosely  in  small  bundles,  3  or 
4  inches  in 
diameter,  and 
gathered  into 
circular  shocks 
of  six  or  eight 
bundles,  with 
thebutsof  each  3 
well  spread  ~; 

out,  that  they 

Fig  1 
may  dry  readi- 
ly. The  latter  method  is  preferable,  as  the  stalks 
are  not  so  easily  blown  down.  The  cost  of  pulling 
is  usually  from  five  to  eight  dollars  per  acre.  The 
straw  is  left  standing-ill  the  field  six  or  eight  .days, 
or  until  the  natural  moisture  is  dried  out  and 
the  seed  bolls  are  ripe  enough  to  open  easily. 
Should  a  storm  occur,  the  flax  may  need  atten- 
tion to  keep  the  bundles  upright,  that  they  may 
dry  out  quickly.  AVhcn  sufficiently  cured,  the 
bundles  are  taken  to  the  barn  or  stacked  in  the 
field.  In  the  latter  case,  they  should  be  carefully 
arranged  to  exclude  water.  The  next  process 
is  to  separate  the  seed  from  the  stalk,  for  which 
several  methods  are  in  use.  Some  use  a  large 
close-toothed  iron  comb,  called  a  ripple,  through 


which  the  flax  heads  are  drawn,  a  handful  at  a 
time,  and  the  capsules  torn  off.  Others  thresh 
the  heads  with  a  large  mallet  having  a  curved 
handle.  One  experienced  flax  raiser  rec- 
ommends to  whip  out  the  seed  by  striking 
each  bundle  upon  a  solid  block.     Where  tha 

secd  alone  is  de- 
sired, the  prac- 
tice is  to  thresh 
with  a  flail,  or  by 
treading  with 
horses.  The  most 
expeditious  meth- 
od we  have  seen, 
is  by  passing  the 
seed  ends  through 
rollers  driven  by  horse  power.  A  machine  for  the 
purpose  is  shown  in  Fig.  2.  The  rollers  are  set  so 
as  to  break  the  bolls  without  injuring  the  seed; 
they  are  moved  by  means  of  a  belt  over  the  wheel, 
in  the  space  between  the  two  sets  of  rollers.  The 
flax  is  taken  iu  both  hands,  and  the  seed  ends 
passed  down  between  the  rollers.  Such  an  ap- 
paratus would  pay  where  much  flax  ,is  raised. 
A  dry  day  should  be  chosen  for  taking  out  the 
seed,  as  the  bolls  break  much  more  easily  than 
when  they  have  absorbed  much  moisture.  In 
our  next  article,  directions  for  rotting,  and  other 
suggestions  will  be  given. 


Fig.  2. — Scale  of  }-inch  to  the  foot. 


Timber  Belts  on  Prairies. 


Persons  living  m  regions  destitute  of  forests, 
find  it  necessary  to  plant  trees,  not  only  to 
shelter  their  houses  from  the  furious  winds,  but 
also  to  protect  their  orchards  and  crops.  While 
in  many  new  countries,  the  energies  of  the  farm- 
er are  directed  to  clearing  the  land  of  trees,  the 
total  absence  of  these  is  severely  felt  by  those 
who  have  settled  on  prairie  lands.  In  planting 
trees  in  these  localities,  those  varieties  should  be 
chosen  which  are  not  only  of  rapid  growth,  and 
will  soon  afford  shelter,  but  also  those  which  are 
at  the  same  time  valuable  for  timber  and  for  fuel. 

The  Black  Walnut,  the  Maples,  and  Locust, 
are  suited  for  this  purpose.  The  Locust  has  the 
disadvantage  of  being  subject  to  the  attacks  of 
the  borer,  and  the  limbs  are  sometimes  broken 
by  the  winds,  but  the  rapidity  of  its  growth, 
and  the  great  value  of  its  timber  for  fence  posts 
and  the  like,  render  it  desirable  to  have  the 
plantation  contain  a  portion  of  these.  The 
chestnut  is  another  valuable  tree,  both  for  its 
timber  and  fruit.  Recently,  attention  has  been 
called  to  the  White  willow,  claimed  to  have 
qualities  which  adapt  it  to  this  purpose. — As  a 
matter  of  economy  it  is  better  to  start  most 
trees  from  the  seed.  Nuts,  if  to  be  transported 
for  a  great  distance,  should  be  kept  in  sand  or 
loam.  AYalnuts  are  said  to  do  better  if  planted 
where  the  trees  are  wanted,  being  somewhat 
checked  by  transplanting.  Locust  seeds  should 
be  planted  in  the  Fall,  or  kept  in  boxes  of  earth 
through  the  Winter.  The  seeds  of  the  maple 
may  be  kept  until  Spring.  Plants  are  usually 
left  two  years  in  the  seed  bed  before  trans- 
planting, keeping  them  free  from  weeds.  In 
planting,  it  should  be  borne  iu  mind  that  the 
object  is  to  form  a  belt  of  timber  and  not  a 
hedge;  that  a  tree  which  has  had  plenty  of 
room  to  develop  its  limbs  will  answer  much 
better  for  shelter  than  one  which  has  its  trunk 
drawn  up  and  has  few  limbs,  from  being 
crowded  by  others.  The  distance  apart  will 
depend  upon  the  kind  of  tree — ten  feet  I  ic- 
ing little  enough  for  the  smallest.  There  should 
be  at  least  two  rows,  and   where  practicable, 


1303.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


77 


three  or  four  will  be  better,  asthe  trees  will  pro- 
tect one  another.  By  alternating  the  trees  in 
the  rows— that  is,  putting  those  in  the  second 
row  opposite  the  intervals  of  the  first  row,  a 
much  more  effective  barrier  is  produced  than 
when  the  trees  of  the  different  rows  are  placed 
opposite  to  each  other.  Our  reasons  for  recom- 
mending planting  the  trees  wide  apart  at  once, 
in  preference  to  thick  planting  to  be  afterwards 
thinned,  aro  :  that  the  growth  will  be  better,  and 
that  where  a  dense  grove  is  thinned,  the  remain- 
ing trees  will  be  badly  shaped  and  weak.  Be- 
sides, in  cutting  away  a  thick  plantation,  the 
roots  left  in  the  ground  decay,  and  are  liable 
to  injure  those  of  the  living  trees.  Where  rab- 
bits and  mice  are  troublesome,  the  young  trees 
must  be  protected  from  their  attacks.  Besides 
the  methods  we  have  already  noticed  at  differ- 
ent times,  it  has  been  recommended  to  surround 
the  trunk  of  the  tree  with  pieces  of  corn  stalk 
placed  perpendicularly  and  bound  closely 
around  the  trunk,  as  protection  against   mice. 


Improved  Wagon    "  Jack "   or  Hoister- 
Mome-made,  Convenient,  and  Cheap. 


I.  T.  Mapes,  of  Howells,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y., 
sends  us  a  model  of  a  wagon  "Jack,"  orhoister 
as  he  terms  it,  which  appears  to  be  very  valua- 
ble, from  the  fact  that  it  is  simple  in  its  opera- 
tion, and  can  be  readily  and  quickly  made  by 
any  farmer  having  an  axe,  auger,  saw,  and  chis- 
el. Mr.  Mapes  says  he  knows  of  only  two 
having  been  made,  and  he  claims  to  be  the  in- 
ventor, but  he  cheerfully  gives  the  plan  for  the 
benefit  of  those  who  take  the  American  Agricul- 
turist. "We  take  the  liberty  in  their  name  to  re- 
turn a  vote  of  thanks — and   a  large  vote  it  is. 

Description. — The  engraving  will  nearly 
explain  the  construction.  The  base,  a,  is  of 
2-inch  plank,  say  11  feet  long  and  8  or  10  inches 
wide.  The  upright,  u,  is  of  2-inch  plank,  4  inch- 
es wide  at  the  bottom,  and  21  to  3  feet  high, 
having  a  mortise  or  slot,  li  inches  wide,  about 
halfway  down  its  middle.  The  lever,  I,  is  cut 
from  11  inch  plank,  and  is  say  3  feet  long,  3 
inches  wide  at  one  end  and  tapering  to  a  con- 
venient handle  at  the  other  end.  This  is  fastened 
into  the  upright  by  a  pin  placed  at  the  proper 
bight  from  the  ground  to  suit  the  wagon — 
about  2  feet  high  for  an  ordinary  farm  wagon. 
On  the  short  arm  of  the  lever  a  notch  is  cut  to 
hold  the  axle.  The  catch,  c,  is  also  of  a  short 
piece  of  plank  14  to  17  inches  long,  cut  to  a 
shoulder  to  fit  into  the  slot  at  the  top  of  the 
upright,  where  it  is  held  by  a  pin.  This  swings 
loosely  and  falls  into  notches  in  the  lever  as 
shown  in  the  engraving.  By  depressing  the 
lever  at  I,  the  wagon  axle  is  raised  and  the 
catch,  c,  holds  it  there. — To  the  above  descrip- 
tion, which  is  substantially  that  given  by  Mr. 
Mapes,  we  will  add  a  suggestion,  viz.;  that  where 


there  are  several  wagons  of  different  bights,  the 
Jack  may  be  adapted  to  all  of  them,  by  having 
the  pins  put  in  loosely,  and  several  holes  in  the 
upright,  both  for  the  lever  and  the  catch,  so 
that  they  can  be  adjusted  to  any  desired  bight. 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

A  Pennsylvania  Corn  Marker. 


I  believe  the  plan  in  vogue  among  the  Penn- 
sylvania farmers  in  this  locality,  for  marking 
corn  land,  is  preferable  to  Iowa  or  New-Jersey 
corn  markers ;  the  mark  made  by  either  of  those 
is  too  narrow  for  planting  corn  in  hills.  A  mark 
made  by  a  two  inch  block  or  runner  in  mellow 
ground  will  "  cave  in,"  so  as  to  leave  a  triangu- 
lar hollow,  which  would  receive  all  the  grains 
in  a  heap  ;  besides,  a  horse  can  not  be  made  to 
"toe"  a  slight  mark,  or  walk  as  straight  as  a 
human  being.  My  experience  in  planting  corn 
in  hills  is,  that  four  or  five  grains  dropped  on  a 
surface  of  4  inches,  do  better  than  if  thrown  on 
an  inch  square.  My  plan  is  to  furrow  one  way 
with  a  light  plow  ;  a  smart  man  and  horse  can 
mark  from  eight  to  10  acres  per  day.  For  cross 
marking,  I  take  a  light  stiff  pole  about  23  feet 
long;  to  this  I  attach  G  long  trace  chains,  (oth- 
er light  chains  will  answer)  3  ft.  5  inches  apart, 
the  first  chain  about  2  feet  from  the  far  end  of 
the  pole,  which  leaves  about  4  feet  of  pole  at  the 
near  end ;  on  this  end  I  make  a  mark  3  ft.  5  inch- 
es from  the  last  chain.  Two  persons,  one  at 
each  end  of  the  pole,  walk  over  the  field  cross- 
wise of  the  furrows,  drawing  the  chains  behind. 
The  one  acting  as  leader  in  marking,  will 
walk  in  the  last  mark,  keeping  the  mark  on 
the  pole  opposite  the  middle  of  his  body: 
by  this  means  the  two  can  mark  twelve  acres 
in  an  hour.  If  the  first  mark  is  straight,  and 
the  leader  "  minds  his  eye,"  every  mark  will 
be  as  straight  as  a  line,  and  as  uniform  in 
width  as  the  chains  on  the  pole.  To  use 
this  marker  to  advantage,  the  field  should  be  in 
good  planting  order,  and  not  be  very  hilly,  nor 
too  full  of  trees ;  stumps  will  not  interfere.  A 
common  trace  chain  makes  mark  enough  to  be 
readily  seen,  and  does  not  draw  loose  earth  in 
the  farrow  to  interfere  with  planting.  The  plant- 
ing is  done  across  the  furrow,  or  with  the  chain 
mark.  This  simple  contrivance  has  saved  us 
many  a  hard  day's  travel  after  the  plow ;  as  we, 
like  the  Iowa  farmer,  were  formerly  in  the 
habit  of  marking  both  ways  with  a  plow. 

Stark  Co.,  Ohio.  JACOB  HOLL. 

The  White  Willow  Again. 

Western  readers  of  the  Agriculiurist  continue 
to  write  to  us  for  advice  concerning  the  White 
Willow.  AVe  have  no  practical  knowledge  upon 
the  subject,  and  can  only  speak  of  the  present 
excitement  from  what  we  see  in  the  western  pa- 
pers and  learn  from  our  correspondents.  That 
the  tree  will  grow  readily  and  rapidly  we  have 
no  doubt.  That  it  will,  in  every  situation,  do 
all  that  is  claimed  for  it,  is  yet  to  be  proved. 
We  do  not  advise  any  one  to  invest  largely  in 
the  stock,  nor  to  expend  time  and  money  in 
fencing  their  farms  with  it.  If  the  willow  is 
valuable  now,  it  will  be  as  good  a  year  or  two 
hence.  The  present  excitement  seems  to  be 
wholly  uncalled  for ;  thousands  will  inconsider- 
ately rush  into  it  and  finding  that  the  plant  does 
not  come  fnlly  up  to  their  expectations,  the 
really  good  qualities  it  has,  will  be  overlooked, 
and  the  whole  affair  denounced  as  a  humbug. 
To  those  who  are  disposed  to  make  the  experi- 
ment wo  say ;  be  sure  that  you  get  the  white  wil- 


low. Peddlers  are  traversing  the  Western  States 
in  all  directions ;  they  may  sell  the  true  sort  and 
they  may  not.  It  is  much  better  to  buy  of  re- 
sponsible nurserymen.  Plant  a  few  for  experi- 
ment, and  if  these  succeed,  and  grow  half  as  rap- 
idly as  it  is  claimed  they  do,  they  will  give  an 
abundant  supply  of  cuttings  for  future  plantings. 
In  this,  as  all  other  new  notions,  approach  cau- 
tiously, without  prejudice  against  the  truth  there 
may  be  in  it,  and  without  blindly  swallowing 
all  that  interested  parties  may  say  in  favor  of  it. 
For  ourselves,  we  really  hope  that  there  may  be 
found  in  the  White  Willow  just  the  qualities 
needed  in  a  tree  for  the  naked  plains  of  the  West, 
and  when  we  are  convinced  that  it  is  the  thing 
we  have  been  looking  for,  we  shall  gladly  re- 
commend it.  But  with  all  the  light  we  can 
gather  so  far,  we  are  constrained  to  offer  a  word 
of  caution  to  our  readers.  (P.  S.— Since  the 
above  was  put  in  type,  we  have  had  a  conver- 
sation with  a  distinguished  agriculturist  from 
Illinois,  who  considers  the  whole  willow  excite- 
ment as  approaching  nearly  to  humbug.  He 
says  he  has  good  reason  to  believe  that  an  edi- 
tor of  an  agricultural  paper,  which  has  perhaps 
done  more  than  any  other  to  push  forward  the 
willow  culture,  by  editorials  and  advertise- 
ments, is  himself  indirectly  interested  in  the  sale 
of  cuttings,  and  is  thus  grinding  his  own  axe.) 


A  Cabbage  Puller. 


"Sucker,"  in  a  communication  full  of  sugges- 
tions, describes  a  very  simple  contrivance  for 
pulling  cabbages,  which  would  doubtless  greatly 
lighten  the  labor  of  taking  up  the  crop.  The  en- 
graving will  readily  show  the  way  in  which  the 
tool  is  made.  The  handle  is  6  feet  long,  of  3x4 
scantling.  Two  boards  3  feet  long  are  nailed  on 
opposite  sides  and  project  18  inches  beyond  the 
end ;  these  are  rounded  off  like  the  runners  of 
a  sled.  In  the  engraving  only  a  part  of  the 
handle  is  shown,  to  save  room.  To  use  the 
implement  the  runners  are  pushed  under  the 
cabbage  until  the  lower  end  of  the  handle 
comes  against  the  stem,  then  by  raising  the 
other  end  the  cabbage  is  easily  lifted. 


Dairy  Statistics 

Hon.  Zadoc  Pratt  has  given  us  the  statistics 
of  his  dairy  farm  for  18G2.  He  keeps  64  cows, 
which  for  the  season  of  abou*  eight  months 
produced  35,740  gallons  of  milk,  or  an  av- 
erage of  2  14-100th  gallons  per  day  for  each 
cow.  The  whole  product  of  butter  was  14,274 
lbs.,  equal  to  an  average  product  for  each  cow 
of  about  131  ounces  per  day.  Each  cow  yielded 
butter  to  the  value  of  $57.98.  The  following 
table  shows  the  amount  of  milk  required  to  make 
a  pound  of  butter  on  the  first  of  each  of  several 
months  for  three  years;  and  also  the  weight 
per  gallon  of  the  milk  at  the  time. 

I860.  1861.  1862. 

qtft.  lbs.       qtn.  Ib/t.        qt*.  lb*. 

May  1st 12-90  7-91. .11-20  8.92..   9-90  7-80 

June  1st 11-43  S-2S..  12-40  7-74..  10-77  7-84 

J„ly  1st 12-14  8-30. .10-74  8-03. .10-55  7-80 

Au"llst  1st H-35  8-66. .10-45  8-28. .10-13  7-88 

September  1st 11-83  8-09..  9-94  8-12..  9-13  7-80 

October  1st 9-28  8-S3..8-65  8-07..  7  00  7-68 

November  1st 8-21  7-56..  6-50  8-12..  7-58  7-44 

Average  of  above  7  j  n_03  8.19    I0.29  8.05..g.29  7-75 

days  by  themselves  i 

Av.  Hie  whole  season.  11-20  8-28..  10-42  8-05..  10-01  7-90 


78 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Mabch, 


For  lite  American  Agriculturist. 

Blooded  Stock— Present  and  Prospective 
Prices,  etc. 

If,  from  want  of  information  or  from  preju- 
dice, any  one  still  doubts  the  value  of  improved 
blood  in  stock  of  any  kind,  over  that  of  the  "  old- 
fashioned  "  or  "native  breeds,"  the  simple  mar- 
kel  Quotations  of  the  cattle,  sheep,  and  swine 
sales  in  New-York  City,  for  the  last  two  years, 
will  show  him  the  difference.  We  set  aside  all 
the  ornamental  appearance  of  the  quadrupeds — 
which,  by  the  way,  any  one  with  an  eye  in  his 
head,  or  a  soul  in  his  body,  would  count  as 
worth  something— and  only  take  into  account 
the  simple  economical  value  of  well  bred  over  ill 
bred  animals.  We  do  not  propose  to  enter 
into  particulars,  even.  Just  go  up  to  the  Bull's 
Head  on  cattle-sale  days,  and  see  the  quick,  lib- 
eral prices  paid  for  beeves,  high  up  in  Short- 
horn, Devon,  or  Hereford  blood,  and  then 
the  slow,  lagging,  higgling  prices  for  which  the 
"dung-hills,"  " scallawags,"  and  common  stock 
are  offered,  in  many  instances  without  buyers. 
And  yet,  with  the  bleeder,  the  grazier,  and  the 
feeder,  both  descriptions  of  beasts  have  run  side 
by  side  in  the  pasture  and  feed  yard.  One,  from 
its  nicely  and  skillfully  adjusted  anatomy,  has 
the  faculty  of  taking  on  flesh  readily,  kindly, 
and  in  the  most  valuable  parts  for  good  quality 
of  meat;  the  other,  from  its  ill-adjusted  anato- 
my, has  not  such  faculty.  And  the  better  beast 
has,  in  all  probability,  eaten  less  food,  while  tak- 
ing on  a  third  more  flesh  than  the  poorer  one. 

So  with  sheep  as  with  cattle;  the  same  also 
with  swine — poultry  even.  The  war,  with  its 
deranging  influences  on  sundry  of  our  economi- 
cal products,  has  reduced  the  values  of  purely 
bred  stock  to  almost  nominal  prices,  and  hun- 
dreds, perhaps  thousands,  of  young  thorough- 
bred bulls  have  been  made  into  steers  for  the 
shambles,  instead  of  being  purchased  and  dis- 
tributed over  the  country  for  stock  purposes ; 
and  multitudes  of  equally  well-bred  South-down 
and  Cotswold  rams,  as  wethers,  have  shared  a 
like  fate.  So,  too,  with  young  boars,  while  the 
spaying  knife  has  been  busy  among  the  breed- 
ing sows — all  turned  off  for  market  purposes, 
and  food  consumption. 

We  Americans  are  a  wonderfully  spasmodic 
people  in  thought  and  action.  Nearly  thirty 
years  ago  we  imported  Short-horns  from  Eng- 
land, and  sold  them  at  a  thousand  dollars  each 
for  breeding  and  improving  purposes.  Ten 
veal's  afterward,  descendants  of  the  same 
stock,  equally  well  bred,  could  be  bought,  for  a 
hundred  dollars  each,  or  less.  And  so  it  went 
on  for  ten  years  more.  Beef -had  risen  in  our 
sea-board  markets.  Then  came  another  furor. 
Our  native-bred  Short-horns  and  Devons  could 
not  supply  the  demand,  and  by  careless  breed- 
ing, at  low  prices,  their  quality  had  in  many  in- 
stances deteriorated.  Hence  new  English  im- 
portations, and  a  furor  of  demand  far  exceeding 
any  previous  rates  in  price.  A  freshly  imported 
bull  sold  in  Kentucky  for  $(1,000,  and  he  never 
got  a  calf!  Sundry  other  bulls  sold  for  $3,000, 
to  $3,000,  and  sometimes  more;  and  cows  from 
$1,000  to  $2,000  each  !  And  now,  just  as  good 
animals  sell  for  $100  to  $300  each,  while  the 
New-York  market  price  for  beef  has  not  fallen 
more  than  20  per  cent,  over  the  highest  prices, 
in  first  quality  cattle  !  Yet  the  better  ones  pay 
well  at  their  present  selling  prices,  and  the 
"scrubs"  scarcely  pay  for  rearing,  feeding,  and 
getting  to  market.  The  same  comparative  story 
may  be  told  of  sheep  and  swine.  Two  years 
ago  wool  was  a  drug,  and  sheep  hardly  worth 


the  asking.  Wool  was  worth  20  to  25  cents  a 
pound,  for  common  quality,  and  the  finest 
scarcely  40  cents.  Now,  one  can  scarcely  ask  a 
high  price  enough  for  sheep,  for  all  the  world 
wants  them  ;  and  common  wool  is  worth  just  as 
much  as  any  other,  and  sixty  cents  a  pound ! 
Every  body  is  after  sheep,  and  putting  away 
cattle.  Yet,  dairy  products — butler  and  cheese 
— are  high,  and  milch  cows  worth  something. 

We  have  no  advice  to  give,  but  having  told  a 
few  facts,  sensible  men  can  draw  their  own 
conclusions.  If  we  had  fine  stock  of  any  de- 
scription, we  should  cherish  it.  We  would  keep 
every  good  breeding  female,  and  make  steer,  or 
wetlta;  or  shuat,  only  of  such  males  as  we  could 
not  sell ;  for  there  is  a  time  coming,  and  at  no 
distant  day,  -when  blood  stock  will  be  in  demand. 

Elaclc  Rock,  Erie  Co.,  y.Y.  J_,.   J\    At.t.tt.kt 


Hints  on  Feeding  Horses. 


The  following  extract  from  a  valuable  prac- 
tical address  delivered  by anAgricvliurist  subscri- 
ber in  Englaud,  (G.  P.  H.  Paty,  M.  A.,)  before 
the  Farmers'  Club  at  Bideford,  Devonshire,  con- 
tains hints  on  winter-feeding  of  horses  equally 
applicable  to  this  country.  It  will  be  remem- 
bered that  com,  in  England,  signifies  grain  of 
any  kind ;  and  chaff,  means  cut  hay  or  straw : 

"  Hay  and  oats  will  always  form  the  staple 
of  horse  food  here,  but  variety  is  without 
doubt  as  pleasing  to  the  horse  as  to  man,  and 
there  is  little  trouble  in  varying  the  regular  diet 
occasionally.  Hay,  whether  meadow  or  clover, 
and  oats  and  beans  should  possess  the  same 
good  qualities.  They  should  be  bright  in  color, 
sweet  in  smell,  and  free  from  any  mustiness,  and 
should  not  be  used  in  the  same  .year  in  which 
they  are  grown.  A  good  many  of  the  oats 
brought  into  this  market  will  be  found  to  weigh 
less  than  30  pounds  a  bushel.  I  have  grown  the 
black  American  oat  to  weigh  40  pounds  a  bush- 
el, and  the  white  Canadian  oat  to  weigh  nearly 
46  pounds  a  bushel,  and  as  comparative  weight 
in  grain  is  a  decisive  test  of  quality,  the  superi- 
ority of  this  class  of  oats  is  obvious.  Good  food 
will  be  found  the  cheapest,  and  those  -who  use 
inferior  fodder  under  a  delusive  idea  of  econo- 
my, will  find  that  they  only  gain  a  loss  by  doing 
so.  Beans  may  be  considered  the  chief  horse- 
coru  next  to  oats,  and  when  bought  at  a  reason- 
able price,  and  given  to  the  horses  with  a  recol- 
lection that  one  feed  of  beans  may  be  considered 
nearly  equal  to  two  feeds  of  oals,  will  be  found 
a  useful  change.  That-mixture  of  barley  and 
oats  known  here  as  dredge,  is  also  often  used 
for  horses,  but  I  have  not  used  it  myself,  from 
an  opinion  that  oats  and  beans  are  preferable. 
Oil  cake  in  small  quantities;  say  two  or  three 
pounds  a  week,  will  be  much  liked  by  thehorses, 
and  I  think  it  exercises  a  decidedly  good  effect 
on  their  coats.  Turnips,  carrots,  of  which  most 
horses  become  immoderately  fond,  mangold 
wurzel  when  they  will  eat  it,  trifolium  incaraa- 
tum,  and  early  vetches,  will  afford  a  sufficient 
range  to  enable  the  food  of  the  horse  to  be  va- 
ried from  lime  to  time.  The  question  of  crush- 
ing corn  for  horses  is  constantly  brought,  before 
us  by  advertisements.  Ils  necessity,  for  j'oimg 
horses  at  least,  is  to  me  doubtful;  and  the  evi- 
dence of  the  stock  authority  on  the  subject,  as 
quoted  in  the  advertisements — a  London  Omni- 
bus Company — is  entirely  vitiated  by  the  fact 
that  in  the  experiment  in  question,  crushed  corn 
and  chalf  were  used  against  whole  corn  and  hay, 
thus  only  proving  the  genera]  advantage  of 
comminuted  food,  andnol  the  special  advantage 
of  crushed  corn.     By  feeding  horses  regularly. 


and  mixing  chaff  always  with  the  corn,  I  think 
you  will  ensure  its  being  properly  ground,  with- 
out the  intervention  of  any  other  mill  than  that 
provided  by  nature.  When  the  chalf  and  corn 
are  given  to  the  horses,  enough  water  should  al- 
ways be  sprinkled  over  the  feed  to  moisten  it, 
and  lessen  the  horse's  desire  to  drain  the  bucket 
to  the  bottom.  lam  strongly  in  favor  of  the 
use  of  chaff  for  horses,  but  I  would  recommend 
any  one  who  uses  it  to  discard  all  idea  of  cutting 
it  by  hand,  and  to  arrange  for  the  use  of  either 
water  or  horse-power,  according  to  circum- 
stances. Fifteen  pounds  of  chaff  a  day,  in  the 
proportion  often  of  bay  and  five  of  straw,  with 
a  peck,  saj'  nine  or  ten  pounds,  of  good  oats,  12 
pounds  of  carrots,  and  a  small  allowance  of  hay 
at  night,  will  form  good  winter  feeding  for  a. 
horse  in  full  work;  but  the  quantity,  of  course, 
must  be  suited  to  each  horse's  wants,  remember- 
ing always  that  a  horse  that  is  regularly  well 
fed  will  require  less  and  do  better  than  a  horse 
that  is  stinted  at  one  time  and  over-fed  another." 


"Scratches"  in  Horses. 

This  disease,  called  also  "grease"  in  England 
and  in  some  parts  of  this  country,  often  attacks 
the  heels  and  legs  of  neglected  horses,  and 
though  easily  prevented,  is  difficult  to  cure,  if  of 
long  standing.  It  commences  with  inflamma- 
tion of  the  oil  glands  of  the  skin  about  the  bind 
feet.  These  vessels,  named  sebaceotts  glands, 
supply  a  fluid  to  soften  the  skin  and  prevent 
its  cracking.  These  glands  are  especially  need- 
ed and  veiy  active  about  the  hind  feet  of  the 
horse,  where,  b}'  frequent  exercise  of  the  parts, 
the  skin  is  subject  to  almost  constant  alternate 
wrinkling  and  expausion.  The  toughest  leath- 
er would  soon  yield  under  such  treatment,  un- 
less kept  well  softened  by  oiling.  The  oil  glands 
may  become  inflamed  by  suddeu  cold,  as  when 
a  horse  after  exercise  over  wet  roads  is  allowed 
to  stand  in  the  stable  without  cleaning  and  dry- 
ing the  hair  about  the  feet.  The  animal  being 
warm,  moisture  rapidly  evaporates  and  carries 
with  it  the  heat  from  the  neighboring  parts;  con- 
gestion ensues,  and  inflammation  commences. 
It  may  be  slight  at  first,  but  by  neglect  it  will  lie 
likely  to  extend  and  affect  the  surrounding  sur- 
face and  also  the  deeper  seated  structures,  re- 
sulting in  a  disorder  disgusting  in  its  appearance, 
and  painful  to  the  horse.  Or  it  may  be  caused 
by  standing  on  a  filthy  stable  floor  in  wet  straw 
and  excrements,  the  moisture  from  which  not 
only  produces  cold,  but  from  its  nature  irritates 
the  skin,  thereby  inducing  the  disease. 

As  it  progresses,  the  hair  drops  off,  the  heels 
swell,  the  skin  assumes  a  glazed  appearance,  is 
covered  with  pustules,  and  emits  an  unctuous 
discharge  which  soon  becomes  very  offensive. 
Unless  properly  treated,  the  leg  half-way  to  the 
hock  is  crusted  over  with  thick,  horny  scabs, 
divided  by  deep  cracks,  when  the  affection  is 
scarcely  curable.  Prevention  is  found  in  clean 
Stables,  and  in  thorough  drying  and  rubbing  of 
the  legs  after  the  horse  has  been  used.  Close 
clipping  of  the  hair  which  ordinarily  grows 
long  about  thelcgs,  deprives  these  parts  of  their 
natural  protection,  rendering  them  more  liable 
to  the  scratches,  and  is   therefore  objectionable. 

If  the  disease  unfortunately  appears,  Herbert 
recommends  to  clip  off  all  the  hair  from  the  af- 
fected parts,  and  thoroughly  cleanse  them  with 
warm  water  and  Castile  soap.  Then  apply  a  flan- 
nel bandage  evenly  over  the  limb,  ami  frequent- 
ly moisten  it  with  warm  water,  allowing  it  to 
dry  on  the  part.  To  soften  the  skin,  apply  an 
ointment  of  one  drachm  of  sugar  of  lead  in  an 


1863. 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


70 


ounce  of  lard.  It'  there  arc  cracks,  wash  them 
with  a  solution  of  four  ounces  of  alum  in  a  pint 
of  water.  Feed  the  horse  on  bran  mashes,  car- 
rots, and  green  feed,  and  if  there  be  much  in- 
flammation after  a  day  or  two,  administer  a  ball 
of  four  or  live  drachms  of  aloes. 

If  the  disease  has  reached  the  second  stage, 
three  doses  of  physic  at  intervals  of  two  days 
will  be  needed.  The  best  application  to  the 
heels  will  be  a  poultice  made  of  boiled  and 
mashed  carrots,  put  on  tolerably  hot.  It  can  be 
conveniently  applied  by  drawing  an  old  stock- 
ing leg  over  the  leg,  confining  it  at  the  fetlock 
joint,  and  tilling  it  from  above  with  the  poultice. 
When  this  is  removed,  anoint  the  heels  with  an 
ointment  of  one  part  of  rosin,  three  parts  of 
lard  melted  together,  and  one  part  of  calamine 
powder,  added  whe»  the  first  mixture  is  cooling. 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Notes  on  Sheep-Raising  in  Ohio. 

The  late  census  report  places  Ohio  at  the  head 
of  the  list  in  sheep  husbandry.    To  a  genuine 
Buckeye,  one  having  a  becoming  pride  in  the 
prosperity  of  that   place  which  is   his  home  by 
birth  or  adoption,  this  fact  cannot  be  other- 
wise than  gratifying.     In  1850  the  whole  pro- 
duct of  wool  in  the  United  States  was  about 
52,000,000  lbs.    In  18G0  the  clip  increased  to 
sixty  and  a  half  millions  of  pounds,  showing  a 
gain  of  over  15  per  cent,   during   this  period. 
Of  this,  Ohio,  in  1860,  produced  10,048,000  lbs., 
and  although  we  have  decreased  over  800,000  in 
the  number  of  our  sheep  since  1850,  yet  we  have 
increased  over  400,000  in   pounds  shorn.     This 
increase  of  wool  from  a  less  number  of  sheep, 
clearly  indicates  a  more  intelligent  system  of 
breeding,   and   belter  management    of   flocks. 
Ohio  has  near   10,000,000  acres  of  land  under 
improvement,  and  only  a  fraction  over  3,000,000 
sheep — less  than  one  sheep  for  every  three  acres 
of  cleared  land— it  is    therefore  obvious  that 
the  number  may  be  greatly  augmented  with- 
out, being  over  stocked,  or  materially  affecting 
other    important    agricultural  interests.     That 
sheep  husbandry  is  now  assuming  a   more   im- 
portant position   in  the   economy  of  the   farm, 
than  heretofore,  is   evidenced  by  the  demand 
and  prices  paid  for  sheep  at  the  present  time. 
During  the  last  year,  wool  has  advanced  about 
50  per  cent.,  while  sheep  have  advanced   fully 
100  per  cent.     New  men   are  now  attracted  by 
the  price  of  wool  to  embark  in  the  business  of 
wool  growing,  and  almost  every  fanner  is  in- 
creasing the  number  formerly  kept  on  his  farm. 
This,  I  by  no  means  condemn,  and  yet  it  may 
not  be  out  of  place  to  offer  a  word  of  caution. 
The  wisest  man  can  not  predict  what  is  before 
us,  or  what  will  be  the  condition  of  our  Nation 
one  year  hence.     I  do  not  despair,  and  I  yet 
hope  my  country  and  Government  will  be  saved, 
but,  in  our  present  distracted  condition,  I  would 
certainly  hesitate  before  embarking  in  any  enter- 
prise involving  a  large  investment.     And  fur- 
thermore, is  not  the  present  price  of  wool  de- 
lusive? I  grant  that  in  making  the  currency  of 
the  country  the  standard  of  value,  wool  has  ad- 
vanced 50  per  cent.,  but  if  I  desire  to  convert  this 
currency  into  gold,  or  if  I  only  accept  gold  in 
payment  for  my  wool,  I  will  then  find  the  last 
year's  prices  closely  represent   its  absolute,  or 
true   value  at  the  present  time.     But  while  I 
would   advise   caution,   I  would   also   applaud 
every  wise  and  well  directed  effort  to  increase 
the  number,  and  still  further  aim  to  advance  the 
present  high  character  of  our  Ohio  flocks. 
If  a  good   Providence  grants  power  to  our 


Government  to  subdue,  and  crush  this  wicked 
conspiracy  against  its  life,  then  surely  the  flock- 
master  may  look  forward  for  some  years  to  come, 
with  assurance  that  his  labors  and  care  for  his 
fleecy  charge  will  be  well  rewarded.  The  pres- 
ent supply  of  wool  in  the  markets  of  the  world 
is  unusually  small,  and  cotton  both  from  scar- 
city and  price,  can  not  as  heretofore  constitute 
so  prominent  an  element  in  our  professedly 
woolen  fabrics.  G. 

Moore's  Salt  Works,  Ohio. 


A  Word  for  Merino  Sheep. 


Mr.  M.  Cunningham,  Stark  Co.,  O.,  in  answer 
to  the  question  proposed  by  the  Ohio  State 
Board  of  Agriculture,  "  Which  are  the  Best 
Sheep?"  writes  as  follows:  "This  question 
may  have  as  many  different  answers  as  men 
have  different  notions  and  opinions.  To  the 
flock-master,  who  breeds  and  keeps  sheep  for 
the  wool  principally,  the  Spanish  Merino  is  es- 
teemed above  any  other,  in  this  climate.  Some 
of  the  reasons  for  this  are  as  follows:  The 
Spanish  Merino  produces  a  greater  quantity  of 
wool,  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  carcase, 
than  any  other  variety  of  sheep.  It  is  a  general- 
ly admitted  fact,  that  all  animals  consume  food 
in  proportion  to  the  weight  of  carcase.  This 
being  the  case,  and  the  difference  in  weight  be- 
tween a  Spanish  Merino  and  a  Leicestershire  or 
a  South  Down,  being  about  one-third,  it  will 
readily  be  seen  which  of  the  two  varieties  is 
most  profitable  for  wool ;  for,  generally,  it  will 
be  found  that  the  well-built,  close  and  compact 
Spanish  sheep  of  eighty  pounds  weight  will 
produce  more  pounds  of  wool  than  the  Leices- 
tershire or  the  South  Downs  of  one  hundred 
and  twent}'  pounds.  If  this  be  true,  it  requires 
one-third  more  feed  to  produce  a  pound  of  wool 
from  a  Leicestershire  or  South  Down  sheep  than 
it  does  from  a  Spanish  Merino;  while,  at  the 
same  time,  a  pound  of  the  Spanish  Merino  is 
worth  and  will  sell  for  at  least  one-third  more 
than  the  other.  [Generally — but  not  now.  Ed.] 
The  wool  of  the  Spanish  Merino  is  generally 
very  compact  and  close,  and  being  oily  also,  it 
protects  the  bodies  of  the  animals  from  the  in- 
clemencies of  the  weather;  while  on  the  loose, 
open,  and  light  wooled  varieties,  when  exposed 
to  the  rains  and  storm,  the  wool  becomes  sat- 
urated, the  water  finds  its  way  to  the  skin,  the 
animal  takes  cold,  and  perhaps  dies. 

Spanish  or  some  other  of  the  Merinos,  herd 
together  in  large  flocks  better  than  Leicester- 
shire, Cotswoldsor  South  Downs.  The}'  are,  per- 
haps, the  most  quiet  and  docile  variety  of  sheep 
of  all  others.     This  is  a  great  consideration." 


Introduction  of  Merinos. 

The  Northampton  (Mass.)  Free  Press,  claims 
for  Vermont  the  honor  of  having  first  introduced 
the  Spanish  Merino  into  the  United  States,  and 
gives  the  following  account  of  the  importation: 
"William  Jarvis,  a  native  of  Boston,  received 
from  Jefferson  an  appointment  as  Consul  to  Lis- 
bon, and  when  there  in  1811,  Napoleon  invaded 
Portugal  and  Spain,  and  some  of  the  flocks  were 
seized  by  him  to  feed  his  army,  while  others 
were  sold  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  war. 
Previously,  not  a  single  sheep  had  been  allowed 
to  leave  Spain,  the  penalty  of  death  havingbeen 
established  to  prevent  it.  Mr.  Jarvis  wishing  to 
benefit  his  countrymen,  purchased  ten  bucks  at 
a  cost  of  $200  each,  and  shipped  them  to  New- 
York.  He  ordered  his  agent  to  advertise  them 
thoroughly  and  then  sell  them  at  auction.     His 


request  was  complied  with  and  the  report  of  the 
sale  was  sent  to  Mr.  Jarvis.  He  opened  the  let- 
ter, from  winch  he  read  that  his  sheep  had  been 
sold  at  $100  each.  The  letter  was  thrown  down 
in  a  passion — and  his  countrymen  were  Consid- 
ered the  most  unappreciative  people  in  the 
world.  He  thought  they  certainly  might  have 
shown  gratitude  enough  by  payingat  least  what 
the  sheep  had  cost  him.  The  next  day  having 
occasion  to  refer  to  the  letter,  he  found  that  he 
had  made  a  mistake  of  one  cipher  in  the  first 
reading.  Instead  of  the  sheep  having  sold  for 
$100  each,  they  had  sold  for  $1000— a  slight  dif- 
ference. This  induced  him  to  make  further  run- 
chases,  and  during  his  stay  at  Lisbon  he  shipped 
to  this  country  3,500  sheep,  all  but  300  of  which 
were  sold  at  New- York,  Boston,  Portland,  New- 
Haven,  and  Philadelphia  at  enormous  prices. 
The  :!00  that  he  reserved,  were  taken  to  Welh- 
ersfield,  Vt.,  where  8000  acres  of  land  had  been 
purchased  at  a  cost  of  $20,000.  On  his  return 
to  tliis  country,  Mr.  Jarvis  settled  in  Vermont, 
and  continued  the  rearing  of  sheep,  from  which, 
together  with  the  profits  made  on  those  that  he 
had  imported,  he  had  amassed  a  fortune." 

It  is  true  that  Mr.  Jarvis  was  the  largest  early 
importer  of  this  breed,  but  S.  S.  Randall  in  his 
work  on  sheep  states  that  the  first  Merino  re- 
ceived here  was  shipped  by  Mr.  Delessert,  a 
banker  of  Paris,  in  the  .year  1801.  Four  animals 
were  sent,  but  three  died  on  the  passage ;  the 
remaining  one  was  taken  to  a  farm  near  Kings- 
ton, in  this  State.  In  1802,  Chancellor  Robert 
R.  Livingston,  of  New-York,  imported  two 
pairs  of  this  breed,  and  in  the  same  year  Hon. 
David  Humphreys,  of  Connecticut,  imported  a 
flock  of  about  one  hundred. 


Economy  in  Wintering  Pigs. 

A  correspondent  at  Sandy  Hill,  N.  Y.,  sends 
to  the  American  Agriculturist  a  description  of  his 
mode  of  wintering  pigs  economically — in  sub- 
stance as  follows :  The  pen  is  built  adjoining 
the  rear  of  the  horse  stable,  so  that  the  pigs  can 
have  free  access  to  the  manure  heap.  Their 
grain  feed  is  thrown  upon  the  pile  to  encourage 
them  to  work  it  over,  and  also  that  their  own 
excrements  may  be  dropped  there.  The  trough 
for  swill  is  placed  outside  of  their  nesting 
apartment,  midway  between  that  and  the  ma- 
nure heap.  The  whole  is  under  cover,  and  sel- 
dom freezes.  Pigs  for  wintering  are  taken  from 
the  second  litter,  dropped  in  September.  Two 
or  three  pigs  are  kept  to  each  horse.  They 
spend  most  of  the  day  in  working  over  the  ma- 
nure thrown  from  the  stable  in  the  morning: 
thus  all  the  undigested  grain,  which  would  oth- 
erwise be  partially  wasted,  is  turned  to  account  ; 
an  addition  is  made  to  the  manure  heap  by  lie: 
pigs,  and  the  whole  is  thoroughly  commingled. 
It  is  claimed  that  a  large  saving  of  feed  and  ma- 
nure is  made.  Toward  Spring  the  manure  is 
thrown  out  of  the  pen,  and  allowed  to  ferment. 
The  heap  is  watered  occasionally,  if  it  be  not 
sufficiently  moist,  to  prevent  fire-fanging. 

We  suggest  in  addition  to  the  above  plan,  that 
a  pile  of  muck  be  kept  near  at  hand,  under 
cover,  and  a  few  shovelfuls  be  thrown  in  daily 
with  the  manure  from  the  stable.  It  will  retain 
much  of  the  ammonia  which  would  otherwise 
escape,  thus  preventing  the  offensive  effluvia 
from  the  sty.  It  will  add  largely  to  the  bulk 
of  the  heap,  and  by  being  incorporated  wit  It 
the  manure,  prevent  injury  daring  fermentation. 
Sods,  or  any  good  soil  may  be  used,  when  muck 
is  not  at  hand.  The  accumulation  can  be 
removed  from  the  pen  as  often  as  necessary. 


80 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[March, 


The  Petunia— New  Varieties. 


The  improvement  which  lias  been  made  in 
this  favorite  bedding  plant  is  truly  wonderful, 
when  we  compare  the  present  forms  with  the 
old  white  and  purple  kinds.    The  engraving 
here    given,    represents 
some  of    the  seedlings 
produced  by  Mr.  Isaac 
Buchanan,     the     well- 
known    florist    of   this 
cit3r.    Being  dissatisfied 
with  the   double  varie- 
ties, he  turned  his  atten- 
tion     to     those     with 
blotches  and  markings. 
Beginning  with  a  blotch- 
ed    plant    which      ho 
brought  from  Gand,  he 
has,  after  several  years 
of  careful  culture,  suc- 
ceeded    in      obtaining 
some  well  marked  va- 
rieties— the    beauty  of 
which  is  reproduced  in 
the   engraving   as   well 
as  can  be  done  in  black 
and  white.    In  the  spe- 
cimens we   have  seen, 
the  markings  are  well 
defined,  of  a  rich  purple 
color,  on  a  clear,  white 
ground.     We  cultivated 
some  of  these  varieties 
last  Summer,  and  their 
striking  contrasts  of  col- 
or made  them  the  most 
brilliant   ornaments   of 
our  grounds.     The  pe- 
tunia,   from     the    ease 
with  which  it  is  propa- 
gated,    is    exceedingly 
popular.    Though  a  per- 
ennial,   it  is  cultivated 
like    an     annual,    and 
blooms  very  early  from 
seed  sown  in  the  open 
ground.      Towards  the 
end  of  summer  cuttings 
may  be  made  from  de- 
sirable    sorts.       These 
strike  readily,  and  may 
be     kept     for     winter 
blooming,  or  in  a  dor- 
mant   state  for    spring 
planting.     A   paper   of 

seeds  of  the  finer  sorts  will  be  likely  to  give 

a  considerable  variety  of  colors  and  markings. 

■»-< .-■«•—. — _- 

For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Impositions  in  Grapes  and  Other  Fruits. 

These  are  continually  occurring.  Here  are  a 
few  from  which  I  have  personally  suffered. 
Several  years  ago,  following  the  advice  of  influ- 
ential persons,  I  purchased  a  rooted  layer  of 
the  Logan  grape.  It  was  said  to  be  equal  to  the 
Isabella,  but  hardier,  more  productive,  and  ri- 
pening before  the  Concord.  Even  more  than 
this  was  said  in  its  praise,  but  this  was  enough, 
if  true.  So  I  remitted  the  $5  demanded,  and 
received  a  vine.  It  has  now  borne  fruit  three 
years,  and  I  must  testify  that  it  is  not  equal  in 
quality  to  the  Isabella,  and  not  half  as  produc- 
tive as  that  variety.  It  is  early  and  hardy  as 
oould  be  desired,  but  it  does  not  set  its   f  111  it 


well ;  in  this  regard  it  is  inferior  to  the  Concord. 
More  recently  I  bought  a  Cuyahoga  vine, 
for  $3 ;  a  "knitting-needle"  vine,  too.  The  first 
plant  died,  and  next  year  I  tried  again,  with 
another  needle,  which  lived.  The  recommend- 
ations of  this  grape  were  very  high.    Here  is 


one,  published  in  the  Horticulturist :  "Ripens 
ten  days  or  two  weeks  earlier  than  Isabella,  is 
free  from  rot  or  mildew,  ripens  its  berries  uni- 
formly, and  they  hang  well  on  the  bunch.  Pulp 
melting,  juicy,  sweet — quality  best."  But  last 
year  the  facts  began  to  leak  out.  Reports  of  its 
rotting  and  mildewing  found  their  way  into  the 
papers.  The  specimens  exhibited  at  the  differ- 
ent fairs  were  few,  small,  and  poorly  ripened, 
and,  worse  than  all,  they  were  found  to  be  later 
in  maturing  than  the  Isabella.  That,  of  itself, 
kills  it  for  cultivation  in  a  northern  latitude. 
The  Adirondo.c  grape  has  lately  come  out  with 
a  brave  blowing  of  trumpets.  This  is  declared 
to  be  certainly  superior  to  the  Isabella,  has  a 
touch  of  the  flavor  of  that  royal  grape,  the 
Black  Hamburgh,  is  very  prolific,  hardy,  ripens 
before  the  Concord,  etc.,  etc.  This  sounds  well, 
but  I  am  getting  nervously  shy  of  these  un- 
tried novelties.    The  Adirondac  originated  in  a 


small  village  near  Pittsburgh,  N.  Y.    A  recent 
correspondent  of  Hovey's  Magazine  writes  from 
that  village,  saying :    "The  original  Adirondac 
vine  stands  but  a  few  steps  from  the  lake,  in  the 
town  of  Port  Henry.    I  do  not  think  it  equal  to 
the  Delaware,  Diana,  or  even  Concord,  for  this 
region."  That  is  certain- 
ly quite  a  home  thrust. 
The  writer  charges  no 
one  with  dishonesty,  but 
counsels  the  public   to 
be    extremely  cautious 
not  to  pay  large  prices 
for  untested  novelties  of 
any  kind.           Vitis. 
Remarks.  —  We    can 
scarcely  wonder  at  the 
state  of  mind,  in  which 
"Vitis"  finds  himself; 
he  has  not  a  few  sym- 
pathizers.   The  gist  of 
his    letter  is  contained 
in  one  of  the  last  words, 
which    we    have    itali- 
cised.    It  is  not  enough 
that  one  interested  per- 
son, with  the  experience 
of  one  locality,  shall  rec- 
ommend a  grape  as  the 
best  ever  grown,  though 
he  may  intend  to  speak 
ever  so  honestly.  Our  en- 
terprising    propagators 
are  always  on  the  look- 
out, and  ready  to  spend 
money  and  time  in  test- 
ing all  promising  novel- 
ties, and  many  of  them 
are  honest    enough  to 
Bpeak  and  act  upon  the 
facts  regarding  a  new 
vine.    Some  are  unscru- 
pulous  enough  to  help 
keep  up   the  factitious 
merits  of  any  new  plant, 
until  the  public  have  re- 
paid to  them  their  outlay 
in  the  experiments;  but 
there  are  enough  of  the 
former  class  to  soon  put 
a  plant  upon  its  proper 
level  of  merit.     For  the 
masses    it  is   generally 
safe  to  wait  for  the  tes- 
timony of  leading  prop- 
agators  in   favor  of    a 
grape  or  other  fruit,  before  investing  in  it.     A 
little  time  may  be  lost  in  securing  a  variety  that 
proves  to  be  valuable,  but  the  security  against 
imposition  will  make  up  the  loss.   Men  of  wealth, 
those  who  can  afford  to  lose  the  outlay,  may 
w7ell    experiment  with  every  thing  new  com- 
ing  up,   whenever  there   are  any   reasonable 
grounds  to  hope  for  good  results.     By  so  do- 
ing, they  confer  a  benefit  upon  the  public— Ed.] 
•-• —  »™ .-«. 

Downing's  Everbearing  Mulberry. 

This  vai'iety  of  mulberry  has  now  become 
pretty  widely  disseminated,  but  of  its  real  mer- 
its very  little  is  yet  known,  except  by  the  few 
who  have  eaten  the  fruit  from  trees  six  to  ten 
years  old  ;  that  from  younger  trees  being  al- 
ways inferior  to  what  is  grown  on  those  that  are 
old  and  mature.     Several  other  sorts  very  much 


1863.1 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST 


resemble  the  Downing,  but  do  not  have  that 
sprightliness  of  flavor  which  makes  this  variety 
so  desirable.  The  fruit  is  about  an  inch  and-a- 
half  long,  half  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  black 
when  fully  ripe.  The  tree  is  hardy,  very  vigor- 
ous, a  rapid  grower,  and  is  also  ornamental ; 
leaves,  very  large,  heart-shaped,  often  ten  inches 
long  and  seven  broad.  It  is  said  to  be  a  seedling 
of  the  Morns  Multicaulis,'  which  it  very  much 
resembles  in  foliage,  but  it  has  not  the  peculi- 
arity of  the  mnlticaulis,  of  growing  readily 
from  cuttings.  We  are  not  aware  of  any  one 
having  succeeded  in  growing  it  in  any  quan- 
tity in  that  manner.  The  most  successful 
method  has  been  to  graft  it  on  roots  of  other  va- 
rieties, performing  the  operation  in  the  months 
of  March  and  April,  under  glass.  In  this  man- 
ner every  graft  can  be  made  to  grow,  and  as 
soon  as  they  have  become  firmly  united  to  the 
stock,  they  may  be  planted  out  into  the  open 
ground.  The  planting  should  always  be  de- 
ferred until  all  danger  of  frost  is  past.  It  may 
also  be  grafted  or  budded  upon  stocks  in  the 
open  ground,  at  the  usual  time  for  budding  and 
grafting  other  trees.  We  know  several  instances 
where  this  has  been  practised  with  moderate 
success.  The  fruit  begins  to  ripen  in  this  vi- 
cinity by  the  middle  of  Juue,  and  continues 
without  intermission  until  the  middle  of  August, 
thus  filling  up  the  space  between  the  strawber- 
ry and  grape.  It  is  too  soft  for  market  purposes, 
and  has  one  other  serious  fault,  viz.:  the  stem  of 
the  fruit  adheres  to  it  so  firmly  that  it  must  be 
either  cut  off  or  eaten  with  the  berry,  as  it  can 
not  be  pulled  off  without   breaking  the  pulp. 


Severe  Treatment  for  Peach  Trees. 


A  correspondent,  Samuel  Godshall,  of  Hub- 
bard, O.,  seeing  hot  water  noticed  as  a  remedy 
for  diseased  peach  trees,  in  the  Agriculturist  for 
January,  sends  an  account  of  his  experience 
which,  like  the  others,   is  published  for  those 
who  wish  to  make  an  experiment.    It  strikes  us 
as  rather  a  severe  remedy.    If  the  heat  did  not 
kill  the  tree  it  would  be  quite  sure  to   destroy 
the  grubs.    It  may  be  that  the  killing  of  the 
grubs  is  due  to  the  potash  contained  in  the 
ashes,  and  that  cold  ashes  would  be  as  effica- 
cious.   At  any  rate  the  potash  contained  in  the 
ashes  would  be  useful  as  a  manure  to  the  tree, 
y  Some  years  ago,   I  had  a  large  peach  tree 
standing  in  the  corner  of  my  garden.     When  it 
put  out  in  the  spring  the  leaves  were  yellow, 
knotty,  and  curled  ;   every  thing  indicated  that 
the  tree  must  die.     When  digging  that  part  of 
my  garden,  I  concluded  I  would  try  an  experi- 
ment on  the  old  tree.    I  took  my  shovel  and 
bared  the  roots  for  more  than  a  foot  round  the 
body  of  the  tree.    I  then  carried  three  large 
shovelfuls  of  hot  hickory  coals  and  ashes,  threw 
them  on  the  roots,   and   immediately  covered 
(hem  up  with  the  fresh  dirt.    I  noticed  immedi- 
ately a  great  steam  rising  from  the  roots.     In  a 
few  days  the  tree  cast  off  its  leaves,  and  put  out 
afresh,  and  before  harvest  it  was  covered  with  a 
dark  green  foliage,  and  year  after  year  while  I 
lived  on  that  property,  that  old  tree  was  the  ad- 
miration of  all  who  saw  it,  both  in  fruit  and  fo- 
liage.  Since  that  time  my  cure  for  the  peach  tree 
is  hot  coals  and  ashes,  and  I  have  always  found 
it  a  success.    I  have  on  my  lot  at  this  time  a 
small  orchard  of  perhaps  as  healthy  peacli  trees 
as  can  be  found  in  the  State  of  Ohio.    And  my 
mode  of  treating  young  trees  is,  in  the  Spring  to 
examine  the  roots,  and  if  I  see  signs  of  grub,  to 
apply  the  hot  ashes  immediately,  and  through 
the  season  apply  night  soil." 


The  Great  California  Pear. 

This  pomological  monster,  the  anticipated  ar- 
rival of  which  was  announced  in  the  February 
American  Agriculturist,  came  safely  to  hand — 
thanks  to  the  careful  packing  of  Col.  Warren, 
and  the  courtesy  of  Wells,  Fargo  &  Co.  It 
was  placed  on  our  Exhibition  Tables,  and  was 
examined  by  many  thousands,  and  we  have 
had  it  engraved  for  the  benefit  of  other  tens  of 
thousands  who  were  not  able  to  see  the  origi- 
nal. The  engraving  is  of  the  exact  size,  and 
gives  a  very  faithful  representation  of  the  pear. 
It  is  20  inches  in  circumference  one  way,  16 
the  other,  and  weighed  here  3  lbs.  7  ozs.  A 
model  in  wax,  colored  by  Dr.  Newberry,  so  truth- 


fully that  many  were  in  doubt  which  was  the 
original — is  still  on  exhibition.  No  information 
as  to  the  variety  of  the  pear,  accompanied  it. 
A  committee  of  the  Fruit  Growers'  meeting  was 
appointed  to  test  it,  Jan.  20,  but  decay  had  pro- 
gressed so  far  that  they  were  unable  to  form  a 
satisfactory  opinion.  It  was  thought  by  some 
of  the  committee  that,  notwithstanding  the  dis- 
similarity of  form,  it  was  a  monstrous  specimen 
of  the  old  Pound  Pear.  Whatever  it  may  be,  il 
has  certainly  been  very  interesting  to  amateurs 
in  fruits,  and  others,  and  our  thanks  are  due  to 
Dr.  Bellows,  to  whom  it  was  sent  by  Thomas 
Brown,  Esq.,  and  to  all  who  participated  in  eny 
abling  us  to  show  what  the  wonderful  soil  and 
climate  of  California  can  produce  in  the  way  of 


82 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[March, 


pears.  We  have  heard  of  larger  penis,  but  this 
excels  in  weight  and  size  any  other  one  that  we 
have  ever  seen.    It  weighed  full  three  pounds  and 

sftien  ounces  after  its  arrival  here. P.  S.  Since 

writing  the  above,  a  gentleman  whose  name  we 
did  not  learn,  called  and  informed  us  that  he 
was  a  neighbor  of  Dr.  Beard  at  the  San  Jose 
Mission,  and  that  he  was  knowing  to  the  fact 
that  the  tree  was  taken  to  California  six  or  seven 
years  ago,  from  the  nurseries  of  Messrs.  Parsons 
&  Co.,  of  Flushing,  N.  Y.  Both  himself  and 
Dr.  Beard  ordered  a  considerable  number  of 
trees  at  the  same  time,  among  which  was  the 
one  producing  the  above  specimen,  as  wTell  as 
its  predecessor,  the  "  Bushnell  Pear." 

Dwarf  Apples. 

To  any  of  our  readers  who  may  be  discour- 
aged with  dwarf  pears,  we  would  recommend  a 
trial  of  dwarf  apples.  They  are  produced  by 
grafting  the  ordinary  apples  on  the  Paradise,  or 
Doucin  stock'.  And  here  lies  an  advantage  or 
two;  one  does  not  have  to  wait  and  carefully 
experiment,  as  with  pears,  to  find  out  what  kinds 
will  succeed  as  dwarfs,  what  need  double-work- 
ing, etc.  Take  any  sort  desired,  and,  if  prop- 
erly grafted,  it  w'ill  succeed,  and  be  fruitful 
much  earlier  than  the  common  apple  tree. 
Those  grafted  on  the  Doucin  stock  will  usual- 
ly fruit  the  fourth  year,  and  those  on  the  Para- 
dise the  third  year.  Fire-blight,  sap-blight,  and 
hard  winters  seldom  trouble  the  dwarf  apple. 

These  dwarf  trees  are  desirable  for  small  gar- 
dens and  village  door-yards.  Common  apple- 
trees  need  to  stand  20  to  30  feet  apart,  and 
of  course  there  can  be  very  few  of  them  planted 
in  ordinary  town-yards,  but  dwarf  trees  may 
stand  at  eight  feet  apart  for  the  Doucin  and 
six  for  the  Paradise.  This  will  enable  a  family 
to  raise  quite  a  pretty  assortment  of  dessert  ap- 
ples. Of  those  which  naturally  form  roundish, 
symmetrical  heads,  we  note  the  Red  Astrachan, 
Porter,  Baldwin,  Dyer,  SummerRose,  and  Sweet 
Bough.  The  following,  though  a  little  rampant 
and  irregular,  yield  fine  fruit:  Lady  Apple, 
Early  Strawberry,  Wagoner,  Northern  Spy  and 
Tompkins'  King.  As  a  general  rule,  summer 
and  autumn  fruits  should  be  raised  on  the 
dwarf  stock,  and  the  orchard  depended  on  for 
the  general  winter   supply. 


Hints  in  Pruning. 


Pruning  is  not  an  indiscriminate  cutting,  but 
is  an  operation  to  be  performed  according  to 
certain  rules.  The  cut  should  always  be  made 
near  a  bud.  If  the  cut  is  made  for  some  distance 
above  the  bud,  the  wood  will  die  down  to  it. 
Hard  wooded  trees  should  be  cut  as  shown  in 
fig.  1.    The  cut  commencing  opposite  the  base 


Fig.  1.  Fig.  2.  Fig.  3. 

of  the  bud  and  sloping  up  to  a  point  opposite  to 
the  top  of  it,  as  shown  by  the  dotted  lines.  In 
fig.  2,  the  cut  is  too  far  above  the  bud,  and  a 
stub  is  left  which  seldom  heals  over,  but  rots.  In 
fig.  3,  the  cut  is  made  too  near  the  bud,  with  too 
great  a  slope,  and  there  is  danger  of  its  dying. 


Recollect  that  the  bud  will  form  the  future 
branch,  and  the  shape  of  the  tree  will  be  gov- 
erned by  the  choice  of  the  bud  left  to  continue 
the  growth.  Soft  wooded  trees  and  shrubs 
should  not  be  cut  quite  so  close  to  the  bud  as 
those  having  hard  wood. 


Dwarf  Pears. 


J.  Franklin  Spaulding,  of  Nashua,  N.  H., 
thinks  that  the  pear  throws  out  roots  only  on 
strong  loamy  soils,  unsuited  to  the  growth  of  the 
quince.  He  removed  some  dwarf  pear  trees 
which  had  been  planted  for  23  years,  and  found 
the  quince  stocks  all  in  healthy  condition.  These 
trees  had  all  been  set  with  the  juncture  of  the 
pear  and  quince  about  6  inches  below  the  sur- 
face. His  experience  is,  that  upon  soils  suited  to 
the  quince,  the  stock  will  last  as  long  as  the 
pear.  He  doubts  if  the  pear  will  throw  out  roots 
where  the  soil  is  properly  cultivated,  unless  the 
trees  are  mulched,  as  the  soil  would  otherwise 
become  too  dry  to  favor  the  formation  of  roots. 
•-. -=««»- — »-«. 

Notes  from  the  Fruit  Growers'  Meetings. 

JANUARY     15. 

Keeping  Fruits.— Dr.  Ward  presented  a  plate  of 
Lawrence  pears,  in  good  condition.  This  has  not  hitherto 
been  regarded  as  a  Winter  variety.  He  allows  the  fruit 
to  remain  late  upon  the  tree,  which  holds  its  foliage 
longer  tiian  most  other  pears.  It  is  then  placed  in  the 
cellar,  which  is  ventilated  by  admitting  air  from  without 
as  often  as  it  can  be  done  without  danger  of  freezing.  He 
thinks  that  fruits  keep  much  better  when  the  exhalations 
arising  from  them  are  removed.  The  specimens  had  been 
kept  in  a  warm  room  for  about  two  weeks,  and  upon 
testing  were  found  to  be  of  most  excellent  quality.  Dr. 
W.  thought  he  would  have  no  difficulty  in  keeping  the 
Lawrence  until  the  1st  of  March. 

Mr.  Carpenter  had  not  been  so  successful  ;  all  his 
specimens  of  Lawrence  w-ere  gone  before  Jan.  1st,  while 
the  Vicar  of  Winktield  and  Glout  Moreeau  would  keep 
until  April,  lie  thought  the  quality  of  the  soil  affected 
the  keeping  of  the  fruit.  The  subject  of  retarding  fruits 
was  regarded  as  one  of  great  importance,  it  was  con- 
ceded that  nothing  was  equal  to  ice  for  this  purpose. 

Dr.  Ward  was  convinced  that  the  best  and  most  eco- 
nomical method  of  using  ice  had  not  yet  been  discovered. 
He  was  making  some  experiments,  which  he  hoped  to 
lay  before  the  meeting  at  another  time. 

Mr.  Carpenter  had  found  nothing  like  ice  ;  he  had,  hy 
means  of  it,  kept  the  Bartlett  into  October,  and  thus  real- 
ized three  times  the  usual  price,  and  believed  that  a  cor- 
rect method  of  using  ice  would  not  only  be  profitable  to  the 
fruit  growers,  hut  would  be  the  means  of  benefitting  the 
public   by   prolonging  the  season  of  choice   fruits. 

Mr.  Fuller  wished  for  some  simple  way  to  preserve 
fruits  which  could  be  practised  by  every  fanner,  and 
asked  if  fruit  in  closed  boxes  or  barrels,  kept  better 
than  when  open.  He  put  them  in  tight  boxes,  after 
sweating.  It  was  thought  that  no  general  rule  could  be 
given,  that  it  depended  upon  the  peculiarity  of  the  kinds. 
Pears  with  a  thin  skin,  like  the  Flemish  Beauty,  should 
be  exposed,  while  those  with  a  tougll  skin,  like  the  Law- 
rence, should  be   confined. 

In  reply  to  the  question  whether  any  packing  material 
was  useful,  Mr.  Carpenter  slated  that  it  was,  for  pre- 
serving a  uniform  temperature.  He  thought  rice  chaff 
was  best,  and  next  to  that  oat  chatT.  He  packed  his  fruit 
in  it,  and  left  the  barrels  out  until  there  was  danger  of 
freezing,  and  then  removed  them  to  the  cellar.  He 
found,  on  opening  a  package  the  day  before,  that  the 
fruit  was  10  or  15  degrees  cooler  than  the  atmosphere  of 
the  room  in  which  it  was  kept. 

Grapes.— In  the  discussion  upon  a  list  of  grapes  to 
recommend  for  cultivation  in  the  vicinity  of  New- York 
several  cultivators  gave  their  experience.  Mr.  Oliver 
advocated  the  claims  of  the  Concord  for  prolific  bearing  ; 
was  planting  17  acres  of  this  variety  ;  considered  it  the 
only  native  grape  that  would  make  wine  without  sugar, 
and  presented  samples  of  brandy,  which  were  pronounced 
good.  It  took  eight  gallons  of  grape  juice  to  make  one 
gallon  of  brandy. 

Dr.  Ward  said  that  the  Concord  stood  the  sun  as  no 
other  grape  would;  had  it  growing  by  the  side  of  other 
grapes,  and  found  that  the  foliage  remained  fresh,  while 
that  of  the  Isabella  and  other  grapes  was  curled  by  hpat. 

Mr.  Fuller  remarked  that  the  wood  of  this  variety  ri- 
pened early— long  before  the  leaves  fell. 


Mr.  Field  said  we  needed  a  substitute  for  the  Isabel- 
la. People  would  go  on  planting  that  variety,  because 
they  knew  of  nothing  better.  This  was  a  great  mistake, 
and  would  only  lead  to  disappointment.  The  Isabella 
was  not  adapted  to  exposed  situations,  and  would  only 
grow  upon  the  south  side  of  some  protecting  object.  In 
city  yards  it  did  well,  but  in  open  places  it  was  not  worth 
planting.  Knew  a  vineyard  which  had  been  planted 
seven  or  eight  years  that  had  never  yielded  a  perfect 
cluster.  He  thought  that  the  Concord  was  the  best  grape 
he  ever  knew. 

Mr.  Carpenter  thought  the  Concord  the  grape  for  the 
million— it  gave  good  fruit  if  neglected,  and  better  if 
cared  for.  As  the  Delaware  needs  more  care,  he  would 
place  the  Concord  at  the  head  of  the  list.  The  Hart- 
ford Prolific  was  very  early,  ripening  two  weeks  soon- 
er than  any  other,  but  it  would  not  give  fine  fruit 
without  extra  care,  and  on  that  account  was  not  proper 
to  recommend  ;  the  same  with  the  Diana.  The  Isabella 
he  would  condemn,  for  it  disappointed  thousands.  The 
Iona  he  thought  highly  of,  and  believes  it  will  supplant 
the  Delaware. 

Mr.  Fuller  objected  to  recommending  a  variety  which, 
like  the  Iona,  was  not  generally  obtainable. 

Dr.  Trimble  had  seen  an  abundance  of  the  fruit  of 
the  Delaware  at  the  exhibitions  in  New-Jersey.  Knew- 
of  35  bunches  being  raised  on  a  graft  two  years  old. 

Mr.  Field  thought  the  Delaware  would  improve  with 
time.  The  Diana  had  improved  with  him.  and  made 
stronger  wood.  He  thought  the  Delaware  would  beat 
the  Diana  and  Isabella  anywhere,  in    open    grounds. 

Mr.  Saxton  had  100  bunches  on  three  vines  of  the  Dela- 
ware, planted  out  only  two  years. 
January  22. 

Grapes. — Varieties  recommended. — After  examining  the 
great  California  Pear,  the  varieties  of  grapes  to  be  recom- 
mended for  general  cultivation,  especially  in  the  vicinity 
of  New-York,  were  discussed. 

Dr.  Trimble  moved  a  resolution,  which  was  passed, 
that  Mr.  Borland  of  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  be  requested  to  com 
municate  his  melhod  of  grape  grafting  to  the  meeting. 
—Mr.  Cummings  thought  that  this  melhod  of  propaga- 
tion might  often  be  useful  when  slow  growing  varieties 
of  grapes  were  grafted  on  quick  growing  stocks. 

Di\  Ward  thought  we  should  be  very  cautious  in 
coming  to  a  conclusion  about  this  method  of  propagating 
the  grape,  from  a  single  experiment.  When  the  grape 
was  grafted  on  an  old  root  it  was  a  long  time  before  a 
good  plant  could  be  secured.  The  old  roots  decayed  he- 
fore  there  was  sufficient  foliage  to  keep  them  growing. 

Mr.  Mead  would  place  the  Delaware  at  the  head  of  the 
list,  but  it  needs  the  high  culture  anil  care  that  few  per- 
sons will  give  to  it.  He  would  then  place  the  Concord 
first,  and  the  Isabella  third.  He  would  substitute  the 
Creveling  if  it  could  be  obtained.  It  ripens  10  to  12 days 
earlier  and  is  superior  to  the  Isabella  ;  but  he  would  not 
discard  an  old  variety  for  one  which  is  not  generally  in 
the  market.  He  would  name  as  those  which  promise 
well;  Creveling,  Allen's  Hybrid,  and  Cuyahoga.  There 
are  others  which  he  considers  more  promising  than  these, 
but  they  are  not  before  the  public. 

Mr.  Field  gave  as  his  selection  Delaware,  Concord, 
and  Hartford  Prolific,  and  for  particular  localities,  Diana, 
Catawba,  and  Isabella. 

Mr.  Fuller  named  Delaware,  Concord,  and  Harlford 
Prolific  for  genera!  culture  ;  and  for  special  localities,  Cre- 
veling, Cuyahoga,  and  the  Iona  if  it  could  be  obtained. 

Mr.  Carpenter  gave  Concord,  Delaware,  and  Harlford 
Prolific  as  his  choice.  He  put  the  Concord  first,  not  be- 
cause it  was  a  better  grape  than  the  Delaware,  but  be- 
cause it  will  bear  neglect  and  make  its  own  way,  ripens 
in  good  season,  and  will  flourish  as  far  north  as  any  grape 
will.  As  promising  well,  he  would  name  Iona,  Allen's 
Hybrid— would  add  Cuyahoga  but  fears  it  ripens  too  late, 
therefore  substitutes  Creveling. 

Mr.  Cummings  was  surprised  that  no  one  bad  mention- 
ed the  Adirondac,  which  ripens  early  in  a  high  latitude. 
It  was  answered  that  no  one  present  had  fruited  it,  and 
that  it  was  not  right  to  recommend  varieties  which  had 
not  been  tested,  or  those  monopolized  by  one  seller. 

Dr.  Ward  recommended  Concord,  Delaware,  and  Diana. 
The  Concord  would  grow-  in  any  soil,  will  carry  its  fruit 
to  perfection,  has  large  bunches,  is  of  fair  quality  for  the 
table,  and  good  for  wine.  Is  already  to  he  found  in  tin? 
market  while,  though  he  often  visits  the  Washington  mark- 
et, he  never  saw  a  bunch  of  the  Delaw  are  on  sale.  While 
the  Delaware  would,  with  high  culture,  give  a  superior 
fruit,  he  preferred  the  Concord  fur  these  reasons.  Has 
had  experience  with  the  Isabella,  cultivated  and  carefully 
trained  a  vineyard  of  500  vines  for  10  years,  and  it  has 
never  paid  the  original  cost  of  the  vines.  He  was  tired 
of  it.  Objects  to  the  Hartford  Prolific  as,  without  being 
earlier  than  the  Concord,  it  requires  careful  pruning. 

Mr.  Judd  gave  asa  list  for  general  culture,  the  Concord, 
Delaware  and  Diana.  The  Delaware  was,  from  all  ac- 
counts, the  best  flavored  grape,  and  to  be  recommended. 
He  named  the  Concord  first  in  such  a  list,  on  account  of 


1863. 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


83 


its  great  vigor;  a  root  stuck  in  the  ground  careless- 
ly, would  be  likely  lo  grow  with  or  without  care,  and  pro- 
duce an  abundance  of  fair  quality  grapes.  It  would  per- 
haps best  meet  the  wishes  of  the  great  mass  of  careless 
or  inexperienced  cultivators.  The  Delaware  would  give 
the  best  fruit  lo  those  who  would  take  any  pains  in  culti- 
vating it.  The  Hartford  Prolific  was  an  early  grape,  a 
vigorous  grower  and  bearer,  but  these  qualities  were 
nearly  equalled  in  the  Diana,  and  its  sweeter  flavor  would 
be  relished  by  many  ;  to  make  up  a  variety,  therefore,  he 
would  put  the  Diana  third  in  the  list,  instead  of  the  Hart- 
ford Prolific. 

Solon  Robinson  gave  Delaware,  Concord  and  Hartford 
Prolific  as  his  choice. 

Mr.  Pardee  would  place  the  Delaware  at  the  head  of 
the  list:  thinks  from  what  he  has  seen,  that  when  the  vines 
get  older  they  will  bear  as  well  as  the  Concord.  It  has 
not  hail  lime  lo  show  what  it  will  do.  lie  would  add 
Concord  and  Diana,  and  for  those  which  promise  well, 
Hartford  Prolific,  Allen's  Hybrid,  and  Isabella.  The  lat- 
ter Is,  in  many  localities,  loo  fine  a  grape  to  he  discarded. 
Mr.  (Javanagh  said  he  hail  had  charge  of  the  original 
Isabella  vine,  and  did  not  believe  that  one  vine  in  (en  of 
those  know  n  by  that  name,  was  of  the  true  kind. 

The  vote  on  varieties  for  general  cultivation  was  taken 
as  noticed  in  another  column. 

January  29. 
Discussion  upon  Grapes  resumed.  In  answer  to  queries 
about  the  Anna,  Messrs.  Field  and  Carpenter  concurred 
uVeOnsidering  it  ton  laic,  but  that  it  is  not  yet  fully  tcsled. 
Mr.  Carpenter  thinks  that,  among  White  grapes,  Allen's 
Hybrid  is  the  most  promising.  It  ripens  with  the  Diana, 
or  a  little  before  it.  A  hardy  white  grape  is  very  much 
needed.  The  Rebecca  is'a  good  bearer,  has  a  fine  hunch 
and  desirable  fruit,  but  makes  a  very  delicate  growth. 

Mr.  Fuller  considers  that  all  of  our  native  white  grapes 
arc  seedlings  of  the  Isabella— are  albinos,  so  to  speak, 
and  arc  of  weak  constitution.  Allen's  Hybrid  has  poor 
foliage  ;  he  thinks  it  is  not  a  hybrid.  Hopes  it  is,  but 
doubts.  A  Committee  was  appointed  to  test  the  great 
California  pear.  Their  decision  will  be  found  on  page  81. 
Mr.  Carpenter  exhibited  about  half  a  peck  of  Vicar  of 
Winkficlil  pears,  which  were  freely  tested  and  showed 
the  efficacy  of  his  plan  of  preserving  them  in  oat  chaff. 
Some  lists  were  handed  in  by  members  of  the  Commit- 
tee on  Apples,  which  gave  rise  to  some  discussion. 

In  answer  to  the  question  if  fruit  growers  near  New- 
York  had  found  the  apple  crop  profitable  iri  a  year  of  such 
plenty  as  the  lasi:  Mr.  Carpenter  replied  that  with  cider 
at  10  cents  a  gallon,  it  would  pay  even  for  cider  making. 
He  thought  that  all  good  anil  well  cared  for  fruit  had 
brought  paying  prices  during  the  last  season,  and  that  he 
was  encouraged  to  increase  his  orchard. 

Harvey  Dodge  of  Worcester  Co.,  Mass.,  has  been  pre- 
paring ground  for  an  orchard  by  thorough  draining,  at  an 
expense  of  $200  per  acre.  Is  planting  largely  of  the  Hub- 
bardston  Nonsuch.  Is  trying  the  Northern  Spy,  which 
does  well. 

February  5. 

Mr.  Baldwin,  of  Hanover  Neck,  N.  J.,  exhibited  Peck's 
Pleasant  apples  of  great  beauty  and  fine  size.  Considers 
the  tree  a  great  bearer,  and  knows  of  nothing  better.  They 
sold  readily  this  winter  at  $1  a  bushel. 

The  Diana  grape  was  discussed.  Mr.  Fuller  does  not 
fancy  it  much,  as  it  ripens  poorly,  and  of  uneven  size  ; 
considers  it  an  improvement   on   the  Catawba. 

Mr.  Judd  planted  Dianas  in  1856,  and  fin-Is  them  to  be 
strong  growers  and  prolific,  and  prefers  it  to  Hie  Concord. 

Mr.  Wood  slated  that  at  Croton  Point,  it  does  not  ripen 
every  year,  but  when  well  ripened,  it  is  superior  to  the 
Delaware.     Placed  on  the  list  for  special  localities. 

The  Isabella  next  came  up  for  consideration,  but  the 
remarks  upon  it  were  of  a  similar  character  to  those  al- 
ready given  above. 


Large  Returns  from  Small  Outlay. 

A  correspondent,  Joshua  Thornby,  of  Green- 
field, Muss.,  wishes  us  to  call  attention  to  a  prof- 
itable kind  of  gardening  "which  he  has  followed 
for  some  time — that  of  raising  early  plants  for 
sale.  He  thinks  thai,  from  his  experience,  ouc 
subscriber  of  the  Agriculturist  in  every  village  in 
the  country,  can  realize  a  handsome  sum  by  rais- 
ing plants  and  properly  advertising  them. 
From  beginning  in  a  small  way,  his  sales  have 
increased  to  if  100  annually.  He  says:  "It 
will  be  necessary  to  carefully  tend,  and  properly 
transplant  the  hot-bed  plants,  that,  they  may 
fono  huge  fibrous  roots  and  short,  stocky  stems; 
to  be  very  careful  in  getting  the  best  varieties, 


and  the  purest  seed,  and  by  judiciously  timing 
the  sowing  and  transplanting  of  the  various 
plants,  to  keep  the  beds  always  occupied  to  the 
end  of  the  season.  I  have  one  hot-bed  18  ft.  by 
3i,  and  another  25x6,  and  from  these  beds  I 
last  year  sold,  1000  tomato  plants,  600  celery 
plants,  500  asters,  100  pansies,  150  Japan  pinks, 
100  Winter  Cherry,  and  a  few  Verbenas,  Fuchsias 
and  other  bedding  plants,  and  notwithstanding 
the  comparatively  large  sum  realized,  I  might 
have  sold  $20  worth  of  cabbage  and  other  hardy 
plants  which  I  lost  by  cut  worms  and  severe 
weather.  Now,  Sir,  don't  you,  and  some  of  your 
subscribers  think  that  $100  is  worth  trying  for 
when  it  may  be  made  with  so  much  pleasure,  and 
so  little  expense  or  trouble.  I  attend  to  sowing 
my  beds  and  transplanting  after  factoiy  hours, 
and  wife  attends  principally  to  the  sales.  But 
don't  think,  dear  Sir,  that  we  deny  ourselves  any 
good  thing  from  our  garden  just  to  make  it  pay; 
for  besides  what  we  sold  last  year  from  our 
farm  of  10  rods,  we  raised  I  bushel  of  Isabella 
grapes,  (and  laid  the  foundation  for  future  Del- 
awares),  many  quarts  of  strawberries,  30  bunches 
celery,  a  bushel  each  of  beets  and  turnips, 
(White  French),  tomatoes  ad  infinitum,  20  cauli- 
flowers, 30  cabbages,  (and  I  must  confess  it,  sev- 
eral pounds  of  tobacco,)  a  dozen  fine  squashes, 
besides  enough  peppers,  salads,  corn,  beans,  cur- 
rants, and  etceteras,  and  A  dozen  beds  of  as  beau- 
tiful flowers  as  even  you  would  wish  to  see." 


What  Grapes  to  Plant. 

The  Fruit  Growers  Meeting,  having  disposed 
of  the  pear  question  (as  reported  in  the  January 
Agriculturist,  page  17,)  next  proceeded  to  the  dis- 
cussion of  the  varieties  of  Grapes,  a  brief  summa- 
ry of  the  first  part  of  which  is  presented  in  the 
preceding  columns.  It  was  agreed  to  adopt  four 
separate  lists  of  three  kinds  in  each.  Special 
reference  was  had  to  a  circuit  of  100  miles  around 
New- York  City  as  the  center,  though  the  lists 
adopted,  apply  pretty  generally  over  the  coun- 
try, exceptions  being  made  for  wide  differences 
of  climate,  location,  etc.    The  four  lists  are : 

I. — Three  best  kinds  of  grapes,  sufficientlj'  test- 
ed to   warrant  .their  recommendation  for 

GENERAL  CULTIVATION. 

II. — Three  kinds  known  to  bo  good  in  special 
localities,  as  on  favorable  soils  or  where 
sheltered,  or  under  the  ameliorating  influ- 
ence of  large  bodies  of  water. 

III. — Three  kinds  promising  well,  but  not  so 
extensively  tested  as  to  warrant  their  being- 
yet  placed  in  the  first  or  second  lists. 

IV. — Three  good  wine  chapes  for  general  cul- 
tivation. 

After  full  discussion  and  comparison  of  views, 
during  several  weeks,  the  question  was  put  lo  a 
direct  vote  by  handing  in  written  lists,  the  voting 
being  done  only  by  those  qualified  to  do  so  by 
experience  and  observation.  The  votes  stood  : 
19  for  Delaware;  19  for  Concord;  and  13  for 
Hartford  Prof  tic,  and  some  for  Diana,  etc.  On 
a  rjivision  vote,  as  to  which  should  be  placed 
first,  the  vote  stood  13  for  Delaware,  and  8  for 
Concord.  This  settled,  the  Concord  received  a 
unanimous  vote  for  the  second  on  the  list.  For 
the  third,  Hartford  Prolific  received  17  votes,  and 
Diana  4  votes. 

Over  the  second  class  there  was  also  much 
discussion  as  indicated  in  our  report.  The  Dia- 
na was  placed  first  by  general  consent,  all  con- 
ceding it  to  be  of  excellent  flavor,  and  a  strong 
grower,  but  some  complained  that  it  did  not 
ripen  evenly.    The  Isabella  was  placed  second, 


but  not  without  some  protests,  several  gentle- 
men claiming  that  it  should  be  discarded  entire- 
ly. Its  great  success  in  the  city  yards  of  New 
York  and  Brooklyn  where  many  tons  of  it  are 
annually  grown,  also  at  Croton  Point,  at  Na- 
ples, N.  Y.,  and  elsewhere,  was  sufficient  to  save 
it  from  being  thrown  aside.  It  usually  needs 
special  protection  of  buildings,  or  of  surround- 
ing hills,  or  the  influence  of  large  bodies  of  wa- 
ter upon  the  atmosphere.  The  Catawba  was 
placed  third,  with  the  same  general  qualifica- 
tion as  the  Isabella,  and  the  additional  one  that 
it  ripens  later,  and  can  not  therefore  be  grown 
as  far  north.  The  first  two  lists  therefore  stand  : 


Fur  General  Culture. 

1  Df.laware. 

2  Concord. 

3  Hartford   Prolific. 


For  Special  Locality 

1  Diana. 

2  Isabella. 

3  Catawba. 


The  third  and  fourth  lists  are  still  under  dis- 
cussion at  the  time  of  this  writing  (Feb.  10th). 
There  are  several  candidates  for  favor.  Two  or 
three  would  stand  a  fair  chance  for  recommen- 
dation, but  for  the  fact  that  the  whole  stock  of 
vines  is  yet  in  the  possession  of  a  few  individ- 
uals, and  there  is,  at  these  meetings,  a  decided 
opposition  to  favoring  individual  interests. 
But  of  these  lists  hereafter. 


Tobacco— Preparation  of  Seed  Beds. 

We  have  already  received  a  number  of  essays 
on  Tobacco  Culture,  but  as  all  that  are  expect- 
ed, have  not  yet  come  in,  we  are  not  able  to  pub- 
lish the  prize  article  this  month.     It  being  nec- 
essary to   commence   the  preparation   for  the 
crop  as  soon  as  the  ground  can  be  worked,  we 
give  a  few  directions  for  the  seed-bed.  It  is  better 
to  prepare  the  plot   in   the  preceding  Fall,  but 
where  that  has  not  been  done,  the  bed  should 
be  made  ready  as  early  as  possible.    A  sheltered 
locality,  where  the  cold  winds  are  broken  by 
woods  or  some  other  protecting  objects,  and 
having  a  good  exposure  to  the  sun,  should  be 
chosen.      The  ground   should    be   made    rich 
with  plenty  of  hog  manure,   well   spaded   in ; 
and  then,  just    before  planting,   it   should   be 
covered  with  brush,  which  is   to  be  burned  on 
it.     The  burning  of  the  brush  serves  to  destroy 
the  seeds  of  weeds,  and   furnishes  a  dressing  of 
ashes,  which  is  beneficial   to  the  young  plants. 
The  time  of  sowing  will  depend  upon  the  sea- 
son and  latitude :  from  the  first  to  the  middle  ot 
April  being  the  time  for  Connecticut.     About  a 
square  rod  of  ground  is  allowed  for  the  seed  bed 
for  an  acre.     It  would  be  better  to  lay  Ibis  out 
in  strips  of  about  three  feet   in  width,   so  as   to 
allow  the  weeding  to  be  done,  without  tramp- 
ling ou  the   bed.     If  the   seed  is  good,  a  very 
small  quantity  will  furnish  plants  for  an    acre, 
but  it  is  best  to  have  an   abundance.     A  table- 
spoonful,  well  mixed  with    a  pint  of  ashes  or 
soil  before  sowing,  will  be  plenty.    The  bed  be- 
ing thoroughly  raked,  the  seed  is  sown,  and  the 
earth  either  rolled,  or  pressed  down  by  a  plank. 
When  the   sowing   is    made  late,   the  seed  is 
sometimes  sprouted  by  moistening  it,  and  cover- 
ing with    a   damp  cloth,  and  keeping   it  in   a 
warm  place.     It   takes   about   three  weeks  for 
the  seed  to  germinate,  and  when   it  conies  up, 
the  plant  is  exceedingly  minute.     If  the  bed  be- 
comes dry,  it  should   be  watered  with   blood- 
warm  water.     The   choice  of  varieties  should 
be   governed  somewhat  b)r  the   experience  of 
others  in  the  neighborhood,  there  being   many 
local  sorts,  which  are  considered  best  adapted 
to  certain    districts.    The   leading  varieties  in 
the  market  are:  the   Connecticut   Seed  Leaf— 
valued  as  wrappers  to  cigars — the    Kentucky. 
Maryland,  Ohio,  and  Havauna. 


84 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[March, 


A  Convenient  Propagating  Case. 


The  apparatus  represented  in  the  above  en- 
graving, invented  by  C.  B.  Miller,  of  this  City, 
is  designed  to  furnish  a  simple,  cheap,  and  ex- 
peditious mode  of  propagating  plants  by  cut- 
tings, and  starting  seeds  difficult  of  growth.  It 
consists  of  a  zinc  vessel,  b,  for  holding  small  pots 
which  are  set  in  the  top,  c.  "When  in  use,  the 
hollow  part,  d,  is  to  be  partly  filled  with  water, 
enough  to  nearly  reach  the  bottom  of  the  pots. 
The  lower  division,  e,  is  also  hollow,  and  its 
bottom  rim  fits  upon  the  broad-based  lamp,  a. 
Air  for  the  flame  is  supplied  through  the  holes 
shown  near  e.  The  wick  tube  of  the  lamp  is 
made  very  small,  only  large  enough  for  a  bit  of 
cotton  twine.  Alcohol  or  burning  fluid  is  used 
in  the  lamp.  The  bottom  of  the  division,  b,  im- 
mediately above  the  flame  of  the  lamp  when  the 
two  parts  are  fitted  together,  is  cone-shaped,  to 
receive  and  retain  the  heat,  and  communicate  it 
to  the  surrounding  water.  The  small  amount  of 
steam  generated,  gives  a  uniform  and  gentle 
bottom  heat,  and  sufficient  moisture  to  the  plants 
or  seeds  contained  in  the  pots,  thus  affording  the 
most  favorable  conditions  for  growth.  If  it  be 
desired  to  keep  a  humid  atmosphere  about  the 
cuttings,  a  glass  tumbler  is  placed  over  each  pot. 
The  apparatus  is  neatly  made,  occupies  but  lit- 
tle space,  and  costs  from  $3  to  $5,  according  to 
size.  By  its  use,  amateurs  can  supply  them- 
selves and  their  friends  with  many  choice  plants 
which  would  otherwise  be  unattainable  save 
from  the  collections  of  professional  nurserymen. 


A  Mess  of  Greens. 


Most  people  highly  enjoy  a  dish  of  greens.  It 
is  the  first  contribution  of  the  season  which  the 
garden  makes  to  the  table,  and  it  brings-  the 
assurance  that  Spring  is  at  hand,  and  is  a  prom- 
ise of  more  good  things  to  come.  Many  per- 
sons rely  upon  the  spontaneous  growth  of  the 
fields  and  make  use  of  dandelions,  marsh-mari- 
golds (improperly  called  cowslip),  clock,  and 
other  things.  These  are  better  than  nothing, 
but  they  are  far  inferior  to  what  may  be  pro- 
duced with  a  little  care  from  the  garden.  At  the 
head  of  the  list  we  put  Spinach,  as  the  most  de- 
licious of  all.    This  can  be  had  very  early  by 


planting  in  the  Fall  and  giving  a  slight  protec- 
tion through  the  Winter.  Or  sow  in  Spring  as 
soon  as  the  ground  is  suitable  and  the  rapidly 
growing  plants  will  give  an  early  supply  to  the 
table.  Next,  we  place  the  Swiss  Chard,  a  kind  of 
beet  which  is  grown  for  the  leaves  only,  the  root 
being  small  and  useless.  The  outer  leaves  are 
pulled  off  for  use  and  others  quickly  succeed 
them ;  a  small  bed  will  supply  a  family.  Cab- 
bage stumps,  and  turnips  planted  out,  will  yield 
numerous  shoots  which  make  good  greens. 
They  should  be  taken  when  still  tender.  Young 
beets,  which  are  pulled  up  when  the  beds  are 
thinned,  are  cooked  with  the  roots  on  and  are 
relished  by  many.  Borecole  or  kale  is  a  great 
favorite  with  the  Germans.  This  is  a  hardy  kind 
of  cabbage  which  does  not  head,  but  forms  a  tuft 
of  leaves  which  are  eaten  after  they  have  been 
exposed  to  frost.  Planted  in  the  Fall  and  left 
out  with  little  or  no  protection,  it  furnishes  an 
abundant  stock  of  greens  early  in  the  season. 
These  are  the  principal  varieties  of  greens 
grown  in  the  garden,  though  others  are  occa- 
sionally used.  The  custom  of  boiling  greens 
with  pork  or  other  fat  meat  is  a  bad  one.  The 
delicate  flavor  of  spinach  especially  is  destroyed 
in  this  way,  and  all  greens  are  rendered  less  di- 
gestible. It  is  much  better  to  boil  them  in  pure 
water  and  dress  them  with  butter  and  other 
seasoning  as  they  are  sent  to  the  table. 


Salsify  or   "Vegetable   Oyster". 

This  vegetable  is  not  as  extensively  cultivated 
as  it  would  be,  were  it  better  known.  It  is 
grown  with  the  same  ease  as  carrots  and  pars- 
nips, and  helps  make  up  an  agreeable  variety 
for  the  table.  It  should  be  sown  upon  good, 
rich  soil,  which  should  be  worked  deeply.  Some 
English  cultivators  prepare  the  soil  by  bastard 
trenching, — that  is,  the  top  soil  is  removed  a 
spade  deep,  an  abundant  supply  of  manure 
spaded  into  the  soil  below,  and  then  the  top  por- 
tion is  returned.  By  having  the  richest  soil  be- 
low, it  is  claimed  that  the  roots  have  much  less 
tendency  to  fork.  We  have  found  no  difficulty 
in  cultivating  it,  without  this  trouble,  in  soil  pre- 
pared as  for  other  root  crops.  The  seed,  which 
should  be  of  the  growth  of  the  previous  year, 
should  be  planted  as  soon  as  the  soil  becomes 
warm.  Plant  in  rows  15  inches  apart,  and  at 
the  first  weeding,  thin  out  to  4  or  5  inches  in  the 
rows.  The  after-culture  consists  in  keeping 
down  the  weeds  until  the  leaves  become  so 
large  that  it  is  difficult  to  work  among  them  with 
a  hoe.  The  roots  may  be  used  when  they  are 
as  large  as  the  little  finger;  they  increase  in 
size  until  the  growing  season  is  over,  but  never 
grow  to  be  much  over  an  inch  in  diameter.  The 
supply,  required  for  use  during  Winter  may 
be  buried  in  sand  in  the  cellar,  and  the  remain- 
der left  out  to  be  dug  in  the  Spring.  Some  of 
the  finest  plants  should  be  left  for  seed,  which 
is  produced  the  second  year.  Birds,  especially 
the  yellow  bird,  are  exceedingly  fond  of  the 
seed,  and,  where  these  are  numerous,  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  secure  it.  The  best  way  is  to  cut  up  the 
plant,  before  the  seeds  are  fully  ripe,  and  place 
them  undercover  to  mature.  The  root  is  cooked 
in  various  ways.  It  may  be  boiled  and  mashed, 
and  dipped  in  batter  and  fried,  or  cut  in  slices 
and  stewed  with  the  addition  of  milk  and  but- 
ter, after  the  manner  of  oysters.  Boiled  soft,  first 
with  water  and  then  with  milk,  it  makes  a  very 
good  "  oyster  soup."  The  addition  of  a  little 
salt  codfish  picked  fine,  makes  the  resemblance 
to  oyster  soup  sufficiently  near  to  warrant  the 
name  "  vegetable  oyster."    When  prepared  for 


cooking,  it  should  be  scraped  and  thrown  into 
water;  this  will  prevent  the  milky  juice  which 
the  root  contains  from  turning  brown,  as  it 
will  do  if  exposed  for  a  long  time  to  the  air. 
»  i        «i»   — »  » 

Chicory. 


In  a  former  volume  of  the  Agriculturist  we  gave 
some  articles  upon  the  culture  of  this  plant.  It 
is  now  attracting  so  much  attention  that  we  pre- 
sent a  brief  account  of  it  in  reply  to  frequent 
inquiries.  It  is  botauically  known  as  Chicorium 
Intybus,  and  is  sometimes  confounded  with  the 
endive,  which  is  a  different  species,  (Chicorium 
Endivia.)  The  plant  is  a  native  of  Southern  Eu- 
rope, and  has  become  introduced  into  this  coun- 
try where,  especially  near  the  Eastern  cities,  it  is 
a  very  common  weed.  The  fleshy  perennial 
root  throws  up  a  stem  the  second  year  which 
bears  an  abundance  of  pretty  blue  flowers, 
which  open  only  in  the  sunshine.  The  general 
appearance  of  the  plant  in  the  wild  state  is  well 
represented  in  the  engraving;  the  detached 
flower  is  about  half  the  natural  size.  Like  the 
dandelion,  to  which  it  is  closely  related,  all  parts 
of  the  plant  have  a  milky  juice.  In  Europe  the 
blanched  leaves  are  used  as  a  salad,  but  it  is  for 
the  root  that  the  plant  is  chiefly  cultivated.  The 
roasted  root  has  long  been  used  to  mix  with 
coffee,  and,  now  that  the  real  article  bears  so 
high  a  price,  it  is  advocated  as  a  substitute. 

The  culture  is  the  same  as  that  of  carrots, 
about  four  pounds  of  seed  being  required  for  an 
acre.  The  roots  may  be  taken  up  in  the  Fall  or 
in  the  Spring  before  the  flower  stalk  shoots  up ; 
some  claim  that  the  roots  are  of  better  quality 
when  two  or  three  years  old.     The  root  is 


washed,  sliced,  and  dried,  and  then  roasted  or 
burned.  In  England,  1  lb.  of  lard  is  added  to 
50  lbs.  of  the  chicory  while  roasting,  in  or- 
der to  improve  its  appearance.  With  regard  to 
the  propriety  of  using  this  as  a  constant  bevcr- 


1863.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


85 


age,  we  have  already  spoken  pretty  strongly. 
It  is  believed  to  excite  the  nerves  unduly,  to  de- 
range the  digestive  functions,  producing  head- 
aches and  other  ills.  Some  say  they  have 
used  it  with  impunity,  and  that  those  who  are 
unpleasantly  affected  by  coffee  find  the  change 
to  chicory  to  be  beneficial.  Much  of  the  coffee 
sold  ready  ground,  is  more  or  less  mixed  with 
chicory,  and  some  prefer  it.  Those  who  wish  to 
try  it  as  a  substitute  for  coffee  or  to  mix  with  it, 
can  cultivate  a  small  patch  for  the  experiment. 


About  Nutmegs. 


"Spice  to  suit  the  taste"  is  a  frequent  direction 
in  cookery,  and  the  taste  is  very  frequently  for  nut- 
meg. Like  many  other  articles  in  every  day  use, 
which  are  so  common  that  we  seldom  stop  to  think 
much  about  them,  but  little  is  generally  known  of 
the  history  of  the  nutmeg.  The  tree  is  a  native  of 
the  Spice  Islands.  These  were  for  a  long  time  in 
the  possession  of  the  Dutch,  who  endeavored  to 
confine  its  cultivation  to  three  of  the  islands,  and 
had  the  trees  cut  upon  all  the.  rest.  Their  inten- 
tions were  interfered  with  by  a  bird  which  swal- 
lowedthe  nutmeg  for  its  pulpy  covering,  and  voided 
the  nut  unharmed ;  in  this  way  the  tree  was  car- 
ried to  the  neighboring  islands.  The  Spice  Islands 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Euglish,  who,  during  the 
time  they  had  possession  of  them,  distributed  the 
plants  to  other  countries,  and  the  monopoly  was 
broken  up.  The  tree  has  considerable  resemblance 
to  a  pear  tree,  and  has  fruit  on  it  all  the  year  round. 
The  fruit  is  about  three  times  as  large  as  the  largest 
one  in  the  engraving,  and  consists  of  an  outer  husk 
which  is  somewhat  woody  when  the  fruit  is  ripe,  at 
which  time  it  splits  in  halves  and  exposes  the  nut. 
The  nut  as  it  comes  from  the  husk,  is  shown  in  the 
engraving.  It  is  enveloped  with  a  peculiar  covering ; 
this  covering,  when  removed  and  dried,  is  the  spice 
known  as  Mace,  which  has  a  flavor  quite  distinct 
from  that  of  Nutmeg,  and  is  by  many  persons  pre- 
ferred to  it.  When  fresh,  the  mace  is  of  a  bright 
crimson  color,  which  turns  to  brownish,  on  drying. 
The  nutmeg  is  still  within  another  covering  inside 
of  the  mace.  To  remove  it  from  this,  the  nuts  are 
exposed  to  a  gentle  heat,  and  when  dried  so  that 
they  will  rattle,  the  shell  is  broken  and  the  nut- 
megs removed.  They  are  then  put  into  lime,  which 
gives  them  their  whitened  appearance ;  this  is 
done  to  prevent  the  attacks  of  an  insect  which  is 
very  fond  of  them.  The  value  of  nutmegs  depends 
upon  the  oil  they  contain :  the  oil  is  sometimes  ex- 
tracted by  distillation  and  the  nutmegs  limed  again 
and  thrown  into  the  market.  This  fraud  can  be 
detected  by  the  experienced,  by  the  lightness  of 


those  which  have  been  so  treated.  A  sure  way, 
and  one  which  every  one  can  practise,  is  to  prick 
the  nutmegs  with  a  pin, — if  the  surface  around  the 
pin-hole  appears  greasy,  the  spice  is  good.  Taken 
in  large  quantities,  nutmegs  produce  narcotic  effects 
similar  to  those  of  opium. 


Drying  Clothes— Air  in  Rooms. 


Good  housekeepers  are  anxious  that  washing- 
day  should  be  a  good  drying  day.  It  is  a  matter  of 
common  observation  that  on  some  days  the  clothes 
will  dry  more  rapidly  than  on  others.  To  under- 
stand why  this  is,  we  have  to  consider  some  of  the 
relations  of  the  air  to  moisture.  The  air  possesses 
the  power  to  take  up  water  and  hold  it  dissolved,  as 
it  were,  iu  the  state  of  invisible  vapor.  A  given  bulk 
of  air  cau  hold  a  certain  amount  of  moisture,  and 
when  it  has  that,  it  can  take  up  no  more,  the  circum- 
stances beiug  the  same.  If  the  air  has  all  the  mois- 
ture it  cau  hold,  the  clothes  will  not  dry.  If  it  has 
but  a  small  proportion,  they  dry  with  a  rapidity 
corresponding  to  the  amount  of  watery  vapor  al- 
ready iu  the  air.  When  the  Slothes  do  not  dry  out 
of  doors,  they  are  brought  into  the  house  where 
they  readily  dry.  Why  is  this,  if  the  air  within  and 
without  contains  the  same  amount  of  moisture  ? 
This  brings  us  to  a  remarkable  change  that  heat  ef- 
fects iu  the  power  of  air  to  take  up  vapor.  The  air 
at  the  freezing  point  of  water  can  hold  the  100th 
of  its  weight  of  vapor,  and  this  capacity  for  mois- 
ture is  doubled  with  every  27  degrees  of  additional 
heat.  Air  that  is  saturated  with  moisture  and  can 
take  up  no  more  at  40°,  when  heated  to  07°  is  ca- 
pable of  taking  up  as  much  as  it  already  contains,  and 
wet  clothing  exposed  to  it,  dries  very  rapidly.  In 
the  heating  of  our  dwellings,  by  whatever  means, 
the  air  has  its  capacity  for  moisture  increased,  and 
takes  it  readily  from  the  objects  in  the  room ;  the 
woodwork  and  furniture  shrink  and  crack,  and  the 
leaves  of  the  house-plants  curl  up  and  fall  off,  not 
because  the  room  is  overheated,  but  because  the  air 
is  dry.  The  cold  air  from  without,  even  though  it 
may  be  damp  at  the  time  it  enters  the  room,  by 
heating,  suddenly  becomes  capable  of  holding  twice 
as  much  moisture  as  before,  and  everything  in  the 
room  capable  of  yielding  moisture,  gives  it  up  to  sup- 
ply the  deficiency.  Our  bodies  are  unpleasantly  af- 
fected by  this  dry  air.    Evaporation  goes  on  with  un- 


iug  is  not  entirely  due  to  the  presence  of  plants 
and  flowers,  but  is  in  good  part  owing  to  the  air 
which,  to  properly  promote  the  health  of  the  plants, 
is  kept  not  only  warm  but  moist ;  and  it  is  this 
moisture,  rather  than  the  odors  of  the  flowers,  that 
makes  the  air  of  the  green-house  seem  so  balmy  and 
spring-like.  Let  us  take  a  lesson  from  the  garden- 
er iu  the  care  of  our  little  human  plants,  and,  wheth- 
er the  house  be  heated  by  stoves  or  by  a  furnace,  be 
sure  that  the  air  is  not  too  dry  for  health  and  com- 
fort. There  is  a  very  curious  way  of  telling  the 
ainouut  of  moisture  present  iu  the  air  by  means  of 
a  thermometer.  It  is  no  doubt  familiar  to  every 
one  that  evaporation  produces  cold.  The  wetted 
hand,  in  drying  feels  cool,  and  if  we  pour  alcohol, 
which  evaporates  more  readily  than  water,  over  the 
hand,  the  cold  will  be  much  greater  thau  with  water. 
We  have  seen  that  water  will  evaporate  more  rap- 
idly in  a  dry  air  than  in  a  moist  one,  aud  that  the 
more  rapidly  it  evaporates,  the  greater  will  be  the 
cold  produced.  Now  we  have  only  to  take  two  ther- 
mometers and  tie  a  bit  of  muslin  around  the  bulb 
of  oue,  and  wet  the%iuslin  by  dippiug  the  covered 
bulb  in  water  of  the  same  temperature  as  the  air  of 
the  room.  If  the  air  is  as  full  of  moisture  as  it  can 
hold,  no  evaporation  will  take  place,  and  the  mer- 
cury in  both  thermometers  will  stand  the  same. 
But  as  we  seldom  find  the  air  in  this  condition, 
cither  iu  or  out  of  doors,  the  water  will  evaporate 
with  a  rapidity  corresponding  to  the  dryness  of  the 
air;  the  bulb  will  be  cooled  more  or  less  rapidly,  and 
the  mercury  will  sink  in  the  tube.  Such  thermome- 
ters have  a  table  accompanying  them  which  show, 
from  the  difference  iu  the  bight  of  the  two  ther- 
mometers, how  much  moisture  is  present  in  the  air. 


Designs  for  Chain-Stitched  Handkerchiefs. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist. 

While  you  cater  for  the  boys'  amusement,  allow 
me  to  provide  something  for  the  benefit  of  thagirls. 
Now  that  chain-stitched  pocket-handkerchiefs  are 
all  the  fashion,  I  dare  say  the  girls,  and  women  too, 
will  be  glad  of  some  pretty  patterns  to  mark  them. 
Let  them  draw  with  a  pencil  the  accompanying 
patterns,  by  placing  the  article  to  bo  worked,  over 
the  designs,  and  then  chain-stitch  in  red  marking 
cotton.  The  designs  are  suitable  for  braiding 
also,  and  to  obviate  the  trouble  of  drawing  the  pat- 


h^&j'h^/^ 


DESIGNS   FOR   CHAIN-STITCHED   HANDKERCHIEFS. 


due  rapidity,  and  the  skin  becomes  dry  and  unpleas- 
ant, thirst  is  excited  and  headaches  are  caused  by  it. 
Every  oue  who  has  entered  agreen-house,  has  no- 
ticed what  a  pleasant  impression  is  produced ;  it 
seems  like  a  sudden  transition  to  Spring.     This  feel- 


tern  on  cloth,  tissue  paper  may  be  used.  Copy  the 
designs  through,  on  to  strips  of  thin  paper,  baste 
these  on  the  cloth  to  be  braided,  and  sew  through 
braid  paper  and  cloth.  The  paper  may  be  torn  out 
when  the  work  is  finished.  Aunt  Sue. 


SG 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST 


[March, 


Why  Don't  the  Butter  Come  . 

A  correspondent  of  the  Agriculturist  writes  that: 
"at  times,  particularly  in  Winter, great  difficulty  is 
experienced  in  bringing  the  butter.  Sometimes 
the  cream  requires  one  or  two  hours'  churning,  and 
occasionally  the  butter  appears  in  small  globules, 
but  cau  not  be  made  to  gather."  The  trouble  prob- 
ably arises  from  not  having  the  cream  at  the  right 
temperature  when  the  churning  is  commenced.  It 
Should  be  at  from  50°  to  55°  Fahrenheit.  If  lower 
than  this,  only  a  few  of  the  minute  sacs  containing 
the  butter  will  be  broken,  and  the  oily  matter  will 
coat  over  the  remaining  ones,  forming  the  globules 
noticed  by  our  correspondent.  Try  the  cream  with 
a  thermometer  before  churning,  and  if  too  cool, 
Set  the  cream  vessel  in  hot  water,  until  the  proper 
heat  is  attained.  If  the  cream  be  made  too  warm,  the 
small  sacs  containing  the  butter  break  very  easily, 
and  Hie  oily  particles  run  together,  making  grease; 
in  this  c.i.-c  also,  much  butter  will  be  lost,  as  the 
contents  of  the  sacs  first  broken,  will  envelop  the 
remaining  ones,  and  many  of  litem  will  not  be'  rup- 
tured. A  correspondent,  "  Mary,"  at  Harrisonville, 
Me.,  gives  the  following  suggestion  on  the  same 
subject:  "In  cold  weather  a  double  cream  forms 
upou  milk;  the  top  layer  thick  and  tough,  with  a 
thin  stratum  underneath.  It  is  not  tit  to  be  churned 
in  this  condition ;  the  butter  will  not  come.  Nei- 
ther should  it  be  mixed  with  sour  cream  which  may 
lie  ready  for  churning.  If  I  want  to  use  such  milk, 
I  always  place  the  cream  in  a  separate  vessel,  and  if 
needed  to  make  out  the  churning,  it  is  set  near  the 
lire,  where  it  will  sour  quickly.  When  it  is  all  thick- 
sued,  it   cau   be   churned  with  the  other  cream." 


Washing  Comforters. 

Mrs.  Margaret  R.  Ball,  Rush  Co.,  Ind.,  writes  to 
the  American  Agriculturist  as  follows:  "Having 
noticed  the  statement  that  cotton  comforters  for 
bed  clothing  are  not  healthful,  especially  on  account 
of  the  difficulty  of  cleansing  them,  I  give  my  plan  : 
First  make  them  light  enough  to  be  quilted  with  a 
long  needle.  At  any  time  they  may  need  washing, 
but  especially  in  Spring,  spread  them  out  on  the 
grass  before  a  heavy  rain,  and  when  thoroughly 
drenched,  hang  them  on  a  line  until  dry.  Then  by 
beating  them  with  a  light  rod,  as  a  rattan,  they  may 
be  made  as  light  and  pliable  as  ever."  [It  will  re- 
quire a  very  heavy  shower  to  wash  a  comforter 
much  soiled.  Mrs.  B.  may  intend  to  recommend 
to  wash  them  first,  and  spread  out  afterwards. 
The  whipping  or  beating  will  doubtless  aid  in  mak- 
ing them  more  light  and  pliable,  Comforters  tilled 
with  cotton,  arc  out  of  the  question,  however,  at 
the  present  prke  of  that  article.  We  shall  have  to 
raise  more  sheep,  and   use  woolen  blankets.— Ed.] 


The  Clothes- Wringer  a  Good  Thing. 


We  can  not  too  frequently  speak  of  the  value  of 
the  modern  household  implement  known  as  the 
the  Clothes-Wringer.  From  several  years' experi- 
ence with  it  in  our  own  family,  from  the  testimony 
of  hundreds  who  have  used  it,  and  from  the  con- 
struction of  tin'  implement  itself,  we  feel  certain 
that  it  is  worthy  a  place  in  every  family  where  the 
washing  is  done  at  home.  It  is  set  upou  any  wash- 
tub,  no  matter  what  its  form,  and  then  by  turning 
tin-  crank  with  the  right  hand,  and  picking  up  the 
wet  garments  with  the  other  hand,  they  are  quickly 
passed  through,  and  drop  on"  into  a  basket,  quite  as 
dry  as  when  twisted  in  the  hands.  The  garments 
pass  between  two  India  rubber  rollers  which  set 
close  together,  but  which  yield  at  different  points, 
as  needed,  so  as  to  squeeze  the  water  out  of  the 
smallest  pocket-handkerchief,  or  the  largest  gar- 
ment. The  fibers  are  not  twisted  and  wrenched  as 
in  band  wringing,  but  are  simply  pressed  between 
the  yielding  rubber,  the  water  falling  back  into  the 
tub.  A  child  can  readily  wring  out  a  tubful  of 
clothes  in  a  few  minutes.  It  is  in  reality  a  clothes 
saver,  a  time  saver,  and  a  strength  saver.  The  sav- 
ing of  garments  will  alone  pay  a  large  percentage 


on  its  cost.  We  think  the  machine  much  more  than 
pays  for  itself  every  year,  in  the  saving  of  garments. 
There  are  several  good  kinds,  nearly  alike  in  gener- 
al construction,  but  we  consider,  it  important  that 
the  wringer  be  lilted  with  cogs,  SO  that  they  shall 
both  turn  invariably  together,  otherwise  a  mass  of 
garments  may  clog  the  rollers,  and  the  roller  upou 
the  crank  slip  and.  tear,  the  fibers.  The  cogs  of  the 
wheels  should  be  long  enough  to  fit  into  each  other 
when  the  rollers  are  pressed  apart  by  large  garments. 
Our  own  is  one  of  the  first  made  by  the  Metropoli- 
tan Washing  Machine  Company,  Middlefield,  Conn., 
and  it  is  as  good  as  new,  after  nearly  four  years1  con- 
stant use.  They  have  introduced  many  improve- 
ments since  ours  was  made.  We  have  given  away 
several  hundreds  as  premiums,  (see  premium  No.  2, 
in  our  list),  and  shall  be  ready  to  furnish  others 
in  the  same  way,  whenever  desired.  We  have  a  con- 
tract, under  which  this  premium  will  be  continued 
for  some   time,  whether    the  others  arc  or   not. 


To  Prevent  Woolens    Shrinking. 


A  correspondent,  "M.  B.  B.,"  objects  to  the  plan 
for  drying  stockings,  by  stretching  them  upon 
blocks  shaped  to  receive  them,  published  in  a 
former  number  of  the  Agriculturist.  Though  it 
would  prevent  their  shrinking,  she  thinks  it  would 
be  too  troublesome  in  a  large  family.  She  recom- 
mends the  following  plan  :  In  doubling  the  stock- 
ing up  to  wring  it,  fold  it  at  the  heel,  and  lay  the 
foot  upou  the  leg.  Then  roll  it  tight,  and  wring  it 
cross-wise.  The  same  method  is  recommended  by 
another  housekeeper,  H.  A.  Ingersoll,  and  we 
think  there  must  be  something  in  it.  The  latter 
lady  writes,  that  in  washing  woolen  fabrics,  they 
should  be  put  into  very  hot  water,  which  may  be 
allowed  to  cool  until  the  hands  can  be  borne  in  it. 
In  changing  the  water  for  rinsing,  be  careful  to 
have  it  several  degrees  hotter  than  that  from  which 
the  articles  were  last  taken.  This  will  in  some 
measure  prevent    fulling  or  shrinking. 


Tim  Bunker  on  the  Farmer's  Old  Age. 

"  Sallie  Bunker  Slocum,  is  the  baby's  name,"  said 
Mrs.  Bunker,  as  she  took  offher  spectacles  and  laid 
down  the  letter  from  Shadtown,  which  I  had  just 
brought  in  from  the  Post  Office. 

"I  like  the  name  well  enough,  except  the  spell- 
ing of  it"  she  continued.  "  Sally  was  my  mother's 
name,  it  is  my  name,  and  my  daughter's,  and  if  they 
wanted  to  keep  up  the  name  in  the  family,  I  don't 
see  why  they  didn't  spell  it  in -the  old  way.  If  I 
set  out  to  do  a  thing,  I  would  do  it  right." 

"  I  suppose  it  is  a  little  more  genteel,"  I  replied. 
"That  is  the  way  they  spell  it  among  the  aristo- 
cratic families  of  the  South." 

"That  is  just  what  I  don't  like,"  said  she.  "It 
is  a  miserable  affectation  of  women  who  read  nov- 
els more  than  they  do  their  bibles.  We  have  no 
aristocracy  up  here,  and  judging  from  what  I  saw 
when  I  was  down  South,  I  never  want  to  see  any. 
Isn't  this  wretched  war  carried  on  to  bolster  up  an 
aristocracy,  and  that  a  few  families  may  live  in  idle- 
ness at  the  expense  of  the  poor  ?  I  don't  want  to 
see  any  aristocratic  trumpery  on  my  grand-children. 
Sallie  won't  look  well  on  a  grave  stone." 

"  What  does  Sally  write  about  it  ?"  I  asked. 

"  Not  a  word  about  the  spelling.  She  seems  to 
think  it  is  all  the  same.  She  writes:  'We  carried  the 
baby  out  to  meeting  for  the  first  time  last  Sabbath, 
and  it  was  baptized  Sallie  Bunker.  We  never 
thought  of  calling  her  any  thing  else,  out  of  regard 
to  you  and  grandmother,  though  we  did  not  tell 
you  at  the  time  you  were  here,  lest  you  should  be 
too  much  puffed  up  witli  your  honors.  She  is  a 
nice  child,,  and  little  Timothy  thinks  a  world  of  her.' 
That  is  all  she  says  about  it.  I  shall  write  her  im- 
mediately," said  Mrs.  Bunker,  with  emphasis,  "that 
my  name  is  not  Sallie" 

Now  we  do  not  always  agree  on  small  points,  but 
on  the  larger  matter  of  having  grand-children,  we 
see  pretty  much  alike.  It  is  one  of  the  greatest 
comforts  of  old  age  to  have  children's  children 
around  us,  to  cheer  us  while  we  live,  and  to  bear 


our  names  and  to  take  onrplacos  when  we  ore  ei  ne; 

We  cau  hardly  have  too  many  of  them,  and  I  shall 
not  be  very  particular  whether  their  names  have  a 
letter  more  or  less,  if  we  only  have  the  children. 

This  is  a  matter  of  considerable  solicitude,  not 
only  here  in  Hookertown,  but  in  a  gnat  many 
fanning  towns  around  us.  The  present  generation 
is  getting  pretty  well  along  in  life,  and  we  do  not 
know  who  is  going  to  take  our  places.  You  would 
be  surprised  to  see  how  few  young  men  there  arc 
in  the  meeting-house  on  Sunday.  The  men  who 
sit  at  the  head  of  the  pews  are  almost  all  gray  hair- 
ed, and  some  of  them  are  about  as  white  as  snow. 
It  looks  a  great  deal  worse  than  it  did  a  year  ago, 
before  so  many  went  off  to  the  war.  Uncle  Jo- 
tham  Sparrowgrass  has  no  son  to  take  his  place, 
and  Seth  Twiggs,  Jake  Frink  and  myself  have  boys 
in  the  army,  and  a  dozen  more  went  from  our  parish. 
It  is  about  an  even  chance,  whether  we  ever  see 
many  of  them  again.  The  war  bids  fair  to  be  a  long 
one,  and  what  the  bullets  don't  kill,  the  hospital 
will  be  likely  to  finish.  But  then  we  ain't  sorry  the 
boys  have  gone,  and  if  they  don't  come  back,  we 
arc  going  ourselves,  if  the  rebellion  is  not  crushed. 
It  is  pretty  certain  that  our  farms  wont  be  worth 
much  to  ourselves,  or  to  our  grandchildren,  if  Jeff. 
Davis  is  going  to  rule.  It  is  the  old  battle  of  des- 
potism and  liberty,  and  we  arc  bound  to  see  it 
through,  whatever  may   be   the   cost. 

We  have  got  things  fixed  up  pretty  comfortable, 
and  it  will  be.  pretty  bard  to  go  off  and  leave  them, 
but  we  might  say  that,  I  suppose,  when  we  start  on 
a  longer  journey.  We  can't  expect  to  stay  here 
forever,  and  a  few  years  more  or  less  won't  make 
any  particular  difference  with  us,  when  we  get  into 
the  promised  land.  Most  of  us  here  in  Hooker- 
town  have  kept  old  age  in  view  for  a  good  many 
years,  and  I  guess  we  arc  about  as  comfortable  and 
jolly  a  set  of  old  people  as  you  will  find  among  your 
hundred  thousand  readers.  We  have  most  of  us 
got  good  houses  that  keep  us  just  as  comfortable 
and  entertain  our  friends  as  well  as  a  house  that 
rents  in  the  city  for  a  thousand  dollars  or  more. 
We  are  as  independent  as  woodchoppers,  on  fuel, 
for  if  coal  runs  up  to  ten  dollars  a  ton,  as  it  has  this 
winter,  we  can  say  to  the  coal  merchant,  "No  you 
don't  Mr."  and  turn  to  the  wood-pile.  We  have 
been  using  coal  for  several  years,  because  it  was 
cheaper  than  it  was  to  hire  labor,  and  chop  and  cart 
the  wood.  But  there  isn't  a  man  of  us  but  has  a 
good  wood  lot,  and  I  guess  there  is  more  wood  in 
this  town  than  there  was  fifty  years  ago.  It  is  a 
great  consolation  to  know  where  your  fuel  cau  come 
from,  in  case  of  a  pinch.  And  then  in  case  the 
house  or  barn  wants  repairs  it  is  mighty  conve- 
nient to  know  that  you  have  a  living  lumber  yard 
close  by,  where  every  shingle,  plank,  and  timber 
you  need,  is  on  hand.  Twenty  acres  of  woodland 
that  you  have  watched  the  growth  of  lor  forty  years 
or  more,  is  about  as  good  as  any  bank  st  oek  I  kuow 
of.  I  suppose  I  could  sell  the  timber  on  any  acre 
of  mine  for  two  hundred  dollars,  to  say  nothing  of 
the  fuel.  That  same  land  only  cost  me  seventeen 
dollars  an  acre.  Perhaps  some  folks  who  are  in 
such  a  mighty  hurry  to  cut  off  their  forests,  might 
as  well  stop  and  cipher  a  littjc. 

And  while  I  am  talking  of  trees,  as  a  shelter  for 
old  age,  I  want  to  say  a  good  word  for  orchards, 
apples,  and  indeed  fruits  of  all  kinds.  I  waked  up 
to  planting  apple  trees  when  I  was  young,  and  I 
think  I  have  now  about  as  good  an  orchard  as  there 
is  in  town.  With  the  low  price  of  fruit  this  last 
year,  it  has  brought  me  in  over  three  hundred  dol- 
lars, sold  on  the  trees  to  the  buyer.  I  only  regret 
that  I  had  not  begun  to  plant  pear  trees  sooner. 
They  are  quite  as  hardy  as  apples,  yield  as  well,  and 
sell  for  more  than  double.  A  man  with  a  dozen 
acres  in  pears,  of  the  right  kinds,  would  have  a  com- 
fortable income  for  old  age,  if  he  had  nothing  else. 
But  aside  from  profit,  a  plenty  of  fruit  in  the  family 
is  a  great  comfort  and  luxury,  and  an  important 
means  of  health.  We  have  seen  very  little  of  the 
doctor  in  forty  years,  and  we  have  had  fruit  in  some 
shape  every  day  in  the  year.  Put  these  two  things 
together:  long  lived  people  eat  much  fruit. 

Perhaps  we  don't  live  quite  so  well  out  here  on 
the  farm,  ns  some  of  the  nabobs  in  the  city,  though 


18(33.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


87 


about  that  there  is  room  for  a  difference  of  opin- 
ion. All  the  raw  materials  of  their  extra  fixings 
come  from  the  farm— poultry,  eggs,  milk,  cream, 
butter  and  cheese,  and  the  tine  fruits.  They  have 
better  cooks,  perhaps,  though  some  of  us  out  here 
have  things  about  as  Dice,  iii  that  line,  as  it  is  safe 
for  siuuers  to  enjoy.  I  should  be  loth  to  swap  my 
cook  for  the  best  you  have  got  in  your  biggest  ho- 
tel. When  Mrs.  Bunker  gets  on  her  checked  apron 
and  spectacles,  and  lays  herself  out  ou  a  soup  or  a 
roast,  you  see,  common  cooks  might  as  well  retire. 

Iu  the  matter  of  dress,  we  in  the  country  are  not 
quite  so  independent  as  we  used  to  be,  when  there 
was  a  spinning  wheel  and  a  loom,  in  every  house, 
and  men  wore  the  linen  and  woolen  made  at  home, 
because  they  had  nothing  else.  But  we  clothe  our- 
selves easier  now,  for  we  can  buy  cloth  a  great  deal 
cheaper  than  we  can  make  it.  But  if  the  war  con- 
tinues, and  prices  keep  going  up,  we  may  have  to 
come  back  to  homespun  again,  and  then  I  guess  the 
edd  folks  will  be  about  as  independent  as  any  body, 
for  we  know  how  to  use  the  spinning  wheel  and 
loom.  But  that  day  is  some  ways  oil',  I  guess,  judg- 
ing from  the  finery  we  see  in  the  Hookertowu  meet- 
ing-house ou  Sunday.  That  two-story  bonuct  of 
Miss  Almeda  Georgiana  Bottom  has  done  the  work 
for  our  young  women.  They  tittered  at  it  at  first, 
but  it  was  no  use  laughing  at  the  fashions.  They 
had  to  cave  in,  aud  the  meeting-house  on  Sunday 
now  looks  like  a  big  Sower  garden.  The  old  ladies 
who  were  freest  in  their  remarks,  I  notice  have 
bonnets  as  high  as  the  highest.  I  suppose  I  should 
not  have  said  so,  but  I  couldn't  help  asking  Mrs. 
Bunker,  as  we  started  for  uicel  ing,  if  she  would  have 
the  carriage  top  let  down. 

Hookertoum,  )  yours  to  command, 

February  20M,  lsf.a.  I 


Timothy  Bunker  Esq. 


Night  Clothing  of  Children  in  Winter. 

"Let  me  tell  you  what  Charlie  wore  at  night  last 
Winter,"  said  an  active  young  mother  to  me  some- 
time ago,  speaking  of  her  three  year  old  boy.  "He 
had  on,  besides  his  flannel  shirt  aud  drawers  which 
he  wears  in  day  time,  a  pair  of  cotton  flannel  night 
drawers,  two  pairs  of  socks,  a  cotton  flannel  night 
gown,  his  double  wrapper,  and  then  a  large  shawl 
wrapped  over  the  whole  of  it ;  for  "  said  she,  "  I  was 
afraid  he'd  freeze,  for  he  would  kick  the  covering  off." 
I  thought  it  no  wonder.  Being  bundled  up  in  that 
way,  the  weight  of  an  ordinary  amount  of  bed- 
clothes was  unbearable,  aud  the  child  became  rest- 
less, and  soon  began  trying  to  rid  himself  of  some 
of  the  incumbrance,  aud  the  sudden  transition  from 
an  overheat  to  comparative  cold,  made  a  cold  a  sure 
consequence.  Let  the  little  fellows  be  stripped  of 
everything  at  night,  excepting  the  flannel  shirt  worn 
next  to  the  skin,  then  put  ou  a  soft  night  gown 
reaching  to  the  feet  ;  add  to  this  barely  bed-clothing 
euough  to  keep  them  comfortable,  and  they  will 
cuddle  down  and  go  to  slcen,  and  never  offer  to 
kick  the  cover  off.  They  will  shiver  a  little  at  first, 
but  they  will  soon  get  over  that,  and  sleep  soundly, 
and  awaken  bright  and  lively.  Mart. 

[In  addition  to  the  above,  we  suggest  that  it  is 
advisable  to  change  all  clothing  worn  during  the  day, 
before  retiring  to  rest.  The  undcr-garments  having 
absorbed  much  perspiration,  are  good  conductors  of 
heat,  and  a  person  sleeping  in  them  will  feel,  first 
an  unpleasant  chilliness,  and  afterward  a  disagree- 
able clammy  sensation,  as  the  clothing  becomes 
warmer.  If  the  supply  of  flannel  shirts  be  scanty, 
or  I  he  extra  washing  be  too  much  to  allow  two  gar- 
ments per  week,  it  would  be  au  improvement  over 
the  common  custom,  to  wear  one  for  the  night  the 
Bret  week,  and  during  the  day  the  second  week; 
thus  giving  each  a  daily  airing.— Ed.] 


659  Pies! 

A.  correspondent  writes  to  the  American  Ag- 
riculturist, that  in  his  family,  consisting  of  six 
persons,  au  account  was  kept  of  the  number  of 
pics  eaten  in  one  year ;  they  amounted  to  six  hun- 
dred and  fifty-nine!  [This  is  nearly  one-third  of  a 
pie  a  day  for  each  person.    But  how  large  were  the 


pies?  If  o(  the  size  of  those  sold  by  a  Nassau-st. 
eating-house,  cut  into  six  pieces,  at  a  sixpence 
each,  they  wouldn't  do  much  harm,  (nor  good);  but 
if  like  Savory's  pumpkin  pies,  or  those  our  mother 
used  to  make  "  out  West,"  where  we  raised  "  some 
pumpkins,"  the  other  items  of  board  iu  the  family 
aforesaid  would  not  cost  much. — Query,  apropos. 
Docs  the  brief  pleasure  in  eating  pies  pay  for  the 
trouble  and  expense  of  making  them,  and  the  dull 
feedings  arising  from  trying  to  digest  the  conglom- 
eration, yclept  mince-pies,  or  the  lard  mixture  called 
"short  pie-crusty" — Ed.] 


Adulterations  in  Coffee. 


In  ordinary  times,  roasted  and  ground  coffee,  es- 
pecially that  sold  at  low  prices,  was  liable  to  adul- 
terations. Now  that  the  price  of  the  berry  has  in- 
creased (here  is  still  greater  inducement  to  mix 
foreign  substances  with  it.  We  have  before  us  a  re- 
port of  an  examination  made  iu  London  upon  34 
samples  of  coffee,  of  all  grades,  and  31  of  these  were 
found  to  be  adulterated.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed 
that  Yankee  dealers  are  any  less  ingenious  than 
those  over  the  water,  and  we  have  no  doubt,  from 
what  we  have  seen  of  coffee  bought  ready  ground, 
that  adulteration  is  largely  practised  here.  The 
articles  used  to  mix  with  the  coffee  are  often 
harmless  iu  themselves,  but  are  a  fraud  on  the 
purchaser,  as  he  pays  for  a  cheap  and  worthless  ar- 
ticle at  the  price  of  a  genuine  one.  The  articles 
commonly  mixed  with  coffee  are  chicory,  peas,  rye, 
and  other  grains, beans,  and  old  ship  biscuit.  These 
may  be  mixed  with  coffee  to  a  considerable  cxteut, 
aud  it  will  6till  have  the  peculiar  odor.  To  de- 
tect these  adulterations  with  nicety,  requires  the 
skillful  use  of  a  microscope,  but  there  arc  some 
rough  tests  which  any  one  can  make  use  of.  Pure 
codec,  when  put  into  cold  water  does  not  color  it 
very  rapidly,  while  the  articles  with  which  it  is 
adulterated,  readily  give  up  their  coloring  matter. 
If  then,  water  mixed  with  a  sample  of  coffee, 
soon  becomes  dark,  the  presence  of  foreign  sub- 
stances may  be  suspected.  The  fragments  of  the 
coffee  berry  are  quite  bard,  aud  remain  so  for  somc« 
time  after  being  wet  with  cold  water.  If  a  little 
be  placed  on  a  plate  aud  moistened,  and  the  separate 
particles  tried  with  a  piu  or  needle,  the  pieces  of 
chicory,  bread,  etc.,  will  be  fouud  to  be  very  much 
softer  tbau  those  of  the  coffee.  The  true  way  to  be 
safe  against  adulterations  is  to  buy  the  raw  berry 
and  roast  and  grind  it.  Theu,  if  any  mixture  is 
needed,  or  desired,  it  can  be  added  much  more 
cheaply  than  to  pay  for  it  as  coffee. 


Scalded  Emptyings,  or  Yeast. 

Contributed  to  the  American  Agriculturist,  by 
Mrs.  David  Brush,  Suffolk  Co.,  L.  I.  Take  sweet, 
light  rye  dough,  roll  out  and  cut  into  pieces  about 
three  inches  square,  aud  dry  on  platters  well  floured, 
as  quickly  as  possible,  without  baking  them,  turn- 
ing them  frequently.  Wheu  thoroughly  dried,  put 
them  iua  small  muslin  bag,  aud  keep  in  the  flour 
barrel.  When  you  wish  to  make  emptyings,  take, 
at  night,  one  of  the  dried  pieces,  break  it  up  and 
pour  on  tepid  water  enough  to  soak  it.  In  the 
morning,  drain  it  off  aud  pour  on  a  tcacupful  of  tep- 
id hop  water,  and  thicken  with  rye  flour  and  a  half 
teaspoonful  of  ginger,  to  about  the  thickness  of 
cream,  aud  let  it  stand  iu  a  warm  (dace  until  light 
The  uext  morning  boil  about  3  handfuls  of  hops  iu 
water  euough  to  have  3  quarts  left.  Strain  this,  and 
pour  it  scalding  hot  on  rye  flour  euough  to  make  a 
very  stiff  batter;  add  one  handful  of  salt.  When  the 
lumps  are  stirred  out,  let  it  cool  until  the  finger  cau 
be  borne  in  it.  Then  pour  in  the  leaven  you  raised, 
mix  thoroughly,  set  in  a  warm  place  until  light,  and 
carry  to  the  cellar.  It  is  ready  for  use  at  any  time, 
wants  no  working  up,  aud  will  keep  six  or  eight 
weeks  in  cold  weather,  and  three  or  four  weeks  in 
Summer.  A  heaped  tablespoonful  mixed  with  the 
bread  or  sponge,  is  the  allowance  for  each  loaf.  By 
its  use  you  will  uevcrfail  to  have  sweet,  light  bread, 
as  the  writer  knows  by  an  experience  of  16  years. 


The  leaven  cakes  will  remain  good  for  one  or   two 
years  if  kept  as  dry  as  flour  should  always  be  kept. 


How  to  Make  Soft  Soap. 

Contributed  to  the  American  Agrieuliwiei  by 
"Ami  Eliza,"  Cold  Spring,  X.  Y. :  Take  5  lbs.  pot- 
ash, 5  lbs.  grease,  aud  10  gallons  of  water.  Break 
the  potash  in  pieces  the  size  of  walnuts— if  large, 
it  will  not  dissolve  so  quickly.  Put  it  iu  a  clean 
tight  barrel,  melt  the  grease,  and  pour  it  in.  Any 
grease  will  answer,  as  skimmings,  old  laid,  etc. 
Have  the  water  hot,  aud  pour  half  of  it  immediate- 
ly into  the  barrel,  stirring  it  until  the  potash  is  dis- 
solved, which  will  require  from  twenty  to  thirty 
minutes.  Then  add  the  rest  of  the  water,  stir  again 
until  thoroughly  mixed,  and  afterward  occasionally 
for  three  or  four  days.  This  will  make  about  a 
half  barrel  of  white  soap,  hard  euough  to  cut  with 
a  knife.  Should  the  potash  be  very  strong,  it  some- 
times requires  more  water,  which  may  be  known 
by  small  crumbling  pieces  remaining  in  the  lye 
at  the  end  of  four  or  live  days.  In  breaking  the 
potash,  be  careful  to  prevent  it  from  adhering  to 
the  clothing,  as   it  would  soon  spoil  the  texture. 


How  to  Make  Hard  Soap. 

Seeing  in  a  recent  number  of  the  American  Agri- 
culturist the  call  for  Housekeepers'  contributions,  1 
send  directions  for  making  a  soap  that  we  have 
used  for  years  :  Take  3  lbs.  of  unslaked  lime,  and 
6  lbs.  of  soda,  and  put  in  5  gallons  of  water. 
When  they  are  dissolved,  pour  off  the  water  from 
the  top,  (throwing  the  sediment  away,)  aud  add  to 
it  0  lbs.  of  fat.  Boil  till  thick,  pour  in  a  tub,  and 
when  cold,  cut  iu  bars.and  dry.  It  is  injured  by 
freezing  before  drying.  D.  Taylor. 


Hints  on  Cooking,  etc. 

Cioo<l  way  to  Cools  E^gs.— Contrib- 
uted to  the  American  Agriculturist,  by  "  Mary." — Put 
into  a  spider  not  quite  as  much  lard  or  meat  drip- 
pings as  for  frying  eggs  in  the  ordinary  way.  While 
it  is  beating,  break  the  eggs  into  a  plate,  and  wheu 
it  is  hot  slip  the  eggs  into  the  spider  evenly — not 
all  on  one  side,  or  the  grease  will  slip  out  from  un- 
der them,  and  they  will  stick  to  the  spider.  Sprinkle 
them  with  pepper  and  salt,  pour  in  nearly  a  tcacup- 
ful of  hot.  water,  cover  them  quickly  with  a  closely 
fitting  lid,  let  them  steam  three  or  four  minutes, 
when  they  will  be  found  nicely  whitened  over  the 
top,  like  eggs  which  have  been  cooked  by  breaking 
them  into  boiling  water,  and  much  more  palatable 
tbau  those  poached  without  grease. 

Pate  «le  Venn.-  Contributed  to  the  Agricul 
twist,  by  a  subscriber  at  Montrose,  Pa.  Take  four 
pounds  of  the  tender  part  of  a  leg  of  veal,  chop 
raw,  and  with  it  mix  six  or  eight  small  crackers 
rolled  flue,  two  eggs,  a  piece  of  butter  the  size  of 
an  egg,  slice  of  salt  pork  chopped  fine,  and  euough 
salt  aud  pepper  to  season  well.  Mix  all  well  togeth- 
er, and  mold  into  a  loaf  form  ;  put  small  pieces  ot 
butter  over  the  top,  and  grated  bread  ;  put  on  a  dish 
with  very  little  water,  and  bake  two  hours;  when 
cold,  cut  in  thin  slices  for  tea,  or  use  as  a  side  dish 
at  dinner.  [This  is  similar  to  "Minced  Veal"  rec- 
ommended in  the  Agriculturist,  and  which  we  fliu> 
both  convenient  and  palatable. — Ed.] 

Ginger  Snaps. — "  A  Young  Housekeeper,' 
recently  sent  to  the  office  of  Ihc  American  Agricul- 
turist, some  excellent  samples  of  this  cake,  witli 
the  following  directions  for  making:  Take  2  cups 
molasses,  1  cup  lard,  1  tablespoonful  ginger,  1  tea- 
spoonful  salt,  2  teaspoonfnls  soda.  Let  these  ingre- 
dients boil  up  once,  then  add  flour  until  stiff  enough 
to  roll  out,  aud  bake  in  a  quick  oven. 

Iloitiiny  Pudding-. — It  may  not  be  known 
to  all  the  readers  of  the  Agriculturist,  that  pudding 
made  of  hominy  is  quite  as  good  as  that  made  of 
rice,  and  far  cheaper.  After  having  cooked  the 
hominy  by  boiling  in  the  usual way,add  eggs,  milk, 
sugar,  and  flavoring  if  desired,  as  in  making  rico 
pudding.  We  have  tried  it,  and  know  it  to  be  good. 


88 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[March, 


A     MOUSE'S     DREAM-THE     CAT     IN     COURT. 

(Designed  and  Engraved  for  the  American  Agriculturist.) 


The  Editor  with  his.  Young   Eeaders. 

A  fine  time  these  mice  are  having.  Their  old  enemy, 
the  cat,  is  securely  muzzled,  bound  hand  and  foot,  and 
led  in  triumph  to  be  tried  for  high  crimes  against  the 
mouse  community.  The  judges  have  taken  their  seats  in 
due  form,  the  clerks  of  the  court  are  ready  to  record  the 
testimony,  the  armed  guards  are  prepared  for  any  emer- 
gency, and  the  lookers  on  are  in  high  glee.  Our  artist 
calls  it  the  Mouse's  dream  ;  we  suspect  he  himself  must 
have  been  visiting  dream-land.  However,  i(  mice  do 
ever  dream,  they  might  be  supposed  lo  have  some  such  a 
vision  in  sleep.  No  doubt  the  little  fellows  would  be  as 
happy  over  the  prospect,  as  boys  we  have  seen— grown-up 
ones  as  well  as  children— dreaming  with  their  eyes  open, 
and  their  hands  idle,  about  triumphing  over  supposed 
obstacles  lo  their  happiness.  And  it  would  be  as  profita- 
ble in  one  case  as  in  the  other.  The  mice  will  awake 
to  find  the  cat  as  active,  powerful,  and  cruel  as  ever ;  so 
the  idle  dreamers  about  lucky  numbers  in  lotteries,  plenty 
of  money  without  hard  work  to  get  it,  respectability  and 
honor  without  living  to  deserve  it,  will  learn  that  such  ac- 
quisitions are  not  to  be  had  by  dreaming  for  them. 

An  Ingenious  Root  Black. 

The  street  Boot  Blacks  are  one  of  the  "institu- 
tions" of  New-York,  as  well  as  of  some  other  large 
cities.  You  see  them  on  the  side- walks,  in  and  around 
the  hotels,  and  frequently  on  the  ferry  boats.  They  car- 
ry a  box  containing  their  "kit  of  implements, "—the 
biushes,  blacking  boxes,  etc.  This  is  suspended  by  a 
strap  over  the  shoulders,  and  when  a  customer  nods  assent 
to  their  generally  polite  invitation:  "  Black  yer  boots  ?" 
or  "  Shine  up,  sir  ?"  they  quickly  set  down  the  box  for 
your  foot  to  rest  on,  drop  upon  their  knees  on  the  pave- 
ment, and  work  as  rapidly  as  possible,  so  as  not  to  detain 
their  patrons.  They  first  turn  up  the  pants  to  keep  them 
from  being  soiled,  then  with  one  brush  they  clean  the 
boots,  with  another  apply  the  blacking,  and  with  two  oth- 
ers, one  in  each  hand,  polish  away.  They  return  a 
'  thank  ye'  for  the  half  dime,  or  dime,  given  for  their  labor. 
These  boys  are  generally  so  polite  and  so  industrious  that 
we  rather  like  them,  and  sometimes  take  a  "shine  up" 
just  to  see  them  work,  and  lo  chat  with  the  smart  little 
fellows.— Here  is  a  case  illustrating  their  ingenuity  : 
A  well  dressed  man  standing  at  a  hotel  door  not  long 
since,  was  hailed  by  one'of  them  with  the  usual  ques- 
tion, "  Shine  up  sir  ?"  "  "What  do  you  charge  for 
blacking  boots?"  asked  the  man,  who  was  somewhat 
noted  for  stinginess.  "  Five  cents,"  was  the  reply.  "Too 
much,  loo  much,  I'll  give  you  three  cents,"  said  the  man. 
"All  right,"  said  the  youngster,  and  at  it  lie  went  with 
might  and  main,  and  very  soon  had  one  boot  shining  like 
a  mirror:  but  instead  of  commencing  on  the  other,  he 
began  to  pack  up  his  brushes.  "  You  haven't  finished  !" 
exclaimed  the  man.     "Nevermind,"  replied  (he  boot- 


black, with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye,  1  won't  charge  you  any 
thing  for  what  I've  done  ;  there  comes  a  customer  who 
pays."  The  man  glanced  at  the  shining  boot,  then  at  the 
other,  which  was  rusty  and  bespattered  with  mud,  thought 
of  the  ridiculous  figure  he  would  make  with  one  polished 
boot,  and  amid  the  laughter  of  the  bystanders  agreed  to 
give  the  sharp  boy  ten  cents  to  finish  the  job,  which  he 
did  in    double    quick    time    and  with    great    pleasure. 


•       Good  Manners  — An  Anecdote. 

A  correspondent  of  the  Agriculturist  relates  the  follow- 
ing incident,  which  he  says  occurred  some  years  since  in 
the  State  of  Rhode  Island.  Colored  persons  are  allowed 
to  vote  there,  and  to  hold  office,  if  elected.  On  one  occa- 
sion, Mr.  It.,  a  very  pompous,  but  not  very  popular  man, 
desiring  to  be  chosen  Inspector  of  Elections,  gathered  his 
friends  around  the  polls  early  on  the  morning  of  election 
day — the  custom  being  to  select  an  Inspector  by  vote  of 
those  happening  to  be  present  at  the  opening  of  the  polls. 
Some  mischievous  young  men,  wiio  disliked  the  pompous 
candidate,  had  heard  of  his  plans,  and  they  were  also 
present  with  a  large  party,  and,  to  his  great  disgust,  they 
gave  a  majority  for  a  huge,  burly,  but  good-natured  ne- 
gro, welt  known  to  the  citizens.  When  the  voters  came 
up  to  deposit  their  ballots,  as  usual  each  one  took  off  his 
hat  in  presence  of  the  Inspector.  Suon  Mr.  R.  approach- 
ed. "  It  is  customary  to  take  off  the  hat  when  vollng," 
said  he,  "  but  in  this  case  I  don't  know  about  it."  "  Oil  !  " 
immediately  replied  the  colored  man,  "jest  as  you 
please  ;  it  depends  on  a  man's  broughten  up  ;  dere's  Mr. 
S.  and  Mr.  B„  (naming  two  wealthy  citizens),  dcy  took 
oil'  dere  hats,  but  if  a  man  has'nt  been  broughtup  toman- 
ners,  why  we  'scuse  him."  The  roar  of  laughter  which 
followed,  so  discomfited  Mr.  R.,  that  he  hastily  left. 

ISobbed    Advantageously ! 

A  lady  riding  in  a  rail-car  in  Brooklyn  recently,  was 
somewhat  crowded  upon  by  a  well  dressed  man,  who  soon 
after  left  the  car.  She  found  he  had  abstracted  her  purse 
containing  $7,  but  in  doing  so,  he  unintentionally  slipped 
off  into  her  pocket  a  valuable  diamond  finger  ring,  for 
which  a  friend,  a  jeweler,  gladly  gave  her  $100,  leaving 
her  a  gain  of  $93.     The  man  has  not  called  for  his  ring. 

A  Tlionglttless  lfoy  Punished. 

"I  shall  never  forget,"  writes  a  correspondent  of  the 
Agriculturist,  "an  incident  of  my  childhood  by  which  I 
was  taught  to  be  careful  not  to  wound  the  feelings  of  the 
unfortunate,  A  number  of  us  schoolboys  were  playing  by 
the  roadside  one  Saturday  afternoon,  when  the  stage  coach 
drove  up  to  a  neighboring  tavern  and  the  passengers 
alighted.  As  usual  we  gathered  around  it  to  observe 
them.  Among  the  number  was  an  elderly  man  with  a 
cane,  whu  got  out  with  much  difficulty,  and  when  on  the 
ground,  he  walked  with  the  inustcunous  contortions.  His 
feet  turned  one  way,  his  knees  another,  and  his  whole 


body  looked  as  though  the  difTerenl 
members  were  independent  of  it, 
and  of  each  other,  and  every  one 
was  making  motions  to  suit  itself. 
I  unthinkingly  shouted  '  look  at  old 
rattlcbones  !'  and  the  other  boys 
look  up  the  cry  with  mocking 
laughter,  while  the  poor  man  turn- 
ed his  head  with  an  expression  of 
pain  which  I  can  never  forget.  Just 
then,  to  my  surprise  and  horror, 
my  falhercame  around  the  corner, 
and  immediately  stepping  up  to 
the  stranger  shook  his  hands  warm- 
ly, and  assisted  him  to  walk  to 
our  house,  which  was  at  but  a  little 
distance.  I  could  enjoy  no  more 
play  that  afternoon,  and  when  tea- 
time  came,  I  would  gladly  have 
hid  myself,  but  I  knew  that  would 
be  vain,  and  so  tremblingly  went 
into  the  sitting  room.  To  my  great 
relief,  the  stranger  did  not  recog- 
nize me,  but  remarked  pleasantly 
to  my  father  as  he  introduced  me, 
'  Such  a  fine  boy  was  surely  worth 
saving.'  How  the  words  cut  me  to 
the  heart.  My  father  had  often  told 
me  the  story  of  a  friend  who  had 
plunged  into  the  river  to  save  rac 
as  I  was  drowning,  while  an  infant, 
and  who  in  consequence  of  a  cold 
then  taken,  had  been  made  a  crip- 
ple by  inflammatory  rheumatism ; 
and  this  was  the  man  whom  I  had 
made  a  butt  of  ridicule,  and  a 
laughing  slock  for  my  companions. 
I  tell  you,  boys  and  girls,  I  would 
givemanydollars  to  have  the  mem- 
ory of  that  event  taken  away.  If 
ever  you  are  tempted  as  I  was,  remember  that  while  no 
good  can  come  of  sport  whereby  the  feelings  of  others 
are  wounded,  you  may  be  laying  up  for  yourselves  pain- 
ful recollections  that  will  not  leave  you  for  a  lifetime." 


The  Boy's  Reproof. 

A  minister  in  a  country  village  received  his  supply  of 
milk  from  one  of  his  deacons,  and  his  son  Robert,  about 
ten  years  old,  was  sent  for  it  daily.  A  railroad  had  re- 
cently been  built  in  that  vicinity,  and  the  boys  had 
learned  to  imitate  the  whistle.  When  Robert  was  within 
a  few  rods  of  the  deacon's  house,  he  used  to  give  a  loud 
"  too-o-o-t,"  lo  let  them  know  he  was  coming,  so  that 
the  milk  might  be  ready.  It  happened  that  milk  was  need. 
ed  for  a  young  child  one  Sunday  afternoon,  and  Robert 
being  sent  for  it,  unthinkingly  gave  his  usual  too-o-ot. 
Upon  entering  the  house  the  deacon  said  to  him  rather 
severely,  "  Robert,  the  cars  do  not  run  on  Sunday." 
Presently  the  deacon  remembered  that  he  had  not  seen  the 
weekly  paper  which  the  minister  was  accustomed  to  lend 
him.  "Robert,  said  he,  "did  you  bring  the  newspa- 
per?" The  little  fellow  very  archly,  but  respectfully 
replied  :  "  The  cars  do  not  carry  the  mail  on  Sunday  sir !" 
The  deacon  was  fairly  beaten  with  his  own  weapons. 

An  Uufortunatc  Mimie, 

A  correspondent  of  the  Agriculturist  writes  :  "A  young 
lad  of  this  neighborhood  whom  we  will  call  Thomas,  lias 
practised  imitating  the  sounds  made  by  various  animals, 
until  he  hr-s  become  quite  expert  at  it.  He  often  sets  the 
hens  to  cackling,  the  dog  to  barking,  or  the  cow  to  run- 
ning for  her  calf  by  mimicking  their  cries.  Being  full  of 
mischief,  he  loves  to  play  practical  jokes.  On  one  occa- 
sion he  led  a  hunter  a  chase  of  more  than  a  mile  through 
the  woods  by  imitating  the  chattering  of  a  gray  squirrel, 
and  keeping  just  out  of  sight  of  the  sportsman.  He  was 
partly  cured  of  such  practices,  however,  by  the  following 
occurrence.  A  man  living  near  had  a  great  aversion  to 
cats.  Thomas,  knowing  this,  loved  to  tease  him  by  going 
near  his  windows  In  the  evening,  and  setting  up  a  com- 
plete conceit  of  squalls,  as  though  all  the- cats  of  the 
neighborhood  were  trying  their  vocal  powers.  One  night 
he  had  just  commenced  this  performance,  when  to  his 
horror  a  passing  dog  attracted  by  the  noise,  leaped  over 
the  fence  and  sprang  toward  him.  Away  he  ran,  shouting 
for  fear,  the  dog  in  full  chase  after  him.  He  succeeded  In 
getting  near  his  own  door,  when  the  dog  was  just  upon 
him,  and  he  was  obliged  to  face  him  or  be  bitten.  He 
swung  his  cap,  kicked  desperately,  and  managed  to  keep 
him  at  bay,  at  the  same  lime  shouting  for  help.  His  fa- 
ther heard  the  noise,  but  merely  remarked,  "Oh,  it's  only 
some  of  Tom's  nonsense," and  paid  no  attention  to  it. 
Presently  there  was  a  loud  scream,  which  really  alarmed 
him,  and  hastening  out  he  found  the  doy  had  bitten  his 
son  suvcrplv,  and  the  animal  was  with  difficulty  driven  off." 


1SG3.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


89 


Wooden  Flowers,  and  Real  Ones. 

The  engraving,  flir.  1 ,  represents  a  flower  and  leaf  from 
a  bouquet.  Ingeniously  made  from  wood,  by  Mi".  John 
Seivers,  of  Hackensack,  N.  J.  The  material  is  while 
and  red  cedar.  In  order  to  get  them  up,  a  block,  (fig.  2),  is 
first  whittled  into  the  shape  of  the  leaves  of  the  flowers, 
and  this  is  carefully  split  up  into  a  number  of  thin  plates, 
or  leaves.  These  are  then  to  be  put  together:  for  this 
purpose  a  center  piece  is  whittled  out  as  in  fig.  3,  and  the 
separate  leaves  are  glued,  each  into  a  notch  in  the  side 
of  this.  A  slender  twig,  with  the  baric  taken  off.  is  fitted 
in  for  a  stem,  and  the  flower  is  done.  Leaves  are  made 
in  a  similar  way.  The  one  in  the  engraving  has  its  sep- 
arate parts  made  in  the  same  manner  as  those  of  the 
flower;  these  are  afterward  attached  to  the 
leaf  stalk,  by  slitting  it  at  the  proper  places 
and  glueing  them  in.  Those  who  under- 
take to  make  artificial  flowers  from  any 
material,  should  carefully  study  the  real 
ones.  No  fanciful  forms  can  be  as  beauti- 
ful as  those  made  by  nature.  Upon  pull- 
ing a  natural  flower  to  pieces— unless  it 
be  a  very  double  one— it  will  be  seen  that 
the  different  parts  occupy  a  certain  posi- 
tion ;  now  to  make  an  artificial  flower  like 
it,  the  parts  must  be  exact  copies  of  the 
natural  one,  in  size  and  shape,  and  must 
be  of  the  same  number,  and  be  put  to- 
gether in  the  same  position  as  they  are  in 
the  real  flower.  We  would  not  advise  our 
young  friends  to  spend  much  of  their  time 
in  trying  to  make  imitations  of  natural 
flowers.  They  would  take  much  more 
pleasure  in  trying  to  find  out  how  the 
Great  Workman  made  the  real  flowers— in 
seeing  how  every  plant  alter  it  starts  from 
the  seed,  builds  up  a  more  wonderful 
structure  than  our  best  skill  can  imitate. 
Would  not  some  of  our  young  read- 
ers—and old  ones  too  for  that  matler— 
like  to  know  more  about  plants?  Now 
that  Spring  is  coming,  and  the  bud*  on  the 
trees  will  soon  begin  to  swell  and  unfold, 
and  the  seeds  will  soon  be  put  in  the 
ground,  we  intend  to  talk  a  little  about 
what  is  going  on  all  around  us.  Almost 
all  boys  and  girls  have  some  little  spot  or 
corner  which  they  call  their  garden  ;  they 
find  much  pleasure  in  working  in  this,  in 
planting  the  seeds,  and  watching  the  growth  of  the  plants 
from  day  to  day.  Let  us  see  if  we  can  not  make  this  lit- 
tle garden  more  pleasant  by  showing  you  things  you 
never  noticed  before,  and  that  upon  a  small  spot  of  ground 
there  are  wonderful  and  curious  things  if  you  only  know 
how  to  see  them.  We  intend  next  month  to  tell  you  how 
to  plant  the  garden,  and  then  how  to  watch  what  is  going 
on  there,  from  month  to  month.  So  look  out  for  the 
"Boys'  and  Girls'  Garden." 

Amusing  Trial  of  Skill. 

Tie  a  common  finger  ring  to  a  thread  and  let  it  hang  at 
a  convenient  hlght,  with  the  opening  toward  the  one  who 
is  to  make  the  trial.  Let  him  take  a  small  crooked  stick, 
and  stand  far  enough  from  the  ring  to  just  reach  it.  Now 
ask  him  to  close  one  eye  and  thrust  the  stick  through  the 


ling  ;  he  will  seldom  succeed  without  trying  several 
times.  A  person  with  only  one  eye  would  do  it  easily  ; 
those  accustomed  to  use  two  eyes  in  judging  of  dis- 
tances, can  not  readily  use  one  with  the  same  accuracy. 


A  Subscriber    Every    Minute  ! 

A  mail-clerk  in  the  office  of  the  American  Agricul- 
turist, who  has  a  penchant  for  arithmetical  calculations, 
has  been  amusing  himself  over  the  subscription-books. 
He  reports  as  the  result,  that  since  last  November  the 
number  of  subscribers  coming  in  has  averaged  a  good 
deal  more  than  one  fur  every  minute  !  reckoning  ten  full 
hours  a  day.  This  does  not  include  more  than  ten  thou- 
sand previously  received  for  this  year.  Up  to  this  date, 
(Feb.  17,)  we  have  already  printed  for  subscribers,  over 
sixty  thousand  copies  of  the  January  and  February  Num- 
bers, and  shall  print  many  thousands  more  of  them  from 
the  stereotype  plates,  as  the  tide  still  flows  in  at  the  rate 
of  200  to  600  a  day,  and  there  will  be  only  a  gradual  de- 
cline, if  any,  for  two  or  three  months  to  come,  judging 
from  previous  years.  Really,  it  looks  as  if  we  should  get 
through  this  yrar  with  a  "whole  skin,"  notwithstanding 
the  severe  scarifying  we,  in  common  with  other  pub- 
lishers, have  had  to  endure  from  the  paper  manufacturers. 


Tlie  Game  of  Rhyming  I>eunitions. 

Any  number  may  take  part  in  this  play:  the  more  the 
merrier.  The  leader  selects  two  words  which  rhyme  to- 
gether, and  mentions  one  of  them  ;  the  company  are  to 
guess  the  other,  but  instead  of  naming  it,  they  must  in 
some  way  define  it,  requiring  the  leader  to  give  the  word 
they  have  guessed.  Thus,  for  example,  John  says  "find 
me  a  word  to  rhyme  with  gate."  "Is  it  what  school- 
children write  on?"  asks  Julia.  John  answers:  "It  is 
not  a  slate."— George  asks:  ".Is  it  a  period  of  time?" 
"It  is  not  a  date,"  is  the  reply.  "Is  it  to  be  not  punc- 
tual?" "It  is  not  late."  "Is  it  yearly- interest  on 
money?"  "  It  is  rate."  Then  the  one  who  guessed  cor- 
rectly becomes  leader,  and  gives  out  the  next  word. 
Sometimes  one  of  the  company  indicates  a  word  which 
the  leader  cannot  name  ;  In  this  case  the  leader  must 
pay  a  forfeit.  The  game  is  a  very  pleasant  one,  and 
is  also  useful  to  instruct  the  players  in  the  use  of  words. 


The   Bouquet  Portraits   Explained. 

Last  month,  page  57,  we  published  the  singular  Bouquet, 
representing  profiles  of  some  of  the  Napnieon  family.  It 
was  supposed  that  every  one  would  see  the  figures,  but  it 
turns  out  that  this  was  not  the  case  with  many  persons, 
as  not  a  few  have  called  or  written  for  an  explanation. 
We  have  therefore  added  a  few  lines  which  will 
make  the  matter  plain.  After  seeing  the  fisure  above, 
it  wilt  be  interesting  to  turn  back  to  page  57  and 
look  at  the  original  picture,  and  see  how  clear  the  white 
profiles  stand  out — not  the  black  ones  that  so  many  tried 
to  find.  The  upper  left-hand  figure  is  for  Napoleon 
I.  ;  the  right  hand  upper  one  for  his  wife  Maria  Louisa; 
and  the  centre  figure  is  for  their  son,  frequently  called 
Napoleon  II. — the  present  Emperor  of  Prance  having  as- 
sumed the  title  of  Napoleon  III.  [Corrcrttan. —  By  a  slip 
of  the  pen,  Maria  Louisa  was  erroneously  printed  Maria 
Antoinette,  in  a  few  of  the  first  copies  of  the  previous 
number;  it  was  soon  noticed  and  corrected  in  the  plate.] 


New  Puzzle*  to  B>e  Ansvrereu. 


No.  31.  Illustrated  Rebus ;  good  advice  for   the   times. 


No.  32.    Illustrated  Rebus;  to  be  well  remembered. 

No.  33.  Mathematical  Problem.  A  tree  100  feet  high  broke 

and   fell,  (hanging   to   the    slump)  j    the  tup  struck    the 

ground   41)   Ject   from  the  .base  ;  how  high  di  I  it   break? 

No.  34.     What  word  In  the  English  language  contains 

all  the  vowels  in  their  regular  order  ? 


Answers  to  Puzzles  and  Problem*  in  Feb- 
ruary No.,  rpage  57.)— No.  28.  Arithmetical  Problem. 
The  bond  would  he  liquidated  in  31  years,  nearly. 
(Some  unknown  correspondent  sent  in  a  solution  ex- 
hibited in  tabular  form  with  great  neatness.) — No.  29. 
Cent  Puzzle.  The  date  is  a  fruit  ;  two  lips  (tulips;  are 
flowers:  the  temple  is  a  house  of  worship;  the  hair 
(hare)  is  an  animal ;  the  ear  is  a  quantity  of  grain  ;  lock* 
are  a  protection  against  thieves.— No.  3d.  Transposition. 
The  letters  of  new  door  may  be  transposed  into  the  words, 
liv7ie  word." — The  following  have  sent  in  correct  answers 
up  to  the  date  of  Feb.  16,  viz. :  Wilson  Holmes,  to  Nos. 
24,  26  ;    A.  H  age  man,  24,   23.  26.  27  ;  James  H.  Wing,  :tl  . 

Orison  B.  Smith,  29;  Daniel  Gravatt,30;  F.  W.  Win- 
ship,  24  ;  Sarah  H.  Barnard,  2";  Ziimi  E.  Hinsliaw,  24  , 
J.  Cox,  30;  J.  Garrison,  2n,  29,  30;  Elnora  Decker,  23 
30;  Rufus  W.  Weeks,  i!8,  30;  A.  B.  Coegeshall,  30. 


PREMIUM    LIST  — 1863. 

Good    Pay     to    Voluntary    Agents   who    attend    to 

Collecting  and  forwarding  Clubs  of  Subscribers 

to  the  American  Agriculturist. 

(Premiums  open  to  all  who  Desire  tliem.) 

The  following  articles  are  still  offered,  with  no  changes 
from  last  month,  except  in  books.  See  remarks  on  p.  6*. 
To  all  who  take  the  trouble  to  collect  and  forward  clubs 
of  subscribers,  we  offer  a  remuneration  in  the  form  offirst- 
rate  articles,  as  named  below.  (The  pay  thus  offered  is 
much  larger  than  we  could  give  in  cash,  as  we  get  these 
articles  on  extra  good  terms  when  for  premiums.) 

^"We  wish  it  distinctly  understood  that  these 
premiums  are  offered  in  good  faith — no  cheap,  trashy,  im- 
perfect, poorly  made,  or  second-hand  thing,  will  he  sent 
out,  Out  each  article  offered,  is  the.  best  of  its  hind. 
XW  Clubs  need  not  be  all  confined  to  one  Post  Office. 

J5^"  For  other  items,  and  for  a  full  description  of 
the  premiums,  see  patje  GO  of  February  Agriculturist. 

:3 


Table  of  Premiums  for  1S63. 


3  « 

Sis    as 

3  5-   :T5 


I 


$4  -18 
$3  96 
$2  24 
SI  12 

$1  4S 

$3  r.o 

$1  50 
$10  00 

£9  25 
.  $9  00 

$?  SO 

$7  00 


13 


Names  of  Premium  Articles.  ~  2, 

1 — Good  Books— .SV-'  terms  hetoio 

»— Best  Family  Clothes  Wringer $750 

3— Nonpareil  Washing  Machine.   .    .  $16  00 

4— Sewing  Machine,  (Wheeler  &  Wilson)  $45  00 
5— Sewing  Machine,  (Wilcox  &  Glbbs)  ....$35  00 

fi— Aneroid  Barometer . .  $7  50 

7— The  Aquarius $10  00 

8— Five  Octave  Melodeon  (best) $75  00 

9— I'A  Octave  Melodeon  (best) $60  00 

10— Four  Octave  Melodeon  (best)  $15  00 

13 — Worcester's  Unabridged  Dieiionarv $s  50 

13— Six  back    Volumes  Agriculturist,  j      .     $6  72 

14— Five   do  do  do.  [3     $5  60 

15 — Four  do  do  do 

lfi— Three  do  do  do 

17— Two    do  do  do 

IN— One     do  do  do  £ 

10— Jacob's  Portfolio  Paper  File  .. 

'3D— Windsor  &  Newton's  Paints 

21— Osborn  &  Hodgkinson's  Paints 

33— Premium  Cylinder  Plow 

33— Eagle  Plow  No.  20 

34— Hay  and  Straw  Cutter  (best).., 

3"»— Steel-tooth  Cultivator  (best)... 

36— Family  Lard  and  Wine  Press $7  00        24       53 

Premium  No.  1— Good  Books. 

Any  person  sending  l(i  or  more  subscribers,  may  select 
from  our  book  list,  (page  91.0  to  the  amount  ot  12'.,  cenU  for 
each  name,  at  the  club  price  of  SO  cent*,  or  to  the  uniount  of 
S?t'A  cent*  for  each  name  at  $1.  Farmers'  Clubs  have 
frequently  joined  together  and  obtained  a  good  library 
through  these  premiums.  N.  B.— The  books  will  be  nearer- 
cd  to   the  recipients,  (by  mail  or  express.)  free  of  nil  vo/,t. 

&S?~  See  Book  List  pa:re  91.  for  several  changes  in  price. 
The  prices  of  the  hoobs  have  been  advanced  bv  the  publish- 
ers, (not  by  us)  an  1  w  are  ohliui-d  to  eonlirui  to  tln-ir  mh-a 
as  they  charge  from  mouth  to  month.  Books  called  for 
under  this  premium  will  necessarily  be  at  the  new  rates. 


40 

130 
!8 
46 
47 
237 
1R2 

i;;o 
53 
85 
30 
25 
20 
15 
10 
14 
29 
15 
70 
05 
63 


9C> 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[March, 


Business  Notices. 

B^~  Eighty  Cents  a  Line  of  space. 
(Copy.) 

New- York    State  Agricultural  Society, 
Rochester  Fair,  1862. 

I  hereby  certify  that  James  Pyle,  of  New- York,  was 
awarded  a  special  prize  at  the  Stale  Fair  at  Rochester  on 
his  O.  K.  Soap,  Dietetic  Saleratus,  Cream  Tartar,  Cak- 
ing Soda,  anil  various  other  articles  of  exceeding  great 
merit— and  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Society  give 
special  commendation  for  the  great  excellence  of  the  ar- 
ticles exhibited. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  subscribed  my  name, 
and  affixed  the  official  seal  of  the  Society. 
B.  P.  JOHNSON, 

Secretary. 


L.  S. 


Market   Review,   Prices,    Weather,    etc. 

American  Agriculturist  Office,      f 
New- York,  Thursday  Morning,  Feb.  19,  1863.  J 

la  TRANSACTIONS  AT  THE  NEW-YORK  MARKETS. 

Receipts.  Flour.    Wheat.    Corn.    Bye.    Barley.    Oats. 

23  days  tAftm'th  211.000       2(5,000     16:1,000    39,000     102,000  225,000 

24  days  ta^m'th  317,000     739,000     8i5,000      0,500     141.500  351,000 

Sales.  Flour.   Wheat.       Corn.       Eye.    Barley. 

28  days  (Afe  month,     452,000  2,416,000    2,571,000       36.300    126,000 

24  days  last  month   224,000  2.773,000   2,212,000       14,650  158,000 

3.  Comparison  with  same  time  last  year. 

receipts.  Flour.    Wheat.    Corn.     Eye.  Barley.  Oats. 

28  days  1863  .    ..211.000       26000      163,000    30,000  102,000     225.000 

25  days  1362 155.000     111,600     134,500    97,700  143,000     172,000 

bales.  Flour.      Wheat.       Corn.        Eye.    Barley. 

28  days  1863 452,'JOO      2,416,000      2,571.000      36,300      126,000 

25  days  1802 394,000  914,000      1,175,000    196,000      1S6.5U0 

3.  Exports  from  New-York,  Jan.  1,  to  Feb.  18. 

Flour.  Wheat.  Corn.  Rye.        Oats. 

Bbls.  Bush.  Bush.         Bush.       Bush. 

1363 398.366     2,367,202     850.041     29,827     96,209 

1862 429,926    1,759,747   1.830,812  208,296     2,757 

Current  Wholesale  Prices, 

Jan.  r>.  Feb.  19. 

Floxtr— Sapor  to  Extra  State  $6  30    i3*  00  $7  00  ®  7  95 

Superfine  Western ..  6  30    (5)6  60  7  00  @  7  25 

Extra  Western. 6  75    @10  00  7  55  @I0  50 

Extra  Genesee 7  05    @  S  50  8  00  @  9  50 

Super,  to  Extra  Southern  ...  7  65    @10  00  7  90  ©10  50 

Rye  Flour— Fine  and  Super.  3  50    (®  5  25  3  50  («i  5  50 

Corn  Meal. ...  3  95    @  4  60  4  15  @  5  00 

Wheat-AU  kinds  of  White..  1  58    ft  1  75  1  SO  @  2  00 

All  kinds  of  lied. 130    <*  1  58J£  140  ©173 

Corn— Yellow 85    @      87  97  @  1  00 

White.  85    @      95  9S  @  1  05 

Mixed... 83    ft      83  95  @      97 

Oats— Western 72    ©      74  75  @      77 

State 73    ©      74^  76  @     77 

Rye  90    ®  1  02#  105  ©112 

Barley  1  40    @  1  55  1  45  @  1  60 

Beans— Medium  and  Pea,  bit.  2  25    @  2  50 

Marrow  and  Kidney —  2  50    @  2  75 

Hay,  in  bales,  per  100  lbs.     .  90    @  1  10  85  @  1  10 

Cotton— Middlings,  per  lb..  .  72#@      73  90  @      91 

Rice,  per  100  lbs.  ..       Nominal.  Nominal. 

Hops,  crop  of  1862,  per  lb 17    <%      25  20  ©      28 

Feathers,  Live  Geese,  p.  lb.  Nominal.  48  ®     50 

Seed— Clover,  per  lb 10&@      11^  11®      11  £ 

Timothy,  per  bushel 3  85   @  2  63  @  3  00 

Flax,  per  bushel...  2  80    @  3  00  3  10  ©  3  25 

Sugar— Brown,  per  lb    HJ#$      13J£  9  ©      13 

Molasses, New-Orleans,  p.gl..  S3    @      5(5  45  @      55 

Coffee.  Rio,  per  lb  ...  .„    ..  28>i@      Sljtf  30^@      83^ 

Tobacco— Kentucky,&c,p.lb..  It   @     S3  15  @     32 

Seed  Leaf,  per  lb... 10    <fc      &5  9  @      82 

Wool— Domestic  fleece,  p.  lb..  58    ®      60  ?l\'z<%      90 

Domestic,  pulled,  per  lb.  ...  66    @      05  65  @      SO 

Wool,  California,  unwashed..  35  @      55 

Tallow,  peril) 11    &      11>£  12K®      Vl% 

Oil  Cake,  per  tun Nominal-  47  00  @55  00 

Pouk— Mess,  per  bbl... 14  62M@H  75  1175  @17  00 

Prime,  per  bbl  11  25     &\i  50  11  50  @14  00 

Beef— Plain  mess 11  25     @12  75  11  25  (atVi  75 

Lard,  in  bids.,  per  lb 10    ®      10%  lOj^O      11JS 

Butter— Western,  per  lb 16    @      20  17  @      22 

State,  per  lb 20    @      26  23  @      2S 

Cheese 9    @      IS  10  @      15 

Broom  Corn— ner  lb  7    @        8  H  ®      10 

Egos— Fresh,  per  dozen 21    @      24  19  (3)      22 

Limed,  per  doz 15    ©      16  13  cb      14 

Poultry— Fowls,  per  lb 10    @      11  10  @      u 

Ducks,  per  ft 11    @      12  11  @      15 

Geese,  per  lb 7    ®       9  8  @      10 

Tnrkevs,  per  lb 11    ®      14  32  @      14 

Venison,  per  ft S    @      13  7  @      11 

Potatoes— Common,  p.  bbl..  1  25    ®  1  75  1  S3  ®  1  50 

Buckeyes,  per  bbl 125   @  l  75  150  ©162 

Peach  Blow,  per  bbl  2  00    ®  2  25  1  50  ©  1  75 

Mercers,  per  bbl 2  50    @  8  00  2  00  @  2  50 

Sweet  Delawares,  per  bbl....  3  00  ©3  50  3  50  ©3  75 

Onions,  Red  ft  Yellow  p.  bbl,  2  50  ©3  50  3  00 

White,  per  bbl 2  50  ©  3  50  3  00 

Turnips— Rutabagas,  p.  bbl..  75  ©      87  1  00 

C\RiiAGEs,  per  100 3  00  ©  3  00  ©  4  00 

Apples,  Western,  per  bbl 1  25  @  1  50  1  00  @  1  50 

Apples,  choice,  per  bbl.      ...  2  00  ©5  00  2  00  @  5  00 

Cranberries,  Cape  Cod,  p.bT  10  00  cell  00  10  00  ©1100 

Western,  per  bbl.     8  00  ©  9  00  6  00  ©  8  00 

Dried  Apples,  per  lb.  4  ©       5  SM  @       6 

Dried  Plums,  per  lb 10  ©     11  1100  ©13  00, 

Dried  Peaches,  per  lb 13  @      15  14  00  ©18  00 

Hickory  Nuts,  per  bushel..  1  75  @  2  00  1  00  ©  1  75 

The  condensed  tables  above  indicate  a  very  large  fall- 
ing off  in  the  receipt'*  of  Flour,  Wheat,  Corn,  Barley  and 
Oats,  for  the  month,  as  compared  with  the  previous  month  ; 
rtinl  also  ascopiparvu  with  the  same  time  lp.st  year,  except- 
ing Flour,  Corn,  and  Oats,  which  have  come  in  more 
freely  this  year.  The  sales  of  Flour,  Corn,  and  Oats,  on 
the  contrary,  have  bee*  greater.  The  increased  sales  of 
Flour  ;ii'e  quite  mm  lied,  being  more  (ban  doubled  as  com- 


pared with  the  previous  month.  The  sales  o(  Wheat  for 
28  business  days  ending  February  19lh  this  year,  amount- 
ed to  2,416,000  bushels,  against  914,000  bushels  for  25 
business  days  ending  February  19th,  last  year.  In  ta- 
ble 3,  it  will  be  seen  that  so  far  this  year,  the  exports  of 
Flour  and  Coin  have  been  less  than  in  1862,  while  the  ex- 
ports of  Wheat  have  been  larger  by  607,545  bushels 

The  (able  of  Current  Prices  shows  a  decided  advance 
in  almost  all  kinds  of  farm  produce,  and  especially  so  in 
Flour,  Wheat,  ami  Corn.  This  has  been  in  part  due  to 
the  advance  in  gold  and  foreign  exchange.  We  have  pre- 
viously shown  why  this  should  be  so,  why  exporters  can 
afford  to  give  higher  rales  for  anything  that  can  be  sent 
abroad  instead  of  gold,  and  how  farmers  are  directly  ben- 
efitted, much  more  than  any  other  class,  by  the  premium 
on  gold.  Every  producer  who  has  debts  to  pay,  or  pur- 
chases to  make  of  arlicles  not  advancing  materially  in 
price,  is  a  great  gainer  by  the  high  rates  for  gold  and  Ster- 
ling Exchange.  The  fall  in  gold  last  week  checked  the 
market,  but  just  now  there  is  decided  activity,  and  a  heavy 
demand  from  shippers,  home  buyers,  and  speculators. 
The  shipments  are  large,  and  appear  likely  to  continue 
so  for  some  time  to  come.  During  the  week  ending  Feb- 
ruary 11th,  the  exports  of  produce  and  miscellaneous 
goods  (not  including  gold)  amounted  to  the  extraordinary 
sum  of  $5,154,562,  against  $2,144,476  same  week  last  year*, 
and  $2,664,873  the  corresponding  week  of  1861.  Of  the 
exports,  to  the  single  port  of  Liverpool,  there  were  ship- 
ped SI, 893,135  ;  and  to  London,  $633,962.  Included  in  the 
exports  to  Liverpool  were  nearly  23,000  barrels  of  flour, 
406,000  bushels  wheat,  126,000  bushels  corn,  and  r.  very 
large  quantity  of  provisions  ;  to  London,  22,000  barrels'of 
flour,  150,000  bushels  wheat,  and  provisions  to  the  value  of 
nearly  $146,000.  During  the  week  ending  yesterday,  the 
exnorls  were  again  very  heavy,  amounting  to  $4,986,632, 
against  $2,855,129  the  same  week  last  year,  and  $2,278,902 

the  corresponding  week  of  1361 The  Colton  market 

has  been  more  active,  and  prices  have  very  rapidly  ad- 
vanced, closing  however,  rather  tamely.. .  .There  has 
been  unusual  activity  in  the  Provision  Market,  heavy  pur- 
chases having  been   made   for   export,   and  prices  have 

steadily  favored  sellers Wool  has  been  in  very  brisk 

request,  and  prices  are  much  higher,  closing  buoyantly 
and  irregularly,  with  reduced  stocks  of  all  descriptions  in 
market.  Manufacturers  have  purchased  heavily,  as  also 
parlies  buying    on  speculation.    The  activity  has  been 

greatest  in   foreign  Wools The   movements  in   oilier 

kinds  of  domestic  produce  and  general  merchandise  have 
been  on  a  liberal  scale,  and  at  advancing  rates,  as  shown 
in  the  tables. 

N.  Y.  Live  Stock  Markets.— The  Cat- 
tle Markets  have  been  well  supplied  during  the  past 
month,  averaging  4,812  per  week,  or  300  more  than  the 
weekly  average  for  all  last  year.  But  prices  have  ad- 
vanced J£c,  with  brisk  sales  generally.  At  the  market 
on  Fob.  17th  5,275  head  were  offered,  following  a  supply 
of  5,9S7  at  the  previous  market.  A  few  extra  animals 
sold  at  12>^c.  per  lb.  for  the  dressed  weight  ;  good 
to  prime  bullocks  at  9)4c..(a>]0U<c.  ;  fair  lo  good  at  8c. (a) 
9c,  and  poor  grades  at  &}£c.(ii)~%c.  Average  of  all  sales — 
8Xc.    None  left  over. 

Teal  Calves. — Receipts   have  averaged  341 

per  week.  Prices  have  advanced  1c.  per  lb.,  live  weight, 
and  the  demand  is  at  present  unsnppjjed.  Fat  calves  are 
now  worth  Gc.fa)7c.  per  lb. ;  fair  veals  SWc^ec. 

SHtccp. — Receipts  have  been  6,40:3  per  week 
for  five  weeks.  Since  our  last  report  they  have  ad- 
vanced in  value  more  than  !c.  per  lb.,  live  weight,  owing 
to  higher  prices  of  pelts,  which  are  now  worth  $3  7o.'«J 
tfi)$4  00  each,  or  more  than  the  dressed  carcass.  Large 
fat  sheep  have  sold  in  lots,  at  prices  equivalent  to  6c.  per 
lb.,  live  weight.  With  8,543  on  sale  this  week,  prices  de- 
clined Vc  per  lb.,  fat  sheep  selling  at  7»2c.  and  extra 
sheep  ~%c.  Several  droves,  amounting  together  to  1,000 
head  of  fair  sheep,  averaged  about  $7  00  per  head. 

Live  Hogs — Receipts  have  been  lighter,  the 
average  for  five  weeks  past  being  26.532  per  week.  In 
common  with  all  other  kinds  of  live  stock,  hogs  have  ad- 
vanced ^c.  in  price.  Prime,  fat,  corn-fed  hogs  are  now 
selling  at  5&c.05%c.  per  lb.,  live  weight ;  medium  hogs, 
5}i,c.(a)5,,:-c,  and  still-red 4%C.(S>5>£c, 

Xlic  Weatlier  has  been  very  mild  for  Win- 
ter, more  like  April  lh;m  February.  Ouu  Daily  Notes 
Condensed,  read  :  January  20,  warm,  cloudy-  21,  rain 
22,  cloudy— 23,  clear,  fine— 24,  cloudy— 25,  warm,  clear 
P.  XL— 86,  light  rain  P.M.  and  27,  28,  N.  E.  snow  and 
rain — 'z0,  two  inches  snow   A.   M.,  clear   P,  M. — 30,  31. 

clear. February    I,  cloudy,  rain  at    night — 2,    clear, 

warm — 3,  colder — 4.  coldest  day,  mercury  4°  in  the 
morning  and  3°  at  night— 3  light  snow,  0°,  very  cold  A. 
M.,  thaw  P.  M..  rain  at  night— B,  N.  E,  rain— 7  lo  P. fine, 
mild  days— 10,  clear— II.  mild,  snc.w  and  rain  at  night— 
12,  rain— 13,  clear — 14.  cool,  rain  at  night — 15,  rain — lfi, 
clear,  fine — 17,  cloudy  A.M.,  light  snow,  P.  M. — 18,  clear 
A.  M.,  cloudy  F.  M.,  rain  at  night — 19.  heavy  rain. 

ISain  Fall  Jan.  15ih  to  Feb.  15th,  6.16  inch- 
es !—  Barometer  changes  remarkable — Feb.  5th,  mer- 
cury up  to  30.50,  the  highest  point  during  30  years  past.  • 


Advertisements  to  ba  sure  of  insertion  must  be  re- 
ceived at  latest  by  the  15th  of  the  preceding  month. 
TEKMS-  (invariably  cash  before  insertion) : 

FOB  THE  ENGLISH   EDITION  ONLY. 

Fifty  cents  per  line  of  space  for  each  insertion. 

One  whole  column  045  lines),  or  more,  $00  per  column. 

KSTJusiness  Notices,  Eighty  cents  per  line  of  space. 

POK  THE  GERMAN  EDITION  ONLY. 

Ten  cents  per  line  of  space  for  each  insertion. 

Unc  whole  column  (130  lines),  or  mure,  $10  per  column. 

J^~Business  Notices,  twenty  cents  a  hue. 


H 


Valuable  Farm  near  New- York  for 
Sale  Cheap. 

An  excellent  f:irm,  S  miles  from  Tarrvtcn-n,  In  Westchester 
County,  2d  miles  from  the  City  Hall  of  New- York,  will  be 
sold  at  a  sre-at  bargain,  owing  lo  the  peculiar  circumstances 
pt  the  proprietor.  (Title  indisputable.)  It  contains  a  good 
house,  three  bams,  out-buiklmgs,  excellent  orchard ^ctc 
etc  Will  be  sold,  on  easy  terms  of  payment,  lor  ten  thousand 
dollars,  (which  13  much  below  its  real  value. I  For  particu- 
lars address  Box  28,  Tarrytown  P.  O.,  or  inquire  of  P  S 
TAGUAUT,  at  126  Duane-st.,  New-York  City. 

ARMS  FOR  SALE.— The  finest  farm  of  its  sizi:, 

150  acres,  in  Westchester  County.    Also,  several  Carina 

and  country  seats  on  the  Hudson  liiver.    Several  fine  farms 

on  Long  Island  Sound.    Farms  in  New-Jersey,  and  in  this 

aud  Western  States,  for  sale  by 

S.  COCKCliOFT,  4  Pinc-st.,  New-York. 

OME  WANTED  ON  A  FARM,  FOR  A  SMART 
Bo  Y,  IS  years  old.    Call  or  address 
C.  TUEELEI:,  No.  oiS  Adelphi-st.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

A  FIRST  CLASS  COMMERCIAL  COLLEGE 

with  Bank,  Model  Store,  Offices,  and  all  the  approved  appara. 
tus,  under  able  and  accomplished  Professors,  has  been 
established  in  connection  with  the 

FORT    EDWARD    INSTITUTE. 

$20  pays  for  Graduates  Course,  whether  the  time  occupied 
be  one  term  or  more.  $10  pays  for  U  weeks  Board,  Washing, 
Fuel,  Common  English  Branches,  and  Lectures.  The  con- 
nection of  the  two  Institutions  affords  better  advantages, 
and  at  lower  rates,  than  any  mere  Commercial  School.  1^5 
young  men  are  now  pursuing  commercial  studies. 

SPRING  TERM,  MARCH  26.    Address 

Rev.  JOS.  E.  KING,  Fort  Edward,  N.  T. 

Great    IiiteniatioEiafl    Agricultural 
Exhibition, 

TO  BE  HELD  AT 

Hamburg,  Germany,  in  July,  1863, 

The  attention  of  Agriculturists,  Growers  of  Stock,  and 
Manufacturers  of  Agricultural  Implements,  machinery,  and 
others  interested  in  Agricultural  Products,  is  called  to  this 
Exhibition,  which  will  probably  exceed  in  interest  an* 
magnitude  any  Fair  of  the  kind  ever  held. 

Every  facility  will  be  afforded  for  the  aheap  transportation 
of  all  contributions  to  the  Exhibition,  as  well  as  to  the  dele- 
gates from  the  several  State  Societies,  and  others  connected 
With  the  Exhibition. 

All  applications  for  entries  must  be  made  to  the  onlv 
authorized  Agents  undersigned,  before  the  fifteenth  flay  of 
April  next,  who  will  furnish  programmes  and  any  informa- 
tion required.  AUSTIN  BALDWIN  &  CO., 

Sole  Agents,  72  Broadway,  New-York. 

I^ARM    AND     GARDEN      IMPLEMENTS     IN 
GREAT  VAKIETV   at  the  North  River  Agricultural 
Warehouse.  GRIFFING,  BROTHER  &  CO.. 

60  Courthindt-st.,  New- York. 


The  NONPAREIL  WASHING  MACHINE 

Has  been  in  operation  since  April,  IRfil,  and  the  severe  and 
varied  tests,  to  which  it  has  been  subjected,  iu  country  and 
city  families  and  laundries,  demonstrate  that  two-thirds  the 
labor  and  time,  and  half  the  soap  required  in  hand  washing, 
are  saved  by  its  use,  and  no  injury  can  possibly  result  to 
the  most  delicate  fabric  from  itS  action.  It  is  a  squeezing 
machine,  and  it  washes  with  equal  effectiveness  a  cambric 
handkerchief,  or  a  bed  quilt. 

The  machine  is  carefully  made  of  the  best  materials,  and 
its  strength  and  durability  will  be  found  in  keeping  with  its 
extreme  simplicity.  There  is  nothing  m  its  construction 
liable  to  get  out  oi  order ;  ami  no  training  Is  required  to  en- 
able the  least  skillful  person  to  work  it  satisfactorily.  A  girl 
twelve  years  old  can  operate  it. 

Three  sizes  of  family  machines  are  made,  their  capacity 
being  about  the  bulk  of  five,  eight,  and  twelve  shirts  re- 
Bpectlvejy.    Prices;  No.  i,  $12;  No.  2,  $16;  No.  3,  $20. 

Machines  to  go  by  Power  are  manufactured  for  the  use  of 
Hotels  and  Laundries. 

Circulars,  giving  full  descriptions,  will  be  forwarded  by 
OAKLEY  ft   EEATlNG.   IS  smith-sl.,  New-York. 

C37~  See  Agriculturist  Premium  No.  3. 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


91 


A  Heretofore  Unsupplied  Want. 

THE 

NATIONAL    ALMANAC 

AND 

ANNUAL   RECORD    FOR  1863. 

FDRNIsnlNO    MORE   Ftn.1,  ACCURATE,   RECENT,  AND   INTER- 
ESTING   INFORMATION    CONCERNING    TIIE     PRESENT 
CONDITION  OF  OUR  COUNTRY  THAN  HAS  EVER 
BEEN  ISSUED  IN  ANY  SINGLE  YOLUME. 

In  tlie  extent,  fulness,  and  accuracy  of  its  statistics,  and 
tlie  variety  and  completeness  of  its  details,  it  is  believed  that 
the  National  Almanac  far  surpasses  any  previous  statistic- 
al work  on  the  United  States,  and  that  it  must  become  sneh 
a  band  book  of  refevenee  forevery  thing  appertaining  to  our 
national  and  agricultural  condition  as  every  person  will  need. 

Notwithstanding  the  large  amount  expended  in  getting  up 
this  work  (over  five  thousand  dollars),  and  the  high  price  of 
paper,  it  is  furuished  at  a  very  low  price. 

12mo.,  700  pages,  bound  in  boards,  Price  $1.  Or  substan- 
tially bound  in  Muslin, $1J25. 

Sent  free,  by  mail,  on  receipt  of  price.    Address 

(JEOKGE  W.  CHLLDS,  Publisher, 
•  62Sand  630  Chestnut-st.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

AGENTS  WANTED  EVERYWHERE. 


MTHE  5 
Litentrv  .11 
Mothers  am 


MOTHER'S    JOURNAL. 

and    Religious     Monthly    Magazine    for 
and  the  household.    One  D»U-ir  </  year, 
33.5  IUIOADWAT,  NEW-YORK 


J" 


THE    BEST    DICTIONARY   OF   THE 
ENGLISH   LANGUAGE. 


The  Royal  Quarto  Dictionary  of  Dr.  Worccstrr  i*  a  massive 
volume  of  1854  pages,  a  monument  of  patient  toil  and 
deep  research.    Its  verbal  opulence  swells  to   One  Hun- 
dred <md  Four  Thonmtnd  Word*,  giving  their  etyinolO' 
fies,  their  pronunciation,  complete,  and  elaborate  deflnL- 
ious,  critical  remarks  on  the  pronunciation,  the  etymol- 
ogy, the  grammatical  form  and  the  use  of  words,  with 
copious  citations  from  the  best  writers  of  every  uge  of 
English  literature. 
It  contains  nearly  ^0,000  more  words  and  meanings  than  an?/ 
other  English  Dictionary  ;  5,000  words  synonyniized,  1000 
superb  illustrations,  numerous  tables  of  proper  names 
pronounced,  &c,  &c. 
Unquestionably  much  superior  to  any  other  general   Dic- 
tionary of  tlte  language.— (i.    P.  Maksu,  LL.D.,   Author  of 
Lectures  on  the  English  Language. 

I  have  for  several  years  used  Webster,  as  the  best  Diction- 
ary of  its  kind— always  excepting  its  orthography.— Rut  I  re- 
gard and  recommend  for  our  schools  and  public  institutions 
Worcester's  Dictionary,  as  a  very  great  improvement  upon 
that  of  Webster's  pictorial  edition.— E.  ItTXBSOV,  L.  D.,  Su- 
perintendent of  Public  Instruction  for  Upper  Canada. 

More  complete  and  exact  (ban  auv  of  its  predecessors.— 
W.  Wuewell,  D.D.,  Master  Trinity  C'ollcire,  Cambridge,  and 
author  of  History  of  the  Inductive  Sciences. 

It  is  the  most  complete  and  practical,  the  very  best  as  well 
as  the  cheapest  English  Dictionary  that  I  know. — Jos.  Uos- 
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ford. 

Thoroughly  trustworthy.— C.  C.  Felton,  L.L.D.,  late  Pres- 
ident of  Harvard  College. 
Tlie  best  existing  English  Lexicon  —London  Athenaeum. 
Singularly  cheap,  full,  and  trustworthy.  — London   Ex- 
aminkk. 


The  L,atest-The  ff,:u*sest-Tgie  Best! 

BREWER  &  TILKSTOX,  Publishers, 

131  Washhigron-st.,  Boston,  Mass. 

The   CraiilxM-ry  and   its  Culture. 

Tlie  Subscriber  has  issued  a  circular  from  tlie  press,  treat- 
ing on  the  Cranberry  and  its  Culture.  Said  Circular  will 
give  persons  the  proper  information  as  to  the  commence- 
ment of  the  culture.  He  will  take  pleasure  in  forwarding 
them  to  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  to  those  sending  stamp 
to  pay  postage.  Persons  wishing  plants  in  large  or  small 
quantities,  may  receive  them  by  express,  for  wet  or  dry  soil. 
Address  GEORGE  A.  BATES, 

Bcllingham,  Norfolk  Co.,  Mass. 

BAKER'S  PATENT  DOUBLE  PLOWING  MA- 
CHINE. 

CHECHES LETTS  COMBINED  FURROWING,  COVERING, 
CULTIVATING,  HUEING,  HILLING,  and  POTATO  DIG- 
GING MACHINE.    Manufactured  and  Bold  by 

GULFFING.  BUOTIIEU  &  CO., 

Send  for  Circular.  60  Courtlandt-st.,  New-York. 

CTirCOKY   SEED.— GENUINE  LARGE  ROOT- 
ED or  Coffee  Chicory  Seed.  Price  one  Dollar  per  pound. 
Fur  sale  by  SHLT'PARD  &  SEWA1ID. 

214  Pearl  St.,  New-York. 


BUTTER, 

CHEESE, 
POULTRY,   EGGS,' 

Ai\D    FIRM     PRODUCE 

OF  ALL  KINDS 
SOB,  a)    ON    com  MISSION. 

Constantly  on  hand,  ton  Bale,  Flour,  Fisli,  Salt,  Mackerel, 
Pork,  Ilams,  Lard,  Beans,  Dried  Fruit,  Soap.  Starch,  etc. 
COOK  &  NICHOLS,  Successors  to 

ISAAC  EMENS,  236  Front-st,  New- York 

Refers  to  J.  D.  Lamater,  Cashier  Marine  Bank.  N.  Y.  City. 
Lewis  &  Brown,  No.  42  Front-st.,  N.  Y.  City. 

KETTELL'S  ENGLISH  AND  GERMAN 

HISTORY  of  the  GREAT  REBELLION. 

Vol.   I.  of  both   Editions  ready  for  Agents. 

Apply  to       N.  C.  MILLER,  No.  25  Park-row,  New- York. 

BOOKS    FOR    FARMERS 
AND    OTHERS. 

[Any  of  the  following  books  can  be  obtained  at  tlie  of- 
fice of  the  AgricuUui-ist  at  the  prices  named,  or  they  will  bn 
forwarded  by  mail,  postpaid,  on  receipt  of  the  price.    Other 

books  not  named  in  the  list  will  be  procured  and  sent  to  sub- 
scribers when  desired,  if  tlie  price  he  forwarded.  All  of  these 
books  may  well  be  procured  by  :my  one  making  up  a  libra- 
ry, Those  we  esteem  specially  valuable,  are  marked  with  a  M 

American  Bird  Fancier . ...  $o  2a 

American  Farmer's  Encyclopedia 5  00 

American  Florist's  Guide        75 

American  Weeds  and  Useful  Plants* I  50 

Allen  on  the  Culture  ot  the  Grape   1  1)0 

Allen's  (K,  L.)  American  Farm  Hook* ,.  1  00 

Allen's  Diseases  of  Domestic  Animals ,.  75 

Allen's  (L.  F.)  Koral  Architecture 1  '^5 

Barry's  Fruit  Garden*. 1  33 

Hement's  fC.  N.)  Ilahbit  Fancier 50 

Boussin fault's  (J.  B.)  Iiural  Economy 1  25 

liridgeman's  Fruit  Cultivator's  Manual 60 

Uriel geman's  Young  Gardener's  Assistant..,  1  r>0 

Brldgeman's  Kitchen  Garden  Instructor. CO 

Bridgeman's  Florist's  Guide , .  60 

Brandt's  Aee  of  Horses" 50 

Breck's  Book  of  Flowers t  25 

Browne's  American  Poultry  Yard l  25 

Buist's  American  Flower  Garden  Directory 1  25 

Bnfst's  Family  Kitchen  Gardener* , 75 

Central  Park  Guide 25 

Chorlton's  Grape-Grower'a  Guide*.  .  .    (\0 

Cole's  (S.  V?.)  American  Fruit  Book. 60 

Cole's  Veterenarian 60 

Dadd's  (Geo.  H.)  Modern  Horse  Doctor 1  25 

Daddv'a  (Geo,  II.)  American  Cattle  Doctor 1  25 

Dana's  Muck  Manual  for  Farmers 1  00 

Downing's  Cottage  Residences*. 2  50 

Downing's  Fruits  and  Fruit  Trees  of  America**. .  2  00 

Downing'B  Ladies'  Flower  Garden 1  50 

Eastwood  on  the  Cranberry* 50 

Employment  of  Women— By  Virginia  Penny* 1  50 

Every  Lady  her  own  Flower  Gardener 50 

Farmer's  Practical  Horse  Farrier 60 

Fessenden's  American  Kitchen  Gardener 25 

French's  Farm  Drainage  * 1  25 

Field's  (Thomas  W.)  Bear  Culture 1  00 

Fish  Culture 1  00 

Flint  (Charles  L.)  on  Grasses* t  25 

Flint's  Milch  Cows  and  Dairy  Farming* 1  25 

Fuller's  Strawberry  Culturist 10 

Goodale's  Principles  of  Breeding 1  00 

Guenon  on  Milch  Cows 60 

Hall's  (Mlasl  American  Cookery 1  00 

Herbert's  Hints  to  Horsekeepers" l  25 

Hooper's  Dog  and  Gun 50 

.Johnson  on  Manures 75 

Kidder's  Bee  Culture 50 

Langstroth  on  the  Honey  Bee*  150 

Leslie's  Recipes  for  Cooking l  25 

Lein-liars'  Hothouses 1  25 

Liebig's  Lectures  on  Chemistry 50 

Linslev's  1  D.  C.)  Morgan  Horses 1  35 

Manual  of  Agriculture  by  G.  Emerson  and  C.  L.  Flint.  1  00 

Mayhew's  Illustrated  Horse  Doctor a  50 

McMulion's  American  Gardener*.. 2  50 

Median's  Ornamental  Trees  75 

Mill ni rn  on  the  Cow  and  Dairy 25 

Miles  on  the  Horse's  Foot ....  50 

Munn's  Land  Drainer 60 

Norton's  Soienuiic  Agriculture 75 

Olcott's  Sorgho  and  linphec .  1  00 

Our  Farm  of  Four  Acres..* (cloth  50  cts.,-  paper) 25 

Onion  Culture* 21 

Pardee  on  Strawberry  Culture 60 

Parlor  Gardener... 65 

Parsons  on  the  Rose  . %  25 

Pedder's  Farmer's  Land  Measurer ,,  50 

Phantom  Bouquet,  or  Skeleton  Leaves      100 

Pliin'8  Grape  Culture  ....  126 

Oninbv'fi  Mysteries  ot  Bee  keeping* Hi 

Randall's  Sheen  Husbandry 1  25 

Richardson  on  the  Dog 50 

Richardson  on  Hue  Hog ?.-> 

Robin's  Produce  and  Ready  Reckoner 60 

Rose  Culturist 25 

Shepherd's  Own  Book 2  50 

Skillful  Housewife      23 

Smith's  Landscape  Gardening 1  s 

Spencer's  Education  of  Children** 1  go 

Slew  art's  (John)  Stable  Bool; 1   „>.-, 

Thomas'  (John  .J.)  Farm  Implements  * 1  00 

Todd's  (S.  E.)  Young  Farmers  Manual 1  25 

Tucker's  Register  Rural  Affairs 25 

Turner's  Cotton  Planter's  Manna! 1  25 

Warder's  Hedges  and  Evergreens* 1  00 

Watson's  American  Home  Garden 1  50 

Week's  (John  M.)  Manual  on  Bees 50 

Wood's  Class  Book  of  Botany  .           2  50 

Vale  College  Agricultural  Lectures     25 

Youatt  and  Snobner  on  the  Horse    1  25 

Youatt  and  Martin  on  Cattle 1  25 

Youatt  on  the  Hog '. 75 

Youatt  on  Sheep 75 


F 


RUIT  BOXES.— THE  CHEAPEST  AND  BEST 
IN  USE.    Hallock'a  Patfnt.    Send  for  a  free  Circular  to 
K.  IIALLOl  K,  Queens  P.  O.,  Qneens  Co.,  N.  T. 


TO    FARMERS, 

TO   DAIRYMEN, 

TO  COUNTRY  MERCHANTS. 


ALL  who  hare  for  Sale  : 
Sorghum    Sugar    and    Syrup, 
Furs      and      Skins, 
Fruits,  dry  and  green, 
Hops,  Tallow, 

Cotton,  Woo  J, 


Butter, 


Cheese, 


Lard,  Hams, 

Eggs,  Poultry, 

Game,  Vegetables, 

Flour,  Grain, 

Seeds,  &c,  Ac. 

Can  have  tliem  well  sold  at  the  highest  prices 
in  New- York,  with  full  cash  returns  always 
within  Ten  Days  of  their  reaching  the  City,  by 
forwarding  them  to  the  Commission  House  for 
Country  Produce,  of 

JOSIAH     CARPENTER, 

32  Jay-street,  New-York. 

IV.  O. — The  advertiser  has  had  abundant 
experience  in  this  business,  and  trusts  that  lie 
will  continue  to  merit  patronage  by  the  most 
careful  attention  to  the  interest  of  his  patrons. 
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val, and  carefully  disposed  of  promptly  to  good 
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diately to  tlie  owner.  (The  highest  charge  made 
for  receiving  and  selling  h  five  per  cent.) 

A  New  York  Weekly  Price  Current  is  issued 
by  J.  Carpenter,  which  is  sent  free  to  all  his  pat- 
rons. A  specimen  copy  sent  free  to  any  de- 
siring it.  A  trial  will  prove  the  above  facts. 
For  abundant  references  as  to  responsibility,  in- 
tegrity, &c,  see  the  "Price  Current." 

B2F"  Cash  advanced  on  consignments  of 
Produce. 

SEND     FOR 

A    FREE    COPY 

O  F 

PRICES  CURRENT, 

AND  ALL  OTHER  PARTICULARS, 

TO 

JOSIAH    CARPENTER, 
32  Jay-st.,  New- York 


92 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[Matictt, 


New    and    Splendid  Varieties   of 
Strawberries. 

RUSSELL'S  GREAT  PI'.OLIFIC.    This  is  believed  to  be 


the  largest  aud  best  Strawberry  ever  i< 


trodnccrt.    Berries 


over  six  Indies  in  circumlerence,  very  productive  ami  of  tiie 
finest  flavor.    Price  $3  per  dozen. 

The  following  three  varieties  are  the  prize  berries  ot  Kn- 
rope  <"or  1S(B.  They  are  of  enormous  size,  weighing  lrom 
one  to  two  ounees  each.  .  ,  tt-;h;  .«. 

Empress Eneenle,  M.ngaritc,  Princess  Frederick  William, 

L'il(:uiiM.'inte°o'scar,  Vietorr,  Wizard  of  the  North,  Wonder- 
fui  Prince  ..i  Wales,  Filbert  Pine,  oftnisoii  yneen,  Iionte  de 
St.  Jnlien,  and  Honneur  de  Belgiq.ue,  at  ',j  cts.  per  dozen,  or 
the  ten  varieties  for  $5.  -  . 

These  are  selected  from  over  100  varieties,  and  are  believed 
to  be  of  great  excellence.  _  _ 

(.rut  Austin.  Trioniplie  de  Gand,  Bartlett,  Downers  Pro- 
Uflc  and  Pyramidal  chili,  at  $1  per  100,  or  $8  per  1000 

All  order's  addressed  to  WM.  f!.  CARPENTER, 

839  Green wich-st..  New-rork. 

RARE    CHANCE. 


inta— three  times  the  number  usually  planted  the  ground 
has  been  wellmanured  and  BQbaoiled,  and  is  well  adapted  to 
their  culture  The  above  is  situated  twelve  miles  from  Phil- 
adelphia on  the  Delaware  River,  with  railroad  and  boat 
communication  to  Philadelphia  and  New- York  several  times 
a  day— one-hair  mile  from  steamboat  whan  and  depot,  lo 
it  man  with  moderate  means,  the  above  presents  an  opportu- 
nity seldom  found.    Address  K.  WARD,  Beverly,  N.  J. 

1,000,000  Strawberry  Plants  for 

E  fVLE  The  Great  Austin  or  Shaker  Seedling,  at  $5  per  1000. 
Triomnhe  de  Gand  and  Wilson's  Albany  at  $3  per  1000.  Ho- 
vev  Seedling  and  Ladytinger  variety,  at  32  per  1000. 

"JOHN  S.  COLLINS,  Moorestowu,  Burlington  Co.,  N.  J. 

New,  Useful  or  Ornamnetal. 

Mexican  Sweet  Corn  ;  new  and  pure  (no  variety  of  table 
corn  will  compare  with  this  in  sweetness  ;  a  great  acquisi- 
tion.) Feger  Bean,  (the  earliest  bean  grown.) ;  Chichua- 
chna  Tomato  (has  been  exhibited  weighing  %%  lbs.) ;  Scarlet 
Egg  Plant  (a  magnificent  ornament) :  Calfornia  Bean  (new) ; 
Ornamental  Gourds  (a  great  variety  in  one  package) : 
Speckled  Lima  Bean  (excellent);  Hubbard  Squash  (true). 
Packages  of  anv  of  the  above  sent  to  any  part  of  the 
United  States,  post  paid,  with  full  directions  for  cultivation, 
at  IS  cents  each  ;  the  eight  for  $1,00.  Also.  New  White  To- 
mato (early  and  superior  flavor)  ;  Upright  Tomato  ;  Les- 
ter's Perfected  Tomato;  Boston  Curled  Lettuce  (true);  Bos- 
ton Market  Celery  (new) ;  New-York  Improved  Egg  Plant  ; 
at  10  cents  each  ;  llie  six  for  50  cents. 

JAMES  J.  H.  GREGORY. 

Marblehead.  Massachusetts. 

Seed  grower,  and  dealer  in  every  variety  of  garden  and 
flower  seed. 

Marblehead  Mammoth    Cabbage. 

The  largest  cabbage  In  the  world!  sometimes  weighing 
CO  n>s„  and  averaging  30  lbs.  each,  by  the  acre.  It  is  exceed- 
ingly tender,  sweet  and  rich.  Scores  of  farmers  in  the 
United  States  and  Canada  have  raised  them,  weighing  from 
2">  to  55  lbs.  3  cents  per  package  ;  5  for  $1,00.  Also,  Stone 
Mason  Cabbage,  a  large,  sweet  and  tender  c:ibbage,  remark- 
ablv  reliable  for  heading.  25  cents  per  oz. ;  4  oz.  75  cents  ; 
1  lb!  $2,ii7. 

Early  Paris  Cauliflower— 25  cents  per  package. 

Ward's  Nectar  Melon—  The  best  of  all  grccn-fleshed 
melons  ;  exceedingly  sweet,  rich  aud  delicious.  25  cents 
per  package. 

Sorghum  Seed  (pure),  12  cents  per  package. 

JAMES  .1.11.  GREGORY, 

Seed  grower.,  Marblehead,  Mass. 

Every  variety  of  garden  and  flower  seed  at  city  prices. 

Seeds  for  the  Farm  and  Garden. 

Mailed  past-paid  to  all  tlic   Loj'al  States. 

The  following  list  of  seeds,  (the  purity  and  vitality  of  which 
can  be  confidently  recommended.)  will  be  mailed  to  any  ad- 
dress upon  receipt  of  the  price  affixed.  per  oz.    p.  >£  lb. 

Beets,  White  French  Sugar....        8c.    ...    30c. 

Mangel  Wurtzel,  Long  Red 8c 30c. 

Yellow  Globe 8c 30c. 

Cabbage,  Premium  Flat  Dutch,  extra 20c 1  25c. 

"         Large  Drumhead 15c 1  00 

"         Drumhead  Savoy      20c 1  25c. 

Carrot,   Long  Orange  Improved,  very  deep 

color,  extra  line 15c 75c, 

'*         White  Belgian, large  and  productive  10c 50c. 

Onion,  Dan  vers  Yellow  (true) 15c 75c. 

Portugal  White 15c 75c. 

Wetherefleld  Red :..  10c 60c. 

Squash,  Hubbard  (true) 8c.     50c. 

Rut  a  Baga,  Laing's  or  Skirviug's 8c 4()c. 

per  oz.   p.  peks. 

Lettuce,  India,  true,  extra  fine 25c 10c. 

Boston  Curled  (Gregory's)        20c. 

Cauliflower,  Half  Early  Paris,  the  best  varie- 
ty grown  125    10c. 

Cabbage,  Marblehead  Mammoth ....    25c. 

Tomato,  French  Tree    (De  Layci,  grows  up- 
right like  a  bush 10c. 

Prices  for  larger  quantities  will  be  given  upon  applica- 
tion. For  a  more  extended  list  of  Seeds,  with  explicit  di- 
rections for  culture,  see  our  new  descriptive  Seed  Catalogue 
(10th  edition),  just  published,  and  will  be  mailed  to  all  ap- 
plicants enclosing  a  three  cent  stamp.    Address 

B.  K.  BLISS,  Springfield,  Mass. 

ILLUSTRATED  CATALOGUE  of  rare  and.  beau- 
tiful Flower  Seeds,  Roots,  Cuttings,  &c,  by  mall.    Sent 
free  to  all  applicants.    Address 

II.  B.  LUM,  Sandusky,  Ohio. 

HP  HE  TOBACCO  GROWER— A  GUIDE  IN  SE- 
■  lecting  seed,  preparing  seed  bed,  transplanting,  tillage 
•worming,  priming,  topping,  budding,  cutting,  housin"' 
curing,  and  the  great  secret  of  prizing  for  fine  flavored 
cigars.  Price  5(1  cents.    I  will  furnish  seed,  of  the  most  profit 

able  kinds,  at  50  cents  pur  aero,  by  mall,  pre-paid.    Address 
JAMES  MOBSMAN, 

Wcstcrvillc,  Franklin  Co.,  ©. 


Buchanan's  Blotched  Hybrid 
Petunias, 

Which  will  probably  be  figured  in  this  number  of  the  Ag- 
culturist,  will  be  sent  out  alter  the  1st  of  March— at  the  lul- 
lowingylow rates — well  routed  plants. 

12  distinct  sorts,  tor  |8,  packing  free. 
6     do.       do.     for  S3,     do.       do. 

Seeds  of  the  above,  that  arc  genuine,  to  be  had  from  J.  M. 
Thorbum  &■  Co.,  15  .Tolin-st.,  New-York,  at  50  cts.  a  paper. 

103  Varieties  Gladiolus  Gandavcusis,  for  Summer  flower- 
ing, 2i)  els.  and  upwards  per  root. 

Tritoma  Bnrchellii  and  L'varia,  magnificent  Summer  flow- 
ering, half  hardy  plants,  50  cts.  each. 

With  a  general  assortment  of  houtc  and  bedding  plants. 

Orders  to  be  accompanied  with  cash,  or  Express  to  collect 
it.  ISAAC  BUCHANAN,  Florist. 

9  West  lTtli-st.,  New-York. 

SEEDS!  SEEDS! 

Thorburn's  Descriptive  Annual  Catalogue 


VEGETABLE.  AGRICULTURAL  AND  TREE  SEEDS 
lor  1*63, 

With   directions   for   their    cultivation   and   management. 

ALSO 

Thorburn's  Descriptive  Annual  Catalogue 

OF 

FLOWER     SEEDS, 

Containing  all  the  new  Floral  Gems  of  the  season, 
As  well  as  a  list  of 

ISO  ISeaiUifiitl  Varieties  of 

FKEXCM  I3VISKII>    GLADIOLUS, 

mailed  free  of  charge  on  application  to 

J.  M.  TIIORBURN  &  CO., 

15  Jolm-st.,  New- York. 
BUCHANAN'S  NEW  HYBRID   BLOTCHED   PETUNIA 
SEED,  by  mail,  50  cts.  per  packet. 

Seeds.    Seeds.     Seeds. 

The  subscriber  has  now  on  hand  a  full  assortment  of  cull- 
nary,  VEGETABLE,  GRASS,  and  FLOWER  SEEDS,  em- 
bracing everything  desirable,  In  both  vegetable  and  flower 
seed  department.  New  descriptive  priced  catalogues  fur- 
nished gratis,  and  all  information  as  to  prices,  for  larger  and 
stated  quantities  promptly  given  on  application. 

Also,  all  the  approved  C.  S.  Garden  Tools  and  Horticultur- 
al Books.  ALFRED  BRIDGEMAN, 

No.  S70  Broadway,  New-York. 

CHICORY    SEED, 

THE  GREAT  SUBSTITUTE  FOR  COFFEE. 

A  supply  of  the  genuine  article  just  received  *by  the  sub- 
scriber, and  will  be  mailed  post-paid  to  any  address,  upon  re- 
ceipt of  the  price  affixed.  Packets  containing  1  ounce,  15  cts., 
8  ounces  GO  cis.,  1  pound  $1.00. 

Directions  tor  culture  accompany  each  package. 

B.  K.  BLISS,  Springfield,  Mass. 

SEEDS!      SEEDS!! 

TVe  'nave  in  store  afull  assortment  of  Field  and  Garden 

Seeds,  among  which  will  be  found  all  the  varieties. 

Corn— Extra  Early  Sweet,  Large  Sweet.  Evergreen,  Large 
Yellow,  White  Flint,  and  Improved  King  Philip. 

Peas— Of  all  the  approved  varieties. 

Turnip— Early  and  Late,  lied  Top  Strap  Leaf  Flat,  White 
Flat.  White  Globe,  Yellow  Stone,  Al  erdeen,  Skiiving's 
Purple  Top  Uuta  Baga,  Ashcroft's  Swedish,  Waitc's 
Eclipse,  Improved  American  Purple  Top  Ruta  Baga. 

Caa-rot— Long  Orange,  White  Belgian,  and  Altringham  for 
stock. 

Beet— Long  Red  Mangel  Wurtzel,  Globe  Mangel  Wurtzel, 
and  White  Sugar. 
«;  A  SIBU.N  SEEDS  OF  ALL  KINDS. 

Fruit  Seeds  —  Apple,  Pear,  Quince,  Cherry,  Currant, 
Goosebeny,  Strawberry,  &c. 

Ornamental  Tree  and  SHRUB  SEEDS  of  every  variety. 

Honey  and  Yellow  Locust,  Buckthorn,  for  Hedges. 

Clovers— White  Dutch,  Red,  Alsike,  Lucerne,  &c. 

Grasses— Timothy,  Red  Top,  Kentucky  Blue,  Orchard, 
Foul  Meadow,  Tall  Oat,  Hungarian,  Saint  Foin,  Sheep's 
Fescue,  Fine  Mixed  Lawn,  &c. 

Whi-at— Spring  Wheat,  Tea,  Black  Sea,  Golden  Drop  or 
Fife. 

Rye— Spring  Rye,  Spring  Barley.  Also  a  new  variety  of 
Beardless  Barley. 

Seed  Oats— Extra  heavy  and  clean. 

Potatoes— Early  Varieties— Jun'E,  Dtckjiax,  and  Pr.lNCE 
Albert.  Late  Varieties— Peach  Blow,  Mercer,  Gar- 
net Chili,  an  excellent  yielder.  Union— a  new  and 
very  fine  kind— not  liable  to  rot. 

Flower  Seeds  of  every  variety  in  bulk  or  papers. 

Bulbs  and  ROOTS  furnished  to  order. 

Fruit  and  ORNAMENTAL  TREES,  SnRUBS,  EVER- 
GREENS and  all  kinds  of  PLANTS  carefully  packed  and 
sent  toorder,  from  the  bcstNurseries  and  Conservatories 
in  the  United  Stales.  Tiie  latest  and  best  works  on  Agri- 
culture, Horticulture,  Live  Stock,  &-c.  Send  for  a  Cata- 
logue. R.  II.  ALLEN  &  CO, 
Successors  to  K.  L.  Allen,  1S9  &  191  Watcr-st.,  New-York. 


SEEDS  and  PLANTS. 

CHOICE  FLOWER  SEEDS. 

GARDEN  AND  FIELD  SEEDS. 
Pear  Trees,  1st  quality,  2  years  old,  $25  per  100. 
do.  1       do.         $18  per  100. 

Delaware  Grape  Vines,  1  year  old,  $25  per  100. 
Concord  do.  do.        $15  per  100. 

Diana  do.  do.        $15  per  100. 

Strawberries.—  Triomphe  de  Gand  and  Bartlett,  35  cts. 
per  dozen;    $1  per  100;  and  $S  per  1000.— Fillmore,  $1.50 
per  100.— La  Constante,  $1  per  dozen  ;  $4  per  100. 
Currants— Cherry,  Versailles,  and  White  Grape,  $1.50  per 

dozen ;  $10  per  100.    Also  20  other  varieties. 
Raspberries— Doolittle's  American  Black  Cap,  $5  per  100. 
Hornet  and  Pilate,  each  $2  per  dozen,  and  10  other  sorts 
And  all  other  Small  Frnits.    Send  for  Catalogues. 

HARVEY  B.  LAKE.  151  Nassau-st,,  New-York. 

RAKE  AND   BEAUTIFUL   FLOWERS. 

SPLENDID    ^OVEITOES. 

B.  K.  BLISS,  Seedsman  &  Florist, 

SPRINGFIELD,  MASS. 

Would  invite  the  attention  of  all  who  love  the  cultivation 
of  Flowers,  to  the  Tenth  Edition  of  his  Catalogue  of 

FLOWER  AND  VEGETABLE  SEEDS,  and  GUIDE  TO  TIIE  FLOW- 
ER and  Kitchen  Garden,  wliich  will  he  mailed  to  all  ap- 
plicants enclosing  a  three  cent  stamp. 

It  contains  all  of  the  novelties  of  the  past  season,  with 
many  new  and  improved  varieties  otf  old  established  favor- 
ites, carefully  selected  from  the  stocks  of  the  most  noted 
European  Florists,  also  a  list  of  nearly  2000  Varieties  of 
Flower  and  Vegetable  Seeds,  with  explicit  directions 
for  culture,  so  that,  the  most  inexperienced  person  may  cul- 
tivate a  garden  successfully. 

Flower  Seeds  by  Mail,  post-paid. 
All  of  the  seeds  named  in  the  Catalogue,  will  be  mailed 
post-paid  to  any  address  at  the  price  affixed.  For  the  con- 
venience of  those,  who  are  unacquainted  with  the  best  varie- 
ties, we  have  prepared  the  following  collections,  embracing 
the  most  showy  varieties  of  easy  culture,  bv  which  a  splendid 
display  may  be  made  at  a  small  cost.  They  have  been  fa- 
vorably known  in  all  parts  of  the  country  for  the  past  nine 
years,  and  may  be  confidently  recommended.  Cultural  di- 
rections accompany  each  package, 

No.  1.— Contains  twenty  choice  varieties  of  Annuals. . .  $1.00 
No.  2.—       "  "  "  "  of  Biennials 

and  Perennials  ..  1.00 

No.  3.— Contains  ten  extra  fine  varieties  of  Annuals  and 
Perennials,  embracing   many  of  the  new  and 

choicest  in  cultivation 1.00 

No.  4.— Contains  five  very  choice  varieties,  selected  from 
Prize  Flowers,  of  English  Pnnsies,  German 
Carnation  and  Picotee  Pinks,  Verbenas,  Trnf- 

fuut's  French  Asters,  Double  Hollyhocks 1.00 

Any  oue  remitting  $3.00  will  receive  the  four  assortments, 
postage  free. 

The  following  additional  assortments  will  also  be  sent  at 
the  prices  annexed,  free  of  postage. 
No.  5.— Contains  fifteen  very  select  varieties  of  Green- 
house Seeds .$3.00 

No.  6.— Contains  one  hundred  varieties  of  Annuals,  Bien- 
nials, and  Perennials,  including  many  new  and 

choice  varieties .  5.00 

No.  ".—Contains  fifty  varieties  of  Annuals,  Biennials,  and 

Perennials 2.50 

No.  8.— Contains  twenty  varieties  of  hardy  Annuals,  Bi- 
ennials, and    Perennials,    for    sowing    in    the 

autumn , 1.00 

The  seeds  contained  in  the  above  assortments  are  of  our  own 
selection.  Purchasers  who  prefer  to  make  their  selection 
from  the  Catalogue,  will  be  entitled  to  a  discount  propor- 
tionate to  the  quantity  ordered. 

B.  K.  BLISS,  Springfield,  Mass. 

FLOWER    SEEDS    FOR    1863. 

MY  NEW    ILLUSTRATED   CATALOGUE  OF 

FLOWER   AND    VEGETABLE    SEEDS 

is  now  ready  to  send  out  It  contains  descriptions  of  all  the 
FINEST  FLOWERS,  both  old  and  new,  with  Engravings 
showing  the  character  of  some  of  those  that  are  new  and 
particularly  valuable,  with  a  full  list  of  the 

NOVELTIES   FOR    1363! 

My  Seeds  are  imported  from  the  best  Florists  and  Seed- 
Growers  of  England,  France,  and  Gekjiast,  and  are  on- 
surpassed. 

CATALOGUES 
Sent  by  mail,  free  of  postage,  to  all  who  apply.    Send   for 
a  cony  for  yourself,  and  also  send  the  names  and  address  of 
the  lovers  of  choice  flowers  in   your  neighborhood,  to 
whom  I  will  promptly  forward  the  Catalogue  free. 

Address  JAMES  VICE,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Field,  Garden,   and  Flower  Seeds. 

Fresh,  pure,  and  reliable. 

For  sale  by  GRIFFING,  BROTHER  <fc  CO., 

CO  Courtlandt-st.t  New-York. 

OXIO*  SEED. 

2000  lbs.  Wethersficld  Large  Red  Onion  Seed. 
500  lbs.  Large  Yellow  Onion  Seed. 

Warranted  pure  and  growth  of  1862.  Prices  on  application 
to  SHEPPARD  &  SEWAJ.1D,  214  Pearl-Bt.,  New-York. 

Collections   of  Kitchen    Garden   Seeds, 

BY  MAIL,  POSTPAID. 

20  varieties  our  selection $100. 

45 . .     2  00. 

The  above  collections  embrace  all  the  leading  varieties  of 
vegetables  usually  grown  in  our  gardens.  To  those  who  de- 
sire larger  quantities,  we  would  recommend  our  $10  or  $5 
and  $3  collections*,  which  maybe  safely  forwarded  by  Ex- 
press to  all  parts  of  the  country.  A  list  of  the  content*  of 
each  collection  will  be  found  In  our  New  Descriptive  Seed 
Catalogue,  which  will  be  mailed  to  all  applicants  Inclosing  a 
three  cent  stamp.  B.  K.  BLISS,  Springfield,  Mass. 


1803.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


93 


We  make  a  specialty  of  growing 

.and  taking  into  account    Quantity  and  Quality 

we  have  a  Stock  of  Plants  -unequalled  in  the 

country,  of  the  best  varieties  of 

Grapes,  Blackberries, 

Strawberries,      Gooseberries, 

Raspberries,        Currants. 

We  offer  the  above  on  the  most  favorable 

terms,  and  invite  all  parties  wishing  to   make 

purchases  to  correspond  with  us,  or  to  send  for 

catalogues,  which  will  be  supplied  gratis   to  all 

applicants.  J.  KNOX. 

(Box  155,)  Pittsburg,  Pa. 

TRUE  DELAWARE  GRAPE  VINES,  propa- 
gated from  the  original  vine.  Also  Concord,  Diana, 
Rebecca,  Hartford  Prolific,  Crcveliug,  Allen's  and  Rogers 
new  hvbrids,  and  all  other  valuable  varieties,  new  and  old. 
Downline's  Everbearing  Mulberry,  Raspberries,  Strawberries, 
&e.    Send  for  Descriptive  Lists. 

GEORGE  W.  CAMPBELL,  Delaware,  Ohio. 

SMALL    FRUITS. 

The   Subscriber  offers  a  large  quantity  of  Small  Fruits   at 
prices  to  suit  the  times. 
GRAPES, 

CURRANTS 

RASPBERRIES, 

BLACKBERRIES, 

STRAWBERRIES, 

GOOSEBERRIES, 

Etc.    Catalogues  sent  iVee  to  all  applicants.    Address 

A.  S,  FULLER,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

SHEPPARD  A   SEWARD, 

SEED  GROWERS  AND    IMPORTERS. 

DEALERS    IV 
SEEDS,  PLANTS,  BTTLBOCS    ROOTS,    IMPLEMENTS,  &c. 
214  Pearl  Street,  New-York. 
Catalogues  mailed  to  ;vll  applicants  free. 

CHINESE  SUGARCANE    (Imported  Seed.) 

The  subscriber  offers  for  sale  a  small  quantity  of  the  Gen- 
vine  Sorghum  Seed,  received  from  Messrs,  Vilmorin  & 
Co.,  of  Paris,  which  may  be  relied  upon  as  perfectly  pure. 
Packages  containing  half  a  pound  will  be  mailed,  post- 
paid, to  any  address  upon  receipt  of  33  cents  in  postage 
currency  or  clean  stamps,       B.  K.  BLISS,  Springfield,  Mass. 

Pure  Chinese  Cane   Seed. 

For  sale  by  BLYMYERS,  BATES  &  BAY, 

Mansfield,  O. 

OOM-SE-ANA  (known  as  the  Hooker  or  Otaheitean)  Cane 
Seed,  pure,  for  sale  by       BLYMYEfiS,  BATES  &  DAY, 

Mansfield,  O. 
NEEAZ  ANA  or  WHITE    IMPHEE,  considered   the  most 
choice  variety  of  Cane  serjd— a  few  bushels  only— for  sale 
by  BLYMYERS,  BATES  &  DAY, 

Mansfield,  O. 
£&~  Pamphlets  with  be3t  mode  of  culture,  &c,  sent  free 
on  application. 

/inn  BUSHELS  SEED  POTATOES  AT  $2.50 
*ftW  PER  BBL— Comprising  the  following  varieties: 
Early  June,  Garnet  Chili,  Central  City,  Cuzco,  Callao,  and 
Pinkeye  RustycAt.        P.  SUTTON,  Ransom,  Luz.  Co.,  Pa. 

FLOWER  SEEDS  BY  MAIL.— The  subscriber 
raises  about  one  hundred  kinds  of  Flower  Seeds,  select- 
ed from  over  one  thousand  varieties,  of  the  most  showv  and 
attractive.  He  will  furnish,  neatly  put  up,  any  33  kinds  on 
the  list  for  $1,  and  send  bv  mail,  with  postage  prepaid, 

G.  R.  GARRETSON,  Flushing,  N.  Y. 

Conn.  Seed  Leaf  Tobacco  Seed. 

Grown  by  contract  by  one  of  the  most  successful  growers 
In  the  vallev  of  the  Connecticut,  Packets  containing  one 
ounce  will'be  mailed,  post-paid,  to  any  address— upon  re- 
ceipt* of  50  cts.  in  postatre  currency  or  new  stamps.  Prices 
for  larger  quantities  will  be  given  upon  application. 

B.  K.  BLISS,  Springfield.  Mass. 


OF    1863. 

respectfully  invite 


FRUIT    AND    ORNAMENTAL 
TREES,    Sec, 

FOR   THE   SPRING 

EliLAVANGER.  &  B1URY 

tention  to  the  large  stock  of  Nursery  articles  of  every  de- 
scription now  on  their  grounds,  and  offered  for  Spring  plant- 
ing. The  following  may  be  enumerated  as  a  few  of  the  more 
important, 

Standard  Fruit  Trees  for  Orchards. 
Dwarf  Fp.uit  Trees  for  Gardens. 
Dwarf  Maiden  Trees  for  Potting. 

Small  Fruits,  including  the  newest  and  finest  varieties  of 
Gooseberries,    Blackberries,    Currants,     Raspberries, 
Strawberries,  &c. 
Hardy  Grapes  for  out-door  culture.    Over  70  varieties,  In- 
cluding a  large  stock  of  strong   plants  of  Delaware, 
Diana,  Concord,   Hartford   Prolific,   Rebecca,  Roger's 
Hybrids,  and  others  worthy  of  cultivation. 
Foreign  Grapes  for  Vineries  (60  varieties,)  strong,  well- 
grown  plants,  in  pots,  of  all  the  popular  old  sorts,  and 
new  ones  of  merit,  such   as  Bouood   Muscat,   Golden 
Hamburg,  Muscat  Hamburg,  Buckland's   Sweetwater, 
Lady  Downs,  &c. 
Figs,  Oranges,  and  Lemons,  fruiting  plants. 

Deciduous  Ornamental  Trees,  upward  of  300  6peciea  and 

varieties. 
Weeping  or   Drooping  Trees,  25  distinct  and  beautiful 

varieties. 
Trees  with  Remarkable  and  Ornamental  Foliage  of 

f>0  distinct  sortB. 
Rare  and  Beautiful  Lawn  Trees. 

Hardy  Evergreen  Trees,  of  all  kinds  and  sizes,  of  beauti- 
ful  form,   frequently   transplanted,  and  sure  to  move 
safely. 
New  and'Rare  Evergreens,  from  California,  &c. 
Flowering  Shrubs— A  great  collection  of  over  300  differ- 
ent species  and  varieties   of  the   most  ornamental- 
large  plants. 
Climbing  and  Trailing  Shrubs,  over  CO  species  and  va- 
rieties. 
Roses,  the  largest  stock  in  America,  comprising  over  GOO  of 

the  most  lieautiful  sorts  of  all  classes. 
P.-eonies,  Chinese  Herbaceous,  40  of  the  finest  sorts. 
Superb  Double  Dahlias,  100  select  sorts. 
Phloxes  and  Chrysanthemums,  the  finest  new  and  old 

sorts. 
Perpetual  or   Monthly  Carnations— A  large  and  su- 
perb collection. 
Hardy  Herbaceous  Flowering  Plants,  upward  of  c00 

species  and  varieties. 
Gladiolus,  the  finest  new  and  old  sorts. 
Green-House  and  Bedding-out  Plants  In  great  variety. 
The  entire  stock   is  healthy,  vigorous,  and  well  grown  in 
all  respects.    The  correctness  of  everything  may  be  relied 
upon,  and  the  terms  of  sale  will  be  liberal. 

Parties  who  wisli  to  purchase  should  communicate  with 
us  by  mail,  or  personally  inspect  our  stock  on  the  ground. 

The  folloitjng  Catalogues  will  be  sent  to  applicants,  pre- 
paid, unon  tne  receipt  of  postage  stamps,  as  follows,  viz.: 

For  Nos.  1  and  3  ten  cents  each;  for  No.  3  five  cents;  and 
for  No.  4  three  cents. 

No.  1— A  Descriptive  and  Illustrated  Catalogue  of  Fruit 
Trees. 

No.  2— A  Descriptive  and  Illustrated   Catalogue  of  Orna- 
mental Trees. 
No.  3— A  Catalogue  of  Green-House  and  Bedding  Plants. 
No.  4 — Wholesale  Catalogue  or  Trade  List. 

»ELLWANGER  &  BARRY, 
Mount'Hope  Nurseries,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

FRUIT  TREES,  &c. 

FROST  &  CO.,  Genesee  Valley  Nurseries,  offer  for  the 
spring  of  18(53  a  well  grown  and  large  stock  of  FRUIT 
TREES,  both  standard  and  dwarf;  SMALL  FRUITS,  winch 
includes  a  line  stock  of  choice  NATIVE  GRAPES;  also,  of 
ORNAMENTAL  TREES.  SHRUBS,  ROSES,  GREENHOUSE 
PLANTS,  &c— nil  at  low  prices.  Catalogues  sent  on  ap- 
plication, enclosing  a  stamp  for  each. 

No.  1.  A  Descriptive  Catalogue  of  Fruits,  &c.  No.  2.  Of 
Ornamental  Trees,  &e.  No.  3.  Of  Greenhouse  Plants.  No 
4.  Wholesale  List  for  spring  of  13(53.    FROST  &  CO., 

Rochester,  N.  Y. 


c. 


RAOtX,  86  Cedar-st.,  New-York  City. 

COMMISSION  MERCHANT, 
and  Sole  Agent  in  the  United  States  for 
Messrs.  John  Stewart  &  Sons,  nurserymen,  Dundee,  Scotland, 
Mr.  D.  Dauvesse,  nurseryman,  Orleans,  France, 
Mr.  J.  de  Lange,  Florist,  Haarlem,  Holland, 
Will  soon  receive  from  France,  and  offer  for  sale, 
NtJKSEKY  STOCKS, 

Comprising;  Pear  — Angers  Quince— Mahaleb  Cherry- 
Apple,  Doucin  and  Paradise. 

Goods  purchased  and  sold  on  commission,  received,  passed 
through  the  Custom  House,  and  reshipped  with  despatch. 


20.000 


50.000    PEACH    TREES, 

And  all  other  varieties  of  Fruit  and  Ornamental  Trees, 
For  Catalogues  address  ISAAC  PULLEN, 

Jan.  1st,  1863.  Hightstown,  N.  J. 

NO.    1    PEACH    TREES— 100,000 
Triomphe  de  Gand  and  Wilson's  Albany 
Strawberry— all  as  cheap  as  the  cheapest.    Enclose  1-cent 
stamp  for  circular.                   WM.  DAY,  Morristown,  N.J. 
, — -♦ — 

COTTON  SEED— 20,000 POUNDS  SEA  ISLAND 
and  Upland  Cotton  Seed.— (Prices  on  application,  which 
must  state  quantity  wanted.)    For  sale  by 

SHEPPARD  &  SEWARD,  214  Pearl-st.,  New- York. 

STRAWBERRY  PLANTS  of  superior  quality,  and 
^^  best  varieties,  at  low  prices,  for  sale  bv 

~    West  Bloomfleld,  New-Jersey. 


E.  WILLIAMS, 
Catalogues  gratis. 


two 


ASPARAGUS  ROOTS,  of  the  best  quality, 
and  three  years  old,  at  40  cts.  per  100,  or  $3.50  per  luu 
including  packing.    Can  be  sent  any  distance. 

G.  R.  GARRETSON,  Flushing,  N.  Y. 


FRUIT 


ORNAMENTAL  TREES, 
SHRUBS,    EVERGREENS, 

AND 

EXOTIC     PLANTS. 


PEAS.— 1000    BUSHELS— CONSISTING 
3f  Daniel  O'Rourke's,  Early  Kents,  Early  Emperors,  Ear- 


ClEED 

CTof  Daniel  O'Rourke's,  Early  Kents,  Early  Emper 

ly  Washingtons^Prinee  Alberts'^  White  NIarrows^Black_Eyed 


Marrows,  &c.    For  sale  by 
Prices  on  application. 


SHEPPARD  &  SEWARD," 
214  Pearl-st.,  New- York. 


PARSOKS  &  CO. 

Invite  the  attention  of  buyers  to  their  stock, 
which  is  in  vigorous  health,  and  of  large  size. 

They  offer  all  kinds  at  rates,  which  for  size 
and  excellence,  are  as  low  as  they  can  any- 
where be  purchased. 

They  can  sell  trees,  etc.,  by  the  hundred  : 
Apples  at  $14.        Plum§  at   $30. 
Pears  at  $28.         Peaches  at  $10. 
Cherries  at  $25.     Strawberries. 
Concord   Grapes,   4  years,    at   $25. 
Delaware  and  other  hardy  Grapes. 
Exotic  Grape  Vines,  strong  growth. 
Small  Fruits  of  the  newest  sort§. 
Linnaeus  Khubarb  by  the    IOOO. 

Their  ORNAMENTAL  TREES  for  Streets 
and  Lawns  are  of  large  size  and  fine  form. 

FLOWERING  SHRUBS  in  quantities  for 
massing,  at  very  low  prices. 

ROSES  and  EXOTIC  PLANTS  of  the  new 
and  choice  varieties. 
Catalogues  furnished  on  application 

No  orders  will  be  sure  of  attention,  unless  ad- 
dressed to  us  by   mail,  at  FLUSHING, 
near  NEW-YORK. 

"  Pear    Trees 

Of  superior  quality,  at  the  NEW-BRUNSWICK  NURSER- 
IES, New-Jersey.  Persons  Interested  ft'-e  invited  to  examine 
my  trees.    Send  lor  Catalogue.  EDWIN  ALLEN, 

100,000   PLANTERS. 

AGRICULTURIST  READERS  AND  THEIR  NEIGHBORS 
WANT   THE 

White  or  Cray  Wilflow ! 

A  good  thing,  and  will  pay  two  to  three  prices,  or  get 
spurious  or  both,  by  buying  of  irresponsible  peddlers  and 
strangers. 

Also  Fruit  Trees,  Grape  Vines,  Small  Fruits,  Root  Grafts, 
Shrubs,  Roses,  Evergreens,  &c.  Packing  for  mail  or  other- 
wise carefully  done. 

CLUBS    WIN! 

Send  two  red  stamps  for  postage  on  our  Catalogues  and 
"Willow  Circular.    Post  yourself,  and  then  Order  Direct! 

F,  K.  PHCENIX. 
Eloomington  Nursery,  111. 

-TfeAVID  J.  GRISCOM,  WOODBURY,  N.  J.— 
MJ'  Evergreens  and  Deciduous  Trees,  Fruit  Trees,  Small 
Fruits,  &c,  for  Nurserymen,  Dealers,  and  Planters. 

EVERGREENS.— JOHN  W.  ADAMS,  Portland, 
Maine,  continues  to  furnish,  at  his  usual  prices.  Arbor 
Vitas,  Fir,  Spruce,  Fine,  Larch,  Sugar  Maple,  aud  other  For- 
est Trees.    Catalogues  sent  to  applicants. ^ 

TO  A  VIVE  EVERGREENS  OF  THE  FOLLOW- 
1 »  ing  varieties,  6  to  12  inches  high,  at  $5  per  1000.  Balsam 
Fir,  Arbor  Vitse,  White   Spruce,  Hemlock,  "white  Pine,   and 

Larch.    No  charge  for  packing. 

JAMES  A.  ROOT,  Skaneateles,  N.  T. 


EVERGREENS. 

FROST  &  CO,  of  the  Genesee  Valley  Nurseries,  Roches- 
ter N  V  have  an  immense  stock  and  good  assortment  of 
hardy  well  grown  EVERGREENS,  which  have  been  trans- 
planted from  one  to  four  times.  Thev  will  be  sold  at  low 
rates  to  Nurserymen,  or  others  who  wish  to  buy  in  large 
quantities  Prices  given  in  Wholesale  List  of  Fruits,  Orna- 
mental Trees,  &c,  for  sprikg  of  1S63,  which  ia.  aent  on  ap 
plication. 


94 


AMERICAN    AGRICfLTURIST. 


[M.\Ttcn, 


o. 


GARDEN  SEEDS. 

FIELD  SEEDS. 

FLOWER  SEEDS. 
FRUIT  SEEDS. 

BIRD  SEEDS. 

FARM     IMPLEMENTS 

AND     MACHINES, 
GARDEN        IMPLEMENT*, 

PLANTS,  TREES,  SHRUBS,  ROOTS. 

Fertilizers,  Peruvian  Guano,  Bone 

Dust,  Poudrette,  Phosphate, 

Plaster,  &c,  &c,  &c. 

JOHN    VANDERB1LT, 

23  Fulton-st.,  (near  Fulton  Market),  New- York. 

The  subscriber  lias  on  hand  a  large  and  complete  assort- 
ment of  Garden,  Field,  Flower,  Grass,  Lird,  Fruit,  and  Treo 
Seeds— Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Implements  of  the 
most  improved  patterns  and  make— Guano,  Bone  Dust,  Pou- 
drette, Land  Plaster,  &c .— which  he  offers  for  sale,  at  whole- 
sale or  retail,  at  low  prices. 

The  greatest  care  will  be  taken  to  have  all  seeds  sold 
by  me  pure,  choice,  and  reliable,  and  all  articles  I  shall 
endeavor  to  have  prove  as  represented,  and  to  the  satis- 
faction of  those  who  favor  me  with  their  custom. 

In  my  assortment  will  be  found  almost  every  variety  of 
Artichoke  Seed,  Asparagus,  Beans,  Beets,  Broccoli,  Cabbage, 
Brussels  Sprouts,  Burnet,  Cardoon,  Carrot,  Cauliflower,  Cel- 
ery, Chervil,  Collards,  Corn  for  Garden  and  Field,  Fetticns, 
Cress,  Cucumber,  Egg  Plant,  Endive,  Kale,  Leek,  Lettuce, 
Melons.  Mushroom,  Mustard,  Nasturtium,  Okra, Onion, Pais- 
ley, Peas  of  50  varieties,  Parsnip,  Pepper,  Pumpkin,  Purslaln, 
Hadish,  Rape,  P.hubarb,  Roquette,  Salsify,  Scorzonera.  Skir- 
ret,  Sorrel,  Spinach,  Squash,  Tomato,  Turnip,  Herb  Seeds, 
Tree  Seeds. 

Fruit  Seecls.-Apple,  Pear.  Quince,  Raspberry,  Straw- 
berry, Blackberry,  Peach  Pits,  Plum,  Apricot,  Cherry,  Cur- 
rant, Gooseberry,  and  Grape  Seeds. 

Hedge  Seeds.  —  Locust,  Buckthorn,  Osage  Orange, 
Arbor  Vitse. 

Potatoes.— Early  Sovereign,  Dykeman's,  Peach  Blow, 
Prince  Albert,  &c. 

T. a  vi  n  Grass.— Aline  mixture  of  desirable  grasses  for 
Lawns  and  City  Grass  Plots. 

Grass  Seed.— Timothy,  Red  Top,  Blue  Grass,  Fescue, 
Sweet  Vernal,  Millet,  Oat,  Green  grass.  Clover,  Red,  White 
Dutch,  Luzerne,  Alsike,  Trefoil,  Scarlet,  and  Sweet  Scented 
Clover. 

Cotton  Seed.— Sea  Island  and  Upland  Cotton  Seed,  very 
superior. 

Tobacco  Seed.— Havana,  Conn.  Seed  Leaf,  Maryland. 

Bird  Seed.-Canary,  Hemp,  Rape,  Maw,  Rough  Rice.— 
Cuttle  Fish. 

Wheat.— Spring,  Tea,  and  Scotch  Fife. 

Seed  Barley. 

Spring  Rye. 

Oats.— White  and  Black,  very  choice. 

Cuba  Cast,  Grafting  Wax,  Whale  Oil  Soap. 

Bass  Matting. 

Seed  Catalogues  furnished  on  application. 

FARM  IMPLEMENTS. 

GARDEN  IMPLEMENTS. 
•  .      OF  EVERY  VARIETY. 

Plants,  Trees,  Boots,  &c,  from  the  moBt  reliable 
growers  and  nurseries  in  the  country. 

Boots  and  Plants.— Asparagus,  Rhubarb,  Cabbage, 
Cauliflower,  Broccoli,  Tomato,  and  Egg  Plants,  in  their 
season. 


Fertilizers 

Plaster,  &e. 


-Guano,  Bone  Dust,  Phosphates,  Poudrette, 


Agricultural  Books  at  Publisher's  Prices. 

JOHN  VANDERBILT, 
23  Fulton-st.  (near  Fulton  Market), 

New- York.  . 


ALLEN'S  PATENT  CYLINDER  PLOW 


This  Plow  derives  Its  name  from  the  form  of  the  mold  board,  which  is  a  segment  of  a  perfect  cylinder,  with  its  ends  cut 
In  the  style  of  ordinary  mold  boards.  Its  lines  are  thus  always  horizontal  to  the  surface  of  the  land,  and  consequently  turn 
the  furrow  slice  with  the  same  uniformity  as  a  wheel  on  its  axle,  and  with  the  least  possible  friction.  The  friction  is  still 
further  reduoed,  by  the  peculiar  arrangement  of  the  points  or  shakes,  and  land  side,  which,  combined  with  its  other 
improvements,  reduces  the  draft  from  one-fourth  to  one-third  less  than  that  required  by  the  best  class  of  plows  now 
in  general  use.  For  lightness  of  draft,  simplicity  of  construction,  case  of  holding,  and  certainty  of  turning  all  soils  of 
any  required  depth  and  width,  it  far  surpasses  any  other  plow. 

Price  of  No.  0,  is  $7.00;  No.  1,  is  $9.00;  No.  2,  is  $10;  No.  S  is  $12;  with  one  extra  polished  share  for  each  plow.  Price,  ex- 
tra, of  Skim  or  Front  Plow,  $1.50;  "Wrought  Side  Coulter  and  Clamp,  $1,25;  Wheel,  $1.00. 

All  the  above  Plows  are  polished,  strong,  and  highly  finished,  and  are  warranted  to  give  entire  satisfaction  when  prop- 
erly managed.    Polished  Steel  Plows  can  be  furnished  of  each  of  the  above  sizes. 

Also  every  style  of  the  latest  improved  PLOWS,  HARROWS,  CULTIVATORS,  and  a  full  assortment  of  AGRICUL- 
TURAL and  HORTICULTURAL  IMPLEMENTS;  FIELD  and  GARDEN  SEEDS;  PERUVIAN  and  MANIPULATED 
GUANO;  SUPERPHOSPHATE,  guaranteed  to  be  the  best  in  the  market,  and  perfectly  reliable;  Poudrette;  Plaster  of 
Paris,  &c.  R.  ft.  ALLEN  &  CO., 

SUCCESSORS  TO  R.  L.  ALLEN,  189  &  191  WATER-ST.,  NEW-YORK. 


NATIONAL 

.gricultural  Works. 


SHARE'S  COULTER  HARROW.  Every  farmer  should 
possess  one  of  these  Harrows.  As  a  thorough  pulverizer  of 
the  soil  and  seed  coverer,  it  cannot  be  surpassed.  Price  B12. 
Agents  wanted.— Illustrated  Catalogues  of  new-and  valuable 
Farm  Implements.  Also  priced  Seed  Circulars  famished 
upon  anpicatlou  to  HAINES  &  PELL, 

27  Courllandt-st.,  New-York. 

Agents  wanted  for  the  "  NEW  WORLD  CLOTHES  WRING- 
ER."   Send  for  a  Circular. 

irN^EItSOS.BVS  IMPROVED 

HORSE  AND  HAND  POWER 

HAY  AND    COTTON  PRESSES. 

These  machines  have  been  tested  in  the  most  thorough 
manner  throughout  this  and  foreign  countries  to  the  number 
of  over  WOO. 

The  Horse  PowKlt  is  worked  by  either  Wheel  or  capstan, 
and  in  many  respects  possesses  unequaled  advantages.  We 
invite  those  wanting  such  machines,  to  write  fora  catalogue 
containing  full  information,  with  outs,  prices,  etc.,  or  call 
and  examine  personally. 

Orders  promptly  attended  to.  by  addressing 
INGEKSOLL  &  DOUGHEHTV,  Greenpoint,  Kings  Co,  L.  I. 

ONION  CULTURE— Third  (new)  Edition. 

This  work  comprises  in  32  pages  all  the  particulars  for  suc- 
cessful Onion  Culture,  from  Selection  of  Seed  to  Marketing 
the  Crop— being  the  practical  directions  given  by  seventeen 
experienced  Onion  Growers,  residing  in  differentparts  of  the 
country.  Price  21  cents  (or  "  stamps),  sent  post-paid.  Ad- 
dress Publisher  of  Agriculturist. 

HYSIOGNOMY,  or  "Signs  of  Character,"  PHY- 
SIOl.OGY"  the  Bodily  Functions;  PHRENOLOGY. 
Brain  and  Nervous  System:  PSYCHOLOGY,  the  Science  of 
the  Soul-  ETHNOLOGY,  or  Natural  History  of  Man,  ait- topics 
■lfed-lted  in  the  ILLUSTRATED  PHRENOLOGICAL 
JOURNAL  for  1889.  No.  1.  10  cents,  or  $1  a  year.  Address 
FOWLER  &  WELLS,  SOS  Broadway,  New- York. 

A  Manual  of  Agriculture 

FOR  THE 
SCHOOL,   THE  FARM,   AND   THE  FIRESIDE- 
Bv  Gkorok  B  Emerson,  author  of  a  "Report  on  the  Trees 
and  Shrubs  of  Massachusetts,"  and  Charlies  L.  1'  lint, 
Secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  author 
of  a  Treatise  on  "Milch    Cows  and   Dairy  Farm- 
ing," and  "  Grasses  and   Forage  Plants,"  etc. 
Though  prepared  more  expressly  for  the  use  of  schools,  the 
Manual*  was  also  designed  for  general  use,  as  an  elementary 
anil  comprehensive  treatise  on  scientific  and  practical   ag- 

"Price  75  cents,    Copies  sent  by  mail,  postage  paid,  on  re- 

"jfvery 'tanner  and  every  man  who  culUvates  a  garden 
should  have  this  book.  URL  \v  lilt  &  TILhSlON, 

18l  •Vv-1,Bll|1)Ktonst„  Boston,  Mass. 


THE     "  EXCELSIOR 

BURR   STONE  MILLS" 


ANTI-FRICTION 

HORSE    POWERS, 

Have  taken  the  highest  Premiums  wherever  exhibit- 
ed! NINE  FIRST  PREMIUMS  being  received  from  West- 
ern State  Fairs  in  1861. 

THE  MILL  maybe  driven  by  horse,  water,  or  uteam 
power,  does  its  work  equally  as  well  as  the  best  flat  stone  mills 
in  milling  establishments,  and  requires  but  one-half  the  power 
to  do  the  same  amount  of  work.  They  are  made  in  the  best 
manner,  and  will  last  thirty  years,  and  cost  nothing  for  re- 
pairs. ■ 

THE  HORSE-POWER  runs  upon  Iron  balls,  and 
requires  but  two  and  a  half  pouxds  draught  to  keep  it 
in  motion.  Willi  the  same  number  of  horses  it  will  do 
TWENTY-FIVE  FEB  CENT,  more  work  than  any  other 
power  in  use. 

B^~Every  Machine  is  guaranteed  to  give  satisfac- 
tion, OR  THE  MONEY  WILL  BE  r.EFUNDED._J£3 

Liberal  discount  to  dealers— Agents  wanted.    State,  Coun- 
ty, and  Shop  Bights  lor  sale. 
For  Circulars  and  further  information  address 

E.  H.  BENNET,  Late  Rennet  Brothers, 

42  and  -if  Greenest..  New-York. 


MILL  STONE   DRESSING  DIAMONDS, 
Set  in  Patent  Protector  and  Guide. 

For  sale  by  JOHN  DICKINSON, 

Patentee  and  Sole  Manufacturer,  64  Nassau-st.,  New- York. 
ALSO  Manufacturer  of  GLAZIEH'S  DIAMONDS. 


BASS  BARK  OR   MATTING— FOR  BUDDING 
and  Tying   Purposes.    Price  20  cts.  per  pound,  $1S  per 
100  pounds.    For  sale  by        SHKPPAIJD  &  SEWARD. 

214Pearl-st.,  New-York. 

THE  CRAIG  MICROSCOPE. 

This  is  the  best  and  cheapest  microscope 
In  the  world  for  general  use.  It  has  Just 
received  the  FirstPreminm— Silver  Medal 
—at  the  Ohio  State  Agricultural  F:iir.  It 
requires  no  focal  adjustment,  magnities 
about  100  diameters,  orJO.OOO  times,  and  is 
so  simple  that  a  child  can  use  it.  It  will 
be  sent  by  mail,  postage  paid,  on  the  re- 
Btctianal  riats  A,  cci„t  of  $2.25.  or  with  six  beautiful  mount- 
Lens;  B,  Objoct  glnse: 

C,    Difq.hntgm  ;   P,  ed  objects  for  Three  Dollars.    Address 
IU-fU-ctor.  Jnstm-  HENRY  CRAIG, 

meet  6  inches  high.  1S^  Centre  sl„  New- York. 

Mr.  Hexry  Crato— Dear  Sir;  I  have  received  the  Micro- 
scope yon  forwarded  to  me,  andam  well  plcused  with  It.  It 
is  a  valuable  instrument,  one  that  should  he  in  the  lionse  of 
every  family,  where  they  can  appreciate  its  value.  The  study 
of  nature  is  one  that  is  intri-pstin?  ami  useful.  Reiue  ill 
company  with  some  of  mj  friends  the  next  day  after  I  re- 
ceived my  Microscope,  I  was  compelled  to  part  with  it. 

Please  find  inclosed  $2.25  lor  another  of  your  Microscopes. 
Direct  to  Henry  V.  Space,  White  House,  F.  0„  Hunterdon 
Co.,  New-Jersey. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


95 


GREAT    DISCOVERY. 

An  adhesive  preparation,  that  is  insoluble  in  "Water  or  Oil 
and  Hi  it  will  stick  Patches  and  Linings  to  Boots  and  Shoes 
sufficiently  strong  without  stitching.  It  will  also  mend  broken 
Furniture,  Crockery,  Toys,  and  all  articles  of  Household  use 
effectually, 

HH/TOrVS 

INSOLUBLE    CEMENT, 

Supplied  in  packages  from  3  ounces  to  100  pounds.  It  is  a 
Liquid,  and  as  easily  applied  as  Common  Paste.  It  adheres 
Oily  Substances  firmly  and  completely. 

Can  be  procured  at  wholesale  in  all  large  cities,  and  at  re- 
tail throughout  the  country. 

HILTON  BROTHERS,  Proprietors,  Providence,  R.  I. 
"A  Good  Thing.— Having  occasion  the  other  day  to  use  a 
liquid  Cement,  we  tried  the  article  made  by  Hilton  Brothers, 
Providence,  and  found  it  to  work  to  a  charm.    We  therefore 
recommend  it."—  Woonsocket  Patriot,  Feb.  6,  1S63. 
For  sale  in  New-York  by 

HALL  &  RUCKEL,  318  Greenwich-st, 
H.  ('.  OAKLEY,  11  Park  Row. 
T.  HARDY,  208  Broadway. 


Roe's  Patent  Premium  Cheese  Vat, 

AND 

i.npROYEi)  iieatb;k. 

Patented  Dec.  12, 1854,  June  22, 1858,  May  27, 1B63,  Jan.  27, 1863. 

This  most,  convenient  and  simple  Cheese  Vat  has  been  in 
use  more  than  nine  years.  Several  thousand  have  been  sold, 
and  their  reputation  is  well  known  in  all  the  great  dairy  sec- 
tions of  the  countrv. 

It  has  been  diligently  improved,  to  embrace  every  con- 
venience wanted  by  the  dairyman,  and  to  make  it  simple, 
cheap,  and  durable. 

"We  call  attention  to  the  improvements  made  within  the 
last  two  or  three  years,  for  regulating  the  heating  of  the  milk 
and  scalding  the  curd,  and  for  supplying  hot  water,  and  the 
very  simple  and  perfect  arrangement,  by  which  these  are 
accomplished. 

Some  new  improvements  have  been  added  the  present  sea- 
son. One  of  which  is  a  measure  or  scale,  to  show  the  number 
of  gallons  of  milk  in  the  vat.  This  is  one  of  those  little  but 
valuable  improvements,  which  shows  the  manufacturer  is 
alive  to  the  interests  and  wants  oi  his  customers. 

We  pack  them  to  go  any  distance  with  safetv. 

Dairymen  in  any  part  of  the  country,  by  ordering  of  us, 
will  get  all  the  improvements  and  conveniences  for  cheese 
making,  that  are  known  and  in  use  in  the  great  dairying 
counties  of  New-York  and  Ohio. 

Roe's  Patent  EXPANSION  CHEESE  HOOP.  "We  sold  a 
forge  number  of  these  hoops  the  past  season,  and  learn  the 
dairymen  are  well  pleased  with  them.  A  single  hoop  makes 
five  sizes,  and  expands  to  lift  off  the  cheese.  For  further 
particulars  send  lor  circular.  ROE  &  BLAIR, 

_  Madison,  Lake  Co.,  Ohio. 

WORCESTER'S 

Series  of  Dictionaries. 

THE    STANDARD     DICTIONARIES     OF    THE 
ENGLISH    LANGUAGE. 

I.    The  Royal  Quarto  Dictionary $750 

II.    The  Universal  and  Critical  Dictionary 4'00 

III.  The  Academic  Dictionary.  1.75 

IV.  The  Comprehensive  Dictionary 1,85 

V.    The  Elementary  Dictionary 75 

VI.    The  School  Dictionary 40 

Worcester's  Quarto  Dictionary  contains  1851  pages, 
1000  Illustrations,  5000  words  synonymized,  20,000  new  words. 
It  is  preferred  by  those  who  understand  our  language  best- 
by  such  writers  as  George  P.  Marsh,  Edward  Everett,  Wen- 
dell Phillips,  Charles  Sumner,  William  Cullen  Bryant,  Jo- 
seph Henry,  Oliver  W.  Holmes,  Prof.  Longfellow,  &c,  &c. 

%*  Worcester's  Comprehensive  Dictionary.  New 
electrotyped  edition,  revised  and  .enlarged.  It  is  better 
adapted  as  a  text-book  for  High  and  Select.  Schools,  and  as  a 
work  of  reference  for  families  and  the  country-house, than 
any  other  Dictionary  ofthe  same  size.  Price  $1.25.  Sent  by 
mail,  postage  paid,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 

V  Worcester's  ScnooL  Dictionary.  New  electro- 
typed  edition,  revised  and  enlarged.  It  contains  all  the 
words  in  the  English  language,  much  used.  It  is  printed  in- 
clear,  distinct  type,  and  is  extensively  used  in  schools.  It  is 
an  admirable  Pocket  Dictionary  for  travellers  and  soldiers. 
Price  40  cents.  Sent  by  mail,  postage  paid,  on  receipt  of  the 
price.  BREWER  &  TILESTON,  Publishers, 

Boston,  Mass. 


"IJUSSIA  OR  BASS  MATS,  SELECTED  EX- 
Est'  pressly  for  bnrtding  and  tving,  GUNNY  BAGS, 
TWINES,  HAY  ROPES,  &c.,  suitable  for  Nursery  purposes, 
for  sale  in  lots  to  suit,  bv  D.  W.  MANWAHING, 

Importer,  348  Front-st..  New-York. 


G 


IJNS    AT    A    SACRIFICE. 


MY  EXTENSIVE    STUCK  OF  GUNS,  PISTOLS, 

&&,  lm'inc  been  damaged  by  water  during  a  lire,  will  be 
sold  at  a  discount  of  from 

25  TO  SO  PER  CENT. 
less  tban  the  regular  prices,  also  a  large  stock  of  new  goods. 
Address 

JOHN  G.  SYMS,  4-1  Chatham-street,  New- York. 

B/OR  SALE.— Shetland  Ponies,  suitable  for  ladies 
-■V  or  children,  the  finest  in  the  countrv.  For  farther  par- 
ticulars enuuire  of  CHARLES  E.  JOHNSON, 

ltox  S.5S3,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

PRINCE  ALBERT'S  WINDSOR  PIGS, 

(IMPROVED  SUFFOLKS).  four  months  old,  at  fifteen  dol- 
lars each,  or  twenty-five  dollars  per  pair,  boxed  for  shipping, 
and  delivered  in  New- York.  They  are  from  animals  bred  on 
prince  Albert's  Windsor  farm,  and  selected  for,  and  import- 
ed by  me.  I  believe  them  to  be  the  best  breed  of  pins  in  the 
world.  The  quality  of  their  meat  is  i>k<li>ki>i.y  bet- 
tek  tnan  that  of  other  breeds,  and  they  will  make  more 
meat  from  a  given  AMOUNT  of  FEED  than  any  others.  Of 
late  years  thei  have  figured  largely  as  first  prize  takers  at 
the  best  English  shows.    Address  L.  MASON,  Jr., 

Orange,  New-Jersey. 


T 


T( 


HOROUGn-BRED  AYRSHIRE  AND  DEVON 
BULLS  AND  HKIFEHR,  for  sale  by 

A.  M.  TI'.EDWELL,  Madison,  Morris  Co.,  N.  J. 

O  POULTRY  FANCIERS.— A  FEW 

pairs  of  full  bred  fowls  of  the  following  va- 
rietl  s  are  for  sale,  most  of  them  from  imported 
stock. 
£*  Pure  TYhite  English  Dorkings,  very  fine  birds. 
*"  White  raced  Black  Spanish,  model  specimens. 
Also,  Games  of  the  following  varieties:  Cabas,  Irish  Greys, 
Irish  Blues,  Berkley  Spangles,  citekneis,  lieibvs.  Tartars, 
Pieds,  lied  and  White,  and  Black  and  White.  These  fowls 
are  pure  bloods,  bred  with  utmost  care  by  a  fancier,  and  pos- 
sess every  point  desired  of  courage,  feather,  proud,  erect  car- 
riage, and  superior  laying  qualities.  For  terms  address  Box 
417,  Hartford,  ct. 

Fowls,  Rucks,  and   Geese  for  Sale. 

White-face  Black  Spanish,  Gray  Dorkings,  Bratnnas,  Crest- 
ed Ilamburgbs,  Rose-Comh  Black  All  lean  Bantams.  Englis 
Blaek-red,  Derby,  and  Sumatra  Game  Fowls,  Aylesbury  and 
Cayuga  Ducks.  *  Bremen  and  Chinese  Swan  Geese.  Apply  to 
C.  N.  BE.MENT,  Bennington  Centre,  Vt.,  until  April  1.  1863. 

66VANCY  POULTRY."  Apply  for  Circular  toE. 
JL   MITCHEL  i  CO.,  Box  111,  Welisbmg,  Br/joke  Co.,Va. 

HOYT'S  AMMONIATED  BONE  SUPERPHOS- 
PHATE OF  LIME.    A  Substitute  for  Peruvian  Guano. 
Sold  at  wholesale  and  retail  bv 

GR1FFING.  BROTHER  &  CO., 
tin  Conrtlandt-st..  New-York 

GUAN  O. 

CALIFORNIA  AND    PATOS  ISLAND  GUANO,   rich   in 
ammonia  and  phosphates,  of  which  we  are  sole   importers; 
also  the  celebrated  ICHABOE.    All   for  sale  in  lots  to  suit 
purchasers.    Apply  to       WAKEMAN.  t>IMON  &  CO- 
TS South-st.,  New-York. 

TO  FARMERS 

AND     OTHERS. 

"We  are  manufacturing  a  Genuine  Article  of  Fine,  Medi- 
um, and  Coarse  BONK  DUST,  or  RAW  BOIVE  SU- 
PERPHOSPHATE  OF  LIME,  manufactured  from 
unburned  Bones,  containing  all  the  Animal  and  Chemical 
Fertilizing  Properties.  Please  address  the  Manufacturers, 
and  get  the  Intrinsic  Value  of  your  money. 
N.  B.  A  Liberal  Discount  made  to  Dealers  for  Cash, 
Address  A.  LISTEIi  &  BUG., 

Tarrytown,  "Westchester  Co..  N.  T., 
Or  Newark,  N.  J. 

PURE  GROUND  BONE. 

Farmers  and  Dealers  will  do  well  to  send  in   their  orders 
for  BOXE  early,  as  the  demand  is  heavy.    We  will  give  you 
a  PUKE  ARTICLE.    North  River  Agricultural  Worehousc. 
GRIFFING.  BROTHER  &  CO., 

60  Courtlaudt-st.,  New-Tork. 

BAUG  h?s 

RAW     BONE 

SUPERPHOSPHATE  OF  LIME. 
BAUOll  A   SOWS, 

MANUFACTURERS  and  proprietors, 

No.  20  Soutli  Delaware  Avenue, 

PHILADELPHIA. 

This  Manure  is  manufactured  from  pure  Raw  Bones,  and 
warranted  to  contain  all  their  original  organic  matter— no 
burned  or  calcined  bones  are  used,  and  it  is  sold  under  a  guar- 
anty from  the  manufacturers  that  it  is  free  from  adulteration. 

By  Last  season  the  demand  for  this  manure  exceeded  that 
of  any  former  one,  and  with  few  exceptions  the  results  have 
been  highly  favorable.  No  pains  will  be  spared  to  maintain 
its  standard  of  popularity,   U^send  in  your  orders  early. 

Price,   $46  per    2,000  lbs.,   Cash. 
POUDRETTE. 

Farmers  and  Dealers  supplied  with  a  pure  article. 
Send  for  Farmers'  Agricultural  Almanac  for  the  year  1863. 
GRIFFING,  BROTHER  &  CO.. 

GO  Courtlandtst.,  New-York. 


100,000    BARRELS 

OF    THE 

LODI    MANUFACTURING  COMPANY'S 

POUDRETTE, 

FOR   SALE    BY 

JAMES  T.  FOSTER, 

66  COURTLANDT-ST., 
NEW-YORK. 


In  lots  to  suit  purchasers.  This  Company  have  the  largest 
capital  and  factory  ofthe  kind  in  the  world,  and  possess  the 
best  facilities  for  manufacturing  the  night  soil  of  New-Tork 
City,  for  which  they  have  the  exclusive  contract,  into  a  dry, 
inodorous,  but  powerful  manure— superior  to  any  other  fer- 
tilizer in  market,  taking  cost  and  yield  into  consideration. 
Price  J1.60  per  barrel,  free  from  cartage,  for  any  quantity 
over  7  barrels— or  only  §16  per  ton. 

fl3?"  Beware  of  spurious  imitations,  put  up  in  barrels  to  re- 
resemble  this  Company's  brand. 

Attention  is  called  to  the  following  letter  from  a  farmer 

Farmington,  N.  H.,  October  9, 1862. 
James  R.  Dey,  Esq.,  President  Lodi  Manufacturing  Co. 

For  several  years  past  I  have  used  as  a  fertilizer,  the  Lodi 
Manufacturing  t'o.'s  Poudrette.  1  commenced  in  1859,  I 
then  had  a  tenant  carrying  on  my  farm  upon  shares.  Ho 
agreed  to  use  such  artificial  means  as  I  should  furnish  free 
of  expense  to  him,  bur  lie  had  but  little  faith  in  anything  but 
barn-yard  manure.  1  purchased  some  Poudrette.  He  took 
It  from  the  freight-house;  opened  it;  came  to  me  with  eves 
wide  open, andsaid,  "You  have  got  cheated,  this  stuff 
is  nothing  but  dirt."  I  told  him,  "I  supposed  I  had:  it 
was  nothing  new;  I  was  in  the  habit  of  getting  cheated,  but 
as  it  cost  him  nothing,  I  wanted  him,  to  use  it.'v 

"We  had  a  piece  of  poor,  sandy  loam  land,  which  he  plant- 
ed with  potatoes,  without  manure.  He  put  Poudrette  in  the 
hills  eight  rows,  then  omitted  eight  rows,  and  then  put  limo 
in  the  hill,  as  he  had  a  mind  to  try  that. 

The  result  was,  that  where  the  Poudrette  was  put,  the  po- 
tatoes came  up  three  or  lour  days  before  the  others.  The 
tops  were  twiee  the  size  during  the  season,  and  at  harvest- 
ing we  measured  two  lots  of  each,  one  of  which  the  Poudrette 
gave  twice  the  Quantity  of  potatoes,  and  the  other  in  the 
proportion  of  five  to  three. 

The  lime  had  no  perceptible  effect. 

We  had  a  piece  of  corn  land,  sandy  loam,  (my  tillage  land 
is  sandy  and  gravelly  loam.)  the  corn  had  a  liberal  dressing, 
say  leu  cords  of  barn  dung  to  the  acre,  spread  upon  grass 
land,  a  part  ploughed  in  the  fall  before,  the  balance  in  the 
soring.  The  tenant  prepared  a  compost  to  put  in  the  hill,  a 
mixture  of  night  soil,  hog  manure  and  loam  well  mixed,  se- 
veral times  shovelled  over,  and  well  incorporated  together 
This  was  put  in  the  hill.  In  eight  rows  through  the  middle 
ofthe  piece,  this  was  omitted  and  Poudrette  was  substituted 
instead.  The  result  was,  the  Poudrette  brought  the  corn  up 
sooner,  of  a  better  color,  and  at  the  end  of  two  weeks  after 
it  came  up,  nearly  twice  as  large,  and  it  maintained  it  a 
head  and  shoulder  above  the  other  during  the  season.  At 
harvesting,  we  measured  the  corn,  and  where  we  got  tive 
bushels  with  the  compost,  we  had  six  bushels  with  the 
Poudrette. 

This  satisfied  mc,  and  convinced  mv  unbelieving  tenant 
that  it  was  something  besides  dirt.  I  have  used  it  with 
whatever  I  plant  ever  since,  and  shall  continue  to  do  so,  sis 
long  as  it  maintains  iis  character,  and  is  furnished  at.  reason- 
able prices.  We  sometimes  think  we  save  an  entire  crop  of 
corn  bv  the  use  of  Poudrette,  in  case  of  earlv  frost,  as  it 
brings  the  crop  to  maturity  at  least  a  week  earlier. 

There  has  been  an  increasing  demand  here  since  ft  lias 
been  introduced,  and  from  my  own  observation,  and  the  in- 
formation of  others,  I  think  it  does  as  well  on  upland  soils, 
as  upon  sandy  loam.  I  have  not  been  so  particular  since  my 
first  experiment,  but  every  year  I  left  a  few  rows  so  as  to  in- 
sure that  it  maintains  its  character.  The  present  year  there 
isa  very  marked  difference  in  the  appearance  of  a  few  rows 
left  without  the  Poudrette.  in  a  piece  of  corn  not  yet  har- 
vested. The  appearance  of  your  Poudrette  to  one  not  ac- 
customed to  it,  is  not  very  flattering.  I  will  relate  an  ancc 
dote  on  this  point.  In  I860  I  prevailed  upon  a  neighbor  to 
try  a  couple  of  barrels,  for  which,  I  think,  he  paid  me  $4,20. 
He  informed  me  allerwards,  that  he  took  it  into  his  Held  all 
alone,  and  opened  it;  said  he,  I  said  to  myself,  if  some  one 
will  come  along  and  give  me  a  dollar,  he  shall  have  both 
barrels.  No  one  coming  along,  he  tried  it,  and  lias  used  it, 
cverv  season  since,  and  thinks  very  highly  of  its  fertilizing 
qualities.  Some  of  my  neighbors  have  said  to  me,  that  they 
thought  it  had  been  worth  to  them  $5  per  barrel.  I  have  used 
other  fertilizers,  such  as  Guano,  Superphosphate,  &c,  most 
of  which  are  beneficial,  but  none  come  fairly  up  to  the  I'ou- 
drelte. One  particular  advantage  Poudrette  has  over  other 
fertilizers  is,  that  the  smell  is  not  offensive,  and  it  will  not 
kill  the  seed. 

And  again,  it  is  not  so  expensive.  My  method  is,  to  put 
it  in  the  hill  with  the  seed.  A  quart  by  measure  is 
ample  for  ten  hills,  at  which  rate  a  barrel  will  manure  a  thou- 
sand  hills.  I  have  known  it  to  do  well  when  a  less  quantity 
was  used.  I  think  nothing  else  should  be  put  with  it.  It  ts 
a  light  matter  to  put  it  in  the  hill  with  the  hand,  as  a  person 
can  drop  it  faster  than  a  boy  can  drop  corn.  And  it  does 
not  require  the  large  hole  necessary  to  put  in  dung  or  com- 
post, and  is  a  protection  against  the  wire  worm. 
Respectfully  yours, 

CEO.  L.  WHITEHOUSE. 

The  Company's  pamphlet,  containing  directions  for  use 
and  other  valuable  information,  will  be  sent  free  to  any  one 
applying  for  the  same.  Address 

J.  T.  FOSTER, 
Care  of  the  Lodi  Manufacturing  Co. 


90 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


Contents  for  March  1863. 


68 


Coffee—  Adulterations  in— Testing  for.   8 

Annies— Dwarf— For  Gardens  and  \  aids .0 

Bain-Yard  for  Savins  Manure Illustrated. 

Bees— Apiary  in  March— Sundry  Suggestions.......... 

Boys  and  Girls'  Columns-Editor  with  hisTi  nung  Read 
ers— A  Mouse's  Dream— An  Ingenious  Boot  Blank- 
Robbed  Advantageously— A  Thoughtless  Boy  Pun- 
ished—The Boy's  Reproof— An  Unfortunate  Mimic- 
Wooden  Flowers  and  Real  Ones— Amusing  Trial  of 
Skill— A  Subscriber  every  Minute— The  Game  of 
Rhyming-Definitions— The  Portrait  Bouquet  Explain- 

cd— Puzzles  and  Problems 5  Illustrations.  .SS-89 

Butler— Why  it  Does  not  Come •■ ...88 

Cabbage  Puller  Illustrated  .77 

Caltle— One  Cow  to  an  Acre ^6 

Census— Agricultural  Statistics •  •  •  ■  •  •  •  •  •  <  2 

Chicory Illustrated.  .84 

Cistern— Improved  Filtering Illustrated.  .73 

Clothes-Wringer— A  Good  Thing 86 

Clothing— Night,  for  Children 87 

Comforters— Washing •  ■  ■  ■  ■  •  •  •  •  •  ■  •  ■ » 

Cooking  Hints— Good  way  to  Cook  Eggs— Pate  de  veau 

— Ginger  Snaps— Hominy  Pudding 86 

Com  Marker— Pennsylvania 77 

Cotton  Growing  in  Illinois '"■•„ 

Dairy— Statistics  of  Zadoc  Pratt's  Farm 77 

Drying  Clothes— Air  in  Rooms 85 

Exhibition— International  at  Hamburg u 

Farm— Bn vine— Hints  on 74 

Farm  Work  for  March °3 

Fence  ror  Flooded  Localities Illustrated    ,3 

Flax  Culture— Notes  on.. II   2  Illustrations,  .lb 

Flower  Garden  and  Lawn  in  March  67 

flowers— New  Petunias Illustrated.. SO 

Fruit  Garden  in  March 67 

Fruit  Growers'  Meetings— Notes  from s2 

Garden — Kitchen  in  March 66 

Gardening— Large   Returns  *>3 

Grapes— Impositions  in 80 

Grapes— What  to  Plant 83 

Green  anil  Hot  Houses  in  March 67 

Greens— Suitable  Plants  for 64 

Handkerchiefs— Patterns  for  Chain-Stitched..  7Ma*(..i4 

Horses — Hints  on   Feeding 78 

Horses — Scratches  in 78 

Irrigation — Benefits  of 73 

91 
SO 
85 
66 
81 
82 
R7 
75 


Illustrated. 


Manure 

Market  Review.  Weather  Notes,  etc.. 

Mulberry— Downing's  Everbearing... 

Nutmegs— Description..    

Orchard  and  Nursery  in  March 

Pear— Great  Californian Illustrated 

Pears  — Dwarf 

Pie?— Number  in  a  Year / 

Potatoes  Mixing  in  the  Hill  

Poultry — Profits  of  Keeping  75 

Premiums  Offered  for  1863     89 

Propagating  Case— Convenient Illustrated. . 84 

Pruning  Hints Illustrated,  .82 

Roads— Cost  of  Rough   73 

Salsifv  or  "Vegetable  Oyster" 84 

Seeds— Causes  of  Failure      75 

Sheep— A  Word  for  Merinos 79 

Sheep — Introduction  of  Merinos 79 

Sheep  Raising  in  Ohio  79 

Soap— Haiti  — How  to  Make 67 

Soap— Soft— How  to  Make 87 

Slock — Blooded— Prospects  for 78 

Sugar — Beet,  in  Ohio       75 

Sugar — Two  Kinds— Evaporators   74 

Suggestions  and  Notes  for  March  ...Illustrated    65 

Swine— Economy  in  Wintering    79 

Tim  Bunker  on  the  Fanner's  Old  Age 86 

Tobacco  Culture— Work  on 71 

Tobacco — Preparation  of  Seed  Beds 83 

Trees — Bells  on  Prairies 76 

Trees— Peach— Severe  Treatment 81 

Wagon  Jack— Improved Illustrated    77 

Willow— White— For  Hedges 77 

Wool— Is  it  Best  to  make  Contracts? 71 

Woolens— To  Prevent  Shrinking 86 

Yeast  or  Scalded  Emptyings 87 

INDEX  TO  "BASKET,"  OR  SHORTER  ARTICLES. 


Advertisements — Good. . . 

Almanac— National .. 

Balsam  Poplar 

Basket  for  Fruit 

Bee- Hives— Best 

Bees  in  a  Chimney 

Books — Advancing 

Books  on  Evergreens... 
Books — short  Horn  Herd 

Bridal  Rose    

Brinckle,  Dr.— Death  of 

Brooms — Corn 

Cattle— Horn  Ail 

Center  Co.,  Pa 

Chick  Pea        .     

Chickens— Hatching. 

Chicory 

Chinese  Yam 

Chrysanthemum  on  Rose 

Corn  for  Fuel  

Correspondents— Note  to 

Cotton  in  Utah 

Cotton— New   Substitute. 

Cotton  Samples  

Cow— Profitable  .... 

Cranberries 

Crib-Biting 

Currants — Best 

Draining    

Drink  for  Summer   

Employment  of  Women. 

Erysipelas 

Exhibition?— Proposed. . 

Farm   for  Sale 

Flowering  Shrubs 

Fruit  Catalogue 

Gardens  in  Orchards .... 


Insects — Harris  on 71 

Insects — Peach  Borer 70 

Insects — Sriuash  Worms. 70 
Insects — Worms  at  Roots. 70 

Insects — Wheat -70 

Linen — Home-made  69 

Letters — Unanswered  ...  .68 
Millet— When  to  Sow. ...70 

Onion  Culture 69 

Onions — Paying  Crop.  ...10 

Osage  Orange  Seed   70 

Paper  from  Shaw  70 

Papers  not  Received 6S 

Pears— Good  Dwarfs 69 

Peas— Three  Crops  70 

P.  O.  Department  71 

Postage  on  Agriculturist  68 
Postage  Stamps — Million. 69 

Premiums  Continued 63 

Pumpkins— Bitter 69 

Salt  for  Fruit  Trees. 70 

Sap-Spouis— Fitting 69 

Seed  Distribution 68 

Seed  Envelopes, Directing68 

Seeds— Flower 70 

Sew'g  Machino.Demorest.71 
Society,  Conn.  State  Ag'1.71 
Society— N.Y.  State  Ag'1.71 

Soldiers— Address  ol 69 

Squash — Hubbard 70 

Strawberries — Covering  .69 
Superphosphate.  Lister's .70 
Sweet  Potatoes  in  Iowa.. 69 

Tan  for  Hoi-Beds 69 

Thorburn.  Grant— Death  71 

Tobacco  in  Maine 69 

Tree  Monuments 71 


Grapes  for  Australia 70|Voliimes— Back     68 

Grape  Vine  for  EvervbodyliS  Water  in  Lead  Pipes..;. .69 

Grape  Vines— Pruning.     70  Water  Lime  70 

Grass— Specimens 701  Wheal— Old  Seed 70 

Horses— Sweeney 7l| Winter—  Mild  in  Indiana. 69 

Insects— Cut  Worms 701  Wool  Grower 69 

Insects— Grain  Aphis, 70iYankee— Origin  of 69 


GOOD  GRAPES  ! 

First-rate  Vines,  well  rooted,  of  the  two  sorts  now 
conceded    to  be  among  the   best,  if   not  tlw  very  best 

FOR 

general  culture  throughout  the  country.  They 
-will  be  sent  by  mail,  safely  packed,  and  post-paid, 
on  terms  that  will  put  it  in  the  power  of  almost 

EVERYBODY, 

now  a  subscriber,  to  secure  for  their  homesteads 
one,  three,  five,  ten,  or  more  vines  of  each  sort.  (See 
terms  below.)  Those  wanting  large  supplies 
for  vineyard  culture  or  otherwise,  will  of  course 
consult  the  advertising  pages;  we  have  none  to 
sell.  Our  aim  is  to  enable  those  wanting  a  few 
vines  as  a  beginning,  to  get  them  without  much 
trouble,  and  with  no  expense.  We  have  had  spe- 
cially grown  and  selected  a  very  choice  stock  of 
vines,  which   we  now  propose   to   distribute  only 

A.S    PRElVriTTjVIS 

to  those  securing  subscribers  to  the  American  Agri- 
culturist, on  and  after  March  1st,  on  the  terms 
named  below,  which  can  not  be  varied  from.  Sure- 
ly any  one  can  readily  secure  two  or  more  subscri- 
bers for  a  paper  like  the  Agriculturist,  which  is  still 
supplied  at  the  low  price  of  SI  a  year,  notwith- 
standing the  great  advance  in  cost,  of  printing 
paper,  etc. — Out-  vines  are  of  the  two  best  sorts,  viz.: 

Delaware  and  Concord. 

The  Delaware  is  almost  universally  con- 
ceded to  be  the  best  flavored  grape  for  eating  and 
for  wine  making.  Taking  into  account  all  its  good 
qualities,  it.  is  placed  highest  on  the  list,  in  many 
parts  of  the  country.  The  scarcity  and  high  price 
of  the  vines  have  prevented  their  general  diffusion. 
(Less  than  three  years  ago  we  paid  S3  each  for  our 
first  stock  of  vines,  and  very  small  ones  at  that.) 

The  Concord  is  a  very  early  grape,  adapting 
it  to  cultivation  much  further  north  than  the  Isa- 
bella and  most  others.  It  is  exceedingly  product- 
ive and  vigorous,  and  thrives  even  under  neglect. 
It  has  been  thoroughly  tested,  East  and  West,  and 
though  not,  in  the  opinion  of  many,  equal  in  flavor 
to  the  Delaware,  it  is  pronounced  very  good  by  all. 
For  general,  careless  culture,  under  all  circum- 
stauces,  we  place  the  Concord  first  on  the  list. 
Many  others  put  the  Delaware  far  before  it.  (See 
report  of  the  Fruit  Growers'  Meeting,  on  pages 
83-3.)  Our  advice  therefore  is,  that  all  who  can 
do  so  should  get  one  or  more  vines  of  each  variety, 
and  multiply  the  kind  that  proves  to  be  best  suited 
to  their  individual  locations,  soils,  and  preferences. 

Our  successful  experience  in  packing  and  send 
ing  out  40,000  Strawberry  plants  by  mail,  with  not 
half  a  dozen  eases  of  failure,  has  established  the 
practicability  of  sending  grape  vines  in  the  same 
manner,  with  scarcely  a  fear  of  loss.    We  therefore 


offer  to  send  these  Grape  Vines  on  the  following 

Conditions:—  On  and  after  March  1st  (not  be- 
fore), to  those  sending  Subscribers  to  the  American 
Agriculturist  for  Volume  XXII.  (1863)  at  One  Dollar 
each,  we  will  forward,  securely  packed  and  post-paid: 

For  Two  Subscribers  at   SI  each,  1    Vine. 

For  Five  Subscribers  at    SI   each,  3  Vines. 

For  Eight  Subscribers  at  SI  each,  5  Vines. 

For  Ten    Subscribers  at    SI    each,  8  Vines. 

For  Fifteen  Subscribers  at  SI  each,  15  Vines. 

And  for  over  fifteen  subscribers,  one  vine  for  each 
name.  We  specially  request  that  the  names  of  any 
club  for  tile  vines  be  all  sent  at  the  same  time. 

Z3%™  Those  sending  for  premium  vines  can  make 
their  own  choice;  if  for  one  vine,  which  kind;  if  for 
two  or  more,  what  number  of  each,  and  give  in  full  the 
Ihst  Office  address  to  which  they  are  to  be  sent. 

N.  B. — 1.  The  above  premiums  are  only  for  subscribers 
sent  in  on  or  after  March  1st.  and  will  only  continue  open 
so  long  as  our  supply  lasts,  as  it  is  impossible  to  add  to 
our  present  good  stock.  Probably  the  supply  will  hold 
out  through  Ihe  month  of  March,  and  perhaps  through 
part  of  April,  but  not  certainly. 

2.  These  premiums  are  special  ;  no  other  premiums  of 
any  kind  will  be  paid  on    names  sent  for  these  vines. 

3.  The  mailing  of  the  vines  will  commence  on  or  be 
fore  March  15lh,  if  the  season  admit,  and  continue  until 
the  middle  of  April  or  later,  according  to  the  locality  to 
which  they  are  to  be  sent.  To  all  who  apply  early 
enough,  a  Circular  Letter  will  be  sent  out  about  a  week 
in  advance,  stating  the  time  the  plants  will  be  mailed 
to  them.  The  Circular  will  also  give  directions  for  the 
treatment  of  the  vines,  with  hints  on  culture,  etc.  The 
plants  going  furthest  South,  will  of  course  be  sent 
first,  and  those  furthest  North  the  lalest  ;  but  every  ap- 
plication will  be  entered  in  order,  as  soon  as  it  comes  to 
hand,  so  that  no  one  will  be  unsupplied,  who  applies  be- 
fore  the  entire  stock  of  vines   is  exhausted. 

It  will  of  course  be  a  pleasure,  as  well  as  for  our  in- 
terest in  the  future,  to  have  every  vine  a  good  one,  put 
up  carefully  and  in  the  best  manner,  and  to  have  it  re- 
ceive such  care  and  attention  as  to  make  it  give  entire 
satisfaction.  As  slaled  above,  we  have  within  a  year 
past  mailed  411,000  strawberry  plants,  and  have  not 
heard  of  halt  a  dozen  cases  of  failure  or  dissatisfaction. 
We  hope  for  equally  good  success  willi  the  Grape  Vines. 

KiT  Special  to  Subscribers  In  Canada, 
and  on  the  Pacific  Coast.— There  will  be  con- 
siderable risk  in  sending  vines  to  the  Pacific  Coast  after 
April  1st.  The  practice  of  some  of  Hie  Postmasters  in 
the  Canadas  and  other  British  Provinces,  of  charging  20 
cents  an  ounce,  after  the  United  States  postage  is  pre- 
paid, will  prohibit  sending  Ihese  vines  there,  except  when 
they  can  be  sent  to  a  United  Slates  Post-Office  near  the 
Line,  or  be  sent  by  express.  When  eight  or  more  are  sent 
together,  they  can  frequently  go  by  express.  We  do  not 
advise  planting  the  Delaware  in  New-Brunswick,  Nova 
Scotia,  Lower  Canada,  or  in  Upper  Canada,  except  south 
of  Lake  Ontario.  The  Concord  will  often  thrive  further 
North  ;  and  in   favorable  locations,  the   Delaware  also. 


American   Agriculturist. 

For  tlie  Farm,  Garden,  and  Household. 

A  TiionouoH-GOiNG,  RELIABLE,  and  PRACTICAL 
Journal,  devoted  to  the  different  departments  of  SOIL 
CULTURE — supll  as  growing  field  CROPS  ;  orchard 
and  garden  FRUITS;  garden  VEGETABLES  and 
FLOWERS ;  trees,  plants,  and  flowers  for  Ihe 
LAWN  or  YARD;  care  of  DOMESTIC  ANIMALS, 
etc.,  and  to  HOUSEHOLD  LABORS,  with  an  interesting, 
instructive  department  for  CHILDREN  and  YOUTH. 

The     Editors    are    all  practical  WORKING  MEN. 

The  teachings  Qf  ^Agriculturist  are  confined  to  no 
State  or  Territory,  but  are  adapted  to  all  sections  of  the 
country — it  is  for  the    whole  American  Continent. 

A  German  edition  is  published,  of  the  same  size 
ami  price  as  the  English,  and  containing  all  of  its  reading 
matter,  and  its  numerous  illustrative  engravings. 

TERMS INVARIABLY     IN     ADVANCE, 

(For  either  the  English  or  German  Edition.) 

One  copy,  one  year ..,.$1  00 

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Ten  or  more  copies  one  year 80  cents  each. 

p*?*Add  to  the  above  rates:  Postage  to  Canada,  6  cents; 
to  England  and  France,  24  rents  ;  to  Germany,  36  cents. 
Postage  anywhere  in  the  United  States  and  Territories 
must  be  paid  by  the  subscriber,  and  is  only  six  cents  a 
year,  if  paid  in  advance  at  the  office  where  it  is  received. 
All  business  and  other  communications  should  be  ad- 
dressed to  the  Editor  and  Proprietor, 

ORANGE  JUDD,  41  Park-Kow,  NewYork  City. 


\ 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST, 


Farm,    Gretrden,    a,nd   Household.. 


"AORICULTUKE  19  THE  MOST  HEALTHFUL,   MOST  USEFUL,  AND  MOST  JiOBLE  EMPLOYMENT  OF  MAJSV'-W.., 


©RANGE     JVDD,     A.M 

EDITOR    AND    PROPRIETOR. 

O/lioc,    41  Park  Row,    (Times  Building. 


:i 


ESTABLISHED  IN  1842. 

Published  both  in  English  anil  German. 


(  $1.00    FEB  ANNUM,    IN  ADVANCE 
■j         SINGLE  NTJMBEK,  10  CENTS. 
'  For  Contents,  Terms,  etc.,  see  page  138. 


VOLUME  XXII— No.  4 


NEW-YORK,     APRIL,    1863. 


NEW  SERIES— No.  195. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress  in  tlie  year  1S63,  by 
Orange  Jtjdd,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of 
the  [lilted  States  for  the  Southern  District  of  New- York. 
I3T"  Other  Journals  are  invited  to  copy  desirable  articles 
freely,  (r*each  article  be  credited  to  American  Agriculturist. 


Suggestions  and  Botes  for  the  Month. 


The  showers  of  April  melt  the  icy  fetters 
which  have  bound  the  northern  streams,  and 
they  sing  their  hymn  of  freedom  as  they  run 
along.  The  opening  of  an  American  Spring  is 
a  very  matter  of  fact  season.  We  have  few  of 
the  flowers  which  have  had  the  charm  of  Eng- 
lish poetry  added  to  their  own  loveliness.  The 
Snowdrop  does  not  bloom  through  our  melting 
snows,  nor  have  we  many  spring  flowers  that 
have  been  widely  celebrated  in  song.  The  Epi- 
gaea — the  fragrant  and  modest  May  El  o  wer  of  the 
Pilgrims — did  it  only  grow  all  over  the  country 
might  well  be  taken  as  our  emblematic  Spring 
Flower,  but  this  is  found  in  comparatively  few 
localities.  Our  most  common  harbinger  of 
Spring  bears  the  unseemly  name  of  Skunk  Cab- 
bage. This  with  its  curiously  shaped  and  mot- 
tled horns  which  are  lifted  up  in  the  swamps, 
is  the  forerunner  of  the  great  floral  procession 
which  will  soon  come  crowding  on.  Showers 
and  sunshine  iu  fitful  alternation  are  the  char- 
acteristics of  April.  Under  their  influence  the 
dull  pastures  brighten  into  a  tender  green,  and 
the  sombre  hue  of  the  woodlands  is  enlivened 
by  the  red  of  the  maple  buds,  and  the  warm 
gray  of  the  poplar  tassels.  Nature  begins  to 
paint  the  great  landscape,  and  the  former,  did 
he  but  know  it,  is  an  artist  working  with  nature 
to  help  make  up  the  picture.  In  plowing  the 
fields  he  is  preparing  the  canvas  on  which  the 
waving  grain  and  ripening  corn  shall  paint  gor- 
geous and  ever-changing  colors. 

Lotus  stop  here  upon  the  threshold  of  spring 
work  and  consider  if  the  plans  formed  during 
the  season  of  rest,  have  included  all  that  maybe 
accomplished.  The  main  work  of  the  farm  has 
been  laid  out  and  the  labor  for  that  must  be 
done.  Having  provided  for  the  staple  crops,  is 
there  not  some  other  spring  work  for  which 


time  can  bo  spared,  and  which  will  add  much 
to  the  comfort  and  attractiveness  of  the  home- 
stead ?  In  the  Autumn  we  look  upon  the  or- 
chard with  its  ripening  fruit,  with, great  interest, 
but  we  are  very  apt  to  forget  it  in  the  Spring. 
In  spite  of  neglect  the  generous  trees  still  yield 
fruit,  which  might  be  increased  both  in  quanti- 
ty and  quality,  by  a  little  extra  care.  If  the  or- 
chard bears  good  fruit  it  may  be  made  to  bear 
better  by  a  coat  of  thorough  manuring  now,  and 
judicious  pruning  at  a  late  season.  If  the  trees 
are  still  vigorous,  "  natural"  ones  which  bear 
fruit  fit  for  cider  only,  now  is  the  time  to  renew 
them  by  grafting.  If  they  are  old  and  have  suf- 
fered from  long  neglect,  now  is  the  time  to  plant 
a  new  orchard  to  replace  them.  Last  year  es- 
tablished the  value  of  orchards.  It  was  one  of 
unprecedented  plenty,  yet,  in  most  places,  good 
fruit  brought  remunerative  prices,  and  orchard- 
ists  are  extending  their  plantations.  An  orchard 
of  well  selected  trees  will  be  a  great  comfort  in 
one's  declining  years,  will  be  an  excellent  inher- 
itance to  leave  children,  and,  if  the  homestead 
should  have  to  be  sold,  will  add  to  its  value  an 
amount  that  will  pay  well  for  the  investment. 
Another  thing  that  should  claim  attention  is 
the  front  yard,  or  approach  to  the  house.  A 
home-like  look  can,  with  a  little  pains,  be  given 
to  a  very  rude  dwelling.  It  is  not  boards  aud 
brick  and  mortar  alone  that  make  an  attractive 
home ;  it  is  the  manner  in  which  they  are  put 
together.  Every  one,  no  matter  how  poor,  has 
certain  materials  at  his  disposal,  and  the  char- 
acter of  his  home  will  depend  upon  the  way  in 
which  these  are  used.  In  the  first  place,  let  the 
front-yard  be  neat,  and  if  there  is  neither  time 
nor  taste  for  adornment  with  flowers  and  shrubs, 
have  a  smooth  grass  plot  with  here  and  there  an 
elm  or  maple,  or  other  forest  tree.  We  have 
seen  a  climbing  rose  give  to  a  log  house  an  air 
of  rural  beauty  which  is  quite  wanting  in  the 
bleak,  staring  white  houses  that  many  a  wealthy 
farmer  builds.  Were  farmers'  dwellings  made 
more  attractive  both  within  and  without,  their 
sons  would  be  much  less  willing  to  leave  them. 

Work  for  the  Farm,  Household,  etc. 

Accounts — In  the  haste  to  commence  plowing 
and  sowing,  other  important  interests  should 
not  be  overlooked.  A  successful  cultivator 
must  be  also  a  man  of  good  business  habits ; 
observant  of  markets,  and  ready  to  improve  the 
favorable  moment  for  either  buying  or  selling. 
Keeping  accounts  will  add  to  the  thrift,  and 
give  more  certainty  to  all  operations. 

Let  every  transaction  of  purchase  and  sale, 
all  contracts,  terms  made  with  hired  help,  time 
of  their  commencing  work,  amount  of  outlay 
and  return  for  each  field,  animal,  etc.,  be  plain- 
ly noted,  for  reference.  A  fairly  kept  book  is 
better  evidence  in  a  court  of  law  than  a  treach- 
erous memory,  or  an  interested  witness. 

Barley  has  proved  a  profitable  crop  in  many 


localities.  Sow  Spring  variety  on  rich  and  well 
pulverized  soil,  2|  to  3  bushels  per  acre.  Smut 
will  be  prevented,  and  growth  hastened,  by  soak- 
ing the  seed  24  hours  in  a  weak  solution  of  blue 
vitriol  and  then  rolling  it  in  air-slaked  lime. 
Moistening  with  tar  water  and  rolling  in  lime, 
answers  a  similar  purpose.  It  should  not  lie 
long  after  being  prepared,  or  it  will  heat. 

Birds. — Prepare  houses  for  martin  s  and  wren  s 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  dwelling,  and  allow  swal- 
lows access  to  the  barn.  They  are  a  very  effi- 
cient police  against  destructive  insects.  Tame 
pigeons  feed  upon  grain,  and  are  not  cleanty. 

Bones.— Save  all  found  upon,  or  brought  upon 
the  premises,  and  lay  in  a  large  stock,  if  they 
can  be  procured  cheaply.  They  are  better  than 
any  "patent"  manures.  Break  them  with  a 
sledge  hammer,  and  put  them  freely  in  the  soil 
around  fruit  trees.  For  immediate  use  upon 
annual  crops,  they  need  to  be  dissolved  in  a 
wooden  hooped  barrel,  in  one  part  of  sulphuric 
acid  and  two  or  three  parts  of  water.  They 
need  four  or  five  weeks  time.  The  fluid  is  to 
be  poured  off  and  mixed  with  a  large  quantity 
of  muck.  Some  recommend  to  moisten  them 
with  the  acid  and  then  bury  them  in  a  heap  of 
horse  manure,  where  they  will  soften. 

Buildings. — Lose  no  time  in  finishing  such  as 
will  be  needed  for  shelter  or  storing  produce. 
Clean  out  all  rubbish  from  barns,  stables,  and 
sheds,  and  add  all  suitable  materials  to  the  com- 
post heaps.  Whitewash  cattle  stalls,  poultry 
houses  and  roosts,  and  the  insides  of  other  out- 
buildings. Keep  all  in  repair.  A  good  coat  of 
paint  where  needed  will  more  than  repay  its 
cost  in  preserving  woodwork.  It  is  better  ap- 
plied now  than  later  in  the  season.  Trellises 
for  training  vines  to  buildings  are  preferable  to 
fastening  the  plants  directly  upon  the  boards. 

Callages. — Those  raised  in  hot-beds  for  earliest 
marketing,  may  be  transplanted  in  favorable 
weather.  Early  York  is  a  favorite  field  cabbage 
for  market.     Set  in  rows  2  by  2i  feet. 

Calves. — Raise  enough  of  the  best  to  keep  the 
farm  fully  stocked.  Teach  them  to  drink  when 
one  or  two  days  old.  After  the  first  week  their 
food  may  be  gradually  changed  from  new  to 
skim  milk,  and  a  few  weeks  later  to  gruel  of 
shorts,  rye,  oat  or  barley  meal.  A  little  wheat 
flour  boiled  in  milk  will  relieve  the  scours. 
Keep  their  pens  dry  and  clean. 

Carrots  deserve  more  extended  culture  as  a 
field  crop.  They  are  of  high  value  for  feeding 
horses,  cattle,  and  sheep,  in  Winter.  Sow  on 
highly  manured,  mellow,  deep  soil,  free  from 
weeds,  in  drills  14  inches  apart.  An  acre  re- 
quires about  2  lbs.  of  seed.  It  should  be  tested 
by  sprouting  before  sowing;    it  is  often  poor. 

Cattle,  both  young  and  old,  need  an  extra  rel- 
ish of  roots,  if  at  hand,  or  grain,  to  keep  them  in 
condition  as  Spring  advances.  Restrain  them 
from  the  pasture  until  a  fair  bite  of  grass  is 


08 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Apkil, 


grown,  otherwise  their  appetite  for  hay  will  dimin- 
ish, before  they  can  gather  enough  to  keep  them  in 
flesh.  Deal  liberally  with  working  oxen  ;  an  occa- 
sional feed  of  potatoes  will  be  beneficial,  with  a 
regular  allowance  of  com  meal  or  shorts.  Give 
roomy  stalls  to  cows  about  calving,  and  watch,  to 
render  them  assistance  if  needed.  In  breaking 
heifers  to  milk,  avoid  teaching  them  to  kick  by 
roughly  handling  their  teats  when  sore.  Keep 
these  well  oiled,  and  treat  them  gently  at  all  times. 
Cellars. — Clean  out  and  whitewash  at  once,  if  not 
already  done.  Windows  of  fine  wire  gauze,  millr- 
net,  or  "mosquito  cloth,"  are  useful  to  admit  air 
and  exclude  insects.  If  milk  be  kept  there,  it 
should  be  in  an  apartment  separate  from  the  gen- 
eral 6tore  room.  Cement  the  floors,  or  lay  plank 
flooring  wherever  it  is  necessary  to  walk. 

Clover  is  an  important  crop.  In  no  better  way 
can  a  soil  be  fertilized  than  by  turning  under  a 
heavy  growth  of  it.  The  fir6t  of  this  mouth  is  a 
good  time  to  scatter  seed  over  old  meadows  and 
pastures,  and  especially  on  winter  grain  fields. 
Choose  the  first  still  morning,  when  the  ground  is 
full  of  little  frost  cracks,  and  sow  seed  liberally 
with  or  withont  herds-grass  seed— with  it  if  design- 
ed for  a  meadow  or  pasture  for  two  or  three  years. 
The  seed  falls  into  the  frost  openings,  and  is  finely 
covered  in  thawing.  We  have  seldom  failed  of  a 
good  "catch"  by  this  method. 

Corn.— Good  seed,  and  either  good  soil  or  plenty 
of  manure,  are  the  essentials.  Corn  is  oue  of  the 
seeds  most  readily  injured  by  dampness  or  heating — 
iu  the  shock  or  crib.  It  is  always  best  to  test  an 
average  sample  selected  from  the  whole  seed  in  ad- 
vance, by  sprouting  in  warm  soil.  It  is  much  bet- 
ter to  do  this  than  to  risk  the  loss  of  a  crop,  or  of 
many  hills.  The  seed  is  the  least  part  of  the  ex- 
pense. Corn  is  a  gross  feeder,  and  revels  in  plenty 
of  manure  of  any  kind.  It  is  a  sun  plant,  and  not 
a  water  one.  Rich  land,  warm  and  dry — drained  if 
at  all  needed,  is  what  fills  the  corn  crib — and  the 
purse.  A  heavy  sod  turned  under  is  a  good  place 
for  corn  roots  to  revel  in. 

Cranberries  have  almost  always  brought  a  high 
price,  and  are  likely  to.  Many  a  useless  swamp 
might  be  turned  into  a  cranberry  silver  mine,  with 
proper  skill.  We  have  given  considerable  informa- 
tion on  the  mode  of  doing  it,  in  previous  volumes. 
Eastwood's  little  work  (costing  50  ceuts),  gives  some 
information  on  this  topic,  and  is  the  only  book  on 
the  subject  we  know  of. 

Draining. — "It  pays,"  is  the  testimony  of  hun- 
dreds of  our  old  readers  who  followed  our  earnest 
advice  aud  suggestions  years  ago.  While  waiting 
for  sun  and  wiud  to  dry  out  wet  land,  lay  plans  to 
prevent  such  delays  in  future,  and  execute  these 
plans  at  the  earliest  practicable  moment.  Air  is  es- 
sential to  roots  growing  in  a  soil.  Air  and  water 
can  not  both  be  there  at  once.  Warmth  is  equally 
necessary,  but  rapid  or  slow  evaporation  of  water 
from  the  surface  is  like  an  ice  bath. 

Fences. — A  rail  was  thrown  down  in  Winter ;  an 
ox  saw  it,  and  went  over,  leading  his  companions ; 
they  trampled  down  in  a  night  ten  thousand  square 
feet  of  surface,  and  half  spoiled  a  dozen  or  twenty 
young  fruit  trees.     Enough  said. 

Grain  Fields. — A  6ingle  animal  will  soon  tramp 
out  plants  that  would  yield  a  bushel.  See  page  38 
(February).  If  plants  are  much  heaved  by  frost,  a 
roller  will  often  benefit  them,  if  used  where  the 
ground  will  not  be  injured  by  the  team.  Fill  up  the 
bare  6pots  by  harrowing  or  hoeing  iu  spring-wheat — 
better  have  a  crop  of  mixed  wheat  on  the  ready 
prepared  ground,  than  a  crop  of  weeds.  Carefully 
cleau  the  dead  furrows,  and  outlets  of  under-drains ; 
a  Binall  amount  of  back  water  may  kill  out  a  bush- 
el of  grain,  which  two  minuteB  time  would  save. 

Cross  Seed. — See  on  Clover.  Grass  seed  may  be 
sown  at  the  last  harrowing  in  of  oats  or  other 
spring  grain.    The  lighter  the  covering  the  better. 

Hedges. — It  is  high  time  to  set  Osasre  Orange 
plants,  for  at  anv  point  where  they  will  flourish,  the 
ground  is  now  ready  to  work.     We  should  not  set 


them  north  of  40",  as  a  general  rule.  Let  some- 
body else  test  the  White  Willow.  Buckthorn  will 
answer  in  many  northern  localities.  Clean  up  the 
useless  hedge  rows  along  the  fences ;  they  arc  nur- 
series of  foul  weeds,  and  vermin. 

Sogs  will  probably  be  in  better  demand  next  Au- 
tumn, than  during  the  past  year,  and  the  pigs  should 
be  cared  for.  Good  food  to  the  sows  will  reappear 
in  the  sucking  pigs  and  produce  earlier  and  more 
rapid  development. 

Morses. — Inure  them  to  hard  work,  gradually. 
Have  a  merciful  harness ;  a  hard  spot  or  badly  ad- 
justed draught  may  give  them  constant  pain,  and 
consequent  loss  of  flesh,  and  produce  a  serious  gall- 
ing or  sore.  More  work ;  more  strengthening 
grain.  Washing  off  mud  and  sand  from  the  feet  and 
rubbing  down  at  night,  will  give  them  comfort  and 
vigor,  and  may  save  scratches  or  other  sores.  Mares 
near  foaling  can  not  do  hard  work  aud  bear  good 
progeny  :  a  hard  day's  drive  may  take  $10  from  the 
value  of  a  colt. 

Manures. — Don't  leave  any  to  "waste  its  sweet- 
ness iu  the  desert  air,"  while  rotting  all  Summer  in 
the  barn-yard  corners,  in  the  pig  stys  or  ben  roosts, 
or  in  the  privies.  Every  shovelful  put  under  or 
around  crops  and  trees  will  reappear  greatly  mul- 
tiplied in  the  grain  bin,  corn  crib,  or  fruit  cellar, 
before  the  season  is  over.  No  manufactured  fer- 
tilizer purchased  can  equal  the  barn-produced  ma- 
terial. After  all  this  is  used,  it  will  do  to  try  gen- 
uine Peruvian  guano,  superphosphate  made  of  un- 
bumed  bones  aud  not  mixed  with  cheap  matters,  and 
a  few  other  honestly  made  fertilizers  made  up  prin- 
cipally of  animal  matters. 

Meadows, — It  is  easier  and  cheaper  to  pick  up  a 
stone  now,  than  to  grind  a  scythe  in  haying  time ; 
to  remove  bushes  and  stubs  now  than  to  mend 
scythe  snaths  then.  A  roller  settles  the  frost- 
heaved  roots,  and  sinks  the  hummocks  and  small 
stones.  Fill  up  the  bare  spots  by  sowing  seed. 
Cattle  droppings  in  heaps,  if  scattered  with  a  long 
handled  mallet,  will  fertilize  several  square  feet  in- 
stead of  spoiling  one.  Fine  manure,  or  ashes,  or 
lime,  spread  broadcast  as  a  top-dressing,  will  show 
itself  in  the  hay  mow,  after  (not)  many  days. 

OaU  are  relatively  the  highest  priced  grain  in  our 
market — 75  to  83  cents  a  bushel  just  now.  Where 
the  insect  is  not  feared,  they  are  worth  looking  af- 
ter. The  earlier  they  can  be  sown  the  better.  They 
like  good  soil  but  not  too  much  rich  manure,  or 
the  straw  will  grow  rauk  and  fall. 

Onions  often  pay  well  as  a  field  crop.  Any  one 
cultivating  them  will  find  it  well  worth  while  to 
consult  the  lengthy,  full  directions  given  by  17 
practical  men  in  our  onion  book,  which  costs  but 
two  dimes.    See  advertisement  on  page  127. 

Pastures. — The  young  grass  shoots  that  would 
hardly  make  a  bite  for  an  animal  now,  will,  after  a 
few  weeks  growth,  afford  several  mouthfnls  of 
good  nourishiug  forage.  Frgo — keep  animals  off 
from  the  pasture  until  well  started.  Sheep  gnaw 
so  closely  as  to  give  the  grass  no  chance  to  start. 
Fertilize  and  fill  up  pastures  the  same  as  meadows. 

Flowing. — See  page  112.  Remember  that  all  the 
soil  below  you  is  yours,  and  appropriate  a  little 
more  of  it  every  3'ear.  Too  much  of  the  new  soil 
brought  up  at  one  time  may  injure  the  whole  for 
the  first  crop,  though  not  afterwards. 

Potatoes — Plant  early  on  good,  mellow,  clean, 
soil.  Coarse,  or  thoroughly  rotted  manure  is  best ; 
fermenting  manure  is  not  always  safe.  Ashes  or 
lime  is  generally  useful,  in  the  hill  or  whole  soil. 

Poultry. — More  rations,  more  eggs.  Fresh  meat 
while  insects  are  wanting,  is  the  basis  of  eggs. 
Ashes  or  lime  to  roll  in,  helps  them  to  keep  off  in- 
sects. Greasing  the  roosting  poles  smothers  the 
insects  on  them. 

Roads  on  the  Farm. — A  stone  removed,  or  a  root 
pulled  up,  may  save  a  broken  wagon  or  harness, 
and  perhaps  a  balky  horse.  We  find  coal  ashes  and 
ciuders  make  the  hardest  and  best  walks  and  pub- 
lic street  crossings  withont  raising  high  ridges. 


Rye. — The  same  remarks  apply  to  winter  rye  as 
to  wheat.  We  are  unable  to  say  much  about  spring 
rye,  and  would  like  to  hear  from  those  who  can. 

Sheep  were  never  before  in  greater  demand,  or  at 
higher  prices.  Every  lamb  will  be  worth  saving 
and  nursing.  Take  good  care  of  the  ewes ;  shelter 
from  cold  and  rain6,  and  separate  them  from  the 
rest  of  the  flock.  Keep  them  in  good  heart;  feed 
sparingly,  if  at  all,  with  grain  ;  they  should  be  in 
good  health,  but  not  fat.  Tag  locks  and  filth 
should  be  removed  from  their  udders  and  elsewhere. 

Sorghum. — Prepare  the  soil  the  same  as  for  corn, 
and  plant  as  early  as  the  ground  and  season  will  ad- 
mit, covering  very  lightly.  We  prefer  3)4  feet 
drills,  the  seed  sown  thickly,  and  when  well  start- 
ed thin  out  to  10  or  12  inches  apart  in  the  row, 
leaving  the  best  stalks. 

Tobacco.— See  pages  108  and  104. 

TooU. — We  can  not  too  often  impress  the  fact, 
that  two  men  with  first-rate  implements  will  do  as 
much  as  three  men  with  poor  ones,  while  the  dif- 
ference iu  cost  is  not  great.  To  be  short  of  good 
implements  is  the  worst  economy,  especially  in 
these  times  of  scarcity  of  help,  and  high  wages. 

Trees  add  to  the  beauty,  comfort,  and  saleable  val- 
ue of  a  farm.  A  purchaser  will  pay  much  more 
for  a  farm  with  a  few  well  arranged  trees ;  it  looks 
better  to  him,  though  he  may  not  notice  why. 
Fruit,  trees  are  of  course  doubly  valuable. 

Wheal. — See  grain  fields  above.  Spring  wheat 
will  come  in  well  to  fill  thebins  and  take  tomarket 
in  Autumn.  Sow  at  the  earliest  date  the  ground 
will  do  to  work.    After  frosts  will  seldom  injure  it. 


Orchard  and  Nursery. 

This  will  be  a  busy  time  with  both  the  seller 
and  the  purchaser  of  trees.  The  nurseryman 
will  now  experience  the  utility  of  preparatory 
work.  If  a  good  stock  of  trees  was  heeled  in 
last  Fall,  in  anticipation  of  the  Spring  sales,  and 
if  labels  and  packing  materials  are  at  hand,  a  Jarire 
amount  of  orders  can  be  rapidly  dispatched.  The 
conscientious  nurseryman  will  never  send  out  a 
badly-grown  plant  or  one  about  which  there  is 
any  doubt  as  to  the  name,  nor  will  he  substitute  a 
variety  which  he  has  for  one  which  is  not  in  stock. 
To  those  who  buy  trees  we  say,  deal  directly  with 
the  nurseryman,  and  do  not  buy  of  traveling  tree- 
pedlars  Consider  that  an  orchard  is  generally 
planted  for  a  life-time,  and  a  little  care  now  will 
save  much  future  vexation.  In  the  first  place,  find 
out  what  varieties  of  fruit  have  done  well  and  are 
most  salable  in  your  locality,  and  make  the  main 
planting  of  such  sorts.  Doubtful  and  fancy  kinds 
can  be  sparingly  planted  by  way  of  experiment. 
Having  determined  what  to  plant,  send  the  order 
directly  to  the  nearest  reliable  nurseryman.  If  you 
know  of  none,  look  over  our  advertisements.  It 
will  be  better  to  pay  the  cost  of  freight  from  a  dis- 
tance, than  to  plant  unreliable  trees  if  they  were 
furnished  without  cost.  If  uot  ready  to  set  out  th'e 
trees  as  60on  as  they  are  received,  dig  a  trench 
large  enough  to  hold  the  roots,  and  set  them  in  as 
close  as  they  will  stand,  aud  cover  the  roots  well 
with  earth.  Should  trees  become  shriveled  from 
drying,  dig  a  trench  aud  bury  the  whole,  branches 
and  all.  In  a  few  days  they  may  be  taken  out 
plump  and  bright, 

Apple  Trees  should  be  planted  early.  Manure 
well  and  thoroughly  plow  the  soil  intended  for 
the  orchard.  Stake  the  trees  as  soon  as  tbey  are 
planted.  Old  trees  should  be  cleansed  as  directed  in 
basket  note  on  page  103,  and  have  a  dressing  of  ma- 
nure and  ashes  spaded  in  about  the  roots.  See  list 
of  varieties  adopted  by  the  Fruit-Growers'  Mcetiug, 
on  page  115. 

Drainage. — Except  in  a  naturally  dry  subsoil, 
drains  should  be  laid  in  the  orchard.  Stone  sewers 
or  large  tiles  6hould  be  ueed,  and  laid  at  the  depth 
of  3,  and  better  4,  feet,  aud  near  enough  to  remove 
all  water  standing  in  the  soil. 

Grafting  may  be  done  this  month,  and  even  later. 
Cions  should  be  secured  before  vegetation  starts. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


99 


The  same  care  should  be  exercised  iu  selecting; 
cions  as  in  purchasing  ti'ccs.  Merely  grafting  a 
tree  does  not,  as  many  suppose,  improve  it,  unless 
the  graft  is  of  a  good  kind.  Root-grafts  may  be 
planted  in  the  nursery  as  soon  as  ground  is  ready. 

Insects. — The  war  on  these  6hould  never  cease. 
Crush  the  eggs  wherever  found,  and  kill  every 
moth,  no  matter  how  beautiful  and  innoceut  it 
may  appear. 

Manure  pays  as  well  in  the  orchard  as  anywhere. 
Some  varieties  which  will  not  bear  at  all  if  neg- 
lected, are  fruitful  and  profitable  if  properly  ma- 
nured. Put  it  into  a  considerable  area  where  new 
trees  are  to  be  planted,  and  on  the  surface  around 
those  already  growing. 

Pear  Trees. — For  orchard  culture  the  best  growers 
advise  standards ;  that  is,  the  pear  grafted  on  pear 
stock,  and  not  on  quince.  There  is  no  danger  that 
the  supply  of  late  pears  will  equal  the  demand.  See 
note  on  page  116,  and  list  of  varieties  on  page  17  of 
January  Agriculturist. 

Seeds  of  fruit  and  ornamental  trees  should  be 
planted  as  soon  as  the  ground  is  ready.  These 
should  be  sown  in  drills  in  good  mellow  soil. 

Stocks. — Seedling  stocks  taken  up  last  Autumn 
Bhould  be  got  into  the  ground.  If  neglected  then, 
take  up  as  soon  as  the  ground  is  thawed,  and  cut 
back  the  root  and  top. 

Pruning. — Consult  last  month's  Calendar. 


Kitclicn  Garden. 

When  the  Calendar  for  March  was  prepared,  there 
was  every  prospect  of  an  early  Spring — much  more 
so  than  now,  as  a  month  later  we  make  up  these 
directions  for  April.  The  ground  is  frozen,  and  we 
have  more  snow  thau  during  February.  Still,  be- 
fore this  paper  reaches  the  readers,  the  spell  of 
Winter  will  perhaps  be  broken,  and  the  weather 
admit  of  active  operations  in  the  garden.  Nothing 
is  to  be  gained  by  u  hurryiug  the  season ;"  the 
ground  must  have  time  to  thaw,  settle,  and  be- 
come warm,  and  this  will  take  place  much  earlier  if 
the  garden  has  been  properly  drained.  In  many  lo- 
calities, especially  at  the  North,  the  suggestions  for 
last  month  will  be  appropriate  now,  while  further 
South,  and  along  the  sea-shore,  much  other  work 
may  be  done.  To  those  who  have  a  good  garden, 
nothing  need  be  said  upon  its  importance.  To 
those  who  have  not  given  sufficient  attention  to 
this  valuable  part  of  the  homestead,  we  would  say, 
it  will  pay  to  make  one.  A  good  warm,  rich  soil  is 
best,  but  if  that  be  not  found  near  the  dwelling,  al- 
most any  soil  can  be  brought  into  good  condition 
by  draining,  deep  plowing,  and  plenty  of  manure. 
We  know  that  the  garden  is  almost  always  the 
most  profitable  portion  of  the  farm.  Keep  a  care- 
ful debt-and-credit  account  with  it,  crediting  every 
item  taken  off  at  a  fair  valuation,  and  our  state- 
ments will  be  proved.  Should  there  be  a  slight 
deficit  in  the  course  of  two  or  three  years,  it  will 
be  more  than  made  up  by  the  pleasure  given. 
Have  a  good  garden,  even  though  it  diminish  the 
staple  field  crops  by  a  few  bushels.  A  wealthy 
farmer  friend  of  ours  always  has  early  and  choice 
vegetables  upon  his  table,  but  to  save  trouble,  be 
buys  them  in  the  market  of  a  neighboring  city. 
This  may  do  for  him,  and  others  of  like  means,  but 
not  for  the  great  mass.  But  every  one  may,  with  a 
little  exertion,  have  most  luxuries  of  the  garden 
without  going  to  market.  It  may  be  owing  some- 
what to  imagination,  but  we  always  think  the 
vegetables  of  our  own  raising  are  better  than  any 
that  can  be  bought. 

A  Sot-bed  or  Cold-Frame  Substitute. — In  these 
hints  we  often  refer  to  hot-beds  and  cold  frames, — 
the  former  a  glass-covered  box  with  a  bed  of  warm, 
fermenting  manure  under  the  plants;  the  latter 
the  glass  covered  box  without  the  fermenting  ma- 
nure. Their  construction  has  often  been  described 
in  the  Agriculturist,  and  they  are  so  cheaply  made, 
bo  easily  managed,  and  so  convenient,  that  they 
may  well  find  a  place  in  most  gardens.  But  when 
they  cannot  be  had,  other  methods  may  be  adopted 


to  secure  early  plants.  Small  earthen  pots  are  the 
best,  but  one  of  the  cheapest  is  the  use  of  sods. 
Cut  up  good  green  turf  three  or  four  inches  deep, 
and  divide  it  into  many  little  squares  with  a  knife 
or  spade.  Pack  these  pieces  closely  together,  bot- 
tom side  up,  in  boxes,  or  on  boards,  and  plant  in 
the  centre  of  each  piece,  one  or  more  seeds,  of  any 
plant  desired  early — vegetable  or  flower — corn, 
peas,  tomatoes,  melons,  cabbages,  etc.  Whole  or 
cut  potatoes  may  also  be  put  in.  Set  in  a  warm 
place,  as  on  the  south  side  of  the  barn,  house,  or 
shed,  but  carry  them  to  the  cellar  or  a  warm 
room,  if  a  cold  night  or  day  occur.  The  more  sun- 
shine they  have  the  better.  The  only  further  care 
needed  will  be  to  always  keep  the  sods  moist,  not 
wet.  This  may  be  doue  by  wetting  on  the  under 
side  along  the  bottom  boards,  or  by  occasional 
light  syringing  or  sprinkling  from  above,  as 
needed.  The  seeds  will  start  and  get  two  or  three 
weeks'  growth — a  clear  gain  of  so  much  time. 
Wheu  the  soil  and  season  admit,  separate  the 
pieces,  and  set  them  out  in  hills  or  drills,  as  re- 
quired, putting  the  earth  well  around  them.  The 
plants  will  grow  right  on,  all  the  better  for  having 
the  6od  decaying  around  the  roots. 
-  Artichokes. — Uncover,  and  if  desired  to  increase 
the  bed,  plant  out  suckers  from  old  plants,  in  well- 
prepared  beds.  This  is  not  much  cultivated, 
however,  and  we  look  upon  it  as  rather  a  fancy 
vegetable,  which  costs  more  than  it  comes  to. 

Asparagus. — This  is  worth  far  more  than  it  costs. 
Rake  off  the  coarser  part  of  the  winter  covering  of 
manure,  and  fork  the  liner  portion  into  the  soil, 
taking  care  not  to  injure  the  crowns.  Water  with 
refuse  brine,  or  apply  salt.  See  directions  on 
forcing  in  March  Calendar.  Sow  seed  for  new  plan- 
tations in  drills  one  foot  apart.  New  beds  may  be 
made  by  planting  out  two-year-old  roots.  Lay  the 
plot  off  in  beds  4  feet  wide,  with  convenient  alleys 
between.  The  ground  cannot  be  made  too  rich  or 
worked  too  deeply.  It  is  high  culture  rather  than 
any  particular  variety  that  makes  large  asparagus. 
Three  rows,  one  foot  apart,  may  be  put  on  a  4-foot 
bed,  with  the  plants  one  foot  apart  in  the  rows. 
Put  the  crowns  of  the  plant  at  least  i  inches  below 
the  surface.  Many  otherwise  good  beds  are  ruined 
by  planting  too  near  the  surface. 

Beans. — Should  not  be  planted  until  all  danger  of 
frost  is  past.  In  some  places  Early  Valentines  and 
Six  Weeks  may  be  planted  late  in  the  month. 

Bean-Poles  and  Pea-Brush. — These  should  have 
been  already  secured,  but  if  it  has  been  neg- 
lected get  a  supply  at  once.  Nothing  looks  more 
unsightly  than  peas  stuck  with  brush  cut  after  the 
leaves  have  started. 

Beets. — Sow  the  Early  Bassano  as  soon  as  the 
frost  is  out  of  the  ground.  The  seed  may  be 
sprouted  by  soaking  over  night  in  warm  water; 
then  pour  off  the  water  and  keep  in  a  covered  ves- 
sel in  a  warm  place.  It  is  well  to  dry  the  seed  off 
before  sowing,  with  plaster  if  you  have  it.  In 
sprouting  these  and  all  other  seeds,  the  growth 
should  not  be  allowed  to  proceed  too  far,  for  if  the 
little  root  be  broken  off,  as  it  is  apt  to  be  in  sow- 
ing, the  germ  will  perish.  As  soon  as  it  breaks  the 
seed-coat  and  appears,  the  seed  should  be  sown. 
What  passes  for  the  seed  of  the  beet  is  really  a 
kind  of  woody  cup  coutaining  several  seeds.  If  all 
grow,  we  have  a  number  of  plants  very  close  to- 
gether. A  correspondent  suggests  to  break  up  the 
seeds  before  planting;  he  finds  it  to  be  a  saving  of 
seed,  and  renders  future  thinning  much  easier.  We 
have  never  tried  it,  but  give  the  suggestion  for 
those  who  wish  to  experiment.  The  seed  may  be 
broken  by  carefully  rolling  between  two  boards. 
Sow  in  drills  18  inches  apart. 

Broccoli. — Treat  like  cauliflower. 

Cabbage. — Sow  in  hot-beds,  if  not  already  done,  or 
in  sods  as  above.  Trausplaut  from  hot-beds  as  soon 
as  the  season  will  allow.  Early  York  and  Sugar-Loaf 
are  still  among  the  best  earlj-  sorts,  and  the  excel- 
lent Wiuningstadt  comes  on  soon  after  them.  At 
the  last  of  the  month  the  sowing  for  a  late  crop 
may  be  made  in  the  open  ground. 


Carrots.— Sow  the  Early  Horn  in  rich,  deep  eoil, 
in  drills  1  foot  or  15  inches  apart. 

Cauliflower. — Early  plants  in  the  hot-bed  may 
now  be  potted  off  or  pricked  out  in  a  cold  frame,  if 
they  arc  getting  large,  and  the  season  will  not  per- 
mit their  being  set  in  the  open  ground.  They  will 
be  none  the  worse  for  a  second  transplanting.  In 
planting  out,  recollect  that- the  ground  can  hardly 
be  made  too  rich. 

Celery. — The  great  difficulty  with  this  crop  i6  to 
get  the  seeds  started,  for  they  are  very  6low  in  ger- 
minating. They  may  be  sown  on  a.  warm  border  or 
in  a  cold  frame.  A  friend  of  ours,  who  never  fails 
of  getting  a  crop,  piles  the  brush  and  rubbish  of 
the  garden  upon  the  bed  and  burns  it,  and  then 
rakes  the  ashes  in  with  the  soil,  and  sows  the  seed 
when  the  bed  is  cool.  No  doubt  this  burning  over 
the  bed  may  be  advantageously  practised  with 
many  seeds  that  are  slow  to  start.  The  seeds  of 
weeds  are  killed,  and  the  ashes  act  as  a  fertilizer. 

Cold  Frames. — These  may  etill  be  advantageously 
used,  to  start  tender  seedlings.  Those  in  which 
the  plants  are  already  up,  should  have  the  6ash  re- 
moved every  fine  day. 

Cress  or  Pepper-Grass. — Sow  early  in  rows  6 
inches  apart.  Sprinkle  the  plants  with  ashes  to 
keep  off  insects. 

Cucumbers.—  Nothing  is  gained  by  planting  too 
early  in  the  open  air.  Some  for  an  early  crop  may 
be  started  in  the  hot-beds  or  on  sods.  The  Early 
Russian  is  a  favorite  sort  for  an  early  crop. 

Brain  wherever  needed.  There  are  but  few  gar- 
dens that  will  not  pay  well  for  draining.  This 
improves  the  texture,  admits  air  and  warms  t>o 
soil,  making  it  much  earlier.  A  drain  or  two  cost- 
ing but  little,  will  sometimes  double  the  yield  of  a 
whole  garden,  and  bring  everything  forward  earlier. 

Egg  Plants.— These  cannot  be  forwarded  too 
soon.  If  not  already  growing  in  the  hot  bed,  they 
should  be  sown  at  once.  Pot  off  the  plants  which 
are  large  enough.  The  Long  Purple  is  tho  earliest, 
but  the  large  Purple  is  most  generally  cultivated. 

Garlic-Set  out  the  divisions  of  the  bulbs,  or 
cloves  as  they  are  called.  This  is  little  employed 
in  cooking  in  this  country.  Judiciously  used  in 
very  small  quantities,  it  imparts  a  most  delicious 
flavor  to  soups,  stews,  etc. 

Horse  Radish. — New  beds  may  be  made  by  plant- 
ing crowns  or  pieces  of  the  root.  Make  the  bed 
where  it  can  remain  permanently,  as  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  eradicate  it  to  make  room  for 
another  crop.  The  benefit  of  liberal  manuring  will 
be  seen  in  the  iucreased  size  of  the  roots. 

Hot-beds. — Give  plenty  of  air  to  prevent  the 
plants  from  becoming  too  delicate.  Stir  the  soil 
between  the  rows,  which  has  become  hardened  by 
frequent  watering.  Weed  carefully,  and  thin  out 
the  plants  where  crowded.  In  many  localities  the 
first  of  this  month  will  be  quite  early  enough  to 
6tart  a  hot-bed  for  plants  for  the  family  garden. 

Kohl  Rabi. — Sow  in  hot-bed  or  6ods  for  early,  and 
in  the  open  ground  at  the  last  of  the  month. 

Leeks. — Sow  in  rich  soil  in  rows  15  inches  apart. 

Lettuce. — Transplant  from  the  hot-bed  as  soon  as 
the  season  will  allow;  sow  in  hot-beds,  or  cold 
frames,  or  in  sods,  and  in  the  open  ground.  There 
are  so  many  varieties  that  we  are  puzzled'  to  make 
a  selection.  The  Neapolitan  Cabbage,  the  Butter, 
and  the  Ice  Drumhead,  will  satisfy  every  one. 

Manure. — There  should  be  a  bank  of  well-decom- 
posed manure  always  ready  to  honor  all  demands. 
Prepare  for  liquid  manure.  A  peck  more  bv  lefes  of 
hen-dung  in  a  barrel  of  water  makes  a  wonderful 
persuader  to  vegetation. 

Mustard  may  be  sown  for  salad  or  greens  as  soon 
as  the  ground  is  open. 

Melons  may  be  started  in  the  samp  way  as  cucum- 
bers. Try  the  White  Japan,  if  possible  to  procure 
the  seeds.    The  Jenny  Lind  is  very  early  and  good. 

Nasturtiums  are  useful  and  ornamental,  and  very 
easily  grown.     They  make  the  best  of  pickles,  and 


100 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[April, 


yield  beautiful  flowers.  Sow  in  a  warm  place  the 
last  of  the  month,  and'  give  them  some  support. 
Pea-brush  will  do,  or,  if  near  a  fence,  they  may  run 
npou  strings  or  wires. 

Onions. — Put  out  Potato  and  Top  onions,  nud 
bow  seed  in  rich  mellow  soil.  Avoid  the  use  of 
manure  containing  foul  seeds.  Muck  and  ashes  are 
excellent  for  this  crop.  Some  cultivators  burn 
over  the  bed  to  destroy  the  weed  seeds.  Use  great 
care  to  get  pure  seed.  Sow  thinly  in  drills  15 
iuches  apart. 

Parsley. — Sow  early.  It  is  always  a  long  time  in 
coming  up.  It  is  sometimes  sown  along  the  mar- 
gins of  beds,  for  which  it  is  a  very  pretty  edging. 

Parsnips. — Sow  in  rich,  deep  soil,  at  the  last  of 
the  month,  if  the  weather  admits.  A  correspondent 
suggests  that  those  of  last  year's  crop  still  in  the 
ground  have  the  tops  cut  off  about  half  an  inch : 
iu  this  way  they  will  keep  good  until  the  ground 
is  needed  for  another  crop. 

Peas. — See  article  on  page  115,  this  number. 

Peppers. — Sow  in  hot-bed  or  sods.  The  true 
thick-fleshed  squash  pepper  is  the  best  for  pickling. 

Radishes. — A  light,  quick,  sandy  soil  is  essential. 
Unless  a  radish  grows  rapidly  it  is  worthless.  Sow 
early,  and  at  intervals  for  succession.  The  Turnip- 
rooted  and  Olive-shaped  are  good  60rts.  Water 
with  liquid  manure ;  use  ashes  if  attacked  by  insects. 

Rhubarb. — Set  out  whole  roots  or  crowns,  as  soon 
as  the  ground  will  admit  of  working.  Three  feet 
apart  is  usually  quite  near  enough  to  give  the  leaves 
room  to  expand.  Make  the  ground  rich  with  well- 
rotted  manure.  Fork  in  plenty  of  manure  around 
the  old  stocks.  See  Calendar  for  February.  Seed 
may  be  sown  as  early  as  convenient.  All  who  could 
not  get  one  or  two  year-old  roots  or  crowns,  have 
doubtless  sent  for  seed  from  our  distribution.  The 
young  Beedling  plants  will  require  less  room  the 
lirst  year,  and  may  be  kept  iu  a  bed,  thinning  out, 
or  transplanting  as  needed  to  prevent  crowding. 
Note  the  best  and  largest  plants  for  after  use.  Tcu 
to  twenty  roots  are  all  that  will  be  needed  by  any 
ordinary  family. 

Salsify. — Sow  as  early  as  the  season  will  admit. 
See  article  on  page  84,  last  month. 

Seeds. — Many  of  these  can  be  profitably  raised  in 
the  garden,  while  others  may  be  purchased  more 
cheaply  of  those  who  make  a  business  of  growing 
them.  Set  out  all  roots  which  have  been  saved  for 
seed,  as  well  as  seed  onions,  in  a  rich  spot,  and 
where  they  can  be  daily  noticed,  in  order  that  they 
may  be  gathered  at  the  right  time. 

Squashes.— Summer  squashes  may  be  started  as 
directed  for  cucumbers.  Winter  sorts  should  not 
be  planted  until  the  ground  is  thoroughly  warmed. 

Sweet  Herbs. — There  should  always  be  a  bed  for 
these  humble,  yet  useful  tenants  of  the  garden. 
The  perennial  sorts,  like  lavender,  thyme,  hyssop, 
etc.,  may  be  propagated  by  division  of  the  roots. 
We  prefer  to  start  sage  from  the  seed  or  from  cut- 
tings. Summer  savory,  basil,  and  sweet  marjoram, 
may  be  sown  when  the  ground  is  warm. 

Sweet  Potatoes. — The  roots  may  be  placed  in  a 
hot-bed,  in  order  to  get  sets  for  planting.  Iu  ab- 
sence of  a  hot-bed  a  frame  of  boards  may  be  placed 
over  a  heap  of  fermenting  manure  covered  with  a 
few  inches  of  earth.  The  potatoes  will  soon  sprout. 
The  frame  should  be  covered  with  boards  at  night 
and  during  cold  days. 

Spinach,. — There  should  be  a  good  supply  from 
the  wintered  crop.  Sow  early  for  succession,  m 
drills  a  foot  apcrt. 

Tomatoes. — Pot  off  from  the  hot-beds  those  that 
arc  large  enough,  and  place  the  pots  in  a  cold  frame. 
See  article  on  page  114.  If  not  done  already,  start 
seed  in  the  hot-bed,  or  in  sods. 

Tools. — Clcwo  every  one  before  it  is  put  away.  If 
you  have  never  used  a  spading  fork  or  bayonet 
hoe,  try  them  and  you  will  not  readily  give  them 
up.  A  man  with  a  first-rate  hoe  or  other  imple- 
me.it  will  do  twice  as  much  as  two  men  with  poor 


tools,  and  the  saving  of  time  will  often  pay  in  a 
single  day  for  the  greater  cost  of  the  former. 

Turnips. — Early  kinds  should  be  sown. 

Winter  Cherry  or  Pliysalis  should  be  grown  as  di- 
rected for  Tomatoes. 


Flower  Garden   and  Lawn. 

The  work  here  will  be  mainly  that  indicated  in 
last  month's  Calendar.  Clearing  up,  plauting 
shrubbery,  and  making  preparations  for  the  open 
season,  will  fully  occupy  all  the  time  that  can  be 
given  to  this  department.  New  grounds  may  be 
laid  out,  and  old  ones  enlarged  or  improved.  A 
garden  is  never  finished.  Each  year  presents 
suggestions  towards  that  perfection  which  we  all 
take  so  much  pleasure  iu  striving  for,  but  never 
fully  attain. 

.4re«ua/s.— Asters,  Balsams  and  others  may  still 
be  sown  in  hot-beds,  or,  in  absence  of  this,  in  a 
cold  frame,  or  in  sods  as  described  under  the 
Kitchen  Garden.  Those  started  earlier  should  be 
thiuned  and  weeded  if  they  need  it,  and  if  large 
enough  they  should  be  put  into  small  pots  to  be 
ready  to  turu  out  as  soon  as  the  season  will  permit. 
A6  a  general  thing  sowing  is  done  iu  the  open  air 
too  early. — See  article  on  early  sowing  on  page 
115.- — Still  many  hardy  annuals  can  be  properly  put 
in  as  soon  as  the  ground  is  iu  working  condition. 
Two  years  ago  we  were  unable  to  sow  a  large  as- 
sortment of  over  a  hundred  varieties  of  annuals 
until  June  1,  and  we  had  better  successthan  in  any 
previous  }-ear.  As  a  general  rule  those  annuals 
which  readily  spring  from  seed  that  is  self-sown  in 
Autumn  may  be  put  in  early.  Among  these  are 
Petunias,  Whitlavia,  Portulacca,  Larkspurs,  Candy- 
tuft, Sweet  Alyssum,  etc. 

Bulbs. — Many  of  thc6e  will  show  flowers  this 
month.  In  most  localities  the  winter  covering 
may  be  all  removed  very  soon.  Tall-growing  sorts, 
such  as  Crown  Imperials  and  some  of  the  Hya- 
ciuths,  will  need  to  be  staked,  to  prevent  winds 
from  breaking  them  down. 

Cold  Frames  and  Pits  should  be  opened  every 
mild  day,  to  harden  off  the  plants  before  they  are 
turned  out. 

Climbers  should  be  pruned  and  trained.  Plant 
new  ones  iu  appropriate  places.  The  Wistaria  is 
one  of  the  favorite  climbers,  and  will  stand  the 
Winter  wherever  it  is  not  colder  than  around  New- 
York.  In  colder  localities  it  may  be  laid  down  and 
covered  with  earth.  For  foliage  merely,  nothing  is 
more  beautiful  than  the  Virginia  Creeper,  some- 
times called  the  American  Ivy  or  Woodbine.  It 
grows  everywhere,  and  can  be  readily  transplanted 
from  the  woods.  It  is  not  poisonous,  as  many  sup- 
pose. The  poisonous  Ivy  has  a  three-parted  leaf, 
while  that  of  the  Virginia  Creeper  is  five-parted. 

Edgings. — These  arc  of  great  importance  to  the 
neatness  of  the  garden,  and  are  always  a  source  of 
trouble.  Tile  edgings  are  very  neat,  but  they  are 
too  expensive  for  most  people.  Box  makes  a  neat 
edging,  but  it  must  be  frequently  cut,  and  needs  to 
be  reset  every  few  years :  besides,  when  the  Winter 
is  severe  it  dies  out  in  spots  and  becomes  ragged. 
Grass  edgiugs  are  easily  obtained,  but  they  require 
frequent  trimming  to  keep  the  roots  from  spread- 
ing. Whoever  will  introduce  a  neat,  hardy,  and 
easily-kept  edging  plant,  will  do  a  good  deed.  We 
prefer  grass  edgings,  neatly  kept  and  trimmed. 
They  should  be  6  or  8  inches  wide.  It  is  best  to 
cut  the  turf  in  an  old  pasture,  in  strips  twice  as 
wide  as  the  edging,  as  they  are  more  easily  trans- 
ported, and  can  be  divided  with  the  edging-knife  or 
a  sharp  spade,  uear  the  place  they  are  to  be  laid. 

Evergreens  are  transplanted  with  best  success  in 
May.  Norway  Spruce  and  Arbor  Vita?  will  bear  re- 
moval earlier.  Never  let  the  roots  of  an  evergreen 
be  exposed  to  drying  winds.  More  attention 
should  be  given  to  broad-leaved  evergreens  like 
the  Holly,  Laurel,  Rhododendrons,  etc. 

Gravel  Walks. — Remove  all  weeds  and  give  a 
dressing  of  fresh  gravel  where  needed.    Iu  making 


new  walks,  be  careful  to   6elect  gravel  that  will 
pack  firmly.     Coarse  river  gravel  will  not  answer. 

Hedges  and  Screens  may  be  set  out.  Buckthorn, 
Privet,  and  Hibiscus  or  "Shrubby  Althre,"  make 
good  hedges.  Arbor  Vita?,  Red  Cedar,  and  Norway 
Spruce,  are  best  for  screens. 

Lawns. — If  there  are  but  few  bare  spots  of 
moderate  size,  they  may  be  filled  with  turf;  if 
large,  it.  will  be  necessary  to  sow  seed.  A  top- 
dressing  of  fine  compost  will  be  beneficial :  even 
coarse  manure  may  be  used  if  the  long  stuff  is 
raked  off  after  the  rains  have  washed  out  the 
soluble  portions.  Plaster  is  a  valuable  application, 
on  most  lawns. 

Manure. — If  the  borders  had  a  dressing  in  Au- 
tumn, it  6bould  be  forked  in.  If  not,  give  them  a 
good  supply  of  fine  compost.  Don't  forget  that 
the  trees  on  the  lawn  will  thank  you  for  manure  by 
increased  growth  and  beauty. 

Perennials  and  Biennials. — Set  out  as  early  ns 
practicable.  See  page  117  for  a  good  selection. 
Ho'lyhocks  and  Sweet  Williams  should  have  been 
put  out  iu  Autumn ;  if  neglected  then,  attend  to  it 
now.  When  it  becomes  warm  enough  for  the  main 
sowing,  do  not  forget  to  put  in  seeds  in  a  reserve 
bed,  for  a  future  supply  of  these  plants. 

Poses. — Plant  out  new,  and  transplant  any  old 
needing  removal  early.  For  ordinary  culture,  we 
prefer  only  those  which  bloom  freely  on  their  own 
roots.  Many  line  kinds  are  grafted,  but  they  will 
6oon  disappoint  those  who  canuot  give  them  extra 
attention. 

Shrubs. — Plant  iu  masses  as  a  rule.  Single  large 
growing  specimens  have  a  fine  effect  on  the  lawu. 
Have  a  regard  to  the  wiuter  aspect  of  the  garden, 
and  introduce  evergrecus  where  they  will  appear 
to  good  advantage  when  all  other  shrubs  are  bare. 
Wiegelias,  Spiraeas,  Japan  Quince,  Lilacs,  Flowering 
Almond,  and  Plum,  should  be  in  every  collection. 
Where  it  is  desirable,  increase  by  divisions  of  large 
specimens.  The  purple-leaved  Barberry  makes  a 
fine  contrast  to  the  green  of  other  shrubs. 

Trees. — Plant  in  every  appropriate  spot.  Study 
the  effect  that  will  be  produced,  and  do  not  plant  a 
round-headed  tree  like  a  maple  where  a  graceful 
elm  would  be  more  pleasing.  Every  tree  has  its 
particular  expression,  and  where  much  planting  is 
to  be  done,  the  advice  of  a  landscape  gardener 
should  be  taken,  or  standard  works  upon  the  sub- 
ject should  be  consulted. 


Fruit  Garden. 

These  hints  are  given  under  a  distinct  head  be- 
cause in  the  best,  culture  vegetables  and  fruits  are 
grown  in  separate  grounds,  but  they  are  equally 
applicable  where  circumstances  require  that  both 
be  growu  together.  In  planting  fruits  of  any  kiud 
it  is  important  to  get  good  sorts,  and  this  is  equally 
necessary  with  small  fruits  as  with  large.  We  have 
already  given  lists  of  pears  and  grapes,  and  on 
other  pages  of  the  present  number  will  be  found 
lists  of  other  fruits  fixed  upon  by  practical  growers 
after  a  full  discussion  upon  their  merits. 

Cherries. — Plant  standards  or  dwarfs  as  early  as 
possible.  Most  varieties  may  be  dwarfed  by  bud- 
ding on  the  Mahaleb  stock,  when  they  form  coin- 
pact  bushes  suitable  for  the  garden. 

Currants. — Old  plants  need  no  attention  now 
beyond  liberal  manuriug.  Currants  are  generally 
left  to  take  care  of  themselves,  but  no  plant  more 
readily  responds  to  good  cultivation.  Chip  manure 
is  excellent  for  them,  but  they  will  be  glad  of 
something  better.  Rooted  cuttings  of  last  year 
may  uow  be  put  out  where  they  are  to  stand,  cut- 
ting back  the  last  year's  growth  to  three  or  four 
buds.  Cuttings  made  in  the  Fall  and  Winter  should 
be  put  out ;  they  should  be  put  two-thirds  of  their 
length  in  the  ground,  and  have  all  the  buds  which 
are  buried  removed. 

Pigs. — These  are  sometimes  grown  at  the  North, 
but  they  require  great  care  In  laying  down  in  Au- 
tumn, and  even  then  arc  killed  by  a  severe  Winter. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


101 


Uncover  as  boou  as  the  weather  becomes  settled. 

Goosebenies. — Treat  these  the  same  as  currants. 

Grapes.— No  farm  or  garden  should  be  without 
this  delicious  fruit.  There  are  some  sorts  which 
will  do  well  without  extra  care,  and  others  which 
will  well  repay  for  pruning.  See  reports  of  the 
Fruit-Growers'  meetings  in  March  number,  and  ar- 
ticles on  page  116.  Our  special  premium  of  grapes 
will  doubtless  be  the  means  of  introducing  good 
varieties  to  many  localities.  Where  there  are  late 
frosts  it  is  best  to  remove  the  winter  covering  of 
earth  from  the  vines,  and  leave  them  laying  on  the 
ground  until  all  danger  of  frost  has  passed,  having 
straw  or  litter  ready  to  throw  over  them  in  case 
protection  is  needed.  Great  care  is  needed  in  tying 
vines  up  to  the  trellis  after  they  have  started.  Fork 
well-rotted  manure  into  the  borders,  if  not  rich. 

Pears. — No  garden  can  be  complete  without  a 
good  selection  of  dwarf  pears.  They  are  always  the 
pets  of  the  garden,  and  well  repay  the  care  be- 
stowed on  them.  See  January  Agriculturist,  page 
17,  for  a  list  of  choice  varieties.  Trees  that  have 
been  properly  grown  in  the  nursery  will  have  but 
one  main  stem,  and  be  well  furnished  with 
branches,  the  lowest  of  which  start  from  near  the 
ground.  Before  planting  out  cut  back  at  least  one- 
half  of  the  former  season's  growth. 

Quinces. — Put  out  cuttings  in  rich  soil.  This  tree 
is  generally  left  to  have  its  own  way,  but  it  can  be 
made  to  grow  shapely  by  proper  pruning.  * 

Raspberries. — Plant  out  in  rows  4  feet  apart,  with 
the  plants  3  feet  in  the  row.  Uncover  those  buried 
for  the  Winter,  and  tie  up  the  canes  to  stakes  or 
trellises.  Cut  away  the  canes  which  fruited  last 
year,  if  not  done  before.  Fork  a  good  dressing  of 
manure  around  the  roots,  if  not  in  good  rich  soil. 

Strawberries. — The  mulching  of  straw  applied  in 
Autumn  should  be  parted  directly  over  the  plants. 
New  beds  may  be  prepared  and  planted ;  make  them 
in  good  soil,  and  enrich  it  with  old  manure. 
Make  the  beds  4  feet  wide,  with  alleys  two  feet 
wide  between  them.  Three  rows  of  plants  may  be 
put  upon  a  bed  of  this  width.  Set  them  18  inches 
apart  each  way,  which  will  briug  the  outside  rows 
6  iuches  from  tho  edge  of  the  bed.  The  plants, 
when  takeu  up,  should  be  prepared  for  planting  by 
removing  all  the  dead  leaves,  and  shortening  the 
roots  about  one-third.  Spread  out  the  roots  evenly, 
and  plant  as  deeply  as  can  bo  conveniently  done 
without  leaving  any  soil  on  the  crowns  of  the  plants. 

Trellises.— Should  be  repaired.  See  page  116  for 
description  of  a  cheap  and  neat   style  of  trellis. 


Green  and.  Hot-Houses. 

Fire  heat  in  the  green-house  may  now  be  dis- 
pensed with  during  warm  days,  but  will  often  be 
needed  at  night.  Keep  the  house  open  as  much  as 
possible,  in  order  to  prepare  the  plants  for  removal 
to  the  grounds.  Hot-houses  will  need  much  less 
fire  and  more  air  as   the  weather  grows  milder. 

Bedding  Plants. — The  rooted  stock  should  be 
potted  off.  Cuttings  of  Verbenas,  Ageratums,  Pe- 
tunias, etc.,  may  still  be  made. 

Btdbs.— The  hardy  kinds  that  are  out  of  bloom 
may  be  turned  into  the  border. 

Callas. — Water  freely,  and  turn  to  keep  them 
from  drawing  toward  the  light. 

Camellias. — Those  out  of  flower  should  be  kept 
in  a  growing  state.  Syringe  freely  and  prune  into 
shape.    Make  cuttings. 

Fuschias  will  need  more  water  as  the  blooming 
season  approaches.     Insert  a    stock  of  cuttings. 

Grapes.—  These  are  in  such  different  states  of  for- 
wardness that  no  particular  directions  can  be  given. 
Those  forced  early  will  have  the. fruit  of  a  size  to 
require  thinning.  Cut  back  the  laterals  above  the 
bunches  to  three  leaves.  Syringe  with  water  to 
which  sulphur  has  been  added,  to  prevent  mildew. 

Insects  increase  rapidly,  and  will  soon  injure  the 
young  growth  if  not  checked.  Uso  whale  oil  soap, 
and  other  preventives,  as  already  recommended. 

Inarching  may  be  performed  on  oranges,  lemons, 
tfhd  other  shrubby  plants. 


Pruning. — Head  back  unshapely  and  feeble 
plants,  to  induce  the  formatiou  of  vigorous  shoots. 

Seeds  of  green  and  hot-house  plants  may  now  he 
sown.  Those  of  tropical  countries  will  need  a 
strong  bottom  heat.  Where  there  is  room  sow  a 
few  pots  with  annuals,  or  even  garden  vegetables. 

Shifting. — Plants  needing  more  room  may  be  re- 
potted. Cut  away  any  diseased  roots.  Dress 
with  fresh  earth  those  that  do  not  need  shifting. 

Water  freely  rapidly-growing  plants.  Cactuses, 
aloes,  and  other  succulents  need  but  little  water. 

Weeds  and  Moss  should  be  carefully  kept  down. 


Apiary  in  April. 

Strong  stocks  of  bees  need  little  attention  now, 
except  to  destroy  any  moths  that  may  have  found 
their  way  into  the  enclosure.  The  moth  worms 
may  be  found  eurlod  up  on  the  floor  of  the  hives  on 
cold  mornings,  whence  they  are  easily  removed  on 
raising  the  hive Clean  out  all  tilth,  and  any  clus- 
ters of  dead  bees  about  the  combs.  The  bees  col- 
lect pollen,  and  but  very  little  honey  at  this  season. 
If  the  store  of  honey  in  any  hive  has  fallen  short, 
put  a  supply  in  shallow  dishes  under  the  boxes, 
with  shavings  or  chips  in  it  for  the  bees  to  alight 

on When  short  of  home  rations  at  tills  season, 

bees  are  prone  to  rob  others.  Watch  for  unusual 
excitement  towards  evening.  A  strong  hive  attack- 
ed will  usually  defeud  itself,  especially  if  tho  en- 
trance be  contracted  so  that  they  can  meet  the  in- 
truders one  at  a  time.  Weak  colonies  6hould  be 
removed  at  once  to  a  cellar  or  dark  room,  until 
after  a  few  warm  days,  when  the  poachers  will  have 
turned  to  honest  pursuits.  Stop  depredations  as 
early  as  possible ;  a  successful  robbery  emboldens 
them  to  further  free-booting It  is  seldom  ad- 
visable to  disturb  bees  already  doing  well.  If 
changes  are  to  be  made  to  movable  frame  hives  or 
otherwise,  let  it  be  clone  now.  Look  out  now  for 
any  more  hives  needed  at  the  swarming  season. 
—< ■  ■■  i  » 

Strawberry  Exhibition. 

AT  THE 

OFFICE  OF  THE  AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST 

$50  in  Prizes. 

The  Proprietor  of  the  Agriculturist  invites  Strawberry 
Growers,  of  this  viciniLy  and  elsewhere,  to  make  an  exhi- 
bition of  their  choice  fruit  on  Thursday  and  Friday,  June 
16th  and  19tll.*  at  the  American  Agriculturist  Office  ;  and 
to  give  zest  to  the  exhibilion.  offers  the  following 

PRIZES  : 
A— For  best  25  approved  varieties  (one  quart  each). . .  $7 

B— Second  prize 4 

C— Third  prize S 

D— For  best  dish  of  market  berries   (two  quarts  of 
one  variety.— It  will  be  very  desirable  to  show 

plants  with  fruit  in  addition) 3 

E—  For  second  and  third  best       do.        do.  $3,  $2 

F— For  largest  three  berries  of  one  variety,  (weight 

and  size  both  being  considered) 2 

G— For  best  New  Seedling  not  before  exhibited  .. ..  5 
H— For  Second  Best  Seedling  not  before  exhibited  ..    3 

1  —For  best  flavored  Strawberries  (one  quart) 2 

J  —For  best  quart  of  White  Strawberries 2 

K— For  best  quart  Everbearing 2 

L— For  best  quart  of  Bonte  St.  Julien t 

M— For  best  quart  of  La  Constante 1 

N— For  best  pint  of  Princesse  Frederick  William 1 

O— For  best  pint  of  Empress  Eugenie i 

P— For  best  pint  of  Marguerite 1 

Q_For  best  quart  Fillmore i 

R— For  best  quart  Cutter 1 

S— For  best  quart  of  Triomphe  de  Gand 1 

T— For  best  quart  Wilson's  Albany 1 

U— For  best  quart  Hooker's  Seed  ling 1 

V— For  best  quart  Hovey's  Seedling 1 

W-For  best  quart  Victoria 1 

X— For  best  quart  Jenny  Lind 1 

Y— For  best  quart  Vicomtesse  Hericart  deThury 1 

t^3  No  sample  can  compete  for  more  than  one  prize. 

The  berries  to  come  in  competition  for  the  premiums 
must  be  upon  the  tables  as  early  as  11  A.  M.  on  Thursday 
June  ISth,  and  each  specimen  must  be  correctly  labeled. 
The  Awarding  Committee  will  attend  to  their  duties  at 
12  M.— The  exhibition  will  not  open  to  the  public  until 

2  P.M.  When  the  premiums  are  awarded,  the  yiames,  resi- 
dence, and  places  of  business  of  the  exhibitors  will  be  put 
upon  the  specimens,  and  the  prize  samples  designated. 

No  Fruit  exhibited  will  be  removed  before  Friday 
evening  without  special  permit. 

The  Committee  of  Award  appointed  by  the  Fruit  Grow- 
ers' Meeting,  will  consist  of  some  of  the  most  noted  and 
reliable  judges  of  fruits  in  the  country. 

*  Should  any  peculiarity  of  the  season  require  a  change 
to  be  made  in  the  date  of  holding  the  exhibition,  notice 
will  be  given  in  the  June  Agriculturist.] 


Small  Fruits— Good  Varieties. 


Since  row  inside  sheet  went  to  press,  the  N.  Y.  Fruit 
Growers'  Meeting  have  finished  the  discussion,  anil 
adopted  the  following  list  of  small  fruits  to  be  recom- 
mended fur  general  culture: 

Apricots.— Dubois'  Golden  ;  Peach  or  Moorpark  ;  and 
as  promising  well  :  D'Oulin. 

Cherries.— Belle  de  Cholsv ;  Black  Eagle;  Coe's 
transparent;  Elton  ;  Eailv  Richmond  ;  Black  Tarta- 
rian ;  Rockport  Bigarreau  ;  and  May  Duke. 

Currants.— Large  Red  Dutch  ;  Versailles;  Victoria- 
White  Grape  ;  White  Dutch  ;  Cherry  ;  and  Black  Naples.' 

Gooseberries.— Downing's,  Houghton's,  and  Moun- 
tain Seedlings. 

Grapes  Promising  Well.— In  addition  to  the  list  of 
those  recommended  for  general  culture,  and  for  special 
localities,  (see  page  83  of  February  Agriculturist),  the 
following  were  subsequently  selected  as  the  most  prom- 
ising: Creveling;  Cuyahoga;  and  Allen's  Hybrid.  The 
list  of  wine  grapes,  after  considerable  discussion,  was 
laid  upon  the  table. 

Plums — Green  Gage  ;  Coe's  Golden  Drop  ;  Imperial 
Gage  ;  Washington,  or  Bolmar  ;  Smith's  Orleans  ;  Jeffer- 
son ;  Lombard  ;  and  Yellow  Gage. 

Peaches.-  For  Free  Stones  :  Crawford's  Early  ;  Craw- 
ford's Late;  Early  York  ;  Bergen's  Yellow;  George  IV; 
Oldmixon  Free  ;  Morris  White:  Smock's  Late;  Cool- 
edge's  Favorite;  Stump;  Smock's  Free.  For  Cling- 
stones: Heath;  Large  White;  and  Oldmlxon. 

Nectarines.— Downton;  Stanwick  ;  Early  Newinc- 
ton  ;  and  Boston. 

Raspberries.— Hornet ;  Fianconia;  Bi Inckle's  Orange- 
Belle  de  Fontenay  ;  and  Doolittle's  Black  Cap. 

Quinces.— Orange;  Rae's  Seedling;  and  Portugal. 

Strawberries:  Triomphe  de  Gand  ;  Bartlett;  Wilson's 
Albany  ;  La  Constante  ;  Cutter's  Seedling  ;  and  New- 
land's  Seedling   (also  known  as  the   Pyramidal  Chili.) 


M 


Containing  a  great  variety  qf  Items,  including  many 
good  Hints  and  Suggestions  which  we  give  here  in  small 
type  and   condensed  fonn,  for   want   of  space  elsewhert. 

'Also  Weather.— The  season  is  yery  back- 
ward. We  had  March  weather  in  January  and  Febru- 
ary, and  are  now  having  February  weather  in  March. 
At  this  date,  (March  20,)  even  in  this  locality,  the  ground 
is  deeply  frozen,  and  partly  covered  with  snow.  Better 
thus,  than  to  have  a  cold  April  and  May,  if  so  be  that  we 
do  not  have  frosts  and  snow  then.  This  late  cold  weath- 
er has  promoted  the  filling  of  ice-houses,  and  is  likely  to 
have  a  favorable  effect  on  fruit  by  keeping  back  the  buds. 

The   UTcw   Agricultural    Bureau.— 

We  recently  spent  a  few  days  at  Washington,  partly  to 
witness  the  closing  proceedings  of  the  Memorable  37th 
Congress,  but  mainly  to  look  into  the  personnel,  the 
working,  and  the  prospects  of  the  new  "Department  of 
Agriculture."  There  is  certainly  an  improvement  upon 
anything  we  have  had  for  several  years  past.  Hitherlo 
there  has  been  both  incapacity  and  want  of  integrity.  At 
present  we  believe  there  Is  an  earnest  desire  to  do  the 
best  possible  for  the  agriculture  of  the  country.  Whether 
there  is  the  needed  ability,  we  shall  wait  to  learn  from 
what  is  accomplished.  We  have  neither  time  nor  room 
for  further  remarks  this  month. 


**  Vinelancl  Lands."-We  made  a  hurried 
visit  to  this  locality,  on  March  5th,  and  intended  to  pre- 
sent a  statement  of  our  observa lions,  but  the  great  press 
upon  our  columns  compels  us  to  defer  any  further  no- 
tice of  the  matter  until  next  month. 


" English  Wine  Plant."—  To  several 

inquirers.  This  is  merely  a  Rhubarb  plant  such  as  is 
common  all  over  the  country.  One  of  the  best  varfeties 
for  cooking  or  "  wine",  is  the  Linnaeus,  the  seed  of  which 
we  offered  freely  in  our  Seed  Distribution.  The  roots  are 
offered  in  our  advertising  columns  by  reliable  growers, 
at  $15  to  $18  per  thousand,  and  there  is  no  necessity 
for  paying  $250  per  thousand  to  traveling  agents,  for 
roots  no  better,  if  as  good.  The  Ohio  parlies  who 
are  trying  to  get  up  an  excitement  on  the  subject,  are 
honest  enough  to  say  that  their  "  English  Wine  Plant"  is 
a  seedling  of  the  English  Rhubarb.  We  have  seen  many 
samples  of  alcoholic  liquids  made  from  the  juice  of  the 
Rhubarb,  but  never  a  real  wine.  The  great  stories  about 
its  being  a  "delicious  wholesome  beverage  puiufying  the 

blood infallible  remedy  for  Dropsical  Complaints," 

etc.,  will  do  for  an  advertisement — on  a  par  we  should 
say  with  the  "  sarsaparilla  syrups"  of  the  past.  Before 
going  into  the  speculation,  better  inquire  how  much  of 
the  best  rhubarb  wine  can  be  actually  contracted  for  with 
responsible  parties,  at  50  or  75  cents  a  gallon,  let  alone  $8. 


102 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[April, 


Remedy  Tor  Foot  Rot  in  Sheep.— A 

correspondent  at  Wilmington,  Del.,  gives  the  following 
directions  for  treating  this  disease.  "  To  4  ozs.  butter  of 
antimony,  add  %  oz.  of  corrosive  sublimate.  Pare  off  all 
the  loose  parts  of  the  hoof  and  apply  some  of  the  mixture  ; 
then  tie  a  rag  around  the  foot.  Examine  it  next  day  and 
if  any  part  has  escaped,  apply  again.  It  is  very  difficult 
to  eradicate  this  disease  from  a  flock  where  a  number  are 
affected,  as  with  the  greatest  care  new  cases  will  occa- 
sionally occur,  and  unless  the  sheep  are  valuable,  the 
butcher  had  better  have  them.  LWe  hardly  dare  endorse 
a  medicine  composed  of  antimony  and  corrosive  subli- 
mate. It  may  be  safe,  however,  and  if  so,  would  probably 
be  effective.— Ed.] 

■'«  Blind   Staggers  "  in  Sheep.— N.  D. 

Townsend,  Vermilion  Co.,  111.  From  the  description  of 
the  disease  among  your  flock,  we  judge  it  to  be  "Hydatid 
on  the  brain."  The  Hydatid  is  a  minute  parasitic  insect, 
that  in  some  unexplained  manner  finds  its  way  to  the 
brain,  and  forms  a  small  sack  containing  watery  fluid,  in 
which  it  multiplies.  These  sacs  increase  in  size,  press 
upon  the  brain  and  absorb  its  substance,  causing  derange- 
ment, and  ultimate  death  of  the  sheep.  No  certain  cure  is 
known.  As  the  disease  is  most  prevalent  in  weak  ani- 
mals, the  preventive  is  to  keep  them  in  good  condition. 
The  malady  is  most  frequent  in  wet  marshy  districts,  and 
little  known  upon  upland  or  dry  pastures. 

<h  r  uh  in  the  Head  of  Slieep. — "  Farm- 
er's Son."  The  grub  found  in  the  head  of  sheep  is  the 
larva  of  a  small  fly,  (CEstrus  ovis.)  The  winged  insect 
is  common  during  the  months  of  July  and  August.  It 
seeks  to  enter  the  nose  of  the  sheep  to  deposit  its  eggs. 
The  animals  have«.  great  dread  of  it,  and  may  often  be 
seen  standing  in  a  circle  holding  their  heads  near  the 
ground,  to  escape  it.  From  the  egg,  a  small  worm  is 
hatched,  which  makes  its  way  up  to  some  of  the  cavities 
opening  from  the  nose,  where  it  remains  and  feeds  upon 
the  mucous  secreted  by  the  membranous  lining.  The  fol- 
lowing Spring  the  full  grown  grub  crawls  out,  and  enters 
the  ground,  where  it  changes  to  a  chrysalis  and  then  to  a 
perfect  fly.  The  only  difficulty  known  to  be  caused  by 
the  grub,  is  an  unpleasant  irritation  to  the  animal:  this 
may  result  in  inflammation  and  disease,  but  no  well  au- 
thenticated instances  are  on  record.  A  partial  prevent- 
ive is  to  plow  a  furrow  through  the  pasture  where  the 
sheep  may  protect  their  noses.  Some  shepherds  recom- 
mend to  tar  the  noses  of  the  animals  during  the  Summer. 
We  know  of  no  cure.  If  let  alone,  the  worms  will  leave 
of  themselves  in  the  Spring. 


Poisoned  Sheep. — Samuel  Cone,  Berkshire 
Co.,  Mass.,  inquires  if  wild  parsnep  is  poisonous  to  sheep, 
and  If  so,  what  is  the  remedy.  He  has  lost  several  sheep 
apparently  from  eating  hay  containing  the  wild  parsnep. 

Apple  Pomace  tor  Feed.— William  Hull, 
Wayne  Co.,  Pa.  We  have  no  experience  in  feeding 
stock  with  apple  pomace,  but  should  judge  it  to  be  of 
small  value.  Mixed  with  plenty  of  corn  meal,  it  might 
be   of  some  service.    The  experiment  is  worth  trying. 


Hungarian  Grass  lor  Horses.— E. 
Boyd,  Cayuga  Co.,  O.  We  have  seen  no  account  of  in- 
jury done  to  horses  by  the  beard  of  this  grass  adhering  to 
the  coat  of  the  stomach.  The  seed  alone  is  too  hearty 
food,  and  liable  to  induce  inflammation.  If  fed  with 
the  straw  it  is  generally  thought  to  be  safe,  we  believe. 

IMsease  Among-  Poultry.— "  J.  E.  R," 

Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  writes  that  many  choice  fowls  have 
died  in  that  place  of  what  seems  to  be  chicken  pox.  The 
head  becomes  swollen,  and  sores  the  size  of  a  pea  appear 
on  the  combs,  gills,  etc.  The  fowls  soon  become  entirely 
blind,  and  consequently  die  of  starvation. 

Xo  Keep  Birds  from  Corn.— A  corres- 
pondent at  Wilmington,  Del.,  directs  to  put  a  bushel  of 
corn  into  a  half  hogshead  or  other  convenient  vessel,  and 
set  it  in  the  sun,  or  where  it  will  be  warmed.  Pour  over 
it  a  half  pint  of  gas  tar  or  a  pint  of  common  tar,  and  mix 
well  until  every  kernel  is  smeared.  Then  stir  iu  ashes, 
fine  lime,  or  plaster,  until  the  grains  are  separated,  and 
spread  it  out  to  dry.  [Without  regard  to  the  birds,  it  is 
generally  well  to  smear  the  corn  with  tar,  dissolved  in 
from  four  to  five  times  its  bulk  of  warm  water,  and  dry  it 
off  with  fresh  slaked  lime.  This  kills  smut ;  the  tar  is  a 
good  fertilizer  itself;  and  the  lime  fits  some  of  the  soil  to 
nourish  the  young  plants.  Birds  will  not  eat  it,  but 
generally  they  are  not  satisfied  without  pulling  up  the 
kernels  to  find  out  whether  they  are  tarred  or  not.— Ed.] 

What  of  the  Italian  Bee?- Siuce  the 
excitement  attendant  upon  introducing  this  variety  of  the 
bee  Into  the  United  States,  but  little  has  appeared  on  the 


subject.  We  have  heard  of  fair  success  in  raising  them 
by  a  few  individuals,  but  hardly  enough  to  yet  advise  sub- 
stituting them  for  the  ordinary  kind.  A  reliable  state- 
mentof  facts,  showinglheir  comparative  value,  from  those 
who  have  fairly  tried  the  experiment,  would  be  of  interest. 

Good  **  Coon  Hunting1."— E.  Hayues, 
thus  describes  how  he  got  the  American  Agriculturist 
for  1863.  "  I  was  out  of  money  and  did  not  know  how  to 
get  any.  The  thought  came  that  I  could  make  the  coons 
pay  for  my  paper  ;  so  I  got  up  at  4  o'clock,  one  morning 
in  the  middle  of  last  December  and  started  out  with  dog 
and  gun.  I  got  back  at  5X  o'clock  with  two  coons,  being 
gone  just  l?a  hours.  I  sold  one  skin  for  one  dollar,  the 
other  a  small  one,  for  63  cents.  I  got  3  quarts  oil  out  of 
both  coons  ;  sold  1  quart  oil  for  31  cents  ;  have  2  qts.  left 
worth  62  cents.  So  you  see  I  made  $2.56  before  breakfast. 
I  send  for  the  Agriculturist,  American  Missionary  and 
the  Advocate  and  Guardian.  It  pays  don't  it?  [Certain- 
ly, suck  successful  hunting  pays,  at  such  prices  for  coon 
skins ;  but  it  is  not  often  that  like  good  fortune  is  met 
with.  As  a  rule,  hunting  hen's  nests  will  prove  more  suc- 
cessful. Another  subscriber  says  that  the  eggs  and 
chickens  produced  by  one  hen  last  year,  sold  for  enough 
to  pay  for  his  paper  two  years ;  and  that  the  increased 
product  of  eggs  by  12  liens,  from  following  one  hint  in  his 
Agriculturist  about  giving  them  fresh  meat  scraps,  has 
paid  for  several  years'  subscriptions,  during  the  present 
Winter.    It  always  pays  to  hunt  for  good  papers.— Ed.] 

Crop  ibr  Newly  Drained  Land. — P. 

Putnam,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.  Almost  any  grain  crop 
will  succeed  on  well-drained  land.  A  plentiful  applica- 
tion of  lime  will  be  beneficial  to  ameliorate  a  sour  mucky 
soil.  If  in  good  heart,  a  crop  of  potatoes  will  be  likely  to 
succeed,  to  be  followed  by  rye  the  next  Fall. 

Re-seeding*  Bare  Spots. — C.  B.  Hunting- 
ton, Craneville,  N.  J.  Give  the  bare  spots  in  pasture  land 
a  thorough  dressing  with  a  heavy  harrow  ;  sow  the  seed, 
roll  it  in,  and  top-dress  with  finely  pulverized  manure. 

Giving-  Corn  a  Good  Start.— Gideon 
Archer.  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.,  writes  that  he  has  obtained 
excellent  results  with  corn  by  applying  a  mixture  of 
equal  parts  of  lime,  plaster,  and  ashes,  a  handful  to  a  hill, 
before  the  grain  comes  up.  A  vigorous  start  given  to  any 
young  plant  enables  it  to  make  strong  and  rapid  growth. 

ESinders    for  Corn. — "L.    F.,"   -writes   us 

that  coin  which  has  been  sown  thick  for  fodder,  makes 
the  best  binder  he  has  ever  used.  Strips  of  the  inner 
Basswood  tree  are  sometimes  used  for  the  same  purpose. 

English  Seed  B>rill.— Wm.  G raw  cock, 
Whitley  Co.,  Ind.  We  know  of  no  implement  answering 
your  description,  made  in  this  country. 

Flax  Seed. — This  is  so  high,  partly  because 
of  the  unusual  demand  for  sowing  this  Spring,  and  partly 
because  the  manner  in  which  a  large  share  of  it  is  culti- 
vated, keeps  it  in  a  few  hands.  In  many  places  the  manu- 
facturers of  linseed  oil  furnish  the  farmers  with  seed  and 
(son tract  for  the  whole  crop  at  a  certain  price.  This  pre- 
vents the  growers  from  benefiting  by  the  present  advance. 

Cotton  in  Illinois. — Rev.  J.  A.  Bent,  of 
Hoyleton,  111.,  (incorrectly  printed  in  March,  as  Hazel- 
ton,)  sends  us  the  following  additional  note:  "Since 
writing  you  concerning  my  attempt  at  raising  cotton,  I 
have  made  inquiries  at  places  in  Southern  Illinois,  where 
cotton  gins  are  in  operation,  and  I  am  convinced  that  in 
this  part  of  the  State,  cotton  may  be  reasonably  expected 
to  do  better  than  mine  did.  I  think  in  our  rich  soils  it 
should  be  crowded  in  the  drill  to  prevent  overgrowth  of 
stock,  and  to  hasten  maturity.  Tennesseeans  resident 
here  now,  with  whom  I  have  conversed,  think  that  from 
500  to  1200  lbs.  of  unginned  cotton  can  be  raised  ;  or  from 
150  to  350  lbs.  of  ginned  cotton  to  the  acre. — The  people, 
stimulated  by  the  extraordinary  price  of  cotton,  will  plant 
a  very  large  amount  in  Southern  Illinois  this  year.  All 
the  seed  is  eagerly  obtained  at  the  gins.  If  nothing  un- 
tuward  prevents,  you  may  expect  to  hear  of  an  unprece- 
dented cotton  crop  this  year.  Many  are  proposing  to 
plant  from  1  to  15  acres. 

Garnet  Chili  Potatoes.— P.  Pntnam,  of 
Putnam  Co.,  N.  Y.,  noticing  our  remark  that  this  variety 
became  hollow,  says  that  he  has  not  found  it  to  be  the 
case,  and  he  thinks  we  may  have  mistaken  Ihe  Chili  Red 
for  the  Garnet  Chili.  The  seed  we  used  came  directly 
from  Mr.  Goodrich,  the  originator,  and  was  planted  the 
first  year  on  tilled  land  well  manured,  and  the  second 
year  upon  old  pasture  sod  without  manure.  The  pota- 
toes were  In  both  instances  hollow  and  unfit  for  the  table, 
though  the  yield  was  very  large.    We  shall  be  glad  to 


learn  that  this  is  an  exceptional  case,  as  the  variety  seems 
to  have  the  other  qualities  desirable  in  a  good  field  potato. 

Beet  Sugar  in  Illinois.— C.  II.  Thayer, 
of  Livingston  Co.,  informs  us  that  an  extensive  factory 
for  beet  sugar  and  sorghum  is  being  erected  at  Chats- 
worth.  The  III.  Central  It.  R.  freight  all  beets  raised 
along  the  line  of  the  road  free  of  charge.  Preparations 
are  being  made  for  extended  planting  of  the  beet,  and  he 
promises  to  advise  us  of  the  success. 

The  Big:  Beet  Beaten.— J.  V.  Kinney, 
Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.,  writes  that  last  Summer  he  raised  a 
beet  of  the  Bassano  variety,  from  seed  distributed  at  the 
Agriculturist  Office,  which  measured  three  feet  in  circum- 
ference. This  beats  the  beet  mentioned  in  the  January 
number,  by  ten  inches.     [How  much  did  it  weigh  ?J 


Quantity  of  Seed  to  the  Acre.— Pres- 
ton RT.  Smith.  Seeds  vary  so  much  in  their  quality, 
especially  some  of  the  kinds  you  enumerate,  that  it  is 
difficult  to  give  precise  quantities.  There  are  sown  of 
beets  from  2  to  4  lbs  ;  carrots,  \H  to  2  lbs.;  parsneps,  2  to 
4  lbs.;  turnips,  1  to  1>£  lbs.;  X  lb.  of  cabbage  seed  should 
give  plants  enough  for  an  acre,  and  enough  to  replace  all 
destroyed  by  the  cut  worm. 

Hard  Coal  Ashes. — Cbas.  Booth,  Worces- 
ter Co.,  Mass.  If  the  soil  of  the  garden  is  stiff  and  clay- 
ey, coal  ashes  would  be  beneficial.  Composted  with  the 
contents  of  the  privy  they  would  not  be  as  good  an  ab- 
sorbent as  muck  or  loam. 

•Grass  ibr  a  Name— T.  C.  Wells,  Kansas. 
The  grass  is  Uniola  latifolta  or  Broad-leaved  Spike-grass. 
It  grows  wild  at  the  West,  and  is  so  beautiful  that  it  is 
often  cultivated  in  gardens.     It  is  a  perennial. 


Average  Yield  of  Grain. — A  statistical 
subscriber  wishes  to  know  it  any  one  can  inform  him  of 
the  average  yield  per  acre  of  wheat,  corn,  rye  and  oats  in 
the  United   States,   or  in    any  single  Stale    or  district. 

Chenango  Strawberry  Apple.— The 
account  of  this  apple,  given  on  the  authority  of  one  of  our 
best  pomologists,  is  objected  toby  another  fruit  grower  of 
large  experience  who  says:  "To  my  taste  it  is  very 
nearly  'very  good' — ripe  in  September  and  continues  un- 
til the  middle  and  last  of  October.  Flesh  tender,  juicy, 
pleasant  sub-acid ;  a  very  good  amateur's  fruit,  but  loo 
tender  for  carriage  to  market.  This  is  distinct  from  the 
Washington  Strawberry." 

Sweet  and  Sour  Apple.—'4  T.  H."  This 
is  an  old  variety  which  becomes  unequally  flavored.  Onu 
side  of  it  is  slightly  different  from  the  other.  The  stories 
about  producing  an  apple  half  sweet  and  half  sour  by 
budding  with  two  half  buds  of  different  kinds,  is  all  bosh. 

Apples    in  Southern   Illinois.— A.  K. 

Rankin,  of  Crawford  Co.,  111.,  says  the  following  apples 
have  proved  good  in  Southern  Indiana,  and  Illinois,  viz.: 
Rawles  Jannet,  Belleflower,  Rambo,  Domine,  Golden 
Gate  (very  fine,)  Newtown  Pippin,  and  Pryor's  Red. 
Fall  Pippin,  Red  Streak  and   Smokehouse  also  do  well. 


Trees  from  Cuttings.  —  N.  Gilbert, 
Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.  Peach,  plum  and  cherry  trees  can 
not  be  successfully  raised  from  cuttings  in  this  climate. 
The  quince  is  propagated  easily  from  cuttings  planted  in 
a  shaded  place  in  the  Spring. 

Stocks  *br  Dwarf  Apples.— J.  H.  Mil- 
ler, Pa.  Doucin  and  Paradise  stock  are  propagated  by 
layers.  The  plant  is  cut  off  near  the  ground  so  as  to  in- 
duce it  to  throw  out  numerous  shoots  which  are  allowed 
to  grow  one  season.  The  next  Spring  a  mound  of  earth 
is  heaped  up  around  the  shoots,  so  that  the  base  of  eacli 
one  of  them  will  be  covered  by  at  least  three  inches  of 
earth.  The  shoots  will  take  root  and  maybe  removed 
from  the  parent  root  in  the  Fall.  The  stocks  can  be  pro- 
cured cheaply   from  the   large  nursery  establishments. 

Ashes  ibr  Peach  Trees. — E.  Rex,  Craw- 
ford Co.,  Ohio,  says  that  when  the  trees  are-large  enough 
to  bear,  he  removes  the  sod  in  the  Spring  so  as  to  lay  bare 
the  upper  roots,  and  fills  in  the  space  with  leached  ashes. 
In  the  Fall  the  ashes  are  removed,  and  leaf  or  other  veg- 
etable mold  put  in  their  place.  He  says  that  he  finds  do- 
ing this  every  other  season,  preserves  the  trees  in  fine  con- 
dition and  prevents  the  attacks  of  the  borer. 

Apples  from  Sprouts.- 1.  G.  "Wolfe, 
Union  Co.,  Pa.  "Like  produces  like,"  even  in  apple 
trees.  Trees  from  sprouts  nearly  always  throw  up  suck- 
ers or  shoots  about  the  trunk.  True,  they  can  be  fre- 
quently cut  away;  but  the  tendency  to  form  suckers  weak- 
ens the  parent,  besides  involving  the  labor  of  removal. 


18G3.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


103 


Ilamburg  B  n a  ern si t  ioua I  Exhibi i  Som . 

— The  following  gentlemen  hiive  been  appointed  Dele- 
gales  :  Hon.  Ezra  Cornell,  Ex-Presitlent  N.  Y.  State  Agr. 
Soc. ;  Hon.  Dan.  Needham  of  Quincy,  Vermont;  Ex- 
Gov.  Dyer,  of  Providence,  R.  L,  and  Chas.  L.  Flint, 
Sec.  Mass.  Board  of  Agriculture.— Messrs.  Austin,  Bald- 
win &  Co.  Inform  us  that  several  Express  Companies 
agree  to  reduce  their  freight  25  percent,  on  all  articles  in- 
tended for  the  Exhibition,  viz.  American,  Adams,  Na- 
tional, California,  and  the  Eastern. 

Butter   and  Cheese   in  Vermont.— 

In  a  recent  conversation  with  Mr.  G.  Merrill,  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Vermont  Central  and  Sullivan  Railroads, 
lie  informed  us,  that  during  the  year  1862,  there  were 
shipped  at  the  St.  Albans'  Station  alone  2400  tuns  of 
Butter  and  Clieese.  This  is  equivalent  to  4,800,000,  or 
nearly  Jive  millions  pounds.  Can  anyone  give  us  any- 
where near  accurate  statistics  of  the  amount  of  each, 
butter  ard  cheese,  produced  in  the  whole  state?  We  have 
one  fact  of  interest,  viz.,  that  in  proportion  to  the  inhabit- 
ants, there  are  more  copies  of  the  American  Agriculturist 
taken  and  read  in  Vermont  than  in  any  other  state,  with 
perhaps  the  exception  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  "  State  *' 
of  Long  Island.  Connecticut,  Rhode  Island  and  New- 
York,  are  nearly  on  a  par  with  Pennsylvania.  On 
Long  Island  every  Post  Office  has  its  club  of  subscribers  to 
this  journal,  and  many  of  these  clubs  are  very  large.  Ir^ 
our  own  town  there  are  over  200  subscribers,  who  get  the 
paper  through  the  Post  Office  and  in  the  city,  though  no 
canvass  has  been  made  for  Premiums,  and  no  other 
special  efforts  have  been  put  forth.  Not  being  a  "prophet," 
this  of  course  does  not  invalidate  the  general  rule  con- 
cerning that  profession. 


Willow  Hedges. — James  D.  Blacker,  of 
Long  Island,  writes  that  he  made  a  trial  of  the  Osier  wil- 
low for  a  hedge,  and  found  that  the  roots  so  monopolized 
the  soil  that  nothing  would  grow  near  it.  Potatoes  plant- 
ed near  the  hedge  could  only  be  dug  by  cutting  among 
the  roots  of  the  willow  with  a  sharp  spade.  A  fence  of 
the  willow  which  had  been  set  out  four  years,  sent  out 
roots  30  feet  long  into  his  garden. 

White  Willow. -W.  S.  Grow,  Vt.  We 
have  not  seen  the  willow  cuttings  advertised  by  any  one 
at  the  East.  The  tree  is  common  enough  in  all  old  set- 
tlements,  and  doubtless  grows  in  your  own   State. 

Osage    Orange    Seed.— W.   E.   Thomas, 

DeKalb  Co.,  111.  The  seeds  should  be  sprouted  by  cov- 
ering with  scalding  water.  When  cool,  tins  is  poured 
off,  and  the  seeds  kept  covered  in  a  warm  place  until  they 
sprout,  when  they  are  to  be  sowed.  If  large  quantities 
are  sprouted  at  a  time,  take  care  that  they  do  not  heat. 


Sorghuni  Seed.— B.  Borden,  Pa.,  suggests 
that  pure  seed  could  be  obtained  by  cultivating  upon  an 
island  or  upon  a  peninsula  sufficiently  remote  from  any 
place  where  any  other  variety  is  cultivated.  He  thinks 
if  someone  would  cultivate  thus  for  the  seed,  he  would 
do  a  profitable  business,  and  be  a  public  benefactor.  [If 
he  gets  pure  seed  to  start  with.—  Ed.] 

Lima  Beans* — M\  Wither-ill,  Saratoga  Co., 
N.  Y.  "Learns  by  observation"  that  Lima  beans  when 
they  germinate  do  not  come  above  ground  like  other 
be.ins.  This  is  contrary  to  our  observation.  Perhaps  his 
were  planted  so  deeply  that  the  leaves  did  not  reach  the 
surface,  but  their  usual  way  is  to  behave  like  other  beans. 

To  Save  Cucumber  Seeds.— W.  W. 
Cook,  of  Hopedale,  Mass.,  says  "when  the  fruit  is  quite 
ripe,  cut  it  open  and  scrape  out  the  seeds  into  a  suitable 
vessel,  add  an  equal  bulk  of  water  and  stir  well  together. 
In  from  24  to  48  hours  the  mass  will  become  quite  sour, 
when,  by  rubbing  and  washing,  the  seeds  may  be  made 
very  clean.  This  method  will  answer  for  tomatoes  or 
other  similar  seeds." 

Sweet  Potatoes  kept  in  Cut  Straw. 

— We  received,  March  1st,  from  Mr.  J.  C.  Thompson  of 
Staten  Island,  a  basket  of  Nansemond  sweet  potatoes 
which  were  as  fresh  and  nice  as  the  day  they  were  dug. 
Mr.  Thompson  practices  what  lie  preaches,  and  the  di- 
rections he  gave  for  keeping  sweet  potatoes  on  page  335 
of  last  volume  (Nov.  No.)  prove  eminently  successful. 
It  is  now  satisfactorily  demonstrated  that  sweet  potatoes 
can  be  profitably  raised  at  the  north,  and  successfully 
kept  until  Spring.  We  gave  very  full  directions  for  the 
culture  in  the  last  volume  of  the  Agriculturist. 


Hfotes  on  New  Seeds.— W.  W.  Johnson, 
Penobscot  Co.,  Me.,  writes  that  Mammoth  Millet  distrib- 
uted from  this  Office,  and  sowed  by  him  in  May,  did  not 
go  to  seed.  In  this  latitude  it  ripens  seed  annually.  Spelt, 
from  our  distribution,  except  one  head,  acted  like  winter 


grain,  A  package  from  the  Patent  Office  marked  "  Bald 
Barley,"  contained  several  kinds  of  that  grain,  and  numer- 
ous  foul  seeds  !  After  sorting,  three-fiflhs  proved  to  be  a 
Bald  variety,  two  rowed,  and  apparently  good.  The  re- 
mainder was  the  common  two  and  six  rowed  sorts.  "  St. 
James  Carrot"  from  same  source,  yielded  veil,  was  short- 
er and  more  tapering  than  the  Orange,  was  easily  pulled 
without  digging,  and  belter  than  the  Orange  for  the  table. 


Soot  in  the  Garden.  -  C.  A.  Winthrop, 
Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.  Soot,  from  the  amount  of  ammonia 
it  contains, would  be  too  stimulating  for  strawberry  plants. 
It  is  a  valuable  fertilizer  for  all  root  crops.  6  or  8  quarts 
in  a  barrel  of  water  will  make  an  excellent  liquid  manure. 


Weift-lit  of  Tumips.-G.  Lee,  Middlesex 
Co.,  Mass.  The  laws  of  different  States  fix  the  weights  of 
turnips  at  55  lbs.  to  60  lbs.  per  bushel.  In  Connecticut, 
where   farmers  raise  many  for  stock,  the  weight  is  60  lbs. 


ISlaek    Spanish  Winter   Radish.— 

Geo.  E.  Lane,  of  N.  H.,  says  that  he  received  some  seeds 
of  this  and  the  Brazilian  Swiss  Chard  from  the  Patent 
Office,  and  does  not  know  what  to  do  with  the  crop. — The 
radish  is  eaten  by  some  ;  the  Germans  prize  it  highly.  To 
our  taste  it  is  very  strong,  tough  and  unpleasant.  The 
Chard  should  have  been  used  for  greens.  See  article  on 
page  84  of  last  month.  The  roots  if  putout  will  give  you 
seed  next  season. 

Treatment  of  the  Orchard.— W.  S.  Car- 
penter, of  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  one  of  our  most  suc- 
cessful fruit  growers,  scrapes  the  trunks  of  his  trees  after 
a  day  or  two  of  wet  weather,  and  then  applies  soft  soap 
with  a  brush.  This  kills  the  insects  and  moss.  If  the 
soap,  as  it  is  found  in  the  market,  is  too  firm  to  put  on  with 
a  brush,  it  is  brought  to  a  right  consistence  by  working  it 
over  like  mortar. 


jPear  Stocks.— "G.  N.  H.,"  Jamesport,  L.  I. 
Pear  stock  are  more  difficult  to  raise  than  apple  stocks, 
as  they  are  liable  to  blight.  Very  early  planting  in  a 
thoroughly  prepared  soil  so  as  to  secure  an  early  growth, 
is  recommended.  The  soil  should  be  manured  the  Fall 
previous  with  vegetable  mold,  stable  manure  and  ashes, 
and  lime,  if  the  soil  does  not  contain  it.  Sow  in  rows 
three  feet  apart,  or  far  enough  to  work  with  a  cultivator. 


The  Nectarine. — J.  T.  McLain,  of  Morrow 
Co.,  Ohio.  The  Nectarine  is  quite  hardy  and  will  flor- 
ish  wherever  the  peach  will  grow.  Where  the  curculio 
is  abundant,  the  fruit,  like  the  plum,  is  liable  to  be  injured. 
The  tree,  like  the  peach,  should  be  pruned  in  February  or 
early  Spring.    Cut  away  half  the  previous  year's  growth. 

Cherries  tor  Kowa. — Isaac  H.  Page,  of 
Wapella  Co.,  Iowa.  Dr.  Kirtland's  cherries  are  said  to 
belong  to  the  Bigarreau  class.  If  these  cherries  do  well 
in  your  latitude,  it  would  doubtless  be  safe  to  plant  Dr. 
Kirtland's  Seedlings.  The  Patent  Office  Report  can 
probably  be  obtained  by  writing  to  the  member  of  Con- 
gress for  your  district. 

The  Persimmon.- George  Smith,  of  Han- 
cock Co.,  III.  The  persimmon  prefers  a  rich  and  rather 
moist  soil.  It  is  a  small  tree,  sometimes  20  or  30  feet  high. 
It  grows  wild  in  some  parts  of  your  State.  Mr.  Thomas 
Hogg,  now  in  Japan,  writes  that  the  most  delicious  fruit 
of  that  country  is  a  kind  of  Persimmon.  He  hopes  to  be 
able  to  introduce  it  here. 

Rabbits  in  the  Orchard  and  Nur- 
sery.—"J.  R.  D.,"  Warren  Co.,  III.,  says  that  rabbits 
may  be  kept  from  young  trees  by  greasing  the  trunk  for 
about  two  feet  from  the  ground.  He  uses  either  fresh 
lard  or  the  fat  of  a  rabbit. 

(iJrape  Cuttings. — Isaac  H.  Page,  Wapella 
Co.,  Iowa.    The  Delaware  grape  is  more  difficult  to  raise 
from  cuttings  in  the  open  air,  than  most  native  varieties. 
A  propagator  of  our  acquaintance  succeeds  by  keeping  . 
them  moist. 


Nursery  Catalogues  and  Tree  Plant- 
ing.—We  have  received  a  large  number  of  Nursery 
Catalogues,  more  than  we  have  room  to  speak  of  in  de- 
tail. The  one  issued  by  S.  Hoyt  <fc  Sons,  of  New  Canaan, 
Conn.,  deserves  more  than  a  passing  notice  on  account  of 
its  full  directions  for  selecting,  planting,  and  the  after- 
care of  fruit  trees.  They  say  :  "  Never  buy  or  set  a  tree 
until  you  have  made  up  your  mind  to  give  it  proper  care. 
Order  from  responsible  nurserymen.  In  planting,  expose 
the  roots  to  sun  and  air  as  little  as  possible.  Cultivate 
the  orchard  for  five  years,  but  do  not  plow  too  deep  or  too 
close  to  the  trees.  Buckwheat  is  admissible  for  a  crop, 
but  never  sow  oats  or  rye.  Wash  the  trunks  each  Spring 
with  a  solution  of  1  lb.  potash  to  6  or  8  quarts  water.   Ex- 


amine Spring  and  Fall  for  borers.    Cut  back  half  of  each 
season's  growth  of  dwarf  trees,  for  three  or  four  years." 

Crcveling:  Grape.- 'ttrtt  A.  R.  Sprout, 
Lycoming  Co.,  Pa.,  writes  that  in  her  locality  this  is  not 
considered  an  untried  variety.  She  says:  "We  have 
now  fruited  many  of  the  new  varieties  of  grapes  and  are 
not  so  easily  pleased  with  new  grapes,  after  having  so 
long  enjojed  the  superior  flavor  of  the  Creveling.  The 
vine,  most  seasons,  requires  winter  protection.'1 

RIeeding-  Grape  Vines.— Craig  Giltnore, 
McLane  Co.,  III.,  writes  that  having  failed  to  stop  the 
bleeding  of  a  grape  vine  with  grafting  wax,  or  a  hot  iron, 
he  applied  a  mixture  of  flour  and  salt  in  equal  propor 
tions.  This  had  the  desired  effect.  He  had  seen  this 
recommended  in  the  Agriculturist  to  stop  bleeding  from 
flesh   wounds,   and  found   it    good  for  lacerated  vines. 

Keeping:  Grapes.— Mr.  George  Barclay,  of 
Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y„  while  traveling  in  France,  often 
saw  the  grape  in  an  admirable  state  of  preservation,  quite 
out  of  season.  He  found  the  secret  of  their  success  in 
thus  preserving  them,  consisted  in  coating  the  clusters 
with  lime.  The  .bunches  are  picked  just  before  they 
are  thoroughly  ripe,  and  dipped  in  lime  water  of  the 
consistence  of  thin  cream.  They  are  then  hung  on  wires, 
and  when  dry  are  dipped  the  second  lime,  and  then  hung 
up  to  remain.  The  lime  coating  keeps  nut  air  and  checks 
any  tendency  to  decay.  When  wanted  for  the  table,  dip 
the  clusters  in   warm   water  to  remove  the  lime. 


Inarching-    the    Grape    Vine.— J.    P. 

Streeper.  Milwaukee  Co.,  Wis.  We  doubt  the  success  of 
this  method.  Practised  in  early  Spring  they  will  bleed 
too  much  for  a  union,  and  though  they  might  unite  if 
grafted  in  Summer,  it  is  preferable  to  root-graft  in  the 
manner  illustrated  on  another  page. 


Grafting  Wax.  —  C.  Olney  says,  mix  liy 
weight  4  parts  resin,  2  parts  beeswax,  and  1  part  tallow, 
by  melting  in  an  iron  kettle.  Pour  it  in  cold  water  and 
work  with  the  hands  until  it  is  of  an  even  color. 


Shrub  for  a  Name.  —  Capt.  Ely  Sperry, 
19th  Conn.  Volunteers,  Fort  Worth,  Va  —The  leaveu 
of  the  shrub  sent  to  us,  appear  to  be  Euonymus  Japonica, 
a  most  beautiful  species,  but  one  which  will  not  stand 
our  northern  winters.  We  are  gratified  to  It  now  from 
the  many  letters  we  receive  from  the  army  that  those  who 
have  taken  up  the  sword  have  not  forgotten  about  the 
plow,  and  the  garden,  and  that  they  remember  us. 


Seeds  tor  al\ame.— Elizabeth  Wilson,  De- 
catur Co.,  Ind.  The  "Forbidden  Fruit"  is  called  with 
us  Jerusalem  cherry.  It  is  very  closely  related  to  the 
pepper,  and  has  the  botanical  name  of  Solanum  Pseudo- 
capsicum.  The  other  we  can  not  recognize  from  the 
seed.  It  will  be  necessary  to  send  the  flower  at  the  prop- 
er season.  The  seeds  sent  by  S.  A.  Myers,  Henry  Co., 
Ohio,  look  as  if  they  were  a  species  of  Solanum,  but  we 
can  not  tell  from  the  seeds  only. 

Milkweed.— H.  E.  Rhouls,  Montgomery  Co., 
Ind.  We  do  know  the  milkweed,  and  have  several  spe- 
cies very  abundant  here,  as  they  are  everywhere.  We 
know  of  no  use  to  which  the  silky  fibre  attached  to  the 
seeds,  has  been  put.  We  learn  from  a  Belgian  horticul- 
tural journal  that  some  experiments  are  to  be  made  there 
upon  its  culture,  with  a  view  to  the  use  of  the  fibre  of  the 
bark  as  a  substitute  for  cotton. 

A  Fine  Bouquet. — J.  J.  Otto,  of  Roches- 
ter, N.  Y.,  has  sent  us  a  bouquet  of  choice  flowers,  which 
came  in  fine  order  and  graced  our  Exhibition  tables  for 
several  days.  By  means  of  a  frame  made  of  four  wire 
rings  of  different  sizes,  and  placed  one  within  another, 
the  flowers  were  arranged  so  as  to  present  a  perfectly 
flat  surface.  The  wire  frame  was  entirely  concealed  by 
the  beautiful  Lycopodium  which  furnished  the  green  of 
the  bouquet. 

Plant  for  a  Name.— S  S.  White,  Mercer 
Co.,  111.  The  beautifully  dried  specimen  you  sent  is 
Callirrhoe pedata.  It  has  not  been  long  enough  in  culti- 
vation to  have  a  popular  name.  We  used  to  see  It  grow- 
ing wild  in  great  profusion  in  Texas,  and  since  it  has 
been  introduced  to  the  gardens,  it  has  been  among  our 
favorite  plants.  Sown  early,  It  will  bloom  as  an  annual, 
and   with    care    the   rools   may  be  kept  over  Winter. 


Tuberoses.— "Mac.,"  Sullivan  Co.,  N.  T. 
After  the  balls  have  dried,  it  is  customary  to  trim  off  the 
roots  before  packing  them  away.  We  are  glad  that  you 
have  begun  to  give  animals  proper  treatment  whiie  young1. 


104 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[April, 


Exhibitions  in  Prospect. 

Elsewhere  we  announce  a  Strawberry  Exhibition.  The 
display  at  the  Agriculturist  Office  last  year,  was  the  finest 
one  of  the  kind  ever  held  in  this  country.  So  others  tell 
us  ;  the  writer  was  absent  in  Europe  at  the  time.  With 
the  experience  of  last  year  as  a  guide  and  the  many  re- 
quests for  a  repetition,  we  expect  to  have  a  still  greater 
affair  next  June.— A.  Show  of  Pumpkins,  Squashes  and 
Gourds,  is  being  planned  for  in  Autumn.  Other  exhibitions 
of  Vegetables,  Fruits,  Flowers,  Sorghum,  etc.  are  in  con- 
templation, but  the  number,  and  their  extent  can  not  yet 
oe  decided  upon.  The  increased  cost  of  paper  and  other 
publishing  items,  lead  us  to  hesitate  in  the  matter.  The 
prizes  are  a  considerable  item  for  individual  enterprise, 
while  these  are  but  a  small  part  of  the  expenses  attend- 
ing upon  getting  up  and  carrying  through  an  exhibition. 
Still,  as  these  displays  of  farm  and  garden  products  tend 
to  excite  general  interest  and  improvement,  we  shall  do 
all  we  can  afford  to  this  year,  and  more  we  hope,  hereafter. 


Good  Grape  Vine  Fremiums. 

These  seem  to  have  met  a  general  want,  judging  from 
the  tone  of  the  many  letters  received.  We  have  been 
able  to  procure  a  small  addition  of  "excellent  vines  to  our 
own  slock,  so  that  the  offer  will  remain  open  through 
April  and  probably  into  May.  It  will  be  noticed  that  a 
slight  change  in  terms  is  made,  viz.  one  vine  for  every 
subscriber  in  a  club  of  ten  instead  of  fifteen  as  announc- 
ed last  month.  We  do  this  in  response  to  many  requests 
from  those  who  say  they  can  get  a  club  of  ten  if  a  vine 
be  given  for  each,  while  they  can  not,  at  this  late  day, 
get  fifteen.  The  unusual  cold  weather  delayed  the  begin- 
ning of  the  distribution  of  vines  to  southern  points  until 
March  27th.  They  will  be  sent  to  other  parts  of  the 
country  as  fast  as  the  season  will  admit.     See  page  128. 

This  is  certainly  a  cheap  and  convenient  way  of  ob- 
taining a  good  vine  as  a  beginning.  Where  several  go  to 
one  place  those  receiving  them  can,  by  choosing  part  of 
both  kinds,  exchange  cuttings  or  layers  hereafter. 


A  Special   Request  to  Advertisers. 

Every  day  almost,  we  receive  advertisements  from 
distant  parties  who  are  wholly  unknown  to  us  personally 
or  by  reputation.  We  must  insist  upon  having  references 
from  such  persons,  or  some  kind  of  evidence  that  they 
are  reliable  men,  who  will  do  what  they  propose  to  do  in 
their  business  cards,  or  we  can  not  insert  their  advertise- 
ments at  any  price.  The  fact  that  an  advertiser  has 
been  a  subscriber  for  several  years,  does  not  necessarily 
make  usacquainted  with  his  mode  of  doing  business, 
though  he  may  know  all  about  ours.  The  above  may 
seem  a  hard  rule,  but  it  is  necessary,  for  we  desire  to  in- 
sert nothing  either  in  our  reading  or  business  columns 
which  will  lead  our  readers  into  an  unprofitable  invest- 
ment. It  is  not  enough  that  a  man  pays  us  for  space  oc- 
cupied. If  for  example  he  advertises  trees  and  plants 
very  low,  we  want  to  know  first  whether  he  will  certain- 
ly send  them  of  the  quality  and  at  the  price  he  offers, 
and  what  is  still  more  important,  will  they  be  true  to 
name.  The  very  worst  cheating,  is  to  sell  trees  and 
plants,  which  after  tlK#3xpense  of  getting  and  years  of 
core  turn  out  to  be  untrue.    The  same  of  seeds,  etc. 

We  are  obliged  to  return  many  advertisements  sent  in 
with  the  money,  simply  because  we  do  not  know  the  par- 
ties offering  them.  The  above  request  is  not  only  for 
the  protection  of  our  readers,  but  also  to  give  value  to 
the  business  cards  of  good  reliable  men.  If  any  object 
lo  the  requirements,  we  shall  very  cheerfully  do  without 
the  favor  of   their  advertisements. 


A  Good  Time  to  Buy. 

The  reader  will  find  a  large  amount  of  interesting  in- 
formation on  the  closing  pages  of  this  paper.  We  have 
this  month  allowed  business  men  to  have  more  than  their 
usual  space.  The  advertisements  taken  as  a  whole  are 
of  an  excellent  class  ;  a  large  number  from  unknown 
persons,  and  from  known  unreliable  parties  have  been 
refused.  While  almost  everything  else  has  advanced,  it 
will  be  seen  that  trees,  plants,  many  seeds  and  some 
agricultural  implements  are  offered  more  abundantly  and 
cheaper  than  ever  before.  This  is  a  good  time  to  lay  in 
a  supply.  It  will  pay  to  look  through  the  whole  of  the 
advertisements,  and  see  what  is  for  sale,  by  whom  and  at 
what  prices.  It  will  cost  but  little  to  send  for  the  Circu- 
lars and  catalogues  offered,  and  thus  get  acquainted  with 
the  dealers.  We  ask  as  a  favor,  that  those  writing  to  ad- 
vertisers will  mention  that  the*  saw  their  advertisements 
lu  this  Journal.  We  like  to  have  them  know  who  are 
the  wideawake,  enterprising  readert  Of  the  ZLffriculturist, 
and  it  will  please  them  also  to  lean)  where  their  business, 
cards  are  seen  by  the  largest  class  of  readers.  See  above. 


Seed  Distribution— Special  Notice. 

The  distribution  of  seeds  must  soon  close,  for  want  of 
material.  Never  before  has  there  been  such  a  call  for 
them,  though  we  announced  at  first  that,  owing  to  several 
circumstances,  the  amount  provided  was  unusually 
small.  Just  as  we  closed  up  the  last  paper,  the  en- 
velopes commenced  pouring  in  by  thousands  with  every 
mail.  Two  men  have  done  little  else,  from  morning  to 
night  for  a  month,  but  simply  open  letters.  We  have 
been  forced  to  reduce  the  seed  measures,  and  send  the 
smallest  possible  amount  to  each,  or  disappoint  thousands 
of  others.  Every  parcel,  however,  contained  enough 
seed  of  the  annuals  to  yield  a  fair  supply  of  seed  for 
another  year.  As  long  as  we  have  any  seeds  left,  they 
will  be  cheerfully  supplied.  Any  one  sending  for  them 
hereafter  should  mark  a  dozen  numbers,  and  we  will  se- 
lect the  first  numbers  down  the  list,  of  which  we  have 
seed  remaining.  Of  the  Mammoth  Millet  Seed,  owing  to 
accident,  we  failed  to  get  as  many  pounds  as  we  hoped  lo 
get  bushels,  and  so,  instead  of  half-ounce  parcels,  we 
were  compelled  to  send- only  a  few  seeds,  as  almost 
everybody  seemed  to  want  it.  Every  seed  grown  will 
produce  thousands.  In  several  instances  the  envelopes 
come  with  the  slip  of  numbers  omitted,  or  with  defective 
address.  This  will  account  for  some  parcels  not  reach- 
ing the  persons  sending  for  them.  The  mail  may  have 
been  at  fault  in  other  instances. 


Reports  on   the  State  of  the  Crops. 

It  is  of  the  highest  importance  to  farmers  and  others, 
that  there  should  be  reliable  information  as  to  the  con- 
dition and  prospects  of  the  Growing  Crops,  as  the  harvest 
season  approaches,  and  soon  after  harvest,  of  the  yield 
throughout  the  country,  so  that  the  producers  may  have 
some  basis  for  estimaling  the  probable  prices.  Impressed 
with  this  fact,  we  last  season  went  to  a  good  deal  of  ex- 
pense and  trouble  to  collect  and  publish  reliable  returns, 
monthly.  It  is  not  too  much  lo  say  that  the  reports  thus 
given  in  the  A merican  Agriculturist  were  the  best,  and 
most  complete  yet  attempted  in  this  country.  But  the 
labor  and  expenses  are  so  great  that  it  ought  not  to  be  left 
to  individual  enterprise,  though  we  should  continue  the 
work  if  necessary.  Our  new  Agricultural  Bureau  at 
Washington  should  undertake  the  work  on  an  extensive 
scale.  We  have  had  some  correspondence  on  the  sub- 
ject, and  recently  vlsiled  Washington  to  press  the  matter 
upon  the  attention  of  the  Agricultural  Bureau,  but  we 
found  the  Commissioner  and  his  associates  too  busy  at 
the  closing  of  the  session  of  Congress  to  discuss  the  de- 
tails at  length.  We  are  happy  to  be  able  to  announce 
however,  that  the  matter  will  be  taken  hold  of.  In  answer 
to  our  request  for  an  official  announcement,  to  be  publish- 
ed, we  have  the  following  : 

Department  of  Agriculture.      \ 
Washington,  D.  C,  March  16.  1863.  ( 
To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Dear  Sir  :— In  reply  to  yours  of  the  14th,  lam  directed 
to  say  that  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  is  now  pre- 
pared to  carry  out  the  Intended  plan  of  collecting  such 
Agricultural  Statistics,  for  monthly  publication,  as  shall 
show  the  actual  and  prospective  condition  of  the  various 
crops  of  the  country  during  the  coming  season. 
Very  respectfully  yours,         James  S.  Grinnell, 

Chief  of  Statistical  Bureau. 


Premium  List  Still  Open.— Changes. 

For  want  of  room  we  omit  the  list  of  general  premiums. 
(They  are  given  on  page  88  of  March  Agriculturist.) 
The  good  articles  there  offered  are  worth  working  for, 
and  can  still  be  secured  by  forming  new  clubs  of  sub- 
scribers, or  by  the  completion  of  clubs  partly  made  up. 
Owing  to  the  advance  in  cost,  the  terms  will  be  changed 
after  April  1st,  for  the  following  articles  : 

No.  1. — Books.  Same  terms  as  heretofore,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  prices  of  books  as  given  on  page  127,  a 
few  of  which  are  advanced  in  price. 

No.  5 — Willcox  if  Gibbs^  Sewing  Machine — advanced  to 
$40  (always  including  Hemmer  and  Feller.)  Terms  of 
Premium  ;  79  subscribers  at  $1  each,  or  112  at  80  cents. 
This   machine  is  coming  more   and  more  into   favor. 

No.  6. — Aneroid  Barometers  advanced  to  $8.50.  Terms 
of  Premium  ;  25  Subscribers  at  $1,  or  57  at  80  cents. 

No.  7. — The  Aquarius.  The  New  Premium  Terms 
will  be :  25  subscribers  at  $1  each,  or  54  at  80  cents. 

Nos.  13  to  18 — Back  Volumes.  The  unbound  numbers 
are  intended  in  these  Premiums. 

Melodeons.— No.  8,  5  octave:  new  price  $80  (133  names 

at  $1,  or  252  at  80  cents) No.  9,  4%  octave  ;  new  price 

$65   (112  names  at  $1,  or  197  at  80  cents) No.  10,  4 

octave  ;  new  price  $55  (110  names  at  $1,  or  163  names  at 
80  cents.)— All  other  premiums  will  remain  the  same  as 
last  month,  at  least  until  May  1st. 


The  Prize  Tohacco  Book. 

We  have  just  coming  from  the  press,  a  very  complete, 
practical  work  on  the  Culture  of  Tobacco.  It  has  been 
delayed  a  little  by  two  circumstances:  First,  the  Com- 
mittee had  eighty-Jive  Essays  to  look  over,  instead  of  the 
expected  fifteen  or  twenty.  Second,  we  concluded  to 
make  it  4S  pages,  instead  of  32  as  at  first  intended.  The 
price  will  not  be  increased,  however,  but  it  will  be  sent, 
post-paid,  for  25  cents.  The  work  contains  48  large 
pages  of  plain,  practical  directions  given  by  thirteen  ex- 
perienced cultivators,  residing  in  different  parls  of  the 
country.  They  tell,  in  a  plain,  straight-forward  way, 
what  is  to  be  done,  from  the  selection  of  the  seed  to  the 
curing  of  the  crop.  All  the  details  are  given.  What  is 
omitted  by  one  is  supplied  by  another— some  being  more 
explicit  on  certain  points  than  others. 


A  Few  of  the  Humbugs. 

In  previous  volumes  we  have  shown  up  so  many  of  the 
various  humbugs,  that  our  older  readers  scarcely  need 
any  further  caution.  But  a  few  hints  will  perhaps  be 
useful  to  the  thirty  or  forty  thousand  newer  subscribers, 
who  did  not  see  the  former  exposures.  In  the  February 
Agriculturist,  page  36,  we  took  occasion  to  forewarn  the 
reader  against  sundry  wonderful  discoveries  in  the  seed 
and  plant  line  that  would  come  out  in  advertisement  and 
circulars  asthe  plantingseasonapproached.  The  March 
number  had  just  gone  to  piess,  when  we  began  to  receive 
from  the  distant  West  (not  from  near  home)  copies  of  cir- 
culars sent  out  from  Utica,  N.  Y.,  offering  a  new  *  Orien- 
tal Sugar  Plant,'  with  a  very  specious  statement  of  its 
wonderful  properties.— Sugar  beet  seed  can  be  had  at 
any  agricultural  store  for  a  tenth  part  of  the  price  asked 
for  it  by  this  Utica  advertiser. 

A  good  many  advertise  for  agents  at  $50,  $60,  and  $75  a 
month,  and  "all  expenses  paid."  When  replied  to,  they 
forward  plausible  circulars  advising  you  to  send  them 
certain  sums  of  money  for  sample  Sewing  Machines,  or 
other  articles,  on  which  they  offer  great  profits  if  you  un- 
dertake the  sale  of  them.  If  you  ever  get  any  return  for 
the  money,  which  is  seldom  the  case,  you  are  told  that  if 
you  sell  a  certain  amount  you  can  make  $60,  $70,  or  more. 

Certain  parties  in  this  city  and  elsewhere  send  out  one, 
two.  or  three  copies  of  a  professedly  agricultural  journal, 
and  offer  great  inducements  to  postmasters  and  others  to 
get  up  clubs.  They  get  many  to  send  in  money,  and 
sometimes  pay  the  premiums,  such  as  they  are,  but  the 
paper  soon  slops,  and  the  duped  subscribers  can  get  noth- 
ing more  for  their  money,  and  no  amount  of  writing  will 
draw  out  a  word  of  reply  from  the  nominal  publishers. 
They  write  to  a  friend  in  the  city  to  call  and  inquire 
about  it,  but  the  reputed  publisher  is  always  out  of 
town,  or  sick— at  least  he  can  never  be  found. 

The  old  lottery  scheme  Is  still  in  vogue.  The  latest 
operation  is  by  a  party  nominally  In  this  city,  and  not 
in  a  back-woods  one-house  town  in  New-Hampshire  or 
Vermont,  the  localily  of  those  we  exposed  a  year  or 
two  since.  Early  in  February,  Mr.  Wm.  R.  Shipman, 
of  South  Woodstock,  Vt.,  received  a  letter  contain- 
ing a  grand  announcement  of  prizes  to  be  drawn  in 
the  "Western  Art  Union  Association,  Music  Hall,  Lon- 
don, Indiana,"  under  the  management  of  "  Harris  <fc  Co.," 
the  drawing  to  take  place  February  20,  1663.  There  was 
enclosed  a  ticket  numbered  1689.  Mr.  Shipman,  being  a 
sensible  man,  threw  the  whole  into  the  fire,  and  thought 
no  more  of  It  until  he  received  the  following  letter  from 
New-York,  covering  a  "  list  of  numbers  drawing  prizes." 

"No.  12  Merchants'  Exchange,  Feb.  20,  1863. 
Wm.  It.  Shipman, 

Dear  Sir : — You  will  see  by  the  list 
that  No.  1689  drew  a  prize  of  One  Hundred  Dollars. 
Now,  I  wish  you  to  obtain  it.  and  for  this  reason  ;  should 
you  obtain  the  prize,  and  let  it  be  known,  and  also.inform 
people  whom  to  apply  to  for  tickets,  I  should  be  able  to 
sell  many  more  in  your  vicinity  at  the  next  drawing.  If 
you  will  aid  me  in  this  way,  1  will  assist  you  to  obtain  the 
prize,  and  thus  benefit  us  both.  To  have  your  ticket 
good  you  must  hold  the  Managers'  Certificate.  To  pro- 
cure this,  send  me  a  letter,  dated  on  the  day  of  the  draw- 
ing, and  enclose  Five  Dollars,  the  price  of  the  ticket. 
As  soon  as  received,  I  will  go  to  the  Managers'  Office, 
and  open  the  letter  in  their  presence,  saying,  "  This  let- 
ter was  mislaid  In  the  P.  O..  but  the  money  and  date  is  nil 
right."  They,  not  knowing  that  your ticketdrew  a  prize, 
will  take  the  money  and  send  certificate.  Send  immedi- 
ately, and  do  not  show  this  to  anyone. 

Truly  Yours,        C.  E.  Howard." 

Hundreds,  perhaps  thousands  of  others  were  each  no- 
tified that  No.  1689  had  drawn  a  prize  for  them.  Several 
copies  have  been  forwarded  to  us.  Yet  many  unsuspect- 
ing believers  In  lotteries  have  doubtless  sent  in  their  $5 
each,  never  to  hear  from  it  again.  *' C.  E.  Howard," 
offered  to  lie  for  them,  and  will  be  equally  ready  to  lie  to 
them.  Mr.  Shipman  and  others  have  betrayed  the  con- 
fidence of  the  ingenuous  Howard  by  sending  his  letters  to 
us.     Wonder  what  he  will  do  about  it. 


1803.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


105 


A  Home-made  Field  Roller. 


The  above  engraving  represents  a  cheap  and 
efficient  field  roller,  of  which  a  sketch  and  de- 
scription were  furnished  for  the  Agriculturist  by 
R.  S.  Cramer,  Mercer  Co.,  111.    To  make  it,  saw 
off  two  sections  from  a  log  20  to  30  inches  in 
diameter — the  larger  the  better — two   or   three 
inches  longer  than  wanted  when  the  rollers  are 
finished.     Have   ready  four   gudgeons,  two   of 
them  12  inches  loug,  the  other  two   10  inches 
long,  all  made  of  one  inch  square  iron.     Round 
one  end  of  two  of  them  four   inches,  and   one 
end  of  the  others  two  inches.  Bevel  the  square 
ends  a  little,  so  that  they  will  drive  readily,  but 
do  not  draw  them  tapering.     Find  the  centers 
on  the  end  of  the  logs  and  bore  in  with  an  inch 
auger  if  the  wood  is  hard,  if  soft  J  inch,  to   re- 
ceive the  gudgeons.     Drive  one   long  gudgeon, 
and  one  short  one  into  each  roller,  leaving  the 
rounded  part  to  project.     Take  a  thin   strip  of 
board,  bore  an  inch  hole  in  one  end,  and  bore  a 
gimlet  hole,  as  many  inches  from  the  center  of 
that  hole  as  is  contained  in  half  the  diameter 
of  the  roller.     Put  the  board  on  the  gudgeon, 
iusert    a  scratch-awl  in  the  gimlet   hole,  and 
scribe  the  circumference   of   the   roller.    With 
an  ax  and  draw-shave,  chamfer  the  ends  down 
to  the  scribe  ;    then   stand  behind  the   log,  and 
with   an   ax  hew   the   middle   down,   using  a 
straight  edge  to  show  when  it  is  level  with  the 
ends. — Finish  off  with   draw-shave   and  jack- 
plane.    To  get  the  ends  of  the  roller  square, 
take  the  two  pieces  of  scantling  that  are  intend- 
ed for  the  end  pieces  of  the  frame,  bore   them 
where  the  gudgeons  are  to  work,  slip  them   on 
the  gudgeons  and  prop  them  up  so  that  the 
roller  will    revolve    on    the    gudgeons    freely. 
AVhile  another  turns  the  roller,  hold  a  scratch- 
awl  to  mark  where  the  roller  is  to  be  sawed  off. 
Cut  it  with  a  cross-cut  saw,  turning  the  roller 
occasionally,  so  as  to  follow  the  scribe.  Leave  a 
projection  of  half  an    inch   around    the  long 
gudgeon,  to  keep  the  outer  surface  of  the  end 
of  the   roller  from  rubbing  against  the  frame. 
To  make  the  frame,  use  3k  or  4  inch  square 
scantling,  of  hard  wood.    Make  inch-aud-a-half 
mortises  in  the  short  pieces,  tenons  on  the  long 
ones  to  fit,  and  fasten  with  draw-bore  pins, 
(keys  work  out).    The  tongue  answers  for  the 
middle  cross  piece.     It  should  be  four  inches 
square  where  the  gudgeons  enter — dress  away 
a  little  on  both  sides  of  the  hole  (for  the  gud- 
geons) to  prevent  friction  with  the  roller.    The 
tongue  must  be  hinged  to  the  back  piece  of  the 
frame  in  such  a  manner   that   the  top  of  the  I 


tongue  will  be  nearly  as  low  as  the  bottom  of 
the  piece  to  which  it  is  hinged.  To  make  the 
hinges,  take  a  heavy  piece  of  strap  iron,  bend 
the  end  of  it  around  a  i  bolt-rod,  the  ends  of 
which  shall  project  an  inch  beyond  the  strap, 
and  weld  it.  Bolt  this  to  the  tongue  and  secure 
it  to  the  back  piece  with  eye  bolts  that  fit  on 
the  projecting  ends  of  the  bolt-rod.  The  tongue 
is  then  laid  on  top  of  the  front  piece  of  the 
frame,  it  being  notched  down  two  inches,  and  a 
long  staple  made  of  half-inch  iron  goes  over 
the  tongue  through  the  piece  the  tongue  lies  on. 
This  staple  is  not  to  hold  the  tongue  to  the 
frame,  but  should  be  long  enough  to  allow  the 
tongue  to  vibrate  up  and  down  six  inches,  but 
should  fit  neatly  sideways.  The  object  of  the 
vibration  is  to  allow  the  roller  to  adapt  itself  to 
the  irregularities  of  the  surface. 

The  rollers  should  be  four  inches  shorter  than 
the  width  of  corn  rows,  and  then  it  will  be 
just  right  for  rolling  two  rows  of  corn  at  a  time. 
This  implement  might  be  introduced  with  great 
advantage  upon  many  farms.  It  is  needed  for 
pressing  down  clods  left  by  the  plow,  pressing 
the  soil  into  contact  with  the  seed,  leveling 
mowing  ground  for  the  scythe,  and  compacting 
light  land.  It  should  not  be  used  on  moist  land, 
at  a  time  when  the  ground  is  so  wet  as  to  pack. 


A  Linch-Pin  Extractor. 


A  model  of  the  implement  represented  above 
was  forwarded  to  the  Agriculturist  by  Mr.  D.  C. 
Voorhees,  Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.,  who  says  it  is  very 
convenient  for  drawing  the  linch-pin  from  carts 
or  heavy  wagons,  particularly  when  they  are 
held  fast  by  the  dried  tar  or  gum  from  oil  used 
in  greasing  the  axles.  It  consists  of  a  lever,  I, 
about  four  feet  long.  A  narrow  iron  rod,  h,  turned 
to  form  a  hook,  is  fastened  by  a  piu  in  an  open- 
ing about  six  inches  from  the  end  of  the  lever. 
To  draw  a  linch-pin,  place  one  end  of  the  lever 
on  the  hub  of  the  wheel,  let  the  hook  catch  un- 
der the  head  of  the  pin,  p,  raise  the  other  end  of 
the  lever,  and  the  linch-pin  is  readily  extracted. 


Ergot  or  Spurred  Rye. 

Some  cases  of  poisoning  which  occurred  in 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  having  been  attributed  to  the 
use  of  ergotized  or  diseased  rye  as  a  substitute 
for  coffee,  there  has  naturally  been  considerable 
uneasiness  among  those  who  are  accustomed  to 
use  "  Rye  Coffee."    We  give  the  readers  of  the 
Agriculturist  an  engraving  of  the  ergot,  which 
will  enable  them  to  recognize  the   dangerous 
substance  and  avoid  it.     On  a  head  of  rye  will 
sometimes  be   seen  some  blackish  spurs,  about 
half  an  inch  loug,  in 
place  of  the  kernels. 
Only  one  or  two  grains 
in  the  head  may  be  af- 
fected in  this  way,  or  it 
ma}'  be  the  case  with 
every  one.     Though  it 
bears  no  resemblance 
to  the  grain  of  rye,  it 
is    really    one,    much 
changed  by  the  attack 
of  a  minute  microscop- 
ic   fungus    or    mold. 
This  attacks  the  grain 
when  very  young,  and 
causes    it    to    finally 
present    the     appear- 
ance shown  in  the  en-      \\ 
graving,  which  repre- 
sents  the  ergot  as  it 
appears  on  the  head, 
and    also    two    sepa- 
rate grains.     The  er- 
got is  often  nearly  an 
inch  long,  and  having 
somewhat  the    shape 
of  a  cock's  spur,  the 
name  spurred  rye  has 
been  given  to  it.    It 
has  a  blackish  purple 
color,  and  although  no 
odor  is  noticeable  in  a 
single  grain,   when  a 
quantity  is  together,  it 
has  a  very  unpleasant 
smell.  When  the  grain 
is  thus  diseased,  it  not 
only  takes  on  an  un- 
natural shape  and  ap- 
pearance,but  its  chem- 
ical character  and  its 
properties  are  also  al- 
tered; the  grain  no  longer  contains  starch,  but 
in  its  place  is  found  a  large  quantity  (over  30 
per  cent.)  of  a  peculiar  oil,  and  instead  of  being 
a  nutritious  food,  it  is  a  powerful  poison.    In 
some  parts  of  Europe,  where  rye  is  much  more 
extensively  used  for  food  than  with  us,  fearful 
epidemics  have  been  caused  by  ergot   being 
mixed  with  the  food.     Serious  convulsions,  loss 
of  sight,  gangrene,  or  mortification  of  the  limbs, 
and  death,  have  resulted  from  its  use.    The 
presence  of  ergot  is  not  traced  to  any  peculiari- 
ty of  soil  or  season;  sometimes  it  is  very  abun- 
dant, and  at  others  the  grain  is  entirely  free 
from  it.    Nor  is  it  confined  to  rye,  for  we  have 
seen  several  grasses  similarly  affected,  and  it  is 
said  to  have  been  found  in  wheat,  though  we 
suspect  that  the  latter  rarely  occurs.     From  the 
well  known  poisonous  character  of  ergot,  it  will 
be  seen  that  it  is  the  duty  of  those  who  prepare 
"  rye  coffee  "  for  sale,  to  carefully  inspect  the 
grain  they  make  use  of;  those  who  prepare  it 
in  their  own  families  will  be  in  no  danger  of, 
poisoning,  if  the  ergot,  which  is  so  unlike  rye, 
and  so  easily  detected,  be  carefully  picked  out 


"JOG 


AMEBXtJAN  AG-RTOUI/rURIST. 


[Apkil, 


Seeding1  Down  Lands  to  Grass. 

To  besl  prepare  a  field  for  seeding  down,  at- 
tention should  first  be  given  to  draining.  If  it 
is  naturally  cold  and  unproductive,  or  if  water 
lodges  in  any  portions  of  it,  ditches  should  at 
once  be  opened  through  it,  and  laid  with  good 
underdrains.  Surface  ditches  arc  apt  to  get  filled, 
and  coarse  grasses  aud  weeds  grow  up  in  them, 
which  interfere  witli  mowing  and  prevent  the 
flow  of  water. — Draining  finished,  spread  the 
manure  and  put  in  the  plow.  Do  both  of  these 
works  thoroughly.  On  poor  soils  manure  is  im- 
portant to  give  the  grass  a  good  "catch,"  and  to 
supply  it  with  food  afterward.  Deep  plowing 
and  a  faithful  harrowing,  are  needful  to  bring  the 
land  into  fine  tilth  and  to  enable  the  roots  of  the 
grass  to  spread  out  and  penetrate  deep  where 
they  will  flourish  in  spite  of  drouth. 

It  is  in  dispute  whether,  in  seeding  down,  a 
few  or  many  varieties  of  grass  seed  should  be 
used.  For  a  pasture,  it  is  obvious  that  several 
sorts  are  preferable  to  any  one.  One  sort  gives 
us  an  early  growth,  but  dries  up  in  mid-summer. 
Another  starts  later,  but  holds  on  well.  Others 
grow  best  in  Autumn  ;  some  grow  best  on  light 
soils,  others  on  heavy;  some  are  fibrous-rooted, 
and  grow  best  near  the  surface;  others  are  tap- 
rooted  and  draw  their  food  from  below.  Ani- 
mals crave  a  variety  of  grasses,  and  thrive  best 
on  such  a  diet.  The  English  make  the  combi- 
nation of  grasses  more  of  a  study  than  we  do. 
They  often  sow  six  or  eight  kinds  of  seed,  and 
sometimes  more.  An  experienced  farmer  of  our 
acquaintance  favors  only  a  moderate  number, 
as  follows  :  For  seeding  an  acre,  10  pounds  of 
red  clover,  5  pounds  white  clover,  one  peck  of 
Timothy,  and  half  a  bushel  of  red-top.  He 
salts  this  mixture  down  with  two  bushels  of 
plaster.  Mr.  A.  B.  Dickinson  recommends,  6 
quarts  Timothy,  4  of  red-top,  9  of  blue-grass,  2 
of  white  Holland  clover,  and  4  of  red  clover. 
"When  several  kinds  are  sown,  that  best  suited 
to  the  particular  soil,  will  generally  run  the 
others  out,  and  in  time  mainly  occupy  the  surface. 

Other  questions  relate  to  the  time  of  sowing, 
and  whether  the  grass  seed  should  be  sown  by 
itself  or  with  another  crop.  It  is  quite  a  favor- 
ite practice  to  seed  down  in  early  Autumn,  say 
September,  and  usually  with  rye  or  winter 
wheat.  The  argument  for  this  is,  that  the  prep- 
aration of  the  land  for  wheat  or  rye  is  just  what 
it  needs  to  make  the  grass  catch  well  and  grow 
well ;  and  that  by  getting  a  good  start  in  Autumn, 
it  makes  a  stronger  growth  the  next  season 
than  it  would  if  the  seeding  were  deferred  until 
the  Spring.  But  sometimes,  the  preceding  crop 
(say  potatoes,)  is  a  late  one,  and  can  not  be  got 
off  until  October ;  and  sometimes  other  farm 
work  presses  so  hard  in  September  that  stock- 
ing lands  to  grass  can  not  be  attended  to.  In 
such  cases,  spring  seeding  must  be  adopted. 
Get  the  ground  in  order  as  early  as  possible,  and 
sow  with  oats,  barley,  or  spring  wheat,  making 
the  grain  crop  rather  light,  so  as  to  give  the 
grass  all  possible  chance.  The  grain  crop  will 
Shade  the  grass  plants  until  they  get  well 
started,  and  then  it  will  be  removed  in  time  for 
the  grass  to  get  strong  before  Winter  sets  in.  If 
the  soil  is  cold  and  backward  in  Spring,  it  is  ad- 
visable to  plow  it  late  in  the  preceding  Fall :  it 
can  then  be  got  ready  quickly  in  Spring  for  seed- 
ing. Some  of  the  best  farmers  prefer  sowing 
grass  seed  without  any  grain  crop.  One  crop  at 
a  time,  they  say,  is  enough.  The  grain  is  a 
coarser  and  more  exhausting  crop,  it  interferes 
with  the  growth  of  the  tender  grass,  and  steals 
away  its  food.     One  of  the  chief  objections  to 


sowing  grass  seed  alone  is,  that  weeds  are  apt 
to  get  the  start  of  the  grass.  When  grass  seed 
is  put  in  alone,  the  ground  should  be  cleaned 
and  tilled  with  special  care,  and  a  large  amount 
of  seed  be  sown,  so  as  to  occupy  the  whole  sur- 
face at  once,  and   produce  a  fine  hay. 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Notes  on  Wisconsin  Farming. 

SOWING   SPRING   WHEAT   IN   THE   FALL. 


Of  late  years,  many  of  our  Wisconsin  farmers 
have  observed  in  the  Spring,  on  Fife  wheat  stub- 
ble, quite  a  thick  growth  of  self-sowed  wheat. 
In  one  case,  I  knew  as  good  a  crop  produced 
from  a  piece  of  Fife  stubble,  self-sowed  and  un- 
cultivated, as  was  raised  on  some  of  the  neigh- 
boring farms  in  the  usual  way.  These  observa- 
tions, together  with  the  facts  that  the  wheat  crop 
of  1801  fell  much  below  the  average,  and  that  of 
1863  was  nearly  a  failure,  have  led  many  think- 
ing farmers  to  make  some  experiments.  I  have 
conversed  with  many  such,  and  all  seem  to  base 
them  on  the  same  general  grounds,  viz.:  1st, 
that  the  wheat  crop  of  I860  was  quite  double 
the  average  of  previous  years,  and  the  seed  for 
that  crop  was  gotten  in  from  two  to  four  weeks 
earlier  than  in  any  other  season  for  ten  years 
before.  The  inference  was,  to  get  the  seed  in 
early  would  increase  the  crop.  2d,  that  the  Fife 
wheat  will  retain  its  vitality  and  lay  in  the 
ground  all  Winter,  and  when  the  ground  is 
plentifully  covered  with  snow,  will  make  quite 
a  good  growth  under  it.  All,  too,  seemed  to 
have  the  idea,  that  it  should  be  sown  so  late  in 
Autumn  that  it  will  not  sprout  before  the  ground 
freezes  permanently.  Of  course  it  is  difficult  to 
determine  j  ust  when  it  is  going  to  freeze  up  and 
continue  frozen.  A  farmer  in  Waterford,  Racine 
Co.,  sowed  ten  acres,  I  think,  late  in  November, 
but  it  remained  open  with  alternate  freezings  so 
long  after,  that  the  wheat  sprouted  before  it 
froze  up  for  good,  and  the  crop  was  a  failure. 
One  of  your  subscribers  in  Vernon,  Waukesha 
Co.,  sowed  a  field  late,  and  in  three  days  after, 
the  ground  froze  hard.  After  the  snow  went 
off  in  the  Spring,  the  field  was  fairly  green  witli 
the  growing  wheat.  Before  the  ground  was 
thawed  more  than  one  or  two  inches,  there  oc- 
curred a  beating  storm  of  rain,  which  washed 
out  aud  drowned  the  young  plants  in  places. 
Counting  out  those  spots  where  it  was  destroy- 
ed, the  piece  yielded  at  the  rate  of  40  bushels 
per  acre,  of  a  very  fine  quality  of  wheat.  In 
several  cases,  to  which  I  am  knowing,  this  ex- 
periment succeeded  well  last  year.  Another  of 
your  subscribers  in  Newport,  Lake  Co.,  Illinois, 
sowed  September  15, 1861,  a  bushel  of  Fife  wheat 
and  a  bushel  of  winter  wheat  on  equal  quanti- 
ties of  land  side  by  side.  The  Fife  wheat  pro- 
duced 11  bushels  of  as  fine  wheat  as  I  ever  saw. 
The  bran  was  much  whiter  and  thinner  than 
spring-sowed  of  that  variety.  The  winter  wheat 
produced  12  bushels  of  good  quality.  Last 
September  he  sowed  several  acres  of  Fife  wheat 
of  spring-sowed,  his  opinion  being,  it  will  pro- 
duce as  good  a  crop  as  that  seed  would,  which 
was  the  product  of  that  he  sowed  the  previous 
Fall.  But  in  order  to  lest  the  matter,  he  has 
sowed  a  bushel  of  wheat  raised  from  that  put  in 
the  previous  Fall,  and  a  bushel  from  spring- 
sowed,  on  equal  quantities  of  land  side  by  side. 
I  hope  after  lie  lias  thoroughly  tested  the  mat- 
ter he  will  give  your  readers  the  result.  Hun- 
dreds of  bushels  of  Fife  wheat  were  sown 
last  Fall  at  different  dales.  How  it  will  suc- 
ceed, is  yet  a  matter  of  some  doubt:  I  will  take 
pains  to  inform  myself  in  proper  time  and  let 


you  know.  A  large  breadth  of  winter  wheat  was 
sown  last  Fall,  I  should  judge  four  times  as 
much  as  was  sown  the  year  previous.  The  rea- 
son is,  winter  wheat  for  the  last  two  years  has 
doue  exceedingly  well,  yielding  from  20  to  40 
bushels  per  acre  of  fine  quality;  while  at  the 
same  time  spring  wheat  has  done  very  poorly. 
In  the  harvest  of  1861  a  majority  of  fields  did 
not  yield  more  than  10  bushels  per  acre.  Bad 
seasous  and  the  chinch  bug  will  not  wholly  ac- 
count for  these  light  crops.  Half  of  it  can  be 
laid  to  quack  farming.  Here  and  there  I  find  a 
thorough,  scientific  farmer,  who  never  fails  of 
raising-  a  good  crop  of  spring  wheat.  These 
farmers  invariably  take  the  Agriculturist. 
Racine  Co.,  Wis.  R.  F.  ROBERTS. 

•-. -«••. —m 

For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Market  Fairs. 


With  all  that  has  been  written  in  favor  of 
these  institutions,  and  the  efforts  that  have  been 
made  to  establish  them,  they  are  still  a  great  de- 
sideratum in  the  farming  districts.  There  can 
be  no  doubt  that  our  farmers  are  losing  millions 
of  dollars  every  year  for  the  want  of  them.  In 
this  respect,  the  British  farmer  has  one  of  his 
chief  advantages  over  us.  It  is  not  so  much 
that  he  has  cheaper  labor,  that  his  living  ex- 
penses are  less,  or  that  he  follows  his  business 
more  closely,  that  he  prospers,  but  that  he  has  a 
steady  reliable  market  near  home  for  every 
thing  that  he  produces.  This  gives  him  a  great 
advantage  over  us,  notwithstanding  he  has  to 
pay  a  rent  of  from  ten  to  twenty  dollars  an  acre 
for  his  farm  and  much  heavier  taxes  than  ours. 
Every  farming  district  in  England  has  its  week- 
ly market.  If  a  farmer  lias  fat  cattle  oi  milch 
cows  to  dispose  of,  they  are  driven  a  few  miles 
to  the  Market  Fair  and  sold  nearly  as  well 
as  he  could  sell  them  in  the  London  market, 
without  the  large  expense  of  transportation.  If 
a  butcher  wants  cattle  he  goes  to  the  fairs  to 
buy.  Here,  there  is  a  middleman,  a  drover,  be- 
tween the  butcher  and  the  farmer,  making  his 
profit,  often  a  very  large  one,  which  would  other- 
wise go  to  the  farmer.  If  the  Euglish  farmer 
wants  store  cattle  or  seeds,  he  can  find  just  what 
he  wants  at  the  expense  of  a  morning  ride. 
Here,  if  a  farmer  wants  a  stock  of  cows  he  has 
either  to  go  to  a  distant  market,  losing  traveling 
expenses  and  time,  or  to  take  his  own  convey- 
ance and  spend  a  week  perhaps,  in  picking  up 
what  he  wants,  in  his  own  or  the  neighboring 
towns,  at  such  prices  as  he  is  obliged  to  pay. 
There  is  no  steadiness  to  the  prices  in  buying  or 
selling,  except  in  the  large  market  towns.  The 
regulation  of  prices  is  very  much  in  the  hands 
of  middlemen. 

But  few  efforts  have  been  made  to  establish 
such  foirs  in  this  country,  notwithstanding  their 
manifest  advantages.  It  takes  time  to  change 
from  a  system  in  which  we  have  been  educated, 
even  though  that  system  be  a  bad  oue.  There 
is  nothing  in  our  circumstances  to  forbid  the  es- 
tablishment of  these  fairs  and  the  full  realiza- 
tion of  their  benefits.  They  began  as  religious 
celebrations  many  centuries  ago.  We  have 
nothing,  except  our  Annual  Agricultural  Ex- 
hibitions, upon  which  such  market  fairs  could 
be  grafted,  and  these  are  quite  too  far  apart  to 
answer  the  purpose.  The  place,  however, 
where  such  exhibitions  arc  held,  generally  the 
city  or  village  in  the  trade  center  of  a  county, 
would  be  a  good  starting  point  for  these  fairs. 
It  not  unfrequeutly  happens  now,  that  a  sale  of 
stock  and  other  products  occurs  at  the  close  of 
the  annual  exhibition.    More  or  less  exchange 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


107 


of  products  always  takes  place.  Where  a  Socie- 
ty has  grounds  and  permanent  stalls  and  build- 
ings,  all  the  conveniences  are  provided  that 
would  be  needed  for  the  accommodation  of 
market  fairs.  There  would  need  to  be  some 
concert  of  action  to  get  them  started,  and  gen- 
erally the  men  most  interested  in  the  County 
Society  are  the  right  ones  to  project  the  market 
fails  and  make  them  successful.  They  might 
at  first  be  held  quarterly  or  monthly,  and  then 
more  frequently  as  they  became  better  known. 
Onee  established  they  would  take  care  of  them- 
selves, as  it  would  be  for  the  personal  interest 
of  every  farmer  in  the  district  to  buy  and  sell 
in  that  market.  This  matter  should  be  dis- 
cussed at  our  farmers'  clubs,  and  annual  agricul- 
tural meetings.  Connecticut. 


About  Liming  land. 


The  recent  letters  received  at  the  office  of 
the  American  Agriculturist  have  contained  more 
notes  and  queries  on  the  subject  of  liming  land 
than  on  any  other  topic  save  that  of  growing 
tobacco,  which  from  some  cause  seems  to  be 
just  now  "all  the  rage,"  throughout  the  coun- 
try. Without  attempting  to  exhaust  the  subject 
of  lime,  we  offer  a  few  hints.  The  precise  ac- 
tion or  use  of  lime  is  not  a  settled  question. 
Theoretical  agricultural  chemists  have  claimed 
that,  since  lime  is  found  in  the  ashes  of 
most  crops,  it  is  one  of  the  essential  con- 
stituents, and  must  therefore  be  found  in  the 
soil,  or  be  applied,  if  not  already  there,  in 
order  to  supply  the  elements  of  the  plants.  But 
this  does  not  explain  its  action.  A  single  illus- 
tration  is  conclusive  on  that  question.  The 
farm  on  which  we  were  brought  up,  though  a 
diluvial  or  loam  soil  on  the  surface,  is  literally 
filled  with  limestones,  and  rests  on  limestone 
rocks  which  often  protrude  through  the  sur- 
face. The  well  and  spring  water  is  so  saturated 
with  lime  as  to  yield  a  thick  coat  of  it  upon  the 
tea-kettle  in  a  brief  time.  Yet  burned  lime,  and 
plaster  (sulphate  of  lime,)  have  always  been  fa- 
vorite fertilizers,  because  their  application  has 
proved  to  be  profitable.  Many  thousands  of 
bushels  of  lime  have  been  burned  from  stones 
gathered  upon  the  surface,  and  the  burned  lime 
lias  been  applied  right  among  the  unburued 
stones  with  excellent  results.  The  water  flow- 
ing from  the  soil  is  abundantly  saturated  with 
lime  in  a  soluble  condition,  so  that  there  can  be 
no  possible  lack  of  this  element  for  the  use  of 
the  plants.  On  this  point  it  may  also  be  added, 
that  in  the  analysis  of  many  samples  of  water 
from  wells  and  springs  in  all  kinds  and 
qualities  of  soils,  and  from  various  sections  of 
the  country,  we  have  never  yet  found  a  speci- 
men of  water  that  did  not  contain  lime  enough 
to  meet  the  wants  of  any  crop. 

With  the  above  and  other  facts  in  view,  we 
have  come  to  attribute  the  chief  utility  of 
burned  lime  to  its  action  as  an  alkaline  reagent 
to  neutralize  the  acidity  or  sourness  of  the  soil, 
and  to  promote  the  decomposition  of  organic 
or  vegetable  matters,  and  fit  them  to  become 
food  for  the  growing  plants.*     To  a  limited  de- 

*  One  of  the  facts  of  chemistry  is,  that  a  compound 
Dody  will  be  more  readily  decomposed  if  there  is  present 
another  compound  or  element  having  a  strong  affinity  for 
one  of  the  results  of  the  decomposition.  Thus:  all 
vegetable  mailers,  in  decomposing,  produce  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  carbonic  acid,  and  this  has  a  strong 
affinity  for  lime.  Hence  the  presence  of  lime  in  a  soil 
hastens  the  destruction  or  dead  grass  roots  and  other 
organic  materials,  and  sets  the  elements  at  liberty  to  act 
as  direct  or  indirect  nourishment  lo  the  growing  crops. 


gree,  also,  lime  acts  as  a  cemeut  to  harden  and 
compact  light  sandy  soils. 

The  burning  of  limestone  simply  drives  off 
its  carbonic  acid,  and  reduces  it  to  to  a  fine  or 
powdered  condition,  so  that  it  is  easily  mingled 
with  the  soil.  Simply  grinding  limestone  would 
not  remove  its  acid  and  render  it  caustic ;  this 
is  only  accomplished  by  great  heat. 

No  rule  can  be  given  for  judging  as  to 
whether  any  particular  soil  will  be  benefitted 
by  lime.  Experience  has  proved  that  it  is  often 
useful  both  on. clays,  and  on  very  sandy  loams, 
where  there  is  but  a  very  limited  supply  of  lime 
naturally  in  the  soil;  and  that  it  is  equally 
beneficial  on  soils  half  made  up  of  limestone 
pebbles,  shells,  and  organic  petrifactions  which 
are  composed  chiefly  of  lime.  Actual  trials  are 
the  only  sure  tests  of  its  utility  or  non-utility 
upon  any  particular  soil.  With  the  above 
theory  of  its  action  as  an  alkaline  reagent  we 
may  generally  conclude : 

1.  That  on  new  soils,  where  there  is  more  or 
less  of  undecomposed  vegetable  matter,  and 
some  sourness,  an  application  of  lime  will 
hasten  the  preparation  of  the  natural  manure 
or  vegetable  material,  and  neutralize  the  acidity. 

2.  On  cold  soils  or  those  which  are  not  natu- 
rally thoroughly  drained,  the  water  saturating 
the  soil  for  the  whole  or  the  larger  part  of  the 
year  shuts  out  access  of  air.  The  vegetable  mat- 
ters remain  in  an  undecomposed  or  in  a  semi- 
decomposed  condition.  An  application  of  caustic 
(fresh-slacked)  lime  will  dissolve  and  hasten 
the  decomposition  of  the  organic  materials, 
preparing  their  elements  to  enter  and  nourish 
the  plants. 

3.  This  effect  will  be  most  marked  upon 
recently  drained  swamps,  and  fresh  and  salt 
water  marshes.  Owing  to  the  great  amount  of 
vegetable  matters,  it  is  often  necessary  to  make 
a  light  application  at  first,  or  so  much  of  the 
natural  manure  will  be  prepared  as  to  induce 
too  rank  a  growth  of  straw  or  stalks.  For  po- 
tatoes, or  for  corn  which  is  a  gross  feeder, 
there  is  less  danger  of  an  over-dose,  than  when 
grass-seed  or  the  grain  crops  are  sown. 

4.  On  dry,  sandy  soils  there  is  often  too  little 
moisture  to  decompose  the  organic  materials, 
and  an  application  of  lime  is  frequently  useful. 
As  above  stated,  lime  acts  mechanically,  ce- 
ments the  soil,  and  causes  it  to  retain  moisture. 

5.  On  heavy  clay  soils,  lime  is  often  bene- 
ficial for  the  same  reason  as  in  (2)  above, 
though  a  large  application  sometimes  cements 
the  clay,  and  is  deleterious. 

Mode  of  Using  Lime. — The  best  form  of  ap- 
plication is,  to  sow  fresh  slalced  lime,  in  the 
finest  condition  possible,  and  immediately  mix 
it  thoroughly  with  the  soil  by  harrowing  and 
plowing.  Some  spread  it  upon  the  surface,  and 
plow  it  in.  The  better  way  is  to  first  plow  the 
land,  then  sow  the  lime  and  immediately  har- 
row it  in  well.  When  spread  in  heaps  and  left 
for  days  or  weeks,  it  absorbs  carbonic  acid  from 
the  atmosphere,  and  is  then  far  less  active  upon 
the  vegetable  material  within  the  soil.  When 
fresh  slaked  with  water,  it  is  an  almost  im- 
palpable powder,  and  can  be  much  more 
thoroughly  scattered  and  diffused  through  the 
soil.  If  it  lay  in  heaps  upon  the  field,  or  is  air- 
slacked,  it  becomes  carbonated,  and  though  still 
friable  or  in  a  powdered  condition,  the  particles 
are  a  thousand  times  less  minute.  Sown  as  a  top- 
dressing,  it  acts  upon  a  little  of  the  surface,  and 
some  of  it  is  washed  into  the  soil,  and  we  have 
seen  good  results  from  this  practice,  but  the 
effect  is  far  less  than  when  sown  fresh  and  im- 
mediately worked  into  the  soil. 


Moistening  seed  and  drying  it  off  with  lime, 
just  before  sowing  or  planting,  often  produces 
good  results.  We  suppose  the  little  lime  thus 
introduced,  sweetens  a  small  portion  of  the  soil, 
and  prepares  a  little  of  the  organic  matter  im- 
mediately around  the  seed,  fitting  it  to  nourish 
and  give  a  vigorous  start  to  the  young 
plant.  A  larger  application  in  the  hill,  or  dif- 
fused through  the  whole  soil,  would  of  course 
prepare  more  of  it  for  the  extending  roots. 

Lime  may  be  applied  at  the  time  of  putting 
in  seed,  or  months  before.  In  the  latter  ease  it 
decomposes  the  organic  matters,  but  these  are 
mainly  retained  by  the  soil  in  store  for  the 
roots  of  the  coming  crop.  Theory  and  obser- 
vation indicate,  that  the  time  of  application 
is  not  material,  though  we  are  most  likely  to 
diffuse  it  more  thoroughly  and  evenly  through 
the  soil,  if  it  be  applied  when  the  seed-bed  is  be- 
ing prepared.  The  additional  harrowing  then 
given,  aids  in  mixing  it  evenly  through  the  soil, 
which  we  consider  a  great  point  to  be  aimed  at. 

Moderate  applications,  at  frequent  intervals, 
seem  to  be  preferable  to  heavy  coatings  at  long 
intervals.  A  cold,  heavy,  sour  soil  may  receive 
30,  50,  or  even  100  bushels  per  acre  at  one  time; 
but  on  lighter  soils  15  to  25  bushels  are  usually 
an  abundant  supply.  To  apply  50  or  more 
bushels  per  acre  on  a  light  soil,  may  decompose 
and  use  up  nearly  all  the  organic  matters  in  the 
first  year,  and  render  it  sterile;  while  15  bushels 
may  prepare  enough  organic  material  to  benefit 
the  first  crop  ;  and  the  roots  and  leaves  of  that 
crop  will  add  more  organic  matter  for  a  suc- 
ceeding crop.  This  may  explain  why  lime  has 
after  a  time  been  condemned  where  it  was  at 
first  in  great  favor.  We  know  one  instance 
where  the  soil  of  a  neighborhood  was  light  and 
sandy.  Lime  was  hauled  30  miles  by  teams, 
and  very  moderately  applied— 10  to  20  bushels 
per  acre.  The  opening  of  a  railway  reduced  the 
cost  to  8  cents  per  bushel,  and  one  farmer  ap- 
plied 500  bushels  to  five  acres  at  once,  expecting 
great  results.  The  first  crop  was  a  good  one, 
but  the  field  was  ruined  until  a  heavy  coat  of 
manure  was  applied,  to  restore  organic  matter. 

Large  applications  of  lime  on  a  heavy  soil, 
and  not  thoroughly  diffused  through  it,  as  when 
it  is  spread  on  the  surface  and  plowed  under, 
often  settles  in  a  layer,  and  forms  a  compact 
bed  through  which  the  roots  will  not  penetrate 
freely.  We  have  seen  many  such  instances,  and 
nothing  would  grow  well  until  a  plow  was  run 
below  to  throw  it  upon  the  surface,  and  then 
the  harrow  used  freely  to  break  up  and  com- 
mingle the  hard  layer  with  the  rest  of  the  soil. 

Oyster-shell  lime  is  by  some  thought  to  be 
preferable  to  stone  lime,  because  the  former 
contains  more  phosphoric  acid;  but  it  slakes 
much  less  finely,  and  is  therefore  less  inti- 
mately mixed  with  the  soil.  On  this  account 
we  should  prefer  the  stone  lime,  and  we  believe 
the  general  experience  is  in  this  direction.  Gas 
lime  is  similarly  objectionable,  and  until  after 
considerable  exposure  to  the  action  of  air  in  or 
upon  the  soil,  it  is  poisonous  to  plants.  (The 
use  of  gas  lime  is  fully  described  on  page  75  of 
Volume  XX,  for  1801.) 

The  above  general  hints  indicate  answers  to 
a  multitude  of  questions  addressed  to  us.  Any 
other  specific  questions  we  shall  be  happy  lo 
reply  to,  when  practicable.  Lime  is  perhaps 
the  most  important  fertilizer  we  have,  aside 
from  barn-yard  manure.  It  is  useful  on  a  large 
proportion  of  all  the  farms  in  the  country,  and 
may  well  be  tried,  where  it  has  not  been  used. 
Its  effects,  the  best  modes  of  application,  and 
the  rationale  of  its  operation,  should  be  carefully 
observed  and  studied  by  cultivators  generally. 


108 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[AriiiL, 


The  Potato  or  Tobacco  Worm. 

The  above  engraving  represents  one  of  our 
most  voracious  and  destructive  insects.  It  is 
shown  in  its  different  stages  of  larva,  chrysalis, 
and  imago,  or  moth.  The  larva  or  worm,  fig.  1, 
is  a  great  pest  upon  potato  and  tomato  vines, 
and  upon  tobacco.  It  is  especially  injurious  to 
the  latter  crop,  as  it  perforates  the  leaves  and 
renders  them  ragged  and  worthless.  The  worm 
as  it  comes  from  the  egg  is  so  small  as  to  be  un- 
observed, but  having  an  enormous  appetite,  it 
devours  rapidly,  ami  soon  grows  to  about  twice 
the  size  represented  in  the  cut.  When  not  feed- 
ing, it  lifts  up  the  head  and  fore  part  of  the 
body,  and  remains  apparently  lifeless.  From 
its  resemblance  in  this  position  to  the  Egyp- 
tian Sphinx,  Linnreus  gave  the  name  SpKwx, 
to  the  genus.  The  larva,  fig.  1,  is  of  light  green 
color,  with  whitish  oblique  stripes,  and  has  a 
horn  upon  the  rear  end  of  the  body.  Though 
it  is  repulsive  in  appearance,  it  is  perfectly  harm- 
less to  touch,  and  may  be  picked  off  with  the 
hands  without  fear.  After  it  has  reached  its 
full  size,  it  leaves  the  scene  of  its  ravages  and 
goes  into  the  earth,  where  it  throws  off  its  skin 
and  becomes  a  brown  colored  chrysalis,  fig.  2. 
The  curious  projection,  like  a  handle,  is  a  sheath 
which  holds  the  tougue  of  the  future  moth. 
The  moth  or  perfect  insect,  is  represented  in  the 
engraving,  fig.  3,  of  the  natural  size.  It  is  of  a 
gray  color,  -with  orange  colored  spots  on  each 
side  of  the  body.  As  there  are  five  of  these 
Spots  on  each  side,  it  is  called  Sphinx  quinque- 
maculatus,  or  five-spotted  sphinx.  The  moths 
may  be  seen  towards  night  flitting  about  the 
flowers  from  which  they  suck  the  juices  by 
means  of  their  remarkable  tongue,  which  is  five 
or  six  inches  long.  When  the  tongue  is  not  in 
use,  it  is  closely  coiled  up  and  hidden  between 
the  two  feelers.  From  the  manner  of  their  flight 
and  feeding  they  are  frequently  mistaken  for 
humming  birds,  and  are  called  "humming  bird 
moths,"  and  "  hornblowers."  The  moths  should 
always  be  destroyed  if  possible ;  by  so  doing 
we  prevent  the  production  of  several  hundreds 
of  most  destructive  worms.  Naturalists  make 
one  or  two  other  9pecies,  which  closely  resem- 


ble the  five-spotted  moth,  and  are  only  distin- 
guished by  characters  which  would  not  be  no- 
ticed except  by  the  entomologist.  [The  illustra- 
tions above  were  in  part  re-sketched  and  en- 
graved from  figures  in  Harris1  valuable  work 
on  Insects,  referred  to  in  our  March  No.,  p.  71.] 


Tobacco  Culture.* 

Prize  Essay — by  Judson  Popenoe,  Montgomery  Co.,  O. 


I  commenced  the  cultivation  of  tobacco  about  fifteen 
years  ago;  I  therefore  write  from  experience,  and  shall 
try  to  give  that  experience,  in   a  short  ami  plain   way. 

Varieties.— I  have  cultivated  various  kinds  of  tobac- 
co, but  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  what  we  call 
the  Ohio  seed-leaf  is  the  best  and  most  profitable  kind  for 
general  cultivation.  There  are  other  kinds  of  tobacco 
that  sometimes  are  profitable,  and  do  well,  but  most  of 
these  do  not  cure  out  so  well,  nor  color  so  evenly,  nor 
are  they  so  fine  and  salable  as  the  seed-leaf.  The  Ha- 
vana tobacco  is  too  small  and  has  not  the  fine  flavor  of  the 
imported,  The  Connecticut  seed-leaf  I  believe  to  be 
Identical  with  our  Ohio  seed-leaf ;  the  difference  in  the 
climate  may  make  a  slight  variation  in  the  quality,  but  we 
plant  the  Connecticut  seed-leaf  here  in  Ohio,  and  I  don't 
think  they  can  be  told  apart.  The  most  of  the  tobacco 
raised  in  this  district  is  the  Seed-leaf,  which  is  strong  evi- 
dence that  it  is  the  best  and  most  profitable  to  raise  here. 

Seed. — At  topping-time  a  few  of  the  most  thrifty  stalks 
should  be  left  to  grjw  without  topping,  for  seed.  When 
tha  crop  is  cut,  let  the  seed-stalks  stand,  stripping  off  the 
leaves  and  suckers.  As  soon  as  the  seed-pods  are  black, 
the  seed  is  matured  ;  then  cut  off  the  seed-heads  below 
the  forks  of  the  plant,  and  hang  them  in  a  dry  place,  out 
of  the  reach  of  mice,  to  cure.  At  leisure  time,  during 
the  Winter,  strip  tin?  seed-pods  from  off  the  stalk,  rub  them 
in  the  hands  until  the  seed  is  rubbed  out,  sift  through  a 
fine  sifter,  put  in  a  dry  place,  secure  from  vermin  of  all 
kinds,  and  it  is  ready  to  sow.  I  have  sowed  seed  six  years 

*  To  our  threat  surprise,  over  eighty  persons  sent  in  essavs 
on  Tobacco^Culture,  in  response  to  our  Premium  offer.  Of 
these  1")  were  in  German.  One  of  the  essays  was"  written 
by  a  lady.  They  were  handed  over  to  a  competent  Commit- 
tee of  three,  two  of  whom  were  engaged  nearly  two  weeks 
in  examining  the  manuscripts.  They  found  several  very  line 
essays— some  of  thetn  excellent  specimens  of  skillful  use  of 
the  pen ;  others  were  rather  historical ;  others  were  com- 
plete and  very  excellent  on  some  points,  but  did  not  contain 
information  on  all  points.  The  beet  one,  perhaps,  on  the  cul- 
ture, (bv  Mr.  Schneider),  had  too  little  practical  information 
on  the  important  matter  of  curing  and  packing.  The  Com- 
mittee felt  constrained  to  adhere  to  the  terms  of  the  offer, 
and  select  the  one  discussing  all  points  "  from  securing  seed 
to  curing  and  marketing  the  crop."  Taking  all  things  Into 
consideration,  thev  finally  awarded  the  First  Prize  of  $15,  to 
Mr.  Popenoe,  as  above:  The  Second  Prize  of  $10,  to  Mr.  A. 
B.  Foster,  Crawford  Co.,  Wis.  The  Third  Prize  of  $5,  was  so 
nearly  balanced  between  Messrs.  Christian  Schneider  of 
Madison  Co..  111.,  and  Oliver  T.  Bishop  and  Wni,  H.  White, 
of  Hartford  Co.,  Conn.,  that  the  Committee  could  not  award 
it  to  any  one  of  the  three ;  so  they  decided  to  recommend  the 
Publisher  to  increase  the  amount  oiler ed,  and  pay  a  Premi- 
um of  $5  to  each  of  these  gentlemen,  which  was  cheerfully 
acceded  to.  All  these  five  essays,  and  a  number  of  others,  are 
published  in  book  form  as  noticed  on  another  page.] 


old  which  grew  us  well  as  new  seed.  I  think  it  is  a  good 
plan  to  raise  seed  enough  a)  any  lime  to  sow  for  ten  years, 
as  it  is  thought  to  deteriorate  by  constant  raising  without 
changing.  If  seed  snaps  or  pops  when  it  is  thrown  on  a 
hot  stove,  it  will  grow. 

Preparing  Seed  Beds.— There  are  two  plans  of  pre- 
paring beds  for  sowing  seed;  the  first  and  best,  is  to 
spade  or  plow  a  bed  in  rich,  dry  ground,  with  a  southern 
exposure  ;  the  south  side  of  a  barn  is  u  good  place,  as  the 
reflection  helps  to  warm  the  ground.  Where  you  have 
tobacco  stalks,  as  you  make  a  furrow  with  the  plow  or 
spade  fill  one  third  full  with  the  stalks  and  turn  the  next 
furrow  over  them,  and  so  continue  until  the  bed  is  broken 
up.  The  stalks  hold  moisture,  make  the  bed  warm,  and 
help  to  drain  it.  Take  well-rotted  hog  manure  and  spread 
over  the  bed  to  the  depth  of  about  two  inches,  then  har- 
row or  rake  unlil  the  manure  is  thoroughly  mixed  with 
the  surface  of  the  bed,  and  all  is  well  pulverized  and  as 
fine  as  garden  mold.  For  a  bed  one  rod  wide  and  four  rods 
long,  take  two  common-sized  table-spoonfuls  (as  much  as 
will  lie  on  conveniently)  of  seed  and  mix  well  with  four 
quarts  of  ashes,  or  slacked  lime,  and  sow  broadcast ;  the 
ashes  will  enable  the  seed  to  be  sowed  evenly  ;  then  take 
a  hand-roller  and  roll  the  bed  evenly,  or  place  a  board  on 
one  end  of  the  bed,  walk  on  it  to  press  the  ground  to  the 
seed,  move  it  over,  and  repeat  this  until  the  bed  is  all 
pressed  over.  Another  plan  is  lo  burn  a  large  brush-heap 
in  a  clearing,  or  on  any  new  ground,  in  the  evening;  in 
the  morning  dig  the  ground  up  with  the  ashes  on  ;  while 
warm,  rake  the  bed  fine  and  sow  the  seed  as  above  di- 
rected. Very  little  weeding  is  required  where  the  ground 
is  burned,  as  the  fire  destroys  the  weed  and  grass-seeds 

If  the  weather  is  dry,  the  plants  will  need  watering 
after  they  are  sprouted,  (which  will  be  in  about  three 
weeks) ;  in  fact,  the  surface  of  the  bed  should  be  kept  con- 
stantly moist  ;  the  beds  should  be  kept  clear  of  weeds ;  do 
not  let  the  weeds  get  a  start  of  your  plants,  or  they  will 
soon  choke  them  out.  If  the  plants  grow  well  and  evenly, 
the  above-sized  bed  will  plant  four  or  five  acres,  but  it  is 
always  safe  to  have  two  or  three  such  beds,  to  guard 
against  a  failure,  and  to  supply  your  neighbors.  The 
usual  time  to  sow  is  from  the  middle  of  March  to  the 
tenth  of  April,  or  as  soon  as  the  ground  admits  of  work- 
ing in  the  Spring.  I  have  known  seed  sown  in  the  Fall 
make  good  plants,  but  do  not  recommend  it. 

Soil. — A  rich,  sandy,  second  bottom,  I  believe  to  be  the 
best  for  raising  tobacco,  although  our  chocolate-colored 
uplands,  when  very  rich  and  high]}  manured,  will  grow 
an  excellent  quality  of  tobacco,  but  will  not  yield  as  much 
to  the  acre.  Black  river-bottoms  will  yield  more*  to  the 
acre  than  any  other  kind  of  land,  but  the  tobacco  is  not 
of  so  fine  a  quality  ;  it  grows  larger,  has  coarser  stems,  and 
heavier  body,  and  consequently,  is  not  so  good  for  wrap- 
pers or  fine  cut  as  the  second  bottom  or  upland  tobacco. 

Manuring  and  Preparing  for  Planting. — Tobacco 
is  a  gross  feeder  and  grows  rapidly  when  once  started  ; 
it  therefore  needs  plenty  of  fond  to  make  it  grow  well. 
There  should  be  a  good  coat  of  clover  to  plow  under ;  if 
the  ground  is  naturally  rich,  this  alone,  will  make  a  good 
crop  ;  but  hog  and  stable-manure  well  rolled,  is  what  the 
tobacco,  as  well  as  any  other  crop,  delights  in,  and  the 
more  manure,  the  better  the  tobacco.  The  plan  that  I  am 
now  experimenting  on  is,  as  soon  as  I  cut  my  tobacco  in 
the  Fall  I  give  the  ground  a  good  harrowing,  and  then 
drill  in  wheat  ;  the  ground  being  well  cultivated  all  the 
Fall,  Is  clear  of  weeds  and  mellow  and  needs  no  plowing. 
In  the  Spring  I  sow  clover  ;  after  the  wheat  is  off,  I  keep 
the  stock  off  until  about  September,  to  give  the  clover  a 
chance  to  harden  and  spread.  I  then  let  the  stock  eat  as 
low  as  they  want  to,  which  drives  the  clover  to  root  and 
causes  the  crown  to  spread  ;  I  do  not  suffer  stock  to  run 
on  the  clover  during  Winter  or  Spring.  About  the  last  of 
May  or  first  of  June  I  plow  the  clover  under,  which  is 
now  in  blossom,  and  so  I  alternately  keep  two  fields  in 
tobacco  and  wheat,  at  the  same  lime  feeding  the  ground 
a  crop  of  clover  every  two  years;  in  this  way  I  expect 
my  land  to  increase  in  fertility  all  the  time.  The  clover 
turned  under,  makes  food  for  the  cut-worms,  and  they 
trouble  the  tobacco-plants  but  little.  We  now  harrow 
thoroughly,  following  in  the  same  way  that  we  plow,  lo 
make  the  sod  lie  flat  and  not  drag  up  ;  next  the  roller  is 
put  on,  and  after  the  ground  is  well  rolled  it  should  be 
again  harrowed,  and,  if  cloddy,  rolled  again.  Make  the 
ground  in  the  best  condition  possible,  so  that  the  roots  of 
the  tobacco  will  have  no  difficulty  in  penetrating  the  soil 
and  searching  for  food.  My  plan  is  to  furrow  east  and 
west  three  feet  apart,  north  and  south  three  and  a  half 
feet.  I  plow  the  tobacco  both  ways,  but  do  all  the  hoe- 
ing, snekering,  etc.,  north  and  south.  Some  mark  out  the 
ground  3  feet  each  way,  but  I  think  it  is  too  close.  If  the 
tobacco  is  large,  three  feet  does  not  give  room  lo  work 
among  it  conveniently.  I  mark  out  the  ground  with  a 
small  one-horse  plow,  going  east  and  west  first,  finishing 
the  way  that  I  make  my  hills.  The  usual  way  to  make 
the  hills  is  with  the  hoe,  making  the  hill  where  the  fur 
rows  cross  each  other,  drawing  the  dirt  into  a  hill  about 


18G3." 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


109 


as  large  as  for  covering  corn  or  potatoes.  'With  the  flat 
part  or  back  of  the  hoe  press  or  flatten  the  hill  down  to 
the  level  of  the  surface  of  the  ground,  taking  care  to  have 
it  clear  of  clods  or  rubbish.  I  generally  make  my  hills 
with  what  we  call  a  jumping  shovel— the  frame  of  a  sin- 
gle shovel-plow,  made  light,  with  a  shovel  about  eight 
inches  square,  put  on  in  the  place  of  the  common  shovel. 
Hitch  a  steady  horse  to  this,  start  him  in  the  furrows,  dip 
the  shovel  in  the  middle  of  the  furrows,  and  raise  it,  de- 
positing the  dirt  at  the  cross  of  the  furrows.  Have  a  hand 
following  to  level  and  put  down  the  hills,  and  take  out 
clods.  In  this  way  I  make,  with  the  assistance  of  a  boy 
fifteen  years  old,  about  fifteen  thousand  hills  in  a  day  ; 
with  the  hoe  three  or  four  thousand  is  a  good  day's  work. 

Setting  out  Plants.— From  the  first  to  the  fifteenth 
of  June  is  the  proper  time,  although,  if  it  is  seasonable, 
up  to  the  fourth  of  July  will  do,  but  the  sooner  after  the 
first  of  June  the  better.  By  this  time,  with  proper  care 
and  attention,  the  plants  are  large  enough.  The  ground 
should  be  well  saturated  with  rain,  and  a  cloudy  day  is 
much  the  best.  Immediately  after  a  rain,  or  between 
showers,  call  out  all  the  force,  for  the  work  is  pressing  ; 
the  success  of  the  crop  depends  on  getting  it  out  at  the 
right  time  ;  all  hands  go  to  the  plant-beds,  pull  the  largest 
plants,  one  at  a  time  ;  don't  let  two  stick  together,  or  the 
hoys  will  drop  them  together  and  a  plant  will  be  lost. 
After  the  baskets  are  full,  let  one  hand  continue  to  pull 
plants.  Put  the  little  boys  and  girls  to  dropping  one  plant 
on  the  side  of  each  hill ;  let  those  who  stick,  take  an  extra 
plant  in  the  hand,  drawing  the  leaves  together  in  the  left 
hand,  and  with  the  fore-finger  of  the  right  hand  make  a 
hole  in  the  center  of  the  hill  deep  enough  to  receive  the 
full  length  of  the  roots  without  the  tap  root  bending  up  ; 
insert  the  ptant  up  to  the  collar  with  the  left  hand  ;  stick 
the  fore-finger  of  the  right  hand  one  or  two  inches  from 
the  plant,  and  press  the  dirt  well  up  against  the  roots, 
taking  care  that  the  dirt  is  pressed  so  as  t®  fill  Up  the  hole. 
Pick  up  the  plant  on  the  side  of  the  hill,  and  as  you  step 
to  the  next  hill  arrange  it  for  sticking ;  in  this  way  you 
always  stick  the  plant  that  you  pick  from  one  hill  in  the 
next,  thereby  greatly  facilitating  the  work.  Sometimes 
the  ground  is  not  sufficiently  wet,  and  the  sun  coming  on 
the  plant  is  apt  to  injure  it ;  at  such  times  take  a  small 
clod  and  lay  it  on  the  heart  of  the  plant  to  keep  the  sun 
off,  removing  the  clod  in  the  evening.  As  soon  as  the 
plants  have  started,  the  first  lime  the  ground  is  wet  enough, 
replant  where  they  have  died  out. 

Cultivation.— As  soon  as  the  plants  have  taken  root 
and  commenced  to  grow,  begin  to  use  a  double  shovel- 
plow,  having  the  shovel  next  the  tobacco,  about  three 
inches  wide  and  six  or  eight  inches  long  ;  do  not  go  too 
close  to  the  hill,  or  you  may  displace  the  plant ;  follow 
with  a  hoe,  removing  all  grass  and  weeds,  leaving  the 
tobacco  master  of  the  situation.  Dig  gently  the  surface 
of  the  hill,  and  draw  a  little  fine  dirt  around  the  plant, 
and  strive  to  keep  the  soil  around  the  hill  as  mellow  as 
possible  without  disturbing  the  plant.  After  going  over 
in  this  manner,  plow  the  opposite  way,  going  twice  in  a 
row.  Some  prefer  the  cultivator  for  going  over  the  first 
two  times,  and  I  think  perhaps  it  would  be  preferable, 
as  it  pulverizes  the  ground  better  than  the  shovel-plow. 
After  going  over  the  field  twice,  in  the  above  manner, 
commence  again  with  the  double  shovel-plow,  the  wav 
the  tobacco  was  planted,  following  with  the  hoe,  giving  it 
a  good  hoeing  as  before.  Use  your  judgment  about  the 
amount  of  tillage  needed  ;  keep  clear  of  weeds  ;  keep  the 
ground  mellow,  and  when  the  plants  have  spread  so  that 
they  are  bruised  by  the  hoe  and  plow,  stop  cultivating. 

Worms.— As  soon  as  worms  appear,  which  is  gener- 
ally when  the  leaves  are  as  big  as  a  man's  hand,  go  over 
the  tobacco,  looking  carefully  at  every  plant.  The  worms 
usually  stay  on  the  under  side  of  the  leaf ;  if  you  see  a 
hole  in  the  leaf,  no  matter  how  small,  raise  it  up  and  you 
will  generally  find  a  worm  under  it.  Worming  can  not 
be  done  too  carefully.  Miss  one  or  two  worms  on  a 
plant,  and  before  you  are  aware  of  it  the  plant  is  nearly 
eaten  up.  When  you  find  a  worm,  take  hold  of  it  with 
the  thumb  and  fore-finger,  giving  your  thumb  that  peculiar 
twist  which  none  but  those  who  are  practised  in  it  know 
how  to  do,  and  put  the  proper  amount  of  pressure  on,  and 
my  word  for  it  you  will  render  his  wormship  harmless. 
Worming  must  be  continued  until  the  tobacco  is  cut ;  the 
last  worming  to  immediately  precede  cutting  and  housing. 

Topping.— The  tobacco  is  ready  to  top  when  the  but- 
ton (as  the  blossom  or  top  of  the  stalk  is  called)  has  put 
out  sufficiently  to  be  taken  hold  of,  without  injury  to  the 
top  leaves.  As  tobacco  is  not  regular  in  coming  into 
blossom,  it  is  the  usual  practice  to  let  those  stalks  that 
blossom  first,  run  a  little  beyond  their  time  of  topping,  and 
then  top  all  that  is  in  button  as  you  go.  There  is  no  par- 
ticular night  to  top  at,  but,  as  a  general  thing,  sixteen  to 
eighteen  leaves  are  left;  judgment  is  necessary  to  deter- 
mine where  to  top  ;  if  topped  too  high,  two  or  three  of 
the  leaves  are  so  small  as  not  to  amount  to  much  ;  if 
topped  low,  the  tobacco  spreads  better.  If  just  coming 
out  in  top,  reach  down  among  the  top  leaves,  and  with 


thumb  and  fore-finger  pinch  the  top  or  button  off  below 
two  or  three  leaves  ;  if  well  out  in  top,  break  off  several 
inches  from  the  button  and  four  or  five  leaves  I  elow  it. 

Suckering.— As  soon  as  the  tobacco  is  lopped,  the  suck- 
ers begin  to  grow  ;  one  shoots  out  from  the  stalk  at  the 
root  of  each  leaf,  on  the  upper  side.  When  the  top  suck- 
ers are  from  three  to  four  inches  long,  the  suckering 
should  be  done.  With  the  right  hand  take  hold  of  the 
top  sucker,  with  the  left  take  hold  of  the  nexl 
close  to  the  stalk,  and  break  them  off,  and  so  proceed, 
using  both  hands,  stooping  over  the  stalk,  taking  care  not 
to  injure  the  leaf.  Break  the  suckers  about  half-way 
down  the  stalk,  the  balance*  being  too  short  to  need  re- 
moving until  the  second  suckering.  In  about  two  weeks 
from  topping,  the  tobacco  is  ready  to  cut ;  now  give  it  the 
last  worming  and  suckering,  breaking  all  suckers  off 
down  to  the  ground,  and  remove  every  worm,  if  you  don't 
want  your  tobacco  eaten  in  the  sheds. 

Cutting  and  Housing. — As  a  general  rule,  tobacco 
should  be  cut  in  about  two  weeks  from  topping,  at  which 
time  the  leaves  assume  a  spotted  appearance  and  appear 
to  have  fulled  up  thicker  :  double  up  the  leaf  and  press  it 
together  with  thumb  and  finger,  and,  if  ready  to  cut,  the 
leaf  where  pressed,  will  break  crisp  and  short.  Do  not 
let  your  tobacco  get  over-ripe  or  it  will  cure  up  yeilow 
and  spotted;  it  is  better  to  cut  too  soon  than  too  late. 
Take  a  hatchet  or  short  corn-knife,  grasp  the  stalk  with 
the  left  hand,  bend  it  well  to  the  left,  so  as  to  expose  the 
lower  part  of  the  stalk,  strike  with  knife  just  at  the  surface 
of  the  ground,  let  the  stalk  drop  over  on  the  ground  with- 
out doubling  the  leaves  under,  and  leave  it  to  wilt.  The 
usual  practice  is  to  worm 
and  sucker  while  the  dew 
is  on  in  the  morning,  and 
as  soon  as  t he  dew  is  off, 
to  commence  cutting. 
There  are  some  who  ad- 
vocate to  cut  in  the  after- 
noon, say  three  o'clock, 
let  it  wilt  and  lie  out  un- 
til the  dew  is  off  next  day, 
and  take  it  in  before  the 
sun  gets  hot  enough  to 
burn  it.  I  prefer  the  first 
plan,  because  a  heavy  dew 
may  fall  on  the  tobacco, 
and  next  day  be  cloudy, 
leaving  the  tobacco  wet 
and  unpleasant  to  handle. 
After  cutting  allow  the  to- 
bacco to  wilt  long  enough 
to  make  the  leaves  tough, 
so  that  they  can  be  hand- 
led without  tearing.  Great 
care  is  now  necessary  to 
keep  the  tobacco  from 
sun-burning  ;  the  cutting 
should  be  commenced  as 
soon  as  the  dew  is  off,  and 
all  that  is  cut  should  be 
housed  by  eleven  o'clock,  unless  it  is  cloudy  ;  from  eleven 
to  two  o'clock  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun  on  tobacco,  after 
it  is  cut,  will  burn  the  leaves  in  twenty  minutes ;  after 
two,  as  a  general  thing,  there  is  no  danger  of  such  burn- 
ing, the  sun's  rays  not  striking  direct  on  the  tobacco. 
Have  a  wagon  at  hand,  with  stiff  boards  twelve  feet  long 
laid  on  the  running  gears :  as  soon  as  the  tobacco  is  wilted 
so  that  it  can  be  handled  without  breaking,  commence 
loading  on  both  sides  of  the  wagon  on  the  front  end,  lap- 
ping the  tobacco  the  same  as  loading  fodder,  keeping  the 
butts  on  both  sides— build  about  two  feet  high,  and  so  on 
until  loaded. 

Tobacco  Barn.— Mine  Is  50  by  33  feet,  with  18  feet 
posts ;  the  tiers  are  four  and  a  half  feet  apart.  I  hang 
four  full  tiers  of  tobacco,  and  hang  between  the  purlin 
plates  in  the  comb,  a  half-tier ;  the  bents  of  the  frame 
are  \G%  feet  apart.  I  hang  on  four-feet  sticks  made  of 
hickory,  rived  one-half  inch  by  IX  inches,  shaved  and 
tapered  at  one  end  to  enter  an  iron  socket  ;  I  have 
sawed  sugar-tree  scantlings  16H  feet  long,  3  by  4  inches 
thick,  for  the  ends  of  the  sticks  to  rest  on  and  meet  in  the 
centre  of  the  rail,  \Y%  inches  resting  on  it.  Some  use 
sawed  lath  to  hang  on,  but  the  split  and  shaved  are  far 
preferable.  Hanging  on  fence-rails  with  twine  is  going 
out  of  use,  as  it  should.  I  use  my  barn  to  store  wheat 
and  barley,  threshing  just  before  tobacco-hanging.  My 
barn  will  hang  about  seven   acres    of   good     tobacco. 

Housing  Tobacco.— The  tobacco  being  brought  to  the 
barn,  should  be  unloaded  on  a  platform  or  bench  conven- 
ient for  handling.  An  iron  socket,  about  6  inches  long, 
%  by  \H  inches  at  the  big  end,  tapering  to  a  sharp  point, 
is  necessary  ;  the  sticks  should  be  shaved  so  as  to  fit  the 
socket  as  near  as  possible,  but  do  not  bring  the  stick  to  a 
sharp  point,  or  it  will  not  lie  firmly  on  the  rail.  Have  a 
\%  inch  hole  bored  three  inches  deep  in  the  barn-post, 
three  feet  from  the  ground  or  floor ;  let  the  hole  be  bored 


HAND    OF    TOBACCO. 


slanting  down  a  little,  so  that  the  socket  end  of  the  lath 
may  be  the  highest;  put  the  end  of  the  stick  that  is  not 
tapered  into  this  hole  and  the  socket  on  the  lath  ;  take 
hold  of  a  stalk  with  the  right  hand,  about  one  foot  from 
the  butt  end,  bring  it  against  the  point  of  the  socket,  six 
inches  from  the  butt  of  the  stalk,  grasp  the  butt  with  the 
left  hand,  and  give  the  right  hand  a  firm,  quick  jerk,  to 
start  the  stalk  to  split ;  then,  with  both  hands,  pull  it  back 
against  the  post,  and  so  on  until  you  have  the  stick  full. 
The  stalks  should  not  be  crowded  on  the  sticks  ;  four  or 
five  inches  apart  is  close  enough  ;  eight  or  nine  large 
stalks  are  enough  for  a  lour-foot  stick-  Having  filled  the 
stick,  remove  the  socket,  lay  your  stick  of  tobacco  on  the 
floor,  and  go  on  sticking  until  the  load  is  all  stuck ;  or  it 
is  a  good  plan  to  have  rails  laid  on  the  lower  tie,  and 
hang  for  the  present  as  you  stick.  While  one  or  two 
hands  are  hanging  one  load,  another  may  be  in  the  field 
bringing  in  another.  In  hanging,  have  a  single  block  and 
half-inch  rope,  with  a  hook  at  one  end  ;  secure  the  block 
near  where  you  hang,  place  the  hook  in  the  centre  of  the 
stick  of  tobacco,  and  let  the  man  on  the  floor  draw  It  up 
to  the  one  who  hangs.  There  should  be  a  stout  pine 
board,  two  incites  thick,  fifteen  inches  wide,  and  long 
enough  to  reach  from  lie  to  lie ;  this  should  be  placed 
under  where  you  hang,  to  walk  on.  When  the  tobacco 
is  hoisted  up,  take  it  off  the  hook,  and  walk  to  the  farther 
end  of  the  board  ;  have  your  rail  placed  to  receive  the 
stick,  and  so  continue  until  the  rails  are  full,  then  move 
the  board  and  block  to  another  place,  and  so  continue. 
A  sixteen-foot  rail  will  hang  about  twenty-four  laths; 
eight  inches  apart  is  about  the  distance  to  place  the  laths 
of  tobacco  on  the  raits  ;  if  too  much  crowded,  the  to- 
bacco will  house-burn.  Care  should  be  used  never  to  let 
a  load  of  tobacco  lie  long  on  the  wagon,  or  in  a  pile,  as  it 
sweats  and  heats,  and  is  soon  ruined.  Always  keep  the 
tobacco  cool.  After  it  is  housed,  keep  the  doors,  open 
day  and  night,  so  that  it  may  have  the  benefit  of  the 
warm  and  dry  air,  for  the  purpose  of  curing,  closing  the 
doors  against  high  winds  and  beating  rains.  When  cured 
keep  the  doors  closed. 

Stripping. — When  the  tobacco  is  sufficiently  cured  to 
strip,  which  v\ill  be  after  it  has  been  well  frozen  and 
dried  out,  you  will  have  to  watch  for  it  to  get  "in  case" 
for  handling  ;  when  a  warm,  wet,  misty  spell  of  weather 
conies,  throw  open  the  doors  to  allow  the  tobacco  to  take 
the  damp.  When  the  stems  of  the  leaves  are  so  limber 
that  they  will  not  snap,  and  the  leaves  are  pliable,  but  not 
too  wet,  take  down  a  sufficient  quantity  to  strip  for  two 
or  three  days;  take  it  off  the  sticks,  make  a  temporary 
crib  of  boards  about  four  feet  wide,  and  bulk  the  tobacco 
in  it,  laying  the  tops  in,  butts  out,  next  the  boards.  After 
you  have  made  your  bulk,  cover  with  an  old  carpet, 
boards,  or  anything  else  handy,  to  keep  it  from  getting 
too  damp,  or  from  drying  out.  Care  should  be  taken  that 
the  bulk  does  not  heat ;  if  the  stalks  are  wet,  or  there  is 
any  nncured  tobacco,  forty-eight  hours  is  sufficient  to 
spoil  the  tobacco.  During  the  Winter  there  are  generally 
several  tobacco  seasons,  and  by  improving  them  the 
stripping  can  all  be  done  before  March.  Having  the  bulk 
down,  we  now  proceed  to  strip  for  market  ;  lay  a  pile  of 
the  tobacco  on  a  bench  or  platform  about  two  feet  high, 
and  let  the  most  careful  and  handy  man  take  a  stalk  in. 
his  left  hand,  give  it  a  shake  to  make  the  leaves  hang  out 
free,  then  pick  off  four  or  five  of  the  bottom  or  ground 
leaves,  and  any  badly  torn  or  diseased  leaves,  and  all 
such  as  are  not  considered  prime ;  do  not  put  any  frosted 
or  "/aC  leaves  in,  as  it  spoils  the  tobacco;  pass  the 
stalk  that  is  primed  to  the  stripper,  and  let  him  take  off 
the  prime  leaves.  Take  off  one  leaf  at  a  time,  keeping 
them  straight  in  the  hand  ;  when  a  sufficient  number  are 
taken  off  to  make  what  is  called  a  hand  of  tobacco,  take  a 
leaf  in  the  right  hand,  put  the  thumb  of  the  left  hand  on 
the  end  of  the  leaf,  about  one  inch  from  the  butt  of 
the  hand  or  bunch,  anil  pass  the  leaf  around  once  or 
twice  ;  an  inch  is  wide  enough  for  the  hand  ;  open  the 
hand  of  tobacco  in  the  centre,  pass  the  end  of  the  leaf 
through  and  draw  it  tight,  then  squeeze  the  hand  together 
and  lay  it  down,  keeping  the  leaves  straight.  An  inch 
and  a  half  in  diameter  is  large  enough  for  a  hand.  When 
a  sufficient  quantity  is  stripped  to  commence  bulking, 
make  two  places  to  bulk  in,  one  for  prime  and  one  for 
ground  leaf;  let  the  space  be  according  to  the  quantity  of 
tobacco  to  bulk.  A  bulk  3%  feet  high  and  20  feet  long, 
will  hold  ten  boxes,  or  about  four  thousand  lbs.  of  prime 
tobacco  ;  the  sides  of  the  bulk  must  not  be  inclosed,  but 
left  open,  so  that  the  butts  can  dry  out;  at  each  end  of 
the  bulk  put  a  bulkhead  of  boards  to  build  against,  about 
three  feet  wide  and  four  feel  high  ;  secure  this  upright 
and  firm ;  do  not  build  on  the  ground,  but  on  a  platform 
or  floor.  Commence  at  one  end  against  the  bulkhead, 
take  one  hand  of  tobacco  at  a  time,  straighten  and 
smooth  it,  and  lay  it  on  the  floor  at  one  side  of  the  bulk  ; 
take  another  as  above,  press  it  against  the  first,  and  so 
proceed  to  lay  the  length  of  the  bulk  ;  then  turn  and  lay 
down  the  other  side  of  the  bulk,  letting  the  ends  of  the 
tobacco  lap  over  the  first  row  about  four  inches,  and 
so  repeat,  keeping  the  buts  even.     After  one  or  two 


110 


AMERICAN    AGRIOnT/rURIST. 


[Apbil, 


rounds  are  laid,  get  on  the  bulk  on  Hie  knees,  and  as  you 
lay  a  hand  put  your  knee  on  it,  and  thus  pack  as  close 
and  compact  as  possible.  When  nut  bulking  down,  have 
boards  laid  on  the  tobacco,  and  weights  put  on  to  keep 
it  level.  Keep  the  ground  leaf  separate  from  the  prime. 
Boxino. — Boxes  should  be  made  30  inches  square  by 
42  inches  in  length  outside ;  saw  the  end-boards  28  inches 
long,  nail  them  to  two  ij<  inch  square  slats,  so  that  the 
head  will  be  28  inches  square;  when  two  heads  are 
made,  nail  the  sides  of  the  box  to  the  heads  so  as  to 
come  even  with  the  outside  of  the  head,  the  sides  being 
28  inches  wide ;  then  nail  the  bottom  on  firmly  ;  the  top 
can  be  nailed  slightly  until  after  the  lubaeco  is  packed, 
when  it  can  be  nailed  firm.  Set  your  box  by  the  side  of 
the  bulk,  and  let  one  man  get  in  the  box  and  another 
pass  the  tobacco  to  him,  one  hand  at  a  time,  taking  care 
not  to  shake  it  out,  but  put  in  the  box  as  it  comes  from 
bulk,  with  the  but  of  the  hand  next  the  end  of  the  box. 
Place  close  and  press  witli  the  knee  firmly  ;  lay  alternate 
courses  at  each  end,  and  if  the  tobacco  is  not  long 
enough  to  lap  sufficiently  to  fill  the  centre,  put  a  few 
hands  cross-wise  in  the  centre.  When  the  box  is  full, 
place  it  under  a  lever  ;  have  a  follower,  that  is  a  cover 
made  of  inch  boards,  nailed  to  two  pieces  of  scantling, 
and  made  to  fit  inside  of  the  box  ;  lay  this  on  the  tobacco, 
and  place  blocks  of  scantling  on  it  of  a  sufficient 
height  for  the  lever  to  be  clear  of  the  box  when  pressed. 
Press  down  firmly  with  a  strong  lever,  and,  while  knee- 
ing in  another  boxful,  let  the  lever  remain  so  that  the 
tobacco  gels  set  in  the  box.  When  ready,  lake  the  lever 
off  and  (ill  up  as  before,  about  six  inches  higher  than  the 
box  ,  press  it  below  the  top  of  the  box,  take  off  your 
lever  and  nail  on  the  top  as  quickly  as  possible.  Some 
use  tobacco-presses  for  packing,  which  are  perhaps  more 
convenient ;  they  are  of  various  patterns,  but  a  lever 
saves  expense  of  a  press,  and  is  within  the  reach  of  all. 
If  tobacco  is  sold  at  the  shed.  It  should  be  sold  before 
packing,  being  easier  examined  in  bulk  than  in  the  box. 
«-. —  »m    _ 

Notes  on  Flax  Culture  —  III. 

Before  flax  can  be  used  by  the  manufacturer, 
the  fibrous  material  must  be  separated  from  the 
other  portious  of  the  straw.  Each  stalk  con- 
sists of  three  distinct  parts,  viz.:  awoody  stem 
in  the  center,  called  the  "shoove,"  or  "boon;" 
next  to  this  and  surrounding  it  are  the  fibers, 
and  outside  of  sill  a  thin  bark  or  skin.  The  fine 
filaments  of  fiber  are  cemented  together  and 
fastened  to  the  other  parts  of  the  stalk  by  a  gum- 
my, resinous  matter,  which  must  be  extracted 
in  order  to  separate  the  filaments  and  render 
them  sufficiently  pliant  for  spinning.  This  part 
of  the  business  is  a  chemical  operation,  and 
properly  a  separate  branch,  of  importance 
enough  where  flax  is  largely  cultivated,  to  re- 
quire the  services  of  appliances  specially  adapt- 
ed for  the  work,  and  skilled  operatives  to  con- 
duct the  process.  In  France  a  class  of  men 
termed  "liniers"  take  the  raw  flax  in  the  straw 
from  the  hands  of  the  cultivator,  and  attend  to 
all  the  manipulations  necessary  to  prepare  it  for 
the  manufacturer.  Were  this  crop  grown  to  a 
sufficient  extent  in  this  country,  such  a  division 
of  labor  would  undoubtedly  soon  be  made  here. 
In  fact,  in  view  of  the  prospective  increase  in 
flax  culture,  parties  are  already  experimenting 
and  perfecting  processes  whereby  they  expect 
to  be  enabled  to  profitably  purchase  the  straw 
from  the  fanner  and  reduce  it  to  the  desired 
state.  Until  such  arrangements  are  completed, 
it  will  be  necessary  for  the  flax  raiser  to  follow 
the  method  heretofore  practised,  and  to  conduct 
the  "retting"  as  it  is  termed,  upon  his  own 
premises.  This  consists  in  decomposing  the 
gummy,  resinous,  matter  by  fermentation  and 
putrefaction ;  literally  rotting  it  away.  It  is 
done  by  subjecting  the  flax  to  the  action  of  mois- 
ture and  warmth.  To  this  end,  it  may  be  steep- 
ed in  vats,  ponds,  or  sluggish  streams,  which 
is  called  water-retting,  or  it  may  be  exposed  to 
rain  and  dew,  termed  dew-retting.  The  latter 
process  is  almost  universally  employed  in  this 
country.  About  the  last  of  August,  the  straw- 
is  taken  to  a  smooth  meadow,  or  pasture  land, 


where  it  may  be  kept  clean,  and  spread  care- 
fully in  swaths,  about  half  an  inch  thick.  Keep 
the  huts  even,  and  make  the  rows  several  inches 
apart,  so  that  the  ends  of  the  straw  may  not 
become  interlocked.  If  there  be  not  rain  and 
dew  enough  to  wet  it  frequently  and  thorough- 
ly, the  retting  may  be  hastened  by  turning  it. 
Many  recommend  to  let  it  remain  until  one  side 
is  sufficiently  retted,  before  exposing  the  other. 
The   turning  is  easily  and  quickly  performed 


^ 


witli  a  light  smooth  pole  ten  or  twelve  feet  long, 
slightly  curved  as  shown  in  the  engraving. 
About  five  weeks  is  usually  sufficient  to  com- 
plete the  process  of  dew-retting.  This,  howev- 
er, depends  materially  upon  the  state  of  the 
weather.  Frequent  showers  and  heavy  dews 
may  reduce  this  time  considerably.  When  the 
flax  has  turned  a  silver  gray  color,  and  the  lint 
is  seen  separating  from  the  woody  part,  particu- 
larly at  the  ends,  and  when  on  bending  or  twist- 
ing a  small  bunch  of  it  in  the  hands  the  woody 
part  breaks  freely,  leaving  the  lint  clear,  it  is 
sufficiently  retted.  When  dried  it  is  ready  to  be 
operated  on  with  the  brake,  or  to  be  stored  under 
cover  or  in  thatched  stacks,  until  disposed  of. 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Both  Sides  of  the  Dog  Question. 

m 

The  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist  in- 
dulges in  a  sweeping  invocation  to  "  stir  up  the 
public  sentiment  in  favor  of  enforcing  the  dog 
laws:"  "To  shoot  or  poison  every  dog  larger 
than  a  rat  terrier,  that  looks  at  your  premises :" 
Or  to  "cut  their  tails  off  as  short  as  the  Dutch- 
man recommended,  viz.,  close  behind  the  ears." 
"Very good,"  exclaims  the  terrier  man,  "only  be 
careful  to  discriminate  as  to  size  before  you 
shoot,  or  poison."  "  Just  right,"  exclaims  the 
little  Miss  as  she  pats  her  diminutive  lap-dog. 
"  Capital,"  says  the  sheep  breeder.  "  Just  right," 
echo  a  host  of  men.  And  "  quite  wrong,"  re- 
tort another  host.  "  Partly  wrong  and  partly 
right,"  says  the  writer.  We  can  not  do  without 
dogs,  and  we  can  not  do  without  sheep.  Every 
one  knows  why  we  can  not  do  without  sheep. 
Every  one  does  not  know  why  we  can  not  do 
without  dogs.  One  reason  is,  we  can  not  get  rid 
of  them.  Another  is,  the  farmer  can  not  be 
secure  in  his  crops,  nor  sure  of  his  full  quota  of 
lambs  without  them.     [We   "don't   see    it."] 

But  few  farmers  that  have  lost  from  50  to  100 
bushels  of  corn  in  one  season,  as  many  have,  will 
be  in  favor  of  the  faithful  dog's  tail  being  trim- 
med as  high  up  as  was  the  Dutchman's  dog. 
Farmers  that  have  urged  bounty  acts  for  the  de- 
struction of  foxes,  would  much  rather  see  a  well 
known  hound's  head  with  a  little  more  tail  left 
on.  The  truth  is,  we  need  well  bred  and  well 
trained,  dogs,  if  any.  Our  country  is  cursed  with 
an  endless  variety  of  curs  that  sneak,  and  stroll, 
by  ones,  twos,  threes,  and  half  dozens,  scattering 
racket,  wool,  mutton,  and  slaughter  and  confu- 
sion, hydrophobia,  frightened  horses  and  broken 
carriages  in  dangerous  profusion.  Every  owner 
of  a  dog  should  be  responsible  for  his  conduct. 
If  he  is  too  poor  to  pay  damages,  he  is  too  poor 
to  own  any  dog,  and  if  he  persists  in  keeping 
one,  let  him  (the  owner)  go  to  jail  like  a  crimi- 


nal. We  should  not  tolerate  an  irresponsible 
man  in  our  nation.  Every  owner  of  a  dogshould 
give  him  every  opportunity  to  chase  sheep  when 
he  is  a  puppy,  and  if  he  does  it,  whip  him:  if  he 
does  it  again,  whip  him  harder :  if  lie  does  it 
again,  place  the  dog  at  one  end  of  a  rope  and  an 
old  Heenau  and  Bayers  ram  at  the  other  end. 
After  a  reasonable  number  of  discharges  and  re- 
coils, loose,  and  try  him  again.  If  he  offends 
again,  deliver  him  over  to  the  American  Agricul- 
turist, then  anticipate  the  finale. 

Mr.  Editor,  please  compromise  in  your  next, 
number,  by  excepting  from  your  extreme  trim- 
ming operation  all  sporting  dogs  until  duly  con- 
victed of  crime;  but  if  you  will  not  relax  from 
your  apparent  iucorrigibleness,  do  not  suspend 
the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  in  case  you  get  my  dog 
in  your  clutches.  Onio. 

By  a  curious  coincidence,  in  the  same  mail  with 
the  above  plea,  came  the  following  list  of  dam- 
ages awarded  by  the  Supervisors  of  Jefferson 
Co.,  Ohio,  to  owners  of  sheep  killed  by  dogs 
during  the  year  1862. 

Tristram  Frink,  Rulland $25  00 

James  G.  Kellog,  Lorraine 6  00 

James  A.  Hunt,  Antwerp 14  50 

Guy  E.  White,  Antwerp 0  50 

James  Dickson,  Antwerp 7  50 

Delos  McWayne,  Brownville 8  50 

Bela  Case,  Hounsfield 4  00 

James  Van  Allen,  Hounsfield 10  00 

Daniel  Smith,  Ellisburgh 60  00 

J.  T.  Burton,  Rodman ._  .,     5  00 

George  Cooper,  Adams 20  00 

M.  C.  Porter,  Adams 30  00 

N.  M.  Wardwell,  Adams 8  00 

T.  V.  Maxon,  Adams 1100 

John  W.  Arthur,  Champion 15  CO 

William  Dobson,  Henderson is  SO 

Henry  Griffin,  Henderson 3  no 

Wm.  E.  Overton,  Henderson 3  00 

Geo.  Sabin  &  Bro.,  Brownville 8  00 

Patrick  Boyed,  Wilna G  00 

sasToo 
The  above  was  forwarded  by  Mr.  Robert  J. 
Holmes,  of  Jefferson  Co.,  who  fully  endorses  the 
crusade  against  dogs  for  their  sheep-killing  pro- 
pensities and  adds  :  "  I  find  it  don't  improve  a 
bed  of  tulips  or  a  collection  of  choice  asters,  to 
have  a  pack  of  dogs  running  over  them."  If  all 
would  agree  to  have  none  but  well  trained  ani- 
mals, and  to  keep  them  in  place,  there  could  be 
little  complaint;  but  the  laws  can  not  well  dis- 
criminate, and  it  is  better  that  a  few  should  lose 
their  favorite  dogs  than  that  many  should  have 
their  flocks  destroyed. 

•-• ^m-*^— «-» . 

"lampas"  in  Horses, 

The  horizontal  bars  in  the  roof  of  the  horse's 
mouth  are  undoubtedly  intended  to  aid  the  ani- 
mal to  retain  food  in  the  mouth  while  it  is  being 
masticated.  They  are  abundantly  furnished 
with  bloodvessels  and  nerves,  and  are  therefore 
very  sensitive.  When  colts  are  teething,  the 
disturbance  of  the  adjacent  parts  sometimes 
causes  these  bars  to  be  inflamed  and  swollen. 
Then  the  animal  can  not  eat  without  pain,  and 
uninformed  persons  have  ascribed  the  apparent 
falling  off  of  appetite  under  such  circumstances, 
to  a  disease  named  "  Lampas."  To  remedy  the 
supposed  ailment,  it  has  been  recommended  ami 
is  still  practised  in  some  localities,  to  burn  out 
the  swollen  bars  with  a  red  hot  iron  made  for 
the  purpose.  The  operation  is  an  unnecessary 
and  injurious  cruelty.  The  portion  of  the  mouth 
thus  destroyed,  can  never  be  replaced,  and  thus 
the  power  of  perfect  mastication  is  impaired. 
The  only  surgical  operation  allowable  in  cases 
needing  assistance,  is  to  lance  the  inflamed  parts, 
the  same  as  a  physician  would  treat  the  gums  of 


1803.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


Ill 


a  child  in  case  of  difficult  teething.  This  can 
easily  be  done  with  a  sharp  penknife.  After  the 
lancing,  it  is  recommended  to  wash  the  mouth 
with  two  ounces  of  tincture  of  myrrh  to  a  pint 
of  water,  or  a  strong  solution  of  alum  in  water. 
Feed  lite  colt  on  bran  mashes  and  grass,  with- 
holding all  grain  until  he  eats  without  difficult}'. 


Care  of  Harness. 

T.  Oliver  Ayres,  a  practical  harness-maker, 
Kent  Co.,  Del.,  contributes  to  the  American  Ag- 
riculturist the  following  suggestions:  "Harness 
should  be  kept  hung  up  on  wooden  pegs  in  a 
clean  dry  room  with  a  plank  floor,  so  that  it 
may  be  free  from  dampness.  When  soiled,  it 
should  be  washed  with  Castile  soap  suds.  Har- 
ness that  is  in  constant  use  needs  oiling  four 
times  a  year;  if  only  occasionally  brought  out, 
as  carriage  harness,  etc.,  twice  a  year  will  be 
sufficient,   if  the   washing   be  not   neglected. 

To  oil  harness,  separate  all  the  pieces,  and 
lay  them  in  water  until  thoroughly  wet  through. 
Then  wash  them  clean,  and  allow  them  to  dry 
sufficient!}'.  To  know  when  they  are  in  good 
condition  for  oiling,  bend  a  strap,  and  if  the 
water  does  not  ooze  out,  it  is  dry  enough.  Train- 
oil  (whale  oil)  is  sometimes  used,  but  neats-foot 
oil  is  much  better.  Mix  with  it  a  little  lamp- 
black, and  with  a  brush  apply  it  to  both  sides 
of  the  straps.  About  six  hours  after  oiling, 
wash  the  whole  with  Castile  soap  and  warm  wa- 
ter, let  them  dry,  rub  well  with  a  woolen  cloth, 
and  buckle  them  together." 


Management  of  Fowls. 

J.  E.  Hardisty,  Harford  Co.,  Md.,  writes  to  the 
American  Agriculturist  as  follows :  "  I  keep  7 
hens  and  1  cock.  During  the  last  year,  ending 
Dec.  31st,  1862,  each  heu  laid  on  an  average 
128  eggs,  and  raised  two  broods  of  chickens.  I 
feed  them  well  on  corn ;  they  were  shut  up 
during  corn-planting  time  for  four  weeks,  which 
shortened  the  number  of  eggs  at  least  130. 
They  lay  nearly  every  day  when  they  can  get 
animal  food.  If  I  had  any  way  of  providing 
them  with  cheap  animal  food  in  the  Winter,  I 
believe  they  would  each  lay  230  eggs  a  year.  My 
neighbors  wonder  why  they  lay  so  well.  My 
•plan  for  several  years  has  been  this:  I  keep 
none  but  the  game  breed,  and  but  few  of  them ; 
if  a  hen  does  not  lay  at  least  ten  dozen  eggs  a 
year,  or  if  she  will  sit  when  we  don't  want  her 
to,  she  soon  becomes  a  candidate  for  the  dinner- 
pot,  and  never  fails  being  elected,  her  place  be- 
ing filled  by  a  younger  one,  to  undergo  a  like 
ordeal.  In  Spring  I  generally  have  10  or  11 
hens  and  pullets  to  select  from;  by  May  1st, 
7  or  8  remain;  I  keep  two  old  favorites  that  lay 
well,  sit  well,  and  take  good  care  of  the  chick- 
ens when  hatched.  Cost  of  feeding  each  hen 
50  cents;  average  price  of  eggs  12 i  cents  per 
dozen ;  one  quart  of  corn  per  day,  in  the  Win- 
ter, when  they  can  get  nothing  else,  is  as  much 
as  ten  game  chickens  will  eat." 

3L  L.  B.,  Greenwood,  Maryland,  found  the 
profits  arising  from  3  cocks,  5  hens,  and  15  pul- 
lets of  the  Black  Spanish,  Dominique,  and  Bra- 
ma  Pootra  breeds,  as  follows  : 

1584  e?es  collected  and  sold  at  16c.  per  dozen $21.12 

170  chickens  raised,  at  25c 41.75 

Total $05.87 

23  dozen  eggs  set $3.08 

Cast  of  grain  for  feed 25.51— 20.iy 

Profit  on  23  fowls $36.68 

As  has  been  frequently  remarked  in  these  col- 
umns, poultry  raising  on  a  limited  scale  is  far 
more  profitable  than  when  attempted  largely. 


Many  have  been  induced,  by  accounts  like  the 
above,  to  enter  the  business  on  a  wholesale  plan. 
But,  even  with  the  best  arranged  buildings  for 
the  purpose,  and  the  most  ca  'cful  management, 
so  far  as  we  know  there  has  1  een  only  complete 
failure.  It  is  not  natural  for  poultry  to  gather 
in  large  flocks.  Uncontrollab  e  diseases  break 
out  among  them  under  such  circumstances,  or 
for  some  unexplained  reason  the}'  fail  to  lay, 
and  become  unprofitable.  From  15  to  30  fowls 
properly  kept  will  add  largely  to  the  family  in- 
come, both  on  the  table  and  in  the  pocket. 


Blinks  from  a  Lantern-  •  •  XXXIII. 


BEDIVIVUS 


VISITS    A    BACHELOR    FARMER. 

Since  my  reappearance,  I  have  had  occasion 
to  reform  my  notions  about  the  opposite  sex. 
They  have  grown  so  much  more  companiona- 
ble than  they  were  in  my  day,  that  a  bachelor 
of  middle  age  living  by  himself,  is  the  rarest  of 
birds  in  the  rural  districts.  I  occasionally  find 
one  amid  a  group  of  maiden  sisters,  temporarily 
stalled  on  his  road  to  matrimony,  but  so  human- 
ized by  his  surroundings  that  he  is  hardly  to  be 
distinguished  from  a  married  man.  This  cer- 
tainly is  a  very  great  change  in  the  state  of  so- 
ciety. Mrs.  Grundy,  who  is  quite  as  much  of  a 
woman  as  she  is  a  farmer,  suggests  that  the 
sweeter  temper  of  the  women  of  modern  times 
may  be  owing  to  the  improvement  of  the  men. 
There  may  be  something  in  that,  for  I  remem- 
ber now,  that  even  Socrates  was  not  a  saint,  ac- 
cording to  the  modern  standard. 

I  recently,  however,  heard  of  a  Simon  pure 
bachelor,  a  real  woman  hater,  who  set  up  for 
himself  forty  years  ago,  and  has  lived  to  old  age 
in  a  house  unblcst  by  woman's  footsteps.  A  ne- 
gro attended  to  his  housekeeping,  which  was  of 
the  most  primitive  kind,  and  lent  a  hand  in  the 
field  when  the  indoor  work  was  not  pressing. 
I  found  Jacob  Pennywise  the  owner  of  a  good 
farm,  by  his  own  earnings.  The  exterior  of  the 
house  was  not  so  unpromising,  for  it  had  been 
built  for  a  man  with  a  family.  It  was  a  good 
deal  larger  than  Pennywise  needed,  but  as  he 
could  not  make  it  smaller  without  expense  it 
remained  as  he  purchased  it.  The  barn  was  a 
model  building,  the  masterpiece  of  Jacob's  life. 
He  could  appreciate  the  wants  of  animals  much 
better  than  those  of  human  beings.  By  his  an- 
imals he  made  his  money,  and  these  must  be 
comfortably  housed  and  well  fed,  whatever  else 
suffered.  He  seemed  to  take  to  animals  more 
than  to  men,  and  to  have  a  fellow  feeling  for 
them.  He  always  fed  them  himself,  when  at 
home,  and  this  was  without  exception  for  forty 
years.  He  had  never  slept  under  another  roof 
in  all  those  years,  and  the  farthest  adventure 
from  home,  had  been  to  the  nearest  market 
town,  seven  miles  off.  He  took  much  more 
pride  in  the  appearance  of  his  cattle,  than  in  his 
own.  He  carded  and  brushed  his  working  cat- 
tle and  steers,  that  he  was  breaking  to  the  yoke, 
though,  judging  from  his  tangled  locks,  the  comb 
seldom  disturbed  his  own  head.     He  had  noticed 


that  men  who  bought  oxen  were  willing  to  pay 
something  for  looks.  He  used  to  say  it  made  a 
difference  often  dollars  in  the  sale  of  a  yoke  of 
cattle,  if  the  hair  was  kept  smooth.  He  didn't 
care  a  straw  about  looks  himself,  but  if  folks 
wanted  looks  in  cattle,  he  could  make  ten  dol- 
lars as  easy  by  using  the  card,  as  in  any  other  way. 
He  was  famous  for  his  colts,  in  all  the  county. 
Nobody  raised  better,  and  nobody  broke  them 
so  well.  He  had  a  very  handsome  income  from 
the  sale  of  animals  every  year.  This  was  the 
chief  product  of  bis  farm,  though  he  occasional- 
ly sold  poultry,  grain,  and  fruit,  when  he  had  a 
surplus.  He  was  almost  as  covetous  of  manure 
as  he  was  of  his  money.  The  cellar  was  of  the 
full  size  of  the  barn,  and  the  droppings  of  fifty 
head  of  cattle  all  went  into  this  receptacle  and 
were  composted  with  large  quantities  of  muck 
and  loam.  He  never  allowed  a  rainy  day  to  be 
wasted.  There  was  always  plenty  of  work  in 
the  barn  cellar,  however  hard  it  rained.  There 
was  nothing  like  manure,  he  said,  to  make  good 
colts  and    steers,   and   in   this   he   was   right. 

The  management  of  the  barn  and  of  the  farm 
was  admirable,  indeed  I  have  rarely  met  wit li 
anything  more  orthodox.  But  when  we  come 
to  the  management  of  Jacob  Pennywise  himself, 
and  of  his  domicil,  the  picture  changes.  I  saw 
at  a  glance  that  this  was  bachelor's  hall,  where 
the  song  of  a  mother  and  the  merry  laugh  of 
children  were  never  beard.  There  was  no  car- 
pet upon  the  floor,  no  cushioned  seat,  no  rock- 
ing chair,  no  mirror  upon  the  walls,  no  pictures, 
not  even  a  lithograph  of  his  favorite  horses  and 
oxen.  There  had  once  been  a  coat  of  while- 
wash  upon  the  plastering  overhead,  but  it  was 
before  Jacob's  day.  There  was  a  broom  in  one 
corner,  but  it  was  in  the  last  stages  of  dissolu- 
tion, having  been  used  up  for  toothpicks.  There 
could  have  been  no  sweeping  done  there  for 
many  weeks.  There  was  a  settee  upon  one 
side,  and  a  long  table;  a  half  dozen  chairs  upon 
another,  of  the  plainest  description ;  a  cook- 
stove  and  a  wood-box  upon  the  third ;  and  on 
the  fourth  a  long  box  with  a  lid,  suggestive  to 
more  senses  than  one,  of  boots  and  bed-clothes 
within.  This  was  the  sleeping  apartment  of 
Scipio,  the  body  servant  of  Pennywise.  Judg- 
ing from  the  looks  of  the  lord  of  the  mansion, 
Scipio's  duties  were  light. 

Though  Jacob  was  reputed  rich,  he  was  never 
known  to  invest  in  stocks,  or  to  deposit  his 
money  in  the  bank.  He  occasionally  visited 
that  institution,  and  always  carried  specie  away. 
He  paid  his  taxes  promptly,  for  he  could  not 
help  it,  but  this  was  his  only  contribution  for  the 
public  welfare.  His  appearance  was  so  seedy 
that  no  stranger  would  think  of  applying  to  him 
for  charity,  and  his  neighbors  knew  him  too  well 
to  ask  aid.  He  cared  nothing  for  schools  or 
churches,  for  highways  or  public  improvements. 
He  had  about  as  much  as  he  could  attend  lo,  '.o 
take  care  of  his  farm.  He  had  no  near  relati  ves, 
and  was  never  known  to  entertain  a  guest  at  his 
house,  and  he  never  went  a  visiting  himself. 

A  few  days  after  my  visit  I  saw  the  notice  of 
his  death.  He  was  found  dead  on  his  bed  one 
cold  winter  morning,  by  old  Scipio.  On  exam- 
ining the  premises,  they  found  stowed  away  in 
various  places,  gold  and  silver  coin  to  the 
amount  of  over  thirty  thousand  dollars,  which 
was  the  sum  total  of  all  that  was  left  of  Jacob 
Pennywise.  Here  was  a  man  lost  for  the  want 
of  a  woman.  He  filled  no  useful  place  in  socie- 
ty. He  was  a  mere  machine  for  making  money. 
The  noblest  product  of  the  farm  is  manhood.  If 
the  soil  can  not  be  made  to  yield  that  crop,  it 
were  better  to  lie  waste. 


113 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[April, 


Importance  of  Good  Plowing. 


The  plow  will  do  its  work  on  millions  of  acres, 
the  present  month.  The  abundant,  or  meager 
return  in  harvest  time,  very  largely  depends 
upon  whether  that  work  be  well  or  poorly  done. 
A  soil  of  only  moderate  richness,  if  brought  to 
a  proper  mechanical  condition,  will  feed  grow- 
ing plants  far  better  than  stronger  land  im- 
perfectly tilled.  Every  one  knows  that  newly 
cleared  forest  land  usually  produces  its  best 
crops  during  the  first  few  years  of  cultivation. 
This  is  not  wholly  owing  to  the  plant-food 
yielded  by  the  vegetable  deposit  which  it  con- 
tains. For  many  years  trees  have  been  sending 
their  fibrous  roots  throughout  its  whole  sub- 
stance; scarcely  a  particle  has  been  left  un- 
disturbed. Every  square  inch  is  permeated 
with  decayed  or  decomposed  matter.  The  soil 
is  thus  made  >ose  and  friable.  It  holds  msist- 
ure,  admits  a'u  and  warmth,  and  the  roots  of 
grain  or  other  crops  extend  unobstructed,  and 
find  nourishment  at  every  step.  Now,  merely 
manuring  such  a  field  will  not  keep  it  in  this 
condition.  The  fertilizing  material  must  be 
distributed  throughout  the  soil,  not  only  that  it 
may  be  readily  appropriated  by  the  growing 
plants,  but  that  it  may  aid  in  keeping  the  soil 
in  propel  mechanical  condition.  Those  who 
advocate  only  top-dressing,  lose  sight  of  this 
fact.  The  stimulating  properties  of  manure 
will  undoubtedly  be  felt  by  the  soluble  parts 
being  carried  to  the  roots  by  rain,  but  an  im- 
portant condition  for  plant  growth  will  still  be 
lacking.  Perhaps  for  the  same  reason,  in  part, 
guano  and  other  concentrated  manures  are  ben- 
eficial for  only  a  limited  period.  This  also  ex- 
plains, in  part,  the  favorable  action  of  clover  in 
rotation :  the  decaying  roots  are  distributed 
4b.rougb.out  the  soil  more  evenly  than  could  be 


done  by  any  method  of  manuring  now  practised. 
The  illustrations  are  given  to  enforce  the  im- 
portance of  good  plowing.  The  very  beet  exe- 
cution of  this  process  will  only  partially  supply 
the  most  favorable  condition  for  growth.  Every 
care  should  therefore  be  taken  to  have  the  soil 
as  thoroughly  pulverized,  and  manure  as  finely 
mixed  through  it,  as  is  possible.  Good  plow- 
ing can  not  be  done  on  cla}'ey  land  while  wet. 
The  furrow  slice  may  roll  smoothly  as  from  a 
brick  mold,  but  it  will  be  compacted  into  lumps 
which  no  harrowing  will  reduce.  A  crop  put  in 
two  weeks  later  than  ordinary  on  ground  in 
good  condition,  would  stand  a  better  chance  than 
if  sown  on  a  field  of  lumps.  The  advantages  of 
draining,  will  be  readily  seen  at  plowing  time. 
On  drained  ground  a  week  or  fortnight  is  often 
gained  for  growth  of  crops. 

Much  will  depend  upon  the  exellence  of  the 
implement  used.  We  cannot  name  the  best 
plow,  for  the  reason  that  the  styles  must  be 
varied  on  the  different  soils.  A  variation  of 
one  or  two  inches  in  depth  of  plowing  may  re- 
quire a  radical  change  in  the  implement.  A 
plow  working  easily  on  stubble  may  entirely 
fail  on  sward.  As  a  general  rule  it  is  safest  to 
use  a  plow  adapted  for  deep  work.  It  may  be 
adjusted  to  run  light;  but  a  plow  for  shallow 
work,  can  not  be  made  to  go  deep  effectively. 
If  possible,  purchase  a  new  plow  only  on  trial 
at  first.  If  it  runs  with  light  draft,  turns  a  fur- 
row slice  well  at  from  four  to  eight  inches 
is  easily  kept  at  uniform  depth,  and  is  well 
put  together,  it   is  a  good   implement. 

A  good  plowman  strikes  a  straight  furrow, 
leaves  it  clean  behind  him,  and  the  surface  of 
the  field  as  nearly  level  as  the  nature  of  the 
ground  will  admit.  No  written  instruction  will 
explain  how  this  can  be  done.  A  man  must 
learn  the  art  at  the  plow-handle,  and  it  will  re- 


quire thought  and  ingenuity  as  well  as  strength 
and  agility.  Paying  a  few  dollars  extra  to  an 
expert  hand  at  this  business,  rather  than  en- 
trusting it  to  an  awkward  bungler,  will  in 
the  end  be  found  to  be  a  profitable  investment. 
■        —  ■  — -— 

Improvements  on  the  Corn  Marker. 

We  have  received  from  Mr.  David  C.  Voor- 
hees,  a  very  neat  model  of  the  New-Jersey  corn 
marker  described  in  the  Agriculturist,  page  41, 
(Feb.  No.)  fitted  with  several  improvements  of 
his  own.  These  may  be  readily  understood  by 
referring  to  the  engraving  previously  published, 
as  noted  above.  The  guide  pole  is  attached  to 
the  forward  beam  of  the  sled  where  it  will  be 
less  liable  to  throw  the  runners  from  the  track, 
in  marking  uneven  ground  or  in  meeting  any 
obstruction.  A  convenient  seat  is  attached,  sup- 
ported by  four  legs  inserted  in  the  beams.  A 
lever  or  handle  three  or  four  feet  long  is  fastened 
to  the  rear  beam,  by  which  to  adjust  the  sled  to 
its  place  when  starting,  and  to  lift  the  rear  end 
in  turning.  The  most  essential  improvement 
appears  to  be  attaching  a  cast  steel  cultivator 
share  or  tooth  to  the  back  end  of  each  runner, 
near  the  bottom.  These  make  the  marks  more 
distinct  and  leave  the  soil  loose.  They  also  pre- 
vent the  runners  from  being  easily  thrown  out  of 
place.  The  cultivator  teeth  can  be  procured 
at  small  cost   at  almost  any  implement  store, 


How  to  Stop  a  Leak— Manure. 

A  subscriber,  "  D.  C.  V.,"  Blawenburg,  N.  J., 
writes  as  follows :  "  It  is  not  a  cement  or  patent 
Gutta  Percha  liquid  for  stopping  the  holes  in  an 
old  roof,  to  which  I  refer,  but  a  way  to  stop  the 
leaking  of  golden  streams  of  liquid  manure.  I 
call  them  golden,  for  who   can  tell  how  many 


1803.] 


AMERICAN    AG-RICUIVTURIST. 


118 


bushels  of  wheat  are  running  away  iu  this  man- 
ner ?  Hints  thrown  out  by  the  Agriculturist  about 
saving  manure,  led  me  to  look  iuto  my  own  sys- 
tem of  making  a  return  to  the  land  forwhat  had 
been  taken  off.  I  thought  of  the  rich  stream 
that  was  flowing  from  the  barn  yard  through  a 
ditch  that  had  been  dug  into  a  field,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  drying  the  yard,  which  was  not  only  a 
waste,  but  was  also  spoiling  a  piece  of  good  land 
along  the  ditch,  where  little  but  weeds  would 
grow.  To  remedy  the  evil,  I  made  a  pond  near- 
ly as  long  as  the  width  of  the  yard,  twelve  feet 
wide,  and  eighteen  inches  deep.  With  the 
coarsest  dirt  I  threw  up  a  bank  on  the  lowest 
side;  the  remainder  was  thrown  in  the  pond 
again.  The  yard  has  inclination  enough  to  run 
the  liquid  into  the  pond,  and  as  fast  as  any  li- 
quid makes  its  appearance  there,  I  throw  in  any 
kind  of  muck,  good  soil,  rubbish,  chip  dirt,  leaves 
from  the  woods,  etc."  Where  nothing  better  can 
be  devised,  such  an  arrangement  as  this  will  add 
many  loads  of  the  best  manure  to  the  amount 
that  should  be  used  on  thousands  of  farms. 


Fig.  1. 
Some  Observations  on  the  Plum  Knot. 

BY  C.   F.    AUSTIN. 


This  disease  is  not  produced,  as  many  sup- 
pose, by  that  great  bugbear  the  curculio,  nor  by 
any  insect  whatever  ;  neither  is  it  a  "cankerous 
disease  produced  by  vitiated  sap,"  as  some 
imagine,  but  is  simply  a  fungus,  which,  germi- 
nating on  the  bark  of  the  plum  or  cherry  tree, 
penetrates  to  the  wood,  and  increasing  rapidly 
in  size,  ruptures  and  displaces  the  bark,  soon 
forming  an  irregular  naked  excrescence,  six 
inches  or  more  long  by  about  one-half  inch 
in  wid.a.  Its  fungoid  character  was  detected 
more  than  40  years  ago,  by  L.  D.  von  Schwei- 
nitz,  a  renowned  botanist  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
described  in  his  "  Synopsis  Fungorum  Caroliniance 
Superioris"  under  the  name  of  Sphceria  morbosa. 
Yet  it  is  evident,  from  his  remarks  in  his  "  Second 
Observations  on  Fungi,"  (published  in  Trans. 
Philos.  Soc,  Phila.)  in  1832,  that  he  had  never  ex- 
amined the  excrescence  further  than  to  find  its 
fungoid  character,  and  seems  to  have  held  the 
idea  that  it  was  produced  by  the  joint  action  of 
a  fungus  and  an  iwsect.  That  it  is  a  fungus  is 
evident  to  any  one  acquainted  with  this  class 
of  plants.  Even  the  sub-genus  to  which  it  be- 
longs may  be  readily  determined  without  the 
aid  of  a  lens,  and  its  habit  is  so  different  from 
that  of  galls,  that  it  is  to  be  presumed  no  per- 
son who  is  accustomed  to  watch  the  operations 
of  insects  would  pronounce  it  an  insect-gall.  It 
always  appears  on  wood  at  least  one,  and  sel- 
dom on  that  less  than  two  years  old,  and  always 
ruptures  the  bark  or  cuticle,  and  exposes  itself 
to  the  influence  of  air  and  light ;  while,  on  the 
other  hand,  galls  always  appear  on  the  present 


season's  growth,  and  possess  a  covering  formed 
from  the  cuticle  of  the  plant  upon  which  they 
grow,  by  cell  multiplication.     Their    internal 


Fig.  3. 

substance  is  formed  directly  from  those  cells 
existing  at  the  time  it  was  slung  by  the  insect. 
In  the  Plum  Knot  the  case  is  entirely  different ; 
its  substance  originates  (covering  and  all)  from 
a  spore,  such  as  is  represented  in  Fig.  3.  One 
of  these  spores,  under  favorable  circumstances, 
when  attached  to  the  bark  of  the  plum  or 
cherry,  divides  itself  into  two  cells,  each  of 
these  into  two  or  four,  and  each  of  these  again 
into  two  or  four  others,  and  so  on  until  very 
quickly  a  large  tumor  is  formed,  which  oc- 
cupies the  place  of  the  bark  which  it  has  forc- 
ed off.  How  deeply  it  penetrates  the  wood, 
my  limited  observations  do  not  reveal.  I 
have  not  found  it  extending  to  the  pith,  but  it 
penetrates  the  present  and,  sometimes  at  least, 
the  former  season's  growth,  splitting  it  up  into 
bundles  that  are  frequently  widely  separated 
from  each  other  by  the  loose  cellular  tissue 
which  this  parasite,  by  its  own  proper  growth, 
has  thrust  between  them,  appropriating  their 
sap,  and  arresting  their  growth.  They  make 
their  appearance  from  May  until  October,  and 
at  a  certain  stage  of  their  existence  become 
thickly  covered  on  their  outer  surface  with 
perithelia,  (spore  cases,)  which,  though  small, 
are  quite  distinct  to  the  naked  eye.  Fig.  1  re- 
presents a  magnified  cross-section  of  a  diseased 
branch.  (In  this  figure  the  dark  lines  and  shad- 
ed portion,  except  at  B,  represent  the  fun- 
gus ;  while  the  white  portions  represent  the 
proper  wood  of  the  branch.)  A,  perithecia, 
(spore  or  seed  bearing  organs) :  some  of  them 
cut  longitudinally,  showing  the  cavity  in  the 
upper  part,  which  contains  the  spores.  B,  old 
bark.  C,  the  present  year's  growth  unaffected 
by  the  fungus.  D,  D,  the  same  affected,  the 
fungus  penetrating  it  and  splitting  it  up  into 
bundles.  E,  previous  year's  growth,  unaffected. 
F,  pith,  unaffected. 

The  perithecia  (^1)  are  of  a  shiny  black  color, 
oblong — club-shaped,  or  bud-shaped,  with  the 
apex  at  first  rounded,  then  flattened,  and  after- 
ward depressed :  soon  a  little  hole  appears  in  the 
center,  which  increases  in  size  until  finall}'  they 
become  cup-shaped  (fig.  2  and  fig.  1,  A).  In  the 
upper  part  there  is  a  round  cavity  filled  with  a 
white  substance  composed  of 
asci  (sp<»re  sacs),  fig.  3;  these 
are  club-shaped  and  contain 
several  oblong  spores  as  re- 
presented in  the  figure.  The 
asci  are  mixed  with  a  glutin- 
ous and  filamentous  substance. 
Some  of  the  perithecia  have 
very  numerous  smaller  elliptic- 
al spores  (fig.  4),  which  do  not 
appear  to  be  contained  in  sacs ; 
these  are  considered  by  botan- 
ists as  the  anther idia,  or  male  spores  of  the  fungus. 

Remedy.— This  deadly  disease,  can  be  more  eas- 
ily eradicated  than  any  other  we  are  acquaint- 
ed with.  Let  every  person  having  plum  or 
cherry  trees,  attend  to  cutting  off  and  burning 
the  excreseuces  two  or  three  times  each  year — 


Fig.  3. 


say  in  June,  July  and  September,  always  being 
careful  to  eradicate  every 'particle  of  the  fungus, 
for  if  a  solitary  uninjured  cell  of  it  be  left,  it 
will  rapidly  increase  by  multiplication  exactly 
as  if  it  were  a  spore,  and  will  soon  break  out 
again.  In  the  mean  time  let  the  trunks  and 
larger  branches  of  the  trees  be  thoroughly  scrub- 
bed with  strong  brine,  say  twice  during  the 
season  to  destroy  any  spores  that  may  have 
lodged  on  the  bark,  and  at  the  end  of  three 
years  this  pest  will  have  become  almost  literally 
exterminated.  After  that  it  can  easily  lie  kept 
down  with  proper  care. 

I  believe  it  does  not  exist  in  Europe,  and  in 
this  country  is  confined  almost  exclusively  to 
cultivated  species  of  the  plum  and  cherry;  and 
as  long  as  the  practice  so  common  in  this  coun- 
try of  depending  upon  the  suckers  to  keep  up  a 
supply  of  these  fruit  trees  is  continued,  we  may 
eradicate  this  disease,  but  another  will  surely 
come  in  its  place,  and  doubtless  one  that  it  will 
be  impossible  to  get  rid  of  without  returning  to 
a  more  rational  method  for  our  stock  of  trees. 
It  is  a  notorious  fact  that  not  a  single  race  of 
cultivated  plants  in  this  country  is  ever  perma- 
nently injured  by  any  disease  either  of  insects, 
fungi,  or  the  rot,  that  has  not  for  a  long  time 
been  propagated  by  some  method  other  than 
the  seed,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent.  Nature  ab-. 
hnrs  imbeciles  and  sickly  creatures,  and  has  her 
troops  of  obedient  servants  in  all  parts  of  the 
earth  which  she  employs  to  remove  them  from 
her  sight.  Let  us  remember  that  all  her  pur- 
poses are  fashioned  by  the  highest  Wisdom. 
I  have  never  seen  this  fungus  upon  our  native 
species  of  the  plum  and  cherry,  except  in  old 
fence-rows  where  they  had 
become  sickly  through  re- 
peated attempts  to  extermin- 
ate them  with  the  bush-hook, 
and  where  the  suckers  would 
still  persist  in  encumbering 
the  ground,  though  they  had 
so  far  degenerated  as  to  be  incapable  of  assum- 
ing one-tenth  of  their  normal  size.  Iu  such 
places  I  have  seen  it  on  all  our  species  except 
the  Beach-plum,  which  is  probably  protected 
by  the  salt  atmosphere  peculiar  to  its  locality. 
These  excresences  split  up  the  bark  of  the 
tree,  forming  admirable  places  in  which  insects 
may  deposit  their  eggs,  and  which  they  are  not 
slow  to  discover;  but  out  of  scores  of  speci- 
mens examined,  I  have  not  been  able  to  find 
either  their  eggs,  or  larva?,  except  in  old  and 
partially  effete  ones;  yet  that  they  themselves 
are  subject  to  the  depredations  of  insects,  I 
have  not  the  slightest  doubt ;  it  would  be  a 
wonder  were  this  not  the  case. 


■ml  ^ 


Fig.  4. 


Are  Earth  Worms  Injurious? 

A.  Beebe,  Medina  Co.,  O.,  writes  to  the  Amer- 
ican Agriculturist  as  follows:  "In  three  instances 
where  my  garden  had  been  treated  freely  with 
stable  and  barn-yard  manure  for  a  series  of 
years,  aud  thoroughly  worked — never  when  too 
wet — angle  worms,  in  a  measure,  destroyed  its 
productiveness,  and  added  more  than  twenty- 
fold  to  the  labor  of  working  it.  In  the  spring 
plowing  and  spading,  I  have  often  plowed  up 
aud  thrown  out  bundles  of  angle  worms  near- 
ly as  large  as  a  man's  double  fist,  where  there 
was  not  as  much  as  a  spoonful  of  dirt  among 
them.  I  think  that  all  over  my  garden,  the 
weight  of  the  worms  was  fully  equal  to  the 
weight  of  one-twentieth  part  of  all  land  stirred 
by  the  plow.  The  land  would  plow  moderate- 
ly mellow,  with  some  lumps.     But  three  days 


114 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[ArniL, 


of  sunshine  after  a  smart  shower,  would  render 
the  ground  almost  as  hard  as  a  -well-traveled 
road.  But  little  impression  would  be  made 
upon  the  ground  by  striking  with  a  hoe  as  hard 
as  it  would  bear  without  breaking.  It  was 
necessary  to  use  a  pick  to  get  sufficient  dirt  to 
earth  up  potatoes,  and  after  an  immense  ex- 
penditure of  labor,  they  were  worthless.  This 
was  also  the  case  with  cucumbers,  squashes, 
pumpkins,  beets,  carrots,  and  parsneps.  After 
two  or  three  years'  trial  I  suspected  the  cause, 
and  seeded  to  clover,  which  produced  an  enor- 
mous crop.  The  third  year  after  seeding  I 
plowed  again,  and  had  good  mellow  ground  to 
work,  and  an  excellent  garden.  The  land  was 
a  mixture  of  clay  and  gravel,  with  good  natural 
drainage,  the  clay  predominating — good  land 
for  wheat.  I  presume  there  are  hundreds  of 
highly  manured  gardens  in  Western  New- York, 
rendered  unproductive,  indurated,  and  spoiled, 
by  angle  worms. 

Remarks. — Unless  it  can  be  shown  that  clover 
expels  worms  from  land,  the  above  experiment 
would  merely  indicate  that  the  naturally  heavy 
soil  had  been  ameliorated  and  made  more  friable 
by  the  clover  roots.  The  large  amount  of  veg- 
etable matter  left  in  the  earth  by  a  good  crop  of 
clover,  acts  very  efficiently  for  this  purpose. 
We  can  not  consider  the  experiment  conclusive 
as  to   the  hurtfulness  of  earth  worms. — Ed.] 

For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Turning  Losses  to  Profit. 


Some  time  since  I  had  occasion  to  pass  by 
one  of  my  neighbors,  and  found  him  employed 
in  skinning  his  only  cow.  I  expressed  my 
sympathy  for  him.  He  good-humoredly  replied 
that  with  every  loss  there  was  some  profit;  that 
feed  was  very  scarce,  and  he  was  now  relieved 
from  all  further  trouble  on  that  account;  and 
furthermore,  he  could  now  pocket  the  money 
for  the  hide,  which  he  could  not  have  done  had 
the  cow  lived.  While  musing  on  the  calm  and 
considerate  philosophy  he  manifested  under  his 
loss,  it  occurred  to  me  I  had  a  similar  case  at 
home,  and  whatever  consolation  there  was  in 
my  neighbor's  system  of  financial  ethics,  I  had 
a  right  to  appropriate  the  benefit  to  myself.  It 
is,  perhaps,  more  or  less  true  of  every  rural  dis- 
trict in  the  Western  States,  that  in  them  are 
found  a  few  little-souled  American  farmers, 
who  are  not  content  with  the  annual  income  of 
their  own  farms,  but  appropriate  the  streets, 
lanes,  and  all  other  open  lauds  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, as  summer  range  for  their  flocks  or  herds. 

But  I  now  come  to  the  point.  Several  years 
since  I  purchased  some  sheep  from  a  distance, 
and  in  this  purchase  I  innocently,  but  unfortu- 
nately, as  I  then  thought,  found  I  had  intro- 
duced on  my  farm  that  bane  of  the  ovine  race, 
the  Foot-rot.  As  soon  as  I  ascertained  the  fact, 
I  gave  notice  to  my  neighbors,  promising  to 
confine  my  flocks  to  my  own  premises,  and 
frankly  and  pointedly  stating  the  risk  those 
would  incur  who  would  permit  their  flocks  to 
roam  over  the  country  without  restraint.  To 
me  this  miserable  disease  was  a  source  of 
anxiety,  labor,  and  loss;  but  in  the  improved 
morals  of  trespassers,  and  to  the  public  at  large, 
it  proved  to  be  great  gain.  From  thenceforth 
every  man's  sheep  were  kept  at  home,  where 
they  should  be,  and  the  neighborhood  was  thus 
relieved  from  this  vexatious  annoyance.  I  do 
not  claim  any  patent  right  for  my  discovery  in 
thus  converting  men  into  better  citizens,  neither 
do  I  claim  much  credit  for  my  disinterested  be- 
nevolence in  the  case  referred  to;  but  my  ex- 


perience suggests  that,  because  the  teachings  of 
the  Bible  fail  in  indoctrinating  all  men  in  the 
first  principles  of  practical  morality,  such  cases 
should  not  be  despaired  of  as  hopeless.  And 
where  the  conscience  can  only  be  reached 
through  the  breeches-pocket,  every  reader  must 
determine  for  himself  when  it  is  expedient  and 
proper  to  submit  to  a  similar  inconvenience  and 
loss,  that  a  greater  gain  may  be  secured  to  the 
whole  community  of  which  he  is  a  member. 
Moore's  Salt  Works,  Ohio,  February,  1863.  G. 

[We  of  course  do  not  recommend  the  intro- 
duction of  the  foot-rot  as  a  means  of  improving 
the  morals  of  a  community.  We  knew  of  a 
man  who  put  broken  glass  into  the  road  ditches 
and  "mud-puddles"  along  his  farm,  to  keep  his 
neighbor's  hogs  from  wallowing  there.  His  own 
swine  playfully  jumped  into  one  of  these  pud- 
dles, and  one  nearly  severed  his  foot  in  two 
upon  the  sharp  edge  of  a  broken  junk  bottle, 
rendering  him  partially  crippled  for  life.  Kind- 
ness, patient  reasoning,  and  the  inculcation  of 
good  principles,  and  neat  habits,  and  a  spread 
of  improvement,  by  introducing  books  and  pa- 
pers treating  of  agriculture  and  horticulture, 
will  be  the  cheaper  and  better  mode  in  the  long 
run. — Ed.] 

•  i        »«i — »-•. 

Analyzing  Soils  and  Plants. 

W  L.  Robbins,  of  Suffolk  Co.,  N.  Y.,  thinks 
it  would  interest  other  readers  of  the  Agricultur- 
ist as  well  as  himself,  to  have  published  a  table 
showing  the  chemical  constituents  of  the  differ- 
ent kinds  of  farm  produce,  so  that  the  cultiva- 
tor, by  having  his  soil  analyzed,  could  raise  in 
rotation  that  class  of  plants  best  suited  to  it. 
There  are  plenty  of  tables  of  this  kind,  such  as 
they  are.  Johnston's  Agricultural  Chemistry  is 
full  of  them.  Ten  or  twelve  years  ago  we 
printed  a  large  Chart  closely  packed  with  these 
kinds  of  analyses,  but  now  esteem  them  of  little 
practical  value.  By  the  aid  of  chemistry  we 
are  able  to  know  to  within  a  hundredth  part  of 
a  grain  the  composition  of  soils  and  their  pro- 
ducts, yet  we  can  make  little  use  of  this  knowl- 
edge. For  illustration,  we  know  that  the  ashes 
of  wheat  contain  a  large  amount  of  phosphor- 
ic acid,  and  turnips  but  little,  yet  an  applica- 
tion of  phosphates  to  the  soil  does  very  little 
good  to  a  wheat  crop,  while  the  superphosphates 
are  the  great  turnip  manure  in  England.  This 
subject  we  discussed  at  some  length  in  Volume 
XIX,  pages  105-6,  (1860). 


Start  the  Tomatoes  Early. 

Those  using  hot-beds  will  have  their  plants 
up  by  this  time.  Those  who  have  no  hot-beds 
can  yet  gain  some  weeks  by  starting  them  in 
pots  or  boxes  in  the  house.  After  the  plants  are 
up  and  have  made  two  or  three  rough  leaves, 
transplant  them  into  small  pots,  and  give  them 
plenty  of  light  and  air.  The  small  thumb-pots 
may  be  used  for  the  first  potting,  and  as  they 
are  so  small  that  they  readily  dry  out,  a  number 
of  them  may  be  placed  in  a  box  and  surrounded 
by  moss,  saw-dust,  sand,  or  anything  that  will 
retain  moisture.  AYhen  it  is  found  by  turning 
out  the  ball  of  earth  that  the  roots  have  filled 
the  pot,  they  may  be  shifted  to  those  holding 
about  a  pint,  taking  care  all  the  time  that  the 
plants  have  abundance  of  air  and  light,  and 
grow  stock}'.  They  may  be  kept  in  their  pots 
until  all  danger  of  frost  is  past,  when  they  are 
to  be  planted  out  by  turning  out  the  ball  of 
earth  from  the  pot.    The  directions  for  after- 


culture will  be  given  at  the  proper  season. 
Earlier  and  better  fruit  is  obtained  upon  light 
and  sandy  soil  than  from  a  wet  and  heav}-  one. 
The  small  pear-shaped  and  the  smooth  red  va- 
rieties are  the  earliest.  The  Fejce  is-a  few  days 
later,  but  is  so  much  more  prolific  and  finer 
every  way,  that  were  we  confined  to  one  sort 
we  should  choose  this.  From  a  single  year's 
experience  with  the  French  Upright,  or  Tree 
Tomato,  we  think  well  of  it.  It  is  a  very  com- 
pact and  dwarfish  variety,  bearing  its  fruit  close 
to  the  main  stem.  It  needs  but  a  single  stake 
to  keep  it  from  being  blown  over,  and  as  it  can 
be  planted  as  near  as  15  or  18  inches,  probably 
as  much  fruit  can  be  got  off  the  same  space  as 
from  any  other  variety.  It  must  be  started  very 
early,  as  the  fruit  is  a  little  late,  but  it  is  very 
solid  and,  according  to  our  experience  thus  far, 
every  way  desirable.  Those  who  have  no  gar- 
dens, but  have  room  in  the  yard  to  set  a  barrel 
or  two,  can  obtain  a  supply  of  Tomatoes  with  a 
little  trouble.  John  A.  Briggs,  of  Franklin  Co., 
Mass.,  writes:  "Take  a  flour-barrel,  knock 
out  both  heads,  saw  it  in  two  in  the  middle, 
place  the  halves  in  auy  vacant  place,  fill  about 
two-thirds  full  of  earth,  and  manure  and  set 
your  plants  in  them,  and  you  will  find  your 
plants,  if  attended  to,  will  do  as  well  as  in  any 
other  place.  The  writer  of  this  has  practised 
this  method  for  the  last  three  years  with  perfect 
success.  None  need  want  for  this  delicious 
and  healthful  fruit  unless  they  are  too  indolent 
to  try  the  experiment."  The  plants  grown  in 
this  way  may  be  watered  with  waste  water 
from  the  kitchen. 

»-. —     ■>. — . — 

For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Sweet  Potato  Culture. 


One  page  6,  January  No.,  you  say  sweet  pota- 
toes will  pay  when  planted  south  of  42°.  To 
show  that  you  are  correct,  I  give  you  the  result 
of  a  measured  plot.  From  13  rows,  3  feet  apart 
and  100  feet  long,  I  gathered  43*  bushels  of  fine 
potatoes,  36  bushels  of  merchantable  potatoes, 
and  Ti  bushels  of  small  ones  to  use  for  seed. 

Mode  of  Culture. — To  cultivate  with  success,  se- 
lect a  sandy  soil  if  possible ;  if  not,  then  the  dry- 
est  location ;  don't  move  the  ground  under  the  hills 
or  ridges  formed  for  setting  the  plants.  If  hills 
are  made,  deposit  a  shovelful  of  manure  on  the 
ground,  draw  the  earth  up  over  it  forming  a  hill 
10  or  12  inches  high,  leaving  it  a  little  Hat  on 
top  and  it  is  ready  for  the  plant.  If  planted  in 
rows,  strew  manure  (half  rotten  will  do)  on  the 
ground  every  three  feet,  same  as  for  Irish  pota- 
toes. Manure  don't  hurt  them ;  leave  the  base 
under  the  manure  about  a  foot  wide  undisturbed. 
With  plow,  spade,  or  fork,  make  the  earth  fine 
between  the  strips  of  manure,  and  throw  it  on 
the  manure  into  a  ridge  10  or  12  inches  high. 

Rake  off  the  ridges  so  as  to  leave  them  flat  and 
about  3  inches  wide  on  the  top:  they  are  then 
ready  for  the  plants.  The  ridges  may  be  made 
ready  long  before  it  is  time  to  set  the  plants. 
Setting  time  from  May  10th  to  middle  of  June, 
the  earlier  the  better  when  danger  of  frost  is  over. 

When  the  vines  begin  to  run,  lift  them  two 
or  three  times,  and  lay  on  the  top  of  the  ridge. 
Keep  down  all  weeds;  an  8-loothed  cast-steel 
rake  is  best  to  dress  the  sides.  Rake  the  earth 
from  the  bottom  to  top  of  ridge  to  cover  and 
smother  the  weeds.  Run  the  rows  north  and 
south  if  possible.  Planted  on  hard  ground  they 
grow  thick  and  chubby,  but  on  soft  ground  they 
grow  long,  thin,   and  comparatively  worthless. 

Keeping. — After  the  first  frost,  dig  on  a  dry 
clear  day,  handling  with  care.    After  drying  a 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


115 


few  hours  paclc  in  barrels  or  boxes  alternate  lay- 
ers of  short  dry  or  cut  straw  and  potatoes,  and 
move  to  a  warm  room  or  dry  warm  cellar ;  if  to 
a  cellar,  keep  up  from  the  floor  and  off  from  the 
wall.  With  such  treatment  they  will  keep  eight 
or  nine  months.  J.  0.  TnoMPSON. 

Staten  Island,  N.  Y. 


Early  Peas. 

— • — 
In  this  latitude  these  may  be  sown  the  mid- 
dle of  April,  and  in  some  seasons,  even  by  the 
first  of  the  month.  The  young  plants  will  en- 
dure a  pretty  severe  frost,  and  may  even  be 
covered  by  a  late  snow  without  injury.  A  warm, 
dry,  rather  sandy  spot,  which  last  year  bore 
some  well-manured  crop,  should  be  selected, 
and  if  protected  on  the  north  by  a  tight  fence 
or  wall,  so  much  the  better.  Lay  off  the  rows 
2J  to  3  feet  apart  for  the  taller  kinds,  and  1  to  2 
feet  apart  for  the  dwarf  sorts.  We  prefer  a 
somewhat  scattered  drill  for  the  dwarf,  and  even 
for  the  tall  growing  sorts.  This  is  made  by 
scooping  out  the  width  of  a  garden  hoe,  and 
about  two  inches  deep.  Some  prefer  a  single, 
narrow  row,  and  others  plant  in  double  rows 
6  or  eight  inches  apart.  If  the  seed  is  soaked 
for  24  hours  before  planting,  in  tepid  water, 
they  will  come  up  much  sooner  than  when  sown 
dry.  Cover  with  a  hoe  or  rake,  and  after  they 
are  up,  keep  the  ground  well  stirred  and  free 
from  weeds.  The  kinds  which  need  support, 
should  be  furnished  with  brush  when  they  are 
are  a  few  inches  high,  and  before  they  get  so 
tall,  as  to  fall  over.  A  few  short  rows  may  be 
forwarded  by  a  little  extra  care.  Have  the  rows 
ruu  east  and  west,  and  set  up  a  board  upon  the 
north  side ;  this  will  reflect  the  sun  in  the  day 
time,  and  may  be  laid  over  the  plants,  upon 
blocks  or  other  supports,  at  night.  In  this  way 
the  peas  will  be  protected  from  frost,  and  the 
heat  the  ground  has  received  during  the  clay  be 
retained.  Some  go  to  the  trouble  of  making  a 
more  complete  covering  by  nailing  together  two 
boards,  as  for  a  trough,  or  gutter :  this  can  be 
put  by  the  side  of  the  plants  by  day,  and  at 
night  is  turned  over  them  and  forms  a  complete 
roof.  The  early  varieties  are  numerous ;  for 
the  tall  growing  sorts  we  have  found  the  Dan- 
iel O'Rourke  and  Princess  perfectly  satisfactory. 
The  Washington  and  European  are  also  good 
early  sorts,  and  recently  a  variety  called  the 
Electric  has  been  introduced,  which  is  claimed 
to  be  the  earliest  kind.  We  are  each  year  more 
in  favor  of  the  dwarf  varieties,  as  the  laborious 
operation  of  bushing  is  dispensed  with,  and 
they  can  be  planted  much  nearer  together. 
Tom  Thumb  is  a  good  early  and  remarkably 
dwarf  sort,  but  as  a  variety  for  the  family  gar- 
den, it  has  the  disadvantage  that  the  pods 
all  come  to  maturity  about  the  sam.e  time. 
Bishop's  Long  Pod  is  an  excellent  sort,  as  is  the 
Prolific  or  Strawberry,  but  neither  of  these  arc 
among  the  very  earliest. 


Large  Sugar  Beets  for  Stock  or  Sugar. 

The  March  No.  of  the  Agriculturist  contains 
some  information  on  "Beet  Sugar,"  by  Prof. 
Mot,  of  Ohio.  Having  made  some  experiments 
on  beet  culture,  my  experience  may  be  of  ser- 
vice to  many  of  your  readers.  On  a  plot  of 
ground  38  by  57  feet,  planted  in  June  (too  late 
by  two  months)  the  product  was,  by  actual 
weight,  4,226  lbs.  They  were  planted  18  inches 
by  2  feet — should  have  been  2  feet  each  way. 
This  is  the  secret  of  success.  They  want  space, 
light,  and  air.     Manure  and  prepare  the  ground 


deep  and  thoroughly  the  last  of  March,  or  as 
early  in  April  as  possible—; frost  don't  hurl  beets. 
Drop  two  good  seeds  every  two  feet.  Where 
the  plant  is  large  enough,  thin  out  to  one,  leav- 
ing the  best  plant.  I  haul  the  earth  around  to 
steady  them — cultivate  well,  and  keep  clean.  I 
found  where  self  sown  seed  (dropped  from  seed 
beets)  came  up  very  early  and  were  left  singly  to 
grow  where  they  started  on  good  ground,  by 
digging  the  ground  up  around  them  they  would 
grow  to  over  30  lbs.  each. 

My  neighbor,  Dr.  F.  Hallick,  grows  them  for 
stock.  In  1861  the  seed  came  up  badly  and  left 
them  thinly  scattered :  many  reached  20  lbs.  each. 
In  1862  he  planted  18  inches  by  2  feet.  This  crop 
averaged  13  lbs.  each.  This  Spring  he  intends 
to  plant  2  feet  each  way.  Remember  to  plant 
early.  Deep  culture,  and  good  ground  are  es- 
sential to  get  a  fine  crop.  Do  not  pull  off  the 
under  leaves — it  stops  the  growth  of  the  beets, 
and  pock-marks  all  the  remaining  leaves. 

Staten  Island,  N.  Y.  J.    G.    THOMPSON. 


Early  Sowing. 

A  few  bright,  warm  days,  such  as  always 
occur  the  latter  part  of  April,  are  usually  suffi- 
cient to  bring  on  an  attack  of  the  planting  fever. 
The  garden  must  be  plowed  or  spaded,  beds 
laid  off,  and  in  go  the  beets,  carrots,  parsnips, 
turnips,  etc.  They  find  a  cold  bed,  the  soil  is 
packed  over  them  by  repeated  rains,  and  many 
of  the  seeds  rot  outright,  or  the  slender  germs 
fail  to  lift  the  heavy  soil  pressing  upon  them. 
It  is  far  better  to  leave  sowing  most  seeds  until 
the  ground  is  dry  and  warm.  A  few  of  the 
hardy  sorts,  such  as  early  peas,  potatoes,  onions, 
lettuce,  tomatoes,  radishes,  spinach,  salsify  etc. 
may  be  put  in  during  the  month  of  April,  but 
May  15th  is  sufficiently  early  for  the  generality 
of  seeds.  They  will  then  come  up  quickly  and 
grow  rapidly ;  every  one  knows,  that  a  quick 
grown  vegetable  is  far  better  than  one  which 
has  takeu  a  whole  season  to  mature.  Beets  for 
late  fall  and  winter  use  do  best  when  sown,  from 
the  first  to  the  middle  of  June. 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

The  Yellows  in  Peaches. 


BY   E.  E.   CHAPIN,   HAMPDEN   CO.,   MAS 


The  yellows,  though  easily  distinguished  by 
the  weak,  sickly  sprouts  with  yellow  leaves, 
from  which  the  disease  takes  its  name,  seems 
to  be  a  malady  of  the  nature  of  which  but  little 
is  yet  known.  The  most  intelligent  cultivators 
who  have  written  upon  the  subject  can  give  no 
other  remedy  than  the  severe  one  of  destroying 
the  tree,  root  and  branch,  as  soon  as  the  disease 
makes  its  appearance ;  the  remedies  of  hot 
water  and  hot  ashes  already  proposed  by  some 
of  your  correspondents  would  certainly  seem 
preferable  to  this,  for  if  they  should  destroy  the 
tree  they  would  kill  the  disease  with  it,  and  it 
is  quite  possible  that  a  cure  may  be  effected  in 
this  way  without  destroying  the  life  of  the  tree; 
my  reason  for  thinking  so  is  this  :  I  noticed  the 
yellows  had  made  their  appearance  upon  a 
young  tree  that  had  just  ripened  its  first  fruit, 
about  the  1st  of  September  last.  I  immediately 
began  to  examine  closely,  and  found  that  the 
twigs  presented  nothing  unusual ;  there  was 
about  a  foot  of  well-ripened  wood,  with  large 
dark-green  leaves,  but  upon  the  body  and  main 
branches  was  a  large  number  of  sickly  yellow 
sprouts,  most  of  which  were  already  dead  at 
their  ends,  though  they  could  not  have  been 
more  than  three  or  four  weeks  in  growing. 


The  bark  of  the  tree  was  good,  although  it  had 
a  rather  dry,  feverish  appearance.  On  digging 
away  Ihe  soil  at  the  root  there  was  not  the  least 
appearance  of  any  grubs,  the  bark  was  perfectly 
smooth  and  to  all  outside  appearance  healthy, 
but  on  applying  the  knife,  to  scrape  away  a 
little  dirt,  I  was  surprised  to  find  that  the  outer 
bark  would  scrape  away  as  easily  as  a  piece  of 
horse-radish,  and  disclosed  much  the  same  ap- 
appearance  underneath.  There  was,  between 
the  outer  and  inner  bark,  a  coating  of  whitish 
substance,  very  brittle,  full  of  sap,  and  easily 
scraped  away,  and  about  one-fourth  of  an  inch 
in  thickness  at  the  thickest  part,  which  was 
about  an  inch  below  the  surface  of  the  ground, 
and  extending  completely  around  the  collar, 
there  being  no  appearance  of  it  above  the 
surface,  and  a  gradual  decrease,  as  it  went 
down,  until  there  was  little  or  none  at  the 
depth  of  seven  or  eight  inches.  After  scraping 
away  all  of  this  substance  that  could  be  found, 
leaving  the  inner  bark  exposed,  I  placed  fresh 
soil  around  it,  and  then  cut  away  all  the  yellow 
sprouts.  The  tree  appeared  perfectly  well 
afterwards,  and  retained  its  leaves  fresh  as  late 
as  any  others.  When  a  tree  has  such  a  cover- 
ing as  this  one  had,  I  can  readily  believe  that 
boiling  water  or  live  coals,  sufficient  to  destroy 
the  life  of  a  healthy  tree,  might  ho  applied,  not 
only  without  injury,  but  with  benefit,  if  it 
should  slough  away  the  parasitic  growth. 


What  Apples  to  Plant. 

The  Fruit  Growers'  Meeting  at  the  Agricultur- 
ist office  have  recently  given  the  above  subject 
special  attention.  Lists  were  submitted  by  ex- 
perienced cultivators,  and  votes  were  taken  in 
the  same  manner  as  has  previously  been  done 
with  pears  and  grapes.  The  following  list  by 
Parsons  &  Co.,  for  15  varieties  for  an  orchard  of 
50  trees,   was  almost  unanimously  adopted. 

SUMMER. 

Yellow  Sweet  Bough. 

Vellow  Harvest. 

Primate. 

Red  Astrachan. 

AUTUMN. 

Gravenstein. 
Porter. 
Fall  Pippin. 

One  or  two  persons  thought  the  Roxbury  Rus- 
set and  Newtown  Pippin  did  not  succeed  well 
enough  in  all  localities  to  be  universally  recom- 
mended. For  those  who  wish  to  plant  largely, 
Mr.  Carpenter,  who  has  an  orchard  of  30  acres 
in  Westchester  Co.,  proposed  the  following  20 
varieties,  with  the  numbers  for  1000  trees. 


WINTER. 

Jersey  Sweeting. 
Rhode  Island  Greening. 
Hubbardston  Nonsuch. 
Baldwin. 
Peck's  Pleasant. 
Roxbury  Russet. 
Newtown  Pippin. 
Tatman  Sweet. 


Winter. 

50  Hubbardston  Nonsuch. 

50  King  Tompkins  Co. 

25  Talman  Sweet. 

25  Dutch  Mignonne. 
200  Baldwin. 
200  R.  I.  Greening. 

50  Smith's  Cider. 

25  Peck's  Pleasant. 

25  Melon. 
100  Po'keepsie  Russet. 


Summer. 
25  Primate. 
15  Sweet  Bough. 
12  Yellow  Harvest. 
50  Summer  Pippin. 
10  Summer  Queen. 
10  Red  Astrachan. 

Fall. 
50  Gravenstein. 
3  Jersey  Sweet. 
50  Porter. 
25  Fall  Pippin. 

For  special  localities,  where  they  are  known 
to  do  well,  he  would  recommend  Newtown  Pip- 
pin, Esopus  Spitzenberg,  Northern  Spy,  Hawley 
and  Swaar.  Also  as  apples  promising  well : 
Hicks,  Belle  et  Bonne,  Jeffries,  Drap  d'Or,  Moth- 
er, Summer  Bellfleur,  Vermont  Strawberry,  and 
Vermont  Beauty. 

The  above  lists  refer  to  this  vicinity,  though 
most  of  the  apples  do  well  in  all  parts  of  the 
country.  The  best  general  information  upon 
varieties  adapted  to  different  sections,  will  be 
found  on  page  147  of  our  last  volume  (May  Ag- 
riculturist, 1862) ;  and  in  the  reports  collected 
from  the  whole  country  as  published  in  several 
numbers  of  volume  XX  (1861). 


116 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[April, 


Grapes— Trellises— Strawberries. 

— -•■ — 

INTERESTING    TO    GROWERS  OP    SMALL    FRUITS. 

Bev.  J.  Knox,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  whose  ex- 
tensive culture  of  strawberries  perhaps  enti- 
tles him  to  be  called  the  "Strawberry  King,"  is 
also  pretty  largely  engaged  in  grape  culture. 
"We  do  not  quite  share  his  enthusiasm  in  re- 
gard to  the  Concord  Grape,  which  lie  claims  to 
be  the  grape  for  this  country,  but  he  confidently 
predicts  that  we  shall  have  to  come  to  it  after 
the  results  of  a  few  more  years  are  seen.  Dur- 
ing his  recent  visit  to  the  Agriculturist  office  we 
gathered  some  particulars  concerning  a  grape 
trellis,  which  he  devised  and  has  extensively  used, 
and  his  mode  of  growing  grapes  and  strawber- 
ries together.  The  foundation  for  the  trellis  is 
made  by  setting  locust,  or  other  durable  posts,  at 
a  distance  of  12  feet  apart.  These  posts,  a,  are 
Sh  feet  long,  and  are  set  2J  feet  in  the  ground. 
To  these  are  spiked  uprights,  6,  made  of  hem- 
lock scantling  3x4  inches,  and  6  feet  long.  The 
horizontal  strips,  <-,  sawed  out  of  pine  stuff,  are 
1  inch  thick,  and  4  inches  wide.  Mr.  Knox  uses 
them  24  feet  long,  so  as  to  reach  across  two  sec- 
tions of  the  trellis,  but  where  it  is  more  conven- 
ient, they  may  be  made  12  feet  in  length.  The 
slats,  d,  are  of  pine,  lxli  inch,  8  feet  long,  and 
are  fastened,  9  inches  from  center  to  center,  to 
the  horizontal  strips,  c,  by  a  single  8d  nail  at 
each.  The  trellis  may  be  put  up  at  the  time  the 
vines  are  planted,  or  the  posts  may  be  set  then, 
and  the  rest  added  as  needed.  The  slats  need 
not  all  be  put  on  until  the  third  year.  Mr.  Knox 
prefers  to  plant  vines  only  one  year  old  from 
the  eye:  these  are  cutback  to  a  single  bud,  the 
shoot  from  which  is  tied  up  to  a  stake,  and  al- 
lowed to  grow  as  long  as  it  will ;  during  Sum- 
mer the  laterals  or  branches  are  pinched  off  to 
one  leaf.  In  the  Fall  this  cane  is  cut  back  to 
two  buds,  which  the  next  season  is  treated  as 
before,  and  kept  tied  to  stakes  or  to  two  slats 
upon  the  trellis,  as  is  represented  in  the  left- 
hand  vine.  At  the  close  of  the  second  season 
the  vine  has  two  strong  canes,  which  are  short- 
ened to  3  feet  each,  and  in  the  Spring  of  the 
third  year  are  trained  out  horizontally  to  make 
arms,  as  in  the  right-hand  vine.  The  wood 
formed  the  third  year  is  trained  to  the  slats,  and 
afterward  pruned  upon  the  renewal  or  spur 
system,  as  may  be  desired.  Mr.  K.  prefers  the 
renewal  plan,  but  deviates  from  it  when  neces- 
sary, to  keep  48  square  feet  of  trellis  covered 
with  the  bearing  wood  of  one  vine.  The  trellises 
are  placed  8  feet  apart,  and  the  intervening 
spaces  are  occupied  by  strawberries,  which  he 
finds  do  not  interfere  with  the  grapes,  and  are 
benefitted  by  the  shelter  which  the  vines  afford. 
At  2i  feet  from  the  grapes  a  row  of  strawberries 
is  planted;  this  one  is  followed  by  three  other 
rows,  a  foot  apart,  which  will  leave  another  space 


of  2J  feet  to  the  next 
row  of  grapes,  giving 
four  rows  of  strawber- 
ries between  each  two 
rows  of  grapes.  The 
two  outside  rows  of 
strawberries  are  allowed 
to  make  runners,  which 
root  in  the  space  left 
next  the  grapes,  while 
the  runners  of  the  other 
rows,  and  all  those  from 
the  outside  rows  which 
run  in  toward  the  other 
strawberry  vines  are 
carefully  taken  off.  The 
runners  which  are  left 
to  grow,  furnish  a  supply  of  plants  for  market 
the  first  Fall  after  planting,  and  thus  a  pay- 
ing crop  is  taken  from  the  land  the  first  year. 
The  next  year  a  crop  of  strawberries  is  ob- 
tained, as  well  as  other  vines  from  new  run- 
ners. By  pursuing  this  method,  Mr.  Knox 
makes  the  land  produce  returns  every  year,  and 
thinks  that  by  arranging  in  this  way,  the 
strawberries  will  pay  for  the  whole  expense  of 
the  grapes — purchasing  the  vines,  preparing  the 
soil,  and  cultivating  until  they  come  into  bearing. 


Propagating  the  Grape. 


Mr.  J.  Borland,  of  Bucks  Co.,  Penn.,  having 
been  very  successful  in  propagating  the  Dela- 
ware grape  by  grafting,  the  Fruit-Growers' 
Meeting  requested  him  to  com- 
municate his  method.  Mr.  B.  very 
modestly  disclaims  any  originality 
in  the  matter,  and  says  that  he  was 
induced  to  try  the  plan  from  hav- 
ing seen  it  noticed  in  the  Agricultur- 
ist for  March,  18G2.  A  set  of  spe- 
cimens illustrating  the  process  was 
sent,  from  which  we  have  had  en- 
gravings made  that  will  enable 
our  readers  to  easily  understand 
the  manner  of  working.  The  cions, 
which  should  be  cut  when  the  vine 
is  quite  dormant,  have  two  buds 
to  each :  the  lower  end  is  cut 
wedge-shaped,  with  the  lower  bud 
at  the  base,  or  broad  end,  of  the 
wedge,  as  shown  in  Fig.  1.  The 
cions  should  be  of  one-year-old 
wood,  while  the  wood  into  which  they  are 
grafted  may  be  two  or  more  years  old.  A 
branch,  which  can  be  readily  laid  down,  is  se- 
lected and  split   quite  through,  at  intervals  of 


fig.  1. 


each  joint.  The  wedge-shaped  ends  of  the 
cions  being  inserted  in  the  branch  as  in  Fig.  2, 
it  is  then  laid  down  and  buried  in  the  earth, 
leaving  the  upper  bud  of  the  cion  just  above 
the  surface.  Mr.  B.  prefers  to  do  the  grafting 
about  the  20th  of  March,  but  it  may  be  done  at 


Fig.  3. 

any  time  before  the  sap  starts.  In  the  following 
Fall  or  Spring  the  branch  containing  the  grafts 
may  be  taken  up  and  cut  off  near  the  new 
vines,  which  will  now  he  well  rooted,  and  able 
to  take  care  of  themselves.  Fig.  3  represents  a 
vine  which  was  grafted  last  Spring.  This 
method  has  been  very  successful  with  the  Dela- 
ware, which  is  difficult  to  propagate  from 
cuttings  in  the  ordinary  wa}'.  It  can  hardly  be 
called  grafting,  as  the  old  stock  is  of  no  use 
after  the  first  year.  The  union  between  the 
stocks  and  graft  is  very  slight,  but  sufficient  to 
afford  sustenance  until  the  cion  makes  roots  of 
its  own,  which  it  does  very  freely.  When  the 
new  plant  is  removed,  the  stocks  may  be  cut  oft 
quite  close  to  it,  or  even  removed  altogether. 
The  plan  is  worthy  of  the  attention  of  those 
who  have  vines  of  any  inferior  quality,  and  wish 
to  replace  them  with  choicer  sorts.  Mr.  Bor- 
land is  very  successful  in  grafting  the  Delaware 
upon  old  roots.  The  vines  are  "  cut  off  G  or  8 
inches  under  ground,  split  in  four  pieces,  and 
the  grafts  inserted.  If  the  grafts  are  likely  to 
to  be  pinched,  put  in  wooden  wedges,  lie  up 
with  waxed  cloth,  and  earth  up  within  one  inch 
of  the  top  bud  of  the  graft." 


every  18  inches  or  2  feet,  to  receive  the  cions. 
In  the  specimen  sent  by  Ml".  Borland  the  grafts 
were   inserted  about  one  or  two  inches  from 


Late  Pears  Profitable. 

We  have  this  day  (March  4th)  seen  two  bar- 
rels of  Vicar  of  Winkfield,  and  half  a  barrel  of 
Glout  Morceau  pears  in  a  fine  state  of  preser- 
vation, with  every  indication  that  they  will  keep 
a  month  longer.  They  were  raised  by  W.  S. 
Carpenter  in  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  picked 
late,  and  packed  in  nnwinnowed  oats.  They 
were  then  kept  in  a  cool  place,  and  are  now  in 
a  common  cellar  in  this  city  with  apples  and 
potatoes.  Mr.  Carpenter  is  eminently  success- 
ful in  keeping  pears,  and  finds  it  pays  well.  He 
is  now  offered  $1.50  per  dozen  for  his  Glout 
Morceaus,  and  the  Vicars  would  probably  sell 
for  $20  per  barrel.  Such  results  indicate  that 
it  would  be  profitable  to  give  more  attention  to 
winter  pears.  They  can  only  be  found  on  sale 
at  a  few  of  the  fruit  stands,  at  this  season  of  the 
year,  and  bring  enormous  prices.  Doubtless 
there  is  much  yet  to  learn  regarding  the  best 
method  of  keeping  fruit,  though  there  has  been 
much  light  thrown  upon  the  subject  during  the 
past  few  years.  Let  us  have  more  light,  and 
— more  winter  and  spring  pears.  (P.  S.  March, 
11th.    The  Vicars  sold  to  day  at  $35  per  bbL) 


1863.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


117 


What  is  the  Potato  ? 

It  has  already  been  hinted  on  page  53  of  the 
Agriculturist  that  it  is  not  a  root,  as  ordinarily 
supposed,  but  a  kind  of  branch.  "We  now  pro- 
pose to  give  some  of  the  reasons  for  considering 
it  a  branch,  without  stopping  to  show  how  it  is 
unlike  a  root.  At  first  sight  it  appears  to  have 
little  in  common  with  the  stem  as  we  ordinarily 
see  it,  yet  a  careful  comparison  of  the  two,  will 
perhaps  discover  resemblances  which  were  not 
before  noticed.  Many  persons  suppose  that 
botanists  are  chiefly  engaged  in  giving  hard 
names  to  plants,  while  the  fact  is  they  are  main- 
ly occupied  in  studying  the  plan  upon  which 
plants  are  made  ;  they  find  that  all  the  great 
variety  which  vegetation  presents  can  be  re- 
duced to  a  few  simple  forms— the  root,  stem, 
and  leaf,  and  wherever  a  part  may  be  or  what- 
ever shape  it  may  assume,  the  keen  eye  of  the 
skillful  botanist  penetrates  the  disguise  and 
finds  out  its  real  nature.  The  potato,  being  as 
unlike  a  branch  as  well  can  be,  will  serve  to 
illustrate  the  manner  in  which  these  resem- 
blances are  traced  out.  In  the  first  place  the 
potato  grows  under  ground.  Every  thing  that 
grows  beneath  the  surface  is  not  a  root,  nor  are 
roots  always  under  ground,  as  every  one  who 
lias  hoed  corn  will  have  noticed.  When  we  lay 
down  a  grape  vine  or  a  shrub,  the  layered  por- 
tion is  not  a  root,  nor  are  the  natural  layers 
which  rose  bushes,  and  many  other  plants  which 
spread  in  this  way,  make.  The  potato  is  the  end 
of  an  underground  branch,  modified  for  a  part- 
icular purpose,  to  serve  which  it  becomes  filled 
with  starch  and  hence  serves  as  an  important  ar- 
ticle of  food.  Let  us  take  for  comparison  a 
twig  of  an  apple  tree  and  see  if  it  has  anything 
in  common  with  the  potato.  At  this  season  the 
apple  twig  has  no  leaves,  but  the  scars,  or  pla- 
ces, were  they  were,  are  plainly  to  be  seen,  and 
directly  above  these  are  the  buds  which  will 
produce  the  branches  of  the  next  season — each 
scar  being  separated  from  the  next  by  a  length 
or  joint  of  stem.  Aside  from  the  fact  that  the 
potato,  as  it  grows  under  ground  does  not  need 
to  have  strength  and  is  not  woody,  but  fleshy, 
we  find  that  both  have  these  peculiarities.  The 


buds  on  the  apple  stem  are  represented  by  the 
"  eyes "  in  the  potato,  and  branches  proceed 
from  both.  The  potato  growing  under  ground 
has  no  use  for  leaves,  but  a  little  scale  or  wrinkle 
just  under  the  eyes  stands  in  place  of  them. 
These  scales,  which  are  more  prominent  in 
some  varieties  than  in  others,  are  best  seen  at 
the  "  seed  end  "  of  the  potato.  On  page  53,  the 
spiral  arrangement  of  the  eyes  of  the  potato 
was  noticed,  and  this  can  also  be  found  on 
the  apple  twig.  Perhaps  the  strongest  proof 
that,  the  potato  is  reallya  branches  found  in  the 
fact- that  sometimes  the  above-ground  branches 
become  quite  like  the  potato  in  size  and  shape 
and  everything  but  color.  We  have  seen  in- 
stances in  which  every  graduation  could  be 
traced  between  ordinary  branches,  having 
leaves,  and  fully  devftoped  potatoes  without 
leaves.  The  engraving  is  from  a  drawing  made 
some  time  ago  by  Mr.  Ed.  M.  Prutman  of  St. 
Joseph  Co.,  Mich.,  and  represents  one  of  these 
branches  which  grew  about  a  foot  from  flic 
ground.  It  will  be  seen  that  it  is  intermediate 
between  a  potato  and  a  branch.  It  is  short  and 
fleshy  like  a  potato  but  bears  leaves,  and  these 
leaves  come  exactly  in  the  place  of  the  scales 
upon  the  potato. 


Perennials  for  the  Flower  Garden. 

Every  garden  should  have  a  good  stock  of  re- 
liable herbaceous  perennials,  which  as  a  class 
have  been  much  neglected  of  late  for  the  more 
popular  and  more  expensive  bedding  plants. 
Once  set  out,  these  plants  need  no  other  care 
than  lifting  and  dividing  when  t lie  roots  get  too 
large.  They  may  be  planted  as  soon  as  the  frost 
is  out  of  the  ground  and  will  do  all  the  better  if 
the  crowns  are  covered  in  winter  with  coarse 
stable  manure.  A  friend  of  large  experience 
has  prepared  at  our  request  a  list  of  20  varieties 
which  comprises  a  variety  in  color  and  time  of 
blooming.  To  save  answering  inquiries  we  will 
sa}'  that  we  have  none  of  these  for  sale,  but 
they  can  be  had  at  the  principal  nurseries. 

Arabis  alpina. — Flowers  small,  in  clusters,  pure 
white,  six  inches  high  ;  blooms  in  April.  Achil- 
lea Plarmica,  plena. — Flowers  double,  pure  white, 
1  foot  high.  June.  Baptisia  aerulea. — Fine  blue 
flowers ;  2  feet  high,  May  and  June. —  Var.  alba 
with  white  flowers.  Campanula  coronata. — Flow- 
ers clear  white,  semi-double,  abundant  bloomer ; 
1  foot  high,  June  and  July.  Campanula  grandi- 
flora. — Large  deep  blue  flowers,  2  feet,  May  and 
June.  Clematis  serratifolia  erecta. —  Flowers 
white,  in  long  clusters,  3  to  4  feet,  May.  Clem- 
atis integrifolia. — Flower  large,  dark  blue,  bor- 
dered with  white;  2  feet,  last  of  May  and  1st  of 
June.  Chehne  barbata. — Fiery  scarlet,  borne  on 
a  long  stem,  4  feet,  June  and  July.  Carnations 
(hardy). — In  varieties.  Dicentra  spectabilis,  (often 
improperly  called  Dielytra).— Rosy  crimson,  one 
of  the  best  border  plants,  1  to  3  feet,  May  and 
June.  Delphinium  formosum. — Deep  azure  blue, 
with  white  center,  2  to  3  feet,  June  and  July. 
D.  Sinensis.—  Bright  blue,  foliage  quite  distinct 
from  the  above,  2  feet,  June.  D.  Sinensis  alba.— 
Like  the  preceding  but  white  flowers.  Gerani- 
um Alyssum. — Flowers  large,  bluish  purple,  8 
inches,  July.  Iris  nana. — Bluish  purple,  6  inch- 
es, May.  lberis  Tenoriana. — (Hardy  perennial 
candytuft.)— White,  8  inches,  April  to  July. 
Lychnis  Chalcedonicapkno. — Double  scarlet,  3  feet, 
June  and  July.  Phloxes  in  variety.  Phlox  verna, 
a  fine  trailing  species  with  large  pink  flowers, 
should  be  admitted  in  to  the  smallest  collection. 
Pentstemon  Digitalis.— -White,  slightly  tinged  with 
purple,  3  to  4  feet,  July.     Spiraea  Filipendula  pie- 


no. — Flowers  very  double,  pure  white,  1  foot, 
May  and  June.  Spiraa  Japonica. — White,  dis- 
tinct and  really  beautiful,  1  foot,  May.  Spircea 
lobata  plena. — Fine  red,  strong  grower,  2  feet, 
June.  Veronica  spicata. — Deep  blue,  1  foot, 
June  and  July.  Veronica  alba,  similar  to  pre- 
ceding, but  with  pure  white  flowers. 


raiK   MtEJaiMlllBo 

Cleaning  Clocks—"  Cooking  Time." 

— • — 

'•Necessity"  writing  to  the  Agriculturist  from 
Sand  Beach,  Mich.,  says:  "Should  any  renders  be 
situated  as  we  are,  ill  Huron  Co.,  out  of  the  reach 
of  civilization  and  '  clock  tinkers, '  and  their  brass 
time  pieces  refuse  to  be  lime  pieces,  for  want  of 
cleaning,  the  following  maybe  of  use:  Unscrew 
the  metal  from  the  ease,  and  boil  the  wheel  works 
half  an  hour  or  so  in  soap  suds,  and  then  five  min- 
utes in  clean  water,  drying  off  quickly.  This  will 
clear  out  dust  and  hardened  oil,  aixl  the  clock  will 
be  ready  for  resuming  its  daily  duties."  [As  a  last 
resort,  this  may  answer  well  for  clocks  movc«!  by 
weights.  The  boiling  might  injure  the  temper  of 
the  springs  of  those  having  this  motive  power, 
though  perhaps  not,  and  there  can  be  no  loss  ill  ex- 
perimenting with  n  clock  that  has  ceased  to  be  good 
for  anything.  A  very  thin  coat  of  limpid  oifc"  or 
even  of  fresh  lard,  if  the  oil  be  absent,  should  be 
brushed  over  the  entire  works  wit  h  a  feather,  as  soon 
as  soon  as  dried  from  the  water,  to  prevent  the  steel 
pinions  from  rusting.  A  very  little  oil  stirred  into 
the  last  cleaning  hot  water  might  answer.— Ed.] 


About  Cloves  and  Allspice. 

Cloves  are  produced  by  a  tree  which  is  a  native  of 
the  Molucca  Islands,  and  were  like  nutmegs  a  long 
lime  under  the  exclusive  control  of  the  Dutch  gov- 
ernment, who  for  many  years  would  not  allow  the 
trees  to  grow  upon  any  except  the  island  of  Am 
boyua,  from  whence  the  highest  priced  cloves  stil 
come.  The  tree  is  from  15  to  30  feet  high,  with  large 
aromatic  leaves  and  bunches  of  very  fragrant  flow- 
ers. The  spice  is  the  unopened  flower-buds,  which 
are  beaten  off  by  means  of  rods  and  then  dried.  The 
little  ball  at  the  top  of  the  clove  is  the  unexpanded 
petals ;  by  softeniug  the  clove  in  hot  water  these 
can  be  carefully  laid  open  by  means  of  a  pin.  The 
main  portion  of  the  clove  is  what  would  be  thefruit 
were  it  allowed  to  go  on  and  ripen.  Our  word 
clove,  comes  from  the  French  clow,  a  nail.  That  be- 
ing the  name  by  which  the  French  call  them  on  ac- 
count of  their  resemblance  to  a  little  nail.  They 
contain  a  good  deal  of  volatile  oil,  upon  which  their 
value  depends.  This  oil  is  sometimes  extracted  in 
part  and  the  cloves  afterwards  sold.  These  can  be 
told  by  their  lighter  color  and  by  having  the  but- 
tons or  rounded  portion  broken  off.    Cloves  readily 


118 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


A  run,, 


absorb  a  considerable  amount  of  moisture,  and  it  is 
the  custom  of  large  dealers  to  keep  them  in  a  rath- 
er damp  place  in  order  to  make  them  weigh  heavily 
and  look  fresh  and  plump.  It  is  bad  economy  to 
buy  cloves  or  any  other  spice  in  the  ground  state 
as,  aside  from  the  risk  of  adulteration,  the  oil  is  ab- 
sorbed by  the  paper  in  which  they  are  put  up. 

Allspice  is  from  a  tree,  nearly  related  to  the  clove 
tree ;  it  grows  in  the  West  Iudies  where  it  is 
largely  cultivated  for  the  spice,  which  iu  this  in- 
stance is  the  fruit.  The  berries  are  gathered  when 
■  green,  for  if  allowed  to  remain  on  the  tree  until 
ripe  they  have  an  unpleasant  llavor.  It  is  also  called 
Pimento,  and  Jamaica  pepper.  The  name  allspice 
was  given  because  it  was  thought  to  bare  the  llavor 
of  cloves,  cinnamon,  and  nutmegs  combined. 


Letter  from  a  Housekeeper. 


|The  following  letter  we  print  for  several  reasons.  It 
reveals  some  of  the  difficulties  experienced,  by  those  es- 
pecially whose  proper  training  for  woman's  sphere  has 
been  omitted.  It  is  in  this  respect  a  fair  sample  of  hun- 
dreds of  letters  we  receive,  and  the  writer  and  others  wiil 
notice  that  more  questions  are  propounded  iu  this  single 
letter  than  we  could  answer' in  an  entire  paper,  while 
there  are  some  queries  that  we  can  not  answer  at  all, 
such  for  example,  as  how  to  "  do  up  "  linen  like  that 
bought  ready  made.  Perhaps  some  of  our  fair  readers 
can  aid  Mrs.  Pry.  We  care  not  how  many  such  letters 
are  sent  in— the  more  the  belter— for  we  like  such  plain, 
natural  revelations  of  the  difficulties  experienced,  and  the 
wants  of  our  readers,  that  our  columns  may  be  adapted 
to  meet  the  necessities  of  the  greatest  number  possible. 
Mrs.  Pry  will  excuse  us  for  making  practical  use  of  her 
•'confidential  letter,"  as  we  suppress  her  real  name.  — Ed.] 

Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  3,  1803. 
Mr.  Editor  : — I  have  no  ambition  to  see  my  name 
iu  print,  so  if  you  make  any  reference  to  my  queries, 
call  me  Mrs.  Pry,  for  this  is  a  strictly  confidential 
letter.  I  am  a  young  housekeeper,  in  the  capacity 
of  a  farmer's  wife,  and  you  will  readily  imagine  I 
have  experienced  some  trials,  when  I  tell  you  that 
I  never  had  the  least  training  iu  the  important  de- 
partment of  housekeeping,  not  even  iu  the  city 
where  I  was  reared,  mainly — much  less  was  I  iitted 
for  the  domestic  affairs  devolving  upon  a  fanner's 
wife.  Oh!  I  often  think  I  would  give  all  my  old 
shoes,  and  my  new  ones  too,  if  I  could  only  "keep 
nouse  "  as  Mrs.  so  aud  so  does,  those  who  always  do 
every  thing  properly,  and  at  the  right  time.  Then 
I  should  take  pride  in  and  enjoy  my  domestic  du- 
ties. But  the  familiar  adage,  that  "  what  man  has 
done,  man  can  do,"  has  helped  me  through  many 
any  undertaking,  aud  it  will  hereafter  help  iu  ac- 
complishing much  more  than  I  am  now  capable  of. 
The  American  Agriculturist  has  been  a  great  Kelp  Iu 
tne  in  many  instances,  with  its  hints  iu  the  house- 
hold department.  Somehow  the  recipes  seem  more 
valuable,  and,  to  my  unsophisticated  judgment,  ap- 
pear more  plainly  expressed,  and  more  sensible  and 
practical  than  those  I  find  in  the  professed  "  cook 
books,"  for  these  usually  describe  expensive  fancy 
dishes  aud  in  larger  proportions  than  we  actual 
housekeepers  dare  venture  upon  with  our  small 
families,  aud  in  these  latter  days  when  economy 
should  be  practised.  We  like,  it  is  true,  to  have 
something  uice  once  iu  a  while,  by  way  of  variety, 
but  some  how  in  following  the  cook  books  I  gel  the 
expensive  but  not  the  nice.  There  are  some  house- 
keepers who  seem  to  have  the  knack  of  always  pre- 
senting before  you  the  most  simple  food,  iuvitingly, 
cooked  just  enough,  and  none  too  much.  I  am  am- 
bitious to  acquire  that  "  knack."  Others  get  up  a 
variety  of  expensive  dishes,  but  each  ouc  is  accom- 
panied with  an  apology  for  its  not  beiug  quite  right. 

Since  I  have  been  a  housekeeper,  I  have  often 
greatly  woudered  why  it  is  that  so  many  mothers 
suffer  their  daughters  to  grow  up  so  iguoraut  of 
the  very  department  they  hope  and  expect  them  to 
assume  charge  of.  1  am  not  alone  in  this  feeling, 
for  I  find  others  around  me  who  acknowledge 
that  they  have  actually  shed  tears  over  their  own 
ignorance.  You  will  smile,  perhaps,  when  I  tell  you 
that  as  I  look  upon  my  two  infant  daughters,  I  often 
think  how  much  1  will  do  in  their  training  to  relieve 
them  of  future  embarrassment. 

Those  soap  recipes  iu  the  last  Agriculturist  came 


in  good  time :  I  had  previously  understood  (from  the 
hired  girl  I  believe  I  learned  it,)  that  only  half  as 
much  potash  was  required  as  of  grease,  and  so  in 
attempting  to  teach  my  new  girl,  I  found  that  some- 
thing was  wrong,  but  could  not  tell  what.  Follow- 
ing the  paper  we  added  more  potash  and  have  it  all 
right. — Last.  Summer  I  canned  sonic  stewed  toma- 
toes, but  owing  to  my  own  failure,  or  the  cans  (Bo- 
diue's)  some  of  them  proved  defective.  Before  the 
preserving  season  arrives  again,  please  give  your 

plan. As  I  said  before,  we  like  to  have  the  good 

things  sometimes,  and  though  you  may  suggest  that 
it  is  not  very  healthy,  I  would  like  good  practical 
directions  for  a  Fruit  Cake,  and  for  Pound  Cake,  of 
fa/rtihj  size ;  also  further  hints  for  making  and  put- 
ting on  icing ;  also  to  know  what  kind  of  instrument 
bakers  use  in  putting  on  the  ornaments  ;  also  the 
process  of  polishing  linen  shirts  and  collars  as  they 
are  when  we  buy  them  #ew.  I  have  understood 
that  it  was  done  by  an  iron  specially  constructed 
for  the  purpose,  but  have  inquired  in  many  places 

for  such  an  iron,  in  vain. Had   I   room  I  could 

tell  you  of  many  suggestions  iu  the  paper  that  have 
helped  my  husband  in  his  business.  We  would 
gladly  aid  iu  extending  the  circulation  of  your  pa- 
per, but  that  is  not  possible,  as  most  of  our  neigh- 
bors take  it  already.  But  I  have  consumed  too 
much  of  your  valuable  time  already,  so  with  many 
good  wishes  for  your  welfare,  terrestrial  aud  celes- 
tial, I  will  sink  in  to  the  silent  Mrs.  Prt. 

P.  S. — I  have  attempted  some  corrections  in  the 
above,  to  fit  it  for  a  critical  editor's  eye,  but  can  not 
make  it  all  right.  I  have  written  with  one  foot  on 
the  cradle,  aud  constantly  been  responding  to  the 
many  questions  of  the  eldest  little  daughter,  who 
sits  beside  me,  watching  my  inkstand  the  meantime 
as  if  tempted  to  try  some  mischievous  experiments 
with  it.  You  can  not  know  how  to  sympathise  with 
me  unless  you  have  experienced  the  same  trouble 
in  writing.  [Oh,  yes  we  can;  we  rather  enjoy  a  lit- 
tle flock  of  such  troubles — sometimes  at  least,] 


Shoeing  a  Family— Western  life. 

[The  following  letter  from  Cedar  Co.,  Iowa,  may 
furnish  a  useful  hint,  while  it  will  be  interesting  as 
giving  an  insight  into  the  economy  practised  by 
the  pioneers  who  build  up  for  themselves  homes  iu 
the  far  West,  We  know  by  early  experieuee  some- 
thing of  this.  Those  boys  aud  girls  who  wear 
home-made  shoes  and  patched  garments,  and  are 
brought  up  to  habits  of  labor  and  economy,  away 
from  the  corrupting  influences  incident  to  cities, 
villages,  and  densely  populated  neighborhoods,  will 
turn  out  the  effective  men  and  women. — Ed.] 

To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist : 

Iii  the  January  American  Agriculturist,  pages  21-2, 
you  ask  "  if  any  one  can  tell  how  to  keep  children 
in  any  kind  of  shoes  that  will  cost  less  than  about,  a 

dollar  a  month  for  each  youngster"? lean.    In 

I860  I  bought  a  pair  of  shoes  for  my  oldest  child,  a 
girl  of  ten,  that  cost  §1.25,  but  did  not  last  a 
mouth.  This  was  hard,  with  so  little  money  as  we 
had  ;  so  I  cast  about  to  see  what  could  be  doue.  I 
found  a  neighbor  making  over  his  boot  legs  into 
shoes  for  his  children,  aud  acting  upon  the  hint,  I 
got  a  friend  handy  with  tools  to  make  me  T  lasts, 
one  for  each  member  of  my  family,  paying  him  10 
cents  each,  (70  cents).  I  next  procured  paper  pat- 
terns; bought  a  hammer,  awls,  pegs,  aud  thread,  for 
65  cents — in  all  $1.35.  Bristles  I  stole  from  the 
hog's  back  ;  clamps  rigged  out  of  a  2x  t  inch  piece, 
and  two  staves.  Went  to  work  upon  the  old  boot 
lei,*s.  First  pair  of  shoes  pegged  so  fast  to  the  last 
as  to  be  nearly  ruined  in  getting  them  off,  but  ex- 
perience taught  me  better  next  time.  Witli  more 
practice,  I  can  now  get  up  a  shoe  that  a  Massachu- 
setts woman  is  not  ashamed  to  wear.  I  reckoned 
the  saving  the  first  Winter  at  914;  outlay,  as  above, 
SI. 35.  Most  of  the  work  was  done  evenings.  Old 
boot  legs  wear  better  than  ncwleather.  Twopairs 
of  shoes  thus  made  have  already  worn  over  six 
months.  How  many  thousands  of  pairs  of  boot 
legs  arc  thrown  away  or  burned  each  mouth,  that 
might  save  as  many  dollars. 
When  all  the  old  boots  in  your  neighborhood  are 


used  up,  act  a  side  of  kip  and  a  side  of  sole  leath- 
er; cany  them  to  a  workman,  tell  him  to  cut  you 
out  a  good  pair  of  boots,  aud  make  them,  lie  will 
do  it  for  less  than  $2,  and  you  have  leather  enough 
left  for  from  four  to  ten  pairs  of  shoes,  of  all  sizes, 
which,  with  a  little  care,  you  can  use  all  up.  Try 
it  friends,  first  on  old  boots,  aud  then  on  what  you 
please.  Iu  my  family  there  are  four  g-.'ls  aud  three 
boys,  four  of  whom  go  to  school  \%  miles.  I  go 
3,'i  miles  to  teach,  aud  home  every  night.  We  arc 
all  wearing  what  I  have  made  except  my  boots, 
aud  those  I  repair.  A  Yankee  in  Iowa. 


To  Strengthen  Woolen  Stockings. 

Mre.  C.  D.  Ketchum,  of  Jackson  Co.,  Wis.,  sends 
the  following  hint  to  the  American  Agriculturist: 
"Iu  knitting  common  woolen  socks  aud  stockings, 
knit  cotton  thread  in  with  the  woolen  yarn  ;  the  size 
of  the  thread  to  be  governed  by  the  size  of  the  yarn. 
For  very  coarse  socks,  skein  cotton  will  answer, 
but  even  in  such  socks,  very  fine  spool  cotton  will 
add  greatly  to  their  durability.  In  old  stockings, 
I  have  found  every  stitch  of  the  cotton  perfect  after 
the  wool  was  entirely  worn  away.  The  thread  pre- 
vents the  pulling  and  breaking  of  the  tender  yarn.' 
[Query. — As  cotton  thread  is  now  so  costly,  would 
not  linen  thread  auswer  an  equally  good  pui*pose, 
and  even  be  better  at  any  time  ?  The  above  plan 
may  be  old  to  others,  as  Mrs.  K.  suggests,  but  it  is 
ucw  to  us,  and  appears  to  be  a  good  one. — Ed.] 


Coffee  Substitutes— Another. 


To  the  lover  of  strong,  pure  coffee,  no  substitute 
can  be  offered  that  will  exactly  fill  its  place.  But 
there  are  several  preparations  which  may  be  used 
as  drink,  aud  that  auswer  very  well  where  the  milk 
or  cream  and  sugar  are  the  most  desirable  parts  of 
the  ingredients.  Boiled  milk,  (which  is  always 
better  than  raw  milk,  for  tea  as  well  as  coffee,)  il 
well  sweetened  and  creamed,  may  be  flavored  with 
a  variety  of  essences  or  compounds  to  suit  the  taste 
of  different  persons,  according  to  habit.  Dande- 
lion root,  is  considerably  used  now,  but  it  is  a  med- 
icinal root,  and  should  be  reserved  to  use  only  as 
medicine.  Chicory  root  burned  approaches  most 
nearly  in  flavor  and  effects  to  the  genuine  coffee, 
but  it  is  not  a  safe  drink.  Continued  free  use  of 
chicory  will  seriously  affect  the  nerves,  the  diges- 
tive organs,  aud  ultimately  the  whole  system.  We 
have  accounts  of  the  worst  cousequenccs  resulting 
to  chicory  drinkers  in  Germany — quite  equalling 
those  produced  by  alcoholic  liquors  drank  to  excess. 

Rye,  bread,  corn,  corn  meal,  barley,  peas,  etc., 
have  each  their  advocates,  nud  they  answer  a  good 
purpose  where  the  taste  has  not  been  confirmed  for 
gcunine  coffee.  Just  now  there  are  a  multitude  of 
manufacturers  of  "Rye  Coffee,"  "Barley  Coffee," 
"  Dandelion  Cotl'ec,"  etc.,  and  each  one  seems  to  bo 
doing  a  good  business.  They  get  almost  every- 
body to  try  one  parcel,  and  this  alone  makes  a  large 
business.  We  have  examined  several  of  these 
compounds,  some  of  them  recommended  quite 
strongly  by  those  who  have  purchased  aud  tried 
them.  A  careful  analysis  of  some  of  the  most  pop- 
ular "rye  coffees,"  and  "barley  coffees"  so  called, 
show  that  they  contain  disguised  chicory,  and  that 
they  are  flavored  with  burnt  sugar.  Auy  one  using 
a  home-made  coffee  of  rye,  bailey,  etc.,  will  find  a 
material  improvement  in  the  flavor  if  they  smeai 
the  grain  before  burning  with  a  little  syrup  made 
with  sugar  aud  water. 

The  best  home-made  coffee  substitute,  amoug 
all  the  numerous  specimens  recently  sent  to  the 
AgricuUttriel  office  by  subscribers  and  others,  is  a 
sample  forwarded  by  Mr.  Eleazer  Latham,  of  Suf- 
folk Co.,  N.  Y.,  which  he  calls  "Long  Island  Coffee." 
It  yields  a  quite  pleasant-flavored  drink,  especially 
when  used — as  we  always  use  coffee — with  a  large 
amount  of  boiled  milk,  cream,  aud  sugar  q.  s.  The 
directions  furnished  by  Mr.  L.  arc  to  take  eoarte 
fresh  ground  WHEAT  BRAN,  sifted  clean  from  flour 
aud  fine  particles  of  bran   or  middlings  (literally 


1803.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


119 


wlicat  shells,)  and  moisten  two  pounds  of  it  with 
about  a  half  pint  of  good  molasses  mixed  with  the 
same  amout  of  water.  Then  roast  slowly  in  a  pan 
until  well  browned.  He  adds  the  suggestion,  which 
we  think  a  good  one,  that  the  flavor  will  be  im- 
proved by  using  sugar  instead  of  molasses  ;  that  is, 
moisten  the.  bran  with  sugar  syrup.  For  use,  take 
Bbont  double  the  quantity  that  would  be  required 
of  geuuine  coffee.  Some  chicory  or  real  coffee  may- 
be added,  when  a  less  quautity  will  be  needed. 
Bran  is  cheap,  about  a  cent  a  pound,  and  there  is  a 
good  deal  of  "  nourishment  "  in  it,  as  well  as  a  pe- 
culiar oil,  that  when  roasted  has  an  agreeable  fla- 
vor. Indeed,  it  is  the  skin  or  shell  of  grain,  as  rye, 
bailey,  etc.,  that  gives  the  chief  flavor  to  the  liquids 
made  from  them ;  theinnerportion  is  mainly  starch, 
which,  when  burned  brown,  is  similar  to  charcoal, 
or  the  same  as  burned  bread  coffee. 

Judging  from  several  trials  of  the  box  kindly 
forwarded  (express  paid)  by  Mr.  Latham,  we  think 
he  has  done  good  service  to  those  desiring  a  palat- 
able, cheap,  and  safe  substitute  for  coffee.  His  sug- 
gestions about  using  sugar  instead  of  molasses,  is 
worth  noting,  as  we  detect  a  little  of  the  disagreea- 
ble flavor  of  the  molasses  in  the  sample.  We  rec- 
comuiend  the  "Long  Island  Coffee,"  to  general 
use,  at  least  until  something  better  is  found.  Several 
trials  may  be  requireito  get  the  right  proportion 
of  sugar,  aud  the  proper  degree  of  parching  or 
roasting.  A  little  overturning  of  even  a  small 
part  of  a  bat-eb,  may  render  the  whole  bitter  or  dis- 
agreeable, tl.e  same  a6  is  the  ease  with  the  real  coffee. 


What  Shall  I  do  with  the  Rats  ? 


To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist. 

I  come  to  you  for  help.  First  I  will  state  my 
case.  I  am  living  in  the  city,  and  I  find  even  the 
rats  congregate  there  two.  They  have  taken  pos- 
session of  a  house  next  door  to  me,  aud,  having 
dispossessed  the  occupants  and  eaten  up  every  thing 
obtainable,  they  come  upon  me  in  hungry  swarms. 
They  have  undermined  the  hearth,  gnawed  through 
the  floor  aud  waiuscotting  and  even  made  holes 
through  the  plaster  ceiling.  The  question  now  is, 
shall  I  decamp  and  leave  them  in  possession  or,  as 
my  house  is  my  castle,  shall  I  defend  it,  and  if  so, 
how  ?  I  have  had  two  steel  traps  set,  and  manage  to 
get  a  young  inexperienced  rat  in  occasionally,  but 
the  old  settlers  wink  at  me  from  their  hiding  places, 
and  even  contrive  to  get  the  tempting  morsels  from 
the  trencher,  and  escape  with  a  whole  skin.  I  sus- 
pect they  dig  through  the  bran  under  the  trap, 
spring  it  from  beneath  aud  coolly  walk  off  with  the 
cheese  or  meat.  They  appear  to  be  on  the  most 
friendly  terms  with  the  cat,  as  much  so  as  those 
composing  the  happy  family  at  Barnums.  I  do  not 
like  to  poison  them,  fearing  they  will  die  iu  the  walls 
and  create  a  stench.  Now  Mr.  Editor,  is  there  not 
some  way  of  getting  rid  of  the  "  varmiuts  "  with- 
out leaving  their  dead  carcasses  to  breed  disease  in 
the  walls,  or  must  I  make  the  best  terms  I  can  with 
them  and  be  at  peace  ?  Tabitha. 

[Reply. — Tabitha  comes  to  a  poor  source  for  aid, 
though  we  can  abundantly  sympathize  with  her.  As 
we  have  a  good  many  seeds  about  our  office,  house, 
barn,  etc.,  the  rats  are  of  course  very  neighborly. 
The  terrier  keeps  them  within  moderate  bounds  at 
the  outhouses,  and  the  cats  still  maintain  their  su- 
premacy at  the  house  aud  office  rooms,  but  what 
can  a  cat  do  inside  of  the  narrow  retreats  of  rats  and 
mice  ?  We  have  tried  traps  of  almost  all  kinds,  but 
for  every  rat  killed,  a  dozen  more  came  to  the  fu- 
neral. Just  now,  howevtsr,  we  are  having  a  respite. 
Two  months  since  we  bought  a  large  box  of  patent 
"phosphorous  salve"  such  as  most  druggists  offer 
for  sale  as  a  rat  destroyer.  It  was  spread  upon  a 
large  slice  of  bread  which  was  cut  into  twenty 
pieces  and  put  around  where  the  rats  "  most  did 
congregate."  The  pieces  were  all  gone  in  the 
morning.  The  rations  were  dealt  out  again,  and 
about  half  consumed  or  carried  off.  A  third  supply 
was  left  untouched,  and  the  rats  aud  mice  disap- 
peared one  by  one,  until  allvwere  gone.  Whether 
they  are  absent  at  a  "  convention  "  to  return  in  ten- 
fold numbers  we  can  not  yet  tell.    A  few  years  ago 


we  tried  a  similar  phosphorous  salve,  and  was  rid 
of  rats  for  six  mouths,  after  which  time  they  re- 
turned, aud  all  the  salve  we  could  buy  did  not 
trouble  them.  Having  occasion  to  move,  we  left 
them  iu  possession.  This  may  be  the  result  now, 
but  six  months  relief  is  worth  the  cost  of  at  least  as 
many  boxes  of  salve. — Ed.] 


A  Humbug  "Healing  Association." 

A  good  many  inquiries  have  been  received,  re- 
specting a  so-called  "People's  Healing  Association," 
advertising  from  this  city  ;  and  from  what  we  can 
learn,  this  swindle  is  getting  considerable  patron- 
age, though  not  from  the  readers,  of  the  American 
Agriculturist,  who  have  been  forewarned  so  fre- 
quently that  they  forward  the  circulars  and  letters 
to  us  by  way  of  amusement.  The  fellow  at  the 
bottom  of  this,  by  means  of  advertisements  and 
circulars,  gets  a  silly,  or  nervous  class  of  persons  to 
forward  a  description  of  their  "  case  "  to  him,  aud 
theu  sends  back  a  quasi  letter  like  the  following. 
(The  letter  is  a  lithograph.  It  seems  that  he  has 
too  much  patronage  to  admit  of  writing  to  his 
"  patients,"  and  so  he  prints  letters  off  iu  close  im- 
itation of  actual  writing.  Of  course  the  directions 
lit  each  case,  just  as  well  as  if  written  out  for  it — 
an  easy  way  of  earning  SS  for  an  adult,  and  S3  for  a 
child.  A  printed  circular,  with  this,  offers  more 
powders  for  more  Dollars,  if  the  first  don't  cure.) 

[Literal  Copy]       New- York  City,  N.  Y.  Febr.  I8H1,  1863. 

Respected  friend. — Your  kind  letter  is  received  and 
your  case  fully  examined.  We'find  it  a  very  bad  one.  in- 
deed much  more  critical  than  you  have  yet  believed,  and 
If  notspeetlily  arrested  you  must  die  from  its  ravages. 

We  find  the  digestive  organs  blood  liver  lungs  &c  are 
in  a  bad  state  chemically  and  functionally  causing  a  con- 
dition of  much  danger. 

You  may  doubtless  feel  that  death  is  not  so  near,  and 
that  you  will  escape.  But  believe  us  kind  mortal,  we 
know  for  a  certainty  that  your  doom  is  sealed  and  a  fatal 
termination  will  take  place  before  you  are  aware. — There 
is  yet  hope. — We  find  the  combination  of  symptoms  such 
that  we  not  only  believe,  but  know  that  you  can  be  cured 
by  a  prompt  and  skillful  combination  of  our  new  Reme- 
dies. As  friends  we  beg  you  not  to  delay  &  thus  die  a 
horrid  death  when  you  can  be  saved.  Send  us  by  mail 
eight  dollars  and  the  remedies  will  be  immediately  sent. 
May  God  bless  you  and  the  means  for  your  cure  and  hap- 
piness. In  the  mean  time,  knowing  your  condition — the 
danger  of  a  fatal  issue  and  the  risk  of  a  delay,  v»  c  take  the 
liberty  to  send  in  this  a  Remedy  for  you  to  use  till  you  have 
time  to  send  and  obtain  of  us  the  fidl  combination.  This 
will  prepare  the  system  for  the  others  and  prevent  any 
ajiange  for  the  worse  for  a  few  days.  We  do  this  for 
your  good  &  at  our  expense,  for  we  wish  to  do  by  you  as 
we  would  have  you  do  by  us,  under  (he  same  condition. 
Again  we  say  do  not  delay.  Respectfully  Yours, 

A.  ACKI.EY  ThURBER. 

P.  S.  We  can  speedily  cure  your  child.  Send  3  dollars 
for  him.  A.  A.  T. 


My  Bottled  Fruits. 


To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist. 

I  was  a  careful  reader  of  your  directions  for  put- 
ting up  fruits  last  Summer,  aud  experimented  not 
a  little  myself  with  the  following  results:  I  have 
discarded  tin  cans  entirely  of  late  years,  as  danger- 
ous, and  use  only  glass  aud  earthenware.  The  most 
of  my  fruits  were  put  up  iu  Potter  &  Bodine's  glass 
bottles  having  a  rubber  ring  fastened  to  the  tin  cov- 
er, and  an  iron  clamp,  which,  by  turning,  secures 
the  cover  on  tightly.  These  all  kept  well,  and  for 
simplicity,  ease  of  putting  up,  and  cheapuess,  when 
compared  with  other  patents,  I  give  them  the  pref- 
erence. Several  new  forms  were  used,  but  with 
indifferent  success,  though  I  will  not  entirely  con- 
demn them  yet.  I  tried  the  regular  black  wine,  or 
junk  bottles,  and  followed  your  directions  on  page 
215  July  Agriculturist,  putting  strawberries,  grapes, 
etc.,  (the  last  a  nice  thing  for  raisins  iu  mince  pics 
during  the  Winter,)  iu  the  bottles,  filling  them 
with  cold  water,  driving  the  soft  corks  in  tight  and 
tying  them  firmly.  They  were  then  put  in  cold  wa- 
ter, set  on  the  stove,  aud  boiled  for  perhaps  half  an 
hour.  I  noticed  the  steam  forced  its  way  through 
the  corks,  so  I  dippedVthem  in  melted  wax  and  laid 
them  away.  They  kept  well,  and  we  think  the 
strawberry  flavor  more  perfect  than  in  the  others. 
Of  course  they  were  sugared  when  eaten. 

I  kept  cherries  and  other  fruit  very  well  in  stone 
jars,  pouring  them  in  while  boiling  hot,  with  a  lit- 
tle sugar,  then   covering  with   cloth  before  laying 


on  the  lid,  aud  pouring  melted  cement  around  its 
edges.  They  opened  well.  The  jars  may  hold  one 
half  to  one  gallon  each.  This  is  the  cheapest  meth- 
od I  have  tried.  I  also  kept  tomatoes  in  glass  bot- 
tles with  nothing  but  cemented  cloth  tied  securely 
over  the  mouths.  The  cloth  was  strong  muslin', 
coated  ou  both  sides  with  cement,  and  when  it 
shrunk  iu  cooliug,  more  cement  was  poured  on. 
They  came  out  fresh  and  good.  I  used  in  addition, 
the  patty  pan  arrangement  you  originated,  and  with 
uuiform  success.  The  cement  used  is  the  same  as 
formerly  described  iu  the  Agriculturist,  Viz.:  about 
14  to  10  ounces  of  common  resin  and  1  ouuee  of 
tallow,  melted  and  stirred  together. 
Brooklyn,  March  10th,  1663.  Housekeeper, 


Hints  on  Cooking,  etc. 

Railroad  Cake— Contributed  by  Mrs.  C.  A. 
Williams,  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.  Mixl  cup  of  white 
sugar,  1  of  sifted  flour,  3  beaten  eggs,  2  tablespoon- 
fuls  milk,  a  piece  of  butter  the  size  of  a  hen's  egg, 
1  teaspoouful  cream  tartar,  J-o  teaspoonful  soda, and 
)4  teaspoonful  extract  ot  lemon. 

Soda  lliscuit. — Contributed  to  the  American 
Agriculturist  by  a  subscriber  at  Emerald  Grove, 
Wis.  Take  1  pt.  sweet  cream,  1  teaspoonful  soda,  2 
of  cream  tartar,  a  little  salt,  and  flour  sufficient  to 
mix  the  ingredients  quite  soft.  Bake  iu  a  quick  oven 

Apple  Pudding- :  by  the  same.  Fill  a  pud- 
ding dish  with  acid  apples  pared  and  quartered. 
Cover  them  with  a  thick  crust,  made  as  directed 
for  soda  biscuit,  aud  bake  half  an  hour  ;  serve  with 
sugar  aud  cream. 

Corn  ICread  Coffee.— Contributed  to  the 
American  Agriculturist  by  Anna  Woodruff,  West- 
chester Co.,  N.  Y.  Make  a  simple  corn  bread,  of 
meal,  salt  and  water.  Mix  the  meal,  either  yellow 
or  white,  with  just  water  enough  to  wet  it;  the 
water  may  be  cither  warm  or  cold,  then  bake  it  to 
a  dark  brown,  or  as  dark  as  real  coffee  when  burn- 
ed. A  piece  of  the  bread  as  large  as  one's  hand,  will 
make  coffee  several  times.  Pour  water  on  the  bread 
unbroken,  aud  boil  an  hour  or  so.  Add  more  water 
for  another  time.     [A  rather  weak  liquid. — Ed.] 

Eeonomieal  Wl»eat  Uread. — A  sub- 
scriber to  the  Agriculturist  at  Scltszer's  Store  Pa. 
sends  the  following  directions  for  making  good 
bread  :  Take  2  qts.  of  small  potatoes,  wash  thor- 
oughly, boil  soft,  and  mash.  Then  pour  5  pints  of 
warm  water  on  the  potatoes,  stirthem  up  aud  si  rain 
through  a  colander;  this  will  separate  the  potato 
from  the  skin.  Add  flour  until  it  becomes  very 
stiff;  stir  iu  1  pt.  of  yeast,  aud  1  tablespoonful  of  salt. 
Let  it  rise  until  light,  or  three  or  four  hours,  then 
add  Hour,  and  knead  well.  Set  it  to  rise  again  ; 
when  light,  knead  iu  loaves,  and  when  sufficiently 
light,  place  in  the  oven  and  bake  1  hour.  This  will 
make  3  good  sized  loaves. 

Potato  Yeast. — Contributed  by  Anua  Wood- 
ruff, Westchester  Co.,  N.  T.  Boil  twelve  peeled 
potatoes,  and  mash  them  well.  Add  a  quart  of  the 
water  they  were  boiled  in,  while  hot,  aud  a  cup  of 
sugar.  When  cool,  add  a  quart  of  cold  water,  and 
a  half  pint  of  fresh  yeast.  Let  it  stand  in  a  worm 
place  twelve  hours,  after  that  shut  it  uptightly,  and 
keep  it  in  a  cool  place.  It  will  rise  quickly  and 
make  delightful  bread.  [We  would  say  do  hot  add 
the  water  the  potatoes  were  boiied  in. — Ed.] 

Ifoiled  Wheat.— Mrs.  D.  Tuttle,  Mendocina 

Co.,  Cal.,  writes  that  boiled  wheat  as  described  in 
the  Agriculturist,  page  23,  (Jan.  No.)  forms  a  fre- 
quent dish  iu  that  vicinity,  which  is  more  than 
twenty  miles  from  the  nearest  grist-mill.  She  says 
it  is  improved  by  first  boiling  it  in  weak  lye  to  sep- 
arate the  hulls.  After  this,  wash  it  with  cold  water 
several  times,  theu  cook  for  the  table.  It  is  con- 
sidered nearly  or  quite  equal  to  rice. 

To  Boil  Eggs.-M.  B.,  Blainsville,  Pa., 
writes  that  the  best  way  to  boil  eggs  is  to  place  them 
in  sold  water  and  set  them  over  the  fire.  In  this 
manner  the  center  of  the  egg  will  cook  as  soon  as 
the  outer  part.  If  they  are  preferred  soft,  the  water 
should  not  come  to  a  boiling  point. 


120 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[April, 


The  Editor  with  His  Young  Readers. 


Our  young  friends  are  doubtless  familiar  with 
the  appearance  of  the  common  hat.  It  may  be  seen 
on  almost  any  summer  evening  flitting  about  in 
pursuit  of  insects,  sometimes  entering  dwellings. 
They  are  frionds  to  man,  and  none  but  uninformed 
persons  would  think  of  killing  them.  They  destroy 
multitudes  of  millers  and  other  insects,  which 
would  otherwise  spoil  fruits  and  vegetables.  The 
curious  creatures  represented  in  the  engraving  are 
of  the  bat  family.  They  are  so  large  that  they 
have  been  named  flying  foxes.  Specimens  of  them 
were  brought  to  London  a  few  years  since,  from 
which  our  sketch  was  made.  A  writer  says  of  them  : 
"  There  are  more  singular  inhabitants  of  Ceylon 
trees  than  monkeys.  The  flying  foxes  hang  from 
them  like  fruit.  The  flight  of  those  creatures  is 
directed  by  means  of  a  membrane  attached  to  the 
inner  side  of  each  of  the  hind  legs,  and  kept  dis- 
tended at  the  lower  extremity  by  a  projecting  bone, 
just  as  a  fore-and-aft  sail  is  distended  by  a  'gaff.' 
Over  the  entire  surface  of  the  thin  membrane  of 
which  they  are  formed,  sentient  nerves  of  the  ut- 
most delicacy  are  distributed,  by  means  of  which 
the  animal  is  enabled  during  the  darkness  to  direct 
its  motions  with  security,  avoiding  objects  against 
contact  with  which,  at  such  times,  its  eyes  and  oth- 
er senses  would  be  insufficient  to  protect  it.  By 
day  they  suspend  themselves  from  the  highest 
branches  of  the  silk-cotton  trees,  hanging  by  the 
claws  of  the  hind  legs,  with  the  head  turned  up- 
ward, and  pressing  the  chin  against  the  breast.  At 
sunset,  taking  wing,  they  hover  with  a  murmuring 
60und,  oecasioued  by  the  beating  of  their  broad, 
membraneous  wings,  around  the  fruit  trees,  on 
which  they  feed  until  morning,  when  they  resume, 
their  pensile  attitude  as  before.  They  hang  in  such 
prodigious  numbers  that  the  brauehes  often  give 
way  beneath  their  accumulated  weight.  They  fly 
in  clouds  as  thick  as  bees  or  midges.  When  at 
rest  or  a6leep,  the  disposition  of  the  limbs  of  the 
flying  fox  is  most  curious.  At  such  times  it  sus- 
pends itself  by  one  foot  only,  bringing  the  other 


close  to  its  side,  and  thus  it  is  enabled  to  wrap  it- 
self in  the  ample  folds  of  its  wiugs,  which  envelope 
it  like  a  mantle,  leaving  only  its  upturned  head  un- 
covered. Its  fur  is  thus  protected  from  damp  and 
rain,  and,  to  some  extent,  its  body  is  sheltered  from 
the  sun.  As  it  collects  its  food  by  means  of  its 
mouth,  cither  when  on  the  wing  or  when  suspend- 
ed within  reach  of  it,  the  flying-fox  is  always  more 
or  less  liable  to  have  the  spoil  wrested  from  it  by 
its  iutrusive  companions,  before  it  can  make  good 
its  way  to  some  secure  retreat  in  which  to  devour 
it  unmolested.  In  such  conflicts  they  bite  viciously, 
tear  each  other  with  their  hooks,  and  scream  inces- 
santly, until,  taking  to  flight,  the  persecuted  one 
reaches  some  place  of  safety,  where  he  hangs  by 
oue  foot,  and  grasping  the  fruit  he  has  secured  in 
the  claws  and  opposable  thumb  of  the  other,  he 
hastily  reduces  it  to  lumps,  with  which  he  stuffe 
his  check-pouches  until  they  become  distended  like 
those  of  a  monkey ;  then,  suspending  in  safety,  he 
commences  to  chew  aud  suck  the  juices,  rejecting 
the  refuse  with  his  tongue." 

About  Blue   Birds. 

A  correspondent,  "A.  H.  G.,"  Rondout,  N.  Y.,  writes 
for  the  boys  and  girls  of  the  American  Agriculturist  the 
following  interesting  facts  :  "  I  am  not  aware  whether  it 
is  generally  known,  that  our  useful  and  beautiful  blue 
Mid  is  more  or  less  lacking  in  that  instinct  that  belongs 
to  other  members  of  the  feathered  tribe.  They  are  do- 
mestic little  creatures,  and  disposed  to  build  as  near  as 
possible  fo  the  habitations  of  man.  Like  the  wren— with 
whom  they  are  never  on  good  terms— the  bird  house,  or 
wood  shed,  or  hollow  apple  tree,  in  the  door  yard,  are 
their  favorite  haunts.  But  when  these  are  not  available 
their  ignorance  in  selecting  a  place,  is  somewhat  remark- 
able. They  appear  to  have  but  little  idea  of  the  space 
that  they  require  for  their  nesting  operations,  and  many 
hundreds  must  yearly  fall  victims  to  this  singular  igno- 
rance. The  first  instance  of  (his  that  came  under  my 
notice  was  several  years  ago.  A  neighbor  was  standing 
upon  his  piazza,  in  early  Spring,  when  he  heard  some- 
thing fluttering,  apparently  inside  the  pillar  against  which 
he  was  leaning.  It  was  one  of  those  hollow  posts— put 
up  more  for  ornament  than  use— about  five  inches  square 
upon  the  inside.  On  examining  the  post  he  found  a 
large  knot  hole  just  under  the  eave  of  the  piazza.    This 


immediately  led  him  to  saw  off  one  side  of  the  pillar  about 
eight  inches  above  the  floor-,  and  having  pried  off"  the 
piece,  imagine  his  surprise  to  see  a  blue  bird  fly  out,  and 
to  find  within  two  only  recently  dead,  with  the  skeletons 
of  more  than  a  dozen  others— the  accumulation  of  sever- 
al years.  Another  instance  of  a  similar  character,  oc- 
curred in  the  stove  pipe  of  a  small  country  church.  The 
pipe  was  raised  about  eight  or  ten  feet  above  the  roof  and 
covered  with  a  'smokejack.'  In  the  Fall  of  the  year  when 
the  Sexton  came  to  examine  the  flue,  preparatory  to  put- 
ting up  the  stove,  he  counted  seven  blue  birds,  that  were 
found  just  where  it  joined  the  pipe.  So  emaciated  had 
they  become  before  dying,  that  scarcely  a  feather  except 
those  of  (he  wings  was  ruffled.  They  had  dried  with 
almost  as  much  perfeclion  as  though  prepared  by  the  tax- 
idermist. One  olher  instance,  only  not  attended  with  so 
great  fatality,  occurred  in  a  wood-shed. — A  piece  of  pipe 
several  feet  in  length  was  standing  on  the  slove,  in  a  cor- 
ner of  the  building,  near  an  open  window.  When  the 
stove  came  into  requisition,  here  again,  we  found  a  blue 
bird  in  the  flue — in  a  state  of  almost  perfect  preservation. 
The  ends  of  the  wings  in  every  instance  were  the  only 
parts  that  had  suffered.  They  were  worn  quite  up  into 
Ihe  shaft  of  the  feathers— a  proof  of  the  efforts  that  the 
liltle  creatures  had  made  to  rise,  and  failed  from  want  of 
sufficient  room  to  spread  their  wings.  Care  should  be 
taken  to  prevent  such  occurrences,  by  providing  houses 
of  larger  dimensions  than  '  wren's  nests,'  where  the  blue 
bird  can  find  a  place  of  comfort  and  security  to  build. 
They  are  worth  preserving  in  a  garden.  The  insects  that 
they  destroy  as  well  as  the  beauty  of  their  color' and  the 
domestic  character  of  their  lives  and  song,  should  place 
them  among  the  fanner's  especfal  favorites." 


4'onlitliiija:  Birds— Pleasing;  Incident. 

J.  E.  Hardisty,  Jerusalem  Mills,  Harford  County,  Mary- 
laud,  writes  to  the  American  Agriculturist  as  follows  : 
"Last  Summer,  about  the  1st  of  August,  a  pair  of  the 
wren  family,  called  here  the  'woods  wren,'  were  ob- 
served near  our  kitchen  door,  upon  an  apple-tree, 
making  an  unusual  noise,  seemingly  in  great  distress. 
The  cause  was  soon  discovered :  one  of  their  young 
ones  had  just  fallen  a  prey  to  the  cat.  Two  or  three 
days  after,  apparently  the  same  birds  were  frequently 
seen  (lying  in  and  out  of  (he  second-story  windows,  and, 
to  our  surprise,  we  found  that  Ihcy  had  gathered  a  wad 
of  dried  grass  as  large  as  a  child's  head,  upon  (he  lop  of 
the  wardrobe,  nlieie  was  a  space  about  six  inches  high. 
The  nest  was  neatly  formed,  ami  lined  wilh  feathers,  but 
not  so  carefully  as  is  done  by  common  house  wrens.  At 
first  the  birds  were  a  little  shy  of  us,  but  soon  learned  to 
disregard  our  presence.  Our  litde  folks,  four  in  number, 
were  successively  lifted  up  to  see,  firs(,  the  nest ; 
secondly,  the  bird  on  ihe  nest;  thirdly,  the  young  birds, 
two  in  number.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  joy  of  the 
children  as  Ihey  gazed  again  and  again  upon  the  con- 
fiding little  creatures,  nor  was  our  own  pleasure  much 
less.  About  the  1st  of  September,  my  wife  on  going  up 
stairs  found  the  young  birds  hopping  about  (lie  room  ; 
one  of  them  flew  up  and  clung  to  her  breast,  and  re- 
mained (here  for  some  lime,  looking  abouf  and  up  into 
her  face  wilh  t lie  greatest  confidence,  while  she  moved 
nbout  from  room  to  room  attending  to  her  dulies.  By 
night  lliey  had  disappeared,  and  have  nut  since  been 
seen,  though  we  now  and  then  hear  their  pleasant  notes: 
1  Te-heaugh-heaugh,  Te-heaugh-Teaugh.  Te-henit,'— 
which  in  Ihe  Winter,  for  they  remain  with  us  all  Win- 
ter, is  changed  to  '  Tillle-lu,  Tiltle-lu,  Tittle-lu.'  They 
warble  other  notes  which  our  language  cannot  express.* 
They  are  a  little  larger  than  the  common  house  wren, 
with  long  tail,  comparatively  large  broad  head,  wilh  a 
whitish  slreak  curved  over  the  eyes;  back,  light  brown  j 
breast,  bluish  white.  Their  movements  are  very  similar 
to  those  of  Ihe  house  wren." 


A  mysterious  Black  Cat. 

A  lady  of  the  writer's  acquaintance  was  one  evening 
sitting  alone  in  a  room  from  which  a  door  opened  into  a 
long  dark  hall.  As  she  chanced  lo  look  in  that  direction, 
she  was  somewhat  startled  to  see  what  appeared  to  be  a 
large  black  cat  sitting  upon  the  hall  stairs.  There  were 
two  brightly  gleaming  eyes  glaring  upon  her  in  a  manner 
that  made  her  feel  rather  uncomfortable,  especially  us 
she  owned  no  eat,  and  it  must  be  a  strange  animal. 
"  Scat,"  she  exclaimed,  stamping  on  the  floor.  It  did  not 
move.  "  Scat,"  once  more,  wilh  a  louder  stamp.  But 
still  it  remained.  Sire  drew  off  her  shoe,  and  with  anoth- 
er "scat"  threw  it  directly  at  the  object,  but  there  it  sal 
as  before.  Though  somewhat  startled,  the  lady  was  no 
coward,  and  taking  the  lamp  she  went  directly  to  the  mys- 
terious animal  and  found  she  had  been  trying  to  drive 
away  the  ends  of  two  bright  brass  stair  rods,  from  which 
the  light  had  been  reflected,  presenting  the  appearance 
of  two  glittering  eyes  :  the  shadow  of  the  stair  to  an  ex- 
cited imagination  might  easily  represent  the  body  of  a 
black  cat.— How  many  ghost-scares  originate  similarly. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


121 


XUc  Boys  and.  Oii-ls'  Gard«n-So.  1. 

An  unusual  number  of  business  items  has  crowded 
out  a  share  of  the  space  Intended  for  the  young  people, 
but  perhaps  there  is  room  for  all  that  is  necessary  so  ear- 
ly in  the  season.  As  hinted  last  month,  we  intend  to 
give  some  plain  and  familiar  Talks  about  plants  and  the 
way  in  which  they  grow,  which  will  be  both  interesting 
and  useful  to  our  young  readers,  and  perhaps  to  older 
ones  also.  While  we  shall  use  engravings  to  explain 
what  we  write,  it  will  be  much  better  to  have  the  living 
plant  directly  before  us  to  talk  from,  and  before  our  read- 
ers also,  and  we  advise  all  those  who  wish  to  follow 
these  lessons  to  put  in  seeds  of  the  plants  we  have  se- 
lected to  illustrate  them.  The  seeds  are :  Flax;  Sweet 
Pea;  Muskmelon  ;  Tomato;  Morning  Glory  ;  Four  O 
Clock,  and  Oats.  If  more  convenient,  the  common  Pea 
and  Cucumber  or  Squash  may  be  planted  in  place  of 
Sweet  Pea  and  Muskmelon.  All  these  seeds  can  be  pro- 
cured by  every  one.  They  should  be  planted  in  a  bed  in 
the  garden,  where  they  can  be  watched  all  summer.  It 
Is  best  not  to  put  the  seed  into  the  ground  until  it  becomes 
dry  and  warm  weather.  So  look  out  for  the  seeds  now, 
and  be  ready  to  meet  us  for  a  Garden  Talk  next  month. 

HJew  Puzzles  to  foe  Answered. 


No.  35.  Illustrated  Rebus.    A  most  excellent  rule. 

No.  36.  Problem.— Suppose  a  clock  to  Itave  six  hands, 
which  go  around  respectively  in  1,6,  12,  18,24,  and  30 
hours,  and  that  they  are  together  at  12  o'clock,  April  1st; 
when  will  they  next  be  together. 


Answers  to  Puzzles  and  Problems  in  March 
No.  (page  89).  No.  31.  Illustrated  Rebus.— F  ear  toe 
doe  vil  if  you  wood  be  bray  v.  That  is:  ''Fear  to  do  evil 
if  you  would  be  brave." — No.  32,  Illustrated  Rebus. — 
Well  bee  gun  eye  S  half  done  ;  or  "  Well  begun  is  half 
done." — No.  33,  Mathematical  Problem.  Answer  42  feet. 
— No.  34,  Word  Question.  Answer  :  Facetiously,  or  ab- 
stemiously. N.  B. — By  an  oversight,  no  answer  was  given 
lo  the  Illustrated  Rebus  on  page  57,  (Feb.  No.)  It  reads 
Be  shoe-er  ewe  r  rite  before  ewe-fight ;  that  is  :  "Be  sure 
you're  right  before  you  fight.'* 

Crowded  Out. — A  good  many  pleasing  items,  prob- 
lems, and  a  host  of  names  of  those  sending  in  answers. — 
We  expect  to  find  room  for  them  next  month. 

•-• -.  .» ►— 

To  Sunday  School  Teachers  and   Others. 

The  Book  of  "  Lessons  for  every  Sunday  in  the  Year," 
has  met  with  a  success  far  beyond  our  anticipation.  The 
edition  of  five  thousand  copies  published  at  the  office  of 
the  Agriculturist,  which  it  was  supposed  would  last  a 
year  at  least,  was  soon  exhausted,  and  another  large  edi- 
tion printed.  This  is  exclusive  of  the  great  numbers 
printed  and  sold  by  others.  The  many  letters  from 
Superintendents,  Teachers,  and  others,  commending  it  in 
the  highest  terms,  are  satisfactory  evidence  of  its  value. 
These  questions  and  the  accompanying  lessons  were 
originally  prepared  for  our  own  school,  without  any 
thought  of  making  a  book,  until  repeated  calls  from  oth- 
ers for  copies,  seemed  to  make  it  necessary.  We  shall 
continue  to  supply  the  work  at  10  cents  per  copy,  and  as 
this  barely  covers  the  cost,  the  price  is  the  same  by  the 
hundred  or  thousand.  If  to  go  by  mail,  the  postage  to  be 
prepaid,  is  4  cents  for  a  single  one  ;  3.^  cents  per  copy  on 
two  to  nine  ;  and  3  cents  each,  where  ten  or  more  are  sent 
In  a  single  package.  Over  1,500  miles,  the  postage  is 
double  these  rates.  The  following  is  one  of  the  many 
notices  of  the  book  which  have  appeared. 
From  Ike  Sunday  School  Times  {Philadelphia,)  March  14. 

"A  New  Question  Book.— We  have  just  been  exam- 
ining a  little  book  published  by  Oiange  Judd,  (of  New- 
York  City,)  called  "  Lessons  for  Every  Sunday  in  the 
Year,"  and  have  risen  from  the  examination  with  a  feel- 
ing of  thankfulness  that  such  a  book  lias  been  made.  We 
have  never  seen  a  Question  Book  containing  so  many 
conveniences  and  advantages  as  this,  so  many  excellen- 
ces, both  positive  and  negative.  Mr.  Judd  is  a  life-long 
Sabbath-school  man,  and  this  book  has  been  the  fruit  of 
the  experience  of  himself  and  some  of  his  friends  in  trying 
to  meet  the  practical  wants  of  the  Sabbath-school.  Like 
all  good  text  books,  it  has  grown  out  of  actual  necessities 
and  experience  ;  it  is  a  growth  rather  than  a  work.  We 
advise  every  Superintendent  to  send  at  once  for  a  copy." 


The  Markets. 


AMEaiCAN    AGHICULTUniST    OFFICE.        / 

New- York,  Thursday  Morning,  March  19,  1863.  ( 

1.  TRANSACTIONS  AT  THE  NEW-YORK   MARKETS. 

Receipts.  Flour.    Wieat.    Corn.    Iiye.    Barley.    Oats. 

!4  days  f/iftm'th  235,000  41,000  113,000  57,000  78.000  394.000 
8Sdaysto««in'tli811.tX)0      20,000    163,000    30,000     102,000  225,000 

Sales.  Flour.  Wheat.       Corn.       Rye.    h'arley. 

21  Aim  this  month,  S50.000  1.810.000  2,081.000  139.000  121,000 
26  days  last  nionili    152,000  2,416,000    2,511,000       30,300    126,000 

2.  Comparison  with  same  time  last  year. 
receipts.  Flour.    Wheat.    Corn.     Rye.  Barley.  Oats. 
24  days  1803  ..  235.000      41.000     173.000    57.000    18.000     294.000 
24  days  1862  ...  304.000      163,000     269,000  110,000  104,000     171,000 
sales.  Flour.      Wheat.      Corn.        Rye.    Barley. 

24  days  1863 350,000      1,810,000      2,031.000    139.000      121.000 

24  days  1862 311,000         270,000     1,061,000    143,050     265,000 

3*         Exports  from  New-York,  Jan.  1,  to  March  12. 

Flour.  Wheat.  Corn.  Rye.         Oats. 

Bbls.  hush.  Bush.         Bush.       Hush. 

1863 514,140     3,156,800    1.398,054     50,106     96.3S2 

1862 619,615     2,091,181    2,712,801    305,005      6,403 

The  above  tables  show  at  a  glance  the  volume  of  busi- 
ness In  Breadstuffs,  and  the  figures  below  show  the  pres- 
ent prices  and  their  changes.  Prices  of  Breadstuffs,  Pro- 
visions, etc.,  have  gone  up  and  down  with  the  premium 
on  gold,  and  their  consequent  variable  value  for  export. 
Wool  is  in  great  demand  and  still  advancing  in  price. 

Current  "Wholesale  Prices. 

Feb.  19.  March. 

Flour— Super  to  Extra  State  $7  00    ®  7  95  $6  70    @  7  60 

Superfine  Western 700(8725  6  70    (2700 

Extra  Western 7  55    @10  50  7  00    ©10  25 

Extra  Genesee 8  00    @  9  50  7  65    @  9  00 

Super,  to  Extra  Southern  ...  7  90    @10  50  7  40    ffllO  25 

Rtk  Flour— Fine  and  Super.  8  50    @  5  50  3  50    ®  5  50 

Corx  Miai 4  15    @  5  00  4  15    @  5  00 

Wheat— All  kinds  of  White..  180@200  1  80    @  1  90 

All  kinds  of  Red 140    @  1  78  1  87X@  1  78 

Corn— Yellow 07    @  1  00  90    @      98 

White 98    @  1  05  05    @  1  00 

Mixed 95    @      97  90    ®     92 

Oats— Western 75    ®      77  82    ®     84 

State 76    ®      77  84    ®      85 

Rye 105    ®  1  12  108    ®  1  12 

Barley 1  45    ®  1  60  1  40    ®  1  55 

Beans— Medium  and  Pea,  bu.  3  25 

Marrow  and  Kidney 3  25 

Hay,  in  bales,  per  100  lbs 85    ®  1  10  80    ®     95 

COTTOK— Middlings,  per  lb....  90    @      91  71K®     82 

Rice,  per  100  lbs. Nominal.  Nominal. 

Hops,  crop  of  1862,  per  lb 20    ®      28  21    ®      28 

Feathers,  Live  Geese,  p.  lb..  48   @     50  47M®     50 

Seed— Clover,  per  lb 11    ®      lljf         9    ®      10 

Timothy,  per  bushel 263    @300  275   @3  00 

Flax,  per  bushel 3  10    @  3  25  3  50    ®  4  00 

Scoar— Brown,  per  lb 9    ®      13  9!^®      12^ 

M.iLAssES.New-Ork'ans,  p.gl..  45    @     55  42^®      57 

Coffee.  Klo,  per  lb ..  S0«®     33)4      SOX®     34 

Tobacco— Kentucky,&c,p.lb..  15    @     32  14    @     32 

Seed  Leaf  per  lb 9    ®      32  9    ®     32 

Wool— DomeBtlc fleece,  p.  lb..  Ti'A®     90  85    @  1  05 

Donieatic,  pulled,  per  lb. 65    ®      80  80    ®      92>£ 

Wool,  California,  unwashed.  35    ®     55  35    ®     65 

Tallow,  per  lb Vi'A®     12 X       12>j®     13 

Oil  Cake,  per  tun 47  00    @55  00  48  00    @53  00 

Pork— Mess,  per  bbl 14  75    ®17  00  14  12K@16  75 

Prime,  per  bbl 1150    @14  00  1150    @13  75 

Beef— Plain  mess  .    1125   ®12  75  1100    @12  75 

Lard.  In  bbls.,  per  lb    10\®      11X       10),'®      11)4 

Butter— Western,  per  lb 17    ®     22  17    ®     22>i 

State,  per  lb 23    @      28  23    ®     28 

Cheese 10    ®     15  13    ®     15 

Broom  Corn— ner  lb  8®      10  8®      10 

Eons— Fresh,  per  dozen 19    ®      22  20    ®      22 

Poultry— Fowls,  per  lb 10    @     11  10    ®     15 

Ducks.perft 14   ®     15  15    ®     19 

Geese,  per  B 8    ®      10  8    @      13 

Turkeys,  per  lb 12  ®     14  14   ®     19 

Potatoes— Common,  p. bM..  1  38   ®  1  50  1  25    @  1  50 

Buckeyes,  per  bbl 150   ®  1  62  125   @  1  50 

Peach  Blow,  per  bbl 1  50    ®  1  75  1  62    ®  1  75 

Mercers,  per  bbl 2  00    ®  2  50  2  00    @  2  50 

Nova  Scotia,  per  bushel 60    ® 

Sweet,  per  bbl 3  50    ®  3  75  4  00    ®  4  25 

Onions.  Red  &  Yellow  p.  bbl.  3  00  4  75    ® 

Apples,  Greeninss& Russets  1  25    @  1  50  2  25    @  2  75 

Apples,  choice,  per  bbl 2  00    ®  5  00  2  50    ®  5  00 

Dried  Apples,  per  lb S%    a       6  5    ®       5X 

Dried  Plums,  per  lb 1100   ®13  00  11    @     12 

Dried  Peaches,  per  lb 14  00   ®1S  00  15   ®     16 

Tl»e  Live  Stock  Markets  are  unusually 
active  in  this  city,  and  prices  have  advanced  one  cent  per 
lb.  on  beef  within  a  month.  The  receipts  of  beef  cattle 
have  averaged  4,383  per  week,  but  the  taking  out  of  300 
to  500  each  week  by  buyers  for  the  government,  has  left  a 
light  supply  for  butchers.  Good  animals  now  sell  for 
prices  equivalent  lo   10c. (S)l  Ic.  per    lb.  for  the   dressed 

carcass,  and  common  to  good  stock  at  8c.fa)9c Sheep 

are  higher  than  ever  before,  owing  to  the  great  advance 
on  wool.  They  are  now  selling  at  prices  equivalent  to 
9c.(S)10c.  per  lb.  live  weight.  The  whole  of  large  lots 
have  been  sold  out  at  an  average  of  $8.50  to  $9.  per  head. 

Live  Hogs  are  in  good  demand  and  are  selling  at  6c. 

to  6>aC.  per  lb.  live  weight  for  corn-fed  and  5)^c.(2>5Kc. 
for  still  fed  hogs. 

FLOWER  SEEDS  BY  MAIL.— The  subscriber 
raises  about  one  hundred  kinds  of  Flower  Seeds,  select- 
ed from  over  one  thousand  varieties,  of  the  most  showy  and 
attractive.  He  will  furnish,  neatly  put  up,  any  33  kinds  on 
the  list  for  $1,  and  send  bv  mail,  wi1h  poslnin1  prepaid. 

G.  P..  GARRETSON,  Flushing,  N.  Y. 

ASPARAGUS  ROOTS,  of  the  best  quality,  two 
and  three  years  old,  at  40  cts.  per  100,  or  $3.50  per  1000, 
including  packing.    Can  be  sent  anv  distance. 

G.  R.  GARRETSON,  FlUBhing,  N.  Y. 


Business  Notices. 

H3T"  Eighty  Cents  a  Line  of  space. 
(Copy.) 

New- York   State  Agricultural  Society, 
Rochester  Fair,  1862. 

I  hereby  certify  that  James  Pvle,  of  New-Y'ork,  was 
awarded  a  special  prize  at  the  State  Fair  at  Rochester  on 
his  O.  K.  Soap,  Dietetic  Saleratus,  Cream  Tartar,  Bak- 
ing Soda,  and  various  oilier  articles  of  exceeding  great 
merit — and  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Society  give 
special  commendation  for  the  great  excellence  of  the  ar- 
ticles exhibited. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  subscribed  my  name, 
and  affixed  the  official  seal  of  the  Society. 


L.  S. 


B.  P.  JOHNSON, 


Secretarv. 


Lands— To  All  Wanting  Farms. 

Large  and  thriving  settlement  of  Yineland,  mild  cli- 
mate, 30  miles  south  of  Philadelphia,  by  railroad  ;  rich 
soil;  fine  crops  ;  twenty  acre  tracts,  at  from  $15  lo  $20 
per  acre  ;  payable  within  four  years.  Good  business 
openings  ;  good  society.  Hundreds  are  settling  and  mak- 
ing improvements.  Apply  to  CHAS  K.  LANDIS,  Post- 
master, Vineland,  Cumberland  Connly,  N.J.  Letters 
answered.  Papers  containing  full  information,  sent  free. 

Jbbertisements. 

Advertisements  to  be  sure  of  insertion  must  be  re- 
ceived at  latest  by  the  1 5th  of  the  preceding  month. 
TERMS—  (invariably  cash  before  insertion) : 

FOR  THK  ENGLISH  EDITION  ONLY. 

Fifty  cents  per  lino  of  space  for  each  insertion. 

One  whole  column  (145  lines),  or  more,  $00  per  column. 

pyBusiness  Notices,  Eighty  cent.?  per  line  of  space. 

FOR  THE  GERMAN  EDITION  ONLY. 

Ten  cenUt  per  line  of  spnee  for  each  insertion. 

One  whole  column  (130  lines),  or  more,  $10  per  column. 

(^"Business  Notices,  twenty  cents  a  line. 

HOW  TO  PRUNE  TOUR  GRAPE  VINE. 

OPEN  AIR  GRAPE  CULTURE : 

A  PRACTICAL  TREATISE  ON  THE 

GARDEN  AND  VINEYARD  CULTURE  OF  THE  VINE, 

AND  THE 
MANUFACTURE   OF    DOMESTIC  WINE. 

Designed  for  the  use  of  Amateurs  and  others  in  the 

NORTHERN  AND  MIDDLE  STATES. 

Profusely  illustrated  with  new  engravings.    By  John  Finn 

CELEBRATED 

Tliomery  Syntem  of  Grape  Culture. 

PRICE  $1.25. 

Sent  free  of  postage  on  receipt  of  price. 

Every  person  who  has  ft  Grape  Vine,  should  own  this  Book. 


Address 


C.  M.  SAXTON, 
Agricultural  Book  Publisher, 
New- York, 


Wheeler  &  Wilson's 


1W®  HA 


WITH  VALUABLE  IMPROVEMENTS. 
Office  No.  505  Broadway,  New-York. 

Great   International   Agricultural 
exhibition, 

TO  BE  HELD  AT 

Hamburg,  Germany,  in  July,  1863, 

The  attention  of  Agriculturists,  Growers  of  Stock,  and 
Manufacturers  of  Agricultural  Implements,  machinery,  and 
others  interested  in 'Agricultural  Products,  is  called  to  this 
Exhibition,  which  will  prolmbly  exceed  in  interest  and 
maenitude  anv  Fair  of  the  kind  ever  held. 


Of 


Every 


ery  facility  will  be  afforded  for  the  cheap  transportation 
.  ..11  contributions  to  the  Exhibition,  as  well  as  to  the  dele- 
gates from  the  several  State  Societies,  and  others  connected 
with  the  Exhibition. 

AH  applications  for  entries  must  be  made  to  the  onlv 
authorized  Agents  undersigned,  before  the  fifteenth  day  or 
Anrll  next,  who  will  furnish  programmes  and  anv  informa- 
tion required.  AUSTIN  BALDWIN  &'C(>.. 

Sole  Agents,  72  Broadway,  New-York. 


122 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[April, 


HiANE'S    PURCHASING    AGENCY, 

UNIVERSAL  CLOTHES  WRINGER, 

No.  1,  510.    No.  2,  $8,    No.  S,  $11.    No.  18,  |18. 

The  only  Wringer  with  the  Patent  Cog  VT heel  Regulator. 

"Where  there  are  no  Canvassers,  the  Express  charges  will 

be  prepaid. 

NONPARIEL  WASHING  MACHINE, 
Prices,  No.  1,  $12;  No.  2,  $16;  No.  3,  $20. 

WOODRUFF'S    PORTABLE     BAROMETER, 
Prices  $S,  and  $12.    Agents  wanted. 

THE  AQUARIUS,  A  Haud  Force  Pump,  $10. 

HARVEY  B.  LANE, 
No.  I'll  Nassau-st.,  New- York  City. 

BUTTER, 

CHEESE, 
POULTRY,    EGGS, 

AND    FARIW     PRODUCE 

OF  ALL  KINDS 

SOLD    ON    COMMISSION. 

Constantly  on  hand,  for  sale.  Flour,  Fish,  Salt,  Mackerel, 
Pork,  Hams,  Lard,  Beans,  Dried  Fruit,  Soap,  Starch,  etc. 
COOK  &  NICHOLS,  Successors  to 

ISAAC   EMENS,  226  Frout-st.,  New- York. 

Refers  to  J.  D.  Lamater,  Cashier  Marine  Bank.  N.  T.  City. 
Lewis  &  Brown,  No.  42  Front-st.,  N.  T.  City. 

EVERY  FARMER  SHOULD  TAKE  IT! 

AMERICAN   STOCK  JOURNAL. 

VOLUME    FIVE. 

D.  C.  LINSLEY  &  OTIS  F.  R.  WAITE,  Editors. 

PUBLISHED  MONTHLY  BY 

C.  M.  Saxton,   25  Park  Row,  New-York. 

TERMS. 

Single  Caples $1.00        per  annum. 

Five  Copies %  each,       §4.50 

Ten  Copies a!  each,         8.50 

Twenty  Copies    .   .  80  each,       16.00 

All  persona  who  will  send  one  dollar  nud  a  5-cent  stamp, 
shall  have  a  copy  of  the  Journal  and  one  copy  of  either  book 
named  helow.-price  25  cents  each,  viz. : 
Richardson's  Pests  of  the  Farm.  Richardson  on  the  Horse. 
Richardson  on  the  Hog.  Milburn  on  the  Cow. 

Skinner's  Elements  of  Agri- Dana's  Essay  on  Manures 

culture.  .Topham's     Chemistry     Made 

Liebig's  Letters  on  Chemistry!    Easy. 

Miles  on  the  Horse's  Foot.       Fessciulen'sAmcrican  Kitchen 
Richardson  on  the  Hive  and|    Garden. 

Honey  Bee.  (Every  Lady  Her  Own  Flower 

Wilson  on  Flax.  Gardener. 

Perzors  on  the  Vine.  Rose  Cultivation. 

Indian  Corn.  'Vine  Dresser's  Manual. 

Remit  and  send  Post-Office  address.  Town.  County  and 
State  to  C.  M.  SAXTON.  New-York. 

SAXTON'S    HANDBOOK 

ON 

Tobacco    Culture, 

Being  a  complete  Manual  or  Practical  Guide  for  the  selec- 
tion of  the  Soil  and  its  Preparation;  Kiod  and  Quality  of 
Manures  to  be  used,  and  how  applied;  Growth  of  Plants; 
Transplanting  and  Mode  of  Culture  generally,  from  time  of 
planting  the  seed  bed,  through  harvesting,  curing,  and  pre- 
paration for  market.  With  Illustrations,  showing  the  Plant 
In  its  different  stages  of  Growth. 

Price  25  cents,  and  sent  free  of  postage  on  receipt  of  price. 
C.  M.  SAXTON, 
Agricultural  Book  Publisher,  New- York. 

DABD'S  (GEO.    H.) 

ANATOMY  A1VD  PHYSIOLOGY  OF  THE    HORSE, 

Wits  Anatomical  and  Questional  Illustrations  ; 
Containing,  also,  a  Series  of  Examinations  on  Equine  Anat- 
omy and  Philosophy,  with  Instructions  in  reference  to  Dis- 
section and  the  mode  of  making  Anatomical  Preparations  ; 
to  which  is  added  a  Glossary  of  Veterinary  Technicalities, 
Toxicolosjical  Chart  and  Dictionary  of  Veterinary  Science. 
Plain  Plates,  $2,50.  Colored  Plates,  $5. 
Sent  free  of  postage  on  receipt  of  price. 

C.  M.  SAXTON, 
Agricultural  Book  Publisher, 
New- York. 

Marblehead  Mammoth    Cabbage. 

The  largest  cabbage  in  the  world!  sometimes  weighing 
GO  lbs.,  and  averaging  30  fts,  each,  by  the  acre.  It  is  exceed- 
ingly tender,  sweet  and  rich.  Scores  of  farmers  In  the 
United  States  and  Canada  have  raised  them,  weighing  from 
25  to  55  lbs.  25  cents  per  package  ;  5  for  $1,00.  Also,  Stone 
Mason  Cabhage,  a  large,  sweet  and  tender  cabbage,  remark- 
ably reliable  for  heading.  25  cents  per  oz. ;  4  oz.  75  cents  ; 
1  lb.  $2,67. 

Early  Paris  Cauliflower— 25  cents  per  package. 

Ward's  Nectar  Melon— The  best  of  all  green-fleshed 
melons;  ecxeedingly  sweet,  rich  and  delicious.  25  cents 
per  package. 

Sorghum  Seed  (pure),  12  cents  per  package. 

JAMES  J.  IT.  GREGORY, 

j,„ ,   .       ,        .     Seed  grower..  Marblehead,  Mass. 

Every  variety  of  garden  and  flower  seed  at  city  prices. 


Lard, 

E€T€ra 

Game, 


TO    FARMERS, 
TO  DAIRYMEN, 

TO  COUNTRY  MERCMNTS. 

ALL  who  have  for  Sale  : 

Sot-glumi    Sugar    and    Syrup, 
Furs      and      Skins, 
Fruits,  dry  and  green, 
Hops,  Tallow, 

Cotton,  Wool, 

Butter,  Cheese, 

Hams, 
Poultry, 
Vegetables, 
Flour,  Grain, 

Seeds,  &c.,  &c. 

Can  have  them  ivell  sold  at  the  highest  prices 
in  New- York,  with  full  cash  returns  alwa}'s 
within  Ten  Days  of  their  reaching  the  City,  by 
forwarding  them  to  the  Commission  House  for 
Country  Produce,  of 

JOSIAH    CARPENTER, 

32  Jay-street,  Neiv-York. 

IV.  B. — The  advertiser  has  had  abundant 
experience  in  this  business,  and  trusts  that  he 
will  continue  to  merit  patronage  by  the  most 
careful  attention  to  the  interest  of  his  patrons. 
The  articles  are  taken  charge  of  on  their  arri- 
val, and  carefully  disposed  of  promptly  to  good 
cash  customers,  and  cash  returns  made  imme- 
diately to  the  owner.  (The  highest  charge  made 
for  receiving  and  selling  is  five  per  cent.) 

A  New  York  Weekly  Price  Current  is  issued 
by  J.  Carpenter,  which  is  sent  free  to  all  his  pat- 
rons. A  specimen  copy  sent  free  to  any  de- 
siring it.  A  trial  will  prove  the  above  facts. 
For  abundant  references  as  to  responsibility,  in- 
tegrity, &c,  see  the  "Price  Current." 

B^~  Cash  advanced  on  consignments  of 
Produce. 

SEND    FOR 

A    FREE    COPY 

O  F 

PRICES  CURRENT, 

AND  ALL  OTHER  PARTICULARS, 

TO 

JOSIAH    CARPENTER, 
32  Jay-st.,  New- York. 


SEEDS!  SEEDS! 

Thorburn's  Descriptive  Annual  Catalogue 

OF 

VEGETABLE,  AGKIClTLTtTUAL  AUD  TREE  SEEDS 

for  1863, 

With   directions  for  their   cultivation   and   manaKcment. 

ALSO 

Thorburn's  Descriptive  Annual  Catalogue 

OP 

FLOWER     SEEDS, 

Containing  all  the  new  Floral  Gems  of  the  season, 
As  well  as  a  list  of 

120  Jfieaiilil'ul  Varieties  or 

FRENCH   HYISR1D    GLADIOL1S, 

mailed  free  of  charge  on  application  to 

J.  M.  THORBURN  &  CO., 

15  John-st.,  New-York. 
BUCHANAN'S   NEW  HYBRID   BLOTCHED   PETUNIA 
SEED,  by  mail,  50  cts.  per  packet. 

X^irnlt     Trees    in     Pots. 

Bearing  Graph  Vines,  Peacd,  Apricot,  and  Pear 
Trees  in  Pots,  a  fine  selection. 

Cranl>erry  Plant*.— 1,000,000  of  the  celebrated 
Cape  Cod,  Bell,  and  Cherry  varieties  ;  splendid,  genuine 
plants. 

Nursery  Stoclt.— Pear  Trees,  standard  and  dwarf;  Ap- 
ples and  Cherries,  do.,  in  fine  order,  manv  in  bearing  condi- 
tion.   A  fine  selection  of  Nursery  Stock  in  general. 

For  sale  by  W.  H.  STARR. 

West  New-London  Nurseries,   New-London,  Conn. 


SEEDS- 

The  following  seeds  will   crop 
Cost  $9.00.    Half  of  them  $5.00. 

3  qts.  Beans  of  sorts. 

1  qt.  Lima  Beans. 

8     qts.  Peas  of  sorts. 
1}{  qts.  Sweet  Corn. 

4  oz.  Beets  of  sorts. 
M  oz.  Cauliflower. 

2  oz.  Cabbage  of  sorts. 
\i  oz.  Celery. 

2    oz.  Cucumbers. 
2     oz.  Carrots  of  sorts, 
1     oz.  Lettuce  of  sorts. 
M  oz.  Leek. 
1  pkt.  Egc  Plant. 
1     qt.  Onion  Set. 


SEEDS. 

a  garden  of  half  an   acre. 
Quarter  $4.00. 

1  oz.  Melon  of  BortB, 

2  oz.  Onions  of  sorts. 
1     oz.  Parsnip. 

S     oz.  Radish  of  sorts. 
1     oz.  Salsify, 

K  oz.  Parsley. 

X  oz.  Peppers  of  sorts. 

1  oz.  Squash. 
8     oz.  Spinagc. 

3  pkts.  Tomato  of  sorts. 
3  pkts.  Herbs  of  sorts. 

2  oz.  Turnip. 
1  pkt.  Okra. 

1  pkt.  Nasturtium. 


CfJLLECTIOXS  OF  COOKE    FLOWER    SEEDS. 

24  Splendid  new  and  rare  Annuals,  in  boxes $1.00  each. 

30  Distinct  Varieties  of  the  Choicest  Asters,  in  box.  2.00  each, 
10  Distinct  Varieties  of  the  best  Ten-week  Stock.  .  1.00  each. 
A  very  large  and  select  assortment  of  all  the  retail v  pop- 
ular and  ornamental  varieties,  suitable  for  the  decoration 
of  the  Flower  Garden,  Green-house,  and  Conservatory,  al- 
ways to  be  found  at  W,  ELLIOTT, 

Seedsman  and  Florist, 

27  John-st..  New- York. 

Pure  Chinese   Cane    Seed. 


For  sale  by 


BLYMYER,  BATES  &  DAY. 

Mansfield,  O. 


OOM-SE-A-NA  (known  as  the  Hooker  or  Otaheitenn>  Cane 
Seed,  pure,  for  sale  by  BLYMYER,  BATES  &  DAY. 

Mansfield,  O. 
NEEAZANA  or  WHITE    IMPHEE,  considered   the  most 
choice  variety  of  Cane  seed— a  few  bushels  only— for  sale 
by  BLYMYER,  BATES  &  DAY, 

Mansfield,  O. 
£^~  Pamphlets  with  best  mode  of  culture,  &c,  6ent  free 
on  application. 

OTAHEITAN  CANE  SEED. 

The  undersigned  offer  for  sale  a  selected  lot  of  the  above 
named  seed;  the  purest  in  the  market,  and  of  tested  vi- 
tality. In  our  last  vear's  experiments,  (with  our  improv- 
ed implements  and  methods  of  manufacturing,)  its  juices 
granulated  no  less  readily  and  fully,  than  is  usuallv  re- 
ported of  the  Southern  Sugar  Canes.  We  forward  this  freed, 
postage  paid,  at  one  dollar  per  pound.    Address 

C.  CORY  &  SONS,  Lima,  Ind. 

Conn.  Seed  Leaf  Tobacco  Seed. 

Grown  bv  contract  bv  one  of  the  most  successful  growers 
In  the  valley  of  the  Connecticut.  Packets  containing  one 
ounce  will  be  mailed,  post-paid,  to  any  address— upon  re- 
ceipt of  50  cts.  in  postage  currency  or  new  stamps.  Prices 
for  larger  quantities  will  be  given  upon  application. 

B.  K.  BLISS,  Springfield,  Mass. 


Tobacco     Seed. 

Connecticut,  Maryland,  and  Havana. 

For  sale  by  SHEPPARD  &  SEWARD, 

214  Pearl-st..  New-York. 

Garden,  Field,  and  Flower  Seeds. 

A  large  assortment  of  the  best  quality. 
Send  for  a  priced  list. 

HAINES  &  PELL,  27  Courtlandt-st.,  New- York. 

EED    PEAS.— 1000    BUSHELS— CONSISTING 
of  Daniel  O'Rourke's,  Early  Rents,  Early  Emperors,  Bur- 
ly Washinctons.  Prince  Alberts.  White  Marrows, Black  Eyed 
Marrows,  &c    For  sale  by       SHEPPARD  &  SKWARD, 
Prices  on  application.  214  Pearl-st.,  New-York. 

OTTON  SEED— 20,000  POUNDS  SEA  ISLAND 
and  Upland  Cotton  Seed.— (Prices  on  application,  which 
must  state  quantity  wanted,  i    For  sale  by 

SHEPPARD  &  SEWARD,  314  Pearl-st..  New- York. 

Field,  Garden,   and  Flower  Seeds. 

Fresh,  pure,  and  reliable. 

For  bale  by  GR1FFING.  BROTHER  &  CO., 

60  Courtlandt-st.,  New-York. 


1863;] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


1Q3 


Seeds.     Seeds. 

"We  have  in  store  a  full  assortment  of  Field  and  Garden 

Seeds,  among  which  will  be  found  all  the  varieties. 

Corn— Extra  Early  Sweet,  Large  Sweet,  Evergreen,  Large 
Yellow,  White  Flint,  and  Improved  King  Philip. 

Peas— Of  all  the  approved  varieties. 

Turnip— Early  and  Late,  Red  Top  Strap  Leaf  Flat,  White 
Flat,  White  Globe,  Yellow  Stone,  Aberdeen,  Skirving's 
Purple  Top  Ituta  Baga,  Ashcroft's  Swedish,  Waiie's 
Eclipse,  Improved  American  Purple  Top  Ruta  Baga. 

Carrot— Long  Orange,  White  Belgian,  and  Altriugham  for 
stock. 

Beet-Long  Red   Mangel  Wurtzel,  Globe  Mangel  Wurtzel, 
and  White  Sugar. 
GARDEN  SEEDS  OF  ALL  KINDS. 

Fruit  Seeds  — Apple,  Pear,  Quince,  Cherry,  Currant, 
Gooseberry,  Strawberry,  &c. 

Ornamental  Tree  and  SIIRUB  SEEDS  of  every  variety. 

Honey  and  Yellow  Locust,  Buckthorn,  for  Hedges. 

Clovers— White  Dutch,  Red,  Alsike,  Lucerne,  &c. 

Grasses— Timothy,  Red  Top,  Kentucky  Blue,  Orchard, 
Foul  Meadow,  Tall  Oat,  Hungarian,  Saint  Foin,  Sheep's 
Feacue,  Fine  Mixed  Lawn,  &c. 

"VVh eat— Spring  Wheat,  Tea,  Black  Sea,  Golden  Drop  or 
Fife. 

Rye— Spring  Rye,  Spring  Barley.  Also  a  new  variety  of 
Beardless  Barley. 

Seed  Oats— Extra  heavy  and  clean. 

Potatoes— Early  Varieties— J tr.vE,  Dtckman,  and  Prtnce 
Albert.  Late  Varieties— Peacr:  Blow,  Mercer,  Gar- 
net Chili,  an  excellent  yielder.  Union— a  new  and 
very  fine  kind— not  liable  to  rot. 

Flower  Seeds  of  every  variety  in  balk  or  papers. 

Bulbs  and  ROOTS  furnished  to  order. 

Fruit  and  ORNAMENTAL  TIIEES,  SHRUBS,  EVER- 
GREENS and  all  kinds  of  PLANTS  carefully  packed  aud 
Bent  tonrdcr,  from  the  best  Nurseries  and  Conservatories 
In  the  United  States.  The  latest  and  best  works  on  Agri- 
culture, Horticulture,  Live  Stock,  &c.  Send  for  a  Cata- 
logue. R.  II.  ALLEN  &  CO., 
Successors  to  R.  L.  Allen,  189  &  191  Water-st„  New-York. 

Seeds  for  the  Farm  and  Garden, 

Mailed  post-paid  to  all   the  Loyal  States. 

The  following  list  of  seeds,  (the  puritv  ami  vitality  of  which 
can  be  confidently  recommended.)  will  be  mailed  to  any  ad- 
dress  upon  receipt  of  the  price  afllxed.  per  oz,    p.  "■>;  th. 

Beets,  White  French  Sugar 8c.    SOc. 

"       Mangel  Wurtzel,  Lorur  Red 8c SOc. 

Yellow  Globe 8c.    ...     30c. 

Cabbage,  Premium  Flat  Dutch,  extra 20c 1  25c. 

Large  Drumhead trie 1  00 

"  Drumhead  Savoy    20c 1  2oc. 

Carrot,  Long  Orange  Improved,  very  deep 

color,  extra  fine 15c Trie, 

"         White  Belgian, large  and  productive  10c 50c. 

Onion,  Dan  vers  Yellow  (true) 15c 75c, 

"       Portugal  White ]5c 75C. 

Wetheisfield  Red 10c 60c. 

Squash,  Hubbard  (true) 8c 50c. 

Rata  Baga,  Laing'a  or  Skirving's 8c 40c. 

per  oz.   p.pcks. 

Lettuce,  India,  true,  extra  fine 25c 10c. 

"         Boston  Curled  (Gregory's)        ....    20c. 

Cauliflower,  Half  Early  Paris,  the  best  varie- 

tv  grown        1  25    ....    10c, 

Cabbage,  Marblehead  Mammoth ....    25c. 

Tomato,  French  Tree  (De  Laye),  grows  up- 
right like  a  bush 10c. 

Price;  for  larger  quantities  will  be  given  npon  applica- 
tion. For  a  more  extended  list  of  Seeds,  with  explicit  di- 
rections for  culture,  see  our  new  descriptive  Seed  Catalogue 
(10th  edition*.  Just  published,  and  Will  be  mailed  to  all  ap- 
plicants enclosing  a  three  cent  stump.    Address 

B.  K.  BLISS,  Springfield,  Mass. 

Seeds.    Seeds.     Seeds. 

The  subscriber  has  now  on  hand  a  full  assortment  of  culi- 
nary. VEGETABLE,  GRASS,  and  FLOWER  SEEDS,  em- 
bracing everything  desirable,  in  both  vegetable  and  flower 
seed  department.  New  descriptive  priced  catalogues  fur- 
nished gratis,  and  all  information  as  to  prices,  lor  larger  and 
stated  quantities  promptly  given  on  application. 

Also,  all  the  approved  C.  S.  Garden  Tools  and  Horticultur- 
al Books.  ALFRED  BRIDGEMAX, 

No.  870  Broadway,  New-York. 

New,  Useful  or  Ornamental. 

Mexican  Sweet  Corn  ;  new  and  pure  (no  variety  of  table 
corn  will  compare  with  this  in  sweetness  ;  a  great  acquisi- 
tion.) Feger  Bean,  (the  earliest  bean  grown.) ;  Chichua- 
Chua  Tomato  (has  been  exhibited  weighing  V4  lbs.) ;  Scarlet 
Egg  Plant  fa  magnificent  ornament) :  Calfornia  Bean  (new)  • 
Ornamental  Gourds  (a  great  variety  in  one  package) : 
Speckled  Lima  Bean  (excellent)  ;  Hubbard  Squash  (true). 
Packages  of  any  of  the  above  sent  to  any  part  of  the 
United  States,  post  paid,  with  full  directions  tor  cultivation, 
at  15  cents  each;  the  eight  for  $1,00.  Also,  New  White  To- 
mato (early  and  superior  flavor);  Upright  Tomato;  Les- 
ter's Perfected  Tomato;  Boston  Curled  Lettuce  (true) ;  Bos- 
ton Market  Celery  (new)  ;  New-York  Improved  Egg  Plant  ; 
at  10  cents  each  ;  the  six  for  50  cents. 

JAMES  J.  H.  GREGORY, 

Marblehead,  Massachusetts, 

Seed  grower,  and  dealer  In  every  variety  of  garden  and 
flower  seed. 

SHEPPARB  &  SEWARD, 

SEED  GROWERS  AND    IMPORTERS. 

DEALERS    IN 
SEEDS,  PLANTS,  BULBOUS    ROOTS,  IMPLEMENTS.  &C 
214  Pearl  Street,  New- York. 
Catalogues  mailed  to  all  applicants  free. 


RARE  AND   BEAUTIEUL   FLOWERS. 

SPL^DID    NOVELTIES. 

B.  K.  BLISS,  Seedsman  &  Florist, 

SPRINGFIELD,  MASS. 

"Would  invite  the  attention  of  all  who  love  the  cultivation 
of  Flowers,  to  the  Tenth  Edition  of  his  Catalogue  of 
flower  and  Vegetable  Seeds,  and  Guide  to  the  Fi.mv- 
er  and  Kitchen  Gap.den,  which  will  be  mailed  to  all  ap- 
plicants enclosing  a  three  cent  stamp. 

It  contains  a  list  of  nearly  2000  Varieties  of  Flower 
and  Vegetable  Seeds,  with  explicit  directions  for  culture, 
so  that  the  most  inexperienced  person  may  cultivate  a  gar- 
den successfully. 

Particular  attention  is  invited  to  the  list  of  novelties,  em- 
bracing all  the  most  desirable  varieties,  introduced  by  Euro- 
pean Florists  the  past  season — also  to  the  list  of  Indigenous 
Flower  Seeds,  collected  from  the  mountains  and  prairies  of 
the  far  West.  The  following  list  of  old  established  favorites, 
highly  improved  by  careful  cultivation,  can  not  fail  to  give 
satisfaction.  per  pekt. 

Thuffaut's  Peony  Flowered  Asters 25c. 

Balsams,  Glenny's  &  Smith's  Prize 25c. 

Chrysanthemums,  large  (lowered  and  Pompone.  .    :joc. 
Calceolarias  and  Cinerarias,  from  the  finest  col- 
lections in  Europe,  each 50c. 

Cockscomb,  from  prize  plants 25C, 

Carnation  and  Picotee  Pines,  each 25  and  50c. 

Fuchsias,  from  the  finest  new  varieties  .    50c. 

Gladiolus,  from  the  most  magnificent  varieties  in 

cultivation 25 

Hollyhocks,  from  a  collection  of  75  finest  English 

prize  varieties 25c. 

HonJLAB,  fine  magnificently  spotted  and  blotched  va- 
rieties         25c. 

Pansiks,  from  the  collections  of  the  best  growers  in 

Europe  SOc. 

Pansies,  New  Fancy,  variegated,  mottled,  and  striped 

—  vcrv  striking 50c. 

Petunias,    new    marbled,  blotched,  and  variegated, 

often  producing  double  flowers 25c. 

Sweet  William,  Hunt's  extra  select  aud  new  auricula 

flowered,  can  not  be  excelled 25c, 

Portulacca,  new  double,  a  most  interesting  novelty 

( 10  seeds) $1.00 

Stock-;,  splendid  mixed  German 25c. 

New  double  Zinnia    2Qo: 

The  entire  collection  will  be  mailed  to  any  address,  post- 
paid, for  $6.00. 

For  a  more  extensive  list  see  Catalogue.  For  collections 
of  Flower  Seeds  by  mail,  see  advertisement  in  March  No.  of 
Agriculturist.  B.  K.  BLISS,  Springfield,  Mass. 

SEEDS  and  PLANTS. 

CHOICE  FLOWER  SEEDS. 

GARDEN  AND  FIELD  SEEDS. 
FRUIT  TREES  AND  GRAPE  VINES. 

Strawberries.— Triomphc  de  Gand  and   Bartlctt,  35  Cts. 
per  dozen ;  $1  per  100 ;  and  $7.50  per  1000.— Fillmore,  50c. 
doz. ;  $3  per  100.— La  Coustante,  $1  per  doz. ;  $-1  per  100. 
Currants— Cherry,  Versailles,  and  White  Grape,  $1.50  per 

dozen ;  $10  per  100.    Also  20  other  varieties. 
Raspberries— Doolittle's  American  Black  Cap,  $5  per  100. 
Hornet  and  Pilate,  each  $2  per  dozen,  and  10  other  sorts. 
And  all  other  Small  Fruits.    Send  for  Catalogues. 
Extra  Fine  Dahlias,  $2  per  dozen. 

HARVEY  B.  LANE.  151  Nassau-st,  New- York. 

Collections   of  Kitchen    Garden   Seeds, 

BY  MAIL,  POST-PAID. 

20  varieties  our  selection $100. 

45        "  "  "  2  00. 

The  above  collections  embrace  all  the  leading  varieties  of 
vegetables  usuallv  crown  in  our  gardens.    To  those  who  de- 

Mn'  liu'-iT  i|!i:inl  ifii.N,  we    would  recoi -ml    our    $10  or    £5 

unci  f8  collections,  which  maybe  Bafely  forwarded  by  Ex- 
press to  all  parts  of  the  country.  A  list  ut'  tin.-  .■uiik-nts  <■[' 
each  collection  will  be  found  in  our  New  Descriptive  Seed 
Catalogue,  which  will  he  mailed  to  all  applicants  inclosing  a 
three  cent  stamp.  B.  K.  BLISS,  Springfield,  Mass. 

ONION  SEED. 

2000  lbs.  TVethersfleld  Large  Red  Onion  Seed. 
500  lbs.  Large  Yellow  Onion  Seed. 

"Warranted  pure  and  growth  of  1S62.  Prices  on  Application 
to  SHEPPARD  &"  "SEWARD,  214  Pearl-et.,  New- York. 

/AAA  BUSHELS  SEED  POTATOES  AT  $2.50 
Lx\w\W  PER  BBL.— Comprising  the  following  varieties: 
Early  June,  Garnet  Chili,  Central  Citv,  Cuzco,  Callao,  and 
Pinkeye  Rustycoat.        P.  SUTTON,  Ransom,  Luz.  Co.,  Pa. 

CHICORY    SEED. 

THE  GREAT  SUBSTITUTE  FOR  COFFEE. 

A  supply  of  the  gcennine  article  just  received  by  the  sub- 
scriber, and  will  be  mailed  post-paid  to  any  address,  upon  re- 
ceipt of  the  price  affixed.  Packets  containing  1  ounce,  15  cts., 
8  ounces  GO  cts.,  1  pound  $1.00. 

Directions  for  culture  accompany  each  package. 

B.  K.  BLISS,  Springtiukl,  Mass. 

HICORY   SEED.— GENUINE  LARGE  ROOT- 

_  ED  or  Cotlce  Chicory  Seed.  Price  one  Dollar  per  pound. 
For  sale  by  SHEPPARI)  St  SEWARD, 

214  Pearl-st.,  New- York. 

SEEDS.         Garden,  Field,  and  Flower        SEEDS. 
Farm  and  Garden  Implements. 

Fish  Manure,  Guano,  Bone  Dust,  Phosphate,  etc., 
Plants,  Trees,  Roots,  etc., 
of  every  variety— at  wholesale  or  retail— at  low  prices. 
JOHN  VANDERBILT, 
23  Fulton-st.  (near  Fulton  Market,)  New-York. 

STRAWBERRY  PLANTS.     Wilson's  Albany,  $2 
-   per  1000.    Great  Austin  or  Shaker  Seedling,  $3  per  1000. 
Hudsou  River  Antwerp  Raspberry.  §1  per  1000. 

O.  J.  TILLSON,  New  Paltz  Landing,  N.  Y. 


NANSEIIONB 

Sweet  Potato    Plants. 

A  superior  article  for  Northern  planting  dnring  May  and 
•lane.  Packed  I o  go  safely  Ions  dislanecs.  Price,  10(111X3.2-,- 
51100*10;  10,000*18.  Our  plants  Have  siini  hichlv  satisfactory 
results  many  years,  growing  good  crops  throughout  the 
rsorth.  Send  stamp  lor  our  circular  on  growing  aud  keeping, 
with  experience  of  growers,  etc.    Address 

M  m-tRAY  &  CO.,  Foster's  Crossing,  TVarren  Co.,  O. 


c 


Sweet     Potato     Plants- 
Best  kind,  Nansemond,  ready  in  season,  May  and  Jnne,  %2 
per  1000    packed   with   care,  sent  as  directed.    Send  orders 
early.    Ai  hen  boxed  and  sent  by  mail  80c.  per  100. 

J.  C.  THOMPSON,  Tompkinsville,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y. 

NANSEMOND  SWEET  POTATO  PLANTS. 
You  can  grow  your  own  Sweet  Potatoes  at  the  North. 
Price  of  plants  400  $1  ;  1000  SJ.'.Ti ;  5000  $10  ;  10,000  $18.  Send 
tor  my  circular,  giving  directions  lor  cultivation  aud  ex- 
perience of  growers.    Address 

M.  M.  MUIiRAY,  Love'.and,  O. 

CURRANTS. 

Cherry—  Very  large,  measuring  sometimes  two  Inch- 
es in  circumference. 
Victoria— Long  bunches  of  large  fruit. 
White  Grape— A  most  valuable  variety. 
Short    Bunch    Red-  A   very   large  and  superior 
currant,    is   improperly  called  "Short   Bunch,"   as    the 
bunches  are  long. 

The  above  four  kinds  at  the  following  rates: 
1  year  old,  No.  1,  10  cts.  each,  $1  per  doz.,  $6  per  100,  $50 

per  l()dO. 
I  year  old.  No.  2,  5  cts.  each,  50  cts.  per  doz.,  $3  per  100, 
$25  per  1000. 
2  year  old,  very  large  ;  all  the  wood  left  on— 
No.  1,  20  els.  each,  $2.00  per  doz.,  $12.50  per  100,  $100  per 

1000. 
No.  2,  15  cts.  each,  $1.50  per  doz.,  $10.00  per  100,  $75  per 
1000. 
A  few  3  year  old,  $1  for  three. 
ta  Versa  illafse. 

1  year  old,  20  cts.  each,  $2.00  per  dozen,  $15  per  100. 

2  year  old  25  cts.  each,  $3.00  per  dozen,  $20  per  100. 

Rhubarb 

Myatt's  Linnaeus,  $1.00  per  dozen,  $2.50  per  hundred, 
$15.00  per  thousand.  J.  KNOX, 

Box  155,  Pittsburgh,  Fn. 

Genuine  Tree    Cotton  Seed. 

A  limited  quantity  of  the  above  seed  can  now  he  obtained* 
if  applied  for  soon,  of 
EDWARD   TATNALL,  Jr., 

Brandy •w hie  Nurseries,  Wilmington,  Delaware. 

This  seed  was  proenred  at  considerable  expense  bv  TV11- 
11am  Ferris,  of  the  above  city,  from  the  mountain  region!*  of 
South  America,  having  been  conveyed  thence  bv  mule, 
"seven  days  Journey,"  to  Guayaquil,  where  thi*  gentleman 
resided  nearly  three  years,  and  made  himself  acquainted  with 
the  Eact  that  this  cotton  thrives,  and  is  cultivated  on  the  ele- 
viitrii  hinds  of  the  Andes,  of  which  it  is  a  native.  His  object 
was  to  introduce  it  into  our  Northern  and  Western  States, 
believing  if  it  would  stand  their  climate  (and  where  it  dow 
grows.  It  is  frequently  covered  with  snow  and  ice)  it  would 
prove  a  source  of  great  interest  and  profit  to  the  people  of 
those  States. 

As  seed  represented  to  be  that  of  the  tree  cotton  has  been 
palmed  off  on  the  public  during  the  past  year,  this  is  wae- 
ranted  to  be  the  genuine  article,  and  will*  be  forwarded  by 
mail,  tree  of  postage,  at  the  following  rates  remitted  in  cur- 
rent funds  with  the  order: 

35  for  $1.00 ;  (JO  for  $'3.00 ;  110  for  $3.00  ;  200  for  $5.00  ;  500  for 
$10.00. 

Clubs  of  5  or  10  supplied  at  the  latter  rates  if  sent  under 
one  envelope.  Should  be  planned  by  1st  to  10th  of  May.  In 
sending  orders  give  the  Post  Office,  County,  and  State. 

New  Japan  Honeysuckle. 

Lonicera  brachypoda  mires  reticulatis. 

Parsons  &  Co.,  Flushing,  N.  Y., 

offer  this  beautiful  plant  at  one  dollar  each. 

The  leaves  are  green,  with  a  bright  golden  reticulation, 
giving  with  its  foliage  during  the  whole  season  an  effect  sur- 
passing that  of  flowers  which  bloom  only  for  a  week  or  two. 

Brinckle's  Orange  and  Franconia,  75  cents  per  dozen, 
$3  per  100  ;  $20  per  1000. 

FastolfF,  River's  Large  Fruited  Monthly,  Knevitt's  Gi- 
ant, Hudson  River  Antwerp,  Red  and  Yellow  Antwerp, 
Allen's'Hardy,  Improved  Black  Cap,  &c,  50  cts.  per  doz. 
$2  per  100;  $15  per  1000. 

Hornet,  Pilate,  Imperial,  Souchett  and  Toilet,  $2  per 
dozen,  $10  per  100. 

Blackberries. 

New-Rochelle,  Dorchester  and  Newman's  Thornless, 
75cts.  per  dozen  ;  $3  per  100  ;  $20  per  1000. 

We  will  furnish  100  each  of  the  above  three  kinds  for 
$7.50.    For  prices  of  Select  Lists,  see  our  Circular. 

J.  KNOX, 
Box  155,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 


124 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[April, 


FRUIT 

TREES  AND   PLANTS, 

ORNAMENTAL  TREES, 

SHRUBS,    EVERGREENS, 

AND 

EXOTIC     PLANTS. 


PARSONS   &  CO. 

Invite  the  attention  of  buyers  to  their  stock, 
■which  is  in  vigorous  health,  and  of  large  size. 

They  offer  all  kinds  at  rates,  which  for  size 
and  excellence,  are  as  low  as  they  can  any- 
where be  purchased. 

They  can  sell  trees,  etc.,  by  the  hundred : 
Apples  at  $14.        Plums  at  $30. 
Fears  at  $28.         Peaches  at  $10. 
Cherries  at  $25.     Strawberries. 
Concord   Grapes,  4  years,   at  $25. 
Delaware  and  oilier  hardy  Grapes. 
Exotic  Grape  Tines,  strong  growth. 
Small  Fruits  of  the  newest  sorts. 
Linnaeus  Rhiibarb  by  the   1000. 

Their  ORNAMENTAL  TREES  for  Streets 
and  Lawns  are  of  large  size  and  fine  form. 

FLOWERING  SHRUBS  in  quantities  for 
massing,  at  ver}'  low  prices. 

ROSES  and  EXOTIC  PLANTS  of  the  new 
and  choice  varieties. 
Catalogues  fiu-iiislicd  on  application 

No  orders  will  be  sure  of  attention,  unless  ad- 
dressed to  us  by  mail,  at  FLUSHING, 
near  NEW-YORK. 

The    New-Jersey    Nursery    and 
Seed  Farm. 

The  proprietor  of  this  establishment  offers  for  sale,  at 
wholesale  and  retail,  a  general  assortment  of  well-crown 
Nueseey  Stock,  consisting  in  part  of  Standard  and  Dwarf 
Fuuit  Trees,  Ornamental  trees  and  Shrubs,  Grape 
Vines,  Strawberry,  Blackberry,  Raspberry,  and  other 
Fruit  Bushes. 
Vegetable  Plants  of  all  kinds  in  their  seasons, 
Lawton  Blackberry,  very  low  by  the  thousand. 

8uince  Stocks,  extra  line,  grown  from  stools. 
sage  Orange,  for  hedging,  2  years  old,  transplanted, 
very  fine. 
Japan  Lilies,  a  very  large  and  fine  stock. 
GARDEN  SEEDS,  exclusively  of  my  own  growing,  and 
warranted  fresh  and  genuine. 
For  wholesale  and  retail  catalogues,  grails,  address 

FRANCIS  BRILL,  Newark,  N.  J. 

FRUIT  TREES  AND   SMALL  FRUITS— CHEAP. 

Pears,  Apples,  Plums,  Cherries,  Peaches.  Apricots,  Figs, 
and  all  kinds  of  Fruit  Trees.  Grapes  (350  kinds).  Strawber- 
ries (200  kinds),  Currants,  Raspberries,  Cranberries,  Rhubarb, 
and  all  small  fruits  at  lowest  rates.  All  kinds  of  Ornamental 
Trees,  Shrubs,  Plants,  Bulbs,  &c.  In  short  everything  from 
the  largest  tree  to  the  smallest  plant  supplied  at  lowest 
prices.  PRINCE  &  CO.,  Flushing,  N.  Y. 

Pear    Trees. 

2000  French  Pear  Trees  will  arrive  this  month  from  France. 
For  sale  by  the  100.    Address     SHEPPARD  &  SEWARD, 
211  Pearl-st.,  New-York. 

Gladiolus.      Gladiolus. 

SPLENDID  FRENCH  AND  BELGIAN  HYBRIDS,  OVER 
ONE  HUNDRED  AND  THIRTY  VARIETIES,  at  prices 
varying  from  $'.'.ni)  to  $a»i.00  per  dozen. 

SENT  BY  HAIL  POST-PAID,  to  all  of  the  Loyal  States. 

Descriptive  Catalogues,  with  directions  for  culture,  mailed 
to  any  address  enclosing  a  stamp. 

B.  K.  BLISS,  Springfield,  Mass. 

5O.000    Linnaeus    Rhubarb 

At  $18,00  per  thousand, 
lfor  sale  by  KING  &  MURRAY, 

Flushing,  L.  I.,  near  New-York. 


Strawberry  Plants. 

We  have  taken  special  pains  to  procure  and  preserve 
our  varieties  true  to  name.  We  cultivate  our  plants  with 
the  same  care  we  do  our  fruit,  and  all  sent  out  by  us  are 
not  only  of  the  best  quality,  but  we  guarantee  liiein  to  be 
genuine.  We  offer  the  following  at  35  els.  per  doz.  $1  per 
100  i  $5  per  1000.  Alpine  Wood,  white  and  red,  Boston 
Pine,  (same  as  Bartlett,)  Brighton  Pine,  Baltimore  Scar- 
let, Burr's  New  Pine,  Cutter's  Seedling,  Downer,  Ilovey, 
Hooker,  Jenny  Lind,  McAvoy's  Superior,  Moyamensing, 
Wilson's  Albany,  and  many  others. 
The  following  at  50  cts.  per  doz.;  $1  per  100;  $7.50  per  1000. 

Due  de  Brabant,  Jessie  Read,  Nirnrod,  Trollopes'  Vic- 
toria, Trioinplie  de  Gand,  Vicomptesse  Hericart  de  Thury, 
4c. 

The  following  at  50  cts.  per  doz.;  $2  per  100 ;  $10  per  1000. 

Alpine  Bush,  white  and  red,  British  Queen,  Bicton 
Pine,  Georgia  Mammoth,  &c. 

The  following  at  50  cts.  per  doz.;  $3  per  100  ;  $5  per 
200  ;  $20  per  1000. 

Golden  Seeded,  Fillmore,  Kitley's  Goliath,  Princess 
Royal,  etc. 

Plants  by  Mail. 

We  will  not  send  hereafter  less  than  one  dollar's  worth 
of  plants  by  mail,  nor  less  than  one  dozen  of  any  one 
kind,  and  in  alt  cases  at  the  price  per  dozen,  except  as 
designated  below: 

For  $1  we  will  send  one  dozen  each  of  any  three  kinds 
offered  at  35  cents  per  dozen.  For  $2  we  will  send  one 
dozen  each  of  Triomphe  de  Gand,  Fillmore,  Trollope's 
Victoria,  Wilson's  Albany  and  Burr's  New  Pine.  These 
five  kinds  embrace  the  different  seasons  of  ripening,  and 
are  all  favorites  with  us. 

For  prices  of  Select  Lists,  see  our  Circular. 

J.  KNOX. 
Box  155,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

Russell's   Strawberry. 

This  great  Strawberry,  combining  all  the  good  qualities  of 
"Longworth's  Prolific,  and  McAvoy's  Superior,  added  to 
enormous  size,  possesses  all  the  properties  to  make  it  the 
best  strawberry  vet  known,  after  six  years'  trial,  being  the 
largest  and  most  prolific  bearer,  with  an  exceeding  rich 
aroma— full  of  vinous  juice,  and  for  rtcliclousness  unsurpas- 
sed— very  hardv  in  its  growth,  enduring  6evere  lrost.  It  is 
not  only  a  pistillate  but  a  sUmiinate. 

John  J.  Thomas,  editor  of  the  Country  Gentleman,  Albany, 
who  personally  examined  the  beds  in  bearing,  says,  July  3, 
1SH2.— "It  appears  to  come  up  fully  to  all  that  is  said  in  its 
favor  On  comparing  it  with  the  Wilson,  the  Russel  was  found 
to  be,  so  far  as  we  could  judge,  even  more  productive  than 
that  lamed  proline  variety,  about  equally  firm  in  flesh,  near- 
ly double  in  size,  and  greatlv  superior  in  flavor.  II  its  good 
qualities  are  maintained  after  it  has  been  fully  tried  in  difler- 
eut  localities,  it  will  not  be  surpassed,  and  perhaps  not 
equalled  bv  any  other  sort.  „    ,    ^ 

Fine  Plants  now  offered  at  $3.00  per  dozen,  C  ash  to  ac- 
company orders.    Address  GEO.  CLAPP. 

Auburn,  N.  Y.,  March  2,  1863.  Auburn,  N.  Y. 

New    and    Splendid  Varieties   of 
Strawberries. 

RUSSELL'S  GREAT  PROLIFIC.  This  Is  believed  to  be 
the  largest  and  best  Strawberry  ever  introduced.  Berries 
over  six  inches  in  circumference,  very  productive  andot  the 
flnest  flavor.    Price  $3  per  dozen. 

The  following  three  varieties  are  the  prize  berrh'B  of  Eu- 
rope for  1862.  They  are  of  enormous  size,  weighing  from 
one  to  two  ounces  each.  — ™™  „ 

EmpreBS  Eugenie,  Margarite,  Princess  Frederick  w  illiam, 

Price  $2  per  dozen.  t  ■        „_  _     . 

La  Constante,  Oscar,  Victory,  Wizard  of  theNorth,  Wonder- 
ful Prince  of  Wales,  Filbert  Pine,  Crimson  Queen,  Bonte  de 
St.  Julien,  and  Honneur  de  Belgique,  at  75  cts.  per  dozen,  or 
the  ten  varieties  for  *5. 

These  are  selected  from  over  100  varieties,  and  arebelleved 
to  be  of  great  excellence. 

Great 'Austin,  Triomphe  de  Gand,  Bartlett,  Downers  Pro- 
lific, and  Pyramidal  Chili,  at  $1  per  100,  or  $li  per  1000. 

All  order's  addressed  to  WM.  S.  CARPENTER, 

329  Greenwich-st.,  New-York. 

GET  THE   BEST  STRAWBERRIES. 

The  most  productive  are  Wilson's  and  Downer's,  Price 
75  cts.  per  100.  (5  per  1000. 

The  largest  and  handsomest  Is  Triomphe  de  Gand,  Price, 
$1  per  100,  $5  per  1000.  ,  _ 

The  richest  and  best  flavored  is  Bartlett  and  W  ard  s  Favor- 
ite, price  *l  per  100,  $7  per  1000. 

Other  varieties,  witll  a  good  Btock  of  Currants,  Raspber- 


ries, Grapes,  and  Blackberries,  at  equally  low  rates.  Address 
"  '  MS,  Montclair  P.  O.,  West  Bloomfleld,  N.  J. 


E.  WILLIAMS, 


1,000,000  Strawberry  Plants  for 

SALE  The  Great  Austin  or  Shaker  Seedling,  at  $5  per  1000. 
Trioninhe  de  Gand  and  Wilson's  Albany  at  *:S  per  1OU0.  Ho- 
vey  Seedling  and  Ladvnnger  variety,  at  $2  per  1000. 

JOHN  S.  COLLINS,  Moorestown,  Burlington  Co.,  N.  J. 

Grape    Hoots. 

I  offer  for  sale  00,000  Isabella  and  Catawba  one  year  old 
roots,  of  good  quality,  from  Island  Cuttings.    Address 

H.  C.  HUNTINGTON,  Sandusky,  O. 

FOR  SALE.  CRANBERRY  PLANTS— SEE 
CIRCULAR.— Also  Le  llcrtln.  Versellalse.  D'Angers, 
and  other  varieties  of  Currants,  and  all  kinds  of  nursery 
Btock.    Apply  to  F.  TROWBRIDGE.  Mllford,  Ct. 

Also,  GRAFTING)  WAX,  put  up  iu  small  rolls  for  retailing 


KING  &  MURRAY,  Flushing,  Long  Island,  Jf.  Y. 

FRUIT  &  ORNiMTAL  TREES. 

EVERGREENS  AND  SHRUBS. 
GRAPES  AND  SMALL  FRUITS  of  all  kinds. 
HEDGE  PLANTS,  Arc. 


Pears  of  fine  quality,       at  $2S  per  hundred. 
Apples,        do.        do.  $12  per  hundred. 

Cherries,    do.        do.  $16  per  hundred. 

Pears,  Apples,  and  Cherries  of  LARGE  SIZE, 

at  proportionate  prices. 

Plums  of  fine  quality,       at  $30  per  hundred. 
Peaches,  $8  to  $10  per  100,    and  $60  per  1000. 
Arbor  Vltse  for  Hedges,     at  $12  to  $15  per  hundred. 

Osage  Orange   and  other  Hedge  Plants  at  low 

prices  per  thousand. 

Ornamental  Trees  of  extra  large  size  for  Streets 
and  Avenues. 

Ornamental  Trees,  Evergreens  and  Shrubs 

in  quantities,  for   Lawns,  Parks,  and  Cemeteries,  at 
very  low  prices. 

KING   &  MURRAY, 

Flushing,  L.  I.,  near  New- York. 
£*?"  CATALOGUES  GRATIS. 


Brackett's  Seedling  Grape. 

Price  $3  each, 
Parsons  &  Co.,  Flushing,  N.  Y., 

Offer  this  fine  new  grape,  tbe  produce  of  Union  Village, 
crossed  with  a  foreign  variety.    It  ripens  about  Sept.  10th. 

The  report  of  the  Massachusetts  Hort.  Society  thus  de- 
scribes it: 

"  It  was  a  large,  round,  black  Grape,  heavy  bloom,  largo 
bunches,  thin  skin,  little  or  no  pulp,  juicy,  sweet,  and  very 
vinous,— Those  of  the  Committee  who  tasted  of  it,  formed 
the  highest  opinion  of  its  value,  and  it  seemed  to  them  the 
best  and  by  far  the  most  promising  new  hardy  grape-  that  had 
been  brought  to  their  notice." 


FOREIGN    GRAPES    FOR    VINERIES. 

"We  offer  this  Spring  a  large  stock  of  Foreign  Grapes,  well 
grown  and  well  ripened  plants  in  pots,  embracing  the  old 
standard  sorts,  and  the  following  superior  new  varieties : 
Austrian  Muscat,  Lady  Downs, 

Bidwell's  Seedling,  Muscat  Ottonel, 

Bowood  Muscat,  Muscat  St.  Laurent, 

Buckland's  Sweetwater,  Muscat  Hamburg, 
Chussclas  Vibert,  Stock  wood       Gulden 

Hamburg, 
Early  Malingre,  Trentham  Black, 

Ac.,    &c.,    &c„ 

For  a  full  list  of  varieties  and  prices,  as  well  as  for  lists  and 
prlcesof  Hardy  Grapes,  see  our  Catologue  No.  4.  See  also 
general  Advertisement.       ELLtVANGER  &  BAKKY, 

Rochester,  March,  1SG3.  Mount  Hope  Nurseries. 


Concoi'd    Grape    Vines. 

Our  stock  of  vines  of  this  justly  popular  grape  is  very 
large  and  superior,  which  we  offer  at: 
25  cts.  each;  $2.50per  doz.;  $12.50per  100 ;  $100  per  1000. 

For  prices  of  Delaware,  and  many  other  kinds,  see 
our  Circular  which  will  be  sent  to  all  applicants  (ree  of 
charge.  J.  KNOX. 

Box  155.  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

The  Adirondac  Grape. 

The  earliest  and  best  native  Grape,  ripening  two  weeks 
before  the  Delaware,  possessing  a  most  delicious  tlavor,  in 
fact,  equal  to  the  most  delicate  vinery  grape. 

Vines  sent  by  Express,  securely  packed  in  sealed  boxes. 
Yearling  Vines  will  be  sent  by  mail  to  any  part  of  the  U.  S. 
on  receipt  of  the  price  of  the  vine,  and  six  cents  P.  O. 
Stamps.    Address  JOHN  W.  BAILEY, 

March  1st.  Pittsburgh,  Clinton  Co,,  N.  Y. 

RUE    DELAWARE    GRAPE    VINES,   propa- 
gated  from  the  original  vine.    Also  Concord,  Diana, 

Rebecca,  Hartlord   Prolific,  Creveling,  Allen's  and  Rogers 

new  hvbrids,  and  all  other  valuable  varieties,  new  and  old. 

Down Ing's  Everbearing  Mulberry,  Raspberries,  Strawberries, 

&c.    Seud  for  Descriptive  Lists. 

GEORGE  "\V.  CAMPBELL,  Delaware,  Ohio. 

Grapes,  &c.,  by  Mail. 

Persons  at  a  distance  can  have  Grape  Tines,  Strawherrles, 
and  all  sinail  articles  carefullv  packed  and  sent  by  Mail,  uy 
PRINCE  &  CO.,  Flushing,  N.  T. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


125 


UNIVERSAL  CLOTHES  WRINGER. 


PRICES. 
No.  1.  Large  Famtly  Weisgki!,  $10.00  ( 
No.  J,"  Medium    "  "  7.00  > 

No.  2K.  Medium  "  "  6.00 1 

No.  3.  Small        "  "  5.00  S 


WITnnrT  cous. 
Not  warranted. 


No.  f.  Laege  Hotel 

No.  18.  Medium  Launpbt 

No.  22,  Large  '• 


I   To  run    iis.d)    J'™™*; 
by  steam    30.00  >  "  arramed. 


*  No.  2  Is  generally  used  in  private  families. 

THE   ONLY   WHINGER   WITH    THE    PATENT  COG 

WHEEL  REGULATOR. 

No  wringer  can  be  durable  without 

COG  WHEELS. 

Canvassers  wanted  in  every  town.  Persons  residing  where 

no  canvasser  is  appointed,  by  remitting  the  price  to  us,  shall 

receive  the  wringer  by  express,  prepaid. 

R.  C.  BROWNING,  Agent,  345  Broadway,  N.  T. 

New  World  Clothes  Wringer. 

The  greatest  improvement  in  Clothes  Wringers.  Agents 
wanted  in  every  town  oi'the  United  States.  Send  for  a  Cir- 
cular.       HAINES  &  PELL,  27  Courtlaiultst.,  New- York. 


The  NONPAREIL  WASHING  MACHINE 

Is  the  only  entirely  reliable  machine  in  use. 

It  has  been  before  the  public  two  years,  and  has  not  in  any 
instance  tailed  to  give  satisfaction. ' 

It  savcB  two-thirds  the  labor  and  time  required  in  hand 
Washing. 

Itisa  squeezing  machine,  and  will  not  injuro  the  finest 
clothing. 

A  gin  of  fonrteen  years  can  operate  it. 

It  will  not  get  out  of  order. 

It  is  recommended  by  Mr.  J  add,  the  proprietor  of  this 
Journal. 

Prices :  No.  1,  $12.    No.  2,$16.    No.  3,  820. 

Send  for  free  Circular  to 

OAKLEY  &  KEATING,  73  South-st.,  New-York. 

TEETH 

UPON     ALLEN'S     SYSTEM 

CAN  BE  OBTAINED  AT 

22  Bond-st,  New-York. 

By  this  method  the  TEETH,  GUMS,  ROOF,  and  HVGM 
of  the  MOUTH  are  all  truthfully  represented,  reflecting  those 
delicate  tints,  shades,  and  forms  peculiar  to  the  natural  or- 

f;ans,  thus  concealing  from  the  observer  the  human  agency 
n  forming  them.  This  we  do  positively  Accomplish,  as 
evinced  by  our  numerous  patrons.  The  natural  expression 
of  the  mouth,  and  original  contour  of  the  face  can  also  be 
restored,  which  rejuvenates  the  waning  cheek. 

A  descriptive  pamphlet  maybe  obtained  by  addressing 
DItS.  J.  ALLEN  &  SON,  as  above. 


GREAT    DISCOVERY. 

An  adhesive  preparation,  that  Is  insoluble  In  "Water  or  Oil 
and  that  will  stick  Patches  and  Linings  to  Boots  and  Shoes 
sufficiently  strong  without  stitching.  It  will  also  mend  broken 
Furniture,  Crockery,  Toys,  and  all  articles  of  Household  use 
effectually. 

mivrorvs 

INSOLUBLE    CEMENT, 

Supplied  in  packages  from  2  ounces  to  100  pounds.  It  is  a 
Liquid,  and  as  easily  applied  as  Common  Paste.  It  adheres 
Oily  Substances  firmly  and  complete!}'. 

Can  be  procured  at  wholesale  in  all  largo  cities,  and  at  re- 
tail throughout  the  country. 

HILTON  BROTHERS,  Proprietors,  Providence,  R.  I. 
"A  Good  Thing.— Having  occasion  the  other  day  to  use  a 
liquid  Cement,  we  tried  the  article  made  by  Hilton  Brothers, 
Providence,  and  found  it  to  work  to  a  charm.    We  therefore 
recommend  it."—  Woonsocket  Patriot,  Feb.  6, 1S63. 

CHAS.  RICHARDSON  &.  CO.,  01  Broad-st.,  Boston,  Mass., 
Agents  for  New-England. 
For  Bale  In  New- York  by 

HALL  &  RUCKEL,  218  Greenwich-st, 
H.  C.  OAKLEY,  11  Park  Row. 
T.  HARDY,  208  Broadway. 


$150. 


SEVKW    OCTAVE 
ROSEWOOD  PIANO-FORTES. 


$150. 


GROVESTEEN  &  CO.,  499  BROADWAY, 

Now  at  their  new  warerooms,  are  prepared  to  offer  to  the 
public  tlmir  new  enlakgkd  scalePiANo  Fortes,  with  Iron 
Frame,  Overstrung  Bass,  French  Grand  Action,  Harp  Pedal, 
etc  The  Grovestccn  Piano-fortes  received  the  highest 
award  over  all  others  at  the  World's  Fair,  and  for  five  suc- 
cessive years  at  the  American  Institute,  which  is  a  suf- 
ficient guarantee  of  their  excellence. 

Heavy  Mouldings,  Carved  Legs,  etc.,  $175  and  $200.  Rose- 
wood lops,  $10  extra.  "Warranted  for  five  ycarB.  Terms, 
net  cash. 

PIANOS,    MEEODEONS,    SEWING 
KIACIISNES, 

Also  APPLETON'S  CYCLOPEDIA  and  other  Books  sup- 
plied uii  the  most  reasonable  terms.  For  Circulars  and 
full  particulars  address  REV.  GEO.  G.  SAXE, 

37  Park  Row,  New-York. 

MME.  DEMOREST'S  MIRROR  OF  FASHIONS 
AND  JOURNAL  DU  GRANDE  MONDE,  universally 
acknowledged  the  largest  and  best  Fashion  Magazine  in  the 
world.  Circulation  30,000.  Published  quarterly  at  No.  473 
Broadway,  New- York.  Single  copies  25  cents,  yearly  $1, 
with  a  valuable  premium.  Sold  everywhere,  or  sent  by  mail, 
on  receipt  of  price. 

TRUSSES.— Radical  Cube 
of  Hernia  ok  Rupture.— Dr.  S.  N. 
Marsh,  of  the  well-known  house  of 
Marsh  &  Co.,  No.  2  Vesey-st„  Astor  House, 
opposite  the  church,  devotes  special  at- 
tention to  the  surgical  adaptation  of  his 
Radical  Cure  Truss.  Also  every  kind  of  Trusses,  Supporters, 
Shoulder  Braces,  Elastic  Stockings,  and  Mechanical  appli- 
ances for  Deformities.    (A  lady  attendant.) 

AVALUBLE  PREMIUM  TO  THE  YEARLY 
SUBSCIBERS  to  MME.  DEMOREST'S  MIRROR  OF 
FASHIONS.  Each  yearly  subscriber  to  be  entitled  to  50 
cents' worth  of  extra  patterns,  to  be  selected  from  the  de- 
signs in  the  Magazine— to  be  sent  by  mail  or  from  the  show- 
room, No.  473  Broadway,  New-York. 

Fruit  Boxes— Fruit  Boxes. 

THE  CHEAPEST  AND  BEST  IN  USE. 
Ilallock's  Patent.    Send  for  a  free  Circular  to 

N.  HALLOCK,  Queens  P.  O,  Queens  Co.,  N.  Y. 

THE  CRAIG  MICROSCOPE. 

This  is  the  best  and  cheapest  microscope 
in  the  world  for  general  use.  It  has  just 
received  the  First  Premium— Silver  Medal 
—at  the  Ohio  State  Agricultural  Fair.  It 
requires  no  focal  adjustment,  magnifies 
about  100  diameters,  or  10,000  times,  and  is 
so  simple  that  a  child  can  use  it.  It  will 
be  sent  by  mail,  postage  paid,  on  the  re- 
ceipt of  $2.25,  or  with  six  beautiful  mount- 
ed objects  for  Three  Dollars.  Address 
HENRY  CRAIG. 
132  Centre-st.,  New- York. 
Mr.  Hen"RY  Crato — Dear  Sir :  I  have  received  the  Micro- 
scope yon  forwarded  to  me.  and  am  welt  pleased  with  it.  It 
is  a  valuable  instrument,  one  that  should  be  in  the  house  of 
every  family,  where  they  can  appreciate  its  value.  The  study 
of  nature  is  one  that  is  interesting  and  useful.  Beiiig  in 
company  with  some  of  my  friends  the  next  day  after  I  re- 
ceived my  Microscope,  I  was  compelled  to  part  with  it. 

Please  find  inclosed  ¥2.25  for  another  of  your  Microscopes. 
Direct  to  Henry  V.  Space,  "White  House,  P.  O.,  Hunterdon 
Co.,  New-Jersey. 

Stammering, 

Cured  by  Bates'  Patent  Scientific  Appliances,  the  only 
known  means  for  the  rapicl  and  permanent  cure  of  stammer- 
ing. Stuttering,  &c. 

They  took  the  Prize  Medal  at  the  last  London  Exhibition, 
and  of  which  the  Illustrated  London  News,  2d  Aug.,  1862  says, 
"Mr.  Bates,  of  Philadelphia,  shows  some  small  and  ingenious 
instruments  for  the  treatment  of  stammering,  the  effect  of 
whicti  on  an  Individual  so  afflicted,  is  really  remarkable." 

For  pamphlets  and  drawings,  describing  the  same,  address 
H.  C.  L.  MEARS,  277  W.  23d  Meet,  New-York, 
P.  O.  Box  507G. 


Acknowledged   to   be  Superior  to 
all   Others. 

495  BROADWAY,  NEW-YORK. 
"Grover  &  Baker's  Is  the  best,"— Am.  Agriculturist. 

f^lREAT  INDUCEMENTS  TO  CANVASSERS 
\^K  to  procure  vearlv  subscribers  to  MME.  DEMOREST'S 
MIRROR  OP  FASHIONS,  hy  wliicn  any  person  ran  secure 
a  good  income.    For  particulars  send  stamp  for  circular. 


TOOL  CHESTS. 

WHAT    EVERY    FARMER    AND    AMATEUR 

should  have.— One  of  Parr's  Toot  Chests  fitted  up  with  com- 
plete sets  of  tools,  sharpened  and  set  read}  POT  use.  and 
packed  in  cases  for  shipping.  Boy's  size,  containing  44  tools, 
price  $9;  Gentlemen's  size,  containing  80  tools,  price  $22; 
Youth's,  containing  62  tools,  price  $14  ;  Planter's  and  Far- 
mer's, containing  92  tools,  price  $32;  also  smaller  chests  for 
Juveniles,  at  $2,  $3,  and  $4  each.  Shipped  on  receipt  of 
price.  Send  for  Circular,  giving  full  descriptions,  to  the 
manufacturer  GEO.  PARR,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Soxitlidown    Slieep.  . 

I  offer  for  sale  my  Flock  of  puke  blood  Southdown 
Sheep,  consisting  of 

28  Ewes,  2,  3,  and  4  years  old. 
2  Rams,  2  and  3  years  old. 

17  Ewe  Lambs,  six  weeks  old. 

18  Ram  Lambs      do.       do. 

The  Ewes  took  the  first  premium  at  the  TVestchestcr  Co. 
Agricultural  Fair  last  Fall.    Address 

WARREN  LELAND, 
Highland  Farm,  Rvc,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  or 
Metropolitan  Hotel,  New-York. 

ITALIAN    BEES. 

I  have  still  "two  genuine  Italian  Queens,"  from  my 
importation  of  March,  1861,  from  which  I  shall  continue  to 
breed  during  the  coming  season.  Orders  are  requested  to 
be  sent  in  as  early  as  possible. 

Price  for  a  queen  with  a  few  hundred  workers  $10.  Safe 
arrival  guaranteed.         C.  WM.ROSE,  63  Exchange  Place. 

Or  I  am  willing  to  sell  out  these  two  genuine  Queens  to 
any  person  that  will  offer  me  a  fair  price  for  them. 

Ayrshire  Cattle  for  Sale. 

The  Subscriber  having  a  herd  of  eighty-five  Ay  rehires— com- 
prising fifteen  bulls  and  seventy  cows  and  hellers— [all  ot 
which  were  either  imported  or  bred  by  himself]— oilers  at 
private  sale  several  of  both  sexes. 

Catalogues,  giving  a  description  of  each  animal,  may  be 
obtained'of  SANFOHD  HOWARD,  Office  of  Boston  Cultiva- 
tor, or  of  HENRY  H.  PETERS, 

Southborough,  Mass. 

npHOROUGH  BRED  AYRSHIRE    HEIFERS.— 

JL  Yearling,  two  and  four  years  old.  Thorough  bred  Devon 
Bulls,  two  and  three  years  old.  For  sale  by  ALFRED  M. 
TREDWELL,  Madison,  Morris  Co.,  N.  J. 


A 


LDERNEY    STOCK.    THIRTY  COWS,  HEI- 
FERS, and  heifer  calves  for  sale.    Apply  to 

JOHN  T.  NOKTON,  Trustee.  Farnnngton,  Conn. 


White  Face  Black  Spanish  Fowls,  bred  from  im- 
ported and  first  premium  stock,  for  sale  by  C.  H.  C'kos- 
bv,  Danbury,  Ct.— Also  Spanish  eggs  for  Bale. 

CHESTER  COUNTY  PIGS,  in  pairs  not  akin,  at 
reasonable  prices.    Stock  pure.       O.  J.  TILLSON, 

New  Paltz  Landing,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  V. 

SHARE'S  PATENT  COULTER  HARROW. 

HALSTED'S  PATENT  HAND  CULTIVATOR. 

PLOWS,  HARROWS,  AND   CULTIVATORS,  &C. 


MILLER'S  PATENT  HAY  PRESS  AND  STUMP 
PULLER. 


FARM  AND  GARDEN  IMPLEMENTS  of  all  kinds. 

FERTILIZERS,    GUANO,    BONE    DUST,    POU- 
DRETTE,  &C. 

GARDEN,    FIELD,    AND   FLOWER   SEEDS   IN 
GREAT  VARIETY. 

SEND  FOR  CIRCULARS. 
HAINES  &  PELL,  27  Couitlandt-st.,  New-York. 


126 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Apbil, 


FAIRBANKS 

SCAI.E     WAREHOUSE, 

REMOVED 


FROM  NO.  1S9  BROADWAY,  TO 

NO.  252  BROADWAY, 

DIRECTLY  OPPOSITE  THE  CITY  HALL. 

JAMES  L.  HAVEN  &.  CO., 

Manufacturers  of 

OHIO  CHIEF  KEAPEK  AMI  MOWER 

OHIO   PREMIUM  GRAIN  DWLLS. 

Bddgdbesi  ft  BftTea's  Patent 

NONPAHIF.L  MILLS 

IMPROVED  CONICAL  FREN'CH  B0UR  MILLS. 

CUMMING'S  PATENT  FODDER  CUTTERS. 

SANDFORD'S  PATENT  STRAW  CUTTERS. 

PORTABLE   CIDER  MILLS. 

SUGAR  CANE   MILLS. 

APPLE   PARERS. 

BUILDER'S  HARDWARE. 

CASTINGS. 

MALLEABLE    CASTINGS. 

AGENTS    WANTED. 

For  particulars  send  lor  Illustrated  Catalogue   and  Price 

List  to  JAS.  L.  HAVEN  &  CO., 

Nos.  113, 175  &  17?  West  2d.  St.,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Schenectady  Agricultural  Works. 
G.  WESTIXGHOCSE  &  CO.,  Proprietors. 

Send  for  a  Circular  containing  full  description  of  the  Un- 
equaled.  Lever,  and  Endless  Chain  Horse  Powers,  Threshers 
and  Cleaners,  Clover  Hullers,  Wood  Saws,  &c,  manufactured 
by  the  subscribers.    Address 

G.  Westinshouse  &  Co.,  Schenectady,  N.  Y. 


BUY     THE     BEST. 


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W 
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PS 
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1—4 

W 
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En 


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With  all  of  its  Valuable  Improvements 


j 

HAS    NO    EQUAL. 

Sizes    aratl   Prices   to    suit    all.      Order    early   and. 

avoid    disappointment. 

SEND    FOR     A    CIRCULAR. 

MANUFACTURED   BY 

JOHN  P.  ADEIANCE,  Po'kecpsie  and  New-York. 
CHILDS  &  WOODFORD,  Utica,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y. 
D.  A.  WOODBURY,  Rochester,  Monroe  Co.,N.  Y. 
HIRAM  CURTIS,  Albion,  Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y. 
HIRAM  DEATS,  Pittstown,  Hunterdon  Co.,  N.  J. 


C.  AULTMAN  &  CO.,  Canton,  Ohio. 
BUCKEYE  M.  M.  CO.,  Worcester,  Mass. 
H.  &  E.  F.  COOPER,  Watertown,  Jeff.  Co.,  N.  Y. 
G.  SWEET  &  CO.,  Dansville,  Livingston  Co.,  N.  Y. 
GEO.  P.  YORK,  Westfleld,  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y. 


ALLEN'S  PATENT  CYLINDER  PLOW. 


This  Plow  derives  its  name  from  the  form  of  the  mold  board,  which  is  a  segment  of  a  perfect  cylinder,  with  its  ends  cut 
In  the  style  of  ordinary  mold  boards.  Its  lines  are  thus  always  horizontal  to  the  surface  of  the  laud,  and  consequently  turn 
the  furrow  slice  with  the  same  uniformity  as  a  wheel  on  its  axle,  and  with  the  least  possible  friction.  The  friction  is  still 
farther  reduced,  by  the  peculiar  arrangement  of  the  points  or  shares,  and  land  side,  which,  combined  with  its  other 
improvements,  reduces  the  draft  from  onb-poukth  to  one- third  less  than  that  required  by  the  best  class  of  plows  now 
In  general  use.  For  lightness  of  draft,  simplicity  of  construction,  ease  of  holding,  and  certainty  of  turning  all  soils  of 
any  required  depth  and  width,  it  far  surpasses  any  other  plow. 

Price  of  No.  0,  is  $7.00 ;  No.  1,  is  $0.00 ;  No.  2.  is  $10 :  No.  3  is  $12 ;  with  one  extra  polished  share  for  each  plow.  Price,  ex- 
tra, of  Skim  or  Front  Plow,  $1.50 ;  Wrought  Side  Coulter  and  Clamp,  $1,25 ;  Wheel,  $1.00. 

All  the  above  Plows  are  polished,  strong,  and  highly  finished,  and  are  warranted  to  give  entire  satisfaction  when  prop- 
erly managed.    Polished  Steel  Plows  can  be  furnished  of  each  of  ttic  above  sizes. 

Also  every  style  of  the  latest  Improved  PLOWS,  HARROWS,  CULTIVATORS,  and  a  full  assortment  of  AGRICUL- 
TURAL and  HORTICULTURAL  IMPLEMENTS;  FIELD  and  GARDEN  SEEDS;  PERUVIAN  and  MANIPULATED 
GUANO;  SUPERPHOSPHATE,  guaranteed  to  be  the  best  in  the  market,  and  perfectly  reliable;  Poudrette;  Plaster  of 
Par's.  &&  R.  H.  ALLEN  &  CO., 

SUCCESSORS  TO  R.  L.  ALLEN.  189  &  101  WATER-ST.,  NEW  YORK. 


BAKER'S  PATENT  DOUBLE  PLOWING  MA- 
CHINE. 
CHICIIESl'ER'S  COMBINED  FURROWING,  COVERING, 
CULTIVATING,  HOKING,  HILLING,   and  POTATO  DIG- 
UINU  MACHINE.    MaiHlfirtured  and  sold  by 

GUIFFING,  BROTHER&CO- 
Send  for  Circular.  60  Courtlandl-st.,  New- York, 

1?AKM     AND     GARDEN      IMPLEMENTS     IN 
GREAT  VARIETY   at   the   North    River  Agricultural 
GRIPPING,  BROTHER  A'  CO.. 

00  Courtlandt-al.,  New-York. 


Warehouse. 


GEO.   W.   PARSONS, 

DEALER  IN 

Agricsiltm-al    Implements, 

SEEDS,  MACHINERY,  FERTILIZERS,  &C, 
110  Market-st.,  Harrishurg.  Pa. 
Farmers  in  Pennsylvania  can  obtain  from  this  establish- 
ment anything  in  the  line  of  Agricultural  Machinery,  Seeds, 
&c.,  that  1b  in  the. market,  at  short  notice,  and  on  tire  must 
favorable  terms.    Inquiries  promptly  attended  to. 


THE    "EXCELSIOR 

BUKR   STONE  MILLS, 


ANTI-FKICTION 

HOKSE    POWERS, 

Have  taken  the  highest  PnEsmjMS  whetceveh  eiiitbit- 
ed!  NINE  FIRST  PREMIUMS  being  received  from  West- 
ern State  Fairs  in  1861. 

THE  Jtnxi*  maybe  driven  by  horse,  irater,  or  steam 
poicer,  does  its  work  equally  as  well  ns  the  best  flat  stone  mills 
In  milling  establishments,  and  requires  but  one-half  the  power 
to  do  the  same  amount  of  work.  They  are  made  in  the  best 
manner,  and  will  last  thirty  years,  and  cost  nothing  for  re- 
pairs. 

THE  HORSE-POWER  runs  upon  iron  balls,  and 
requires  but  two  and  a  half  founds  draught  to  keep  it 
in  motion.  With  the  same  number  of  horses  it  will  do 
TWENTY-FIVE  PER  CENT,  more  work  than  ant  otiikh 
power  in  use. 

J3F~Every  Machine  is  guaranteed  to  give  satisfac- 
tion, OR  the  money  will  be  eefunded._^j 

Liberal  discount  to  dealers— Agents  wanted.    State,  Coun- 
ty, and  Shop  Rights  for  sale. 
For  Circulars  and  further  information  address 

E.  H.  BENNET,  Late  Bennet  Brothers, 

42  and  41  Greene-st..  New-York. 


MILL  STONE   DRESSING  DIAMONDS, 

Set  in  Patent  Protector  and  Guide. 

For  sale  by  JOHN  DICKINSON, 

Patentee  And  Sole  Manufacturer,  W  Nassan-at,  New-York. 
ALSO  Manufacturer  of  GLAZIER'S  DIAMONDS. 

Miller's  Patent  Hay  Press. 

■Worked  by  one  horse  will  bale  one  ton  of  hay  per  hour, 
not  exceeding  m  cost  50  cents  per  ton.  Can  be  worked  in 
any  ordinary  barn.  Also  Portable  Press,  worked  by  two 
men,  will  bale  hay  lor  if;  per  ton,  and  lias  more  than  double 
tliepower  of  anyotlur  portable  press  in  use.  Also  Miller's 
ROCK  AND  bTUMP  EXTRACTOR,  is  superior  to  any 
In  use. 

Addrew  DAVID  L.  MILLER. 

Madison,  Morris  Co.,  New-Jersey 


18G3.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


127 


CLARK'S    SORGO   JOURNAL. 

A  neat  little  monthly  of  Hi  large  Octavo  pages,  devoted  ex- 
clusively to  Northern  Sugar  Cane,  price  $1  p«*r  year, 
mailed.  Each  nnmher  worth  tlie  subscription  price  lor  a 
year  to  any  person  wishing  to  profit  by  the  experience  o 
others  in   tliis  important  branch  of  agriculture. 

In  ordering,  write  plainly  the  County  and  State,  as  well  as 
name  of  Post  Office  and  person.  wM.  II.  CLARK, 

Publisher  of  the  Sorgo  Journal,  Cincinnati,  O. 

AGENTS  WANTED  TO  TAKE  ORDERS  FOR 
VICTOR'S  HISTORY  of  the  Rebellion.  The  acknowl- 
edged Standard.  Endorsed  by  the  President,  Cabinet, 
Members  of  Congkess,  Governors,  Bancroft  the  His- 
torian, and  bv  the  Press  generally.  2  Vols,  now  ready.  Ex- 
pensively illustrated  with  steel  engravings.  Sold  by  Sub- 
scription only,  and  exclusive  territory  given  •  canvassers 
make  from  (oQ  to  $100  per  week.  Send  for  Circular  of  terms, 
&c.    Address  .       „     , 

ED  WD  F.  HOVEY,  l?  Sprucest.,  New- York. 

ONION  CULTURE-Third  (new)  Edition. 

This  work  comprises  in  32  pages  all  the  particulars  for  suc- 
cessful Onion  Culture,  from  Selection  of  Seed  to  Marketing 
the  Crop— being  the  practical  directions  given  by  seventeen 
experienced  Onion  Growers,  residing  in  different  parts  of  the 
country.  Price  21  cenls  (or  7  stamps),  sent  post-paid.  Ad- 
dress Publisher  of  Agriculturist. 

BOOKlii    FOR    FARMERS 
AND    OTHERS. 

[Any  of  the  following  books  can  be  obtained  at  the  of- 
fice of  the  Agriculturist  at  the  prices  named,  or  they  will  be 
forwarded  by  mail,  postpaid,  on  receipt  of  the  price.  Other 
books  not  named  in  the  list  will  be  procured  and  sent  to  sub- 
scribers when  desired,  if  the  price  be  forwarded.  All  of  these 
books  may  well  be  procured  by  any  one  making  up  a  libra- 
ry. Those  we  esteem  specially  val  uable,  a  re  marked  with  a  M 

American  Bird  Fancier ....  |0  25 

American  Farmer's  Encyclopedia 5  00 

American  Florist's  Guide        75 

American  Weeds  and  Useful  Plants"....   1  50 

Allen  on  the  Culture  o£  the  Grape   1  00 

Allen's  (R.  L.)  American  Farm  Book* 1  00 

Allen's  Diseases  of  Domestic  Animals 75 

Allen's  (L.  F.)  Rural  Architecture 1  25 

Bement's  (C.  N.)  Rabbit  Fancier  ...  60 

BouBsiugauItrs  £J.  B.)  Rural  Economy i  25 

Bridgeman's  Fruit  Culli  vator's  Man  mil 60 

Bridgeman'e  Young  Gardener's  Assistant,., 1  so 

Bridgeman's  Kitchen  Garden  Instructor 60 

Bridgeman'e  Florist's  Guide  60 

Brandt's  Ape  of  Horses*  (English  and  German) 50 

Breck'a  Book  of  Flowers i  25 

Browne's  American  Poultry  Yard 1  25 

BuiBt'fl  American  Flower  Garden  Directory  1  25 

Buist's  Family  Kitchen  Gardener" 75 

Central  Park  Guide 25 

Cliorl Ion's  Grape-Grower's  Guide* 60 

Cole's  (S.  W.)  American  Fruit  Book 60 

Cole's  Veterinarian 60 

Dadd's  (Geo.  H.)  Modern  Horse  Doctor 1  25 

Dadd's  (Geo.  H.)  American  Cattle  Doctor 1  25 

Dana's  Muck  Manual  for  Farmers 1  00 

Downing^  Cottage  Residences* 2  50 

Downing'*  Fruits  and  Fruit  Trees  Of  America**. 2  00 

Downing's  Ladies'  Flower  Garden . .,  l  50 

Eastwood  on  the  Cranberry*  50 

Employment  of  Women— By  Virginia  Penny* 1  50 

Every  Ladv  her  own  Flower  Gardener 50 

Fesaendeirs  American  Kitchen  Gardener 25 

French's  Farm  Drainage  * ;  25 

Field's  (Thomas  W.)  Pear  Culture 1  00 

Fisti  Culture 1  00 

Flint  (Charles  L.)  on  Grasses* 1  25 

Flint's  Milch  Cows  and  Dairv  Farming* 1  25 

Fuller's  Strawberry  Culturist 10 

Goodale's  Principles  of  Breeding 100 

Gray's  Manual  of  Botany 2  50 

Guenon  on  Milch  Cows ,  60 

Hall's  (Miss)  American  Cookery ]  00 

Harris'  Insects  Injurious  to  Vegetation,  plain 3  00 

do.       do.          do.                    do.         colored  plates.  4  00 

Herbert's  Hints  to  Horsekeepers*" 1  25 

Hooper's  Doc  and  Gun 25 

Johnson  on  Manures  75 

Kidder's  Bee  Culture .'. 50 

Langsti-oth  on  tlte  Honey  Bee*  1  50 

Leslie's  Recipes  for  Cooking 1  25 

Lcuchars'  Hothouses  1  25 

Lleblg's  Lectures  on  Chemistry 50 

Linslev's  (D.  C.)  Morgan  Horses 1  25 

Manual  of  Agriculture  by  G.  Emerson  and  C.  L.  Flint.  1  00 

Mavhew's  Illustrated  Horse  Doctor  3  00 

McMahon's  American  Gardener*. 2  50 

Meeh an's  Ornamental  Trees 75 

Milburn  on  the  Cow  and  Dairy. , 25 

Miles  on  the  Horse's  Foot 50 

Mistakes  of  Educated  Men 50 

Munn's  Land  Drainer. -. GO 

National  Almanac  and  Annual  Record 1  25 

Norton's  Scientific  Agriculture 75 

Olcott's  Sorgho  and  Imphee 1  00 

Our  Farm  of  Four  Acres..*....  (paper) 25 

Onion  Culture* 21 

Pardee  on  Strawberry  Culture 60 

Parlor  Gardener.. 65 

Parsons  on  the  Rose  1  25 

Peddcr's  Farmer's  Land  Measurer 50 

Phantom  Bouquet,  or  Skeleton  Leaves      100 

Phin's  Grape  Culture 1  25 

Ouinbv's  Mysteries  ot  Bee  keeping* 1  25 

Randall's  Sheep  Husbandry    1  25 

Richardson  on  the  Dog 50 

Richardson  on  the  Hog 25 

Robins'  Produce  and  Ready  Reckoner 60 

Rose  Culturist. 25 

Shepherd's  Own  Book 2  50 

Skillful  Housewife      25 

Smith's  Landscape  Gardening 1  25 

Spencer's  Education  of  Children"" 1  00 

Stewart's  (John)  Stable  Book 1  25 

Todd's  (S.  E.)  Young  Farmer's  Manual 1  25 

TttCker'a  Kegister  Rural  Affairs    25 

Turner's  Cotton  Planter's  Manual.... 1  25 

Warder's  Hedges  and  Evergreens*.     100 

"Watson's  American  Home  Garden 1  50 

Week's  (John  M.)  Manual  on  Bees 50 

Wood's  Class  Book  of  Botany 2  50 

Yale  College  Agricultural  Lectures 25 

Youatt  and  Spooner  on  the  Honse 1  25 

Youatt  and  Martin  on  Cattle 1  25 

Youatt  on  the  Hog 75 

Youstt  on  Sheep 75 

Youmans'  Household  Science  1  00 


The   Cranberry  and  its  Culture. 

The  Subscriber  has  issued  a  circular  from  the  press,  treat- 
ing on  the  Cranberry  and  its  Culture.  Said  Circular  will 
give  persons  the  proper  information  as  to  the  commence- 
ment of  the  culture.  He  will  lake  pleasure  in  forwarding 
them  to  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  to  those sendingstamp 
to  pay  postage.  Persons  wishing  plants  in  large  or  6mall 
quantities,  may  receive  them  by  express,  for  wet  or  dry  soil. 
Address  GEORGE  A.  BATES, 

Bellingham,  Norfolk  Co.,  Mass. 

ASS  BARK  OR   MATTING— FOR  BUDDING 
and  Tying   Purposes.    Price  20  cts.  per  pound,  $18  per 
100  pounds.    For  sale  by         SHEPPAKD  it  SEWARD, 

214Pearl-st.,  New-York. 


R 


USSIA  OR  BASS  MATS,  SELECTED  EX- 
UMj  nressly  for  budding  find  tying,  GUNNY  BAGS, 
TWINES,  HAY  HOl'ES,  jka,  suitable  lor  Nursery  purposes, 
for  sale  in  lols  to  suit,  by  D.  TV.  M  AN  WAllING, 

Importer,  248  Front-st..  New-York. 

TO  FARMERS 

AND     OTHERS. 

"We  are  manufacturing  a  Genuine  Article  of  Fink,  Medi- 
um,  and  Coarse  BONE  DUST,  or  RAW  BONE  SU- 
PERPHOSPHATE OF  LIME,  manufactured  from 
unburned  Bones,  containing  all  the  Animal  and  Chemical 
Fertilizing  Properties.  Please  address  the  Manufacturers, 
and  get  the  Intrinsic  Value  of  your  money. 
M.  B.  A  Liberal  Discount  made  to  Dealers  for  Cash, 
Address  A.  LISTER  &  BUO., 

Tarry  town,  Westchester  Co..  N.  T„ 
Or  Newark.  N.  J. 

PURE   GROUND   BONE. 

Farmers  and   Dealers  will  do  well  to  send  in   their  orders 
for  BOXE  early,  as  the  demand  is  heavy.     We  will  give  you 
a  PUKE  AKTfCLE.     North  Uiver  Agricultural  Warehouse. 
GRIPPING,  BEOTHKR&  CO., 

60  Courtlandt-st„  New- York. 

&  XT  A  TV  O. 

CALIFORNIA  AND  PATOS  ISLAND  GUANO,  rich  in 
ammonia  and  phosphates,  of  which  we  are  sole  importers; 
also  the  celebrated  ICHABOE.  All  for  sale  in  lots  to  suit 
purchasers.    Apply  to       WAKEMAN,  DIMON  &  CO., 

73  South-st.,  New-York. 

Believed  tobe  the  best  and  cheapest  manure  in  the  market. 
As  it  can  not  be  kept  in  store,  and  a  considerable  quantity 
has  tobe  brought  from  the  factory  at  a  time,  I  will  receive 
orders  deliverable  ahead.  Price  $25  per  ton,  2000  lbs.,  packed 
in  barrels.  Order  soon.— Bone-Dust,  Superphosphate,  Guano, 
Plaster,  &C  JOHN  VANDERBILT, 

23  Fulton-st.,  New-Tork. 

POUDRETTE. 

Farmers  and  Dealers  supplied  with  a  pure  article. 
Send  for  Farmers'  Agricultural  Almanac  for  the  year  1863. 
GRIFFING,  BROTHER  &  CO.. 

60  Courtlandt-st.,  New- York. 

B  A  TJ  G  H '  S 

RAW    BONE 

SUPERPHOSPHATE  OF  LIME. 

1£AV4»II    &    SONS, 

MANUFACTURERS  AND  PROPRIETORS, 

No.  20  South  Delaware  Avenue, 

PHILADELPHIA. 

This  Manure  is  manufactured  from  pure  Raw  Bones,  and 
warranted  to  contain  all  their  original  organic  matter— no 
burned  or  calcined  bones  are  used,  and  it  is  sold  under  a  guar- 
anty from  the  manufacturers  that  it  is  free  from  adulteration. 

B3?~Last  season  the  demand  for  this  manure  exceeded  that 
of  any  former  one,  and  with  few  exceptions  the  results  have 
been  highly  favorable.  No  pains  will  be  spared  to  maintain 
its  standard  of  popularity.  |J3?~sexd  in  you  r  orders  early. 

Price,   $4©  per    2,000  11>s.,   Cash. 

RHODES  SUPER-PHOSPHATE, 

THE  STANDARD  MANURE. 

Prepared  from  Bones  treated  with   Sulphuric  Acid,  uniform 

in  quality  and  regular  in  price. 

OATS,  CORN,  TOBACCO,  AND  ROOT  CULTURE, 
ALSO   TOP-DRESSING'   ON   THE   GROWING    WHEAT. 

"RHODES' "—the  long  established  MANURE  in  die  Amer- 
ican market,  besides  having  European  reputation,  can  not 
be  excelled  for  the  ahove  seasonable  crops. 

Our  usual  large  stock  now  ready  for  delivery.  Dealers  and 
farmers  apply  to    HENRY  E.  MoRING.  General  Agent, 

9?  Pearl-st.,  near  Hanover  Square,  New- York. 

Or  B.  M.  RHODES  &  CO., 
82  South-st.,  Bowly's  "W hart,  Baltimore,  Md. 

COE'S  SUPERPHOSPHATE  OF  LIME. 
Pure  Bone  Dust. 

The  exborbitant  price  of  Peruvian  Guano,  makes  these  the 
cheapest  and  best  fertilizers  which  the  farmers  can  use. 
OTHEK  FERTILIZEUS  OF  AXL  KIN'DS. 

K.  H.  ALLEN  &  CO.. 
New-York  Agricultural  Warehouse  and  Seed  Store, 
189  &.  191  Water-st.,  New-York. 


HOYT'S  AMMONIATED  BONE  SUPERPHOS- 
PHATE OF  LIME.    A  Substitute  for  Peruvian  Guano. 
Sold  at  wholesale  ami  retail  by 

GRIFFING.  BROTHER  &  CO., 

60  Coartlaudt-st.,  New-TorK 


100,000    BARRELS 


L0DI    MANUFACTURING  COMPANY'S 


POUDRETTE 


FOR   SALE    BY 

JAMES  T.  FOSTER, 

66  COURTLANDT-ST., 
NEW-YORK. 


In  lots  to  suit  purchasers.  This  Company  have  the  largest 
capital  and  factory  of  the  kind  in  the  world,  and  possess  the 
best  facilities  for  manufacturing  the  night  soil  of  New-York 
City,  for  which  they  have  the  exclusive  contract,  into  a  dry, 
inodorous,  but  powerful  manure— superior  to  any  other  fer- 
tilizer in  market,  taking  cost  and  yield  into  consideration. 
Price  §1.130  per  barrel,  free  from  cartage,  for  any  quantity 
over  7  barrels— or  only  $  16  per  ton. 

C3T"  Beware  of  spurious  imitations,  put  up  in  barrels  to  re- 
resemble  this  Company's  brand. 

Attention  is  called  to  the  following  letter  from  a  farmer: 

Farmington,  N.  H„  October  9, 1862. 
James  R.  Dry,  Esq.,  President  Lodi  Manufacturing  Co. 

For  several  years  past  I  have  used  as  a  fertilizer,  the  Lodl 
Manufacturing  Co.'s  Poudrette.  I  commenced  in  1HT.9.  I 
thru  had  a  tenant  carrying  on  my  farm  upon  shares.  He 
agreed  to  use  such  artificial  means  as  I  should  furnish  free 
of  expense  to  him,  but  he  had  but  little  faith  in  am  thing  but 
barn-yard  manure.  I  purchased  some  Poudrette.  He  look 
it  fro  in  the  freight-house ;  opened  it;  came  to  me  with  eyes 
wide  open,  and  said,  "you  have  got  cheated,  this  stiff 
is  NOTHING  but  dirt."  I  told  him,  "I  supposed  I  had;  it 
was  nothing  new;  I  was  in  the  habit  of  getting  cheated,  but 
as  it  cost  him  nothing,  I  wanted  him  to  use  it. 

"We  had  a  piece  of  poor,  sandy  loam  land,  which  he  plant- 
ed with  potatoes,  without  manure.  He  put  Poudrette  m  Hie 
hills  eight  rows,  then  omitted  eight  rows,  and  then  put  lime 
in  the  hill,  as  he  had  a  mind  to  try  that. 

The  result  was.  that  where  the  Poudrette  was  put,  the  po- 
tatoes came  up  three  or  four  days  before  the  others.  The 
tops  were  twice  the  size  during  the  season,  and  at  harvest 
ing  we  measured  two  lots  of  each,  one  of  which  the  Poudrette 
gave  twice  the  quantity  of  potatoes,  and  the  other  in  the 
proportion  of  rive  to  three. 

The  lime  had  no  perceptible  effect. 

We  had  a  piece  of  corn  land,  sandy  loam,  (my  tillage  land 
is  sandv  and  gravelly  loam,)  the  corn  had  a  liberal  dressing, 
say  ten  cords  of  barn  dung  to  Hie  acre,  spread  upon  grass 
land,  a  part  ploughed  in  the  fall  before,  the  balance  in  the 
spring.  The  tenant  prepared  a  compost  to  put  in  the  hill,  a 
mixture  of  night  soil,  hog  manure  and  loam  well  mixed,  se- 
veral times  shovelled  over,  and  well  incorporated  together 
This  was  put  in  the  hill.  In  eight  rows  through  the  middle 
of  the  niece,  this  was  omitted  and  Poudrette  was  substituted 
instead.  The  result  was,  the  Poudrette  brought  the  corn  up 
sooner,  of  a  better  color,  and  at  the  end  of  two  weeks  alter 
it  came  up,  nearly  twice  as  large,  and  it  maintained  it  a 
head  and  shoulder  above  the  other  during  the  season.  At 
harvi-sling,  we  measured  the  corn,  and  where  we  got  five 
bushels  with  the  compost,  we  had  six  bushels  with  the 
Poudrette. 

This  satisfied  me,  and  convinced  my  unbelieving  tenant 
that  it  was  something  besides  dirt.  I  have  used  it  with 
whatever  I  plant  ever  since,  and  shall  continue  to  do  so,  aa 
long  as  it  maintains  its  character,  and  is  furnished  at  reason- 
able prices.  We  sometimes  think  we  save  an  entire  crop  ot 
corn  by  the  use  of  Poudrette,  in  case  of  early  frost,  as  it 
brings  the  crop  to  maturity  at  least  a  week  earlier. 

There  has  been  an  increasing  demand  here  since  it  has 
been  introduced,  and  from  my  own  observation,  and  the  in- 
formation of  others,  I  think  it  docsaswellon  upland  soils, 
as  upon  sandv  loam.  I  have  not  been  so  particular  since  my 
first  experiment,  but  every  year  1  left  a  few  rows  so  as  to  be 
sure  that  it  maintains  its  character.  The  present  year  there 
is  a  very  marked  difference  in  the  appearance  of  a  few  rows 
left  without  the  Poudrette,  in  a  piece  of  corn  not  yet  har- 
vested. The  appearance  of  your  Poudrette  to  one  not  ac- 
customed to  it,  is  not  very  flattering.  I  will  relate  an  anec- 
dote on  this  point.  In  18<>0  I  prevailed  upon  a  neighbor  to 
try  a  couple  of  barrels,  for  which,  I  think,  he  paid  me  $4.20. 
He  informed  me  afterwards,  that  he  took  it  into  his  field  all 
alone,  and  opened  it:  said  he,  I  said  to  myself,  if  some  one 
will  come  along  and  give  me  a  dollar,  he  shall  have  both 
barrels.  No  one  coming  along,  he  tried  it,  and  has  used  it 
every  season  since,  and  thinks  very  highly  of  its  fertilizing 
qualities.  Some  of  mv  neighbors  have  said  to  me,  that  they 
thought  if  had  been  worth  to  them  ?5  per  barrel.  I  have  used 
other  fertilizers,  such  as  Guano.  Superphosphate,  &c,  most 
of  which  are  beneficial,  but  none  come  fairly  up  to  the  Pou- 
drette. One  particular  advantage  Poudrette  has  over  other 
fertilizers  is,  tiiat  the  smell  is  not  otleusivc,  and  it  will  not 
kill  the  seed. 

And  again,  it  is  not  so  expensive.  My  method  is,  to  pit 
it  in  the  hill  with  the  seed.  A  quart,  by  measure  is 
ample  for  ten  hills,  at  which  rate  a  barrel  will  manure  a  thou- 
sand hills.  I  have  known  it  to  do  well  when  a  less  quantity 
was  used.  I  think  nothing  else  should  he  put  with  it.  It  is 
a  light  matter  to  put  it  in  the  hill  with  the  hand,  as  a  person 
can  drop  it  faster  than  a  boy  can  drop  corn.  And  it  does 
not  require  the  large  hole  necessary  to  put  in  dung  or  com- 
post, and  is  a  protection  against  the  wire  worm. 
Respectfully  yours, 

GEO.  L.  TVIIITEHOUSE. 

The  Company's  pamphlet,  containing  directions  for  use 
and  other  valuable  information,  will  be  sent  free  to  any  one 
applying  for  the  same.  Address 

J.  T.  FOSTER, 
Care  of  the  Lodi  Manufacturing  Co. 


128 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


Contents  for  April  1863. 


Advertisers— Special  Request  to 104 

Analysis  of  Soils  and  Plants 114 

Apple?— What  kind  to  Plant 115 

Bens — Apiary  in  April 101 

Beets— Large  for  Stock  or  Sugar 115 

BoysandGirls'  Columns— Editor  with  his  Young  Read* 
ers— Flying  Foxes— Blue  Birds  —  Confiding  Birds; 
Pleasing  Incident— A  Mysterious  Black  Cat— Boys 
and  Girls'   Garden— Problems...3  Illustrations..  120-21 

Buying— A  Good  Time  for 104 

Clocks— Cleaning     117 

Cloves  and  Allspice Illustrated  .117 

Coffee  Substitute 118 

Cooking  Hints— Railroad  Cake— Soda  Biscuit— Apple 
Pudding— Corn  Bread  Coffee— Economical  Wheat 
Bread— Potato  Yeast— Boiled  Wheat— To  Boil  Eggsl19 

Corn  Marker— Improvements  on 112 

Crops— Reports  on  State  of  104 

Dog  Question— Botli  Sides  of 110 

Ergot  or  Spurred  Rye   Illustrated.  .1(15 

Exhibition— Strawberry— $5U  in  Premiums 101 

Farm  Work  for  April 97 

Flax  Culture— Notes  on.. Ill Illustrated..  110 

Flower  Garden  and  Lawn  in  April 108 

Flowers— Perennials— Good  Selection 117 

Fra ft  Garden  in  April 100 

Fruits  Bottled— Success  in  Keeping  119 

Fruits— Small— Good  Varieties 101 

Garden— Kitchen  in  April 99 

Grape  Trellises Illustrated..  116 

Grape  Vines— Propagation  by  Grafting 3  Ulustr..  .116 

Grass  Lands— Seeding 106 

Green  and  Hot-Houses  in  April 101 

Harness — Care  of Ill 

Healing  Association  Humbug 119 

Horses — Lampas  in 110 

Humbugs— Notes  on  a  Few 104 

Insects— Are  Earthworms  Injurious  ? 113 

Insects — Tobacco  Worm 3  Illustrations . .  108 

Lantern  Blinks  XXXIII.— A  Bachelor  Farmer Ill 

Letter  from  a  Housekeeper 118 

Lime— Notes  on  Using 107 

Linch  Pin  Extractor Illustrated.  .105 

Losses  Turned  to  Profit 114 

Manure— How  to  Stop  a  Leak 112 

Market  Fairs    106 

Market  Reports 121 

Orchard  and  Nursery  in  April 98 

Peaches— Treatment  for  the  Yellows 115 

Pears— Late  Profitable 116 

Peas— Cultivating  Early 115 

Plowing — Importance  of  Good Illustrated.  .112 

Plum  Knot — Observations  on 4  Illustrations.  .113 

Premium  List — Changes  in 104 

Premiums — Good  Grape  Vine 104 

Potatoes— What  they  are Illustrated. .  117 

Poultry— Profits  of  Hens Ill 

Rats— Relief  Wanted 119 

Roller— Field  ;  Home-made Illustrated.  .105 

Seed  Distribution— Special  Notice 104 

Shoeing  a  Family — Western  Life 118 

Sowing  Early — Objections  to 115 

Stockings — Strengthening  Woolen 118 

Strawberries — Cultivating  with  Grapes 116 

Suggestions  and  Notes  for  A  full.  .-  Illustrated  .108 

Sunday  School  Question  Book— New  Edition 121 

Sweet  Potato  Culture 114 

Tobacco  Book— Prize 104 

Tobacco  Culture — Prize  Essay Illustrated.  .73 

Tomatoes— Starting  Early 114 

Wisconsin  Farming— Notes  on.. 106 

INDEX    TO    "BASKET,"    Oil  SHORTER   ARTICLES. 


Agricultural  Bureau 1011 

Apple  Pomace  for  Feed.l02| 
Apple,  Sweet  and  Sour. .102: 
Apples  from  Sprouts.  ...I02| 
Apples  in  So.  Illinois...  102 

Apples— Strawberry 102; 

Apples, Stocks  for  Dwarfs  102! 

Ashes— Coal .1021 

Beans,   Lima 103 1 

Bees— Italian 102| 

Beet— Large  1021 

Books— Prices  of 128 

Bouquet— Fine 1031 

Butter  and  Cheese  in  VU03J 
Catalogues,  Nursery ..  ..1031 

Cherries  for  Iowa 1031 

Coon  Hunting,  Good 102 

Corn— Binders  for 102 

Corn,  Giving  good  Start  102 
Corn,  Protect  from  Birdsl02 

Cotton  in  Illinois 102| 

Crop  for  Drained  Land..l02| 
Cucumber  Seeds,  Saving. 103, 
Drill— Seed— English..  102| 
Exhibition,  InternutionallOSI 
Exhibitionsin  Prospect..  104| 

Flax  Seed 102| 

Grafting  Wax 103J 

Grain -Average  Yield. ..102. 

Grape— Creveling 103 

Grape  Cuttings  103 

Grape  Vines — Bleeding. . 1 03 1 
Grape  Vines,  Inarching.  103| 
Grapes,  Keeping 103| 


Grass, Seeding  Bare  Spntsl02 
Giass,  Specimen  Named. 102 

Hedges— Willow 103 

Hungarian  Grass 102 

Milkweed 103 

Nectarines 103 

Orchard— Treatment  of..l03 
Osage  Orange  Seed  ...  103 
Peach  Trees,  Ashes  for. 102 

Pear  Stocks 103 

Persimmons 103 

Plant  Named 103 

Potatoes— Garnet  Chili.. 102 

Poultry  Disease  102 

Rabbits  in  Orchards 103 

Radish,  Black  Spanish..  103 
Seed,  Quantity  per  Acre.  102 
Seeds,  Notes  on  New....  103 
Sheep,  Blind  Staggers.. .  102 
Sheep,  Foot  Rot  Remedyl02 
Sheep,  Grub  in  the  Head. 102 

Sheep,  Poisoned 102 

Shrub,   Named 103 

Soot  in  the  Garden 193 

Sorghum  Seed 103 

Sugar,  Beet  in  Illinois.  ..102 
Sweet  Potatoes,  KcepinglOS 

The  Weather 101 

Trees  from  Cuttings 102 

Tuberoses.     103 

Turnips,  Weightof 103 

Vineland  Lands  ...101 
Wine  Plant— English... .101 
Willow— White 103 


Hook*  Hfot  Advanced. — By  reference  to 
Hie  list  on  page  127,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  prices  remain 
the  same  for  April  as  for  March,  with  two  or  three  ex- 
ceptions. Several  are  struck  out  because  no  longer  is- 
sued, and  some  additions  are  made.  This  list  Is  good 
only  for  the  month  in  which  it  appears,  as  during  the 
scarcity  of  paper  publishers  are  continually  advancing 
prices,  and  suspending  publication  of    many  books. 


The  fallowing  Premiums  will  be  continued  through 
the  month  of  April.    See  UT.  IS.  below,  and  page  104. 

GOOD  GRAPES 

FOR 
EVERYBODY. 

Here  is  a  Special  OfTer  that   will   interest 
a  very  largo  number  of  our  readers. 

During  the  past  year  we  have  had  grown  and  selected  a 
choice  stock  of  vines  of  the  best  two  grapes  for  general 
culture  now  known,  viz.:  the  Delaware  and  Concord. — Our 
successful  experience  in  sending  out  40,000  Strawberry 
plants  by  mail,  all  over  the  country,  and  without  a  dozen 
cases  of  failure,  lias  demonstrated  that  with  the  same 
care  in  putting  up  and  mailing,  we  can  send  grape  vines 
in  the  same  manner.  We  therefore  offer  to  send  these 
vines  as  premiums  to  all  who  will  forward  subscribers  to 
the  American  Agriculturist.  (See  conditions  below.) 
We  believe  almost  every  one  can  find  two  or  more 
neighbors  or  others,  who  will  subscribe  for  the  paper 
if  its  merits  and  cheapness  are  properly  brought  to 
their  notice  by  some  one  who  has  read  the  paper  and  can 
speak  from  experience  of  its  value.  It  is  now  the  cheap- 
est journal  in  the  country— with  its  many  carefully  pre- 
pared articles  for  the  Farm,  Garden,  Household,  and  the 
Young  People.  Though  constantly  making  improvements 
—and  though  printing  paper  and  other  expenses  are  near- 
ly doubled— we  keep  it  at  the  old  price  of  $1  a  year.  (The 
purchase  of  a  large  stock  of  paper  in  advance,  and   the 

great  increase  in  subscriptions  enable  us  to  do  this.) 

The  vines  we  offer,  are  not  only  good  ones,  but  they  are 
of  the  best  two  sorts    for  general  culture,    viz.:    the 

Delaware  and.  Concord.. 

The  Delaware  is  universally  conceded  to  be  the 
best  flavored  grape,  and  taking  into  account  all  its  good 
qualities,  it  is  placed  highest  on  the  list  in  many  parts  of 
the  country.  The  scarcity  and  high  price  of  the  vines 
have  hitherto  prevented  their  general  diffusion,  (Less 
than  three  years  ago  we  paid  $3  each  for  our  first  stock 
of  vines,  and  very  small  ones  at  that.) 

The  Concord  is  a  very  early  grape,  adapting  it  to 
cultivation  much  further  north  than  the  Isabella  and 
most  others.  It  is  exceedingly  productive  and  vigorous, 
and  thrives  even  under  neglect.  It  has  been  thoroughly 
tested,  East  and  West,  and  though  some  think  it  not  equal 
in  flavor  to  the  Delaware,  it  is  pronounced  very  good  by 
all.  For  general,  careless  culture,  under  all  circum- 
stances, we  place  the  Concord  first  on  the  list.  Most 
others  put  the  Delaware  far  before  it.  (See  report  of  the 
Fruit  Growers'  Meeting,  on  pages  82-3  last  month.) 
Our  advice  therefore  is,  that  all  who  can  do  so,  should 
get  one  or  more  vines  of  each  variety,  and  afterward 
multiply  the  kind  that  proves  by  experience  to  be  best 
suited  to  their  individual  locations,  soils  and  preferences. 
We  offer  to  send    these  Grape  Vines  on  the  following 

CONDITIONS:— On  and  after  MarcU  1st, 
(not  before),  to  those  sending  Subscribers 
to  tUe  American  Agriculturist  for  Volume 
XXII.  (1S63)  at  One  Dollar  each,  we  will 
forward,  securely  packed  and  post-paid: 
For  Two  Subscribers  at  $1  each,  1    Vine. 

For  Five  Subscribers  at  SI  each,  :i  Vines. 

For  Eiglif  Subscribers  at  $1  each,  5  Vines. 

For  Ten  Subscrioers  at  $1  each,  IO  Vines. 

And  for  over  ten  subscribers,  one  vine  for  each 
name.  We  specially  request  that  the  names  of  any 
club  for  the  vines  be  all  sent  at   the  same  time. 

C£gr*  Those  sending  for  premium  vines  can  make 
their  own  choice:  if  for  one  vine,  which  kind;  if  for 
two  orrnore,  what  number  of  each,  and  give  in  full  the 
Post  Office  address  to  which  they  are  to  be  sent. 

N.  B.— 1.  The  above  premiums  are  only  for  subscribers 
sent  in  on  or  after  March  1st,  and  will  only  continue  open 
so  long  as  our  supply  lasts.  Probably  however  the 
supply  will  hold  out  through  the  month  of  April,  and 
perhaps  as  long  into   May  as  it  will  do  to  mail  the  vines. 


2.  These  premiums  are  special  ;  no  other  premiums  of 
any  kind  will  be  paid  on    names   sent  for  these  vines. 

3.  The  mailing  of  the  vines  will  commence  March  87th, 
and  continue  until  May  1st,  or  later,  according  to  the  lo- 
cality to  which  they  are  sent.  To  all  who  apply  early 
enough,  a  Circular  Letter  will  be  sent  out  about  a  week 
in  advance,  stating  the  time  the  plants  will  be  mailed 
to  them.  The  Circular  will  also  give  directions  for  the 
treatment  of  the  vines,  with  hints  on  culture,  etc.  The 
plants  going  furthest  South,  will  of  course  be  sent 
first,  and  those  furthest  North  the  latest;  but  every  ap- 
plication will  be  entered  In  order,  as  soon  as  it  comes  to 
hand,  so  that  no  one  will  be  unMipplied,  who  applies  be- 
fore  the  entire  stock  of  vines  is  exhausted. 

It  will  of  course  he  a  pleasure,  as  well  as  for  our  in- 
terest in  the  future,  to  have  every  vine  a  good  one,  put 
up  carefully  and  in  the  best  manner,  and  to  have  it  re- 
ceive such  care  and  attention  as  to  make  it  give  entire 
satisfaction.  As  stated  above,  we  have  within  a  year 
past  mailed  40,000  strawberry  plants,  and  have  not 
heard  of  half  a  dozen  cases  of  failure  or  dissatisfaction. 
We  hope  for  equally  good  success  with  the  Grape  Vines. 

J8ST  Special  to  Subscribers  in  Canada, 
and  on  the  Pacific  Coast.— There  will  be  con- 
siderable risk  in  sending  vines  to  the  Pacific  Coast  after 
April  1st.  The  practice  of  some  of  the  Postmasters  in 
the  Canadas  and  other  British  Provinces,  of  charging  20 
cents  an  ounce,  after  the  United  States  postage  is  pre- 
paid, will  prohibit  sending  these  vines  there,  except  when 
they  can  be  sent  to  a  United  States  Post-Office  near  the 
Line,  or  be  sent  by  express.  When  eight  or  more  are  sent 
together,  they  can  frequently  go  by  express.  We  do  not 
advise  planting  the  Delaware  in  New-Brunswick,  Nova 
Scotia,  Lower  Canada,  or  in  Upper  Canada,  except  south 
of  Lake  Ontario.  The  Concord  will  often  thrive  further 
North;  and  in  favorable  locations,  the  Delaware  also. 
■ -~~* —      ■■■ •— 

Supplying;    l^ost    Numbers  of    the 

Agriculturist,— To  several  inquirers.  —  When  we 
have  mailed  the  papers  carefully  and  correctly  as  we  al- 
ways strive  to  do,  our  legal  responsibility  ceases.  But 
our  custom  is  to  send  a  duplicate  copy  where  the  first 
has  been  lost  by  mall,  or  has  been  injured  by  using  it  as 
a  specimen  in  securing  subscribers — not  when  injured  by 
lending  to  those  who  never  subscribe.  When  specially 
desired,  a  specimen  copy  is  supplied  for  canvassing.  Pa- 
per is  too  costly  to  send  out  specimen  copies  at  random. 
With  the  aboVe  exceptions,  10  cents  is  charged  for  extra 
copies,  of  the  current  or  past  volumes. — We  can  not  send 
numbers  or  volumes   prior  to  volume   16,  (1557). 


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AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST, 

FOR  THE 

Farm,    Grardexi,    a,xid_   Household. 


"AGRICULTURE  18  T1IE  MOST  HEALTHFUL,  MOST  USEFUL,  AND  MOST  NOBLE  EMPLOYMENT  OF  HAN."-Wiii» 


ORANGE     JUDD,     A.M., 

EDITOR    AND    PROPRIETOR 
Office,    41   Park  Row,    (Times  Buildings.) 


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VOLUME  XXII— No.  5. 


NEW-YORK,     MAY,     18G3. 


NEW  SERIES-No.  106. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1S63,  by 
Okange  Junn,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of 
the  United  States  for  the  Southern  District  of  New- York. 
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slljliii  life- 

Suggestions  and  Notes  for  the  Month. 

'  The  meanest  herb  we  trample  in  the  field, 
Or  in  the  garden  nurture,  when  its  leaf 
In  Autumn  dies,  forebodes  another  Spring, 
And  from  short  slumber  wakes  to  life  again. 
Man  wakes  no  more  !  Man,  peerless,  valiant,  wise, 
Once  chilled  by  death,  sleeps  hopeless  in  the  dust.' 
******  *         ,.         » 

Says  the  desponding  lay,  '  Man  wakes  no  more'  ? 
O  blind  !  who  read'st  not  In  the  teeming  soil, 
The  freshening  meadow,  and  the  bursting  wood, 
A  nobler  lesson  !  *  k  He  whose  providence  the  change 
Of  day  and  night,  and  seasons  crowned  with  food, 
And  health  and  peace  proclaimed  ;  bade  Nature's  hand 
Point  to  the  scenes  of  dim  futurity. 
He  on  a  world,  in  Gentile  darkness  lost, 
Pitying  looked  down  :  He  to  bewildered  man 
Bade  Spring,  with  annual  admonition,  bold 
Her  emblematic  taper —Gisborne's  Forest  Walks. 

How  often  does  a  "  doubting  Thomas,"  in 
these  days,  desire  to  strengthen  his  faith  by- 
witnessing  a  miracle  with  his  own  eyes.  But 
he  has  only  to  open  his  eyes  to  see  a  world  of 
miracles.  The  tree,  lately  so  dormant,  with  its 
naked  trunk  and  apparently  lifeless  branches, 
is  now  developing  its  beautiful  foliage,  made  up 
of  myriads  of  leaves,  each  one  a  new  creation 
— a  miraculous  product  of  the  limpid  blood  that 
rises  from  the  dank  soil  and  courses  the  capillary 
veins  of  the  trunk.  We  can  tell  whence  grow 
the  leaves,  and  describe  their  various  forms  in 
classifying  terms,  but  how  does  the  leaf  grow  1 
Can  anything  short  of  an  ever-present  guiding 
hand  marshal  the  elements  into  their  proper 
rank  and  file,  and  allot  to  each  one  its  place  as 
a  constituent  of  the  leaf,  so  that  each  tree  shall 
bear  leaves  after  its  kind  ?  The  tiny  seed,  by 
accident  or  design,  is  buried  in  the  eoil — a  mass 
of  sandy  clay;  how  is  it,  that  surrounded  with 
materials  so  forbidding,  it  feeds  and  grows,  and 
produces  a  plant  so  exactly  like  the  parent  one  ? 
The  manner  of  the  growth  is  illustrated  on 
another  page  (153),  but  of  the  why  and  bow, 
who  can  tell  ?    How  and  why  is  it  that  from 


similar  seeds,  plants  so  diverse  in  form  are  pro- 
duced ?    Take  the  cabbage  and  turnip  seed  for 
example.     These  are  almost  exactly  alike,  yet 
one  yields  the  great  leaves  and  the  central  head 
above  the  surface,  while  the  other,  planted  by 
its  side  and  feeding  upon  the  same  materials, 
developes  its  most  valuable  portion  below.  The 
seeds  are  so  much  alike  in  form,  in  structure, 
in  the  enclosed  germ,  and  in  the  development 
of   the  radicles  and  leaves,  that  even  the  ex- 
perienced eye  can  discern  no  difference.     Why 
does  the  after  growth,  from  the  same  soil  ele- 
ments, differ  so  widely?    Illustrations  innumer- 
able are  ever  to  be  observed,  by  the  dwellers 
among  rural  scenes.     Is  there  not  enough  in  the 
diverse  forms  and  growth  of  vegetable  life,  to 
constantly  fill  with  pleasure  the  mind  of  every 
tiller  of  the  soil,  as  he  labors  amid  ten  thousand 
operations  of  nature,  that  are  miracles  in  them- 
selves.   And  witnessing  so  constantly  the  actual 
works  of  an  omnipotent    superintending  skill, 
should  not  he  live  carefully,  standing  as  he  does 
in  the  very  presence  of  the  Creator? — These  are 
wayside  thoughts  not  to  be  forgotten  as  we  go 
forth  to  the  labors  of  the  field.    Let  us  turn  to 
the  consideration  of  some  of  the  practical   de- 
tails that  must  occupy  the  hands  as  well  as 
the  mind.     The  present  season  is  an  extraordi- 
nary one.    We  write  in  the  middle  of  April  at  a 
time  when  plowing  and  sowing  are  usually  in 
active  operation.    But  an  instalment  of  Winter 
due  in  February,  is  being  paid  at  this  late  date. 
Much  of  the  work  of  April  will  be  crowded  in- 
to May.    The  cold  weather  is  likely  to  restrain 
the  development  of   the  fruit  buds  so  much, 
that  with  fair  skies  and  the  absence  of  untimely 
frosts  in  May,  we  shall  have  another  bountiful 
fruit  crop.     But  for  putting  in  field  and  garden 
crops  the  time  will,  at  best,  be  so  short  that  every 
possible  effort  should  be  made  by  good  planning, 
by  procuring  help  and  the  best  implements, 
and  by  having  the  seed  all  ready,  to  hasten 
work.     The  absence  of  a  great  number  of  cul- 
tivators in  the  army,  the  wastes  of  war,  and  the 
abundance  of  currency,  bid   fair  to  create  an 
active  market,  and  high  prices  for  all  the  farm 
produce  that  can  be  secured  this  year.     Let 
every  acre  possible  be  put  to  service  in  the  pro- 
duction of  food  or  clothing  materials  for  man, 
and  food  for  beast. 

Work  for  the  Farm,  Household,  etc. 

There  is  little  need  to  indicate  how  time  may 
be  employed  on  the  farm  the  present  month. 
The  fields  invite  the  plow,  and  signs  of  hope 
are  written  in  bud  and  blossom  over  all  the 
plains  and  valleys.  Renewed  life  makes  the  air 
vocal  with  song,  stirs  the  quickened  bosom  of 
the  earth,  and  inspires  man  to  cheerful  activity. 
The  cultivator,  above  all  others,  should  exult 
in  his  labors.  The  elements  are  his  willing  ser- 
vants; the  earth  is  his  laboratory — the  air,  the 
clouds,  and  the  sun,  his  assistant  chemists.  He 
has  but  to  direct  their  labors  to  supply  his 


wants  and  gratify  his  desires.  But  he  must 
accord  to  natural  laws  if  he  would  reap  benefit 
from  them;  ignorance  or  unskilfulness  have  no 
immunity  from  the  penalties  of  their  violation 
or  neglect.  Herein  in  great  measure  lies  the 
secret  of  success  or  want  of  it.  The  observant 
and  thoughtful  learn  to  work  with  Nature ;  the 
uninformed  and  heedless  often  strive  against 
her,  and  always  with  discomfiture. 

It  is  then  wise  to  seek  information  from  all 
promising  sources,  and  it  is  our  endeavor  to 
collect  it  from  every  possible  field,  and  to  im- 
part it  for  the  general  benefit.  The  suggestions 
which  follow  are  intended  to  indicate  subjects 
for  attention,  and  also  in  some  degree  to  give 
practical  details   drawn  from  reliable  sources. 

Barometer.— A  good  instrument  will  give  in- 
dications enabling  the  cultivator  to  lay  out 
work  with  some  regard  to  the  coming  weather- 
often  an  important  consideration,  when  (ire- 
paring  to  sow,  plant,  or  harvest.  Its  cost  has 
often  been  saved  by  this  means  in  a  single  week. 

Beans  are  in  great  demand  at  a  high  price  for 
army  use,  and  paying  returns  may  be  expected 
from  a  good  crop  the  present  season.  They 
make  but  slight  draft  upon  the  soil,  and  are 
therefore  well  adapted  for  lands  not  fertile 
enough  for  corn.  Heavy  manuring  increases 
the  yield  of  vine  without  materially  adding  to 
the  crop.  Land  in  good  but  not  very  high  con- 
dition is  most  favorable.  They  may  be  planted 
in  orchards  where  tillage  is  needed.  The  white 
bush  variety  is  a  favorite.  Plant  in  2 1  feet 
drills,  5  to  10  inches  apart,  according  to  variety 

Beef  and  Pork  in  the  cellar  should  be 
examined  occasionally  as  warm  weather  ap- 
proaches. If  needed,  add  salt,  or  make  new 
brine  and  repack.  The  old  brine  is  valuable  to 
dress  asparagus  beds,  or  in  the  manure  heap. 

Bees,  if  properly  managed,  pay  better  on  the 
capital  invested  than  any  stock  on  the  farm. 
See  directions  for  the  month  under  "  Apiary." 

Birds. — Encourage  their  visits,  and  allow  no 
loafing  gunners  to  harm  them.  They  are  the 
most  efficient  checks  to  the  increase  of  insects. 

Books  are  most  interesting  and  best  remem- 
bered when  immediately  applicable  to  some 
work  in  hand.  The  library  should  be  con- 
sulted day  by  day  with  reference  to  the  various 
operations  in  progress,  to  gain  new  ideas  and 
suggestions  to  improvement.  For  a  good  selec- 
tion of  works  see  our  book  list,  on  page  159. 

Boys  are  usually  ambitious  to  do  men's  work. 
Encourage  them  judiciously.  Skill  in  all  hand 
labor  is  best  attained  in  youth.  Do  not,  how- 
ever, allow  them  to  be  overtasked.  It  is  poor 
economy  to  save  paying  for  hired  help  at  the 
expense  of  the  health  of  a  child,  or  inducing  in 
him  an  aversion  to  home  by  too  severe  tasking. 
Assign  to  each  boy  a  plot  of  ground  to  be 
worked,  and  the  profits  enjoyed  by  himself. 


130 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Mat, 


Remember  the  wants  of  the  boys  now,  and 
they  will  not   forget    yours  in  after  years. 

Broom  Cora.— Prepare  the  ground  by  heavy 
manuring  and  thorough  pulverization.  Plant 
at  the  same  time  as  for  Indian  corn,  in  drills 
four  feet  apart,  or  three  feet  for  the  dwarfish 
varieties.  Thin  to  about  eight  inches  in  the 
row,  at  the  first  hoeing,  and  weed  thoroughly. 

Baildings.— Keep  in  good  repair  and  well 
painted.  A  cheap  paint  for  rough  work  is 
made  of  water-lime  (hydraulic  cement)  mixed 
with  skimmed  milk,  and  colored  with  ochre, 
umber,  or  other  materials  to  suit  the  fancy. 

Cabbages  are  a  profitable  field  crop  in  the 
vicinity  of  ready  markets,  and  also  valuable  for 
an  occasional  change  of  diet  for  stock  in  Win- 
ter. New  land  is  best  for  these  plants,  which 
need  deep  soil  and  abundant  manuring.  We 
have  had  excellent  results  on  sandy  soil  with  a 
liberal  dressing  of  muck  and  ashes.  For  very 
early,  the  plants  should  be  started  in  a  hot-bed : 
for  medium  early,  sow  in  the  open  ground  as 
soon  as  it  is  fit  to  work,  and  for  the  late  or 
main  crop  from  the  first  to  the  middle  of  June. 
As  soon  as  the  plants  are  well  up,  apply  a 
dressing  of  ashes  and  plaster,  or  air-slaked  lime, 
to  prevent  the  attacks  of  the  fly.  The  plants 
may  be  set  out  as  soon  as  they  are  about  three 
inches  high.  The  smaller  kinds  may  be  2  feet, 
and  the  larger  sorts  3  or  4  feet  apart,  each  way. 
In  taking  up  the  plants  for  transplanting,  sepa- 
rate them  all  and  dip  the  roots  in  a  thin  mud 
made  of  soil  and  water  mixed  to  the  con- 
sistence of  cream;  this  will  prevent  the  delicate 
fibers  from  drying.  It  is  better  to  set  out  just 
before  a  rain,  but  if  the  plants  are  ready  and  no 
prospect  of  rain,  make  holes  with  a  trowel,  put 
a  pint  or  more  of  water  in  each,  and  after  it  has 
soaked  away  put  out  the  plant,  pressing  the 
earth  well  around  the  roots.  The  varieties  are 
numerous,  and  new  ones  are  originated  every 
year.  Early  York,  Sugar-Loaf  and  Ox-Heart 
are  good  early  sorts.  Winningstadt  is  good  me- 
dium—in fact  good  at  any  time.  If  we  were 
confined  to  one  sort  it  would  be  the  Winning- 
stadt. Marblehead  Mammoth,  Stone  Mason, 
Late  Drumhead,  and  Bergen,  are  all  good  Win- 
ter sorts.  The  Red  Dutch  is  prized  for  pickles, 
though  it  is  apt  to  be  small,  and  slow  in  head- 
ing. The  Savoys  are,  though  small,  fine  for 
Winter.  They  are  almost  as  rich  as  a  Cauli- 
flower, perfectly  hardy,  and  good  keepers. 

Calves. — Read  directions  in  April  Calendar. 
Castrate  at  four  weeks  old.  Feed  with  sweet, 
fine  hay  when  they  are  turned  out  to  graze.  A 
few  oats  occasionally  will  not  hurt  them. 

Carrots. — Sow  as  early  as  possible,  if  not  al- 
ready done.  See  directions  in  April  Calendar. 
Cattle.— Feed  with  hay  and  roots  until  grass 
is  abundant.  Rye-bran  mash  is  valuable  for 
milch  cows.  Give  a  daily  allowance  of  grain 
to  working  oxen,  and  card  and  brush  them 
when  returned  from  the  labors  of  the  field. 
Accustom  them  to  obey  the  voice  without  con- 
stant use  of  the  whip.  Prevent  young  cattle 
from  becoming  unruly  by  keeping  the  fences 
good.  Never  allow  cattle  to  jump  over  one  or 
two  bars  in  passing  to  or  from  the  pasture,  or 
they  will  soon  learn  to  jump  the  whole  feuce. 

Cellars.— Keep  clean  and  well  ventilated,  es- 
pecially if  milk  be  kept  there.  A  cement  floor 
will  be  a  great  improvement.  Whitewash  walls. 

Chimneys.—  Where  wood  is  burned,  chimneys 
should  be  occasionally  burned  out,  or  otherwise 
cleansed  to  prevent  danger  of  taking  fire  in 
windy  weather.  Choose  a  wet,  still  day  and 
fire  them  below  with  a  bundle  of  straw. 

Clothing. — Study  appropriateness  and  econo- 
my. A  loose-fitting  blouse  or  overshirt  is 
preferable  to  a  coat  aud  vest,  for  most  out-door 


work.  It  is  cheaper,  allows  more  freedom  of 
motion,  and  better  preserves  the  under-clothing 
from  being  soiled. 

Clover  may  still  be  sown;  some  prefer  to  de- 
lay it  until  May.    Read  article  on  page  142. 

Corn. — Nothing  is  gained  by  too  early  plant- 
ing. The  soil  should  be  dry  and  warm,  and  the 
weather  settled  before  putting  in  the  crop.  Much 
after-culture  will  be  saved  by  thorough  tillage  at 
the  first.  It  is  well  to  allow  grass  and  weeds  a 
Blight  start,  and  then  destroy  them  by  a  good  har- 
rowing before  marking  out  and  planting.  Either  of 
the  corn-markers  described  in  previous  numbers, 
this  year,  will  save  much  labor  on  smooth  laud. 
Read  article  on  page  140. 

Cotton  was  profitably  raised,  last  year,  as  high  as 
latitude  30°,  owing  to  the  extraordinary  price : 
usually  other  crops  would  pay  better.  Prepare  a 
warm  soil  as  for  corn,  aud  plant  early  in  rows  334 
feet  apart,  and  16  iuches  distant  in  the  row. 

Cranberries  may  still  be  planted.  The  best  loca- 
tion is  on  swampy  laud,  near  the  sea-shore,  where 
muck  and  sand  abound.  Practical  directions  for 
managing  this  crop  were  given  in  the  Agriculturist, 
Vol.  XIX,  pages  115,  142,  (April  and  May,  I860.) 

Dairy. — The  first  essentials  are  good  cows  and 
rich  feed.  The  labors  of  this  department  will  be 
greatly  lightened  by  a  conveniently-arranged  milk, 
room.  It  should  be  cool,  well  ventilated,  free  from 
dust  and  offensive  odors,  aud  if  possible,  con- 
venient to  water.  A  well-stored  ice-house  is  a 
valuable  accessory,  for  securing  proper  tempera- 
ture for  cream  and  butter.  Cleanliness  in  every 
department  should  be  the  first  aud  constant  rule. 
Have  tubs  and  pails  for  marketing  neatly  painted 
and  plainly  marked.  Cheese-making  can  be 
profitably  conducted  on  a  large  scale  by  a  union 
factory  to  be  supplied  with  milk  from  surroundiug 
farms,  the  producers  to  share  the  returns. 

Debts. — Avoid  contracting  large  debts  while 
present  high  prices  are  maintained.  Improve  the 
present  favorable  opportunity  for  reducing  the 
amount  owed.  Better  pay  off  mortgages  than  buy 
new  carriages  or  more  showy  furniture.  To  buy 
for  cash  aud  sell  to  safe  buyers  on  time  and  on 
interest,   is   the  surest  method  of  accumulating. 

Draining. — Observe  where  the  soil  remains 
longest  unfit  for  cultivating  on  account  of  water, 
and  prepare  for  draining  when  circumstances  will 
admit.  Examine  outlets  of  underground  drains, 
and  keep  them  in  working  order.  Keep  sluice- 
ways from  the  road  open  to  convey  their  rich 
deposits  to  the  fields. 

Experiments. — The  cultivator's  own  interest  and 
that  of  the  whole  farming  community  will  be  pro- 
moted by  carefully  conducted  experiments  in  the 
various  departments  of  husbandry.  If,  for  ex- 
ample, one  tllousand  parties  in  different  sections 
should  this  year  endeavor  to  ascertain  the  relative 
merits  of  planting  potatoes  in  hills  or  in  rows,  and 
report  their  success,  the  question  might  be  almost 
infallibly  settled.  So  of  different  modes  of  treat- 
ment of  other  crops,  various  manures,  etc.  Such 
trials  need  not  be  upon  a  large  scale  in  any  in- 
dividual ease.  Experiment  upon  some  poiut 
connected  with  agriculture,  carefully  note  all  the 
circumstances,  and  communicate  for  the  benefit  of 
the  community.  A  strip  of  land  through  every 
crop  left  unmanured,  and  another  doubly  manured, 
for  comparison,  will  often  afford  much  information. 
So  of  other  experiments  in  preparing  seed  by  some 
special  process,  etc. 

Fences.— Are  all  in  order,  particularly  on  boun- 
dary-lines ?    Putting  up  a  rail  may  save  a  lawsuit. 

Flax  should  be  sown  ns  early  this  month  as  the 
weather  will  admit.  The  "Notes  on  Flax-Culture" 
in  previous  numbers,  this  year,  give  full  practical 
directions.  There  is  a  fair  prospect  that  well- 
cultivated  crops  of  this  staple  will  be  remunerative. 

Gates  properly  made  and  hung,  are  cheaper  than 
bars,  where  entrances  are  in  frequent  use.  See 
plan  of  a  cheaply  made  one  on  page  141. 

Grass-Seed  may  still  be  sown  on  grain-fields  and 


on  bare  spots  in  meadows.  Rolling,  and  top-dress- 
ing with  fine  manure,  will  help  to  ensure  its  growth. 
Health  is  more  frequently  lost  by  neglect  and 
overwork  than  by  contagious  diseases.  Have  the 
meals  regular  and  of  various  diet.  Severe  exertion 
after  a  full  meal  is  injurious.  Take  plenty  of  time 
for  sleep.  Be  punctual  in  all  natural  habits.  Avoid 
cool  drafts  when  heated.*  Have  help  enough  to 
avoid  overwork.  Keeping  a  good  temper  and  a 
good  conscience,  tends  to  promote  health  and  vigor 

Hired  Help.—  Remember  that  they  are  men,  while 
requiring  tbein  to  be  faithful.  A  good  table,  liberal 
noonings,  and  judicious  commendation  for  work 
well  done,  will  be  well  repaid  by  their  increased 
cheerfulness  aud  activity. 

Home  should  be  the  most  attractive  spot  on 
earth.  Surround  it  with  pleasant,  objects.  Cul- 
tivate a  kindly  temper  in  the  household,  and  allow 
all  reasonable  privileges  to  the  younger  members 
of  the  family.  Mingle  commendation  with  discipline. 

Horses  should  be  kept  stabled  during  the  work- 
ing season.  Feed  witli  grain  according  to  amount 
of  labor  performed.  If  lameness  or  other  ailment 
occur,  give  rest,  and  proper  attention.  A  little 
neglect  may  result  in  permanent   unsoundness. 

Lime. — A  top-dressing  of  20  to  50  bushels  per 
acre,  after  plowing,  will  usually  be  advantageous 
on  wet,  heavy  soils.  Read  again  the  chapter  last 
month,  page  107.  Keep  a  constant  supply  on  hand 
for  composting  with  muck  for  the  manure-heap. 

Manures  are  best  applied  on  corn  land,  or  in  top- 
dressing  meadows.  Their  value  is  greatly  increased 
by  finely  dividing  and  thoroughly  mixing  them 
with  the  soil.  Leave  none  in  the  barn-yard, 
pig-sty,  poultry-house,  privy,  nor  in  any  place 
where  it  cannot  be  made  useful.  A  handful  of 
ashes  or  dissolved  bones  mixed  with  earth  and 
slightly  covered  in  the  hill,  before  planting,  will 
give  the  young  corn  a  vigorous  start.  It  should 
never  be  in   immediate   contact  with    the    seed. 

Markets. — Part  of  the  advantages  enjoyed  by 
those  living  near  cities  may  be  secured  by  the 
institution  of  Market  Fairs  to  be  held  monthly  or 
oftener  as  may  be  desirable.  Read  article  on  this 
subject   on   page  106,    (April  Agriculturist.) 

Meadows. — Allow  no  stock  to  graze  or  trample 
them.  While  waiting  for  plowing  grounds  to  dry, 
time  may  be  profitably  employed  in  taking  out 
weeds,  bushes,  etc.,  from  mowing  lands.  A  dress- 
ing of  lime  will  aid  in  eradicating  moss  and  five- 
finger,  and  give  grass  a  vigorous  start.  Harrow  and 
reseed  bare  spots,  top-dressing  with  fine  manure. 

Millet. — If  a  scarcity  of  pasture  be  apprehended, 
sow  an  acre  or  two  of  millet  late  in  the  month,  to 
be  cut  and  fed  to  cattle  during  the  Summer.  The 
variety  known  as  Hungarian  Grass  is  good.  The 
Mammoth  Millet  gives  a  larger  yield. 

Oats  are  best  sown  in  April.  For  seeding  down 
to  grass  they  may  be  put  in  early  this  month,  and 
be  cut  aud  cured  as  hay,  if  not  likely  to  mature. 

Onions.— Read  article  on  page  142  of  this  number. 

Pastures. — Where  straw  is  plenty  it  may  be 
turned  to  good  account  in  mulching  thin  spots  in 
pasture-grounds.  Sheep  properly  managed  are  the 
best  fertilizers  of  pastures.  Attract  them  to  un- 
productive knolls  by  scattering  salt.  They  will 
leave  a  valuable  deposit.  Never  allow  the  grass  to 
be  gnawed  down  more  than  one  inch  below  the  surface/ 

Parsnips  are  valuable  food  for  milch  cows  in 
Winter.  Sow  on  rich,  deeply-worked  ground,  in 
drills  half  an  inch  deep,  and  2>£  feet  apart. 

Peas. — A  low-growing  variety,  as  the  Early 
Washington,  sown  with  oats  early  this  mouth,  will 
make  valuable  feed  for  hogs  and  sheep. 

Plowing  sward  for  corn  should  be  performed 
by  a  skillful  hand.  The  furrow  should  be  laid 
smoothly.  A  dressing  of  lime  before  plowing  will 
hasten  the  decay  of  vegetable  matter,  and  thus 
give  ample  nourishment  to  the  early  growth. 

Potatoes  should  be  put  in  as  early  as  practicable. 
The  yield  will  usually  be  better  from  rows  than  from 
hills.  Read  notes  on  selection  for  seed  on  page  147- 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


131 


Poidtry  will  now  begin  to  get  their  own  living  if 
permitted  to  go  at  large.  Continue  to  feed  them 
liberally,  but  allow  them  to  range  if  practicable. 
A  few  hens  confined  in  coops  in  the  garden  or 
frtiit-yard,  with  their  chickens  suffered  to  go  in  and 
out  at  pleasure,  will  aid  in  destroying  insects. 
Where  poultry  must  be  confined,  give  them  plenty 
of  chopped  meat,  grass,  and  other  green  food. 
Collect  eggs  daily,  and  introduce  new  breeds,  if  de- 
sired,  by  exchange,  or  purchase  of  eggs. 

Pumpkins. — A  few  seeds  planted  here  and  there 
in  the  corn-field,  or  elsewhere,  will,  in  a  favorable 
season,  yield  a  large  amount  of  food  for  stock, 
without  much  injury  to  the  corn. 

Roads. — Keep  free  from  loose  stones  aad  other 
obstructions,  and  in  general  good  repair.  Open 
ditches   to  convey  the  wash   to  adjoining    fields. 

Root  Crops. — Parsnips,  carrots,  mangel-wurzel, 
and  sugar-beets,  are  of  value  to  afford  change 
of  diet  for  stock  in  Winter.  Manure  ground 
thoroughly,  till  deep,  and  sow  in  drills  about  two 
feet  apart.     Read  article  on  growing  carrots,  p.  143. 

Sheep. — See  Care  of  Sheep  and  Lambs,  page  137. 

Sorghum  can  be  grown  with  profit  in  other  lo- 
calities as  well  as  at  the  West,  where  it  was  a 
highly  remunerative  crop  last  year.  It  would  be  a 
good  arrangement  for  several  cultivators  to  unite 
and  secure  the  erection  of  a  mill  to  work  up  all  the 
cane  grown  in  the  vicinity.  Good  seed  is  difficult 
to  be  procured.  Sorghum  is  preferred  to  Imphee 
for  Northern  latitudes  ;  the  latter  succeeds  best  at 
the  South.  Plant  from  May  20th  to  25th,  thickly  in 
drills  3) ■.<  feet  apart,  to  be  thinned  out  to  6  or  8  inches. 
The  seed  starts  very  slowly,  and  germination  may 
be  hastened  by  soaking.  Pour  boiling  water  upon 
it  until  it  swims,  stirring  it  to  heat  all  equally.  Al- 
low it  to  remain  one  and  a  half  minutes,  then  cool 
to  lukewarmness  by  adding  cold  water.  Plant  the 
same  day  the  seed  is  prepared.  Put  in  the  seed  the 
same  as  for  corn,  which  it  resembles  in  its  general 
requisites  and  manner  of  growth. 

Swine. — Keep  them  in  good  condition  by  liberal 
feeding  with  bran,  shorts,  or  meal  mixed  with  sour 
milk,  or  water,  and  allowed  to  ferment.  Prevent 
them  from  rooting  by  a  ring  in  the  nose,  and  give 
them  the  freedom  of  a  pasture,  but  do  not  allow 
them  the  privilege  of  the  highway. 

Tobacco. — Read  Prize  Essay  page  108  last  month. 
The  pamphlet  published  at  this  office  is  the  best 
work  on  the  subject  ever  issued.  See  advertisement. 

Water. — Provide  plenty  for  all  stock,  where  they 
can  have  free  access  to  it. 

Weeds. — Take  them  in  hand  in  time.  Close  feed- 
ing with  sheep  will  finally  eradicate    daisies. 


Orchard  and  Nursery. 

The  unusual  backwardness  of  the  first  half  of 
the  Spring  will  crowd  some  of  the  work  over  into 
the  beginning  of  May.  Planting  should  have  been 
finished  in  April,  but  if  the  trees  have  been 
properly  kept  back  it  may  still  be  done.  Trees 
on  which  the  buds  have  swollen  should  be  handled 
with  great  care.  It  sometimes  happens  that  those 
sent  from  a  distance,  in  very  warm  weather,  will 
start  while  in  the  package,  and  push  out  shoots 
several  inches  long.  Such  should  be  cut  back  very 
severely,  to  induce  the  dormant  buds  on  the  lower 
part  of  the  limbs  to  start.  One  of  the  English  hor- 
ticultural journals  publishes  detailed  directions  for 
killing  a  tree ;  beginning  with  the  advice  to  let  it 
lay  out  so  as  to  well  expose  the  roots  to  the  sun 
aud  air,  and  then  put  it  out  without  trimming  off 
broken  roots  or  cutting  back  the  top.  Many  who 
plant  trees  with  a  view  to  make  them  live  seem  to 
follow  very  much  the  same  plan. 

Budded  Stocks. — Where  the  buds  appear  to  be 
alive,  the  stock  worked  last  year  may  be  cut  back. 
The  cut  should  be  made  a  few  inches  above  the 
bud,  which  will  leave  a  support  to  which  the  new 
growth  may  be  tied.    It  can  be  cut  away  afterward. 

Evergreens.—  This  is  the  great  month  for  planting 
these  favorite  trees.    Nursery  stock  is  vastly  to  be 


preferred  to  trees  from  the  woods  and  swamps.  Be 
careful  of  the  roots  ;  if  once  dried  the  tree  will  not 
live.  Have  the  holes  well  prepared  beforehand, 
and  if  the  soil  is  sandy,  add  peaty  earth  or  muck. 
It  is  difficult  sometimes  to  stake  an  evergreen ;  a 
few  large  stones  laid  over  the  roots  will  serve  to 
hold  it.  The  term  evergreen  is  so  generally  con- 
fined to  the  Pine  family  that  many  forget  that  there 
are  several  desirable  kinds  not  of  this  family. 
Among  these  are  the  Holly,  Laurel,  Rhododendron, 
etc.  These  are  worthy  of  a  place  in  every  collec- 
tion. The  Pine  family  is  so  large  that  there  is  a 
range  for  selection.  The  Norway  Spruce  and  Ar- 
bor Vitoe,  from  their  easy  culture  and  rapid 
growth,  will  always  be  popular;  nothing  is  better 
for  screens.  Our  common  White  Pine  is  a  most 
desirable  tree.  The  Dwarf  Pine  is  fine  for  the  lawn, 
as  it  retains   its  deep  green  throughout  the  year. 

Grafting. — There  is  no  mystery  about  grafting. 
If  farmers  only  knew  how  simple  au  operation  it 
is,  they  would  not  continue  their  orchard  of  natu- 
ral fruit  until  they  can  afford  to  employ  a  pro- 
fessional grafter.  Try  it  on  one  tree,  and  your 
success  will  probably  give  you  confidence  to 
operate  more  extensively  another  year.  All  that  is 
needed  is  some  cions,  a  strong  knife,  a  pocket 
knife,  a  mallet  or  hammer,  a  wedge  of  hard  wood, 
and  some  grafting  clay.  Full  directions  are  given 
on  page  83  of  March  Agriculturist,  1860.  If  the 
cions  were  cut  early,  and  have  been  well  kept, 
grafting  may  be  done  Until  the  trees  are  in  blossom. 

Insects. — The  eggs  which  have  escaped  destruc- 
tion will  soon  produce  broods  of  caterpillars.  As 
soon  as  their  nests  appear,  destroy  them  with  a 
brush  made  for  the  purpose,  or  wipe  them  out  by 
means  of  a  cloth  wound  around  the  end  of  a  pole, 
and  saturated  with  kerosene  oil.  If  slugs  appear 
on  pear  and  cherry  trees,  syringe  with  solution  of 
whale-oil  soap,  or  dust  the  trees  with  lime  or 
ashes.    Look  out  for  borers. 

Layering. — Last  year's  shoots  of  grapes,  quinces, 
and  many  ornamental  shrubs,  may  be  laid  down 
and  covered  with  3  or  4  inches  of  earth.  They  will 
root  more  readily  if  a  sloping  cut  be  made  about 
half  through  the  branch,  where  it  is  to  take  root. 

Mulch  all  newly-planted  trees  with  straw,  refuse 
hay,   leaves,   chips,  or  other  covering. 

Orchards. — But  little  work  will  be  required  here 
if  pruuiug,  manuring,  and  other  operations  were 
attended  to  at  the  proper  season.  Do  not  crop  any 
but  a  young  orchard,  and  that  only  with  plants  the 
raising  of  which  will  leave  the  soil  in  better  con- 
dition than  before. 

Pears. — These  may  still  be  6et  out,  cutting  the 
head  well  back.    Allow  no  fruit  the  first  season. 

Quinces. — Plant  out  in  good  soil,  and  give  the 
trees  as  much  care  as  any  other  fruit  trees. 

Seed-beds. — Peach  and  other  pits,  and  apple,  pear, 
and  other  seeds  to  produce  stocks  for  grafting, 
if  not  out  already,  should  be  sown  at  once. 

Stocks  and  Cuttings,— Apple  and  pear  stocks, 
grape,  currant,  and  other  cuttings  that  have  been 
kept  in  the  cellar,  are  to   be  planted  at  once. 

Weeds. — Hoe  out  the  nursery  rows  as  soon  as 
weeds  appear,  and  keep  all  clean  and  in  neat  order. 


Kitchen  Garden. 

At  the  present  writing  the  season  promises  to  be  a 
late  one;  frosts  and  snows  still  liuger — they  will 
depart  suddenly,  and  then  the  work  will  come  with 
a  rush.  It  is  in  late  seasons  that  the  advantage  of 
well  matured  plans  will  be  most  appreciated.  The 
work  being  laid  out,  everything  will  follow  in  prop- 
er succession.  If  late  frosts  occur,  tender  plants 
will  need  protection.  A  board  turned  over  rows 
of  early  peas  and  beans  as  noticed  on  page  115, 
April  Agriculturist,  will  be  found  serviceable.  It 
will  be  found  advantageous  to  prepare  frames  of 
boards  about  a  foot  square  and  8  inches  high,  and 
cover  the  top  with  cheap  muslin.  These  serve  to 
protect  hills  of  cucumbers,  melons,  etc.,  both  from 
early  frosts  and  from  insects.  In  sowing,  avoid 
covering  the  seeds  too  deeply.    If  long  cold  rains  I 


come  on,  it  will  be  necessary  to  re-sow  as  soon  as 
the  weather  becomes  favorable.  In  small  gardens 
space  should  be  economized  in  every  possible  way. 
See  note  on  page  140.  A  succession  of  crops  can 
be  taken  from  the  same  soil,  but  in  this  case  the 
ground  should  be  kept  well  manured.  Cabbages 
aud  Kale  may  be  put  between  rows  of  early  pota 
toes.  Cucumbers  may  be  grown  between  Lima 
beans.  Cress,  lettuce,  and  radishes,  may  be  sown 
in  every  vacant  spot,  and  carrots  and  beets  occupy 
the  space  between  rows  of  beans  and  peas. 

Artichokes. — See  directions  for  culture  on  p.  145. 

Ashes. — A  good  supply  of  ashes  should  be  saved 
for  the  garden.  Mixed  with  an  equal  bulk  of  plas- 
ter, it  forms  the  ash  compost  which  is  of  great  use, 
not  only  as  a  fertilizer,  but  to  dust  over  young 
plants  to  repel  insects. 

Asparagus.— In  most  places  the  beds  will  be  pro- 
ducing their  tender  shoots.  Cut  as  soon  as  large 
enough  for  the  table  aud  remove  all  over-grown 
and  unfifr  shoots.  In  cutting  be  careful  not  to  in- 
jure the  forming  buds.  Aspargus  knives  are  used 
in  England  for  the  purpose  of  cutting.  We  have 
used  a  kind  of  chisel  fixed  to  a  handle  like  a  cane. 
Always  cut  from  the  root  and  as  near  to  it  as  pos- 
sible. If  there  is  a  surplus  to  be  sent  to  market, 
tie  it  up  in  neat  bunches  about  six  inches  in  diam- 
eter, putting  two  ties  of  bass  matting,  one  near  the 
butts  aud  the  other  about  two  inches  from  the  top. 
Wash  in  clean  wafer  before  making  into  bunches. 

Beans. — These  are  very  easily  killed  by  frost,  and 
it  may  be  necessary  to  repeat  the  early  sowing. 
The  Valentine  is  the  earliest,  bnt  the  Six-weeks  ia 
more  prolific.  For  pole  beans,  put  out  the  poles 
before  sowing.     For  Lima    beans  see  page  145. 

Beets.—  Those  sowed  last  month  should  now  be 
up.  They  may  still  be  sown.  The  Bassauo  and 
Early  Turnip  are  best  for  Summer  use.  See  last 
month's  Calendar.  The  winter  sorts  may  be  put  in 
the  last  of  the  month.  Deep  worked  soil,  where 
there  was  a  well  manured  crop  last  year,  is  best. 

Borecole  or  Kale. — Treat  precisely  as   cabbages. 

Broccoli. — This  is  somewhat  like  cauliflower,  but 
is  much  inferior  to  it;  as  it  is  considered  a  surer 
crop,  it  is  cultivated  by  many  who  do  not  succeed 
with  cauliflower.    The  same  cultivation  for  both. 

Burnet. — Much  used  in  salads  by  the  Europeans. 
See  page  145  for  sulficient   directions. 

Cabbages. — Those  in  hot-beds  should  be  hardened 
off  ready  for  transplanting.  See  full  directions  in 
Farm  Calendar,  which  though  given  for  field  cul- 
ture, are  equally  applicable  in  the  garden.  Sow  seed 
in  open  ground  for  main  crop  of  winter  cabbages. 

Capsicum  or  Peppers. — These  are  very  slow  in  th,eir 
early  growth  and  need  the  heat  of  a  hot-bed  to 
give  them  a  start.  When  the  season  is  long,  they 
maybe  sown  in  the  open  bed.  Plant  out  when  the 
weather  gets  settled,  and  give  them  the  warmest 
place  in  the  garden.  Set  18  inches  or  2  feet  each 
way,  aud  hoe  frequently.  The  Squash  Pepper  is 
best  for  plain  pickles  ;  the  Large  Mountain  for  stuf- 
fing; the  Cayenne  for  vinegar,  or  medicine. 

Cardoon. — Sufficient  directions  are  given  on  p.  145. 

Carrots. — The  early  crop  should  have  been  put  in 
last  month,  but  if  the  weather  prevented,  loose  no 
time  in  sowing.  The  seed  is  slow  in  coming,  and  it 
is  a  good  plan  to  put  a  few  radish  seed  with  it, 
whice  will  serve  to  mark  the  rows.     See  page  142. 

Cauliflowers. — Do  not  let  a  single  failure  deter 
you  from  attempting  to  grow  this-choice  vegetable. 
Get  seed  from  reliable  sources  and  follow  the  hints 
given  on  page  146.  Those  in  hot-beds  should  be 
planted  out,  or  if  the  weather  is  unsuitable  put 
them  in  small  pots,   and  keep  in  a  cold  frame. 

Celery. — Follow  directions   given  on  page  146. 
Chives. — Put  out  sets   early.    They  make  a  nice 
edging  to  small  beds. 

Cold  Frames.— Get  the  plants  out  as  rapidly  as  the 
weather  will  allow.  Those  where  plants  still  re- 
main, should  be  uncovered  every  fair  day. 

Compost  Heaps.— Begin  the  season  with  the  deter- 


132 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[May, 


initiation  to  have  no  waste  of  fertilizing  material. 
Make  a  compost  heap  in  a  hidden  corner,  but  easy 
of  access.  If  necessary,  plant  some  rows  of  sweet 
corn  to  keep  it  out  of  sight,  but  do  not  let  it  get 
out  of  mind,  and  place  here  every  animal  and  veg- 
etable substance  that  will  make  manure.  The 
coarse  litter  raked  off  of  asparagus  beds  can  be  put 
here  at  once.  All  the  garden  refuse,  weeds  that 
have  not  matured  their  seeds,  muck,  ashes  and  an 
occasional  load  of  manure  should  be  added.  By 
the  end  of  the  season  there  will  be  a  pile  of  valua- 
ble   compost,  ready  for  use  next  Spring. 

Corn. — Plant  as  soon  as  danger  of  frost  is  past. 
There  are  many  farmers  who  rely  upon  field  corn 
to  supply  the  table.  No  one  will  do  so  after  trying 
some  of  the  improved  sweet  varieties.  The  Dwarf 
Sugar  and  Darling's  Early  are  among  the  earliest 
sorts ;  the  Stowell  or  Evergreen  is  fine,  but  longer 
in  maturing.  It  should  be  sown  as  a  succession  to 
the  early  sorts.  It  is  a  good  plan  to  put  in  seed 
every  week  or  two  until  July.  Where  the  garden 
is  not  sheltered  from  strong  winds,  much  protection 
may  be  given  to  tender  things  by  planting  rows  of 
corn  so  as  to  ward  off  the  prevailing  winds. 

Cress. — Sow  for  succession.  The  insects  will  now 
be  troublesome.    Give  ashes  and  plaster  when  up. 

Cucumbers. — Those  started  on  sods  as  directed 
lost  month  will  be  ready  to  set  out.  Make  the  hills 
rich  with  manure,  well  spaded  in,  and  cover  the 
plants  with  frames  made  as  directed  above.  Put 
the  frames  on  towards  night,  and  keep  them  on  un- 
til 8  or  9  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Sow  in  the  open 
ground  as  soon  as  it  is  warm.  It  is  a  good  plan  to 
put  in  some  extra  seeds  every  few  days  ;  the  insects 
will  attack  the  youugest  plants,  and  any  superflu- 
ous ones  left  uninjured  may  be  pulled  up. 

Egg  Plants. — These  need  a  long  season,  but  should 
not  be  put  out  until  warm  weather  is  fully  establish- 
ed. Those  in  the  hot-beds  may  be  potted  off  and 
placed  in  a  cold  frame,  until  the  weather  will  allow 
of  their  being  put  out.  Give  them  a  warm,  rich 
spot,  hoe  frequently,  and  supply  with  liquid  manure. 

Garlic. — Plant  the  6ets  or  "  cloves "  three  or 
four  inches   distant,   in  rows   one  foot  apart. 

Serbs. — Under  this  term  are  included  thoseplants 
which  are  cultivated  fornse  as  flavoring  ingredients 
in  cooking,  or  for  medicinal  purposes.  Basil, 
Sweet  Marjoram,  and  Summer  Savory,  are  the  most 
frequently  cultivated  annual  culinary  herbs.  Sow 
the  seed  thinly  in  rows.  Thyme  and  Sage  are  per- 
ennials, and  may  be  raised  from  seed,  by  cuttings, 
or  by  the  division  of  old  plants.  Caraway,  Dill  and 
Coriander  are  raised  from  seed.  Balm,  Wormwood 
and  Mint  are  the  principal  medicinal  herbs  grown 
in  the  garden,  and  are  readily  multiplied  by  division. 

Sol-Beds. — The  plants  should  be  set  out  from 
them  as  soon  as  practicable.  Give  air  every  day  to 
those  which  remain,  and  on  pleasant  days  remove 
the  glass  entirely.  As  soon  as  the  beds  are  out  of 
use,  put  the  sash  and  frames  away  under  cover. 
If  the  manure  is  not  needed  immediately,  make  it 
Into  a  neat  heap  and  put  a  covering  of  soil  over  it. 

Insects. — The  depredations  of  these  begin  as  soon 
as  vegetation  commences,  and  they  must  be  com- 
bated in  various  ways.  Dusting  the  young  plants 
with  ashes,  plaster,  or  air-slaked  lime,  helps  keep 
them  off.  Use  every  means  to  promote  a  vigorous 
growth  so  that  the  plants  may  get,  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, large  enough  to  withstand  their  attacks. 
Kill  every  caterpillar  or  grub  that  comes  in  your 
way  and  every  moHr  or  butterfly  that  you  can  entrap. 

Kohl  Babi. — Sow  and  cultivate  the  same  as  cab- 
bages.   Plant  at  one  foot  apart  in  two  foot  row6. 

Leeks. — Sow  in  rows  as  directed  for  onions,  in 
good  soil.  It  is  better  to  have  the  rows  18  inches 
apart  to  allow  room  to  earth  up.  This  vegetable 
Is  not  as  generally  cultivated  as  it  should  be.  It 
is  used  in  soups  and  stews,  and  its  flavor  is  prefer- 
red by  many,  ourselves  included,to  that  of  the  onion. 

Lettuce. — Transplant  and  sow  every  two  weeks  to 
keep  up  the  supply.     See  note  on  page  145. 

Liquid  Manure.— Have  a  tank  for  liquid  fertilizers 


if  it  be  nothing  more  than  an  old  barrel  or  hogs- 
head sunk  in  the  y  round.  It  should  be  near  a  sup- 
ply of  water,  and  be  covered  to  prevent  evapora- 
tion and  accidents.  If  placed  where  the  sink  water 
from  the  kitchen  can  be  turned  into  it,  all  the  bet- 
ter. Hen,  sheep,  or  even  barn-yard  manure  may  be 
used.  The  liquid  should  not  be  too  strong — not 
darker  colored  than  weak  tea.  It  should  be  ap- 
plied at  evening,  or  better  just  before  a  rain,  when 
it  may  be  used  stronger.  Wonders  in  the  way  of 
forwarding  vegetables  can  be  done  with  it. 

Marlynia. — This  is  grown  for  its  unripe  fruit 
which  is  U6ed  for  pickling,  and  by  mauy  consider- 
ed the  best  vegetable  for  that  purpose.  So w  in  good 
soil  three  feet  apart.  The  pods  should  be  gathered 
before  they  loose  their  tenderness. 

Melons. — Plant  out  those  started  on  sods,  and  sow 
when  the  ground  is  warm,  as  directed  for  cucum- 
bers. Do  not  attempt  to  grow  too  many  kinds  in 
a  small  garden,  as  they  will  mix.  The  Green  Cit- 
ron or  Nutmeg  when  pure,  will  give  general  satis- 
faction. We  have  before  spoken  in  praise  of  the 
White  Japan,  but  the  seed  is  scarce  and  not  gener- 
ally obtainable ;  will  be  plenty  enough  next  year. 

Mushroom  Beds  may  be  made  for  Summer  use. 

Mustard. — Sow  by  itself  for  salad  and  greens. 

Nasturtiums  or  Indian  Cress. — These  are  grown  iu 
the  vegetable  garden  for  the  unripe  fruit,  which  is 
used  as  pickles,  and  in  the  flower  garden  as  an  orna- 
ment. There  are  dwarf  and  running  sorts  in  great 
variety.  The  tall  growing  kinds  are  preferred,  as 
they  give  a  greater  abundance  of  fruit.  A  moist 
place  which  is  shaded  during  the  heat  of  the  day  is 
best  for  them.    Supply  them  with  brush  or  strings. 

Okra. — This  is  a  plant  not  generally  known,  but 
is  becoming  quite  common  in  our  city  markets.  It 
belongs  to  the  same  family  as  the  Hollyhock  and 
the  Cotton,  resembling  the  one  in  its  leaves,  and  the 
other  in  its  flowers,  while  its  fruit  is  quite  unlike 
in  appearance  to  that  of  either.  The  seed  pod 
is  the  part  used,  it  is  4  to  6  inches  long  and  many 
angled  or  ridged.  Taken  while  green  and  tender  it 
has  an  abundance  of  mucilage,  and  is  used  in  soups 
and  stews  which  it  thickens  aud  enriches.  Boiled 
and  dressed  with  drawn  butter,  like  asparagus,  it  is, 
to  our  taste,  a  very  palatable  vegetable. 

Onions. — Get  the  seed  in  as  soon  as  possible,  ac- 
cording to  directions  on  page  143.  Top  and  potato 
onions  should  be  set  in  good  soil,  8  or  4  inches  apart. 

Parsley  — Sow  at  once  if  not  already  done.  It  is 
the  slowest  to  grow  of  all  the  garden  seeds  and  the 
weeds  usually  get  the  start  of  it.  It  will  be  well  to 
bum  over  the  bed  to  kill  the  weed  seeds. 

Parsnips. — Deep  culture  is  needed  for  their  full 
development.  Get  new  seed,  and  roll  or  press  the 
ground  firmly  after  sowing — any  time  in  the  month. 

Peas. — Sow  the  'Wrinkled  Marrow  varieties,  such 
as  Champion  of  England,  to  succeed  the  early  sorts. 
See  article  in  April  Agriculturist,  page  115.  Hoe 
and  provide  brush  for  those  already  up. 

Potatoes. — Complete  planting  the  early  varieties. 
Hoe  as  soon  as  large  enough.  A  handful  of  ashes 
and  plaster  applied  to  each  hill,  when  well  up, 
will  often  wonderfully  improve  their  vigor. 

Badishes. — Continue  to  sow  for  succession.  If 
any  sowing  is  found  to  be  badly  infested  with  worms, 
dig  the  crop  up  at.  once  and  destroy  it,  as  it  is  then 
useless  to  expect  radishes,  and  by  leaving  it  to 
grow,  insects  will  be  multiplied. 

Bhubarb. — Roots  may  still  be  set,  if  not  too  far  ad- 
vanced, as  directed  in  last  month's  Calendar.  Well 
established  plants  will  soon  afford  a  supply.  The 
leaves  should  not  be  cut,  but  taken  off  with  a  side- 
wise  pull,  taking  care  not  to  injure  the  bud. 

Salsify. — Full  directions  were  given  in  the  March 
Agriculturist,  page  84.  Get  the  seed  in  very  early. 
Hoe,  weed,  and  thin  out  as  soon  as  large  enough. 

Seeds. — Put  out  roots  saved  for  producing  seeds, 
if  not  already  done.  Let  none  but  the  earliest  and 
most  vigorous  branches  grow.  Do  not  attempt  to 
save  cabbage  seed  by  planting  out  a  stump.  This 
seed  is  generally  obtained  from  those  who  make  a 


business  of  growing  it.  It  can  be  done  by  selecting 
the  best  specimens  of  well  wintered  cabbages,  set- 
ting them  out  entire,  aud  cutting  away  all  but  the 
main  flower  stalk.  In  this  way  the  stock  will  be 
kept  good.  Do  not  plant  varieties  of  the  same  veg- 
etable near  each  other,  for   fear  of  hybridizing. 

Spinach. — The  wintered  stock  should  now  yield 
an  abundant  supply  for  the  table.  In  cutting,  leave 
enough  for  seed.  This  is  what  botanists  call  a 
dioxious  plant,  that  is,  it  produces  its  barren  or  male 
flowers  on  different  plants  from  those  which  bear 
the  fertile  flowers.  They  can  not  be  told  apart  until 
they  come  in  flower,  when  the  barren  plants  are 
known  by  the  greater  show  they  make,  and  the 
abundance  of  pollen  they  produce;  one  of  these  is 
sufficient  to  fertilize  a  dozen  of  the  others.  Sow 
the  spring  varieties  at  intervals  for  succession,  in 
rows  a  foot  apart,  aud  thin  to  four  or  five  inches. 

Squashes. — The  early  kinds  started  on  sods  should 
be  put  out  as  soon  as  the  weather  will  allow. 
Treat  as  directed  for  cucumbers.  Plant  Hubbard, 
Marrow,  aud  other  late  kiuds  as  soon  as  the  soil  is 
warm.  Put  the  hills  8  to  10  feet  apart  each  way. 
Besides  putting  manure  iu  the  hills,  enrich  the 
whole  ground  as  the  vines  put  out  clusters  of  roots 
or  feeders  from  each  joint.  Keep  the  young  plants 
well  dusted  with  plaster  or  air  slaked  lime  until 
they  have  made  5  or  6  leaves,  to  keep  off  the  striped 
bug,  and  watch  for  the  black  squash  bug,  which 
may  be  found  on  the  underside  of  the  leaves  in  the 
morning;   destroy  it  by  hand  picking. 

Sweet  Potatoes. — Those  who  cultivate  only  a  small 
quantity  will  find  it  better  to  purchase  the  plants 
of  those  who  make  a  business  of  raising  them.  See 
advertising  columns.  The  15th  of  the  month  is 
quite  early  enough  in  the  vicinity  of  New-York  to 
set  the  plants.  Directions  for  successful  culture 
are  given  on  page  114,  April  Agriculturist. 

Tomatoes. — Sow  in  open  border  for  late  crop. 
Transplant  from  hot-bed  as  soon  as  the  weather  is 
settled.  If  the  season  is  unfavorable  and  there  is 
danger  of  the  plants  getting  too  large,  pot  them  aud 
keep  where  they  can  be  covered  at  night  and  during 
cold  days,  until  they  can  be  turned  out.  Four  feet 
each  way  is  quite  near  enough.    See  page  114. 

Turnips. — Loose  no  time  in  getting  in  the  early 
sorts.  Advance  their  growth  as  rapidly  as  possible 
by  hoeing.  Thin  and  weed  as  soon  as  needed.  Give 
ashes  and  plaster  as  soon  as  up. 

Watermelons. — These  should  not  be  planted  until 
the  ground  is  thoroughly  warm,  and  Juue  is  gener- 
ally preferable  to  May.  Warm  light  soil,  and  plenty 
of  manure  are  required.  Put  in  an  abundance  of 
seed  to  each  hill,  as  much  of  it  fails  to  germinate. 

Weeds. — Begin  the  fight  as  soon  as  the  enemy  is 
in  sight.    Hoe,  pull,  aud  otherwise  destroy. 

Winter  Cherry.— Cultivate  and  treat  as  Tomatoes. 


Fruit  Gardeu. 

After  the  full  directions  given  in  last  month's 
Calendar,  there  is  but  little  to  be  added.  Plants 
may  still  be  6et  out  if  they  are  not  too  far  advanced. 

Blackberries.— Cut  back  to  near  root,  before  setting. 

Currants  and  Gooseberries. — These  start  very 
early,  but  may  bo  removed  even  after  the  buds 
have  burst.    Manure  established  bushes. 

Grape-vines  may  be  successfully  planted  if  they 
were  taken  up  early  and  kept  back  in  a  cool  place. 
In  purchasing  do  not  choose  large  vines.  Vines 
two  years  old,  with  good  roots,  are  preferable  to 
older  ones.  We  have  seen  some  vines  sold,  this 
year,  with  large  canes  and  small  roots,  and  only  lit 
for  the  bruBh-heap. 

Insects. — Make  war  upon  them  from  the  beginning 
with  soot,  ashes,   soap-suds,   and  hand-picking. 

Raspberries. — Cut  out  all  weak  canes,  and  fork  in 
a  dressing  of  manure. 

Strawberries. — Make  new  beds  as  directed  on  page 
146.  Those  grown  on  the  hilling  system  should 
have  the  runners  picked  off  as  fast  as  they  appear. 


[May, 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


133 


After  hoeing  them  out  thoroughly,  give  a  good 
mulching  of  cut  straw  to  keep  the  fruit  always  clean. 

Water. — If  a  dry  spell  should  occur,  mulch  and 
water  all  recently  planted  trees  and  shrubs. 

Weeds.— Hoe  the  surface  frequently,  and  keep 
them  down  from  the  first.     Let  not  a  weed  be  seen. 


Flower-Garden  and  Lawn, 

If  all  preparatory  work  is  not  completed,  it 
should  be  got  out  of  the  way  as  soon  as  possible. 
Sowing,  planting,  turning  out  plants  from  frames 
and  green-houses,  will  give  abundant  occupation. 

Annuals. — Sow  aceordiug  to  directions  on  p.  148. 

Bedding  Plants. — A  selection  will  be  found  on 
page  147.  Those  remaining  in  the  frame  or  green- 
house should  be  kept  from  making  too  vigorous  a 
growth  before  they  are  turned  out  into  the  bor- 
ders. The  time  for  setting  out  the  bedding  plants 
must  be  governed  by  the  season.  Better  be  a  little 
late  than  to  run  any  risk. 
Box  Edging.—- Reset,  clip  old  edgings  ;  fill  vacancies. 

Bulbs. — Many  of  these  have  passed  out  of  flower. 
The  garden  ought  to  be  gay  now  with  Tulips  and 
Hyacinths  ;  the  bloom  may  be  much  prolonged  by 
shading  with  an  awning  during  the  heat  of  the  day. 

Carnations. — Plant  out  aud  sow  seed.  Tie  the 
flower  stalks  to  stakes. 

Cypress  Vine. — Scald  the  seeds  before  sowing. 
The  White  and  Scarlet  make  a  pretty  contrast. 

Dahlias  may  be  6tarted  on  a  gentle  hot-bed  or  in 
a  cold  frame.  Cover  the  roots  with  rich  earth. 
They  may  also  be  buried  in  a  warm  and  sheltered 
border,  where  they  may  be  covered  at  night  with  a 
mat  or  other  protection. 

Daphne  Ceneorum. — We  have  before  noticed  this 
most  beautiful  little  evergreen  shrub.  It  flowers 
freely,  often  blooming  Spring  and  Fall.  Plant  early. 

Dieentra. — For  hardiness,  ease  of  propagation, 
and  beauty  of  foliage  and  flowers,  there  is  no  plant 
superior,  if  equal,  to  Dieentra,  spectabilis.  It  is 
propagated  by  dividing  the  root. 

Evergreens. — Plant  upon  the  lawn,  observing  the 
precautions  mentioned  under  Orchard  and  •  Nur- 
sery. Dwarf  sorts,  especially  the  broad-leaved 
kinds,  should  be  introduced  into  the  borders  with 
a  view  to  winter  effect.  Rhododendrons,  Laurels, 
Tree-Box,  and  some  of  the  Dwarf  Pines  and  Juni- 
pers, are  appropriate  for  this  purpose. 

Fankia,  or  Day  Lilies.    Divide  clumps  and  reset. 

Fuschias. — Turn  out  after  frost  is  over,  and  keep 
tied  to  stakes.     They  do  best  if  partially  shaded. 

Geraniums. — The  bedding  sorts  may  be  set  out. 
Tom  Thumb  is  most  commonly  used  for  this  pur- 
pose, but  there  are  many  others  desirable  for  their 
beauty  of  flowers  and  foliage. 

Gladiolus. — Plant  out  the  bulbs  in  good  soil.  The 
fine  varieties  are  now  at  a  moderate  price,  and 
should  be  in  every  garden. 

Grass  Edgings. — Set  as  directed  last  month. 
Keep  nicely  trimmed  and  cut. 

Gravel  Walks. — Keep  free  of  weeds ;   roll  often. 

Heliotropes  should  not  be  brought  out  until  tho 
weather  is  quite  warm. 

Honeysuckles  and  other  woody  climbers,  set  early. 
Tie  up  to  trellises.     Layer  to  increase  the  stock. 

Japan  Lilies. — These  are  perfectly  hardy.  Set 
the  bulbs  early.    They  are  worthy  of  a  place. 

Labels  and  Stakes. — Have  a  good  supply  of  Dahlia 
stakes  in  readiness,  as  well  as  smaller  ones  for  Car- 
nations, etc.  On  sowing  seeds,  label  each  kind  be- 
fore putting  in  another.  A  smooth  pine  label 
smeared  with  a  little  white  paint,  and  written  on 
with  the  lead-pencil  before  the  paint  is  dry,  will 
answer  best.    We  do  not  like  "indelible  pencils." 

Lantanas. — Set  in  poor  soil,  when  safe  from  frost. 

Lawns  should  be  mowed  evenly  as  soon  as  the 
grass  is  long  enough  to  cut.     Manure  if  needed. 

Mignonette. — Sow  where  wanted,  not  transplant. 

Petunias. — These  popular  plants  may  be  grown 
as  annuals,  as  they  bloom  very  soon  from  the  seed. 
The  choicer  sorts  are  propagated  by  cuttings. 

Poses. — These  should  be  in  great  abundance  in 
every  garden.  Turn  those  wintered  in  pots  into 
open  borders.    Keep  the  climbers  neatly  tied  up. 

Transplant  from  hot-beds.    Tender  plants  may 


be  shaded  during  the  heat  of  the  day  by  a  shingle. 

Tropaolums. — Sow  in  a  warm  place. 

Tuberoses. — Plant  early  in  rich  soil  in  a  warm  spot. 

Verbenas. — Put  in  masses,  securing  variety  in  color. 

Virginia  Creeper. — No  vine  exceeds  this  in  beauty 
of  foliage,  hardiness,  and  cleanliness — qualities 
which  render  it  desirable  for  piazzas  and  buildings. 
Put  out  early  this  month. 

Weeds. — Keep  them  out.  The  onion  or  bayonet 
hoe  is  a  useful  implement  in  flower-gardens. 

Wistaria. — Set  early.  This  beautiful  most  desir- 
able climber  is  quite  hardy  around  New-York. 


Green  and  Hot-Houses  and  Con- 
servatories. 

During  the  present  month  all  but  the  tropical 
plants  are  taken  out  of  doors.  The  removal 
should  be  gradual,  beginning  with  roses,  verbenas, 
and  other  hardy  kinds,  and  bringing  out  the  others 
as  the  weather  becomes  settled  and  warm.  Those 
which  are  retained  in  their  pots  should  be  placed 
where  they  will  not  be  overturned  by  high  winds, 
and  where  they  will  be  shielded  from  the  intense 
sun.  An  evergreen  hedge  or  screen  affords  an  ex- 
cellent protection.  In  the  hot-house  where 
tropical  plants  are  kept,  much  less  lire  heat  will 
be  needed,  aud  the  ventilators  should  be  kept  open 
as  much  as  possible  without  unduly  lowering  the 
temperature.  Although  many  plants  will  be  re- 
moved, the  skilful  gardener  will  not  let  the  house 
appear  deserted.  Those  which  remain  should  be 
arranged  so  as  to  make  a  good  display,  and  a  few 
free-blooming  green-house  plants  or  even  annuals 
should  be  kept  to  relieve  the  barrenness. 

The  bedding  plants,  when  put  out,  will  be  fre- 
quently found  to  be  pot-bound.  In  order  that 
these  should  have  a  vigorous  growth  it  is  neces- 
sary to  untwist  and  spread  the  roots,  and,  if  many 
of  these  are  broken,  head  back  the  plant.  When 
badly  pot-bound  plants  are  set  out  without  this 
precaution  they  do  not  flourish,  and  it  will  be 
found,  when  taken  up  in  the  Fall,  that  the  roots 
have  scarcely  extended  beyond  the  original  ball. 

Cactuses. — Plants  of  this  family  may  be  propa- 
gated by  cuttings,  which  will  be  less  likely  to  damp 
off  if  allowed  to  dry  for  a  few  weeks. 

Camellias  should  now  be  in  a  fine  growing  con- 
dition. Syringe  often,  and  when  put  out  of  doors 
see  that  they  are  shaded  during  the  heat  of  the  day. 

Cuttings  of  woody  aud  succulent  plants  may  still 
be  made.     Shade  them  until  they  have  struck  root. 

Grapes. — As  these  will  be  in  such  different  stages 
of  forwardness,  no  definite  directions  can  be  given. 
Late  vines  just  in  flower  should  have  but  little 
syringing.  Allow  the  bees  free  access  to  them. 
Keep  fruiting  vines  well  syringed,  and  pinch  back 
all  growing  shoots  that  will  interfere  with  the  de- 
velopment of  the  fruit.     Use  sulphur  for  mildew. 

Inarch  plants  that  are  not  readily  6truck  from 
cuttings,  such  as  Camellias,  Oranges,  Lemons,  etc. 

Insects. — Do  not  let  these  be  neglected  in  the 
press  of  other  work.    Entrap  and  kill  every  moth. 

Pelargoniums. — Make  cuttings  of  the  prunings. 

Water  freely,  as  evaporation  is  now  more  rapid. 


Apiary  in  May. 

The  necessity  for  feeding  weak  6tocks  may  not 
be  entirely  past  before  white  clover  blossoms. 
Should  unfavorable  weather  for  the  bees  to  work, 
occur  during  the  flowering  of  fruit  trees,  but  little 
addition  can  be  made  to  the  stores.  A  swarm  may 
occasionally  issue  at  such  a  period,  from  a  second- 
rate  hive  which  has  husbanded  its  stores  by  rearing 
no  drones.  Should  this  occur  while  flowers  are 
scarce,  they  will  need  a  supply  of  provisions.  Dan- 
ger from  robbing  is  not  entirely  past  uutil  plenty  of 
work  among  flowers  keeps  the  bees  from  mischief. 

An  experienced  bee-keeper  can  tell  with  much 
certainty,  by  an  occasional  examination  of  the 
hive,  when  to  expect  a  swarm.  This  event  is  not 
always  indicated  by  the  bees  clustering  thickly  on 
the  outside  of  the  hive.  They  frequently  do  this 
wben  there  is  no  call  for  activity  in  the  fields.  To 
examine  for  signs  of  swarms,  the  bees  are  first 


quieted  by  blowing  tobacco  smoke  among  them, 
and  the  hive  is  carefully  inverted.  If  honey  is 
being  obtained  in  abundance,  a  swarm  will  usually 
issue  the  first  fair  day  after  one  or  more  queen  cells 
are  sealed  over.  These  cells,  numbering  from 
threo  to  twenty,  are  to  be  found  on  the  edges  of 
the  comb.  They  are  easily  distinguished,  being 
much  larger  than  ordinary  cells.  Have  6tauds, 
hives,  etc.,  all  in  readiness  before  swarming  com- 
mences. Newly-painted  hives  are  objectionable; 
better  leave  them  unpainted  until  later  in  the 
season,  when  the  bees  will  not  leave  so  readily. 
Worms  will  continue  to  be  found  on  the  floor  of 
the  hive  until  the  bees  have  increased  so  as  to  oc- 
cupy almost  the  whole  space.  Many  can  be 
trapped.  Split  sticks  of  elder,  remove  the  pith, 
cut  small  notches  in  the  sides  through  which  the 
worms  may  enter,  and  lay  them  flat  side  downward 
on  the  bottom  of  the  hive.  Examine  them  every 
few  days  aud  destroy  the  occupants.  A  wren- 
house  near  the  stand  will  aid  in  extirpating  the 
millers.  Boxes  should  not  be  placed  on  the  hives 
while  the  bees  are  working  among  dandelions,  if 
honey  of  a  good  color  is  desired.  A  yellow  stain  is 
imparted  from  the  dandelion  flowers. 


Containing  a  great  variety  of  Items,  including  many 
good  Hints  and  Suggestions  which,  we  give  here  in  small 
type  and   condensed  form ,  for    want   of  space  elsewhere. 

Good  Premiums  Open. — We  refer  our 
readers  to  pages  160  and  155  for  some  premiums  worth 
looking  after.  The  grape  premiums  will  close  very  soon. 

Xlie    Calendar   of   Operations,    or 

hints  on  work  for  the  month,  occupies  considerable  space 
at  this  season.  The  suggestions  are  numerous,  and  will 
doubtless  afford  material  for  thought,  and  hints  for  prac- 
tice. We  trust  the  paper  would  not  be  considered  value- 
less, if  there  was  nothing  in  it  after  this  fifth  page. 

To  Correspondents. — Perhaps  no  other 
apology  need  be  given  to  those  whose  letters  are  yet 
unanswered,  than  to  say  that  our  letters  average  over  300 
a  day  throughout  the  year,  and  that  two-thirds  of  them 
arrive  between  Dec.  I  and  May  1.  The  "  Farm,  Garden, 
and  Household,"  embrace  topics  almost  numberless — 
different  field  and  garden  crops,  fruits  and  flowers, 
modes  of  tillage;  domestic  animals  and  their  diseases; 
household  labors,  etc.  The  questions  asked  upon  these, 
by  a  hundred  thousand  intelligent  readers,  are  so  nu- 
merous that  we  cannot  promptly  attend  to  them  all,  even 
were  we  able,  without  thought  and  an  investigation,  to 
respond  in  all  cases.  We  have  several  hundred  letters 
on  hand  marked  "for  immediate  reply;"  the  "imme- 
diate" will  be  just  as  soon  as  we  can.  We  doubt  if  any 
of  our  correspondents  work  as  many  hours  a  day  (and 
night)  as  do  the  principal  editors  of  the  Agriculturist. 

How  to  Invest  Money. — Many  of  our 
readers  are  continually  inquiring  how  they  may  invest 
a  little  surplus  money.  We  can  not  answer  (lie  queries 
by  letter,  and  do  not  like  to  advise  others.  We  are  not 
overburdened  with  money,  but  as  our  subscriptions  are 
mainly  received  at  the  beginning  of  the  year,  we  have 
to  carry  considerable  sums  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the 
summer  and  autumn  months,  and  this  year  we  have  seen 
nothing  better  than  the  "Five-Twenty  U.S.  Bonds." 
They  pay  six  per  tent  interest  per  annum,  in  gold — the 
half  year's  interest  payable  on  May  1st  and  November  1st, 
and  are  issued  in  sums  as  small  as  $50.  These  bonds  are 
always  salable,  so  that  one  can  convert  them  into  money 
at  any  time,  and  they  pay  interest  to  the  holder  every  day 
he  has  them.  In  time  of  peace,  such  bonds  have  stood 
as  high  as  20  to  25  per  cent  premium.  (We  only  wish  that 
the  high  price  of  printing  paper  did  not  prevent  our  car- 
rying a  good  lot  of  them  to  future  years.)  For  temporary 
investment,  those  with  "  interest  coupons"  are  best;  the 
coupons  can  be  cut  off  as  they  become  due,  and  be  used 
the  same  as  gold.  For  permanent  investment  the  Regis- 
tered Bonds  are  perhaps  preferable,  as  they  can  not  be 
lost  or  stolen,  or  destroyed  by  fire,  when  they  stand  in  the 
name  of  the  purchasers.  Full  particulars  about  these 
bonds,  the  mode  of  obtaining  them,  etc.,  will  be  found  on 
page  156,  in  the  advertisement  of  Messrs.  Fisk  &  Hatch, 
who  are  recognized  Agents  of  the  Government,  and  to 
whom  any  investments  can    be   confidently  entrusted. 


134 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Mat, 


Warts  on  Horses.  —  John  Emory,  Ran- 
dolph Co.,  111.  The  most  certain  cure  for  warts  is  to  re- 
move them  with  a  sharp  knife.  Caustic  applications  may 
be  successful,  where  cutting  is  not  practicable.  Nitrate 
of  silver,  (lunar  caustic)  is  often  used  for  the  purpose. 
Mayliew,  recommends  a  paste  made  of  sulphuric  acid 
and  powdered  sulphur,  which  can  be  applied  by  means  of 
a  flat  piece  of  wood.  Warts  should  be  removed  as  soon 
as  they  make  their  appearance  ;  if  neglected  they  be- 
come unsightly,  and  additional  ones  are  apt  to  grow. 


I^ice  on  Horses. — Elijah  Bailey,  Latnbton 
Co.,  C.  W.  Sweet  oil,  well  rubbed  into  the  hair  of  the 
horse  will  destroy  lice.  Other  oil  or  grease  will  answer, 
but  it  would  not  be  so  agreeable  to  the  animal  or  his  owner. 

Xo  Perent  Sows  Over-laying  I*ig;s. 

— This  is  a  frequent  occurrence,  generally  happening  in 
small  pens  or  where  much  long  straw  is  allowed  for  bed- 
ding. The  Ohio  Farmer  suggests  a  remedy  to  prevent 
the  pigs  from  being  crushed  against  the  wall,  viz.:  to  put 
aboard  in  the  form  of  a  shelf  around  the  wall,  about  a 
foot  above  the  floor.  The  board  may  be  8  or  10  inches 
wide.  This  will  leave  a  space  underneath  for  the  pigs, 
where  the  sow  can  not  lie  upon  them. 

For  tlie  Rats. — Mahlon  Guenn,  of  Morris 
Co.,  N.  J.,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist  that,  after  20  years 
of  ineffecLial  contest  with  Hie  rats  in  his  barn,  he  has  fi- 
nally expelled  them  by  sprinkling  fresh  slaked  lime  around 
the  sills,  and  wherever  the  rats  will  be  likely  to  get  their 
feet  into  it.  They  don't  like  it,  and  quit  the  premises. 
Mr.  G.  pronounces  this  a  certain  remedy.  Several  other 
correspondents  recommend  chloride  of  lime  for  the  same 
purpose.  Some  say  it  burns  their  feet,  and  others  that 
the  rats  don't  like  the  odor  of  the  chlorine  gas. 

Rats  OnaM  in**-  Harness.— J.  C.  Marsh, 
Winnebago  Co.,  Wis.,  inquires  how  to  prevent  rats  gnaw- 
ing harness  after  it  has  been  oiled.    Kill  the  rats. 

A  Great  Egg. — I.  Sues,  Jefferson  Co.,  Ky., 

sends  a  description  of  a  mammoth  egg  laid  by  a  lien  10 
months  old,  a  crossed  breed  of  the  Spanish  and  com- 
mon dunghill.  It  measured  nine  inches  in  circumference 
one  war,  and  seven  inches  the  other,  and  weighed  five 
and  l-16th  ounces.    That  is  large  enough  to  crow  over. 

What  the  I>ogs  did  in  Ohio.— A.   B. 

West,  Licking  Co.,  Ohio,  sends  to  the  Agriculturist  an 
extract  from  the  Report  of  the  Slate  Auditor  of  Ohio,  by 
which  it  appears  that  during  the  last  year  tha  dogs  killed 
32,061  sheep,  worth  $63,868.07,  and  also  injured  24,301 
sheep  to  the  amount  of  $23,224.  Yet  there  are  men  op- 
posed to  dog  laws  ! 


Xo  Expel  Hornets,  etc.— Thomas  H. 
Smith,  Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.,  writes  that  hornets,  bees, 
wasps,  etc.,  may  be  effectually  expelled  from  their  quar- 
ters by  spirits  of  turpentine,  applied  with  a  large  syringe. 

I,ioe  on  Cattle.— Ely  Stone,  Fairfield  Co., 
O.— Apply  grease  or  oil  to  the  parts  affected,  rubbing  it 
well  through  the  hair,  on  to  the  skin.  Kerosene  oil  will 
perhaps  answer    a  good  purpose,  if  most  convenient. 

Weigfht  of  Hay  in  a  Mow.-A  Penn- 
sylvania farmer  found,  upon  actual  trial,  that  450  cubic 
feet  of  hay,  taken  near  the  top  of  a  mow,  made  a  ton  in 
weight.  The  average  was  about  400  cubic  feet — less  near 
the  bottom  of  deep  mows,  and  more  at  the  top  of  the 
mow.  This  would  be  a  tun  for  every  foot  in  hight  of  a 
mow  20  feet  square  ;  or  10  by  40  feet ;  or  15  by  26%  feet. 

The  Corn-llarlcer  Improved. —  Sev- 
eral correspondents  write  that  they  use  a  corn-marker 
similar  to  the  one  described  on  page  41,  (Feb.  No.)  but 
with  the  addition  of  another  runner,  so  that  three  marks 
are  made  at  each  crossing  of  the  field. 

Invention   of   the   <*rain    Cradle.— 

Joseph  E.  Armitage,  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  inquires,  "  When, 
where,  and  by  whom  was  that  useful  implement,  the  grain 
cradle,  invented  ? 

Flax  Puller  Wanted.— A.  S.  Plummer, 
Portage  Co.,  O.,  inquires  if  there  is  any  machine  worked 
by  horse  power,  for  pulling  flax.  We  know  of  none. 
Such  a  machine  if  simple  and  effective  would  be  valuable. 

Sorgho  in  Connecticut. — A  correspond- 
ent at  New-Milford,  Conn.,  writes:  "We  intend  this 
year  to  give  sorgho  a  thorough  trial.  Two  mills  for  the 
manufacture  of  the  cane  into  syrup  are  being  erected  in 
this  town ;  one  by  Mr.  George  McMahon,  the  other  by 


Messrs.  Elijah  Hull  <fc  Son.    There  will  be  at  least  30 
acres  of  cane  planted  in  this  immediate  vicinity." 


Sorghum  Syrup  can  be  made  to  equal  the 
best  article  turned  out  at  the  sugar  refiners.  A  keg  sent 
to  us  by  Blymer,  Bates  &  Day,  Mansfield,  Ohio,  made  on 
Cook's  Evaporator,  without  the  use  of  chemicals  or  defe- 
cating substances,  is  very  good.  Good  apparatus  careful- 
ly used  is  requisite  for  obtaining  a  superior  article. 

Yield  of  Flax  per  Acre. —From  9>£ 
acres  of  the  McKee  farm  in  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y., 
sown  with  flax  last  year,  there  were  obtained  '91  bushels 
of  seed,  and  4,229  lbs.  of  lint.  The  seed  was  sold  for  $2. 
67Xc  per  bushel,  and  the  dressed  flax  at  25Xc.  per  lb., 
making  the  product  of  an  acre  $141.  The  cost  for  dres- 
sing the  flax  was  2)a'c.  per  lb.,  or  $11.13  per  acre. 

large  Product  of  Two  Potatoes.— 

N.  Varnum,  Hancock  Co.,,  Me.,  writes:  "Last  Spring 
I  planted  two  Garnet  Chili  potatoes,  4  eyes  in  a  hill.  Two 
hills  did  not  come  up,  and  two  others  sent  up  single  stalks. 
They  received  ordinary  cultivation  ;  the  product  85  lbs," 

Winter  Wheat  in  Iowa,- E.  Kcnyou, 
Henry  Co.,  Iowa,  writes  that  winter  wheat  has  given  bet- 
ter crops  than  the  Spring  variety,  in  that  section,  for  two 
or  three  years  past :  it  also  now  commands  20  to  25  cts. 
per  bushel  more  in  price.  Spring  wheat  has  usually  been 
relied  on,  but  much  winter  wheat  was  sown  last  Fall. 


Straight  Honey  Combs.— M.  Qnimby, 
during  a  recent  visit  at  the  Agriculturist  office,  slated, 
that  he  had  found  a  simple  and  costless  plan  for  securing 
straight  combs  on  the  movable  frames.  He  elevates  the 
front  or  back  of  the  hive  about  30  degrees,  the  frames 
running  from  front  to  rear,— and  finds  the  bees  invariably 
build  straight  combs.  In  some  50  hives  on  which  the 
experiment  was  tried,  there  was  not  a  single  failure. 

fjnnatural  Grafting*. — A  story  is  going 
the  rounds  of  the  papers  that  a  Mr.  Smith— whether  John 
Smith  or  not  is  not  stated— has  great  success  in  raising 
fruit  trees  by  grafting  on  maple  and  walnut  stocks,  and  it 
is  claimed  that  much  hardier  trees  are  obtained.  We 
shall  be  ready  to  believe  ihiswhenive  see  it. 


Whale  Oil  Soap  Substitute.  —  Sev- 
eral subscribers  living  where  this  can  not  be  procured, 
ask  us  what  will  serve  as  a  substitute.  Where  whale  oil 
can  be  obtained,  the  soap  may  be  made  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  soft  soap.  Probably  the  efficacy  of  this  kind  of 
soap  is  due  in  great  measure  to  its  disagreeable  odor.  A 
friend  of  ours,  uses  a  compound  with  great  success  upon 
his  peach-trees  which  might  be  tried  on  other  plants.  He 
mixes  a  strong  decoction  of  tobacco  and  aloes,  and  dis- 
solves soft  soap  in  it,  in  no  very  definite    proportion. 

Rlaclcberries.  —  Those    recommended   by 

the  New-York  Fruit  Growers'  Society  were ;  New- 
Rochelle  (which  is  sometimes  called  Lawton)  ;  the  Dor- 
chester ;  and  the  Cut,  or  Parsley  Leaved.  The  last 
named  is  new  and  looks  pretty,  but  we  are  not  yet  prepar- 
ed to  recommend  it  for  producing  fruit  on  a  large  scale. 


Cold  CJrapery— "  J.  J."  After  the  vines  are 
planted,  the  after  care  need  not  occupy  over  an  hour  a  day. 
The  Black  Hamburgh,  Grizly  Frontignan.  and  While 
Sweet-Water  or  White  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  would 
give  a  good  variety. 

Grape  Queries.— B.  L.  Maurer.  New  and 
vigorous  vines  can  be  obtained  so  easily  from  cuttings 
and  layers  that  it  is  hardly  worth  while  to  be  at  the  trouble 
of  transplanting  old  ones.  If  done  it  should  be  in  the 
Fall  or  early  Spring.  (Cannot  tell  about  lands. )— Ectus. 
The  Adirondac  is  not  well  enough  known  for  us  to  de- 
cide. A.  H.  Sprankle,  Stark  Co.,  O.  If  the  old  ground 
has  been  well  cultivated  we  should  prefer  it  to  new,  for 
planting  with  vines. 

Grapes  in  Spring:.— At  the  Fruit  Grow- 
ers Meeting,  March  26th,  some  fresh,  plump  Isabella 
grapes  were  presented  by  Samuel  Mitchell,  of  Steuben 
Co.,  N.  Y.  They  were  packed,  at  the  time  of  picking, 
in  boxes  one  foot  square  and  six  inches  deep,  three  layers 
of  bunches  with  sheets  of  newspaper  laid  between  them. 
They  were  then  put  in  a  cool  cellar  and  not  opened 
until  Spring,  when  they  came  out  with  more  flavor,  and 
greener  stems  than  we  have  before  seen. 

Chrysanthemum— Maizena.— Lucie  A. 
Partridge.  In  pronouncing  the  accent  is  on  the  second 
syllable,  thus:  chry-san-the-mum.  —  Malzena  Is  named 
from  Maize  (Indian  corn),  from  which  it  is  made  ;  It  U 


not  malerially  different  from  corn  starch,  the  name  Mal- 
zena being  a  trade  mark  for  a  good  quality  of  that  article, 

Gladiolus  and  Japan  Lily.— J.  S.  F. 

The  seeds  of  these  should  be  sown  as  soon  as  the  soil  is 
warm,  In  a  rather  shady  place.  The  bulbs  must  be  taken 
up  in  Autumn  when  the  leaves  die  off.  They  are  three 
or  four  years  in  coming  into  flower. 

Opium  Poppy.— Root.  Bickford,  Boyle  Co., 
Ky,  Early  in  the  present  century  an  unsuccessful  at- 
tempt was  made  to  produce  opium  in  this  country.  We 
have  heard  of  no  successful  trial.  Narcotic  plants  are 
peculiarily  modified  by  the  climate  in  which  they  grow. 
The  common  hemp  produces  in  Asia  the  Hasheesh, 
which  is  celebrated  throughout  the  East  for  its  intoxicat- 
ing qualities,  while  here  it  yields  nothing  of  the  kind. 
We  have  not  the  S.  C.  Seed  you  ask  for. 


Worms  Among-  the  Verbenas.- Mrs. 
A.  R.  Sprout,  Lycoming  Co.,  Pa.,  finding  that  her  Ver- 
benas stopped  blooming  and  the  leaves  withered,  sup- 
posed that  the  trouble  was  caused  by  drouth.  As  no 
amount  of  watering  restored  them,  she  dug  them  up  and 
found  that  "  every  root  and  fibre  was  a  living  mass  of 
insects  "  By  thoroughly  washing  the  roots  and  replant- 
ing she  succeeded  in  saving  the  choicest  specimens.  She* 
has  a  seedling  verbena  that  is  "delightfully  fragrant,"  and 
asks  if  it  is  common  for  them  to  be  so.  There  are  sever- 
al, so  called,  fragrant  verbenas,  but  we  have  never  seen 
one  delightfully  so.    We  should  be  glad  of  a  cutting. 

Roses  and  Fnschias. — L.  C.  Weaver, 
Stearns  Co.,  Minn.  These  can  not  be  sent  by  mail.  We 
do  not  keep  plants  of  any  kind  for  sale,  but  hand  all  or- 
ders which  come  to  us  to  some  one  in  the  business.  Our 
aim  is  to  have  no  pecuniary  interest  in  the  sale  of  any- 
thing, so  that  we  be  without  the  slightest  inducement 
to  over-estimate  the  value  of  any  article. 


Why  Cactus  does  not  Flower. — "E. 

A.  H.,"  Nangatuck,  Ct.  The  reason  probably  is  that  it  is 
too  wet.  The  Cactus  family  are  generally  from  countries 
where  there  is  no  rain  for  nine  months  in  the  year.  Dry 
it  for  a  few  months — you  need  not  fear  hurting  it — then 
on  giving  water  it  will  probably  throw  out  flower  buds. 


Xo  Save  Trouble  or  Subscribing1 
Every  Year. — A  California  subscriber  writes  :  "  It  is 
no  little  trouble  to  send  away  off  to  the  Agriculturist 
every  year,  the  dollar  subscription.  We  have  no  small 
bills,  and  if  we  had,  it  would  still  be  a  bother  to  send  the 
small  sum  tvery  year.  Our  paper  is  often  interrupted 
for  two  or  three  months,  as  we  forget  to  renew  before  the 
stoppage  of  the  paper.  I  propose  that  you  let  a  man  pay 
$5  at  one  time,  and  then  send  him  the  paper  six  years. 
The  extra  year  will  be  partly  covered  by  the  interest,  and 
by  the  saving  of  risk  in  five  different  remittances,  as  well 

as  the  labor  of  re-entering  the  names  every  year." We 

accept  the  proposal  of  our  correspondent,  and  extend  it 
to  any  others  who  may  prefer  this  course.  It  would 
doubtless  be  convenient  to  many  to  send  in  for  two  or 
three,  or  more  years  at  a  time,  and  it  would  save  us  no 
little  labor  in  re-entering  and  posting  the  names  every 
year.  When  three  or  more  years  are  sent  for,  a  receipt 
noting  the  full  time  paid  for  will  be  returned  to  the 
subscribers  when  requested. 

Meteorological  Notes  from  Illinois. 

— J.  S.  Rodgers,  of  McHenry  Co.,  ID.,  who  has  kept  rec- 
ords for  the  Smithsonian  Institute,  sends  us  a  summary 
of  his  observations  for  1862,  which  we  have  not  room  for 
in  full.  The  range  of  the  barometer  during  1862,  at  an 
altitude  of  842  feet  above  the  sea  level,  was  from  2S.46 
inches  to  29.66  inches.  The  thermometer  varied  from  9S° 
to  15°  below  0.  Mean  of  4  daily  observations  through  the 
year,45°6.  Rain  fall,  38.47  inches.  Snow  42.80  inches. 
Latest  frost  in  Spring,  on  May  20th  ;  earliest  frost  in  Au- 
tumn, October  5th. 

Agriculture    or   Massachusetts,  by 

C.  L.  Flint;  being  the  Tenth  Report  of  the  Secretary  of 
the  Massachusetts  Board  of  Agriculture  for  IS62.  A 
commendable  feature  of  this  report  Is  the  promptness  of 
its  appearance,  which  enables  the  farmer  to  profit  at  once 
by  whatever  valuable  suggestions  it  contains.  The  more 
important  contents  are  a  report  upon  Pleuro-pneumonla — 
the  fatal  cattle  disease  ;  an  interesting  account  of  a  series 
of  experiments  upon  the  use  of  manures  ;  an  article  upon 
the  insects  beneficial  to  agriculture,  and  a  report  upon 
fruit  culture.  These,  with  other  papers,  including  one 
giving  the  Secretary's  observations  upon  European  Agri- 
culture, make  up  not  only  a  useful  but  a  really  readable 
volume.  Mr.  Flint  Is  doing  good  service  to  (he  cause  of 
Agriculture  in  Massachusetts,  and  we  regard  this  Report 
as  another  evidence  of  the  Industry  and  good  judgment 
which  he  brings  to  the  work  of  his  office. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


135 


Is  Old  Seed  Wheat  Best  ?—  To  this 
question,  asked  in  a  previous  number  of  the  American  Ag- 
riculturist, several  correspondents  have  answered  "  Yes"; 
none  say  no.  D.  Sleek,  Lycoming  Co.,  Pa.,  writes  thus  : 
"  Our  experience  here  is,  that  after  three  or  four  years, 
wheat  begins  to  degenerate  or  '  run  out ;'  or  rather  it  be- 
comes more  susceptible  to  injury  from  insects.  The 
smooth  varieties  of  white  wheat  having  failed,  the  bearded 
while  chaff  Mediterranean  was  introduced  ;  but  in  a  few 
years  this  became  subject  to  the  Hessian  fly,  or  to  the 
Midge,  equally  with  the  white,  previously  used  ;  and  now 
the  indications  are  that  the  *  Lancaster'  or  Red  Mediter- 
ranean, introduced  three  years  ago,  will  suffer  the  same 
fate.  But  of  some  seed  of  the  white  Mediterranean  saved 
the  second  year  after  its  introduction,  and  sowed  three 
years  later,  the  crop  was  equal  to  the  original,  while  new 
seed  from  that  grown  five  years  in  succession  was  nearly 
all  destroyed  by  insects.  It  is  certain  that  seed  wheat 
will  keep  good  three  years  (and  I  know  not  how  much 
longer),  especially  if  it  be  kept  dry,  in  the  chaff  or  un- 
threshed,  and  free  from  the  attacks  of  rats  and  mice." 

IStilkley's  Seedling-  Potato. — Ectus. 
This  is  considered  a  good  variety  and  preferred  by  some 
to  the  Peach-blow. 


Lime  —  Quantity — Experiments.-J. 

S.  Parker,  York  Co.,  Me.  In  the  lime  directions,  page 
107  of  April  Agriculturist,  the  quantities  recommended 
referred  to  the  bushels  of  unslaked  lime,  in  the  condition 
it  comes  or  should  come  from  the  kilns  to  market.  The 
quantity  per  acre  will  depend  wholly  upon  the  character 
and  condition  of  the  soil,  as  described  in  our  article.  It 
is  well  in  all  cases  to  leave  a  small  strip  through  the  mid- 
dle of  a  field  without  lime,  and  also  to  apply  an  extra 
amount  to  another  strip,  so  as  to  observe  the  compara- 
tive results  upon  two  or  three  succeeding  crops.  The 
information  thus  gained  will  be  useful  to  Ike  experiment- 
er himself,  and  to  others. 

Hair  as  a  Manure.— B.  Marple,  Baltimore 
Co.,  Md.  We  are  not  able  to  tell  you  the  precise  money 
value  of  hair  as  a  manure.  As  it  contains  about  16  times 
as  much  nitrogen  as  barn  yard  manure,  it  is  theoretically 
worth  16  times  as  much  ;  we  doubt  not  it  is  practically 
worth  much  more  ton  for  ton.  But  hair  is  very  slowly 
decomposed  and  its  fertilizing  effects  will  be  only  gradu- 
ally developed.  It  would  no  doubt  be  a  very  lasting 
manure  and  could  it  be  obtained  at  a  reasonable  price  we 
should  experiment  with  it,  applied  directly  and  in  compost. 

A.  .llamnre  Hill. — A  recent  estimate  of  the 
amount  of  artificial  manures  annually  used  in  England 
gives  the  following  as  about  the  figures  : 

Guano $14,300.000! Nitrate  of  Soda. .     I,000;000 

Bone  dust 1 ,200.000 'Snl.  of  Ammonia       450,000 

Bone  S'phosphate  4,000,ooo|Olher  substances  250,000 
Coprotite    iio....     1,800,000 1        Totaj $23,000,000 

This  amount  of  twenty-three  millions.be  it  noted,  is 
for  fertilizers  the  materials  of  which  are  mainly  im- 
ported from  abroad.  The  first  and  fifth  items,  amounting 
to  over  $15,000,000,  are  used  just  as  imported,  without 
having  their  value  increased  by  manufacture. — By  the 
way,  can  not  some  statistical  reader  give  us  an  opprox- 
Imate  estimate  of  the  amount  annually  paid  by  the 
farmers  of  Long  Island,  for  stable  manure  from  New- 
York  City  and  Brooklyn,  for  ashes  and  lime,  and  for 
fish  used  as  manure  ?  It  would  be  interesting  also  to 
know  the  amount  used  by  some  of  the  individual  farmers. 


Use  of  Liquid.  JYluunre. — R.  P.  Clarke, 
Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.  Fill  the  tanks  with  murk  to  absorb 
all  the  liquid,  and  work  it  over  until  fine,  then  apply  to 
crops  in  the  same  manner  as  barn-yard  manure. 


Moss  on  Meadows. — Samuel  McWilliams 
Chester  Co.,  Pa.  Apply  a  liberal  top-dressing  of  lime 
and  if  the  grass  be  very  thin,  go  over  with  a  heavy  har- 
row, sow  grass  seed,  roll  it  in  and  top  dress  with  well 
lotted  fine  barn  yard  manure. 


Seal*  in  Sheep. — "  Subscriber,"  Damascus, 
0.  After  shearing,  scour  the  scabs  off  with  stiff  brushes 
and  a  suds  made  of  a  decoction  of  tobacco  and  soft  soap, 
then  dip  the  sheep  in  strong  tobacco  water  with  a  little 
spirits  turpentine  thrown  in  after  dipping  every  third  or 
fourth  sheep.  Randall  in  his  "  Sheep  Husbandry  "  says, 
he  entirely  cured  a  flock  by  this  treatment. 


Millet,  etc.,  for  Poultry .— "W.  F.  Pills- 
bury,  Merrimac  Co.,  N.  H.  Fowls  are  fond  of  millet, 
and  it  is  considered  excellent.    Buckwheat  is  also  good. 


Setting:    the   Mole-trap. — "J.   E.,"  and 

others.  In  the  engraving  given  a  year  ago  this  month, 
(p.  141,)  the  cross-piece,/,  g,  turns  on  a  pivot  in  the  up- 
right: so  also  does  the  piece  e.  The  heavy  block,  b, 
fastened  to  the  strips,  c,  moves  up  and  down  on  a,  but  is 


help  up  by  the  short  end  of  e.  When  g,  is  raised,  the  end 
of  e.  is  released  from  the  notch,  and  flies  up  ;  then  b,  slides 
off  from  the  short  chamfered  end  and  drops  down,  carry- 
ing the  points  into  the  mole  track.  Perhaps  the  trap 
shown  on  page  140  of  this  paper  may  be  more  easily  made, 
and  be  equally  effective. 


Starting  a  Peach  Orchard,— Geo.  T. 

Russell,  Cheshire  Co.,  N.  II.  The  usual  method  is  to 
plant  trees  one  year  alter  budding,  selecting  from  the 
nursery,  so  as  tq  have  only  known  varieties.  As  seed- 
lings are  hardier  than  budded  trees,  in  colder  climates 
pits  of  good  sorts,  from  bearing  trees  in  your  vicinity, 
may  be  planted.  Peaches  come  nearly  true  to  Hie  kinds 
planted,  so  it  is  not  difficult  to  raise  an  orchard  of  good 
seedlings.  In  your  northern  latitude,  15  feet  (193  to  the 
acre)  is  a  suitable  distance  for  peach  trees,  and  30  feet 
(48  per  acre)  for  apple  trees,  so  as  to  prevent  shading. 

A  Good  Fruit  Locality  in  Niagara 
Co.,  N.  "If. — We  remember  that  some  25  years  ago, 
when  peaches  and  other  fruits  were  almost  wholly  cut 
off  by  Spring  frosts,  there  was  a  belt  along  the  southern 
shore  of  Lake  Ontario,  where,  owing  to  the  influence  of 
that  large  body  of  water,  the  peach  crop  was  saved  and 
an  abundant  yield  secured.  We  believe  this  experience 
was  not  confined  to  any  particular  year.  In  a  recent  let- 
ter to  the  Agriculturist,  a  subscriber  gives  some  statistics 
just  gathered,  concerning  the  four  Lake  School  Distiicts, 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  town  of  Wilson,  Niagara  Co., 
comprising  a  strip  about  1>*  miles  wide,  and  G  miles  long  : 
Apple  trees  growing,  12,4,14,  of  which  not  half  are  yet  bear- 
ing ;  product  last  year  18,275  bushel?. Pear  trees  grow- 
ing, 3,132. Grape  vines  growing,  12,578,  all  Isabellas; 

product  last  year  57,500  pounds  ;  wine  manufactured, 
1100  gallons.  One  vineyard  of  500  Isabellas  yielded  last 
year,  by  actual  weighing.  17.000  lbs.  of  grapes,  of  which 
10,500  lbs.  were  sold,  and  6,500  made  into  631  gallons  of 
wine.  (The  age  of  the  vines  is  not  given.  Nothing  is 
said  of  the  peach  crop.) 

Prolonging;  tlie  Strawberry  Sea- 
sou. — E.  WeslfatI,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist  that  in 
Autumn  he  covered  a  portion  of  the  ground  between  his 
strawberry  rows  with  cut  straw,  to  keep  the  weeds  down. 
This  proved  effectual,  but  the  straw  was  put  on  so  thick- 
ly that  the  plants  started  late,  and  blossomed  and  ripened 
fruit  10  days  longer  than  those  not  thus  treated— making 
a  strawberry  season  of  'AH  weeks  with  the  same  variety. 


A    Western    Strawberry    Patcli. — 

S.  S.  White,  Mercer  Co.,  111.,  writes  that  "on  moving 
West,  I  was  told  that  Eastern  agricultural  papers  were 
not  suited  to  that  climate,  and  that  I  might  save  the  ex- 
pense of  the  American  Agriculturist.  I  took  the  paper, 
however,  read  it,  and  acting  on  its  suggestions  planted  a 
strawberry  bed  ±%  rods  long,  by  2  rods  wide,  from  which 
I  picked  last  season,  10  bushels  of  berries,  besides  what 
75  visitors  picked  and  ate.  Persons  came  miles  to  see 
the  patch.  1  had  to  remind  them  of  their  unbelief  in  the 
A  griculturisCs  teachings,  and  hope  their  eyes  are  opened. 
I  also  had  fine  grapes  from  cuttings  planted  since  I  came 
here  two  years  ago." 


Shrubs    from    the   Patent   Office.— 

"  S.  R."    The  shrubs  you  name  do  not  need  any  especial 
culture.    Myrica  Gale  will  do  best  in  a  wet  place. 


Sketches  of  Bee-Houses,  Imple- 
ments, etc.— "J.  F.  S.,"  of  St.  Louis,  and  others. 
We  are  always  glad  to  receive  drawings  and  descriptions 
of  novel  bee-houses,  implements  for  the  farm,  garden, 
household,  etc.,  but  can  not  decide  whether  engravings 
will  be  made  and  published,  until  we  have  examined  them 
and  formed  an  opinion  of  their  utility.  No  charge  is  made 
for  engravings  of  unpatented  articles,  when  they  are  for 
public  use,  unless  some  individual  interest  is  to  be  sub- 
served, in  which  case  the  person  to  be  benefited  should 
justly  bear  the  chief  expense.  Where  the  public  interest 
is  to  be  promoted,  engravings  and  descriptions  of  patent- 
ed articles  are  sometimes  inserted,  though  in  such  cases 
it  is  proper  that  the  owners  of  the  patents,  who  have  an 
Individual  Interest  in  the  matter,  should  share  in  the  ex- 
pense. We  are  not  so  benevolent  as  to  support  a  paper 
at  an  expense  of  $70,000  a  year,  and  let  everybody  use  its 
column  as  a  free  medium  of  communication  with  the  pub- 
lic. But  the  first  question  in  all  cases,  is,  will  the  publi 
cation  of  this  or  that  description  benefit  our  readers  t 

Currant  Wine  28  Years  Old.— A  bot- 
tle of  currant  wine,  made  in  1835,  was  recently  presented 
at  the  Fruit  Growers'  Meeting  by  J,  L.  Gourgas,  of  Mid- 
dlesex Co.,  Mass.,  and  pronounced  very  good.  Mr.  G., 
stated  that  the  currants  were  boiled  before  pressing;  the 
expressed  juice  was  left  to  ferment  in  the  tubs,  then  put 
in  wine  casks,  and  one  gallon  of  the  best  French  brandy 
added  to  twenty-eight  gallons  of  the  currant  juice,  wiM> 
sugar  enough  to  make  it  palatable. 


Live  Forever  as  a  Weed.- "L.  D.  B.," 

Plymouth,  Conn.  Some  months  ago  we  asked  for  infor- 
mation respecting  this  plant,  and  learned  from  one  cof* 
respondent  that  hogs  would  uproot  and  destroy  it.  The 
Live  Forever  is  different  from  the  Houseleek.  The  latter 
has  a  dense  cluster  of  leaves  close  to  the  ground,  while 
the  Live  Forever,  though  of  the  same  fleshy  character, 
has  its  leaves  along  a  stem  which  is  a  foot  or  more  high. 


The  National  Almanac— In  referring 
to  this  valuable  work,  in  March,  the  price  was  wrongly 
given  at  $1  50,  which  was  considered  cheap  enough.  Wo 
are  glad  to  say  the  price  is  only  $1  25  in  the  better  bind- 
ing.   We  add  it  to  our  book-list  on  page  159. 

The  American  Farmer  and  Me- 
chanic—Numerous  correspondents  are  informed  that 
we  know  nothing  about  this  paper,  and  have  seen  no 
number  of  it  since  January.  Our  own  legitimate  busi- 
ness is  all  that  we  can  attend  to,  and  we  can  not  devote 
time  to  answering  inquiries  about  other  papers,  or  to  get- 
ting premiums  from  them  which  have  been  promised, 
and  are   not  forthcoming. 

American  Bee  Journal.— J.  B.  Cripp, 
Marshall  Co.,  Iowa,  and  others.  The  above  journal, 
formerly  issued  at  Philadelphia,  has  been  discontinued, 
for  the  present  at  least.  Journals  devoted  to  a  single 
special  department  of  Agriculture  or  horticulture,  have 
not  yet  been  found  self-sustaining. 


A  Sate  Promise. — An  Iowa  subscriber 
writes,  "  After  trying  a  week  without  success,  to  procuro 
subscribers  for  the  Agriculturist,  I  told  five  persons  I 
would  send  them  the  paper,  and  if  at  the  end  of  the  year 
they  did  not  think  it  worth  the  money,  I  would  make  no 
charge.  In  a  few  days  after  they  received  their  first  num- 
ber they  were  so  well  pleased  they  all  paid  up.  If  all 
your  subscribers  would  try  this  plan,  they  could  benefit 
their  neighbors,  anil  increase  your  circulation  with  very 
little  trouble.''  Many  others  have  made  the  same  exper- 
iment, and  have  thus  secured  valuable  premiums. 

Cecropia  Cocoon.— E.  S.  Holmes,  Niagara 
Co.,  N.  Y.  Specimen  received,  and  is  doubtless  the  Al- 
tacus  Cecropia.  The  caterpillar,  when  full  grown,  is 
about  3  inches  long,  and  the  moth  spreads  its  wings  nearly 
5  inches.  The  cocoon  is  a  silky  material  which  perhaps 
might  make  a  strong  fabric,  if  obtainable  in  quantity. 

Roots  and  Shoes. — "  Homespun,"  advises 
those  farmers  who  wish  to  reduce  the  cost  of  shoeing 
the  family,  to  buy  leather  and  make  the  boots  and  shoes 
themselves.  Any  one  will  be  willing  to  do  it  after  the 
annoyance  he  has  had  with  split  leather  and  ripped  seams. 

Climate   at  Puget  Sound,  TV.  T.— 

At  first  thought,  one  would  hardly  expect  to  find  many 
readers  of  an  agricultural  paper  in  the  newly  settled  re- 
gions on  the  Pacific  Coast.  But  the  enterprising  meu 
who  go  out  to  clear  up  land  and  build  themselves  homes 
in  the  Wilderness,  are  just  the  ones  who  are  on  the  alert 
for  every  hint  to  be  derived  from  a  paper  devoted  to  theu 
chosen  pursuit.  On  the  morning  of  the  21st  of  every 
month,  we  make  up  for  the  mail  a  large  edition  of  the 
American  Agriculturist,  to  go  out  by  the  California  steam- 
er, to  be  distributed  to  subscribers  scattered  all  the  way 
from  Western  Mexico  to  Washington  Territory,  north  of 
Oregon— hundreds  of  copies  going  to  the  latter  region. 
A  letter  before  us  from  J.  H.  Nagel,  dated  at  Puget  Sound, 
Dec.  19,  (lat  42°,)  describes  the  season  up  to  that  date  as 
similarly  mild  and  spring-like,  to  what  it  was  on  this  side 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Cattle  were  grazing  in  the 
fields,  and  potatoes  and  turnips  were  still  in  the  ground 
unfrozen.  Mr.  N.  says  he  has  been  there  ten  years,  and 
that,  except  in  1861,  he  has  never  seen  snow  enough  for 
more  than  one  week's  sleighing  during  a  Winter.  He 
compares  the  climate  to  that  of  Italy,  with  the  heat  of 
mid-day  in  Summer  tempered  by  cooling  breezes.  The 
mild  Winter  comes  on  almost  imperceptibly.  We  sup- 
pose this  description  applies  only  to  places  immediately 
upon  the  Coast,  and  under  the  influence  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  which  of  course,  varies  but  little  in  temperature, 
throughout  the  year. 


Weather  Notes.— TV.  G.  Phelps,  Geauga 
Co.,  Ohio,  and  others.  It  is  interesting  to  see  and  com- 
pare notes  from  different  parts  of  the  country,  to  notice 
the  variations  of  temperature,  beginning  of  storms,  etc., 
but  of  course  we  have  not  room  to  publish  many  such. 

Spring;- W inter  in  New-Hampshire, 

—Sumner  C  Hill,  in  a  postscript  to  a  letter  dated  Con* 
way,  N.  H.,  (lat.  44°.)  March  13th,  1863,  says:  "Ther- 
mometer 18°.  below  zero  this  A.M.... Snow  8  feet  deep." 


136 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[Mat, 


Tree  Cotton.— As  we  have  before  been 
rather  severe  upon  a  speculation  of  this  kind,  some  of 
our  old  subscribers  may  be  surprised  that  we  publish 
two  advertisements  for  Tree  Cotton  seed,  (one  last 
mor.th  and  one  now.)  We  have  been  at  consider- 
able trouble  to  Investigate  the  matter  before  admitting 
(lie  advertisements,  and  believe  the  parlies  are  acting  in 
good  faith  in  introducing  this  variety  of  cotton  as  an  ex- 
periment. We  have  in  one  case  ascertained  that  the 
seed  was  received  precisely  in  the  way  the  advertiser  as- 
serted, and  in  the  other  we  have  seen  the  cotton  before 
it  was  ginned.  The  shape  of  the  bolls  is  different  from 
ordinary  cotton,  and  the  fiber  lias  a  different  feel.  It  is 
yet  to  be  proved  by  experiment  whether  it  is  at  all 
adapted  to  our  climate,  but  those  disposed  to  try  it  will 
doubtless  get  genuine  seed  offered  by  the   advertisers. 

Beware  of  Traveling  Tree  Ped- 
dlers.—We  do  not  like  to  quarrel  with  traveling  Tree 
Sellers,  for  many  of  them  are  upright,  honest  men,  and 
not  a  few  of  them  are  the  very  best  agents  for  extending 
the  circulation  of  the  Agriculturist ;  but  there  is  so  much 
swindling  by  some  of  this  class,  that  we  must  caution  our 
readers  to  exercise  special  care  in  dealing  with  those 
who  are  far  from  home,  and  not  personally  known  lo  the 
purchasers.  The  most  common  mode  of  defrauding  their 
customers  is,  to  get  a  certificate  of  agency  from  some  re- 
spectable nursery,  and  do  just  business  enough  for  that 
nursery  to  keep  their  agency  good,  and  then  to  lake 
orders  and  supply  them  with  inferior  and  untrue  trees, 
picked  up  here  and  there  at  nominal  prices.  They  blus- 
ter the  purchasers  into  paying  for  the  trees  "  lo  get  rid  of 
them,"  and  when  after  half  a  dozen  years  the  trees  turn 
out  untrue,  the  "  agent"  is  non-com-at-ibus.  The 
best  way  is  to  send  directly  to  some  responsible  nursery- 
man ;  or  if  any  communication  be  held  with  the  agent, 
listen  lo  what  he  has  to  say,  canvass  his  list  and  pro- 
posals, and  when  the  list  of  trees  is  made  out,  yourself 
send  the  order  direct  to  the  proprietors  of  the  nursery, 
with  all  specifications  as  to  kinds  and  size  of  trees, 
time  and  mode  of  delivery,  price,  etc.  If  Ihe  agent  be  a 
recognized  one,  he  will  be  satisfied  with  this  course,  as 
he  will  draw  the  same  salary  or  commission  as  if  he  car- 
ried in  the  orders  himself. 

Grape   Culture,   Wines   and    Wine 

Iflakillg.-  This  is  the  title  of  a  work  of  over  400  pages, 
by  A.  Haraszlhy,  published  by  Harper  &  Bros.  The 
author  is  a  native  of  a  wine-growing  country  and  made 
a  trip  to  Europe  to  collect  material  for  this  work.  The 
European  vine  flourishes  well  in  California,  and  what  re- 
lates to  the  culture  of  the  grape  is  of  course  adapted  lo 
that  climate,  but  the  very  detailed  accounts  of  the  pro- 
cess   of    wine-making   will    be    valuable    everywhere. 

A  l>Tew  Work  on  Vegetables.— Crosby 
A  Nichols  have  just  published  "The  Field  and  Garden 
Vegetables  of  America,  by  Fearing  Burr,  Jr."  This  is 
rather  a  descriptive  catalogue  than  a  treatise  upon  the 
culture  of  vegetables,  and  contains  much  information 
upon  the  origin  and  peculiarities  of  the  different  varieties. 
The  author  has  followed  the  classification  of  Loudon, 
which  we  do  not  like,  but  this  is  a  minor  point.  The 
work  is  beautifully  executed,  and  the  engravings  being 
from  original  drawings  by  Sprague,  are  of  course  good. 

Botanical  Works.— A.  Domas,  111.  Gray's 
Manual  is  the  best  work.  American  Weeds  and  Useful 
Plants  is   fully  illustrated.    Both  are    in  our  Book-List. 

Hew   American    Cyclopaedia,    Vol. 

16.— This  volume  completes  ihe  great  work  published 
by  the  Appletons.  Whoever  owns  a  set,  has  a  valuable 
library.  Among  the  striking  merits  of  this  work  is  Ihe 
information  it  contains  about  living  people,  and  upon 
peculiarly  American  topics.  An  annual  volume,  two  of 
which  are  already  issued,  will  record  passing  events. 

American  Pomological  Society's 
Frult-lilsts— Distributed  to  members  only.  The 
terms  are  $10  for  a  life,  and  $2  for  a  biennial  member- 
ship. Life  members  will  be  furnished,  as  far  as  possible, 
with  the  back  volumes.  Remittances  for  membership 
maybe  made  to  Thos.  P.  James,  Esq.,  Treasurer,  Phila- 
delphia, or  Hon.  Marshall  P.  Wilder,  President,  Boston. 

Catalogues.— Each  year  shows  a  great  im- 
provement in  the  catalogues  of  the  various  nurserymen 
and  seedsmen.  Instead  of  being  a  meagre  list  of  articles 
for  sale,  many  of  them  contain  concise  descriptions  of 
fr'iits  and  plants,  together  wilh  full  directions  for  their 
planting  and  culture.  Some  of  these  are  really  valuable 
works  of  reference.     We  have  accumulated  a  mass  of 


these,  and  intended  to  notice  them  in  detail,  but  are  pre- 
vented by  want  of  space.  We  thank  Ihe  contributors,  and 
often  in  an  indirect  way  benefit  them  by  referring  our 
many  inquiring  visitors  to  their  pages. 

Messrs.  Wilder  and  Breclf . — The  pro- 
ceedings at  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  the  Mass.  Horl.  So- 
ciety. April  4th,  were  unusually  interesting.  By  a  vote  of 
the  Society  an  account  of  the  proceedings  has  been  fur- 
nished us  for  publication,  but  we  have  /lot  space  left  for 
a  full  report.  First,  an  elegant  Silver  Pitcher  or  Vase, 
and  a  dozen  Silver  Forks,  were  presented  as  a  suitable 
testimonial  lo  the  lale  retiring  President  of  Ihe  Society, 
Hon.  Joseph  Breck  (Ihe  well-known  author  of  "  Breck's 
Book  of  Flowers  ").  Following  this  was  the  presentation 
to  the  Society,  by  C.  0.  Whitmore  Esq.,  of  a  Marble  Bust 
of  Hon.  Marshall  P.  Wilder,  wdio  has  for  more  than  thirty 
years  been  connected  wilh  the  Society — eight  years  as 
President — and  labored  unceasingly  for  the  promotion  of 
its  interests,  and  of  the  horticultural  and  pomological  in- 
terests of  our  country  generally.  The  Bust  was  received, 
and  resolutions  unanimously  passed,  expressing  gratitude 
to  Mr.  Whitmore,  and  highly  complimentary  to  Mr. 
Wilder.  The  Bust  will  be  placed  in  the  Society's  rooms, 
to  which    it  will    be    a    most    appropriate  ornament. 


The 


Tobacco    Essays— Plagiarism— New 
Award  of  the  Second  Prize. 

The  Committee  to  whose  decision  the  Tobacco  Essays 
were  referred,  were  intelligent  men,  and  they  sought  for 
the  Essay  which  should  give  them,  if  they  wished  to  en- 
gage in  its  cultivation,  the  most  plain  and  complete  prac- 
tical instructions,  as  called  for  in  the  ofTer  of  prizes. 
The  decision,  published  in  the  last  issue  of  the  Agri- 
culturist, was  made  upon  this  ground,  and  in  good  faith, 
and  they  supposed  that  every  essay  before  them  came 
within  the  conditions,  and  was  written  "from  practical 
experience  or  observation."  After  the  book  was  stereo- 
typed and  printed,  the  Committee  learned,  to  their 
surprise  and  regret,  that  they  were  imposed  upon  by  Mr. 
A.  B.  Foster,  of  Crawford  Co.,  111.,  who  copied  almost 
word  for  word  an  essay  by  W.  W.  W.  Bowie,  of  Prince 
George's  Co.,  Mil.,  which  was  printed  in  the  Agricultural 
Report  of  the  Patent  Office  for  1849-'50.  This  essay  re- 
ceived a  prize  of  $30,  which  was  awarded  lo  it  by  a 
Committee  of  Maryland  Agriculturists.  While  the  Com- 
mittee feel  gratified  that  their  decision  should  accord 
with  that  of  these  distinguished  gentlemen,  they  ex- 
ceedingly regret  the  unintentional  injustice  done  to  Mr. 
Bowie.  The  only  amends  they  can  make  are  this  public 
acknowledgment,  and  to  put  his  name  to  the  Essay  should 
another  edition  of  the  book  be  called  for.  The  sec- 
ond prize  of  $10  will  belong  to  Mr.  Christian  Schnei- 
der, of  Madison  Co.,  111.  As  to  Mr  Foster,  we  leave  him 
to  reflect  that  he  has  done  a  very  mean  thing,  and  to  the 
chagrin  this  exposure  must  bring  him.  Fortunately  the 
discovery  was  made  before  forwarding  the  prize-money. 


Judges  for  the  Strawberry  Exhibition. 

The  following  gentlemen  have  been  chosen  by  the 
Fruit  Growers'  Society  a  Committee  of  Judges  on  the 
forthcoming  Strawberry  Exhibition,  announced  else- 
where in  this  paper,  viz. :  Mr.  Charles  Downing  of  New- 
burg,  N.  V. ;  Mr.  Samuel  B.  Parsons  of  Flushing,  N.Y. ; 
Mr.  Peter  B.  Mead,  Editor  of  the  Horticulturist,  N.  Y. ; 
Prof.  Geo.  W.  Huntsman  of  the  Free  Academy,  N.  Y. ; 
Mr.  Stephen  D.  Pardee  of  New-Haven,  Conn.  ;  Mr.  John 
J.  Thomas  of  Union  Springs,  N.  Y.,  (Horticultural 
Editor  of  the  Country  Gentleman,  Albany)  ;  and  Mr. 
Isaac  C,  Winans  of  Newark.  N.  J.  The  first  five  named 
gentlemen  have  signified  their  acceptance ;  the  last  two 
have  not  yet  been  heard  from,  but  will  doubtless  attend. 
This  is  a  very  excellent  committee,  all  of  whom  are  well 
known  as  practical  and  skillful  judges  of  fruits,  while  not 
one  of  them  has  a  special  or  personal  interest  in  the  prop- 
agation of  any  variety  of  strawberries.  Mr.  Winans 
was  formerly  largely  engaged  in  marketing  strawberries 
in  New- York,  and  his  practical  experience  will  be 
specially  valuable  in  this  department  of  the  exhibition. 


The  Michigan  Agricultural  College. 

We  are  glad  to  learn  that  this,  the  pioneer  institution 
of  its  kind  in  the  country,  is  still  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion. Like  every  new  enterprise*  it  has  had  to  contend 
against  ignorance  and  prejudice.  The  Legislature  of  the 
State  has  now  placed  it  in  a  condition  to  sustain  itself 
until  the  lands  granted  by  the  General  Government  can 
be  made  available.  The  Slate  Board  of  Agriculture, 
composed  of  some  of  the  most  intelligent  farmers  of  the 
State,  have  control  of  its  affairs.  Prof,  T.  C.  Abbot,  is 
President  of  the  Institution,  and  there  is  an  able  corps  of 
Professors,  most  of  whom  ate  personally  known  to  us. 


To  Ihe  farmer's  son  thiscollege  offers  especial  advantages, 
as  he  is  enabled  by  means  of  his  labor  to  defray  a  good 
share  of  the  expenses  of  his  education,  and  is  brought  in 
contact  with  those  only  who  consider  labor  honorable. 
We  know  that  the  studies  relating  to  agriculture  arc 
taught  more  fully  than  they  are  in  most  colleges  and  sci- 
entific schools,  while  the  course  in  the  ordinary  and  high- 
er branches  of  English  education  is  very  complete.  If 
the  farmers  of  Michigan  properly  appreciated  the  institu- 
tion it  would  be  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity,  but  at  pres- 
ent there  is  room  for  a  few  from  other  States,  who  are 
admitted  at  a  yearly  charge  of  $20  for  tuition,  which  is 
free  to  residents  of  the  Stale.  Catalogues  and  Circulars 
may  be  had  by  applying  to  Pres.  T.  C.  Abbot,  at  Lansing. 


Agricultural  Department  at  Washington. 

It  gives  us  pleasure  to  state  thai  there  are  strong  indi- 
cations of  a  desire  on  the  part  of  the  Commissioner  and 
his  associates  to  make  this  Department  what  it  should 
be, — a  real  benefit  lo  the  agriculture  of  the  country.  A 
very  capable  man,  Mr.  Wm.  Saunders,  is  placed  in  charge 
of  the  propagating  garden.  Prof.  Townend  Glover  has 
been  selected  as  Entomologist  to  the  Department— an 
appointment  eminently  fit  to  be  made,  and  vie  are  espe- 
cially gratified  at  this,  as  Prof.  G.  was  very  shabbily  treated 
by  the  old  Agricultural  Bureau  of  the  Patent  Office.  We 
have  no  doubt,  from  Prof.  Glover's  ability  and  enthusiasm, 
that  his  labors  will  do  much  to  enlighten  the  farmers  con- 
cerning their  great  enemies,  the  insects.  Another  favor- 
able indication  is  the  determination  to  stop  the  promiscu- 
ous scattering  of  seeds,  and  to  distribute  them  hereafter 
through  organized  agricultural  societies  and  clubs,  where 
they  will  be  carefully  tested,  and  the  results  made 
known,  which  is  the  course  we  have  urged  for  a  long  time 
past.  The  Commissioner  requests  us  to  state  that  he  de- 
sires all  such  organizations  now  existing,  or  which  may  be 
formed,  to  at  once  forward  to  the  Department  the  name 
of  its  President  and  Secretary,  in  order  that  they  may  be 
supplied  with  seeds  and  agricultural  reports.  Things 
seem  to  be  taking  a  proper  shape,  and  we  have  only  to 
ask  the  Commissioner  that,  while  he  is  exercising  prop- 
er care  in  the  distribution  of  seeds,  he  will  improve 
still  more  upon  the  old  ways  of  the  Patent  Office,  and 
send  out  such  seeds,  only,  as  are  new  and  worthy  of 
trial.  We  decidedly  object  to  furnishing,  at  the  expense 
of  the  people,  such  as  are  to  be  obtained  at  the  seed  stores. 
Thus,  among  the  seeds  now  being  sent  out,  several  are 
quite  common  ;  some  of  them  we  have  scattered  broad 
cast  for  years  past,  in  our  free  distribution. 


Strawberry  [Exhibition.. 

AT    THE 

Office  of   the    American    Agriculturist. 

The  Proprietor  of  the  Agriculturist  invites  Strawberry 
Growers,  of  this  vicinity  and  elsewhere,  to  make  an  exhi- 
bition of  their  choice  fruit  on  Thursday  and  Friday,  June 
18th  and  19th.*  at  the  American  Agriculturist  Office  ;  and 
to  give    zest    to  the  exhibition,  he  offers  the  following 

PRIZES  : 
A— For  best  25  approved  varieties  (one  quart  each). . .  $7 

B — Second  prize 5 

C— Third  prize. 3 

D— For  best  dish  of   market  berries   (two  quarts  of 
one  variety.— It  will  be  very  desirable  to  show 

plants  with  fruit  in  addition) 3 

E— For  second  and  third  best       do.        do.  $2,  $1 

F— For  largest  three  berries  of  one  variety,  (weight 

and  size  both  being  considered) 2 

G— For   best    New  Seedling  not  before  exhibited 5 

H — For  Second  Best  Seedling  not  before  exhibited. . .     2 

1  —For  best  flavored  Strawberries  (one  quart) 2 

J  —For  best  quart  of  White  Strawberries 2 

K— For  best  quart  Everbearing  — 2 

L— For  best  quart  of  Bonte  St.  Julien 1 

M— For  best  quart  of  La  Constante f 

pj— For  best  pint  of  Princesse  Frederick  William 1 

O— For  best  pint  of  Empress  Eugenie 1 

p— For  beslpint  of  Marguerite 1 

Q— For  best  quart  Fillmore 1 

R— For  best  quart  Cutter i 

S— For  best  quart  of  Triomphe  de  Gand 1 

T— For  best  quart  Wilson's  Albany 1 

U— For  best  quart  Hooker's  Seedling 1 

V— For  best  quart  Hnvey's  Seedling .,     t 

W-For  best  quart  Victoria 1 

X— For  best  quart  Jenny  Lind i 

Y— For  best  quart  Vicomtesse  Hericart  deThury i 

fl^3  No  sample  can  compete  for  more  than  one  prize. 

The  beiries  to  come  in  competition  for  the  premiums 
must  be  upon  the  tables  as  early  as  11  A.  M.  on  Thursday 
June  18th,  and  each  specimen  must  be  correctly  labeled. 
The  Awarding  Committee  will  attend  to  their  duties  at 
12  M.— The  exhibition  will  not  open  to  the  public  until 

2  P.  M.  When  the  premiums  are  awarded,  the  names,  resi- 
dence,  aXiH  places  of  business  of  the  exhibitors  will  be  put 
upon  the  specimens,  and  the  prize  samples  designated. 

No  Fruit  exhibited  will  be  removed  before  Friday 
evening  without  special  permit. 

*  Should  any  peculiarity  of  the  season  require  a  change 
to  be  made  in  the  date  of  holding  the  exhibition,  notice 
will  be  given  in  the  American  Agriculturist  for  June, 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


137 


Care  of  Sheep  and  Lambs. 

Something  more  than  high  prices  for  wool 
and  mutton  is  needed  to  make  sheep-raising  prof- 
itable. They  must  be  well  cared  for,  particular- 
ly at  the  lambing  season  now  at  hand.  If  the 
ewes  have  been  judiciously  fed, 
neither  stinted  nor  pampered, 
the  labors  of  the  keeper  will 
be  greatly  lightened.  The  lambs 
will  come  into  the  world,  vigor- 
ous and  active,  requiring  little 
more  than  the  care  afforded  by 
the  ewe.  A  few  points  will  al- 
ways need  attention.  Experi- 
ence is  the  best  teacher,  but 
many  have  their  first  flock  of 
ewes  to  manage  this  Spring, 
which  have  been  bought  under 
the  stimulus  of  the  great  rise  in 
value,  and  to  such,  the  follow- 
ing practical  suggestions  will 
be  timely.  From  the  first,  pains 
should  be  taken  to  render  the 
flock  tractable.  A  few  handfuls 
of  oats  or  corn  scattered  among 
them  on  each  visit,  will  make 
the  master  always  welcome.  In 
this  way  a  flock  may  soon  learn 
to  be  led  to  any  desired  place. 
Pregnant  ewes  and  their  prog- 
eny are  often  injured  by  their 
efforts  to  escape  when  being 
driven  to  or  from  an  enclosure. 
If  the  weather  be  clear  and 
mild,  it  is  preferable  to  have 
/ambs  dropped  in  the  pasture. 
The  field  for  their  accommoda- 
tion should  be  dry,  and  free 
from  ditches  or  sunken  spots, 
where  a  heavy  ewe  might  be 
"cast."  But  during  cold  nights 
and  in  rainy  weather,  shelter  is  esseutial.  A 
few  hours  exposure  at  such  times  may  destroy 
many  new  born  lambs.  Make  the  shed  for  ewes 
roomy,  and  allow  plenty  of  ventilation.  Where 
the  flock  is  large,  the  shed  should  be  divided 
into  temporary  pens  to  accommodate  not  more 
than  twenty  or  thirty  head.  In  the  moviug  about 
and  confusion  of  a  larger  number,  the  young 
mother  may  be  crowded  away  from  her  offspring, 
and  the  lamb  be  unable  to  suckle.  Keep  the 
pens  clean,  but  do  not  use  too  much  litter,  which 
might  entangle  the  new  comers  and  prevent 
their  rising.  See  that  all  filth  is  removed  from 
about  the  udders  of  the  ewes :  it  is  also  advisa- 
ble to  clip  away  any  thick  growth  of  wool 
which  might  impede  the  lamb  in  nursing.  The 
first  great  point  to  gain  is  that  the  young  should 
early  get  a  good  supply  of  food  from  the  dam. 
It  needs  this  both  for  nourishment,  and  for  the 
medicinal  effect  which  the  first  drawn  milk  has 
on  the  digestive  organs.  There  should  be  no 
haste  to  interfere  with  the  process  of  parturition. 
Several  hours  may  sometimes  elapse  before  it  is 
completed,  but  unless  the  ewe  shows  signs  of 
extreme  prostration,  nature  will  generally  afford 
relief.  If  mechanical  assistance  be  found  neces- 
seary,  let  it  be  of  the  gentlest  character,  and  only 
jn  conjunction  with  the  efforts  of  the  animal. 
If  a  ewe  refuse  to  own  her  lamb,  confine  them 
together  apart  from  the  flock,  and  frequently 
give  the  lamb  an  opportunity  to  suckle  by  hold- 
ing the  ewe.  She  will  usually  acknowledge  her 
parentage  after  a  few  such  trials.  A  good  ewe 
whose  lambs  have  died  should  be  furnished  with 
one  from  a  twin  pair.  She  will  allow  its  ap- 
proaches more  readily  if  the  skin  of  her  own 


offspring  be  sewed  around  the  body  of  the 
stranger.  If  no  lamb  be  given  her,  the  milk 
should  be  drawn  from  her  bag  once  or  twice  at 
least,  to  prevent  danger  of  inflammation. 

Where  young  lambs  are  found  astray  without 
a  natural  protector  in  the  flock,  if  no  foster 


-  "  ^m,- 


mother  can  be  provided,  they  may  be  given  to 
the  children  to  bring  up  as  cossets.  Feed  them 
with  warm  fresh  cow's  milk.  They  will  readily 
learn  to  drink  it  by  giving  them  a  quill  with  a 
strip  of  clcth  tied  around  it  to  suck  through  at 
first.  Sheep  reared  in  this  way  at  the  house  are 
likely  to  have  extra  care,  and  they  usually  bring 
an  extra  price  in  market,  besides  giving  much 
pleasure  to  the  young  members  of  the  family 
while  rearing  them.  Abundant  nourishment 
should  be  provided  for  lambs  in  the  flock,  by 
giving  good  pastures  to  the  ewes.  If  grass  be 
short,  a  daily  small  allowance  of  oats  or  corn 
will  pay  both  in  the  lambs  and  the  fleece.     ^ 


For  the  American  Agricultitrist. 

How  To  Obtain  a  Good  Stock  of  Sheep. 

The  best  variety  of  sheep  for  profit  will  de- 
pend upon  the  location  and  circumstances  of  the 
breeder.  Those  contiguous  to  a  good  market 
will  doubtless  rightly  prefer  the  Cotswold,  Lei- 
cester, Downs,  or  some  other  of  the  mutton 
sheep.  For  those  who  make  the  fleece  the 
primary  object,  my  preferences  are  iu  favor  of 
the  Spanish  Merino.  But  to  obtain  these  of  un- 
disputed purity  of  blood  requires  an  expendi- 
ture which  very  few  are  able  to  meet.  The 
writer  inspected  a  pen  of  bucks  and  one  of 
ewes  at  the  State  Fair  of  Ohio,  last  Fall,  the 
property  of  George  Campbell  Esq.,  of  Vermont. 
His  buck  was  held  at  $3000,  and  the  ewes  at 
$100  per  head.  These  were  undoubtedly  pure 
bred  Spanish  sheep.  Those  having  the  means 
and  willing  to  pay  such  prices,  will  save  much 
time  by  commencing  a  flock  exclusively  with 


high-bred  animals.  Toothers  whose  pockets 
admonish  frugality,  I  would  suggest  the  follow- 
ing method.  Make  a  judicious  selection  of 
ewes  from  such  as  can  be  found  in  almost  every 
neighborhood  at  moderate  prices.  Then  pro- 
cure a  stout,  well  built,  oily,  and  heavy  fleeced 
Spanish  buck.  If  the  ewes  are 
light  fleeced,  and  have  dry  wool, 
this  defect  must  be  counterbal- 
anced by  using  a  buck  posses- 
sing the  opposite  extreme.  Even 
the  first  cross  from  a  buck  of 
this  description  produces  an  ex- 
cellent sheep  both  for  wool  and 
the  shambles.  It  is  true,  the  wool 
will  lack  evenness  over  the  body, 
but  it  will  be  essentially  thick- 
ened, it  is  made  to  extend  over 
the  belly,  the  fleece  is  increased 
in  weight,  the  sheep  is  rendered 
more  compact,  stocky,  and  near- 
er the  ground,  and  the  improve- 
ment is  marked.  The  flock- 
master  has  now  found  the  key 
which  opens  the  door,  and  he  is 
invited  onward  in  the  highway 
of  future  success.  When  ewes 
of  this  cross  mature,  another 
buck  must  be  procured,  as  with 
intelligent  flock-masters  close 
in-and-in  breeding  is  inadmis- 
sible. If  practicable,  let  this 
second  buck  be  the  superior  ot 
his  predecessor  in  all  good 
points ;  and  at  the  same  time  re- 
ject all  ewes  which  inherit  any 
serious  defect.  The  flock-mas- 
ter must  bear  in  mind  that  to 
grade  up  a  flock  by  this  method 
to  a  high  standard  of  excellence, 
is  a  work  of  time;  and  patience 
must  have  its  perfect  work.  But 
good  bucks  must  be  obtained,  and  this  will  nec- 
essarily involve  some  expense.  Fancy  bucks 
and  fancy  prices  are  for  fancy  breeders  and  ple- 
thoric pockets ;  let  them  exclusively  enjoy  them. 
I  know  that  good  bucks  can  be  had  at  from  $.50 
to  $100,  and  prices  within  this  range  should  be 
satisfactory  to  both  seller  and  buyer.  But  will 
this  system  of  grading  up  a  flock  from  mongrel, 
ewes  produce  a  flock  of  pure  blooded  Merino 
sheep  ?  There  may  be  incompatibility  in  varie- 
ties arising  from  physiological  differences,  which 
time  and  amalgamation  could  hardly  neutralize 
and  overcome,  but  iu  skillful  hands,  every  suc- 
ceeding cross  encourages  the  hope  that  a  sheep 
possessing  all  the  points  of  a  superior  animal 
will  be  attained.  This  point  I  think  is  fully  il- 
lustrated and  realized  by  the  improvements 
which  have  beeu  accomplished  in  our  own  coun- 
try, by  discriminating  breeders  during  the  last  30 
or  40  years.  Our  present  American  Merinos  are 
in  every  respect  superior  animals  to  those  im- 
ported from  Spain  by  Col.  Humphreys  and  Con- 
sul Jarvis,  and  it  is  equally  obvious  the  excel- 
lences of  our  present  improved  stock  are  due 
to  the  Spanish  blood,  and  we  must  look  to  this 
as  the  base  or  starting  point  of  all  future  im- 
provement. But  in  grading  up  a  flock  of  sheep 
a  few  cardinal  points  must  ever  be  kept  in  mind. 
'Like  begets  like.'  If  the  parents  approximate 
perfection  in  any  one  point,  the  offspring  will 
generally  inherit  that  good  point,  but  if  the  pa- 
rents are  both  defective  in  the  same  point,  the 
offspring  is  likely  to  be  more  so  than  either  ot 
its  parents.  The  confluence  of  two  muddy  riv- 
ulets will  vitiate  still  more  the  purity  of  the 
stream.    The  whole  secret   of  grading  up  a 


138 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[Mat, 


flock  to  a  high  staud»d  of  excellence  is  a  sys- 
tem of  counterbalancing,  that  is  :  breeding  out 
the  objectionable  points  of  one  parent  by  the 
excellences  of  the  other,  and  thus  stamping 
upon  the  offspring  the  type  and  characteristics 
we  seek  to  obtain  and  perpetuate.  Or. 

Moore's  Salt  Works,  O.,  March.  1863. 
■»  ■ »•—  1  » 

Kicking  Cows. 


"  Maryland,"  in  a  note  to  the  American  Agri- 
culturist, says  he  has  always  cured  kicking  cows, 
by  buckling  a  leather  strap  on  both  hind  legs, 
below  the  joint.  They  soon  give  up  trying. 
We  long  since  learned,  by  experience,  that  this 
is  not  so  easy  a  matter.  Unless  the  feet  are 
strapped  close  together,  the  cow  will  slip  one 
of  them  out;  while  if  they  are  drawn  thus  to- 
gether, the  animal  will  be  apt  to  throw  herself 
down.  If  a  strap  is  used  at  all,  it  should  be 
a  short  one,  and  have  a  double  buckle,  so  that 
one  end  can  be  fastened  to  each  leg,  and  leave  a 
little  space  between  the  legs.  Even  then  a  cow 
will  generally  worry  and  fret,  and  try  to  run, 
when  she  finds  her  feet  entangled  or  confined. 
Kindness,  and  moistening  the  teats  with  milk 
or  grease,  if  sore,  is  usually  the  best  course. 
An  expert  milkman  can  usually  prevent  the  for- 
ward movement  of  the  leg,  by  grasping  the  teat 
tightly,  and  resting  the  arm  against  the  leg. 
Most  cows  will  give  up  kicking  if  the  milker 
patiently,  but  firmly  and  in  good  temper,  per- 
sists in  simply  warding  their  legs  off  with  his 
arm.  We  have  cured  a  good  many  kicking 
cows,  most  of  them  by  the  above  treatment. 
Some  confirmed  kickers  we  have  broken  by 
the  following  method :  A  long  narrow  pen  is 
made  just  wide  enough  at  one  end  for  the  head, 
aud  spreading  out  at  the  other  end  to  give 
room  to  her  hips,  and  for  the  milker  to  sit  con- 
veniently by  her  side.  A  short  stout  leather 
whip  (a  "  black  snake,"  as  it  is  generally  called) 
is  provided,  aud  with  this  one  or  more  heavy 
blows  are  inflicted  every  time  a  foot  is  raised. 
When  the  animal  learns  that  every  effort  to 
kick  is  sure  to  bring  punishment,  she  will 
usually  give  it  up.  In  nine  cases  out  of  ten, 
cows  are  spoiled  by  bad  temper  and  irregu- 
larity in  their  treatment.  The  cow  kicks  and 
the  milker  says  so-o-o !  This  is  perhaps  re- 
peated half-a-dozen  times.  The  seventh  time  she 
chances  to  hit  the  pail  or  the  milker,  and  then 
he  scolds  furiously,  and  probably  he  strikes 
her.  The  next  kicks  are  passed  over  until  some 
damage  is  done,  when  the  angry  scolding  is  re- 
peated. We  advise  the  use  of  the  whip  or  other 
punishment  only  as  a  last  resort;  but  if  re- 
sorted to,  let  there  be  coolness  and  uniformity. 
If  every  kick  brings  back  a  blow,  the  cow  will 
generally  learn  that  much,  and  cease  to  kick. 


Civilization  and  Animals. 


Mr.  Holley,  of  Hull  Co.,  Nebraska  Territory, 
writes  to  the  Agriculturist  that,  during  the  first 
3rears  of  his  residence  in  that  Territory,  he  in- 
dustriously killed  off  the  wolves  and  foxes — in 
one  year  destroying  over  170.  Latterly  he  finds 
that  the  hares  and  rabbits  have  increased  to 
such  an  extent  as  to  prove  very  troublesome  to 
his  young  trees — having,  in  the  absence  of  their 
natural  enemies,  multiplied  without  hindrance. 
The  efforts  of  civilization  are  constantly  tend- 
ing to  destroy  the  natural  condition  of  things, 
wherein  one  tribe  of  animals  holds  the  other  in 
check,  so  that  neither  predominates.  By  des- 
troying the  natural  food  of  animals,  they  prey 
upon  the  crops.  We  oven  change  the  climate  by 


clearing  away  forests  to  make  room  for  crops. 
One  generation  bares  the  earth  of  forests,  and 
the  next  engages  in  planting  trees. — We  do  not 
mean  to  recommend  the  preservation  of  wolves 
and  foxes  to  keep  the  rabbits  and  hares  in 
check,  but  allude  to  this  case  for  the  purpose 
of  calling  attention  to  another  in  which  the 
natural  balance  is  destroyed,  to  the  serious  in- 
jury of  the  farmer  and  gardener — viz.:  the 
promiscuous  destruction  of  the  birds.  In  the 
older  portions  of  the  country  especially,  the  in- 
sect-eating birds  are  disappearing,  while  the  in- 
sects, their  natural  food,  are  increasing  with 
alarming  rapidity.  Almost  every  village  con- 
tains a  number  of  over-grown  boys,  who,  "  old 
enough,  big  enough  (and  ought)  to  know  bet- 
ter," go  about  with  guns,  and,  under  the  pre- 
tence of  hunting,  shoot  at  everything  that  has 
feathers.  We  have  no  patience  with  these  pro- 
miscuous bird  killers,  and  when  we  see  one  of 
the  lazy  louts  banging  away  at  everything  from 
a  sparrow  up  to  a  robin,  we  think  that  the  bird 
is  the  nobler  animal  of  the  two,  for  that  is  ful- 
filling the  object  of  its  creation,  while  the 
featherless  biped  is  destroying  the  farmers' 
friends.  We  have  laws  that  certain  "game 
birds  "  shall  be  shot  only  at  particular  seasons. 
Why  not  have  a  law  that  other  birds  shall  not 
be  shot  at  all  ?  At  all  events  let  there  be  such  a 
law  of  public  opinion,  that  these  wanton  de- 
stroyers of  useful  birds  shall  be  considered  in 
the  same  light  with  fruit  thieves  and  other  pests. 


For  the  American  Agriculturist, 

Raising  Turkeys— Making  Grasshoppers 
Profitable. 


Grasshoppers  get  their  living  on  the  farm,  and 
for  one  I  am  not  willing  to  board  them  without 
some  return.  It  is  my  practice  to  send  in  bills 
against  them  daily  (turkeys'  bills),  and  I  usually 
commence  making  them  out  this  month.  For 
this  purpose  the  best  two-year-old  cock  and  two 
or  three  hens  of  the  same  age  are  selected. 
Yearling  turkeys  will  breed,  but  their  chicks  are 
usually  feeble,  as  this  bird  does  not  attain  matu- 
rity until  between  two  and  three  years  old. 
Turkeys  are  very  shy  about  their  domestic  ar- 
rangements. Their  nests  are  usually  secreted 
in  the  most  out-of-the-way  places,  and  apart 
from  any  other  fowls.  They  should  be  indulged 
in  this.  I  prepare  nesting  places  for  them  by 
knocking  out  the  heads  of  old  barrels,  and  plac- 
ing them  in  a  quiet  fence  corner  among  brush 
or  weeds.  They  will  take  to  the  nest  quicker, 
if  a  few  imitation  eggs  are  placed  there.  As  the 
eggs  are  laid  day  by  day,  they  are  removed  to 
a  cool  dry  place,  and  turned  every  day  until  the 
hen  begins  to  set.  The  female  can  cover  from 
fifteen  to  twenty  eggs.  Any  surplus  ones  are 
placed  under  a  hen  at  the  same  time,  and  when 
the  brood  come  out  they  are  all  given  to  the  old 
turkey.  Persons  having  no  old  turkeys  can 
commence  by  procuring  eggs,  and  giving  them 
entirely  to  a  hen,  but  the  natural  mother  is  best. 
The  greatest  care  must  be  taken  to  keep  young 
turkeys  from  the  wet.  A  single  run  in  the  grass 
before  the  dew  is  off  in  the  morning  may  kill 
off  a  number.  I  make  a  pen  about  twelve  feet 
square  and  eighteen  inches  high,  to  confine  the 
young.  The  mother  will  not  wander  far  from 
them.  Hard  boiled  eggs  chopped  fine,  and  sour 
milk-curd  are  the  best  feed  for  the  first  week. 
Afterward,  millet  and  Indian  corn  cracked  fine 
are  given  until  they  are  able  to  shift  for  them- 
selves. The  pen  is  also  kept  supplied  with 
fresh  cut  grass,  young  leaves,  and  other  green 
food.  Loppered  milk  ia  excellent  at  all  times, 


and  I  think  for  all  kinds  of  poultry.  They  love 
it  and  thrive  on  it.  The  turkeys  soon  learn  to 
range  for  food,  and  no  bird  is  more  active  in 
pursuit  of  grasshoppers  and  other  insects.  I 
think  it  would  pay  well  to  raise  them  for  this 
purpose.  •  To  keep  them  from  running  entirely 
wild,  and  roosting  away  from  the  premises,  I 
have  roosting  poles  for  them  near-  the  barn 
where  they  are  fed  every  night.  I  have  little 
trouble  in  fattening  them  in  the  Fall,  as  by  good 
feeding  they  are  kept  plump  all  Summer,  and 
when  Thanksgiving  comes  and  accounts  are 
balanced,  I  find  a  large  credit  to  their  account, 
particularly  when  I  reckon  the  large  collec- 
tions they  have  made  among  the  grasshoppers. 

Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.  WALTER. 

•-« —    ■  m  ■     — *-• ■ 

Tim  Bunker  on  the  Philosophy  of  Hen- 
Eoosts. 


"  What  upon  airth  d'ye  'spose  is  the  matter 
with  my  hens?"  asked  Jake  Frink  one  cold 
morning  in  March,  with  a  face  longer  than 
usual.  "  Ye  see,  Squire,  I  never  had  such  bad 
luck  with  the  critters,  afore,  in  all  my  life.  1 
guess  I've  lost  half  on 'em  neowsartain,  and  lots 
of  what's  left  is  Hmpin  around  as  ef  they'd  got 
some  kind  of  disease.  Shouldn't  wonder  il 
some  plaguey  boy  had  pizened  the  critters  ?" 

"I  guess  you  haven't  fed 'em  enough,"  I  re- 
marked. "Fed  em!"  exclaimed  Jake.  "Them 
birds  have  eat  their  weight  in  corn  every  week. 
I'll  bet  a  shad,  to  say  nothing  of  potatoes,  beef 
scraps,  and  swill  in  general.  You  never  see 
such  eaters.  They  have  hung  around  the  pigs' 
trough  all  Winter,  and  they've  pitched  into  the 
swill  so  ravenous,  the  pigs  have  had  a  poor 
chance ;  you  can  count  every  rib  in  their  bodies. 
They're  enough  to  breed  a  famine." 

"  Well,  may  be  they  have  not  had  enough  va- 
riety of  food,"  I  suggested. 

"  No  you  don't,"  responded  Jake  with  empha- 
sis. "Nothin' comes  amiss  to  them  critters.  Ye 
see  I  sent  and  got  beef  scraps  for  'em  because 
they  said  it  was  cheaper  than  corn,  and  the 
tallest  kind  of  fodder  to  make  'em  lay.  Aud  I 
mixt  up  red  pepper  with  the  dough,  and  have 
fed  clams,  and  mummy-changs,  and  they  made 
no  bones  swallowin  of  'em,  and  stood  with  their 
mouths  gapin'  for  more.  I  du  blieve  they  would 
have  eaten  raw  alligator  if  I  had  only  had  it  for 
'em!  And  then  they  had  a  little  of  everything 
that  was  eaten  in  the  family,  besides  a  cow  that 
died  winterin'.  I  allers  have  bad  luck  on  win- 
terin'  cows.  That  ain't  nothin'  new.  But  my 
hens  never  died  so  afore,  and  they  never  had  so 
much  to  eat." 

"  Well  isn't  there  something  wrong  in  the 
roosts?"     I  inquired. 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it.  I  had  a  grand  fuss,  and 
clearin  out  last  Fall,  on  purpose  to  know  that 
every  thing  was  right.  Ye  see,  Polly  took  a  no- 
tion to  have  the  American  Agriculturist  last  year, 
and  she  read  about  having  the  roosts  white- 
washed, and  clean  poles  for  'em  to  sit  on,  and 
clean  floors  for  the  manure,  and  I  didn't  hear 
the  last  on't  till  I  had  a  general  overhaulin". 
From  the  day  that  paper  come  into  the  house, 
that  woman  was  took  with  the  hen  fever, 
and  she  was  diugin'  at  me  from  mornin'  till 
night  about  the  critters.  It  was,  Jacob  du  this, 
and  Jacob  du  that.  I  undertook  to  laff  her  out 
on't,  but  I  found  it  was  no  go.  I  hinted  to  her 
that  I  didn't  see  much  use  in  cleaning  up  the 
floor,  when  the  critters  were  sure  to  nasty  it 
agin'  as  soon  as  they  got  on  to  the  roost.  She 
said  the  paper  insisted  on  clean  roosts,  and  you 
would  've  thought  she  was  quolin'  scripture. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


139 


Says  she,  '  Jacob,  'spose  I  should  say  it  was  no 
use  to  clean  up  the  kitchen,  because  you  come 
iu  from  the  cow  yard  twice  a  day,  and  some- 
times more,  and  dirty  it  all  up  !  I  have  follow- 
ed you  with  a  broom  and  a  mop  for  thirty  years, 
and  that  roost  is  gwine  to  be  cleaned,  if  I  do  it 
myself.'  Well,  ye  see,  there  want  no  more  to  be 
said  arter  that.  I  got  a  lot  of  new  poles  for 'em 
to  sit  on,  white-washed  top  and  bottom,  and 
made  it  look  like  a  parlor." 

"  I  guess  your  poles  is  the  trouble,"  I  said. 
"  That  aint  possible,  said  Jake,  for  I  made  the 
poles  small  on  purpose  so  they  could  hold  on." 

"There  is  where  you  made  your  mistake. 
You  see  the  perch  wants  to  be  so  large  that  the 
lien  won't  have  to  hold  on.  The  hen  is  a  phi- 
losopher, and  knows  more  about  taking  care  of 
herself  than  Jake  Frink,  any  day.  She  belongs 
to  a  warm  country,  and  her  feet  are  the  most 
susceptible  to  the  cold  of  any  part  of  the  body, 
and  most  likely  to  be  damaged  by  the  frost. 
You  will  see  her  standing  on  one  foot  in  cold 
weather,  with  the  other  drawn  up  among  the 
feathers  getting  warm.  After  a  little  while,  she 
will  change  position,  and  warm  the  other  foot. 
If  it  were  not  for  this  process  of  warming,  both 
feet  would  soon  be  frozen,  and  she  would  grow 
lame  and  die.  If  hens  have  large  perches,  say 
four  or  five  inches  in  diameter,  their  toes  are 
completely  covered  "with  the  feathers  as  they 
roost  at  night,  and  they  sleep  comfortably  and 
securely.  If  the  perches  are  small,  the  toes  are 
left  out,  and  freeze  in  very  cold  weather.  This 
makes  them  lame,  and  of  course  affects  the  gen- 
eral health,  as  a  frozen  limb  would  in  larger 
animals.  Sometimes  the  toe  sloughs  off,  and  if 
the  freezing  process  is  not  repeated,  the  bird  re- 
covers. But  if  Jake  Frink  is  the  owner  of  the 
birds  and  does  not  know  what  the  matter  is, 
the  toes  are  repeatedly  frozen,  and  the  hens  die 
in  a  very  strange  and  mysterious  manner  !" 

I  left  Jake  standing  with  his  mouth  open,  as 
this  bit  of  philosophy  got  into  his  head.  It  was 
so  plain  that  he  could  not  help  seeing  it.  But 
wiser  men  than  he  are  every  day  violating  the 
plainest  principles  of  common  sense  in  their 
management  of  domestic  animals.  Their  bod- 
ies are  as  much  subject  to  law  as  our  own,  and 
if  we  do  not  regard  these  laws  in  providing  for 
them,  health  is  impaired,  and  oftentimes  life  is 
destroyed.  There  is  as  much  philosophy  in  hen- 
roosts as  there  is  in  human  dwellings,  and  we 
must  know  something  about  the  habits  of  hens 
before  we  can  suitably  provide  for  their  health. 

Not  long  ago  I  was  asked  to  come  over  and 
see  Mr.  Spooner,  our  minister.  I  began  to  think 
of  my  transgressions  at  once,  and  tried  to  recall 
what  scandal  I  had  uttered  that  I  should  be  sent 
for.  I  was  put  at  my  ease  when  I  found  out  that 
it  was  my  profession  and  not  his  that  was  to  be 
called  into  service.  I  may  as  well  say  that  I 
have  considerable  of  this  work  to  do  around 
H»okertown,  and  I  don't  see  why  it  is  not  just 
as  honorable  to  doctor  hens  as  it  is  to  doctor 
men.  The  only  fault  I  have  to  find  is,  that  folks 
don't  send  for  me  until  it  is  entirely  too  late. 

Mr.  Spooner  complained  that  his  hens  died 
strangely.  He  took  the  best  care  of  them,  gave 
them  a  variety  of  food,  grain  and  meat,  and 
pounded  oyster  shells  for  them,  and  bones ;  but 
they  would  droop,  run  at  the  mouth,  swell  in 
the  head,  and  die.  Some  times  they  dropped 
dead  from  the  roost.  I  suspected  iu  a  minute 
what  was  the  matter,  and  led  the  way  to  the 
hennery,  where  I  found  a  large  quantity  of  ma- 
nure sprinkled  over  with  lime.  The  smell  of 
ammonia  was  about  as  pungent  as  a  hartshorn 
bottle.    He  had  heard  it  said  that  lime  was  good 


to  cleanse  roosts,  and  had  used  it  without  stint. 
In  such  an  atmosphere,  in  a  close  warm  room, 
the  hens  died  of  course.  I  ordered  cleansing 
and  a  layer  of  dry  muck  to  be  changed  once  a 
month.  Since  then  the  minister  has  had  plenty 
of  eggs  of  his  own  raising.  I  could  afford 
to  throw  in  the  fees,  for  before  my  visit,  Mrs. 
Bunker's  egg  basket  was  often  emptied  at  the 
parsonage,  and  no  questions  asked;  since  then, 
it  has  been  like  carrying  coals  to  Newcastle. 

Hookertown,             i         Yours  to  command,  .. 
March  20(4,  1S63.  I                 Timothy  Bunker  Esq. 
— « «t»  i 

For  the  American  Agriculturist, 

Care  of  Fowls. 


Nearly  two  years  experience  with  about  34 
hens,  gives  me,  "  in  as  great  proportion,"  the 
same  advantages  in  eggs  and  chickens  as  Mr. 
Thompson  obtained  from  75,  as  stated  in  the 
March  Agriculturist  (page  75).  There  is,  howev- 
er, this  in  my  favor,  that  during  the  whole  time 
only  three  of  my  hens  died.  Warmth,  ventilation 
and  cleanliness,  with  frequent  greasing  of  the 
roosts,  are  pretty  sure  safeguards  against  vermin. 

My  poultry  house  is  thoroughly  cleaned  every 
week,  well  swept,  and  fresh  loam  scattered  over 
the  floor.  Sometimes,  if  the  smell  be  offensive, 
I  scatter  a  few  handfuls  of  lime  dust  (which 
is  always  on  hand)  under  the  roosts,  and  sprinkle 
with  a  watering  pot ;  this  is  a  great  purifier. 
[Plaster  would  be  better. — Ed.]  The  droppings 
saved  during  the  year  with  the  loam  added  will 
average  from  twelve  to  fifteen  barrels. 

A  word  about  feeding.  I  am  of  opinion  it  is 
great  economy  to  boil  the  meal.  My  plan  is, 
to  boil,  about  once  a  fortnight,  a  half  bushel  of 
cracked  corn,  stirring  for  an  hour.  At  the  same 
time,  boil  in  another  kettle  a  half  bushei  of  small 
potatoes ;  when  soft,  pour  off  the  water,  mash, 
and  mix  thoroughly  with  the  meal,  then  pour  the 
whole  into  a  tub  or  barrel.  It  keeps  sweet, 
and  cuts  like  cold  mush.  I  give  them  plenty  of 
this,  varied  now  and  then  with  a  few  handfuls 
of  grain,  cabbage  leaves,  oyster  shells,  and 
bones  broken  small.  There  has  been  no  lack  of 
eggs  during  all  the  Winter.        W.  Wilson. 

Suffolk  Co.,  N.  Y. 

■»  < —♦•— -m. 

For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Cost  of  Keeping  Poultry. 

The  appearance  of  my  report  on  poultry  in 
the  March  No.  of  the  Agriculturist,  page  75,  has 
led  to  many  inquiries  as  to  cost  of  keeping. 
The  answer  is :  one  peck  of  corn  per  day,  for  a 
hundred  head,  in  Winter ;  in  Summer  less  will 
do.  Corn  being  the  staple  food  for  poultry,  the 
calculation  is  based  on  its  cost.  I  prefer  and 
itse  wheat  screenings.  A  variety  of  grains  is 
desirable ;  no  damaged  grains  should  be  fed. 
The  cheapest  food  is  corn  and  oats  ground  to- 
gether in  equal  parts.  Two  pounds  of  this  stir- 
red into  one  gallon  of  boiling  water  makes  ten 
lbs.  of  stiff  food.    It  may  be  fed  warm,  not  hot. 

Staten  Island,  N.  Y.                      J.  C.   THOMPSON. 
«   '  ■»— .-« 

Desirable  Breeds  of  Fowls. 


John  E.  Abbott,  Kennebec  Co.,  Me.,  writes 
concerning  different  breeds  of  fowls:  "Com- 
mon hens  will  yield  good  profit,  but  more  can 
be  obtained  from  many  of  the  improved  varie- 
ties. In  deciding  what  breed  is  best,  it  must  be 
taken  into  account  whether  eggs  or  chickens  are 
most  desired.  '  Every -day  layers,'  as  they  are 
called,  are  commonly  considered  to  be  superior 
to  others  in  laying  qualities.  A  few  of  the  best 
of  these  1  will  briefly  describe.    Black  Spanish. 


— Rather  above  the  medium  size.  Their  combs 
are  single  and  very  large.  The  hen's  comb  falls 
over  on  one  side.  Few  fowls  surpass  them  in 
the  number,  or  size  of  the  eggs.  Their  chickens 
are  hardy.  Leghorns. — These  fowls  bear  a  strong 
resemblance  to  the  Spanish,  except  in  color. 
Those  who  have  kept  them,  think  that  they  are 
better  layers.  In  a  report  which  was  published 
iu  the  Transactions  of  the  Middlesex  Co.  (Mass.) 
Agricultural  Society,  for  1861,  Mr.  I.  H.  Felch, 
of  Natick,  stated  that  'for  six  months,  the  White 
Leghorns  averaged  95  eggs  per  hen;  the  Blue 
Leghorns,  80;  the  Brahmas,  77;  and  the  Black 
Spanish,  74.  These  two  breeds,  Leghorn  and 
Spanish,  seldom  set;  so  that  it  will  be  necessary 
to  keep  some  other  variety  for  raising  chickens. 
Dorkings. — For  rich,  juicy  flesh,  the  Dorkings 
are  generally  placed  at  the  head  of  the  list. 
They  are  not  hardy,  and  are  only  fan  layers. 
These  two  things  will  prevent  their  being  in 
great  request.  Brahma  Pootras. — Full  grown 
Brahmas  will  weigh  from  18  to  22  pounds  a 
pair.  Though  not  equal  to  the  Dorkings  for 
the  table,  their  flesh  is  of  excellent  quality.  As 
layers,  they  are  highly  valued.  They  commence 
laying  when  young — usually  at  the  age  of  six 
mpnths.  The  only  fowls  that  come  up  to  them 
in  size,  within  my  knowledge,  are  the  Chitta  • 
gongs.  There  appears  to  be  but  a  slight  differ- 
ence between  these  and  the  Brahmas.  Anyone 
of  these  different  breeds,  excepting  perhaps  the 
Dorking,  will  almost  invariably  give  better  sat- 
isfaction than  common  fowls." 

*  «        ~m  m  m      *-» 

Bee  Keeping  in  Minnesota. 


Samuel  Bates,  Winona  Co.,  Minn.,  sends  to 
the  Agriculturist  a  very  favorable  account  of 
success  in  bee  keeping  in  that  locality.  He  se- 
lected a  site  with  reference  to  the  business  in  a 
valley  adjoining  the,  Mississippi  River,  and 
where  plenty  of  basswood  trees  were  growiug 
on  the  adjacent  islands  in  the  stream.  The  bees 
find  abundant  pasturage,  and  the  quality  of 
honey  is  superior.  Early  swarms  frequently 
make  a  hundred  pounds  per  hive.  Swarms  com- 
ing as  late  as  the  middle  of  August,  which 
would  be  deemed  worthless  at  the  East,  will 
•store  from,  twenty-five  to  forty  lbs.  of  honey. 
Mr.  Bates  wintered  his  bees  in  a  house,  25  feet 
long,  5  feet  wide,  6  feet  high,  covered  with 
matched  boards,  and  well  ventilated  at  top  and 
bottom.  It  is  entered  by  a  door  at  the  end.  The 
hives  are  set  in  tiers  one  above  the  other  on 
bars  extending  lengthwise  of  the  house.  Each 
hive  is  raised  a  short  distance  from  the  bottom 
board,  to  allow  ventilation.  As  warm  weather 
approaches  and  the  bees  become  uneasy,  the 
door  of  the  house  is  opened  at  night  and  shut 
early  in  the  morning,  to  keep  them  as  cool  as 
possible  until  a  favorable  day  comes  for  setting 
them  out.  If  there  be  snow  on  the  ground, 
straw  is  scattered  about  the  hives  for  them  to 
alight,  on.  Mr.  B.  thinks  some  winter  shelter 
is  indispensable  to  sucGesful  bee-keeping  in  that 
region,  where  the  cold  is  often  intense.  Many 
have  failed  in  the  attempt  to  keep  them  the  year 
round  in  the  open  air. 


The  Age  of  Hohses  can  not  always  be 
known  by  their  teeth.  "Ebersol,"  writing  from 
Ottawa,  111.,  says  he  saw  some  neighbors  at 
work  upon  an  old  horse,  "making  him  over." 
Having  cast  the  animal,  they  filed  his  teeth  and 
brought  them  to  resemble  those  of  a  young 
horse.  He  was  afterward  sold  at  a  good  figure 
in  consideration  of  his  youth  1  The  imposition 
is  not  new !    Sharpers  have  long  practised  it. 


140 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[May, 


Cheap  Home-Made  Bag  Holder. 

- — • — 
A  subscriber  to  the  Agriculturist  whose  com- 
munication and  address  have  been  mislaid,  sent 
a  sketch  and  description  from  which  the  above 
engraving  is  made.  It  represents  a  cheap 
and  apparently  very  convenient  bag  holder.  To 
make  it,  take  a  two-inch  plank  block,  12x18 
inches  ;  bevel  the  sides  half  an  inch,  and  with 
stro:ig  screws  fasten  to  it  two  flexible  uprights 
of  half  inch  board,  each  6  to  8  inches  wide,  as 
shown  in  the  engraving.  To  use  it,  the  top  of 
the  bag  is  folded  over  about  three  inches,  and 
placei1  over  one  upright,  the  two  are  sprung  to- 
gether so  that  the  fold  ma}'  be  placed  over  the 
other  one,  and  it  is  thus  held  distended.  The 
uprights  are  long  enough  to  allow  the  bottom 
of  the  bag  to  rest  upon  the  block.  Where  the 
bags  are  of  uniform  length,  this  will  answer 
every  purpose.  We  would  suggest  that  to 
accommodate  bags  of  different  lengths,  two 
short  uprights  might  both  be  fastened  to  the 
block,  and  then  two  flexible  strips  be  fixed  to 
slide  up  and  down  in  staples  fastened  to  the 
outside  of  the  stationary  uprights. 

*-* —     ^a^    — 1-~ 

Progress   of  Flax   Cotton   Manufacture. 

Some  progress  lias  been  made  towards  secur- 
ing the  desirable  end  of  being  able  to  work  flax 
upon  cotton  spinning  machinery,  as  is  seen  in 
the  establishment  of  several  factories.  As  yet, 
however,  the  enterprise  cannot  be  deemed  wholly 
successful.  In  consideration  of  the  importance 
of  this  industrial  interest,  the  Legislature  of 
New-York,  on  the  22d  of  April,  1862,  appropri- 
ated $2000  bounty  for  "machinery  to  test 
the  experiment  of  manufacturing  flax  cotton, 
to  be  expended  under  the  direction  of  the  State 
Agricultural  Society."  The  Society  has  recently 
rendered  a  report  of  their  proceedings  in  the 
matter.  The  investigation  was  made  by  a  coni- 
mitttee  consisting  of  Hon.  Ezra  Cornell,  Messrs. 
Samuel  Campbell  of  New  York  mills,  A.  Wild 
and  B.  P.  Johnson  of  Albany  and  J.  S.  Gould 
of  Hudson.  Only  two  competitors  for  the 
State  bounty  appeared,  viz. :  the  Lockport,  N. 
Y.,  Flax  Cotton  Company,  and  Mr.  C.  Beach, 
of  Penn  Yan,  N.  Y.  After  examining  their 
processes,  the  committee  submitted  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions,  which   were   adopted : 

Resolved,  That  in  the  judgment  of  this  Society 
no  such  advance  in  the  perfection  of  machinery 
to  test  the  experiment  of  manufacturing  flax 
cotton  has  been  made  as  to  warrant  the  Society 
in  awarding  any  portion  of  the  sum  appropriat- 
ed by  the  Legislature,  at  the  present  time. 


Resolved,  That  the  Society  will  keep  the  exe- 
cution of  the  trust  reposed  in  them  by  the  Leg- 
islature for  the  present  in  abeyance,  under  the 
hope  that  such  valuable  improvements  may  be 
effected  in  the  coming  year,  as  may  justify  the 
Society  in  awarding  the  whole  or  some  portion 
of  this  amount  to  any  such  successful  inventions. 

Resolved,  That  the  committee  be  requested  to 
continue  their  investigation  during  the  year,  at 
such  time  and  in  such  manner  as  may,  on  con- 
sultation with  the  President  and  Secretary  of 
the  Society  be  deemed  most  advisable. 

Resolved,  That  the  entire  sum  of  two  thousand 
dollars,  appropriated  by  the  State  as  aforesaid, 
now  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  So- 
ciety, be  deposited  by  him  in  one  of  the  trust 
companies  of  the  city  of  New  York,  where  it 
may  draw  interest  until  it  shall  be  required  for 
the    purpose  designated    by    the   Legislature. 

Resolved,  That  the  proceedings  of  the  Society 
be  presented   to   the  Honorable   Legislature." 

(Signed)  B.  P.  Johkson,  Secretary. 

The  committee  say  in  addition :  "  We  are  fully 
convinced  that  the  reduction  of  flax  fiber  to  flax 
cotton  is  practicable.  Alreadj'  great  strides  to- 
wards the  accomplishment  of  this  have  been 
made,  as  we  think,  in  the  right  direction.  We 
feel  confident  that  nothing  is  needed  but  intel- 
ligent and  persevering  efforts,  to  achieve  a 
triumphant  success.  We  deem  it  desirable  in 
the  highest  degree  that  the  Legislature  should 
continue  to  offer  a  reward  with  a  view  of  stimu- 
lating and  encouraging  the  activity  and  ingen- 
uity of  inventors."  The  continued  demand  for 
cotton  substitutes  is  inspiring  inventors  in  every 
direction,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  ere  long 
their  efforts  will  furnish  us  again  with  some 
material  for  clothing,  produced  at  the  North, 
less  costly  than  cotton  at  40  cents  per  yard. 

An  Effective  Mole  Trap. 

If  the  moles  would  confine  their  sapping  and 
mining  operations  to  the  fields,  they  might  be 
spared  in  consideration  of  their  usefulness  in 
destroying  grubs  and  other  troublesome  insects. 
But  we  have  learned  by  costly  experience  that 
in  the  garden  and  ornamental  grounds  they  may 
become  an  intolerable  nuisance.  Last  year  we 
published  in  the  Agriculturist,  page  141  (May  No.) 
the  best  of  over  twenty  designs  for  mole  traps 
sent  by  different  parties.  A  correspondent 
writes  that  upon  attempting  to  construct  a  sim- 
ilar one,  not  being  much  of  a  carpenter,  he 
found  it  too  difficult  for  him.  He  finally  con- 
trived the  simple  modification  shown  below, 


and  found  it  to  work  well.  His  trap  wassprung 
fourteen  times,  and  he  secured  fourteen  moles. 
In  the  engraving,  the  plank  (P,)  8  to  12  feet 
long,  has  a  hole  in  the  lower  end  which  passes 
over  a  pin  driven  into  the  ground,  to  hold  it  in 
place.  Three  or  more  stout  wires,  very  sharp, 
are  inserted  an  inch  apart  on  each  side  of  the 
end  of  the  plank.  The  pairs  of  wires  should  be 
about  9  inches  apart.  A  stone  or  other  weight, 
S,  is  added  to  bring  it  down  forcibly.  A  com- 
mon figure  4  (f)is  placed  under  the  plank,  with 
the  trigger  lying  across  the  mole  track.  When 
setting  it,  the  track  is  flattened  with  the  foot, 
where  the  trigger  is  to  rest  upon  it.    The  plank 


should  have  a  fall  of  12  to  15  inches.  The  mole 
in  passing,  in  either  direction  lifts  the  trodden 
ground  and  the  trigger  resting  upon  it,  and 
is  instantly  pierced  by  the  descending  points. 

•-« «««         r-m, 

Another  Improved  Bow-Pin. 

A  subscriber  to  the  American  Agriculturist 
sends  the  accompanying  design  for  a  bow  pin, 
which  he  considers  an  improvement  on  the 
one  shown  in  Vol.  XXI,  page  300  (Oct.  1862.) 
It  consists  of  a  common  wrought  iron  hinge, 
with  one  side  fastened  to  the  yoke,  so  that  the 
other  part  will  rest  over  about  one  third  of  the 
hole  through  which  the  bow  passes.  A  taper- 
ing notch  is  cut  in  the  side  of  the  bow,  as  shown 
in  the  engraving.  This  arrangement  allows  the 
bow  to  pass  upward,  lift- 
ing the  loose  part  of  the 
hinge ;  on  its  return,  the 
hinge  catches  in  the 
notch,  and  holds  the  bow 
fast.  It  is  veiy  conven* 
ient  for  yoking  shy  cattle, 
which  will  sometimes 
start  while  the  pin  is  be- 
ing inserted.  By  having 
the  pin  thus  fastened  to  the  yoke,  there  is  no 
danger  of  its  being  lost,  a  decided  advantage. 


Hints   on   Raising'    Indian  Corn. 

In  the  cultivation  of  corn  there  is  no  stereo- 
typed method,  absolutely  better  than  others,  for 
every  time  and  place.  What  may  be  best  in  the 
garden,  may  not  be  required  in  the  field.  What 
answers  well  in  the  small  fields  of  New  England, 
may  not  be  needful  in  the  thousand-acre  lots  of 
the  West.  Northern  modes  may  not  be  exactly 
suited  to  the  South.  One  can  not  and  need  not 
manure  as  highly  at  the  West  as  at  the  East. 
Owing  to  the  high  price  of  labor  at  the  West, 
one  must  use  more  horse  power  and  less  hand- 
labor  than  at  the  East.  Yet  some  things  are  the 
same  everywhere.  Everywhere,  corn  is  a  rank 
feeder,  and  wants  an  abundance  of  food.  Where 
the  land  is  in  a  state  to  admit  of  it,  the  roots  will 
run  from  three  to  five  feet  in  quest  of  nourish- 
ment. Hence  the  need  of  good  land  and  good 
tillage.  This  tillage  should  mostly  precede  the 
planting  of  the  corn,  for  the  too  frequent  dis- 
turbance of  the  ground  after  the  roots  have  got 
established  in  it,  breaks  the  surface  roots,  and 
seriously  injures  the  plants. 

As  to  the  best  manures  for  corn,  that  from 
the  barn  yard  stands  first.  By  this  we  mean 
not  only  the  simple  excrements  of  all  kinds  of 
stock,  for  these  alone  are  not  enough.  The 
quantity  may  be  doubled,  and  the  quality  hardly 
diminished,  by  using  absorbents  to  soak  up  and 
save  the  liquid  parts  and  the  gases  of  the  pure 
dung.  What  these  absorbents  are,  we  have 
often  mentioned,  such  as  muck,  peat,  sods,  straw, 
tan-bark,  leaves,  saw-dust,  etc.  Yet  sometimes, 
the  dung  heap  and  compost  give  out  before  the 
crops  are  all  fed.  In  such  cases,  the  farmer 
must  use  with  discretion  such  fertilizers  as  gyp- 
sum, ashes,  poudrette,  guano,  bone-dust,  dis- 
solved bones,  etc.  Let  him  be  specially  careful 
in  the  use  of  guano,  hen-dung  and  night  soil, 
and  other  concentrated  manure,  or  he  will  spoil 
his  whole  crop.  They  need  to  be  mixed  with 
several  times  their  own  bulk  of  soil  before  ap- 
plying them  near  the  seeds  or  roots  of  plants. 

In  preparing  the  ground,  much  pains  should 
be  taken  to  plow  well,  and  to  mix  the  manure 
thoroughly  by  careful  harrowing.    It  is  surpris- 


1863,] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


141 


ing  what  a  difference  this  makes  in  the  rapid  and 
healthy  growth  of  the  stalks,  their  exemption 
from  the  effects  of  drouth,  and  the  plumpness  of 
the  ears.    It.  saves  a  great  deal  of  after-tillage, 
and  prevents  much  anxiety  as  to  the  success  of 
the  crop.    If  the  land  be  subsoiled,  more  of  the 
roots  will  strike  down- 
ward, and  fewer  will  be 
broken  and  injured  by 
the  cultivator  and  hoc. 
Corn  in  drills  three  to 
four  feet  apart,  and  the 
stalks    8   to   12   inches 
apart  in  the  row,  will 
give  the  best  yield  to  the 
acre ;  but  where  laud  is 
cheaper  than  labor,  it  is 
usually  more  profitable 
to  plant    in   hills,    the 
rows     running      both 
ways,  so  that  the  plow 
or  cultivator  passing  in 
both  directions  will  do 
most  of  the  work  of  til- 
lage. The  hill  system  lets  warmth  in  on  all  sides, 
which  is  advantageous,  especially  on  cold,  heavy 
soil,  or  in  a  cool  season.   Corn  is  a  sun  plant  and 
prospers  best  under  warmth.    The  drill  system 
prevents  the  stalks  from  crowding  and  shading 
each  other.    If  planted  in  hills,  the  seed  should 
be  dropped  four  to  six  inches  apart,  so  that  the 
stalks  and  leaves  will  not  interfere.     The  dis- 
tance apart  of  hills,  or  drills,  and  of  the  indi- 
vidual stalks,  depends  both  upon  the  strength 
and  richness  of  the  soil,  and  the  variety  in  size 
of  the  corn.    A  good  soil  will  support  a  nearer 
growth  without  depriving  the  roots  of  adequate 
nourishment.   For  the  smaller  varieties  of  corn, 
those  growing  only  4i  to  6i  feet  high,  three  feet 
apart  for  rows  or  drills  is  enough.    The  taller, 
10  feet  high  varieties,  require  34  to  4  feet  rows 
or  drills.     Usually  3i  to  4  feet  is  preferable  to  3 
feet,  for  medium  soils,  and  for  good  sized  field 
varieties.     Four  stalks  are  as  many  as  can  grow 
in  a  hill.    Three  good  stalks  will  yield  more 
grain  than  five  poor  crowded  ones. 

The  best  varieties  of  corn  for  any  locality  are 
best  learned  from  the  general  experience  of  a 
neighborhood,  though  it  is  well  to  try  small  plots 
of  new  kinds  for  experiment.  Let  it  be  remem- 
bered that  corn  is  easily  spoiled  for  seed  by 
dampness  or  heating  in  the  shock  or  crib.  It  is 
but  little  trouble  to  sprout  a  handful  taken  as  a 
sample  from  the  whole  lot,  by  putting  it  in  a 
damp  soil  in  a  warm  place.  No  one  can  afford 
to  lose  the  first  planting,  or  to  have  a  lot  of  de- 
ficient hills,  simply  for  want  of  a  few  quarts  of 
good  seed.  Plant  corn  very  shallow;  one  inch 
is  abundantly  deep.  If  covered  deeper  than 
this,  some  of  the  kernels  will  rot  before  vege- 
tating, if  it  chance  to  be  cold  or  wet  weather. 
Half  an  inch  is  usually  deep  enough.  A  little 
good,  well  rotted  manure,  or  ashes,  in  the  hill 
near  but  not  in  contact  with  the  seed,  helps 
to  give  the  plant  a  vigorous  start,  even  where 
the  whole  ground  is  not  manured.  See  Calen- 
dar last  month,  also  article  on  lime  page  107. 
The  latter  part  of  May  is  early  enough  for 
planting  at  the  North.  Warm  soil  starts  the 
plants  at  once  into  rapid  and  vigorous  growth. 


A  Farm  Gate  Easily  Made. 

The  plan  for  a  farm  gate  published  in  the 
Agriculturist  page  4.5  (Feb.  No.),  has  called  out 
many  designs  for  this  desirable  farm  fixture. 
The  one  presented  herewith,  was  forwarded  by 


To  Fasten  a  Rope-End.— J.  C.  Marsh,  La 
Fayette  Co.,  Wis.,  recommends  to  prevent  the 
untwisting  of  a  rope's  end,  by  winding  it  with 
small  wire.  Heat  the  wire  to  redness,  then  let 
it  cool  slowly,  and  it  will  bend  easily.  The 
ends  can  be  fastened  by  wiuding  them  under 
thecoil,  or  passing  a  few  times  through  the  rope. 


a  subscriber,  J.  T.  Waters,  Jefferson  Co.,  111. 
We  have  added  a  few  modifications.  It  is  made 
entirely  of  4  inch  boards,  or  1  inch  if  desired  to 
have  it  heavy.  Two  boards  each  6  inches  wide 
are  used  for  the  head-piece,  Hy  one  on  each 
side  of  the  bars  S.  The  tail-piece,  T,  and  middle 
upright,  are  put  on  similarly.  The  braces, 
B,  B,  3  to  4  inches  wide,  will  not  need  doubling ; 
one  piece  on  a  side,  as  shown,  will  be  sufficient. 

The  parts  should  be  well  secured  with 
wrought  nails,  driven  through  and  clinched. 
Pine  or  cedar  boards  are  good ;  hemlock  would 
be  liable  to  warp;  oak  would  be  heavier  than 
needed.  A  finishing  cap  or  strip  1  i  inches  wide, 
should  be  nailed  along  the  top,  to  keep  water 
from  entering  at  the  joints.  The  hinges  are  of 
iron,  i  inch  thick,  3  inches  broad,  made  with  an 
eye  to  receive  the  staple  on  the  post,  and  with 
arms  to  clasp  each  side  of  the  head  piece. 
They  should  be  bolted  firmly.  The  latch,  L, 
turns  upon  a  pivot,  and  is  kept  in  place  by  a 
small  upright  strip.  It  fastens  into  a  notch  in  a 
strong  cleat  nailed  upon  the  side  of  the  post. 
Two  extra  hinge  staples  are  driven  into  the 
head  post,  a  foot  or  eighteen  inches  above  the 
others.  In  Summer,  the  gate  hangs  upon  the 
lower  ones,  near  enough  to  the  ground  to  ex- 
clude pigs  and  geese.  In  Winter  it  is  lifted  to  the 
upper  ones,  to  admit  of  swinging  over  snow : 
this  sometimes  saves   considerable   shoveling. 

A  comparatively  light  gate  is  preferable  to  a 
heavy  one,  for  the  reason  that  it  is  easier  to 
handle,  and  it  will  not  so  soon  drag  the  post  out 
of  perpendicular.  The  latter  difficulty  is  the 
great  obstacle  to  overcome.  It  can  be  in  good 
part  prevented  by  draining  the  soil  about  the 
post-hole.  It  is  a  good  arrangement  to  pin  a 
plank  two  or  three  feet  long  to  the  bottom  of 
the  post,  extending  in  the  direction  of  the  gate, 
and  fasten  a  short  brace  to  this  and  the  post, 
the  whole  to  be  placed  under  ground. 

»-. tarn    — >  «. 

Flat  Culture  of  Potatoes. 


This  can  not  be  attained  perfectly,  but  should 
be  aimed  at.  Four  to  six  inches  is  the  utmost 
hight  allowable  for  a  hill,  and  this  should  be  got 
as  early  as  possible  in  the  Summer.  And  for 
this  good  reason :  as  soon  as  the  stem  is  well 
formed,  tubers  are  developed  at  the  sides  at  a 
proper  distance  below  the  surface,  and  they  will 
go  on  enlarging  to  tneir  full  size,  if  they  are  not 
disturbed.  But  now,  if  we  pile  up  more  soil 
around  the  stem,  a  new  set  of  tubers  will  be 


formed  higher  up  than  the  first,  which  will  draw 
away  a  part  of  the  food  that  should  have 
gone  to  the  first.  The  consequence  will  be  that 
at  digging  time,  many  of  the  tubers  will  be  small, 
and  some  of  them  unripe.    So  thinks  X. 

Salt  on  Wheat. 


W.  H.  Yale,  New-Haven  Co.,  Conn.,  sends  to 
the  Agriculturist  the  following  account  of  his  ex- 
periments :  "  In  the  Spring  of  1851  I  tried  salt 
on  wheat.  The  first  piece,  about  an  acre,  was 
part  of  an  orchard,  marked  off  into  ten  pace 
lands.  I  sowed  salt  on  alternate  lands,  using 
five  bushels  per  acre,  and  harrowed  it  in  with 
the  wheat.  On  these  lands,  the  grain  ripened 
sooner,  was  larger,  and  free  from  rust.  The  next 
year  the  salted  part  yielded  twice  as  much 
hay  as  the  other  portion.  The  second  piece, 
of  two  acres,  had  been  planted  with  corn  the 
year  before  on  the  sod,  and  was  badly  infested 
with  grubs.  They  had  destroyed  much  corn, 
and  also  greatly  injured  the  wheat.  On  the  al- 
ternate lauds,  treated  with  salt,  the  wheat  head- 
ed out  a  week  earlier,  and  the  yield  was  doubled, 
I  also  sowed  another  field  of  poorer  soil  than 
either  of  the  above,  using  salt  upon  the  whole 
of  it,  and  the  wheat  was  the  best  of  all." 


A  Weed-Puller. 

Many  troublesome  weeds  are  best  disposed  of 
by  drawing  them  out  by  the  root,  a  slow  but 
thoroughly  effectual  process.  Mr.  Julius  Miner 
sends  to  the  Agriculturist  the  sketch  of  an  un- 
patented implement  long  used  by  him  for  tak- 
ing out  the  Burdock, 
and  other  very  trouble- 
some and  tenacious  roots 
that  infest  our  fields. 
It  will  do  good  service 
with  all  weeds  that  have 
a  long  tap-root.  It  con- 
sists of  a  stout  stick,  3^ 
feet  long,  to  which  is 
fastened  an  iron  trident  or  three-pronged  piece, 
the  teeth  of  which  are  2i  inches  long.  Or  the 
whole  length  may  be  made  of  iron.  A  block  3 
to  4  inches  thick  is  bolted  to  the  under  side  of 
the  handle  about  G  inches  from  the  points.  This 
serves  as  a  fulcrum  when  prying  out  the  roots. 
A  cross-bar  8  inches  long  is  attached,  for  con- 
veniently thrusting  the  implement  with  the  foot 
down  to  the  root.  When  thus  placed,  a  moder- 
ate amount  of  force  at  the  end  of  the  lever  will 
lift  a  strong  root  entire. 

0-1 ~»  — — .-«. 

A  Horse-Cleaner. 


F.  W.  Stump,  Wayne  Co.,  recommends  to  the 
readers  of  the  Agriculturist  the  simple  imple- 
ment shown  in  the  annexed  engraving,  for 
cleaning  horses  in  muddy  weather.  It  is  made 
of  a  -strip  of  I  inch  board,  9  inches 
long  on  one  edge,  7  inches  on  the 
other,  and  3  or  4  inches  wide.  A  con- 
venient opening  for  the  hand  is  shaved 
out  on  each  side,  and  a  hole  bored 
through  the  square  end  by  which  to 
hang  it  in  the  stable.  He  uses  this 
instead  of  a  currycomb  or  card  fbr  re- 
moving dried  mud  from  horses  which 
have  been  used  in  wet  weather.  The  curry- 
comb is  objectionable;  its  sharp  points  are 
too  harsh  for  the  tender  skin  of  the  horse. 
This  implement  followed  by  the  brush,  will  an- 
swer a  very  good  purpose. 


142 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Mat, 


Growing  Carrots— Mulching. 

• ! 

No  intelligent  farmer  doubts  that  the  carrot  is 
one  of  the  most  valuable  roots  that  can  be  raised 
for  stock.  For  horses,  to  alternate  with  oats  or 
ground-feed,  they  are  excellent,  being  nourishing 
and  at  the  same  time  keeping  the  system  free 
and  in  good  order.  Indeed,  for  horses  which  do 
only  the  lightest  kind  of  work  in  Winter,  carrots 
and  potatoes  and  hay  make  a  very  good  diet. 
When  Spring  opens,  let  one  mess  of  oats  per 
day  be  substituted  for  one  of  carrots  or  pota- 
toes. They  are  excellent  food  for  milch  cows 
and  oxen.— The  cultivation  of  a  crop  of  car- 
rots is  a  simple  process.  A  rich,  loamy  soil 
is  preferable  to  strong,  clayey  ground.  It  should 
be  thoroughly  enriched,  using  old  manure  if  it 
is  applied  the  same  year.  A  better  way  is  to 
manure  heavily  the  year  before.  Break  up  the 
ground  thoroughly  with  plow  or  spade.  Let  this 
be  no  surface  work.  Thrust  down  the  plow- 
share to  the  beam,  or  the  spade  its  whole  depth. 
This  is  the  only  way  to  avoid  "  fingers  and  toes," 
and  to  get  long,  large,  well-formed  roots.  Har- 
row the  ground  until  smooth  and  thoroughly 
pulverized;  plant  h  inch  deep  in  drills,  two 
or  two-and-a-half  feet  apart,  for  field  tillage,  and 
eighteen  inches  for  garden  culture.  This  part  of 
the  work  is  greatly  expedited  by  using  a  seed 
sowing  machine.  About  two  pounds  of  seed 
per  acre  will  be  needed.  From  the  middle  of 
May  to  the  first  of  June,  is  the  right  time  to  put 
in  the  main  crop.  For  early  use,  the  best  vari- 
ety is  the  Early  Horn.  For  late  Winter,  the 
Long  Orange  is  a  great  favorite.  The  Altring- 
ham  is  thought  to  be  hardly  inferior  to  the  last. 
As  soon  as  the  plants  are  up,  go  through  the 
rows,  and  thin  out  to  from  four  to  six  inch- 
es apart.  Keep  the  cultivator  or  hoe  in  motion, 
to  suppress  all  wTeeds,  and  to  keep  the  ground 
light  and  loose.  This  will  also  greatly  help  on 
the  vigor  and  growth  of  the  plants. 

A  writer  at  Lexington,  Mich.,  adopted  a  good 
plan  which  he  thus  describes :  "  The  carrots, 
thinned  and  hoed,  grew  finely,  and  I  now  be- 
gan to  think  what  to  do  to  keep  the  weeds  from 
springing  up  again.  I  remembered  having  read 
in  the  American  Agriculturist  something  about 
mulching  apple  trees  and  newly  planted  shrubs; 
also  I  remembered,  that  last  Slimmer  I  had 
some  potatoes  in  my  garden — the  smallest  spind- 
ling tops  }'ou  ever  saw — and  having  some  spare 
stable  manure  in  the  Spring,  I  took  it,  after 
hoeing  my  potatoes,  and  covered  the  ground  be- 
tween the  drills,  and  the  potatoes  improved  rap- 
idly and  turned  out  a  fair  crop;  so  I  now  took 
stable  manure  and  spread  between  the  rows  of 
my  carrots.  It  did  not  dry  up,  as  the  dews  and 
rain  kept  it  moist,  and  the  carrot  tops  soon  cov- 
ered it;  with  every  shower  the  strength  was 
carried  to  the  roots  of  the  carrots,  and  it  was 
farewell  to  weeds." 

In  the  Fall,  as  soon  as  the  leaves  begin  to  turn 
yellow,  they  may  be  taken  up,  cutting  off  the 
tops  an  inch  above  the  crown,  and  storing  away 
in  sand  in  a  cool  cellar  or  a  root-house.  The 
tops  are  of  value  for  feeding.  Our  correspond- 
ent says:  "About  the  middle  of  October  I  be- 
gan to  think,  what  shall  I  do  with  this  heavy 
growth  of  tops  ?  Having  had  some  experience 
in  their  worth  as  food  for  horses  and  cows,  I 
took  a  scythe  and  mowed,  from  day  to  day,  and 
gave  them  to  two  colts,  feeding  three  times  a  day 
all  they  would  eat  up  clean :  the  tops  lasted  be- 
tween three  and  four  weeks.  Having  but  3-16ths 
of  an  acre,  this  may  seem  fabulous,  but  it  is  true, 
and  the  colts  improved  much  in  flesh.  I  came 
to  the  conclusion,  that  as  to  quantity  and  qual- 


ity, carrot  tops  exceeded  any  other  green  feed 
I  was  acquainted  with."  For  Spring  feeding, 
the  roots  may  be  in  pits  out  of  doors,  covering 
the  heap  with  six  inches  of  straw  set  up  end- 
wise, and  a  foot  or  eighteen  inches  of  soil  laid 
on  smooth  so  as  to  shed  rain.  The  same  wri- 
ter gives  the  following  expenses  and  profit  on 
three-sixteenths  of  an  acre  devoted  to  carrots : 

To  plowing  and  raking  ground $1  00 

To  seed  and  planting 88 

To  twice   hoeing fi2 

To   thinning 63 

To  mulching 1  00 

To  cutting  lops 1  00 

To  digging  and  putting  In  cellar 3  50 

Total  cost  (4^  cents  per  bushel) $8  63 

CONTRA. 

By  192  bushels  carrots  at  25  cents $48  00 

By  3  weeks'  feed  for  two  horses  on  carrot 

tops  at  37%  cents  each 2  25— $50  25 

Profit  on  3-16ths  of  an  acre $41  62 

Although  this  might  not  be  reached  in  field 
culture  on  a  large  scale,  it  shows  conclusively 
that  it  will  pay  abundantly  to  add  an  acre  or 
two  of  carrots  to  the  Summer  crops. 

—• •»•» -» ■ 

Onion  Culture— Hints  to  Beginners. 

— ♦ — 
The  unusually  high  market  price  of  onions 
during  the  past  season,  will  doubtless  stimulate 
many  who  have  had  no  experience,  to  go  into 
their  culture.     No  one  should  undertake  to  grow 
them  without  making  up  his  mind  to  give  the 
crop  all  the  attention  it  requires.    It  is  gener- 
ally a  paying  crop,  but  one  also  which  requires 
a  great  deal  of  labor,  and  unless  this  can  be 
given,  and  just  at  the  time  needed,  the  attempt 
will  result  in  disappointment.     To  grow  onions 
successfully,  requires  a  certain  amount  of  expe- 
rience, and  we  would  not  advise  any  one  who 
is  without  this,  to  attempt  the  culture  upon  a 
large  scale.    In  the  first  place  the  greatest  care 
should  be  taken   in  the  selection  of  the  seed. 
This  should  only  be   obtained    from  reliable 
sources.    Unless  the  seed  has  been  saved  from 
well  grown  onions,  it  will  produce  poor  results, 
for  no  after-care  will  produce  a  good  crop.    The 
Large  Red,  Oval  Red  and  Yellow  Danvers  are 
all  good  keepers.     The  'White  Portugal  brings  a 
good  price  but  does  not  keep  well  for  Winter 
use.     Three  or  four  pounds  of  seed  are  required 
for  an  acre.    Onions  require  a  good  strong  soil. 
If  possible,  laud  should  be  selected  that  has  been 
previously  used  for  some  hoed  and  manured 
crop ;  if  not  rich  it  should  be  made  so  by  a  lib- 
eral supply  of  manure.    Well-rotted   hog  or 
barn-yard  manure   at    the    rate  of  20  or  30 
loads  to  the  acre  is  used,  and  deeply  plowed  in 
and  then  a  top-dressing  of  150  or  200  bushels  of 
ashes  is  harrowed  in.     The  soil  must  be  thor- 
oughly pulverized  by  the  harrow,  and  after- 
ward carefully  raked  with  a  large  garden  rake. 
It  will  be  found  to  facilitate  working,  to  lay  off 
the  ground  in  beds  of  about  a  rod  in  width. 
The  sowing  should  be  clone  as  soon  as  the  soil 
is  dry  enough  to  work,  the  earlier  the  better. 
The  seed  is  most  readily  sown  with  a  drill, 
in  rows  12  to  13  inches  apart,  covering  J  inch 
deep.     In  absence  of  a  drill,  mark  furrows  with 
a  hand  marker,  and  sow  as  evenly  as  possible 
by  hand,  and  let  a  boy  follow  to  cover  with  the 
feet.     After  the  seed  is  sown,  the  ground  should 
be  rolled  with  a  hand  roller.    As  soon  as  the 
onions  are  up  enough  to  allow  the  rows  to  be. 
seen,  an  onion  hoe  should  be  run  between  the 
rows,  lightly  stirring  the  soil,  and  a  few  days 
after  the  rows  must  be  weeded.     This  is  the 
most  tiresome  part  of  the  work,  and  is  usually 
done  by  boys,  wdio  crawl  along  on  their  knees 
astride  of  the  row,  and  remove  every  weed  from 
among  the  onions.    The  weeds  have  to  be  con- 
stantly fought,  and  the  hoeing  and  weeding  must 


be  repeated  as  often  as  they  show  themselves, 
for  the  success  of  the  crop  depends  in  good 
part  upon  thorough  weeding.  Whew  the  seed 
is  properly  sown,  but  little  thinning  will  be 
needed,  but  where  they  stand  too  thick,  they 
should  be  thinned  to  about  three  inches  in  the 
row.  Very  full  details  will  be  found  in  the 
Onion  pamphlet,  published  at  the  office  of  the 
American  Agriculturist,     See  Advertisement, 


Sugar  from  the  Beet, 


The  question  whether  sugar  can  be  produced 
from  the  beet  root  in  this  country  as  in  France, 
is  in  a  fair  way  of  being  definitely  settled. 
Hitherto,  after  many  costly  experiments,  it  has 
been  supposed  that  owing  to  the  difference  of 
climate,  soil,  or  other  undetermined  causes,  the 
attempt  would  be  fruitless.  We  learn  from  the 
Valley  Farmer,  that  during  the  past  year  Mr. 
Belcher,  a  large  sugar  refiner  in  the  West,  has 
been  testing  the  matter  again  on  land  contiguous 
to  the  Illinois  Central  Rail  Road,  with  seeds  of 
various  kinds  of  beets  procured  from  Europe. 
His  success  is  reported  as  very  encouraging. 
The  Agricultural  Societies  of  Illinois  and  Iowa, 
aided  by  the  111.  Cent.  R.  R.  Co.,  are  lending 
their  aid  for  further  trials.  An  arrangement 
has  been  concluded  with  a  company  of  Germans 
to  establish  a  refinery  on  the  farm  of  W.  H. 
Osborn,  President  of  the  R.  R.  Co.,  at  Chats- 
worth,  111.,  and  fifteen  hundred  acres  are  to  be 
cultivated  with  the  beet  the  coming  season. 
In  France  the  production  of  sugar  from  the 
beet  has  become  of  national  importance,  amount- 
ing in  a  single  year  to  nearly  150,000  tons. 
The  present  is  a  most  favorable  time  for  the 
initiation  of  the  enterprise  in  this  country.  It 
is  quite  likely  that  the  above  movement  gave 
rise  to  the  specious  advertisement  of  the  "  New 
Oriental  Sugar  Plant"  noticed  in  the  Agri- 
culturist last  month. 

■ ■  i         ^m 9^  i  » 

Late  Sowing  of  Clover. 


"J.  H.  A.,"  Mifflin  Co.,  Pa.,  sends  to  the 
American,  Agriculturist  the  following  suggestions: 
"In  this  section  our  best  success  with  clover  has 
been  when  it  has  been  sown  after  the  ground 
had  become  quite  well  settled  in  Spring,  and 
the  weather  wTarm  enough  to  germinate  seed 
quickly.  We  believe  that  the  sooner  any  seed 
germinates  after  being  placed  in  the  soil,  the 
more  certain  will  be  its  growth.  It  is  known  that 
many  kinds  of  seeds  can  not  remain  more  than 
a  few  days  in  the  ground  during  weather  unfavor- 
able to  germination,  without  losing  their  vital- 
ity. The  seed  of  clover  is  so  small,  and  the  germ 
so  minute,  that  however  unfavorable  the  effect  of 
too  early  sowing  upon  either,  it  is  almost  suro 
to  escape  the  notice  of  the  farmer;  otherwise  I 
think  sowing  this  seed  in  March,  in  this  latitude 
at  least,  would   now  be  almost  abandoned. 

We  may,  in  some  measure,  judge  of  the  injury 
done  to  the  seed  of  young  clover  by  a  month 
or  six  weeks  of  weather  unfavorable  to  the  ger- 
mination or  growth,  by  considering  the  natural 
requirements  of  the  plants.  I  believe  no  field 
crop  is  more  benefited  than  this,  by  warm  show- 
ers and  sunshine.  Even  after  the  first  season's 
growth,  and  being  quite  well  rooted,  it  requires 
wdiat  we  call  the  best  growing  weather  to  bring 
it  to  perfection — and  under  such  circumstances 
it  is  a  plant  of  rapid  growth.  Clover  during  a 
cool  Summer  always  looks  yellow  and  sickly, 
and  is  sure  to  be  a  short  crop.  From  this,  maj 
not  the  farmer  conclude  that  the  alternate  freez 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


143 


ing  and  thawing  of  the  ground,  and  the  conse- 
quent swelling  and  shrinking  of  the  seed,  and 
the  frequent  starts  and  checks  the  young  plant 
must  receive  during  four  to  six  weeks,  greatly 
Injure  the  plants  just  at  the  start,  which  can 
not  be  remedied  by  after-treatment,  as  the  "  set " 
will  be  too  thin. 


Experience  with  Millet. 

Abraham  Herbein,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.,  writes  to 
the  Agriculturist  that  thirteen  acres  of  corn  re- 
planted twice,  last  Spring,  were  finally  made 
worthless  by  the  cutworms,  and  so  about  the 
middle  of  June  seven  acres  of  the  plot  were 
sowed  with  millet  (Hungarian  Grass).  The  soil, 
a  black  shale,  was  rather  thin  in  some  places, 
and  therefore  easily  affected  by  a  drouth  which 
occurred  from  the  setting  to  the  ripening  of  the 
seed.  On  these  spots  the  millet  grew  only  about 
ten  inches  high,  and  shriveled  before  it  was  cut. 
Where  the  soil  was  deeper,  it  yielded  at  least 
three  tons  of  cured  hay  per  acre.  From  the 
whole  seven  acres,  twelve  tons  were  harvested. 
About  one  hundred  bushels  of  seed  were  ob- 
tained from  this,  much  less  than  would  probably 
have  ripened,  had  the  weather  been  favorable. 
The  straw,  after  being  threshed  by  a  machine, 
was  eaten  by  cows  and  other  stock  as  readily  as 
the  best  meadow  hay.  The  seed  is  considered 
by  him  equally  valuable  with  rye  or  corn  for 
cattle  and  hogs,  but  not  so  suitable  for  horses. 

The  remaining  six  acres  of  the  above  field 
were  sowed  with  buckwheat,  which  returned 
only  thirty  bushels.  It  was  injured  by  dry 
weather,  and  nipped  by  early  frost.  Mr.  Her- 
bein thinks  that  millet  will  generally  be  found 
a  safer  crop  than  buckwheat  to  replace  a  failing 
crop  of  corn.  It  ripens  sufficiently  early  to  be 
followed  with  winter  grain.  He  also  intends  to 
substitute  the  millet  for  oats  this  Spring,  last 
year's  oat  crop  having  been  a  failure  from  the 
ravages  of  the  aphides  or  yellow  plant  lice. 


Seeds  by  Mail— The  New  Law. 

■ — 

The  reduction  of  the  postage  on  seeds  and 
cions  to  one  cent  an  ounce,  is  one  of  the  best  re- 
forms of  the  age,  and  is  giving  a  new  impulse  to 
horticultural  improvement  throughout  the  coun- 
try. It  is  especially  helpful  to  those  who  live  in 
the  thinly  settled  districts,  remote  from  the  large 
towns  or  cities  in  which  seed  stores  are  kept,  and 
in  the  suburbs  of  which  most  of  our  nurseries  are 
located.  It  virtually  puts  down  the  best  seed 
stores  in  the  country  at  the  door  of  every  sub- 
scriber to  the  Agriculturist.  He  has  only  to  look 
over  our  advertising  columns  and  order  what  he 
wants  by  letter.  He  gets  first-rate  seeds  for 
about  the  same  price  he  could  buy  them  in  the 
city,  without  the  trouble  or  expense  of  the  jour- 
ney. Though  he  live  in  the  new  settlements  of 
the  west,  he  can  procure  the  best  seeds  and  cions 
grown  in  the  East,  at  a  trifling  postage  expense. 

Its  tendency  is  to  make  these  articles  both 
cheap  and  good,  for  it  favors  competition  and 
makes  every  seed  grower  directly  responsible 
to  the  purchaser.  Every  man  who  has  a  choice 
variety  of  vegetables  or  fruits,  has  an  inducement 
to  multiply  it,  for,  if  he  will  advertise,  he  has  a 
ready  market  for  the  seeds  or  cions  at  the  near- 
est post  office.  Small  plants  and  trees,  if  prop- 
erly packed,  will  go  safely  by  mail.  Any  one 
who  examines  our  advertising  columns  will  see 
that  this  business  is  largely  on  the  increase. 

P.  S. — The  above  was  prepared  for  last 
month's  paper,  but  crowded  out.    Since  it  was 


written,  a  new  postage  law  has  been  enacted, 
according  to  which,  as  we  understand  it,  the 
rates  after  July  1st  will  bo :  2  cents  on  one, 
two,  or  three  circulars  in  the  same  envelope ; 
and  on  seeds,  cuttings,  etc.,  2  cents  on  any 
weight  up  to  four  ounces,  and  2  cents  for  each 
additional  four  ounces,  or  fractional  part  of  four 
ounces.  This  will  be  a  reduction,  for  on  four 
ounces  or  eight  ounces  the  postage  will  be  only 
i  cent  an  ounce.  The  new  rates  will  therefore 
facilitate  the  sending  of  large  parcels,  and 
heavier  seeds.  A  whole  pound  will  go  for  8 
cents  to  any  part  of  the  United  States  and  Ter- 
ritories.— The  present  rate  (1  cent  per  ounce) 
continues  until  June  30.  Many  of  our  subscrib- 
ers sending  for  seeds,  have  made  themselves 
needless  expense,  by  putting  3-cent  stamps 
upon  their  envelopes,  where  only  1-cent  stamps 
were  required,  according  to  the  directions  plain- 
ly given.  When  practicable,  we  have  removed 
the  extra  stamps,  and  put  them  inside  of  the 
envelopes,  but  this  could  seldom  be  done  with- 
out defacing  the  stamps. 

— . ■»■    »  » 

How  Mnch  Seed  per  Acre  ? 


The  following  suggestions  condensed  from  an 
article  in  the  Mark  Lane  Express  (England), 
apply  equally  well  on  this  side  the  Atlantic. 
Land  naturally  poor,  or  temporarily  reduced  in 
fertility  by  over-cropping,  requires  thick  seeding. 
Soil  in  low  condition  can  not  force  vegetation 
to  any  extent,  therefore  little  or  no  tillering 
takes  place.  Consequently  each  kernel  will  pro- 
duce but  one  stem,  and,  when  thickly  seeded  no 
more  are  required  or  can  find  room  to  grow. 
The  opposite  of  this  is  the  case  with  rich  soil. 
The  increase  by  tillering  will  far  exceed  the 
difference  made  in  the  quantity  of  seed  gen- 
erally put  on.  Suppose  five  bushels  of  oats 
per  acre  are  to  be  sown  on  poor  land,  and  two 
bushels  on  good  soil.  If  each  plant  of  the  latter 
should  throw  out  three  tillering  stems  there 
would  be  a  heavier  yield  than  on  the  thickly 
seeded  portion.  But  where  the  tillering  process 
is  fully  developed  as  on  the  wheat  plant  in  rich 
ground,  the  average  will  far  exceed  three  col- 
lateral stems.  Of  course,  every  allowance  should 
be  made  for  liability  to  loss  from  other  causes, 
as  worms,  insects,  unfavorable  weather,  etc.  A 
table  showing  the  proper  amount  of  various 
seeds  per  acre,  to  be  sown,  including  the  varia- 
tions to  be  made  on  account  of  difference  of  soil, 
was  published  in  the  Nineteenth  Volume  of 
the  American  Agriculturist,  page  139  (May,  1860). 
»— —   M«»  I  ■ 

Feeding  the  Chinch  Bug. 

Mr.  R.  F.  Roberts,  of  Racine  Co.,  Wis.,  sends 
to  the  Agriculturist,  the  experience  of  a  farmer  in 
that  County.  "  Two  years  ago  he  seeded  down 
a  piece  of  land  sowed  to  oats.  The  grass  took 
well  and  the  oats  gave  a  large  yield  of  excellent 
quality,  while  all  the  rest  of  his  oats  and  his 
wheat  suffered  greatly  from  the  ravages  of  the 
chinch  bug.  Last  Spring  he  seeded  down  another 
piece  sowed  to  oats,  which  yielded  a  large  crop 
of  'heavy  grain,  while  a  plot  of  wheat  sowed 
beside  it  was  scarcely  worth  cutting.  His  con- 
clusion is :  that  the  chinch  bug  feeds  on  the 
tender  grass,  and  while  they  are  doing  that,  the 
grain  matures  so  that  it  is  beyond  their  power 
to  injure  it.  He  noticed  that  when  he  cut  the 
grain  on  the  plots  seeded  down,  the  bugs  ap- 
peared as  thick  as  they  were  on  the  other  fields. 
This  coming  Spring  he  is  going  to  sow  grass 
seed  with  all  his  grain  crops,  using  two  thirds 


the  quantity  of  grass  seed  commonly  sown, 
when  seeding  down  meadows,  and  of  wheat  and 
oats  the  same  quantity  as  if  no  grass  seed  was 
sown  with  them.  He  prepares  his  seed  wheat 
by  soaking  in  strong  brine  and  drying  with 
slaked  lime."  [The  lime,  and  the  brine,  are  al- 
ways good  for  seed  wheat  and  seed  corn. — Ed.] 


To  Sweeten  Butter-Firkins. 


Mrs.  Arch.  Cooper,  Racine  Co.,  Wis.,  sends 
the  following  directions  to  the  American  Agri- 
culturist: "Before  packing  butter  into  new  fir- 
kins, put  them  out  of  doors  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  well,  fill  them  with  water,  and  throw  in  a 
few  handfuls  of  salt.  Let  them  stand  three  or 
four  days,  and  change  the  water  once  during 
that  time.  Butter-firkins  should  be  made  of 
white  oak,  and  this  process  effectually  takes 
out  the  acid  contained  in  that  wood,  and  makes 
the  firkins  sweet.  If  the  butter  is  well  made 
and  rightly  packed,  it  will  keep  good  all  Sum- 
mer, even  if  the  firkin  be  kept  in  store  above 
ground.  To  cleanse  old  firkins  in  which  butter 
has  been  packed  and  left  exposed  some  time  to 
the  air,  fill  with  sour  milk,  and  leave  standing 
twenty-four  hours ;  then  wash  clean,  and  scald 
with  brine.     This  makes  them  as  good  as  new. 

m— «t»         — —m 

Questions  About  Plants  and  Flowers. 


We  have  several  letters  giving  descriptions  of 
plants  and  asking  us  the  name.  Though  we 
may  be  able  to  give  a  tolerable  guess,  it  is  not 
possible  to  name  a  plant  in  this  way  with  any 
degree  of  accuracy.  Those  who  wish  for  infor- 
mation of  this  kind,  which  we  are  always  ready 
to  give,  should  send  us  a  specimen  for  exami- 
nation. We  can  sometimes  recognize  a  plant 
from  a  mere  fragment,  but  it  is  better  in  all  cases 
to  send  a  complete  specimen,  which  should  in- 
clude some  of  the  flowers ;  the  seed,  ripe  or 
partly  so ;  the  upper  leaves  ;  and  if  the  lower 
leaves  arc  different  in  shape,  one  of  those  also. 
The  specimens  should  be  dried  by  laying  them 
in  an  old  book  or  by  putting  them  between  sev- 
eral thicknesses  of  newspaper  with  a  heavy 
book  laid  on  to  press  them.  Use  only  pressure 
enough  to  keep   the  leaves  flat  while  drying. 


Preparation  of  Furs. 

Several  of  our  Western  readers  have  asked 
how  they  can  prepare  the  skins  of  animals  for 
use.  We  have  not  been  able  to  get  much  infor- 
mation from  the  fur  dealers,  who  wish  to  keep 
the  secrets  of  the  trade  to  themselves.  We  un- 
derstand, however,  that  the  dried  pelts  are  put 
into  tubs  with  a  quantity  of  rancid  butter,  (prob- 
ably rancid  is  used  because  cheaper  than  fresh,) 
and  they  are  then  trampled  by  the  feet  until 
they  become  soft  and  pliable;  after  this  they  are 
trampled  with  saw-dust — mahogany  being  pre- 
ferred—to remove  the  grease.  The  furs  are  then 
ready  to  be  made  up.  We  find  the  following 
in  the  California  Farmer.  It  will  be  observed 
that  the  directions  do  not  give  the  amount  of 
water  to  be  used ;  probably  enough  to  well 
cover  the  skin  will  answer.  We  suppose  that 
this  process  is  intended  for  fresh  skins  :  Take 
one  pound  of  alum  to  five  pounds  of  hide,  a 
double  handful  of  salt— all  of  which  dissolve  in 
warm  water.  Put  the  skin  in  and  let  it  stand 
for  from  twenty-four  to  forty-eight  hours ;  then 
take  out  and  dry,  and  it  is  done.  To  tan  with 
the  hair  off,  the  skin  must  be  first  soaked  in 
strong  lime-water  till  the  hair  comes  off;  then 
treated  as  directed  for  tanning  with  the  hair  on. 


144 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Mat, 


VEGETATION 


One  accustomed  only  to  the  vegetation  of  the 
Northern  States  is  struck,  as  he  travels  south- 
ward, with  the  new  forms  which  meet  his  eye, 
giving  new  features  to  the  landscape.  If  he  con- 
tinue his  journey  until  he  reach  the  Territory 
of  Arizona,  upon  the  borders  of  Mexico,  he  will 
find  a  vegetation  entirely  unlike  that  which  ho 
left  at  the  North.  Instead  of  green  fields,  the 
parched  soil  bears  only  a  few  scattered  tufts  of 
grayish  grass,  and  in  place  of  leafy  forests,  in 
whose  shade  one  might  find  shelter  from  the 
burning  sun,  there  are  the  strange  leafless 
trunks  of  the  Cactuses,  whose  singular  appear- 
ance and  spiny  branches  repel  rather  than  at- 
tract the  traveler.  Above  we  have  sketched 
and  engraved  a  scene  in  this  barren  territory, 
which  well  illustrates  the  appearance  of  the 
region  where  the  plants  of  the  Cactus  family 
seem  to  attain  their  greatest  luxuriance.  These 
plants  are  peculiar  to  the  American  Continent, 
and  are  represented  with  us  by  the  Prickly  Pear, 
which  is  found  as  far  North  as  Massachusetts 
and  "Wisconsin ;  but  no  one,  from  seeing  this, 
or  even  those  which  are  cultivated  as  green- 
house and  parlor  plants,  can  form  an  idea  of  the 
peculiar  effect  produced  where  the  mass  of  the 
vegetation  is  made  up  of  larger  plants  of  this 
family.  One  of  the  most  striking  characteris- 
tics of  these  plants  is,  that  they  bear  no  leaves, 
but  the  green  rind  of  the  stems  does  their  work 
and  answers  in  place  of  them.  Instead  of  leaves 
they  bear  tufts  of  spines  or  thorns,  the  number, 
size  and  shape  of  which  vary  with  the  dif- 
ferent species.  Some  of  these  spines  are  sever- 
al inches  in  length,  either  straight  or  hooked  at 
the  end;  others  are  small  and  hair  like,  but  all 


IN    THE     SOUTH-WESTERN    TERRITORIES. 

Sketched  ani  Engraved  for  the  American  Agriculturist, 


sharp  and  capable  of  inflicting  annoying  or  dan- 
gerous wounds.  These  Cactus  plants  are  won- 
derfully adapted  to  the  region  in  which  they 
live.  But  very  little  rain  falls  there,  and  this 
only  during  a  few  weeks,  all  of  the  rest  of  the 
year  being  a  continued  drouth.  "While  in  our 
moist  climate,  plants  expose  a  great  surface  of 
leaves  in  order  to  facilitate  evaporation,  there 
they  are  constructed  on  a  plan  which  exposes 
the  least  possible  surface — they  are  all  cylinders 
or  spheres.  When  the  short  rainy  season  comes 
on,  these  plants  start  into  life,  make  their  annual 
growth,  and  flower,  and  produce.fruit.  The  dry 
season  soon  follows ;  the  whole  country,  under 
the  influence  of  the  sun  and  parching  atmos- 
phere, becomes  burned  and  barren  like  a  desert. 
All  the  tender  plants  which  the  rain  had  called 
into  existence,  perish ;  then  the  Cactuses  go  into 
a  dormant  state;  they  have  no  leaves  to  wither 
and  fall  away ;  they  close  up  the  pores  of  their 
thick  skin,  and  resisting  the  drying  influences 
around  them,  they  retain  their  juices  until  the 
next  rainy  period  awakens  them  to  activity 
again.  Notwithstanding  the  uncouth  aspect  of 
the  plants  themselves,  they  produce  flowers 
which  are  often  of  great  beauty.  Some  of  the 
Cactus  family  are  among  the  chief  ornaments  of 
our  green-houses.  "We  have  seen  them  in  the 
wild  state  when  the  desert  literally  "blossomed 
as  the  rose."  Their  fruits,  too,  are  generally 
pleasant  and  often  delicious,  some  being  veiy 
much  like  figs,  and  others  having  a  fine  fruity 
flavor.  The  largest  plant  represented  in  the  en- 
graving is  the  Giant  Cereus  (Cereus  giganteus), 
which  grows  to  the  bight  of  40  to  00  feet,  some- 
times rising  in  a  single  column,  but  more  fre- 


quently branching  and  throwing  out  great  up- 
turned arms.  Though  this  is,  from  its  size,  the 
most  conspicuous,  there  are  others,  a  few  of 
which  are  represented  in  the  foreground,  which 
are  not  less  noticeable.  Some  of  these  are  mere 
spiny  balls,  others  branching  and  tree  like,  oth- 
ers in  shape  like  the  Prickly  Pear,  only  as  tall  or 
taller  than  a  man,  and  all  of  them  so  provided 
with  thorns  that  the  careless  traveler  soon  learns 
to  respect  if  he  can  not  admire  them.  "We  know 
of  nothing  more  strange  and  wild  than  to  see, 
as  we  have  often  done,  a  landscape  in  which 
these  outlandish  plants  form  the  chief  vegetation. 


Trenching  Grass  Plots  or  Lawns. 


There  are  good  reasons  for  this.  A  lawn  is  to 
be  planted  more  or  less  with  trees,  and  they  will 
grow  vastly  better  in  a  deep  soil  than  in  a  shal- 
low one.  They  will  strike  their  roots  down 
deep,  and  spread  them  out  wide  in  search  of 
food,  and  their  rapid  growth  will  show  their 
keeping.  Even  small  trees  set  in  such  ground 
will  soon  outstrip  large  ones  set  in  shallow  soil, 
and  will  always  be  handsomer.  A  lawn  is  also 
to  be  a  carpet  of  grass.  If  it  be  well  trenched, 
the  grass  will  be  vigorous  and  green  in  Spring, 
Summer,  and  Fall.  It  will  not  turn  brown  and 
burn  out  in  the  first  "  dry  spell."  The  moisture 
from  below  will  continually  rise  to  keep  the 
roots  fresh.  The  grass  will  bear  frequent  mow- 
ing and  rolling,  and  will  constantly  improve. 
If  any  one  doubts  the  good  effects  of  trenching, 
let  him  compare  a  lawn  so  treated  with  one  only 
surface   worked,  and  he  will  be  convinced. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


145 


Spring  Salads. 


Salads  are  relished  by  most  persons  the  year 
round;  but  in  Spring  particularly,  when  new 
vegetation  is  putting  forth,  they  are  regarded 
as  especially  seasonable.  They  look  refreshing 
upon  the  table  and  are  acceptable  to  the  palate. 
Water-cress  is  among  the  earliest  of  the  salad 
herbs,  but  as  this  requires  a  constant  stream  of 
running  water  for  its  successful  culture,  it  is  not 
within  the  reach  of  most  persons.  Corn  Salad, 
or  Fetticus,  is  a  very  popular  salad  with  Euro- 
peans and  is  generally  cultivated  for  our  city 
markets.  It  may  be  had  very  early,  and  is  very 
readily  raised  by  sowing  in  autumn  and  cover- 
ing with  a  slight  winter  protection.  It  is  a  mild, 
tender  herb,  without  much  taste  of  itself.  Mus- 
tard makes  a  good  salad.  It  may  be  sown 
broadcast  as  soon  as  the  ground  is  thawed,  and 
should  be  cut  or  pulled  when  2  to  4  inches 
high.  Cress  or  Peppergrass  is  a  very  common 
salad,  either  used  by  itself,  or  mixed  with  Let- 
tuce. It  should  be  sown  very  early  upon  a  light 
quick  soil,  and  cut  for  the  table  as  soon  as  large 
enough.  Lettuce  is  however  the  universal  and 
popular  salad  plant.  Some  of  the  hardy  kinds 
may  be  sown  in  Autumn  and  covered  during 
Winter  with  straw  or  coarse  litter.  Sow  very 
early  in  the  Spring.  It  is  a  common  custom  to 
plant  rather  thickly  in  rows  and  allow  the 
plants  to  crowd  one  another — in  this  way  a 
partial  blanching  is  effected.  Lettuce  can  only 
be  had  in  perfection  by  growing  the  plants 
singly.  To  have  it  early,  sow  in  the  hot  bed  or 
in  boxes  in  the  house,  and  as  soon  as  the 
weather  will  allow,  transplant  in  rows,  a  foot 
apart  each  way.  The  soil  should  be  highly 
manured  with  well  rotted  compost  and  every 
means  used  to  ensure  a  rapid  growth ;  hoe  fre- 
quently and  give  liquid  manure.  Slow  grow- 
ing plants  will  be  without  the  tenderness  and 
crispness  so  desirable  in  lettuce.  Sowing  in  the 
open  air  may  be  done  as  soon  as  the  ground  can 
be  worked.  For  varieties,  we  prefer  the  Butter, 
Ice  Drumhead,  and  Neapolitan  Cabbage,  (the 
latter  is  on  our  seed  distribution)  though  almost 
any  sort  is  good,  if  well  grown  as  above  directed. 


Lima  Beans,  and  How  to  Plant  Them. 


"  Few  products  of  the  garden  are  more  accept- 
able thau  Lima  beans,  cooked  green,  and  also 
when  ripe.  For  some  reason  many  persons  fail 
in  growing  them  well,  however.  They  either 
do  not  come  up  at  all,  or  they  make  a  weak  or 
sickly  growth.  If  planted  like  the  smaller  va- 
rieties, with  one  to  three  inches  of  earth  over 
them,  and  this  perhaps  packed  down  with  the 
hoe  and  by  rains,  the  cotyledons  or  seed-leaves 
can  not  force  their  way  to  the  surface,  and  they 
rot.  The  soil  should  be  dry,  loose  and  warm, 
and  the  covering  very  light — hardly  more  than 
ju9t  to  hide  them.  It  is  best  to  raise  hills  of 
moderate  hight,  and  set  poles  before  planting ; 
then  stick  the  beans  in  with  the  eye  down,  and 
leave  them  at  or  just  below  the  surface.  A  veiy 
good  plan  is,  to  prepare  a  small  bed  of  light, 
warm  soil,  on  the  south  side  of  a  tight  fence, 
and  stick  in  the  beans  all  over  its  surface,  two 
inches  or  so  a  part,  and  sprinkle  on  a  very  light 
covering  of  sand,  or  fine  soil.  If  needed,  a 
sprinkling  of  water  may  be  given  often  enough 
to  keep  the  soil  damp.  If  a  chance  cold  night 
occurs,  throw  an  old  blanket  or  mat  over  the 
bed.  When  sprouted,  before  rooting,  transfer 
to  hills.  A  still  better  way,  perhaps,  is  to  start 
the  separate  beans  in  bits  of  sod,  and  transfer 


these  to  the  hills.     See  particulars  under  "Hot- 
bed Substitutes,"  on  page  99,  April  Agriculturist. 


were  V-shaped,  and  so  arranged  as  to  be  moved ; 
by  means  of  this  I  could  mark  out  rows  at  dis- 
tances of  6   inches,  12  inches,   or  18  inches, 
which  are  the  spaces 


Blackberries. 


Blackberries. 


Lima  Beans. 


Asparagus. 


:  Nutmeg-melons:        Tomatoes, 


Cauliflower.     :  Early  Potatoes.  : 


Corn. 


Winter  Squashes. 


Cabbages. 


Egg  Plant. 


Salsify. 


Kohl-Rabi.      :  Early  Turnips.  : 


Cucumbers. 


Carrots. 


Parsneps. 


Beets. 


Strawberries. 


Peas. 
Bush  Beans. 

Rhubarb. 
Summer  Squashes. 

Late  Turnips. 

Kale. 

""Celery'.'" 

Sage  and  other  Herbs. 

Seeds. 

Water-melons. 


Grapes. 


Grapes. 


How  I  Laid  out  My  Vegetable  Garden. 

[The  above  plan,  together  with  the  notes  be- 
low which  accompanied  it,  are  to  be  taken  as 
suggestive  merely.  The  size,  form,  and  loca- 
tion of  a  garden  will  in  every  case  determine 
the  plan.  The  appearance  of  a  garden  may 
often  be  improved  by  a  proper  arrangement  of 
the  tall  and  low  growing  plants.— Ed.] 

Editor  of  the  Agriculturist:  Having  long 
looked  forward  to  retiring  from  business  in  the 
city,  to  a  farm  in  the  country,  I  a  few  years 
ago  so  far  secured  my  wish  as  to  obtain  a  plot 
of  ground,  about  100  feet  square,  upon  which  to 
realize  my  long  cherished  desire  to  be  a  cultiva- 
tor of  the  soil.  I  commenced  without  experi- 
ence, and  of  course  made  many  failures  before 
I  attained  even  tolerable  success.  I  will  not 
trouble  you  with  an  account  of  my  failures,  fur- 
ther than  to  state  that  they  were  mainly  due  to 
sowing  too  early  or  too  late,  and  to  using  either 
too  much  or  not  enough  seed.  My  object  is  to 
give  a  plan  of  the  disposition  of  my  beds — not 
because  I  think  it  the  best  that  can  be  adopted, 
but  it  is  easier  to  alter  a  bad  plan  than  to  ori- 
ginate one  altogether,  and  I  think  an  inexpe- 
rienced person,  as  I  was,  will  go  to  work  more 
readily  if  he  have  a  map  of  the  route  some 
one  has  traveled  before  him.  The  plan  hardly 
needs  explanation.  There  is  a  walk  all  around, 
2i  feet  wide,  leaving  a  border  of  five  feet  next 
the  fence.  Two  principal  walks,  five  feet  wide, 
cross  each  other  at  right  angles.  These  are  all 
the  paths  that  are  really  needed — more  would 
waste  too  much  space  and  give  extra  trouble  in 
keeping  them  in  order.  No  raised  beds  are 
made,'as  these,  where  the  ground  is  naturally  or 
artificially  drained,  are  needless.  By  avoiding 
small  beds,  the  soil  can  be  well  and  cheaply 
put  in  order  by  the  plow  and  harrow ;  I  used  a 
subsoil  plow  and  found  a  decided  advantage  in 
it.  My  hot-beds  were  on  the  space  occupied 
afterwards  by  watermelons,  the  manure  used  in 
them  being  forked  in  for  the  crop.  Not  having 
a  seed-sowing  machine,  I  constructed  a  marker 
like  a  large  wooden  rake,  the  teeth  of  which 


:  most  generally  requir- 
■•':  :  ed.  The  marks  being 
\   I       •    made,   the  seeds    are 

•  ■       :    sown    by    hand    and 

■  •  :  then  covered  by  draw- 
:   :      '•    ing    the    earth    over 

•  with  the  back  of  a 
:   :      :    rake  or  with  the  foot. 

■  •  :  On  April  15th,  I  sow- 
:  i  :  ed  spinach,  onions, 
:  I  ;  early  turnips,  cabbag- 
'•  :      |    es,   early  beets,   peas, 

•  ;  »  .    salsify,  and  a  few  car- 

•  ■  g  :  rots,  and  planted  ear- 
:  •  5  i  ly  potatoes.  Spinach, 
:  :  ;  radishes,  etc.,  are  not 
'■   :       •    down   on    the   plan ; 

•  :  •  these  I  sowed  in  the 
\  •  I  spaces  between  hills 
i  J  :  of  potatoes  and  cu- 
;  •  :  cumbers,  and  wher- 
:  :  |  ever  there  was  a  spare 
:   :      ';    spot.    The  1st  of  May 

•  :      II  made  a  sowing  of 

■  I      i    most    of    the     other 

■  ;      •    seeds;  on  the  15th  I 

•  set  out  the  plants 
:    from     my     hot-beds, 

and  put  in  melons  of 
all  kinds  and  late  squashes.  June  20th,  the 
late  beets,  turnips,  peas,  and  sweet  corn  for  suc- 
cession, were  sown.  As  the  results  of  my  la- 
bors T  had  better  and  fresher  vegetables  than 
could  be  purchased  in  market,  the  great  pleasure 
of  working  the  garden,  and  the  great  satisfac- 
tion of  enjoying  the  fruits  of  my  own  toil.  C.  H 

Some  less  Known  Garden  Vegetables. 

Correspondents  ask  us  for  brief  descriptions 
of  several  of  the  garden  vegetables,  the  seeds  of 
which  are  found  in  the  catalogues,  but  which 
are  not  generally  known  and  cultivated.  Many 
of  them  are  mere  flavoring  herbs,  and  others 
are  articles  of  food  which  are  only  obtained 
witli  considerable  trouble,  and  their  cultivation 
is  mainly  confined  to  the  professional  gardeners. 

Artichoke. — The  plant  usually  known  by  this 
name  in  this  country,  is  the  Jerusalem  Artichoke, 
a  kind  of  sunflower,  which  bears  tubers  some- 
what like  a  potato.  The  true  Artichoke  is  near- 
ly related  to  the  thistle.  It  bears  an  enormous 
thistle-like  head  of  flowers,  which  are  surround- 
ed by  a  cup  of  thick  fleshy  scales.  This  is  the 
portion  which  is  eaten.  The  seed  is  sown  in 
drills,  the  plants  thinned  to  a  foot  apart,  and 
cultivated  during  the  first  season.  During  the 
Winter  the  plants  are  earthed  op  or  covered 
with  litter,  and  in  the  following  Spring  they  are 
set  out  in  clumps  or  Jiills  of  two  or  three  plants, 
the  hills  4  feet  apart  each  way.  They  need  a 
very  rich  soil.  The  heads  which  are  produced 
the  second  year,  are  cut  as  soon  as  they  are  ful- 
ly formed,  and  before  the  scales  begin  to  open. 
They  are  boiled  and  served  with  drawn  butter. 
The  crowns  need  protection  in  Winter.  Old 
plants  throw  up  several  suckers  which  may  be 
taken  off  and  planted  to  increase  the  stock 

Burnet. — A  hardy  perennial  plant,  the  young 
and  tender  leaves  of  which  have  a  taste  and 
smell  like  cucumbers.  Sow  in  Spring  and  thin 
to  6  inches  in  the  row. 

Cardoon. — Is  a  plant  much  like  the  Artichoke, 
the  leaf  stalks  of  which,  after  being  blanched 


146 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[Mat, 


like  celery,  are  much  used  in  France  in  stews. 
The  seeds  are  started  in  a  seed-bed.  The  young 
plants  are  afterward  set  out  in  trenches  and 
treated    like  celery.     It    is   not  our  favorite. 

Collards  or  Coleworts  are  merely  young  cab- 
bages not  headed.    They  are  used  as  greens. 

Koquette.—A  hardy  kind  of  Cress  or  Pepper- 
grass  ;  if  planted  in  early  Fall  and  covered  dur- 
ing "Winter  it  yields  very  early  Spring  salads. 

Scorzonera. — A  plant  closely  related  to  Salsify 
and  grown  in  the  same  manner.  See  page  85, 
March  Agriculturist.  The  root  before  it  is  cooked 
should  be  scraped  and  soaked  for  some  hours 
in  water  to  remove  the  bitterness. 

Skirret  belongs  to  the  parsley  family.  The 
roots  are  used  in  the  same  way  as  Salsify.  They 
have  a  peculiar  taste,  not  generally  relished. 

For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Beans  and  Peas— Use  for  Old  Hoop-Skirts. 


I  planted  my  pole  beans,  Limas  included, 
in  hills  20  inches  apart,  the  rows  3  feet  apart. 
On  the  outside  ends,  and  in  the  center  of  each 
row,  I  inserted  a  sharp  pointed  stake  about  8  feet 
long,  driving  it  firmly  into  the  ground,  say  15 
inches.  The  rows  were  50  feet  long.  Next  I 
fastened  a  small  wire  to  the  three  sticks — about 
six  feet  from  the  ground,  hauled  it  taut,  and 
secured  it  to  each  stake  by  a  single  nail,  like  a 
telegraph  wire.  Two  small  sticks  were  driven 
very  slanting,  one  on  each  side  of  every  hill. 
A  ball  or  two  of  common  wrapping  twine  com- 
pleted my  arrangements.  I  tied  the  twine  to 
the  outside  stick,  passed  it  twice  over  the  tele- 
graph wire,  down  to  the  next  stick,  over  the 
wire  again,  and  so  on  to  the  end ;  thus  each  hill 
of  beans  had  two  or  three  strings  to  climb  up. 
They  took  to  the  strings  freely,  soon  clasped 
the  wire,  and  were  safe  from  all  ordinary  storms. 
Shall  I  tell  you  Mr.  Editor,  what  wire  I  used  ? 
Don' t  smile ;  it  was  discarded  hoop  skirts,  heat- 
ed in  the  stove  to  destroy  the  temper  of  the 
steel  wire  and  take  off  the  cotton  wrapping ; 
and  I  assure  you,  that  all  who  saw  my  beauti- 
ful rows  of  beans  swaying  gracefully  in  the 
wind,  were  ready  to  agree  cordially  with  the 
"Old  Bach"  who  writes  this, that  the  aforesaid 
wire  was  never  before  put  to  so  useful  or  orna- 
mental a  purpose.  I  used  my  old  discarded  bean 
poles  and  strings  to  support  my  peas,  sticking 
the  poles  four  feet  apart  on  each  side  of  the  rows 
of  peas.  Four  horizontal  strings  tied  to  the 
poles  at  proper  distances,  one  above  the  other, 
completed  the  supports.  It  answered  beauti- 
fully, and  was  quickly  imitated  by  my  neigh- 
bors. For  the  peas  a  much  stronger  string  is 
required  than  for  the  beans.  Fine  wire  would 
be  better  and  would  last  for  several  years.    J.  H. 

Dodgevillc,  Wis. 


Economizing  Room  in  the  Garden. 

"Where  space  is  abundant,  a  few  extra  feet 
are  of  little  account,  and  the  various  plants 
may  be  cultivated  without  particular  regard  to 
economizing  room.  But  thousands  of  our 
readers  have  only  a  limited  area  to  improve, 
and  need  to  make  the  most  of  it.  Much  room 
will  be  saved  by  dispensing  with  beds  for  vege- 
tables. Let  them  be  simply  planted  in  long 
rows,  extending  across  the  space  devoted  to 
the  purpose.  No  dividing  walks  are  needed  be- 
tween the  various  sorts.  One  walk,  the  length 
of  the  garden,  with  rows  extending  on  each 
side,  is  a  good  arraugement.  Several  plants,  as 
radishes,  lettuce,  etc.,  may  be  scattered  among 


hills  of  young  vines,  and  by  a  succession,  as  late 
corn  after  early  peas,  turnips  after  early  pota- 
toes, etc.,  much  more  produce  can  be  realized. 
■ ♦-< —   ^m^  — ►-• 

Make  a  Strawberry  Bed. 

It  is  but  little  trouble  to  make  a  bed.  Plants 
are  cheap  and  the  postal  arrangements  are  such, 
that  those  living  far  from  nurseries  can  readily 
get  by  mail  plants  of  enough  choice  kinds  for  a 
beginning.  Any  good  garden  soil,  enriched 
with  old  manure,  will  raise  good  strawberries. 
If  there  are  but  a  few  plants  to  start  with,  the 
object  should  be  to  multiply  them  as  rapidly  as 
possible;  set  them  out  18  inches  or  two  feet 
apart  each  way,  prick  off  the  blossom  buds  if 
any  appear  and  keep  free  from  weeds.  Bunners 
will  be  thrown  out  and  form  new  plants,  and 
a  dozen  plants  will  in  a  year  multiply  enough 
to  set  out  a  very  large  plot.  A  stock  of  plants 
having  been  procured,  make  beds  4  feet  wide, 
with  suitable  alleys  between.  Three  rows  of 
plants  can  be  put  on  the  bed,  eighteen  inches 
each  way,  which  will  bring  the  outer  rows  6 
inches  from  the  edge  of  the  bed.  In  setting 
out  the  plants,  the  old  and  partly  decayed  leaves 
and  all  runners  should  be  removed.  It  is  the 
custom  of  some  good  cultivators  to  cut  off  the 
roots  for  one  third  or  one  half  their  length.  In 
planting,  spread  the  roots  well  and  press  the 
earth  well  around  without  covering  the  plants. 
It  will  pay  to  plant  in  the  manner  recommend- 
ed on  page  309  of  the  Agriculturist  for  1861.  A 
mound  of  earth  is  made  in  the  hole,  the  plant  is 
set  upon  the  ground  with  its  roots  carefully 
spread  out  over  it,  and  the  hole  then  filled  with 
earth.  This  will  be  readily  understood  from  the 
engraving.  "We  planted 
in  this  way  a  bed  of  over 
a  thousand  plants  with- 
out losing  one. — There 
i*9segs  ?    are  two  ways  of  growing 

strawberries.  One  is  to 
keep  all  the  runners 
pinched  back  as  fast  as 
they  appear.  In  this  way  the  plants  form  large 
stools  and  continue  in  bearing  5  or  6  years. 
Most  varieties  do  well  in  this  way,  but  "Wilson's 
Albany,  from  its  manner  of  growth,  is  not  so 
well  suited  for  this  kind  of  culture.  Another, 
and  the  most  common  way  is  to  let  the  runners 
grow,  and  a  bed  of  this  kind  will  give  one  full 
crop  and  a  partial  one,  when  it  is  spaded  up. 
There  of  course  should  be  another  bed  ready 
to  succed  it.  For  varieties  see  p.  101,  last  month. 


Celery. 

The  great  difficulty  in  raising  this  delicious 
product  of  the  garden,  is  in  starting  the  plants. 
The  seeds  are  slow  in  germinating  and  the 
young  plants  are  very  delicate.  There  are  sev- 
eral kinds,  but  perhaps  none  better  than  the 
early  and  late  White  Solid  varieties.  For  the 
earliest,  the  seed  should  be  started  in  a  hot-bed. 
A  very  gentle  heat  is  all  that  is  required.  The 
manure  for  this  hot-bed  should  be  mixed  with 
plenty  of  old  leaves,  and  the  soil  in  the  bed 
should  be  10  or  12  inches  deep.  The  seed  should 
be  merely  covered  with  soil  and  the  bed  should 
be  shaded  by  mats  until  the  plants  are  well  up, 
and  then  they  should  be  protected  from  the  sun 
during  the  hottest  part  of  the  day,  and  have 
plenty  of  air.  "Water  and  weed  the  bed  care- 
fully. Thin  out  the  plants  to  an  inch  apart, 
when  an  inch  high  transplant  to  another  bed. 
For  out  of  door  sowing,  select  a  place  where 
the  bed  will  be  shaded  by  10  or  11  o'clock,  burn 


the  surface  over  by  a  fire  of  brush  or  straw,  and 
then  sow  the  seeds  and  lightly  rake  them  in.  If 
a  shaded  place  is  not  at  command,  cover  the 
bed  with  leafy  brush,  or  set  up  a  screen  of  some 
kind,  and  keep  the  bed  well  watered.  In  weed- 
ing or  stirring  the  soil  about  the  young  plants, 
be  careful  to  do  it  only  when  both  soil  and 
plants  are  dry.  "When  three  or  four  inches 
high  the  plants  should  be  placed  in  trenches ; 
these  should  run  north  and  south  and  be  one 
foot  wide,  and  two  feet  deep  and  about  4  feet 
apart.  Six  or  8  inches  of  well  rotted  hog  or 
barn  yard  manure  should  be  put  at  the  bottom 
of  the  trenches ;  add  6  inches  of  soil,  and  spade 
the  whole  up  thoroughly.  The  trenches  may 
be  prepared  for  sometime  before  the  plants  are 
large  enough  to  put  out.  "When  the  plants  are 
large  enough  they  may  be  transplanted  to  the 
trenches ;  fork  over  the  soil  at  the  bottom  of  the 
trench  and  put  out  the  plants,  a  foot  apart.  If 
the  young  plants  are  disposed  to  form  a  large 
tap  root  it  should  be  shortened.  It  is  well,  if 
the  weather  is  hot,  to  shade  the  plants  a  few 
days  after  transplanting,  by  laying  boards  over 
the  trenches,  while  the  sun  shines  hotly.  As 
the  plants  grow,  soil  is  to  be  carefully  filled  in 
below  the  green  leaves  from  time  to  time.  A 
light,  sandy  soil,  with  plenty  of  manure,  is  better 
for  celery  than  a  heavy,  clayey,  or  wet  soil. 


Cauliflower. 


This  is  one  of  the  most  delicious  vegetables 
the  garden  affords,  though  many  fail  in  raising 
it.  The  requisites  are  good  seed  and  good  soil. 
If  the  seed  is  not  of  a  good  stock  no  after  cul- 
ture will  produce  satisfactory  results.  "We  have 
grown  Early  Paris,  Thorburn's  Nonpareil,  and 
Large  Asiatic  and  had  satisfactory  results  from 
each.  "When  very  early  cauliflowers  are  desir- 
ed, the  seed  is  sown  in  Autumn,  and  the  partly 
grown  plants  are  wintered  over  in  the  cold 
frame.  Seed  for  a  later  crop  may  be  sown  now, 
either  in  a  frame,  or  in  an  open  bed.  The  seed- 
lings are  raised  in  the  same  way  as  cabbage 
plants.  The  bed  to  which  they  are  transplant- 
ed can  hardly  be  too  well  prepared.  Deep  work- 
ing, and  a  plenty  of  well  decomposed  manure, 
are  essential  to  the  growth  of  the  plants.  Set 
out  at  two  feet  apart  each  way.  It  often  hap- 
pens that  the  growing  point  or  bud  of  the  cauli- 
flower is  enclosed  by  the  base  of  the  leafstalks 
and  is  prevented  from  developing.  Such  plants 
will  never  make  a  head  and  should  be  rejected. 
The  Cauliflower  is  subject  to  the  same  enemies 
as  the  cabbage,  and  needs  the  same  frequent  hoe- 
ing. Should  a  drought  occur  give  water  and 
stimulate  with  liquid  manure  in  moist  seasons. 
The  heads  should  be  cut  when  fully  formed, 
and  before  they  become  loose. 

«  i         m   — •-• 

Planting  and  Pruning  the  Grape. 

Several  letters  have  been  recently  sent  to  the 
Agriculturist  inquiring  about  pruning  the  vine. 
It  is  now  altogether  too  late  to  prune  old  vines. 
We  shall  endeavor  to  make  the  whole  matter 
plain  at  the  proper  season.  A  few  hints  con- 
cerning the  treatment  of  newly  planted  vines 
will  be  timely.  The  vine  should  be  one  or  two 
years  old,  when  planted.  Some  of  the  best 
cultivators  prefer  to  begin  with  those  only  a 
year  old.  A  vine  of  this  age  should  be  cutback 
to  two  or  three  buds,  and  after  the  buds  start, 
all  the  shoots  but  the  most  vigorous  one,  should 
be  pinched  off.  Place  a  stake  by  the  side  of  the 
vine  to  which  it  is  to  be  tied.  As  side  branch- 
es spring  from  the  main  shoot,  .pinch   them 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


147 


back  to  a  single  leaf.  The  object  of  the  first 
year's  cultivation  should  be  to  make  as  strong  a 
main  shoot  as  possible.  In  Autumn  the  season's 
growth  is  to  be  cut  down  to  two  buds.  If  a 
vine  two  years  old  is  planted,  it  should  be  cut 
back,  and  only  two  shoots  be  allowed  to  grow. 
These  are  to  be  trained  to  stakes,  and  to  have 
the  side  shoots  pinched  off,  as  directed  for  the 
one-year-old  vine.  In  the  Autumn  there  will 
be  two  strong  canes,  which  are  to  be  cut  off  to 
three  feet  in  length.  The  vine  treated  in  this 
way  becomes  vigorous,  and  is  in  proper  condi- 
tion for  the  favorite  renewal  system  of  pruning. 


The  Currant  Worm. 

It  does  not  seem  possible  to  exterminate  this 
pest,  but  it  may  be  kept  in  check.  Deluge  the 
bushes  with  diluted  whale  oil  soap,  applied 
through  a  garden  syringe  having  an  upturned 
nose.  Mind  to  give  them  a  good  soaking  under- 
neath, as  well  as  overhead.  If  any  one  has  not 
the  soap  at  command,  let  him  burn  tobacco  or 
sulphur,  in  an  old  pan,  setting  the  dish  under 
each  bush  for  several  minutes.  Let  it  consume 
slowly,  to  make  as  much  smoke  as  possible.  Or 
this :  Make  a  smudge  of  old  scraps  of  leather, 
and  let  it  lie  under  each  bush  until  the  entire  fo- 
liage is  filled  with  a  cloud  of  smoke.  This  will 
be  more  efficacious  if  a  little  powdered  sulphur 
is  thrown  in.  Be  careful  not  to  scorch  the  leaves. 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Use  Large  Potatoes  for  Seed. 

The  question  of  the  best  kind  of  seed  pota- 
toes is  not  settled  for  all  parts  of  the  country. 
It  is  settled  among  market  gardeners  of  large 
experience  who  have  to  dispose  of  their  crop  in 
the  cities.  It  is  important  for  them  to  raise  the 
largest  number  of  merchantable  potatoes  from 
a  given  quantity  of  seed,  upon  a  given  area. 
They  have  no  home  market  for  small  potatoes, 
and  do  not  believe  in  keeping  them  for  seed. 
"With  the  farmer  at  a  distance  from  market,  the 
case  is  different.  He  raises  his  crop  mainly  for 
home  consumption,  and  what  are  not  consumed 
in  the  family  are  fed  raw  or  cooked,  to  stock. 
Small  potatoes  weigh  more  to  the  measured 
bushel;  they  are  as  nutritious,  weight  for  weight, 
as  large  ones,  and  if  they  yield  as  well,  he  is  sat- 
isfied. He  does  not  stop  to  consider  the  in- 
creased labor  of  harvesting,  or  the  small  value 
of  this  root  for  feeding  stock  in  comparison  with 
its  value  for  human  food.  For  the  former  use, 
they  are  not  worth  over  twenty-five  cents, 
and  for  the  latter,  are  worth  the  market  price, 
which  is  fifty  cents  and  upward  in  this  vicinity. 
[Good  mercers  are  now,  (April  10,)  wholesaling 
in  New- York  at  $2.35  per  bbl.,  and  peach-blows 
and  other  common  sorts  at  $1.50  to  $3.— Ed.] 

In  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  especially  on  Long 
Island,  potato  growing  is  pretty  nearly  reduced 
to  a  science.  Many  of  the  farmers  make  this 
their  main  crop,  and  not  a  few  raise  two 
thousand  dollars'  worth  and  more,  in  a  season. 
They  plow  in  horse  manure  and  plow  deep. 
They  select  their  largest  potatoes  for  seed,  quar- 
ter and  plant  the  pieces  in  drills  about  fifteen 
inches  apart,  and  prefer  to  have  only  four  stalks 
in  a  place.  The  product  is  potatoes  of  very  uni- 
form marketable  size,  with  few  or  no  small  ones. 
They  require  very  little  sorting,  and  the  whole 
crop  is  turned  into  money  at  the  market  price. 
These  farmers  doubtless  know  what  is  for  their 
interest,  and  ridicule  the  notion  of  planting 
small  potatoes  to  realize  from. 

Farmers  who  do  not  make  potatoes  a  special- 


ty, may  learn  something  from  the  large  experi- 
ence of  these  men.  It  is  more  profitable  to  raise 
potatoes  for  market  than  for  stock,  and  with  all 
the  drawbacks  for  rot,  potatoes  generally  pay 
better  than  corn  in  the  old  States,  especially 
where  farmers  are  within  convenient  wagon 
drive  of  a  market.  It  looks  reasonable  that  the 
body  of  the  tuber  should  contain  the  strongest 
germs,  and  be  most  secure  from  rot.  Possibly 
the  continued  planting  of  small  tubers  has  a 
tendency  to  weaken  the  stock  and  to  induce 
rot.  This  year  a  multitude  of  men  that  were 
upon  the  farm  last  Spring  are  in  the  tented  field, 
and  we  shall  want  all  the  potatoes  we  can  raise, 
to  make  breadstuffs  cheap.  Plant  one  more  acre, 
and  let  the  seed  be  large.  Connecticut. 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Botes  on  Bedding  Plants. 

BY  THOMAS  CAVANAGH. 

At  this  season  of  the  year,  the  markets  are 
well  stocked  with  beautiful  flowers,  principally 
house  plants.  These  are  grown  in  hot-houses, 
and  forced  into  bloom,  and  many  are  tempted 
to  purchase  them  by  their  showy  appearance. 
But  although  beautiful  for  a  short  period, 
they  soon  cease  flowering,  and  in  most  cases 
lose  their  leaves,  much  to  the  disappointment 
of  the  purchaser.  The  reason  of  this  is,  the 
sudden  check  they  receive  upon  being  removed 
from  a  very  high  temperature,  to  one  much 
lower.  As  a  general  rule,  a  rapid  growth  makes 
a  weak  plant,  and  a  slow  growth  makes  a 
strong  one.  In  purchasing  plants  the  proper 
way  is  to  make  a  list,  go  or  send  to  some  re- 
sponsible florist,  and  let  him  select  young  and 
thrifty  plants  not  yet  in  bloom.  These  when 
planted  out,  will  go  on  growing,  and  when  fair- 
ly established  in  the  soil,  will  commence  bloom- 
ing and  continue  to  do  so  during  the  Summer. 
Many  experience  difficulty  in  purchasing  plants 
not  yet  in  bloom,  from  not  knowing  the  names 
and  colors.  The  following  is  a  list  of  some  of 
the  many  favorites  now  in  cultivation,  and 
which  from  their  cheapness  may  well  be  added 
to  every  private  flower-garden. 

Roses. — Hybrid  Perpetuate:  Baron  Provost, 
bright  rose  color ;  Giant  de  Battailes,  crimson ; 
Duchess  De  Cambaceres,  bright  rose,  very  fra- 
grant ;  Jules  Margottin,  bright  crimson ;  Mad- 
ame Plantier,  pure  white ;  Caroline  De  Sansel, 
blush.  The  above  flower  at  intervals  only, 
during  the  summer. — Monthly  roses,  flowering 
all  through  the  season  :  Hermosa,  bright  pink ; 
Agrippina,  dark  crimson ;  Souvenir  De  la  Mal- 
maison,  white  changing  to  blush ;  Safrano,  straw 
color;  Devoniensis,  white  tinged  with  cream 
color ;  Archduke  Charles,  dark  crimson. 

Verbenas. — Lady  Palrnerston,  blue  with  a 
white  eye ;  Ocean  Pearl,  maroon  with  a  white 
eye ;  Mrs.  Woodruff,  bright  scarlet ;  Philadel- 
phia, striped  white  and  crimson  ;  Indigo,  deep 
blue ;  Snow  Wreath,  white ;  Manetii  Coceinea, 
striped  white  and  scarlet,  good  for  edgings; 
Adrienne,  purple;  Princess  Clotilde,  white, 
purple  eye ;  Giant  des  battailles,  crimson ;  Mrs. 
Field,  deep  crimson;  Black  Knight,  dark  maroon. 

Geraniums. — Tom  Thumb,  scarlet ;  Hender- 
sonii,  white;  Tom  Thumb's  bride,  pink;  Prin- 
cess Royal,  blush  white;  Variegated  leaved 
Pennyroyal ;  Flower  of  the  day,  silver  edged 
leaves,  color  scarlet. 

•   Lantanas. — Grand  Sultan,  red  ;    Aurea,  or- 
ange ;  Album,  white ;  Mrs.  Shale,  pink. 

Heliotropes.  —  Corymptosum,  lavender  ; 
Reine  Des  Heliotropes,  dark  violet. 


Fuchsias. — Speeiosa,  pink ;  Princess  of  Prus- 
sia, crimson,  and  white  ;  Madame  Cornellison, 
crimson,  double  white  centre ;  England's  Glory, 
waxen  sepals,  crimson  centre ;  Black  Prince, 
dark  purple ;  Folia  variegata,  variegated  leaved. 

Salvias.— Splendens,  bright,  scarlet ;  Amab- 
alis,  lavender  blue ;  Patens,  deep  blue. 

Petunias.— General  McClellan,  finest  double 
one  yet  raised,  spotted  crimson  and  white; 
Zouave,  beautifully  marked,  pink  and  white. 

Dahlias. — Sir  Colin  Campbell,  crimson;  King 
of  Yellows;  Negro,  dark  maroon;  Amazon, 
yellow,  scarlet  edge;  Celestials,  violet;  Mrs. 
W.  Paget,  pure  white. — Dwarf  Dahlias. — Little 
Negro,  dark  maroon  ;  Snow  Flake,  white ;  Vic- 
tor Hugo,  crimson;  Bouquet,  blush;  Golden 
Pheasant,  yellow,  edges  tipped  with  red ;  Mr. 
Schwab,   scarlet.     There  are  other  fine  ones. 

Miscellaneous  Plants. — Ageratum,  flowers 
light  blue.  Cuphea  platicentra,  or  fire  cracker 
plant,  curious  shaped  scarlet  flowers.  Calceola- 
rias, or  ladies'  pockets,  showy  plants,  but  soon 
out  of  bloom.  Nierembergia  Gracilis,  flowers 
light  blue.  Gazania  Splendens,  showy  flowers, 
of  a  bright  orange,  white  and  brown.  Bouvard- 
ias,  bright  scarlet.  Lobelia  Speeiosa,  color  blue, 
fine  for  rustic  basket.  Tropotolum:  Tom  Thumb, 
scarlet.  Aloysia  citriodora,  lemon  scented  ver- 
bena, delicate  white  flowers.  Feverfew  (Py- 
rethrum),  double  white,  daisy  like  flowers.  Co- 
leus  Verschaffettii,  one  of  the  new  bedding  plants 
which  is  not  yet  sufficiently  well  known  to  have 
a  common  name.  The  foliage  is  of  a  rich  vel- 
vety crimson,  the  edges  of  a  bright  green. 


Arranging  the   Spring  Flower   Garden. 


Much  enjoyment  of  the  garden  in  Spring  is 
lost,  by  having  flowering  plants  scattered  about 
over  so  wide  a  surface  that  they  cannot  be  seen 
together.  They  thus  fail  of  the  fine  effect  pro- 
duced when  grouped  near  each  other,  and  with 
some  regard  to  color.  The  flowers  of  early 
Spring  are  few  in  number,  small  in  size,  and  mod- 
est in  coloring.  They  need  bringing  together, 
to  have  the  benefit  of   each  other's  company. 

For  example :  the  Snow-drop  is  almost  noth- 
ing if  alone,  and  so  the  Bulbocodium  vernum ; 
but  group  them  in  clumps  of  a  half  dozen  plants 
each,  and  they  will  command  the  attention  of 
even  Mr.  Gadgrind.  It  is  a  good  plan  to  set 
the  crocus  in  clusters  of  distinct  colors,  or  in 
circles,  making  rings  of  the  different  colors — 
orange,  white,  blue,  and  the  intermediate  shades. 
The  Hyacinths  are  larger  and  more  showy, 
and  can  better  take  care  of  themselves,  but 
even  these  do  best  in  a  bed  by  themselves,  in- 
stead of  being  scattered  about  in  places  wide 
asunder.  So  of  Pansies,  and  of  the  Primrose 
family,  including  the  Polyanthus  and  Auricula. 
We  were  much  pleased  last  Spring,  in  seeing  an 
oval  bed  of  the  Polyanthus,  arranged  with  the 
different  colors  in  distinct  circles.  And  here, 
let  us  add,  that  the  common  practice  of  setting 
these  in  the  open,  sunn}'  border,  is  not  a  good 
one  ;  they  succeed  best  in  a  partially  shaded 
aspect.  The  modest  Liverleaf  of  the  woods  may 
be  brought  in  to  play  an  important  part  in  the 
spring  garden ;  also  Blood-Root  and  other 
native  plants.  As  to  the  sweet-scented  violets, 
white,  blue  and  double  blue,  we  would  set  them 
in  masses,  but  would  also  scatter  single  plants 
about  here  and  there  and  everywhere,  so  that 
their  delicious  fragrance  may  regale  the  senses 
in  all  parts  of  the  garden.  A  little  forethought 
and  planning  will  make  many  spring  gardens 
much  more  attractive  than  they  usually  are. 


148 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[May, 


Fig.  1. — ZINNIA  ELEGANS. 

Annuals  for  the  Flower  Garden. 


Any  plant  which  perfects  itself  within  a  year 
from  the  time  it  is  sown,  is  an  "  annua??  though 
the  term  is  especially  applied  to  those  ornament- 
al plants  which  have  this  peculiarity.  These, 
though  lasting  but  a  season,  comprise  many  of 
our  most  desirable  flowers.  Some  of  them  grow 
with  the  greatest  ease,  while  others  require 
much  care  and  attention.  The  hardy  annuals, 
once  sown,  will  perpetuate  themselves  without 
further  care.  The  ripened  seed  drops,  and  re- 
mains in  the  ground  over  Winter,  giving  earlier 
and  stronger  plants  than  are  produced 
from  seed  sown  in  the  Spring.  Among 
these  hardy  annuals  which  will  grow 
from  self  sown  seeds  are  :  Larkspurs, 
Mignonette,  Sweet  Alyssum,  Candytuft, 
Portulaccas,  Gilias,  Whitlavia,  etc.  The 
half  hardy  annuals,  such  as  Balsams, 
Phlox  Drummondii,  China  Asters,  Clark - 
ias,  etc.,  may  be  sown  in  the  open  ground 
in  April  or  early  in  May,  while  the  tender 
annuals  should  not  be  sown  in  the  open 
ground  until  the  last  of  May  or  the  first 
week  in  June.  To  have  them  early  they 
may  be  started  in  the  house  in  pots  or 
boxes,  or  in  a  hot-bed.  Many  persons 
fail  in  raising  annuals,  from  sowing  the 
tender  kinds  too  early,  and  from  covering 
the  seed  too  deeply.  The  seed  is  to  be 
sown — not  buried.  Having  prepared  the 
ground  by  spading  in  well  rotted  manure, 
and  thoroughly  pulverizing  and  raking, 
mark  out  with  the  finger,  or  a  pointed 
stick,  the  form  to  be  sown,  scatter  the 
seed  thinly  in  the  scratch  thus  made, 
and  cover  lightly  by  drawing  a  little 
earth  over  it  with  the  hand.  Poppies, 
Bartonias  and  some  others  should  be 
sown  were  they  are  to  flower,  but  most 
plants  will  bear  transplanting  and  do  all 
the  better  for  it.  Single  flowers  should  not 
be  tolerated  where  double  varieties  of  the  same 
kind  are  grown,  as  they  will  mix,  and  the 
seeds  from  them  will  be  inferior.  The  old  favor- 
ites, like  Balsams,  Asters,  and  many  others  will 
always  be  popular.    They  have  been  very  much 


improved  within  a  few  years; 
and    only   the    finer     kinds 
should  be   cultivated.      The 
number  of  annuals  is  so  large, 
and  individual  tastes  differ  so 
much  in  making  a  selection, 
that  we  only  call  attention  to 
a  few  of    those  of   decided 
merit,  but  which,  though  well 
known  by  amateurs,  are  not 
generally  distributed  through- 
out the   country.     We   give 
engravings  of   a  few  of   the 
newer  sorts  which  have  been 
tested.     Each  year  a  number 
of   varieties    are    introduced 
with  glowing   descriptions  of 
their   beauty,  and   are   often 
found,  on  trial,  to  be  inferior 
to  our  old  sorts.     Having  ex- 
pended much  money  in   try- 
ing novelties,  we  would  ad- 
vise our  friends  of  moderate 
means  to  sow  only  those  an- 
nuals which  have  been  tested 
and  found  worthy  of  culture. 
Whitlavia  grandiflora. — This  is 
a  native  of  California ;  grows 
from  12  to  18  inches  high,  and 
bears  a  profusion  of  blue,  bell-shaped  flowers. 
It  does  best  in  a  poor  soil  and  is  perfectly  hardy. 
Clintonia  pulchella. — A  beautiful  little  tender 
annual,  suitable  for  vases  or  hanging  baskets ; 
flowers  blue,  yellow,  and  white.    The  seeds  are 
very  small  and  should  be  very  lightly  covered. 
We  give  the  name  Clintonia,  because  that  is  the 
one  by  which  it  is  known  among  seedsmen  and 
florists.     The  proper  name  is  Downingia,  in  me- 
mory of  the  late  A.  J.  Downing.     The  name 
Clintonia  belongs  to  one  of  our  native  plants. 
Clarkias.  —  These   are    half  hardy   California 
annuals.     Several  species  and  varieties  are  in 


Fig.  2. — CLARKIA   PULCHELLA — DOUBLE. 

cultivation  as  G.  marginata,  pulchella,  elegans,  etc. 
The  double  C.  pulchella  (tig.  2)  is  a  rich  rose  colbr 
and  very  pretty.  They  all  do  well  in  a  poor  soil. 
Ilhodanthe  Manglesii. — This  has  been  for  some 
time  in  cultivation.     It  is  tender;  from  12  to  18 


inches  high,  with  beautiful  star  shaped  flowers, 
of  a  pure  rose  color.  The  flowers,  being  upon 
a  delicate  stem,  droop  so  as  only  to  show  the 
under  side,  which  is  of  a  silvery  gray.  It  be- 
longs to  a  group,  called  "  everlasting  flowers." 
If  taken  off  when  they  first  open,  they  will  re- 


Fig.  3. — CALLEaRHOE  PEDATA. 

tain  their  beauty  for  several  years.  They  are 
desirable  for  winter  bouquets.  A  new  variety, 
B.macidata  was  introduced  last  year;  it  is  larger 
than  R.  Manglesii  and  has  a  dark  spot  at  the  base 
of  the  ray  florets.     Both  require  a  rich  soil 

Acroclinium  roseum.  —  Another  "  everlasting 
flower,"  and  every  way  desirable.  There  are 
three  varieties ;  white,  rose,  and  deep  rose. 
The  plant  is  tender,  and  should  have  rich  soil. 

Callirrhoe  pedata  (fig.  3.) — One  of  the  mallow 
family,  from  Texas,  one  of  the  best  of  the  new  an- 
nuals. Flowers,  rich  purple  with  a  white  centre. 
In  good  soil,  and  with  proper  cultivation,  it  will 
grow  three  feet  high  and  flower  for  a  long  time. 

Cetitrantlms  macrosiphon. — This  is  one  of  the 
annuals  which  look  well  in  masses;  grows  about 
a  foot  high  and  is  covered  with  clusters  of  pink 
flowers.  A  white  flowered  variety  is  very 
pretty.     The  two   may  be   massed    together. 

Salpiglossis.  —  The  different  varieties  of  this 
should  be  in  every  collection.  They  should  be 
started   early  and  then  planted  in  a  rich  spot. 

Schizanthus  pinnatus,  Priestii,  and  others  are 
half  hardy  and  of  great  beauty.  They  grow 
about  18  inches  high,  and  are  covered  with  deli- 
cate white,  rose,violet,  and  other  colored  flowers. 

Zinnia  elegans  —  double  flowered  (fig.  1). — If 
limited  to  but  one  annual,  we  should  grow  the 
double  Zinnia.  Next  to  the  Dahlia  it  is  the 
showiest  plant  in  the  garden.  We  have  seen 
them  quite  as  double  and  almost  as  large  as  the 
Dahlia.  To  keep  them  in  perfection  none  but 
plants  having  double  flowers  should  be  allowed 
to  grow.  Select  the  best  of  such  for  seed. 
We  have  often  purchased  seed  from  the  most 
reliable  dealers,  warranted  double,  and  not  one 
plant  out  of  a  dozen  would  grow  double.  Our 
experience  is,  that  seeds  from  double  flowers 
will  produce  single  plants,  unless  the  soil  be 
very  good,  and  the  weather  favorable.  Seed 
sown  one  year,  grew  mostly  single,  coarse  flow- 
ers; the  next  year  some  of  the  same  lot  of  seed,  on 


1863.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


149 


better  soil,  and  with  more  favorable  weather, 
turned  out  nearly  all  double  flowers. 
Ipomcea  limbata. — This  is  a  great  improvement 
on  the  old  Morning  Glory,  with  flowers  twice 
as  large,  of  a  deep  blue  color  with  a  white  bor- 
der. I.  coccinea  has  bright  scarlet,  and  I.  grandi- 
flora  white  flowers.  The  seeds  germinate  freely 
if  soaked  in  luke-warm  water.  The  seeds  of 
the  above  may  be  obtained  at  the  principal  seed 
stores.  A  number  of  them  have  been  given  out 
in  our  seed  distribution.  We  have  no  seed  store, 
and  only  keep  on  sale  a  few  appropriate  books, 


Tig.  4.—  BUODANTHE  MACULATA.  (See  preceding  page.) 

it  being  our  aim  to  keep  clear  of  all  pecuniary 
interest  in  any  article,  that  we  may  always 
speak  and  write  with  the  utmost  independence. 


Variety  in  Food  Necessary. 


We  have  from  a  subscriber,  a  very  long  commu- 
nication, which  he  insists  upou  having  published  in 
the  Agriculturist.  He  argues  with  more  words  than 
wisdom,  that  a  plain,  simple  vegetable  diet  confined 
to  one  or  two  varieties  of  food,  is  the  best,  and  the 
only  natural  one;  and  among  other  things,  he  says 
in  illustration,  that  disease  is  far  less  prevalent  in 
those  parts  of  Ireland  where  potatoes  are  the  chief 
food,  and  in  India,  where  rice  is  the  staple  diet. 
First,  let  us  say,  that  we  can  not  accede  to  his  de- 
mand, that  his  peculiar  and  personal  views  shall 
occupy  half  a  dozen  columns ;  the  editors  alone  are 
responsible  for  the  matter  used,  and  their  judgment 
must  direct  what  articles  will  best  meet  the  wants 
of  the  readers  taken  as  a  whole.  The  threat  iu  this 
and  other  cases,  that  a  subscription  or  two  will  be 
stopped,  if  their  individual  wants  can  not  be  attend- 
ed to,  is  a  small  matter,  and  not  involving  the  loss 
of  four-pence  ha'penny  of  profits  any  way. 

On  the  subject  of  variety  of  food,  a  few  thoughts 
may  be  useful.  The  human  body  is  made  up  of 
different  elftnents;  its  parts  arc  continually  wearing 
out,  and  food  is  required  to  replace  the  worn  out 
portions.  For  example,  we  have  the  muscles  or 
lean  flesh,  aud  upon  the  size  aud  vigor  of  these 
muscles  depends  our  ability  to  exert  force.  It  is 
the  contraction  of  the  muscles  which  draws  up  the 
arm  in  lifting,  or  moves  the  legs  in  walking.  The 
muscles  are  largely  composed  of  what  are  called 
nitrogeuous  elements.  There  is  a  close  resem- 
blance in  the  composition  of  the  muscles,  aud  that 


of  cheese,  the  whites  of  eggs,   or  the  gluten  of 
wheat,  etc.    The  lean  flesh  of  animals,  like  beef 
steak  for  example,  is  of  the  same  composition.    It 
is   certain  therefore,   that  these  and  similar  sub- 
stances furnish  the  best  nutriment  or  food  material 
for  supplying  a  man   with  muscles — making  him 
strong.     Without  such  food,  he  would  soon  become 
weaker  than  the  rice  eating  natives  of  India,  for 
they  get  some  muscle  making  nutriment  in  the  rice. 
The  human  body  is  kept  warm  by  a  process  very 
similar  to  heating  a  stove.    In  the  stove  we  place 
wood,  or  other  fuel  containing  a  good  deal  of  car- 
bon (coal),  aud  the  condensation  of  the  oxygen  of 
the  air  in  uniting  with  it,  gives  out  heat  that  was 
before  latent.     We  eat   food,   containing  carbon ; 
after   being  dissolved  in  the  stomach  a  part  of  it 
goes  into  the  blood ;  the  blood  goes  to  the  lungs 
and  there  receives  oxygen  from  the  air  which  acts 
upon  the  food  or  carbon  in  the  blood  and  produces 
the  heat  that  keeps  our  bodies  warm.    If  we  did  not 
eat   carbonaceous  food,  the  body  would  soon   be- 
come cold  and  dead.    But  as  a  safeguard  against  a 
cessation  of  the  internal  tire,  through  lack  of  fuel, 
as  when  food  cbances  to  be  lacking  for  a  time,  or 
when  sickness  prevents  the  digestion  of  food,  some 
extra  fuel  is  always  kept  on  hand  in  the  form  of 
jut  which  is  stored  up  in  cells,  iu  larger  or  smaller 
masses  throughout  the  body.-  When  long  deprived 
of  food,  this  fat  is  all  cousumed,  literally  burned 
away  to  keep  the  body  warm.    Fat  meats,  butter, 
oils,  starchy  substances,  like  potatoes,  fine  flour, 
etc.,  are  maiuly  composed  of  carbon  or  coal,  and 
these  constitute  the  best  materials  for  supplying 
this  kind  of  food,  that  is  for  keeping  the  body  warm. 
The  bones,  or  framework,  of  the  body  are  composed 
largely  of  mineral  substances,  maiuly  phosphate  of 
lime,  aud  as  the  boues  are  constantly  diminished 
by  absorption,  bone-making  food    must  he   con- 
sumed, or  the  structure  will  tumble  down  for  want 
of  a  frame.    The  phosphate  of  lime  abounds   in 
wheat,  iu  milk,  aud  is  found  more   or  less  abuu- 
daut  iu  nearly  all  of  the  substances  used  as  food. 
It  is  estimated  that,  on  the  average,  the  human 
system  requires  about  seven  times  as  much  carbon- 
aceous food  to  keep  up  its  heat  as  of  nitrogenous 
food  to  restore  the  wear  of  the  muscles  aud  tissues. 
The  best  food  is  that  admixture  which  supplies  the 
different  elements  iu  about  the  proportion  requir- 
ed by  the  body.    Iu  colder  weather,  or  when  lit- 
tle physical   exertion   is   made,  the  proportion  of 
carbonaceous  food  required  is    relatively  greater. 
The  combination  required  can  be  supplied  whol- 
ly from  vegetable  substances.     Wheat  contains  the 
different  elements  required  by  the  muscles  (iu  its 
gluten,)  by  the  heating  apparatus  (iu  its  starch  aud 
oil),  and  by  the  boues  (iu  its  phosphates).    Rice  and 
potatoes  are  maiuly  carbonaceous,  heat  producing, 
and   require  cabbage,  milk,  or  other  nitrogenous 
material  for  the  muscles.     The  rice  eaters  of  India 
are  deficient  iu  strength  and  activity.     Childreu  fed 
on  rice,  sago,  tapioca,  etc.,  require  milk  or  meat. 
Eggs  are  mainly  nitrogenous,  aud  go  well  with  fried 
pork  (bam  and  eggs  for  example),  which  supplies 
the  carbonaceous    or   heat    producing    elements. 
Beans  aud  peas  in  like  manuer  arc  appropriately 
eateu  with  fat  pork,  if  not  in  such  quantities  as  to 
overtax  the  digestion.    Milk  from  fresh  or  nearly 
fresh  cows,  contains  the  different  elements  in  about 
tbe  required  proportions  ;  its  easeiu  (cheese)  sup- 
plies nitrogen  ;   its  oil  or  butter  supplies   carbon  ; 
aud  its  phosphates  supply  the  bone  elements. 

A  mixed  diet,  one  containing  all  the  elements 
needed  for  the  differeut  purposes  required  in  the 
system,  is  the  most  natural,  and  most  healthful. 
The  best  food  is  that  containing  the  different  ele- 
ments in  the  needed  proportions.  The  intelligent 
provider  for  the  household,  or  rather  for  the  table, 
will  study  the  requirements  of  those  who  are  to  eat 
there,  aud  adapt  the  food  to  their  necessities  by  a 
proper  variety,  if  she  have  a  choice  of  materials. 

As  to  whether  it  is  desirable  to  coufiue  ourselves 
wholly  to  a  vegetable  diet,  there  is  this  to  be  said : 
Vegetables  are,  as  a  rule,  coarse  compounds,  re- 
quiring a  considerable  tax  upon  the  digestive  or- 
gans to  reduce  them  to  nutritious  chyle  in  the 
stomach.    A  man  living  upon  rice  or  potatoes  with 


plenty  of  cabbage  would  get  the  needed  elements, 
but  he  must  digest  a  large  bulk  of  them.  Another 
may  get  an  equal  amount  of  real  nourishment  by 
eating  a  small  quantity  of  beef,  eggs,  or  cheese,  and 
a  little  oil,  butter,  or  fat  meat.  The  vegetable  diet 
may  do  well  for  those  having  little  to  do  but  eat, 
digest,  and  sleep ;  active,  energetic  people,  require 
concentrated  animal  food  which  supplies  a  great 
amount  of  nourishmant  at  a  little  tax  upon  the  di- 
gestive organs.  Herbiverous  animals  have  larger 
6tomachs,  and  longer  intestines,  which  extract  a 
greater  amount  of  nutriment  from  the  coarser  veg- 
etable substances  in  passing  through  the  body  than 
can  be  done  by  the  human  organism. 


A  Good  Churn  Dash. 


A  subscriber,  Dennis  J.  Bardwell,  Winnebago  Co., 
Wis.,  sends  to  the  Agriculturist,  the  sketch  of  a  churn 
dash,  shown  above,  which  he  pronounces  a  cure  for 
cream  that  will  not  give  up  its  butter.  It  is  simply 
two  plates  of  wood,  cut  to  the  form  shown,  and 
fastened  upou  the  upright  handle,  one  at  the  bot- 
tom, the  other  three  inches  above  it.  The  pro- 
jections of  one  are  opposite  the  indentations  of  the 
other.  The  dash  is  worked  up  and  down  iu  the 
old-fashioued  way.  This  form  is  well  calculated  to 
cause  a  great  commotion  in  the  cream,  which  is 
continually  forced  against  tbe  edges  of  the  project- 
ing parts,  and  thus  the  butter  globules  are  quickly 
broken.  Mr.  B.  says  from  6  to  10  minutes  will  now 
usually  suffice  to  churn,  where  20  to  60  minutes 
were  formerly  required  with  the  dash  in  common 
use.  The  apparatus  looks  effective,  and  is  easily  tried. 


The  Employments  of  Women. 

This  subject  is  becomiug  increasingly  important, 
as  the  coutiuuance  of  the  war  on  so  vast  a  scale  is 
tending  to  the  further  inequality  of  the  sexes. 
Tens  of  thousands  of  females  will  be  deprived  of 
the  aid  of  those  to  whom  in  ordinary  times  they 
would  look  for  support,  and  they  will  necessarily 
be  thrown  upon  their  own  resources.  There  are 
many  kinds  of  labor  and  business  now  performed 
by  men  which  might  be  equally  well  if  not  better 
done  by  women.  In  the  American  Agriculturist  for 
March,  we  referred  to  a  new  Work  by  Mi6s  Virgin- 
ia Penny,  in  which  is  given  the  results  of  extensive 
recent  research  and  inquiry  upou  the  subject  of 
female  employment.  The  information  is  not  quite 
60  definite  as  would  be  desirable,  yet  there  are 
thousands  of  items  regarding  the  different  kinds  of 
labor,  the  prices  paid,  the  success  of  females  in 
some  kinds  of  labor,  etc.,  which  are  interesting, 
and  we  thiuk  the  circulation  of  the  work  will  tend 
to  awaken  further  inquiry.  It  will  doubtless  indi- 
cate to  many  females  some  new  employment  to 
which  they  may  turn  their  attention.  (Those  de- 
siring the  book  may  obtain  it  through  our  book  list, 
when  not  otherwise  more  conveniently  accessible. 
See  the  advertised  list  on  a  subsequent  page.) 

From  this  book  we  learn  that,  according  to  the 
last  ceusus  report  (1860),  there  were  only  285,000 
females  employed  in  the  various  branches  of  man- 
ufacture throughout  the  United  States.  This  is  a 
much  smaller  number  than  we  should  have  expect- 
ed to  find.  Miss  Penny  enumerates  and  gives  some 
details  concerning  over  500  different  employments 


150 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Mat, 


in  which  females  are  or  might  be  engaged,  and  a 
large  proportion  of  these  come  under  the  head 
of  manufactures. 

In  1818,  when  Paris  contained  less  than  one  mil- 
lion inhabitants,  there  were  employed  in  only  thir- 
teen branches  of  industrial  labor,  112,891  women, 
7,851  girls  between  the  ages  of  13  and  16,  and  869 
under  12.  Over  twelve  hundred  other  occupations 
of  females  were  officially  reported.  The  following 
selections  are  interesting. 

Men  Women 
Occupation.                                      employed,  employed. 

Boot  and  Shoe  Makers 13,553  6,713 

Makers  of  Shoes  to  Order 7,511  1,555 

Chasers  and  Engravers 330  21 

Gilders  and  Silverers  of  Ware 442  163 

Gilders  of  Wood  and  Paper 878  329 

Makers  of  Military  Equipments 1,649  2,254 

Dealers  in  Furs 232  399 

Makers  of  Kid  and  Cloth  Gloves 1,064  1,076 

Copper-Plate  Engravers 266  62 

Dealers  in  Linen  Drapery 80  8,974 

Manufacturers  of  Linen  Drapery 80  2,331 

Embroiderers  of  Furniture 473  941 

Makers  of  Painters' Pencils  and  Brushes.      114  1-9 

Feather  Dressers 78  533 

Polishers  and  Burnishers  of  Gold 23  284 

Tailors 17,726  13,716 

Makers  of  Hat  Morocco....   - 296  356 

The  number  of  shop-keepers  is  not  stated,  the 
very  thing  we  would  like  most  to  kuow,  for  during 
our  visit  last  season  we  were  specially  interested  in 
observing  that  both  in  Loudon  and  Paris,  but  espec- 
ially in  Paris,  the  clerks  or  sellers  in  the  retail  es- 
tablishments of  almost  all  kinds  were  chiefly  fe- 
males. A  majority  of  the  ticket  sellers  at  the  rail- 
way stations  were  also  females ;  while  in  those  sa- 
loons or  eating  and  drinking  houses  where  the  lower 
classes  of  men  were  most  apt  to  be  fouud,  men 
were  employed  as  waiters,  etc.  An  exception  to 
this  was  seen  in  some  of  the  beer  shops  of  London, 
where  well  dressed  and  apparently  modest  females 
behind  the  counters  were  compelled  to  listen  to  the 
profanity  and  low  language  of  drunkards  and  vile 
men.  Throughout  France  the  police  regulations 
are  so  strict  that  females  very  appropriately  occupy 
the  railway  ticket  stations,  and  other  public  offices. 
We  think  that  in  this  country  there  are  tens  of 
thousands  of  situations  in  our  retail  stores,  and  in 
ticket  offices,  etc.,  which  might  be  occupied  by 
women.  The  habitual  respect  and  courtesy  here 
shown  to  women,  would  protect  them  from  insult, 
and  perhaps  a  well  dressed,  well  behaved  woman 
in  many  of  our  public  offices  would  tend  to 
make  them  less  the  resort  of  boisterous  men. 
In  this  city  there  are  certainly  many  thousands 
of  men  becoming  effeminated  by  standing  be- 
hind the  counters  dabbling  in  tapes,  silks,  and  rib- 
bons, who  should  give  place  to  women,  and  them- 
selves go  forth  to  the  sterner  employments  of  man. 

Another  thought  in  this  connection.  There  is  an 
increasing  demand  for  fruits  and  flowers,  and  may 
not  these  be  more  cultivated  by  females  than  they 
now  are  ?  Near  our  cities  and  large  villages  espec- 
ially, many  a  widow  with  her  dependent  family, 
might,  from  an  acre  or  two  of  grapes  and  other 
small  fruits,  derive  a  livelihood.  The  training  of 
the  trees  and  vines,  their  protection  from  insects, 
etc.,  are  appropriate  work  for  women  and  children, 
far  more  healthful  and  invigorating,  than  the  now 
"  everlastingstitch,  stitch,  stitch,"  which  is  thought 
to  be  about  the  only  work  a  dependent  woman 
may  do  for  others,  with  credit  to  herself. 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Hints  on  House  Cleaning, 

— • — 

The  first  place  to  attack  is  the  cellar.  It  should 
not  be  neglected,  because  "  nobody  will  6ce  it." 
Neatness  is  desirable  for  its  own  sake.  A  well  kept 
cellar  is  essential  for  health  as  well  as  comfort.  No 
person  of  common  6ense  would  think  of  building  a 
dwelling  over  a  swamp  hole  :  yet  many  are  living 
over  cellars  which  arc  little  better.  The  dampness 
from  want  of  ventilation  in  that  dopartment,  and 
the  effluvia  arising  from  decaying  vegetables,  are 
undoubtedly  frequent  causes  of  fever  and  ague.  It 
is  preferable  to  have  the  main  portion  of  potatoes, 
roots,  cabbages,  etc.,  stored  in  a  cellar  apart  from 
the  house,  and  to  bring  in  a  6upply  occasionally  as 
needed.     But  let  everything  be  thoroughly  over- 


hauled now,  and  all  decomposing  substances  re- 
moved. Clear  out  every  unoccupied  box  and  bar- 
rel. Rout  the  spiders  that  have  curtained  the  win- 
dows and  festooned  the  beams  overhead.  Stop  all 
rat  boles,  and  repair  places  which  they  have  gnawed. 
Caustic  potash,  or  chloride  of  lime,  scattered  near 
their  haunts,  are  said  to  be  efficacious  in  driving 
them  away.  A  good  floor  of  cement  is  an  excel- 
lent preventive  of  their  sapping  and  mining.  After  a 
complete  clearing  out,  give  the  walls  and  ceiling  a 
good  coat  or  two  of  whitewash,  and  when  all  things 
are  "  set  to  rights,"  it  will  be  a  pleasure  to  enter 
what  is  usually  the  most  repulsive  part  of  thedom- 
icil.  The  garret  will  next  claim  attention.  Not  a 
little  dust  will  be  fouud  quietly  resting  there,  hav- 
ing taken  refuge  from  continued  assaults  with  the 
broom  in  the  lower  rooms.  Before  disturbing  it, 
pack  away  all  extra  bed  clothing,  woolen  garments, 
and  other  apparel  not  needed  for  present  wear. 
Tight  trunks  or  boxes  will  keep  them  safe  from 
moths,  if  they  be  occasionally  taken  out  and  thor- 
oughly beaten.  Do  not  suffer  an  accumulation  of 
rubbish  in  the  garret.  If  an  article  is  useless,  it  will 
not  pay  to  store  it ;  sell  it,  give  it  away,  or  burn  it. 
Before  commencing  with  the  other  rooms,  go 
through  the  pantries  and  closets.  Clothes  closets 
should  not  be  neglected.  Moths  seek  dusty,  linty 
corners  for  breeding.  Sweep  and  whitewash  the 
walls,  scrub  the  wood-work,  and  stop  all  cracks 
with  mortar  or  putty.  Rooms  should  be  gone 
through  with  in  order,  commencing  at  the  upper 
stories.  There  is  no  need  to  let  even  the  good 
man  of  the  house  know  that  this  operation  is  going 
on.  Undertake  no  more  at  a  time  than  can  be  well 
finished  in  one  day,  and  the  grand  domestic  revo- 
lution witnessed  every  Spring  in  some  households 
may  be  avoided.  An  Old  Housekeeper. 


Washing  Cotton  Comforters. 

"  Economist "  writes  to  the  Agriculturist,  that 
comforters  can  be  made  so  that  the  cotton  may  be 
easily  removed  before  washing.  Her  method  is  to 
place  a  layer  of  cotton  between  the  calico,  and  tie 
it  at  points  about  six  inches  apart  with  coarse  knit- 
ting cotton  doubled.  The  needle  is  run  through 
the  whole  thickness  of  calico  and  cotton,  then  re- 
turned, and  the  thread  fastened  with  a  knot.  After 
the  cotton  is  all  properly  secured,  the  edges  of  the 
calico  are  sewed  together  with  a  running  stitch. 
When  soiled,  the  threads  are  easily  drawn  from 
the  edges,  the  ties  are  cut,  and  the  cloth  is  remov- 
ed and  washed,  leaving  the  cotton  in  a  continuous 
sheet,  ready  to  be  replaced  when  the  calico  is 
cleansed.  She  says  this  can  be  done  in  less  time 
than  by  washing  the  whole  together,  and  the  cot- 
ton will  remain  lighter  and  more  comfortable,  than 
it  could  be  made  by  whipping  after  washing. 

m   I  — ■—  i  . 

Mixed  Cotton  and  Woolen  Stockings. 

A  HINT  TO  MANUFACTURERS. 

It  is  rather  surprising  that  the  improvement 
upon  woolen  stockings  mentioned  in  the  April 
Agriculturist,  (page  118),  should  not  have  been 
adopted  by  manufacturers  in  this  country.  A  valued 
correspondent  "A"  writes  on  this  subject:  "I 
found  such  stockings  very  common  in  Denmark 
and  Russia  thirty-seven  years  ago,  and  presume 
they  are  common  all  over  the  north  of  Europe ;  and 
probably  from  time  immemorial  have  been  thus 
knit,  or  with  linen  and  woolen  thread  as  you  recom- 
mend, now  cotton  is  so  dear. 

"  Pure  woolen  stockings,  I  have  given  up  wearing 
for  many  years,  for  I  cut  holes  through  the  heels 
and  toes  of  the  strongest  in  three  or  four  days — 
they  doing  me  very  little  service.  As  I  cannot  find 
iu  our  country  the  mixed  wooleu  and  cotton,  I  wear 
in  the  Winter  thick,  coarse  cotton,  and  find  these 
answer  well,  though  I  would  prefer  woolen  if  they 
did  me  any  kiud  of  service.  I  used  to  have  apiece 
of  stout  cotton  cloth  sewed  over  the  heel  of  my 
woolen  stockings ;  but  there  were  two  objections 
to  this ;  it  made  the  stocking  too  thick  and  bungling 
at  the  heel,  and  the  cotton  cloth  would  not  shrink 


evenly  with    the    woolen    stocking,  which    thus 
caused  wrinkles  very  uncomfortable  to  the  heel." 


To  Prevent  Stammering. 


J.  T.  Hassett,  Summit  Co.,  O.,  writes  to  the  Ag- 
riculturist. "  When  children  see  any  thing  remark- 
able (iu  their  view),  they  are  always  iu  a  great  hur- 
ry to  tell  of  it,  and  often  the  words  crowd  to  the 
tongue  faster  than  they  fall  from  it,  which  induces 
stammering.  On  such  occasions,  the  parent  should 
instantly  hush  the  child,  until  its  excitement  is 
over,  and  then  give  it  the  privilege  to  make  the 
relation  calmly."  This  is  a  good  suggestion.  It  is 
known  that  an  inveterate  stutterer  can  be  cured  by 
practising  some  method  which  requires  him  to 
speak  deliberately  and  in  measured  time.  Some 
"  Professors  "  who  cure  stammerers,  require  their 
pupils  to  beat  time  with  the  finger  at  each  word, 
the  same  as  iu  singing,  and  iu  this  way  the  habit  ol 
control  over  the  organs  of  speech  is  acquired.  But 
prevention  is  always  better  than  cure,  and  a  little 
care  at  the  first  will  entirely  break  up  the  tendency 
to  stammer,  which  children  often  have. 

"Hulling"  Beans  before  Cooking. 

Mr.  Editor  :  In  response  to  your  suggestion  in 
the  American  Agriculturist  last  mouth,  in  reference 
to  the  very  nutritious  quality  of  beans,  and  theii 
indigestibility  unless  the  skins  are  broken  so  as 
to  allow  the  gastric  juice  to  act  upon  the  inner  por 
tion,  I  send  you  my  wife's  mode  of  cooking  them 
I  will  premise  by  saying  that  for  many  years  we 
have  raised  for  our  own  cooking  a  small,  bright, 
white  pole-bean,  planted  with  corn.  The  corn 
stalks  support  the  vines,  and  do  not  appear  to  be 
in  the  least  injured  by  them. — Before  cooking  the 
beans,  they  are  hulled  with  lye  from  wood  ashes, 
ju6t  as  we  prepare  corn  for  what  is  called  "  lye 
hominy."  There  need  not  be  the  least  taste  of  the 
lye  left  upon  either  beans  or  corn.  Beans  thus 
prepared  speedily  cook  very  tender,  and  make  a 
wholesome  and  delicious  dish,  either  as  soup  or 
mashed.  G.  M. 

Hancock  County,  Ind.,  March,  1863. 


Hints  on  Cooking. 

How   to    Cook   Asparagus. — Cut  the 

stalks  when  6  to  13  inches  high,  and  wash  if  need- 
ed. Some  break  the  stems  into  short  pieces,  and 
others  tie  them  whole  in  little  bundles,  a  few  stalks 
in  each.  They  are  then  boiled  in  water  slightly 
salted,  for  25  to  SO  minutes,  and  dipped  out  and 
drained.  Lay  toast  iu  the  bottom  of  a  dish,  and 
spread  the  asparagus  over  it.  Pour  over  the  whole 
a  full  supply  of  drawn  butter,  or  what  is  better, 
gravy  made  of  milk  and  flour — cream  instead  of 
milk  makes  it  still  richer.  Add  salt  enough  to  sea- 
son it.  The  good  quality  of  the  dish  will  much  de- 
pend upon  the  skill  exercised  in  making  the  gravy. 
If  eaten  in  large  quantities,  asparagus  is  diuretic, 
though  producing  no  serious  injury.  Iu  moderate 
quantity  it  is  not  only  palatable  and  moderately  nu- 
tritious, but  believed  to  be  healthful. 

Cheap  Vegetable  Soup. — Contributed 
to  the  Agriculturist  by  M.  H.  B.  France,  Susquehan 
na  Co.,  Pa.  Peel  and  6lice  a  quart  bowl  of  potatoes 
with  two  or  three  onions,  and  boil  tender.  Stii 
three  tablespoonfuls  of  flour  into  cold  water  and 
add  to  the  potatoes,  with  butter  the  size  of  an  egg. 
Pour  in  water  sufficient  for  four  quarts  of  soup  and 
6easou  with  pepper  and  salt  to  taste.  Add  a  pint  ot 
dry  bread  or  biscuit,  boil  a  few  moments  and  serve. 

fflrs.  Bunker's  Soup.— A  young  house- 
keeper requests  that  Mrs.  Tim  Bunker  will  please 
communicate,  for  the  benefit  of  the  inexperienced, 
how  to  make  that  soup  which  her  husband  writes 
about  with  so  much  gusto,  on  page  87  (March  Ho.). 

A   Dish    for     Hard     Times.  —  M.   A. 

Johnson,  Grasshopper  Falls,  Kansas,  sends  to  the 
Agriculturist  the  following  directions  for  cooking  a 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


151 


dish,  which  she  says  was  found  economical  during 
the  lsnu;  drouth  in  that  State  a  few  years  since. 
"  Cut  two  ounces  oflean  bacon,  or  a  red  herring,  in 
pieces,  put  it  into  a  pot,  with  three  onions,  a  few 
pepper  corns,  and  a  small  bundle  of  thyme  and  pars- 
ley, and  three  pints  of  water;  let  it  boil  three 
quarters  of  an  hour.  Then  add  to  it  one  pound  of 
clean  picked  whole  rice,  and  let  it  boil  just  three 
minutes  (no  longer).  Take  the  pot  from  the  fire, 
and  let  it  stand  by  the  6lde  of  it,  and  the  rice  will 
swell,  and  take  up  all  the  water,  and  become  quite 
soft.  If  properly  done,  it  will  weigh  nearly  five 
pounds,  and  will  completely  dine  five  men.  If  the 
rice  be  not  sufficiently  tender,  a  little  more  water 
may  be  added  as  it  stands  by  the  fire.  This  is  a 
cheap  and  excellent  dish." 

Corn  Bread  without  Millc.  —  Con- 
tributed to  the  Agriculturist  by  "  Aunt  Prudence," 
Tuolumne  Co.,  Cal.  On  %  pt.  of  corn  meal,  pour 
\\i  pint  boiling  water,  to  which  add  two  heaping 
teaspoonfuls  cream  tartar,  one  of  salt,  and  }£  cup  of 
molasses  and  let  it  stand  all  night.  In  the  morning 
add  \%  pt.  of  flour  before  it  is  sifted,  and  one  heap- 
ing teaspoonful  saleratus,  well  dissolved  in  X  pt.  of 
cold  water.  Turn  this  into  a  tin  pail  thoroughly 
greased,  and  place  the  pail  immediately  in  boiling 
water,  and  continue  the  boiling  two  hours.  The 
cover  of  the  pot  should  be  wrapped  in  a  clean  cloth 
to  absorb  the  moisture,  which  would  otherwise 
drop  from  the  cover  into  the  pail  and  spoil  a  por- 
tion of  the  bread. 

Transparent  Pies.— Contributed  to  the 
American  Agriculturist,  by  A.  Thompson,  Pendleton 
Co.,  Ky.  Take  3  eggs,  2  tablespoonfuls  of  sugar,  1 
teacupful  of  rich  cream,  3  tablespoonfuls  of  jelly, 
1  of  butter,  flavor  with  essence  of  lemon.  The  fair- 
er the  jelly  the  better,  as  it  makes  a  nicer  looking 
pie  than  dark  jelly ;  either  makes  a  delicious  article. 
The  above  ingredients  are  enough  for  two  pies. 
[From  the  absence  of  explicit  directions,  we  sup- 
pose the  materials  are  to  be  mixed,  enclosed  in 
crust,  and  baked  in  the  ordinary  way. — Ed.] 

Hint  on  Boiling'  Potatoes.— "  Aunt 
Prudence,"  writes  to  the  Agriculturist  that  old  and 
very  poor  potatoes  are  greatly  improved  by  paring 
and  soaking  them  in  cold  water  for  several  hours 
previous  to  boiling.  Good  potatoes  should  be 
cooked  without  peeling. 

((iiccn  Victoria  Pudding-.  —  Contrib- 
uted to  the  American  Agriculturist,  by  M.  Crane, 
Wis.  Take  one  cupful  each  of  flour,  sugar,  grated 
apples,  grated  carrots,  finely  chopped  suet,  and 
dried  currants ;  season  with  one  teaspoonful  of  salt, 
a  little  nutmeg  and  essence  of  lemon.  Mix  all  well 
together  without  water,  and  tie  it  in  a  wet  cloth. 
Place  it  in  boiling  water  and  cook  two  hours,  or 
longer  if  the  pudding  be  very  large. 

JVlilli  Pudding-.— Contributed  to  the  Agri- 
culturist by  "  C.  B.  D."  Add  to  one  quart  of  boil- 
ing milk,  one  teacupful  of  flour  wet  to  the  consist- 
ence of  cream;  when  well  cooked,  mold  in  cups, 
turn  out  when  cold,  and  dress  with  cream,  sugar 
and  nutmeg. 

Fruit  Cake.- Contributed  to  the  Agricul- 
turist by  Mrs.  C.  Moore,  Washtenaw  Co.,  Mich. 
Mix  2  beaten  eggs,  2  cups  of  sugar,  i  of  flour,  1  of 
sour  cream,  1  of  butter,  1  tablcspoonful  cinnamon, 
1  teaspoonful  cloves,  1  of  soda,  1  pound  raisins 
chopped  fine.  Bake  in  a  slow  oven. — Icing  for  the 
tame.  Beat  the  whites  of  two  eggs  to  a  froth,  add 
X  pound  of  powdered  white  sugar,  beat  from  8  to 
10  minutes,  and  apply  when  the  cake  is  nearly  cold. 

Apple  Fritters.— Contributed  to  the  Amer- 
ican Agriculturist  by  James  Bricker,  Indiana  Co.,  Pa. 
Take  any  large  sized  apples,  except  sweet,  pare  them 
and  cut  them  into  circular  pieces  about  one-fourth 
of  an  inch  in  thickness,  at  the  same  time  taking 
out  the  cores  with  a  sharp  pointed  knife.  Make 
some  batter  of  wheat  flour  as  for  common  griddle 
cakes,  drop  the  sliced  apples  into  it,  have  ready  a 
deep  griddle  or  spider  into  which  put  about  half  a 
pint  of  lard.  When  it  is  hot,  with  a  large  spoon 
drop  the  apples  into  it ;  to  be  eaten  while  warm. 


iboys  &  mm®3  mmwm 


Judge  not  from  Appearances. 

A  few  years  since  a  party  of  ten  or  twelve  clergymen 
went  on  an  excursion  on  South  Bay,  Long  Island.  They 
had  been  cooped  up  in  the  city  during  the  year,  and  wisely 
thought  a  week  or  two  of  recreation  would  prepare  them 
to  work  with  more  vigor.  They  were  dressed  for  the 
occasion  with  coarse  clothing,  thick  boots  and  straw  hats. 
They  hired  a  sloop,  and  enjoyed  themselves  highly  for  a 
week,  sailing  up  and  down  the  bay.  When  Saturday 
night  came,  the  sloop  was  anchored  near  a  small  village. 
In  some  way,  a  few  of  the  inhabitants  learned  who  they 
were,  and  the  next  morning  a  committee  invited  each  of 
them  to  preach  in  one  of  the  neighboring  churches,  which 
they  accordingly  did,  to  the  great  gratification  of  the  vil- 
lagers. On  Monday,  one  of  the  number  who  was  cook  for 
the  company,  went  ashore  to  buy  some  milk  and  eggs  for 
breakfast.  He  stopped  at  a  farm  house,  and  stated  his 
errand.  "  I've  no  eggs  nor  milk  to  sell,"  said  the  lady  of 
the  house.  She  spoke  quite  short,  and  with  a  scowl  that 
seemed  to  say,  *'I  don't  want  to  deal  with  a  suspicious 
looking  man."  The  coarse  coat,  somewhat  blackened 
by  cooking,  the  tattered  straw  hat,  and  sunburnt  face 
certainly  were  not  prepossessing.  After  a  little  parley- 
ing she  asked  "  Who  are  you  in  that  boat  ?"  "  We  are  a 
good  set  of  fellows,  having  a  little  fun,"  was  the  reply. 
11  Humph,  I  should  think  so,"  said  the  lady.  "  Have  you 
got  any  rum  on  board?"  add*d  she  spitefully.  "Why 
madam,  we  are  a  company  of  ministers."  "I  guess 
you'll  make  me  believe  that"  was  the  answer.  "  I  be- 
lieve you  heard  me  preach  yesterday,"  quietly  remarked 
the  gentleman.  "  Why,  is  that  you!"  exclaimed  the 
woman  throwing  up  both  hands.  "  You  shall  have  all 
the  eggs,  and  all  the  milk,  and  any  thing  else  you  want." 
And  after  that  there  was  nothing  lacking  in  her  hospital- 
ity. The  clergyman  gave  her  a  gentle  hint  that  clothing 
was  not  always  a  safe  standard  by  which  to  judge  of  a 
man,  and   left  her,  greatly  amused  with  the  incident. 


A   Faithful   I>og;. 

A  tanner  had  a  large  mastiff  to  guard  his  premises  from 
thieves.  The  foreman  of  the  yard  regularly  fed  the  dog, 
and  the  two  were  on  the  best  terms.  The  owner  suspect- 
ed the  foreman  of  dishonesty,  and  discharged  him.  In 
this  he  was  probably  not  mistaken,  for  a  few  weeks  after 
the  man  determined  to  steal  a  load  of  hides  during  the 
night.  He  knew  the  premises  perfectly,  and  felt  sure  his 
old  friend  the  dog,  would  offer  no  resistance.  He  ac- 
cordingly drove  a  cart  near  the  fence,  climbed  over,  and 
threw  the  hides,  one  by  one  out  of  the  enclosure.  The 
dog  appeared  pleased  to  see  him,  and  did  not  offer  to  pre- 
vent his  operations.  When  the  man  was  ready  to  go,  in- 
stead of  unbolting  the  gate  and  passing  out,  he  started  to 
go  as  he  had  entered,  climbing  the  fence,  so  as  to  leave  no 
clue  by  which  he  might  be  detected.  This  unusual  pro- 
ceeding aroused  the  dog's  suspicions,  if  such  a  term  may 
be  applied  to  an  animal's  ideas.  He  at  once  sprang  upon 
the  thief,  seized  him  by  the  leg,  and  held  him  until  the 
owner  came  to  his  assistance  and  secured  the  culprit. 

Curious  Sentence.  —  Translation. 

Prof.  E.  North,  of  Hamilton  College,  N.  Y.,  contributes 
the  following  concerning  the  curious  Latin  sentence, 
"  Sator  arepo  tenet  opera  rotas,"  which  was  published  in 
the  Agriculturist  on  page  57,  (Feb.  No.)  "This  double 
palindrome  (word  or  sentence  reading  backward  and  for- 
ward the  same),  is  one  of  the  most  curious  results  ever 
brought  about  by  the  use  of  words.  Notice  that  you  may 
read  four  ways,  and  the  sentence  is  the  same.  In  trans- 
lating put  a  colon  after  arepo.  "As  a  planter  I  move 
slowly  :  industry  checks  the  wheels."— This  is  a  clumsy 
paraphrase  of  the  familiar  proverb,  Jest  ina  lente,  "  make 
haste  slowly."  The  sentence  is  itself  a  good  example  of 
what  may  be  accomplished  by  making  haste  slowly.  Who 
can  tell  us  the  author  of  this  scholastic  curiosity  ?' ' 

The  4iJame  of  J?Iatcning  Pairs. 

Not  unfrequently  when  a  company  meet  to  spend  an 
evening,  it  takes  considerable  time  to  get  them  mingled 
together.  We  have  seen  the  gentlemen  collect  in  one 
corner  and  the  ladies  in  another,  and  not  more  than  half 
enjoy  themselves  until  some  one  of  sufficient  tact  had  dis- 
tributed them  more  naturally.  A  correspondent  of  the 
Agriculturist,  "Jim  Hop  Along,"  having  been  thus  situ- 
ated, after  some  study,  has  hit  on  the  following  game 
which  will  serve  admirably  to  '  break  the  ice,'  and  pro- 
duce some  merriment.  Cards  or  bits  of  paper  are  num- 
bered from  one  upward  to  correspond  with  the  number  of 
gentlemen  present,  and  another  set  of  smaller  ones  are 
similarly  prepared  for  the  ladies.  The  two  sets  are  first 
shuffled  separately,  and  one  given  to  each  person,  wlio 
must  keep  his  or  her  number  secret.  Then  a  gentleman 
starts  to  seek  his  fortune.    Approaching  any  lady  he  may 


fancy,  he  I  ows  and  presents  his  card.  Should  the  num 
ber  on  her  card  correspond  with  his,  he  salutes  her  and 
takes  a  seat  by  her  side,  and  the  next  person  on  the  right 
proceeds  to  make  a  choice.  But  if  the  first  gentleman 
be  unfortunate,  the  lady  returns  his  card,  gives  him  her 
seat,  and  starts  to  seek  her  own  fortune,  as  he  had  pre- 
viously done.  The  company  soon  beome  interested  in 
the  game :  there  is  no  little  fun  over  some  of  the  pairs  thus 
brought  together.  After  all  are  matched,  if  desired,  the 
numbers  may  be  shuffled  again,  and  another  trial  made." 

New  Puzzles  to  be  Answered, 


nor 


No.  37.  Illustrated  Rebus. — A  poetical  quotation. 

No.  38.  Problem  by  J.  W.  Bobbins,  Tioga  Co.,  N.  Y. 
How  can  fifteen  sheep  be  enclosed  in  four  yards,  so  as  to 
have  an  odd  number  and  a  different  one  in  each  yard  ? 

No.  39.  Arithmetical  Problem.— Three  men,  A,  B,  &  C, 
dug  a  ditch  100  rods  long  for  $100.  The  ditch  being  deep- 
er at  one  end  than  the  other,  A,  took  the  deepest  part  and 
got  20  cents  per  rod  more  than  B,  who  took  the  middle 
part;  and  C,  took  the  shallowest  and  received  20  cents  per 
rod  less  than  B.  Each  man  received  $33>J  ;  how  many 
rods  did  each  man  dig? 

Answers  to  Puzzles  and  Problems  In  April 

No.  (page  121.)— No.  35.  Illustrated  Rebus.—-"  Doe  toot 
hers  as  theys  hood  dot  o  u :"  or  Do  to  others  as  they 
should  do  to  you.  No.  3G.  Problem. — Answer :  The 
clocks  will  show  the  same  hour  at  12  o'clock  on  April  15. 

The  following  have  sent  in  correct  answers  to  recent 
puzzles  and  questions;  the  numbers  indicate  the  prob- 
lems answered  by  each  :  Annie  J.  Hooper,  29  ;  H.A.Col- 
lins, 31,32;  John  B.  Wilkinson,  30;  W.  Noliff,  32  ;  John 
Lee,  33;  Nathan  Tyler,  31,32,  33  ;  James  D.  McGiffert, 
31,33;  Howard,   33,34;  Thomas  D.   Smedley,  33  ;  Geo. 

C.  Comstock,  31,32;  Noah  S.  Barnum,  31,  32 ;  A  little 
girl,  32;  'Israel  C.  Hinehart,  31,  33,  34  ;  Calvin  B.  Brad- 
ley, 30  ;  David  Sheaffer,  31,  32,  33,  34  ;  Joseph  Kerschier, 
33;  Purinton  Maryot.  33:  Geo.  Wistart  Kirk,  31,  32; 
Samuel  F.  Lazear,  3jk  34  ;  Fred.  Tavlor,  33,  34  ;  L.  C. 
Pancoast,  31,  32;  E.  IT.  Hewit,  33  ;  "J.  K.  J.,"  32,  33,34; 
W.  F.  Grant,  33;  Daniel  S.  Carver,  33  ;  C.  P.  Hoffman, 
31,32,  33;  Marcello  Hutchinson,  31,  32,  33,  34;  E.  C. 
Maderwell,31,  32,  33;  "  Georgius  Bex,"  31,  32,  33  ;  J.  W. 
McCulloch,  31,  32,  33,  34;  Mary  E.  Parlin,  31,  32,  34; 
Frank  B.  Conger,  31,  32,34  ;  Orlando  Vaughan,  31,  33,  34  ; 
Chilion  Conger,  31,  32;  George  Sawyer,  31,  32,  33,  34; 
James  H.  Hamer  32,  33,  34;  N.  Lewis,  33;  John  F. 
Holmes,  31,  33,  34  ;  Maria  A.  Rolch,  31,  32,  33,  34  ;  B.  B. 
Edwards,  32,  S3,  34  ;  F.  &  L.  Burke,  32  ;  Joseph  Pool, 
31,  32,  33  ;  Wm.  H.  Bates,  31,  33,  34  ;  L.  W.  Slilwell,  31, 
33  ;  Cornelius  Hoagland  Jr.,  32,  33;  A.  B.  Foster  and  W. 
A.  Vaughan,  32,  34  ;  Ella  E.  Badger,  34  ;  B.  K.  Melick,  31, 

32  ;  F.  M.  Swan,  31,  32,  34;  "H.  F.  C,"  31,  32,  33,  34; 
Charles  Foster,  33  ;  Josiah  C.  Britton,  33  ;  Charles  S.  Ed- 
sall,  31,  32  ;  A.  S.  Fradenburgh,  31,  33  ;  Schuyler  Duryee, 

33  ;  Frank  E.  Ferris,  33,  34  ;  J.  D.  Rider,  33;  Alice  R.,  31 ; 
Robert  W.  Steere,  32 ;  Willie  Staples,  33 ;  Lansing  L. 
Porter,  32;  N.  S.  Barnum,  34;   L.  1).  Hays,  31,  32 ;  Alice 

E.  Bradley,  34  ;  S.  B.  Hulburt,  33;   Charles  R.  and  Ellen 

F.  Coie,  31,  32,  34  ;  Isaac  D.  Sharp,  33  ;  Ailie  Decker,  31, 

32  ;  G.  W.  Holstein,  33  ;  Mattie  J.  Taft.  32  ;  M.  Thomp- 
son Jr.,  31  ;  George  Brown,  31  ;  J.  S.  Coles,  31,  32  ;  "  W. 
W.,"  32  ;   S.  Sheppard,  SI  ;  Watson  Dewees,  32,  33 ;   K. 

G.  Whelen,  31,  32,  34 ;  Cale  W.  Waterman,  31,  32  ;  S.  M. 
McCausland,  31,  32;  Isaac  F.Mills,  31,  32,  33,  Emma 
Coon,  31,  32  ;  E.  C.  Hutchinson,  32,  34  ;  M.  Seongale,  31, 
32,33;  "W.  G.  J.."  31,  33;  G.  W.  Litchfield,  33;  J. 
Newton  Stauffer,  33  ;  Win.  E.  Wooddell,  33  ;   Theodore 

D.  Schoonmaker,  33  ;  Agnes  J.  Sawyer,  33  ;  S.  D.  Merrill, 

33  ;  "  J.  H.  A.,"  31,  32,  33  ;  Rufus  W.  Weeks,  31,  32,  33, 
34;  Robert  G.  Weeks.  31,  32;  George  F.  Weeks,  31; 
"  L.  B.  P.,"  31,  33  ;  G.  W.  Sarson,  33  ;  G.  F.  Butterworth, 
33;  S.  N.  Dater  North,  31,  32;  Howard  Himmelwight, 
32  ;  H.  A.  Lamb,  31,  32  ;  ■'  C.  W.  R.,"  32  ;  George  A.  Bar- 
nard, 31,  32;  H.  Bowers,  33  ;  Samuel  L.  Henderson.  34 , 
Win.  C.  Johnson,  33  ;  Celia  Trew,  31,  32  ;  "Brushey  Val- 
ley," 33;  Johnny  T.  Dickerman,  31;  Allen  Terrell,  33; 
James  Cock,  33;  Lizzie  McMichael,  31,  33;  S.  Otis  Bar- 
rows, 31,  33,  34;  Daniel  B.  Vansyckel,  31,  33,  34  ;  Wm. 
J.  McMarrigal,  31  ;  Bell  Rutan,  31,  34;  "B.  K.  H.,"  31, 

32  ;  L.  L.  Fisher,  31,  32,  33  ;  Henry  H.  Osgood,  31,  32,  33, 

34  ;  James  S.  Harold,  32  ;  "  A.  T.,"  31,  82,  33  ;  L.  O.  Gay, 

33  ;  Mary  J.  McMillan,  31,  33 ;  Hiram  Mitchell,  33  ;  Hen- 
ry Martin  Kellogg,  33;  "E.  S.,"  "  A.  R.,"  "A.  P.," 
"M.  W.,"  "J.  P.,"  "C.  B.,"  "S.  R.,"  "A.  C.,"  34;  How- 
ard Colburn,  33;  R.  R.  C.  Grantham,  33  ;  Alvin  Hammon, 
31,32;  Edmund  B.  Newton,  33  ;  M.  R.  Alexander,  33  ; 
J.  11.  Ford,  33 ;  Sarah  A.  Glaze,  33,  34  ;  Albert  D.  Rust, 
31  ;  S.  Emina  Barker.  33  ;  Isaac  T.  McLain,  33  ;  V.  Liz- 
zie McClure,  33;  "Vic,"  31,  34;  Wm.  P.  Dawes,  33; 
John  M.  Creswell  32,  33,  34  ;  James  Mowry,  33,  34  ;  John 
Farqnhar,  32;  John  Green,  31,  Nettie  Spink,  34,  Mrs. 
C.  A.  Snook,  31 :  Albert  C.  Siewers,  31,  32  ;  Alex,  L.,  31, 
82 ;  H.  Waters,  35  •  Jacob  Lasley,  31,  32,  33. 


152 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Mat, 


Boys9    ana    CUrls'    Garden— :*©.    3. 

The  articles  under  this  head  have  an  important  end  in 
view.  We  expect,  by  gradual,  easy  steps,  to  teach  those 
who  lead  them,  some  important  and  useful  lessons,  to 
lead  them  to  become  closer  observers  of  the  wonderful 
things  in  the  natural  world,  and  thus  add  greatly  to  the 
interest  of  their  future  lives.  Some  of  you  may  become 
skillful  botanists  before  you  know  it.  We  hope  every 
one  will  follow  our  sugges- 
tion, and  sow  the  seed  as  we 
recommended,  and  apply 
the  description  to  the  plants 
themselves.  Study  these  ar- 
ticles enough  to  become  fa- 
miliar with  the  few  apparent' 
ly  hard  names  we  introduce. 
Please  learn  the  A  B  C's, 
and  you  will  soon  become 
Interested  readers.  Read  the 
review  ending  this  chapter. 
—In  the  last  number,  we 
told  our  young  friends  what 
seeds  to  plant,  and  probably 
many  have  them  already  in 
the  ground.  There  is  no  need 
to  be  in  a  hurry,  for  any  time 
in  May  will  be  early  enough 
to  sow  them.  The  Sweet 
Peas  and  Morning  Glories 
should  be  put  where  they 
can  have  strings  or  brush  to 
run  upon,  and  the  Musk- 
melon  should  have  room 
enough  to  spread  itself  on 
the  ground.  The  seeds  be- 
ing in  the  ground,  we  must  now  wait  patiently  for  the 
plants  to  show  themselves.  After  a  while— which  will 
be  longer  or  shorter,  according  to  the  weather,  and  the 
depth  to  which  the  seeds  were  covered— the  ground  will 
break  and  the  little  plants  will  push  through,  and  all  but 
the  Peas  and  Oats  will  spread  out  two  little  leaves  to  the 
light  and  air.  If  there  are  plenty  of 
plants  of  the  Melon,  you  can  afford  to 
take  up  one  or  more  carefully,  and  you 
will  find  it  will  look  as  in  fig.  1.  It 
has  root,  stem,  and  leaves,  and  thougk 
very  small,  it  has  all  that  a  plantneeds 
to  enable  it  to  grow.  Wonderful  in- 
deed have  bet-n  the  changes  which 
have  been  going  on  in  the  dark  ground  ; 
a  little  dry  lifeless  looking  seed  was 
put  in  the  earth,  and  now  we  have  a 
living  plant.  Before  we  watch  the 
growth  any  further,  let  us  see  what 
has  been  going  on  out  of  our  sight, 
and  where  this  plant  came  from.  Take 
a  piece  of  cloth  and  wet  it  and  fold  it 
a  few  times  so  that  it  will  lay  on  a  plate 
or  saucer  ;  put  a  few  of  the  Melon  seeds 
between  the  folds  of  the  cloth,  cover 
with  another  plate  or  saucer,  and  keep 
it  in  a  warm  room.  We  have  now  the 
seeds  in  very  much  the  same  condi- 
tion as  they  are  in  the  soil,  they  have 
warmth,    moisture     and  air,   and    all  ylR  ^t 

these  are  necessary  in  order  that  the 
seed  may  grow.  The  seed  soon  begins  to  swell  and  in  a 
day  or  two,  the  skin  or  seed  coat  will 
break  open,  anil  a  little  point  of  stem 
will  be  seen  pushing  itself  out  of  the 
crack.  This  stem  will  go  on  increasing 
until  it  gets  to  be  several  times  longer 
than  the  seed,  (fig.  2.)  The  seed-coat 
will  be  pushed  off  and  the  two  seed- 
leaves  will  show  themselves.  If  the 
cloth  has  been  kept  moist,  we  shall  get 
in  this  way  a  little  plant  just  like  the  one 
which  grew  in  the  ground,  except  that  it 
will  have  no  roots,  (fig.  3.)  It  will  be 
noticed  that  this  plant  all  came  out  of 
the  seed,  for  we  have  given  it  nothing 
but  water.  Now,  what  was  in  that  seed 
at  the  beginning  ?  We  must  pick  it  open 
and  find  out.  Let  us  take  a 
melon  seed  and  soak  it  un- 
til it  becomes  a  little  soft- 
ened, and  then  pick  its  coat 
off  carefully.  We  shall  find 
"  inside  of  it  two  little  leaves, 
e'    '  rather    thick    and    plump, 

joined  together  by  a  very  short  little  stem, 
(fig.  4.)    A  little  plant  then  is  really  packed 
away  in   the   seed,  only  differing  from   the      *"'S'  4* 
plant  in  fig.  3,  in  the  length  of  the  stem.  This  is  the  embryo. 


Now  as  quite  a  growth  takes  place  when  it  is  not  in  the 
ground  it  is  plain  that  all  the  material  for  this  growth 
must  have  been  provided  beforehand  in  the  seed.  This 
is  really  the  case.  The  two  seed  leaves  are  thick  from 
being  filled  with  food  which  is  to  enable  the  plant  to  make 


Fig.  5. 

its  first  growth  -which  is  to  push  out  the  little  stem.  If 
the  seed  is  in  the  ground  this  stem  lengthens  ;  the  lower 
end  pushes  downwards,  and  the  other  end  works  its  way 
to  the  surface.  Tiie  plant  can  make  its  growth,  thus  far, 
from  its  store  of  food,  but  roots  soon  start 
from  the  lower  end  of  the  slem,  by  means 
of  which  it  can  draw  nourishment  from 
the  soil.  Nqjv  we  have  described  the  plant 
thus  far  without  the  help  of  any  unusual 
words,  but  as  there  are  terms  which  are 
used  to  express  the  parts,  we  may  as  well 
know  what  they  are.  The  little  stem  is 
called  the  radicle,  and  the  seed-leaves  are 
***»*    *  called    cotyledons.      The    cotyledons    or 

seed-leaves  are  unlike  in  shape  to  those  which  will  fol- 
low thein,  but  they  are  nevertheless  leaves.  In  many 
plants  they  fall  away  after  other  leaves  appear,  but  in 
the  melon  they  will  grow  large  and  remain  for  a  long 
time.  We  find  that  the  leaf  in  this  case  is  made  to  do 
two  things  ;  while  it  is  in  the  seed  it  serves  to  hold  food 
for  the  first  growth  of  the  plant,  and  afterward  it  comes 
to  the  light  and  air,  and  acts  like  other  leaves  in  help- 
ing the  plant  to  grow.  Our  little  Melon  plant  has  at 
first  only  a  pair  of  leaves,  but  soon  a  little  bud  will  ap- 
pear between  them  which  contains  the  leaves  that  are  to 
follow.  This  bud  is  called  the  plumule,  (fig.  7) ;  it  is  to  be 
found  ready  formed  in  some  seeds,  and  can  be  easily  seen 
in  the  bean.— Let  us  now  see  how  some  of  the  other  seeds 
are  getting  on.  The  Tomatoes  will  be  likely  to  be  rather 
slow  in  coming  up,  but  after  a  while  their  long  seed-leaves 
will  make  their  appearance. 
The  Peas  will  seem  quite 
unlike  the  rest  in  their  way 
of  growing,  and  you  will 
watch  in  vain  for  the  seed- 
leases.  They  are  there  hid- 
den underground,  and  if  one 
is  dug  up,  the  two  cotyle- 
dons will  be  found,  but  so 
filled  up  with  food  for  the 
young  plants,  that  they  will 
never  be  able  to  serve  as 
leaves  abore  ground,  so  they 
remain  below  and  give  up 
their  nourishment  to  the 
plumule  which  grows  rapid- 
ly, (fig.  5.)  The  right  hand 
figure  is  the  pea,  with  its 
skin  off,  showing  the  radicle; 
and  the  left  hand  figure 
shows  the  radicle  and  the 
plumule  growing.  The  Four 
O'clock  and  Morning  Glory 
will  show  two  seed-leaves 
when  they  come  up,  which 
will  look  more  like  leaves 
than  those  of  the  Flax  and  Melon  ;  they  are  very  thin 
— loo  thin  to  have  held  much  food  for  the  young  plant  ; 
still  the  food  is  stored  up  in  the  seed,  but  not  in  the 
embryo  itself.  Place  some  of  the  Four  O'clock  seeds  in 
a  wet  cloth  until  they  begin  to  sprout.  Tiien  break  them 
open  and  carefully  remove  the  embryo  plant — it  will  be 
found  carefully  rolled  up  and  coiled  around  a  little  ball 
of  what  appears  like  flour.  A  seed  cut  in  two  will  look 
like  fig.  6— where  the  dotted  part  represents  the  floury 
portion  with  the  embryo  coiled  around  it.  Now  this  lit- 
tle mass  of  flour  is  put  here  for  just  the  same  purpose  that 
the  matter  which  thickens  up  the  seed-leaves  of  the  mel- 
on is  put  in  them— for  food  to  enable  the  little  plant  to 
grow  until  it  makes  roots,  and  can  get  along  without  this 
help.— Here  the  same  thing  is  done  in  two  different  ways. 
In  the  melon  the  food  is  placed  in  the  embryo,  and  in  the 
Four  O'clock  it  is  outride  of  it.    When  the  food  is  not  in 


Fig.  7. 


the  embryo,  it  is  called  albumen— and  we  have  already 
seen  that  some  seeds  have  albumen  and  some  do  not. 
The  Flax,  Melon  and  Pea,  have  no  albumen,  while  the 
Four  O'clock,  Morning  Glory,  Tomato  and  Oat  have. 
The  albumen  of  the  Morning  Glory  is  not  floury  like  that 
of  the  Four  O'clock,  but  when  wet  appears  like  jelly. 
We  have  not  space  to  show  how  the  embryo  is  arranged 
in  different  seeds,  but  that  can  be  learned  by  and  by. 
When  the  oats  come  up  they  will  not  show  seed-leaves, 
nor  will  you  be  able  to  find  them  by  digging  down  as  in 
the  case  of  the  pea.  The  seed  of  the  oat  is  small,  and  its 
embryo  much  smaller,  and  it  requires  a 
good  magnifier  and  some  skill  to  be  able 
to  see  it.  So  you  will  have  to  rely  upon 
our  engraving  to  see  how  the  embryo  Oat 
(fig.  8)  looks.— Fig.  8  shows  the  embryo  at 
the  lower  part  of  the  albumen,  and  fig.  9 
shows  the  embryo  separate  ;  instead  of 
two  seed-leaves,  there  is  but  one,  and  this 
is  coiled  around,  showing  the  plumule 
above,  and  the  radicle  below.  This  one 
seed-leaf  never  comes  to  the  surface.  All 
the  other  plants  we  have  mentioned  have 
two  seed-leaves  while  the  oat  has  but  one. 
This  difference  does  not  appear  very  im- 
portant to  you,  perhaps,  but  it  is  a  dis- 
tinguishing character  of  two  very  distinct 
classes  of  plants — differences  which  are 
seen  in  the  embryo,  and  as  the  plant  grows  are  found  in 
all  its  other  parts.  Now,  as  the  distinction  between  those 
which  have  two  seed-leaves  is  an  important  one,  perhaps 
you  will  go  to  the  trouble  of  learning  the  names  by  which 
they  are  called  in  the  books.  Those  with  one  seed-leaf, 
or  cotyledon  are  called  mono-cotyledonous  plants.  Mono 
meaning  one.  Those  with  two  cotyledons 
are  di-cotyledonous.  Di  means  two.  You 
must  not  be  discouraged  at  these  names,  for 
we  shall  not  have  occasion  to  use  many  such 
hard  ones.— The  plants  being  fairly  up,  the 
plumule  or  little  bud  soon  appears  ;  it  is  soon 
lifted  above  the  seed-leaves,  a  leaf  or  two 
leaves  open — another  bud  appears  above  these 
and  so  the  plant  goes  on  to  increase  in  length. 
Down  in  the  soil  the  roots  are  increasing  in 
size  and  number  to  keep  pace  w  ilh  the  growth 
above  ground. — But  we  have  given  you  quite 
Fig.  9,  enough  to  observe  in  the  little  garden  for  the 
present.  When  you  have  seen  how  the 
seeds  start  there,  it  will  be  interesting  to  watch  other 
seeds  which  the  older  people  have  planted,  and  sec  that 
they,  though  differing  in  appearance  from  yours,  are  all 
growing  upon  the  same  general  plan. 

Review*— 1.  Don't  neglect  to  start  some  of  the  seeds. 
The  above  pictures   are  exact  copies  of  growing  seeds, 
started  in  a  folded  towel,  and  kept  moist  and  warm  be- 
tween two  plates,  a  few  days  in  the  Agriculturist  office. 
2. — What  is  the  embryo  ? 
3.— What  is  the  radicle? 
4. — What  are  cotyledons  ? 
5. — What  is  a  plumule? 
G.— Where  do  cotyledons  of  peas  grow  1 
7.— What  is  the  albumen? 

8.— Which  of  our  seven  chosen  plants  feed  on  albumen? 
9. — How  do  the  others  feed  ? 
10.— How  does  the  albumen  of  the  Morning  Glory  differ 

from  that  of  the  Four  O'clock  ? 
11. — Have  oats  any  seed  leaves  or  cotyledons? 
12. — What  are  mono-cotyl cdonous  plants  ? 
13. — What  are  di-cotyledonous  plants  ? 

A  Farmer  Without  Arms. 

W.  M.  Beauchamp,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  sends  to  the 
American  Agriculturist  an  interesting  account  of  a  farm- 
er he  formerly  knew,  who  was  born  withoutarms.  "In- 
stead of  appealing  to  the  charitable  for  support,  he  com- 
menced early  to  help  himself.  His  first  property  was  a 
hen  and  chickens,  next  a  pet  lamb,  and  afterward  a  shaggy 
colt.  He  look  good  care  of  these,  and  increased  his  stock, 
a  little  at  a  time,  until  he  became  a  prosperous  farmer. 
Having  no  hands  he  learned  to  use  his  toes,  which  were 
longer  than  common.  His  legs  were  also  very  flexible, 
and  by  practice  he  was  enabled  to  readily  perform  most 
operations  with  ease.  He  put  on  and  look  off  his  own 
clothing,  shaved,  and  fed  himself,  milked  his  own  cows, 
and  took  part  in  most  labors  of  the  farm.  He  was  a  ter- 
ror to  evil  doers,  whom  he  could  punish  with  severity. 
He  was  powerfully  built,  and  possessed  of  great  strength 
in  the  head  and  shoulders.  He  would  butt  like  a  ram  ;  or 
seize  an  offending  urchin  with  his  teeth,  and  shake  him 
with  bull-dog  tenacity.  He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy, 
leaving  a  large  family— having  beenmarjied  three  times." 

A  Beautiful  Reply.— A  lady  in  Switzerland,  adress- 
ing  a  peasant  who  w as  working  In  hi?  garden  very  early 
In  the  season,  said,  "  I  fear  the  plants  which  have  come 
forward  so  rapidly,  will  vet  all  be  destroyed  by  frosts." 
"  God  has  been  our  Father  a  great  while,"  was  the  reply. 


1863. 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


153 


Question  About  Robins. 

We  had  always  supposed  that  robins  returned  regu- 
larly every  Spring  to  build  their  nests  in  the  neighbor- 
hood they  had  frequented  the  previous  year.  A  recent 
English  writer  thinks  differently,  and  even  believes  the 
parent  birds  may  be  killed  off  by  the  young  ones  when 
they  have  grown  to  mature  robin-hood.  He  says :  "  This 
is  a  subject  which  has  occupied  my  attention  for  several 
years  ;  and,  although  I  have  not  arrived  at  any  satis- 
factory conclusion,  my  experience  may  not  be  uninterest- 
ing. I  have  for  the  hist  four  years  had  one,  if  not  two, 
tame  robins,  each  year,  but  never  more  than  one  on  the 
same  part  of  the  premises,  and  never  the  same  bird  for 
two  years.  One  has  located  itself  in  the  shrubbery,  and 
the  other  in  the  garden  or  orchard.  My  proceedings 
have  been  as  simple  as  possible.  When  I  first  observe  a 
young  robin,  I  throw  it  a  bit  of  bread,  calling  at  the  same 
lime,  'Tom!  Tom!  Tom  !'  I  gradually  diminish  the 
distance  to  which  I  throw  the  bread,  until  in  a  very  few- 
days  the  robin  will  come  at  the  call  of  ■  Tom,'  and,  event- 
ually, will  feed  from  my  hand  as  I  sit  on  a  garden  seat. 
I  am  generally  away  for  about  five  weeks  at  Christmas, 
but  Tom  is  sure  to  be  ready  to  greet  me  on  my  return. 
When  pairing  time  comes,  my  protege  introduces  his  oi- 
lier mate,  as  the  case  may  be,  and  then  I  have  two  visitors 
for  a  time.  I  know  when  they  have  hatched  their  brood, 
because  then  the  birds  fly  away  with  their  bread,  instead 
of  eating  it  on  the  spot.  None  of  my  pet  birds  have  ever 
built  within  my  own  premises,  but  still  they  continue  to 
come  for  their  daily  portions,  until  the  young  have  left 
their  nest.  Then  a  change  seems  to  come  over  them. 
The  mate  disappears  altogether,  but  my  own  pet  still 
comes  to  be  fed,  but  is  not  so  domesticated  with  me  as 
before  ;  and  whenever  a  young  robin  makes  its  appear- 
ance, it  seems  furious  at  the  sight  of  the  old  one  ;  and,  as 
the  former  acquires  strength,  it  appears  to  quite  terrify 
the  parent  bird,  and  before  the  Autumn  sets  in  I  lose  my 
old  companion,  to  go  through  the  same  phases  with  its 
successors.  Two  years  ago,  after  the  old  robin  had  been 
absent  for  some  weeks,  I  noticed  it  in  the  orchard— its 
own  walk  had  been  the  shrubbery — and  called  as  usual, 
'  Tom  !'  The  bird  came  and  took  a  bit  of  bread  from  the 
garden  seat :  but  as  it  was  making  off  to  a  distance  to  en- 
joy its  repast,  a  young  robin  flew  at  it  with  violence, 
chased  the  bird  out  of  bounds,  and  I  saw  it  no  more. 
This  robin  was  conspicuous  for  a  white  feather  in  one 
wing,  so  that  I  could  have  detected  it  amongst  many. 
From  the  above.  I  can  only  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
the  old  robins  either  die  a  natural  or  a  violent  death,  or 
migrate  to  some  other  locality.  If  one  robin  has  a  pecu- 
liar haunt,  a  robin,  but  not,  I  am  convinced,  the  same 
bird,  will  ever  be  found  in  tte  same  place;  but  seldom, 
if  ever,  more  than  one." — It  would  be  very  interesting  for 
our  young  friends  to  try  and  lecide  this  question  by  ob 
serration.  We  think  that  ou-  favorite  bird  must  have 
been  slandered  by  supposing  nim  capable  of  parricide. 


A  Shadow  Picture. 

This  picture  is  not  a  very  handsome  one,  to  be  sure, 
but  if  properly  managed,  it  may  produce  some  amuse- 
ment. Copy  it  upon  a  piece  of  stiff  paste-board,  and  then 
with  a  sharp  knife  cut  out  the  unshaded  parts.  It  can  be 
done  easily  by  laying  a  piece  of  thin  paper  over  this  en- 
graving, am!  marking  t he  outlines  of  the  while  parts. 
Then  paste  this  smoothly  upon  Ihe  paste-board,  and  fol- 
low the  lines  with  the  knife.  Leave  the  edges  of  the 
cut  square  and  smooth.    When  finished,  hold  it  between 


a  strong  light  and  the  wall,  or  some  other  while,  plain  sur- 
face, and  the  shadow  will  give  a  fair  representation  of  a 
highly  wrought  dandy.  This  design,  with  several  others, 
was  contributed   to  the     Agriculturist  by  Letty  Ermin. 


The  Agriculturist  Grind-stone. 


I  say,  mister  Editor,  will  you  please  grind  my  axe  ? 
Editor— Yes  sir,  with  pleasure,  if  it  be  a  good  one. 


Hi  !  hi !  Look  Here  !  You  have  ground  the  edge  all  off. 

Editor— That's  because  it  was  not  made  of  true  stuff. 

It's  fixed  now  so  it  won't  hurt  anybody.  Whose  turn  next  ? 


Notes  on  "Vineland  lands." 

On  our  way  home  from  Washington,  March  5th,  we 
stopped  over  a  day  at  Philadelphia,  and  made  a  flying 
visit  to  "Vineland,"  not  so  called  from  any  abundant 
native  growth  of  the  vine,  we  suppose,  but  rather  be- 
cause it  is  hoped  the  vine  maybe  made  to  growwell 
there,  or  because  the  name  itself  is  a  euphonious 
one.  The  trains  for  the  day  only  admitted  of  a  stay 
of  2X  hours— too  short  a  time  to  canvass  the  merits  of  a 
large  tract  of  land,  though  we  made  the  best  possible  use 
of  the  time,  and  walked  or  run  several  miles,  and  with 
the  assistance  of  a  man  with  a  spade,  and  by  the  exami- 
nation of  cellars  and  wells  being  dug,  and  a  few  tilled 
plots,  we  gained  some  idea  of  the  character  of  the  soil. 
We  purposely  avoided  interested  parties,  preferring  to 
see  the  plot  rather  at  random,  than  to  be  guided  to  any 
particularly  favorable  location.  The  tract  lies  about  35 
miles  directly  south  of  Philadelphia,  and  appears  to  have 
Iain  idle  for  many  years  at  least,  and  little  of  it  has  ever 
been  tilled.  The  location  seems  to  be  a  healthy  one. 
The  surface  is  rolling,  rather  more  uneven  than  most  of 
pur  Western  prairies.  It  is  covered  with  a  shrubby  oak 
underbrush,  with  here  and  there  small  pines,  and  the 
stumps  show  that  from  time  to  time  a  scattering  growth 
of  smallish  oaks  has  been  cut  off.  A  railroad  from 
Philadelphia,  to  be  extended  to  Cape  May,  and  already 
nearly  opened  there,  brings  Vineland  within  easy  distance 
of  Philadelphia.  The  tract  is  well  laid  out,  and  the 
title  appears  to  be  good,  which  cannot  be  said  of  all 
the  new  lands  offered,  in  the  vicinity  of  this  city  at  least. 
The  soil  is  sandy,  too  much  so  fry  profitable  culture 
without  free  manuring.  The  surface  is  not  so  pure  a 
sand,  as  some  of  the  wild  lands  on  Long  Island,  and  so 
far  as  we  examined  it,  the  underlying  gravel  and  pure 
sand  strata  do  not  come  so  near  the  surface.  On  this  ac- 
count, it  will  be  less  severely  affected  by  drouth  than 
those  portions  of  Long  Island  where  the  gravel  beds 
come  so  near  the  surface  as  to  prevent  moisture  ascend- 
ing from  below  by  capillary  attraction.  (See  Agricultu- 
rist for  May,  1860.)  Some  who  have  been  over  more  of 
the  ground  at  Vineland,  tell  us  that  the  pure  sand  does 
occasionally  approach  the  surfaces,  and  even  crop  out  at 
some  points.  We  did  not  chance  upon  any  such  plots. 
Visitors  prospecting  at  Vineland  will  be  differently  af- 
fected, according  to  the  character  of  the  country  they 


came  from.  Thus,  some  persons  from  the  sandy  regions 
of  Southeastern  Massachusetts,  tell  us  the  Vineland  soil 
is  very  good  ;  while  those  accustomed  to  the  clay  and 
loam  lands  of  Upper  Canada,  Western  New-York, 
Northern  Ohio,  and  elsewhere,  pronounce  it  quite  too 
sandy  for  profitable  culture.  We  found  some  at  Vine- 
land,  especially  mechanics,  earning  a  livelihood  from 
their  trades  as  builders,  etc.,  who  talked  very  hope- 
fully ;  we  saw  a  few  others,  who  are  anxious  to  sell  out. 

It  requires  considerable  outlay  to  clear  off  the  under- 
brush, plow  out  or  grub  out  the  roots  and  stumps,  fence, 
and  build  upon  the  land;  we  judge  $20  lo  $30  per  acre 
to  get  the  soil  into  fair  condition  for  cultivation,  aside 
from  buildings.  Some  estimates  put  it  at  $3,50  per  acre 
to  cut  and  burn  the  brush  ;  $3  50  to  $4  per  acre  to  run  a 
heavy  plow  through  it,  leaving  the  large  old  stumps,  or 
$15  to  $17  per  acre  for  "  grubbing,"  without  taking  out 
the  stumps,  and  then  the  harrowing,  seeding  is  to  be  done  ; 
and   the  fencing  as  needed. 

The  soil  must  have  manure  to  produce  at  all  well.  It 
is  proposed  to  get  it  into  clover  and  turn  it  under  for 
manure.  Time  is  required  for  this,  and  any  one  prepar- 
ing to  locate  there  must  take  into  account  the  first  cost  of 
the  land  ($15  to  $30  per  acre,  according  to  the  location  ;) 
the  preparation  of  the  surface  ;  fencing,  buildings,  etc. 
It  is  evident  that  a  poor  man,  or  one  with  only  about 
enough  to  buy  the  land,  would  starve  while  fitting  up  a 
productive  farm,  unless  he  depended  upon  laboring  for 
others  to  support  himself.  We  would  not  advise  any  one 
to  think  of  going  there  unless  he  has  some  ready  money 
to  expend  upon  the  land,  and  to  live  upon  for  a  year  or 
two  at  least.  The  mere  fact  that  the  first  cost  of  the  land 
is  small,  compared  with  other  sections,  is  not  the  only 
thing  to  be  taken  into  account.  What  it  costs  to  get  it 
into  profitable  use,  is  quite  as  important.  Mechanics 
and  tradesmen,  earning  their  livelihood  in  Philadelphia, 
or  elsewhere  near  at  hand,  might  perhaps  find  it  worth 
while  to  expend  their  surplus  earnings  in  fitting  up  a 
homestead  at  "  Vineland,"  though  they  must  consider, 
whether  fewer  acres  at  a  higher  price  may  or  may  not  be 
a  more  profitable  investment.  Those  seeking  farms  may 
also  consider  whether  the  land  at  Vineland  is  cheaper  in 
Its  present  condition,  than  older  farms  in  the  vicinity, 
already  fitted  up,  though  held  at  a  higher  price  per  acre. 

We  have  said  thus  much  to  give  the  best  information 
we  could  with  our  limited  observation,  to  a  large  number 
of  inquiring  readers.  Mr.  Landis.  who  lias  charge  of  the 
Vineland  settlement,  appears  to  be  somewhat  enterpris- 
ing, and  the  laying  out  and  beginning  of  the  prospective 
Tillage  and  town,  indicate  taste  and  public  spirit  on  his 
part,  though  he,  like  all  others,  doubtless  has  an  eye  to 
the  ultimate  profit.  I  he  can  bring  in  a  class  of  persons 
who  can  wjforrf  to  work  the  land  up  to  profitable  tillage, 
it  will  be  so  much  gain  to  that  part  of  New-Jersey.  We 
learn  that  several  hundred  purchases  have  been  made, 
and  the  new  buildings  going  up,  and  the  "  clearings"  be- 
gun here  and  there,  indicate  a  purpose  to  see  what  can 
be  done.  Hundreds  of  persons  from  all  parts  of  the 
country  have  been  at  the  expense  of  a  journey  thither  to 
see  for  themselves,  and  the  reports  brought  back  by 
many  who  have  made  our  office  a  stopping  point  in  their 
journey,  are  very  various.  The  main  object  of  the  pres- 
ent article  is  to  give  our  distant  readers  some  items  for 
judging  whether  it  is  worth  their  while  to  be  at  the  expense 
of  a  personal  visit.  A  more  extended  examination,  at  a 
more  favorable  season  for  seeing  the  vegetation,  may 
give  us  a  better  or  poorer  opinion  of  the  Vineland 
enterprise.  The  wide  notoriety  given  to  it  by  advertising 
and  otherwise,  and  the  multitude  of  inquiries  addressed 
to  us,  justify  the  attention  and  space  we  have  given  to 
the  subject.  We  are  only  sorry  that  we  are  not  able  to 
speak  more  definitely  and  positively.  If  the  Vineland  en- 
terprise proves  successful,  and  good  farms  are  there  de- 
veloped, the  example  will  be  very  beneficial  to  other  large 
tracts  of  similar  soil,  now  lying  mainly  unused,  all 
through  Southern  New-Jersey. 


Our   Exhibition   Tables. 


These  have  necessarily  received  less  attention  during 
our  busy  season,  and  during  the  Winter  months  there  have 
of  course,  been  greatly  diminished  contributions  from  the 
field,  orchard,  and  gardens.  Now,  that  the  growing  sea- 
son has  come  on,  we  invite  all  who  have  objects  of  inter- 
est relating  to  the  farm,  garden  and  household,  to  place 
them  upon  our  Tables  where  they  may  be  freely  seen  by 
the  multitudes  who  call  at  the  office.  During  the  year 
1862  the  number  of  callers  on  business  and  otherwise, 
averaged  over  300  a  day,  or  nearly  100,000.  The  table  will 
be  re-arranged  this  month,  and  objects  placed  thereon  wiH 
be  seen  and  enjoyed  by  a  great  number  of  interested  per 
sons.  The  Fruit  Growers'  Meetings  continue  with  una- 
bated interest,  and  will  doubtless  continue  throughout  the 
year,  on  Thursdays  of  each  week— at  1  o'clock  P.  M., 
for  the  present.  It  was  proposed  at  first  to  have  weekly. 
prize  exhibitions  of  fruits,  etc.,  and  a  fund  was  raised  for 


154 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[May, 


that  purpose  ;  but  after  full  discussion,  it  was  decided  that 
there  was  abundant  public  spirit  to  keep  up  the  exhibi- 
tion without  the  stimulus  of  prizes,  while  the  awards  of 
prizes  would  be  constant  sources  of  dissatisfaction  and 
heart  burning.  Committees  on  articles  exhibited  will  be 
appointedjforeac.il  month,  and  receive  and  examine  fruits, 
etc..  and  report  them  to  the  general  meeting.  It  is  de- 
sired that  fruits,  etc.be  sent  in  at  11  to  ll#  o'clock  A.  M. 
on  Thursday  of  each  week,  when  they  will  receive  the 
attention  of  the  standing  committee.  The  Prize  Straw- 
berry Show  in  June,  ai.d  the  Pumpkin,  Squash  and 
Gourd  Show  in  Octuber,  will  be  announced  elsewhere. 
The  following  contributions  to  our  Tables  have  been 
made  since  our  last  report : 

FRUITS.— Apples:  The  Freeman.  Harrison,  Bald- 
win. CaufiHd  (sweet),  Poiighkepnsie  Russet,  and  R.  I. 
Greening,  from  E.  Williams,  of  West  Bloomfiehl,  N.  J  . 
Perk's  Pleasant,  from  A.  G.  Baldwin        Queen  Seedling 

of  Kmg.  from  P.  J.  Ward,  of  Bloomfield,  N.  J Sweet 

apples  and  grafts  for  distribution,  from  Mr.  Stewart,  of 
Middle  Island,  Conn  ...Canfield  apples  from  Mrs.  Wheel- 
er, of  N.  J        Northern  Spy,  from   Mr.  Parish     ..Iron 

apples,  from  G.  ftl.  Usher,  of  Port  Richmond,  S.  I 

King  of  Tompkins  Co..  from  E.  C.  Frost.  Highland  Nur- 
series, Schuyler  Co.,  N.  Y  Seedling  apples,  from  J.  D. 
McCabe,  of  While  Plains,  N.  Y  ...Newtown  Pippins, 
from  W.  S.  Carpenter,  of  Rye.  N.  Y  .  Newtown  Pip- 
pins /fine)  from  P.  Vorhees,  of  Nyack,  N.  Y Eng.  Gol- 
den Russets,  Huhbardstiui  Nonsuch,  Newtown  Pippins, 
Baldwins,  from  J.  L.  Gmirgas.  of  Weston,  Mass Va- 
riety for  name,  from  N.  R.  Grants  of  Rockville,  Conn  ... 
Pears  :  Vicar  of  Winkfield.  in  Winter,  from  W.  S.  Car- 
penter, of  Rve,  N.  Y.... Great  California  Pear  (3  lbs.  7 
oz  ),  from  Dr.  Bellows,  of  New-York  City. 

FLOWERS.— Camellias  (fine  collection),  specimen  of 
Hexacentris  Mysorensis,  from  Wm.  Chorlton,  of  Stuten 
Island  ...Bouquet  of  flowers  made  of  wood,  from  John 
Sievers.  of  Hackensack.  N.  J  Chinese  Pinks  in  bloom 
in  March,  8  large  pots  from  M.  Olm,  in  charge  of  grounds 
of  O,  Judd,  at  Flushing,  N.  Y.  . . .  Strelitzia  Itegina,  or 
Bird  of    Paradise    (very  fine  specimen   plant)   from   E. 

Janes,  East  Morrisania,  N.  Y Cranston  New  Seedling 

Petunias,  ditto  Heliotrope  Chieftain,  from  Mr.  Cranston, 
Hoboken,  N.  J. 

VEGETABLES.  SEEDS,  ETC.— Garnet  Chili  Pota- 
toes, from  P.  H.  Foster,  Babylon.  L.  I....  Larce  Turnips, 
from  Win.  T.  Peck,  of  N.  Y.  City,  and  L.  F.  Defiganiere, 

of  Greensburg,  N.  Y West  India  Yam  (14  lbs.),   from 

Mr.  Bitter,  of  N.  Y.  City  . . .  Mormon  Cotton,  from  C.  H. 
Howard,  of  Utah  ..  Yankton  Corn  and  Mandan  Corn, 
(said  to  be  ready  for  table  in  40  days  after  planting),  from 
Judge  Caton,  of  Ottawa,  111 ... .  Specimens  of  White  Flint 
Corn,  from  Abram  Brown,  of  Deer  Park.  L.  I  ...Dent 
Corn  i  very  Urge),  from  A.  Monfort,  of  New  Utrecht,  L. 
I  Chicory,  from  Solon  Robinson,  of  N.  Y.  Tribune.  . 
Cotton,  (grown  at  Deaf  and  Dumb  Institute,  Washington 
Hights),  from  Mr.  Morris..   .  Fancy  Gourds,  from  A.  S. 

Quackenlnfli,  N.  Y Corn  from  Wm.  M.  Pierson.  of 

Brooklyn,  N.  V Corn    for   name,    (yields    upwards  of 

100  bushels  shelled  corn  to  the  acre)  from  E.  Bunderhill, 

of  Yorktown,  N.  Y Corn  for  name,  from  N.  R.  Grant 

of  Rockville  Conn. 

IMPLEMENTS.— Model  of  N.J.  Com  Marker,  from 
D.  C.  Voorhees,  of  Blawenbnrg.  N.  J  Patent  Hog 
Ring,  from  Daniel  Brown,  of  Lawn  Ridge,  III. 

MISCELLANEOUS.— Sorghum  (excellent— improved 
melhod),  from  E.  A.  Van  Meter,  of  Burlington.  Iowa.... 
Sorghum,  (very  fine,  made  on  Cook's  Evaporalor.)  from 
Btymyer,  Bates  &  Day,  of  Mansfield,  Ohio. ..  Sorghum 
Sugar  and  Syrup  <  from  Otaheitan  cane),  from  H.  B.  Mon- 
trose, of  Tremont.  Ill Prepared  fiber  and  cloth  made 

partly  of  China  Grass,  from  Wright  <fc  Whitman,  of  Bos- 
ton. Mass  Prepared  Flax,  from  Mr.  McFarlane,  of 
N.  J  Cotton  cloth  (made  from  Illinois  grown  cotton), 
from  Rev.  J.  A.  Bent,  of  Hoyleton.  Ill  Strawberry 
Wine  (good),  from  L.  M.  Pease,  of  N.  Y.  Industrial 
School  —  Cherry  Wine,  and  Clinton  Grape  Wine,  from 
Oneida  Community.  Oneida,  N.  Y  .  .Currant  Wine,  from 
J.  C.  F.  Rommel.  ...Concord  Grape  Brandy,  from  Perry 

&  Oliver,  of  Fordham,  N.  Y Grape  Jelly  (fine),  from 

J.  K.  Brick,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y Trunk   of  Palmetto 

tree  (4  feet  section,  in  inches  in  diameter),  from  Lieut.  N. 
W.  Duryea.  of  7th  Regt..  Brooklyn,  N.  Y  ...Ice  Spurs, 
ftom  Mr.  Lyman,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.... Pieces  of  petri- 
fied pine  (from  whole  tree  found  in  marl  near  Fredericks- 
bin  g.  VaA  from  F.  F.  O'Hearne.  of  Brooklyn.   N.  Y 

Petrified  Oak  (found  near  Fortress  Monroe),  from  Smith 
Briggs,  5ih  N.  Y.  Vols.  ..Maple  Sugar  (beautiful  speci- 
men, made  without  being  cleansed  or  clarified  by  anv 
substance  whatever),  from  L.  Woolcott,  of  Croton,  N.  Y, 
..  ..Sorghum  Syrup  (good)  from  Mark  Cornell,  of  Ford 
Co.,  Ill  — Specimens  of  paper  made  from  corn -husks  in 
Germany,  from  Hon.  Truman  Smith. 


Sewing-  IHacliine.s.— No  article  of  house- 
hold use  is  so  much  desired  as  a  sewing  machine.  So 
rapidly  has  this  invention  grown  into  public  favor,  that  it 
Is  now  considered  almost  indispensable  to  every  family. 
Over  a  hundred  thousand  families  already  experience  its 
benefits,  and  each  week  adds  nearly  another  thousand  to 
the  list,  and  so  the  ratio  of  the  demand  increases  in  pro- 
portion as  the  advantages  of  the  invention  become  known. 
The  sewing  machine  of  the  present  day  is  not,  however, 
the  sewing  machine  of  some  years  back.  Though  retaining 
the  first  principles,  many  and  valuable  improvements  have 
been  added,  and  various  modifications  and  alterations  of 
machinery  found  necessary  to  increase  the  speed  and  ef- 
ficiency, render  it  more  simple  and  noiseless,  and  adapt 
It  to  all  the  different  requirements  of  the  family  and  the 
workshop.  The  G rover  and  Baker  Sewing  Machine 
Company,  among  the  first  to  produce  a  practical  Sewing 
Machine,  have  been  most  successful  In  attaining  these 
results.  Their  machines  are  now  to  be  found  in  almost 
every  part  of  the  world,  and  they  are  everywhere  recog- 
nized as  excellent. 


The  Markets. 


American  Agriculturist  Office.      I 
New- York,  Saturday  Morning,  April  \S,  1803.  ( 

1.  TRANSACTION  AT  THE  NEW-YORK   MARKETS. 

Receipts.  Flour.    Wheat,    Com.    Rye.    Barley,    Oata. 

26  rtitya  (AM  m'th  211.000  41,450  127.000  18.750  93.000  296.000 
24  days  /outin'th  235,000       41,000     173,000    57,000      78,000  291.000 

Sales.  Flour.  WJteat.       Corn.       Rye.    Barley. 

26  days  this  month,  3J1.000    413.000      1,492.000      148,800    105,000 

24  days  taet  mouth    350,000  1.810.000    2,031,000     139,000    121,000 

3.                Comparison  with  same  time  last  year. 
receipts.  Flour.    Wheat.    Corn.      Rye.  Barley.  Oats, 

2fi  days  1863  .  21 1.000  41.450  127.000  18.750  93.000  296.000 
26  days  1862....  243.050  107,370  263,900  49,650  116,000  143,000 
bales.  Flour.      Wheat,       Corn.         Bye.     Barley. 

26  days  1863 321.000        413.000     1,412.000      133.000      105,000 

25  days  1862 305,800        389,000     1,367,000      148.000      235,000 

3*         Exports  from  New-York,  Jan.  1,  to  April  15. 

Flour.  Wli  eat.  Corn.  Rye.  Oats. 

Bbls.  Bush,  Hush.         Bush.       Bush. 

1863 795,693  8,860,171        2.201.875        127.270  100,707 

1862 806,575  2,360,557        4.170,010         483,974  15,447 

4*  Receipts  at  Chicago,  Jan.  1.  to  April  13. 

Flour.     Wheat.       Corn.     Rye.     Barley.     Oats. 

Bbls.       Bush.       Bush.      Bush.    Bush.     Bush. 

1863  201,193     1,196.270    3.266.22!    183.015     111,601      1,050,183 

1862 2S2.S66      1,666,068    1,453,177    186,837     291,637        204,414 

5*         Shipments Jrom  Chicago,  Jan.  1.  to  April  13. 

Flour.     Wheat.       Corn.     Rye.     Barley.     Oats. 

Bbls.       Bush.       Bush.     Bush.    Bnsh.      Bush. 

1363 27.933   413.961   1,530.377  52,303   15,173    415,8°0 

1862 160,561   136,214     44,610   1,811    56,883    20,900 

Current  Wholesale  Prices. 

March  19.  April  18. 

Flour— Super  to  Extra  State  f  6  70    @  7  60  $6  10    @  7  25 

Superfine  Western. ..  6  70    @  7  00  G  15    @  6  50 

Extra  Western. 7  00   ©10  25  6  80    @  9  75 

Kxtra  Genesee..  7  65    @  9  GO  7  30    @  8  75 

Super,  to  Extra  Southern  ...  7  40    @10  25  7  00    @  9  75 

Kye  Flour— Fine  and  Super.  3  50    @  5  50  3  40    @  5  40 

CouN  Meat . ...  4  15    @  5  00  4  10    @  4  80 

Wheat— All  kinds  of  White..  1  80    ®  1  90  1  75    @  1  90 

All  kinds  of  Red 1  37>£@  1  78  132    @  1  75 

Corn— Yellow 90    @      93  92    @     95 

White. 95    ©  1  00  92    @  1  05 

Mixed... 90    @      92  88    @      90 

Oats— Western. 82    @      84  86    @     87 

State 84    ®      85  87    @      87K 

Rye... 1  OS    @  1  12  104    @  1  09 

Barley —  140    ©155  145    ©160 

Beans— Medium  and  Pea,  bu.  3  25  2  00    @  3  15 

Marrow  and  Kidney —  3  25  2  00    ©  3  15 

Hay.  in  bales,  per  100  lbs 80    ©      95  80    ©  1  00 

Cotton— Middlings,  per  lb....  71K©      82  66    @      67 

Kick,  per  100  lbs. Nominal.  Nominal. 

Hops,  crop  of  1862,  per  lb 21    ©      23  16    @      24 

Feathers,  Live  Geese,  p.  lb.  47X©      50  52>£@      55 

Seed— Clover,  per  lb. 9    ©      10  8'^  @     9% 

Timothy,  per  bushel 2  75    @300  165    @2  00 

Flax,  per  bushel 3  50    ©  4  00  3  50    @  4  00 

Sugar— Brown,  per  lb 9K©      12^  SH  @      12 

Molasses, New-Orleans,  p.gl..  42j^@      57  45    ©     55 

Coffee.  Uio,  per  lb-  ..  30^©     34  SO    ©      33 

Tobacco— Kentucky.&c.p.lb..  14    ©      32  16    ©     35 

Seed  Leaf,  per  lb... 9    ©     32  14    ©      45 

Wool— Domestic  fleece,  p.  lb..  85    ©  1  05  75    @      95 

Domestic,  pulled,  per  lb.    ...  80    ©      92  K  65    ©      90 

Wool.  California,  unwashed..  35    ©     65  SO    ©     55 

Tallow,  per  lb 12J^©      13  UH@      12 

Oil  Cake,  per  tun 48  00    ©53  00  40  00    ©47  00 

Pork— Mess,  per  bbl. 14  12}£@16  75  13  50    ©15  50 

Prime,  per  bbl 1150    ©13  75  1100    ©13  00 

Beef— Plain  mess 1100    ©12  75  10  50    ©12  00 

Lard,  in  bbls..  per  lb    10>*@      11^       $%  @      10V 

Butter— Western,  per  lb 17    ©      22^       16    @     19 

State,  per  lb. 23    ©      2S  18    @      24 

Cheese 13    @     15  11    @     14 

Broom  Corn— oer  lb 8    @      10  8    @      10 

Eggs— Fresh,  per  dozen 20    ©      22  15    ©      17 

Poultry— Fowls,  per  lb lo    ©     15  12    ©     14 

Dncks.perlb ■■-.  15    ©     19  15    ©     13 

Geese,  per  ft... 8    ©      13  7    ©      10 

Turkeys,  per  lb..  .  14    ©      19  10    ©      14 

Potatoes— Common,  p.  bbl..  1  25    ©  1  50  1  25    ©  1  50 

Bnckeves,  per  bbl 1  25    ©  1  50  1  37    ®  1  50 

Peach  "Blow,  ner  bbl   162    ©175  150    ©175 

Mercers,  per  bbl 2  00    ©  2  50  1  75    ©  2  25 

Nova  Scotia,  per  bushel 60    ©  40    ©      50 

Sweet,  per  bbl 4  00    ©425  400    ©4  25 

Onions,  Red  &  Yellow  p.  bbl.  4  75    ©  4  00    ©  4  50 

Apples,  Greenings  &  Rnssetfl  2  25    ©  2  75  2  00    ©  2  75 

Apples,  choice,  per  bbl 2  50    ©500  200    ©400 

Dried  Apples,  per  lb 5    ©       6%  4    ©      6>f 

Dried  Plums,  per  lb 11    ©     12  10    ©     11 

Dried  Peaches,  per  lb 15   ©     16  12    ©     18 

The  Breadstuff  Markets  have  been  materially  affected 
by  the  decline  and  fluctuations  in  gold,  though  as  shown 
in  the  tables  above,  the  volume  of  business,  both  in  re- 
ceipts and  sales  has  been  fair,  as  compared  with  the 
same  period  last  year.  Every  decline  or  rise  in  the  cur- 
rency value  of  gold  affects  foreign  exchange,  and  cor- 
respondingly depresses  or  raises  the  relative  value  of 
breadstuff's  for  exports.  (Dry  Goods,  and  all  articles  im- 
ported, arc  doubly  affected  by  these  gold  changes,  for  the 
importer  pays  one.  premium  on  exchange,  to  "pay  in  for- 
eign markets,  and  another  on  the  gold  for  duties).  The 
demand  for  breadstuff's  has  teen  quite  moderate,  both  for 
shipment  and  home  use  ;  and  as  most  Judders  have  been 
eager  to  sell,  prices  have  declined  materially  on  this  ac- 
count. Flour  has  fallen  30  to  60  cents  per  barrel;  and 
Wheat  about  5  cents  per  bushel ;  and  Mixed  Western 
Corn  2  cents  per  bushel.  The  present  tendency  is  toward 
a  lower  range  :  owing  to  the  heaviness  in  the  market  for 
gold.  Sterling  Exchange  Bills  are  not  in  much  request 
and  are  quoted  \y£  to  1%  per  cent,  lower  proportionately 
than  gold,  which  circumstance  operates  as  a  serious  hin- 
drance to  active  export  movements.  The  shipments  of 
domestic  produce,  within  each  of  the  past  two  weeks, 
have  consequently  been  on  a  much  less  extensive  scale 
than  during  each  week  in  the  month  of  March.  The 
falling  off  is  most  obvious  in  breadstuff's,  the  exports  of 
provisions  indicating  a  vigorous  foreign  demand  for  Amer- 


ican hog  products.  The  latter,  however,  have  been  very 
freely  offered  in  this  market  at  reduced  prices.  The  an- 
nual statement  of  the  Western  pork  packing  business  for 
the  past  season  shows  a  marvellous  result.  The  number 
of  hogs  packed  the  present  season  is  over  four  million 
head  (actually  4,c(i9,020j  being  an  increase  over  the  pack- 
ing of  the  season  of  1861-63  of  nearly  a  million  and  a 
Quarter,  namely,  1.176,887,  or  41)  per  cent.  The  decrease 
in  weight  is  ~%  per  cent.,  leaving  \  net  increase  of  over 
32  3-5th  per  cent,  as  compared  with  last  year.  The  yield 
of  leaf  lard  is  five  pounds  per  hog  less  than  it  was  in 
1861-2.  but  owing  to  the  great  increase  in  the  number  of 
hogs  slaughtered,  there  is  an  Absolute  increase  in  quantity 

of  2"X  per  cent,  over  last  season The   demand    for 

Wool  has  been  quite  limited,  during  the  past  two  or  three 
weeks,  and  prices  have  declined  considerably.  Manu- 
facturers are  afraid  to  buy  freely,  in  the  present  unsettled 
slate  of  the  market  for  gold,  Which  directly  affects,  and, 
to  a  great  extent,  positively  governs  every  branch  of  re- 
gular business  ..  Cotton  has  fluctuated  materially, clos- 
ing, however,  tamely  at  drooping  prices  . .  Hay  has  been 

In  fair  demand  at  full  rates Hops  anil  Tobacco  have 

been  quiet  and  depressed  There  has  been  unusual 
dullness  in  most  other  commodities.  The  table  of  Prices 
Current  show  the  present  rates,  and  the  changes  from  one 
month  ago. 

Hogs  packed   in   the   West  during  each   of  the   last   two 
seasons  : 


1SR1-3. 

791,099 

205,1*8 
494.298 
835,  S81 


Ohio 

Iowa 

Indiana 

Illinois  

Missouri 138,766 

Kentucky 144.945 

Wisconsin inn,556 

Tennessee 182.000 

Grand  Totals 2^892,733  4.069,620 

Increase 1,176,8*87 

Average  weight  Yield  of  Lard 

per  Hos:.  per  Host. 

1851-i.       18f,3-3.  18fil-3.    1862-3. 

Ohio,  lbs 230               283#  34               27 

Indiana,  lbs 221#            209  30&            2 

Illinois,  lbs 236               217#  3UJ£            23 

Kentucky,  lbs 221                 '204  JU#             31 

Missouri,  lbs 227                220  34  1-5         29 

Iowa,  lbs 224                209#  34                26^ 

Wisconsin,  lbs. ...260                214  35                33j£ 

I.*ive  Stock  LHarlcef, — Beef  Cattle  have 
averaged  4,610  head  per  week,  which  is  a  large  supply 
for  (he  Lenten  season.  Government  agents,  and  shippers 
to  Bermuda,  the  West  Indies,  and  to  New-Orleans,  have 
bought  pretty  freely,  and  prices  have  advanced  about  lc. 
^  lb.,  net  weight,  sinca  our  last  report,  and  are  2c.  higher 
than  a  year  ago.  The  present  rates  are  equivalent  to 
ll^c,@12c.  ¥*  lb.,  net  weight  of  the  dressed  quarter,  for 
the  best;  lOc.'allc.  for  good  cattle;  and  Sc.fdSlc.  for 
poorer  grades.  New-York  Slate  is  thoroughly  drained 
of  beef  cattle,  and  with  the  large  demauu  likely  to  con- 
tinue, dealers  are  looking  (or  higher  prices  before  July. 

"Veal  Calves  come  in  freely,  ns  usual  at  this 
season.  The  weekly  receipts  have  averaged  785  for  a 
month  past.  The  higher  rates  for  beef  have  benefited 
the  Veal  markets,  and  good  calves  readily  go  at  b'-.c.'Sl 
7c.  *P  lb,,  live  weight;  common  lo  fair  class  at  5cM6c. 

Sheep.— The  receipts  have  averaged  5,673  per 
week.  The  decline  in  wool  consequent  upon  the  de- 
cline in  gold,  has  lessened  the  value  of  full-wooled  pelts 
about  SI  each,  and  sheep  are  about  that  much  lower.  A 
few  of  the  best  fine-wooled  fat  sheep  go  at  prices  equiva- 
lent to  10c.  V  lb.,  live  weight ;  ordinary  to  good,  Bc.ri£>9c. 

Lire  Hogs — Receipts  have  averaged  14,633 
per  week.  The  little  demand  for  packing,  and  the  ap- 
proach of  warm  weather,  depress  the  market.  Prices 
now  rule  at  5%c.(a'5?£c.  HP  Ik,  live  weight,  for  heavy, 
fat,  corn-fed  hugs  ;  4%c.(a4%c.  for  still-fed  ;  and  Z^c.fa) 
4c.  for  mast-fed. 

The  Weather- Since  our  last  notes,  Teb. 
20,  has  been  changeable,  with  a  good  deal  of  cold  and 
wet,  making  the  season  quite  backward.  There. was  a 
fall  of  one  foot  of  snow  on  Feb.  22,  cold  lo  24,  warm  25, 

with   heavy  rain  26  and  27. March  I,  rain— 2,  clear, 

warm — 3,  rain  and  snow — 4,  5,  cool— 6  to  8,  snow  and 
rain — 9,  clear,  sleighs  out — 10,  II,  more  snow — 12  to  17, 
clear,  cool,  light  ruin  on  night  of  17—18  to  20,  fine,  warm 
— 21,  cloudy,  heavy  rain  at  night— 22,  23,  clear,  fine — 24, 
cloudy,  rain  at  night — 25,  hard  N.E.  rain  ending  with 
thunder-shower  at  night — 26,  27,   clear,    fine — 28.  N.E. 

rain-storm- 29,  30,  clear,   cool — 31,   snow   and    lain. 

April  1,  clear — 2,  cloudy,  rain  at  night— 3,  clear,  fine — 4, 
5,  snow  and  rain — 6,  clear  A.  M.,  cloudy  P.  M.,  rain  at 
night — 7,  rain  and  snow — S,  cloudy — 9  to  12,  clear,  fine, 
warm,  rain  night  of  12—13,  cool,  cloudy — 14,  clear,  fine — 
15,  cloudy,  rainy  night— 16,  hard  N.E.  rain  day  and 
night — 17,  18,  cloudy,  ground  too  wet  for  farm  work. 
Some  farmers  have  planted  their  potatoes,  and  sown  oats 
and  peas.    Market  gardeners  have  sel  out  early  cabbages. 

Thermometer  at  6  A.  HI.,  New-York. 

[Observations  carefully  made  upon  a  standard  Ther- 
mometer (Fahrenheit.) — r  indicates  rain — *,  snow.] 

FEBRUBRY. 


I... 

3  .. 

4 
1 

27r 
.,  38 

24 
5 
4s 

7  . 

8 

9 

10  ,. 
11 
12... 

32 
S» 

37 

30 

..  34r 

13..  ..  26 

14     17 
15 39 

16  32 

17  , , ,  27 
18 23 

19 
20 

21  .. 
°2 
23... 

37r 
41r 
..  22 
..  16s 

...17 

25 ,   ,  25 
26     34r 

28     32 

fi... 

24. 

...15 

Aver'e..2B° 

1 

..   33r  a... 

...20s 

MARCH. 

15 14  "2  -- 

..  37  29 37r 

2 

3  . 
4 

5.  ,, 

32 

36r 

26 

14 

9 

10 

II... 

12 

.  30 

32 

..30s 

24 

1G     22 
17 23 

18  .  ...35r 

19  , ,.  20 

23  .. 
24... 
25 

.38 
...36 
49r 
...41 

30 34 

31 34 

Aver'e.29X 

.  ..36r 

14... 

4... 
5 

e 

. . .  20  121 22r 

28... 

...32r 

2... 
3  ,. 

36 
.  3Sr 
...28 

APRIL. 

..  30r|  7 42r|10... 

...35r  9 32  ill... 

...36r|  9 34  |l2... 

...39  113 43 

...46  14 39 

...50r|l4 41 

1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


155 


Business  Notices. 

CF~  Eighty  Cents  a  Line  of  upace. 

Another  Call  to  Housekeepers. 

Housekeepers  are  again  requested  to  send  to  their 
Grocer  for  Pyle's  O.  K.  Soap.  The  best  ever  made; 
Also  for  Pvle's  Saleratus  and  Baking  Cream  Tartar. 
There  are  no  articles  of  the  kind  in  market  so  useful  and 
reliable  as  these.  The  Editor  uf  this  and  of  nearly  ail  the 
religious  weeklies,  use  them.  All  articles  bearing  our 
name,  are  pure  and  of  good  weight. 

JAMES  PYLE,  Manufacturer, 
350  Washington-st.,  cor.  of  Franklin,  N.  Y. 


Lands— To  All  Wanting  Farms. 

Large  and  thriving  settlement  of  Vineland,  mild  cli- 
mate, 30  miles  south  of  Philadelphia,  by  railroad  ;  rich 
soil ;  fine  crops  ;  twenty  acre  tracts,  at  from  $15  to  $30 
per  acre  ;  payable  within  four  years.  Good  business 
openings  ;  good  society.  Hundreds  are  settling  and  mak- 
ing improvements.  Apply  to  CHAS  K.  LANDIS,  Post- 
master, Vineland,  Cumberland  County,  N.J.  Letters 
answered.  Papers  containing  full  information   sent  free. 

f^-  Republished  with  Changes.  _JgJ 

PREMIUM    LIST  — 1863. 

Good    Pay    to    Voluntary    Agents  who    attend    to 

Collecting  and  forwarding  Clubs  of  Subscribers 

to  the  American  Agriculturist. 

(Premiums  opeu  to  all  who  Desire  them.) 

Uf.  B  — The  great  advance  in  the  cost  of  some  of 
the  Articles  offered  in  our  Premium  List,  renders  it 
necessary  to  republish  the  list  with  the  needed  changes. 
For  some  of  the  articles  we  now  pay  half  as  much 
again  as  we  did  when  the  list  was  first  made  out  for 
this  year.  When  asked  to  do  so,  we  adhere  to  the 
terms  offered  in  the  January  number,  up  to  February 
1st,  after  which  the  terms  will  be  as  named  below.  It 
will  be  seen  that  we  have  not  raised  the  number  of 
names  required  proportionally,  as  much  as  the  in- 
creased cost  of  the  articles  would  really  demand.  The 
following  terms  will  hold,  good  until  June  1st,  when 
other  changes  will  be  announced  IF  needed. 

13- All  Premiums  offered,  of  every  kind,  will 
close  with  the  Month  of  July. 


Table  of  Premiums  for  1863. 

JVames  of  Premium  Articles. 


15  ' 


1— Good  Books— See  terms  below.. 
a— Best  Family  Clothes  Wringer.. 


. .  $7  50 

inareil  washing  Machine $16  00 

Sewing  Machine.  (Wheeler  &  Wilson). $45  00 


3 — Nonpareil  Washing  Machine 

!,    fV... 

5— Sewing  Machine,  (Wilcox  &  Gibbs)  . . .  $40  00 


$8  50 
$10  00 
$S0  00 
$65  00 
.$35  00 


19 

40 

:-::, 

75 

■in 

r.n 

ffl 

in 

SS 

5Y 

as 

54 

Si 

asa 

iti 

197 

ii  • 

m;; 

as 

5.H 

19 

SS 

Hi 

so 

in 

Hi 

10 

20 

Ii 

10 

11 

is 

29 

15 

Ktt 

70 

so 

B5 

« 

«t 

25 

55 

•a 

S3 

6— Aneroid  Barometer 

7— The  Aquarius . 

8— Five  Octave  Melodeon  (best). 

9_4>£  octave  Melodeon  f  best)  ... 
jO— Four  Octave  Melodeon  (best) 
ia— Worcester's  Unabridged  Dictionary —  $S  50  \ 
13— Six  back  Volumes  Agriculturist,]    .  .  $6  72 
14:— Five  do  do  do  ."S'e  $5  60 

15— Four  do        ■  do  do  eg   S4  4S 

16— Three  do  do  do  l?-o  $3  36  ' 

17-Two    do  do  do  g-2  $2  24  I 

J  8— One     do  do  do  \K'<>  $l  12 

19— Jacob's  Portfolio  Paper  File  J  $1  4$  | 

20— Windsor  &  Newton's  Paints  $3  50, 

21— Osborn  &  HodgUinson's  Paints $1  50  i 

83— Premium  Cylinder  Plow $10  00 

23— Eagle  Plow  No.  20 $0  25  ! 

24— Hay  and  Straw  Cutter  (best) $9  00  j 

25— Steel-tooth  Cultivator  (best) $7  50 

26— Family  Lard  and  Wine  Press $7  00 

'To  all  who  take  the  I  rouble  to  collect  and  forward  clubs 
of  subscribers,  we  offer  a  remuneration  in  the  form  of  first- 
rate  articles,  as  named  below.  (The  pay  thus  offered  is 
much  larger  than  we  could  give  in  cash,  as  we  get  these 
articles  on   extra  good  terms  when  for  premiums.) 

^"We  wish  it  distinctly  understood  that  these 
premiums  are  offered  in  good  faith — no  cheap,  trashy,  im- 
perfect, poorly  made,  or  second-hand  thing,  will  be  sent 
out,  but    each    article    offered,    is    the    best    of    its  kind. 

Ity  We  make  no  distinction  between  new  and  old  subscri- 
bers In  giving  thcBe  premiums,  but  It  is  expected  that  every 
canvasser  will  not  only  gather  up  the  names  of  old  sub- 
scribers, but  also  secure  a  large  number  of  new  names. 

Pf"  Every  person  collecting  names  for  premiums,  should 
send  two  copies  of  each  list  of  names— one  of  them  marked 
"For  Premiums,"and  also  with  the  name  of  the  sender. 

ZW  Every  person  collecting  names  for  premiums,  should 
send  the  names  with  the  money  as  fast  as  obtained,  so  that 
the  subscribers  may  i>egin  to  receive  their  papers;  Two  cop- 
ies of  eaeli  list  of  names  should  be  sent— one  of  them  marked 
at  thft  top  "For  Premiums,"  and  also  with  the  name  of  the 
sender.  The  premium  will  be  paid  as  soon  as  any  club  is 
mads  up— if  duplicate  lists  are  sent. 


ET5T"  Any  person  who  lias  commenced  sending  In  names  at 
30c.  and  finally  fails  to  get  the  higher  number  of  names,  can 
fall  back  upon  the  smaller  number,  by  remitting  the  20  cents 
extra  on  each  of  the  smaller  number  of  names  required. 
ff3F~  Clubs  need  not  be  all  confined  to  one  Post  Otllce. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  PREMIUMS. 

Premium  \'<».  i— «;m»tl  Books. 

Any  person  sending  16  or  more  subscriber*,  may  select 
from  our  book  list,  (page  159.)  to  the  amount  of  12)4  cents  for 
each  name,  at  the  club  price  of  80  cents,  or  to  the  amount  oj 
SSK  cents  for  each  name  at  $1.  Farmers'  Clubs  have 
frequently  joined  together  and  obtained  a  good  library 
through  these  premiums.  N.  B.— The  books  will  be  deliver- 
ed to  the  recipients,  (by  mail  or  express,)  jfree  of  all  cost, 
when  uuder  1,500  miles.  For  Books  going  over  1,500  miles, 
18  cents  on  each  dollar's  worth  must  be  sent  to  us  to  pay  the 
extra  postage  required  lu  advance. 

C3?"  As  tiie  prices  of  books  are  continually  changing,  the 
book  premiums  will  be  reckoned  by  the  prices  given  In  the 
list  for  the  month  in  which  they  are  called  for. 

No.  2 — Family  Clotlies-AVringer. 

This  is  a  first-rate  household  implement— a  great  saver  of 
garments,  and  of  hard  work.  With  this  machine  set  on  the 
edge  of  the  wash-tub,  the  garments  are  easily  and  rapidly 
passed  between  two  India-rubber  rollers,  the  water  fall- 
ing back  into  the  tub,  and  the  garments  dropping  into  a 
basket,  in  a  drier  condition  than  they  can  be  wrung  by 
hand,  and  therefore  more  quickly  dried  on  the  line.  A 
child  can,  in  a  few  minutes,  wring  out  a  tubful  of  clothes. 
We  have  had  one  in  constant  use  in  our  family  for  nearly 
three  years,  and  it  is  still  as  good  as  new.  The  machine 
offered.  No.  2,  is  just  the  thing  for  family  use.  It  is  provided 
with  cogs  to  move  the  rollers  together,  so  that  It  is  not  pos- 
sible to  tear  garments,  as  is  the  case  with  cheaper  Wringers 
not  provided  with  cogs.  We  present  one  of  these  No.  2  Wring- 
ers to  any  person  procuring  and  forwarding  19  subscribers, 
at  51  each,  or  4:0  at  the  lowest  club  price,  (30  cents  each.) 

Premium  No.  3— Washing  Machine. 
The  Nonpareil  "Washing  Machine  wehavehadin 
use  in  our  family  for  over  a  year  past,  and  it  has  not  only 
driven  out  half-a-dozen  placed  there  on  trial,  but  lias  really 
given  excellent  satisfaction.  It  is  the  only  machine,  out  ot 
twenty  we  have  tried,  which  the  "  help"  cheerfully  use  with- 
out compulsion.  It  is  a  labor-saver  and  a  clothes-saver— two 
Important  considerations.  The  clothes  are  put  in,  in  quantity 
and  quickly  washed  by  simply  turning  a  crauk.  The 
balance-wheel  adjusts  the  force  required,  so  as  to  make  the 
turning  easy.  Take  it  all  in  all,  it  is  the  best  Washing  Ma- 
chine we  know  of,  and  is  worthy  of  a  place  in  every  family. 
There  are  three  sizes ;  we  select  No.  2,  as  the  best  size  for 
common  family  use.  The  price  of  No.  2  is  $16.  This  ma- 
chine we  will  present  to  any  one  forwarding  35  subscribers 
at  the  regular  price  ($1  each);  or  75  subscribers  at  the 
lowest  club  price,  (80  cents.)  The  machine  can  be  sent  to 
any  point  as  freight,  or  by  express,  and  will  be  forwarded, 
free  of  all  expense,  except  the  freight  after  leaving  the  city. 

Premium   No.   4 — Sewing    Machine. 

90)  Subscriber  i;  at  $1  each,  (or  130  at  80  cents  each,)  will 
entitle  the  person  sending  them  to  Wheeler  A  Wtlso/i's  best 
S45  Sewing  Machine,    (including    Hemmer),  new 

from  the  factory,  and  of  the  very  best  make.  There  is  no 
better  family  machine  than  this  made,  as  we  have  proved  by 
nearly  Jive  years'  use  in  our  own  family,  in  connection  with 
other  machines.  We  want  no  better.  The  terms  on 
which  it  is  offered  above,  will  enable  many  families  to  se- 
cure one  without  direct  outlay  of  money.  The  Premium 
Machines  will  be  selected  new  at  the  manufactory,  and  will 
be  forwarded,  well  boxed,  with  full  directions  for  setting  up 
and  using,  and  with  no  expense,  except  for  freight. 

Premium  lVo.  5 — Sewing  Machine. 

79  Subscribers  at  $1  each,  (or  112  at  80  cents  each,)  will 
entitle  the  person  procuring  them  to  Mlllcox  &  Gibbs1  $40 
Sewing  Machine,  including  a  set  of  Hemmers. 
This  is  the  best  machine  of  its  kind,  (sewing  with  one  thread.) 
and  has  several  points  superior  to  other  machines.  It  is  neat, 
well  made,  simple  in  its  operation  ;  and  having  tested  one  in 
our  own  family  for  more  than  two  years,  we  think  highly  ot 
it,  and  can  recommend  it  to  those  who  can  not  afford  to  buy 
the  higher  priced  double-thread  machines.  Some  of  our 
neighbors  think  this  machine  ahead  of  all  others.  Premium  5 
will  be  selected  and  sent  the  same  as  No.  4. 
Premiums  Nos.  13  to  18— Back  Volumes— A 
First-rale  Library. 

These  premiums  (13  to  18,)  will  enable  any  one  to  secure 
the  previous  excellent  volumes  of  the  American  Agricultur- 
ist, aB  far  back  as  Volume  XVI.  These  will  be  sent  post- 
paid, in  cleau,  new  numbers  unbound,  but  each  volume  by 
itself,  with  index.  The  whole  five  can  be  taken  together,  or 
one  or  more  copies  of  any  particular  volume  be  selected, 
as  desired.  They  will  be  presented  as  above,  viz;  For  20 
Subscribers  at  $1  each,  (or  36  at  SO  cents  each.)  we  will  pre- 
sent six  volumes.    For  16  Subscribers  at  $1  each,  (or  30 

at  80  cents  each,)  we  will  present  live  volumes. For 

13  Subscribers  at  $1  each,  (or  2G  at  80  cents  each,)  four 

volumes. For  10  Subscribers  at  $l  each,  (or  20  at  80 

cents  each.)  three  volumes. For  15  Subscribers  at  80 

cents  each,  two  volumes. For  10  Subscribers  at  80 

cents  each,  one  volume. Let  every  one  be  careful  to 

name  just  which  back  volumes  are  desired. 

Premium  No.  19— Best  File  for  Agriculturist. 

Jacobs1  Portfolio  File,  made  just  to  fit  the  Agri- 
culturist—l\\c  name  gilded  on.  This  is  a  leather  cover  or 
portfolio,  so  arranged  that  successive  numbers  of  the  paper 
can  be  Inserted  in  a  minute,  and  be  properly  preserved  in 
book  form  for  reading.  When  one  volume  Is  completed,  the 
sheets  can  be  removed  and  stitched,  and  a  new  volume  in- 
serted. A  single  cover  will  answer  for  a  dozen  successive 
volumes.  It  is  the  most  complete  file  yet  made.  The  price 
now  is  $1.25,  and  the  postage  23  cents.  We  will  forward  It, 
post-paid,  to  any  one  sending  fourteen  subscribers,  at  the 
lowest  club  pi  ice,  (SO  cents  each.) 


Premiums  Nos.  G  to  12  and  22  to  2G. 

We  have  not  space  to  describe  these  particularly.  The 
Cylinder  Plow  was  described  in  this  journal  last  year.  The 
Eagle  Plow  is  well  known,  and  so  is  the  Hay  and  Straw 
Cutter,  and  the  Steel-toothed  Cultivator,  one  of  the  most 
useful  implements  on  the  farm.  The  Lard  and  Wine  Press 
is  a  very  convenient  household  implement,  for  pressing  out 
lard  or  tallow,  the  juice  of  grapes,  currants,  berries,  &c. 
For  the  prices,  and  subscribers  required,  see  the  table  above. 

Circulation  of  the  Agriculturist. 

Beyond  all  doubt  or  controversy,  <hc*circu- 
lation  of  (he  American  Agriculturist  to  regu- 
lar subscribers,  is  many  thousands  greater 
than  that  of  any  other  Agricultural  or  Hor- 
ticultural Journal  in  the  "World,  no  matter 
what  its  character,  or  time  or  place  of  issue. 
The  publisher  is  ready  at  all  times  to  sub- 
stantiate this  statement  by  comparing  books. 

Jbfrtrtisrmtnts. 

Advertisements  to  be  sure  of  insertion  must  be  re- 
ceived at  latest  by  the  1 5th  of  the  preceding  month. 
TERMS-  (invariably  cash  before  insertion) : 

FOR  TIIK  ENGLISH   KDITION  ONLY. 

Fifty  cents  per  line  of  space  for  each  insertion. 

One  whole  column  (145  lines),,  or  more,  $00  per  column. 

(t^~Cusiness  Notices,  Eight!/  cents  per  line  of  space. 

FOR  TIIK  GERMAN  EDITION  ONLY. 

Ten  cents  per  line  of  space  for  each  insertion. 

One  whole  column  (130  lines),  or  more,  $10  per  column. 

B3F~Business  Notices,  twenty  cents  a  line. 


WANTED — By  a  young  man,  obliged  to  give  up 
a  professional  life,  a  situation  with  some  good  farmer 
or  nurseryman,  the  latter  preferred,  to  learn  the  business. 
The  advertiser  has  had  some  experience  in  both.  Good  ref- 
erences given  and  asked.  Address,  with  real  name,  A.  M., 
Locustville,  Accomac  Co.,  Va 

FARM  WANTED  OF  ABOUT  TWENTY 
acres  garden  land,  well  fruited  and  watered— near  mar- 
ket—ordinary  buildings.  Moderate  price.  Address  with  full 
particulars,  J.  CALDWELL,  Orange,  New-Jersey. 


PLANT    EVERGREEN   TREES   NOW. 

They  are  clothed  with  foliage  all  winter. 

The  exhalations  from  their  leaves  are  conducive  to  health. 

They  will  make  you  a  garden  all  the  year. 

There  are  200  varieties  to  be  seen  in  the  ground. 

Send  for  a  Catalogue  to 

PARSONS  &  CO.,  Flushing,  L.  L 


X^HE  ATTEN- 
tion  of  Fruit  Grow- 
ers and  dealers  is  called 
to  the  accompanying  cut, 
which  represents  TnE 
new  — useful,  and  yery 
cheap  Patent  Fruit  Bas- 
ket. 

For  Circulars,  &c,  ad- 
dress 

A.  BEECRER  &  SONS, 
Westvllle, 
Conn. 


Enameled    Furniture. 

All  styles  and  prices.  Also  Chamber  SnlteB  in  Walnut  and 
Chestnut.  The  best  assortment  in  the  city,  Wholesale  and 
Retail,  at  277  Canal-street  N.  Y.  WARREN  WARD. 


•1. 


SHEEP   GROWERS, 


1. 


Order  the  American  Stock  Journal, 

Ono  Dollar  a  Tear. 
HORSE  KEEPERS, 

Send  One  Dollar  to  SAXTON,  and  get  his  Stock  Journal. 
a  Tear. 

CATTLE  BREEDERS,  get  the  Stock  Journal,  $1. 
POULTRY  BREEDERS,  be  Bure  and  order  Stock  Journal 
BEE-KEEPERS,  order  it. 
SWINE  BREEDERS,  order  it. 

Published  monthly  by  C.  M.  SAXTON,  New- York. 
PRICE  $1,  PER  ANNUM. 

AGENTS  WANTED.— SOMETHING  NEW.— 
AGENTS  WANTED  for  NEW,  USEFUL,  SALABLE, 
and  VALUABLE  articles  tor  the  Household,  warranted 
to  give  satisfaction.  Full  particulars  furnished  free  on 
application  to  RICE  &  CO., 

No.  37  Park  Row,  New- York. 

HOMES   FOR  ALL— NEW-JERSEY  LANDS. 

New  and  thriving  agricultural  settlement  at  Elwood,  N. 
J.  Railroad  connection  with  Philadelphia  and  New- York. 
Mild,  healthy  climate:  good,  loamy  soil— excellent  for  grapea 
and  the  finer  fruits.    Farms  and  village  lots  of  6izes  and  at 

f trices  to  suit  purchasers.  Full  Information  sent  freat  Apply 
o  DBS.  NORTH  &  ROWLANBC 

Elwood,  Atlantic  Co.,  N.  J. 


156 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[May, 


OFFICE   OF 

FISK  &    HATCH, 

BANK£B$  AND  DEALERS  IN  GOVERN- 
MENT SECURITIES. 
No.   38  "Wall-st.,   New-York. 

AGENTS  FOR  THE  SALE  OF 
THE  UNITED  STATES  FIVE  TWENTY  YEAR 
•         SIX  PER  CENT  BONDS. 

The  interest  on  these  Bonds  is  at  the  rate  of  Six  per  Cent, 
per  Annum,  and  is  payable  1st  May  and  November,  in  Gold. 

They  are  called  "Five  Twenties,"  because  redeemable  at 
the  option  of  the  Government  after  live  or  within  twenty 
years. 

The  Coupon  Bonds  are  issued  in  denominations  of  $50 
$100,  $300,  $1,000,  and  are  payable  to  bearer,  as  arc  also  the 
Coupons  for  the  collection  of  the  interest.  The  Registered 
Bonds  are  issued  in  denominations  of  $50,  $100,  $500,  $1,000 
$5,000,  $10,000,  and  arc  payable  to  the  order  of  the  holder,  and 
registered  In  his  name  on  the  hooks  of  the  Treasury  Depart- 
ment at  Washington.  The  Registered  Bonds  have  no  Cou- 
pons attached  for  the  collection  of  interest,  but  the  interest 
may  he  collected  by  the  holder  In  person,  or  by  any  person 
having  his  Power  of  Attorney  for  the  purpose,  at  any  Sub- 
Treasury  of  the  United  States  which  he  may  designate. 

"We  sell  the  Bonds  for  the  Government,  both  Registered 
and  Coupon,  In  any  of  the  foregoing  denominations,  at  the 
rate  authorized  by  Congress,  without  any  additional  charge 
for  Commission,  viz.:  at  Par,  and  accrued  interest,  or  at  Par, 
with  interest  commencing  from  the  date  of  subscription. 

JC^P3  Note. —  The  Bonds  are  issued  to  us  by  the  Govern- 
ment at  different  periods,  and  bear  interest  from  (he  date  at 
which  we  pay  for  them,  as  indicated  by  a  stamp  o?i  the  first 
Coupon.  For  the  few  days  intervening  between  their  issue 
and  the  time  of  sale,  we  charge  the  accrued  interest,  paya- 
ble in  Current  Funds.  Or,  if  purchasers  prefer  it,  tee  take 
*heir  subscriptions,  and  ordinarily  in  two  or  three  days 
thereafter,  deliver  them  Bonds,  bearing  interest  from  the 
date  of  their  own  subscription  and  payment,  with  no  ac- 
crued interest  to  be  paid. 

"We  are  thus  enabled  to  save  parties  all  trouble  and  ex- 
cense  in  finding  Legal  Tender  Notes,  or  otherwise  investing 
:n  these  Bonds. 

Orders  or  inquiries  by  mail  will  receive  prompt  attention, 
and  the  Bonds  will  be  sent  to  any  address,  by  mail  or  express, 
as  desired.  Payment  may  be  made  in  Bank  Notes  Current 
in  New- York,  Drafts  and  Checks  on  City  Banks,  or  U. 
S.  Legal  Tender  Notes.  Persons  in  the  country  can  send 
their  orders  and  money  to  us  direct,  or  call  at  the  nearest 
Bank  and  ask  the  Cashier  to  do  it  for  them.  Drafts  or  Checks 
may  be  sent  With  safety  by  mail.  Bank  Notes  or  Legal  Ten- 
ders should  be  sent  by  Express. 

|£^  On  and  after  July  1,  1863,  the  privilege  of  con- 
verting Legal  Tender  Notes  into  these  Bonds,  at 
par,  will  cease,  and  it  will  be  necessary  for  persons 
desiring  to  obtain  at  PAR  a  United  States  Bond 
BEARING  SIX  PER  CENT  INTEREST,  IN  GOLD,  TO 
SEND  IN  THEIR  ORDERS  BEFORE  THAT  TIME. 

These  Bonds  are  the  CHEAPEST  GOVERNMENT  SECUR- 
ITY NOW  IN  THE  MARKET,  and  pay  the  LARGEST  IN- 
TEREST on  their  cost,  and  Congress  has  provided  that  they 
Bhall  be  paid  in  GOLD,  when  due. 

They  are  destined  to  become  the  BEST  KNOWN,  MOST 
POPULAR  and  MOST  AVAILABLE,  of  all  the  Bonds  of 
the  Government. 

The  operation  of  the  National  Tax  Law,  which  it  is  now 
certain  will  produce  double  the  Income  originally  antici- 
pated, will  make  the  issues  of  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment the  safest  and  most  desirable  investment  in  the  world. 
They  are  in  reality  a  First  Mortgage  on  everything  in  the 
country,  as  no  Railroad  or  Corporation  of  any  kind, "can  pay 
a  dividend,  or  the  interest  on  its  own  issues,  until  it  has  con- 
tributed out  of  its  gross  income,  through  the  operation  of  the 
Tax  Law,  to  the  support  of  the  National  Credit. 

The  present,  bonded  debt  of  the  United  States  is  less  than 
Three  Hundred  Millions,  including  the  seven  and  three- 
tenths  Treasury  Notes;  but  the  Government  owes  enough 
more  in  the  shape  of  Legal  Tenders,  deposits  in  the  Sub- 
Treasuries,  Certificates  of  Indebtedness,  &c,  to  increase  the 
debt  to  about  eight  or  nine  hundred  millions.  Secretary 
Chase  has  calculated  that  the  debt  may  reach  one  thousand 
seven-hundred  millions  if  the  Rebellion  lasts  eighteen  months 
longer.  It  is,  however,  believed  that  it  will  not  last  six 
months  longer— but  even  if  it  does,  the  National  Debt  will 
be  small  compared  with  that  of  Great  Britain  or  France, 
while  our  resources  are  vastly  greater. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  revenue  will  not  only  be  ample 
to  pay  the  ordinary  expenses  of  the  Government,  and  all  in 
tcrest  on  the  debt,  but  leave  at  least  one  hundred  millions 
annually  toward  paying  off  the  debt,  and  that  the  Govern- 
ment will  be  able  to  get  out  of  debt  again,  as  it  has  twice  be- 
fore, in  a  lew  years  after  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  duties  on  imports  of  all  articles  from  abroad  must  be 
paid  in  gold.  It  is  now  being  paid  into  the  Treasury  at  the 
rate  of  Two  Hundred  Thousand  Dollars  each  day,  which  is 
twice  as  much  as  is  needed  to  pay  the  interest  in  Gold  on  all 
the  Bonds  of  the  Government. 

The  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  have  just  de- 
cided that  the  States  have  no  power  to  tax  the  Securities  of 
the  Government.  This  is  conclusive  upon  this  point,  and 
will  greatly  increase  the  valve  nf  these  securities. 

The  money  invested  in  the  "Five-Twenty"  Bonds  through 
us  contributes  to  the  direct  and  Immediate  support  of  the 
National  Treasury.  All  persons  having  money  to  invest  will 
find  it  to  their  interest  to  promptly  avail  themselves  of  the 
opportunity  to  obtain  them  at  PAR. 

We  also  deal  in  all  tl asses  of  United  States 
Securities,  and  buy  and  sell  Stocks  and 
Bonds  on  Commission. 

Wej»ay  special  attention  to  orders  from 
tUe  oPtantry.  I  INK  4c  HATCH, 

No.  38  Wall-st.,  New-York. 


GREAT    DISCOVERY. 

An  adhesive  preparation,  that  is  insoluble  in  Water  or  6u 
and  that  will  stick  Patches  and  Linings  to  Boots  and  Shoes 
sufficiently  strong  without  stitching.  It  will  also  mend  broken 
Furniture.  Crockery,  Toys,  and  all  articles  of  Household  use 
effectually. 

mivroivs 

INSOLUBLE    CEMENT, 

Supplied  in  packages  from  2  ounces  to  100  pounds.  It  is  a 
Liquid,  and  as  easily  applied  as  Common  Paste.  It  adheres 
Oily  Substances  firmly  and  completely. 

Can  be  procured  at  wholesale  in  all  large  cities,  and  at  re- 
tail throughout  the  country. 

HILTON  BROTHERS,  Proprietors,  Providence,  R.  I. 
"A  Good  Thing.— Having  occasion  the  other  day  to  use  a 
liquid  Cement,  we  tried  the  article  made  by  Hilton  Brothers, 
Providence,  and  found  It  to  work  to  a  charm.    We  therefore 
recommend  it."—  Woomocket  Patriot,  Feb.  6,  1S63. 

CHAS.  RICHARDSON  &  CO., 61  Broadst., Boston,  Mass., 
Agents  for  New-England. 
For  sale  in  New-York  by 

HALL  &  RUCKEL,  21S  Greenwich-st, 
H.  C.  OAKLEY,  11  Park  Row. 
T.  HARDY,  20vS  Broadway. 

TRUSSES.— Radical  Cure 
of  Hernia  or  Rupture.— Dr.  S.  N 
Marsh,  of  the  well-known  house  of 
Mar&b  &  Co.,  No.  2  Vesev-st.,  Astor  House, 
opposite  tin1  church,  devotes  special  at- 
tention to  the  surgical  adaptation  of  his 
Radical  Cure  Truss.  Also  every  kind  of  Trusses,  Supporters 
Shoulder  Braces,  Elastic  Stockings,  and  Mechanical  appli- 
ances for  Deformities.    (A  lady  attendant.) 

npO  THE  LADIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 
-B-  -New  and  Beautiful  CARD  PICTURES  for  your  AL- 
BUMS. ' 
Just  Published: 

1.  An  exquisitely  finished  card-photograph  of  the  Princess 
Alexandra  of  Denmark,  the  beautiful  bride  of  the  Prince  of 
Wales.  2.  A  striking  picture,  from  life,  of  Eugenie,  Empress 
ol  Franc;  a  beautiful  woman,  and  Queen  of  the  fashlnable 
world.  3.  Martha  Washington,  a  highly  finished  photograph. 
4.  A  beautiful  head  of  our  Savior.  Also,  Queen  Victoria,  the 
Princesses  Alice,  Beatrice,  Helene,  and  Louisa,  her  daughters ; 
the  Prince  of  Wales :  Empress  Josephine ;  Florence  Nightin- 
gale; Mrs.  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  a  beautiful  ladv;  Mrs.  Gen. 
Halleck,  Mrs.  Gen.  McClellan,  Mrs.  Jessie  Fremont  (full 
length),  Mrs.  Gen.  Banks,  and  Professors,  Authors,  Actresses, 
Singers,  Dancing  Girls,  and  Fancy  Cards  without  number. 

Price  25  cents  each,  or  five  $1. 

Sent  by  mail,  post  free,  on  receipt  of  price. 

A.  &  E.  HUTCHINSON, 
No.  767  Broadway,  New- York. 

TEETH 

UPON     ALLEM'S     SYSTEM 

CAN  BE  OBTAINED  AT 

22  Bond-st.,  New- York. 

By  this  method  the.  TEETH.  GUMS,  ROOF,  and  RUG^E 
of  the  MOUTH  are  all  truthfully  represented,  reflecting  those 
delicate  tints,  shades,  and  forms  peculiar  to  the  natural  or- 
gans, thus  concealing  from  the  observer  the  human  agency 
in  forming  them.  This  we  do  positively  accomplish,  as 
evinced  by  our  numerous  patrons.  The  natural  expression 
of  the  mouth,  and  original  contour  of  the  face  can  also  be 
restored,  which  rejuvenates  the  waning  cheek. 

A  descriptive  pamphlet  maybe  obtained  by  addressin** 
DRS.  J.  ALLEN  &  SON.  as  above. 

THE   CRAIG  MICROSCOPE. 

This  is  the  best  and  cheapest  microscope  in 
the  world  for  general  use.  It  requires  no  fo- 
cal adjustment,  magnifies  about  100  diameters, 
or  10,000  times,  and  is  so  simple  that  a  child 
can  use  It.  It  will  be  sent  by  mail,  postage 
paid,  on  the  receipt  of  $2.25,  or  with  six  beauti- 
ful mounted  objects  for  $3,  or  with  24  objects 
for  $5.       Address  HENRY  CRAIG, 

180  Centre-st.,  New-York. 
A  liberal  discount  to  the  trade. 
The  editor  of  the  Sunday  School  Advocate  says  in  regard  to 
this  newly  invented  instrument; 

"Its  simplicity,  cheapness,  and  great  magnifying  power 
struck  me  with  surprise.  Then  I  was  examining  a  flv*6  eve 
by  its  aid,  and  was  struck  with  wonder  at  the  skill  and 
power  of  the  Creator  which  is  displayed  in  its  structure. 
When  I  saw  a  statement  iu  an  advertisement  that  the  Craig 
Mien. scope  magnified  one  hundred  diameters,  and  could  be 
bought  tor  $2.  I  thought  it  was  one  of  the  many  hnmbpgs  of 
the  hour,  for  I  had  paid  $20  for  a  microscope  not  long  before. 
But  now  I  rind  it  to  be  a  really  valuable  instrument,  which 
I  should  like  to  see  introduced  into  the  families  of  our  read- 
ers in  place  of  the  manifold  useless  toys  which  please  for  an 
hour,  and  then  are  destroyed.  This  microscope  would  both 
amuse  and  instruct  them,  and  I  advise  every  boy  and  girl 
who  wishes  to  know  the  wonders  which  lie  in  little  things,  to 
save  his  money  until  he  has  $2.25,"  for  which  a  microscope 
will  be  sent  him  post-paid. 

FARM    AND     GARDEN      IMPLEMENTS    IN 
GREAT  VARIETY   at  the   North   River  Agricultural 
Warehouse.                         GKIFFING,  BROTHER  &  CO., 
^ CO  Courtlandt-st.,  New- York. 

I^GERSOLIVS    IMPROVED 

HORSE  AND  HAND  POWER 

HAY   AND    COTTON    PRESSES. 

These  machines  have  been  tested  in  the  most  thorough 
manner  throughout  this  and  foreign  countries  to  the  number 
of  over  1200. 

The  Horse  Power  is  worked  by  either  wheel  or  capstan, 
and  in  many  respects  possesses  unequaled  advantages.  We 
invite  those  wanting  such  machines  to  write  for  a  catalogue 
containing  full  information,  with  cuts,  prices,  &c,  or  call 
and  examine  personally. 

Orders  promptlv  attended  to,  by  addressing 
INGERSOLL  &  f>OUGHERTY,  Greenpoint.^ings  Co.,  L.  L 


Wheeler  &  Wilson's 


fHi  M^g 


■WITH  VALUABLE  IMPROVEMENTS. 
Office  No.  505  Broadway,  New- York. 

$200  J-  p.  hales  $200 

]i[EW7  OCTAVE  PIANOS  are  destined  to  revo- 
■*■  *  lutionize  the  whole  Piano  business.  For  Durability, 
Beauty  of  Tone,  and  Touch,  as  well  as,in  style  of  finish,  they 
are  uneqnaled;  and  nothing  of  the  kind  has  ever  before 
been  offered  in  this  country  that  will  compare  with  them  in 
prices  : 

$200, $225, $250. 

They  contain  all  improvements  of  value  now  in  use,  and 
are  all 

Warranted    for    Five    Years. 

Please  call  and  examine  them  and  compare  them  with  those 
of  any  of  the  first  class  makers,  or  send  for  a  Circular  giving 
all  particulars. 

J.  P.  HALE  &  CO.,  478  Broadway,  N.  Y. 


$150 


SEVES    OCTAVE 
'  ROSEWOOD  PIANO-FORTES. 


GROVESTEEN  &  CO.,  499  BROADWAY, 

Now  at  their  new  warerooms,  are  prepared  to  offer  to  the 
public  their  new  enlarged  scale  Piano  Fortes,  with  Iron 
Frame,  Overstrung  Bass.  French  Grand  Action,  Harp  Pedal, 
etc  The  Grovcstcen  Piano-lories  received  the  HIGHEST 
award  over  all  others  at  the  World's  Fair,  and  for  five  suc- 
cessive years  at  the  American  Institute,  which  is  a  suf- 
ficient guarantee  of  their  excellence. 

Heavv  Mouldings,  Carved  Legs,  etc.,  $175  and  $200.  Rose- 
wood Tops,  $10  extra.  'Warranted  for  five  years.  Terms, 
net  cash. 


The  NONPAREIL  WASHING  MACHINE 

Is  the  only  entirely  reliable  machine  in  use. 

It  has  been  before  the  public  two  years,  and  has  not  iu  any 
Instance  failed  to  give  satisfaction. 

It  saves  two-thirds  the  labor  and  time  required  in  hand 
Washing. 

It  is  a  squeezing  machine,  and  will  not  injure  the  finest 
clothing. 

A  girl  of  fourteen  years  can  operate  it. 

It  will  not  get  out  of  order. 

It   la   recommended  by  Mr.  Jndd,  the  proprietor  of  this 
Journal. 

Prices :  No.  1,  $12.    No.  2,$1G.    No.  3,  $20. 

Send  lor  free  Circular  to 

OAKLEY  &  KEATING.  73  South-st.,  New-York. 

PORTABLE  STEAM  ENGINES,  from,  a  to  15 
HORSE  POWER.— Warranted  inferior  to  none  in  use. 
circulars  sent  to  any  parties  interested  on  application  to  the 
Manufacturers:  A.  N.  WOOD  &  CO., 

Eaton,  Madison  Co.,  N.  T. 


1803.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


157 


BUY    THE    BEST. 


THE  ORIGINAL 


EMIiliilWEi 


AND    REAPER, 

Willi    all   its   valuable  Improvements. 

HAS  NO  EQUAL. 

Sizes  and  Prices  to  suit  ALL. 

Order   early  and    avoid 

Disappointment. 

SEND    FOR    A    CIRCULAR. 
C.  AULTMAN  &  CO.,  Canton,  Ohio. 
JOHN  P.  ADRIANCE,  Poughkeepsie, 
and  165  Greenwich-st.,  New- York. 

HALSTKD'S  PATENT  HAND  CULTIVATOR. 

PRICE  |6. 


SHARE'S  PATENT  COULTER  HARROW. 
PLOWS,  HARROWS,  AND   CULTIVATORS,  &C. 


FARM  AND  GARDEN  IMPLEMENTS  of  all  kinds. 


FERTILIZERS,  GUANO,  BONE  DUST,  POUDRETTE,  &C. 


GARDEN,   FIELD,  AND  FLOWER  SEEDS,  IN   GREAT 
VARIETY. 


HAINES  &  PELL,  27  Courtlaudt-st.,  New- York. 

JAMES  L.  HAVEN  &.  CO., 
No.  173,  175  &  ITT  West  2d-st.,  Cincinnati,  0., 

Manufacturers  of 

OHIO  CHIEF  REAPER  AND  MOWER. 

OHIO  PREMIUM  GRAIN  DRILLS. 

NONPARIEL  FEED  MILLS. 

IMPROVED  CONICAL  FRENCH  BURR  MILLS. 

CUMMING'S  PATENT  FODDER  CUTTERS. 

SAJJDFORD'S  PATENT  STRAW  CUTTERS. 

PORTABLE   CIDER  MILLS. 

SUGAR  CANE  (SORGHO)  MILLS. 

CASTINGS. 

MALLEABLE  IRON    CASTINGS. 

BUTT  HINGES,  HARDWARE,  &c,  &c. 

It  will  pay  those  in  want  of  anything  in  our  line,  to  send 

for  our  Illustrated  Catalogue  and  Price  List  to 

JAS.  L.  HAVEN  &  CO., 
Nos.  173,  175  &  177  West  2d.  st„  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

RUSSIA  OR  BASS  MATS,  SELECTED  EX- 
presslv  for  budding  and  tying,  GUNNY  BAGS. 
TWINES,  HAY  ROPES,  &c,  suitable  lor  Nursery  purposes, 
for  sale  iu  lots  to  suit,  by  D.  W,  MANWARING, 

Importer,  24S  Front-st.,  New- York. 


TO      FARMERS. 

WE  CALL  ATTENTION  TO  THE 

EXCELSIOR 

HORSE    PITCHFORK 

FOR   UNLOADING   HAY,  GRAIN,  &C. 


REISSUED  MARCH  3,  1863. 

This  Fork  was  awarded  tlie  First  Premium,  at  the  N,  T. 
State  Fair,  Oct.  1SG2,  and  is  universally  acknowledged  to  be 
the  best  in  use.  It  is  a  Simple,  Compact,  and  strong  imple- 
ment, light  and  easy  to  handle.— Will  hold  as  much  as  a  horse 
can  elevate,  and  frequently  two  are  employed.  A  hoy  can 
use  it,  unloading  a  ton  of  hay  in  five  or  six  minutes.  In  view 
of  the  scarcity  and  high  price  of  labor,  no  farmer  can  afford 
to  do  without  It.  It  will  save  more  than  its  cost  in  a  season, 
—sometimes  in  a  single  day. 

N. B  —  All  persons  are  hereby  cautioned  not  to  make,  vend 
or  use,  any  other  Horse  Fork,  with  tines  similar  to  this,  or 
which  infringes  upon  this  Patent  in  any  respect.  For  Forks, 
addreea  WHEKLER,  MELICK  &  CO.,  Proprietors  of  the  N. 
Y.  State  Agricultural  Works,  Manufacturers  of  Horse  Pow- 
ers, ThresherB  and  Cleaners,  Albany,  N.  f.  For  State  or 
County  Rights,  address  PALMEK  &  WACKERHAGEN, 
Greenville,   Greene  Co.,  N.Y. 

Circulars  sent  free. 

GET  THE  VERY  BEST 
Horse    Hay  Forks. 

Every  Farmer  having  a  dozen  acres  of  meadow  will 
find  a  good  Horse  Pitch  Fork,  a  profitable  investment. 

The  very  best  and  cheapest  implement  of  the  kind  is 
RuntlelTs  new  Patent,  just  issued  (ApriE  IS63).  Please 
look  into  its  merits. 

Circulars  with  engravings  and  giving  full  particulars 
will  be  sent  free  to  all  applicants. 

Address  L.  RUNDELL, 

Coxsackie,  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y. 

ALLEN'S    PATENT 

CYLINDER  PLOW. 

Price  of  No.  0,  is  $7.00;  No.  1,  is  $9.00;  No.  2,  iB  $10;  No.  3  is 
$1'J;  with  one  extra  polished  share  for  each  plow.  Price,  ex- 
tra, of  Skim  or  Front  Plow,  $1.50;  Wrought  Side  Coulter  and 
Clamp.  $1,25;  Wheel,  $1.00. 

All  the  above  Plows  are  polished,  strong,  and  highly  finish- 
ed, and  are  warranted  to  (rive  entire  satisfaction  when  prop- 
erly managed.  Polished  Steel  Plows  can  be  furnished  of  each 
of  the  above  sizes. 

Also  every  style  of  the  latest  improved  PLOWS,  HAR- 
ROWS, CULTIVATORS,  and  a  full  assortment  of  AGRI- 
CULTURAL and  HORTICULTURAL  IMPLEMENTS; 
FIELD  and  GARDEN  SEEDS;  PERUVIAN  and  MANIP- 
ULATED GUANO;  SUPERPHOSPHATE,  guaranteed  to 
be  the  best  in  the  market,  and  perfectly  reliable ;  Poudrette ; 
Plaster  of  Paris,  &c.  R.  H.  ALLEN  &  CO.. 

Successors  to  R.  L.  ALLEN,  1S9  &  191  Water-st,  New- York. 

Schenectady  Agricultural  Works. 
C.  WESTIXGHOrSE  &  CO.,  Proprietors. 

Send  for  a  Circular,  containing  full  description  of  the  Un- 
equaled.  Lever,  and  Endless  Chain  Horse  Powers,  Threshers 
and  Cleaners,  Clover  Hullers,  "Wood  Saws,  &c,  manufactured 
by  the  subscribers.    Address 

G.  Westinghouse  &  Co.,  Schenectady,  N.  Y. 

BAKER'S  PATENT  DOUBLE  PLOWING  MA- 
CHINE. 

CHICHESTER'S  COMBINED  FURROWING,  COVERING, 
CULTIVATING.  HOEING,  HILLING,  and  POTATO  DIG- 
GING MACHINE.    Manufactured  and  sold  bv 

GHIFFINI1,  BROTHER  &  CO., 

Send  for  Circular.  00  Courtlandt-st.,  New-York. 


THE    "EXCELSIOR 

BURR   STONE  MILLS" 


ANTI-FRICTION 

HORSE    POWERS, 

Have  taken  the  fiigiikst  Premiums  wherever  exhiret- 
ed!  NINE  FIRST  PREMIUMS  being  received  from  West- 
ern State  Fairs  in  1861. 

THE  MILL  maybe  driven  by  horse,  water,  or  steam 
poicer,  does  its  work  as  well  as  the  best  flat  stone  mills  in  mill- 
ing establishments,  and  requires  but  one-half  the  power  to  do 
the  same  amount  of  work.  They  are  made  in  the  best  manner, 
and  will  last  thirty  years,  and  cost  nothing  for  repairs:. 

THE  HORSE-POWER  runs  upon  iron  balls,  and 
requires  but  two  and  a  half  pounds  draught  to  keep  it 
in  motion.  With  the  same  number  of  horses  it  will  do 
TWENTY-FIVE  PER  CENT,  more  work  than  any  other 
power  in  use. 

B^~Every  Machine  is  guaranteed  to  give  satisfac- 
tion, or  the  money  will  be  refunded.^ 

AGENTS  WANTED.-SHOP  RIGHTS  FOR  SALE. 
For  Circulars  and  further  information  address 

E.  H.  BENNET,  Late  Benuet  Brothers, 

42  and  44  Greene-st..  New- York. 

mill  stone  dressing  diamonds, 

Set  ill  Patent  Protector  and  Guide. 

For  sale  by  JOHN  DICKINSON, 

Patentee  and  Sole  Manufacturer,  04  Nassau-st.,  New- York. 
ALSO  Manufacturer  of  GLAZIER'S  DIAMONDS. 

SEEDS!  SEEDS! 

Thorburn's  Descriptive  Annual  Catalogue 

OF 

VEGETABLE,  AGRICULTURAL  AND  TREE  SEEDS 

for  1863, 

With   directions   for  their   cultivation   and   management. 

ALSO 

Thorburn's  Descriptive  Annual  Catalogue 

OF 

FLOWER     SEEDS, 

Containing  all  the  new  Floral  Gems  of  the  season, 
As  well  as  a  list  of 

ISO  JS<>;&iBtiriBl  Varieties  or 
FRENCH   IlVlSIfilO    (jiLADIOU^, 

mailed  free  of  charge  on  application  to 

J.  M.  THORBCRN  &  CO., 

15  Jolm-st.,  New-York 
BTJCHANAN'S  NEW  HYBRID   BLOTCHED   PETUNIA 

SEED,  by  mail,  50  cts.  per  packet. 

SEEDS!    SEEDS!      SEEDS! 

Garden,  Vegetable,  Grass  and  Flower  Seeds, 
of  Every  Desirable  Variety. 

NEW  PRICED  CATALOGUES  SENT  FREE  BY  POST,  ON 

APPLICATION. 
No.  1.— Descriptive  List  of  Flower  Seeds. 
No  2.— Vegetable,  Grass,  Herb  and  Miscellaneous  Seeds. 
ALFRED  BRIDGEMAN, 
No.  STli  Broadway,  New-York  City. 


New,  Useful  or  Ornamental. 

Mexican  Sweet  Corn  ;  new  and  pure  (no  variety  of  table 
corn  will  compare  with  this  in  sweetness  ;  a  great  acquisl-- 
ion.)  Fesee  Bean,  (the  earliest  bean  Brown.) ;  Turban 
Siinasli  ( Hie  finest  arained.  dryest  and  best  of  Fall  squashes! ; 
Tom  Thumb  Pea  (grows  but  10  inches  high :  a  great  hearer) ; 
Calfornia  Bean  (new);  Ornamental  Gourds  (a  great  variety 
in  one  package)  :  Speckled  Lima  Bean  (excellent!  :  Hub- 
bardSquash  Uruel  Packages  of  any  of  the  above  sent 
to  any  part  of  the  United  Slates,  post  paid,  with  In  direc- 
tions for  cultivation,  at  15  cents  each:  the  eight  fcrWl 
Also  Darling's  Early  Corn  (the  best  early  Sweet  Corn); 
Up,  Mt     Tomato;     Lester's     Perfected     Tomato;     Boston 

Curled  Lettuce  (true):  Early  Dan.  O'Rourke  Pea  (the  ^  ear- 
nest Pea  cultivated)  ;  Indian  Chief  Bean  (the  best  pole  string 
bean  known) ;  at  10  "fijgjg&E&Z*- 

MarbleheacI,  Massachusetts. 
Seed   grower,  and   dealer  in  every  variety  of  garden  and 
flower  seed. 

GET  THE   BEST  STRAWBERRIES. 

The  most  productive  arc  Wilson's  and  Downer's,  Price 

'''fhe  largest  ii'iiViiandsoinest  Is  Triomphe  de  Gand,  Price, 

$1Th7rich*st .nnd'nest  flavored  is Bartlctt  and  Ward's  Favor-' 
ite  price  jl  per  10(1,  $7  per  1000. 
Other  varieties,  with  a  good  stock  of  Currants,  Baspoer- 

ries  Graces,  and  Blackberries,  at  equally  low  rates    Address 
E.  WILLIAMS.  Montelair  P.  0„  West  Bloomflelcl,  N.  J. 


WARD'S  FAVORITE  STRAWBERRY.— A  few 
thousand  plants  or  this  truly  Excellent  varicty,.at  the 
reduced  price  of  SI  per  100,  *7  per  1000,  to  clear  1  lie  ground. 
Al«o  Clinton  Grape  vines,  hardy,  prolific,  a  good  wine  grape. 
E  WILLIAMS,  Mont  Clair  P.  0.,  West-Bloouifiir1 1,  N.  J. 


158 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Mat, 


FRUIT 

TREES  AND   PLANTS, 

ORNAMENTAL  TREES, 

SHRUBS,    EVERGREENS, 

AND 

EXOTIC     PLANTS. 


PARSONS   &  CO. 

Invite  the  attention  of  buyers  to  their  stock, 
which  is  in  vigorous  health,  and  of  large  size. 

They  offer  all  kinds  at  rates,  which  for  size 
and  excellence,  are  as  low  as  they  can  any- 
where be  purchased. 

They  can  sell  trees,  etc.,  by  the  hundred : 
Apples  at  $14.        Plums  at   £30. 
Pears  at  $2§.         Peaches  at  $10. 
Cherries  at  $25.    Strawberries. 
Concord   Grapes,  4  years,   at   $25. 
Delaware  and  other  hardy  Grapes. 
Exotic  Grape  Vines,  strong  growth. 
Small  Fruits  of  the  newest  sorts. 
Linnaeus  Khubarb  by  the   1O00. 

Their  ORNAMENTAL  TREES  for  Streets 
and  Lawns  are  of  large  size  and  fine  form. 

FLOWERING  SHRUBS  in  quantities  for 
massing,  at  very  low  prices. 

ROSES  and  EXOTIC  PLANTS  of  the  new 
and  choice  varieties. 
Catalogues  furnished  on  application 

No  orders  will  be  sure  of  attention,  unless  ad- 
dressed to  us  by  mail,  at  FLUSHING, 
near  NEW- YORK. 

Pure  Chinese  Cane   Seed. 

For  sale  by  BLTMYER,  BATES  &  DAT. 

Munsflrld,  O. 
OOM-SE-A-NA  (known  H8  thp  Hooker  or  Otalieitean)  Cane 
Seed,  PUKE,  for  sale  by  BLTMYER,  BATES  &  DAT, 

Mansfield,  O. 
NEEAZA>TA  or  WHITE    IMPHEE.  considered   the  most 
rlioice  variety  of  Cane  seed— a  fkw  bushels  only- for  sale 
by  BLYMTEK,  BATES  &  DAT, 

Mansfield,  O. 
(E^""  Pamphlets  with  best  mode  of  culture,  &c.,  sent  free 
on  application. 

Choice   Melons. 

Christiana  (true),  (very  early,  an  excellent  mnskmelonl : 
Pine  Apple  (exceedingl}''  rich,  early,  one  of  the  best).  Each 
of  the  above,  22  cts.  per  ounce.  Ward's  Nectar,  a  new  green 
fleshed  melon,  pronounced  by  an  amateur  who  has  culti- 
vated every  variety  known,  to  be  the  richest  and  most  de- 
licious of  all ;  per  packace.  25  cts.  Mountain  Sweet  Water- 
melon (larce,  earlv  and  excellent). 

Black  Spanish  (large,  flesh  deep  red,  of  excellent  flavor)— 
each  of  these  at  12  cts.  per  oz. 

JAMES  .1.  H.  GUEUORT, 

Marblehead,  Massachusetts. 

Dealer  in  every  variety  of  Garden  and  Flower  seed. 

New  Japan  Honeysuckle. 

Lonicera  brachypoda  aures  reticulatis. 

Parsons  &  Co.,  Flushing,  N.  Y., 

offer  this  beautiful  plant  at  two  dollars  each. 

The  leaves  are  green,  Willi  a  bright  golden  reticulation, 
giving  with  its  foliage  during  the  whole  season  an  effect  sur- 
passing that  of  flowers  which  bloom  only  for  a  week  or  two. 

FIELD  AND  GARDEN  SEEDS, 

Of  all  kinds,  among  which  will  be  found  all  the  varieties 
of  Grasses,  Clovers,  and  Spring  Grains.  Seed  Potatoes  and 
Corn,  Fruit  and  Ornamental  Tree  and  Shrub  Seeds. 

We  call  particular  attention  to  the  new  Union  Potato,  a 
very  good  variety.  Priced  Catalogues  to  be  had  on  applica- 
tion. K.  H.  ALLEN  &  CO., 

189  and  191  Water-street, 

New-York. 


BUTTER,      CHEESE, 
POULTRY,    EGffS, 

AND    FARM     PRODUCE 

OF  ALL  KINDS 

SOLD     OIV    COMMISSION. 

Constantly  on  hand,  for  sale.  Flour,  Fish,  Salt,  Mackerel, 
Pork,  Hums,  Lard,  Beans,  Dried  Fruit,  Soap,  Starch,  etc. 

COOK   &  NICHOLS,    Successors  to 

ISAAC  EMEXS,  236  FROXT-ST.,  XEWTORK. 

Refers  to  J.  DeT.amater,  Cashier  Marine  Bank.  N.  T.  City. 
Lewis  &  Brown.  No.  42  Front-st.,  X.  V.  City. 
Isaac  Emens,  Castle  Creek,  Broome  Co.,  N.  T. 

©^  NANSEMOND 

SWEET  POTATO  PLANTS. 

A  superior  article  for  Northern  planting 

TfrreS*     during  May  and  June.    Packed  10  go  sat'e- 

3:-''*M     lv    1""^    distances.     Price,    1000  $'.VJ5;  5000 

&\   -*10 :  10.000  $1«,  Our  plants  have  eiven  iiigh 

ly  satisfactory  resultsmany  years,  growing 

i;ood  crops  throughout  the  North.    Send 

stamp  for  our  circular  on  growing  and 

keeping,  with  experience  of  growers,  etc. 

Address 

MtJUP.AY  &  CO.. 
Foster's  Crossins, 

"Warren  Co.,  O. 

Sweet     Potato     Plants. 

Best  kind,  Nnnsemond,  re  idy  in  season.  May  and  June,  $'!.25 
per  1000,  packed  with  care,  sent  as  directed.  Send  orders 
early.    When  boxed  and  sentbv  mail  80c.  per  100. 

J.  C.  THOMPSON,  Tompkinsville,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y. 

NANSEMOND  SWEET  POTATO  PLANTS. 
You  can  grow  vour  own  Sweet  Potatoes  at  the  North. 
Price  of  plants  400  $'l;  1000  $2.?5;  5000  $10;  10.009  ?18.  Send 
for  my  circular,  giving  directions  for  cultivation  and  ex- 
perience of  growers.    Address 

M.  M.  MURRAY,  Loveland,  O. 

Garnet   Chili   Potatoes. 

For  sale  by  C.  B.  JANES,  Morrlsania.  Orders  left  with 
MclLVAIN  &  YOUNG,  No.  9  John-st.,  will  be  attended  to. 

Marblehead  Mammoth    Cabbage. 

The  largest  cabbage  in  the  world!  sometimes  weighing 
60  lbs.,  and  averaging  30  lbs.  each,  by  the  acre.  It  is  exceed- 
ingly tender,  sweet  and  rich.  Scores  of  farmers  in  the 
United  States  and  Canada  have  raised  them,  weighing  from 
25  to  53  lbs.  25  cents  per  package  ;  5  for  $1,00.  Also,  Stone 
Mason  Cabbage,  a  large,  sweet  and  tender  cabbage,  remark- 
ably reliable  for  heading.  23  cents  per  oz. ;  4  oz.  75  cents  ; 
1  lb.  $2,67. 

Early  Paris  Cauliflower— 25  cents  per  package. 

Varieties  of  Cucumbers,  eight  varieties  mixed  in  one 
package,  including  the  tinest  softs,  22  cents  per  ounce. 

Ward's  Nectar  Melox— The  best  of  all  green-fleshed 
melons ;  exceedingly  sweet,  rich  and  delicious.  25  cents 
per  package. 

Sorghum  Seed  {pure),  12  cents  per  package. 

JAMES  J.  H.  GREGORY, 

Seed  grower.,  Marblehead,  Mass. 

Every  variety  of  garden  and  flower  seed  at  city  prices. 

SEED     PEAS. 

Daniel  O'Rourke,  per  bushel $1.00 

Early  Rents,  per  bushel 3,00 

Early  Emperor,  per  bushel 3.00 

White  Marrow,  per  bushel 2.50 

Black  Eyed,  per  bushel 2.50 

Blue  Prussian,  per  bushel 2.50 

Bishop's  Long  Pod  Dwarf,  per  bushel 4.00 

FLAX    SEED. 

Clean,  for  sowing,  per  bushel $6,00 

CORN. 

Early  Sweet,  per  bushel $3.00 

FLOWER    SEEDS. 

For  Retail  Trade,  per  100  papers $2.00 

Andageneral  assortment  of  Garden,  Field  and  Frnitsecds 
Apply  to  or  address 

SHEPPARD  &  SEWARD, 

214  Pearl-street,  New- York. 

The   Student  Parsnip. 

This  was  originated  or  rather  "  ennobled  "  by  Prof.  Buck- 
man,  of  the  Royal  Agricultural  College,  Cirencester,  Eng- 
land, from  the  wild  Parsnip  a  native  of  Great  Britain.  It  is 
highly  recommended  bv  English  writers,  as  a  great  acquisi- 
tion.   Price  25  cents  per  packet,  post-paid. 

B.  K.  BLISS,  Springfield,  Mass. 

TREE  COTTON  SEED. 

A  lot  of  the  genuine  South  American  Tree  Cotton  Seed,  la 
ottered  for  sale  in  small  quantities,  to  farmers  and  others 
who  may  wish  to  experiment  in  raising  Cotton  in  the  Central' 
or  Northern  States.  This  seed  was  ginned  on  the  "  Double 
Cylinder  Saw  Gin,"  and  "Excelsior"  from  a  small  lot  of 
cotton  brought  to  this  country  from  Equador,  South  Ainerl- 
ca,  nud  was  raised  In  a  climate  differing  hut  little  from  our 
own.  The  fibre  of  this  cotton  is  very  strong  and  nearly  as 
long  as  Sea  Island:  it  yields  over  forty  per  cent,  of  clean 
cotton.  A  sample  of  this  cotton  may  be  seen  at  this  office, 
and  at  F.  &  L.  Many's,  48  Warren-street,  New- York.  Price, 
one  pint,  containing  about  1.500  seeds,  $1  ;  one  quart,  $1  75* 
one  peck,  $10.  One  hundred  seeds  put  up  In  an  envelope' 
will  be  sent  to  any  address,  postage  paid,  for  25  cents.  Or- 
ders may  be  addressed  to 

EDWARD  F.  BROWN, 
_  _         New-London.  Conn. 

or  F.  &  L.  MANY,  4S  Warren-st.,  New- York. 


TO    FARMERS, 
TO  DAIRYMEN, 

TO  COUNTRY  MERCHANTS. 

ALL  who  hare  for  Sale  : 

Sorghum   Sugar    and    Syrup, 
Furs      and      Skins, 
Fruits,  dry  and  green, 
Hops,  Talloiv, 


Cotton, 
Butter, 
Lard, 

Eggs, 
Game, 
Flour, 
Seeds, 


Wool, 
Cheese, 

Hams, 

Poultry, 

Vegetables, 

Grain, 
&c.,  &C. 


Can  have  them  well  sold  at  the  highest  prices 
in  New- York,  with  full  cash  returns  promptly 
after  their  reaching  the  City,  by  forwarding 
them  to  the  Commission  House  for  Country 
Produce,  of 

JOSIAII     CARPENTER, 

38  Jay-street,  New-York. 

JV.  B. — The  advertiser  has  had  abundant 
experience  in  this  business,  and  trusts  that  he 
will  continue  to  merit  patronage  by  the  most 
careful  attention  to  the  interest  of  his  patrons. 
The  articles  are  taken  charge  of  on  their  arri- 
val, and  carefully  disposed  of  promptly  to  good 
cash  customers,  and  cash  returns  made  imme- 
diately to  the  owner.  (The  highest  charge  made 
for  receiving  and  selling  is  five  per  cent.) 

A  New  York  Weekly  Price  Current  is  issued 
by  J.  Carpenter,  which  is  sent  free  to  all  his  pat- 
rons. A  specimen  copy  sent  free  to  any  de- 
siring it.  A  trial  will  prove  the  above  facts. 
For  abundant  references  as  to  responsibility,  in- 
tegrity, &c,  see  the  "  Price  Current." 

tW  Cash  advanced  on  consignments  of 
Produce. 

SEND    FOR 

A    FREE    COPY 

O  F 

PRICES  CURRENT, 

AND  ALL  OTHER  PARTICULARS, 

TO 

JOSIAH    CARPENTER, 
39  Jay-st.,  New- York. 

Sole  Agents  for  EDMONSTON'S 

SUPERIOR  SMOKING  &  CHEWIN0  TOBACCO. 
Send  for  a  Price  List. 


1803.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


159 


CANVASSING    AGENTS    OF    EXPERIENCE 
WANTED  upon  tlie  best 
ENGLISH  AND  GERMAN   EDITIOVS 
of  the 
HISTORY  OF  THE  GREAT  REBELLION, 
and  other 
first-class  and  good-payiug  Subscription  Books. 
Address  N.  C.  MILLER, 

No.  25  Park-Row,  New- York. 

CLARK'S    SORGO   JOURNAL. 

A  neat  little  monthly  of  16  large  Octavo  pages,  devoted  ex- 
clusively to  Northern  Sugar  Cane,  price  $1  per  year, 
mailed.  Each  number  worth  the  subscription  price  tor  a 
vear  to  anv  person  wishing  to  profit  by  the  experience  of 
others  in    tliis  important  branch  of  agriculture. 

In  ordering,  write  plainly  the  County  and  State,  as  well  as 
name  of  Post  Office  and  person.  WM.  H.  CLARK, 

Publisher  of  the  Sorgo  Journal,  Cincinnati.  O. 

ONION  CULTURE-Third  (new)  Edition. 

Tills  work  comprises  in  32  pages  all  the  particulars  for  suc- 
cessful Onion  Culture,  from  Selection  of  Peed  to  Marketing 
the  Crop— being  the  practical  directions  given  by  seventeen 
experienced  Onion  Growers,  residing  In  different  parts  of  the 
country.  Price  20  cents  (or  7  stamps),  sent  post-paid.  Ad- 
dress Publisher  of  Agriculturist. 

BOOKS    FOR    FARMERS 
AND    OTHERS. 

[Any  of  the  following  books  can  be  obtained  at  the  of- 
fice of  the  Agriculturist  at  the  prices  named,  or  they  will  be 
forwarded  by  mail, postpaid,  on  receipt  of  the  price.  Other 
books  not  named  in  the  list  will  be  procured  and  sent  to  sub- 
scribers when  desired,  if  the  price  be  forwarded.  All  of  these 
books  may  be  procured  by  any  one  making  up  a  libra- 
ry. Those  we  esteem  specially  valuable,  are  marked  with  a  M 
N".  C— For  books  going  over  1,500  miles,  18  cents  extra  on 
each  dollars  worth  must  be  sent  to  us  to  pre-pay  the  extra 
postage,  and  in  the  same  ratio  forfractional  parts  of  a  dollar. 

American  Bird  Fancier $0  25 

American  Fanner's  Encyclopedia 5  00 

American  Florist's  Guide     , 75 

Allen  on  the  Culture  ot  the  Grape   1  00 

Allen's  (R.  L.)  American  Farm  [took* 1  00 

Allen's  Diseases  of  Domestic  Animals 75 

Allen's  (L.  ¥,)  Rural  Architecture 1  25 

I'.rid^eiiian's  Fruit  Cultivator's  Manual 60 

BridgeniaiTe  Young  Gardener's  Assistant. 1  50 

Bridgcman's  Kitchen  Garden  Instructor. 60 

Bridtreman's  Florist's  Guide 60 

Brandt's  Age  of  Morses*  (English  and  German) 50 

Bieck's  Book  of  Flowers 1  25 

Browne's  American  Poultry  Yard 1  25 

Buist's  American  Flower  Garden  Directory 1  25 

Burst's  Family  Kitchen  Gardener* .        75 

Central  Park  Guide 25 

Chorl ton's  Grape-Grower's  Guide* 60 

Cole's  (S,  W.)  American  Fruit  Book 60 

D;uld's  (Geo.  H.)  Modern  Horse  Doctor 1  25 

Dadd's  (Geo.  H.)  American  Cuttle  Doctor 1  25 

Dana's  Sluck  Manual  lor  Farmers 1  00 

Downing's  Cottage  Residences* 2  50 

Downing's  Fruits  and  Fruit  Trees  of  America**. 2  00 

Downing's  Ladies'  Flower  Garden 1  50 

Eastwood  on  the  Cranberry*  50 

Employment  of  Women— By  Virginia  Penny* 1  50 

Every  Lady  her  own  Flower  Gardener 25 

Fessenden's  American  Kitchen  Gardener 25 

French's  Farm  Drainage  * 1  25 

Field's  (Thomas  W.)  Pear  Culture 1  00 

Fish  Culture 1  00 

Flint  (Charles  I,.)  on  Grasses* 1  50 

Flint's  Milch  Cows  and  Dairy  Farming* 1  50 

Fuller's  Strawberry  Culturist 10 

Goodale's  Principles  of  Breeding 100 

Gray's  Manual  of  Botany. 2  50 

Gucnon  on  Milch  Cows.... 60 

Hall's  i Miss)  American  Cookery. 1  00 

Harris'  Insects  Injurious  to  Vegetation,  plain 3  00 

do.       do.  do.  do.        colored  plates.    4  00 

Herbert's  Hints  to  Horsekeepers*-* 1  25 

Hooper's  Dog  and  Gun 25 

.lohnson  on  Manures 75 

Kemps  Landscape  Gardening 2.00 

Kidder's  Bee  Culture 50 

LaiiKstroth  on  the  Honey  Bee* 1  50 

Leslie's  Recipes  for  Cooking 1  25 

Leuchars'  Hothouses 1  25 

Liebig's  Lectures  on  Chemistry 50 

Linsley's  (D.  C.)  Morgan  Horses 1  25 

Manual  of  Agriculture  by  G.  Emerson  and  C.  L.  Flint.    1  00 

Mavhew's  Illustrated  Horse  Doctor 3  00 

McMahon's  American  Gardener* 2  50 

Meet] an's  Ornamental  Trees 15 

Milburn  on  the  Cow  and  Dairy.. 25 

Miles  on  the  Horse's  Foot 50 

Mistakes  of  Educated  Men 50 

National  Almanac  and  Annual  Kecord** 1  25 

Norton's  Scten title  Agriculture 75 

Olcott's  Sorgho  and  Imphee 1  00 

Our  Farm  of  Four  Acres.."....  (paper) 25 

Onion  Culture** 20 

Pardee  on  Strawberry  Culture 60 

Parlor  Gardener.. 75 

Parsons  on  the  Hose 125 

Pcdder's  Farmer's  Land  Measurer 50 

Phantom  Bouquet,  or  Skeleton  Leaves 1  00 

Phin's  Grape  Culture  1  25 

Ouinby's  Mysteries  ot  Bee  keeping" 1  25 

Randall's  Sheep  Husbandly    1  25 

Richardson  on  the  Dog 50 

Richardson  on  the  Hog 25 

Hoi  tins'  Produce  and  Heady  Reckoner 60 

Hose  Guitarist 25 

Shepherd's  Own  Book 2  00 

Skillful  Housewife      25 

Smith's  Landscape  Gardening 1  25 

Spencer's  Education  of  Children'"' 1  25 

Stewart's  (.lolm)  Stable  Book 1  25 

Tobacco  Culture**  25 

Todd's  (S.  E.)  Young  Farmer's  Manual 1  25 

Tucker's  Register  Ilural  Affairs 25 

Turner's  Cotton  Planter's  Mannal..., , ,'    j  25 

Watson's  American  Home  Garden 1  50 

Wood's  Class  Book  of  Botany..    2  50 

Yale  College  Agricultural  Lectures 25 

Youatt  and  Snooner  on  the  Horse 1  25 

Youatt  and  Martin  on  Cattle  1  25 

Youatt  on  the  Hog 75 

Youatt  on  Sheep 75 

Youmans'  Household  Sclcncfe" , 1  23 


Two    New  Publications 

FOR   THE    MELODEON,  HARMONIUM,    CABI- 
NET ORGAN,  &C. 

The  great  and  rapidly  increasing  popularity  of  these  in- 
struments, which  have  been  brought  to  such  a  high  degree  ot 
excellence  as  to  elicit  the  warm  commendation  of  artists, 
and  to  merit  a  place  in  every  drawing-room  ;  and  the  fre- 
quent complaint  of  the  inaccessibility  of  suitable  arrange- 
ments and  selections  from  the  best  works  of  the  great  mas- 
ters, for  such  instruments,  have  induced  these  publications. 
I. 

SCHOOL  FOH  THE  MELODEON,  HARMONIUM,  AND 
CABINET  ORGAN;  containing  Progressive  Lessons,  Stud- 
ies, and  Scales;  Songs,  Duets,  Trios,  and  Quartets;  Volun- 
taries, Interludes,  and  Recreative  Pieces ;  for  the  Parlor  and 
Choir;  carefully  prepared  with  reference  to  the  advance- 
ment of  Learners,  both  in  technical  ability  and  taste  aB  well 
as  the  true  development  of  the  powers  and  beauties  of  these 
instruments.    By  GEORGE  F.  ROOT. 

ThiB  work  is  not  a  compilation  from  Piano  Forte  instruc- 
tors, but  its  arrangements  are  all  carefully  adapted  to  the 
sustained  tones  oi  the  instruments  for  which  it  is  designed. 
Beginning  with  the  simplest  lessons  possible,  one  thing  is  in- 
troduced at  a  time,  the  course  of  instruction  being  carefully 
progressive  throughout.  It  varies  very  materially  from  all 
previous  instructors  for  these  instruments,  and  it  is  hoped 
will  be  found  to  supply  a  want  long  felt  by  learners  and 
teachers.  One  quarto  volume.  Price  $2. 
II. 

RECREATIONS  FOR  THE  CABINET  ORGAN,  HAR- 
MONIUM, OR  MELODEON;  consisting  or  Selections  of  the 
most  Popular  Themes,  from  aubek,  Beethoven,  Bkllini, 
Donizetti,  Handel,  Mozart,  Rossini,  Spohr,  Verdi,  and 
others.  To  be  published  In  a  series  of  six  numbers,  of  six- 
teen pages  each,  with  cover.  The  first  number  will  appear 
Saturday,  May  2d,  and  succeeding  numbers  every  other  Sat- 
urday thereafter. 

CONTENTS  OF  NUMBER  ONE: 

Duchess  op  Oldenrukg's  Hymn,  arr.  by  C.  Heineman; 
Chorus  from  Massaneillo,  Auber  ;  Hymn  from  Stradel- 
la,  Flotow;  Aria  from  Rigoletto,  Verdi;  Lrghetto 
from  Magic  Flute,  Mozart ;  Song  by  Kucken  ;  Serenade 

FROM  STRADELLA,  FlotOW  ;  CHORUS  FROM  A  NlGHT  IN  GRAN- 
ADA, Kreutzer;  Ballad  from  Zampa,  Herold:  Loreley; 
Aria  from  Romeo,  Bellini;  Portuguese  Hymn,  arr.  by 
Novello;  Nocturne  from  Martha,  Flotow;  German  Na- 
tional Song,  arr.  by  C.  Heiuemann. 

Price  30  cents  per  number,  or  $1.50  for  the  series,  on  re- 
ceipt of  which  they  will  be  sent  post-paid,  to  any  address. 
Published  by  MASON  BROTHERS,  New- York. 

Boston,  Mass.,  MASON  &  HAMLIN. 

Grape-Culture  and  Wine-Making. 

HARPER  &  BROTHERS, 

Franklin  Square,  New-York, 
Publish  this  Day  : 
HARASZTHY'S  WINE-MAKING,  &c.  Grape-Culture  and 
Wine-Making:  being  the  Official  Report  of  the  Commis- 
sioner appointed  to  Investigate  the  Agriculture  of  Europe, 
with  especial  Reference  to  the  Products  of  California.  By 
A.  Harasztiiy.    Maps  and  illustrations.    Svo.,  Cloth,  $5.00. 

Z3T~  Sent  by  mail,  postage  free,  on  receipt  of  $5. 
The  author  of  this  work,  himself  a  vine-grower  on  a  large 
scale,  was  appointed  by  the  Legislature-Of  California  as  com- 
missioner to  visit  Europe  to  investigate  the  ways  and  means 
best  adapted  to  promote  the  improvement  and  culture  of 
the  grape-vine  in  California.  He  visited  in  succession  the 
Chief  wine  districts  of  France,  Germany,  Spain,  and  Italy 
being  familiar  with  the  process  of  wine-making  as  practised 
in  his  native  Hungary.  His  credentials  gave  him  ready  ac- 
cess to  every  means  of  information.  The  proprietors  of  the 
leading  vineyards  and  wine  establishments  afforded  him  ev- 
ery facility  for  investigation,  and  he  collected  in  addition  a 
vast  amount  of  material  in  the  shape  of  reports  and  treatises 
upon  the  subject.  The  most  important  of  these  are  embodied, 
either  In  full  or  abridged  translations,  in  this  volume,  which 
abundantly  attests  the  rare  zeal,  fidelity,  and  intelligence 
with  which  he  performed  the  duties  of  his  commission.  Few 
more  readable  books  of  travel  have  been  produced  than  that 
portion  of  the  work  which  describes  his  own  personal  expe- 
riences and  observations.  He  always  keeps  in  view  the  spe- 
cial object  of  his  journey,  describing  fully  and  clearly  all  the 
processes  employed  in  the  culture  of  the  vine,  the  gathering 
of  the  grapes,  and  the  fabrication  of  wines :  noting  also  all 
other  subjects  which  could  relate  to  the  agricultural  interests 
of  his  adopted  State.  The  statistics  of  the  wine-culture, 
which  he  has  laboriously  collated,  arc  something  remarkable. 

TOBACCO. 

Just    How   to   Grow    it. 

Every  particular,  from  the  selection  of  the  Seed,  and 
preparation  of  the  ground,  to  the  Gathering,  Curing,  and 
Marketing  the  Crop,  is  given  in  a  work  issued  by  the 
Publisher  of  the  Amenca?i  Agriculturist,  and  sent  post- 
paid for  25  cents.  This  work  consists  of  a  selection  of 
the  best  fourteen  out  of  eighty-five  Essays,  prepared  by 
eighty-five  different  cultivators,  residing  in  various  parts 
of  the  Northern  and  Middle  States.  In  each  of  the  Essays 
contained  in  this  work,  the  writer  tells,  in  a  plain,  practi- 
cal, straight-forward  manner,  just  what  to  do,  and  how  to 
do  it.  Any  item  omitted  by  one  is  given  by  another,  so 
that  the  iiiformalion  is  full  and  complete.  Several  en- 
gravings illustrating  the  method  of  drying,  packing,  etc. 
The  work  is  worth  its  weight  in  silver  to  everyone  grow 
ing  even  a  small  plot  of  tobacco.         , 


Webb  South  Down  Sheep, 

AT    PRIVATE    SALE. 

I  have  now  on  hand  for  sale,  a  superior  lot  of  yearling 
rams,  and  a  few  of  different  ages  to  rent.  My  yearlings  are 
heavier  wooled  than  ever  before.  I  shall  also  sell  a  few  ram 
and  ewe  lambs  when  old  enough,  say  in  September.  Circu- 
lars giving  particulars  ready  in  May,  for  which  please  address 
me  at  Holindel,  New-Jersey.  J.  C.  TAYLOR. 

SoxxtIid.o>vxi    Slieep. 

I  offer  for  sale  my  Flock  of  pure  blood  Southdown 
Sheep,  consisting  of 

28  Ewes,  2,  3,  and  4  years  old. 
2  Rams,  2  and  3  years  old. 

17  Ewe  Lambs,  bix  weeks  old. 

18  Ram  Lambs      do.       do. 

The  Ewes  took  the  lliht  premium  at  the  Westchester  Co. 
Agricultural  Fair  last  Fall.    Address 

WARREN  LELAND, 
Highland  Farm,  Rye,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  or 
Metropolitan  Hotel,  New-York. 


Ayrshires. 


Three  thoroughbred  Bull  Calves,  from  the  best  milking 
stock,  for  sale  by 
Pedigrees  given.  H.  S.  COLLINS. 

Colliusville,  Conn. 

ALDERNET    STOCK.     THIRTY  COWS,  HEI- 
FERS, and  heifer  calves  for  sale.    Apply  to 

JOHN  T.  NORTON,  Trustee,  Farmington,  Conn. 

MALTESE  JACKS— Two    just   imported,   one 
over  fourteen  hands,  for  Bale  by  S.  B.  CAMANA, 

70  Pine-street, 
or  E.  C.  ESTES,  22  Cedar-st.,  New-York. 


TO  FARMERS 

AND     OTHERS. 

We  are  manufacturing  a  Genuine  Article  of  Fine,  Medi- 
um, and  Coarse  IH>\K  DUST,  or  RAW  BONE  SU- 
PERPHOSPHATE OF  LIME,  manufactured  from 
unbnrned  Bones,  containing  all  the  Animal  and  Chemical 
Fertilizing  Properties,  Please  address  the  Manufacturers, 
and  get  the  Intrinsic  Value  of  your  money. 
N.  B.  A  Liberal  Discount  made  to  Dealers  for  Cash, 
Address  A.  LISTER  &  BRO. 

Tarrytown,  Westchester  Co..  N.  Y„ 
Or   Newark.  N.  J. 


100,000 


BARRELS    OF     THE    LODI 
MANUFACTURING    CO.'S 
POU3DHETTE. 

FOR  SALE  BY 

JAMES  T.  FOSTER.  No.  66  Courtlandt-st..  NewYork. 
This  article,  prepared  from  the  nicht  soil  of  the  city  of 
NewYork.  is  the  CHEAPEST,  BEST,  and  MOST  POWER- 
FUL FERTILIZER  offered  in  the  market.  It  greatly  in- 
creases the  yield,  and  ripens  the  crops  from  two  to  three 
weeks  earlier,  at  an  expense  of  from  $A  to  $4  per  acre. 

Also,  FiFTY  TONS  OF  BONE  TA-FEW,  being  a  mixture 
of  bone  and  night  soil,  ground  fine,  at  $45  per  ton.  A  supe- 
rior article  for  grain  and  irrass. 

A  pamphlet  containing  directions,  &c.  may  be  had  free. 
Address  JAMES  T.  FOSTER. 

Care  of  Lodi  Manufacturing  Company, 

No.  )i6  Courtlandt-st.,  New-York. 

POUDKETTE. 

Farmers  and  Dealers  supplied  with  a  pure  article. 
Send  for  Farmers'  Aericnltnrnl  Almanuc  for  the  year  1863. 
GRIFFING,  BROTHER  &  CO.. 

60  Courtlandt-st.,  New- York. 

RHODES  SUPER-PHOSPHATE, 

THE  STANDARD  MANURE. 

Prepared  from  Bones  treated  with   Sulphuric  Acid,  uniform 
in  quality  and  regular  in  price. 

OATS,   CORN,  TOBACCO,  AND  ROOT  CULTURE, 
ALSO  TOP-DRESSING  ON  THE  GROWING  WHEAT. 

"RHODES'"— the  long  established  MANURE  in  the  Amer- 
ican market,  besides  having  European  reputation,  can  not 
he  excelled  for  the  above  seasonable  crops. 

Our  usual  large  stork  now  ready  for  delivery.  Dealers  and 
farmers  apply  to    HENRY  E.  MOR1NG.  General  Agent, 

97  Pearl-6t.,  near  Hanover  Square,  New- York. 

Or  B.  M.  RHODES  &  CO., 
82  Southst.,  Bowly'6  YVhart,  Baltimore,  Md. 

COE'S  SUPERPHOSPHATE  OF  LIME. 
Pure  Bone  Dust. 

The  exhorbitant  price  of  Peruvian  Guano,  makes  these  the 
cheapest  and  best  fertilizers  which  tiie  farmers  can  use. 
OTHER  FERTILIZERS  OF  ALL  KINDS. 

R.  H.  ALLEN  &  CO., 
New- York  Agricultural  Warehouse  and  Seed  Store, 
189  &  191  TYater-st.,  New- York. 

HOYT'S  AMMONIATED  BONE  SUPERPHOS- 
PHATE OF  LIME.    A  Substitute  for  Peruvinn  Guano. 
Sold  at  wholesale  and  rptail  hv 

GIUFFING,  BROTHER  &  CO., 

60  Courtlandt-st..  New- York 


GUANO. 

1  1  ryTONS  OF  GUANO  from  Saldanah  Bay 
i  1  •  Buperlor  article,  for  sale  at  the  low  price  of  i 
per  ton,  to  close  ft  consignment.   Apply  to 

WM.  H.  ROSS, 
No.  704  Broadway,  New- York. 


{35 


160 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


Contents  for  May,  1863. 


Agricultural  College  of  Michigan ...- 136 

Agricultural  Department  ;it  Washington 136 

A ni in als— Effect  of  Civilisation  —  138 

Bag  Holder -Cheap  Home-made Illustrated.. HO 

Beans— Hulling  before  Cooking 150 

Beans  and  Peas— Use  for  Old  Hoop  Skirts 146 

Beans— Lima— How  to  Plant 145 

Bee  Keeping  in  Minnesota 139 

Bees— Apiarv  in  May 133 

Bow  Pin— Improved Illustrated.  .140 

Boys  and  Girls'  Columns— Judge  not  from  Appear- 
ances—A Faithful  Dog— Translation  of  Curious 
Sentence— Game  of  Matching  Pairs— Puzzles  and 
Problems— Boys  and  Girls'  Garden— A  Farmer 
without  Arms— Question    about  Robins— A  Shadow 

Picture 10  Illustrations..  151-52-53 

Butler  Firkins— How  to  Sweeten 143 

Cactuses— Vegetation  in  S.  W.  Territories Illus.A44 

Carrots— Notes  on  Culture 142 

Cattle— Manaeement  of  Kicking  Cows !38 

Cauliflower— Directions  for  Culture 146 

Celery — H'»w  to  Grow 146 

Churn  Dash— A  Good  One Illustrated.  .149 

Clover— Sowing  Late 142 

Comforters— Washing 150 

Cooking  Hints— How  to  Cook  Asparagus— Cheap  Veg- 
etable Soup-Mrs.  Bunker's  Soup— A  Dish  for  Hard 
Times  -Corn  Bread  without  Milk— Transparent 
Pies-- Boiling  Potatoes— Queen  Victoria  Pudding- 
Milk  Pudding— Fruit  Cake— Apple  Fritters 150-51 

Corn— Hints  on  Raising 140 

Exhibition  Tables  at  Agriculturist  Office 153 

Farm  Work  in  May 129 

Flax  Cotion— Progress  in  Manufacture 140 

Flower  Garden  and  Lawn  in  May 133 

Flower  Garden— Arrangements  for  Spring 147 

Flowers — Annuals  for  the  Garden.. ..4  Illustrations.  .148 

Flowers  -  Notes  on  Bedding  Plants 147 

Food — Variety  Necessary 149 

Fruit  Garden  in  May 132 

Furs— Preparation  of 143 

Garden— Economizing  Room 146 

Garden— Kitchen  in  May 131 

Garden — Vegetable — Plan  for Illustrated. .  145 

Gate— Farm",  Easily  Made Illustrated.  .141 

Grape  Vines— Planting  and  Pruning 146 

Green  and  Hot  House*  in  May 133 

Grindstone— The  Agriculturist 2  Illustrations ..  153 

Horse  Cleaning  Implement Illustrated.  .141 

Horses — Making  I  hem  Over 139 

House  Cleaning— Hints  on       150 

Insects— Feeding  the  Chinch  Bug 143 

Insects— The  Currant  Worm 147 

Lawns  or  Grass  Plots — Trenching 144 

Market  Review,  Weather  Notes,  etc 154 

Millet— Experience  with 143 

Mole  Trap— Effective— Cheap Illustrated. .  140 

Onion  Culture— Hints  to  Beginners 142 

Orchard  and  Nursery  in  May 131 

Plants  and  Flowers  sent  for  Description 143 

Potatoes— Large  for  Seed  147 

Potatoes— Fl at  Cu  I tu re 141 

Poultry— Care  of  Fowls 139 

Poultry — Cost  of  Keeping. . .    139 

Poultry— Desirable  Breeds  of  Fowls J39 

Poultry— Raising  Turkeys 138 

Poultry— Tim  Bunker  and  Hen  Roosts 138 

Rope-end — How  to  Fasten 141 

Salads — Suitable  Plants  for 145 

Seed — How  much  per  acre 143 

Seeds  by  Mail— The  New  Law 143 

Sewing  Machines 154 

Sheep  and  Lambs — Care  of Illustrated. .  137 

Sheep— How  to  Obtain  Good  Stock 137 

Stammering — How  to  Prevent 150 

Stockings— JMixed  Cotton  and  Woolen 150 

Strawberry  Beds— How  to  Make Illustrated .  .146 

Sugar  from  the  Beet .142 

Strawberry  Exhibition— (Prize  List) 136 

Strawberry  Exhibition — Judges 136 

Suggestions  and  Notes  for  May.  .... .  Illustrated. .  129 

Tobacco  Essay— Plagiarism 136 

Vegetables,  Garden— Description  of  Less  Known 145 

Vineland  Lands — Notes  on 153 

Weed  Pu Her Illustrated..  141 

Wheat— Salt  on 141 

Women— Employments  of 149 

INDEX    TO    "BASKET,"    OR  SHORTER    ARTICLES. 

Agriculture  of  Mass 1341  Horses— Lice  on 134 

Almanac,  National 135  Horses— Warts  on 134 

American  Bee  Journal. .  135iLime — Quantity  of 135 

Am.  Farmer  and  Mech.  .135  Live  Forever  Weed 135 

Blackberries-Good....   134  Manure  Bill  of  England. 135 

Books — Am.  Cyclopaedia. 136| Man ure — Hair 135 

Books— Botanical 136  .Manure— Liquid 135 

Books— Grapes— Wine.  .136  Meadows— Moss  on 135 

Books— On  Vegetables.  .I361Millet  for  Poultry 135 


Boots  and  Shoes 135 

Cactus,  Non-flowering..  134 
Catalogues,  (Nursery). .  .130 

Cattle,  Lice  on 134 

Cecropia  Cocoon. ...  ,...i35 


Mole  Trap— Setting 135 

Money— How  to  Invest. .  133 

Opium  Poppy 134 

Peach  Orchard,  Starling.135 
Peddlers  of  Trees 136 


Chrysanthemums,  etc....l34IPomol.  Soc.  Lists 136 

Corn  Marker,  Improved  134|Potato,  Bulkley's  Seed'g.135 
Correspondents — Note  tol33  Potatoes,  Large  Product. 134 

Cotion— Tree 136|Promise—  Safe ...135 

Dogs  in  Ohio 1341  Pnget  Sound— Climate  atl35 

Egg— Large 134  Rats  Gnawing  Harness..  134 

Flax  Puller  Wanted 134|Rats— To  Expel 134 

Flax — Yield  per  Acre...  .134  Roses  and  Fuchsias 134 

Fruit  Locality— Good..    135fSheep—  Scab 135 

Gladiolus  A  Japan  Lily.. 134lShrubs  from  P'tent-office.135 

GraftrViR  Unnatural 134|Sketches  of  Bee  Houses. 135 

Grain  Cradle,  Invention. 134  Sorgho  in  Connecticut. .  .134 

Grape  Queries 134 '  Sorghum  Syrups  ..134 

grapery— Cold 1341  Sows  Overlaying  Pigs.  ..134 

Grapes  in  Spring  134  Strawberries  West  135 

Hay— Weight  in  Mows..  1341  Strawberry,  Prolong  S'n.  135 
Honey  Combs— Straight  l34|Subscribing— Good  Idea.134 
Hornets,  etc.— To  ExpeU34|  Weather  in  Illinois 134 


Weather  in  N.  H 135j Wheat— Winter  in  Iowa.134 

Weather  Notes 1 35|  Wilder— Breck 136 

Whale  Oil  Soap ,  .1341  Wine— Currant 135 

Wheat— Old  Seed 13&J  Worms  among  Verbenas.  134 


Good    Grape    Vines, 

FOR    A    FEW   DAYS    LONGER. 

The  offer  of  Delaware  and  Concord  Grape  Vines  made 
last  month,  will  continue  open  in  May  just  as  long  as  it 
will  do  to  send  the  vines  by  mail  or  otherwise.  We  have 
kept  them  back  from  starting,  by  covering  in  a  cool  place, 
and  if  the  weather  continues  as  cold  and  backward  as 
hitherto,  the  vines  can  be  safely  sent  up  to  the  10th,  and 
even  to  the  15lh  or  20th  of  May.— Let  all  who  desire  a 
grape  vine  or  two,  or  more,  of  the  very  best  out-door  sorts, 
embrace  the  present  opportunity  to  get  them  without  ex- 
pense, by  sending  one  or  more  subscribers.  There  are 
plenty  of  persons  who  ought  to  take  and  read  the  Ag^- 
culturist,  and  many  would  do  so,  if  their  attention  was 
drawn  to  it,  especially  at  the  beginning  of  the  Summer 
work.  As  soon  as  any  person  becomes  entitled  to  pre- 
mium vines,  acircularof  Directions  for  Culture,  etc.,  will 
be  forwarded,  and  the  vines  will  follow  in  two  or  three 
days,  (without  waiting  a  week  as  indicated  in  the  circular). 

Another  Offer- 
Any  premium  vines  secured  during  May,  but  too  late 
to  be  sent  this  Spring,  will  be  kept  growing  in  our  own 
grounds  during  the  Summer,  and  will  be  forwarded  as 
early  in  Autumn  as  it  will  do  to  send  them,  (one  for  each 
subscriber  received  this  month  at  $1  a  year.)  The  vines 
will  be  much  larger  then,  but  the  postage  will  be  only 
half  as  great.  Here  is  a  chance,  then,  to  help  enlarge 
our  subscription  list  all  through  this  month,  and  in  return 
for  the  trouble,  get  the  premium  vines  next  Autumn.  This 
offer  is  only  made  for  the  month  of  May,  or  June,  at  the 
latest.  All  premium  offers  of  every  kind  will  close  at  the 
middle  of  the  volume,  (in  July.) 


Strawberry    Premiums, 

EXTRA. 

We  are  growing  several  varieties  of  improved  straw- 
berries, and  are  on  Ihe  look-out  elsewhere,  for  any  new 
kinds  that  prove  valuable.  Last  Summer  we  distributed 
40,000  plants  of  the  Triomphe  de  Gand  Strawberry,  as 
premiums,  (10  or  more  for  each  new  subscriber,)  sending 
them  to  all  parts  of  the  country  with  remarkable  success. 
The  postage  on  plants  will  be  reduced  one-half  after 
July  1,  and  we  propose  to  send  out  some  more  good 
strawberry-plants  as  premiums  to  those  who  will  during 
May  and  Jane  procure  and  forward  subscribers  to 
the  present  volume  of  the  Agriculturist,  at  $1  a  year. 
The  Triomphe  de  Gand  will  be  distributed,  in  part,  if 
nothing  better  or  more  desirable  is  found.  In  July,  or 
after  seeing  the  fruit  and  observing  the  plants  this  sea- 
son, we  will  announce  what  kinds  will  be  distributed. 
Those  desiring  the  strawberry  premiums  will  please 
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—   < oO— »-• 

An       Exhibition       or       Pumpkins, 

Squashes,  Gourds,  etc.,  will  be  held  at  the  Ameri-" 
can  Agriculturist  Rooms,  next  Autumn,  of  a  similar1. 
character  to  the  one  last  year,  but  probably  on  a  still 
larger  scale.  The  list  of  prises,  and  other  particulars/* 
will  be  given  hereafter.  W»- merely  mention  the  matter 
now,  that  cultivators  may  be  preparing  for  it  in  season. 
Who  will  raise  the  largest  Pumpkin  or  Squash,  the 
greatest  yield  on  a  vine,  the  best  varieties  for  eating,  the 
finest  collection  of  Ornamental  Gourds,  etc.?  Don't 
let  Connecticut  get  more  than   one   first  premium. 


Books  I\ot  Advanced. — By  reference  to 
the  list  on  page  159,  it  will  he  seen  that  the  prices  remain 
the  same  for  May  as  for  April,  with  two  or  three  ex- 
ceptions. Several  are  struck  out  because  no  longer  is- 
sued, and  some  additions  are  made.  This  list  is  good 
only  for  the  month  in  which  it  appears,  as  during  the 
scarcity  of  paper,  publishers  are  continually  advancing 
I   prices,  and    suspending    publication    of    many   books. 


The    Special   Premiums. 

EXPLANATION. 

Our  readers  will  notice  that  we  are  offering  Special 
Premiums  at  this  season.  The  fact  is,  we  are  making 
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Our  general  expenses,  aside  from  printing  paper  and  press 
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For  the  Farm,  Garden,  and  Household. 

A  thorough-going,  RELIABLE,  and  PRACTICAL 
Journal,  devoted  to  the  different  departments  of  SOIL 
CULTURE— such  as  growing  field  CROPS  ;  orchard 
and  garden  PRUITS ;  garden  VEGETAHLES  and 
FLOWERS ;  trees,  plants,  and  floweus  for  the 
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AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST, 


FOR   THE 


H'ariTi,    Q-arden,    a,nd   Household.. 


"ACKICUI/rtTKE  IS  THE  MOST  HEALTHFUL,  3IOST  USEFUL,  ANI>  MOST  NOHLE  EMPLOVMEST  OF  MAN." 


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\ 


VOLUME  XXII— No.  6. 


NEW-YORK,     JUNE,     1863 


NEW  SERIES— No.  197. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1863,  by 
Or.AXOK  .Hidd,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of 
the  United  States  for  the  Southern  District  of  New-York. 
C~.<"  Other  Journals  are  invited  to  copy  desirable  articles 
freely,  (/"each  article  he  credited  to  American  AgricuUtuiM. 


Suggestions   and   Notes  for   the   Month. 

In  no  month  of  the  year,  are  the  poetry 
and  prose  of  farm  life  more  mingled,  than  in 
the  present.  Earth,  air,  and  sky,  are  full  of  in- 
spiration. Each  element  seems  striving  to  ex- 
press the  joyous  fullness  of  life  which  Spring 
only  awakened.  The  fervid  glances  of  the  sun 
are  answered  hy  blushing  fields  of  beauty  upon 
the  earth.  The  morning  and  evening  clouds 
seem  to  vie  with  the  plains  beneath  in  producing 
exquisite  scenes  for  the  eye  of  the  artist.  Light- 
footed  zephyrs  dance  along  the  plains,  their 
tresses  laden  with  perfumes  showered  from  or- 
chard and  forest.  Joyous  notes  echo  from  the 
flocks  and  herds  upon  the  hillside,  and  a  per- 
petual chorus  of  song  from  the  blissful  birds 
reminds  the  hearer  of  heavenly  symphonies. 
It  is  a  striking  fact  that  in  nature  the  period 
of  the  greatest  activity  is  accompanied  with  the 
highest  display  of  beauty.  When  her  most  im- 
portant works  are  to  be  executed,  her  servants 
don  their  holiday  attire.  Those  gorgeous 
clouds  are  her  industrious  water-carriers ;  the 
refreshing  breezes  that  sweep  across  the  fields, 
convey  nutriment  to  the  myriads  of  leaves  that 
the -genial  sun  has  called  forth;  and  these,  so  ra- 
diant in  their  livery  of  green,  are  each  rapidly 
elaborating  the  nourishment  that  shall  add  to 
the  parent  growth.  The  bees  that  so  gaily  hum 
from  flower  to  flower,  are  not  only  gathering 
provision  for  their  own  sustenance,  but  dis- 
tributing the  pollen  by  which  the  flowers  are 
to  be  fertilized,  and  without  which,  in  large 
measure,  their  beauty  would  be  fruitless.  The 
birds,  in  addition  to  filling  the  air  with  sweet 
sounds,  arc,  with  watchful  eyes,  guarding  the 
fields  from  depredations  which  no  human  scru- 
tiny or  skill  could  avert.  On  every  tree,  shrub, 
and  flower,  voracious  insects  are  preying,  that 
the  superabundance  of  vegetation  may  not  it- 
self become  noxious;  but,  unchecked  by  the 


birds,  these  otherwise  useful  little  creatures  be- 
come a  most  intolerable  pest.    Thus,  in  every 
field,  labor  and  the  signs  of  rejoicing  go  hand 
in  hand.    Surely  this  is  the  visible  testimony  of 
the  Creator  to  His  estimate  of  labor;  it  is  His 
proclamation  of  the  design  that  happiness  shall 
be  found,  not  in  passive  reception  of  outward 
appliances,  but  in  the  active  use  of  the  faculties 
He  has  bestowed.   Surely  as  we  rise  in  the  scale 
of  being,   the   enjoyments    of  toil   should   be 
lightened.     If  the  birds  sing  while  laboriously 
gathering  food  for  their  young,  shall  not  man 
be  joyful  while  pursuing  his  nobler  avocations  ? 
But  the  picture  has  its  prosaic  background.     It 
is  delightful  to  sing  of  pleasant  fields,  but  not 
so   enlivening  to   hoe   corn.     The  flowers  are 
charming  to  look  upon,  but  the  cultivator  finds 
little  delight  in  them  when,  on  the  thistle  and 
the  daisy,  they  require  vigorous  work  for  their 
extirpation.     Much  of  pleasure  will  be  found 
in  the  poetry  of  the  month,  and  the  more  its 
perception  is  cultivated,  the  more  may  the  hus- 
bandman be  cheered  in  bis  toil ;  but  he  finds 
that  stern  purpose  is  needed  to  hold  him  to  the 
heavy  task   of  field   labor.    He  may  he  en- 
couraged by  the  thought  that  his  work  now  is 
only  preparatory.     His  time  of  joy  will  come 
when  the  fields  shall  have  been  despoiled  of 
beauty,  the  birds  ceased  their  song,   and   the 
winds  only  sigh  over  the  ended  harvest.     He 
should  also  be  nerved  to  patient  endurance  by 
the  knowledge  that  his   end   is   higher    than 
merely  to  change  the  form  of  outward  things. 
By  industry  and  its  accompanying  virtues  he  is 
working  out  a  character  whose  development 
but  commences  here.     He  is  sowing  seeds  that 
are  to  spring  up,  and  blossom,  and  bear  peren- 
nial   fruit   in   a  land   that   knows  no  Winter, 
where  activity  and  enjoyment  are  co-eternal. 

Work  for  tlie  Farm,  Household,  etc. 

The  labors  of  this  month  will  in  large  measure 
decide  as  to  the  excellence  of  the  great  staples, 
corn,  potatoes,  and  other  hoed  crops.  If  the 
weeds  be  kept  in  check,  and  the  soil  mellow,  a 
favorable  season  will  do  the  remainder.  With- 
out good  tillage,  it  is  vain  to  expect  more  than 
a  light  crop,  however  propitious  the  weather 
may  be.  Thorough  cultivation  will  go  far  to 
make  up  for  what  may  be  lacking  in  weath- 
er, and  also  in  the  richness  of  soil.  A  good 
hoeing  is  equivalent  in  its  effects  to  no  small 
amount  of  manure.  As  far  as  practicable  sub- 
stitute horse  power  for  hand  labor.  A  good 
cultivating  instrument  will  save  one  or  more 
hired  hands,  and  thus  more  than  pay  for  it- 
self  in    these   times   of  scarcity  of  men. 

Barns  and  S/ieds  will  soon  be  needed  for  hay 
and  grain  crops.  Clear  out  all  rubbish,  have 
floors  and  scaffold-poles  in  order,  and  every- 
thing in  readiness  before  the  pressing  work  of 
haying  and  harvesting  commences.  Much  la- 
bor may  be  saved  by  properly  grading  the 
grounds  in  front  of  the  entrances  where  loads 


are  to  be  drawn  in.  We  have  seen  a  large  hay 
crop  taken  in  where  each  load  must  be  jerked 
over  a  rise  of  several  inches  at  the  door-sill. 
Where  large  quantities  of  hay  are  to  be  stored, 
it  is  well  to  provide  board  tubes  with  holes 
pierced  in  the  sides,  to  be  set  upright  in  the 
mows,  to  secure  good  ventilation. 

Barn-yards.— Cattle-droppings  deposited  dur- 
ing the  Summer  should  not  be  allowed  to  dry 
out  and  partially  waste.     Cover  the  ground 
with  muck,  and  plow  it  over  once  a  month,  01 
oftener,   to  incorporate   it   with    the    manure. 
Now  while  the  yards  are  nearly  empty,  arrange 
for  draining.   Convey  wash  from  the  manure  to 
adjoining  fields,   where   it   should    be    spread 
by  small  channels,  to  prevent  too  rank  growth. 
Beans.— Plant  where  corn  has  failed,  and  in 
orchards  needing  tillage.  Read  article  on  p.  177. 
Bees.— This  is  an  important  month  with  them. 
For  full  directions,  see  "Apiary"  on  page  164, 
Beets. — Sow    maugel-wurzel    and    sugar   va- 
rieties for  feeding  next  Winter,  if  not  already 
done.     Read  "  Try  a  Few  Roots,"  on  page  177. 
Butter  made  this  month  is  usually  considered 
the  best  produced  during  the  year.    Pasture  is 
fresh  and  abundant,  cows  have  regained  their 
strength,  and  with   right  management  every- 
thing is  favorable  to  an  abundant  flow  of  rich 
milk.     A  little  painstaking  in  the  dairy  will 
make  a  large  difference  in  the  cash  returns. 
For  large  dairying  a  building  devoted  to  the 
purpose  is  indispensable.     It  will  greatly  fa- 
cilitate operations  to  have  spring  water  in  or 
near  the  premises.     The  temperature  of  the 
milk  and  cream  should   be  kept  uniform  at 
about  55°.     Observe  the  utmost  cleanliness  in 
every  department?,    Vessels  for  milk  or  cream 
should    be    scalded    immediately    after    use, 
thoroughly  dried,   and   well   aired.     Keep   tin 
utensils  bright ;  they  are  preferable  to  wood, 
for  receiving  milk.     See  "  Which  are  the  Best 
Milk-Pans?"  on  page  181.    New  tubs  should  be 
scalded  with  buttermilk  before  using,   to  re- 
move the  taste  of  the  wood.    Have  all  vessels 
for  packing  and  marketing  neatly  painted,  or 
scoured  bright,  and  plainly  marked  with  the 
owner's  name,     Butter  made  this  month  may, 
with  proper  care,  be  kept  until  Winter,  when 
much  better  prices  can  be  realized.     See  p.  181. 
Cabbages  for  late  crops  may  be  planted  out 
through  the  entire  month.     See  Calendar  for 
last  month,  and  also  page  172,  this  number. 
Calves  may  be  gradually  induced  to  drink 
sour  milk,  and  also  oatmeal  and  milk  or  water, 
by  adding  a  little  at  a  time  to  their  feed.     This, 
with  good  sweet  pasture,  will  keep  them  thriv- 
ing.    A  calf  well  cared  for  during  the  first  year 
or  two,  will  be  every  way  superior  to  an  animal 
neglected  at  this  important  season  of  growth. 
Carrots. — Although  late,  a  fair  crop  maybe  re- 
alized during  a  favoral  ile  season,  by  sowing  early 
this  month.    Thin  to  six  inches  apart,  and  keep 


169 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[June, 


well  liocd.  The  work  may  be  much  facilitated  by 
a  carrot-weeder  worked  by  horse  power,  or  if  baud 
labor  be  employed,  by  a  broad-bladcd  hoe  con- 
structed especially  fur  the  purpose. 

Cattle. — Keep  working  cattle  in  good  condition 
through  the  season,  by  feeding  grain  as  needed, 
and  allowing  plentiful  pasture.  Do  not  allow  them 
to  run  hi  the  road,  away  from  your  own  premises. 

Corn.— Owing  to  the  late  season,  much  will 
probably  remain  to  be  planted  early  this  month. 
The  R.  I.  Premium  and  Improved  King  Philip  are 
quick  .maturing  sorts,  suitable  for  late  planting. 
An  early  growth  may  be  hastened  by  dropping 
ashes,  superphosphate,  or  guano,  in  the  hill.  These 
should  be  mixed  and  covered  with  soil;  the  seed 
would  be  injured  by  contact  with  them.  Soaking 
and  tarring  the  seed,  and  drying  with  lime  or 
plaster,  will  also  hasten  germination,  and  aid  in  re- 
pelling birds  and  insects.  From  its  first  appearance 
above  ground,  corn  should  be  kept  free  from  weeds, 
and  the  soil  loose.  Leave  not  more  than  four 
stalks  to  the  hill,  and  replant  all  missing  hills.  A 
top-dressing  of  ashes  and  plaster  upon  the  hills, 
and  guano  scattered  between  the  rows  and  plowed 
in,  will  be  of  service  in  feeding  the  crop,  especially 
upon  light  soils.  Corn  is  a  gross  feeder,  and 
worn-out  soil  can  scarcely  be  too  highly  manured. 

Cotton. — Cultivate  as   directed   above   for  corn. 

Grain-Fields. — Mark  the  earliest  and  best  por- 
tions to  be  harvested  separately  for  seed,  and  take 
out  weeds  by  hand  before  the  grain  is  headed  out. 
In  Southern  localities  catling  may  commence  be- 
fore the  close  of  the  month.  Wheat  and  rye  are 
ripe  enough  for  harvest,  when  the  berry  is  just  out 
of  the  milk,  and  firm  enough  to  bear  moderate 
pressure    of   the    thumb-nail    without    breaking. 

JIaying  is  too  often  delayed  until  the  grass  is 
over-ripe.  Cut  grass  and  clover  when  just  passing 
out  of  bloom.  If  left  later,  much  of  its  nourishing 
substance  is  converted  into  woody  fibre  of  little 
value  for  feeding.  Mowing  machines,  horse-rakes, 
and  horse  pitchforks,  will  be  of  great  service  dur- 
ing the  present  year  of  scarce  help.  They  will  pay 
on  ail  farms  where  there  is  much  grass  to  cut.  Hay 
caps  will  in  most  instances  pay  for  themselves  in 
a  single  season.  They  not  only  save  much  damage 
from  rains,  but  by  their  use  grass  can  be  cured 
without  deterioration  from  dew,  and  kept  unin- 
jured until  hauling  can  be  conveniently  attended 
to.  A  good  barometer  will  also  be  of  great  service 
ill   determining   when   it   is   safe    to   cut   largely. 

Norses. — Give  feed 'according  to  amount  of  work 
required.  It  is  poor  economy  to  keep  a  hard- 
working horse  on  grass.  Mares  with  young  foals 
do  best  upon  green  feed,  with  an  allowance  of  oats. 

Manure-Tanking  is  in  order  at  all  seasons.  Keep 
the  pigs  at  work  composting.  Pile  up  cattle-drop- 
pings in  the  yard  and  cover  them  with  muck,  or 
spread  plenty  of  muck  in  enclosures,  to  be  occa- 
sionally turned  over  with  the  plow.  Add  all  weeds 
and  refuse  from  the  garden  and  the  vicinity  of  the 
dwelling  to  the  compost  heap.  Arrange  the  privy 
so  that  its  deposits  can  be  made  available.  When 
there  is  opportunity,  dig  out  muck  from  swamps, 
to  be  dried  during  the  season  and  carted  to  the 
barn-yard  in  Autumn. 

Millet  sown  any  time  before  the  middle  of  this 
month  will  yield  a  supply  of  forage  for  feeding 
green  in  August,  or  it  may  be  cured  for  winter  um\ 

Pastures. — Follow  instructions  in  May  Calendar. 

lias  sown  the  first  of  June  will  yield  excellent 
food  for  swine,  to  be  fed  green  with  the  straw,  or 
ripened,  and  fed  alone   or  ground   with  oats. 

Ibtatoes. — Keep  well  hoed  until  blossoming.  Hill 
moderately  if  at  all.  High  hilling  induces  the  set- 
ting of  additional  tubers  along  the  stem,  which 
yield  only  "small  potatoes."  Top-dress  liberally 
with  ashes  and  plaster,  or  with  lime  alone. 

Poultry.—  Keep  them  in  the  poultry-yard  until 
after  noon,  that  they  may  deposit  their  eggs  in  the 
appropriate  place.  Scattered  hens'  nests  are  a 
premium  to  skunks  and  other  prowlers.  Allow 
uone  to  sit  after  the  middle  of  this  month.     Allow 


young  chickens  access  to  the  garden  and  fruit-yard, 
to  destroy  insects.  Cleanse  and  whitewash  their 
apartments  frequently.  Liquid  manure  made  from 
their  droppings  is  an  excellent  application  for 
vines  and  other  plants  in  the  garden. 

Rutabagas  and  Swedish  Turnips  should  be  got  in 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  month.  Read  the 
article  "Try  a  few   Roots,"  given   ou   page  177. 

Sheep  and  Lambs. — Wash,  if  it  must  be  done,  as 
soon  as  the  weather  admits.  Read  article  on  this 
subject  on  page  170.  Trim  off  all  tag-locks  and 
filth  before  shearing.  Mark  each  ewe  plainly,  im- 
mediately after  removing  the  fleece,  and  designate 
superior  ewes  to  be  retained  as  breeders.  Dock 
and  castrate  lambs  if  not  already  done,  and  guard 
against  the  fly  by  smearing  the  wounds  with  tar. 
See  "Cure  of  Foot-Rot,"  page  171,  this   number. 

Son/hum  for  forage  may  be  drilled  in  or  sown 
broadcast  any  time  this  month.   Cultivate  like  corn. 

Sugar  Seels  and  Mangels. — See  article  on  p.  177. 

Swine. — Keep  them  growing  with  plenty  of  sour 
milk,  and  a  little  grain  or  bran.  Allow  them  the 
range  of  the  orchard,  which  they  will  cultivate 
sufficiently,  and  greatly  benefit  by  destroying 
grubs  and  insects   in   unsound  fruit   as    it   falls. 

Tobacco. — Transplant  about  the  middle  of  the 
month,  according  to  season  and  locality.  For  full 
directions  see  Prize  Article  on  page  108,  (April 
number;)  also,  the  work  on  Tobacco  Culture  pub- 
lished at  this  office,  as  noticed  in  the  advertisements. 

Tools. — Save  hired  help  by  using  the  best  imple- 
ments— those  worked  by  horse  power,  as  far  as 
practicable.  Provide  all  the  necessary  utensils 
before  commencing  the  haying    and    harvesting. 

Weeds  need  only  neglect  to  thrive  rigorously. 


Orrliard  and  Nursery. 

The  backwardness  of  the  Spring  has  prolonged 
the  season  of  filling  orders  much  beyond  the  usual 
time,  but  with  the  exception  of  sending  out  ever- 
greens, the  business  is  well  over,  and  the  nursery- 
man can  give  his  attention  to  the  remaining  stock. 
Nursery  rows  will  need  the  plow  or  cultivator  to 
be  run  through  them  and  the  hand  hoe  should  be 
used  between  trees.  Good  nurseries  show  no  weeds. 

Birds  should  be  looked  upon  as  the  friends  of  the 
fruit  euiturist  and  no  mischievous  boys  should  be 
allowed  to  molest  them  on  their  nests. 

Budded  Stocks  should  be  looked  after,  and  the 
vigorous  growth  from  the  bud  securely  tied  before 
it  is  broken  by  the  winds  or  by  its  own  weight. 
Remove  all  suckers   that   start  from  the  6toeks. 

Evergreens. — As  noted  on  page  170,  may  still  be 
removed    if  the    roots    are    kept    from    drying. 

Orafts  should  lie  examiucd  and  grafting  wax  re- 
placed where  needed.  Remove  all  suckers  which 
spring  from  the  stock  ;    they  will  rob  the  graft. 

Insects. — Especial  vigilance  is  needed  this  month. 
We  have  given  elsewhere  articles  on  the  curculio 
and  scale  insect.  The  tent  and  other  caterpillars 
should  be  watched  for,  and  their  nests  destroyed. 
A  brush  made  for  the  purpose  is  very  useful  in  re- 
moving them,  or  a  swab  wet  with  kerosine  oil  may 
b  .'used.  Look  after  them  early  in  the  morning 
when  they  will  be  found  "  at  home." 

Layers  may  be  made  of  evergreen  and  deciduous 
shrubs  and  trees — a  good  way  to  get  strong  plants. 

Manure. — Give  to  bearing  trees  a  generous  quan- 
tity of  that  well  decomposed.  Our  best  cultivators 
are   yearly   more   in   favor   of   surface    manuring. 

Mulch  all  newly  planted  trees,  evergreens  espec- 
ially, by  covering  the  ground  as  far  as  the  roots  ex- 
tend, with  straw,  sawdust,  chips,  or  other  litter. 
This  will  keep  the  soil   moist  aud  save  watering. 

Pruning. — For  deciduous  trees,  next  month  is 
preferable,  though  it  may  be  done  at  the  last  of 
this  month.  Attend  to  young  orchards,  cutting  out 
all  limbs  that  cross  and  chafe  others,  and  thin  out 
the  center.  Do  not  cut  for  the  sake  of  cutting,  but 
with  au  object.    Aim  to  leave  the  tree  compact  and 


well  balanced  with  the  center,  not  too  much  crowd- 
ed. Do  not  trim  off  the  lower  limbs  so  as  to  leave 
a  long  naked  trunk.  Many  evergreens  naturally 
take  a  pleasing  shape,  while  others  need  the  knife. 
Straggling  shoots  should  be  shortened  in,  and  all 
shoots  which  have  a  tendency  to  interfere  witli  the 
main  leader  should  be  removed.  Do  not  trim  off 
the  lower  branches  unless  injured  or  diseased.  The 
most  beautiful  evergreens  arc  those  which  have 
their  lower  limbs  spreading  out  near  the  ground. 

Seedlings  of  nursery  stock,  especially  evergreens, 
need  shading.  This  can  be  done  by  branches  laid 
across  a  rude  frame,  3  or  4  feet  above  the  bed,  or  by 
sticking  leafy  twigs  rather  thickly  over  the  surface 
of  the  bed,  to  give  partial  shade  to  young  plants. 

Pinching  should  be  done  upon  such  shoots  of 
pear  and  peach  trees  as  tend  to  grow  too  long; 
this  will  induce  the  formation  of  more  fruit  buds. 

Tliivning. — Where  more  fruit  has  set  than  can  bo 
well  grown  and  well  ripened,  thin  them  out  freely. 

Weeds. — The  nursery  should  be  kept  entirely  free 
of  weeds,  not  only  between  the  rows,  but  among 
the  plants  in  the  rows.     Small  weeds  die  easiest. 

Mack  Knot. — Cut  off  infested  limbs  as  soon  r.s 
the  knot  appears.  Free  use  of  the  knife,  and  burn- 
ing the  cuttings  will  eradicate  this  if  done  in  time. 


Kitclicn  Garden. 

[The  hints  offered  in  these  pages  arc  adapted  to  the 
latitude  of  New-York  and  westward  to  and  through 
central  Iowa.  The  slight  variation  needed  will  be 
made  by  those  residing  northward  or  southward.] 

This  month  brings  abundant  labor,  but  it  is 
cheered  by  the  rapidly  increasing  returns  which  the 
garden  is  making.  The  table  should  every  day  pre- 
sent a  pleasing  variety  afforded  by  the  garden.  As- 
paragus, greens  of  various  kinds,  lettuce,  cress,  and 
radishes,  and  an  abundance  of  rhubarb  for  sauce 
and  pies,  contribute  to  our  present  enjoyment, 
while  the  later  crops  are  full  of  promise  for  the  fu- 
ture. Whoever  would  know  what  good  vegetables 
arc,  should  have  them  seasoned  with  his  own  labor. 

Asparagus. — The  cutting  should  not  be  continued 
beyond  the  middle  of  the  month  or  the  roots  will 
be  injured.    Hoe  off  weeds  and  let  the  Snoots  grow. 

Beans. — Continue  to  plant.  Sec  article  on  page 
177.  Limas,  if  planted  early  this  month  and  stimu- 
lated by  liquid  manure,  will   ripen   the  crop. 

Beets. — The  main  crop  should  be  put  in  by  the 
middle  of  the  month.  Hoe,  weed,  and  thin  those 
planted  earlier.  The  young  beets,  roots  and  tops, 
arc  by  many  persons  preferred  to  all  other  greens. 

Cabbage  and  Catdiflowers. — These,  together  with 
the  rest  of  the  tribe,  such  as  kale,  broccoli,  and 
brussels  sprouts,  need  similar  treatment.  Trans- 
plant as  soon  as  large  enough.  Seed  put  in  as  late 
as  the  first  of  the  month  will  in  most  seasons  make 
a  crop.  All  these  plants  are  subject  to  the  attacks 
of  various  insects,  as  mentioned  in  an  article  on 
page  172.  Give  all  frequent  hoeings.  When  there 
is  a  6pare  moment,  hoe  cabbages,  etc.  ;  it  will  pay, 
and  so  will  a  frequent  persuasion  of  liquid  manure. 

Carrots. — If  the  backward  season  has  prevented 
an  earlier  sowing,  seed  put  in  now  will  make  a  good 
crop.  Hoe  and  thin  early.  Thin  from  four  to 
six  inches  in  the  rows.  Work  this  aud  all  other 
root  crops   before   the  weeds  get  the  start. 

Celery.  —  Prepare  trenches  and  set  out  early 
plants  as  directed  last  month,  on  page  14t>.  Some 
cultivators  raise  the  plant  upon  the  surface  and 
blanch  it  by  earthing  up  after  it  is  grown  It  is 
found  that  the  flavor  is  much  less  delicate  when 
treated  in  this  way.  To  get  stocky  plants  for  the 
late  crop  prick  out  the  seedlings  into  another  bed. 

Com. — If  long  cold  rains,  such  as  have  pre- 
vailed around  New-York,  have  injured  the  early 
planting,  loose  no  time  in  rcsecding  the  ground. 
Continue  to  plant  for  succession  every  ten  days  or 
two  weeks  until  the  1st  of  July.  There  is  nothing 
better  than  the  Stowell  for  the  late  and  main  crop. 
Manage  to  have  a  full   supply  to  dry  for  winter. 


1803.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


1G3 


Cucumbers. — These,  like  children,  require  great 
care  until  they  can  ruu  alone.  The  striped  bug  is 
the  great  enemy.  The  protecting  frame8  directed 
in  last  month's  Calendar,  the  free  use  of  ashes, 
plaster,  or  lime,  and  hand  picking  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, must  lie  relied  uponas  preventives.  Their  rap- 
id growth  must  he  forwarded  by  frequent  hocings 
aud  the  application  of  liquid  manure  during  moist 
spells.  The  cucumbers  will  soon  get  out  of  reach 
of  the  bugs  which  prefer  young  and  tender  plants 
to  old  oucs.  It  is  advantageous  to  put  in  seeds  at 
intervals  of  a  few  days,  to  furnish  a  supply  of  tender 
leaves  to  attract  insects  from  the  older  plants.  Cu- 
cumbers for  pickles  should  be  planted  this  month. 

Egg  Plants.— Plant  out  as  soon  as  cool  nights  arc 
over.  Have  the  bed  well  enriched,  hoe  frequently, 
aud  give  liquid  manure.  The  crop  is  late  at  best. 
Take  every  pains   to  promote  rapid  early  growth. 

Endive. — Sow  for  Summer  use,  and  thin  out  or 
transplant  in    the  same   manner  as   for    lettuce. 

Insects.—  This  is  emphatically  the  war  month  in 
the  garden,  and  as  the  insects  go  through  the  dif- 
ferent stages  of  egg,  larva,  pupa,  aud  perfect  insect, 
a  "change  of  base"  will  be  required  in  our  cam- 
paign. The  destruction  of  a  moth  or  other  perfect 
insect  prevents  deposition  of  eggs,  and  the  crush- 
ing of  a  cluster  of  eggs  saves  future  trouble  with 
the  larvie.  The  careful  observer  will  sec  frequent 
opportunities  for  nipping  trouble  in  the  bud,  and 
be  able  to  keep  down  his  insect  enemies.  Crush- 
ing the  eggs,  trapping  or  catching  the  moths  nd 
beetles  in  opeu  bottles  of  sweetened  water,  dusting 
the  larvae  with  lime  or  ashes,  or  drenching  with 
soap-suds  are  the  principal  tactics  to  be  practised. 

Lettuce. — Plant  in  unoccupied  places  for  succes- 
sion. If  possible  put  the  later  transplanting!! 
where  they  will  be  shaded  during  the  heat  of  the 
day.  As  the  season  becomes  hotter,  lettuce  runs  to 
seed  early  aud   must  then  give    place   to  endive. 

Melons. — These  require  essentially  the  same  care 
as  cucumbers.  Both  are  benefited  by  pinching  off 
the  leadiug  shoot  to  induce  the  formation  of  side 
branches   on   which   the   fruit  is   chiefly  borne. 

Onima^— Forward  their  early  growth  by  hoeing, 
weeding,  and  thinning  to  3  or  4  inches  in  the  rows. 
In  some  localities  the  maggot  of  the  onion  fly 
causes  great  injury  to  the  crop.  This  Spring  a 
small  pamphlet  was  published  by  S.  Truesdale  ife 
E.  K.  Cuburn,  Manchester,  N.  II.,  which  for  a  dol- 
lar gave  their  specific  for  destroying  the  maggot. 
Being  published  in  this  way  wc  did  uot  feel  at  lib- 
erty to  copy  it,  but  we  find  that  other  agricultural 
papers  have  made  free  use  of  it,  and  we  see  no  im- 
propriety in  copying  the  following  account  from 
one  of  our  exchanges  :  "Take  a  good,  strong  bar- 
rel, and  go  or  send  to  some  gas-works  and  get  the 
'gas-water,  which  is  generally  thrown  away.  The 
expense  per  barrel,  even  to  those  who  send  one 
hundred  miles  for  it,  will  not  be  more  than  three 
dollars,  aud  to  those  who  live  near  a  city  or  con- 
siderable village,  the  expense  will  be  very  trifling. 
To  every  barrel  of  this  gas-water,  add  fifteen 
pounds  of  newly  slaked  quick-lime,  and  the  same 
proportion  for  less  quantities.  Be  sure  and  keep 
it  air-tight,  so  that  it  may  not  lose  its  strength. 
When  the  time  has  come  to  use  it,  draw  out  into  a 
tub  a  few  gallons,  and  add  to  every  gallon  of  the 
liquid  two  gallons  of  pare  water,  and  use  Dp  ininic- 
diatcly.  Do  uot  let  it  remain  opeu  to  the  air  long- 
er than  is  needful.  A  little  variation  in  preparing 
this  Specific  will  make  it  cither  too  weak,  when  it 
will  uot  destroy  the  larvae  or  maggots,  or  too 
6trong,  when  it  will  kill  the  onions.  Iu  applying 
the  above  specilie,  first  cover  the  rows  of  onions 
Willi  pine  sawdust — hard  pine  is  best — no  matter 
if  the  young  plants  are  entirely  covered  up.  Now 
keep  a  sharp  look-out  for  the  ravages  of  the  mag- 
got as  the  third  leaf  or  blade  starts  up.  As  soon 
as  appearances  of  it  arc  seen,  go  through  the  rows, 
and  apply  fhe  specilie  with  a  watering  can.  If  the 
maggots  do  not  disappear,  apply  it  the  second,  and 
if  necessary  the  third  time.  The  liquid  must  go 
directly  on  to  the  bulb  to  be  effectual  iu  destroy- 
ing the  maggot,  and    the  application   should    be 


made  iu   the   morning,  or  after  a  rain." — So    runs 
the  prescription;  we  can  not  vouch  for  its  utility. 

Parsnips. — Sow  early  this  month,  if  the  weather 
has  prevented  doing  it  earlier.  Hoe,  thin,  aud  weed 
as  soon  as  large  enough.  Thin  freely  and  give 
plenty  of  room.  Some  of  the  finest  of  last  year's 
crop  should  have  been  left  for  seed,  if  home  grown. 

lias. — The  main  crop  may  be  put  in  the  first  of 
the  month.  Put  brush  to  all  before  they  fall  over. 
Try  Bishop's  Long  Podded,  or  Harrison's  Dwarfish, 
or  some  other  good  dwarf  sort.     Keep  well  hoed. 

I\ttaloes.— Cultivate  thoroughly,  and  give  a  hand- 
ful of  plaster  to  each  hill,  if  not  done  before.  It 
does  not  pay  to  cultivate  late  varieties  in  gardens. 

Radishes. — Coutinue  to  sow  seed  in  vacant  spots. 

Rhubarb. — The  bed  will  now  yield  an  abundance. 
If  there  is  more  than  can  be  used,  bottle  or  dry  a 
supply  for  Winter.  Cut  oft"  the  flower  stalks  as  fast 
as  they  appear,  and  cultivate  well  around  the  plants. 

Squashes. — If  the  first  planting  has  failed  on  ac- 
count of  excessive  rains,  put  in  fresh  seed.  Dust 
with  ashes,  etc.,  to  keep  off  the  striped  bug; 
hand-pick  the  squash  bug,  and  crush  its  eggs.  See 
article  on  squash  vine  borer,  page  173,  this  paper. 

Sweet  Ibtatocs. — 111  many  localities  the  first  of  this 
mouth  will  be  early  enough  to  set  out  the  plants. 
Ample  directions  arc  given  in  April  and  May  num- 
bers. A  correspondent  in  Connecticut  fakes  us  to 
task  for  recommending  growing  them  north  of 
New-Jersey.  He  tried  once  and  failed.  We  saw 
last  year  a  good  crop  raised  in  Michigan,  where  the 
season  is  much  shorter  than  it  is  in  Connecticut. 

Tomatoes. — Transplant  for  the  main  crop.  Pinch 
back  the  rampant  growers.  The  plants  may  be 
trained  to  trellises,  orallowcd  to  trail  upon  brush, 
or  lie  upon  the  ground.  The  fruit  ripens  earlier  if 
the  vines  arc  allowed  to  fall  over.  Iu  this  case 
cover  the  ground  with  straw  to  keep  the  fruit  clean. 

Weed*. — No  weed  is  allowed  to  grow  in  a  well 
kept  garden.  Use  the  hoc  or  cultivator  as  often  as 
necessary,  and  work  close  to  the  plants  with  the 
bayonet  hoc.  Let  no  weed  perfect  its  seed.  See 
the  articles  in  another  part  of  the  present  number. 

Fruit  Garden. 

Blaekben-ies  and  Raspberries. — Keep  well  tied  up 
to  stakes  or  trellises.  Vines  planted  this  season 
should  not  fruit.  Allow  only  those  shoots  to  grow 
which  are  needed  for  fruiting  next  year,  unless  it  is 
desired  to  multiply  them.     Keep  free  from  weeds. 

Currants. — By  pinching  out  superfluous  shoots 
much  pruning  can  be  avoided.  Water  with  soap- 
suds and  keep  the  ground  loose  around  them. 
Where  there  is  a  market  forgrecn  fruit  it  often  pays 
better  to  sell  currants  before  they  are  fully  ripe. 

Gooseberries  should  receive  the  same  care  as  cur- 
rants. Use  sulphur  if  mildew  appears.  Mulching 
is  beneficial:  the  size  of  fruit  may  be  increased 
by  thinning  the  berries,  and  shading  from  hot  sun. 

Grapes. — Wc  gave  hints  upon  the  care  of  young 
vines,  iu  the  last  number.  Fruiting  vines  need  fre- 
quent care.  By  pinching  out  superfluous  shoots 
much  pruning  can  be  anticipated.  The  ends  of 
healing  shoots  should  be  shortened  to  within  two 
or  three  buds  of  the  last  cluster.  If  there  is  a  ten- 
dency to  overbearing,  thin  out  freely.  One  bunch 
to  a  spur  will  produce  finer  fruit  than  if  three  are 
allowed  to  grow.  Look  out  for  caterpillars  and  de- 
stroy them    by  syringing  aud    by  hand  picking. 

liars. — If  the  dwarfs  planted  this  Spring  had 
fruit  buds,  they  should  not  be  allowed  to  bear. 
Pinch  out  superfluous  shoots  and  6horteu  those 
tending  to  make  too  much  wood.  Use  whale  oil 
soap  or  air-slaked  lime  to  destroy  slugs. 

Strawberries. — Clean  the  heds  of  weeds  and  give 
a  mulching  to  keep  the  fruit  from  being  soiled  by 
contact  with  the  ground.  Saw-dust  or  tan-bark  will 
answer,  but  perhaps  the  most  available  mulch  and 
one  which  answers  as  well  as  any,  is  straw  cut  as 
for  feeding.    In  picking  the  fruit,  only  careful  hands 


should  be  emyloyed,  and  if  it  is  to  be  marketed  it 
should  be  picked  directly  into  the  box  or  basket  in 
which  it  is  to  be  sold.  Very  convenient  and  cheap 
wooden  fruit  boxes  were  advertised   last  moulh. 


Flower  Garden  and  Lawn. 

The  heavy  labor  in  this  deportment  is  over,  and 
the  cultivator  is  already  receiving  dividends  on  his 
investment.  The  fresh  foliage  of  the  trees,  the 
welcome  green  of  the  lawn,  the  early  flowers  of 
the  garden— always  more  delicate  and  fragrant  than 
their  successors— have  already  gladdened  the  heart 
of  the  true  lover  of  the  beautiful  in  nature.  Work 
however,  is  by  no  means  over  with,  but  it  is  now 
rather  a  pleasure  than  a  task,  for  the  eye  is  daily 
met  by  new  developments  of  beauty. 

Annual*  may  still  be  sown  for  lafe  blooming.  If 
the  weather  is  very  dry,  the  spot  may  be  shaded 
until  the  seeds  start.  It  is  a  good  plan  to  lay  a 
board  over  the  surface,  which  should  be  removed 
as  soon  as  the  plants  show  themselves  above  ground. 

Bulbs.— The  early  flowering  kinds  should  not  be 
lilted  too  early,  as  the  bulbs  should  have  time  to 
ripen.  When  the  foliage  is  quite  dead,  take  them 
up,  place  in  the  shade  where  they  will  dry,  then 
remove  the  tops  and  wrap  in  paper,  taking  care  that 
each  variety  is  properly  labeled. 

Carnations. — As  they  come  into  flower,  the  stalks 
should  be  tied  up  to  neat  stakes.  The  bloom  of 
choice  sorts  may  be  prolonged  by  shading  in  mid- 
day. Propagate  by  layering  or  by  putting  out  cut- 
tings, which  should  be  shaded,  until  well  started. 

Climbers. — Keep  Wistarias,  Bignonias,  and  other 
woody  climbers  within  bounds.  Layer  if  it  is  de- 
sirable to  multiply.  It  is  uot  too  late  to  cover  un- 
sightly objects  with  herbaceous  climbers.  Mauran- 
dia,  Lophospermum,and  Cobtea,  are  suitable  ;  but 
they  start  very  slowly  from  the  seed,  and  it  is  best 
to  procure  plants  at  the  green-house.  The  finer  va- 
rieties  of  the  Morning  Glory  grow  rapidly,  and 
nothing  can  be  more  beautiful.  Plant  the  different 
sorts  separately  and,  if  it  is  desired  to  keep  seed 
distinct,  keep  the  varieties  from  running  together. 

Dahlias.— Plant  from  the  Grst  to  the  middle  of 
the  month,  and  allow  but  one  shoot  to  a  root. 
Furnish  stakes  as  soon  as  the  plants   require   if. 

Evergreens. — As  noted  in  an  article  on  another 
page,  these  may  be   set   the  first  of  this  month. 

Geraniums. — Plant  out  and  cut  hack  to  prevent 
running  up  out  of  shape.  To  show  well,  they 
should  be  kept  in  a  rounded  and  compact  form. 

Gladioluses. — As  soon  as  the  flower  stems  appear 
they  should  be  tied  to  neat  stakes. 

Grass  Edgings. — Use  the  edging  knife,  or  a  spade 
ground  sharp,  to  keep  the  grass  from  spreading  into 
the  beds  or  walks.     Keep  grass  closely  trimmed. 

Gravel-  Walks. — Add  gravel  where  needed.  Keep 
down  weeds  as  fast  as  they  appear.  The  frequent 
use  of  the  scuffle  hoe,  rake,  aud  roller,  will  keep 
the  walks  in  good  order. 

Hedges. — Young  hedges  should  be  cut  back  se- 
verely iu  order  to  get  a  good  base.  Clip  the  estab- 
lished ones  as  ofteu  as  the  ucw  growth  requires  it. 

Insects. — See  general  remarks  under  Kitchen  Gar- 
den, and  Orchard  and  Nursery.  Syringe,  or  use  the 
gardeu  engine  to  throw  water  or  soap-suds.  A 
portable  engine  called  ttic  Aquarius  is  verj'  conve- 
nient and  effective.  All  applications  should  be  made 
to  the  under  as  well  as  the  upper  side  of  the  leaves. 

Keeping. — By  this  term  we  mean  the  general  at- 
tention to  details,  without  which  no  grounds  can 
be  well  kept.  Remove  all  flower  stalks  not  needed 
for  seed,  as  soon  as  they  are  out  of  bloom.  Take 
up  all  diseased  plants.  Rake  off  Ihose  flowers 
which  drop  readily.  Tic  up  shrubs  and  all  other 
plants  -which  need  it.  Remove  stakes  no  longer 
required.  In  short,  do  every  necessary  thing  just  at 
the  right  time,  and  in  the  best  manner,  and  let  the 
whole  grounds  bear  constant  testimony  to  the  care 
aud   neatness  of  those    having    them    in  charge. 

Lawns. — To  have  a  perfect  lawn,  the  grass  must 


164 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[JUXE, 


be  frequently  cut.  This  ia  generally  dune  with  the 
scythe;  there  aie  machines  which  do  the  work 
well,  hut  as  the  makers  of  them  do  not  advertise, 
we  do  not  know  where  they  arc  to  he  had.  The 
English  makers  advertise  a  number  of  patterns. 
The  turf  should  not  be  allowed  to  grow  close  to 
the  trees,  but  should  be  cut.  iu  a  true  and  a  well 
detincd  circle  from  3  to  G  feet  iu  diameter,  accord- 
ing to  the  size  of  the  tree.  Keep  this  free  of  weeds. 

Jloscs. — If  restricted  to  one  flower,  probably  t  lie 
choice  of  the  majority  would  be  the  rose.  The  Ke- 
moutants  and  Hybrid  Perpetuals  are  replacing  the 
older  sorts,  and  the  ruuniug  kinds  are  amoug  the 
most  popular  climbers.  Their  beauty  is  not  to  be 
enjoyed  without  labor  as  they  are  much  preyed 
upon  by  insects.  The  rose  bugs  should  be  shaken 
off  early  iu  the  morning  and  destroyed  or  picked  by 
hand,  and  the  slugs,  which  soou  destroy  the  leaves, 
should  be  treated  to  a  solution  of  1  lb.  of  whale  oil 
soap,  to  8  gallons  of  water.  As  soon  as  the  Ke- 
montants  have  flowered,  they  should  be  beaded 
back  to  induce  Fall  blooming.  A  much  Jiuer  show 
of  late  flowers,  if  these  are  desired,  may  be  se- 
cured by  sacrificing  the  Spring  bloom  altogether. 

Transplanting. — Many  of  the  annuals  will  need  to 
be  transplanted.  Give  Asters,  Balsams,  Zinnias, 
and  other  strong  growers  ample  room  to  develop 
themselves ;  siugle  specimens  of  these  are  much 
finer  than  when  grown  in  masses.  Some  of  the 
tender  plants  will   need  shading  for  a  few  days. 

Verbenas  may  still  be  put  out.  Peg  down  the 
branches  so   as   to  make  a  showy   dense  mass. 

Water. — Except  newly  transplanted  things,  it  is 
not  often  necessary  to  water.  When  it  is  applied, 
the  surface  soil  should  be  removed  and  replaced 
after  the  watering.  This  will  prevent  the  earth 
froui  caking,  as  it  often  does  after  surface  watering. 

J3ox  Edging. — Last  month  was  the  proper  time 
for  making  new  and  trimming  old  edgings,  but  it 
may  be  done  successfully,  early  the  present  month. 

Tetanias. — Put  out  rooted  plants  and  transplant 
any  seedlings  ready.     Give   plenty  of   room. 

Heliotropes. — These  arcusaally  put  out  too  early. 
They  need  settled  weather.  If  the  plant  has  drawn 
up,  it  should  be  cut  back,  to  form  a  compact  growth. 

Vmca. — This  old  fashioned  plant,  known  as  Peri- 
winkle, and  sometimes  as  "Myrtle,"  has  some  very 
pretty  varieties  with  variegated  foliage,  which  seem 
to  be  hardy.    They  are  fine  for  vases  aud  baskets. 


Green  and   Ilot-IIoiisos. 

A  large  majority  of  the  plants  are  now  out  of 
doors,  either  turned  out  into  the  borders,  or  placed 
where  they  will  ornament  the  grouuds.  The  trop- 
ical plants  are  still  kept  in  the  house,  as  well  as 
other  delicate  things.  Let  whatever  is  left  in  the 
houses  be  tastefully  arranged,  in  order  to  avoid  the 
desolate  aud  rubbishy  look  that  most  green-houses 
present  during  Summer.     Give  plenty  of  air. 

Camellias  should  be  placed  where  they  will  havo 
partial  shade.  Cut  back  to  give  the  plant  a  proper 
shape  and  sec  that  insect  pests  are  destroyed. 

Cuttings. — A  stock  of  Geraniums,  Fuchsias,  Chrys- 
anthemums, Heliotropes,  etc.,  should  be  propa- 
gated to  furnish  plants  for  winter  blooming. 

Grapes. — When  the  fruit  is  ripening  the  syring- 
ing overhead  should  be  discontinued.  Thin  out  the 
late  crops.  Bearing  shoots  should  be  shortened  to 
three  leaves  beyond  the  bunches  and  all  unnecessa- 
ry shoots  pinched  otf.  Air  freely  and  water  as  needed. 

Inarch  those  hard  wooded  plants  which  do  not 
ptrike   readily   from  cuttings,  nor  from   layers. 

Oranges,  Lemous,  etc.,  may  be  budded  this  month. 

Bitting.— Rapidly  growing  plants  need  more  pot 
room  and  should  be  shifted  to  larger  sized  pots. 
Potting  soil  should  be  always  at  hand.  Sods  from 
an  old  pasture  piled  up  aud  allowed  to  decay  make 
an  excellent  compost,  this  mixed  with  sand  as  may- 
be required,  will  answer  for  the  majority  of  plants. 

Seedlings  started  In  the  green-house  may  be  pot- 
ted off  or  set  out  in  the  grouuds  as  fast  as  ready. 


Verbenas. — A  stock  for  winter  flowering  should 
be  propagated  from  cuttings.     They  strike  easily. 

Water. — Plants  in  small  pots  will  dry  out  rapidly; 
give  a  supply  of  water  as  needed.  See  that  the 
pots  out  of  doors  have  thorough  drainage,  or  the 
earth  in  them  will  remain  soaked  after  heavy  rains. 


Apiary  in  June. 

Juue  is  the  swarming  month  in  the  Apiary,  and 
at  least  one  new  colony  should  be  expected  from 
each  old  stock.  A  hive  from  which  no  swarm  is- 
sues should  be  examined.  If  they  have  refused  to 
leave  for  want  of  a  queen,  they  will  usually  be 
found  weak,  when  it  is  best  to  drive  them  out  and 
unite  them  with  some  other  stock.  If  the  colony 
is  strong,  a  new  queen,  or  a  cell  containing  a  queen, 
can  be  introduced  from  some  other  hive.  If  a  hire 
has  failed  to   swarm   from  diseased  brood,    drive 

them  into  an  empty  hive  to  commence  anew 

When  two  swarms  issue  as  the  same  time,  they  are 
apt  to  settle  together.  To  prevent  this,  sprinkle 
the  bees  of  one  hive  with  water,  as  they  are  about 
to  start,  which  may  be  usually  discovered  by  the 
commotion  about  the  entrance  of  the  hive  a  few 
moments  before  flying.    The  sprinkling  will  delay 

them  until  the  first  swarm  can  be  hived The 

first  issue  from  a  hive  is  usually  large  enough  for  a 
good  colony,  the  second  half  as  large,  the  third  a 
quarter,  consequently  two  of  the  second,  or  four  of 
the  third  will  be  needed  to  make  a  swarm  equal  to 
the  first.  If  second  swarms  issue  late  in  the  month 
it  is  advisable  to  make  one  strong  stock  by  uniting 
two.  It  can  be  readily  done  within  a  day  or  two 
after  issuing.  It  has  been  proposed  to  prevent  the 
issuing  of  a  second  swarm  by  returning  the  old 
queen  to  the  hive.  This  would  only  be  likely  to 
end  in  one  of  the  following  results:  The  queen 
might  destroy  all  the  royal  cells,  aud  go  on  laying 
eggs  for  three  or  four  weeks,  until  another  swarm 
had  matured,  when  she  would  issue,  leading  out  a 
second  swarm.  Or  she  might  leave  the  royal  cells 
undisturbed,  and  issue  the  next  day,  taking  with 
her  a  small  swarm.  Or  she  might  entirely  disap- 
pear without  being  heard  of  again  ;  at  any  rate  her 
presence  would  not  be  likely  to  prevent  a  second 
swarm.  Prevention  can  be  accomplished  in  the 
movable  frame  hive,  by  cutting  out  the  queen  cells 
after  the  first  swarm  has  issued  and  after  the  young 
queen  has  taken  her  place,  and  not  allowing  any 

such  to  be  perfected If  a  second  swarm  can  not 

be  well  disposed  of  otherwise,  return  it  to  the  old 
stock.  Hive  it  first,  carry  it  nearthe  old  stand,  and 
let  it  remain  until  next  morning,  when  all  the 
queens  but  one  will  usually  be  destroyed,  as  well  as 
the  supernumeraries  in  the  parent  hive.  Shake  out 
the  swarm,  and  find  aud  secure  the  queen  ;  then  put 
a  few  bees  at  the  entrance,  with  something  on 
which  the  rest  may  creep  there,  and  they  will  all 

readily  enter All  new  swarms  should  be  kept 

shaded  during  the  middleof  the  day When  bees 

cluster  iu  a  crowd  at  the  outside  of  the  hive,  it  is 
time  to  add  boxes  to  receive  surplus  honey.  If  the 
honey  is  intended  for  home  consumption,  a  wood 
box  will  be  sufficient ;  for  marketing,  those  with 
glass  sides  arc  preferable.  They  should  be  not 
more  than  five  inches  deep.  The  bees  will  work  in 
them  more  readily  if  pieces  of  nice  white  eonib  are 
placed  iu  the  top.  They  can  be  fastened  by  dipping- 
one  edge  in  melted  beeswax,  and  applying  before  it 
cools.  Old  colonies  should  be  induced  to  begin  in 
the  boxes  before  they  6warm,  as  the  bees  will  be 
more  likely  to  finish  up  the  work,  than  to  begin 
after  swarming,  especially  if  the  colony  be  not  very 
strong.  Remove  the  boxes  as  soon  as  filled.  It  is 
not  usually  advisable  to  put  on  boxes  immediately 
after  hiving;  the  bees  are  likely  to  rear  brood  aud 
store  bee-bread  in  them.  It  i6  safe  to  put  them  on 
alter  the  swarm  has  been  hived  three  or  four  days. 


To  Keep  Rabbits  fbom  Gnawing  Tbees. — John 
M.  Lar-.ey,  Mahaska,  iowa,  writes  that  after  trying  other 
expedients,  he  has  for  the  last  two  years  given  the  trees 
a  coat  of  soap  and  sulphur,  and  that  they  have  been  un- 
harmed by  the  rabbits.  He  says  he  shw  the  hint  in  the 
Agriculturist,  and  thinks  wo  should  republish  it  annnally. 


A  Curculio  Talk. 

At  Hie  Fruit  Grower's  Meeting,  held  May  "th,  the  cur- 
culio question  was  brought  up  and  discussed  at  length. 
Some  members  took  the  ground  that  the  plum  crop  was 
the  least  valuable  one,  and  might  be  left  to  this  insect, 
while  others  complained  that  they  could  not  raise  apples 
in  seasons  of  scarcity  owing  to  the  depredations  of  the 
curculio.  Dr.  Trimble,  of  New-Jersey,  who  has  matte 
this  insect  a  study  for  years,  thought  it  was  coward- 
ly to  give  up  any  of  our  fruits  to  their  insect  ene- 
mies. He  showed  a  vial  containing  100  curculios  (bred 
from  apples),  another  vial  with  100  pea  bugs,  ami  a 
third  vial  having  100  grains  of  buckwheat,  to  show  that 
the  three  were  nearly  of  the  same  size.  After  pronounc- 
ing against  the  various  solutions  and  powders  recom- 
mended for  their  extinction,  all  of  which  had  proved 
valueless  to  him,  he  said  the  only  reliable  method  was  to 
turn  the  hogs  into  the  apple  and  plum  orchards,  to  eat  up 
the  punctured  fruit  as  it  fell  from  the  trees,  or  pick  it  up 
by  hand,  and  destroy  it,  This  disposes  of  the  embryo  in- 
sect, which  would  be  troublesome  the  next  year.  But 
when  the  curculio  comes,  his  plan  is  to  jar  it  from  the 
trees  upon  sheets,  using  care  not  to  start  the  bark. 
The  hand  is   sufficient  to  jar  small   trees. 

He  has  a  stout  sheet  made,  12  feel  square,  will)  a  pole 
attached  to  one  side,  and  a  slit  made  in  the  opposite  side 
to  the  centre.  Two  short  poles  are  also  fastened  to  the 
side  where  the  slit  is  made,  to  stiffen  the  cloth.  The 
sheet  is  then  taken  by  two  boys,  who  place  it  under 
the  tree  with  the  trunk  in  the  centre,  when  a  third 
person  lilts  the  tree  two  or  three  raps  and  the  lads 
soon  gather  Op  what  insects  fall,  and  march  off  to  tt.e 
next  tree.  The  orchard  is  soon  gone  over  in  this  way, 
and  in  clear  weather  the  process  must  be  followed  up 
each  day  or  oftener  if  the  insects  are  found  at  work— in 
cold  or  rainy  weather  they  do  not  trouble  the  trees. 

The  Dr.  has  satisfactorily  proved  that  the  perfect  in- 
sect or  beetle  emerges  from  the  ground  in  August,  or  four 
to  six  weeks  after  it  enters  the  earth  in  the  larva  stale, 
and  spends  the  winter  in  crevices  of  bark,  under  shingles, 
and  between  boards  of  old  buildings,  etc.,  and. is  all  ready 
lo  attack  the  plum  and  apricot  as  soon  as  the  fruit  sets. 
This  is  usually  about  the  18lh  of  May,  and  they  do  most 
of  their  damage  between  that  time  and  the  1st  of  June. 
Hogs  must  do  the  work  in  the  apple  orchards,  as  large 
trees  can  not  be  jarred.  Cherries  are  often  slung  and 
ripen  prematurely.  Birds  destroy  a  great  many  of  "hem, 
as  they  often  take  the  early  cherries  as  much  for  worms 
found  in  them,  as  for  the  cherries  themselves. 

If  any  one  doubts  that  the  curculio  attacks  the  apple,  let 
him  gather  the  fallen  fruit  the  last  of  June,  or  early  in 
July  and  put  it  in  a  barrel  with  several  inches  of  earth. 
Spread  gauze  or  millinet  over  the  barrel  and  the  cincn- 
lios  will  be  secured  when  they  attempt  to  leave  the  earth. 


Sti'awberry  Exhibition. 

AT    THE 

Office  of   the    American    Agriculturist 

The  Proprietor  of  the  Agriculturist  inviles  Strawberry 
Growers,  of  Ibis  vicinity  and  elsewhere,  to  make  an  exhi- 
bition of  their  choice  fruit  on  Thursday  and  Friday,  June 
18th  and  19th.*  at  the  American  Agriculturist  Office  ;  and 
to  give    zest    to  the  exhibition,  he  offers  the   following 

PRIZES : 
A— For  best  25  approved  varieties  (one  quart  each). .  ■  $7 

B — Second  prize 5 

C— Third  prize. 3 

D— For  best  dish  of  market  berries  (two  quarts  of 
one  variety. — It  will  be  very  desirable  to  show- 
plants  with  frail  in  addition) 3 

E— For  second  and  third  best       do.       ilo.  $2,  $1 

F — For  largest  three  berries  of  one  variety,  (weight 

and  size  both  being  considered) 2 

G— For  best    New  Seedling  not  before  exhibited 5 

H— For  Second  Best  Seedling  not  before  exhibited    ..     2 

1  —For  best  flavored  Strawberries  (one  quart). 2 

j  —For  best  quart  of  While  Strawberries. 2 

K— For  best  quart  Everbearing  2 

L— For  best  quart  of  Bonte  St.  Julien 1 

M— For  best  quart  of  La  Constante * 

N— For  best  pin*  of  Princesse  Frederick  William  ...     1 

O— For  best  pint  of  Empress  Eugenie 1 

p_For  best  pint  of  Marguerite 1 

Q— For  best  quart  Fillmore 1 

R— For  best  quart  Cutler t 

S_For  best  quart  of  Triomphe  de  Gand 1 

T— For  best  quart  Wilson's  Albany 1 

U— For  best  quart  Hooker's  Seedling 1 

V— For  best  quart  Hnvey's  Seedling I 

W— For  best  quart  Victoria 1 

X— For  best  quart  Jenny  Lind 8 

Y— For  best  quart  Vicomlesse  Hericart  deThury 1 

IJ^p3  No  sample  can  compete  for  more  than  one  prize. 

The  berries  to  come  in  competition  for  the  premiums 
must  be  upon  the  tables  as  early  as  11  A.  M.  on  Thursday 
June  18th,  and  each  specimen  must  be  correctly  labeled. 
The  Awarding  Committee  will  attend  to  their  duties  at 
12  M.— The  exhibition  will   not  open  to  the  public  until 

2  P.  M.  When  the  premiums  are  awarded,  the  names,  resi- 
dence, ;mi\  places  of  business  of  the  exhibitors  will  be  put 
upon  the  specimens,  and  the  prize  samples  designated. 

No  Fruit  exhibited  will  be  removed  before  Friday 
evening  without  special  permit. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


165 


^^^^^^^^^i^^A 


u-dt 


ggse^s 


Containing  a  great  variety  of  Items,  including  many 
good  Hints  and  Suggestions  which  we  give  here  in  small 
type  and    condensed  form,  for   want   of  space  elsewhere. 

The  Pt'i-imuni§  Close  in  July.— That 

there  may  be  no  disappointment,  we  repeat  that  all  pre- 
miums of  every  kind,  general  and  special,  will  close  in 
July,  excepting  only  the  new  Barometer  Premium,  and 
the  Wringing  Machine  No.  2  ;  these  will  continue  open 
to  August  31,  For  special  Premiums  see  pa"ge  192.  For 
general  Premiums  see  page  155,  last  month.  It  is  not  at 
all  certain  that  we  shall  offer  any  premiums  in  the  future  ; 
the  price  of  paper,  etc.,  will  decide  that  matter. 

To  Correspondents.— The  paper  is  finish- 
ed up  about  the  20th  of  each  month  preceding  that  for 
which  it  is  issued,  and  nearly  all  reading  matter  must  be 
in  the  hands  of  the  printer  by  the  15th,  or  before.  We  have 
numerous  letters  asking  us  to  reply  in  "next  month's  pa- 
per," which  come  too  late  for  us  to  do  so.  To  many  of 
these  queries  the  answer  would  be  too  late  if  published  on 
the  following  month.  For  this  reason  many  correspon- 
dents remain  unanswered.  To  others  we  can  not  reply 
without  taking  time  for  observation  and  investigation  ; 
while  some  we  can  not  answer  at  all;  and  still  others 
are  deferred  for  want  of  room. 


The  Best  Barometer  Cheap.— We  in- 
vite particular  attention  to  the  Special  Barometer  premi- 
ums on  page  192.  The  publisher  is  of  course  interested 
in  the  business  part  of  the  arrangement,  for  he  is  making 
an  effort  to  raise  the  circulation  of  this  journal  to  the 
highest  possible  point  at  the  present  time,  in  order  to 
meet  the  very  greatly  increased  expenses,  without  raising 
the  terms.  But  aside  from  this,  the  barometer  offered  is 
not  only  an  excellent  one,  but  it  is  a  thing  that  it  will  pay 
to  have  in  every  house.  If  it  promote  the  belter  gathering 
of  a  crop  in  only  a  single  instance,  as  it  will  be  quite 
likely  to  do,  it  will  pay  welt  for  its  cost.  The  annual  in- 
terest on  $8  or  $12,  is  only  50  to  80  cents  a  year,  and  even 
as  a  useful  ornament,  the  barometer  would  be  worth  this 
much,  to  say  nothing  of  its  value  as  a  weather  guide. 
The  terms  upon  which  it  is  now  offered  are  special,  and 
can  not  be  continued  beyond  the  period  named.  The 
small  number  of  subscribers  required,  can  be  readily  ob- 
tained in  almost  every  neighborhood;  the  paper  will  be 
well  worth  its  cost  to  the  subscribers,  and  Die  barometer 
will  repay  the  trouble  taken  by  those  who  secure  them. 
Even  should  a  person  himself  subscribe  for  half  of  the  re- 
quired copies  and  present  them  to  his  friends  or  neighbors, 
he  would  still  secure  the  Barometer  cheaply.  We  are 
quite  sure  the  instrument  offered  will  give  entire  satisfac- 
tion, and  be  found  a  paying  investment.  The  safe  deliv- 
ery guaranteed  is  a  special  inducement. 


Come   to   the    Strawberry    Show,— 

From  present  appearances  the  display  of  strawberries  at 
the  Agriculturist  Office,  June  18  and  19,  will  be  well 
worth  visiting.  The  plants  have  set  a  good  crop  of  fruit, 
which  with  favorable  weather  will  be  ready  at  the  ap- 
pointed time,  notwithstanding  the  late  Spring.  On  the 
first  day  the  doors  will  be  closed  to  all  but  the  Judges, 
until  2  o'clock  P.  M.,  after  which  the  public  will  freely 
he  invited  to  feast  (their  eyes)  upon  the  magnificent  dis- 
play anticipated.  See  announcement  on  page  164.  The 
Committee  of  Award  was  announced  last  month,  page 
lCfi.  This  Committee  is  one  of  the  most  competent  that 
could  be  selected  from  the  whole  country,  and  their  judg- 
ment will  be  valuable.  No  one  to  whom  there  can  be  the 
least  reasonable  objection  will  act  upon  the  Committee. 


*'All£ekellg;i•,, — A  friend  in  Philadelphia  has 
sent  us  a  Boston  circular  setting  forth  in  glowing  terms 
his  "  new  and  beautiful  fruit."  under  the  above  name. — 
From  the  description  we  conclude  it  to  be  the  Winter 
Cherry  (Physalis  viscosa).  It  is  avery  good  thing  for  pie- 
serves,  and  we  have  distributed  the  seeds  freely  for  sev- 
eral years.  The  Physalis  Alkekengi,  from  the  South  of 
Europe  is  a  larger,  better  fruit,  but  unless  started  early 
in  the  green-house,  docs  not  always  ripen.  The  seed,  if 
desirable,  can  be  obtained  cheaply  at  the  large  seed  stores. 


*6  Ice   Cream  in    Pour    Minutes."— 

So  reads  the  advertisement  of  Torrey's  "  Arctic  Freezer," 
and  it  is  not  far  from  the  truth.  The  manufacturer 
brought  some  ready  flavored  cream,  salt,  and  pounded 
ice  to  the  Agriculturist  Office  in  one  of  the  hot  days  of 
May,  and  commenced  operations  against  lime.  Accord- 
ing to  our  "  chronometer,"  in  4  minutes  the  cream  was 
pretty  stiff  with  cold  ;  in  5  minutes  it  was  solid  ;  in  7}£ 
minutes  it  was  beaL  to  a  smooth  paste  as  good  as  the  best 


that  ever  was  made— and  in  \1}4  minutes  it  was  all  gone, 
—by  the  aid  of  our  whole  office  force,  and  a  crowd  of  vis- 
itors— invited   and  uninvited. So  much  for  the   time. 

Mr.  Torrey's  freezer  is  a  good  one,  the  best  we  have  seen  ; 
it  is  cheap,  and  the  apparatus  for  stirring  the  cream,  and 
the  freezing  mixture  at  the  same  lime,  greatly  facilitates 
the  freezing. — Wherever  ice  is  accessible,  farmers  who 
have  the  genuine  cream,  or  the  rich  milk  and  fresh  egps, 
can  have  such  (n)ice  cream  as  is  seldom  seen  by  city 
dwellers.  A  quart  of  cream  will  make  a  far  more  deli- 
cious dessert  for  dinner  than  the  best  pie  or  pudding  ;  will 
cost  less  money  and  labor,  and  be  far  more  healthful  or 
the  top  of    a  hearty  dinner  of   meats  and    vegetables. 


What  a  Woman  Can  »o.— J.  B.  Bard 
well,  Worcester  Co.,  Mass.,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist 
that  an  unmarried  woman  of  that  place,  now  over  80 
years  old,  a  few  years  since  bought  a  farm  for  $5,300,  and 
recently  added  to  it  a  pasture  lot  costing  $500  more.  She 
had  accumulated  the  whole  by  doing  housework  at  $1.50 
per  week,  and  putting  hersavings  at  interest.  She  former- 
ly let  the  farm  to  tenants,  but  not  liking  their  doings,  last 
year  she  assumed  the  management,  and  with  the  help  of 
one  man  carried  on  the  business.  She  kept  sixteen  cows, 
attended  personally  to  the  dairy,  and  attended  her  own 
housework,  besides  doing  the  marketing,  etc.  A  large 
class  of  young  men  who  are  idly  "waiting  for  some- 
ing  to  turn  up,"  should  take  lessons  from  this  old  lady. 

Native  Fibres. — We  have  received  from 
Justin  S.  Lewis,  Franklin  Co.,  Kansas,  the  fibre  of  a 
kind  of  neltle:  from  M.  Taylor,  Alleghany  Co.,  Pa.,  a 
piece  of  cord  from  the  fibre  of  a  species  of  Milkweed 
probably ;  and  from  J.  Howells,  Wood  Co.,  Ohio,  a 
sample  of  the  fibre  of  what  is  probably  the  Indian  Hemp. 


A  Watering  Apparatus.— "TV.  H.  W.," 

communicates  the  following  convenient  plan  for  water- 
ing seed  beds  or  plants  generally.  "Take  a  hogshead  ax 
other  large  watei  tight  cask,  and  set  it  in  a  wagon  upon 
the  head,  bore  a  hole  in  the  upper  head  for  inserting  a 
funnel  by  which  to  fill  it  from  the  brook  or  river.  Have, 
near  the  bottom  of  the  cask  on  the  side,  a  stop-cock 
to  which  a  rubber  hose  is  to  be  attached  by  a  coupling, 
with  a  sprinkler  at  the  other  end.  Have  the  hose  of 
any  desirable  length  and  the  head  of  water  in  the  cask 
will  force  the  water  through  the  hose  and  out  of  the 
sprinkler  which  may  be  directed  to  any  desired  point." 

Seeding;  Stony  Laud.-"  Z,"  Bolivar, 
Md.  We  should  advise  to  go  over  land  too  stony  to  he 
plowed,  with  a  heavy  harrow,  sow  grass  seed,  timothy  on 
low  land,  and  then  top-dress  with  fine  manure.  It  is  rath- 
er late  for  the  operation  the  present  season.  The  sun 
would  be  likely  to  kill  out  the  young  grass  plants. 

Fruit  of  Pistillate  Strawberries. — 

F.  Thomas  Reilly.  Ottawa  Co.,  O.  The  fruit  of  pistillate 
strawberries  would  be  but  Little  influenced  by  the  variety 
of  staminates  used  to  fertilize  them.  The  seed  would 
partake  of  the  character  of  both  of  the  parent  plants. 

Trouble  with  drapes. — J.  S.  B.,  Key- 
port.  N.  J.  You  say  that  your  gro  ind  "  is  very  wet  all 
winter  and  spring."  This  is  a  sufficient  reason  for  the 
failure  of  any  grape.  Drain  the  ground.  Your  variety, 
the  Isabella,  is   very  apt  to  wither  during  the   summer. 

Puddling*  Trees. — We  do  not  believe  in 
the  practice,  except  where  the  roots  are  necessarily  ex- 
posed for  some  time  before  planting.  In  this  case  a 
coating  of  mud  will  protect  them  somewhat,  but  we 
would  always  wasli  it  off  before  planting  out,  that  the 
fine  rootlets  may  be  spread  out  rather  than  lie  cramped 
and  malted  together,  as  puddling  leaves  them. 


Plum  Trees.— G.  S.  Tinker,  Portage  Co.,  O. 
Your  fruit  is  probably  attacked  by  curculio.     Seep.  Ifi4. 


Tlic       Tribune's        Strawberries.— 

Though  the  advertisement  of  these  plants  comes  in  com- 
petition with  one  of  our  special  premiums,  we  cheerfully 
admit  it.  We  believe  in  strawberries  for  the  million.  No 
fruit  is  more  readily  and  quickly  grown,  and  nothing  is 
better  adapted  to  the  circumstances  of  the  masses.  Not 
a  few  journals  formerly  sneered  at  the  seed  and  plant 
distribution  of  the  Agriculturist,  but  there  are  millions  of 
plots  of  beautiful  flowers  and  of  other  plants  now  grow- 
ing in  this  country,  the  original  seed  of  which  came 
through  our  general  and  premium  seed  distributions. 
Probably  nine-tenths  of  the  important  sorghum  crop  now 
being  grown  is  derived  from  the  twenty  to  thirty  thou- 
sand parcels  of  seed  distributed  all  over  tiie  country,  a 
few  years  since,  from  the  office  of  the  American  Agricul- 
turist.   Let  the  Tribune,  let  any  other  journal  in  the  land, 


take  up  and  carry  out  the  plan  we  have  so  long  followed  ; 
it  will  help  beautify  the  garden,  and  supply  the  tables 
with  luscious  home-grown  fruit.  En  the  meantime  we 
shall  not  wholly  retire  from  Hie  field;  see  our  special 
strawberry  premium  on  page  192. 

Maple  Syrup  for  Strawberries  and 

Wine.— H.  P.  Bratt,  Ozaukee  Co.,  Wis.  Maple  syrup 
will  probably  impart  a  little  of  its  own  flavor  to  these, 
but  as  the  flavor  is  generally  liked,  that  may  not  be  an 
objection.  If  made  clean  and  dry,  it  ought  to  have  the 
same  preserving  effect  as  its  kindred  cane  sugar.  It 
would  he  well  to  try  it  on  a  moderate  scale  at  first  j  and 
please  report  the  results  to  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Crops  in  Salem  Co.,  IV.  J.— A.  W.  nill- 

man  writes  that  sweet  potatoes  are  largely  planted  in 
that  county,  farmers  often  devoting  from  6  to  20  acres  to 
that  crop,  and  that  this  year  more  than  usual  will  be 
planted,  on  account  of  the  probable  short  crop  at  the 
South.  Small  lots  of  flax,  tobacco,  sorghum,  and  cotton, 
will  be  grown.  The  desired  information  given  in  May  No. 


Ifioolc  tor  I>airyineu.  —  A.  H.  Miner, 
Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.  Flint's  Milch  Cows  and  Dairy  Farm- 
ing contains  the  information  you  need  as  to  breeds  of 
cows,  and  their  general  management.  It  comprises  much 
practical  matter  on  dairying,  and  is  well  worth  the  price, 
$1.50,  to  every  one  engaged  in  the  business.    See  page  1S6. 


Domestic  Silk.— L.  H.  Davis,  Suffolk  Co., 
N.  Y.,  sends  a  skein  of  very  nice  sewing  silk  of  his  own 
manufacture.  We  know  not  w  here  to  get  eggs.  Who  does? 


Plants  for  Names.— "D.,"  Makarula,  III. 
The  plant  enclosed  is  Cnllinsia  verna,  one  of  our  pret- 
tiest Spring  flowers,  and  worth  cultivating,  The  "May 
Apple"  you  describe,  is  Azalea  nudiflora,  and  the  portion 
eaten  is  a  sort  of  excrescence,  or  rather  monstrosity  of 
the  flower,  supposed  to  be  produced  by  insects,  though 
the  fact  is  not  well  established.  Your  oilier  plant  Is 
probably  Calystegia  pubr. teens  ;    is    very  pretty,  hut    its 

roots  spread  so  rapidly  that  it  becomes  a  nuisance 

Lula  S.  Lauber,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  The  plant  Is  Epigaea 
repens — known  as  Trailing  Arbutus  and  May  Flower. 
Nothing  is  more  beautiful  or  fragrant,  but  it  is  difficult 
to  cultivate.     Must  have  a  rather  peaty  and  moist  soil, 

and  be  shaded II.  B.  Comslock,  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y. 

We  do  not  recognize  the  very  pretty  leaf;  send  flowers; 
no  seed  came.  You  are  right:  a  plant  is  worth  double 
with  a  correct  name. 


Cauliflowers.— "C.  A.  W.,"  Hudson,  N.  J., 
asks  why  the  cauliflowers  grow  up  into  long  sprouts, 
when  not  immediately  cut.  The  head  of  the  cauliflower 
is  a  mass  of  undeveloped  flower  stalks  and  buds.  When 
the  season  is  long,  these  go  on  and  develop  and  throw  up 
branches  to  flower  and  bear  seed. 


Craig*  Microscope  —  To  Ma-fty  In- 
quirers.—For  looking  at  very  small  objects,  such  as 
the  dust  upon  a  butterfly's  wing,  starch  grains,  etc.,  this 
does  remarkably  well  for  so  cheap  an  Instrument.  For 
examining  seeds,  flowers  and  such  comparatively  large 
objects  it  will  not  answer  at  all,  as  the  foe uu  is  very  short. 
For  these  purposes  a  common  pocket  glass,  such  as  is 
generally  sold  by  opticians  is  better. 

Flower  Pots. — Eleanor  Rielson,  Juncaw 
Co.,  Wis.  The  hole  at  the  bottom  of  the  flower  pot  is 
for  the  purpose  of  securing  drainage.  Were  It  not  for 
this,  (he  earth  might  become  too  wet  for  the  health  of  the 
roots.  The  proper  amount  of  moisture  is  that  which  the 
earth  will  hold  when  the  excess  can  drain  off.  A  few 
pieces  of  broken  pots,  or  bricks,  or  small  stones,  should 
be   at    the  bottom  of   the  pot,  before  filling  with  earth. 

German  Stocks. — C.  A.  Nelson.  These 
being  annuals  cannot  be  kept  through  the  Winter  by 
covering.    They  must  be  grown  from   seed  each  Spring. 


Squirrels  Carnivorous, — J.  R.  Pierson, 
Susquehanna  Co.,  Pa.,  alluding  to  an  item  under  this 
head,  on  page  2S2  last  Vol.,  says  he  shot  a  red  squirrel  in 
the  very  act  of  making  a  meal  of  some  half  grown  robins. 

Cauliflowers. — "N."  Ravens  wood.  Seepage 
146,  last  month.     Your  seed   is  probably  unreliable. 


Use  tor  Sawdiist.-J.  K.  Niest,  Stark  Co., 
Ohio.  Sawdust  is  valuable  to  compost  with  yard  ma- 
nure, or  to  apply  alone  to  lighten  heavy  (day  lands.  It  is 
excellent  as  a  mulch  for  fruit  trees,  vines,  etc.,  and  may 
be  used  advantageously  fgr  this  purpose  during  drouth. 


1GG 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Juke, 


Horse  (i«anor.-P.  S.  Brokaw,  of  Som- 
erset Co.,  N.  J.,  objects  lo  using  currycomb,  or  brush,  or 
the  Implement  described  in  May  Agriculturist  (page  141) 
for  removing  mud  from  horses,  because  it  is  unpleasant 
to  be  so  near  the  animal  while  using  them.  He  recom- 
mends the  stunap  of  a  worn  out  broom,  with  which  the 
work  can  be  equally   well  done   and   at  arms'  length. 


A  Cow  Cursing;  Ri«;s.— B.  Beaver,  Wash- 
ington Co.,  R.  I.,  writes  that  a  farrow  cow  owned  by  him 
was  seen  on  several  occasions  lying  in  the  barn  yard,  with 
twc.  of  a  litter  of  pigs  in  the  same  enclosure  busily  draw- 
ing supplies  of  milk  from  her  well  furnished  bag.  The 
cow    seemed    to    rather    enjoy  the    novel    eiperiment. 

El  ungarinu  4»rass  for  Sheep.— Luther 

Allen,  Randolph  Co.,  Ind-  requests  those  who  have  tried 
feeding  sheep  with  Hungarian  grass  to  give  the  results. 

Boole  on  Sheep.— C.  T.  "Wilson,  "Washing- 
ton Co.,  Wis.  We  know  of  no  better  work  on  sheep 
raising  than  "  Randall's  Sheep  Husbandry,"  price  $1.25. 
We  can   forward  it  by  mail,  post-paid,  at  this  price. 

Choice  Eg-gs.-G.  "W.  Cook,  L.  I.  Poultry 
fanciers  sell  eggs  of  their  stock,  but  there  is  great  risk  in 
transporting  them.  Jarring  often  destroys  vitality.  If 
packed  at  least  carefully,  partial  success  may  be  realized. 


Sex.  of  Eggs. — M.  Gcniu,  in  a  communication 
addressed  to  the  French  Academy,  slates  that  eggs  which 
contain  male  chicks,  have  wrinkles  on  the  smaller  end, 
while  those  which  are  to  bring  forth  females  are  smooth. 
We  should  like  to  hear  results  of  observations  and  experi- 
ments to  discover  the  truth  or  falsity   of   the   matter. 


Good  Maple   Sugar  —  A  Hint. — The 

cake  of  Maple  Sugar  reported  on  our  Exhibition  Tables 
last  month,  from  L.  Wolcolt,  Croton,  N.  Y.,  has  since 
heen  tesled.  and  proved  unusually  excellent  in  flavor  as 
well  as  in  internal  appearance.  The  lesson  to  be  learned 
is,  that  the  secret  of  making  such  sugar  is  expressed  in 
one  word — cleanliness.  There  is  no  doubt  that  pure 
white,  well  flavored  maple  sugar  can  be  made  by  catch- 
ing Ihe  sap  in  clean  covered  vessels,  and  boiling  it  down 
in  clean  vessels  shielded  from  falling  smoke,  ashes, 
leaves,  or  other  filth.  The  nearer  we  can  approach  lo 
this  point,  the  nearer  perfect  will  be  the  sugar.  Those 
who  have  permanent  sugar  groves  would  undoubtedly 
find  it  a  paying  investment  to  secure  a  set  of  good  cover- 
ed buckets  with  an  arrangement  by  hook  or  staple  to 
suspend   them  on   nails  or  spikes  driven  into  the   tree. 


Blackbirds.— A.  A.  Stewart,  Logan  Co.,  O., 
speaks  in  behalf  of  these  persecuted  birds.  He  does  not 
find  them  pulling  corn  or  molesting  the  young  of  other 
birds.  "They  follow  the  plow  and  pick  out  large  num- 
bers of  worms  and  grubs,  and  are  the  farmer's  best  friends. 
Not  so  the  crow  and  blue  ay,  which  devour  the  eggs  or 
nestlings  of  other  birds.  True,  the  crow  destroys  large 
numbers  of  insects,  and  claims  some  leniency,  but  the 
sly  jay  merits  shooting  at  sight." 

Prolific  Bee*.  —  Thomas  Thompson,  of 
Wansheka  Co.,  Wis.,  says  he  purchased  a  swarm  of  bees 
last  Spring,  and  during  the  Summer  took  8  swarms  from  it. 


The  Asparagus  Beetle. — Dr.  Asa  Fitch, 
staled  at  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee 
of  the  N.  Y.  State  Agricultural  Society,  that  the  Aspara- 
gus Beetle,  which  has  recently  proved  very  destructive 
to  this  vegetable  on  Long  Island,  is  readily  devoured  by 
chickens.  As  they  do  not  injure  the  crop,  they  may  be 
made  serviceable  in  extirpating  the  pest.— Worth  trying. 

To  Keep  Striped  Bugs  from  Squash- 
es.— In  sending  some  squash  seeds  to  the  Agriculturist 
Office  for  trial,  an  Illinois  correspondent  says  he  keeps 
the  striped  bugs  from  his  vines  by  watering  with  filthy 
suds  from  the  wash  room,  and  then  dusting  with  coal  ash- 
es. This  is  repeated  as  often  as  the  ashes  are  washed  off, 
and  the  squashes  are  nut  injured  by  the  application,  or  by 
bugs.     In  the  absence  of  coal  ashes,  dry  soil  may  be  used. 

**  Booting- "  o*1*  Grubs.-A  writer  in 
the  Country  Gentleman  says  that,  having  lost  a  corn  crop 
by  grub  worms  he  turned  in  the  hogs,  and  they  instinct- 
ively sought  out  the  grubs,  rooting  them  up  and  devour- 
ing them.  On  another  occasion,  an  old  pasture  was  bad- 
ly infested  with  this  worm,  and  the  hogs  being  turned  in 
after  haying,   they  rooted   up   the  worms  wherever  the 

wilted    grass   showed   their    presence. Such  a   thing 

might  occur  on  very  light  soil,  but  we  very  much  doubt 


whether  as  a  general  rule  hogs  would  root  after  grubs 
without  finding  some  other  food  inducement  in  the  soil. 

Xo  Bcpcl  Insects. — Charles  H.  Snow,  Bal- 
timore Co.,  Md.,  writes  that  plaster  of  Paris,  mixed  with 
spirits  of  turpentine,  one  pint  to  a  bushel,  and  sown  upon 
cabbages,  turnips,  melons,  etc.,  repels  insects.  The  plaster 
is  a  good  preventive  ;  the  turpentine  may  be  an  addition. 

Bissolred  Bones.— "G.  W.  C,"  Queens 
Co.,  L.  I.,  we  have  already  slated  that  muck,  or  in  its  ab- 
sence good  soil,  should  be  used  to  dry  the  wet  compound. 


Stone  Gathering;    Machine.— C.   Bon- 

nell.  Wyoming  Co.,  Pa.,  inquires  where  a  machine  for 
gathering  loose  stones  from  the  field  by  horse  power  may 
be  obtained.  We  have  seen  descriptions  of  such  an  ap- 
paratus, but  do  not  know  if  it  is  manufactured  at  present. 
The  inventor  or  proprietor  should  advertise  it,  if  good. 

Tree  Chopping  Machine. — Julius  Mey- 
er. Potter  Co.,  Pa.  We  have  not  seen  this  apparatus, 
which  was  patented  in  1S5(J.  It  has  not  been  brought  be- 
fore the  public,  and  we  judge  is  not  of  great  value,  or 
its  merits  would   have  been   made  more  widely  known. 

Prospective  Demand  lor  Sorgho 
Syrup.  —  In  a  communication  to  the  Sorgho  Journal, 
Isaac  A.  Hedges  gives  extracts  from  a  letter  written  by 
Belcher,  the  great  sugar  refiner  of  Chicago,  III.,  offering 
to  contract  for  Twenty  Thousand  barrels  of  fair  to  good 
raw  sorgho  syrup,  nt  forty  cents  per  gallon,  for  refining. 
This  offer  has  doubtless  influenced  many  to  plant  large- 
ly, under  a  guaranty  of  a  good  price  and  a  sure  market. 

iflannnl  of  Flax  Culture— Under  this 
title  D.  D.  T.  Moore,  of  the  Rural  New-Yorker,  has 
issued  a  handsomely  printed,  illustrated  pamphlet  of  48 
pages,  containing  considerable  information  of  interest  to 
flax  growers.  There  is  less  detail  of  experience  by  prac- 
tical men  than  could  be  wished,  but  the  woik  contains 
hints  and  suggestions  fully  worth  Ihe  low  price  (23  cents, 
post-paid)  at  which  it  is  issued.  We  will  have  it  to  supply. 

Black  Walnut  Posts.— "  J.  S.  S."  Mans- 
field, Ohio,  inquires  how  long  black  walnut  posts  will 
last  in  the  ground.  He  reports  a  case  in  which  black 
walnut  and  oak  posts  were  set  together,  and  the  walnut 
are  sound  while  the  oak  are  completely  decayed;  the 
walnut  posts  are  likely  lo  outlast  a  new  set  of  oak  posts. 

Scientific  Questions.  —  A  "Weekly 
Journal  wanted.— B.  M,  French,  Montgomery  Co., 
Pa.,  and  a  number  of  others.  It  would  be  interesting  to 
a  limited  class  of  intelligent  readers,  to  discuss  the  theo- 
ries respecting  the  action  of  ammonia  and  oilier  com- 
pound and  simple  elements,  and  a  thousand  other  ques- 
tions, and  when  enough  readers  demand  and  will  support 
a  large  weekly  Journal  devoted  to  the  science  as  well  as 
the  practice  of  Agriculture,  we  shall  be  glad  to  publish 
such  an  one.  It  would  pay  the  farmers  of  the  country  to 
support  at  this  metropolis  a  journal  that  could  not  be 
issued  at  less  than  $3  to  $5  a  year,  one  giving  extensive 
reports  of  the  grain  and  other  Agricultural  markets,  and 
of  Agricultural  intelligence  generally.  But  the  people 
are  not  ready  for  it  yet.  We  are  watching  the  indications, 
and  as  soon  as  there  is  a  reasonable  prospect  that  such 
a  journal  will  be  supported,  we  promise  that  it  shall  be 
forthcoming.  Until  then  we  must  confine  ourselves  to  a 
monthly  at  a  low  price,  such  as  will  meet  the  practical 
wants,  and   the  views  of  the  public  mind  as  it  now  is. 


Grapes  on  a  Boclc  Heap.— A  New- 
Hampshire  reader  of  the  Agriculturist  writes  that  he  finds 
grapes  do  the  best  when  running  over  a  heap  of  rocks. 
The  rocks  absorb  the  heat  during  the  day,  and  radiate  it 
gradually  during  the  night,  keeping  up  a  gentle  warmth. 

Making;  Baisins.— H.  A.  SM  will  find  di- 
rections on  page  025,  Nov.  Agriculturist,  1861.  Only 
sweet  varieties  of  grapes  can  be  used  ;  no  sugar  required. 

Standard  Trees  —  Dwarf  Xrees — 
How  Produced?— In  answer  to  inquiries  from  sev- 
eral readers  of  the  American  Agriculturist  we  explain: 
Full  Standard  trees  are  those  growing  on  roots  of  the 
same  variety.  These  are  usually  allowed  to  grow  full 
size,  and  generally  with  trunks  trimmed  five  to  six  feet 
high.  Half  Standards  are  those  cut  in  somewhat,  in  the 
limbs,  and  are  allowed  to  branch  two  to  three  feet  from 
the  ground.  Dwarfs  are  usually  worked  on  a  small 
slock  of  some  slow  growing  variety;  and  are  usu- 
ally trimmed  to  a  pyramidal  shape.  Thus  to  pro- 
duce dwarf  pear  trees,  they  are  grafted  on  quince  roots 


(usually  the  Angers  quince)  ;  sometimes  on  the  I horn. 
Apple  trees  are  dwarfed  by  grafting  upon  the  Doucnin 
stock,  which  is  a  small-growing  species  of  apple,  that  na- 
turally produces  small,  sweet  apples.  The  Cherry  tree  is 
dwarfed  by  grafting  upon  the  Mahalebcherry,  a  naturally 
dwarf  stock.  Peach  trees  are  given  a  dwat  f  shape,  not  by 
grafting,  but  by  cutting  in,  planting  in  pots,  etc.  Orna- 
mental trees  are  dwarfed  by  grafting  the  finer  large  varie- 
ties upon  roots  of  some  ether  variety  of  the  same  species. 


Xo    Rccnscitale    Dry  Xrees. — It    not 

(infrequently  happens  that  trees  imported  from  abroad, 
and  even  those  sent  from  nurseries  a  long  way  over-land, 
are  quite  dry  and  shriveled  when  the  bundles  are  opened, 
and  some  persons  would  throw  them  away  at  once  as 
worthless.  Two  subscribers  to  the  Agriculturist  inform 
us  that  they  received  some  fruit  trees  in  this  condition, 
and  at  once  planted  out  the  freshest  of  lliem  and  buried 
the  others,  root  and  branch,  in  the  earth.  Those  planted 
out  when  received,  mostly  died,  while  the  others,  after  re- 
maining buried  for  a  week,  were  set  out  and  nearly  all 
lived.  They  were  found  to  be  restored  to  freshness 
when  taken  from  the  trench  in  which  they  were  covered. 

Ground  Cherry. — R.  A.  Young,  Alleghany 
Co.,  Pa.  The  Ground  Cherry  fruits  the  same  year  from 
the  seed  ;  it  is  worth  cultivating  for  preserves.  Earth  Al- 
monds or  Chufas  are  not  the  same  as  the  Ground  Nut.  The 
tubers  are  planted.    Both  can  be  had  at  the  seed-stores. 


Good  Strawberry  Mulch.— Z.  Breed, 
Hilisboro  Co.,  N.  H.,  who  lias  raised  strawberries  for 
market  ten  years,  wriles  that  he  uses  muck  for  a  mulch 
between  strawberry  rows,  with  chaff  or  chopped  straw 
around  the  plants  to  keep  the  berries  from  getting  soiled. 
Muck  absorbs  and  retains  heat,  thus  warming  Ihe  soil,  and 
it  also  keeps  moist  for  a  long  time. 


Scorzonera  is  the  name  of  the  seed  sent  for 
identification,  by  S,   A.  Green,   Pierce   Co.,  Wis.    It  is 

cultivated  and  used  the  same  as  salsify  (vegelable  oysler) 
which  it  resembles,  but  it  grows  to  a  larger  size,  and 
the  root  is  dark  colored  instead  of  white  like  Ihe  salsify. 

Fine  Camellias*. — Our  exhibition  tables 
were  gay,  a  short  time  ago,  with  specimens  of  this  fa- 
vorite flower,  from  Mr.  Chorlton,  the  well-known  horti- 
culturist of  Staten  Island.  The  varieties  were  :  Dunlop's 
White;  Speciosa;  Alba  plena;  Lowii;  Myrtiflora;  Ru- 
bescens ;  Marchioness  of  Exeter;  Binneyi ;  Formosa; 
Imbricala ;  Prince  Albert ;  Donklearii ;  Sherwoodii ; 
Chalmerii  perfecta;  Paeon  i  flora  ;  Abby  Wilder  j  and  Floy  it. 

Holocanthn.— "  J.  H.  P.  GM"  III.  This  is  a 
nalive  of  the  barren  plains  of  Northern  Mexico.  It  would 
not  be  likely  to  flourish,  even  if  you  could  obtain  it.  We 
have  seen  it  in  its  wild  stale,  and  an  ugly  object  it  is. 

A     Desirable    Aqualic     Plant.— We 

have  seen  in  some  grounds  near  Boston,  a  veiy  free- 
growing  and  highly  ornamental  plant  for  artificial  ponds: 
the  Limnacharis  Hutnboldtu.  it  has  fine  dark-green  fo- 
liage, and  bears  an  abundance  of  large  lemon-yellow 
flowers.  We  grew  it  last  year  very  successfully  in  a  tub 
sunk  In  the  border.  The  plant  will  not  stand  the  Winter, 
and  enough  should  be  kept  over  in  the  house  or  cellar  to 
continue  the  stock.  Planted  in  a  basket  of  peaty  earth, 
and  set  in  shallow  water,  it  soon  becomes  established, 
and  spreads  rapidly.  It  is  a  fine  plant  for  the  aquarium. 
Sold  by  B.  Greenwood,  394  Broadway,  New-York  City. 

Can't  do  Without  It.."— The  following 
pithy  letter  was  received  from  an  old  subscriber  in  Wal- 
lingford,  Conn.  :  "$1  for  Agriculturist  for  1863— can't  do 
without  it— *  Children  cry  for  it-' neighbors  borrow  it- 
Refer  lo  it  weekly,  somelimes  daily — Tells  me 'how  to 
do  it,*  and  '  how  not  to  do  if— vive  I*  Agriculturist,  and  its 
Editors,  and  Tim  Bunker,  Esq. — You  should  see  my  pear 
trees— my  roses— my  compost  heap!  all  on  account  of 
the  American  A griculturist— keeps  me  bewitched  about 
trees  and  fruits  and  flowers" — and  all  for  a  dollar  year  ' 


"Worcester's    Dictionary — I*ostag;e. 

—Miss  Elizabeth  Bewman,  Lenema  Co.,  Cal.  This  book 
weighs  10  lbs.,  and,  if  pre-paid,  costs  $1.60  postage  wilhic 
3,000  miles,  or  $3.20  to  California  and  Oregon.  "The 
Express  Co.,  charges  us  $5.00  each,  on  Ihe  dictionary  to 
San  Francisco.     It  is  therefore  cheapest  to  send  by  mail. 

Fancy  Printing-.— J.  J.  Herst,  Pa.  In  fan- 
cy printing  or  printing  in  colors,  the  work  generally  goei 
through  the  press  as  many  times  as  there  are  colors 
Sometimes  the  compound  colors  arc  produced  by  printing 
one  color  over  another,  as  purpie.  by  red  over  blue*  etc. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


107 


How  often  Should   Glares    Breed? 

— E.  S.  Phelps,  Bureau  Co.,  III.  A  healthy  mare  of 
strong  constitution  may  safely  bear  a  colt  annually  for  sev- 
eral successive  years,  but  it  is  exhaustive  of  strength,  and 
is  usually  best  to  intermit  every  third  year,  and  in  many 
cases  every  other  year. 

Cure  for  Scratches  on  Horses.— T. 
Lashbaugh,  Laporte  Co.,  Ind.,  writes  that  he  has  never 
failed  in  curing  scratches  in  horses,  by  applying  melted 
lar  to  the  affected  parts.  It  should  be  rubbed  in  well. 
and  the  hail  smoothed  down  over  it. 


The  Currycomb  in  Summer. — Fann- 
er's Boy,  inquires  whether  the  currycomb  and  brush  are 
necessary  for  horses  in  warm  weather.  Certainly,  even 
more  than  in  Winter.  Remove  dust  and  perspiration 
gathering  under  the  hair  to  keep  the   skin  healthy. 

Kicking;  Mules.— M.  B.  Turner,  Lee  Co., 
Iowa.  Mules  may  be  cured  of  kicking,  and  otherwise 
made  gentle,  by  the  application  of  Rarey's  system  of 
taming.  A  ffill  description  of  Ills  method  is  contained  in 
Herbert's  Hints  to  Horsekeepers. 


■took  ibr  Horseheepers.— C.  T.  Vin- 
cent, Hartford  Co.,  Conn.  We  know  of  no  better  work 
for  general  directions  and  sound  every-day  practical 
suggestions  on  the  management  of  the  horse,  than  Her- 
bert's Hints  to  HorseUeepers.  We  can  send  it  post-paid, 
by  mail,  for  $1.25. 

Xo   Prevent  liens   Sitting.— Christian 

Pallz.  Buffalo  Co.,  Wis.  Hens  may  sometimes  be  cured 
of  a  propensity  to  sit  by  dousing  them  with  cold  water. 

How  Many  Sheep  to  the  Acre  ?— S. 

S.  Wiest,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  From  three  to  nine  sheep 
per  acre  of  grass  land  may  be  kept,  according  to  its  qual- 
ity and  the  kind  of  sheep.  It  is  generally  reckoned  that 
8  Merinos  consume  about  as  much  as  an  ordinary  cow. 

Corn  and  Wool.— "  J.  M.,"  Logan  Co., 
Ohio.,  inquires  whether  it  be  true  that  every  pound  of  corn 
fed  to  sheep  will  add  one  ounce  to  the  growth  of  wool. 
It  might  in  some  cases,  but  the  statement  appears  to  be 
rather  a  loose  one.  Sheep  breeders  are  Interested,  and  it 
would  be  instructive  to  hear  the  results  of  careful  experi- 
ments made  to  ascertain  the  value  of  corn  for  this  purpose. 

A  Good  Hog.-Wm.  T.  Russell,  Ulster  Co., 
N.  Y.,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist  that  in  August  last  he 
commenced  feeding  a  shote  weighing  100  lbs.  live  weight. 
For  two  weeks  his  provender  was  best  quality  wheat  bran 
ami  milk  ;  from  that  time  to  December  2d,  he  received  all 
the  Indian  meal  he  would  eat,  With  a  very  small  quantity 
of  milk.  He  was  fed  just  107  days,  and  gained  257  lbs. 
in  that  time.  (1%  lbs.  per  day— less  \b%  lbs.  on  the  whole.) 

A  Patent  Hog;  King:.— Daniel  Brown, 
Marshall  Co.,  III.,  sent  to  the  Agriculturist  office  some 
time  since,  a  newly  invented  hog  ring  for  which  he  has 
received  a  patent.  It  consists  of  a  spiral  coil  of  wire 
forming  a  spring,  which  rests  in  front  of  the  animal's 
snout;  the  two  ends  of  the  wire  are  bent  so  as  to  enter 
the  nostrils  and  clasp  the  membrane  within,  where  they 
are  held  by  the  spring.  It  is  easily  applied,  and  Mr.  B. 
says  was  found  very  efficient  last  Summer  in  a  herd  of 
one  hundred  swine. 

Sulphur  lor  Lice. — Several  correspondents 
have  written  to  the  Agriculturist,  that  sulphur  fed  to 
cattle,  will  rid  them  of  lice.  One  who  says  he  has  used 
the  remedy  successfully  in  a  number  of  cases,  directs  "to 
give  two  tablespoonfuls  in  a  quart  of  meal  to  each  animal, 
to  he  given  daily  until  cured."  Sulphur  is  used  in  the 
human  system  as  a  gentle  laxative,  and  for  several  dis- 
eases of  the  skin.  That  it  escapes  from  the  surface  of 
the  body,  is  shown  by  the  odor,  and  by  its  blackening  sil- 
ver articles  in  the  pockets,  and  on  this  account,  it  is  not 
unlikely  that  it  may  affect  insects  on  the  bodies  of  ani- 
mals. A  few  doses  may,  in  some  instances,  by  its  cathar- 
tic effect  improve  the  health  of  the  animal,  and  thus  prove 
effective  against  lice,  which  are  chiefly  found  upon  de- 
bilitated or  sickly  animals.  The  common  sulphur  powder 
frequently  produces  griping  when  used  as  human  medi- 
cine, to  counteract  which  it  is  mixed  with  $£  to  \i  its 
bulk  of  calcined  magnesia,  or  cream  of  tartar,  and  this 
mixture  would  probably  be  the  best  to  give  to  animals. 


Defective   Teats   in   Cows.— Abraham 

Williamson,  Hendricks  Co.,  Ind.,  inquires  whether  the 
half  of  a  cow's  bag  which  has  from  some  injury  ceased 
to  give  milk,  will  yield  it  again,  at  the  lime  of  her  calv- 


ing. Probably  not,  although  it  may  depend  somewhat 
on  the  nature  of  the  injury.  We  have  never  known  a  de- 
fective teat  to  be  thus  restored. 


M/:ir(h  in  a.  Spring". — E.  Day,  Kingston, 
Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.  We  would  not  advise  to  destroy 
lizards.  They  are  as  harmless  as  fish,  and  as  they  feed 
mainly  upon  insects,  they  help  to  keep  the  water  pure. 


Ants. — H.  L.  Moss,  Minnesota,  wishes  to  know 
how  to  kill  ants  in  his  flower  garden.  He  has  tried  hot  wa- 
ter, sulphur,  ashes,  salt,  carbon  oil,  etc.,  ineffectually,  and 
so  have  we.  Who  can  tell  how  to  kill  ants  in  the  garden  ? 


Burning:  <"e  Striped  Bug;.-F.  Thos. 
Rcilly,  Ottawa  Co.,  O.,  recommends  to  burn  brush  over 
the  ground  on  which  melons  and  other  vines  are  to  be 
planted,  and  also  in  the  Fall,  on  spots  which  they  have 
occupied,  to  destroy  the  larvae  of  Striped  Bugs  ami  other 
injurious  insects.  This  would  undoubtedly  kill  many  in 
the  Immediate  locality,  if  the  fire  were  large  enough,  but 
numerous  others  would  undoubtedly  come  from  the  sur- 
rounding ground,  to  take  their  places. 

Kee   Queries. — A.   Webster,   most  of  your 

inquiries  arc  answered  in  the  "  Apiary w  for  the  present 
month.  To  introduce  Italian  bees  into  a  large  Apiary, 
movable  comb    hives  of  some   kind  are    indispensable. 


Chloroforming*'  I6ees. — T.  H.  Mason, 
Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.  This  has  been  practised  by  a  few 
parties  without  injurious  results  to  the  bees,  but  we 
should  be  fearful  lest  an  over-dose  might,  in  unskillful 
hands,  destroy  the  swarm.  A  little  tobacco-smoke  blown 
into  the  hive  will  usually  render  the  bees  inoffensive. 

Insects  on  Pine  Trees.— C.  A.  Nelson. 
The  "little  white  fuzzy  insect"  described,  is  doubtless 
the  Pine  Blight.  It  mainly  affects  slow  growing  trees  in 
poor  soil.  Remove  it  by  scrubbing  the  bark  with  soap-suds. 


Insects  on  Fruit  Trees. — At  a  recent 
Fruit-Growers'  Meeting,  Mr.  W.  S.  Carpenter  slated, 
and  many  members  agreed  with  him,  that  he  relied 
upon  a  healthy  growth  to  keep  off  insects.  It  was  his 
opinion  lhat  a  perfectly  vigorous  tree  would  defy  the  at- 
tacks of  the  different  varieties  of  bark-lice,  while  a  tree 
set  out  with  no  more  care  than  if  it  was  a  post,  and 
afterward   neglected,  would  soon  be   injured  by  them. 


Insects  on  Roses.— H.  R.  Comstock,  Cort- 
land Co.,  N.  Y.  The  color  of  the  rose-leaf  hopper  is 
yellowish  white.  Wecan  not  tell  the  other  insect  from 
the  description.  The  cut  worm  usually  works  near  the 
ground,  it  miy  climb  bushes  but  we  never  knew  that  it  did. 

Unseasonable   Grasshoppers.  —  Mr. 

J.  II.  Patterson  writes  that  Grasshoppers  appeared  near 
St.  Clrtirsville,  O.,  about  the  20lh  of  March,  in  large 
numbers,  and  that  they  passed  through  two  snow  storms 
and  continued  wet  and  cold  weather  without  injury. 


Apliis  in  Australia.  —  A  friend  in  that 
far  off  land  sends  us  a  slip  from  an  Australian  paper 
which  says,  they  destroy  the  plant  lice  with  a  decoction 
of  an  astringent  bark.  This  completely  "tans  their 
hides."  Will  some  of  our  friends  try  the  effect  of  a  few 
applications  of  a  decoction  of  oak-bark,  and  report  result? 

Egs's  on  Apple  Trees.— J.  P.  Funk,  Md. 
The  specimens    sent   were    the  eggs  of   the    Katydid. 

Cementing; Cellars. — "J.  J.  W.,"Meriden, 
Conn.  If  we  had  a  damp  cellar  we  should  cement  it 
even  if  floored  with  brick.      See  article  on   page   174. 


Designating;  Grapes  byLeares  and 
"Wood.— L.  Varies,  Madison  Co.,  III.  A  person  fanvl- 
iar  with  the  different  varieties  of  grapes  can  in  many 
cases  pick  them  out  while  growing,  by  examining  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  leaf,  color  of  wood,  length  of  joints,  etc., 
without  waiting  for  them  to  ripen  fruit. 

Deep     Planting;     of     Vines.— C.      R. 

Thomas,  Warwick  Co.,  Ind.,  says  that  the  Germans  in 
his  neighborhood  set  grape  vines  three  feet  deep  in  the 
soil,  to  prevent  rot,  and  asks  our  opinion  of  the  practice. 
If  we  wished  to  kill  a  vine,  or  put  it  where  it  would  have 
to  struggle  for  its  life,  we  should  put  its  roots  three  feet 
below  the  surface.  The  vines  may  survive,  but  it  will  be 
because  they  throw  out  roots  near  the  surface,  while 
those   far  below   will  soon   become   a  decaying  mass. 

Prolific  Cirapc  Vine.— Amos  F.  Hannahr, 
Portage  Co.,  Ohio.,  says  he  has  an  Isabella  grape  vine 


which  has  been  allowed  to  grow  pretty  much  as  It 
pleased,  and  has  given  good  crops,  with  two  exceptions, 
for  13  successive  years.  In  1850  it  yielded  fi#  meiisurcd 
bushels  of  excellent  grapes.  Mr.  H.  challenges  a  better 
result  from  a  single  vine  trained  according  to  the  books. 
Its  roots  receive  two  or  three  pails  of  soap-suds  on  meh 
washing-day,  and  the  ground  is  kept  mulched  Willi  de- 
cayed leaves,  rotten  wood,  walnut  shucks,  etc. 


dirapes  in  April. — Not  hot-house  gntjicft, 
but  Isabellas  and  Dianas,  simply  kept  in  (he  c<Mlai\  Ihi* 
same  as  apples.     So  reported  Mr.  T.  W.   Field,  ftf   the 

New-York  Fruit  Growers'  Meeting.  He  saw  Ihem  al 
Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  the  16th  of  April,  and  to  appearance  and 
tasle,  they  were  in  a  flne  state  of  preservation.  They 
were  kept  by  the  bushel,  simply  spread  on  shelves,  or 
laid  in  boxes  with  lids  at  different  bights  on  side  cleats 
to  prevent    the   upper  clusters   pressing    those    below. 

Profitable    Orcharding.  —  Dr.    I.    M. 

Ward,  of  Essex  Co.,  N.  J.,  staled  at  one  of  the  New- 
York  Fruit  Growers'  Meetings  that  he  always  realized 
from  $1000  to  $1200  per  annum  from  an  orchard  of  !3£ 
acres,  planted  with  dwarf  and  standard  pears  and  apples. 
He  lets  the  trees  have  all  the  soil,  but  plows  the  ground 
lightly  in  the  Spring,  and  runs  a  one  horse  cultivator 
over    the    surface    at   intervals    during    the    Summer. 

Fruit  tlie  First  Season. -C.  D.  Walters, 
Worcester  Co.,  Mass.  Transplanted  trees,  vines,  elc, 
should  not  be  allowed  to  ripen  fruit  the  first  season,  he- 
cause  all  the  strength  of  the  plant  is  needed  to  repair  Lite 
injury  done  to  the  roots  by  removing.  Fruiting  always 
taxes  the  highest  energies  of  vegetation. 

Disease  in  Apple  Trees.— Henry  "Weaver 
writes  us  that  the  bark  of  his  apple  trees  becomes  black 
and  the  trees  die.  Others  have  made  the  same  com- 
plaint. We  arc  not  able  to  say,  without  specimens,  v.  hat 
the  disease  is.  As  it  begins  with  a  small  spot  and  ex- 
tends, it  may  be  some  fungus.  We  should  perhaps  try 
cutting  out    the   infected  spot   as   soon  as   it   appears. 


ICeeogniziug  Fruits.  —  O.  C.  Wilson, 
Perry  Co.,  O. — Downing's  Fruits  and  Fruit  Trees  of 
America,  gives  descriptions  and  drawings  of  most  of  the 
cultivated  fruits,  by  which  a  person  can  usually  recog- 
nize any  named  soil.  It  also  contains  thorough  and  re- 
liable instruclions  for  the  management  of  fruits.  We  can 
forward  it  post-paid   upon    receipt  of   the  price,   $2.00. 

Quince  Trees.— C.  T.  Bradley,  Clearfield 
Co.,  Penn.  The  unfavorable  situation  is  probably  the 
cause  of  the  slow  growth  of  your  young  trees.  At  the 
proper  season  they  may  be  moved  without  risk.  Suck- 
ers ought  not  to  be  allowed  to  grow,  but  the  bushes 
should  be  trained  with  a  single  stem  like  an  apple   tree. 

Cherries  from  Seed.- W.  H.  Coleman, 
Ky.  There  is  no  probability  that  the  seeds  of  any  of  our 
cultivated  fruits  will  produce  precisely  like  the  parent 
trees;   the  htoiie   fruits,  usually  vary  less  than  others. 

Osage  Orange.— Several  ask  us  about  pro- 
pagating this  and  its  value  as  a  hedge.  The  seeds  can- 
not be  obtained  at  present,  and  unless  the  plants  can  be 
found  at  the  nurseries,  its  cultivation  must  stop  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  One  subscriber  wishes  to  know  how  lo 
destroy  an  Osage  Orange  hedge.  Doubtless,  like  other 
shruhs,  it  may  be  killed  by  cutting  ;  when  in  full  leaf, 
repeat  the  work  as  often  as  it  springs  up  anew. 

Propagation  of  Itox. — Mrs.  E.  Cravath, 
Box  is  most  readily  multiplied  by  layers.  Set  the  plants 
out  rather  deep  and  spread  the  branches  in  such  a  man- 
ner that  the  lower  portion  of  them  will  be  covered  with 
earth.  Another  season  it  will  be  found  that  the  covered 
portions  have  taken  root,  and  the  branches  may  be  pulled 
apart  and  set  out  as  separate  plants. 

Propagating  Flowering  Slimlw.- 

J.  C.  Dubois,  Ingham  Co.,  Mich.  This  may  be  done 
with  many,  by  layering  or  removing  suckers,  according 
to  the  manner  of  growth.  Some  can  only  be  grown  from 
cuttings  in  the  propagating  house,  where  (hey  will  have 
bottom  heat ;  but  there  are  many  cuttings,  such  as  Roses, 
Weigelas,  Forsylhias.  etc.,  which  start  very  readily  if  kept 
from  (he  hot  sun.  A  hot-bed  frame  with  the  sash  covered 
with  whitewash,  or  cloth,  or  a  frame  of  boards  with  co.- 
ton  Cloth  tacked  over  one  opening,  will  answer  to  shads 
them  and  keep  them  moist.  Put  the  cuttings  in  rather 
sandy  soil  and  keep  them  properly  moist  and  shaded, 
giving  them  air  when  necessary. 


108 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[J  TINE, 


The  I>e»tli  oi'Dr.  Win.  Darlington. 

Tins  distinguished  man  died  at  Westchester,  Pa.,  on 
the  93d  of  April  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  81.  He  was  a  rep- 
resentative of  that  class  of  old  school  gentlemen  of 
whom  we  unfortunately  have  too  few  left,  bringing  the 
attainments  of  the  profound  scholar  into  an  active  life 
anil  participation  with  passing  events.  He  was  among 
our  oldest  botanists;  about  40  years  ago,  he  published 
the  Flora  of  Chester  County,  which  passed  through  sev- 
eral editions,  each  one  keeping  pace  with  the  progress  of 
the  science,  and  it  is  still  a  standard  work.  Dr.  Darling- 
ton was  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  arouse  agriculturists  to 
a  sense  of  the  dignity  of  their  calling,  and  to  inspire  them 
with  a  love  for  the  sciences  connected  with  it.  This  is 
9hown  in  his  numerous  addresses  before  Agricultural  and 
Horticultural  Societies,  and  in  his  Agricultural  Botany, 
which,  in  its  revised  form,  is  now  popularly  known  as 
American  Weeds  and  Useful  Plants.  The  interesting 
Pitcher  Plant  of  California  (Darlingtonia  Californica), 
will  keep  his  name  fresh  among  scientific  men,  and  his 
many  useful  labors  will  commemorate  him  in  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  lived.  Though  a  Scholar,  Patriot, 
and  Statesman,  he  was  at  the  same  time,  from  his  genial 
sympathy  with   those  around  him,  a  lovable  old  man. 

Gray's  Manual  of  Botany— (Fourth 
Edition).— Ivison,  Phinney  &  Co.,  N.  Y.  When  the  first 
edition  of  this  work  appeared,  it  at  onee  became  the 
standard  authority  upon  the  flora  of  the  Northern  States, 
and  it  has  through  subsequent  editions  confirmed  its  title 
to  that  position.  The  works  of  Doct.  Gray  have  the  rare 
merit  of  being  in  a  clear  and  popular  style  without  depart- 
ing from  scientific  accuracy.  An  intelligent  person  who 
carefully  reads  Gray's  First  Lessons  in  Botany,  will  have 
a  clearer  idea  of  the  structure  of  plants  than  can  be  ob- 
tained from  any  other  work  in  the  language.  The  vol- 
ume before  us  contains  these  First  LeSsons,  a  section  on 
Garden  Botany,  and  the  Manual  proper,  which  gives  de- 
scriptions of  the  native  and  introduced  plants  growing 
North  of  Virginia,  and  East  of  the  Mississippi,  and  in- 
cludes the  discoveries  made  since  the  last  edition.  An 
important  addition  has  been  made  to  the  present  edition 
of  eight  beautiful  plates,  illustrating  the  genera  of  Grass- 
es. The  study  of  these  interesting  plants,  which  is  gen- 
erally considered  difficult,  will  be  greatly  facilitated  by 
the  help  of  these  accurate  delineations.  The  Lessons 
and  Manual  are  sold  separately,  or  bound  in  one  volume, 
and  will  be  found  in  our  book  list. 


Prices  of  Books.- The  cost  of  printing 
paper  has  remained  nearly  stationary  for  a  month  past, 
and  the  prices  of  hooks  have  not  varied  materially  as  will 
be  noticed  in  the  list  on  page  186.  Until  the  paper  market 
becomes  settled,  the  publication  of  sundry  books  will 
cease  as  the  editions  previously  on  hand  becomes  ex- 
hausted, and  prices  of  others  will  be  advanced.  There 
is  no  prospect  of  any  decrease  until  long  after  the  war  is 
over,  and  it  will  be  expedient  to  secure  early,  any  book 
likely  to  be  wanted.  The  prices  in  our  list  are  good  only 
for  the  month  In  which  they  are  published.  We  do  not 
keep  a  "  bonk  store,"  but  usually  have  on  hand  or  pro- 
cure as  needed,  books  relating  to  the  Farm,  Garden,  and 
Household,  for  the  convenience  of  our  subscribers,  and 
mail  them  post-paid  at  the  usual  retail  price,  though  this 
affords  but  small  profit — sometimes  none  at  all. 

Investing:  Money — S^ast  Ulontli  of 
tlic  Five-Twenties.— We  referred  last  month  (page 
133)  to  the  value,  etc.,  of  the  U.  S.  Six  per  cent  Bonds, 
called  *'  five-twenty  "  because  they  are  payable  in  20 
years,  but  the  government  reserves  the  right  to  pay  them 
after  5  years.  If  this  reservation  were  not  made  they 
would  command  a  large  premium.  The  same  kind  of 
Bonds  not  payable  until  1681,  are  now  selling  at  $108,  or 
8  per  cent,  premium.  The  reason  of  this  is,  that  foreign- 
ers and  others,  prefer  a  loan  having  a  long  time  to  run. 
A  good  farm  mortgage  of  20  years  will  sell  for  more  than 
one  of  5  years.  We  think  these  5-20  Bonds  are  the  best 
sure  investment  now  in  the  market.  It  will  be  noticed 
fh:ut  the  privilege  of  taking  these  bonds  at  par  expires  With 
the  present  month.  For  further  particulars,  see  last 
month's  notice,  and  especially  the  full  advertisement  on 
p,  186,of  tlie  Government  Agents,  Messrs.  Fisk  &  Hatch, 
who  are  careful,  accommodating,  and  reliable  Bankers. 
Those  having  funds  in  Savings  Banks  will  do  well  to 
note  llie  closing  paragraph  of  their  advertisement. 


I^or  the  ISaiulMii'tt'  Show  —  Free 
FrelgUt.  -The  lout  steamer  for  Hamburg,  by  which  ar- 
ticles can  leave  in  lime  Cor  the  Great  International  Show, 
will  sail  from  New-York,  June  13th  we  believe.  It  may 
not  he  generally  known  thai  the  Legislature  of  New-York 
appropriated  $1000  to  be  devoted  to  paying  freight  on  ar- 
ticles manufactured  in  Ibis  Stale.  This  was  placed  under 
the  direction  of  the  Slate  Agricultural  Society,  and  the 
-)fncera  have  decided  to  pay  the  .expenses  from  the  point 


of  shipment  to  Hamburg,  including  freight  to  New-York, 
and  transferment  in  the  city.  This  places  parties  in  all 
sections  of  the  Slate  upon  a  par.  The  articles  are  to  be 
forwarded  to  the  care  of  Austin  Baldwin  &  Co.,  72  Broad- 
way, N.  Y.  Only  the  $1000  can  be  so  expended,  which 
will  be  applied  to  the  articles  in  their  order  of  entry.  For 
further  particulars  address  Messrs.  Austin  Baldwin&  Co. 


Farm  Help  Wanted— and  Coming. 

A  letter  from  Illinois  says :  "  So  many  have  gone  and 
are  going  to  the  war  from  the  patriotic  West — we  mean 
to  open  the  Mississippi  at  least,  if  all  have  to  go— that  we 
can  not  get  help  to  plant  the  extra  acre  you  advise  in  the 
American  Agriculturist,  and  if  planted,  we  are  not  sure 
of  help  to  cultivate  it,  or  to  gather  the  harvest.  Can  you 
not  send  us  men  from  your  over-crowded  cities  at  the 
East  ?  They  can  here  get  plenty  of  work  at  good  wages, 
and   abundant  cheap  food  for  themselves  and  families." 

Reply.— The  East  is  patriotic  too,  as  the  records  of  the 
War  Department  will  show.  For  months  past  we  have 
seen  no  men  worlh  anything  who  have  gone  begging  for 
work.  Common  laborers  readily  get  $1  to  $1.50  per  day 
(without  board,)  which,  deducting  board  and  stormy  days, 
is  equivalent  to  $13  to  $18  per  month.  We  should  hardly 
know  where  to  look  for  a  dozen  men  to  send  to  the  West. 
But  the  demand  far  farm  help  is  in  a  fair  way  to  be  at 
least  partially  supplied,  within  the  next  two  or  three 
months.  Never  before  has  there  been  such  an  influx  of 
able-bodied  men  from  Europe — from  Germany,  and  es- 
pecially from  Ireland.  So  great  is  the  emigration  from 
the  latter  country,  that  the  British  Government  recently 
addressed  a  note  to  the  American  Minister,  intimating 
that  our  Government  must  be  using  special  influences  to 
attract  them  away  to  our  armies.  Mr.  Adams  replied 
that  no  official  influence  had  been  used,  but  naively  in- 
timated that  it  was  not  surprising  (hat  so  many  were  leav- 
ing oppression  and  want,  and  flying  to  a  country  where 
there  is  abundant  cheap  food  and  well-remunerated  em- 
ployment. We  learn  that  this  emigration  is  only  limited 
by  want  of  ship-room  and  the  means  of  paying  passage 
hither.  The  shipping  facilities  are  being  rapidly  in- 
creased. We  suggest  that  the  German  and  Irish  resi- 
dents of  this  country  be  encouraged  to  send  for  their 
friends.  They  can  still  get  here  before  the  close  of  the 
harvest  season,  if  they  come  by  steamer.  Let  them  un- 
derstand that  foreigners  coming  to  this  country  will  not 
be  subject  to  the  draft,  unless  they  voluntarily  take  upon 
themselves  the  duties  and  privileges  of  citizenship  ;  while 
their  coming  now  will  be  a  benefit  to  the  country  as  well 
as  to  themselves.  A  man  in  Ireland,  or  elsewhere  in  Eu- 
rope, with  a  dependant  family,  and  with  no  prospect  there 
but  poverty  and  want,  can  by  coming  here  earn  enough 
the  present  year  to  send  for  his  family,  and  place  them 
where  with  cheaper  and  more  abundant  fond  he  can  not 
only  support  them,  but  lay  aside  something  to  build  up 
for  himself  a  home  in  the  West  ere  long. 

The  Homestead  Law  allows  any  one  who  may  hereaf- 
ter become  a  citizen  to  choose  a  free  farm  from  the  pub- 
lic domain,  where  lie  can  settle  in  a  home  of  his  own. 
There  was  never  a  more  favorable  time  for  the  teeming 
population  of  the  Old  World  to  come  to  the  New.  In- 
dustrious men  of  good  habits  will  be  welcomed  by  farm- 
ers, at  almost  every  point  throughout  the  Northern  States. 
Let  these  facts  be  properly  set  before  the  foreign  popula- 
tion in  our  midst.  A  few  dollars  loaned  to  a  servant  girl, 
to  be  added  to  her  savings,  may  often  enable  her  to  send 
for  a  father,  or  brother,  or  relative,  whom  she  is  now  help- 
ing to  support  in  poverty  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic. 
No  doubt  many  farmers  would  find  this  a  good  way  to 
secure  additional  help  for  harvest  and  Autumn  work. 
— . mm^  — *-* 

Tlie  Crop  Prospects.—  The  result  of  the 
returns  being  gathered  at  the  Agricultural  Bureau,  on  the 
state  of  the  growing  crops,  will  not  be  ready  before  the 
publication  of  our  next  issue.  From  all  we  can  glean 
from  our  correspondence  and  from  exchanges,  up  to  this 
dale  the  general  prospects  of  the  crops  are  very  good. 
There  are  some  exceptions  here  and  there,  but  these  are 
confined  to  limited  localities.  The  winter  grain  proved 
to  be  less  injured  by  the  open  weather  than  we  feared  it 
would  be.  The  late  opening  of  Spring  kept  back  the 
crops,  and  it  retarded  spring  work  so  much  that  fanners 
are  now  greatly  driven,  but  the  May  weather  is  hastening 
forward  the  growth  of  all  crops  in  the  ground.  The  fruit 
trees  have  bloomed  very  freely,  and  if  no  untimely  frost 
occurs,  the  fruit  crop  will  be  very  large.  After  two  suc- 
cessive years  of  fine  crops  of  almost  all  kinds  we  could 
hardly  hope  for  a  third  one,  yet  that  is  the  present  prom- 
ise. The  result  will  depend  upon  the  weather  between 
now  and  harvest  time.  The  only  unfavorable  thing  for 
our  country,  is  the  apparently  prosperous  condition  of  the 
crops  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  If  this  continue 
until  harvest,  it  will  largely  diminish  the  foreign  demand 
upon  us,  and  perhaps  depress  the  market  prices  here. 


Are  the  Implements  Ready  ?— A  Scarcity 
of  them  Probable. 

The  present  short  supply  and  the  high  price  of  labor, 
may  in  part  be  remedied  by  securing  more  or  better  labor- 
saving  implements.  Two  men  with  a  mowing  machine, 
horse-rake,  and  horse-pitchfork,  will  gather  as  much  hay 
as  eight  or  ten  men  using  only  the  scythe,  hand-rake,  and 
common  pitchfork.  The  same  is  true  in  regard  to  the 
reaping  machine,  the  horse  cultivator,  etc.  The  more 
rapid  gathering  of  a  crop,  at  just  the  right  time  is  a  strong 
reason  for  using  these  implements.  As  we  have  often 
urged  in  the  American  Agriculturist,  a  man  with  a  first- 
rate  plow,  hoe,  ax,  etc.,  will  do  nearly  double  the  work 
in  a  week  that  can  be  performed  by  another  man  using 
poorer  implements,  while  the  extra  cost  of  Hie  former  will 
often  be  less  than  the  price  of  a  single  day's  work. — An- 
other suggestion.  Those  who  intend  to  get  new  or  im- 
proved implements  this  summer,  should  look  out  for  Ihem 
at  once.  Owing  to  the  uncertainty  in  business  matters, 
manufacturers  generally  did  not  provide  their  usual  stock, 
while  it  is  very  probable  that  the  demand  will  be  great*! 
than  ever  before.  Indeed,  the  dealers  in  implements  and 
seeds  tell  us  that  their  business  is  already  far  exceeding 
any  thing  in  past  years.  It  will  not  do  this  year  to  put 
off  the  buying  of  a  mowing  or  reaping  machine,  fnr  ex- 
ample, until  the  week  it  is  wanted,  or  there  may  not  be 
one  to  be  bad  at  any  price.  Better  have  the  orders  in  at 
once,  that  the  manufacturer  may  prepare  to  fill  them. 
Our  advertising  columns  will  indicate  some  of  the  present 
sources  of  supply.  A  note  to  the  different  ticklers  and 
manufacturers  will  obtain  the  terms  etc.,  when  not  fully 
given  in  the  advertisements.     No  lime  should  be  lost  now. 


About  Advertisements— Explanation. 

Numerous  letters  from  subscribers  seem  lo  render  an 
explanation  necessary.  The  advertising  pages,  which 
are  usually  not  supposed  lo  be  edited  at  all,  are  the  most 
difficult  labor  assumed  by  the  Editors  of  the  Agrind- 
turist.  The  reception  of  advertisements  is  alio  ted  to  one 
of  them,  who  is  instructed  by  the  Publisher  to  exclude  all 
unreliable  men,  or  those  believed  lo  be  so;  ;»)1  unknown 
parties  who  cannot  give  satisfactory  references ;  all 
humbugs,  secret  remedies,  patent  medicines,  etc.. — in 
short,  everything  likely  to  deceive  the  leaders.  In  these 
times,  this  is  a  hard  rule  to  lire  up  to.  We  are  really 
giving  back  to  our  readers  all  their  subscription  money, 
and  even  a  part  of  our  advertising  receipts,  in  the  paper 
which  wc  furnish  them.  It  is  also  difficult  for  us  to  com- 
pete with  other  journals,  almost  all  of  which — not  ex- 
cepting  the  religions  Press — admit  to  their  advertising 
columns,  things  which  the  publishers  would  not  have 
read  aloud  in  their  family  circles.  These  semi-obscene 
advertisements,  as  well  as  those  of  humbugs,  are  of  the 
most  profitable  kind  ;  for  those  who  make  but  a  small  re- 
tarn  to  their  customers  can  best  afford  lo  advertise  largely* 
and  those  who  make  their  living  out  of  Hie  morbid  cu- 
riosity of  the  youth  of  both  sexes  pay  well  for  the 
privilege  of  bringing  themselves  to  notice.  We  are  some- 
limes  offered  $2  or  $3  a  line  to  insert  such  advertisements 
in  the  Agriculturist, — We  still  continue  to  follow  the  rule 
mentioned  above,  but  would  state,  in  answer  to  several 
letters,  that  we  do  not  specifically  endorse  whatever  ap- 
pears in  our  advertising  pages.  Take,  for  instance,  the 
manufactured  manures,  superphosphates,  phosphatic 
guanos,  etc.  We  do  not  buy  or  use  many  of  these,  and 
do  not  advise  others  to  do  so, — yet  as  many  persons  have 
a  degree  of  confidence  in  these  compounds,  wo  allow  re- 
sponsible parties  to  advertise  them.  Again,  with  regard 
to  new  fruits,  tree  cotlon,  and  recently-introduced  plants 
generally,  these  may  be  desirable,  or  of  doubtful  utility, 
or  even  worthless.  When  we  believe  the  parties  are 
offering  them  for  experiment  in  good  faith,  we  admit  the 
advertisements  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  can  afford  to 
try  them.  Well-known  public  journals  advertise  with  us. 
and  these  are  of  widely  differing  character.  We  ol 
course  do  not  endorse  the  politics  or  the  specific  re- 
ligious views  of  any  particular  paper  that  uses  our 
columns  to  make  itself  more  widely  known,  if  published 
by  responsible  parties.  Excluding  all  whom  we  know  to 
be  dishonest  or  unreliable,  we  allow  our  advertisers  to 
present  their  wares  to  the  readers  of  the  Agriculturist, 
presuming  that  they  will  exercise  their  own  judgment 
upon  them.  Our  advertising  columns  are  well  worth 
perusing;  they  keep  the  intelligent  reader  posted  as  to 
the  recent  improvements  in  agricultural  Implements,, 
new  plants,  seeds,  etc.,  and    other   matters  of  interest. 

We  strongly  repeat  our  standing  request  that  (hose 
who  order  of  or  write  to  our  advertisers,  will  let  them 
know  where  their  business  cards  were  seen.  It  will 
please  the  advertisers,  ami  be  a  material  aid  lo  our  busi- 
ness department,  as  it  is  the  success  of  this  part  of  our 
paper  that  enables  us  to  supply  it  at  so   low   a   rate. 


1863J 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


1G9 


The   "Night  Soil"  of  Hew- York  City. 

That  night  soil  is  one  of  the  most  concen- 
trated and  powerful  fertilizers,  has  long  been 
known ;  though  from  natural  aversion,  for  wise 
reasons  made  instinctive,  few  persons  are  wil- 
ling to  turn  this  material  to  practical  account. 
There  are  in  this  City,  at  all  times,  more  than  a 
million  of  resident  and  transient  persons.  If 
we  estimate  the  night  soil  at  only  eight  ounces 
per'  day  for  each  inhabitant,  the  yearly  amount 
would  reach  182  i  million  pounds,  or  ninety-one 
thousand  tons  !  This  material  would  doubtless 
be  worth  to  the  fields  of  the  Eastern  States  at 
least  two  cents  per  pound,  if  it  were  properly 
saved  and  mixed  with  the  soil,  or  more  than 
three  and-a-half  million  dollars !  Indeed  we 
believe  it  would  produce  an  increased  product 
of  crops  worth  five  or  ten  fold  this  sum.  Since 
the  introduction  of  Croton  Water,  a  large  pro- 
portion of  this  night  soil  is  washed  into  the 
sewers,  and  then  out  to  mingle  with  the  waters 
of  the  ocean.  Still,  according  to  the  City  In- 
spector's report,  about  9,000  privies,  vaults,  etc., 
are  annually  cleaned  by  night  scavengers,  the 
contents  being  conveyed  away  in  covered  carts. 
The  number  of  cart  loads  (25  bushels  each)  rang- 
es from  40,000  to  50,000  a  year.  The  extension 
of  water  pipes  is  constantly  decreasing  this 
amount.  The  carts  are  dumped  into  barges  at 
a  few  points  along  the  river.  For  the  five  years, 
1861-5,  the  barges  are  furnished  by  the  Lodi 
Poudrette  Company,  the  City  paying  them 
about  $15,000  per  annum.  We  recently  visited 
the  works  of  this  Company,  located  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Hackensack  River,  N.  J.,  about  half 
way  between  New- York  and  Newark,  in  order 
to  see  how  they  disposed  of  the  material,  and 
to  learn  from  observation,  whether  it  was 
honestly  prepared  for  use  by  farmers.  For 
twenty  years  past  farmers  have  heard  of  the 
Lodi  Poudrette,  and  large  numbers  have  used  it. 
Some  of  our  acquaintances  have  purchased  it 
regularly  for  from  five  to  twentyyears,  and  be- 
lieve it  a  good  investment.  We  made  our  visit 
to  the  works  without  previous  notice,  to  the 
end  that  we  might  see  just  how  the  manufac- 
ture was  carried  on  in  the  ordinary  daily  rou- 
tine. The  accompanying  sketch  gives  a  general 
view  of  the  works.  About  six  acres  of  swamp 
marsh,  along  the  bank  of  the  Hackensack  river, 


are  occupied  by  the  buildings  and  drying  beds. 
This  is,  we  believe,  the  most  extensive  estab- 
lishment of  the  kind  in  the  world,  exceeding 
even  the  noted  Poudrette  Works  near  Paris. 
As  will  be  seen  in  the  engraving,  there  is  a  long 
wharf  (about  1000  feet  in  length).  Running  par- 
allel with  this  are  a  series  of  canals,  or  reser- 
voirs, for  holding  the  night  soil  as  it  is  raised 
from  the  barges  by  means  of  buckets  and  poured 
into  them.  Sixteen  of  these  barges  (holding 
about  8000  bushels  each)  are  constantly  plying 
back  and  forth  to  the  city,  or  lying  at  the 
wharves  to  receive  the  material.  The  end  of 
one  of  the  reservoirs  is  seen  in  the  foreground. 
The  emptying  of  the  barges  is  done  by  a  port- 
able steam  engine  moved  along  the  wharf  to 
the  different  landing  places.  The  material  is 
dropped  from  the  buckets  upon  a  coarse  screen 
•which  separates  the  larger  rubbish — bricks, 
pails,  boots,  etc.  In  the  reservoirs  the  dark 
green,  semi-fluid  mass  partially  dries  down,  the 
odors  arising  being  from  some  cause  much  less 
offensive  than  we  expected  to  find  them.  Back 
of  these  reservoirs  are  the  drying  beds  where 
the  men  are  seen  at  work  with  shovels.  These 
are  in  part  covered  with  board  flooring,  and  in 
part  are  the  smooth  ground  surface. 

The  manufacturing  process  is  begun  by 
spreading  over  the  surface  of  the  floors,  a  thin 
layer  of  muck  dug  near  by,  or  alluvial  soil 
brought  from  a  point  where  it  is  washed  out  by 
the  Hackensack  and  Passaic  rivers.  The  night 
soil  is  then  taken  from  the  reservoirs,  and  a  thick 
coating  spread  over  the  layer  of  muck.  As  it 
gradually  dries  out,  the  mass  is  shoveled  over 
by  large  gang3  of  men,  of  whom  100  to  120 
are  employed  at  the  works.  This  shoveling 
over  and  mixing  is  done  several  times,  be- 
fore the  whole  is  dry  enough  to  be  taken  in 
wheelbarrows  to  the  screening  buildings.  In  the 
latter  it  is  thrown  into  large  heaps,  and  again 
shoveled  over  to  make  the  whole  mass  as  uni- 
form as  possible.  This  is  important,  for  if  not 
done,  the  variable  character  of  the  night  soil, 
as  gathered  from  different  parts  of  the  city,  might 
make  one  batch  inferior  to  another. 

The  next  process  is  to  pulverize  and  screen 
the  mass.  To  do  this,  it  is  shoveled  into  box 
sieves,  and  worked  over  and  over,  and  beat 
with  shovels  until  the  finer  portions  fall  through 
the  screens.    It  is  then  ready  for  packing  into 


barrels.      These 
are  all    man- 
ufactured on  the 
spot,   the    sawn 
staves    being 
brought       from 
Maine,  the  ready 
made  heads  from 
Massachusetts, 
and   the    hoops 
from      various 
places.         (Tiie 
staves,       heads, 
and  hoops  now 
cost  about  18  cts. 
per  barrel,   and 
the  men  get  sis 
cents  per  barrel 
for  putting  them 
together,  averag- 
ing 35   per  day 
per   man.) — We 
were   greatly  a- 
mused  at  seeing 
the     immense 
masses   of   rub- 
bish    separated 
from    the  night 
soil,    during    the    different    screenings,    show- 
ing the  privy  vaults  to  be  an   "omnium  gath- 
erum "  for  all  conceivable  things,  deposited  in 
part  by  design,  and  in  part  by  accident.  We  no- 
ticed brick  bats  by  the  scores  of  cartloads ;  bottle 
corks  by  the  million ;  broken  crockery  of  every 
possible   kind,  and   some  not   broken  ;    stove 
pipes ;  tin  pans,  tin  pails,  tin  funnels,  tin  kettles, 
and  about  everything  else  made  of  tin  ;  children's 
toys  in  inconceivable  numbers,  and  of  evciy  kind 
ever  made;  beer  bottles,  stone  jugs,  glass  bottles, 
and  glass  ware  of  all  kinds ;    oyster  cans,  sar- 
dine cases,  brooms,  oil  cans,  carpets,  old  gar- 
ments of  all  sorts ;  hats,  boots,  shoes,  books, 
clock  wheels,  etc.,  etc.— not  to  mention  bones, 
(some  of  them  evidently  human),  many  watch- 
es, gold  rings,  and  other  jewelry,  precious  stones, 
coins  genuine  and  counterfeit  in  large  numbers, 
counterfeit  dies,  etc.     The  workmen  often  find 
valuable  prizes,  which  is  perhaps  one  incentive 
to  the  following  of  a  business  at  best  unpleas- 
ant.   Women  gather  the  glassware  and  sort  it, 
selling  the  different  kinds  at  various  prices,  to 
be  melted  over,  or  ground  up.     They  also  gath- 
er the  bones,  the  company  paying  a  stipulat- 
ed price  per   bushel.       The   establishment  is 
worth  visiting  as  a  "curiosity  shop"  quite  equal 
in  some  respects  to  Barnum's.     Any  one  going 
there  will  need  to  provide  himself  with  a  good 
pair  of  boots,  and,  if  having  over  sensitive  nasal 
organs,  to  take   along  a  bottle  of   hartshorn. 
Strange  to  say,  however,  the  manufactured  pro- 
duct, though  containing  but  a  small  proportion 
of  muck  as  an  absorbent  or  dryer,  is  in  the 
form  of  a  dry  powder,  and  nearly  inodorous. 
After  being  put  in  barrels,  it  is  taken  to  the 
city  warehouse,  and  delivered  to  the  different 
steamboats,  railroads,  etc.    Farmers  take  away 
large  quantities  in  bulk.     The  fact  that  there 
are  regular  customers  who  come  year  after  year, 
(we  conversed  with  some  of  them  who  chanced 
to  come  while  we  were  there),  is  fair  evidence 
that  the  material  is  of  practical  value.     It  is 
used  most  largely  for  corn,  a  handful  in  the  hill 
with  the  seed,  to  give  it  a  vigorous  atari,  a  good 
developement  of  the  first  roots  whether  on 
poor  or  good  soil.    Its  great  merit  seems  to  be 
quick  action  upon  young  plants.     It  is  not  in- 
jurious to  the  seed,  though  in  contact  with  it. 
Poor  or  heavy  soil  needs  also  coarser  barnyard 
manure,  to  improve  both  the  tilth  and  fertility. 


170 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[JrrNE, 


Management  of  Sheep  in  Minnesota. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agr:  ulturist. 

As  stern  necessity  is  forcing  an  increased  in- 
terest to  be  taken  by  Northern  States,  in  the 
business  of  wool  growing,  I  propose  to  give 
you  a  few  practical  items    from    Minnesota. 

Sly  neighbor  Mr.  Bennett,  is  the  owner  of 
about  2000  sheep,  chiefly  mixed  blood,  though 
a  few  arc  extraordinarily  fine  Spanish  Merinos. 
He  farms  out  about  1200,  taking  for  his  profits 
the  fleece,  and  when  the  flock  is  returned,  an 
equal  number  of  young  healthy  sheep.  The  re- 
maining 800  he  feeds  ou  his  farm,  and  it  is  to  the 
management  of  this  home-flock  that  I  would 
call  attention,  as  I  think  that  he  has  winter- 
ed them  with  unusual  economy  and  success. 

Mr.  13.  raised  a  quantity  of  Indian  corn,  which 
was  cut  and  cured  in  the  usual  way  in  the  field, 
where  it  was  left  standing  in  stack  for  daily  use 
during  the  Winter.  The  feeding  season  with 
us  is  al  most  invariably  free  from  rains.  The  corn 
was  drawn  and  scattered  over  a  large  pasture 
at  the  rate  of  about  one  and-a-half  bushels  of 
grain  to  a  flock  of  200  sheep.  The  little  ani- 
mals stripped  the  stalks  and  cobs  absolutely 
clean  ;  then  after  being  watered  they  were  en- 
closed in  yards  adjoining  the  sheds,  and  supplied 
witli  an  abundance  of  fresh  straw,  in  racks. 

Cost  of  Wintering. — Mr.  B.  estimates  the  cost 
as  follows:  In  our  neighborhood,  unimproved 
land  costs  from  five  to  ten  dollars  per  acre.  An 
acre  of  well  cultivated  and  well  cured  corn,  cost- 
ing about  $5  for  labor,  will  support  15  sheep,  at 
38i  cents  per  head.  It  is  now  the  last  of  March, 
and  he  has  still  some  weeks  of  provision  left. 

How  the  Slieep  Look. — Under  this  head  it  is  un- 
necessary to  multiply  words.  The  sheep  are 
fully  as  fat  as  desirable.  They  are  healthy, 
fleece  heavy,  clean,  and  in  excellent  condition. 
Mr.  B.  estimates  his  clip  will  average  four  lbs. 
to  the  sheep,  including  the  last  year's  lambs. 
How  Sheltered. — Our  climate,  I  repeat,  is  unu- 
sually dry  during  the  Winter ;  we  have  few  or 
no  rains,  or  heavy  snows,  therefore  but  very  or- 
dinary protection  is  required ;  nor  need  we  con- 
fine the  auimals  to  close,  heated,  and  unhealthy 
stables.  Sheds  of  rough  boards,  or  poles  and 
straw  are  infinitely  preferable  to  the  most  cost- 
ly and  closely  built  stables.  Mr.  B.'s  sheds  open 
to  the  south,  and  are  well  boarded  against  north- 
east and  west  winds.  They  have  a  depth  of 
about  10  feet,  which  gives  -ample  protection, 
atfording  a  dry,  airy,  healthful,  and  all-sufficient 
shelter.  The  pens  and  sheds  are  daily  spread 
with  clean  fresh  litter — the  straw  which  the 
sheep  pull  from  the  racks.  In  warm  days 
which  come  suddenly  upon  us  as  Spring  ap- 
proaches, the  animals  are  driven  to  the  open 
fields,  away  from  the  fumes  of  the  heated  ma- 
nure, until  the  approach  of  night-fall,  and  in 
this  daily  care  for  the  health  of  his  flock,  lies  the 
true  secret  of  Mr.  B.'s  success. 

So  soon  as  grass  appears,  pasturage  with  us  is 
not  an  item  of  cost.  A  sufficient  range  ia  so 
easily  procured,  that  at  most  it  can  only  cost  the 
wages  of  a  man,  who  with  a  good  dog,  will  look 
after  and  care  for  from  one   to   two  thousand. 

T.te  Profit. — According  to  present  appearances 
Mr.  Bennett's  profit  item  will  stand  as  follows: 

Slu-ep  averaged  when  purchased $2  20 

2.H0I1  Sheep  .it  i2  20 $-1-400 

Co-t  of  keeping 1,320—5,720 

Sheep  wonh  without  the  fleece,  say  $5 $10,000 

6,000  lbs.  "of  wool,  say  75c  6.000 

Lambs,  say ■ .  ■  ■_■ 1.500 

17.S0O 

Deductfirat  cost 5,720 

Balance  in  Profit* $11,780 

You  will  observe  that  I  have  added  a  cost  for 
Summer  keepiug  equal  to  the  Winter,  which  is 


of  course  an  excess;  but  I  have  made  no  allow- 
ance for  loss  by  disease  or  death,  which  for  six 
months  past  has  only  amounted  to  about  $10. 

Having  given  you  the  above  items  I  now  so- 
licit permission  to  propose  a  few  inquiries  to 
be  answered  by  experienced   sheep   breeders. 

1st.  There  is  a  prevailing  opinion  that  the 
further  north,  wool  and  fur.  animals  are  grown 
within  the  limit  of  plentiful  support,  the  finer 
and  better  is  the  growth  of  the  animal'scovering: 
— Is  this  only  a  conceit,  or  demonstrated  fact  ? 

2d.  Do  fine  blooded  sheep  of  the  Eastern  coun- 
tries, degenerate  in  flesh  or  fleece  by  removal 
to  the  colder  climates  of  the  American  States  ? 

3d.  Have  sheep  growers  determined  the  qual- 
ity of  sheep  natural  to  the  temperate  and  colder 
climate*  of  the  Northern   States  of  America? 

The  subject  of  wool  growing  is  at  this  mo- 
ment so  pregnant  with  interest  that  it  deserves 
much  more  than  ordinary  investigation.  Thou- 
sands will  be  tempted  to  embark  in  the  business, 
knowing  little  or  nothing  of  the  habits,  the  qual- 
ity, or  the  wants  of  the  animals.    T.  T.  Mann. 

Washington  Co.,  Minn, 

*  Mr.  Mann's  estimate  of  profits  is  too  large.  His  figures 
put  wool  at  SI  a  pound,  making  ttic  profits  $11,780;  we 
took  the  liberty  to  change  the  estimate  for  wool  in  Min- 
nesota lo  75c,  and  that  is  nearly  double  the  usual  price. 
The  present  quotation  in  New-York  (May  6)  is  70  lo  90 
cents,  from  which  must  be  deducted  freight,  commissions, 
etc.  Again,  is  not  $5  a  head  for  shorn  sheep  rather  a 
high  estimate  for  Minnesota.  If  one  were  to  now  embark 
in  sheep  growing,  he  would  of  course  have  to  pay  present 
rates  for  stock  sheep,  and  not  $2.20,  the  price  paid  by  Mr. 
Dennett.  We  readily  grant  that  wool  growing  is  largely 
profitable,  and  likely  lo  continue  so,  but  add  these  re- 
marks as  a  caution  against  too  great  expectations. — Ed. 
—i in     -• 

Shall  Sheep  be  Washed  ? 


Wool  undoubtedly  needs  cleansing  before  it 
can  be  used  in  the  manufactory,  but  it  does  not 
follow  that  it  must  be  washed  while  on  the 
sheep's  back.  There  are  many  reason  why  it 
should  not  be — few  if  any  valid  ones  for  a  con- 
tinuance of  the  practice.  The  best  washing 
will  only  remove  part  of  the  foreign  matter 
from  the  fleece.  The  manufacturer  subjects  all 
wool  to  a  cleansing  process,  whether  it  has  been 
previously  carefully  washed,  or  only  "soused  " 
in  a  slovenly  manner.  Sheep  washing  is  vio- 
lently unnatural.  No  animal  dreads  the  water 
more,  and  with  good  reason ;  it  requires  days 
of  warm  weather  to  evaporate  the  moisture 
held  in  the  meshes  of  a  thick  fleece  of  wool, 
and  the  animal  not  only  surfers  discomfort,  but 
frequently  positive  injury.  It  is  comparatively 
an  easy  process  to  remove  the  yolk  and  dirt 
from  wool  when  sheared  from  the  sheep,  but 
impossible  to  complete  the  work  while  upon 
the  back  of  the  struggling  animal.  It  would  be 
just  as  wise,  and  little  less  humane,  to  give  chil- 
dren an  occasional  plunge  to  remove  stains  and 
soils  from  their  garments.  But  for  the  washing, 
the  sheep  might  be  sheared  one  or  two  weeks 
earlier  in  the  season,  which  would  promote 
heaviness  of  fleece,  and  add  to  the  comfort  and 
thrift  of  both  sheep  and  lambs. 

The  great  objection  urged  against  shearing 
unwashed  sheep,  is  that  an  unwarrantable  de- 
duction in  the  price  of  the  wool  is  made  by 
manufacturers.  The  remedy  for  this  is  with  the 
producer.  He  has  only  to  remain  firm  in  a 
reasonable  demand,  and  in  time  his  terms  must 
be  acceded  to.  There  is  a  very  just  cause  of 
complaint  in  the  practice  pursued,  of  buying 
wool  according  to  a  general  average  of  clean- 
liness, instead  of  fixing  the  price  according  to 
the  actual  condition  of  each  lot.  This  has,  in 
effect  been,  to  offer  a  premium  for  neglect,  and 


many  clips  of  professedly  washed  wool  have 
been  little  superior  in  cleanliness  to  unwashed 
fleeces  from  sheep*  properly  cared  for.  Pro- 
ducers should,  in  every  case,  insist  upon  selling 
their  wool  according  to  its  own  merits,  and  this 
can  as  easily  be  done  with  the  unwashed  article 
as  any  other.  To  change  the  present  practice 
will  require  general  simultaneous  effort,  and 
this  can  scarcely  be  expected  without  consider- 
able discussion.  It  is  here  intended  only  to  in- 
dicate some  of  the  leading  points  that  seem  to 
make  the  change  desirable. 


Tim  Banker  on  Sheep  Traps. 

9 

"What  upon  airth  d'ye  call  that?"  asked 
uncle  Jotham  Sparrowgrass,  as  he  hailed  Seth 
Twiggs  in  the  street,  this  morning.  Seth  had  a 
gun  over  his  shoulder,  and  held  in  his  hand  what 
might  have  been  mistaken  for  ga  me,  at  a  short 
distance.  On  closer  examination,  the  object  re- 
vealed a  pair  of  short  ears,  a  prominent  nose,  a 
long  clean  pair  of  jaws,  well  armed  with  sharp, 
bloody  teeth.  It  was  what  is  left  of  a  dog  after 
his  tail  has  been  cut  off  just  behind  his  ears. 

"  That  is  what  I  call  a  slieep  trap,"  said  Seth, 
as  he  flung  the  head  upon  the  grass,  pulled  his 
pipe  out  of  one  pocket,  and  a  match  out  of  the- 
other,  and  lighted. 

"  Why  that  is  Jake  Fr'mk's  dog !"  exclaimed 
Uncle  Jotham. 

"Taint  Jake's  any  longer,"  replied  Seth. 
"  Ye  see  I  caught  him  in  the  act,  this  morning 
airly.  He  was  gnawing  away  at  a  sheep  he  had 
run  down,  and  that  is  sheep's  blood  you  see  on 
his  teeth  now.  I  put  that  bullet  between  his 
eyes,  and  he  hadn't  time  to  clean  his  teeth  be- 
fore he  emigrated  to  t'other  country.  That  trap 
has  caught  three  sheep  of  nine  this  Spring,  be- 
sides lots  of  ni}-  neighbors,  to  say  nothing  of  Ihe 
lambs,  and  I  was  so  afraid  the  hap  might  be  set 
again  that  I  jest  cut  his  head  off  alter  I  shot 
him,  to  make  sure  work  of  it.  That  critter  has 
destroyed  a  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  property 
this  Spring,  I  haven't  a  doubt,  Sheep  have 
been  found  dead,  and  badly  maimed,  and  he  has 
been  seen  chasing  them.  When  complaint  has 
been  made  to  Jake,  he  could  not  believe  he  was 
guilty  of  even  chasing  sheep.  He  did  not  al- 
low him  in  such  tricks.  His  dog  was  as  inno- 
cent as  a  lamb.  Children  could  play  with  him, 
and  he  wouldn't  even  growl.  To  hear  Jako 
talk,  you  would  think  the  dog's  mother  must 
have  been  a  sheep.  Waal,  now,  ye  see,  that 
talk  didn't  go  down  with  me.  I  can  tell  a  sheep 
stealin  dog  as  soon  as  I  lay  my  eye  on  him. 
There  is  a  kind  of  guilty  look  about  the  critter, 
that  says  mutton,  as  plainly  as  if  it  stuck  in  his 
jaws.  Jake  has  never  been  able  to  raise  sheep. 
If  he  tried,  his  lambs  disappeared  mysteriously 
when  that  dog  was  a  puppy.  He  always  laid 
it  to  other  folks'  dogs.  But  Rover  was  the  guilty 
wretch  that  drunk  lamb's  blood.  I  have  been 
watching  him  for  about  a  week,  and  ye  see  this 
morning  I  got  him  jest  where  I  wanted  him. 
There  was  a  piece  of  mutton  in  his  mouth  when 
I  fired.  It  will  take  a  smarter  man  than  Jako 
Friuk  to  get  away  from  thai  fact" 
"  I  guess  you'll  catch  it  when  Jake  hears  of  it." 
"He  won't  have  to  wait  long,  for  I'm  going  lo 
take  home  Jake's  sheep  trap  this  morning.  I 
wouldn't  have  you  think  that  I'd  shoot  a  man'3 
dog,  and  then  not  own  it.  That  would  be  too 
much  like  a  sheep  stealing  dog.  I  calculate  to 
take  the  responsibility." 

This  conversation  of  my  neighbors  shows  tho 
way  the  current  is  setting  in  the  dog  question, 
and  the  progress  the  reform  is  making,  under 


1863.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


171 


the  new  laws,  and  especially  under  the  high 
prices  of  wool  and  mutton.  This  last,  I  think, 
has  more  to  do  with  dog  killing,  than  all  the 
laws  that  have  been  enacted.  With  wool  at  a 
dollar  a  pound  or  in  that  neighborhood,  every 
body  that  owns  laud  wants  a  lew  sheep.  Even 
Jake  Frink  rubs  his  eyes  and  wakes  up  to  the 
fact  that  sheep  raising  will  be  a  paying  busi- 
ness. Sheep  will  live  and  do  well  on  his  poor 
pastures  where  his  cows  grow  poor.  He  will 
bluster  of  course,  when  he  learns  that  his  dog  is 
killed,  but  he  will  be  resigned  and  conclude 
that  his  sheep  as  well  as  his  neighbors'  will  be 
safer  with  that  sheep  trap  out  of  the  way.  A 
large  number  of  poor  farmers,  and  rather  poor 
citizens,  who  have  the  dog  mania  will  invest  in 
sheep,  and  that  will  make  them  the  natural  ene- 
mies of  dogs.  I  have  noticed  that  it  makes  a 
mighty  deal  of  difference  whether  it  is  your 
sheep  or  your  neighbors'  that  are  bitten  or  killed. 
Resignation  is  a  virtue  easily  practised,  when  a 
pack  of  dogs  get  into  your  neighbor's  flock  and 
worry  and  slay.  But  when  you  go  out  some 
fine  morning  and  find  your  fattest  weather  half 
eaten  up,  or  your  full  blood  Merinos  made  into 
mutton  prematurely,  it  stirs  the  blood  at  once 
against  dogs.  You  owe  the  whole  race  a  grudge. 
You  Blink  of  steel  traps,  bullets,  and  small 
stout  cords  in  close  proximity  to  dogs'  necks. 
You  talk  fiercely  and  threaten  vengeance.  Men 
in  such  a  humor  are  prepared  to  legislate  ra- 
tionally upon  the  dog  question.  They  see  very 
clearly  that  one  vile  cur,  not  worth  a  copper 
to  any  body,  may  easily  destroy  a  hundred  dol- 
lars' worth  of  their  property  in  a  single  night. 
With  sheep  at  two  or  three  times  the  old  prices 
we  shall  not  only  have  good  dog  laws,  but  we 
shall  have  men  that  will  execute  the  laws,  and 
the  dogs  at  the  same  time.  The  old  arguments 
on  Ibis  question  are  just  as  good  as  any  new 
ones  that  can  be  brought  forward,  but  men  see 
them  a  great  deal  better.  A  sheep  is  a  creature 
of  consequence,  just  about  three  times  bigger 
than'it  was  two  years  ago.  The  dogs  have 
grown  small,  and  a  multitude  of  them  have 
grown  out  of  sight  entirely. 

There  used  to  be  a  dog  on  about  every  corner 
of  the  streets  in  Hookertown.  Some  families 
kept  a  half  dozen,  and  they  had  tight  match  to 
get  enough  for  their  children  to  eat,  too.  Now 
they  are  getting  scarce,  and  I  am  in  hopes  that 
the  time  is  not  distant  when  they  will  be  con- 
fined to  cages,  and  shown  up  as  curiosities  at 
Barnum's.  It  does  my  eyes  good  to  see  children 
and  lambs  fat  and  happy,  and  dogs  lean  and 
miserable.  Fat  dogs  indicate  a  low  civilization 
like  the  Chinese,  or  a  low  state  of  morals  like 
the  White  Oaks,  where  the  dogs  are  more  nu- 
merous than  the  people. 

I  have  hated  dogs  ever  since  I  was  a  boy.  My 
father  kept  sheep  and  was  a  lover  of  choice 
mutton,  and  chose  to  do  his  own  butchering,  in 
a  humane  and  decent  manner.  I  remember  an 
old  ewe  with  twin  lambs,  a  cosset  who  came 
home  with  the  cows  to  be  pelted,  and  cared  for 
as  if  she  were  a  member  of  the  family.  One 
morning  she  was  found  dreadfully  torn  by  the 
dogs,  just  alive,  but  unable  to  move  and  her 
lambs  missing.  I  have  hated  the  sight  of  a  dog 
ever  since,  and  never  pass  one  in  the  street, 
without  an  apprehension  of  a  bite,  and  a  great 
longing  to  brain  him  on  the  spot.  Seth  Twiggs 
has  given  them  the  right  name,  "  Sheep  Traps." 

And  the  morality  of  keeping  a  sheep-killing 
dog  is  on  a  par  with  that  of  a  malicious  neigh- 
bor, who  should  set  steel  traps  in  the  sheep 
walks  of  your  pasture.  I  would  much  rather 
have  steel  traps  than  the  dogs.   The  trap  would 


be  certain  to  dispose  of  only  one  sheep  in  a 
night,  while  the  dog  might  kill  or  maim  a  dozen. 
The  trap  and  the  victim  would  be  found  togeth- 
er in  the  morning,  and  the  mystery  of  the  broken 
leg  would  be  cleared  up.  But  yoi ■'•  cowardly 
sneaking  dog  does  his  work  by  ni_  lit  and  is 
miles  away  in  the  morning,  with  his  chops  all 
licked,  and  lying  by  his  master's  door,  as  meek 
looking  as  if  he  never  dreamed  of  mutton.  The 
owner  of  a  steel  trap  is  a  responsible  being,  but 
the  owner  of  a  dog  seems  to  think  that  his  brute 
is  what  Mr.  Spooner  would  call  a  free  moral 
agent,  fit  to  do  business  on  his  own  hook.  He 
is  hot  accountable  for  the  deeds  of  his  dog.  I 
go  in  for  trapping  rats,  skunks,  foxes,  weasels, 
and  other  vermin.  If  we  must  trap  sheep  and 
lambs,  I  prefer  an  article  with  steel  springs  and 
chain,  to  a  pair  of  living  jaws  on  four  legs. 
The  latter  catches  too  much  game. 

Hookertown,  >         Yours  to  command, 

May  10th,   1S83.      i  Timothy  Bunker  E^q. 


Small  Pox  in  Sheep. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  no  little  excite- 
ment was  caused  in  England  last  year  by  the 
appearance  of  small  pox  among  sheep.  Active 
measures  were  soon  instituted  to  meet  the  emer- 
gency, and  we  are  happy  to  learn  that  they  have 
been  successful.  An  Association  formed  among 
the  sheep  breeders  in  Wiltshire,  to  prevent  the 
spread  of  the  malady  and  to  afford  compensa- 
tion to  those  who  might  sustain  loss  by  its  at- 
tacks, has  just  closed  its  accounts,  there  being  no 
present  necessity  for  its  continuance.  The  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Association  during  the  year  are 
of  general  interest.  When  the  disease  first  ap- 
peared it  was  recommended  and  practised  to 
some  extent,  to  inoculate  exposed  flocks,  on 
the  supposition  that  the  malady  would  be  less 
severe  in  its  effects.  This,  however,  proved  not 
to  be  the  case;  inoculated  flocks  died  ofl'  rapid- 
ly, and  thus  the  proposed  preventive  only  spread 
the  infection.  ThS  Wiltshire  Association  insti- 
tuted experiments  to  determine  the  efficacy  of 
vaccine  virus,  which  proved  entirely  satisfacto- 
ry. Six  healthy  sheep  were  vaccinated  and  then 
confined  with  others  that  were  diseased  with 
small  pox,  and  which  subsequently  died,  but  the 
vaccinated  sheep  resisted  all  contagion  and  re- 
mained perfectly  sound.  To  put  the  experiment 
to  the  extreme  test,  the  six  sheep  were  afterward 
inoculated  with  small  pox  virus.  Two  of 
them  died,  two  had  the  disease  rather  severely, 
the  other  two  slightly,  and  the  four  fully  recov- 
ered. The  Association  recommend  instant  iso- 
lation of  an  infected  sheep,  and  the  vaccination 
of  those  in  the  vicinity,  as  almost  certain  means 
of  eradicating  the  disease. 

The  labors  of  the  Association  brought  to  light 
some  startling  facts  concerning  the  introduction 
of  diseases  among  stock  by  importations  from 
infected  districts.  There  remained  no  doubt 
that  the  small  pox  was  thus  brought  in.  Ac- 
cording to  Government  reports,  the  cattle  dis- 
eases of  England  rose  in  ten  years  from  a  year- 
ly average  of  11,  to  5,  6,  and  10  per  cent.  A 
Government  commissioner  stated  that,  in  1862 
the  loss  from  disease  was  at  least  three  times 
the  total  amount  of  cattle  imported,  a  large  part 
of  which  was  clearly  traceable  to  the  introduc- 
tion of  diseases  from  abroad.  It  is  very  j  ustly 
considered  a  matter  over  which  Government 
should  exercise  proper  control,  and  it  will  not 
be  amiss  for  American  farmers  to  give  the  sub- 
ject due  attention  in  time.  The  Pleuro-pneu- 
monia  excitement,  though  somewhat  exagger- 
ated, shows  how  great  the  danger  may  be,  and 


as  our  flocks  and  herds  become  more  valuable, 
and  greater  attention  is  given  to  raise  the  stand- 
ard of  excellence  by  bringing  in  new  blood,  the 
risk  will  be  proportionately  increased. 


Cure  of  Foot   Rot   in   Sheep. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist: 

I  have  repeatedly  used  the  following  treatment 
for  foot-rot  in  sheep  with  complete  success. 
Prepare  a  solution  of  blue  vitrol  as  strong  as  it 
can  be  made,  by  pulverizing  and  dissolving  in 
warm  soft  water.  Each  hoof  p\  ould  then  be  ex- 
amined, thoroughly  cleansed  wita.  a  knife,  and 
if  too  long,  cut  to  the  proper  dimensions.  If  no 
infection  be  found,  let  two  men  take  the  sheep 
with  a  leg  in  each  hand  and  dip  every  foot  into 
the  solution  of  vitrol.  When  an  infected  hooi 
is  found,  carefully  pare  it  until  every  par- 
ticle of  the  infection  is  exposed — avoid  bleed- 
ing the  foot  if  possible.  Then  thoroughly  sat- 
urate the  foot  with  spirits  of  turpentine  from  a 
vial  with  a  quill  inserted  in  the  cork ;  pour  on 
as  much  fine  powder  as  you  can  make  adhere  to 
the  foot  or  the  parts  infected,  and  apply  a  light- 
ed match  to  the  same;  after  which  dip  the  foot 
in  the  solution  as  above  directed.  The  sheep 
should  then  run  on  a  clean  floor  until  the  re- 
medies have  had  sufficient  time  to  take  effect. 
I  have  cured  an  entire  flock  with  a  single 
course  of  the  above  treatment.  But  to  be  safe, 
the  same  should  be  repeated  in  five  or  seven 
days,  and  if  any  cases  of  infection  be  found,  re- 
peat again.  Should  an  obstiuate  case  be  found 
where  the  rot  has  penetrated  into  the  center  of 
the  quick,  the  sheep  should  be  put  into  a  pen  or 
small  yard  by  itself,  and  subjected  every  second 
day  to  the  prescribed  treatment.  Thorough- 
ness is  the  great  secret  of  success  in  treating  the 
foot-rot.  The  knife  is  the  principal  remedy,  if 
sharp  and  skillfully  handled.      A  Sdbscribeh. 

iliddlebury,  Vt. 


Prevention  of  "Cribbing"  in  Horses. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist  : 

I  found  myself  cheated  to  the  amount  of  $50 
by  the  purchase  of  a  horse  sold  as  "sound,"  but 
which  proved  to  be  an  inveterate  cribber.  Va- 
rious remedies  were  recommended  and  tried 
without  success.  Final!}',  I  have  found  a  pre- 
ventive, if  not  a  cure.  I  have  arranged  the  stall 
so  as  to  leave  nothing  against  which  he  can 
press  his  teeth.  He  is  fed  from  a  low  box  which 
is  pushed  into  the  stall  from  a  passage-way,  and 
the  box  is  withdrawn  when  not  in  use.  (It  is 
said  that  a  horse  can  not  crib  with  his  head 
down.)  The  opening  for  air  and  light  is  placed 
too  high  for  him  to  reach  it,  to  crib  against  its 
sides.  Since  adopting  the  above  arrangement, 
the  horse  has  improved  in  condition  and  spirit, 
and  his  value  is  also  much  increased.  X. 

«-. — «— ■— 

Salting  Stock. 


Probably  we  do  not  know  all  the  uses  of  salt 
in  the  animal  economy;  but  a  few  are  obvious. 
It  acts  beneficially  upon  the  liver,  yields  a  sup- 
ply of  soda  to  the  bile,  and  gives  increased  nu- 
tritive power  to  food.  It  acts  as  a  vermifuge, 
keeping  the  bowels  of  stock  free  from  worms, 
and  gives  increased  tone  to  the  stomach.  It 
tends  to  prevent  rot  in  sheep.  As  to  the 
amount  and  the  time  of  giving  it,  farmers  dis- 
agree. Some  are  accustomed  to  salt  their  stock 
regularly,  once  a  week.  Many  successful  farm- 
ers keep  salt  within  reach  of  their  stock,  believ- 
ing that  they  will  cat  only  as  nature  requires.  , 


17a 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[June, 


Experience   with   Italian    Bees. 


To  the  Editor  0/ the  American  Agriculturist. 

July  3d,  1861,  an  Italian  queen  was  received 
at  my  Apiary.     During  the  last  of  that  season, 
I  reared  six  queens  and  introduced  them  into 
stocks  that  Winter.    In  the  year  1862,  under 
the  same  circumstances,  the  Italians  did  one- 
fourth  better,  and  where  I  introduced  them  to 
some  of  my  neighbors,  they  say  that  they  have 
done  one-half  better  than  the  common  stock.  Of 
two  colonies  that  stood  side  by  side— the  Italian 
filled  14  4jlb.  boxes;  the  common  bees, filled  8 
4Jlb.  boxes.    In  introducing  Italian  queens,  I 
find  that  the  common  bees  disappear 
in  about  90  days.   This  season  I  intend 
to  introduce  a  common  queen  to  an 
Italian  stock  to  test  what  is  now  the- 
ory, that  is,  whether   the  life  of  the 
Italian  worker  is  longer  than  the  com- 
mon.   Either  this  is  the  case,  or  the 
Italian  queen   is  very  much  more  pro- 
lific.   That  it  is  a  more  active  worker  I 
have  no  doubt ;  that  it  will  defend  its 
stores  with  marked  promptness  is  also 
true.     I  have  been  troubled  less  with 
robbery  from  the  Italian  than  the  com- 
mon bee.   Last  year  until  after  swarm- 
ing or   dividing,  I  had  over  100  col- 
onies at  my  place ;  then  I  carried  some 
to  what  I  supposed  were  better  honey 
producing  localities.    The  Italian  bee 
is  larger  when  it  builds  its  own  comb. 
I  notice  that  they  fly  earlier  and  later 
than  common  stocks  of  equal  strength, 
also  on  a  cool  day  when  scarcely  a 
common  bee  is  out.    If  the  Italian  bee 
is  abused,  it  will  resent  it  more  vigorous- 
ly than  the  common  bee,  but  with  care 
they  can  be  managed  as  well.    This 
Spring  my  Italians  are  in  good  condi- 
tion and  I  am  much  pleased  with  them. 
Tipton  County,  Iowa.  C.  G.  McNBIL. 

[We  print  the  above  as  one  of  the  apparent 
results  of  experiments  with  the  Italian  bee ;  but 
it  will  require  a  great  number  of  careful  experi- 
ments, to  finally  decide  whether  or  not  the 
Italian  bees,  as  a  rule,  are  better  workers,  more 
vigorous,  and  otherwise  superior  to  the  common 
bees.  In  the  above  case,  and  in  the  few  others 
reported,  the  apparent  difference  in  the  amount 
of  the  houey,m«y  have  resulted  from  other  causes, 
as  it  often  happens  that  of  two  common  swarms, 
apparently  of  equal  number  and  vigor,  the  one 
will  store  up  double  the  amount  of  honey  se- 
cured by  the  other,  though  no  reason  can  be 
given  for  the  difference.  If  the  general  experi- 
ence continues  to  show  a  marked  difference  in 
favor  of  the  Italian,  there  will  then  be  good 
reasons  for  introducing  them  geneially. — Ed.] 


large  enough  to  cover  the  dung-heaps  and  a  large 
pile  of  muck.  Every  few  days,  after  the  stalls 
are  cleaned  out,  let  a  man  shovel  an  equal 
amount  of  muck  over  the  pile  of  fresh  manure. 
This  will  absorb  the  liquid  parts  and  prevent 
"  fire-fanging."  And  when  this  heap  is  finally 
shoveled  over  and  mixed,  the  compost  will  be 
as  valuable  as  an  equal  amount  of  simple  manure. 
We  are  continually  hearing  of  farmers  who 
accidentally  learned  the  lesson  we  now  teach. 
They  now  never  think  of  leaving  their  manure 
"  out  in  the  cold."  They  know  that  the  in- 
creased value  of  their  manure  annually  is  four- 
fold   greater    than    the    cost  of  their    sheds. 


Poultry— The  Black  Spanish  Fowls. 


Sheds  for  Manure. 

Some  farmers  would  build  sheds  for  their  ma- 
nure, if  it  were  not  for  the  trouble.  Others 
would  do  so,  if  they  did  not  fear  fire-fanging,  or 
waste  by  drying  up.  But  the  trouble  is  nothing 
to  an  industrious  man,  and  if  the  heap  is  prop- 
erly managed,  there  is  no  danger  from  excessive 
heat.  By  protecting  it  from  wind,  sun,  rain, 
and  washing,  its  value  will  be  largely  increased. 

It  is  doubtless  true  that  horse-manure  alone, 
if  covered,  will  suffer  from  too  rapid  decompo- 
sition. But  this  can  easily  be  prevented  by  mix- 
ing with  it,  as  the  heap  is  forming,  frequent 
"dividers"  of  muck,  tan-bark  or  common  soil. 
The  very  best  way  is  to  throw  up  rough  sheds, 
without  siding,  over  the  port  holes  of  the  barn, 


This  breed  of  poultry  is  deservedly  becoming 
popular  in  this  country.  It  has  long  been 
reared  in  Spain  and  the  adjacent  countries 
along  the  Mediteranean,  where  it  is  said  to  have 
been  introduced  from  the  West  Indies.  Bement, 
in  his  Poulterer's  Companion  says  of  it :  "The 
thorough-bred  Spanish  fowls  should  be  entirely 
black,  as  far  as  feathers  are  concerned,  and 
when  in  high  condition  display  a  greenish  me- 
tallic lustre ;  an  erect  brilliant  scarlet  comb, 
serrated  ;  with  a  clear  milk-white  face  and  ear- 
lobes;  dark-blue  legs;  and  a  lofty  carriage. 
Wattles  of  the  hen  small,  but  large  and  very 
conspicuous  in  the  cocks,  and  like  the  comb,  of 
a  light  scarlet.  This  marked  contrast  of  black, 
bright-red,  and  white,  makes  the  head  of  the 
Spanish  cock  as  handsome  as  that  of  any  other 
variety ;  and  in  the  genuine  breed  the  whole 
form  is  equally  good.  The  cock-bird  should  be 
strong  and  short  in  the  legs  as  possible ;  his 
back  from  tail  to  neck  short,  tail  large  and 
ample.  He  should  weigh  not  less  than  six 
pounds;  the  head  is  rather  large,  the  spurs  long 
and  sharp,  and  the  bearing  and  carriage  proud 
and  high.  The  face  should  commence  from 
where  the  comb  joins  on  the  head,  and  must 
extend  downward  over  and  around  the  eye  till 
it  meets  the  white  ear-lobes. 

Spanish  hens  are  also  of  good  size  and  good 
figure,  and  are  celebrated  as  good  layers,  pro- 
ducing very  large  white  eggs.  The  head  of  the 
hen  should  be  neat,  and  of  moderate  size;  eyes 
bright;  comb  single,  very  large  and  pendulous; 


face  entirely  white,  the  white  extending  around 
the  eye;    neck  of  moderate  length,  neatly  set 
on;   body  broad,  wings  of  middle  size;    legs  a 
bluish-white;     tail     long   and  well    squared; 
plumage  of  a  glossy  black,  with  brilliant  tints 
of  green  and  purple,  as  in  the  cock,  but  less 
brilliant.    Her  weight  should  not  be  less  than 
five  pounds.    It   must  be  especially  observed 
that  the  slightest   approach   to  coarseness,  in 
either  cock  or  hen,  must  be  discountenanced, 
even  at  the  expense  of  size  ;   for  in  no  class  of 
fowls    is    fineness    of   quality  more    requisite 
and  more  appreciated  than  in  the  Spanish." 
These  fowls  are  favorites  for  their  beauty, 
their  excellent  flavor  of  flesh,  and  their 
prolificness  as  layers.      Such  is  their 
indisposition  to  sit,  that  it  is  advisable 
to  depend  upon  hens  of  other  breeds 
to  rear  their  young.    They  arc  sub- 
ject to  one  or  two  drawbacks.    Their 
large  combs  are  apt  to  be  frosted  dur- 
ing our  northern  winters,  unless  the 
birds  are  kept  in  warm  quarters,  and 
without  proper  care,  mortification  and 
death  may  ensue.   They  also  are  liable 
to   lose  their    plumage,   and  if  they 
moult  late,  they  suffer  from  exposure. 
■ 0 

Look  After  the  Cabbages  Early. 

The  importance  of  the  cabbage  as  a 
field  crop  has  hardly  begun  to  be  appre- 
ciated in  this  country,  while  in  Eng- 
land, it  ranks  second  only  in  value  to 
the  great  root  crops.  As  a  food  for 
fattening  animals  and  as  a  change  of 
diet  for  all,  cabbages  are  highly  esteem- 
ed. The  crop  is  liable  to  the  attaclcs 
of  both  insects  and  disease.  The  most 
common  pest  is  the  aphis  or  cabbage 
louse.  If  the  plant  is  vigorous,  it  will 
soon  outgrow  its  attacks.  The  sprink- 
ling of  ashes  or  air-slaked  lime^iver 
the  plants  is  recommended  as  a  remedy.  Mr.  M. 
Scougale,  of  Mich.,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist, 
that  he  has  found  it  beneficial  to  sprinkle  salt 
over  the  cabbages.  Soon  after  the  plants  are 
set  out,  the  cut-worm  makes  its  appearance,  tak- 
ing off  the  leaves  and  sometimes  the  entire 
plant.  The  only  remedy  is  to  search  for  it  just 
beneath  the  surface.  It  shows  its  tracks  in  the 
fragments  of  leaves,  and  the  hole  by  which  it 
has  entered  the  soil.  After  the  plants  are  out 
of  the  way  of  the  cut-worm,  they  are  preyed 
upon  by  the  caterpillars  of  several  species  of 
butterflies.  These,  when  young,  are  close  to- 
gether upon  the  outer  leaves  which  may  be 
broken  off  and  the  caterpillars  destroyed.  If 
over-looked  until  they  get  larger  they  become 
scattered,  when  hand  picking  must  be  resorted 
to.  Cabbages  are  liable  to  a  disease  called  club- 
foot, which  shows  itself  in  large  swellings,  or 
excrescences  upon  the  root.  This  is  by  some 
supposed  to  be  caused  by  insects,  and  by  others 
regarded  as  a  disease  of  the  plant  resulting  from 
poor  culture,  and  that  the  insects  found  accom- 
panying it,  are  there  because  they  find  a  favor- 
able place  for  their  operations,  and  are  a  result 
rather  than  the  cause  of  disease.  The  onty 
remedy  that  has  been  proposed  for  club-foot  is 
to  cultivate  on  land  which  has  not  been  occu- 
pied by  cabbages  or  any  of  the  family  for  sever- 
al years.  In  Massachusetts,  where  the  culture 
is,  perhaps,  carried  to  as  great  perfection  as  any- 
where else  in  the  country,  the  best  growers  do 
not  plant  cabbages  on  the  same  land  oftener 
than  once  in  three  or  four  years.  In  setting  out 
tho  late  crop  this  hint    should  be    followed. 


1863.] 


AM  KRICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


173 


A  Cart  Weighing  Machine. 

Mr.  J.  S.  Taylor,  of  Danbury,  Conn.,  has  left 
at  the  office  of  the  Agriculturist  a  model  of  an 
apparatus  which  may  be  readily  attached  to  a 
cart  for  the  purpose  of  weighing  the  load.  The 
engraving  will  give  a  general  idea  of  the  ar- 
rangement, though  to  exhibit  it  more  distinctly, 
would  require  a  separate  engraving  of  the  ap- 
paratus detached,  for  which  we  have  not  room. 
A  long  lever  or  scale  beam,  A,  carrying  a  mov- 
able weight,  B,  is  fixed  upon  a  support  or  ful- 
crum, 0.  The  whole  is  clamped  by  thumb 
screws  to  the  axle  of  the  cart  in  such  a  way 
that  the  weight  comes  upon  the  short  arm  of 
the  lever,  A.  At  B,  is  a  compensating  lever  to 
Iwld  the  weight  of  the  tongue.  The  supporting 
frame  under  the  axle  and  the  leg  at  B,  are  so 
arranged  as  to  be  turned  up  out  of  the  way  and 
allow  the  cart  to  be  moved  from  place  to  place. 
When  it  is  wished  to  weigh  the  load,  these  can 
be  let  down  and  the  weighing  performed.  It  is 
claimed  that  this  apparatus  will  be  found  use- 
ful in  weighing  produce,  etc.,  in  those  neigh- 
borhoods which  have  no  large  scales. 
»-. —•—        ■  « 

A  Corn  Coverer. 


A  "Prairie  Farmer"  sends  to  the  Agriculturist 
a  sketch  and  description  of  the  implement  illus- 
trated below,  designed  for  covering  corn  on 
smooth  mellow  land.  This  may  be  new  to 
some  readers;  it  has  been  for  a  number  of 
years  in  use  at  the  West,  where  it  is  called  the 
"jumping*  shovel."  The  beam,  B,  is  of  2x2i 
inch  stuff,  4  feet  long.  This  is  mortised  into 
the  post  P.  The  latter  is  2x2  inches,  and  2  feet 
9  inches  long.    The  mortise  to  receive  the  tenon 


of  the  beam  is  1  foot  from  the  lower  end.  The 
two  are  held  together  more  strongly  by  a  J  iron 
brace  under  the  beam.  A  1  inch  augur  hole 
is  bored  3  or  4  inches  from  the  upper  end  of 
the  post  to  receive  a  round  brace  which  is  fast- 
ened to  and  supports  the  upper  end  of  the  han- 
dles B.  These  are  1  by  1  inch,  in  size,  long 
enough  for  convenience,  and  bolted  to  the  sides 
of  the  beam.  The  shovel  S,  is  bolted  to  the 
lower  part  of  the  post.    It  can  be  made  from 


an  old  ditching  spade,  or  a  piece  of  steel  8x10 
inches.  It  should  have  a  straight  edge  at  the 
bottom.  To  use  the  implement,  the  ground  is 
first  marked  out  both  ways,  two  boys  are  em- 
ployed to  drop  the  seed,  and  a  man  follows 
with  the  coverer  drawn  by  a  horse.  The  shovel 
is  kept  in  the  furrow,  gathering  earth  as  it  goes, 
and  is  raised  a  little  at  each  hill,  throwing  the 
soil  over  the  corn.  The  maker  says  that  with 
a  little  practice  a  man  can  cover  five  acres  in 
this  manner  as  well  and  as  quickly  as  one  acre 
could  be  planted  with  a  hoe. 

Profitable  Com  Haising  in  Connecticut. 

In  the  Spring  of  18G2  the  writer  commenced 
preparing  a  newly  purchased  field  of  twenty- 
three  acres,  to  be  planted  with  corn.  Most  of 
the  field  was  an  old  pasture  lot,  much  grown  to 
cedars  and  briers,  stony,  with  a  northeastern 
exposure;  the  remainder  was  mowing  land, 
separated  from  the  former  by  a  deep  ravine. 
We  commenced  operations  by  removing  the 
division  fences,  clearing  the  cedars  and  stones, 
under-draining  the  wet  portions,  and  plowing  it 
all  deep  and  well.  Some  parts  that  had  never 
before  been  plowed,  cost  from  |6  to  $8  per  acre. 
It  was  manured  with  800  lbs.  per  acre  of  Quin- 
nipiac  Co.'s  Fish  Guano,  sown  broadcast  and 
harrowed  in.  Harrowed  the  field  three  times 
and  brushed  over  once,  marked  the  rows  three 
feet  nine  inches  apart  each  way,  dropped  in  the 
hills  a  small  handful  of  manure  made  by  com- 
posting fish  guano  with  soil,  planted  the  corn 
with  a  hand  corn  planter,  and  covered  with  a  hoe. 
As  soon  as  the  corn  was  up,  which  stood  very 
even,  the  ground  was  thoroughly  stirred  with 
a  cultivator  going  each  way,  which  was  repeated 
three  times  during  the  season,  and  it  was  twice 
hoed  by  hand.  The  corn  looked  remarkably 
well,  retained  its  dark  green  color,  until  very 
late,  and  ripened  to  perfection.  An  account  of 
expenses  was  carefully  kept  each  day,  and  the 
labor  being  all  hired  and  paid  for,  prevented  any 
difficulty  in  knowing  the  exact  amount.     Thus : 

17  1-10  days  plowing  $3  per  day $  51.30 

7  days  harrowing  $3  per  day 21.00 

1  day  bushing  $3 3.00 

10  7-20  tons  fish  guano  $33 1^  per  ton 344.UG 

\1}4  days  sowing  $1  per  day 12.50 

2'4  days  marking  out  $2.50  per  day 6.25 

SH  days  manuring  in  lit  1 1  $1  per  day 8  25 

31,'  bushel  seed  corn  $1  per  bushel 3.12 

ll1,'  days  planting  $1  per  day 11.50 

Protection  from  birds :  "3? 

21  days  cultivating 46.75 

36  days  hoeing 38.25 

Interest  on  cost  of  land  m 50.00 

Total  expenses  of  crop $599.25 

By  1000  bushel  corn  $1  per  bushel $1000 

Net  profit  on  the  crop $400.75 

The  cost  of  harvesting  is  not  taken  into  ac- 
count, neither  the  value  of  corn-fodder,  one  is 
expected  to  balance  the  other.     The  yield  was 


determined  by  careful  estimate,  made  when  the 
crop  was  gathered,  and  by  what  has  since  been 
sold,  and  is  considered  below,  rather  than  above 
the  actual  amount.  The  price  given,  has  been 
received  per  bushel  of  50  pounds.  The  wood 
paid  the  cost  of  clearing  the  brush  off  the  land, 
and  the  increased  value  will  more  than  balance 
the  expence  of  draining.  Let  Western  farmers 
beat  it,  if  they  can.        Hall  Dickermann. 

New  Haven  Co.t  Conn. 

[We'll  agree  to  turn  out  any  number  of  west- 
ern farmers  who  will  beat  this,  if  Mr.  D.  will 
take  the  corn  at  half  the  price  he  names.  The 
best  corn  has  occasionally  sold  here  the  present 
year  at  $1  per  bushel,  but  00  cents  per  bushel  is 
as  high  as  it  will  do  to  calculate  upon.  Many 
farmers  upon  the  western  prairies  would  get 
rich  very  soon,  if  they  could  depend  upon  25 
cents  per  bushel,  one  year  with  another.  We 
do  not  make  these  remarks  to  discourage  plant- 
ing corn,  nor  to  depreciate  the  experiments  of 
Mr.  D.,  but  as  a  rule,  eastern  men,  especially  in 
New  England,  put  too  high  a  price  upon  their 
farm  products,  when  reporting  upon  farm  opera- 
tions. Being  nearer  the  market  for  consumption, 
they  obtain  much  higher  prices  than  western 
farmers,  and  can  afford  to  work  poorer  land, 
and  expend  more  in  tillage  and  manure.  Still, 
western  men  would  find  it  pay  better  to  go  over 
less  surface,  or  by  better  cultivation  get  the 
same  amount  of  crops  from  smaller  areas. — Ed.] 

What  Kills  the  Squash  Vines  ? 

Several  correspondents  have  written  to  the 
Agriculturist  that  their  vines  were  destroyed  last 
year  to  such  an  extent  as  to  discourage  them 
from  attempting  to  raise  squashes.  One  suc- 
ceeded in  ripening  only  a  single  Hubbard  Squash 
from  a  packet  of  seeds  sent  from  this  office. 
The  vines,  apparently  in  full  vigor,  suddenly  die, 
and  when  cut  open,  are  found  to  have  a  worm 
or  borer  near  the  root.  The  destructive  worm 
is  the  larva  of  a  rather  pretty  insect,  call- 
ed Trochilium  cucurbits,  or  Squash-vine  Borer. 
We  give  an  engraving  of  the  perfect  insect  from 
a  drawing  kindly 
furnished  us  by 
Prof.  Glover,  the 
entomologist  of  the 
Department  of  Ag- 
riculture at  Wash- 
ington. The  fore- 
wings  are  black  and 
the  second  pair 
transparent ;  the  body  orange  colored,  and  the 
hind  legs  furnished  with  long  fringes.  The  insect 
deposits  its  eggs,  which  are  very  minute,  from 
June  to  August  on  the  stem  of  the  vine  near 
the  root.  The  larva  penetrates  to  the  interior 
of  the  stem,  and  by  eating  away  the  substance 
lulls  the  plant;  after  it  reaches  its  full  size,  it 
enters  the  earth  and  forms  a  coccoon  of  a  gum- 
my substance  covered  with  particles  of  earth, 
from  which  the  perfect  insect  issues  the  follow- 
ing summer.  These  are  the  habits  of  the  in- 
sect, and  as  will  be  seen,  it  is  a  difficult  one 
to  exterminate,  as  its  presence  is  not  suspected 
until  the  mischief  is  done.  If  the  moths  are 
seen  flitting  about  the  vines,  every  effort  should 
be  made  to  entrap  them.  The  vines  should  be 
examined  daily,  and  if  any  one  is  observed  to 
droop,  the  larva  should  be  searched  for  in  the 
stem  near  the  roots  and  cut  out  as  carefully  as 
possible,  hilling  earth  around  the  stem,  so  as 
to  cover  the  wound.  If  a  vine  is  killed,  care 
should  be  tn'.cen  to  destroy  the  insect  which  has 
done  the  mischief,  to  prevent  multiplication. 


174 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[June, 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

A  Finality  on  Rats. 


No  pests  are  more  annoying  to  the  farmer 
and  housekeeper.  The  destruction  of  property 
by  them  in  the  aggregate,  is  enormous.  Many 
a  farmer  loses  more  by  rats  than  the  whole 
amount  of  his  taxes.  They  burrow  under  the 
pig-trough,  and  come  as  regularly  for  their 
feed,  as  the  pigs  themselves.  They  share  the 
food  of  the  poultry  and  the  horses  and  cows,  if 
they  are  grain  fed.  They  show  themselves  in 
the  barn  and  house  cellar,  and  devour  the  roots 
stored  for  Winter  use.  Thus  there  is  a  contin- 
ual waste,  and  the  amount  in  the  course  of  the 
year  is  very  large.  But  this  is  not  the  worst 
part  of  it.  The  scoundrels  are  so  cunning  that 
they  outwit  us,  and  evade  every  effort  to  oust 
them.  Set  traps  for  them,  and  you  rarely  catch 
more  than  one  in  a  place.  Stop  up  their  holes, 
and  they  dig  new  ones.  Set  poison  for  them, 
and  after  a  single  night's  experience  the  survi- 
vors will  not  touch  it.  A  few  are  killed  but  all 
their  neighbors  come  to  the  funeral  and  occupy 
their  places.  Put  your  cat  in  the  barn,  and  they 
only  withdraw  to  the  house  cellar.  Put  her  in 
the  cellar,  and  they  flee  to  the  barn.  Occupy 
both  with  cats,  and  they  flee  to  the  corn  crib. 
Wherever  there  is  a  chance  for  depredation, 
there  the  rats  do  congregate  and  multiply  with 
astonishing  rapidity. 

What  can  be  done?  There  is  no  effectual 
remedy  but  to  make  your  buildings  rat  proof. 
The  corn  crib  is  easily  insulated  from  rats  and 
mice,  by  setting  it  on  four  posts  capped  with 
inverted  tin  pans,  or  large  flat  stones.  The  posts 
should  be  three  feet  high  and  the  steps  to  the 
door  should  be  movable,  and  should  be  taken 
away  whenever  the  door  is  shut.  But  other 
buildings  with  cellars  must  be  cemented  on  the 
bottom,  and  have  the  walls  pointed  with  mortar 
in  order  to  exclude  them.  This  work  fortunate- 
ly is  easily  and  cheaply  done,  and  no  man  need 
go  without  a  cemented  cellar  bottom  for  lack  of 
skilled  labor  to  do  the  job.  He  can  do  it  himself. 
The  articles  wanted  for  the  mortar,  are  sand  and 
common  water  lime,  which  sells  ordinarily  in 
the  New- York  market  from  $lj  to  $li  a  barrel. 
Builders  and  masons  in  our  large  towns  and  vil- 
lages, generally  keep  it  on  hand.  The  sand 
should  be  as  pure  a  silex  as  you  can  find,  and 
if  the  grit  is  coarse,  so  much  the  better. 

To  make  the  mortar,  take  two  parts  sand  to 
one  of  cement,  and  mix  thoroughly  in  the  dry 
state,  then  apply  just  water  enough  to  have  it 
work  well,  and  lay  upon  the  cellar  bottom  with 
a  trowel  an  inch  thick  or  more.  Only  so  much 
should  be  mixed,  as  you  can  use  immediately. 

If  you  do  not  wish  to  employ  the  mason,  you 
can  make  your  work  rat  proof  without  him. 
First  prepare  your  cellar  bottom  by  making  it 
level,  and  ramming  it  so  that  it  shall  be  as  hard 
as  a  foot  path,  then  apply  the  mortar  and 
smooth  it  with  a  trowel.  The  thickness  of  the 
cellar  bottom  will  depend  upon  the  use  you  de- 
sign to  make  of  it.  If  you  wish  to  drive  a  cart 
over  it,  as  is  necessary  sometimes  in  large  barn 
cellars,  it  should  be  at  least  four  inches  in  thick- 
ness. In  this  case  it  is  well  to  mix  with  the 
cement,  gravel  of  the  size  of  hens'  eggs  or  small- 
er. If  it  is  a  cellar  bottom,  simply  to  hold  ma- 
nure, or  to  store  roots  in,  an  inch  in  thickness 
is  just  as  good  as  more.  In  this  case  you  should 
dig  a  trench  say  four  inches  deep  by  three  broad, 
immediately  adjoining  the  cellar  wall  on  all  sides 
and  fill  it  with  the  mortar.  The  point  of  danger 
is  immediately  by  the  wall  where  the  rats  seek 
to  enter.    This  also  may  be  mixed  with  sifted 


gravel  stones.  When  their  teeth  bring  up 
against  the  gravel,  it  rather  blunts  the  edge  of 
their  voracity.  The  expense  of  cementing  the 
cellar  of  a  common  sized  house,  say  thirty  by 
forty  feet,  will  not  be  over  ten  or  fifteen  dollars, 
not  counting  the  labor.  Many  a  farmer  loses 
more  than  this  in  a  single  season.  The  cement- 
ing is  a  work  done  for  life  and  we  have  found 
it  to  be  very  effectual.       ,         Connecticut. 

["  Connecticut's  "  suggestions"  are  good,  irre- 
spective of  cemented  bottom  cellars  being  proof 
against  rats.  Unless,  however,  the  walls  and 
the  earth  outside  are  made  solid  with  the  ce- 
ment, the  rats  will  do  more  or  less  mischief  out- 
side the  walls. — In  the  April  Agriculturist,  page 
119,  we  referred  to  using  a  "phosphorus 
salve,"  bought  in  Fulton-st.,  (we  forget  the  name 
and  number,)  and  are  glad  to  report  that  the 
rats  and  mice  are  still  absent.  Not  a  dead  one 
has  been  seen,  or  "  smelled,"  and  wre  conclude 
they  went  elsewhere.  The  remedy  proves  so 
effectual,  even  in  our  buildings  which  contain 
so  many  inviting  seeds,  that  we  shall  advise  Mr. 
Lane,  of  the  Purchasing  Agencj',  to  hunt  up  the 
material,  and  advertise  it  in  this  number. — Ed.] 


Talks  About  Weeds. 


Perhaps  few  persons  have  taken  into  account 
the  immense  labor,  expense,  and  care  involved 
in  the  destruction  of  weeds.  A  large  proportion 
of  all  the  work  required  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
hoed  crops,  arises  from  the  necessity  of  keep- 
ing these  pests  in  proper  subjection.  If  weeds 
did  not  grow,  we  could  dispense  with  half  of 
all  the  labor  now  expended  in  growing  our 
thousand  million  bushels  of  Indian  corn  ;  and 
so  of  the  turnip,  the  onion,  the'  tobacco,  the 
cabbage,  etc.,  and  of  nearly  all  garden  products. 
This  subject  is  so  important,  that  we  deem  it 
worth  while  to  devote  a  few  chapters  in  the 
American  Agriculturist  to  the  discussion  of  the 
habits  of  the  principal  weeds,  with  hints  upon 
the  best  modes  of  exterminating  them.  And 
first,  a  few  general  considerations. 

We  have  many  letters  inquiring  how  this  or 
that  particular  weed  may  be  killed ;  the  mis- 
taken idea  being  that  there  are  specific  poisons 
for  the  destruction  of  the  different  noxious  plauts. 
A  weed  is  any  plant  which  grows  where  it 
is  not  wanted,  no  matter  whether  it  is  in  itself 
beautiful,  or  useful,  or  not.  Bye,  a  useful  plant 
when  grown  by  itself,  is,  when  mixed  with  wheat 
a  troublesome  weed ;  and  many  of  our  choicest 
garden  plants  are  weeds  in  other  countries, 
while  some  of  our  common  weeds  are  cultivated 
elsewhere  for  their  beauty.  Weeds  are  subject 
to  the  same  laws  of  growth,  and  flourish  or  lan- 
guish under  the  same  conditions  as  other  plants  ; 
any  destructive  agent  or  poison  that  would  kill 
them,  would  destroy  the  useful  plants  also.  In 
cultivation,  to  serve  our  own  purposes,  we 
place  certain  plants  in  an  unnatural  condi- 
tion— a  condition  which  alone  makes  them 
valuable  to  us.  We  all  know  how  perfectly 
worthless  the  common  carrot,  parsnip  and  tur- 
nip become  if  allowed  to  run  wild,  and  doubt- 
less without  the  care  of  man,  a  majority  of  our 
cultivated  plants  would  become  equally  value- 
less. A  given  space  of  soil  can  sustain  only  a 
limited  number  of  plants;  those  of  a  naturally 
strong  growth,  or  which  find  the  locality  favor- 
able to  them,  live  and  flourish,  while  the  weaker 
ones  or  those  unsuited  to  the  locality,  are  killed 
out  by  the  greater  vigor  of  the  others.  This  is  the 
natural  state  of  things.  Cultivation  gives  a  plant 
the  best  possible  chance  to  develop  itself,  and 


to  do  this  wo  not  only  supply  an  abundance  of 
the  kind  of  food  best  suited  to  its  growth,  but 
also  remove  all  other  plauts  which  would  in- 
terfere with  it,  and  thus  give  it  full  possession  of 
the  soil,  and  relieve  it  from  the  necessity  of 
struggling  with  competitors.  In  preparing  and 
enriching  the  soil  for  the  desired  plants,  we  at 
the  same  time  adapt  it  equally  well  for  those 
not  desirable.  If  a  field  is  planted  and  left 
to  itself,  all  have  an  equal  chance,  and  the  prob- 
ability is,  that  the  undesirable  plants,  or.  weeds, 
will  either  obstruct  the  growth  of  the  cultivated 
plant  or  kill  it  out  altogether.  In  cultivation 
we  must  not  only  give  our  plants  the  best 
chances  as  to  food,  but  must  also  see  that 
they  have  full  possession  of  the  soil  prepar- 
ed for  them.  The  practical  part  resolves  itself 
into  two  questions :  how  do  weeds  get  into  the 
soil ;  and,  being  in,  how  are  they  to  be  exter- 
minated. We  must  recollect  that  nature  makes 
abundant  provision  both  for  the  reproduction 
and  the  preservation  of  every  plant,  no  matter 
how  insignificant,  or  troublesome  even,  it  may 
be,  and  we  can  not  work  for  the  growth  or  the 
destruction  of  any  plant  unless  we  understand 
its  peculiarities  and  treat  it  accordingly.  Take 
any  field  which  we  wish  to  cultivate,  and  plow 
it  up ;  if  left  unfilled,  it  will  be  found  that  there 
were  already  seeds  enough  in  the  soil  to  com- 
pletely cover  it  with  vegetation.  If  we  manure 
the  field,  a  host  of  seeds  will  be  introduced  in 
the  manure.  Not  only  this :  numbers  of  plants 
of  the  thistle  family  have  their  seeds  furnished 
with  down,  and  every  breeze  will  bring  hundreds 
of  them  from  the  neglected  field  of  some  care- 
less neighbor ;  cattle  and  sheep  may  bring 
them  in  their  hair  and  wool ;  even  the  work- 
men will  bring  them  attached  to  their  cloth- 
ing, and  birds  will  deposit  them  in  their  ex- 
crements. If  the  field  is  where  it  is  overflowed 
by  freshets  or  where  it  receives  the  wash  of  oth- 
er lands,  multitudes  of  seeds  will  be  brought  in 
by  water.  It  will  be  seen  that  there  is  abund- 
ant provision  for  seeding  the  soil  to  weeds. 
As  already  hinted,  the  vegetation  which  first 
gets  possession  of  the  soil,  tends  to  keep  other 
plants  out,  hence  it  will  be  seen  that  the  early 
destruction  of  weeds  tends  to  give  the  crop  the 
advantage  ;  this  of  itself,  is  a  great  point  gained. 
Weeds  have  three  general  modes  of  growth : 
1st.  The  annual  weeds,  or  those  which  start  from 
the  seed  and  perfect  themselves  the  first  }'ear, 
like  purslane  and  shepherd's  sprouts:  2nd.  The 
biennial  weeds,  which  pass  the  first  y*ar  in  mak- 
ing strong  roots  that  bloom  the  second  3'ear 
and  die,  as  the  wild  parsnip  and  carrot :  3d. 
The  perennials  that  may  or  may  not  flower 
the  first  year,  but  which  keep  on  growing  and 
make  a  strong  mass  of  underground  roots  and 
stems  that  soon  get  possession  of  the  soil  to  the 
exclusion  of  all  other  vegetation,  as  the  Cana- 
da thistle,  and  the  docks.  The  free  use  of  the 
hand  hoe  and  the  cultivator  will  destroy  the  an- 
nuals, and  also  the  others  while  they  are  in  the 
early  stage  of  their  growth.  It  is  only  when  the 
last  two  sorts  get  possession  of  the  soil  that  there 
is  any  serious  trouble.  When  they  are  old 
enough  to  have  made  large  roots  or  tubers  they 
then  have  a  store  of  material  from  which  they 
can  throw  up  numerous  shoots  ;  and  this  thej- 
do  so  frequently  and  so  rapidly  as  to  give  the 
impression  that  it  is  impossible  to  kill  them. 
Any  of  these  plants  will  die,  if  not  allowed  to 
produce  leaves.  Frequent  mowing  or,  if  not  too 
numerous,  cutting  just  below  the  surface  of  the 
ground  will  ultimately  exterminate  them.  The 
underground  supply  of  food  which  these  plants 
have  stored  up,  must  give  out,  if  it  be  not  rep.en- 
ished  hy  the  growth  of  leaves.     If  the  cultivator 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


171 


only  persevere,  the  conquest  is  certain.  Weeds 
of  whichever  class,  should  not  he  allowed  to  per- 
fect their  seed.  A  single  weed  that  goes  to  seed, 
provides  for  incalculable  labor  in  the  future. 
(See  interesting  figures  in  the  next  article.)  With 
these  considerations  we  leave  the  subject  to  take 
up  some  of  the  weeds  in  detail,  at  another  time. 


Multiplication  of  Weeds— Interesting:  and 
Instructive  Figures. 

Did  the  reader  ever  make  an  estimate  of  the 
rapidity  with  which  plants  multiply,  especially 
those  classed  as  weeds?  A  few  years  ago,  while 
detained  several  hours  at  a  railroad  crossing  in 
Pennsylvania,  by  the  failure  of  a  train,  we  went 
into  a  neighboring  cornfield,  and  pulled  a  single 
stalk  of  the  Ragweed  (Ambrosia  artemisicefolia) 
so  common  in  some  parts  of  that  State,  and 
sought  amusement  and  instruction  in  counting 
the  number  of  seeds.  Sorting  the  average  sized 
spikes,  and  counting  the  seeds  on  several  of 
each,  we  found  the  number  of  perfect  seeds 
grown  that  year  on  a  single  plant  to  exceed 
16,000  !  Suppose  each  of  these  seeds  to  be  scat- 
tered and  grow,  and  go  on  multiplying  :  in  the 
short  space  of  only  four  years  the  number  of 
plants  growing  would  be  65,536,000,000,000,000, 
or  about  a  dozen  plants  for  every  square  foot  of 
the  entire  earth's  surface — land  and  water  in- 
cluded. But  suppose  we  take  the  average  an- 
nual multiplication  at  only  100,  which  is  far 
below  the  average  increase  of  most  weed  plants. 
At  a  hundred  a  year,  a  single  seed  would  in 
the  tenth  year  produce  1,000,000,000,000,000,000 
plants  !  This  is  equivalent  to  111  plants  for  every 
square  inch  of  the  entire  earth's  surface  ;  or  444 
plants  to  every  square  inch  of  laud,  if  we  take 
the  usual  estimate  that  three-fourths  of  the  sur- 
face is  covered  with  water.  Let  the  readers  of 
the  American  Agriculturist  apply  these  figures  to 
their  own  farms  or  gardens,  and  estimate  how 
long  it  would  take  a  single  weed  seed  to  produce 
plants  or  even  seeds  enough  to  carpet  the  whole 
surface.  They  may  then  appreciate  the  import- 
ance of  not  allowing  a  single  noxious  plant  of 
nny  kind   to  perfect  its  seed. 

Arithmetical  Note. — If  we  estimate  the  earth  to 
be  a  perfectly  round  globe  S000  miles  in  diameter 
the  following  figures  give  contents  and  surface  : 

Solid  Conlenis  in  Cubic  miles 268.083,200,000 

Surface  or  Area     Square  miles   201062,400 

Surface  or  Area     Square  feet 5,605,298.012,160,000 

Surface  or  Area.  .Square  incites. ..  .807,162,913,751,040,000 


Transplanting— Why,  and  How. 

• — 
This  is  the  month  in  which  many  of  the  plants 
in  the  kitchen  and  flower  garden  will  be  trans- 
planted ;  that  is,  removed  from  the  place  in 
which  they  were  sown  to  that  in  which  they  are 
to  perfect  themselves.  As  nothing  of  this  kind 
happens  to  plants  in  their  wild  state,  it  may  be 
asked  if  this  is  not  an  unnatural  operation.  To 
this  it  may  be  replied,  that  all  cultivation  is  in  a 
measure  unnatural ;  it  consists  in  giving  the 
plant  those  advantages  which  it  can  only  enjoy 
under  the  care  of  man.  We  take  advantage  of 
certain  capabilities  and  tendencies  of  plants,  and 
direct  them  to  serve  our  own  purposes.  When 
we  dam  a  natural  stream  and  make  an  artificial 
pond,  we  alter  the  course  of  nature,  but  in  order 
to  do  it  successfully,  we  must  work  in  strict  ac- 
cordance with  natural  laws.  So  in  cultivation, 
we  induce  a  plant  to  grow  differently  from  what 
it  would  if  wild,  but  in  doing  this  we  follow 
the  laws  which  govern  its  growth  inthe  natural 


state.  We  do  not  oppose,  we  only  direct.  The 
leaves  and  roots  of  a  plant  bear  direct  relation 
to  one  another ;  if  from  any  natural  or  artificial 
cause  the  root-growth  is  cramped  or  checked, 
the  leaf-growth  is  correspondingly  diminished, 
and  the  plant  shows  a  greater  tendency  to  pro- 
duce flowers  and  fruit.  Tomatoes  in  pots  will 
show  blossoms  when  only  a  few  inches  high, 
while  if  sown  in  the  open  ground  they  will  make 
quite  large  plants  before  tuny  snow  any  signs  of 
flowering.  Now  transplanting,  no  matter  how 
carefully  it  may  be  done,  by  breaking  off  the 
minute  root  fibers  has  a  tendency  to  hasten  the 
maturity  of  the  plant.  It  does  this  in  a  less 
striking  manner  it  is  true,  than  when  the  plant  is 
grown  in  a  pot,  but  it  greatly  modifies  its  de- 
velopment, and  flower  and  fruit  are  borne  much 
earlier.  This  tendency  to  early  maturity  is  some- 
times increased  by  two  removals;  the  plants  are 
taken  from  the  seed  bed  and  "  pricked  out,"  as 
it  is  called,  into  another  bed,  from  which  they 
are  finally  removed  to  the  place  where  they  are 
to  mature.  Each  removal  breaks  off  and  short- 
ens some  of  the  branches  of  the  root  and,  after 
the  first  shock  is  over,  new  small  fibers  or  feed- 
ers are  thrown  out  which,  from  their  increased 
number,  enable  the  plant  to  grow  with  much 
greater  vigor  than  before,  and  mature  much  ear- 
lier than  it  would  have  done  if  left  to  grow 
where  the  seeds  were  sown.  Sometimes  there 
is  an  advantage  in  clipping  the  long  or  tap  root 
in  order  to  induce  the  formation  of  fibrous  roots. 
As  the  functions  of  the  roots  are  disturbed  in 
transplanting,  it  follows  that  the  relations  be- 
tween their  absorbing  surface  and  the  evapora- 
ting surface  of  the  leaves  are  broken  up ;  the 
plant  gives  off  moisture  by  the  leaves  more  rap- 
idly than  it  is  received  by  the  root,  and  the  plant 
wilts.  This  indicates  that  a  moist  atmosphere 
is  the  most  suitable  time  for  the  operation, — a 
"drizzly  spell,"  when  the  soil  is  not  too  wet.  It 
frequently  happens  that  the  plants  are  getting 
too  large  and  there  is  no  prospect  of  a  damp 
season.  Transplanting  can  be  done,  with  prop- 
er precautions,  at  any  time.  For  several  years 
past  we  have  been  accustomed  to  work  without 
regard  to  the  weather  and  have  been  uniformly 
successful.  If  the  holes  are  well  watered  and 
the  plants  are  shaded  for  a  day  or  two,  they 
rarely  fail  to  do  well.  The  shading  is  easily 
done  with  a  handful  of  cut  grass,  a  burdock  or 
other  broad  leaf,  or  a  shingle  stuck  in  a  position 
to  ward  off  the  sun  during  the  hottest  part  of 
the  day.  Where  the  plants  are  few  and  stand 
thinly  in  the  seed  bed,  each  may  be  carefully 
lifted  by  the  trowel  so  as  to  retain  a  ball  of  earth 
around  the  roots,  and  removed  with  compara- 
tively little  disturbance ;  but  where  there  is  a 
large  garden  this  particular  care  can  not  be  ex- 
ercised— all  the  operations  must  be  carried  on  in 
a  wholesale  way.  Where  many  plants  are  to 
be  removed,  they  should  be  carefully  lifted 
from  the  seed  bed,  separated  and  "  grouted." 
Grouting  consists  in  coating  the  roots  with  thin 
mud,  which  protects  the  delicate  fibres  from  dry- 
ing, and  should  always  be  done  where  the  plants 
are  to  remain  for  some  time  out  of  the  ground. 
The  directions  for  grouting  plants  can  not  be 
better  given  than  by  quoting  from  Watson's 
American  Home  Garden,  which  by  the  way  is 
one  of  the  most  reliable  and  practical  works 
ever  published  in  this  country.  (Price  $1.00.) 
"  Grouting  is  performed  by  mixing  rich  earth, 
to  which  cow  dung  may  be  added,  with  water, 
to  the  consistence  of  soft  mud,  and  dabbling  the 
roots  of  the  plants  in  it,  not  by  thrusting  them 
through  it,  but  rather  by  drawing  them  through 
it,  or,  as  it  were,  striking  them  upon  it  until 
each  root  is  loaded.     A  dozen  plants  may  be 


grouted  at  once;  and  as  they  are  held  in  the 
hand  preparatory  to  this  process,  an  inch  or  two 
of  the  root  end  may  be  cut  off."  In  transplant- 
ing in  the  large  way,  labor  cau  be  profitably 
divided :  one  hand  can  make  the  holes  with  a 
trowel,  another  can  drop  the  plants,  and  one  or 
two  may  follow  to  set  them.  The  plant  should 
be  set  somewhat  deeper  than  it  originally  stood, 
and  the  earth  should  be  well  pressed  around 
the  roots.  '  If  the  transplanting  is  done  in  dry 
weather,  the  holes  should  be  filled  with  water; 
when  this  has  soaked  away  the  plant  should  be 
put  in  and  its  roots  covered  with  moist  soil 
taken  from  beneath  the  dry  surface.  We  al- 
ways add  a  little  dryish  soil  over  the  surface, 
especially  if  the  earth  used  in  filling  be  damp; 
the  dry  soil  absorbs  the  surplus  water,  and 
keeps  the  mass  from  baking.  We  prefer 
making  rather  large  holes  with  the  trowel, 
to  the  use  of  the  dibble,  which  in  making  the 
holes  for  the  plant,  packs  the  earth  too  closely 
for  the  favorable  growth  of  its  roots.  The 
proper  time  for  transplanting  the  different  vari- 
eties is  mentioned  in  the  Calendar  of  Operations 
for  each  month. 


How  to  Save  Paper. 

Those  correspondents  who  write  us  long  ar- 
ticles upon  the  way  in  which  wheat  may  be 
converted  into  chess,  and  on  the  influence  of  the 
moon  upon  vegetation  should,  in  these  times  of 
the  high  price  of  the  article,  save  their  paper. 
We  can  not  publish  such  communications.  Our 
position  upon  the  chess  question  has  long  ago 
been  defined,  and  although  we  have  had  much 
talk  about  the  conversion  of  wheat  into  chess, 
we  have  had  no  proof  that  it  has  ever  taken 
place.  Let  us  have  the  specimens  and  we  will 
submit  them  to  the  best  authorities  in  the  coun- 
try, and  if  they  decide  that  a  specimen  has 
grown  part  wheat  and  part  chess,  or  is  in  an 
intermediate  state  between  the  two,  we  will 
give  it  up.  Proof  that  chess  grows  where  wheat 
grew  before  is  no  better  evidence  that  wheat 
turned  to  chess,  than  finding  a  cow  in  a  horse's 
stable  is  that  the  animals  have  been  transmuted. 
Gentlemen  troubled  with  chess  upon  the  brain, 
please  excuse  us  until  you  have  some  facts. 
Regarding  the  moon  question,  we  are  only  sor- 
ry that  this  superstition  exists  among  otherwise 
intelligent  people.  The  weeds  of  error  are  some 
of  them  very  tenacious  of  life.  Melons  and 
cucumbers  are  said  to  be  particularly  influenced 
by  the  moon.  The  Agriculturist  advises  to  pre- 
pare the  soil  well,  keep  off  insects,  and  put  on 
liquid  manure,  and  let  the  moon  do. her  worst. 


Fill  the  Missing  Hills. 


A  vacant  hill  will  be  found  here  and  tnere  m 
the  cornfield,  at  the  first  hoeing.  Unless  many 
of  them  occur  together,  they  are  quite  likely  to 
be  passed  by  as  of  little  account,  but  it  is  atten- 
tion to  small  matters  that  marks  the  difference 
between  carefulness  and  neglect,  and  not  unfre- 
quently  here  is  the  turning  point  between  thrift 
and  what  is  called  bad  luck.  In  most  sections 
it  will  pay  to  replant  missing  hills  with  corn 
at  the  first  weeding.  In  a  favorable  season  it 
will  come  to  maturity.  Or  pumpkin  seed  may 
be  put  in,  which  will  yield  choice  morsels  for 
animals  next  Autumn.  It  would  be  better  to 
plant  and  cultivate  these  spots  even  without  re- 
turn, than  to  leave  them  to  be  occupied  by  weeds 
which  will  be  sure  to  take  possession,  and  ripen 
seed  for  a  succession   of   troublesome  crops. 


176 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Jt-nk, 


GOING 


TO     THE     HAY 

Engraved  for  the  American  Agriculturist. 


FIELD. 


The  above  engraving,  from  an  English  paint- 
ing, shows  the  bright  side  of  Haying  time  in  that 
country.  The  artist  represents  the  whole  fami- 
ly going  forth  to  participate  in  the  labors  which 
are  to  transform  the  waving  grass  into  stores  of 
winter  forage.  The  girls  as  well  as  the  boys, 
will  have  a  hand  in  the  business,  and  their  rud- 
dy cheeks,  when  they  return  at  night,  will  glow 
with  the  bloom  which  healthful  exercise  imparts. 
Even  the  baby  is  taken  along  to  nestle  and  crow 
in  a  bed  of  new  mown  hay.  Last  season  we 
saw  many  English  haying  scenes,  none  exactly 
like  the  above,  but  there  were  often  gangs  of 
thirty  to  fifty  men  and  women  all  in  one  field, 
and  when  done  there,  they  passed  on  to  the  next 
estate.  The  almost  perpetual  rains  there,  re- 
quired much  more  "making"  of  the  hay  than 
in  our  dryer  climate.  We  felt  half  tempted  to 
set  up  the  business  of  supplying  "  hay-caps," 
for  we  are  quite  sure  they  would  be  a  god-send 
there.  They  pay  with  us,  where  much  longer 
seasons  of  dry  weather  can  be  depended  upon, 


Were  we  presenting  an  American  scene,  we 
should  perhaps  show  only  two  persons,  one 
driving  a  mowing  machine,  and  the  other  fol- 
lowing with  a  horse-rake.  Our  labor-saving 
machines  have  in  many  sections  of  the  country 
done  away  with  much  of  the  picturesque  and 
poetical  in  hay-making;  but  we  can  afford  to 
loose  these  if  they  bring  us  larger  crops  and  in 
enlarging  our  home  comforts  help  us  to  a  higher 
civilization.  Still,  on  many  farms,  especially  in 
new  countries,  the  scythe,  the  hand-rake,  and 
the  pitchfork  are  to  be  used  in  securing  the 
great  hay-crop, — great,  for  it  is  more  valuable 
than  cotton  was  in  the  best  days  of  its  reign, — 
great,  for  it  is  part  of  an  ever  present  miracle, 
an  intermediate  stage  between  gross  earthy  ma- 
terial and   life  sustaining  milk  and  meat. 

It  is  not  in  Europe  alone  that  women  go  into 
the  field.  In  this  war  time,  where  the  absence 
of  men  has  made  labor  scarce,  women,  who  are 
ever  in  advance  of  men  in  patriotism,  take  a 
share  of  the  farm  labor  upon  them.     We   have 


just  now  a  letter  from  "Elizabeth,"  in  Iowa, 
who  says:  "  Last  year  I  helped  my  father  stack 
our  hay,  nearly  twenty  tons,  and  felt  all  the 
better  for  it.  I  am  willing  to  work  out  of  doors 
for  years  yet,  and  let  my  brother  fight  for  our 
country.  I  would  rather  do  it  than  that  one 
star  should  fall  from  our  glorious  old  Flag." — 
With  such  women  as  these  to  take  care  of  the 
homes,  who  shall  despair  of  the  country  I 


Horse  Pitcii-fokks. — Next  to  the  mowing 
machine  and  horse-rake,  the  horse  pitch-fork  will 
be  found  the  most  valuable  labor-saving  imple- 
ment lor  the  hay  making  season.  Very  good 
forks,  with  pulleys  and  ropes  complete,  cost 
about  a  dozen  dollars,  the  interest  of  which  is 
less  than  a  dollar  a  year.  With  one  of  these,  a 
load  of  hay  is  quickly  and  easily  raised  and 
deposited  in  the  highest  mow,  by  a  horse.  Sev- 
eral kinds  are  made,  any  one  of  which  is  better 
than  none.  Two  good  ones  were  advertised 
last  month,  and  they  may  be  in   this  paper. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


177 


Cultivation  of  Beans. 


The  small  crop  last  year  together  with  the 
great  demand  for  the  army  and  navy,  have 
caused  beans  to  hear  so  high  a  price  that  doubt- 
less many  farmers  will  be  induced  to  give  more 
attention  to  this  crop  than  formerly.  The  com- 
mon bean  has  run  into  a  great  number  of  vari- 
eties, but  the  white  sorts  only  are  raised  for  use 
:n  the  dry  state,  though  some  colored  ones  are 
much  richer.  The  principal  varieties  grown  in 
the  large  way  are  the  Blue  Pod,  Marrow,  and 
Pea-Bf  an.  The  earliest  of  these  is  the  Blue  Pod, 
which  is  a  favorite  sort  in  New  England,  on 
account  of  its  early  maturity  and  prolific  bear- 
ing. The  Marrow,  called  also  White  Mar- 
rowfat, is  a  favorite  sort,  and  by  many  pre- 
ferred to  any  other  for  cooking.  The  Pea- 
bean,  also  known  as  the  army  or  ship  bean, 
is  quite  small  and  rounded,  and  is  the  kind 
more  largely  cultivated.  The  soil  should  be 
warm  and  light,  and  not  too  highly  manured ; 
almost  any  but  a  heavy  clay  soil  will  answer. 
The  planting  is  best  done  as  soon  as  danger 
from  frost  is  over,  but  if  put  in  any  time  before 
the  last  week  in  June,  they  are  pretty  sure  to 
make  a  crop.  They  should  be  planted  in  rows 
about  24  feet  apart,  or  sufficiently  wide  to  allow 
of  working  with  the  cultivator.  They  may  be 
planted  with  the  hoe,  putting  3  or  4  beans  in 
the  hill  at  a  foot  or  fifteen  inches  apart.  There 
are  beau  drills  which  do  the  work  expeditiously, 
some  of  which  drop  the  seed  in  a  continuous 
jine,  and  others  are  so  contrived  as  to  plant  in 
hills.  From  a  bushel  to  six  pecks  are  used  for 
an  acre.  Though  the  planting  is  generally  left 
until  the  press  of  Spring  work  is  over,  it  is  ad- 
visable to  get  them  in  as  early  as  possible,  both 
on  account  of  having  them  out  of  the  way  of 
early  frosts,  and  to  have  the  land  clear  for  Fall 
crops.  Do  not  let  the  weeds  get  the  start,  but 
hoe  as  soon  as  they  make  their  appearance. 
Ground  that  has  been  cultivated  with  beans,  is 
in  excellent  condition  for  wheat. 


Try  a  few  Roots. 


Were  animals  competent  to  advise  as  to  what 
should  be  grown  and  stored  for  their  winter 
sustenance,  there  would  be  a  unanimous  request 
for  at  least  a  few  carrots,  turnips,  or  beets,  to  be 
fed  with  the  dry  hay  which  must  form  the 
staple  diet.  This  request  should  be  freely  grant- 
ed— not  merely  in  kindness  to  dumb  creatures, 
though  that  is  something.  It  makes  a  man  feel 
pleasant  to  witness  the  welcome  which  attends 
the  distribution  of  an  occasional  juicy  breakfast 
to  stock  that  have  been  longing  for  something 
succutent.  Variety  of  food  promotes  appetite 
and  growth  as  well  as  pleasure  to  the  auimal 
palate.  It  is  also  no  small  help  to  the  hay  mow 
and  grain  room  to  have  a  well  filled  bin  of  roots 
1,0  draw  from.  Although  a  given  weight  of 
gram  will  add  more  pounds  of  flesh  than  the 
same  amount  of  roots,  yet  a  larger  quantity  of 
food  per  acre  can  be  secured  from  the  latter. 
Fifty  bushels  of  corn  is  above  the  average  yield  ; 
with  fair  cultivation  twelve  hundred  bushels  of 
mangel  wurzels  can  be  produced,  and  much 
more  by  proper  manuring  and  tillage.  But 
there  is  less  need  than  formerly  to  urge  the 
cultivation  of  root  crops,  particularly  in  the 
older  settled  portions  of  the  country.  At  the 
far  West  where  corn  and  hay  are  almost  super- 
abundant, these  may  suffice ;  but  throughout 
the  East  the  benefit  of  root  culture  is  yearly 
being  more  highly  appreciated. 
There  is  yet  time  to  put  in  a  winter  supply 


of  ruta  bagas,  beets  and  carrots.  White  turnips 
are  better  left  until  July.  Sugar  beets  and 
mangel  wurzels  should  be  planted  early  the 
present  month.  Carrots  head  the  list  for  all 
kinds  of  stock,  including  horses ;  next  we  pre- 
fer beets ;  the  mangel  wurzel  is  most  productive. 
All  roots  need  rich,  deep  mellow  soil.  It  is  dis- 
couraging to  an  enterprising  beet  or  carrot  to 
plow  its  own  way  into  a  hard  subsoil.  Strag- 
gling roots  here  and  there  may  find  a  small  cre- 
vice in  which  to  burrow,  but  the  crop  under 
such  circumstances  will  be  stunted  and  poor. 
A  well  tilled  field  occupied  by  corn  the  pre- 
vious year  will  usually  be  a  favorable  location  ; 
a  good  dressing  of  old  manure  should  be  well 
worked  into  the  soil.  Much  labor  will  be  saved 
if  the  land  be  free  from  weeds.  The  first  crop 
of  these  may  be  mostly  destroyed  by  plowing 
early,  allowing  them  to  spring  up,  and  then 
going  over  the  whole  with  a  cultivator  harrow. 
The  seed  should  be  put  in  drills  two  feet  apart 
for  mangel  wurzels,  or  ruta  bagas,  and  sixteen 
or  eighteen  inches  for  carrots  :  nothing  is  gain- 
ed by  crowding  the  ground.  At  the  first  hoe- 
iug,  thin  the  beets  to  one  foot  apart,  the  carrots 
to  six  inches.  About  four  pounds  of  beet  seed 
or  two  pounds  of  carrot  seed  per  acre  will  be 
required.  The  after  culture  will  consist  in 
keeping  the  ground  clean  and  loose.  Almost 
the  whole  of  it  can  be  performed  with  the  horse- 
hoe.  It  may  not  be  advisable  to  commence 
largely  at  first,  but  we  feel  assured  that  those 
who  commence  with  a  quarter  of  an  acre  by 
way  of  experiment  this  year,  will  increase  the 
size  of  the  plot  in  future,  particularly  if  proper 
attention  be  given  to  the  first  investment. 

•-* ^^^»— »-m 

Interesting  to  Flax  Growers. 


which  are  passed  over  as  unimportant  by  the 
more  experienced  cultivator,  but  which  are  of 
great  weight  in  determining  the  essentials  to, 
and  probabilities  of  success. 


It  will  be  remembered  that  we  published  in 
the  May  No.  of  the  Agriculturist,  page  140,  the 
decision  of  the  committee  of  the  N.  Y.  State 
Agricultural  Society  appointed  to  examine  the 
various  processes  for  the  improved  manipulation 
of  flax,  with  a  view  to  award  the  appropriation 
offered  by  tlie  Legislature.  It  having  been 
deemed  advisable  to  retain  the  appropriation 
for  another  year,  the  Executive  Committee  de- 
sire to  procure  all  possible  information  concern- 
ing the  progress  of  flax  culture  and  manufacture 
in  this  State.  To  this  end  they  ask  for  com- 
munications from  those  interested,  on  the  fol- 
lowing points,  viz. :  1st,  The  breadth  of  land 
sown  with  flax  in  the  year  1863  in  each  town 
in  the  State.  2d.  The  amount  of  seed  sown  per 
acre.  3d.  The  amount  of  seed  and  straw  raised 
per  acre.  4th.  The  price  received  per  ton  for 
the  straw,  and  for  seed  per  bnshel.  5th.  Such 
other  information  relative  to  the  culture  of  flax 
as  the  cultivator  may  deem  essential.  6th.  The 
amount  of  straw  purchased  by  each  factory, 
and  the  price  paid  for  it.  7th.  The  purpose  for 
which  it  was  manufactured,  as,  for  instance, 
paper  stock,  upholsterers'  purposes,  or  flax 
cotton.  8th.  The  invention  of  any  new  ma- 
chines for  dressing  flax.  Letters  containing  in- 
formation on  the  above  points  should  be  address- 
ed to  "  Flax  Committee,  State  Agricultural 
Rooms,  Albany,  N.  Y."  Such  information  will 
greatly  facilitate  the  investigations  of  the  com- 
mittee into  the  important  interest  committed  to 
their  care,  and  will  undoubtedly  be  cheerfully 
imparted  by  those  of  our  readers  in  this  State 
who  are  engaged  the  present  year  in  flax  cul- 
ture, even  though  they  may  have  just  com- 
menced on  a  small  scale.  The  difficulties  and 
observations  of  beginners  are  frequently  of  great 
value.  Those  just  commencing  often  note  points 


A    New  Humbug. 


Most  of  the  Humbugs  by  which  operators 
seek  to  fill  their  pockets  at  the  expense  of  the 
credulous,  are  old  games,  which  have  been  so 
frequently  exposed,  especially  in  the  columns 
of  the  Agriculturist,  that  only  those  who  will  not 
read  are  in  danger  of  being  taken  in  by  them. 
Only  occasionally  a  new  scheme  is  brought  to 
light.  Here  is  one  having  the  merit  of  some 
originality.  A  highly  patriotic  and  philanthrop- 
ic individual  issues  circulars  announcing  that 

**.*'*  "  The  proprietor  of  one  of 
the  most  valuable  and  successful,  as  well  as 
popular  and  indispensable  '  FAMILY  REM- 
EDIES'  known  in  this  country,  has  resolved 
to  dispose  of  and  close  up  his  extensive  busi- 
ness, for  the  special  benefit  of  our  Sick  and 
Wounded  Soldiers,  and  the  Widows  and  Or- 
phans of  those  who  have  sacrificed  their  lives, 
and  those  who  may  hereafter,  for  the  Preserva- 
tion of  our  Glorious  Union  !  The  entire  net  pro- 
ceeds shall  be  given  to  the  above  named  per- 
sons, throughout  all  the  Loyal  States,  and  the 
amounts  to  correspond  as  nearty  as  possible  to 
the  number  of  troops  drawn  from  each;  for 
which  purpose  he  hereby  offers  and  agrees  to 
give  the  RECIPE  with  the  right  to  make  and 
use  the  same,  to  every  Family  in  the  United 
States,  for  the  small  sum  of  ONE  DOLLAR 
for  each  family." 

Extra  Inducements  are  offered:  Immedi- 
ately upon  the  close  of  the  Enterprize  a  grand 
Octavo  Volume  is  to  be  published,  containing 
the  names  of  the  Donors  in  regular  order. 
Those  who  give  five  dollars,  shall  have  their 
names  printed  in  capitals ;  those  giving  ten  dol- 
lars are  to  appear  in  capitals,  and  have  a  copy 
of  the  volume  splendidly  bound ;  and  those  who 
are  thus  patriotic  to  the  amount  of  a  hundred 
dollars,  are  also  to  have  their  Portraits  superbly 
engraved  in  steel  for  the  volume,  and  receive 
twenty-five  proof  copies  extra  ?  He  who  gives 
the  largest  amount  is  to  have  his  portrait,  lots 
of  books  and  proofs,  and  his  biography  printed 
in  the  volume.  A  numerously  signed  certificate 
sets  forth  that  the  Manager  is  a  gentleman  ol 
umblemished  character,  possessing  superior 
business  capacities  of  the  strictest  integrity. 
This  man's  "  business  capacities "  may  be  ol 
"the  strictest  integrity,"  but  we  can  hardly 
vouch  for  his  personal  honor.  Happening  to 
know  one  of  the  parties  whose  name  was  ap- 
pended, we  inquired  into  the  particulars,  and 
were  informed  that  the  certificates  were  signeo 
in  reference  to  another  entirely  different  enter 
prize,  apparently  a  legitimate  one,  and  that  the 
signer  considered  the  present  scheme  a  trans- 
parent humbug.  How  many  will  be  induced  to 
swallow  pills,  or  apply  a  lotion,  for  the  benefit 
of  the  poor  soldiers  ?  Probably  not  many  read- 
ers of  the  Agriculturist.  Those  who  are  disposed 
to  help  the  afflicted  in  their  country's  cause— 
and  who  are  not? — will  find  abundant  opportuni- 
ties to  do  so  without  sending  a  dollar  to  an  un- 
known adventurer,  who  appeals  to  the  unwor- 
thy motive  of  vanity,  by  promising  to  exhibit  theii 
names  in  print  with  others  who  may  have  been 
similarly  duped,  and  in  case  they  have  been 
largely  "  sold,"  to  show  their  portraits  to  aD 
admiring  world. 


A  Thistle  Puller. — Julius  Meyer,  Potter 
Co.,  Pa.,  eradicates  thistles  by  pulling  them  out 
by  the  roots  before  blossoming.    To  save  the 


178 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[JtWK, 


hands,  he  uses  a  pair  of  -wooden  nippers  of  2 
inch  stuff,  3  feet  long,  with  teeth  fitting  into 
each  other.  This  will  exterminate  them  if  prop- 
erly followed  up.  Where  they  are  very  numer- 
ous it  would  he  a  tedious  undertaking. 


Precautions  Against  the  Weather. 

Science  has  not  yet  enabled  man  either  to  cer- 
tainly predict  or  to  change  the  weather.  Al- 
though in  general,  the  succession  of  the  seasons, 
seed  time  and  harvest,  are  guaranteed  by  the  Al- 
mighty Ruler,  yet  they  are  not  alike  propitious 
to  all  localities.  At  times  the  North  is  blasted 
with  untimely  frosts,  while  the  South  is  fervid 
witli  sunshine ;  the  East  may  be  parched  with' 
drouth,  while  the  "West  is  rejoicing  in  refreshing 
showers.  But  the  cultivator  may  do  something 
to  provide  himself  against  such  contingencies. 
First,  by  a  mixed  husbandry.  If  corn  be  stinted 
by  continued  rain,  the  grass  in  meadow  and 
pasture  will  grow  with  unwonted  luxuriance, 
and  what  is  lost  in  the  plowed  field  may  be 
found  in  the  cattle  yard  and  the  hay  mow.  He 
who  depends  upon  wheat" alone  may  grow  rich 
if  the  snows  of  Winter  and  the  rains  of  Summer 
are  propitious,  but  he  may  also  lose  all  when 
the  seasons  change  their  aspect,  and  are  unfa- 
vorable. Thousands  have  paid  a  heavy  price 
for  the  experience  by  which  this  lesson  has  been 
learned,  and  no  longer  trust  to  a  single  crop. 
Draining  is  a  most  efficient  regulator  by 
which  to  counterbalance  in  some  measure  the 
effect  of  wayward  seasons.  If  there  be  too 
great  rain-fall,  the  water  speedily  finds  an  out- 
let from  the  roots  which  it  would  otherwise 
drown.  If  drouth  occur,  the  porous  soil  is  en- 
abled to  draw  moisture  from  beneath,  and  also 
condense  it  from  the  air  which  can  enter  from 
above.  Corn  on  a  well  drained  field  will  pass 
safely  through  a  soak  or  a  drouth  which  would 
diminish,  by  one-third,  the  yield  from  an  un- 
drained  compact  soil.  Frequent  stirring  of  the 
soil,  keeping  it  loose  and  light,  is  of  paramount 
importance,  especially  in  drouth.  The  rapid 
evaporation  which  goes  on  at  the  surface  under 
such  circumstances,  cools  the  adjacent  air,  and 
causes  it  to  deposit  copious  dew,  and  moisture 
from  below  will  also  be  drawn  upward  to  sup- 
ply the  wilting  plants.  If  in  addition  to  this, 
mulching  be  practicable,  to  prevent  the  too  rapid 
escape  of  moisture,drouth  may  be  resisted,  for  a 
lengthened  period.  This  may  be  clone  in  the 
garden  and  fruit  yard,  and  to  some  extent  in  the 
corn-field,  where  straw  or  refuse  hay  is  plenty. 
It  is  less  easy  to  keep  grass  lands  in  heart  dur- 
ing drouth,  and  other  measures  should  be  re- 
sorted to  where  the  stock  of  cattle  is  large,  and 
the  amount  of  pasture  and  meadow  only  just 
sufficient  to  carry  them  through  a  favorable  sea- 
son. A  field  of  corn  or  millet  should  be  sown 
the  present  month,  to  be  cut  and  fed  green  in 
August  and  September.  The  latter  plant  resists 
drouth  even  better  than  corn,  and  an  acre  will 
yield  a  supply  for  several  head  of  cattle  during 
the  period  when  drouths  are  most  frequently 
injurious  to  pastures.  There  need  be  no  loss, 
if  the  crop  be  not  wanted  to  supply  Summer 
deficiency.  A  feed  from  the  soiling  patch  at 
night  will  make  itself  felt  in  the  milk  pail  in 
the  morning,  and  what  can  not  be  profitably 
used  in  this  manner  can  be  cured  and  used  to 
advantage  in  Winter.  There  is  always  less 
difficulty  in  dispos'mgof  superabundance  of  feed, 
than  iu  eking  out  a  short  supply,  and  the  wise 
husbandman  will  endeavor  to  err  on  the  safe 
side,  if  at  all. 


Cultivating  Orchards. 

It  is  a  question  much  discussed  of  late,  wheth- 
er or  no  orchards  should  be  plowed  and  ma- 
nured and  cropped.  We  have  seen  orchards 
both  old  and  young,  cultivated  to  their  injury. 
If  an  old  orchard  is  plowed  deep,  it  is  quite  sure 
to  tear  up  and  break  the  ro6ts;  and  this  will  be 
followed  by  blight  and  stunted  growth.  If  a 
young  orchard  is  plowed  carelessly,  not  only 
will  the  roots  of  trees  be  injured,  but  the  bark 
will  be  bruised  by  the  whiffletrees,  and  the  trees 
themselves  be  gnawed  and  trampled  on  by  the 
horses.  An  old  orchard  can  be  plowed  shallow, 
and  little  harm  come  from  it;  but  as  a  general 
rule,  the  plow  should  be  kept  outside  of  its 
boundaries.  If  the  land  needs  enriching  and 
re-seeding,  scarify  the  surface  with  a  harrow, 
and  give  a  dressing  of  old  manure,  scattering  the 
seed  where  it  is  wanted. 

A  young  orchard  not  only  can  be  plowed 
safely,  but  it  absolutely  requires  cultivation. 
One  might  about  as  well  throw  his  young  trees 
into  the  street  at  first,  as  to  set  them  out  in 
tough  sward,  and  let  them  so  remain.  Perhaps 
most  of  them  will  manage  to  live,  but  they  can 
not  thrive.  Plow  the  land  properly,  manure  it 
well,  keep  the  surface  hoed  clean  of  weeds  and 
grass  for  six  feet  around  every  tree,  and  it  will 
make  more  progress  in  one  year,  than  a  grass- 
bound  tree  would  in  three  or  four.  This  is  no 
mere  speculation ;  the  experience  of  every  3'ear 
proves  it.  As  the  trees  become  large,  and  the 
roots  ramify,  let  the  plow  be  gradually  with- 
drawn. 

«  1        ■■■  — >— 

The  Scale  on  Apple  Trees. 


Mr.  Hardy,  of  Chenango  Co.,  N.  T.,  has  sent 
us  a  specimen  of  apple  tree  bark  completely 
covered  with  the  scale  insect,  and  numerous  oth- 
er readers  of  the  Agriculturist  have  written  us 
concerning  its  depredations  upon 
their  trees,  asking  for  a  remed}'. 
The  insect  is  believed  to  have 
been  imported  from  Europe,  and 
is  especially  troublesome  at  the 
West,  the  section  from  which 
most  of  our  complaints  are  re- 
ceived. The  figure  will  give  an 
idea  of  the  appearance  of  the 
insect  at  the  present  season. 
The  natural  size  is  from  l-10th 
to  l-8th  of  an  inch,  and  they 
are  frequently  so  numerous  as  to 
cover  every  portiou  of  the  trunk  and  limbs.  The 
shape  of  the  scale  is  so  much  like  that  of  an  oyster 
that  it  is  sometimes  called  the  "  Oyster-shaped 
Bark-louse."  It  is  known  by  Entomologists  as 
the  Coccus  conch  if ormis,  and  Aspidotus  conchifurmis, 
the  specific  name — conchiformi.%  meaning  shell- 
shaped.  These  scales  contain  the  female,  which 
dies  after  depositing  her  eggs.  The  eggs,  which 
may  be  seen  by  carefully  lifting  the  scale,  are 
hatched  late  in  May  or  early  in  June.  The 
young  bisects  are  very  minute ;  they  move  about 
for  some  days  and  then  settle  down  and  insert 
their  proboscis  or  sucker  into  the  bark,  from 
which  they  draw  their  sustenance,  and  acquire 
their  hard  coat  or  shell.  The  females  never 
leave  the  shell,  but  the  males  come  out  as  small 
flies  and  have  wings.  These  being,  in  brief,  the 
habits  of  the  insect,  it  will  be  seen  that  they  can 
only  be  successfully  destroyed  soon  after  they 
are  hatched,  and  before  they  acquire  their  hard 
and  impervious  scale.  Various  preparations 
•have  been  recommended  for  their  destruction  ; 
Harris  advises  the  use  of  two  parts  of  soft  soap 


with  eight  of  trater,  to  which  lime  enough  is  to 
be  added  to  bring  the  mixture  to  the  consistence 
-of  whitewash.  This  is  painted  over  the  trees 
early  in  June,  covering  every  limb  and  twig  as 
far  as  possible.  Mr.  Kimball  of  Wisconsin, 
trims  the  trees  thoroughly  and  then  applies,  with 
a  paint  brush,  a  mixture  made  by  boiling  leaf 
tobacco  with  strong  lye,  until  it  is  reduced  to  a 
pulp,  and  then  mixing  with  soft  soap  to  form  a 
paint-like  compound.  Mr.  Smith,  of  Connecti- 
cut, uses  a  decoction  of  tobacco,  aloes  and  soft 
soap,  applied  with  a  syringe.  Prof.  Glover,  of 
the  Agricultural  Department  at  Washington, 
informs  us  that  he  succeeded  in  destroying  a 
similar  insect  upon  the  Orange  trees  in  Florida, 
by  syringing  them  with  a  wash  of  soft  soap, 
water,  and  a  little  guano.  Another  says  that 
the  use  of  mackerel-brine  will  prove  effectual 
in  destroying  them.  This  insect  has  its  na- 
tural enemies  which  destroy  great  numbers  of 
them,  still  its  increase  in  some  sections  is  alarm- 
ing; it  needs  vigilance  and  care  just  at  the  right 
time.  We  would  thank  any  of  our  readers  who 
have  had  success  in  exterminating  the  scale,  to 
give  us  their  methods  and  the  results. 

•+-* ^a»i    — *-»• 

How  to  Raise  Peaches. 


It  is  a  well  known  fact  that  peaches  do  not 
succeed  as  well  as  formerly.  In  addition  to 
want  of  fruitfulness  from  the  unpropitious 
seasons,  the  borers  and  yellows  are  making 
great  havoc  in  man)'  sections.  Timely  care  and 
faithful  labor  will  clear  the  trees  from  borers, 
but  the  "  doctors  "  have  not  as  yet  found  an  "  in- 
fallible specific"  for  the  yellows.  Of  one  thing, 
however,  observing  cultivators  are  pretty  cer- 
tain, namely,  that  the  disease  is  perpetuated  by 
planting  pits  from  unhealthy  trees;  and  that  too 
many  nurserymen  use  no  discrimination  in  the 
selection  of  seeds,  we  have  evidence  in  the 
barrels  of  pits  of  all  kinds  collected  in  the 
streets  of  this  city,  and  sold  to  planters.  For 
aught  the  nurserymen  know  to  the  contrary, 
nine  tenths  of  these  pits  were  from  unhealthy 
or  diseased  trees.  To  such,  and  to  all  who  wish 
to  raise  their  own  trees,  we  commend  the  fol- 
lowing from  the  pen  of  Hon.  Wm.  Parry  of 
New-Jersey,    in    the    Hammonton    Farmer. 

"  The  peach  tree  does  best  on  new  land,  and 
seldom  if  ever  will  yield  a  crop  where  peach 
trees  have  grown  before.  There  are  trees  on 
the  light,  new  lands  of  Atlantic  Co.,  N.  J.,  over 
fifteen  years  of  age,  in  a  flourishing  condition, 
bearing  annual  crops  of  fine  fruit.  The  proper 
method  of  raising  such  trees  is  to  save  seed  or 
pits  from  trees  which  are  perfectly  healthy,  free 
from  yellows,  borers,  and  all  other  defects  that 
would  tend  to  weaken  the  constitution  of  the 
parent  stock.  The  pits  should  be  planted  in 
Autumn,  and  covered  with  two  inches  of  sand, 
so  as  to  allow  them  to  freeze  and  thaw  during 
the  Winter.  In  the  following  Spring,  about 
two  thirds  of  them  will  open  their  shells,  and 
the  kernels  may  be  picked  out  and  planted  in 
mellow  land  suitable  for  corn  or  potatoes,  in 
rows  four  feet  apart  and  six  to  eight  inches  in 
the  row.  They  should  be  kept  clean  and  well 
cultivated  until  the  latter  part  of  Summer,  when 
they  are  in  a  suitable  condition  to  bud  with  de- 
sirable sorts,  selecting  buds  from  healthy  trees. 

The  young  trees  should  be  left  to  grow  one 
Summer  after  budding,  in  the  nursery  rows,  and 
the  next  Spring  be  set  out  on  good  mellow  soil 
prepared  as  for  corn,  which  crop  may  properly 
be  grown  among  the  trees  the  first  year  after 
setting  out.  In  planting  the  trees,  mark  out 
the  land  in   squares,  twenty  feet  each  way,  by 


1803.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


179 


running  a  light  plow  through,  and  set  a  tree  at 
each  crossing.  Big  the  holes  twice  as  large  and 
twice  as  deep  as  would  just  receive  the  roots  in 
their  natural  position.  The  roots  should  be 
carefully  examined,  and  all  bruised  parts  cut 
smooth  with  a  knife,  drawing  it  from  the  under 
side  out.  The  yellow  subsoil  thrown  from  the 
bottom  of  the  hole  is  not  to  be  returned  around 
the  roots,  but  mellow  surface  soil  must  be  filled 
in  and  packed  closely  under  and  over  the  roots, 
so  as  to  prevent  any  cavities  remaining. 

An  orchard  thus  carefully  set  out  must  not 
be  neglected.  The  ground  should  be  kept  mel- 
low and  clear  of  weeds  by  frequent  stirring, 
the  suckers  and  surplus  branches  trimmed  off, 
and  the  ends  of  the  most  vigorous  limbs  shor- 
tened in  so  as  to  give  a  more  compact  head.  If 
gum  should  be  seen  oozing  from  the  stem  near 
the  ground,  take  a  knife  and  remove  the  little 
intruder  that  is  preparing  to  make  its  winter 
lodging  under  the  bark. 


Plant  Evergreens. 


No  grounds,  however  limited,  should  be  with- 
out evergreens,  which  are  beautiful  in  Summer 
and  indispensable  in  Winter.  The  latter  part 
of  May  is  usually  the  best  time  for  planting, 
though  the  backwardness  of  the  season  will 
this  year  extend  the  time  well  into  June.  In- 
deed, with  a  little  care  they  can  be  removed 
during  the  early  part  of  June  in  an}'  ordinary 
season.  Recent  introductions  have  increased 
the  list  of  varieties  so  enormously  that  one  is 
puzzled,  in  looking  over  the  catalogues  of  the 
nurserymen,  what  selection  to  make.  Most  of 
the  recent  importations  bear  a  high  price  and 
their  hardiness  in  our  climate  is  yet  to  be  tested ; 
and  our  advice  is  to  leave  experiments  to 
those  who  can  afford  it.  and  to  stick  to  the  old 
and  well  established  kinds  which  are  always 
satisfactory  and  can  never  become  too  common. 
The  two  evergreens  which,  from  their  ease  of 
culture  and  intrinsic  worth,  are  most  popular, 
are  the  Norway  Spruce  and  the  Arbor  Vitfe. 
They  are  easily  transplanted,  of  rapid  growth 
and,  when  well  shaped  specimens  are  chosen, 
are  fine  for  the  lawn  and  excellent  for  masses 
and  screens.  They  will  live  in  poor,  and  thrive 
in  good  soils,  and  wjll  bear  cutting  as  the  cul- 
tivator may  fancy.  Nothing  is  more  beautiful 
than  a  well  grown  specimen  of  our  common 
White  Pine,  or  Weymouth  Pine,  as  it  is  called. 
The  chief  obstacle  to  its  general  introduction 
seems  to  be  its  nativity.  If  it  were  brought  from 
a  distance  and  sold  at  a  very  high  price,  it  would 
be  more  generall}'  sought  after.  Then  there  is 
the  common  Hemlock  (Abies  Canadensis),  than 
which  few  evergreens  are  more  beautiful.  It  is 
unfortunately  rather  impatient  of  removal,  but 
it  is  worth  while  to  take  special  pains  to 
secure  so  fine  a  tree.  The  Austrian,  Scotch, 
and  Cembrian  pines  make  noble  trees,  and 
the  Pigmy  Pine  (Pinus  pumiiio)  and  the  Irish 
and  Swedish  Junipers  are  desirable  for  small 
grounds.  At  any  time,  and  especially  in  late 
planting,  the  greatest  care  should  be  taken  to 
prevent  the  roots  of  evergreens  from  drying. 
They  should  be  kept  well  covered  from  the 
moment  they  are  out  of  the  ground  till  they  are 
replanted.  Where  it  is  practicable,  the  holes 
should  be  prepared  beforehand,  adding  peaty 
earth  if  the  soil  is  of  a  sandy  character,  and 
then  wait  for  a  cloudy  day  upon  which  to  take 
up  the  trees  from  the  nursery.  Large  stones 
laid  over  the  roots  are  better  than  stakes ;  be- 
sides holding  the  tree  in  place  they  will  act  as 
a  mulch  to  prevent  the  soil  from  drying  out. 


Basswood  Bark  for  Tying. 


Every  nurserymen  and  gardener  know  that 
the  Bass  or  Russia  matting  is  the  best  possible 
material  for  tying  up  plants,  binding  buds,  and 
many  other  purposes.  The  Russia  article  is 
frequently  scarce,  and  is  always  difficult  to  pro- 
cure by  those  who  live  far  from  cities.  The 
want  can  be  readily  supplied  from  our  native 
Basswood  or  Linden  which  is  abundant  through- 
out the  northern  States.  Young  and  vigorous 
trees  should  be  cut  down  during  the  present 
month  and  the  bark  stripped  off.  This  is  to  be 
put  into  a  stream  or  pond  of  water  until  the  in- 
ner bark  is  readily  separable  in  layers,  which 
will  be  in  two  or  three  weeks.  When  the  bark 
parts  readily,  it  is  to  be  taken  from  the  water, 
carefully  separated,  a  layer  at  a  time,  and  then 
washed  to  free  it  from  mucilage,  and  dried. 
There  will  be  found  a  considerable  difference 
in  the  strips.  The  finest  should  be  selected  for 
tying  buds  and  other  delicate  work,  and  the 
strongest  and  thickest  left  for  coarser  purposes. 


A  Perfect  Hedge. 

A  perfect  hedge  is  seldom  seen  in  this  country. 
Our  people  are  in  too  much  haste  to  see  results, 
too  impatient  of  the  needful  labor  and  cost,  to 
build  up  a  good,  durable  hedge,  one  that  will 
turn  cattle,  and  be  a  real  ornament  to  any  farm 
or  residence.  Consider,  a  moment,  the  condi- 
tions of  such  hedge  building.  The  line  must  not 
run  beneath  the  drip  and  shade  of  trees,  or 
among  their  roots.  The  land  must  be  good,  or 
be  made  fertile  by  manure.  The  plants  should 
be  properly  set  out,  the  ground  tilled  and  kept 
free  of  weeds  for  several  years.  And  yet,  how 
few  enrich  and  cultivate  soil  along  their  hedge- 
rows, after  the  first  year  !  Equal  in  importance 
to  this,  is  thorough  and  systematic  pruning  every 
year.  The  majority  of  hedges  are  allowed  to 
grow  up  several  feet  before  they  feel  the  shears 
at  all.  Of  course,  they  become  lank  and  bare 
at  the  bottom,  where  they  ought  to  be  bushy  and 
strong.  They  are  shaped  more  like  the  letter 
V,  and  must  always  remain  so,  while  they  ought 
to  be  more  like  that  letter  inserted,  \ .  They 
should,  from  the  start,  be  cut  back  every  Spring- 
to  a  foot  of  the  new  _growth :  i.  e.,  the  hedge 
should  be  allowed  to  gain  in  bight  only  one  foot 
each  year.  The  sides  should  be  slightly  trim- 
med, by  all  means  keeping  the  lower  branches 
broader  than  those  above.  The  pruner  should 
always  keep  in  mind  what  the  final  shape  of 
the  hedge  is  to  be.  The  inverted  a  seems  to  us 
a  little  too  sharp,  and  we  should  advise  round- 
ing the  sides  a  little,  making  it  resemble  a  straw 
bee-hive,  or  rounded  cone. 

After  the  hedge  is  brought  to  its  required 
hight,  say  of  four  to  six  feet,  it  must  be  pruned 
at  least  once  in  mid-summer,  to  check  its 
growth.  Now,  there  are  only  a  few  persons 
who  will  take  all  this  trouble,  and  this  is  a  suf- 
ficient reason  why  we  see  so  few  good  hedges. 

Another  reason  lies  in  the  defectiveness  of 
our  hedge-plants.  The  English  hawthorn,  so 
excellent  in  that  moist  and  equable  climate, 
does  not  generally  succeed  with  us.  Several  of 
our  native  thorns  have  been  tried,  but  where 
the  hedge  becomes  full  grown,  and  it  is  necessa- 
ry to  summer  prune  it,  the  leaves  turn  yellow 
and  the  plants  become  sickly.  In  a  few  sections, 
as  about  Wilmington,  Delaware,  the  Cockspur 
is  reported  as  doing  well.  The'  Osage  Orange 
answers  a  good  purposo  south  of  the  latitude 
of  about  40°,  but  is  not  sufficiently  hardy  at 
the  north.    The  Three-thomed  Acacia  is  now 


being  extensively  tried.  It  is  hardy  and  thorny 
enough,  but  as  it  is  a  very  rampant  grower,  it  is 
by  no  means  certain  that  it  will  bear  the  severe 
summer  pruning  necessary  to  keep  it  within 
bounds.  And  would  our  busy  farmers  find  time 
to  do  that  work?  The  Buckthorn  comes  the 
nearest  to  being  a  perfect  hedge-plant  in  all  re- 
spects but  its  thorns.  It  is  hardy,  not  over-ram- 
pant in  growth,  for,  unlike  the  Locust,  it  is  a 
bmh  lather  than  a  tree,  bears  shearing  well,  and 
is  subject  to  no  diseases  or  insects.  It  will  an- 
swer for  a  strict  barrier,  if  one  will  take  the 
trouble  to  set  a  low  and  light  wooden  fence  on 
the  exposed  side,  made  of  only  a  single  board, 
four  or  five  inches  wide,  running  from  post  to 
post.  Paint  this  board  green,  and  it  will  hardly 
be  noticed.  The  White  Willow  is  now  creating 
quite  a  sensation  at  the  West.  Whether  it  will 
make  a  perfect  hedge,  is  yet  quite  uncertain, 
but  time  and  experience  will  determine. 


The  Best  Native  Gooseberry. 

This  is  the  Houghton  Seedling.  It  is  not  of 
the  first  class,  as  compared  with  the  foreign 
sorts,  but  it  is  the  best  American,  seldom  mil- 
dews, is  hardy  and  prolific.  Its  origin  is  inter- 
esting. Some  thirty  years  ago,  Mr.  Abel  Hough- 
ton, then  of  Lynn,  Mass.,  set  out  in  his  garden 
four  of  the  best  English  sorts  in  a  circle,  with 
a  native  variety  in  the  center.  They  all  flow- 
ered and  fruited  the  second  year.  He  sowed 
the  seeds  indiscriminately,  and  where  the  plants 
came  up,  he  transplanted  them  by  the  hundred 
into  rows.  In  five  years,  they  came  into  bear- 
ing, but  nearly  every  one  suffered  from  mildew. 
He  saved  the  best  and  threw  away  the  worst 
and  finally  the  sort  known  as  Houghton's  Seed- 
ling was  the  only  one  which  proved  worth  sav- 
ing and  propagating.  All  honor  to  Mr.  Hough- 
ton. Honor,  indeed,  he  should  have,  for  it  is 
said  that  he  lias  made  no  money  by  his  long  ex- 
periments. 


Strawberries. 


This  is  the  harvest,  month  for  strawberries, 
and  the  time  when  the  fruit  is  in  perfection  is 
the  proper  one  in  which  to  plan  for  new  beds. 
While  to  many,  one  strawberry  is  as  good  as 
another,  those  of  larger  experience  know  that 
this  fruit  presents  a  great  variety,  not  only  in 
flavor  and  relative  sweetness,  but  in  the  size  and 
hardiness  of  the  fruit  and  the  vigor  and  prolific- 
ness  of  the  vines.  The  best  berry  for  the  table 
is  not  always  the  best  one  for  the  market ;  firm- 
ness of  flesh  and  abundant  bearing  are  for  this 
purpose  the  most  important  qualities.  Though 
we  may  have  many  very  fine  varieties,  per- 
fection is  not  yet  attained,  and  every  year  there 
are  new  claimants  to  superiority  over  old  varie- 
ties. It  is  no  doubt  possible  that  the  efforts  o'f 
cultivators  will  yet  produce  a  fruit  which  will 
combine  all  the  excellences  of  the  best  known 
varieties.  Now  is  the  time  for  those  who  intend 
to  plant  in  the  coming  Autumn  or  Spring  to 
visit  the  grounds  of  cultivators,  or  fruit  exhib- 
itions, and  make  observations  for  themselves. 
We  expect  that  the  exhibition  which  will  lie 
held  at  the  office  of  the  Agriculturist  will  pi  went 
the  finest  collection  of  strawberries  ever  seen 
in  this  country,  and  those  who  attend  it  will  de- 
rive much  information.  We  shall  publish  some 
reports  of  the  discussions  of  strawberry  growers 
upon  the  merits  of  the  different  varieties,  for  the 
benefit  of  those  who  cannot  attend  the  exhib- 
ition and  the  meetings. 


180 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[June, 


The  Strclitzia  reginae. 


A  fine  specimen  of  this  old  but  little  known 
plant,  from  E.  Janes,  Esq.,  of  East  Morrisania, 
N.  Y.,  has  been  on  exhibition  for  some  weeks 
at  the  office  of  the  Agriculturist,  'where  its  tropical 
looking  foliage  and  very  curious  flowers  have 
been  admired  by  a  throng  of  visitors.  The 
plant  is  about  3  feet  high  and  has  four  strong 
shoots,  one  of  which  has  been  figured  by  our 
artist.  The  Strelitzia  was  first  introduced  into 
England  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  nearly  a 
hundred  years  ago.  Its  name  was  given  to  it 
in  honor  of  the  wife  of  George  III.,  who  be- 
longed to  the  house  of  Mecklenburgk-Strelitz. 
The  plant  belongs  to  the  same  family  as  the 
Banana,  and  its  leaves  resemble  those  of  that 
plant,  though  they  are  much  smaller.  Tlie 
manner  of  flowering  ia  very  singular  ;  a  long 
green  sheath  is  borne  at  the  end  of  the  flower 
stem,  this  bends  to  a  horizontal  position,  and 
from  a  slit  in  its  upper  side  the  flowers  rise  one 
after  another.  From  their  gay  color  and  pecu- 
liar shape,  the  plant  is  called  by  some  the  "  Bird 
of  Paradise." — The  three  under  portions  of  the 
flower  are  of  a  golden  yellow,  and  the  narrow 
or  central  part  is  purplish  blue.  Each  flower 
continues  for  several  clays,  and  is  succeeded  by 
another  which  rises  out  of  the  sheath. 

For  a  long  time  it  was  cultivated  as  a  hot- 
house or  stove  plant,  but  it  is  now  found  it  will 
grow  well  in  the  green-house  or  as  a  house 
plant,  as  it  will  live  in  any  room,  where  it  is 
protected  from  frost.  The  objection  to  its  gene- 
ral introduction  as  a  house  plant  is  the  slow 
ncss  with  which  it  is  propagated.  It  is  multi- 
plied by  suckers  which  it  throws  up  very  spar- 


ingly, and  by  seeds  which  are 
only  formed  by  artificial  im- 
pregnation of  the  pistil.  It 
will  grow  in  any  good  soil  and 
should  have  a  period  of  dry- 
ness and  rest  after  flowering. 

Arranging  Bouquets. 

We  have  letters  from  sever- 
al correspondents  asking  us 
to  give  directions  for  the  ar- 
rangement of  flowers  in  bou- 
quets. As  this  is  a  matter 
that  depends  so  much  upon 
individual  tastes,  it  is  difficult 
to  give  any  precise  directions, 
though  there  are  a  few  gene- 
ral rules  which  may  be  fol- 
lowed. The  beauty  of  a  bou- 
quet depends  upon  its  form 
and  color.  The  regular  bou- 
quet makers  seldom  use  flow- 
ers upon  their  own  stems; 
the  separate  flowers  are  each 
fastened  to  a  splinter  of 
broom  corn  by  means  of  a 
bit  of  fine  wire.  Thus  fur- 
nished with  a  strong  and 
clastic  stem,  the  flowers  can 
be  made  up  with  greater  case 
than  when  upon  their  own 
stems.  Bouquets  made  in  this 
way  are  of  course  not  bene- 
fited by  placing  them  in  wa- 
ter, but  they  retain  their 
freshness  in  a  remarkable  manner  if 
occasionally  sprinkled.  A  light  and  grace- 
ful appearance  should  be  given  by  means  of 
little  sprigs  of  small  flowers  which  should  project 
beyond  the  general  surface.  A  general  fault  in 
bouquets,  is  a  deficiency  of  green ;  all  flowers  ap- 
pear better  in  contrast  with  foliage.  The  Ground 
Pine  (Lycopodium  dendroideum),  is  one  of  the 
greens  most  used  by  the  bouquet  makers.  Sprigs 
of  asparagus  are  used  with  very  good  effect; 
any  good  green  that  does  not  readily  wilt  may 
be  used.  In  regard  to  colors,  the  laws  of 
contrast  must  f>e  observed.  A  bouquet 
made  entirely  of  yellow,  red,  and 
orange  colored  flowers*would  not 
be  pleasing,  for  these  are  all 
harmonious  colors.  White  flow- 
ers are  very  useful  as  they  contrast 
with  every  other  color.  Bed  and 
blue  do  well  together,  while  the 
effect  of  purple  is  weakened  by 
either  of  them.  Yellow  and  blue 
should  be  contrasted  with  white 
rather  than  with  strong  green. 
Neither  red  nor  yellow  should  be 
put  near  orange.  A  little  practice 
will  enable  one  to  combine  the  co- 
lors  in   the   most  effective  way. 

Vines  in  the  Flower  Gabden. 
The  introduction  of  vines  and 
climbing  plants  into  a  garden  gives 
it  a  gracefulness  and  variety  which 
can  come  from  no  other  method.  By 
this  plan,  we  not  only  have  the 
ground  covered  with  verdure  and 
bloom,  but  the  air  also  is  filled  with 
them.  It  is  surprising  to  note  what 
pleasing  effect  may  be  produced  by  simply  setting 
up  a  few  cedar  poles,  0  or  8  feet  high,  and  cov- 
ering them  wilh  some  common  vines,  like  the 


Morning  Glory,  of  different  colors.  Set  two  or 
three  within  a  few  feet  of  each  other,  and  extend 
stout  cords  from  the  top  of  one  to  the  other. 
The  vines  will  cover  these  cords  and  hang  down 
in  graceful  festoons.  Instead  of  poles,  one  may 
make  ornamental  frames  or  arbors,  and  cover 
them  with  a  great  variety  of  vines.  The  result 
will  be  every  way  satisfactory,  and  the  whole 
need  cost  little  time  or  money. 


Plants  with  Variegated  Foliage. 

♦ — ■ 
For  a  long  time  the  striped  or  ribbon-grass  of 
our  grandmothers'  gardens  was  the  only  varie- 
gated leaved  plant  in  common  cultivation,  but 
now  we  have,  under  the  rather  absurd  name  of 
"  foliage  plants,"  a  great  variety,  some  of  which 
are  very  beautiful.  Many  of  the  rarest  orna- 
ments of  the  green  house  are  prized  for  their 
foliage  rather  than  their  flowers  and  we  have 
annuals,  perennials,  and  shrubs,  and  even  trees 
the  leaves  of  which  are  either  wholly  or  in  part 
of  some  other  color  than  green.  Japan  seems 
to  be  very  prolific  in  plants  of  this  kind,  and 
we  have  from  there  recently  a  Honeysuckle,  an 
Arbor  Vitae,  and  a  Gingko  with  variegated 
leaves.  Among  the  bedding  plants  of  this  cha- 
racter, Coleus  Verschaffdtii  takes  a  very  high  rank. 
We  give  below  an  engraving  of  a  young  plant, 
but  it  is  impossible  to  properly  represent  its 
beauty  without  the  use  of  colors.  The  leaves 
are  pleasingly  variegated,  the  lighter  portions 
being  of  a  tender  green,  while  the  markings  are 
of  a  rich  maroon  or  brownish  purple  color. 
This  most  desirable  ornament  to  the  flower 
border  is  to  be  had  at  the  large  horticultural 
establishments,  but  as  yet  bears  a  high  price. 
From  the  ease  with  which  it  grows  from  cuttings 
it  will  doubtless  before  long  be  very  abundant 
and  cheap.  Among  annuals,  the  Amaranthus 
tricolor  and  Perilla  Nanlcinensis  are  well  known. 
Amaranthus  melanclioliais  ruler,  a  new  blood  red 


COLHl'S  VEItSCnAFFELTII, 


annual  from  Japan  is  highly  recommended.  A 
bed  of  these  presents  a  striking  appearance 
when  viewed  from  a  little  distance. 


1863.] 


.AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


181 


About   Ginger. 


This  is  the  root,  or  rather  the  under-ground 
stem,  of  a  plant  which  is  a  native  of  the  East 
Indies,  but  is  now  grown  in  many  other  tropical 
countries.  The  stem  grows  2  or  3  feet  high  and 
is  reed-like ;  the  flowers  are  borne  on  a  separate 
stalk,  they  are  of  a  dark  purple  color,  and  ap- 
pear from  between  broad  scales,  as  is  represent- 
ed in  the  engraving.  In  order  to  save  room,  the 
artist  has  cut  off  the  top  of  the  leaf  stem,  and 
placed  it  by  the  side  of  the  flower  stern.  Our 
supply  comes  from  both  the  East  and  West  In- 
dies, and  is  imported  in  the  root,  which  differs 
much  in  appearance  and  quality.  When  scald- 
ed as  soon  as  it  is  taken  up  and  dried  in  the  sun 
it  has  a  dark  brownish  color,  but  if  the  root  is 
scraped  before  it  is  dried,  it  is  much  lighter  col- 
ored. Some  of  the  finer  kinds  are  not  only 
scraped  but  bleached,  and  are  known  as  white 
ginger.  The  root  is  retailed  in  powder,  and  in 
the  grinding  is  frequently  adulterated  with  meal 
and  similar  substances,  and  several  grades  of 
ground  ginger  are  kept  at  the  wholesale  stores 
at  prices  corresponding  to  the  amount  of  adul- 
teration. The  preserved  ginger,  which  is 
brought  in  jars  from  China,  is  prepared  from 
the  young  and  tender  roots,  before  they  have  be- 
come stringy  or  have  acquired  a  very  powerful 
pungency.  The  fresh  root  is  imported  from  the 
West  Indies,  and  is  frequently  sold  in  cities  for 
the  purpose  of  flavoring  citron-melon,  and  other 
preserves.  These  fresh  roots  which  are  usually 
brought  in  the  Fall,  may  be  planted  in  a  pot  and 
kept  through  the  Winter,  and  in  Summer  be 
turned  out  into  a  warm  place  in  the  garden 
where  they  will  flourish  during  hot  weather. 


Storing  Butter  under  Ground- 

■ 
A.  Thompson,  Pendleton  Co.,  Ky.,  writes  to 
the  Agriculturist:  "  Last  June  I  commenced  pack- 
ing butter.  I  washed  it  well  through  two  or 
three  waters  when  it  was  first  churned,  and 
worked  it  over  again  before  I  packed  it,  putting 
it  in  large  stone  jars,  ana  digging  a  hole  under 
the  floor  of  the  smoke  house,  having  no  cellar 
or  other  good  cool  place.  The  top  of  the  jar 
was  left  just  above  the  ground.  I  thin  put 
strong  brine  about  two  inches  over  the  butter, 
pouring  it  off  each  time  as  I  put  in  fresh  but- 


ter, adding  nothing  but  salt  to  the  butter,  and 
in  January  last  I  sold  60  pounds  of  butter  that 
was  as  sweet  and  good,  as  when  first  packed." 
To  preserve  butter  in  good  condition  the  first 
essential  is  thorough  working.  A  very  small 
amount  of  buttermilk  left,  will  soon  taint  the 
whole  mass.  When  well  worked  and  properly 
salted,  ijt  should  be  kept  at  a  uniform  low  temp- 
erature. This  was  secured  in  the  above  in- 
stance by  partially  burying  m  a  shaded  place. 
Some  other  location  than  a  smoke  house  would 
usually  be  preferable,  as  butter  quickly  absorbs 
any  odor  from  surrounding  substances.  A 
small  building  would  pay,  where  much  butter 
is  to  be  stored.  A  great  gain  will  be  realized  by 
selling  June  made  butter  at   January  prices. 


Which  are  the  Best  Milk  Pans? 


The  following  experiments  lately  made  at  the 
Munster  Agricultural  School  Farm  in  Ireland, 
to  determine  the  effect  of  various  materials  used 
for  milk  pans,  upon  the  yield  of  butter,  are  given 
in  the  London  Agricultural  Gazette.  The  pans 
selected  were  of  five  kinds,  viz. :  glass,  earthen- 
ware (black  glaze),  delft  (white  earthenware), 
tinned  iron,  and  wooden  vessels.  In  order  to 
carry  out  the  experiment  with  the  greatest 
accuracy,  the  feeding  of  the  cows  was  changed, 
and  the  temperature  of  the  dairy  varied  at  each 
experiment.  The  milk  as  it  came  from  the 
cows  was  strained  into  a  large  vessel,  and  then 
measured  accurately  into  the  pans.  The  quan- 
tity of  milk  set  in  all  cases  was  8  gallons,  and 
the  cream  from  this,  ranged  from  5  to  6  pints. 
One  week  was  allowed  to  elapse  before  the  next 
experiment  was  commenced.  In  all,  four  ex- 
periments were  made.  In  the  first  experiment 
the  feeding  was  of  a  rich  nature,  and  a  large 
produce  of  butter  was  expected,  and  the  tem- 
perature of  the  dairy  was  high  for  the  season, 
viz.,  55°.  The  feeding  consisted  of  White  Tur- 
nips, Swedes,  Rape-cake  (3"  lbs.  to  each  cow 
per  da}'),  grains,  and  hay.  The  expectation  of 
a  large  yield  of  butter  was  realized,  as  two  of 
the  vessels  gave  the  highest  produce — 3  lbs.  of 
butter  from  8  gallons  of  milk.  In  the  second 
experiment  the  temperature  of  the  dairy  was 
lowered  to  48°,  and  the  feeding  was  Aberdeen 
Turnips,  Swedes,  grains,  and  hay.  In  the  third 
experiment  the  temperature  was  raised  to  50°, 
and  the  feeding  "was  Mangels,  Swedes,  Aber- 
deen Turnips  and  hay.  The  temperature  was 
52°  in  the  fourth  experiment,  and  the  feeding 
was  Mangels,  Swedes,  grains  and  hay.  The 
produce  in  butter  is  shown  in  the  following: 


^ 

— 

_ 

VI 

?n3    C 

E- 

£" 

E» 

EV 

«    0}  — 

►52 

Milk  vessels 

u 

U 

s.5 

Z3 
&* 

w 

H 

W 

a 

og 

lbs.  oz. 

lbs.  oz. 

lbs.  oz. 

lbs.  oz. 

lbs.  oz. 

Glass       ..     .. 

3     0 

2    10 

2    12 

2    14 

2    13 

Earthenware 

{black  glaze) 

3      0 

2    10 

2    12 

2     14 

2    13 

Delft       . . 

2     14 

2      S 

2     10 

2     12 

2     11 

Tinned  iron 

2     14 

2      8 

2    10 

2     12 

2     11 

Wood  keelers 

2      4 

2      4 

2      6 

2      7 

2  m 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  yield  of  butter  was 
varied  by  change  of  feed  and  temperature,  but 
that  the  superiority  of  the  glass  and  glazed 
earthenware  was  maintained  throughout.  The 
milk  in  wooden  vessels  was  less  affected 'by 
temperature,  wood  being  a  poor  conductor  of 
heat.  The  milk  soured  first  in  the  wooden  kee- 
lers, and  in  the  delft  and  tinned  iron  vessels  a 
few  hours  sooner  than  in  the  glass  and  glazed 
earthenware.  The  longer  milk  is  kept  sweet, 
the  more  time  there  will  be  for  the  cream  to 
riso  unobstructed  by  coagulation.    The  pores 


of  wooden  vessels  in  time  are  more  or  less 
affected  by  moisture  and  acidity,  according  to 
the  pains  taken  to  cleanse  them,  and  this  hastens 
the  souring  of  the  milk.  They  can  not  be  kept 
as  clean  as  tinned  iron  or  glass.  The  latter 
material  in  the  above  experiments  gives  about 
5  per  cent  more  butter,  than  the  tinned  iron, 
and  18  per  cent  more  than  the  wood.  The 
heaviness  and  brittleness  of  glass  and  earthen- 
ware are  objectionable,  and  the  loss  from  break- 
age would  probably  counterbalance  any  ad- 
vantage gained  in  increased  quantity  of  butter. 
The  tinned  iron  pans  in  common  use  in  this 
country,  are,  all  things  considered,  the  most 
convenient  vessels  yet  brought  into  use.  But 
for  the  expense,  the  best  vessels  would  be  por- 
celain lined  iron  ware,  such  as  are  used  for  pre- 
serving kettles.  It  may  be  a  question  whether 
the  great  durability  of  these  vessels,  as  well  as 
their  effectiveness,  may  not  make  them  the 
cheapest  in  the  end.  The  annual  interest  would 
not  amount   to  five   cents  each,  per  annum. 


An   Improved   Dish-Pan. 


A  Western  correspondent  of  the  Agriculturist, 
"Bay,"  sends  a  sketch  of  the  household  implement 
shown  below  with  the  following  description  and  re- 
marks :  "  Diameter  of  the  pan  lengthwise  of  top,  19>£ 
inches,  at  the  bottom  15  inches  ;  short  diameter  of 
top  15J^  inches  ;  of  bottom,  11}^  inches  ;  depth  of 
pan  7  inches  ;  handles  2  by  i  inches.  My  mother, 
a  good  housekeeper  after  the  English  pattern,  al- 
ways considered  it  a  lady's  bonnden  duty  to  wash 
up  the  breakfast  dishes  herself,  thereby  making  suro 
each  day  that  her  china-closet  was  in  order,  that 
none  of  the  silver  was  missing,  or  glass  and  cutlery 
strayed  into  the  kitchen.  This  operation  is  facili- 
tated by  such  a  pan  as  I  describe ;  having  divisions, 


one  for  washing,  the  other  for  draining  :  it  can  be 
used  without  slopping,  and  obviates  the  necessity 
that  exists  in  some  families,  of  having  dishes  car- 
ried to  the  kitchen  and  back,  after  each  meal.  This 
not  only  saves  time,  but  risk  of  breakage,  as  well 
as  insuring  a  wholesome  division  between  dining- 
room  and  kitchen  table  articles."  [A  dish-pan  of  the 
above  dimensions,  would  seem  to  be  too  small  for 
both  washing  and  draining  divisions,  unless  for  a 
family  of  only  two  or  three  persons,  and  using  but 
few  changes  of  dishes.] 


To  Keep  Bed  Clothes  on  Children. 


Many  a  severe  cold,  and  not  unfrequently  sick- 
ness and  death,  have  resulted  from  sleeping  with- 
out covering  ;  and  this  happens  quite  as  frequently 
in  Summer  as  in  Winter,  for  in  the  latter  season, 
greater  care  is  exercised,  and  the  windows  and  doors 
are  less  likely  to  be  left  open  in  a  way  to  produce 
a  direct  draught  of  air.  Restless  children  will 
throw  off  the  clothing,  notwithstauding  the  final 
visit  to  their  beds  by  the  careful  mother  or  father, 
before  retiring.  This  can,  in  part,  but  not  wholly, 
be  prevented  by  light  suppers  of  simple  food,  taken 
early  enough  to  bii  in  part  digested  before  going  to 
bed,  which  is  always  advisable.  No  one,  young  or 
old,  can  sleep  well  with  a  poultice  of  hearty,  undi- 
gested food  on  either  the  outside  or  inside  of  the 
stomach.  In  addition  to  the  above,  we  have  for 
several  years  successfully  practised   fastening  the 


182 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Juke, 


covering  upon  the  bed.  For  this  purpose,  Simple 
screws,  or  small  woodeu  knobs,  fastened  iuto  the 
two  side  rails  ou  the  under  side— cue  near  each 
head  poat,  aud  one  near  the  loot.  Two  strong  tapes 
or  narrow  strips  of  cloth  are  tacked  across  one 
coverlet  a  few  iuches  from  the  head  aud  foot,  aud 
loops  ou  the  ends  are  brought  over  the  side  rails, 
and  thrown  over  the  screw-heads,  leaving  the  cov- 
let  loose,  but  so  that  it  can  not  be  pushed  off.  The 
long  strip  is  preferable  to  short  loops  fastened  to 
the  edges  of  the  coverlet,  which  may  tear  out. 
This  method  is  effectual,  aud  costs  but  little  trouble. 
In  a  letter  to  the  American.  Agriculturist,  "  Ann 
Eliza,"  of  Cold  Spring,  L.  I.,  writes  on  the  same 
subject :  "  To  make  a  child  sleep  comfortably,  aud 
not  push  off  the  bed  clothes,  screw  a  small  knob  on 
the  side  of  the  trundle-bedstead  or  cradle,  ou  the 
inside,  then  sew  strong  loops  or  strings,  on  the 
under  quilt  far  enough  from  each  end,  to  draw  it 
snug  across  under  the  chin,  not  too  tightly  ;  then, 
put  ou  as  much  other  bedding  outside  as  is  neces- 
sary, aud  so  long  as  the  loops  and  knobs  do  not 
give  way,  the  child  can  not  get  uncovered.  If  a 
child  ha;  the  habit  of  throwing  the  head  back,  and 
pushing  itself  out  in  that  way,  slip  down  in- 
side the  head  board,  auotber  peg  high  enough  to 
go  10  or  12  inches  above  the  pillow }  oi>  better  still, 
if  the  trundle-bed  is  drawn  out  before  a  door  or 
window,  have  a  head  similar  to  a  cradle  head,  to 
slide  down  far  enough,  to  set  firmly  on  the  bottom 
of  the  trundle-bedstead,  and  the  child  can  not  help 
6leepiug,warin.  If  for  two  children,  put  a  middle 
loop  on  the  quilt,  aud  a  knob  in  the  center  at  the 
head.  The  knobs  6hould  be  far  enough  down  so 
that  they  can  not  strike  the  head  against  them,  and 
the  loops  long  accordingly.  In  very  cold  weather 
the  child's  bed  should  be  warmed,  by  layiug  in  the 
bed  pieces  of  wood  or  board,  that  have  been  pre- 
viously warmed  iu  the  stove  oven,  putting  in  half 
an  hour  before  the  child  goes  to  rest,  so  that  not 
only  Uie  blanket  but  the  bed  will  be  warm  ;  aud 
1  he  little  ones  will  not  be  shivering  a  long  while, 
but  uestle  down  and  in  a  few  minutes  be  fast 
asleep.  The  two  children  of  the  writer  sleep,  one 
iu  the  trundle-bed,  aud  one  in  the  cradle,  fastened 
as  above  described,  and  have  never  known  what 
it  was  to  sleep  cold.  None  but  a  mother  can  know 
what  a  satisfaction  it  is,  to  be  certain  that  her  child  is 
comfortable  in  a  cold  Winter  night,  and  no  tear  of 
throwing  off  the  covering,  aud  laying  the  founda- 
tion .or  ?.  hi  of  sickuess,  aud  perhaps  death." 


Refrigerators— Economy  in  Ice. 

Ice  is  not  merely  a  luxury  but  almost  a  necessity 
iu  the  household,  and  in  this  season  of  scarcity,  the 
greatest  economy  should  be  exercised  in  the  use  of 
it.    Great  improvements  have  been  made  in  refrig- 
erators or  ice  chests,  within  a  few  years,     fn  the 
old  box  refrigerator,  where  a  lump  of  ice  is  put  at 
the  bottom,  and  the  articles  to  be  cooled  placed 
over  it,  there  is  an  unnecessary  waste  of  ice.     The 
provisions  in  this  are  cooled  only  by  giving  off  or 
radiating  their  heat  which  is  absorbed  by  the  ice, 
and  they,  being  at  the  top,  are  always  iu  the  warm- 
est part  of  the  refrigerator.    In  several  recent  in- 
ventions the  ice  is  placed  at  the  upper  part  of  the 
refrigerator  and  its  contents   are  not  only  cooled 
by  radiation,  but  also  by  a  descending'  current  of 
cold  air  which  is  passing  over  them.     This  current 
can  not    take  place  when  the  ice   is  below.     We 
have  upon  our  Exhibition    Tables  a  model  of  a 
"Polar  Refrigerator,"  which  has    some   excellent 
points.     The  box  is  divided  into  two  compartments 
by  a  central  ice  chamber.     This  is  made  of  corru- 
gated zinc,  aud  wedge  shaped  with  the  larger  end 
uppermost.     The  ice  is  placed  at  the  top  of  this 
chamber  upon  a  rack,  and  the  water,  which  results 
from  its  melting,  aud  which  is  still  very  cold,  is  re- 
tained iu  the  lower  part,  where  it  can  be  drawn 
off   for    drinking.      It    is   an    advantage   to   have 
separate    compartments    in    the    refrigerator,    as 
delicate  fruits,  butter,  milk,  etc.,  cau  be  kept  where 
they  will  not  contract  any  unpleasant  flavor  from 
meats  and  other  provisions.     In  the  use  of  ice  for 
cooling  drinking  water,  a  great  saving  is  effected  by 


the  use  of  double  ice  pitchers.  These  are  two  me- 
tallic pitchers  placed  one  within  the  other,  and  tb£ 
intervening  space  filled  with  some  non-conducting 
material.  Iu  cooling  water  in  the  ordinary  way, 
we  often  use  ice  very  wastefully.  A  pound  of  ice 
in  small  fragments  will  cool  more  than  three  lb6. 
of  water  from  the  ordinary  Summer  temperature, 
to  32"  or  ice-cold.  It  is  not  necessary  to  reduce 
the  temperature  of  water  so  low  as  this,  it  being 
too  cold  either  for  comfort  or  health,  and  a  much 
smaller  quantity  of  ice  than  is  generally  used  by 
most  persons  will  make  the  water  pleasantly  cool. 


How  to  Fasten  Corks. 


Fig.  1. 
the  manner  of  doing  this. 


It  is  often  very  desirable  to  confine  the  corks  of 
bottles  more  strongly  than  can  be  done  by  merely 
sealing  them  with  wax. 
In  bottling  cider,  spark- 
ling wine,  etc.,  the  gas 
evolved  exerts  a  very 
strong  pressure,  some- 
times sufficient  to  burst 
the  bottles,  and  the  cork 
Is  easily  forced  out,  if 
not  tied  down.  Wire  is 
sometimes  used  for  this 
purpose,  but  stout  twine 
properly  put  on,  will  be 
sufficient.  The  illustra- 
tions show  quite  plainly 
A  simple  knot  is  first 
made,  (Fig  1.),  and  the  loop  drawn  upward  to  pass 
over  the  top  of  the  cork. 
It  is  then  placed  around 
the  neck,  just  below  the 
projection,  drawn  tight, 
aud  the  two  ends  are 
brought  up  over  the 
cork,  when  it  can  be 
readily  tied,  as  shown  in 
Fig.  3.  If  preferred, 
fine  flexible  wire  can  be 
used  in  the  same  way. 
This  may  seem  like  a 
small  matter  to  ilfns- 
trate,  but  we  consider 
nothing  as  unimportant  ^'S-  "■ 

which  may  prove  of  convenience  to  the  house- 
keeper. We  may  here  add  what  has  often  been 
stated,  that  we  are  always  pleased  to  receive  such 
suggestions  aud  hints  of  contrivances  which  may 
not  be  generally  known  to  young  housekeepers. 


"Splendid  Jewelry!" 

• — 

The  above  words  head  an  attractive  advertise- 
ment, recently  published  in  this  City.  The  articles 
offered  are  said  to  be  made  of  "  the  celebrated 
Oreide  Gold,"  which  "has  been  found  to  work 
equal  to  pure  gold.  In  finish  and  beauty  they  are 
equal,  if  not  superior  to  the  genuine  article."  Fol- 
lowing this  is  a  price  list,  from  "Gold"  watches  at 
$10,  dowu  to  "  Gold  "  6tuds  at  $1.  This  is  an  at- 
tempt to  obtain  money  under  a  wrong  coloring. 
Oreide  Gold,  as  it  is  called,  is  a  cheap  alloy  of  cop- 
per and  zinc,  worth  little  more  than  brass,  but  ca- 
pable of  longer  retaining  a  bright  polish.  In  ap- 
pearance it  somewhat  resembles  gold,  but  will  ulti- 
mately tarnish  like  any  base  metal.  So  good  is  the 
imitation,  however,  that  thousands  of  dollars  have 
been  realized  from  the  sale  of  articles  made  from  it. 
At  first  they  were  represented  to  be  fine  gold,  and 
were  distributed  by  "Gift  Enterprise"  establish- 
ments, until  that  game  was  played  out.  Now  the 
attempt  is  made  to  palm  off  this  cheap  compound 
under  a  deceptive  name.  Fortunately  the  commu- 
nity have  been  somewhat  enlightened  as  to  the 
probability  of  obtaining  a  dollar's  worth  of  goods 
for  a  few  cents,  and  the  swindle  will  probably  not 
be  abundantly  successful,  at  any  rate,  not  among 
the  readers  of  the  American  Agriculturist,  we  thiuk. 
The  cheap  jewelry  manufacturers  have  much  to 
auswer  for,  not  only  on  account  of  the  deceptions 


practised  iu  the  business,  but  because  of  the  incite- 
ment given  to  a  love  of  display,  which  was  already 
a  sufficiently  prominent  national  characteristic. 
Young  persons  now-a-days  are  seen  glittering  with 
shiuiug  ornaments,  which  might  provoke  the  envy 
of  the  Squaws  of  our  Western  wilds,  or  the  un- 
tamed negroes  of  Central  Afrioa,  but  which  only  ex- 
cite disgust  iu  the  minds  of  persons  of  good  taste. 
There  is  no  rational  objection  to  personal  adorn- 
ment. The  Almighty  intended  man  to  be  the  most 
beautiful  of  all  earthly  creations.  But  the  addition 
of  a  profusion  of  shining  metal,  or  sparkling  stones 
is  no  improvement  to  beauty.  A  plain  ring,  a  neat 
pin,  or  some  inconspicuous  ornamental  keepsake 
may  be  admissible,  but  any  jewelry  or  otiier  articles 
which  attract  attention  from  the  wearer,  thereby 
demean  him  iuto  a  mere  walking  show  case  fdr  the 
manufacturers'  wares.  No  trinkets  can  make  a 
homely  face  beautiful,  but  modesty,  patience,  kind- 
liness aud  all  virtues  will  add  charms  of  surer  and 
more  lasting  attraction. 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

How  to  Polish  Shirt  Bosoms. 


1  was  somewhat  amused  by  the  letter  from  a 
young  housekeeper,  Mrs.  Pry.  As  she  feels  desir- 
ous to  make  her  husband's  shirts,  bosoms  and  col- 
lars look  nice,  I  will  endeavor  to  tell  her  how  my 
wife  does  up  mine.  The  first  thing  is  to  wash  them 
clean,  then  starch  them  thoroughly  with  the  best  of 
starch.  A  little  pure  spermaceti  or  dissolved  gum 
arabic  in  the  starch  will  improve  it,  but  have  the 
starch  thick,  aud  work  it  iuto  the  linen  thoroughly. 
When  iu  a  proper  condition,  use  the  common  sad 
iron  to  smooth  them,  aud  get  them  iu  proper  shape, 
the  same  as  though  they  were  not  to  be  polished, 
I  would  here  say  that  you  can  not  polish  liuen  on  a 
soft  cloth.  Take  a  piece  of  hard  wood  (I  use  birch) 
say  10x14  inches,  or  size  of  a  shirt  bosom,  and  plauo 
it  even  aud  smooth.  When  you  use  the  polishing 
iron  lay  the  liuen  ou  that,  without  an}'  cloth  under- 
neath ;  a  liberal  supply  of  elbow  grease  is  indispen- 
sable to  make  the  things  look  first-rate.  Now  for 
the  polishing  iron.  We  use  McCoy's  Patent.  I 
have  secu  several  kinds,  but  I  like  this  the  best. 
You  can  not  polish  with  au  iron  with  a  flat  face ;  the 
one  I  use  is  made  something  like  asmall  shoe,  with 
a  round  heel  on  both  ends,  nicely  polished,  aud  care 
should  be  had  to  keep  it  so,  if  you  wish  to  have 
your  linen  look  well.  The  linen  we  buy  at  the 
stores,  is  polished  by  men,  or  machinery,  which 
gives  it  a  liuer  polish  than  can  usually  be  given  by 
females.  But  if  Mrs.  Pry  will  get  a  good  polishing 
iron,  and  follow  the  directions  as  given,  she  will  not 
feel  ashamed  of  her  husband's  bosoms  and  collars. 

Cumberland  County,  Me.  BENJ.   FURBISH. 
m  i       -^m+v»         i  » 

"What  to  Do  with  the  Eats?" 

In  answer  to  this  question  iu  the  April  Ayricul- 
titri.it,  I  would  say,  do  as  a  friend  of  mine  did  when 
he  found  his  newly-purchased  house  and  stable  in- 
fested with  these  destructive  animals.  Mix  equal 
quantities  of  plaster  aud  Indian  meal,  and  put 
where  they  can  get  it,  aud  they  will  devour  it 
greedily.  It  will  make  them  thirsty  and  they  will 
seek  water,  which  brings  on  an  indigestion.  My 
friend  found  them,  iu  the  morning,  lying  iu  heaps 
by  the  gutters.  In  the  country  it  would  be  well  to 
put  water  where  they  could  get  it  easily,  so  that 
they  need  not  rush  to  the  wells.  This  appears  to  be 
the  safest  and  most  effectual  way  of  managing  them. 

Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.  E.   D.   FlEED. 

[Plaster  is  wholly  inert,  and  if  useful  as  a  rat  de- 
stroyer it  must  act  mechanically,  by  hardening  into 
lumps  inside  the  "  critters,"  aud  of  course  the  burn- 
ed plaster  such  as  is  used  by  stereotypers,  plasterers, 
stucco  workers,  etc.,  must  be  fed  with  the  meal.  If 
the  rats  will  eat  enough  of  it  with  meal,  to  make  a 
respectable  boulder  inside,  it  will  probably  be  effec- 
tual. Plaster  is  cheap  and  can  be  easily  tried.  The 
common  ground  field  plaster  will  not  harden  with 
water. — This  rat  remedy  reminds  us  of  the  great 
stories  told  "  out  west,"  wheu  plaster  first  came  into 


1863.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


183 


use.  It  was  said  "  that  a  person  riding  by  a  house 
early  one  morning,  discovered  a  pair  of  enormous 
leg6  and  I'eet  hanging  out  of  the  window.  On  in- 
quiry, it  was  found  that  some  plaster  had  accident- 
ally been  mixed  with  the  flour  for  tea  biscuits.  The 
' fertilizing'  effeet6  were  so  great  that  the  man  had, 
during  the  night,  grown  so  fast  as  to  have  his  legs 
extend  through  the  windows  and  bending  down  at 
the  knees,  his  feet  touched  ground."  They  would 
probably  have  taken  root  but  for  the  disturbance  of 
the  early  passer  by !  This  is  a  fact  of  course— just 
as  much  so  as  one  half  the  stories  of  the  wonderful 
effects  of  many  of  the  manufactured  manures.  Ed.] 

To  Put  up  Strawberries,  etc. 

We  have  had  all  Winter,  and  are  still  using,  some 
of  last  year's  crop  of  strawberries,  in  excellent 
order  and  flavor.  They  were  chiefly  kept  in  Potter 
&  Bodine's  Jars,  the  most  convenient,  aud  every 
thing  considered,  the  best  of  the  tweuty  odd  kinds 
we  have  tried  thus  far.  (Many  patent  jars  promis- 
ing well  have  cost  us  loss  of  time,  fruit,  aud  sugar, 
to  fiud  out  that  they  were  poor.  The  porcelain-lin- 
ed iron  jars  are  the  best  of  all,  but  are  rather  too 
costly  for  general  use,  though  possibly  cheapest  in 
the  long  run  )  The  best  plan  is,  to  fill  the  jars  with 
strawberries,  then  pour  in  a  syrup  made  by  boiling 
)4  lb.  to  1  lb.  white  sugar  in  a  quart  of  water.  The 
Jars  are  then  set  down  nearly  to  their  necks  in  cold 
or  lukewarm  water  in  a  wash  boiler,  aud  the  water 
heated  to  boiling.  When  the  berries  have  had  time 
to  barely  cook  through,  the  jars  are  lifted  out,  and 
one  is  used  to  till  up  all  shrinkage  hi  the  others,  so 
that  they  shall  be  quite  full.  Wipe  the  top  clean 
with  a  damp  cloth  while  they  arc  still  hot.  The 
covers  are  then  put  on  and  fastened  tightly.  Set 
into  the  cellar  or  any  cool  room.  We  put  up  144 
quart  jars  last  year,  of  different  kinds  of  fruit,  aud 
only  lost  by  fermentation  two  bottles  of  tomatoes. 
When  the  above,  or  other  good  jars,  are  not  acces- 
sible, common  juuk  bottles,  thorougly  cleaued,  or 
Other  glass  bottles  or  jars,  may  be  used,  as  we 
know  by  many  successful  trials.  Tightly  fitting 
soft  corks,  tied  in,  answer  well  for  covers.  It  is 
best  to  make  these  surely  air  tight,  by  dipping  the 
corks  and  necks  when  dry,  but  still  hot,  into  a  ce- 
ment made  by  melting  together  an  ounce  of  lard 
and  about  a  pound  of  rosin.  Simple  beeswax,  or 
grafting  wax,  will  answer.— The  fruit  may  be  first 
cooked  with  a  small  quantity  of  syrup,  in  a  por- 
celain lined,  or  even  a  tinned  vessel,  aud  then  dip- 
ped into  the  previously  warmed  jars  or  bottles,  seal- 
ing up  as  soon  as  the  air  bubbles  have  risen  aud 
their  place  is  filled  with  more  cooked  fruit.  This 
mode  is  more  convenient,  but  does  not  preserve  the 
shape  and  flavor  of  the  fruit  as  well  as  the  other 
way.  The  smaller  the  amount  of  sugar,  the  better 
will  the  natural  flavor  be  preserved.  We  use  just 
sugar  enough  to  fit  the  fruit  fertile  table. 

The  above  directions  answer  for  other  berries, 
cherries,  peaches,  and  for  other  fruits,  except  that 
pears,  quiuecs,  cherries,  etc.,  require  longer  cook- 
ing to  heat  them  through.  Tomatoes  need  boiling 
down  one  half,  both  to  save  room  and  to  make 
them  keep  well.  The  above  method  is  infinitely 
better  and  cheaper  than  the  old  mode  of  preserv- 
ing with  a  large  and  unnecessary  quantity  of  sugar. 


:  That   Squeaking  Door." 


"Careful!    careful!    Don't   open   that  door;  it 

squeaks  [creaks]  so,  it  will  wake  baby  up." This 

was  what  the  writer  heard  when  making  a  call,  the 
other  day,  and  what  has  been  heard  in  a  hundred 
or  thousand  other  houses.  Many  mothers  go  on  a 
whole  year  watching  the  creaking  door,  lest  it 
"  wake  baby  up,"  or  disturb  a  sick  one.  It  may 
seem  a  small  matter,  hut  Mr.  Editor,  please  tell  all 
such  mothers  that  read  the  American  Agriculturist, 
to  take  a  few  drops  of  oil  in  a  spoon,  or  a  little 
fresh  lard,  and  w:iu  the  finger  rub  a  trifle  upon  all 
the  door  hinges  at  the  points  where  they  wear 
bright,  ncu  the  creaking  will  be  stopped  for  months 
at  least.    A  minute's  time  on  a  door,  will  save  hours 


of  time  in  watching  it,  or  in  getting  the  baby  to 
sleep  after  being  waked  up.  Housekeeper. 

•-. _» ♦»— ,-• 

Vinegar  from  Clover 


L.  C.  Cook,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  sends  the  Agricul- 
turist, the  following  as  a  substitute  for  good  eider 
vinegar:  Take  2  qts.  red  clover  blossoms  and  10 
qts.  of  water,  boil  five  miuutes,  strain,  and  add  1  lb. 
sugar,  1  pint  molasses.  Put  it  into  a  stone  jar,  and 
when  lukewarm,  add  four  tablespooufuls  of  good 
yeast.  Put  2  qts.  more  of  clover  blossoms  on  the 
top  of  the  liquid,  cover  close,  set  in  the  sun,  and  in 
four  weeks  you  will  have  a  cheap  and  good  article. 

[Spent  tea  leaves,  and  indeed  almost  any  kind  of 
vegetable  material  will  make  vinegar,  when  mixed 
with  sugar  aud  yeast.  The  acetic  acid,  or  vinegar, 
is  maiuly  produced  by  the  sugar,  the  yeast  starting 
the  acetous  fermentation.  The  vegetable  matter 
affects  the  flavor,  and  perhaps  the  clover  blossoms 
may  give  a  flavor  pleasing  to  many  persons.  It 
will  cost  little  labor  or  trouble   to  try  it.— Ed.] 


Directions  for  Curing  Beef. 


Contributed  to  the  American,  Agriculturist  by 
Joseph  n.  Alexander,  St.  Charles  Co.,  Mo.  "For 
100  pounds  of  beef,  take  10  lbs.  salt,  4  ozs.  of  salt- 
petre, 1  quart  molasses,  6  gals,  water.  Boil  the 
mixture,  skimming  off  the  impurities;  and  having 
cut  up  and  packed  the  beef  in  a  tight  vessel,  pour 
the  mixture  on  the  beef  hot,  boiliDg  hot.  The  beef 
is  ready  for  use  as  soon  as  it  is  cool.  Some  recipes 
say  take  twelve  lbs.  of  salt  instead  of  ten,  but  from 
actual  experience  I  have  become  satisfied  that  ten 
pounds  will  make  the  meat  more  palatable — being 
one  pound  of  salt  to  ten  pounds  of  beef." 

Clmrlotte  Russe  Pudding'. — Contrib- 
uted to  the  Agriculturist  by  "  C.  E.  M."  Heat  three 
piuts  of  milk  to  near  the  boiling  point.  Stir  into  it 
the  yolks  of  eight  eggs,  and  one  large  tablcspoon- 
ful  of  corn  starch.  Let  it  thicken  a  little,  and 
sweeten  and  flavor  to  the  taste.  Lay  slices  of 
sponge  cake  in  a  pudding  dish,  pour  over  them  the 
pudding,  add  to  the  top  of  it  the  whites  of  the 
eight  eggs  well  beaten,  set  it  in  the  oven  and  let  it 
brown  slightly,   when  it  is  ready   for  the  table. 

Rice  Pudding.— Contributed  to  the  Agri- 
culturist by  "  E.  F.  S."  Boil  }{  pint  of  rice  in  milk 
until  soft ;  then  stir  it  gradually,  while  still  hot, 
into  the  well-beaten  yolks  of  4  eggs,  aud  add  i  ta- 
blespooufuls of  sugar,  and  flavor-  if  desired.  Beat 
the  whites  of  the  eggs  to  a  stiff  froth,  add  to  them 
4  tablespooufuls  of  pulverized  sugar,  and  a  little 
flavor,  pour  over  the  prepared  pudding,  and  set  in 
the  oven  until  nicely  browned. 

Apple  Pudding'. — Contributed  to  the  Ag- 
riculturist, by  Mrs.  M.  E.  Goodwin,  Litchfield  Co., 
Conn.  Fill  a  dish  \}4  inches  deep  with  sour  ap- 
ples pared  aud  quartered.  Spread  over  them  a  bat- 
ter made  of  ll.l  eupfuls  of  flour,  a  little  salt,  %  tea- 
spoonful  of  saleratus,  aud  wet  with  milk  (loppered 
milk  is  best),  to  make  it  as  thick  as  the  batter  can 
be  spread.  Bake  in  a  quick  oven,  and  when  done, 
turn  it  bottom  upward  on  a  platter,  and  sprinkle 
with  sugar,  or  serve  with  any  sauce. 

Suet.  Pudding1. — Contributed  to  the  Agri- 
culturist by  "E.  F.  S."  3^  Pint  finely  chopped  suet, 
%  pint  molasses,  }{  pint  sweet  milk,  %  pint  raisins, 
1  tablespoonful  ginger,  1  teaspoonful  soda,  2  tea- 
spoonfuls  cream  tartar,  and  flour  enough  to  make 
it  a  little  stiffer  than  pound  cake.  Boil  two  hours ; 
eat  with  liquid  sauce. 

Mica  Oiiuiueys  have  been  tried  for  lamps, 
but  the  smoke  and  dust  collecting  on  or  between 
the  laminae  soon  render  them  opaque.  But  for  this 
fact,  they  would  be  very  valuable,  as  no  amount  of 
heat  would  break  them. 

To  Sweep  Carpets. — A  Correspondent  says  : 
Mix  corn  meal  with  water  to  a  stiff  dough,  and 
sprinkle  over  the  carpet  before  sweeping.    It  re- 


moves all  dust  so  as  to  give  a  beautiful  clearness  to 
the  colors. — We  have  seen  the  same  "  prescription" 
going  the  rounds  of  the  papers— but  it  appears 
nonsensical,    jjlnless  mixed  so  dry  and  compact 
to  remain  in  lumps,  the  meal  would  sweep  into 
carpet,  aud  literally  bedaub  it;   while  if  not 
enough  to  moisteu  the  fabric,  how  could  it  brighten 
the  colors?    Coarse  tea  leaves,  swept  along 
moist,  would  remove  the  dust  and  lint,   without 
soiling    the    carpet.— Ed.  American  Agrvculhi 


mm 


&  0M1E3L35 


Answers  to  Problems  and  Puzzles 

in  May  No.  (page  151).  No.  37.  Illustrated  Rebus.— 
"  Man  W  ants  butt  little  h  ear  below  nor  W  ants  T  hat 
little  1  on  G  :"  or.  Man  wants  but  little  here  below.  Nor 
wants  that  little  long.  No.  38.  Problem.—  Answer:  Three 
small  yards  were  made,  one  enclosing  three,  another  five, 
and  the  remaining  one,  seven  sheep  ;  and  a  fence  was 
then  built  around  the  whole  three  enclosures. — No.  £9. 
Arithmetical  Problem.  Answer.  A.  dug  27.18  rods;  B. 
32.48  rods;  C.  40.34  rods.— Note.  By  an  error  in  the  type 
the  answer  to  the  clock  problem  (No.  16)  on  page  151, 
was  given  as  April  15lli ;  it  should  read  April  lilh. 

The  following  have  sent  in  correct  answers  to  recent 
puzzles  and  questions  ;  the  numbers  indicate  the  prob- 
lems answered  by  each.     George  Eicock,  33,  36:   Wm. 

E.  Hower,  06  ;  Augustus  Reifsteck,  35  ;  W.  Geo.  Waring, 
36:  George  Seliick,  30;  Willie  11.  Paine,  35;  Frank  A. 
Baker.  36  ;  Lucy  R.  Weeks,  35,  36  ;  L.  O.  Gay,  36  ;  C. 
Iloagland  Jr.,  36;  H.  Bowers.  36;  Jersey  Blue,  36;  G. 
C.  Landers,  36;  Howard  S.  Ingersoll,  L5,  36;  P.  If. 
Doolittle,  35;  Wiley  McCaughey,  36;  Daniel  S.  Carver, 
36;  Jno.  M.  S.,35;  Horace  M.  Deeble,  37  ;  W.  H.  Ad 
ams,  35  ;  E.  F.  M.,  37  ;  Mary  A.  Purdy,  37  .  A.  G.  Til 
linghast,  37,  38  ;  Pwiford  S.  Nuble,  37 ;  Isaac  McGay,  Jr., 
37,38;  E.  Alston,  37,  38;  Maggie  Whitescll,  37  ;  Lima 
Maria  Taber,  37  ;  James  Williamson,  37  ;  J.  McCulloch, 
39;  G.  W.  Kittermaii,  38;  Helen  V.  Wilson,  35.  3?  I 
B.  S.,  37  ;  Fred.  E.  Parker,  37;  Robert  W.  Vasey.  31 
J.  Leander  Purdy,  37.  38;  E.  Knapp,  37  ;  Wist  C.  Wil 
liams,  37  ;  Samuel  W.  Fleming,  38;  D.  G.  Jones,  :.7.  6. 
39;  Frank  A.  Baker,  38;  J.  D.  M.,  37,  38  ;  Henry  H. 
Osgood,  36,  37,  3S,  39  ,  ■•  O.   K,"37;    Charles    II.   M 

37;  George  McKelly,  37;  Isaac  D.  Tliarp.  38;  Sue  R. 
Coles,  37  ;  "  Hoosier  Alice,"  37,  38  ;  George  F.  Weekes, 
37;  N.  E.  Anderson,  37 ;  W.  M.  Bowdisli,  87,  33;  Ste- 
phen S.  Swisher,  37  ;  Manie  E.  Hagerly,  37  ;  J.  J.  Howe, 
37  ;  Mary  L.  Wint,  37  ,  D.  S.  Carver,  37  ;  E.  C.  Long.  37  , 

F.  C.  Smith,  37  ;  Mollie  Darling,  37,  38  ;  C.  Iloagland,  37. 


New  Puzzles  to  l»e  Answered. 

No.  40.  Illustrated  Rebus.— A  true  and  pithy  saying. 


No.  41.  Illustrated  Rebus. — A  very  familiar  proverb. 

X 


No.  42.     Mathematical  Problem. — Two  men  were  equal 
partners  In  the  purchase  of  160  acres  of  land  ;  the  differ- 
ence in  quality  was  such  that  60  acres  on   one  side   was 
equal  to  80  acres   on  the  other  side.    How  many  acres 
should  each  man  have,  allowing  the   quality  of  theii  re- 
spective shares  to  differ  in  the  ahove  ratio  ? 
No.  43.     Riddle.    The  answer  should  be  full  of  sen  so, 
I'm  full  of  brains,  yet  never  had  a  mind  ; 
I'm  higher  than  Hie  creates!  of  mankind  , 
I  daily  lose  my  head  for  honor's  sake  ; 
Though  often  in  a  nap,  no  sleep  I  b  ke. 
At  ease  I  rest  upon  the  sent  of  power. 
And  to  the  ladies  add  a  perfect  tower  ; 
Yet  who  can  tell  (for  pride  must  have  a  fall) 
How  long  my  form  shall  be  discerned  ut  all. 


184 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[J  fJNE, 


ONLY      A      BUNCH      OF       ROSES. 

Engraved  for  the  American  Agriculturist. 


Roses  are  very  common.  You  might  find  plenty  of 
such  daring  this  month  in  your  garden,.or  blossoming 
wild  along  the  HpcIfp  vnws,  free  for  all  who  choose  to 
pluck  '!cnt  -vll  uum.e  now  the  little  girl  in  the  picture 
prizes  them  ;  how  carefully  she  waters  them.  She  val- 
ues them  because  they  are  beautiful,  without  thinking 
whether  the)*  be  scarce  or  plentiful.  If  some  skillful 
artist  had  designed  such  flowers,  everybody  would  be 
eager  to  possess  them  ;  the  inventor's  name  and  fame 
would  fill  the  papers.  Are  they  le?s  to  be  Admired 
because  they  cost  little,  and  is  the  Create-,  of  such  beauty 
to  be  less  praised,  because  he  gives  them  freely  ?  He  is 
rather  to  be  adored  because  he  has  made  beautiful  things 
so  common.  The  little  girl  has.  no  doubt,  lately  re- 
moved to  the  country,  and  the  roses  are  new  to  her.  In 
the  crowded  streets  of  the  city  she  seldom  saw  a  flower ; 
she  was  too  poor  to  buy  them.  Now  she  is  rich— not  in 
money,  but  in  happiness,  which  is  more  than  wealth.  Do 
you  often  think  how  easy  it  is  to  be  thus  rich?  Every 
bny  and  girl  living  in  the  country  possesses  what  no 
money  can  buy  in  the  city.  There  is  pleasant  food  for 
the  eye  and  the  mind,  as  well  as  for  the  body,  free  to  all. 
A  single  look  across  the  green  fields  is  worth  more  than 
the  finest  display  seen  in  the  streets  of  the  largest  city. 
It  contains  more  beautiful,  and  more  wonderful  things  to 
those  who  know  how  to  observe  them.  How  much  bet- 
ter to  use  the  means  of  enjoyment  so  freely  bestowed, 
than  to  toil  and  sigh  for  the  less  satisfying  pleasures  in- 
vented by  man,  and  to  be  had  only  for  money.  It  will 
greatly  increase  the  pleasure  of  examining  such  objects, 
if  you  have  them  under  your  own  especial  care.  Every 
girl  and  boy  should  plant  at  least  a  few  seeds  and  wratch 
tlirm  as  they  grow  day  by  day.  You  will  find  much  help 
to  properly  observing  them,  by  attentively  studying  the 
notes  on  "The  Boys' and  Girls'  Garden"  in  another  col- 
umn. This  will  also  teach  you  to  be  observing  in  oilier 
matters,  and  thus  form  one  of  the  most  useful  habits. 
We  desire  that  these  pages,  specially  devoted  to  the  young, 


shall  be  to  them  not  only  a  source  of  pleasure,  but  of  im- 
provement also.  It  is  only  a  small  part  of  our  educa- 
tion that  is  received  at  school. —The  engraving  is  interest- 
ing as  the  copy  of  a  painting  by  G.  H.  Boughton,  an  Ame- 
rican artist,  now  in  England,  and  contributed  by  him  to 
the  sale  for  the  benefit  of  the  Lancashire  sufferers. 


We   Believe    in  Fortune  Telling'* 

"Do  vou  believe  in  fortune  telling?"  asks  a  young 
correspondent  of  the  Agriculturist.  Yes,  certainly,  and 
practise  it  too.  Would  you  like  a  few  trials  of  our  skill  ? 
Well,  then,  give  attention.  When  ahoy  with  black  eyes 
and  hair  always  tells  the  truth,  he  will  be  believed  and 
respected  as  long  as  he  lives,  and  as  people  would  prefer 
to  keep  him  alive,  he  will  stand  a  good  chance  to  arrive 
at  old  age.  A  girl  with  brown  hair  and  blue  eyes  who 
obeys  her  parents,  is  good  tempered  and  industrious,  will 
have  many  admirers,  particularly  among  sensible  men. 
and  she  will  therefore  be  in  the  way  of  getting  a  good 
husband.  If  a  small  boy  with  white  hair  and  grey  eyes 
will  learn  all  he  can  .from  books  and  observation,  will 
practise  what  he  learns,  think  for  himself,  and  work  with 
energy,  he  may  become  both  wealthy  and  wise.  If  a  girl 
with  rosy  cheeks  and  curly  hair  will  avoid  late  hours, 
tight  dresses,  too  many  nice  things  to  eat,  will  take  plen- 
ty of  exercise  in  the  open  air,  and  keep  good-natured, 
she  will  probably  bo  a  good  looking  and  happy  lady,  and 
if  she  obtains  a  good  education,  she  will  be  a  fit  wife  for 
a  Governor  or  President.  In  all  these  cases  the  hair 
and  eyes  are  of  no  great  importance,  but  the  other  re- 
quisites must  be  strictly  observed  to  have  the  good  for- 
tune come  out  right.  There  !  that  kind  of  fortune  telling 
is  worth  more  than  all  the  gipscys,  seventh  sons,  wise 
women,  astrologers  and  soothsayers  could  tell  you  from 
the  time  of  the  Witch  of  Endor,  down  to  the  year  2000. 
If  you  have  any  doubts  on  the  subject,  try  following  our 
directions,  and  see  if  we  be  not  true  fortune  tellers. 


JJtoy »'     and     Girls'    Gil rrten  —  No.    3. 

How  aoes  the  little  garden  get  on  ?  Most  of  you, 
doubtless,  have  the  plants  well  up  by  this  time,  and  have 
compared  their  early  growth  with  the  account  given  in  our 
last  chapter.  Y'ou  have  seen  that  there  was  already  a  littte 
plant,  or  embryo,  contained  in  the  seed,  and  that  this  ex- 
panded and  grew  from  the  food  which  was  provided  for 
it  beforehand.  This  small  supply  of  food  was  soon  used 
up,  but  not  before  the  plant  had  made  a  few  roots  by 
which  it  could  draw  sustenance  from  the  soil.  Let  us 
consider  what  your  plants  are  doing  :  They  are,  like  all 
other  plants,  engaged  in  taking  up  materials  from  the 
earth  and  air,  and  working  them  into  their  own  substance— 
they  are  growing.  Is  it  not  wonderful  that  the  little  plant 
can  build  up  fresh  green  leaves  and,  by  and  by,  beautiful 
flowers  out  of  the  crude  and  shapeless  matter  supplied 
from  the  earth  and  air  !  The  plant  receives  most  of  its 
nourishment  by  the  root,  which  goes  on  branching  and 
spreading  underground  in  search  of  it.  If  we  take  up  a 
plant  carefully,  Flax  for  instance,  we  shall  see  (fig.  10,) 
how  the  root  is  forked  and  divided  up  into  little  fibres. 
All  that  the  plant  takes  up  from  the  soil  is  dissolved  in 
water,  and  the  roots  are  made  to  expose  great  surface  in 
order  to  take  it  up  rapidly.  The  principal  business  of 
the  root  is  to  absorb  moisture.  All  of  the  plants  we  have 
selected  for  our  illustrations  are  annuals.  That  is  they 
live  but  one  year  and,  with  the  exception  of  the  Four 
O'clock,  all  make  these  fibrous  or  branching  roots.  <k  VVe 
have  seen  that  the  seed  leaves  or  cotyledons  in  some 
cases  serve  two  purposes— in  the  Melon,  (or  cucumber,) 
and  Flax,  they  first  hold  the  food  for  the  young  plant  and 
afterward  serve  as  ordinary  leaves.  In  biennial  plants, 
or  those  which  live  two  years,  the  roots  are  made  to  do 
two  different  things.  The  first  year,  they  absorb  crude 
food  from  the  soil,  and  after  this  has  been  prepared  in  the 
leaves,  it  goes  back  again  to  the  roots  where  it  is  stored  up 
for  use  the  next  year.  The  root  in  this  case  becomes 
very  thick  and  fleshy  as  is  seen  in  the  beet,  turnip,  and 
carrot,  which  are  all  biennial  roots.  The  first  year  they 
store  up  food  and  the  second  year  they  expend  it  in  mak- 
ing flowers  and  seed.  Where  the  root  lasts  through  ser- 
cral  years,  as  in  our  trees  and  shrubs,  it  is  perennial.  This 
is  enough  about  the  root  for  the  present,  though  we  may 
have  to  return  to  it  again  another  time.  Let  us  now  look 
at  the  stem  which,  while  the  root  has  been  growing  and 
spreading  below  ground,  has  been  lengthening  above 
ground  and  doing  its  work,  which  is  to  hold  up  the  leaves 
and  allow  them  to  spread  to  the  light  and  air.  The  first 
growth  from  the  seed  was  the  elongation  of  the  little  stem 
or  radicle  which  in  the  Flax,  Morning  glory,  etc.,  lifted 
the  seed  leaves  above  the  surface.  A  little  bud  soon  ap- 
peared between  them,  which  was  lifted  up  by  the  length- 
ening of  the  stem,  and,  in  the  Flax,  (fig.  10,)  two  leaves 
unfolded  ;  above  these  the  stem  lengthened  again  and  two 
mere  leaves  opened,  and  so  on.  The  increase  in  night  of 
the  plant  being  produced  by  a 
continued  lengthening  of  the 
stem,  bearing  pairs  of  leaves  at 
intervals.  We  see  that  the 
growth  of  the  plant  since  it 
started  from  the  seed  is  but  a 
repetition  of  its  early  growth. 
We  bad  at  th?  first  the  embryo, 
which  was  a  Utile  stem  and  a 
pair  of  leaves,  and  the  plant  has 
done  nothing  since  but  make 
little  joints  of  stem  and  produce 
pairs  of  leaves.  It  will  be  no- 
ticed that  the  Flax  and  Four 
O'clock  produce  a  pair  of  op- 
posite leaves  at  each  joint  of 
the  stem,  while  the  Morning 
glory,  (fig.  11,)  bears  only  one 
leaf  at  each  joint;  such  leaves 
are  said  to  be  alternate.  The 
stems  of  our  plants  present  con- 
siderable difference  :  while  the 
Flax  and  others  stand  upright, 
the  Melon  will  soon  lie  flat  up- 
on the  ground  and  the  Morning 
Glory  will  wind  itself  around  a 
slick  or  some  other  support. 
Still,  with  all  these  differences, 
it  is  easy  to  distinguish  the 
stem,  and  it  is  really  the  same 
thing  and  answers  the  same 
purpose,  whether  it  is  the  weak 
stem  of  the  Morning  Glory  that 
dies  down  with  the  Winter,  or 
the  woody  stem  of  the  apple 
or  other  tree  that  lasts  for 
many  years.— Now  let  us  look  a  Utile  at  the  leaf.  This  is 
a  most  important  part  of  the  plant,  for  here  the  crude  li- 
quids taken  up  by  the  roots  are  exposed  to  the  light  and 
air  and  fitted  to  be  used  in  the  growth  of  the  plant 
In  the  leaves  much  water  is  evaporated,  and  the  breathing 


Flax.— Fig.  10. 


18fi3.J 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


185 


of  the  plant  is  going  on,  ami  they  are  made  to  expose  as 
much  surface  as  possible.  If  we  look  at  a  Morning  glory 
leaf,  (fig.  12)  we  find  first  a  leaf-stalk  or  petiole,  and  then 
the  broad  part  or  limb  of  the  leaf.  A  strong  rib— the 
mid-rib  —  runs  directly 
through  it  from  the  pet- 
iole to  the  point,  and 
from  this  numerous  wrin* 
branch  off  on  each  side, 
so  that  the  leaf  when 
held  up  to  the  light,  is 
seen  to  be  a  frame  work 
of  fibres,  filled  in  with  a 
green  pulp.  We  find 
leaves  having  a  great  va- 
riety of  shapes  ;  some  of 
them  have  petioles,  but 
this  is  not  essential.  In 
the  Flax  there  is  no  pet- 
iole, the  blade  sets  direct- 
ly on  the  stem,  is  sessile 
as  it  is  called.  The  leaf 
of  the  Morning  glory  is 
heart-shaped.  That  of 
the  Flax  and  Oat  are  lin- 
ear. Many  other  terms 
are  used  to  express  the 
shapes  of  leaves,  which 
need  not  be  learned  at 
present.  The  Tomato 
leaf (fig.  II)  will  be  found 
very  much  cut  up,  and 
is  w  hat  is  called  a  com- 
pound leaf.  These  parts 
Fig.  11— tomato  leaf.  of   the   leaf   are    called 

leaflets.  If  you  notice  other  leaves,  you  will  find  a  great 
variety  in  this  division,  from  the  deeply  cut  leaf  of  the 
Tomato,  to  leaves  that  merely  have  their  edges  notched 
like  a  saw,  as  in  the  cherry.  In  the  Sweet  Pea,  (fig.  14,) 
the  petiole  bears  two  divisions  or  leaflets,  and  the  end  of 
the  peliole  bears  a  little  appendage,  as  in  the  lower  leaf 
in  the  figure,  which  is  sometimes  developed  as  a  leaflet, 
as  shown  in  the  second  leaf,  but  when  the  plant  gets  old- 
er, it  appears  as  a  tendril,  represented  in  the  upper  leaf, 
by  which  the  plant  clings  to  brush  or  other  support. 
Where  the  petiole  of  the  Sweet  Pea  leaf  joins  the 
stem  are  a  couple  of  little  appendages  called  stipules 
— upon  the  garden  pea  these  are  very  large.  The  sti- 
pules as  well  as  1  lie  petiole  are  not  always  present. 
The  leaf  of  the  Oat,  [fig.  13,)  will  upon  examination  be 
found  to  present  a  different  appearance  from  the  oth- 
er. At  first  sight  you  will  be  puzzled  to  make  out  its  dif- 
ferent parts,  but  on  close  examination  it  will  be  seen  that 
the  petiole  here  is  broad  and  clasps  around  the  stem,  form- 
ing a  kind  of  sheath.  Upon  holding  the  blade  of  the  le;if 
up  to  the  light  it  will  be  seen  that  the  veins  are  very  dif- 
ferent from  lliose  of  the  other  leaves  ;  instead  of  forming 
a  net  work  they  all  run  straight  from  one  end  to  the  oilier. 
It  was  mentioned  in  the  last  lesson  that  the  embryo  of  the 


with  netted  veins,  while  monocotvTcdonous  plants  have 
no  netled  veins,  but  they  are  parallel,  running  lengthwise 
as  in  the  Oat,  or  from  a  mid-rib  straight  out  to  the  margin 
of  the  leaf.  Of  course  we  can  not  give  all  the  varie- 
ties which  leaves  present,  but  they  will  be  found  fo 
Le  constructed  on  essentially  the  same  plan.  Now  if 
you  have  looked  at  the  plants  attentively  you  will  have 
observed  two  things  which  it  is  well  to  bear  in  mind  i 
1st.  That  the  same  part  may  take  on  a  great  many  differ- 
ent shapes  and  still  perform  its  work.  This  has  been 
illustrated  in  the  different  forms  of  the  stem  and  leaf. 
'2d.  That  a  part  may  be  wholly  or  partly  diverted  from 
its  ordinary  use  and  made  to  serve  another  purpose.  We 
have  seen  that  the  seed  leaves  may  serve  to  hold  food  ; 


Fig.  14— SWEET    PEA. 


that  the  root,  as  the  beet,  etc.,  may  also  store  up  food,  and 
(hat  a  part  of  the  leaf  rnaybe  modified,  as  in  the  pea, 
into  a  tendril  to  help  the  plant  to  climb.  All  the  parts  of 
the  plan!  concerned  in  making  its  growth,  are  either  root, 
stem  or  leaf,  and  having  seen  how  these  vary  in  those  we 
have  mentioned,  you  will  now  take  great  interest  in  look- 
ing at  other  plants,  and  in  seeing  what  an  infinite  number 
of  shapes  can  be  given  to  these  three  parts. 


Fig.  12—  MORNING  GLORY. 


Fig.  13— OAT. 


Oat  was  peculiar  in  having  but  one  cotyledon,  and  we 
now  see  that  the  leaves  are  very  different  from  those 
plants  in  which  the  embryo  has  two  cotyledons.  It  is 
generally  the  case,  lhat  dicolvledonous  plants  have  leaves 


How  are  our  Dresses  to  ee  Made  ?— A.  contempo- 
rary answers  the  foregoing  queslion  in  the  following 
lively  manner  :— "  By  a  sewing  machine,  of  course.  We 
trust  that  the  day  is  over  in  which  needle  drudgery  sets  a 
feeble  opposition  to  the  musical  click  of  the  Wheeler  & 
Wilson  machine.  A  lady  who  says  she  does  not  know 
how  to  use  a  sewing  machine,  is  looked  upon  with  as 
much  distrust  as  a  lady  who  says  she  don't  like  babies! 
Side  by  side,  in  every  home,  we  see  the  piano  and  the 
sewing  machine.  Of  course,  people  have  a  right  to  their 
preferences,  but  give  us  the  merry  little  musician  whose 
crystal  eye  and  silver  tongue  not  only  fill  the  ear  with 
melody,  but  set  the  pulses  of  life  and  health  throbbing 
anew  in  the  weary  hearts  of  a  million  women.  Is  it  not 
better  than  all  the  pianos  ever  tuned  ?  Some  of  the  new- 
est improvements  to  the  Wheeler  <fc  Wilson  machine,  are 
the  Binder,  Braider  and  Corder,  all  of  which  ladies  find 
indispensable.  The  Braider  is  particularly  appropriate 
to  the  present  mania  for  decorating  everything  with  braid. 
"I  do  not  know  what  we  should  do  without  the  Wheeler 
<fc  Wilson  Braider,' said  the  director  of  one  of  our  fashion- 
able mantilla  establishments,  when  we  inquired  how  those 
tasteful  labyrinths  of  braid  were  laid  on,  and  his  words  are 
echoed  in  every  home  in  the  land.- Really,  we  scarcely 
know  which  blessing  to  wish  our  young  lady  friends — 
a  Wheeler  &  Wilson  machine  or  a  husband  !  We  rather 
incline  to  the  former,  for  they  can  exist  minus  the  matri- 
monial alliance,  but  can't  do  without  a  sewing  machine. 
What  do  you  say,  girls?" 

From  the  New-  York  Evangelist. 
Embroidered  Dresses. — The  fashion  of  having  em- 
broidery on  cloaks,  ladies' dresses,  and,  in  fact,  garments 
of  almost  every  description,  is  rapidly  on  the  increase  in 
this  country —imported,  as  are  other  fashions,  from  Paris. 
Fortunately  for  the  ladies,  the  crisis  has  not  caught  them 
unprepared,  and  left  them  with  no  oilier  means  of  orna- 
menting their  articles  of  dress  but  the  tedious  and  lire- 
some  one  by  hand.  There  is  at  least  one  of  our  popular 
sewing  machines  (Grover  <fe  Baker's)  which  is  adapted 
to  both  sewing  and  embroidery — the  latter  as  well  and  as 
rapidly  as  it  sews  the  plainest  sewing. 


Business  Notices. 

$^°  Eighty  Cents  a  Line  of  space. 

Housekeepers,  Use  the  Best 


Pylc's  Sale  rat  us, 
Pyle's  Cream  Tartar, 
Pyle's  O.  K.  Soap. 

These  articles  are  nut  up  expressly  for  the  best  Family 
Trade,  and  the  steadily-increasing  demand  is  the  best 
proof  of  their  superiority.     Sold  by  Grocers  everywhere. 
JAMES   PVLE,  Manufacturer, 
No.  350  Washington-street,  New-York. 

Lands— To  All  Wanting  Farms. 

Large  and  thriving  settlement  of  Vineland,  mild  Hi- 
male,  30  miles  south  of  Philadelphia,  by  railroad  ;  rich 
soil;  fine  crops;  twenty  acre  tracts,  at  from  $15  to  $20 
per  acre;  payable  within  four  years.  Good  business 
openings  ;  good  society.  Hundreds  are  settling  and  milk- 
ing improvements.  Apply  to  CHAS  K.  LANDIS,  Post- 
master, Vineland,  Cumberland  County,  N.  J.  Letters 
answered.  Papers  containing  full  information   sent  free. 

The  Markets. 

American  Agriculturist  Office.      I 
New- York,  Wednesday  Morning,  May  20,  1863.  ( 

1.  TRANSACTIONS  AT  TUB  NKW-TORK  MARKETS. 

Receipts.  Flour.     Wit  eat.    Corn.    Eye.    Barley.     Oats. 

3tdays *A4» m'th 8#i,Q00  540,(ino  566,000  45,000  51.000  410000 
3G  days  last  m'th  8U.0QQ  41,450  1JT.0OO  1S.750  93,000  230,001) 
Sales.  Flour.   Wheat.       Corn.       Eye.    B-irley. 

25  days  thin  month,  349,000   188.000     l,fi&),000     102.000     91,000 

26  days  last  month,  Sil.OOO    413,000      1,493,000     148,800    105,000 

H,  Comparison  with  same  time  last  year. 

receipts.  Flour.     Wheat.     Corn.      Eye.  Earley.  Caftt 

26  days  1803..  ..S4.7.G0Q     510.000     5%.000    45.000    51.000    410.000 

25  days  1862  ...  371,000     518,000      390,000     53,000  101,000    17ii,000 

sales.  I'lour.      Wheat.       Com.         Eye.     Earley. 

26  days  1863 349,000        7R3.000     1,839,000      10*>,000        91.000 

35  days  1802 411,000        69^,000      1,30(5,000      154,000        tte,000 

3.  Exports  from  New-York,  Jan.  1,  to  May  14. 

Flour.  Wheat.  Corn.  Rue.         Outs. 

Bbls.  Hush.  Bush.  Bush.       Bush. 

1863 817,098  4,103,938        2,508,253  216,383  101,684 

1862 933,922  2,638,284       4,773,120  004,078  17.S03 

Current  Wholesale  Pp.ices. 

April  18.  May  20. 

Flour— S unci*  to  Extra  State  $0  10    ©  7  25     ?5  30    ©  6  50 

Superfine  western.. .,  6  15    ©  6  50  5  30    ©5  60 

Extra  Western. 6  80    ©  9  75  6  05    ©  9  50 

Kxtra  Genesee 7  30    ©  8  75  6  00     ©  8  25 

Super,  to  Extra  Southern  ....  7  00    ©  9  75  6  05    ©9  50 

Kye  Flour— Fine  and  Super.  3  40    ©  5  40  3  40    ©  5  40 

Corn  Meal ...  4  10    ©  4  80  4  20    ©  4  GO 

Wiikat— AllkindsofWhite..  1  75    ©  1  90  1  05    ©  1  75 

All  kinds  ot'Iied 132    ©  1  75  1  20    ©  1  55 

Corn— Yellow 92    ©      95  75    ©      82 

Mixed ....  88    @      90  75    ©      78 

Oats— Western 86    ©      87  70    o      72 

State 87    ©      87J4  70    ©      7> 

ItVE  1  04    ©  1  09  1  00    ©   1  03 

Barley 1  45    ©  1  60  1  20    ©  I  40 

Beans— per  bushel.... 2  00    @  3  15  2  00    @  315 

Cotton— Middlings,  per  11)....  06    ©      67  50    ©      57 

Hops,  crop  of  1882,  perlb 16    a     24  16   ©     24 

Feathers,  Live  Geese,  p.  lb..  52>'@      55  46    @      53 

Seed— Clover,  per  lb 8Vrf  @      9K  8    ©       S=tf 

Timothy,  per  bushel 165    ©2  00  Nominal. 

Flax,  per  bushel.. 3  50    @  4  00  Nominal. 

Sugar— Brown,  per  lb. 8V.1  ©      12  8>$@      12'f 

MoLASSEs.New-Orleans,  p.gK.  45    @      55  40    ©      53 

Coffee.  Rio,  per  lb . .  30    @      33  30    ©      S3 

Tobacco— KentucUy,&c,p. lb..  10    ©      35  14    ©      32 ^ 

Seed  Leaf,  per  lb.  . 14    ©      45-  12>£<8      AV,\ 

Wool— Domesti  c  fleece,  p.  lb,.  75    ©      9ft  63    @      87 

Domestic  pulled,  per  !o 65   ©90  68   ©     85 

"Wool,  California,  unwashed..  30    ©      55  25    ©      50 

Tallow,  perlb.... ILK®      13  H    ©      UK 

Oil  Cake,  per  tun 40  00    @47  00  Nominal. 

Pork— Mess,  per  bbl... 13  50    ©15  50     12  00    (^14  12K 

Prime,  per  bbl 1100    ©13  00      10  75    @12  50 

Bkkf— Plain  mess 10  50    ©12  00  9  50    ©1175 

Lard,  in  bbls..  per  lb 9^  @      10^         9%©      10% 

Bt-TTEK— Western,  per  lb 18    @      19  12    @      16 

State,  per  lb 18    @      24  16    ©      23 

CHEKSE 11    ©      14  8    ©      14 

Broom  Corn— ner  ft 8    ©     10  8    ©      10 

Eggs— Fresh,  per  dozen 15    ©17  14    @      15 

Poultry— Fowls,  per  lb 12    @     14  12    @     14 

Ducks,  per  tb 15    ©      18  14    ©      17 

Geese,  per  lb 7    @      10  7    ©      10 

Turkeys,  per  lb..  10    @      14  12    ©      15 

Potatoes— Common,  p.  bbl..  1  25    ©  1  50  1  00    ©  1  25 

Peach  Blow,  per  bbl 150    ©175  137    ©102 

Mercers,  per  bbl 175    ©2  25  175    ©2  25 

Nova  Scotia,  per  bushel 40    ©      50  40    ©     45 

Sweet,  per  bbl.... 4  00    ©  4  25  4  00    © 

Onions,  lied  &  Yellow  p.  bbl.  4  00    @  4  50  2  50    © 

Apples,  Green inss&Knssets  2  00    ©2  75  2  50    ©3  50 

Apples,  choice,  per  bbl 2  00    ©4  00  S  50    ©3  75 

Dicied  Apples,  perlb 4    ©      6K  4    @       6 

^Uinrtisemettts. 

Advertisements  to  be  sure  of  insertion  must  be  re- 
ceived at  latest  by  the  15th  of  the  preceding  month. 
TERMS—  (invariably  cash  before  insertion) : 

FOP.  THE  ENGLISH   EDITION  ONLY. 

Fiftu  cents  per  Y\nc  of  space  for  each  insertion. 
SSf-'Eusiness  Notices,  highly  cents  per  line  of  space. 

FOR  THE  GKF.MAN  EDITION"  ONLY. 

Ten  cents  per  line  of  space  for  each  insertion. 

In  both  English  and  German,  Fifty-Jive  cents  per  line. 

CJNUG  FARM  FOR  SALE.— 70  acres  with  good 
^-9  Ho  use.  Barn  and  Well— light  soil,  no  stones;  5Jj  miles 
from  Saratoga  Springs— Price  $1,500  including  crops,  stock 
and  implements.  Title  unexceptionable.  Enquire  of  CHAS. 
EDMONDS.  SO  Nnssau-st.,  New-York. 


188 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[June, 


OFFICE    OF 

FISK  «fc   HATCH, 

BANKERS  AND  DEALERS  IN  GOVERN- 
MENT SECURITIES. 

No.   3S  Wall-st.,   New- York. 

AGENTS  FOR  THE  SALE  OF 

THE  UNITED  STATES  FIVE-TWENTY  TEAR 

SIX  PER  CENT  BONDS. 

The  interest  on  these  Bonds  is  at  the  rate  of  Six  per  Cent, 
per  Annum,  and  is  payable  1st  May  and  November,  in  Gold. 

They  are  called  "  Five-Twenties,"  because  redeemable  at 
the  option  of  the  Government  after  5  or  within   3D  years. 

The  Coupon  Bonds  are  issued  in  denominations  of  $50 
$100,  $500,  $1,000,  and  are  payable  to  bearer,  as  are  also  the 
Coupons  for  the  collection  of  the  interest.  The  Registered 
Bonds  are  issued  in  denominations  of  $50,  $100,  $500,  $1,000 
$5,(J00,  $10,000,  and  are  payable  to  the  order  of  the  holder,  and 
registered  In  his  name  on  the  books  of  the  Treasury  Depart- 
ment at  Washington.  The  Registered  Bonds  have  no  Cou- 
pons attached  for  the  collection  of  interest,  but  the  interest 
may  be  collected  by  the  holder  in  person,  or  by  any  person 
having  his  Power  of  Attorney  for  the  purpose,  at  any  Sub- 
Treasury  of  the  United  States  which  he  may  designate. 

We  sell  the  Bonds  for  the  Government,  both  Registered 
and  Coupon,  in  any  of  the  foregoing  denominations,  at  the 
rate  authorized  by  Congress,  without  any  additional  charge 
for  Commission,  viz.:  at  Bar,  and  accrued  interest,  or  at  Par, 
with  interest  commencing  from  the  date  of  subscription. 

^T^3  Note. —  The  Bonds  are  issued  to  us  by  the  Govern- 
ment at  different  periods,  and  hear  interest  from  the  date  at 
which  we  pay  f»r  them,  as  indicated  by  a  stamp  on  the  first 
Coupon.  For  the  few  days  intervening  between  their  issue 
and  the  time  of  sale,  we  charge  the  accrued  interest,  paya- 
ble in  Current  Funds.  Or,  if  purchasers  prefer  it,  we  take 
their  subscriptions,  and  ordinarily  in  two  or  three  days 
thereafter,  deliver  them  Bonds,  bearing  interest  from  the 
date  of  their  own  subscription  and  payment,  with  no  ac- 
crued interest  to  be  paid. 

We  arc  thus  enabled  to  save  parties  all  trouble  and  ex- 
pense in  finding  Legal  Tender  Notes,  or  otherwise  investing 
In  these  Bonds. 

Orders  or  Inquiries  by  mail  will  receive  prompt  attention, 
and  the  Bonds  will  be  sent  to  any  address,  by  mail  or  express, 
:.s  desired.  Payment  may  be  made  in  Bank  Notks Current 
fn  New- York,  Drafts  an*d  Checks  on  City  Banks,  or  U. 
S.  LEGAL  Tender  Notes.  Persons  in  the  country  can  send 
their  orders  and  money  to  us  direct,  or  call  at  the  nearest 
Bank  and  ask  the  Cashier  to  do  it  for  them.  Drafts  or  Checks 
may  be  sent  with  safety  by  mail.  Bank  Notes  or  Legal  Ten- 
ders should  be  sent  by  Express. 

jy  ON  AND  A  ITER  JUCY  1,  1363,  THE  rRTVTLEGE  OF  CON- 
VERTING  Legal  Tender  Notes   into  these  Bonds,   at 

PAR,  WILL  OEASE,  AND  IT  WILL  IJE  NECESSARY  FOR  PERSONS 

DBsntixG  to  obtain  at  FAB  a  United  States  Bond 
BEARING  SIX  PER  CENT  INTEREST,  IN  GOLD,  to 
beMd  in  their  orders  before  that  time. 

These  Bonds  are  the  CHEAPEST  GOVERNMENT  SECUR- 
ITY NOW  IN  THE  MARKET,  and  pay  the  LARGEST  IN- 
TEREST on  their  cost,  and  Congress  has  provided  that  they 
shall  be  paid  in  GOLD,  when  due. 

They  are  destined  to  become  the  BEST  KNOWN.  MOST 
POPULAR  and  MOST  AVAILABLE,  of  all  the  Bonds  of 
the  Government. 

Tin*  operation  of  the  National  Tax  Law.  which  it  Is  now 
certain  will  produce  double  the  income  originally  antici- 
pated,  will  make  the  issues  of  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment the  safest  and  most  desirable  investment  In  the  world. 
They  are  in  realltv  a  First  Mortgage  on  everything  in  the 
country,  as  no  [tail  road  or  Corporation  of  any  kind,  can  pay 
a  dividend,  or  the  interest  on  its  own  issues,  until  it  has  con- 
•  rihnted  out  of  it*  gross  income,  through  the  operation  of  the 
Tax  Law,  to  the  support  of  the  National  Credit. 

The  present  bonded  debt  of  the  United  States  is  less  than 
Three  Hundred  Millions,  including  the  seven  and  three- 
tenths  Treasury  Notes;  but  the  Government  owes  enough 
more  in  the  shape  of  Legal  Tenders,  deposits  in  the  Sub- 
Treasuries,  Certificates  of  Indebtedness,  &c,  to  increase  ihc 
debt  to  about  eight  or  nine  hundred  millions.  Secretary 
Chase  has  calculated  that  the  debt;  may  reach  one  thousand 
seven-hundred  millions  If  the  Rebellion  lasts  eighteen  months 
longer.  It  is  however,  believed  that  it.  will  not  last  six 
months  longer— but  even  if  It  does,  the  National  Debt  will 
be  small  compared  with  that  of  Great  Britain  or  France, 
while  our  resources  are  vastly  greater. 

There  Is  no  doubt  that  the  revenue  will  not  onlv  he  ample 
to  pay  the  ordinary  expenses  of  the  Government,  and  all  in 
teres!  on  the  debt,  but  leave  at  least  one  hundred  millions 
annuallv  toward  paying  oft'  the  debt,  and  that  the  Govern- 
ment will  be  able  to  get  out  of  debt  again,  as  it  lias  twice  be- 
fore, in  a  few  years  after  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  duties  on  imports  of  all  articles  from  abroad  must  be 
paid  In  gold.  It  is  now  being  paid  into  the  Treasury  at  the 
rate  of  Two  Hundred  Thousand  Dollars  each  day,  which  is 
twice  as  ranch  as  is  needed  to  pay  the  interest  in  Gold  on  all 
the  Bonds  of  the  Government. 

The  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  have  just  de- 
cided that  the  States  have  no  power  to  tax  the  Securities  of 
tin-  Government,  This  is  conclusive  upon  this  point,  and 
wilt  greatly  increase  the  value  of  these  securities. 

As  the  right  to  convert  Legal  Tender  Notes  Into  Five 
Twenty  Bonds  expires  on  the  1st  of  July,  those  having 
funds  in  Soring*  Bank*,  the  Interest  upon  which  would  be 
forfeited  If  withdrawn  before  that  day,  can  secure  bonds,  to 
be  delivered  during  the  first  20  days  of  July,  by  a  deposit  of 
10  per  cent  with  the  subscribers. 

Wc  also  deal  in  all  classes  of  United  States 

Securities,   and  buy  and  sell    Stocks    and 

Bonds  on  Commission. 

We  pay  special  attention  to  orders  from 

tlic  Country.  FISK  &  HATCH, 

No.  38  Wall-*!.,  New-York. 


Colcus  VcrsclialTellii. 

The  undersigned,  having  a  large  stock  of  the  above  new, 
rare,  and  beautiful  bedding  plant,  offers  it  at  the  reduced 
price  of  r>0  cts.  each.  The  usual  liberal  discount  to  the  trade. 

Plants  can  be  obtained  at  Mcllvain  &  Young's  seed  store. 
No.  9  John-fit.,  Harvey  B.  Lane,  151  Nassau  st„  or  at  C.  B. 
Miller's,  «:>4  Broadway. 

JOHN  S.  BARNES,  Florist,  Port  Richmond,  S.  I.,  N.  Y. 


Beech er's  Patent 

BEKItY  BASKET. 

IMPROVED     FROM     LAST 
SEASON. 

The  cheapest  in  market! 
For  Circulars  address 
A.  BEECHER  J:  SONS, 
Westville,  Conn. 

Agents,  WM.  PARRY, 
fpiHCtieal  truii  raiser,) 
Cinnaminson,  N.  J. 

ROGERS  ft  GKST,  1SS 
Market-ski  Philadelphia. 
II.  B.  LANE.  151  Nassau- 
st.,  New-York. 


TO     THE    LADIES. 

We  desire  to  call  your  particular  attention  to  MASON'S 
PATENT  SELF  SEALING 

FRUIT  JARS  AND  CANS. 

An  experience  of  six  years  has  proved  them  the  most  perfect 
Jars  for  preserving  fruits  and  vegetables.  Sold  by  all  dealers. 
Made  only  by  the  SHEET  METAL  SCREW  CO- 

SH Pearl  st..  New- York. 

BAKER'S 

PATENT 

FRUIT    JARS. 

WITH   EITHER 

GLASS  OR  TIN  COVERS. 

They  are  SIMPLE,  RELIABLE,  and  CHEAP,  and  the 
ONLY  Jar  of  which  there  are  NO  COMPLAINTS. 

From  the  great  number  of  testimonials  we  might  give,  we 
only  quote  from  the 

"  AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST,"  which  says: 

"They  arc  the  best  of  the  twenty  odd  kinds  we  have 

TRIED." 

Housekeepers  try  for  yourselves.    Do  not  be  persuaded  to 
try  others,  for  it  will  be  to  your  cost. 
For  sale  by  all  respectable  dealers. 
The  trade  supplied  by  the 

Manufacturers  and  Proprttorr. 
F.  I..  «fc  J.  N.  BODING  &  CO., 

Successors  to  POTTER  &  BODINE, 
106  Chestnut-st.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

DADD'S 
ANATOMY  AND  PHYSIOLOGY   OF  THE   HORSE, 

8vo,  morocco,  plain  Plates,  $2.50. 

With  Colored  Plates,  $5. 

With  Anatomical  and  Questional  Illustrations; 
Containing,  also,  a  Series  of  Examinations  on  Equine  Anat- 
omy and  Philosophy,  with  Instructions  In  Dissection,  and 
the  mode  of  making  Anatomical  Preparations,  and  a  Glos- 
sary of  Veterinary  Technicalities,  Toxicologieat  Chart,  and 
Dictionary  of  Veterinary  Science. 

Sent  free  of  postage  upon  receipt  of  price. 

C.  M.  SAXTON,  New- York. 

ONION  CULTURE-Fourth  (new)  Edition. 

This  work  comprises  in  32  pages  all  the  particulars  for  suc- 
cessful Onion  Culture,  from  Selection  of  Seed  to  Marketing 
the  Crop— being  the  practical  directions  given  by  seventeen 
experienced  Onion  Growers,  residing  in  different  parts  of  the 
country.  Price  20  cents  (or  7  stamps),  scut  postpaid.  Ad- 
dress Publisher  of  Agriculturist. 

TOBACCO, 

Just    How    to    Grow    it . 

Every  particular,  from  the  selection  of  the  Seed,  and 
preparation  of  the  ground,  to  Ihe  Gathering,  Curing,  ami 
Marketing  the  Crop,  is  given  in  a  work  issued  by  the 
Publisher  of  the  American  Agriculturist,  and  sent  post- 
paid for  25  cents.  This  work  consists  of  a  selection  of 
the  best  fourteen  out  of  eighty-five  Essays,  prepared  by 
eighty-five  different  cultivators,  residing  in  various  parts 
of  the  Northern  and  Middle  Slates.  In  each  of  the  Essays 
contained  in  this  work,  the  writer  tells,  in  a  plain,  practi- 
cal, straight-forward  manner,  just  what  to  do,  and  how  to 
do  it.  Any  item  omitted  by  one  is  given  by  another,  so 
that  the  information  is  full  and  complete.  Several  en- 
gravings illustrating  the  method  of  drying,  packing,  etc. 
The  work  is  worth  its  weight  in  silver  to  everyone  grow- 
ing even  a  small  plot  of  tobacco. 


BOOKS    TOBt    FAK.HEKS 
A\E>    OTHERS. 

[Any  ol"  the  following  hooks  can  be  obtained  at  the  of- 
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scribers when  desired,  if  the  price  be  forwarded.  All  of  thrso 
books  may  he  procured  by  any  one  making  up  a  libra- 
ry. Those  wc  esteem  specially  valuable,  are  marked  with  a  *.} 
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each  dollars  worth  must  be  sent  to  us  to  pre-pay  the  extra 
postage,  and  in  the  same  ratio  for  fractional  parts  of  a  dollar. 

American  Bird  Fancier  .. $0  25 

American  Farmer's  Encyclopedia 5  oo 

American  Florist's  Guide 7f, 

Allen  on  Ihe  Culture  ol  the  Crape 1  00 

Allen's  (U.  L,)  American  Farm  Hook* i  00 

Allen's  Diseases  of  Domestic  Animals 75 

Allen's  (L.  F.)  Kiiral  Architecture "..  1  25 

Bridgcman's  Fruit  Cultivator's  Manual 60 

Bndgeman'8  Young  Gardener's  Assistant.. ...  1  50 

Brfdgeman'e  Kitchen  Garden  Instructor. eo 

Brtdgeman'a  Florist's  Guide "**  60 

Brandt's  Age  01  Noises  *  (English  and  German) "  50 

Breck's  Book  of  Flowers 1  35 

Browne's  American  Poultry  Yard \]  1  25 

Buist's  American  Flown- Garden  Directory ".'  1  25 

BuistV  Family  Kitchen  Gardener" 75 

Cen l ral  Park  Guide 25 

Chorl  ton's  Grape  -Grower's  Guide" ,„,  60 

Cole's  f6.  Wj  American  Fruit  Book  60 

Uadd's  (Geo.  H.)  Modern  Horse  Doctor ".'  ]  25 

Dadd'e  (Geo.  II.)  American  Cattle  Doctor ..,  1  25 

Dana's  Muck  Manual  for  Farmers ]  00 

Downing's  Cottage  Residences*. ,.  2  50 

Downlng's  Finite  and  Fruit  Trees  of  America"". 2  00 

Downing's  Ladies'  Flower  Garden .   ..1  50 

Eastwood  on  the  Cranberry11 '    50 

Km  ploy  men  t  of  Women— By  Virginia  Penny" l  50 

Every  Lady  her  own  Flower  Gardener 25 

Fessenden's  American  Kitchen  Gardener 25 

French's  Farm  Drainage  * 1  25 

Field's  (Thomas  W.)  Pear  Culture ]  00 

Fish  Culture 1  00 

Flint  (Chaih-s  L.)  on  Grasses* 1  50 

Flint's  Milch  Cmvs  and  Dairy  Fanning" 1  50 

Fuller's  Strawberry  Cult  mist 10 

Goodale's  Principles  of  Breeding 1  00 

Grav's  Manual  of  Botany 2  50 

Guenon  on  Milch  Cows 60 

Hall's  (Miss)  American  Cookery  1  00 

Harris'  Insects  Injurious  to  Vegetation   plain 3  00 

do.       do.          do.                   do.        colored  plates.  4  00 

Herbert's  Hints  to  Ilorsekeepcrs'" 1  25 

Hooper's  Dog  and  Gun 25 

.Johnson  on  Manures.. 75 

Kemps  Landscape  Gardening 2.00 

Kidder's  Bee  Culture —      . 50 

Lanp-ttroth  on  the  Honey  Bee"  1  ftO 

Leslie  b  Recipes  for  Cooking 1  25 

Leuchars'  Hothouses 1  25 

Liebig's  Lectures  on  Chemist iy .<i0 

Linslev's  (D.  C.)  Moriran  Horses ]  25 

Manual  of  Agriculture  by  G.  Emerson  and  C.  L.  Flint.  1  00 

Mavhow'a  Illustrated  Horse  Doctor 3  00 

MeSlahon's  American  Gardener*. 2  50 

Median's  Ornamental  Trees 75 

Milhurn  on  the  Cow  and  Dairy 25 

Miles  on  the  Horse's  Foot j     50 

Mistakes  of  Educated  Men 50 

National  Almanac  and  Annual  Record"* 1  25 

Norton's  Scientific  Agriculture 75 

Olcotts  Sorgho  and  itnphee 1  00 

Our  Farm  of  Four  Acres..* (paper) 25 

Onion  Culture"" 20 

Pardee  on  Strawberry  Culture 60 

Parlor  Gardener.. 75 

Parsons  on  the  Rose 1  25 

Pedder's  Fanner's  Land  Measurer    50 

Phantom  Bouquet,  orsRelcton  Leaves 1  00 

Phin's  Grape  Culture  , . ,.„  1  25 

oninhv's  Mysteries  ol  Bee  keeping" j  25 

Randall's  Sheep  Husbandry    j  25 

Richardson  on  the  Dog 50 

Richardson  on  the  Roc 25 

Robins'  Produce  and  Ready  Reckoner 60 

Itose  Cultnrist          25 

Shepherd's  own  Book 2  00 

Skillful  Housewife 25 

Smith's  Landscape  Gardening 1  25 

Spencer's  Education  ot  Children"" 1  25 

Stewart's  (John  >  stable  Book 1  25 

Tobacco  Culture"* 25 

Todd's  (S.  K.)  Voting  Farmer  s  Manual 1  25 

Tucker's  Register  Rural  Affairs   . , 25 

Turner's  Cotton  Planter's  Manual.... j  25 

Watson's  American  Home  Garden 1  50 

Wood's  Class  Book  of  Botany..       2  50 

Vale  College  Agricultural  Lectures 25 

Vouatt  and  Spooner  on  ihe  Horse 1  25 

Youatt  and  Martin  on  Cattle    1  25 

Von  all  on  the  Hog .' 75 

YounH  on  Sheep 7s 

Youmans'  Household  Science"  . 1  25 

AVEB^TER's 

ARMY  AND  NAVY  POCKET  DICTIONARY. 

(Just  published.)  weighs  four  ounces,  and  contains  a  Gene- 
ral Pocket  Dictionary  of  the  language  ;  a  Dictionary 
of  Military  and  NavalTerms  ;  a  Dictionary  of  Pko- 
YKiajs,  Phrases,  and  Oft-quoted  "Words,  from  Latin, 
French,  Italian,  Spanish,  Greek,  Ac,  with  tables  of  Rank, 
Pay,  nations.  Emoluments,  Insignia  of  Hank.  &c„  in  army 
and  navy.  Tables  of  Measures,  Weights  and  Moneys  of  dif- 
ferent nations;  Fac-Similes  of  Flags  of  Commercial  Nations, 
&c,  &c.  Price  in  flexible  leather,  marbled  edges,  75c.  tucks 
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Sent  securely  by  mail,  post-paid,  at  the  price.  Published  at  5 
and  7  Mercer-street,  New-York,  by  MASON  BROTHERS. 

THE  SUMMER  No.  nf  MMfi.  DEMOREST'8 
MIRROR  OF  FASHIONS  contains  a  beautiful  POU- 
TRAIT  of  ihe  PRINCESS  ALEXANDRA,  five  full  size  Pat- 
terns, New  Braid  Patterns,  and  over  100  elegant  engravings. 

The  most  attractive  No.  ever  issued.  Now  ready.  Single 
copies  25c.  Yearly  $1.  Splendid  premiums  for  each  yearly 
BUOPCrtber,  and  extraordinary  premiums  to  clubs.  Published 
473  Broadway. 


1803.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


187 


it  THE  HUMAN  FACE  DIVINE,"  and  How  to 
■  Rend  It.  The  meaning  of  aLonKNosB.il  Snort  Nose, 
and  a  Pus  Nose.  The  Mouth,  and  what  it  saj'ft.  The  Chin, 
Lips  loving,  and  Lips  tinting,  and  the  Lips  oi  a. Scold.  Eyks; 
'ieht  and  dark.  Haib,  coarse  or  tine.  Skin,  ronsli  or  smooth. 
Karli  line,  wrinkle,  an. I  mark  has  its  meaning.  And  the  whole 
is  explained  in  The  Phsbholooical  Journal, and  lifk 
Ii.li ISTBATKD.  Price  *1  a  year— if  ordered  before  1st  July— 
If  after  that  date.  *  1 .50.  Subscriptions  may  besin  now.  Sample 
JJos.  lUcls.     Inclose  the  amount,  and  address 

KOWLEU  &  WELLS,  30S  Broadway,  NeW-TorK 

Portable 
Printing    Offices. 

For  the  use  of  Merchants.  Prnirptists,  Nurserymen,  and  all 
who  wish  to  do  their  own  Printing,    Circular  sent  free,  spe- 
cimen Sheets  of  Type,  Cuts.  &C.,on  receipt  of  fwor.c.  si  amps. 
ADAMS  PUESS  CO.,  31  Park  Kow,  N.  \. 


The  NONPAREIL  WASHING  MACHINE 

la  the  only  entirely  reliable  machine  in  use. 

It  has  been  before  the  public  two  years,  ami  has  not  In  any 
Instance  failed  to  give  satisfaction. 

It  saves  two-thirds  the  labor  and  time  required  in  hand 
washing. 

It  is  a  squeezing  machine,  and  will  not  injure  the  finest 
Clothing. 

A  girl  of  fonrteen  vearscan  operate  it. 

It  will  not  get  out  of  order. 

It  is  recommended  by  Mr.  Judd,  the  proprietor  of  this 
Journal. 

Prices;  No.  3,912.    No.  2,$1G.    No.  3,  $20. 

Send  lor  tree  Circular  to 

OAKLEY  &  KEATING.  73  South-st..  New-York. 

GREAT    DISCOVERY. 

An  adhesive  preparation,  that  is  insoluble  in  "Water  or  Oil 
and  that  will  stick  Patches  and  Linings  to  Boots  and  Shoes 
sufficiently  strong  without  stitching.  It  will  also  mend  broken 
Furniture,  Crockery,  Toys,  and  all  articles  of  Household  use 
effectually. 

mi/rorvs 

INSOLUBLE    CEMENT, 

Supplied  in  packages  from  2  ounces  to  100  pounds.  It  is  a 
Liquid,  and  as  easily  applied  as  Common  Paste.  It  adheres 
Oily  Substances  (Irmly  and  completely. 

Can  be  procured  at  wholesale  iu  all  large  cities,  and  at  re- 
tail throughout  the  country. 

HILTON  BKOTHEP.S,  Proprietors,  Providence,  K.  I. 
"A  Good  Thing— Having  occasion  the  other  day  to  use  a 
liquid  Cement,  we  tried  the  article  made  by  Hilton  Brothers, 
Providence,  and  found  It  to  work  to  a  charm.    We  therefore 
recommend  it."—  Woonsockei  Patriot,  Feb.  6,  1R63 

CHAS.  RICHARDSON  &  CO.,  61  Broad-st.,  Boston,  Mass  , 
Agents  for  New-England. 
For  sale  in  New-York  by 

HALL  &  RUCKEL.  218  Greenwich-st, 

H.  C.  OAKLEY,  11  Park  How. 

T.  HARDY,  SOS  Broadway. 

M.  WARD,  CLOSE  1c  CO.,  130  William-st. 

$— SOMETIIIIVG  NEW  !    AGENTS  WANTED. 

Our  New  "Fancy  Card Thekmomhters"-"  Hesimkr  and 
Siiiei.d  lor  hand  sewing— "Improved  Indelible  Pencil  "  f,,r 
marking  linen,  and  in  more  novel,  useful  and  indispens- 
able artlola,  are  warranted  to  give  satisfaction— Samples 
Joe.  each.    *or  circulars  and  terms  address 

KICE  &  CO..  «  Park  Row,  N  Y 


DUTCHER'S  LIGHTNING 

FLY-KILLER 

Supplies  a  want  felt  by  every  good  housekeeper.  Every  shot 
KI'tU;!  liUll'i"'!  "''!'<'  """'.  ar,;  "lick-  Remember  that  It  is 
DuTCHI'.It  s  (hat  does  this,  and  refuse  the  base  imitations 
that  are  offered.  The  real  article  is  for  sale  by  all  respectable 
Druggists. 


WOOL. 

DOMESTIC  WOOL  BOUGHT  AND  SOLD, 

Wool   received   on    CONSIGNMENT,    and 
sold  for  ONE  CENT  per  pound. 

Account  Sales  promptly  rendered. 

Advances  made  when  desired. 

HENRY  C.  DAVIS, 
100  South  Front-st.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
Refers  to: 

RICHARD    MOTT,  Toledo  Ohio. 
J.  P.  BURTON,  Massillon,  Ohio. 
THOMAS    MOTT,  Philadelphia. 

BUTTER,      CHEESE, 


POULTRY,    EGGS 


'! 


AND     FA  KM     B'KODUCE 

OF  ALL  KINDS 
SOLD     ON     COM  MISSION. 

Constantly  on  hand,  for  sale,  Flour,   Fish,  Salt,   Mackerel, 
Pork,  Hams,  Laid.  Beans,  Dried  Fruit,  Soap,  Starch,  etc. 

COOK   &  NICHOLS,    Successors  to 

ISAAC  EMENS,  230  FRONT-ST,  NEW-YORK. 

Refers  to  .T.  DeLamater.  Cashier  Marine  Bank.  N.  Y.  City. 
Lewis  &  Brown,  No.  42  Front-st.,  N.  Y.  City. 
Isaac  Emens,  Castle  Creek,  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y. 


S.  B.  CONOVER, 

Commission    Dealer, 

260,  261  &  262  West  Washington  Market, 

FOOT  OF  FULTON-ST. 
Particular  atteniion  paid  to  selling  all  kinds  of  Fruit  and 
otlwr  Farm  Produce. 
Uefers  to  the  Lditor  of  the  American  Agriculturist. 

THE    ARCTIC    CREAM    FREEZER. 


The  manufacturers  of  the  Arctic  Freezer  claim  for  it  the 
following  points,  and  are  ready  to  prove  them  by  public 
exhibition,  if  disputed. 

1st.  That  they  will  actually  freeze  cream  in  four  minutes. 

2nd.  They  will  freeze  cream  in  less  than  one  half  the  time, 
of  any  other  freezer  in  use. 

3d.  They  require  much  less  ice  than  any  other  freezer. 

4th.  They  will  make  cream  smoother  and  lighter  than  any 
other  freezer. 

Sizes  and  Prizes :  3  quarts  $3 ;  4  quarts  $i ;  G  qts.  $5  ;  8  qts. 
$G;  14  qts.  $S;  20  qts.  $Pi. 

A  liberal  discount  to  the  trade. 

E.  S.  &  J.  TORRET,  Manufacturers, 

7i  Maiden  Lane,  New- York. 

ICE  CREAM. 

MASSER'S  PATENT  FIVE-MINUTE  ICE  CKEAM 
FREERER  is  aeknoledged  to  he  the  best,  requiring  little 
Ice.  and  never  failing  to  give  entire  satisfaction.  It  is  con- 
structed upon  scientific  principles,  constantly  exposing  fresh 
portions  of  the  contents  to  the  action  of  the  ice. 

E.  KETCH  AM,  289  PearUt.,  New- York, 

Sole  Agent  for  the  United  Slates. 


TO    FARMERS, 
TO   DAIRYMEN, 

TO  COUNTRY  MERCHANTS. 

ALL  who  have  for  Sale: 

Sorghum    Sugar    and    Syrup, 
Furs      and      Skins, 
Fruits,  dry  and  green, 
Hops,  Tallow, 

Cotton,  Wool, 

Butter,  Cheese, 

•Lard,  Elains, 

Eggs,  Poultry, 

Game,  Vegetables, 

Flour,  Grain, 

Seeds,  Petroleum, 

Ac.,  Ac. 

Can  have  them  well  sold  at  the  highest  prices 
in  New-York,  with  full  cash  returns  promptly 
after  their  reaching  the  City,  by  forwarding 
them  to  the  Commission  Ilouse  for  Country 
Produce,  of 

JOSIAH    CAUPENTER, 

32  Jay-street,  New-York. 

IV.  B. — The  advertiser  has  had  abundant 
experience  in  this  business,  and  trusts  that  he 
will  continue  to  merit  patronage  by  the  most 
careful  attention  to  the  interest  of  his  patrons. 
The  articles  are  taken  charge  of  on  their  arri- 
val, and  carefuUy  disposed  of  promptly  to  good 
cask  customers,  and  cash  returns  made  imme- 
diately to  the  owner.  (The  highest  charge  mado 
for  receiving  and  selling  is  five  per  cent,  fruits  and 
vegetables  excepted.) 

A  New  York  Weekly  Price  Current  is  issued 
by  J.  Carpenter,  which  is  sent  free  to  all  his  pat- 
rons. A  specimen  copy  sent  free  to  any  de- 
siring it.  A  trial  will  prove  the  above  facts. 
For  abundant  references  as  to  responsibility,  in- 
tegrity, &c,  see  the  "  Price  Current." 

{gg~  Cash  advanced  on  consignments  of 
Produce. 

SEND     FOR 

A    FREE    COPY 

O  F 

PRICES  CURRENT, 

AND  ALL  OTHER  PARTICULARS,  n 

TO 

JOSIAH    CARPENTER, 
39  Jay-st.,  New- York. 

Sole  Agents  for  EDMONSTON'S 
SUPERIOR  SMOKING  &  CHEWING  TOBACCO. 

Send  for  a  Price  List. 


188 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Juke, 


E-A^'E'S    PWBCMASIflf«   AGESCV. 

BAKER'S  PATENT  FHUIT  JAKS, 
The  most,  simple-vapid  and  reliable,    See   American  Agrl- 
cultuust,  |»S^B;  j,ints  ?,  00  per  doz     Quarts  j-i,aO. 

GLASS  FRUIT  pJABS/WITH  A  SMALL 
SnOULDER  ON  THE  INSIDE  OF  THE  NECK. 

Quart  Jars  with  CorkB '■■■.&  30  per  Dozen 

Pint  Jars  do ,';™        SS1 

Tin  covers 12  cts-      d0- 

AD.  ISAACSEN'S    PHOSPHORIC    PASTE    FOR 

the  destruction  of  rats  and  mice.    Price  SO  cents  per  Box. 

See  American  Agriculturist,  page  174. 

COLEUS   VERSHAFFELTII, 
A  new  and  beautiful  bedding  plant.    50c.  eacli  or  $4  per  doz. 

UNIVERSAL  CLOTHES  WRINGER, 
No.  1,  $10.    No.  3.  $8,    No.  8,  J14.    No.  18,  $18. 
The  only  Wringer  with  the  Patent  Coq  Wheel  Regulator. 
Where  there  are  no  Canvassers,  the  Express  charges  will 
be  prepaid. 

NONPARIEL  WASHING  MACHINE, 

Prices,  No.  1,  »13;  No   2,  J16;  No.  S,  $20. 

WOODRUFF'S    PORTABLE     BAROMETER, 

Prices  $8,  and  $12.    Agents  wanted. 
THE  AQUARIUS,  A  Hand  Force  Pump,  §10. 
SWIFT'S    IMPROVED~~LAWN    MOWING    MA- 
CHINE, 
Prices  $45  to  $190. 

HUTCHINSON'S   FAMILY  WINE  AND   CIDER 

MILL  AND  PRESS, 

Price  $18. 

TORRET'S   ARCTIC  FREEZER, 
S  quarts  $3.-1  quarts  $4— G  quarts  $5. 

HARVEY  B.  LANE, 
No.  1.11  Nassaust.,  New-York  City. 


MASON  &  HAMLIN'S 
C^BIIM  ET  ORGANS, 

Are  essentially  different  from  and  greatly  superior  to  all 
other  instruments  of  their  class.  Wherever  exhibited  they 
have  always  taken  the  tirst  premiums,  and  are  recommend- 
ed as 

"I'JIK  BEST  INSTRUMENTS  OF  THEIR  CLASS" 

by  ZUNDEL,  MORGAN,  WOLLENHAUPT,  WELS,  WOLF- 
silON.MAGRATH,  FLINT.  HAG  AN,  MOSENTH  AL,  SMITZ, 
and  others  of  the  most  distinguished  organists  of  New-York. 
Similarly  recommended  also  by  LOWELL  MASON,  GEORGE 
J  \MES  WEBB,  THOS.  HASTINGS,  W.  B.  BRADBURY, 
GEO.  F.  ROOT,  SIGISMUND  THALBERG,  WILLIAM  MA- 
SON, GUSTAVE  SATTER,  and  others. 

Prices  of  single  and  double  reed  instruments  $T0  to  $150 
each  ;  with  six  to  twelve  stops  $225  to  $500  each. 

MASON  &  HAMLIN'S  MELODE0NS 

Are  also  better  than  any  otners.  Prices  $T»0  to  $335 
cacli.  Wareroomsin  New-York,  Kns.^T*  and  7  Mercer- 
street.    Send  for  circulars  with  particulars. 

MASON  BROTHERS. 

$200  J-  *•  male's  $200 

EW  7  OCTAVE  PIANOS  are  destined  to  revo- 
lutionize the  whole  Piano  business.  For  Durability, 
Beauty  of  Tone,  and  Touch,  as  well  as  in  style  of  finish,  they 
are  uneqnaled ;  and  nothing  Of  the  kind  has  ever  before 
been  ottered  in  this  country  that  will  compare  with  them  in 
prices  : 

$225— $250— $275. 

They  contain  all  improvements  of  value  now  In  use,  and 
are  all 

Warranted    for    Five    Years. 

Please  call  and  examine  them  and  compare  them  with  those 
of  any  of  the  first  class  makers,  or  send  for  a  Circular  giving 
all  particulars. 

J.  P..  HALE  &  CO.,  478  Broadway,  N.  Y. 

(MEfl       SEVEN     OCTAVE 
\plGUi  ROSEWOOD  PIANO-FORTES. 

GROVESTEEN  &  CO.,  490  BROADWAY, 

Now  at  their  new  warerooms,  are  prepared  to  offer  to  the 
public  their  new  enlarged  scale  Piano  FOETUS,  with  Iron 
Frame  Overstrung  Bass.  French  Grand  Action  Harp  Pedal, 
etc  the  Urovcst'een  Piano-lortes  received  the  highest 
award  over  all  others  at  the  World's  Fair,  and  lor  five  see- 
"essive  years  at  the  American  Institute,  winch  is  a  suf- 
llcient  guarantee  of  their  excellence. 

Meavv  Mouldings.  Carved  Legs.  etc..  $l,n  and  $200.  Rose- 
w'».d  tops,  $10  extra.  Warranted  for  live  years.  Terms 
not  cash. 


N 


ANTI-FRICTION    HORSE    POWER. 


These  Powers  have  been  exhibited  at  several  Western  State  Fairs,  and  have  always  taken  the  HIGHEST  PREMI- 
UMS. The  friction  is  reduced  by  IRON  BALLS,  which  support  the  entire  weight  of  the  castings.  Two  and  a  half  pounds 
draught  will  keep  it  iu  motion;  permitting  the  entire  strength  of  the  horses  to  be  exerted  upon  the  machine  to  be  driv- 
ven.  They  are  strong  enough  to  drive  the  largest  Threshing  Machines,  and  will  do  the  SAME  AMOUNT  OF  WORK 
with  from  two  to  four  horses  less  than  are  generally  used.  EVERY  MACHINE  IS  WARRANTED  TO 
GIVE  SATISFACTION. 

Price  of  Power  for  1  to  6  horses  (power  to  be  taken  from  pulley,  as  above) $125  00 

"  "  "       "     "       with  bevel-geared  Jack •. 140  00 

XW  SEND  FOR  CIRCULAR  TO  E.  H.  BENIVET,  Patentee,  42  &  4-1  Greenest.,  New-York. 


^mm 


JS'OIS 


warn 


Acknowledged   to    be  Superior  to 
nil   Others. 

495  BROADWAY,  NEW-YORK. 
"Grover  &  Baker's  is  the  best."—  Am.  Agriculturist. 


Amnlsram    Bells, 

At  prices  within  the  reach  of  every  Church,  School, 
Cemetery,  Factory,  or  Farm  in  the  land.  Their 
use  throughout  the  United  States  and  Cauadas  for 
the  past  six  years  has  proven  them  to  combine 
most  valuable  Qualities,   anions  which  are  tone, 

STRENGTH,    SONOROUSNESS,    and     DURABILITY      OF 

vibration,  unequalled  by  anv  other  manufacture. 
Sizes  from  50  to  5,000  lbs.,  costing  two  thirds  less 
than  other  metal,  or  15  cents  per  pound,  at  which 
price  we  warrant  them  twelve  months.  Old  bell 
metal  taken  in  exchange,  or  bought  for  cash.  Send 
for  a  Circular  to  the  Mamifactim'r, 

JOHN  U.  ROBINSON, 
No.  190  William-street,  New-York. 


Farm  and  Garden  Implements 

OF    EVERY    VARIETY. 

Mowing  Machines,  Lawn  Mowers,  Scythes  for  Field  and 
Lawn,  Graft  Hooks,  English  Scythe  Stones,  Garden,  Hay, 
and  Manure  Forks,  Garden  Engines  and  Syringes,  Garden 
and  Field  Hollers,  Plows,  Harrows,  Cultivators,  Horse  Hakes, 
Threshers,  etc.  * 

Fertilizers  of  all  kinds. 

Seeds.— Garden,  Field,  aud  Flower  Seeds.  Choice  and 
reliable.       JOHN  VANPEHBILT,  23  Fulton-st.,  New- York. 

Schenectady  Agricultural  Works. 
G.  WESTINGHOrSE  k  CO.,  Proprietors. 

Send  for  a  Circular,  containing  full  description  of  the  Un- 
ennalcd  Lever,  and  Endless  Chain  Horse  Powers.  Threshers 
and  Cleaners,  Clover  Hnllers,  Mood  Saws,  &c„  manufactured 
by  the  subscribers.    Address 

G.  Westingliouse  &  Co.,  Schenectady,  N.  Y. 

BAKER'S  PATENT  DOUBLE  PLOWING  MA- 
CHINE. 

CHICHESTER'S  COMBINED  FURROWING-,  CO VEKTNG. 
CULTIVATING,  HOEING,  HILLING,  and  POTATO  DIG- 
GING MACHINE.    Manufactured  and  sold  bv 

G1UFFTNG,  BROTHER  &  CO., 

Send  for  Circular.  60  Courtlandt-st.,  New- York. 


SEEDS. 

Bucltvrlieat    and  all  other  Sccil  Grain  of  best  va 

rietics. 
Turnip,  Ruta  Baga,  Cabbage,  etc.,  of  the  choicest 

kinds. 
A  full  assortment  of  Field,   Garden   and   Flower 
Seeds,  Plant*,  etc. 

R.  H.  ALLEN  &  CO..  189  &  191  Water  St.,  New- York. 


THE   CRAIG  MICROSCOPE, 

This  is  the  best  and  cheapest  microscope  in 
the  world  for  general  use.  It  requires  no  fo- 
cal adjustment,  magnifies  about  100  diameters, 
or  10,000  times,  and  is  so  6imple  that  a  child 
can  use  it.  It  will  be  sent  by  mail,  postage 
paid,  on  the  receipt  of  $'2.2ii,  or  with  six  beauti- 
ful mounted  objects  for  *3,  or  with  24  objects 
for  $5.       Address         HENRY  CRAIG, 

ISO  Centre-st.,  New-York. 

A  liberal  discount  to  the  trade. 

"The  CRAIG    MICROSCOPES  arc  just  what    they  are 

claimed  to  be     Those  who  wish  sucll  an  article,  will  not  lip 

disappointed;  If  they  should  obtain   one  of  lhcse."-JV.  T. 

MethndM. 

T"HE  FARMER'S  BEE  HIVE 
Has  secured  53K  pounds  of  surplus  honey  from  one 
swarm  the  first  year;  and  95  pounds  from  one  swarm  the 
second  year  both  from  white  clover  m  boxes.  To  any  per- 
son who  will  send  to  our  address  twenty-flve  .nils  United 
SUtos  currency,  we  will  sent,  a  descriptive  Circular,  and 
the  ri-ht  to  make  and  use  one  iiivk  for  experiment  And 
,„n»n!*".-of  thegospel  a  mil  right  to  use-to  their  own 
apiary  ou  the  same  terms.    Address        JASPKK^IAZ KN^ 


THE     EXCELSIOR 

BURR    STONE    MILLS, 

FOR  FARMERS  AND  MILLERS. 

Have  taken  the  iiigiiest  Premiums  wherever  EXHIBITED  ! 
They  may  be  driven  by  horse,  water,  or  steam  power, 
do  their  work  as  well  as  the  best  flat  stone  mills  in  mill- 
ing establishments,  and  require  but  one-half  the  power  tit  do 
the  same  amount  of  work.  They  are  made  in  the  best  manner, 
and  for  farm  use  will  last  thirty  years,  and  cost  nothing  for 
repairs. 

Ct^-TUET    ARE    GUARANTEED    TO     GIVE    8ATI8F ACTION,    OR 
TOK  MONEY     WILL  BE  REFUNDKD._££ 

For  Circulars  and  further  Information  address 

E.  H.  BENNET,  Late  Bennet  Brothers, 

42  and  44  Greeue-st..  New- York. 

MILL  STONE  DRESSING  DIAMONDS, 
Set  in  Patent  Protector  and  Guide.    •, 

For  sale  by  JOHN  DICKINSON, 

Patentee  and  Sole  Manufacturer.  G4  Nassau-st,.  New-York. 
ALSO  Manufacturer  of  GLAZIER'S  DIAMONDS. 


R 


USSIA    OR    BASS   MATS,    SELECTED   EX- 
pressly     for  budding    and    tying  :   GUNNY    HAGS. 

poses. 


■    W  lll'S.ll  I'M         Mill-  .HIM  V    .    '■>-.      .        -■    .     --  --    - 

TWINES,  MAY  ROI'ES.  &c,  suitable  forMuraerr purpose 
for  sale  lu  lots  to  suit,  by  D.  W.  MAN  WAK IM-. 

1  Importer.  2JS  Ironist..  New-Xoi  k. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


189 


THE    BEST, 

THE  ORIGINAL 


iiiiiiiifiil 


il 


AND    REAPER, 

With    all    its    valuable   Improvements. 

HAS  NO  EQUAL. 

Sizes  and  Prices  to  suit  ALL. 

Order   early  and.    avoid. 
Disappointment. 

SEND    FOR    A    CIRCULAR. 
C.  AULTJHAN  &  CO.,  Canton,  Ohio. 
JOHN  P.  ADRIANCE,  Poughkeepsie, 
and  165  Greenwich-st..,  New-York. 


A  large  number  of  these  Elevators  have  been  used  daring 
the  past  season,  ami  from  its  capacity  to  elevate  liny,  we 
challenge  the  world  to  produce  its  equal  In  lightness,  strength, 
and  efficiency  to  manage. 

"Unloading  hay  at  the  barn  by  horae  power  is  sueh  a 
simple  operation  that  it  seems  wonderful  how  a  sensible 
farmer  can  continue  the  excessive  hard  labor  ot  lilting  it,  a 
fork  full  at  a  time,  in  the  sliding  heat  of  the  barn  of  a  July 
afternoon." 

THE  FATHER  OF  THE  FIELD. 


PRATT'S  PATENT  STEEL  TOOTH 

HAY     AND     GRAIN      RAKE, 

With  Smedley's  Improvement. 

First  Premium  awarded  at  twenty-seven  different  exhibi- 
timvi     Send  lor  a  Circular. 
Bold  by  SKIPPING  BROTHER  &  CO.. 

00  Courtlandt-st.,  Sole  Agents  tor  Newl  ork. 


"  Til E    KIRBY.?' 

IT  MOWS.       IT  HEAPS.      IT  BAKES, 

A  PEBFECT    MOWER-A   PERFECT    REAPEB— A  PER- 
FECT HAND  RAKER—  AND  A  PERFECT  SELF  BAKER- 
ALL  COMBINED  IN  THE  SAME  MACHINE. 
The  "Clipper  Mower"  the  Best  and  Cheapest  Single  Mower 
in  the  World. 

$  so 

JS5 


"  Clipper"  Mower,  cuts  i  ft.  2  in. . 
"American  "  Combined,  cuts  in  r 


'American"  Combined,  cuts  in  mowing  4  ft.  K  in.,  in  / 
reaping  5  ft. ;  as  a  hand  faker  i 
"American"  Combined,   cutting  as  above,  both  as)        jqq 
hand  and  automatic  raker,       > 
To  secure  a  Machine  order  early. 

GRIFFING,  BROTHER  &Co, 

60  Courtlandt-st.,  New- York. 


Efsti-resting  Machines,  etc. 

Mowing  ami  Reaping  Machines. 
Horse  Raises,  r.ItTOLTINQ  and  spkino  tootii  on  wheels. 
Horse   Hay  ForKs. 
Hay  Raltes,  Pitchforks,  etc.,  etc. 
Grain  Cradles. 
Horticultural  Implements. 
Agricultural  Implements. 
A  full  assortment  of  the  best  and  latest  improved  kinds 

of  each  of  the  above. 
Also  Peruvian  Guano,  Bone  Dust,  and  all  other 

approved  fertilizers. 
Allen's  Improved  Cylinder  Plow. 

R.  H.  ALLEN  &  Co.,  ISO  &  101  Waterst.,  New-York. 

TO      FARMERS. 

WE  CALL  ATTENTION  TO  THE 

EXCELSIOR 

HORSE    PITCHFORK. 

FOR   UNLOADING   HAY,  GRAIN,  &C. 


[•'ork,  with  tines  similar  to  tins,  oi- 
ls Patent  in  any  respect.    For  Forks, 

MELICK  &  CO.," Proprietors  ol'  tfie  N. 
Fow- 

r 


REISSUED  MARCH  3,  1863. 

This  Fork  was  awarded  the  First  Premium,  at  the  N.  Y. 
State  Fair,  Oct.  1863,  and  is  universally  acknowledged  to  he 
the  best  in  use.  It  is  a  Simple,  Compact,  and  strong  imple- 
ment, light  and  easy  to  handle.— Will  hold  as  much  as  a  horse 
can  elevate,  and  frequently  two  are  employed.  A  boy  can 
use  it,  unloading  a  ton  of  hayin  Ave  or  six  minutes.  In  view 
of  the  scarcity  and  high  price  of  labor,  no  farmer  can  afford 
to  do  without  it.  It  will  save  more  than  its  cost  in  a  season, 
—sometimes  in  a  single  day. 

N.  B.— All  persons  are  hereby  cautioned  not  to  make,  vend 
or  use,  any  other  II 
which  infringes  upo 
address  WHEELER,  .- 

Y  State  Agricultural  Works,  Manulactnreis  of  Horse  Pow 
er's  Threshers  and  Cleaners.  Albany,  N.  !\  For  state  o 
County  Rights,  address  PALMER  &  WACKERHAGEN 
Greenville/  Greene  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Circulars  sent  free  un  application. 

NATIONAL  AGRKlLTirUAL  WAREHOUSE. 

DAVIS'  IMPROVED  MOWER 

The  cheapest  and  Best  in  use. 

TWO  HORSE  MOWERS  FROM  $80  to  SS5. 

LAWN    MOWERS, 

Hand  and  Horse  Machines,  from  $15  to  $155. 

HALSTED'S  HAND  CULTIVATOR, 

PRICE  $6. 

SHARE'S  HARROW, 

Prico  $15. 

SHARE'S  CULTIVATOR, 

Price  $10. 

Plows,  Harrows,  Revolving  Hay  Rakes,  Wliitcomb's  Patent 

Steel  Tooth  Rakes,  Patent  Hay  Elevators,  Lawn  Scythes, 

Grain  Cradles,  Scythes  and  Snaths,  also  a  full  assortment  of 

Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Implements,  Garden  Seeds 

and  Plants,  Fertilizers,  <Sc„  &c. 

HAINES  &  PELL,  27  Courtlaudt-st.,  New-York. 


UNION     ]«0  WING    MACHINE, 

COMBINING  THE  BEST 

FEATURES   OF   DIFFERENT   MACHINES. 
New  and  Valuable  Improvements  for  1863. 

Address  UNION  MOWING  MACHINE  CO., 

Worcester,  Mass. 
Agency,  58  Courtlandt-st.,  New-Yorlt. 


Ayrshires. 


Three  thoroughbred  Bull   Calves,  from  the  best  milking 
stock,  for  sale  by 
Pedigrees  given.  H.  S.  COLLINS, 

Collinsviile,  Conn. 

ITALIAN  QUEEN  BEES.    FOR  SALE  BY 
L.  L.  LANGSTROTII  &  SON, 

Oxford,  Butler  County,  Ohio. 

POUDRETTE. 

The  Lodi  Manufacturing  Company  have  now  on  hand  and 
for  sale 

10,000  Barrels 

of  FKEsnLY  prepared   Poudrette  and  can  answer  calls 
promptly. 

Great  complaints  having  been  made  or  a  poor  article  nf 
Poudrette,  made  and  sold  in  this  market  by  other  than  the 
Lodi  Co.,  purchasers  are  warned  that  Poudrette  branded 
either  "Staten  Island  Poudrette,  Gritting,  Brother  &  Co."  or 
"Excelsior  Poudrette,"  all  manufactured  at  the  same  place, 
is  NOT  the  Loni  Poudkettf.  of  the  last  20  years,  but  some- 
thing very  dissimilar  except  in  name. 

Address  LODI  MANUFACTURING  CO.. 

60  Cortlandt-st.,  New-York. 

TO  FARMERS 

AND     OTHERS. 

We  are  manufacturim:  a  Genuine  Article  of  Fine,  Medi- 
um, and  Coarse  HONE  DUST,  or  RAW  BONE  SU- 
PERPHOSPHATE OF  MME,  manufactured  from 
unburned  Bones,  containing  all  the  Animal  and  Chemical 
Fertilizing  Properties.  Please  address  the  Manufacturers, 
and  get  the  Intrinsic  Value  of  your  money. 
N.  B.  A  Liberal  Discount  made  to  Dealers  for  Cash, 
Address  A.  LISTER  &  BRO., 

Tarrytown,  Westchester  Co..  N.  V., 
Or   Newark.  N.  J. 


TO  FARMERS. 
Bone  Tafcai.  Bone  TafcH. 

MANUFACTURED  BY  the  LODI  MANUFACTURING  CO. 

The  large  sale  of  this  manure,  and  constantly  increasing 
demand  has  induced  the  Company  to  arrange  for  its  manu- 
facture on  an  extensive  scale. 

It  is  composed  of  Fine  Raw  Bone  and  Night  Soil,  free 
from  all  impurities,  dried  and  ground  to  a  fine  powder,  mak- 
ing it  quick  in  its  action,  as  well  as  permanent  in  its  results, 

For  Buckwheat,  Turnips  and  Winter  Grain,  no  manure 
can  be  found  of  equal  value  for  the  amount  invested. 

It  is  put  in  new  Barrels,  200  lbs.  in  each.  One  and  a  half 
barrels  will  manure  an  acre. 

Price,  free  of  cartage,  $4.:i0  per  Barrel. 

All  orders,  which  will  hereafter.be  filled  promptly,  must  be 
directed  to  the  LODI  MANUFACTURING  CO., 

6(3  Cortlandt-st.,  New- York. 

AMM0NIATED  PACIFIC  GUANO, 

A  real  guano  containing  from  seventy  to  eighty  per  cent 
of  Phosphate  of  Lime,  to  which  has  been  added  by  a  chemi- 
cal process  a  large  percentage  of  Actual  Ammonia  so  fixed 
that  it  can  not  evaporate,  making  it  equal  if  not  superior  to 

""pamphlet's  with  copies  of  Analysis  by  Br,  Jackson,  Mass. 
State  Assaycr,  and  testimonials  from  scientific  Agriculturists 
BbowlnE  its  value  can  be  obtained  from 
snov,ma        ,..iu  (j  UAKER  &  CO.,  Selling  agents, 

87  Wall-st„  New-York. 


H 


OYT'S  AMMONIATED  BONE  SUPERPHOS- 
PHATE OF  LIME.    A  Substitute  for  Peruvian  Guano. 


Sold  at  wholesale  and  retail  by 

aoiu       wuu*.  GRIFFING,  BROTIIER  &  CO., 

60  Courtlandt-st.,  New-York. 


190 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


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AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


101 


MONITOR. 
[ADVERTISEMENT.] 

THE  TRIBUNE 

PRIZE     STRAWBERRIES. 

How  they  Originated— How  tliey  Look 
and  Taste-Why  tliey  are  Given  to  tlie 
Subscribers  of  The  Tribune— When  and 
to  M  horn  they  will  be  Distributed. 

The'cuts  herewith  presented  represent  "The  Trib- 
une Prize  Strawberries*' — so  named  because  we  pin- 
chased  lliem,  at  a  very  large  price,  to  bestow  exclusive!!/ 
upon  the  subscribers  off  either  edition  of  The  Tribune 
for  1863,  intending  to  send  one  of  each  kind  tn  every  sub- 
scriber who  expresses  a  wish  to  that  effect  at  the  time  of 
subscribing.  This  will  be  equal  to  a  prize  of  $1  50  to 
each  subscriber,  as  that  is  the  price  charged  by  nursery- 
men for  similar  plants.  Indeed,  neither  of  these  prize 
strawberries  could  be  obtained  at  any  price  whatever,  as 
we  have  secured  every  plant  that  can  be  produced  in  the 
year  1S63,  exclusively,  as  prizes  to  our  subscribers.  We 
have  incurred  the  large  outlay  necessary  for  this  purpose, 
becnuse  we  have  an  earnest  desire  to  see  the  propagation 
of  improved  fruit  greatly  extended,  and  because  we  be- 
lieve that  every  one  who  receives  these  plants  and 
grows  the   fruit  will   hold   The   Tribune  in  kindly  re- 


membrance for  enabling  him  to  enjoy  such  a  good  gift  of 
a  kind  Providence,  and  will  thereafter  feel  an  increased 
desire  to  improve  all  the  list  of  fruits.  It  is  thus  that 
health  and  happiness  will  be  increased. 

As  these  plants  have  all  to  be  grown  from  the  few 
plants  that  we  bought  of  Mr.  Fuller  in  the  Autumn  of 
1S62,  he  will  not  he  able  to  send  them  to  subscribers  until 
after  the  1st  of  September,  1863,  when  they  will  be  care- 
fully packed  in  oiled  silk  or  paper,  and  forwarded, 
through  the  mail,  at  our  expense,  or  by  express  at  ex- 
pense of  the  receiver.  The  three  plants  will  be  sent  to 
each  person  who  sends  to  us  a  year's  subscription  for 
either  the  Daily,  Setni-Weekly,  or  Weekly  Tribune,  in- 
dicating at  the  time  of  subscribing  that  he  desires  the 
Strawberries,  and  the  distribution  will 'be  made  in  the 
order  the  subscribers'  names  and  requests  for  Strawber- 
ries are  received. 

Single  subscribers  will  receive  their  plants  by  mail, 
done  up  in  (died  silk,  or  other  suitable  oiled  substance. 

To  Clubs,  plants  will  be  sent  in  packages,  to  corres- 
pond with  the  number  of  names  in  the  Club  ;  anil  where 
the  number  will  warrant  it,  they  will  be  sent  by  express, 
packed  in  boxes. 

New  subscribers  who  desire  strawherry  plants  should 
say  so  at  the  time  they  send  their  money,  as  we  do  not 
Intend  to  send  any  to  those  who  will  not  appreciate  them. 
They  are  too  valuable  to  be  wasted.  There  are  parties 
who  would  gladly  contract  for  Iho  exclusive  right  to  all 


these  plants,  at  25  cents  a  piece,  and  there  are  many  sub- 
scribers who  would  not,  as  soon  as  they  see  and  tasle  the 
fruit,  part  with  their  prize  fur  a  $5   "green  back." 

HOW     THESE     NEW    STRAWBERRIES    WERE 

PRODUCED. 

The  following  statement  is  made  by  Andrew  S.  Fuller, 
horticulturist,  Brooklyn,  the  originator  of  these  straw- 
berries.    He  says : 

"  It  is  now  between  seven  and  eight  years  since  I  com- 
menced sowing  seeds  of  the  strawberry  for  the  purpose 
of  producing  new  and  improved  varieties.  I  have  always 
selected  seeds  from  the  largest  and  best  that  could  be  ob- 
tained, and  the  results  were  that  I  produced  some  few 
good  varieties  each  season  ;  yet  they  were  not  such  as  I 
was  willing  should  go  out  as  my  seedlings  Every  sear 
sim  I  selected  the  seed  with  more  care  than  I  did  (he  pre- 
vious one,  and  found  that  I  made  constant  improvement. 
I  therefore  determined  that  I  would  put  forth  extraexer- 
tions  and  see  if  a  few  extra  choice  varieties  could  not  be 
produced;  In  1859  I  obtained  the  best  varieties  known, 
and  by  fertilizing  the  flowers  one  with  another,  I  expected 
to  produce  strawberries  combining  greater  excellence 
than  heretofore  known.  In  this  I  was  not  disappointed. 
I  produced  that  year  many  thousands  of  seedling  plants, 
and  the  fruit  of  many  was  really  excellent,  so  much  so 
that  I  was  urged  not  to  throw  the  plants  away;  but  as 
excellence,  and  not  variety,  was  my  object,  I  destroyed 
all  but  the  most  promising.  I  determined  from  the  first 
thai  no  plant  should  go  out  as  a  seedling  of  mine  unless  it 
combined  greater  excellence  than  any  other  strawberry 
known.  From  Ibe  selections  of  that  year  a  competent 
Committee  from  the  Farmers'  Club  of  the  American  In- 
stitute, who  had  the  matter  three  years  in  charge,  made  a 
selection  of  three  soils,  ripening  early,  medium  and  late, 
and  these  I  preserved  as  the  final  result  of  my  seven 
years*  laborious  experiments  to  procure  improvement  in 
strawberries  from  seeds.  These  I  intended  to  dispose  of 
in  the  ordinary  way  of  a  nurseryman's  business,  and 
should  have  done  so  but  for  the  desire  of  The  Tribunh 
to  make  a  gratuitous  distribution  of  these  truly  excellent 
strawberries  to  its  subscribers.  I  have  therefore  con- 
tracted to  furnish  them  exclusively  for  that  purpose. 
Not  one  of  them  can  be  bought  of  me  at  any  price.  If  I 
had  kept  them  for  sale  to  individuals  the  price  would 
have  been  50  cents  each,  or  $5  a  dozen." 

NAMES     AND    DESCRIPTIONS    OF    THE    PRIZE 

STRAWBERRIES. 

"The  eailiest  ripening  one  was  named  Col.  Ells- 
worth,  in  honor  of  the  martyr  who  lost  his  life  when 
Alexandria,  Va.,  was  first  occupied  by  the  "Union  army 
dining  the  present  war.  It  is  a  very  large  variety,  of  a 
crimson  color,  conical  in  shape,  and  having  slight  dc- 
pressichs  running  from  calyx  to  point,  resembling  the 
sutures  on  the  peach,  with  a  long  neck,  and  the  calyx 
parts  readily  from  the  berry  ;  quality  good  ;  flesh  firm. 
Although  the  largest  of  the  three,  it  is  also  the  earliest, 
ripening  at  the  same  lime  as  the  Jenny  Lind  and  Early 
Scarlet,  and  is  very  productive.  The  original  plant, 
eighteen  months  from  the  time  the  seeds  were  sown,  pro- 
duced over  200  perfect  berries,  averaging  from  1  inch  to 
\Ji  inches  in  diameter. 

"The  next  ripening  is  called  the  Monitor.  It  Is  very 
large,  of  a  dark  bright  scarlet  color,  approaching  a  crim- 
son in  the  sun.  Berry  very  solid  and  firm,  of  fine  quality  ; 
plants  very  vigorous  and  productive.  This  sort  wili  be- 
come a  great  market  fruit,  the  color  and  shape  being 
very  attractive. 

"The  third,  from  its  color  and  origin,  is  called  the 
Brooklyn  Scarlet.  Although  this  variety  is  inferior  in 
size  lo  the  other  two,  yet  it  possesses  merits  that  will  al- 
ways make  it  a  great  favorite.  Its  shape  is  a  regulai  ob- 
long rone,  color  the  most  beautiful  bright  scarlet.  Fla- 
vor, the  very  best.  We  have  the  unanimous  decision  of 
the  judges  at  the  great  strawberry  show  last  season 
at  No.  41  Park-Row,  New-York,  on  this  point,  as  they 
awarded  it  the  first  premium  over  all  its  numerous  com- 
petitors. The  plant  is  a  very  strong  and  vigorous  grow- 
er, making  monstrous  stools  the  first  season,  from  which 
an  enormous  amount  of  fruit  stalks  are  produced.  Add 
to  this  its  lateness,  which  assists  so  much  in  prolonging 
the  season  of  this  delicious  fruit,  and  we  have  in  this 
strawberry  something  as  near  perfection  as  possible, 
though  not  as  large  as  the  others.  Yet  this  is  not  small, 
and  among  the  sorts  most  cultivated,  ranks  medium  to 
large." 

The  above  descriptions  by  Mr.  Fuller,  in  addition  to  all 
that  we  have  already  published,  must  be  sufficient  lo  sat- 
isfy all  minds  that  we  are  offering  no  trifling  prize  to  our 
subscribers,  as  an  indicalion  of  our  good  will,  and  certain 
ly  with  a  hope  of  their  continued  good  will  to  us. 

We  have  only  to  add  that  Ihe  cuts  are  as  exact  repre- 
sentations as  to  size,  as  can  be  givpn,  and  In  no  respect 
exaggerations  of  The  Tribune  Prize  Strawberries. 


10-2 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


Contents  for  June,  1863. 

Advertisements— Explanation...   Ififl 

Bass  wood  Bark  for  Tying 1  ~'J 

Beans — Cultivation 177 

Bed-Clothing— To  Keep  on  Children 181 

Beef — Di  rem  ions  for  Caring 183 

Bees — Apiary  in  June 1C»4 

Bees — Experience  with  Italian 17 "3 

jJtHir-|iieis— Arranging 180 

Boys  :ind  Girls1  Columns— Puzzles  and  Problems— 
Only  a  Bunch  of  Roses— We  Believe  in  Fortune- 
Telling— Boys  and  Girl's  Garden— No.  3—8  //<..] 83 -5 

Biilter— Storing  Under  Ground 18! 

Cabbages— Earl  v  Cure  Needed 172 

I  'a  rpels — Sweeping 183 

Cooking  Hints— Charlotte  Russe  Pudding— Rice  Pud- 
ding—Apple Pudding— Suet  Pudding 183 

Corks— How  lo  Fasten Illustrated.  .182 

(Torn  Coverer Illustrated.  .173 

Corn  Raising  in  Connecticut 173 

Crop  Prospects 168 

Dish  Pan-»-Im  proved Illustrated   .1S1 

Door- Creaking— To  Cure 183 

Evergreens — Minis  on  Planting 179 

Farm  Work  in  June    Ifil 

Flax-Growers — Interesting  to 177 

Flower  Garden  and  Lawn  in  June 163 

Flowers — Strelitzia  Regiiife Illustrated.  .ISO 

Foliage— Variegated—  Coieus  Verschaffeltii. ,  fZlltslr. .  160 

Garden— Fm It  and  Kitchen,  in  June     102 

Ginger  Described Illustrated.  .181 

Gooseberry — The  Best  Native 179 

Green  and  Hot  Houses  in  June id l 

II  a  v-  Fie  Id — Going  to Illustrated..  176 

Hedge— A  Perfect 173 

Help— Farm,  Wanted  and  Coming 168 

Horses — Prevention  of  Cribbing 171 

Humbug— A  New  One 177 

Implements— Suggestions 168 

Inserts— Curculio  Talk  at  Fruit-Growers'  Meeting, ..  164 

Insects — Scale  on  Apple  Trees Illustrated.  .178 

Insects — Squash  Vine  Borer Illustrated.  .173 

Jewel rv  Humbug — Hints  on  Wearing  . . .  182 

Lamp  Chimneys— Mica 183 

Manure— Night  Soil  of  New-York  City  ..Illustrated.  A6Q 

Manure  Sheds 172 

Market  Review  .. Ifi5 

Mi  Ik- Pans— Which  are  Best  ?    Experiments 181 

Missing  Hills— Replanting 175 

Orchard  and  Nursery  in  June 1 01 

Orchards— Cultivating 178 

Peaches — How  to  Raise . .  178 

Pitch- Forks— Morse-Power 17G 

poultry— Black  Spanish  Fowls Illustrated     172 

Rabbits — To  keep  from  gnawing  Trees ]f<i 

Rats— Making  Buildings  Rat- Proof 174 

Hals— What  lo  Ho  With  Them Ifia 

Refrigerators— Economy  in  Ice 182 

Roots— Cultivate  for  Stock 177 

91  h  ep—  Management  in  Minnesota 170 

Sheep— Cure  of  Foot-Rot 171 

Sheep— Shall  they  be  Washed  ? 170 

Sheep— Small- Pox  in 171 

Shirt-Bosoms— How  to  Polish 182 

Strawberry  Exhibition  at  Agriculturist  Office 104 

Strawberries — Planning  For 173 

Strawberries,  etc.— Preserving ......188 

Suggestions  and  Notes  for  June Illustrated. .  161 

Tim  Bunker  on  Sheep-Traps 170 

Transplanting— Why  and  How , ..    175 

Vinegar  from  Clover 183 

Vines  in  the  Flower  Garden 1st) 

Weather — Precautions  Against 178 

Weeds — Multiplication  of — Interesting  Figures 175 

Weeds— Talks  About .- 171 

Weighing  Machine  for  Carts Illustrated.  .173 

INDEX  TO  "BASKET,"  OR  SHORTER  ARTICLES. 

Agriculturist  Necessary  16G1  Horses — Scratches  in  ...167 

Aikekengi 165JHunga.  Grass  for  Sheep  166 

Apple  Tiees— Diseased   167[Ice-Cream  in  Four  Min.165 
Aquat,  Plant— Desirable. 166  Insects'  Eggs  Named.  ..167 

Asparagus  Beetle   I6R!lnsects  in  Australia 167 

Barometer— Best,  Cheap  1651  Insects  on  Fruit  Trees..  167 
Bees — Chloroforming  . .  .167  Insects  on  Pine  Trees  ..167 

Bees — Prolific lfifi'Insects  on  Roses 167 

Blackbirds 1661  Insects— Striped  Rug  ...167 

Rones— Dissolving 166  Insects— To  Repel 166 

Books— Prices  of 168IJ  nu  in  al— Weekly 166 

Botany— Gray's  Manual.  I6S: Lice— Sulphur  for 167 

Box— Propagating 167  Lizards  Harmless 167 

Brood  Mares I67l Maple  Syrup  for  Wine..  165 

Cauliflowers    .  —  1651  Maple  Sugar— Good 166 

Cellars— Cementing  . .  . .  167  Microscope— Craig 165 

Cherries  from  Seed  .....  167 1  Money — Investing 168 

Corn  and  Wool 167, Mules— Kicking 167 

Correspondents— Note  to.  165  Orchard  Profitable 167 

Cow  Nursing  Pigs   166  Osage  Orange 167 

Cows— Defective  Teats   167  Plants  for  Names   165 

Currycomb  in  Summer.  167  Posts— Black  Walnut  ..166 

Dairyman's  Book    165! Premiums— Close  of. 165 

Death  of  Dr.  Darlington. 168  Printing  in  Colors 166 

Dictionary  Postage 166  Quince  Trees    167 

Eggs—  Choice  166 !  Raisins  -Making 166 

Eggs — Dislingiiish'g  Sex  166  Scorzonera      ...    166 

Exhibition— Hamburg. .    168J Seeding  Stony  Land 165 

Fibres— Native lf.5  Sheep  Book 166 

Flax  Manual 166, Sheep — No.  per  Acre    .    lf>7 

Flower  Pots 165  Shrubs—  Propagating  ...167 

Frilll   Ihe  First  Season     167 j Silk  —  Domestic 165 

Fruits— Recognizing  .  ..167  Sorgho  Syrup J66 

..167  Squashes— Striped  Bugs.] 66 
.    167  Stone-Galher'g  Machine.166 

..167  Strawberry  Mulch 166 

Grapes  on  a  Rock  Heap.  166  Strawberry  Show 165 

Grapes— Trouble  With..  165  Strawberries—  Pistillate.  165 

Grasshoppers.,   167  Tree- Chopp'g  Machine..  166 

Ground  Cherry 166  Trees— Puddling  ...  ....135 

Grubs— Rooting  Out  ....166  Trees-Resuscitating      .166 

Hens— Silling lfi'lTrees— Standard.  Dwarfl66 

Hog-Ring— Patent 167JTribune  Strawberries.. .  165 

Holocantha 1 00  Vines— Deep  Planting.. .  167 

Horse-Cleaner I6fi|Watering  Apparatus 165 

Horsekeeper's  Book  ....167| Woman  Farming 1G5 


Grape  Vine— Prolific 
Grapes— Designating  . 
Grapes  in  April . 


For  June,  July,  and  August  Only. 
JL    SPLENDID 

Special  Premium. 

We  know  that  a  good  Barometer  is  a  good  thing-  for 
every  family.  To  the  sailor  a  barometer  is  almost  essen- 
tial, and  the  instrument  is  scarcely  less  valuable  for 
Fanners.  It  will  pay  a  large  interest  on  its  cost  every 
year,  and  very  often  more  than  pay  for  itself  in  the  sav- 
ing of  a  single  crop  from  damage  by  storm.  We  have 
received  many  testimonials  to  this  effect,  from  those  who 
have  received  barometers  through  our  premium  list,  and 
our  own  experience  has  often  demonstrated  the  usefulness 
of  the  instrument  in  foreshadowing  the  coming  storm,  as 
well  as  the  approach  or  continuance  of  fine  weather,  when 
alt  appearances  were  in  the 
contrary  direction.  AVe 
have  hitherto  given  as  a  pre- 
mium the  Aneroid  Barome- 
ter, because  more  portable 
and  more  readily  sent  by  ex- 
press or  otherwise  than  the 
common  mercurial  barom- 
eter. But  for  the  danger  of 
breakage,  we  should  of 
course  prefer  any  good 
Mercurial  Barometer  as  be- 
ing the  most  nicely  accu- 
rale  and  unfailingly  perma- 
nent. This  danger  of  break- 
age is  now  obviated  in  the 
invention  of  Mr.  Woodruff, 
manufactured  by  Charles 
Wilder  at  Peterboro,  N.  II. 
The  glass  tube  is  well  pro- 
tected, and  what  is  of  great 
importance,  and  is  indeed 
the  distinguishing  feature 
of  the  invention,  is  an  ar- 
rangement by  which  the 
turning  of  a  screw  secures 
the  mercury  perfectly  a- 
gainst  motion  in  the  tube, 
which   has  been  the  chief 


Fig.  1. 


Fig.  2. 


cause  of  breakage  in  transporting  mercurial  barome- 
ters. This  new  arrangement  is  so  perfect,  that  with  his 
improved  mode  of  double  boxing,  the  manufactur- 
er now  offers  to  guarantee  the  safe  carriage  of  each 
instrument  we  may  order,  and  to  make  good  any  chance 
loss.  This  guarantee  places  this  barometer  first,  and 
we  recommend    it    above     all    others   for  general  use. 

The  barometers  are  of  different  forms  and  prices,  rang- 
ing from  $5  to  §20,  the  price  depending  upon  the  style  of 
finish.  The  tubes  and  working  apparatus  of  those  costing 
$8  to  $20  are  the  same,  and  are  supplied  with  inclosed 
thermometer,  vernier,  etc.  Fig  1.  shows  the  $8  form. 
Fig.  2.  is  the  $12  form,  put  in  walnut  or  mahagony  case, 
as  desired.  They  are  both  neatly  made,  the  $12  size  being 
of  course  the  most  ornamental,  and  the  preferable  instru- 
ment on  this  account. 

We  are  glad  also  to  announce  that  we  have  made  a 
special  advertising  arrangement  with  Mr.  Wilder  (to  con- 
tinue only  from  June  1st,  to  August  31st,;  by  which  these 
good  barometers  can  be  supplied  as  premiums,  on  terms 
that  will  place  them  within  reach  of  many  of  our  readers. 

Here  is  our  offer  (the  instruments  to  be  sent  direct 
from  the  manufactory  by  express,  and  their  good  qual- 
ity and  safe  delivery  warranted  by  the  manufacturer, 
which  guarantee  we  agree  to  see  made  good)  :  — 

1st.—  The  $8  Barometer  (Fig.  1)  will  bepresent- 
ed  (with  the  guarantee  as  above)  to  any  person  who  shall,  be- 
tween June  1st  and  August  3)st.  send  fourteen  subscrib- 
ers to  the  American  Agriculturist  at  $1  a  year.  (The  sub- 
scriptions to  date  January  or  July  1S63.)  See  next  column. 

2nd.— Xlie  $12  Barometer  (Fig.  2)  will  be  pre- 
sented (with  the  above  guaiantce)  to  any  person  who  shall. 


between  June  }st.  and  August  SIst,  send  twenty  sub- 
scribers to  the  Agriculturist  at  $1  a  year.  (The  sub- 
scriptions to  date  January  or  July  1663. 

N.B.  The  subscribers  can  be  sent  in  at  any  time  be- 
tween June  1st,  and  August  31st:  but  each  name  for  the 
special  premium  should  be  specially  noted  as  for  this. 

H3P3  This  premium  Is  special,  and  applies  only  to  sub- 
scribers received  after  June  1st,  and  before  August  51st. 

N.  B.     Any  person  who  desires  lo  get  his  barometer 

at  once,  for  use  during  the  haying  season,  or  otherwise, 
can  send  the  amount  (§14  or  $20)  and  receive  his  Instru- 
ment, and  then  forward  the  names  before  August  31st. 
HIT"  The  subscriptions  for  the  above  premiums  may 
date  January  1st,  or  July  1st,  that  Is,  at  the  beginning  or 
middle  of  the  volume.  Any  back  numbers  will  be  supplied. 

■ ■*— m«m        — 

Strawberry    Premiums, 

EXTRA, 

Last  Summer  we  distributed  40,000  Strawberry  plants 
as  premiums,(lOormore  for  each  new  subscriber,)  sending 
them  to  all  parts  of  the  country  with  remarkable  success. 
The  postage  on  plants  will  be  reduced  one-half  after 
July  1,  and  we  propose  to  send  out  some  more  good 
strawberry-plants,  of  the  very  best  varieties  that  we  can 
obtain,  as  premiums  lo  those  w  ho  will  during  the  month 
of  June  procure  and  forward  subscribers  to  the  present 
volume  of  the  Agriculturist,  at  $1  a  year.  The  Tri- 
omphe  de  Gand  will  be  distributed,  in  part,  if  nothing 
better  or  more  desirable  Is  found.  In  July,  or  aftei 
seeing  the  fruit  and  observing  the  plants  this  season,  we 
will  announce  what  kinds  will  be  sent  out.  The 
plants  will  be  distributed  at  the  p-oper  planting  season, 
from  the  last  of  August  to  about  October  1st.  ;  the  time 
of  sending  will  depend  upon  the  season,  and  upon  the 
locality  to  which  they  are  to  go.  Those  desiring  lite 
strawberry  premiums  will  please  name  the  fact  when 
sending  in  subscribers,  that  their  names  may  be  put 
down  for  that  purpose,  and  they  may  feel  assured  that 
they  will  be  liberally  dealt  with — at  least  as  well  as  in 
the  strawberry  distribution  so  acceptable  last  year. 

Grape  Vine  Premiums.— We  have  about 

2000  Delaware  and  Concord  Grape  Vines  now  planted  out 
and  growing  finely,  all  of  which  we  can  well  use  on  our 
own  grounds.  But  as  we  have  made  it  a  point  lo  raise 
the  subscription  list  to  the  highest  possible  limit  before 
the  middle  of  the  volume,  we  still  offer  to  send  one  oi 
these  vines  in  Autumn  (safely  packed,  and  carriage  pre- 
paid") to  any  one  who  will  during  this  month  (June)  pro- 
cure a  new  subscriber  for  1863  at  $1.  The  vines  will  be 
sent  at  the  proper  time  in  Autumn,  when  they  will  have 
had  two  seasons'  growth.  (We  have  distributed  5000 
vines  this  Spring,  all  of  which  we  hope  are  doing  well.) 


American   Agriculturist. 

For  (lie  Farm,  Garden,  ami   Household. 

A  THOTtouoH-noiNo,  RELIABLE,  and  PRACTICAL 
Journal,  devoted  to  the  different  departments  of  SOIL 
CULTURE — such  as  growing  field  CROPS  ;  orchard 
and  oardkn  FRUITS;  garden  VEGETABLES  and 
FLOWERS;  trees,  plants,  and  flowers  for  the 
LAWN  or  YARD;  care  of  DOMESTIC  ANIMALS, 
eh-.,  and  to  HOUSEHOLD  LABORS,  with  an  interesting, 
instructive  department  for  CHILDREN  and  YOUTH. 

The     Editors    are    all  practical  WORKING  MEN. 

The  teachings  of  the  AGRICULTURIST  are  confinrd  to  no 
Sfate  or  Territory,  but  are  adapted  to  all  sections  of  the 
country— it    is    for     the   whole    American    Continent. 

A  German  edition  is  puhlished.  of  the  same  size 
and  price  as  the  English,  and  containing  all  of  its  reading 
matter,  and   also  its   numerous   illustrative  engravings. 

TERMS INVARIABLY     IN     ADVANCE, 

(For  either  the  English  or  German  Edition.) 

One  copy,  one  year $1  00 

Six  copies,  one  year 6  no 

Ten  or  more  copies  one  year 80  cents  each. 

£5pAdd  to  the  above  rates:  Postage  to  Canada,  6  cents; 
to  England  and  France,  24  cents  ;   to  Germany,  36  cents. 

Postage  anywhere  in  the  United  States  and  Territories 
must  be  paid  bv  the  subscriber,  and  is  only  six  rents  a 
ytar,  if  paid  in  advance  at  the  office  where  It  is  received. 

All  business  and  other  communications  should  he  ad- 
dressed to  the  Editor  and  Proprietor, 

ORANGE  JUDD,  41  Park-Row,  New  York  Cltr. 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST, 

FOR   THE 

Farm,    Grarden,    and   Household. 


"AGRICULTURE  IS  THE  MOST  IIEALTIIFUL,  MOST  USEFUL,  AN"  MOST  NOBLE  EMPLOYMENT  OF  MAN."- «•„„„„,, 


ORANGE     JUDD,     A.M.,   ) 

EDITOR    AND    PBOPEIETOK.  > 

Office,   *1  Park;  Row,    (Times  Buildings.)  ) 


ESTABLISHED  IN  1842. 

Pnhlishcd  both  in  English,  and  German. 


I  $1.00    PER  ANNUM,    IN  ADVANCE 
j         SINGLE  NUMBEK,  10  CENTS, 
t  For  Contents,  Terms,  etc.,  sec  page  324. 


VOLUME  XXII— No.  7. 


NEW-YORK,     JULY,     1803. 


NEW  SERIES— No.  198. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1S63,  by 
Oi:an-(;k  .Jimp,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of 
tlir  fJnited  States  for  the  Southern  District  of  New-York. 
r£'-<Hhi.T  J.iu.nals  are  invited  to  copy  desirable  articles 
freely,  pencil  article  be  credited  to  American  Agriculturist. 


Suggestions   and  Notes  for  the  Month- 

Summer  reigns.  The  beautiful  clays  of  June, 
like  lovely  maidens,  scattered  roses  in  the  path 
as  the  advancing  season,  journeyed  from  its 
Southern  home,  and  now  July  places  the  regal 
harvest  crown  upon  its  head.  Oriental  splen- 
dor never  equalled  the  gorgeousness  of  its  court. 
Field  and  forest  are  waving  triumphal  banners, 
and  earth  refulgent  with  golden  sunshine  is  a 
lit  palace  for  the  glorious  monarch.  But  with 
the  blaze  of  royalty  comes  also  something  of  its 
oppressiveness.  The  air  trembles  with  the 
waves  of  the  sultry  tide,  and  nature  would  fain 
seek  friendly  shelter  from  the  noon-day  glare. 
It  is  unwise  for  man  to  neglect  the  teachings  of 
animal  instinct,  and  while  beast  and  bird  hide 
themselves  in  the  forest  until  the  fierceness  of 
the  sunshine  is  abated,  he  too  should  rest  from 
his  labors.  Want  of  time  need  be  no  excuse  for 
imprudent  exposure  and  exhausting  labor,  when, 
as  often  occurs  the  heat  rises  to  above  90°.  Let 
the  labors  of  the  harvest  commence  with  the 
early  dawn,  be  suspended  during  the  oppressive 
mid-day,  resumed  as  the  sun  declines,  and  con- 
tinue while  the  light  remains,  and  more  can  be 
accomplished  with  greater  ease,  and  with  no 
danger  of  sun  stroke  or  exhaustion.  Men  should 
be  merciful  to  themselves  as  well  as  to  their 
cattle,  and  they  will  find  it  no  less  profitable. 

The  amount  and  influence  of  heat  derived  by 
the  earth  from  the  sun,  form  an  interesting  topic 
of  thought  for  a  noon-day  rest,  and  as  many 
cultivators  will  look  to  the  Agriculturist  for  in- 
structive entertainment  on  such  occasions,  we 
will  note  a  few  facts  on  the  subject.  The 
average  amount  of  heat  received  from  this 
source  year  by  year,  has  been  quite  accurately 
determined  by  scientific  observations.  Youmans 
states  that  it  has  been  found  by  careful  measure- 
ment, that  the  quantity  of  solar  heat  which  falls 
upon  a  square  foot  of  the  earth's  surface  in  a 
year,  would  be  sufficient  to  melt  5,400  lbs.  of 


ice;  and  as  a  cubic  foot  of  ice  weighs  5-1  lbs., 
the  heat  thus  annually  received,  would  melt  a 
column  of  it  100  feet  high;  or  in  other  words,  if 
the  globe  were  encased  in  ice  100  feet  thick,  the 
heat  from  the  sun  would  cause  it  to  disappear 
in  a  single  year.  It  is  true  this  heat  is  unequal- 
ly distributed,  for  the  earth  moves  in  such 
a  position  with  reference  to  the  sun,  that  the 
rays  of  the  latter  strike  less  directly  and  conse- 
quently with  less  intensity  upon  different  parts 
of  the  surface.  Were  this  not  the  case,  climate 
would  be  the  same  in  all  latitudes.  All  coun- 
tries would  produce  the  same  animals  and  vege- 
tables, and  races  of  men  would  iu  time  be  almost 
wholly  assimilated.  But  the  design  of  the 
the  Creator  was  diversity  as  well  as  harmony, 
and  by  the  present  arrangement  we  have  the 
luxuriant  vegetation,  luscious  fruits,  mammoth 
animals,  and  fiery  but  unenduring  men  of  the 
tropics ;  the  useful  trees,  grains,  and  animals, 
and  enterprising  races  of  the  temperate  zones, 
and  the  stunted  growth  of  far  northern  life ; 
each  fulfilling  the  conditions  of  its  own  sphere, 
and  each  capable  of  administering  to  the  gene- 
ral good.  It  is  left  to  the  industry  of  man  to 
make  the  stores  of  these  different  climates  sub- 
servient to  his  own  needs,  and  thus  a  constant 
stimulus  is  given  to  his  energies.  The  wheat 
now  falling  before  the  reaper  in  the  great  West, 
will  feed  the  operators  in  European  workshops, 
and  in  return  bring  their  wares  to  the  door  of 
the  cultivator.  Thus,  though  climate  causes 
diversity,  provision  is  made  also  for  the  brother- 
hood of  the  race,  and  the  great  law  of  harmony 
is  complete.  Happy  will  it  be  for  the  world 
when  its  working  shall  be  developed  according 
to  the  design  of  the  Great  Lawgiver. 


Work   for   the   Farm,    Household,    etc. 

It  too  frequently  occurs  that  haying  and  har- 
vesting, which  cannot  be  delayed  without  loss, 
require  attention  before  the  hoed  crops  have 
been  thoroughly  worked.  The  backwardness 
of  the  season  will  be  likely  to  intensify  this  state 
of  things  the  present  year,  and  it  should  be  pro- 
vided against.  Make  thorough  work  in  the 
corn  field,  even  if  it  be  necessary  to  employ 
extra  help  at  high  cost.  Weeds  left  now  will 
grow  rapidly,  and  not  only  seriously  diminish 
the  yield  of  grain,  but  ripen  their  seed,  and  cause 
much  hard  work  to  subdue  them  another  season. 
It  is  essential  that  the  soil  be  left  loose  and  mel- 
low, that  the  roots  may  find  their  way  through 
it  easily,  and  that  plenty  of  air  and  moisture  may 
be  supplied,  which  are  especially  needed  in  hot 
weather.  A  well  tilled  field  will  continue  to 
grow  during  a  drouth  that  would  greatly  injure 
corn  standing  on   a  compact,   unbroken  soil. 

Endeavor  to  engage  plenty  of  help  before  the 
busy  time  commences.  The  iron  muscles  of 
the  mower  and  reaper  are  more  profitable  and 
more  easily  managed  than  human  laborers. 
The  horse  pitchfork  will  be  equivalent  to  one 


or  more  extra  hands.  At  no  time  of  the  year  is 
more  care  needed  to  prevent  loss  of  health  by 
over-work,  and  true  economy  requires  that 
whenever  possible,  enough  hell)  should  be  se- 
cured to  prevent  a  danger  from  this  source. 
Barns  and  Sheds  if  not  already  in  order  to 
receive  crops,  should  be  attended  to  now.  Have 
ladders  or  other  conveniences  at  hand  for  as- 
cending mows  and  stacks.  Read  suggestions 
under  this  head  in  last  month's  calendar.  Pro- 
tect such  building's  with  lightning-rods,  and  also 
keep  them  well  insured  against   loss   by  fire. 

Bees. — Important  directions  for  their  manage- 
ment are  given  on  another  page,  under  "Apiary." 

Buckioheat. — Sow  where  corn  has  failed,  and 
on  new,  or  pasture  land  to  be  devoted  to  winter 
grain.  A  few  acres  with  this  crop  may  add 
largely  to  the  profits  of  the  year.  The  grain 
will  be  excellent  ground  with  oats  for  feeding 
stock  iu  the  Fall,  or  will  find  a  ready  market 
when  manufactured  into  flour.  Read  "Buck- 
wheat versus  Summer  Fallow,"  on   page   203. 

Butter-malting  in  hot  weather  requires  extra 
care.  The  milk  room  should  if  possible  he  kept 
at  a  temperature  not  above  60°,  by  the  use  of 
ice  or  by  cold  spring  water  running  through  the 
room.  If  cellars  are  used  for  dairying  purposes, 
keep  them  clean  and  sweet  by  frequent  while- 
washing,  and  ventilate  freely.  Allow  nothing 
having  strong  odor  to  remain  in  the  vicinity. 
The  barrel  for  sour  milk,  whey,  etc.,  to  be  fed 
to  swine,  should  never  be  allowed  in  the  milk 
room.  In  sending  butter  to  market,  keep  it 
shaded  from  the  sun ;  freshly  cut  grass,  slightly 
moistened,  is  a  good  material  in  which  to  pack 
the  tubs.  Keep  all  utensils  perfectly  clean  and 
sweet,  with  the  tinned  ware  scoured  bright. 

Cabbages  may  be  cultivated  with  profit  as 
food  for  stock  and  poultry,  or  for  market  when 
accessible.  Transplant  to  ground  from  which 
early  potatoes  are  taken  this  month,  and 
sow  seed  now  to  have  plenty  of  young  plants  in 
readiness   when  they  are  wanted  for  late. 

Cattle  for  fattening  next  Fall  should  have  a 
good  start  by  being  allowed  full  pasture  dur- 
ing summer.  There  should  be  free  access  to 
water.  If  pasture  for  milch  cows  be  short,  feed 
night  and  morning  with  cut  grass,  clover,  or 
millet,  corn,  etc.,  from  the  ground  devoted  to 
that  purpose.  Calves  will  thrive  well  upon  a 
good  growth  of  clover  with  little  other  feed. 

Cheese  is  more  easily  managed  than  butter 
during  the  extreme  hot  season,  and  often  more 
profitable.  Read  suggestions  given  on  page  206. 

Draining. — Observe  where  water  stands  dur- 
ing summer,  and  prepare  for  draining  as  soon 
as  practicable.  The  low  marshy  portions  of 
some  farms  contain  its  most  valuable  land,  if 
properly  reclaimed.  Diy  weather  is  best  for 
draining  if  there  be  time  and  help  sufficient  to 
attend  to  it.    Surplus  capital  can  at  any  time  be 


194 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[July, 


profitably  invested  in  this  paying  improvement. 
fences.— Keep  in  order,  especially  on  farm  lines, 
by  the  roadside  and  adjoining  grain  fields  and 
meadows.  A  broken  rail  replaced  may  save 
great  damage  to  a  field  of  wheat,  corn,  or  oats. 

Grain.— Harvest  wheat  and  rye  just  as  the  grain 
Is  passing  well  out  of   the  milk.      See  page  201. 

Grass  and  Clover  Seed.— Save  enough  of  the  best 
growth,  when  it  is  free  from  weeds,  for  a  full  sup- 
ply. Pull  out  all  foreign  plants,  and  harvest  before 
sufficiently  ripe  to  loose  by  shelling  out.  There  is 
great  room  for  improvement  in  grass,  by  selection 
of  the  earliest  and  best  seed  each  successive  year. 

Hay. — Cut  when  it  contains  the  most  nourish- 
ment. Kead  "Hints  for  Haying  Time"  on  page 
303.  Secure  all  under  cover  when  practicable.  If 
6tacks  must  be  made,  keep  them  from  the  ground 
by  laying  upon  timber  and  rails,  and  erect  temporary 
movable  roofs,  or  thatch  with  straw.  Better  stack 
grain  than  hay,  if  there  be  sheds  for  only  one. 

Sedge  Rows,  and  scattered  bushes  may  be  sub- 
dued by  repeated  cuttings  in  hot  weather.  Allow 
none  to  disfigure  the  farm  and  give  shelter  to  weeds, 
mice,  and  other  nuisances. 

Hoeing  should  be  continued  as  long  as  practica- 
ble. Employ  horse  labor  when  possible.  Cultivate 
lightly,  in  order  not  to  destroy  the  roots. 

Manure  Makijig  should  receive  constant  attention. 
Kead  article  on  page  303. 

Meadows  too  closely  cut  often  receive  much 
damage  by  exposure  of  the  roots  to  the  burning 
6un,  especially  upon  light  soil.  A  liberal  top-dress- 
ing of  fine  barn  yard  manure  will  prevent  this,  and 
stimulate  the  new  growth  for  abundant  fall  feed,  or 
for  a  second  mowing.  Remove  all  stones  and 
other  obstructions  which  cause  60  much  annoyance 
while  gathering  the  crop.  Keep  out  all  stock 
uulil  the  grass  is  again    6trongly   re-established. 

Oats. — Cut  as  directed  forwheatand  rye,  cure  the 
straw  thoroughly  and  store  under  cover.  If  pro- 
perly secured,  the  straw  is  valuable   for  feeding. 

Pastures  suffer  very  severely  if  fed  too  closely 
during  hot  weather,  so  that  the  roots  are  burned  by 
the  sunshine.  Keep  no  more  stock  than  can  be  well 
fed,  and  at  the  same  time  allow  the  grass  lands  to 
remain  iu  good  condition.  A  mulching  of  straw 
upon  failing  spots  would  often  be  of  great  service  ■ 
but  reseeding  is  trie  only  remedy  where  the  grass  has 
been  supplanted  by  weeds.  A  crop  of  buckwheat 
will  aid  in  subduing  these,  and  will  prepare  the 
ground  for  seeding  with   rye  in  the  Fall. 

Poultry  should  be  kept  from  the  grain  fields  until 
after  harvest;  then  they  will  glean  enongh  to  bring 
them  into  fine  condition  for  laying,  or  for  the  table. 

Jblatoes. — Dig  and  market  early  varieties  as  soon 
as  practicable,  while  they  command  good  prices. 
The  ground  may  then  be  devoted  to  turnips  and 
late  cabbages.  Hoeing  of  later  sorts  should  be  fin- 
ished before  they  blossom.  High  hilling  is  not 
advisable.  It  induces  the  formation  of  new  tubers 
along  the  part  of  the  stock  covered,  and  prevents 
the  growth  of  those  already  formed.  It  is  better 
to  plant  rather  deep  at  first,  and  then  leave  the  sur- 
face nearly  or  quite  flat.  If  the  rot  appear  when 
the  tubers  are  ripening,  dig  and  dispose  of  them  at 
once,   that    they   may  be  used   before  decaying. 

Seed  Wheat,  Rye,  etc. — Read  article  on  page  301. 

Sheep. — Keep  them  iu  good  condition  by  allowing 
full  pasture,  and  providing  for  access  to  water. 
Give  them  Bait  weekly.     Watch  against  foot   rot. 

Sorghum,  Mdlet,  or  Corn  may  still  be  sown  for 
feeding  late  iu  the  season,  or  to  be  cured  for  fodder. 
This  will  enable  many  to  provide  against  a  deficien- 
cy of  feed  for  winter. 

Swine. — Keep  them  in  a  clover  pasture  or  orchard, 
and  feed  moderately  with  grain  until  crops  are  har- 
vested ;  then  give  them  the  range  of  the  wheat  and 
rye  fields,  where  they  will  be  well  prepared  for  fall 
fattening.  Give  green  peas  with  the  vines,  corn 
stalks,  clover  or  other  succulent  food  with  milk 
and  grain  to  those  confined  in  pens.  Keep  their 
apartments  woll  cleaned,  and  secure  all  the  manure. 


Tools. — See  that  all  needed  for  haying  and  harvest 
are  provided,  and  in  good  order.  Examine  mowing 
machines  before  using,  and  have  every  bolt  and  nut 
tight,  the  knives  sharp,  and  all  bearings  well  oiled. 
When  not  in  use,  keep  all  implements  under  cover. 

Turnips. — Sow  strap-leaf  and  other  quick  growing 
varieties  among  corn,  after  early  potatoes,  and  on 
vacant  ground.  A  dressing  of  good  superphosphate 
will  hasten  the  growth. 

Weeds. — Allow  none  to  go  to  seed.  Those  cut 
when  nearly  ripe  should  be  burned,  otherwise  the 
6eed  may  mature  before  the  stalk  dries,  and  if  added 
to  the  manure  heap  be  ready  to  spring  up  with  the 
crops  next  year. 


Orchard  and  Nursery. 

Notwithstanding  the  bountiful  crops  of  last  year, 
there  is  a  prospect  that  in  many  localities  there  will 
be  plenty  of  fruit  this  year.  The  manure  applied 
to  the  orchard  in  Spring  is  now  showing  its  ef- 
fects in  a  vigorous  growth  of  wood,  and  in  the  rap- 
idly swelling  fruit.  The  orchard  should  be  kept 
in  6uch  a  condition  that  it  will  never  need  severe 
pruning,  but  whatever  cutting  is  to  be  done  should 
be  attended  to  the  present  month.  We  give  on  an- 
other page  some  general  hints  about  the  pruning 
and   treatment   of  the   orchard. 

Budding. — This  will  commence  this  month. 
Plums  are  usually  the  earliest  stock  to  be  worked. 
A6  soon  as  well  formed  buds  can  be  had,  and  the 
bark  of  the  stock  parts  freely,  the  operation  may 
be  performed.  The  process  is  fully  described  in 
the  July  Agriculturist  for  1863.  Though  it  takes 
some  time  to  describe  it,  the  operation  is  really  a 
very  simple  one,  and  after  a  few  trials  it  will  be 
found  that  it  can  be  done  quite  rapidly.  Insert  the 
bud  as  near  the  ground  as  possible  Use  every  pre- 
caution to  guard  against  mixing  or  confusion  of 
6orts.  Recollect  that  merely  budding  or  grafting  a 
tree  will  not  give  good  fruit  unless  the  buds  or 
grafts  are  taken  from  a  good  sort.  Label  distinct- 
ly at  the  time  of  budding.  The  stocks  budded  last 
season  should  be  rounded  off  close  to  the  new 
branch  from  the  bud,  and  all  6uckers  kept  down. 

Clierries. — In  picking  these  for  use  or  for  market, 
employ  only  careful  hands.  Much  damage  is  often 
done  to  the  trees  in  gathering  the  fruit.  Use  a  tall 
step  ladder  and  draw  the  branches  towards  you  with 
a  wooden  hook,  easily  made  for  the  purpose. 

Grafts. — Examine  the  grafts  set  this  year  and 
replace  or  renew  the  wax  if  it  has  been  displaced. 
Vigorous  shoots  often  start  from  the  stock  near 
the  graft,  which  rob  the  graft  of  nourishment  if 
they  are  not   removed.     Cut  off  all  such. 

Insects. — The  war  against  these  must  still  be  car- 
ried on.  Actual  destruction  is  always  a  sure  reme- 
day.  The  tadpole-like  slug  which  appears  on  the 
pear  trees  may  be  made  to  retreat  by  dusting  with 
lime  or  ashes.  These  may  be  applied  to  quite  tall 
trees  by  the  use  of  a  bag  of  some  open  fabric,  tied 
to  a  long  pole.  One  of  our  largest  fruit  cultivators 
tells  us  that  he  is  troubled  with  no  insects.  His 
grounds  are  full  of  birds,  and  he  is  willing  to  give 
them  a  dessert  of  nice  fruit  after  their  dinner  of  in- 
sects. Spare  the  birds,  and  make  them  feel  at  home. 

Layering. — Shrubs  and  vines  to  be  propagated 
by  this  process  may  mostly  be  layered  this  month. 

Manure  and  Mulch. — Bearing  trees  will  appreci- 
ate a  supply  of  either  liquid  or  solid  manure.  Dur- 
ing dry  weather  see  that  a  good  mulch  is  kept 
around  trees  planted  this  year;  it  retains  moisture. 

Thin  out  the  fruit  on  trees  disposed  to  overbear. 
This  advice  is  difficult  for  beginners,  but  all  expe- 
rienced fruit  growers  know  that  much  finer  fruit  is 
produced  by  thinning  out  freely.  Dwarf  trees  of- 
ten set  fruit  the  first  year  ;  they  should  not  be  al- 
lowed to  bear  more  than  a  single  specimen  or  two, 
to  test  the  variety,  and  it  would  be  better  for  the 
tree,  to  take  all  off,  and  let  the  tree  make  wood  only. 

Weeds. — These  are  to  be  kept  out  of  the  nursery 
as  thoroughly  as  from  the  kitchen  or  flower-garden. 
The  plow,  cultivator  and  hoc  arc  the  remedies. 


liilclidi   <  :ti<l<u. 

The  professional  gardener  does  not  need  to  be 
told  that  much  of  his  success  will  depend  upon 
the  tillage  given  this  month.  But  the  farmer  who 
holds  field  crops  as  of  the  first  importance,  is  apt  at 
this  season  to  neglect  the  garden.  Haying  and  har- 
vesting engross  all  his  attention,  and  the  garden,  be- 
gun with  the  best  intentions,  is  often  neglected  at 
the  very  time  when  it  needs  the  most  care.  Every 
odd  hour  should  be  occupied  with  hoeing  in  the 
garden.  Much  can  be  done  here  with  the  hoe 
when  heavy  dews  prevent  early  morning  labor 
in  the  fields,  and  at  nightfall  when  the  main  work 
of  the  day  is  over.  The  boy6  should  be  taught  to 
take  a  pride  in  the  garden,  and  where  there  are  sev- 
eral boys,  each  should  have  charge  of  a  portion. 

Asparagus.— Cutting  should  have  ceased  la6t 
month.  The  tops  should  be  allowed  to  grow,  and 
the  bed  will  be  all  the  better  if  a  good  coating  of 
manure  is  applied.  Keep  down  the  weeds.  Look 
out  for  the  asparagus  beetle  described  on  page  313. 

Beans. — These  may  still  be  planted  for  a  late 
crop,  for  salting  or  pickling.  The  Refugee  is  con- 
sidered one  of  the  best  varieties  for  this  purpose. 
Limas  need  to  be  forwarded  as  rapidly  as  possible 
by  frequent  hoeings  and  liquid  manure.  When 
not  disposed  to  wind  upon  the  poles  at  first; 
twine  them  around  carefully.  When  a  vine  reaches 
the  hight  of  5  or  6  feet,  pinch  off  the  end  of  the 
main  stem,  and  head  back  all  long  side  branches  . 

Beets. — Keep  well  hoed,  and  thin  out  to  8  or  10 
inches.  As  the  early  sorts  come  into  use,  reserve 
the  earliest  and  finest  specimens  for  seed.  Sowings 
may  still  be  made,  and  if  the  weather  is  not  unu- 
sually dry,  a  fair  late  crop  may  be  expected.  If 
necessary,  transplant  to  fill  vacancies  in  the  rows. 

Cabbages  and  Cauliflowers. — Finish  transplanting 
for  the  late  crop.  If  the  weather  is  dry,  extra  care 
should  be  taken  according  to  direction  given  last 
month,  on  page  175.  Look  out  for  caterpillars. 
When  they  are  small,  they  remain  close  together, 
and  a  whole  brood  can  be  destroyed  by  breaking 
off  a  single  leaf;  if  left  until  they  become  scattered, 
they  must  be  removed  singly.  Hoe  often  aud  thor- 
oughly, and  give,  to  cauliflowers  especially,  an  oc- 
casional dose  of  liquid  manure.  The  early  cabbages 
are  now  fit  to  be  gathered.  The  stumps  may  be 
left  to  produce  sprouts  for  greens,  or  be  cleared 
away  to  make  room  for  some  other  late  crop. 

Celery. — Plant  out  in  well  prepared  trenches, 
shading  if  the  weather  is  very  hot.  The  growth 
should  be  forwarded  by  abundant  watering.  If  the 
drainage  is  good,  water  may  be  used  very  freely. 
Keep  free  from  weeds. 

Carrots. — Hoe  until  the  growth  of  tops  prevents. 

Corn. — The  sweet  varieties  may  be  planted  early 
this  month, for  late  use  and  for  drying.  Put  in  an 
extra  row  or  two  at  least,  to  dry  for  the  soldiers. 

Cucumbers. — Plant  for  pickles  in  well  prepared 
ground,  the  first  of  the  month.  Hoe  those  already 
np,  and  water  if  the  weather  is  very  dry.  Recollect 
that  there  is  nothing  more  acceptable  to  your 
friends  in  camp  and   hospital  than  good   pickles. 

Egg  Plants. — These  are  slow  growers  at  first. 
When  they  get  well  established,  hurry  them  up  by 
frequent  hoeings  and  by  applying  manure  water. 

Endive. — This  takes  the  place  of  lettuce  as  a  late 
salad.   Sow  in  the  same  way  as  lettuce,  for  late  use. 

Herbs. — All  the  aromatic  herbs  should  be  cut 
while  they  are  in  flower,  and  be  either  tied  in  small 
bunches  or  spread  out  thinly  and  dried  in  the  shade. 

Hoe.— The  hoe  and  the  rake  should  be  kept  busy 
whenever  the  ground  is  not  too  wet.  If  dry,  hoe  the 
oftener ;  cool  soil  condenses  moisture  from  the  air. 

Insects. — The  fight  must  still  be  continued  accord- 
ing to  hints  given  elsewhere,  and  in  former  months. 

Lettuce. — In  the  hot  Summer  months,  this  tends 
to  run  early  to  seed.  Sow  for  succession  in  a  par- 
tially shaded  place.  The  Silesian  is  one  of  the  best 
varieties  for  Summer.  Save  the  best  heads  of  early 
sorts  of  lettuce,  and  of    other  plants  for   seed. 


1863.] 


AMURICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


195 


Manure. — Now  is  the  time  to  push  plants.  Just 
before  a  shower  and  during  "  good  growing  weath- 
er," give  manure  in  a  liquid  form.  The  home- 
made guano  which  has  been  saved  from  the  poultry 
house  will  come  in  play  now.  A  half  bushel  of 
this  in  a  barrel  of  water,  or  a  liquid  made  with  cow 
manure,  of  the  color  of  tea  will  do  wonders  in  the 
garden.  Use  sink  slops  if  you  have  nothing  bet- 
ter.   Apply  to  the  roots  only. 

Melons.— Continue  to  hoe.  Pinch  back  the  vig- 
orous growers,  and  if  you  wish  choice  fruit,  let  no 
more  remain  on  the  vine  than  can  be  ripened.  A 
good  part  of  the  fruit  is  usually  cut  off  by  frost. 

Onions.— Keep  clear  of  weeds,  and  thin  if  the 
plants  are  crowded.  See  note  on  the  maggot  in  last 
month's  Calendar.  Seed  may  be  sown  for  small 
bulbs  for  next  Spring's  planting  and  for  pickles. 

lias. — Preserve  the  best  for  seed,  and  pick  as  soon 
as  the  pods  become  dry.  Seed  may  be  sown  fol- 
iate crops,  but  they  generally  mildew.  Deep  plant- 
ing is  said  to  prevent  this  in  a  measure,  and  we 
have  seen  it  stated  that  they  will  not  mildew  if 
planted  at  the  bottom  of  a  trench,  but  we  have  had 
no  experience  in  this  method  of  growing  them. 
When  other  vegetables  are  abundant,  late  peas, 
though  good,  are  not  much  missed  late  in  the  season. 

Potatoes. — The  early  sorts,  and  none  other  should 
be  grown  in  the  garden,  will  be  out  of  the  way  by 
the  end  of  this  month,  and  the  ground  may  be  giv- 
ou  up  to  the  cabbages  which  have  been  planted  be- 
tween the  rows,  or  cleaned  off  altogether  to  make 
room  for  turnips,  Fall  spinach,  etc. 

Rhubarb. — The  flower  stalks  6hould  be  cut  off  un- 
less it  is  desirable  to  save  seed.  Tender  stalks 
may  still  be  pulled  from  near  the  center  of  the 
plant,  but  it  is  better  to  let  the  root  recover  its 
strength  if  it  has  been  severely  plucked.  The  stalks 
may  be  dried  in  the  manner  of  apples  or,  what  is 
better,  may  be  preserved  in  bottles  like  fruit.  A 
drink  called  "Rhubarb  Wine"  may  be  made  from 
the  juice  according  to  a  recipe  giveu  on  page  215. 

Seeds. — Early  maturing  seeds,  such  as  those  of 
cabbage  and  turnips,  should  be  gathered  as  soon 
as  the  pods  begin  to  turn.  The  stalks  should  be 
cut  and  the  seed  allowed  to  mature  in  the  shade. 

Squashes. — Hoe  until  there  is  danger  of  injuring 
the  vines.  Keep  a  sharp  look  out  for  insects. 
Haud-picking  early  in  the  morning  is  a  sure  reme- 
dy. Search  for  the  borer  described  last  month  (on 
page  173).  In  localities  where  the  season  is  short, 
allow  each  vine  to  bear  but  two  or  three  squashes. 

Tomatoes. — Pinch  off  the  ends  of  the  rampant 
branches,  and  remove  all  fruit  showing  signs  of 
decay.  Lay  brush  on  the  bed  for  the  vines  to  trail 
over,  or  mulch  with  straw  and  let  them  fall  down. 
The  potato  or  tobacco  worm,  figured  and  described 
on  page  108,  May  Agriculturist,  often  makes  great 
havoc  with  the  tomatoes.  Search  for  and  crush  him. 

Transplanting. — Vacancies  in  most  crops  can  be 
filled  by  careful  transplanting.  Many  plants  are 
decidedly  benefited  by  it,  and  few  are  injured  if  the 
work  is  carefully  done.  Missing  hills  of  corn  can 
be  filled  out  from  those  containing  too  many  plants, 
and  other  things  not  usually  transplanted  can  gen- 
erally be  successfully  moved  to  fill  up  deficiencies. 
Weeds. — If  there  are  any  weeds  in  the  garden,  it  is 
either  too  large,  or  it  is  neglected.  You  can  raise 
weeds  if  you  choose,  but  it  will  not  be  because  the 
teachings  of  the  Agriculturist  have  been  followed. 


Flower  Garden  and  I.:ou  u. 

The  backwardness  of  the  Spring,  and  the  dryness 
of  the  early  part  of  June,  have  probably  retarded 
many  of  the  flowering  plants,  so  that  the  present 
month  will  present  a  much  greater  variety  of  flow- 
ers than  usual.  Bedding  plants  may  still  be  put 
out  to  fill  the  places  occupied  by  early  flowering 
bulbs.  With  skillful  management,  there  need  be 
no  lack  of  attractiveness  in  the  garden  from  the 
time  frost  disappears  until  it  returns  in  Autumn. 

Annuals. — If  any  of  these  have  failed,  lose  no 
time  in  resowing.  Though  they  may  not  mature 
6eeds,   most  of   them   will  yield    a    late    bloom. 


Bulbs. — Take  up  aud  dry  as  directed  last  mouth. 

Carnations  should  now  be  in  fine  bloom.  Keep 
the  stalks  tied  up  to  stakes,  and  if  the  flower  bursts 
irregularly,  slit  the  calyx.  Make  layers  aud  cuttings. 

Climbers. — The  herbaceous  climbers  likelponwas, 
Maurandias,  Cob^a,  etc.,  should  be  provided  with 
strings  or  wires.  Those  woody  ones  which  require 
to  be  laid  down  in  winter,  should  not  be  allowed  to 
interweave  themselves  into  the  lattice  or  trellis  in 
a  manner  that  will  render  them  difficult  to  remove. 

Dahlias. — Stakes,  strings,  mulch  and  liquid  ma- 
nure are  the  elements  of  success  in  the  culture  of 
these.  Read  article  on  training,  on  page  211.  They 
may  still   be  set  with  a  prospect  of  late  flowers. 

Evergreens  whether  singly  or  in  hedges  should  be 
pruned  this  month.  Do  not  trim  up  the  lower 
branches  unless  they  are  diseased.  The  great  beauty 
of  an  evergreen  consists  in  its  broad  spreading  base. 

Grass. — The  lawn  should  be  mowed  as  often  as 
there  is  anything  for  the  scythe  or  mowing  machine 
to  cut.  If  the  grass  is  cut  when  very  short  it  may 
be  left  to  fertilize  the  lawn.  Keep  all  edgings  and 
the  borders  of  lawns  evenly  cut.  Do  not  allow 
any  runners  from  the  grass  edgings  to  obtrude  up- 
on the  borders  or  walks,  or  they  will  make  trouble. 

Keeping. — Neatness  and  care  should  characterize 
every  department.  Keep  all  plants  which  are  in 
danger  of  being  prostrated  by  winds,  neatly  tied  to 
stakes,  peg  down  bedding  plants,  cut  away  the  dry 
flower  stalks  and  clusters  after  the  bloom  is  over, 
and  make  frequent  use  of  the  rake,  to  cleau  up. 

Pitted  Plants  that  are  placed  about  the  grounds, 
dry  out  very  soon  and  need  frequent  watering. 
They  should  be  turned  or  moved  occasionally  to 
prevent  the  roots,  which  grow  out  through  the  hole 
in  the  bottom,  from  fastening  the  pot  to  the  soil. 

Rhododendrons. — These  are  very  apt  to  suffer  dur- 
ing the  intense  heat.    Mulch  their  roots  carefully. 

Roses. — Keep  pillar  sorts  and  climbers  well  se- 
cured. Cut  off  the  flower  stems  as  soon  as  the 
bloom  is  past  its  prime.  Nothing  looks  more  slov- 
enly than  to  see  the  ground  littered  with  fallen  rose 
leaves.  Cut  back  the  remontants  to  secure  a  late 
bloom.  Treat  the  rose  slug  to  a  solution  of  1  lb. 
whale  oil  soap  in  6  gallons  of  water.  The  Aquarius 
will  be  found  a  convenient  apparatus  with  which 
to  apply  it,  but  a  common  tin  syringe  will  answer. 
Apply  to  both  the  under  and  upper  side  of  the  leaves. 

&«fc.— Save  the  seeds  of  the  biennials  and  peren- 
nials now  ripening.  If  not  needed  in  your  own 
grouuds  they  will  be  acceptable  to  friends.  Label 
with  the  greatest  care,  and  keep  dry,  but  not  hot. 

Verbenas. — Keep  them  well  pegged  down.  Suit- 
able hooks  for  the  purpose  can  be  cut  from  shrubs 
or  asparagus  shoots,  hair  pins  are  sometimes  used. 

Water  newly  planted  shrubs  and  trees  if  they  ap- 
pear to  languish.  Remove  the  surface  earth,  give 
a  copious  watering,  and  then   replace  the  earth. 

Weeds. — Use  the  hoe  and  rake  frequently,  and 
hand-weed  near  the  plants.  Begin  early  ;  the  pul- 
ling of  large  weeds  disturbs   the  roots  of  plants. 


Fruit  Garden. 

The  harvest  has  already  begun  here.  A  crop  of 
nice  strawberries  has  opened  the  season  of  fruits. 

Blackberries.- — Keep  the  caues  well  tied  up.  Where 
the  crop  of  fruit  is  heavy  the  bearing  branches  will 
need  support.  Hoe  frequently  or  keep  well  mulched. 

Currants. — These  often  bear  so  heavily  as  to 
break  down  the  branches,  tie  up  or  stake  where  this 
is  the  case.  Gather  when  first  ripened,  for  jelly. 
Leave  those  iutended  for  bottling  until  fully  ripe. 

Dwarf  Fruits. — Keep  the  trees  planted  this 
Spring  well  mulched.  Summer  pinching  should  be 
done.  See  article  on  page  210.  Tbin  out  the  fruit 
from  over-loaded  trees.  Give  6lugs  a  dusting  of 
lime  or  ashes  as  directed  above  for  the  orchard. 

Grapes. — Pinch  oft'  the  bearing  shoots  leaving  at 
least  three  or  four  leaves  beyond  the  bunches.  Rub 
off  all  superfluous  shoots,  aud  thus  save  fall  pruning. 


Raspberries. — These  will  now  need  daily  picking. 
As  soon  as  the  fruiting  season  is  over,  cut  down  the 
old  canes  and  train  up  the  new  growth  ;  remove  all 
superfluous  shoots,  leaving  but  two  or  three  of  the 
strongest  to  each  plant.  If  it  is  desired  to  multi- 
ply the  variety,  the  superfluous  caues  may  be  left 
to  grow  to  be  removed  for  transplanting  in  the  Fall. 

Strawberries. — Where  the  plants  are  cultivated  in 
hills,  keep  the  runners  closely  pinched  oil.  If  new 
plants  are  wanted,  spade  manure  in  between  the 
rows  and  let  the  runners  grow.  They  will  soon 
take  root  and  multiply  with  very  great   rapidity. 


Green  and   Hot-Houses. 

The  houses  are  emptied  of  all  but  the  tender  trop- 
ical plants  ;  those  which  remain  need  free  circula- 
tion of  air  and  frequent  waterings.  Where  the  sun 
is  too  powerful,  its  force  should  be  broken  by  coat- 
ing the  glass  with  whiting  or  by  a  muslin  screen. 

Budding  may  now  be   done   upon  the  woody 

plants  whenever  the  stock  is  in  working  condition. 

Cdllas. — Repot  them  now,  and  water  less  freely. 

Cuttings. — A  stock  may  be  put  in  for  plants  of 
such  varieties  as  are  desired  for  winter  blooming. 

Earth  for  Potting. — Prepare  a  good  supply  and 
have  it  well  mixed.  The  sods  from  an  old  pasture 
stacked  up  and  allowed  to  decay,  make  a  most  ex- 
cellent material ;  al60  black  earth  from  the  woods. 

Grapes. — Those  vines  from  which  fruit  has  been 
gathered,  should  have  less  water  and  plenty  of  air 
in  order  that  the  wood  may  ripen.  Later  vines  still 
need  to  be  piuched  in  and  to  have  the  clusters  thin- 
ned. Water  and  syringe  frequently,  and  use  sul- 
phur if  mildew  appears. 

Insects. — These  still  continue  to  increase  and  the 
houses  will  need  watching.  Whale  oil  soap  aud 
fumigation  must  be  used  from  time  to  time. 

Potting. — Seedlings  should  not  become  too  much 
crowded.     Pot  before  they  get  weak  and  drawn  up. 

Water. — Give  freely  and  use  the  syringe.  In  very 
dry  weather,  water  will  be  needed  both  morning  and 
evening.    The  "  aquarius  "  is  convenient  for  this. 


Apiary  in  July. 

Prepared  by  M.  Quinby — by  request. 
The  surplus  honey  must  be  looked  after  this 
mouth.  Do  not  let  anjr  of  the  bees  lose  time  for 
want  of  boxes  now.  A  good  yield  may  be  lost 
by  putting  off  supplying  extra  boxes,  for  only  a 
short  time.  The  greatest  yield  of  white  clover  is 
in  the  early  part  of  the  month,  it  fails  somewhat 
toward  the  last,  and  continues  a  moderate  show  of 
flowers  until  the  end  of  the  season.  The  eutire 
yield  from  basswood  will  be  given  in  about  two 
weeks  ;  sometimes  commencing  as  early  as  the 
4th,  at  others  as  late  as  the  18th.  Where  this  tim- 
ber is  abundant,  the  collections  are  sometimes 
wonderful.  The  flowers  are  pendant,  and  wet 
weather  makes  less  difference  with  the  honey  se- 
creted, than  with  clover.  The  honey  in  appear- 
ance is  equal,  if  not  superior  to  any  other.  The 
flavor  is  particularly  palatable  to  many,  on  account 

of  its  peculiar  aroma Keep  a  supply  of  boxes  on 

hand  to  replace  the  full  ones  as  fast  as  filled.  One 
full  box  is  preferable  to  two  or  three  half  filled.  A 
little  management  will  secure  an  addition  to  the 
number  of  full  ones.  A  stock  will  often  swarm  too 
much  when  the  boxes  are  only  half  filled,  and  leave 
too  few  bees  to  add  any  more.  When  there  is  no 
prospect  of  more  being  done,  take  the  boxes  away 
and  give  to  some  strong  colony  to  finish.  A  box 
may  be  changed  half  a  dozen  times  on  some  occa- 
sions, if  necessary.  To  get  rid  of  the  bees  taken 
off  with  the  boxes,  take  an  empty  box,  bee  tight, 
put  in  the  boxes  on  their  sides,  combs  vertical,  iu 
such  a  way  that  the  bees  may  creep  out  of  all. 
Throw  over  them  a  sheet,  that  no  bees  may  get  in 
or  out.  After  standing  a  little  time,  the  bees,  in 
their  endeavor  to  escape,  will  get  on  the  under 
side  of  the  sheet,  when  it  may  be  turned  over ;  by 
repeating  this  a  few  times  all  may  be  disposed  of 


196 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[July, 


Bees  in  this  way  will  not  sting,  unless  provoked  at 
first.  To  save  the  honey  through  the  hot  weather, 
put  it  in  a  dry  place,  and  cool,  if  possible,  to  pre- 
vent the  moth  eggs  from  hatching.  Paper  or  cloth 
may  be  pasted  over  the  bottom  to  keep  out  insects. 
There  are  now  more  moths,  than  at  any  time  be- 
fore during  this  season,  and  they  will  be  likely  to 
find  more  convenient  places  to  deposit  their  eggs. 
There  will  be  some  small  swarms,  some  old  stocks 
thinned  by  over-swarming,  or  queeuless  ones  that 
will  suffer  particularly.  A  little  assistance  will  save 
some  of  them  from  ruin.  Sweep  out  all  tilth  fre- 
quently, and  destroy  all  the  worms  to  be  found 

Towards  the  last  of  the  swarming  season,  preserve 
a  few  6mall  swarms ;  you  will  find  some  queenless 
ones  that  will  need  them.  But  few  can  comprehend 
how  soon  a  colony  will  die  off,  unless  there  is  a 
queen  present  to  keep  up  the  population.  A  lay- 
ing queen  is  worth  much  more  to  introduce,  than  a 
brood  from  which  to  rear  one.  In  one  case  bees 
will  be  hatched  in  three  weeks,  in  the  other  it  will 
take  sis — time  enough  to  have  small  colonies  de- 
stroyed by  the  moth.  When  there  are  no  available 
means  to  raise  a  colony  strong  enough  to, defend 
itself,  it  is  best  to  break  it  up  and  secure  the  hon- 
ey and  wax  in  advance  of  the  destruction  awaiting 
it.  Remember  that  as  the  bees  get  out,  the  worms 
get  in — in  defiance  of  all  patent  arrangements  to 

the  contrary Put  some  old  pieces  of  comb  under 

the  swarms,  only  part  full ;  the  moth  will  be  de- 
ceived, and  lay  her  eggs  there,  when  the  worms  are 
easily  destroyed.  Set  dishes  of  sweetened  water 
among  the  hives  at  night.     Many  insects  besides 

the  bee  moth  will  be  drowned Those  using  the 

movable  comb  hive,  will  be  pleased  to  learn  that  a 
principle  has  been  discovered  by  which  all  combs 
will  be  built  straight.  Immediately  after  the  bees 
are  hived,  the  back  end  of  the  hive  is  raised  about 
30  degrees,  having  the  frames  run  from  front  to 
rear,  the  sides  of  the  hive  exactly  vertical.  When 
the  bees  have  worked  their  combs  across  the  top, 
it  may  be  let  down  level.  It  takes  but  a  moment 
to  raise  one  end  of  the  bottom  board  on  blocks  of 
wood,  or  bricks,  and  the  result  is  satisfactory.  It 
is  believed  that  if  these  conditions  are  complied 

with,  there  will  not  be  a  failure All  who  winter 

bees  in  the  open  air,  should  be  made  acquainted 
with  the  importance  of  straw  for  the  hives.  It  is 
probably  the  best  available  material.  It  is  best  be- 
i  fore  being  threshed,  and  that  of  wheat  or  rye  is 
nicest.  Select  it  at  harvest  time ;  cut  off  the  heads, 
tie  in  bundles,  and  put  away  until  a  spare  time  to 
make  into  hives.  Make  the  walls  of  the  hive  two 
inches  in  thickness,  and  of  the  same  proportions 
inside  as  the  movable  comb  wood  hive.  At  the 
approach  of  cold  weather,  the  contents  of  the  wood- 
en hive— combs,  honey,  and  bees— are  transferred 
into  straw,  to  pass  the  winter  in  the  best  condition. 


The   Great   Strawberry   Exhibition  — 
A  Monster  New  Seedling. 

We  close  up  the  present  number  in  the  middle  of  the 
great  Strawberry  Exhibition,  and  hnve  only  room  for  a 
brief  account.  The  previous  very  dry,  hot  weather,  gave 
too  early  maturity  to  some  varieties,  while  the  violent 
driving  rain  on  Wednesday  afternoon,  and  rain  also 
on  Thursday  morning,  interfered  with  picking.  Tiie  in- 
vasion of  Pennsylvania  prevented  the  expected  large 
exhibition  from  Pittsburg  and  vicinity.  Yet  with  all  these 
drawbacks,  the  display  was  very  large,  and  the  samples 
very  superior,  showing  considerable  progress  and  im- 
provement during  the  year  past.  It  is  conceded  on  all 
hands  to  be  the  finest  show  of  the  kind  ever  made  in  this 
country  ;  and  having  ourselves  seen  the  best  displays  in 
Europe,  which  were  far  inferior  to  this,  we  are  safe  in 
saving  that  the  Strawberry  Exhibition  at  the  Agriculturist 
office  June  18lh,  19lh  and  20lh,  was  the  best  one  ever  held 
*uicc  this  delicious  fruit  was  introduced  into  cultivation. 
The  number  of  visitors  was  from  20,000  to  25,000  during 
the  three  days. 

The  show  was  a  great  one,  not  only  in  the  amount  of 
fine  specimens  presented,  but  especially  in  the  size  and 
excellence  of  the  fruit.  There  were  scores  of  plates  of 
fruit,  of  such  size  and  flavor  as  would  hardly  have  been 
dreamed  of  ten  years  ago.  On  one  plate  were  fifteen 
berries  which,  put  upon  the  scales,  weighed  down  a  full 
pound  avoirdupois  !      It  takes  from  120  to  150  good  sam- 


ples of  the  staple  market  berries  of  this  city  to  weigh  one 
pound.  Triomphe  de  Gand  berries,  22  to  the  pound, 
were  also  shown,  and  several  others  nearly  as  huge. 
There  were  about  200  plates,  usually  containing  one  to 
two  quarts  each,  shown  by  26  exhibitors.  Omitting  notice 
of  many  other  excellent  and  improved  seedlings  uiftil  our 
next  number,  we  will  only  add,  that  one  of  the  great  cen- 
tres of  attraction  was  the  new,  unnamed  seedling  (No.  10) 
shown  by  Mr.  Seth  Boyden,  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  the  well 
known  inventor  of  the  processes  of  making  Malleable 
Iron,  patent  leather,  etc.  It  is  a  product  of  Peabody's 
Seedling  with  the  Green  Prolific,  the  latter  produced  from 
Kitley's  Goliah  andHovey's  Seedling.  It  has  therefore 
a  most  excellent  pedigree.  Its  form  is  nearly  conical, 
somewhat  necked  ;  deep  scarlet  color,  extending  to  the 
core  ;  solid,  and  of  pleasant  pine  flavor.  The  size  is  enor- 
mous, the  average  berries  exceeding  anything  ever  before 
seen  in  the  strawberry  line.  Both  the  plant  and  berry  will 
be  described  and  illustrated  hereafter.  To  save  useless 
letters  of  inquiry  to  Mr.  Boyden  (or  ourselves),  we  will 
state,  that  no  speculation  will  be  allowed  with  this  new 
and  remarkable  strawberry — no  "  $5  a  dozen  when  ten 
thousand  purchasers  are  secured."  Not  a  single  plant 
is  for  sale  on  any  terms,  but  it  will  be  multiplied  as 
rapidly  as  possible,  and  next  year  the  plants  that  can 
be  produced  in  the  meantime,  will  be  given  aivay  as  a  do- 
nation to  the  public.  Previous  to  the  announcement  of 
the  time  and  manner  of  distribution,  no  applications  for 
plants  will  be  answered  by  Mr.  Boyden  or  others. 

PRIZES    AWARDED. 

Best  25  varieties,  one  quart  each,  $7,  to  Wm.  F.  Heins, 
Morrisania,  N.  Y. 

Second  do.,  $5,  A.  S.  Fuller,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.. 

Best  Dish  Market  Berries  (2  qts),  $3,  to  L.  M.  Pease, 
N.  Y.  Farm  School,  Mt.  Vernon,  for  Triomphe  de  Gand. 

Second  do.,  $2.,  to  S.  R.  Trembley,  Bergen  Point,  N. 
J.,  for  Union  variety. 

Third  do.,  SI.  to  L.  M.  Pease,  for  Wilson's  Albany. 

Largest  Berries  (weight  and  size  considered,)  $2,  to 
Seth  Boyden,  Newark,  N.  J.,  for  the  New  Seedling. 

Best  New  Seedling,  not  before  exhibited,  $5,  to  Seth 
Boyden,  Newark,  N.  J.,  for  his  unnamed,  No.  10.,  the 
New  Seedling. 

Second  do.,  $2,  to  J.  W.  Faulkner,   Stamford,  Ct. 

Best  flavored  Strawberry,  (1  quart,)  $2,  to  A.  S.  Ful- 
ler, Brooklyn,  unnamed  Seedling  No.  8. 

Best  Quart  White  Strawberries,  $2,  to  Jno.  Drummond, 
Gardener  to  Mrs.  Jas  Strong,  Newtown,  L.I.,  Bic-lon  Pine. 

Best   Pint  of  Empress  Eugenie,   $1,  to   E.Marshall, 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 
Best  Quart  Fillmore,  $1,  to  E.  Williams,  Mt.  Clair,  N.J. 

Best  Quart  of  Cutter's  Seedling,  $1,  to  E.  Marshall, 
Poughkeepsie. 

Best  Quart  of  Triomphe  de  Gand,  $1,  to  F.  W.  Devoe, 
Fordham,  N.  Y. 

Best  Quart  Wilson's  Albany,  $1,  to  L.  M.  Pease,  Mt. 
Vernon,  N.  Y. 

Best  Quart  of  Hooker's  Seedling,  $1,  to  Francis  Brill, 
Newark,  N.  J. 

Best  Quart  Hovey's  Seedling,  $1,  to  E.  Williams, 
Mt.  Clair,  N.  J. 

Best  Quart  of  Jenny  Lind,  $1  to  John  Drummond, 
Gardener  to  Mrs.  Strong,  Newtown,  L.  I. 

Best  Quart  Vicomptesse  Hericart  deTliury,  $1,  to  H. 
C.  Fuller,  Godwinville,  JV.  J. 


Great  American  exhibition  of 

Puuipkins,  Squashes,  and 
Ornamental  Gourds. 

The  Second  Annual  Exhibition  of  Pump- 
kins, Squashes,  and  Ornamental  Gourds,  at  the 
office  of  the  American  Agriculturist,  41  Park  Row,  New 
York  City,  opening  on  Wednesday,  Nov.  4th?  18639 

at  which  the  following  Prizes  will  he  paid  by  the  Publish- 
er, upon  lire  official  award  of   competent  Committees. 
CASH   PREMIUMS, 

A— For  the  Heaviest  Pumpkin  or  Squash $10. OO 

B— For  the  2nd  Heaviest  Pumpkin  or  Squash. ..       5.00 

C— For  the  3d  Heaviest  Pumpkin  or  Squash 3.00 

D— For  the  Best  Pumpkin  or  Squash  for  cooking.      5.00 
E — For  2nd  Best  Pumpkin  or  Squash  for  cookmg      3.00 

F — P'or  the  largest  yield  on  a  single  Vine *   10.00 

G— For  the  2nd  largest  yield  on  n.  single  Vine...*      5.00 
II— For  the  largest  and  finest  collection  of  Fan-  f       -  00 

cy  or  Ornamental  Gourds* j        ',uu 

I— For  the  2nd  largest  and   finest  collection  )       .  «ft 
of  Fancy  or  Ornamental  Gourds* t       ■*•*■" 

♦All  to  be  grown  by  one  person  and  to  be  accompanied 
by  positive  evidence  from  the  grower,  and  one  disinterest- 
ed person  who  assists  in  gathering  the  specimens. 

Notel.— The  specimens  receiving  the  Prizes  will  re- 
main on  Public  Exhibition  at  the  pleasure  of  the  Publish- 
er who  offers  the  prizes.  The  other  specimens  will  be 
subject  to  the  order  of  the  exhibitors,  or  they  will  be 
sold  at  auction  or  otherwise  disposed  of,  for  their  benefit. 

Notei.— All  Exhibitors  must  notify  us  of  their  intentions 
by  Oct.  15th.  and  deliver  specimens  for  competition  on  or 
before  Nov.  2d.  Specimens  to  be  delivered  free  of  charge. 

Note  3.— The  same  specimen  can  compete  for  only  one 
of  the  premiums  offered  above. 


Containing  a  great  variety  of  Items,  including  many 
good  Hints  and  Suggestions  which  we  give  here  in  smalt 
type  and   condensed  form,  for   want   of  space  elsewhtrc. 

Editor  Al>sent.— The  Juiie  and  July  num- 
bers of  the  Agriculturist  are  issued  without  the  direct  as- 
sistance and  supervision  of  Mr.  Judd,  who  is  making  his 
usual  Summer  tour  to  observe  and  study  the  general  farm- 
ing operations  of  the  country.  This  year  he  will  happen, 
often  unawares,  or  incognito,  among  some  of  our  readers 
at  the  West,  especially  in  the  Prairie  States.— We  trust 
the  "matter  and  manner"  of  these  two  numbers  will,  in 
part  at  least,  show  a  realization  of  the  Proprietor's  idea, 
viz.:  to  have  a  sufficient  force  to  carry  on  the  journal  in 
full  vigor,  even  should  sickness  or  death,  or  other  causes 
chance  to  deprive  it  of  one  or  more  of  its  leading  editors. 
The  Agriculturist  has  come  to  be  an  "institution"  not 

dependent  upon   the  life  or  efforts  of  any  single  man. 

Personal  letters,  may  for  the  time  being,  remain  unan- 
swered. All  business  matters  connected  with  the  paper 
will  be  promptly  attended  to.  We  hope  to  exhibit  to  the 
Proprietor  on  his  return,  a  large  increase  in  the  subscrip- 
tion lists.  The  premiums  offered  are  worth  working  for. 
Associate  Editors. 

The     Premiums     Close     July  St.— 

That  there  may  be  no  disappointment,  we  repeat  that  all 
premiums  of  every  kind,  general  and  special,  will  close 
on-  July  31,  excepting  only  the  new  Barometer  Premium, 
and  the  Wringing  Machine  No.  2  ;  these  will  continue 
open  to  August  31.  For  special  Premiums  see  page  224. 
For  general  Premiums  see  page  155,  June  No.  It  is  not 
probable  that   we   shall  offer   any  premiums  in  future. 

The  Strawberry  and  Grape  Pre- 
miums are  continued  this  month,  and  now  is  the  only 
time  to  secure  them.  See  page  224.  A  clergyman,  in 
Illinois,  writes  us  that  the  25  plants  received  last  year  for 
two  subscribers,  multiplied  so  that  he  gave  away  several 
lots  of  50  plants  to  his  friends,  and  had  more  to  give  away 
in  the  same  manner,  besides  a  plot  as  large  as  lie  wanted 
for  fruit  for  his  own  family.  From  what  we  hear,  we 
judge  there  are  millions  of  improved  strawberry  plants 
growing  in  the  country,  which  sprung  from  the  forty  thou- 
sand plants  sent  from  the  Agriculturist  Office  last  year. 


Crlticisers    of    Advertisements   will 

please  read  last  article  on  page  1GS  of  June  Agriculturist. 
They  need  not  read  the  Tribune  and  Herald  advertise- 
ments last  month  and  this. 


Farm  House  Plans. — E.  T.  Benedict, 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  O.  Wc  hope  ere  long  to  give  plans  for  a 
commodious  and  economical  farm  dwelling  ;  meantime 
we  invite  subscribers  to  forward  designs  for  such  build- 
ings, suitable  for  the  accommodation  of  a  family  of  eight 
or  ten  persons,  the  cost  not  to  exceed  two  thousand  dol- 
lars, and,  as  much  less  as  practicable.  Especial  atten- 
tion should  be  given  to  make  the  rooms  convenient  for 
doing  the  housework. 


Sorgho  Mills  and  Boilers. — To  sever- 
al inquirers.  We  can  not  answer  all  the  questions  sent 
in.  The  "Clark  Sorgo  Machine  Company  "  of  Cincin- 
nati, make  good  Mills,  and  Blymyers,  Bates  &  Day,  of 
Mansfield,  O.,  make  the  Cook's  Evaporator,  which,  from 
all  accounts,  seems  to  be  the  favorite  boiler.  The  ad- 
vertisements of  both  these  parties  may  be  found  on  anotlv- 
er  page,  and  by  addressing  them,  much  of  the  information 
required  can  be  readily  obtained. 

Crood  S3cm»  Brake. — E.  D.  Gaines,  Grant 
Co.,  Ky.  The  newly  invented  brake  of  Ma] lory  &  San- 
ford,  advertised  in  this  number,  breaks  hemp  even  more 
perfectly  than  flax.  The  fibre  comes  out  entirely  free  firoin 
woody  matter,  and  without  any  waste  from  tow.  It  can 
be  worked  by  any  ordinary  horse  power  machine. 


JBarren   Grape   Vines. — C.   J.  Hollings- 

worth,  Herkimer  Co.,  N.  Y.  If  the  fruit  sets  on  the  vine 
after  blossoming  and  fails  to  come  to  perfection,  the  diffi- 
culty may  be  in  improper  location,  poor  soil,  or  wanl  of 
proper  pruning.  If,  however,  the  blossoms  do  not  develop 
into  fruit,  it  is  undoubtedly  owing  to  a  radical  defect  in 
the  blossoms  themselves,  probably  to  the  absence  of 
stamens  with  which  to  fertilize  the  pistils.  Such  plants, 
called  pistillates,  are  quite  common.  Several  kinds  of 
strawberries  have  only  one  set  of  organs.  The  only  way 
to  secure  fruit  from  such,  is  to  supply  them  with  pollen 
from  other  plants  having  the  reproducing  organs  com 
plete.  It  is  usually  done  by  planting  staininate  varieties 
near  the  barren  sorts ;  the  pollen  is  carried  to  the  plant 
lacking  it,  by  the  wind  and  by  insects. 


18G3.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


197 


Value  of  <xoats. — "A  subscriber  to  the 
Agriculturist  asks  about  the  value  of  goals  kept  for  milk, 
with  En  formation  as  to  their  desirableness,  etc.  They 
have  some  excellent  qualities,  but  some  that  are  particu- 
larly undesirable.  They  maybe  kept  very  cheaply,  as 
they  will  eat  almost  any  green  thing,  and  many  weeds 
which  other  animals  refuse.  Wehave  seen  a  goat  eagerly 
feeding  on  brown  paper.  Their  milk  is  very  rich,  and 
considered  excellent  food  for  children.  But  they  are  also 
very  mischievous  if  allowed  to  run  at  large.  Not  a  flower, 
plant,  or  tree  is  safe  from  their  depredations.  If  kept  at 
all,  it  should  be  in  an  enclosure  where  they  can  do  no 
barm.  Then  if  the  pasture  be  rich,  a  good  goat  will  prob- 
ably yield  milk  enough  to  be  profitable. 


Scal>  in  Sheep. — O.  L.  "Walter,  Luzerne  Co., 
Pa.  This  disease  is  caused  by  the  presence  of  a  minute 
parasitic  insect,  which  burrows  in  the  skin  of  the  sheep. 
It  is  very  contagious.  Infected  animals  should  be  sepa- 
rated from  the  flock,  the  scabs  scoured  off  with  a  stiff 
brush  and  soap  suds,  and  afterward  dipped  in  a  strong 
decoction  of  tobacco  mixed  with  a  little  spirits  turpentine. 


To  Destroy  Sheep  Tielis.— John  Scott, 
Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.  Immediately  after  shearing,  dip  the 
sheep  and  iambs  in  a  pretty  strong  decoction  of  tobacco. 
This  will  destroy  the  ticks  without  injuring  the  flock. 


Bift»iBr£si£'     Sheep     against      Dog;s. — 

Geo.  I.  Evans,  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio.,  writes  that  since  the 
Legislature  of  that  State  refuses  to  tax  dogs,  the  Trenton 
Farmer's  Club  proposes  to  organize  itself  into  a  sort  of 
Insurance  Co.  for  protection  of  sheep.  We  suppose  it 
would  only  extend  to  members  of  the  club  who  would  be 
assessed  to  pay   for  the  sheep  destroyed  each  year. 


Proof  against  Sheep-Killing  Dogs. 

— C.  H.  Field,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.,  writes  to  the 
Agriculturist  that  conclusive  proof  against  sheep-killing 
dogs  may  often  be  had,  by  examining  their  mouths. 
Small  pieces  of  wool  will  be  found  between  their  teeth 
for  several  days  after  they  have  been  on  a  foray.  They 
are  cunning  enougli  to  wash  off  marks  of  blood,  but  can 
not  pick  their  teeth  so  readily. 


B£inghone  in  fifforses. — C.  D.  Wilson, 
Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.  This  disease  is  often  hereditary. 
Colls  but  a  few  months  old  have  frequently  been  affected 
wiUi  it.  It  may  be  caused  by  any  strain  of  the  ligaments 
in  the  region  of  (he  pastern  joint.  There  is  no  complete 
cure  known.  Lameness  may  be  removed  by  rest,  and 
stimulating  liniments,  or  counter  irritants,  as  blistering 
the  skin.    Prevention  is  found  in  careful  usage. 


Cure  for  Scratches.— "  Non  Equus"  con- 
tributes to  the  Agriculturist  the  following  remedy  for 
scratches  in  horses,  which  he  says  is  infallible  :  Mix  one 
ounce  of  verdigris  (sub-acetate  of  copper)  with  a  gill  of 
tinsalted  lard,  and  daily  anoint  the  affected  parts  with  a 
teaspoonful  of  the.  ointment.  The  feet  and  legs  of  the 
animal  should  be  washed  with  warm  soap  suds,  and  wip- 
ed dry,  before  applying  this  preparation. 


Warts  obi  Xforses. —  Samuel  Thompson, 
Salem  Co.,  N.  J.,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist  that  he  has 
been  successful  in  removing  warts  from  horses  without 
resorting  to  the  knife.  He  uses  a  mixture  of  one  part 
flowers  of  sulphur  to  two  parts  of  Alcohol  by  measure,  lo 
be  well  shaken  and  applied  daily  until  the  wart  disappears. 


To  Keep  Rats  from  Harness.— Samuel 
Thompson,  Salem  Co.,  N.  J.,  recommends  to  mix  a  little 
tar  with  the  oil  used  on  harness,  which  he  says  will  keep 
rats  from  gnawing  it. 


(napes  in  Chiclccns.— "Inquirer."  Preven- 
tion is  better  than  cure.  Young  chickens  kept  in  dry, 
clean  quarters,  and  fed  with  cracked  corn,  the  size  of  the 
pieces  being  suited  to  their  age,  are  seldom  affected  with 
this  ailment.  Many  remedies  have  been  published  ;  the 
favorite  one  is  lo  dip  the  feather  end  of  a  quill  in  spirits 
turpentine,  open  the  mouth  of  the  chicken  and  twist  the 
feather  in  its  windpipe.  This  will  remove  or  destroy  the 
small  worms  which  accompany  the  disease,  and  some- 
times effect  a  cure. 


A  IMischievons  Bird.— Noah  B.  Aiken, 
Lorain  Co.,  O.,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist,  that  the  Barn 
Wren  is  a  very  troublesome  bird,  throwing  out  the  eggs 
from  the  nests  of  swallows  and  other  birds,  and  thereby 
meriting  shooting  at  sight.  We  are  not  acquainted  with 
any  bird  of  such  habits.  H  certainly  cannot  be  the  com- 
mon wren,  which  though  resolute  in  defending  its  own 
premises,  is  not.  to  our  knowledge,  an  invader   of    the 


rights  of  others.  Can  any  one  give  such  a  description  as 
-shall  certainly  designate  this  mischievous  bird,  and  give  a 
warrant  for  its  execution? 

Sparred  Floors  for  Cattle.— "Farmer." 
Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.  We  somewhat  question  the  expediency 
of  using  them,  especially  in  Winter.  The  liquid  manure 
will  indeed  pass  away  readily,  but  then  the  cold  winds 
will  also  blow  up  through  them,  making  the  stalls  chilly 
and  unwholesome.  Manure  will  freeze  worse  in  such 
stalls  than  in  others.  And  moreover,  a  grating  makes  an 
unpleasant  footing  for  man  or  beast. 

Red  E>nrliam  Cattle.— L.  "W.  Goodrich, 
Piscataquis  Co.,  Me.  Certainly,  there  are  imported  Dur- 
hams  whose  color  is  uniformly  red,  and  whose  blood  is 
as  pure  as  the  white  or  roan  stock. 

Protecting:  Bee-Hives  from  Ants. — 
J.  Hills,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist  that  he  effectually 
protected  his  hives  from  black  ants,  which  had  previously 
been  very  troublesome,  by  placing  the  supports  of  the 
stand  in  troughs  of  water.  The  insects  were  unable  to 
swim  over,  and  the  hives  were  left  unmolested. 


Mignonette  for  Bees.— Walter  Fish,  au 
Apiarian  of  Clackamas  Co.,  Oregon,  seeing  it  recommend- 
ed to  sow  mignonette  for  bees  to  make  honey  of,  tried  the 
experiment  and  found  the  honey  made  from  the  blossoms 
had  a  strong  odor  like  that  of  buckwheat.  Mignonette  is 
an  annual,  worthless,  as  he  says,  save  for  honey,  while 
buckwheat  blooms  all  Summer  and  then  gives  a  crop  of 
grain.  He  says  white  clover  is  better  than  either  for 
honey,  good  for  stock,  and  fine  to  turn  under  as  a  fertilizer. 

I\on  Swarming  Hives. — Iu  reply  to  a 
communication  to  the  Agriculturist  on  the  value  of  non- 
swarming  hives,  by  Jasper  Hagen,  Mr.  Quinby  writes: 
"  J.  H.  presumes  because  he  has  had  some  experience 
with  a  half  dozen  hives,  two  or  three  years,  in  one  place, 
that  all  other  bees  in  the  country  will  do  the  same.  These 
non-swarming  hives,  are  not  to  be  depended  upon  as  suck. 
Until  we  can  get  one  that  will,  it  seems  like  a  waste  of 
time  to  discuss  their  profit  as  compared  with  the  swarm- 
en  I  have  had  no  reason  to  change  the  opinion  given 
ten  years  ago  on  this  point,  in  the  '  Mysteries  of  Bee- 
Keeping,'  pages  37-8  and  I  have  had  much  subsequent 
experience  on  this  point.    In  this  locality,  I  find  three  in 

eight  will  swarm,  even  when  put  in  the  dark  room In 

such  room,  the  surplus  honey  is  in  bad  shape  for  market. 
A  good  non-swarmer  is  a  very  desirable  article,  and  one 
that  would  give  the  surplus  honey  in  good  shape  for 
market,  and  could  be  reliable  at  all  times,  or  only  nine  in 
ten,  would,  to  rne  at  least,  be  worth  hundreds  of  dollars." 


Bottling  Insects. — During  an  insect  dis- 
cussion at  the  New-York  Fruit  Growers  Meeting,  Br. 
Trimble  protested  against  the  method  of  wholesale  de- 
struction practised  by  some  persons  who  hang  open  bot- 
tles of  sweetened  water  in  fruit  trees  to  entrap  insects. 
His  argument  was,  that  "in  so  doing  one  destroyed  more 
friends  than  enemies  ;  we  should  rather  encourage  the 
increase  of  the  clear-winged  fly,  the  lady  bug,  etc.,  as 
these  prey  upon  destructive  insects. 

Trap  tor  "Wire  Worms. — A  correspond- 
ent of  the  London  Gardeners'  Chronicle  was  successful 
in  ridding  a  grape  vine  border  of  wire  worms  by  the  fol- 
lowing plan  ;  Potatoes  were  cut  in  slices  half  an  inch 
thick,  and  inserted  at  short  intervals  along  the  border, 
about  two  inches  below  the  surface.  A  small  stick  was 
placed  to  show  the  locality  of  each  piece.  The  potatoes 
were  regularly  inspected  every  morning  for  about  three 
weeks,  and  large  numbers  of  worms  were  daily  found  in 
them.  In  this  way  the  ground  was  ultimately  cleaned  of 
these  destructive  pests. 

Scale  on   Apple   Trees.—  "G.,"  of  St. 

Paul,  Minn.,  refering  to  the  bark-louse  question  in  the 
June  Agriculturist,  says  I>e  had  a  tree  growing  on  poor 
soil  which  was  completely  covered  with  scale.  He  made 
a  strong  lye  from  wood  ashes,  and  applied  it  with  a  stiff 
wisp  broom.  The  first  rain  washed  it  clear  of  scale,  the 
leaves  came  out  healthy,  and  it  bore  its  first  crop  of 
fruit  that  year.  He  has  since  used  lye  with  like  good 
success,  without  injuring  the  trees. 

Bean  Weevil.— C.  R.  Thomas,  Warwick 
Co.,  Ind.,  and  others.  We  have  had  no  experience  with 
this  insect,  but  suppose  that  it  may  be  destroyed  like  the 
pea-bug,  by  scalding   the   seed   before   planting. 

Potato  Bng.-S.  J.  Noble,  Dorchester  Co., 
Md.,  says  that  the  most  effectual  way  to  destroy  the  po- 
tato bug  "is  to  take  a  tin  bucket  or  basin  In  one  hand, 


and  the  potato  top  in  the  other  ;  shake  the  bugs  into  the 
bucket  or  basin  anil  you  have  got  them  to  burn  or  bury  at 
your  pleasure.  I  have  captured  gallons  of  them  in  this 
way."  We  do  not  know  to  which  particular  bug  Mr.  N. 
refers,  but  his  advice  is  sensible  as  regards  any  of  the 
many  species  which  infest  the  potato.  The  only  way  in 
which  we  can  get  rid  of  insects,  aside  from  the  help  ot 
birds  and  parasites,  is  actual  destruction.  There  are  no 
specifics  or  particular  remedies  for  each  insect.  We 
must  study  their  habits  and  work  for  their  destruction  in 
the  stages  of  egg,  larva,  and  perfect  insect.  By  destroy- 
ing the  moth,  butterfly,  or  beetle,  we  prevent  their  multi- 
plication, but  as  these  are  the  forms  in  which  insects 
appear  lo  be  most  harmless,  we  mainly  direct  our  efforts 
toward  the  larva.  Destroy  the  perfect  insect,  and  the 
destructive  larva  will  cease. 


Tlie  Chess  Question.— D.  Noble,  Shaw- 
anaw  Co.,  Wis.,  thinks  that  we  do  wrong  to  decline  dis- 
cussion on  this  subject.  We  might  fill  our  pages  with 
arguments  on  either  side  of  this  or  any  other  public  falla- 
cy. We  are  willing  to  admit  even,  that  the  moon  is  made 
of  green  cheese,  if  we  can  see  an  authentic  specimen. 
If  he  has  an  example  of  the  transmutation  of  one  grain 
into  another  we  will  not  even  decide  on  it  ourselves,  but 
submit  it  to  the  first  botanists  of  the  country,  and  if  Ihey 
say  that  the  specimen  is  partly  wheat,  or  any  other  grain, 
and  partly  chess  we  will  give  it  up.    Send  the  specimens. 

Sweet    Potato  Tops    tor  Fodder.- 

K.  Horner,  Wayne  Co.,  Mich.,  asks  if  sweet  potato  lops 
are  suitable  food  for  animals.  He  has  had  good  success 
in  raising  the  crop  in  his  locality  and  finds  that  cows  and 
hogs  are  fond  of  the  tops.  We  have  always  let  the  tops 
remain  until  the  frost  killed  them,  and  have  had  no  experi- 
ence in  feeding.  The  sweet  potato  belongs  to  the  same 
family  as  the  jalap,  and  we  should  expect  to  find  some 
cathartic  property  in  the  uncooked  plants.  Mr.  H's  ex- 
perience is,  that  the  cattle  and  hogs  eat  them  without  in- 
jury. We  shall  be  glad  to  hear  from  others  who  have 
tried  the  experiment.  Where  the  potatoes  are  dug  before 
frost  it  may  be  desirable  to  feed  out  the  tops,  if  it  can  be 
done  with  safety. 

Poud  Mud.— James  Floyd,  Chenango  Co., 
N.  Y.,  wishes  to  know,  whether  the  cleanings  of  the 
canal  every  spring,  will  answer  for  a  top-dressing  of  his 
meadow?  We  have  often  noticed  such  heaps  on  the 
canal  bank,  covered  in  Summer  with  a  rank  growth  of 
Canada  thistles,  dock,  etc.  The  best  way  to  manage 
such  mud  is  to  cart  it  home,  spread  it  in  layers  from  four 
to  six  inches  thick,  and  cover  each  layer  with  a  coat  of 
lime.  Let  the  heap  lie  a  few  months,  and  then  shovel  it 
all  together.  After  laying  a  short  lime  longer,  it  may  be 
spread  on  meadows,  pastures  or  anywhere.  The  lime 
will  kill  most  of  the  foul  seeds,  and  decompose  the  vege- 
table and  animal  matter  in  the  mud. 


How  to  make    a    Manure    Heap.— 

Wm.  Polly,  Dark  Co.,  O.,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist. 
that  he  has  an  old  straw  heap,  trodden  by  cattle  last  Win- 
ter, a  few  loads  of  manure  from  the  horse  stable,  a  few 
ashes,  and  that  he  can  obtain  plenty  of  lime.  He  has  also 
a  good  shed  under  which  to  make  the  heap,  and  asks  how- 
to  proceed.  Place  a  layer  of  straw  a  foot  thick,  then 
two  inches  of  ashes  or  lime,  next  two  inches  of  muck, 
or  rich  soil.  Add  six  inches  of  horse  manure,  more 
straw  and  ashes  or  lime,  then  earth  and  manure  as  before,, 
and  when  the  pile  is  complete,  cover  the  whole  with  two 
or  three  inches  of  muck  or  earth.  Water  the  heap  mod- 
eratly  and  every  two  weeks  fork  the  whole  over,  until  the 
ingredients  are  thoroughly  mixed.  In  the  mean  time  add 
to  the  pile  all  the  house  slops,  the  contents  of  the  pigpen 
and  privy.  In  two  months  or  less  there  will  be  a  valuable 
compost  heap  ready  for  use  next  Fall. 


K&isintectants. — E.  H.  Morton,  Middlesex 
Co.,  N.  J.  To  deodorize  offensive  substances,  such  as  the 
contents  of  privies,  sink  drains,  &c,  so  as  to  use  the  ma- 
terials afterward  for  compost,  is  an  important  matter. 
When  powdered  charcoal  is  abundant,  nothing  is  helter, 
putting  it  in  layer  after  layer.  But  when  this  is  scarce, 
dried  peat  or  muck  will  answer  nearly  as  well.  If,  how- 
ever, the  decaying  substances  still  emit  offensive  odors. 
powdered  lime  may  be  added.  In  ordinary  cases,  coal 
ashes,  tan-bark,  saw-dust,  or  dry  soil  will  absorb  refuse 
liquids  and  turn  them  into  useful  fertilizers.  It  is  essent- 
ial that  the  absorbent  be  well  dried. 


Ont  Door  Whitewash. — E.  J.  Ham- 
mond, Harford  Co.,  Md.  We  know  no  better  recipe  for 
preparing  whitewash  for  fences  and  other  wood  work 
exposed  to  the  weather,  than  the  following,  which  was 
published  in  the  Agriculturist  several  years  since.  Mix 
unslacked  lime  with  about  as  much  water  as  will  be 
required  in  use,  and  add  about  half  a  pound  of  tallow  for 


198 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[July, 


each  peck  of  lime.  As  the  lime  slakes,  the  heat  will  melt 
the  tallow,  which  is  to  be  thoroughly  stirred,  the  stirring 
to  be  repeated  while  using,  if  any  of  the  grease  rises  to 
the  surface.  Spoiled  lard  or  other  grease  may  be  used 
in  place  of  tallow. 

Sowing-  Grass  with  Buckwheat.— 

A.  L.  Fowler,  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.  It  would  not  be  ad- 
visable to  sow  grass  seed  with  buckwheat.  The  latter 
would  shade  the  ground  too  much  for  the  grass  to  get  a 
good  start.  Better  sow  with  buckwheat  alone,  and  seed 
down  with  rye  next  Fall.  Or,  if  it  be  desirable  to  start 
the  grass  at  once,  try  a  crop  of  millet,  sowing  it  rather 
thinly  ;  this  will  give  the  grass  as  good  chance  as  winter 
grain,  or  oats. 

Shelter  Stacks.— **  D.  K.  W."  recommends 
that  where  hay  must  be  stacked  and  fed  out  without  re- 
moving it  to  the  barn,  the  stacks  be  built  in  the  form  of 
sheds,  to  give  shelter  to  cattle  which  are  to  consume  the 
hay  in  winter.  He  says  it  can  readily  be  done  by  making 
a  rough  frame  of  timber  or  rails,  on  which  the  hay  is  to 
be  stored.  We  consider  the  plan  objectionable,  because 
the  enclosure  would  be  liable  to  become  filthy  without 
great  care  ;  there  would  be  insufficient  ventilation,  and  the 
odors  arising  from  below  would  make  the  hay  unpalatable 
and  unwholesome.  If  the  hay  cannot  be  drawn  to  the 
barn  or  sheds  and  fed  out  there,  better  erect  temporary 
shelters  near  the  stack.  No  one  but  a  shiftless  farmer 
would  think  of  letting  cattle  remain  without  shelter,  and 
lie  around  the  stack  all  Winter.  A  few  uprights  of  poles, 
with  a  roof  of  rails,  and  a  covering  of  straw  or  poor  hay 
would  amply  repay  for  the  trouble  of  building,  if  nothing 
belter  could  be  had. 

The  Peeler  Plow. — To  many  inquirers. 
This  affair  first  came  up  in  an  offensive  manner.  Mr. 
Peeler,  said  to  be  a  Southern  clergymen,  pressed  it  upon 
manufacturers  with  the  specious  plea  that  the  Bishops 
and  clergy  of  the  largest  and  most  influential  Church 
in  the  country  would  all  act  as  friends,  and  indirectly, 
if  not  directly,  as  agents,  partly  from  sympathy  with 
a  brother  minister,  and  more  especially  because  he 
was  making  immense  donations  of  the  (prospective)  pro- 
fits to  the  educational  institutions  of  that  church.  But 
notwithstanding  this,  we  gave  the  plow  a  somewhat  care- 
ful examination,  and  found  it  to  be  a  rather  rude  con- 
glomeration. The  main  idea  was,  to  have  a  variety  of 
mold-boards,  land-sides,  points,  etc.,  all  to  be  attached 
to  the  same  beam,  as  wanted.  The  arrangement,  if  well 
executed,  might  answer  for  light  soil,  but  the  attachments 
were  not  firm  enough  to  stand  the  rough  usage  of  heavy 
or  stony  land.  Deeming  it  of  little  practical  utility,  and 
disapproving  of  the  effort  to  turn  religion  to  money  mak- 
ing account  in  so  direct  a  manner,  we  passed  the  thing 
over  in  silence,  and  only  make  this  note  now  in  response 
to  a  great  number  of  questions  that  have  accumulated 
during  some  months  past.  Mr.  Peeler  is  probably  now 
among  the  rebels  ;  happily  he  carried  little  with  him  from 
Northern  manufacturers,  who  were  somewhat  taken  with 
his  promise  of  ministerial  agency.  If  any  of  the  Insti- 
tutions of  Learning  have  received  a  first  instalment  upon 
the  splendid  subscriptions  made  by  him,  we  shall  be  hap- 
py to  hear  of  the  fact. 

manuring:  with  Brains.— If  any  of  our 

readers  happen  in  the  vicinity  of  Ellenville,  Wavvarsing 
Township,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.,  we  advise  them  to  visit  the 
farm  of  Mr.  Joseph  H.  Tuttle,  and  see  what  the  appli- 
cation of  intelligent  thought,  of  "  brain  manure"  as  our 
friend  'Squire  Bunker  would  say,  will  do  for  a  farm. 
They  will  see  stony,  hilly  land,  with  wet  bogs  between 
the  hills,  converted  into  a  fertile,  paying  farm.  Draining 
on  the  side  hills  arrests  the  surplus  water,  and  where  only 
bog  grass  would  grow,  and  where  cattle  would  mire  out 
of  sight,  may  now  be  seen  luxuriant  meadows  of  Timo- 
thy. There  is  a  story  in  the  neighborhood  to  the  effect, 
that  one  of  these  wet  spots,  restored  by  draining,  and 
liberally  limed  and  manured,  yielded  last  year  about  15 
tuns  of  good  hay  on  V4.  acres!  Every  year's  crop  will 
doubtless  pay  for  the  cost  of  the  drainage.  Mr.  T.  has 
been  for  many  years  a  careful  reader  of  the  Agriculturist, 
and  has  practised  upon  the  hints  obtained  from  Us  pages 
— with  profit  directly  to  himself,  and  indirectly,  through 
his  example,  to  his  neighbors.  He  endorses  the  teachings  of 
the  Agriculturist  almost  as  a  whole,  draining  and  all,  but 
takes  exception  to  our  advice  in  regard  to  laying  stone- 
drains  with  side  stones  and  cover.  He  tried  these,  and 
they  failed.  He  now  drains  wholly  by  setting  the  stones 
on  edge  in  the  form  of  an  inverted  v,  thus  /\f  with  cobble 
stones  against  them  to  hold  them  in  place.  We  examin- 
ed tlie  drains  June  9th,  and  though  in  the  middle  of  a  se- 
vere drouth,  a  stream  of  pure  water  flowed  from  the 
different  drains,  showing  the  necessity  of  their  construe- 
tlon,  even  on  bill  sides  which  would  usually  be  thought 
the  last  land  to  need  draining.  Mr.  Tutlle  raises  roots 
for  his  stock,  cuts  all  the  feed,  and  steams  it.    He  fur- 


nishes dumping  ground  for  the  scavengers,  or  night  soil 
gatherers  of  the  village,  and  pays  them  liberally  for  de- 
positing this  material  upon  his  farm,  where  it  is  mixed 
with  muck,  and  converted  into  a  valuable  home  made 
poudrette.  We  had  not  time  in  our  brief  chance  visit  to 
note  down  the  items  of  cost,  etc.  Will  Mr.  T.  give 
our  readers  some  account  of  his  mode  of  raising, 
storing,  and  feeding  roots,  straw  food,  etc.  We  know 
from  his  neighbors,  that  he  makes  his  farm  pay,  and 
others  would  like  the  particulars,  as  to  how  it  is  done. 

Apparatus  for  I>rying  Fruit.— John 
Kostenbader,  Lawrence  Co.,  Indiana,  A  simple  cheap 
apparatus  by  which  fruit  could  be  dried  expeditiously  and 
well,  would  undoubtedly  be  very  useful,  and  profitable 
where  the  operation  is  to  be  conducted  on  a  large  scale. 
Its  patentability  would  depend  upon  its  novelty  and  su- 
periority over  methods  at  present  used. 

To  Draw  a  Spike.  —  Chauncy  Lynch, 
Rutland  Co.,  Vt.,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist,  that  alight 
spike  may  be  withdrawn  from  the  wood,  by  holding  a 
sledge  hammer,  or  the  head  of  an  ax,  against  one  side  of 
the  projecting  part,  and  striking  upon  the  opposite  side 
with  a  hammer.  The  blow  should  be  an  upward  one 
against  the  under  side  of  the  spike  head,  if  practicable. 

Cal>1>age  Puller.  —  M.  Scougale,  Mich. , 
says  in  reference  to  the  cabbage  puller,  figured  in  the 
March  Agriculturist :  "  I  think  a  hook  made  from  a  small 
sapling  is  as  good  as  any.  The  pole  should  be  about  5  feet 
long,  with  a  limb  about  5  or  6  inches  from  the  end.  This 
is  more  easily  made  than  the  other  and  is  just  as  good." 


Accounts  with  the  Farm-— H.  Baker, 
Mercer  Co.,  N.J. ,  suggests  that  farmers  should  keep  a 
regular  account  of  everything  sold  from  the  farm.  He 
gives  the  proceeds  from  six  cows  for  one  year  as  follows : 
Butter  490  lbs.  $108.08  ;  calves  sold  $26.83  ;  Alderney  calf 
raised,  $25.  Total  $159.91.  Besides  the  butter  sold,  the 
family  table  was  well  supplied.  If  in  addilion  to  a  re- 
cord of  receipts,  there  be  also  kept  an  account  of  ex- 
penses, the  showing  will  be  more  valuable.  It  is  desir- 
able to  know  both  profit  and  loss  on  all  farm  operations. 


Xo  prevent  Chickens  from  Scratch- 
ing:,— G,  W.  Kitterman,  Wapello  Co.,  Iowa,  writes  that 
all  trouble  may  be  prevented  by  tying  a  forked  stick  4  or 
5  inches  long  upon  each  leg.  "Have  the  stick  long 
enough,  so  that  there  will  be  more  weight  on  the  hind 
part  than  on  the  fore  part,  and  when  the  chickens  go  to 
scratch  they  will  find  themselves  walking  away,  if  the 
sticks  are  heavy  enough  behind." 

Soaking-  Seeds.— The  Chinese  seldom  sow 
a  crop  without  having  previously  soaked  their  seeds  in 
diluted  manure,  keeping  them  there  even  until  they  be- 
gin to  sprout.  They  hold  that  this  not  only  gives  the 
plants  an  early  and  vigorous  start,  but  preserves  the  seed 
from  worms  or  birds.  The  practical  results  of  Chinese 
agriculture  are  too  important  for  us  to  speak  of  them 
with  contempt.  Would  it  not  be  well  for  us  to  use  some 
safe  steeps  for  our  corn,  squashes,  melons,  etc.,  as  a  gen- 
eral rule,  and  not  as  an  exception  ? 


Pruning    Trees  to    Good    Form.— 

Too  little  attention  is  usually  given  to  the  formation  of  a 
good  head,  in  pruning  fruit  trees.  Begin  as  soon  as  the 
tree  Is  planted,  and  use  only  the  pruning  knife.  Never 
allow  a  tree  to  become  "crotched,"  as  it  will  be  lia- 
ble to  split  down.  Rather  encourage  several  branches 
upon  different  sides  to  preserve  the  balance.  It  is  easy 
to  start  a  branch  to  fill  a  vacancy,  by  cutting  back  a  limb 
close  to  a  bud  at  the  point  where  the  new  one  is  required. 

Snmmer  Queen  Apple.— Dr.  Ward,  of 
Newark,  N.  J.,  spoke  highly  of  this  apple  at  a  late  Fruit 
Growers'  Meeting.  He  kept  an  account  of  the  sales  from 
two  trees  one  season,  and  they  footed  up  $60,  selling 
from  $2.00  to  $2.50  per  bushel.  Being  a  large  showy  fruit, 
and  ripening  by  the  middle  of  August,  it  commands  a 
ready  sale  at  high  prices. 


well   understood,  but  the   prevention  here   indicated  is 
worth  trying  elsewhere. 


Winter    Mulching    Peach  Trees.— 

M.  Gookins,  Fountain  Co.,  Ind.,  writes  to  the  Agricul- 
turist, that  for  several  years  past  he  has  each  Fall  placed 
around  his  peach  trees  a  layer  of  half  decayed  straw 
about  six  inches  thick,  and  extending  three  feet  each  way 
from  the  trunks.  This  was  done  to  prevent  the  swelling 
of  the  buds  during  temporary  warm  weather  toward 
Spring,  by  which  much  fruit  is  annually  destroyed.  Re- 
cently the  peaoh  trees  in  his  neighborhood  have  been 
affected  by  the  "  Curl,"  a  disease  or  blight  causing  the 
leaves  to  shrivel  and  the  trees  to  die  ;  but  those  which  he 
has  mulched  as  described  above,  have  remained  entirely 
free  from  this  ailment.    The  cause  of  the  **  Curl"  is  not 


Natural    Peach  Trees  not  Health* 

lest.— Thos.  Roberts  Jr.,  of  Monmouth  Co.,   N.  J.,  the 

heart  of  the  peach  growing  region,  says  that  his  experi- 
ence, and  that  of  others  in  the  neighborhood,  is,  that  nat- 
ural peach  trees  are  more  subject  to  the  "  yellows"  than 
budded  trees.  He  planted  both  side  by  side  and  the 
worked  trees  were  every  way  the  healthiest. 


Curl  on  the  Peach.  —  P.  A.  Bettens, 
Florence,  Ind.  The  specimens  of  peach  leaves  were 
affected  by  the  Curl,  a  common  disease  in  both  this  coun- 
try and  Europe.  Some  writers  ascribe  it  to  the  puncture 
of  a  minute  insect,  while  others  consider  it  to  be  due  to 
sudden  changes  of  temperature,  and  most  liable  to  appear 
when  warm  and  damp  days  are  succeeded  by  a  compar- 
atively cold  spell.  We  have  made  several  examinations 
and  have  never  been  able  to  find  any  insects.  It  is  a  sub- 
ject upon  which  there  seems  to  be  very  few  accurate  ob- 
servations, and  we  have  never  known  any  remedy  to  be 
suggested.  The  diseased  leaves  soon  fall  and  are  suc- 
ceeded by  a  new  growth.  If  this  is  often  repeated  the 
vigor  of  the  trees  will  be  impaired. 

Cutting     Itnckthorn     Hedges,  —  6. 

Kimball,  Kennebec  Co.,  Me.  Your  hedge  set  out  last 
Fall  with  plants  fourteen  inches  high,  should  have  been 
cut  back  in  the  Spring  to  six  inches,  so  as  to  form  a 
thick  mass  at  the  bottom.    Cut  back  to    ten  inches  now. 


Chinese     Chrysanthemums.  —  Is    it 

known  to  every  one  that  these  plants  can  be  raised  from 
cuttings  about  as  easily  as  willows  ?  That  they  bloom 
abundantly  and  continue  at  it  from  November  to  Christ- 
mas ?  That  after  a  short  rest,  if  the  tops  are  cut  off,  new 
shoots  will  start  up  from  the  roots  and  bloom  again  in 
houses  in  March?  And  then,  what  a  variety  of  colors 
and  shades  !     Everybody  should  grow  chrysanthemums. 

Crocus — When  Planted. — Media,  TVayno 
Co.,  Pa.  The  bulbs  should  be  planted  in  September  or 
October,  at  which  season  they  are  for  sale  at  seed  stores. 

Camellia.— "E.   F.  S.,"   Canajobarie,  N.  T. 

The  Camellia  will  not  hold  its  buds  in  a  hot,  dry  room. 
Try  U  in  a  room  where  there  is  no  fire,  and  no  freezing. 

Lemon  Tree.— Mrs.  G.  B.  W.,  Meadville, 
Pa.  The  tree  would  probably  bear  in  time,  but  will  do  so 
much  earlier,  and  bear  better  fruit,  if  budded  or  grafted. 
The  best  way  is  to  send  it  to  some  experienced  florist. 

Mulching  Staw berries. — Irene  Cole, 
Ind.  Our  best  fruit  growers  put  on  a  mulch  of  long 
straw  in  the  Fall,  opening  it  over  the  crowns  of  the 
plants  in  the  spring.  We  have  never  heard  of  any  injury 
from  mice,  resulting  from  this  treatment.  Take  up  Ti- 
ger Flowers  and  Tuberoses  after  frost  kills  the  leaves. 


Books  on  Fruit. — David  Templeton,  Craw- 
ford Co.,  III.  A  good  work  on  Fruit  Culture  is  "  Barry's 
Fruit  Garden"  ;  the  best  descriptive  work  on  Fruits  is 
"  Downing's  Fruit  and  Fruit  Trees  of  America."  Any 
one  largely  interested  in  Fruit  Culture  should  have  both 
these  works.    We  send  them  (post  paid)  at  $1.50  and  $2. 


Plants  tor  a  Name.— I.  L.  Herricks,  St. 
Josepha  Co.,  Mich.  The  leaves  sent  here  are  not  the 
Silver  Maple,  but  the  Abele  or  White  Poplar  (Populus 
alba).  It  is  a  rapidly  growing  tree  and  a  very  showy  one 
from  the  strong  contrast  between  the  green  upper  sur- 
face and  white  underside  of  its  leaves,  but  it  is  a  great 
nuisance  on  account  of  the  numerous  suckers  it  throws 
up  from  the  root.  Some  of  the  small  parks  in  New-York 
have  the  grass  quite  ruined  by  the  abundance  of  these 
suckers.  In  streets,  where  the  pavements  keep  them 
down,  this  is  not  so  strong  an  objection F.C.Camp- 
bell, Pulaski  Co.,  Ind.  The  plant  sent  is  the  American 
Columbine  {Aquilcgia  Canadensis).  It  is  very  common, 
and  hence  we  rarely  see  it  in  gardens,  yet  it  is  much 

more  graceful  than  any  of  the  imported  species Irene 

Cole,  Ind.  The  specimen  is  the  "  Star  of  Bethlehem" 
(Ornithogalum  umbcllatum).  It  is  sometimes  cultivated 
in  old  gardens,  but  in  many  of  the  Eastern  states  it  has 
become  naturalized  and  grows  wild.  The  true  Snow 
Drop  is  a  very  different  thing. 


Gloves  for  Chapped  Hands. — Buck- 
skin gloves  do  very  well  in  dry  weather,  but  are  poor 
things  when  wet.  India-rubber  gloves  are  used  to  some 
extent,  and  have  the  merit   of  being  waterproof. 


18G3.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


109 


Brooklyn  Slorfiicultural  Associa- 
tion. We  regret  that  tlie  Summer  Exhibition  of  this 
heretofore  enterprising  Association  must  be  regarded  ns 
a  failure.  The  show  of  flowers  anil  fruit  was  not  larger 
than  should  be  looked  for  in  a  town  of  five  thousand  in- 
habitants, while  it  is  well  known  that  the  public  and  pri- 
vate Horticultural  establislunentsof  Brooklyn  are  excel- 
led by  few  if  any  cities  in  the  Union.  There  is  either  a 
great  lack  of  public  spirit  on  the  part  of  cultivators,  or 
culpable  mismanagement  by  the  officers  of  the  Associa- 
tion. Wherever  the  fault  lies,  it  should  oe  corrected  at 
jnce.  The  public  taste,  no  less  than  the  interest  of  hor- 
ticulturists^deinands  that  there  should  be  a  yearly  exhibi- 
tion of  the  progress  made  in  this  most  delightful  art.  We 
trust  that  when  the  lime  for  the  Fall  meeting  arrives,  it 
will  be  found  that  the  present  difficulties  were  only  tem- 
porary, and  that  the  Society  may  resume  the  position  It 
was  attaining,  as  one  of  the  most  successful  institutions 
of  the  kind  in  this  country. 

Watering;    <;  roivin-    Fruit.  —  E.    D. 

Wisner,  Monmouth  Co.,  N.  J.,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist 
that  fruit  can  be  greatly  improved  when  near  ripen- 
ing, by  frequent  and  copious  watering  of  the  plants,  un- 
less [here  be  abundance  of  rain.  Where  extra  specimens 
are  desired  for  exhibition  or  otherwise,  they  may  be  stim- 
ulated to  larger  growth  by  weak  liquid  manure.  The 
watering  should  be  done  late  tn  the  afternoon,  and  mulch- 
ing with  straw,  or  freshly  cut  grass,  tan  bark,  or  other 
material,  will  aid  in  keeping  the  ground  moist,  and  pre- 
vent baking  during  hot  sunshine. 

Apples  Preserved  in  Sand*  — John 
Firth,  Center  Co.,  Pa.,  recently  sent  to  the  office  of  the 
Agriculturist,  (express  paid,)  a  box  of  beautiful  apples, 
whose  natural  period  of  ripening  is  in  Decembei  and  Jan- 
uary. They  were  perfectly  sound,  and  their  flavor  un- 
impaired. They  are  part  of  six  barrels  which  were 
kept  equally  well,  not  twenty  of  the  whole  being  un- 
sound. They  were  picked  Sept.  1st  and  2nd,  kept  upon 
the  floor  of  a  room  in  the  house  about  two  weeks,  and 
then  packed  in  barrels  with  dry  sand  obtained  from  an 
iron  foundry,  which  had  been  used  in  casting,  and  from 
which  all  vegetable  matter  had  been  burnt  out.  They 
were  placed  so  that  no  two  apples  came  in  contact,  each 
being  entirely  surrounded  by  the  sand.  The  whole  were 
then  stored  in  the  cellar.  Mr.  Firth  thinks  the  remainder 
of  the  fruit  will  keep  in  good  condition  until  next  Septem- 
ber. It  would  be  easy  to  prepare  sand  for  this  purpose  by 
burning,  and  tlte  experiment  is  worth  further  trial. 


The  Best  Turnip  ibr  Winter.— Charles 
A.  Foster,  Bergen  Co.,  N.J.  The  Long  White  French 
Turnip  is  the  best  we  know  of  for  winter  use  on  the  table, 
and  equal  we  think  to  any  for  feeding  out.  Its  keeping 
qualities  are  unsurpassed.  The  general  crop  may  be 
sown  from  June  1 5th  to  the  middle  of  July. 

Benefits    of"   Frequent    Plowing-. — 

John  T.  Smith,  Harrison  Co.,  Ind.,  in  a  communication 
to  the  Agriculturist,  says  that  throughout  that  section 
corn  is  generally  backward;  but  that  he  has  observed 
those  fields  planted  early  and  plowed  thoroughly  through 
wet  as  well  as  dry  times,  are  invariably  good.  The  soil 
on  the  Ohio  Bottomlands  admits  of  this,  and  plowing  be- 
fore the  ground  is  dry,  prevents  its  baking  and  becoming 
cloddy.  The  average  depth  of  plowing  he  says  is  9  to  12 
inches,  and  the  yield  of  corn  about  80  bushels  per  acre. 
Observing  cultivators  will  "  put  that  and  that  together." 


Sulphuric  Acid  for  Stumps. — Ebene- 
zer  Walker,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.  We  have  seen  an  item 
going  the  rounds  of  the  papers  saying  that  a  stump  might 
be  quickly  rotted  by  boring  a  hole  in  the  top  and  filling 
it  with  sulphuric  acid  (oil  of  vitro!,)  but  it  would  probably 
be  a  failure.  The  acid  would  cause  the  parts  with  which 
it  came  into  immediate  contact,  to  decay  rapidly,  but  it 
would  not  be  likely  to  affect  the  roots  by  which  the  stump 
is  anchored  to  the  ground.  A  good  stump-puller  is  more 
certain  in  its  operation. 
*  . 

Soil  for  White  Clover.— Alfred  L.  Waite, 
Potter  Co.,  Pa.  White  clover  thrives  best  on  a  soil  con- 
taining a  large  portion  of  clay,  and  abundance  of  vege- 
table matter.  It  is  abundant  throughout  the  Northern  and 
Middle  States,  where  it  makes  the  best  of  pasture,  and  is 
of  great  value  for  furnishing  supplies  to  bees.  The  honey 
made  from  the  blossoms  is  of  the  very  best  quality.  Seed 
of  the  white  clover  is  usually  kept  on  sale  at  all  the  Ag- 
ricultural warehouses  and  seed  stores. 


Honey  for  Market.— William  S.  Twining, 
Greene  Co.,  N.  Y.  Boxes  with  glass  sides  in  which  the 
bees  have  stored  honey  are  the  best  packages  in  which  to 
send  it  to  market.     The  purchaser  can  see  the  quality  of 


the  article,  and  if  white  and  clear,  its  inviting  look  gives 
it  a  ready  sale  at  good  prices. 

Tomatoes  in  Pots.— Mrs.  E.  M.  Wcndall, 
Marquette  Co.,  Wis.  Tomatoes  grown  in  pots  where 
their  roots  have  not  room  to  extend  freely,  are  dwarfed  in 
their  growth,  and  forced  into  earlier  bloom  and  bearing. 
This  method  may  be  practised  where  a  limited  supply  of 
extra  early  fruit  is  wanted,  but  it  would  not  be  profitable 
for  a  general  crop. 


Fiff  Trees— Where  to  Get.— L.  C.  Derby, 
Perry  Co.,  111.  Such  extensive  nurserymen  as  Ellwan- 
ger  <fc  Barry  of  Rochester,  and  Parsons  <t  Co.,  Flushing, 
N.  Y.,  and  several  others,  raise  fig  trees  for  sale. 


Keeping-  Wood  Ashes. — D.  M.  Fisher, 
Blair  Co.,  Pa.  Wood  ashes  should  be  kept  nearly  dry  ; 
any   water  draining  off,  would  cause  a  loss  of  potash. 

An  Excellent  and  Timely  Machine. 

— We  are  glad  to  know  that  the  improved  flax  brake 
made  by  Sanford  and  Mallory  in  this  city  is  meeting  with 
public  favor,  particularly  as  those  parties  who  have  put 
it  to  practical  use  declare  it  to  be  superior  to  any  inven- 
tion heretofore  made  for  the  same  purpose.  The  impor- 
tance of  a  machine  by  which  the  flax  straw,  now  wasted, 
may  be  turned  to  account  to  supply  the  deficiency  of  cot- 
ton, can  hardly  be  overestimated.  On  the  article  of  paper 
alone  there  would  be  saved  millions  of  dollars  to  publish- 
ers and  to  the  community,  by  the  general  use  of  such  a 
machine  to  work  up  tangled  flax  into  paper  stock.  The 
proprietors  are  manufacturing  small  machines  to  be  tun 
by  hand,  which  may  be  desirable  in  many  localities.  As 
their  orders  are  already  ahead  of  the  supply,  parties  need- 
ing one  of  these  machines  should  make  early  application. 
Full  particulars  are  given  in  their  advertisement  on  an- 
other page  in  this  number. 


Home  Madeltroonts. — George  T.  Weston, 
Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.  A  better  article  of  brooms  can 
usually  be  had  from  those  who  make  a  business  of  the 
manufacture,  and  a  ready  market  for  broom  corn  can  be 
found  at  such  establishments.  FuH  directions  for  mak- 
ing brooms,  with  ample  illustrations,  were  published  in  the 
Agriculturist,  Vol.  xix.  page  13,  (January  No.) 


Sewing*    Machine    Humbug. — A.     J. 

Duncan  and  others.  This  matter  has  been  referred  to 
in  the  Agriculturist,  but  a  further  word  of  caution  is  not 
superfluous,  as  we  notice  certain  parties  are  sending  out 
great  numbers  of  circulars  to  persons  unknown  to  them, 
asking  them  to  become  agents,  but  requiring  them  first  to 
send  money  to  pay  for  a  sample  machine.  Reliable  con- 
cerns do  not  transact  business  in  this  manner.  When 
they  want  agents,  they  lake  pains  to  know  their  men.  It 
is  of  little  use  to  correspond  with  such  establishments. 
Let  their  circulars  be  turned  to  account  as  waste  paper. 


Sewing    Nlachine.  —  "  Subscriber."    The 
:  United  States"  sewing  machine  uses    a  single  thread. 


How  to  Make  Money. — Irving  Sead, 
Oconto  Co.,  Wis.,  says  this  can  be  done  by  subscribing 
for  the  American  Agriculturist,  and  gives  the  following 
statement  in  proof.  "  Subscribed  in  October,  and  received 
one  map  worth  25  cents,  two  extra  numbers  20  cents,  four 
papers  of  seed  20  cents;  procured  one  new  subscriber 
and  received  grape  vine  50  cents ;  making  a  total  of  $1  15, 
or  15  cents  clear  gain  in  addition  to  the  paper  for  a  year 
for  nothing  !"  A  pretty  good  showing  truly,  but  not  more 
than  the  facts  will  warrant,  as  thousands  more  will  testify. 


Advertising-  Doctors. — Notwithstanding 
all  we  have  written  on  this  subject,  we  receive  frequent 
letters  of  inquiry  about  one  or  another  of  the  hundred 
Doctors,  who  advertise  themselves  as  having  wonderful 
skill  in  curing  specific  disease — of  the  lungs,  of  the  eyes, 
of  the  ears,  and  of  every  other  human  organ,  or  part  of  the 
body.  We  can  not  answer  all  these  letters  in  detail,  but 
will  say,  in  general,  that  nearly  all,  if  not  all  of  these 
medical  advertisers  are  quacks.  We  do  not  know  of  one 
of  them  to  whose  care,  or  prescriptions,  or  medicines  we 
would  entrust  a  friend.  It  is  exceedingly  easy  to  get  up 
recommendations,  and  cases  of  extraordinary  cures. 
There  are  certain  instruments,  or  mechanical  contri- 
vances, such  as  artificial  limbs,  etc.,  which  are  properly 
advertised,  where  their  utility  Is  obvious.  But  not  so  with 
secret  remedies,  and  the  professed  extraordinary  skill  of 
self-styled  doctors. 


"Head  Quarters  ol"  the  Pautarcliy." 

— A  "Friend"  sent  us  sometime  since  a  circular  and 
letter  dated  as  above,  which  had  been  directed  to  him  by 
one     "  David  Hoyle,  Chief  of  the  Bureau,"  and  we  are 


asked  to  explain  it.  We  have  brooded  over  the  said  let- 
ler  and  circular  along  time,  and  have  at  last  hit  upon  the 
explanation  as  clear  as— mud.  Here  it  is  :  Some  abnor- 
tnalationally  inde-pre-disposed  amatorissimus  d'argent  et 
d'or,  wishing  to  get  money  without  working  for  it,  basset 
Into  most  violent  operation  his  twistificationed  cerebel- 
lum aut  cerebrum,  and  hatched  out  a  hexagonal  hebdom- 
inal  mostest  incomprehensible  "  Grand  Planetary  Gov- 
ernmental  Organization,  based  upon  the  rapid  approach 
of  the  Millenium,  through  the  Marriage  of  Science  uii'l, 
Religion,  ullimated  in  Practical  Life,  etc.,  etc.,"  and  "  ii. 
each,  case  a  postage  stamp  must  be  enclosed,  in  addition  hi 
any  contribution  for  the  support  of  the  Bureau." — The 
explanation  is  as  clear  as  the  "circular,"  and  we  don't 
ask  a  postage  stamp  for  giving  it. 

Those  IV ho  Have  Poor  Teeth  are  to 

be  pitied,  whether  the  defects  are  the  result  of  impru- 
dence, or  are  inherited,  as  is  so  often  the  case.  Poor  teeth 
are  not  only  the  source  of  pain  and  annoyance,  but 
where  defective  "  grinders "  or  sore  teeth  prevent 
thorough  mastication  of  food,  the  stomach  is  over-taxed, 
and  indigestion  and  other  diseases  are  pretty  sure  to  fol- 
low. The  Dentists  are  doing  much  to  remedy  these  evils, 
and  they  could  do  more  if  people  generally  better  under- 
stood the  nature  of  the  teeth,  and  the  operations  upon 
them.  Skillful,  honest  dentists  prefer  to  meet  with  intelli- 
gent patients.  The  above  was  suggested  by  reading  a 
pamphlet  on  the  subject  by  Dr.  John  Allen,  of  22  Dond 
Street,  N.  Y.  City,  in  which  he  gives  some  valuable  in- 
formation. The  pamphlet  was  prepared  with  special  ref- 
erence to  Dr.  A's  improved  process  of  inserting  teeth, 
but  that  does  not  detract  from  the  value  of  the  informa- 
tion given,  and  as  the  pamphlet  is  furnished  free  to  all 
applicants,  we  advise  those  having  poor  teeth  to  send  for 
a  copy.  We  repeat  what  we  stated  last  year,  viz.,  that 
teeth  inserted  by  the  method  of  Dr.  Allen,  exceed  ali 
others  we  have  ever  seen,  not  only  in  beauty  and  natural 
appearance,  but  in  effectiveness.  We  know  of  one  set 
inserted  by  him  that  a  thousand  dollars  would  not  buy. 


Thanks  to  the  Ladies  who  have  con- 
tributed so  many  valuable  recipes,  items,  and  suggestions 
for  publication  in  the  Household  Department.  From  the 
large  numbei  received,  those  are  selected  which  are 
thought  to  be  of  the  greatest  general  Interest,  and  none- 
should  feel  slighted  because  their  communications  do  not 
appear.  There  are  yet  thousands  of  hints  which  might 
save  time  and  money  to  many  families,  if  the  good  house 
keepers  who  read  the  Agriculturist  would  contribute 
them  for  the  general  benefit.  Please  choose  your  own 
subjects,  write  plainly  and  briefly,  and  receive  the  thanks 
of  the  community  and  of  the  Editors. 


Stenographic  Boohs. — G.  O.  Southwick, 
Tolland  Co.,  Conn.  Towndrow's  work  was  formerly 
considered  as  good  as  any  stenographic  book,  but  it  is 
now  almost  entirely  superseded  by  Pitman's  Phonography. 
Graham's  Hand-Book  of  Phonography,  published  in  this 
City  at  $1.50,  is  a  good  American  work. 

Exhibition    Tables   at    the    Office    of 
the  American  Agriculturist. 

The  following  articles  have  been  placed  upon  our 
tables  since  our  last  report. 

Fruits,  etc. — Strawberries  : — Hovey's  Seedling  in  pots, 

G.  Nichol,  Richmond  Co.,  N.  Y Trinmphe  de   Gand, 

superb  specimens,  C.  S.  Pell,  N.  Y.  Orphan  Asylum 

Burgess'  Seedlings,  viz.,  Garibaldi,  Gen.  Scott  and  Gen. 
Lyon  ;   White  Pine  Apple,  Lennig's  White   and  Albion, 

Wm.   F.  Heins,  Woodstock,  N.  Y Gen.    Scott,  Win. 

A.  Burgess,  Glen  Cove,  L.  I  —  Chorlton's  Prolific,  Wm. 

Chorlton,   Stalen   Island,  N.   Y Trollope's  Victoria, 

very  fine,  Robert  Bonner,  New-York Union  Seedling, 

superior,  S.  R.  Trembley,   Bergen   Point,   N.   J Tri- 

omphe  de  Gand,  b%  inches  in  circumference,  J.  Corbett, 
Morrisania,  N.  Y — Cranberry  Pippin  Apples,  very  fine, 
R.  Benner,  Astoria,  N.  Y... .Isabella  Grapes,  well  pre- 
served,  Samuel  Mitchell,    Cameron   Mills,  N.  Y Cu~ 

cmnbers :  Lord  Kenyon's  favorite,  very  fine,  Anthony 
Boyle,  gardner  to  W.  P.  Wright,  Esq.,  Weehawken,  N. 
J  ...Walker's  Rambler,  Mr.  Erwood,  Deer  Park,  L.  I. 

Flowers.— Geraniums,     Pinks,     Pansies,     and     pew 

Blotched  Petunias,  O.  Judd,  Flushing,  N.  Y Ulemntl* 

Sophie,  beautiful  blooms,  R.  J.  Dodge,  McCIair,  N.  Y 
Fuchsias,  Cinerarias,  Amaryllis,  etc.,  C.  S.   Pell,  N,  Y. 
Orphan  Asylum   ...Cut  Flowers,  A.  S.  Fuller,  Brooklyn 

Nurseries,  N.  Y Double  Apple   Blossom   on   present 

years'  growth   of  wood,    Samuel  Havens,  Westchester, 

Co.,  N.  Y Wax  Flowers,  beautifully  executed,  Miss 

Van  Bergh,  1143  Broadway,  N.  Y. 

Miscellaneous.— Flax  Cotton,  Joshua  Short,  &  Co., 
Little  Falls,  N.  Y  —  Maple  Sugar,  very  superior  quality, 
Sample  of  White  Poland  Oats,  four  weeks  from  plant- 
ing, very  fine,  George  Lawes,  Somerville  N.  J Model 

of  New  Washing  Machine,  Wm.  M.  Doty,  New  York, 


300 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[July, 


The  Crop  Prospects. 


We  present  herewith  a  copy  of  the  synopsis 
of  the  reports,  as  furnished  us  by  the  Agricul- 
tural Department  at  Washington.  The  plan  of 
presenting  the  results  is  very  simple  and  easily 
understood  after  a  little  study.  A  single  figure 
presents  the  result  of  hundreds  or  even  thou- 
sands of  observations.  Thus,  for  example,  in 
the  third  column  of  figures  against  Iowa,  the 
figure  12  tells  us  that  the  reports  from  fifty  or 
a  hundred  persons  in  as  many  localities  in  that 
State,  show,  that  the  area  of  Spring  Wheat 
sown  in  Iowa  this  year  is  two-tenths,  or  twenty 
per  cent,  greater  than  in  1862 ;  while  the  figure 
11  in  the  next  column  indicates  that  at  the  date 
of  the  reports  the  appearance  of  the  crop  was 
one-tenth,  or  ten  per  cent.,  better  than  the 
average  of  other  years.  With  this  explanation 
in  mind,  each  figure  in  the  whole  table  will  be- 
come significant,  and  especially  the  general 
average  at  the  bottom,  for  the  whole  country. 
The  value  of  these  tables  will  of  course  mainly 
depend  upon  the  number  of  these  reports,  upon 
the  good  judgment  and  honesty  of  the  reporters, 
upon  the  care  in  compiling  them,  and  upon  the 
promptness  in  publishing  the  results  obtained. 

Beyond  all  question,  the  Agricultural  Depart- 
ment can  confer  a  great  benefit  upon  the  entire 
country  by  an  extended  and  properly  executed 
labor  of  this  kind.  Millions  of  persons,  farm- 
ers, grain  dealers,  the  mercantile  community, 
and  indeed  the  whole  country  will,  during  the 
next  three  or  four  months,  be  anxious  to  know 
what  are  the  condition  and  prospects  of  the 
growing  crops  generally.  Farmers  want  to  know 
whether  the  crop  is  to  be  an  average  one,  or  be- 
low or  above  an  average,  for  the  prospective 
prices  will  be  materially  affected  thereby.  If 
crops  are  poor,  farmers  will  be  less  able  to  buy 
merchandise  and  manufactures,  and  less  able  to 
purchase  freely,  or  pay  up  for  past  purchases 
from  importers  and  manufacturers  ;  there  will 
be  less  grain  to  export  and  exchange,  and  indeed 
the  whole  fabric  of  trade  and  commerce,  and 
even  the  National  Finances,  will  be  affected. 
And  just  the  contrary  result  will  be  produced 
by  unusually  good  crops  ;  for,  after  all,  the  pros- 
perity of  the  country  depends  mainly  upon  the 
absolute  wealth  derived  directly  from  the  soil. 
Hitherto  we  have  been  without  any  positive 
reliable  information,  except  the  reports  gather- 
ed on  the  same  plan  last  year  by  the  Agriculturist 
office.  We  hope  the  new  Department  of  Agri- 
culture will  spare  no  effort  or  expense  to  carry 
out,  on  an  extended,  comprehensive  scale,  the 
system  of  gathering  these  important  statistics. 
Let  them  be  so  carefully  collected  and  collat- 
ed as  to  be  absolutely  reliable,  and  we  can 
promise  both  a  hearty  cooperation,  and  the 
grateful  appreciation  of  the  entire  country — 
not  only  of  farmers  but  of  all  other  classes. 
Comprehensive,  accurate,  and  prompt  reports 
of  this  kind,  collected  at  the  expense  of  a  few 
thousands,  or  tens  of  thousands  of  dollars,  as 
the  case  may  be,  will  save  many  millions. 

Of  the  Crop  Prospects  Generally,  aside  from  what 
is  contained  in  the  Commissioner's  report  for 
May,  we  can  not  give  as  much  information  as 
would  be  desirable.  The  reports  from  the 
country  at  large,  gathered  from  our  own  corres- 
pondence, and  from  some  twelve  hundred  Ex- 
Changes,  are  very  various.  The  general  view 
is  a  cheerful  one,  "but  there  are  too  many  hints 
of  late  Spring,  rain  iu  some  places,  and  severe 
drouth  in  others,  to  warrant  us  in  saying  that 
the  crop  prospects  are  the  most  favorable  up  to 
June  19th.    In  the  immediate  vicinity  of  New 


CROP    REPORTS    FOR 
MAY,   1863. 

Gathered  by  the    United  States 
Agricultural  Bureau. 


Connecticut 

Delaware 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

Michigan  

Minnesota.  

Missouri 

New  Hampshire 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

Ohio 

Pennsylvania 

Rhode  Island 

Vermont 

Wisconsin 

Nebraska  Territory., 

General  Average 


WINTER 

SPRING 

, 

WHEAT. 

WHEAT. 

OATS. 

PO    ATES 

SOBGUM. 

COT 

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B 

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8 

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8 

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15 

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9 

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9 

9 

10 

11 

9 

10 

9 

11 

10 

16 

in 

79 

IU 

it 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

111 

9 

10 

11 

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IS 

in 

29 

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10 

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11 

12 

10 

12 

11 

13 

11 

10 

111 

14 

n 

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12 

6 

11 

15 

10 

10 

11 

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15 

13 

10 

83 

9 

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9 

9 

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8 

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11 

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11 

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20 

10 

9 

11 

10 

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III 

10 

9 

9 

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11 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

11 

in 

11 

in 

J» 

in 

50 

13 

11 

12 

11 

111 

10 

13 

10 

13 

in 

11 

10 

10 

in 

30 

la 

10 

10 

8 

11 

11 

11 

hi 

9 

8 

HI 

10 

11 

in 

10 

8 

11 

10 

10 

10 

9 

10 

n 

10 

11 

in 

n 

11 

10 

10 

111 

10 

11 

10 

9 

10 

in 

in 

12 

in 

li 

10 

10 

10 

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10 

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11 

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8 

10 

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9 

11 

10 

10 

9 

n 

in 

14 

in 

15 

10 

10 

a 

10 

9 

9 

11 

0 

10 

10 

n 

9 

23 

9 

00 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

111 

10 

10 

9 

10 

in 

in 

n 

9 

10 

10 

10 

10 

10 

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in 



12 

10 

12 

11 

11 

10 

11 

10 

IS 

11 

11 

10 

m 

in 

14 

8 

11 

8 

8 

10 

8 

10 

10 

8 

10 

10 

9 

li 

— 

11 

9H 

10 

10  | 

10,'i 

10 

10K 

Sii 

»«J 

9% 

11 

10 

I5X 

10« 

37 

12 
10 
10 

in 
12 


10 
10 
10 


10 
10 


10K 

The  above  table  presents  a  very  short  abstract  of  the  returns  to  the  Agricultural  Department,  of  the  amount  and 
condition  of  the  crops  in  May,  1863.     A  fuller  report,  embracing  other  matter,  will  shortly  be  issued  and  sent  to  our 

correspondents  and  the  press  generally. This  table  can  readily  be  understood  by  all.     The  number  10  represents 

an  average  of  the  crops,  both  as  to  their  amount  compared  with  the  crops  of  1862,  and  their  appearance  in  May, 
1863.  A  number  above  or  below  10,  represents  as  many  tenths  as  it  is  above  or  below  it.  Thus  8  is  two-tenths  be- 
low an  average,  and  14  is  four-tenths  above  it. The  table  is  prepared  by  first  taking  an  average  from  the  returns  of 

each  County,  and  from  these  an  average  of  each  State,  as  published  in  the  table.  ISAAC  NEWTON, 

Washington,  D.  C,  June  15,  1863.  Commissioner. 


York,  the  long  absence  of  rain  has  materiall}' 
damaged  the  hay  crop,  and  lessened  the  growth 
of  most  other  crops.  Favorable  weather  here- 
after may  bring  forward  the  cereals,  for  the 
rains  we  have  just  had,  can  not  restore  the  stunt- 
ed grass.  The  general  reports  are  favorable  for 
fruit.  Our  own  personal  observation,  extending 
a  hundred  miles  into  Southern  New- York, 
is  that  a  comparatively  small  amount  of  fruit 
has  set  this  year.  The  trees  were  everywhere 
full  of  blossoms,  but  a  large  proportion  of  them 
blasted.  A  similar  state  of  things  is  reported 
from  some  other  localities,  while  in  others  there 
has  been  abundance  of  rain,  and  not  too  much. 

The  Repcn-ts  from  Europe  are  almost  as  varied  as 
from  this  country.  Drouth  has  prevailed  in 
many  parts  of  Great  Britain  and  the  Continent, 
so  much  so  as  to  tone  down  the  exuberant  feel- 
ings manifested  about  the  first  of  May.  The 
news  by  the  last  steamer  is  more  cheerful  than 
that  received  during  the  previous  three  weeks. 


Millet  Seed  Injurious  to  Horses. 


In  the  April  Agriculturist  "Basket  Items," 
you  say,  that  if  Hungarian  grass  is  fed  wTith 
the  straw  it  is  generally  thought  to  be  safe.  It 
is  so  far  from  safe,  so  really  unsafe,  I  must  write 
a  word.  Last  Fall  three  horses  were  killed  by 
it  at  one  time  from  only  once  feeding.  While 
waiting  for  a  threshing  machine  to  be  set,  an 
armful  of  it  was  given  to  them,  and  before  anoth- 
er night  three  were  dead  and  others  made  sick. 
I  came  very  near  losing  a  nice  mare  by  feeding 
it  one  Winter.  Four  years  ago  almost  every 
neighbor  of  mine  used  it  for  horses,  now  I  know 
of  not  one  that  dare  feed  it.  I  could  name  a 
dozen  horses  in  this  vicinity  killed,  or  nearly  so, 
by  using  it.  We  never  thresh  it  except  for  seed 
for  sowing.  Most  here  think  that  it  is  the  seed 
that  injures,  and  that  when  cut  before  the  seed 
fills  it  is  safe.  Is  it  not  the  hull  of  the  seed  that 
Irritates  the  coats  of  the  stomach  and  intestines 
and  thus  causes  disease?  Wm.  B.  Reed. 
[Remarks. — So    many  have  reported  cases 


similar  to  the  above,  that  it  would  seem  almost 
certain  that  for  some  reason,  millet  (Hungarian 
grass)  seed  can  not  be  safely  fed  to  horses.  At 
any  rate  the  safe  plan  on  which  all  appear  to  be 
agreed  is,  to  cut  the  grass  for  fodder  before  the 
seed  is  ripened,  when  it  is  to  be  fed  to  horses. 
For  sheep  or  other  stock,  for  all  we  have  heard 
to  the  contrary,  it  appears  to  be  desirable  food.] 


Reasons  for  Tillage. 

Does  any  one  inquire  the  reason  why  we  plow, 
and  harrow,  and  dig  and  hoe?  A  very  sensible 
inquiry.  We  do  these  things  partly  in  order  to 
bring  the  ground  into  a  proper  mechanical  con- 
dition for  receiving  seeds,  and  for  growin" 
plants.  By  the  long  continued  falling  of  rains, 
the  soil  becomes  compact  and  hard.  So,  also, 
the  covering  of  a  heavy  body  of  snow  in  Winter 
brings  the  ground  into  a  sodden  and  firmer  stale. 
This  is  the  case  especially  on  clayey  soils.  Run 
the  plow,  or  work  the  spade  through  these  com- 
pacted masses  of  earth,  and  it  will  render  them 
porous,  easy  to  till  with  the  hoe,  and  prepared 
to  receive  whatever  seeds  we  may  wish  to  grow. 

Then,  again,  tillage  benefits  the  soil  chemi- 
cally. It  opeus  the  pores,  so  that" it  imbibes  those 
fertilizing  elements  which  the  air  contains.  The 
atmosphere  is  a  storehouse  of  carbonic  acid  and 
ammonia,  but  the  earth  can  not  be  enriched  by 
them  largely,  until  its  bosom  is  opened  b}T  cul- 
tivation. The  soil,  too,  contains  mineral  and 
animal  substances  in  a  state  of  partial  decom- 
position, which  need  the  agency  of  the  atmos- 
phere to  resolve  them  into  good  food  for  grow- 
ing plants.     Jethro  Tull  was  no  mere  theorist. 

So  in  reference  to  needful  moisture.  When 
the  soil  is  well  disintegrated,  and  the  air  ena- 
bled to  circulate  freely  among  its  particles,  there 
will  be  deposited  a  greater  amount  of  water 
than  in  stiff,  unbroken  ground.  And  this  mois- 
ture will  be  present  just  in  proportion  to  the 
depth  and  thoroughness  of  the  tillage.  Hence 
it  comes  to  pass  that  subsoiled  lands  seldom,  if 
ever,  suffer  in  the  severest  drouths.  The  air 
descending  to  the  roots  of  plants,  moisture  fol- 


1863.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


201 


lows  with  it,  carrying  along  ammonia  to  feed  I 
them  with  food  and  give  them  greater  vigor. 
It  is  sometimes  objected  that  very  deep  plow- 
ing injures  a  crop,  by  bringing  up  to  the  surface 
hard  cold  clay,  which  is  hurtful  to  vegetation. 
Very  true.  Such  plowing  is  hurtful,  and  we 
do  not  recommend  it.  The  true  method  is  to 
deepen  the  soil  gradually,  setting  the  plow  point 
only  an  inch  or  two  deeper  every  year.  This 
will  accomplish  the  end  in  a  short  time,  and  do 
no  harm.  The  true  method  of  snbsoiling  is  to 
run  the  common  plow  first,  then  follow  its  track 
with  the  subsoiler,  breaking  up  the  lower  stra- 
tum, hut  not  lifting  it  out  of  its  place.  Or,  as 
one  says,  "  let  it  travel  under  the  surface  soil, 
as  a  mole  might  pass  along  without  turning  it 
over."  And  so  in  trenching  land  for  gardening, 
the  true  way  is,  not  to  throw  the  bottom  soil  on 
the  top  in  any  considerable  quantity,  but  to 
break  up  the  lower  stratum,  mixing  manure 
vith  it  if  convenient,  and  then  returning  it  to 
its  original  place,  cover  it  with   surface  soil. 

Doubtless,  many  a  farm  which  its  owner  con- 
siders nearly  worn  out,  might  be  rendered  fer- 
tile by  deep  plowing.  The  surface  has  been 
scratched  over  for  many  years,  and  this  is  in- 
deed exhausted;  yet  underneath  this,  lie  rich 
stores  of  productiveness  as  yet  untouched.  Not 
a  few  northern  farmers  have  gone  southward 
within  ten  years  past,  and  bought  up  at  a  low 
price  worn  out  land,  and  b\'  good,  honest  plow- 
ing and  subsequent  tillage,  have  realized  good 
crops  for  several  years,  and  that  too,  without 
enriching  with  additional  manure. 

In  England,  six  and  seven  inches  in  depth  is 
considered  fair  and  reasonable  plowing,  and 
subsoil  work  goes  down  eighteen  and  twenty 
inches.  With  us,  the  average  depth  does  not 
exceed  four  or  five  inches,  and  subsoiling  does 
not  get  deeper  generally  than  twelve  to  fifteen 
inches.  There  is  room  for  improvement  here ; 
and  in  due  time  we  believe  it  will  be  made. 


The  Harvest  Field. 

Harvest  time,  though  a  season  of  severe  toil, 
is  everywhere  welcomed.  Most  other  opera- 
tions on  the  farm  have  reference  to  the  some- 
what distant  future,  when  a  return  for  labor 
shall  be  realized  ;  but  now,  results  are  to  be 
gathered.  Each  sheaf  of  ripened  grain  repre- 
sents hours  spent  in  plowing,  seeding,  and  cul- 
tivating; and  the  swollen  kernels  remind  the 
husbandman  of  the  beaded  drops  of  sweat 
with  which  he  has  often  moistened  the  field. 
To  the  imaginative  mind  there  are  few  more 
suggestive  pictures  than  fields  of  grain  white  to 
the  harvest.  Each  waving  stalk  is  a  rod  of 
power,  more  potent  than  the  magician's  wand. 
It  hears  the  elements  without  which  commerce 
must  stand  still,  manufactures  perish,  even  war 
cease  its  fearful  thunders,  society  become  disor- 
ganized, and  man  utterly  fail.  But  He  who 
cares  for  man,  has  smiled  upon  the  fields,  and 
again  they  return  a  joyous  thank-offering  of 
plenty.  But  want  of  space  foroids  to  pursue 
the  pleasant  fancies  which  this  topic  calls  forth. 
Let  us  note  a  few  practical  suggestions  perti- 
nent to  the  season.  And  first  wi'.a  reference  to 
the  proper  time  of  harvesting  grain.  Experi- 
ments have  repeatedly  proved  that  the  weight 
and  quality  are  both  improved  by  cutting  when 
the  berry  is  just  out  of  the  milk,  or  as  soon  as 
it  is  hard  enough  to  bear  moderate  pressure,  of 
the  thumb-nail  without  breaking.  This  is  usu- 
ally about  ten  days  before  full  maturity.  A 
correspondent  of  the  Agriculturist  several  years 
since  experimented  on  a  crop  of  fifty  acres  of 
wheat.  The  bulk  of  it  was  cut  as  here  recom- 
mended, and  weighed  62i  lbs.  to  the  bushel. 
The  remainder,  gathered  when  fully  ripe, 
gave  only  58  pouuds  per  bushel.  On  the 
whole  amount  of  1,200  bushels,  there  was 
a  gain  of  5,400  lbs.,  or  about  90  bushels  in 
bulk,  and  the  quality  of  the  flour  was  superior. 


In  addition  to  the  difference  in  weight  of  the 
grain,  there  is  no  little  loss  by  the  shelling  out 
of  the  kernels,  when  they  are  fully  ripened. 
We  have  seen  fields  bear  a  large  crop  with  no 
other  seeding  than  that  received  from  what  had 
been  scattered  during  the  previous  harvest.  A 
still  further  saving  can  be  made  by  going  over 
the  field  with  a  horse-rake  after  the  ground  is 
cleared  of  sheaves.  What  is  gathered,  if  not 
sufficiently  clear  for  making  flour,  will  serve  a 
good  purpose  to  griud  into  feed  for  swine  and 
other  stock.  When,  as  at  present,  every  pound 
of  food  is  needed,  and  will  command  a  high 
price,  all  should  be  turned  to  the  best  account. 
There  should  also  be  an  eye  to  the  wants  of 
the  following  year.  In  almost  every  lot  of  grain, 
on  account  of  better  soil,  more  favorable  expo- 
sure, more  thorough  drainage,  or  other  causes, 
some  parts  will  give  earlier  maturity  and  a  better 
yield  than  others.  If  pains  were  taken  each 
year  to  mark  such  places  and  save  the  grain 
from  them  for  seed,  the  result  would  be  seen  in 
a  general  improvement  at  harvest.  The  "  Ped- 
igree Wheat,"  which  has  become  celebrated  in 
England  for  its  superiority,  was  produced  by 
carefully  following  up  this  process  for  years. 
The  cultivator,  Mr.  Hallett,  took  pains  to  select 
the  best  heads  each  season,  and  a  marked  im- 
provement was  made  annually.  So  much  pains 
as  this  can  scarcely  be  expected  during  the  pres- 
ent busy  time,  but  the  best  part  of  the  field  can 
easily  be  marked  off,  and  left  to  mature  its  seed. 
Before  harvesting,  the  weeds  should  be  pulled 
out,  and  when  the  grain  is  fully  ripe,  it  should 
be  gathered,  and  stored  by  itself,  to  he  threshed 
with  the  flail,  and  used  for  seed.  It  would  pay 
well  in  many  instances  to  buy  a  patch  from  a 
neighboring  wheat  field,  if  it  should  be  superior 
to  any  grown  at  home.  The  old  rule  "  Take 
;  time  by  the  forelock,"  so  excellent  to  be  follow- 
|  ed  in  all  farming  operations,  applies  with  espe- 
I  cial  force  to  the  matter  of  securing  good  seed. 


202 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[July, 


Hints  for  Haying  Time. 


In  the  great  hay  growing  States,  much  of  the 
crop  will  be  gathered  during  the  present  mouth. 
It  is  noticeable  that  haying  time  has  ad- 
vanced during  the  last  twenty  years,  it  being 
now  one  to  three  weeks  earlier  than  former- 
ly. This  has  resulted,  not  from  any  change  in 
the  seasons,  but  from  the  growing  convic- 
tion that  a  better  article  of  fodder  is  secured  by 
cutting  grass  before  the  seed  has  ripened.  The 
Agriculturist  has  always  sustained  this  view,  and 
attention  is  again  called  to  it  from  its  intrinsic 
importance,  and  because  a  few  yet  remain  who 
follow  the  old  ways.  It  is  generally  understood 
that  to  secure  the  highest  flavor  and  strength 
of  medicinal  herbs,  they  should  be  gathered 
when  in  flower,  or  just  passing  out  of  bloom  ; 
and  accordingly  careful  housekeepers  lay  in  their 
stock  of  boneset,  motherwort,  catnip,  etc.,  at 
that  period.  When  the  seeds  of  plants  com- 
mence to  form,  the  nutritive  portions  are  largely 
taken  from  the  stem  and  leaves  to  aid  in  the  de- 
velopment of  this  more  important  part — that 
which  is  to  secure  the  continuance  of  the  spe- 
cies. A  further  change  also  takes  place  in  the 
composition  of  the  stem,  as  maturity  of  the  seed 
advances.  A  stronger  stalk  is  needed  to  sup- 
port the  increased  weight  of  the  seed-bearing 
head,  and  accordingly,  the  sugar  and  starch  are 
converted  into  woody  fibre,  which  gives  the  re- 
quired stiffness,  but  affords  very  little  nourish- 
ing material  for  the  use  of  animals.  Grass  forms 
no  exception  to  this  rule  in  the  ripening  of 
plants.  Every  one  will  readily  notice  the  great- 
er strength  and  harshness  of  a  stalk  of  timothy 
when  the  seed  is  fully  ripe.  Animals  are  ex- 
cellent judges  in  this  matter;  they  will  invaria- 
bly prefer  hay  cut  before  the  blooming  season 
is  entirely  past,  to  that  left  to  ripen  its  seed. 

Much  hard  work  and  vexation  will  be  saved 
by  having  all  necessary  implements  in  order  be- 
fore the  labor  commences.  No  thrifty  farmer 
having  ten  or  twenty  acres  of  meadow  will  think 
of  mowing  by  hand.  If  there  be  not  work 
enough  to  warrant  the  purchase  of  a  machine, 
arrange  with  a  neighbor  who  owns  one  to  have 
the  work  done.  The  horse-pitchfork  will  also 
be  found  indispensable  after  one  season's  trial. 
And  once  more  we  urge  the  desirableness  of 
hay-caps.  By  their  use  many  loads  of  hay  may 
be  saved  from  spoiling,  and  the  whole  crop  be 
benefited  by  protection  from  dew  while  curing 
in  the  cock.  A  word  or  two  on  this  latter 
point.  In  perhaps  the  majority  of  instances, 
hay  is  injured  by  too  much  exposure  to  the  sun. 
In  the  haste  to  dry  out  moisture,  a  large  amount 
of  the  sweetness  of  the  hay  is  also  lost.  Grass 
cut  after  the  dew  is  off  in  the  morning  (which 
can  be  done  with  the  machine,  but  not  well  by 
hand)  in  fair  weather,  will  be  ready  to  put  into 
small  cocks  before  night.  Cover  it  with  the  caps 
and  leave  it  there  two  da}rs,  more  or  less  accord- 
ing to  the  weather  and  convenience;  then  on  a 
clear  forenoon  open  the  cocks  for  an  airing  of 
an  hour  or  two,  and  they  will  usually  be  ready  to 
draw  to  the  barn.  It  is  desirable  to  have  sev- 
eral places  for  storing  the  hay,  that  not  more 
than  a  load  or  two  need  be  bulked  at  one  time. 
It  should  not  be  packed  tight,  and  ample  pro- 
vision should  be  made  for  ventilation.  If  there 
be  any  doubt  as  to  the  sufficient  dryness  of  hay 
which  it  is  desirable  to  put  under  cover,  sprink- 
le over  it  three  or  four  quarts  of  salt  per  ton, 
and  spread  a  layer  of  dry,  bright  straw  between 
each  layer  of  hay  made  by  an  ordinary  forkful. 
This  will  absorb  a  large  part  of  the  escaping 
moisture,  preventing  molding,  and  the  imparled 


flavor  of  the  hay  will  make  the  straw  itself  pal- 
atable to  stock.  This  plan  of  mixing  straw  with 
hay,  while  the  hay  is  damp  and  green,  is  eco- 
nomical, as  we  know  from  successful  experience. 


How  to   Sharpen  a  Scythe. 

"  Mower  "  writes  to  the  American  Agriculturist : 
"  To  properly  grind  and  whet  a  scythe,  requires 
some  little  practical  skill,  in  the  attainment  of 
which  the  beginner  may  be  assisted  by  a  few 
hints.  The  cutting  edge  of  a  scythe  or  sim- 
ilar instrument,  when  examined  by  a  micro- 
scope, shows  numerous  fine  projecting  points 
or  a  series  of  minute  wedges  which  are  to  be 
driven  into  the  substance  operated  on,  to  sepa- 
rate the  adjoining  parts.  In  order  that  they 
may  enter  the  more  readily,  these  points  should 
incline  in  the  direction  of  the  stroke  giv- 
en with  the  blade  of  the  instrument.  In  cut- 
ting with  the  scythe,  the  edge  strikes  the  grass 
at  an  angle  of  about  forty  five  degrees,  and 
hence  the  grinding  should  be  done  so  as  to  have 
the  points  set  in  that  direction  to  the  blade. 
This  is  done  by  keeping  the  blade  firmly  upon 
the  stone,  with  the  point  drawn  toward  the 
body  of  the  holder,  at  the  above  mentioned  an- 
gle with  the  edge  of  the  stone.  Commence  to 
grind  at  the  heel  and  move  it  steadily  along  as 
the  work  progresses,  until  the  point  is  reached, 
then  grind  the  other  side  in  the  same  manner. 
Never  rub  the  scythe  back  and  forth  upon  the 
stone  as  though  endeavoring  to  whet  it.  The 
revolution  of  the  stone  will  wear  away  the  steel 
much  better  than  rubbing  it  in  this  manner,  by 
which  the  edge  is  likely  to  be  made  rounding, 
and  to  be  set  irregularly.  It  is  preferable  to 
hold  the  scythe  so  that  the  stone  will  revolve 
toward  the  edge.  In  this  way  the  holder  can 
see  when  the  edge  is  reached,  and  the  particles 
ground  off  are  carried  away  clean.  In  the  op- 
posite method  of  grinding  there  is  danger  of 
making  a  "feather"  edge  which  will  readily 
crumble  off,  and  leave  the  scythe  almost  or 
quite  as  dull  as  before.  The  blade  should  be 
ground  equally  on  both  sides.  In  whetting  a 
scythe,  lay  the  rifle  or  whetstone  flat  against 
the  side  of  the  blade,  and  give  a  light  quick 
stroke  downward  and  forward,  in  the  direction 
of  the  edge,  so  that  the  scratches  it  makes,  shall 
keep  the  points  set  in  the  same  direction  as  giv- 
en them  by  grinding.  By  following  these  sim- 
ple suggestions,  a  scythe  may  be  made  to  hold  its 
edge  twice  as  long  as  when  the  rifle  is  drawn 
along  the  edge  almost  at  random.  A  few  strokes 
carefully  given,  will  enable  the  workman  to 
keep   the   right   direction  and   whet  rapidly." 


Steam  in  the   Hay  Field. 


To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist  : 

Steam  would  be  a  capital  thing  in  the  hay 
field,  no  doubt,  if  it  could  be  applied  in  the  right 
place.  There's  a  grand  chance  for  some  Yankee 
to  invent  a  steam  mower,  raker,  and  pitcher, 
when  this  war  is  over  and  inventors  have  time 
to  think  of  something  besides  guns  and  shells, 
and  other  man-killing  traps.  But  I  want  to 
enter  my  protest  against  trying  to  make  human 
engines  work  by  steam  in  haying  time,  or  for 
that  matter,  at  any  other  time.  A  great  many 
people  yet  have  the  notion  that  in  haying  time, 
whiskey,  or  cider  brandy,  or  some  other  kind  of 
steam  as  they  call  it,  is  particularly  necessary. 
They  can  chop,  or  plow,  or  hoe,  or  do  any  oth- 
er farm  work  without  such  help,  but  when 
haying  and  harvest  commence,  the  jug  must  be 


regularly  filled  and  emptied.  I  don't  know  why 
they  don't  fire  up  their  horses  as  well  as  them- 
selves, especially  since  mowing  machines  have 
come  into  fashion,  and  animals  have  the  hard- 
est part  of  the  work  to  do.  For  my  part  I 
think  one  needs  it  just  as  much  as  the  other, 
and  no  more.  It  always  appeared  to  me  that  a 
July  sun  was  hot  enough,  without  a  man's  pour- 
ing liquid  fire  down  his  insides.  I  know  that 
after  a  dram  a  man  will  feel  a  little  more  like 
work  for  an  hour  or  so,  but  its  only  doing  so 
much  overwork,  and  the  hour  afterward  he  will 
do  underwork  enough  to  more  than  balance  it, 
and  feel  much  more  exhausted  than  if  he  had 
gone  on  at  a  steady  gait  without  the  extra 
steam.  Alcohol  don't  strengthen  the  body,  it 
only  excites  it  for  a  short  time,  and  makes  it 
work  faster  and  harder  than  its  natural  power 
would  allow,  and  this  over-exertion  must  be 
made  up  for  by  more  rest  afterward.  If  any 
one  doubts  this  let  him  try  it  on  his  horse. 
Give  whiskey  with  his  oats,  and  see  how  he 
will  make  things  go  for  a  while,  and  how  soon 
he  will  he  used  up  afterward.  Men  would 
not  do  this  for  fear  of  injuring  their  animals; 
for  my  part  I  think  man  the  most  valuable  ani- 
mal on  the  farm,  and  what  is  not  fit  for  a  horse 
is  not  fit  for  him.  Jonathan. 

[We  fully  agree  with  Jonathan,  regarding  the 
use  of  alcoholic  drinks  in  the  hay  (or  any  other) 
field,  but  would  at  the  same  time  caution  against 
the  excessive  use  of  ice-water.  Immoderate 
water  drinking  is  quite  as  much  the  result  of 
habit  as  of  necessity.  During  the  violent  exer- 
cise of  the  hay  field  water  is  needed  to  replace 
that  lost  by  perspiration  ;  as  a  general  thing  too 
much  is  taken.  A  beverage  of  water,  vinegar, 
sugar  or  molasses,  and  ginger,  is  much  used  in 
some  localities,  and  is  found  to  satisfy  thirst  bel- 
ter, and  less  liable  to  produce  unpleasant  conse- 
quences than  large  quantities  of  ice- water. — Ed.] 
»-. »>»■    — »-» 

Manure   Making   in   Summer. 


This  is  generally  overlooked,  in  the  press 
of  field  work  which  engrosses  the  attention  of 
the  cultivator  during  the  Summer.  Yet  there 
are  occasional  hours  which  can  be  profitably 
employed  in  this  work.  Except  where  the 
natural  fertility  of  the  soil  is  for  the  present 
sufficient  to  meet  all  the  wants  of  growing 
crops,  other  things  being  equal,  the  prosperity 
of  the  farmer  will  be  found  to  maintain  a  re- 
markable ratio  to  their  attention  to  enriching 
his  land.  We  believe  that  on  hundreds  of 
farms  it  would  well  repay  the  cost,  to  employ 
an  extra  hand  for  the  express  purpose  of  col- 
lecting and  preparing  manures.  The  sources 
from  which  materials  are  to  be  drawn  of  course 
vary  in  different  localities,  but  the  principal 
ones  are  among  the  following:  1st,  the  barn- 
yard. Where  cattle  are  yarded  at  night,  their 
droppings,  if  left  uncared  for,  as  is  usually  the 
case,  lose  a  large  part  of  their  value,  by  drying 
out  under  the  hot  summer  sun.  Evaporation 
carries  off  much  of  the  ammonia,  one  of  the 
most  valuable  ingredients,  and  it  is  wafted  along 
by  the  air  to  he  distributed  in  infinitesimal  por- 
tions over  the  surrounding  country.  The  care- 
ful manager  will  provide  muck,  sods,  soil,  or 
other  absorbent  to  mix  with  excrements  every 
few  days,  either  by  shoveling  over  in  heaps,  or 
by  plowing  up  the  yard,  which  is  more  expe- 
ditious though  less  favorable  to  the  cleanliness 
of  the  yard,  where  milking  is  usually  done. 

Along  the  roadside  and  too  often  by  the  fence- 
lines,  are  numberless  weeds  which  have  drawn 
part  of  their  support  from  the  soil,  and  gather- 


1863.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


Q03 


ed  the  remainder  from  the  air  and  moisture. 
They  are  stored  with  fertilizing  material,  and  if 
cut  and  worked  over  by  the  pigs  in  the  pen,  or 
made  into  a  heap  with  muck  und  lime  added, 
will  swell  the  store  of  graiu  and  grass-making 
substances.  The  slops  and  refuse  from  an  or- 
dinary family,  if  properly  economized,  will  furn- 
ish nearly  or  quite  good  manure  enough  to 
nourish  the  vegetables  they  consume.  Usually 
these  are  worse  than  wasted  by  being  thrown  in- 
to some  corner,  where  weeds  grow  rampant  on 
the  valuable  deposit.  Then  there  are  the  privies, 
the  contents  of  which,  if  utilized  by  mixing 
with  muck,  or  common  soil,  might  add  vigor  to 
the  growth  of  garden  and  field,  but  which  com- 
monly make  their  locality  only  a  nuisance. 
Many  swamps  which  are  inaccessible  at  other 
seasons,  can  now  be  entered,  to  draw  from  them 
the  accumulation  of  vegetable  matter  which 
has  been  gathering  for  many  years.  This  only 
needs  properly  working  over,  to  take  a  new 
form  in  grass,  graiu,  fruit,  vegetables,  in  short 
any  desirable  product  on  the  farm.  Cheap 
hands,  such  as  could  not  profitably  work  at 
cultivating,  can  be  hired  to  dig  muck  and  throw 
it  into  heaps,  to  be  acted  on  by  the  elements, 
and  afterward  used  to  increase  the  compost 
heap.  All  these  sources  should  be  turned  to 
account  during  the  Summer,  even  if  extra  help 
be  required  to  accomplish  it.  If  the  Agriculturist 
should  do  no  more  than  induce  cultivators  to 
turn  their  attention  to  the  available  supplies  of 
manure  and  their  proper  application  to  crops, 
it  would  accomplish  enough  to  many  times 
repay  its  cost  to   the  community. 

Buckwheat  versus  Summer  Fallow. 


Summer  fallowing,  that  is,  plowing  land 
in  Summer  and  allowing  it  to  lie  unoccupied 
until  sowing  with  winter  grain,  is  practised  by 
many  for  the  alleged  reason  that  it  rests  the  land, 
and  gives  it  heart  for  the  next  crop.  It  is 
enough  to  say  on  this  point  that  land  does  not 
tire  of  producing.  It  needs  only  plant-making 
material  enough  in  its  substance,  to  continue  to 
yield  abundant  and  increasing  crops.  It  is  not 
required  that  an  amount  of  manure  be  restored 
to  the  soil  equal  to  the  amount  of  produce  re- 
moved, for  a  large  portion  of  the  substance  of 
plants  is  derived  from  air  and  water.  For  this 
reason  there  is  positive  gain  in  allowing  growth 
upon  a  field,  if  all  the  vegetable  matter  produced 
be  returned  to  the  soil.  Summer  fallowing 
is  therefore,  in  one  respect,  prejudicial  to  the  fer- 
tility of  land.  It  may,  however,  secure  other  im- 
portant advantages.  It  makes  the  soil  mellow, 
and  brings  it  into  good  condition  for  the  recep- 
tion of  the  fall-sown  grain,  and  if  properly  per- 
formed, secures  the  destruction  of  man}'  weeds, 
by  exposing  their  roots  to  summer  heat.  But 
these  ends  can  be  equally  well  attained  while 
raising  a  profitable  crop  of  buckwheat,  Pro- 
vision  should  of  course  be  made  to  feed  the  crop, 
if  the  grain  is  to  be  harvested.  A  moderate 
dressing  of  manure  will  be  sufficient  on  land 
already  in  good  heart.  If  there  be  not  enough 
barn-yard  manure,  apply  a  good  dressing  of 
bone-dust  or  Peruvian  guano.  Plow  early  in 
July,  which  will  eradicate  most  of  the  weeds, 
harrow  thoroughly,  and  sow  about  three  pecks 
of  seed  per  acre.  In  a  favorable  season,  the 
rapid  growth  of  buckwheat  will  smother  nearly 
all  the  weeds  that  have  survived  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  ground.  In  Autumn  the  crop  may 
be  harvested  in  ample  time  to  prepare  the 
soil  for  wheat  or  rye,  the  sods  will  all  be 
Well  rotted,  and  the  land  in  as  good  condition 


after  plowing  as  though  it  had  rested  during  the 
Summer,  while  in  an  ordinary  season,  there  will 
be  20  to  3.5  bushels  of  buckwheat  per  acre 
on  the  credit  side  of  the  account.  This  grain 
will  also  well  fill  the  vacancy  which  may  have 
been  left  by  a  corn  crop  failing  through  unfa- 
vorable weather  or  other  causes  in  Spring. 
Buckwheat  is  always  marketable.  During  the 
present  and  prospective  high  prices  of  oats,  it 
will  not  come  amiss  for  grinding  and  feeding 
to  stock,  and  a  liberal  quantity  for  consumption 
in  the  house  is  always  a  welcome  addition  to  the 
staple  winter  provisions. 

■»— -i»m  i  . 

For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Shall  the  Clover  he  Plowed  Under? 


There  it  lies,  a  splendid  field  of  clover,  in  full 
blossom,  musical  with  the  voices  of  myriad  bees, 
and  perfuming  the  morning  air  with  its  fra- 
grance. It  is  altogether  too  handsome  to  be  put 
under  the  dirt.  You  might  go  miles  to  find  so 
fair  a  sight,  even  in  a  flower  garden.  And  then 
if  it  were  not,  what  thrifty  farmer  can  afford  to 
manure  his  field  at  such  a  cost  ?  There  is  not 
less  than  three  tons  of  cured  hay  to  the  acre, 
worth  at  least  ten  dollars  the  ton  standing,  to 
say  nothing  of  the  after  feed  which  must  be  sac- 
rificed to  manure.  Can  a  man  afford  to  give 
thirty  dollars  an  acre  for  manure  ?  Mr.  Penny- 
wise  hesitates,  and  thinks  it  is  paying  too  dear 
for  that  whistle.  He  can  get  his  manure  cheaper. 
But  can  he?  Let  us  look  at  it  a  little.  "What 
has  the  clover  actually  cost  him?  The  seed, 
say  one  dollar  per  acre,  the  extra  labor  of  sow- 
ing, and  the  interest  upon  the  value  of  the  land. 
As  the  seed  was  sown  with  oats  or  barley,  or 
some  other  grain  crop,  we  do  not  count  the  la- 
bor of  getting  it  in.  It  has  not  cost  him  five 
dollars  an  acre,  even  if  the  land  is  worth  sixty 
dollars.  In  the  green  state  there  are  probably 
eight  or  ten  tons  of  vegetable  matter,  equiva- 
lent to  a  heavy  manuring  with  stable  manure, 
that  would  cost  thirty  dollars  per  acre,  reckon- 
ing the  manure  at  two  dollars  a  cord,  and  the 
carting  at  common  prices. 

The  clover  is  just  where  you  want  it,  and  if 
turned  in,  will  be  more  evenly  distributed  than 
any  stable  manure  can  be  by  the  most  labori- 
ous process.  There  is  hardly  an  inch  square  of 
the  whole  sod  that  will  not  feel  the  effects  of 
the  decomposing  matter.  There  is  no  expense 
for  carting,  for  spreading,  or  harrowing.  Then 
it  is  to  be  considered  that  it  is  not  simply  so 
much  vegetable  matter  added  to  the  soil,  but 
added  to  it  in  a  succulent  state,  in  which  it  will 
be  rapidly  decomposed  and  changed  into  plant 
food.  Green  crops,  turned  under  in  the  early 
Summer,  affect  the  soil  with  which  they  come 
in  contact  in  some  way  that  we  do  not  fully  un- 
derstand. Possibly  the  acids  released  act  upon 
the  mineral  portions  of  the  soil,  aud  form  new 
compounds  that  are  immediately  available  for 
the  food  of  plants.  This  seems  to  he  necessary 
to  account  for  the  beneficial  effects  of  plowing 
in  at  this  season,  rather  than  in  the  Fall,  when 
the  fibre  of  the  grass  is  harder  or  gastially  dried. 
Experience  shows  that  the  crop  has  by  far  the 
best  effect  when  it  is  turned  under  in  the  green 
state,  and  in  warm  weather.  It  goes  through  a 
very  rapid  fermentation,  and  in  some  manner 
changes  the  character  of  a  good  deal  of  soil 
with  which   it  comes   in  contact. 

If  a  fanner  had  all  the  manure  he  wanted,  and 
his  fields  all  lay  close  to  the  barn-yard,  it  might 
not  be  economical  to  turn  in  green  crops,  and 
especially  clover  which  is  so  valuable  for  fod- 
der both    green  and    cured.     But   few  farmers 


have  as  much  manure  as  they  can  use  to  good 
advantage,  especially  in  the  older  Slates.  Some 
of  the  fields  lie  at  a  distance  from  the  barn,  and 
the  expense  of  getting  the  manure  on  to  the 
ground  is  greater  than  the  cost  of  making  the 
manure.  And  even  if  manure  were  plenty,  it 
is  a  good  plan  to  have  a  place  in  the  rotation, 
where  a  green  crop  is  turned  in.  It  does  a 
good  work  for  the  soil,  that  can  be  accomplish- 
ed by  no  other  method  so  economically.  It 
makes  a  splendid  seed  bed,  and  prepares  the 
ground  for  winter  grain  in  the  best  manner. 

It  seems  a  great  waste  to  spoil  so  much  good 
food  for  beasts,  but  it  is  in  keeping  with  the 
economy  of  husbandry.  It  seems  a  great  waste 
to  put  eight  or  ten  bushels  of  potatoes  in  the 
soil  to  get  a  crop ;  but  they  come  back  again 
many  fold.  That  which  we  sow  "is  not  quick- 
ened except  it  die."  The  seeming  losses  of  the 
farm  are  often  our  largest  gains  1  If  we  are 
charmed  with  the  blossoms  and  the  murmur  of 
the  bees,  better  close  our  eyes  and  stop  our 
ears,  and  let  the  plow  do  its  work.  New  life 
and  vigor  will  be  imparted  to  the  soil,  and  there 
will  come  up  out  of  the  grave  of  our  buried 
hopes,  a  glorious  resurrection — fields  of  tasseled 
corn  or  golden  wheat  to  make  glad  the  heart  of 
the  husbandman.  Connecticut. 


Sheep  as  Fertilizers. 


John  E.  Traver,  of  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y., 
writes  to  the  American  Agriculturist:  "I  keep 
a  flock  of  thirty  sheep  which  have  had  the 
range  of  an  eight  acre  lot.  The  soil  of  this 
was  thin,  as  it  was  situated  at  some  distance 
from  the  barn-yard,  and  had  received  no  manure 
from  that  source.  In  the  Summer  of  1858  the 
dogs  got  among  my  sheep  and  frightened  them 
so  they  would  not  go  on  the  back  side  of  the 
lot,  unless  it  was  to  feed  for  a  short  time,  and 
the}'  lay  wholly  on  the  one  side  of  the  field.  I 
planted  it  with  corn  after  it  had  lain  two  years. 
The  side  of  the  lot  where  the  sheep  had  rested, 
gave  a  good  yield,  and  the  worms  did  not  trouble 
it  throughout  the  season.  Where  the  sheep  did 
not  lay,  but  only  fed,  the  worms  made  sad  hav- 
oc, and  the  corn  was  poor.  The  oat  crop  fol- 
lowing showed  the  same  difference.  On  the 
rye  I  did  not  see  so  much  inequality.  My  opin- 
ion is  that  if  we  keep  more  sheep,  our  crops 
will  not  be  so  much  infested  with  worms. 
«-. —     -»» .-• 

Tanning   Skins  of  Animals. 


"D,"  of  Jackson  Co.,  111.,  writes  to  the  Agri- 
culturist: "Old  hunters  here  tan  hides  and  skins 
of  all  kinds  with  brains.— A  new  use  for  brains, 
you  may  say — but  a  better  use  than  some  brains 
have  been  put  to,  for  a  year  or  two  past,  at  least. 
If  the  hair,  wool  or  fur,  is  to  be  retained  in  the 
skin,  it  is  simply  soaked  in  warm  water  and  the 
fleshy  part  rubbed  off  with  a  knife,  the  skin  be- 
ing stretched  over  a  half  round  block  for  con- 
venience. It  is  then  soaked  a  short  lime  in  a 
little  water  in  which  the  brain  of  some  animal 
is  dissolved;  then  taken  out  and  pulled  and 
stretched  every  way  until  dry.  It  will  then  be 
soft,  pliable,  and  not  liable  to  become  hard  on 
being  wet  and  drying  again.  If  I  remember 
rightly,  the  lime  process  is  adopted  to  get  rid  of 
the  hair  or  wool,  after  which  the  skin  is  very 
thoroughly  washed  to  get  all  the  lime  out  of  it, 
aud  then  manipulated  with  the  twain  water." 


Question  for  the  N.  Y.  Farmers'  Club. — 
Will  wheat  blast  more  easily  for  being  ilrilk/l  ? 


S04 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[July, 


Fig.  1. — COUCH-GRASS. 

Talks   About    Weeds- ...II. 


Fig.  2. 


In  these  notes  upon  weeds  we  shall  not  fol- 
low any  botanical  order,  but  take  them  mainly 
with  reference  to  the  season.  The  first  one  we  no- 
tice is  Couch  grass,  (Tntiruia  rejjens,)  fig.  1,  which 
is,  in  some  localities,  a  most  troublesome  weed. 
Where  it  gets  full  possession  of  the  ground,  it 
will  overrun  and  occupy  it  to  the  exclusion 
of  every  thing  else.  It  is  also  known  in  dif- 
ferent sections  as:  Quack-grass,  Quitch-grass, 
Twitch-grass,  Dog-grass,  Wheat-grass,  etc.  The 
last-mentioned  name  is  given  from  its  resem- 
blance to  wheat,  both  belonging  to  the  same 
genus.  The  stems  are  about  two  feet  high,  and 
bear  a  head  somewhat  like  that  of  wheat,  though 
longer  and  more  slender.  Unlike  wheat  this  is 
a  perennial,  and  one  of  its  most  remarkable 
characters— that  which  makes  it  so  difficult 
to  eradicate — is  its  long  underground  stem, 
which  is  commonly  mistaken  for  a  root,  and 
runs  just  below  the  surface.  This  underground 
stem  throws  out  roots  from  each  joint,  and  has 
at  the  same  point,  a  bud  or  eye  from  which  a 
stem  may  spring.  It  will  be  seen  that  every  inch 
or  so  of  this  stem  is  capable  of  becoming  a 
plant,  as  shown  in  fig.  2,  which  is  a  rooted  layer 
— a  piece  of  stem  with  a  root  and  an  eye  ready 

to  start.  This  ex- 
plains the  great 
difficultyin  exter- 
minating Couch- 
grass.  If  the 
cultivator  is  run  through  a  tuft  of  the  plant,  it 
may  tear  away  the  above-ground  portion,  but 
there  will  be  left  below,  a  large  number  of  frag- 
ments of  these  underground  stems,  each  one  of 
which  will  make  a  new  plant.  From  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  plant  multiplies,  it  will  be  seen 
that  merely  scraping  the  surface  with  a  hoe  will 
not  destroy  it ;  this  only  causes  a  dozen  plants 


to  spring  up  where  there  was  one  before,  and 
the  work  will  shortly  have  to  be  done  over 
again.  There  must  be  no  half  work,  for  nothing 
short  of  actual  eradication  will  get  rid  of  it. 
Perhaps  the  best  plan  is  to  run  a  cultivator 
through  the  soil  and  follow  it  with  a  fork,  and 
carefully  pick  out  all  fragments  and  lay' them 
in  the  sun  to  dry.  With  this,  as  with  all  trouble- 
some weeds,  much  labor  is  caused  by  neglect 
when  the  plant  first  makes  its  appearance  in  the 
fields.  A  few  weeds  do  not  present  a  formi- 
dable appearance,  but  they  are  quietly  laying 
the  foundation  for  much  after  trouble.  In 
some  parts  of  England,  a  large  part  of  the 
expense  of  cultivation  is  due  to  the  labor  de- 
voted to  the  eradication  of  the  Couch  grass. 
The  grass  is  liked  by  cattle,  and  it  is  raised 
in  some  parts  of  the  South  for  pasturage. 
Bind-Wked. — We  introduce  here  a  figure  of 
a  weed  which  is  exceedingly  troublesome  in  Eu- 
rope, and  which  has  become  established  in  some 
places  in  this  country.  We  have  some  native 
plants  which  are  called  "  bind-weeds,"  but  the 
name  properly  belongs  to  this— the  Convolvulus 
arvensis.  T^ie  plant  is  very  much  like  a  small 
Morning  Glory,  to  which  it  is  closely  related. 
The  stem  grows  two  feet  or  more  high,  and 
twines  around  other  plants.  The  shape  of  the 
leaves  is  shown  in  the  figure,  which  is  about 
half  the  natural  size.  The  roots  are  peren- 
nial, and  very  long  and  very  difficult  to  destroy. 
It  soon  spreads  rapidly,  and  should  be  extermi- 
nated, at  whatever  cost  of  labor,  as  soon  as  it 
makes  its  appearance.  It  comes  from  Europe, 
but  we  have  a  native  plant  which  is  a  near 
relative,  known  as  the  Wild  Morning  Glory, 
and  Large  or  Hedge  Bind-AVeed.  This  is  much 
larger  than  the  other,  and  will  run  to  the  bight 
of  8  or  10  feet.  The  flowers  are  about  as  large 
as  those  of  the  common  Morning  Gloiy.     It 


Fig.  3. — BIND-WEED. 

grows  in  low  moist  places,  and  sometimes  be- 
comes troublesome  in  cultivated  grounds.  Fre- 
quently repeated  hoeing  down  is  the  only  suc- 
cessful remedy  which  we  have  seen  suggested. 

._ — ■  ««■     — .-« 

Sugar  from  Unripe  Cane. 


L.  F.  Hadley,  of  Chicago,  111.,  who  has  had 
considerable  experience  with  the  Chinese  Sugar 
Cane,  says,  in  a  communication  to  the  Prairie 
Farmer,  that  the  time  to  make  sugar,  commences 
when  the  cane  begins  to  mature,  and  ends  when 
the  cane  is  full}7  ripe,  after  which  it  will  make 
good  molasses,  but  not  sugar.  Several  years' 
trial  has  convinced  him  that  this  is  the  case,  and 
in  illustration  he  gives  the  results  from  cane  cut 
just  as  the  seed  was  beginning  to  turn  brown, 


which  granulated  finely,  while  the  syrup  from 
the  rest  of  the  field,  cut  when  fully  ripe,  refused 
to  "  sugar  off."  He  recommends  to  cut  early, 
and  work  it  up  as  fast  as  possible,  but  thinks 
it  will  make  sugar  late,  if  cut  before  fully  ripe. 


Testing  the   Quality  of  Milk. 

m 

The  real  value  of  a  cow  to  the  dairy  farmer 
is  not  in  the  number  of  quarts  of  milk  she  will 
give,  but  in  the  number  of  pounds  of  butter  she 
will  afford.  There  is  a  greater  difference  in 
this  respect  than  is  generally  supposed ;  some 


WALES 


MILK 


Fig.  1.— LACTOMETER. 

cows  making  twice  or  even  three  times  as  much 
butter  as  others.  Several  methods  have  been 
proposed  for  testing  the  qualities  of  milk,— one 
of  these  is  by  the  use  of  the  hydrometer.  The 
construction  of  the  instrument  will  be  under- 
stood by  the  engraving,  (fig.  2.)  A  small  glass 
tube,  with  a  bulb  at  one  end,  has  a  wooden  float 
fixed  upon  it.  Shot  are  placed  in  the  bulb  in 
sufficient  quantity  to  sink  it  in  water  to  the  point 
marked  100  on  the  stem.  The  instrument  is 
then  put  into  pure  milk,  and  the  point  at  which 
it  stands  in  that,  is  also  marked  on  the  stem, 
and  the  place  between  the  two  marks  divided 
into  100  degrees.  As  pure  milk  is 
heavier  than  water,  the  instrument 
will  be  buoyed  up  more  in  the  one 
than  in  the  other,  and  it  at  first 
sight  would  appear  to  show  the 
value  of  the  milk.  But  the  speci- 
fic gravity  of  cream  is  less  than 
that  of  milk,  and  a  specimen  of 
milk  very  rich  in  cream,  would  show 
lighter  by  the  hydrometer  than  a 
poorer  sample.  Though  this  instru- 
ment would  be  serviceable  to  the 
city  consumer  in  detecting  adul- 
teration with  any  considerable 
amount  of  water,  it  will  not  serve 
the  dairyman  to  indicate  the  butter- 
producing  qualit}'  of  the  milk  of 
different  cows.  The  old  lactome- 
ter, which  was  invented  a  half  cen- 
tury ago,  has  not  been  superseded 
in  practical  worth  by  any  recent  con- 
trivance. This  tests  the  value  of 
the  milk  by  showing  the  amount 
of  cream  afforded  by  each  sample, 
and  consists,  (fig.  l,)of  a  series  of  glass  tubes  of 
equal  size,  closed  at  the  bottom;  they  are 
about  a  foot  long  and  one  third  of  an  inch 
in  diameter,  and  graduated  by  markings  on  the 
glass.  These  are  to  be  filled  to  an  equal  bight 
with  milk,  and  after  standing  for  the  cream  to 
rise,  the  comparative  value  of  the  milk  of  differ- 
rent  cows  can  be  seen  at  a  glance.  An  appara- 
tus of  this  kind  is  not  only  useful  as  showing 
the  difference  in  cows,  but  also  in  testing  the 
butter-producing  value  of  different  kinds  of 
feed.  These  tubes  are  cheap,  and  may  be 
bought  at  most  of  the  agricultural  warehouses. 


1803.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


90S 


The  Balance  Gate. 


The  form  gate  illustrated  above,  the  descrip- 
tion of  which  was  communicated  to  the  Agri- 
culturist, by  N.  Hine,  Atlantic  County,  N.  J., 
possesses  some  excellent  features.  It  is  a  modi- 
fication of-  the  well-known,  old-fashioned  bal- 
ance gate.  The  construction  will  be  readily  un- 
derstood by  reference  to  the  illustration.  The 
beam  or  pole  A,  of  suitable  length,  turns  on  the 
post  E,  being  held  in  place  by  a  2-inch  pin  ex- 
tending through  the  beam.  The  uprights,  B, 
2x3  inches,  pass  through  mortises  in  the  middle 
of  the  beam,  and  are  pinned  fast.  The  slats,  C, 
are  of  boards  of  any  desired  width,  securely 
fastened  to  the  uprights  with  wrought  nails 
clinched.  When  the  gate  is  closed,  the  smaller 
end  of  the  beam  rests  in  a  slot  or  mortise  in  the 
post  at  F,  or  a  strip  of  plank  with  a  suitable 
notch  for  the  purpose  may  be  pinned  to  the  post. 
A  narrow  strip,  G,  hanging  from  a  pin  at  II,  rests 
over  the  end  of  the  beam,  to  hold  it  in  place : 
this  is  turned  aside  when  the  gate  is  to  be  open- 
ed. The  gate  may  be  balanced  by  placing 
weights  upon  the  short  end  of  the  beam,  at  /,  so 
that  a  very  small  amount  of  force  will  turn  it. 
It  opens  in  either  direction,  can  be  easily  lifted 
over  snow  drifts,  and  what  is  of  great  import- 
ance, the  weight  of  the  gate  can  not  draw  the 
supporting  post  out  of  perpendicular. 


The  Barometer  as  a  Weather  Indicator. 


Careful  observations  through  many  years  and 
in  different  countries,  have  established  the  fact 
that  a  change  in  the  weather  is  generally  fore- 
told by  the  barometer.  Recently  some  persons 
have  endeavored  to  throw  doubt  upon  the  value 
of  this  instrument  as  an  indicator  of  the  weath- 
er, but  until  we  can  see  their  written  observa- 
tions and  a  record  of  the  state  of  the  weather  at 
each  observation,  we  shall  continue  to  believe 
with  the  majority  of  meteorologists — especially 
as  our  own  experience  coincides  with  theirs. 
That  the  barometer,  properly  understood  and 
observed,  will  in  the  great  majority  of  cases, 
foretell  a  storm,  we  are  confident — not  from  a 
few  observations,  but  from  watching  it  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  in  different  climates.  One  thing 
which  has  brought  the  instrument  into  disre- 
pute is  the  practice,  followed  by  many  makers, 
of  marking  upon  their  scales  "fair,"  "change," 
"  rain,"  etc.  Persons  finding  that  the  mercury 
seldom  indicates  the  weather  according  to  these 
markings,  have  given  up  the  instrument  as  al- 
together unreliable.  The  value  of  the  barometer 
(unlike  the  thermometer)  does  not  consist  in 
showing  where  the  mercury  stands,  but  in 
showing  the  change  which  takes  place  in  its 
higlit  from  one  time  to  another.  It  is  the  rise 
and  fall  of  the  mercury  which  is  to  be  observed, 
and  the  extent  of  this  varies  in  different  sea- 


sons, and  in  different  localities.  To  derive  any 
benefit  from  the  barometer,  it  should  be  ob- 
served at  fixed  periods— (7  A.  M.  and  2  and  9 
P.  M.,are  the  usual  ones) — and  the  observations 
recorded.  It  may  be  stated,  as  a  general  rule, 
that  if  the  column  remains  for  a  long  time  at 
one  particular  bight,  we  may  expect  a  continu- 
ance of  the  present  weather,  be  it  good  or  bad  : 
if  the  mercury  suddenly  falls,  a  sudden  change 
of  weather,  but  of  short  duration,  may  be  look- 
ed for:  a  gradual  sinking  of  the  mercury,  for  one 


notes  upon  the  state  of  the  weather  are  given,  in 
condensed  form,  at  the  bottom  of  the  diagrams. 

During  the  month  of  February,  the  fall  of 
rain  and  melted  snow  amounted  to  7.04  inches. 
The  mercury  in  the  barometer,  on  the  5th,  rose 
to  the  highest  point  reached  in  30  years.  As  a 
fall  nearly  always  succeeds  a  rapid  rise,  upon  see- 
ing the  mercury  going  up  so  rapidly,  we  confi- 
dently looked  for  the  fall  and  rain,  which  came 
plentifully  on  the  0th.  It  will  be  noted  that 
every  considerable  depression  of  the  mercury, 
was  accompanied  by  rain.  It  fell  suddenly  on 
the  19th,  and  reached  the  lowest  point  for  the 
month.  A  heavy  rain  occurred  at  the  same 
time,  commencing  with  N.  E.  wind  on  the  18th, 
and  ending  on  the  20th.  The  variation  from 
the  extreme  rise  to  the  lowest  fall  was  an  inch 
and-a-half,  which  is  greater  than  the  average. 

Farmers  well  know  that  May  was  a  dry 
month.  There  was  less  than  half  an  inch  of 
variation  in  the  barometer  up  to  the  30th,  and 
less  than  four  inches  of  rain,  the  most  of  which 
fell  in  the  first  half  of  the  month.  The  track 
is  the  most  even  one  for  a  whole  year,  though 
several  rain  falls  occurred,  some  of  which  were 
not  very  clearly  indicated  by  the  barometer. 
The  mercury  began  to  fall  on  the  28th,  and  con. 


RECORD   OP   THE  BAROMETER   FOR  FEBRUARY,  1863. 

1    2    3    4   5    G   7   8    9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  2' 

26  27  28 

30.80       !     1 

l/\  .  1    I   . 

III! 

1 

1 

30.70 

1  r 

1 

30.60 

1 

j 

A 

o0.5u. 

/ 

\ 

7{ 

/ 

\ 

1 

/ 

/ 

> 

-\ 

/ 

/ 

^\ 

V-, 

f 

30  10 

\ 

/ 

\\ 

N 

y 

/ 

\ 

\ 

1 

3D   1 

,/ 

f 

/ 

V 

\ 

/ 

V 

\ 

99  cin 

• 

r- 

V 

1 

1 

\ 

\ 

1 

29.80    i/| 

/ 

1 

1 

\ 

V 

29:70    ^ 

>v 

r 

1 

V 

29.60 

,1 

1 

29.50; 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

29.40 

1 

1 

1  1 

\  ' 

1 

29.30 

1 

I 

1  1 

VI 

1 

Rain  at  night. 

Clear,  cold. 
Clear,  cold,  2° 

Heavy  rain.       j 

Clear,  fine.         ■] 
Cloudy,  wind. 

Snow  and  rain,  j 
Fine,  cool. 
Rain.                  j 

Clear,  fine. 
Light  snow. 

Heavy  rain  and  ( 
wind.          | 

Clear,  cold. 
Snow  storm. 
Clear,  cool. 

"3 
0 
3 

Rain   and  fog.  j 
Cloudy. 

or  more  days,  foretells  a  long  continued  storm, 
and  during  a  storm,  a  rise  in  the  column  shows 
the  approach  of  fair  weather.  To  show  the  cor- 
respondence between  the  Sight  of  the  mercury 
in  the  barometer,  and  the  state  of  the  weather, 
we  present  two  diagrams,  which  are  actual  tran- 
scripts of  the  records  kept  at  the  office  of  the  Ag- 
riculturist. This  manner  of  recording  matters  Ha- 


tinued  to  sink  until  the  31st.  We  had  fine  show- 
ers the  30th  and  31st.  Our  engraved  record  for 
May  only  includes  28  days  to  correspond  with 
the  month  of  February.  It  is  only  where  the 
barometer  is  frequently  watched,  that  its  use  is 
manifest.-  We  conceive  that  it  would  be  both 
interesting  and  profitable  for  the  farmer's  son,  1 
to  keep  an  accurate  record,  not  only  of  the  ba- 


RECORD  OF  THE  BAROMETER.  FOR  MAY,  1863. 


30.10 
30 

29.90 
29.80 
29.70 


1 

2    3   ' 

t  5    6 , .' 

'8    9  10  1 

1  13  13  14  15  10  17  18  19  20  2 

1  22  23  24  2 

">  2 

B  S 

7 

28 

1 

1     1 

1      L. 

1 

1 

1 

1      -J  j- 

/ 

S       1/ 

A 

l\\ 

1     1 

^L.yr 

\ZjV 

/ 

J     F 

N  / 

V 

J/l\ 

.JZ^p 

\I/Zj 

j>^7 

1 

W  I  v 

a  \ 

IN/I 

1 

a 

d 


t;  &  >   ■ 

rf  O  ~  -^    a 

ju  a  5  2  ~ 

O  £  Eg  xS 


01  "3     .9        a 

a  o    a     3 

OCJ      K        O 


o 


O    fe 


ble  to  fluctuation,  was  described  on  page  44, 
February  No.,  and  presents  the  barometric 
variations  to  the  eye  in  a  striking  manner. 
In  each  diagram  the  perpendicular  lines  indi- 
cate the  days  of  the  month,  while  the  horizon- 
tal ones  mark  the  liight  of  the  mercury ;  each 
line  represents  teu-hundredtbs  of  an  inch.    The 


rometer,  but  of  the  thermometer,  and  the  state 
of  the  weather  also.  It  is  a  matter  of  great  in- 
terest, to  compare  one  month  with  another,  and 
one  year  with  another.  Our  special  premium 
now  puts  it  within  the  power  of  most  persons, 
to  secure  a  reliable  instrument  on  very  easy 
terms.    (See  page  224  of  this  number.) 


3O0 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Jtjlt, 


Notes   on   Cheese   Making. 


The  more  solid  part  of  milk  consists  mainly 
of  oily  matter  (butter,)  and  a  substance  named 
caseine,  the  principal  ingredient  iu  cheese.  To 
make  a  good  article  of  cheese  for  the  table, 
requires  that  both  the  butter  and  the  caseine  be 
retained,  and  the  watery  portion  or  whey  be 
wholly  pressed  out.  Cheese  can  be  made,  as 
every  farmer's  wife  knows,  of  sour  milk  from 
which  all  the  cream  has  been  removed,  or  from 
buttermilk.  The  solid  part  or  caseine  is  easily 
separated  from  the  whey  by  heating,  and  it  is 
often  prepared  in  this  manner  under  the  name 
of  "  pot-cheese,"  or  "  cottage  cheese."  In  order, 
however,  to  make  even  this  palatable,  it  is  nec- 
essary to  work  in  with  it  a  portion  of  butter. 
Much  of  the  cheese  sent  to  market  has  been 
made  from  skimmed  milk,  and  its  toughness 
and  want  of  flavor  are  in  proportion  to  the 
amount  of  cream  which  has  been  removed  from 
the  milk.  Some  specimens  might  almost  be 
replaced  with  India  rubber,  or  gutta  percha. 
It  follows  that  to  manufacture  the  best  cheese, 
the  cows  should  have  good  feed  from  which  to 
elaborate  rich  milk.  As  butter  readily  receives 
any  foreign  flavor,  pastures  should  be  free  from 
weeds,  many  of  which  impart  an  unpleasant 
taste  to  the  milk  and  its  products.  All  things 
considered,  timothy  and  clover,  either  white  or 
red,  are  the  best  staples  from  which  to  manu- 
facture cheese  or  butter. 

In  making  cheese  it  is  desirable  to  add  some 
substance  to  the  milk  to  curdle  it,  or  separate 
the  solid  portions  from  the  whey,  before  the 
oily  part  or  cream  shall  have  risen,  as  it  can 
never  again  be  mingled  with  the  caseine  so  in- 
timately as  it  exists  iu  the  fresh  milk.  Various 
acids  will  effect  this  ;  the  only  one  now  used  is 
that  found  in  the  fourth  stomach  of  the  calf, 
which  consists  of  the  gastric  juice  secreted  by 
the  coats  of  the  stomach.  Much  of  the  excel- 
lence of  the  cheese  depends  upon  the  proper 
preparation  of  this  article.  It  should  be  from 
a  perfectly  healthy  calf,  from  one  to  six  weeks 
old — about  four  weeks  is  thought  to  be  the  best 
age.  When  the  animal  is  first  killed,  the  stomach 
is  opened  and  emptied  of  its  contents,  but  not 
scraped  or  rinsed,  as  this  would  remove  some 
of  the  gastric  juice.  It  should  be  well  salted 
and  dried  on  a  stick  bent  to  its  shape,  in  which 
form  it  may  be  kept  in  a  dry  place  for  a  year  or 
more.  To  prepare  it  for  use,  an  ordinary  sized 
rennet  is  placed  in  a  gallon  of  soft  water  warm- 
ed to  about  ninety  degrees,  iu  which  it  is  churn- 
ed or  rubbed  occasionally  for  twenty  four  hours. 
After  the  rennet  is  removed,  it  may  be  dried, 
salted,  and  used  again.  To  the  rennet  liquor  is 
added  as  much  salt  as  it  will  dissolve ;  it  is 
then  strained,  and  kept  iu  tight  vessels  in  a  cool 
place  to  be  used  as  wanted.  A  gill  of  this  liquor 
will  curdle  thirteen  to  fourteen  gallons  of  milk. 

It  is  desirable  iu  making  cheese  to  have  the 
milk  all  drawn  from  the  cows  at  a  single  milk- 
ing, but  when  this  is  not  convenient,  the  even- 
ing and  morning  milkings  may  be  used  to- 
gether. When  this  is  done,  set  the  evening 
milk  in  pans  in  a  cool  place,  in  the  morning 
skim  off  the  cream  and  add  twice  its  quantity 
of  hot  water  to  raise  the  temperature  to  about 
100°  Fahrenheit,  and  stir  until  the  whole  is  well 
mixed.  Then  add  it,  with  the  milk  from  which 
it  was  taken,  to  the  morning  milk,  stir  the 
whole  together,  and  proceed  as  with  a  single 
milking.  It  greatly  diminishes  the  labor  of 
cheese  making,  and  aids  iu  securing  a  good 
article,  to  employ  an  apparatus  specially  con- 


trived fur  heating  the  milk.  There  are  several 
such,  which  consist  mainly  of  a  milk  vat  with 
double  bottom  and  sides,  the  space  between 
to  be  filled  with  water,  to  which  heat  is  to  be 
applied,  thus  avoiding  danger  from  scorch- 
ing, which  would  spoil  the  flavor  of  the  cheese. 
The  milk  being  ready,  heat  is  applied  to  raise 
the  temperature  to  about  90°  Fahrenheit,  when 
the  rennet  liquor  is  to  be  introduced  and  stirred 
until  thoroughly  mixed.  In  from  forty  to  fifty 
minutes  a  firm  curd  should  be  formed.  The 
separated  whey  is  now  to  be  drawn  off  with  a 
faucet  to  within  about  an  inch  of  the  bottom  of 
the  tub,  after  which  the  curd  is  cut  through  per- 
pendicularly and  horizontally,  with  a  wide 
bladed  knife  made  for  the  purpose,  into  pieces 
about  half  an  inch  square.  It  is  then  to  be  re- 
moved to  the  strainer,  which  is  usually  placed 
in  a  basket,  and  set  over  a  tub  to  allow  the 
whey  to  drain  out.  After  draining,  it  is  return- 
ed to  the  vat,  the  whey  first  drawn  added  to  it, 
and  the  temperature  raised  to  about  100°  Fah- 
renheit, to  cook  it  before  salting  and  pressing. 
It  should  be  continually  stirred  until  this  pro- 
cess is  finished,  which  is  known  by  the  curd  be- 
coming elastic,  and  breaking  toughlywithasort 
of  creaking  noise.  The  whey  is  then  drawn  off, 
the  curd  allowed  to  cool,  and  salt  added  at  the 
rate  of  one  pound  to  thirty  pounds  of  curd,  to 
be  worked  into  it  thoroughly  by  hand.  When 
the  mass  is  fully  cooled,  it  is  to  be  pressed.  The 
curd  is  placed  in  a  clean  linen  strainer,  confin- 
ed by  a  hoop  of  proper  size,  and  the  press  grad- 
ually applied  to  it,  the  pressure  to  be  contin- 
ued from  three  to  six  hours,  according  to  the 
size  of  the  cheese.  It  should  then  be  turned 
again  and  pressed  heavily  for  twenty  four  hours 
or  more,  when  it  is  ready  to  be  bandaged  and 
laid  upon  the  shelf.  The  bandage  is  simply  a 
piece  of  heavy  white  cotton  drawn  around  the 
circumference,  and  lapping  over  the  top  and 
bottom  some  two  inches ;  it  is  kept  in  place  by 
stitching  with  coarse  thread.  The  cheese  should 
theu  be  laid  upon  a  shelf  broad  enough  to  sus- 
tain its  whole  circumference,  rubbed  over  with 
common  butter,  or  that  article  mixed  with  whey 
butter,  with  a  little  cayenne  pepper  added  to 
repel  flies  ;  turn  daily  until  ripened.  The 
temperature  of  the  room  where  cheeses  are  first 
stored,  should  be  kept  up  to  about  80°.  Of 
course  the  method  here  detailed  admits  of  con- 
siderable variation,  but  these  directions  carefully 
observed,  together  with  cleanliness  in  all  the  ope- 
rations, will  secure  an  article  which  will  always 
find  a  ready  market  at  good  prices.  * 
■•-< «t<   .-. 

The  Cow-Milker  Again. 

This  instrument  which  received  such  a  large 
share  of  attention  at  the  International  Exhibi- 
tion in  London,  and  which  it  is  said  realized 
for  its  proprietor  a  very  handsome  sum  by  the 
sale  of  rights,  did  not  entirely  escape  criticism 
from  practical  men.  The  editor  of  the  Scottish 
Quarterly  Journal,  not  content  with  merely  in- 
specting the  Yankee  invention,  and  witnessing 
its  operation  when  worked  by  others,  made  sev- 
eral trials  of  the  apparatus,  using  it  with  his  own 
hands  and  thus  speaks  of  it:  "At  first  we  ex- 
perienced some  difficulty  in  using  it.  It  is  not 
as  easy  as  might  be  supposed,  to  fit  the  finger- 
pieces  on  the  teats  air-tight ;  and  when  they 
are  so  fitted  on,  a  restive  animal  is  liable  to 
throw  the  whole  out  of  gear.  We  attempted 
the  milking  of  three  cows  on  the  first  trial. 
From  one  which  was  milking  from  5  to  51 
quarts  at  a  meal,  we  obtained  4j  quarts;  another, 
which  has  very  uneven  teats,  we  could  not  milk 


at  all ;  and  from  the  third,  which  was  only 
milking  2i  quarts  at  a  meal,  we  were  only  able 
to  obtain  a  little  more  than  a  quart.  All  our 
subsequent  trials  have  been  attended  with  sim- 
ilar results.  The  conclusions  to  which  we  have 
arrived  in  reference  to  this  machine,  are: — 
1.  It  will  not  extract  all  the  milk  from  cows. 
If  it  should  be  found  to  answer  in  every  other 
respect  this  is  no  fatal  objection  to  its  use,  as  the 
shippings  could  be  milked  by  hand.  2.  Cows 
that  have  good  teats,  well  set  in  the  udder,  can 
be  milked  to  within  half  a  quart  to  a  quart  of 
their  full  miik.  3.  Cows  whose  teats  are  un- 
even can  with  difficulty  be  milked.  4.  We 
doubt  very  much  if  any  amount  of  experience 
and  preserverance  will  overcome  the  difficulty 
of  milking  kicking  or  restive  cows." 

• ■•-. »»-.— . —•. . 

For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Improvement  of  Agricultural  Exhibitions. 

Agricultural  Exhibitions  should  be  something 
more  than  mere  shows  to  excite  and  gratify  cu- 
riosity. In  conducting  them,  this  has  been  the 
principal  motive  apparent  to  too  great  an  extent, 
whether  or  not  designed  by  those  having  them 
in  charge.  Of  what  practical  value  is  it  to  a 
cultivator  to  look  upon  a  bullock  fattened  to 
unwieldy  proportions,  or  a  beet  or  pumpkin 
grown  to  monstrosity  ?  Such  displays,  it  is  true, 
call  forth  expressions  of  wonder,  and  are  inter- 
esting as  being  out  of  the  ordinary  line,  but  for 
all  practical  purposes  there  would  be  equal 
benefit  in  examining  Barnum's  wooly  horse. 
At  the  Exhibition  of  a  County  Agricultural  As- 
sociation held  last  jrear,  and  attended  by  the 
writer,  the  most  instructive  feature  was  a  col- 
lection of  samples  of  wheat,  accompanied  in 
each  instance  with  a  statement  of  the  kind, 
time  of  sowing,  method  of  treatment,  period  of 
ripening,  and  yield  per  acre.  There  was  mate- 
rial enough  in  that  corner  for  hours  of  profita- 
ble study,  and  a  few  knowing  ones  were  bus3T 
there  taking  notes  for  future  use.  Without 
doubt  many  of  their  crops  the  present  year  will 
show  that  a  most  profitable  day  was  spent  at 
the  exhibition.  We  insist  that  each  article  ex- 
hibited should  be  in  itself  an  epitome  of  some 
valuable  facts  for  cultivators,  and  that  it  should 
be  accompanied  with  such  written  notes  that 
the  whole  story  could  be  readily  gathered  by 
the  observers.  It  is  comparatively  easy  to  fit  • 
up  a  show  specimen  according  to  present  meth- 
ods. Plant  a  few  hills  of  pumpkins  on  ground 
expressly  prepared  for  the  occasion.  Select  the 
most  vigorous  vine,  leave  only  the  most  prom- 
ising sample  of  fruit,  prune  the  rampant  grow  Hi, 
dose  with  liquid  manure,  and  ultimately  a  mon- 
ster may  be  the  result.  But  who  thinks  this 
would  pay  in  ordinary  practice?  And  so  of 
other  agricultural  productions.  It  may  not  be 
so  attractive,  but  it  is  far  more  worthy  attention 
to  carefully  conduct  an  experiment  which,  if 
successful,  may  be  profitably  repeated,  and  ex- 
hibit its  results,  and  the  details  by  which  they 
were  reached.  It  is  pleasant  and  harmless 
amusement  now  and  then  to  produce  and  exhib- 
it articles  of  unusual  proportions,  but  it  is  be- 
neath the  dignity  of  cultivators  to  allow  such 
displays  to  be  the  chief  attractions  at  their  ex- 
hibitions. To  a  large  extent  the  visitors  at  ex- 
hibitions are  responsible  for  the  mismanagement 
now  objected  to.  They  attend  the  annual  agri- 
cultural gathering  more  with  a  view  to  sight, 
seeing,  than  of  seeking  improvement,  and  man- 
agers feel  compelled  to  cater  to  their  taste  in  or- 
der to  raise  the  requisite  funds  for  the  support 
of  the  institution.    Hence,  the  stimulus  of  prizes 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


207 


for  the  largest  and  most  showy  articles,  the  pat- 
ronage of  the  race  course,  and  the  tolerance 
and  introduction  of  shows  entirely  foreign  to 
the  object  of  the  meeting.  It  is  fully  in  the 
province  of  the  managers  of  Agricultural  Asso- 
ciations lo  institute  a  reform  in  these  particulars, 
and  to  educate  the  public  to  a  just  appreciation 
of  the  appropriate  work  of  such  Exhibitions, 
viz.;  to  show  the  proceeds  of  the  best  culture, 
and  the  methods  by  which  all  may  secure  like 
results.  Farmers  will  gladly  spend  a  few  days 
and  dollars  if  they  can  gather  facts  which  shall 
increase  their  harvests  or  lighten  their  labors. 
It  is  not  intended  by  these  remarks  to  entirely 
condemn  the  present  management  of  Agricul- 
tural Exhibitions  in  this  country,  but  only  to 
call  attention  to  some  growing  abuses  which 
threaten  to  bring  these  almost  indispensable  in- 
stitutions into  contempt.  Taken  as  a  whole, 
our  Annual  Exhibitions  will  compare  favorably 
with  those  of  any  other  country;  it  should  be 
our  aim  not  only  to  make  them  superior  to  oth- 
ers, but  to  raise  them  to  the  highest  possible 
standard  of  excellence.  Observer. 


Working  of  the  Homestead-Law. 


The  following  extracts  from  a  familiar  letter 
written  by  a  subscriber  to  the  Agriculturist,  indi- 
cate how  great  a  benefit  has  been  conferred  by 
the  Homestead  Law  upon  thousands  who  need 
only  a  start  in  life  to  become  the  independent 
possessors  of  a  home  and  the  means  of  support. 
Let  those  who  from  untoward  circumstances 
find  it  impracticable  or  difficult  to  make  their 
way  by  other  means,  find  encouragement  in  the 
example  here  shown.  The  writer  says :  "  I 
failed  up  in  the  mercantile  business,  had  nothing 
left  but  a  span  of  horses  and  some  household 
furniture  and  a  few  dollars  in  money,  with 
wifcli  I  started  for  Nebraska  to  take  a  home- 
stead under  the  new  law.  I  arrived  here  in 
March  with  just  $5  left,  took  a  claim,  put  up 
a  log  house,  and  went  to  work.  I  have  1G0 
acres  of  splendid  land  which  will  make  me  a 
good  farm,  which  only  cost  me  $13 ;  and  five 
years'  residence  on  it  secures  me  the  title  by 
paying  $2  more  at  the  end  of  that  time.  I  have 
got  10  acres  of  land  broken  up  and  a  good  gar- 
den started,  and  am  greatly  indebted  for  the 
latter  to  volumes  20  and  21,  of  the  Agriculturist, 
which  I  bought  on  the  way  out  where  I  stopped 
over  night.  I  have  read  them  thoroughly,  and 
come  to  the  conclusion  that  I  cannot  get  along 
without  the  paper.  I  have  no  experience  in 
farming,  and  when  I  want  information  on  any 
point  I  refer  to  the  paper  and  am  almost  sure  to 
find  it — consequently  I  send  the  dollar  for  the 
present  year,  which  I  got  by  working  out  by  the 
day,  and  this  is  the  very  best  investment  I  can 
make.  I  wish  some  thousands  of  the  hard- 
worked  clerks  and  mechanics  in  the  city,  that 
have  families  to  support,  could  know  what  a 
chance  there  is  here  for  them  to  secure  a  home 
and  a  sure  competency.  I  have  been  through 
the  mill,  and  can  truly  say  that  I  am  happier 
and  better  contended  here  in  my  log  house,  with 
i lie  prospect  before  me  of  securing  an  attract- 
ive home  for  myself  and  children,  than  I  ever 
was  when  in  successful  pursuit  of  a  mercantile 
business.  Here  is  ample  room  for  thousands — 
produce  of  all  kinds  is  high  and  commands  cash 
at  any  time.  The  soil  is  a  light  loam  with  a  slight 
intermixture  of  sand,  the  country  is  healthy, 
plenty  of  good  water  to  be  had  by  digging  10 
to  12  feet,  to  say  nothing  of  creeks.  My  claim 
is  on  the  great  military  road  from  Omaha  to  the 
mines,  upon  which  hundreds  of  teams  pass  dai- 


ly, laden  witli  stores  of  every  description.  The 
middle  branch  of  the  Pacific  Road  (when  built) 
will  pass  near  here,  and  right  here  in  the  valley 
of  the  Platte  River  are  thousands  of  acres 
waiting  for  somebody  to  take  them  in  possession 
— "to  tickle  with  a  hoe,  that  they  may  laugh 
a  harvest."  Do  tell  the  poor  hard-working 
drudges  that  barely  eke  out  a  scanty  subsist- 
ence, that  here  they  could  be  lords  of  the  soil 
and  soon  gain  an  independence. 


A  Few  More  Humbugs. 


Circulars  and  Advertisements  of  various 
swindling  schemes  continue  to  be  received  at 
the  Agriculturist  office,  from  subscribers  who  have 
been  duly  warned  by  our  previous  exposures, 
and  are  desirous  of  having  others  put  on  their 
guard.  The  following  are  among  the  latest  new 
operations.  A  writer  in  the  Chicago  Tribune, 
in  a  long  communication  claims  to  have  discov- 
ered an  infallible  method  of  determining  be- 
tween the  middle  of  October  and  the  middle  of 
February  of  each  year,  what  will  be  the  success 
of  the  wheat  crop  of  the  following  season.  He 
professes  to  have  tested  his  theory  for  thirteen 
years  past,  and  found  it  infallible.  He  modest- 
ly claims  to  predict  with  certainty  only  concern- 
ing the  "  territory  west  of  Lake  Michigan,  and 
north  of  forty  one  degrees,  and  to  some  extent 
South  of  that  line,  but  would  not  be  so  sure,  as 
the  effects  of  those  causes  disappear  as  you  go 
south."  What  becomes  of  the  causes  after  the 
effects  have  disappeared,  we  are  not  informed. 
This  individual  proposes  to  impart  this  informa- 
tion for  sixty  dollars,  or  thirty  dollars  each  year 
for  two  years,  or  ten  dollars  a  year  for  ten  years  ; 
at  the  end  of  that  time  the  key  of  the  guide  will 
be  given;  but  all  necessary  information  will  be 
given  before  the  seeding  time  of  each  year,  etc." 
He  oracularly  says  "  this  year  is  indicated  by 
those  causes  to  be  an  extreme  one — either  very 
large,  or  very  small.  Immediately  after  seeding 
time  I  will  state  which."  Seeding  time  is  past, 
but  we  have  not  yet  seen  the  promised  state- 
ment. This  man  may  sincerely  believe  he  can 
do  what  he  professes ;  we  do  not,  and  advise 
our  readers  to  remain  incredulous  and  save 
their  money. 

HEms  Wanted  for  a  Large  Estate. — 
One  of  the  easiest  ways  to  procure  money,  is 
to  inherit  it,  and  probably  few  persons  have  not 
at  some  time  dreamed,  either  awake  or  asleep, 
of  a  fortune  left  for  their  enjoyment  by  some 
unknown  relative.  Occasionally  such  cases 
have  actually  occurred,  and  being  duly  set  forth 
in  the  newspapers,  have  added  stimulus  to  the 
imaginations  of  fortune  seekers.  Sharpers 
have  not  left  this  field  uuworked,  and  their  cir- 
culars glitter  with  golden  hopes  for  those  long- 
ing for  easily  obtained  wealth.  One  professes 
to  keep  a  register  of  all  unclaimed  property  in 
England,  to  which  register,  access  is  allowed  for 
one  dollar.  .Another  requests  all  families  of  a 
certain  name,  say  Smith,  to  communicate  with 
him  concerning  a  large  estate  to  which  the 
Smith  family  are  heirs ;  of  course  a  small  fee 
is  expected  if  particulars  of  the  said  estate  are 
required.  In  one  instance  the  promised  estate 
was  said  to  have  been  lying  unclaimed  in  Eng- 
land one  hundred  and  fifty  years.  There 
would  be  about  as  much  probability  of  heirs  in 
this  country  realizing  from  such  a  property  now, 
as  there  would  of  recovering  Pharaoh's  crown 
by  fishing  in  the  Red  Sea.  The  circulars  con- 
taining such  offers  are  worth  something  as  ma- 
terial   for  lamp-lighters,  or  making  over  into 


new  paper ;  to  which  use  we  commend  them. 
Transmutation.— Not  of  wheat  into  chess, 
but  of  copper  and  zinc  into  gold,  or  something 
that  resembles  it.  A  "  Dr."  sends  out  circulars 
from  New- York  City  soliciting  agents  to  sell 
the  "  British  Metallic  Mutual  Association  Trans- 
mutater's  Guide."  There's  something  in  that 
name,  surely.  It  is  said  to  be  the  most  com- 
plete exposition  of  ancient  Alchemy  ever  pub- 
lished, "  contains  important  information  to 
bankers,  merchants,  farmers,  mechanics,  clerks, 
laborers— in  fact  the  most  important  informa- 
tion to  every  one  ever  brought  to  light  from  the 
Hidden  Storehouse  of  Nature,  being  a  sure  fortune 
to  all  who  possess  a  copy  of  this  wo>-k,  and  practise,  as 
laid  down  in  Uie  simple  receipts  in  tine  Guide."  Then 
for  the  inevitable  one  dollar  extra,  "  a  person 
may  become  a  member  of  the  Society  and  en- 
joy all  rights,  benefits,  &c."  We  can  tell  the 
reader  how  to  make  two  dollars  in  connection 
with  this  concern.  Just  keep  your  money;  it 
will  be  clear  gain  :  the  "  transmutation  "  con- 
sists in  transferring  cash  from  the  pockets  of 
the  credulous  to  those  of  a  "  sharp  practitioner." 
If  any  choose  to  invest  in  the  scheme,  will  they 
please  inform  us  when  they  are  successful ;  we  de- 
sire to  be  present  "  when  the  laugh  comes  in." 


"  American  Farmer  and  Mechanic." 


Perhaps  an  apology  is  due  to  our  readers  for 
not  earlier  denouncing  this  concern  outright; 
we  have  hinted  at  it  several  times,  but  it  was 
claimed  by  some  that  the  more  recent  operators 
intented  to  fulfill  their  promises,  and  were  only 
temporarily  hinderd  by  the  "  hardness  of  the 
times,  etc."  Two  or  three  numbers  were  issued 
last  year,  with  the  suspicious  claim  of  being 
"  an  old  established  Journal."  Then  came  out 
a  January  number,  with  large  promises  of  the 
future,  and  private  circulars  to  Postmasters  and 
others,  offering  great  inducements.  We  could 
not  say  these  promises  would  not  be  fulfilled. 
The  reputed  publisher  could  never  be  found  in 
when  we  called,  or  sent  round,  as  we  did  fre- 
quently. Complaint  after  complaint  continued 
to  arrive,  and  we  followed  up  the  concern, 
with  no  satisfaction.  To  day  (May  29)  we  went 
with  one  of  the  swindled  Postmasters,  determin- 
ed to  call  to  a  prompt  personal  account  whom- 
soever we  might  find  in,  be  he  clerk,  boy  or 
the  "  boss  "  himself.  But  the  shop  was  shut  up 
— occupied  by  another  business — and  to  our  in- 
quiries through  the  building,  the  answers  were, 
"gone  down,"  "gone  up,"  "gone  off,"  etc.— 
When  a  responsible  agricultural  ofhorticultural 
paper,  with  a  fair  prospect  of  continuance,  is 
next  started  hereabouts,  we  will  announce  the 
fact  in  the  Agriculturist.  Until  then,  better  give 
a  wide  berth  to  these  hundred  and  one  new 
agricultural  papers  in  New- York  City,  got  up 
by  parties  who  think  it  easier  to  make  a  fortune 
by  gulling  farmers,  than  by  honest  labor. 

»-« —    »i»   ■  - 

Treatment  of  Kicking  Cows. 

J.  C.  of  Norfolk,  Ct.,  says  in  a  letter  to  the 
Agriculturist:  "The  following  treatment,  which 
I  have  tried  for  some  years,  has  never  failed  to 
stop  the  evil.  Put  a  strap  around  the  body  of 
the  cow  just  in  front  of  the  bag  and  buckle 
rather  tight.  If  the  cow  tries  to  kick,  draw  the 
strap  a  little  tighter.  She  will  never  get  used 
to  it,  and  it  never  does  any  injury.  She  will 
keep  on  eating  as  usual,  but  has  no  inclination  to 
lift  her  feet  even  to  walk  about."  This  may  an- 
swer the  purpose ;  the  experiment  is  easily  tried, 


208 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Jtrc/v, 


A     C  O  L  L  E  C 


Our   BeantiM  Native  Plants— Ferns. 


TION      OF     AMERICAN     FERNS, 

Sketched  and  Engraved  for  the  American  Agriculturist. 


For  grace  and  beauty  of  form,  nothing  can  ex- 
ceed the  ferns  of  our  woodlands.  Every  one 
■who  has  -walked  in  the  woods  with  his  eyes  open, 
must  have  noticed  these  striking  forms  of  vege- 
tation. Some  are  found  in  the  open  fields  and 
by  the  road-sides  ;  others  bang  upon  the  face  of 
the  rocks,  and  others  grow  in  the  swamps  ;  all 
are  beautiful,  but  those  of  our  damp  and  shaded 
woods  are  the  most  so.  Their  peculiar  habit 
and  graceful  outline  has  made  them  favorites 
with  the  cultivator,  and  our  green-houses  fre- 
quently contain  collections  of  foreign  ferns, 
many  of  which  are  inferior  in  beauty  and  inter- 
est to  our  native  pues.  What  can  be  a  finer  type 
of  almost  tropical  luxuriance  than  the  Ostrich 
Fern  ?  What  shows  more  beauty  of  finish  than 
the  Maiden-hair  ?  What  more  graceful  than  the 
Climbing-fern,  or  more  singular  than  the  Ad- 
der's-tonguc  aud  the  Walking-fern?  Our  artist 
has  given  a  sketch  which  represents  the  general 
effect  of  a  group  made  up  of  ferns.  These 
differ  from  the  great  mass  of  our  vegeta- 
tion in  many  peculiarities.  One  of  these  is,  that 
they  produce  no  flowers  or  seeds,  but  grow  from 
mltlUte  bodies,  so  small  that  they  appear  like 
dust,  which  arc  found  in  little  cases;  these 
grow  in  clusters  or  dots  cither  upon  the  back  of 
the  leaves,  or  hi  a  sort  of  cluster  formed  by  a 
rolled  up  leaf.  The  engraving  of  the  common 
Polypody  (fig.  2)  gives  an  idea  of  how  these  fruit 
dots  appear,  where  they  grow  upon  the  back  of 
the  leaf,  or  frond  as  it  is  called.  These  arc  of 
different  shapes,  and  are  frequently  covered 
by  a  sort  of  membrane.  The  separate  spore 
cases  are  very  curiows.  Fig.  3  represents  one 
of  the  most  eominon  forms  magnified.      The 


right  hand  figure  shows  an  entire  one:  a 
little  stalk  bears  a  case  which  has  an  elastic 
ring  extending  part  way  around  it.  When 
mature,  the  elasticity  of  this  ring  breaks  open 
the  case,  and  the  dust-like  spores  fall  out, 
as  shown  in  the  left-hand  figure  (3).  These  are 
individually  very  minute,  and  can  only  be 
seen,  when  a  larger  number  are  together, 
and  are  so  light  that  they  may  be  borne  about 
by  the  winds  to  a  great  distance.  The  Adder's- 
tongue  and  others  bear  their  spore  cases  on  a 
frond  which  is  rolled  up  so  as  to  make  a  sort  of 
spike  ;  this  is  very  simple  in  the  Adder's-tongue, 
but  in  others  it  is  much  branched  and  looks  al- 
together differ- 
ent. We  can  not, 
in  a  popular  ar- 
ticle like  this, 
give  all  of  the  pe- 
culiarities which 
characterize  the 
ferns,  but  recom- 
mend our  read- 
ers to  the  de- 
scriptions and 
figures  given  in 
Gray's  Manual. 
With  a  little 
care,  these  beau- 
tiful plants  may 
be  made  to  a- 
dorn  a  shady 
cornerofthegar- 
den.  They  re- 
quire moisture 
and  drainage, 
and  grow  well  upon  rock  work  in  a  sheltered  and 
moist  place.    A  bank  of  soil  two  or  more  feet 


Fig. 


high,  mixed  with  brick-rubbish  and  old  mortar, 
is  suited  to  the  growth  of  most  species,  those 
which  grow  naturally  in  moist  places  being 
planted  at  the  base  of  the  bank,  and  others 
which  like  a  drier  soil,  above.  A  mound  of  this 
kind  covered  with  ferns  will 
be  one  of  the  most  attractive 
objects  in  the  grounds.  The 
damp  loving  kinds  may  be 
grown  in  a  glazed  case  or  un- 
der a  glass  shade,  and  make  a 
beautiful  ornament  for  the  par- 
lor. Some  of  the  ferns  of  the 
green-house  are  beautifully  va- 
riegated ;  the  Golden  and  Sil- 
ver-ferns add  beauty  of  color 
to  their  elegance  of  form.  The 
tree  ferns,  which  are  rarely  seen  in  our  hot- 
houses, found  in  South  America,  Van  Diemen's 
Land,  and  other  countries,  are  among  the 
most  beautiful  and  striking  vegetable  objects. 


Fig.  3. 


Rock   Work, 


One  of  the  prettiest  things  in  the  lawn  or 
garden  is  a  nice  bit  of  rock  work,  imitating,  as 
nearly  as  possible,  what  we  often  see  in  a  rocky 
dell  in  the  forest.  We  often  come  upon  these 
things  in  our  rambles  in  the  woods,  quite  equal 
to  any  thing  in  the  Ramble  in  Central  Park, 
and  wish  we  could  remove  them,  rocks,  plants 
and  all  to  our  own  premises.  We  stop  in  our 
walk  to  admire  the  ease  of  the  natural  grouping. 
The  grace  of  the  ferns,  and  the  beauty  of  the 
flowers  make  us  wonder  they  have  never  been 
transferred  to  the  garden.  Many  of  them  have 
been,  and  from  want  of  studying  their  habits 


1863.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


209 


and  wants,  have  died.  Few  plants  accustomed 
to  grow  in  the  deep  woods,  and  in  moist  places, 
will  live  when  transplanted  to  an  open  border  in 
the  garden.  The  shock  is  too  violent.  But  if 
put  in  the  shade,  and  planted  in  a  good  border 
of  vegetable  mold  from  the  forest,  most  of  them 
will  live  and  flourish. 

A  shelter  of  evergreens  makes  one  of  the 
best  screens  for  rock  work,  but  the  shade  of  any 
tree,  or  the  north  side  of  a  building  will  answer, 
if  nothing  better  can  be  had.  If  a  spring  or 
fountain  is  on  the  grounds,  the  rock  work  should 
be  located  near  it,  so  that  it  can  receive  copious 
waterings  at  pleasure.  No  definite  rules  can 
be  given  for  constructing  these  ornaments.  They 
should  not  be  merely  piles  of  loose  stones,  or 
regular  in  outline.  The  larger  the  rocks,  the 
better  for  this  purpose,  and  the  more  irregular 
the  better.  The  spaces  between,  may  be  partly 
filled  with  stones,  and  with  vegetable  mold 
from  the  woods.  A  great  variety  of  plants,  will 
thrive  in  such  a  location.  Many  of  the  ferns 
and  mosses,  of  which  we  have  a  large  number, 
will  do  well.  Only  the  larger  ferns  should  be 
employed,  where  the  work  is  on  a  large  scale. 
In  transplanting,  the  more  earth  we  remove 
with  the  plants,  the  more  likely  they  will  be  to 
_ive.  The  club  mosses  with  their  long  trailing 
vines  and  bright  green  shoots,  are  highly  or- 
namental. In  selecting  the  plants  it  is  desirable 
to  secure  a  succession  of  blossoms,  from  the 
early  Spring  to  late  Autumn.  The  Blood  Root, 
(Sanguinaria  Canadensis)  comes  early  in  April.  It 
loves  moist,  shady  places,  and  is  often  found 
growing  in  the  clefts  of  rocks.  The  Wood  Anem- 
one blooms  about  the  same  time,  and  is  found 
in  the  same  localities.  The  Saxifrage,  and  Rock 
Geranium,  or  Herb  Robert,  are  also  desirable 
plants.  The  Partridge  Berry,  and  Winter  Green, 
or  Checkerberry  are  even  more  beautiful  for 
their  leaves  and  berries,  than  for  their  blossoms. 
The  berries  are  of  a  bright  red,  and  hang  on 
through  the  Winter.  The  trailing  Arbutus, 
one  of  our  most  beautiful  flowers,  the  Linnaaa 
borealis,  Blue  Houstonia,  Columbine,  and  many 
others  will  flourish  in  rock  work.  Health, 
pleasure,  and  instruction  will  come  of  this 
home  made  ornament. 

—. an         i  m 

Gravel   Walks  on   Hill   Sides. 


Here  is  one  of  the  hardest  things  to  manage 
in  ornamental  gardening.  It  is  easy  enough  to 
make  them,  but  to  construct  them  so  as  not  to 
gully  and  tear  up  in  heavy  rains,  is  not  a  little 
difficult.  A  few  hints  are  offered  :  Such  walks 
should,  of  course,  have  a  solid  foundation  of 
stones,  and  this  should  be  covered  with  gravel 
or  shale.  To  enable  the  walk  to  shed  rain,  have 
it  quite  well  rounded  over  in  the  center.  The 
central  parts  should  also  be  pounded  or  rolled 
so  smooth  and  hard  that  running  water  can 
make  no  impression  on  it.  If  the  walk  is  not 
long  or  very  wide,  the  water  accumulating  upon 
it  may  be  shed  off  upon  the  adjoining  turf.  But 
to  secure  this,  the  channel  of  the  walk  must  be 
filled  up  brimful  with  gravel.  Where  the  walk 
is  long  and  wide,  and  the  hill  steep,  this  can 
not  always  be  done,  and  provision  must  there- 
fore be  made  for  carrying  off  the  water  in  gut- 
ters. These  may  be  made  of  small  cobble 
stones  laid  neat  and  smooth,  or  of  bricks.  If 
stones  are  used,  they  should  not  be  larger  than 
a  goose-egg,  and  should  be  fitted  in  a  workman- 
like manner.  Provision  should  also  be  made 
for  turn-outs  at  proper  intervals,  which  may 
discharge  the  water  upon  the  adjoining  grass, 
or    into    cesspools,  or     under-ground    drains. 


In  our  own  experience,  we  find  the  above 
methods  to  answer  tolerably  well,  yet  they  are 
not  a  perfect  protection  in- violent  storms.  At 
such  times,  the  water  will  fill  up  and  surge  over 
all  the  gutters  and  turn-outs,  and  tear  the  walks 
sadly.  The  only  way  we  know  of  is  to  provide 
these  remedies  as  effectually  as  may  be,  and  then 
lay  in  a  stock  of  patience  against  storms. 
Since  writing  the  above,  we  have  met  with 
the  following  in  one  of  Loudon's  works  :  lie 
is  describing  the  grounds  of  an  English  country 
seat : — "  One  practice  at  Redleaf  is,  that  in  every 
part  of  the  garden,  where  the  slope  is  consider- 
able, the  walks  are  paved  with  brick,  and  have 
brick  or  stone-edgings.  Some  great  advantages 
result  from  this  practice.  The  walks  are  never 
injured  by  rain,  but  rather  improved  by  being 
washed  clean.  No  weeds  grow  in  them;  they 
do  not  become  soft  with  rain,  nor  powdery  in 
dry  weather.  Gravel  walks  need  renovating, 
trimming  and  cleaning  every  year  or  two,  but 
brick  walks  if  properly  laid  at  first,  with  a  solid 
foundation  and  good  drainage,  will  last  ten  or 
twelve  years  without  any  repair  whatever." 

Layering  Grape  Vines. 


This  operation  is  very  simple.  Early  in  the 
Summer,  take  down  a  last  year's  cane  from  the 
trellis,  and  after  making  a  trench  near  the  vine, 
five  inches  deep  and  a  foot  or  two  long,  lay 
down  the  cane  in  it,  and  cover  it  up  with  fine 
soil.  The  layer  should  be  fastened  down  by 
pegs  or  by  stones.  Bring  up  the  extreme  end 
of  the  cane  and  tie  it  to  a  stak«.  In  the  Fall, 
if  all  has  gone  well,  the  layer  will  have  formed 
a  large  bunch  of  roots  at  the  point  buried,  when 
it  may  be  severed  from  the  parent  vine,  and 
planted.  Latterly  it  has  been  found  that 
most  varieties  can  be  multiplied  foster  than  by 
this  method.  The  plan  is  to  spade  up  and  en- 
rich the  soil  all  along  the  side  of  the  vine. 
Make  drills  not  more  than  two  inches  deep,  and 
as  long  as  the  brandies  to  be  layered.  Sprinkle 
a  little  sand  in  these  drills.  Now,  lay  down  the 
canes  in  these  shallow  drills  and  peg  them  fast 
at  every  joint.  Tie  up  a  foot  of  the  end  of  each 
cane  to  a  stake.  Such  sorts  as  Rebecca,  Lo- 
gan, Concord,  etc.,  will  soon  take  root  at  every 
eye,  and  will  also  send  up  shoots  from  the  same 
joints.  As  these  shoots  grow,  a  little  soil  should 
be  drawn  over  the  layers,  and  the  shoots  tied  up 
to  stakes.  By  careful  management  in  this  way, 
one  can  get  about  as  many  rooted  plants  as 
there  are  buds  on  each  layered  branch. 

■•-• ^#.» »-» 

Grafting  the   Grape. 


"  L,"  St.  Louis  Co.,  Mo.,  writes  to  the  Agricul- 
turist, that  he  "  has  been  very  successful  in  prop- 
agating grapes  by  grafting.  Two  years  since  I 
purchased  a  Rebecca  vine,  with  a  stem  a  little 
larger  than  a  darning  needle.  I  trimmed  off 
the  wood  to  two  eyes,  and  although  the  buds 
were  swelled,  I  grafted  the  part  cut  off  on  a 
piece  of  wild  grape  root,  and  planted  it  in  the 
open  air.  In  a  year  after  it  was,  and  is  now 
much  better  than  the  original  stock.  The  Del- 
aware, Rebecca,  and  some  others,  with  me 
grow  better  on  other  roots  than  on  their  own. 
My  method  is  as  follows :  Make  as  much  bark 
meet  as  is  practicable.  Where  the  root  is 
larger  than  the  cion,  split  the  cion,  sharpen  the 
root,  and  cut  out  a  deep  gash  or  wedge  in  the 
centre  of  the  root  between  the  two  sides,  leaving 
the  bark  undisturbed.  In  inserting  the  cion,  bend 
or  press  the  sides  of  the  root,  until  the  bark  of  the 
cion  and  root  meet,  then  wind  with  soft  twine. 


Furrow  out  the  ground  with  a  one  horse  plowi 
put  fine  chip  manure  about  the  plants,  placing 
them  about  eight  inches  apart  in  the  rows,  and 
cover  with  common  soil.  Have  the  top  of  the 
grafts  two  or  three  inches  above  the  level  of  the 
ground,  and  cover  them  out  of  sight  one  or  two 
inches.  If  the  season  is  unusually  rainy  and 
cold,  place  G  inch  boards  on  each  side  of  the 
row,  roof  shape.  When  the  weather  is  warm 
and  settled,  dig  down  to  the  buds,  and  leave 
them  uncovered.  If  it  continues  very  dry,  cover 
the  buds  up,  and  let  them  find  their  way  out." 


Thinning  the  Leaves  of  Grapes. 

One  of  the  most  absurd  practices  prevalent 
at  this  season  of  the  year,  is  that  of  pulling  off 
the  foliage  of  grapes,  in  order  (as  it  is  said,)  to 
ripen  up  the  fruit.  Those  who  do  this  say  they 
can't  bear  to  see  the  clusters  so  shaded :  they 
know  the  sunshine  would  color  them.  And  so 
they  thrust  right  and  left,  covering  the  ground 
with  green  leaves.  This  is  a  great  error.  The 
ripening  of  fruit  depends  upon  the  presence  and 
successful  working  of  well-formed  and  healthy 
foliage  on  vigorous  vines.  The  leaves  are  the 
lungs  and  stomach  of  the  plant.  Through  them 
it  breathes;  by  them  it  digests  its  food,  and  pre- 
pares nourishment  for  the  fruit  and  the  whole 
vine.  Go  to  the  sides  of  the  forest,  and  you  find 
the  blackberry  developing  larger,  and  ripening 
up  finer  in  partial  shade  than  in  the  sunny  field. 
Go  a  little  further  and  you  will  find  the  wild 
grape  growing  luxuriantly  and  ripening  perfect- 
ly where  the  sun  seldom  shines;  certainly, 
where  it  never  reaches  the  clusters,  and  where 
no  one  pulls  off  the  leaves.  Some  of  the  hand- 
somest clusters  ever  picked  in  our  garden  hung 
all  Summer  in  the  shade  of  leaves,  and  on  the 
north  side  of  the  trellis-bar.  The  feaw-shad  the 
sunlight  all  day,  but  the  fruit  did  not.  We  have 
do  doubt  that  one  reason  why  the  costly  vine- 
ries of  the  country  show  so  much  half  ripened 
fruit,  is  because  the  gardeners  so  perpetually 
meddle  with  the  foliage. 


Girdling  Grape  Vines. 

This  operation  consists  in  taking  out  a  ring 
or  section  of  bark  (say  about  an  inch  wide,)  on 
the  fruit-bearing  canes.  The  effect  of  it  is  to 
enlarge  the  fruit  above  the  girdle,  and  to  give  it 
the  color  of  ripeness  ten  or  more  days  before 
the  usual  time.  It  is  an  interesting  experiment 
in  vegetable  physiology.  It  furnishes  splendid 
specimens  of  fruit  for  horticultural  exhibitions. 
But  this  is  all  we  can  say  in  its  favor.  The  fruit 
itself  is  deteriorated  for  eating  purposes,  and 
clusters  exhibited  as  fair  specimens  of  the  fruit, 
give  an  untrue  idea  of  it. 


Thin  out  Freely. 

Two  plants  half  developed  are  not  worth  as 
much  as  one  which  has  had  plenty  of  room  to 
perfect  itself.  A  much  larger  and  finer  crop  of 
beets  can  be  harvested  if  the  plants  are  thinned 
to  8  or  12  inches,  than  if  allowed  to  stand  at  3 
or  4  inches  ;  and  so  with  other  crops — the  dis- 
tance of  course  varying  for  each.  Not  only  will 
a  larger  yield  be  realized  by  thinning  judicious- 
ly, but  the  quality  of  the  product  will  be  much 
better.  So  in  the  flower  garden,  the  annuals  are 
commonly  sown  very  thickly,  and  left  to  crowd 
one  another  in  a  dense  mass.  For  a  few  kinds 
this  treatment  will  answer,  but  the  majority 
will  give  greater  pleasure  if  each  individual 
has  room  to  develop  its  beauty. 


210 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Jci.Y, 


Summer    Treatment  of  Fruit  Trees. 


Much  of  the  work  of  the  pruning  knife  can 
be  anticipated  by  a  little  care  (lining  the  grow- 
ing season.  Dwarf  fruit  trees,  especially,  can  be 
kept  in  such  a  condition  that  tliey  will  rarely 
require  much  cutting.  Buds  tending  to  develop 
into  superfluous  branches  may  be  removed  al- 
together, and  branches  making  too  vigorous 
growth  of  wood  may  be  shortened  and  induced 
to  form  fruit  buds.  If  in  the  Spring  we  exam- 
ine a  shoot  of  a  pear  tree  for  instance,  we  shall 
rind  a  strong  terminal  bud  with  lateral  buds  at 
intervals,  and  that  those  lateral  buds  are  largest 
and  best  developed  near  the  end  of  the  shoot 
and  that  those  lower  down  are  gradually  small- 
er. In  the  Spring  the  terminal  bud  starts  to 
grow  and  prolong  the  stem;  a  few  of  the  upper 
side  buds  produce  shoots  while  the  lower  ones 
do  not  start  at  all.  The  buds  near  the  extremi- 
ties are  the  strongest  and  appropriate  all  the 
nourishment,  while  those  below  are  starved. 
If  in  the  Summer,  while  this  shoot  is  forming, 
we  pinch  off  the  point  of  it,  the  supply  of  food 
which  would  have  gone  to  continue  its  growth 
and  form  the  strong  upper  buds,  is  directed 
elsewhere :  the  lower  buds  receive  nourish- 
ment which  they  would  not  otherwise  have 
had,  and  some  of  them  will  be  likely  to  form 
fruit-buds.  This  pinching  off  the  shoots  to  in- 
duce the  formation  of  fruit-buds,  is  practised  by 
all  good  cultivators  upon  their  dwarf  trees. 
They  are  thrown  into  bearing  much  earlier,  and 
are  made  much  more  fruitful  than  when  this  is 
neglected.  The  time  at  which  it  is  clone  will 
be  determined  by  the  season;  wdienever  the 
shoot  has  made  a  growth  of  three  to  six  inches, 
according  to  the  vigor  of  the  variety,  it  is  pinch- 
ed off  by  means  of  the  thumb  and  finger,  at  the 
sixth  leaf,  counting  from  below.  It  often  hap- 
pens that  a  shoot  stopped  in  this  way,  pushes 
again  from  the  Upper  bud.  In  this  case  the  sec- 
ond growth  should  be  pinched  back  to  three 
leaves.  Summer  pinching  should  be  practised 
on  young  trees,  to  cause  them  to  grow  into 
proper  shape.  The  upper  branches  of  a  young 
nursery  tree,  which  has  been  cut  back  often,  make 
such  a  vigorous  growth  as  to  overtop  the  lead- 
er :  by  pinching  back  these  shoots,  in  time  the 
tree  may  be  brought  into  a  proper  conical  shape. 
By  timely  pinching,  the  tree  may  not  only  be 
shaped  at  will,  but  be  induced  to  bear  fruit  sev- 
eral years  earlier  than  it  otherwise  would,  and 
all  cutting  out  of  large  branches  be  obviated. 

m     t M  %  fc      »-•■ — 

Treatment  of  Orchards. 

Many  a  farmer  plants  an  orchard,  and  con- 
ceiving that  he  has  done  ail  that  is  required  of 
him,  takes  no  farther  trouble  with  it  until,  in  the 
course  of  years,  there  is  fruit  which  needs 
gathering.  Perhaps  by  the  time  his  trees  come 
into  bearing,  he  has  been  induced  to  take  an  ag- 
ricultural journal,  and  there  learns  that  trees 
are  pruned  to  render  them  more  productive. 
Pleased  with  the  little  fruit  he  already  has,  he 
admits  the  necessity  for  pruning,  and  goes  forth 
with  knife,  saw,  and  axe,  and  makes  an  indis- 
criminate cutting,  and  thinks  he  has  pruned  his 
orchard.  Next  year  the  trees  bear  less  than  the 
year  before  and  he  sets  down  all  pruning  as  use- 
less, and  all  agricultural  publications  as  hum- 
bugs. It  is  for  the  benefit  of  just  such  people 
that  this  article  is  written — those  who  catch  at 
a  fragment  and  think  they  have  the  whole.  To 
all  who  tliis  season  begin  to  give  attention  to 
their  orchards  we  say :  Never  cut  a  limb  un- 
less you  see  clearly  that  something   is  to   be 


gained  by  the  operation.  Look  carefully  at  the 
tree  and  decide  whether  it  will  be  better  for  any 
cutting,  or  if  left  alone.  Do  not  cut  unless  the 
tree  will  be  the  better  for  it.  If  a  limb  grows 
in  the  center  of  the  tree,  where  the  fruit  can  not 
receive  the  influence  of  the  sun  and  air,  cut  it 
out.  If  two  limbs  cross  one  another  so  that 
both  will  be  chafed  by  the  action  of  the  wind, 
cut  off  one  of  them.  Does  a  limb  grow  in  such 
a  direction  that  the  tree  will  be  thrown  out  of 
balance  and  grow  lop-sided — off  with  it.  Un- 
less a  limb  is  evidently  useless  or  in  some  way  in- 
jurious, it  need  not  be  removed.  There  are  two 
extremes :  one  is  to  let  the  tree  grow  without  any 
care,  and  the  other  is  excessive  and  injudicious 
pruning — both  are  to  be  avoided.  If  the  tree  is 
doing  well,  let  it  alone;  if  disposed  to  make  a 
too  rampant  growth  of  wood,  more  than  can 
be  thoroughly  ripened,  cut  it  back ;  but  as  a 
general  rule  be  sparing  of  the  pruning  tools.  If 
an  orchard  has  been  properly  cared  for  from  the 
beginning,  the  amount  of  annual  pruning  required 
will  be  very  small ;  no  tree  ought  to  get  so  far 
out  of  bounds  as  to  require  anything  more  than 
the  knife.  Still  there  are  many  who  have  neg- 
lected their  orchards,  or  who  come  into  posses- 
sion of  old  and  neglected  ones,  where  a  severe 
pruning  must  be  practised.  This  is  the  proper 
month  in  which  to  do  it.  The  trees  are  now  in 
full  vigor,  and  an  attempt  will  be  made  to  heal 
over  any  wound  made  in  pruning.  If  the  limb 
to  be  removed  is  large,  use  a  saw,  set  rather 
wide,  and  be  careful  that  the  limb  in  falling 
does  not  tear  off  a  portion  of  the  bark  and  leave 
a  ragged  wound.  To  prevent  this,  it  is  well  to 
make  an  incision  with  the  knife,  quite  through 
the  bark  at  the  place  where  the  limb  is  to  be 
sawed  off.  Do  not  leave  long  stubs,  but  saw 
close  to  the  base  of  the  limb.  It  is  advantage- 
ous to  cover  the  wound  with  a  solution  of  shel- 
lac in  alcohol ;  this  may  be  made  of  the  consist- 
ence of  paste,  and  applied  to  the  wound  by 
means  of  a  brush.  In  going  over  the  orchard, 
remove  all  suckers  and  all  those  sucker-like 
limbs  which  in  old  trees  are  apt  to  spring  from 
the  larger  branches.  Apple  trees  will,  where 
the  Winter  is  severe,  be  benefitted  by  a  summer 
pinching  of  the  vigorous  shoots ;  see  article  on 
summer  pinching,   on   the  opposite   column. 


Introduction  of  Fruit  to  England. 


A  book  of  the  olden  time  published  in  Lon- 
don, in  1004,  gives  the  following  account  of  the 
improvement  of  the  stock  of  fruit  in  England. 

"  One  Richard  Harris,  of  London,  borne  in 
Ireland,  Fruiterer  to  King  Henry  the  eight, 
fetched  out  of  Fraunce  great  store  of  graftes, 
especially  pippins  :  before  which  time  there  was 
no  right  pippins  in  England.  He  fetched  also, 
out  of  the  Lowe  Countries,  Cherrie  grafts,  & 
Peare  grafts,  of  diners  sorts :  Then  tooke  a 
peece  of  ground  belonging  to  the  King,  in  the 
parrish  of  Tenham  in  Kent,  being  about  the 
quantitie  of  seaueu  score  acres;  whereof  he 
made  an  Orchard,  planting  therein  all  those  for- 
aigne  grafts.  Which  Orchard  is,  and  hath 
been  from  time  to  time,  the  chiefe  Mother  of  all 
other  orchards  for  those  kindes  of  fruites  in 
Kent,  and  of  diners  other  places.  And  afore 
that  these  said  grafts  were  fetched  out  of  Fraunce 
and  the  Lowe  Countries,  although  that  there 
was  some  store  of  fruite  in  England,  yet  there 
wanted  both  rare  fruit,  and  lasting  fine  fruite. 
The  Dutch  &  French,  finding  it  to  be  so  scarce, 
especially  in  these  countries  neere  London, 
commonly  plyed  Billings-gate,  &  diuers  other 
places  with  such  kinde  of   fruite.    But  now 


(thankes  bee  to  God)  diuers  Gentlemen  and  oth- 
ers, taking  delight  in  grafting  (being  a  mutter  so 
necessary  and  beneficial  in  a  Comon-wealtb) 
haue  planted  many  Orchards;  fetching  their 
grafts  out  of  that  Orchard,  which  HarriiTplaiit- 
ed  called  the  New-garden.  And  by  reason  of 
the  great  increase  that  now  is  growing  in  diuers 
parts  of  this  Land,  of  such  fine  &  seruiceable 
fruit,  there  is  no  need  of  any  foraigne  fruite,  but 
we  are  able  to  serue  (serve)  other  places." 


Labels  on   Fruit  Trees. 


No  one  who  has  many  fruit  trees,  should  trust 
to  labels  for  their  identification,  as  they  are  lia- 
ble to  be  defaced  or  lost  altogether.  Make  a 
plan  of  the  orchard  or  fruit  garden,  and  mark 
the  place  of  each  tree,  writing  down  its  name. 
This,  if  kept  where  it  can  be  readily  referred 
to,  will  save  a  deal  of  trouble  in  ascertain- 
ing names  when  the  tree  comes  into  bearing 
Our  special  object  is  to  call  attention  to  the 
trees  planted  this  year.  When  the  trees  are 
labeled  in  the  nursery,  the  wire  by  which  the 
tag  is  attached,  is  usually  bound  closely  around 
a  limb  or  the  body  of  the  tree.  If  it  was  not 
loosened  at  the  time  of  planting,  it  is  probable 
that  the  growth  of  the  tree  has  caused  the  wire 
to  become  so  tight  as  to  seriously  interfere  with 
the  health  of  the  tree.  We  have  frequently  seen 
young  trees  with  the  copper  wire  of  the  label 
completely  imbedded  in  the  bark.  The  trees 
should  be  looked  over  to  see  that  no  injury  re- 
sults from  this  cause.  Where  very  small  wire 
is  used,  the  expansion  of  the  tree  breaks  it  and 
the  label  is  lost.  Use  rather  large  wire  and  give 
plenty  of  room  for  growth.  Lead  wire  is  pref- 
erable to  copper;  it  is  very  cheap,  and  will 
yield  to  the  enlarging  growth  of  the   limb. 


Summer  Pruning  of  Hedges. 

After  hedges  have  reached  nearly  their  intend- 
ed bight,  it  is  necessary  to  prune  them  in  mid- 
summer, in  order  to  check  their  too  vigorous 
growth.  Yet  this  should  be  done  with  care. 
Too  harsh  use  of  the  shears  at  this  time  stunts 
and  often  kills  plants.  Nature  must  have  an 
outlet,  somewhere,  and  if  forbidden,  she  rebels. 
And  then,  both  as  a  matter  of  taste  and  expe- 
diency, it  is  unwise  to  give  the  hedge  an  abso- 
lutely smooth  shearing.  Better  is  it  to  leave 
some  freedom  and  flow  in  the  outline  of  planls, 
than  to  crop  them  very  close.  Better  to  clip  in 
here  and  there,  checking  the  strong  growths  for 
one  year,  and  leaving  the  weak  a  chance  to  ex- 
tend themselves  a  little.  This  will  give  the 
hedges  something  of  the  wavy  outline  of  a  sym- 
metrical shrub,  rather  than  the  stiff  appearance 
of  a  primly  shorn  wall.  And,  not  least  im- 
portant, such  a  hedge  will  last  much  longer  than 
one  which  lias  been   too  closely  pruned. 

The   Chinese  Wistaria. 


To  the  lovers  of  flowers  our  city  streets  do 
not  present  many  attractions,  yet  in  the  month 
of  May  we  have  walked  through  many  streets 
to  enjoy  the  Wistaria.  It  seems  lobe  the  favor- 
ite climber  of  the  New- York  people.  It  climbs 
along  walls,  hangs  over  balconies,  mounts  to 
the  roofs,  and  sometimes  to  the  very  chimneys 
and  hangs  its  great  grape-like  clusters  every- 
where. The  plant  often  improperly  called  Wist- 
eria and  Glycine)  is  named  in  honor  of  Dr.  Cas- 
par Wistar,  a  late  celebrated  physician  of  Phil- 
adelphia.   A  native  species  is  found  in  Penn- 


l8ttT| 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


211 


sylvania  and  southward,  but  it  is  much  inferior 
in  beauty  to  the  Chinese  species,  so  generally 
cultivated,  {Wistaria  Sinensis).  The  plant  is 
readily  propagated  by  layers  and  by  cuttings, 
and  is  a  universal  favorite.  It  is  perfectly 
hardy  in  the  climate  of  New-York,  and  would 
succeed,  by  laying  down  iu  Winter,  in  much 
less  favorable  localities. 


A  Strawberry  Talk. 


At  the  Fruit  Growers'  Meeting  held  at  the 
office  of  the  Agriculturist  on  June  5,  the  mer- 
its of  the  different  varieties  of  strawberries  were 
discussed.  The  meeting  bad  an  especial  inter- 
est on  account  of  the  presence  of  Mr.  J.  Knox, 
of  Pa.,  one  of  the  largest,  if  not  the  largest, 
cultivators  of  strawberries  in  the  country.  Mr. 
Knox  thought  there  were  several  varieties 
of  strawberries,  possessing  great  merit,  which 
had  been  overlooked.  He  instanced  the  Fill- 
more as  one  of  these.  He  considered  it  one  of 
the  best  in  his  locality,  but  was  well  aware  that 
the  locality  had  much  to  do  with  the  value  of 
a  variety.  While  Hovey's  Seedling  was  highly 
prized  at  Boston,  it  wa9  almost  worthless  at 
Pittsburgh.  The  Fillmore  does  not  need  to  be 
frequently  renewed,  while  Wilson's  Albany 
does.  The  Wilson  gives  a  few  large  berries  at 
first,  but  the  rest  of  them  are  small.  The  Fill- 
more gives  a  greater  crop  than  the  Wilson  and 
is  of  better  flavor.  He  has  tested  it  thoroughly 
and  has  this  year  planted  more  of  it  than  of 
any  other  variety,  save  Triomphe  de  Gand.  He 
named  as  other  good  sorts :  Golden  Seedling, 
Comptesse  de  Thury  and  Due  de  Brabant.  The 
Triomphe  de  Gand  fully  sustains  its  reputation ; 
taken  all  in  all,  we  have  nothing  equal  to  it. 
Being  asked  to  give  a  selection  of  the  best  six 
strawberries,  Mr.  Knox  placed  1st,  Triomphe 
de  Gand,  medium  and  late ;  2d,  Wilson,  as  de- 
sirable for  canning  or  bottling;  3d,  Fillmore; 
4th,  Baltimore  Scarlet,  early ;  5th,  Burr's  New 
Pine,  one  of  the  best;  6th,  Jenny  Lind.  The 
strawberry  season  used  to  extend  over  only  two 
or  three  weeks.  At  Pittsburgh,  they  had  pro- 
longed it  to  seven  weeks,  and  he  had  no  doubt 
that  it  might  be  extended  to  two  months. 
Trollope's  Victoria  does  not  bear  carriage  well, 
but  it  is  good  for  home  consumption.  Kitley's 
Goliath  is  very  large  and  late,  but  rather  coarse. 
Brighton  Pine  has  been  said  by  the  Pomologi- 
cal  Society  to  be  a  poor  bearer.  Mr.  Knox  con- 
siders it  one  of  his  best  bearers,  and  it  has  a  fine 
spicy  flavor.  Scott's  Seedling  is  very  good ; 
some  parties  prefer  it  to  all  others.  There  is 
a  great  variety  of  tastes  to  be  consulted,  and 
a  cultivator  must  endeavor  to  suit  all.  The 
Moyamensing  is  good.  We  do  not  want  mere- 
ly good  sorts,  we  want  the  lest.  A  first  rate 
variety  takes  no  more  room  and  costs  no  more 
labor  in  cultivation  than  a  poor  oue.  Mr.  Knox 
intends  to  plant  ten  acres  of  strawberries  each 
year.  They  are  as  easy  to  plant  as  cabbages. 
Doct.  I.  M.  Ward  thought  that  many  kinds 
would  succeed  well  about  Pittsburgh,  which 
would  not  do  well  iu  other  places.  Hovey's 
Seedling  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  vicinity  of 
Newark,  N.  J. 

Mr.  W.  S.  Carpenter  objected  to  the  Fill- 
more as  it  is  a  pistillate  variety.  Is  test- 
ing Cutter's  Seedling,  and  is  thus  far  pleased 
with  it.  Among  the  new  foreign  varieties 
the  Prince  of  Wales  is  a  wonderful  bearer  and 
good.  The  Due  de  Brabant  is  a  favorite  with 
him.  He  has  tried  some  of  Mr.  Fuller's  Seed- 
lings for  two  years,  away  from  the  locality  where 
they  originated.     He  thought  highly  of   Col. 


Ellsworth.  The  Brooklyn  Scarlet  is  a  splendid 
berry,  being  perfectly  hardy  and  very  produc- 
tive, though  the  berry  is  not  as  large  as  some. 
Some  white  berries  were  of  great  promise:  Len- 
ning's  White  is  perfectly  hardy,  of  large  size  and 
good  flavor :  the  White  Pine  Apple  is  nearly 
as  good.  Jenny  Lind  is  a  favorite  at  the  North, 
being  large  and  of  a  fine  color :  Iowa  is  too 
sour.  Downer's  is  a  wonderful  bearer,  but  too 
sour.  Bartlctt  is  very  fine,  about  as  good  as 
the  Fillmore,  and  having  perfect  flowers,  he 
prefers  it  to  that  variety.  Empress  Eugenie  is 
one  of  the  best,  as  good  as  Burr's  New  Pine. 
Princess  Frederick  William  was  loaded  with 
fruit,  early  and  fine.  Scott's  Seedling,  not  pro- 
ductive, insipid  but  sweet. 

Dr.  Ward  stated  that  the  Brighton  Pine 
was  not  prolific  with  him,  and  had  rooted  it 
out  on  this  account.  Mr.  Knox  thought  he 
could  not  have  the  true  sort  as  it  was  a  great 
bearer  with  him.  Solon  Robinson  had  thrown 
it  out,  it  not  being  a  good  bearer. 

Mr.  Knox  said  that  he  never  endorsed  a 
strawberry  until  he  had  proved  it  by  cul- 
tivating it  for  three  years.  He  looked  for  pro- 
gress and  thought  that  perfection  had  not  yet 
been  attained.  He  might  put  one  variety  at  the 
head  at  this  meeting,  and  at  another  meeting 
would  consider  some  other  variety  as  superior. 
His  views  were  constantly  changing  as  he  had 
more  experience,  and  varied  his  modes  of  culture. 
When  a  bed  begins  to  run  out,  after  gathering 
the  fruit,  he  lets  the  plants  make  all  the  runners 
they.  will.  He  then  plows  them  under,  adding 
stable  manure,  and  puts  strawberries  on  the  same 
ground  again.  He  considers  a  crop  of  straw- 
berry plants  equal  in  value  to  one  of  clover  to 
plow  under. 

Dr.  Ward  stated  that  Mr.  Winans  had  tried 
every  variety  known  iu  this  vicinity,  at  Newark, 
N.  J.,  and  had  found  the  Boston  Pine  and 
Hovey's   Seedling  the   most  profitable  sorts. 

Mr.  Knox  thought  that  the  best  culture  had 
not  been  reached  in  this  vicinity,  as  he  could 
send  his  berries  here  from  a  distance  of  300 
miles  and  sell  them  at  50  cents  a  quart  at  whole- 
sale, and  asked  if  we  had  the  best  kinds  for  this 
locality.  Cutter's  seedling  he  considered  a  fine 
berry,  but  not  large  enough,  it  is  light  colored 
and   too  soft   to   bear  carriage   to  market. 

Saving  Seeds  in  the  Garden. 


Our  cultivated  plants  seem  to  be  iu  a  condi- 
tion of  unstable  equilibrium :  on  the  one  hand 
they  tend  to  deteriorate,  and  on  the  other  cer- 
tain individuals  seem  disposed  to  attain  to  a 
higher  degree  of  perfection.  We  do  not,  as  a 
general  thing,  understand  the  causes  which  pro- 
duce those  results,  except  that  for  the  most  part 
poor  culture  produces  the  former,  and  good  cul- 
ture the  latter  effect.  Most  of  our  finest  varie- 
ties of  vegetables  and  flowers  have  been  pro- 
duced by  a  judicious  selection,  and  if  we  would 
keep  any  variety  in  perfection,  we  must  contin- 
ue to  select  the  best  specimens  to  propagate 
from.  "  Like  produces  like,"  is  a  rule  sufficient- 
ly general  to  be  followed,  and  high  breeding 
may  be  practised  with  plants  as  well  as  with 
animals.  If  we  sow  a  large  quantity  of  seeds 
of  any  variety  of  plant,  a  difference,  and  often 
a  very  marked  one,  will  be  noticed  in  the  seed- 
lings ;  such  as  vigor,  early  maturity,  and  supe- 
riority of  product.  In  garden  culture  we  pay 
too  little  attention  to  the  saving  of  seeds ;  hence 
it  is  that  we  hear  complaints  of  sorts  running 
out,  and  the  necessity  for  a  frequent  change  of 
seed.     It  has  been  our  custom,  though  often 


against  our  inclination,  to  save  the  earliest  and 
finest  of  our  cucumbers,  melons,  tomatoes,  etc., 
for  seed.  Those  who  wish  to  keep  their  varie- 
ties good  and  even  to  improve  them,  will  do 
well  to  follow  this  practice.  Selection  of  the 
most  desirable  sorts  for  propagation  is  the  great 
secret  in  producing  the  many  improved  kinds 
of  vegetables.  The  variations  are  produced  by 
hidden  causes,  and  it  is  left  for  us  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  them.  Both  in  the  vegetable  and 
flower  garden,  let  the  seed  be  saved  from  those 
plants  which  present  the  most  desirable  peculi- 
arities, and  the  chances  will  be  that  their  good 
qualities  will  be  perpetuated  in  the  progeny. 


Use  the   Kitchen   Slops. 

Just  now  the  English  agricultural  papers  are 
full  of  articles  upon  the  use  of  Sewage  or 
waste  of  cities.  Bringing  this  subject  down  to 
individuals,  we  might  write  a  long  article  on  the 
waste  of  the  house,  had  not  this  subject  been 
so  frequently  presented  in  the  columns  of  the 
Agriculturist.  Again  we  say  allow  no  fertilizing 
material  to  go  to  waste.  The  water  from  the 
kitchen  is  rich  in  elements  of  fertility.  The  soap 
used  in  washing,  pot  liquor,  salt,  etc.,  are  all 
needed  by  the  garden,  and  will  amply  repay 
for  the  saving  and  applying  to  the  plants.  On 
many  farms  the  sink  spout  discharges  into  a 
gutter,  and  the  waste  water  is  allowed  to  soak 
away  or  evaporate,  and  just  along  the  edges  of 
this  gutter  will  be  found  a  most  luxuriant  growth 
of  weeds,  showing  plainly  that  the  ground  here 
is  richer  than  elsewhere.  Let  the  kitchen  waste 
be  collected  in  a  sunken  hogshead  or  cistern,  and 
applied  in  a  liquid  form  to  the  plants  in  the 
garden,  or  run  it  to  a  convenient  distance  from 
the  house  to  an  excavation  which  can  be  readi- 
ly supplied  with  muck,  which  will  absorb  the 
liquid,  and  many  dollars'  worth  of  manure  now 
wasted,  will  be  annually  saved. 
— -• — ■•■_ ■  - 

Training  Dahlias. 


This  most  showy  flower,  the  chief  ornament 
of  the  garden  during  the  early  Autumn,  requires 
constant  care,  unless  we  would  have  our  hopes 
end  in  disappointment.  Throwing  up  a  vigor- 
ous and  tender  stem,  its  branches  have  so  little 
strength  that  they  often  break  with  their  own 
weight,  and  if  not  kept  securely  tied  to  a  stake 
the  main  stem  will  be  prostrated  by  strong 
winds.  For  all  except  the  very  dwarf  kinds, 
stakes  are  needed,  and  some  mode  of  training 
must  be  adopted.  One  method  is,  to  tie  the 
main  stalk  to  a  stake  and  take  off  the  lower 
branches,  to  prevent  their  breaking  off  of  them- 
selves. This  causes  the  plant  to  grow  very  tall, 
and  gives  but  a  comparatively  small  number  of 
flowers.  Another  style,  called  the  "  tub  "  meth- 
od, is  to  cut  off  the  leading  stem  and  allow  four 
or  more  of  the  lower  branches  to  grow,  each  of 
which  is  furnished  with  a  stake.  This  plan 
secures  a  large  number  of  flowers,  but  gives  the 
plant  a  squatty  appearance  not  iu  accordance 
with  its  natural  habit.  We  have  satisfactorily 
practised  a  method  which  combines  these  two 
methods  of  training.  The  main  stalk  is  sup- 
ported by  a  stake  in  the  usual  way,  and  all  of 
the  side  shoots,  except  the  three  lowest  ones  are 
kept  carefully  pinched  off;  as  soon  as  these 
lower  shoots  acquire  a  sufficient  length  they  are 
supported  by  light  stakes  inclining  outward 
from  the  plant.  Trained  in  this  way  the  Dahlia 
in  flower  presents  a  most  showy  appearance. 
Hoe  around  the  plants  frequently,  apply  li- 
quid manure,  and  if  a  dry  spell  occurs,  covpr 


213 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[July, 


the  ground  with  some  kind  of  mulch.  Much  of 
the  success  in  flowering  the  Dahlia,  depends 
upon  careful  tying.  Every  few  days  the  new 
growth  should  be  secured  to  the  stakes  by  a  tie 
of  bass  bark  or  a  strip  of  cotton  cloth.  Care 
should  be  taken  that  the  bands  are  not  drawn 
so  tightly  as  to  impede  free  growth. 
—  i         ->» •-• 

A  Fine  Old  Plant. 


Plants  as  well  as  other  things  are  subject  to 
the  changes  of  fashion.  Many  of  the  old  fa- 
vorites of  the  gardens  are  neglected  merely  be- 
cause they  are  old,  and  their  places  are  occupied 
by  others 
whose  chief 
merit  is  their 
novelty.  For 
ourselves,  we 
love  to  seethe 
flowers  which 
we  knew 
when  a  boy: 
they  seem  to 
n s  as  old 
friends.  How 
many  of  us 
look  back 
with  pleasure 
to  days  spent 
in  the  garden 
of  our  early 
home.  Its 
treasures  may 
have  been  on- 
ly Sweet  Wil- 
liams, Pinks, 
Pa?onies,  and 
such  old  fash- 
ioned flowers, 
but  they  are 
dearer  to  us 
than  any  of 
the  newer  in- 
troduct  ions, 
for  they  bring 
pleasant  me- 
mories of  the  days  of  our  youth.  Such  were 
our  thoughts  on  receiving  a  bunch  of  Thrift, 
from  Mr.  A.  S.  Fuller  of  the  Brooklyn  Nur- 
series. He  sent  it  to  us,  knowing  our  partiality 
for  old  plants,  and  we  have  had  it  engraved, 
believing  that  it  will  be  a  novelty  to  most  of  our 
readers.  The  plant  is  botanically  Armeria  vul- 
garis. It  is  a  native  of  Europe,  and  a  perfectly 
hardy  perennial.  The  leaves  make  a  dense 
mass  of  dull  green  foliage,  against  which  the 
abundant  pink  or  rose-colored  flowers  make  a 
fine  show.  It  is  well  worth  cultivating  as  a 
bedding  plant,  but  it  is  particularly  valuable  for 
edgings,  for  which  it  is  much  used  in  England, 
where  it  is  considered  as  the  next  best  plant  to 
Box  for  this  purpose.  It  is  readily  propagated 
by  division  of  the  roots.  There  is  a  white  variety. 


About  Double  Flowers. 

Every  cultivator  of  flowers  has  doubtless  ex- 
perienced a  difficulty  in  reproducing  double 
annuals  from  the  seed.  The  double  flowers  are 
in  an  unnatural  condition,  and  it  seems  that 
slight  causes  induce  them  to  revert  to  their  nat- 
ural state  of  single  ones.  There  is  much  rela- 
ting to  this  subject  that  we  do  not  understand. 
There  are  some  plants,  like  the  stock  gilli- 
flower  for  instance,  the  double  flowers  of  which 
do  not  produce  seeds,  but  the  single  flowers 
have  a  tendency  to  produce  seeds,  the  majority 


of  which  give  double  flowers.  In  a  "  good 
strain"  of  stocks,  as  the  gardeners  term  it,  the 
tendency  is  to  produce  double  flowers,  with 
here  and  there  a  Single  one  to  continue  the  kind. 
The  whole  thing  seems  to  be  in  a  very  preca- 
rious condition,  which  slight  and  little  known 
causes  will  modify.  Seed  saved  from  the  most 
double  Zinnias,  will  give  us  a  number  of  single 
flowers,  while  the  China  Aster,  which  seems  to 
have  its  double  character  more  fixed,  rarely  fails 
to  produce  double  ones.  We  have  before  us 
two  letters  upon  this  subject.  The  first  is  from 
Carl  Meinurth,  of  Rockingham  Co.,  N.  H.,  who 
commenting  on  the  statement  made  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  last  column,  on  page  148  of  May  Ag- 
riculturist says :  "  Seeds  from  double  flowers, 
which  are  not  constant  in  reproducing  double 
flowers  again,  must  not  be  sown  before  they  are 
one  or  two  years  old."  To  test  his  theory  he 
suggests  that  we  take  a  paper  of  seeds  of  any 
double  flowers,  and  sow  one  half  the  seeds  this 
year;  perhaps  one-tenth  of  the  plants  will  be 
double  and  the  other  single.  Next  year  sow  one 
half  of  the  remaining  seeds,  and  one  half  of 
the  plants,  at  least,  will  be  double ;  finally,  the 
third  year  sow  the  rest  of  the  seed  and  quite 
probably  all  the  plants  will  bloom  double.  He 
also  suggests  that  the  smallest  seeds  of  the  Bal- 
sam are  more  likely  to  produce  plants  with 
double  flowers,  than  the  full  plump  seeds. 
Another  correspondent,  "  G."  gives  his  plan 
for  procuring  seeds  that  will  produce  double 
flowers  thus :  "  Do  not  allow  the  plant  pro- 
ducing seeds  to  mature  all  of  them.  Pick  off 
one  half  of  the  flowers,  and  let  the  plant  throw 
all  its  forces  into  the  remainder.  G'rve  the  plant 
itself  every  possible  chance  to  make  a  vigorous 
growth  before  it  forms  its  flower-buds.  An  an- 
nual flower,  like  the  Aster,  is  more  likely  to 
give  double  flowers  and  seeds,  if  transplanted 
from  a  seed-bed,  than  if  grown  in  the  border 
where  they  were  first  sown." 


Rake  the   Garden. 


"  L.  G,"  writes  to  the  Agriculturist:  "My 
garden  is  a  light  sandy  loam.  When  it  is  spaded 
in  the  Spring  and  raked  over,  it  is  perfectly 
smooth  and  level.  After  planting  I,  like  a  cer- 
tain kind  of  bird,  cover  up  my  tracks.  As  soon 
as  the  vegetables  begin  to  appear,  I  rake  over 
the  ground — going  backwards,  meanwhile, 
"  crab-fashion,"  leaving  no  tracks  visible — so 
that  many  have  said  to  me,  "How  is  it  you  keep 
your  garden  so  clean  and  smooth  ?  If  the  gar- 
den is  raked  over  weekly — not  a  weed  can  be 
seen,  the  ground  is  kept  from  drying  up,  in  fact 
the  loose  surface,  though  perfectly  dry,  operates 
as  a  mulch.  To  one  unaccustomed  to  this 
mode  of  gardening,  it  is  perfectly  surprising 
how  much  ground  can  be  gone  over,  and  effect- 
ually too,  in  a  short  time.  Wrought  iron  rakes 
are  better  than  steel,  as  the  teeth  do  not  suffer 
from  rough  usage.  I  have  not  taken  a  hoe  into 
my  garden  for  the  last  15  years,  as  I  can  make 
"better  time"  with  the  rake,  even  among  corn 
and  potatoes.  Certainly  in  beds  of  onions,  etc., 
there  is  nothing  equal  to  the  rake ;  if  the  rows 
are  not  far  enough  apart  for  the  rake,  turn  it  a 
little  sidewise.  Whoever  will  try  the  above 
plan,  I  think  "  will  irresistibly  come  to  the  con- 
clusion "  that,  running  over  the  garden  with  a 
rake  (if  the  soil  is  light,)  once  a  week,  is  true 
economy — much  better  than  to  wait  till  weeds 
can  be  seen.  Very  slight  motion  of  the  soil  de- 
stroys the  roots  of  weeds  while  they  are  so  ten- 
der. While  you  can  not  see  s-ueh  a  victory  at  this 
time  as  you  could  if  the  weeds  were  knee  high, 


still  it  can  be  enjoyed  full  as  much  as  though 
one  could  see  "  the  slain  lie  heaps  on  heaps." 


The  Striped  Bug  a  Night-Worker. 

» m 

C.  G.  Siewers,  of  Campbell  Co.,  Ohio,  in  a 
letter  to  the  Agriculturist  says:  "I  never  could 
see  how  the  few  striped  bugs  found  in  the  morn- 
ing, could  do  the  damage  my  squash,  cucumber, 
and  melon  vines  were  daily  suffering.  One  night 
last  year,  I  lighted  my  lantern,  and  went  to  ex- 
amine my  vines.  Let  any  subscriber  afflicted 
as  I  was,  do  the  same. — I  found  my  vines  cov- 
ered with  bugs,  50  pair  on  a  leaf  being  nothing 
uncommon.  With  finger  and  thumb  I  slaugh- 
tered about  a  thousand  in  an  hour,  going  over 
the  vines  twice ;  about  12  o'clock  at  night  I  vis- 
ited them  again,  and  found  but  a  few  strag- 
glers. Next  night  I  went  once  more,  in  the 
hope  of  seeing  no  more  bugs,  but  found  that 
there  was  no  apparent  diminution  of  the  ene- 
my. I  slaughtered  them  wholesale  every  night 
for  two  weeks,  and  then  gave  up  in  dispair.  In 
an  adjoining  patch  I  had  a  fine  lot  of  late  cu- 
cumbers coming  along — very  thrifty,  and  un- 
touched by  the  bug,  and  without  thinking  of 
the  consequences,  I  tore  up  all  my  squash  plants, 
finding  they  would  never  set  any  fruit,  and 
threw  them  into  the  manure  heap.  The  next 
morning  my  entire  cucumber  patch  lay  wilted 
and  destroyed,  looking  as  if  a  heavy  frost  had 
cut  them  down ;  every  leaf  appeared  chewed 
up.    I  have  not  planted  any  this  year." 


The  Asparagus  Beetle. 


This  insect,  which  has  caused  such  destruction 
in  Europe,  has  already  become  established  in 
some  localities  in  Long  Island  and  New-Jersey, 
where  it  promises,  if  its  ravages  are  not  check- 
ed, to  ultimately  destroy  the  asparagus  crop. 
Fortunately  the  insect  is  thus  far  confined  to  a 
few  localities.  As  it  can  only  be  exterminated 
upon  its  first  appearance,  we  give  figures  of  it  iu 
its  several  stages,  in  order  that  it  may  be  at 
once  recognized  and  promptly  dealt  with. 
The  beetle  is  known  to  entomologists  as  Crioce- 
ris  asparagi,  and  has  a  general  resemblance  to 
the  striped  bug  which  infests  cucumber  and 
melon  vines.  Fig.  1  is  a  drawing  of  the  per- 
fect insect  magnified,  which  makes  its  appear- 
ance during  the  month 
of  May.  A  line  near 
the  figure  shows  the 
natural  size  of  the 
beetle.  The  eggs  are 
little  brown  oval  bodies, 
singularly  attached  in 
rows  upon  the  slender 
twig  of  the  plant  Fig. 
3,  shows  the  eggs,  both 
of  the  natural  size  and 
enlarged.  The  eggs 
shortly  hatch  and  pro- 
duce grubs  or  larva? 
which  greedily  devour 
the  asparagus  shoots. 
Upon  the  first  appear- 
ance of  this  dangerous  enemy,  no  pains  should 
be  spared  to  exterminate  it.  The  beetle 
should  be  picked  by  hand  and  destroyed,  and 
all  twigs  upon  which  eggs  are  deposited  should 
be  burned.  A  brood  of  young  chickens  will 
be  of  great  aid  in  destroying  these  and  other 
insects.  The  hen  should  be  confined  in  a  coop 
and  the  chiekens  allowed  to  range  over  the  bed. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


Q13 


Vegetables  for  our  Soldiers. 


Perhaps  there  is  no  deprivation  incident  to  a  sol- 
dier's life,  greater  than  being  obliged  to  do  without 
the  ordinary  vegetables.  To  be  able  to  appreciate 
the  value  of  potatoes,  turnips,  etc.,  one  should  be 
obliged  to  go  without  them  for  a  few  mouths.  We 
have  been  where  oranges,  bananas,  tigs,  and  other 
tropical  fruits  were  abundant  and  ridiculously 
cheap,  and  would  have  given  them  all  for  a  good 
mess  of  potatoes.  From  their  bulk  and  weight  it 
would  be  impossible  to  supply  a  large  army  with 
fresh  vegetables;  but  our  government  docs  the 
next  best  thing,  it  furnishes  an  occasional  issue  of 
carefully  dried  vegetables.  Col.  Eaton,  the  Com- 
missary at  this  post,  sends  to  the  army  one  hundred 
and  thirty  five  thousand  pounds  a  mouth,  of  a  mix- 
ture of  dried  or  des6icated  vegetables.  We  were 
much  interested  in  a  visit  to  the  works  of  the 
American  Des6icating  Company  at  Brooklyn,  L.  I. 
This  company  furnishes  the  largest  share  of  that 
supplied  to  the  soldiers  of  our  army,  and  has  ample 
machinery  aud  facilities  for  its  operations.  The  com- 
pound sent  to  the  army,  consists,  in  every  100  lbs.  of 
20  lbs.  dried  Potatoes.  22  lbs.  dried  Turnips. 
22  lbs.  dried  Carrots.  10  lbs.  dried  Cabbage. 

10  lbs.  dried  Onions.  5  lbs.  dried  Tomatoes. 

5  lbs.  dried  String  Beans.   1  lb.  dried  Parsley. 
5  lbs.  Rice.  Pepper,  etc. 

This  mixture  is  packed  in  cakes  of  seven  lbs.  each. 
It  is  an  excellent  article  for  a  vegetable  soup,  or 
will  make  a  nice  dish  of  mixed  vegetables.  The 
drying  is  performed  by  exposing  the  sliced  vegeta- 
ble upon  trays  in  chambers  heated  by  means  of 
steam  pipes.  A  bushel  of  potatoes  is  thus  reduced 
to  10  lbs.,  aud  other  vegetables,  containing  a  larger 
amount  of  water,  weigh  still  less  in  the  dried  state. 
We  were  particularly  impressed  with  the  neatness 
which  was  observed  in  the  establishment— much 
of  the  work  being  performed  by  women.  The 
company  has  a  separate  contract  for  their  des- 
sicated  potato,  of  which  a  large  quantity  is  sent 
to  the  army.  The  potatoes  are  first  cooked,  and 
then  granulated  and  thoroughly  dried.  They  form 
an  excellent  article  of  food,  aud  must  be  ex- 
ceedingly welcome  in  camp.  Mixed  with  suffi- 
cient boiling  water,  a  nice  dish  of  mashed  potatoes 
can  be  prepared  in  a  few  minutes. 


Drying   Fruit  and  Vegetables. 


There  will  soon  be  an  abundance  of  the  products 
of  the  garden  and  field, a  share  of  which  may  be  dried 
for  Winter  use.  Now  when  there  is  an  unusual  de- 
mand for  such  things  for  the  use  of  our  brave  sol- 
diers in  the  hospitals,  our  patriotic  women  will  pre- 
pare au  increased  quantity  of  these  delicacies  for 
the  sick  and  convalescent.  Persons  connected  with 
the  Sanitary  Commission  inform  us  that  there  is 
no  limit  to  the  demand  for  dried  berries,  apples, 
peaches,  and  other  fruits,  and  dried  sweet  eoru  aud 
other  vegetables  arc  always  acceptable.  Where  the 
quantity  to  be  dried  is  small,  it  may  be  douc  on 
pans  or  trays  placed  in  the  sun  aud  occasionally 
put  into  the  stove  oven,  the  doors  being  open.  It  is 
considerable  trouble  to  put  out  the  vessels  when 
the  sun  shines,  and  bring  them  in  at  night,  or  on 
the  approach  of  a  shower.  Where  there  are  hot- 
beds, this  labor  can  be  saved  by  using  a  hot-bed 
frame  and  sash.  The  articles  to  be  dried  can  be 
covered  with  the  sash  at  night,  which  can  be  wholly 
or  partly  removed  during  the  day.  Where  a  large 
quautity  Is  to  be  dried,  it  will  be  better  to  depend 
entirely  upon  fire  heat.  We  have  used  successful- 
ly a  very  simple  contrivance,  a  common  wood  stove, 
with  the  pipe  runuiug  across  the  room  about  two 
feet  from  the  floor.  About  a  foot  above  the  pipe 
a  rack  holds  the  trays  upon  which  the  articles 
to  be  dried  are  spread  very  thinly.  The  stove 
being  au  "  air-tight,"  a  very  little  wood  serves  to 
keep  the  room  at  a  high  temperature.  The  trays 
most  recently  filled  are  placed  nearest  the  stove, 


and  gradually  moved  along  as  the  drying  pro- 
gresses, to  be  succeeded  by  others.  Ventilation 
is  to  be  secured  by  letting  down  the  upper  sash 
of  a  window.  The  fruit  or  other  material  should 
be  spread  very  thinly  at  first,  aud  the  early  stage  of 
the  drying  should  be  pushed  as  rapidly  as  possible, 
to  prevent  souring.  When  partly  dry,  the  contents 
of  two  or  more  trays  may  be  united,  aud  thus  save 
room.  When  the  fruit,  etc.,  is  nearly  dry,  it  ab- 
sorbs moisture  rapidly,  aud  should  not  be  exposed 
during  damp  weather.     Pack  on  a  dry  day.         * 


An  Old-Fashioned  Musical    Instrument. 


The  above  engraving  will  not  be  without  interest 
to  many  readers  of  the  Agriculturist.  In  thousands 
of  minds  it  will  awaken  memories  of  early  days, 
when  the  pleasant  hum  of  the  wheel  was  heard  in 
almost  every  farmer's  dwelling,  when  few  young 
ladies  thought  themselves  fit  candidates  for  matri- 
mony before  a  bouutiful  stock  of  homespun  linen 
had  been  provided  by  their  own  industry  for  fur- 
nishing bed  aud  board.  "  Ah  !  those  were  the  days 
of  healthy  women,  good  housekeepers,  and  happy 
homes,"  exclaim  those  who  remember  only  the 
golden  hours  of  the  past.  "In  those  times,  the 
music  was  worth  something.  Its  uotes  brought 
money  to  the  pocket,  as  well  as  pleasure  to  the 
ears;  piano  playing  aud  spinning  street  yarn  fur- 
nish but  poor  substitutes  for  the  useful  work  that 
employed  our  grandmothers."  It  is  no  doubt  very 
pleasaut  to  look  upon  the  past,  mellowed  by  the 
light  of  years  until  a  poetical  tinge  covers  the  pic- 
ture, but  the  present  is  more  than  a  realization  of 
the  dreams  with  which  inauy  a  weary  maiden  be- 
guiled the  hours  of  toil  imposed  by  the  necessity 
of  providing  clothing  entirely  by  hand  labor,  in  ad- 
dition to  the  other  household  duties.  The  ingenu- 
ity of  man  has  disenthralled  woman  from  a  large 
measure  of  drudgery,  and  given  her  the  opportuni- 
ty to  become  somcthiug  more  than  a  mere  working 
machine.  It  is  doubtless  true  that  mauy  misiin- 
prove  the  leisure  bestowed  by  the  progress  of  man- 
ufactures, but  this  need  not  be,  nor  do  we  believe 
that,  as  a  whole,  the  female  6ex  have  deteriorated 
either  morally  or  physically,  6ince  their  labors  have 
been  lightened  by  the  introduction  of  machinery. 
It  is  certain  that  the  average  standard  of  female  ed- 
ucation is  higher  than  ever  before,  and  reliable  ta- 
bles of  mortality  prove  that  the  duration  of  human 
life  has  been  lengthened  several  years  during  the 
last  century.  That  is  a  low  view  of  life  which  re- 
gards as  its  object  only  the  accumulation  of  out- 
ward possessions.  True  wealth  consists  in  devel- 
opment of  the  faculties  of  the  soul,  in  au  eye  edu- 


cated to  appreciate  beauty,  an  ear  to  enjoy  harmo- 
ny, a  reliued  taste  to  derive  pleasure  from  art,  as 
well  as  au  ihtellect  to  grasp  truth,  aud  a  hand  to 
achieve  outward  results.  He  is  not  wealthiest  who 
possesses  most  of  this  world's  goods,  but  he  who 
kuows  how  to  extract  most  enjoyment  from  his 
surroundings  ;  aud  the  resources  of  happiness  are 
abundant  to  the  cultivated  aud  refined.  The  com- 
mon people  of  the  present  day  are  far  richer  than 
the  nobles  of  old,  for  general  culture  now  is  supe- 
rior to  what  was  theu  thought  to  be  high  accom- 
plishment. And  more  than  this,  by  means  of  im- 
proved methods  of  manufacture,  the  day 
laborer  is  now  better  housed,  clad,  aud 
fed,  than  were  many  princes  of  old. — 
The  days  of  old  and  their  appliances  are 
not  to  be  despised.  They  bequeathed 
much  of  strength  aud  of  excellence,  but 
they  were  only  the  root  and  the  leaf  which 
were  to  nourish  the  flower  of  the  pre- 
sent A  return  to  them  would  be  like 
the  cuttiug  of  au  immature  plant,  forc- 
ing it  to  repeat  the  slow  labor  of  pre- 
paration for  seed  bearing,  the  end  of  its 
existence.  A  striking  illustration  of  this 
truth  is  furuished  by  events  now  transpir- 
ing. One  of  the  "  relics  of  barbarism  " 
a  state  of  society  deeply  rooted  in  past 
ages,  aud  which  like  a  pestiferous  weed, 
yet  remained  amid  surrounding  culture, 
has  borne  its  legitimate  fruits,  and  we  are 
in  the  midst  of  a  desolating  war,  itself 
almost  a  type  of  the  olden  time,  when 
might  made  right.  The  fruits  of  peace 
are  being  rapidly  destroyed.  At  the 
South,  the  baud  spinning  wheel,  and 
loom  are  again  furnishing  "homespun," 
and  it  may  yet  be  necessary  for  North- 
ern women  to  revive  this  almost  obsolete 
art.  Thank  God,  they  are  not  incapable 
of  the  task  when  it  shall  be  necessary,  yet 
who  will  say  that  this  would  be  a  na- 
tional benefit? — For  many  reasons  we 
revert  to  the  past  with  pleasure,  but  never  with 
longing  eyes.  We  remember  that  the  higher  glory 
of  the  race  lies  ever  forward,  and  rejoice  that  so 
many  steps  have  been  taken  toward  its  attainment. 


Tim   Bunker  on  Keeping  a  Wife  Com- 
fortable. 


"How  long  have  we  got  to  wait  for  dinner,  I 
should  like  to  know  ?"  said  Jake  Frink  t»  his  wife 
Polly,  oue  day  in  hoeing  time.  "  Its  tu  bad  to  keep 
three  men  waitin'  au  hour  for  their  grub." 

"You've  got  to  wait  till  the  brush  is  cooked, 
with  which  to  cook  your  dinner,"  said  Aunt  Pol- 
lysnappishly.  "  None  but  a  green-horn  would  fur- 
nish green-wood  for  his  wife  to  cook  with— and 
green  brush  at  that.  You  know,  .Take  Frink,  that 
you  have  never  had  a  second  cord  of  wood  at  your 
door  any  time  since  I  have  lived  with  yon,  and  that 
is  going  on  seven  and  thirty  years.  All  that  time 
green  brush  has  been  the  chief  article  of  kindling. 
One  might  think  that  your  whole  farm  was  a  brush 
pasture  teetotally.  I  should  like  to  have  you  try 
cooking  with  green  wood  a  little  while,  aud  see 
how  you  would  like  it." 

"  Wall  Polly,  hurry  up  any  way,"  said  Jake,  "  for 
we  are  all  mighty  hungry,  and  the  corn  want's  hoe- 
ing badly.  You  see  brush  is  economical,  and  what 
I  can't  sell  at  the  store,  I  can  use  at  home.  It 
would  kind  o'  rot  on  the  ground  ef  I  dident  burn 
it  up." 

"  Pretty  economy  it  is,  to  keep  your  svife  iu  a 
stew  all  the  while,  and  hired  men  a  waiting  houre 
every  day  because  green  wood  won't  burn.  It  is 
smoke,  siss,  and  fizzle  from  morning  to  night,  aud 
I  no  sooner  get  a  blaze  agoing,  than  I  have  to  put 
on  more  green  wood,  aud  then  there  is  another 
sputter.  I  never  see  such  a  house  as  this  is,"  said 
Aunt  Polly,  with  great  emphasis,  and  with  a  face 
as  red  as  a  beet. 

Jake  is  a  great  sinner,  although  he  thinks  he  is 
so  good  that  he  does  not  need  to  go  to  meeting 
aud  hear  Mr.  Spooner  preach.    He  would  try  the 


^_ 


314 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[July, 


temper  of  a  much  more  saintly  woman  than  Aunt 
Folly,  and  keep  her  on  the  raek.  He  might  just  as 
well  put  red  pepper  in  her  eyes,  as  to  keep  her 
kitchen  always  smoked  up  with  green-brush.  Her 
eyes  always  look  red,  and  it  is  nothing  under  the 
euu  but  that  smoky  kitchen.  The  draft  of  the  chim- 
ney is  none  of  the  best,  but  that  would  be  remedied 
with  well  seasoned  wood.  Now  you  see  that  man 
had  christian  marriage,  hut  he  don't  care  no  more 
for  his  wife  than  for  a  dumb  animal.  I  guess  he 
would  lift  a  sheep  out  of  the  ditch,  especially  in 
these  times,  when  wool  is  a  dollar  a  pound.  But 
he  keeps  his  wife  in  the  ditch  about  all  the  while, 
and  never  suspects  that  she  is  a  bit  uncomfortable. 
He  thinks  he  saves  something  by  burning  brush, 
but  it  don't  pay  unless  you  have  a  machine  to  chop 
it  up  flue,  and  keep  it  under  cover  until  it  gets  dry. 
To  work  it  up  with  the  axe  into  fuel  for  a  stove,  it 
costs  more  than  it  is  worth.  If  it  lies  on  the 
ground  in  the  woods,  it  rots  and  makes  good  ma- 
nure without  any  expense.  Then  if  you  have  it, 
or  any  other  wood  green,  there  is  a  matter  of 
uncertainty  about  meals,  which  throws  the  whole 
work  of  the  farm  into  coufasiou,  and  puts  every 
body  out  of  humor. 

But  this  is  ouly  one  way  in  which  a  wife  is  kept 
uncomfortable.  It  does  6eem  as  if  some  men  took 
less  care  of  their  wives  than  of  the  dumb  cattle  in 
their  fields.  If  the  rooms  in  their  houses  had 
been  thrown  together  by  chance,  they  could  not 
have  been  more  iucouveuieut.  A  good  arrange- 
ment of  the  rooms  saves  one  half  the  labor.  Some 
times  the  sleeping  room  is  on  the  second  floor, and 
there  is  many  a  journey  up  and  down  stairs  during 
the  day  for  a  woman  already  overburdened  with 
care.  Sometimes  the  store  room  is  in  the  garret, 
and  other  journeys  have  to  be  made  daily,  for  sup- 
plies for  the  table.  Every  thing  that  she  need*  for 
her  work  should  be  upon  the  first  floor,  and  close 
at  baud.  There  is  no  unnecessary  waste  of  strength 
then  in  filling  net' place  as  housekeeper,  cook,  dairy 
maid,  laundress,  wife  and  mother,  for  many  a  farm- 
er's wife  is  expected  to  fill  all  these  offices,  and  to 
be  always  cheerful  and  happy,  waiting  for  the  com- 
ing of  her  liege  lord,  as  if  she  had  nothing  else  to 
do  hut  to  be  a  wife. 

The  lot  of  a  farmer's  wife,  as  it  generally  runs,  is 
rather  a  hard  one,  and  is  made  hard  very  often  from 
the  want  of  attention  to  little  things.  If  a  man 
needs  twenty  cords  of  wood  for  the  year,  it  costs 
no  more  to  get  it  in  the  Winter,  in  a  time  of  leis- 
ure, and  to  have  it  chopped,  split  aud  packed  un- 
der cover,  than  to  get  it,  a  load  at  a  time,  and  have 
the  torment  of  a  slow  fire  all  the  while.  This  not 
only  makes  more  labor,  but  it  frets  and  worries, 
which  is  a  good  deal  worse  than  work.  Dry  wood 
is  one  of  the  seerets  of  a  comfortable  wife.  That 
is  what  makes  Mrs.  Bunker  so  hale  and  handsome, 
past,  sixty.  She  says  she  wouldn't  know  how  to 
keep  house  without  dry  wood.  I  guess  she  would- 
n't for  she  has  never  had  any  thing  else. 

Deacon  Smith  is  a  good  man,  aud  means  well, 
but  he  does  not  know  how  to  use  a  wife.  His  well 
has  hard  water,  that  won't  wash,  aud  all  tbe  water 
on  washing  day  has  to  be  brought  from  the  brook, 
more  thau  forty  rods  from  the  house.  To  be  sure 
he  keeps  a  servant,  but  it  makes  a  world  of  work 
for  servant  and  housekeeper.  He  might  have  a 
cistern  that  wouldn't  cost  twenty  dollars,  aud  it 
would  save  more  than  that  value  of  labor  every 
year.  He  has  roofing  enough  to  keep  it  supplied 
with  water  all  the  while.  And  then  the  Deacon 
carries  on  a  large  farm  aud  keeps  a  half  dozen  hired 
men,  and  boards  aud  lodges  them  all  in  his  own 
house.  Now  what  a  burden  this  brings  upon  a 
woman,  when  they  might  be  much  better  accom- 
modated in  small  farm  houses  of  their  own.  It  is 
quite  as  easy  to  hire  a  part  of  the  labor  needed  ou 
the  farm,  from  those  married,  as  from  those  who 
have  no  homes  of  their  own.  This  leaves  a  farm- 
er's wife  with  no  family  but  her  own  to  attend  to, 
which  is  much  more  pleasant. 

Then  I  guess  a  man  has  to  do  something  to  him- 
self as  well  as  to  his  house,  to  make  every  thing  go 
Bmooth  with  his  wife.  She  bargained  for  a  man 
when  Bite  got  married,  and  she  has  a  right  to  be 
disappointed,  if  she  finds  she  has   rtpUiing  but  a 


working  animal  always  jaded  and  unfit  for  social 
life.  I  know  of  some  farmers  who  rarely  go  any 
where  but  to  meetiug  and  to  market.  They  feel 
that  they  can  not  afford  the  time  to  dress  up  and 
go  and  see  their  friends  and  dine,  or  take  a  cup  of 
tea.  They  have  so  slid  out  of  Bociety  that  their 
friends  rarely  come  to  see  them.  They  are  so  hur- 
ried with  work  that  they  do  not  make  friends  very 
welcome.  They  seem  to  have  no  appreciation  of 
life,  but  as  an  opportunity  to  make  money.  They 
prize  work  for  this  end,  and  time  that  isn't  turned 
into  money  is  lost  to  them.  Their  muscles  not 
only  become  hard,  but  their  hearts  grow  hard  and 
unsympathiziug.  They  lose  their  taste  for  reading, 
if  they  ever  had  it,  and  very  soon  fall  asleep  if  they 
attempt  to  read,  or  hear  reading.  If  they  are  active 
in  the  field,  they  are  stupid  and  dull  iu  the  house, 
like  tired  animals  in  their  stalls.  There  is  no  men- 
tal growth,  no  development  of  manhood  in  their 
lives.  This  discovery,I  think  makes  a  woman  more 
uncomfortable  than  green  wood,  aud  smoky  fires. 
She  married  a  man — a  creature  of  intelligence  and 
affections— and  she  has  the  right  to  the  companion- 
ship of  a  man  while  she  remains  a  faithful  wife. 
No  man  has  a  right  to  prostitute  himself  to  mere 
money  getting,  no  matter  how  honestly,  or  to  turn 
all  the  energies  of  his  being  to  muscular  exertion. 
Manhood  is  the  most  precious  product  of  his  farm, 
and  whatever  else  suffers,  that  ought  to  be  kept 
strong  and  vigorous.  That  article  has  become 
mighty  scarce  on  Jake  Frink's  premises,  and  it  is 
this  fact  that  makes  the  green-wood  so  very  green, 
and  the  smoke  so  trying  to  Aunt  Polly's  eyes. 
Poor  woman  !  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  there  was 
something  else  iu  them  besides  smoke  Bometimes. 
Hookertoum.  )         Yours  to  command, 

June  6th,   1863.     j  Timothy  Hunker  Esq. 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Bargain-Hunting  Poor  Economy. 

— • — 

"  See  what  a  splendid  bargain  I  made  yesterday," 
said  one  of  my  neighbors  who  was  exhibiting  her 
purchases  during  a  recent  shopping  expedition. 
"Ouly  two  shillings  a  yard,  and  they  asked  two 
and  six  at  every  other  store."  "But  Mrs.  W.,  I 
thought  you  had  previously  bought  a  Summer  dress 
for  your  daughter,"  I  mildly  suggested.  "  Yes," 
was  the  reply,  "  she  was  fitted  up,  and  it  cost  not  a 
little  to  do  it,  I  can  tell  you ;  but  then  this  was  so 
cheap,  I  could  not  bear  to  leave  it.  It  will  come 
good  next  Summer."  "And  very  likely  be  so  out 
of  the  fashion,  that  the  daughter  will  not  be  willing 
to  wear  it,"  thought  I,  but  politeness  forbade  me 
to  say  it.  "  And  here  is  another  real  bargain,"  con- 
tinued Mrs.  W.,  "  I  never  can  get  my  husband  to 
look  out  for  the  boys,  and  so  I  have  to  buy  even 
their  boots  aud  shoes.  Those  boots  I  got  for  two 
dollars,  when  they  were  asking  two  and-a-half  every 
where  else."  One  look  at  the  articles  was  enough 
to  show  even  to  my  unpractised  eye,  that  they  were 
made  of  a  poor  quality  of  split  leather,  cheap  in- 
deed in  price,  but  costly  enough  in  every  other  re- 
spect. The  first  walk  through  a  wet  pasture  would 
soak  them  like  a  sponge. 

Mrs.  TV.  had  committed  the  two  errors  which 
"bargain  hunters"  usually  fall  into,  and  against 
which  I  would  warn  those  of  that  class  who  may 
read  the  American  Agriculturist.  First,  she  bought 
what  was  not  needed,  because  it  could  be  had  cheap. 
The  fabric  was  apparently  worth  more  than  the 
price  paid  for  it,  but  the  money  laid  out  might  all 
have  been  saved  for  that  season  at  least,  and  thus 
it  was  really  so  much  out  of  pocket.  Mrs.  W. 
could  not  be  sure  that  the  same  goods  might  not 
be  purchased  at  a  great  reduction  the  following 
Summer.  Fashions  change  rapidly,  often  in  a  single 
season,  and  they  largely  control  prices.  In  any 
case  Franklin's  old  rule  holds  good  ;  "  What  is  not 
wanted,  is  dear  at  any  price." 

The  second  error  of  Mrs.  W.  was  iu  supposing 
an  article  cheap,  because  it  was  sold  at  a  low  price. 
Occasionally  through  stress  of  times,  or  by  dishon- 
est dealing,  goods  are  sold  at  less  than  their  value. 
In  the  first  instance  it  is  not  according  to  the  high- 
est morality  to  lake  advantage  of  the  necessities  of 


another,  and  in  the  second,  the  purchaser  becomes 
a  partner  to  the  dishonesty,  although  it  may  be  un- 
wittingly. But  leaving  morality  out  of  the  case, 
iu  the  long  run,  it  will  be  found  unprofitable  to 
purchase  the  lowest  priced  articles.  If  it  be  gro- 
ceries, they  will  probably  be  adulterated  or  injured 
in  quality,  or  of  short  weight ;  the  latter  dishonesty 
is  largely  practised  in  cities,  where  active  competi- 
tion tempts  to  unscrupulous  means  whereby  oth- 
ers may  be  apparently  undersold. 

Perhaps  the  place  of  greatest  temptation  to  bar- 
gain hunters  is  at  auction  sales.  I  have  frequently 
seen  housekeepers  return  from  a  vendue  iu  the 
country,  loaded  down  with  articles  which  could 
be  of  no  possible  use,  purchased  because  "they 
went  so  cheap,"  to  be  stored  in  the  lumber  room 
until  another  vendue  should  consign  them  to  some 
equally  eager  buyer  of  cheap  wares.  Let  not  the 
masculine  readers  of  this  part  of  the  paper  flatter 
themselves  that  this  failing  is  peculiar  to  our  sex. 
Are  they  not  ofteu  entrapped  at  mock-auction 
shops  in  the  City,  and  do  they  not  frequently  buy 
cheap  tools  for  use  on  the  farm,  which  cost  more 
iu  poor  execution,  loss  of  time,  and  frequent  re- 
pairs, than  would  twice  pay  for  the  best  implements 
in  the  market '!  The  old  rule  "  Spend  not  when 
you  may  spare,  but  spare  not  when  you  must 
spend,"  will  be  found  reliable  for  both  sexes,  and  1 
commend  it  to  the  consideration  of  all  who  may  be 
atllicted  with  the  mania  for  cheap  bargains.       M. 


How  to   Trap    Rats. 

A  correspondent  "  W,"  writes  to  the  Agricultu- 
rist: "  Last  Winter  rats  made  their  entry  into  my 
dove-cot,  and  in  spite  of  efforts  to  destroy  or  banish 
them,  they  soon  eat  up  my  carriers,  tumblers,  fan- 
tails,  and  pouters,  beginning  on  about  ninety,  and 
leaving  soven.  I  read  books  aud  obtained  advice 
<rom  friends  with  au  eager  desire  to  save  my  favor- 
ite birds,  but  neither  various  poisons  nGr  united 
traps  banished  or  caught  a  rat  for  consolation.  Now 
however,  I  feel  free  from  the  cunning  creatures,  as 
for  the  past  two  weeks  I  have  seen  no  new  traces 
of  their  existence,  and  it  is  about  two  weeks  since 
I  caught  the  tenth  rat,  which  now  graces  my  out- 
house wall,  with  a  nail  through  his  head.  Think- 
ing that  a  rat  when  frightened  was  neither  cautious 
nor  cunning,  I  placed  a  common  pressure  spring, 
unbaited  trap  at  the  entrance  of  a  rat  hole,  and  hid 
it  with  a  sprinkling  of  earth  and  light  feathers.  The 
next  morning  I  had  a  "  large  "  rat,  and  had  no  more 
birds  taken.  Eureka!  Again  I  tried  my  plan, 
where  a  new  hole  appeared,  for  the  floor  being 
of  earth,  I  filled  every  other  hole,  and  the  trapped 
rat  by  his  struggles  had  filled  the  one  at  which  he 
was  caught.  I  trapped  another — another,  aud  again 
another,  and  until  the  tenth,  which  I  trust  is  the  last 
In  watching  the  rats  prowl  about,  I  noticed  they 
were  frequently  alarmed,  when  they  hasted  into  a 
well  known  retreat.  They  emerged  carefully,  but 
did  not  return  so.  I  find  therefore  that  a  hidden 
trap  in  the  path  is  pretty  sure  to  catch,  which  a 
baited  trap  will  not  do.  I  know  that  this  method 
is  not  always  convenient,  but  one  rat  less  is  a  na- 
tional blessing  in  these  times." 


Cooking  Vegetables. 

A  subscriber  asks  us  how  to  cook  Cauliflower. 
Boil  it  iu  water  for  twenty  minutes  or  until  tin- 
stalk  is  perfectly  tender,  drain  and  pour  drawn  but- 
ter, over  it.  Some  persons  boil  it  in  milk  and  wri- 
ter and  think  that  it  improves  the  flavor.  This  in- 
quiry reminds  us  that  too  little  attention  is  paid  In 
cooking  vegetables.  The  common  "  boiled  pot  "  of 
the  farm  kitchen,  where  salt  meat  is  cooked  with 
a  variety  of  vegetables,  can  be  improved  upon. 
There  are  very  few  vegetables  that  are  not  injured, 
to  our  taste  at  least,  by  being  cooked  with  sail 
meat.  Spinach  or  beet  greens  make  but  an  indif- 
ferent dish  when  cooked  with  meat,  but  boiled  by 
themselves, and  then  chopped  and  dressed  with  but- 
ter, they  are  delicious.  All  greens  should  have  the 
water  drained  or  squeezed  out  of  them  before  tin  y 


18(53.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


915 


are  sent  to  the  table.  Cauliflower  lias  its  delicate 
flavor  entirely  destroyed  by  being  eooked  with 
meat.  Simply  boiling  vegetables  renders  them 
eatable,  but  a  little  care  in  cooking  and  dressing 
them  will  make  a  delicious  dish.  Carrots  are  sel- 
dom seen  upon  the  table,  yet  there  is  no  vegetable 
that  wo  prefer  to  nicely  cooked  carrots.  The  root 
should  be  cut  into  small  pieces,  not  larger  than  a 
filbert,  and  then  stewed  with  a  little  water,  so  that 
by  the  time  the  carrots  are  done,  there  will  be  but 
a  little  left ;  butter,  salt,  and  a  little  flour  are  ad- 
ded to  make  a  gravy,  or  what  is  better,  cream  may- 
be used.  Let  those  who  like  carrots  at  all,  try  this 
method  of  cooking  them,  and  they  will  thank  the 
American  Agriculturist  for  the  hint. 


Preserving'    Tomatoes. 


"L.  G.,"  writes  as  follows  :  On  page  1S3  of  the 
June  No.,  you  speak  of  boiling  down  tomatoes  one 
half.  Now,  if  that  is  the  way  you  do,  Mr.  Editor, 
though  for  several  years  I  have  been  a  subscriber, 
(a  paying  one,)  and  an  admirer  of  your  paper,  still 
I  shall  never  make  a  special  pilgrimage  either  to 
"  pick  a  bone  "  with  you,  or  to  eat  your  tomatoes. 
Much  cooking  of  this  fruit  destroys  not  only  its 
flavor,  hut  leaves  a  pultaceous  mass,  hardly  recog- 
nizable by  its  taste  or  appearance.  As  my  wife  has 
a  more  excellent  way — so  we  think — I  will  describe 
it.  Put  the  tomatoes  into  a  large  dish  ;  then  pour 
on  boiling  water  so  that  the  rind  or  peel  can  be 
more  readily  taken  otf.  After  which,  squeeze  a 
good  part  of  the  juice  out  of  the  tomato  while  it 
is  in  the  hand ;  theu  cut  into  3  to  4  pieces  accord- 
ing tosize.  Cook  fora  few  minutes  until  well  heated 
through;  bottle,  using  no  corks,  thick  drilling  only, 
cemented  on  the  under  side,  put  on  mouth  of  bot- 
tle and  pressed  down  and  tied.  Then  with  a  spoon 
dip  on  the  wax  (resin  with  a  little  lard)  until  the  top 
is  covered  ;  when  cool,  set  in  cellar  and  exclude  the 
light.  Prepared  in  this  way,  you  will  get  the  real, 
genuine  flavor  of  the  tomatoes  when  cooked,  nearly 
equal  to  those  just  picked  from  the  vines. 


Parched  Corn  Meal. 


Among  the  various  uses  to  which  ourgreat  Amer- 
ican cereal  can  be  put,  the  "  Medical  and  Surgical 
Reporter"  gives  the  following:  "Any  one  who 
has  travelled  over  the  western  prairies,  is  undoubt- 
edly familiar  with  the  kind  of  food  named  at  the 
head  of  this  article.  The  mode  of  preparing  it  is 
to  parch  the  corn,  reduce  it  to  meal,  and  add  a  due 
proportion  of  sugar.  Provided  with  this  simple  ar- 
ticle of  diet,  the  Indians,  hunters,  and  trappers  of 
the  West  will  travel  hundreds  of  miles,  a  very  small 
quantity  in  bulk  sufficing  for  many  days.  It  is, 
withal,  exceedingly  palatable,  and  is  usually  mixed 
in  water  when  eaten. — This  would  be  an  excellent 
addition  to  the  rations  of  our  soldiers,  taking  the 
place  of  both  flour  and  coffee.  A  small  quantity  of 
it  will  go  a  great  way,  and  its  use  would  econo- 
mize niouey,  time,  bulk,  and  weight,  all  considera- 
tions of  importance— the  three  last,  especially  so  in 
rapid  army  movements."  [The  preparation  de- 
scribed above,  forms  under  the  name  of  Pinole,  a 
large  share  of  the  rations  of  the  Mexican  army,  and 
is  much  used  as  an  article  of  food  by  the  Mexi- 
can people  generally.  When  travelling  in  that 
country,  it  ofteu  was  our  principal  food.  We  have 
often  wondered  why  it  was  not  introduced  into  our 
army,  for  the  use  of  detached  expeditions;  it  is 
very  nutritious  and  requires  no  cooking:  stirred 
with  a  sullleieut  quantity  of  water  to  form  a  kind 
of  gruel,  it  satisfies  both  thirst  and  hunger.— Ed.] 


How  To    Draw  Tea. 


"  L,"  of  St.  Louis  Co.,  Mo.,  writes  to  the  Agricul- 
turist :  A  few  years  since,  the  writer  took  tea  with 
a  relative,  and  was  delighted  with  the  quality  of  the 
beverage.  Upon  euquiry,  it  proved  that  the  article 
was  from  the  same  package  used  by  another  friend," 
whose  tea  always  tasted  miserably,  and  the  differ- 
ence was  wholly  owing  to  the  methods  used  in  its 


preparation.  The  last  named  person  followed  the 
usual  plan  of  pouring  boiling  water  upon  the  tea, 
which  causes  the  most  of  the  aroma  to  escape  with 
the  steam.  The  other  friend  adopted  the  following 
process,  which  I  have  since  practised,  and  would 
recommend :  Pour  tepid  or  cold  water  enough  on 
the  tea  to  cover  it,  place  it  on  the  stove  hearth,  top 
of  tea  kettle,  or  any  place  where  it  will  be  warm, 
but  not  enough  so  as  to  cause  the  aroma  to  escape 
in  steam.  Let  it  remain  about  half  an  hour,  then 
pour  on  boiling  water  and  bring  to  the  table. 

Hints  on  Cooking. 


Orntiam  Bread. — Communicated  to  the 
Agriculturist  by  Frances  K.  Hurlbut,  Fond  du  Lac 
Co.,  Wis.  For  enough  to  make  two  loaves,  take 
three  pints  of  warm  water  (sweet  milk  is  better) 
one  teaspoouful  of  salt,  a  tea-cup  two  thirds  full 
of  good  hop  yeast,  and  make  a  sponge  as  in  fine 
flour  bread.  Keep  iu  a  warm  place,  and  when 
light,  work  in  a  piece  of  pulverized  soda  the  size 
of  two  peas,  and  Graham  flour  to  make  it  just  moist 
enough  to  cleave  to  the  dish.  Let  it  rise  again  in  the 
same  pan  ;  when  very  light,  sprinkle  flour  on  the 
moulding  board  and  mould  into  two  loaves  :  when 
this  rises  again,  bake  from  fifty  to  sixty  minutes. 
The  Oraham  flour  requires  soda  when  it  is  un- 
necessary for  fine  flour  bread.  Add  three  table- 
spoonfuls  of  molasses  in  making  the  sponge,  if  you 
think  it  improves  the  flavor.  Persons  with  weak 
stomachs  should  not  eat  this  bread  until  it  is  at 
least  34  hours  old. 

Chicken  Pudding.— Contributed  to  the 
Agriculturist  by  N.  E.  Anderson,  Franklin  Co.,  Pa. 
Beat  well  10  eggs,  add  1  quart  rich  milk,  %  lb. 
melted  butter,  pepper  and  salt,  stir  in  as  much  flour 
as  will  make  a  batter.  Take  4  young  chickens  and 
cut  them  up,  then  put  them  in  a  sauce  pan,  with 
salt  and  water,  thyme  and  parsley.  Boil  these  until 
nearly  done,  then  take  them  out,  and  put  them  in 
the  batter,  and  bake,  and  send  urj  the  gravy  in  a 
separate  dish. 

Halted  Apple  Pudding-. — Contributed 
to  the  Agriculturist  by  G.  W.  Patterson,  Clinton  Co., 
Pa.  Pare  and  core  sour  apples  and  fill  a  deep  dish 
with  them,  adding  a  little  water;  then  take  flour 
with  a  little  salt,  saleratus,  and  shortening,  (propor- 
tions as  for  soda  biscuit,)  and  stir  iu  buttermilk  to 
the  consistence  of  a  thick  batter,  and  spread  this 
over  the  apples  and  bake.  Serve  with  sauce  to  the. 
taste.  This  makes  a  very  nice,  light  pudding,  good 
for  dyspeptics. 

Pound  Cake  and  Fruit.  Cake.— Con- 
tributed to  the  Agriculturist,  in  answer  to  Mrs.  Pry, 
by  Susan  North  Barney.  Stir  1  11).  of  butter  and  1 
lb.  of  granulated  white  sugar  until  they  form  a 
cream.  Beat  the  whites  of  1  lb.  of  eggs  (9  large  or 
10  of  common  size)  until  they  will  remain  upon  an 
inverted  plate;  stir  these  with  the  butter  and  sugar, 
then  add  the  yolks  also  previously  well  beaten. 
Mix  with  this  1  lb.  of  flour,  1  small  teaspoouful  of 
saleratus,  and  flavor  with  lemon.  After  stirring  the 
whole  well  together,  pour  it  into  two  basins  well 
buttered,  and  with  white  paper  iu  the  bottom. 
Two-quart  basins  with  perpendicular  sides  are  best. 

Fruit  Cake  is  made  in  the  same  way,  except 
that  good  brown  sugar  is  used  instead  of  white,  and 
there  are  added  1  lb.  figs  sliced,  1  lb.  currants,  %  lb. 
citron,  and  2}£  lbs.  of  the  best  kind  of  raisins.  The 
currants  need  washing  thoroughly,  and  the  seeds 
should  he  removed  from  the  raisins.  Flavor  with 
nutmeg,  cloves,  ciunamon,  and  lemons,  as  desired. 

Frosting. — For  a  half  pound  loaf.  The  whites  of 
3  eggs,  beaten  until  they  will  remain  upon  an  in- 
verted plate ;  to  which  add  pulverized  white  sugar, 
a  little  at  a  time,  until  of  the  desired  consistence. 
After  spreading  it  on  the  cake,  set  in  a  warm  oveu 
to  dry;  when  thoroughly  dried,  spread  on  another 
layer  and  dry  as  before,  until  of  the  required  thick- 
ness. [We  will  try  to  get  a  "  Frosting  Recipe " 
from  one  of  the  housekeepers  in  time  fur  another 
paper — at  least  her  frosting  has  a  peculiar  lustre, 
as  we  have  seen   it. — Ed.] 


Blse  tor  liroken  Cakes.— Contributed  to 
the  Agriculturist  by  "  L.  A.  M."  Cut  the  pieces  in 
thin  slices,  lay  in  a  deep  dish,  and  pour  over  it  a 
custard  made  as  follows  :  Beat  the  yolks  of  3  eggs 
with  3  tablespoonfuls  of  sugar,  add  1  pint  of  milk 
:  and  season  as  liked.  Put  it  in  a  covered  pail,  Bet  in 
a  kettle  of  boiling  water :  when  it  has  thickened, 
stir  in  the  whites  of  the  eggs  beaten  to  a  froth, 
then  pour  on  to  the  cake.  Soft  molasses  ginger 
cake  is  very  good  treated  in  this  way.  Several 
kinds  of  cake  may  be  used  in  the  same  dish. 

Sponge  Cake.— Contributed  to  the  Agricul- 
turist, by  Mrs.  I.  8.  Kaler,  Lincoln  Co.,  Me.  BeatG 
eggs,  yolks  and  whites  together,  3  minutes.  Add  3 
cups  white  sugar  and  beat  5  minutes ;  3  cups  flour 
with  3  teaspoonfuls  cream  tartar,  beat  3  minutes  ; 
1  cup  cold  water  with  1  teaspoouful  soda  dissolved 
in  it  and  beat  1  minute;  the  grated  rind  and  juice  of 
a  lemon  ;  a  little  salt  and  3  more  cups  of  flour,  and 
beat  1  minute.  Observe  the  time  exactly,  and  bake 
iu  rather  deep  cup  pans.  This  will  make  3  quite 
large  sheets,  and  it  does  not  dry  quickly  as  most 
sponge  cakes  do.  [What  if  some  folks  beat  twice 
as  slow  as  others  ?J 

Currant  Jelly. — The  following  method  was 
recently  recommended  at  a  meeting  of  the  N.  Y. 
Farmer's  Club.  Pass  the  currants  between  rollers 
so  as  to  burst  each  currant,  and  press  out  the  juice. 
(Any  other  method  will  answer  to  break  the  fruit, 
but  this  is  most  convenient.)  Place  the  juice  in  a 
perfectly  clean  copper  or  brass  vessel  over  the  lire, 
and  heat  it  slowly  until  it  simmers,  being  careful 
not  to  permit  it  to  boil,  or  much  of  the  aroma  of 
the  currant  will  be  lost.  Skim  the  juice  until  the 
scum  ceases  to  rise  ;  then  pour  the  hot  juice  on  to 
loaf  6Ugar  broken,  and  placed  in  a  wooden  vessel. 
Stir  it  uutil  the  sugar  is  melted  by  the  hot  juice, 
theu  pour  into  tumblers  or  other  convenient  ves- 
sels;  when  cold,  it  will  he  found  thickened  to  a 
firm  bright  colored  and  high  flavored  jelly. 

IShuuarb  Wine.— Trim  off  the  leaves  and 
grind  and  press  the  stalks  iu  any  eider  mill.  To 
each  gallon  of  juice  add  one  gallon  of  water  and 
six  pounds  of  refined  sugar,  and  Jill  the  casks,  leav- 
ing the  bungs  out.  A  moderately  cool  cellar  is  the 
best  place  to  keep  it.  Fill  up  occasionally  either 
from  juice  kept  on  purpose,  or  with  sweeteued  wa- 
ter, so  that  impurities  which  rise  to  the  surface 
while  fermentation  is  going  on,  may  be  worked  off. 
When  sufficiently  fermented,  which  will  require 
from  one  to  two  months,  bung  tightly  and  let  it  re- 
main until  Winter,  when  it  may  be  racked  off  into 
other  casks,  or  bottled.  Some  persons  refine  it  be- 
fore bottling,  by  putting  into  each  barrel  two 
ounces  of  isinglass  dissolved  in  a  quart  of  wine. 

Sweet  Fielded  Tomatoes.— Contrib- 
uted to  the  Agriculturist  by  Mrs.  J.  Kice,  Lapeer 
Co.,  Mich.  Take  smooth,  half  ripe  tomatoes,  scald 
and  peel  them,  place  them  in  a  small-necked  jar, 
keeping  them  whole.  Scald  vinegar  and  sugar  to- 
gether the  same  as  in  pickling  for  peaches,  pour  it 
over  the  tomatoes  to  cover  the  fruit,  of  which  the 
jar  must  he  full.  Then  set  it  in  a  boiler  of  hot  wa- 
ter and  let  it  boil  till  perfectly  heated  through,  and 
then  cover  and  seal  up.  They  are  nice  either 
with  or  without    spices. 

Clieap  and  Good  Prepared  <«lue.— 

Contributed  to  the  Agriculturist  by  "L.,"  St.  Louis, 
Mo.  Dissolve  common  glue  in  cider  vinegar,  as 
thick  as  may  be  wanted.  As  it  becomes  too  thick 
from  time  to  time,  add  vinegar.  This  is  as  good  as 
any  that  can  be  purchased. 

Starching'  Bosoms  and  Collars.— A 

"Jersey  Farmer's  Daughter  "  sends  to  the  Agricul- 
urist  the  following  directions:  Pour  a  pint  of  boil- 
ing water  upon  two  ounces  of  gum  arabic,  cover  it 
and  let  it  stand  over  night ;  iu  the  morning  pour  it 
carefully  from  the  dregs  into  a  clean  bottle,  cork  it 
and  keep  it  for  future  use.  A  tablcspoonful  of 
this  gum  arabic  water  stirred  in  a  pint  of  starch 
made  in  the  usual  manner  will  give  to  lawns,  either 
white  or  printed,  a  look  of  newness,  when  nothing 
else  can  restore  them  after  they  have  been  washed. 
To  every  pint  of  starch,  add  a  piece  of  butter,  lard, 
tallow  or  spermaceti  caudle  the  size  of  a  chestnut. 


216 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[July, 


The     Self-important    Grasshopper. 

"  A  Grasshopper  larger  than  a  load  of  hay  !  Monstrous  ! 
Why  Mr.  Artist,  have  you  not  made  a  great  blunder?" 
Not  too  fast,  young  friends  ;  our  artist  is  seldom  caught 
napping,  and  even  then  he  usually  dreams  something 
worth  thinking  about— let  him  speak  for  himself.  He 
says  the  picture  tells  the  old  story  of  a  grasshopper  who 
happened  to  be  upon  a  load  of  hay,  when  the  horses 
coming  to  a  soft  spot  in  the  meadow,  stopped  and  seemed 
unable  to  draw  it  any  further.  The  insect  observing  this, 
chirped  out  "  I  see  I  add  too  much  to  the  weight  upon 
the  wagon,  and  I  will  therefore  jump  off,"  which  he  ac- 
cordingly did.  Just  then  the  driver  whipped  up  the  horses, 
and  by  a  great  effort  they  took  the  load  out  of  the  mud, 
and  went  on  easily.  "  See,"  said  the  grasshopper,  "  how 
much  1  helped  them,  surely  the  farmer  ought  now  be 
willing  to  give  ine  pasture  the  remainder  of  the  Sum- 
mer." The  grasshopper  in  the  picture  is  drawn  of  a  size 
to  show  how  large  he  thought  himself.  Probably  the 
artist  was  thinking  of  something  besides  grasshoppers 
When  he  drew  that  sketch.  Perhaps  he  had  lately  seen 
some  pert  youngster,  who  thought  himself  of  more  im- 
portance than  father,  mother,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  fam- 
ily, who  was  always  ready  to  give  his  opinion  and  ad- 
vice, and  who  seemed  to  think  the  world  could  not  very 
well  move  without  him.  Such  characters  are  found 
among  both  young  and  old.  The  picture  brings  to  mind 
an  anecdote  of  a  celebrated  minister,  who  was  on  one 
occasion  much  annoyed  by  a  busy,  little,  self-important 
man.  who  endeavored  to  draw  him  into  a  controversy. 
"  Sir,"  said  the  little  man,  "  what  sect  do  you  think  I  be- 
long to."  "Judging  from  your  size,  and  the  noise  you 
make,  I  should  think  you  belonged  to  the  insects*"  replied 
the  clergyman.  If  on  some  occasion  any  of  you  should 
begin  to  put  on  consequential  airs,  and  some  one  present 
should  pleasantly  address  you  as  Mr.  Grasshopper,  you 
will  probably  be  reminded  of  this  picture  and  its  lesson, 
and  be  careful  not  to  assume  too  much  importance  in  pre- 
sence of  those  who  happen  to  read  the  Agriculturist ; 
and  as  their  number  is  so  large,  it  will  be  safer  to  aiways 
be  modest  and  unassuming,  especially  as  such  deport- 
ment will  make  you  welcome   in   any  desirable  society. 


Pouto  a  Bid   l  he  Mink. 

A.  H,  G.  contributes  the  following  to  the  Agriculturist : 
— Ponto  was  a  faithful  old  dog ;  one  of  the  good  kind 
that  never  killed  sheep,  nor  annoyed  his  neighbors  by 
sneaking  around  their  doors.  He  was  very  jealous  too 
Bhmit  his  master's  premises.  Minks  and  muskrats  found 
no  home  around  the  "Hillside"  goose  pond.  He  was 
led  to  regard  them  as  his  special  enemies.  One  made 
holes  in  the  dam,  and  the  other  destroyed  the  ducks  and 
goslings.  When  Ponto  barked,  we  always  knew  that 
there  was  something  wrong.  One  day,  however,  while 
all  were  busily  engaged  in  making  hay,  his  well  known 
call  was  heard.  There  was  danger  of  a  thunder  storm, 
and  no  one  could  be  spared  to  answer  it  at  the  time.  For 
more  than  half  an  hour  we  listened  to  his  prolonged  bow- 
wow-wow. This  at  length  ceased,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
was  chanced  into  a  most  piteous  and  smothered  howl. 
All  said  that  the  old  dog  had  found  something,  but  no  one 
could  go  and  inquire  v\  lial  il  was.  Noon  name  and  then 
at  intervals  only  could  we  hear  his  smothered  cry.  The 
boys  could  stand  il  no  longer,  and  when  the  dinner  hour 
Bounded,  Dan.  and  Henry  went  down  to  the  pond.  Guided 
by  the  wailing  yelps  they  soon  found  Ponto.  his  heat! 
and  fore-shoulders  buried  in  a  hole.  As  the  boys  came 
down  and  he  heard  their  footsteps  reverberating  over 


him,  his  tail  assumed  its 
accustomed  wag,  and  a 
little  motion  of  his  hind 
feet  showed  that  he  was 
making  an  effort  to  draw 
himself  out.  This  how- 
ever, was  only  followed 
by  a  more  piteous  howl. 
u  What  could  be  the  mat- 
ter?" Henry  said— "some- 
thing must  hold  him.  Per- 
haps an  otter."  When- 
ever they  attempted  to  pul! 
him  out  he  only  howled 
the  louder.  Dan.  at  length 
commenced  digging  down 
with  a  stick,  where  he 
judged  Ponto's  nose  would 
be.  He  had  gone  nearly 
through,  and  was  pushing 
away  the  earth  carefully, 
when  the  dog,  bleeding 
and  covered  with  froth 
and  blood,  drew  himself 
out  and  fell  almost  ex- 
^~  -»■-  hausted    into    the    water. 

There  was  no  mark  about 
liis  jaws,  but  on  opening  his  mouth,  his  tongue  was 
found  bitten  through  in  the  center,  ahout  an  inch  from 
the  end.  The  conclusion  at  which  we  arrived  was 
this.  He  had  found  the  mink  that  had  destroyed  so 
many  goslings,  and  driven  him  into  a  hole.  Th«  boys 
knew  that  it  was  a  mink  by  the  smell.  Becoming 
tired  of  barking  when  no  one  answered,  he  determined  to 
sit  down  and  watch  his  prisoner.  For  this  purpose  he 
stretched  himself  out  half  way  in  the  hole  that  he  had 
dug,  panting  with  heat,  and  his  tongue  hanging  out  of  his 
mouth.  While  in  this  position,  the  mink  watching  his 
chance,  seized  him.  For  the  remainder  of  his  life  poor 
Ponto  bore  the  marks  of  that  unhappy  day.  Often  have 
we  distended  his  jaws  with  pride  to  show  the  scar.  He 
never  barked  afterward,  however,  without  receiving  an 
answer ;  nor  did  he  ever  fail  to  do  his  duty  when  a  mink 
siiowed  himself  on  the  premises. 


A  ChurcH-goiiig;  D>og» 

A  gentleman  on  Long  Island  owned  a  dog  that  regu- 
larly accompanied  the  family  to  church  on  Sunday,  and 
also  to  the  meeting  held  on  Wednesday  evening.  If, 
however,  for  any  reason  none  of  them  allended  the  ser- 
vice, the  dog  would  start  by  himself,  take  his  place 
where  his  master  was  accustomed  to  sit,  and  remain 
until  the  benediction  was  pronounced.  This  occurred 
rather  frequently  one  season,  and  the  sexton  thinking  his 
room  better  than  his  company,  one  day  kicked  him  out. 
The  dog  immediately  started  for  another  church  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  distant,  took  his  place  inside  near  the 
door,  and  remained  a  regular  attendant  at  his  new  place 
of  devotion  until  his  death,  which  occurred  recently. 
The  writer  can  vouch  for  the  truth  of  this  incident. 


The  Devoted  Sparrow. 

An  observing  correspondent  of  the  Agriculturist,  "A. 
H.  G-,"  relates  the  following  incident  as  throwing  some 
light  on  the  question  proposed  on  page  153,  (May  No.)  as 
to  whether  birds  return  to  their  old  haunts  in  the  Spring. 
He  says:  "  Last  Summer  a  Hedge  Sparrow  was  ob- 
served one  morning  pecking  at  the  basement  window,  and 
apparently  trying  to  get  in.  His  strange  actions  excited 
the  interest  of  the  house-keeper,  and  her  benevolent 
heart  immediately  suggested  that  he  must  want  food. 
When,  however,  crumbs  were  offered,  he  refused  them 
with  disdain — only  ruffling  up  his  feathers  like  a  turkey 
cock,  and  hopping  away  until  the  window  was  closed, 
when  he  would  return.  Some  minutes  after  his  first  ap- 
pearance, the  housekeeper  was  obliged  to  go  up  stairs, 
where  she  discovered  on  the  mat  in  the  hall,  the  ends  of 
two  wings  and  some  feathers,  very  much  like  those  upon 
the  stranger  at  the  window.  The  mystery  was  now  ex- 
plained. The  cat  had  caught  the  poor  sparrow's  mate 
and  he  had  followed  her  crying  to  the  house.  Day  after 
day,  and  hour  after  hour—until  the  snow  fell— did  he  ap- 
pear at  the  window.  He  would  not  be  driven  away.  The 
housekeeper  was  obliged  ti  pin  a  paper  over  it  for  a  time 
for  his  continued  peeing  made  her  nervous.  From 
morning  until  n;5iit,  he  was  there— when  not  at  the 
window,  usii";,y  on  a  bush  beside  it — only  going  away  at 
intervals  or  a  few  minutes  to  feed,  and  then  returning. 
Whe:.  me  window  was  left  open,  he  would  come  in,  and 
had  it  not  been  for  the  kindly  interference  of  the  house- 
keeper,  himself  would  have  shared  the  fate  of  his  com- 
panion. It  Is  only  a  few  weeks  since  he  returned  again  to 
his  old  place  at  the  window.  The  snows  of  Winter  had 
only  disappeared  when  he  came  back.  Time  has  not 
made  him  forget  his  bereavement,  uor  the  place  where 


it  occurred.  He  still  runs  along  the  grating  outside  and 
picks  each  pane  of  glass  as  he  passes  and  repasses. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  that  he  sees  his  own  shadow  in 
the  glass  and  thinks  that  it  is  his  mate.  He  is  still  alone. 
For  the  past  hour  I  have  watched  him  go  and  return  at 
intervals  of  a  few  minutes,  to  follow  his  old  habit  of  pick- 
ing at  the  window.  From  this  I  am  led  to  think  that 
birds  do  return  to  their  old  haunts  yearly  ;  that  in  many 
cases  they  may  mate  for  life,  that  there  are  widowers 
among  them,  for  our  devoted  little  friend  is  of  the  male 
kind.  However  this  may  be,  such  affection  seems  to 
prove  that  there  is  something  in  a  sparrow  akin  to  love. 

Boys'     and    Girls'    Garden-  No.  4. 

Our  young  friends,  having  carefully  read  the  preceding 
chapters,  understand  quite  well  how  the  plant  increases 
in  bight,  and  they  have  watched  with  interest  the  build- 
ing up  of  story  after  story,  each  consisting  of  a  piece  of 
stem  and  leaf  or  pair  of  leaves.  But  they  have  noticed 
that  the  plant  does  not  continue  to  increase  the  main 
stem  to  an  indefiniie  liight ;  other  stems  or  branches,  ap- 
pear on  the  main  stem.  The  branches  grow  precisely  in 
the  way  that  the  main  stem  did,  only  instead  of  being 
fixed  in  the  ground,  they  spring  from  the  stem  at  the  point 
where  the  leaf  joins  it.  Branches  generally  appear  at  the 
place  where  the  leaf  is  united  to  the  stem.  This  point  is 
called  the  axil,  and  anything  that  comes  in  this  place  is 
said  to  be  axillary.  The  branch  first  appears  In  the  axil 
of  the  leaf  as  a  bud,  which  elongates  and  produces  a 
branch  in  just  the  same  way  as  the  embryo  which  was  in 
the  seed,  grew  and  formed  the  original  stem.  As  the 
branches  grow  from  the  axils  of  the  leaves,  it  follows  that 
plants  with  alternate  leaves  will  have  alternate  branches, 
and  one  with  opposite  leaves  will  have  the  branches  op- 
posite. That  this  is  so  can  be  seen  by  comparing  the 
manner  of  branching  of  the  Tomato  with  that  of  the  Four 
O'clock.  We  have  thus  far  described  only  the  root,  stem 
and  leaf,— these  being  all  that  the  plant  needs  to  enable 
it  to  grow.  But  sooner  or  later  the  plant  produces  flow- 
ers and  seed,  by  which  it  can  reproduce  its  kind. 

Flowers,  which  we  all  love  so  much,  are  of  such  va- 
ried form  and  color  that  most  persons  think  the  study 
of  them  must  be  very  difficult.  You  have  already  seen 
how  leaves 
vary  from  a 
very  simple 
form  ;  so  with 
flowers ;  if  you 
examine  some  I 
simple  flower/ 
and  under-  * 
stand  all  its 
different  parts, 
you  will  have 
a  good  idea  of 
the  general 
plan      upon  Fig.  15. 

which  all  flow- 
ers are  made.  This  plan  admits  of  a  wonderful  variety,  to 
be  sure,  but  it  only  adds  interest  to  the  study  to  trace  out 
these  variations.  The  reason  why  we  selected  Flax  as 
one  of  our  plants  for  illustration,  is  because  its  (lowers  are 
readily  understood,  and  are  sufficiently  large  for  the  parts 
to  be  seen  without  the  use  of  a  magnifying  glass.  As  the 
Flax  runs  up  to  flower  the  leaves  gradually  become  small- 
er, and  soon  jittle  buds  appear,  each  borne  on  a  short 
stem,  and  these  after  a  while,  open  inlo  flowers.  Having 
the  flower  of  the  Flax,  let  us  now  examine  its  plants. 
We  have  had  engravings  made  to  help  the  description, 
but  it  is  much  belter  to  have  the  real  flower.  Beginning 
at  the  bottom  of  the  flower  we  find  five  litlle  green  leaves, 
much  like  the  upper  leaves  on  the  stem:  these  together 

form  the  flower 
cup  or  calyx,  as 
seen  in  the  un- 
opened flower  in 
fig.  16.  Each  one 
of  the  separate 
leaves  of  the  calyx 
is  a  sepal.  Just 
inside  of  the  calyx 
is  the  showy  part 
of  the  flower,  the 
corolla.  This,  like 
the  calyx,  has  five 
distinct  leaves,  or 
parts,  called  pe- 
tals, which  are 
much  unlike  other 
leaves,  being  more 
delicate,  and  of  a 
different  color  and 
shape.  The  calyx 
and  corolla  together  are  the  floral  envelopes;  they  sur- 
round, and  in  the  bud  completely  envelop  the  other  parts, 
which  being  small  and  not  very  showy,  are  nut  generally 
noticed,  yet  they  are  the  most  important  parts  uf  the 


Fig.  1 


1803.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


917 


Fig.  17. 


flower.  The  flower  lias  some  other  use  than  to  gratify 
our  senses  ;  its  real  purpose  is  to  produce  seed,  and  this 
is  done  by  the  parts  we  are  about  to  describe.  If  you 
look  closely  at  the  center 
of  the  flower,  you  will  see 
two  rows  of  little  yellow 
bodies.  These  can  be 
seen  much  more  distinct- 
ly if  you  pull  the  calyx 
and  corolla  off  very  care- 
fully. Fig.  17, represents 
a  magnified  figure  of  the 
flower  after  the  floral  en- 
velopes have  been  remov- 
ed. We  find  that  there  is 
an  outer  row  of  five  parts 
called  stamens.  Fig.  18, 
shows  the  appearance  of 
a  separate  stamen  much 
more  enlarged,  showing 
its  stalk  or  filament  bearing  an  oval  case  or  box,  the 
anther,  which,  by  the  time  the  flower  opens,  bursts  by 
two  slits  in  its  sides,  and  lets  out  a  very  fine  powder,  the 
pollen.  Remove  all  the  stamens,  and  the  pistil,  fig.  18, 
will  be  left  exactly  in  the  center  of  the  flower.  This 
consists  of  a  roundish  lower  portion,  the  ovary,  hav- 
ing five  slender  stalks,  the  styles,  each  of  which  bears 
a  little  knob  or  stigma.  The  ovary  or  lower  part  of  pis- 
til is  hollow  and  contains  ovules,  which  are  little  bodies 
that  will  by  and  by  become  seeds.  If  you  have  a  magni- 
fying glass  you  can  see  the  ovules.  Cut  a  flower  open 
lengthwise  with  a  sharp  pen-knife  through  the  center,  and 
you  will  be  very  likely  to  divide  the  ovary.  The  ovules 
will  he  seen  as  little  green  pulpy  masses.  If  you  can  not 
do  this  you  must  be  satisfied  with  the  representation  giv- 
en in  fig.  15.  In  this  figure  the  ovary  in  the  center  of 
the  flower  is  cut  through  so  as  to  show  two  of  the  ovules. 
These  ovules  would  never  ripen  into  seeds  if  the  pollen 
from  the  anthers  did  not  fall  upon  the  stigmas.  This  in 
some  way,  which  we  can  not  explain,  exercises  an  influ- 
ence upon  the  ovules  and  causes  them  to  grow  and  finally 
become  seeds.  Tiie  stamens  and  pistils  being  such  im- 
portant parts  in  the  pro- 
duction of  seed,  are  cal- 
led the  essential  organs 
of  the  flower.  If  the 
corolla  or  both  this  and 
the  calyx  were  absent, 
as  they  sometimes  are, 
the  flower  could  stilt 
perfect  seed,  but  neither 
the  stamens  nor  the  pis- 
tils alone  can  produce 
seed.  Now  then,  let  us 
briefly  repeat  the  parts 
of  the  flower:  1st,  The 
Calyx,  composed  of  se- 
pals :  '2nd,  The  Corolla, 
with  its  separate  petals  : 
3d,  The  Stamens  con- 
sisting of  filament  and 
anther:  4th,  The  Pistil, 
with  its  ovary,  styles 
and  stigmas.  The  parts 
are  one  within  another  in  the  order  in  which  we  have 
named  them,  and  as  shown  in  the  picture  of  the  flower 
cut  open  in  fig.  15.  The  corolla,  stamens  and  styles, 
soon  fall  away,  leaving  the  calyx  and  ovary.  The 
ovary  enlarges  and  becomes  the  seed  pod,  fig.  19,  which, 
when  ripened,  will  be  found  to  contain  seeds  just  like  the 
one  that  was  planted,  and  which,  if  put  into  the  ground, 
would  repeat  over  again  the  growth  and  flowering  which 
we  have  described.  There  are  some  other  things  about 
the  Flax  flower  which  should  be  noticed  :     The  parts  are 


Fig.  18. 


Fig.  19. 

nearly  all  in  fives ;  there  are  five  each  of  the  sepals,  pet- 
als, stamens,  and  styles  and  stigmas,  and  twice  five  seeds. 
Then  again,  the  different  parts  are  regularly  placed  with 
relation  to  one  another:  the  petals  are  not  directly  op- 
posite the  sepals,  but  opposite  the  spaces  between  them — 
are  alternate  with  them,  so  the  stamens  alternate  with  the 
petals,  and  the  styles  with  the  stamens.    There  is  then  a 


regular  plan  for  the  Flax  flower,  a  definite  number  for 
each  set  of  parts,  and  these  parts  are  put  together  in  a 
particular  way.  If  you  will  study  this  flower  you  will 
have  a  good  idea  of  the  plan  upon  which  flowers  are 
made,  and  although  other  flowers  will  look, very  different, 
yet  knowing  what  parts  to  look  for,  and  what  their 
position  should  be,  you  will  soon  be  able  to  understand 
their  structure.  Our  other  flowers  will  show  some  of  the 
most  common  variations  from  the  structure  of  the  Flax, 
and  we   will  try  and  tell  yon  about  them  next  month. 


Fi'ig-liteiiEBig  Herself  4©  Sleep. 

The  nurse  of  a  little  girl  used  to  frighten  her  when 
being  laid  in  bed,  by  telling  her  that  if  she  did  not  keep 
quiet,  the  rats  would  come  and  bite  her;  and  the  child 
dared  scarcely  stir  for  fear  of  the  threat.  On  one  occa- 
sion she  was  taken  to  visit  friends  in  the  country,  her 
nurse  being  left  behind.  On  her  return  a  few  days  after, 
she  was  asked  how  she  managed  to  get  to  sleep  at  night. 
"  Oh,"  said  she,  "I  sat  up  in  the  bed  and  said  'Rats! 
rats  !'  until  I  was  so  frightened  I  trembled  all  over,  and 
then  I  covered  myself  right  up,  and  didn't  dare  move 
again,  and  went  right  to  sleep. 


New  Puzzles   to  l>e  Answered. 


No.  41.  Illustrated  Rebus.  A  truth  worth  remembering. 

No.  45.  Curious  Sentence. — Contributed  to  the  Ameri- 
can Agriculturist,  by  "  W.  G.  W.,"  New-York  City.  A 
teacher  speaks  with  authority  to  one  of  his  pupils  ;  calls 
him  by  name,  directs  him  toexecute  a  lesson  ;  designates 
what  is  to  be  done,  and  enjoins  him  to  do  it  correctly. 
For  this  he  uses  in  all,  only  four  plain  English  words, 
and  they  are  all  sounded  precisely  alike. 

No.  46.  Arithmetical  Problem, — Contributed  to  the  Ag~ 
riculturist,  by  P.  C.  Reed,  Bond  Co.,  III.  A.  andB.  agree 
to  do  a  piece  of  work,  each  to  work  as  many  days  as  the 
other.  A.  is  to  receive  $22  and  B.  $28,  of  every  50.  It 
happened  that  A.  worked  but  137^"  days,  while  B.  work- 
ed 187)^  days.  They  receive  for  the  work  $270  ;  what  is 
each  man's  share  of  it  1 


Answers  to  I*roB>lewis    and  Puzzles* 

Answers  to  Problems  and  Puzzles  in  June  No.  (page 
183).  No.  40.  Illustrated  Rebus.  "  Many  a  slip  between 
the  cup  and  lip."  No.  41.  Illustrated  Rebus.  "  When  the 
cat's  away,  the  mice  will  play."  NoM2.  Mathematical 
Problem,  One  should  have  91  3-7  acres  ;  the  other,  GS  4-7 
acres.    No.  43.  Riddle,    A  Hat. 

The  following  have  sent  in  correct  answers:  the  num.* 
ers  indicate  the  problems  answered  by  each. 

Win.  J.  McManigal.  37;  N.  S.  Barnum,  37;  J.  M.  and 

F.  A.  Boyle,  37  ;  "  Constant  Reader,"  37  j  John  Wilson, 
38 ;  Ellen  F.  Cole,  37 ;  S.  R.  Walkups,  3S  ;  H.  H.  Bayley, 
37  ;  Marv  E.  Greely,  37  ;  E.  M.  Kellogg,  37,  28  ;  Eleanor 
Risdon,  '37,  3S  ;  Jesse  H.  Carter,  37;  John  F.  Holmes, 
37,  3S  ;  J.  B.  Bard  well,  38  ;  Slepht-n  A.  Brown,  37;  Orlan- 
do P.  Vaughan,  37;  N.  E.  Melick,  37,  33;  Augustus 
Reipsteck,  37  ;  M.  H.Barnard,  37;  S.  Shepherd,  37,38; 
E.  S.  Lvon,37  ;  George  Wistaikirke,  37  ;  John  F.  Holmes, 
37,  38  ;  "W.  W.  Dickey,  37  ;  S.  A.  Dickey,  37  ;  Bernet  K. 
Melick,  37  ;  Alice  Ross,  37;  W.  A.  Vaughan,  37  ;  Walter 
A.  Carpenter,  37  ;  G.  T.  Clark,  38  ;  Plulus,  37  ;  John  W. 
Van  Dtventer,  39  ;  W.  H.  French,  37  ;  L.  O.  Gav,  39  ; 
C.  R.  L.,  40,  41  ;  S.  S.  Doolittle,  41 ;  Fred.  A.  Maltbee, 
41,43;  Lydia  E.  Newberrv,  37;  Isaac  McGay,  Jr.,  40, 
41,43;  Twiford  S.  Noble,  41,  43  ;  H.  M.  Johnson,  40,  41  ; 

G.  W.  Venall,  40,  41  ;  John  N.  Fithian,  42  ;  James  Wil- 
liamson, 41,  43,  Henry  B.  Strong.  42  ;  Lemuel  G.  Carpen- 
ter, 40,  41  ;  Richard  Humpback,  40,  41,  43  ;  James  Argus, 
41  ;  L.  O.  Gay,  42  ;  Fannv  J.  Minor,  41,  43  ;  Haller  Bay- 
ley,  41,  42,  43  ;  Isaac  T.  McLain,  42;  Lucy  II.  Weeks, 
41,  42,  43  ;  Robert  G.  Weeks,  40  ;  George  F.  Week,  40  ; 
Wirt  C.  Williams,  41,  42;  Samuel  A.  Williamson,  43; 
G.  L.  Stevens,  43  ;  W.  H  Mendenhall,  42  ;  John  P.  Rat- 
cliff,  42 ;  J.  H.  Nicholson,  41  ;  Willie  II.  Paine,  41,  42,  43  ; 
Albert  D.  Rust,  40,41,  42,  43;  George  Bushong,  43; 
Hoosler  Alice,  41,  43  ;  (It  is  not  necessary  to  send  draw- 
ings for  proposes  rebuses)  ;  J.  A.  and  J.  E.  Smith,  41  ; 
"  Loirgus,"  42  ;  John  Kostenhader,  42  ;  Cornelius  Hoag- 
land,  Jr.,  41,  42,  43  ;  Oliver  Coombs,  41  ;  Willie  N.  Bar- 
nard, 40,  41,  43  ;  Daniel  S.  Carver,  40,  41  ;  Jesse  Wright, 
43;  Alice  P.  Talbot,  37,  40,  41 ;  Laura  E.  Barnes,  40.  41  ; 
Wiley  McCaughey,  41,  42;  J.  M.  and  F.  A.  Boyle,  40,  4], 
43 ;  Maggie  Dale,  41  ;  Albert  Siewers.  40,  41  ;  H.  H.  Stry- 
ker,  40,  41,  43;  William  Wyckoff,  41  ;  O.  B.  Surface,  41 ; 
Maggie  II.  Haggerty,  41,43;  Isaac  D.  Thorp,  40,41,43; 
Marv  A.  E.  Nichols,  41.  42,43;  Temperance  Carr.  41; 
A.  T.  41.  42,  43  ;  Emily  E.  Alcott,  40,  41,  43  ;  Bernet  Ken- 
nedy Melick.  41;  George  Elcock.  42;  Nellie  Spink,  41, 
43;  W.  L.  H.,41.42;  W.  Ward,  40,  41  ;  James  Gardiner, 
42;  43  ;  W.  F.  Penniman,  41. 


Business  .Notices. 

J^~  Eighty  Cents  a  Line  of  apace. 

Pure  and  Economical  Articles 

FOR  FAMILY  USE. 
iPyle's  Cream  Tartar, 
Pyle's  Salrratiis, 
Pyle's  Baking  Soda, 
Pyle's  O.  K.  Soap. 
Housekeepers  will  find  these  articles  reliable,  and  the 
cheapest  in  the  end.     Sold  by  Grocers  everywhere. 
JAMES  PYLE.  Manufacturer, 
350  Washington-street,  corner  Franklin.  New-York. 

]Y[ME.  DEMOREST'S  MIRROR  OF  FASHIONS. 
The    magnificent    Summer    No.    ready.     25c.     Sold 
everywhere.     Yearly  $1  ;  with  valuable  Premiums.    473 
Broadway.     Every  Lady  should  see  it. 

THE   CRAIG  MICROSCOPE. 

This  is  the  best  and  cheapest  microscope  in 
the  world  for  general  use.  It  requires  no  fo- 
cal adjustment,  magnifies  about  100  diameters, 
or  10,000  times,  and  is  so  simple  that  a  child 
can  use  it.  It  will  be  sent  by  mail,  postage 
paid,  on  the  receipt  of  $2.25,  or  with  six  beauti- 
ful mounted  objects  for  $3,  or  with  24  objects 
for  $5.       Address  HENRY  CRAIG, 

1R0  Centre-st.,  New- York. 
A  liberal  discount  to  the  trade, 
"The  CRAIG    MICROSCOPES  are  just  what   they  are 
claimed  to  be.    Those  who  wish  such  an  article,  will  not  be 
disappointed,  if  they  should  obtain  one  of  these."— N.  Y. 
Methodist. 
Mr.  Henry  Craio, 

Dear  Sir:— I  have  received  the 
Microscope  which  you  sent  me,  and  deem  it  the  best  for 
practical  purposes,  I  have  ever  seen.  I  like  it  much  bet- 
ter than  one  which  I  have  been  using  that  cost  me  $20: 
and  without  hesitancy  would  recommend  it,  not  only  as 
an  instrument  well  adapted  to  afford  instructive  amuse- 
ment to  every  family  circle— but  as  being  the  best  I  know 
of  for  "  the  use  of  the  practical  Naturalist." 
Yours  truly, 

J.  Bodine  Thomas. 
Williamsport,  Pa.,  May  7th,  1563. 

Lands— To  All  Wanting  Farms. 

Large  and  thriving  settlement  of  Vineland,  mild  cli- 
mate, 30  miles  south  of  Philadelphia,  by  railroad  ;  rich 
soil ;  fine  crops  ;  twenty  acre  tracts,  at  from  $15  to  $20 
per  acre  ;  payable  within  four  years.  Good  business 
openings  ;  good  society.  Hundreds  are  settling  and  mak- 
ing improvements.  Apply  to  CHAS  K.  LANDIS,  Post- 
master, Vineland,  Cumberland  County,  N.  J.  Letters 
answered.  Papers  containing  full  information   sent  free. 


The  Markets. 


American  Agriculturist  Office.      / 
New-York,  Friday  Morning,  June  18,  1803.  j 

1.  TRANSACTIONS  AT  TUB  NKW-YOEK  MARKETS. 

Receipts.  Flour.    Wheat.    Corn.    Rye.    Barley.    Oats. 

25(l:iysf/mm,th5fi9.000  3,162,000  3,201.(100    27.000    58,000  1,010,000 
26  days  loutm'Ek  347,000     040,000     590,000    45,000    51.000     410.000 

Sales.  Flour.  Wlieat.       Com.       Rye.    Barley. 

25  days  this  month,  375.000    3,250.000    3,031.000        82,000      50,000 

26  days  last  month,  340,000    783,000     1.S39.000      102,000      91,000 

2.  Comparison  with  same  time  last  year. 
receipts.  Flour.    Wheat.    Coim.     Rye.  Barley.  Oatn. 

25  days  1803.   ..560.000  3,152.000  3,204,000    27.000    58.000  1,010.000 
28  days  1862. . . .  594,000  4,2SO,000  1,920,000    43,900  110,000     473,000 

saleb.  Flour.      Wheat.      Corn.        Rye.    Barley. 

25  days  1863.... ".  375,000      3,256,000    3,631,000        82,000        56,000 
28  days  1802 697,700      5,337,000    2,612,000      185,500        31,000 

3.  Exports  from  New- York,  Jan.  1,  to  June  17. 


Flour. 

Bbls. 

18R3 1,050,048 

1862 1,261,118 


Wheat.  Corn. 

Bush.  Bush. 

5,475,508  4,089.591 

5,912,421  5,916,825 


Rye.  Oats. 

Bush.  Bush. 

262,662  108,588 

799,166  20,S87 


4.  Receipts  at  A  lba?iy,from  the  commencement  of 

Navigation,  to   June  9. 

1861.  18G3.  lNr,3. 

Canal  opened  May  1.  May  l.  May  1. 

Flour   bbls 113,000  185,200  181,300 

Wheat    bushels....  3,998,300  5,234,100  3,360,400 

Corn    bushels 2,824,100  1,977,700  3,978.200 

Barley,  bushels. . . .      99,700  317,100  49,500 

Oats   bushels 65!i,400  542,500  1,667,700 

Rye,   bushels 68,600  209,900  48,500 

The  receipts,  sales,  and  exports  of  Breadstuff's  have 
been  quite  heavy  during  the  month,  as  had  been  antici- 
pated at  resumption  of  navigation  on  the  canals  and  rivers 
of  the  interior.  The  export  demand  was  active  during 
most  of  the  month,  encouraged  by  the  favorable  market 
reports  from  England ;  but,  toward  the  close,  buyers 
were  less  disposed  to  operate,  unless  at  prices  much 
under  those  claimed  by  holders,  in  view  of  the  depression 
in  the  gold  and  foreign  exchange  markets,  the  rise  in  rates 


5318 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[July, 


on  freight,  and  the  great  trouble  with  the  stevedores  and 
longshoremen  (loaders  of  ships),  who,  having  made  a 
"strike"  for  higher  wages,  refused  to  work,  and  did 
everything  in  their  power  to  prevent  less  exacting  laborers 
from  filling  their  places.  This  trouble  continues  without 
abatement,  and  very  seriously  impedes  shipping  opera- 
tions. The  Scotia,  from  Liverpool,  arrived  here  on  Mon- 
day, bringing  reports  of  very  fine  weather,  promising 
crops,  and  falling  markets  in  the  West  of  EuroDe.  This 
n  jws  had  a  depressing  effect  on  the  markets  here,  and 
with  the  rapid  decline  in  Gold  and  Sterling  Exchange 
yesterday,  holders  were  eager  to  sell,  and  purchasers  less 
willing  to   operate.      Prices  close    lower  than  a  month 

ago,  and  with  a  strong  downward  tendency Cotton 

fluctuated  materially,  but  closes  rather  firmly  at  57c  (S) 
58c  1?  lb  for  Middlings,  with  a  moderate  inquiry..  ..Wool 
opened  heavily  at  drooping  prices,  in  the  absence  of 
buyers,  who  had  gone  into  the  country  to  make  purchases 
but  having  partially  returned,  during  the  past  two  weeks- 
business  has  been  more  active,  particularly  in  domestic 
fleece,  and  at  more  regular  rates. .  Provisions  have  been 
quile  plenty  and  have  declined.  The  demand  has  been 
mainly  for  hog  products.  Butter  and  Cheese  having 
been  in  very  limited  request  ...Hay  and  Hops  have  been 
in  fair  demand,  while  Seeds  and  Tobacco  have  been  quiet, 

without  any  remarkable  changes  in  prices Petroleum 

lias  been  freely  offered  and  purchased,  mainly   for  future 

delivery,  at  irregular  prices Business  in  most  other 

articles  has  been  quite  limited.  The  following  table  will 
show  the  present  prices  and  the  changes  from  last  month. 

Ccreent  Wholesale  Prices. 

May  20.  June  18. 

Fr.oiiR-Snncr  to  Extra  State  ?5  30  @  6  50  |4  15  <3  6  05 

Superfine  Western 5  80  a  5  60  4  75  ra  5  00 

Extra  Western 6  05  @  9  50  5  50  @  9  50 

Extra  Genesee 6  60  0  8  25  6  10  @  i  75 

Super,  to  Extra  Southern  ...      6  65  @  9  50  6  25  a  9  50 

Kyk  Flodr— Fine  and  Super.    3  40  o  5  40  3  40  a  5  25 

COBS   Mkm 4  20    a  4  60        4  25    a  4  55 

Wheat— All  kinds  of  White.,  l  65  a  l  75  1  60  @  1  75 

All  kinds  of  lied 1  20  @  1  55  1  17  @  1  55 

Cons- Yellow 75  a      82  78  @     81 

Mixed 75  @      78  75  @      78 

Oats— Western 70  a      72  7S  a      81 

State    70  @      72  80  a      81 

Uye  l  oo  a  l  03     l  03  a  l  05 

Barley 120    a  1  40  1  00    @  1  25 

Beans—  per  bushel 2  00   ®  3  15  2  00   @  3  15 

Cotton— Middlings,  per  lb....  56   a     57  57    @     58 

Hops,  crop  of  1862,  per  lb 16    a     24  15    @     22 

Feathers,  Live  Geese,  p.  lb..  46   a     53  43   @     50 

Seed— Clover,  per  lb 8    a       8X  8X<9      9K 

Tiuiolliv,  per  bushel Nominal.  2  00    a      2  2d 

Flax,  iier  buahel Nominal.  2  45    a  2  60 

SuGAR-Brown,  per  lb 8>4®     12!4  9    @     12>* 

Moi.ASSES.New-Orleans,  p.gl..  40    a     53  88   @     50 

c.m'kee.  Itio,  per  lb    .......  30    @     33  2S«@     S1J4 

TonACCO-Iientucky.&cp.lb..  14    @     32 K  1'2«®     31 

Seed  Leaf,  per  lb...  12MO     42!-j  12M®     42M 

Wool— Domestic  fleece,  p.  lb..  68   a     87  60    ta     80 

Domestic,  pulled,  per  lb 68    a     85  48   @     75 

Wool.  California,  unwashed..  25    @     50  22X®     50 

Tallow,  per  II)  11    ®      11X  11    @      11 W 

Oil  Cake,  per  tun Nominal.  3,50    @4o  00 

PoilK-Mess,  per  bbl. 12  00    @14  12M  12  75    @13  00 

Prime,  ner  bbl 10  75    a  12  50  1150    @11  75 

Here— Plain  mess 9  50    all  75  9  ,a    @U  ... 

Lard,  in  bbls..  per  lb    9X@      10H  9J1®      Wi 

Hi  tikr— Western,  per  lb 12    @      16  16    @      19 

State,  perlb.     16    a      23  16    @      22 

chkksk 8  a    14        8  a    ii 

Broom  Corn— nor  m    8  a     10  8  a     jo 

Eoos— Fresh,  per  dozen. 14  8     b  15  a     17 

Poultry— Fowls,  per  lb 12  ®      14  9  a      12 

Dncks,perB 14  ®     }■  16  @     18 

Geese  ner  tt. 7  a      10  6  a        8 

Tu5keys"peVlil      12  a      15  8  @      10 

Potatoes— Common,  p.  bW..  100  a  1  25  75  a  1  00 

Peach  Blow,  per  bbl  137  a  1  62  88  a  1  12 

Mercers,  per  bbl 1  75  ®  2  25  1  12  a  1  40 

Nova  Scotia,  per  bushel    ..  ..  40  a      4a  40  (<c      4o 

Turnips — Ruts  bags,  per  bbl.  .»  a  1  oo 

ONIONS,  Bed*  Yellow  p.  bbl.  2  50  ®  2  50  a  3  00 

Apples,    Russets,  per  barrel.  2  50  @  3  50  2  00  @  3 j  00 

Apples,  common,  per  bbl      ..  8  50  a  3  75  1  50  a  2  00 

Dried  Apples,  perlb.  4  @       6  3  a       6 

Dried  Peaches,  perlb          .  15  ®      16 

Strawberries,  choice,  per  qt.  box  !•■>  @     21) 

Cherries,  per  lb ft 10  @     14 

H.    Y.  Live  Slock  Markets.— Tbe  Cattle 

markets  have  been  well  supplied  with  beeves  during  the 
past  month,  the  weekly  receipts  ranging  from  4,600  to 
5,400,  and  averaging  4,800.  Trade  has  been  very  good  and 
prices  remarkaly  uniform.the  variation  amounting  to  only 
Jfc  V  It).  The  Slate  of  Illinois  is  supplying/our-./i/f/is  of 
all  the  slock  sent  to  this  market.  Prices  at  the  latest  sales 
were:  for  prime  sleers,  lljic  to  12c  fib.  for  estimated 
dressed  weight  of  the  four  quarters.  Medium  to  good 
cattle,  10'«  ffl  II  '  =  c  ;  poo'  cattle  9c  IS)  10c.  The  average 
of  all  sales  for  a  week  past  is  about  lie,  and  the  market 
closes  firm. 

Veal  Calves.— Weekly  receipts  hare  averaged 
1,099  for  the  past  month.  Prices  are  higher  than  for 
several  years  past ;  good  fat  calves  readily  command  "Mc 
r8  8c  W  11>.  live  weight,  and  the  demand  is  not  supplied. 

Slieep  and  Lambs  are  selling  remarkably 
well,  at  high  prices.  The  receipts  have  averaged  only 
6,7.17  per  week,  farmers  keeping  an  unusually  large  num- 
ber for  breeding,  as  they  find  them  Ihe  most  profitable 
part  of  stock  raising  under  the  present  rates.  Sheep  are 
now  all  sheared,  and  command  6c  IS  6'ic  ¥*  lb.  live 
weight,  if  in  good  condition.  Poor  sheep  are  worth  5';c. 
Lambs  bring  about  10c  V  lb.  live  weight,  on  an  average. 
Demand  exceeds  the  supply. 


l>ivc  Hog's  —  These  also  are  selling  well,  the 
scarcity  and  high  prices  of  other  stock  helping  the  pork 
trade.  Receipts  10,694  per  week,  and  prices  quite  uni- 
form at  5,Vc  (at  5%c  if!  tt).  live  weight,  for  corn-fed  ;  and 
5c  for  slill-fed  hogs. 

The  Weather. — (See  Crop  report  on  another 
page.)  Our  Condensed  Daily  Notes  Read:  May  20 
to  23  clear  and  warm— 24,  25,  26,  cool,  cloudy— 27,  28,  29, 
clear,  fine — 30,  heavy  thunder  showers,  day  and  night, 
doing  much  good — 31,  showery.  June  1,  2,  clear — 3,  4,  5, 
cool,  cloudy — 6  light  showers,  fine  showers  at  night — 7, 
cool,  cloudy — 8,  clear,  cool — 9,  light  showers — 10,  clear, 
fine — 11,  showery  day  and  night — 12,  13,  cool,  cloudy — 
14,  15,  16,  clear,  warm — 17,  cloudy,  heavy  thunder 
shower — 18, 19,  cloudy,  cool,  light  rain. 

■Sain  Fall, — During  May  amounted  to  4.58 
inches.  The  variations  of  the  barometer,  as  illustrated 
on  page  205,  were  very  slight. 

Thermometer  at  6  A.  OT.,  Ne.w-Yorlc. 

[Observations  carefully  made  upon  a  standard  Ther- 
mometer (Fahrenheit.) — r  indicates  rain — s,  snow.] 

MAY. 

16 50  120  .   ..   55  124 54  |29  . 

17.    ..    ,52rl21 62  125 51   |29.. 

18  .    ...48  122.  .,...62  126 51    130.. 

19 50  |23 68  |27   50  |jl 

JUNE. 

I 65  I  4 52  I  7 56  110   .. 

2 60      5   56      8 53     II... 

3 60      6   60r|  9 58HI2.. 


..56  I 

;;^rAve'ge.54 
.  64j| 

.50  113 60 

.Hfir  14 58 

64r'l5 64 


Circulation  of  the  Agriculturist. 

Beyond  all  doubt  or  controversy,  the  circu- 
lation of  the  American  Agriculturist  to  regu- 
lar subscribers,  is  many  thousands  greater 
than  that  of  any  other  Agricultural  or  Hor- 
ticultural Journal  in  the  "World,  no  matter 
what  its  character,  or  time  or  place  of  issue. 
Tile  publisher  is  ready  ait  all  times  to  sub- 
stantiate this  statement  by  comparing  books. 

JUhriiseinents. 

Advertisements  to  be  sure  of  insertion  must  be  re- 
ceived at  latest  by  the  1 5th  of  the  preceding  month. 
TERMS-  (invariably  cash  before  insertion) : 

FOR  THE  ENGLISH   EDITION  ONLY. 
Fiftti  cents  per  tine  oi'  apace  Cor  each  insertion. 
B3?~Basiness  Notices,  Eighty  cents  per  line  of  space. 

FOR  THE  GERMAN  EDITION  ONLY. 

Ten  cento  per  line  of  space  for  each  insertion. 

In  both  English  and  German,  Fifty-five  rents  per  line. 

«NUG  FARM  FOR  SALE.— 70  acres  with  good 
^5*  Ho  use,  Barn  and  Well— light  soil.no  stones;  5>£  miles 
from  Saratoga  Springs— Price  ?  1,300  including  crops,  stock 
and  implements.  Title  unexceptionable.  Enquire  of  CHAS. 
EDMONDS.  SO  Nassau-st.,  New-York. 

IK  KACRES  partly  improved  land  for  sale,  rich 
^J^-Fclay  loam,  beautiful  situation,  convenient  to  Can- 


al, Mills.  &c. 


JAMES  IiEID,  Odessa,  Henry  Co.,  Ohio. 


FOR    SALE— 3  Lar^e  Farms,  5  Timbered  lots, 
Woolen  Mill,  "Water  Power  and  Village  Property  in  La 
Grange  Co.,  lud.    Terms  easy.    For  particulars,  address 

S.  B.  JENKS,  Ontario,  Ind. 

FISK    &    HA.TCH, 

No.   38  Wall-st.,  New-York  City. 

BANKERS  AND  DEALERS   IN 

All  kinds  of  Government  and  other  Se- 
curities. Orders  from  the  Country  for 
purchase  of  Government  Bonds,  etc.,  at- 
tended with  care  and  Promptness. 

AGENTS 

"Wanted  evehtwiikiie  to  sell  WOODRUFF'S  PATENT 
PORTABLE  BAROMETERS. 

CHARLES  WILDER,  Petcrboro',  N.  H. 

RANVILLE  (OHIO)    FEMALE    COLLEGE.— 

Twenty-ninth  year  will  be^in  Sept.  10th.  The  highest 
educational  advantages  are  afforded  in  Intellectual,  Physic- 
al, and  Moral  Culture;  also  in  Vocal  and  Instrumental  Mu- 
sic, Painting,  and  Drawine.  Charges  are  reasonable.  Send 
for  a  Catalogue  to  W.  P.  KERR,  A.  M. 

STRAWBERRY    CULTURIST. 

NEW    EDITION. 

Contains  names  and  svnonyms  of  all  the  noted  strawber 
Ties  of  the  world  ;  fully  illustrated.    Price  10  cents. 

A.  S.  FULLER,  Brooklyn.  N.  Y. 

Schenectady  Agricultural  Works. 
C.  WESTUVCIIOl'SE  &  CO.,  Proprietors. 

Send  for  a  Circular,  containing  full  description  of  the  TTn- 
equaU'd  Lever,  and  Endless  Chain  Horse  Powers,  Threahera 
and  cleaners.  Clover  Hollers,  Wood  Saws, &c, manufactured 
by  the  subscribers.    Address 

G.  Wcstinghouse  &  Co.,  Schenectady,  N.  Y. 


,      Saratoga  Springs  Remedial 
Institute. 

THIS  INSTITUTION  TVAS  ESTABLISHED  TO  MEET 
the  wants  of  a  class  of  Patients  who  feel  the  neeessitv  of 
leaving  their  homes  for  medical  aid.  Its  location  ivas 
chosen  in  view  of  the  medicinal  advantages  of  the  Springs 

Since  graduating  at  the  New-York  Medical  University  we 
have  availed  ourselves  of  the  facilities  found  only  in  our 
large  cities  for  the  study  of  disease,  and  have  given  special 
attention  to  those  of  Women  ;  also,  of  the  Throat,  Heart,  and 
Lungs. 

As  medical  practitioners  we  treatall  diseases;  but  Chronic 
Aftections  claim  our  principal  attention. 

While  this  is  not  a  Water-cure,  the  invalid  will  find  a  good 
gymnasium,  and  all  the  facilities  of  a  well-conducted  scien- 
tific Hydropathic  Establishment. 

The  home  reputation  of  a  physician  should  he  the  basis  of 
public  confidence.  For  a  fuller  knowledge  of  the  Institute; 
we  refer  to  our  Circular,  and  the  reliable  citizens  of  our 
village. 

The  medical  profession  are  Invited  to  acquaint  themselves 
with  the  Institution. 

S.  S.  STRONG,  M.  D„  >  Saratoga  Springs, 
S.  E.  STRONG,  M.  D,  (  N   Y. 

REFERENCES.-Rev.  Bishop  E.  S.  Janes,  T>.  D..  New- 
York;  Rev.  BishorM.  Simpson.  I).  D..  Evanstoii.  III.;  Rev.  E. 
Nott,  D.  D..  LL.  D.  President  of  Union  College,  Schenecta- 
dy. N.  Y.;  Rev.  Abel  Stevens,  I.L.  D„  N.  Y;  Her.  John  Wood- 
bridge,  Saratoga  Springs,  N.  Y.;  Hon.  J.  B.  McKcan,  Sarato- 
ga Springs,  N   Y. 

Portable 
Printing-    Offices. 

For  the  use  of  Merchants,  Druggists,  Nurserymen,  and  all 
who  wish  to  do  their  own  Printing.    Circular  sent  free.  Spe- 
cimen Sheets  of  Type.  Cuts.  &f\.  on  receipt  of  two  3c.  stamps. 
ADAMS  PRESS  CO.,  31  Park  Row,  N.  Y. 

FRUIT  AND   ORNAMENTAL   TREES. 

RARE  CHANCES  OFFERED. 

200.000   Choice  Fruit  Trees,  Vines,  etc.,   for 

eale.  of  varied  size  to  suit  customers. 

The  subscriber  calls  attention  to  bis  unusually  large  stock 
of  well  grown  trees  now  on  hand,  and  especially  to  the  pre- 
sent stock  of  the  standard  fruit,  Apple,  which  is  the 
largest  and  finest  ever  offered  at  these  Nurseries. 

With  twenty  years  of  experience,  bv  careful  observation 
and  judicious  selections,  be  believes  he  is  able  to  judge  and 
furnish  what  will  suit  his  customers,  as  well  as 'the  varied 
soils  and  localities,  in  which  trees  may  be  wanted.  There  is 
also  special  attention  paid  to  local  varieties,  adapted  to 
Southern  and  Central  Pennsylvania,  manv  of  which  have 
proven  themselves  more  valuable,  than  sorts  originating  in 
a  climate  differing  so  widely  from  these  sections. 

He  is  also  preparing  a  list  of  club  prices  for  those  who 
purchase  direct  from  the  proprietor,  offering  rare  induce- 
ments for  neighbors  to  join  together  and  get  trees  consider- 
ably under  the  regular  retail  prices. 

This  mode  is  adopted  for  those  who  may  not  have  an  op- 
portunity to  purchase  from  his  regularly  authorized  agents, 
and  hold  a  mistrust  towards  the  too  numerous  tree  venders 
spread  over  the  land. 

SW~  The  frequent  use  made  of  bis  name  and  establishment 
by  strangers,  to  effect  sales  where  the  reputation  of  the 
nursery  is  known,  compels  him  to  warn  all  not  to  purchase 
—as  coming  from  these  Nurseries— stock  offered  by  pre- 
tenders, who  do  not  hold  an  authority  from  the  proprietor. 

Local  or  stationed  agents  will  be  accepted,  but  neither 
traveling  nor  stationary  agency  inquiries  will  receive  notice, 
unless  the  parties  produce  satisfactory  reference  as  to  their 
honesty  in  dealing  with  customers  and  employer.  Send  for 
Catalogues  and  priced  List,  which  contain  inducements  not 
before  ottered  by  him.  Abundant  and  trustworthy  re- 
ference WILL  BE  FURNISHED  TO  ALL  WHO  ARE  STRANG- 
BBS  TO  THE  ESTABLISHMENT. 

Address  DAVID  MILLER.  Jr., 

Cumberland  Nurseries,  Carlisle.  Pa. 

BL.OOIUIIVGTON  NURSERY. 

1G0  ACRES.    FRUIT  &  ORNAMENTAL. 

AGENTS  WANTED. 

Bloomington.  Illinois.  F.K.  PHOENIX. 


SEEDS. 


Buckwheat    and  all  other  Seed  Grain  of  best  va- 
rieties. 

Turnip,  Ruta  Baga,  Cabbage,  etc.,  of  the  choicest 
kinds. 

A  full   assortment  of  Field,   Garden   and  Flower 
Seeds,  Plants,  etc. 

R.  H.  ALLEN  &  CO.,  189  &  191  Water -st„  New-Tork. 

Best    Flavored    Strawberry. 
Fuller's    New  Seedling* 

Crimson  Favorite. 

Plants  of  this  superior  Strawberry,  which  received  the 
First  Prize  for  flavor  at  the  "Great  Strawberry  Exhibition," 
can  be  furnished  in  September  at  $1  per  dozen.— Sent  by 
mail,  post-paid,  $1  10  cents. 

DESCRIPTION.— Flowers    perfect,    berry  large,    obtuse 
cone— bright  crimson,  vigorous  grower,  and  productive. 
H.  B.  LANE,  151  Nassau-St.,  New-York. 

STRAWBERRIES. 

We  will  issue  on  the  1st  of  August  a  circular,  giving  var- 
ieties of  strawberries  that  have  proved  the  most  valuable 
this  season,  with  prices  of  plants,  and  other  information, 
which  will  be  sent  to  all  applicants  free  of  charge. 

J.  KNOX, 
Box  155,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

GRAPE    VIINTES. 

Planters  and  Dealers  will  please  send  to  WM.  PERRY  & 
SOX.  BRIDGEPORT,  CONN.,  for  their  price  Ust  for  18G3. 
CONCORD  and  DELAWARE  Vines  of  superior 
quality,  at  low  rates. 


1803.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


919 


2nd  Class,  ?15  per  100. 
$100  per  1000. 


I>  e  larvvsxve     Grx-ap  e  s. 

After  some  years  of  experiment,  the  subscribers  have 
adopted  a  mode  by  which  tbey  can  produce  plants  of  this 
valuable  grape  with  abundant  fibrous  roots  at  the  following 
very  low  rates: 

1st  Class,  $25  per  100, 
$-.>00  per   1000. 

Of  these  one  year  old,  they  can  furnish  50,000  deliverable  In 
October  and  November. 

Those  who  wish  to  plant  largely  will  do  well  to  examine 
this  Stock  before  purchasing,  and  to  send  their  orders  early 
us  the  demand  last  year  exceeded  the  supply. 

Those  who  wish  can  also  see  THREE  ACRES  of  Del- 
aware Vineyard  in  full   growth. 

CONCORD  and  other  Grapes  furnished  by  the  100  or  1000. 
Address  PARSONS  &  CO., 

Flushing,  N.  Y. 

BAKER'S 

PATENT 

FRUIT    JARS. 

WITH  EITHER 

GLASS  OR  TIN  COVERS. 

They  are  SIMPLE,  RELIABLE,  and  CHEAP,  and  the 
ONLY  Jar  of  which  there  are  NO  COMPLAINTS. 

From  tlie  great  number  of  testimonials  we  might  give,  we 
only  quote  from  the 

"AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST,"  which  says: 

"They  arc  the  best  of  tuk  twenty  odd  kinds  we  have 

TRIED." 

Housekeepers  try  for  yourselves.    Do  not  be  persuaded  to 
try  others,  for  it  will  be  to  your  cost. 
For  sale  by  all  respectable  dealers. 
The  trade  supplied  by  the 

Manufacturers  and  Propritors, 
F.  L.  &  J.  N.  BODINE  &  CO., 

Successors  to  POTTER  &  BODINE, 
106  Chestnut-st.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

TO    THE    LADIES. 

We  desire  to  call  your  particular  attention  to  MASON'S 
TATENT  SELF  SEALING 

FRUIT  JARS  AND  CANS. 

An  experience  of  six  years  has  proved  them  the  most  perfect 
Jars  for  preserving  fruits  and  vegetables.  Sold  by  all  dealers. 
Made  only  by  the  SHEET  METAL  SCREW  CO., 

314  Pearl  st„  New-York. 


Beeclier's  Patent 

IIKIIKY  BASKET. 

Improved    from    last 

Season. 
The  cheapest  in  market! 

Fur  Circulars  address 

A.  BEECH  EU  &  SONS, 

Westville,  Conn. 

Agents,  WM,  PARRY. 
(practical  truit  raiser,) 
Cinnaniinson,  N.  J. 

ROGERS  &  GEST,  133 
Muiketst.,  Philadelphia. 
H.B.  LANF.,151  Nassau- 
8t.,  New-York. 


LIFE     INSURANCE. 
MANHATTAN 

LIFE  INSUEASTCE  COMPANY, 

No.  31  NASSAU-ST., 
(OPPOSITE  THE  POST  OFFICE.)  NEW-YORK. 

Cash  Capital  and  Accumulation,  over $1,400,0(30 

Claims  Paid  650,000 

Dividends  to  Policy  Holders 640,000 


The  dividends  are  paid  in  the  life-time  of  the  assured,  thus 
aiding  them  to  pay  future  premiums. 

Premiums  maybe  paid  annually,  semi  annually,  or  quar- 
terly, when  the  policy  is  for  life,  and  the  annual  premium 
amounts  to  $40  aud  over.  From  40  to  50  per  cent,  may  be 
paid  by  notes. 

HENRY   STOKES,  President. 
C.  Y.  "Wemple,  Secretary. 
J.  L.  Halsev,  Assistant  Secretary. 
S.  N.  Stebbins,  Actuary. 
Auf.am  Dubois,  M.  D.,  Medical  Examiner. 

Enameled    Furniture. 

All  styles  and  prices.  Also  Chamber  Suites  in  Walnut  and 
Chestnut.  The  best  assortment  in  the  city,  Wholesale  and 
Retail,  at  277  Canal-street  N.  Y.  WARREN  WARD. 

ITALIAN  QUEEN  BEES.    FOR  SALE  BY 
L.  L.  LANGSTROTH  &  SON. 

Oxford.  Butler  County,  Ohio. 


BUTTER,      CHEESE, 
,   EGGS, 

AND    FARM     PRODUCE 

OF  ALL  KINDS 
SOLD    ON    COMMISSION. 

Constantly  on  hand,  for  sain,  Flour,  Fish,  Salt,   Mackerel, 
Pork,  Hams,  Lard,  Beans,  Pried  Fruit,  Soap,  Starch,  etc. 

COOK   &  NICHOLS,   Successors  to 

ISAAC  EMENS,  23G  FRONT-ST,  NEW-roKK. 

Refers  to  J.  De  Lamater,  Cashier  Marine  Bank.  N.  Y.  City. 
Lewis  &  Brown,  No.  44  Fronl-st.,  N.  V.  City. 
Isaac  Emeus,  Castle  Creek,  Broome  Co.,  N.  T. 


S.  B. 


H 


CotMistissioiri    Dealer, 

260,  261  &  262  West  Washington  Market, 

FOOT  OF  FULTON-ST. 
Particular  attention  paid  to  selling  all  kinds  of  Fruit  and 
oilier  Farm  Produce, 
ltefers  to  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist. 


C.  W.   IDEI.L. 

COMMISSION  DEALER  IN  CHOICE  FKUIT,  70  &  71  West 
Washington  Market.    Special  care  taken  of  empty  packages. 


Acknowledged   to   be  Superior  to 
all   Others. 

495  BROADWAY,  NEW-YORK. 
"Grovcr  &  Baker's  is  the  nest."—  Am.  Agriculturist. 

MASON  &  HAMLIN'S 
CABINET  ORGANS, 

Arc  essentially  different  from  and  greatly  superior  to  all 
other  instruments  of  their  class.  Wherever  exhibited  they 
have  always  taken  the  first  premiums,  and  are  recommend- 
ed as 

"THK  REST  INSTRUMENTS  OF  THEIR  CLASS" 

by  ZUNDEL,  MORGAN,  WOLLENHAUPT,  WELS,  WOLF- 
SHOM.MAGRATH,  FLINT.  HAGAN,  MOSENTH AL,  SMITZ, 
and  others  of  the  most  distinguished  organists  of  New-York. 
Similarly  recommended  also  by  LOWELL  MASON,  GEORGE 
JAMES  WEBB,  THOS.  HASTINGS,  W.  B.  BRADBURY, 
GEO.  F.  BOOT,  SIGISMDND  THALBEUG,  WILLIAM  MA- 
SON, GUSTAVE  SATTER,  and  others. 

Prices  of  single  and  double  reed  instruments  S70  to  $150 
each ;  with  six  to  twelve  stops  $225  to  $500  each. 

MASON  &  HAMLIN'S  MKLODE0NS 

Are  also  better  than  any  others.    Prices  $50  to    $225 
eacli.    Warerooms  in  New- York,  Nos.  5  ;nul  7  Mercer- 
street.    Send  for  circulars  with  particulars. 
MASON  BROTHERS. 

$225  «*•  **■  HADE'S*  $225 

MfEW  7  OCTAVE  PIANOS  are  destined  to  revo- 
lutionize the  whole  Piano  business.  For  Durability 
Beauty  of  Tone,  and  Touch,  as  well  as  in  style  of  finish,  they 
are  unequaled;  and  nothing  of  the  kind  has  ever  before 
been  offered  in  this  country  that  will  compare  with  them  in 


$225 — $250 — $275. 

They  contain  all  improvements  of  value  now  in  use,  at 
e  all 

Warranted    for   Five    Years. 


Please  call  and  examine  them  and  compare  them  with  those 
of  any  of  the  first  class  makers,  or  send  for  a  Circular  giving 
all  particulars. 

J.  P.  HALE  &  CO.,  478  Broadway,  N.  T. 

DUTCHER'S  LIGHTNING 

FLY-KILLER 

Supplies  a  want  felt  by  every  good  housekeeper.  Everv  sheet 
will  kill  ft  quart  were  flies  arc  thick.  Remember  that  it  is 
BUTCHER'S  that  does  this,  and  refuse  the  base  imitations 
that  are  offered.  Thu  real  article  is  for  sale  by  all  respectable 
Druggists. 


TO    FARMERS 
TO  DAIMMEN, 

TO  COUNTRY  MERCHANTS. 

ALL  who  have  For  Sale  : 

Sorghum    Sugar    and    Syrup, 
Furs      and      Skins, 
Fruits,  dry  and  green, 
lions,  Tallow, 

Cotton,  Wool, 

Butter,  Cheese, 

Lard,  Beef, 

Pork,  filaans, 

Eggs,  Poultry, 

dame, 


Flour, 
Seeds, 


Vegetables, 
Grain, 
Petroleum, 


&c.,  Ac, 

Can  have  them  well  sold  at  the  highest  prices 
in  New- York,  with  full  cash  returns  promptly- 
after  their  reaching  the  City,  by  forwarding 
them  to  the  Commission  House  for  Country 
Produce,  of 

JOSIAH    CARPENTER, 

32  Jay-s»reet,  New-York. 

IV.  B. — The  advertiser  lias  had  abundant 
experience  in  this  business,  and  trusts  that  he 
will  continue  to  merit  patronage  by  the  most 
careful  attention  to  the  interest  of  his  patrons. 
The  articles  are  taken  charge  of  on  their  arri- 
val, and  carefully  disposed  of  promptly  to  good 
cash  customers,  and  cash  returns  made  imme- 
diately to  the  owner.  (The  highest  charge  made 
for  receiving  aud  selling  is  five  per  cent,  fruits  and 
vegetables  excepted.) 

A  New  York  Weekly  Price  Current  is  issued 
by  J.  Carpenter,  which  is  sent  free  to  all  his  pat- 
rons. A  specimen  copy  sent  free  to  any  de- 
siring it.  A  trial  will  prove  the  above  facts. 
For  abundant  references  as  to  responsibility,  in- 
tegrity, &c,  see  the  "  Price  Current." 

Cash     advanced   on    consignments    of 


Produce. 

SEND    FOR 

A    FREE    COPY 

O  F 

PEICES  CTJERENT, 

AND  ALL  OTHER  PARTICULARS, 

TO 

JOSIAH    CARPENTER, 
32  Jay-st.,  New- York. 

PRODUCE  OF  ALL  KINDS  BOUGHT. 


220 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[July, 


SANFORD    &,    MALLORY 
PORTABLE 


•S 


FLAI  AND  HEMP  DRESSER. 

Date  of  Patents,  Sept.  16,  1S82,  and  April  28,  1863. 


Made  and  Sold  by 

ALLGDKY  is  §  A  N  IF  (0)  K  ID) 

HARLEM   RAILROAD   BUILDING, 
Room  No.  26,  in  White-st.,  near  Centre. 


Our  terms  arc  Cash  on  delivery  of  shipper's  receipt  or  biU 
or  lading,  and  persons  ordering  can  send  draft  on  New- York, 
or  Treasury  Notes,  to  some  person  here  whom  they  know, 
or  by  Express,  to  be  delivered  to  us  on  our  delivery  of  bill 
of  lading  for  shipment  of  Machine.  Price  at  our  Factory, 
at  Paterson,  New-Jersey,  for 

No.  1  Machine,  (capable  of  dressing  2,500  lbs.  ot  Flar 

Straw  in  ten  hours,)  S355. 

No.  i,  $255.  No.  3,  Hand  Machine,  $155. 

First. — A  machine  capable  of  dressing  2,500  ponnds  of  flax 
straw  in  ten  hours,  can  be  sold  at  the  factory,  ready  for  ship- 
ment, at  $355;  and  the  second  size  capable  of  dressing  1,500 
pounds  of  straw  at,  $255.  A  third  size,  capable  of  dressing 
from  GOO  to  800  pounds  of  straw  per  day,  at  $155.  The  small- 
est size  weighs  about  300  pounds  and  can  be  run  by  hand. 

Second.— The  yield  of  flax  fibre  by  the  use  of  this  machine, 
In  proportion  to  the  weight  of  flax  straw  dressed,  exceeds 
by  at  least  onk-fourth  that  obtained  by  any  other  ma- 
chine or  process. 

Toted.— The  fibre,  dressed  by  this  machine,  is  much  more 
valuable  than  that  dressed  in  any  other  way,  on  account  of 
the  greater  yield  over  the  hackle. 

Fourth.— This  machine  is  so  simple  in  Its  construction  and 
operation,  that  the  liability  to  derangement  is  very  slight. 

Fifth. — This  machine  does  not  require  in  its  use  any  pecu- 
liar skill.  It  can  be  operated  by  boys  or  girls,  and  does  not 
involve  any  risk  to  the  hands  or  arms  of  the  operatives,  while 
the  ordinary  machines  require  the  use  of  skilled  labor,  aud 
as  experience  has  proved,  are  always  attended  with  risk  to 
the  operatives. 

Sixth.— This  machine  can  be  driven  by  any  of  the  horse 
powers  in  use,  and  as  it  can  be  operated  by  ordinary  farm 
labor,  it  enables  the  farmer  to  dress  and  prepare  for  market, 
at  little  expense,  the  flax  raised  by  himself,  thus  opening  to 
him  a  new  and  profitable  occupation. 

Seventh.— This  machine  is  small,  the  largest  size  occupy- 
ing only  about  four  feet  square,  and  weighing  not  over  1,100 
pounds. 

As  there  is  a  demand  for  larger  machines  for  hemp,  the 
proprietors  arc  building  such,  capable  of  dressing  two  and-a- 
halftonsof  hemp  straw  per  day. 

The  amount  of  flax  fibre  produced  in  the  United  States  in 
the  year  1850  was  7,SOC,S09  pounds.  Had  the  straw  from  which 
this  amount  of  fibre  was  taken,  been  dressed  by  the  Sanford 
&  Mallory  Machine,  the  yield  would  have  been  not  less  than 
10,409,078  pounds.  The  increased  product  or  the  flax  saved, 
at  present  prices,  would  be  worth  $650,542. 

When  it  is  remembered  that  in  many  of  the  "Western 
States  an  Immense  quantity  of  flax  is  raised  for  the  seed 
alone,  the  straw  being  destroyed  or  wasted  as  of  no  value,  it 
will  readily  be  Been  that  the  introduction  among  farmers  and 
manufacturers  of  a  cheap  and  effective  machine,  capable  of 
converting  what  would  otherwise  go  to  waste,  Into  an  arti- 


cle of  great  value,  can  not  fail  to  produce  the  most  import- 
ant results. 

It  is  well  known  that  flax  can  be  snccessfully'cultivated  in 
all  the  Northern  States.  If  in  addition  to  the  value  of  the 
seed— su flic i cut  of  itself  to  pay  the  entire  cost  of  cultivation— 
the  straw  can  be  made  a  source  of  large  profit,  a  wide  field 
of  successful  industry  will  be  opened. 

That  the  statemeuts  here  put  forward  as  to  the  efficiency 
and  value  of  the  Sanford  &  Mallory  Machine,  and  especially 
as  to  the  great  saving  effected  by  it  over  any  other  machine 
or  process  known,  are  rather  below  than  beyond  the  fact, 
will  abundantly  appear  from  the  subjoined  reports  and  let- 
ters from  practical  flax-workers  and  dealers.  Nothing  need 
be  added  to  their  direct  and  positive  testimony. 

Over  fifty  of  these  machines  for  flax  and  hemp  have  been 
In  successful  use  during  the  past  season,  in  different  parts  of 
the  country,  and  the  demand  for  them  is  now  large— conse- 
quently, orders  for  them  should  he  made  early,  as  the  coming 
crop  of  flax  and  hemp  will  soon  be  ready  for  dressing. 

The  demand  for  flax  during  the  past  year  and-a-half  has 
quite  doubled  its  price,  and  it  is  now  used  for  many  purposes 
to  which  it  was  never  before  applied,  and  for  which  it  is  found 
to  be  superior  to  cotton  and  other  materials  before  in  use. 
"Whatever,  therefore,  may  be  the  future  product  of  cotton, 
the  demand  for  flax  will  not  diminish,  but,  on  the  contrary, 
increase  with  its  new  and  useful  applications.  It  is  now 
largely  mixed  with  woolen  goods  of  almost  every  descrip- 
tion; is  used  for  paper,  wadding,  batting,  belting,  druggets, 
delaines,  calicoes,  stockings,  felt  hats,  and  carpeting.  Should 
the  experiments  for  cottonizing  flax,  for  which  Congress 
has  made  a  large  appropriation,  succeed,  the  already  large 
demand  for  it  would  not  only  be  enormously  enhanced,  but 
made  practically  unlimited. 

Take  a  given  quantity  of  Flax  Straw,  either  over  or  under 
retted,  and  pass  it  once  through  this  Machine  and  it  will  in- 
variably have  lost  four-fifths  of  the  shoove  or  woody  part, 
without  the  least  fibre  of  tow.  The  Machine  requires  two 
men,  or  boys,  to  tend  it,  and  runs  from  eighteen  to  twenty 
hundred  lbs.  of  straw  in  ten  hours.  There  is  no  risk  whatev- 
er to  life  or  limb  of  the  operator. 

A  dry  or  wet  day  makes  no  difference  with  this  Machine, 
with  reference  to  its  result  in  the  saving  of  Fibre. 

The  Machine  oan  be  seen  in  operation  any  day  at  room  No. 
26,  Harlem  R.  R.  Building,  corner  of  White  and  Center 
Streets,  New-York  City,  or  at  Mr.  Harry  "Wilcox's  Flax  Mill 
In  Uuion  Village,  Washington  County,  N.  Y. 

This  Machine  with  one-horse  power  will  also  run  from  four 
to  six  hundred  lbs.  of  Hemp  stalks  per  hour ;  leaving  the 
fibre  perfectly  clean  and  straight,  with  not  one  ounce  of  tow 
to  the  ton. 

Those  desiring  Machines  this  fall  should  order  at  once,  as 
wc  shall  supply  according  to  the  date  of  orders. 


TESTIMONIALS. 
Joonsonville,  X.  Y.,  April  27th,  18G3. 
Messrs.  Mallory  &  Sanford: 

Gentlemen.— I  have  been  using  two  of  your  Patent  Flax 
machines  since  the  1st  of  January  last.  I  have  given  them  a 
thorough  test  with  the  old  brake.  They  will  save  from  three 
to  six  pounds  of  dressed  flax  to  the  hundred  pounds  of  flax 
straw  (according  to  the  quality  of  straw  used)  more  than  the 
old  brake,  and  will  break  from  one  and  one-fourth  to  one 
and  one-half  tons  of  straw  per  day  often  hours— do  the  work 
better  than  any  other  machine  I  ever  saw.  It  takes  out  nine- 
tenths  of  the  shive  or  woody  matter  in  passing  through  the 
machine  once;  consequently  it  requires  less  scutching  than 
if  broken  with  the  old  brake,  which  does  its  work  very  im- 
perfectly—breaking some  of  the  fibres  and  taking  out  no 
shive.  My  men  tell  me  they  would  rather  rough-dress  two 
handfuls  after  your  brake  than  one  after  the  old.  The  fibre 
from  your  brake  is  left  perfectly  whole  and  straight,  which 
is  better  for  the  manufacturers,  as  it  will  hatchel  more  to  the 
hundred  pounds  than  after  the  old  mode  of  breaking,  1  have 
had  a  quantity  hatched  that  was  dressed  after  each  brake— 
taken  from  the  same  lot  of  flax,  and  the  yield  was  five  pounds 
per  hundred  more  after  your  brake  than  after  the  old.  The 
fine  tow  is  equally  good  with  that  after  the  old  brake,  while 
the  coarse  is  worth  one  third  more  per  ton.  I  think  that  if 
the  machine  is  properly  used  it  is  not  liable  to  breakage. 
Yours  truly,  WM.  H.  BUCKLEY 

Belfast,  Ireland,  May  1st,  1803. 
Messrs.  Mallory  &  Sanford  :— 

Gentlemen.— It  gives  me  much  pleasure  to  report  that  the 
five  Sanford  &  Mallory  Flax  Brakes  which  I  have  been  oper- 
ating in  the  different  flax  districts  of  Ireland  have  given  en- 
tire satisfaction  to  all  who  have  seen  and  used  them.  The 
saving  over  all  other  machines  in  use  is  large  ;  on  some  kinds 
of  straw,  being  as  great  as  one-third.  This  taken  with  the 
saving  in  labor  will  give  an  advantage  In  favor  of  the  brake 
of  from  £3  to  £5,  or  $15  to  $25  per  day,  beside  increasing  the 
value  of  the  fibre  by  softening  and  giving  it  better  spinning 
quality.  In  conclusion,  I  would  say  that  the  machine  has 
been  approved  of  and  recommended  by  the  leading  manu- 
facturers of  Ireland,  and  also  by  the  Chemico-Agricultural 
Society  of  Ulster.  Yours  truly, 

EDGAR  FOWKS. 
Springfield,  Clark  County,  Ohio,  May  5th,  1863. 
Messes.  Mallory  «fc  Sanford. — 

Gentlemen.— I  have  tried  one  of  your  brakes,  and  I  have 
run  through  thirty-one  hundred  pounds  in  ten  and  one- 
fourth  hours,  which  was  well  broken,  and  every  way  satis- 
factory.   I  am,  geutlemcn,  yours  respectfully, 

E.  MEEK. 
Union  Village,  N.  Y.,  May  15th,  1863. 
Messrs.  Mallory  &  Sanford:— 

Gentlemen.— I  have  used  two  of  your  Patent  Flax  Brakes 
for  the  past  eight  months,  and  take  this  opportunity  of  say- 
ing that  they  exceed  any  brake  I  ever  saw.  They  take  out 
from  sixty  to  seventy  per  cent  of  the  shive  or  woody  matter, 
leaving  the  fibre  whole,  and  in  perfect  ribbons.  They  will 
Bave  from  five  to  eight  pounds  of  dressed  flax  to  every  hun- 
dred pounds  of  flax  straw  over  any  brake  I  ever  used.  We 
can  break  from  one  to  one  and-one-half  tons  per  day  of  ten 
hours  with  each  brake,  and  there  is  no  danger  of  life  or  limb. 
Yours  with  respect,  HARVY  WILCOX. 

Bloomington,  McClean  Co.,  Illinois,  May  2d,  1363. 
Messrs.  Mallory  &  Sanford:— 

Gentlemen.— This  is  to  certify  that  I  have  run  your  Pat- 
ent Flax  and  Hemp  Brake  more  or  less  since  the  1st  of  De- 
cember, 1862 ;  have  broke  western  tangled  straw,  and  I  find 
that  it  works  complete  as  it  removes  at  least  sixty-five  per 
cent  of  the  shive,  and  so  loosens  the  rest  that  they  can  very 
readily  be  shook  out,  and  the  stock  has  a  soft  oily  feel  which 
is  worth  more  than  when  it  has  a  harsh  wiry  feel,  which  is 
invariably  the  case  with  the  old  machine.  I  do  not  hesitate 
to  recommend  it  to  any  one  as  the  best  machine  ever  used 
for  breaking  flax  straw,  whether  straight  or  tangled,  rotted 
or  unrotted,  as  my  experience  has  proved  it  so  to  my  per- 
fect satisfaction.  Yours  truly. 

F.  A.  HAVENS. 

Stittsville,  N.  Y.,  April  18th,  1S03. 
Messrs.  Mallory  &  Sanford:— 

Gentlemen.— I  have  used  one  of  your  Patent  Brakes  for 
the  past  four  months.  I  am  highly  pleased  with  it,  so  much 
so  that  I  would  not  be  willing  to  part  with  it  on  any  condi- 
tions, provided  I  could  not  obtain  another  in  its  place.  I 
feel  that  it  is  a  very  safe  machine  for  the  person  who  oper- 
ates it;  whereas  the  old  brake  is  not  safe,  as  many  persons 
will  testify  who  have  lost  an  arm  by  them.  I  am  satisfied 
that  I  get  more  flax  and  less  tow  by  using  the  new  brake, 
while  both  flax  and  tow  ore  worth  more  in  market  than  that 
in  the  old  brakes,  and  certainly  the  new  brake  does  not  re. 
quire  near  as  much  power  to  run  them  as  the  old  one,  which 
with  many  would  be  quite  an  object.  My  brother  tells  me 
that  he  has  ordered  another  brake  through  your  agent,  to  be 
used  by  us,  as  we  are  about  to  unite  ourselves  in  the  flax  bus- 
iness the  coming  season.  We  will  want  it  by  the  first  of 
August  next.  Yours  truly,        WM.  B.  LINK. 

Greenwich,  N.  Y.,  April  2Sd,  1863. 
Mesbrs.  Mallory  &  Sanford:— 

Gentlemen. — You  ask  our  opinion  in  regard  to  your  flax 
machine.  We  must  say  we  are  well  pleased  with  it.  The 
machine  has  been  in  almost  constant  use  since  we  received 
it  from  you  something  like  six  months  since,  and  it,  wethiuk( 
works  better  now  than  when  we  first  started  it.  We  advise 
all  our  customers  to  buy  your  brake  in  preference  lo  those 
we  formerly  made  at  our  machine  shop.  Wishing  you  sue 
cess  in  this  great  invention,  we  are  truly  yours, 

EDDY,  DYER  &  CO. 

Descriptive  Circulars  sent  free  on  application  to 

MALLORY  &  SANFORD. 
Corner  White  and  Center-Sts.,  New- York  City. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


221 


A  large,  number  of  these  Elevators  have  been  used  during 
the  past  season,  and  from  its  capacity  to  elevate  hay,  we 
challenge  the  world  to  produce  its  equal  in  lightness,  strength, 
and  efficiency  to  manage. 

"Unloading  hay  at  the  bavn  by  horse  power  is  such  a 
Simple  operation  that  it  seems  wonderful  how  a  sensible 
farmer  ran  continue  Hie  excessive  hard  labor  of  lifting  it,  a 
fork  full  at  a  time,  in  the  stifling  heat  of  the  barn  of  a  July 
afternoon." 

Harvesting  Machines,  etc. 

Mow  1113  and  Reaping  Machines. 
Horse  Rakes,  revolving  and  spring  tootii  on  wheels. 
Horse  Hay  Forks. 
Hay  Rakes,  Pitchforks,  etc.,  etc. 
Grain  Cradles. 
Horticultural  Implements. 
Agricultural  Implements. 
A  full  assortment  of  the  best  and  latest  improved  kinds 

of  each  of  the  above. 
Also  Peruvian  Guano,  Bone  Dust,  and  all  other 

approved  fertilizers. 
Allen's  Improved  Cylinder  Plow. 

R.  H.  ALLEN  &  Co.,  ISO  &  191  Water-st.,  New-York. 

DAVIS'  IMPROVED  MOWER. 


The  best  and  cheapest  in  use. 
horse  mower. 


Price  $S0  and  $35,  for  a  two- 


Ruudell's  Patent  Horse  Hay  Fork. 

The  latest  improvement.  For  County  or  State  rights  apply 
to  HAINES  &  PELL, 

SOLE  AGENTS.  27  Courtlandt-St.,  New-York. 

Agents  wanted  to  sell  the  above. 

rjiHE  GREAT  AMERICAN  PUMP  !  FIVE 
•^  Year's  Success  in  all  parts  of  the  world  !  Prices  unchang- 
ed !  The  best  pump  for  cisterns!,  wells,  tanks,  etc.  Raises 
from  all  depths,  forces  to  al!  distances,  throws  T5  feet  by 
hose.  Simple,  Cheap,  Durable.  Drawings  and  prices  sent 
He.-.  JAMES  M.  EDNEY,  No.  4T4  Broadway,  N.  Y. 

COMBINED  HAND-TRUCK  and  BAG-HOLD- 
ER. It  should  be  in  every  mill,  warehouse,  and  barn: 
Price  only  $5.  One  truck  and  "patent  for  a  county  $H0.  A 
township  and  a  truck  $10.  Patent  for  all  the  States,  except 
Pennsylvania,  for  sale.    Circulars  free. 

J.  It,  HOFFER,  Mount  Joy,  Pa. 

INCSERSOUL'S   IMPB£OYGD 

HORSE  AND  HAND  POWER 

HAY   AND    COTTON    PRESSES. 

These  machines  have  been  tested  in  the  most  thorough 
manner  throughout  this  and  foreign  countries  to  the  number 
of  over  ViOO. 

The  IIobse  Power  is  worked  by  either  wheel  or  capstan, 
and  in  many  respects  possesses  unequaled  advantages.  We 
Invite  those  wanting  such  machines  to  write  for  a  catalogue 
containing  full  information,  with  cuts,  prices,  &c„  or  call 
and  examine  personally. 

Orders  promptly  attended  to.  by  addressing 
INGERSOLL  &  DOUGHERTY,  Greenpoint,  Kings  Co.,  L.  I. 


TWINES   FOR  VINES. 
Twines    for    tying  Vegetables    and    Flowers. 


Wool 
Twine  and  Tobacco  Twine.    Wrapping  and  Fancy  Twines. 
CARPET  WARP. 
II.  A.  HARVEY,  Rope  and  Cordage  Warehouse. 

S4  Maiden  Lane,  New-York. 

RUSSIA  OR  BASS  MATS,  SELECTED  EX- 
nresslv  for  budding  and  tving  :  GUNNY  HAGS. 
TWINES  HAY  ROPES,  &c,  suitable  for  Nursery  purposes, 
for  sale  in  lots  to  suit,  by  D.  W.  MANWARING, 

Importer,  24S  Front-st..  New^i  ork. 

TEETH 

UPON    ALLEN'S     SYSTEM 

CAN  BE  OBTAINED  AT 

22  Bond-st,  New-York. 

By  tills  method  tlie  TEETH.  GUMS,  IiOOF,  nnd  UVOM 
of  tlie  MOUTH  are  all  ti-uthfullyrepresented,  refU'Ctins  those 
delicate  tints,  Bhadea,  and  forma  peculiar  to  the  natural  or- 
eans  thus  concealing, from  the  ohserver  the  humanagency 
in  forming  them.  This  we  do  positively  accomplish,  as 
evinced  by  our  numerous  patrons.  The  natural  expression 
of  the  mouth,  and  original  contour  of  the  face  can  also  be 
restored,  which  rejuvenates  the  waning  cheek. 

A  descriptive  pamphlet  may  be  obtained  by  addressing 
nits.  J.  ALLEN  ifc  SON.  as  above. 


FOR    FARMERS! 

RUNDELL'S 

HORSE   HAY  FORK  ! 

PATENTED  APRIL   7th,  1863. 


This  is  tlie  best  and  most  substantial  Fork  yet  invented. 
It  is  admitted  by  all  practical  Farmers  and  Mechanics,  who 
have  seen  it  operate,  to  possess  superior  advantages  over  all 
other  Forks— being  simpler,  more  substantial,  working  with 
greater  facility  in  all  places,  can  be  elevated  higher  and 
through  a  smaller  space.  It  weighs  but  twenty  pounds,  can  be 
worked  easily  by  a  boy  of  10  years,  is  very  strong  and  is  not 
liable  to  get  out  of  repair. 

That  a  Horse  Hay  Fork  will  pay,  is  no  longer  questioned 
by  the  intelligent  Farmer,  as  it  saves  a  vast  amount  of  man- 
ual labor  and  time,  which  is  an  important  consideration 
while  labor  is  so  scarce,  and  dear;  besides  it  will  frequently 
save  its  price  when  the  Farmer  has  a  quantity  of  hay  to  se- 
cure from  the  rain,  as  a  man  and  two  boys  will,  by  the  use 
of  this  Fork,  unload  a  ton  of  hay  in  five  minutes. 

For  Town,  County  and  State  Sights  apply  to 

L.  RUNDELL,  Coxsackie,  N.  Y. 
Manmfacturcd  by       GIFFORD  BROTHERS,  Hudson,  N.  Y. 

CLARK  SORGO  MACHINE  CO. 

(Successors  to  Win.  H.  Clark.) 

128  MAIN  ST.,  CINCINNATI,    OHIO. 

Organized  with  ample  capital,  and  employing  every  facili- 
ty which  the  genius  of  invention  baa  devised  ;  using  only  the 
best  materials,  employing  onlv  Die  best  of  workmen,  and 
owning  within  ourselves  the  best  seven  improvements  upon 
Mills,  including  tlie  original  Hedges'  Patent,  we  offer  to  the 
Public  a  scries  of  Cane  Mills  of  superior  excellence.  We 
call  especial  attention  to  our 

Vertical  Mills  of  1S62,  with  Hedges  &  Clark's  improve- 
ments, four  sizes.    Capacity  50,  80, 100 and  120 gallons  per  hour. 

Vertical  Mills  of  1862,  with  sweeps  below,  very  conve- 
nient for  a  second  story.    Four  sizes. 

New  Horizontal  Mill. 

New  Horizontal  Mill,  with  sweeps  below. 

Victor  Mill  of  1SG3,  with  valuable  improvements.  Five 
sizes. 

Two  Roll  Mills  of  any  size  to  order. 

New  Back  Geared  Mill,  4  to  S  horse  power. 

Plantation  Mills  from  10  to  30  barrels  per  hourcapacity. 
Larger  sizes  to  order. 

Every  Mill  warranted. 

Also  Steam  Evaporators,  Church,  School  and  Farm  Rells; 
Corn  Crushers,  Agricultural  Steamers,  Tobacco,  "Wine,  Cider, 
Lard  and  Jack  Screws,  &c.,  &c. 

Send  for  "The  Sorgo  Hand  Book." 

THE     EXCELSIOR 

BURR    STONE    MILLS, 

FOR  farmers  and  millers. 

Have  taken  the  highest  Premiums  wherever  exhibited! 
They  may  be  driven  by  horse,  water,  or  steam  poicer, 
do  their  work  as  well  as  the  best  flat  stone  mills  In  mill- 
ing establishments,  and  require  but  one-half  the  poicer  to  do 
the  same  amount  of  work.  They  arc  made  in  the  best  manner, 
and  for  farm  use  will  last  thirty  years,  and  cost  nothing  for 
repairs, 
£3?~They  are  guaranteed  to   give  satisfaction,  ok 

THE  MONEY     WILL  BE  KEFUNDED.ttl£3 

For  Circulars  and  further  information  address 

E.  H.  BENNET,  Late  Bennet  Brothers, 

43  and  44  Greenc-st..  New-York. 

Important   to   Gardeners    and    Farmers. 
WANTED, 

For  Army  Use,  French  White  Turnips,  Carrots,  String  Beans, 
Green  Peas,  Tomatoes,  Cabbage,  and  Parsley. 
Parties  having  all  or  any  of  the  above  articles,  or  wishing 
to  plant  on  contract,  will  be  liberally  dealt  with,  by  apply- 
ing to  LOLTIS  A.  WALKER, 

5  James  Slip,  New-York. 
or  Stand  270,  Fulton  st.  Pier,  West  Washington  Market. 


Rcasonis  Why  You  Should  Buy 

COOKS'  SUGAR   EVAPORATOR. 


Manufactured   by  Blyniycrs,    Bates  &    Bay, 

MANSFIELD,     OHIO. 

BECAUSE  IT  IS  "The  only  Evaporator  which  has  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  any  notoriety  in  making  sugar." 

C.  &  J.  COOPER,  Mt.  Vernon.  Ohio. 

BECAUSE  IT  IS  "  No  more  trouble  to  make  sugar  upon 
it  than  to  make  a  pot  of  mush." 

(>.  N.  BRAINARD,  Marion,  Iowa. 

BECAUSE  IT  IS  The  only  Evaporator  which  accomplish- 
es ilif  above  results. 

BECAUSE  IT  IS  The  only  perfect  self  defecator.  No 
chemical  required. 

BECAUSE  IT  IS  From  50  to  100  per  cent,  the  fastest  boiler 
in  tin- world. 

BECAUSE  IT  IS  Much  lower  in  price  than  any  other  Pan 
in  proportion  to  the  number  of  square  Inches  contained. 

BECAUSE  IT  IS  A  perfect  Evaporator  and  Defecator 
combined,  and  requires  only  one  fire  and  one  operation  to 
finish  the  syrup,  without  the"  use  of  dampers  by  which  a  large 
portion  of  the  neat  is  lost  and  the  capacity  of  the  Evaporator 
greatly  diminished. 

BECAUSE  IT  IS  Manufactured  under  the  original  Cook 
Patent,  the  oldest  of  all  Patents  on  shallow  Evaporators, 
and  which  with  its  reissues  covers  all  points  of  value  in 
Sugar  Pans.  If.  is  therefore  an  infringement  upon  no  other, 
and  V<T  BUY  NO  LAW  SUIT  WITH  IT. 

p£~  Send  for  the   "Sorgo  Hand-Book." 


Amalgam    BcBIs, 

At  prices  within  the  reach  of  every  Church,  School, 
Cemetery.  Factory,  or  Farm  in  the  land.  Their 
use  throughout  tlie  United  States  and  Canadas  for 
the  past  six  years  lias  proven  them  to  combine 
most  valuable  qualities,  among  which  are  tone, 

STRENGTH,    SONOROUSNESS,    and     DURABILITY      OF 

"VIBRATION,  unequalled  by  any  other  manufacture. 
Sizes  from  50  to  5.000  lbs.,  costing  two  thirds  less 
than  other  metal,  or  15  cents  per  pound,  at  which 
price  we  warrant  them  twelve  months.  Old  bell 
metal  taken  in  exchange,  or  bought  for  cash.  Send 
for  a  Circular  to  the  Manufacturer, 

JOHN  B.  ROBINSON, 
No.  100  William-street,  New- York. 


TO  FARMERS 

AND     OTHERS. 

We  are  manufacturing  a  Genuine  Article  of  Fink,  Medi- 
um, and  Coarse  BONE  DUST,  or  RAW  BOIVE  SU- 
PEUPHOSPHATE  OF  LIME,  manufactured  from 
unburned  Bones,  containing  all  the  Animal  and  Chemical 
Fertilizing  Properties.  Please  address  the  Manufacturers, 
and  get  the  Intrinsic  Value  of  your  money. 
N.  B.  A  Liberal  Discount  made  to  Dealers  for  Cash, 
Address  A.  LISTER  &  BRO., 

Tarrytown,  Westchester  Co..  N.  Y„ 
Or  Newark,  N.  J. 

"tofabmersT 

.Rone  Tafeu.  Roue  Talcii. 

MANUFACTURED  by  the  LODI  MANUFACTURING  CO. 

The  large  sale  of  this  manure,  and  constantly  increasing 
demand  has  induced  the  Company  to  arrange  for  its  manu- 
facture on  an  extensive  scale. 

It  is  composed  of  Fine  Raw  Bone  and  Night  Soil,  free 
from  all  Impurities,  dried  and  ground  to  a  fine  powder,  mak- 
ing it  quick  in  its  action,  as  well  as  permanent  in  its  results. 

For  Buckwheat,  Turnips  and  Winter  Grain,  no  manure 
can  be  found  of  equal  value  for  the  amount  invested. 

It  Is  put  in  new  Barrels,  200  lbs.  in  each.  One  and  a  half 
barrels  will  manure  anjacre- 

Price,  free  of  cartage,  $4.50  per  Barrel. 

All  orders,  which  will  hereafter  be  filled  promptly,  must  be 
directed  to  the  LODI  MANUFACTURING  CO., 

6G  Cortlandt-st.,  New-York. 

AMM0NIATED  PACIFIC  GUANO. 

A  real  guano  containing  from  seventy  to  eight?  per  cent 
of  Phosphate  of  Lime,  to  which  has  been  added  By  a  chemi- 
cal process,  a  large  percentage  of  Actual  Amnion  fa  sn  fixed 
that  it  can  not  evaporate,  making  it  equal  if  not  superior  to 
any  other  fertilizer. 

Pamphlets  with  copies  of  Analysis  by  Dr,  Jackson,  Mass. 
State  Assayer,  and  testimonials  from  scientific  Agriculturists 
Showing  its  value  can  be  obtained  from 

J.  O.  BAKER  &  CO.,  Selling  agents, 
87Wall-st.,  New-York. 


COE'S 


SUPERPHOSPHATE  OF 

PVRE  BOXE  DUST. 


LIME. 


The  exorbitant  price  of  Peruvian  Guano,  makes  these  the 
Cheapest  and  best  fertilizers  which  the  farmers  can  use. 
OTHER  FERTILIZERS  OF  ALL   KINDS. 

R.  H.  ALLEN  &  CO., 
New-York  Agricultural  Warehouse  and  Seed  Store, 

189  and  191  Water-street. 

NOTICE. 

In  the  Brewery  of  KOEHLER  &  FINK,  Guttenbcrg,  large 
quantities  of  stable  manure  are  for  sale.  Inquire  of  the 
owners. 


222 


AMERICAN    AORICITI.TT7RIST. 


[July, 


UNIVERSAL, 

CLOTHES    AYRINGER. 

No.  1.  Large  FAMILY  WRINGER 810.00 

No.  2.  Medium      "                "         7.00 

No.2H.      "              "                   "           B.00 

No.  3.  Smaia          "                   "           5.50 

No.  8.  Large  HOTEL              "           14.00 

No.  IS.  Medium  LAUNDRY    "  j  to  run  by  steam  )  1^.00 

No.  2>.  Large           "              "  J        or  hand,        (  30.00 

NOS.  1%  AND  3  HAVE  NO  COGS-ALL  OTHERS  ARE 
WARRANTED. 

Mb.  Judd,  of  the  American  Agriculturist  says  of  the 

Universal    Clothes    Wringer : 

"From  several  years'  experience  with  it  In  our  own  family, 
from  I  he  testimony  of  hundreds  who  have  used  it,  and  from 
the  construction  of  the  •implement  itself,— we  feel  certain 
that  it  is  worthy  a  place  in  every  family  where  the  washing 
is  done  at  home.  A  child  can  readily  wring  out  a  tublul  of 
clothes  in  a  few  minutes.  It  is  in  reality  A  CLOTHES  SAV- 
ER! A  TIME  SAVER!  and  A  STRENGTH  SAVER!  The 
Raving  of  garments  will  alone  pay  a  large  percentage  on  its 
cost.  We  think  the  machine  much  more  ihan  PAYS  FOR 
ITSELF  EVERY  YEAR  in  the  saving  of  garments !  There 
are  several  kinds,  nearly  alike  in  general  construction,  but 
we  consider  it  important  that  the  Wringer  be  fitted  with 
Cogs,  otherwise  a  mass  of  garments  may  clog  the  rollers, 
and  the  rollers  upon  the  crank-shaft  slip  and  tear  »he 
clothes.  Our  own  is  one  of  the  first  made,  and  it  is  as  GOOD 
AS  NEW  after  nearly  FOUR  YEARS'  CONSTANT  USE." 
EVERY  WRINGER  WITH  COG-WHEELS 
IS  WARRANTED  IV  EVERY  PARTICULAR. 
A  good  CANVASSER  wanted  in  every  Town. 

Xi&~  On  receipt  of  the  price  from   places  where  no  one  is 
selling,  we  will  send  Hie  wringer  FREE  OF  EXPENSE. 
R.  C.  BROWNING,  347  Broadway,  New- York. 


The  NONPAREIL  WASHING  MACHINE 

Is  the  only  entirely  reliable  machine  in  use. 

It  has  been  before  the  public  two  years,  and  has  not  in  any 
instance  failed  to  give  satisfaction. 

It  saves  two-thirds  the  labor  and  time  required  in  hand 
washing. 

It  is  a  squeezing  machine,  and  will  not  injuie  the  finest 
clothing. 

A  girl  of  fourteen  years  can  operate  it. 

It  will  not  get  out  of  order.  ' 

It  is  recommended  by  Mr.  Judd,  the  proprietor  of  this 
Journal. 

Prices:  No.  1,  $12.    No.  2,$16.    No.  3,  $ 20. 

Send  tor  free  Circular  to 

OAKLEY  &  KEATING,  73  South-st.,  N'w-Yor'". 

$— SOMETHING  NEW  \    AGENTS  WANTED. 

Our  New  "  Fancy  Card  Thermometers"—"  H  emmrr  and 
Shield"  for  baud  sewing—"  Improved  Indelible  Pencil"  for 
marking  linen,  and  10  more  novel,  useful  and  indispens- 
able articles,  are  warranted  to  give  satisfaction.— Samples 
25c.  ei>  jh.    For  circulars  and  terms  address 

RICE  &  CO.,  37  Park  Row,  N.  Y. 


BARON   LIEBIG'S   GREAT    WORK    ON    AGRI- 
CULTURE.    THE  RESULT  OF   16  YEARS 
OBSERVATION  ! 
D.  APPLETON  &,  €0.,  143  &  445  Broadway,  N.  Y., 

PUBLISH  THIS  DAY 
THE 

NATURAL  LAWS    OE    HUSBANDRY, 

BY 
JUSTUS  VON  LIEBIG, 

EDITED  BY 
John  BIy Hi,  M .»., 

Professor  of  Chemistry  in  Queen's  College,  Cork. 
1  Vol.,  large  12mo.,  cloth,  387  pages,    $1.50. 
In  this  work  Baron  Ltebig  has  given  to  the  public  his  ma- 
ture views  on  agriculture,  alter  16  years  of  experiment  and 
reflection. 
Sent  free  by  mail  on  receipt  of  price. 

ONION  CULTURE— Fourth  (new)  Edition. 

This  work  comprises  in  32  pages  all  the  particulars  for  suc- 
cessful Onion  Culture,  from  Selection  of  Seed  to  Marketing 
the  Crop— being  the  practical  directions  given  by  seventeen 
experienced  Onion  Growers,  residing  in  different  parts  of  the 
country.  Price  20  cents  (or  7  Btamps),  sent  post-paid.  Ad- 
dress Publisher  of  Agriculturist. 

_A.    Bare     Cliaiace  I 

The  "PRINTER'S DEVIL,"  ahandsomeillustrated  literary 
family  Journal,  will   he   sent  free  of  postage,  on   trial,  six 
months,  for  the  nominal  price  of  twenty  five  cents. 
jjgr'This  paper  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  country, 
and  onlv  needs   to  be  seen   to  be  liked.      Address  '"Editor 
PRINTER'S  DEVIL,  Box  2&00,  New- York." 

TOBACCO, 

Just    How    to    Grow    it. 

Every  particular,  from  the  selection  of  the  Seed,  and 
preparation  of  the  ground,  to  the  Gathering,  Curing,  and 
Marketing  the  Crop,  is  given  in  a  work  issued  by  the 
Publisher  of  the  American  Agriculturist*  and  sent  post- 
paid for  25  cents.  This  work  consists  of  a  selection  of 
the  best  fourteen  out  of  eighty-five  Essays,  prepared  by 
eighty-five  different  cultivators,  residing  in  various  parts 
of  the  Northern  and  Middle  States,  In  each  of  the  Essays 
contained  in  this  work,  the  writer  tells,  in  a  plain,  practi- 
cal, straight-forward  manner,  just  what  to  do,  and  how  to 
do  it.  Any  item  omitted  by  one  is  given  by  another,  so 
that  the  information  is  full  and  complete.  Several  en- 
gravings illustrating  the  method  of  drying,  packing,  etc. 
The  work  is  worth  its  weight  in  silver  to  every  one  grow- 
ing even  a  small  plot  of  tobacco. 

A  SPLENDID  PREMIUM  to  any  person  sending  six  year- 
ly subscribers  to  Mine.  Demorhst  s  Mirror  op  Fashions, 
at  $1  each,  before  the  1st  of  September  next,  will  be  sent  a 
$5  Running-Stitch  Sewing-Machine  and  an  extra  copy  of 
the  Mirror  of  Fashions,  and  to  each  subscriber  the  50 cents 
worth  of  Extra  Patterns  and  a  Card  de  Visite  of  the  Lil- 
iputians  and  Barnum,  nve  in  a  group. 

FOLAK    REFRIGERATOR, 
Maintains  the  Pre-eminence,  and  has  always  received  the 
Highest  Premium  over  all  other  Refrigerators. 

LESLEY*  ELLIOT,  Manufacturers, 

491  Broadway,  New- York. 

GREAT    DISCOVERY. 

An  adhesive  preparation,  that  is  insoluble  in  "Water  or  Oil, 
and  that  will  stick  Patches  and  Linings  to  Boots  and  Shoes 
sufficiently  strong  without  stitching.  It  will  also  mend  broken 
Furniture,  Crockery,  Toys,  and  all  articles  of  Household  use 
effectually. 

INSOLUBLE    CEMENT, 

Supplied  In  packages  from  2  ounces  to  100  pounds.  It  is  a 
Liquid,  and  as  easily  applied  as  Common  Paste.  It  adheres 
Oily  Substances  firmly  and  completely. 

Can  be  procured  at  wholesale  in  all  large  cities,  and  at  re- 
tall  throughout  the  country. 

HILTON  BROTHERS,  Proprietors,  Providence,  R.  I. 
"A  Good  Thing.— Having  occasion  the  other  day  to  use  a 
liquid  Cement,  we  tried  the  article  made  by  Hilton  Brothers, 
Providence,  and  found  It  to  work  to  a  charm.    We  therefore 
recommend  it,"—  Woonaoeket  Patriot,  Feb.  fi,  1863. 

CHAS.  RICHARDSON  &  CO.,  61  Broad-st.,  Boston,  Mass., 
Agents  for  New-England. 
For  sale  in  Mew- York  by 

HALL  &  RUCKKL,  218  Greenwlch-st, 

H.  C.  OAKLEY,  11  Park  Row. 

T.  HARDY,  203  Broadway. 

M.  "WARD,  CLOSE  &  CO.,  ISO  "Wllliam-st. 

Stammering, 

Cured  by  Bates'  Patent  scientific  appliances,  the  only 
known  means  for  the  rapid  and  permanent  cure  of  Stammer- 
ing, Stuttering,  &c.  They  received  a  Prize  Medal  at  the  last 
London  Exhibition. 

For  (new  Edition  of)  Pamphlets  and  Drawings  describing 
the  same,  address    H.  C.  L.  MEARS,  27?  West  23d-St ,  N  Y 


AGENTS  WANTED.— To  take  orders  for  VIC- 
TOR'S HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION,  the  acktlOWL 
edaed  .Standard,  Endorsed  by  the  President  Cabinet,  Mem- 
bers of  Congress,  Governors,  Bancroft,  the  Historian,  and  by 
the  Press  generally.— Two  volumns  now  ready,  expensively 
illustrated  with  Steel  Engravings.— Sold  by  subscription  on- 
ly, and  exclusive  Territory  given.  Canvassers  make  from 
$50  to  ?100  per  week.— Send  for  Circular  of  terms,  etc.  Ad- 
dress EDW.  F.  HOVEY,  No.  13  Spruce  St.,  New-York. 

BOOKS    FOR    FARMERS 
AND    OTHERS. 

[Any  of  the  following  books  can  be  obtained  at  the  of- 
fice of  the  Agriculturist  at  the  prices  named,  or  they  will  be 
forwarded  by  mail,  post  paid,  on  receipt  of  the  price.  Other 
books  not  named  in  the  list  will  be  procured  and  sent  to  sub- 
scribers when  desired,  if  the  price  be  forwarded.  All  of  these 
books  may  be  procured  by  any  one  making  up  a  libra- 
ry. Those  we  esteem  specially  valuable,  are  marked  with  a  *."] 
N.B.— For  books  going  over  1,500  miles,  18  cents  extra  on 
each  dollars  worth  must  be  sent  to  us  to  pre-pay  the  extra 
postage,  and  in  the  same  ratio  for  fractional  parts  of  a  dollar. 

American  Bird  Fancier |0  35 

American  Farmer's  Encyclopedia ,,    500 

American  Florist's  Guide 75 

American  Weeds  and  Useful  Plants  ..."    1  50 

Allen  on  the  Culture  ot  the  Grape   1  00 

Allen's  (R.  L.)  American  Farm  Book* 1  00 

Allen's  Diseases  of  Domestic  Animals 75 

Allen's  (L.  F.)  Rural  Architecture 1  25 

Bridgeman's  Fruit.Cnltiva  tor's  Manual 60 

Bridgeman's  Young  Gardener's  Assistant 1  50 

Bridgeman's  Kitchen. Garden  Instructor. 60 

Bridgeman's  Florist's  Guide 60  - 

Brandt's  Age  of  Horses"  (English  and  German) ,       50 

Breck's  Book  of  Flowers 1  25 

Browne's  American  Poultry  Yard I  25 

Buist's  American  Flower  Garden  Directory 1  25 

Buist's  Family  Kitchen  Gardener* 75 

Central  Park  Guide '. 25 

Cliorl ton's  Grape-Grower's  Guide*. 60 

Cole's  (S.  W.)  American  Fruit  Book 60 

Dadd's  (Geo.  H.)  Modern  Horse  Doctor 1  25 

Dadd's  (Geo.  H.)  American'Cattle  Doctor l  25 

Dana's  Muck  Manual  forFarmers 1  00 

Downing's  Cottage  Residences* 2  50 

Downing's  Fruits  and  Fruit-Trees  of  America** 2  00 

Downing's  Ladies'  Flower  Garden 1  50 

Eastwood  011  the  Cranberry" 50 

Employment  of  Women— By  Virginia  Penny* 1  50 

Every  Lady  her  own  Flower  Gardener 25 

Feascnden's  American  Kitchen  Gardener 35 

French's  Farm  Drainage  * 1  25 

Field's  (Thomas  W.)  Pear  Culture 1  00 

Fish  Culture 1  00 

Flint  (Charles  L.)  on  Grasses* 1  50 

Flint's  Milch  Cows  and  Dairy  Farming* 1  50 

Fuller's  Strawberry  Culturist 10 

Goodale's  Principles  of  Breeding 100 

Gray's  Manual  of  Botany 2  50 

Guenon  on  Milch  Cows 60 

Hall's  (Miss)  American  Cookery 1  00 

Harris'  Insects  Injurious  to  Vegetation  plain 3  00 

do.       do.  do.  do.         colored  plates.    4  00 

Herbert's  Hints  to  Horsekeepers** 1  25 

Hooper's  Dog  and  Gun. .   ..  25 

Johnson  on  Manures 75 

Kemps  Landscape  Gardening 2.00 

Kidder's  Bee  Culture 50 

Langsuoth  on  the  Honey  Bee* 150 

Leslies  Recipes  for  Cooking l  25 

Lenehars'  Hothouses  1  25 

Liebig's  Lectures  on  Chemistry 50 

Linslcy's  (I).  C.)  Morgan  Horses l  25 

Manual  of  Agriculture  by  G.  Emerson  and  C.  L.  Flint.    1  00 

Mavhew's  Illustrated  Horse  Doctor 3  00 

MeMahou's  American  Gardener*. 2  50 

Median's  Ornamental  Trees 75 

Milburn  on  the  Cow  and  Dairy 25 

Miles  on  the  Horse's  Foot .  ....       50 

Mistakes  or  Educated  Men 50 

National  Almanac  and  Annual  Record** 1  25 

Norton's  Scientific  Agriculture 75 

Olcott's  Sorgho  and  Imphee 100 

Our  Farm  of  Four  Acres..* (paper) 35 

Onion  Culture** 20 

Pardee  on  Strawberry  Culture 60 

Parlor  Gardener 75 

Parsons  on  the  Rose 1  25 

Pedder's  Farmer's  Land  Measurer 50 

Phantom  Bouquet,  or  Skeleton  Leaves 100 

Fhin's  Grape  Culture  1  25 

Q 11  inbv's  Mysteries  of  Bee  keeping* 1  35 

Randall's  Sheep  Husbandry   1  35 

Richardson  on  the  Dog 50 

Richardson  on  the  Hog 25 

Robins'  Produce  and  Ready  Reckoner 60 

Rose  Culturist 25 

Shepherd's  Own  Book 2  00 

Skillful  Housewife 25 

Smith's  Landscape  Gardening,  135 

Spencer's  Education  ol  Children** 1  25 

Stewart's  (John)  Stable  Book 1  25 

Tobacco  Culture**  25 

Todd's  (S.  E.)  Young  Farmer  s  Manual 1  25 

Tucker's  Register  Rural  Atlairs 25 

Turner's  Cotton  Planter's  Manual 1  25 

Watson's  American  Home  Garden 1  50 

W nod's  Class  Book  of  Botany 2  50 

Yale  College  Agricultural  Lectures 25 

Youatt  and  Snooncr  on  the  Horse 1  35 

Youatt  and  Martin  on  Cattle 1  25 

Youatt  on  the  Hog 75 

Youatt  on  Sheep 75 

Youmans*  Household  Science*  1  25 

WEBSTER'S 

ARMY  AND  NAVY  POCKET  DICTIONARY. 

(Just  published,)  weighs  four  ounces,  and  contains  a  Gener- 
al Pocket  Dictionary  of  the  language  ;  a  Dictionary 
of  Military  and  Naval  Terms  ;  a  Dictionary  of  Peo- 
terbs,  Phrases,  and  Oft-quoted  Words,  from  Latin, 
French,  Italian,  Spanish,  Greek,  &c,  with  tables  of  Rank, 
Pay,  Rations,  Emoluments,  Insignia  of  Rank,  &c.  In  army 
and  navy.  Tables  of  Measures,  Weights  and  Moneys  of  dif- 
ferent nations ;  Fac-Similes  of  Flags  of  Commercial  Nations, 
&C,  &c.  Price  in  flexible  leather,  marbled  edges,  75c.  tucks 
$1.  Every  officer  and  private,  and  every  one  desiring  to  un- 
derstand accounts  of  military  and  naval  affairs,  wants  one. 
Sent  securely  by  mail,  post-paid,  at  the  price.  Published  at  5 
and  7  Mercer-street.  New-York,  by  MASON  BROTHERS. 


1803.]  AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST.  223 


THE  NEW-YORK  WEEKLY  HERALD 


j 


THE    BEST    ANH     THE     CHEAPEST     FAMILY     NEWSPAPER 

IN    THE    WORLD! 

The  twenty-seventh  volume  of  the  New- York  Weekly  Herald,  the  cheapest  and  best  Family  Newspaper  in  existence,  was  commenced  on 
the  3d  of  January  last. 

The  proprietor  and  editor  now  devotes  especial  attention  to  all  the  departments  of  the  Weekly  Herald,  and  in 

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Office  of  the  Tribune,  New-York,   April  28,   1862. 
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224 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


Contents  for  July,  1863. 


Bargain-Hunting  Poor  Econnmv  214 

Barometer  as  a  Weather  Indicator..  .2  Illustrations.  .2115 

Bees — Apiary  in   July l'J6 

Boys  and  Girls'  Columns— The  Self-important  Grass- 
hopper—Ponto  anil  the  Mink— A  Church-going  Dog 
—The  Devoted  Sparrow— Boys'  and  Girls'  Garden, 
No.  4 — Puzzles  and  Problems— Frightening  Herself 

to  Sleep 7  Illustrations.. 210-217 

Buckwheat  versus  Summer  Fallow 203 

Cheese-Making — Notes  on 206 

Clover— Shall  it  be  Plowed  Under  ? 203 

Cooking  Hints,  etc. — Graham  Bread— Chicken  Pud- 
ding—Baked Apple  Pudding— Pound  Cake  and 
Fruit  Cake— Frosting — Use  for  Broken  Cakes — 
Sponge  Cake— Currant  Jelly— Rhubarb  Wine— 
Sweet  Pickled  Tomatoes— Prepared  Glue— Starch- 
ing Bosoms  and  Collars  215 

Corn  Meal— Parched  for  Food 215 

Cows— Kicking— To   Prevent 207 

Crop  Prospects 200 

Dahlias  -Training 211 

Drying  Fruit  and  Vegetables 213 

Exhibitions— Agricultural— Improvement  Needed — 2116 

Exhibition  Tables  at  Agriculturist  Office 109 

Farm  Work  in  July   193 

Ferns — American — Collection   of.  ...3  Illustrations.  .208 
Flax  Spinning — Old-Fashioned  Musical  Instrum't./^.213 

Flower  Garden  and  Lawn  in  July 195 

Flowers — Double— How  Produced 212 

Flowers— Fine  Old  Plant— Thrift Illustrated.  .212 

Fruit— Introduction  into  England 210 

Garden— F  I'll  it  in  July 195 

Garden— Kilchen.  in  July. 104 

Garden — Linking  Beneficial 212 

Gate— Balance Illustrated.  .205 

Grape  Leaves— Thinning 209 

Grape  Vines-Girdling 209 

Grape  Vines— Grafting 209 

Grape  Vines — Layering 209 

Green  and  Hot  Houses  in  July 194 

Harvest  Field— Suggestions  for Illustrated.  .201 

Hay  Field— Steam  in  202 

Haying  Time— Hints  for ■ 202 

Hedges— Summer  Pruning 210 

Homestead  Law — Working  of "07 

Humbugs — Wheat  Crop — Heiis — Transmutation 207 

Insects — Asparagus   Beetle   Illustrated.. 212 

Insect— Striped  Bug  a  Night  Worker 212 

Labels  on  Fruit  Trees 210 

.Manure  Making  in  Summer 202 

Market  Review 217 

Milk— Testing  Quality 2  Illustrations .  .204 

Milking  Apparatus— Col vin's 206 

Millet  Seed  Injurious  to  Horses 200 

Newspaper  Swindle — Am.  Farmer  <fc  Mechanic. 207 

Orchard  anil  Nursery  in  July 194 

Orchards— Treatment  of 210 

Pumpkin  Exhibition  at  Agriculturist  Office 196 

Hats— How   to  Trap 214 

Rock  Work — Ornamental 208 

Scythes— How  to  Sharpen 202 

Seeds— Garden— Saving 211 

Sheep  as  Fertilizers  203 

Slops — Kitchen— Value  of 211 

Strawberry  Exhibition  at  Agriculturist  Office 196 

Strawberries — Discussion  at  Fruit  Grower's  Meeting. 211 

Sugar  from  Unripe  Sorghum 204 

Suggestions  and  Notes  for  July Illustrated. .  193 

Tanning  Skins  of  Animals 203 

Tea— How  to  Draw   215 

Til  inning  out  Vegetables,  etc 209 

Tillage- Reasons  for 200 

Tim  Bunker  on  Keeping  a  Wife  Comfortable 213 

Tomatoes — How  to  Preserve   215 

Trees— Fruit— Summer  Treatment  210 

Vegetables -Hints  on  Cooking 214 

Vegetables — Prepared — for  Soldiers 213 

Walks— Gravel  on  Hill  Sides 209 

Weeds— Talks  About— II 3  Illustrations.  .204 

Wistaria— Chinese 210 


INPEX    TO    "BASKET,"    OH  SHORTER    ARTICLES. 

Accounts — Farm 198|Horses;  Ringbone 

Apples  Kept  in  Sand 199 [Horses,  Scratches 

A |iples,  Summer  Queen.  198|  Horses,  Warts   

Ashes,  Keeping 199|Insects,  Bean  Weevil.. 

Rec  Hives,  Non  Swarm'g  197  Insects,  Bottling 

Bees,  Mignonette  for 197|Insects,  Potato  Bug 

Bees,  Repelling  Ants. .  .197jlnsects,  Scale  on  Trees. 
Bird.  Mischievous  ......I97IInsects,  Wire  Worms.. 

Books,  Stenographic 199i Ladies,  Thanks  to   

Brooklyn  Hort'l  Ass'n..  .199  Lemon  Tree 

Brooms,  Home-Made..  .lOOiManure  Heap,  Making 

Cabbage  Puller 198  Manure,  Pond  Mud 

Camellias 198  Manuring  with  Brains  . 

Caltle,  Red  Durham 197|Money,  How-  to  Make  . . 

Chess  Question 197  Panlarchy, Headquarters 

Chrysanthemums 19S  Plants  for  Name    

Clover,  White 19o|Plow,  The  Peeler. 

Crocus,  Planting 19S|Plowing,  Frequent 

Dentistry 199  Poultry  .Gapes  in  Chicks 

Disinfectants 1971  Poultry,  Scratching 

Doctors,  Advertising 199! Premiums 

J>ni;s,  Proof  Against. ...  197|Seeds,   Soaking 

Editor  Absent 196 1 Sewing  Machine 

Entomologist, N. J 196 .Sheep,  Insuring 

Farm  House  Plans 1 96 i Sheep,  Scab  Remedy.. . 

Fig  Trees 199!  Sheep  Ticks,  Remedy 

Flax  Dressing  Machine.  1 99 i Sorgho  Mills. ... 

Floors,  Sparred 197  Spike,  How  to  Draw... 

Fruit  Books  198IStacks  for  Shelter  ..   .. 

Fruit  Drying  Apparatus.  198  Istrawberries,  Mulching. 

Fruit,  Watering 199  Slumps,  Acid  for 

Gloves,  Chapped  Hands.  I9slsweel  Potato  Tops 

c-iats,  Value  of .197|Tomatoes  in  Pots  

Grass  with  Buckwheat    198|Trees,  Mulching  Peach 

Crape  Vines  Barren 196'Trees,  Peach,  Curl    

Harness,  To  Repel  Rats  197|Trees,  Peach,  Natural. 

Hedges,   Cutting 1981Trees,  Pruning 

Hemp  Brake 196J Turnips,  Best  for  Winlc 

Honey  for  Market 199:  Whitewash,  Out  Door. 


107 

197 

197 

197 

197 

197 

197 

107 

199 

198 

107 

107 

193 

I  00 

199 

I  OS 

198 

100 

.197 

.198 

.190 

10S 

.199 

107 

.197 

.197 

.196 

.198 

.198 

.198 

.199 

.197 

199 

108 

198 

198 

IBS 

199 

107 


For  June,  July,  aii«l  August  Only. 

Special  PreoiiiiBii. 

We  know  that  a  good  Barometer  is  a  good  thing  for 
every  family.  To  the  sailor  a  barometer  is  almost  essen- 
tial, and  the  instrument  is  scarcely  less  valuable  for 
Farmers.  It  will  pay  a  large  interest  on  its  cost  every 
year,  and  very  often  more  than  pay  for  itself  in  the  sav- 
ing of  a  single  crop  from  damage  by  storm.  We  have 
received  many  testimonials  to  this  efTect,  from  those  who 
have  received  barometers  through  our  premium  list,  and 
our  own  experience  has  often  demonstrated  the  usefulness 
of  the  instrument  in  foreshadowing  the  coming  storm  as 
well  as  the  approach  or  continuance  of  fine  weather,  when 
all  appearances  were  in  the 
contrary  direction.  We 
have  hitherto  given  as  a  pre 
mium  ihe  Aneroid  Barome- 
ter, because  more  portable 
and  more  readily  sent  by  ex- 
press or  otherwise  than  the 
common  mercurial  barom- 
eter. Butforlhe  danger  of 
breakage,  we  should  of 
course  prefer  any  good 
Mercurial  Barometer  as  be- 
ing the  most  nicely  accu- 
rate and  unfailingly  perma- 
nent. Thisdanger  of  break- 
age is  now  obviated  in  the 
invention  of  Mr.  Woodruff, 
manufactured  by  Charles 
Wilder  at  Peterboro,  N.  H. 
The  glass  tube  is  well  pro- 
tected, and  what  is  of  great 
importance,  and  is  indeed 
the  distinguishing  feature 
»>f  the  invention,  is  an  ar- 
rangement by  which  the 
turning  of  a  screw  secures 
the  mercury  perfeclly  a- 
gainst  motion  in  the  lube, 
Fig.  1.  Fig.  2.  which  has  been  the  chief 

cause  of  breakage  in  transporting  mercurial  barome- 
ters. This  new  arrangement  is  so  perfect,  that  with  his 
improved  mode  of  double  boxing,  the  manufactur- 
er now  offers  to  guarantee  the  safe  carriage  of  each 
instrament  we  may  order,  and  to  make  good  any  chance 
loss.  This  guarantee  places  this  barometer  first,  and 
we  recommend  it  above  all  others  for  general  use. 
The  barometers  are  of  different  forms  and  prices,  rang 
ing  from  $5  to  $20,  the  price  depending  upon  the  style  of 
finish.  The  tubes  and  working  apparatus  of  those  costing 
$8  to  $20  are  the  same,  and  are  supplied  with  inclosed 
thermometer,  vernier,  etc.  Fig  1.  shows  the  $8  form. 
Fig.  2.  is  the  $12  form,  put  in  walnut  or  mahagony  case, 
as  desired.  They  are  both  neatly  made,  the  $12  size  being 
of  course  the  most  ornamental,  and  the  preferable  instru- 
ment on  this  account. 

We  are  glad  also  to  announce  that  we  have  made  a 
special  advertising  arrangement  witli  Mr.  Wilder  {to  con- 
tinue only  from  June  1st,  to  August  31st, )  by  which  these 
good  barometers  can  be  supplied  as  premiums,  on  terms 
that  will  place  them  ivitkin  reach  of  many  of  our  readers. 
Here  Is  our  offer  (the  instruments  to  be  sent  direct 
from  the  manufactory  by  express,  and  their  good  qual- 
ity and  safe  delivery  warranted  by  the  manufacturer, 
which  guarantee  we  agree  to  see  made  good):  — 

1st.— The  $8  Barometer  (Fig.  l)tw*«  bepresent- 
ed  {with  the  guarantee  as  above)  to  any  person  who  shall,  be- 
tween June  \st  and  A  ugust  31st,  send  fourteen  subscrib- 
ers to  the  American  Agriculturist  at  $1  a  year.  [The  sub- 
scriptions to  date  January  or  July  1863.)  See  next  column. 

2nd.—  The  $12  Barometer  {Fig.  2)  will  be  pre- 
sented (with  the  above  gum  outer)  to  any  persort  who  shall, 


between  June  1st.  and  August  3\st,  send  twenty  sub- 
scribers to  the  Agriculturist  at  $1  a  year.  {The  sub- 
scriptions to  date  January  or  July  1863. 

N.B.  The  subscribers  can  be  sent  in  at  any  time  be- 
tween June  1st,  and  August  31st:  but  each  name  for  the 
special  premium  should  be  specially  noted  as  for  this. 

{[^p*  This  premium  is  special,  and  applies  only  to  sub- 
scribers received  after  June  1st,  and  before  August  31st. 

N,  B.  Any  person  who  desires  to  get  his  barometer 
at  once,  fur  use  during  the  haying  season,  or  otherwise, 
can  send  the  amount  ($14  or  $20)  and  receive  his  instru- 
ment, and  then  forward  the  names  before  August   31st. 

KB*  The  subscriptions  for  the  above  premiums  may 
date  January  1st,  or  July  1st,  that  is,  at  the  beginning  or 
middle  of  the  volume.  Any  back  numbers  will  be  supplied. 


Strawberry    Premiums. 

LAST  OFFER. 

Last  Summer  we  distributed  40,000  Strawberry  plants 
as  premiums, (10  or  more  for  each  new  subscriber,)  sending 
them  to  all  parts  of  the  country  with  remarkable  success. 
The  postage  on  plants  will  be  reduced  one-half  afler 
July  1,  and  we  propose  to  send  out  some  more  good 
strawberry-plants,  of  the  very  best  varieties  that  we  can 
obtain,  as  premiums  to  those  who  will,  during  the  month 
of  July,  procure  and  forward  subscribers  to  the  Agricul- 
turist, at  $1  a  year  beginning  Jan.  1.  or  July  1,  The 
Triomphe  de  Gand  will  be  distributed,  in  part,  if 
nothing  better  or  more  desirable  is  found.  After  see- 
ing the  fruit  and  observing  the  plants  this  season,  we 
will  announce  what  kinds  will  be  sent  out.  The 
plants  will  be  distributed  at  the  proper  planting  season, 
from  the  last  of  August  to  about  October  1st.  ;  the  time 
of  sending  will  depend  upon  the  season,  and  upon  the 
locality  to  which  they  are  to  go.  Those  desiring  the 
strawberry  premiums,  will  please  name  the  fact  when 
sending  in  subscribers,  that  their  names  may  be  put 
down  for  that  purpose,  and  they  may  feel  assured  that 
they  will  be  liberally  dealt  with — at  least  as  well  as  in 
the  strawberry  distribution  so  acceptable  last  year. 


Grape  Vine  Premiums. — We  have  about 

2000  Delaware  and  Concord  Grape  Vines  now  planted  out 
and  growing  finely,  all  of  which  we  can  well  use  on  our 
own  grounds.  But  as  we  have  made  it  a  point  to  raise 
the  subscription  list  to  the  highest  possible  limit  before 
the  middle  of  the  volume,  we  still  offer  to  send  one  of 
these  vines  in  Autumn  (safely  packed,  and  carriage  pre- 
paid) to  any  one  who  wilt  during  this  month  (July)  pro- 
cure a  new  subscriber  at  SI  to  begin  Jan.  1st,  or  July  l^t. 
1863.  The  vines  will  be  sent  at  the  proper  time  in  Autumn, 
when  they  will  have  had  two   seasons'  growth. 

Jmeruait   Agriculturist. 

For  tlie  Farm,  r.arden,  and  Household. 

A  thorough-going,  RELIABLE,  and  PRACTICAL 
Journal,  devoted  to  the  different  departments  of  SOIL 
CULTURE— such  as  growing  field  CROPS  ;  orchard 
and  garden  FRUITS;  garden"  VEGETAIJLES  and 
FLOWERS;  trees,  plants,  and  flowers  for  the 
LAWN  or  YARD;  care  of  DOMESTIC  ANIMALS, 
etc.,  and  to  HOUSEHOLD  LABORS,  with  an  intPicsting 
instructive  department  for  CHILDREN  and  YOUTH. 
The     Editors    are    all  practical  WORKING  MEN. 

The  (carbines  of  the  Agriculturist  are  confuted  to  vo 
State  or  Territory,  but  are  adapted  to  nil  section*  if  the 
country— it    is    for     the    whole    American    Continent. 

A  German  edition  is  published,  of  the  same  size 
and  price  as  the  English,  and  containing  all  of  its  reading 
matter,  and    also  its   numerous   illustrative  engravings. 

TERMS INVARIABLY    IN    ADVANCE, 

(For  either  ihe  English  or  German  Edition.) 

One  copy,  one  year $100 

Six  copies,  one  year 5  00 

Ten  or  more  copies  one  year SO  cents  each. 

E^pAdd  to  the  above  rates:  Postage  to  Canada,  6  rents; 
to  England  and  France,  24  cents  ;   to  Germany,  36  cents. 

Postage  anvwhere  in  the  United  States  and  Territories 
must  be  paid  by  the  subscriber,  and  is  only  sir  rents  n 
t/car,  if  paid  in  advance  at  the  office  where  it  is  received. 

All  business  and  other  communications  should  be  ad- 
dressed to  the  Editor  and  Proprietor, 

ORANGE  JUDD,  41  Park-Row,  NcwYork  City. 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST, 

FOR   THE 

Far-iTi,    Grarden,    and.   HonseliolcL. 


'AGRICULTURE  IS  THE  MOST  HEALTHFUL,  MOST  USEFUL,  ANU  MOST  NOBLE  EMPLOYMENT  OF  MM.»-\V,.i„„„, 


ORAJfGE     JIIDD,     A.M.,   ) 

EDITOK    AND    PHOPHIETOK.  > 

,   41  Park  Row,    (Times  Buildings.)  ) 


ESTABLISHED  IN  1842. 

Published  botli  in  English  and  German. 


$1.00    PEE  ANNUM,    INT  ADVANCE 

SINGLE  NUMBEB,  10  CENTS. 
For  Contents,  Terms,  etc.,  sec  pagc23G. 


TOLUME  XXII— No.  8. 


NEW-YORK,     AUGUST,     1863. 


NEW  SERIES— No.  199. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress  in  tlie  year  1S63,  by 

')raxgb  Juod,  in  tlie  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of 

le  United  States  for  tlte  Southern  District  of  New- York. 

'"  Oilier  Journals  arc  invited  to  copy  desirable  articles 

'cly,  if  each  article  be  credited  to  American  Agriculturist. 


Suggestions   and  Notes  for  the  Month. 

The  great  work  of  the  season  is  over.  The 
hot  strife  upon  the  harvest  field  has  heen  crown- 
ed with  victory J  and  the  husbandman  has  borne 
away  his  golden  trophies  to  the  storehouse.  He 
may  now  well  relax  his  energies  by  a  brief  sea- 
son of  rest  and  recreation.  There  is  yet  much  to 
be  done  before  the  campaign  closes,  and  it  is 
wise  to  recruit,  before  the  plow  is  again  driven 
afield,  or  the  treasures  of  the  cornfield  secured. 
Tlie  writer  well  remembers  how  in  younger 
days  the  prospect  01  a  fishing  excursion  after 
harvest  was  like  an  oasis  in  the  unending  round 
of  farm  labor.  It  maybe  questioned  whether 
in  the  universal  strife  for  acquiring,  American 
farmers  are  not  sacrificing  more  than  is  neces- 
sary or  wise.  It  is  noticeable  that  farmers  as  a 
class,  although  surrounded  by  the  most  favora- 
ble conditions  for  enjoyment  in  life,  yet  bear  the 
strongest  marks  of  toil  and  care.  It  is  not  alone 
that  the  face  is  browned  and  the  hands  harden- 
ed by  exposure  and  labor ;  the  spirit  of  the 
man  seems  as  rigid  as  his  muscles,  and  he  comes 
to  regard  work  as  the  chief  end  of  life.  Here 
and  there  an  open,  genial  countenance  beaming 
with  sunshine,  shows  tlie  man  appreciative  of 
something  more  than  money  getting ;  and  in 
such  cases  it  is  almost  invariably  found  that  the 
man  mingles  recreation  with  his  labor.  If  there 
be  a  pond  or  stream  within  reach,  he  has  a  con- 
venient boat,  and  well  arranged  fishing  tackle; 
if  it  be  where  game  abounds,  he  is  supplied  with 
rifle,  fowling  piece,  and  ammunition.  "  All  work 
and  no  play,"  makes  dull  men  as  well  as  dull 
boys,  and  he  is  wise  who  unbends  his  muscles 
and  his  thoughts  from  severe  toil  before  they  are 
hardened  into  rigid  severity.  It  is  possible  for 
a  man  to  coin  all  his  finer  feelings,  his  better 
aspirations,  and  all  the  genial  emotions  of  his 
nature  into  gold,  by  restraining  eveiy  indulgence 
which  interferes  with  nuking  and  saving  money, 


but  there  was  never  a  greater  mistake  than  to 
call  such  a  man  rich,  though  he  may  be  able  to 
count  his  acres  by  the  hundred,  and  his  bank 
stock  by  thousands.  True  wealth  is  the  means 
of  purchasing  enjojnnent,  and  of  bestowing  it 
upon  others  ;  and  he  most  surely  secures  it  who 
gives  the  fullest  play  in  the  right  direction  to 
all  his  faculties.  Bight  here,  we  think  may  be 
found  in  large  measure  the  explanation  of  the 
low  estimate  in  which  farming  as  an  occupation 
has  been  held,  and  the  lamentable  eagerness 
with  which  young  men  have  left  it  for  other 
employments.  Home  has  not  been  made  the 
most  attractive  place,  for  it  was  only  the  center 
where  money  making  operations  by  severe  la- 
bor were  carried  on,  and  the  indulgence  of  rec- 
reation and  pleasure  was  considered  entirely  an 
outside  matter,  foreign  to  the  great  object  of 
life  ;  and  hence  the  young  have  been  in  haste  to 
escape  to  the  outside,  where  pleasure  was  prom- 
ised, and  considered  allowable.  The  Agricultur- 
ist would  be  untrue  to  its  aim,  if  it  did  not  en- 
deavor to  lead  its  readers  to  cultivation  of  them- 
selves as  well  as  of  their  grounds,  and  hence  it  is 
urged,  that  duty,  no  less  than  enjoyment  require 
the  indulgence  of  occasional  seasons  of  relax- 
ation from  severe  labors,  and  that  the  abundant 
stores  of  pleasure  found  in  field  and  stream  be 
freely  drawn  upon.  A  fishing  excursion,  a  trip 
to  the  sea-side,  or  a  neighborhood  pic-nic,  will 
furnish  pleasant  memories  for  months,  and  be 
like  a  sparkling  stream  flowing  along  the  beaten, 
dusty  track  of  every-day  farm  life. 
Work   for   tlie   Farm,    Household,    etc. 

The  widely  prevalent  drouth  so  hastened  the 
maturity  of  the  Summer  crops,  that  haying  and 
harvesting  are  now  mostly  completed,  and  there 
is  a  season  of  comparative  leisure  before  the 
time  for  plowing  for  Fall  grain.  Profitable  em- 
ployment can  be  found  in  adding  to  the  perma- 
nent improvements  of  the  farm.  A  few  hund- 
red dollars  expended  for  buildings  needed  for 
sheltering  stock  next  Winter,  may  pay  the  in- 
terest on  thousands  in  saving  feed,  and  the 
lives  of  cattle  or  sheep.  It  is  a  most  favorable 
opp.ortunity  for  draining,particularly  in  swamps, 
which  at  other  periods  of  the  year  are  inacces- 
sible on  account  of  water.  The  fences,  hedge 
rows,  bushes  and  stones  in  meadows  and  other 
fields,  claim  early  attention.  The  judicious 
farmer  will  also  be  on  the  lookout  for  good 
stock  by  which  to  manufacture  his  hay  and 
grain  into  less  bulky,  more  easily  transported 
and  more  profitable  beef,  pork,  and  mutton,  un- 
less there  be  already  a  sufficient  number  on 
hand.  If  there  be  a  surplus,  the  present  is  the 
time  to  fiud  a  market  for  them,  before  every  one 
who  is  short  of  fodder  is  anxious  to  sell. 

Buildings  where  grain  and  hay  are  stored  need 
occasional  examination  to  see  that  ventilation  is 
sufficient,  and  that  they  are  weather  tight.  A 
good  coat  of  paint  before  the  fall  rains,  will  save 
mueh  decay.     Erect  all  needed  for  shelter  to  all 


stock.  Temporary  sheds  with  roofs  of  straw  are 
worth  much  more  than  their  cost,  if  nothing 
better  can  be  erected. 

Bees. — Full  directions  for  the  month  are  given 
under  the  head  of  "  Apiary." 

Butter. — Continue  to  follow  the  directions  giv- 
en last  month.  An  increase  in  quantity  and 
quality  may  be  secured  by  feeding  cows  with 
corn,  millet,  etc.,  from  the  soiling  patch,  unless 
pasture  is  abundant. 

Cattle  neglected  at  this  season  of  the  year  and 
allowed  to  become  thin  in  flesh,  will  with  diffi- 
culty be  prepared  to  pass  through  the  Winter  in 
good  condition.  If  pastures  are  short,  feed 
milch  cows  from  the  soiling  patch,  or  give  them 
a  daily  allowance  of  bran,  shorts,  and  screen- 
ings. The  extra  leaves  from  a  field  of  cabbages 
may  also  be  turned  to  good  account  at  such  time. 
If  fed  immediately  after  milking  in  the  morn- 
ing, there  will  be  less  danger  of  injuring  the 
flavor  of  the  milk. 

Chee.se- Malting  will  still  be  more  profitable  than 
the  manufacture  of  butter,  during  the  warm 
weather,  where  there  are  not  conveniences  for 
keeping  the  dairy  cool.  Endeavor  by  cleauli- 
nnss  and  care  in  all  the  operations,  to  produce  a 
first  class  article. 

Corn. — It  is  not  advisable  to  work  among  this 
crop  after  the  roots  have  well  occupied  the 
ground,  as  they  are  in  danger  of  injury  by  plow- 
ing. If  necessary,  pull  out  the  weeds  by  hand. 
A  liberal  supply  of  green  corn  for  winter  use 
should  be  dried,  or  preserved  in  cans.  For  the 
latter  purpose  it  should  be  thoroughly  cooked, 
at  least  an  hour,  and  sealed  tight  while  boiling 
hot.  Whole  ears  of  corn  may  be  preserved  in 
strong  salt  brine. 

Draining  is  now  practicable  in  many  places 
too  wet  at  other  seasons.  Improve  the  present 
opportunity  if  practicable.  If  nothing  more 
can  be  clone,  dig  a  ditch  around  swamps  to  cut 
off  the  supply  of  water  from  adjacent  high 
grounds,  and  thus  prepare  for  more  thorough 
work  in  the  future.  Retentive  soils  will  be  ben- 
efitted by  imderdraining.  If  tile  can  not  be  ob- 
tained at  reasonable  cost,  lay  drains  of  loose 
stone.  Dig  ditches  2£  to  3  feet  deep,  40  to  80 
feet  apart,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  ground, 
lay  a  course  of  flat  stones  at  the  bottom,  and 
above  these  set  large  stoues  inclining  together 
in  wedge  shape,  then  fill  in  with  small  stones, 
and  cover  with  brush,  straw,  and  earth.  Brush 
drains  alone,  described  in  the  Agriculturist,  Vol. 
XX,  page  169  (June  No.),  will  amply  repay  their 
cost  in  many  situations  where  better  material 
can  not  be  readily  procured. 

Fallows  should  be  plowed  if  the  weeds  are  pre- 
paring to  ripen  seed.  They  may  thus  be  made 
to  fertilize  the  ground  from  which  they  have 
drawn  part  of  their  nourishment.  If  left  to 
mature,  their  produce  will  be  a  great  hindrance 


220 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[August, 


to  future  crops,  and  require  much  more  labor  to 
eradicate  thum,  when  they  are  thus    multiplied. 

Fences — Arrange  fields  so  as  to  need  as  few 
fences  as  possible,  and  keep  these  in  good  repair. 
Allow  no  hedge  rows  to  line  their  sides,  and  extir- 
pate all  weeds  which  are  ripening  seeds  along  their 
coarse,  especially  in  the  corners.  Let  road  and  line 
fences  especially,  be  kept  up  to  prevent  incursions 
from  the  stock  of  neighbors.  Much  vexatious  liti- 
gation might  be  thus  prevented. 

Glean  all  fields  of  grain  with  the  horse  rake. 
Enough  may  be  gathered  after  the  most  careful 
harvesting,  to  amply  repay  for  the  labor.  The  re- 
sulting grain  should  be  immediately  threshed  out 
to  be  fed  to  stock,  as  it  will  usually  be  too  much 
filled  with  foul  stuff  for  making  good  quality  flour. 

Hay  not  yet  secured,  is  worth  something  for  bed- 
ding, if  not  for  feeding.  Gather  all  possible  from 
swales  and  other  waste  grounds.  Salt  marsh  hay 
should  be  stacked  where  it  will  not  be  carried  away 
by  high  tides,  or  better,  where  practicable,  stored 
near  the  barn,  to  be  used  during  Winter. 

Horses  are  better  kept  in  the  stable  away  from 
the  flies  and  hot  sunshine  during  the  present  month, 
except  at  night,  when  they  will  enjoy  a  run  in  the 
pasture.  Provide  fly  nets  for  teams  in  use,  and  fre- 
quently wash  them  with  a  decoction  of  walnut 
leaves  to  repel  insects. 

Manures. — Continue  to  collect  from  every  availa- 
ble source.  Provide  an  abundant  supply  of  swamp 
muck  for  use  in  the  stables  and  sheds  next  Winter. 
If  there  is  no  swamp  in  the  neighborhood,  the  set- 
tlings at  the  bottom  of  ponds  now  dry,  or  sunken 
spots  at  the  foot  of  hills,  will  furnish  excellent  ma- 
terial for  composting  with  stable  manure.  The 
carcases  of  all  animals  dying  upon  the  farm  should 
be  covered  with  a  foot  or  more  of  muck  or 
earth,  which  will  absorb  the  gases  from  their 
decay,  and  furnish  valuable  fertilizing    materials. 

Meadows  newly  mown  are  much  benefitted  by 
top-dressing  with  fine  manure.  Remove  all  bushes, 
rocks,  and  other  obstructions  to  the  mower.  Do 
not  allow  stock  to  graze  upon  them  until  the  grass 
is  well  started. 

Millet  or  Hungarian  Grass,  should  be  cut  for  cur- 
ing before  the  seed  has  ripened.  Experience  has 
shown  that  the  seed  is  not  safe  food  for  stock. 

Oats. — Cut  before  ripe  enough  to  shell,  or  just  as 
the  grain  has  passed  out  of  the  milk.  When  har- 
vested at  this  stage,  the  straw,  if  properly  cured,  is 
valuable  for  winter  feeding. 

Pastures,  when  eaten  very  closely  and  burnt  by 
the  sun,  will  be  much  benefitted  by  top-dressing 
with  well-rotted  manure.  A  mulching  of  straw 
would  be  better  than  nothing.  Occasionally  scat- 
ter cattle  droppings  with  a  maul.  Cut  all  weeds 
before  they  ripen  seed.  Sow  salt  about  the  roots 
of  thistles  to  attract  the  sheep  and  other  stock 
to    destroy  the  young  shoots. 

Potatoes.  —Unless  signs  of  decay  appear,  it  is  con- 
sidered best  to  allow  them  to  remain  in  the  ground 
after  ripening,  rather  than  dig  them  early,  if  they 
are  to  be  stored.  Those  largely  engaged  in  their 
culture  will  be  interested  in  the  description  of  the 
newly  invented  digger  on  page  233.  Set  out  late 
cabbages,  or  sow  white  turnips  where  early  crops 
are  harvested.  Collect  tops  for  the  compost  heaps, 
but  burn  weeds  of  any  kind  that  have  seeds  near- 
ly or  fully  ripened. 

I\>nltry. — Allow  them  the  range  of  grain  fields 
after  the  crops  are  harvested.  Confine  them  in  the 
houses  until  noon,  that  they  may  deposit  their  eggs 
on  the  premises.  Commence  to  fatten  early,  as 
they  will  be  prepared  for  market  more  easily  than 
in  cold  weather,  and  prices  will  be  better  than  later 
in  the  season. 

Boot  Crops. — Keep  well  hoed,  and  thin  out  where 
the  plants  are  crowded.  A  top-dressing  of  super- 
phosphate hoed  in,  will  be  beneficial  on  poor  land. 

Rye. — Harvest  any  remaining.  Glean  the  fields 
with  the  horse  rake,  and  thresh  out  for  grinding 


for  stock.     Select   the    best  for  seed :  thresh  as 
early  as  practicable,  and  store  by  itself. 

Sheep  are  worth  especial  care  in  the  present  time 
of  high  prices.  Many  will  be  disappointed  in  the 
hopes  of  great  profits  trom  want  of  skill  or  man- 
agement. Separate  all  rams  from  the  ewes,  and 
give  the  lambs  rich  pasture  by  themselves  or  with 
the  yearlings.  Keep  a  few  older  wethers  with  them 
as  leaders.  Examine  the  bags  of  ewes  a  few  days 
after  removing  the  lambs,  and  milk  them  occasion- 
ally if  the  bags  be  caked.  Salt  freely,  and  apply 
tar  to  their  noses  to  repel  the  fly. 

Swine  relish  green  food,  which  keeps  up  their 
appetites,  and  improves  their  condition  Un- 
threshed  pea  vines  are  excellent  for  this  purpose. 
Green  clover  is  also  relished.  Weeds  and  refuse 
from  the  garden  will  be  worked  over  by  them  into 
valuable  manure.  Commence  to  feed  with  grain 
early ;  it  will  show  itself  in  the  increase  of  pork 
more  rapidly  than  later  in  the  season  when  the 
weather  is  colder.  Early  made  pork  also  usually 
commands  the  best  price. 

Timber. — Cut  any  needed  for  building,  fencing, 
etc.,  peel  off  the  bark,  and  put  uuder  shelter  if 
not  wanted  for  immediate  use. 

Timothy  may  be  sown  this  month  with  prospect 
of  a  good  crop  next  year.  If  to  be  put  in  with 
winter  grain,  next  month   is  a  better  time. 

Turnips. — Sow  strap-leaf  or  flat  varieties  among 
corn,  where  early  potatoes  have  been  harvested, 
or  on  other  vacant  ground.  Kepel  the  fly  from  the 
young  growth  by  sprinkling  with  soot  or  ashes. 

Winter  Grain. — Plow  early  and  harrow  thorough- 
ly several  time6  if  sod  ground  is  devoted  to  this 
crop.  It  usually  succeeds  best  after  oats,  fallow, 
or  some  early  hoed  crop.  Sow  late  this  month 
or  early  in  September. 


Orchard  and  Nursery. 

We  hear  very  differing  reports  concerning  the 
orchards.  In  many  places  where  there  was  an 
abundant  show  of  blossoms  there  is  a  great  lack  of 
fruit,  while  in  other  localities  there  is  a  promise  of 
a  very  fair  crop.  From  all  that  we  can  hear  we  in- 
fer that  there  will  be  a  moderate  supply  at  best, 
and  in  view  of  the  great  demand  there  will  be  for 
all  kinds  of  dried  and  preserved  fruit,  unusual  care 
should  be  taken  to  prepare  all  that  cannot  be  dis- 
posed of  in  the  fresh  state.  Early  apples  and  pears, 
as  well  as  peaches,  will  need  to  be  gathered  this 
mouth.  In  gathering,  precautions  should  be  taken 
not  to  injure  the  fruit  or  the  tree.  We  have  not 
seen  many  trees  this  year  disposed  to  overbear. 
Thinning  may  yet  be  done  where  it  is  necessary. 

Borers. — The  eggs  of  these  hatch  at  this  season, 
and  the  young  borer  will  soon  make  his  way  into 
the  wood.    Use  lye  or  soft  soap  upon  the  trunks. 

Budding. — This  operation  should  continue  as  di- 
rected last  month.  The  stocks  should  be  worked 
only  when  the  bark  peels  or  "runs"  freely,  and 
well-formed  buds  selected  for  use.  Use  the  greatest 
care  in  keeping  the  varieties  properly  labelled. 

Evergreens. — Though  May  is  the  preferable  month 
for  removing  evergreens,  it  may  be  done  from  the 
middle  of  August  to  the  middle  of  September,' if 
care  be  taken  to  move  the  trees  with  a  good  ball  of 
earth.  Choose  a  damp  time  for  the  operation.  If 
the  6oil  is  dry,  water  well  and  put  an  abundant 
mulch  around  the  roots.  Large  stones  placed  over 
the  roots  are  better  than  stakes,  to  protect  the  tree 
from  being  disturbed  by  heavy  winds. 

Layers  may  be  made  from  the  wood  of  this  sea- 
son's growth  as  soon  as  it  is  sufficiently  mature. 

Seed  Beds. — The  young  seedling  fruit  stocks  and 
tree  seedlings  generally,  especially  those  of  ever- 
greens, are  apt  to  suffer  this  month  unless  they  are 
watered  and  partially  sheltered  from  the  hot  sun. 
Brush  may  be  stuck  about  the  bed  to  afford  a  par- 
tial shade.  Screens  made  of  lath  or  thin  slats  are 
often  used.  Keep  the  seed  beds  free  from  weeds, 
and  stir  the  soil  to  promote  early  maturing. 


Water. — In  August  the  trees  which  were  trans- 
planted in  the  Spring  may  suffer  from  the  effects 
of  drouth.  A  thorough  watering  and  subsequent 
mulch  will  usually  restore  and  save  a  drooping  tree. 

Weeds. — These  must  be  kept  down  not  only  be- 
tween the  rows,  but  among  the  trees  in  the  row6. 
The  cultivator  or  plow  should  be  run  through  the 
rows  frequently,  and  the  soil  near  the  trees  worked 
with  the  hand  hoc. 


Kitchen  Garden. 

It  is  a  good  thing  to  have  a  garden.  It  is^a 
pleasure  to  see  the  things  grow,  and  to  wateh  the 
maturing  of  vegetables  planted  by  one's  own  hands. 
Then  what  a  variety  of  delicious  healthful  food  is 
now  being  daily  furnished;  fresh  too— not  carried 
a  long  distance  to  market  and  then  allowed  to 
wilt  and  lose  its  sweetness  by  long  exposure 
on  the  huckster's  stand — but  only  a  step  from  the 
garden  to  the  kitchen.  We  repeat  it  is  a  good 
thing  to  have  a  garden.  In  a  garden  of  any  con- 
siderablesize,  there  is  always  a  surplus  which  should 
be  dried,  salted,  or  bottled,  as  the  case  may  be,  for 
winter  use.  The  heavy  work  is  over  and  but  little 
remains  to  do,  but  to  keep  the  crops  growing  and 
the  weeds  from  thriving,  to  clear  off  early  crops 
and  put  iu  a  few  late  ones. 

Asparagus. — The  dense  growth  of  tops  will  help 
to  keep  the  weeds  in  tolerable  subjection.  Large 
weeds  i^ll  need  hand-pulling.  If  seeds  are  desired, 
they  may  be  collected  as  soon  as  they  ripen,  and 
sown  at  once,  or  preserved  till  Spring. 

Beans. — Some  of  the  early  bush  varieties  may  be 
planted  for  a  crop  of  late  string  beans,  or  for  pickles. 
String  beans  may  be  preserved  for  winter  use  by 
preparing  them  as  if  for  cooking  and  packingthem 
in  ajar  or  keg  with  alternate  layers  of  salt.  Some 
persons  scald  them  before  putting  them  down. 

Beets. — Thin  those  sown  last  mouth.  In  pulling 
the  early  sorts  for  use,  take  from  where  they  are 
thickest.  This  vegetable  is  much  better  when 
growu  rapidly,  and  it  will  pay  to  water  small  beds 
iu  dry  weather,  and  give  liquid  manure. 

Cabbages  and  Caidijlowers. — The  early  sorts  are 
now  ready  for  use.  Keep  all  well  hoed  ;  theirgrowth 
will  be  more  rapid,  with  a  consequent  increase  of 
tenderness.  Set  out  the  remaining  plants  for  the 
latest  crop. 

Carrots. — Where  young  carrots  are  preferred  to 
full  grown  ones,  seed  can  he  sown  now. 

Celery. — Earth  up  that  set  out  early,  as  soon  as 
sufficiently  large.  Prepare  trenches  as  directed  in 
July  and  transplant  the  late  crop.  Shorten  the 
roots  of  the  plants  and  remove  the  large  straggling 
leaves  before  setting.  If  the  weather  be  hot,  shade 
for  a  few  days  with  brush  laid  over  the  trenches, 
or  with  boards,  and  keep  well  watered.  Some 
cultivators  prefer  to  grow  their  celery  upon  the 
surface  and  leave  the  bleachiug  until  it  is  taken  up 
for  the  winter.    We  have  never  tried  this  method. 

Corn. — Forward  that  planted  last  month  by  tho- 
rough hoeing  and  stimulate  with  a  little  hen  man- 
nure  if  backward.  The  early  sorts  will  now  give 
a  supply.    Leave  the  earliest  and  best  for  seed. 

Cucumbers. — For  pickles  gather  when  of  a  size  to 
suit  the  fancy;  most  persons  prefer  them  quite 
small.  Preserve  a  sufficient  number  of  vines  to 
produce  seed  and  remove  all  fruit  from  them,  ex- 
cept that  intended  to  ripen. 

Egg  Plants.— Hoe  thoroughly  and  hill  slightly, 
and  forward  by  all  possible  means.  If  the  fruit 
touches  the  ground,  there  is  danger  of  its  rotting  ; 
place  a  shingle  or  a  handful  of  straw  under  it. 

Kerbs.— Gather  and  dry  as  soon  as  they  flower. 

Hoe  and  Bake.— The  constant  use  of  these  tools 
is  required  to  keep  the  garden  neat,  and  it  will,  by 
loosening  the  surface,  promote  the  growth  of  the 
plants.  We  have  before  recommended  the  bayonet 
hoe ;  it  will  pay  to  get  one  even  at  this  late  day ;  for 
working  among  cabbages,  lettuce,  etc.,  there  is 
nothing  like  it,  and  for  small  gardens  hardly  any 
other  hoe  is  needed. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


227 


Lettuce.— Those  -who  like  salads  through  the 
season,  can  easily  keep  up  a  supply  by  sowing  at 
intervals.  Choose  a  rather  shaded  place  for  sowing 
in  hot  weather,  and  give  water  as  needed. 

J/e/ons.— To  get  fine  well  ripened  fruit,  a  little 
pains  should  bo  taken.  If  the  vines  are  neglected, 
twice  as  much  fruit  will  set  as  can  be  ripened,  and 
the  frost  will  cut  off  a  large  lot  of  half  grown 
melons.  Take  off  all  the  fruit  except  3  or  4  speci- 
mens to  each  vine.  The  ripening  may  be  hastened 
by  putting  6traw,  or  a  piece  of  board  under  each 
melon.  An  occasional  careful  turning  will  cause 
thcui  to  ripen  equally. 

Onions. — In  many  places  these  will  be  ready  to 
harvest  by  the  last  of  the  month.  When  the  major- 
ity of  the  tops  hive  fallen  down,  pull  the  crop ;  let 
them  remain  a  few  days  in  the  sun,  and  then  stack 
them  in  heaps  or  two  or  three  bushels  each.  Most 
cultivators  last  year,  marketed  their  onions  as  soon 
as  harvested  and  at  a  comparatively  low  price. 
Onions  properly  cured  aud  stored  in  a  cool  place, 
so  that  air  will  have  free  circulation,  can  be  kept 
for  a  long  time.    See  our  work  on   onion  culture. 

lias. — Be  particular  in  saving  seed.  Clean  the 
ground  of  stalks,  which  may  be  fed  to  swine  or 
sheep,  and  occupy  it  with  turnips,  late  cabbages  etc. 

Potatoes. — In  digging  potatoes  for  family  use,  it  is 
the  best  plan  to  bury  the  tops  as  j*ou  dig  from  time 
to  time,  they  afford  an  excellent  manure. 

Seeds. — Use  every  care  in  saving  from  the  best 
specimens.  Do  not  trust  to  recollecting  the  sorts 
but  keep  a  label  of  some  kind  with  them  from  the 
moment  they  are  gathered  until  they  are  finally 
put  away  for  use  next  6eason. 

Spinach. — Seed  may  be  sown  at  intervals  to  yield 
a  late  supply. 

Squashes. — The  summer  varieties  should  be  pick- 
ed and  used  or  marketed  before  they  become  too 
hard.  Save  seed  from  the  earliest.  The  winter 
sorts  are  now  too  large  to  work  among  with  safety. 
Continue  to  watch  for  the  squash  bugs  and  borer, 
and  destroy  insects  and  eggs. 

Tomatoes. — Pinch  off  the  growth  which  will  not 
perfect  its  fruit.  The  large  green  caterpillar  will 
be  busy  this  month.  Look  over  the  vines  and  haud- 
pick  them.  A  single  one  if  neglected  will  strip  a 
vine  of  leaves  in  a  few  days. 

Turnips. — These  may  be  sown  to  take  the  place 
of  crops  which  have  been  removed.  The  Red  Top 
Strap-Leaf  is  one  of  the  best  for  late  sowing. 
White  French  and  Swedes  may  be  transplanted  if 
they  stand  too  thick  in  the  beds.  They  can  be 
transplanted  as  readily  as  cabbages. 

Watermelons. — These  need  essentially  the  same 
treatment  as  melons. 

Weeds. — Exterminate  long  before  they  can  per- 
fect their  seeds. 


Fruit  Garden. 

Blackberries. — There  is  every  prospect  of  an 
abundant  crop  of  this  most  delicious  fruit.  The 
New-Rocbelle  or  Lawton  should  not  be  picked  un- 
til it  is  fully  ripened.  If  there  is  more  fruit  than 
can  be  consumed  in  the  fresh  state,  it  may  be  pre- 
served in  bottles,  dried,  or  made  into  jam. 

Currants  and  Gooseberries. — The  season  of  cur- 
rants may  be  much  prolonged  by  shading  the  bush- 
es. Where  it  is  desirable  to  do  this,  a  portion  of 
the  bed  may  be  covered  with  a  cheap  awning.  As 
soon  as  the  fruit  is  off,  pruue  the  bushes,  taking 
out  from  one  third  to  one  half  of  the  old  wood. 
Read  article  on  page  242,  where  we  mentioned  only 
the  Cherry  aud  White  Grape,  and  omitted  to  add 
that  the  Versailles  (red),  and  Provence  (white),  were 
also  desirable  kinds. 

Grapes. — The  young  vines  should  be  treated  so 
as  to  produce  strong  aud  well  ripened  wood  only. 
Sec  article  on  page  146,  in  May  Agriculturist.  In 
fruiting  vines,  the  branches  which  have  been  pinch- 
ed back,  may  throw  out  side  shoots  which  should 
be  removed.    Keep  well  tied  to  the  trellises.    Pick 


off  caterpillars  or  dislodge  them  by  a  strong  stream 
of  water  from  the  Aquarius  or  other  garden  engine. 
Mildew  has  appeared  in  some  localities.  We  know 
of  no  better  remedy  than  to  remove  the  affected 
branches.  Sprinkling  with  sulphur  stirred  in  wa- 
ter may  be  tried  as  a  preventive. 

Ras2}berrics. — As  soon  as  the  fruit  is  off,  the  bear- 
ing canes  should  be  cut  away.  The  new  shoots  of 
this  season's  growth  will  bear  the  fruit  of  next  year, 
aud  their  development  should  be  hastened  :  cut 
out  all  but  two  or  three  of  the  strongest  shoots, 
which  should  be  kept  tied  to  stakes  or  the  trellis, 
and  fork  in  well-rotted  manure  around  the  roots. 

Strawberries. — Where  it  is  desirable  to  multiply 
plants,  give  the  runners  their  own  way,  otherwise 
cut  them  off  as  they  appear.  We  have  said  suffi- 
cient on  strawberry  culture  on  other  pages. 


Flower  Garden  and  Lawn. 

This  is  the  month  in  which  the  garden  and 
grounds  generally  present  the  fewest  attractions. 
The  early  flowers  are  gone,  and  it  is  too  soon  for 
the  Autumnal  ones.  General  watering  iu  a  time  of 
drouth,  can  only  be  practised  in  gardens  of  very 
moderate  size ;  still  those  plants  which  droop  under 
the  continued  heat  and  dryness,  should  be  saved  by 
a  special  watering.  Remove  the  earth  near  the 
roots  and  give  a  copious  watering,  and  return  the 
earth  after  the  water  has  soaked  away.  This  will 
be  more  effectual  than  surface  watering. 

Box  Edging. — Give  its  last  clipping  early  in  the 
month,  aud  keep  well  hoed. 

Budding  may  be  done  on  the  shrubs  which  it  is 
desired  to  propagate  in  this  way,  such  as  Oranges, 
Lemons,  Magnolias,  Roses,  etc.. 

Bulbs. — Hyacinths  aud  Tulips  should  be  allowed 
to  remain  in  the  ground  until  the  leaves  commence 
to  wither,  when  they  should  be  taken  up  and  kept 
iu  a  dry  place  until  time  for  the  fall  planting. 

Climbers. — See  that  the  supports  are  of  ample 
strength  to  hold  up  the  rapidly  increasing  weight. 

Dahlias. — Keep  well  tied  up  to  stakes  according 
to  directions  given  on  page  211,  last  month.  As 
soon  as  their  beauty  is  passed,  the  flowers  should 
be  cut  off.    Watch  for  aud  destroy  the  borer. 

Fuchsias. — These  are  propagated  from  cuttings 
with  the  greatest  ease,  by  the  method  given  on 
page  244.  They  are  deservedly  increasing  in  popu- 
larity as  among  the  choicest  ornaments  of  the 
flower  garden. 

Grass. — Whether  on  the  lawn  or  as  edgings,  treat 
as  directed  last  month.  New  lawns  may  be  seeded ; 
add  a  little  rye  to  the  seed ;  this  will  afford  protec- 
tion to  the  young  grass. 

Gravel  Walks. — Keep  free  from  weeds,  in  good 
condition,  by  the  use  of  the  hoc,  rake,  and   roller. 

Hedges  may  now  receive    their    final    clipping. 

Hoe. — Keep  the  soil  stirred  by  free  use  of  the 
hoe  and  rake. 

Insects. — Every  chrysalis  or  cocoon  should  be  de- 
stroyed as  it  contains  the  germ  of  future  trouble. 

Layers. — Shrubs  and  viues  can  be  layered,  and 
many  of  them  will  be  rooted  by  Autumn.  Those 
laid  down  in  the  Spring,  if  well  rooted,  may  be 
taken  away  from  the  parent  stock  and  planted 
elsewhere. 

Mignonette. — If  the  seeds  are  sown  now  a  late 
bloom  may  be  had.  It  may  also  be  sown  in  pots 
for  flowering  in  the  house  during  Winter. 

Pelargoniums. — Trim  to  a  compact  form,  and  use 
the  cuttings  to  start  new  plants.  Remove  the  flow- 
er stalks  as  soon  as  the  blossom  falls. 

Bitted  Plants. — Do  not  let  them  suffer  for  lack 
of  water.    Loosen  the  soil  aud   remove  all  weeds. 

Hoses. — Continue  to  use  whale  oil  soap  against 
the  slugs.  Put  down  branches  of  the  new  growth 
as  layers.  If  the  remontants  were  properly  cut 
back,  they  will  now  give  a  fine  show  of  flowers. 

Seeds. — Care  should  be  taken  to  6ecure  seed  of  the 


finest  specimens  only.  Biennials  and  perennials  if 
sown  as  soon  as  the  6eed  is  ripe  will  give  a  bloom 
during  the  next  season  aud  thus  save  a  year. 
Verbenas. — Secure  a  stock  for  wintering  over, 
cither  by  layering  or  by  striking  from  cuttings. 

Green  and   Hot-Houses. 

The  work  here  is  mainly  that  of  preparation,  as 
most  of  the  plants  are  out  of  doors.  If  new  struc- 
tures are  needed,  they  should  be  built  at  once. 
All  repairs  and  painting  are  to  be  completed  some 
weeks  before  the  plants  are  returned  to  the  house. 
A  supply  of  potting  earth  should  be  laid  in,  and  a 
stock  of  coal  or  other  fuel  secured.  Cuttings  of 
plants  for  early  Winter  blooming  may  be  put  iu  and 
those  already  started,  potted  off. 


Apiary  in  August. 

Prepared  by  M.  Quinby — by  request. 

The  moth  will  continue  to  prowl  about  the  hives 
at  night  during  the  warm  weather  of  this  month. 
The  female  has  a  few  hundred  eggs  to  leave  some- 
where, and  any  colony  not  Btrong  enough  to  keep 
her  at  a  distance,  will  have  to  yield  its  wax  to  feed 
her  progeny.  Continue  to  set  dishes  of  sweetened 
water  about  the  hives  at  night.  This  insect  has  an 
appetite  for  strong  drink,  and  will  indulge  like  a 
human  being,  until  destruction  overtakes  her. 
Some  of  them  will  drink  even  to  bursting,  aud  will 
fall  into  the  liquid  mire,  and  wallow  about  in  it,  de- 
lightfully intoxicated  until  morning ;  then  comes 
the  reckoning.  Strain  them  out  and  feed  to  chick- 
ens. The  bees  of  any  diseased  stocks  that  have 
been  neglected  may  yet  be  driven  out ;  they  will 
probably  do  something;  what  they  do  make  will  be 
good  for  another  year,  when  it  is  not  enough  for 
winter.  Where  Buckwheat  is  a  general  crop,  strong 
colonies  that  are  full,  will  store  from  twenty  to 
thirty  pounds  of  6pare  honey  from  its  flowem. 
Give  abundant  room  for  this,  by  the  addition  of 
boxes.  Boxes  nearly  full  of  honey  from  clover, 
should  be  removed  in  the  early  part  of  this  month. 
If  sent  to  market,  and  they  contain  but  very  little 
buckwheat  on  the  outside,  they  will  appear  to  be 
wholly  of  that  quality,  and  will  have  to  be  sold  for 

a  corresponding  price When  a  colony  is  much 

weakened  by  over  swarming,  and  has  left  boxes 
half  filled,  with  the  cells  generally  unsealed,  it  is 
quite  common  for  the  bees  to  remove  every  particle 
of  honey  to  the  combs  below.  This  is  particularly 
the  case  where  there  is  no  buckwheat  crop.  Strong 
swarms  may,  at  the  same  time,  be  gradually  filling 
boxes.  Wateh  closely,  and  take  off  as  soon  as  they 
commence  removing  it.  Being  free  from  pollen,  it 
is  very  nice  for  the  table,  even  if  it  is  not  sealed. 
When  the  supply  of  honey  has  very  much  failed, 
there  is  some  risk  of  changing  from  one  hive  to 
another ;  instead  of  having  a  box  finished,  we  may 
loose  what  we  have  already.  Swarms  that  issue 
this  month,  rarely  make  enough  for  Winter,  they 
are  usually  worth  but  little;  the  bees  are  needed  in 
the  old  stock  to  keep  it  strong  for  winter.  If  there 
is  any  queenless  colony  that  needs  a  part,  divide 
them,  give  half  the  bees  with  queen  to  that,  and 
return  the  balance  to  the  parent  hive.  When  not 
wanted  in  this  way,  takeaway  the  queen  and  return 
all  the  bees.  They  seldom  issue  again  at  this 
season.  Boxes  of  honey  kept  through  the  warm 
weather,  will  sometimes  show  the  moth  worm.  A 
streak  of  white  powder-like  substance  is  first  seen 
on  the  surface  of  the  comb  ;  in  a  few  days  the  web 
will  appear.     Put  iu  a  barrel  or  box,  cover  closely, 

and  smoke  with  brimstone Any  one  having  the 

Italian  bees  and  being  surrounded  by  a  large  number 
of  black  or  natives,  will  find  it  difficult  to  keep 
them  pure.  The  queen  meets  the  drone  away  from 
the  hive,  and  a  queen  and  a  droue  kept  in  colonies 
three  miles  apart  will  sometimes  meet.  On  this 
account  there  is  an  advantage  in  rearing  queens 
late,  say  October,  when  all  the  native  drones  are 
usually  destroyed.  To  secure  droues  of  the  Italians 
at  that  time,  select  now  a  colony  of  the  most  beau- 
tiful ones,  take  away  the  queen,  and  destroy  queen 
cells  that  arc  made  eight  days  afterward.  Drones 
are  not  destroyed  here  unless  destitute  of  stores. 


298 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[AUGUST, 


The  hive  that  is  used  fur  this  purpose  can  be  made 
to  winter  a  colony  afterwards,  if  it  has  sufficient 
hone}'.  The  bees  from  some  light  one  may  be  in- 
troduced in  November  or  December.  The  Italian 
queen  can  be  introduced  in  November  as  well  as 
any  time. 


The  Crops— General  Prospects. 

Mr.  Judd,  Editor  of  Ihe  American  Agriculturist,  writes 
from  Grinnelr,  Poweshiek  County,  Iowa,  July  18lh: 
"....In  passing  over  the  great  belt  of  country,  lying  in  al- 
most a  direct  line  between  here  and  New-York,  I  have 
carefully  observed  the  growing  crops,  and  conversed  with 
many  farmers  in  regard  to  the  prospects.  As  the  result. 
I  conclude  that  the  wheat  crop  will  he  fully  an  average 
one.  At  some  points  there  was  considerable  winter-kil- 
ling, and  the  fields  show  hut  a  slim  stand.  In  other  places 
the  stand  is  huge,  and  the  heads  well  filled.  The  favor- 
able weather  for  harvest  is  telling  well.  The  berry  is 
large  and  plump,  and  very  little  will  be  lost  by  rust,  or  in- 
jured by  rains  in  the  gathering.  Though  there  is  a  scar- 
city of  help,  enough  appears  to  be   found   to  gather  the 

crop. Oats  look  wsll  in  many  places ;  in  others  they 

are  heading  out  short  and  slim,  owing  to  dry  weather, 
The  first  hay  crop  was  generally  fair— frequently  large. 
The  drouth  now  prevailing  is  drying  up  the  pastures. 
Corn  also  looks  well  in  most  sections,  but  in  limited  lo- 
calities, it  is  badly  injured  by  dry  weather.  Unless  co- 
pious rains  fall  ere  lung,  the  crop  as  a  whole,  will  be  be- 
low the  average. 


Great  American  Exhibition  of 

Pumpkins,  Squashes,  and 
Ornamental  Gourds. 

The  Second  Annual  Exhibition  of  Pump- 
kins, Squashes,  and  Ornamental  Gourds,  at  the 
office  of  the  American  Agriculturist,  41  Park  Row,  New 
York  City,  opening  on  Wednesday,  Nov.  ltlt,   1863, 

at  which  the  following  Prizes  will  he  paid  by  the  Publish- 
er, upon  the  official  award  of   competent  Committees. 
CASH   PREMIUMS, 

A— For  the  Heaviest  Pumpkin  or  Squash ftlO.OO 

B — For  the '2nd  Heaviest  Pumpkin  or  Squash. ..       5*00 

C— For  the  3d  Heaviest  Pumpkin  or  Squash 3.00 

1)— For  the  Best  Pumpkin  or  Squash  fur  cooking.      5.00 
K — Fur  2nd  Best  Pumpkin  or  Squash  for  cooking      3.00 

F — For  the  largest  yield  on  a  single  Vine *    1O.O0 

G — For  the  2nd  largest  yield  on  a  single  Vine...*      5.00 
H — For  the  largest  and  finest  col  lection  of  Fan-  /       w  nft 

cy  or  Ornamental  Gourds* .  (       ',uu 

I — For  the  2nd  largest    and    finest   collection 
of  Fancy  or  Ornamental  Gourds*   

*AU  to  be  grown  by  one  person  and  to  be  accompanied 
by  positive  evidence  from  the  grower,  and  one  disinterest- 
ed.person  who  assists  in  gathering  the  specimens. 

Note  1. — The  specimens  receiving  the  Prizes  will  re- 
main on  Public  Exhibition  at  the  pleasure  of  the  Publish- 
er who  offers  the  prizes.  The  other  specimens  will  be 
subject  to  ihe  order  of  the  exhibitors,  or  they  will  be 
sold  at  auction  or  otherwise  disposed  of,  for  their  benefit. 

Note  2.— All  Exhibitors  must  notify  us  of  their  intentions 
by  Oct.  15th,  and  deliver  specimens  for  competition  on  or 
before  Nov.  2d.  Specimens  to  be  delivered  free  of  charge. 

Note.  3. — The  same  specimen  can  compete  for  only  one 
of  the  premiums  offered  above. 


1.00 


/^JS-^Sp 


Containing  a  great  variety  of  ftc?ns,  including  many 
go/til  Hints  and  Suggestions  which  we  give  here  in  smalt 
type   and    condensed  form,    for    want    vf  space  elsewhere. 

Working*      under      Difficulties. — On 

another  page  will  he  found  a  most  interesting  letter  from 
the  absent  Editor  of  the  Agriculturist,  describing  the 
harrowing  scenes  witnessed  upon  the  ground  after  the 
great  battle  of  Gettysburg.  It  was  fortunate  for  him  and 
for  our  readers  that  he  was  not  compelled  to  collect  and 
work  over  materials  for  the  regular  monthly  issue  in  the 
neighborhood  of  that  conflict  while  it  was  raging.  Not 
but  that  he  might  have  accomplished  it,  but  it  would 
have  been  an  up-hill  job.  Quite  unexpectedly  the  re- 
maining editors  here  in  New-York  have  found  them- 
selves surrounded  by  a  struggle,  not  indeed  so  tremen- 
dous as  that  in  Pennsylvania,  but  one  for  a  time  so  all- 
absorbing  as  to  make  work  on  the  paper  next  to  an 
impossibility.  The  events  to  which  we  refer,  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  most  violent  riot  ever  witnessed  here, 
conducted  by  a  mob  unparalleled  for  ferocity,  and  the 
reign  of  terror  in  some  parts  of  the  City  for  several  days, 
have  been  duly  described  In  the  various  newspapers,  and 
wc  need  not  here  chronicle  them.    Suffice  it  to  say  that 


our  office  being  situated  In  immediate  proximity  to  the 
Times  and  Tribune  offices,  was  at  headquarters  where 
excitement  was  felt,  and  on  several  occasions  it  became 
the  duty  of  the  able-bodied  inembersof  our  establishment 
to  stand  on  guard  for  the  preservation  of  the  property 
and  peace  of  the  neighborhood.  This,  wilh  the  fact 
that  the  office  of  the  parties  where  the  paper  is 
printed  was  closed  for  a  time,  from  fear  of  threats  by 
the  mob,  will  account  for  the  delay  of  a  day  or  two  in  the 
issuing  of  the  paper,  and  will  insure  the  indulgence  of 
our  readers,  and  their  charity  for  any  imperfections  that 
may  have  escaped  notice. 

Our  "  <nift  Enterprise.'"  —  We  have 
come  to  it  at  last.  After  showing  up  gift  enterprises  for 
years  past,  we  have  gone  into  a  sort  of  "  gift  enterprise  " 
on  our  own  hook.  The  details  are  given  on  page  241.  It 
will  be  seen  however,  that  there  are  no  chance  Prizes  in 
this  enterprise,  and  no  money  required — the  u  gift"  is  to 
be  a  genuine  one,  and  rtll  on  our  side.  The  Agriculturist 
for  next  year  will  be  as  good  as  it  has  ever  been,  and 
partially  better,  and  will  be  amply  worth  not  merely  the 
dollar  subscription,  but  many  of  them,  while  every  per- 
son paying  in  his  dollar  will  not  only  get  the  paper,  but 
one  or  more  plants  of  the  greatest  strawberry  the  world 
has  ever  produced.  First  come,  first  served,  will  be  the 
order.  A  thousand  names  are  already  down  for  next 
year.  The  next  subscriber  coming  in  for  1864  will  go 
down  next,  and  so  on.  As  fast  as  plants  can  be  produced, 
they  will  be  sent  out,  beginning  with  the  first  on  the  list 
All  old  subscribers,  renewing  for  1864,  if  their  time  does 
not  already  extend  to  that  year,  will  of  course  come  in 
for  a  "gift."  New  Subscribers  will  have  the  gift  also. 
We  ought  to  have  ten  or  twenty  thousand  of  them,  but  if 
all  the  present  subscribers  renew  and  get  the  strawberry 
plants  we  shall  be  satisfied.  Our  family  is  now  nearly  as 
large  as  we  can  superintend  and  provide  for. 

Xlie  Agriculturist  as  a  Premium. 

— W.  F.  Williams,  Clay  Co.,  Ind.  Many  hundred  copies 
of  this  journal  have  been  yearly  distributed  as  premiums 
by  the  County  Agricultural  Societies  of  different  States, 
ami  numerous  correspondents  have  assured  us  of  their 
satisfaction  at  receiving  what  they  came  to  consider  a 
valuable  prize,  when  they  became  fully  acquainted  with 
it.  There  are  many  advantages  in  offering  some  good 
agricultural  journal  in  the  list  of  premiums  ;  we  know  of 
nothing  better  calculated  to  stimulate  improvement  upon 
the  farm  and  in  the  garden. 

Wool-Growers'  Association. — Samuel 
Ingels,  Sec,  writes  that  a  Wool-Growers'  Association 
has  been  formed  in  Mahaska  Co.,  Iowa.  At  a  meeting 
held  July  16,  there  were  represented  19,067  sheep,  prin- 
cipally Spanish  Merinoes,  and  it  is  expected  that  the 
number  will  be  considerably  increased  at  the  next  meet- 
ing. We  are  glad  to  note  that  wool-growers  in  other 
sections  are  forming  similar  associations,  as  by  this 
means  their  interests  can  be  protected  and  forwarded. 

Sale    of   Sheep    at    Thorndale.— We 

have  just  learned  that  a  large  number  of  the  first-class 
Southdown  Sheep  belonging  to  Samuel  Thome,  will  be 
offered  for  sale  to  the  highest  bidder  without  reserve,  the 
coming  Fall.  The  noted  excellence  of  this  flock  for 
purity  of  blood  should  attract  a  large  number  of  buyers. 
Full  particulars  are  given  in  an  advertisement  on  p.  251. 

Stra  wherry  Questions. — Either  on  ac- 
count of  our  Exhibition  or  some  other  cause,  there  is  just 
now  a  great  interest  manifested  in  the  strawberry  cul- 
ture. We  have  numerous  letters  upon  the  subject,  and 
many  of  the  writers  wilt  find  their  queries  answered  in 
the  article  on  page  241.  We  answer  a  few  others  here, 
and  to  save  room  do  not  mention  the  names  of  the  in- 
quirers. . .  .We  know  of  no  remedy  against  grubs  where  a 
strawberry  patch  has  been  made  on  an  old  pasture.  Bet- 
ter begin  again  on  other  soil The  Hovey's  Seedling  is 

still  a  favorite  berry  around  Boston,  and  in  some  other 
localities.  The  reason  why  it  is  generally  discarded,  is 
because  it  is  a  pistillate  berry  and  needs  a  fertilizer, 
while  there  are  plenty  of  perfect  berries  quite  as  good. 
The  inquirer's  total  failure  is  probably  due  to  the  fact 
that  his  other  kinds  do  not  bloom  at  the  same  time  with 
the  Hovey.    The  Boston  Pine  is  found  to  answer  best  as 

a  fertilizer The  Austin  is  not  a  first-class  berry  as  to 

flavor.  It  stands  dry  weather  remarkably  well,  and  is  a 
desirable  family  sort.  It  is  remarkably  prolific.  We  had 
on  our  table  from  G.  K.  Itiker,  of  Stamford,  Conn.,  one 
hundred  and  twenty-six  berries  from  a  runner  set  out  in 
the  Spring  of  1862. .  .Trembley's  Union  is  a  most  beautiful 
berry.  Some  of  our  fruit  men  think  it  the  same  as  Trol- 
loppe's  Victoria,  but  admit  that  they  never  saw  that 
variety  bear  like  the  Union.  With  Mr.  T.  it  has  been 
very  productive,  and  has  remained  long  in  bearing  ... 
We  consider  the  Crimson  Favorite  a  first-class  berry, 
and  have  Mr.  Fuller's  assurance  that  It  is  a  good  bearer. 


Sowing  Strawberry  Seed.— A  Sub- 
scriber. They  should  be  sown  as  soon  as  the  fruit  is  ripe. 
They  will  come  up  much  more  freely  than  if  kept  until 
the  following  Spring. 

Plants  tor  a  Name.— S.  Elliot,  Cumber- 
land Co.,  Pa.  The  specimen  is  Tradescantia  Virgini  ca, 
or  Spider-wort.  It  is  much  cultivated,  and  though  its 
flowers  keep  open  for  only  a  portion  of  the  day,  it  is 
worthy  of  a  place  in  the  garden.  There  is  a  variety  with 
pure  white  flowers,  which  contrasts  well  with  the  blue.. 
..W.B.  W.,  Buel,  N.  Y.  The  leaves  and  flower  are  those 
of  the  Saracemua  purpurea.  It  is  not  a  rare  plant  in  our 
cold  swamps,  and  is  known  by  various  popular  names 
such  as ;  Side-saddle  Flower,  Pitcher  Plant,  Whippooj- 

will's  Shoe,  Huntsman's   Cup,  etc J.  W.  Bancroft, 

Barry  Co.,  Mich.  Your  specimen  is  "  Cotton  grass;"  it 
is  not  a  proper  grass,  but  belongs  to  the  sedge  family.  Its 
botanical  name  is  Eriopharum  polystachyum.  Eriophornm 
means  wool-bearing,  and  is  given  on  account  of  the  long 

hairs  upon  the  flowers A  subscriber,  St.  Joseph   Co., 

Mich.    The  leaf  and  flower  are  those   of  the  American 

Columbine — See  July  Basket,  page  198 Irene  Cole, 

White  Co.,  Ind.  Your  No.  1  is  the  Trumpet  Creeper, 
(Tecoma  radicans,)  a  very  pretty  climber,  but  quite  dis- 
tinct from  the  Virginia  Creeper,  which  has  very  minute 
flowers.     No.  2  is  Calystcgia  pubescens.     Speclabjljs   is 

accented   on  the   second    syllable Martin   Allen,   La 

Salle  Co.,  III.     The   plant  sent  is  Tradescantia,   noticed 

above S.  H.  Marrow,  Androscoggin  Co.,  Me.     Your 

specimen  is  Saracennia,  and  is  already  noticed  in  this 
item.    There  are  other  "pitcher  plants,"  but  none  grow 

in  your  State "F.  G.  C,"  Monterey,  Ind.    The  plant 

is  American  Columbine,  mentioned  above. 

Propagation  of  Plants. — Baltimore. 
We  know  of  no  work  exclusively  devoted  to  this,  though 
the  various  works  on  gardening  treat  of  it  to  some  ex- 
tent. The  case  for  striking  cuttings  is  figured  and  de- 
scribed in  the  Agriculturist  for  April,  1860. 

Saving  Ulaple  Seeds.— John  Moore, 
Cook  Co.,  III.  The  seeds  may  be  mixed  with  dry  sand 
and  kept  in  a  dry  place  out  of  reach  of  the  mice. 

Work  on  hardening.  —  Mrs.  Agnes 
Kemp,  Penn.  We  know  of  no  better  work  for  vour 
purpose  than  Watson's  American  Home  Garden.  It  is 
in  many  respects  the  best  work  on  gardening  yet  publish- 
ed in  this  country.    Sent  by  mail  from  this  office  for  $1.50. 

Work  on  the  Cultivation  of  Trees. 

Martin  Allen,  LaSalle  Co.,  III.  We  know  of  no  American 
work  on  the  cultivation  of  trees  for  timber.  The  French 
work  of  Du  Dreuil  is  a  good  one,  but  it  has  not  been 
translated.  Emerson's  Trees  and  Shrubs  of  Massachu- 
setts has  a  little  upon  the  subject,  but  that  is  out  of  print. 

Fruit  Books. — To  several  Inquirers.  Down- 
ing's  Fruits  is  the  best  descriptive  work,  and  Harry's 
Fruit  Garden,  the  best  for  culture,  propagation  etc.  Both 
are  in  our  book  list  and  will  be  sent  by  mail  at  the  prices 
there  given.  The  Prairie  Farmer  has  not  suspended  ; 
the  mail  is  probably  at  fault. 

Pure  Squash  Seeds.— J.  Patterson,  Ohio, 
If  but  one  kind  is  cultivated  there  is  no  danger.  Where 
there  are  other  sorts  in  the  vicinity,  the  artificial  fertiliz- 
ation must  be  practised.  The  fertile  flowers,  those  that 
set  a  fruit,  must  have  the  pollen  of  the  barren  ones 
applied  to  them.  This  must  be  done  before  the  fertile 
flower  opens  ;  it  should  be  taken  when  just  ready,  and 
will  open  with  but  slight  force  and  have  the  pollen  or  dust 
from  a  barren  flower  rubbed  upon  the  pistils.  The 
flowers  thus  treated  must  be  protected  from  the  visits  of 
bees,  by  means  of  gauze,  until  the  fruit  begins  to  grow. 

Saracennia  tor  Small-Pox. — John 
Keen.  Wayne  Co.,  111.  We  believe  that  this  plant  has 
not,  upon  trial,  proved  to  have  any  particular  curative 
properties.  It  is  common  in  swamps,  and  is  known  as 
the  Pitcher  plant.  Its  hollow  leaves,  which  are  shaped 
somewhat  like  a  horn,  and  hold  water,  distinguish  it 
from  all  other  Northern  plants. 

Gladiolus  Bulbs.— R.  II.  Martin,  Sussex 
Co.,  Del.  These  can  generally  be  left  in  the  ground 
without  risk.  If  we  had  any  very  choice  sorts,  the  hardi- 
ness of  which  was  not  proved,  we  should  take  them  up 
to  make  sure  of  them. 

Farms  tor  Sale.— Two  or  three  of  tliese 
will  be  found  among  the  advertisements  on  the  last  pages 
of  this  number,  among  which  is  one  in  a  good  agricultural 
and  slock  region  of  Illinois. 


18G3.] 


AMERICAN    AGEICULTURIST. 


229 


IBbies" :ariaia  Grass  tor  SHeep.— H.  M. 

Taylor,  Cooper  Co.,  Mo.,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist  lhat 
his  experience  in  feeding  hay  from  Hungarian  grass  has 
been  unfavorable.  He  lost  eight  sheep  from  a  flock  of 
one  hundred  which  were  kept  on  this  fodder.  The  seed 
was  ripened  and  unthreshed.  He  recommends  to  allow 
no  seed  to  ripen  on  grass  intended  to  be  cured  for  winter 
feeding  stock. 

Feeding-  Slieep  witu  Corn.— Jamea 
McClure,  Logan  Co.,  O.,  in  answer  to  the  question: 
"  How  much  wool  will  a  bushel  of  corn  make,  when  fed 
to  sheep?"  says  that  last  Winter  he  fed  more  corn  to  his 
flock,  and  gave  them  better  shelter  than  ever  before,  but 
lhat  the  fleeces  were  lighter  this  season.  This  appears  to 
oe  contrary  to  the  general  experience  of  sheep-breeders. 
Wo  should  like  further  details  of  those  having  experience 
in  the  matter,  whether  favorable  or  otherwise. 

Wool  Suit.— The  Wool-Grower  gives  the 
particulars  of  a  lawsuit  brought  to  recover  damages 
against  a  farmer  for  unclosing  "tags"  and  dirt  in  the 
centre  of  his  fleeces,  and  selling  them  as  fine  wool  in 
good  condition.  It  was  argued  that  it  was  customary  for 
farmers  to  roll  up  the  tags  in  the  wool,  and  that  there 
was  no  intention  to  deceive ;  also,  that  the  purchaser  ac- 
cepted the  wool,  which  he  might  have  inspected  if  he 
chose  to  do  so.  On  the  other  hand  the  Court  held  that 
as  the  wool  appeared  outwardly  in  good  condition,  R 
presupposed  it  to  be  so  internally,  and  that  the  purchaser 
was  not  bound  to  open  every  package  to  see  if  it  con- 
tained dirt,  etc.  Judgment,  against  the  farmer,  and  very 
justly,  we  think. 

Sale  of  Good  Steep.— By  referring  to  our 

Advertising  Columns,  it  will  be  seen  that  another  oppor- 
tunity is  offered  to  the  public  to  procure  Southdown  sheep 
of  tlie  choicest  quality  at  the  sale  of  Mr.  J.  C.Taylor, 
Holmdel,  N.J.  It  will  be  remembered  that  this  flock  is 
largely  made  up  of  sheep  purchased  from  the  collection 
of  Jonas  Webb,  Mr.  Taylor  having  secured  some  of  the 
clioio.est  animals,  among  them  the  prize  buck,  for  which 
$1300  was  paid. 

BJee  oji  Animals.— G.  B.  Talcott,  Tioga 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist,  that  he  has  found 
strong  brine  a  complete  remedy  for  lice  upon  horses  or 
cattle.  The  animal  should  be  thoroughly  washed  with 
it,  and  a  few  applications,  will  destroy  nits  as  well  as  the 
parent  insects.    [Easily  tried,  but  perhaps  hazardous.] 

Gophers.— "W.  A.  Vaughn,  of  Crawford  Co., 
Wis.,  is  in  trouble  with  the  gopher,  a  sort  of  ground 
squirrel,  or  marmot,  with  large  pockets  in  each  cheek. 
These  burrow  in  the  ground  and  completely  undermine 
it.  A  Minnesota  friend  informs  us  that  they  get  rid  of 
them  in  that  State  by  poisoning  them  with  strychnine. 
After  the  crop  is  sown,  some  grain  which  has  been  soaked 
in  a  solution  of  sulphate  of  strychnine  in  water,  is  strewed 
about  for  the  benefit  of  the  gophers.  Strychnine  in  very 
small  quantities  is  very  fatal,  and  the  animals  can  not 
go  far  after  they  have  eaten  it. 

Striped  Bug  Antidotes.  —  Jesse  Cen- 
drick,  Henry  Co.,  Ohio,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist,  that 
there  is  nothing  like  lime  for  destroying  or  driving  away 
the  squash  bug.  He  punches  holes  in  a  tin  box,  fills 
it  half  full  of  fresh  slaked  lime  and  shakes  it  over  the 
plants,  repealing  the  process,  when  necessary.  Wirt  C. 
Williams,  Dane  Co.,  Wis.,  writes  that  he  has  succeeded 
in  repelling  the  bugs  by  saturating  a  cloth  with  kerosene 
oil,  winding  it  on  a  stick,  and  placing  it  in  the  middle  of 
the  hill  of  vines,  so  that  the  cloth  shall  be  just  above  the 
surface.  Still  another  correspondent,  "Jno.  F.  McE.," 
highly  recommends  dusting  the  plants  with  powdered 
charcoal,  which  he  says  has  always  proved  efficacious. 

Oil  Soap  tor  Cabbage  Fleas.  -A  sub- 
scriber has  tried  this  remedy  the  present  season,  andsaved 
his  plants,  while  his  neighbors  lost  theirs,  even  when  treat- 
ed with  lime  and  ashes.  He  ties  the  soap  in  a  bag  and 
presses  out  a  little  of  it  into  a  watering  pot,  thus 
avoiding  the  strings  or  undissolved  portions  often  left 
when  the  crude  soap  is  stirred  into  the  water.  The  solu- 
tion is  then  sprinkled  over  the  plants  occasionally,  and 
the  insects y^e  away  to  more  palatable  pasturage. 

Turnips  -\vitU  Corn.— ''Beginner,"  Berks 
Co.,  Pa.  There  is  little  or  no  danger  of  injury  to  the 
corn  crop  in  sowing  turnip  seed  among  the  rows,  imme- 
diately after  the  last  hoeing.  The  corn  is  so  far  advanced, 
and  its  roots  so  widely  spread,  that  the  little  growth  made 
by  the  turnips  before  the  ears  are  filled,  will  scarcely  be 
any  impediment  to  the  full  development  of  the  latter. 
The  turnips  will  make  the  principal  part  of  their  growth 


after  the  corn  is  cut  and  shocked,  if  that  be  done  as  soon 
as  it  is  sufficiently  ripe,  and  thus  a  second  crop  of  con- 
siderable value  for  market  or  for  feeding,  may  be  raised 
at  a  trifling  expense.  The  quick-growing  varieties,  as  the 
Red  Strap-leaf,  Cow-Horn,  etc.,  should  be  sown. 

Hay  Caps. — George  K.  Flower,  Alleghany 
Co.,  Pa.  These  are  made  of  thick  cotton  cloth,  \%  to  2 
yards  square,  roughly  hemmed,  and  provided  with  loops 
at  the  corners  for  stakes,  or  with  stones  sewed  into  the 
corners,  to  hold  them  down.  Manufacturers  make  them 
of  cloth  prepared  so  as  to  be  nearly  or  quite  waterproof, 
and  also  to  resist  mildew :  these  are  undoubtedly  prefer- 
able. They  might  be  made  large  enough  to  shelter  a 
stack,  but  thatching,  if  properly  done,  is  a  good  protec- 
tion, and  much  less  expensive. 

Renovating;  Poor  Land. — "Amateur," 
Rockville,  Conn.  Poor  sandy  soil  cannot  be  brought 
into  good  heart  by  cropping  yearly  with  rye,  cutting  it 
high,  and  ploughing  the  stubble  under.  Sow  it  with  rye 
and  plenty  of  clover  seed,  and  turn  the  clover  under  in 
the  Spring  following  the  rye  harvest.  Repeat  this  a  few 
years,  and  the  land  will  show  an  increase  of  capacity  for 
yielding  grain.  A  readier  way,  if  practicable,  is  to  give 
the  field  a  thorough  manuring,  when  any  crop  may  be  put 
hi  with  fair  prospect  of  a  good  return. 

I>eptli     tor     Covering"     Wheat.  —  R. 

McMinn,  Vernon  Co.,  Wis.  Plowing  in  wheat  is  prac- 
tised to  some  extent,  but  there  is  liability  of  covering  it 
too  deep.  It  should  not  be  buried  more  than  two  inches, 
and  we  should  usually  prefer  a  depth  of  one  to  one  and  a 
half  inches,  depending  much,  however,  on  the  quality  of 
the  land.  A  light  sandy  soil  would  admit  of  the  seed  be- 
ing covered  with  safety  at  a  greater  depth  than  could  be 
done  withuut  risk  on  clayey  loam. 

Changing  Soils. — R.  McMinn,  Vernon  Co., 
Wis.  A  sandy  soil  will  be  improved  by  the  admixture  of 
clay,  and  vice  versa  a  heavy  clay  may  be  ameliorated  by 
applying  a  dressing  of  sand.  Usually  this  would  be  too 
expensive  for  application  on  a  large  scale  ;  but  where,  as 
In  your  farm,  sandy  knolls  are  found  surrounded  by  a 
clay  bottom,  an  exchange  would  probably  pay.  It  would 
be  better  to  mingle  the  different  soils  well  by  plowing, 
than  to  open  ditches  and  fill  them  as  you  propose. 

Draining:  Uneven  Land. — R.  McMinn, 
Vernon  Co.,  Wis.  The  texture  of  the  soil,  rather  than 
the  surface,  determines  where  draining  will  be  beneficial. 
A  heavy  clay,  even  upon  a  steep  hill-side,  would  be  bene- 
fitted by  draining,  by  freeing  the  ground  of  moisture,  and 
by  opening  channels  for  the  rain  to  pass  off  in  long-con- 
tinued storms,  thus  partially  preventing  the  best  soil  at 
the  surface  being  washed  away. 

Larg-e  Yield  of  Beets.— G.  Hagenstein, 
Le  Seur  Co.,  Minn.,  writes  that  from  the  package  of 
Mangel  Wurzel  seed  received  by  him  from  the  Agri- 
culturist office  last  year,  he  raised  severity  bushels  of 
roots,  on  which  his  calves  feasted  during  the  Winter. 

Weight  of  Hay  in  a  Mow.- S.  G.  Pat- 
tee,  writes  to  the  Country  Gentleman,  that  he  bought  a 
lot  of  hay,  and  after  measuring  it  In  the  bay,  it  was  weigh- 
ed, and  gave  570  cubic  feet  to  a  ton.  It  was  cut  late  in 
the  season  and  was  not  as  heavy  as  it  would  have  been 
if  cut  earlier. 


Impure  Water. — Rees  R.  Ellis,  Armstrong 
Co.,  Pa.,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist  that  after  having 
worked  a  well  fifty  feet  through  solid  rock,  plenty  of 
water  was  obtained,  but  of  poor  quality.  It  is  described 
as  being  mixed  with  "motes;"  some  call  it  spa  water. 
We  cannot  indicate  a  remedy  without  some  more  defi- 
nite knowledge,  but  judge  from  the  description  that  the 
water  holds  some  mineral  substances  in  solution.  If  this 
be  the  case,  there  is  no  way  to  free  it  but  by  distillation. 
If  the  impurities  were  held  by  mechanical  mixture,  they 
could  be  removed  by  filtering.  In  such  a  location  we 
should  advise  to  abandon  the  use  of  well  water,  and  pro- 
vide a  filtering  cistern  of  the  required  capacity. 

Detecting  Water  Courses.— Edward 
Frost,  Lapeer  Co.,  Mich.  The  only  way  by  which  to  de- 
tect where  water  will  probably  be  found  by  digging  a 
short  distance,  is  to  observe  the  conformation  of  the  sur- 
rounding country,  the  inclination  of  the  strata,  course  of 
streams,  and  the  locality  of  springs  ill  the  neighborhood. 
The  use  of  a  witch-hazel  rod,  or  any  other  witching  for 
this  purpose,  is,  pure  nonsense,  resorted  to  only  by  the 
ignorant  and  credulous.  Springs  may  be  struck  by  dig- 
ging horizontally  into  a  hill-side,  as  well  as  by  going 
downward,  in  a  proper  location. 


Line  Fences.— J.  J.  Winans,  Luzerne  Co., 
Pa.  Of  course  it  is  the  duty  of  your  neighbor  to  make  his 
share  of  the  line  fence  cattle-proof,  and  if  damage  occurs 
to  him,  through  his  failure  to  do  so,  he  must  bear  it.  In 
this  and  some  other  States  there  are  very  properly  laws 
by  which  a  man  may  be  compelled  to  keep  his  part  of  di- 
vision fences  in  good  repair,  and  we  presume  this  is  the 
case  in  Pennsylvania. 

Pruning  Young  Trees.— 0.  J.  Wilson, 
Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  best  management  is  to  nip  su- 
perfluous shoots  and  shorten  rampant  branches  while 
young  and  tender  ;  then  the  use  of  the  knife  will  seldom 
be  needed.  The  present  is  a  favorable  lime  to  take  off 
branches  that  should  be  removed.  Cut  them  smooth,  and 
coat  the  wounds  with  grafting  wax,  or  what  is  better, 
with  gum  shellac  dissolved  in  alcohol,  and  they  will  soon 
heal  over,  and  leave  the  tree  uninjured. 

The  Ailanthus  Tree,  versus  In- 
sects.—W.  J.  B.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  writes  to  the  Agri- 
culturist that  the  maple,  linden,  willow  and  indeed  almost 
all  trees  except  the  Ailanthus  are  in  that  city  so  infested 
with  worms  as  to  be  a  great  nuisance  ;  and  hundreds  of 
citizens  after  trying  in  vain  to  remedy  the  evil  are  cut- 
ting down  the  trees.  Our  correspondent  slates  one  fact 
coming  under  his  observation,  worthy  of  consideration. 
In  several  instances  a  tree  whose  foliage  was  preferred 
by  the  worms,  standing  between  two  of  the  Ailanthus 
species,  remained  unmolested.  He  recommends  to  act 
upon  this  hint,  and  plant  the  latter  kind  alternately  with 
others  which  may  be  desired.  If  the  fact  noticed  by  him 
be  general,  the  plan  is  worthy  of  adoption. 

Raising  Vorest  Xrees. — John  Waters, 
Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.  It  might  be  a  paying  investment  to 
devote  waste  andiocky  land  to  raising  the  more  valuable 
kinds  of  timber,  but  on  cleared  land  other  crops  give  a 
quicker,  and  probably  a  better  return.  The  experiment 
has  hardly  had  a  fair  trial  as  yet,  in  this  country,  to  en- 
able one  to  judge  of  the  actual  profits  of  raising  forest 
trees.  We  should  be  pleased  to  hear  facts  from  any  who 
have  had  experience. 

Age  of  Fruit  Xrees. — Walter  J.  Evans, 
Benton  Co.,  Iowa.  The  age  fruit  trees  will  attain  and 
continue  to  produce,  will  depend  greatly  upon  the  treat- 
ment they  receive.  By  the  neglectful  methods  usually 
pursued,  apple  orchards  generally  become  unproductive 
in  from  twenty  to  thirty  years  ;  but  there  are  instances 
where  apple  and  pear  trees  have  continued  vigorous 
for  more  than  one  hundred  years.  The  actual  limit  of 
the  life  of  trees  can  not  be  accurately  stated  ;  we  know 
of  no  conclusive  experiments  made  to  ascertain  the  facts 

Cultivating-    Horse     Radisli.— F.     E. 

Marlowe,  Carroll  Co.,  111.  This  plant  like  most  others  is 
greatly  improved  by  careful  cultivation.  It  delights  in 
deep  sandy  soil  enriched  with  plenty  of  manure.  Speci- 
mens of  roots  two  feet  long,  grown  in  almost  pure  sand 
which  was  yearly  overflowed  by  a  turbid  stream,  have 
been  exhibited  at  the  Agriculturist  Office.  In  the  vicinity 
of  a  large  market  like  New  York  City,  the  crop  com- 
mands a  ready  sale  and  is  very  profitable.  Thousands  of 
bottles  are  grated  and  put  up  here  every  year  for  supply- 
ing vessels,  and  shipping  to  other  ports,  and  so  great  is 
the  demand  that  dishonest  parties  adulterate  the  pure 
article  largely  with  turnips. 


Treatment  ofRhnbarb. — L.  H.  Warren, 
Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.  This  plant  needs  very  rich  ground,  as 
it  is  a  gross  feeder.  The  stalks  should  not  be  pulled  the 
first  year  after  transplanting,  nor  too  closely  at  any  time. 
The  season  is  prolonged  by  cutting  out  the  seed  stalk 
which  grows  up  from  the  centre  of  the  crown. 


K^a  Constante  Strawberrj'. — Among 
the  many  sorts  of  strawberries  exhibited  at  the  Agricul- 
turist Rooms,  this  promises  remarkably  well.  It  was 
shown  by  W.  S.  Carpenter,  June  25th,  in  great  perfection. 
It  originated  in  Belgium,  and  is  in  high  repute  in  that 
country,  and  also  in  France.  Fruit  large,  conical,  very 
regular,  dark  scarlet,  or  crimson  color,  flesh  firm  and  of 
fine  flavor.  Flowers  perfect.  Its  regular  form,  and  fine 
bright  color,  make  it  a  favorite  late  sort. 

Cheap  Fruit  Boxes. — The  call  for  a  cheap 
box,  which  may  be  sold  with  the  fruit,  is  being  responded 
to  in  various  quarters.  The  last  noticed,  are  quart  boxes 
made  from  a  thick  wood  shaving,  cut  part  way  through  at 
the  corners,  bent  to  a  square  form,  and  tacked.  The  bot- 
tom is  coarse  basket  work  made  of  splints,  set  %  inch 
from  the  bottom  of  the  sides.  They  are  manufactured 
by  A.  F,  Newell,  of  Trumbull  Co.,  O.,  for  $10  per  1000. 

Annual  Larkspurs. — D.  P.,  Johnstown, 
N.  Y.    Both  the  tall  branching,  and  the  dwarf  "  Rocket " 


Q30 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[August, 


are  good,  but  the  latter  especially  so.  For  the  finest  re- 
sults, the  seeds  should  be  sown  In  September,  and  then 
the  plants  lightly  covered  in  Winter.  Early  in  the  next 
season,  and  for  a  long  time,  they  will  display  their  double 
hyacinth-like  flowers,  blue,  pink,  white,  pearl  color,  etc., 
and  all  very  beautiful. 

Kicking:  Cows.-A  subscriber  in  Essex 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  who  has  had  a  large  experience  with  cows, 
and  especially  in  breaking  in  heifers,  says  that  gentleness 
and  straps  around  the  legs  are  the  best  things  to  use.  He 
buckles  the  front  foot  upon  the  milking  side,  back  upon 
the  leg.  and  passes  another  strap  around  the  two  hind 
legs  just  at  the  hough  joint,  fastening  the  legs  near  to- 
gether. In  this  position  it  is  impossible  for  the  animal  to 
kick  or  step  about ;  then,  soothing  words  and  gently  rub- 
bing the  bag  will  soon  take  away  the  inclination  to  kick. 


CooUing  Food  Tor  Swine.— Wesley  V. 
Houten,  Suffolk  Co.,  N.  Y.  It  is  generally  believed  that 
food  is  better  fitted  for  fattening  purposes  by  being 
cooked,  but  it  is  not  certain  that  the  advantage  in  this  re- 
spect will  repay  the  necessary  outlay  in  fuel,  labor,  and 
time.  Careful  and  extended  experiments  are  needed  to 
determine  this  point.  The  subject  is  important  enough  to 
warrant  the  trials  necessary  to  decide  the  question. 

Cover  tlie  Swill  Tul>.— Passing  by  a 
neighbor's  sty  the  other  day,  we  noticed  five  dead  ducks, 
and  upon  asking  the  cause  of  their  death,  were  told,  they 
got  into  the  swill  tub  and  were  drowned.  Now  though 
the  duck  is  a  good  swimmer,  it  cannot  make  its  way 
through,  nor  out  of  thick  swill.  We  have  frequently  seen 
barn  yard  fowls,  goslings,  turkeys,  and  even  pigs,  pulled 
out  of  the  swill  tub  in  an  exhausted  state  or  already  dead, 
and  this  last  exhibition  reminds  us  to  say,  keep  the  swill 
tub  or  barrel  always  covered,  unless  it  is  inaccessible  to 
animals  of  all  kinds. 

<'h:iir  for  Feed.— 3.  B.  Granger,  Mont- 
gomery Co.,  Aid.  The  chaff  of  wheat,  oats,  etc.,  wet 
nnd  mixed  with  ground  feed,  is  readily  eaten  by  horses 
and  cattle,  and  is  probably  as  nutritious  and  healthful  as 
cut  straw  or  hay.  Used  in  this  way  it  will  give  a  better 
article  of  manure  than  if  thrown  directly  into  the  barn- 
yard, as  is  usually  practised. 

Prevention  of  Smut- George  Larned, 
Calhoun  Co.,  111.  The  following  preparation  may  be  re- 
lied on  to  prevent  smut  in  wheal.  Spread  the  grain  rather 
thinly  on  the  barn  floor,  and  sprinkle  it  with  human  urine 
at  the  rate  of  three  to  four  quarts  to  the  bushel.  Then 
add  one  to  two  quarts  of  fresh-slaked  lime,  and  shovel 
the  whole  over  until  the  kernels  are  uniformly  coated. 
This  should  be  done  immediately  before  sowing,  to  pre- 
vent injuring  the  seed.  This  dressing  will  also  give  a 
quick  and  strong  start  to  the  young  growth.  A  strong  so- 
lution of  blue  vitriol  (sulphate  of  copper)  used  in  the 
same  way,  is  efficacious  in  preventing  smut,  but  the  first 
named  preparation  is  often  available  where  the  vitriol 
cannot  be  readily  procured. 

Potato  Vines  Tor  Manure.— Henry 
Gerau,  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.  Potato  vines  contain  a  large 
amount  of  organic  matter,  valuable  for  plant  food,  and 
are  worth  saving  for  manure.  Make  a  compost  heap 
with  the  vines  and  muck,  say  a  layer  of  the  latter  four  to 
six  inches  thick,  and  a  foot  of  the  vines,  and  cover  the 
whole  with  muck  ;  or  use  common  loam.  The  vines  will 
speedily  undergo  active  fermentation  and  decay,  and  the 
muck  or  soil  will   retain  the  gases  passing  from  them. 

Ashes  tor  Manure.— William  L.  Smith, 
Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.  Ashes  are  valuable  as  manure,  in 
some  degree  on  account  of  the  ingredients  which  they 
contain,  but  without  doubt  also  because  of  their  action 
upon  vegetable  matter  in  the  soil.  They  hasten  its  de- 
composition, and  set  free  the  elements  which  go  to 
nourish  the  plants.  Un leached  ashes  are  of  course 
preferable,  as  containing  the  most  alkali,  which  is  the 
active  principle  in  their  composition,  but  leached  ashes 
have  much  value.  They  form  an  excellent  addition  to  the 
compost  heap  in  which  muck  is  used. 

destroying;  Weed  Seeds.— E.  II.  Par- 
sons, Williams  Co.,  O.  The  seeds  of  weeds  thrown  into 
a  compost  heap  will  lose  their  vegetating  power  if  the 
manure  ferments  with  sufficient  thoroughness.  There  is 
danger  however,  that  many  seeds  near  the  outside  of  the 
pile  will  be  unaffected,  and  be  ready  to  grow  where  they 
scattered  with  the  manure.  It  is  safest  to  burn  all  weeds 
the  seeds  of  which  are  near  maturity. 


HL   J.  State  Entomologist.— Dr.  I.  P. 

Trimble,  of  Newark,  has  recently  been  appointed  ento- 
mologist to  the  New-Jersey  State  Agricultural  Society. 


Transporting  Bees. — L.  G.  Comstock, 
La  Fayette  Co.,  Mo.  "Where  bees  are  to  be  sent  a  great 
distance,  ample  openings  for  ventilation  at  the  top  and 
bottom  of  the  hive  are  required.  These  may  be  cover- 
ed with  a  wire  cloth,  which  will  retain  the  bees,  and  not 
impede  the  circulation  of  air.  A  very  good  arrangement 
was  described  and  illustrated  in  the  American  Agricul- 
turist, Vol.  xix,  page  76,  (March,  1860.) 

Xo  Test  Egrgrs.— L.  A.  Waters,  Madison  Co., 
Iowa.  The  most  expeditious  way  we  know,  and  which 
is  generally  practised  by  large  dealers  in  this  City,  is  to 
hold  them  between  the  eye  and  a  lighted  lamp  or  candle. 
If  the  egg  is  good,  the  light  will  shine  through  with  a  red- 
dish glow,  but  if  it  be  injured  by  incubation  or  from  long 
keeping,  it  will  be  opaque  or  dark.  This  can  be  more 
readily  discerned  by  placing  the  egg  in  a  paper  or  other 
tube  and  looking  through  it,  or  by  partially  enclosing  it 
in  the  hand.  With  a  little  practice,  a  person  will  thus 
examine  a  large  number  of  eggs  in  a  very  short  time. 

Preserving  Ejjg's.— A.  M.  Ward,  Hartford 
Co.,  Conn.,  writes  that  after  having  tested  a  large  num- 
ber of  directions  for  keeping  eggs,  he  has  adopted  a  plan 
recommended  some  years  since  in  the  Agriculturist,  viz.; 
to  place  them  upright  in  holes  bored  in  shelves,  and  keep 
them  in  a  cool  dry  place.    This  he  says  is  satisfactory. 


Milky  Eggs.- C.  S.  D.,  Westchester  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  writes  that  eggs  from  his  hens  taken  when  quite  fresh, 
and  boded,  do  not  fully  coagulate,  but  part  of  the  white  is 
of  the  appearance  and  consistence  of  milk.  We  have 
never  observed  any  thing  of  this  sort,  and  can  give  no 
explanation  of  the  phenomenon. 

Trees  for  Transplanting*. — D.  Wells, 
Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y.  Trees  raised  in  the  nursery  are  usual- 
ly preferable  to  those  growing  in  the  woods,  for  trasplant- 
ing.  The  latter  have  usually  a  tall  spindling  growth, 
which  is  in  most  cases  undesirable.  If  wild  saplings  are 
taken,  choose  those  which  have  grown  in  open  fields  or 
on  the  edge  of  the  forest. 

ISearing    Year    of   Apple    Trees. — 

Charles  Snow,  Cumberland  Co.,  N.  J.  It  is  supposed 
that  some  apple-trees  bear  only  during  alternate  years, 
because  of  some  peculiarity  which  renders  them  unable 
to  store  up  sufficient  fruit-making  material  in  a  single 
year.  Whether  this  attempted  explanation  be  correct  or 
not,  it  has  been  proved  that  by  liberal  manuring  and 
keeping  the  ground  loose  by  cultivation,  the  habit  may  be 
broken  up  and  a  crop  gathered  annually. 

Clierry  Trees  Splitting-.— J.  H.  Mead, 
Warren  Co.,  0.  A  too  rapid  growth  of  wood  upon  very 
rich  soil  is  said  to  often  cause  the  wood  of  cherry  trees  to 
split.  One  who  had  lost  many  trees  in  this  way  says,  that 
the  difficulty  was  entirely  remedied  in  his  case  by  re- 
moving the  highly  manured  soil  about  the  trees,  and 
supplying  its  place  with  that   of  poorer  quality.     * 

Time  tor  Setting-  Cranberries. — W. 

L,  Maxwell,  Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.  Experienced  growers 
say  that  cranberry  plants  may  be  set  during  any  month 
in  the  year  when  the  ground  is  not  frozen  \  we  should 
however  prefer  May  or  October,  as  then  they  are  in  a 
state  of  rest,  and  less  liable  to  injury  by  wilting.  The 
plant  is  very  hardy,  and  with  a  Utile  precaution  will  grow 
at  almost  any  time.  The  upland  variety,  about  which 
you  inquire,  is  cultivated  to  some  extent,  but  we  are  not 
prepared  to  endorse  all  the  claims  made  for  it  by  those 
having  plants  for  sale. 

California  Wine,  Wool  and  Stock 
Journal. — This  monthly  journal  devoted  to  the  above 
subjects  has  reached  its  sixth  number.  It  is,  of  course, 
especially  suited  to  California,  but  its  articles  on  wine 
making  by  Mr.  Haraszthy  will  be  of  value  wherever 
grapes  are  converted  into  wine.  The  typographical  ap- 
pearance of  the  journal  is  fine.    We  wish  It  all  success. 


The  Apple  Worm.— Francis  Thomas,  La- 
Salle  Co.,  111.  This  insect  appears  in  the  Spring  as  a 
miller,  and  deposits  its  eggs  in  the  calyx  or  eye  of  the 
young  fruit.  From  the  egg,  a  worm  or  larva  is  hatched, 
which  eats  its  way  to  the  centre  of  the  fruit,  causing  it  to 
fall  to  the  ground  prematurely.  If  left  there  undisturbed, 
the  larva  will  undergo  its  change  to  chrysaliss  and  winged 
insect,  and  be  ready  next  Spring  to  multiply  its  progeny. 
A  few  swine  should  have  the  range  of  the  orchard  to 
gather  the  blasted  fruit,  and  thus  keep  the  insect  in  check. 

Remedy  tbr  Borers. — W.  H.  Williams, 
Queens  Co.,  N.  Y.     We  know  of  no  outward  application 


t«  the  trunks  of  trees  that  will  prevent  the  borei  from 
committing  its  depredations,  where  they  have  once  ef- 
fected a  lodgement.  Resort  must  be  had  to  cutting  in 
until  the  '  varmint'  is  reached,  and  extracting  him.  A 
sharp  wire  thrust  into  the  holes  will  reach  those  that 
have  not  wormed  too  crooked  a  track. 

Ripening    Tomatoes    Early.  —  R.    S. 

Winsted,  Delaware  Co.,  Iowa.  The  maturity  of  toma- 
toes may  be  hastened  by  pinching  off  all  new  growth  of 
the  vine  after  a  fair  amount  of  fruit  is  set.  The  strength 
of  the  plant  will  then  go  to  the  growth  of  the  tomatoes. 
Treated  in  this  way  the  plants  may  be  set  nearer  together 
than  when  they  are  allowed  to  run  at  will,  and  thus  near- 
ly as  in  lch  early  fruit  may  be  realized  from  a  given  area 
as  would  naturally  have  been  produced  without  pruning. 
The  size  of  the  tomatoes   will  also  be  improved 

Ilai-tliness  ot'tlie  Tritoma.- This  half- 
hardy  plant  can  be  wintered  out  of  doors  easily,  by 
covering  it  late  in  the  Fall  with  leaves  or  other  porous 
litter,  and  then  throwing  over  it  a  few  inches  of  soil. 
Uncover  gradually  in  the  Spring;  by  the  5th  of  May,  alt 
covering  may  be  removed.  Yet,  if  one  thinks  it  less 
trouble  to  do  so,  lie  can  lift  his  plants  in  the  Fall,  and 
bury  the  roots  in  old  boxes,  and  keep  them  in  the  cellar. 
We  have  tried  both  ways  successfully. 

.  Wax  Flowers. —  Generally  we  dislike  to 
see  any  attempts  to  imitate  flowers,  as  the  artificial  ones 
usually  fall  so  far  short  of  the  natural  that  they  are  mere 
caricatures.  We  must  confess  that  our  prejudices  have 
been  lessened  by  the  specimens  placed  on  our  table  by 
Miss  Van  Bergh,  No.  1143  Broadway,  N.  Y.,  which  repre- 
sent not  only  the  shape  but  delicate  texture  and  grace  of 
the  real  flowers.  Such  a  difficult  flower  as  the  Mignon- 
ette is  represented  with  remarkable  fidelity. 

Tlie  Way  tlie  Win<l  Blows.— S.  Ran- 
som, Ashtabula  Co.,  O.,  kept  a  series  of  weather  notes 
during  the  year  1S02,  from  which  it  appears  the  wind 
blew  from  the  North  107  days,  from  the  East  102  days, 
from  the  South  17  days,  and  from  the  West  9  days.  There 
were  133  clear  days,  91  cloudy,  and  the  same  number  of 
rainy  days.  It  snowed  50  days,  making  31  days  of  good 
sleighing.  The  coldest  weather  was  (he  14th  of  February 
when  the  mercury  fell  to  19°  below  zero,  and  rose  to  99° 
above  on  the  11th  of  August. 


Kilns  tor  JSnrniu;>- Charcoal. — "Walter 
S.  Williams,  Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.  These  aie  used  in 
some  places,  especially  in  connection  with  iron  furnaces 
where  large  quantities  of  charcoal  are  consumed.  For 
manufacturing  on  a  large  scale  they  are  doubtless  most 
economical.  The  walls  are  built  of  brick  about  nine  feet 
high,  and  arched  over  with  the  same  material.  Occa- 
sional openings  the  size  of  a  brick  are  left  for  ventilation. 
They  are  built  to  contain  from  forty  to  fifty  cords  of  wood, 
which  yields  about  fifty  bushels  per  cord. 

Value   of  Zinc   Paint.— W.  W.  Farwcll, 

Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y.  This  article  is  superior  for  painting 
all  surfaces  exposed  to  the  action  of  gas  from  coal  fires, 
or  from  decaying  matters,  as  in  cellars,  privies,  etc.  It  is 
not  affected  by  sulphuretted  hydrogen  gas,  which  causes 
white  lead  paint  to  turn  dark.  It  costs  no  more  than 
lead  paint,  as  the  same  weight,  though  of  greater  price, 
will  cover  a  larger  surface. 

Sugar    Prospects    in     Illinois.  —  In 

addition  to  the  unusual  breadth  of  sorghum  sown  in  this 
state  we  learn  that  the  sugar  beet  has  been  largely 
planted.  We  hear  that  Prof.  Mot,  an  account  of  whose 
experiments  were  given  in  the  March  Agriculturist,  ex- 
pects to  make  this  Fall  300,000  pounds  of  sugar  from  the 
beets  raised  by  himself  and  the  neighbors  whom  he  has 
interested  in  the  culture.     Success  to  him. 

Mother's  Journal.— u  E.  A."  This  is  a 
very  excellent  monthly  edited  by  Mrs.  Caroline  O.  His- 
cox,  335  Broadway,  New-York.  $1  a  year.  Its  articles 
are  judicious  and  instructive— not  of  the  sentimental 
class  so  common  in  Journals  of  the  kind. 


A  Ladies  Magazine. — "Sarah."  Minne- 
sota. We  know  of  nothing  else  approaching  so  near 
what  you  inquire  for,  as  the  "Ladies  Repository"  publish- 
ed by  Poe  &  Hitchcock,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  at  $2.50  a  year. 
It  Is  every  way  a  first  class  magazine,  with  fine  original 
steel  engravings,  and  full  of  good  sterling  common  sense 
articles,  interesting  and  instructive— not  to  grave  nor  too 
gay.  It  has  an  immense  circulation  already,  but  may 
well  be  introduced  into  any  other  family,  where  it  is  not 
yet  known.  The  true  lady,  married  or  unmarried,  wlli 
find  it  both  entertaining  and  useful. 


1803.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


Q81 


Horses  Wanted.— Walter  Miller,  Harrison 
Co..  O.  The  demand  for  good  horses  is  at  present  far 
beyond  the  supply,  and  promises  to  remain  so  for  several 
years  to  come.  The  country  has  been  swept  of  its  sur- 
plus, to  supply  the  requirements  of  the  army,  and  many 
more  will  be  needed  in  this  service.  There  is  also  a  con- 
tinued call  and  ready  sale  for  extra  animals  at  extra 
pi  iri's.  We  believe  raising  colts  will  be  found  one  of  the 
most  profitable  branches  of  farming  for  a  few  years. 

Salting  Cows.— "Martha,"  Saratoga  Co., 
N.  Y.  We  cannot  say  positively  that  neglect  to  salt 
raws  will  detract  from  the  quality  of  butter,  or  prevent 
its  being  easily  gathered  after  churning;  but  where  all 
requisites  for  good  butter,  except  this,  have  been  ob- 
served, and  the  butter  fails  to  give  satisfaction,  it  is 
strong  evidence  that  salt  is  wanted.  Perhaps  some  of  our 
readers  can  give  facts  from  their  experience  bearing  on 
this  point.  At  any  rate,  it  is  easy  to  salt  the  cows  regu- 
larly, and  note  whether  any  improvement  takes  place. 
If  the  "  good  man"  fails  to  do  it,  take  a  walk  into  the  pas- 
ture at  convenient  seasons,  and  give  the  stock  a  treat. 
They  will  soon  learn  to  welcome  you. 

Beef  Brine  for  Warts.- James  Warden, 
Baltimore  Co.,  Md.,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist  that  he 
has  removed  warts  from  several  horses  by  washing  the 
part  twice  a  day  with  beef  brine  until  the  excrescence  dis- 
appeared, which  he  says  took  place  in  a  few  days. 

Selection  of  Seed  Wheat.— G.  H.  Wil- 
son, Iowa  Co.,  Iowa.  In  selecting  wheat  for  seed,  if  it 
is  to  be  purchssed  out  of  your  own  immediate  neighbor- 
hood, endeavor  to  secure  a  kind  which  has  succeeded  in 
a  climate  and  soil  similar  to  your  own.  It  will  not  be 
amiss  to  experiment  on  a  small  scale  with  varieties  of 
which  little  can  be  certainly  known,  but  for  the  main 
crop  only  that  should  be  sown  about  whose  good  quali- 
ties and  suitableness  for  the  location  there  are  no 
reasonable  doubts.  See  that  all  seed  is  fully  ripe  and 
plump,  entirely  free  from  the  seeds  of  weeds,  and  not 
more  than  two  years  old  ;  one  year,  or  less,  is  prefer- 
able.   Sow  only  one  variety  on  the  same  ground. 

Wlieat  Crop  in  Indiana. — Ellis  Jones, 
of  Marion  Co.,  reports  that  the  crops  in  his  vicinity  will 
average  we'll.  He  sends  a  splendid  head  from  a  neigh- 
bors field  where  the  crop  will  yield  not  less  than  25  to 
30  bushels  to  the  acre. 

Greasing  Hens.— John  Bright,  of  Cum- 
berland Co.,  N.  J.,  says  that  it  does  not  answer  to  grease 
hens  with  him,  as  no  chickens  are  hatched  after  it  if  the 
hens  are  greased  ever  so  little. 

Kerosene  tor  Cnrcnlio. — S.  D.  Palmer 
of  Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  says  that  lie  followed  the  sug- 
gestions of  Mr.  Richardson,  of  Norfolk  Co.,  Mass.,  and 
used  Kerosene  oil  to  prevent  the  attacks  of  curculio  and 
thereby  killed  four  fine  plum  trees.  Will  Mr.  Richardson 
inform  us  if  the  plan  still  succeeds  with  him? 


Urine  for  Ants. — 0.  Ursenbach  of  Utah  in- 
forms us  that  he  has  for  the  last  two  years  successfully 
destroyed  ants  by  means  of  urine.  Early  in  the  morning 
he  removes  a  little  of  the  earth  from  over  the  nest  and 
empties  the  contents  of  a  chamber  vessel  upon  it.  He 
finds  that  one  application  is  generally  sufficient. 


Gooseberry   and    Currant   Worm. 

— S.  H.  Murray  of  Maine,  says,  he  has  found  nothing  to 
answer  but  hand  picking.  He  would  like  to  know  how 
to  kill  them.  Can  any  one  of  our  readers  help  him  1  One 
of  our  exchanges  has  a  communication  from  a  gentleman 
who  found  salt  a  complete  remedy,  but  added  in  a  post- 
script, that  it  killed  the  bushes  too. 


Hemp  and  Caterpillars. — F.  W.  Peter- 
man,  of  Kentucky,  advises  those  who  are  troubled  with 
caterpillars  on  their  cabbages  to  sow  hemp  betw-een  the 
rows.  He  says  that  they  do  not  like  the  odor  of  the  hemp, 
nnd  leave.  What  does  Mr.  P.  do  with  his  hemp  when  it 
grows  tall  enough  to  shade  the  cabbages? 

Spare  tlie  Sualces.— Not  the  Copperheads, 
rattlesnakes,  nor  other  venomous  reptiles,  but  the  in- 
offensive striped  snake,  black  snake,  etc.,  wl.lch  live 
mainly  upon  insects  and  worms,  and  which  are  true 
friends,  although  disguised  in  a  form  against  which  there 
is  almost  universal  prejudice.  They  certainly  are  more 
beautiful  ami  graceful  than  the  toad,  which  is  now  a 
universal  favorite  among  gardeners. 


Quince  Stocks. — Ignoramus  is  informed 
that  the  Angers  quince  is  prefered  to  the  common  variety 
for  dwarfs,  as  it  is  a  much  freer  grower.    The  few  cases 


in  which  we  have  seen  the  common  quince  used  were 
not  very  successful. 

The  Grape  Vine. — Mrs.  Bradford,  Lynn, 
Mass.  The  new  shoot  which  started  from  below  will  be 
precisely  the  same  kind  of  grape  as  if  it  came  from  a  bud 
above  ground.  It  is  only  Willi  grafted  fruits  that  a  differ- 
ent kind  may  be  looked  for.  We  suppose  that  the  celery 
alluded  to  is  the  result  of  high  culture. 


The    Cut-leaved    Blackberr y.  —  We 

find  very  different  opinions  regarding  this  variety.  Some, 
whose  judgment  we  value,  speak  favorably  of  it.  A.  W. 
Corson  of  Penn.,  writes  us  that  he  planted  it  about  the 
year  1844  and  it  has  proved  worthless ;  he  does  not  re- 
collect to  have  seen  one  common  sized  berry  on  it.  A 
neighbor  of  ours  offered  last  Spring  to  give  it  away  to 
those  who  would  take  it  out  of  his  grounds. 


Cleaning  Fruit  Bottles.  —  Maggie  H. 
Hagerty  wishes  to  know  if  the  cement  can  be  removed 
from  fruit  jars,  that  iiave  been  once  used,  by  any  other 
method  than  the  slowone  of  scraping  them.  We  should 
suppose  that  if  put  into  strong  lye  or  potash  water,  the 
cement  would  be  dissolved  off,  but  we  have  never  tried  it. 


I>arge  Thread  Factory. — A  Company 
at  Willimantic,  Conn.,  are  about  erecting  an  immense 
building  for  the  manufacture  of  linen  thread.  It  will  be 
640  feet  long,  170  feet  wide,  and  run  20,000  spindles.  It 
is  said  that  when  completed,  this  will  be  the  largest  thread 
mill  in  the  world. 

Ground-Glass  Shades.—"  E.  S.  D,"  of 

Phcenixville,  Pa.,  asks  "  would  a  room  receive  less  light 
from  a  lamp  on  which  a  ground-glass  chimney  or  globe  is 
used  than  when  the  chimney  or  globe  is  unground  or 
plain?"  We  believe  that  the  amount  of  light  would  be 
the  same  in  both  cases,  but  in  coming  through  the  ground 
glass,  the  light  is  dispersed  in  all  directions,  and  hence  it 
appears  to  be  lessened  in  quantity. 

Gas  Tar  lor  Paint.— J.  J.  Malcolm,  Van 
Buren  Co.,  Mich.  In  localities  where  this  substance  can 
be  readily  obtained,  it  forms  a  cheap  and  excellent  paint 
for  woodwork  exposed  to  the  weather.  It  is  not  desirable 
for  houses  or  front  fences,  but  for  barns,  sheds,  rough 
fences,  tools,  etc.,  it  is  just  the  thing.  It  acts  as  an  excel- 
lent preservative  by  excluding  air  and  moisture  from  the 
wood,  and  also  by  its  chemical  effect.  Its  unpleasant 
smell  will  pass  away  in  a  few  days  after  application. 


of 


Exhibition   Tables  at   the   Office 
the  American  Agriculturist. 

The  following  articles  have  been  placed  upon  our 
tables  since  our  last  report. 

Fruits,  etc.  Strawberries  : — Prince  Albert,  and  a 
collection  of  seedlings  from  England,  shown  by  Robert 

Wade,  Troy,  N.  Y Austin,  126  berries  on  one  plant  set 

out  from  a  runner  in  1862  ;  G.  K.  Riker,  Stamford,  Conn. 

Union;  S.  R.  Trembley,   Bergen   Point,    N.  J 

Chance  Seedling,  quite  while,  believed  to  be  from  Wil- 
son's;  Wm.  F.  Heins,  Morrisania,  N.  Y.... Specimens 
for  name;  Richard  Lawrence,  Yonkers,  N.  Y... .Seed- 
ling from  Black  Prince  and    Hovey  ;  Mrs.   C.   Swazey, 

Hope,    N.    J White  Alpine;    George  Kellogg,  New 

Canaan,  Conn La  Constante,   very  fine,    Bonte   St. 

Julien,  Russell's  Prolific,  Triomphe  de  Gand,  Empress 
Eugenie,  Marguerite,  Victoria,  Austin,  Due  de  Malakoff, 

Brooklyn  Scarlet;  Wm.  S.  Carpenter,  Rye,  N.  Y 

Cherries: Fine  Bigarreau  Doulin  ;  C.  Marc,  Astoria, 

N.  Y... .Black  Sagle  ;  George  A.  Shelton,  Newark,  N. 

J Specimen  for  name  ;  E.  Williams,  Mt.  Clair,  N.  J.. 

New  Jerusalem  ;  Dr.  I.  P.  Trimble,  Newark,  N.  J 

Ox  Heart,   18  on  one  spur  ;    A.   Granger,  Washington 

Heights,   N.  Y Large    Red    Prool  ;    Prince   &   Co., 

Flushing,  N.  Y. . . .  Gooseberries  : Union  and  English  ; 

D.  H.  Barnes,  Po'keepsie,   N.  Y  ...Currants  : Red 

Dutch,  White  Dutch,  Cherry,  White  Grape,  Victoria, 
Prince  Albert,  Versailles;  E.  Williams,  Mt.  Clair,  N.  J.. 
Provence  and  Grape  (white  varieties),  and  Clieiry;  W. 
S.  Carpenter,  N.  Y...  .Naples  (black)  ;  E.  C.  Wheel- 
er, West  Orange,  N.  J. . .  Raspberries  : Belle  de  Fon- 

tenay,  FastollT,  Hudson  River  Antwerp,  Orange,  Ameri- 
can While  Cap,  Black  Cap,  Franconia,  White  Antwerp; 

Mr.     E.  Williams,  Mt.  Clair,  N.  J  ....Mulberries  : S. 

Tuitle,  New-Haven,  Conn. 

Flowers  : Basket  Cut  Flowers  ;   Thomas  Cavan- 

ach,  Brooklyn,  N.   Y Magnolia    grandiflora;    Wm. 

Lillienlhal,  Yonkers,  N.  Y....Fine  collection  of  Cut 
Roses  and  other  flowers  ;  Wm.  Chorlton,  Staten  Island, 

N.  Y Bouquet  of  Flowers  ;  W.  E.  Meserau,  N.  J.... 

Cut  Flowers;  John  Drummond,  gardener  to  Mrs.  James 
Strong,  Newtown,  N.  Y Night  bluoming  Cereus,  and 


Magnolia  macrophylla;  A.  P.  Cummings,  New-York 

Arum  Dracunculus,  and  Cut  Flowers;  H.  T.  Haviland, 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ..  .Collection  of  flowers  in  pots  ;  O.  Juild, 

Flushing,  N.  Y Splendid  collection  of  Auriculas  and 

Sweet  Williams;  B.  K.  Bliss,  Springfield,  Mass.. ..Hy- 
drangea Japonica,  very  beautiful ;  Wm.  Corlelyou,  Staten 
Island,  N.  Y. ...  Perpetual  Rose,  one  cluster  with  131 
blooms  ;  A.  P.  Cummings,  New-York.  Yuccas  in  bloom, 
and  Cut  Flowers  ;  Thomas  Cavanach,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
....Brugmansia,  fine  bloom;  Mr.  James,   Brooklyn.  N. 

Y Gloxinias  in  variety  ;  A.  Janes,  Morrisania,  N.  Y.. 

Collection  of  Carnations  and  Picotees ;  Wm.  Wibon, 

Florist,   Astoria,   N.  Y Bloom  of  Pancratium;   Mrs. 

Allslon,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y Fine  collection  of  ornament 

al  plants  ;  J.  S.  Barnes,  Port  Richmond,  N.  Y. 

Miscellaneous: Large  egg  weighing  4  oz.,  Levi 

Springsteen,  Jr.,   New-York Leaves  from  the  Sago 

Palm  Tree;  D.  Cordier,  College  Point,  N.  Y. ..  Green 
Corn  fit  for  the  table,  July  11th  ;  G.  M.  Usher,  Port  Rich- 
mond, N.  Y Wax  model  of  Newtown  Pippin;  Mrs. 

H.  M.  De  Wolfe,  923  Broadway,  New-York..  Golden 
Summer  Crook-necked  Squash  ;  J.  McLane,  Monmouth, 
New-Jersey. 


Agricultural  Exhibitions  in  1863. 


STATE   FAIRS. 

Intern'l  Wheat  Show Rochester,  N.  Y Sept.  R— 10 

National  Horse  Fair Hartford,  Conn "     8 — 10 

New  Jersey Patterson ••     8—10 

Vermont Rulland ■•     8— II 

New-York Utica ••  15—18 

Ohio Cleveland "15— IS 

CanadaWest Kingston "  21—25 

Illinois   Decatur Sept.  28— Oct.  3 

Pennsylvania Norristown •■    29 —  ■■    2 


COUMTY    FAIRS. 


MAINE. 
Cumberland  and  Portl'd. Portland. 


.Oct.  14- 


MASSACHUSETTS. 

Worcester  Co.  Hort Worcester Sept.  15—18 

Housatonic Great  Barrington....  Oct.    1 — 

Hampshire Northampton ■       1 —  2 

Barnstable Barnstable ••    o —  7 

CONNECTICUT. 

New  London Norwich Sept.  39 — Oct.  2 

NEW-YORK. 

Jefferson  Co.  Hort Watertown •  July  6— II 

Cattaraugus Clean Sept.  '22—24 

St.  Lawrence   Canton "      22 — 24 

Ulster Kingston ••      22—24 

Schuyler Watkins ■-     24—20 

Chenango Norwich Sept.  26— Oct.  I 

Delaware Delhi ••     29— Oel.  1 

Queens Hempstead Oct.  1—2 

NEW-JERSEY. 

Burlington Mt.  Holly Oct.  6— 7 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

Wyoming Wyoming Oct.  20—22 

DELAWARE. 

Newcastle Wilmington Oct.  6—8 

OHIO. 

Trumbull Oak  Grove Sept.  29— Oct.  1 

Paulding Antwerp - Oct.  1—2 

INDIANA. 

Fayette Connersville.. . 

Harrison Corydon 


.Sept.  1—  4 
,      "     8-11 


ILLINOIS. 

De  Kalb De  Kalb Sept.  15—17 

Winnebago Rockford ••    15 — 18 

Morgan Jacksonville "    15 — 18 

Mercer Millersburg "   22—24 

IOWA. 


Scott Davenport... 

Floyd Charles  City . 


.Sept.    7—11 
.     "     23-24 


Preparations  for  the  Great  Fair 

Oliver  Hoyt,  Esq.  who  is  travelling  in  Europe 
writes  to  the  "Methodist,"  concerning  the  In- 
ternational Exhibition  to  be  held  at  Hamburg, 
Germany,  the  present  season,  "  The  fair  is  to  be 
on  a  grand  scale :  the  ground  occupied  is  eighty 
one  acres,  of  which  more  than  one  third  is  cov- 
ered by  sheds.  At  the  entrance  to  the  ground 
there  is  erected  an  arch,  which  will  be  decorat- 
ed with  all  the  flags  of  Europe,  and  among 
them  the  glorious  Stars  and  Stripes  of  America 
will  be  prominent.  The  entries  of  live  stock 
have  already  reached  four  thousand  one  hun- 


232 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[August, 


tired  and  sixty  six.  Of  these  fifteen  are  Arabian 
horses  of  the  finest  blood.  Of  course,  our 
country  Tvill  not  send  horses  or  cattle  four 
thousand  miles  across  the  seas,  but  we  expect 
a  very  good  exhibition  of  farming  utensils,  and 
believe  we  shall  excel  all  other  nations  in  this 
department.  I  have  learned  in  relation  to 
American  implements,  a  fact  worth  noting.  A 
Russian  diplomatist,  high  in  official  position, 
wrote  a  letter  to  one  of  the  managers  of  the 
Fair,  wishing  to  know  if  America  would  be  rep- 
resented, Baying  if  she  were  not  he  would  not 
attend.  On  being  informed  that  America  would 
be  represented,  he  replied  that  he  would  attend, 
and  twenty  or  thirty  Russian  nobleman  with 
him.  Similar  inquiries  have  been  made  from 
different  parts  of  Germany." 


The  New  Mail  Law. 


On  the  1st  of  July  a  new  act  of  Congress 
went  into  effect,  which  makes  several  changes 
in  our  rates  of  postage.  For  the  convenience 
of  our  readers  we  note  the  provisions  of  most 
interest  to  them. 

Postage  on  letters  weighing  half  an  ounce  or 
less  is  three  cents  to  any  part  of  the  United 
States.  Formerly  letters  to  California  and  other 
Pacific  States  were  10  cents.  Letters  delivered 
from  the  office  where  they  are  mailed  pay  two 
cents.  In  towns  where  there  are  letter-carriers 
they  make  no  charge  for  delivery. 

Postage  on  newspapers  must  be  paid  in  ad- 
vance. The  postage  on  the  Agriculturist  is  now 
twelve  cents  a  year,  to  be  paid  in  advance  at 
the  office  where  it  is  delivered. 

The  postage  to  the  Canada  line  has  to  be 
paid  here,  and  the  subscription  price  of  the 
Agriculturist  to  be  sent  to  our  Canadian  friends, 
will  be  §1  12. 

Newspapers  sent  .by  mail  to  those  who  are 
not  subscribers  must  have  a  two-cent  stamp,  if 
not  over  4  ounces  in  weight,  and  the  same  for 
each  additional  4  ounces. 

Books  by  mail  must  pay  4  cents  for  any 
weight  not  over  4  ounces,  and  4  cents  for  each 
additional  4  ounces,  or  part  of  the  same.  No 
parcel  weighing  over  4  pounds  can  be  sent  by 
mail.  Postage  on  books  to  California  is  the 
same  as  to  an}'  part  of  the  United  States. 

The  franking  privilege  has  been  greatly  re- 
stricted. We  are  requested  by  the  Commis- 
sioner of  Agriculture  to  say  that  the  right  to 
6end  seeds,  cuttings,  etc.,  from  that  Depart- 
ment, has  not  been  abridged,  but  that  they  can 
still  frank  parcels  weighing  not  over  32  ounces. 

•-. — -—  ♦»         i  ■ 

What  of  the  Future  ? 


In  forming  an  opinion  as  to  the  probable 
prices  for  the  produce  of  this  year,  there  must 
be  taken  into  account  some  elements  not 
usually  affecting  the  course  of  trade.  First 
there  is  the  continuation  of  the  war,  the  effect 
of  which  has  been  largely  felt,  and  upon  which 
very  materially  depends  the  state  of  the  mar- 
kets. The  present  prospects  are  full  of  hope  for 
its  successful  termination  at  no  distant  day. 
The  recent  glorious  victories  have  so  restored 
confidence,  that  gold,  which  at  one  time  stood 
at  170  and  over,  has  fallen  to  125,  and  few  are 
eager  to  speculate  in  it  at  that  figure.  The 
cD'ect  of  this  will,  of  course,  be  to  reduce  the 
price  of  wheat,  but  with  it  other  commodities 
to  be  purchased  by  the  farmer  must  fall  in 
equal  ratio,  which  will  compensate  for  the  ap- 
parent loss.    As  the  rate   of  exchange   with 


foreign  countries  follows  the  fluctuations  in  the 
precious  metals,  all  imported  goods  will  he 
subject  to  a  falling  off  in  market  value,  so  that 
the  diminution  in  this  direction  need  not  be 
counted  as  unfavorable,  but  rather  the  con- 
trary. The  accumulated  stocks  of  foreign 
wares  will  be  rapidly  pressed  upon  the  mar- 
kets, and  ensuing  competition  must  still  further 
depress  the  figures  at  which  they  are  held. 

From  all  the  information  we  have  received, 
we  judge  the  wheat  crop  to  be  about  an  average 
one,  and  as  a  large  breadth  was  sown,  there  is 
prospect  of  a  good  supply.   The  harvests  abroad 
appear  to  be  an  improvement  upon  those  of  the 
previous  two  years,  -which  will  have  the  ten- 
dency to  somewhat  lessen  the  exportation.   But 
the  political  aspects   of  Europe  are  such  that 
the  whole  course  of  foreign  trade  may  be  en- 
tirely revolutionized  within   a  few  months,  or 
even  weeks.     Should  a  general  war  convulse 
the  Continent,  the  demand  for  breadstuffs  from 
this  side  the  water  must  greatly  increase  before 
the  close  of  the  year,  and  everything  must  go 
up  with  rapidity.   The  uncertain  feeling  on  this 
subject  even  now  influences  the  general  market. 
From  a  survey  of  the  whole  field  it  would 
appear  that  there  will  be  at  least  remunerative 
if  not  high  prices  for  what  provisions  the  farmer 
may  have  to  sell.     There  is  not,  we  judge,  any- 
thing to  favor  holding  on  in  anticipation  of  any 
great  rise  in  value.     Wool  will  probably  con- 
tinue firm,   not   perhaps   maintaining  the  un- 
precedented   rate   it   has  attained   during  the 
year,  but  yielding  returns  that  should  satisfy 
wool-growers,  except  perhaps  those  who  em- 
barked in  the  business   at  the  height  of  the 
tide,  hoping  to  realize  almost  an  independent 
fortune.     The  producer  who  so  keeps  his  ac- 
counts that  he  can  calculate  at  what  figure  he 
can  afford  to  sell   his  commodities,  and  who, 
year  by  year,  disposes  of  them  when  that  figure 
is  reached,  will  in  the  long  run  show  a  better 
balance-sheet  than  he  who  trusts  to  occasional 
sudden  rise  of  prices  to  ensure  him  large  profits. 

■ -•-. — »«»         t-m 

What  to  Do  with  Money. 


Not  a  few  of  our  readers  have  during  the 
past  year  or  two  accumulated  more  than  is  ap- 
parently wanted  in  their  business.  To  many  it 
is  a  somewhat  perplexing  inquiry  how  to  bestow 
their  goods.  They  desire  that  their  surplus 
capital  shall  be  safe,  and  that  it  shall  yield  a 
fair  return  for  the  investment.  We  have  coun- 
selled, and  still  advise,  that  the  Government  se- 
curities now  in  the  market  are  among  the  very 
best  stocks.  Their  value  enhances  with  every 
victoiy,  and  we  rejoice  that  these  are  multiply- 
ing weekly.  But  there  is  danger  that  many  will 
overlook  investments  nearer  home  that  would 
be  equally  safe,  and  in  the  end  more  remuner- 
ative. It  has  been  proved  over  and  over  again, 
that  capital  judiciously  used  in  farming  can  be 
made  to  pay  a  percentage  with  which  reasona- 
ble men  will  be  abundantly  satisfied.  Indeed 
the  want  of  sufficient  means  to  properly  im- 
prove the  farm  and  bring  it  up  to  its  best  pro- 
ducing capacity,  is  the  great  hindrance  to  the 
advancement  of  thousands.  They  are  barely 
able  to  make  ends  meet  when  interest  day 
comes  round,  and  are  unable  to  drain,  to  sub- 
soil, to  manure,  to  build  and  fence,  and  thus 
from  year  to  year  the  farm  is  at  a  stand  still,  if 
it  be  not  running  down.  To  such  we  repeat 
the  advico  repeatedly  given  in  these  columns, 
sell  part  of  the  farm  and  improve  the  remaind- 
er, and  there  will  be  more  satisfaction  in  work- 
ing, because  of  less  embarrasment,  and  in  the 


end,  greater  profit.     To  those  whose  farms  are 
already  paid  for,  and  who  are   so  fortunate   as 
to  be  inquiring  what  to  do  with  their   surplus 
capital,  we  say,  spend  it  on  the  farm,  if  it  be 
not  already  at  the  highest  point  of  productive- 
ness.   Fifty  dollars  per  acre  spent  in  draining 
will  often  give  an  increased  fertility  to  the  soil 
equivalent  to  ten,  or  even  twenty  par  cent  on 
the  amount  expended.    So  of  buildings  for  shel- 
ter, planting  of  orchards,  and  purchase  of  man- 
ure.    Each  for  himself  will  be  enabled  to  judge 
what  is  lacking  to  make  his  a  first  class  farm. 
Many  capitalists  have  shown  their  foresight 
by  seeking  investments  among  the  agricultural 
community,  advancing   funds  to  young   men 
just  starting  in   the  world,  for  the  purchase  of 
farms,  or  to  those  desiring  to  improve  the  land 
already  owned.    Others  have  wisely  purchased 
homes  in  the  country,  and  deeded  them  to  then- 
wives,  that  something  substantial  may  remain 
in  case  of  reverses  which  often  prostrate   the 
most    successful   business  men.    Hundreds  of 
these  will  in  after  years  discover  that  this  was 
wise,  not  only  because  it  saved  something  from 
the  wreck  of  their  fortunes,  but  from  finding  in 
the  peaceful  occupations  of  intelligent  husband- 
ry a  satisfaction  never  enjoyed  in  the  whirl  of 
the  city,  and  more   than  this,  a  better  atmos- 
phere, moral  as  well  as  physical,  for  the  educa- 
tion of  their  children.     Many  among  our  read- 
ers are  of  the  mercantile  and  manufacturing 
classes,  and  they  may  well  give  this  subject  their 
careful  thought.    In  the  end,  some  of  them  will 
without  doubt,  thank  the  Agriculturist  for  hav- 
ing made  these  timely,  practical  suggestions. 


Mallory    and 


Sanford's 
Machine. 


Flax-Dressing 


As  the  time  is  not  far  distant  for  gathering 
this  crop,  so  important  the  present  year,  we  are 
impelled  to  again  call  attention  to  the  great  im- 
provement effected  in  the  preparation  of  the 
fibre  for  market,  effected  by  the  use  of  this  ma- 
chine. We  have  watched  the  progress  of  the 
invention  for  several  months  past,  and  have 
been  pleased  to  find  our  first  opinion  of  its  im- 
portance and  excellence  endorsed  by  many 
who  have  during  this  season  purchased  ma- 
chines and  had  them  in  operation.  Not  only 
will  this  apparatus  effect  a  large  saving  in  time 
and  material,  but  by  its  use,  tangled  flax  straw, 
which  has  heretofore  been  counted  only  as  so 
much  waste,  where  flax  was  grown  for  the  seed, 
can  be  brought  to  a  marketable  state,  to  be 
transported  to  the  paper  mills,  and  worked  up, 
or  to  be  manipulated  by  the  manufacturers  of 
flax  cotton.  We  know  of  no  invention  recently 
introduced  that  bids  fair  to  do  more  in  cheapen- 
ing paper  stock,  and  also  in  reducing  the  price 
of  textile  fabrics.  If  the  manufacture  of  flax- 
cotton  proves  an  ultimate  success,  of  which 
there  seems  at  present  to  be  strong  probability, 
it  will  be  difficult  to  estimate  the  value  of  this 
flax-brake  to  the  farming  community.  The 
hand-power  machines  recently  manufactured 
by  this  firm  will  enable  a  single  person  to  dress 
600  lbs.  of  flax  straw  in  a  day  easier  than  half 
that  quantity  could  have  been  broken  with  the 
old-fashioned  hand-brake.  Whoever  has  this 
year  engaged  in  flax  culture,  will  do  well  to 
correspond  with  this  firm  in  relation  to  their 
implement.  Their  advertisement  will  be  found 
upon  another  column.  We  have  no  personal 
interest  in  this  or  any  other  machine,  but  we 
deem  it  a  favor  to  the  community  to  bring 
so  useful   an   implement  into  general   notice. 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


J  S3 


The  War  and  Agricultural 
plements. 


Im- 


A  New  Potato  Digger. 

Whoever  has  dug  potatoes  with  a  hoe,  fork, 
or  hook,  has  doubtless  wished  that  something 
might  be  invented  which  would  dispense  with 
this  tedious  aud  fatiguing  labor.  We  have  re- 
cently inspected  a  new  machine  which  prom- 
ises to  effect  as  great  a  revolution  in  the  potato 
tield,  as  the  mower  and  horse  rake  have  accom- 
plished in  the  hay  held.  The  machine  is  the  in- 
vention of  S.  B.  Conover  Esq.,  a  well-known 
commission  merchant  in  West  Washington 
Market.  Its  construction  and  action  will  be 
readily  understood  by  the  help  of  the  accom- 
panying engravings.  Pig.  1,  gives  a  view  of  the 
machine  at  work,  aud  fig  3  represents  a  length- 
wise section  of  it,  the  letters  referring  to  the 
same  parts  in  both  figures. 

A  strong  sifter  or  riddle,  C,  runs  the  whole 
length  of  the  machine ;  this  is  made  of  iron  rods 
and  is  in  the  shape  of  a  half  cylinder ;  it  is  placed 
in  an  inclined  position  and  has  a  vibrating  or 
shaking  motion  communicated  to  it  by  means 
of  gearing  on  the  wheel  at  G.  At  the  lower 
end  of  the  sifter  is  a  strong  wrought  iron  scoop 
or  plow,  E,  with  a  point  of  such  shape  as  to 
readily  enter  the  earth  and  so  arranged  that  it 
may  be  plunged  into  the  soil  at  any  required 
depth,  or  be  lifted  out  of  the  way  of  stones, 
stumps,  or  other  obstacles  by  moving  the 
lever,  I.  Within  the  sifter  there  is  a  large 
screw,  Z),  looking  something  like  the  screw  of  a 
steam  propeller;  this  is  made  to  revolve  by 
means  of  the  gearing  at  H.  These  are  the  es- 
sential parts  of  the  machine:  they  are  mounted 
upon  a  frame,  A,  which  has  two  large  wheels  at 
the  rear  and  two  small  forward  wheels  which 
move  like  castors,  independently  of  each  other, 
and  facilitate  the  turning  of  the  machine.  When 
at  work,  the  wheels  go  between  the  rows  of  po- 
tatoes, and  the  scoop  enters  the  soil  directly  un- 
der the  row  to  be  dug.  The  forward  movement 
of  the  team  pushes  the  potatoes  and  soil  togeth- 
er into  the  sifter,  the  vibratory  motion  of  which 
causes  the  earth  to  shake  out,  while  the  blades 
of  the  sarew  are  constantly  pushing  whatever 


may  be  in  contact  with  them  towards  the  rear 
end  of  the  machine.  Between  the  shaking  and 
the  stirring  by  the  screw,  the  potatoes  are  soon 
freed  from  the  dirt  and  keep  travelling  upward. 
At  £',  the  grating  is  sufficiently  coarse  to  allow 
the  small  potatoes  to  drop  through,  and  the  large 
potatoes  pass  on  and  fall  out  farther  on.  The 
large  and  small  potatoes  are  received  in  sepa- 
rate boxes  which  have  hinged  bottoms  opening 
downward  aud  so  connected  with  the  lever,  F, 
that  either  box  can  be  emptied  at  pleasure.  The 
potatoes  are  delivered  in  assorted  heaps,  making 
the  after  work  of  picking  up  comparatively 
easy.  Weeds  and  tops  will  be  pushed  out  at 
the  rear  end  of 
the  sifter  by  the 
action  of  the 
screw.  The  soil 
'  will  be  left  by  the 
machine  in  excel- 
lent condition  for 
the  succeeding 
crop.  We  have 
seen  a  full  sized 
machine,  and  al- 
though we  have 
not  witnessed  its 
operation  in  the 
field,  we  can  see 
no  reason  why  it 
should  not  realize 
the  hopes  of  the 
inventor.  It  has 
been  suggested 
that  this  machine 

might  also  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  clearing 
land  of  small  stones  near  the  surface.  Though 
the  inventor  did  not  have  this  object  in  view  we 
think  that  it  might  be  effective  on  certain  soils. 
The  machine  we  saw  is  well  made  and  so 
simple  in  all  its  parts,  as  not  to  be  liable  to  get 
out  of  order.  If  his  invention  will  successful- 
ly substitute  the  work  of  animals  for  human 
labor  in  harvesting  the  potato  crop,  Mr.  Cono- 
ver will  receive  the  grateful  thanks  of  many 
members  of  the  agricultural  community. 


Dealers  in  agricultural  implements 
report  that  the  demand  for  labor  sav- 
ing machines  during  the  present  sea- 
son has  been  altogether  unprecedent- 
ed. The  manufactories  of  mowers 
and  reapers,  horse  rakes  aud  pitch- 
forks, etc.,  although  worked  to  their 
utmost  capacity,  have  been  unable  to 
fully  meet  the  orders.  This  has  of 
course  resulted  in  a  large  degree  from 
the  scarcity  of  laborers  caused  by  the 
transferring  of  so  many  men  to  the 
field  where  other,  harvests  than  those 
of  agriculture  are  being  reaped.  But 
it  is  also  due,  in  some  measure,  to  the 
influence  of  the  agricultural  press, 
which  has  for  years  been  educating 
the  farming  community  to  the  prac- 
ticability of  substituting  animal  and 
mechanical  power  for  hand  labor. 
This  fact  is  one  of  the  compensations 
of  the  war,  and  no  slight  one  either. 
Its  influence  will  be  felt  long  after 
peace  shall  have  called  the  absent  la- 
borers to  their  homes.  It  is,  in  fact, 
an  emancipation  of  thousands  of  men 
from  the  necessity  of  severe  toil ;  an 
emancipation  which  furnishes  no  ele- 
ments for  political  agitation,  but  which 
is  none  the  less  noteworthy.  No  man  will  wil- 
lingly return  to  the  old  routine  of  muscle  work, 
after  having  once  enjoyed  the  comparative 
ease  in  haying  time,  bestowed  by  a  good  mower. 
One  effect  of  this  release  of  so  many  laborers 
will  be  to  allow  the  cultivation  of  a  much  larger 
area  of  land.  The  Great  West  already  owes 
much  to  the  successful  introduction  of  mechan- 
ical contrivances  into  agriculture,  and  its  fertile 
prairies  will  ere  long  receive  still  larger  acces- 
sions from  this  cause.  The  influence  of  this 
change  will  also  be  widely  felt  iu  the  number  of 
young  men  willing  to  follow  the  profession  of 
farming,  now  that  so  much  of  exhausting  labor 


Fig.  2. — SECTIONAL   VIEW   OF  THE  DIGGER. 

is  relieved.  The  work  of  the  farmer  will  take 
rank  above  mere  manual  labor,  which  will  al- 
ways hold  a  lower  pJace  than  the  exercise 
of  skill.  Although  this  may  appear  of  little 
account  in  any  particular  neighborhood,  in  the 
aggregate,  the  results  will  be  of  great  importance. 
Agriculture  needs  the  brain  work  of  many  a 
man  whose  muscles  are  not  strong  enough  to 
handle  the  scythe,  aud  not  a  few  such  will  be 
added  to  the  ranks  by  the  general  introduc- 
tion of  farming  by  machinery. 


234 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[August, 


Blooded  Stock  vs.  Native. 

A  subscriber  asks  the  pertinent  question,  will 
a  blooded  or  grade  animal  sell  for  more  in  the 
cattle  market  than  one  of  the  same  weight  of 
native  stock  ?  We  answer  yes,  usually,  for  the 
reason  that  high-bred  cattle  have  their  weight 
developed  on  desirable  points.  Bones  are  val- 
uable for  many  purposes,  but  no  butcher  will 
pay  9  to  12  cents  per  pound  for  them,  when  lie 
can  obtain  an  equal  amount  of  good  meat  for 
the  same  price.  Native  animals  occasionally 
show  great  symmetry  of  form,  well  developed 
muscle,  and  meat  laid  on  where  the  butcher  and 
epicure  like  to  find  it.  In  such  cases  the  market 
value  of  the  animal  will  not  differ  materially 
from  that  of  one  having  a  long  good  pedigree. 
Usually,  however,  it  is  found  that  native  breeds 
give  more  of  offal  and  coarse  meat,  than  those 
bred  for  generations  back  with  a  view  to  fitting 
them  for  the  shambles,  and  hence  their  value 
for  slaughtering  decreases  correspondingly.  It 
should  be  constantly  kept  in  mind,  that  it  is  not 
the  peculiar  excellence  of  single  animals  that 
wholly  determines  their  value  upon  the  farm.  A 
perfectly  well-formed  native  cow  yielding  a  gen- 
erous supply  of  milk,  is  justly  prized  for  her  in- 
dividual qualities ;  but  the  owner  can  not,  with 
any  degree  of  certainty,  expect  her  good  quali- 
ties to  be  transmitted  to  the  next  generation. 
Of  course  her  calf  will  be  more  likely  to  prove 
good  than  one  from  an  ill-favored  dam,  but  the 
deficiencies  of  her  ancestors  may  crop  out  in  an 
unlooked-for  degree,  and  render  the  progeny 
comparatively  worthless  as  a  breeder.  It  re- 
quires many  years  of  careful  management  to  fix 
the  qualities  of  a  breed  of  animals,  so  that  they 
shall  be  repeated  in  the  progeny.  There  must 
be  a  counter-balancing  of  points,  and  overcom- 
ing of  deficiencies,  by  proper  selection  of  sire 
and  dam,  for  many  successive  generations.  Un- 
questionably this  may  be  done  by  starting  with 
a  promising  native  pair,  and  continuing  to  breed 
sufficiently  long  with  reference  to  the  develop- 
ment of  desirable  points.  But  few  are  found 
possessed  of  sufficient  means,  time,  patience,  and 
perseverance,  to  carry  the  process  to  a  success- 
ful termination.  A  few  have  done  so  in  other 
countries,  especially  in  England,  and  the  world 
is  sharing  the  benefit  of  their  endeavors.  Again, 
even  supposing  success  attainable  by  starting 
with  native  animals,  it  seems  more  feasible  to 
begin  with  animals  already  possessing  fixed 
qualities  of  excellence,  and  to  super-add  to  these, 
by  proper  breeding,  whatever  may  be  wanting. 
Intelligent  cattle  raisers  are  pursuing  this  course, 
and  already  this  country  can  furnish  no  mean 
show  of  blooded  stock  compared  with  that  of 
any  other  land.  To  every  farmer  who  proposes 
to  raise  but  a  single  calf,  we  would  say  secure 
the  services  of  the  best  blooded  bull  attainable, 
and  continue  to  do  so;  in  ten  years  you  will 
find  your  account  in  it. 


Importation  of   Wool— A  Hint  to  Sheep 
Raisers. 


It  is  a  fact  worthy  of  note  that  while  the  in- 
creased demand  for  the  sorts  of  wool  needed  for 
broadcloths,  cassimeres,  etc.,  is  being  partially 
met  by  increased  production,  as  yet  little  has 
been  done  to  furnish  supplies  of  the  staple  re- 
quired in  goods  substituted  for  cotton;  that  is 
for  the  warps  of  worsteds,  delaines,  etc.  The 
wool  needed  for  this  use  is  that  which  will  make 
the  smallest  and  strongest  thread  with  the  least 
nap  from  the  smallest  amount  of  stock.  This 
is  furnished  in  the  greatest  excellence  by  the 


Leicester,  Cotswold,  and  kindred  breeds,  and  as 
comparatively  very  few  of  these  sheep  are  raised 
in  this  country,  the  great  bulk  of  wool  needed 
for  manufacturing  purposes  here,  must  be  im- 
ported. Accordingly  it  is  found  that  the  impor- 
tations during  the  present  year  have  by  far  ex- 
ceeded those  of  any  previous  period.  The 
amount  received  during  the  past  six  mouths  has 
very  nearly  if  not  quite  equalled  the  whole 
quantity  imported  in  1802,  and  is  greater  than 
that  brought  in  during  both  I860  and  1861. 
But  owing  to  the  demand  upon  the  other  side 
of  the  Atlantic  for  a  similar  article,  the  price 
has  advanced  to  an  unprecedented  figure,  and 
such  wool  now  commands,  and  must  for  some 
time  continue  to  bring  a  price  far  beyond  its 
actual  relative  worth  as  compared  with  wool  of 
finer  staple.  In  other  words,  a  larger  amount 
of  money  can  be  realized  for  wool  by  invest- 
ment in  these  breeds  of»  sheep.  Now  it  be- 
hooves American  farmers  to  reap  a  share  of  the 
advantages  thus  offered.  Heretofore,  the  rais- 
iug  of  the  coarser  bodied  sheep  has  been  advo- 
cated on  the  ground  of  producing  superior 
weight  and  quality  of  mutton,  and  the  advan- 
tage, if  any,  in  this  respect,  is  not  less  now  than 
formerly,  as  any  one  will  find  who  indulges  in 
the  luxury  of  this  meat  at  present  prices.  The 
matter  is  worth  thoroughly  looking  into  by  those 
who  are  about  stocking  their  farms  with  sheep. 
Some  enterprising  men  will  reap  a  good  return 
from  importing  improved  flocks  of  these  breeds, 
and  we  shall  be  pleased  to  chronicle  their  suc- 
cess in  the  Agriculturist. 

•-. —    —  «»- >-— 

Wool  in  Pennsylvania.  —  A  number  of 
wool  growers  in  Alleghany  and  Washington 
Counties,  Pa.,  at  a  recent  meeting,  resolved  to 
hold  their  wool  at  $1  per  pound  until  there  is  a 
change  in  the  prices  of  cotton  and  woolen 
goods.  The  wool  growers  of  Western  Pennsyl- 
vania, have  been  called  to  meet  in  convention 
to  consider  the  matter.  Other  events  of  great- 
er importance  will  probably  prevent  their  as- 
sembling for  some  little  time  at  least. 

. — . — •  <>» •—. 

Proper  Depth  for  Manuring. 


The  Annual  Report  of  the  Secretary  of  the 
Massachusetts  State  Board  of  Agriculture, 
Charles  L.  Flint  Esq.,  for  the  year  1862,  con- 
tains, among  much  other  valuable  matter,  the 
record  of  a  most  important  and  interesting  se- 
ries of  experiments  to  determine  the  best  depth 
for  applying  manures.  The  trials  were  made 
pursuant  to  premiums  offered  by  the  several  /Ag- 
ricultural Societies  receiving  bounty  from  the 
State,  and  in  accordance  with  the  direction  of  the 
State  Board  of  Agriculture.  The  following  in- 
structions were  prescribed  for  experimenters  : 
"  Select  a  level  piece  of  land  of  any  convenient 
size,  from  twenty  square  rods  up  to  as  many 
acres  or  more,  which  should  be  as  nearly  equal 
in  character  and  conditions  as  possible.  Divide 
it  into  equal  parts,  numbering  them  1,  2,  3,  4,5, 
for  a  rotation  of  three  years. 

"  Divide  the  manure  which  it  is  proposed  to 
apply,  and  which  should  be  of  a  uniform  char- 
acter, into  four  equal  parts.  At  the  time  of  first 
plowing  in  the  Spring,  spread  evenly  one  fourth 
ot  the  manure  upon  plot  No.  1,  and  then  plow 
the  whole  field  of  an  equal  depth.  Apply 
another  fourth  part  of  the  manure  to  plot  No. 
2,  and  then  cross-plow  the  whole  field  to  about 
half  the  depth  of  the  first  plowing.  Spread 
another  fourth  of  the  manure  upon  plot  No.  3, 
and  harrow  or  cultivate  the  whole  field ;  after 
which  sow  or  plant  the  whole  evenly  with  any 


crop   preferred.     Finally,  spread  the  remaining 
quarter  part  of  the  manure  upon  plot  No.  4. 

"  Observe  that  by  pursuing  this  course,  each 
of  the  five  lots  will  receive  equally,  a  deep  plow- 
ing and  a  harrowing,  or  cultivating;  the  only 
difference  in  them  being,  that  in  No.  1,  the  ma- 
nure is  buried  deep,  in  No.  2,  shallow,  in  No.  3, 
buried  only  slightly,  but  coated  with  loam,  and 
in  No.  4,  exposed  upon  the  surface,  while  No. 
5,  gets  no  manure.  The  manure  is  to  be  spread 
broadcast  and  as  evenly  as  possible.  The  alter 
cultivation  should  be  the  same  on  each  of  the 
lots,  and  the  harvest  of  each  should  take  place 
at  the  same  time." 

Fourteen  experiments  were  carried  through 
the  three  years  of  1S60,  1861, 1S62,  according  to 
the  above  directions,  and  the  details  are  given 
in  full  in  the  Secretary's  Report.  They  present 
many  items  of  importance,  but  from  various 
causes  can  only  be  deemed  as  approximating  to 
a  decision  of  the  matter  in  question.  The  sum- 
mary of  the  different  results  shows  that  manure 
buried  deeply  gave  the  best  returns  in  two  in- 
stances; placed  at  a  medium  depth  (by  the 
cross-plowing)  in  six  cases;  when  harrowed  in, 
in  four,  and  when  left  on  the  surface  in  two  of 
the  experiments.  Taking  the  retentive  soils  by 
themselves,  deep  plowing  of  manure  gave  the 
greatest  result  in  one  case,  shallow  plowing  in 
five,  harrowing  in  three,  and  surface  application 
in  two.  The  light  soils  yielded  the  best,  returns 
from  one  of  each  of  the  several  applications, 
except  where  applied  on  the  surface. 

The  number  of  experiments  was  too  limited 
to  give  a  satisfactory  decision  of  the  question. 
Different  crops  were  also  cultivated  by  several 
of  the  experimenters,  and  various  kinds  of  ma- 
nure were  used,  both  of  which  particulars 
might,  in  some  measure,  vary  the  results.  The 
influence  of  the  weather,  whether  wet  or  dry, 
must  also  be  taken  into  account.  This  was 
recorded  in  the  above  cases,  but  it  will  require 
a  long  term  of  years  to  decide  how  far  this  will 
affect  the  general  result.  On  the  whole,  there 
is  ground  to  recommend  the  use  of  manures  at 
moderate  depth,  as  at  least  the  probabilities 
seem  to  be  in  favor  of  this  course,  and  we  have 
no  better  ground  for  deciding.  If  the  subject 
now  so  well  opened,  be  followed  up,  in  time  an 
authoritative  rule  maybe  established.  Such  ef- 
forts toward  solving  the  practical  problems  ot 
Agriculture  are  worthy  of  all  commendation, 
and  we  trust  that  the  above  example  may  not 
be  without  effect  upon  kindred  societies.  The 
Department  at  Washington  might,  by  entering 
upon  a  similar  field  of  experiment,  bestow  a 
just  return  to  the  country  for  the  generous  sup- 
port which  has  been  accorded  to  it  by  the  people. 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Digging  Muck   or   Peat. 


With  all  that  has  been  said  upon  the  value 
of  this  substance  for  manure,  the  last  ten 
years,  it  is  not  half  appreciated.  The  ma- 
jority of  our  farmers  have  never  used  it,  and 
few  of  them  who  use  it,  conduct  their  operations 
so  carefully  as  to  know  how  much  it  is  worth. 
I  am  writing  in  sight  of  a  clover  field  dressed 
with  muck,  which  blossoms  all  over  in  praise 
of  the  article.  Lubin  never  sent  out  such  per- 
fume as  comes  up  from  this  muck-plastered 
meadow.  The  general  conviction  is,  that  muck 
is  good  on  hungry,  gravelly  soils,  and  loose 
sands.  It  is,  for  I  have  found  it  thus,  and  seen 
the  results.  It  may  not  be  known  that  it  is  also 
good  on  muck  lands.  That  meadow  now  so 
luxuriant  with  clover,  good  for  three  tons  to  the 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


23H 


acre,  is  a  reclaimed  swamp,  and  the  manure  was 
simply  dried  muck  and  fish  pomace  at  the  rate 
of  not  over  five  dollars  to  the  acre.  We  have 
repeatedly  tried  stable  manure  composted  with 
muck,  upon  the  same  meadow,  with  similar  re- 
sults. The  popular  faith  that  it  is  best  for  gra- 
velly soils,  is  undoubtedly  correct,  but  it  is  about 
good  enough,  when  composted,  for  even  re- 
claimed muck  swamps.  And  this  fact  is  not 
without  its  analogies.  It  is  well  known,  that 
soils  made  up  in  part  from  lime  rock,  are  much 
benefitted  by  applications  of  lime;  and  granite 
soils  which  are  supposed  to  be  rich  in  potash 
tenia  the  decomposed  feldspar,  show  at  once  the 
effects  of  wood  ashes. 

The  muck  is  ameliorated  by  the  manure  or 
ashes  with  which  we  have  mixed  it,  and  it 
shows  its  good  effects  upon  the  grass  in  a  pow- 
erful manner.  After  using  muck  for  ten  years 
and  more,  we  should  hardly  know  how  to  farm 
on  old  soils  without  it.  The  present  is  the  best 
season  in  the  whole  year  to  dig  it.  The  swamps 
are  now,  many  of  them,  without  water  enough 
to  be  troublesome,  and  the  water  is  so  warm, 
that  one  can  stand  in  it  barefooted  all  day  with- 
out danger  of  taking  cold.  Then  the  warm 
season  is  much  the  best  for  curing  the  muck. 
When  thrown  out  upon  the  hank  of  a  ditch, 
it  is  drained  of  its  superfluous  water  at  once, 
and  is  heated  in  the  sun.  The  outside  of  the 
heap  very  soon  becomes  as  dry  as  powder  and 
much  finer  than  common  soil.  In  this  dry  con- 
dition it  is  benefitted  by  the  fall  rains  and  the 
winter  frosts,  if  it  lies  on  the  bank,  and  still 
more  benefitted,  if  it  is  carried  to  the  yards  and 
stables.  It  is  one  of  the  best  deodorizers  for 
sink  drains,  privy  vaults,  and  barn  cellars,  and 
a  farmer  should  always  keep  a  good  supply  on 
hand,  and,  if  possible,  have  it  sheltered  ready  for 
use.  There  is  a  great  difference  in  the  value  of 
muck,  owing  to  the  trees  and  shrubs  from  the 
decay  of  which  it  is  composed.  But  the  im- 
mediate effects  of  it  upon  crops  is  still  more  de- 
termined by  the  condition  in  which  it  is  applied 
to  land.  This  summer  curing  before  it  goes 
to  the  compost  heap,  or  the  stables,  we  regard 
as  very  important.  Without  attempting  to  ac- 
count for  the  philosophy  of  the  fact,  it  doss  un- 
dergo a  very  rapid  change  in  hot  weather,  and 
becomes  much  more  available  for  plant  food  in 
the  compost  heap.  If  it  is  to  be  in  the  com- 
post heap  six  months  or  a  year  before  using,  the 
summer  exposure  is  of  less  importance.  Muck 
digging  ought  to  have  a  regular  place  in  the 
yearly  routine  of  labor.  On  the  whole  we  have 
never  found  any  farm  operation  to  pay  quite  so 
well.  Connecticut. 

— < — «•»— . ^m 

How  About  the  Compost  Heap  ? 


In  this  season  when  the  garden  is  teeming 
with  vegetation,  are  you  accumulating  materials 
to  meet  next  year's  demands?  We  all  know  in 
what  request  manure  is  in  the  Spring,  and  pro- 
visions should  he  made  for  it  now.  The  garden 
furnishes  a  large  amount  of  refuse  matter  which 
should  go  on  to  the  compost  heap.  An  oc- 
casional load  of  stable  manure  may  be  added, 
and  alternate  strata  of  green  vegetable  matter 
and  manure  may  be  built  up  throughout  the 
season.  Every  privy  should  have  its  vault  so 
arranged  as  to  be  perfectly  accessible  for  re- 
moving or  adding  to  its  contents.  An  oc- 
casional addition  of  muck  and  plaster  or  cop- 
peras (sulphate  of  iron)  will  completely  deodor- 
ize the  contents  and  make  a  highy  valuable 
fertilizers.  Do  not  forget  the  hen  house  in  the 
summer  season.    A  few  shovelfuls  of  soil  will 


make  the  hen  roost  more  comfortable  for  its  in- 
mates and  assist  in  forming  a  manure  equal  in 
value  to  guano.  It  is  better  to  save  and  accu- 
mulate manures  now,  than  to  be  short  and  ob- 
liged to  buy  when  the  need  is  felt  next  Spring. 


Fish   for   Manure. 


It  is  a  query  whether  fish  are  turned  to  their 
greatest  possible  account  as  manure.  It  would 
seem  that  by  good  management  they  might  be 
made  to  fertilize  a  large  part  of  the  barren  sands 
which  line  the  sea-shore.  And  what  more  just 
than  that  the  sea  should  render  back  some  of 
the  fertility  which  has  been  washed  into  it  from 
the  land.  As  Prof.  Johnson  happily  remarks, 
"  Guano  is  an  iudirect  contribution  of  the  ocean 
to  Agriculture.  The  sea-fowl  manufacture  it 
from  the  fish  with  which  the  sea  is  everywhere 
teeming." — Analysis  shows  that  fish  abound  in 
nitrogenous  and  phosphatic  elements;  and  ex- 
perience shows  that  they  are  very  useful  in 
bringing  up  lands  otherwise  quite  unfertile. 
Indeed,  we  have  known  farmers  to  cart  them 
fifteen  or  twenty  miles  distant  from  tide  water, 
and  to  find  the  labor  remunerative.  Yet  the 
slovenly  practice  of  spreading  fish  on  the  sur- 
face of  land  or  imperfectly  covering  it  for  the 
benefit  of  growing  crops,  is  one  to  be  con- 
demned. It  is  wasteful,  and  exceedingly  offen- 
sive, if  not  unhealthy  to  all  the  region  filled  with 
the  foul  effluvia. 

But  fish,  in  a  crude  state,  can  not  be  handled 
or  carried  many  clays  in  warm  weather;  they 
soon  corrupt.  Some  method  must  be  devised 
for  curing  and  putting  them  into  some  concen- 
trated and  portable  form.  This  was  done  some 
years  ago  in  France  and  in  England,  and  an  ar- 
ticle was  produced  which  was  reported  to  be  as 
valuable  as  guano.  Not  long  after,  a  similar 
article  was  manufactured  in  this  country,  at 
New-Haven,  Conn.,  Bristol,  Rhode-Island,  and 
in  New-Jersey,  which  was  styled  "Fish  Guano," 
and  which  has  become  popular  with  those  who 
have  used  it.  Of  the  precise  mode  of  preparing 
it  for  market,  we  know  only  a  little.  The  fish 
used  for  the  purpose  are  chiefly  the  Moss  Bunk- 
ers or  Menhaden  (Clupea  Menhaideri),  which  are 
boiled  or  steamed,  and  thus  reduced  to  a  soft 
mass  of  flesh  and  bones.  This  mass,  we  are 
told,  is  now  "  chemically  treated,"  then  dried, 
thoroughly  baked,  and  ground  to  a  coarse  pow- 
der. Possibly,  the  "chemical  treatment"  is 
only  the  application  of  sulphuric  acid.  This 
makes  a  powerful  fertilizer.  Another  and  less 
potent  agent  is  made  by  mixing  the  boiled  fish 
with  some  absorbent,  like  dry  peat  or  street 
sweepings,  and  then  drying  it.  This  has  great- 
er bulk,  and  is  called  "  Fish  Compost." 

But  where  neither  of  these  prepared  fertil- 
izers are  in  market  and  at  a  reasonable  price, 
we  would  advise  seaboard  farmers  to  use  all  the 
fish  they  can  get,  in  their  own  way.  They  can 
profitably  be  laid  up  with  muck  in  heaps,  to  de- 
cay. A  barrel  of  fish  composted  with  muck 
or  loam  will  make  a  rich  dressing  for  any  crop. 


Lessons  of  the  Drouth. 


How  often  have  farmers  read  of  the  import- 
ance of  draining,  deep  plowing,  thorough  pul- 
verization of  the  soil,  and  other  elements  of 
good  husbandry  !  And  they  have  said  to  them- 
selves, this  is  very  good  theory,  and  it  is  very 
well  for  others  to  practise,  but  my  laud  don't 
need  such  fussing  over.  Yet,  almost  every  year, 
i  in  time  of  drouth,  we  hear  them  wqnder  why 


their  corn  rolls  up  its  leaves  so  much  worse 
than  that  of  more  careful  farmers,  and  why 
most  of  their  crops  dry  so  badly  in  mid-sum- 
mer. Has  not  this  been  the  experience  of  some 
the  present  year?  They  complain  bitterly  of 
the  season,  of  Providence,  of  everything  ex- 
cept their  own  management.  Now  and  then 
they  visit  other  farms  where  the  land  is  well 
drained,  where  sub-soil  plows  are  owned  and 
used,  where  the  manure  heap  is  constantly  build- 
ing and  no  part  of  it  suffered  to  waste,  and 
where  all  the  farm  implements  are  kept  bright 
by  use;  and  here  they  find  the  crops  almost 
unaffected  by  drouth.  Their  eyes  are  opened  a 
little,  and  they  begin  to  see  that  there  is  some- 
thing in  thorough  farming,  possibly  in  book 
farming.  We  have  no  doubt  that  an  inch  or 
two  deeper  in  plowing  often  repays  the  farmer 
a  hundred  or  more  dollars  annually,  in  the  crops 
saved  from   drouth,   or  increased  in   amount. 


Corn  Raising  in  Illinois. 

— • 

In  the  June  number  of  the  American  Agricul- 
turist, page  173,  I  find  an  article  on  the  cost  of 
raising  corn  in  Connecticut.  The  writer  says 
he  raised  last  year  on  twenty-three  acres,  1000 
bushels  amounting  at  $1  a  bushel,  to  $1000. 
The  expenses  according  to  his  estimate  were 
$509.25,  leaving  a  profit  of  $400.75.  He  says  at 
the  close,  "  Let  Western  farmers  beat  it,  if  they 
can."  I  will  give  what  it  costs  me  to  raise  24 
acre's,  and  farmers  here  say  it  is  a  fair  estimate. 

12  days  Plowing  hind  at  $2 $24 

2  days  Marking  at  $2 4 

2  days  Planting,  man,  boy  and  team,  at  $2X.    5 
Seed  Corn 2 

3  days  Harrowing  Coin,  at  $2 fi 

12  days  Plowing  Corn,  at  $2X 30 

Interest  on   Land ■  20 

Total  cost $91 

By  1,440  bushels  Corn,  at  30c .$432 

Net  profit  on  Crop $341 

A  man  will  plow  two  acres  a  day  easily ;  and 
with  the  markers  we  have,  will  mark  12  acres. 
The  planting  is  done  with  a  machine — a  man 
to  drive  and  boy  to  drop.  I  estimate  the  wages 
of  the  man  and  team  at  $3,  and  the  boy  at  half 
a  dollar.  Twelve  acres  is  the  lowest  number 
planted  a  day.  The  harrowing  is  done  as  soon 
as  the  corn  comes  up  (the  front  tooth  of  the  har- 
row being  knocked  out).  No  harrowing  is  done 
before,  as  the  plowing  leaves  the  ground  in 
good  order.  Plow  the  corn  four  times  with 
double  shovel  plows,  one  horse  to  each  plow. 
I  hire  a  man  and  a  boy,  and  after  paying  the 
man  and  boy  there  is  enough  left  of  the  $30  to 
pay  for  the  use  of  the  team.  I  count  GO  bush- 
els to  the  acre;  as  once  harrowing  and  four 
times  plowing  will  make  it,  80  being  frequently 
raised.  If  corn  is  worth  $1  in  Connecticut,  it  is 
certainly  worth  30  cents  here.  I  do  not  esti- 
mate the  gathering,  as  it  is  not  counted  in  the 
report  from  Connecticut.  My  corn  is  worth 
40c.  to  me  to  feed,  but  I  have  put  the  value  at 
the  lowest  figures — the  estimated  value  in  the 
article  referred  to  was  at  the  highest.  The  ground 
is  rich  enough  without  manuring,  and  hoeing 
does  not  pay  here.  Mr.  Dickerman  expends 
$599.25  to  make  $400.75.  I  use  $91  to  make 
$341,  or  $485,  if  I  count  it  at  40  cents,  which 
would  be  right,  if  a  dollar  is  right  for  him. 

Mercer  County,  III.                           H.   S.   SenTEB. 
— . m  «-» 

True  Nobility. — The  day  laborer  who  earns, 
with  horny  hand  and  the  sweat  of  his  brow, 
coarse  food  for  a  wife  and  children  whom  he 
loves,  is  raised  by  this  generous  motive  to  true 
dignity;  and  though  lacking  the  refinements  of 
Jife,  is  a  nobler  being  than  he  who  thiuks 
himself  absolved  by  wealth  from  serving  others. 


236 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[AUGUST, 


Fig.   1. 

A  Cheap    Poultry  House- 

A  correspondent  "Low,"  contributes  tlie  ac- 
companying description  of  his  poultry  house. 
"The  building  (Fig.  1)  is  S  by  12  feet  on  the 
ground — the  side  walls  9  feet  high  to  the  eaves. 
A  partition  runs  lengthwise  through  the  middle, 
from  the  ground  up  to  a  Boor  which  covers  all 
the  interior,  at  the  bight  of  7  feel.  Two  doors 
in  the  gable  end  open,  respectively;  into  tlie 
two  rooms  thus  formed.  There  are  two  tiers  of 
nests,  containing  ten  in  each,  all  of  which  are 
movable  boxes  or  drawers,  so  placed  as  to  slide 
freely  through  the  partition,  from  one  room  into 
the  other.  The  right  hand,  or  "  laying  room,"  1ms 
an  ordinary  opening  through  which  the  hens 
have  ready  ingress  and  egress,  but  the  "sitting 
room "  is  closed  to  all  but  the  "  sitting  mem- 
bers" and  their  human  visitors.  In  this  room, 
supplies  of  food  and  water  are  constantly  kept, 
accessible  to  the  sitting  liens.  Above  the  floor, 
or  in  the  second  story,  are  the  roosting  poles,  to 
which  access  is  had  from  the  outside,  as  repre- 
sented in  fig.  1.  The  sectional  outline  (fig.  2) 
will  illustrate  the  interior  construction. 

Whenever  a  hen  takes  possession  of  a  nest  in 
the  laying  room,  manifesting  a  disposition  to 
sit,  the  requisite  number  of  eggs  are  placed  un- 
der her,  and  her  nest  is  pushed  through  the  par- 
tition into  the  sitting  room.  Here  she  finds  her- 
self in  a  state  of  contented  seclusion  for  the 
term  of  incubation.  No  rash  removal  from  the 
nest  of  her  choice  here  disturbs  her  maternal 
calculations.  No  ambitious  layer  molests  her 
peaceful  possession.  Does  she  desire  refresh- 
ment, solid  or  fluid  ?  She  has  only  to  hop  down 
to  the  floor  of  her  apartment,  where  her  wants 
are  speedily  satisfied,  without  a  tedious  search 
over  the  barn-yard,  involving  much  peril  to  her 
neglected  charge.  When  other  hens,  by  similar 
process,  have  become  occupants  of  the  same 
apartment,  there  is  still  but  one  hen  to  each 
nest  therein,  and  though  they  may  sometimes 
change  about,  no  nest  will  ever  be  left  unoccu- 
pied. When  hatching  occurs,  the  mother  and 
brood  being  removed,  the  nest  box  is  taken  out 
into  the  yard,  where  the  straw  is  fired  with  a 
match,  and  suffered  to  burn  until  the  sides  of  the 
box  are  slightly  charred.  This  destroys  all  ves- 
tiges of  vermin,  incipient  or  otherwise,  and 
leaves  the  drawer  to  be  re-placed  in  its  prop- 
er position,   sweet  and  clean  for  a  new  nest. 

Of  the  roosting  place  above,  with  the  inter- 
vening floor,  it  is  sufficient  to  say  that,  while 
the  lower  apartments  are  free  from  the  drop- 
pings, "and  easily  kept  clean,  an  abundant  sup- 
ply of  "guano"  is  furnished  where  it  can  ho 
raked  out  by  the  bushel,  from  time  to  time,  for 
useiu  the  garden  and  elsewhere.  Both  sides  arc 
open  the  entire  lenglh  of  the  building,  and  the 


hens  enter  by  steps  provided  for  the  pur. 
pose.  1  liavej  ust  forty  hens.  They  have 
thus  tar  (June  1st)  hatched  out  three 
hundred  chickens,  fifty  turkeys,  fifteen 
ducks,  and  five  Guinea-fowls,  besides 
keeping  us  furnished  with  plenty  of  fresh 
eggs  for  table  use  and  cooking,  for  eleven 
in  family.  I  shall  be  much  disappointed 
if  my  hens  do  not  raise,  say  from  seven 
hundred  to  a  thousand  chickens  ere  tlie 
season  closes.  The  number  of  liens  and 
capacity  of  hen-housc,  as  herein  describ- 
ed, seem  very  suitably  adapted  to  each 
other,  since  there  has,  all  along,  usually 
been  about  one  half  the  number  of  nests 
employed  in  cither  apartment.  I  add 
nothing  in  this  connection  on  the  sub- 
ject of  raising  chickens  after  they  are 
hatched,  since  I  have  merely  followed  the  old 
beaten  track,  and  sustained  about  the  usual  per 
centage  of  loss  from  barn-yard  accidents,  etc. 
I  have  had  better  success  with  poultry  this  sea- 
sou  than  any  of  my  neighbors,  and  believe  the 
results  due  to  my  hen-house.  It  may  bo  that 
your  Eastern  readers  with  their  superior  appli- 
ances, will  find  little  in  it  to  commend.     But  I 


FLOOR 


3: 

o 

a: 


4FT 


u 


4f: 


Fig 


-SECTIONAL   VIEW 


write  from  the  "  Far  West,"  where  the  numer- 
ous readers  of  the  Agriculturist  will  find  more 
interest  in  simplicity  and  cheapness  of  construc- 
tion, with  fair  results,  than  in  elaborate  and  ex- 
pensive plans  which  promise  fabulous  profits." 


Great  International  Wheat  Show. 

A  great  International  Wheat  Show  will  be 
held  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  September  8th,  9th, 
and  10th,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Monroe 
County  Agricultural  Society.  The  following 
premiums  are  offered  : 

For  the  Best  20  Bushels  of  White  Winter  Wheat  $150  00 
For  the  Second  Best  do  do  75  00 

For  the  Best  20  Bushels  Red  Winter  Wheat 100  00 

For  the  Second  Best  do  do  50  00 

For  the  Best  2  Bushels  White  Winter  Wheat 50  00 

For  the  Second  Best  do  do  25  00 

For  the  Best  2  Bushels  Red  Winter  Wheat 40  00 

For  the  Second  Best        do  do  20  00 

For  the  Best  2  Bushels  Spring  Wheat 20  00 

For  the  Second  Best        do  do  10  00 

Competitors  for  these  Prizes  will  be  required 
to  furnish  samples  of  the  wheat  in  the  ear  and 
with  the  straw  attached,  (say  50  ears  of  wheat 
and  straw),  also  to  furnish  a  written  statement 
of  the  nature  of  the  soil  on  which  the  wheat 
grew,  method  of  cultivation,  time  of  sowing, 
quantity  of  seed  sown,  manures  (if  any  used,) 
and  mode  and  time  of  application  ;  also  the 
time  of  ripening  and  harvesting,  and  the  yield 


per  acre,  with  such  other  particulars  as  may  be 
deemed  of  practical  importance  ;  also  the  name 
by  which  the  variety  is  known  in  the  locality 
where  it  was  grown. 

Tlie  Wheat  must  be  one  variety,  pure  and 
unmixed.  The  prize  to  be  awarded  to  the  ac- 
tual grower  of  the  wheat,  and  the  wheat  which 
takes  a  prize  to  be  the  property  of  the  Society. 

It  is  hoped  that  farmers  in  all  sections  of  the 
United  States  and  Canada,  who  have  good  sam- 
ples of  wheat,  will  compete  for  these  Prizes. 
We  have  never  yet  had  a  good  Wheat  Show  in 
the  United  States.  It  is  highly  important  that 
the  wheat  growers  of  the  country  should  meet 
together  and  compare  samples  of  wheat  raised 
in  different  sections.  We  understand  that  the 
money  for  these  premiums  has  been  raised  by 
subscription,  among  the  friends  of  Agriculture 
in  Western  New-York,  and  the  lime  of  holding 
tlie  Fair  has  been  fixed  so  as  to  enable  farmers 
to  purchase  their  seed  from  the  wheat  entered 
for  competition.  A  change  of  seed  is  always 
desirable,  and  it  is  believed  that  all  the  wheat 
of  good  quality  sent  to  the  fair,  will  find  pur- 
chasers at  a  high  price.  Full  particulars  of 
the  Exhibition  can  be  obtained  by  addressing 
the  President  of  the  Society,  Joseph  Harris, 
Editor  of  Genesee  Farmer,    Rochester,  N.  Y. 

We  take  great  pleasure  in  calling  especial  at- 
tention to  this  notice.  A  movement  of  this 
kind,  if  properly  sustained  by  wheat  growers, 
will  be  of  incalculable  benefit  by  bringing  prom- 
inently before  them  the  best  varieties  of  this 
grain,  and  placing  desirable  sorts  within  their 
reach.  The  character  of  those  having  the  en- 
terprize  in  hand,  is  such  that  contributors  may 
rely  with  the  utmost  confidence  in  their  ability 
and  fair  dealing  as  judges.  Let  there  be  a  full 
response  from  all  parts  of  the  country. 


Chicken-  Pox. 


A  subscriber  in  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  writes 
to  the  Agriculturist  as  follows  :  "I  noticed  a  re- 
mark signed  "J.  E.  R,"  in  regard  to  the  disease 
in  his  chickens  called  chicken  pox.  I  had  some 
30  hens  sick  with  it  last  year,  and  only  lost  two. 
I  first  washed  their  heads  in  warm  water  until 
their  eyes  were  open,  and  then  fed  them  with 
Indian  meal  boiled  with  powdered  charcoal  and 
flowers  of  sulphur — as  strong  as  they  would 
eat  it.  It  is  unnecessary  to  say  my  sick  liens 
were  separated  from  my  well  ones.  Parties 
who  keep  a  large  stock  of  liens,  said  I  should 
kill  and  eat  the  rest  of  mine  before  they  were 
taken  sick,  as  I  could  not  get  rid  of  the  disease 
without  a  new  stock  and  hen-house,  but  as  my 
fowls  were  Spanish  and  Leghorns,  I  did  not 
feel  like  killing  them. 

•-• —  »  — —m 

Notes  on  the  Scale  Louse  and  Cut  Worm. 


A  correspondent  of  the  Agriculturist,  "  J." 
writes  as  follows  :  "  I  have  had  scale  lice  com- 
plete 'rj  cover  the  trunks  and  main  branches  of 
the  thriftiest  pear  and  apple  trees,  in  two  years. 
Thin  soft  soap  (not  suds)  applied  with  a  paint 
brush  has  never  failed  to  kill  them.  They  will 
turn  black  in  a  few  days  and  finally  drop  off 
themselves.  I  have  practised  it  for  five  years 
without  a  failure  and  with  no  injury  to  the 
trees.  You  recommend  to  "  look  after  the  cab- 
bages early."  Last  season  I  did  look  after  them 
early  in  the  morning,  and  was  accustomed  to 
find  5  or  6  each  day,  (out  of  about  50  plants) 
eaten  off.  I  used  the  "  only  remedy,"  searched 
for  and  found  the  rascal,  but  killing  after  he 
had  destroyed  the  plant  was  but  the  satisfaction 


13ij:J.) 


AMERICAN     AGKIOULTUE1ST. 


Q37 


of  retaliation.  I  then,  as  an  experiment,  took 
4  oz.  aloes  and  dissolved  in  a  gallon  or  two  of 
water,  and  applied  to  the  plants.  I  never  lost 
a  plant  afterwards.  This  season  I  have  done 
the  same  and  have  not  lost  a  plant,  except 
where  I  neglected  to  use  the  aloes  water,  and 
then  out  of  0  plants  I  lost  3  in  one  day.  As 
soon  as  I  had  set  new  plants  I  applied  aloes 
water,  and  the  remedy  thus  far  is  effectual." 


Talks   About   Weeds       III. 


"We  supposed  that  our  first  article  in  the  June 
Agriculturist  was  sufficiently  explicit  upon  one 
point,  i.  e.,  that  there  are  no  specific  prepar- 
ations to  kill  particular  weeds.  Still  as  wc  are 
constantly  receiving  letters  asking:  "How  shall 
I  destroy  Canada  Thistle?"  "What  will  kill 
Devil's  Flax?"  "What  will  remove  Sweet  Flag 


Fig.  1.— RED  ROOT  OR  PIG  WEED. 

from  my  meadow?  "  etc.,  we  are  induced  to  re- 
peat that  weeds  are  subject  to  the  same  laws  of 
growth  as  other  plants,  and  what  will  kill  the 
one  will  kill  the  other.  There  are  but  two 
ways  of  getting  rid  of  weeds  after  they  become 
established  :  One  is  to  exterminate  them,  either 
by  such  frequent  cutting  that  they  will  be 
exhausted,  or  to  dig  them  out  root  and  branch  ; 
and  the  other  is  to  introduce  a  cultivated  crop 
that  will  occupy  the  ground  to  their  exclusion, 
and  choke  them  out.  The  ground  has  to  be  oc- 
cupied with  something — if  with  a  well  cultivated 
crop,  the  weeds  stand  but  a  small  chance  ;  if  by 
a  neglected  crop,  the  weeds  and  the  crop  have 
to  light  the  battle  for  possession  and  the  chances 
are  that  the  weeds  will  get  the  best  of  it.  Again 
we  repeat  that  there  is  no  specific  remedy  for 
weeds,  any  more  than  there  is  for  human  dis- 
eases, and  any  one  who  advertises  either  may 


safely  be  set  down  as  a  humbug.  True,  a  de- 
structive agent  may  be  applied  to  an  individual 
plant,  as  salt  to  thistles,  the  same  as  the  surgeon 
may  extirpate  a  wart  by  means  of  the  knife  or 
caustic,  but  this  is  a  case  of  local  treatment  and 
cannot  be  applied  to  a  whole  field. 

The  Red  Root.— This  has  of  late  years  be- 
come one  of  the  pests  of  cultivated  grounds. 
Its  botanical  name  is  Amarantus  retroftexus ;  it 
belongs  to  Hie  Amaranth  or  true  Pigweed  fam- 
ily, which  produces  several  troublesome  weeds, 
but  none  so  generally  known  as  the  one  under 
consideration.  (The  plain  most  commonly  called 
pigweed  is  Ghenopoatuni  album.)  Figure  1  will 
give  a  good  idea  of  Hie  lull  grown  plant.  It 
is  sometimes  called  "  Pigweed,"  but  the  most 
common  name  is  Red  root,  given  on  account  of 
the  red  color  of  the  root.  The  plant  is  distin- 
guished by  a  great  vigor  and  rapidity  of  growth, 
and  if  neglected  for  a  short  time,  becomes  so 
large  as  to  resist  the  hoe  and  must  be  pulled  by 
hand.  Being  an  annual,  a  cut  with  the  hoe 
destroys  the  plant,  but  the  stock  of  seeds  in  the 
soil  seems  to  be  inexhauslable,  and  crop  after 
crop  will  spring  up  through  the  season.  The 
flower  clusters  are  crowded  with  minute  green 
flowers,  each  one  of  which  produces  a  seed. 
From  the  prolific  character  of  the  plant  it  will 
be  seen  that  a  single  one,  if  allowed  to  arrive  at 
maturity,  will  furnish  hundreds  if  not  thousands 
of  seeds.  If  the  plant  lias  flowered,  it  should 
not  go  into  the  compost  heap,  as,  in  common 
with  many  other  plants,  the  stalk  contains  nutri- 
ment enough  to  perfect  the  seeds  after  it  is  cut 
oil'  or  pulled  out  of  the  ground.  The  plants,  if 
they  have  flowered,  should  be  dried  and  burned. 
Like  all  annual  weeds  this  soon  succumbs  under 
careful  cultivation.  Another  closely  related 
plant  the  Thorny  Amaranth  (Amarantus  spino- 
swi)  is  quite  common  in  waste  places  about  New- 
York  and  other  sea-ports,  but  does  not  seem 
much  disposed  to  extend  into  the  country.  It 
is  certainly  a  vile  weed  and  is  readily  distin- 
guished by  the  sharp  spines  which  are  mixed  in 
with  the  flower-clusters.  This  most  unwelcome 
foreigner  cannot  be  too  carefully  eradicated  the 
moment  it  makes  its  appearance. 

Thistles. — Though  we  have  some  ten  native 
and  introduced  species  of  thistle,  there  are  only 
two  which  are  very  troublesome  to  the  farmer, 
and  these  are  foreigners.  The  common  "  Bull 
thistle,"  or  "  Michigan  thistle,"  (Girsium  lanceo- 
latum)  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  is  the  common- 
est of  our  thistles.  It  is  readily  known  by  its 
broad  luxuriant  foliage  and  its  large  heads, 
which  are  an  inch  or  more  in  diameter.  Though 
exceedingly  troublesome,  especially  in  grain 
fields,  where  its  prickly  leaves  are  a  great  an- 
noyance to  the  binder,  it  is  not  difficult  to  ex- 
terminate. Being  a  biennial  the  root  is  readily 
pulled.  During  the  first  year  the  plant  forms 
a  broad  tuft  of  leaves  which  lie  close  to  the 
ground,  and  it  does  not  attract  much  notice ; 
the  second  year  it  throws  up  a  large  flowering 
stem  from  2  to  3  feet  high,  and  then  becomes, 
from  its  very  prickly  leaves,  a  formidable  cus- 
tomer. During  the  first  year  of  its  growth  a 
cut  with  the  hoe,  or  a  tablesponful  of  salt  ap- 
plied to  the  crown  of  the  plant,  will  destroy  it. 
When  it  is  allowed  to  run  up  to  flower  it  should 
be  pulled  or  cut  as  early  as  possible.  The  fruit, 
or  seed  as  it  is  called,  is  provided  with  a  copious 
down,  and  thousands  of  these  little  balloons 
with  a  seed  attached  may  be  seen  floating  upon 
the  breeze  from  the  field  of  some  careless  farm- 
er to  annoy  his  more  thrifty  neighbor.  If  a 
whole  neighborhood  can  be  aroused  to  exter- 
minate this  thistle,  not  only  from  the  field  but 


from  the  road  sides,  they  would  soon  be  rid  <  t 
the  pest.  This  thistle  is  an  exotic,  but  it  seems 
to  make  itself  perfectly  at  home  in  our  cultivat- 
ed fields,  especially  affecting  the  richest  ground. 


Wwmk 


Flo 


-CANADA   TUISTLE. 


A  far  more  troublesome  plant  is  the  Canada 
Thistle  (Oirsium  arvense)  v/lucli  is  perhaps  the 
worst  weed  with  which  the  farmer  has  to  con- 
tend. As  other,  comparatively  harmless  plants 
have  been  taken  for  this,  wc  give  a  very  good 
engraving  of  the  upper  part  of  a  flowering 
plant.  This  differs  from  the  common  thistle  in 
being  a  perennial;  besides  its  strong  roots,  it 
throws  out  into  the  soil  numerous  strong  root- 
stocks,  or  underground  branches,  and  multiplies 
very  much  in  the  way  described  for  the  couch- 
grass  in  the  last  number.  Running  a  plough  or 
cultivator  through  a  patch  of  it,  instead  of  de- 
stroying it,  only  breaks  up  these  root  stocks, 
and  they  become  many  separate  plants.  Tim 
plant  has  two  separate  modes  of  propagation. 
The  one  is  by  its  seeds,  which  are  readily  borne 
by  the  wind  from  place  to  place,  and  the  other 
is  by  its  underground  stems,  which  from  a  par- 
tial warfare  against  them  only  flourish  and  mul- 
tiply. When  one  Canada  thistle  appears  upon 
the  farm  the  war  must  begin.  It  is  modest  in 
its  first  appearance,  presenting  but  a  small  tuft 
of  prickly  leaves,  often  hidden  by  the  grass,  but 
it  must  be  exterminated  at  once.  If  let  alone, 
the  root-stock  extends  itself  for  a  long  distance 
in  all  directions,  and  branches  are  thrown  up  to 
the  surface.  These  are  apparently  winter-killed, 
lmt  the  returning  summer  shows  that  this  is  not 
the  case,  they  are  only  killed  clown  to  the 
ground,  and  as  soon  as  favorable  weather  comes 
their  prickly  stems  arise  from  the  subterranean 
buds  and  stand  up  in  bristly  defiance  to  the  cul- 
tivator. Wherever  a  Canada  thistle  appears, 
cut  it  down.  We  have  but  little  belief  in  spe- 
cific applications  to  weeds,  but  we  have  known 
these  and  other  thistles  to  be  destroyed  by  cutting 
as  soon  as  they  appeared  and  applying  salt  to  the 
portion  remaining  in  the  ground.  Whether  the 
first  year's  attempt  at  exterminating  this  pest  is 
successful  or  not,  it  is  a  duty  that  each  fanner 
owes,  not  only  to  himself  but  to  his  neighbors, 
to  prevent  dissemination  ;  let  no  plant  upon  the 


238 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[August, 


premises  flower,  much  less  perfect  its  seeds. 
Patience  and  frequent  cutting  as  fast  as  it  ap- 
pears above  the  surface,  will  in  time  destroy  it. 
Tlie  Legislature  of  Michigan  has  recently 
passed  a  law  requiring  every  person  to  cut  from 
his  land  and  the  adjoining  highways,  the  Cana- 
da Thistles  as  often  as  may  he  necessary  to  pre- 
vent them  from  going  to  seed,  under  a  penalty 
of  10  dollars  for  neglect.  In  case  the  owners  of 
the  land  should  fail  to  cut  the  thistles  after  prop- 
er notice,  the  Overseers  and  Commissioners  of 
highways  of  the  towns  are  empowered  to  de- 
stroy them  and  add  the  expense  of  doing  so  to 
the  tax  levy.  If  a  similar  law  could  be  carried 
out  in  every  State,  we  should  hear  but  little  of 
the  Canada  Thistle. 


Agricultural  Colleges. 


The  Agricultural  College  Act  passed  in  18G2 
donates  to  each  State  30,000  acres  of  land  for 
each  Senator  and  Representative  in  Congress. 
We  find  the  following  list  of  states  which  have 
accepted  the  land  grant,  in  one  of  our  exchanges : 

1.  Iowa — To  select  land  within  her  own  limits. 

2.  Rhode  Island — To  locate  with  scrip. 

3.  Minnesota — To  select  within  her  own  limits. 

4.  Kansas — To  select  within  her  own  limits. 

5.  Illinois — Part  selection,  part  scrip. 

6.  New- York — Scrip. 

7.  Kentucky — Scrip. 

8.  Vermont — Scrip. 

9.  Wisconsin — To  select  within  her  own  limits. 
10.  Pennsylvania — Scrip. 

Unless  we  are  much  in  error,  the  State  of 
Michigan  should  be  placed  with  the  above.  We 
can  not  conceive  that  a  State  which  has,  from 
her  own  resources,  established  an  Agricultural 
College  and  accumulated  a  fund  of  experience 
for  the  benefit  of  otherStates,  should  be  behind 
her  neighbors  in  accepting  the  means  with 
which  to  consummate  her  costly  experiment. 
The  little  Slate  of  Rhode  Island,  smallest  in 
territory,  but  among  the  first  in  every  patriotic 
work,  was  foremost  to  avail  itself  of  the  pro- 
visions of  this  grant,  and  locate  her  lands; 
and  now  we  find  Kansas,  which  was  but  a  short 
time  ago  a  territory,  inviting  for  proposals  from 
different  counties  for  the  location  of  its  Agri- 
cultural College.  Rhode  Island  has  placed 
her  lands  in  trust  with  Brown  University  to 
carry  out  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  Con- 
gress, and  we  have  no  doubt  that  this  venerable 
institution  will,  in  due  time,  give  a  good  ac- 
count of  its  stewardship.  Most  of  the  States 
have  several  colleges,  and  they  can  not  do  as 
Rhode  Island  has  done  for  fear  of  exciting  lo- 
cal jealousies.  In  the  majority  of  cases  entire- 
ly new  institutions  will  be  founded,  and  as  the 
matter  will  probably  be  put  in  charge  of  those 
who  have  had  no  experience,  we  would  offer 
one  or  two  suggestions  on  the  subject. 

Do  not  make  the  attempt  to  start  an  Agri- 
cultural College  in  the  wilderness.  It  is  better 
to  begin  in  a  settled  and  well  cultivated  region. 
The  students  have  already  seen  enough  of  sub- 
duing the  forest  and  of  making  a  farm  at  their 
own  homes.  They  wish  to  see  the  best  culture 
on  cleared  land,  and  will  become  discouraged  if 
they  find  nothing  better  at  an  Agricultural  Col- 
lege  than  they  left  at  home.  Every  institution 
of  this  kind  should  have  manual  labor  as  one 
of  its  absolute  requirements.  An  agricultural 
college  which  neglects  this  branch  of  education 
will  fall  short  of  public  expectation.  While 
we  insist  upon  manual  labor  as  one  portion  of 
the  instruction  in  these  colleges,  we  are  aware 
of    the  difficulty  of  uniting  the  theory   taught 


in  the  class  room  with  practice  in  the  field.  In 
a  somewhat  extended  experience  we  have  met 
but  few  persons  who  united  thorough  practical 
with  thorough  scientific  knowledge  of  agricul- 
ture. The  opening  of  so  manj'  colleges  where 
agriculture  is  taught,  both  as  an  art  and  as  a 
science,  will  present  a  new  field,  and  induce  our 
young  practical  farmers  to  educate  themselves 
to  fill  places  in  them  as  instructors. 

—— ->o»- —*■ ■ 

A  Few  More  Humbugs. 


One  of  the  meanest  attempts  at  imposition  we 
have  met  with,  is  set  forth  in  the  following  ad- 
vertisement, published  in  several  newspapers, 

DRUNKENNESS  CURED.—  The  inebriate  may 
now  bid  defiance  to  the  tempting  cup.  Dr. '9  An- 
tidote FOit  Stroxu  Drink  is  a  certain  cure  for  drunken- 
ness. It  creates  ft  dislike  for  strong  drink,  and  can  lie  ad. 
ministered  without  the  knowledge  of  the  patient.  Price  $1 
a  box.    Sent  by  mail. 

An  acquaintance  of  the  writer's  who  had  un- 
fortunately contracted  an  uncontrollable  appe- 
tite for  spirituous  liquors,  earnestly  desiring  to 
reform,  was  induced  to  try  a  prescription  ad- 
vertised like  the  above.  It  made  him  severely 
ill,  and  for  a  short  time  kept  down  the  desire  for 
alcohol,  but  upon  his  recovery  it  raged  as 
fiercely  as  ever,  and  he  drank  even  more  deep- 
ly than  before.  Fortunately  he  was  finally  res- 
cued by  taking  and  keeping  the  total  abstinence 
pledge,  which  is  the  only  perfect  preventive  of, 
or  known  cure  for  the  habit  of  drunkenness. 
The  "  remedy  "  proposed,  probably  consists  of 
tartar  emetic,  a  poisonous  substance  producing 
violent  nausea,  and  affecting  some  persons  dan- 
gerously. A  sufficient  amount  to  "  turn  the 
stomach  "  can  be  purchased  for  a  few  cents  of 
any  druggist.  At  best,  its  effects  will  only  he 
temporary,  and  we  repeat,  it  is  a  mean  swindle 
to  thus  trifle  with  the  sorrows  and  the  hopes  of 
the  afflicted  for  the  purpose  of  unjust  gain. 

Another  "  Transmutater."  —  A  certain 
"Doctor"  sends  out  from  New- York  City,  a 
"Journal  of  Science  and  Medicine,"  wherein 
are  contained  matters  of  marvelous  import  and 
astounding  magnificence.  Every  disease  is  to 
be  cured,  unbounded  wealth  obtained,  and  un- 
limited happiness  realized,  all  for  a  few  dollars 
apiece.  Here  are  a  few  choice  samples  of  this 
"Doctor's"  wares.  "Elixir  of  Life,  $6.'v  "Sil- 
ver and  Gold  Fluid,  $5."  "  Instrument  to  Dis- 
cover Treasures,  Mines,  Minerals,  etc.,  $3.'' 
"  Instructions  and  Means  how  to  make  an  Ene.- 
mv  fear  you,  at  whatever  distance,  $5"  (a  pledge 
of  Good  Motives  must  accompany  the  Order). 
"A  Means  by  which  one  may  go  through  all 
Dangers,  Troubles,  fecv,  $5."  "String  of  the 
Civit  Cat,  by  the  use  of  which  one  may  pass 
through  all  Enemies,  Battles,  &c,  without  any 
Danger  whatever,  $7.  This  valuable  means  is 
used  in  our  army  with  the  greatest  success,  and 
no  person  who  has  a  friend  in  the  present  strug- 
gle, should  fail  to  procure  one  and  hare  it  sent 
at  once;  hundreds  of  testimonials  can  be  given, 
but  want  of  space  prevents,  and  as  the  '  Civit ' 
speaks  for  itself  (wonderful  Civit),  it  is  not  re- 
quired." "  Mysterious  Electrical  and  Weird 
Ring. — Whoever  Wears  it,  Never  can  have  an 
enemy.  Just  by  turning  the  Weird  Seal  of  this 
Ring  towards  the  beholders,  he  will  become  to 
them  Invisible.  In  which  condition  he  can  do 
what  he  or  she  likes  to  do,  and  no  one  cau  see 
How  or  What  is  done  " — and  so  on  to  the  end 
of  the  chapter.  Now  "Doctor"  Freeman,  you 
know  this  is  all  lying  nonsense,  got  up  to  cheat 
the  ignorant  and  credulous — but  there  is  no  use 
in  wasting  words  on  such  a  case.  Let  none  of 
our  readers,  from  curiosity  even,  hold  any  com- 
munication with  such  a  glaring  swindler.     Let 


him  and  others  like  him  pay  their  own  printing 
and  postage  bills,  without  aid  from  our  readers. 
A  Wonderful  Preparation. — We  notice 
in  the  columnsof  a  respectable  agricultural  con- 
temporary, an  advertisement  of  a  "  Sheep  Dip- 
ping Composition,"  which  is  said  to  "add  over 
one  pound  of  wool  to  each  fleece,  besides  won- 
derfully improving  the  condition  of  the  sheep, 
at  a  cost  of  only  about  three  cents  a  head." 
This  beats  Gtaham's  Unguent  for  making  whis- 
kers grow  in  six  weeks,  or  the  hair  preparation 
recommended  to  restore  the  covering  on  old 
trunks.  Possibly  it  is  made  of  the  same  mate- 
rials. If  a  sheep  be  afflicted  with  scab  or  other 
similar  ailment  that  causes  the  wool  to  fall  off, 
then  a  "dip"  in  tobacco  water  may  save  a 
pound  of  wool  per  head ;  but  the  attempt  to 
pull  the  wool  over  the  eyes  of  farmers  by  such 
pretensions  as  are  made  in  the  above  advertise- 
ment is  simply  dishonest,  and  we  can  not  but 
wonder  that  it  should  receive  any  countenance 
from  a  respectable  journal. 

Japanese    Agriculture— Interesting    and 
Instructive  Notes. 

Dr.  n.  Maron,  has  made  a  report  to  the  Min- 
ister of  Agriculture  at  Berlin,  on  Japanese  hus- 
band^', which  is  full  of  interesting  facts  and 
eminently  suggestive.  The  Japanese  cultiva- 
tor follows  a  routine  which  the  experience  of 
centuries  has  marked  out,  and  though  there  is 
nothing  about  their  system  which  indicates  pro- 
gress, their  results  show  that  their  actual  state 
of  cultivation  is  far  in  advance  of  more  civilized 
countries.  The  area  of  the  Japanese  Empire  is 
about  the  same  as  that  of  Great  Britain  and  Ire- 
land, and  contains  a  far  larger  population:  yet 
Great  Britain  is  obliged  not  only  to  import  food 
from  other  countries,  but  to  also  import  large 
quantities  of  fertilizers  to  aid  in  raising  its  crops. 
Japan,  on  the  contrary,  imports  neither  grain  nor 
manures,  but  exports  considerable  quantities  of 
food.  This  is  the  present,  condition  of  Japanese 
Agriculture,  taken  as  a  whole.  Its  details  are 
not  such  as  could  be  carried  out  among  our 
people  as  they  bend  the  whole  energies  of  a 
large  majority  of  the  population  to  producing 
the  greatest  possible  amount  from  a  small  area 
of  soil.  The  whole  arable  land  of  the  country 
is  divided  up  into  plots  of  from  two  to  five 
acres  each,  and  their  agriculture  would  be  con- 
sidered by  us  as  a  very  close  system  of  garden- 
ing. The  land  is  kept  constantly  up  to  its  great- 
est productiveness,  iind  (his  is  done  by  a  system 
of  manuring  and  cultivation  which  may  offer 
s»me  suggestions  to  our  own  farmers.  In  the 
first  place,  the  Japanese  follow  deep  tillage, 
the  arable  soil  being  several  feet  in  thickness. 
What  is  a  wheat  patch  at  one  month  is  con- 
verted in  part  into  a  rice  swamp  the  next.  One 
part  of  the  field  being  excavated,  and  the  earth 
thrown  upon  the  other  to  make  an  elevated 
island  for  the  growth  of  sweet  potatoes  and 
other  crops,  while  the  lower  portion  is  Hood- 
ed with  water  for  the  rice  crop.  In  this  way 
the  whole  soil  is  frequently  turned  over  to  the 
depth  of  2  or  2i  feet.  Another  peculiarity  is 
that  the  crops,  of  whatever  character,  are  al- 
ways grown  in  drills;  sown  in  this  way  they 
can  receive  the  highest  possible  culture,  and 
special  manuring.  Each  crop  is  grown  with  no 
reference  to  that  which  shall  succeed  it.  The 
system  of  rotation  and  fallows  is  unknown,  but 
the  land  is  looked  upon  as  a  batik,  which  will 
honor  any  drafts  made  upon  it,  if  the  drawer 
has  only  made  a  sufficient  deposit of  manure. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


239 


The  amount  of  manure  ou  hand  determines  the 
breadth  of  land  which  the  Japanese  farmer  will 
sow.  The  peculiarity  of  Japanese  husbandry 
is  that  no  animals  are  kept.  Human  excre- 
ment forms  the  principal  manure.  The  Japan- 
ese farmer  does  not  allow  the  crop  to  be  eaten 
by  cattle  and  then  return  to  the  soil  the  manure 
from  them,  but  he  eats  the  crop  himself,  with 
the  help  of  his  family,  and  returns  the  manure 
directly  to  the  soil.  The  religion  of  the  people 
prevents  their  eating  any  animal  food  except 
lisli ;  and  they  eat  the  mollusks  or  "  shell-fish  " 
in  great  quantities,  and  the  manure  from  them 
is  the  only  fertilizing  material  returned  to 
the  land  that  does  not  come  off  of  it.  Ou  the 
farm,  human  excrement  is  returned  to  the  land 
from  which  the  food  came,  and  the  cities  regu- 
larly return  to  the  country  loads  of  human  ma- 
nure in  exchange  for  the  food  which  they  re- 
ceive. Throughout  the  country  the  greatest 
care  is  exercised  in  preserving  the  night  soil. 
The  cabinet  or  privy,  is  an  essential  part  of  the 
houses  of  the  poorest  as  well  as  of  the  wealthy. 
A  backet  or  earthen  vessel  is  placed  where  it 
will  receive  the  deposit  and  is  provided  with 
projecting  ears  into  which  a  pole  can  be  insert- 
ed for  the  purpose  of  carrying  the  vessel.  At 
the  towns  and  cities  "  thousands  of  boats  may 
be  seen  early  each  morning  laden  with  high 
heaps  of  buckets  full  of  the  precious  stuff,  which 
they  carry  from  the  canals  in  the  cities  to  the 
country.  These  boats  come  and  go  with  the 
regularity  of  the  post;  it  must  be  admitted, 
however,  that  it  is  a  species  of  martyrdom  to  be 
the  conductor  of  a  mail  boat  of  this  kind.  In 
the  evening  long  strings  of  coolies  are  met  with 
on  the  road,  who,  having  in  the  morning  carried 
the  produce  of  the  country  to  the  town,  are  re- 
turning home,  each  with  two  buckets  of  ma- 
nure, not  in  a  solid  or  concentrated  form,  but 
fresh  from  the  privies.  Caravans  of  pack- 
horses,  which  often  have  brought  manufactured 
articles  (silks,  oil,  lacquered  goods,  etc.,)  a  dis- 
tance of  200  to  300  miles  from  the  interior  to 
the  capital,  are  sent  home  again  freighted  with 
baskets  or  buckets  of  manure;  in  such  cases, 
however,  care  is  taken  to  select  solid  excre- 
ments." For  the  way  in  which  the  manure  is 
treated,  we  can  not  do  better  than  to  quote  the 
language  of  this  interesting  report. 

"The  excrements  are  diluted  with  water,  no 
oilier  addition  of  any  kind  being  made  to  tliem,  and 
stirred  until  the  entire  mass  is  worked  into  a 
most  intimately  intermixed  fine  pap.  In  rainy 
weather,  the  vessel  is  covered  with  a  movable 
roof  to  shield  it  from  the  rain  ;  in  dry  weather 
this  is  removed,  to  allow  the  action  of  the  sun 
and  wind.  The  solid  ingredients  of  the  pap 
gradually  subside,  and  fermentation  sets  in  ;  the 
water  evaporates.  By  this  time  the  vessel  in 
the  privy  is  again  ready  for  emptying. .  A  fresh 
quantity  of  water  is  added,  the  whole  mass  is 
again  stirred  and  most  intimately  mixed  togeth- 
er, in  short,  treated  exactly  like  the  first  empty- 
ing. The  same  process  is  repeated,  until  the 
cask  or  pan  is  full.  After  the  last  supply  of  ex- 
crements, and  thorough  mixing,  the  mass  is  left, 
according  to  the  state  of  the  weather,  for  two 
or  three  weeks  longer,  or  until  it  is  required  for 
use  ;  but  under  no  circumstance  is  the  manure  ever 
employed  in  the  fresh  state.  This  entire  course  of 
proceeding  clearly  shows  that  the  Ja2>anese  are  no 
partisans  of  the  nitrogen  theory,  and  that  they  only 
care  for  the  solid  parts  of  the  dung.  They  leave 
the  ammonia  exposed  to  decomposition  by  the 
action  of  the  sun,  and  its  volatilization  by  the 
wind,  but  take  the  greatest  care  to  shield  the 
Solid  ingredients  from  being  wasted  or  swept 


away  by  rain,  &c.  As  the  peasant,  however, 
pays  his  rent  to  his  landlord,  not  in  cash,  but  in 
a  certain  stipulated  percentage  of  the  produce 
of  his  fields,  be  argues  quite  logically  that  the 
supply  of  manure  from  his  privy  must  necessa- 
rily be  insufficient  to  prevent  the  gradual  exhaus- 
tion of  the  soil  of  bis  farm,  notwithstanding 
the  marvellous  richness  of  the  latter,  and  in 
spite  of  the  additional  supply  of  manuring  mat- 
ter derived  from  the  water  of  the  brook  or 
canal  from  which  he  takes  his  material  for  irri- 
gation. He  places,  therefore,  wherever  his  field 
is  bordered  by  public  roads,  footpaths,  &c, 
casks  or  pots  buried  in  the  ground  nearly  to  the 
rim,  urgently  requesting  the  traveling  public  to 
make  use  of  the  same.  To  show  how  univer- 
sally the  economical  value  of  manure  is  felt  and 
appreciated  in  all  classes  of  society  in  Japan, 
from  the  highest  to  the  lowest,  I  need  simply 
state  the  fact  that,  in  all  my  wanderings  through 
the  country,  even  in  the  most  remote  valleys, 
and  in  the  homesteads  and  cottages  of  the  very 
poorest  of  the  peasantry,  I  never  could  discov- 
er, even  in  the  most  secret  and  secluded  corners, 
the  least  trace  of  human  excrements.  How 
very  different  with  us,  in  Germany,  (and  in 
America. — Ed.)  where  it  may  be  seen  lying 
about  in  every  direction,  even  close  to  the  pri- 
vies !  I  need  not  mention  that  the  manure  thus 
left  by  benevolent  travelers  is  treated  exactly 
in  the  same   way  as  the  family  manure. 

The  Japanese  farmer  prepares  also  compost. 
As  he  keeps  no  cattle  to  turn  his  straw,  etc.,  into 
manure,  he  is  forced  to  incorporate  this  part  of 
his  produce  with  the  soil  without  '  animaliza- 
tion.'  The  method  pursued  to  effect  this  ob- 
ject consists  simply  in  the  concentration  of  the 
materials.  Chaff,  chopped  straw,  horse-dung, 
excrement  gathered  in  the  highways,  tops  and 
leaves  of  turnips,  peelings  of  yams  and  sweet 
potatoes,  and  all  the  offal  of  the  farm,  are  care- 
fully mixed  with  a  little  mold,  shoveled  up  in 
small  pyramidal  heaps,  moistened  and  covered 
with  a  straw  thatch.  I  often  saw  also  in  this 
compost,  heaps  of  shells  of  mussels  and  snails, 
with  which  most  of  the  rivulets  and  brooks 
abound,  and  which,  in  all  parts  close  to  the 
seashore,  may  be  obtained  in  any  quantities. 
The  compost  heaps  are  occasionally  moistened 
and  turned  with  the  shovel,  and  thus  the  pro- 
cess of  decomposition  proceeds  rapidly,  under 
the  powerful  action  of  the  sun.  I  have  also 
often  seen  the  shorter  process  of  reduction  by 
fire  resorted  to  when  there  was  plenty  of  straw, 
or  where  the  manure  was  required  for  use  be- 
fore it  could  be  got  ready  for  use  by  the  slow- 
er fermentation   process." 

It  will  be  seen,  from  the  foregoing  that  the 
Japanese  farmer  applies  his  manure  only  as  a 
top-dressing  and  in  the  liquid  form.  The  ma- 
nure being  full}'  fermented,  is  brought  into  im- 
mediate contact  with  the  seed,  not  only  without 
injury,  but  with  decided  benefit  to  its  earl}' 
growth.  Another  feature  which  characterizes 
their  culture  is  the  manuring  with  every  crop. 
Each  sowing  receives  the  necessary  amount  of 
manure,  and  a  full  return  is  expected  from  the 
immediate  crop  without  reference  to  the  next 
harvest.  We  have  introduced  this  subject  to 
show  that  for  thousands  of  years,  a  successful 
system  of  agriculture  has  been  carried  on  main- 
ly by  the  aid  of  hnmau  excrement,  in  the  hope 
of  inducing  our  readers  to  add  this  element  of 
fertility  to  their  farms.  There  exists  a  sort  of 
prejudice  against  the  use  of  night  soil  as  a  ma- 
nure. A  general  knowledge  of  chemistry  would 
dissipate,  this  and  other  notions.  Human  excre- 
ment, as   well    as    that   of   animals,   contains 


elements  which  are  needed  for  the  growth  of  the 
plant.  It  matters  nothing  from  what  source  these 
are  obtained,  the  wondrous  processes  going  on 
within  the  plant  will  convert  these  elements  into 
food.  Every  thoughtful  person  will  see  that  it 
is  man's  duty,  when  he  has  taken  the  products 
of  the  soil  for  food,  to  return  to  it  those  portions 
which  are  not  needed  in  his  own  system,  but 
which  are,  according  to  the  operations  of  na- 
ture, voided  in  such  a  state  as  to  demand  their 
removal,  and  which  form  valuable  plant  food. 


Statistics  of  the  Tobacco  Crop. 

The  following  figures  published  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts  Agricultural  Report  for  1862,  show  the 
immense  commercial  importance  of  this  crop. 

The  product  in  the  United  (and  seceding) 
States  and  Territories,  in  1S49,  was  199,752,055 
pounds.  In  the  year  1S50  it  reached  the  aston- 
ishing amount  of  420,390,771  pounds,  being  a 
gain  of  220,038,110  pounds  in  ten  years.  The 
crop  grown  in  1859,  at  the  low  figure  of  ten 
cents  per  pound,  would  amount  to  $42,039,077. 
Notwithstanding  the  great  amount  grown  here, 
we  find  that  large  quantities  are  imported 
every  year.  Not  being  able  to  get  the  amount 
imported  in  1859,  we  take  that  of  1858.  In  that 
year  there  was  imported  into  this  country, 
7,499,506  pounds,  at  a  cost  of  $1,255,831.  Also 
218,729,000  cigars,  at  a  cost  of  |4,123,208,  and 
snuff,  with  other  manufactures  of  tobacco,  to 
the  amount  of  $589,439.  Of  the  domestic  to- 
bacco spoken  of,  there  were  exported  127,670 
hogsheads,  4,841  cases  and  12,640  bales,  valued 
at  $17,009,767,  and  of  the  manufactured  domes- 
tic tobacco  exported,  there  were  11,210,574 
pounds,  valued  at  $2,410,224. 

By  the  census  of  1S40,  all  th9  tobacco  grown 
in  Massachusetts  in  1839,  amounted  to  only  64,- 
955  pounds.  In  1849  the  amount  was  138,246 
pounds,  all  grown  in  four  counties,  viz.:  Frank- 
lin, 14,590  pounds;  Hampden,  68,156  pounds; 
Hampshire,  55,300  pounds;  Middlesex,  200 
pounds.  In  1859,  Massachusetts  produced 
3,223,198  pounds,  being  an  increase  of  3,084,952, 
the  last  ten  years,  and  in  twenty  years  3,158,243 
pounds.  It  is  estimated  that  Massachusetts  has 
produced  this  year  (1862,)  one-third  more  than 
1859,  which  would  make  the  amount  4,297,597 
pounds.  At  fifteen  cents  per  pound,  (which  is 
a  low  estimate  for  this  year,)  this  crop  would 
come  to  $644,639.55.  Several  of  the  northern 
States  present  a  very  large  increase.  Ohio 
raised  in  1859,  over  twenty-five  and  one-half 
million  pounds.  New-York  increased  her  pro- 
duct the  last  ten  years,  from  83,189  pounds  to 
5,764,582  pounds.  Connecticut  increased  from 
1,267,624  to  6,000,133  pounds.  In  1849  the  loy- 
al States  produced  230,369,341  pounds,  and  the 
seceding  States  produced  199,021,430  pounds. 
The  consumption  of  this  article,  in  various 
forms,  doubtless  keeps  pace  with  the  production. 


Sweet  Potato  Vines  for  Cattle. 


"Experience"  writes  from  Monmouth  Co., 
N  J.,  as  follows:  "I  have  used  sweet  poind; 
vines  for  cattle,  for  the  past  five  seasons  with 
admirable  success.  If  care  is  taken  to  rid  the 
vines  of  the  dirt  which  generally  adheres  to 
them  when  pulled,  cattle  will  eat  them  as  readi- 
ly as  they  will  the  best  of  pasture.  In  fact  I 
have  seen  cattle,  when  vines  were  thrown  into 
their  field,  leave  first  rate  pasture  and  come 
bellowing  for  a  feast.  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say 
that  sweet  potato  vines  can  be  used  to  great  ad- 
vantage for  both  hogs  and  cattle." 


240 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[August, 


The    Wonderful    New    Strawberry— The 
Plants  to  be  Presented  to  the  Public. 

None  but  those  who  were  at  the  Agriculturist 
Office  ou  Thursday,  June  18th,  can  have  a  full 
conception  of  the  enormous  size  to  which  this 
delicious  fruit  has  been  grown.  The  accompany- 
ing engravings  (rig.  2,  3)  are  exact  sketches  of 
two  of  the  berries  of  the  New  Seedling,  taken 
from  accurate  measurement  with  calipers. 
These  were  not  abnormal  specimens,  of  chance 
growth,  for  there  were  plenty  more  nearly  as 
large.  And  what  is  remarkable,  the  berries 
were  not  hollow,  nor  poor  flavored,  but  were 
solid,  a  rich  crimson  color  to  the  core,  and  of 
excellent  flavor,  having  the  pleasant  pine  taste 
of  one  of  the  parent  plants.  The  general  form 
is  that  of  fig.  2,  conical  and  partially  necked. 
The  plant  itself  bears  large  leaves,  is  very  vig- 
orous, and  shows  a  good  bearing  propensity. 
Taken  all  in  all,  this  new  seedling  is  probably 
the  largest  and  the  most  remarkable  production 
in  the  Strawberry  way,  that  has  ever  appeared. 

Its  Origin. — Mr.  Seth  Boyden,  upon  the  re- 
sults of  whose  inventions  in  the  manufacture  of 
polished  leather  (called  "  patent  leather,")  and 
in  the  production  of  malleable  cast  iron,  etc., 
much  of  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  large 
City  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  depends,  has  for  many 
years  devoted  more  or  less  attention  to  the  im- 
provement of  the  Strawberry.  "  Boyden's 
Mammoth,"  and  "Boyden's  Green  Prolific,"  are 
widely  known.  The  Green  Prolific  he  has 
hitherto  considered  his  best  product.  It  was 
obtained  by  hybridizing  Hovey's  Seedling,  and 
Kitley's  Goliah.  Following  up  his  experiments, 
he  hybridized  the  Green  Prolific  with  Peabody's 
Seedling,  the  latter  a  large,  excellent  pine  ber- 
ry, but  too  little  productive  to  meet  with  gen- 
eral favor.     One  of  the  products  of  this  last  hy- 


bridization, is  this  new  seedling  which  has  re- 
cently attracted  so  much  attention. 

T/ie  Name. — Mr.  Boyden  simply  called  it  his 
"No.  10"  Seedling.  It  was  proposed  by  some 
to  call  it  the  Seth  Boyden  ;  by  others,  Boyden's 
Giant ;  by  others,  Boyden's  Wonderful,  and  so 
on.  But  to  avoid  confounding  it  with  the  al- 
ready well  known  Boyden's  Mammoth,  it  has 
by  common  consent  been  named  the  "  Agricul- 
turist Strawberry  " — partly  because  brought  out 
at  the  Agriculturist  Exhibition,  and  partly  be- 
cause, at  large  expense,  the  Proprietor  of  this 
journal  secured  all  the  plants,  and  is  cultivating 
them  for  free  distribution. 

The  Purchase  of  the  Plants. — No  one  outside  of 
Mr.  Boyden  seems  to  have  known  anything  of 
this  new  variety,  until  he  came  in  quietly  at  the 
opening  of  the  Exhibition,  and  placed  upon  the 
table  the  plates  of  berries,  and  a  growing  speci- 
men of  the  plant.  It  at  once  attracted  much 
attention,  exciting  the  admiration  of  all  who 
saw  it,  and  there  was  an  eager  desire  to  get  the 
plants.  Mr.  Boyden,  who  is  noted  for  looking 
out  very  little  for  his  own  interest,  while  con- 
tributing so  much  to  the  prosperity  of  others, 
accepted  the  first  offers,  voluntarily  made  to  him, 
of  one  to  three  dollars  each.  Some  of  the  en- 
terprising clerks  in  the  American  Agricultur- 
ist office  immediately  called  the  attention  of 
the  Proprietor  to  the  matter,  and  proposed 
that  it  be  secured  for  distribution. '  He  at  once 
examined  the  fruit  and  plant,  and  seeing  its 
greurt  merits,  made  Mr.  Boyden  an  offer  for  aU 
the  plants  unsold,  which  offer  was  promptly 
accepted.  In  order  to  keep  the  plants  pure,  and 
prevent  speculation  in  them,  he  bought  up  at 
$10  each  those  plants  already  sold,  except  a 
single  one  in  the  hands  of  an  amateur  friend, 
who  will  cultivate  it  only  for  his  own  person- 
al use.  M.  Olui  immediately  went  with  men 
and  teams  to  New-Jersey,  and   took  up  all  the 


original  plants  carefully,  and  transplanted  them 
to  the  Proprietor's  grounds  at  Flushing,  where 
they  are  now  doing  well,  not  one  having  been 
lost,  though  moved  25  miles  in  the  hot  days  of 
June  22d  and  23d.  M.  Ol.m,  than  wh  im 
there  is  no  more  skillful  cultivator  in  the  coun- 
try, has  them  in  special  charge,  and  will  multi- 
ply them  as  rapidly  as  possible.  There  is  little 
doubt  that  several  tens  of  thousands  of  plants 
will  be  ready  fir  distribution  during  next  sea- 
son (1804.)  The  design  is  to  make  this,  the 
greatest  and  best  production  of  this  delicious 
fruit,  a  free  gift  to  the  public.  No  plants  are 
offered  for  sale  on  any  terms,  though  as  high  as 
$50,  and  even  $100  dollars,  have  been  offered 
by  enterprising  cultivators,  for  a  single  plant. 
Plan  of  Distribution. — The  plants  will  be  dis- 
tributed during  the  year  1864,  and  as  our  ex- 
perience has  proved  that  they  can  be  sent  safely 
by  mail,  hundreds  and  even  thousands  of  miles, 
this  mode  will  be  adopted  for  all  who  do  not 
live  near  enough  to  take  them  bjr  hand.  Those 
living  at  a  distance  will  therefore  be  on  a  par 
with  those  residing  here.  "We  purpose  to  pro- 
duce as  many  plants  as  possible,  and  send  them 
out  to  all  subscribers  to  the  American  Agri- 
culturist, and  that  will  embrace  pretty  nearly 
everybody  in  the  country  who  takes  an  interest 
in  such  matters.  The  number  of  plants  will 
depend  upon  the  weather  from  this  time  on- 
ward. We  hope  to  have  100,000  plants,  which 
will  give  at  least  one  to  every  subscriber.  Lest 
there  should  be  any  failure  in  getting  enough 
for  all,  we  shall  begin  at  once  to  enter  down 
the  names  of  all  subscribers  for  1864  who  de- 
sire the  plants,  beginning  with  the  1st  of 
July,  and  supply  them  in  the  order  of  receiv- 
ing the  names.  (As  soon  as  our  intention 
was  known,  many  persons  who  saw  t lie  plant 
and  fruit  at  once  subscribed  ahead  for  1^04) 
We  feel  safe  in  promising  30,000  to  50,000  plants 
at  least.  Those  whose  subscriptions  already 
extend  to  next  year,  need  only  to  send  in  their 
application,  wTith  the  trifling  sum  named  below, 
and  their  names  will  be  put  down  for  the  plants. 

Expenses  of  Distribution.— The  expenses  of  pur- 
chasing, propagation,  etc.,  will  amount  to  some 


thousands  of  dollars,  which  we  will  cheerfully 
pay.  In  the  distribution,  the  cost  of  postage 
and  oil  cloth  will  be  about  5  cents  for  each  par- 
cel. This  small  sum,  small  to  each,  but  large 
in  the  aggregate  for  50,000  to  100,0  30  parcels, 
Should  lie  met  by  those  who  receive  the  plants. 
We  therefore  ask  each  one  who  desires  the 
plants  to  enclose    an   extra  5  cents  along  with 


1863.  J 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


341 


the  application.  As  there  must  be  some  limit, 
we  know  of  no  better  one  than  to  make  the 
distribution  to  subscribers  for  volume  XXIII, 
(1864).     We  therefore  repeat. 

The  plants  are  offered  free  to  all  persons  receiving 
the  Agriculturist  for  1864,  (exchanges  included),  who 
ipply  for  (hem,  if  there  he  plants  enough  for  all,  and 
if  not,  the  plants  will  be  sent  as  far  as  they  go  to 
tliose  first  applying,  in  the  order  of  the  receiving  of  the 
names  for  1861 — the  only  charge  being  the  cost  of 
postage  and  oil  cloth  (5  cents)  as  above. 

A  single  plant  can  be  rapidly  multiplied  60 
hundred  s.  We  once  made  about  1200  plants  in 
a  single  year  from  6  plants  that  had  been  ten 


Pig.  3. 

days  in  reaching/us.  They  had  met  with  such 
hard  usage  that  only  six  lived  nut  of  a  dozen 
received,  and  those  were  very  weak.  It  will  be 
seen  then,  that  our  mode  of  distribution  will 
sorin  scatter  them  over  the  whole  country,  as 
we  have  subscribers  at  more  than  three-fourths 
of  all  the  Post  Offices  in  the  Loyal  States,  and 
in   the   British  Provinces. 

The  plants  arc  not  offered  as  prizes,  but  rather 
as  a  gift  to  all  subscribers  who  receive  tho 
Agriculturist  for  1864.  If  any  present  subscribers 
prefer  to  be  among  the  first  on  the  list,  they 
can  do  so  by  sending  in  their  subscriptions  now 
for  the  next  year,  to  begin  when  their  present 
subscriptions  close.  New  subscribers,  beginning 
at  the  middle  of  the  present  volume,  will  go  on 
the  same  list. 

N.  B. — All  persons  sending  in  subscriptions  will 
confer  a  special  favor  by  stating  whether  their  name  s 
are  already  on  our  books.  It  will  save  us  much  extra 
labor  in  arranging  the  names  upon  the  mail  books. 


Good  Strawberries— At  least  Two  Bushels 
for  Every  Family. 


Yes,  two  bushels  of  good  delicioss  fruit,  the 
berries  larger  than  walnuts.  A  single  rod  of 
ground,  a  few  hours'  work,  and  25  to  50  cents 
for  plants  to  start  with,  will  do  it.  We  wish 
we  could  impress  this  fact  so  strongly  upon 
every  family  in  the  land  that  they  would  set 
about  the  work  at  once.  Everybody  loves 
strawberries;  they  are  grateful  to  the  taste,  and 
healthful.  They  will  grow  wherever  corn  will 
grow,  and  in  many  places  where  corn  will  not 
ripen.  They  are  almost  as  easily  cultivated  as 
corn,  and  will  even  flourish  on  poorer  soil. 

See  here  !  From  June  12th  to  July  4th  our 
own  personal  rations  included  a  quart  of  fine 
strawberries  every  day,  part  in  the  morning  and 
the  rest  at  evening.     We  eat  much  less  of  other 


food,  and  never  enjoyed  better  health.  Those 
delicious  berries  did  nut  cost  a  cent  a  quart, 
aside  from  the  picking,  and  the  labor  of  picking 
was  trifling,  for  not  "  a  great  many  made  a 
quart."  Every  member  of  the  household  was 
also  similarly  supplied,  and  several  friends  shar- 
ed with  us.  Besides,  we  bottled  three  pecks  for 
next  Winter,  aud  the  grocer  came  and  bought 
enough  to  pay  the  entire  expenses  of  the  whole ! 
The  saving  in  meat  and  other  food,  to  say  noth- 
ing of  health,  would  have  paid  the  expenses 
three  times  over,  if  the  grocer  had  not.  All 
this  came  from  less  than  four  rods  of  ground, 
which  was  only  set  to  vines  last  year,  partly  in 
September,  but  mainly  in  April.  Does  any 
reader  wonder  that  after  such  experience  we  are 
earnest  in  our  effort  to  induce  all  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Agriculturist  family  to  grow 
strawberries  if  we  desire  to  promote  their 
pleasure?  Other  fruits  are  good  in  their 
season,  and  should  be  under  culture,  but 
years  of  time  are  required  to  get  the  tree 
fruits.  Strawberries  set  in  Spring  yield 
abundantly  the  next  year,  and  those  set 
early  in  Autumn  yield  a  partial  supply  the 
next  Spring,  and  are  in  the  bight  of  bear- 
ing the  year  after.  The  next  month  of 
September,  and  the  first  of  October  is 
perhaps  the  best  time  to  begin,  the  earlier 
the  better.  The  last  of  August  is  a 
good  time  when  the  plants  are  not  mov- 
ed far  enough  to  require  packing.  The 
plants  of  good  standard  varieties  are  now 
within  the  reach  of  almost  every  one.  Un- 
der the  new  postal  law,  plants  go  every- 
where to  the  most  distant  States  and  Territories, 
for  2  cents  postage  on  each  4  ounces.  A  few  cents' 
worth  of  oil  cloth  will  envelope  them  securely. 
We  pave  demonstrated  that  they  can  be  sent 
hundreds  and  even  thousands  of  miles  by  mail, 
and  safety,  especially  in  the  cool  weather  of 
Spring  and  Autumn.  Of  40,000  plants  distrib- 
uted by  us  to  subscribers  last  year,  nearly  the 
whole  lived,  aud  have  already  multiplied  to 
millions.  Our  advertising  columns,  this  month 
and  the  next,  will  doubtless  tell  where  an  abun- 
dance of  plants  can  be  obtained  by  mail.  As 
noted  elsewhere,  next  year  we  shall  offer,  free 
to  all  our  subscribers,  plants  of  the  largest 
strawberry  yet  produced.  But  do  not  wait  for 
that.  Try  your  hand  this  year  at  raising  some 
of  the  good  sorts  already  before  the  public  in 
abundance.  There  are  the  Triomphe  de  Gaud, 
the  Bartlett,  the  Austin,  the  Wilson,  etc.,  any 
one  of  which  is  better  than  wild  diminutive 
sorts,  or  even  the  older  improved  kinds.  A 
small  sum  will  buy  a  dozen  to  a  hundred  plants. 

Any  Soil  Will  Do.— There  are  only  two  ex- 
ceptions to  this  rule,  viz.,  soils  too  sandy  and 
barren  to  bear  anything,  and  those  subject  to 
standing  water.  The  freezing  of  standing  water 
in  Winter  is  apt  to  kill  all  the  plants.  Good 
corn  ground  is  good  for  strawberries,  though 
they  need  more  water  than  corn  to  produce  the 
best  results.  We  have  seen  lirst  rate  crops  of 
strawberries  on  very  heavy  clay  laud,  which 
had  been  deeply  plowed  and  lightened  up  by  a 
large  mixture  of  leached  ashes,  with  an  open 
drain  or  two  to  carry  off  surplus  water.  Any 
soil  is  unproved  for  strawberries  by  working 
into  it  a  good  quantity  of  rotten  manure  aud 
black  mold  from  the  woods. 

Straivberries  Will  Grow  Everywhere. — We  should 
hardly  attempt  to  grow  them  at  the  North 
Pole,  but  they  can  be  grown  about  as  far  north 
as  civilized  society  extents  at  present,  and  as 
far  south  as  the  equator.     North  of  40°  or  41°, 


a  slight  covering  of  straw  is  useful  in  Winter, 
and  necessary  for  most  varieties   north  of  42° 
or  44°.     The  main  requirement  is  to  prevent 
the  destruction  of  the  plants   by  freezing  and 
thawing.     In  the  moist,  climate  of  Great  Britain 
the  same  varieties  grow  larger  than  with  us,  but 
inferior  in  flavor.     They  require  but  a  short 
season  of  warm  weather  to  perfect  their  fruit. 
Varieties. — The  Wilson's  Albany  is  a  popular 
variety,  because  it  yields  large  crops  of  large 
and    beautiful  berries.       For  our   eating  it  is 
too  acid,  when  sugar  is  so  costly  as  now.     For 
general  culture  we  prefer  the  Triomphe  de  Gand, 
which  bears  nearly  as  well,  the  fruit  of  bet- 
ter   flavor,  and   equally   as   good   in   appear- 
ance, and  the  plants  are  less  apt  to  die  out 
after  heavy  bearing.      The   Austin   is  a  great 
bearer  and  the  fruit  large,  but  it  is  not  so  firm, 
and  not  quite  equal  in  flavor.     Its  proliflcness, 
its  hardiness,  and  long  bearing  render  it  worthy 
of  a  place   in   a  family  assortment.     Two   or 
three  kinds  are  preferable  to  one,  both  for  var- 
iety and  to  lengthen  the  season.     The  La  Con- 
stants is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  strawberries 
in   appearance,  is   excellent   flavored,  and   de- 
sirable in  a  collection,  but  plants  are  not  very 
abundant  or  cheap  this  year.    There  are  many 
other  desirable  new  sorts,  but  we  are   only 
speaking  now  of  a  few  of  the  good  varieties  so 
abundant  as  to  be  accessible  to  the  millions. 
The  Triomphe  de  Gand,  the  Wilson,  and  the 
Austin  will  supply  an  assortment  that  will  give 
satisfaction  to  the  great  mass  of  people. 

Hints  on  CuLTUitE. — Strawberries  will  grow 
witho.ut  any  culture ;  they  will  thrive  under 
moderate  care;  they  will  repay  the  best  atten- 
tion. If  one  has  but  few  plants  and  the  first 
object  is  to  multiply  them,  prepare  a  well  ma- 
nured plot,  digging  in  thoroughly  a  free  supply 
of  decomposed  or  half  decomposed  manure,  and 
set  the  plants  two  to  three  feet  apart  each  way, 
so  as  to  leave  room  for  runners.  The  straw- 
berry is  multiplied  by  runners  which  start  out 
in  every  direction,  and  take  root  at  the  joints  of 
the  runners.  When  well  rooted,  the  runners 
may  be  cut  between  each  tw7o  new  plants.  A 
level  surface  of  fine  soil  is  best  for  the  runners. 
If  anxious  to  get  as  many  plants  as  possible, 
put  a  little  crolched  limb,  or  a  lump  of  earth, 
or  a  small  stone,  over  the  runner  near  each  joint, 
so  as  to  insure  its  taking  root  there.  Usually 
this  is  not  necessary,  unless  there  be  considera- 
ble wind  to  sway  the  runner  and  disturb  the 
catching  of  the  roots.  If  two  or  more  runners 
start  together,  they  may  be  moved  apart,  or  the 
direction  of  one  be  changed  so  as  to  distribute 
the  new  plants  well  over  the  ground.  The  first 
plants  formed  on  runners  starting  in  July,  will 
usually  produce  other  runners  during  Autumn. 
If  carefully  transplanted  in  August  or  early  in 
September,  each  young  plant  may  become  the 
parent  of  mairy  other  plants  before  frost.  By 
this  process,  we  have  made  half  a  dozen  plants 
set  in  Spring,  cover  500  square  feet  thickly  with 

new  plants  during    the  same  season. The 

fruiting  plot  will  become  thickly  studded  with 
plants  iu  Autumn,  unless  the  runners  be  clipped 
or  removed  as  fast  as  formed.  In  regard  to 
manuring,  the  whole  soil  may  be  made  fertile. 
We  are  however,  pursuing  the  following  plan 
with  our  New  Plants.  They  were  set  3  feet 
apart  in  soil  moderately  manured  and  prepared 
for  other  crops.  Then  a  coat  or  mulch  of  half 
rotted  manure  was  spread  upon  the  surface 
around  each  plant,  and  the  water  applied,  wash- 
ed some  of  its  strength  down  into  the  soil,  while 
that  remaining  upon  the  surface,  acts  as  a  mulch 
to  keep  the  ground  moist.    This  is  one  of  the 


342 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[August, 


best  methods  of  applying  manure  to  any  plants 
or  shrubs  which   have   beeu   transplanted. 

For  General  Culture  or  Fruiting. — There  is  need 
for  but  few  directions.  Choose  any  soil,  the  best 
that  can  be  spared:  spade  it  deeply,  and  if  not 
in  good  heart,  mix  all  through  it  a  fair  supply 
of  rotten  manure,  muck  or  sods,  or  better  still, 
black  mold  (black  earth  from  the  forest).  This 
is  not  necessary,  but  is  desirable,  in  order  to 
get  the  best  results.  Leached  ashes  mixed  in 
plentifully,  are  also  good,  especially  for  heavy 
clay  soils.  Too  much  fresh  manure  will  pro- 
duce an  over  growth  of  plants  at  the  expense  of 
fruit,  though  a  fair  supply  of  any  kind  of  ma- 
nure is  not  objectionable  for  plants  set  in  Au- 
tumn. "We  prefer  dividing  the  ground  into  beds 
4j  feet  wide,  with  three  rows  of  plants  in  each, 
one  in  the  middle,  and  the  others  7  inches  from 
the  sides— setting  the  plants  15  to  18  inches 
apart  in  the  rows.  The  plants  can  then  be 
worked  and  picked  from  the  alleys  between  the 
beds,  without  treading  on  the  beds  at  all.  If 
there  are  plants  enough,  the  runners  should  be 
picked  off  as  they  appear,  keeping  the  original 
plants  in  hills.  If  more  plants  are  desired,  let 
them  grow  between  the  hills,  and  then  remove 
them.  The  best  fruit,  is  obtained  by  keeping 
the  plants  separate  in  hills. 


Strawberry  Experience. 

The  following  communication  from  William 
F.  Heins,  Esq.,  of  Morrisania,  N.  Y.,  embodies 
Ins  experience  with  the  different  varieties  for 
the  present  year.  The  opinion  of  Mr.  H.  has 
great  value  from  the  fact  that  he  is  purely  an 
amateur  cultivator,  and  has  no  interest  in  the 
sale  of  either  plants  or  berries,  but  gives  his  ob- 
servations upon  the  endurance  and  prolific 
quality  cf  the  plants,  during  the  past  unfavor- 
able season,  entirely  from  their  behavior  in  Ids 
own  grounds.  "In  most  locations  the  crop 
may  be  considered  nearly  a  failure,  and  I  think 
the  principal  causes  were:  1st,  the  changeable 
Winter;  2nd,  the  hot  and  dry  weather  follow- 
ing, and  3d,  the  sudden  and  heavy  rains  while 
the  plants  were  flowering.  My  soil,  gently  slop- 
es to  the  S.  E.,  is  an  excellent,  medium  heavy 
loam,  thoroughly  worked  to  the  depth  of  30 
inches,  and  rich  in  completly  decomposed  veg- 
etable matter.  The  result  of  my  observations 
upon  the  05  kinds  I  cultivated  is  the  following : 
The  Triotnphe  de  Gaud  I  put  at  the  head  of  the 
list,  and  with  me,  old  and  new  beds,  attended  to 
or  neglected,  gave  plenty  of  fruit,  and  showed 
least  signs  of  sufferiug ;  the  plants  remained  vig- 
orous, and  are  bearing  now,  July  6th,  a  quan- 
tity of  sound  and  excellent  berries.  The  next, 
mentioned  in  the  order  of  their  excellence,  were 
Lennig's  White,  White  Pine  Apple,  White 
Albion,  Wilson's  Albany,  and  W.  A.  Burgess' 
new  seedlings,  General  Scott,  Garibaldi,  Gen. 
Lyon,  Monitor ;  Hot-house  Pine.  The  three 
first  ones  gave  plenty  of  fruit,  were  of  vigorous 
and  healthy  habit ;  then  I  name  Burr's  New  Pine, 
Russell's  and  Downer's  Prolific,  Early  Scarlet, 
Ladies'  Pine,  Empress  Eugenie,  Scott's  Seed- 
ling, Scotch  Runner,  Jenny  Li nd,  Bartlett,  Hoo- 
ker's Seedling,  M'Evoy's  Superior,  Cutter's  Seed- 
ling, Honneur  de  la  Belgique,  Bonte  de  St. 
Julien,  La  Constanle,  (the  last  two  of  very  excel 
lent  flavor),  Nero,  Black  Prince,  Red  and  White 
Alpine,  Due  de  Malakoff.  As  all  the  other  sorts 
suffered  more  or  less  and  yielded  only  a  very 
moderate  crop,  it  is  not  necessary  to  enumerate 
them.  It  is  probable  that  in  more  favorable 
seasons  some  of  these  will  prove  more  valuable 
than  they  seem  to  be  at  present. 


Currants   and  Gooseberries. 


The  season  of  strawberries  passed  away  with 
June  and  was  succeeded  by  the  less  delicious  but 
still  acceptable  currant     The  currant  is  one  of 
our  most  reliable  fruits,  and  we  refer   to   it   at 
this   time,  because  we   desire   every  reader  of 
the  American    Agriculturist    to    be    thoroughly 
impressed  with  the  importance  of   the   small 
fruits,  both  as  a  matter  of  health  and  economy. 
We   hope  every  one  of    them   will    have    a 
constant  and   full   supply  of  strawberries,  cur- 
rants, gooseberries,  raspberries,  blackberries,  etc., 
as  long  as  the  season  lasts.     A  currant  patch  is 
easily  started  ;  if  neglected  it  will  bear  tolerably 
for  j'ears,  and  with  a  little  care   in   pruning   it 
will  continue  to  yield  abundant  crops  of  fine 
fruit  which    is   excellent    fresh,    dried,   made 
into  jelly,  or  preserved  in  bottles.     The   time 
that  fruits  are  in  perfection  is  the  one  in  which 
to  talk  about  growing  them.     All   our  plans, 
whether  for  the  farm  or  garden  should  be  laid 
well  in  advance.     Let  every  farmer  who  is  with- 
out small  fruits  determine   to   have   at  least  a 
patch  of  currants,  and  strawberries ;  grapes,  and 
other  fruits  will  soon  follow.  Currants  are  raised 
with  the  utmost  ease.  Good  rooted  plants  from 
the  nursery  set  this  Fall  will  give      some  fruit 
next  season.    Those  who  cannot  afford  to  send 
to  nurseries  or  are  not  in  reach  of  them,  can 
always  get  cuttings  of  some  neighbor.  Cuttings 
of  this  year's  wood,  about  a  foot  long,  are  to  be 
taken  as  soon  as  the  leaves  have  fallen :  cut  out 
with  a  sharp  knife  all  the  buds  except  three  or 
four   of   the  upper  ones,   and  then   plant  in 
rows  6  to  12  inches   apart,  burying   them   for 
two-thirds  of  their  length.     If  set    into  good 
soil,  not  ten  in  a  hundred  will  fail   to  make 
plants,  which  next  year  may  be  set  out  where 
they  are  to  stand.     In  after  culture  the  currant 
is  grown  in  several  different  ways.     It  may  be 
grown  upon  a  single  stalk  in  the  form  of  a  tree; 
it  may  be  trained  upon  a  wall,  fence  or  trellis; 
or  it  may  be  grown  upon  a  sort  of   renewal 
plan.     According  to  the  last  method,  the  eyes 
or  buds  which  go  below  ground  are  not  taken 
out,  but  the  plant  is  allowed  to  shoot  up  from 
the  root,  and  the  branches  which  come  up  are 
cut  out  after  they  have  borne  one  crop  of  fruit. 
If  the  plants  become  crowded,  a  portion  of  the 
new  wood  should  be  cut  out.     This  manner  of 
growing  currants  is,  by  many  cultivators,  pre- 
ferred to  the  tree  form.     A  hoop  is   sometimes 
put  over  the  bush,  to  which  the   branches  are 
trained,  thus  giving  all  an  equal  chance  at  the 
light  and  air.     We  have  seen  such  fine  crops 
grown  with  both  methods  of   cultivation,  that 
we  hardly  know  which  to  recommeud.     When 
the  bushes  are  trained  upon  a  fence  or  trellis, 
they  should  be  encouraged  to   make  only  two 
stout  branches  the  first  year.     These  are  to  be 
laid  horizontally,  and  the    limbs  which   they 
throw  out  are  to  be  trained  in  an  upright   po- 
sition.    Currants  may  be  made  to  give  a  large 
crop  and  take  up  little  room,  by  training  them 
against   a  feuce ;    they  may  be   planted   with- 
in  six  inches  of  it.     With  regard   to  variet- 
ies there  is  considerable  choice.     We  say,  grow 
currants  at  any  rate,  and  take  the  common  red, 
if  nothing  better  is  within  reach.     Where  they 
can  be  had,  the  Cherry  curraut  and   the  White 
Grape  are  to  be  preferred.     Eveu  the  common 
sorts  will  yield  larger  fruit  by  good  culture  and 
close  pruning.     The  gooseberry  is  very  much 
neglected  of  late  for  the  reason  that  the  varieties 
most  celebrated  in  Europe  are  rendered  worth- 
less in  our  country  by  mildew.     Of   late   two 
American  sorts,  Houghton's  seedling  and  the 


American  seedling  have  been  introduced,  which 
arc  quite  free  from  this  defect.  They  are  pret- 
ty sure  to  give  a  crop,  though  the  berries  are 
small.  We  recently  saw  on  the  grounds  of  J. 
C.  Thompson  Esq.,  at  Staten  Island,  a  fine  large 
seedling  berry  which  was  very  productive  and 
very  free  from  mildew.  Mr.  T.  expects  to  get 
20  bushels  from  a  small  patch,  and  judging  from 
the  appearance  of  his  bushes  we  should  think 
that  this  amount  might  be  gathered.  Should 
this  berry  produce  as  well  and  prove  as  free 
from  mildew  in  other  localities,  as  it  does  in  the 
grounds  of  Mr.  Thompson,  it  will  be  a  decided 
acquisition;  The  gooseberry,  when  green,  pos- 
sesses a  sprightly  acid  flavor  which  will  always 
render  it  popular  for  either   pies  or  "sauce." 

Another  Enemy  to  the  Fruit  Grower. 

Prof.  G.  M.  Smith,  of  Tippecanoe  Co.,  Ind., 
has  sent  us  specimens  of  an  insect  which  seems 
to  be  of  the  most  destructive  character.  It 
strips  the  leaves  from  the  trees  by  cutting  off 
the  leafstalk,  and  eats  the  bark  from  the  young 
shoots,  and  in  some  cases  attacks  that  of  the 
last  year's  wood.  It  does  its  work  of  devas- 
tation so  thoroughly  that  not  a  leaf  or  young 
shoot  was  left  on  about  50  trees  which  were  at- 
tacked. Not  recognizing  the  insect,  we  forward- 
ed specimens  to  Prof.  Glover,  of  the  Agricultur- 
al Department  at  Washington,  who  has  kindly 
furnished  us  with  the  name  and  the  drawing- 
from  which  the  engraving  is 
made.  It  is  the  Jtliycerus  curculio- 
noitles,  belonging  to  the  same  or- 
der with  the  well-known  cureulio, 
and  is  one  of  its  largest  represen- 
tatives. It  has  been  called  the 
New-York  weevil.  The  insect  is 
of  a  gray  color,  having  upon  each 
wing-cover  four  white  lines  inter- 
rupted by  black  dots.  Its  attacks  are  not  con- 
fined to  fruit  trees,  as  it  is  also  found  on  the 
oak  and  maple.  Fortunately  this  pest  does  not 
seem  to  be  very  abundant,  and  wherever  it  ap- 
pears, it  should  be  captured,  by  jarring  the  trees 
under  which  a  sheet  has  been  placed,  in  the 
same  way  that  has  been  described  for  the  de- 
struction of  the   cureulio,   on   page  164. 


Renewing    Old    Grape    Vines. 

Many  persons  have  large,  ill-shaped  vines, 
clambering  over  arbors  and  trellises,  which 
they  would  like  to  bring  into  better  shape  and 
more  fruilfulness;  but  they  don't  know  exactly 
how  to  do  it.  There  are  several  ways :  First, 
lay  down  a  good,  vigorous  cane  on  each  side  of 
the  main  trunk,  burying  it  for  two  feet  or  more 
in  length,  with  six  inches  of  dirt.  In  one  sea- 
son, or  at  most  two,  these  canes  will  be  finch' 
rooted,  when  the  old  stump  may  be  grubbed  up, 
The  new  layered  plants  ma}'  afterward  be  train- 
ed according  to  any  of  the  received  methods. 

Another  way  would  be  to  retain  the  old  root, 
but  to  change  the  top  by  degrees.  Cut  out  in 
the  Fall,  one  fourth  of  the  large  canes  on  one 
half  of  the  vine;  train  up  the  handsomest  new 
shoot  that  pushes  during  the  Summer;  and  in 
the  Fall,  cut.  away  all  others  on  that  side  of  the 
vine.  This  shoot  retained  is  to  form  a  horizon- 
tal "arm"  for  training  up  perpendicular  canes 
from.  Next  year,  proceed  in  the  same  way  with 
the  other  side  of  the  vine.  This  work  of  re- 
newing the  vine  ought  to  be  done  gradually,  and 
extend  over  a  period  of  three  or  four  years; 
since,  if  the  old  canes  are  cut  away  at  once,  tlio 


1863.] 


AMKRICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


243 


Dew  growth  will  be  long-jointed  and  succulent, 
and  poorly  fitted   for  good   horizontal   arms. 


Experience  with  Grape  Cuttings. 


Mr.  D.  N.  Allard,  sends  to  the  Agriculturist  the 
result  of  his  experiments  with  fifteen  thousand 
grape  cuttings,  taken  from  the  vines  at  various 
times  from  December  to  March  1st.  He  plant- 
ed all  the  cuttings  in  the  same  manner  and  found 
that  of  those  made  in  February,  twice  as  many 
grew  as  of  those  taken  in  December.  This  he 
accounts  for  by  the  fact  that  the  partially  ripen- 
ed wood  had  been  killed  off  by  February,  and 
was  rejected  in  making  the  cuttings  at  that 
time,  while  in  December  the  wood  was  all  alive, 
but  the  fully  and  the  partially  matured  were 
both  used.  Most  of  his  beds  of  cuttings  were 
shaded  by  branches  supported  upon  frames  five 
or  six  feet  above  them — while  three  beds  were 
left  unshaded.  The  result  was  that  more  than 
twice  as  many  cuttings  rooted  in  the  shaded 
beds  as  in  those  without  this  protection. 
■ — -—. —  »»- .-. 

Azaleas,    Rhododendrons,  and    Kalmias. 

It  surprises  English  visitors  to  this  country, 
that  we  make  so  little  of  these  native  flowering 
shrubs.  In  the  old  world,  especially  in  the 
British  Isles,  they  are  a  favorite  feature  in  orna- 
mental grounds.  They  are  set  in  picturesque 
groups  and  masses,  in  soils  carefully  prepared 
and  suited  to  their  wants,  and  are  styled,  by 
way  of  distinctive  honor,  "the  American  Gar- 
den." Mr.  Hovey  tells  us  that  "every  Spring 
these  shrubs  are  transplanted  in  the  Regent's 
Park  and  Roj'al  Horticultural  Society's  Garden, 
where  they  are  arranged  in  neat  beds,  and  pro- 
tected with  an  awning,  retaining  their  beauty 
for  weeks,  and  attracting  immense  crowds  of 
admiring  visitors.  After  their  bloom  is  over, 
they  are  removed  to  the  nursery -grounds  from 
whence  they  were  taken,  receiving  no  injury, 
so  easy  are  they  to  transplant  at  all  seasons." 
Why  should  we  leave  it  to  foreigners  to  find 
out  before  us,  the  merits  of  our  own  plants  and 
trees?  Like  our  books,  they  have  to  go  abroad 
to  get  a  reputation  before  we  appreciate  them. 
But  the  few  who  do  know  them,  are  becoming 
zealous  in  their  attachment  and  most  enthusias- 
tic in  their  praise.  One  reason  why  they  are  so 
seldom  planted,  is  the  prevalent  impression  that 
they  are  hard  to  transplant ;  whereas,  if  prop- 
erly treated,  nothing  is  more  easy.  If  taken 
from  the  shade  of  a  dark  swamp,  and  set  in  the 
glare  of  a  sunny  garden,  it  is  riot  strange  that 
they  wither  and  die. 

The  Rhododendron  maximum  of  our  Nor- 
thern swamps  does  not  seem  to  do  so  well  in 
cultivation  as  its  more  Southern  brother,  the 
Rhododendron  Catawbiense ;  this  has  been  hybrid- 
ized with  some  of  the  brilliant  Indian  sorts,  and 
11  great  number  of  varieties  of  exceeding  beauty 
have  been  produced.  The  Azaleas  now  pro- 
curable are  a  great  improvement  on  our  native 
species.  We  have  the  pink,  yellow,  orange, 
and  flame-colored,  which  make  the  garden  all 
ablaze  with  bloom.  The  Kalmia  is  beyond  im- 
provement. It  is  less  fastidious  than  the  rhodo- 
dendron or  azalea  about  soils,  and  will  do  well 
in  any  garden  not  too  dry.  All  these  plants  in 
a  wild  state  seem  to  prefer  the  steep  banks  of 
streams,  or  the  sides  of  hills  sloping  northward. 
This  northward  slope  protects  them  from  the 
burning  suns  of  mid-day,  and  gives  them  the 
partial  shade  and  cool  atmosphere  they  delight 
in.  To  any  of  our  readers  preparing  to  set  out 
these  shrubs,  we  -would  recommend  the  trial 


of  such   a  situation  and   such   soil ;  if  not  at 
command,  let    the    treatment  be    as   follows: 
Choose  a    spot    rather  sheltered    from    harsh 
winds,  surround  it  with  a  belt  of  evergreens,  or 
at  least  with  a  screen  on  the  south  side,  throw 
out  the  natural  soil  of  the  bed  for  eighteen  inch- 
es or  two  feet  deep,  and  fill  up  the  space  with  a 
compost  of  good  garden  loam,  sand,  and  fibrous 
peaty  earth.     Give  the  plants  a  thorough  water- 
ing when  set  out,  then  cover  the  ground  with 
three  or  four   inches  of   forest  leaves.      One 
writer  warmly  recommends  a  mulch  of  saw- 
dust,    The  girdle  or  screen  of  evergreens  is 
needful  both  to  keep  off  the  bright  rays  of  the 
sun  in  Winter  and  Summer,  and  to  protect  the 
plants  from  too  sudden  changes  of  temperature. 
Once  a  year,  it  will  be  found  advisable  to  cut 
off  with  a  spade  the  roots  of  the  surrounding 
evergreens,  because   they  will   naturally  push 
into  the  rich  feeding  ground  of  our  plants  and 
rob  them.     It  is  possible  that  the  partial  failure 
of  some  planters  is  owing  to  the  practice  of  set- 
ting the  roots  of  their  plants  too  deep.     In  their 
native  conditions,  they  do  not  send  their  fibrous 
roots  deep  into  the  ground,  but  spread  them  out 
in  a  sort  of  net-work  near  the  surface,  ramify- 
ing among  the  half-decayed  leaves  and  rubbish 
of  the  top  soil.     Follow  nature's  hint,  and  do 
not  forget    the  indispensable    mulching.     The 
deep  benching  we  have  recommended  is  need- 
ful  to  furnish  a  reservoir  of  moisture  for  the 
roots  in  dry  weather,  but  not  to  bury  the  roots 
in,  and  the  mulching   is  useful    to   keep   that 
moisture  from  evaporating.    It  is  one  excellence 
of  the  rhododendron,  that  it  can  be  safety  trans- 
planted any  time  from  April  to  October.     We 
have  often  reset  them  when  just  opening  their 
blossom  buds,  and  have  had  good  flowers  the 
same  year   in   which   they  were   transplanted. 
• ■  i         -»»  ►-« 

Substitute  for  a  Green-House- 


Lovers  of  plants  will  manage  to  grow  them 
in  spite  of  all  difficulties.  We  have  published 
several  ingenious  plans  contrived  b)r  those  who 
can  not  command  a  green-house,  for  the  preser- 
vation of  their  favorites.  Mr.  S.  A.  Myers,  of 
Henry  Co.,  Ohio,  writes  us,  that  "  having  but 
two  acres  of  land  and  at  present  a  cabin  house, 
the  pretty  green-house  would  make  rather  a 
striking  contrast,  and  yet  I  am  not  willing  to  do 
without  flowers  even  of  tender  varieties.  Our 
house  being  too  cold  to  protect  them,  I  have 
made  a  close  fitting  glazed  box,  4  feet  long,  3 
feet  high,  and  3  feet  4  inches  wide,  which  is 
placed  on  wheels  and  kept  in  the  house  ;  it  is 
accommodated  with  several  shelves  in  order  to 
bring  the  small  plants  near  the  top.  The  result 
is,  that  I  have  suceeeded  in  keeping  in  a  healthy 
state,  4  varieties  of  roses,  5  Geraniums,  4  Fuch- 
sias, 2  Pinks,  3  Cactuses,  1  Pelargonium,  1 
Lemon  scented  Verbena,  Ageratums,  Petunias, 
Verbenas,  1  Jerusalem  Cherry,  etc. 


Floral  Zodiacs. 

A  lady  correspondent  is  mystified  about  this 
learned  expression.  An  explanation  is  ea6y. 
As  used  in  garden-books,  it  means  an  arrange- 
ment of  pleasure-grounds,  by  which  the  flower- 
ing shrubs  and  plants  of  each  month  are  ar- 
ranged by  themselves.  Suppose  we  have  a 
garden  walk  150  feet  long,  running  in  a  circle 
if  convenient.  We  will  divide  this  off  into  eight 
or  nine  sections,  called  by  the  names  of  the 
months,  which  we  will  mark  by  stout  stakes. 
On  finding  out  the  mouth  in  which  every  known 


plant  blooms,  we  will  place  the  plant  in  the 
section  where  it  belongs;  and  so,  when  our  col- 
lection is  full,  we  shall  have  a  floral  zodiac. 
The  April  and  November  sections  will  require 
less  space  than  the  others.  August,  September 
and  October  will  demand  the  largest  room.  A 
walk  through  such  a  zodiac  would  be  both 
charming  and  instructive.  Such  a  zodiac  was 
first  devised  and  executed  by  Daubenton,  an 
eminent  French  gardener  and  botanist.  The 
scene  of  his  labors  was  the  garden  of  Luxem- 
bourg.    He  styled  it  "  the  grove  of  the  months." 

•-• wt^- »-* 

The  Perennial  Phloxes. 


We  have  often  advocated  the  growing  of  per- 
ennial flowering  plants.  They  are  less  trouble- 
some than  the  annuals  and  bedding  plants, 
and  a  few  of  them  should  find  a  place  in  the 
smallest  gardens.  The  Phloxes  make  a  great 
show,  remain  a  long  time  in  bloom,  and  present 
a  great  variety  in  color.  The  newer  sorts  have 
every  shade  from  pure  white  to  dark  purple. 
Some,  like  Harlequin  and  Van  llouttii  are 
pleasingly  variegated.  Alba  perfecta  is  a  fine 
white.  Roi  des  Roses  a  good  rose  color.  Min- 
erva is  of  a  rosy  lilac  with  crimson  centre,  and 
Atropurpurea  is  of  a  deep  purplish  rose.  The 
catalogues  have  a  host  of  varities;  we  mention 
the  above  because  we  have  cultivated  them. 
A  mass  of  different  sorts  with  strong  contrasts 
of  colors  is  a  fine  siirht. 


Double  Flowering  Trees  and  Bushes. 

Of  these,  there  are  many.  The  double  flow- 
ering cherry  is  a  pretty  thing,  and  blooms 
abundantly.  The  double  Peacli  has  several 
fine  varieties,  such  as  the  rose-colored,  the  new- 
er crimson,  and  the  white.  Lately,  we  have 
heard  of  a  carnation  or  striped,  and  a  camellia- 
flowered.  For  free,  luxuriant  bloomers,  com- 
mend us  to  the  flowering  Hawthorns,  crimson 
and  pink.  And  if  the  common  single  apple 
blossom  is  beautiful,  much  more  so  is  the  double. 
Among  shrubs,  the  old  flowering  Almond,  pink 
or  rose-colored,  should  never  be  overlooked. 
More  recent  additions  to  this  family  include  the 
double  while  and  large  single-flowered  Almond, 
pure  white.  Reeve's  double  Spireea  is  a  gem  in 
its  way.  The  Primus  triloba  is  spoken  of  as 
very  line,  but  we  have  not  yet  seen  it, 


Pillar  Fuchsias. 


The  true  beauty  of  the  flower  of  the  Fuch- 
sias is  not  seen  when  it  is  looked  down  upon. 
The  finest  display  we  ever  saw  was  where  the 
plant  was  trained  to  the  raflers  of  a  rather  low 
green-house.  The  flowers,  hanging  where  it 
was  necessary  to  look  up  at  them,  made  a  most 
magnificent  show.  Something  of  this  effect  can 
be  obtained  by  training  the  Fuchsia,  cutting 
back  the  branches  to  the  bight  of  6  or  8  feel, 
Two  or  three  of  different  colors  trained  in  this 
way  and  planted  out  against  a  pillar  for  sup- 
port, produce  a  grand  effect.  They  should  be 
put  in  a  rather  sheltered  and  shaded  situation. 

—   . Mil      *-» 

Economy  in  Cucumbers. — In  England,  cu- 
cumbers can  only  be  successfully  grown  under 
glass,  and  some  of  the  varieties  grown  there  have 
very  long  fruit,  A  recent  foreign  treatise  on  the 
cucumber  and  melon  tells  us,  that  it  is  the 
custom  with  some,  to  cut  off  a  portion  of  a  cu- 
cumber, and   leave  the  remainder  to  grow  on. 


•244 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Al  0  1  ST, 


Grape  Trellises  Again. 


Iu  the  Agriculturist  for  April  wc  gave  Mr. 
Knox's  plan  for  a  grape  trellis,  and  it  has  been 
adopted  by  a  number  of  our  readers.  We  now 
present  the  form  used  by  Mr.  A.  S.  Fuller,  the 
well  known  horticulturist  of  Brooklyn.  The 
article  is  an  extract  from  a  forth-coming  work, 
by  Mr.  Fuller,  on  the  culture  of  the  grape.  A 
plain  and  practical  work  upon  the  grape  is 
much  needed,  and  we  shall  be  disappointed  if 
the  work  alluded  to  is  not  just  what  is  at  pres- 
ent required  by  tin-  inexperienced  grape  grower. 

"The  usual  manner  of  making  grape  trellises 
with  wires  running  horizontally,  is  not  only  very 
objectionable,  especially  when  the  vines  are 
trained  with  horizontal  arms,  but  it  is  a  much 
more  expensive  method  than  the  one  shown  in 
the  engraving  below,  consisting  of  two  horizon- 
tal bars,  and  perpendicular  wires.    Eveiy-body 


Fig.  1.— fuller's  grape  trellis. 


who  has  made  trellises  in  the  ordinary  manner, 
is  aware  of  the  difficulty  of  keeping  the  wires 
straight,  even  if  the  posts  to  which  they  are 
fastened  are  not  more  than  eight  feet  apart,  as 
the  wire  will  contract  and  expand  at  every 
change  of  temperature,  being  loose  on  hot  days 
and  tight  on  cold  ones.  Besides,  much  larger 
wires  must  be  used,  if  put  on  horizontally,  to 
support  the  fruit  and  the  vine.  But  the  most 
serious  objection  that  I  have  found  is,  that  the 
wires,  unless  very  near  together,  are  not  where 
they  are  most  needed  when  the  young  bearing 
shoots  first  start,  for  they  must  be  tied  to  some- 
thing to  support  them  when  only  a  few  inches 
long,  or  they  are  very  liable  to  be  broken  off  by 
heavy  driving  rains.  If  the  wires  are  eight 
inches  apart  (which  is  nearer  than  the  usual 
custom  to  place  them)  the  young  shoot  must  be 
at  least  twelve  to  fifteen  inches  long  before  the 
strength  of  the  vine  will  admit  of  its  being  tied 
to  the  horizontal  wire  ;  besides,  when  tied,  the 
strings  will  allow  the  shoot  to  slip  lengthwise 
of  the  wire,  and  often  it  will  crowd  or  become 
entangled  with  its  neighbors.  To  tie  the  vine 
very  tight  to  the  wire,  would  cause  it  to  become 
girdled  as  it  expanded  in  growth. 

The  above  are  but  a  few  of  the  difficulties 
which  I  have  had  to  overcome   in  using  the 


It  is  built  iu  the  following  manner :  Select 
posts  of  good  hard  durable  wood  of  from  4  to  6 
inches  in  diameter  and  65  feet  long,  set  them  in 
the  ground  2J  feet  deep  and  in  a  line  with  the 
vines  and  8  feet  apart,  that  is  if  the  vines  are 
that  distance  apart:  a  post  should  be  placed 
between  each  two  vines  at  equal  distance  from 
each.  When  the  posts  are  set,  nail  on  strips  2J 
inches  wide  and  I  to  1  inch  thick,  one  strip  or 
bar  being  placed  1  foot  from  the  ground,  and 
the  other  at  the  top  of  the  posts ;  then  take  No. 
10  galvanized  iron  wire  and  put  it  on  perpen- 
dicularly, twisting  it  around  the  lower  and  upper 
bar,  each  wire  being  placed  just  where  the  up- 
right bearing  shoots  are  to  grow.  It  is  well  to 
lay  down  the  arms  by  the  side  of  the  lower 
bar  and  make  a  mark  on  it  where  each  wire  is 
to  be  put,  before  fastening'  the  arm ;  then  re- 
move the  arms  to  one  side  while  putting  on  the 
wire.  If  a  wire  should  not  be  in  the  exact 
place  where  it  is  wanted  it  can  be  easily 
moved  to  the  right  or  left,  provided  it  is 
only  twisted  around  the  bars.  The  dis- 
tance between  these  upright  wires  will 
differ  according  to  the  variety  of  vine,  as 
the  distance  between  the  buds  varies  very 
materially  in  different  varieties,  but  usual- 
ly 8  inches  will  be  the  proper  distance, 
sometimes  wiring  at  every  bud  and  with 
others  only  at  every  alternate  one.  It 
will  readily  be  seen  that  in  this  mode  of 
making  a  trellis,  when  the  young  shoots 
start,  they  can  be  tied  at  any  time 
when  necessary,  and  there  is  no  need  nor  is 
it  judicious  to  tie  them  tight  to  the  wire;  they 
should  be  left  at  least  one  inch  from  it,  the  two 
shoots  being  tied  to  the  one  wire.  The  cost  of 
wire  is  about  one-fourth  of  that  when  large  ho- 
rizontal wires  are  used.  The  arms  should  be 
fastened  to  the  lower  bar  cither  by  strips  of 
leather  tacked  on,  or  by  tarred  twine  tied  around 
the  arm  and  lower  bar." 

[Fig.  2.  represents  the  trellis  with  the  vine 
trained  according  to  Mr.  Fuller's  system.  We 
should  remark  that  the  two  engravings  were 
sent  to  us  as  one,  and  in  cutting  to  fit  our  col- 
umns, the  left  hand  post  in  Fig.  1,  and  the  right 
hand  one  in  Fig.  2,  are  represented  only  half 
the  proper  thickness. — Ed.] 


Fig.  3. — fuller's  trellis  with  the  trained  vine, 

common  grape  trellis  with  horizontal  wires  or 
bars,  and  to  avoid  these  difficulties  I  have 
adopted  upon  my  own  grounds  (for  low  I  rained 
vines  with  single  arms)  a  trellis  constructed  like 
the  one  shown  in  the  above  illustration,  (Fig.  1  ) 


Making  Cuttings. 

A  large  number  of  our  plants  are  propagated 
from  cuttings,  and  as  this  is  the  season  at  which 
many  are  started  for  winter  blooming,  a  few 
hints  upon  the  rationale  of  the  process  will  be 
timely.  A  plant  may  be  regarded  as  a  sort  of 
compound,  being  made  up  of  a  number  of  dis- 
tinct parts,  each  of  which  is  capable,  under  fa- 
vorable circumstances,  of  becoming  an  inde- 
pendent plant.  Every  plant,  at  least  all 
those  in  cultivation,  will  be  found  to  be 
made  up  of  a  succession  of  joints,  each 
consisting  of  a  piece  of  stem  of  greater  or 
less  length,  and  a  leaf  or  pair  of  leaves  as 
the  case  may  be,  each  leaf  having  at  its 
base  a  bud  which  may  or  may  not  be  large 
enough  to  be  noticed.  The  point  at 
which  the  leaves  are  attached  is  called  a 
node  or  knot,  and  not  only  do  the  leaves 
start  from  here,  but  when  the  stem  is 
buried  in  the  earth,  the  nodes  are  the  points 
from  which  roots  moat  readily  start. 
Though  in  some  plants  they  will  spring  from 
any  part  of  the  stem,  in  the  majority  of  cases 
they  are  only  successfully  produced  from  the 
nodes.  We  make  two  sorts  of  cuttings;  those 
from   Ihc  ripened  wood  after  the  leaves  have 


fallen,  and  those  in  which  the  plant  is  still  in  a 
growing  condition  and  retains  its  leaves.  The 
last  named  are  the  kind  made  at  the  present 
season.  With  proper  care  and  treatment  each 
joint  of  a  plant  may  be  made  to  grow,  but  in  the 
ordinary  way  of  making  cuttings,  a  shoot  con- 
taining several  joints  is  taken.  To  make  a  cut- 
ting a  shoot  is 
taken  from  thepa- 
rent  plant,  its  low- 
er leaves  cut  off, 
and  set  ill  the 
ground  with  one 
or  more  knots  be- 
neath the  surface. 
In  removing  the 
shoot  we  separate 
it  from  its  natural 
source  of  nutri- 
ment, and  it  has 
to  make  new  roots 
before  it  can  be- 
gin on  its  own  ac- 
count as  an  inde- 
pendent individu- 
al. Plants  differ 
very  much  as  to 
the  readiness  with 
which  the  cut- 
tings will  strike 
root.  Some  are 
so  difficult  in  this 
respect  as  to  re- 
quire all  the  skill 
of  the  professional 
propagator,  while 
otherswillrootby 
being  merely  plac- 
ed in  the  soil.  The 
roots  are  formed 
from  material  con- 
gebani™  cutting.  tamed  in  the  stem 

and  leaves,  and  they  must  be  produced  before 
any  considerable  growth  can  take  place.  Evap- 
oration is  constantly  going  on  from  the  leaves, 
and,  in  most  plants,  it  is  necessary  to  cover  the 
cuttings  with  a  hand  glass  or  other  protection 
to  prevent  exhaustion  by  evaporation.  Let  us 
take  for  example  a  cutting  of  a  common  Pelar- 
gonium or  Geranium,  as  it  is  commonly  called. 
A  shoot  of  tolerably  mature  wood  is  taken,  cut 
at  a  node  or  knot,  the  lower  leaves  removed,  and 
it  is  set  in  the  ground  as  far  as  the  dotted  line. 
In  about  two  weeks,  more  or  less,  it  will  be 
found  that  a  new  growth  has  commenced  be- 
tween the  bark  and  wood ;  it  appears  as  a  sort  of 
excrescence  or  calhts  as  it  is  called  by  the  gar- 
deners. This  callus  is  material  supplied  by  the 
stem  and  leaves,  and  forms  a  sort  of  bed  from 
which  roots  will  start ;  it  often  attains  a  consid- 
erable size,  as  is  shown  in  the  figure,  and  seems 
capable  of  performing  the  functions  of  the  root, 
as  cuttings  that  are  well  callused  will  often 
make  considerable  growth  before  any  roots  are 
pushed  out.  A  cutting  which  makes  a  good 
callus  is  pretty  sure  to  live.  Iu  a  rich  soil,  cut- 
tings are  apt  to  decay  before  they  root,  and  much 
better  success  is  usually  had  if  they  arc  planted 
in  a  naturally  poor  soil,  or  one  made  so  by  a 
large  admixture  of  sand.  The  professional 
gardener  strikes  his  cuttings  in  pure  sand,  and 
uses  bottom  heat ;  many  plants  can  not  be  root- 
ed except  in  this  manner,  and  all  are  more  cer- 
tainly managed  in  this  way.  Many  persons 
not  having  these  appliances,  or  the  skill  to  use 
them,  are  deterred  from  propagating,  thinking 
that  cuttings  can  only  be  grown  by  these  means. 
The  fact  is  that  a  large,  share  of  our  shrubs  and 
herbaceous  plants  can  be  readily  propagated  by 


1863.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


245 


means  within  reach  of  every  one.  We  have 
used  with  great  success  a  common  soap  box  with 
the  bottom  knocked  out,  and  a  piece  of  muslin 
(common  cotton  cloth)  tacked  in  its  place.  The 
cuttings  being  placed  in  a  sandy  soil  are  covered 
with  thU  box,  which  admits  sufficient  light  and 
retains  the  moisture.  If  air  is  required,  the  box 
maybe  tilted  and  a  brick  or  other  support  placed 
under  one  side.  Where  there  are  hot-beds  in 
use,  a  frame  with  the  glass  coated  with  whiting 
or  shaded  by  mnslin  will  be  found  much  more 
convenient.  In  this  way  we  have  rooted  in 
large  quantities  and  with  very  very  little  trouble, 
Fuchsias,  Lantanas,  Petunias,  Verbenas,  Cuphe- 
as,  Ageratmns,  and  a  host  of  other  bedding 
plants,  as  well  as  Weigelas,  Porsythias,  Roses, 
and  numerous  other  shrubs.  The  soil  should 
be  made  very  sandy  and  kept  well  watered,  and 
in  making  the  cuttings,  strong  and  well  or 
partially  hardened    shoots  should    be    taken. 


TOE   MttJMiMILBo 

About  Naming  Children. 

■ — « 

A  correspondent  of  the  Agriculturist  writes  that 
several  years  since  he  read  in  some  journal  a  plan 
for  composing  proper  names  of  pleasing  sound. 
As  near  as  he  can  remember,  a  certain  number  of 
consonants  were  to  be  placed  in  one  box,  and  vow- 
els in  another,  and  in  some  manner  specified,  these 
were  to  be  drawn  out  and  a  euphonic  name  would 
be  the  result.  "We  never  happened  to  meet  with 
this  item,  and  can  therefore  say  nothing  of  its 
feasibility.  The  subject,  however,  suggests  a 
few  thoughts  worthy  of  consideration.  We  have 
known  individuals  made  a  laughing  stock  through 
life,  by  the  thoughtlessness  of  their  parents  in  giv- 
ing them  ludicrous  names.  Who  could  restrain  a 
smile  at  hearing  announced  Mr.  Preserved  Fish, 
Mrs.  Seedy  Brown,  Onderdonk  Dumpier,  (sure  to 
be  nicknamed  "  Underdone  Dumpling,")  or  Pullan 
Wool,  known  to  his  neighbors  as  "  Pulled  Wool." 
We  have  known  several  instances  wdrere  persons 
thus  afflicted  by  the  thoughtlessness  ot  their  pa 
rents,  applied  to  the  Legislature  for  relief.  Though 
apparently  a  trivial  matter,  such  naming  of  chil- 
dren is  a  real  cruelty.  Constant  annoyance  from 
this  source  is  more  painful  than  a  serious  tem- 
porary affliction  ;  almost  any  one  would  choose  to 
endure  the  pain  for  a  few  weeks  from  a  broken 
limb,  than  he  tormented  for  years  by  the  pricking 
of  a  thistle.  As  a  general  rule  it  is  not  in  good 
taste  to  give  to  children  the  names  of  distinguished 
persons.  Their  station  in  life  may  afterward  make 
the  contrast  ludicrous.  Hundreds  of  names  com- 
mence with  George  Washington,  and  end  with 
Smith,  Brown,  or  Jones,  all  of  them  unobjection- 
able terminations,  but  made  insignificant  by  the 
high  sounding  introduction.  It  is  as  if  one  should 
erect  a  splendid  gateway  at  the  entrance  of  a  pota- 
to patch.  Should  individuals  so  named,  rise  to  dis- 
tinction, they  could  hardly  hope  to  equal  their  illus- 
trious namesake,  and  their  fame  would  thus  con- 
stantly suffer  by  comparison.  It  would  be  a  much 
less  difficult  undertaking  for  the  individual  to 
make  a  new  name  distinguished. 

Iu  naming  a  child,  some  reference  should  be  had 
to  the  convenience  of  the  appellation  :  it  is  a  wrong 
upon  a  person's  associates  to  require  them  to  waste 
breath  in  addressing  a  person  by  a  loug  or  difficult 
title.  Who  could  have  patience  iu  calling  after 
"Shalmauezcr"  ?  The  convenient  nickname 
"  Sham"  would  very  soon  designate  such  boy,  and 
accompany  him  into  manhood.  The  wise  man 
says  :  "  A  good  name  is  rather  to  be  chosen  than 
great  riches,"  and  although  this  refers  to  character, 
yet  it  is  of  great  advantage  to  a  person  to  have  a 
prepossessing  name,  which  will  give  him  at  least  a 
favorable  announcement  in  society.  No  one  would 
wish  to  be  introduced  as  Judas  Iscariot,  or  Bene- 
dict Arnold,  and  even  so  small  a  circumstance  as 
the  possession  of  a  pleasant  name  may  open  many 


avenues  to  advautagc  in  life.  The  subject  is  worthy 
of  thought  by  those  who  are  fortunate  enough  to 
have  the  bestowment  of  one  of  the  gifts' which 
must  be  accepted  for  life,  and  which  therefore 
should  not  be  lightly  or  thoughtlessly  disposed  of, 


the  butter  in  the  same  mauuer.  The  apparatus  iu 
fact  enables  a  person  to  use  lever  power  in  the  ap- 
plication of  the  ordinary  hand  ladle,  and  thus  great- 
ly diminishes  the  amount  of  force  required.  We 
consider  this  arrangement  superior  to  the  imple- 
ment heretofore  in  use  eonsistiug  of  a  roller  hinged 
at  one  end  and  working  upon  a  slab,  as 
in  the  latter  ease  a  portion  of  the  butter 
will  be  moved  along  over  the  surface 
of  the  slab  with  a  sliding  motion,  there- 
by in  some  degree  destroying  the  "  grain"., 
and  making  it  of  a  salvy  consistence.' 
The  above  described  apparatus  is  manu- 
factured by  Mr.  J.  P.  Corbiu,  Whitney's 
Point,  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  sold  at 
about  six  dollars.  Tlicy  will  also  pro- 
bably be  on  sale  at  agricultural  ware- 
houses,  and  be    advertised    accordingly. 


The  Nonpareil  Butter  Worker. 

The  good  quality  of  butter  depends  upon  proper- 
ly "  working  "  it,  as  much  or  more  than  on  any 
other  process  in  the  manufacture.  A  very  small 
quantity  of  buttermilk  left  among  butter,  will  very 
speedily  cause  it  to  become  rancid,  aud  then  no 
after  treatment  can  restore  its  original  sweetness. 
It  is  also  necessary  that  the  salt  added  to  butter 
should  be  completely  commingled  with  the  whole 
mass,  otherwise  it  will  not  be  of  uniform  quality 
when  fresh,  aud  the  unsalted  portion  will  soon  be 
spoiled  and  corrupt  the  remainder.  To  properly 
work  butter,  it  is  required  that  the  ladle  or  other  in- 
strument should  be  brought 
into  contact  with  every  por- 
tion of  it,  and  to  do  this 
takes  no  little  time,  pa- 
tience, and  strength  ;  and  as 
neither  of  these  are  found  iu 
over  quantity  among  many 
butter  makers,  the  market 
is  too  largely  supplied  with 
underworked  and  inferior 
butter.  We  are  pleased  to 
notice  any  improvement 
that  promises  to  make  this 
labor  easier  of  performance, 
and  thereby  renders  it  more 
likely  that  it  will  be  pro- 
perly done.  The  engraving 
at  the  head  of  this  article 
represents  a  recently  in- 
vented apparatus  for  this  purpose,  which  has  been 
tested  and  adopted  by  some  of  the  leading  dairy- 
men in  the  western  part  of  this  State.  It  consists 
of  a  tray,  T,  resting  upon  a  stand  or  table  of  suit- 
able hight,  to  which  it  is  attached  by  a  joint,  /,  so 
that  one  end  may  be  raised  to  pour  off  the  butter- 
milk. A  latch,  L,  in  front  keeps  it  in  place  when 
the  worker  is  being  used.  The  worker,  W,  con- 
sists of  a  ladle  mortised  into  a  lever.  This  lever 
hangs  from  the  arm,  A,  by  a  hook,  and  may  be 
readily  detached  by  bringing  it  forward  aud  lifting 
it  from  the  eye  in  which  the  hook  rests,  and  only 
when  in  this  position.  The  arm,  A,  turns  upon  a 
pivot  between  the  two  standards,  S.  Theso  stand- 
ards may  be  removed  if  desred,  by  taking  out  the 
key  which  holds  the  tenon  iu  the  mortise  on  the 
sides  of  this  tray.  The  wearing  of  the  apparatus 
will  be  readily  understood  oy  examining  the  illus- 
tration. The  operator  presses  successive  portions 
of  the  butter  under  the  ladle  by  means  of  the  lever, 
aud  when  the  butter  is  crowded  back  toward  the 
end  of  the  tray,  it  is  readily  brought  forward  to  be 
pressed  again  by  meaus'of  the  lever  aud  ladle,  aud 
is  thus  repeatedly  gone  over  until  all  the  butter- 
milk is  extracted.     The  salt  is  easily  worked  into 


New  and   Improved   Milk-Rack. 

The  illustration  given  below,  repre- 
sents an  improved  rack  or  stand  for  hold- 
ing milk,  devised  aud  patcuted  by  Mr. 
Robert  Cruikshank,  Washington  Co.,  N. 
T.  It  consists  of  eight  posts,  standing 
in  a  slanting  position,  into  which  tiers 
of  horizontal  slats  or  bars  are  inserted 
to  serve  as  shelves  for  supporting  the  milk 
pans.  There  are  six  tiers  of  bars  on  each  side,  six 
inches  apart.  Near  the  bottom  of  the  posts,  invert- 
ed conical  caps  of  tin  arc  placed,  to  prevent  rats  or 
mice  climbing  up  to  the  milk.  The  racks  are  made 
of  two  sizes ;  the  largest  size  5)£  by  4  feet  at  the 
base,  aud  5}£  by  3  feet  at  the  top,  will  hold  48  large 
sized  pans  ;  the  other  4  by  4  feet  at  the  base,  and  4 
by  2  feet  at  the  top,  will  accommodate  86  pans.  The 
advantages  claimed  for  this  rack  are:  The  large 
number  of  pans  of  milk  which  can  be  accommod- 
ated iu  the  space  occupied ;  the  pans  can  be  placed 
on  the  rack  and  the  milk  strained  directly  into 
them,  thus  avoiding  danger  of  spilling;  the  bars 


allow  a  better  circulation  of  air  around  the  pans 
than  when  they  are  placed  on  shelves,  and  conse- 
quently the  milk  cools  more  quickly  and  yields  an 
increase  of  cream.  The  rack  is  very  simple  in  con- 
struction, aud  so  put  together,  that  the  pieces  may 
be  easily  separated  for  removing  or  cleansing.  The 
price  of  the  rack  is,  largest  size  $6,  smaller,  $5.  It 
is  commended  by  many  prominent  dairymen,  and 
appears  to  be  a  very  desirable  arrangement,  par- 
ticularly where  space  for  dairying  is  limited.  It 
would  be  just  the  thing  to  hold  the  milk  where  it 
is  kept  in  the  cellar,  as  is  practised  by  many  wdio 
have  no  building  specially  devoted  to  the  purpose. 

The   Rats   Have    "Skedaddled." 


To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist : 

Tes,  they  have  all  gone — where  I  can  not  tell — 
and  it  was  the  "  Phosphorus  Salve  "  that  did  it.  I 
bought  a  box  according  to  your  suggestions  in  the 
April  Agriculturist,  and  used  it  freely.  At  first  it 
appeared  to  agree  with  the  rascals,  and  I  concluded 
that  rats  which  bad  grown  fat  on  strychnine,  arsen- 
ic, plaster  of  paris,  and  sundry  other  ingredients, 


24fi 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


f  August, 


were  proof  against  even  phosphorus.  They  ate  the 
well  buttered  (phosphorased)  slices  of  bread  with 
avidity,  and  I  did  not  see  that  they  diminished  in 
numbers  for  some  time,  but  when  using  next  the 
last  batch  the  box  contained,  I  noticed  the  former 
dose  had  not  all  been  eaten,  and  I  fancied  the  rats 
were  not  as  plenty.  That  dose  finished  them — at 
least  I  have  not  seen  or  heard  of  a  rat  on  my  prem- 
ises since,  though  my  neighbor's  dog  had  busy 
work,  about  that  time  in  an  adjoining  yard.  I  im- 
agined the  phosphorus  did  not  kill  them  outright, 
as  I  would  see  half  stupid  rats  running  about,  and 
as  they  strolled  over  into  the  next  premises,  were 
an  easj  prey  to  a  large  Newfoundlander.  If  they 
ever  return,  I  have  one  more  chargeleft,  and  if  that 
is  not  sufficient,  Lane,  or  somebody  else  will  have 
a  customer  for  another  box.  Tabittta. 


Moral   Education   of    Children. 


To  make  a  child  do  right  is  one  thing,  to  teach 
him  to  prefer  right  doing  is  another,  and  much 
more  difficult  task.  The  first  can  be  accomplished 
by  rewards  and  punishments,  the  latter  only  by 
calling  into  action  his  own  conscience,  and  accus- 
toming him  to  obey  its  requirements.  Children 
trained  under  the  first  system  are  like  a  clock  kept 
at  the  right  hour  by  frequently  moving  the  hands  ; 
but,  as  every  one  knows,  a  time-piece  will  only  re- 
main correct  when  the  regulator  is  properly  adjust- 
ed, and  the  same  is  equally  true  with  children  ; 
they  mustnot  only  be  governed,  but  trained  to  gov- 
ern themselves.  This  plain,  undeniable  statement, 
.explains  why  so  many  who  have  been  brought  up 
with  the  greatest  strictness,  have,  when  removed 
from  parental  control,  and  left  to  themselves,  speed- 
ily run  to  ruin.  It  was  like  removing  the  brakes 
from  au  engine  under  a  full  head  of  steam. 

It  is  an  error  to  suppose  that  a  child  can  be 
taught  to  love  virtue  by  merely  telling  him  what 
is  right.  *  Some  of  the  most  graceless  pests  in  the 
community  have  grown  up  in  families  where  the 
Bible  and  the  catechism  were  administered  as  reg- 
ularly as  the  daily  meals.  Scoffers  have  pointed  to 
such  examples  as  proof  of  the  worthlessness  of  the 
Holy  Book,  as  a  guide  for  life,  but  this  is  no  more 
reasonable  than  to  pronounce  water  of  no  value  be- 
cause those  confined  to  it  in  youth,  have  afterward 
destroyed  themselves  by  intoxicating  drink.  Moral 
truth  whether  drawn  from  the  Bible  or  other 
sources,  is  Valuable  above  other  teaching  only  in 
proportion  as  it  is  wrought  into  the  life  "by  daily 
practice.  We  may  safely  challenge  the  world  to 
show  an  instance  of  a  wicked  man,  who  from  child- 
hood was  accustomed  to  guide  his  life  by  the  pre- 
cepts of  the  Bible.  The  first  requisite  for  right 
moral  training  of  children  is  the  living  example  of 
the  parent  or  teacher.  The  greater  part  of  educa- 
tion of  children  whether  good  or  bad  is  accomplish- 
ed by  this  agency.  It  is  useless  for  a  father  to 
ehide  for  anger,  and  exhibit  passion  himself  when 
inflicting  punishment  for  the  child's  display  ef  tem- 
per. Every  blow  given  under  such  circumstances, 
will  confirm  the  combative  tendency  of  the  child. 
The  father  who  talks  about  honesty  and  boasts  of 
sharp  bargains*  is  teaching  his  child  the  first  prin- 
ciples which  may  make  him  an  accomplished  swin- 
dler. The  mother  who  rebukes  vanily,  and  yet  in- 
dulges in  display  of  dress  and  ornament,  will  find 
that  her  "actions  speak  louder  than  words  "  in  the 
formation  of  the  character  of  her  daughter.  Most 
of  the  fixed  habits  of  life,  those  which  determine 
character  and  make  or  unmake  the  mau,  are  the  di- 
rect results  of  imitation  while  in  youth,  and  they 
who  would  be  happy  in  their  children,  must  accus- 
tom them  to  walk  side  by  side  with  themselves  in 
the  ways  of  virtue. 

One  of  the  securest  ways  to  instil  and  confirm  a 
love  of  right-doing  is  to  give  children  an  experience 
Of  the  pleasure  of  such  conduct.  For  instance,  a 
child  is  prone  to  selfishness.  Punishment  can  uot 
drive  it  out,  offered  rewards  only  appeal  to  and 
strengthen  the  motive  it  is  desirable  to  suppress. 
Make  such  a  child  the  almoner  of  your  bounty  to 
some  poor  neighbor.  Let  him  hear  the  grateful 
thanks  of   the  widow  for  the  present  received  at 


his  hands,  and  witness  the  delight  of  Ihe  scantily 
clad  child  to  whom  be  has  given  some  article  of 
clothing.  He  will  participate  in  the  pleasure,  and 
soon  be  easily  induced  to  secure  similar  enjoyment 
for  himself,  even  at  the  price  of  self  denial,  if  the 
parent  watches  for  and  makes  opportunities  for 
him  to  exercise  his  own  benevolence.  Another 
powerful  but  much  neglected  means  of  confirming 
right  principles  and  actions  in  children,  is  a  readiness 
to  appreciate  and  mark  with  approbation  their  ef- 
forts to  do  right.  As  long  as  the  child's  conduct 
is  unexceptionable,  and  causes  no  trouble  to  the 
parent,  he  is  too  often  left  unnoticed,  but  any  de- 
parture from  this  course  is  immeliately  marked, 
and  perhaps  visited  with  reproaches  and  punish- 
ment. The  writer  has  known  children  to  purpose- 
ly do  wrong  in  order  to  attract  attention  ;  they 
were  uneasy  at  being  left  as  mere  cyphers,  whom 
nobody  cared  for.  The  love  of  praise  is  a  natural 
endowment,  intended  by  the  Creator  to  act  as  one 
of  the  strongest  incentives  to  right-doing,  and  the 
parent  who  fails  to  appeal  to  it  is  both  unskillful 
and  unwise.  Although  a  child  feels  au  inward  sat- 
isfaction in  good  conduct,  yet  it  loves  to  be  appre- 
ciated, and  when  praise  is  so  pleasant  to  bestow,  it 
is  to  be  wondered  at  that  parents  are  generally  so 
sparing  of  commendation.  This  subject  is  almost 
an  exnaustless  one.  Its  full  elucidation  would  re- 
quire volumes,  and  we  can  only  hope  to  here  pre- 
sent a  few  leading  points  to  elicit  thought  in  the 
right  direction,  and  thus  aid  parents  in  securing  one 
of  the  most  earnest  desires  of  their  lives,  the  wel- 
fare of  their  children. 


A  Cutting   or  Lap  Board. 

A  convenience  of  this  kind  was  described  in  the 
Ar/riculticrisl  Vol.  XXI,  page  372,  (Dee.  No.,)  and 
highly  recommended.  A  subscriber,  A.  M.  Ward, 
Hartford  Co.,  Conn  ,  writes  that  he  was  construct- 
ing such  an  article,  when  the  paper  containing  our 
description  arrived,  and  thinking  it  superior,  he 
sends  an  illustrated  description  for  the  benefit  of 
our  readers.  The  board  is  27  inches  long,  18  inches 
wide, and  %  inch  thick ;  made  of  white  pine,  which 
should  be  sand-papered  smooth,  and  may  be  wax 
polished  if  desired.  Two  strips  of  hard  wood  are 
fitted  to  the  ends  by  tongue  and  groove,  to  prevent 
warping ;  this  is  preferable  to  the  use  of  cleats. 
Inch  marks  are  made  around  the  three  sides,  from 
left  to  right,  which  will  be  very  convenient  for 
measuring  any  work  in  progress.  Additional  fin- 
ish is  given  by  inlaying  a  %  inch  strip  of  Boxwood 
around  the  edge,  to  receive  these  marks.  Both 
sides  of  the  board  are  finished  alike,  though  this 
is  not  essential.  Tfie  curve  in  front  to  receive  the 
body  of  the  person  using  it  is  four  inches  deep. 
Where  much  work  is  required,  and  the  board  is  to 
be  used  by  a  strong  person,  Mr.  Ward  recom- 
mends to  make  it  24  by  30  inches,  and  the  body 
circle  6  inches  deep,  and  says  he  prefers  to  have  it 
square  cornered,  and  without  supporting  legs. 
Such  a  board  will  cost  from  25  cents  to  $3,  accord- 
ing to  material  and  finish,  aud  it  will  save  many 
a  weary  hour  of  bending  over  a  table  in  cutting  out 
dresses  and  other  similar  work. 

Coal  On,  foe  Bed-Bugs. — One  who  has  tried  it 
says  :  "  Tell  the  Agriculturist  readers  that  if  any  of 
them  are  unfortunately  troubled  with  bed-bugs  and 
think  nothing  but  the  spirits  of  turpentine  and  ni- 
trate of  silver  mixture  will  Rill  them,  they  labor  un- 
der a  mistake.  Coal  oil  does  it  effectually,  besides 
rendering  the  places  where  it  is  used,  unpleasant 


abodes  for  new  comers.  Use  a  still'  leather  or  quill 
and  apply  to  all  infected  places.  The  offensive 
odor  in  a  room  soon  passes  off  with  free  ventilation 

■ — c m      — .-• 

For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Convenience  of  Bags. 


In  many  houses  which  I  have  visited,  as  I  have 
noticed  how  various  articles  were  "lying  around 
loose  "  I  have  wished  to  say  to  the  good  woman  of 
the  house,  "make  a  few  bags,"  but  as  politeness 
forbade  my  appearing  to  notice  any  want  of  tidi- 
ness, I  can  only  avail  myself  of  the  columns  of  the 
Agriculturist  to  give  a  few  hints  which  will  be  seen 
by  thousands  of  housekeepers.  First  there  are  the 
shoes  and  boots  of  the  household,  which  are  usually 
left  standing  in  closets  or  corners,  where  they  are 
liable  to  be  misplaced,  and  where  to  me  they  al- 
ways look  unsightly.  Make  a  bag  of  dark  colored 
muslin  to  contain  them,  and  have  it  hung  on  a 
particular  nail  in  the  closet,  or  if  there  be  not 
room  there,  in  some  vacant  corner  of  the  bed-room. 
Always  place  them  there  when  removed  from  the 
feet,  and  teach  the  children  to  do  the  same  (after 
having  thoroughly  cleansed  them)  and  they  will 
always  be  at  hand  when  wanted.  Then  a  hag  for 
each  sleeping  room  to  contain  soiled  clothing  for 
the  wash,  will  contribute  much  to  the  tidy  appear- 
ance of  the  premises.  It  is  any  thing  but  inviting 
to  see  a  sleeping  room  strown  with  such  articles, 
and  I  do  not  wonder  that  many  families  are  so 
sensitive  about  allowing  strangers  to  inspect  their 
sleeping  apartments,  when  they  are  so  frequently 
adorned  with  the  garments  awaiting  wash-day.  My 
opinion  is  that  our  rooms  should  be  kept  as  pleas- 
ant for  our  own  occupation  as  for  that  of  strangers 
who  seldom  visit  us.  I  have  also  found  it  a  great 
convenience  to  keep  bags  for  the  reception  of 
patches,  strings,  buttons  and  all  the  etcetera  which 
usually  encumber  the  family  work  basket.  It 
saves  no  little  time  to  be  able  to  go  at  once  to  the 
proper  receptacle  for  such  articles,  and  I  also  find 
that  the  articles  themselves  are  much  more  likely 
to  be  saved  against  a  time  of  need,  if  there  be  a 
convenient  receptacle  at  hand  to  receive  them.  In 
the  pantry  there  should  be  plenty  of  boxes  with 
close  fitting  covers,  to  contain  the  salt,  and  various 
kinds  of  6pices,  but  if  these  can  not  be  convenient- 
ly obtained,  then  muslin  or  paper  bags  may  he 
made  to  serve  a  good  purpose,  and  prevent  much 
ineonvenieuc  and  waste.  I  do  not  believe  in  hav- 
ing much  bag-gage  when  travelling,  with  which  to 
annoy  gentlemen,  hack  drivers,  and  myself,  but  in 
housekeeping  I  have  found  great  saving  of  time 
aud  patience  in  having  au  ample  supply,  and  there- 
fore give  the  hint  to  those  who  may  need  it. 

Maktha. 
•  i         ■♦— — • 

The   Clothes  Line, 


This  is  too  often  a  source  of  annoyance  to  the 
"  women  folks  "  on  washing  days.  Many  a  make- 
shift is  resorted  to,  such  as  driving  nails  in  the 
house  or  some  out  building,  and  stretching  a  line 
from  that  to  the  nearest  fence,  supporting  the  line 
in  the  middle  with  a  crotched  pole.  Both  nails  aud 
hooks  are  objectionable,  on  account  of  rust,  and  a 
rain,  by  shrinking  the  line,  often  snaps  the  nails  or 
hooks  and  lets  the  clothes  down  into  the  dirt. 
Every  housewife  should  have  a  nice  "bleaching 
plot "  of  grass  from  20  to  25  feet  square,  and  around 
this  let  the  clothes  liue  be  stretched  on  four  corner 
posts.  If  one  cannot  afford  turned,  painted  posts, 
set  rough  ones  with  a  cross  pin  near  the  top  to 
prevent  the  liue  from  slipping,  but  the  turned 
posts,  with  a  round  head  and  small  neck  are  much 
more  ornamental.     Make  them  of  durable  timber. 

The  writer  once  fixed  a  clothes  line  very  conven- 
iently in  a  carriage  house  with  a  hole  for  the  liue 
to  pass  out,  aud  over  a  scries  of  wooden  pulleys 
fastened  to  several  posts.  The  line  was  coiled 
around  an  axle  inside,  with  a  crank  and  stop  or 
ratchet  wheel,  to  wind  up  by.  Putting  the  rope 
through  the  hole  and  raising  the  ratchet  stop,  the 
end  was  passed  through  the   several   pulleys,  aud 


186$ 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


247 


finally  fastened  to  (lie  lost  poje.  The  poles  mfay 
be  in  a  straight  liuc  or  around  a  square,  as  desirable. 
Having  fastened  the  end  securely,  put  down  the 
stop  to  the  ratchet  wheel  and  wind  up  tight.  To 
take  in  the  line,  simply  untie  the  further  end,  and 
wind  up  with  the  crank  inside.  Where  no  build- 
ing is  convenient,  a  box  containing  tiie  wheel  or 
axle,  with  a  water  tight,  projecting  roof  may  beset 
upon  a  post,  and  will  answer  the  same  purpose. 
An  illustration  of  such  an  apparatus  was  published 
iu  the  Agriculturist,  vol.  x-x,  page  277,  (Sept.  No.) 


Value   of    Illuminating   Oils. 


A  few  years  have  shown  a  wonderful  change  iu 
our  methods  of  illuminations.  Outside  of  cities 
and  towns  where  gas  is  furnished,  we,  as  a  general 
tiling,  depend  upon  some  form  of  mineral  oil.  Un- 
der the  names  of  Kerosene,  Carbon  oil,  etc.,  a 
great  number  of  products  are  sold  and  used,  and 
as  these  are  of  various  prices,  it  is  a  matter  of 
interest  to  know  which  of  them  gives  the  most  light 
for  the  money.  Tlie  cheapest  oil  does  not  of  necess- 
ity give  the  cheapest  light,  and  unfortunately  there 
is  no  ready  way  iu  which  people  iu  general  cau  set- 
tle this  point  for  themselves.  The  only  way  in 
which  the  relative  value  of  two  specimens  of  oil 
cau  be  determined,  is  by  ascertaining  the  quantity 
required  to  produce  an  equal  amount  of  light.  The 
following  is  the  plan  used  by  those  who  practically 
test  these  oils,  and  may  be  practised  by  those  who 
have  the  means,  and  are  curious  in  such  matters: 
Take  two  lamps,  the  wicks  of  which  are  of  equal 
size,  place  them  upon  a  table  which  stands  a  few 
ieet  from  the  wall,  set  a  broom  or  stick  against  the 
edge  of  the  table  uearest  the  wall,  iu  such  a  way 
that  the  lamps  will  cast  a  shadow  of  the  broom 
handle  or  stick  upon  the  wall.  The  lamps  being  at 
equal  distances  from  the  object,  the  strongest  flame 
will  cast  the  strongest,  shadow  upon  the  wall ;  turn 
down  or  raise  the  wicks  until  both  lamps  throw 
shadows  of  equal  strength.  The  lamps  being 
weighed  at  the  beginning  of  the  experiment,  and 
being  so  adjusted  that  they  give  an  equal  amount 
of  light  as  determined  by  the  shadows  of  the  stick, 
are  allowed  to  burn  for  some  hours  and  then  weigh- 
ed again.  Of  course  the  lamp  which  has  lost  least, 
contains   oil  of   the  greatest  illumiuatiug  power. 

Hints  for  the  Sick  Room. 

The  body  enfeebled  by  disease  is  disturbed  by  in- 
fluences so  slight  as  to  be  unnoticed  by  a  person  in 
health,  and  hence  there  is  much  suffering  iu  the 
sick  room,  which  might  be  alleviated  by  attention 
to  a  few  particulars  which  are  often  overlooked. 
The  invalid  should  occupy  the  most  capacious,  airy 
and  cheerful  apartment  iu  the  house,  if  possible 
away  from  the  noise  made  by  household  operations, 
and  where  the  odors  from  cooking  can  be  excluded. 
The  smell  of  food  is  nauseating  in  many  instances, 
and  in  others  it  stimulates  acraving  which  it  would 
be  improper  to  gratify.  Usually  there  is  too  great 
dread  of  Iresh  air  for  the  siek.  We  have  seen  every 
crack  in  the  doors  aud  windows  carefully  stopped, 
when  the  hurried  breathing,  flushed  cheeks  and 
uneasy  restlessness  of  the  fevered  sufferer  plainly 
6howed  that  the  disease  was  aggravated  by  breath- 
ing the  poisoned  atmosphere.  Draughts  of  air  di- 
rectly upon  the  person  are  to  he  avoided,  but  the 
siek,  even  more  than  those  iu  health,  require  abund- 
ance of  fresh  pure  air. 

Plain  ceilings  are  always  preferable  to  papered 
walls  for  sleeping  rooms,  and  especially  for  the  sick 
room.  The  eye  of  the  nervous  invalid  will  be 
fatigued  by  following  the  figures  of  the  paper,  and 
very  often  the  disturbed  imagination  of  the  sufferer 
will  see  in  them  the  most  grotesque  aud  hideous 
forms.  The  room  should  be  carpeted,  or  in  summer 
it  may  be  covered  with  India  matting,  which  gives 
the  appearance  of  coolness.  The  furniture  should 
be  convenient  without  superllous  articles,  to  avoid 
much  dusting  aud  arranging.  Medicines  and  other 
articles  incident  to  sickness  should  be  kept  out  of 
sight ;  it  is  almost  enough  to  make  a  well  person 


siek  to  see  a  long  array  of  bottles,  tea  cups,  etc., 
upon  the  mantel  shelf,  or  on  chairs  about  the  room. 
Kind  friends  arc  frequently  a  great  hindrance  to 
convalescence  of  a  patieut.  They  want  to  see  him, 
to  express  their  sympathy,  cheer  him  up,  or  per- 
haps to  recommend  some  new  remedy.  Very  few 
if  any  visits  should  be  allowe  I  in  severe  cases  of 
indisposition,  aud  uone  except  with  the  consent  of 
the  attending  physician.  Such  calls  should  be 
made  iu  the  morning,  before  the  patient  is  fatigued, 
and  the  visitor  should  introduce  only  pleasant  top- 
ics of  conversation  if  talking  be  allowable.  None 
but  the  most  thoughtless  would  remark  upon 
the  ill  appearance  of  the  sick  person,  or  endeavor 
to  entertain  him  with  an  account  of  the  visitor's 
sufferings  under  similar  circumstances.  The  nurse 
especially,  should  maintain  a  quiet  but  cheerful  de- 
meanor. All  unnecessary  motions,  such  as  rocking 
iu  the  chair,  trotting  with  the  foot,  and  noise  of  rat- 
tling paper,  coughing,  blowing  the  nose,  etc., 
should  be  avoided.  The  aim  shoiild  be  iu  every 
way  to  administer  to  the  comfort  of  the  sufferer, 
aud  thus  keep  him  in  the  most  favorable  circum- 
stances for  recovery. 

»- -».(>:>- r-m. ■ 

Aerated  or  Unfermented  Bread. 


A  friend  asks  us  what  is  the  character  of  this 
bread  which  is  so  generally  sold  in  cities.  The 
Aerated  bread  is  made  by  machinery.  The  dough 
of  flour,  water,  and  salt  is  worked  in  a  cylinder  iu 
such  a  manner  that  the  carbonic  acid  gas  which 
the  cylinder  contains,  is  completely  incorporated 
witli  it.  The  dough  is  then  baked,  and  the  gas 
which  is  entangled  with  it,  expands  by  the  heat  and 
renders  the  bread  very  light.  To  those  who  like 
unfermented  bread  this  is  very  palatable,  though  it 
is  not  at  all  to  our  taste,  any  more  than  the  bread 
raised  by  the  use  of  soda  and  cream  of  tartar.  In 
this  as  in  the  aerated  bread,  the  lightness  is  obtain- 
ed without  any  change  in  the  flour.  When  bread 
is  fermented  by  means  of  yeast  or  leaven,  the  flour 
undergoes  a  change  and  gives  off  carbonic  acid,  and 
if  the  fermentation  is  arrested  at  the  proper  point 
by  baking,  the  resulting  bread  has  a  sweetuess  and 
a  peculiar  flavor  which  all  the  substitutes  lack.  It 
is  ouly  from  the  fact  that  bread  making  is  a  rare 
accomplishment,  that  these  substitutes  are  wel- 
comed, they  being  preferred  to  poorly  made  fer- 
mented bread.  In  half  the  families  where  yeast 
bread  is  used,  it  is  allowed  to  ferment  until  it  gets 
sour,  and  then  saleratus  or  soda  added  to  correct 
the  acidity,  making  a  compound  unfit  to  eat.  We 
entreat  those  mothers  who  know  how  to  make 
good  bread,  to  teach  their  daughters  how  to  do  it, 
else  in  a  few  generations  bread  making  will  be  one 
of  the  lost  arts. 


Beef  Tea. 

Nothing  is  more  nourishing  than  properly  pre- 
pared beef  tea,  and  it  is  usually  acceptable  to  the 
convalescent.  The  lives  of  many  of  our  wounded 
might  be  saved,  could  they  be  sustained  by  this 
concentrated  nutriment.  To  make  it  in  perfection, 
select  perfectly  lean  beef,  cut  it  iuto  small  pieces, 
rejecting  every  particle  of  fat ;  put  the  meat  into  a 
bottle,  a  common  junk  bottle  will  do,  set  it  into  a 
kettle  of  cold  water,  put  it  on  the  fire  and  let  the 
water  boil  for  two  hours.  The  juice  of  the  meat 
will  be  extracted  by  this  method  in  a  very  concen- 
trated form.  It  may  then  be  straiued  off  aud  sea- 
soned with  salt,  and  other  coudimeuts  to  suit  the 
taste  or  condition  of  the  patient. 


Plants  in  Sleeping  Booms. 


A  lady  subscriber  wishes  toknow  if  it  is  injurious 
to  sleep  in  a  room  where  plants  are  kept.  Plants 
iu  the  absence  of  sunlight  give  off  a  small  amount 
of  carbonic  acid,  and  any  considerable  amount  of 
this  renders  the  air  unfit  for  breathing.  If  the 
sleeping  room  is  as  well  ventilated  as  every  room 
of  the  kind  ought  to  be,  we  should  not  apprehend 


any  danger.  A  Bingle  additional  person  or  child 
even,  would  tend  to  vitiate  the  air  vastly  more  than 
the  ordinary  number  of  plants  kept  iu  rooms. 


Sealing   Vruit   Bottles   with   Putty. 

J.  C.  Emory,  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.,  writes  to  the  Ag- 
riculturist that  having  tried  the  plan  recommended 
in  this  journal  of  sealing  the  mouths  of  fruit  bot- 
tles with  a  cement  of  resin  aud  tallow,  he  found  it 
sticky  and  troublesome  to  manage,  and  hit  upou 
the  following  substitute.  From  the  small  patty 
pans  he  cut  a  circular  piece  just  large  enough  to  en- 
ter the  mouth  of  the  jar  aud  rest  upon  the  shoul- 
der. When  the  fruit  was  prepared,  one  of  these 
tin  covers  was  introduced,  and  confined  in  its  place 
by  a  roll  of  putty  about  the  size  of  a  pipe-stem, 
pressed  down  tight  around  the  edge  of  the  tin  and 
against  the  sides  of  the  neck  of  the  bottle.  He 
found  this  method  entirely  satisfactory,  as  the  fruit 
was  well  preserved,  and  it  was  much  more  expe- 
ditious aud  less  troublesome  than  cementing  with 
the  ordinary  preparation.  [We  doubt  the  general 
utility  of  this.  The  putty  would  not  be  strong 
enough  to  resist  a  little  outward  pressure  that  may 
chance  to  result  from  slight  fermentation.  The 
"Baker. Jar"  (made  by  Bodiue)  saves  all  cement- 
ing, aud  as  it  may  be  used  year  after  year,  it  is 
cheaper  in  the  end.— Ed.] 


Hints  on  Cooking,  etc. 

Oreeii  Tomato  l*iclile.— Contributed  to 
the  Agriculturist  by  Mrs.  Mary  A.  G.  Weeks,  Essex 
Co.,  N.  J.:  Slice  the  tomatoes,  with  one-eighth  to 
one-sixth  as  many  onions  :  lay  them  down  in  jars, 
sprinkling  in  fine  salt  at  the  rate  of  about  an  ordi- 
nary tcacupful  to  8  gallons  of  the  sliced  fruit.  Let 
them  stand  over  night,  drain  ;  add  a  few  green  cay- 
anne  pepper  pods  and  nasturtiums.  Chop  until  not 
larger  than  grains  of  corn;  drain  thoroughly ; 
pack  in  jars,  adding  white  mustard  seed,  ungroiuid 
cinnamon,  and  bruised  (not  ground)  clover.  Pour 
on  cold  vinegar,  cover  with  a  plate  within  the  jar, 
to  keep  the  pickle  under  the  vinegar. 

Piolile«l  Cabbage. — Contributed  to  the 
Agriculturist  by  "Aunt  Mary,"  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
Cut  the  heads  into  quarters,  let  them  stand  a  short 
time  in  cold  water.  Chop  them  fine, together  with 
nice  celery,  sufficient  to  season  it.  Fill  small  jars 
or  glass  cans,  with  these  ingredients  ;  make  a  sweet 
pickle  of  molasses  and  vinegar,  season  with  plenty 
of  red  pepper  and  cinnamon,  and  other  spices  to 
the  taste,  boil  all  together  a  few  moments  aud  pour 
over  the  cabbage  while  hot.  Cork  the  cans  aud 
place  in  the  cellar.  This  should  not  be  eaten  under 
three  or  four  weeks.  It  is  a  nice  relish  at  any  time 
after  sufficient  pickling,  with  cold   meats,  etc. 

To  I'iolclc  ISipc  Cnonrabers. — Com- 
tributcd  to  the  Agriculturist  by  "  Olivia."  Pare  the 
fruit,  and  cut  it  to  any  shape  that  may  be  fancied, 
and  let  it  soak  iu  saltwater  forty  eight  hours  ;  then 
boil  iu  pure  water  until  quite  tender.  Thrust  bits 
of  cinnamon,  mace,  and  cloves  into  each  piece  of 
fruit,  pack  in  an  earthen  jar,  aud  fill  with  boiling 
vinegar  sweetened  to  the  taste. 

Hotcli  Potoli.  -  Take  any  cold  meat,  chop 
or  slice  fine,  6easou  with  salt  aud  pepper  or  sage, 
if  liked.  Add  to  this  half  as  much  stale  bread,  or 
potatoes  that  have  beeu  boiled.  Stir  the  whole  to- 
gether and  enclose  it  in  a  crust  as  for  chicken  pie, 
and  put  up  the  same  way.     Bake  one  half  hour. 

Home-made  Hard  Soap.— The  follow- 
ing directions  are  communicated  to  the  American 
Agriculturist,  by  Mrs.  Abraham  Brower,  of  N.  Y. 
City:  Boil  together  9  quarts  of  water,  5  lbs.  of 
clean  grease,  1  tablcspoonful  of  salt,  and  1  lb. 
"  Concentrated  Lye,"  to  be  had  at  any  large  drug 
store.  Continue  to  boil  until  a  little  tried  on  a 
cool  plate  is  found  to  be  sufficiently  hard.  The 
above  makes  about  IS  pounds  of  good  hard  soap. 
It  can  be  cooled  over  night  in  a  wooden  tub  or 
other  vessel,  then  cut  iuto  cakes  of  convenient  size. 


248 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[August, 


A  Lesson  from  tlae  Wheat  Field. 

The  lad  in  the  picture  is  learning  a  lesson  he  will  not 
soon  forget.  It  is  worthy  to  be  remembered  by  every  boy 
and  girl,  and  would  do  no  harm  to  a  good  many  grown 
people.  This  boy  had  been  walking  with  his  father  in  the 
village  street,  where  he  was  much  pleased  with  the  looks 
of  a  finely  dressed  young  man  who  was  strutting  about 
with  a  consequential  air,  swinging  a  cane,  and  carrying 
his  head  very  high,  as  though  he  owned  halt  the  place, 
and  knew  more  than  all  the  people  in  it.  When  the 
boy's  father  stopped  to  talk  with  an  ordinary  looking 
man,  that  was  passing  thoughtfully  along  with  his  head 
down,  the  little  fellow  grew  quite  impatient,  and  after- 
ward saia,  "  That  man  don't  look  smart.  I'd  rather  be  like 
the  gentleman  we  saw  a  little  while  ago."  They  strolled 
out  to  the  fields,  and  presently  the  father  stopped  near  a 
plotot  wheat,  and  requested  his  son  to  examine  the  heads 
on  the  different  stalks.  He  soon  found  that  those  which 
stood  upright  were  empty  and  worthless,  while  those  filled 
with  grain  bent  down  toward  the  earth.  "  There,"  said 
the  father  "  is  a  picture  of  the  men  you  met  this  morning  ; 
the  one  who  carried  his  head  so  high,  was  a  foppish  young 
clerk  who  spends  all  his  earnings  for  dress  ;  the  other 
was  Judge  C,  one  of  the  most  learned  and  respected  men 
in  tlte  community."  "  You  mean  he  is  headed  out  welt  " 
replied  the  boy,  for  he  understood  the  lesson  and  felt  its 
force.  "Yes,"  replied  the  father,  "the  more  a  man 
knows,  the  more  humble  he  is  likely  to  be,  for  the  more 
he  sees  how  many  things  there  are  yet  to  learn  ;  while 
the  ignorant  are  usually  conceited,  and  carrying  a  high 
head  is  almost  a  certain  sign  there  is  little  in  it.  We 
trust  our  young  readers  will  strive  to  be  "well  headed 
out,"  as  the  boy  expressed  it,  and  that  if  tempted  to  show 
off  how  much  they  know,  they  will  remember  the  lesson 
of  the  wheat-ears. 


Coaxing;  Out   Whiskei-s. 

A  correspondent  of  the  Agriculturist  relates  the  fol- 
lowing :  A  young  man  who  had  recently  entered  a  large 
village  store  as  clerk,  was  very  desinJus  to  appear  welt 
in  the  eyes  of  the  ladies.  Being  very  vain,  he  naturally 
supposed  he  could  best  gain  their  attentions  by  adding  to 
his  personal  attractions,  and  accordingly  he  was  in  great 
haste  to  raise  a  moustache  and  whiskers,  which  he 
thought  would  make  him  altogether  irresistible.  One  of 
his  fellow  clerks,  a  mischievous  wag  to  whom  he  had 
told  his  wishes,  resolved  to  have  some  sport  with  him. 
Accordingly  he  informed  the  beardless  youth  that  a  friend 
of  his,  a  physician,  could  furnish  a  preparation  which 
would  bring  out  the  hair  in  an  incredibly  short  space  of 
time.  The  young  man  had  seen  advertisements  of  such 
compounds,  and  suspecting  no  trick,  eagerly  asked  for  a 
bottle  of  the  mixture.  A  few  days  afterward,  his  com- 
panion brought  him  a  vial,  with  directions  to  apply  the 
contents  carefully  wherever  he  wanted  hair  to  grow,  but 
by  no  means  to  touch  any  other  place  with  it,  as  it  was 
very  powerful.  Upon  retiring  at  night  the  young  man 
gave  his  upper  lip  and  chin  a  good  dressing  with  the  li- 
quid, and  turned  in  to  (treat/  of  a  splendid  beard.  Of 
course  in  the  morning  he  at  once  \>oked  at  the  glass  to 
see  the  effect  produced.  But  one  io<  :>*  was  enough,  his 
lip  and  chin  were  stained  black  as  a  negro  s,  with  a  solu- 
tion of  nitrate  of  silver.  In  vain  he  washed  and  scrub- 
bed ;  the  color  was  fixed,  and  could  only  near  off.  To 
add  to  his  dismay,  a  loud  shout  greeted  his  ears,  and  ne 
saw  all  his  fellow  clerks,  who  had  been  let  into  the  se- 
cret, almost  convulsed  with  laughter.  Hastily  dressing 
himself,  he  muffled  his  face,  rushed  to  his  distant  home, 


and  concealed  himfelf  until  his  face  resumed  its  natural 
color.  This  was  a  severe  and  unwarrantable  joke,  but  it 
partially  cured  the  young  man  of  his  silly  ideas,  and  on 
the  whole  was  a  benefit  to  him.  Whenever  he  assumed 
any  airs,  his  father  had  only  to  ask  if  his  whiskers  were 
yet  grown,  to  bring  him  to  his  senses. 


Sagacity  of   a  King-  ISird. 

The  writer  was  once  walking  near  a  cliff  which  over- 
hung the  sea,  when  a  young  King  Bird  (Tyrannus  Intre- 
pidus)  started  from  the  fence  near  by.  The  wind  was 
blowing  hard  at  the  time,  and  I  at  once  saw  that  his 
youthful  wings  were  unaccustomed  to  buffeting  the  fierce- 
ness of  the  blast.  He  arose  easily  as  a  kite  would  ascend. 
But  when  he  had  attained  a  few  feet,  the  difficulty  was  to 
drop  again  to  the  earth.  Indeed  all  his  efforts  only  seem- 
ed to  carry  him  higher.  The  wind  lifted  Mm  up,  until  he 
was  unable  to  fly  against  it.  For  a  few  moments  lie  stood 
almost  still  In  the  air.  His  greatest  exertions  only  serv- 
ing to  make  him  hold  his  own.  Soon  his  strength  failed 
and  he  gradually  fell  away  as  the  wind  bore  him  off  to- 
ward the  water.  I  watched,  unable  to  help  him,  and 
trembling  for  his  approaching  fall.  I  knew  that,  like 
a  helpless  ship,  he  would  soon  be  engulphed  in  the 
ocean.  Faster  and  faster  he  was  floating  toward  the 
deep.  He  had  almost  ceased  to  struggle,  when  all  at 
once,  as  though  another  bird  had  fallen  from  heaven 
there  appeared  two,  one  behind  him,  beating  him  down 
with  her  wings.  The  mother  bird  had  seen  her  offspring's 
danger,  and  coming  to  his  aid,  flapped  him  down  with  her 
wings,  when  only  a  few  yards  of  earth  separated  him 
from  the  waters  beneath.  I  breathed  freer  when  I 
saw  him  safe,  and  left  the  mother  to  rejoice  with  her 
fledgling,  thinking  now  often  was  a  similar  scene  enacted 
in  our  own  childhood.  A.  H.  G. 

Ifoys"    and    Girls*     Garden  —  I%o.    5. 

In  our  last  talk  willi  our  young  friends  we  attempted 
to  give  them  a  general  idea  of  the  parts  of  the  flower  ami 
their  uses.  As  the  space  was  limited,  we  gave  a  mere 
outline  without  going  very  much  into  particulars,  know- 
ing that  we  should  be  obliged  to  go  over  the  ground 
again.  It  was  stated  that  the  Flax  flower,  which  we 
took  for  our  illustration,  had  two  sets  of  leaves,  making 
together  what  are  called  floral  envelopes,  the  outside 
one  being  the  calyx,  ami  the  inner  one  the  corolla.  The 
calyx  in  the  Flax  i*;  made  up  of  little  green  leaves  called 
sepals.  All  the  pails  of  the  flower  are  to  be  considered 
as  leaves  adapted  to  serve  a  particular  purpose.  Some 
of  the  parts  loolf  reify  much  unlike  leaves;  but  having 

seen  how  different 
from  the  common 
leaves  are  the  co- 
tyledons or  seed 
leaves,  you  will 
have  no  difficulty 
in  understanding 
that  the  leaf  may 
differ  still  more 
widely  from  its  or- 
dinary shape  to 
serve  the  purpos- 
es of  the  flower. 
The  parts  of  the 
calyx  are  so  like 
common  leaves 
that  it  is  easy  to 
see  what  their 
real  nature  is. 
Next  within  the 
Fig.  20.— flax.  calyx    is  lhe  co_ 

rolla,  which,  in  lhe  Flax,  consists  of  five  distinct  petals. 
These  are  usually  of  some  other  color  than  green,  and 
are  of  a  different  shape,  and  of  much  more  delicate 
texture  than  ordinary  leaves.  Still  the  botanist  looks  upon 
the  petals  as  leaves  in  a  peculiar  condition,  and  the  fact 
that  flowers  are  sometimes 
found  with  green  leaves  in 
the  place  of  petals,  shows 
that  this  view  is  correct.  If 
you  pull  the  Flax  flower 
apart  you  will  find  that  the 
petals  are  all  separate  and 
distinct,  but  if  you  lake  the 
flower  of  the  Tomato  (fig. 
21),  you  will  not  be  able  to 
pull  off  any  separate  petals. 
You  will  see  that  this  flow- 
er differs  from  the  Flax  in 
having  the  petals  united  or  grown  together  part  way 
up.  When  the  flower  of  the  Tomato  is  pulled  apart, 
the  corolla  comes  off  in  one  piece.  We  have  taken  the 
Flax  as  a  starting  point  from  which  to  illustrate  the  struc- 
ture of  the  flowers  in  general.  By  altering  the  shape  of 
the  petals,  making  them  broader  or  narrower,  blunt  or 
pointed,  a  great  many  shapes  would  be  got  from  a  flower 


Fig.  21.— TOMATO. 


in  other  respects  like  the  Flax.  When  the  petals  are 
united  at  the  edges,  as  in  the  Tomato,  we  get  other  kinds 
of  flowers.  This  union  of  the  petals  may  extend  only 
part  of  the  way  as 
shown  in  the  To- 
mato, or  they  may 
be  united  for  their 
whole  length  as  is 
seen  in  the  Mor- 
ning Glory(fig.  22). 
The  corolla  of  the 
Morning  Glory  is 
all  in  one  piece, 
and  looks  very  dif- 
ferent from  that  of 
the  Flax.  By  care- 
fully examining 
the  corolla  of  the 
Morning  G  lory, 
you  will  see  five 
lines  or  s«  ams . 
showing  that  the 
corolla  is  of  five 
parts  which  are  all 
united  together  by  their  edges  in  one  piece.  Flowers 
which  like  the  Tomato  and  Morning  Glory,  have  the 
petals  more  or  less  united,  are  called  muno-petalous, 
meaning  one  petaled,  or  rather  that  the  petals  fiom  being 
joined  together  appear  as  one,  while  those  which  have 
the  petals  separate  like  the  Flax,  are  called  poly-petalous% 
or  many  petaled.  The  flower  of  the  Pea  looks  very  dif- 
ferent from  that  of  the  Flax,  and  at  first  sight  there  does 
not  seem  to  be  much  similarity  between  them  ;  it  is  a  very 
irregular  looking  flower,  but  when  we  pick  it  to  pieces 
we  see  that  there  are  five  parts  to  the  corolla,  but  they  are 
of  such  different  shape  and  size  as  to  give  the  flower  a 
very  odd  appearance.  Fig.  24,  represents  the  flower  of  the 
Pea.  Beginning  at  the  upper  side  of  the  flower,  there  is  a 
very  large  petal,  which  is  so  much  bigger  than  the  others 
that  it  seems  to  make  up  the  largest  part  of  the  flower. 
In  flowers  which  are  made  after  the  same  pattern  as  that 


Fig.  22.— MORNING    GLOKV. 


Fig.  23.— rEA    BLOSSOM  SEPARATED. 

of  the  Pea,  this  petal  is  called  the  banner.  Just  below 
this  and  placed  at  the  right  and  left  are  two  smaller  pet- 
als which  are  called  wing's,  and  between  the  wings  is  a 
rounded  body  looking  something  like  the  prow  of  a 
boat,  and  for  this  reason  is  named  the  keel.  If  the  keel 
is  removed  and  opened  it  is  found  to  be  made  of  two 
petals  joined  by  their  edges,  but  separated  below  as  they 
are  shown  in  fig.  23.  We  have  illustrated  four  flowers 
widely  differing  in  appearance— the  Flax,  Tomato,  Morn- 
ing Glory,  and  Pea— yet  they  are  all  made  upon  the 
same  plan.  The  parts  of  the  corolla  are  in  fives, 
(except  the  Tomato  which  has  from  5  to  !0  parts)  and 
however  they  may  be  disguised  by  uniting  with  one  anoth- 
er, or  by  having  some  pans  larger,  or  of  differing  shapes, 
the  general  plan  is  the  same.  Though  we  have  shown 
the  variations  in  only  four  flowers,  any  one  who  has 
thoroughly  studied  the  structure  of  these,  will  have 
but  little  difficulty  in  making  out  the  nature  of  all  other 
flowers.  The  parts  of  the  Flax  are  in  fives,  which  is  per- 
haps the  most  common  number,  but  other  flowers  are  in 
fours  or  threes.  When  we 
look  around  among  flow- 
ers, we  find  an  infinite  va- 
riety, and  it  would  seem 
at  first  sight  that  they  are 
made  upon  widely  differ- 
ent plans,  but  with  the 
Flax  flower  in  view,  and 
the  variations  that  have 
been  shown,  we  think  you 
will  have  little  difficulty  in 
understanding  the  struct- 
ure of  all  single  flowers, 
ones  at  another  time.    You  have  learned  where  to  look 


Fig.  24.— PEA    BLOSSOM. 

We  shall  speak  of  the  double 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


249 


for  tlie  calyx  ami  corolla,  and  have  seen  that  the  corolla 
can  be  united  in  one  piece  as  in  the  Tomalo  and  Morn- 
ing Glory,  or  that  its  parts  may  be  very  unequal  in  size, 
ami  two  of  them  be  united,  as  in  the  Pea.  By  following 
out  these  changes,  a  great  variety  of  forms  can  be  pro- 
duced. This  study  of  shapes  is  called  morphology.  You 
have  seen  a  little  of  the  morphology  of  leaves,  and  have 
had  illustrations  of  leaves  which  though  differing  widely 
in  form,  stiil  performed  the  same  office.  In  the  flowers 
spoken  of  above,  you  have  seen  how  the  shape  of  the 
parts  may  be  changed  and  yet  they  still  occupy  the  same 
relative  position  and  serve  the  same  purpose.  This  is 
one  ol  the  most  interesting  things  in  the  study  of  plants  ; 
t2  see  how  wonderfully  the  parts  may  be  varied  and  yet 
be  essentially  the  same.  Leaves  might  have  been  all 
alike  and  the  flowers  all  the  same  shape,  and  the  great 
purpose  of  vegetation  would  have  gone  on  the  same.  It 
would  seem  that  the  Creator  had  introduced  this  wonder- 
ful variety  merely  to  please  our  senses  and  gratify  the 
love  of  the  beautiful  that  he  has  made  a  part  of  our  na- 
ture. When,  after  admiring  flowers  we  begin  to  study  and 
examine  them,  we  are  still  more  impressed  with  the  skill 
which  planned  them,  and  wonder  at  the  infinite  variety 
that  can  be  wrought  in  a  few  simple  materials.  We  see 
illustrations  of  morphology  in  the  common  objects  about 
us.  The  log  cabin  is  not  essentially  different  from  the 
costly  dwelling  ;  botli  have  four  walls  and  a  roof,  and 
these  differ  in  shape  and  materials  in  acordance  with  the 
wants  and  means  of  the  owner.  Our  articles  of  dress 
are  changed  in  fashion  every  year ;  the  coat,  hat  or 
gown  of  five  years  agu  looks  odd  to  us  now,  yet  it  is  the 
same  as  worn  at  present,  only  differing  in  the  shape  of  its 
pai'ts.  The  changes  which  a  hat  assumes  illustrate  very 
strikingly  the  subject  of  morphology.  The  simplest  form 
of  hat  is  a  mere  bag  with  a  string  around  it  to  fit  it  to  the 


Fig.  25. — CHANGE    OF    THE    HAT. 

head  of  the  wearer,  as  shown  at  A.  This  would  answer 
the  first  use  of  a  hat :  to  keep  the  head  warm.  By  turn- 
ing out  the  portion  below  the  band  as  shown  at  B,  we  get 
a  brim  which  also  shades  the  face,  and  here  we  have  all 
that  is  required  in  this  article  of  dress.  To  please  the 
fancy  we  press  out  the  crown  and  stiffen  it  so  as  to  take 
the  common  shape  C.  By  slipping  the  band  further  up, 
the  brim  is  widened  and  the  crown  shortened  as  shown 
at  D.  If  the  crown  Is  spread  out  above,  we  get  the  "  bell 
crown"  E,  worn  by  our  grandfathers.  The  cap,  one  form 
of  which  is  shown  at  F,  is  only  a  low  crowned  hat  with 
the  greater  portion  of  the  brim  cut  away,  leaving  the  visor 
or  plate.  These  illustrations  might  be  carried  on  to  a 
much  greater  extent,  so  as  to  show  that  every  style  was 


Fig.  26.— CHANGE    OF   THE    HAT. 


a  simple  modification  of  the  simple  hat  shown  at  A.  Our 
original  hat  is  capable  of  other  changes  :  lay  it  on  ils 
side,  untie  the  bow  of  the  band,  and  cut  out  an  opening  for 
the  neck  and  you  have  G.  a  very  rude  form  of  a  bonnet ; 
the  ends  of  the  band  form  the  string  which  will  serve 
to  tie  under  the  chin.  If  the  crown  is  swelled  out  as  at 
H,  we  get  a  not  unusual  style  of  bonnet.  By  varying 
the  shape  of  the  crown  we  produce  the  shape  shown  at 
/,  which  is  a  style  worn  within  our  recollection,  and  by 
reducing  the  crown  and  swelling  the  front  the  more  mod- 
ern stylus  J,  K,  and  L,  are  obtained.  If  you  have  had 
any  amusement  in  tracing  out  these  shape*  ot  the  hat, 
recollect  that  wc  have  given  them  only  to  help  you  to 
trace  out  in  the  various  single  flowers  you  meet,  the  vat- 
iattons  from  the  Flax  flower  which  was  taken  as  a  pat- 
tern or  starting  point. 


IIb  Knows  the  Rest.— A  little  girl  was  carried  to  her 
room  at  night  and  laid  upon  her  bed,  while  half  asleep. 


Upon  being  reminded  that  she  ought  not  to  forget  her 
prayers,  she  half  opened  her  eyes  and  dreamily  mur- 
mured, "  Now  I  lay  me  down  to  sleep,  I  pray  the  Lord" 

and  then  adding  "  He  knows  the  rest,"  she  sank  upon 

her  pillow,  in  His  watchful  care  who  "giveth  his  be- 
loved sleep."    It  w  as  a  fine  illustration  of  faith. 

ftTe"\v  Puzzles  to  l>c  Answered. 

No.  47.    Illustrated  Rebus.    Something  often  forgotten. 


No.  48.  Arithmetical.  Problem.  Contributed  to  the 
Agriculturist  by  J.  McCulloch,  Logan  Co.,  O.  A  person 
has  a  distance  of  46  2-13  miles  to  go  and  return,  and  has 
but  3  hours  to  do  it ;  he  travels  60  per  cent,  faster  in  go- 
ing than  returning.  What  rates  per  hour  does  he  travel 
in  goitig  and  returning  ? 

No.  49.  Arithmetical  Problem,  by  the  same  contribu 
tor.  Two  men,  A  and  B,  worked  separately  on  a  job ; 
first  A  worked  %  of  the  time  that  B  would  have  taken  to 
do  the  whole  job,  then  B  finished  the  whole  job;  now  had 
they  both  worked  together,  it  would  have  been  done  two 
days  sooner,  and  A  would  have  done  only  half  what  he 
left  for  B.  In  what  time  could  each  do  the  job  separately  ? 

Answers  to  Problems  and  Puzzles. 

Answers  to  Problems  and  Puzzles  in  July  number, 
(page  217.)  No.  44.  Illustrated  Rebus.  "Awl  R  knot  the 
vest  hat  dogs  bar  cat,"  or,  "All  are  not  thieves  that  dogs 
bark  at."  No.  45.  Curious  Sentence.  Wright,  write  rite 
right.  No.  46.  Arithmetical  Problem.  Answer:  A  should 
receive  $171  99-331,  B  should  have  $98  232-331. 

The  following  have  sent  in  correct  answers  ;  the  num- 
bers indicate  the  problems,  etc.,  answered  by  each: 
Thos.  R.  Newton,  40,  43;  T.  R.  S.,  40,  41,  43;  Ruel  L. 
Smith,  41  ;  Charles  Munger,  40,  41  ;  Fred.  E.  Parker,  41  ; 
Jessie  E.Bradley,  41,  43;  C.  A.  K.,  41,  42;  Eleanor  H. 
Risdon,  40,  41,  43  ;  II.  S.  Anderson,  44  ;  Thomas  S.  Moore, 
44;  C.  Coggeshall,  43;  S.  Emma  Barker,  46;  Annie  M. 
Low,  44  ;  J.  W.  English,  44,  46  ;  Lizzie  S.  Bundy,  44,  45, 
46;  B.  B.  Baum,  44;  Sarah  Roley,  44;  James  M.  Cox, 
44,  45,  46 ;  Lucy  II.  Lazear,  44  ;  Mary  Ida  Lazear,  40,  41, 
43;  James  Dilts,  44,  45:  George  A.  Goodrich,  44,  45;  I. 
Hoffman,  44  ;  Wirt  C.  Williams,  44. 


Editorial  Correspondence. 

Gettysburg  Battle-Field. 


Gettysburg,  Pa.,  Thursday,  July  7,  18G3. 

On  learning  of  the  great  battles  of  July  1,  2,  and  3,  I 
determined  to  abbreviate  my  agricultural  tour,  and 
hasten  here  to  see  with  my  own  eyes,  the  field  of  the 
greatest  conflict  that  has  yet  occuned  on  this  Continent, 
and  one  which  has  seldom  been  equalled  in  the  Old 
World  during  modern  times.  In  its  results,  it  is  scarcely 
less  important  than  any  batlle  in  the  world's  history. 
Just  a  year  ago  I  passed  over  the  field  of  Waterloo  in 
Belgium,  where  the  armies  of  Europe  settled  the  fate  of 
empires  and  the  form  of  governments  for  ages  to  come. 
As  I  now  write,  my  eye  takes  in  at  a  glance  the  wide  field 
where,  within  a  week  past,  nearly  or  quite  two  hundred 
thousand  men  were  engaged  in  mortal  strife,  upon  the  re- 
sult of  which,  it  would  now  seem,  is  to  depend  the  future 
of  the  people  of  this  western  world.  Had  the  scales 
turned  decisively  the  other  way,  it  would  have  materially 
changed  the  style  of  American  society  and  civilization  in 
this  country.  If,  as  it  is  hoped,  the  victory  at  the  close 
of  the  contest  last  Friday  morning,  is  the  turning  point  of 
the  war  that  has  desolated  our  country  for  more  than  two 
years  past,  this  field  will  indeed  be  memorable  in  future 
history.  Emotions  too  deep  for  utterance,  fill  my  mind 
as  I  look  over  the  surrounding  valley  and  the  dozen  hills 
in  sight,  almost  every  foot  of  which  was  but  last  week 
trodden  by  armed  hosts.  I  will  not  attempt  to  describe 
the  scene  or  the  occurrences,  but  will  jot  down  a  few 
items  that  may  interest  the  readers  of  the  American  Agri- 
culturist, so  many  of  whom  had  sons,  or  brothers,  or 
husbands,  or  fathers,  among  the  heroes  who  fought  and 
perhaps  bled  and  died  here,  and  all  of  whom  aic  so  in- 
tensely Intel ested  In  the  consequences   of  the  contest. 

I  arrived  here  at  daylight  on  Tuesday  morning,  in 
company  with  some  ol  the  delegates  of  the  "Christian 
Commission."  We  immediately  went  to  the  laigcst  hos- 
pital camp,  that  of  the  Second  Army  Corps,  which  Is 
located  some  3)4  miles  south  of  the  village — the  wounded 
of  this  corps  having  been  taken  to  that  point  during  the 
progress  of  the  battle,  to  be  out  of  reach  of  the  flying 
missiles  of  death.     The  camps  of  the  other  corps  are 


similarly  located  at  different  points.  Veiy  few  of  the 
thousands  of  visitors  constantly  arriving  and  departing, 
find  their  way  to  these  camps,  where  are  to  be  seen  the 
real  evidences  and  the  more  marked  results  of  the  strife. 
The  main  army  has  followed  in  pursuit  of  the  retreating 
enemy  ;  the  driving  rain  of  yesterday  has  smoothed  the 
surface  of  the  ground  that  was  disfigured  by  the  plowing 
shot  and  shell,  and  by  cannon-wheels  and  horses'  hoofs. 
With  here  and  there  an  exception,  the  dead  lie  covered 
beneath  the  ground  where  they  fell,  and  the  rain  has  flat- 
tened the  hastily-made  graves  of  the  enemy,  so  that  nrar 
observation  is  required  to  find  them,  though  numbering 
many  hundreds,  if  not  thousands,  scattered  all  over  an 
area  of  five  miles  long,  and  nearly  two  miles  wide— 
sometimes  in  groups  of  three,  five,  and  up  to  fifty,  but 
oftener  one  in  a  place.  The  graves  of  Union  soldiers  are 
generally  banked  up,  and  are  mostly  marked  by  a  board, 
giving  the  name,  company,  regiment,  and  State.  This 
enables  friends  to  find  their  remains,  and  the  work  of  re- 
moval has  already  begun.  The  graves  are  in  the  fields, 
on  the  hillocks,  in  the  groves,  etc.,  and  one  sees  but  a 
few  from  any  single  stand-point.  The  most  visible  signs 
of  the  contest  are  the  demolished  fences  over  a  thousand 
or  more  acres;  the  hastily-thrown-up  breastworks  (of 
rails,  stones,  and  earth,  here  in  20-feet  semicircles,  there 
in  long  lines  ;  yonder  in  little  mounds  as  rifle-pits ;)  the 
thousands  upon  thousands  of  guns,  military  equipments, 
and  clothing  thrown  away  in  flight,  or  dropped  by  killed 
or  wounded  soldiers,  and  the  solid  cannon-balls,  or  ex- 
ploded or  unexploded  shells  that  strew  the  ground.  The 
rain  has  entirely  washed  away  all  blood,  and  covered 
most  of  the  smaller  missiles,  though  half  a  million  cart- 
ridges and  musket-balls  could  doubtless  be  gathered.  In 
a  dozen  groves,  there  is  hardly  a  tree  that  is  not  scarred 
by  bullets  or  cannon-balls,  while  from  many,  a  branch  or 
two  is  lopped  off,  or  the  trunk  is  severed  at  some  point 
above  the  ground.  The  most  visible  efFecls,  however,  are 
the  unburied  carcases  of  horses,  the  bodies  swelled  to 
double  size,  and  already  white  with  maggots.  From  the 
sight  and  smell  of  these,  one  can  hardly  escape,  go  w  here 
he  will  on  over  a  thousand  acres.  At  one  point,  clo*e  by 
the  little  board  dwelling  where  Gen.  Meade  had  his  head- 
quarters at  first,  I  counted  fifty  dead  horses  within  the 
space  of  half  an  acre.  The  building  itself  is  shattered  in 
a  dozen  places  by  pieces  of  shell.  A  looking-plnss  hang- 
ing in  front  of  the  General's  writing-desk,  was  struck  by 
a  shell  fragment.  A  piece  of  this  glass  is  among  the  few 
memerntoes  I  have  picked  up.  At  the  lower  end  of  a 
gully,  I  noticed  at  least  three  wagon-loads  of  clothing, 
blankets,  cartridge-boxes,  scabbards,  etc.,  that  had  hern 
washed  there  by  the  rain-torrents  that  poured  down  :ill 
Wednesday  forenoon  with  a  violence  never  before  known 
by  the  oldest  citizen. 

But  all  the  above  are  feeble  evidences  of  war,  as  com- 
pared with  the  camps.  I  visited  and  rvorked  in  three.  I 
went  to  look  at  them,  but  there  were  too  many  suffering 
ones,  friends  and  enemies,  needing  a  cooling  or  stimula- 
ting draught,  a  little  bread,  or  a  change  of  position,  to  al- 
low of  time  spent  in  gratifying  curiosity,  and  I  gladly 
joined  hands  with  my  brother  agricultural  editor,"  Mr. 
Spangler,  and  with  the  few  members  of  the  Christian 
Commission  who  had  found  their  way  through  mud  and 
rain,  bearing  food,  raiment,  stimulants,  etc.  No  one  who 
could  witness  the  relief  afforded  by  a  warm,  clean  gar- 
ment, a  taste  of  wine,  brandy,  or  extract  of  ginger,  would 
ever  after  give  with  a  sparing  hand,  or  indulge  his  own 
appetite  for  luxuries,  while  soldiers  are  lying  wounded  in 
hospitals,  and  camps.  In  the  2nd  Corps  camp  alone,  wo 
found  nearly  or  quite  three  thousand  wounded  men, 
about  one  third  of  them  of  the  enemy,  who  left  behind 
thousands  upon  thousands  of  the  worst  wounded,  but 
left  no  surgeons,  and  none  of  their  more  slightly  injured, 
who  could  have  aided  the  others.  Our  surgeons  were 
hard  at  work,  and  had  attended  to  most  of  their  own 
men,  but  many  of  the  enemy  were  still  lying  on  the 
ground  in  the  rain,  their  wounds  untouched,  five  days 
after  the  batlle.  Their  own  destruction  of  roads  and 
bridges  rendered  it  utterly  impossible  to  get  in  supplies 
or  nurses  for  them  at  once.  I  am  glad  to  say,  that  yes- 
terday afternoon,  and  this  morning,  hundreds  of  men,  and 
tuns  of  supplies  have  arrived  from  the  Christian  Com- 
mission, the  Sanitary  Commission,  the  Firemen,  and  Ad- 
ams' Express  Commission  of  Baltimore,  and  many  other 
city  and  town  associations,  so  that  at  this  hour,  every 
man,  friend  or  enemy,  is  being  cared  for.  But  oh!  the 
sad  spectacle  I  witnessed  yesterday  morning  as  I  went 
round  among  three  thousand  wounded  men,  giving  a  cup 
of  water  here,  a  stimulating  draught  theie,  a  piece  of  soft 
bread  to  this  one,  some  tanna  to  that  one  ;  now  shifting 
the  position  of  one  who  had  gi  own  still  from  lying  days 
and  nights  In  the  samo  place,  and  now  helping  to  move 
another  from  a  pool  of  water  gathering  around  him.  The 
broken  and  shattered  limbs,  the  lorn  bodies,  the  busy  sur- 
geons in  that  grove  !  The  scene  will  never  fade  from 
my  memory.  I  have  often  read  of  these  tilings  but  no 
pen  can  give  even  a  faint  idea  of  the  reality.  I  spent  my 
time  mainly  with  the  fallen  enemy,  for  these  were  most 


250 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


fACGTJST, 


in  need.  How  their  sufferings  wipe  out  the  remotest 
feeling  of  enmity  !  Most  of  them  were  from  North  Car- 
olina, and  in  bitter  tones  did  they  complain  of  those  who 
had  brought  on  this  war,  and  forced  them  to  take  part  in 
a  strife  for  which  they  had  no  heart— a  strife  to  break  up 
a  Union  which  they  loved. 

Exhausted  by  labors  in  which  I  had  been  stimu'.atcd  to 
exertion  far  beyond  ordinary  endurance,  and  relieved  by 
hundreds  of  fresh  hands,  I  left  the  camp  to-day,  and  have 
this  afternoon  walked  and  ridden  around  the  battle  fields 
to  gain  some  idea  of  the  contest.  I  have  not  lime, 
strength,  or  space  for  more  than  a  brief  description. 

I  write  sitting  upon  a  marble  shaft  broken  by  a  cannon 
ball  in  the  cemetery,  on  a  hill,  the  summit  of  which  is 
about  on  a  level  with  the  tops  of  the  church  steeples  in 
the  village  of  Gettysburg,  75  to  100  rods  north  of  me. 
A  gentle  valley  about  a  mile  wide  comes  in  from  the  east, 
bends  around  north  of  the  village,  and  runs  west,  then 
southwest,  and  nearly  south.  High  ground  extends  from 
this  cemetery  to  the  southwest,  and  a  low  broad  ridge 
gently  slopes  off  into  the  valley,  and  terminates  in  a  bluff 
of  bare  rocks  facing  the  west,  beyond  which  is  a  high 
round-topped  hill.  Back  of  me  (south)  is  low  ground, 
followed  by  alternate  ridges  and  valleys.  On  the  right 
(southeast)  are  several  hills  partly  wooded,  with  hollows 
between.  Directly  east  is  the  valley  first  described.  A 
hundred  rods  or  so  southwest  of  me  is  the  little  house  at 
first  occupied  by  Gen.  Meade,  with  a  grove  on  this  side. 
Just  back  of  my  left  is  another  little  grove.  Away  be- 
yond the  valley,  on  the  north,  northeast,  northwest,  and 
west,  area  succession  of  elevated  knolls,  forming  almost 
a  continuous  ridge.  Woods  upon  some  of  these,  and  in 
the  hollows  beyond,  form  apparently  a  continuous  grove, 
which  screened  the  movements  of  the  enemy  in  trans- 
ferring corps  and  brigades,  from  wing  to  wing.  The  low 
hills  around  the  northern  side  of  the  whole  semi-circle 
were  occupied  by  the  batteries  of  the  enemies' cannon, 
which  sometimes  concentrated  their  entire  fire  on  the 
spot  where  I  sit,  and  the  shells  went  over  and  across,  often 
falling  in  the  valleys  for  a  mile  or  two  south.  Their  ef- 
fects are  seen  in  the  dead  horses  and  the  scattered  graves. 
Part  of  our  troops  were  placed  upon  this  point  (Ceme- 
tery Hill)  and  along  the  high  ground  a  mile  southeast, 
and  three  miles  or  so  southwest,  while  others  were  in  the 
valleys  to  the  south,  and  were  moved  to  the  left  or  right 
as  required  by  the  exigencies  of  the  battle. 

The  first  day  (Wednesday)  Gen.  Reynolds'  Corps 
marched  through  the  village  to  the  hills  northwest,  where 
they  discovered  the  enemy  before  concealed  by  the  hills 
and  woods.  After  a  sharp  contest  this  Corps  were  over- 
whelmed, and  retreated  through  the  village  to  the  Ceme- 
tery Hill.  During  the  night  the  rest  of  our  army  came 
up  from  the  south,  and  the  balance  of  the  enemy  came  in 
from  Chambersburg,  at  the  northwest,  Carlisle  at  the 
north,  and  York  at  the  northeast.  All  day  Thursday  and 
Friday,  was  spent  in  attempting  to  drive  our  men  from 
their  position,  or  break  through  the!:'  lines.  More  than  a 
hundred,  cannon  upon  the  circle  of  hills,  with  occasional 
intermission  sent  a  shower  of  shells  over  the  valley.  Now 
on  the  right,  and  now  on  the  left,  large  bodies  of  men 
would  come  dashing  through  the  valley,  and  attempt  to 
force  their  way  through  our  ranks.  The  moment  they  ap- 
peared in  sight,  our  shells  began  to  fall  upon  them  ; 
when  from  X  to  Ji  mile  distant,  canister  shot  mowed 
down  their  fearful  swaths;  when  almost  up  to  the  can- 
non, long  lines  of  men  rose  from  behind  stone  fences,  or 
extemporized  breast-works  of  rails  and  earth  two  to 
three  feet  high,  and  rained  in  upon  them  myriads  of  rainie 
balls,  and  in  every  case  the  shattered  columns  though  al- 
most up  to  our  men,  were  sent  flying  back  through  the 
valley  in  disorder.  Sometimes  they  threw  into  confusion 
and  retreat  a  small  body  of  our  men  advanced  far  into 
the  foreground,  but  ere  they  reached  the  established  lines, 
the  quick  eye  of  the  General  hail  observed  it,  and,  a  re- 
served force  was  sent  forward,  who  had  been  until  then 
concealed  in  the  low  ground  or  woods  at  the  rear  (south) 
or  engaged  in  the  other  wing,  and  these  turned  back  the 
tide.  At  the  left,  where  are  two  groves,  the  battle  moved 
back  and  forth  several  times.  A  farm-house  and  barn  at 
this  point  ate  shattered  by  shells  and  canister  shot,  from 
garret  to  cellar.  (I  have  in  my  pocket  a  canister  shot 
that  went  through  the  door,  through  a  partition,  and 
lodged  in  the  plastering  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  par- 
lor.) Thirty  graves  of  the  enemy's  officers  are  seen  near 
the  barn,  marked  by  head-boards.  In  a  wheat  field  close 
to  the  yoods  out  of  which  our  men  emerged  in  ore  of 
these  countercharges,  I  counted  on  a  space  less  11  ,n  100 
feet  square,  forty-nine  bodies  of  the  enemy,  iiribir  .ed  two 
hours  ago.  The  grand  final  attempt  was  made  i.u  Friday 
toward  evening.  A  body  of  men  (in  solid  ranKS  as  far  as 
the  eye  could  see,  says  a  slightly  wounded  soldier  by  my 
side)  came  driving  across  the  plain  or  valley  a  little  west 
of  the  village,  on  our  left  center.  They  were  determined 
to  break  through  by  force  of  numbers.  But,  as  in  other 
cases,  they  were,  hurled  back,  thousands  of  them  falling 
dead  or  wounded,  (only  one  out  of  eight  or  ten  who  are  hit, 
is  killed).    In  the  confusion  thus  produced,  a  column  of 


our  men  concealed  in  a  hollow,  and  by  bushes  a  little 
further  south,  closed  in  around  some  3000  of  the  broken 
mass,  and  took  them  prisoners.  The  rest  retired  again 
over  the  valley,  and  thus  ended  the  three  days'  strife. 
With  a  bold  show  in  front,  the  enemy  retreated,  concealed 
by  the  hills  and  woods,  on  Saturday  and  through  the 
night.  As  our  own  men  entered  upon  the  vacated  ground, 
the  wounded  enemy  were  found  in  fields  and  groves  for 
miles  away,  and  they  are  yet  being  found  and  brought  in. 
The  churches  and  almost  every  house  in  the  village  are 
filled  with  wounded,  in  addition  to  the  hospital  camps, 
though  none  of  the  latter  are  so  large  as  that  of  the  2nd 
Corps  above  referred  to.  Strange  to  say,  though  tens  of 
thousands  of  missiles  were  hurled  over  and  around  the 
village,  very  few  houses  show  any  marks,  and  the  inhab- 
itants in  part  remained  in  safety,  as  all  could  have  done. 
But  I  must  close,  for  I  have  already  provided  for  filling 
all  the  spare  columns.  As  I  sit  here  and  take  in  the  field 
of  contest  at  a  glance,  and  think  of  the  results  to  flow 
from  it  in  the  long  future,  I  can  not  refrain  from  sending 
these  few  items  to  our  readers.  It  were  worth  a  long 
pilgrimage  to  come  here,  not  to  gather  relics,  but  to  con- 
template on  the  ground  itself  the  stirring  events  which 
have  so  recently  transpired  on  this  Waterloo  of  America, 
this  triumphant  battle  field  of  American  Freedom. 


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The  Avoidable  Causes  of  Disease, 

Insanity,  and  Deformity,  Marriage,  &c,  by  John  Ellis, 
M.  D.— two  volumes  in  one — is  the  most  interesting  and 
useful  book  of  the  age,  and  every  farmer  should  have  it ; 
for  the  health  and  lives  of  his  wife  and  children  are  of 
more  consequence  than  horses,  cattle,  sheep  and  farmers. 
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Dealers  may  apply  to  the  Publishers, 

MASON,  BROTHERS, 
5  &  7  Mercer-street,  New-York. 

THE   CRAIG  MICROSCOPE. 

This  is  the  best  and  cheapest  microscope  in 
the  world  for  general  use.  It  requires  no  fo- 
cal adjustment,  magnifies  about  100  diameters, 
or  10,000  times,  and  is  so  simple  that  a  child 
can  use  it.  It  will  be  sent  by  mail,  postage 
paid,  on  the  receipt  of  $2.25,  or  with  sis  beauti- 
ful mounted  objects  for  $3,  or  with  24  objects 
for  $5.      Address         HENRY  CRAIG, 

180  Centre-st.,  New- York. 

A  liberal  discount  to  the  trade. 

Lands— To  All  Wanting  Farms. 

Large  and  thriving  settlement  of  Vineland,  mild  cli- 
mate, 30  miles  south  of  Philadelphia,  by  railroad  ;  rich 
soil;  fine  crops  ;  twenty  acre  tracts,  at  from  $15  to  $20 
per  acre  ;  payable  within  four  years.  Good  business 
openings  ;  good  society.  Hundreds  are  settling  and  mak- 
ing improvements.  Apply  to  CHAS.  K.  LANDIS,  Post- 
master, Vineland,  Cumberland  County,  N.J.  Letters 
answered.  Papers  containing  full  information   sent  free. 


The  Markets. 


American  Agriculturist  Office,      t 
New-York,  Saturday  Morning,  July  18,  1863.  j 

1.  TRANSACTIONS  AT  THE  NEW-YORK  MARKETS. 

Receipts.  Flour.    Wheat.    Corn.    Bye.    Barley.    Oats. 

24  days  tft&m'th  552,000  2,974,000  2,760,000    48,000    23,500  1,255.000 

20  days  last  m'th  500.000  3,162,000  3,204,000    27,000    58,000  1,010,000 

Sales.  Flour.   Wfieat.       Corn.       Bye.    Barley. 

24  days  Mf*  month,  411,000    2,929,000    2,866.000       £3,000     11.000 

25  days  last  month,  375,000  3,256,000     3,631,000        82,000      50,000 

2.  Comparison  icith  same  time  last  year. 
receipts.  Flour.    Wheat.    Corn.     Bye.  Barley.  Oats. 
24  days  1863..   ..552.000  2.S74.000  2,769,000    48.000    28,500  1,255,000 
23  days  1802...'.  654,000  3,239,000  2,355,000    73,000    43,000     447,000 

sales.  Flour.      Wheat.      Com.        Bye.    Barley. 

21  days  1863 411,000      2,92:1,(100    2,866,000        93,000        11,000 

38  days  1862 64-J.00O      4,726,000    3,052,000      132,000  6,000 

3.  Exports  from  New-York,  Jan.  1,  to  July  18. 


Flour. 
Bbls. 

1863 1,339,192 

1862 1,552,583 


Wheat.  Corn. 

Hvsh.  Hush. 

7,904,527  5,871,353 

8,045,042  6,012,533 


Rye. 
Bush, 

Outs. 
Hush. 

318,103 
WJ.SB3 

114,689 
22,023 

4.  Receipts  at  Albany,  by  Canal,  each,  of  the  last 

three  seasons,  to  July  14. 

1861.                1862.  1863. 

Canal  opened  May  1.               May  1.  May  1. 

Flour,  bbls 345,500            561,700  491.7(H) 

Wheat,  bush 9.764,900        9.649.100  7,090,900 

Corn 5,389,000        5,671,100  9,167,11)0 

Barley 135,800            419,700  59.900 

Outs 1.938,000         1,454,500  3,427.700 

Rye 264,500           316,500  121 ,000 

Current  Wholesale  Prices. 

June  18.  July  18. 

Flour— Super  to  Extra  State  $4  75    @  6  05  $4  00    @  5  50 

Superfine  Western. 4  75    ©  5  00  4  00    ©  4  50 

Extra  Western 5  50    ©  9  n0  5  00    ©  0  00 

Extra  Genesee 6  10    ©  7  75  5  60    ©  7  25 

Super,  to  Extra  Southern 6  25    ©  9  50  5  80    ©  9  00 

ItYE  Flour— Flue  and  Super.     3  40    ©  5  25  3  40    ©  5  20 

Corn  Meal ...     4  25    @  4  55  4  00    (5)4  40 

Wheat— All  kinds  of  White,.    1  60    ©  1  75  1  40    ©  1  60 

All  kinds  of  Red 117    ©155  108    (5)132 

Conx— Yellow 78    @      81  76K@      7t» 

Mixed 75    @      78  64    (3)      66 

Oats— Western 78    ©81  73    ©     75 

State.. 80    ©      81  75    @      76 

Hye 103    ®  1  05  90    (Si  1  03 

Barley. 1  00    ©  1  25  Nominal. 

Beans—  per  bushel 2  00    ©3  15  2  00    @  3  30 

GOTTOK— Middlings,  per  lb...         57    ©      58  ©60 

PIops.  crop  oflS62,  per  lb 15    ©      22  14    @      21 

Feathers.  Live  Geese,  p.  lb..        43    ©      50  48    @      50 

Seed— Clover,  per  lb 8^@       9>£  Kominal. 

Timothy,  per  bushel 2  00    ©  2  25  Kominal 

Flax:,. per  bushel 2  45    ©2  60  Nominal 

Sugar— Brown,  per  lb. 9    ©      12}£  9    ©    12^ 

MoLAssES.New-Orleans,  p.gl..       38    ©      50  35    ©      48 

Coffee.  Rio,  per  lb ...       2SK©      31J£       27    ©'    29M 

Tobacco— Kentucky.&cp.lb..       12J4®      31  12    ©'    30 

Seed  Leaf,  per  lb... 12^©      42)4  30    ©      40 

Wool— Domesticfleece.p.ib..      60   @     80  65   ©     80 

Domestic,  pulled,  per  lb 48    ©      75  55    ©      75 

Wool,  California,  unwashed..       22%®      50  25    ©      55 

Tallow,  per  lb 11    ©      W%  9v@      10 

Oil  Cake,  per  tun 37  50    ©45  00  35  00    ©45  00 

Pork— Mess,  per  bbl 12  75    ©13  00  13  75   © 

Prime,  per  bbl 1150    ©1175  1100    ©1125 

Beef— Plain  mess 9  75    ©11  75  9  50    @U  75 

Lard,  in  bbls.,  per  lb 9>£©      10K  9#@      10 

Butter— Western,  per  lb 16    ©      19  14    ©      17 

State,  per  lb. 16    ©     22  15    @      21 

Cheese 8    ©      11  9    @      11 

Broom  Corn— ner  lb  8    ©      10  8    ©      10 

Eggs— Fresh,  per  dozen 15    ©      17  18    ©      20 

Poultry— Fowls,  per  lb 9    @     12  10    ©     16 

Ducks,  per  lb 16    @      18  16    ©     IS 

Geese,  per  lb 6©       8  5©       8 

Turkeys,  per  lb .8   ©     10  8    ©     10 

Potatoes— Dykman,  p.  bbl. .  3  00    ©  3  50 

Mercers,  per  bbl 3  50    @  4  00 

Turnips— Rata  baga,  per  bbl       75    ©  1  00  1  50    ©  1  75 

Onions,  Red  &  Yellow  p.  bbl.  3  00©     3  25 

Cabbages,  per  100 4  00    ©  6  00 

Cucumbers,  per  100 1  00    @  1  25 

Dried  Apples,  per  lb. 3    ©       6  4    ©       6>£ 

Dried  Peaches,  per  lb 15    ©16  15    ©      16 

Currants,  per  lb  3    ©       4 

Gooseberries,  per  bushel..  2  50    ©  3  50 

Huckleberries,  per  bushel.  2  50    ©  3  00 

Blackberries,  per  bushel..  2  00    ©  2  25 

Business  in  all  articles  of  Domestic  produce  has  been 
restricted,  during  the  past  month.  Lee's  invasion  of  Ma- 
ryland and  Pennsylvania,  early  in  the  month,  occasioned 
great  alarm,  and  a  partial  suspension  of  all  other  than 
military  operations.  His  speedy  defeat  by  Meade,  and 
the  glorious  news  of  the  capture  of  Vicksburgh,  Port 
Hudson,  and  Chattanooga,  restored  public  confidence. 
Gold  accordingly  fell  off  rapidly,  closing  as  low  as  125>£c. 
(a>V26c,  or  at  the  reduced  premium  of  25>£c.f2)26c.  per 
cent.  This  sharp  reaction  of  course  brought  about  a 
corresponding  decline  in  the  market  value  of  most  kinds 
of  produce,  particularly  Breadstuff's  ;  and  made  holders 
very  eager  to  dispose  of  their  supplies,  rather  than  take 
the  risks  of  the  future.  Buyers,  however,  have  been  re- 
luctant to  purchase  freely,  especially  for  export,  owing  to 
the  great  depression  in  the  market  for  Sterling  Exchange 
Bills,  which  are  usually  governed  by  lite  price  of  Gold. 
At  present,  all  parties  are  sorely  puzzled  to  determine 
what  to  do.  Holders  are  unable  to  discover  any  encour- 
agement to  reserve  their  stocks,  while  purchasers  are 
afraid  to  buy  more  than  they  immediately  require,  as  the 
probabilities  are  in  favor  of  a  further  depreciation  in 
prices.  The  opening  of  the  Mississippi  River  is  not  re- 
garded as  of  so  much  advantage  to  commercial  interests, 
as  to  the  National  arms,  in  a  military  sense.  Trade  on 
the  river,  during  the  present  war,  it  is  argued  must  be  at- 
tended with  extraordinary  hazard,  and  therefore  can  not 
become  very  extensive  or  prosperous,  before  the  return 
of  peace.  It  is  true  that  the  impoverished  people  of  the 
valley,  within  the  limits  of  the  rebellious  States,  must 
need  and  doubtless  procure  supplies  of  food  ;  but  any  de- 
mand, beyond  this,  is  not  looked  for  immediately.  Asa 
means  of  conveying  produce  to  the  seaboard  for  shipment 
thence,  the  Mississippi  can  not  be  relied  upon,  until  hos- 
tilities shall  have  been  brought  to  a  close.  The  Canals 
and  Railroads  of  the  loyal  North  will  consequently  con- 
tinue to  the  end  of  the  war  to  enjoy  a  monopoly  of  the 
forwarding  business.  New-York  will  continue  to  receive 
the  bulk  of  the  produce  coming  eastward  from  the  interi- 
or, and  stocks  in  this  market  will  be  likely  to  keep  in  ex- 
cess of  the  actual  wants  of  the  trade  of  the  port,  wKich 
will  depend  for  its  volume  and  prosperity,  very  largely 
on  the  premium  which  gold  will  command.  If  gold 
should  continue  to  decline,  merchants  apprehend  a  sweep 
ing  derangement  of  business,  temporary  it  is  true,  but, 
nevertheless,  decidedly  injurious.  As  it  is,  the  fall  of 
25(a)30  per  cent,  has  had  a  most  depressing  influence  on 
all  commercial  interests,  and  caused  unusual  irregularity 


1863.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


251 


in  prices  of  many  descriptions  of  merchandize.  Almost 
every  agricultural  product  is  much  cheaper  than  it  was  a 
month  ago,  and  still  tending  downward.  The  demand, 
on  the  contrary,  is  not  only  without  improvement,  but,  as 
a  rule,  has  diminished  materially.  Until  the  prospect 
becomes  more  definite  and  encouraging,  no  positive 
change  for  the  better  in  this  respect,  is  hoped  for  by  the 
leading  receivers  of  produce.  The  foregoing  table  will 
show  the  present  prices  and  the  changes  from  last  month. 

UT.  V.  Live  StockMarkets- The  Cattle 
markets  were  well  supplied  with  animals  for  the  first  two 
weeks  following  the  last  report  in  the  Agriculturist,  and 
prices  remained  quite  uniform  ;  then  we  had  5,304  beeves 
for  a  single  week,  and  a  decline  of  Jic.  to  1c.  per  lb.  was 
the  result.  At  the  last  general  market,  July  13th  and  14th 
the  trade  was  very  much  interfered  with  by  a  mob  organ- 
ized to  resist  the  military  draft  but  which  soon  degener- 
ated into  a  plundering  riot,  in  the  course  of  which  Aller- 
ton's  Hotel,  the  headquarters  of  cattle  men  at  the  prin- 
cipal place  for  sales,  was  stripped  and  then  burned.  This 
deranged  business,  and  some  of  the  cattle  were  scattered 
and  a  portion  were  sent  away  hastily  to  be  offered  again. 
Prices,  for  those  sold  out  of  3,390  offered  for  the  week 
were:  Prime  Bullocks  llcfaJll^c.  per  lb.  estimated  net 
weight  of  the  four  quarters  ;  Fair  to  good  cattle  §%c.(a> 
lO.^c. ;  Poor  7c.fS)9c.  the  average  being  about  10c,  mak- 
ing a  decline  of  %c.  for  the  month.  The  average  weekly 
receipts  were  4,454. 

Vesil  Calves. — Weekly  receipts  1,190  and 
prices  are  %c.  lower;  the  best  calves  selling  for  7c.  per 
lb.,  live  weight  and  pretty  good  ones  6c  ;  Demand  good. 

Sheep  and  B  r.i ;nl>s. — The  average  receipts 
amount  to  10,526  per  week.  They  are  %c  lower  than  a 
month  ago,  and  are  coming  forward  quite  as  fast  as  want- 
ed, the  numbers  being  largely  in  excess  of  last  month's 
receipts.  Good  sheep  are  worth  5JaC.(S)5?4  per  lb.  live 
weight.    Lambs  bring  8c.fa>9c. 

Yjtve  Hogs. — Receipts  average  10,000  for  the 
past  four  weeks,  and  the  market  continues  quite  uniform 
at  rates  last  quoted,  or  5Kc.(a>5>£c.  for  corn  fed  and  \%c. 
fS'5c.  for  still  fed  hogs. 

The  Weather — Has  generally  been  favor- 
able for  growing  crops,  during  the  past  four  weeks,  though 
rather  dry  at  first,  and  latterly  too  wet  to  give  farmers  a 
good  opportunity  to  secure  their  grain.  Our  daily  notes, 
condensed,  read  :  June  20,  cloudy,  cool — 21,  rain — 22  to  25 
clear,  fine — 2G,  light  rain — 27  to  30,  clear,  warm,  getting 

dry July  1,  2,  cloudy — 3,  fine,  warm — 4  to  6,  cloudy, 

light  rain — 5,  to  7,  clear,  warm,  and  very  dry — 8,  rain  P.M. 
and  at  night,  doing  abundance  of  good — 9  clear,  cool — 10, 
light  rain — 11,  clear,  fine— 12,  13,  ruin— 14,  15,  showers— 
16,  cloudy  P.  M. — 17,  thunder  shower,  P.M.,  and  rain 
night— 18,  cloudy  A.  M.,  clear  P.  M.— 19,  20,  clear,  warm 
— 21,  very  windy,  with  showers. 

Thermometer  at  6  A.  HI.,  New* York. 
[Observations  carefully  made  upon  a  standard  Ther- 
mometer (Fahrenheit.)— r  indicates  rain— s,  snow.] 


JUNE. 

1... 

...65 

7... 

...53  113. 

68 

lit... 

...64rl25.... 

61 

•f 

60 
...60 

8... 

...58r  14. 

50 
64 

20 
?1 

...57  |26.... 
...56r|27.... 

(illr 

3     , 

1 

59 

4 

...52 

in 

...59  116. 

61 

Ml 

...57  |28.... 

58 

S 

...56 

11 

..66r  17. 

53   ,. 

...59  129.... 

60 

OOr 

12,.  . 

64r|l8 

.   ...60 

24... 

...62  |30 

66 

Aver'e 

.60°. 

JULY. 

1    . 

..   66 

4 

...70  1  7. 

67  110... 

...6Sr,13..   . 

.71r 

•> 

...70 

5 

...67r    8 

70r  11... 

...68    14.... 

66r 

3 

70 

6 

...68rl  0. 

67  |l2... 

70r 

Circulation  of  the  Agriculturist. 

Beyond  all  doubt  or  controversy,  tlie  circu- 
lation of  tlie  American  Agriculturist  to  regu- 
lar subscribers,  is  many  thousands  greater 
titan  that  of  any  otlier  Agricultural  or  Hor- 
ticultural Journal  in  tlie  World,  no  matter 
wliat  its  character,  or  time  or  place  of  issue. 
The  publisher  is  ready  at  all  times  to  sub- 
stantiate this  statement  by  comparing  books. 

%bUxthtmtnts. 

Advertisements  to  be  sure  of  insertion  must  be  re- 
ceived at  latest  by  tlie  1 5th.  of  the  preceding  month. 
TERMS—  (invariably  cash  before  insertion) : 

FOE  THE  ENGLISH   EDITION  ONLY. 

Jfifbl  cents  per  line  of  space  for  each  insertion. 

One  whole  column  (14a  linca),  or  more,  $60  per  column. 

y-3f~llnHiiies8  Notices,  Eighty  cents  per  line  of  space. 

FOE  THE  GERMAN  EDITION  ONLY. 

Ten  cent*  per  line  of  space  for  each  Insertion. 
In  both  English  and  German,  Fifty-five  cents  per  line. 
One  whole  column  [130  lines),  or  more,  $10  per  column. 
(^"Business  Notices,  twenty  cents  a  line. 


W 


ANTED  TO  BUY  a.  email  farm  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of    New-York.      Address  with  terms,   etc., 
J.  H.  SNYDEtt,  Box  1UG9,  New- York  F.  O. 


For   Sale  Cheap. 

24-0  acres  of  good  No.  1,  Prairie  land,  ten  acres  of  which 
is  broke,  adjoining  timber,  J'j  mile-;  of  Flouring  Mill,  3  miles 
of  Saw  Mill,  13  miles  from  two  rivers,  tiy  which  there  u  wa- 
ter conrmnniCution  with  si.  Joseph,  and  St.  Louis,  being  but 
about  80  miles  from  the  former.  Situated  in  Fremonl  Co., 
Iowa.  Terms  $7  per  aero,  half  down,  half  in  one  year— U  all 
down,  fifteen  per  cent  discount  on  one  half.  For  particulars 
Address  J.  C.  CHESNEY,  P.  M.,  Abingdon  Illinois. 

^NUG  FARM  FOR  SALE.— 70  acres  with  good 
K7Hoi.se,  Barn  and  Well— li-ht  soil.no  stones;  5J  .  mUea 
from  -Saratoga  Springs— Price  $1,400  cash,  including  crops, 
and  implements.  Title  unexceptionable.  Enquire  ol  (HAS. 
EDMONDS.  SO  Nassau-st.,  New- York. 

A  YTCTIOX  SALE  of  SOUTH  DOWIV 

-T* si ikk p.  on  Wednesday,  Sept.  2nd,  isr.3,  I  will  offer  at 
1  nblic  Sale,  at  Thorndale,  without  any  reserve.  One  Hun- 
dred South-Down  Kwvs  ami  Rams.  They  are  all  eilher  Im- 
ported or  directly  descended  from  recent  Importations  from 
the  nocks  ot  the  late  Jonas  Webb,  Duke  of  Richmond,  and 
Henry  Lnirar.— It  can  hardly  be  necessary  to  refer  to  the  su- 
perior Mutton  and  Wool  producing  qualities  of  this  breed 
At  the  present  time,  their  wool  is  the  most  sousrht  after  ami 
commands  as  high  a  price  as  any  other  kind.— Thorndale  is 
14  miles  from  Po'keepsie  station,  on  the  Hudson  River  R  R 
and  9  miles  from  Dover  Plains  Station,  on  the  Harlem  R.  R. 
Further  particulars  can  be  learned  by  reference  to  the 
Catalogue  of  sale,  which  may  be  had  upon  application  to  tlie 
Auctioneer,  Mr.  John  R.  Page,  Scnnctt.  Cayuga  Co.,  N  Y 
or  of  SAMUEL  "THORNE, 

Thorndale,  Washington  Hollow,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y 


Fort    Edward   Institute. 

Brick  Buildings.— Best  sustained  boarding  Seminary  in  tlie 
State.  Fall  Term  August  20tb.  Board  and  common  English 
14  weeks  for  $40.  Special  arrangements  for  ladies.  Lan- 
guages, Sciences,  Music  and  Painting,  at  low  rates.  Also  a 
complete  Commercial  College  for  young  men.  For  cata- 
logues, address  REV.  JOSEPH  E.  KING. 

Fort  Edward,  N.  Y. 

83^  A  Teacher  accompanies  students  from  New- York. 


GRANVILLE  (OHIO)  FEMALE  COLLEGE.— 
Thirtieth  year  will  begin  September  10th.  The  highest 
educational  advantaged  are  afforded  in  Intellectual,  Physi- 
cal, and  Moral  Culture  ;  also  in  Vocal  and  Instrumental  Mu 
sic,  Painting  and  Drawing.  "It  ranks  among  the  first  Fe- 
male Colleges  in  the  West."  Charges  very  low.  Send  for  a 
Catalogue,   to  W.  P.  KERR,  A.  M. 

Trembley's    Union     Seedling 
Strawberry. 

Those  at  the  late  great  Strawberry  Exhibition  at  the  office 
of  the  Agriculturist,  who  were  so  desirous  to  obtain  plants 
of  this  verv  superior  variety,  may  obtain  them  by  applying  to 
Martin  &  Fallerson,  107  Beekmanst.,  H.  B.  Lane,  151  Nassau- 
st.,  or  by  addressing  S.  R.  TKEMBLEY,  Bergen  Point,  N.  J., 
at  50  cents  per  dozen,  or  §"2.50  per  100. 

The  berries  measure  from  3  to  5  inches  in  circumference; 
flavor,  delicate  and  delicious,  continue  bearing  for  5  weeks. 

N.  B. — Those  sending  orders  early  will  have  the  preference, 
as  the  supply  the  present  season  will  be  very  limited. 

.Delaware     Grapes. 

After  some  years  of  experiment,  the  subscribers  have 
adopted  a  mode  by  which  they  can  produce  plants  of  this 
valuable  grape  with  abundant  fibrous  roots  at  the  following 
very  low  rates : 

1st  Class,  $35  per  100.      )    2nd  Class,  $15  per  100. 
$200  per  1000.  f     $100  per  1000. 

Of  these  one  year  old,  they  can  furnish  50,000  deliverable  in 
October  and  November. 

Those  who  wish  to  plant  largely  will  do  well  to  examine 
this  Stock  before  purchasing,  and  to  send  their  orders  early 
as  the  demand  last  year  exceeded  the  supply. 

Those  who  wish  can  also  see  THREE  ACRES  of  Del- 
aware Vineyard  in  full  growth. 

CONCORD  and  otlier  Grapes  furnished  by  the  100  or  1000. 
Address  PARSONS  &  CO., 

Flushing,  N.  T. 

Seed  "Wheat  and  Rye,  best  Qual- 
ity &  above  the  Standard  Weight. 

L.  G.  MORRIS,  of  Mount  Fordhara,  "Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y., 
will  have  ready  for  delivery  as  soon  as  it  is  properly  cured  to 
be  threshed,  his  entire  crop  raised  on  the  Herdsdale  Farms. 
It  will  be  sold  at  wholesale  to  dealers,  and  retail  to  farmers: 
forwarded  a3  desired,  purchasers  paving  freight  and  cost  of 
the  bags  or  barrels.  Price  will  be  set  as  soon  as  it  is  ascer- 
tained what  it  should  be  at  seed  time,  or  it  will  be  inserted 
lu  the  next  issue  ot  this  paper.  The  wheat  is  "lied  bearded," 
the  Bye  what  is  termed  "  white  llye." 

Mount  Fordtiam.N.  Y.,  July  l'ith,  1863. 


Russell's   Prolific  Strawberry. 

Plants  of  this  superb  variety  carefully  packed  and  sent  by 
mail  or  Express  at  $1  .SO  per  dozen.    Descriptive  Catalogue  of 
over  flity  varieties  of  Strawberries seni  rm.  to  all  applicants. 
Address  FRANCIS  BlilLL, 

Newark.  New-Jersr\ , 


UNIVERSAL 

CLOTHES    WRINGER. 


No.  1.  Laurk  FAMILY  WRINGER. 
No. '?..  Medium       "  " 

No.  SX.      "  "  "  .. 

No. .".  Small  "  " 

No.  8.  Large  HOTEL 


No.  is.  Mimm  LAUNDRY 
No.  22.  Large  " 


J  to  run  by  steam  } 
I  01'  haild,  J 


Sio.no 

7.00 

6.00 

.       5.50 

14.00 

18.00 

30.00 


NOS.  2«  AND  3  HAVE  NO  COOS— ALL  OTHERS  ARE 
■WARRANTED. 

Mr.  JtroD,  of  the  American  Agriculturist  says  of  tlie 

Universal    dollies    Wring-el*: 

"From  several  years'  experience  with  it  in  our  own  family, 
from  the  testimony  of  hundreds  who  have  used  it,  and  from 
the  construction  of  the  implement  itself.— we  feel  certain 
that  it  is  worthy  a  place  in  every  family  where  the  washing 
is  done  at  home.  A  child  can  readily  wring  out  a  tuhlul  of 
Clothes  in  s  few  minutes.  It  is  in  reality  A  CLOTHES  SAV- 
ES! A  TIME  SAVIOK  !  and  A  STUENGTH  SAVER!  The 
saving  ol  garments  will  alone  pay  a  large  percentage  on  its 
cost.  We  think  the  machine  much  more  inan  PATS  FOli 
ITSELF  EVERY  YEAH  in  the  saving  of  garments!  There 
are  several  kinds,  nearly  alike  in  general  construction,  but 
we  consider  it  important  that  the.  Wringer  he  fitted  with 
Cogs,  otherwise  a  mass  of  garments  may  clog  the  rollers, 
and  the  rollers  upon  the  crankshaft  slip  and  tear  the 
clothes.  Our  own  is  one  of  the  first  made,  and  it  is  as  GOOD 
AS  NEW  after  nearly  FOUR  TEARS'  CONSTANT  USE." 
EVERY  "WRINGER,  AVITH  COG-WHEELS 
IS  WARRANTED  IN  EVERY  PARTICULAR. 

A  good  CANVASSER  wanted  in  every  Town. 

ff^"  On  receipt  of  the  price  from  places  where  no  one  is 
Bell  in  £,  we  will  send  the  wringer  FREE  OF  EXPENSE. 
Xi.  C.  BROWNING,  347  Broadway,  New-York. 

ANTI-FRICTION 

HORSE    POWERS, 
BURR    STONE   MILLS, 

which  may  be  driven  by 

HORSE,  WATER,  or  STEAM  POWER. 

Scud  for  Circular  to 

E.  H.  BENNET, 
42  and  4-1  Greene-st..  New-York. 

Saratoga  Springs  Remedial 
Institute. 

THIS  INSTITUTION  WAS  ESTABLISHED  TO  MEET 
tlie  wants  of  a  class  of  Patients  who  feci  tlie  necessity  of 
leavm"  their  homes  for  medical  aid.  Its  location  was 
clinscirin  view  of  the  medicinal  advantages  of  tlie  Springs. 

Since  graduating  at  the  New- York  Medical  University,  wo 
have  availed  ourselves  of  the  facilities  found  only  in  our 
lar'C  cities  for  the  stutlv  of  disease,  and  have  given  special 
attention  to  those  of  Women  ;  also,  of  the  Throat,  Heart,  and 

AsmedlcaJ  practitioners  we  treatall  diseases;  but  Chronic 
Affections  claim  our  principal  attention. 

While  this  is  not  a  Water-cure,  the  invalid  will  find  a  {rood 
gymnasium,  and  all  the  facilities  of  a  well-conducted  scien- 
Bio  Hydropathic  Establishment..  ■ 

The  home  reputation  of  a  phvsieian  should  be  the  basis  of 
public  confidence.  For  a  fuller  knowledge  of  the  Institute, 
we  refer  to  our  Circular,  and  the  reliable  citizens  of  our 

The  medical  profession  are  invited  to  acquaint  themselves 
with  the  Institution.  .  „  „     , 

S   S   STRONG,  M.  P.,  )  Saratoga  Springs, 
S.  E.  STRONG.  M.  1>„  f  N.  Y. 

REFERENCES— Rev.  Bishop  E.  S.  Janes,  D.  D.,  New- 
York  ■  Rev.  Bishop  M.  Simpson,  I>.  D„  Evanston,  III.;  Rev.  E. 
Nott  11  D  LL.D  ,  President  of  Union  College,  Schenecta- 
dy N  Y-  Rev.  Abel  Stevens,  LL.  U.,  N.  1  ;  Rev.  John  Wood- 
bridge.  Saratoga  Springs,  N.  Y.;  Hon.  J.  B.  McKeau,  Sarato- 
ga Springs,  N  Y. 

ITALIAN  QUEEN  BEES.    FOR  SALE  BY 
L.  L.  LANGSTROTH  &  SON, 

Oxford,  Butler  County,  Ol  lo. 


252 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[AuGrsT, 


SANFORD    &    BI^LLOIfc  Y'S 

PORTABLE 

FLAX  AND  HEMP  DRESSER. 

Date  of  Patents,  Sept.  IG,  1862,  and  April  28,  1863. 


_  3  £  S 


Made  and  Sold  by 

ALIL(D)3R¥  <k  SAI\J1F©]RB 

HARLEM   RAILROAD   BUILDING, 
Room  No.  26,  in  White-st.,  near  Centre. 


Our  terms  are  Cash  on  delivery  of  shipper's  receipt  or  hill 
of  lading,  and  persons  ordering  can  send  draft  on  New-York, 
or  Treasury  Notes,  to  some  person  here  whom  they  know, 
or  by  Express,  to  be  delivered  to  us  on  our  delivery  of  bill 
of  lading  for  shipment  of  Machine.  Price  at  our  Factory, 
at  Paterson,  New-Jersey,  for 

Xo.  1  Machine,  (capable  of  dressing  2,500  lbs.  ot  Flax 

Straw  in  ten  hours,)  S355. 

No.  3,  S'355.  No.  3,  Hand  Machine,  S155. 

First.— A  machine  capable  of  dressing  2,500  pounds  ot  flax 
straw  in  ten  hours,  can  be  sold  at  the  factory,  ready  for  ship- 
ment, at  $355;  and  the  second  size  capable  of  dressing  1,500 
pounds  of  straw  at,  $255.  A  third  size,  capable  of  dressing 
from  000  to  800  pounds  of  straw  per  day,  at  $155.  The  small- 
est size  weighs  about  300  pounds  and  can  be  run  by  hand. 

Second. — The  yield  of  flax  fibre  by  the  use  of  this  machine, 
in  proportion  to  the  weight  of  flax  straw  dressed,  exceeds 
bt  at  least  one-fourth  that  obtained  by  any  other  ma- 
chine or  process. 

Third.— The  fibre,  dressed  by  this  machine,  is  much  more 
valuable  than  that  dressed  in  any  other  way,  on  account  of 
the  greater  yield  over  the  hackle. 

Fourth.— This  machine  is  so  simple  in  itsconstruction  and 
operation,  that  the  liability  to  derangement  is  very  slight. 

Fifth.— This  machine  does  not  require  In  its  use  any  pecu- 
liar skill.  It  can  be  operated  by  boys  or  girls,  and  does  not 
involve  any  risk  to  the  hands  or  arms  of  the  operatives,  while 
the  ordinary  machines  require  the  use  of  skilled  labor,  and 
as  experience  has  proved,  are  always  attended  with  risk  to 
the  operatives. 

SixTn—  This  machine  can  be  driven  by  any  of  the  horse 
powers  in  use,  and  as  it  can  be  operated  by  ordinary  farm 
labor,  it  enables  the  farmer  to  dress  and  prepare  for  market, 
at  little  expense,  the  fl:ix  raised  by  himself,  thus  opening  to 
him  a  new  and  profitable  occupation. 

Seventh.— This  machine  is  small,  the  largest  size  occupy- 
ing only  about  four  feet  square,  and  weighing  not  over  1,100 
pounds. 

As  there  is  a  demand  for  larger  machines  for  hemp,  the 
proprietors  are  building  such,  capable  of  dressing  two  and-a- 
halftonsof  hemp  straw  per  day. 

The  amount  of  flax  fibre  produced  in  the  United  States  in 
the  year  VSS6  was7,S0f>,SO9  pounds.  Had  the  straw  from  which 
Him  amount  of  fibre  was  taken,  been  dressed  by  the  San  ford 
A  Mallot-y  Machine,  the  yield  would  have  been  not  less  than 
10,109.078  pounds.  The  Increased  product  or  the  flax  saved, 
at  present  prices,  would  be  worth  $650,512. 

When  it  is  remembered  that  in  many  of  the  Western 
Stales  an  immense  quantity  of  flax  is  raised  for  the  seed 
alone,  the  straw  being  destroyed  or  wasted  as  of  no  value,  it 
will  readily  be  seen  that  the  introduction  among  farmers  and 
manufacturers  of  a  cheap  and  effective  machine,  capable  of 
converting  what  would  otherwise  go  to  waste,  into  an  arti- 


cle of  great  value,  can  not  fail  to  produce  the  most  import- 
ant results. 

It  is  well  known  that  flax  can  be  successfully  cultivated  in 
all  the  Northern  States.  If  in  addition  to  the  value  of  the 
seed— sufficient  of  itself  to  pay  the  entire  cost  of  cultivation— 
the  straw  can  be  made  a  source  of  large  profit,  a  wide  field 
of  successful  industry  will  be  opened. 

That  the  statements  here  put  forward  as  to  the  efficiency 
and  value  of  the  Sanford  &  Mallory  Machine,  and  especially 
as  to  the  great  saving  effected  by  it  over  any  other  machine 
or  process  known,  are  rather  below  than  beyond  the  fact, 
will  abundantly  appear  from  the  subjoined  reports  and  let- 
ters from  practical  flax-workers  and  dealers.  Nothing  need 
be  added  to  their  direct  and  positive  testimony. 

Over  fifty  of  these  machines  for  flax  and  hemp  have  been 
In  successful  use  during  the  past  season,  in  different  parts  of 
the  country,  and  the  demand  for  them  is  now  large— conse- 
quently, ordersfor  them  should  be  made  early,  as  the  coming 
crop  of  flax  and  hemp  will  soon  be  ready  for  dressing. 

The  demand  for  flax  during  the  past  year  and-a-half  has 
quite  doubled  its  price,  and  it  is  now  used  for  many  purposes 
to  which  it  was  never  before  applied,  and  for  which  it  Is  found 
to  be  superior  to  cotton  and  other  materials  before  in  use. 
Whatever,  therefore,  may  be  the  future  product  of  cotton, 
the  demand  for  flax  will  not  diminish,  hut,  on  the  contrary, 
increase  with  its  new  and  useful  applications.  It  is  now 
largely  mixed  with  woolen  goods  of  almost  every  descrip- 
tion ;  is  used  for  paper,  wadding,  batting,  belting,  druggets, 
delaines,  calicoes,  stockings,  felt  hats,  and  carpeting.  Should 
the  experiments  for  cottonizixg  flax,  for  which  Congress 
has  made  a  large  appropriation,  succeed,  the  already  large 
demand  for  it  would  not  only  be  enormously  enhanced,  but 
made  practically  unlimited. 

Take  a  given  quantity  of  Flax  Straw,  either  over  or  nnder 
retted,  and  pass  it  once  through  this  Machine  and  it  will  in- 
variably have  lost  four-tifths  of  the  shoove  or  woody  part, 
without  the  least  fibre  of  tow.  The  Machine  requires  two 
men,  or  hoys,  to  tend  it,  and  runs  from  eighteen  to  twenty 
hundred  lbs.  of  straw  in  ten  hours.  There  is  no  risk  whatev- 
er to  life  or  limb  of  the  operator. 

A  dry  or  wet  day  makes  no  difference  with  this  Machine, 
with  reference  to  its  result  in  the  saving  of  Fibre. 

The  Machine  oan  be  seen  in  operation  any  day  at  room  No. 
2T>,  Harlem  K.  R.  Building,  corner  of  White  and  Center 
Streets,  New-York  City,  or  at  Mr.  Harvy  Wilcox's  Flax  Mill 
in  Union  Village,  Washington  County,  N.  T. 

This  Machine  with  one-horse  power  will  also  run  from  four 
to  six  hundred  lbs.  of  Hemp  stalks  per  hour ;  leaving  the 
fibre  perfectly  clean  and  straight,  with  not  one  ounce  of  tow 
to  the  ton. 

Those  desiring  Machines  this  fall  should  order  at  once,  as 
we  shall  supply  according  to  the  date  of  orders. 


TESTIMONIALS. 
Lake,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y„  Nov.  7tb,  1862. 
Messrs.  Mallory  &  Sanford: 

Gentlemen.— On  the  fith  of  Nov.  I  took  two  lots  of  very 
tender  straw,  as  nearly  alike  as  possible,  each  weighing  26 )< 
lbs.  One  lot  I  bad  dressed  at  a  neighboring  flax  mill  (as 
good  as  the  average  of  mills  In  this  country),  and  the  yield 
was  2  lbs.  13  oz„  dressed  flax,  and  %yt  lbs.  of  tow.  I  then  had 
the  other  26V*  lbs.  broken  in  your  brake,  and  scutched  in  the 
usual  way — the  yield  was  5  lbs.  5>^  oz.  dressed  flax,  and  no 
tow  of  any  amount.  I  can  assure  yon  I  was  much  surprised 
at  the  result.  To-day  I  have  seen,  at  the  mill  of  Mr.  Harvy 
Wilcox,  a  very  thorough  experiment,  testing  the  relative 
working  of  your  machine  and  the  old  brake.  50  lbs  straw 
broken  in  your  machine  weighed  after  breaking  %\%  lbs. 
The  same  quantity  broken  in  the  old  brake  weighed  after 
breaking  38  lbs.  A  lot  of  350  lbs.  was  then  broken  in  your 
machine  and  scutched  with  the  following  results: 
Time  of  breaking    lh.  36  min.    Yield  of  coarse  tow...  10  1bs( 

"       "    scutching  lh.  30  min.      "       "    fine  tow 1%  lbs 

Yield  of  dressed  flax. ..79K  lbs. 

A  lot  of  same  quality  and  weight  was  then   broken  in  the 
old  brake  and  scutched : 
Time  of  breaking.. lh.  25  min.    Yield  of  coarse  tow.. 26  lbs 

"    scutching, lh.  28  min.       "       "    fine  tow G%  lbs.' 

Yield  of  dressed  flax  ...64  lbs. 

I  have  been  engaged  in  the  flax  mill  business  nine  years, 
and  have  experimented  a  great  deal  in  flax  dressing,  and 
from  what  I  have  seen  of  your  machine,  I  am  confident  that 
with  skillful  use  it  will  yield,  when  tender  straw  is  dressed, 
at  least  10  lbs.  of  lint  to  100  lbs.  of  straw,  more  than  any  oth- 
er machine  in  use — and  when  straw  of  average  quality  la 
dressed,  the  saving  will  average  at  least  0  lbs.  to  the  100. 
And  I  think  the  coarse  tow  from  your  machine  is  worth  full 
one  cent  per  pound  more  than  that  from  the  old  mode  ol 
dressing,  while  the  flax  dressed  is  invariably  softer,  longer 
and  freer  from  shoove  than  any  I  have  ever  seen  from  the 
old  process.  Another  feature  of  your  Machine  is,  that  it  can 
be  worked  without  the  slightest  risk  to  the  operator.  I  have 
this  day  ordered  from  your  Agent,  Mr.  Wilcox,  two  of  youi 
machines  for  my  Mill. 

Yours  truly,      ENOS  DURHAM. 
Lake,  May  11th.  1863. 
Messrs.  Mallory  &  Sanford  ■— 

Gentlemen— I  think  that  I  promised  you  that  I  would 
write  you  and  let  you  know  how  the  brakes  work  after  hav- 
ing the  new  gear  put  on,  and  now  (after  working  them  two 
months'  I  think  I  can  safely  say  that  they  are  perfect.  They 
work  perfectly  easy,  that  jerking  noise  is  entirely  done  away 
with;  consequently  there  is  little  or  no  strain  on  the  gear, 
and  not  liable  to  get  out  of  order.  In  regard  to  the  working 
of  the  brake  I  have  seen  nothing  to  alter  my  mind  siucelast 
Fall,  after  running  them  six  months  ;  on  the  contrary,  I  have 
become  confirmed  in  what  I  stated  last  Fall,  have  triec1  them 
in  opposition  to  the  old  brake  several  times,  and  alwa  js  with 
nearly  the  same  results.  I  will  give  one  or  two  specimens. 
I  was  at  Wm.  McMillen's  mill  last  winter,  and  we  were  in 
conversation  about  your  brake.  We  finally  agreed  on  a  test. 
Accordingly,  he  selected  two  bundles  (nine  and  one-half 
pounds  each),  first  quality  of  straw,  and  cast  lots,  by  turning 
his  back,  &e.  The  bundle  that  fell  to  him  was  dressed  in  his 
mill,  and  made  two  pounds,  six  ounces,  of  lint ;  the  other  I 
brought  home  and  broke  it  with  your  brake,  and  dressed  three 
pounds  of  lint.  The  tow  we  paid  no  attention  to  In  either 
case.  This  morning  I  took  a  bundle  oi  straw  that  weighed 
eieht  pounds,  ran  it  through  the  brake,  and  it  weighed  three 
pounds,  four  ounces.  I  then  dressed  it,  and  got  two  pounds 
of  flax  and  four  ounces  of  tow,  not  very  heavy  coated.  I 
think  with  good  quality  of  straw,  well-rotted  and  dry.  it 
will  take  out  nine-tenths-  of  the  shives.  I  do  not  want  you 
to  think  that  flax  can  not  be  wasted  after  your  brake ;  on 
the  contrary,  I  know  that  hands  do  waste  a  great  deal  of 
flax  that  might  be  saved  by  good  management,  but  that  is  no 
fault  of  the  machinery.  I  suppose  you  have  forwarded  a 
machine  to  Richardson  in  Iowa.    1  hope  so. 

Tours  truly,  ENOS  DURHAM. 
"Roughfort,  Ireland,  April  9th,  1S63. 
"  Dear  Sir,— I  have  to  report  to  yon  on  the  merits  of  Mal- 
lory &  Sanford's  American  brake,  which  has  been  at  my 
scutch  mill  for  the  last  three  weeks.  I  have  tried  it  on  va- 
rious kinds  of  straw,  and  find  the  results  as  follows:  On 
very  poor  and  hard  straw  I  found  a  gain  of  one  pound  per 
hundred  weight  over  the  same  broken  by  ordinary  rollers; 
on  medium  quality  of  straw  a  gain  of  two  pounds,  four 
ounces  per  hundred  weight,  the  yield  by  your  brake  being 
eighteen  pounds,  four  ounces  against  sixteen  pounds  on  same 
straw  broken  by  ordinary  method;  on  very  tender  straw, 
over- watered,  the  gain  was  three  and  a  half  pounds  per  hun- 
dred weight,  the  yield  by  your  brake  being  fourteen  and-a- 
half  pounds  against  eleven  pounds  by  ordinary  method.  I 
find  the  flax  from  your  rollers  easier  scutched,  and  the  yield 
softer  to  feel  and  quality  improved  over  Jhat  rolled  in  the 
ordinary  way. 

Tours  truly. 

JOHN  WILLIAMSON. 
"Mr.  Alex.  Guild,  Belfast." 

Springfield,  Clark  County,  Ohio,  May  5lh,  1S6S. 
Messrs.  Mallory  &  Sanfokd:— 

Gentlemen.— I  have  tried  one  of  your  brakes,  and  I  have 
run  through  thirty-one  hundred  pounds  in  ten  and  one- 
fourth  hours,  which  was  well  broken,  and  every  way  satis- 
factory.   I  am,  gentlemen,  yours  respectfully, 

E.  MEEK. 

Descriptive  Circulars  sent  free  on  application  to 

MALLORY  &  SANFORD, 
Corner  White  and  Center-Sts..  New-York. 


18G3 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


J  5  3 


FINE     WOOL 

SHEEP    HUSBANDRY. 

"Will  be  ready  to  deliver  to  those  who  order,  on  the  first  of 
AUGUST.    Price  75  cts. 

Sent  free  of  postage. 

Address  C.  M.  SAXTON,  Publisher,  New- York. 

CONTENTS: 

Varieties  and  Sub-V;\rieties  in  Spain. 

The  French  Merino. 

The  Saxon  Merino. 

The  Silesian  Merino. 

Introduction  of  Merinos  into  the  U.  S.  Their  Success. 
Prices  of  Wool  since  1824,  The  American  Merino.  Intro- 
duction of  the  French  Merino.  Comparative  Profitableness 
of  Varieties.  Housing  Sheep  to  preserve  Yolk  on  the  Wool. 
Early  Shearing.  Breeding.  Present  course  of  Breeding  in 
the  U.  S.    The  Future  of  fine  Wool  in  our  Country,  &c.,  &c. 

books  for  farmers 
and  others. 

[Any  of  the  following  books  can  be  obtained  at  the  of- 
fice of  the  Agriculturist  at  the  prices  named,  or  they  will  be 
forwarded  by  mnU,  post  putrf,  on  receipt  of  the  price.  Other 
books  not  named  in  the  list  will  be  procured  and  sent  to  sub- 
scribers vsfien  desired,  if  the  price  be  forwarded.  All  of  these 
books  may  be  procured  by  any  one  making  up  a  libra- 
ry. Those  we  esteem  specially  valuable,  are  marked  with  a  V| 

American  Bird  Pander $0  25 

American  Farmer's  Encyclopedia 5  00 

American  Florist's  Guide       75 

American  Weeds  and  Useful  Plants 1  50 

Allen  on  the  Culture  ot  the  Grape   1  oi) 

Allen's  (It  I*)  American  Farm  Book* l  oo 

Alien's  Diseases  of  Domestic  Animals 75 

Allen's  (I,.  F.l  Ltnral  Architecture 1  25 

Bridgeman's  Fruit  Cultivator's  Manual 60 

Bridge  man's  Voting  Gardener's  Assistant  .  1  50 

Bridgemnn'a  Kitchen  Garden  Instructor. GO 

Bridgeman's  Florist's  Guide 60 

Brandt's  Aire  of  Horses*  (English  and  German) 50 

Breek's  Bonk  of  Flowers 1  25 

Browne's  American  Poultry  Yard 1  25 

liiiist's  American  Flower  Garden  Directory 1  25 

Buist's  Family  Kitchen  Gardener* 75 

Central  Park  Guide 25 

Ciiorlt oil's  Grape-Grower's  Guide* 60 

Cole's  tS.  W.)  American  Fruit  Book  60 

Cole's  Veterinarian ,    . .  60 

Dadd'e  (Geo.  11.)  Modern  Horse  Doctor 1  25 

Dadd's  (Geo.  II.)  American  Cattle  Doctor .      1  25 

Dana's  Muck  Manual  for  Farmers 1  00 

Downing'^  cottage  Residences* 2  fiO 

Downing's  Ki  nils  and  Fruit  Trees  of  America**. ,    2  00 

Downing'S  Ladies'  Flower  Garden ..   .1  50 

Kasiwood  on  the  Cranberry*  50 

Employment  of  Women— By  Virginia  Penny* 1  50 

Every  Lady  her  own  Flower  Gardener 25 

Fesscndens  American  Kitchen  Gardener 25 

French's  Farm  Drainage  * 1  25 

Field's  (Thomas  W,>  Pear  Culture 1  00 

Fish  Culture 1  00 

Flint  (Charles  L.)  on  Grasses* I  50 

Flint's  Milch  Cows  and  Dairv  Farming* 1  50 

Fuller's  Strawberry  Cnlturist 10 

Goodale's  Principles  of  Breeding 100 

Gray's  Manual  of  Botany 2  50 

Guenon  on  Milch  Cows .       60 

Hall's  (Miss)  American  Cookery. 1  00 

Harris'  Insects  Injurious  to  Vegetation  plain 3  00 

do.       do.  do.  do,         colored  plates.    4  00 

Herbert's  Hints  to  Horsekcepers'* 1  25 

Hooper's  Dog  and  Gun 25 

.Johnson  on  Manures 75 

Kemps  Landscape  Gardening 2.00 

Kidder's  Bee  Culture 50 

Lancatroth  on  the  Honey  Bee*  125 

Leslie's  Recipes  for  Cooking 1  25 

Leuchars'  Hothouses  l  25 

Liebig's  Lectures  on  Chemistry 50 

Llnsley's  (D.  C.)  Morcan  Horses  125 

Manual  of  Agriculture  by  G.  Emerson  and  C.  L.  Fliut.    1  00 

M:u!ie\v's  111 usi rated  Horse  Doctor  3  00 

McMahon's  American  Gardener* 2  50 

Mcelian'B  Ornamental  Trees 75 

Milburn  on  the  Cow  and  Dairy.. 25 

Miles  on  the  Horse's  Foot 50 

Mistakes  of  Educated  Men 50 

National  Almanac  and  Annual  liecord** 1  25 

Norton's  Sclent  Hie  Agriculture 75 

Olcott's  Sorgho  and  Imphee 100* 

Our  Farm  ot  Four  Acres..* (paper) 25 

onion  Culture** 20 

Pardee  011  strawberry  Culture , 60 

Parlor  Gardener 75 

Parsons  on  the  Hose , .  ..1  25 

Pedder's  Farmer's  Land  Measurer 50 

Phantom  Bouquet,  or  Skeleton  Leaves 100 

Phin'a  Grape  Culture  1  25 

Outnbv's  Mysteries  ol  Bee  keeping* 1  25 

KandalPa  Sheep  Husbandry 1  25 

Richardson  on  the  Dog 50 

Kichardson  on  the  HOC 25 

Robins'  Produce  and  Ready  Reckoner 60 

Rose  Cut turtst 25 

Shepherd's  Own  Book 2  00 

Skillful  Housewife        25 

Smith's  Landscape  Gardening.   1  25 

Spencer's  Education  ol  Children** 1  25 

Stewart's  (John)  Stable  Book ....  1  25 

Tobacco  Culture** 25 

Todd's  (S.  E.)  Young  Farmers  Manual 1  25 

Tucker's  Register  Rural  Affairs         25 

Turner's  Cotton  Planter's  Manual 1  25 

Watson's  American  Home  Garden 1  50 

Wood's  Class  Book  of  Botany 2  50 

Yale  College  Agricultural  Lectures 25 

Youatt  and  Spooiier  on  the  Horse 1  25 

Youatt  and  Martin  on  Cattle 1  25 

Youatt  on  the  Hog 75 

Youstt  on  Sheep 75 

Youraans'  Household  Science*         125 

BONE  MANURE. 

Order  early.    The  supply  is  limited.  We  sell  a  pure  article, 
GRIPPING,  BROTHER  &  »'(>„ 
GO  Courtlandt-st.,  New-York. 


KW  STRAWBERRY  PLANTS  .JgJ 
By  IMail. 

Will  be  ready  In  August  and  September— Choice  plants 
for  mailing— being  stout  and  strong;. 

Triompbe  de  Gand,  Great  Austin  or  Shaker,  and  Wilson's 
Seedling.    The  very  best  for  family  use  and  marketing. 

For  a  remittance  of  $  1.30c.  100  plants  of  either  kind,  or  a 
100  assortment  will  be  sent  to  the  Post  Otflce  address  of  those 
ordering. 

100  plants  grown  as  I  direct,  will  produce  over  3  bushels  of 
fruit.    Good  Plants  $6  per  1000. 

J.  C.  THOMPSON,  Tompkinsville, 
Statcn  Island,  N.  Y. 

Strawberry    Plants. 

Triomplic  de  Gaud,  Wilson's  Albany,  nooker,  Fill- 
more, Bartlett,  Ward's  Favorite,  and  forty  oilier  varieties  in 
large  quantities,  at  low  rates,  at  wholesale  and  retail.  Cat- 
alogues gratis.  FRANCIS  BRILL. 

Newark,  New-Jersey. 

FRUIT  AND   ORNAMENTAL   TREES. 

RARE  CHANCES  OFFERED. 

200.000    Choice   Fruit  Trees,  Vines,  etc.,    for 

sale,  of  varied  size  to  suit  customers. 

The  subscriber  calls  attention  to  his  unusually  large  stoek 
of  well  grown  trees  now  on  hand,  and  especially  to  the  pre- 
sent stock  of  the  standard  fkuit,  Apple,  which  is  the 
largest  and  finest  ever  offered  at  these  Nurseries. 

With  twenty  years  of  experience,  by  careful  observation 
and  judicious  selections,  he  believes  be  is  able  to  judge  and 
furnish  what  will  suit  his  customers,  as  well  as  cite  varied 
soils  and  localities,  in  which  trees  may  be  wanted.  There  is 
also  special  attention  paid  to  local  varieties,  adapted  to 
Southern  and  Central  Pennsylvania,  many  of  which  have 
proven  themselves  more  valuable,  than  sorts  originating  in 
a  climate  differing  so  widely  from  these  sections. 

He  is  also  preparing  a  list  of  club  pkioks  tor  those  who 
purchase  direct  from  the  proprietor,  offering  rare  induce- 
ments for  neighbors  to  join  together  and  get  trees  consider- 
ably under  the  regular  retail  prices. 

This  mode  is  adopted  for  those  who  may  not  have  an  op- 
portunity to  purchase  from  his  regularly  authorized  agents, 
and  hold  a  mistrust  towards  the  too  numerous  tree  venders 
spread  over  the  land. 

B3T"  The  frequent  use  made  of  his  name  and  establishment 
by  strangers,  to  effect  sales  where  the  reputation  of  the 
nursery  is  known,  compels  him  to  warn  all  not  to  purchase 
— as  coming  from  these  Nurseries— stuck  ottered  by  pise- 
tendehs,  who  do  not  hold  an  authority  from  the  proprietor. 

Local  or  stationed  agents  will  be  accepted,  but  neither 
traveling  nor  Stationary  agency  inquiries  will  receive  notice, 
unless  the  parties  produce  satisfactory  reference  as  to  their 
honesty  in  dealing  with  customers  and  employer.  Send  for 
Catalogues  and  priced  List,  which  contain  inducements  not 
before  offered  by  him.  Abundant  and  trustworthy  re- 
ference WILL  BE  FURNISHED  TO  ALL  WHO  ARE  STRANG- 
ERS TO  THE  ESTABLISHMENT, 

Address  DAVID  MILLER,  JR., 

Cumberland  Nurseries,  Carlisle,  Pa. 

GRAPE    VINES. 

Our  Stock  of  all  the  new  and  leading  kinds  is  unsurpassed 
anywhere.  Our  New  Price  List  will  be  issued  September  1st, 
and  sent  to  all  applicants  free  of  charge. 

J.  KNOX, 
Box  155,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

GRAPE     VINES. 

Planters  and  Dealers  will  please  send  to  WM.  PEBRY  & 
SON.  BRIDGEPORT,  CONN.,  for  their  price  list  for  1S63. 
CONCORD  ami  DELAWARE  Vines  of  superior 
quality,  at  low  rates. 

Turnip  Seed  by  Mail. 

In  consennencc  of  the  increased  reduction  of  postage  on 
Seeds,  I  will  mail  the  following  varieties  of  Turnip  Seed  to 
any  address  in  the  Union  upon  receipt  of  the  prices  annexed. 
1  ounce,  10  cts.:  4  ounces,  30  cts.;  8  ounces,  50  cts.;  1  pound, 
75cts.  Early  Dutch,  Snowball.  Red  Top  Strap  Leaf,  White 
Top  Strap  Leaf,  White  Globe,  White  Norfolk,  Yellow  Aber- 
deen, Yellow  Finland,  Robertsons  Golden  Ball,  Orange  Jel- 
ly, Teltau  or  small  Berlin,  Long  White  French,  White  Tan- 
kard, Long  White  or  Cow's  Horn,  Waite'fa  Eclipse,  Dale's  Hy- 
brid, Lamg's  Improved  Rutabaga,  Skirving  s  do..  Stubble 
Swede.  Also  Chinese  Winter  Radish,  25  cents  per  ounce. 
Winter  Spinach,  same  price  as  turnip  seed.  Please  Address 
B.  K,  BLISS,  Springlield,  Mass. 

SEEDS. 

"White  Flat,  Reel  Top  Flat,  White  French. 
Yellow  Swedish,  Yellow  Stone,  Yellow 
Aberbeen,  and  other  Turnip  Seed. 

Buckwheat  and   Seed   Grain  of  best  varieties. 

Garden  and  Agricultural  Seed,  fresh  and  pure. 
Wholesale  and  Retail  by 

E.  H.  ALLEN  &  CO.,  1S9  &  191  Water-st.,  New-York. 

TOBACCO. 

Just    How    to    Grow    it . 

Every  particular,  from  the  selection  of  the  Seed,  and 
preparation  of  the  ground,  to  the  Gathering,  Curing,  and 
Marketing  the  Crop,  is  given  in  a  work  issued  by  the 
Publisher  of  the  American  Agriculturist,  and  sent  post- 
paid for  25  cents.  This  work  consists  of  a  selection  of 
the  best  fourteen  out  of  eighty-five  Essays,  prepared  by 
eighty-five  different  cultivators,  residing  in  various  parts 
of  the  Northern  and  Middle  States.  In  each  of  the  Essays 
contained  in  this  work,  the  writer  tells,  in  a  plain,  practi- 
cal, straight-forward  manner,  just  what  to  do,  and  how  to 
do  it.  Any  item  omitted  by  one  is  given  by  another,  so 
that  the  information  is  full  and  complete.  Several  en- 
gravings illustrating  the  method  of  drying,  packing,  etc. 
The  work  is  worth  its  weight  in  silver  to  every  one  grow- 
ing even  u  small  plot  of  tobacco. 


STRAWBERRIES  !  ! 

The  Subscriber  will  send  any  of  the  following  choice 
Strawberry  Plants,  post  paid,  to  .iny  part  of  the  United 
States  (where  there  is  postal  communication),  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  on  receipt  of  price,  and  will  also  insure 
their  safe  arrival  at  destination. 

Per  Dm,\  Per  Doss* 

.%    SOlC.reen  Alpine 35 

40 
50 
40 


Austin  or  Shaker, 

Albion  White  "1  50; Hooker  ... 

Autumnal  Ualande 75  Honnenrdn  In  Beleiaue 

Alpine  Red      ....      40  Jenny  Lind 

Belle  de  Vibcrt 1  00  Jocund* 75 

Belle  Arteisenne 1  OOlLa  Constante      .     .  75 


Bicolor 
Belle  Bordelaise, ... 
Burr's  New  Pine  . . . 
Black  Prince. 
Bonte  de  St.  Julien 
Bartlett , 

Cutter 

Crimson  Favorite.. 
Crimson  Queen...    . 

Downer        

Deptford  White 
Due  fie  Muiakmr.    . 

Eliza  (River's) 

Fillmore 

Filbert  Pine  .  . 
Georgia  Mammoth. 
General  Scott 
Garibaldi 


1  not  La   Perle        1  00 

50  Ladles'  Ring 40 

35  Li'imig's  White 1  00 

35, Mav  Queen 40 

50  Oscar 50 

40  Prince  Imperial  .........  75 

40  Princess  Fred.  William.,  l  00 


50 
1  50 
40 
40 
40 
40 
75 
50 
40 


\  lOlReinc  Kortensc 

50  Russell's  Prolific 

4ii  Scott's  Seedling.  .  .. 
50iTriomphe  de  Gand.... 
50  Vlcomntesse  Ben  cart 
50  Victoria  (Tro. lop's). .. 
50  Victory 

501  Wonderful    

40  Wilson 

1  00  White  Pine  Apple.. 1  00 

1  001 

For  price  of  plants  in  larger  quantities,  and  description  of 
the  above  and  many  other  varieties,  see  our  new  Strawber- 
ry ( latalogue,  which  will  be  ready  the  first  of  August,  sent 
free  to  all  applicants  who  inclose  two  one-cent  stamps.  Ad- 
dress ANDREW  S.  FULLER,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Strawberry  Plants  by  Mail, 

FOR  ONE  DOLLAR, 

"We  will  send  to  any  Post  Office  address  in  the  United  States 
or  Territories,  safely  packed  and  post-paid, 

One   I>ozon  Plants 
of  each  of  the  following  kinds.    Triomplic  de   Gaud, 
Wilson's    Albany,   and    Burr's  New   Pine  (the 
best  early). 

FOR  THREE  DOLLARS, 


of  each)  100  Plants 


We  will  send  in  equal  quantities  (3; 
of  the  above  kinds:  or  for 

FIVE    DOLLARS, 

300  Plans   (100  of  each). 

The  above  embrace  the  different  seasons  of  ripening,  and 
are  all  favorites  with  us.  For  further  particulars  send  for 
our  Strawberry  Circular,  which  will  be  furnished  free. 

J.  KNOX, 
Box  155,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

New  and  Splendid  Strawberries. 

The.  prize  berries  of  Europe,  Empress  Eugenic,  Margarite, 
and  Princess  Frederick  William,  plants  $1  per  dozen. 

Russell's  Great  Prolific.  One  of  the  most  promising  of  the 
American  seedlings,  berries  produced  this  season,  i!'<  inches 
in  circumference;  it  is  more  prolific  than  the  Wilson,  supe- 
rior in  flavor,  and  a  splendid  market  berry,  $1.50  per  dozen, 
or  $9  per  hundred. 

Lenning's  White,  Albion  "White,  "White  Pine  Apple,  and 
Deptford  White.  1  hese  are  great  acquisitions,  berries  very 
large,  fine  flavored  and  very  productive,  at  $1  per  dozen. 

La  Constante.  We  would  call  attention  to  this  variety,  ns 
one  of  (tie  most  promising  sorts  in  cultivation,  at  50c."  per 
dozen,  $1  per  hundred. 

Oscar.  Victory,  Wizard  of  the  North,  River's  Eliza,  Bonte 
de  St.  Julian,  Crimson  Queen,  Wonderful,  Filbert  Piue, 
Prince  Imperial,  Due  de  Brabant.  Boyden's  Mammoth,  and 
Due  de  Malakofl,  at  50  cents  per  dozen. 

Triompbe  de  Gand,  Great  Austin,  Jenny  Lind,  Bartlett, 
Felton,  or  Chilian,  at  $1  per  hundred.  $ti  per  thousand.  Ber- 
ries of  the  great  Austin  were  produced  this  season,  weighing 
\%  ounces.  We  think  the  Austin  better  than  the  Wilson,  and 
more  productive.  Plants  delivered  in  rotation  as  ordered 
All  orders  addressed  to  WM.  S.  CARPENTEB, 

329  Greeuwich-st.,  New-York, 

Green   Prolific    Strawberry. 

Produced  from  "Kitley's  Goliath  "  and  "Hovey's Seedling," 
bv  Setli  Bovden  Esq.,  and  is  one  of  the  parents  of  his  famous 
seedling  "Agriculturist"  which  astonished  the  natives  art 
the  late  exhibition  In  New-York.  In  many  points  equal  to 
this  wonderful  new  variety.  Decidedly  one  of  the  best  in 
cultivation.  Strong  Plants  $1  per  dozen.  For  a  descriptive 
circular  or  plants,  Address  FKANCIS  BKILL. 

Newark,  New-Jersey. 

Or  any  of  the  following  Agents. 
Andrew  Brldceman,  873  Broadway,  New-York. 
C.  B.  Miller.  631  Broadway,  New-York. 
Jas.  M.  Tlioi'lmrn  &  Co.,  15  John-street,  New-York. 
Wm.  Elliott,^  John-street,  New-York. 
Fleming  <fc  Davidson,  07  Nassau-street,  New- York. 
Jas.  Hairgertv.  Poughkeepsic,  N.Y.    H.  A.  Dreer,  Plula.,  Pa. 
Jno.  Stair  &  son,  Cleveland,  O.  Wm.Thorburn,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

STRAWBERRIES. 

"We  will  issne  on  the  1st  of  August  a  circular,  giving  var- 
ieties of  strawberries  that  have  proved  the  most  valuable 
this  season,  with  prices  of  plants,  and  other  information, 
which  will  be  sent  to  all  applicants  free  of  charge. 

J.  KNOX,  Box  1135,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

Strawberry   Plants. 

All  the  standard  old  varieties,  aswell  as  the  best  new  ones, 
for  sale  at  low  rates,  and  warranted  true  to  name. 
Send   for  a  Catalogue    gratis    to 

FRANCIS  BlllLL,  Newark,  New-Jersey. 


254 


AMERICAN    AG-RICULTTJRIST. 


[August, 


KKW-VORK.     STATE    AGRHTLTIUAL    WORKS. 


WHEELER,  MELICK  &  CO.,  Proprietors, 

ALBANY,  N.  Y., 

Manufacture  Wheeler's  Patent 

R4ILWAYCB.1IN  HORSE  POWERS 

FOR  ONE  AND  TWO  HOttSES ; 

E.A'WKISNCE   A:  GOULD   PATENT  RAIL- 
WAY  CHAIN   HORSE    POWERS, 

FOR  ONE,  TWO,   AND  TITTIEE  HORSES  ; 

Plantation  or  Lever  Horse  Power, 

FOUR  HORSE  OR  SIX  MULE  GEAR  ; 

Wheeler's  Patent  Combined  THreslier  and 

Cleaner, 

No.  1,  30  inch,  antl  No.  2,  21'.  Inch  Cylinder. 
Extra  No.  1,  34  inch  Cylinder. 

Oversliot  Tliresliers  and  Separators,  Cir- 
cular and  Cross-Cnt  Sawing  Machines, 
Clover  Hiillers,  Feed  Cutters,  Horse  Rakes, 
Horse  Porks,  &  other  Farming  Machines. 

Circulars,  containing  list  of  Prices,  and  Foll  Descrip- 
tion, and  Cuts  of  each  Machine,  witli  statements  of  their 
capacities  for  work,  will,  on  application,  be  sent  by  mail, 
postage  free. 

Q3?"  Liberal  discounts  are  made  to  dealers. 

Responsible  agents  are  wanted  in  sections  where  we  have 
none.    Address 

WHEELER,  MELICK  &  CO.,  ALBANY,  N.  T. 

Hay  Presses,  Rock  and  Stump  Extractors, 
Cider  Mills,  and  Wrought  Iron  Screws. 

These  are  tried  machines,  and  are  offered  to  the  public  at 
reduced  pries.  Having  recently  improved  and  taken  out 
vat. 'lit  on  press  for  haling,  1  am  confident  ofits  capabilities 
to  bale  one  ton  of  hay  per  hour,  and  put  it  in  less  space  than 
anv  other  press  in  use.  . 

Rock  Lifters,  that  do  the  work  at  small  expense,  requiring 
onlv  one  man  and  a  boy  to  do  the  work  effectually. 

There  is  but  one  way  to  make  line  eider.  The  grater  mill 
Is  the  onlv  one  to  be  relied  on.  I  have  been  making  these 
mills  for  the  past  15  years,  and  can  refer  to  different  persons 
who  have  used  the  same  mill  tor  the  last  ten  years,  witleiut 
extra  expense,  grinding  from  15  to  20,  and  as  high  as  80,000 
bushels  in  a  season.  One  of  these  mills  will  grind  perfectly 
fine  100  bushels  In  40  minutes.  They  can  be  attached  to  any 
power  are  simple  and  cheap,  and,  with  wrought  screws, 
will  make  a  barrel  of  cider  from  six  bushels  of  apples. 

Also  on  hand,  one  large  iron  power  press  01  500  tons  pres- 
sure In  perfect  order,  suitable  for  compressing  bay  or  cot- 
ton or  for  paper  mill  use,  for  wet  or  dry  pressure,  or  for 
bookbinder's  use,  having  a  moving  table.  56  by  W  inches. 

Address  .P£V,D>V  M.IL'<EI&    , 

Madison,  Morris  Co.,  N.  J. 

utciii^so^s  nipnovEi)  fam- 
ily WINE  and  CIDER  MILL. 
PKICE  (18.    S°'<1  >Y,IFFIXC    BR„THER  *  CO., 

GO  Courtlandt-st.,  New-York 


II 


MUSSIA    OR    BASS  MATS,   SELECTED   EX- 
nresslv     for  budding    and    tying  ;   GUNNY    BAGS, 
TWINES    HAY  ROPES,  &c,  suitable  for  Nursery  purposes, 

r ..  :-   1-.-.„n,.i,     Kw  Tl      TV      lUX'WlRINIJ. 


Rl 


for  sale  in  lots  to  suit,  by  D.  W.  MAN  WARING 

Importer,  24S  Frontst.,  New-York 


POTATO  DIGGERS. 

CHICHESTER'S  combined  Hilling,  Hoeing    and  Potato 
Digging  Machine.    Price  (25.  ,„     ,.     „     , , 

Bf  RAM'S  combined  Potato  Digger  and  Double  Mould- 
board  Plow.    Price  $~. 

Manufactured  and  sold  only  by    __„_„__  .    „_ 
UKIFflNG,  TtROTIIEl:  *  CO., 

CO  Courtlandt-st.,  New-York. 

COMBINED  HAND-TRUCK  and  BAG-HOLD- 
ER. It  should  be  in  everv  mill,  warehouse,  and  barn. 
Price  only  (">.  One  truck  and  patent  for  a  county  (SO.  A 
township  and  a  truck  (10.  Patent  for  all  the  States,  except 
Pennsylvania,  for  sale.    Circulars  free 

J.  R.  HOEFER,  Mount  Joy,  Pa. 

Cider  and  Wine  Mills. 

KEYSTONE,  EMERY'S  &  nDTCHINSON'S  PATENTS. 
Also 
WINE  PRESSES,  from  $5  to  $40. 

GKIFFING,  BROTHER  *  CO, 

60  Courtlandt-st.,  New-York. 


II 


ORS£  POWERS,  THRESHERS  AMD 
SEPARATORS. 
Cider  Mills  and  Presses.    Wine  Presses. 
Frnit  Gatherers,  Fruit  Ladders,  Garden  Syringes,  with 
every  description  of  Agri.'l  and  Hort.T  Implements,  &c. 
AUcn's  Potato  nigging  Plow. 

R.  H.  ALLEN  &  CO.,  189  &  191  Water-st„  New-York. 

BEAROSEEY'S  PREMIUM   MAY 
FORK.    The  best  in  use.    Manufactured  and  sold  by 
Price  (15  GR1FFING.  BROTHER  &  CO, 

With  Rope.  (10.50  00  Courtlandt-st,  New-i  crk. 


FISK    &    H  A.  T  C  1 1 , 

No.   38  Wall-st.,  New-York  City. 

BANKERS  AND  DEALERS   IN 

All  kinds  of  Government  and  other  Se- 
curities. Orders  from  the  Country  for 
purchase  of  Government  Bonds,  etc.,  at- 
tended to  Avith  care  and   Promptness. 

Also  Agents  for  the  sale  of  U.  S.  FIVE 
TWENTY  YEAR  SIX  PER  CENT  BONDS. 

BUTTER,     CHEESE, 


POULTRY,   EGGS 


■') 


AND    FARM     PRODUCE 

OF  ALL  KINDS 

SOLD   on  commission. 

Constantly  on  hand,  for  sale,  Flour,  Fish,  Salt,  Mackerel, 
Pork,  Hams,  Lard,  Beans,  Dried  Fruit,  Soap,  Starch,  etc. 

COOK   &  NICHOLS,    Successors  to 

ISAAC  EMENS,  33G  FRONT-ST.,  NEW-YORK. 

Refers  to  J.  De  L&mater,  Cashier  Marine  Bank,  N.  T.  City. 
Lewis  &  Brown,  No.  42  Front-st.,  N.  Y.  City. 
Isaac  Emens,  Castle  Creek,  Broome  Co.,  N.  T. 

S.  B.  C0N0VER, 

Commission    Dealer, 

260,  261  &  262  West  Washington  Market, 

FOOT  OF  FULTON-ST. 
Particular  attention  paid  to  selling  all  kinds  of  Frnit  and 
Other  Farm  Produce. 
Refers  to  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist. 


C.  W.  IDELE, 

COMMISSION    DEALER 

In  Fruit,  Produce,  <!kc. 

Special  attention  given  to  selling  all  kinds  of  frnit. 

70  &  71  West  Washington  Market. 

Wanted  EvEKTwrreRE  to  sell  WOODRUFF'S  PATENT 
PORTABLE  BAROMETERS. 

.  CHARLES  WILDER,  Peterboro',  N.  H. 

ONION  CULTURE-Fourth  (new)  Edition. 

This  work  comprises  in  32  pages  all  the  particulars  for  suc- 
cessful Onion  Culture,  from  Selection  of  Seed  to  Marketing 
the  Crop— being  the  practical  directions  given  by  seventeen 
experienced  Onion  Growers,  residing  in  different  parts  of  the 
country.  Price  20  cents  (or  7  stamps),  sent  post-paid.  Ad- 
dress Publisher  of  Agriculturist, 

Portable 
Printing    Offices. 

For  the  use  of  Merchants,  Druggists,  Nurserymen,  and  all 
who  wish  to  do  their  own  Printing.  Circular  sent  tree.  Spe- 
cimen Sheets  ol'Tvpe,  Cuts.  &c„  on  receipt  of  two 3c.  Stamps, 
ADAMS  PRESS  CO.,  31  Park  Row,  N.  Y. 

MASON  &  HAi9ir.i:VS  Cabinet  Organs 
are  the  best  Instruments  of  their  class  in  the  world  lor 
private  houses  and  small  Chinches,  Chapels,  Halls,  &c. 
We  have  the  testimony  of  more  than  one  hundred  of  the 
most  eminent  organists  and  musicians  in  the  country  to  this 
fact.  Send  for  circulars  with  particulars.  Prices  $to  to  $450 
each  address  MASON  BROTHEKS, 

Nos.  5  &  7  Mercer  street,  New-York. 

OSBORN'  S 

CELEBRATED  PREPARED 


WARRANTED  SUPERIOR  TO  ANY  IN  THE  MARKET. 

Sold  at  Retail  for  Twenty-five  Cents  per  pound,  by  first 
class  Grocers,  throughout  the  United  State*. 

IPOf  A  liberal  discount. to  the  trade. 

Put  up  only  by 

LEWIS  a.  osborxj, 

■Wholesale  Depot,  No.  69'Warren  St.,  N.  Y. 

rpHE  GREAT  AMERICAN  PUMP  !  FIVE 
"^  Year's  Success  in  all  parts  of  the  world  !  Prices  unchang- 
ed !  The  best  pump  for  cisterns,  wells,  tanks,  etc.  Raises 
from  all  depths,  forces  to  all  distances,  throws  75  feet  by 
hose.  Simple,  Cheap,  Durable.  Drawings  and  prices  sent 
free.  JAMES  M.  EDNET,  No.  474  Broadway,  N.  Y. 

Wanted  !  Scrap  Iron,  Old  Boilers  and  Old  Iron 
machinery* 

The  subscribers  will  pay  cash  for  any  quantity  of  wronght 
or  cast  scrap  iron,  old  boilers  and  old  iron  machinery  j  deliv- 
ered at  their  Wan-house  28.  30  and  32  Terrace-st.,  Buffalo,  or 
at  their  Rolling  Mill  and  Kail   Factory,  Black  Rock,  N.  Y. 

Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  July  1S63.  PRATT  &  CO. 


TO    FARMERS 
TO  DAIRYMEN, 

TO  COUNTRY  MERCHANTS. 

ALL  who  have  for  Sale : 

Sorghum    Sugar    and    Syrup, 
Furs      and      Skins, 
Fruits,  dry  and  green, 
Hops,  Tallow, 


Cotton, 

Butter, 

Lard, 

Pork, 

Eggs, 

Game, 

Flour, 

Seeds, 


Wool, 

Cheese, 

Beef, 

Hams, 

Poultry, 

Vegetables, 
Grain, 
Petroleum, 


Are.,  &c. 

Can  have  them  well  sold  at  the  highest  prices 
in  New-York,  -with  full  cash  returns  promptly 
after  their  reaching  the  City,  by  forwarding 
them  to  the  Commission  House  for  Country 
Produce,  of 

JOSIAH    CARPENTER, 

32  Jay-street,  New-York. 

J\.  B. — The  advertiser  has  had  abundant 
experience  in  this  business,  and  trusts  that  he 
will  continue  to  merit  patronage  by  the  most 
careful  attention  to  the  interest  of  his  patrons. 
The  articles  are  taken  charge  of  on  their  arri- 
val, and  carefully  disposed  of  promptly  to  good 
cash  customers,  and  cash  returns  made  imme- 
diately to  the  owner.  (The  highest  charge  made 
for  receiving  and  selling  is  five  per  cent,  fruits  and 
vegetables  excepted.) 

A  New  York  Weekly  Price  Current  is  issued 
by  J.  Carpenter,  which  is  sent  free  to  all  his  pat- 
rons. A  specimen  copy  sent  free  to  any  de- 
siring it,  A  trial  will  prove  the  above  facts. 
For  abundant  references  as  to  responsibility,  in- 
tegrity, &c,  see  the  "  Price  Current." 

U2F"  Cash  advanced  on  consignments  of 
Produce. 

SEND    FOR 

A    FREE    COPY 

O  F 

PEICES  CUBKENT, 

AND  ALL  OTHER  PARTICULARS, 

TO 

JOSIAH    CAKPENTER, 
32  Jay-st.,  New- York. 

PRODUCE  OF   ALL  KINDS  BOUGHT. 


18G3.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


355 


BAKER'S 

PATENT 

FRUIT    JARS. 

WITH  EITHER 

GLASS  OR  TIN  COVERS. 

They  are  SIMPLE,  RELIABLE,  and  CHEAP,  and  the 
ONLY  Jar  of  which  there  are  NO  COMPLAINTS. 

From  the  great  number  of  testimonials  we  might  give,  we 
only  quote  from  the 

"  AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST,"  which  says: 

"They  are  the  best  of  the  twenty  odd  kinds  we  hate 

TKI  ED." 

Housekeepers  try  for  yourselves.    Do  not  be  persuaded  to 
try  others,  for  it  will  be  to  your  cost. 
For  sale  by  all  respectable  dealers. 
The  trade  supplied  by  the 

Manufacturers  and  Proprttoks. 

f.  i»  dc  J.  n.  bodim;  &  co., 

Successors  to  POTTER  &  liODINE, 
106  Chcstnut-st.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

TO     THE    LADIES. 

We  desire  to  call  your  particular  attention  to  MASON'S 
PATENT  SELF  SEALING 

FRUIT  JARS  AND  CANS. 

An  experience  of  sis  years  has  proved  them  the  most  perfect 
Jars  for  preserving  fruits  and  vegetables.  Sold  by  all  dealers. 
Made  only  by  the  SHEET  METAL  SCREW  CO., 

214  Pearl  St.,  New- York. 

LIFE     ITVSUIfc^lXCXi:. 

MANHATTAN 

LIFE  INSURANCE  COMPANY, 

No.  3L  NASSAU -ST., 
(OPPOSITE  THE  POST  OFFICE,)  NEW-YORK. 

Casta  Capital  and  Accumulation,  over $1, 100,000 

Claims  Paid  680,000 

Dividends  to  Policy  Holders 610.000 

The  dividends  arc  paid  in  the  life-time  of  the  assured,  thus 
aiding  them  to  pay  future  premiums, 

Premiums  may  he  paid  annually,  semi-annually,  or  quar- 
terly, when  the  policy  ia  for  lite,  and  the  annual  premium 
amounts  to  $10  and  over.  From  40  to  50  per  cent,  may  be 
paid  by  notes. 

HENRY   STOKES,  President, 
C.  T.  "Wkmplte,  Secretary. 
.1.  L.  Malskt,  Assistant  Secretary 
S.  N.  Stzbbxks,  Actuary. 
Aijram  DuBois,  M,  D„  Medical  Examiner. 


pp" 


The  NONPAREIL  WASHING  MACHINE 

Is  the  only  entirely  reliable  machine  in  use. 

It  has  been  before  the  public  two  years,  and  has  not  in  any 
instance  failed  to  give  satisfaction. 

It  saves  two-thirds  the  labor  and  time  required  in  band 
washing. 

It  is  a  squeezing  machine,  and  will  not  injure  the  finest 
clot  hini;. 

A  girl  of  fourteen  years  can  operate  it. 

It  will  not  get  out  of  order. 

It   is  recommended  by  Mr.  Judd,  the  proprietor  of  this 
Journal. 

Prices:  No.  1,  $12.    No.2,$16.    No.  3,  $20. 

Send  for  I'n-e  Circular  to  • 

OAKLEY  &  KEATING,  73  South-at.,  New- York. 


J.  C,  Taylor,  Holmdel,  N.  J., 

BREEDER  OF 

WEBB    SOUTH    DOWN    SHEEP, 

Would  announce  to  his  old  customers  and  others,  that  he 
Is  now  ready  to  supply  a  very  superior  lot  of  yearling  rams, 
and  ram  and  ewe  lambs,  besides  a  few  breeding  ewes,  at  pri- 
vate sale;  also  5  rams  to  rent.  For  particulars  send  for  cir- 
cular. 

Buy  the  best.  If  you  buy  a  poor  plow,  when  worn  out  yon 
may  "buy  another  very  superior.  Not  so  with  breeding  ani- 
mals; like  produces  like.  If  von  begin  your  flock  right,  your 
increase  will  be  right.    " 


or  England. 


My  dock  has  no  superior  in  America 


The  great  Want  supplied. 
FAMILY 

WINE  MD  CIDER  MILL, 

WITH  PRESS  COMBINED. 

(HUTCHINSON'S    PATENT.) 

Costs  but  $18.    Grinds  6  to  8  bushels  APPLES,  10  to   12 
bushels  GRAPES  or  CURRANTS  per  hour. 


The  Machine,  excepting  the  curb,  is  made  wholly  of  iron, 
prepared  so  that  it  does  not  affect  the  juice.  It  is  easily 
handled  and  worked  by  one  man,  and  takes  up  no  more 
room  than  a  chair. 

A  large  number  have  been  sold,  and  witiiout  exception 
give  perfect  satisfaction. 

The  Mill  and  Press  complete,  with  a  pamphlet  containing 
full  directians  to  make  wine  and  cider  in  the  best  manner, 
will  be  forwarded  upon  the  receipt  of  the  price,  $18,  by 
J.B.BROWN  &  CO., 

Peekskill,  N.  Tm 

Manufacturers  of  the  celebrated  Peekskill  Plows,  Best 
Iron  Beam  Plows,  Land  Hollers,  and  other  Agricultural  Im- 
plements.   Send  for  Illustrated  Circular. 

Mills  forwarded  from  New-York,  If  desired. 

As  the  demand  is  certain  to  be  large,  orders  should  be 
sent  in  as  early  as  possible. 

DUTCHER'S  LIGHTNING 

FLY-KILLER 

Supplies  a  want  felt  by  every  good  housekeeper.  Every  sheet 
will  kill  a  quart  were  flies  are  thick.  Remember  that  it  is 
DUTCHER'S  that  does  this,  and  refuse  the  base  imitations 
that  are  ottered.  The  real  article  in  for  sale  by  all  respectable 
Druggists. 


Amalgam    Bells, 

At  prices  within  the  reach  of  every  Church,  School, 
Cemetery,  Factory,  or  Farm  in  the  land.  Their 
use  throughout  the  United  States  and  Oanadas  for 
the  past  six  years  has  proven  them  to  combine 
most  valuable  qualities,   among  which  are  tone, 

STRENGTH,   SONOROUSNESS,    and     DURABILITY     OF 

vibration,  unequalled  by  any  other  manufacture. 
Sizes  from  50  to  5,000  lbs.,  costing  two  thirds  less 
than  other  metal,  or  15  cents  per  pound,  at  which 
price  we  warrant  them  twelve  months.  Old  bell 
metal  taken  in  exchange,  or  bought  for  cash.  Send 
for  a  Circular  to  the  Manufacturer, 

JOHN  R.  ROBINSON, 
No.  190  William-street,  New- York. 


Great   Dis- 
covery ! 


Applicable    U 
theusefulArU 


A  new  thing. 


Its     Combina- 
tion. 


Boot  and  Shoe 
Manufactureri 


T 


USEFUL and  VALUABLE 
DISCOVERY  ! 

HILTON'S 

INSOLUBLE    CEMENT! 

Is  of  more  general  practical  utility  than  any 
invention  now  before  the  public.  It  has  been 
thoroughly  tested  during  the  last  two  years 
by  practical  men,  and  pronounced  by  all  to 
Be  Superior  to  any 
Adhesive  Preparation  known. 

Hilton's  Insoluble  Cement 

Is  a  new  thing,  and  the  result  of  years  of 

study;  its  combination  is  on 

SCIENTIFIC   PRINCIPLES, 

And  under  no  circumstances  or  change  of 
temperature,  will  it  become  corrupt  or  emit 
any  offensive  smell. 

Boot  and  Shoe  Manufacturers,  using 
Machines,  will  find  it  the  best  article  known 
for  Cementing  the  Channels,  as  it  works 
without  delay,  Is  not  affected  by  any  change 
of  temperature. 

Jewelers  will  find  it  sufficiently  adhesive 
for  their  use,  as  has  been  proved. 

It  is  especially  adapted  to  leath- 
er, and  we  claim  as  an  especial  merit,  that 
it.  sticks  patches  and  Li  nines  to  Boots  ami 
Shoes  sufficiently  strong  without  stitching. 

IT  IS  THE  ONLY 

LIQUID    CEMENT 

Extant,  that  Is  a  sure  thing  for  mending 
Furniture,  Crockery,  Toys,  Bone, 
Ivory,  and  articles  of  Household  use. 

Hilton's     Insoluble     Cement 

Ib  iu   liquid  form  and   as  easily  applied   as 
paste. 

Hilton's  Insoluble  Cement 

Is  insoluble  in  water  or  oil. 
Hilton's  Insoluble  Cement 

Adheres  oily  substances. 

Supplied  in  Family  or  Manufacturers'  Pack- 
ages from  2  ounces  to  100  lbs. 
HIJLTON   BROS.    &  CO., 

Proprietors, 
PROVIDENCE,  R.  I. 

HOROUGH  BRED  DEVON  BULLS.— One  2- 


It  is  a  Liquid 


_  one  3  years  old.  One  Imported.  6  years  Old  :  also  Thor- 
ough Bred  Ayrshire  Heifers  and  Hulls  for  t>ale  low  by 

A.  M.  TREDWELL,  Madison,  Morris  Co.,  New-Jersey. 

TO  FARMERS 

AND     OTHERS. 

"We  are  manufacturing  a  Genuine  Article  of  Fink,  Medi- 
um, and  Coarse  BONE  DUST,  or  RAW  BONE  SU- 
PERPHOSPHATE OP  LIMB,  manufactured  from 
unburned  Bones,  containing  all  the  Animal  aud  Chemical 
Fertilizing  Properties,  Please  address  the  Manufacturers, 
and  get  the  Intrinsic  Value  of  your  money. 
N.  B.  A  Liberal  Discount  made  to  Dealers  for  Cash, 
Address  A.  LISTER  &  BRO., 

Tarrytown,  Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y., 
Or  Newark,  N.  J. 

TO  FARAgSRS. 
Hone  Tafeu.  Bone  Tafcu. 

MANUFACTURED  BY  THE  LODI  MANUFACTURING  CO. 

The  large  6ale  of  this  manure,  and  constantly  increasing 
demand  has  induced  the  Company  to  arrange  for  its  manu- 
facture on  an  extensive  scale. 

It  is  composed  of  Fine  Raw  Bone  and  Night  Soil,  free 
from  all  impurities,  dried  and  ground  to  a  fine  powder,  mak- 
ing it  quick  in  its  action,  as  well  as  permanent  in  its  results. 

For  Buckwheat,  Turnips  and  Winter  Grain,  no  manure 
can  be  found  of  equal  value  for  the  amount  invested. 

It  is  put  in  new  Barrels,  200  lbs.  in  each.  One  and  a  half 
barrels  will  manure  an  acre. 

Price,  free  of  cartage,  $4.50  per  Barrel. 

All  orders,  which  will  hereafter  be  filled  promptly,  must  he 
directed  to  the  LODI  MANUFACTURING  CO., 

tiij  Cortlandt-st.,  New-York. 

A1IM0NIATED  PACIFIC  GUANO. 

A  real  guano  containing  from  seventy  to  eighty  per  cent 
of  Phosphate  of  Lime,  to  which  has  been  added,  by  ji  chemi- 
cal process,  a  large  percentage  of  Actual  Ammonia  so  fixed 
that  it  can  not  evaporate,  making  it  equal  if  not  superior  to 
any  other  fertilizer. 

Pamphlets  with  copies  of  Analysis  by  Dr.  Jackson,  Mass. 
State  Assayer,  and  testimonials  from  scientific  Agriculturists 
showing  its  value  can  be  obtained  from 

J.  O.  BAKER  &  CO.,  Selling  agents, 
87  Wall-st.,  New-York. 

COE'S   SUPERPHOSPHATE  OE    LIME. 

PURE  BOKE  DUST. 

The  exorbitant  price  of  Peruvian  Guano,  makes  these  the 
Cheapest  and  best  fertilizers  which  the  farmers  can  use. 
OTHER  FERTILIZERS  OF  ALL   KINDS. 

R.  II.  ALLEN  &  CO., 
New-York  Agricultural  Warehouse  and  Seed  Store, 

189  and  101  Water-street. 


256 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


Contents  for  August,  1863. 

Animals— Blooded  Slock  versus  Native 234 

Bags— Convenience  of 2^6 

Uattle- Field  at  Gettysburg— Editorial  Letter 210 

li e e f  T c a ; \l 

Bees— Apiary  in  August *-o 

Boys  and  Girls'  Columns.—  A  Lesson  from  the  Wheat 
Field— Coaxing  out  Whiskers— Sagacity  of  a  King 
Bird— Boys  and  Girls'  Garden— He  knows  the  Rest 
—Puzzles  and  Problems— The  Battle  Field  at  Get- 
tysburg   10  Illustrations .  .2-18 — 49 

Bread-  Aerated  or  Unfennented 247 

Bulter  Worker— Nonpareil Illustrated.  .2ts 

Children— Moral  Education  of 246 

Children— Suggestions  about  Naming 245 

Clothes  Lines 246 

Colleges — Agricultural 238 

Cooking  Hints,  etc.— Green  Tomato  Pickle— Pickled 
Cabbage— To  Pickle  Ripe  Cucumbers— Hotch  Polch 

—Home-made  Hard  Soap 24? 

Com  liaising  in  Illinois 235 

Crops— General  Prospects 228 

Cucumbers— Economy  in ' 243 

Currants  anil  Gooseberries 242 

Culling  or  Lap  Board Illustrated.  .IK 

Cuttings— How  to  Make Illustrated  .244 

Drouth— Lessons  of 235 

Exhibition— International— Preparations  for 231 

Exhibition  Tables  at  Agriculturist  Office 231 

Exhibitions— Agricultural,  State  and  County  in  18C3..231 

Farm  Work  for  August   225 

Flax  Brake  -Mallory  &  San  ford's 232 

Floral  Zodiacs 243 

Flower  Garden  and  Lawn  in  August 227 

Flowering  Trees,  and  Bushes 243 

Flowers— Pillar  Fuchsias 2411 

Flowers— Perennial  Phloxes 243 

Fruit  Bottles— Sealing  with  Tutty 247 

Fruit  Garden  ill  August 227 

Garden— Kitchen,  in  August — 225 

Grape  Cuttings— Experience  with 243 

Grape  Trellis—  Fuller's  Plan 2  Illustrations.  .244 

Grape  Vines— Renewing  Old 242 

Green  and  Hot  Houses  in  August 227 

Green  House— Substitute  for 243 

Humbugs     A  Few  More 238 

Im plemeots— Agricu Itu ral  and  the  War 233 

insects— Another  Enemy  to  the  Fruit  Grower.    .///.. 242 

Insect*— Coal, Oil  for  Bed  Bugs  246 

Insects — Notes  on  Scale  Louse  and  Cut  Worm 236 

Japanese    Agriculture— Instructive  Notes 2  18 

Manure— How  About  the  Compost  Heap? 235 

M anure— Use  of  Fish 235 

Manuring — Proper  Depth  for 2<4 

Market  Review,  Weather  Notes,  etc 250 

Milk  Rack — New  Improved Illustrated.  .245 

Money— How  to  Invest 232 

M ink  or  Peat— Digging 234 

Ni  ibility— True  235 

Oils — Value  of  Illuminating 247 

Orchard  and  Nursery  in  August 225 

Plants  in  Sleeping  Rooms 247 

Postage— New  Mail  Law 232 

Potalo  Digger— Conover's  Patent 2  Illustrations.  .233 

Poultry— Chicken  Pox 236 

Poultry  House — Cheap   2  Illustrations.  .236 

Prices— What  of  the  Future? 232 

Pumpkin  Exhibition  at  Agriculturist  Office 228 

Rats  Driven  Away 245 

Shrubs— Azaleas,  Rhododendrons  and  Kalmias 243 

Sick  Room -Hints  for 247 

Slrawberry  Experience  242 

Strawberries    The    New    and   Wonderful    Seedling 

at  the  Agriculturist  Show     3  Illustrations.  .240 

Strawberries — Two  Bushels  for  Every  Family 241 

Suggestions  and  Notes  for  August Illustrated.  .225 

Sweet  Polato  Vines  for  Cattle 239 

Tobacco  Crop— Statistics 239 

Wheat  Show— Great  International 236 

Weeds— Talks  About.    Ill 2  Illustrations. .237 

Wopl  Importation — Hint  to  Sheep  Growers 234 

Wool  in  Pennsylvania 234 

1MDEX    TO    "BASKET,"   Oil  SHORTER    ARTICLES. 

Agriculturist  Premium. 228|Paint,  Gas  Tar 231 

Ants,  Preventive 231 1 Paint,  Zinc 230 

Blackberries 231  j Plants  Named 228 

Book  on  Trees 228  Plants,  Propagation 228 

Borers,  Remedy 230|Poor  Land,  Renovating. 229 

Cabbage  Flies 2291  Quince  Stocks 231 

Chaff  for  Feeil 23()|  R  hubarb.  Cultivation ....  229 

Corn  for  Sheep 229|Saracennia 228 

Caws,  Kicking 23o|shailes.  Ground  Glass... 231 

Cows.  Salting 231  Sheep  Sale 22S-229 

Cuiculio 231 1  Smut,  Prevention 230 

Draining  Uneven  Land.2201Snakes  Useful 231 

Editorial  Note  228  Soils,  Changing 220 

Eggs,  Milky    230lsquash  Seeds 228 

Eggs,  Tesling  230|Slrawberrics 229 

Flowers,  Wax 230| Strawberry  Question 22S 

Food,  Cooking 230|.sirawberrv  Seeds  .. 

Fruit  Books 228!striped  Bugs   

Fruit-Bottles, Cleaning.. 231|Sugar in  Illinois.  ... 
Fruit  Boxes,  Cheap 220lSwill  Tubs.  Cover 


Gardening  Book  . 

Gilt  Enterprise 

Gladiolus  Bulbs 

Gooseberry  Worm 

Gophers    

Grape  Vines 

Hay  Caps     <- . 

Hay,  Weight  of 

Hemp  for  Caterpillars. 


■J'29 
230 
230 
230 
229 
229 
230 
22»!Trees  for  Transplanting.230 


2281  Tomatoes,  Ripening 
.228lTrees,  Age  of 

S2S|Trees,  Ailanlhus 

.231  Trees,  Bearing  Year. 


.231 
.220 
.229 
231 


Hens,  Greasing 231 

Horses  Wanted 231 

Journal,  Mothers'     ..   .230 
Larkspurs,  Annual 229 


Trees,  Pruning  Young.. 220 
Trees,  Raising  Forest  .  .229 

Trees,  Splitting 2H0 

Tritoma,  Hardiness 230 

Turnips  with  Corn 229 

Warts  on  Horses 237 

Water  Courses 229 

Water,  Impure 229 


Lice  on  Slock 2291  Weed  Seeds,  Destroying23U 

Magazine,  Ladies' 230  Wheat,  Depth  for 229 

Manure,  Ashes 23B  Wheat  in  Indiana 231 

Manure.  Potato  Vines.  ..23oKVhent  Seed 831 

Maple  Seeds  228|Wool-Growers'  Assoc'n  228 

Millet  for  Sheep 220lWool  Lawsuit 229 


LAST    MONTH 

OF  THE  SPECIAL 

Barometer  Premium. 

Our  contract  with  Mr.  Wilder,  for  supplying  the 
"  Wood  ruff  Barometer"  at  premium  rates,  expires  Aug.  31, 
and  every  one  who  can,  should  secure  this  extraordinarily 
liberal  premium  the  present  month.  For  general  use  it 
is  the  best  and  cheapest  mercurial  barometer  to  be  ob- 
tained, even  at  the  regular  prices,  while  our  offer  makes 
it  costnext  to  nothing.  A  person  sending  in  20  names  at 
$1  each,  would  get  the  $12  barometer  cheaply,  even  if  he 
actually  gave  away  to  his  friends  and  neighbors  twelve 
of  the  copies  subscribed  for.  But  this  need  not  be  neces- 
sary. A  little  effort  will  obtain  the  full  20  persons,  who 
would  find  the  dollar  invested  in  the  paper  a  very  good 
outlay.  (Every  one  of  them  will  come  in  for  a  share 
in  the  distribution  of  the  New  Strawberry  riant,  page 
240,  next  year,  by  adding  the  5  cents  for  postage  and 
packing  material.)  It  only  needs  some  one  to  exhibit  the 
paper  to  them,  and  show  its  value,  to  induce  many  to 
subscribe;  the  barometer  is  offered  as  payment  for  their 
time  to  those  who  take  the  trouble  to  thus  show  the  paper. 
Its  Value, — A  good  barometer  is  not  only  an  interest- 
ing instrument,  but  it  is  also  a  very  useful  one  in  every 
house.  The  interest  on  $8  or  $12,  is  only  50  cents  to 
$1  a  year,  and  there  are  many  times  when  it  will  re- 
pay this  cost.  After  a  little  experience  in  observing  a 
barometer,  one  can  judge  with  a  good  deal  of  certain- 
ty, upon  the  land  as  well  as  upon  the  sea,  with  regard 
to  the  prospective  weather.  A  sudden  large  fall  of  the 
mercury  indicates  a  short,  violent  storm.  A  slow,  steady 
sinking  of  the  mercury,  continuing  through  a  day  or  two, 
indicates  the  approach  of  a  long  storm,  even  though  the 
skies  may  then  be  clear.  On  the  contrary,  no  matter 
how  threatening  the  skies  may  appear,  if  the  mercury 
does  not  fall,  we  may  confidently  look  for  the  absence 
of  storms.  Other  general  rules,  and  exceptions,  ac- 
company each  barometer,  on  a  printed  card.  The  in- 
strument aids  materially  in 
deciding  when  to  cut  grass, 
grain,  etc.,  and  when  to 
gather  or  leave  them  expos- 
ed in  the  field  ;  when  to  un- 
dertake this  or  that  work; 
how  to  dress  for  a  day's 
journey,  and  in  most  other 
cases  where  it  is  desirable 
to  decide  upon  the  probable 
weather  just  ahead.  Mr. 
Woodruff's  newly  invented 
mercury  cup.  the  improved 
mode  of  packing  in  double 
boxes  for  carriage,  and  the 
low  price  of  a  good,  reliable 
instrument,  place  these  ba- 
rometers first.  They  are 
carefully  and  neatly  made, 
and  are  even  ornamental. 
The  twoinstrumenlsshown 
in  the  engraving,  are  about 
3  feet  in  length,  and  cost  $8 
and  $12,  the  main  difference 
being  in  the  casing,  which 
is  more  ornamental  in  fig.  2 
($12),  and  this  is  the  prefer- 
able instrument.  Both  have 
thermometer  and  vernier. 
Mr.  Wilder,  the  manufac- 
turer, guarantees  the  safe 
carriage  of  each  instrument 
we  order  sent  direct  by  him 
as  premiums.  The  terms 
on  which  we  offer  them  are 
very  liberal,  and  can  not  be 
continued  beyond  Aug.  Gist. 

form  {fig.  1)  we  preseat  to  any  person 
sending  its  this  month  14  subscribers  at  $1  a  year. 

The  $12  form  {fig.  2)  we  present  to  any  person 
sending   this  month  20    subscribers,  at  $1    a   year. 

N.B. — Subscriptions  for  the  above  premiums  are  to 
date  Jan.  1st,  or  July  1st,  1863. — Back  numbers  supplied. 


Paying  the  Strawberry  Premium. 

Special  Notice  to  those  entitled  to  Straw- 
berry Plants.— During  the  last  of  August  and  early 
part  of  September,  we  shall  send  out  the  Strawberry 
Plants  offered  as  premiums  during  the  past  few  months. 
Those  entitled  to  them  will  please  notify  us  by  letter 
which  of  the  kinds  offered  below  they  may  desire.  After 
watching  the  results  tins  year,  we  find  nothing  superior 
for  general  culture  to  the  Triomphe  de  Garni.  There  are 
others  which  will  perhaps  prove  superior,  but  the  plants 
can  not  yet  be  obtained  in  sufficient  quantity.  We  shall 
therefore  send  the  Triomphe  de  Gand  where  the  Bartleit 
or  Austin  is  not  preferred.  Those  who  have  the  Tri- 
omphe already,  may  choose  either  the  Bartleit  or  the  Aus- 
tin. We  are  much  pleased  with  the  Bartlttt,  which  lias 
borne  freely,  a  large  well  formed  berry.  From  a  plot  \% 
rods  wide,  and  5  rods  long,  set  only  last  season,  we  this 
year  commenced  picking  a  family  supply  June  12th  :  on 
June  Mth,  gathered  a  measured  bushel  ;  and  continued  a 
daily  picking,  up  to  July  1st.  All  the  berries  we  could 
spare  were  eagerly  taken  at  our  place  by  dealers,  at  18 
cents  per  quart,  for  the  unslemmed  fruit.  We  do  not 
place  it  before  the  Triomphe,  though  superior  in  some 
respects.     It  will  make  a  good  one  for  an   assortment. 

The  Austin  has  proved  better  than  we  anticipated.  It 
is  a  large  vigorous  grower,  very  productive,  and  contin- 
ues bearing  over  a  long  season.  We  began  picking  on 
June  13th,  and  had  from  the  same  plot  a  fair  picking 
on  July  4th.  The  fruit  is  very  large,  which  in  part 
makes  tip  for  the  want  of  high  color,  as  a  market  berry. 
It  is,  however,  better  adapted  for  a  home  fruit  than  for 
marketing  at  a  distance,  as  it  is  not  firm  enough  to  bear 
so  severe  handling  as  some  others.  We  have  reports  of 
extraordinary  crops  and  enormous  market  profits.  Take 
it  all  in  all,  the  Austin,  though  not  the  first,  takes  a  pretty 
high  rank,  and  is  worthy  of  a  place  in  every  home  garden. 

Where  premium  plants  are  due  for  more  than  one  sub- 
scriber, a  part  of  the  plants  may  be  chosen  from  either 
two  of  the  above  three  varieties.  The  premium  offer 
closed  July  31st,  though  we  shall  not  be  particular  as  to  a 
few  days  in  the  limits  of  time,  as  the  distribution  will  not 
commence  until  the  latter  part  of  August,  the  lime  de- 
pending upon  the  wealher,  and  the  localities  to  which 
the  plants  are  lobe  sent. 


3£aclc  Volumes  &  Numbers  For  Sale. 

We  have  complete  sets  of  Vols.  16, 17, 18,10,  20,  and  21,  not li 

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PEICES   WHEN    SENT   POST-PAID   BT   MAIL. 
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Binding.  —Sets  of  numbers  sent  to  the  office  will  be 
bound  up  neatly  (in  our  regular  style  of  binding  the  Agricitl- 
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Prepared  Covers.— Covers  for  binding,  neatly  made,  with 
title,  etc.,  gilt  upon  the  back,  ready  for  the  insertion  of  the 
sheets  by  any  bookbinder,  can  be  furnished  for  Vols.  12,  to  21 
inclusive,  at  25  cents  per  cover.     Covers  can  not  go  by  mail. 

Jineriran  Jgruulturisi. 

For  the  Farm,  Garden,  and  Household. 

A  thorough-going,  RELIABLE,  and  PRACTICAL 
Journal,  devoted  to  the  different  departments  of  SOIL 
CULTURE— such  as  growing  field  CROPS  ;  orchard 
and  garden  FRUITS;  garden  VEGETABLES  and 
FLOWERS ;  trees,  plants,  and  flowers  for  the 
LAWN  or  YARD ;  care  of  DOMESTIC  ANIMALS, 
etc.,  and  to  HOUSEHOLD  LABORS,  with  an  interesting, 
instructive  department  for  CHILDREN  and  YOUTH. 
The    Editors    are    all  practical  WORKING  MEN. 

The  teachings  of  the  Agriculturist  are  confined  to  no 
State  or  Territory,  but  are  adapted  to  alt  sections  of  t fie 
country— it    is    for     the   whole    American    Continent. 

A  German  edition  is  published,  of  (he  same  size 
and  price  as  the  English,  and  containing  all  of  its  reading 

matter,   and    also  its    numerous   illustrative   engravings. 

TERMS INVARIABLY     IN     ADVANCE, 

(For  either  the  English  or  German  Edition.) 

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Ten  or  more  copies  one  year 80  cents  each, 

fS^Add  to  the  above  rates:  Postage  to  Canada,  fi  cents; 
to  England  and  France,  24  cents  ;   to  Germany,  36  cents. 

Postage  anywhere  in  the  United  States  and  Territories 
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year,  if  paid  in  advance  at  the  office  where  it  is  received. 

All  business  and  other  communications  should  bead- 
dressed  to  the  Editor  and  Proprietor, 

ORANGE  JUDD,  41  Park-Row,  NewYork  City, 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST, 

FOR  TIIE 

FbjTth9    Gra^rcLen,    and   Household. 


"  AGRICULTURE  IS  TIIE  MOST  HEALTHFUL,  MOST  USEFUL,  AND  MOST  NOBLE  EMPLOYMENT  OF  MAN."-w.i„n.oTo». 


ORANllG     .II   i>J>.     A.m., 

EDITOR    AND    PROPRIETOR. 
Office,   41  Pnrk  Row,    (Times  Buildings.) 


ESTABLISHED  IN  1842. 

Published  both,  in  English  and  German.  ( 


I  $1.00    PEE  ANNUM,    IN  ADVANCE 
SINGLE  NUMBER,  10  CENTS. 
For  Contents,  Terms,  etc.,  see  page  388. 


VOLUME  XXII— No.  9. 


NEW- YORK,     SEPTEMBER,  !  1863. 


NEW  SERIES— No.  200. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1S63,  by 
Orange  Jtrnn,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of 
the  United  States  for  the  Southern  District  of  New- York. 
jy  Othei  .Tonrnals  arc  invited  to  copy  desirable  articles 
freely,  (/"each  article,  be  credited  to  American  Agriculturist, 


Suggestions   and   Notes  for   the   Month. 


September  might  properly  be  placed  first  in 
farmer's  Calendar.  Although  each  month 
brings  it  labors,  this  witnesses  the  commence- 
ment in  cultivation  of  the  great  crop  of  the 
world,  wheat,  which  for  ages  lias  taken  pre-em- 
inence among  cereals,  and  upon  which  more 
than  any  other  depends  the  most  important  in- 
terests of  society.  No  man  could  estimate  the 
results  of  the  entire  failure  of  this  grain  for 
only  a  single  year :  it  would  incite  greater  revo- 
lutions than  history  has  yet  recorded.  The  farm- 
er may  with  honest  pride  often  revert  to  the  fact 
that  he  moves  the  great  balance  wheel  of 
society,  and  it  should  be  his  constant  en- 
deavor to  labor  with  a  zeal  and  an  intelligence 
befitting  his  station.  Success  in  his  calling  is 
not  merely  a  matter  of  personal  gain,  it  brings 
a  benefit  to  society,  and  its  influence  is  felt  in 
every  sphere,  from  the  mechanic  in  the  work- 
shop, to  the  statesman  in  the  National  Council. 
The  progress  of  agricultural  science,  though 
slow  compared  with  achievements  in  other 
fields,  has  contributed  very  largely  to  the  pres- 
ent position  of  America  among  the  nations,  and 
enabled  her  thus  far  to  resist  a  revolution  which 
would  have  torn  many  other  existing  common- 
wealths to  fragments.  While  we  have  bread  to 
eat  and  to  sell,  our  strength  is  untouched,  though 
temporary  reverses  attend  our  arms. 

The  sower  should  go  forth  cheerfully  at  this 
time.  The  past  three  years  have  yielded  unpre- 
cedented plenty.  Scourges  of  drouth,  of  in- 
sects, and  other  inflictions  ruinous  to  the  wheat 
crop,  have  been  confined  to  limited  areas,  the 
great  aggregate  has  filled  to  overflowing  the 
store-houses  of  the  world,  and  the  pockets  of  the 
producers.  He  must  be  perversely  blind  who 
fails  to  see  in  this  the  hand  of  that  Providence 


that  guides  the  affairs  of  nations.  Without 
sucli  abundance  the  aspects  of  our  great  inter- 
"necine  struggle  might  have  been  very  different. 
Foreign  nations  lifcfe  not  cared  to  raise  their 
arms  againsi  a  power  to  which,  from  scarcity  at 
home,  they-were  compelled  to  look  for  bread. 
It  may  perhaps  be  too  much  to  expect  that 
another  abundant  harvest  will  fill  our  granaries 
and  coffers.  Yet,  whether  this  be  decreed,  or  it 
shall  occur  that  the  land  shall  withhold  a  large 
increase,  there  is  every  reason  for  sowing  wheat 
largely,  for  improving  every  acre  that  can  be 
well  tilled.  The  prospects  abroad  are  darkened 
with  a  gathering  storm  of  war.  Should  it  burst 
upon  Europe,  then  what  was  experienced  during 
the  Crimean  campaign  will  be  felt  again;  the 
demand  for  our  breadstuffs  will  absorb  all  the 
surplus  we  may  raise.  In  view  of  this  contin- 
gency, and  also  of  the  fact  that  there  are  rarely 
four  successive  years  of  plenty,  we  advise  a 
large  investment  in  this  direction.  It  should 
not  be  forgotten  that  effort  may  often  be  more 
profitably  directed  to  securing  increased  return 
from  the  number  of  acres  usually  cultivated, 
rather  than  by  enlarging  the  area  put  under  cul- 
tivation. The  former  course  requires  less  cap- 
ital, less  labor,  and  at  the  same  time  prepares 
the  land  for  better  returns  in  future.  One  hun- 
dred dollars  properly  used  in  draining,  or  other 
needed  improvements,  may  increase  the  yield 
from  ten  to  twenty  per  cent  for  a  term  of  years. 
Work  for  tbe  Farm,  Household,  etc. 
There  will  be  little  leisure  on  the  farm  this 
month.  In  addition  to  sowing  winter  grain,  in 
many  sections  the  corn  will  be  ready  to  be  cut 
up  by  the  ground,  early  potatoes  to  be  dug 
and  marketed,  and  early  apples  to  be  gathered 
and  disposed  of.  At  the  West,  the  great  sorghum 
crop  will  demand  attention,  and  those  who  have 
cultivated  tobacco  will  find  ample  employment 
in  cutting  and  curing.  Much  labor  and  vexation 
will  bo  saved  by  having  all  necessary'  buildings 
and  implements  in  readiness  for  each  crop. 
The  markets  should  be  closely  watched  at  this 
season,  to  determine  when  to  dispose  of  grain, 
wool,  etc.  Very  favorable  contracts  for  future 
delivery  may  often  be  secured  during  the  pres- 
ent month.  Taking  one  year  with  another,  it 
is  safe  to  accept  a  price  which  will  give  a  good 
profit  on  capital  and  labor  invested. 

Barns,  and  Outbuildings,  particularly  those  in 
which  hay  and  grain  are  stored,  should  be  fre- 
quently examined,  to  secure  their  contents  from 
injury  by  storms,  vermin,  etc.  A  good  coat  of 
paint  will  pay  more  than  the  interest  of  its 
cost  in  the  preservation  of  wood-work  exposed 
to  the  weather,  and  in  the  improved  appearance 
of  buildings.  Autumn  is  a  good  time  to  apply 
it.  Keep  all  buildings  well  insured,  and  pro- 
tect houses  and  bams  with  lightning  rods. 
Beans  properly  harvested  will  command  a 
good  price.  Cure  and  save  the  haulm  or  straw 
and  the  unripe  pods  for  feeding  to  sheep. 


Buckwheat  should  be  harvested  before  ripe 
enough  to  waste  by  shelling.  Save  the  straw 
for  litter;  it  is  of  little  value  for  feeding.  If 
there  be  a  good  mill  in  the  vicinity  it  will  usually 
pay  to  have  the  grain  ground  for  market. 

Butter  made  this  month  and  next,  if  properly 
worked  and  packed,  may  be  kept  for  use  or  for 
marketing  any  time  before  next  Spring,  when 
it  will  command  better  prices.  A  good  milk- 
room,  clean  utensils,  good  salt,  and  sufficient 
workiwj  are  the  essentials.  Much  labor  will 
be  saved  by  the  use  of  a  good   butter  worker. 

Cabbages. — Market  those  which  are  mature, 
and  keep  the  late  crop  well  hoed  to  promote 
rapid  growth  and  early  heading. 

Cattle. — Keep  them  well  fed,  especially  milch 
cows,  and  those  intented  for  fall  beef.  Give 
them  corn  or  millet  from  the  soiling  patch, 
roots  and  tops  from  the  beet  and  turnip  field, 
and  extra  leaves  from  the  cabbages,  etc.  Com- 
mence stall  feeding  early.  The  same  amount 
of  grain  will  make  from  ten  to  twenty  per  cent 
more  flesh,  if  fed  out  before  cold  weather  re- 
quires a  large  part  of  it  to  be  used  in  keeping 
up  the  animal  heat.  Salt  at  least  once  a  week, 
and  allow  free  access  to  water. 

Cellars. — Thoroughly  cleanse  and  prepare  for 
the  reception  of  roots,  apples,  etc.  Make  rat 
proof  by  cementing  the  floors.  Where  many 
vegetables  are  to  be  stored,  it  is  desirable  to 
have  a  cellar  under  the  barn  for  them. 

Cisterns. — Cleanse  before  the  fall  rains,  and  if 
good  well  or  spring  water  be  not  obtainable  in- 
troduce a  filter.  Clean  rain-water,  even  unfilter- 
ed,  is  the  most  wholesome  for  all  purposes,  and 
after  a  short  experience  is  agreeable  to  the  taste. 

Cfo™.— Mark  the  earliest  and  most  productive 
stalks  to  be  reserved  for  seed,  and  leave  it  to 
fully  ripen.  Cut  the  stalks  by  the  ground  as 
soon  as  the  grain  is  glazed,  cure  the  stalks  for 
fodder,  and  store  under  cover  to  be  husked 
when  time  allows.     See  article  on  page  2G9. 

Draining.  —  Attention  is  called  to  this  item 
month  by  month,  because  it  is  believed  to  be 
one  of  the  most  desirable  and  best  paying  im- 
provements to  be  introduced  on  most  farms. 
It  will  be  beneficial,  not  only  by  reclaiming 
swamp  lands,  but  it  will  render  any  compact 
soil  more  productive  by  taking  out  the  surplus 
water,  giving  access  to  the  air  which  will  bring 
nourishment  to  the  roots  of  plants,  and  making 
the  soil  lighter,  so  that  the  rootlets  can  more 
easily  make  their  way  through  it  in  their  search 
lor  food.  Try  it  according  to  plans  described 
from  time  to  time  in  former  volumes,  upon  a 
single  acre,  if  no  more,  and  note  the  results. 
Finish  off  all  winter  grain  fields  with  deep  drain- 
ing furrows  to  carry  off  surplus  surface  water. 

Eggs. — Pack  in  salt  those  laid  now,  for  winter 
use,  and  for  selling  about  the  holidays,  when 
they  are  in  large   demand  at  the  best  prices. 


25*5 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[September, 


Fences  and  Gales.—  Cut  fimbcr  for  new  ones  need- 
ed. Replace  all  unsound  posts  and  stakes  before 
the  high  winds  of  Fall  and  Winter  have  prostrated 
them.  Char  the  bottom  of  gate  posts  before  set- 
ting,  or  give  them   a  good  coating  of  gas  tar. 

Flax  should  be  pulled  as  soon  as  the  stalk  is  of 
a  yellowish  tinge,  the  leaves  having  mostly  fallen, 
aud  the  center  seed  boll  become  of  a  brown  color. 
Read  articles  on  pages  70, 110,   (March  and  April.) 

Orain. — Thresh  as  soon  as  practicable,  and  store 
in  secure  bins,  or  market  if  prices  are  satisfactory. 
Carefully  cleanse  from  weed  seeds  etc.  Some  dealers 
re-screen  much  of  the  grain  received,  aud  make  a 
good  profit  by  the  improvement  in  quality.  If  good 
seed  has  not  already  been  secured,  select  from  the 
best  growth  before  threshing,  or  procure  it  from 
reliable    parties,  and    keep    secure   from  vermin. 

Hogs.  —  Commence  feeding  early,  with  refuse 
grain,  bran,  and  unsound  corn,  and  finish  off  with 
old  corn  if  there  be  any  on  hand.  Early  made 
pork  costs  less  and  usually  commauds  the  best 
price.  Keep  the  pens  clean  aud  well  supplied 
with   muck,  weeds  or  straw,  to  absorb   manure. 

Manure-making  and  money-making  are  almost 
synonymous  on  old  farms.  Provide  an  abundant 
supply  of  muck  for  use  in  the  stables  and  yards 
the  coming  winter.  Secure  the  weeds,  wild  grass 
etc.,  from  waste  places,  for  the  same  purpose. 

Plow  at  once  for  winter  grain,  if  it  be  not  already 
completed.  Deepen  the  soil  by  going  an  inch  be- 
low the  last  plowing.  This  cau  be  done  with  less 
risk  for  winter  grain,  than  with  spring  crops. 

Potatoes  not  wanted  for  immediate  marketing  are 
better  left  in  the  ground  as  late  as  can  be  safely 
done  without  danger  from  frost.  When  dug  they 
should  be  housed  as  soon  as  practicable,  and  uot 
left-exposed  to  the  sun.  A  potato  digger  (see  de- 
scription of  one  in  August  Agriculturist)  is  well 
worth  its  cost  to  those  who  raise  this  crop  on  a  large 
scale.  After  digging,  plow  under  tops  and  weeds, 
unless  the  latter  have  ripened  seed,  iu  which  case 
they  should  be  gathered  and  burned. 

Poultry  that  have  had  the  range  of  grain  fields, 
are  in  good  condition  for  early  fattening  for  market. 
Confine  and  feed  them  liberally,  aud  allow  plenty 
of  water,  with  dust  or  ashes  to  wallow  in.  Pro- 
mote the  laying  of  hens  that  are  shut  up,  by  feed- 
ing with  scraps  of  refuse  meat. 

Boot  Crops.— Keep  the  soil  well  stirred,  and  allow 
no  weeds  to  interfere  with  their  growth.  If  stand- 
iug  too  thickly,  thin,  aud  feed  the  surplus  to  cattle. 

Rye. — Sow  after  oats,  or  a  second  crop  may  be 
taken  from  the  same  ground,  if  the  land  is  in  good 
heart.  Sow  a  little  later  than  wheat.  The  white 
variety    has    proved    excellent    in    this   vicinity. 

Sheep. — A  small  allowance  of  grain  occasionally 
will  bring  them  into  good  eondit  ion  to  wiuter  well. 
Salt  regularly  and  allow  plenty  of  water.  Examine 
to  discover  any  signs  of  foot-rot,  and  if  it  appears, 
apply  remedies  promptly,  and  separate  diseased 
sheep  from  the  rest  of  the  flock. 

Soiling  Crops.— Feed  to  stock  as  needed,  or  cure 
for  winter  fodder  if  pasture  be  abundant. 

1  Sorghum. — Cut  as  soon  as  the  seed  is  ripened,  aud 
press  and  boil  immediately.  Improved  apparatus 
will  pay  in  convenience,  aud  iu  quality  of  the 
syrup.  Experiment  iu  making  sugar  with  a  small 
portion,  by  manufacturing  before  the  seed  has 
ripened.  Remove  the  seed  from  all  before  grinding. 

Timothy. — Sow  with  winter  grain  for  meadow, 
or  it  may  be  sowed  alone  ;  in  the  latter  case  in- 
crease the  quantity  of  seed.  A  top-dressing  of  fine 
manure,  after  covering  the  seed,  will  be  beneficial. 

Weeds. — Allow  none  to  scatter  their  seed  for 
next  year's  crop.  Cut  and  burn— or  add  to  the 
compost  heap  such  as  are  not  nearly  ripe. 

Wlieat.—The  earlier  sowed  has  uniformly  suc- 
ceeded best  in  standing  the  exposure  of  Winter, 
and  in  escaping  injury  from  the  midge.  Drilling, 
where  practicable,  is  every  way  preferable  to  sow- 
ing broadcast.     Wheat  growers  should  notice   the 


International  Wheat  Exhibition  to  be  held  at 
Rochester,  September  8th,  0th,  and  10th.  Full  par- 
ticulars were  given  last  month,  page  236. 


Orchard  and  Nursery- 

The  prospects  are  that  the  crop  of  fruit  will  be 
at  best  a  moderate  one,  and  the  greater  care  should 
be  taken  iu  picking  and  marketing,  and  in  drying 
and  preserving  auy  not  otherwise  disposed  of. 
Those  who  send  fruit  to  city  markets,  ought  to 
know  that  it  is  sold  almost  entirely  by  its  appear- 
ance. A  lot  of  apples  of  indifferent  quality,  care- 
fully picked  and  packed,  will  sell  for  more  than  a 
greatly  superior  fruit  which  has  been  beaten  from 
the  trees,  aud  comes  to  market  bearing  evidence  of 
carelessness  in  its  preparation.  Where  the  fruit 
ruus  unevenly,  it  is  better  to  assort  it,  and  make  two 
qualities  ;  a  higher  price  for  the  whole  will  be  rea- 
lized. Let  the  quality  of  the  fruit  be  uniform 
throughout  the  barrels  or  baskets.  Those  who 
practice  the  deception  off  topping  off  their  pack- 
ages with  a  few  selected  specimens,  soon  establish 
a  bad  reputation,  and  they  get  a  lower  price  in  the 
market.  Barrels  are  now  mostly  examined  through. 

It  requires  some  judgement  to  know  just  when 
to  pick  the  early  fruits,  as  there  is  but  a  short  pe- 
riod between  maturity  and  decay.  Peaches  and 
Fall  pears  especially,  must  be  picked  while  still 
hard  and  able  to  bear  carriage  without  bruising. 
Pick    carefully,  and   avoid   bruising   in   handling. 

Pudding  is  still  in  season  with  peach  aud  other 
late  growing  trees.  Look  to  those  budded  last 
month  and  loosen  the  bandages,  if  the  growth  of 
the  stock  has  rendered  them  too  tight.  Where  the 
buds  have  failed,  the  stock  may  be  rebudded,  if  the 
bark  still  peels.     Use  well  matured  buds. 

Prying  Apples. — Well  dried  apples  and  peaches 
are  likely  to  be  in  demand  next  season.  Commence 
with  the  Autumu  fruit ;  pare  carefully  and  remove 
all  the  core  ;  dry  as  rapidly  as  possible  in  order  to 
get  a  bright  light  colored,  saleable  article. 

Hoeing  will  still  be  required  in  the  nursery  rows. 
In  running  the  plow  or  cultivator  between  the 
rows  be  careful  uot  to  injure  the  trees  or  roots. 

Insects. — Those  which  are  forming  their  cocoons 
and  preparing  their  winter  lodgings  should  be  re- 
moved. If  saw-dust  is  seen  around  a  tree,  search 
for  the  borer  aud  follow  him  to  the  end  of  his 
hole  with  a  wire  or  slender  piece  of  whalebone. 

Labels  will  be  needed  to  mark  trees  sent  out  this 
Fall.  Prepare  a  stock  of  these  and  of  stakes  dur- 
ing the  season  of  comparative  leisure. 

Lands  intended  for  Fall  plantiug  may  be  cleared 
up  aud  prepared  now  by  mannriug  aud  plowiug. 

Pits  of  peaches  and  plums  may  be  buried  iu  a  hole, 
or  placed  in  boxes  of  earth,  for  plautiug  next 
Spring.    Save  from  the  fruit  of  healthy  trees  only. 

Preserve  a  good  supply  of  peaches,  pears,  plums, 
etc.,  in  bottles  or  cans.    See  our  previous  volumes. 

Pruning,  if  not  finished  last  month,  may  be  done 
now  upou  young  trees,  to  form  good,  low  heads. 

Seeds  of  ornamental  trees  and  shrubs  should  be 
gathered  as  fast  as  they  ripen,  and  rightly  labeled. 

Seed  Beds  will  need  thorough  weeding  and  copi- 
ous watering,  if  the  weather  be  dry. 


Kitchen  Garden. 

The  unusually  hot  weather,  with  frequent  and 
copious  rains  have,  in  this  vicinity  at  least,  made  a 
great  "growing  time."  The  crops  not  only  grow 
with  unusual  vigor,  but  the  weeds  are  forwarded 
with  a  rapidity  almost  appalling.  The  garden  should 
at  all  times  be  kept  free  of  weeds,  aud  where  the 
plants  get  too  large  to  hoe  conveniently,  hand  pul- 
ling must  be  resorted  to.  Now  that  the  products 
of  the  garden  are  rapidly  perfecting  and  crowding 
on  iu  such  profusion,  care  should  be  taken  that 
nothing  goes  to  waste.  The  surplus  must  be  taken 
care  of,  and  what  can  uot  be  used  should  be  either 
stored,  marketed,  or  otherwise  disposed  of.     Noth- 


ing 6hould  be  left  to  decay,  merely  because  there 
is  an  abundance.  Every  thing  should  be  cleared 
up,  and  all  refuse  find  its  way  to  the  hog  pen,  cat- 
tle yard,  or  compost  heap. 

Beans. — Pick  the  late  string  beans  before  they  be- 
come tough,  and  salt  or  pickle  as  directed  last 
month.  Save  the  earliest  Limas  ripe  for  seed,  and 
shell  and  dry  the  green   ones  for  winter  use. 

Cabbages  and  Cauliflowers.— The  late  plantings 
will  need  frequent  hoeings.  Where  it  is  desired  to 
winter  plants  over  in  cold  frames  for  planting  in 
early  spring,  the  seed  may  be  sown   this   month. 

Celery. — After  the  plants  are  8  or  10  inches  high, 
the  earthing  up  should  commence,  and  it  will  have 
to  be  repeated  every  ten  days  or  two  weeks  accord- 
ing to  the  rapidity  of  the  growth.  It  is  an  opera- 
tion which  should  be  carefully  performed,  a  bun- 
gler by  breaking  the  leaves  aud  getting  earth  into 
the  crowns  of  the  plants,  may  tliU6  spoil  half  the 
crop.  Where  the  leaves  spread  much,  it  may  be 
necessary  to  briug  them  together  and  tie  them  at 
the  first  earthing.  If  tied,  it  should  be  done  with  a 
slender  piece  of  bass  matting,  or  a  string  so  weak 
that  it  will  break  away  as  the  plant  grows.  The 
earthing  up  should  be  done  when  both  plants  and 
earth  are  quite  dry. 

Corn. — As  soon  as  the  early  crops  are  gathered, 
cut  up  the  stalks  and  cure  them  for  the  cattle  or 
feed  them  out  green.  Save  always  the  largest  and 
finest  for  seed.    Dry  an  abundance  for  winter  use. 

Cucumbers. — Select  for  seed  as  directed  last 
month.  If  the  weather  is  dry,  water  in  order  to 
prolong  the  fruiting  season.  Go  over  the  vines 
every  day  and  gather  for  pickles.  Cucumbers  that 
are  ripe  or  nearly  so,  may  be  made  into  sweet  pick- 
les, according  to  note  on  page  247  (last  mouth). 

Endive. — Forward  by  hoeing  aud  liquid  manure. 
Tie  up  for  blanching  when  the  plants  are  dry. 

Kale  for  wintering  over  maybe  sown  this  month. 

Manures.- — The  snpply  for  next  year's  use  should 
now  be  accumulating.  The  compost  heap  should 
grow  rapidly  at  this  season. 

Melons. — Pick  as  soon  as  ripe,  which  may  be 
known  by  the  stem  readily  parting  from  the  melon 
by  a  well  defined  line,  and  coming  off  with  a  very 
gentle  pull.  Keep  them  from  contact  with  the 
ground  as  directed  iu  last  mouth's  Calendar.  Secure 
seeds  from  the  earliest  aud  best  flavored  specimens. 

Onions. — Pull  as  soon  as  the  falling  off  the  tops 
indicates  that  they  are  ripe.  Seeds  for  sets  may  be 
planted  early  in  the  month. 

Parsley  sown  early  this  month  will  form  plants 
for  next  Spring.  They  may  be  kept  over  by  means 
of  a  covering  of  straw  or  litter. 

Pickles. — The  garden  now  supplies  an  abundance 
of  material  for  the  pickles ;  cucumbers,  tomatoes, 
peppers,  beans,  green  melons,  cauliflowers,  nastur- 
tiums, etc.,  should  be  gathered  before  toughening. 

Seeds. — Much  of  the  success  of  next  year's  garden 
will  depend  upon  the  careful  and  judicious  saving 
of  seeds  this  month.  We  have  in  former  numbers 
spoken  at  length  on  this  subject.  Of  biennials— like 
beet,  parsnip,  salsify,  etc. — preserve  the  finest  speci- 
mens for  setting  out  to  produce  seed  next  Spring. 

Spinach. — Make  preparation  for  early  greens  next 
Spring,  by  sowing  early  this  month.  Thin  out  as 
soon  as  large  enough,  keeping  the  bed  clear  of  weeds. 

Squashes. — Clear  off  the  vines  after  the  crop  of 
summer  varieties  is  taken.  The  Marrow  will  soon 
be  tit  for  use.  The  Hubbard  may  be  used,  and 
will  be  found  good,  even  when  quite  green. 

Tomatoes. — These  are  now  in  the  greatest  plenty. 
Bottle  a  full  supply  for  wiuter  use  and  make  catsup. 

Turnips  should  now  be  growing  finely.  Keep 
well  hoed  and  thinned. 

Weeds. — See  that  no  seeds  of  these  are  saved  for 
another  crop.  One  plant  pulled  green,  or  burned 
if  ripe,  may  save  the  labor  of  destroying  thousands 
of  weeds  hereafter. 

Winter  Cherries. — Gather  as  they  ripen  and  pre- 


1863. 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


259 


serve,  or  pack  in  cotton  with  the  hulls  on  for  wiutcr. 
These  are  not  as  well  appreciated  as  they  should 
be.  They  are  easily  cultivated,  and  make  a  "  sauce" 
but  little  inferior  to  strawberries. 


Fruit  Garden. 

Here  fruit  is  to  be  gathered,  weeds  to  be  ex- 
terminated, and  preparation  made  for  new  beds. 

Blackberries.— As  soon  as  the  fruit  is  ofT,  the  old 
canes  are  to  be  cut  out.  Remove  the  superfluous 
new  shoots,  leaving  only  one  or  two  to  each  root 
for  next  year's  fruiting. 

Grapes.—  The  early  varieties  will  be  ripening  this 
month.  Pick  for  market  with  the  greatest  care, 
and  handle  by  the  stems  only.  Shallow  boxes  or 
crates  are  better  thau  baskets  for  sending  to  market. 
See  great  Grape  Exhibition  announced  elsewhere. 

Raspberries.— Follow  the  directions  given  for 
Blackberries  above,  and  also  last  month's  Calendar. 

Strawberries. — New  beds  may  be  made  this  month. 
Read  article  on  page  341  August  Agriculturist. 
Cut  the  runners  from  those  cultivated  in  hills, 
remove  weeds,  and  keep  the  soil  loose. 


Flower  Garden  and  Lawn. 

The  borders  should  be  bright  with  the  gorgeous 
colors  of  the  Autumn  blooming  flowers.  These 
have  not  the  tender  beauty  and  delicate  fragrance 
of  our  Spring  favorites,  but  they  come  with  a,  rich- 
ness of  bloom  that  accords  with  the  season  of  ripe- 
ness and  maturity.  New  grounds  may  now  be  laid 
out  and  prepared  for  Fall  planting.  Draining  can 
be  done  and  walks  laid  out  at  this  season. 

Bulbs. — The  latter  part  of  this  month  is  the  best 
time  to  set  out  bulbs  for  spring  blooming.  Sec  ar- 
ticle on  page  275,  for  general  directions. 

Bedding  Plants. — Those  which  it  is  desirable  to 
preserve,  such  as  Fuchsias,  Lantanas,  Geraniums, 
etc.,  may  be  taken  up  and  potted  preparatory  to 
putting  into  a  cool  part  of  the  green-bouse  or  the 
cellar,  to  remain  during  Whiter. 

Chrysanthemums  need  to  be  carefully  staked. 
Cut  out  all  weak  shoots  and  a  finer  bloom  will  be 
the  result.    Pot  for  house  blooming. 

Cuttings.— Put  out  a  good  stock  of  Petunias,  Ver- 
benas, and  other  bedding  plant6  for  winter  keeping. 

Dahlias.— These  are  now  in  full  bloom,  and  will 
require  constant  care  to  keep  them  from  being  in- 
jured by  the  winds.  If  any  strong  limbs  are  in  dan- 
ger of  breaking,  put  down  extra  stakes  and  tie 
them.  Cut  off  the  flowers  as  soon  as  they  have 
passed  their  prime,  marking  the  choice  hills. 

Evergreens.— These  may  be  planted  this  month, 
though  with  more  risk  than  in  Spring.  See  pre- 
cautions   in  August  Agriculturist,  under  Orchard. 

Flower  Pits. — Construct  or  repair  and  have  ready 
for  the  reception  of  plants.  Where  there  is  no 
green-house,  a  great  many  tender  plants  may  be 
safely  carried  through  the  winter  in  a  cold  frame. 

Gravel  Walks. — These  are  still  liable  to  the  intru- 
sion of  weeds,  and  need  to  be  raked  and   rolled. 

Lawns  will  still  need  an  occasional  mowing,  and 
thin  places  may  have  a  liberal  sprinkling  of  seed. 
See  article  on  Lawns  on  page  274. 

Seeds.— tare  should  be  observed  in  saving  these 
from  only  the  choicest  flowers.  Do  not  trust  to 
memory,  but  label  as  soon  as  gathered.  Hardy  an- 
nuals, like  Phlox,  Larkspur,  Clarkia,  etc.,  may  be 
sewn  now.  With  a  little  litter  thrown  over  them, 
they  survive  the  Winter  and  give  an  early  bloom. 
Verbenas  and  Petunias.— Layers  and  cuttings 
may  still  be  made,  and  those  already  rooted  may 
be  potted  off,  to  flower  during  the  Winter  season. 

Weeds. — There  must  be  no  abatement  of  vigilance 
with  these  until  the  frost    stops  their   growth. 

Green  and   Hot-Houses. 

If  it  has  not  been  already  done,  no  time  should 
be  lost  in  putting  the  houses  in  a  perfect  state  of 
readiness  to  receive  the  plants.  Painting,  glazing, 
fumigating,  and  cleansing  generally,  should  be  done 
at  once.    The  flues  and  hot  water  apparatus  should 


be  tested,  and  all  necessary  repairs  made  before  the 
plants  are  brought  in.  Many  of  the  tender  things 
will  require  to  be  housed  this  month,  and  the  paint 
should  be  hardened,  and  the  dust  and  muss  all  over 
beforehand.  Before  the  pots  are  brought  in,  they 
should  be  cleansed  from  dirt  aud  moss,  and  the 
plants  cut  back  into  shape.  All  plants  ought  to 
be  housed  before  the  cool  nights  check  their  growth. 

Air  should  be  given  freely  every  day,  and  the 
plants  be  gradually  accustomed  to  the  change  from 
the  open   air  to   the   confinement  of   the  house. 

Bulbs  may  be  potted  and  kept  in  a  cool  place  to 
be  brought  forward  into  bloom  later  in  the  season. 

Camellias  need  repotting.  Give  frequent  water- 
ings while   they  are   making  their  new   growth. 

Potting. — All  the  materials  necessary  for  the 
Winter's  potting,  should  be  accumulated  before- 
hand— pots,  stakes,  tags,  leaf  mold,  loam  and  sand, 
all  under  cover  and  ready  for  immediate  use.  Many 
of  the  plants  have  become  pot-bouud  during  the 
Summer,  and  will  need  shifting.  Those  which 
were  set  in  the  borders,  will  probably  need  to 
have  both  root  and  branches  cut  back  when  pot- 
ted. Give  them  shade  aud  water  after  the  operation. 


Apiary  in  September. 

Prepared  by  M.  Quinbij — By  Request. 

Bees  having  no  poor  neighbors  around  them,  will 
not  be  apt  to  get  iuto  the  despicable  habit  of  rob- 
bing. It  is  not  necessary  that  a  hive  should  be 
nearly  destitute  of  stores  to  make  it  poor;  it  may 
contain  all  the  honey  needed  for  two  or  three  fam- 
ilies, but  if  without  bees  to  defend  it,  it  is  not  rich. 
A  rich  hive  contains  both  bees  and  honey  in  proper 
quantity.  Bees  have  no  better  faculty  thau  men  to 
resist  temptation.  As  long  as  they  can  attain  all 
they  want  from  flowers,  they  are  content ;  but  flow- 
ers fail  now,  and  poor  hives  must  suffer  from  the 
rich.  The  bee-keeper  who  is  determined  to  keep 
about  him  a  healthy  tone  of  morals,  will  remove  as 
far  as  practical,  all  temptations  to  evil.  Remove 
the  poor  hives  at  once.  Examine  carefully  to  de- 
termine  which   they  are Do   not  put   out  any 

refuse  honey.  If  you  have  such  to  feed,  put  it  iu  a 
box  and  give  it  to  some  needy  colony  where  others 
can  not  get  it.  New  swarms  strong  enough  to  de- 
fend themselves,  aud  yet  not  suitable  for  Winter, 
may  stand  until  next  month  for  the  brood  to  hatch, 
before  being  taken.  Old  stocks  containing  foul 
brood,  should  be  looked  to  now.  There  is  great 
risk  in  letting  them  stand ,  because  if  robbed  by 
colonies  to  be  wintered,  the  seeds  of  disease  are 
taken  there  for  another  year.  Much  mischief  often 
results  from  neglecting  this.  The  bees  of  such  may 
be  given  to  a  queenless  stock,  if  needed,  but  should 
not  be  introduced  until  they  stand  long  enough 
after  being  driven  out,  to  consume  all  the  honey 
taken  with  them  from  the  diseased  hive.  Some  of 
the  combs  will  be  filled  with  the  brood  and  honey 
mixed  together,  these  should  be  cut  out  and  buried 
entirely  away  from  the.  bees.  The  healthy  bees 
should  not  get  a  particle,  unless  scalded  and  skim- 
med.    The  top  and  side  combs  are  usually  clean, 

and  may  be  strained  out  for  use The  Italians' so 

far,  have  proved  almost  exempt  from  this  disease. 
Will  not  any  one,  having  the  Italians,  iu  districts 

where  it  exists,  watch  this   point,  and  report 

All  honey  in  the  surplus  boxes,  not  sealed,  is  now 
taken  below.  If  you  would  secure  it,  take  it  as 
soon  as  the  flowers  fail.  To  keep  it  from  dripping 
out  of  the  cells,  turn  the  boxes  right  side  up,  as 
soon  as  the  bees  are  out. 


Exhibition  Tables    at    the  Office   of 
the  American  Agriculturist. 

The  following  articles  have  been  placed  upon  our 
tables  since  our  last  report: 

Fruits— Currants:  Versailles,  Cherry,  Red  Grape, 
Short-Bunched  Red,  Prince  Albeit,  White  Grape,  and 
Champagne,  shown  by  E.  Williams,  Mont  Clair,  N.  J. 
....Red  Provence,  Red  Angers,  La  Hative,  Versailles, 
Cherry,  Victoria,  Glorie  de  Sablons.  Champagne,  White 
Grape.  Golden  Cherry  Plum;   A.   S.    Fuller,   Brooklyn 

Nurseries.    N.  Y Missouri    Black  ;   Win.  F.  Heins, 

Morrisunia.  N.  Y Raspberries  :   Improved  Black  Cap, 

Orange.  Hudson  River  Antwerp;  E.  Williams,  Mont 
Clair.  N.  J  .  .Catawissa;  W.  S.  Carpenter.  Rye,  N.  Y. 
....Blackberries:  New-Rochelle.  new  variety  of  pink 
color,  also  tiew  black  kind,  from  France  ;  Win.  F.  Heins, 
Mori isania,  N.  Y.  ..Dorchester,  New-Rochelle.  and  a 
new  American  Seedling  ;  E.  Williams,  Mont  Clair,  N.  J. 


Gooseberries  :  Lincolnshire,  large;  Jas.  Hunt,  Flat- 
bush.  N.  J American   Seedling;    E.  Williams.  Mont 

Clair,  N.  J  ..  Apples:  Early  Harvest;  Alexander  Mc- 
Donald, Alt.  Vernon.  N.  Y... .  Curious  double  apple  ;  Jas. 
Brush,   Brooklyn,    N.  Y.... Pears:    Osborn   and    Bcurre 

Giffard;  Win.  S.  Carpenter,  Rye,  N.  Y Fig*  grown 

out-doors,  very  fine ;  Thomas  Carnlv,  Washington 
Heights,  N.  Y.... Mulberries:  S.  Tuttfe,  New-Haven, 
Conn...  .Lemon,  very  line,  one  of  40  on  same  tree  ;  Mrs. 
S.  Craft,  Glen  Cove,  N.  Y. 

Flowers,  etc  :  Collection  of  Seedling  Double  Carna- 
tions,   and    Gladioluses,    very    fine;    A.    P.    Cnmmings, 

Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y Chinese  Trumpet  Lily;  Alex. 

Marshall.  Paterson,  N.  J...   Plant  of  Lavender;  Anton 

Strahm,    Pearl-st.,    New-York Bloom    of    Ahranthiis 

roseus;   Wm.   Allston,   Brooklyn,   N.  Y Dahlias;    R. 

Cunnirigton.   Brooklyn.  N.  Y  ..     Cut  Roses  and  Dahlias  ; 

C.  S.  Pell,  New- York  Asylum Larkspurs,  Carnations, 

Gladioluses,  and  splendid  Colleclion  of  seedling  Phloxes  ; 

Wm.  F.  Herns,  Monisania,  N.Y Blooms  of  Magnolia 

Sonlangiana;  W.  S.  Carpenter,  Rve,  N.  Y...  Double 
Dahlia;  Mr.  Jacobs.  Bergen.  N.  J  ' . .   Douhle  Balsams; 

A.  Edwards,  Shrewsbury,  N.  J Pigmy  Marigolds  ;  H. 

T.    Haviland,    Brooklyn,   N.  Y Doribie   Zinnia.  Dr 

Peyton,  New-York  Cilv.  Cut  Flowers;  O.  Jiuld. 
Flushing,  N.  Y. ..  .Splendid  Collection  of  Gladioluses,  54 
varieties  ;  Andrew  Biidgmau,  870  Broadway,  New-York. 

Vegetables,  etc  ;  New  species  of  Cucumber,  white, 
and  curious  Tree  Tomato;  G.  M.  Usher,  Pint  Rich- 
mond, N.Y Long  Blood  Beet  and  Early  Turnip;  J. 

W.  Perkins,  Central   Park   Hospital,  New-York  City 

Cucumbers;  Barney  Williams,  Bath,  N.  Y One  bunch 

Tomatoes,  weighing  9X  lbs.,  Apple  and  Fig  Tomatoes, 
and  enormous  growth  of  Martvnea  ;  Wm.  F.  Heins,  Mor- 

risania,  N.  Y Mandrake;  Israel  Thornell,  Meluchin 

N.J Red  and  White  Wheat,  grown  near  St.  Louis,  Mo. 


The  Great  Strawberry, 

IMPORTANT  EXPLANATIONS, 

A  number  of  persons  appear  not  to  have  read  carefully 
through  what  was  said  last  month  about  distributing  the 
wonderful  New  Strawberry.  At  least,  so  we  judge  from 
the  tenor  of  many  letters  received.  Owingto  the  absence 
of  the  Publisher,  perhaps  his  intentiorrs  were  not  so  fully 
explained  as  they  might  have  been.  To  save  writing 
letters,  and  to  make  the  matter  understood,  we  explain: 

1. — As  the  New  Strawberry  (now  called  the  "  Agricul- 
turist Strawberry,")  appeared  to  far  excel  both  in  size  and 
intrinsic  value  anything  ever  before  produced,  it  was  de- 
cided to  purchase  all  the  plants,  to  multiply  them,  and  to 
distribute  them  free  among  the  subscribers  to  the  Agri- 
culturist for  the  year  1864  (Volume  23). 

2. — There  were  but  few  plants  in  existence  ;  we  bought 
all  but  one  which  is  in  the  bands  of  an  amateur  friend, 
and  we  are  cultivating  and  multiplying  them  with  the 
greatest  care.  We  can  not  spare  one  this  year  for  love  or 
money.  A  hundred  dollars  for  one  plant  have  been  offer- 
ed by  some  cultivators  who  would  like  to  get  rip  a  stock 
for  sale,  as  they  would  bring  a  high  price.  We  intend  to 
keep  them  out  of  market,  and  distribute  them  free.  Each 
plant  will,  perhaps,  on  the  average,  produce,  200  others  for 
distribution  next  year.  The  Green-House  wilt  he  brought 
into  requisition  as  soon  as  the  out-door  multiplication 
ceases.  So,  then,  the  many  who  earnestly  solicit  "just 
one  plant  now,"  will  see  why  we  can  not  grant  the  favor 
and  excuse  us  from  writing  them  in  reply. 

3. — As  some  plan  of  distribution  is  necessary,  we  adopt 
the  following  :  The  plants  will  be  sent  to  all  paying  sub- 
scribers for  1864  (including  exchanges),  if  we  can  produce 
enough,  and  if  there  be  not  enough,  then  as  far  as  ttiey 
go,  beginning  in  order  wilh  the  first  who  pay  in  their  sub- 
scriptions for  1864.  (Exception. — Some  have  sent  in 
their  applications,  saying  they  intended  to  subscribe.  As 
the  matter  was  not  definitely  understood  last  month,  we 
have  entered  these  names  in  order,  on  a  separate  list,  and 
when  the  subscriptions  come  in,  we  will  check  off  the 
names  for  the  plants,  if  the  subscribers  will  refer  us  to 
their  application,  giving  about  the  date.  Those  applying 
whose  subscriptions  already  extend  into  1364,  are  entered 
for  the  plants.)  Hereafter,  to  avoid  trouble  and  mis- 
takes, and  to  save  much  extra  labor,  we  must  ask  that 
the  application  for  plants  come  along  with  the  subscrip- 
tion for  1864.  We  do  not  desire  to  hurry  up  renewals, 
though  every  name  now  booked  up  for  next  year,  by  so 
much  diminishes  the  severe  labors  of  December  and  Jan 
uary,  wtien  the  great  bulk  of  subscriptions  are  generally 
received.  We  hope  to  have  at  least  one  plant  for  every 
subscriber,  but  can  not  promise  them  positively,  and 
therefore  adopt  the  j;ule  of  "  first  come,  first  served.1' 

4. — No  difference  is  made  between  single  subscribers, 
club  subscribers,  or  those  coming  on  premium  lists,  oi 
from  Agricultural  Societies.  The  plants  are  designed  for 
all  regular  (paid  up)  subscribers  alike.  Voluntary  agents 
or  dealers  can  have  the  plants  for  their  customers,  on  the 
same  terms  as  others,  that  is,  when  we  receive  the  sub- 
scription price  for  1*64.  We  can  not  supply  plants  to 
those  who  buy  only  by  the  single  number,  as  a-ny  copy 
taken  thus  may  be  the  last  one. 

ABOUT  THE  FIVE  CENTS.— The  purchase,  culti- 
vation, and  distribution  of  the  plants  will  cost  $3O0O, 


260 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[September, 


or  more,  besides  postage  and  packing  material.  The 
smallest  parcel  will  require  at  least  three  cents  worth  of 
oil  cloth,  anil  two  cents  for  postage.  This  five  cents  is  a 
trifle  for  each,  while  if  we  paid  it,  it  would  amount  to 
several  thousands  of  dollars.  Our  paper  is  too  low  priced 
to  afford  profit  for  so  much  extra  expense.  It  is  a  matter  of 
necessity,  therefore,  to  ask  each  one  desiring  the  plants 
to  enclose  Jive  cents  for  packing  material  and   postage. 

If  this  New  Strawberry  turns  out  as  well  as  it  promises, 
and  as  well  as  every  one  who  lias  seen  it  believes  it  will, 
it  will  be  a  magnificent  acquisition  10  the  country,  and  the 
subscribers  receiving  the  plants  will  get  the  first  benefit  at 
very  trifling  cost  or  risk,  while  the  whole  country  will 
soon  be  supplied,  at  a  cheap  rate.  Had  we  not  secured 
them,  they  would  have  been  offered  at  a  dollar  or  more 
each,  and  thousands  of  persons  would  have  paid  $5  to 
$10  a  dozen  befoie  they  became  generally  disseminated. 
Indeed  we  could  to-day  sell  our  plants  for  $3000  cash. 

— «-. —  IM       •-• 

Great  American 

€*rape  Exhibition. 

THE  NEW-YORK  FRUIT  GROWERS  at  their 
meeting,  August  13,  decided  to  hold  a  Public  Exhibition 
devoted  entirely  to  Grapes,  at  the  Agriculturist  Rooms, 
41  Park-Row,  on  October  1st,  2nd,  and  3rd. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  appointed  a  Committee 
of  Arrangements:  Peter  B.  Mead,  Esq.,  Ed.  Horticul- 
tural fiR.  G.  Pardee,  Esq.;  Dr.  I.  M.Ward;  Wm.  S.  Car- 
penter, Esq.;  A.  S.  Fuller,  Esq.;  and  Dr.  C.  W.  Grant. 
The  Committee  report  as  follows  : 

FRIZES. 

NATIVE    GRAPES. 

A.— Dest  Native  Seedling  Grape  that  has  never  taken 
a  pi  izc— of  superior  quality,  and  ripening  in  open 
ground  not  later  than  Sept.  20th. — Satis  factory 

proof  of  time  of  ripening  to  be  furnished $10 

B.— For  the  Best  Collection  of  Native  Grapes, 
(amount  and   quality  both   considered,)  not  less 

than  12  kinds,  5  bunches  of  each flO 

C— For  Second           do           do           do           5 

D. —For  Best  Six  Varieties,  5  bunches  of  each. 4 

E. — Second           do           do           do                    2 

J?,_ For  Best  Four  Varieties,  5  bunches  of  each 3 

G.— For  Second                  do                  do           Z 

H.— For  the  Best  5  bunches  of  Native  Grapes  of  any 

kind,  quality  to  rule % 

I.  —For  the  Best  5  bunches  of  Delaware 2 

J.  — For  the  Best  5  bunches  of  Diana 2 

K.— For  the  Best  5  bunches  of  Catawba 2 

L.— For  the  Best  5  bunches  of  Isabella 2 

M. — For  the  Best  5  bunches  of  Concord 2 

N.— For  the  Best  5  bunches  of  Hartford   Prolific  . .  2 

O.— For  the  Best  5  bunches  of  Herbemont 2 

P._For  the  Best  5  bunches  of  Elsingburgh 2 

q,— For  the  Best  5  bunches  of  Orevelhig 2 

R,;_For  the  Best  5  bunches  of  Union  Village 2 

S.— For  tlie  Best  5  bunches  of  Anna. 2 

T.— For  the  Best  5  bunches  c-f  Allen's  Hybrid  —  2 

V.— For  the  Heaviest  bunch  of  any  kind 2 

FOREIGN    GRAPES. 

V, — Best  Six  varieties,  2  bunches  each  5 

W.— Second        do  do  3 

X.— Best2  bunches  Blark  Hamburgh fl 

Y. — Best  2  bunches  Muscat  of  Alexandria 1 

Z.— Best  2  bunches  Grizzly  Frontignan 1 

aa. — Best  2  bundles  of  any  other  kind 1 

it.— Other  Special  Prizes  to  be  awarded  by  the  Judges, 
for  extra  specimens  not  included  anywhere  above. 

Regulations. — 1.  The  Judges  will  be  requested  to  test 
specimens  by  actual  taste,  ami  to  make  all  other  points 
subordinate  to  that  of  quality. except  in  Prize  U.  They  will 
disqualify  all  lots  not  meeting  the  tarins  of  the  schedule, 
including  the  number  of  bunches  called  for  (except  in 
prizes  B  and  C).  All  bunches  above  the  required  num- 
ber must  be  laid  aside  until  after  the  judges  have  given 
in  their  decision,  when  the  exhibitors  may  add  to  their 
specimens  at  their  pleasure. 

2.— Exhibitors  should  give  at  least  3  days'  notice  of  the 
space  required,  that  room  may  be  provided  for  them. 

3. — All  specimens  to  be  on  the  tables  by  11  o'clock  A.M. 
Thursday,  Oct.  1st.  The  Judges  will  have  exclusive  use 
of  the  rooms  from  12  to  2  o'clock,  after  which  the  public 
will  be  admitted.  After  the  awards,  the  Prize  specimens 
will  be  labeled.  Exhibitors  may  then  put  on  their  speci- 
mens their  cards,  place  of  business,  etc.  No  fruit  will  be 
removed  before  4X  o'clock  P.  M.,  Saturday,  without  spec- 
ial permit.  The  fruit  of  course  will  belong  to  the  several 
exhibitors,  at  the  close  of  the  Exhibition. 

On  behalf  of  the  Committee, 

PETER   B.  MEAD,  Chairman. 

The  above  report  was  presented  an!  adopted  at  the 
Fruit  Growers'  Meeting,  Aug.  20,  and  appointment  made 
of  ihe   following  excellent  committee    of 

JUDGES    FOR    THE    GRAPE    EXHIBITION. 

HON.  MARSHALL  P.  WILDER,  Dorchester,  Mass. 

CHARLES  DOWNING,  Esq.,  Ncwbnr^h,  N.  Y. 

JOHN  E.  MOTHER,  Esq.,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

A.  W.  HARBISON,  Esq.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Dr.  J.  B    CHAP1N,  Providence,  R.  I. 

T.  T.  LYON,  Esq.  Plymouth,  Mich. 

JOHN  DAILLEDOUZE,  Esq.,  Flatbush,  L.  I. 

ISAAC  BUCHANAN.  Esq.,  Now-York  City. 


Containing  a  great  qariety  of  Items,  including  many 
good  Hints  and  Suggestions  which  we  give  here  in  small 
type  and   condensed  form,   for   want   of  space  elsewhere. 

Jflailing-  Strawberry  Plants  due 
for  Premiums.— These  will  be  mailed  soon  after 
Sept.  1st.  (The  dry  season  prevented  an  earlier  develop- 
ment of  well  rooted  plants).  The  Triomphe  de  Gand 
will  be  sent  where  the  Bartlett  or  Austin  have  not  been 
specially  called  for.  As  soon  as  they  arrive,  remove  the 
covering,  and  bury  the  roots  in  moist  earth,  if  not  ready 
to  plant  at  once.  (See  directions  for  culture  in  August 
Agriculturist,  page  241).  Let  the  soil  be  made  mellow 
and  deep,  and  contain  plenty  of  black  earth,  or  woods 
mold,  or  well  rotted  manure.  Spread  out  the  roots  well ; 
set  so  that  on  settling  the  crowns  will  be  fully  as  high  as 
the  general  surface  with  no  dirt  on  the  central  leaves  ; 
water  only  as  needed — not  drowning  them  ;  put  a  little 
rotten  manure  around  each  plant,  and  water  through 
this,  which  will  work  in  some  of  it,  and  stimulate  the 
plants  to  active  growth.  All  this,  if  the  best  results  are 
desired.  Rich  manure  in  Spring  promotes  rapid  growth 
of  plants  at  the  expense  of  fruit.  With  care  in  planting 
and  a  good  autumn  season,  quite  a  number  of  new  plants 
may  grow,  ready  for  spring  planting.  If  set  well  apart, 
and  well  treated,  10  plants  set  now  ought  to  produce  at 
least  500  by  next  August.    We  could  easily  make   1000. 

The  Fruit  Growers'  meetings,  which 
were  partially  interrupted  by  hot  weather,  by  the  mob 
excitement,  etc.,  are  again  in  active  operation.  It  will 
pay  to  drop  in  at  41  Park  Row,  on  Thursdays,  at  1  P.  M. 

The  Great  Grape  Exhibition  an- 
nounced in  another  column  is  worthy  of  attention.  The 
show  will  doubtless  be  one  of  the  best,  if  not  the  best  ever 
seen  in   this  country. 

The  Premium  Grape    Vines,  Due, 

can  not  be  mailed  until  the  new  wood  ripens,  several 
weeks  hence.    The  time  of  sending  will  be  announced. 

Fine  Show  of  Gladiolus.— Our  exhi- 
bition tables  are  blooming  like  a  garden,  with  a  splendid 
collection  of  over  50  varieties  of  gladiolus  from  the 
grounds  of  A.  Bridgernan,  878  Broadway.  The  colors 
range  from  pure  while  with  purple  markings,  to  deep 
scarlet.  We  have  never  seen  a  finer  collection.  The 
gladiolus  is  one  of  the  most  desirable  ornaments  of  Ihe 
garden  ;  it  blooms  in  midsummer,  and  continues  to  flower 
until  late  in  the  season.  Most  of  the  sorts  are  hardy,  and 
the  bulbs  only  need  taking  up  to  divide  them. 

A  Supplement  to  lire's  Dictionary 
of  Arts,  Manufactures,  and  Mines.— New- 
York:  D.  Appieton  &  Co.  Ure's  Dictionary  has  long 
been  a  useful  hand-book  of  reference  to  those  having  an 
interest  in  the  subjects  on  which  it  treats.  This  supple- 
ment, edited  by  Robert  Hunt,  and  comprising  contribu- 
tions from  numerous  well-known  authors,  is  a  valuable 
work.  It  gives  an  exposition  of  all  the  latest  improve- 
ments in  manufactures,  and  embodies  a  mass  of  informa- 
tion not  to  be  found  elsewhere.  Messrs.  Appieton  «5c  Co. 
are  issuing  several  scientific  works  of  a  high  order; 
they  will  receive  the  lhanks  of  all  lovers  of  good  books. 


Flowers  Tor  the  Parlor  and  Gar- 
den, by  Edward  Sprague  Rand  jr.,  Boston,  J.  E.  Til- 
ton  &  Co.  We  have  a  natural  antipathy  to  works  in 
which  the  chapters  are  headed  by  a  poetical  quotation. 
We  confess  that  we  opened  this  book  with  a  prejudice 
against  it,  but  we  have  given  it  a  careful  perusal,  and 
must  say  that  it  contains  much  useful  information  for  the 
amateur  cultivator.  There  are  some  errors  in  botanical 
nomenclature  which  are  evidently  oversights,  and  should 
be  corrected  in  another  edition.  The  work  is  beautifully 
executed,  and  is  not  dear  at  the  price,  $2.50.  We  shall 
place  it  on  our  book  list. 

A  Good  **  Notice,"— We  do  not  feel  at  lib- 
erty to  occupy  much  space  in  printing  the  good  things 
said  concerning  this  Journal  by  other  Journals,  and  by 
our  readers  in  their  letters.  It  may  gratify  live  rnemhers 
of  the  great  Agriculturist  family,  however,  to  state  that 
thousands  of  kind  and  appreciating  notices  appear  every 
year,  in  which  the  merits  of  this  paper  are  spoken  of  in 
the  highest  terms.  We  are  gratified  by  such  expres- 
sions of  appreciation,  and  are  thus  stimulated  to  greater 
exertions.  We  give  one  example  from  a  recent  number 
of  the  "  Medical  and  Surgical  Reporter^  of  Philadelphia, 
one  of  the  best  and  most  widely  circulated  weekly  Med- 


ical Journals  in  the  world.  Praise  from  such  a  source  is 
truly  worth  having.  The  Reporter  says:— "  The  Ameri- 
"  can  Agriculturist,  published  by  Orange  Judd  in  New- 
"York,  is  one  of  the  best  and  most  practical,  as  it  is  the 
"cheapest  paper  issued  for  the  use  of  agriculturists.  As 
"many  of  our  readers  are,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  agri- 
culturists and  horticulturists,  we  unhesitatingly  recom- 
"  mend  it  to  their  notice.  The  Agriculturist  is  an  unconi- 
"  promising  opponent  of  quackery  in  medicine,  refusing 
"to advertise  for  quacks  at  any  price,  and  devoting  much 
"  space  to  a  practical  exposure  of  their  tricks.  Each  mini* 
"ber  contains  something  to  amuse  and  instruct  children 
"  as  well  as  grown  persons.  The  price  is  but  one  dollar 
"  a  year,  and  each  number  is  worth  the  money." 

Pine  Wool  ana  Sheep  Husoanury. 

—A  work  bearing  this  title  is  just  being  issued  by  C. 
M.  Sax  ton.  It  consists  of  an  essay  by  Henry  S.  Ran- 
dall, L.  L.  D.,  read  before  the  New-York  State  Agri- 
cultural Society,  Feb.  12,  1862.  and  contains  sundry  mat- 
ters of  interest  to  breeders  of  fine  sheep.  A  large  part 
of  the  work  is  occupied  with  the  history  of  different  im- 
portations into  this  country,  and  a  comparison  of  the 
values  of  the  several  breeds  of  fine-wooled  sheep.  It  also 
contains  practical  suggestions  upon  the  breeding  and 
management  of  sheep.  We  can  send  it  post-paid  upon 
receipt  of  the  price,  75c. 

UTew  ¥Ise  tor  the  Wringer.— Geo.  M. 

Usher,  of  Port  Richmond,  informs  us  that  he  finds  the 
Clothes- Wringer  of  great  use  in  squeezing  the  juice  from 
currants.  The  fruit  is  put  into  a  bag,  without  being 
stemmed,  and  the  whole  is  passed  between  Ihe  rollers  of 
the  Wringer.  Mr.  V.  says  he  can  thus  make  a  barrel  of 
juice  as  soon  as  he  could  a  gallon  in  the  ordinary  manner. 

The    Rarometer    and    the    Chureh 

Bell.— Rev.  B.  F.  Sharp,  Geauga  Co.,  0.,  last  year  se- 
cured a  premium  barometer  by  ohtaining  subscribers  to 
the  Agriculturist.  He  writes  that  it  has  proved  entirely 
satisfactory  to  himself,  and  of  no  little  benefit  to  his 
neighbors.  During  haying  and  harvest,  when  the  instru- 
ment indicated  approaching  rain,  he  notified  his  pa- 
rishioners by  ringing  the  church  bell.  One  of  them 
informed  him  that  he  saved  five  loads  of  hay  in  one  day, 
by  attending  to  the  warning  thus  given 


Poisoning:  l>y  Mercury  Vine.— UW. 
T.  P.,"  Monmouth  Co.,  N.  J.  If  you  will  tell  us  what 
the  "  Mercury  Vine"  is,  we  may  publish  the  recipe.  Is  it 
the  Poison  Ivy  described  on  another  page  ? 

Corn  Blossoms.— City  Subscriber,  N.  Y.  If 
you  read  the  Boys  and  Girls'  Garden  for  this  month  you 
will  better  understand  our  answer.  The  Tassel  is  a  col- 
lection of  staminate  flowers  j  the  Ear  a  great  number  of 
pistillate  ones.  The  silk  of  the  corn  is  the  long  pistils, 
each  thread  of  which  comes  from  a  pistillate  flower  that, 
after  receiving  the  pollen  from  the  tassel  above,  becomes 
a  kernel.  The  staminate  flower  is  much  like  the  oat 
flower  figured  in  the  lesson.  The  structure  of  the  pistil- 
late flower  is  a  little  difficult  to  explain  to  one  who  is  not 
a  botanical  student.  You  must  take  our  word  that  it  is  so. 

Fruit  Notes. — Isaac  Hicks,  an  experienced 
fruit  grower  in  Queens  Co.,  L.  I.,  sends  us  the  following  : 

Primate  Apple. — We  have  had  this  superior  summer 
apple  several  years  under  the  name  of  Tart  Bough.  It 
was  introduced  from  the  vicinity  of  Syracuse,  is  nearly 
as  early  as  the  Harvest,  and  a  much  better  grower,  and 
more  productive  and  valuable.  It  is  very  tender  and 
juicy,  and  ripens  gradually  on  the  trees,  so  that  it  is  in 
use  three  or  four  weeks. 

Cherries.— Gov.  Wood  is  the  finest  cherry  we  have 
yet  tested,  of  about  30  varieties.  All  our  Early  Rich- 
mond and  others  of  that  class  are  nearly  destroyed  by  the 
knot.  Cutting  off  the  knots  as  soon  as  they  appear  will 
prevent  the  spread  of  the  disease  if  all  your  neighbors  will 
pursue  that  plan,  but  if  not.  the  labor  is  in  vain. 

Dorchester  Blackberrv.— Of  little  value  compared 
with  New-Rochelle — thrown  away  after  two  years'  trial. 

Strawberries.— It  is  time  the  attention  of  the  public 
was  turned  more  to  the  flavor  of  this  fruit,  for  any  person 
that  visited  the  Show  at  the  Agriculturist  office  must  be 
convinced  that  we  have  produced  berries  large  enough. 
A  strawberry  that  is  rich  and  sweet  enough  without  sugar, 
and  of  course  productive  too,  is  what  we  want  now. 
Friend  Fuller  has  succeeded  in  producing  a  seedling  that 
approaches  the  mark,  and  Wm.  E.  Burgess,  has  a  new  va- 
riety that  is  very  near  what  I  desire,  and  can  safely  re- 
commend, after  visiting  the  grounds  of  the  gentlemen 
above  named  in  strawberry  time,  these  seedlings  to  those 
who  prefer  flavor  to  size  alone.  We  thought  they  were 
the  best  of  the  many  varieties  we  tasted,  and  thrifty  and 
productive  also. 

Grapes.—  Tick  off  one  half  of  your  Hartford  Prolific 
grapes,  and  liny  will  be  more  than  twice  the  better  for  it 


1883.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


QG1 


M  iinimy  Wlieat.— J.  M.  Shaw,  of  Lcc  Co., 
111.,  sends  us  a.  sample  of  wheat  "  said  to  have  originated 
from  Unit  found  with  an  Egyptian  mummy  some  years 
ago,"  and  asks  what  are  its  qualities.  We  have  not  the 
least  confidence  in  the  mummy  story  ;  it  is  one  of  the 
popular  errois.  The  wheat  sent,  has  a  remarkably  long 
and  black  beard.  The  head  is  short,  but  well  filled.  ,The 
grain  is  plump,  but  from  inspection  merely,  we  should 
not  think  it  would  make  the  best  quality  of  flour.  We 
have  no  knowledge  of  this  variety,  and  should  be  very 
glad  if  Mr.  S.  can  answer  his  questions  from  experience. 


Chewing-  Tobacco.— We  hare  Lad  nu- 
merous inquiries  a3  to  the  method  of  converting  leaf 
tobacco  into  the  manufactured  or  chewing  tobacco,  but 
can  give  no  positive  information  on  the  subject.  We  only 
know,  in  a  general  way,  that  the  tobacco  is  sprinkled 
with  water  sweetened  with  molasses  or  liquorice,  and 
sometimes  flavored  with  vanilla  or  some  other  aromatic. 
It  is  then  rolled  into  balls  and  submitted  to  strong  pres- 
sure, which  forms  it  into  cakes.  The  manufacturing  is  usu- 
ally done  on  a  large  scale  by  those  who  buy  the  leaf,  and 
make  a  business  of  it,  the  same   as   with  cotton  or  wool. 

What  is  Muck?— City  Farmer,  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  says  that  we  often  mention  Hie  use  of  muck,  and 
he  confesses  that  he  does  not  know  what  it  is.  If  we 
were  to  call  it  swamp  mud,  perhaps  he  would  know  it. 
It  is  the  deposit  found  in  low  swampy  places  where  part- 
ly decomposed  vegetable  matter  has  been  accumulating 
for  ages.  When  dug  out  and  exposed  to  the  air,  it  par- 
tially dries  and  becomes  a  valuable  absorbent  of  gases 
from  manure,  and  is  of  itself  an  excellent  manure  from 
the  large  amount  of  vegetable  matter  it  contains.  There 
are  few  farms  of  any  extent  that  have  not  deposits  of 
muck  or  black  earth  at  some  point. 

Sex  of  Eg:g;s. — Charles  H.  Grower,  of  Long 
Island,  says  in  reference  to  Mr.  Genin's  plan  for  determ- 
ining the  sex  of  eggs  (given  in  the  June  Agriculturist), 
that  wishing  to  have  a  number  of  cocks,  he  put  a  dozen 
eggs  with  rough  ends  under  a  lien,  and  two  males  and 
seven  females  were  hatched  out.  Seeing  it  stated  in 
Dements'  American  Poulterer,  that  if  the  air  bubble  is 
in  the  centre  of  the  end  of  the  egg,  a  male  bird  would  be 
produced,  and  if  slightly  at  one  side  the  egg  would  give 
a  female,  he  tried  15  eggs  selected  as  male,  and  the  result 
was  7  males  and  6  females. 

Canada  Thistle* — The  Legislature  of 
Pennsylvania  In  1862  passed  a  law  requiring  owners  or 
occupiers  of  lands  on  which  Canada  Thistle  may  be 
growing,  Lo  cut  the  same,  so  as  to  prevent  it  from  going 
to  seed,  and  the  seed  from  ripening,  under  a  penalty  of 
$15;  and  providing  further,  that  if  any  such  person  shall 
neglect  or  refuse,  after  receiving  five  days'  notice  in 
writing,  to  cut  and  destroy  such  thistles,  it  shall  be  law- 
ful for  any  person  aggrieved,  or  believing  themselves 
about  to  be  injured  thereby,  to  enter  on  such  lands,  and 
cut  and  destroy  such  thistles,  and  recover  compensation 
therefor  from  such  owner  or  occupier,  at  the  rate  of  $2 
per  day.  A  similar  law  was  recently  enacted  in  Michigan. 

How  Can  I  I>estroy  Horse-radish  V 

asks  F.  M.  Abury, Washington  Co.,  Pa.  We  know  of  no 
other  way  than  to  actually  dig  it  out.  The  ground  must 
be  spaded  up  and  forked  over  at  least  two  spades  deep, 
and  all  the  roots,  even  to  the  smallest  particles  picked 
out.  It  is  a  difficult  task,  but  we  have  successfully  ac- 
complished it.  Horse-radish  should  never  be  planted  ex- 
cept where  it  can  remain  permanently. 

Yellow  Daisy*— M.  R.  Campbell,  Colum- 
biana Co.,  Ohio.  We  do  not  know  what  plant  you  refer 
to.     Send  us  a  specimen. 

Kerosene    on    Plum    Trees. — In    the 

February  number  of  the  Agriculturist  we  published  a 
note  from  M.  A.  P.  Richardson,  of  Norfolk  Co.,  Mass.,  to 
the  effect  that  he  had  kept  his  trees  free  from  curculio  by 
the  use  of  kerosene  oil  applied  to  a  band  of  cotton  sur- 
rounding the  tree.  We  have  had  several  letters  from 
those  who  have  tried  it  and  killed  their  trees.  We  pub- 
lished this  as  we  do  other  items  which  come  to  us 
apparently  in  good  faith.  We  cannot  try  every  recipe 
and  experiment  ourselves.  We  deeply  regret  that  any 
trees  have  been  destroyed  by  what  would  seem  to  be  a 
safe  application.  We  shall  be  glad  to  hear  if  Mr. 
Richardson  continues  the  practice  with  safety,  and  if  he 
can  account  for  its  success  with  him  and  its  disastrous 
effects  in  other  places. 

Tree    I*cddlers. — W.   W.   Beck,   writing 

from  Montgomery  Co.,  Ind.,  says  all  we  have  written  of 
itinerant  tree  venders  is  true.    His  neighbors  have  patron- 


ized them,  and  generally  lost  half  their  trees— in  some 
cases  all  of  them.  He  ordered  and  paid  for  one  standard 
pear  and  tv\o  apple  trees.  The  pear  proved  a  poor,  forked 
dwarf,   and  the   apples   were  not  the  variety  ordered. 

Shade  Trees  Free  from  Span 
Worms.— I.  C,  Brooklyn,  L.  I.  Few  trees,  save  the 
Ailanthus,  are  exempt  from  worms,  in  badly  infested  lo- 
calities like  yours.  On  account  of  this  freedom,  and  its 
rapid  growth,  even  in  poor  soil,  we  often  advise  planting 
the  Ailanthus  along  the  streets  of  cities.  The  Sweet 
Gum  (Liquid  amber)  is  a  pretty  tree,  on  rich  soil,  and 
tolerably  free  from  worms.  The  Linden  is  one  of  the 
worst  preyed  upon,  and  the  Elm  and  Maple  come  next. 

Gang'  Flows* — A.  D.  Henry,  Lycoming  Co., 
Pa.  Gang  plows  of  various  patterns  are  in  use  in  differ- 
ent sections  of  the  country,  particularly  at  the  West,  hut 
they  are  not  as  common  as  we  think  they  might  be  with 
advantage.  Perhaps  some  modification  In  the  present 
construction  is  needed  to  make  them  satisfactory.  We 
are  not  prepared  lo  name  the  best.  Hildreth's  is  a  good 
one,  though  not  having  seen  it  advertised  recently,  we 
cannot  say  where  it  is  manufactured  or  for  sale. 


Hubbard  Squash.— John  A.  Allen,  St. 
Louis  Co.,  Mo.,  has  had  much  trouble  from  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  flowers  of  his  vines  by  the  squash-bug.  The  ' 
only  remedy  we  can  suggest  is  to  begin  early  in  the 
season,  and  look  over  the  vines  every  day  and  destroy 
the  inserts.  By  killing  those  which  come  early,  before 
they  lay  their  eggs,  much  may  be  gained.  The  eggs  are 
deposited  on  the  under  side  of  the  leaves:  these  and  the 
young  insects,  and  in  fact  those  in  every  stage  of  growth 
must  be  crushed.  We  know  of  no  preparation  or  appli- 
cation which  will  keep  them  off. 

Treatment   of    Raspberries. — T.    W. 

Kingsbury,  Pike  Co.,  III.,  forks  in  a  gooddressing  of  ma- 
nure in  the  Spring,  and  when  the  fruit  begins  to  ripen  he 
cuts  the  new  shoots  back  to  let  the  sun  in,  and  also  to  in- 
duce side  branches.  The  canes  are  in  hills,  four  together, 
lied  to  a  single  stake.  As  soon  as  the  fruiting  is  over,  he 
cuts  out  all  the  old  canes  and  the  weak  growth  of  the 
new,  and  forks  in  more  manure.  By  this  method  he  gets 
strong  shoots  for  fruiting  the  following  year. 

Preserving;  Figs.— C.  Pell,  Wayne  Co., 
N.  Y.  In  the  South  of  Europe  the  figs  are  simply  dried 
in  the  sun,  or,  in  wet  seasons,  in  a  heated  room.  They  are 
turned  frequently  to  insure  equal  drying.  You  think 
fresh  figs  insipid  ;  we  do  not.  The  taste  for  them  is  partly 
an  acquired  one  like  that  for  tomatoes.  We  should  like 
to  breakfast  with  you  if  you  could  give  us  fresh  figs  and 
cream,— you  would  not  be  troubled  to  dry  them. 

Hardiness  of  Flants.— John  Walling, 
Clinton  Co.,  Mich.  The  Catalpa  is  barely  hardy  here, 
and  will  probably  not  stand  your  winter.  It  depends  upon 
the  sort  of  magnolia  you  plant,  whether  it  will  endure. 
Magnolia  acuminata  and  glauca  may  stand,  and  Ihough 
we  should  not  like  to  insure  them,  they  are  worth  try- 
ing. It  is  impossible  to  predict  about  plants  with- 
out actual  experience.  We  have  seen  the  Southern  Cy- 
press quite  hardy  in  your  State,  while  plants  which  nat- 
urally grow  much  farther  north  were  killed.  Clematis 
Virginiana   grows  wild   in  Michigan,  and  is  hardy. 

Tlie  Wistaria.— "  J.  W.  R.,"  Bath— (State 
not  given.)  If  in  Maine,  the  Winter  is  too  cold  in  your 
locality.  Try  laying  down  the  vine  next  Fall,  and  cover- 
ing it  with  some  litter  ami  a  few  inches  of  earth. 

Two   Very    Long    Iron    ISars  !  —  We 

write  this  item  in  Central  Iowa,  at  Grinnell,  the  farthest 
point  west  to  which  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri  Railroad 
is  yet  completed.  Before  our  window  lie  two  paralell 
heavy  bars  of  iron,  the  ends  meeting  other  bars  eastward 
in  one  continuous  line  all  the  way  to  New-York  City — 
over  the  prairies,  through  cities,  winding  among  the  hills, 
and  crossing  rivers  on  substantial  bridges.  A  car  loaded 
with  the  products  of  these  fertile  prairies  can  go  through 
to  the  great  Metropolis  on  the  Atlantic,  without  being 
broken  in  bulk.  We  can  step  on  board,  and  in  51  or  52 
hours,  traverse  the  whole  distance,  of  i  19G  miles  !  We 
occupied  two  weeks  in  coming  here,  as  we  made  frequent 
digressions,  but  always  returning  to  the  main  route.  Here 
is  the  route  :  From  Grinnell  to  Davenport,  by  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  Missouri  R.  R.,  1*20  miles  ;  thence  by  the  Chi- 
cago and  Rock  Island  R.  R.  to  Chicago,  18*2  miles  ;  thence 
by  the  Pittsburgh,  Fort  Wayne,  and  Chicago  R.  R.,  to 
Pittsburg,  468  miles  ;  thence  by  the  Pennsylvania  Central 
R.  R.  to  Harrisburg,  249  miles;  thence  by  the  Leba- 
non  Valley,   the  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  and  the   New- 


Jersey  Central  Railroads,  to  New-York  City,  177  miles. 
All  these  roads  join  so  as  to  form  a  continuous  line,  and 
the  trains  connect,  so  that  if  in  haste,  one  need  not  slop 
night  or  day,  except  lo  eat,  for  which  time  is  allowed  at 
suitable  intervals.  Commodious  sleeping  cars  are  pro- 
vided in  the  trains  running  at  night,  and  we  have  found  a 
very  commendable  effort,  on  the  part  of  all  employed  in 
running  the  trains,  to  make  their  passengers  comfortablo. 
It  is  worth  a  trip  over  this  route  to  see  the  broad  country 
on  the  way,  and  to  see  and  enjoy  these  magnificent  prai- 
ries. Thanks  lo  the  skill,  and  enterprise,  which  laid 
down  these  two  very  long  iron  bars  ! 

Keeping-  dJrapes.—S.  Mitchell,  of  Steuben 
Co.,  N.  Y..  gives  in  (lie  Rural  New-Yorker  his  expe- 
rience with  several  modes  of  packing  Isabella  grapes. 
They  were  all  put  in  boxes  one  foot  square  and  six 
inches  deep,  to  admit  three  layers  of  clusters,  and  kept 
in  a  cool,  dry  cellar,  so  cool  that  water  froze.  Those 
packed  in  colored  sheet- wadding — a  layer  of  grapes, 
then  wadding— kept  tolerably  well  until  the  middle  of 
December,  when  they  began  to  rot  and  mould.  Others 
packed  in  fresh-grape-leaves  kept  nice  and  plump  until 
the  last  of  December,  improving  in  the  meantime.  They 
then  began  to  mould  badly.  The  best  results  were  with 
grapes  packed  between  alternate  layers  of  newspapers. 
By  changing  the  papers  and  repacking  he  kept  grapes 
plump  and  fresh  until  used  up  March  15lh. 

Hybridizing  Strawberries.— G.  Pills- 
bury,  Rockingham  Co.,  N.  H.  This  operation,  which 
should  properly  be  called  crossing,  is  performed  by  cut- 
ting out  the  stamens  of  the  flower  to  be  fertilized,  as 
soon  as  it  opens,  and  then  applying  the  pollen  from  the 
flower  with  which  you  wish  to  cross,  by  means  of  a 
camel's-hair  pencil.  If  not  familiar  with  the  structure  of 
flowers,  the  Boys  and  Girls'  Garden  for  July  will  explain. 

Mulching-  Strawberries*— W.  H.  Mor- 
gan, Harford  Co.,  Md.  The  winter  covering  of  straw- 
berries should  not  be  more  than  one  or  two  inches  thick 
over  the  crowns  of  the  plants.  Perhaps  with  you  a  very 
thin  covering  would  answer  as  a  protection  against  sud- 
den changes  of  temperature.  This  Fall  covering  is 
designed  not  only  to  protect  the  plants  during  Winter, 
but  to  keep  the  ground  around  the  roots  moist  during  the 
Spring  drouths,  and  also  to  keep  the  fiuit  clean  and  the 
weeds  down.  Forest  leaves  answer  an  excellent  purpose 
as  a  winter  protection,  and  we  have  known  tan-batk, 
saw-dust,  and  shavings  from  a  planing-mill,  to  be  used 
with  good  results.  The  last-mentioned  articles  are  dis- 
posed to  pack  closely,  and  should  be  put  very  thinly 
over  the  crowns  of  the  plants.  Strawberries  do  not  so 
much  need  protection  from  the  severity  of  Winter  as 
they  do  from  frequent  freezing  and  thawing. 

Cobcoa  Scandens.— Jos.  Marsh,  Wis.  This 
is  grown  as  an  annual,  but  it  is  a  perennial  in  the  gieen 
house.  You  will  be  more  apt  to  get  flowers  by  starting 
new  plants    than    by   any   treatment  of   the  old  ones. 

IVIusltrooms. — J.  Wickershara,  Ind.,  is  refer- 
red to  the  Sept.  Agriculturist,  1861,  for  full  directions 
for  cultivation.  The  spawn  may  be  had  at  the  seed  stoies. 

Stuffing  Hirds. — "Ignoramus"  will  find  a 
brief  article  in  the  Agriculturist  for  October,  1862.  The 
skinning  is  not  difficult,  but  the  setting  up  depends  upon 
one's  natural  taste  ami  eye  for  form.  He  can  learn  more 
from  seeing  an  experienced  taxidermist  work  a  few 
hours  than  he  can  from  any  printed  directions. 

International    Wheat    Show,  —  We 

again  call  attention  to  the  International  Wheat  Show, 
to  be  held  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  Sept.  8,  9,  and  10th, 
at  which  samples  from  any  part  of  the  world  will  be  ad- 
mitted for  competition.  The  large  premium  list,  amount- 
ing to  five  hundred  and  forty  dollars,  is  well  worthy  the 
attention  of  wheat  growers.  As  there  will  also  be  an 
opportunity  of  selling  good  wheat  at  extra  prices  for  seed, 
the  inducements  to  contribute  to  \\\e  exhibition  are  in 
themselves  sufficient  to  warrant  a  large  show,  aside  from 
the  fact  that  the  interest  of  farmers  generally  will  be 
greatly  promoted  by  a  comparison  of  the  different  varie- 
ties of  wheat,  and  the  selection  of  that  best  adapted  for 
culture  in  the  United  States. 

Fair  or  the  Ameriean    Institute* — 

The  Thirty-fifth  Annual  Exhibition  of  this  Institution  is 
announced  to  be  held  at  the  Academy  of  Music  in  this 
City,  commencing  Sept.  3d,  and  to  continue  three  weeks. 
A  Horticultural  Exhibition  is  to  be  had  in  connection  with 
the  general  Fair,  during  the  last  week.  Articles  of  every 
kind  are  admitted,  provided  they  are  of  American  manu- 
facture.    Investors  and  manufacturers  have  an  opportu- 


263 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[September, 


nily  at  this  gathering,  of  exhibiting  their  wares  to  very 
Hrge  numbers  of  visitors,  anil  they  usually  avail  them- 
selves very  largely  of  the  facilities  offered,  so  that  in 
general  the  show  is  well  worthy  a  visit. 

Rrakex  in  Pastures.— C.  Crocket,  Pe- 
nobscot Co.,  Me.,  and  several  other  subscribers.  We 
know  of  no  other  way  of  getting  rid  of  brakes,  short  of 
grubbing  them  up.  The  long  root-stocksor  underground 
stems  are  very  indestructible  ;  we  have  turned  them  up 
after  they  had  been  plowed  under  for  several  years,  and 
they  seemed  to  be  as  sound  as  ever.  Drainage  would 
doubtless  render  the  land  less  suitable  for  them.  There 
are  but  few  ways  in  which  any  particular  plants  can  be 
killed.  The  land  can  be  rendered  uncongenial  as  regards 
moisture  ;  they  can  be  crowded  out  by  cultivated  crops  ; 
they  can  be  exhausted  by  repeated  mowings,  and  they 
may  be  grubbed  up  root  and  branch.  Besides  this,  thistles 
and  burdock  may  be  poisoned  with  salt.  This  is  the  ex- 
tent of  our  present  knowledge  about  exterminating  par- 
ticular plants.  If  our  readers  have  any  facts  on  the  sub- 
ject, we  should  be  glad  to  learn  them. 


Marble  Dust  as  a  Fertilizer. — Wm. 

C.  Chipman,  Barnstable  Co.,  Mass.,  and  others.— Lime- 
stone, marble,  and  chalk  are  alike  in  composition,  for  they 
are  each  composed  of  lime  and  carbonic  acid.  The  main 
difference  in  composition  is  the  presence  of  a  very  small 
quantity  of  iron,  or  other  metal,  which  darkens  the  lime- 
stone, and  shades  some  beds  of  marble.  The  compactness, 
the  degree  of  crystallization,  and  other  causes,  give  a  dif- 
ferent physical  appearance  to  the  three  forms  of  carbonate 
of  lime.  Burn  limestone,  marble,  or  chalk,  to  drive  off  the 
carbonic  acid,  and  in  each  case  you  have  caustic  lime  re- 
maining. Grind  or  pulverize  them,  and  in  each  case  you 
have  a  powder  which  is  chiefly  carbonate  of  lime.  On 
some  soils  entirely  deficient  in  lime,  the  unburned  powder 
may  be  beneficial,  but  we  suspect  noi  greatly  so,  from  the 
fact  that  on  soils  filled  with  limestone,  and  even  partly 
made  up  of  the  detritus  of  limestone,  good  results  are  de- 
rived from  burning  a  part  of  the  limestone,  and  applying 
it  in  this  siate  to  the  soil.  The  expulsion  of  the  carbonic 
arid  leaves  the  caustic  lime  in  a  state  to  act  more  ener- 
getically as  a  neutralize!- of  acids  in  the  soil,  and  as  a 
decomposer  of  organic  materials  to  fit  them  for  plant 
food.  The  fact  that  air-slaked-lime,  which  is  in  a  meas- 
ure re-carbonated,  is  somewhat  beneficial,  would  indicate 
that  very  finely  powdered  limestone,  or  marble,  or  chalk, 
should  be  of  some  value,  though  its  comminution  is  infi- 
nitely less  ttian  when  disintegrated  by  fire.  Marble  dust 
may  be  used  on  heavy  soils  as  an  ameliorator  to  change 
the  physical  condition,  and  to  ultimately  affect  the 
chemical  constitution. 

E.:nnln  vg    or  Weevil-proof  Wheat. 

— Jos.  Henderson,  Mifflin  Co.,  Pa.,  writes  to  the  Agricul- 
turist that  this  variety  of  wheat,  which  has  been  highly 
extolled  in  some  quarters,  has  proved  very  inferior  in 
his  locality.  Four  years  since,  he  and  several  neighbors 
procured  and  sowed  80  bushels.  The  heads  were  short 
and  loose,  and  where  the  straw  appeared  as  heavy  as  the 
Lancaster  Bearded  variety  which  stood  beside  it,  the 
yield  was  at  least  one-third  less.  The  latter  kind  is  al- 
most the  only  wheat  now  sown  in  that  section. 

Stock  tor  tHe  Michigan  Agricultu- 

ral  College. — We  were  recently  gratified  by  a  short 
visit  from  our  friend  Dr.  M.  Miles,  the  Professor  of  Zoolo- 
gy, etc.,  in  the  above  institution.  He  has  been  among  the 
celebrated  herds  of  the  Eastern  breeders,  purchasing 
stock  for  the  farm  of  the  College.  He  purchased  from 
Samuel  Thorn,  Esq.,  of  Thomdale,  the  short-horn  bull 
Fatalist  and  the  cow  Dielytra,  and  from  F.  M.  Itotch, 
Esq.,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  the  short-horn  heifer  Haze.  Al- 
so the  following  Devons  from  the  herd  of  E.  G.  Failes, 
Esq.,  West  Farms,  N.  Y.  :  the  bull  Cherokee  and  the 
heifers  Zuleika  2d  and  Eveleen  5th.  We  are  glad  to 
learn  that  such  valuable  slock  has  been  acquired  by  this 
College,  an  institution  which  has  every  element  of  suc- 
cess except  the  hearty  appreciation  of  the  farmers  of 
Michigan,  and  this  we  bespeak  for  it. 

Insects. — "J.  T.,"  of  Southport,  Conn.,  sends 
us  an  insect  which  he  says  cuts  off  the  leaves  of  his  fig- 
trees.  The  insect  is  one  of  the  Tree-Hoppers,  and  judg- 
ing from  the  rather  imperfect  specimens,  is  not  a  species 
common  about  here.  We  think  that  the  leaves  must  be 
eaten  off  by  something  else,  as  these  insects  live  entirely 
by  sucking  the  juices  of  leaves  and  tender  twigs.  The 
young  insects  live  in  the  ground,  upon  the  tender  roots  of 
the  tree,  and  it  is  in  this  state  that  they  do  the  most  dam- 
age.   No  remedy  has  been  proposed,  to  our  knowledge. 

John    Chislett,  of  Alleghany  County,   Pennsylvania. 

The  insects  were,  as  you  supposed,  the  too  common 
Rose  Bug.  As  the  eggs  are  laid  in  the  ground  and 
the  grub  subsists  there  until  it  comes  out  a  perfect  beetle. 


there  is  no  time  at  which  it  can  be  successfully  fought, 
save  in  its  perfect  state.  Jarring  them  from  the  trees  on 
to  sheets  and  then  destroying  them,  is  the  only  feasible 
remedy  we  have  seen  proposed.  If  half  the  insects 
destroyed  in  this  way  are  females,  the  crop  for  the  next 
year  will  be  much  diminished.  Birds  destroy  many  of 
them,  and  they  are  devoured  by  fowls  as  they  are  about  to 
enter  the  earth  to  deposit  their  eggs  —  The  specimens 
from  A.  L.  Child,  Cass  Co.,  Neb.,  were  Doryphora  decern- 
lineata,  or  the  Ten-striped  Spearman.  It  is  a  beetle 
which  has  of  late  become  very  troublesome  in  Iowa,  Ne- 
braska, and  other  far- Western  States.  They  are  particu- 
larly fond  of  the  potato  and  tomato,  but  in  the  absence  of 
these  will  devour  any  green  thing.  The  eggs  are  of  a  red 
color  and  are  laid  upon  the  leaf,  and  the  sluggish  grubs 
which  come  from  them,  eat  with  great  avidity.  Several 
generations  are  produced  in  a  season.  The  grub  under- 
goes its  transformation  in  the  ground,  and  comes  out  a 
perfect  beetle,  about  half  an  inch  long  and  about  as 
broad,  of  a  pale  yellow,  with  10  black  lines  on  the  wing- 
covers.  The  principal  damage  is  by  the  larvae.  Mr.  C. 
finds  that  by  hand-picking  he  is  able,  with  great  labor,  to 
reduce  their  number.  We  as  yet  know  of  no  other  way 
to  treat  them. 

Insects  on  Wlieat.  —  John  McKibben, 
Walworth  Co.,  Wis.,  M.  H.  Taylor,  Walworth  Co.,  Wis., 
and  W.  E.  Abbs,  Fon  du  Lac  Co.,  Wis.  The  insects  for- 
warded are  the  grain  aphis,  which  appeared  in  countless 
numbers  upon  grain,  especially  oats,  in  many  of  the  north- 
ern States,  last  year.  They  do  considerable  injury  by  suck- 
ing the  sop  of  the  plant  and  making  the  grain  shrivel.  This 
year  they  do  not  appear  to  be  as  abundant.  We  know  of 
no  means  to  prevent  their  ravages.  They  have  several 
natural  enemies  to  keep  them  in  check,  the  principal  one 
of  which  is  the  small  insect  known  as  the  lady  bug,  or 
lady  bird   (coccinella.) 

tiice  on  Cattle,  etc. — Demarest,  of  Essex 
Co.,  N.  J.,  finds  that  the  "Insect  Powder"  commonly 
sold,  destroys  lice  on  cattle.  He  rubs  it  along  the  back  of 
the  animal  and  works  it  down  to  the  skin,  and  in  the 
same  way  on  the  head  and  face.  It  is  also  good  for  fleas 
on  dogs,  and  to  keep  lice  away  from  setting  hens;  for 
the  latter  purpose  he  sprinkles  it  over  the  nest  several 
times  during  the  period  of  setting.  This  powder,  which 
was  formerly  put  up  by  some  parties  as  a  secret  article, 
is  now  for  sale  in  bulk  at  the  drug-stores.  It  is  mainly,  if 
not  wholly,  the  powdered  leaves  of  a  European  species 
of  Pyrelhrum. 

SIol>l»ering  in  Horses. — Francis  E.  Rum- 
ford,  Newcastle  Co.,  Del.,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist, 
that  cabbage  leaves  fed  to  horses  occasionally,  with  a 
little  salt,  will  remedy  slobbering. 

Hardiness  ot*  Apple  'Frees  in  Illi- 
nois.— "J.  H."  writes  us  from  "Washington  Co.,  III., 
that  of  an  orchard  of  3500  trees  set  out  in  1859  and  '60  he 
found  about  600  damaged  by  frost.  Perpendicular  cracks, 
1  to  3  inches  long,  appeared  at  the  base  of  the  trees,  and 
some  of  them  had  three  or  four  of  these  cracks,  and  the 
bark  apparently  dead  for  ten  inches  above  the  ground. 
He  hilled  up  the  dirt  to  the  hight  of  12  to  18  inches  around 
each  of  the  diseased  trees  and,  by  the  middle  of  July, 
new  bark  had  formed  under  the  old,  and  by  this  treat- 
ment he  saved  all  but  some  50  or  60  of  the  affected  trees. 
The  varieties  which  suffered  most  were  Prior's  Red,  Rox- 
bury  Russet,  and  Caroline  Red,  the  latter  being  injured 
badly.  Rawles'  Jannet,  Summer  Queen,  Fall  Pippin, 
and  Wine  Sap  were  slightly  injured,  and  Red  June,  Early 
Harvest  and  New-York  Pippin  were  all  sound. 


Pears    -\vnicn    Rot    at    the    Core. — 

Mr.  H.  Morgan,  Harford  Co.,  Md.,  asks  if  there  is  any 
remedy  for  pears  which  become  "  mushy  "  while  they  are 
fair  outside.  This  is  one  of  the  faults  of  otherwise  good 
pears  and  there  is  no  help  for  it.  Better  graft  the  trees 
over  with  sorts  which  are   free   from  this  bad  habit. 

Crops  and  Xliings  in  Decatur  Co., 

Indiana. — John  W.  Smith  says  :  It  has  not  been  so 
dry  here  for  several  previous  years.  Our  wheat  crop  was 
good  ;  our  corn  would  make  a  pretty  fair  crop  if  it  had 
rain  ;  our  oats  were  very  good  ;  our  early  potatoes  are 
good  but  late  ones  are  poor;  peaches  and  apples  are 
plenty  ;  no  quarreling  among  neighbors  ;  our  Union  men 
are  in  the  best  of  spirits  ;  our  Copperheads  down  in  the 
mouth  ;  our  ladies  industrious  and— pretty  of  course. 


Soap    Suds    for    Rlackuerries.  —  L. 

Farnesworth,  Ashland  Co.,  O.,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist 
that  last  season  Lawton  blackberries  were  almost  worth- 
less from  a  severe  drouth  occurring  as  they  were  about 
maturing.  This  year  drouth  occurred  again  in  that  vicin- 
ity, but  he  gave  the  blackberries  the  suds  left  after  wash- 


ing every  week,  and  the  yield  was  superior  to  any  thing 
of  the  kind  he  had  ever  before  seen. 


Fuller's  Seedlings. — C.  Saunders,  Mo., 
asks  our  opinion  of  the  Col.  Ellsworth  and  Monitor 
Strawberries,  as  he  saw  they  were  not  noticed  at  onr  ex- 
hibition. These  berries  had  already  been  exhibited  at 
two  shows,  and  Mr.  F.  having  other  new  sorts,  did  not 
care  to  bring  in  the  above  varieties.  The  vines  are  all 
devoted  to  making  plants,  and  are  not  allowed  to  fruit. 

44  Minnesota  Flax."  —  Richard  Chute, 
Minn.,  sends  us  a  sample  of  a  fibre  with  the  above  name, 
the  product  of  a  native  plant  which  we  cannot  name, 
without  leaves  and  flowers.  The  fibre  is  quite  fine  and 
strong.  We  have  no  means  of  judging  of  its  market 
value.  That  probably  could  not  be  told  until  its  value 
had  been  tested.    The  sample  given  to  a  party  interested. 

Plants  For  Names.  —  L.  H.  Andrews, 
Marshall  Co.,  Ind.  Commetyna  Virginica,  which  may  be 
called  Virginian  Day-flower,  fur  a  popular  name.  Also 
Hypericum  prolijicum.  Shrubby  St.  John's  Wort — a  fine 
plant,  and  worth  cultivating Mrs.  S.  B.  Morris,  Port- 
age Co.,  Ohio.  The  plant,  as  near  as  can  be  judged  from 
the  specimen,  is  Neirembergia  gracilis,  a  good  bedding 
and  house  plant.  The  "  Flowering  Maple"  she  asks 
about  is  probably  the   Abutilon,  figured  on  another  page. 

J.H.Ferguson,  Rensselaer  Co.,  N.  Y.      The  plant 

sent  is  the  Trumpet  Creeper,  Tecoma  radicans,  (called 
Bignonia  in  the  catalogues.)  It  is  one  of  our  most  beau- 
tiful climbers,  and  is  a  native  of  Pennsylrania  and  south- 
ward. It  is  quite  hardy  around  New-York.  The  specimen 
came  in  perfect  order,  being  nicely  packed  in  a  tin  case. 
....J.  G.  Foster,  Riley  Co.,  Kansas.  The  specimen  is 
Jpomma  Itptcphylla.  As  it  is  not  generally  known,  it  has 
no  common  name.  It  might  be  called  Willow-leaved 
Morning-Glory.  It  is  a  perennial  species  of  Morning- 
Glory  with  a  large  fleshy  root.  We  should  be  glad  of  a 
few  seeds  —  G.  Hurd  (place  not  given)  sends  Similax 
Pseudo-China,  a  species  of  China  Brier. 

Lemon  Jluds.— J.  C.  Lain*:,  Tuscola  Co., 
Mich.  You  can  get  them  of  almost  any  good  florist. 
Isaac   Buchanan,   of  this  city,   would   furnish  them. 

Sending-  Insects. — We  frequently  receive 
insects  to  be  named,  but  they  generally  arrive  in  such  a 
crushed  condition  that  it  is  impossible  to  make  them 
out.  We  again  ask  those  who  send  usinspcts,  to  enclose 
them  in  a  small  box  or  in  a  goose  quill.  Those  arriving  in 
good  condition  will  be  reported  on  as  soon  as  practicable. 


l>o  l>alilias  Clian«e  Color  ?— So  asks 
John  W.  Cook  of  Ottowa  Co.,  Mich.  We  never  knew  a 
self  colored  dahlia  (i.  e..  all  of  one  color)  to  change,  but 
we  have  known  a  purple  tipped  with  white  to  produce 
flowers  all  purple  and  all  white,  especially  among  the 
first  blooms  of  the  season,  and  this  may  doubtless  happen 
with  other  marked  sorts. 

A  No n-1> looming  Rose. — A  Lady  Horti- 
culturist in  Utiea,  N.  Y.,  says  she  has  a  Giant  de  Bnt- 
tailles  rose  which  will  make  nothing  but  vigorous  shoots 
ami  leaves,  and  asks  what  is  the  reason.  As  all  her  other 
roses  do  well,  we  cannot  suppose  soil  and  situation  hare 
anything  to  do  with  it,  and  venture  the  guess  that  she 
planted  a  budded  bush,  that  the  budded  portion  died  out, 
and  that  the  rampant  portion  sprung  up  from  the  stock. 

Room   in  an    Bee-IIouse. — II.  ][.  Bech- 

bel,  Juniaia  Co.,  Pa.  Schooley's  patent  preservalory, 
described  in  the  Agriculturist  volume  17,  page  120  (April 
No.)  is  an  arrangement  by  which  a  room  in  an  ice-house 
is  kept  cool  for  the  preservation  of  provisions,  fruit,  etc. 
This  or  some  modification  of  it  would  probably  accom- 
plish the  object  you  desire. 

Wine-making:. — We  have  several  letters 
asking  for  directions  for  Wine-making.  In  September, 
1862,  we  published  an  article  on  this  subject  as  full  as  our 
limits  would  allow*.  In  the  present  crowded  slate  of  our 
columns  we  cannot  republish  it,  but  have  extra  copies  on 
the  usual  terms.  The  subject  is  too  extended  for  a  paper 
like  this  ;  we  should  be  obliged  to  devote  all  our  pages  to 
it,  in  order  to  describe  all  the  details.  To  those  who  wish 
to  go  into  wine-making  extensively  we  say  that  they  can- 
not do  better  than  to  buy  "  Haraszthy's  Grape  Culture  and 
Wine-making."  This  gives  all  the  European  processes, 
and  though  the  price  is  rather  high,  they  will  perhaps 
save  by  it  in  the  end.  Price  $5,  for  which  we  can  send  it 
post-paid.    It  is  fully  illustrated. 

Work  on  Bees. — C.  J.  Atwater,  Ontario 
Co.,  N.  Y.  Qulnby's  " Mysteries  of  Bee-Keeping"  is  a 
good,  practical  work  on  the  subject.  We  can  forward 
it  post  paid  on   receipt  of  the   price,  $1  25. 


18G3.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


963 


A  Visit  to  the  Largest  Farm  in  Our 
Country. 


The  latter  part  of  July  we  visited,  near  Bloom- 
ington, Illinois,  our  friend  Albert  Todd,  who 
was  formerly  connected  with  the  N.  Y.  Daily 
Times,  but  who  has  partially  laid  aside  the  pen, 
and  is  now  knowing  from  actual  experience 
what  it  is  to  be  an  independent  western  farmer. 
(We  almost  envy  him  his  beautiful  prairie  home, 
his  great  corn  fields,  and  his  sleek  corn-con- 
sumers that  grow  in  flesh  and  money  value, 
while  the  proprietor  sleeps,  as  well  as  when  he 

is  awake.) Among  other  things  planned  by 

friend  Todd,  for  our  pleasure  and  profit,  was  a 
visit  to  the  great  farm  of  Isaac  Funk,  a  few 
miles  southwest  of  Bloomington.  Everybody 
knows  Isaac  Funk,  the  plain  farmer,  whose  soul- 
stirring,  impromptu  eloquence,  so  electrified 
the  Illinois  Senate  last  winter.  That  speech 
has  since  been  printed  in  hundreds  of  newspa- 
pers, and  tens  of  thousands  of  copies,  on  cards 
and  handbills,  have  been  circulated  all  over  the 
country,  and  are  yet  posted  up  in  thousands  of 
shops  East  as  well  as  West.  It  did  us  good  to 
grasp  the  band  of  the  Kentucky-born  farmer, 
who,  like  Presideut  Lincoln,  wandered  in  early 
life  to  the  wild  prairies  of  Illinois,  there  built 
up  a  fortune,  and  in  these  latter  days  has 
gained  a  wide  reputation  by  his  noble  stand 
for  the  preservation  and  perpetuity  of  our 
glorious  Union. — Fortunately,  as  we  set  out  on 
the  day's  trip,  we  met  Mr.  Funk,  in  Blooming- 
ton,  bound  homeward,  and  had  the  pleasure  of 
riding  with  him  in  his  plain  farm  wagon.  In 
the  familiar  conversation  on  the  way,  we  learned 
from  him  the  history  of  his  early  life,  his  strug- 
gles with  poverty,  and  his  gradual  success,  from 
the  time  he  emigrated  to  Illinois  nearly  forty 
years  ago,  witli  but  a  few  dollars  in  his  pocket, 
until  now,  when  his  landed  estate  covers  an 
area  of  full  forty  square  miles    (25,650   acres  !) 

We  have  space  but  for  a  few  of  the  more  inter- 
esting items.  Mr.  Funk  arrived  in  Illinois,  and 
commenced  work  in  1824.  In  1826,  he  gathered 
up  110  head  of  cattle,  and  started  with  them  for 
a  market  in  Ohio,  about  450  miles  distant,  much 
of  the  route  through  the  woods  of  Indiana,  and 
Western  Ohio.  They  were  31  to  32  days  on  the 
road.  The  drivers  rode  on  horseback,  carrying 
their  provisions,  and  camping  out  with  the  drove. 
The  first  price  realized  for  the  cattle  was  $9i  per 
head,  and  afterward  it  gradually  rose  to  $12  i, 
and  then  to  $15,  and  the  droves  were  increased 
to  from  200  to  250  head.  To  make  up  these 
droves,  several  settlers  turned  in  their  cattle  and 
received  an  agreed  price,  or  a  proportion  of  the 
sales,  on  the  return  of  the  drover. 

As  fast  as  the  results  of  these  enterprises, 
and  of  raising  and  feeding  cattle,  furnished 
the  means,  Mr.  Funk  purchased  land  at  the 
government  price  of  $1.25  per  acre,  and  about 
one-third  of  his  present  estate  was  secured  on 
these  terms.  The  other  two-thirds  have  been 
purchased  of  others,  at  prices  ranging  from  $2  $, 
up  to  $30  per  acre.  Mr.  F.  has  paid  the  Illinois 
Central  R.  R.  Company  alone,  some  $80,000  for 
portions  of  their  laud  lying  adjacent  to  his  origi- 
nal purchases.  We  entered  upon  the  main  farm 
some  six  or  seven  miles  southwest  of  Blooming- 
ton.  This  consists  of  20,500  acres,  in  one  tract, 
longest  from  East  to  West,  with  farms  owned 
by  others  jutting  into  it  at  several  points.  (The 
balance,  about  5000  acres,  is  located  a  few  miles 
east  and  northeast  of  Bloomington.)  The  general 
character  of  the  main  farm  is  prairie,  but  there 
is  abundant  timber  along  Sugar  Creek,  which 
runs  through  the  estate  in  a  southwest  direction, 


and  which,  with  its  branches,  furnishes  an  abund- 
ant supply  of  living  water  for  the  stock,  through- 
out the  dryest  seasons.  The  surface  is  rolling, 
and  the  sloughs  (pronounced  sloos),  are  so  loca- 
ted that  nearly  the  whole  can  be  drained  ;  indeed 
they  are  so  inclined  that  nearly  the  whole  sur- 
face is  naturally  drained.  This  feature,  together 
with  the  woodland,  the  running  water,  and  the 
general  fertility,  render  the  whole  tract  one  of 
the  best  in  the  State. 

About  3000  acres  are  devoted  to  corn,  and  a 
small  portion  to  other  crops,  including  improved 
grasses;  the  great  bulk  is  in  natural  grass  pas- 
ture. The  corn  land  is  mostly  let  out  on 
shares.  The  cultivators  usually  return  two-fifths 
of  the  crop  for  the  use  of  the  land,  including 
certain  other  privileges,  and  Mr.  Funk  then 
buys  their  three-fifths.  This  is  generally  taken 
in  the  field,  unhusked.  A  few  average  shocks 
are  selected  by  the  two  parties,  and  husked,  and 
the  whole  number  of  shocks  are  then  counted, 
and  reckoned  in  bushels  by  the  product  of  the 
husked  ones.  The  price  is  fixed  by  the  average 
price  of  corn  in  the  country,  for  8  or  10  miles 
around,  or  at  2  to  3  cents  per  bushel  below  the 
value  of  shelled  corn,  at  the  nearest  market  town. 

The  main  business  of  the  farm  is  the  pastur- 
age and  feeding  of  cattle  for  beef.  These  are 
purchased  from  the  surrounding  country,  pas- 
tured for  a  season,  fed  with  corn  in  the  winter, 
and  the  next  season  sold  to  dealers  to  go  to  dis- 
tant markets — usually  N.  Y.  City.  Mr.  Funk 
says  he  finds  it  most  profitable  to  buy  only 
the  best  cattle.  Generally,  however,  he  is 
obliged  to  take  them  in  lots.  In  this  case  the 
best  are  fitted  for  market  first,  and  the  smaller 
and  poorer  animals  are  kept  a  year  longer.  A 
few  cattle  are  raised  on  the  farm.  We  noticed 
one  "little  bunch"  of  150  cows  with  their  calves. 
The  calves  run  with  their  dams,  and  have  all  the 
milk.  Only  good  cows  are  used  for  this  pur- 
pose ;  the  sires  used  are  I  or  |  Durhams  (Short 
Horn).  Generally,  Mr.  F.  buys  cattle  to  use  up 
most  of  his  pasturage,  but  sometimes,  when  cat- 
tle are  high,  and  the  future  price  of  beef  quite 
uncertain,  he  takes  in  a  few  hundred  or  thou- 
sand cattle  to  pasture,  at  30  to  50  cents  each  per 
month.  He  keeps  four  to  five  hundred  hogs,  or 
just  enough  to  eat  up  the  waste  corn  left  by  the 
cattle,  to  which  the  corn  is  fed  on  the  stalks. 
He  has  only  eight  or  ten  hundred  sheep  at 
present,  and  some  300  horses  and  mules.  About 
60  mule  colts  are  raised  each  year.  The  breed- 
ing mares  are   not  put   into  harness  at    all. 

The  cattle  are  sorted  into  droves  of  similar 
ages,  about  200  in  each  drove.  The  pasture 
fields  are  so  arranged  as  to  have  running  water 
in  each.  The  animals  are  salted  twice  a  week  ; 
the  Salter  taking  two  or  three  barrels  upon  a 
wagon,  drives  out  to  the  herds,  and  scatters  the 
salt  upon  the  ground,  spreading  it  so  much  that 
the  weaker  animals  shall  have  free  access  to  it. 
Though  we  are  accustomed  to  see  three  or  four 
thousand  head  of  cattle  in  the  yards  on  market 
days,  we  were  much  interested  in  observing  a 
herd  of  two  or  three  hundred  come  scampering 
across  a  field  at  the  familiar  call  of  "  po-o-o, 
po-o-o,"  to  receive  their  expected  salt  rations. 
And  such  fields  !  500  acres  in  one  ;  1000  acres 
in  another;  1500  acres  in  another;  and  2560 
acres  (2  miles  square,  or  4  square  miles,)  in 
another  single  field  !  That  is  certainly  fanning 
on  a  large  scale.  As  a  rule,  we  believe  in  small 
farms — 50  to  100  acres  is  as  much  as  most  meu 
will  or  can  cultivate  with  the  highest  profit — 
but  it  is  gratifying  to,  once  in  a  man's  life,  see 
a  farm  like  Isaac  Funk's.  If  an  agriculturist 
himself,  one  feels  that  he  belongs  to  a  class  which 


numbers  its  princes  and  magnates.  Mr.  Funk 
says  he  has  done  buying  land— feels  that  he  Iras 
enough  !  He  has  eight  sons  and  one  daughter  to 
share  his  possessions,  and  will  be  able  to  give 
each  one  a  "  right  smart "  farm.  Two  or  three 
of  these  are  erecting  dwellings  on  the  estate. 
The  father  retains  his  simple  habits  and  dress, 
is  social  and  familiar  in  conversation,  and  still 
occupies  the  plain  frame  dwelling  which  has 
been  his  homestead  for  twenty  four  years  past. 
He  is  enthusiastic  in  the  belief  that  our  great 
country  is  to  be  restored  to  its  former  Unity. 
We  shall  not  soon  forget  the  pleasant  day 
passed  on  the  great  prairie  farm. 


Free  Homes— Who  may  get  Them,  Under 
the  Homestead  Law— How  to  Do  it. 


An  article  in  the  July  Agriculturist  upon  the 
working  of  the  Homestead  Law,  having  called 
out  a  great  many  written  and  personal  inquiries, 
we  requested  a  friend  in  the  Department  at 
Washington,  to  make  us  a  plain  and  brief 
statement  of  the  provisions  of  the  Law,  which 
we  publish  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  wish  to 
take  up  homesteads  upon  the  public  lands. 

I.  The  persons  entitled  to  free  homes,  on 
unappropriated  public  lands,  are  :  Any  person 
who  is  the  head  of  a  family,  or  who  has  arrived 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  and  is  a  citizen 
of  the  United  States,  or  who  shall  have  filed  his 
declaration  of  intention  to  become  such,  as  re- 
quired by  the  naturalization  laws  of  the  United 
States,  if  he  has  never  borne  arms  against 
the  United  States  Government  or  given  aid  and 
comfort  to  its  enemies;  and  any  loyal  person, 
of  whatever  age,  who  has  rendered  not  less  than 
14  days'  service,  during  actual  war,  iu  the  Army 
or  Navy  of  the  United  States. 

Proof  of  these  conditions  to  be  made  by  affi- 
davit, before  the  Receiver  or  Register  of  public 
lands,  in  the  section  where  it  is  desired  to  make 
the  location.  The  names  of  these  officers  can 
be  readily  learned  in  any  desired  locality. 

II.  Any  such  person  may  take  up,  for  the 
actual  occupancy  by  self  or  family  as  a  home- 
stead, not  more  than  160  acres  of  public  lands 
valued  at  $1.25  per  acre,  (or  80  acres  valued  at 
$2.50  per  acre,)  located  in  one  body,  and  the 
boundaries  agreeing  with  the  usual  subdivisions 
of  public  surveys — as  follows : 

1st,  Select  the  land  that  is  regularly  surveyed, 
and  present  the  following  application,  with' $10 
to  pay  survey,  and  usual  fees  (about  $1),  to  the 
Receiver,  who  will  administer  the  proper  affi- 
davit and  receipt  the  money. — On  presenting 
these,  the  Register  will  enter  the  application 
and  rile  the  affidavit. 

Form  of  Application.—"  I,  [A.  B.,  of  town, 
County,  and  State,]  do  hereby  apply  to  enter, 
under  the  provisions  of  the  Act  of  Congress, 
approved  May  20,  1862,  entitled  "An  Act  to  se- 
cure homesteads  to  actual  settlers  on  the  public 

domain,"  the  of  section in  township 

of  range ,  containing acres." 

These  blank  forms,  and  necessary  information, 
are  furnished  by  Receivers  and  Registers. 

2d,  Not  less  than  5,  nor  more  than  7  years 
after  entry  of  application,  the  applicant  will 
make  proof  by  affidavit  and  two  witnesses,  of 
residence  on  or  cultivation  of  such  homestead 
for  five  successive  years  after  the  application — 
that  no  portion  has  been  sold  or  otherwise  part- 
ed with — and  that  the  applicant  remains  loyal — 
when  a  certificate  for  a  full  ownership  deed  (or 
patent)  will  be  granted  by  the  Register,  on  pay- 
ment of  the  usual  fee  (about  $1);  the  deed 
may  then  be  procured  from  AVashington,  D.  C. 

3d,  In  case  of  the  claimant's  death,  the  widow 
or  lawful  heirs  are  entitled  to  the  homestead  by 
completing  the  conditions.  If  the  heirs  are  in; 
fant  children,  it  may  be  sold  for  their  benefit. 
But  it  can  not  be  sold  at  any  time  for  any  debt 
contracted  before  the  patent  (or  certificate)  was 
granted,  Any  abandonment  of  the  homestead 
by  the  applicant,  for  more  than  six  months  at  a 
time,  forfeits  the  claim  for  thp  patent. 


264 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[September, 


CROP    REPORTS    FOR    JULY,   1863. 

Gathered  by  the  United  States  Agricultural  Bureau, 


Connecticut ■ 

Delaware 

Illinois ■ 

Indlaua 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

Michigan.. 

Minnesota..,. 

M  issou  ri 

New  Hampshire 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

Ohio 

Pennsylvania 

Rhode  Island 

Vermont 

W  isconsin 

Nebraska  Territory 

General  Average 4-5 


WIN  TEH 
WHEAT. 

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WHEAT. 

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FLAX. 

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jfcH~  In  the  accompanying  tables,  the  injury  is  represented  directly,  thus  :  1  means  an  injury  to  the  extent  of  one-tenth  of  the  crops — )i  means  one-half  of  one-tenth;  instead  of  by 
9  and  9  '3.  The  injuries  were  so  small  in  most  cases  as  to  be  but  fractional  parts  of  one-tenth,  and  in  order  to  present  thenvmore  directly  to  the  reader,  the  change  was  made.— 
In  the  appearance  of  crops,  the  former  method  is  preserved.  Thns:  10  being  an  average,  9  is  one-tenth  below  it,  and  11  one-tenth  above  it.  The  amounts  of  the  crops  of  Wheat, 
Barley,  and  Wool,  are  not  given,  as  they  will  be  reported  more   fully  in  succeeding  months,  when   the  results  of  the   harvest  are  more   fully  and  definitely   ascertained. 


The    Crop  Prospects— Unusual  Weather. 

At  no  other  time  within  our  recollection  has 
it  been  so  difficult  to  form  a  correct  estimate  of 
the  actual  condition  of  the  growing  crops,  or  of 
the  actual  yield  of  those  just  harvested.  This 
difficulty  arises  from  the  fact  that  the  season, 
thus  far,  has  been  remarkable  for  the  variety  of 
weather  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  and 
even  in  localities  but  a  few  miles  apart.  Within 
the  boundaries  of  a  single  State  there  was  an 
abundance  of  rain  all  through  the  Spring  and 
Summer,  while  at  points  but  little  distant,  a 
parching  drouth  dried  up  the  grass,  and  kept 
back  the  com  and  the  grain  crops.  Again,  in 
some  parts  of  Ohio,  for  example,  the  harvest 
weather  was  as  fine  as  could  be  desired,  while 
in  portions  of  New- York  it  was  nest  to  impos- 
sible to  gather  wheat  and  oats,  and  the  later 
hay  crop,  for  want  of  a  few  drying  days.  The 
difference  referred  to  above,  was  very  marked 
in  going  a  distance  of  1,200  miles  westward 
from  New- York  City,  to  the  centre  of  Iowa. 
At  one  point  the  com  was  in  most  vigorous 
growth,  while  less  than  a  hundred  miles  further 
on,  it  was  tasseling  out  near  the  ground,  through 
lack  of  moisture  to  carry  the  stalks  up  to  the 
usual  bight.  It  would  require  too  much  space 
to  specify  the  condition  in  each  locality.  The 
accompanying  tables,  which  give  the  results  of 
a  large  number  of  observations,  gathered  from 
all  over  the  country,  will  afford  some  idea  of 
the  crops,  etc.,  up  to  the  close  of  July.  The  last 
column  in  the  second  table  shows  a  remarkable 
difference  in  the  rain-fall  in  the  several  States. 
Thus,  in  Connecticut  it  was  over  11  inches, 
while  in  Minnesota  it  was  but  five-eighths  of 
one  inch,  and  in  Kansas  less  than  one-eighth. 
Throughout  New-England  the  rain  fell  in  July 
7  to  Hi  inches,  while  in  the  Western  States  it 
seldom  reached  4  inches,  and  was  generally 
below  3  inches.  In  Kentucky  nearly  7  inches 
fell.  In  New- York  there  were  18  very  wet 
days  reported  for  July  alone. 

Of  the  crops  as  a  whole,  judging  from  personal 
observation,  and  from  information  gathered 
from  a  great  variety  of  sources,  we  estimate  the 
yield  of  wheat  (Winter  and  Spring)  to  be  but 


FRUIT  REPORTS  FOR 
JULY,  1863. 

Gathered  by  the    United  States 
Agricultural  Bureau. 


Connecticut 

Delaware 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Maine   

Maryland..  .- 

Massachusetts 

Michigan  

Minnesota 

Missouri 

New  Hampshire 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

Ohio 

Pennsylvania 

Rhode  Island 

Vermont 

Wisconsin 

Nebraska  Territory. 

General  Average 


S  E 


STRAW- 
BERRIES 


IX 


3  ~ 


■5.11 

12 

12 

15 

25 

11 

11 

11 

20 

10 

1 

11 

11 

M 

11 

12 

12 

21 

10 

12 

20 


RASP- 
BERRIES 


$.12 

13 
11 
11 
15 
12 

9 
10 
1R 
10 
12 
16 
12 
11 

9 
11 

9 
12 

11 


4-5  lie 


15*' 


9  7-10 


NOTES    ON    THE   WEATMEP. 


118     34 


11  46 

3  16 
3  17 
3  82 
Oil 
6  95 

6  95 
8.05 
9  76 
2.83 
0.63 
9  77 

597 
5  69 

2  72 
6.20 
9  42 

7  77 
2.40 
2  25 


85        5.02 


Note.— The  explanations  to  the  table  above,  apply  equally  to  this. — The  Weather  Notes  are  of  especial  interest. 


a  trifle  below  the  average  of  other  years,  but 
the  deficiency  not  equal  to  the  amount  of  last 
year's  crop  still  on  hand,  so  that  there  is  enough 
to  meet  all  home  requirements  and  the  probable 
foreign  demand.  This  last  item  is  very  uncer- 
tain. If  peace  continue  in  Europe,  the  call 
upon  us  for  breadstuff's  will  not  be  very  large. 
Should  the  present  disturbances  in  regard  to 
Poland  result  in  a  war  between  Russia  and  the 
Western  Powers,  it  will  lead  to  a  large  demand 
for  our  Agricultural  products,  and  materially 
affect  prices  here.  At  present  the  prices  at  the 
seaboard  arc  dependent  mainly  on  the  rise  and 
fall  in  gold,  as  noted  on  page  282  of  this  paper. 
At  present  the  nominal  prices  of  nearly  all 
agricultural  products,  especially  grain  and  wool, 
are  tending  downward  quite  rapidly,  the  price 
of  gold  having  fallen  from  174  to  124  since  the 
first  of  March  last.  The  prospect  for  an  early 
and  successful  close  of  the  war  is  still  further 
reducing  the  gold  premium. — The  Oat  crop  has 


turned  out  better  then  was  feared  at  one  time, 
though  poor  as  compared  with  former  years. 
In  some  places  oats  have  failed  almost  entirely. 
The  warm  weather  and  frequent  showers  of 
August  thus  far,  have  pushed  forward  corn  very 
rapidly,  and  if  early  frosts  do  not  interfere,  the 
general  yield  will  be  fully  up  to,  if  not  above  an 
average.  Potatoes  are  filling  up  well  in  the 
hill.  Beans  are  much  more  largely  planted  this 
year  than  ever  before,  and  bid  fair  to  turn  out 
a  good  yield.  Hay  will  be  abundant  in  some 
localities;  in  others  there  will  not  be  enough 
to  winter  over  the  usual  amount  of  stock.  It 
would  be  desirable  to  transfer  part  of  the  neat 
cattle  from  the  latter  to  the  former  sections  of 
the  country.  We  recently  saw  large  numbers  of 
sheep  in  Iowa  brought  from  the  drouth  regions 
of  Michigan.  The  Apple  crop,  though  very  good 
in  a  few  places,  will  be  quite  below  the  aver- 
age throughout  the  country;  there  will  be  :i 
good  demand  for  all  that  can  be  saved  by  drying. 


18fi3.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


Q65 


The  New   Tea' 
Jersey  Tea."- 


Substitute— or   "Kew- 

-( Ceanothus  A  merica  mis. ) 


Several  readers  ask  for  some  account  in 
the  Agriculturist,  of  the  plant  -which  has  been 
spoken  of  in  other  papers  as  affording  a  good 
substitute  for  tea.  We  intended  to  do  this  be- 
fore, but  a  press  of  other  matter  has  crowded 
it  out  until  rather  late  in  the  season.  The  plant 
in  question  is  Ceanothus  Amei-icanus,  or  "  New 
Jersey  Tea."  We  are  not  able  to  trace  out  the 
meaning  of  the  botanical  name,  Ceanothus,  but 
its  common  name,  New-Jersey  Tea,  is  given  it 
for  the  reason  that  it  was  used  in  New-Jersey 
as  a  substitute  for  tea,  during  the  war  of  Inde- 
pendence. It  is  one  of  the  common  shrubs  of 
our  dry  woodlands,  and  is  found  throughout 
the  Northern  States.  In  Europe  it  is  cultivated 
as  an  ornamental  plant,  and  if  it  should  prove 
to  be  an  object,  there  is  no  doubt  that  plant- 
ations might  be  readily  established.  Onr  en- 
graving represents  a  flowering  branch  of  the 
shrub,  which  is  low  and  bushy,  and  from  one  to 
three  feet  high.  The  stem  is  of  an  olive  green 
below,  striped  with  markings  of  brown,  while 
the  young  shoots  are  of  a  lively  green  which 
turns  to  brown  on  drying.  The  leaves  are  3  to 
2i  inches  long,  by  1  to  Ik  inches  wide,  with  three 
strong  ribs ;  they  are  on  short  foot-stalks,  and  are 
smooth  on  the  upper  surface,  and  a  little  downy 
on  the  under  side.  The  flowers  are  very  small, 
and  are  borne  in  dense  white  clusters  at  the  end 
of  long  downy  foot-stalks,  winch  conic  from 
the  axils  of  the  upper  leaves.  The  flowers  are 
followed  by  a  dry  three-sided  pod,  which  bears 
three  seeds.  As  mentioned  above,  the  leaves 
were  formerly  used  in  place  of  tea ;  now  that 
the  high  price  of  tea  and  coffee  leads  those  ac- 
customed to  these  articles  to  look  for  some 
substitute,  it  is  quite  natural  that  the  New-Jersey 


Tea  should  come 
again  into  notice.  We 
trust  that  our  engrav- 
ing and  description 
will  enable  those  who 
wish  to  try  the  experi- 
ment, to  identify  the 
plant.  As  to  the  qual- 
ity of  the  article,  the 
only  special  informa- 
tion we  have  is  from 
John  Salmon,  Esq.,  of 
Clinton  Co.,  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  considers 
it  equal  to  the  import- 
ed tea.  He  says  that 
in  one  township  in 
his  count}'  there  is  a 
manufactory  which 
employs  a  Chinaman 
to  manufacture  the 
"  tea,"  and  that  they 
now  have  about  a 
thousand  boxes  on 
hand ;  that  he  has 
used  it  for  a  year  past, 
and  considers  it  equal 
to  the  best  black  tea 
from  China.  Mr.  S. 
thinks  that  if  ade- 
quate capital  and  skill 
were  engaged  in  the 
business,  we  should 
be  able  to  produce 
our  own  tea.  We  give 
the  statement  as  it 
comes  to  us,  without 
any  further  knowl- 
edge on  the  subject  than  what  is  presented 
above.  Except  for  old  tea-topers,  this  sub- 
stitute may  answer  as  a  "  warm  drink."  We 
•frequently  hear  from  those  who  profess,  and 
doubtless  think  that  clover  tea  is  more  de- 
licious than   anything   from  China. 


Plan  of  a  Farm  House. 


The  accompanying  plan  of  a  house,  which 
has  some  good  features,  was  contributed  to  the 
Agriculturist  by  "  W,"  of  Mount  Hope,  N.  Y., 
who  writes :  "  Having  built  a  house  about  a  year 
ago,  I  am  aware  of  the  difficulty  one  has  in  se- 
lecting a  good  plan.  At  least  in  my  case  it  was 
difficult,  for  I  wanted  the  most  rooms  and  in  the 
most  convenient  positions,  at  the  lowest  cost.  I 
examined  such  works  as  Downing's,  Backus's, 
etc.,  as  well  as  my  files  of  the  American  Agricultu- 
rist and  Country  Gentleman,  but  found  none 
that  would  suit  my  views  without  costing  more 
than  I  felt  willing  to  pay.  I  very  soon  came 
to  the  conclusion  that  the  nearer  square  a  house 
is  built,  the  easier  can  it  be  divided  and  retain 
the  great  advantage  of  easy  access  to  the  differ- 
ent apartments.  Every  step  saved  to  the  women 
is  so  much  less  wear  of  patience  and  disposition. 
In  the  accompanying  plan,  the  hall  is  in  the 
centre  and  runs  from  the  front  door,  (which  in 
my  house  has  two  long  glass  panels),  to  the 
kitchen.  Opening  off  the  hall  on  the  right  is 
the  dining  room  or  living  room  ;  while  opposite, 
on  the  left  is  the  parlor.  The  parlor  is  only 
14.2x13.9  to  admit  of  having  a  good  sized  bed- 
room in  the  rear  of  it — for  I  hold  that  the  par- 
lor is  generally  the  most  useless  room  in  the 
house,  if  the  living  room  is  properly  attended 
to,  that  is,  for  us  who  reside  out  of  town.  The 
bedroom  has  a  door  from  the  parlor  and  also 


one  into  the  kitchen.  The  dining  room  has  one 
door  from  the  hall  and  one  into  the  kitchen,  and 
the  kitchen  has  one  from  the  hall,  one  opening 
on  the  back  stoop,  and  also  a  store  room  about 
7xG,  and  a  water  closet  5x6  opening  off  from  it. 
This  last  arrangement  was  greatly  objected  to 
by  many,  in  fact  nearly  all  who  saw  the  plans, 
or  the  house  while  building  [and  for  good  rea- 
sons, we  should  say. — Ed.]  In  practice  I  have 
found  no  trouble,  but  great  convenience  from 


Fig.  1. — ground  Plan. 


the  arrangement.  I  had  the  foundation  wall 
left  open  for  about  4  feet  and  built  so  as  to  come 
under  the  double  ■partition  between  the  water 
closet  and  the  store  room,  forming  the  sides  of 
solid  masonry,  and  the  bottom  also  was  made 
of  stone.  The  opening  of  the  foundation  wall 
is  fitted  with  a  door  and  casing,  and  it  has  earth 
thrown  in  every  week  or  two,  and  the  entire 
vault  cleaned  out  once  a  month,  and  the  con- 
tents removed  into  the  manure  shed.  With  this 
method  there  has  been  no  manner  of  offence  to 
the  eye  or  nose.  The  inside  is  lined  with  water 
cement — and,  as  said  before,  the  partition  be- 
tween the  closet  and  the  store  room,  is  double. 
The  stairway  from  1st  to  2d  floors  has  a  closet 
under  it — though  if  the  cellar  was  under  the 
whole  house  I  should  have  the  cellar  stairs 
there.  I  had  a  small  cellar  built  for  my  house, 
the  wall  crossing  the  house  under  the  partitions 
between  the  bedroom,  kitchen,  storeroom,  aud 
the  parlor,  hall,  dining  room — also  serving  to 
support  the  two  chimneys  which  are  made  so  aa 
to  have  a  flue  from  each  room  for  stoves,  and 
also  one  for  ventilators. — There  are  four  good 


Fig.  2. — SECOND    STORY. 

sized  bedrooms  on  the  second  floor,  with  two 
large  closets,  and  from  the  back  bedroom  on 
the  right,  a  door  opens  to  the  cupola  stairs,  un- 
der which  stairs  is  another  closet.  You  will 
perceive  that  each  room  is  capable  of  receiv- 
ing very  thorough  ventilation,  aud  the  furniture 
can  be  arranged  in  each  bedroom  without 
having  a  bedstead  cross  either  window  or  door. 
After  living  in  this  house  a  year  or  more,  we 
have  not  found  any  fault  with  it,  except  in  re- 
gard to  the  cellar  not  extending  under  the  whole 
house.   This,  however,  can  be  easily  remedied." 


266 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[September, 


Farm  Animals  Wanted  in  Kansas. 


The  following  extracts  from  a  letter  to  the 
American  Agriculturist  from  F.  0.  Black,  of  Shaw- 
nee Co.,  Kansas,  will  be  interesting  to  farmers 
having  large  stocks  of  cattle  and  sheep,  and  a 
limited  supply  of  fodder  for  the  coming  Winter. 
He  says  :  "  I  wish  to  bring  before  the  minds  of 
the  people  the  importance  of  converting  the 
grass  in  the  West,  into  sheep,  cattle,  and  horses. 
Without  doubt  there  will  be  grass  enough  burnt 
this  Fall  and  Winter  to  clothe  our  army,  if  it 
could  be  made  into  wool.  Millions  of  acres  of 
as  fine  grass  as  was  ever  seen,  are  now  growing 
here.  Kansas  is  one  vast  prairie.  It  is  the 
Atlantic  of  the  United  States  pastures.  The 
banks  of  the  streams  are  lightly  fringed  with 
timber;  there  is  stone  in  nearly  every  locality  in 
great  abundance  for  building  and  fencing ;  stone- 
coal  in  abundance  for  fuel,  and  salt  works  are 
rapidly  progressing.  Now  the  question  is,  how 
is  this  great  work  to  be  accomplished  ?  We  are 
not  able  to  purchase  the  stock.  Most  of  us 
brought  some  means  with  us ;  we  brought  oxen 
and  plows,  and  commenced  on  quite  an  exten- 
sive scale  for  the  amount  of  means  employed. 
We  thought  we  could  raise  grain  in  great  abund- 
ance, but  for  some  reason  we  have  not  done  so  ; 
the  grain  business  has  been  a  failure.  Stock 
has  always  done  well,  and  those  that  engaged 
in  raising  it,  have  made  money.  Those  that 
went  into  grain  growing,  worked  harder  and 
made  money  out  of  pocket.  Nine-tenths  of  the 
farmers  west  of  the  Missouri  River  will  vote  this 
same  ticket,  unless  I  am  greatly  mistaken. 
There  are  great  quantities  of  stock  grazing  on 
the  eastern  pastures  where  grain  could  be 
grown  to  a  great  advantage.  Now  if  the  gen- 
tlemen will  lend  us  a  listening  ear  (the  ladies 
will  not  be  excluded,  for  we  need  many  of  them 
here  as  well  as  stock,)  and  send  us  animals,  we 
will  take  care  of  them  on  as  reasonable  terms 
as  it  can  be  done  anywhere.  Some  would  pre- 
fer horses,  some  cattle,  some  sheep.  Perhaps 
the  latter  would  be  preferable,  as  the  grass  in 
that  shape  would  be  easier  transported  and 
cost  less.  I  would  take  two  thousand  head  of 
sheep,  and  give  two  lbs.  of  wool  per  head,  and 
return  the  original  stock;  or  I  would  give  half 
the  wool  and  half  the  increase  for  a  term  of  five 
years  or  longer.  I  presume  that  there  could  be 
fifty  or  a  hundred  thousand  head  of  sheep  let 
in  Kansas  at  these  rates.  This  speculation  will 
pay  much  better  than  investing  in  wild  lands." 

Swelled   Legs  in  Horses. 


This  disease  takes  on  several  forms.  Some- 
times it  is  simply  a  slight  enlargement  of  the 
larger  muscles  of  the  legs,  consequent  upon 
standing  on  a  hard  floor,  with  lack  of  ex- 
ercise. This  often  occurs  when  a  horse  is  first 
taken  in  from  pasture  and  confined  in  the  sta- 
ble. The  obvious  remedy  is  a  little  hard  rub- 
bing of  the  affected  parts,  feeding  with  grass  or 
other  light  food,  and  plenty  of  daily  exercise. 

A  worse  form  of  this  is  when  a  horse,  some- 
what feeble  and  diseased  in  other  parts,  sudden- 
ly develops  swollen  limbs.  This  is  apparently 
the  shifting  of  disease  from  the  other  organs. 
It  is  accompanied  with  a  lack  of  healthy  circu- 
lation, with  fever,  soreness,  and  lameness. 
Sometimes  abscesses  are  formed,  and  the  heels 
are  affected  with  "  scratches."  The  treatment  re- 
quired is  a  mild  physic  and  bleeding,  if  the  horse 
is  not  much  reduced.  Warm  bathings  should 
be  used,  and  bandages.     If  this  trouble  arises 


from  weakness  and  low  living,  the  horse  should 
have  better  food,  and  all  means  should  be  tried 
to  improve  the   tone  and  vigor  of  his  system. 

•-. —      n»     — .-• 

How  to  Raise  Potatoes  Cheaply. 

T.  Hudson,  La  Grange  Co.,  Ind.,  writes  to  the 
American  Agriculturist:  "My  venerated  father 
used  to  advise  the  application  of  team  power  in 
farming,  whenever  it  could  be  done  advantage- 
ously. Following  his  counsel,  I  use  my  team 
in  planting  and  digging  potatoes — almost  in 
hoeing  them.  My  method  is  this:  When  the 
ground  is  mellow,  with  a  single  shovel  plow  I 
run  furrows  about  3  or  4  inches  deep,  and  3 
or  3b  feet  apart,  one  way.  I  cut  the  potatoes, 
if  large,  and  drop  them  12  or  15  inches  apart  in 
these  furrows.  Then,  with  a  two  horse  plow, 
turn  a  deep  furrow  over  them.  Let  them  re- 
main in  this  condition  until  the  young  weeds 
show  themselves,  and  before  the  potatoes  make 
their  appearance — usually  in  about  8  or  10  days 
— and  harrow  the  ground  level.  A  warm  pleas- 
ant day  is  best.  This  destroys  an  army  of 
weeds.  On  sod  ground,  I  usually  take  every 
third  furrow,  and  where  there  are  no  openings 
between  the  furrows,  punch  holes  with  a  point- 
ed stick  about  the  size  of  a  handspike,  and  drop 
the  potatoes  in  these  holes  and  openings,  being 
careful  to  get  them  the  proper  depth.  This  is 
soon  accomplished.  Then  harrow'thoroughly. 
If  weeds  appear  before  the  potatoes  come  up, 
harrow  again.  Afterward  plow  and  hoe  as 
usual.  Hoeing  will  be  a  light  task.  The  last 
plowing  can  be  done  with  a  single  shovel  plow, 
one  furrow  in  a  row,  which  will  form  about  all 
the  hilling  necessary,  without  the  use  of  the  hoe, 
except  to  destroy  the  few  weeds  that  remain. 

In  digging,  plow  one  furrow  through  each 
row,  spending  no  time  to  pull  tops,  pick  up  all 
that  show  themselves,  and  take  out  the  remain- 
der with  the  hoe.  I  estimate  the  raising  and 
harvesting  at  about  one  half  the  labor  required 
in  planting  in  hills,  and  digging  with  the  hoe." 
—  • »n  »-«• 

Rotation  or  Change  of  Crops. 


A  subscriber  to  the  American  Agriculturist,  at 
Somerset  Co.,  Md.,  writes :  "  I  have  about  80 
acres  of  medium  quality  tillable  land.  Soil,  a 
sandy  loam.  One  half  is  in  corn.  The  other 
half  lies  fallow,  with  a  natural  growth,  quite 
thick  and  green.  According  to  the  system  of 
planting  prevailing  in  this  Peninsula,  this  fallow 
ground  would  be  put  in  corn  next  year,  and  the 
other  part  lie  out  to  recruit  itself  with  its  natur- 
al growth.  ,,I  find  that  so  much  corn  makes 
exhausting  work,  and  I  think  such  a  system  of 
tillage    is    gradually    impoverishing    the    soil. 

I  think  I  could  do  better,  as  follows :  Sup- 
pose I  turn  under  my  present  fallow  ground, 
while  it  is  yet  green;  harrow  it  well;  drill  it 
with  wheat,  and  immediately  after  give  it  a  top- 
dressing  of  lime.  Leave  enough  ground,  how- 
ever, of  this  half,  to  sow  down  in  oats,  to  make 
grain  for  my  horses.  Then  next  Spring,  sow  the 
whole  half  with  clover.  At  the  same  time  flush 
up  the  other  half,  and  put  it  in  some  better 
grass  (timothy  or  clover)  than  its  natural  growth, 
to  be  cut  in  the  Summer  and  cured  for  stock, 
and  then  turned  under  in  the  Fall  to  receive 
wheat  and  oats,  and  thenceforth  to  continue  one 
half  in  wheat  and  oats,  with  clover,  and  the 
other  half  in  clover  for  cutting,  and  turning  un- 
der. It  seems  to  me  that  this  system  would 
make  vastly  less  work  (especially  if  having  all 
necessary  machinery,)  and  would  also  rapidly 


improve  the  soil,  and  exterminate  the  weeds." 
Remarks. — Probably  the  proposed  change 
of  treatment  would  be  an  improvement.  The 
light  growth  of  grass  and  weeds  ordinarily 
springing  up  on  a  summer  fallow,  is  a  very  in- 
adequate return  to  make  to  land  from  which  a 
crop  of  corn  is  gathered  every  alternate  year. 
Corn  is  a  strong  feeder,  and  must  draw  heav- 
ily upon  the  original  productive  elements  of 
the  soil,  unless  there  be  added  something  to 
replace  what  is  required  for  the  growth  of  the 
crop.  Under  such  a  system  the  fertility  of  the 
land  will  deteriorate  year  by  year,  until  it  be- 
comes "  worn  out,"  as  is  seen  in  thousands  of 
acres  in  Virginia,  where  unintermitted  cultiva- 
tion of  tobacco  has  drained  the  soil  of  its  fat- 
ness, and  left  it  too  poor  to  pay  for  plowing, 
until  brought  into  condition  by  the  addition  of 
fertilizing  material.  But  the  plan  suggested, 
may  be  still  further  improved  by  the  introduc- 
tion of  stock  to  feed  off  the  clover  during  the 
season  after  the  wheat  and  oats  have  been  har- 
vested. They  will  give  a  good  account  of  the 
food  they  consume  in  the  weight  of  beef  added 
to  their  frames,  and  also  in  the  manure  which 
they  have  scattered  over  the  fields.  This  will 
more  rapidly  bring  up  the  condition  of  the  land, 
than  removing  the  larger  part  of  the  growth, 
by  cutting  and  curing.  It  will  also  be  fully  as 
profitable  to  buy  stock  in  the  Spring,  fatten,  and 
turn  them  off  in  the  Fall,  as  to  cut  the  clover 
for  their  consumption  in  Winter. 


The  International  Fair  at  Hamburg. 

This  great  exhibition  was  formally  opened 
according  to  announcement,  July  14th,  amid 
the  most  enthusiastic  demonstrations.  The 
various  departments  were  well  represented,  but 
the  show  of  animals  was  unusually  large  ami 
fine.  The  exhibition  of  sheep,  particularly, 
was  the  best  and  most  exteusive  ever  seen  in 
Europe;  more  than  seventeen  hundred  head 
were  entered.  It  is  gratifying  to  know  that 
although  the  American  contribution  to  this  de- 
partment was  small,  it  was  such  as  to  excite  no 
little  admiration,  and  even  envy,  on  the  part  of 
the  sheep  breeders  of  Europe.  The  specimens 
consisted  of  twelve  animals  from  the  flock  of 
George  Campbell,  Esq.,  of  Vermont,  and  to 
these  were  awarded  no  less  than  three  prizes, 
viz :  the  first  prize  for  buck  of  best  quality,  the 
first  prize  for  the  buck  yielding  the  greatest 
quantity  of  wool,  and  the  second  prize  for  the 
best  ewe,  considering  both  quantity  and  quality. 
The  amount  of  the  first  prizes  is  fifty  thalers 
each,  equal  to  thirty  eight  dollars  in  American 
gold.  The  correspondent  of  the  Tribune  writes 
that  this  entry  of  twelve  American  sheep  was 
made  public  through  the  press  of  Germany  sev- 
eral weeks  before  the  Exhibition,  and  it  was  re- 
garded as  a  great  joke  that  America  should  for 
a  moment  think  of  competing  with  Germany  in 
sheep.  But  the  competition  has  been  eminently 
successful,  and  the  long  faces  of  the  other  ex- 
hibitors indicated  their  mortification  and  dis- 
appointment. Open  dissatisfaction  was  ex- 
pressed that  two  of  the  first  prizes  for  sheep 
should  be  awarded  to  America,  and  to  settle 
the  matter,  Colonel  Needham,  Commissioner 
from  Vermont,  proposed  a  sweepstakes  of  one 
hundred  dollars  for  the  heaviest  fleece,  taking 
into  the  account  the  weight  of  the  sheep,  the  jury 
to  be  appointed  by  the  Association,  the  sheep 
to  be  sheared.  But  the  German  and  French 
Exhibitors  declined  the  proposition,  thus  prac- 
tically affirming  the   justness  of   the  award. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  prizes  awarded  to 


1803.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


2G7 


Americans  so  far  as  heard  from  to  August  5th : 
LIST  OF  AMERICAN  PRIZES. 

George  Campbell,  Vermont,  fifty  tlialers  for  largest 
quantity  of  wool.— 1st  prize. 

George  Campbell,  Vermont,  fifty  tlialers  for  largest 
staple.— 1st  prize. 

George  Campbell,  Vermont,  twenty  five  thalers  for 
combination  of  quantity  and  quality.— 2nd  prize. 

Cyrus  B.  McCormick,  Illinois,  gold  medal  for  the  in- 
troduction and  perfection  of  practical  mowing  machines. 

Seymour,  Morgan  &  Co.,  New-York,  large  Silver  Med- 
al -for  first-class  Reaping  and  Mowing  Machine. 

Thornton  <fc  Avery,  Pa.,  Silver  Medal— Horse-Power. 

James  A.  S  AX  ton,  Ohio,  large  bronze  Medal— for  im- 
proved Harrow  and  Cultivator. 

Whitlemore,  Belcher*  Co.,  Mass.,  large  bronze  Medal 
— assortment  of  Agricultural  Implements  and  Machinery. 

L.  P.  Ruse,  Michigan,  large  brenze  Medal — for  elegant- 
ly finished  implements. 

E.  C.  Tainter.  Massachusetts,  large  bronze  Medal— 
for  planing  and  tenoning  Machine. 

George  Campbell,  Vermont,  large  bronze  Medal — for 
Willani's  patent  Root  Cutter. 

John  Vanderhilt,  New-York,  large  bronze  Medal — for 
Agricultural  Implements  and  Machinery.         t 

J.  VV.  Free,  bid.,  large  bronze  Medal— Fanning   Mill. 

Hall  &  Spear.  Penn.,  bronze  Medal — splendid    Plough. 

S.  P.  Hubbel,  N.  Y  ,  large  bronze  Medal— Seed  Sower. 


Cultivation  of   Tobacco. 


The  Essays  on  tins  subject  which  were  re- 
ceived at  the  Agriculturist  Office  in  response  to 
our  offer  for  premiums,  and  which  have  been 
published  in  pamphlet  form,  undoubtedly  form 
the  most  valuable  practical  work  upon  the  sub- 
ject ever  issued.  Each  of  the  different  writers 
contributes  some  items  from  his  own  experience. 
The  book  costs  only  25  cents,  post-paid,  and 
should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  grower  of  to- 
bacco. As  a  partial  help  to  those  not  having 
the  complete  work,  we  give  here  some  season- 
able extracts  from  the  essay  of  Mr.  Oliver  T. 
BiShop^    Hartford   County,    Connecticut. 

Topping  —Cultivators  do  not  agree  as  to  the  time  and 
where  to  tnp  the  plants.  Some  favor  the  plan  of  top- 
ping as  soon  as  the  blossom -buds  appear,  others  prefer  to 
wan  until  in  blossoms.  I  think  there  is  no  harm  in  letting 
Hie  earliest  plants  bloom  befoie  being  topped,  but  after 
once  beginning,  they  should  be  broken  off  as  soon  as  the 
buds  begin  to  look  yellow,  and  the  latest  plants  as  soon 
as  the  buds  appear.  A  beginner  will  be  apt  to  top 
the  plants  too  high.  The  object  is  to  ripen  and  develop 
as  many  leaves  as  the  plant  can  support  ;  if  topped  too 
high,  (he  top  leaves  are  small,  and  when  cured  are  near- 
ly worthless,  and  the  oilier  leaves  are  not  as  large  or 
heavy  ;  whereas,  if  topped  loo  low,  then  you  lose  one, 
two,  or  three  leaves,  which  the  plant  might  have  support- 
ed. As  a  general  rule,  a  plant  just  in  blossom  should  be 
topped  down  to  where  the  leaves  are  full  seven  inches  wide, 
leaving  mi  the  stalk  from  fifteen  to  eighteen  leaves.  This 
will  leave  the  stalks  about  two  and  a  half  feet  high  in 
good  tobacco.  Later  in  the  season,  top  the  plants  sooner 
and  lower.  Let  as  many  of  the  earliest  plants  as  will  be 
wanted  remain  for  seed.  One  plant  will  furnish  seed 
enough  to  put  out  five  acres,  at  least.  These  should  be 
wormed  and  suekered  like  the  rest,  only  leaving  the 
stickers  above  where  you  would  ordinarily  break  it  off, 
were  you  to  tnp  it.  The  plant  should  now  be  looked 
over  every  other  day.  to  break  off  the  suckers  and  catch 
the  worm?.  This  should  be  done  as  soon  as  the  dew  is  off 
in  Hie  morning,  and  towards  night,  as  the  worms  are 
eating  then,  and  can  b«  found  more  readily,  while  in  the 
heat  of  the  day  they  remain  hid.  Great  care  should  be 
taken  not  to  break  off  the  leaves  while  going  through; 
if  broken  they  are  mostly  wasted  before  the  crop  is  ripe. 

Suckering.— As  soon  as  the  top  is  broken  off,  the  sap  is 
thrown  into  the  leaves,  causing  them  to  expand  rapidly. 
In  the  mean  time  suckers  will  start  out  just  above  where 
each  leaf  joins  the  stalk  ;  these  must  be  broken  off,  or  the 
growth  of  the  lea-f  will  be  checked,  as  the  sap  will  be 
thrown  into  these  young  sprouts.  Those  nearest  the  top 
will  start  soonest,  and  will  require  breaking  off  twice  be- 
fore the  plant  Is  ripe;  those  at  the  bottom  must  all  be 
broken  off.  This  is  the  hardest  and  slowest  work  of  all. 
Not  only  will  these  suckers  check  the  growth  of  the 
plants,  but  if  allowed  to  grow,  will  soon  break  or  pry  off 
the  leaves,  or  cause  them  to  grow  out  at  right  angles  from 


the  stalk,  rendering  them  more  liable  to  be  broken  off. 
It  is  a  good  plan  to  have  a  piece  of  corn  on  the  north  side 
of  a  piece  of  tobacco,  or,  at  least,  two  or  three  rows,  to 
shield  the  growing  plants  from  winds. 

Cutting  and  Hanging.— The  plants  grow  rapidly  and 
require  less  than  three  months  from  the  time  of  setting, 
before  they  are  ready  to  cut.  Any  one  used  to  the  culti- 
vation of  the  crop  knows  when  it  is  ripe  ;  the  veins  of  the 
leaves  are  swollen,  the  leaves  begin  to  look  spotted,  and 
feel  thick  and  gummy.  The  ends  of  the  leaves  will  crack 
on  being  doubled  up.  After  it  is  ripe,  the  sooner  it  is  cut 
the  better,  as  it  is  liable  to  injury  by  frost  or  hail,  ami  will 
not  increase  in  weight  as  fast  as  the  worms  eat  it,  and  the 
ieaves  get  broken  in  catching  worms.  The  plants  will 
generally  ripen  from  the  first  to  the  fifteenth  of  Septem- 
ber; they  should  not  be  cut  immediately  after  a  heavy 
rain  unless  in  danger  of  frost,  as  a  portion  of  the  gum 
washes  out,  but  should  be  allowed  to  stand  two  or  three 
days.  The  cutting  should  not  begin  until  the  dew  is  off; 
a  cloudy  day  is  best,  for  when  the  sun  shines  hot,  they 
will  not  have  time  to  wilt  sufficiently  before  they  will 
sunburn,  which  may  be  known  by  ihe  leaves  turning 
white  and  looking  puckered.  Commence  on  one  side  of 
the  piece,  laying  the  plants  all  one  way,  in  order  to 
facilitate  loading.  Most  of  the  plants  may  be  broken 
off  easily,  by  gently  bending  them  over  one  way  and 
another.  Small  plants,  which  will  not  break,  may  be 
sawed  off  with  an  old  saw  or  cut  with  a  hatchet.  If  the 
sun  shines  too  hot,  the  plants  should  be  turned  over  care- 
fully to  prevent  burning.  After  lying  an  hour  or  two,  to 
wilt  sufficiently,  so  as  not  to  break  by  handling,  they  may 
be  carted  to  the  barn  or  shed.  Ample  room  for  curing 
should  be  provided,  and  if  any  one  expects  to  raise  tobac- 
co for  any  length  of  time,  it  is  best  to  have  a  building 
erected  expressly  for   it. 

Buildings. — In  the  first  place  one  wants  to  know  about 
how  much  room  he  will  need,  and  then  build  accord- 
ingly. To  hang  an  acre  of  good  tobacco  requires  a 
building  about  thirty  by  twenty-four  feet,  with  fifieen-feet 
posts.  Two  girths  should  be  framed  inlo  the  posts  on  all 
sides  of  the  building  ;  one  five  feet  above  the  sill,  and  the 
other  ten  feet  above,  to  rest  the  poles  on,  also  to  nail  the 
covering  boards  to.  This  gives  a  space  of  five  feet  for 
each  tier  of  plants.  Have  a  beam  run  across  the  center 
of  the  building,  with  a  post  in  the  middle  with  girths  to 
correspond  with  those  on  the  side,  extending  lengthwise 
through  the  middle  of  the  building  for  the  poleB  or  rails, 
each  twelve  feet  in  length,  to  be  laid  upon ;  or  if  sticks 
are  to  be  used  (as  hereafter  described)  lay  rails  or  poles 
once  in  four  feet  for  the  sticks  to  rest  upon.  Plane  a  ven- 
tilator upon  the  center  of  the  roof,  and  have  one  board  in 
every  four  feet  hung  on  hinges,  to  be  opened  or  closed  at 
pleasure.  If  made  with  a  floor  and  a  cellar  underneath, 
to  let  down  the  tobacco  into  when  ready  to  strip,  all  the 
belter. — We  will  now  return  to  the  crop,  and  commence 
hanging  it.  A  common  way  of  doing  it  is  by  tying  with 
common  twine.  Tie  the  end  of  the  string  tightly  around 
the  but  of  one  plant,  and  by  placing  it  against  the  side  of 
the  pole  nearest  you,  put  another  plant  on  the  opposite 
side  and  carry  the  string  over  and  around  it,  placing  the 
plants  alternately  on  each  side  of  the  pole  until  filled  , 
then  fasten  the  string,  place  the  pole  in  the  right  place, 
(it  should  be  nearly  right  before  it  is  filled,)  and  com- 
mence on  the  next  one  in  like  manner,  having  some  one 
to  hand  the  plants  as  wanted.  As  to  how  thick  to  hang, 
it  depend-  upon  the  size  of  the  plants,  but  in  good-sized 
tobacco  about  nine  inches  on  each  side  is  close  enough  ; 
that  will  be  from  thirty  to  thirty- two  on  each  pole  of 
twelve  feet  ;  place  the  poles  from  fifteen  to  eighteen 
inches  apart.  Another  method  of  hanging,  much  prac- 
ticed and  approved  by  many,  is  to  hang  on  slats  or  sticks 
sawed  out  four  feet  long, one  and  a  quarter  inches  w  ide  and 
five  eighths  of  an  inch  thick.  Chestnut  timber  is  gener- 
ally used  here.  The  common  la  h  answers  very  well. 
An  iron  needle  made  something  like  a  chisel  is  used 
to  slip  on  to  one  end  of  the  sticks,  which  are  sharp- 
ened a  little  at  one  end  to  receive  it.  It  is  made  about 
eight  inches  long,  wedge-shaped  at  the  small  end,  and  a 
socket  one  half  by  one  inch  to  slip  on  to  the  slicks.  When 
ready  for  use.  have  a  place  fixed  near  where  you  unload, 
to  hold  one  of  these  sticks  out  at  right  angles  from  a  post, 
and  about  four  feet  from  the  ground.  Let  the  plants  be 
handed  you  from  the  load  and  slip  them  on  the  stick,  pierc- 
ing lite  stalk  about  six  inches  from  the  but ;  put  six  or  seven 
plants  of  medium  size  on  each  stick— more  if  smaller.  As 
each  stick  is  filled,  it  may  be  carried  to  its  place  in  the 
barn.  In  getting  them  to  the  top  of  the  barn  they  may  be 
handed  up  with  a  pitchfork,  lifting  them  by  the  middle  of 
the  sticks.  These  sticks  should  be  about  eight  inches 
apart.  I  think  a  greater  amount  can  be  put  into  a  given 
space  by  this  method  without  danger  of  sweating,  as  it  is 
more  evenly  distributed.  The  loose  leaves  that  have 
been  broken  off  while  handling,  may  be  cured  by  placing 
four  or  five  together  and  securing  to  a  small  pole,  in  the 
same  way  as  plants  are  hung  with  twine. 

Savin'J  Seed.— Strip  the  leaves  off  from  the  seed-stalks, 
and  tie  up  the  stalks  to  a  stake  driven  into  the  ground  by 


them,  else  they  may  be  blown  over.  The  seed  should  be 
gathered  before  hard  frosts  destroy  its  vitality;  when 
fully  ripe  the  pods  or  seed-vessels  may  be  picked  off  and 
dried,  then  crush  or  roll  them  between  the  hands  until 
the  seeds  are  all  out ;  the  seeds  may  then  be  separated 
from  the  chaff  by  passing  it  through  a  fine  sieve. 

Curing.— After  the  crop  is  all  housed,  the  building 
should  be  well  ventilated  by  opening  doors,  and  the  boards 
on  hinges,  to  secure  a  free  circulation  of  air  throughout 
the  building.  On  rainy,  damp,  or  very  windy  days,  the 
building  should  be  shut  up  as  tightly  as  possible,  and 
opened  again  on  return  of  fair  weather.  After  haneing 
several  weeks,  until  the  leaves  are  rnosily  dried,  the  build- 
ing should  be  closed  to  prevent  the  dry  leaves  from  heing 
broken  by  the  winds.  It  usually  requires  about  twelve 
weeks  to  cure  the  plants  thoroughly,  thai  is,  so  that  there 
is  no  more  juice  in  the  leaves  or  leaf-stems ;  it  matters 
not  if  the  main  stalk  is  not  dry,  you  need  not  expect  It, 
and  there  will  he  green  leaves  lhat  will  not  cure  bill  freeze 
while  green,  and  are  worthless.    It  will  ihen  be  ready  for 

Stripping.— This  must  be  done  only  after  a  damp, 
rainy  spell  has  softened  the  leaves,  so  that  they  may  be 
handled  without  breaking  j  it  may  then  be  taken  from  the 
poles  and  stripped  as  fast  as  taken  down,  or  It  maybe 
carried  into  a  cellar  and  be  piled  in  heaps  to  be  stripped 
at  leisure  ;  care  must  be  taken,  however,  not  lo  let  it  re- 
main too  long  in  this  condition,  as  the  green  stalks  would 
soon  heat  and  injure  it.  To  strip  a  plant,  hold  it  in  the 
left  hand  by  the  but,  and  with  the  other  pull  off  all  the 
bottom  leaves  and  drop  them  on  the  ground  in  a  pile  for 
"  fillers,"  or  the  poorest  quality  ;  next,  take  off  three  or 
four  more,  or  until  you  come  to  the  best  leaves,  these  put 
in  another  heap  for  the  "seconds  ;"  now  strip  off  the  re- 
mainder for  wrappers,  except  such  as  are  badly  worm- 
eaten  or  otherwise  injured — such  gointoa  poorerquality  ; 
throw  the  stalk  away  and  put  the  handful  of  wrappers 
under  the  left  arm  to  hold  while  stripping  another  plant 
in  like  manner,  put  the  two  handfuls  of  wrappers  togeth- 
er, taking  pains  to  keep  the  bills  even,  and  bind  ihem  by 
firmly  winding  a  leaf  mound  them  at  the  but,  commenc- 
ing within  a  half  or  three  quarters  of  an  inch  from  the 
end,  and  winding  down  smoothly  about  two  inches,  part 
the  "  hand"  and  put  the  end  of  the  band  between  the  parts, 
then  close  it  again,  thus  securing  the  end  and  holding  It 
tight.  If  the  plants  are  very  large,  the  leaves  from  each 
may  be  tied  up  separately  instead  of  putting  two  luge t her. 
Hands  that  will  weigh  half  a  pound  are  about  larpe 
enough.  The  seconds  and  fillers  are  afterward  picked 
up  and  lied  in  the  same  manner.  Much  of  the  value  of 
tobacco  in  market  depends  upon  the  manner  in  which  it 
is  assorted  and  done  up,  as  a  few  poor  leaves  in  a  hand 
would  make  a  difference  of  several  cents  per  pound  in  Ihe 
price.  None  but  good  sound  leaves,  free  from  rust,  pole- 
sweat,  frost,  or  large  holes  should  go  into  the  best  quality. 
Small  plants  rarely  contain  any  first  quality,  but  should 
go  into  the  seconds  and  fillers.  A  little  practice  will  ena- 
ble any  one  to  sort  it  properly,  better  than  any  rules  thai 
can  be  laid  down  on  paper.  There  is  much  difference  in 
the  color  and  fineness  of  the  leaf,  a  darkish  red  or  cinna- 
mon color  Is  preferred  lo  that  of  a  darker  shade;  the 
veins  should  be  small  and  far  apart,  and  dark  as  the  leaf, 
as  "while  stems"  are  objectionable  by  reason  of  their 
growing  lighter  still  when  going  through  the  sweat  after 
it  is  cased.  After  it  is  stripped,  it  should  be  packed  down 
in  a  cool  dry  place.  Lay  some  boards  flat  on  the  ground 
about  four  feet  wide,  and  as  long  as  you  wish  the  pile  to 
be,  and  commence  by  laying  a  row  on  one  side  of  the 
platform  with  the  buts  out,  then  on  the  oilier  side  in  the 
same  way,  letting  the  tips  lap  about  six  inches,  or  just 
enough  to  keep  the  pile  level :  proceed  in  (his  way,  laying 
on  each  side  alternately  until  all  is  packed.  Lay  the  hands 
as  close  to  each  other  as  possible,  not  sprawled  out  like 
an  open  fan,  but  compactly.  Lay  some  boards  on  top  of 
the  pile,  and  put  on  just  weight  enough  to  keep  them  snug. 
Some  boards  or  blankets  should  be  put  at  the  ends  of  the 
pile  to  keep  it  from  drying  up.  The  seconds  and  fillers 
are  packed  in  the  same  way  ;  they  may  be  packed  in  a 
separate  pile  or  on  top,  or  at  the  ends  of  the  wrappers. 
It  is  now  ready  for  market.  If  it  should  remain  long 
in  pile  it  should  be  examined  occasionally  to  see  that  it 
does  not  hurt,  as  it  sometimes  happens  that  when  taken 
down,  stripped  and  packed  when  it  is  too  damp,  it  will 
grow  damper  and  perhaps  rot.  If  too  damp,  it  should  be 
repacked  on  some  windy  day  to  give  it  an  airing,  shaking 
out  the  dampest  hands  and  letting  them  remain  exposed 
until  sufficiently  dry  lo  be  repacked.  The  stalks,  after 
being  stripped,  should  either  be  spread  on  grass  land  and 
remain  until  Spring,  when  they  may  be  raked  up  and 
carted  on  to  the  land  designed  for  the  next  crop  of  tobac- 
co, and  burnt,  or  let  them  remain  in  the  barn  until  Spring, 
when  they  may  be  cut  up  fine  and  dropped  into  polato  or 
corn-hills,  using  a  good-sized  handful  to  each  hill. 

I  have  raised  the  past  season  on  a  little  more  than  three 
fourths  of  an  acre,  1.427  pounds  wrappers,  worth  at  the 
present  time  25  cents  per  ". ;  221  pounds  seconds,  worth 
12  cents  ;  and  146  pounds  filers,  worth  JO  cents  ;  amount- 
ing to  1,794  pounds,  worth  $397.87, 


Q08 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[September, 


A.H. 

Fig.  1.— POISON  IVT. 

Talks   About   Weeds- ■•■  IV. 


POISONOUS    PLANTS. 

We  devote  the  chapter  this  month  mainly  to 
an  account  of  a  plant,  which  though  it  does  not 
infest  crops,  is  very  common  along  old  walls, 
and  in  neglected  corners,  and  is  of  such  a  dan- 
gerous character  that  every  one  should  be  able 
to  identify  it.  "  Poison  Ivy,"  or  as  it  is  some- 
times called,  Poison  Oak,  and  Poison  vine,  is  bo- 
tanically  known  as  Rhus  Toxicodendron.  It  is  a 
plant  that  presents  several  forms ;  sometimes  it 
is  a  small  shrub  1  to  3  feet  high— sometimes  it 
trails  over  stone  walls  and  rocks,  and  again  it  is 
found  climbing  to  a  great  hight  upon  trees,  to 
which  it  clings  by  means  of  numerous  small 
roots  that  it  throws  out  from  its  stem.  All 
these  forms  are  varieties  of  one  species.  The 
leaves  are  three  parted,  the  divisions  rather  irreg- 
ular in  shape,  and  are  either  entire  on  the  mar- 
gins, or  irregularly  lobed  or  toothed.  The  flow- 
ers are  in  panicles,  small  and  of  a  greenish 
white  color,  and  are  followed  by  whitish  ber- 
ries. The  popular  names  given  above,  as  well 
as  the  specific  name  Toxicodendron  (Poison-tree), 
indicate  that  its  reputation  as  a  dangerous 
plant  is  well  established.  Touching  or  handling 
the  plant  will,  with  many  persons,  produce  se- 
rious consequences ;  others,  perhaps  the  majori- 
ty, are  not  affected  by  it,  while  some  are  so  very 
susceptible  that  by  merely  passing  near    the 


case  that  very  few  persons  are  capable  of 
being  poisoned  by  it.  If  it  were  other- 
wise, the  plant  being  so  very  common, 
we  should  hear  of  more  frequent  cases  of 
poisoning.  AVhere  a  person  is  but  slight- 
ly affected  by  the  poison,  there  is  a  red- 
ness and  violent  itching  of  the  face  and 
hands,  followed  by  little  watery  blisters. 
Where  the  effect  is  severe,  the  swelling 
and  other  symtoms  are  much  increased. 
We  have  seen  a  person  with  the  face 
swollen  to  such  a  degree  that  scarcely  a 
feature  could  be  distinguished.  The  usual 
treatment  in  poisoning  of  this  kind  is  to 
give  a  cooling  purgative,  such  as  salts, 
and  apply  a  solution  of  sugar  of  lead  to 
allay  the  intense  burning  and  itching. 
Unless  in  unusually  severe  cases,  the  ef- 
fects do  not  last  more  than  a  week.  There 
is  a  very  harmless  climber  which  is  some- 
times mistaken  for  the  Poison  Ivy,  and 
avoided  as  being  poisonous, — the  Vir- 
ginia Creeper.  As  the  last  is  not  only 
a  perfectly  harmless  plant,  but  one  of 
our  most  valuable  ornamental  climbers,  we  in- 
troduce an  engraving  of  a  leaf  of  it,  in  order  that 
the  difference  between  the  two  plants  may 
be  readily  seen.    In  the  Virginia  Creeper  the 


The  last  time,  however,  a  new  method  was 
tried,  and  thus  far  (for  four  years,)  the  stream 
has  run  freely.  The  method  was  this :  All 
along  the  line  penetrated  by  the  roots,  the  tiles 
were  imbedded  in  wrater-lime  mortar,  then  cov- 
ered with  a  foot  of  tan-bark,  and  the  remainder 
of  the  trench  filled  with  common  soil.  The 
mortar  soon  becomes  hard  like  stone,  and  the 
tan-bark  both  seems  to  keep  away  frost  and  the 
tree  roots.  [If  tan-bark  will  repel  the  roots  of 
trees,  the  lime  would  not  seem  necessary. — Ed.] 
•-. __••_ ►.« 

Hints  about  Farm  Laborers. 


Fig.  2.—  VIRGINIA  CREEPER. 

plant,  especially  in  hot  sunshine,  they  will  re- 
ceive its  poisonous  influence.    It  is  probably  the 


m 

Fig.  3.— POISON  SUMACH. 

leaf  is  five  parted  and  much  more  thick  and  glos- 
sy. We  have  known  one  instance  in  which  the 
Poison  Ivy  was  used  as  an  ornamental  vine,  it 
being  mistaken  for  the  Virginia  Creeper;  a 
rather  unsafe  plant  to  have  near  the  house. 

Another  shrub  of  the  same  genus,  Rhus  venen- 
ata, called  Poison  Sumach  and  sometimes  Poi- 
son Dogwood,  is  abundant  in  swamps  and  low 
grounds  throughout  the  Northern  States.  It  is 
a  very  pretty  shrub  or  small  tree,  and  with  its 
pinnate  leaves  it  looks  somewhat  like  the  Ailan- 
thus.  It  is  distinguished  from  our  other  shrub- 
by Sumachs  by  its  loose  clusters  of  white  ber- 
ries. This  is  even  more  dangerous  thau  the 
Poison  Ivy.  The  above  figures  are  taken  from 
American  Weeds  and  Useful  Plants,  a  work 
which  we  have  already  highly  commended. 
—. —     ■»■         !■ 

Tree  Roots  in  the  Tile  Drains. — One 
of  the  most  important  drains  on  the  writer's 
premises  had  been  so  obstructed  for  several 
years  by  the  fibrous  roots  of  an  elm,  as 
to  require  it  to  be  rclaid  twice  in  five  years. 


One  of  the  sorest  troubles  in  farming,  just 
now,  arises  from  the  scarcity  of  help, — a  scar- 
city which  must  continue  as   long  as  the  war 
lasts,  unless  an  unusual  foreign  imigration  sup- 
plies the  want.    Were  it  not   for  labor-saving 
machinery,  multitudes  of  crops  would  go  un- 
harvested,  and  other  farm  work  go  unperformed. 
Along  with  this  scarcity,   the   quality  of  the 
workmen  left  is  also  poor.    Not  all,  indeed,  but 
many  of  our 'hired  men  are  eye-servants,  work- 
ing lustily  while  watched,  but  lounging,  dawd- 
ling, and,  perhaps,  drinking  when  alone.    Tools 
are  not  taken  care  of,  the  work  done  is  slurred 
over,  the  horses  and  cattle  are  neglected,  many 
things  are  wasted — in  short, 
the  real  interests  of  the  far- 
mer are  not  cared  for.    It  is 
vexatious  to  try  to  carry  on  a 
farm  with  such  "  help."    One 
must  be  always  present  with 
his    men,  must  work    hard 
himself,   and    do  the   worst 
jobs  with  his  own  hands.    A 
slave's  life  is  it  to  be  bound 
to  such  a  task,  and  the  mo- 
ney gained  by  it,  is  earned  at 
hard  rate. — But    here   are  a 
few  helping  thoughts.     If  a 
farmer  can  contrive  to  get 
young  men  into  his  employ, 
and  can  manage  to  keep  them 
for  a  few  years,  he  can  train 
them    into  good  workmen. 
^5\Jv<^V*jS.e      Yet  much   depends  on    the 
>***   employer  himself.     Many  of 
our  bad  laborers  have  been 
made  such  by  the  unkind- 
ness,  dishonesty,  or  shiftless- 
ness    of   their   masters.     If 
a     good    farmer     can     get 
young,  unspoiled  men,   fresh  from  the  "  ould 
countrie,"  and  can  keep  them  long  enough  to 
teach  and   train   them,  be  will  generally  have 
good  and  faithful  workmen.     Hence,  one  way 
to  improve  our  farm  laborers  would  be  for  the 
agriculturists  of  a  neighborhood  to  employ  some 
trusty  agent — say  at  New-York  or  Boston,  to 
select  companies  of  likely  young  foreigners  who 
prefer  country  life,  and  then  to  send  them  di- 
rectly on  to  the  farmers  wanting  them.     Also, 
let  the   farmers  of  each  neighborhood  pledge 
themselves  not  to  hire  a  laborer  coming  from 
another  farmer  unless  be  brings  a  certificate  of 
honorable  discharge   from   his    last  employer. 
If  the  Agricultural  Societies  of  town  and  coun- 
ty would  form  some  system  of  this  kind  to  pro- 
vide a  steady  supply  of  good  material  for  work- 
men, it  would  raise  the  character  of  our  labor- 
ers, and  relieve  fanning  of  one  of  its   greatest 
troubles.    Of  course,  it  is  implied  that  the  farm- 
er is  to  pay  good  wages,  to  study  the  wants  ol 
his  men  carefully,  and  to  seek,  in  every  reason- 
able way,  to  promote  their  comfort  and  happi- 


1863 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


269 


ness.    This  hist  item  is  not  the  least   in   im- 
portance of  what  we    have    here    suggested. 


Industry  of  Italian  Bees. 


Rev.  L.  L.  Langstroth,  sends  to  the  Agricul- 
turist the  following  facts,  communicated  to  him 
by  Win.  Noah  Coler,  of  Montgomery  Co.,  Ohio. 
On  the  8th  of  August  1862,  a  stock  of  Italian 
bees  threw  a  large  swarm,  which  filled  its  hive 
two-thirds  full  of  comb,  and  gathered  honey 
enough  to  winter  well.  The  new  colony 
swarmed  on  the  15th  of  May  last,  and  in  eight 
days  swarmed  again.  The  first  swarm  filled  its 
hive  and  swarmed  on  the  22nd  of  June  ;  the 
second  swarm  at  the  same  date,  had  its  hive 
three  quarters  full.  The  season  has  not  been  a 
good  one  for  bees.  In  Southern  Ohio,  a  swarm 
of  black  bees  coming  off  as  late  as  the  8th  of 
1  uly,  is  seldom  considered  to  be  worth   hiving. 


Question  to  Italian  Bee  Keepers. 


Among  the  many  strong  claims  put  forth  for 
the  Italian  Bees,  it  is  stated  that  they  collect 
more  honey  and  from  a  greater  variety  of  sources 
than  the  common  bee.  It  is  said,  that  they 
gather  sweets  from  raspberries,  blackberries, 
and  other  fruits,  and  from  flowers  not  visited 
by  other  bees.  The  question  we  would  ask 
through  the  American  Agriculturist  is,  whether 
the  honey  thus  collected  is  of  equally  good 
quality  with  that  gathered  by  the  common  bee, 
and  indeed,  whether  it  may  not  have  a  flavor 
that  will  unfit  it  for  table  use.  It  is  well  known 
that  the  honey  gathered  by  the  humble  bee,  the 
different  species  of  hornets,  and  the  wasp,  is 
watery  and  not  of  pleasant  flavor.  Along  with 
the  other  tests  applied  to  the  Italian  bees,  this 
matter  of  the  quality  and  flavor  of  their  honey 
should  not  be  neglected. 


Tke  Value  of  Phosphates  for  Wheat  and 
Turnips. 


Messrs.  Editors  of  the  Am.  Agriculturist : — In  a 
former  number  you  say :  "  Wo  know  that  the 
ashes  of  wheat  contains  a  large  amount  of  phos- 
phoric acid,  and  turnips  but  little,  yet  the  appli- 
cation of  phosphates  to  the  soil  does  very  little 
good  to  a  wheat  crop,  while  the  superphos- 
phates are  the  great  turnip  manure  in  England." 
This  seeming  anomaly,  is,  I  think,  well  explain- 
ed in  an  article  by  Doct.  Voelcker,  in  the  Jour- 
nal of  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society,  from 
which  I  quote  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  may 
not  have  access  to  the  original : 

"  In  England  the  application  of  purely  phos- 
phatic  manures  is  confined  almost  exclusively 
to  root  crops :  why  is  it  that  these  manures,  as 
a  rule,  benefit  root  crops  more  than  cereals  and 
other  crops  ?  The  idea  naturally  suggests  itself 
that  turnips  or  swedes  require  more  phosphoric 
acid  to  bring  them  to  perfection  than  wheat, 
barley,  and  oats ;  and  an  examination  of  the 
ashes  of  these  several  crops  confirms  this  im- 
pression. A  given  quantity  of  ash  of  turnips, 
it  is  true,  contains  less  phosphoric  acid  than  the 
same  quantity  of  wheat  ash ;  but  since  the  to- 
tal amount  of  mineral  matters  or  ash  in  a  crop 
of  turnips  is  very  much  larger  (?)  than  that  hi  a 
crop  of  wheat,  the  amouut  of  phosphoric  acid 
which  is  removed  from  the  soil  by  the  one  is 
very  much  more  considerable  than  that  taken 
up  by  the  other. — Taking  the  average  composi- 
tion of  the  ash  of  turnips,  bulbs  and  tops,  de- 


duced from  the  recorded  results  of  numerous 
reputable  experimenters,  we  have  in  100  parts : 

Bulbs.  Tops. 

Potash 42.0  20.0 

Soda 20  3.0 

Macnesia 2.0  1.0 

Lime II.S  30.0 

Phosphoric  acid 9.0  5.0 

Sulphuric  acid 11.5  11.0 

Silica 1.0         1.0 

Chloride  of  sodium 6.0         8.0 

Chloride  of  potassium —  5.0 

Carbonic  acid 15.0  16.0 

The  average  composition  of  the  ash  of  the 
grain  and  straw  of  wheat  is  about  as  follows : 

Wheat.  Straw. 

Phosphoric  acid 50.0  5.0 

Sulphuric  acid 5  2.7 

Silica 2.5  67.0 

Lime 3.5  5.5 

Magnesia 11.5  2.0 

Polash 30.0  13.0 

Soda     |    in  43 

Chlorides  of  potassium  and  sodium. .  i 

If  we  suppose  the  crop  of  bulbs  of  the  turnips 
to  weigh  20  tons  per  acre,  and  the  tops  6  tons, 
and  take  the  average  percentage  of  ash  in  the 
bulbs  at  .70,  and  that  in  the  tops  at  1.7,  we  re- 
move  from  each  acre,   in  round  numbers : 

In  the  bulbs  lbs.  of  mineral  matter 314 

In  the  tops    "  "  "     228— 542  lbs. 

An  average  crop  of  turnips  in  fact  removes 
from  the  soil  28j  lbs.  of  phosphoric  acid  in  the 
bulbs,  and  Hi  lbs.  in  the  tops— 393  lbs.,  or,  in 
round  numbers,  40  lbs.  in  all. 

The  grain  of  wheat,  on  an  average,  contains 
1.7  per  cent,  of  ash,  and  wheat  straw  5  per  cent. 
The  mean  produce  of  wheat  per  acre,  taken  at 
4  quarters — 32  bushels  at  60  lbs.  the  bushel — is 
1,920  lbs.  of  wheat ;  and  the  straw,  generally 
twice  the  weight  of  grain,  equals  3,480  lbs. 
lbs.  lbs. 

In  1,920  of  wheat  there  are  of  mineral  matter...  .32)^ 

In  3,480  of  straw  there  are             "            "      ...192 
Total  mineral  matter  per  acre 2*24X'bs. 

A  fair  average  crop  of  wheat  indeed  removes 
from  the  soil  161  lbs.  of  phosphoric  acid  in  the 
grain,  and  9i  lbs.  in  the  straw — together  253 
lbs.,  or  in  round  numbers,  26  lbs.  Therefore  a 
turnip  crop  weighing  20  tons  per  acre,  takes 
14  lbs.  more  phosphoric  acid  out  of  the  soil  than 
32  bushels  of  wheat   and   3480    lbs.  straw." 

I  think  that  the  above  throws  some  light  upon 
an  interesting  point  in  agricultural  chemistry, 
and  will  be  interesting  to  those  of  your  readers 
who  are  turning  their  attention  to  the  use  of 
bones  and  faithfully  prepared  phosphates.  I 
am  no  advocate  for  the  use  of  loudly  puffed  fer- 
tilizers, but  believing  that  we  should  not  let  the 
real  merits  of  the  phosphates  be  overlooked, 
because  the  name  is  attached  to  valueless  arti- 
cles. I  quote  the  above,  that  the  farmer  may 
see  that  phosphoric  acid  in  some  form  is  needed 
by  his  root  crops.  Rhode-Island. 

Remarks. — In  reply  to  the  above,  it  may  be 
stated  in  the  first  place,  that  all  calculations 
based  upon  the  amount  of  phosphoric  acid 
reported  in  the  ashes  of  plants,  are  exceedingly 
unreliable.  Until  within  the  last  few  years, 
phosphoric  acid  was  determined  by  the  magne- 
sia process,  a  very  uncertain  method  at  best,  as 
all  experienced  analysts  are  aware.  A  great 
deal  of  the  reported  phosphoric  acid  was 
doubtless  magnesia.  But  granting  that  the 
analyses  were  approximately  or  relatively  cor- 
rect, the  fact  (if  a  fact)  that  an  acre  of  turnips 
contained  40  lbs.  of  Phosphoric  acid,  and  an 
acre  of  wheat  26  lbs.  (only  about  one  third  less) 
would  not,  we  think,  explain  why  phosphatic 
manures  should  so  greatly  benefit  turnips,  and 
yet  produce  so  very  little  effect  upon  wheat. 
We  have  analyzed  many  specimens  of  soils 
from  different  localities,  but  never  found  one 
that  did  not  contain  detectable  phosphoric  acid 
enough  for  an  almost  unlimited  number  of  crops, 
either  of  turnips  or  wheat ;  while  there  may  be 


enough  for  many  crops,  and  still  the  amount  be 
so  small  in  the  minute  proportion  of  soil  ana- 
lyzed, as  to  escape  detection  by  the  most  skillful 
chemist.  We  consider  it  exceedingly  uncertain 
what  proportion  of  the  mineral  substances 
found  in  the  ashes  of  plants  are  really  necessary 
constituent  elements.  The  fluids  taken  into 
the  roots  contain  dissolved  earthy  materials, 
such  as  chance  to  be  found  in  the  soil.  When 
these  fluids  are  evaporated  from  the  leaves,  the 
earthy  materials  (minerals)  are  left  behind,  as 
accidental  impurities — not  neccssarity  there  as 
essential  constituents.  The  large  leaf  surface 
of  the  turnip  evaporates  more  fluids  than  the 
small  leaved  wheat,  and  there  will  of  course 
be  more  ashes  left  behind  in  the  turnips,  to  be 
found  on  analysis — we  repeat,  not  necessarily 
there  as  essential  constituents.  When  chemical 
analysis  can  discover  what  are  the  essential 
mineral  constituents  of  any  plant,  we  shall  be 
better  able  to  judge  of  the  probable  relative 
value  of  the  different  mineral  manures.  Until 
then,  we  shall  remain  much  in  the  dark,  and  be 
obliged  to  rely  mainly  upon  experience — upon 
the  results  of  practical  trials.  For  some  reason, 
a  manure  made  of  bones  dissolved  in  sulphuric 
acid  benefits  a  turnip  crop.  May  it  not  be  that 
the  sulphuric  acid,  together  with  the  free  phos- 
phoric acid  which  has  a  strong  affinity  for  am- 
monia, are  so  effective  because  of  the  large 
amount  of  ammonia  they  attract  or  retain  for 
the  use  of  the  plants  ?  We  throw  out  the  idea  as 
suggestive,  not  as  a  posittve  explanation. — Ed.] 


Cut  up  Corn  by  the  Ground. 

A  "  Young  Farmer"  asks  whether  it  is  better 
to  "  top  "  corn,  by  taking  off  the  stalks  at  the 
ears,  and  afterward  gather  the  crop,  or  to  cut 
the  whole  stalk  at  the  bottom.  We  have  al- 
ways advised  the  latter  course,  and  still  recom- 
mend it  for  the  following  reasons.  It  saves 
labor.  The  whole  hill  can  be  severed  almost  at 
a  blow  while  topping  requires  handling  each 
stalk.  The  stalks  yield  more  fodder  ;  the  bot- 
tom leaves  can  be  well  cured  and  saved.  The 
crop  can  be  housed  earlier,  and  much  saved 
from  molding,  and  destruction  by  birds  and 
vermin.  The  crop  should  be  cut  as  soon  as 
the  corn  is  glazed.  The  sap  remaining  in  the 
stalk  will  be  appropriated  by  the  kernels,  and 
the  stalks,  if  properly  cured,  and  housed  will 
make  good  fodder.  It  may  afterward  be  husk- 
ed out  at  leisure  under  cover.  This  plan  of 
course  will  hardly  do  on  the  prairies,  where 
hundreds  of  acres  in  a  body  are  cultivated,  but 
is  applicable  in  most  other  sections,  where  only 
limited  areas  are  given  to  corn. 

Poor  Honey  Yield, 

During  our  visit  at  St.  Johnsville,  N.  Y., 
August  3d,  we  noticed  that  the  hives  were  poor- 
ly filled,  and  Mr.  Quimby  informed  us  that 
owing  to  the  almost  constant  heavy  rains  in  July 
— the  great  honey  collecting  month — the  bees 
had  been  able  to  make  but  little,  and  the  pro- 
spect was  that  the  supply  of  clover  honey  to  be 
spared  from  the  hives  would  not  perhaps  exceed 
a  tenth  of  the  usual  yield.  The  second  crop, 
which  is  mainly  from  buckwheat,  may  possibly 
be  large,  but  this  is  not  so  valuable  in  market. 
As  the  rains  were  not  general  over  the  country 
— we  saw  very  few  showers  during  July,  at  the 
West — other  locations  may  perhaps  make  up  in 
part  for  the  deficiency  in  the  Middle  and  Eastern 
States,  but  we  judge  the  supply  on  the  whole 
will  be  much  below  the  average  of  other  years. 


270 


AMERICAN    AG-RICUI/TTJRIST. 


[September, 


Our  Western  Jaunt. 


It  is  our  aim  to  devote  the  mid-summer  sea- 
son of  every  alternate  year,  to  a  tour  of  observa- 
tion through  the  western  or  mid- western  divis- 
ion of  the  great  Agriculturist  Parish,  which 
extends  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.  This 
year  we  went  on  our  fifth  western  trip,  out 
through  New-Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Central 
Ohio,  and  Indiana,  into  Illinois  and  Iowa,  and 
returned  through  Michigan,  Northern  Ohio,  and 
New-York,  making  occasional  stops,  going  and 
returning.  (In  these  trips  we  generally  ride 
only  in  the  day  time,  and  usually  arrange  to  se- 
cure a  position  in  the  center  of  the  baggage 
cars  of  the  railway  trains,  because  the  wide 
doors  give  an  unobstructed  view  of  the  country 
on  either  side,  and  we  there  have  the  company 
of  local  employees  of  the  roads,  who  are  able  to 
point  out  objects  of  interest,  and  to  give  much 
general  information.  In  this  way  we  see  much 
of  the  face  of  the  countr}',  the  style  of  culture, 
the  condition  of  the  crops,  etc.  Indeed,  were 
we  not  to  stop  at  all,  but  travel  thus  for  3000 
to  5000  miles,  we  should  consider  the  time  well 
spent). — Our  main  object,  this  year,  was  to 
study  prairie  farming,  especially  in  Illinois  and 
Iowa,  which  are^cw-  excellence  the  prairie  States. 
We  stopped  at  some  twenty  to  twenty-five  lo- 
calities, and  from  observation,  and  conversation 
with  practical  men,  gathered  a  large  amount  of 
information.  It  would  be  impossible  to  give  a 
minute  journal  of  what  we  saw,  heard,  and 
learned — as  some  may  expect — a  large  volume 
would  be  needed.  Sundry  items  will  appear 
in  this  and  other  numbers,  and  we  hope  our 
western  readers  will  find  us  still  better  prepared 
to  supply  a  journal  specially  adapted  to  their 
wants,  so  far  as  there  is  any  specific  difference 
in   the  modes  of  cultivation   East  and   West. 

Beet    Sugar— Important    Experiments. 


Much  has  been  said  and  written  upon  the 
question  of  making  sugar  from  beets,  in  this 
country.  Many  journals  have  urged  the  culture 
of  the  Sugar  Beet  here,  claiming  that  it  must 
be  extremely  profitable,  because  it  has  paid  well 
in  Europe,  where  the  manufactured  product  is 
subjected  to  a  high  tax.  We  have  been  censured 
for  refusing  to  admit  into  the  columns  of  the 
American  Agriculturist  essays  from  those  who  are 
enthusiastic  on  the  topic.  The  ground  we  have 
taken,  has  been,  that  there  have  not  been  suffi- 
cient experiments  to  demonstrate  the  practica- 
bility of  manufacturing  beet  sugar  to  compete 
with  the  cheaper  grown  cane  sugars  of  the 
Southern  States  and  West  Indies.  That  sugar 
can  be  made  from  beets  in  our  climate,  has  been 
proved  by  experiments  on  a  limited  scale,  with 
imperfect  apparatus,  but  it  is  still  a  question 
whether  the  soil,  climate,  and  system  of  labor 
in  the  Northern  States,  will  enable  us  to  prac- 
tice the  European  methods  with  success.  We 
are  happy  to  chronicle  the  fact  that  at  one  point, 
at  least,  experiments  on  a  large  scale,  with  the 
best  apparatus,  are  being  carried  on  the  present 
year.  Last  month  we  made  a  trip  of  a  hundred 
miles  out  of  our  course,  to  see  the  establish- 
ment referred  to,  at  Chatsworth,  Illinois,  a  new 
town  on  the  Logansport,  Peoria,  and  Burlington 
Railroad,  some  fifteen  miles  west  of  Gilman  Sta- 
tion on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad.  At  this 
point  (Chatsworth),  Messrs.  Gennert  Brothers, 
(of  142  Center-st.,  N.  Y.  City,)  have  planted  be- 
tween one  and  two  hundred  acres  of  Sugar  Beet, 
and  are  putting  up  a  large  complete  building, 
with  steam  engines,  evaporators,  and  other  ap- 


paratus, of  the  most  improved  and  expensive 
character  to  be  found  in  Europe.  The  Manu- 
factory is  in  such  a  state  of  forwardness  that 
it  will  be  ready  for  the  growing  crop.  We  re- 
gard this  as  one  of  the  most  important  agricul- 
tural enterprises  of  the  day,  and  too  much  cred- 
it can  not  be  given  to  the  Messrs.  Gennert,  for 
taking  hold  of  the  subject  in  the  way  they  have. 
It  is  wholly  an  experiment,  and  if  successful 
will  be  of  immense  benefit  to  the  whole  country, 
for  the  manufacture  of  beet  sugar  will  at  once 
be  gone  into  generally;  while  if  it  prove  a  fail- 
ure, they  and  they  alone  will  bear  the  loss, 
which  must  amount  to  forty  or  fifty  thousand 
dollars  at  least.  We  made  our  visit  unsolicited, 
and  unexpectedly  to  the  proprietors,  and  we 
found  them  rather  disposed  to  keep  the  matter 
quiet,  but  we  think  the  country  should  know 
what  is  being  done,  and  that  the  Brothers  Gen- 
nert should  have  the  credit  of  the  enterprise, 
which  will  be  equally  creditable  to  them,  wheth- 
er a  success  or  a  failure.  We  wish  them  the 
largest  success  and  profit  in  the  undertaking. 
Until  we  have  the  result,  it  is  not  important  to 
describe  particularly,  either  the  manufactory, 
or  the  process  of  growing  and  manufacturing 
the  roots.  If  successful,  we  shall  take  the  ear- 
liest opportunity  of  placing  the  whole  matter 
before  our  readers. — At  the  time  of  our  visit 
(July  24,)  the  long  continued  drouth  was  likely 
to  greatly  injure  the  growing  beets,  and  it  was 
feared  that  another  week  of  such  weather 
would  destroy  them  for  the  season.  As  a  heavy 
rain  came  on  before  we  were  twenty  minutes 
away,  we  trust  the  feared  calamity  was  averted. 

•-• m»m _■ 

Sorghum. 


A  BIT  OP  HISTORY. 

Seven  years  ago  (1850)  we  raised  our  first  plot 
of  Sorghum,  or  "  New  Chinese  Sugar  Cane,"  as 
it  was  popularly  called.  We  published  an  ac- 
count of  it,  describing  it  as  promising  well,  and 
recommending  our  readers  to  try  a  little  garden 
plot,  to  see  how  and  where  it  would  grow,  and 
offered  free  to  our  readers  all  the  seed  we  had 
grown  and  could  procure — a  little  parcel  to 
each — but  cautioned  all  against  going  into  its 
culture  extensively,  even  if  seed  could  be  pro- 
cured, until  its  merits  and  demerits  were  better 
known.  Shortly  after,  a  stranger  called  and  of- 
fered us  half  a  dollar  an  ounce  for  all  the  seed  we 
had,  which  was  refused  as  it  had  been  promised 
to  our  readers.  On  further  inquiry  we  gleaned 
from  him  that  there  was  such  a  rage  for  the  seed 
at  the  West,  that  he  could  divide  an  ounce  into 
a  dozen  parcels  and  sell  them  at  $1  each.  We 
immediately  set  about  procuring,  direct  and  indi- 
rect, all  the  seed  we  could  obtain  in  France  and 
Algeria,  where  alone  it  had  been  cultivated  to 
a  moderate  degree.  Several  lots,  of  100  to  300 
lbs., were  secured,  and  we  commenced  scattering 
it  free  among  our  readers  all  over  the  country. 
Six  thousand  parcels  were  sent  to  Illinois  alone. 
Some  of  our  cotemporaries  cried  out  "humbug." 
But  as  we  then  answered,  where  was  the  hum- 
bug when  we  gave  away  all  the  seed,  and  speci- 
ally advised  our  readers  to  try  it  only  on  a  small 
scale? — The  seed  thus  sent  out  was  grown  and 
propagated  by  twenty  to  twenty-five  thousand 
persons;  and  it  is  not  claiming  anything  too 
much  to  assert  that  three-fourths,  if  not  seven- 
eighths,  of  all  the  sorghum  now  grown  in  this 
country  has  come  from  the  seed  thus  sent  out 
free  from  the  Office  of  the  American  Agriculturist. 
Of  the  advantage  to  the  country,  let  the  tens  of 
millions  of  gallons  of  good  syrup  produced  last 
year,  and  to  be  produced  this  year,  bear  witness. 


SORGHUM  GROWING  Df  IOWA. 
During  our  recent  visit  in  Iowa,  we  found  that 
a  large  proportion  of  the  families  in  that  Slate 
("epended  mainly  upon  home-produced  sorghum 
syrup  for  family  sweetening.  A  little  sugar  is 
used  for  tea,  but  even  tea,  and  especially  coffee, 
is  frequently  sweetened  with  syrup,  owing  to 
the  scarcity  and  high  price  of  sugar.  The  sor- 
ghum syrup  is  a  common  article  of  sale  at  the 
stores.  We  saw  sorghum  mills,  generally  home- 
made with  wooden  rollers,  in  almost  every  part 
of  Iowa  visited,  and  very  frequently  in  Illinois. 
In  Iowa,  there  will,  perhaps,  be  not  much  more 
grown  this  year  than  last;  the  opinion  seemed 
to  be  that  it  would  pay  to  grow  enough  for 
home  use,  but  not  to  produce  it  for  export,  ex- 
cept when  done  on  a  large  scale  with  improved 
apparatus.  We  saw  hundreds  of  small  plots, 
of  i  to  1J  acres,  and  occasionally  a  large  field. 
The  growth  and  manufacture  of  sorghum  on  a 
large  scale  is  in  progress  in  several  localities  in 
Illinois  and  Ohio,  and  somewhat  in  Indiana. 

400    ACRES  OF   SORGHUM. 

Near  TJtica,  Illinois,  on  the  Chicago  and  Rock 
Island  Railroad,  we  saw  a  plot  of  about  400 
acres  of  sorghum,  which  is  being  grown  for 
special  experiments,  by  Mr.  Belcher,  the  great 
sujrar  refiner  of  Chicago.  We  called  upon  Mr. 
B.  in  Chicago,  and  learned  from  him  that  he  in- 
tends to  boil  down  the  juice  to  syrup,  and 
then  transport  it  to  his  Refinery  in  the  city,  and 
operate  further  upon  it.  After  learning  his 
plans  and  views  we  concluded  that  his  experi- 
ments will  be  of  special  value  to  the  public,  and 
perhaps  result  in  settling  the  question  whether 
good  grained  sugar  can  be  profitably  produced 
from  sorghum.  Mr.  Belcher  has  refined  many 
thousands  of  gallons  of  the  syrup  during  a  year 
or  two  past,  and  has  contracted  for  a  large 
amount  this  year.  He  promised  to  give  us 
the  results  of  this  year's  operations,  especially  in 
his  experiments  with  the  400  acre  plot.  In  this 
line,  he  is  doing  for  the  public  what  the  Broth- 
ers Gennert  are,  in  the  matter  of  Beet  Sugar. 
i         »»■      — .-« 

For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

The  Autumn  Exhibitions. 

The  time  is  just  at  hand  for  our  great  annual 
agricultural  shows.  We  hail  their  return — not 
because  we  think  them  unmixed  with  evils,  or 
beyond  improvement,  but  because  of  the  many 
good  influences  attending  them.  Their  social 
influence  is  not  to  be  undervalued.  They  bring 
together  old  friends,  and  lead  to  the  forming  of 
new  acquaintances  ;  they  call  out  all  classes  and 
ages  from  different  communities,  and  bring  them 
together  on  terms  of  equality  and  good  feeling. 
We,  hard-working,  care-worn  Americans,  give 
none  too  much  time  to  such  social  gatherings. 
And  then  they  appeal  happily  to  the  public 
taste.  One  can  hardly  spend  a  day  more  profit- 
ably and  enjoyably  than  by  attending  a  well- 
conducted  Fair.  It  would  be  strange  if  he  did 
not  see  or  hear  something  new.  No  gardener 
possesses  all  knowledge  respecting  vegetables, 
fruits  and  flowers.  No  one  farmer  knows  all 
possible  things  concerning  stock,  grains,  grasses, 
farm  implemeuts,  and  the  numerous  processes 
of  husbandry.  Then,  too,  the  ingenuity  of  the 
ladies  is  always  bringing  out  some  new  display 
of  handy-work  which  attracts  large  admiration. 
And,  beside  these,  there  are  numerous  articles 
of  the  fancy  sort,  which  please  and  instruct 
beholders.  We  are  not  altogether  inexperienced 
in  Fairs,  yet  we  never  attend  one  without  learn- 
ing something  new.    And  we  always  see  young 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


271 


and  uninformed  persons  fairly  filled  with  sur- 
prise at  what  they  behold.  Many  a  gardener, 
wise  in  his  own  conceit,  has  had  his  eyes  opened 
to  the  difference  between  poor  vegetablea,  ap- 
ples, pears,  plums,  cherries,  etc.,  and  good  ones. 
Many  a  man,  who  had  thought  the  Fox  grape 
the  best  of  all  grapes,  or  at  least  good  enough, 
lias  got  a  new  idea  or  two  on  tasting  the  Dela- 
ware, Diana,  etc.  And  these  men  go  home 
with  new  impulses,  resolved  to  adopt  and  rea- 
lize their  new  ideas  in  their  own  practice. 

There  is,  however,  room  for  improvement  in 
our  Fairs.  Would  it  not  be  well  to  discourage 
more  and  more  the  accompanying  shows  of 
three-legged  calves,  double-headed  sheep,  learn- 
ed bears  and  monkeys,  and  manifold  monstros- 
ities and  humbugs?  Female  equestrianism  is 
no  proper  part  of  an  agricultural  exhibition. 
Might  not  some  further  means  be  used  to  con- 
vey useful  information  to  those  seeking  it  ?  If 
fine-looking  fruit  garnishes  the  tables,  why  not 
let  us  know  something  of  its  quality  ?  Aud  if 
any  one  wishes,  why  not  let  him  know  some- 
thing as  to  the  mode  of  pruning  and  training, 
the  fertilizers  used,  etc.,  etc.?  Perhaps  an  after- 
noon or  evening  might  be  set  apart  for  answer- 
ing all  such  questions  and  giving  other  infor- 
mation. This  would  send  the  people  home  in- 
structed and  pleased.  The  practice  sometimes 
adopted  of  devoting  an  evening  to  discussion  of 
practical  topics,  is  highly  commendable.  We 
should  have  some  simple  plan  for  communi- 
cating information  to  the  uninformed.  The 
practice  of  awarding  premiums  for  the  best- 
managed  farm  or  garden,  or  fruit  orchard,  for 
the  best  written  essays  on  practical  topics,  for 
the  best  new  seedling  of  any  fruit,  are  all  move- 
ments ill  the  right  direction,  and  might  well  be 
adopted  by  all  such  societies.  Ruealist. 
»-. »■«    — »-» 

Various  Humbugs. 

It  is  a  thankless  task  to  fight  humbug  in  its 
various  phases.  No  sooner  is  it  killed  in  one 
form,  than  it  rises  in  another  guise  more  specious 
than  before. — One  theory  which  quack  doctors 
most  make  use  of  is,  that  all  diseases  arise  from 
impurity  of  the  blood — if  we  can  only  purify 
the  blood,  all  diseases  will  disappear.  This  is 
beautiful  in  theory,  and  takes  readily  with 
the  ignorant  and  easily  gullible.  The  only 
objection  to  it  is,  that  it  has  not  the  least  foun- 
dation in  fact.  If  any  man,  whether  calling  him- 
self a  physician  or  not,  talks  about  purifying  the 
blood,  it  is  safe  to  set  him  down  as  a  humbug  of 
the  rankest  kind.  Some  weeks  ago  we  saw  a 
long  article  in  the  N.  Y.  Tribune,  recommend- 
ing the  root  of  Veronica  quinquefolia,  as  a  grand 
panacea  for  scrofula  in  all  its  forms.  We  felt 
grieved  to  see  such  a  quackish  article  in  so  wide- 
ly circulated  a  paper,  but  let  it  pass  unno- 
ticed. Now  that  we  see  in  our  esteemed  cotem- 
porary,  the  Rural  New-Yorker,  another  article 
by  the  author  of  the  one  which  appeared  in  the 
Tribune,  we  feel  called  upon  to  expose  the  thing. 
On  reading  these  articles  we,  of  course,  suspect- 
ed that  there  was  a  cat  hidden  under  the  meal, 
and  upon  making  an  inquiry,  we  ascertained 
that  the  writer  of  the  articles  was  selling  the 
root  at  three  dollars  an  ounce,  or  two  ounces  for 
five  dollars.  The  price  of  the  article  in  the 
New-York  drag  and  herb  stores,  is  less  than 
one  dollar  a  pound!  The  editors  of  the 
Tribune  and  Rural  New-Yorker,  have  unwit- 
tingly allowed  the  use  of  their  columns  to  aid  a 
private  and  extortionate  speculation.  It  is  a 
sort  of  spasmodic  revival  of  an  old  thing  which 
has  been  before  the  public  in  one  way  or  anoth- 


er for  the  past  20  years.  The  medicine  in  ques- 
tion is  the  root  of  a  plant,  the  proper  botanical 
name  of  which  is  Veronica  Virginica,  and  has 
been  called  Leptandra  Virginica,  and  Veronica 
quinquefolia.  The  common  name  is  Culver's 
Root,  and  it  is  sometimes  called  Indian  physic. 
Though  not  very  common  around  New- York, 
it  is  abundant  enough  through  the  West. 

Iu  regard  to  the  medicinal  qualities  of  the 
plant,  we  have  only  to  say,  that  it  is  much  used 
by  the  so-called  "  herb  doctors,"  and  it  possesses 
powerful  cathartic  and  emetic  properties.  We 
judge  it  to  be  altogether  too  active  an  agent  to 
be  used  unadvisedly.  If  one  is  ill  enough  to 
require  a  medicine  of  this  kind,  he  is  in  a  con- 
dition to  need  the  advice  of  an  intelligent  phy- 
sician. We  are  decidedly  opposed  to  indiscrim- 
inate dosing,  hence  we  exclude  from  our  col- 
umns all  advertisements  of  patent  or  quack 
medicines,  although  people  who  have  these  to 
sell,  can,  from  the  large  profit  they  make,  afford 
to  offer  very  high  prices   for  advertisements. 

We  find  by  an  occasional  advertisement  in 
some  journals  published  at  distant  points  that 

"Dr.  James,  a  well-known  retired  physician,  discovered, 
while  in  India,  a  sure  remedy  for  Consumption,  Bron- 
chitis, Colds,  etc.  To  help  suffering  humanity  the  recipe 
will  be  sent  for  2  stamps  to  pay  expenses." 

He  may  truthfully  say  he  is  well  known.  His 
plan  of  operations,  and  that  of  many  others  of 
his  class,  have  been  repeatedly  exposed  in  these 
columns  and  elsewhere.  Upon  applying  for 
the  remedy  you  will  receive  a  pamphlet  re- 
cording marvelous  cures,  with  the  information 
that  you  can  best  procure  the  prepared  remedy 
by  forwarding  a  dollar  or  more  to  him,  or  his 
agents,  and  upon  taking  said  remedy  you  will 
discover  that  both  it  and  yourself  have  been 
sold,  and  that  the  advertiser  has  made  all  the 
profits.  A  correspondent  inquires  how  such 
parties  obtain  the  addresses  of  private  individu- 
als at  distant  points,  to  whom  they  mail  their 
circulars,  pamphlets,  etc.  In  various  ways. 
Sometimes  by  means  of  the  postmasters ;  but 
usually  from  parties  that  make  a  business  of 
collecting  names  by  agents  in  the  various 
towns.  For  a  consideration,  these  parties  will 
address  circulars  to  any  part  of  the  country. 

One  of  the  most  prevalent  methods  of  swind- 
ling now  in  vogue,  is  seen  in  the  following  ad- 
vertisement which  with  others  of  the  same  im- 
port, has  recently  appeared  in  some  City  papers. 

"  The  undersigned  will  for  one  dollar  send  private  in- 
structions to  any  party,  how  he  may  escape  the  draft 
without  risk,  at  a  cost  of  only  37  cents." 

From  appearances,  this  advertiser  will  reap 
quite  a  harvest  from  the  cowardly  renegades 
who  are  willing  to  enjoy  the  benefits  of  a  good 
government,  and  are  unwilling  to  give  their 
services  for  its  maintenance.  Perhaps  it  is  as 
well  to  allow  such  to  send  their  dollar  and  find 
that  their  pusillanimity  costs  more  than  courage 
would  do.  We  have  little  sympathy  for  them, 
but  we  are  not  willing  that  scoundrels  should 
fatten  even  at  their  expense,  and  therefore  give 
notice  that  any  party  advertising  that  he  can 
give  exemption  from  military  liability  by  any 
device,  by  false  certificate  of  physical  weakness 
or  otherwise,  is  a  swindler.  We  would  also 
hint  to  the  said  advertisers,  that  the  Provost  Mar- 
shal is  on  the  track  of  some  of  them,  and  that 
they  are  liable  to  a  draft  which  will  entail  hard- 
er service  than  even  the  military  are  usually 
called  upon  to  perform.  The  penalty  for  inter- 
fering with,  or  in  any  way  discouraging  the  pro- 
curement of  men  for  the  army,  is,  as  it  should 
be,  proportioned  to  the  enormity  of  the  offence. 

There  are  a  few  distinguishing  marks  by 
which  one  may,  with  great  certainty,  distinguish 


between  legitimate  advertisements  of  bona  fide 
concerns,  and  the  schemes  of  plundering  swind- 
lers. When  a  "secret"  of  any  kind  is  adver- 
tised, look  out  for  humbug.  Honest  men  are 
willing  at  the  first  to  make  known  the  nature  of 
the  articles  they  offer  for  sale.  The  old  adage 
"  Never  buy  a  pig  in  a  bag,"  applies  with  pecu- 
liar force  to  such  cases.  Advertisements  that 
promise  more  than  a  dollar's  worth  for  a  dollar, 
that  offer  to  ensure  a  fortune  or  a  good  living 
with  little  or  no  capital,  and  without  much  la- 
bor, are  traps  for  the  unwary.  Finally  the 
whole  class  of  advertising  physicians  who  per- 
form wondrous  cures  on  paper,  are  men  who 
seek  to  gain  a  living  by  duping  the  credulous. 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Country  Cemeteries— Good  Hints. 

Some  time  ago  I  was  riding  to  a  village  in 
one  of  the  Western  States,  and  had  my  attention 
called  to  the  cemetery  just  outside  the  village, 
by  the  exclamation :  "  That's  where  they  plant 
'em."  Indeed,  from  the  cemetery  and  its  sur- 
roundings, the  remark  did  not  shock  me.  A 
desolate,  sandy  knoll  had  been  chosen  as  the 
last  resting  place  of  those  who  had  lived  in  the 
village.  Its  scanty  growth  was  cut  off,  and  the 
stumps  stood  more  numerous  than  the  grave 
stones ;  and  to  crown  all,  it  was  surrounded  by 
a  wooden  fence,  painted  bright  red.  "That's 
where  they  plant  those  whom  they  expect  to 
bloom  in  immortality,"  said  I  to  myself.  My 
mind  wandered  to  the  quiet  beauty  of  Mount 
Auburn,  Swan  Point,  and  Laurel  Hill,  and  to 
the  charming  and  commanding  views  of  Green- 
wood, and  I  thought  that  we  of  the  cities 
"  planted "  our  dead  in  more  attractive  spots. 
Having  travelled  largely  through  the  country,  I 
have  been  exceedingly  pained  at  the  general 
desolateness  of  the  village  cemeteries.  Why  is 
it  not  just  as  easy  to  choose  for  them  a  pleasant 
place,  as  a  cheerless  one?  It  is  a  melancholy 
satisfaction  to  most  of  us,  to  visit  the  last  rest- 
ing place  of  those  who  were  dear  to  us  in  life, 
and,  though  it  will  make  little  difference  to  those 
who  lie  there,  it  is  vastly  to  the  comfort  of  sur- 
viving friends  that  they  can  go  to  a  pleasant 
and  attractive  place  to  see  all  that  earth  has  left 
of  those  dear  to  them.  To  sensitive  minds  it  is 
a  horrible  thought  that  their  bodies  shall  be 
laid  in  the  bleak  cold  grave-yard ;  if  they  could 
know  that  they  should  be  buried  in  the  shade 
of  trees,  and  that  flowers  would  bloom  around 
and  birds  sing  above  their  graves,  death  would 
lose  many  of  its  terrors.  I  am  far  from  justi- 
fying this  feeling,  but  we  know  that  it  exists  to 
a  great  extent.  I  would,  through  the  widely  cir- 
culated Agriculturist,  call  upon  the  influential 
men  in  every  town  and  village,  to  see  that  their 
cemetery  is  made  an  attractive  place — one  where 
the  living  can  cheerfully  hold  silent  communion 
with  the  departed,  a  place  which  will  show  to 
strangers  that  the  dead  are  not  merely  "  plant- 
ed." A  few  people  of  taste  and  energy  can  in 
any  community  effect  a  reform  in  this  matter. 
The  most  beautiful  cemetery  that  I  know  of 
owes  its  existence  to  my  old  schoolmaster. 
There  is  one  thing  which  I  would  have  changed 
in  all  cemeteries ;  that  is  the  placing  of  fences 
around  private  lots.  It  breaks  up  the  general 
design,  and  gives  a  formal  and  gloomy  aspect 
which  should  be  avoided.  Death  levels  all 
distinctions,  and  if  it  is  necessary  to  designate 
between  mine  and  thine,  even  in  the  grave- 
yard, it  can  be  done  by  small  corner  stones 
which  will  not  obtrude  themselves  unpleasant- 
ly upon  the  visitor.  T.  G. 


272 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[September, 


^6* 


WEEPING   BEECH  —  AT  FLUSHING,  N.  Y. 

Sketched  and  Engraved  for  the  American  Agriculturist. 


The  Ornamental  Varieties  of  the  Beech. 

The  European  and  our  native  Beech  are  so 
nearly  alike,  that  some  botanists  have  consider- 
ed them  as  the  same  species.  There  is  a  slight, 
difference  in  the  shape  of  the  buds  and  leaves, 
but  they  so  much  resemble  one  another  in  form 
and  habit,  that  for  the  purposes  of  planting  as 
shade  trees,  they  may  be  considered  as  identical. 
We  have  often  wondered  why  the  beech  was 
so  much  neglected  in  tree  planting.  It  may  not 
have  the  grace  of  some  other  trees,  but  for  af- 
fording a  perfect  shade,  no  tree  is  equal  to  it. 
Another  thing  which  commends  it,  is  its  clean- 
liness and  general  freedom  from  the  attacks  of 
insects  ;  and  besides,  its  foliage  remains  in  Au- 
tumn much 

later     than  ^ 

that of other 
decid  uous 
trees.  Many 
of  our  read- 
ers will  re- 
collect some 
partic  u  1  a  r 
beech  tree 
whose  cool 
shade  was 
a  favorite 
retreat  in 
their  boy- 
hood, and 
where  en- 
joying the 
shelter  that  Fig.  2. -cut-leaved  beech. 

it  afforded,  they  whiled  away  the  sultry  hours  of 
a  summer's  afternoon  in  carving  some  favorite 
name  upon  the  bark,  which  offers  a  tempting 
surface  to  the  knife.  The  European  Beech  has 
made  several  accidental  sports  which  have  been 
propagated  by  grafting,  and  are  now  very  gen- 
erally distributed.  One  of  the  oldest  of  these 
is  the  purple  beech,  the  original  tree  of  which 


was  discovered  in  Germany  in  the  last  century. 
The  young  leaves  are  of  a  cherry  red,  but  as 
they  grow  older,  they  become  darker,  and  event- 
ually are  of  so  deep  a  purple  as  to  give  the 
tree,  among  the  French,  the  name  of  black 
beech.  The  purple  beech  in  Spring  is  a  very 
attractive  object;  the  young  leaves  when  agi- 
tated by  the  wind,  during  bright  sunshine,  make 
such  a  brilliant  show  as  to  give  the  tree  the  ap- 
pearance of  being  on  fire.  The  seeds  of  the 
purple  beech  have  produced  many  colored  va- 
rieties; the  best  known  of  these  is  the  Copper 
beech,  which  has  lighter  colored  foliage  than  its 
parent.  Both  these  sorts  are  desirable  in  a  col- 
lection of  ornamental  trees. 

Another  and  very  interesting  variety  of  the 
beech  is  the  cut-leaved  or  the  fern-leaved,  in 
which  the  foliage  is  variously  divided  and  in 
some  forms  even  shredded.  Figure  2  shows 
one  form,  but  there  are  others  in  which  the  di- 
visions are  much  finer.  This  is  a  most  grace- 
ful foliage,  and  the  tree  is  worthy  of  being 
planted  much  more  frequently  than  it  is.  Mr. 
Sargent,  the  well-known  writer  on  landscape 
gardening,  says,  if  he  could  have  but  six  orna- 
mental trees,  the  fern-leaved  beech  would  be 
among  the  first  he  would  choose. — Many  forest 
trees  have  produced  seedlings,  the  branches  of 
which  have  a  drooping  or  pendulous  form ; 
these  are  cornmonly  called  "weeping  "  trees,  and 
we  have  weeping  varieties  of  the  elm,  ash,  birch, 
beech,  and  many  other  trees.  None  of  these 
weeping  trees  are  more  beautiful  than  a  well 
grown  Weeping  Beech.  The  original  tree  was 
found  in  the  grounds  of  an  English  Park,  and  it 
has  been  propagated  by  grafting,  and  is  now  not 
very  rare  in  this  country,  though  not  nearly  as 
well-known  as  it  should  be.  The  finest  speci- 
men within  our  knowledge  is  in  the  grounds  of 
Messrs.  Parsons  &  Co.,  at  Flushing,  N.  Y. 
Willi  the  hope  of  bringing  this  most  graceful 
tree  to  the  notice  of  those  about  to  plant  for 
ornament,  we  Have  had  the  specimen   drawn 


and  engraved.  [The  artist  sent  specially  to 
make  the  sketch  for  ns,  has  failed  to  represent 
the  real  beauty  of  the  tree ;  it  has  a  heavyi 
thick,  dark  foliage,  and  every  branch  and  leaf 
should  have  been  represented  as  pendulous- 
hanging  almost  perpendicularly  downward— 
the  upper  branches  less  spreading,  and  turning 
in  a  short  curve,  and  the  lower  ones  thickly 
massed,  and  gracefully  drooping  their  ends 
to  the  earth.]  Always  attractive,  it  is  toward 
sunset  that  this  tree  shows  its  beauty  most 
strikingly ;  then  the  pendulous  branches  throw 
deep  shadows,  and  the  whole  tree  is  a  picture  of 
light  and  shade  worthy  of  the  study  of  an  artist. 
For  small  places  and  for  situatious  near  the 
house,  no  tree  presents  more  desirable  qualities 
than  the  weeping  beech. 


Tall  Trees— The  Douglass  Fir. 


Many  of  our  readers  will  remember  an  ac- 
count published  in  the  Agriculturist  some  tiino 
since,  of  an  enormous  flagstaff  sent  to  England 
from  Oregon.     The  gentleman  who  presented 
it  gives  the  following  interesting    particulars 
concerning  the  growth  of  trees  in  that  State, 
which  we  find  in  the  London  Agr.  Gazette: 
"  Douglas  Fir,  better  known  in  this  part  of 
the  world  as  Oregon  Yellow  Pine,  is  generally 
from  200  to  300  feet  high,  frequently  150  to  the 
first  branch ;  has  a  corrugated  bark  on  a  full- 
grown  tree,  6  or  7  inches  thick  ;  sapwood,  2  to 
3  inches  thick  ;  roots  spread  over  a  large  extent 
of  ground,  but  no  tap  root,   or  root  growing 
from  the  center  downward.     The  largest  tree 
that  I  have  had  cut,  was  one  measuring  9  feet  at 
the  but,  including  the  bark,  and  306  feet  from 
the   but  to  the  top;  it  squared,  clear  of  sap,  at 
45  feet  from   but,  40  inches  ;  it  was  cut  at  130 
feet,  this  being  the  proportion  of  length  to  di 
ameter  of  a  mast,  for  which  purpose  I  sent  it 
to  England  in  1858.    One  great  advantage  the 
Douglas  Pine  (generally  so  called  in  England), 
has  over  all  other  trees,  is  the  very  little  taper 
I  have  seen  trees  in  which  at  first  you  could  not 
tell  the  top  from  the  but — I  mean  trees  cut  for 
masts  of  100  to  130  feet  long.    For  all  purposes 
this  is  an  advantage,  inasmuch  as  the  tree  con- 
tains more  timber,  but  for  ship  masts  this  is  an 
invaluable  quality.     I  have  recently  built  a  ves- 
sel of  200  tons,  and  no  other  timber  but  Doug- 
las Pine  was  used  in  her  construction. 

"  Spruce  is  plentiful,  but  less  abundant  than 
Douglas  Pine ;  it  is  closer  grained,  and  I  think 
better  timber  than  the  same  wood  of  Canada; 
grows  to  about  200  feet  high,  and  fully  as  great 
diameter  as  the  Douglas  Pine ;  the  roots  furnish 
knees  for  ship-building  purposes,  which  I 
consider  equal  to  Oak. 

"  Hemlock  is  not  held  in  much  repute  here. 
I  have  only  seen  it  used  for  wharf  piles.  It  is 
plentiful  and  grows  to  a  hight  of  150  to  200  feet. 
"White  Pine  is  very  scarce  here,  consequent- 
ly very  valuable,  as  it  is  almost  the  only  wood 
we  have  fit  for  joiners'  fine  purposes.  It  grows 
about  200  feet  high ;  40  inches  is  a  large  tree. 

"Red  Cedar  has  generally  a  short  trunk,  with 
large  spreading  branches.  When  it  can  be  found 
clear  of  knots,  it  is  as  valuable  as  White  Pine. 
The  Indians  make  their  canoes  from  this  tree, 
hollowing  it  out ;  many  of  them  convey  50  to 
00  men,  and  the  most  perfect  models  of  the  clip- 
per I  have  seen.  I  consider  the  Cedar  the  most 
ornamental  tree  I  have  met  with.  It  is  gener- 
ally found  near  the  water,  or,  I  should  rather 
say,  grows  larger  near  the  water,  and  on  swampy 
ground ;  but  I  have  found  it  in  the  interior  of 
this  island,  near  the  lakes  on  the  side  of  the  ris- 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


273 


ing  ground.  Here  it  grows  tall  like  the  White 
Pine,  aud  seldom  exceeds  30  inches  in  diameter, 
6)  to  tiO  feet  clear  of  knots,  aud  not  hollow,  as 
generally  is  the  larger  short-trunkcd  tree  of  the 
tame  name." 

■  i m9^  '  » 

Half  Hardy  Trees  and  Shrubs. 


Were  we  to  speak  our  whole  mind  on  the 
subject,  we  should  confess  that  we  grow  more 
and  more  inclined  to  discard  the  tender  things, 
and  to  plant  only  such  as  are  as  tough  as  oaks 
or  burdocks.  Yet,  on  the  whole,  we  must  say, 
not  so  ;  for  if  we  did,  we  should  exclude  many 
very  fine  trees  and  plants,  aud  lose  much  of 
the  variety  which  now  gives  our  grounds  a  great 
charm.      How,  then,  to  manage  them  well  ? 

The  notion  prevails  with  many,  that  such 
vegetation  should  be  planted  in  sheltered  spots, 
(say  on  the  south  side  of  buildings,  high  fences, 
etc.)  and  in  rich  soils.  But  this  is  a  great  mis- 
take. "When  so  planted,  the  wood  is  stimulated 
into  a  rapid  and  a  late  growth,  which  can  not 
ripen  up  hard  and  dry  before  the  Winter  sets 
in.  The  consequence  is  that  this  soft,  sappy 
wood  is  frozen  to  death.  Rather,  choose  an  open, 
bree/.y  aspect,  exposed  to  the  North  and  West. 

The  soil  should  not,  indeed,  be  so  barren  that 
the  tree  or  bush  will  be  kept  in  a  feeble,  half- 
starved  condition.  If  so,  the  Winter  will  destroy 
it,  of  course.  Nor  should  it  be  deep  aud  rich, 
for  this  will  induce  too  rampant  a  growth.  Let 
it  be  of  moderate  fertility,  and  dry,  rather  than 
wet.  And,  as  we  would  not  choose  the  top  of 
a  bleak  hill,  so  we  would  avoid  a  low,  moist 
valley.  By  a  little  considerate  management  of 
this  sort,  we  shall  be  likely  to  get  a  moderate 
and  healthy  growth  of  plump,  short-jointed 
limbs,  which  will  be  quite  sure  to  ripen  off  well 
before  hard  frost. 

If,  on  the  setting  in  of  December,  we  can  give 
our  half-hardies  a  little  protection  on  every  side, 
using,  perhaps,  a  few  evergreen  boughs,  it  will 
be  a  good  thing.  Drive  stakes  on  every  side 
firmly  into  the  ground,  and  then  tie  the  boughs 
to  these.  This  will  make  a  nice  little  local 
climate,  for  which  the  pet  will  thank  you.  A 
friend  of  ours  in  central  New-York  succeeds 
well  with  the  Rhododendron  Catawbien-sis,  by  plant- 
ing a  circle  of  white  pines  (any  evergreen  would 
do  just  as  well)  and  setting  his  plants  in  groups 
in  the  centre.  This  screens  them  alike  from  sun 
and  cold  winds.  Without  some  such  screen, 
they  are  likely  to  suffer   there. 


Our  Neglected  Native  Forest  Trees. 

An  experienced  and  observing  botanist  once 
made  the  remark  in  our  presence,  that  there 
was  not  a  single  American  tree  in  any  park  or 
public  square  in  the  City  of  New- York.  Since 
the  creation  of  the  Central  Park,  this  remark 
does  not  hold  true,  but  it  expresses  the  fact  as 
respects  all  the  other  parks  in  New- York,  and 
may  be  extended  to  apply  to  most  of  the  private 
grounds  within  our  knowledge.  In  planting- 
trees  we  have  run  too  much  after  those  of  for- 
eigu  origin,  to  the  neglect  of  American  trees. 
AVhile  we  will  not  deny  that  many  of  our  im- 
ported species  are  every  way  desirable,  we  at 
the  same  time  maintain  that  we  have  those  of 
American  origin  which  are  equally  as  good. 
Our  people  who  plant  trees,  only  know  that  they 
want  rapidly  growing  ones,  which  will  make  a 
shade  as  soon  as  possible,  hence  they  generally 
state  the  number  of  trees  they  require,  and  leave 
the  selection  to  the  nurseryman,  who,  naturally 


enough,  supplies  those  which  cost  him  the  least 
trouble  to  produce,  and  of  which  he  has  an 
abundant  stock.  In  this  way  only  can  we  ac- 
count for  tlie  constant  sameness  in  the  kinds 
of  trees,  whether  in  our  streets,  public  parks, 
or  private  grounds.  Our  American  trees  are 
highly  prized  in  Europe:  we  have  a  friend  who 
annually  sends  hundreds  of  pounds  of  the  seeds 
of  our  common  trees  to  the  nurseries  of  France. 
The  seeds  of  our  native  trees  are  generally  much 
more  difficult  to  find  in  commerce  than  are  those 
of  European  trees,  aud  this  may  be  another  rea- 
son why  our  nurserymen  raise  so  much  more 
foreign  stock.  Some  try  our  native  forest  trees 
by  taking  seedlings  from  the  woods  and  trans- 
planting them  to  their  grounds.  This  method 
is  sometimes  successful,  but  more  frequently 
fails.     The  one  making  th"  attempt  is  disgusted 


LEAF  OP  LIQUIDAJSIBAIt. 

at  the  failure,  and  sends  to  the  nursery  for  for- 
eign trees,  which  grow  well,  and  he  comes  to 
the  conclusion  that  wild  trees  can  not  be  culti- 
vated. Now  if  the  American  trees  had  been 
grown  from  the  seed  and  treated  in  the  same 
way  as  the  exotic  ones,  i.e.,  transplanted  sever- 
al times,  he  would  have  had  no  difticulty. 
Herein  consists  the  main  difference  between 
trees  taken  from  the  woods,  aud  those  from  the 
nursery.  In  one  case  they  have  some  large  main 
roots  aud  few  fibrous  ones,  while  in  the  other 
case,  the  trees  have  been  transplanted  several 
times  and  have  thrown  out  numerous  small 
roots.  In  one  case  the  removal  is  a  great  shock 
to  the  tree,  and  in  the  other,  it  is  prepared  for, 
and  is  but  little  affected  by  it.  Most  persons 
would  be  astonished  to  see  how  few  years  it 
takes  to  raise  a  good  sized  forest  tree  from  the 
seed.  Those  who  have  large  places  should  al- 
ways have  a  small  nursery  of  forest  trees  from 
which  to  draw  as  the  occasion  may  demand. 
Seeds  may  either  be  planted  as  soon  as  they  fall, 
or  be  kept  through  the  winter  in  boxes  of  earth, 
aud  then  sown.  The  seedlings  generally  need 
a  partial  shading  during  the  nrst  year  of  then 
growth,  and  after  they  have  grown  two  years  in 
the  seed-bed,  they  may  be  transferred  to  nur- 
sery rows,  and  when  they  begin  to  crowd  one 
another,  they  should  be  again  transplanted  to 
other  rows.  Treated  in  this  way,  most  of  oUr 
forest  trees  will  form  fibrous  roots  and  may  be 
used  for  planting  with  probability  of  success. 
Among  the  less  cultivated  of  our  native  trees, 
aud  indeed  but  little  known  in  the  wild  state, 
is  the  Sweet  Gum,  Liquidambar  styracijiua. 
Downing,  who  had  such  a  correct  eye  for  the 
beautiful  says :  "  We  hardly  know  a  more  beau- 
tiful tree  thau  the  Liquidambar  in  every  stage 
of  its  growth,  and  during  every  season  of  the 


year.  Its  outline  is  not  picturesque  or  graceful, 
but  simply  beautiful,  more  approaching  that  of 
the  maple  than  any  other ;  it  is,  therefore,  a 
highly  pleasing,  round-headed  or  tapering  tree, 
which  unites  and  harmonizes  well  with  almost 
any  others  in  composition  ;  but  the  chief  beau- 
ty lies  in  the  foliage.  During  the  whole  of  the 
summer  months  it  preserves,  unsoiled,  that  dark 
glossy  freshness  which  is  so  delightful  to  the 
eye;  while  the  singular,  regularly  palmate  form 
of  the  leaves,  readily  distinguishes  it  from  the 
common  trees  of  a  plantation.  But  in  Autumn 
it  assumes  its  gayest  livery,  and  is  decked  in 
colors  almost  too  bright  and  vivid  for  foliage, 
forming  one  of  the  most  brilliant  objects  of 
American  scenery  at  that  period  of  the  year. 
The  prevailing  tint  of  the  foliage  is  then  a 
deep  purplish  red,  unlike  any  symptom  of  de- 
cay, and  quite  as  rich  as  is  commonly  seen  in 
the  darker  blossoms  of  a  Dutch  parterre.  This 
is  sometimes  varied  by  a  shade  deeper  or  lighter, 
and  occasionally  an  orange  tint  is  assumed. 
When  planted  in  the  neighborhood  of  our  fine 
maples,  ashes,  and  other  trees  remarkable  for 
their  autumnal  coloring,  the  effect,  in  a  warm, 
dry  autumn,  is  almost  magical.  Whoever  has 
travelled  through  what  are  called  the  pine  bar- 
rens of  New-Jersey  in  such  a  season,  must  have 
beeu  struck  with  the  gay  tints  of  the  number- 
less forest  trees,  which  line  the  roads  through 
those  sandy  plains,  and  with  the  conspicuous 
beauty  of  the  Sweet  gum,  or  Liquidambar." 
The  bark  of  this  tree  when  full  grown,  or 
nearly  so,  is  exceedingly  rough  and  furrowed, 
like  the  oak.  The  wood  is  fine-grained,  and 
takes  a  good  polish  in  cabinet  work,  though  it 
is  not  so  durable,  nor  so  much  esteemed  for 
such  purposes,  as  that  of  the  Black  walnut  and 
some  other  native  trees.  The  average  height  of 
full  grown  trees  is  about  35  or  40  feet.  The  en- 
graving gives  the  peculiar  form  of  the  leaves. 
An  abundance  of  seeds  are  produced,  though 
but  a  small  portion  of  them  are  perfect.  It  is 
readily  raised  from  the  seed,  which  may  be  had 
at  the  large  seed  stores,  and  trees  suitable  for 
planting  may  be  procured  at  the  nurseries. 

■•-« —    ■  >  ■     — i  » 

Experience  with  Scale  Lice. 


O.  F.  Meyer,  Rock  Co.,  Wis.,  writes  as  fol- 
lows :  "  In  June  Agriculturist  you  ask  for  infor- 
mation about  the  destruction  of  the  bark-louse 
on  apple  trees,  and  here  is  my  experiment  and 
success.  Two  years  ago  I  moved  into  my  place, 
which  I  had  formerly  occupied  and  then  let  out. 
I  had  planted,  when  I  first  lived  there,  eight  ap- 
ple trees,  one  15  years  old,  and  some  wild  crab 
apples  were  on  the  ground,  also  a  few  plum 
trees.  During  the  time  I  let  the  place  out,  every- 
thing was  neglected  ;  the  weeds  were  almost  as 
high  as  the  young  trees.  My  first  work  was  to 
get  rid  of  the  weeds,  and  then  I  discovered  that 
all  the  trees,  wild  and  cultivated,  were  literally 
covered  with  the  scale  louse,  and  the  same  was 
the  case  with  the  currant  bushes.  My  neighbors 
said,  I  could  not  do  anything  with  the  trees,  but 
to  cut  them  down,  but  I  thought  it  worth  try- 
ing to  save  them.  In  February  I  scraped  the 
trunks  and  twigs  of  the  trees  as  far  as  I  could 
reach  them ;  in  April,  I  washed  them  with  soft 
soap,  ashes,  and  a  little  salt,  which  I  applied 
pretty  thoroughly  with  a  brush.  This  I  repeat- 
ed in  June,  aud  pruned  the  wild  apple  trees  at 
the  same  time.  This  Spring  the  same  process 
was  gone  through  with,  and  now  one  must  look 
pretty  sharp  to  discover  a  louse. 

It  is  not  strange  that  owners  of  orchards  com- 
plain about  this  insect  at  the  West.     Most  men 


274 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[September, 


plant  the  trees  and  think  that  sufficient.  I  see 
Lere  many  a  fine  apple  tree  which  would  yield 
a  handsome  profit  to  the  owner,  if  it  were  only 
treated  right.  There  is  no  question  that  grapes 
and  other  fruit  will  grow  finely  at  the  West, 
if  proper  attention   and  care  he  given  them." 

A  Horticultural  Exhibition. 


We  would  remind  all  growers  of  fruits,  flow- 
ers, and  vegetables,  within  reach  of  New-York 
City,  that  there  will  be  an  exhibition  of  horti- 
cultural products  during  the  last  week  of  the 
fair  of  the  American  Institute.  The  articles  for 
the  horticultural  exhibition  must  be  at  the 
Academy  of  Music,  14th-street,  before  noon  of 
Wednesday,  Sept  10th.  Liberal  premiums  are 
offered  and  we  trust  that  there  will  be  a  general 
display.  It  is  some  years  since  we  have  had 
an  exhibition  that  at  all  represented  the  horti- 
cultural capabilities  of  New-York  and  its  neigh- 
borhood. We  hope  that  our  cultivators  will 
this  time  appear  not  only  as  spectators,  but  as 
exhibitors.  There  are  some  things  in  the  pre- 
mium list  which  we  would  like  to  see  altered. 
Thus  low  pretuiems  are  given  for  Quinces  and 
Cranberries — fruits  that  need  especial  encourage- 
ment—nor do  we  think  sufficient  attention  has 
been  paid  to  garden  vegetables.  Squashes  and 
Pumpkins,  which  are  produced  with  compar- 
ative ease,  have  special  premiums,  while  Cauli- 
flower, Egg  plant,  Endive  and  other  things, 
Which  require  the  best  skill  of  the  gardener, 
are  not  noticed  in  the  prize  list.  We  do  not 
mention  these  things  in  a  fault  finding  spirit, 
but  as  hints  to  be  considered  another  year. 

■»-« ■!■  I     i 

For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

New    Lawns. 


The  soil  should  be  made  deep  at  the  outset. 
If  the  land  is  poor,  a  coat  of  old  manure  should 
be  turned  under.     This  will  prevent  the  drying 
up  and  burning  out  of  the  grasses  in  mid  sum- 
mer, as  it  will  cause  the  roots  to  strike  deep  for 
nourishment,  and  will  furnish  them  the  food 
they  need.     After  the  plowing,  harrow  smooth, 
sow  the  seed,  brush  it  in,  and  afterward  roll  it. 
Cultivators  are   not  perfectly  agreed  as  to  the 
best  grasses  for  lawns.    Some  advise  the  sowing 
of  only  one  kind  of  seed  ;  others  favor  several. 
In  some  of  the  finest  bits  of  natural  lawn  which 
we  have  noticed  by  the  road-side,  we  have 
counted  several  sorts.    Kentucky  Blue  Grass  is 
a  favorite  in  some  quarters ;  others  prefer  Red 
Top.    In  the  writer's  experience  both  have  done 
well ;  the  Red   Top  was  mixed  with   a  little 
sweet  scented  vernal  grass   and  white  clover. 
-     It  is  a  question  with  some  whether  the  grass 
should  be  sowed  by  itself,  or  with  some  other 
crop,  as  oats,  barley,  or  rye.     For  lawns  of  ordi- 
nary size,  we  would    recommend  to  sow  the 
grass  by  itself,  and  to  sow  liberally  enough  to 
cover  the  land  at  once  with  grass.     It  is  also  a 
question  whether  lawns  should  be  mowed  the 
first  season.     English  cultivators  say  Yes.    This 
practice  may  answer  well  for  the  British  cli- 
mate, but  not  so  well  for  ours.    We  have  seen 
many  a  new  lawn  injured  by  too  early  cutting. 
To  stand  well,  grass  needs  time  to  form  large, 
vigorous  roots,  and  to  strike  them  well  into  the 
earth,  but  this  they  can  not  do  if  the  tops  are 
cut  off  in  mid-summer.     All  that  is  taken  from 
the  top   is  so  much   lost  to  the  roots.     In  the 
second  and   following  years,  when  the  roots 
become  strong  and  well  established,  the  mow- 
ing may  be  frequent.     The  first  year,  we  would 


simply  pull  out  weeds,  and  leave  the  grass  to 
rot  on  the  surface  in  Pall  and  Winter.        * 

[Our  own  preference  is  for  one  kind  of  grass, 
as  this  gives  a  uniform  growth.  After  trying 
several  kinds,  successively,  and  in  a  mixture, 
we  have  settled  upon  the  Kentucky  Blue  Grass 
as  just  the  thing  for  our  locality.  It  is  perfectly 
hardy,  and  though  starting  slow  the  first  season, 
it  eventually  makes  a  firm,  compact,  even,  vel- 
vety sod,  that  will  endure  hard  freezing  even 
under  water.  AVe  sow  the  seed  very  thickly  to 
start  with — at  least  3  bushels  to  the  acre. — Ed.] 


everywhere  in  grape  culture,  gives  additional 
importance  to  the  introduction  of  this  grape, 
and  should  it  prove  all  we  hope,  Dr.  Ilall  will 
have  rendered  a  great  service  to  his  country." 


The  Yeddo  Grape. 

There  has  been  so  much  interest  felt  in  this 
grape  and  its  introduction  to  this  country  has 
been  so  much  desired,  that  a  description  of  its 
habit  and  growth  will  doubtless  interest  our 
readers.  The  first  account  we  have  of  it,  is 
from  the  pen  of  Robert  Fortune,  the  well 
known  Chinese  traveller,  and  was  published  in 
the  Gardener's  Chronicle  for  April  27,  1861.  He 
says  :  "The  vine  of  this  district,  which  we  may 
as  well  name  at  once  the  "  Yeddo  Vine  "  pro- 
duces a  fruit  of  great  excellence.  The  bunches 
are  medium  sized,  the  berries  are  of  a  brown- 
ish color,  thin-skinned,  and  the  flavor  is  all  that 
can  be  desired.  This  grape  may  be  valued  in 
England,  where  they  have  so  many  fine  kinds, 
and  most  certainly  will  be  highly  prized  in  the 
United  States  of  America.  A  few  years  ago,  I 
was  travelling  from  Malta  to  Grand  Cairo  in 
company  with  Wm.  C.  Bryant,  the  celebrated 
American  Poet,  and  a  genuine  lover  of  horti- 
cultural pursuits.  This  gentlemen  informed  me 
that  owing  to  some  cause,  our  European  vines 
did  not  succeed  much  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Atlantic,  and  suggested  the  importance  of  in- 
troducing varieties  from  China,  where  the  clim- 
ate as  regard  extremes  of  heat  and  cold  is  much 
like  that  of  the  United  States.  I  have  never 
met  with  what  I  consider  a  really  good  variety 
of  grape,  and  therefore  have  not  been  able  to 
act  on  Mr.  Bryant's  suggestion.  At  last,  how- 
ever, we  have  a  subject  for  the  experiment,  and 
I  urged  its  importance  on  Dr.  Hall,  who  is  an 
American  citizen,  and  who  has  already  intro- 
duced a  number  of  plants  to  his  country  from 
China.  He  enters  warmly  into  the  matter,  and 
no  doubt  will  accomplish  the  object  in  view. 
I  therefore  conclude  this  by  giving  notice  to 
your  readers  to  look  out  for  the  arrival  of  the 
"  Yeddo  Vine." 

The  above  is  an  account  given  by  the  cele- 
brated Mr.  Fortune,  a  perfectly  disinterested 
witness.  Knowing  that  Messrs.  Parsons  & 
Co.,  the  well  known  nurserymen  at  Flushing, 
L.  I.,  had  received  from  Dr.  Hall  a  specimen  of 
this  vine,  we  have  requested  them  to  give  us 
their  experience  with  it.  They  write  as  follows : 
"  We  at  once  grafted  it  upon  a  strong  native 
vine,  and  planted  it  in  a  good  soil.  During  the 
last  Winter  it  was  covered  with  straw,  and  up  to 
this  time,  its  growth  is  very  remarkable,  and 
scarcely  surpassed  by  any  of  the  native  sorts. 
The  main  stem  is  as  thick  as  a  man's  finger  and 
from  it  proceed  four  strong  branches,  seven  and 
eight  feetlong.  By  Autumn  they  will  probably 
be  twelve  or  fifteen  feet.  The  leaves  resemble 
those  of  the  Delaware,  while  the  stem  is  unlike 
any  other  grape  known.  The  vine  will  be  left 
entirely  exposed  the  coming  winter — it  was  too 
small  to  be  exposed  the  past  winter.  There  is 
every  reason  to  suppose  it  will  be  perfectly 
hardy,  because  nearly  all  the  plants  which  have 
hitherto  been  introduced  from  Japan,  have  prov- 
ed hardy  in  our  climate.    The  interest  now  felt 


Notes  on   Strawberries— Mulch    them. 


While   in  most   locations  the  Triomphe  de 
Gand  sent  out  by  us,  has  proved  an  abundant 
bearer,  we  occasionally  hear  complaints  that  but 
little  fruit  is  produced.     It  would  be  strange  if 
a  strawberry  of  European  origin  should  prove 
to  be  perfectly  adapted  to  every  locality  through- 
out our  extended  country.  Let  any  one  look  over 
the  transactions  of  the  American  Pomological 
Society,  and  he  will  see  that  fruits,  such  as  ap- 
ples, pears,  etc.,  which  stand  high  in  one  region, 
are  unsuccessful  elsewhere,  and  are  condemn- 
ed for  general  culture.     It  is  so  with  strawber- 
ries; their  fruitfulness  is  affected  by  local  influ- 
ences, and  it  is  only  by  experience  that  we  cer- 
tainly can  know  a  variety  will  succeed  in  a  par- 
ticular place.  Horticulture  learns  as  much  from 
failures   as  from  successes.      Witli  the  great 
number  of   fine  sorts  of  strawberries  we  now 
have,  there  is  no  doubt  that  some  good  variety 
may  be  found  which  will  succeed  in  each  local- 
ity.   With  regard  to  the  Triomphe  de  Gand,  we 
believe  it  to  be  the  best  strawberry  for  general 
culture  yet  introduced.     It  may  fail  in  some  lo- 
calities, but  we  have  had  nothing  thus  far  that 
hrts  proved  so  generally  satisfactory.     Some  per- 
sons have  made  a  point  of  the  fact  that  it  is 
condemned  in  Europe.     True,  but  it  is  there  re- 
jected for  the  very  qualities  which  render  it  de- 
sirable here.     It  is  the  only  one  of  the  European 
varieties  which  has  attained  a  general  success 
in  this  country.     On  the  other  hand  our  favor- 
ite kinds,  originating  here,  have  failed  in  Europe. 
With  strawberries,  we  must  judge  as  we  would 
of  other  fruits,  by  their  merits  in  our  own  par- 
ticular region.     We  have  sent  out  the  Triomphe 
de  Gand,  as   the  most  promising  sort  known, 
and  have  seen  no  reason  to  regret  it.     There 
may  be  failures  and  probably  will  be.     Where 
it  does  not  succeed,  the  person  who  really  wish- 
es strawberries,  will  try  other  sorts  until  he  finds 
one  which  will  do  well  with  him.    Many  try  a 
single  kind  and  finding  that  will  not  grow,  give 
up  the  cultivation   altogether.     If  they  would 
only  communicate  the  fact  of  their  failure,  and 
give  the  public  the  result  of  their  experience, 
they  would  do  a  good  service  to  all  in  their  vi- 
cinity.    We  hope  to  make  strawberries  as  com- 
mon in  every  family,  and  as  much  a  matter  of 
course,  as  potatoes,  and  wegive  from  time  to  time 
such  advice  as  our  knowledge  warrants.     Let 
those  who  have  facts,  showing  either  success  or 
failure,  communicate  them  in  order  that  their 
experience  may  benefit  others.   We  commenced 
this  article  for  the  purpose  of  calling  attention  to 
mulching.     There  is  very  often  a  drouth  just 
at  the  time  that  the  strawberry  is  setting  its 
fruit.    In  large  beds  it  is  impracticable  to  water 
them,  and  the  only  way  to  prevent   the  earth 
from  drying  is  by  mulching.     In  the  Fall,  after 
growth  has  ceased,  cover  the  bed  with  straw. 
In  the  Spring  when  the  plants  start,  uncovei 
each  crown,  but  leave  the  straw  in  its  place. 
This  will  keep  the  ground  moist  during  early 
drouths,  and   keep  the  fruit  clean.     After  the 
berries  are  picked,  the  straw  may  be  removed. 

Strawberry  Item. — I.  G.  Hiler  of  Boston, 
Mass.,  in  renewing  his  subscription  for  next 
year,  to  be  sure  of  the  "  Agriculturist  Straw- 
berry," writes:  "  An  article  in  your  paper  three 


1863.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


J75 


years  since  determined  me  to  have  a  bed  of 
strawberries.  I  immediately  set  a  bed  30  feet 
long  by  7  feet  wide,  with  Early  Virginia  Scarlet 
(which  I  consider  a  humbug),  Cutter's  Seedling, 
and  Dunce's  Seedling,  and  kept  them  in  rows, 
with  no  runners.  I  manure  in  early  Spring,  and 
after  the  crop  is  githered,  with  Coe's  Super- 
phosphate. Last  year  I  picked  50  quarts  of 
berries,  and  the  same  this  season,  though  the 
dry  -weather  diminished  my  crop  at  least  one 
half.  I  counted  180  berries  on  a  single  stool 
of  the  Dunce  variety,  and  many  other  plants 
were  equally  loaded." 

Starting  Strawberries  in  Pots. 

—       • 

Strawberry  plants,  if  well  rooted  in  pots  in 
July  or  August,  may  be  put  out  in  beds  any 
time  before  the  ground  freezes  and  produce  a 
fair  crop  the  following  season  ;  the  earlier  they 
are  put  out,  the  better  of  course,  as  it  gives  a 
longer  time  for  the  plants  to  grow,  and  form 
large  crowns,  which  will  throw  out  a  number 
of  fruit  stalks  the  next  season.  One  advantage 
of  setting  out  plants  rooted  in  pots  is,  that  they 
rarely  ever  fail  to  grow,  and  consequently  need 
not  to  be  replanted,  which  involves  considerable 
time  lost  in  the  actual  growth  of  the  plant, 
besides  the  trouble  of  replanting,  watering,  etc. 
Another  object  gained  is,  that  they  rapidly  ad- 
vance in  growth,  and  are  not  put  back  by  trans- 
planting, which  is  always  the  case  with  those 
planted  in  the  ordinary  way;  nor  are  they  so 
much  affected  by  drouth.  The  greatest  ad- 
vantage is,  that  while  those  planted  in  the 
ordinary  way  produce  little  fruit  the  next  season, 
except  under  very  favorable  circumstances, 
those  in  pots  yield  a  fair  crop,  and  more  than 
repay  the  extra  labor  in  the  greater  amount  of 
fruit.  Mr.  C.  S.  Pell,  of  the  N.  Y.  Orphan  Asy- 
lum, starts  strawberries  in  pots  very  successful- 
ly. He  takes  three  inch  pots,  fills  them  with  good 
soil,  and  places  them  in  the  strawberry  bed- 
one  under  each  joint  on  the  runners — and  small 
stones  are  put  on  to  bold  them  in  place.  The 
earth  in  the  pots  is  well  watered  and  in  about 
three  weeks  he  has  strong,  well  rooted  plants, 
which  may  be  turned  out  into  the  ground  with- 
out checking  the  growth.  If  the  pots  are  sunk 
in  the  soil  of  the  bed,  the  earth  will  not  dry  out 
so  fast  and  less  water  will  be  required.  This 
plan  offers  many  advantages  to  amateurs  and 
cultivators  on  the  small  scale,  or  for  home  use. 


Protect  the  Fall  Flowers. 


It  is  often  trying  to  one's  patience  to  have  the 
frosts  come  and  smite  our  splendid  collections 
of  flowers  in  the  very  hight  of  their  glory.  In 
many  cases,  as  with  the  Asters,  Stocks,  Ealsams 
and  Dahlias,  we  have  watched  and  nursed  them 
all  Summer,  and  now,  just  as  our  care  is  begin- 
ning to  be  rewarded,  suddenly,  in  a  single  night, 
the  destroyer  comes  and  blasts  all  our  hopes ! 
Last  Fall,  the  writer  tried  an  experiment  to  pro- 
tect flowers  several  weeks,  and  succeeded  so 
well  that  he  is  moved  to  speak  about  it.  Just 
before  frosts  were  expected,  we  provided  a  few 
light  mats,  made  of  sacking,  and  by  driving 
down  several  stout  stakes  at  the  corners  and 
middle  of  each  bed,  were  enabled  to  suspend 
them  over  the  flowers  without  crushing  them. 

Every  observer  must  have  noticed  that  we 
usually  have  a  few  sharp  frosts  early  in  Autumn, 
cutting  down  all  tender  things,  and  then  that 
this  is  followed  by  several  weeks  of  warm  weath- 
er.   Whatever  plants  go  through  the  first  frosts 


unharmed,  bloom  finely  for  quite  a  period  after- 
ward. The  use  of  these  mats  or  something  of 
the  kind,  answers  this  very  end.  It  takes  only 
a  few"  minutes  at  night  to  spread  the  mats  in 
their  place,  and  a  few  in  the  morning  to  lay  them 
aside.  But  were  the  labor  much  greater,  the 
result  would  amply  repay  it. — Agriculturist. 


Seed  Saving. 

This  is  the  month  in  which  much  of  this  is 
to  be  done,  both  in  the  Kitchen  and  Flower 
Garden.  We  have  frequently  impressed  upon 
our  readers  the  importance  of  saving  the  very 
earliest  and  very  best  of  every  variety  for  seed. 
Do  not  pick  all  the  best  Sweet  Corn,  Tomatoes, 
Melons,  etc.,  for  the  table,  and  take  seeds  for  the 
next  crop  from  what  is  left.  If  this  be  done, 
we  shall  have  more  complaints  about  sorts 
running  out;  they  will  run  out  if  you  help  them 
to  do  so,  but  will  hold  good  and  even  improve 
if  proper  care  is  exercised  in  seed  saving,  We 
know  of  one  variety  of  Sweet  Corn  which  has 
been  kept  in  the  same  family  for  thirty  years 
without  "  running  out."  Some  flower  seeds 
require  much  care  to  save  them.  If  seeds  from 
Pansy  and  Phlox  are  left  until  the  pods  are 
quite  ripe,  they  will  all  be  lost  by  the  bursting 
of  the  pods.  With  plants  having  seed  vessels 
of  this  kind,  the  best  way  is  to  pick  the  flower 
stems  when  the  seeds  are  fully  formed,  but  not 
ripe  enough  to  burst.  Placed  in  a  box  or  on  a 
large  sheet  of  paper  in  a  dry  room,  they  will 
fully  mature,  and  the  seeds  may  be  secured. 


Fuchsias  in  Winter. 


A  lady  subscriber  wishes  to  know  why  her 
Fuchsias  do  not  bloom  in  Winter.  The  reason 
is,  that  it  is  a  summer  blooming  plant,  and  they 
flower  so  profusely  in  Summer,  that  they  need 
a  long  season  of  rest.  A  Fuchsia  may  be  kept 
during  the  Winter  and  an  occasional  flower  be 
produced,  but  there  are  so  many  freer  blooming 
house  plants  that  it  is  altogether  better  to  use 
the  Fuchsia  as  a  summer  bloomer  and  give  it 
rest  during  the  Winter.  With  a  green  house, 
young  plants  can  be  grown  so  as  to  bloom  in 
Winter,  but  for  parlor  culture  it  is  best  to  keep 
the  plants  in  a  state  of  rest  from  Fall  until  early 
Spring.  Then  they  may  be  pruned  into  shape, 
aud  brought  forward  to  flower  during  late 
Spring  and  Summer.  They  do  capitally  as  bed- 
ding plants,  provided  they  get  a  partial  shade. 
Among  the  new  varieties  we  have  found  the 
Comet  one  of  the  most  valuable. 


Prepare  for  Spring  Flowers. 

* — 
Nothing  gives  more  gratification  than  the 
early  flowering  spring  bulbs.  These  are  usually 
classed  under  the  general  term  of  "  Dutch 
Bulbs,"  for  the  reason  that  they  are  largely 
grown  in  Holland,  whole  farms  being  devoted 
to  their  culture.  This  class  of  plants  comprises 
the  Hyacinth,  Tulip,  Crocus,  Narcissus,  and  nu- 
merous others.  Dealers  are  already  out  with 
their  catalogues  for  the  Fall  trade,  and  it  will 
soon  be  time  for  our  readers,  who  intend  to 
plant  bulbs,  to  prepare  their  ground  and  select 
their  varieties.  If  we  could  have  but  one  spring 
flower  it  would  be  the  Hyacinth,  so  charming 
in  both  color  and  fragrance.  To  those  who  can 
procure  them,  we  say,  make  a  bed  of  Hyacinths 
this  Fall.  A  single  one,  if  no  more  can  be 
had,  will  be  a  charming  thing  in  the  garden  next 
Spring,  but  a  bed  of  them  is  a  mass  of  sweetness 


and  beauty  good  enough  for  any  one  poor  mor- 
tal to  possess.  This  last  Spring  we  saw  upon 
the  grounds  of  Mr.  Buchanan,  at  Astoria,  a  bed 
about  8  feet  wide  and  20  feet  long,  filled  with 
gorgeous  blooms  of  every  shade  of  color.  It 
was   certainly  worth   going    far  to  see. 

Then  there  are  Tulips,  less  sweet  and  more 
gay,  and  Crocusses  which  so  early  in  Spring  lift 
up  their  spires  of  tender  green,  and  then,  before 
we  are  aware  of  it,  throw  out  their  delicate 
flowers.  Snow  Drops,  Ixias,  the  various  Lilies, 
the  stately  Crown  Imperial,  and  many  others, 
all  come  under  the  head  of  "bulbs,"  and  are  to 
be  planted  in  the  Fall.  A  rather  sandy  piece  of 
ground  does  best,  which  should  be  enriched  by 
spading  in  well-rotted  manure.  The  bulbs 
should  be  planted  in  October,  rather  deeply, 
Hyacinths  and  other  large  bulbs  should  be  put 
at  least  3  inches  deep,  and  two  inches  is  little 
enough  for  Crocuses  and  other  small  bulbs.  In 
planting,  if  the  colors  of  the  flowers  are  known, 
very  pleasing  effects  may  be  produced  by  mak- 
ing contrasts  of  color.  Before  the  ground  is 
frozen,  cover  the  bed  with  a  good  coating  of  sta- 
ble manure, — no  matter  if  it  is  coarse.  When 
Spring  fairly  opens,  the  manure  may  be  raked 
off.  The  bulbs  will  live  year  after  year,  but 
better  flowers  will  be  produced  if  they  are  taken 
up  every  season  after  the  leaves  wither,  and  al- 
lowed to  dry  until  the  proper  season  for  setting 
them  out.  Most  of  the  bulbs  produce  a  better 
effect  when  grown  in  masses  than  when  scat- 
tered through  the  borders. 

Living  Window  Screens. 

Amass  of  green  foliage  makes  a  prettier  win- 
dow screen  than;M|y  of  the  costly  curtain  ma- 
terials, or  those  gaily  and  coarsely  painted  shades 
used  very  generally  throughout  the  country. 
Whether  seen  from  within  or  without,  they  are 
always  in  good  taste,  and  lend  beauty  to  the 
most  costly  dwelling,  and  give  an  air  of  refine- 
ment to  the  humblest  one.  The  plant  best 
fitted  for  this  purpose  is  the  European  Ivj'.  It 
is  an  evergreen  with  rich  dark  foliage,  grows 
with  tolerable  rapidity,  and  is  perfectly  hardy. 
Wherever  Ivy  is  grown  out  of  doors,  natural 
layers  may  be  found  already  rooted,  or  it  may 
be  readily  started  from  cuttings.  It  needs  a 
good  rich  soil  and  plenty  of  moisture,  but  the 
pot  should  be  well  drained.  A  good  way  is  to 
fit  a  moveable  shelf  to  the  window  sill,  and  erect 
upon  that  a  trellis  of  sticks  and  wire  of  such 
size  and  shape  as  suit  the  fancy.  One  or  two 
pots  of  Ivy  may  be  placed  upon  the  shelf  and 
the  vines  trained  to  the  trellis  ;  this  will  allow 
the  whole  to  be  moved  as  occasion  may  require 
and  it  may  be  placed  out  of  doors  during  Sum- 
mer. If  placed  at  a  window  where  the  sun  is 
too  hot,  a  simple  screen  of  muslin  may  be  let 
down  between  the  plant  and  the  glass  during 
the  middle  of  the  day.  An  ornament  of  this 
kind  costs  but  little,  will  last  for  years,  and  al- 
ways be  beautiful,  A  broad  leaved  variety  of 
Ivy,  called  Roegneriana,  is  one  of  the  best  for 
this  purpose.  A  plant  is  very  commonly  used 
around  New-York  as  a  window  plant  under 
the  names  of  Mexican  and  German  Ivy.  It  is 
not  an  Ivy,  but  is  a  climbing  species  of  Ground- 
sel (Senecio  mikanoides),  and  every  way  adapted 
for  forming  window  screens.  It  is  of  very  ram- 
pant growth,  and  needs  frequent  pinchii'g  to 
keep  it  within  bounds.  It  roots  with  the  great- 
est ease — any  piece  of  stem  with  a  leaf  to  it 
will  make  a  plant.  Unfortunately  it  is  not  gen- 
erally distributed,  but  it  may  be  had  at  the  city 
green  houses,  and  must  soon  be  widely  diffusecfj 


27G 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Septembeb, 


Abutilon  Striatum. 


The  Striped  Abutilon  has  long  been  a  favorite 
of  ours.  It  is  almost  an  ever-blooming  plant — 
good  in  the  house  in  winter,  and  a  very  con- 
spicuous ornament  when  planted  in  the  grounds. 
It  is  a  green-house  shrub,  which  will  well  repay 
any  care  that  may  be  given  it  in  Winter,  and  if 
put  out  of  doors  and  left  to  itself  during  the 
Summer,  will  make  a  fine  growth  and  give  an 
abundance  of  flowers.  One  of  its  best  qualities 
is  the  ease  with  which  it  is  propagated.  Cut- 
tings stuck  out  anywhere,  if  not  constantly  ex- 
posed to  the  sun,  will  grow ;  they  may  be  pro- 
pagated in  quantities  by  the  method  recom- 
mended for  cuttings  iu  the  August  Agriculturist. 
The  plant  has  a  striking  foliage,  somewhat  like 
that  of  the  maple.  Its  flowers  are  bell-shaped 
and  of  a  yellow  color,  strongly  veined  with 
scarlet.  The  pendulous  character  of  the  flowers, 
hanging  from  long  slender  foot-stalks,  gives  them 
a  remarkably  graceful  character.  The  plant 
bears  pruning  to  any  extent,  and  may  be  grown 
as  a  bush,  or  be  trained  to  suit  the  fancy  of 
the  cultivator.  We  know  of  no  plant  that  will 
give  more  satisfaction  as  a  parlor  plant,  than  the 
Abutilon  striatum.  Our  engraving  will  give  a 
good  idea  of  the  leaf  and  flower.  The  plant 
may  be  had  at  the  green-houses,  and  is  frequent- 
ly for  sale  in  the  N.  Y.  markets  in  the  Spring. 
Abutilon  venosum,  and  A.  insignis,  are  fine  species, 
but  they  require  more   care  than  the  striatum. 

«-. »» •— 

Grafting  the  Grape  Vine. 

We  mentioned  in  our  last  number  that  a  new 
work  on  grape  culture  was  in  preparation  by 
Mr.  A.  S.  Fuller  of  Brooklyn.  In  looking  over 
a  portion  of  the  manuscript  the  following  re- 
marks upon  grafting  the  vine,  struck  us  as  being 
novel  and  interesting,  and  we  asked  Mr.  Ful- 
ler's permission  to  give  them  to  the  public  in 
advance  of  the  appearance  of  his  work : 

"  The  propagation  of  the  Grape  vine  by  graft- 
ing, is  probably  as  old  as  its  cultivation,  and 
many  of  the  modes  practised  at  the  present 
time,  are  accurately  described  in  most  of  the 
ancient  works  on  gardening  and  agriculture. 
But  with  all  the  information  which  we  have 
derived,  from  both  ancient  and  modern  authors, 


it  still  seems  to  be  generally  considered  a  rather 
difficult  if  not  uncertain  method  of  cultivation. 
On  account  of  the  peculiar  structure  of  the 
wood  of  the  vine,  a  lasting  union  is  seldom  ob- 
tained when  grafted  above  ground,  and  is  far 
from  being  certain,  even  when  grafted  below 
the  surface  by  the  ordinary  method.  When 
we  compare  the  benefits  to  be  derived  from 
grafting  the  vine,  with  grafting  the  pear,  apple, 
etc.,  it  appears  to  be  of  little  value,  because  the 
vine  may  be  readily  grown  from  cuttings  of 
almost  auy  portion  of  the  wood,  while  the  lat- 
ter produce  roots  from  cuttings  only  sparingly, 
even  with  the  greatest  care,  and  under  the  most 
favorable  circumstances,  but  they  may  be  pro- 
pagated very  easily  by  grafting  and  budding. 
Thus  it  appears  that  nature  has  provided  a  way 
for  the  rapid  multiplication  of  every  species  and 
variety  of  plants,  but  she  has  left  it  to  man  to 
discover  the  way  and  means.  There  are  cir- 
cumstances constantly  occuring  under  which  it 
would  be  quite  desirable  to  graft  the  vines ;  for 
instance,  when  we  have  a  new  and  valuable 
variety,  which  we  wish  to  multiply  as  rapidly 
as  possible ;  to  do  this  wc  must  produce  wood 
for  the  purpose,  and  if  we  can  produce  wood 
more  rapidly  by  grafting  than  by  any  other 
means  at  command,  then  it  becomes  very  im- 
portant to  know  how  to  perform  the  operation 
successfully.  There  are  usually  in  every  garden 
where  grapes  are  grown,  inferior  varieties  which 
it  is  desirable  to  exchange  for  better,  and  if  we 
employ  grafting  as  a  method  of  propagation, 
then  these  otherwise  worthless  vines  may  be- 


FOXLElt'S  METHOD  OF  GEAFTIiNO   THE  OKAPE. 

come  valuable  as  stocks  on  which  to  graft  bet- 
ter kinds  ;  and  if  by  the  use  of  these  we  can 
make  every  bud  to  produce  a  shoot  of  from  5 
to  20  feet  in  a  single  season,  of  larger  and  better 
wood  than  we  can  by  auy  other  means,  and 
that  too  without  the  aid  of  any  artificial  heat, 
it  becomes  very  important  to  know  how  to  do 
it.  Sometimes  it  would  be  desirable  to  change 
a  whole  vineyard  from  an  inferior  variety  to  a 
new  and  superior  one,  and  if  the  operation  is 
judiciously  performed,  it  can  be  successfully 
done,  but  I  will  consider  this  further  on.  The 
time  generally  selected  for  grafting  the  vine,  is 
early  iu  Spring,  before  the  vine  starts,  or  after  it 
has  started  and  made  a  growth  of  a  few  inches  ; 
both  of  which  I  have  found  highly  objection- 
able ;  for  if  grafted  early,  the  operation  must 
be  performed  several  weeks  before  the  vine 
starts,  so  as  to  allow  the  graft  sufficient  time  to 
form  a  union  with  the  stock  before  the  latter 
starts,  or  else  the  excessive  flow  of  sap  will 
drown  the  graft.  This  early  grafting  is  very 
difficult  in  a  northern  latitude,  where  the  ground 
thaws  out  only  a  very  few  days  before  the  sap 
begins  to  flow.  It  is  always  desirable  to  graft 
the  grape  below  ground.  If  we  wait  until  the 
vine  has  begun  to  produce  leaves,  and  the  sap 
has  thickened  and  flows  less  rapidly,  then  by 
cutting  down  the  vine  to  receive  the  graft,  wc 


give  it  a  severe  check,  which  often  destroys  it, 
and  if  not  entirely  killed,  it  is  so  much  injured 
that  it  does  not  afford  sufficient  nourishment  to 
the  graft  to  produce  a  very  strong  growth.  Be- 
sides, if  hot,  dry  weather  sets  in,  the  graft  is 
almost  sure  to  fail.  These  are  but  a  few  of  the 
difficulties  that  I  have  had  to  encounter  when 
grafting  at  these  seasons,  and  in  the  ordinary 
manner.  To  avoid  them,  I  have  practised  with 
perfect  success  the  following  method  :  In  the 
Fall,  after  the  leaves  have  fallen,  and  any  time 
before  the  ground  is  frozen,  say  in  October,  No- 
vember, or  December,  varying  according  to 
latitude,  dig  away  the  soil  from  around  the 
stock  (which  may  be  of  any  size,  from  one  half 
inch  to  two  inches  in  diameter)  to  the  depth  of 
4  to  C  inches ;  then  cut  it  off,  and  split  in  the 
ordinary  manner  for  cleft  grafting ;  make  the 
graft  of  one  eye  with  about  4  inches  of  wood, 
and  insert  it  in  the  stock,  being  careful  to  have 
the  inner  bark  of  the  stock  and  graft  meet,  then 
tie  a  piece  of  waxed  cloth  about  it,  so  as  to 
hold  the  graft  in  its  place,  and  keep  out  the 
water;  next  throw  in  soil  enough  to  fill  up 
around  the  graft,  leaving  the  bud  just  above  the 
surface ;  then  put  a  flower  pot  (a  box  will  answer 
the  purpose)  inverted  over  the  graft,  as  seen  in 
the  engraving  ;  then  bank  up  around  the  flower 
pot  to  the  top,  but  not  over  it :  now  put  on  some 
straw  (a),  say  6  inches  deep,  and  cover  the  earth 
over  all.  In  this  manner  the  graft  is  perfectly 
protected  against  the  frost,  and  it  has  all  winter 
to  perfect  a  union  with  the  stock,  and  by  spring 
it  is  ready  to  grow.  It  should  not  be  uncover- 
ed until  the  cold  freezing  weather  is  over.  It 
is  necessary  that  a  box  or  flower  pot  should  be 
placed  immediately  over  the  graft,  so  that  when 
it  is  uncovered  in  spring,  the  graft  will  not  be 
disturbed  by  digging  down  to  uncover  it. 
Grafts  inserted  in  the  Fall,  iu  this  manner,  will 
make  almost  as  strong  a  growth  as  the  original 
vine  would  have  done  if  it  had  not  been  grafted ; 
besides,  the  operation  can  be  performed  at  a 
season  when  there  is  usually  not  so  much 
business  as  in  Spring,  and  it  requires  no  more 
skill  in  its  performance  than  other  modes  of 
grafting.  When  the  grafts  have  made  one 
season's  growth,  they  may  be  cut  down  and 
used  for  grafts  or  for  cuttings,  or  they  may  be 
allowed  to  remain  until  next  season,  and  then 
be  put  down  for  layers." 


Laterals  on  Grape  Vines. 


Every  vineyardist  knows  that  his  vines  pro- 
duce in  Summer  what  are  known  as  laterals; 
i.e.,  branches  springing  from  the  axils  of  the 
leaves.  If  they  are  allowed  to  have  their  own 
way,  they  sometimes  prevent  the  natural  ex- 
tension of  the  canes,  and  fill  up  the  trellis  with 
a  showy  but  useless  mass  of  wood  and   leaves. 

To  obviate  this,  some  vine-dressers  cut  out 
or  pull  off  the  laterals,  and  they  keep  up  this 
treatment  all  Summer  long.  Is  there  not  a 
serious  objection  to  this?  One  office  of  the 
lateral  is  to  elaborate  and  send  down  nutriment 
for  the  infant  bud  at  its  base,  which  bud  is  de- 
signed to  be  the  fruit  bud  of  the  next  year.  Now, 
if  we  pull  off  this  lateral,  we  weaken  the  bud 
and  unfit  it  for  its  work  the  succeeding  year ; 
often  we  cause  it  to  break  and  send  out  several 
weak  and  watery  shoots  the  present  year,  and 
so  spoil  it  for  subsequent  use.  Instead,  there- 
fore, of  pulling  it  off,  a  better  way  is  to  pinch 
off  its  extremity  as  soon  as  it  has  formed  two 
leaves.  If  it  starts  after  this,  nip  off  its  new 
growth,  and  so  keep  it  in  check,  but  do  not  al- 
together destroy  it.     In  the  Fall   cut  it  off. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


377 


httpniJ.scL 


Smith  thought  it  would  bo  a  fine  thing  to  live  in  the  country.  Smith  could  not  get  heli',  and  as  domestic  duties  began  to  accumulate  and  interfere 
with  his  case,  Smith  set  his  inventive  faculties  to  work,  with  the  above  result. — The  contrivance  is  not  patented,  but  is  free  for  the  use  of  all  readers  of 
the  Agriculturist,  for  whose  especial  benefit  it  was  sketched  and  engraved.      We  can  not  speak    from   personal  experience  of   its   perfect    feasibility. 


Small  Leaks  in  the  Household  Ship. 


A  thousand  worm  holes,  that  will  each  admit 
scarcely  a  gallon  of  water  during  ten  hours,  will 
much  sooner  water-log  a  ship  than  a  large  hole 
through  which  is  poured  in  a  gallon  a  minute.  In 
Hie  financial  affairs  of  a  family,  though  the  largo 
outgoes  may  be  canvassed  and  avoided,  the  whole 
income  may  be  dribbled  away,  and  no  advance  be 
made  toward  competency,  wealth,  or  position.  As 
a  rule,  the  financial  success  of  any  family  depends 
more  upon  the  economy  of  the  wife,  than  upon  the 
earnings  or  business  income  of  the  husband. — Mrs. 
Haskell,  in  her  recently  issued  "  Household  Ency- 
clopedia," throws  together  some  of  the  small  leaks 
in  a  household  ship,  which  we  copy  for  a  double 
purpose;  1st,  to  show  the  men  that  their  wives 
have  a  multitude  of  cares,  of  little  details,  to  look 
after— generally  far  more  items  than  occur  in  man's 
business  pursuits;  and  2nd,  to  perhaps  in  some 
cases  indicate  to  housewives  details  that  they 
may  not  have  thought  of  before :— "  Much  waste  is 
experienced  in  the  boiling  etc.,  of  meats.  Unless 
watched,  the  cook  will  throw  out  the  water  with- 
out letting  it  cool  to  take  off  the  fat,  or  scrape  the 
dripping  pan  into  the  swill-pail.  This  grease  is 
nseful  in  many  ways.  It  can  be  burned  in  lamps 
mixed  with  lard ;  or,  when  no  pork  has  been  boiled 
with  it,  made  into  candles.  When  pork  is  boiled 
alone,  it  will  do  to  fry  cakes,  if  cleansed.  Again, 
bits  of  meat  are  thrown  out  which  would  make 
hashed  meat,  or  hash.  The  flour  is  sifted  in  a 
wasteful  manner,  or  the  bread-pan  left  with  dough 
sticking  to  it.  Pie  crust  is  left  and  laid  by  to  sour, 
instead  of  making  a  few  tarts  for  tea,  etc.  Cake 
batter  is  thrown  out  because  but  little  is  left.  Cold 
puddings  are  considered  good  for  nothing,  when 
often  they  can  be  steamed  for  the  next  day,  or,  as 
in  case  of  rice,  made  over  in  other  forms.  Veget- 
ables are  thrown  away  that  would  warm  for  break- 
fast nicely.  Dish  towels  are  thrown  down  where 
mice  can  destroy  them.  Soap  is  left  in  water  to 
dissolve,  or  more  used  than  is  necessary.  If  Bath 
brick,  whiting,  rotten  stone,  etc.,  are  used,  much  is 
wasted  uselessly.  The  scrub  brush  is  left  in  water, 
pails  scorched  by  the  stove,  tubs  and  barrels  left  in 
the  sun  to  dry  and  fall  apart,  chamber  pails  allowed 
to  rust,  tins  not  dried,  and  iron-ware  rusted  ;  nice 
knives  used  for  cooking  in  the  kitchen,  silver 
spoons  are  used  to  scrape  kettles,  or  forks  to  toast 
bread.    Rinsing  of  sweetmeats,  and  skimmings  of 


syrup,  which  make  good  vinegar,  are  thrown  out ; 
cream  is  allowed  to  mould,  and  spoil;  mustard  to 
dry  in  the  pot,  and  vinegar  to  corrode  the  castor  ; 
tea,  roasted  coffee,  pepper,  and  spicea,  to  stand 
open  and  lose  their  strength.  The  molasses  jug 
loses  the  cork,  and  the  flies  take  possession.  Sweet- 
meats are  opened  and  forgotten.  Vinegar  is  drawn 
in  a  basin,  and  allowed  to  stand,  until  both  basin 
and  vinegar  are  spoiled.  Sugar  is  spilled  from  the 
barrel,  coffoe  from  the  sack,  aud  tea  from  the  chest. 
Different  sauces  arc  made  too  sweet,  and  both 
sauce  and  sugar  wasted.  Dried  fruit  has  not  been 
taken  care  of  in  season,  and  becomes  wormy.  The 
vinegar  on  pickles  loses  strength,  or  leaks  out,  and 
the  pickles  become  soft.  Potatoes  in  the  collar 
grow,  and  the  sprouts  are  not  removed  until  they 
become  worthless.  Apples  decay  for  want  of  look- 
ing over.  Pork  spoils  for  want  of  salt,  and  beef 
because  the  brine  wants  scalding.  Hams  become 
tainted,  or  filled  with  vermin,  for  want  of  the  right 
protection.  Dried  beef  becomes  so  hard  it  can't 
be  cut.  Cheese  moulds,  and  is  eaten  by  mice  or 
vermin.  Lard  is  not  well  tried  in  the  Fall,  and  be- 
comes tainted.  Butter  spoils  for  want  of  being 
well  made  at  first.  Bones  are  burned  that  will 
make  soup.  Ashes  are  thrown  out  carelessly,  en- 
dangering the  premises,  and  being  wasted.  Serv- 
ants leave  a  light  and  fire  burning  in  the  kitchen, 
when  they  are  out  all  the  evening.  Clothes  are 
whipped  to  pieces  in  the  wind ;  fine  cambrics  rub- 
bed on  the  board,  and  laceg  torn  in  starching. 
Brooms  are  never  hung  up,  and  soon  are  spoiled. 
Carpets  are  swept  with  stubs,  hardly  fit  to  scrub 
the  kitchen,  and  good  new  brooms  used  for  scrub- 
bing. Towels  are  used  in  place  of  holders,  and 
good  sheets  to  iron  on,  taking  a  fresh  one  every 
week,  thus  scorching  nearly  all  in  the  house. 
Fluid,  if  used,  is  left  uncorked,  endangering  the 
house,  aud  wasting  the  alcohol.  Caps  are  left  from 
lamps,  rendering  the  fluid  worthless  by  evaporation. 
Table  linen  is  thrown  carelessly  down  and  is  eaten 
by  mice,  or  put  away  damp  and  is  mildewed  ;  or 
the  fruit  stains  are  forgotten,  and  the  stains  washed 
in.  Table-cloths  and  napkins  used  as  dish  wipers  ; 
mats  forgotten  to  be  put  under  hot  dishes  ;  teapots 
melted  by  the  stove;  water  forgotten  in  pitchers, 
and  allowed  to  freeze  in  winter  ;  slops  for  cow  and 
pig  never  saved  ;  china  used  to  feed  cats  and  dogs 
on ;  and  in  many  other  ways,  a  careless  and  inex- 
perienced housekeeper  will  waste,  without  heeding 
the  hard-earned  wages  of  her  husband  ;  when  she 


really  thinks,  because  she  buys  no  fine  clothes, 
makes  the  old  ones  last,  and  cooks  plainly,  she  is  a 
most  superior  housekeeper." — The  next  time  an 
unthinking  husband  is  disposed  to  be  severe  be- 
cause some  trifling  matter  has  been  neglected,  he 
should    "  put    that  in  his  pipe  and    smoke  it." 

i  —»m  i   ■ 

Tim  Bunker  on  Old  Style  House-Keeping. 


It  was  a  rainy  morning  in  August,  I  had  five  tons 
of  hay  down,  and  it  was  "morally  certain,"  as  Mr. 
Spooner  says,  when  he  is  putting  a  thing  strong, 
that  I  shouldn't  have  any  hay  weather,  so  there 
was  nothing  to  do  but  set  in  the  house,  and  see 
things  grow.  There  is  great  satisfaction  in  that, 
and  blessed  is  that  man  who  has  his  fields  and 
meadows  where  he  can  see  them  from  his  window. 
I  have  seen  some  rather  handsome  pictures  down 
in  your  city  in  the  Academy,  and  other  places,  but 
there  are  none  to  compare  with  the  view  from  my 
dining  room  window.  There  lies  spread  out  before 
me,  the  Horse-pond  lot,  all  nicely  mowed,  and 
looking  as  smooth  as  Mr.  Olmstead's  lawns  in 
your  Central  Park  that  you  think  so  much  of;  and 
just  beyond,  a  four  acre  field  of  corn,  in  full  tassel 
and  spindle;  and  beyond  that,  a  side  hill  covered 
with  wood  and  rocks,  and  a  little  to  the  right  hand, 
a  glimpse  of  the  sea  covered  with  sails.  There  is 
a  pasture  dotted  with  cattle  and  sheep,  that  beat 
anything  I  ever  saw  on  canvass.  It  don't  cost  half 
so  much  to  build  a  house  with  the  picture  gallery 
outside  as  it  does  to  have  it  within,  and  then  you 
are  never  pinched  for  room,  and  it  costs  nothing  to 
have  your  pictures  retouched,  and  the  frames  re- 
gilded.  It  is  a  source  of  endless  entertainment 
aud  instnictiou  to  study  this  out-door  picture  gal- 
lery, aud  rainy  days  give  us  the  leisure,  and  a  new 
light  to  see  them  in. 

Mrs.  Bunker  had  got  her  cheese  in  the  press,  and 
the  milk  things  washed  up,  and  tilings  put  to  rights 
generally,  when  I  saw  her  overhauling  a  bundle  of 
old  yellow  papers  that  looked  as  if  they  were  a 
hundred  years  old.  One  of  them  was  an  old  ac- 
count book  of  her  grandfather's,  made  by  doubling 
a  sheet  of  foolscap  twice,  and  sewing  it  together. 
The  thread  is  stout  linen,  such  as  her  grandmother 
used  to  spin  on  the  linen  wheel. 

"Now,"  says  she,  "  Timothy  I  like  to  look  over 
these  things  and  see  how  differently  folks  live  now, 
from  what  they  used  to  when  my  mother  was  a 


278 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[September, 


girl.  Here  is  the  account  of  my  mother's  'setting 
out  in  life '  when  she  was  married,  in  the  hand- 
writing of  my  grandfather,  Amos  Dogett." 

"  When  was  that  ?"  I  asked. 

She  read  from  the  manuscript:  "Our  oldest 
daughter  Sally  was  married  to  John  Walton  Jan. 
ye  39th  1781." 

"  That  was  just  after  the  war  of  Independence." 

She  continued  "  Things  that  I  let  my  daughter 
have  was  one  horse  10  pound,  one  new  side  saddle 
and  bridle  5  pound."  "  Horse  flesh  was  pretty  cheap 
theu,"  I  remarked.  "  Reckoning  the  pound  at 
three  dollars  and  a  third,  which  was  its  value  in  the 
New  England  States,  it  would  make  the  horse 
worth  only  thirty  three  dollars  and  a  third,  and  the 
saddle  and  bridle  half  as  much — which  is  only 
about  one  quarter  of  the  price  of  good  sound 
horses  in  Hookertown  to-day.  Side  saddles  have 
not  fallen  off  much.  They  were  a  good  deal  in  de- 
maud  then,  and  not  much  now.  You  see  Mrs. 
John  Walton,  bride,  had  no  other  way  to  get  to  her 
new  home  but  on  horseback,  and  all  other  brides, 
and  damsels  in  general,  had  either  to  try  the  saddle 
or  go  on  foot.  Happy  was  that  damsel  who  could 
boast  of  a  horse  on  her  wedding  day." 

Immediately  following  the  saddle  was  the  entry 
of  "one  pot  8  shillings,  one  small  iron  kettle  6 
shillings,  one  iron  spider  4  shillings,  one  pair  of 
flats."  It  would  seem  from  this  that  Mrs.  Walton 
was  expected  to  cook  her  husband's  dinner,  and  to 
iron  the  clothes.  Mrs.  Bunker  says  she  was  a  cap- 
ital cook  aud  laundress.  I  think  it  must  run  in  the 
blood.  I  have  no  doubt  I  am  indebted  to  that  pot 
and  spider  for  all  the  good  dinners  I  have  eaten  un- 
der my  own  roof. 

Then  follows,  in  the  bridal  outfit,  "  two  candle 
sticks,  two  shillings."  These  must  have  been  iron, 
such  as  went  out  of  date  about  the  time  I  was  a 
boy.  The  bottoms  of  the  dilapidated  sticks  used 
to  figure  on  butchering  day,  in  scraping  off  the  hair 
from  hogs,  and  uothing  better  has  been  invented 
since.  Then  follows  "one  case  of  knives,  one  fire 
shovel,  oue  large  iron  kettle,  one  teapot,  one  tea- 
kettle, one  tramel."  Theu  for  personal  adornment 
the  bride  had  "one  gauze  handkerchief,  3  shillings 
sixpence,  one  pair  of  gloves  same  price,  one  pair 
of  English  shoes  6  shillings,  one  pound  of  whale- 
bone, and  four  aud  a  half  yards  moreen  for  a  skirt," 
which  shows  what  the  whale-bone  was  inteudedfor. 
Our  grandmothers  probably  split  their  own  whale- 
bone, and  never  dreamed  of  steel  hoop   skirts. 

The  fitting  out  of  the  bridal  chamber  was  "  one 
feather  bed,  4  pouud  10  shillings,  two  under 
beds,  1  pound  1  shilling,  four  pairs  of  sheets, 
two  coverlids,  two  fulled  blankets,  one  chest  and 
lock,  and  oue  looking  glass,  and  oue  paper  of  pins." 
There  was  no  wash-stand  with  bowl  and  pitcher, 
soap  dish,  and  mugs,  towel  rack,  aud  other  indis- 
pensable articles  in  a  modern  bedchamber.  The 
morning  ablutions  were  probably  made  in  the 
kitchen,  or  at  the  back  door  from  a  stoue  hollowed 
out  for  the  purpose.  Possibly  they  kept  as  clean 
as  those  who  have  better  facilities   for  washing. 

The  table  furniture  was  rather  meager,  oue  set  of 
teacups,  nine  plates,  four  platters,  half  a  dozen 
spoons,  half  a  dozen  teaspoons,  two  basins,  two 
porringers.  There  is  nothing  said  of  table  linen, 
and  probably  Mrs.  John  Walton  was  in  the  bight 
of  fashion,  not  only  at  tea,  but  at  every  meal,  eat- 
ing from  a  bare  board.  This,  I  mistrust,  was  not 
mahogany  or  black  walnut  oiled,  but  plain  pine, 
or  maple,  which  was  scrubbed  daily  for  the  whole 
term  of  her  natural  life. 

A  significant  entry  was  "  one  little  wheel,  one 
pound."  This  was  the  linen  wheel  on  which  all 
the  sewing  thread  was  spun,  and  the  fine  linen  for 
shirts  and  sheets,  and  other  articles  for  the  bed,  and 
for  the  person.  There  was  also  "  one  set  of  loom 
irons  3  shillings."  John  was  expected  to  make  the 
loom  himself.  Fortunately  it  consisted  mainly  of 
wood,  and  the  framing  was  not  difficult.  This 
brings  back  the  good  old  days  of  homespun.  Iu 
that  loom  was  woven  all  the  clothing,  woolen  and 
linen,  of  herself,  husband,  and  children,  for  a  whole 
generation.  What  visions  of  solid  work  aud  hap- 
piness the  loom  and  wheel  open  to  us. 

We  find  also  among  the   bridal   items    "hard 


money  for  to  buy  a  cow  with,  5  pounds  8  shil- 
lings." The  hard  money  indicates  the  abundance 
of  paper  currency  at  the  close  of  the  war.  The 
price  of  cows  was  relatively  much  higher  than  the 
price  of  horses.  Twice  the  sum  would  now  buy  a 
very  good  cow.  That  cow  laid  the  foundation  of 
John  Walton's  fortune.  His  wife  understood  the 
mysteries  of  the  dairy,  and  the  one  cow  grew  in  a 
few  years  into  a  herd  of  thirty,  and  the  Walton  but- 
ter and  cheese  became  famous. 

The  whole  outfit  foots  up  forty-four  pounds  nine- 
teen shillings  sixpence,  or  less  than  one  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars.  That  stocked  a  housekeeper  in 
1784,  and  probably  she  was  better  off  than  most 
of  her  neighbors.  The  whole  would  not  equal  the 
cost  of  the  piano,  now  in  many  a  farmer's  parlor. 

"The  tea  set  that  Dea.  Smith  gave  Eliza  at  her 
wedding   cost  $200,"   added   Mrs.    Bunker. 

"I  know  it  and  the  rest  of  the  presents  were 
worth  a  thousand  dollars,  to  say  nothing  of  the  fur- 
nished house  into  which  she  entered  when  she 
got  back  from  the  bridal  trip." 

"A  single  looking  glass  costing  eight  shillings, 
and  a  mirror  covering  half  the  side  of  a  parlor,  aud 
costing  three  hundred  dollars,  is  another  contrast 
worth  looking  at,"  said  Sally. 

"  And  the  young  brides  that  prink  before  them 
are  no  handsomer  or  smarter  than  Sally  Walton's 
daughter,  forty  years  ago." "It  is  time  you  for- 
got that,  Timothy.     It  is  a  long  while  ago." 

Here  the  dinner  bell  rung  and  the  dingy  account 

book  was  returned  to  its  place  in  the  bundle. 

Hookertorun,  )         Yours  to  command, 

Aug.  10th,  1863.     !  Timotht  Bunker  Esq. 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

How  to  Wash  Flannels. 


"  I  do  hate  to  wear  flannel  under  clothes,"  said  a 
gentleman  friend,  "  they  chafe  so."  It  was  in  a 
mixed  company  that  he  spoke,  but  I  thought  to 
myself,  if  I  was  acquainted  with  his  sister  or  wife 
I'd  tell  her  how  to  wash  the  flannels  in  such  a 
manuer  that  they  might  not  chafe.  Now  flannel  is 
made  of  animal  substance,  aud  is  not  so  easily 
cleaned  as  a  purely  vegetable  material,  so  in  our 
house  the  flannels  invariably  form  a  distinct  wash- 
ing by  themselves.  Soft  water  is  indispensable. 
Early  in  the  morning  then,  we  put  on  the  full 
wash  boiler  to  heat,  and  for  one  pair  of  blankets, 
throw  in  borax  about  the  size  of  a  walnut,  and  cut 
iu  a  bar  of  hard  soap  very  fine.  Wheu  the  blank- 
ets have  a  spot  here  or  there,  which  by  accident 
may  have  received  extra  soiling,  we  take  a  needle 
and  thread  aud  mark  it  with  a  couple  of  stitches, 
aud  rub  on  a  little  soap,  for  without  this  precau- 
tion the  spot  could  not  be  found  after  the  blankets 
were  wet.  We  then  put  them  down  in  a  tub  and 
pour  the  conteuts  of  the  wash  kettle  boilintj  upon 
them.  The  tub  stands  for  an  hour,  or  until  it  is 
cool  enough  for  the  hands,  when  we  rub  the  before- 
mentioned  spots,  "  souse  "  the  blankets,  and  wring 
out.  The  second  suds  is  prepared  as  the  first,  save 
that  only  half  a  bar  of  soap  is  required.  The  third 
water  is  clear  and  boiling,  and  is  designed  to 
cleanse  the  blankets  of  the  soap  of  the  preceding 
water,  for  soap  is  not  healthy  for  the  skin,  and  if 
the  third  water  appears  sudsy,  we  give  them  a 
fourth  hot  water  with  a  squeeze  of  blue  in  it,  very 
little,  however,  or  the  blankets  will  be  streaky. 
And  now  the  quicker  they  are  dried  the  better,  it  is 
very  disastrous  to  have  rain  come  on,  or  have  them 
snowed  upon,  or  lie  overnight ;  indeed  I  never  wash 
blankets  unless  the  sun  smiles  upon  me  when  lam 
about  it.  Iu  our  way  of  washing,  flannels  never 
shrink,  and  consequently  never  get  "  hard,"  and  as 
we  don't  rub  them,  the  nap  is  left  on,  they  are 
more  comfortable,  and  wear  much  longer  than 
when  washed  in  the  ordinary  way.  The  colored 
flannels  we  put  in  the  tub  as  we  take  the  white 
flannels  out,  having  first  added  a  little  melted  soap  ; 
we  wash  them  out  right  away,  as  the  color  will  come 
out  by  standing.  The  water  must  be  as  hot  as  the 
hands  can  bear,  and  the  soap  that  is  rubbed  on 
about  the  collars  and  wristbands  of  flannel  shirts, 
can  not  be  put  on  when  they  are  out  of  the  suds, 


for  in  many  kinds  of  colored  flannel  the  mark  of 
the  soap  is  left,  unless  used  while  the  flannel  is  in 
the  water.  Colored  flannel  does  not  shrink  like 
white,  and  for  this  reason  and  that  the  color  is  like- 
ly to  come  out,  we  do  not  use  boiling  water.  Ir 
other  respects  we  go  through  the  same  process  in 
washing,  save  that  the  impression  of  blue  is  omit- 
ted in  the  last  rinsing.  In  conclusion,  sister  read- 
ers, use  flannel  plentifully  in  your  households.  In 
this  northern  climate,  cotton  is  a  very  poor  substi- 
tute. Ifpeoplepaidontasmach  for  flannel  as  tliey 
do  for  those  homeopathic  sugar  pills,  the  doctors 
would  be  all  the  poorer,  and  their  own  homes  all 
the  happier.  Maeion. 

Carroll  County,  Illinois. 


How  to  Take  Leaf  Impressions. 

— • — 

In  answer  to  several  inquirers  who  ask  how  to 
take  correct  copies  of  leaves,  we  publish  the  direc- 
tions given  in  "  Art  Recreations,"  a  manual  of  or- 
namental work,  published  by  J.  E.  Tilton  &  Co., 
Boston,   Mass. 

Hold  oiled  paper  in  the  6tnoke  of  a  lamp,  or  of 
pitch,  until  it  becomes  coated  with  the  smoke  ;  to 
this  paper  apply  the  leaf  of  which  yon  wish  an  im- 
pression, having  previously  warmed  it  between 
j-our  hands,  that  it  maybe  pliable  :  place  the  lower 
surface  of  the  leaf  upon  the  blackened  surface  of 
the  oiled  paper,  that  the  numerous  veins  that  are 
so  prominent  on  this  side  may  receive  from  the  pa- 
per a  portion  of  the  smoke;  lay  a  paper  over  the 
leaf,  and  then  press  it  gently  upon  the  smoked  pa- 
per; with  the  finger  or  with  a  small  roller,  (covered 
with  woolen  cloth,  or  some  like  soft  material.)  so 
that  every  part  of  the  leaf  may  come  in  contact  with 
the  sooted  oil  paper.  A  coating  of  the  smoke  will 
adhere  to  the  leaf.  Then  remove  the  leaf  carefully, 
and  place  the  blackened  surface  on  a  piece  of  while 
paper,  not  ruled,  or  in  a  book  prepared  forthe  pur- 
pose, covering  the  leaf  with  a  clean  slip  of  paper, 
and  pressing  upon  it  with  the  fingers  or  roller,  as 
before.  Tims  may  be  obtained  the  impression  of  a 
leaf,  showing  the  perfect  outlines,  together  with  an 
accurate  exhibition  of  the  veins  which  extend  in 
ever>  direction  through  it,  more  correctly  than  the 
finest  drawing.  And  this  process  is  so  simple,  and 
the  materials  so  easily  obtained,  that  any  person, 
with  a  little  practice  to  enable  him  to  apply  the 
right  quantity  of  smoke  to  the  oil  paper  and  srive 
the  leaf  a  proper  pressure,  can  prepare  beautiful 
leaf  impressions,  such  as  a  naturalist  would  be 
proud  to  possess.  Specimens  thus  prepared  can 
be  neatly  preserved  in  a  book  form,  interleaving 
the  impressions  with  tissue  paper.  [But  we  con- 
sider all  leaf  impressions  vastly  inferior  to  care- 
fully pressed  real  leaves  themselves. — Ed.] 


Don't  Apologize. 

A  few  months  ago  one  of  the  Editors  of  the  Ag- 
riculturist, (who  was  then  staying,  not  living  in  the 
city,  for  nobody  really  lives  there,)  happened  to 
call  unexpectedly  at  a  farm  house  by  the  tea-side. 
The  good  wife  in  asking  him  to  dinner,  apologized 
for  the  homeliness  of  the  meal,  regretting  that  she 
had  nothing  but  clam  pie  ;  but  "  if  she  had  known 
that  he  was  coming,  she  would  have  had  fresh 
meat."  If  there  is  anything  in  the  world  that  this 
Editor  is  tired  of,  it  is  roast  beef,  and  out  of  any 
possible  bill  of  fare,  that  he  could  have  chosen 
from,  clam  pie  would  have  had  his  preference. 
We  mention  this  to  show  that  country  people  are 
much  mistaken  in  thinking  they  must  make  a  fuss 
over  their  city  friends.  Any  change  of  food  is 
pleasant,  even  if  it  is  from  richer  to  plainer.  If  you 
receive  your  city  friends,  give  them  as  good  as  you 
have  yourself,  and  don't  make  them  feel  uncom- 
fortable by  any  unnecessaiy  apologies  for  your 
fare.  If  you  have  only  fried  pork  and  potatoes, 
serve  it  neatly  and  cat  it  thankfully. —  We  have 
sometimes  sat  down  to  a  table,  and  had  our  appe- 
tite almost  destroyed  by  the  hard  things  said  about 
the  fond  by  the  one  who  had  spared  no  effort  to 
make  it  first-rate. — Our  first  genuine  New-England 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTUEIST. 


279 


Thanksgiving  Diuner,  was  during  the  first  vacation 
alter  we  went  from  the  West  to  an  Eastern  College. 
A  widow  lady  in  good  circumstances,  invited  two 
of  us  class-mates  to  till  at  her  dinner  table,  the  va- 
cant places  of  her  sons  absent  as  mates  of  vessels 
at  sea.  After  eating  course  after  course  of  excel- 
lent food,  and  becoming  literally  surfeited,  our 
hostess  brought  on  some  mince  pie.  We  begged 
to  be  excused,  but  she  instantly  replied,  "  Take 
some  of  it,  take  a  little ;  it  is  good,  I  know  it  is, 
I  made  it  myself."  Of  course  we  did,  and  praised 
it  too,  for  it  deserved  it.  Had  she,  in  fishing  for  a 
compliment,  began  by  6aying  it  was  poor,  with  sun- 
dry reasons  why  it  was  so,  we  should  have  declined, 
and  she  would,  ten  to  one,  have  been  offended  that 
her  good  pie  was  not  appreciated.  We  have  often 
referred  to  this  incident,  as  illustrating  the  at- 
tractiveness of  an  open    frank   demeanor,  when 

not  accompanied  by  overweening  self-esteem. 

Sometimes  when  our    friends    tell  us  the  Agri- 
culturist is  a  good  paper,  we  are  tempted  to  say, 
"we  know  it  is;  we  made  it  ourselves." 
- — . — •— .— . 

To  Prevent  Dampness  in  Walls. 

It  is  one  of  the  common  complaints  of  those  liv- 
ing in  stone  or  brick  houses  improperly  built,  that 
they  are  damp  and  unwholesome.  This  need  not 
be.  Those  which  are  damp,  are  so  for  the  same 
reason  that  a  pitcher  of  cold  water  "sweats"  in 
hot  weather.  They  condense  the  moisture  of  the 
air.  The  only  way  to  prevent  this,  is  to  put  some 
kind  of  non-conductor  between  the  wall  and  the 
air  of  the  apartments.  A  body  of  confined  air  is 
perhaps  the  best  non-conductor.  "Fur  off"  an  inch 
or  two  from  the  solid  wall,  plaster  tightly,  and 
it  will  keep  out  frost  and  moisture  better  than  a 
foot  of  6olid  granite.  Even  a  cellar  can  be  made 
dry  and  comparatively  healthy  by  this  simple  treat- 
ment of  its  walls. 


A  Word  More  about  Wringers. 


From  recent  observation,  we  judge  this  vain- 
able  implement  is  coming  into  very  general  use  all 
over  the  country,  West  as  well  as  East,  and  we  are 
glad  to  fiud  this  the  ease,  for  we  believe  it  to  be  a 
real  labor-saving  implement  in  the  house,  where 
such  implements  are  needed  as  well  as  in  the  field. 
But  we  are  sorry  to  see  so  mauy  persuaded  into 
buying  wringers  without  cogs  upon  the  rollers. 
We  have  heard  the  arguments  of  different  dealers, 
and  personally  experimented  a  good  deal  with 
several  kinds,  and  feel  quite  sure  that  the  cogs 
are  a  very  desirable  addition,  to  say  the  least.  The 
cogs  compel  the  rollers  to  turn  together,  and  this 
obviates  the  danger  of  one  of  them  slipping  upon 
and  straining,  if  not  tearing,  the  fibers  when  a  wad 
or  mass  of  clothing  chances  to  be  passed  in.  The 
rubber  is  also  less  likely  to  work  loose  when  cogs 
are  added.  We  have  no  interest  whatever  in  any- 
body's manufacture,  and  care  not  whose  is  sold,  but 
as  we  understand  the  matter,  we  hope  the  public 
demand  will  compel  every  maker  to  add  the  cogs  ; 
they  will  not  increase  the  cost  half  so  much  as 
they  will  increase  the  value  of  the  implement. 
— . —  »» -— 

Wire  Clothes  Lines. 


A  subscriber  writes  from  the  telegraph  office  at 
Carlisle,  Pa.,  that  he  has  for  some  time  used  the  an- 
nealed and  galvanized  telegraph  wire  as  a  substi- 
tute for  the  common  clothes  line,  and  finds  it  to 
work  admirably.  He  says  that  it  is  cheaper  than 
rope,  more  durable,  and  as  it  docs  not  sag  the 
clothes  down  into  the  dirt,  there  is  a  great  saving 
of  the  good  nature  of  the  women  folks.  The  wire 
beiug  galvanized,  there  is  no  danger  of  injuring  the 
clothes  by  rnst.  From  its  stiffness,  the  wire  would 
be  unhandy  to  move,  and  a  line  of  this  kind  must 
therefore  be  put  up  permanently. — Agriculturist. 
■  «  mmm »-m 

Repelling  Worms  from  Dried  Fruit.— Fran- 
cis E.  Rumford,  New-Castle  Co.,  Del,  writes  to  the 
Agriculturist,  that  during  the  past  year  he  has  tested 


the  efficacy  of  sassafras  bark  for  repelling  worms 
from  dried  fruit.  Two  bags  of  dried  apples  were 
placed  together  in  a  chest,  the  one  open,  but  with 
a  few  chips  of  the  bark  scattered  through  it,  the 
other  closely  tied:  the  latter  was  infested  with 
worms,  the  former  entirely  escaped. 


Spirits  Turpentine  for  Moths. — A  subscriber 
to  the  Agriculturist  writes  that  during  the  last  of 
May  he  sprinkles  turpentine  on  pieces  of  flannel, 
wraps  these  in  paper,  aud  lays  them  among  cloth- 
ing or  articles  subject  to  moths  :  this  he  says  has 
proved  a  certain   preventive  agaiust   moths. 

•+- o.»t— «-• 

Good  Way  to  Keep  Smoked  Hams. 

Good  hams,  well  cured  and  well  preserved,  arc 
very  convenient  to  have  in  the  house.  They  are 
wholesome  food,  and  are  always  ready  when  other 
meats  are  absent,  or  when  a  hurried,  impromptu 
solid  meal  is  needed.  In  our  travels  this  summer 
we  have  eaten  ham  in  a  good  many  places,  at  the 
hotels  and  elsewhere — some  very  poor,  full  of  salt 
and  smoke,  and  then  fried  to  a  crisp,  and  some 
very  good,  sweet,  tender,  fresh,  and  just  cooked 
through.  The  best  we  believe,  was  met  with  at 
Friend  Quinby's,  at  St.  Johusville,  N.  Y.,  where 
we  called  after  the  usual  dinner  hour,  and  was  just 
in  a  condition  to  enjoy  a  good  repast  quickly  got 
up.  For  the  benefit  of  the  housekeepers  of  the 
American  Agriculturist  Family  we  enquired  the  pro- 
cess of  curing  the  hams  :  They  were  put  in  brine 
in  the  usual  manner  last  Fall  or  Winter,  aud  when 
just  fairly  salted  through,  were  moderately  smoked. 
They  were  next  cut  into  slices  all  ready  for  the 
table,  and  then  about  half  cooked.  The  pieces  were 
then  packed  closely  into  stone-ware  crocks,  aud  the 
lard  cooked  out  poured  over  them.  When  there 
was  not  fat  enough  fried  out  to  cover  them,  some 
melted  lard  was  added.  The  crocks  were  covered 
and  set  away,  and  whenever  ham  is  wanted,  it  is 
only  necessary  to  take  out  a  few  pieces  and  finish 
the  cooking,  in  less  then  five  minutes — with  no 
trouble  or  time  wasted  in  hunting  up  aud  sharpen- 
ing the  knife  and  6aw.  We  can  testify  that  in 
the  case  refered  to,  the  hams  were  as  6weet  aud 
tender  as  could  be  desired.  The  method  appears 
to  be  worthy  of  general  adoption. — We  may  add 
here,  that  nine  out  of  ten  housekeepers  cook  ham 
too  much  to  leave  it  either  palatable  or  digestible. 
It  has  not  a  raw  taste,  if  barely  heated  well  through. 
By  the  above  method  of  preserving,  the  salting 
and  smooking  need  only  be  carried  to  just  the 
desired   poiut    to    make    them    most   palatable. 


Hints  on  Cooking,  etc. 


Green  Corn  Pudding. — Contributed  to 
the  Agriculturist  by  N.  Burwell,  Litchfield  Co., 
Conn.:  Take  12  good  sized  ears  of  com,  grate  or 
shave  it  off  thin,  add  to  it  2  quarts  of  milk,  1  cup 
of  sugar,  a  small  piece  of  butter,  2  eggs  well  beat- 
en ,1  teaspoonful  salt,  1  of  saleratus,  and  spiee  with 
nutmeg.    Bake  3  hours. 

Cooking  Peas. — Contributed  to  the  Agri- 
culturist by  Mrs.  S.  Hubbard,  Switzerland  Co.,  Ind. 
Gather  aud  shell  the  peas  at  night,  and  put  them  in 
cold  water,  in  which  you  have  previously  thrown  a 
handful  of  salt.  In  the  morning  pour  off  the  water 
and  put  them  in  boiling  water.  Let  them  stew  for 
35  minutes,  and  then  put  in  J£  cupful  of  sweet 
cream,  with  a  piece  of  butter  the  6ize  of  an  egg,  and 
a  tablespoonful  of  flour.  Stew  for  5  minutes  long- 
er— send  to  the  table  hot,  and  you  have  a  dish  fit 
for  an  epicure. 

"  Blackberry  Flummery."  —  Contrib- 
uted to  the  Agriculturist  by  a  "  Jersey  Farmer's 
Daughter."  Stew  blackberries,  moderately  sweet- 
ened with  sugar  or  molasses,  until  soft ;  mix  a 
thickening  of  flour  and  water,  and  stir  into  the 
berries.  Continue  stirring  while  it  boils,  until  the 
whole  becomes  incorporated  into  a  mass  just  suffi- 
ciently thick  to  pour  into  moulds  ;  when  cold  turn 
out  for  dessert — to  be  eaten  with   milk  or  cream. 


Xo  Preserve  Tomatoes.— Contributed 
to  the  Agriculturist  by  M.  A.  Goodale,  Suffolk  Co., 
N.  Y.  For  7  lbs.  of  ripe  tomatoes,  use  half  their 
weight  of  finely  pulverized  sugar.  Stew  %  pound 
of  green  ginger  root  in  water  until  soft.  Remove 
the  skins  from  the  fruit  without. scalding.  Dissolve 
and  boil  the  sugar  iu  a  little  water  until  it  is  thick, 
then  put  in  the  tomatoes,  and  take  from  the  lire. 
When  cool,  skim  them  out,  heat  the  syrup,  throw 
in  the  fruit,  until  the  process  is  repeated  three 
times.  Then  add  all  together,  and  boil  gently  until 
done.  Let  the  syrup  become  thick  before  the  to- 
matoes are  put  in  it.  Seal  the  jars  with  paste  made 
of  rye  flour,  wet  with  cold  water,  and  keep  in  a  dry 
place.     This  will  keep  all  Winter. 

Plum  Catsup.— Contributed  to  the  Agri- 
culturist by  Mrs.  B.  F.  Sharp,  Goauga  Co.,  O.  Boil 
together  for  two  hours,  9  lbs.  plums,  6  lbs.  sugar, 
aud  3  pts.  vinegar.  Just  before  removing  from  the 
fire,  add  one  tablespoonful  each  of  allspice,  cloves, 
and  cinnamon.  Keep  in  small  jars  well  corked. 
The  same  directions  will  answer  for  currants  or 
gooseberries. 

Cottage  Pudding1.— Contributed  to  the 
Agriculturist  by  Mrs.  S.  C.  Frye,  Merrimae  Co.,  N 
H.  Mix  2}{  tablespoofuls  of  melted  butter,  1  cup 
of  white  sugar,  1  egg,  1  cup  of  sweet  milk,  1  pint 
of  flour,  1  teaspoonful  of  soda  and  2  of  cream 
of  tartar  ;  flavor  with  lemon.  Bake  in  a  moderate 
oven  %  hour. 

Sauce,  for  this  or  other  puddings :  1  egg,  %  cup 
of  butter,  1}.<  cups  white  sugar,  }4  glass  wine,  2 
tablespoonfuls  of  cream.  Set  a  dish  containing  it 
in  a  vessel  of  hot  water,  and  stir  half  au  hour. 
[Many  a  man  has  come  to  dissipation  aud  to  a 
drunkard's  grave,  by  having  a  taste  for  alcohol 
formed  while  eating  a  mother's  or  wife's  good  wine 
and  brandy  sauces.— Ed.] 

Economy  Cakes.  —  Contributed  to  the 
Agriculturist  by  Mrs.  Harue,  Hunterdon  Co.,  N.  J. 
Take  1  quart  of  mashed  potatoes,  1  egg,  y2  teacup 
wheat  flour,  a  tablespoonful  of  butter,  and  add 
milk  to  form  a  thick  batter.  Season  with  pepper 
aud  salt.  Mix  all  well  together ;  make  into  cakes 
%  inch  thick,  and  fry  brown  where  meat  was  pre. 
viously  fried.    These  can  be  recommended. 

Cream  ol"  Tartar  Cake. — Contributed 
to  the  Agriculturist  by  Lizzie  Field,  Orleaus  Co., 
Vt.  Take  3  cups  of  sugar,  3  eggs,  )^  cup  of  butter, 
1  cup  new  milk,  J£  teaspoonful  of  soda,  1  teaspoon- 
ful of  cream  of  tartar,  and  4  cups  of  flour.  Mix 
the  cream  of  tartar  with  the  flour,  and  the  soda 
with  the  milk,  and  add  a  little  salt.  Season  to 
taste.    Bake  iu  shallow  tins,  and  cut  in  squares. 

Puff  Cake. — Contributed  to  the  Agricultur- 
ist by  "  Martha."  Take  2  cups  of  white  sugar,  3 
eo'o's,  1  scant  cup  of  butter,  1  cup  of  sweet  milk,  1 
teaspoonful  of  saleratus,  2  of  cream  of  tartar,  3  cups 
of  flour.    Flavor  to  taste.    Stir  together  at  once. 

Valuable  Recipes.— For  preserving  the 
complexion :  temperance.  For  whitening  the 
hands:  honesty.  To  remove  stains:  repentance. 
For  improving  the  sight:  observation.  The  most 
valuable  ring:  the  home  circle.  For  improving 
voice:  civility.  The  best  rouge :  modesty.  The 
best  eye-water :  charity.  A  cure  for  deafness :  at- 
tention. A  mixture  to  clear  the  throat:  cheerful- 
ness. A  wash  for  wrinkles  ;  eonteutment.  A  gen- 
eral beautifier:  contentment. 

The  Apple-Pie  Melon.— Our  experience  with 
this  has  not  been  favorable,  but  occasionally  a  sub- 
scriber commends  it.*  L.  C.  Cook,  Saratoga  Co. 
N.  Y.,  writes,  "  it  is  an  excellent  substitute  for  a  p. 
pies,  when  you  'get  the  knack'  of  using  it.  For 
pudding  I  believe  any  one  would  prefer  it  to  rice. 
It  makes  excellent  sweet  pickles."  Perhaps  our 
corespondent  will  do  a  favor  by  giving  her  "  knack" 
to  the  readers  of  the  Agriculturist. 

•». —         ■•»  I    » 

Marrying  a  Gardener.— An  English  writer,  in 
his  advice  to  young  married  women,  says  that  their 
Mother  Eve  married  a  gardener.  But  he  forgot  to 
add,  that  in  consequence  of  the  marriage,  the  gar- 
dener "  lost  his  situation." 


280 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[September, 


INTRODUCTION      OF      THE 

Engraved  for  the  American  Agriculturist. 


V  E  T  S  . 


Young-  Animals— Curious  Trail*. 

"This  is  Miss  Daisy,  Master  Nero,  and  you  must  be 
very  kind  to  her,''  is  what  the  lad  in  the  picture  appears 
to  be  saying,  by  way  of  introducing  his  pets  to  each  oth- 
er. The  animals  are  both  evidently  pleased  with  their 
owner,  and  under  his  training  will  doubtless  be  very  good 
friends  to  each  other.  This  managing  of  pets  is  one  of 
the  pleasantest  and  most  interesting  things  for  young 
people  in  the  country.  It  will  surprise  you  to  discover 
how  much  such  creatures  may  be  taught,  and  to  notice 
the  trails  of  character  they  will  show.  By  a  little  care, 
while  young,  animals  of  the  most  opposite  natural  qual- 
ities may  be  brought  to  live  together  on  the  best  of  terms. 
The  writer  has  seen  a  dog,  a  lamb,  and  a  kitten,  frolick- 
ing together  by  the  hour.  Recently  he  was  much  inter- 
ested by  the  conduct  of  a  dog  which  was  apparently  at- 
tacking a  chicken.  He  seemed  to  be  biting  it  with  the 
intention  of  making  a  meal  of  it ;  but  on  closer  examina- 
tion it  proved  that  the  chicken  had  been  hurt  in  some  way, 
and  the  dog  was  carefully  trying  to  set  it  upon  its  feet. 
Failing  in  this,  he  lay  down  beside  it,  and  commenced 
licking  its  wounded  leg.  A  correspondent  of  the  Agri- 
culturist, "Lex,"  relates  the  following  incident.  About 
a  month  since,  two  cats  had  each  a  "  family"  within  a 
few  days  of  each  other.  All  the  kittens  were  drowned 
except  two  of  each  set,  which,  with  their  respective 
mamas,  were  snugly  settled  in  a  couple  of  boxes  in  the 
same  room.  On  the  following  day,  both  families  entire — 
or  rather  what  remained  of  them—  were  found  coiled  up 
together  in  the  same  box.  They  were  not  disturbed,  and 
thenceforward  the  two  mothers  ceased  to  recognize  auy 
distinction  between  the  two  pairs  of  kittens.  They  would 
alternately  nurse  the  whole  lot,  or  both  affectionately  en- 
twined together,  divide  the  "  labor  of  love,"  just  as  the 
kittens,  lying  snugly  between  them,  would  happen  to  turn 
to  the  one  or  the  other.  But  this  is  not  all.  Eddie 
brought  a  couple  of  young  squirrels  from  the  woods, 
which  soon  became  very  gentle.  In  less  than  two  days, 
both  were  found  in  the  box  among  the  cats  and  kittens, 
drawing  from  either  or  both  th%  maternal  fonts,  upon  a 
like  footing  of  equality  and  community  with  that  previ- 
ously enjoyed  by  the  kittens  !  The  old  cats  seemed  to 
acquiesce  fully  in  the  arrangement,  and  so  it  proceeded 
for  a  couple  of  weeks,  until  one  of  the  squirrels  was  ac- 
cidentally killed.  The  other,  having  the  freedom  of  the 
house,  is  now  a  romping  playmate  of  both  cats  and  kit- 
tens, who  continue  uniformly  to  treat  him  as  "  one  of  the 
family."  Many  such  incidents  have  come  to  our  knowl- 
edge, showing  that  this  department  of  natural  histor>  is 
not  one  of  the  least  interesting  that  can  be  studied.  Our 
young  readers,  especially  in  the  country,  can  find  almost 
endless  amusement  in  experimenting  upon  it,  and  at  the 
same  time,  the  patience  and  kindness  they  will  be  re- 
quired to  exercise  in  order  to  be  successful,  will  have  a 


happy  influence  on  their  own  dispositions  and  characters, 
and  teach  them  forbearance  toward.'  their  own  fellows. 

An  Eccentric  Physician.— Anecdote. 

A  friend  relates  for  the  Agriculturist,  the  following  an- 
ecdote of  a  skillful  physician,   Dr.  M ,  who  is  still 

practising  in  Rhode  island.  He  had  a  way  of  doing  things 
all  his  own,  and  no  one  could  tell  beforehand,  "where 
he  would  come  out."  On  one  occasion  he  was  called  to 
perform  a  very  important  surgical  operation  on  a  young 
man  living  in  the  country.  Arriving  there  he  found  col- 
lected a  large  number  of  neighboring  farmers  and  others, 
who  had  come  from  curiosity  to  witness  the  operation. 
He  observed  that  the  house  was  scantily  furnished,  and 
other  evidences  of  the  poverty  of  the  family  were  appa- 
rent, and  he  inquired  whether  the  mother,  a  widow,  was 
ready  to  pay  the  $50  which  he  should  charge.  She  re- 
plied that  she  could  not  at  present,  bui  would  do  so  as 
soon  as  possible.  The  doctor  immediately  informed  the 
bystanders,  that  he  would  do  nothing  until  the  money 
was  paid,  and  asked  them  if  they  could  not  make  up  the 
amount.  This  was  soon  done,  but  not  without  many 
condemnations  of  the  hard-hearted  doctor,  who,  however, 
paid  no  attention  to  the  remarks,  but  immediately  went 
on  with  his  work,  which  he  performed  successfully.  As 
soon  as  it  was  over,  he  stepped  up  to  the  mother,  and  re- 
marking "the  boy  will  need  some  things  before  he  gets 
well,"  slipped  the  $50  into  her  hand,  and  was  ofl"  before 
he  could  hear  her  thanks,  or  the  loud  praises  of  those 
who  had  just  been  denouncing  him  as  a  grasping  miser. 

Boys*    and    Girls*    Garden  —  No.    6. 

Perhaps  it  will  be  best  for  our  young  friends,  before 
they  read  this  garden  talk,  to  look  over  again  the  les- 
sons for  July  and  August.  We  wish  you  to  be  perfectly 
familiar  with  what  is  said  in  July,  about  the  Flax  flower. 
We  have  taken  the  Flax  as  our  starting  point,  our  model 
flower,  and  ynu  can  not  have  its  structure  or  the  "way 
it  is  got  up,"  as  people  sometimes  say,  too  thoroughly  by 
heart.  We  there  showed  you  the  floral  envelopes — the 
calyx  and  corolla,  and  the  essential  organs— the  stamens 
and  pistils— in  their  relations  to  one  another.  In  August 
we  endeavored  to  show  you  how  this  plan  of  the  flower 
is  varied  to  produce  other  shapes,  and  illustrated  this  in 
various  ways.  We  showed  you,  by  means  of  the  Toma- 
to and  Morning  Glory,  that  a  variety  of  forms  could  be 
produced  by  the  union  or  growing  together  of  the  parts  of 
the  corolla,  and  that  in  the  Pea  we  had  a  very  different 
looking  flower,  by  the  unequal  size  of  the  petals,  and  the 
partial  union  of  two  of  them.  In  this  lesson  we  wish  to 
continue  to  show  the  variations  from  the  Flax,  our  pat- 
tern flower,  and  to  have  you  see  that  other  parts,  besides 
those  of  the  corolla,  can  unite  more  or  less  into  one  piece. 
If  you  examine  the  calyx  of  the  Pea,  you  will  see  that 


Fig.  27 — STA 


Fig.   28.— ptstil 

OF    FLAX. 


the  parts  or  sepals  are  joined  together.  So  you  see  that 
by  merely  uniting  the  parts  of  the  calyx  and  of  the  corol- 
la in  different  degrees,  we  get  a  great  variety  of  fashions. 
But  this  kind  of  union  is  not  confined  to  these  parts,  it 
extends  to  the  stamens  and  pistils.  The  flower  of  the 
Tomato  will  show  you  one  kind  of  union  of  the  corolla, 
if  you  gently  separate  the  stamens,  the  anthers  will  be 
found  to  be  joined  together  by  a  thin  film  or  skin.  The 
Pea  shows  the  union  of 
Ihe  stamens  in  a  much 
more  striking  manner. 
Carefully  pull  off  the  pe- 
tals of  a  Pea.  and  you 
will  find  that  the  stamens 
are  joined  together,  not 
this  time  by  their  anthers,  but  by  their  filaments.  So 
you  see  that  there  are  two  different  ways  by  which  sta- 
mens can  be  united.  The  united  stamens  of  the  Pea 
form  a  sort  of  tube  which  encloses  the  pistil,  but  the  tube 
is  not  a  perfect  one.  There  are  ten  stamens,  bul  one  ol 
these  is  not  joined  to  the  rest,  and  with  a  little  care  you 
can  separate  it,  leaving  nine  stuck  together  and  one  free. 
(Fig.  27.)  These  will  answer  for  illustrationsof  the  sev- 
eral different  ways  in  which  the  stamens  are  united. 
Union  between  the  pistils  is  very  common.  We  have 
not  said  a  great  deal  about  the  pistil  thus  far, but  this  is 
a  most  important  part  of  the  flower, 
and  we  shall  say  more  of  it  by  and 
by.  The  pistils  vary  greatly  in  num- 
ber ;  in  the  Pea  we  have  but  one,  and 
in  the  Flax  we  have  five,  but  they  are 
united  into  a  solid  body  by  their  ova- 
ries, though  their  styles  are  distinct. 
(Fig.  28.)  The  pistil  of  the  Morning 
Glory  consists  really  of  three  single 
pistils  joined  together  not  only  by  their 
ovaries,  but  by  their  styles  also.  There 
are  generally  as  many  cells  or  divi- 
sions in  the  ovary  as  there  are  pistils 
joined  together,  and  when  we  cut  the 
ovary  of  the  Morning  Glory  across, 
and  find  three  partitions  (fig.  29),  we 
may  be  safe  in  concluding  that  it  is 
not  a  simple  pistil,  but  one  formed  by 
the  joining  together  of  three  so  com- 
pletely as  to  appear  like  one.  In 
these  different  illustrations  we  have 
shown  the  union  of  parts  of  the  same  kind  with  one  an- 
other, as  of  petals  with  petals,  stamens  with  stamens,  etc. 
Now  we  wish  to  call  your  attention  to  a  different 
kind  of  union,  one  in  which  the  parts  of  one  set  are  joined 
(£§  to  those  of  another.     This  brings  us  to  an- 

other set  of  forms  of  the  flower,  and  those 
which  often  make  its  structure  difficult 
to  understand.  Beginning  with  the  floral 
envelopes,  we  often  find  the  calyx  and  co- 
rolla cohering  together,  as  will  be  seen  if 
you  examine  the  blossom  of  the  Melon 
or  Cucumber.  A  union  may  take  place 
between  the  stamens  and  the  corolla.  If 
you  split  open  the  flower  of  the  Morning 
Glory  you  will  see  (fig.  30)  that  the  lower 
parts  of  the  filaments  are  attached  to  the 
corolla.  Now  this  kind  of  union  may  go 
on  still  further,  and  the  stamens,  corolla 
and  calyx,  all  be  united  to  the  ovary.  The 
Melon  and  Cucumber  give  us  an  illustra- 
tion of  this  ;  here  (Fig.  31)  the  corolla  ap- 
pears to  come  out  of  the  top  of  the  ovary, 
but  really  the  other  parts  are  joined  to  the 
ovary  and  are  free  at  Ihe  top.  It  is  just  as 
if  the  other  parts  of  the  Flax  flower  stuck 
F.29.  DVAJftY.  to  its  ovary  and  only  appeared  above  it. 
Still  other  changes  are  produced  in  flowers  by  the  absence 
of  one  set  of  parts.  You  will  recollect  that  it  has  heen 
stated  that  the  stamens  and  pistils  were  the  essential 
parts ;  if  these  are  present,  the  flower  is  a  perfect  one, 
and  will  perfect  its  seeds 
no  matter  if  the  corolla  or 
calyx  or  both  are  absent. 
There  are  many  flowers 
which  have  a  calyx  and  no 
corolla,  and  many  others 
which  have  neither.  Among 
our  plants  chosen  for  il- 
lustration, the  Oat  has 
neither  calyx  nor  corolla*. 
It  is  rather  late  for  you  to 
examine  the  flower  of  the  Fig.  30.— corolla  of  the 
Oat,  but  you  may,  per-  morning  glorv— opened. 
haps  find  some  among  the  stubble  of  the  oat  field.  Here 
we  have  neither  calyx  or  corolla,  but  green  scaly,  or 
chaffy  parts  called  glumes.  Fig.  32,  will  help  you  to  un- 
derstand the  flower  of  the  Oat.  Beginning  below  you 
have  a  pair  of  empty  scales,  and  within  these  two  pairs 
of  scales,  and  inside  of  these  pairs  you  will  find  the  pis- 


1803.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


981 


til  and  stamens.  One  of  these  scales  usually  bears  a 
beard  or  bristle  as  shown  on  the  right  hand  of  Hie  Oat  fig- 
ure. Though  the  flower  of  the  Oat  lias  neither  calyx 
nor  corolla,  it  has  both  stamens  and  pistils,  hence 
it  is  perfect.  Where  either  stamens  or  pistils  are 
absent,  the  flower  is  imperfect.  In  the  Melon  and  Cu- 
cumber, and  all  of  the  Squash  family,  the  stamens  are 
contained  in  one  flower,  and  the  pistils  in  another.  In 
each  vine  some  of  the 
flowers  have  stamens  on- 
ly, and  are  staminate  or 
sterile,  and  other  flowers 
have  pistils  only,  and 
'are  pistillate  or  fertile. 
Fig.  31,  represents  the 
pistillate  flower  of  the 
Cucumber,  and  fig.  S3, 
the  staminate  flower. 
The  pistillate  flower  is 
easily  known  by  its  hav- 
ing its  ovary  apparently 
below  the  corolla,  this 
contains  no  stamens. 
-pistillate  flower  The  slaminate  flower, 
of  the  cucumber.  fig.  33,  has  no  pistil,  but 

stamens  only,  and  these  in  this  particular  family  of 
plants,  are  not  only  united,  but  the  anthers  are  bent  up  in 
a  most  curious  manner  as  shown  at  the  left  hand  of  the 
figure.  In  the  Melon,  Cucumber,  Squashes,  and  all 
plants  of  that  family,  we  have  the  staminate  and  pistillate 
flowers  both  in  the  same  plant,  but  there  are  many  cases 
in  which  these  are  in  separate  plants,  and  separated  still 
further,  as  in  the  Hemp,  Hop.  Willow,  etc.  Now  we 
have  already  stated  lhat  the  ovary— the  lower  part  of  the 
pistil — contained  the  ovules  which  were  to  become  seeds, 
<tm!  that  these  would  never  be  perfected  unless  the  pol- 
len—the fine  powder  furnished  by  the  anthers — came  in 
contact  with  the  stigma.  When  the  stamens  and  pistils 
are  both  In  the  same  flower — as  in  the  Flax — this  contact 
of  the  pollen,  or  fertilization  as  it  is  called,  can  readily 


Fig.  32— FLOWER    OF    OAT. 

take  place  ;  but  in  the  case  of  separated  flowejs  like  the 
Melon,  etc.,  the  pollen  has  to  be  carried  to  some  distance 
Deforeitcan  reach  the  pistils.  The  pollen  grains  (men- 
tioned in  the  July  lesson)  are  finer  than  the  finest  dust, 
and  are  readily  blown  about  by  the  winds.  This  is  one 
way  in  which  pollen  can  pass  from  a  staminate  to  a  pis- 
tillate flower,  but  insects  also  play  an  important  part. 
Bees  especially,  enter  flowers  for  their  sweet  juices, 
which  they  convert  into  honey,  and  for  pollen,  which  they 
use  as  food  for  their  young.  Every  one  has  noticed  how 
busy  bees  are  among  all  the  plants  of  the  Squash  family, 
to  which  the  Cucumber  and  Melon  belong.  They  go 
about  from  flower  to  flower  in  search  of  food,  and  at  the 
same  lime  they  cany  pollen  from  the  staminate  to  the 
pistillate  flowers,  and 
thus  render  the  plant 
an  important  service. 
We  have  probably 
said  enough  about  the 
various  shapes  which 
the  flower  assumes, 
rta       —    ~*^*'#£,''^a£L"T$&;    "  '°  enable  you   to  find 

out  In  all  our  wild 
flowers,  and  in  all  the 
cultivated  single  ones 
the  real  position  of 
the  parts.  General- 
ly you  will  find  lhat  flowers  differ  from  the  Flax  in  the 
union  of  parts  of  the  same  kind,  the  unequal  size  of  parts 
of  the  same  kind,  the  union  of  parts  of  different  kinds,  or 
the  absence  of  either  corolla,  stamens,  or  pistils.  We  do 
not  expect  to  teach  you  every  thing  about  plants  in  these 
lessons,  but  hope  that  you  will,  by  a  thorough  study  of  the 
illustrations  we  have  chosen,  get  such  a  general  idea  of 
plants,  and  see  that  there  is  so  much  about  them  that  is 
worth  studying,  that  you  will,  another  year,  take  up  some 
book  on  the  subject,  that  will  give  you  a  more  thorough 
knowledge  than  we  can  impart  in  these  short  lessons. 


Fig.  33— STAMINATE  FLOWER. 


ISuttoia-BIole    Scissors. 

Here  Boys,  is  something  useful  which  you  can  make 
for  your  mothers  and  sisters.  It  is  not  a  new  affair, 
though  most  things  are  new  to  boys.  The  one  from  which 
this  little  picture  is  sketched,  was  made  forty  nine  years 
ago,  and  is  good  yet!  An  aged  friend  of  ours,  whose 
"Golden  Wedding"  occurs  next  April,  soon  after  he  was 
married,  took  an  old  broken-pointed  pair  of  scissors  and 
filed  a  notch  out  of  each  blade, 
close  to  the  joint,  as  you  see  in 
the  engraving.  The  ends  were 
then  ground  off  so  as  to  leave 
about  half  an  inch  of  cutting 
blade,  or  just  enough  to  cut  the  smallest  button  hole. 
Larger  holes  can  be  made  by  a  second  cut  with  the  blades. 
The  next  time  you  see  mother  or  sister  trying  to  make  a 
button-hole  with  a  knife  or  a  chisel,  if  you  can  find  an 
old  broken  pair  of  scissors  or  shears,  go  privately  and  get 
them  up  something  convenient,  like  that  described  above. 
Be  careful  not  to  let  the  file  touch  the  cutting  edges  to  be 
left,  for  1  hey  should  be  sharp.  The  notches  should  be 
Yi  to  1  inch  long,  so  as  not  to  cut  the   edge  of  the  cloth. 


No.  50.    Illustrated  Rebus. — A  truln  too  ofien  forgotten. 


No.  51.  Mathematical  Problem. — The  following  was 
contributed  to  the  Agriculturist  by  Benjamin  Albertson, 
Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  unaccompanied  by  any  answer.  From  a 
hasty  examination,  it  appears  to  us  that  not  enough  con- 
ditions are  given  for  its  solution  ;  hut  we  submit  it  to  the 
mathematicians  among  our  readers,  for  their  decision. 
"A.  B.  and  C,  with  their  wives,  P.  Q.  and  It.,  went  to 
market  to  buy  pigs.  Each  man  and  each  woman  bought 
as  many  as  they  gave  shillings  for  each  pig.  A.  bought 
23  pigs  more  than  Q  ;  B.  bought  11  more  than  P.  ;  also 
each  man  laid  out  03  shillings  more  than  his  wife.  Which 
two  persons  were  man  and  wife  V* 


Questions  to  Teach  Observation. 

Do  cats  and  dogs  have  the  same  number  of  claws  or 
nails  on  each  foot  ?  What  is  the  difference  in  the  manner 
of  cattle  and  horses  rising,  after  lying  down?  What  is 
the  difference  in  the  teeth  of  horses  and  cattle?  How 
many  have  each  ?  How  many  has  the  sheep  ?  Answers 
to  these  need  not  be  sent  in,  as  all  can  ascertain  them  by 
simply  examining  for  themselves. 


Answers  to  Problems  and  Puzzles. 

Answers  to  Problems  and  Puzzles  in  August  number, 
(page  249).  No.  47.  Illustrated  Rebus.— He  bears  (or  she 
bears)  the  palm,  that  ch  ear  full  y  follows  duty;  or,  He 
bears  the  palm  that  cheerfully  follows  duty.  No.  43, 
Arithmetical  Problem.  He  travels  40  miles  an  hour  in 
going,  and  25  miles  an  hour  in  returning.  No.  49,  Arith- 
metical Problem,  has  thus  far  received  no  answers  by  our 
readers;  we  therefore  leave  it  unanswered  for  another 
month.  Note.-*~ln  printing  the  answer  to  No.  46,  last 
month,  the  figures  were  accidentally  reversed.  It  should 
read,  A,  should  receive  $98  and  232-331  ;  B,  $171  and  99- 
331.  TIk;  last  figures  are  fractions,  not  cents  and  deci- 
mals, as  some  misunderstood. 


No.  52.     An   Enigma.— Contributed   to   the   American 
Agriculturist  by  W.  Painter,  Harford  Co.,  Md. 

I'm  a  mystical  word  as  you  may  perceive, 
And  oft  appertain  to  the  daughters  of  Eve  ; 
My  pliant  good  nature  no   mortal  may  doubt, 
For  I  still  am  the  same,  tho'  you  turn  me  about. 

If  you  cut  me  in  twain  each  part  you  will  find 
Is  composed  of  materials  of  just  the  same  kind. 
Divide  me  in  three,  ami,  if  rightly  disposed, 
Of  a  double  each  portion  you'll  find  is  composed. 

Though  intended  by  Nature  for  care  and  protection, 
You  would  think  that  I  oft  stood  in  need  of  correction, 
For  sometimes  asunder  I  rudely  am  torn. 
And  to  far  distant  countries  each  portion  is  borne  ; 

One  half  you  will  find  in  the  far  distant  South, 
In  a  Town  by  a  river  not  far  from  its  mouth  ; 
While  the  other  (oh  !  shame  that  I  thus  am  abused,) 
In  a  Town  far  in  Europe  is  constantly  used. 

Like  true  love  lhat  burns  with  a  still  constant  flame, 
My  beginning  and  ending  are  always  the  same  : 
And  to  make  you  more  closely  my  case  understand, 
I  may  say  that  my  half  is  now  fast  in  your  hand. 


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articles  are  also  all  excellent. 


Table  of  Premiums  for  ISO  1. 


Names  of  Premium  Articles, 


c  « 

So 


A— Good  Books— See  terms  below  * 

B— Best  Family  Clothes  Wringer $700 

C— Nonpareil  \Vasl1in2:  Machine.   . .  $16  00 

D— Sewing  Machine,  ("Wheeler  &  Wilson)..  §45  00 

E— Sewlns  Machine,  (Wilcox  As  dibits) $40  00 

F — Woodruff's  Mercurial  Barometer $8  00 

(J— Woodruff's  Mercurial  Barometer $12  00 

H— The  Aquarius $10  00 

I— Five  Octave  Melodeon  (best) $S0  00 

J— Four  Octave  Melodeon  (best).. $55  00 


.13 -c 


SS  IN 
~  44 

>  -"  £  93  73 

£   S3  4S 
^  SI  24 

Si  so 


K— Seven  back  Volumes  Agricultiuist, 
L — Six         do  do  do 

M— Five     do  do  do 

N— Four     do  do  do 

()— Three   do  do  do 

P— Two     do  do  do 

Q— One      do  do  do 

It— Jacob's  Portfolio  Paper  File _, 

S— Osborn  &  Hodgkinson's  Paints- $1  so 

T— Premium  Cylinder  Plow. $10  00  [      S3 

V— Eagle  Plow  No.  30 S9  35  I      30 

V— Hay  and  Straw  Cutter  (hesti $9  00        33 

W— Steel-tooth  Cultivator  (best) ST  50        35 

X— Family  Lard  and  Wine  Press $7  00  1      24 

*Boolcs.— Any  person  sending  in  25  or  more  subscribers, 
may  select  from  our  book  list  (page  285)  to  the  a  mount 
of  10  cents  for  each  name  sent  in  at  the  club  price  of  80 
cents,  or  to  the  amount  of  30  cents  for  each  name  at  $1. 
(No  books  sent  for  less  than  25  names).  The  premium 
books  will  be  delivered  anywhere  in  the  United  States, 
or  to  (he  border  of  the  "British  Provinces,  free  of  a  U 
cost,  by  mail  or  express.  Many  Farmers'  Clubs  have, 
by   means  of  this  premium,  obtained   a  good   library. 


§3 


45 

90 
195 

1ST. 
63 
04 
67 
840 
234 
64 
58 
49 


54 


982 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[September, 


Agricultural  Exhibitions  in  1863. 

STATE    I  AM KS. 

AuiPr.  Insti.  New-York.  .Academy  Music Sept.  3 — 23 

Intel  n'l  Wheat  Show....  Rochester,  N.  Y....     ■■     8—10 

National  Horse  Fair Hartford,  Conn "     8—10 

New-Jersey Patterson "     8 — II 

Vermont Rutland  ■•     8—11 

Illinois  (Hurt.) Rockford ••    8—11 

Iowa Dubuque *'  2'^ — 25 

Penneyl.  Horti.  Society.. Philadelphia "  15—17 

New-York Ut.ic-a ■'  15—18 

Ohio Cleveland •■  15— IS 

Canada   East Montreal ■■   15—18 

Kentucky Louisville "   15— 19 

Colorado Denver  City *'   17 — 18 

Canada  West Kingston  ■■  21—25 

Michigan  Kalamazoo ■•23—20 

California Sacramento "  26— 30 

Illinois Decatur Sept. 28— Oct.  2 

Indiana Indianapolis..  Sept.  28— Oct.    3 

Pennsylvania Norristown "     29 —   "     2 

Ainer.  Grape  Show New-York Oct.    1 — 3 


COIATV    PAIRS. 


MAINE. 

Franklin Farmington". 

CumberlM  and  Portl'd.  .Portland  .   .. 


..Sept.  30— Oct.    I 
Oct.  14— 


MASSACHUSETTS.; 

Highland Middlefield Sept. 

Worcester  Co.  Hort..  ..Worcester 

Middlesex Concord    

Middlesex — South Framing  ham 

Hoosic  Valley Ninth  Adams 

Franklin Greenfield 

Middlesex— North Lowell 

Norfolk Dedhnm 

Woicesler — West Bar  re 

Worcester— Southeast.. Milford 

Essex Andover 

Nantucket Nantucket 

Woicesler— North Filchburgh    Sept.  29 

Hampshire,  Franklin,  <fc 

Hampden    Northampton Oct. 

Worcester — South Slur  bridge 

Ilousatonic Great  Barrington 

Plymouth    Bridgewater 

Hampshire Nonhampton 

Berkshire Piltsfield 

Bristol  Taunton 

Barnstable Barnstable 

Hampden Springfield 

Hampshire Amherst 

Hampden— East Palmer 

Maltha's  Vineyard Oct. 


10— 

15-18 

17— 

22— 

22— 

24— 

24— 

21— 

21— 

29— 

29— 

29— 

Oct.  1 

1  — 

1  — 
I— 
1—  2 
0— 


13— 

20— 


CONNECTICUT. 

Windham Brooklyn Sept.  22 — 24 

New-London Norwich Sept.  29 — Oct.  2 


NEW-YORK. 
.  Saratoga  Springs. 


..Sept.     1- 


Saratoga    

Oneida Rome 

Rensselaer Troy ••      7- 

Broome Binghampton "       8 

Monroe    Rochester ■■      8' 

Washington Salem "■      9- 

Lewis Lowville   '■       9- 

Erie BufTalo ■■     1,6- 

Seneca Ovid ••     lfi — 

Orleans Albion "     17 

Chenango Oxford "    21 

Cattaraugus Clean "    22 

St.  Lawrence    Canton "    22 

Ulster Kingston •■     22 

Oswego Mexico "    22 — ' 

Dutcness Washington  Hollow.  ■■     22 

Herkimer Ilion '"    23 

Warren French  Mountain. ..  ■■     23—' 

Susquehanna  Valley  . .  .Umulilla •■    24 

Schuyler  Watkins ■■     24 

Chenango Norwich Sept.  26 — Oct, 

JelFelson Walei  tow  n Sept.  29- 

Cayuga Auburn '•     29- 

Y'ales Penn  Yan ••     29— 

Genesee Batavia Sept.  30— Oct. 

Otsego Cooperstown. . ..     ••  30 —   '" 

Columbia Hudson "  29 —   " 

Delaware Delhi "  29 —   " 

Albany Albany "  29—'" 

Queens Hempstead Oct.  1- 

NEW-JERSEY. 

Glen  wood,  (Susq.  Co.).  Glen  wood Sept. 

Burlington Mt.  Holly Oct. 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

Susquehanna Montrose Sept.  30- 

Wyoming Wyoming Oct. 


INDIANA. 

Fayette Connersville Sept. 

Morgan Centreton 

Harrison Corydon   " 

lit hicks Danville " 

Posey New  Harmony Oct. 

ILLINOIS. 

Vermillion Catlin  Sept. 

La  Salle Oltawa 

McDonougn Macomb 

De  Kalb De  Kalb 

Winnebago Rockford 

Morgan Jacksonville  . 

Union   Warren 

Mercer Millersburg  . . 

Mouignmery Hillsboro 

Tazewell Tremont Oct. 

Lee Dixon 

IOWA. 

Scott Davenport  ... 

Floyd Charles  City . 


15—17 
6—  7 

-Oct.  1 
20—22 

1—  4 
8—11 
8-11 

15—17 


1—  4 
8—11 
9—11 

15—17 
15—18 
15—18 
21—24 
22-24 
22—25 
7—  9 
14—16 


.Sept.    7—11 
.      •  •     23  -  24 


OHIO. 

Ashtabula Jefferson Sept. 

Stark Canton 

Muskingham Bamsvilie 

Frankiin Columbus " 

Madison London 

Highland Hillsboro •• 

Geauga Burton " 

Warren Lebanon 

Columbiana New-Lisbon 

Marion Marion 

Richland Mansfield •■ 

Trumbull Oall  Grove Sept.  29- 


30- 
30- 
30- 
30- 
30- 
30- 
30- 
Oct. 


Lake Painesville. 

Delaware Delaware 

Harrison Cadiz 

Miami Troy 

Pickaway Circleville 

Summit Ackron 

Seneca Tiffin    

Van  Wirt Van  Wirt 

Paulding Antwerp 

Mahoning Youngstowu 

Loraine Elyria 

Cuyahoga Cleveland 

Stark Canton 

MICHIGAN. 

Hillsdale  and  Lanawee.  Hudson 

Oakland Pontine 

CALIFORNIA. 

Santa  Clara  Valley....  San  Jose Sept.  16— 

Contra  Costa Pacheco ■•     21—25 

San  Joaquin Stockton *•    22—25 

CANADA  WEST. 

Lanark Almonte 

South  Lanark Perth 

West  Middlesex Strathroy  ... 

into Toronto 


2—  4- 

7—  9 

8—11 

8—11 

9—11 

9-11 

9—11 

23—25 

23—25 

23—25 

29—  1 

■Oct.  1 

-  •    2 

-  ■•    2 

-  ••    2 

-  ••   2 

-  "'  2 

-  •    2 
■■    2 

1—  2 
I—  2 
6..  8 
6—  9 
6—  9 
t_  9 


Oct.     6—  8 

••       7—9 


.Sept. 


Ton 

Huron,  (Clint.  Branch,). Clinton  . 

Durham— West Newcastle 

WISCONSIN. 

Vernon,  (Bad  Ax,) Viroqua 

Green  Lake  Berlin . 

Sheboygan Sheboygan  Falls. 

Monroe Sparta 

SUNDRY'  COUNTIES. 

Champlain  Valley Vergennes,  (Vt) 

Newcastle Wilmington, (Del). . . 

Gasconade Herman,  (Mo) 

King's  Co Springfield,  (N.  B.!.. 

Davis Farmington,  (Utah). 


15— 
17—18 
Oct.     1— 
••       6—  8 


.Sept.  22—24 
.  ••  23—24 
.  •'  23—24 
.   Oct.     8—  9 


Sept.  16—17 
.Oct.    6—  8 
Sept.  23—24 
Oct.  22— 
Sept.  25—26 


1- 

-  3 

9- 

-11 

10- 

11 

15- 

-111 

21- 

-2'1 

23- 

-'Jl 

22- 

-'.!l 

6- 

-  7 

6- 

-  8 

9- 

-11 

•_"J  - 

-24 

22- 

-24 

23- 

-25 

23- 

-25 

-Oc 

:.  1 

2 

2 

TOWN    FAIRS. 

NEW-YORK. 

Trenton Trenton  Falls Sept. 

Westfiekl Chalauqua 

Ellisburgh  and  Adams.  .Ellisburgh  •' 

Afton,  (  Co.).   ..Afton ■■ 

Oxford,  (Chenango  Co.). Oxford ■■ 

Harpersville      Harpersville 

Brookfiehl,  (Madis.  Co.)  Clockville ■■ 

Hamilton,  (  Co.)  East  Hamilton Oct. 

Kirlland,  (Oneida  Co.). Clinton 

OHIO. 

Twinsburgh Twinsburgh Sept. 

Orwell  Orwell •• 

Geauga  Free Claridon 

Conneaught Conneaught 

Madison,  (Franklin  Co.)  Groveport 

Union Garreltsville Sept.  29- 

Union,  (Clinton  Co.)... Blanchester  ..  ..     ■■     29- 
Tuscarawas  Valley  ...  .Massillon •■     30- 


Business  Notices. 

"  Eighty  Cents  a  Line  of  space. 

[Eif  Pare  and  Economical  Articles 

for  Family  Use.— 

Pyle's  Cream  Tartar, 
Pyle's  Salcratus, 
Pylc's  Baking  Soda, 
Pyle's  O.  K.  Soap. 
Housekeepers  will  find  these  articles  reliable,  and  the 
cheapest  in  the  end.     Sold  by  Grocers  everywhere. 
JAMES  PYLE,  Manufacturer, 
350  Washington-street,  corner  Franklin,  New-Y*ork. 

THE   CRAIG  MICROSCOPE. 

This  is  the  best  and  cheapest  microscope  in 
the  world  for  general  use.  It  requires  no  fo- 
cal adjustment,  magnifies  about  100  diameters 
or  10,000  times,  and  is  so  simple  that  a  child 
can  use  it.  It  will  be  sent  by  mail,  postage 
paid,  on  the  receipt  of  $2.25,  or  with  six  beauti- 
ful mounted  objects  for  $3,  or  with  24  objects 
for  $5.       Address  HENRY  CRAIG, 

ISO  Centrc-st.,  New- York. 

A  liberal  discount  to  the  trade. 

Lands— To  All  Wanting  Farms. 

Large  and  thriving  settlement  of  Vineland,  mild  cli- 
mate, 30  miles  south  of  Philadelphia,  by  railroad  ;  rich 
soil ;  fine  crops  ;  twenty  acre  tracts,  at  from  $15  to  $20 
per  acre;  payable  within  four  years.  Good  business 
openings  ;  good  society.  Hundreds  are  settling  and  mak- 
ing improvements.  Apply  to  CHAS  K,  LANDIS,  Post- 
master, Vineland,  Cumberland  County,  N.  J.  Letters 
answered.  Papers  containing  full  information  sent  free. 


The  Markets. 


American  -Agriculturist  Office.      f 
New- York,  Wednesday  Morning,  Aug.  1'.),  [868,  ( 

1.  TRANSACTIONS   AT  TI1M  NEW-YORK   MARKETS. 

Receipts.  Flour.    Wheat.    Corn.    Rye.    Barley.    Oats. 

26  davs^/.vm'th  350.000  2,301,000  2,619.01)0  102.500  37.000  97-1,000 
24  du'ystasdiftli  552.000  2,874,000  2,709,000    48,000    2S.500  1,255.(X>0 

Sales.  Flour.  Went.  Corn.  Rye.  Barley. 
36  days  Mite  month-,  sos.ooo  2,5*4.000    2.197.000      si.ooo     

24  days  last  month,  411,000    2,929,000    2,906,000        93,000      11,000 

JJ.                Comparison  icltk  name  time  last  year. 
receipts.  Flour.     Wheat.    Corn.      Rye.  Barley.  Oa'.t. 

26  days  1863.,  ..350.000  2,301.000  2.619,000  102.500  37,000  974,000 
20  days  1362 481,000  3,270,000  2,510.000  132,000    53,000      4::7,OuO 

bales.  Flour.       Wheat.       Corn.         Rye.     Barley. 

26  days  1803 3O3.000      2,584,000    2,197.000      »81,000        

26daysl802 576,000      5,430,000    2,980,000      11S.000        

3.         Exports  from  New-York,  Jan.  1,  to  Aug.   19. 

Flour.  Wheat.  Corn.  Rye.  Oats. 

Bbts.  Bush.  Bush.         Bush.       Bush. 

1*03 1.597.421      10,128,398        6,901,661  377,siH         112.375 

862 2,018,540     12,461,076       8.103,203         987,851  24,625 

The  Domestic  Produce  Markets  have  been  exceedingly 
dull  the  past  month,  owing  in  part  to  the  extreme  heat, 
but  especially  to  the  great  decline  in  the  relative  value 
of  gold  as  compared  with  currency.  We  have  repeatedly 
shown  that  the  high  premium  on  gold  was  directly  ad- 
vantageous to  farmers  ;  so  the  fall  in  gold  disturbs  nom- 
inal prices  and  reduces  the  demand  for  export.  With  the 
fall  of  gold  the  value  and  demand  for  breadstuff's  to  ex- 
port is  diminished.  The  expected  fall  of  Charleston  lias 
led  dealers,  and  especially  exporters,  to  anticipate  a  still 
further  decline  in  gold,  and  hence  they  have  been  un- 
willing to  buy  breadstuff's.  The  tables  above  show  the 
amount  of  sales,  and  of  receipts,  the  latter  diminished  in 
part  by  a  break  in  the  Erie  Canal.  Really  good  lots  <>f 
new  flour,  grain,  and  of  mixed  corn  are  yet  scarce,  and 
the  market  for  these  is  firm  . . .  The  Oats  and  Rye  receiv- 
ed have  mostly  been  greatly  inferior,  and    difficult  to  sell. 

Not  much  done    in    Bailey  at   this   season         Cotton 

advanced  moderatly.  but  closes  lame,  and  prices  tending 
downward  .  Provisions  unsettled,  by  fall  in  gold — the 
chief  inquiry  being  I'm-  hog  products  —  "Wool  is  similar' 
Iv  affected  by  gold,  and  buyers  are  shy  of  purchasing. 
The  auction  sales  in  Boston  August  4th,  and  in  New- 
York  Aug.  12th.  were  spritless  ;  Hie  sales  at  low  rales.. 
..Hops  are  in  good  request  at  full  prices,  owing  to  un- 
favorable reports  from  the  chief  growing  districts  ..  Hay 
scarce,  in  good  demand,  and  at  firmer  rates.  North  River 
Bale  Hay  clones  buoyantly  at  90c.  (a)  $1.15  per  100  lbs.... 
Tobacco  lias  been  more  freely  purchased  at  easier  prices 

In  most  other  Agricultural  products  the  transactions 

have  been  limited.  The  tahle  below  will  show  the 
changes  in  prices  and  the  present  rates. 

Current  Wholesale  Prices. 

July  IS.  August  19. 

Flottr— Snper  to  Extra  State  $4  00    ©  5  50     $3  a5    ©  5  25 

Suprrnne  Western.. 4  00    ©  4  50       3  85    ©  4  35 

Extra  Western 5  00    ©  9  00        4  50    ©  8  60 

Extra  Genesee 5  60    ©  7  25       5  30    ©  7  00 

Super,  to  Extra  Southern     . .      5  80    ©  9  00        5  25    ©  8  75 
Ryb  Flour— Fine  and  Sn.ner.    3  40    ®  5  20       3  40    ©5  25 

Corn  Meat .-.     4  00    ©  4  40        3  90     ®  4  30 

Wheat—AII  kinds  of  WliUV  .    1  40    ®  1  60       l  27 y.&  l  45 

All  kinds  of  Red 1  08    ©  1  32  85  "@  1  30 

Corn— Yellow 76^®      79  69    ©      78 

Mixed... 64    @      66  66    ©      68>$ 

Oats— Western 73    @     75  55    ©     61 

State 75    @      76  62    ©      65 

Rye 90    ©  1  03  80    ©      90 

Piarley Nominal.  Nominal. 

Beans— per  bushel..., 2  00   ©  3  30      2  00   ®  3  35 

Cotton— Middlings,  per  lb..  .  ©      60  67    @      67« 

Hops,  crop  of  1802,  per  lb 14    @      21  15    @      22 

Feathers,  Live  Geese,  p.  lb..        48    ®      50  48    ®      53 

Seed— Clover,  per  lb Nominal.  1}4@       8 

Timothy,  per  bushel Nominal.  1  8.K®  2  25 

Flax,  per  bushel...  Nominal.  2  10    @  2  40 

Sugar— Brown,  ner  lb 9    @    12K  9    @      13 

MoLABSES.Ne w-Orleans,  p.gL.       85    @     48         35    ®     45 
Coffee.  Rio,  per  lb  .....    w       27    @      29#       25>£@      28^ 
ToraCOO— Keutucky.&cp.lK.       12    %      SO  9    ®     23 

Seed  Leaf,  per  lh 10    ^40         15    ®     45 

Wool— Domestic  fleece,  p. lb..  65  @      80  60  ®      75 

Domestic,  pulled,  per  lb 55  @      75  55,s®      70 

Wool.  California,  unwashed..  25  ®      55  25  %      50 

Tallow,  per  lb. . .  9J<@     10  10M®     10X 

Oil  Cake,  per  tun Si  00  (^45  00  38  50  (.7,44  00 

Pork— Mess,  per  bbl. 18  75  @  13  25  @13  37^ 

Prime,  per  bid 1100  ©1125  10  50  @10  75 

Beef— Plain  mess 9  50  ©1175  10  00  ®12  25 

Lard,  in  bbls.,  per  lb    .  9#@      10  O^j®      10J< 

Butter— Western,  per  lb 14  @      17  14  @      17»< 

State,  per  lb. 15  @      21  16  @      22 

Cheese 9  @      11  8  @      11^ 

Broom  Corn— ner  lb 8  @      10  8  @      10 

Eggs— Fresh,  per  dozen 18  @      20  14  ®      16 

Poultry— Fowls,  per  lb 10  @      16  16  @      18 

Ducks,  per  pair 1  00  ©  1  75 

Geese, each 1  00  @  1  50 

Turkevs,  per  lb 8  ®      10  18  ®      20 

Potatoes— Dvkman,  p.  bbl..  3  00  ©  3  50  1  50  ©  2  00 

Mercers,  per  bbl 8  50  ©  4  00  1  75  ©  2  00 

Sweet,  Delaware  per  bbl 6  50 

Turnips— Rata  baga,  per  bbl  1  50  ®  1  75  1  25  ©  1  50 

Onions  lied  &  Yellow  p.  bbl.  3  00  ©  3  25  8  50 

Caijuages,  per  100 4  00  ©  6  00  4  00  @  6  00 

Dried  Apples,  per  lb 4  @       &%  5  @       7 

Dried  Peaches,  per  lb-    —  15  @      16  15  ®      16 

PBA.OHBS,  choice  per  basket.  1  50  ©  1  75 

Peaches,  common  per  basket  75  @  1  25 

Apples,  choice,  per  bbl 2  50  ©  3  50 

Apples,  common,  per  bbl..,.  1  25  ®  2  00 

Pears,  Bartb-tt,  per  bid 10  00  ©15  00 

Pears,  common,  per  bbl 1  76  @  5  00 

Pumpkins,  (licese,  per  100. .  S  00  ©12  00 

Tomatoes,  per  bushel 50  ©     75 

N.  If.  liiv*^  StoolcMarUets.— The  Cattle 
markets  have  been  fairly  supplied  during  the  past  five 
weeks,  the  average  being  5,217  head  per  week.  With  a 
lessened  demand  in  hot  weather  the  city  prices  fell  %c, 
per  lb.  the  second  week  ami  lc.  more  at  the  next  market. 
Only  3.9')0  bullocks  were  received  during  the  next  week, 
and  prices  went  up  lc.  without  supplying  the  demand. 
For  the  week  ending  August  18th  Hie  very  hn-e  number 
of  6,302  were  received,  and  over  6,000  sold  at  a  decline  of 
a;c.  from  the  previous  week.  This  was  the  largest  sup- 
ply since  September  of  lust  year.  Prices  ranged  from  10c. 


1803.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


983 


to  IO'jC.  per  lb.  estimated  dressed  weight  for  prime 
animals  ;  8Vc.fS9';c.  for  fair  to  good,  6c.liti8c.  for  very 
poor  lo  ordinary,  the  average  of  all  sales  being  SJic, 
making  a  decline  of  iXc.  for  the  month. 

Sheep  ami  t,aml>s.— The  average  receipts 
amount  to  12,5119  per  week.  They  have  been  selling  vvell 
nl  nearly  uniform  rates;  or  5c.(®S?ic.  per  Ih.  live  weight, 
for  ordinary  to  prime  sheep— a  few  6c.  Lambs  are  worth 
?■'<•. to«v.c,  and  if  extra  fat,  9c.  Store  sheep  for  Fall  and 
Winter  feeding  are  selling  at  $3X®4M  each. 

Live  Hogs.— Receipts  average  9,352  for  the 
past  five  weeks;  They  have  been  selling  slowly  during 
the  extreme  hot  weaiher.  Aug.  18th,  prime  corn-fed 
lings  were  worth  404&C,  and -still-fed  3Ji'c  per  lb.  live 
weight,  a  decline  of  more  than  lc.  per  lb.  this  month. 

Tin-  Weatliei — Has  been  hot,  and  showery, 
for  musl  of  the  month— just  adapted  lo  make  corn  grow. 
A  go,„i  ileal  of  thunder.  Our  daily  notes,  condensed, 
read  Jul//  22  to  24,  clear,  warm— 25.  cloudy,  heavy  rain 
al  night— 26,  clear,  hot.  90°— 27.  showers— 28,  clear,  hot. 
thunder  shower  at   night— 29  to   31,  warm,  with   showers 

each    day August    I    to  5,   clear,    hot,    the    mercury 

reaching' 94°  in  the  shade  on  the  3d — 6,  hot,  with  heavy 
thunder  shower— 7,  clear,  warm— 8,  9,  thunder  showers- 
Ill,  clear,  hot— 11,  thunder  shower— 12  lo  15,  clear,  cool- 
er—16,  heavy  thunder  shower— 17,  light  rain— 18  lo  20, 
clear,  fine,  moderately  cool. 

Rain  Fall  for  July,  8.76  inches— a  very  large  ouan- 
titv  for  one  month.  The  Barometer  ranged  from  29.50  to 
30.10. 

Thermometer  at  6  A.  M.,  New- York. 

[Observations  carefully  made  upon  a  standard  Ther- 
mometer (Fahrenheit.) — r  indicates  rain — s,  snow.] 


2... 

3 

4 

5 

6... 

..   66 

...70 

70 

70 

67  r 

. . .  CiHi 

.     67 

...72 
...74 
...76 

8   . 
9.. 

10.. 

Ill 

12 
13   . 
14 

4.. 
5.. 

1  6.. 

JULY. 

..   70r]15   70r|22 

...67    16 71r  23.... 

...6Sr|l7....   .66H24.... 
...68  118  .    ...65  125.... 

.63  ,29. . . 
.64    30... 
.65  |31... 

70  | 

70i|Aver 

...71r 
...73r 
...72r 

e.68°. 

1... 

2... 
3... 

AUGUST. 

...73     8 72rll... 

...71r|  9 71  Il2.... 

.72  113... 
.75r  14... 
.72  |l5... 

67 
...69 
...73 

Rack  Volumes  &-  ^fiuwl>ers  For  Sale. 

Wc  have  complete  sets  of  Vols.  16, 17, 18, 19,  20.  and  21,  both 

unbound,  and  bound  in  neat  covers  with  gilt  lettered  backs. 

PRICES    AT    THE    OFFICE. 

Volumes  16, 17,18,19,20,  and  21,  unbound $1,00  each. 

Volumes  10,  17,  13,19,20.  and  21,  bound $1.50  each. 

PRICES    WHEN    SENT    POST-PAID    BY    MAIL. 
(  Tltey  can  not  go  unpaid,) 

Volumes  16, 17, 18, 19,  20,  or  21,  unbound $1.24  each. 

Volumes  16,  17,  18,  19,  20,  or  21,  boimd $2.00  each. 

Biniliiig.— Sets  of  numbers  sent  to  the  office  will  be 
bound  up  neatly  (in  our  regular  style  of  binding  the  Agricul- 
turist) for  50  cents  a  volume. 

Prkpared  Covers.— Covers  for  binding,  neatly  made,  with 
title,  etc.,  gilt  upon  the  back,  ready  for  the  insertion  of  the 
sheets  by  any  bookbinder,  can  be  furnished  for  Vols.  12,  to  21 
inclusive,  at  25  cents  per  cover.     Covers  can  not  go  by  niaii. 

Circulation  of  the  Agriculturist. 

Bpyoml  all  doubt  or  controversy,  tile  cireu- 
l;M  ion  of  (He  American  Agriculturist  to  regu- 
lar subscribers,  is  many  thousands  greater 
ili;in  that  of  any  other  Agricultural  or  Hor- 
ticultural .Journal  in  the  "World,  no  matter 
iv hat  its  character,  or  time  or  place  of  issue* 
The  publisher  is  ready  at  all  times  to  sub- 
stantiate this  statement  by  comparing  books. 

%  b  It  e  r  t  i  s  e  m  t  it  t  s . 

Advertisements  to  be  sure  of  insertion  must  be  re- 
ceived at  latest  by  the  1 5th  of  the  preceding-  month- 
TERMS—  (invariably  cash  before  insertion) : 

FOR  TIIK  ENGLISH    EDITION  ONLY. 

Fifty  rents  per  line  of  space  for  each  insertion. 

One  whole  column  (145. lines),  or  more,  $60  per  column. 

gjf  Business  Notices,  Eighty  cents  per  line  of  space. 

FOR  THE  GERMAN  EDITION  ONLY. 

Ten  cent*  per  lint'  of  space  for  each  insertion. 
In  both  English  and  German,  Fifty-five  cents  per  line. 
One  whole  column  (130  lines),  or  more,  $10  per  column, 
jyilusiness  Notices,  twenty  cents  a  line. 

CEWARD  FEMALE  INSTITUTE.— Hon.  Wni. 
*^H.  Seward,  President—Miss.  Mary  E.  Hotchkiss,  Principal. 
Winter  Session  opensOctober  19th,  Board  and  tuition—  Eug- 
lteb  and  French,  $140  per  year. 

Location  Florida,  Oranae  Co.,  N.  Y 
References  Rev.  James  Eidls,  D.D.  Brooklyn  and  R.G.  Pardee 
599  Broadway,  New-York. 

AGENTS 

Wanted  everywhere  to  sell  WOODRUFF'S  PATENT 
PORTABLE  BAROMETERS. 

CHARLES  WILDER,  Peterboro',  N.  H. 

A  GARDNER  (married— German)  who  thorough- 
ly understands  every  branch  of  gardening,  Care  of  houses, 
laying  out  grounds,  and  can  give  good  references,  desires  a 
situation.  A.  M.  HENNING.  Hoboken,  N.  J. 


J.  C.  Taylor,  Holmdel  N.  J.,  Breeder  of  "Webb  South  Down  Sheep. 


Would  say  to  the  readers  of  the  Agriculturist,  after  15  years  experience,  that  no  Bheep  for  mutton,  wool,  easy  keeping 
and  as  a  cross,  either  to  produce  wethers  or  early  lambs  for  the  butcher,  can  equal  the  South  Down,  and  that  no  South 
Downs  have  reached  the  perfection  of  the  Webb  South  Down.  Having  made  it  my  constant  aim  to  stand  ahead  of  all  other 
breeders  for  9  years  past,  and  procured  of  Mr.  Webb  his  very  choicest  stock  animals  by  much  effort  and  fabulous  prices, 
I  now  claim  to  have  a  flock  that  has  no  superior  in  England  or  America,  and  now  oner  rams,  ewes,  ram  lambs,  and  ewe 
lambs  for  sale,  at  prices  according  to  quality  and  age,  from  $22  to  $150  each. 

Wishing  to  show  mv  flock  to  All;  Persons  leaving  either  New  York  or  Philadelphia  at  6  A.  M„  on  Camden  and  Amboy 
R.  R.  for  Freehold,  can  reach  my  place  at  11  A.M.,  examine  my  sheep  2><  hours,  and  reach  either  city  the  same  evening.  The 
Kevport  boats  now  leave  foot  of  Robinson-st.  at  4  P.  M.,  in  a  few  week3  at  3  P.  M. 

Inquire  at  Agriculturist  oflice  of  H.  B.  LANE. 


Saratoga  Springs   Remedial 
Institute. 

THIS  INSTITUTION  WAS  ESTABLISHED  TO  MEET 
the  wants  of  a  class  of  Patients  who  feel  the  necessity  of 
leaving  their  homes  for  medical  aid.  Its  location  was 
chosen  in  view  of  the  medicinal  advantages  of  the  Springs. 

Since  graduating  at  the  New- York  Medical  University,  we 
have  availed  ourselves  of  the  facilities  found  only  in  our 
large  cities  for  the  studv  of  disease,  and  have  given  special 
attention  to  those  of  Women  ;  also,  of  the  Throat,  Heart,  and 
Lungs. 

As  medical  practitioners  we  treat  all  diseases;  but  Chronic 
Affections  claim  our  principal  attention. 

While  this  is  not  a  Water-cure,  the  invalid  will  find  a  good 
gymnasium,  and  all  the  facilities  of  a  well-conducted  scien- 
tific Hydropathic  Establishment. 

The  home  reputation  of  a  physician  should  be  the  basis  of 
public  confidence.  For  a  fuller  knowledge  of  the  Institute, 
we  refer  to  our  Circular,  and  the  reliable  citizens  of  our 
village. 

The  medical  profession  are  invited  to  acquaint  themselves 
with  the  Institution. 

S.  S.  STRONG,  M.  D..  ,  Saratoga  Springs, 
S.  E.  STRONG,  M.  D.,  J  N.  YT 

HEFEKENTES.-Kcv.  IhMiop  E.  S.  Janes,  D.  I).,  New- 
York-  Rev.  Bishop  M.  Simpson,  D.  D„  Evanston,  111.;  Rev.  E. 
Nott,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.  President  of  Union  College,  Schenecta- 
dy. N.  Y.;  Rev.  Abel  Steven?,  LL.  D..  X.  Y  ;  Rev.  John  Wood- 
bridge,  Saratoga  Springs,  N.  Y.;  Hon.  J.  B.  McKeau,  Sarato- 
ga Springs,  N  Y. 

Canvassinof  Agents 


ALL 


wanted  in 
PARTS  OF    THE   COIXTRY 


'ANTED — By  a  young    man  20  years  of  a^'e,  a 
situation  witli  an  Intelllgeiit^Fiuit  Grower  to  learn  the 


w 

Situation   Willi   Hll  lllirnigeui  r  I'Ull  Li 

business.    Address,  Box  2St2,  N.  T.  P.  O. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  GREAT  REBELLION. 

The  business  will  pay.    For  terms  address 

N.  C.  MILLER,  3  Park  Row,  New- York. 

Wanted  !  Scrap  Iron,  Old  Boilers  and  Old  Iron 
Machinery. 

The  subscribers  will  pay  cash  for  any  quantity  of  wrought 
or  cast  scrap  iron,  old  boilers  and  old  iron  machinery  ;  deliv- 
ered at  their  Warehouse  -Js.  00  and  32  Terrace-Bt..  Hu'ri'alo,  or 
at  their  Rollins  Mill   and  Nail   Factory,  Black  Rock,  N.  Y. 

Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  July  1863.  PRATT  &  CO. 

n'UKKNOLL'S    MIPKOTED 

HORSE  AND  HAND  POWER 

HAY    AND    COTTON    PRESSES. 

These  machines  have  been  tested  in  the  most  thorough 
manner  throughout  this  and  foreign  countries  to  the  number 
of  over  1'iOO. 

The  Horse  Power  is  worked  by  either  wheel  or  capstan, 
and  in  many  respects  possesses  unequaled  advantages.  We 
Invite  those  wanting  such  machines  to  write  for  a  catalogue 
containing  full  information,  with  cuts,  prices,  &c,  or  call 
and  examine  personally. 

Orders  promptlv  attended  to,  by  addressing 
INGERSOLL  &  DOUGHERTY,  Greenpoint,  Kings  Co.,  L.  I. 

HiGflilanci    Nurseries. 

100,000  Standard  Apple  trceB  6  to  8  feet. 
M.OOO  Dwarf  Apple  trees  50,000  Standard  Pears. 

fiO.000  Dwarf  Pears.  250.000  Standard  Cherries. 

20,000  Dwarf  Cherries.  20,000  Plums. 

50,000  Peaches— Stocks  of  all  kinds.  Roses— Vines— and  all 
Nursery  products  at  the  verv  lowest  rates 

Address  COWLES,  ROBERTS  &  CO. 

Syracuse,  N.  Y. 


PREMIUM  CHESTER  WHITE  PIGS.  Progeny 
**■  Of  Hugs  that  have  taken  State  and  United  States  Premi- 
ums sent  by  Express  to  all  parts  of  the  United  Btatee,  Ca- 
nada, Cuba  and  South  America,  Address  N.  P.  BOYER4  CO, 
Gum  Tree,  Chester  Co.,  Penn. 

VAKN  IiMPURiHENTS  of  every  variety 
-*•    of  most  approved  patterns— Threshing  Machines,  Fan 
Mills,  Corn  Shelters,  Hay  and  Stalk  Cutters,  Cider  Mills  and 
Presses,  Wheel  Barrows,  Carts,  Waggons,  &c. 
Seeds— Garden,   Field,   and  Flower  Seeds  —  Choice   and 

reliable. 
Seed  Wheat  and  Rye.— Grass  Seeds,  very  choice. 
Guano,  Bone  Dust,  Phosphates,  &e.,  &c. 

Orders  filled  for   every  variety  Trees,  Plants  and  Roots, 
Bulbous  Roots  of  all  kinds. 

JOHN  VANDERBILT, 
23  Fulton  St.,  near  Fulton  Market,  N.  Y. 

POTATO  DIGGERS. 

CHICHESTER'S  combined   Hilling,   Hoeing    and  Potato 
Digging  Machine.    Price  $25. 

IpVKAM'S  combined    Potato  Digger  and  Double  Mould- 
board  Plow.    Price  $7. 

Manufactured  and  sold  onlvbv 

GRIFFING,  BROTHER  &  CO., 

60  Courtlandt-st.,  New-York. 

Cider  Mill    Screws. 

We  are  making  THE  CHEAPEST  AND  BEST  CIDER  MILL 
SCREWS  IN I  THE  WORLD.  Whole  length,  4  feet.  Length 
of  thread  S^  feet.  Diameter  of  screw,  4  inches.  Weight,  in. 
eluding  nut,  125  pounds.    Price.  S'.i.oo  each.    Address 

COWING  &  CO.,  Seneca  Falls,  N.  T. 

Cider  and  Wine  Mills. 

KEYSTONE,  EMERY'S  &  HUTCHINSON'S  PATENTS. 
Also 
WINE  PRESSES,  from  $5  to  $40. 

GRIFFING,  RROTHER  &  CO., 

60  Courtlandt-st.,  New- York. 

CIDER  PRESS  SCREWS.— Five  feet  long,  four 
inches  in  diameter.  These  powerful  screws  bring  out 
a  third  more  juice  than  portable  presses.  Old  Pkickk.  Send 
for  a  circular.  Made  by  L.  M.  ARNOLD,  Poughkeepsie  (N. 
Y.)  Foundry. 

HCTCHLIHrSOrVS  IMPROVED  FAM- 
ILY WINE  and  CIDER  MILL. 
PRICE  $18.    Sold  by 

GRIFFLNG,  BROTHER  &  CO., 

liO  Courtlandt-st..  New- York 


RUSSIA  OR  BASS  MATS,  SELECTED  EX- 
pressly  fur  budding  and  tying  ;  GUNNY  BAGS, 
TWINES,  hay  ROPES,  &c,  suitable  for  Nursery  purposes, 
for  sale  in  lots  to  suit,  by  I).  W.  MANWARING, 

Importer,  24S  Front-st..  New- York. 

Grapes  for  the  Million. 

ROGER'S  HYBRIDS  Nos.  4,  15,  and  19.  The  largest 
lot  in  the  State  from  wood  of  Mr.  Rogers.  Also  buds  of  same 
at  best  rates.  Also  Concords  for  Vineyards  or  in  smaller 
lots.  Also  20  other  popular  varieties.  All  unsurpassed  in 
quality  and  price.    Send  for  trade  list. 

LINDLEY  ft  HINKS, 
"BridgeportNursery"  Bridgeport,  Conn. 


284 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[September, 


FRUIT  TREES,  &c,  &c, 

j^T   LOW   PRICES. 

FROST  &  CO.,  Genesee  Valley  Nurseries,  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  ofler  for  the  Fall  of  1863  and  Spring  of  1804,  a  well 
£ro wn  and  large  stock  of  Standard  and  Dwarf  Fruit 
Trees  of  all  kinds.  Also  an  immense  quantity  of  Small 
Fruits,  including  an  extensive  collection  of  the  rarer  sorts 
of  Native  Grapes  ;— also  of  Ornamental  Trees,  includ- 
ing a  large  stock  of  various  sizes  of  Hardy  Evergreens; 
also  SnRuns,  Roses,  Green-house  Plants,  &c. 

Their  Nurseries  comprise  upwards  of  THREE  HUNDRED 
ACRES,  so  that  they  are  enabled  to  furnish  the  entire 
orders  of  their  correspondents  fully  and  satisfactorily,  and 
at  the  lowest  market  rates  for  plants  of  the  best  quality. 
Descriptive  Priced  Catalogues  :  No.  1,  of  Fruits,  No.  2, 
of  Ornamental  Trees,  &c,  and  No.  4,  Wholesale  List,  are  sup- 
plied to  applicants  upon  receipt  of  a  S-cent  postage  stamp 
for  each.  Their  Wholesale  Catalogue  for  the  Fall  op 
1803,  is  now  ready  for  distribution.  All  communications 
promptly  noticed.    Address 

FROST  &  CO.,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

FRUIT  AND   ORNAMENTAL   TREES. 

RARE  CHANCES  OFFERED. 

200.000    Choice  Fruit  Trees,  Vines,  etc.,    for 

sale,  of  varied  size  to  suit  customers. 

The  subscriber  calls  attention  to  his  unusually  large  stock 
of  well  grown  trees  now  on  hand,  and  especially  to  the  pre- 
sent stock  of  the  standard  fruit,  Apple,  which  is  the 
largest  and  finest  ever  offered  at  these  Nurseries. 

With  twenty  years  of  experience,  by  careful  observation 
and  judicious  selections,  he  believes  he  is  able  to  judge  and 
furnish  what  will  suit  his  customers,  as  well  as  the  varied 
soils  and  localities,  in  which  trees  may  be  wanted.  There  is 
also  special  attention  paid  to  local  varieties,  adapted  to 
Southern  and  Central  Pennsylvania,  many  of  which  have 
proven  themselves  more  valuable,  than  sorts  originating  in 
a  climate  differing  so  widely  from  these  sections. 

He  is  also  preparinc  a  list  of  club  prices  for  those  who 
purchase  direct  from  the  proprietor,  offering  rare  induce- 
ments for  neighbors  to  join  together  and  get  trees  consider- 
ably under  the  regular  retail  prices. 

This  mode  is  adopted  for  those  who  may  not  have  an  op- 
poriunity  to  purchase  from  his  regularly  authorized  agents, 
and  hold  a  mistrust  towards  the  too  numerous  tree  venders 
Bpread  over  the  land. 

2i^~  The  frequent  use  made  of  his  name  and  establishment 
by  strangers,  to  effect  sales  where  the  reputation  of  the 
nursery  is  known,  compels  him  to  warn  all  not  to  purchase 
—as  coming  from  these  Nurseries— stock  offered  by  pre- 
tenders, who  do  not  hold  an  authority  from  the  proprietor. 

Local  or  stationed  agents  will  be  accented,  hut  neither 
traveling  nor  stationary  agency  inquiries  will  receive  notice, 
unless  the  parties  produce  satisfactory  reference  as  to  their 
honesty  in  dealing  with  customers  and  employer.  Send  for 
Catalogues  and  priced  List,  which  contain  inducements  not 
before  offered  by  him.  Abundant  and  trustworthy  re- 
ference WILL  HE  FURNISHED  TO  ALL  WHO  ARE  STRANG- 
ERS TO  THE  ESTABLISHMENT. 

AddresB  DAVID  MILLER,  Jr., 

Cumberland  Nurseries,  Carlisle,  Pa. 

Delaware     Grapes. 

After  some  years  of  experiment,  the  subscribers  have 
adopted  a  mode  by  which  they  can  produce  plants  of  this 
valuable  grape  with  abundant  fibrous  roots  at  the  following 
very  low  rates : 


1st  Class,  ¥25  per  100. 
$-.100  per  1000. 


2nd  Class,  $15  per  100. 
$100  per  1000. 


Of  these  one  year  old,  they  can  furnish  50,000  deliverable  in 
October  and  November.— 2^"These  vines  are  not  grafts,  but 
are  raised  direct  from  cuttings. 

Those  who  wish  to  plant  largely  will  do  well  to  examine 
this  Stock  before  purchasing,  and  to  send  their  orders  early 
as  the  demand  last  year  exceeded  the  supply. 

Those  who  wish  can  also  see  THREE  ACRES  of  Dela- 
ware Vineyard  in  full  growth. 

CONCORD  and  other  Grapes  furnished  by  the  100  or  1000. 
Address  PARSONS  &  CO., 

Flushing,  N.  Y. 

GRAPE    A^ITVES. 

Our  stock  of  DELAWARE,  CONCORD,  DIANA,  HART- 
FORD PROLIFIC,  CREVELING,  ELSINBERG,  HERBE- 
MONT,  LOGAN,  TO  KALON,  UNION  VILLAGE,  CUYA- 
HOGA, REBECCA,  ANNA,  TAYLOR  or  BULLIT,  and  all 
the  other  leading  kinds,  is  unsurpassed  any  where  in  the 
country. 

Parties  wishing  to  purchase,  and  who  cannot  visit  our 
grounds,  to  examine  our  vines  and  vineyards,  where  all  the 
above,  and  many  other  kinds  maybe  seen  in  fruit,  would  do 
well  to  send  for  our  NEW  PRICE  LIST,  which  will  be  scut 
to  all  applicants  free  of  charge. 

J.  KNOX. 
Box  155,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

New  Japan  Grape. 

Although  their  stock  is  small  the  subscribers  desire  to 
disseminate  as  soon  as  possible  the  valuable 

YEDDO     GRAPE, 

They  will  therefore  dispose  of  a  few  plants  to  the  first  who 
apply.  The  plants  will  be  cut  down  to  two  eyes  and  their 
price  will  be 

TEN  DOLLARS  EACH. 

Address  PARSONS  &   CO., 

Flushing,  New-York. 

gUPEUIOR  STRAWBERRY  PLANTS  of  almost 
"'every  variety  at  low  figures.    Send  for  a  list  of  prices. 
SAMUEL  L.  ALLEN,  Cinnamineon,  Burlington  Co.,  N.  J. 


FRUIT  &  0BT3MEISTAL 
TREES, 

FOR  THE  AUTUMN  OF  18C3. 
Ell^vaiig-er'    Sc    Bai*ry 

Have  the  pleasure  to  announce  that  they  are,  as  usual,  pre- 
pared to  offer  for  the  Fall  trade,  the  largest  and  most  com- 
plete stock  of  well  grown  FRUIT  AND  ORNAMENTAL 
TREES  In  the  United  States. 

Pfianter§,  Nurserymen,  and  Dealers 

are  invited  to  Inspect  the  stock,  and  consult  the  catalogues, 
which  give  prices  and  terms. 

The  following  Catalogues  will  be  sent  to  applicants,  pre- 
paid, upon  the  receipt  of  postage  stamps,  a*  follows,  viz. : 

For  Nos.  land  2  ten  cents  each;  for  No.  3  live  cents,  for 
No.  4  three  cents. 

No.  1— A  Descriptive  and  Illustrated  Catalogue  of  Fruit 
Trees. 

No.  2— A  Descriptive  and  Illustrated  Catalogue  of  Orna- 
mental Trees. 

No.  3— A  Catalosrue.of  Green-House  and  Bedding  Plants. 

No.  4— A  Wholesale  Catalogue  or  Trade  List. 

ELLWANGER  &  BARRY, 
Mount  Hope  Nurseiuks,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

PARSONS  <fc  CO. 

Offer  a  large  variety  of  thrifty  and  well  grown 

FRUIT    TREES, 

embracing  standard  and  dwarf  APPLES,  PEARS,  CHER- 
RIES, PLUMS,  and  PEACHES,  as  well  as  all  the  smaller 

Fruits  and  Grape  Vines, 

AT  AS 

LOW     PRICES 

as  prior  to  the  advance  in  the  market. 
They  also  invite  attention  to  their  fine  stock  of 

EVERGREENS, 

of  which  they  are  now  planting  and  selling  large   numbers, 
in  this  the  most  suitable  period  of  the  year  for  lifting. 
Their  stock  of 

©BWAMEWTAl.   TBEESs 

for  Streets  and   Lawns,  and   of  FLOWERING  SHRUBS,  is 
large  and  in  great  variety.    For  Catalogues  address  at 

FLUSHING,  near  New- York. 

REID'S      NURSERIES, 

ELIZAirETH,  NEW-JERSEY. 

For  sale  this  Fall,  a  general  assortment  of  Nursery 
Stock  cousistins  of 

APPLES    Standard    and    Dwarf. 
CHERRIES       do.  do. 

PEARS  do.  do. 

PLUMS  do.  do. 

PEACHES         do.  do. 

Apricots  and  Nectarines,  Grape  Vines,  Native  and  Foreign, 
Figs,  Currants,  Gooseberries,  Raspberries,  Blackberries, 
Strawberries,  &c„  &c. 

The  collection  of  Fruits  cultivated  are  extensive  and  em- 
brace all  the  different  varieties  that  have  been  found  of  value 
as  well  as  those  of  late  introduction. 

The  ornamental  department  is  also  extensive,  consisting 
of  Shade  Trees  aud  Ornamental  Shrubs,  with  a  fine  collec- 
tion of  Evergreens. 

The  above  can  be  furnished  in  any  quantity  and  of  various 
sizes,  suitable  for  Lawn  or  Park  planting.  Also  a  large  stock 
of  Evergreens,  and  Deciduous  plants  for  Hedges  or  Nursery 
planting,  all  of  which  will  be  sold  at  low  rates. 

Orders  by  mail  addressed  to  the  undersigned  or  left  at  the 
Nursery  will  have  prompt  attention. 
Catalogues  forwarded  on  receipt  of  stamp. 

DAVID  D.BUCHANAN, Superintendent. 

Fruit  sistd  Ornamental   Trees. 

"We  otfer  a  large  stock  at  low  rates  of 
APPLE,  PEAR,  CHERRY,  PLUM,  and  PEACH  TREES  of 

superior  crowt.h  and  quality.  • 
Also  NATIVE  GRAPE  VINES,  consisting  of  Concord,  Hart- 
ford Prolific,  Delaware,  Diana,  Rogers  Hvbrid,  &c,  &c. 
STRAWBERRIES— Triomptaede  Gand,  Austin  Seedling,  and 

other  popular  varieties. 
A  large  stock  of  Forest  and  Evergreen  Trees,  and  Hedg- 
ing Plants. 
l.nno.ono  Apple  Seedlings  from  one  to  three  years  old. 
50.000  Sugar  Maple  Seedlings  two  years  old. 

Those  wishing  to  purchase  will  find  it  for  their  interest  to 
either  examine  our  stock  or  communicate  with   us.    Cata- 
logues sent  to  applicants.  STEPHEN  HOi'T  &  SONS. 
New  Canaan,  Ct.,  August  10th,  1863. 

Magnolia  Acuminata. 

Having  been  fortunate  in  raising  a  very  large  stock  of  this 
noble  and  beautiful  tree,  the  finest  of  all  American  forest 
trees,  we  are  able  to  ofi'er  it  at  very  low  rates  by  the  dozen, 
100  or  1000— from  four  to  eight  feet  in  height.  Prices  given 
on  application.  ELLWANGER  &  BARRY. 

Sept.  1.  3SG3.         Mount  Hope  Nurseries,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

BULBS 

For    Fall    Planting-. 

My  Annual  Illustrated  and  Descriptive  Catalogue  of 
BULBS-HYACINTHS,  CROCUSES,  TUMPS, 
JAPAN  LILIES,  &c.  &e.,  is  now  published  aud  will 
be  sent  free  to  all  who  desiro  a  copy.    Address 

JAMES  VICK, 
Rochester,  N.  Y. 


Austin  or  Shaker. 

Albion  White 

Autumnal  Galande.. 

Alpine  Red  

Belle  de  Vibert  

Belle  Artclsennc... 


STRAWBERRIES  ! 

The  Subscriber  will  Bend  any  of  tho  following  choice 
Strawberry  Plants,  post  paid,  to  any  part  of  the  United 
States  (where  there  is  postal  communication),  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  on  receipt  of  price,  and  will  also  insure 
their  safe  arrival  at  destination. 

Per  Doz.\  Per  Doz. 

$    r.OlOreen  Alpine 85 

l  SOilIooker...  40 

7.r>,Honneurdc  la  Belgiquc.       50 

40  Jenny  Lind -Hi 

1  00  Jocunda 75 

1  00  La  Constante 75 

BIcolor 1  OOlLa  Perle        1  00 

Belle  Bordelaise 50  Ladles'  Pine 40 

Burr's  New  Pine 35  Lennlg's  White 1  00 

Black  Prince 35,May  Queen 40 

Bonte  de  St.  Julieu 50  Oscar 50 

Bartlett... 40  Prince  Imperial 15 

Cutter 40'Princess  Fred.  William..  1  00 

Crimson  Favorite 1  lOIReine  Hortense 50 

Crimson  Queen 50  Russell's  Proline 1  50 

Downer        40-Scott's  Seedlinc 40 

Deptford  White  50,Trlomphe  de  Gand 40 

Due  de  Malukoff 50  Vicoinptesee  Hericart.. . .       40 

Eliza  (River's) 50  Victoria  (Trollop's) 40 

Fillmore 50' Victory Tfi 

Filbert  Pine 501  Wonderful 50 

Georgia  Mammoth 40  Wilson -in 

General  Scott  1  00  White  Pine  Apple 1  00 

Garibaldi 1  001 

For  price  of  plants  in  larger  quantities,  and  description  of 
the  above  and  many  other  varieties,  see  our  new  Strawber- 
ry Catalogue,  which  will  be  ready  the  first  of  August,  sent 
free  to  all  applicants  who  inclose  two  one-cent  stamps.  Ad- 
dress ANDREW  S.  FULLER,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

New  and  Splendid  Strawberries 

The  prize  berries  of  Europe,  Empress  Eugenie,  Margarlte, 
and  Princess  Frederick  William,  plants  $1  per  dozen. 

Russell's  Great  Prolific.  One  of  the  most  promising  of  the 
American  seedlings,  berries  produced  this  season.  G'x  inches 
in  circumference:  it  is  more  prolific  than  the  Wilson,  supe- 
rior In  flavor,  and  a  splendid  market  berry,  $1.50  por  dozen, 
or  p.)  per  hundred. 

Lennin^'s  White,  Albion  White,  White  Pine  Apple,  and 
Deptford  White.  These  are  great  acquisitions,  berries  very 
large,  fine  flavored  and  very  productive,  at  $1  per  dozen. 

La  Constante.  We  would  call  attention  to  this  variety,  ns 
one  of  the  most  promising  sorts  in  cultivation,  at  50c*  per 
dozen,  $4  per  hundred. 

Oscar,  Victory,  Wizard  of  the  North,  River's  Eliza,  Bonte 
de  St.  Julian,  Crimson  Queen,  Wonderful,  Filbert  Pine, 
Prince  Imperial,  Due  de  Brabant.  Boyden's  Mammoth,  and 
Due  de  Malakofi',  at  50  cents  per  dozen. 

Triomphe  de  Gand,  Great  Austin,  Jennv  Llnd,  Bartlett, 
Feltan,  or  Chilian,  at  $1  per  hundred.  $6  per  thousand.  Ber- 
ries of  the  great  Austin  were  produced  this  season,  weighing 
\%  ounces.  We  think  the  Austin  better  than  the  Wilson,  and 
more  productive.  Plants  delivered  in  rotation  ns  ordered 
All  orders  addressed  to  WM.  S.  CARPENTER, 

329  Greenwich-st.,  New- York. 

Green   Prolific    Strawberry. 

Produced  from  "Kitley's Goliath"  and  "novey'sSeedlins," 
by  Seth  Boyden.  Esq.,  mid  is  one  of  the  parents  of  his  famous 
seedling  •*  Agriculturist"  which  astonished  the  natives  at 
the  late  exhibition  In  New-York.  Tn  many  points  equal  to 
this  wonderful  new  variety.  Decidedly  one  of  the  best  In 
cultivation.  Strong  Plants  f  1  per  dozen.  For  a  descriptive 
Circular  or  plants,  Address  FRANCIS  BRILL, 

Newark,  New-Jersey. 

Or  any  of  the  following  Agents. 

Andrew  Bridtreman,  878  Broadwav,  New- York. 

C.  B.  Miller,  031  Broadwav.  New- York. 

Jas.  M.  Thorburn  &  Co.,  15  John-street,  New-York. 

Win.  Elliott,  27  John-street.  New-York. 

Fleming  &  Davidson,  GT  Nassau-street,  New-York. 

Jas.  Hageertv.  Ponghkeepsie,  N.  Y.    H.  A.  Dreer,  Phila  ,  Pa. 

Jno.  Stair  &  Son,  Cleveland,  O.  Wm.  Thorburn,  Albany,  N.  Y 

STRAWBERRIES. 

Send  for  our  CIRCULAR,  giving  description  of  varieties 
that  have  proved  the  most  valuable  during  the  past  season 
with  prices  of  plants,  aud  other  information. 

J.  KNOX, 
Box  155,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

Strawberry    Plants, 

TriompHe  <1e  Gand,  Wilson's  Albany,  Hooker,  Fill- 
more, Bartlett,  Ward's  Favorite,  and  fortv  other  varieties  in 
large  quantities,  at  low  rates,  at  wholesale  and  retail.  Cat- 
alogues gratis.  FRANCIS  BKILL, 

Newark,  New-Jersey. 


Genuine   Strawberry  Plants 

Of  the  best  varieties,  both  old   and   new.    For  sale  at  the 
lowest  living  rates.    Catalogues  gratis. 

E.  WILLIAMS,  Mont  Clair  P.  O.,  New-Jersey. 

Russell's   Prolific  Strawberry. 

Plants  of  this  superb  variety  carefully  packed  and  sent  by 
mail  or  Express  at  $1. r>0 per  dozen.    Descriptive  Catalogue  o'f 
over  fifty  varieties  of  Strawberries  sent  free  to  all  applicants. 
Address  FRANCIS  BRILL, 

Newark,  New-Jersey, 


Strawberry   Plants. 

All  the  standard  old  varieties,  as  well  as  thebest  new  ones, 
for  sale  at  low  rates,  and  warranted  true  to  name. 
Send  for  a  Catalogue   gratis   to 

FRANCIS  BRILL,  Newark,  New-Jersey. 


NOW    READY! 

OUR  NEW  PRICE  LIST,  of  STRAWBERRIES,  RASPBER- 
RIES, BLACKBERRIES,    CURRANTS,    GOOSEBERRIES, 

GRAPE  VINES,  &c,  &c. 
Is  now  ready,  and  will  be  sent  to  all  applicants  free  of  charge 

J.  KNOX, 
Box  155,  Pittsburgh,  Pa 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


2.85 


Sanford  «&    M-alloi-y's 

PORTABLE 

Flax  and  Hemp  Dresser. 

This  implement  gives  one  fourth  more  dressed  fiber,  and 
of  batter  quality  than  any  other  machine;  is  simple  in  con- 
struction :ind  strongly  made ;  can  he  operated  by  any  com- 
mon laborer ;  can  be  driven  by  ordinary  horse  power,  and 
the  largest  size  occupies  only  about  four  feet  square. 

PRICES— \o.  1  Machine,  to  dress  2500  lbs  straw  in 
10  hours  9355;  Kb.  3,  9355;  No.  3,  Hand  Machine  $155, 
delivered  at  the  factory.    Head  the  following  : 

Malta,  Saratoga  County,  New-York,  August  10th,  1863, 
Messks.  Mallory  &  Sanford  :— 

Gentlemen  :  On  the  19th  day  of  March  we  drew  to  the  mill 
of  N.G.  Akin  thirty-nine  hundred  and  thirty  (3930)  pounds 
of  flax  straw,  which  he  dressed  through  the  Old  Brake,  and 
we  received  four  hundred  and  eighty-one  (481)  pounds  dress- 
ed flax. 

"We,  about  the  first  of  June,  drew  to  the  mill  of  Win.  H. 
Buckley  fourty-fo-ur  hundred  and  ten  (4410)  pounds  of  flax 
straw,  which  was  dressed  through  one  of  your  Patent  Flax 
Brakes;  we  received  eight  hundred  and  Ave  (80'))  pounds  of 
dressed  flax. 

The  flax  was  grown  on  the  same  piece  of  land,  and  there 
was  no  perceptible  difference  in  the  quality  of  the  flax,  ex- 
cept that  the  portion  drawn  to  Akin's  mill  was  rotted  in  the 
Fall  of  1802,  and  that  drawn  to  Mr.  Buckley's  Mill  was  spring 
rotted,  which  is  considered  not  as  good,  from  the  fact  that  it 
loses  part  of  the  oily  matter  from  the  fiber,  and  thus  not 
yield  as  much  per  ton  of  straw  as  the  fall  rotted. 

You  will  perceive  by  the  above  statement  that  we  received 
from  Mr.  Akin's  mill  245  pounds  nearly  of  dressed  flax  per 
ton  of  straw,  and  from  Mr.  Buckley's  mill  365  pounds  of 
dressed  flax  per  ton,  which  makes  a  difference  of  120  pounds 
per  ton  in  favor  of  your  Brake. 

We  are  recommending  our  neighbors  to  take  their  flax  to 
one  of  your  Brakes  to  have  it  dressed,  although  it  is  fifteen 
miles  to  the  nearest  one  at  present. 

J.  B.  WEEKS. 
L.  L.  WEEKS. 
I  certify  that  the  above  statement  is  correct,  as  I  saw  the 
Weigher's  receipts  for  both  lots  of  straw,  and  weighed  the 
dressed  flax  myself  that  was  dressed  at  my  mill.  Tin;  flax 
dressed  at  Mr.  Akin's  mill  is  correct,  no  doubt,  as  the  above 
gentlemen  are  perfectly  reliable. 

W.H.  BUCKLEY. 
For  further  particulars  address  the  proprietors, 

MALLORY  &  SANFORD, 
Corner  White  and  Ccnter-sts.,  New-York. 


LANE'S   PATENT   CARRIAGE    JACK. 


CONVENIENT, 

SIMPLE,  and 

CnEAP. 

This  Jack  is  made  to 
operate  on  a  new  prin- 
ciple, and  is  pronounc- 
ed by  those  who  have 
used  them,  as  the  most 
convenient  article  of 
the  kind  before  the 
public.  For  sale  hy 
the  principal  hard- 
ware and  agricultural 
dealers,  also  by  the 
general  agent  A.  H. 
II  A  V  I  L  A  N  D,  201 
Pearl-st.,  New-York, 
and  the  manufacturer 

J.  G.  LANE, 
Washington,  N.  Y. 
Sen-d  for  Circular. 

UOEESE  IMMVEltS,  XISEOSIIUIS* 
■"■"-  AND  SEPAItATOnS,  CLOVEIt  IIULLERS,  PAN- 
NING MILLS.  HICKOK'S  PATENT  CIDER  MILL  HUTCH- 
INSON'S PATENT  CIDER  AND  WINE  MILL,  WINE 
PRESSES,  ALLEN'S  and  other  Patents,  POTATO  PLOWS 
FRUIT  GATHEP.ERS,  FRUIT  LADDERS,  &c,  &c. 

R.  II.  ALLEN  &  CO., 
ISO  &  l'.U  Water  street,  XcwVork. 


Fine  Wool  Siiceu  Husbandry, 

By  Hon.  HENRY  S.  RANDALL. 

Author  of  "  Sheep  Husbandry  of  the  South." 

Nearly  ready— Price  75  cts.. 

And  sent  free  of  postage  upon  receipt  of  price.   Also  a 

new   edition   of   Shepherd's   Own   Book,  by  Randall  & 

Youatt.    Price  $2.00.    Address 

C.  M.  SAXTON,  Publisher. 
25  Park  Row,  New-York. 


TOBACCO. 

Just    How    to    Grow    it. 

Every  particular,  from  the  selection  of  the  Seed,  and 
preparation  of  the  ground,  to  the  Gathering,  Curing,  and 
Marketing  the  Crop,  is  given  in  a  work  issued  by  the 
Publisher  of  the  American  Agriculturist,  and  sent  post- 
paid for  25  cents.  This  work  consists  of  a  selection  of 
the  best  fourteen  out  of  eighty-five  Essays,  prepared  by 
eighty-fire  different  cultivators,  residing  in  various  parts 
of  the  Northern  and  Middle  Stales.  In  each  of  (he  Essays 
contained  in  this  work,  the  writer  tells,  in  a  plain,  practi- 
cal, Straight-forward  manner,  just  what  to  do,  and  how  to 
do  it.  Any  item  omitted  by  one  is  given  by  another,  so 
that  the  information  is  full  and  complete.  Several  en- 
gravings illustrating  the  method  of  drying,  packing,  etc. 
The  work  is  worth  its  weight  in  silver  to  everyone  grow- 
ing even  a  small  plot  of  tobacco, 

MME.  DEMOREST'S  MIRROR  OF  FASH- 
IONS.— The  Fall  Number  and  commencement  of  the 
fourth  volume,  ready  Sept.  1,  will  contain  five  useful  full- 
size  patterns,  worth  75  rents;  a  splendid  and  ]ar"e  parlor 
engraving  of  Empress  Eugenic  and  Her  Maids  of  Honor 
worth  twice  the  cost  of  the  magazine;  a  splendid  colored 
fashion  Plate;  a  large  Sheet  of  Braid  and  Embroidery  Pat- 
terns, and  many  other  valuable  novelties  too  numerous  to 
mention.  Single  copies,  25  cents.  Yearly,  jtl,  with  50  cents 
worth  ot  extra  patterns  ol  your  own  selection,  and  an  excel- 
lent  Carte-dc-Visite  of  the  Lilliputians,  as  a  premium  ■  post- 
age on  the  premiums,  Iwo  cents  extra.  To  alt  new  subscrib- 
ers who  commence  wilh  Hie  Fall  Number,  the  present  Sum- 
mer Number  will  be  sent  free,  if  requested 

Foem  OF  an  OEDEK.-Mme.  Deinorest  will  find  inclosed 
$1,  and  two  cents  postage  on  the  premiums,  for  which  please 
send  me  your  Mirror  of  Fashions  for  one  year,  commencing 
with  ihe  rail  Number;  also  send  the  Summer  Number,  and 
oblige  yours 

Give  your  address  in  full,  and  address  it  to 

MME.  DEMOREST,  473  Broadway,  New- York. 

TS,E    "PRINTER'S    1-fcEVIL.     A  handsome 
r>     Hl'-      JtTBlNTKK'S        JLFEVIL.  illustrated 

literary  and  miscellaneous  Faniilv  .Journal,  will  be  sent  six 
months  on  trial,  tree  of   postage  for   twenty  five  cents. 

B^H-Box'StirNelv'Yo^'^-    A"draS  ^"or" inter's 


25    NATIONAL   AND  STATE 
FIRST  PREMIUMS. 

COOK'S 


FAIR 


SI7GAK.    EVAPORATOR, 

MANUFACTURED  BY 

BLYMYER,  BATES  &  DAY, 

MANSFIELD,  OHIO. 


IT 
IS  CHEAP. 


IT 
IS  DURABLE. 


No  machine  of  only  five  year's 
standing  can  show  so  brilliant  and 
useful  a  record. 

83,000,000.00    SAVED 

BY  IT  LAST  YEAR! 

Committees  pronounce  in  its  favor 

Operators  pronounce  in  its  favor. 

Lovers  of  good  syrup  pronounce 
in  its  lavor. 

The  People  pronounce  in  its  favor 
and  declare  it 


IT 
IS  A  DEFECATOR. 

IT 
IS  A  REFINER. 

IT 
BOILS  RAPIDLY. 

IT 
BURNS  LITTLE  FUEL. 

IT 

IS  CONVENIENT. 

IT 
IS  CLEANLY. 

IT 
MAY  BE  PORTABLE. 

IT 
MAY  BE  STATIONARY 

IT 
IS  EASILY  MANAGED 

Wine  "SORGO  HAND  BOOK"  sent  free  on  application 


THE  CHEAPEST, 

THE  BEST, 

THE  MOST  DURABLE. 

THE  MOST  RAPID, 

THE  MOST  ECONOMICAL 

THE  MOST  CONVENIENT, 

Ever  brought  out  in  the  history  of 
■      Sugar  Making. 

MTlts  superiority  is  admitted 
by  all  manufacturers  over  every 
other  Evaporator  than  their  own! 


^    GREAT    BOOK    FOR    AGENTS! 

Dr.  Randall's  new  work  on  Sheep  Husbandry,  recent- 
ly announced  as  in  preparation,  is  now  in  press,  and  will  be 
published  early  m  Sept.  It  is  entitled  The  Practical 
Shepherd,  and  must  prove  the  best  and  most  complete 
practical  work  on  the  subject  ever  published  in  America  The 
demand  for  a  good  Sheep  Book  is  great,  and  this  one  is  de- 
signed to  supplyit  fully.  Its  sale  must  be  immense  In  all 
parts  of  the  country  where  sheep  arc  kept.  The  book  will 
be  furnished  to  Agents  on  such  terms  that  they  can  not  fail 
to  make  money  rapidly  by  its  sale.  Enterprising  canvassers 
wanted  in  every  County-such  as  will  attend  to  the  business 
thoroughly.  For  circulars  containing  terms  and  other  par- 
ticulars, address  T).  D.  T.  MOORE, 
Editor  Rural  New-Yorker,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 


ONION  CULTURE-Fourth  (new)  Edition. 

This  work  comprises  inS2  pages  all  the  particulars  for  suc- 
cessful Onion  Culture,  from  Selection  of  Seed  to  Marketing 
the  Crop-being  the  practical  directions  given  by  seventeen 
experienced  Onion  Growers,  residing  in  different  parts  of  the 
country.  Price  20  cents  (or  7  stamps),  seut  postpaid.  Ad- 
dress Publisher  of  Agriculturist. 


BOOKS    FOR     DMRHKRM 
AND    OTBBKIS8. 

[Any  of  the  following  books  can  be  obtained  at  the  of- 
flee  of  the  Agriculturist  at  the  prices  named,  or  they  will  be 
forwarded  by  mail,  post  paid,  on  receipt  of  the  price.  Other 
books  not  named  in  the  list  will  be  procured  and  sent  to  sub- 
scribers when  desired,  if  the  price  be  forwarded.  All  of  these 
books  may  be  procured  by  any  one  making  up  a  libra- 
ry. Those  we  esteem  specially  valuable,  are  marked  with  a  «.l 

American  Bird  Fancier 

American  Farmer's  Encyclopedia 

American  Florist's  Guide 
American  Weeds  and  Useful  Plants 
Allen  on  the  Culture  of  the  Grape 

Allen's  (It.  L.)  American  Farm  Book" 

Allen's  Diseases  of  Domestic  Animals 
Allen's  (L.  F.)  Rural  Architecture 
Brldgeman's  Fruit  Cultivator's  Manual' " 
Bridgeman's  1  nnng  Gardener's  Assistant 
Brldgeman's  Kitchen  Garden  Instructor 

Bridgeinan's  Florist's  Guide 

Brandt's  Age  of  Morses  >  (English  and  German').'.'.'.'"  so 

Brecks  Book  of  Flowers i  1£ 

Browne's  American  Poultry  Yard..'.! j  .T- 

Buist's  American  Flower  Garden  Directory 
Ibnst's  Family  Kitchen  Gardener" 
Chorlton's  Grape-Grower's  Guide" 

Cole's  (S.  W.)  American  Fruit  Book....! 

Cole's  Veterinarian 

Dadd's  (Geo.  H.)  Modern  Horse  Doctor 

Dadd's  (Geo.  H.)  American  Cattle  Doctor 

Dana's  Murk  Manual  for  Farmers 

Downing's  Cottage  Residences".     . 

Downing's  Fruits  and  Fruit  Trees  of  America"! 2  nti 

Downing  s  Ladies' Mower  Garden  ""     ,"11 

Bast  wood  on  the  Cranberry*  .  rX 

Employment  of  Women— By  Virginia'p'c'iiny* i  so 

Every  Lady  her  own  Flower  Gardener  5- 

Fessenden's  American  Kitchen  Gardener £ 

French's  Farm  Drainage  * .  S 

Field's  (Thomas  W.)  Pear  Culture....!         is! 

Fish  Culture !™ 

Flint  (Charles  L.)  on  Grasses*..!.! !  .?, 


?0  95 
5  00 

1  50 
1  00 
1  00 

1  25 

r.o 

1  511 

60 
CO 


1  25 

75 

60 

00 

60 

1  25 

1  25 

1  00 

.  2  50 


. .  isses*.. 
Flint's  Milch  Cows  and  Dairv  Fanning; 

Fuller's  Strawberry  Culturist 

Goodale's  Principles  of  Breeding 

Gray's  Manual  of  Botany 

Guetion  on  Milch  Cows 


1  50 

1  50 

10 

1  no 

2  50 

Hall's  (Miss)  American  Cookery'!! inn 

Harris'  Insects  Injurious  to  Vegetation,  piain 3  (JJ 

Herbert's  Hints  to  norsekeepers*'*0'. ....  .COlore(t  piate8''    *  ?,° 

Hooper's  Dog  and  Gun. .   . . . £? 

Johnson  on  Manures.. £2 

Kemps  Landscape  Gardening "  0nn 

Kidder's  Bee  Culture "" *S 

Lanj-furotli  on  tlie  Honev  Bee* -,  9" 

Leslie's  Recipes  for  Cooking '" ,,? 

Leucliars"  Hothouses ;  7£ 

Llebl&'s  Lectures  on  Chemistry S 

Linsley's  (I>.  C.)  Morgan  Horses ., "    1  .j" 

Manualof  Agriculture  by  G.  Emerson  and  clL**Fifnfc'    l  on 

Mayhcw's  Illustrated  Horse  Doctor -  ™ 

McMahon's  American  Gardener*    "  9  50 

Meehan's  Ornamental  Trees -= 

Milburn  on  the  Cow  and  Dairy '      -1= 

Miles  on  the  Horse's  Foot ^ 

Mistakes  of  Educated  Men 

National  Almanac  and  Annual  Record 

Norton's  Sclentillc  Agriculture , 

Olcott's  Sorgho  and  Imphee 1  nX 

Our  Farm  of  Four  Acres..* (paper). •.-- 

Onion  Culture** '"  2n 

Pardee  on  Strawberrv  Culture fjo 

Parlor  Garden er.. *.'.'.*.'. 73 

Parsons  on  the  Hose *'     1  a* 

Peddcr's  Farmer's  Land  Measurer  , in 

Phantom  Bonqnet,  or  Skeleton  Leaves  1  Kn 

Piiin's  Grape  Culture J  .Tr' 

Quinbv's  Mysteries  ot  Bee  keeping*  1  S- 

Randall's  Sheep  Husbandry   ....     ..,; }§*, 

Richardson  on  the  Dog ^ 

Richardson  on  the  Hoe « 

Robins'  Produce  and  Ready  Reckoner  an 

Rose  Culturist ^ 

Shepherd's  Own  Rook '  .»  nn 

Skillful  Housewife 05 

Smith's  Landscape  Gardening 1  5g 

Spencer's  Education  of  Children** "     "  '1  25 

Stewart's  (John)  Stable  Rook: 195 

Tobacco  Culture*"  35 

Todd's  (S.  E.)  Young  Farmer  9  Manual 1  95 

Tucker's  Register  Rural  Atfairs    '...'.'.".'"        25 

Turner's  Cotton  Planter's  Manual. ... , , .'....      1  25 

Wat  son's  American  Home  Garden 1  ka 

Wood's  Class  Rook  of  Rotany  . 2  50 

Yale  College  Agrieul rural  Lectures '....",''    "  :»i 

Youatt  and  Snooner  on  the  Horse ...!*'  1  25 

Youatt  and  Martin  on  Cattle   "  ige 

Youatt  on  the  Hog ""."."" 

Youi»tt  on  Sheep *jS 

Youmaus' Huu^rliuld  Science* ...... 123 


5(, 
1  25 


286 


AMERICAN    AGPJCri.TURIST. 


[September, 


A     RELIABLE     AGENCY 

FOR    PURCHASING 

ARTICLES  OF  MERCHANDISE, 

Implements   for   the  Farm. 

Garden   and  Household, 

SEEDS. 

Special  attention  will  also  be  given  to  procuring  Sewing 
AInchJiic«  ;  Pianos  and  oilier  Musical  Instru- 
ments; PhilosonHicul  and  Astronomical  Ap- 
paratus ;  Books  for  Schools  and  Colleges,  and 
Seliool  Furniture. 

Subscriptions  for  periodicals  will  also  be  received  at 
the  usual  subscription  price. 

No   Charge    made  to  Purchasers, 
BEYOND    THE 

Lowest  KcgiiBar  Price. 
STRAWBERRIES. 

We  shall  he  ready  the  1st  of  September  to  furnish  the  fol- 
lowing choice  varieties  of  Strawberries : 

Tiiomphe  de  Garni,  Bartlett  or  Boston  Pine,  Austin,  50c. 
per  dozen  ;  $1  per  100;  $6  per  1000  ;  a  few  can  be  furnished  in 
pots  at  $4  per  1(10. 

BontedeSt,  Julien  and  Deptford  "White  75c.  per  dozen; 
$3  per  100. 
La  Constante  75c.  per  dozen;  $t  per  100. 

Best  Flavored  Strawberry. 
Fuller's  New   Seedling, 

Crimson  Favorite. 

The  First  Prize  for   flavor  at  the    "Great  Strawberry  Ex- 
hibition," at  $1   per  dozen.— By  mall,  post-paid,  $1  10  cents. 

FItUIT    and    OKSAMEtfTAL, 
TREES  SIIRC7BS,  ROSES. 

DELAWARE,  CONCORD  and  other  GRAPE  VINES. 
"Well  grown,  at  reasonable  prices. 


Universal   Clothes  Wringer. 

No.  1.  Labor  FAMILY  "WRINGER $10.00 

No.  2.  Medium       "  "  7.O0 

No.  2^       "  "  " 6.00 

No.  3.  Small  "  "  S.50 

No.  S.  Large  HOTEL  "  14  .00 

No.  IK.  Mkdium  LAUNDRY  "     5  to  run  by  steam  )      18.00 

No.  82.  Laroe  "  "     (        or  hand,        J      30.00 

Nos.aX  AND  3  HAVE    NO    COOS-ALL    OTHERS    ARE 

WARRANTED. 


THE  NONPAREIL  WASHING  MACHINE 

Is  the  only  entirely  reliable  machine  in  use. 

Vriees,  No.  1,  $12  ;  No.  2,  $lfi  ;  No,  3,  $20. 
Send  for  Circular.    See  Premium  No.  3.  Agriculturist. 


THE  AQUARIUS. 
A  Hand  Force  Pump.    Price  $10. 

WOODRUFF'S    PATENT    PORTABLE    BARO- 
METER. 

Carried  by  railroad  or  stage  express  in  safety. 
The  American  AgricultitrUt  recommends  this  Barometer 
above  all  others  for  general  use. 

PRICES  $5.00,  $S.OO,  AND  $12. 

GLASS  FRUIT  JAR  WITH  A  SHOULDER. 

Quart  .Tars  with  Corks $1.75  per  Dozen 

Pint  J.ars  do,       1.25       do. 

Tin  Covers 15  cts.   do. 

Baiter's    Patent    Fruit   Jars    with  Glass  or   Tin 

Covers.   Pints  $2.25,  Quarts  $3.75,  half  Gall.  $3.50  per  Dozen. 

REFERENCES. 

New-York,  March  20th,  1861. 
We  take  pleasure  in  testifying  to  the  well  known  Busi- 
ness Ability  and  Integrity  of  Harvey  B.  Lane.  His 
Education  and  Habits  peculiarly  Jit  him  for  the  New  En- 
terprise which,  he  is  starting  ;  and  we  do  not  hesitate  to 
say  that  any  business  that  may  be  entrusted  to  his  care  will 
be  conducted  with  strict  fidelity  and  for  the  best  interest  of 
those  who  may  patronize  him.     Signed  : 

Daniel  Drew,  Esq Nnt'-York  City. 

Francis  Hall.  Esq Editor  N.Y.  Com,  Advertiser. 

Orange  Judd,  Esq.    Editor  of    Am.  A  gricultunst. 

Wm.  B.  Skidmore,  Esq TreasW  Eric  R.'R.L.  D.  Co. 

Hon.  Geo.  B.  Cobb.  M.  G...  Morris  town,  N.  J. 

Messrs.  Harper  &Bro P>ibhsh>rs,  New- York. 

Messrs. Carlton  &  Porter. Methodist  Book  Concern.N.Y. 

A.  V.  Stout,  Esq   Pres.  Shoe  rf  Leather    Rank. 

Henry  J.  Baker,  Esq. 182  Pearl-street,    New-York. 

Chas.  C.  North,  Esq     Firm  :  North,  Sherman  <$■  Co. 

Isaac  Rich,  Esq Boston,  Mass. 

Jacob  Sleeper,  Esq Boston,  Mass. 

Hon.  D.  \V.  Camp. —  Middletown,  Conn. 

Wm.  B.  Ogden,  Esq Chicago,  III. 

HARVEY  B.  LANE, 
151  Nassau-St,  New- York. 


BUTTER,      CHEESE, 
POULTRY,    EGGS, 

AND    FAKitI     PKODDCE 

OF  ALL  KINDS 
SOLD    ON    COM  MISSION. 

Constantly  on  hand,  for  sale,  Flonr,   Fish,  Salt,   Mackerel, 
Pork,  Hams,  Lard,  Beans,  Dried  Fruit,  Soap,  Starch,  etc. 

COOK    &  NICHOLS,    Successors  to 

ISAAC  EMENS,  230  FRONT-ST.,  NEW-TOKK. 

Refers  to  J.  DeLamater,  Cashier  Marine  Bank,  K.  V.  City. 
Lewis  4-  Drown,  No.  11  Frontal.,  N.  V.  City, 
Isaac  Eniens,  Castle  Creek,  Broome  Co.,  X.  V. 

S.  B,  CONOVER, 

Commission    Dealer, 

260,  261  &  262  AVest  Washington  Market, 

FOOT  OF  FULTOX-ST. 
Particular  attention  paid  to  selling  all  kinds  of  Fruit  and 
other  Farm  Produce. 
Iiefers  to  the  Editor  of  the  American  AcTiculturlst. 

C.  W.  IDFL.L, 

COMMISSION    DEALER 

In  Fruit,  Produce,  &c. 

Special  attention  given  to  selling  all  kinds  of  fruit. 

70  ft  71  West  Washington  Market. 


ESTABLISHED    1842 

Duhikg  the  past  Twenlj  Years,  Me9*r*.  MUNN  k  CO.,  in 
connection  with  ibe  publication  of  the  Wkkkly  Illustrated 
Scientific  Amkkiuan,  (the  only  paper  devoted  10  tbe  Me- 
chanic Ans  in  trie  Country),  h^ve  acLrd  as  Attorneys  tor  pro- 
curing Letters  Patent  in  the  Uuited  Slates  and  all  foreign 
countries  1 

Ttiiy  would  state  that  they  have  acted,  during  tbls  period, 
as  a^eius  lor  more  than 

Twenty   Thousand   Inventors  ! 

In  fael,  they  have  become  identified  with  the  whole  brother- 
hoodot  itiventoB  and  paeutees,  at  home  and  abroad.  Thou- 
sands of  inventors  lor  whom  they  have  taken  patents,  have 
addressed  to  them  most  flattering  testimonials;  and  the  wealth 
that  has  inured  to  the  inventors  whose  patents  wert^  secured 
through  iheir  Office,  and  alterwards  illustrated  In  the  Scien- 
tific American  would  amount  to  many  millions  of  dollars  I 

Messrs.  MUNN  &  CO.  never  had  a  mo  e  enVi^Dt  corpa  of 
Draughtsmen  and  Specification  Writers  than  those  employed 
at  presenr,;  and  they  are  prepared  to  attend  to  patent  business 
of  all  kinds,  iu  the  quietest  lime  and  on  the  moBt  liberal 
terms. 

For  further  information,  send  for  a  pamphlet  which  con- 
tains the  Patent  Laws  or  the  United  States,  and  much  other 
valuable  information  of  Importance,  to  inventors  and  all  others 
who  own  patent  property.  Als>  pamphlet*  of  information 
lurnished  regarding  the  Patent  Laws  ol  all  Foreign  Coun- 
tries. 

For  further  particular*  address  MUNN  &  CO.,  37  Park-row, 
New  York;  or  corner  F  and  7th  streets  (opposite  Patent 
Olllce),  Washington,  I).  C. 

The  Boardmarij  Gray  &,  Co. 
PIANO   FORTES, 

The  subscriber,  late  a  member  of  this  firm,  has  located  his 
office  at 736  BROADWAY,  NEWTORK  CITY,  with  full  ar- 
rangements to  supply  these  superior  Instruments  to  the  pub- 
lie  and  trade  at  the  very  lowest  prices.  WHOLESALE  and 
RETAIL,  Send  for  price  circulars  and  address  all  orders. 
SIBERIA  OTT,  736  Broadway,  New-York. 

PIANO    STOOLS. 

ABBOTT'S  IRON  COLUMN  AND  FEET  STOOLS.— The 
best,  neatest,  and  cheapest  stool  made.  Also,  ROSEWOOD 
STOOLS,  all  kinds.  Sole  agency.  The  trade  supplied.  Ad- 
dress all  orders,  SIBERIA  OTT, '726  Broadway,  New-York. 

PIANO-FORTE  TUNING  SCALES. 

SOMETHING    NEW. 

BOOTMAN'S  TUNING  SCALES  enable  persons  to  tunc 
their  own  Pianos  correctly  :  is  simple  In  construction  and 
operation.  Prices  from  $G  to  $10.  Send  for  Descriptive 
Circulars.  Sub'  agency  and  depot.  Address  all  orders, 
SIBERIA  OTT,  72fi  Broadway,  New-York. 

CHHONOITIETER  WATCHES. 

FASOLDT'S  PATENT  ISOCHRONAL  POCKET  CHRO- 
NOMETERS.—The  beal  time-keepers  in  the  world.  Will  not 
vary  a  minute  in  a  year.  Sole  agent.  Trade  supplied.  Send 
for  circulars  and  address  orders,  SIBERIA  OTT,  726  Broad- 
way, New  York. 

MELODEONS  AND  HARIWONIUITIS. 

Afrent  for  the  best  made  in  this  country.  Wholesale  and 
Retail.  Address  orders  SIBERIA  OTT,  726  Broad wav, 
New-York. 

Purchasing  and  Information   Agency. 

Articles  of  every  description  purchased.  Information  given 
on  anv  business  matter.  Circulars  sent  on  application,  civ- 
ins  full  Information  relative  to  the  agency,  and  references. 
Address,  SIBERIA  OTT,  726  Broadway,  New- York  City. 

MASOHf  &   1KAIVIL.IIVS  Cabinet  Organs 

A»»are  the  best  Instruments  of  their  class  in  the  world  for 
private  houses  and  small  Churches,  Chapels,  Halls,  &c. 
We  have  the  testimony  of  more  than  one  hundred  of  the 
most  eminent  organists  and  musicians  in  the  country  to  this 
fact.    Send  for  circulars  with  particulars.    Prices  $70  to  $-130 


each  address 


MASON  BROTHERS, 
i  Mercer  street)  New- York. 


TO    FARMERS 
TO   DAIRYMEN, 

TO  COUNTRY  MBMH1NIS. 

AIjIj  who  have  for  Sale: 

Sorghum    Sugar    and    Syrup, 
Furs      and      Skins, 
Fruits,  dry  and  green, 
Hops,  Tallow, 

Cotton,  Wool, 

Butter,  Cheese, 

Lard,  Beef, 

Pork,  Hams, 

Eggs,  Poultry, 

Ciame,  Vegetables, 

Flour,  drain, 

Seeds,  Petroleum, 

&c,  Ac. 

Can  have  them  well  sold  at  the  highest  prices 
in  New-York,  with  full  cash  returns  promptly 
after  their  reaching  the  City,  b}'  forwarding 
them  to  the  Commission  House  for  Country 
Produce,  of 

JOSl  1  II     CAKPENTER, 

32  Jay-street,  New-York. 

UT.  15. — The  advertiser  has  had  abundant 
experience  in  this  business,  and  trusts  that  he 
will  continue  to  merit  patronage  by  the  most 
careful  attention  to  the  interest  of  his  patrons. 
The  articles  are  taken  charge  of  on  their  arri- 
val, and  carefully  disposed  of  promptly  to  good 
cash  customers,  and  cash  returns  made  imme- 
diately to  the  owner.  (The  highest  charge  made 
for  receiving  and  selling  is  five  per  cent,  fruits  and 
vegetables  excepted.) 

A  New  York  Weekly  Price  Current  is  issued 
by  J.  Carpenter,  which  is  sent  free  to  all  his  pat- 
rons. A  specimen  copy  sent  free  to  any  de 
siring  it.  Atrial  will  prove  the  above  facts. 
For  abundant  references  as  to  responsibility,  in- 
tegrity, &c,  see  the  "Price  Current." 

Kir°  Cash  advanced  on  consignments  of 
Produce. 

SEND     FOR 

A    FREE    COPY 

O  P 

PRICES  CUBKENT, 

AND  ALL  OTHER  PARTICULARS, 

TO 

J0SIAH   CARPENTER, 
32  Jay-st.,  New-York. 

PRODUCE  OF  ALL  KINDS  BOUGHT. 


1803.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


Q87 


BAKERS 

PATENT 

FRUIT    JARS. 

WITH   EITHER 

GLASS  OR  TIN  COVERS. 

They  are  SIMPLE,  RELIABLE,  and  CHEAP,  and  the 
ONLY  Jar  of  which  there  are  NO  COMPLAINTS. 

From  the  great  number  of  testimonials  we  might  give,  we 
only  quote  from  the 

"  AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST,"  which  says: 

"They  are  the  best  of  the  twenty  odd  kinds  we  have 

TRIED." 

Housekeepers  try  for  yourselves.    Do  not  be  persuaded  to 
try  others,  for  It  will  be  to  your  cost. 
For  sale  by  all  respectable  dealers. 
The  trade  supplied  by  the 

Manufacturers  and  Pkopritoks, 
F.  L.  A  J.  N.  BODINE  &  CO., 

Successors  to  POTTER  &  BODINE, 
106  Chestnut-st.,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

TO     THE    LADIES. 

We  desire  to  call  your  particular  attention  to  MASON'S 
PATENT  SELF  SEALING 

FRUIT  JARS  AND  CANS. 

An  experience  of  six  years  has  proved  them  the  most  perfect. 
Jars  for  preserving  fruits  and  vegetables.  Sold  by  all  dealers. 
Made  only  by  the  SHEET  METAL  SCP.EW  CO., 

214  Peart  St.,  New-Tork. 

Portable 
Printing    Offices. 

For  the  use  of  Merchants,  Druggists,  Nurservmen,  and  all 
who  wish  to  do  their  own  Printing.  Circular  sent  free.  Spe- 
cimen Slice  ts  of  Type,  Cuts,  &e.,  on  receipt  of  fcwoSc.  sramps 
ADAMS  PRESS  CO.,  31  Park  [low,  N.  Y. 

ANTI-FRICTION 

HORSE    POWERS, 
BURR    STONE   MILLS, 

which  may  be  driven  by 

HORSE,  WATER,  or  STEAM  POWER. 

Send  for  Circular  to 

E.  H.  BENNET, 
42  and  41  Greene-st..  New- York. 


The  NONPAREIL  WASHING  MACHINE 

Is  the  only  entirely  reliable  machine  in  use. 

It  has  been  before  the  public  two  years,  and  has  not  in  any 
instance  foiled  to  give  satisfaction. 

It  saves  two-thirds  the  labor  and  time  required  iu  hand 
washing. 

It  is  a  squeezing  machine,  and  will  not  injure  the  finest 
clothing. 

A  girt  of  fourteen  vearscan  operate  it. 

It  will  not  get  out  of  order. 

It  is  recommended  by  Mr.  Judd,  the  proprietor  of  this 
Journal. 

Prices  ;  No.  1.  $12.    No.  2,$16.    No.  3,  $20. 

Send  tor  free  Circular  to 

OAKLEY  &  KEATING.  73  South-st.,  New- York. 


Great   Dis- 
covert ! 


Applicable  to 
theusefulArts. 


A  new  thing, 


USEFUL  mid  VALUABLE 
DISCOVERY  ! 

HILTON'S 

INSOLUBLE    CEMENT! 

Is  of  more  general  practical  utility  than  any 
invention  now  before  the  public.  It  has  been 
thoroughly  tested  during  the  last  two  years 
by  practical  men,  and  pronounced  by  all  to 
Be  Superior  to  any 
Adhesive  Preparation  known. 

Hilton's   Insoluble   Cement 

Is  a  uew  thing,  and  the  result  of  years  of 

Btudy;  its  combination  is  on 

SCIENTIFIC   PRINCIPLES, 

And  under  no  circumstances  or  change  of 
temperature,  will  it  become  corrupt  or  emit 
any  offensive  smell. 

Boot  and  Shoe  Manufacturers,  using 
Machines,  will  find  it  the  best  article  known 
for  Cementing  the  Channels,  as  it  works 
without  delay,  is  not  affected  by  any  change 
of  temperature. 

Jewelers  will  find  itsnfflcientlyadhesive 
for  their  use,  as  has  been  proved. 

It  is  especially  adapted  to  leath- 
er, and  we  claim  as  an  especial  merit,  that 
it  sticks  patches  and  Linings  to  Boots  and 
Shoes  sufficiently  strong  without  stitching. 

IT  IS  THE  ONLY 

LIQUID    CEMENT 

Extant,  that  is  a  sure  thing  for  mending 
Furniture,  Crockery,  Toys,  Bone, 
Ivory,  and  articles  of  Household  use. 

Hilton's     Insoluble     Cement 

Is  in   liquid  form  and  as  easily  applied  as 
paste. 

Hilton's  Insoluble  Cement 

Is  insoluble  in  water  or  oil. 
Hilton's  Insoluble  Ceinent 

Adheres  oily  substances. 

Supplied  in  Family  or  Manufacturers'  Pack- 
ages from  2  ounces  to  100  lbs. 

HILTON   BROS.   &  CO., 

PROPRIETORS, 
I  PROVIDENCE,  K.  1. 

Liio  Insurance, 

THE  MANHATTAN  LIFE  INS.  Co. 

OF  NEW-YORK,  No.  31  NASSAU-ST. 
Accumulation   $1.50f>,0OO. 
Claims  paid  8  30,000. 

Dividends  700,000. 

The  greatly  superior  advantages  of  this  old  established 
Company,  can  be  ascertained  free  of  expense  at  any  of  the 
agencies,  or  by  writing  to  the  home  office  for  a  prospectus. 
J'.L.  HALSEY.  Awl.  Sec'y.  HENRY  STOKES,  President. 

S.  N.  STEBB1NS,  Actuary.         C.  Y.  WEMFLE,   Secretary. 


Combiua 
tion. 


Boot  and  Shoe 
Manufacturers 


Families. 


It  is  a  Liquid 


Finis. 


Mode  of  applying  JOHNS  &  CROSLEY'S 

GtTTA     PERCHA     CEMENT    ROOFING. 

This  Roofing  is  Fire  and  Water  Proof,  and  can  he  applied 

by  any  ordinary  laborer.    It   costs  only   about  one-third  as 

much  as  tin,  and  is  more  durable. 

OUTTA  PERCHA  CEMENT  PAINT 
applied  to  leaky  roofs  of  all  kinds,  will  render  them  perfect- 
ly water-tight.     It  is  put  up  ready  prepared   lor  use  and  for 
shipment  to  all  parts  of  the  country. 

These  materials  have   been   tested  on  more   than   twelve 
thousand  roofs  during  the   past  six  years,  and  we  can  give 
abundant  proof  of  all  we  claim  for   them.    Full  descriptive 
circulars  and  any  required  information  furnished  by  the 
JOHNS  &  CROSLKY  MANUFACTURING  CO- 
TS William-st.,  cor.  Liberty,  New-York. 

$— SOMETHING  NEW  !     AGENTS  WANTED. 

Our  New  "  Fancy  Card  Thermomktkrs'1-"  Hemmer  and 
SniEi.D"  for  hand  sewing— "  Improved  Indelible  Pencil  "for 
marking  linen,  "Flexible  Shawl  and  Nursery  Safety  Pin," 
'■Patent  Hair  Crimpers,"  and  10  more  novel,  useful  and 
indispensable  articles,  are  warranted  to  give  satisfaction. 
—Samples  25c.  each.  For  circulars  and  terms  arldress 
RICE  &  CO..  37  Park  Row.  N.  T. 

rpME  nOUSEHOLU  BOO  ^.—Dodge's 
•*■  Vermin  Exterminator  and  Bed  Bug  Riddance,  kills  "in 
one  minute"  all  vermis  infesting  man  and  animals,  vet  so 
harmless  to  the  person  that  infants  may  be  safely  bathed  in 
it;  a  purely  vegetable  liquid  without  oil,  opium,  larkspur, 
sulphur,  mercury  or  other  mineral.    25c.  bottles. 

GODFREY,  S31  Broadway,  New- York. 


UNIVERSAL 

CLOTHES    WRINGER. 

This  popular  machine  sells  rapidly  wherever  offered. 
Every   Family  will  have  one  ! 

It  is  only  a  question  of  time.  Thousands  of  families  every 
month  are  being  relieved  in  the  hardest  of  all  housework, 
Washing.  Thousands  of  dollars  arc  daily  saved  by  pressing 
the  water  and  dirt  out  of  the  clothes,  instead  of  twisting  and 
wrenching  the  fabric,  and  destroying  the  garments. 

Cotton  Is  Expensive, 
Save  it  by  using  Hie  Universal  Clothes  Wringer. 
"  Time  is  Money." 

Orange  Judd.  Esq.,  of  the  American  Agriculturist  savs* 
•A  child  can  readily  wring  out  a  tuhl'ul  o{  clothes  in  a  few 
minutes.  Therefore  use  the  U.  C.  W.,  and  save  time  and 
money. 

Ladies  who  have  long  used  them  and  know  their  value 
speak-In  the  highest  terms  in  their  praise.  One  says— "I 
would  as  soon  be  without  my  cow.  ;is  without  my  wringer  " 
Another,  '-I  can  now  go  to  bed  and  sleep  after  wasniii^. 
pay.  Another.  "  I  had  to  pay  fifty  cents  for  a  washwoman 
before,  and  now  we  do  it  ourselves."  Another.  "The  rich 
may  afford  to  do  without  them,  but  I  could  not  "  &c  &c 
I  hese  are  but  a  few  among  thousands.  Every  one  u'sins 
them  will  report  likewise.  b 

We  have  seven  sizes,  from  $.i  to  ?30.  Those  suitable  for 
ordinary  family  use,  are  No.  1,  $10,  and  No.  2,  $7.  These  iiave 

O  OG- -  "CV  H  3ES  !E  I*  JS  , 

and  are  warranted  in  every  particular.  This  means  especi- 
ally, that  alter  a  few  months'  use,  the  lower  roll 

WILL    NOT   TWIST  ON  THE   SHAFT, 

and  tear  the  clothing,  as  is  the  case  with  our  No.  3  ($5),  and 
other  wringers  without  Cog- Wheels. 

In  April's  sales  of  over  5,000,  only  2?  were  of  the  No  3  £5 
size,  without  Cogs.  In  our  retail  sales  wc  have  not  sold  one 
mover  a  year!  Tin's  shows  which  style  is  appreciated  by 
the  public.    Tills  is  Hie  only  wringer  wiih  the 

PATENT  COG-WHEEL  REGULATOR, 

and  though  other  wringer  makers  are  licensed  to  use  our 
rubber  rolls  yet  none  are  ever  licensed  to  use  Ihe  Cog- 
\V  heels,  riierelore,  lor  cheapness  and  durabilitv  buv 
only  the  J         J 

Universal     Clothes    Wringer. 

On  receipt  of  the  price,  from  places  where  no  one  is  sell- 
ing, we  will  send  tile  U.  C.  W.,  fuee  of  expense.  What  we 
especially  want  is  a  good 

in  every  town.  We  offer  liberal  inducements,  and  guarantee 
the  exclusive  sale.    Apply  at  once  to 

R.  C.  BROWNING, 
347  Broadway,  New- York. 

"to^armersT 

Bone  Tafeu.  floncTafcii. 

MANUFACTURED  by  the  LODI  MANUFACTURING  CO. 

The  large  sale  of  this  manure,  and  constantly  increasing 
demand  has  induced  the  Company  to  arrange  for  its  manu- 
facture on  an  extensive  scale. 

It  is  composed  of  Fine  Raw  Bone  and  Night  Sotl,  free 
from  all  impurities,  dried  and  ground  to  a  fine  powder,  mak- 
ing it  quick  in  its  action,  as  well  as  permaneut  in  its  results. 

For  Buckwheat,  Turnips  and  Winter  Grain,  no  manure 
can  be  found  of  equal  value  for  the  amount  invested. 

It  is  put  in  new  Barrels,  200  lbs.  iu  each.  One  and  a  half 
barrels  will  manure  an  acre. 

Price,  free  of  cartage,  $4.50  per  Barrel 

All  orders,  wU!-' 
directed  to  the 

60  CortIandt-st„  New-York 

TO  FARMERS 

AND     OTHERS. 

We  are  manufacturing  a  Genuine  Article  of  Fine,  Medi- 
um, and  Coabse  BOIVE  DUST,  and  RAW  BONE  SU- 
PERPHOSPHATE OF  LIME,  manufactured  from 
unhurned  Bones,  containing  all  the  Animal  and  Chemical 
Fertilizing  Properties.  Please  address  the  Manufacturers, 
and  get  the  Intrinsic  Value  of  your  money. 
N.  B.  A  Liberal  Discount  made  to  Dealers  for  Cash, 
Address  A.  LISTER  &  BRO„ 

Newark.  N.  J. 

PURE  BONE  DUST. 

COE'S  SUPERPHOSPHATE  OF  LIME, 
AND  ALL  OTHER  RELIABLE  FERTILIZERS. 
In  quantities  to  suit  purchasers. 

B.  H.  ALLEN  &  CO. 
189  &  191  Water  street.  Now- York. 

BONE  MANURE. 

Order  early.    The  supplv  is  limited.  We  sell  a  pure  article, 

ORIFFING.  BROTHER  &  CO., 
HO  Courtlandt-st.,  New-Tork. 

.  AMMONIATED  PACIFIC  fiUANO. 

A  real  guano  containing  from  seventy  to  eighty  per  cent 
of  Phosphate  of  Lime,  to  which  has  been  added,  by  a  chemi- 
cal proce&s,  a  large  percentage  of  Actual  Ammonfa  so  fixed 
that  it  can  not  evaporate,  making  it  equal  if  not  superior  to 
any  other  fertilizer. 

Pamphlets  with  copies  of  Analysis  by  Dr.  Jackson,  Mass. 
State  Assayer,  and  testimonials  from  scientific  Agriculturists 
showing  its  value  can  be  obtained  from 

J.O.  BAKER  &  CO.,  Selling  agents. 
S7  Wall-st    New-York 


All  orders,  which  will  hereafter  be  filled  promptly  must  be 
LODI  MANUFACTURING  CO. 


288 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


Contents  for  September,  1863. 


Apologies— Unnecessary 

Bees — Apiary  in  September 

Rees — Industry  of  Italian 

Dees-Questions  to  Keepers  of  Italians. 
Beet  Sugar— Important  Experiments 


.  .276 
..259 
..26'J 
..269 
...270 


Boys  and  Girls'  Coliinm&— Introducing  the  l'cts— 
Ynnng  Animals— Curious  Traits— An  Eccentric 
Physician— Boys  anil  Girls'  Garden,  No.  VI—  But- 
ton-hole Scissors— Puzzles  &  Problems.. 9  III... 280-281 

Cemeteries.  Country — Good  Hints - 271 

Clothes  Lines— Wire •••  ■•■  ■->* 

Cooking  Hints,  etc.— Green  Com  Pudding— Cooking 
Peas -Blackberry  Flummery— To  Preserve  Toma- 
toes—Plum  Catsup-Cottage  Pudding  and  Sauce- 
Economy  Cakes— Cream  of  Tartar  Cake— Puff 
take— Valuable  Kecipes-The  Apple  Pie  Melon.. 279 

Corn— Culling  up  by  the  Ground 269 

Crop  Prospects   -■  ■ 2(i4 

Crops— Report  from  Ag'l  Department  at  Washington. 2M 

Dampness  in  Walls— Prevention 279 

Editor's   Western  Jaunt 2<0 

Exhibition— Agricultural— Hints  on 2,0 

Exhibition— Horticultural  at  Am.  Institute.. 2,4 

Exhibition  Tables  at  Agriculturist  Office i_V"S! 

Exhibitions— Agricultural,  Slate  and  County  in  1S03..21J2 

Fair— International  at  Hamburg 266 

Farm— Large  in  Illinois 2C3 

Farm  Work  for    September 257 

Flannels— How  to  Wash 2<S 

Flower  Garden  and  Lawn  in  September  259 

Flowers— Aniitilou  Striatum   Illustrated.  .2.6 

Flowers— Fuchsias  in  Winter 2;S 

Flowers— Prepare  for  Spring 2i5 

Flowers— Protection  for  Fall '-'5 

Fruit  Garden  ill  September 259 

Garden— Kilcheu,  in    September 258 

Grape  Exhibition,  Great  American  260 

Grape  Vines— Grafting   Illustrated.  .270 

Grape  Vines— Laterals  on 276 

Grapes— Yeddo— from  Japan  274 

Green  and  Hot  Houses  in  Seplember 259 

Hams-Good   Way  to  Keep   279 

Homes-    How  to  Obtain  under  the  Homestead  Law. .  .263 

Honey— Poor  Yield  269 

Horses— Treatment  for  Swelled  Legs 266 

House,  Farm— Plans  for 2  lllusl rations.. 265 

Household -Small  Leaks 277 

Humbugs— Various 271 

Insects— Experience  with  Scale  Lice 273 

Insects — Repelling  from  Dried  Fruit 279 

Insects— Turpentine  for  Moths  279 

Laborers— Farm— Hints   About 268 

Lawns — Management  of  New 274 

Leaf  Impressions — How  to  Take 278 

Manure— Value  of  Phosphates  for  Wheat  and  Turnips. 269 

Market  Review,  Weather  Notes,  etc 2S2 

Marrying  a  Gardener 279 

Orchard  and  Nursery  in  September 258 

Potatoes — How  to  Raise  Cheaply   266 

Premiums  for  Obtaining  Subscribers  for  1864 281 

Rocking-Chair  Power Illustrated.  .277 

Rotation  or  Change  of  Crops 266 

Seed— Hint  on  Saving 275 

Sorghum  Sugar— A  Bit  of  History 270 

Stock— Animals  Wanted  in  Kansas 266 

Strawberry,  "Agriculturist"— Important  Explanations. 259 

Strawberry   Item 274 

Strawberries— Notes  on — Mulching 274 

Strawberries— Starting  in   Pots 275 

Suggestions  and  Notes  for  September. .  Illustrated.  .257 
Tea  Substitute — Ceanothus  Americanus. Illustrated.. 265 

Tim  Bunker  on  Old  Style  House-Keeping 277 

Tobacco— Practical  Notes  on  Cultivation 2>!7 

Trees  and  Shrubs— Half  Hardy 273 

Trees— Neglected  Native— Liquidambar..///usrrnrg/.. 27:) 

Trees — Ornamental  Beeches  2  Illustrations.. 272 

Trees— Tall— The  Douglass  Fir 272 

Vines  for  Window  Screens 275 

Weeds— Talks  About.   IV 3  Illustrations.  .268 

Wringers— A  Word  About 279 


INDEX    TO    "BASKET,"   < 

Apple  Trees  in  Illinois. 262  | 

Bee  Book 262 

Barometer 260 

Birds.  Preserving 261 

Blackberries 262 

Brakes  in  Pastures 262 

Cobcca  Scandens 261 

Corn  Blossoms 260 

Correspondents,  Note.. 288 
Crops,  etc.,  in  Indiana.. 262 

Dahlias  Changing 262 

Daisy,  Yellow 261 

Dictionary,  Ure's 260 

Eggs,  Sex  of .261 

Fair,  Am.  Institute 261 

Figs,  Preserving 261 

Flax,  Minnesota 262 

Flower  Book 260 

Fruit-Growers'  Meet'gs. 260 

Fruit  Notes 260 

Gladiolus.  Fine 260 

Grape  Vine  Premiums..  268 

Grapes,  Keeping 261 

Horse-Radish 261 

Horses,  Slobbering 262 

Ice-House,  Room  in  —  262 

Insects  Described 262 

Insects  on  Wheat 262 

Insects,  Sending 262 

Kerosene  on  Trees 261 

Lemon  Buds 262 

Letters,  Short 288 

Lice,  Destroying 262 


It  SHORTER    ARTICLES. 

Mailing  Strawberries  ... 
Marble  Dust  Manure  — 

Muck  Defined 

Mushrooms 

Notice,  Good 

Pears  Rotting 

Plants,  Hardiness  of — 

Plants  Named 

Plows,  Gang 

Poison  Vine 

Postage 

Railroads— Long  Bars. 
Raspberries,  Treatment 
Receipts — Subscription 
Rose,  Non-blooming . . . 

Sheep  Book 

Specimen  Numbers  — 

Squash,  Hubbard 

Stock,  Mich.  Ag.  Col.. 
Strawberries,  Fuller's  . 
Strawberries,  Hybrids 
Strawberries,  Mulching 

Strawberry  Send 

Thistles,  Canada 

Tobacco  Manufacture  . 

Tree  Peddlers  

Trees  and  Worms 

Wheat,  Lambert 

Wheat,  Mummy 

Wheat  Show 

Wine-Making : 

Wistaria 

Wringer— New  Use.... 


.200 
262 
261 
261 
.260 
262 
261 
262 
261 
260 
2S8 
.261 
261 
.260 
262 
2P.0 
2S8 
261 
262 
262 
261 
.261 
.  260 
.261 
.261 
.261 
.261 
262 
.261 
.261 
.262 
.261 
.260 


SEE    HERE  ! 

.A.  Special  Bounty 

To 

"NEW   irECRTJITS." 

We  want  a  large  number  of  new  readers  to  see,  and  get 
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ffliery  new  name  arriving  on  and  after  September 
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THE    GREAT    STRAWBERRY    is   for  all 

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ORANGE  JUDD.  41  Park-Row,  NewYork  City. 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST, 

FOR  THE 

Farm,    Grarden,    and.   Household.. 


"AGRICULTURE  IS  THE  MOST  HEALTHFUL,  MOST  USEFUL,- AND  MOST  NOBLE  EMPLOYMENT  OF  MAN.,'-\vi.,m.oToii. 


ORAKdE     JIT»I>,     A.M.,   ) 

EDITOR    AND    PROPRIETOR.  > 

Office,   il  Park  Row,    (Times  Buildings.)  ) 


ESTABLISHED  IN  1842. 

Published  both  in  English  and  German. 


t  $1.00    PEE  ANNUM,    IN  ADVANCE 
■j         SINGLE  NUMBER,  10  CENTS. 
(  For  Contents,  Terms,  etc.,  see  page  330. 


VOLUME  XXII— No.  10. 


NEW-YORK,     OCTOBER,     1868. 


NEW  SERIES— No.  201. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1S63,  by 
Ot'.ANnE  .Tlrnn,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of 
the  United  States  lor  the  Southern  District  of  New- York, 
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freely,  (fetich  article  be  credited  to  American  Agriculturist. 


tf?mv-ari:ic  - 


Suggestions   and  Notes  for  the  Month. 

m 

The  glory  of  the  year  is  at  its  night.  There 
is  a  gorgeous  display  of  color  in  the  woods, 
which  beautifully  contrasts  with  the  sombre 
hue  of  the  cleared  fields,  though  it  is  the  hec- 
tic flush  that  betokens  the  completion  of  the 
decay  which  is  already  marring  the  landscape. 
The  sun  looks  askant  upon  the  changing  scene, 
and  is  slowly  transferring  his  favors  to  other 
lands ;  the  birds,  like  gay  courtiers,  follow  to 
enjoy  his  smiles;  the  hum  of  insects  is  no 
longer  heard,  they  have  sought  safe  quarters 
for  their  winter  repose ;  a  gentle  haze  fills  the 
air,  and  all  things  inspire  thoughtfulness.  The 
reflections  of  the  husbandman  will  naturally 
turn  to  a  survey  of  the  year's  operations.  In 
the  main,  the  season  has  been  one  of  average 
fruitfulriess,  though  some  complain  of  a  late 
Spring  and  a  too  fervid  Summer.  The  drouth, 
and  the  August  frost  completed  the  failure 
threatened  in  the  early  months.  In  some  sec- 
tions this  was  undoubtedly  unavoidable.  Human 
skill  cannot  make  up  for  all  deficiencies  of 
weather.  There  will  always  be  some  contin- 
gencies depending  on  this  cause,  and  these 
should  be  taken  into  account  in  estimating  for 
future  operations  on  the  farm ;  a  wide  margin 
should  be  left  on  this  score,  when  operations 
are  contemplated  requiring  the  outlay  of  large 
capital.  He  is  an  unskillful  cultivator  who 
depends  entirely  upon  favorable  seasons  for 
making  farming  profitable.  He  is  at  the  mercy 
of  the  elements,  and  will  often  have  reason  to 
complain  of  their  inclemency.  It  is  equally 
unwise  to  conduct  agricultural  operations  with 
reference  only  to  a  single  year  or  a  short  term 
of  years.  The  successful  man  looks  into  the 
future,  and  lays  his  plans  to  make  his  land  in- 
creasingly productive.  He  who  merely  strives 
to  realize  the  largest  returns,  year  by  year, 
without  keeping  the  future  in  view,  may  be 


selling  the  fertility  of  his  land  piece-meal,  which 
is  in  reality  parting  with  his  capital  for  what 
should  be  the  basis  of  a  large  interest  on  that 
capital.  The  end  of  such  management  must 
ultimately  be  failure. — There  is  no  operation 
upon  the  farm  more  fully  justified  than  drain- 
ing, in  view  of  its  immediate  and  permanent 
benefits.  A  thorougly-drained  field,  though  not 
independent  of  the  weather,  is  provided  with  a 
regulating  apparatus  that  will  enable  it  to  suc- 
cessfully withstand  extremes  which  would  de- 
stroy crops  on  undrained  land.  If  the  season 
be  wet,  there  is  a  ready  outlet  for  the  surplus 
water ;  if  drouth  parches  the  surface,  then  the 
air  permeating  the  cooler  soil,  leaves  a  supply 
of  moisture  for  the  wants  of  the  growing 
plants.  The  atmosphere  also  contains  ele- 
ments needed  for  the  building  up  of  vegetable 
structure,  and  when  the  water  has  been  drawn 
off,  these  find  ready  access  to  the  roots.  By  the 
same  means,  deeper  layers  of  earth  are  acted 
upon  and  prepared  to  furnish  nutriment  to  the 
fibres,  which  will  soon  penetrate  a  soil  thus 
fitted  for  their  nourishment.  Happily  these 
views  are  no  mere  theories.  They  have  been 
sustained  by  the  most  extended  experiments  in 
our  own  and  in  foreign  countries.  The  English 
are  so  fully  convinced  of  the  benefits  of  drain- 
ing, that  it  has  been  made  a  subject  for  legis- 
lation, and  Government  wisely  aids  those  de- 
sirous of  improving  their  estates,  by  loans  on 
the  most  favorable  terms.  Most  of  our  adult 
readers  can  remember  when  drain-tiles  were 
first  introduced  in  this  country,  as  necessary  to 
the  best  cultivation,  and  now  there  are  thou- 
sands of  acres  made  more  productive  by  their 
use,  and  large  manufactories,  though  working 
continually  to  supply  the  demand  for  tiles,  are 
unable  to  keep  up  with  the  calls  for  them,  and 
new  parties  are  embarking  in  the  business.  We 
predict  that  in  twenty  years,  or  less,  he  will  be 
generally  considered  an  antiquated  farmer,  who 
has  not  introduced  this  improvement.  The 
time  may  seem  short,  but  we  are  a  fast  people, 
and  are  universally  considered  to  be  bent  on 
"  running  things  into  the  ground."  The  present 
is  a  favorable  time  for  commencing  or  con- 
tinuing this  work.  We  counsel,  as  we  have 
previously  done  repeatedly  in  the  columns  of 
the  Agriculturist,  that  the  work  be  begun,  at 
least  on  a  small  scale,  and  there  is  little  fear 
but  that  the  results  will  so  commend  the  opera- 
tion that  it  will  soon  be  very  greatly  extended. 

Work   for   tbe  Farm,   Household,   etc. 

Take  time  by  the  forelock  this  month.  But 
little  growth  will  now  be  made  by  any  summer 
crops,  and  without  seasonable  attention,  some 
of  them  may  be  destroyed  or  injured  by  frost. 
In  addition  to  gathering  the  corn,  sorghum, 
roots,  etc.,  preparations  may  be  needed  for 
safely  storing  them.  To  save  a  crop  often  re- 
quires as  much  forethought  as  to  raise  it. 
There  should  be  a  general  clearing  up  before 


the  weather  becomes  inclement.  The  stable 
and  cellars  should  be  put  in  readiness,  ma- 
nure drawn  out  from  the  yards,  ripened  weeds 
gathered  and  burned,  stock  looked  over  and  the 
surplus  disposed  of,  tools  safely  housed,  and 
everything  made  snug :  then,  when  the  blast 
comes  whistling  from  the  North,  the  farmer 
will  be  prepared  to  answer  it  with  a  cheerful 
whistle  from  within  doors,  surrounded  with 
comfort  and  rejoicing  in  the  sense  of  security. 
Beans. — Thresh  out  as  soon  as  sufficiently 
cured,  and  preserve  the  stalks  for  feeding  to 
sheep  or  horses,  for  which  they  are  good  fodder. 

Buildings  will  soon  be  subject  to  searching 
winds  and  driving  storms,  which  will  find 
entrance  through  all  neglected  crevices :  one 
dollar's  worth  of  lumber  used  in  making  them 
weather-proof  will  save  many  dollars  in  fuel 
and  feed.  See  that  eaves-troughs  and  leaders 
are  free  from  leaves  or  other  obstructions,  and 
drains  in  order  to  carry  off  water.  Apply 
paint  where  needed.  If  manure  is  to  be  thrown 
out  of  stable  windows,  build  a  shield  of  boards 
to  keep  it  from  contact  with  the  sills  and  sides 
of  the  building  and  thus  prevent  their  decay. 

Butter.— Increase  the  quantity  and  quality  by 
feeding  the  cows  with  pumpkins,  surplus  cab- 
bage leaves,  beet,  carrot,  and  turnip  tops,  etc, 
as  the  pastures  fail.  Pack  a  full  supply  for 
winter  use.  If  properly  made,  thoroughly 
worked,  and  stored  with  care,  butter  made  now 
will  command  an  extra  price  before  Spring. 

C&bbarjes.— Secure  the  late  crop  before  injured 
by  frost.  Lay  head  downward  in  trenches, 
with  rails  at  the  bottom  to  keep  them  from  the 
ground,  cover  with  straw  and  then  with  earth, 
laid  up  in  wedge  shape  and  packed  smooth,  to 
shed  rain.    Feed  out  the  surplus  leaves. 

Cattle. — Commence  to  feed  with  stalks  or 
other  fodder  before  the  pastures  are  entirely 
bare.  Grass  partially  nipped  by  frost  loses 
much  of  its  nutritive  qualities,  and  will  not 
fully  supply  their  wants.  Commence  stall- 
feeding  early.  Provide  shelter  before  the  in- 
clement season  commences. 

Cellars. — Prepare  against  freezing  weather  by 
banking  up,  if  needed,  but  allow  proper  ven- 
tilation. Cement  floors  are  neat,  and  will  aid 
in  preventing  dampness  and  excluding  vermin. 

Carrots. — Harvest  early  and  store  in  the  barn, 
cellar,  or  other  secure  place,  for  feeding  to 
stock  in  Winter.  The  tops,  if  in  good  order, 
are  excellent  for  milch  cows  or  other  cattle. 

Corn. — Cut  up,  bind,  and  stook  for  husking, 
or  husk  at  once  in  the  field,  if  it  be  not  an  ob- 
ject to  save  the  fodder.    See  article  on  page  304. 

Exhibitions. — Many  of  these  are  yet  to  be  held, 
as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  list  pub- 
lished in  another  column.  Strive  to  make  that 
of  your  own  vicinity  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful.    Those  who  might  contribute    on    such 


2DO 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[OOTOBEIt, 


occasions,  but  who  do  not,  are    responsible    for 
the  failures  of  which  they  are  the  first  to  complain. 

Farmers'  Clubs. — Organize  theni  early.  One 
should  be  in  operation  in  every  school  district. 
Secure  an  occasional  address  on  agricultural  sub- 
jects from  competent  speakers,  but  devote  the 
meetings  mainly  to  informal  conversations  on  the 
facts  connected  with  the  every-day  farm  experience 
and  observations  of  the  different  members:  this 
will  be  of  greater  benefit  in  eliciting  thought,  and 
more  interesting  to  the  participants,  than  attempts 
at  speech  making,  or  listening  to  elaborate  essays. 

Grain.  -  Have  all  threshed  and  safely  stored, 
ready  to  take  advantage  of  a  favorable  mar- 
ket. Reduce  all  contracts  for  future  delivery  to 
writing,  and  ascertain  the  responsibility  of  parties 
before  closing  a  bargain.  Cash  is  the  safest  pay- 
master, the  world  over. 

Hoys.— Push  on  fattening  rapidly,  before  cold 
weather  tithes  the  fat.  Keep  pens  well  supplied 
with  pure  water,  and  with  plenty  of  leaves,  weeds, 
straw,   nrack,   etc.,   for  making   manure. 

Ice-Houses  may  be  made  cheaply,  and  they  will 
abundantly  repay  their  cost,  especially  on  dairy 
farms.  A  double-walled  room  with  the  interstices 
tilled  with  sawdust  or  spent  tan-bark,  built  in  one 
corner  of  au  out-house,  provided  with  drainage 
uud  ventilation,  are  all  the  essentials. 

Implements. — Have  them  all  in  their  places  under 
cover.  Preserve  iron  and  steel  from  rusting  by 
thinly  coating  them  over  with  a  cheap  mixture 
of  lard  and  rosin   melted  together. 

In-door  Employments  — First  secure  all  the  labor- 
saving  items  for  the  household  department,  which 
may  have  long  been  waiting  for  a  convenient  time; 
such  :w  a  few  hooks,  pins  or  nails  for  hanging 
clothing,  catches  for  loose  doors,  buttons  or  other 
fastenings  for  windows,  convenient  arrangement 
for  water,  scrapers  for  the  doors,  sharp  knives  and 
scissors,  and  all  the  hundred  and  one  little  matters 
which  the  women  folks  will  think  of,  and  which 
will  contribute  greatly  to  their  good  nature,  and 
thus  to  the  comfort  of  the  household.  A  friend 
at  baud  proposes  to  the  ladies,  that  they  keep 
a  slate  or  scrap  of  paper  hanging  in  plain  sight, 
and  on  it  write  a  list  of  such  needed  improvements 
as  they  happen  to  want  from  time  to  time.  It 
might  be  headed  "Gentle  Hints." 

Manures. — In  most  sections  a  large  addition  can 
be  made  to  the  manure  heap,  by  collecting  leaves 
from  the  forest.  They  are  excellent  material 
to  compost  with  cattle  droppings  for  manure  for 
the  garden  and  fruit-yard.  Provide  sheds  for  the 
reception  of  the  manure  as  it  accumulates  :  it  will 
be  worth  at  least  25  per  cent,  more  than  if  left  ex- 
posed to  the  weather  during  the  Winter.  Secure  a 
stock  of  lime  and  plaster  to  be  used  in  making 
compost,  and  have  an  abundant  supply  of  muck  or 
black   earth  on   hand   for  the  same  purpose. 

Plow  deeply  heavy  land  that  is  intended  for  com 
next  year,  and  leave  it  exposed  in  ridges.  The 
frost  will  pulverize  the  lumps  and  otherwise  pre- 
pare it  for  working  in  Spring. 

Potatoes.— Harvest  and  store  immediately  in  a 
dark,  cool,  and  well-ventilated  cellar.  A  liberal 
amount  of  earth  collected  with  them  is  rather 
beneficial    than   otlf*rwise,  in   their   preservation. 

Poultry.—  Provide  warm,  well-ventilated,  and 
comfortable  winter  quarters.  Keep  their  premises 
clean :  occasioually  pass  their  roosting  poles 
through  tire,  to  destroy  vermin.  Supply  them 
with  animal  food  as  well  as  grain,  and  with  plenty 
of  clean    water,   gravel,   and  ashes   to  wallow   in. 

Pumpkins.— Store  those  wanted  for  family  use  in 
a  dry,  cool  place,  protected  from  frost.  They  may 
also  be  pared,  sliced,  and  dried,  or  stewed  and 
dried  upon  plates.  Prepared  in  this  way  they  will 
keep  goo3  a  year  or  more.  Remove  the  seeds  from 
those  fed  to  milch  cows. 

Root  Ciops.— Gather  and  store  in  cellars  or  pits 
out  of  doors  before  endangered  by  frost,  com- 
mencing with  carrots  and  ending  with  turnips, 
vTiicfii  are  net  injured  by  slight  frosts. 


Schools. — See  that  school-houses  are  in  good  or- 
der, and  use  every  endeavor  to  secure  first-class 
teachers.  Arrange  the  work  so  that  the  boys  may 
Infill  attendance  at  the  commencement,  to  secure 
the  advantage  of  early  classification  and  of  the 
additional  time.  Frequently  examine  as  to  their 
progress,  but  be  in  no  haste  to  listen  to  "chil- 
dren's tales  out  of  school." 

Sheep. — Keep  6heep  and  rams  separate  until  five 
months  before  iambs  are  wanted.  Keep  all  in  good 
condition  by  occasional  allowance  of  oats,  if  needed. 

Sorghum. — Strip  off  leaves  a  few  days  before 
cnttiug  the  stalks.  Cut  off  the  two  upper  joints 
witli  seed,  as  60on  as  ripe,  or  before  heavy  frost, 
and  cut  stalks  just  above  lower  joint  at  the  same 
time.  Keep  from  freezing,  and  manufacture  as 
rapidly  as  possible. 


Orchard  and  Nursery. 

October  is  a  busy  month  in  this  department. 
Besides  gathering  the  fruit  in  the  established  or- 
chard, new  plantings  are  to  be  made,  and  this 
causes  demands  upon  the  nurseryman  and  creates 
activity  in  his  business.  As  far  as  we  have  noticed, 
the  wood  of  nursery  trees  has  made  a  good  growth 
this  season,  and  ripened  well,  and  as  soon  as  the 
leaves  fall,  transplanting  may  be  done.  In  any  soil 
lit  for  an  orchard  at  all,  Fall  planting  can  be  suc- 
cessfully practised.  The  earlier  it  is  done  after  the 
fall  of  the  leaf,  the  better,  as  the  earth  settles 
around  the  roots,  and  the  tree  becomes  well  estab- 
lished before  Winter  sets  in.  The  success  of  plant- 
ing trees  at  any  time  depends  mainly  on  two 
things:  the  faithfulness  of  the  nurseryman  who 
furnishes  the  trees,  and  on  that  of  the  purchaser 
who  plants  them.  Many  failures  result  from  the 
careless  treatment  of  well  grown  and  carefully 
taken  up  trees  ;  other  failures  come  from  the  care- 
less manner  in  which  the  trees  are  treated  in  the 
nursery ;  they  are  so  mutilated  that  no  after  care 
on  the  part  of  the  purchaser  will  ever  make  healthy 
trees  of  them.  In  taking  up  trees  in  the  nursery, 
care  should  be  used  to  preserve  the  fibrous  roots. 
It  is  very  easy  to  take  a  sharp  spade  and  cut  around 
within  a  foot  or  so  of  the  tree  and  then  pry  it  out 
with  its  mutilated  roots.  To  take  up  a  tree  prop- 
erly, requires  both  time  and  labor.  The  surface 
soil  should  be  carefully  removed  so  as  to  expose 
the  main  branches  of  the  roots  and  then  each  of 
these  should  be  followed  out  and  carefully  lifted 
with  all  the  attached  fibres.  Iu  nurseries  it  is  cus- 
tomary to  take  up  a  stock  of  those  kiuds  which  are 
most  called  for,  and  to  heel  them  in,  in  a  conveni- 
ent place,  so  that  orders  may  be  readily  filled.  In 
doing  this,  too  much  care  can  not  be  exercised  in 
keeping  the  varieties  distinct.  A  nurseryman  who 
lias  a  proper  appreciation  of  his  business,  will  no 
sooner  send  out  a  wrongly  named  tree  than  he 
would  steal  its  value  from  the  pocket  of  the  pur- 
chaser. In  the  nursery  every  preparation  should 
have  been  made  for  the  Fall  trade — stakes,  labels, 
mo-s,  straw,  bagging,  twine  and  all  packing  mate- 
rials should  be  at  hand,  so  that  all  orders  may  be 
tilled  at  the  earliest  possible  moment. 

We  have  so  often  advised  farmers  to  plant  trees 
that  the  counsel  seems  trite.  Yet  we  know  that  it 
can  not  be  too  frequently  repeated,  and  we  know 
that  no  better  investment  can  be  made  than  in  a 
judicious  purchase  of  fruit  trees.  Every  farmer 
should  have  a  good  orchard  to  supply  fruit  for  home 
use,  and  for  marketing.  Any  one  wishing  to  pur- 
chase a  farm  will  pay  much  more  for  one  with  a 
well  established  orchard,  than  he  would  for  a  place 
without  fruit  trees.  Our  advice  has  always  been, 
to  deal  directly  with  the  nurserymen  and  avoid 
tree  peddlers.  There  are  but  few  persous  who  are 
not  within  reach  of  a  reliable  uurseryman,  and  those 
who  are  not  aequaiuted  with  one,  can  consult  our 
advertising  columns. 

Applies. — These  should  be  picked  with  the  precau- 
tious mentioned  iu  the  article  on  marketing  fruit 
on  page  S04.  The  later  sorts  may  be  left  on  the 
trees  until  frosts  occur.     Pick  in  dry  weather. 

Buds  inserted  last  month  will  need  looking  after, 
and  the  bandages  should  be  loosened  if  too  tight. 


Grounds  for  Fall  or  Spring  planting  may  be  ma- 
nured and  plowed,  and  if  the  land  is  at  all  inclined 
to  be  wet,  abundant  draius  should  be  laid. 

Insects.— Those  which  make  their  cocoons  upon 
the  branches,  may  be  readily  discovered  after  the 
leaves  have  fallen.    Remove  them  wherever  found. 

Labels.— Sec  that  those  which  are  partly  effaced 
are  renewed  before  winter.  Do  not  depend  upon 
labels  for  an  orchard.  As  soon  as  the  trees  are 
planted,  make  a  map  and  record  the  name  of  each 
tree  iu  its  proper  position.     See  label  on  page  305. 

Manure.— Apply  to  the  orchard.  Do  not  be  con- 
tent with  putting  a  small  quantity  around  the 
trunks,   but  coat   over  the  whole  surface. 

Ornamental  and  Shade  Tree*.— The  deciduous  va- 
rieties may  be  planted  as  soon  as  the  leaves  fall. 

Stone  Fruits. — Cherries  and  Plum  trees  may  be 
set  out  in  the  Fall,  but  the  more  tender  Peach,  Ap- 
ricot, and  Nectarine,  are  better  left  until  Spring. 

Seed  Beds  may  be  made  according  to  hints  on  page 
305.  The  same  treatment  may  be  pursued  with  the 
seeds  and  nuts  of  most  of  our  ornamental   trees. 

Weeds  should  be  kept  down  in  the  nursery  until 
frost  renders  the  use  of  the  hoe  unnecessary. 


Kitchen  Garden. 

The  near  approach  of  frost  makes  this  a  busy 
month  in  the  Kitchen  Garden,  as  there  are  many 
crops  which  must  be  secured  before  they  are  injured 
by  it.  This,  with  preparation  for  next  Spring's 
work,  will  keep  all  hands  fully  occupied  until  the 
ground  becomes  frozen.  A  good  gardener  will  have 
everything  cleared  up,  and  the  garden  as  clean  and 
tidy   in   the  Fall  as  at  any   other  season. 

Artichokes. — These,  in  this  latitude,  need  a  winter 
covering  of  litter,  and  to  be  banked  up  with  earth. 

Asparagus.— Cut  down  the  stalks  and  burn  them. 
Cover  the  beds  with  a  generous  coating  of  coarse 
stable  manure.  New  beds  may  be  made  now  ;  hints 
upon  this  subject  are  given  on  another  page. 

Beans. — Limas  are  ruined  by  a  slight  frost.  As 
soon  as  there  is  any  danger,  pick  the  crop  and  shell 
and  dry  those  not  wanted  for  immediate  use. 
House  the  poles  for  another  season. 

Beets. — These  should  be  harvested  before  hard 
freezing.  In  cutting  the  tops,  do  not  cut  too  close. 
Store  iu  bins  and  cover  them  with  sand  or  earth  to 
prevent  wilting,  or  if  the  quantity  is  small,  they 
may  be  put  in  barrels.  They  should  be  allowed  to 
dry  a  little  before  housing. 

Cabbages. — Harvest  upon  the  appearance  of  hard 
frosts.  The  best  plan  we  have  tried  for  wintering 
them  is,  to  place  two  rails  side  by  side,  or  to  plow  a 
deep  furrow  and  set  the  cabbages  heads  downwards 
on  the  rails  or  along  the  furrow.  Then  by  meaus 
of  a  spade  or  by  turning  up  the  earth  with  a  plow, 
completely  cover  the  cabbages,  and  pat  the  earth 
down  hard  with  a  spade  so  as  to  shed  water.  The 
ridges  should  be  madeon  a  sloping  piece  of  ground 
from  which  water  will  run  freely.  Plants  sown  last 
mouth  for  wintering,  may  be  set  out  in  cold  frames. 

Cauliflowers. — Those  which  have  not  headed, 
should  be  taken  up  with  a  ball  of  earth  and  placed 
in  the  cellar;  they  will  generally  form  heads.  Set 
young  plants  iu  cold  frames. 

Carrots. — Harvest    as   above  directed  for  beets. 

Celery. — Harvest  before  severe  frost.  Take  up 
the  plants,  and  having  removed  the  waste  leaves, 
stack  it  upright  in  a  narrow  bed,  and  cover  with 
earth  and  a   protection  of  boards. 

Cold  Frames  should  be  in  readiness  before  the 
weather  becomes  too  cool.  Cabbages,  Cauliflowers, 
etc.,  may  be  wintered  in  them,  toafford  early  plants 
in  Spring.  Air  should  be  given  during  mild  weath- 
er. Rank  earth  around  the  frame  upon  the  ap- 
proach of  Winter,  and  cover  the  glass  with  boards 
or  other  protection. 

Hot-Beds. — Provide  a  heap  of  rich  earth  in  a  con- 
venient place  for  use  in  hot  beds  in  early  Sprinir. 


1803.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


291 


Lettuce— Transplant  to  cold  frames.  Seed  may 
be  sown  in  frames. 

Onions.— Those  sown  late,  for  wintering  over, 
need  a  good  covering  of  litter  to  protect  them. 

ram/tips. — The  main  crop  is  to  be  left  in  the 
ground.  A  supply  for  use  while  the  earth  is  frozen, 
may  be  taken  up  and  buried  in  sand  in  the  cellar. 

rickles.— Continue  to  salt  cucumbers,  unripe  to- 
matoes, green  peppers,  melons,  etc.,  for  pickles. 

Ehubarb.r— New  beds  may  be  made  at  auy  time 
before  the  ground  is  frozen.  Give  plenty  of  ma- 
nure and  set  the  plants  3  or  4  feet  each  way.  See 
directions  in   April  Calendar. 

Salsify  requires  the  same  treatment  as  parsuips. 

Spinach.— Thin  out  if  needed,  and  give  a  light 
covering  of  litter  to  protect  it  during  the  Winter. 

Squashes— A  very  moderate  frost  injures  them; 
house  in  good  season,  and  be  careful  not  to  bruise 
them.  Any  unripe  Hubbards  may  be  used  at  once 
as  they  are  better  when  green  than  most  other 
squashes  are  when  ripe. 

Sweet  Potatoes. — Dig  as  soon  as  the  tops  are  killed. 
Handle  carefully ;  pack  in  very  dry  sand,  or  in  cut 
straw ;  keep  in  a  warm  place.     See  April  Agr. 

tomatoes.— -Bottle  or  can  a  good  supply.  The  frost 
cau  be  kept  from  the  vines  by  a  light  awning  of 
cloth  and  the  period  of  fruiting  be  thus  extended. 

Trenching  may  be  done  this  month,  and  the 
ground  thus  be  made  partially  ready  for  Spring. 

Turnips. — The  early  varieties  may  he  stored  or 
marketed.  Rutabagas  and  other  late  sorts  will 
continue  to  grow  for  some  time  yet. 

Winter  Clierrics.— Collect  as  they  ripen  and  make 
into  preserves,  or  keep  them  with  the  husks  on  to 
be  used  as  needed. 

Fruit  Garden. 

Much  can  be  done  in  preparing  land  add  in  set- 
ting out  hardy  trees  aud  shrubs. 

Blackberries. — These  can  he  successfully  planted 
in  the  Fall.  The  ground  needs  to  be  enriched  with 
vegetable  matter,  such  as  muck  or  leaf  compost  and 
well  rotted  man  a  re.  The  New  Rochelle  and  Dor- 
chester are  the  best  accessible  kinds.  We  have 
known  the  finer  varieties  of  the  wild  bushes  to  be 
cultivated  with  good  results.  The  tall  kinds  should 
be  set  in  rows  S  feet  apart  aud  4  feet  in  the  row. 

Currants  and  Gooseberries. — Set  out  established 
plants  the  last  of  the  month,  and  make  cuttings  for 
both  as  directed  in  the  article  on  currants,  page  306. 

Grapes. — These  should  all  be  picked  before  hard 
frost.  Grapes  have  been  kept  well  until  Spring  by 
packing  in  boxes  a  foot  square  and  6  inches  deep, 
with  paper  between  each  layer.  The  boxes  should 
be  kept  in  a  cool  cellar.  Transplanting  may  be 
done  this  month.  In  the  far  northern  localities  the 
vines  may  be  pruned  and  laid  down  this  mouth. 

Strawberries. — Beds  may  still  be  made,  though  it 
should  have  preferably  been  done  last  month. 
Cover  both  new  and  old  beds  before  hard  freezing. 
Forest  laaves  makes  an  excellent  covering,  but 
straw  is  generally  used,  because   more   available. 


Flower  Garden  and  Lawn. 

Tender  plants  which  yet  remain  out  should  be 
removed  to  winter  quarters.  The  borders  should 
still  be  attractive  with  late-blooming  plants,  and 
they  ought  to  be  subject  to  the  same  care  in  keep- 
ing as  at  any  other  season. 

Bedding  Plants. — Petunias,  lantanas,  geraniums, 
etc.,  usually  get  so  overgrown  and  misshapen  dur- 
ing the  Summer  that  they  are  seldom  worth  taking 
up  in  the  Fall.  It  is  much  more  satisfactory  to 
start  new  plants.  If  this  has  not  already  been 
done,  cuttiugs  should  be  made  at  once. 

Bulbs.— Plant  for  Spring  as  directed  last  month. 

Chrysanthemums. — There  should  be  a  fine  stock 
of  these,  as  they  i.dd  much  to  the  faU  decoration 


of  the  garden.    They  bloom  even  after  hard  frosts. 
Keep  them  neatly  tied  up. 

Dahlias. — All  should  be  properly  labelled  while 
the  flowers  are  perfect  aud  you  are  able  to  identify 
them.  Do  not  be  in  a  hurry  to  take  up  the  roots 
as  soon  as  the  tops  are  killed :  they  keep  better  if 
allowed  to  ripeu  a  week  or  two  in  the  ground.  Lift 
the  roots  on  a  dry  clay :  let  them  dry  awhile  in  the 
sun,  and  then  pack  away  in  a  dry,   cool  cellar. 

Frames  and  Pits  should  be  ready  to  receive  the 
plants.  Tender  roses,  verbenas,  salvias,  geraniums, 
etc.,  may  be  wintered  in  them.  Give  ventilation 
whenever  there  is  no  danger  of  frost. 

Gladiolus. — Treat  as  directed  above  for  dahlias. 

Perennials. — Phloxes  aud  others  may  be  divided 
and  reset  as  soon  as  vegetation  ceases.  Sow  seeds 
of  Hollyhock  and  Wall-Flower  early  this  month. 

Seeds.— Continue  to  save  from  the  best  flowers 
until  the  plauts  are  killed. 

Shrubs.— Plant  freely  of  the  hardy  sorts.  These 
mostly  do  best  when  planted  in  the  Fall. 

Lawn. — New  lawns  may  be  made  sowing  early 
and  rolling  well,  and  again  before  Winter  sets  in. 

Green  and    Hot-IJonscs. 

The  plants  should  all  be  in  their  places  this 
month,  the  pots  cleaned  from  weeds  and  moss, 
and  the  plants  properly  pruned  and  arranged  ac- 
cording to  their  necessities  for  light  aud  heat.  A 
little  fire  heat  will  be  needed  by  the  tropical  kinds. 

Ventilation  should  be  carefully  attended  to,  and 
a  proper  degree  of  humidity  kept  up,  by  syringing. 

The  war  npon  insects  must  be  commenced  as 
soon  as  the  plants  are  housed  :  they  are  much 
easier  kept  in  subjection  if  taken  in  time. 

If  there  is  room  for  a  few  pots  of  annuals  the 
seed  may  be  sown  now.  They  will  add  much  to 
the  decoration  of  the  house  in  Midwinter. 


Apiary  in  October. 

Prepared  by  M.  Quinby — By  Request. 
Consumers  of  honey  look  for  its  plentiful  arrival 
in  market  this  month.  As  they  are  willing  to  pay 
well  for  the  good  appearance  of  the  article,  pains 
should  be  taken  to  have  it  neatly  put  up,  and  in 
salable  order.  With  a  damp  cloth  wipe  off  from 
the  boxes  any  honey  that  may  have  leaked  out. 
Paste  fine  clean  paper  or  muslin  over  the  bottoms, 
to  exclude  insects  and  dust.  Turn  the  boxes  hot- 
torn  upward  to  ride  to  market,  as  the  combs  are 
less  liable  to  be  broken.  Pack  the  small  boxes  in 
a  larger  one  that  cau  be  easily  handled,  aud  secure 
from  sliding  about  and  from  rough  usage,  that  the 
combs  may  be  kept  whole.  The  cells  in  the  store 
combs  of  the  boxes  are  usually  much  longer  than 
those  for  breeding,  and  at  the  same  time  are  in- 
clined upward,  as  philosophy  would  teach  us  that 
they  should  be,  to  keep  the  honey  from  running 
out.  If  boxes  with  such  cells,  are  turned  bottom 
upward,  the  cells  incline  downward,  and  some 
honey  must  run  out  of  all  not  sealed,  aud  will  flow 
over  the  caps  of  those  that  arc  covered.  If  invert- 
ed immediately  on  taking  the  box  from  the  hive, 
while  the  honey  is  warm,  it  is  worse  than  after  get- 
ting cold.  If  the  honey  does  not  burst  off  caps, 
it  will  press  fine  particles  through  the  pores, 
presenting  a  wet,  or  greasy  appearance.  When  the 
honey  does  not  come  through,  simply  pressing 
against  the  sealing  gives  it  a  different  appearance 
from  the  clear  white  of  the  best  honey,  when  first 
taken  from  the  hive,  for  except  in  large  cells,  bees 
seal  these  cells,  without  the  covering  touching  the 
honey.  If  we  care  for  the  appearance  of  the  honey, 
the  boxes  should  not  be  inverted  at  any  time,  (ex- 
cept to  prevent  breaking  combs  when  on  the  road.) 
In  taking  the  box  from  the  hive,  it  should  not  be 
wrenched  off  by  taking  bold  of  the  top,  but  care- 
fully lifted  by  a  strong  knife  slipped  under  the  bot- 
tom. It  should  then  be  set  on  its  side  or  end, 
keeping  the  combs  vertical  until  the  bees  arc  out; 
when  put  away  it  should  stand  in  I  lie  same  position 
as  on  the  hi 'it.    The  hall       '  U  ,»hou 


filled  with  honey — and  in  good  seasons  they  will  be 
so— if  the  box  is  removed  by  wrenching,  will  bo 
quite  apt  to  leak.  Although  we  can  with  care 
usually  prevent  leaking,  it  will  inevitably  occur 
sometimes.  The  line  appearance  of  the  combs  may 
be  restored  with  proper  care.  Set  the  box  on 
the  hive,  aud  allow  a  few  bees  to  enter,  they  imme- 
diately lick  up  ail  honey  that  is  running,  and  that 
which  is  in  unsealed  cells.  Thedangeris,  in  letting 
in  too  many  bees,  if  they  do  not  find  honey  running 
sufficient  to  satisfy  them,  they  do  not  hesitate  to 
bite  away  the  caps  of  that  sealed.  As  60ou  as  the 
bees  have  cleaned  all  the  combs,  the  box  is  to  be  put 
where  the  bees  will  leave  it,  as  at  first.  .Now  is  the 
time  to  select  stocks  for  wintering.  Those  who 
keep  none  but  the  best,  will  have  what  is  called 
"good  luck."  Too  much  honey  in  a  hive  is  as  ob- 
jectionable as  too  little.  Too  many  bees  are  not 
wanted.  From  25  to  40  pounds  of  bees  and  honey 
is  an  abundance.  A  cluster  of  bees  that  extends 
through  seven  or  eight  combs,  on  a  cool  morning, 
the  latter  part  of  this  month,  may  be  considered  a 
reliable  one,  unless  diseased  brood,  or  excess  of 
honey  causes  them  to  spread  out  more  than  usual. 
..  Any  stocks  containing  foul  brood  should  be 
broken  up  at  once.  If  the  brood  be  not  all  hatched 
by  the  middle  or  last  of  October,  something  unfa- 
vorable may  be  suspected Some  failures  must 

be  looked  for  in  attempting  to  winter  hives  not 
possessing  all  the  requisites  above  named.  Those 
having  sufficient  bees  aud  comb,  may  be  fed  up  to 
the  proper  weight.  The  feed  should  be  given  to 
them  as  fast  as  the  bees  can  take  care  of  it.  It  is 
not  safe  to  depend  on  the  weight  of  the  supplies 
given  to  the  bees ;  ascertain  the  real  condition  by 
weighing  the  hives  after  feeding  what  is  deemed  a 
proper  amount.  If  combs  are  deficient,  bees  and 
honey  will  be  also.  In  such  cases  it  is  best  to 
take  out  the  bees  and  set  the  hives  away  in  some 
cold  room  where  they  will  be  thoroughly  frozen, 
and  keep  them  for  use  another  year.  They  should 
be  placed  right  side  up,  and  have   every  crevice 

stopped  to  keep  out  all  intruders Condemned 

colonies  should  be  driven  out  before  killing  the 
bees ;  it  is  less  trouble  than  removing  them  from 
the  combs  when  taking  the  honey  from  the  hive. 
Strain  the  honey  from  combs  unsuitable  for  the 
table;  it  drains  out  more  easily  if  the  combs  be 
crushed  before  they  are  cold. 


N.  Y.  Fruit  Grower's  Meetings. 

During  the  'hot  weather,  these  gatherings  were  par- 
tially suspended,  but  now  that  the  season  of  fruits  has 
come,  the  growers  seem  to  have  renewed  their  interest 
in  the  meetings,  and  on  Thursday,  Sept.  loth,  a  large  num- 
ber of  them  assembled  and  had  an  interesting  talk,  a 
few  points  of  which  we  give  below.  There  was  a  fine 
show  of  fruits,  better  than  can  be  seen  at  some  State 
Fairs,  and  more  instructive  too,  for  the  fruit  was  tested 
as  well  as  seen  : 

Mr.  E.  E.  Clark,  of  New-Haven,   called  to  the  clmir. 

C.  \V.  Idetl,  of  West  Washington  Market,  presented  a 
basket  of  tine  Crawford  peaches  fir  distribution  to  the 
members  ;  some  seedling  peaches  of  promise  were  shown, 
one  of  which,  ttie  "Creole"  was  remarkable  for  its  thin 
skin  and  delicious  flavor. 

Mr.  Cole,  of  Conn.,  showed  some  plums,  seedlings  of 
wild  Iowa  plums,  which,  though  possessing  a  tough  skin, 
with  rather  coarse  flesh,  were  considered  worthy  of  atten- 
tion on  account  of  their  freedom  from  the  knot,  and  from 
the  ravages  of  the  curciilio. 

Dr.  Ward,  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  stated  thai  he  went  large- 
ly into  the  plum  culture  15  years  aco,  planting  hundreds 
of  trees,  but  so  completely  were  the  crops  destroyed  by 
the  curculio,  that  he  rooted  out  all  his  trees.  He  thinks 
that  by  starting  atrain  with  this  wild  plum,  the  skin  of 
which  is  too  thick  for  the  curculio,  we  may  improve  upon 
it  and  yet  raise  passable  plums. 

Dr.  Trimble  said  it  was  cowardly  and  disgraceful  to 
submit  to  an  insect  enemy  so  easily  conquered.  He  hart 
^eenagood  collection  of  plums  from  Ellwanger  &  Barry, 
who  jar  the  trees  and  thus  raise  a  fair  crop. 

Dr.  Newberry  made  a  chicken  yard  of  his  plum  orchard 
and  now  has  fruit  where  it  was  formerly  destroyed. 
The  plan  should  be  pursued  by  neighborhoods,  or  the 
Insects  from  neglected  orchards  will  sting  others'  fruit. 

Dr.  Trimble  has  hwird  much  ahont  the  instinct  of  the 

curculio,  that  the  female  will  not  deposit  her  ecc?  over 

ei    but  avisTt  to  Dr.  Underbill's,  place  where  the  plum 


292 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[OCTOBEB, 


trees  hangover  a  pond,  proved  that  such  was  not  the  case, 
as  the  plums  overhanging  the  water  were  equally  affected 
with  the  others.  True,  the  larva?  of  those  which  fell  into 
the  water  would  be  drowned,  but  the  others  had  learned 
no  lesson  by  their  fate.  The  jarring  process  if  followed 
up,  willsave  enough  plums.  Hard  winters  and  dry  sea- 
sons destroy  immense  numbers  of  the  curculio. 

A.  S.  Fuller  thought  we  might  as  well  try  to  destroy 
mosquitoes  as  curculios— a  few  trees  could  be  attended 
to,  but  the  task  would  be  too  great  with  whole  orchards. 

A  plate  of  Tyson  pears  from  J.  McAfee,  of  New-Bed- 
ford, Mass.,  was  presented,  and  the  fruit  pronounced  very 
fine,  though  rather  over  ripe  ;  this  is  one  of  our  best  pears. 

Dr.  Trimble  showed  fine  specimens  of  Barllett  pears 
for  which  dealers  would  pay  $18fa)$20per  bbl.  He  thought 
the  trees  were  almost  destitute  of  fruit  early  in  the  sea- 
son, but  as  nearly  every  specimen  grew  large  and  fair, 
Ihey  turned  out  well,  the  high  price  making  them  a  profit- 
able crop.  Bartletts  sell  better  than  any  other  pear  ;  we 
can  not  change  public  opinion. 

John  Hicks  of  Long  Island,  at  a  previous  meeting,  had 
advocated  Willis*  Sweet  as  the  best  apple  for  baking.  W. 
S.  Carpenter  set  forth  in  equally  strong  terms  the  superi- 
ority of  the  Westchester  Pound  Sweet  as  a  baking  apple, 
and  it  was  agreed  that  each  should  present  at  this  meet- 
ing a  specimen  of  the  baked  fruit.  Mr.  Carpenter  was 
unable  to  be  present,  but  Mr.  Hicks  came,  bringing  a  dish 
of  nicely  baked  "VViHis'  Sweet  apples,  the  quality  of  which 
was  tested  by  the  meeting,  and  it  was  agreed  that  the  fruit 
for  baking  purposes  could  not  be  too  highly  recommended. 

A.  S.  Fuller  showed  specimens  of  grapes,  among  which 
were  Blood's  White,  very  foxy  and  worthless  ;  Blood's 
Black,  which  was  little  better  ;  -a  good  wild  grape,  Canby's 
August,  which  was  a  step  in  advance  of  either  ;  and  one  of 
the  earliest  blue  grapes,  of  passable  quality,  and  which  has 
been  too  much  neglected  ;  next  follows  the  Hartford  Pro- 
lific several  steps  in  advance  of  the  last,  in  point  of  flavor, 
but  still  a  little  foxy,  yet  sweet  and  good,  an  early  and 
abundant  bearer,  and  the  fruit  sells  well.  Oporto  and 
Taylor's  Bullitt  had  very  few  perfect  berries  on  the  clus- 
ters. There  appears  to  be  some  radical  defect  in  the 
flowers  ;  they  do  not  fertilize  well  ;  are  always  deformed, 
mailing  them  worthless  here.  Delawares  were  exhibit- 
ed last,  with  these  there  is  little  except  size  to  be  desired. 

G.  R.  Gnrretson  of  Flushing,  exhibited  well  ripened 
Hartford  Prolific  grapes,  and  some  Northern  Muscadine, 
the  latter  a  pretty  good  fox  grape. 

T.  W.  Field  wished  to  bear  testimony  to  the  excellence 
of  the  Hartford  Prolific,  which,  besides  its  other  good 
qualities,  bloomed  so  early  that  it  escaped  Ihe  ravages  of 
the  rose  bug,  and  ripened  Jong  before  any  danger  of  frost 
in  the  Fall  :  it  does  not  drop  unless  the  vines  overbear. 

Fejee  Tomatoes  were  shown  by  W.  W.  Davis.  This, 
Prof.  Thurber  pronounced  the  tomato  for  cultivators. 
Several  large  market  men  in  the  vicinity  of  New-York, 
are  discarding  the  old  sorts  and  substituting  the  Fejee. 


Agricultural    Exhibitions    in    October. 
■ » ■ 

STATE   FAIRS. 

Illinois Decatur Sept.  2S— Oct.  2 

Indiana Indianapolis..  .Sept.  28— Oct.  3 

Pennsylvania Norristown ' '     29 —  ■  ■     2 

Amer.  Grape  Show New- York Oct.    1 —  3 

Deseret St.  Lake  City Oct.    2—  3 

Kansas Leavenworth Oct.    6 —  9 

COUNTY    FAIRS. 

MAINE. 

Franklin Farmington  ....Sept.  30 — Oct.    1 

Cumberl'd  and  Poril'd. .  Portland Oct.  14— 

Kennebec Readfieid Oct.  14—15 

MASSACHUSETTS.' 

Worcester— North  ....  Fitchburgh Sept.  29  Oct.  1 

Hampshire,  Franklin,  «k 

Hampden Northampton Oct.      1 — 

Worcester— South Slurbridge ■■       1— 

Housatonic Great  Barrington  ...     **      J  — 

Plymouth Bridgewaler "       ]  — 

Hampshire Northampton ••      1 —  2 

Berkshire Pittsfield •  ■      fi— 

Bristol Taunton ••      6— 

Barnstable  ... Barnstable "       6—  7 

Hampden Springfield ■■       6 —  8 

Hampshire Amherst "      8— 

Hampden— East Palmer ■■     13— 

Martha's  Vineyard - Oct.  20— 

NEW-YORK. 

Jefferson Watertown Sept.  29—30 

Cayuga Auburn ■■     29—  1 

Yales Penn  Yan ••    29—  1 

Genesee    Batavia Sept.  30— Oct.  1 

Otsego.... Coopersiown ■•      30—    •■     1 

Columbia Hudson ••     29—  ■■    1 

Delaware Delhi "      29—    ■•    1 

Aioany Albany ■■      29—   ■  ■    2 

Queens Hempstead Oct.   1—  2 

Montgomery Fonda Oct.    7—  8 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

Susquehanna Montrose Sept.  30— Oct.  1 

Union  Lewisburgh Oct.    7—  9 

Wyoming Wvoming Oct.  20—22 

Clearfield C learfield Oct.  20—23 


ILLINOIS. 

Kendall ..Bristol Oct. 

Putnam Hennepin Oct. 

Edgar -Paris Oct. 

Madison. Edwardsville Oct. 

Bureau Princeton     Oct. 

Lake Liberlyville Oct. 

Schuyler Rush  vi  He Oct. 

DeKalb Syracuse Oct. 

Randolph Marshal  I  town Oct. 

Mc  Henry Woodslock Oct-. 

Tazewell Tremont Oct. 

Vermillion Danville Oct. 

Stephenson Freeport Oct. 

Lee Dixon Oct. 

Perry Pinkeyville Oct. 

Jefferson Hit.  Vernon Oct. 

Hamilton McLeansboro Oct. 

OHIO. 

Trumbull Oak*  Grove Sept. 

Lake Painesville 

Delaware Delaware 

Harrison Cadiz 

Miami Troy 

Pickaway Circle ville  ...  . 

Summit Ackron 

Seneca Tiffin    

Van  Wirt Van  Wirt 

Jackson Jackson 

Paulding Antwerp 

Mahoning Youngslown  ... 

Butler Hamilton 

Loraine Elvria 

Cuyahoga Cleveland 

Stark Canton 

Montgomery - Dayton 

MICHIGAN. 

Kent Grand  Rapids. 

Hillsdale  and  Lenawee.  Hudson 

Oakland Ponliac 

WISCONSIN. 

Fond  du  Lac Fond  du  Lac... 

Polk Osceola 

Monroe Sparta 

CANADA  WEST. 

West  Middlesex Strath roy 

Toronto Toronto 

Huron,  (Clint.  Branch,). Clinton 

So.  Greenville  Prescott 

Durham— West Newcastle 

Wentworth  &.  Hamilton. Hamilton 


6—  8 
6—  8 
6—  8 
6—  9 
G— 10 


r—  9 

:—  9 


7—10 
13—16 
14—16 
14—16 
14—16 
14—16 


29— Oct.  1 
30—      •    2 


30—  ■■  2 
30—  ■'  2 
30—  •■  2 
30—  ■■  2 
30—  •  2 
30—  •■  2 
Oct.  1—  2 
•  1—  2 
"  1—2 
•■  6—8 
"  6-9 
•*  6—9 
••  6—9 
1—9 
••       7—9 


Oct.  1—  3 

■■  6—8 

"  7—9 

Oct.  1—  3 

•■  7—8 

■  •  6—9 

Oct.  I— 

-•  6—8 

"  7—  9 

•■  8—9 

"  14-15 


SUNDRY  COUNTIES. 

New-London Norwich.  (Ct.)-.Sept.  29— Oct.  2 

Hillsborough Mil  ford,  (N.H.) Oct.  1—  2 

Union Woodburv,  iCt.) Oct.  1—  8 

Newcastle Wilmington. (Del.) Oct.  6—  8 

Burlington Mt.  Holly,  (N.  J.) Oct.  6—  7 

Atlantic Egg  Harbor  City. N.J. Oct.  8—  9 

Percv New  Harmony, (Iud.). Oct.  6—  9 

La  Grange La  Grange,  (lint.)   ...Oct.  15—16 

Fayette WestUnion,  (Iowa). .Oct.  6—  7 

Chickasaw New  Hampten( Iowa). Oct.  8—9 

Cole Jefferson  City.f Mo.). Oct.  5—  9 

York Frederickton,(N.B.)..Oct.  T—  8 


Containing  a  great  variety  of  Items,  including  many 
good  Htnts  and  Suggestions  which  we  give  here  in  small 
type  and    condensed  form,   for    want   of  space  elsewhere. 

Seventeen  Thousand  ]\eignl>or- 
lioods  are  now  visited  by  the  Agriculturist.  In  each 
of  these,  one  or  more  persons  may  secure  valuable  articles 
from  our  premium  list,  without  cost.  There  is  scarcely 
a  town  in  the  country  where  there  are  not  twenty  to  a 
hundred  or  more  families,  that  would  find  the  Agricul- 
turist a  valuable  visitor.  All  that  is  required  is,  for  some 
enterprising  person  to  present  the  merits  of  the  paper 
and  gather  up  and  forward  the  names.  The  reader  will 
be  interested  in  turning  to  page  313  and  looking  through 
the  premium  list  and  the  descriptive  notes.  Nearly  3000 
persons  secured  one  or  more  of  these  articles  last  year, 
and  with  almost  universal  satisfaction,  as  our  correspond- 
ence abundantly  shows.  This  year,  ten  to  twenty  thousand 
persons  may  each  get  premiums. 


A  Soldier^  Widow  Greatly  Benefit- 
ed at  Small  Cost* — Seven  ladies,  in  planning  how 
they  might  do  something  to  assist  a  soldier's  wife,  resolved 
themselves  into  a  committee  and  canvassed  the  town  for 
subscribers  to  the  Agriculturist.  In  two  days  they  raised 
a  club  for  a  premium  Sewing  Machine  which  they  pre- 
sented to  her,  and  she  is  now  able  to  support  herself  and 
family.  Many  people  subscribed  to  promote  such  an  ob- 
ject, though  they  had  not  previously  become  awake  to  the 
value  of  the  paper  to  themselves. 

How  the  Agriculturist  was  obtain- 
ed at  58  cents  a  year  !— One  hundred  men  sub- 
scribed a  dollar  each,  and  the  club  received  a  Premium 
Wheeler  «fe  Wilson's  Sewing  Machine.  It  was  then  put  up 
at  auction,  to  be  bid  for  only  by  members  of  the  club,  and 


was  sold  for  $43.50,  Of  this,  $1.50  was  paid  for  freight 
expenses,  and  the  remaining  $42  divided  among  the  club, 
which  reduced  the  cost  of  the  paper  to  them  for  a  year 
to  only  59  cents  each.  Similar  enterprises  have  been  un- 
dertaken elsewhere  with  like  results.  An  Agricultural 
Society  in  Iowa  subscribed  for  the  copies  as  a  Society, 
and  gave  them  away  as  premiums,  and  then  sold  the  ma- 
chine for  the  benefit  of  the  general  fund.— A  good  opera- 
tion in  both  cases,  and  suggestive  to  others. 


Subscription  Receipts  not  Given. — 

It  is  utterly  impracticable  to  return  receipts  for  all  sub- 
scriptions. Every  paper  is  stopped  when  the  time  is  up, 
so  that  its  continued  reception  is  an  acknowledge- 
ment of  payment.  If  any  one  in  forwarding  a  subscrip- 
tion, specially  desires  a  receipt,  he  will  please  enclose  a 
post-paid  envelope  directed  to  himself,  and  the  receipt 
will  be  forwarded  at  the  lime  of  opening  his  letter.  We 
try  to  keep  our  paper  at  a  low  price,  by  economy  in  time 
and  every  other  item.  A  few  cents'  worth  of  time  and 
postage  would  more  than  consume  all  of  the  small  profit 
there  is  on  any  single  subscription  for  a  whole  year. 

Xo  Correspondents.  —  The  "  -writing 
mood  "  often  seems  to  depend  upon  the  weather,  or  the 
state  of  the  country,  or  something  else,  judging  from  the 
fact  that  at  times  we  receive  box  full  after  box  fuil  of 
letters,  on  all  sorts  of  topics,  and  then  there  is  a  dearth  of 
them.  In  the  former  case  we  must  necessarily  delay 
early  responses  to  some  of  them.  Often  we  cannot 
answer  the  queries  made,  but  do  not  take  the  time  to 
write  to  that  effect,  unless  there  is  some  important  rea- 
son for  so  doing.  We  are  glad  to  receive  any  number  of 
practical  hints,  suggestions,  items  of  experience  or  ob- 
servation, queries,  etc.,  but  hope  none  will  esteem  ua 
neglectful  if  they  do  not  have  instant  attention. 

Important.— Always  write  every  name  plainly  ; 
give  the  Post  Office,  County  and  State  of  every  name; 
and  tell  briefly,  but  plainly  and  fully,  just  what  is  desired. 

Volumes  oftue  Agriculturist,  as  far 

back  as  the  16th  (1857),  can  always  be  supplied.  Un- 
bound at  $1  each  ;  or  if  neatly  bound,  at  $1  50.  If  to  go 
by  mail,  $1  24  in  numbers,  or  $2  when  bound. 

The  HT.  Y.  State  jFair  is  in  progress,  as 
we  go  to  press.  The  telegraph  reports  it  to  be  a  decided 
success,  pecuniarily  at  least.  One  of  our  Editors  is  pres- 
ent, to  gather  any  noteworthy  items  for  the  next  paper. 

Come  and  See  tUe  Grapes.— This  paper 
will  reach  most  of  our  readers  before  the  first  day  of  the 
month,  when  the  great  display  of  Grapes  is  to  open  at  the 
office  of  the  American  Agriculturist.  It  will  doubtless  be 
the  best  show  of  this  fine  fruit  ever  seen  in  this  country. 
Our  Office  is  so  arranged  that  we  can  remove  desks, 
screens,  elc,  if  necessary,  and  thus  give  up  the  w  hole 
floor,  80  feet  long  and  25  feet  wide,  to  the  exhibition 
tables  and  visitors.  The  best  part  of  the  day  for  seeing, 
will  be  early  in  the  forenoon,  any  time  after  8  o'clock,  A. 
M.,  as  there  will  naturally  be  a  much  greater  crowd  in 
the  afternoon.  About  25,000  persons  were  present  dur- 
ing the  three  days  of  the  Strawberry  Exhibition,  w  ithout 
great  inconvenience.  The  grape  show  will  be  open  to 
the  public,  free  of  charge,  from  2  P.  M.  on  Thursday  to 
4  P.  M.  on  Saturday— Oct.  1st,  2d  and  3d. 


The   Cncnrbitaceons  Show.- All  Tvho 

have  specimens  of  Pumpkins,  Squashes,  Gourds,  remark- 
able for  size,  appearance  or  novelty,  wilt  be  interested  in 
the  show  of  the  cucuibitaceons  family,  {which  includes 
Gourds,  Pumpkins,  Squashes,  elc.)  to  open  Nov.  4th, 
as  announced  in  another  column.  We  desire  early  no- 
tice of  what  is  to  be  exhibited,  in  order  that  good  pro- 
vision may  be  made  for  their  proper  display.  The  ex- 
hibition last  year  happened  at  a  very  rainy  season,  hut 
should  this  occur  again,  the  specimens  will  bear  keeping 
until  fair  weather,  so  that  all  who  desire  to  do  so  can  call 
and  see  them.  Let  us  have,  as  far  as  possible,  the  correct 
name  and  origin  of  specimens,  and  any  unusual  item  in 
the  cultivation,  for  the  inlerest  and  instruction  of  visitors. 


Xlie  Strawberry  Plants,  offered  as 
Special  Premiums  last  Summer,  are  all  sent  "out.  The 
excessive  drouth  that  checked  the  growth  of  good  roots, 
delayed  the  forwarding  of  them  until  Sept.   14,   to  21. 


Frost  and  tlie  Cotton  Experiment.— 

From  a  friend  who  has  recently  passed  through  Illinois, 
and  from  a  large  number  of  correspondents,  we  learn 
that  the  ravages  of  the  frost  have  caused  many  sections 
to  present  a  most  melancholy  spectacle.  The  cotton  is 
pretty  generatly  killed  outright.  A  great  many  acres 
were  planted  last  Spring  at  a  heavy  expense  for  the  seed. 
The  hopes  of  those  who  have  thought  to  make  Illinois  a 
cotton  growing  Slate,  we  are  sorry  to  say,  are  disap 
pointed,  and  some  are  large  sufferers  by  the  experiment. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


293 


IVankin  or  China  Sheep.— J.  S.  M.,  and 

others.  We  have  never  discovered  anything  in  tliis  breed 
of  sheep  to  recommend  them  over  others,  except  their 
prolificness,  and  this  is  probably  offset  by  lack  of  vigor  of 
constitution.  They  have  been  in  the  country  some  six 
or  eight  years,  and  have  not  been  as  much  disseminated 
as  one  would  expect,  if  as  really  valuable  as  claimed. 

Caked  Bag-— Mrs.-E.  C.  Wheeler,  of  Essex 
Co.,  N.  J.,  says,  take  h  lb-  of  the  green  bark  of  the  Bitter- 
Sweet  (Solanum  dulcamara),  steep  it  in  sufficient  water 
to  make  a  strong  tea,  drain  off  the  liquid,  add  1  lb.  of  lard 
to  it,  and  let  them  simmer  together  to  the  consistence 
of  lard;  when  cold,  rub  the  affected  parts  thoroughly 
with  the  mixture,  night  and  morning.  A  perfect  cure 
will  be  effected  in  two  or  three  days.  The  application 
has  proved,  upon  repeated  trials,  equally  as  good  for  hu- 
man beings  as  for  animals. 


Greasing-  Chickens.— Jos.  Michcucr  re- 
marks on  J.  Blight's  chicken-greasing :  "Of  course '  itdoes 
not  do  to  grease  sitting  hens  with  him  or  any  one  else, 
simply  for  this  reason:  it  fills  the  pores  of  the  shell,  and 
the  chicken  smothers  ;  but  as  soon  as  all  the  eggs  are 
hatched  that  are  likely  to,  lake  the  hen  off  and  grease  hei 
as  much  as  "  he  or  any  one  else"  wants  to,  and  I  will  in- 
sure him  that  the  lice  will  die.  and  the  chickens  will  live." 

Husking-  Aids.— J.  Scofield,  Windham  Co., 
Conn.  Among  the  many  contrivances  to  lessen  the  la- 
borious operation  of  husking  corn,  we  know  of  nothing 
better  than  the  "husking  pin,"  described  in  the  Agricul- 
turist, Vol.  XX,  p.  9,  (Jan.  No.,)  which  may  be  of  hickory, 
bone,  or  iron.  It  is  held  in  the  palm  of  the  hand  by  a 
leather  strap  passing  over  the  two  middle  fingers,  and  the 
-pointed  end  is  used  instead  of  the  thumb  and  finger  nail, 
to  open  or  part  the  husks. 

Packing'  Fork. — A  subscriber  wishes  to 
know  the  best  method  of  salting  pork  ;  whether  saltpetre 
is  necessary  for  its  preservation,  and  whether  it  is  advis- 
able to  repack  it  in  the  Spring  ;  also  whether  there  is  any 
reliable  method  of  cleansing  tainted  barrels.  Will  some 
one  having  successful  experience  please  contribute  his 
method,  and  also  answer  the  other  queries  named  above. 

Killing:  Quack  or  Quitch  Grass.- 

S.  K.  Walkup,  of  Framinghnm,  writes  that  he  succeeds 
in  destroying  this  pest  by  smothering  it  with  old  straw, 
hay,  or  other  mulch.  He  covers  it  in  the  month  of  June, 
and  succeeds  in  killing  out  the  plant  in  about  a  month. 

Rats  Again.— Isaac  Hicks,  of  Queens  Co., 
L.  I.,  says  that  being  much  troubled  by  rats,  he  dropped 
some  chloride  of  lime  into  their  holes,  and  the  rats  have 
not  been  seen  or  heard  of  since. 


Deep  Plowing  for  Potatoes.— A  Long 
Island  subscriber,  M.  Foley  of  Suffolk  Co.,  placed  some 
very  fine  Peach  Blow  potatoes  upon  our  exhibition  tables, 
with  the  remark  that  deep  tillage  and  thorough  working 
of  the  soil  gave  such  potatoes,  while  those  of  his  neigh- 
bors, on  lightly  stirred  ground,  with  little  tending,  were 
literally  "burned  up"  by  the  drouth.  If  deep  tillage  is 
good  for  the  light  soil  of  Long  Island,  still  more  will  it 
benefit  the  heavier  soils  of  the  main  land. 


Large    Es 


Plants.  —  The  purple  egg 


plant,  under  skillful  culture,  frequently  grows  to  a  very 
large  size.  Several  specimens  on  American  Agriculturist 
Exhibition  Tables  weigh  five  and  six  pounds  each.  Among 
those  shown  by  Wm.  Simpson,  of  Westchester  Co., 
N.  Y.,  one  weighs  seven  and  one  half  pounds,  but  that 
yields  the  palm  to  a  mammoth  specimen  grown  by  R.  M. 
McGarretly  of  the  same  County,  which  measures  29# 
Inches  in  circumference  and  weighs  eight  pounds  and 
ten  ounces  !— The  largest  we  have  ever  seen. 


Ripening  Tomatoes.— J.  Husscy,  York 
Co.,  Me.  As  there  are  frequently  a  few  nights  of  frost  in 
your  vicinity,  followed  by  warm  weather,  you  can  easily 
protect  the  unripe  tomatoes  with  mats,  quilts,  horse 
blankets,  etc..  in  threatening  weather.  A  little  care  for 
two  or  three  nights  may  keep  them  ripening  for  weeks. 
Or  the  plants  may  be  taken  up  with  earth  around  the 
roots,   and  set  in  a  shed  or  cellar   to  ripen  the  fruit. 


Cral>  Apples.— J.  W.  Decker,  Wayne  Co., 
Pa.  The  red  crab  apples  sent  are  very  handsome,  of 
large  size  and  of  good  flavor.  Considerable  attention  has 
lately  been  paid  to  the  Siberian  crab,  and  several  seed- 
lings of  promise  have  been  sent  out.  One  variety  called 
the  "  Hyslop  crab,"  brought  in  by  H.  A.  Conger,  Wal- 
worth Co.,  Wis.,  measures  5#  inches  in  circumference, 
is  of  a  bright  red  color,  covered  with  a  rich  bloom,  and  is 


of  fair  flavor.  The  Crab  Apple  merits  attention  as  a  thrifty 
growing  tree,  ornamental  in  foliage,  and  flowers.  The 
fruit,  besides   being  beautiful,  is  valuable  for  preserving. 

Profitable  Pears.— To-day  (Sept.  11th), 
we  have  seen  good  Barttett  pears  selling  In  Washing- 
ton Market,  New- York  City,  for  $15  to  $18  per  barrel, 
wholesale,  and  the  dealer  informed  us  that  choice  select- 
ed Bartletls  would  bring  from  $18  to  $25  per  barrel.  Half 
a  dozen  large  well  grown  trees  would  yield  more  profit 
than  a  whole  acre  of  grain  or  other  field  crops,  and  per- 
haps more  than  an  acre  of  apple  trees  of  the  same  age. 

Unripe  Grapes. — Grapes  are  usually  picked 
before  they  are  fully  ripe.  We  have  heard  persons 
call  the  Isabella  a  poor,  sour  grape,  simply  because  they 
commenced  picking  as  soon  as  the  fruit  began  to  color, 
and  the  grapes  were  all  gone  at  least  a  week  before  they 
would  hare  been  fully  ripe.  The  Isabellas,  particular- 
ly, should  remain  on  the  vines  at  least  one  week  after  they 
appear  fully  ripe.  When  designed  for, keeping,  leave 
them  uncut  until  in  danger  of  freezing— a  light  frost  will 
not  injure  them. 

fall    Pruning:    of   Grape    Vines. — 

"  G.  T."  Yes  ;  we  like  Fall  pruning,  and  the  sooner  it  is 
done  after  the  first  hard  frost  the  better.  If  left  until  just 
before  Winter  sets  in,  and  the  weather  should  be  cold  all 
the  time,   the  shoots   will  frequently  bleed    in  Spring. 

The  Cnt  Leaved  Blackberry  Again. 

— S.  II,  Halsey,  Esq.,  of  Astoria,  L.  I.,  has  brought  us 
specimens  to  show  that  this  variety  is,  with  him  at 
least,  a  good  bearer.  The  branches  hang  as  full  as  need 
be,  and  the  fruit  is  of  good  size.  It  is  sweet,  but  has  a 
flavor  which  will  probably  not  please  some  persons.  The 
vines  are  disposed  to  run  to  the  length  of  20  or  30  feet. 
Mr.  H.  keeps  his  cut  back  to  about  6  feet,  and  has  an 
abundance  of  fruit.    See  August  Agriculturist,  page  231. 

Planting  Raspberries.—"  J.  H.  C."    As 

most  of  the  cultivated  sorts  are  only  half  hardy,  it  is  bet- 
ter to  plant  out  in  Spring  after  they  have  been  safely 
wintered.  When  set  in  the  Fall,  there  is  required  the 
additional  labor  of  covering  them. 

Strawberries  from  Seed.  —  Chas.  A. 
Warren,  New-Haven  Co.,  Conn.  Your  seedlings  proba- 
bly will  not  bloom  until  the  third  year.  The  runners 
should  be  kept  off,  and  the  plants  be  well  cultivated  in 
order  to  get  as  strong  and  vigorous  stools  as  possible. 

Triomphe  de  <«aji<l  Strawberries 
Productive.— J.  It.  Flink,  Luzerne  Co.,  Pa.,  was  in- 
clined to  rate  this  strawberry  a  poor  bearer,  after  one 
year's  trial.  The  plants  were  strong  and  healthy,  and  be- 
ing set  in  August,  he  looked  for  a  full  crop  the  following 
Summer,  and  was  disappointed  ;j  but  tending  them  well, 
and  keeping  thern  in  stools,  the  result  the  next  season 
was  perfectly  satisfactory.  No  strawberry  will  yield  a 
full  crop  the  first  year  after  setting  them  out  in  Autumn. 


Small  Fruits.— Mr.  Knox  of  Pittsburg  lias 
the  largest  and  most  complete  "Small  Fruit"  plantation 
in  this  country,  if  not  in  the  world.  Others  may  have 
more  of  one  kind,  but  he  has  all  the  small  fruits— straw- 
berries, raspberries,  grapes,  etc.,  and  a  large  amount  of 
each.  In  passing  through  Pittsburg,  in  July,  we  made  a 
hurried  visit  to  Mr.  Knox's  place,  a  little  distance  south- 
west of  the  city,— not  to  gather  any  special  notes  at  the 
time,  for  we  were  too  much  worn  down  with  the  labors 
at  Gettysburg— but  to  take  a  general  look  at  the  whole. 
We  were  highly  pleased  with  what  we  saw,  and  shall 
take  pleasure  in  making  a  future  visit  of  greater  length 
to  study  the  small  fruits  where  they  are  so  well  grown, 
and  on  so  large  a  scale. 

California  Wines.— California  is  not  only 
a  wonderful  country  in  its  mineral  products,  but  its 
agricultural  and  horticultural  resources  are  constantly 
exciting  our  admiration.  The  European  vine  was  intro- 
duced there  by  the  early  Jesuit  missionaries,  but  its 
culture  did  not  extend  much  beyond  the  grounds  of  the 
Missions  until  within  a  few  years.  Now  that  enter- 
prising Americans  and  Europeans  have  undertaken  the 
culture,  California  bids  fair  to  become  one  of  the  great 
wine-producing  countries  of  the  world.  The  products  of 
her  vineyards  already  find  a     place    in    this    maiket. 

B.iiiiBEii  Brownii. — This  is  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  of  the  Japan  Lilies;  we  have  a  fine  speci- 
men of  it  from  the  grounds  of  A.  S.  Fuller,  Esq.,  of 
Brooklyn,  This  sort  is  quite  dear  as  yet,  but  we  hope 
that  this  and  Jhe  other  varieties  will  soon  be  at  a  price 
which    will    bring    them    within    reach    of   everybody. 


A  Pretty  Variegated  riant.— John 
Paddock,  Houston  Co.,  Minn.,  sends  us  Euphorbia  mar- 
ginata  raised  from  seeds  from  Pike's  Peak.  We  have 
seen  acres  of  it  in  Texas,  but  never  saw  it  in  cultivation. 
We  should  be  glad  of  some  seeds. 

Seeds  Received.— J.  G.  English,  sends  us 
some  seeds  of  a  White  Perennial  Phlox,  found  in  the 
Grand  Prairie,   111.     We  shall   make  a  trial  of   them. 

I>yeingr     with     Sumach     Berries.— 

Mary  Brown,  of  Rush  Co.,  Ind.,  wishes  to  know  how  to 
colorn  yarn  with  sumach  berries.    Who  can  tell  her? 

Take   Care   of  the    Sorghum.— Now 

that  the  crop  is  grown  and  already  being  worked  up  in 
some  places,  see  to  it  that  none  goes  to  waste.  If  the 
crop  cannot  be  ground  and  evaporated  as  fast  as  cut, 
stook  it,  either  in  the  open  field  or  in  covered  sheds— it 
will  then  keep  good  for  weeks.  It  should  be  worked  up, 
however,  as  fast  as  possible,  grinding  in  a  strong  mill  to 
press  out  all  the  juice.  Evaporate  in  shallow  pans  as 
fast  as  ground,  and  no  chemicals  will  be  needed.  The 
quicker  the  juice  is  boiled  and  skimmed,  the  clearer  and 
lightei  colored  will  be  the  syrup. 

Sugar  Evaporators.— As  an  indication 
of  the  extent  to  which  sorghum  growing  is  being  carried 
on  at  the  West,  we  may  mention  that  one  firm,  Messrs. 
Blymyer,  Bates  &  Day,  of  Ohio,  who  manufacture  the 
Cook's  Evaporator,  are  turning  out  60  per  week,  and  ex- 
pect to  dispose  of  1,500  to  2,000  for  the  incoming  crop. 

Cheap  Paint.— L.  T.  Nells,  of  Hamilton 
Co.,  Ohio,  sends  us  the  following  recipe  for  a  paint 
which  he  says  is  of  German  origin.  He  says  it  wears  and 
washes  well,  is  water-proof,  and  may  be  used  for  house- 
floors  and  out-door  woik.  The  proportions  for  400  square 
feet  are:  2l£  oz.  Beeswax,  1  oz.  Potash,  %  oz.  Ochre,  I 
oz.  unburned  Terra  de  Sienna,  and  6  pints  of  water:  boil 
for  two  hours  and  apply  it  hot. 

Cleansing:  Cemented  Fruit  Bottles. 

—Lucia  N.  Hall,  of  Ashtabula  Co.,  Ohio,  writes  that 
upon  noticing  the  directions  given  on  page  231,  August 
Agriculturist,  she  tried  boiling  the  bottles  in  strong  soap 
suds,  and  found  it  effectual.  To  prevent  breakage,  the 
bottles  should  be  put  in  before  the  water  is  hot,  and 
taken  out  after  it  has  cooled  somewhat. 

Xo  Cleanse  a  White  Crape  Shawl. 

—A  lady  asks  how  this  can  be  best  done  without  danger 
of  injuring  the  shawl.    We  do  not  know.     Who  does  ? 

Book  tor  Selftlnstruction  in  Latin. 

—Genie  Belmonle.  Either  Harkness'  or  Arnold's  First 
Lessons  will  answer  your  purpose. 

Farm  Boole.— "J.  H.  A.,"  Westchester  Co., 
N.  Y.  You  will  find  several  good  books  on  farm  topics 
in  our  list  published  on  one  of  the  last  pages  of  the  paper, 
but  there  is  no  one  book  which  so  generally  meets  the 
varied  wants  of  the  farmer,  (who  should  also  know 
something  of  flower  and  vegetable  gardening,  and  also 
fruit-growing),  as  a  living».periodicai  like  the  Agricultur- 
ist, which  notes,  as  they  transpire,  all  the  improvements, 
both  in  modes  of  culture  and  in  the  things  cultivated. 

The  Natural  Laws  or  Husbandry, 

by  Liebio.  D.  Appleton  &  Co.  Perhaps  no  writer  has 
done  so  much  to  excite  an  interest  in  the  science  of  agri- 
culture as  Liebig,  and  whatever  comes  from  his  pen  will 
attract  attention  even  from  those  who  reject  his  theories. 
The  present  work  contains  the  matured  opinions  of  this 
distinguished  author.  Those  who  open  it  expecting  to 
find  a  practical  agricultural  hand-book,  will  be  disappoint- 
ed. It  requires  a  certain  amount  of  scientific  knowledge 
to  read  the  work  understanding^,  and  those  who  have 
this  requisite,  will  find  in  it  much  food  for  thought.  The 
translator  has  probably  made  it  less  popular  than  the 
original ;  thus  we  find  Amylum  used  instead  of  starch, 
and  sundry  other  unnecessary  displays  of  learning.  The 
American  reader  should  bear  in  mind  that  where  corn  is 
spoken  of,  wheat  is  meant. 

Heat  Considered  as  a  Mode  or  Mo- 
tion, by  John  Tyndall,  F.  R.  S.,  etc.  N.  Y.,  D.  Apple- 
ton  &  Co.  This  is  one  of  the  works  of  which  (here  are 
unfortunately  too  few — one  in  which  the  profoundest 
views  of  a  most  difficult  subject  are  presented  to  the 
comprehension  of  any  intelligent  person,  in  a  perfectly 
plain  manner,  without  departing  from  scientific  accuracy. 
It  is  a  charming  book  on  a  subject  of  universal  interest, 
and  the  Appletons  have  done  a  good  service  in  re-publish 
lug   it  in  such  an   elegant  form.    We  mail  it  for  $2, 


294 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[October, 


Feed  lor  Horses.— Robert  H.  Martin,  Sus- 
sex Co.,  Del.  Oats  are  universally  considered  the  best 
grain  for  feeding  to  horses.  If  the  straw  be  well  cured, 
and  Hie  mithreshed  bundles  be  run  through  a  straw-cut- 
ter, the  feed  cannot  well  be  surpassed.  The  straw  so 
used  should  be  free  from  rust,  and  it  is  considered  an  im- 
provement to  slightly  wet  the  whole  just  before  feeding. 

Currycomb  Substitute.— W.  B.  "Waldo, 

DutLhess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist  that  a 
case-knife,  with  the  edge  made  smooth  but  not  sharp,  is 
equally  effective  with  a  currycomb  in  removing  dust  and 
scurf  skin  from  the  horse,  and  pleasanter  for  the  animal. 

Garget  in  Cows.— S.  S.  Moody,  Hampshire 
Co.,  Mass.  This  disease  is  the  result  of  Inflammation  of 
the  lymphatic  glands  of  the  udder  of  the  cow.  It  may  be 
produced  by  neglecting  to  draw  off  the  milk,  by  external 
injury,  fevers,  etc.  If  neglected,  matter  may  be  formed, 
and  a  bad  abscess  result.  In  its  first  stages  it  may  usually 
be  relieved  by  washing  the  bag  with  warm  water,  and 
then  after  wiping  it  dry,  applying  to  the  entire  surface 
melted  lard,  as  hot  as  the  animal  can  bear  it.  If  ab 
scesses  be  formed,  they  should  be  lanced. 

Grass  for  Sheep.— James  McCollum,  Ni- 
agara Co.,  N.  Y.  The  grass  best  suited  for  sheep  pas- 
ture must  depend  on  the  character  of  the  soil.  Where 
blue  grass  will  flourish,  nothing  is  more  suitable  ;  in  other 
sections  wc  should  prefer  timothy,  or  if  exposed  to  much 
drouth,  should  try  orchard  grass,  which  bears  very  close 
feeding,  and  is  much  relished  by  sheep  or  cattle. 

Freeing"  Poultry  from  Vermin.— Ed- 
ward A.  Lewis,  St.  Charles  Co.,  Mo.,  writes:  "Last 
year  my  hens  were  so  infested  with  vermin  that  they 
died  on  their  nests,  and  even  on  the  roosts.  It  was  im- 
possible for  a  person  to  step  into  the  old  hen-house,  even 
for  a  moment,  without  bringing  away  colonies  of  the  de- 
testable insects  in  his  clothing.  Upon  transferring  the 
hens  to  the  new  building,  they  were  all  rubbed  with  a 
mixture  of  lard  and  Scotch  snuff.  The  old  house  was 
fumigated  with  tobacco  stems  and  thoroughly  white- 
washed. Sassafras  roosting-poles  were  adopted  in  the 
new  house,  from  a  suggestion  found  in  the  Agriculturist. 
To  all  which,  together  with  the  burning  out  of  the  nests, 
may  be  attributed  the  fact  that  there  has  not  been  the  least 
appearance  of  the  pests  on  my  premises  the  present  year. 


regions,  would  be  greatly  benefitted  by  such  information 
from  those  who  have   "been  through  the  mill." 


Snbsoiling.— W.  C.  Pierce,  Clinton  Co.,  N. 
Y.  Subsoiling  would  undoubtedly  benefit  a  clayey  loam 
resting  on  a  gravelly  hardpan,  but  permanent  draining 
with  tiles  would  be  a  more  lasting  improvement.  We 
can  not  name  the  best  subsoil  plow  ;  several  good  pat- 
terns may  usually  be  found  at  any  agricultural  ware- 
house. It  is  not  necessary  nor  advisable  to  bring  up  the 
subsoil  to  the  surface  where  the  soil  is  eighteen  inches  to 
two  feet  deep.  Driving  the  plow  through  it  will  open  it 
to  the  action  of  air  and  moisture. 

Prevention  of  Smut.- Jamea  R.  Boyd, 

Ontario,  Wis.,  writes  to  the  American  Agriculturist,  that 
last  Spring  he  sowed  Scotch  Fife  wheat,  after  having 
washed  the  seed  with  strong  salt  brine  and  rolled  it  in 
lime  until  it  was  well  covered.  The  crop  was  entirely 
free  from  smut,  while  neighboring  fields  without  this  ap- 
plication, were  badly  infected.  We  have  used  with 
success  a  wash  of  dissolved  sulphate  of  copper  (blue 
vitriol)  ;  perhaps  common  salt  would  be  equally  useful. 

Orchard  Grass  -with  Clover.— William 
Shockley,  Jr.  Orchard  grass  sown  with  clover  makes 
an  excellent  mixture,  as  the  two  ripen  together,  and  the 
hay  produced  is  of  the  first  quality.  It  may  be  sown  with 
winter  grain,  the  same  as  timothy.  A  bushel  per  acre 
is  sufficient  seed  when  to  be  mixed  with  clover.  We  do 
not  know  that  it  would  be  less  injurious  than  timothy  to 
the  wheat  crop,  but  the  experiment  is  worthy  a  trial. 

Time  for  Plastering*  Clover.— James 
McCollum,  Niagara  Co.,  N.  \\  We  prefer  to  sow  plas- 
ter upon  the  young  growth  of  clover  in  the  Spring.  It 
then  has  an  opportunity  of  expending  all  its  virtue  in 
forwarding  the  plants,  before  being  partially  washed 
away,  as  it  would  be  if  applied  in  Autumn. 


Practical  Questions  arc  often  .is  valuable, 
because  suggestive,  as  direct  Information.  E.  J.  Judd, 
Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  sends  the  following  for  answer  in  the 
American  Agriculturist :  "What  does  it  cost  per  bushel 
to  grow  corn  along  the  line  of  the  N.  Y.  Central  Railroad, 
and  what  is  the  average  product  per  acre  ?  What  weight 
of  ears  of  the  8  and  12-rowed  varieties  will  yield  60  lbs.  of 
shelled  corn?  In  the  same  section,  what  is  the  cost  per 
rod,  to  thoroughly  underdrain  land,  two  feet  deep,  with 
good  tiles  of  \)i  inch  bore  ?  Also,  w  hat  is  the  experience, 
in  these  matters,  of  those  living  along  the  line  of  the 
N.  Y.  and  Erie  Railroad?"  As  these  roads  run  through 
districts  varying  in  character  along  their  routes,  some 
of  the  answers  would  present  widely  different  figures; 
still  they  would  contain  useful  information. 

Xo  Keep  Bees  from  Over-swarm- 
ing-.—several  Inquirers.  Mr.  Quinby  writes  on  this 
subject  for  the  Agriculturist:  "With  the  ordinary  box- 
hive,  there  seems  to  be  no  practical  way  to  prevent  over- 
swarming.  When  there  are  but  few  stocks  kept,  it  is 
possible  to  remove  the  queens  of  the  after-swarms,  and 
return  the  bees  to  the  parent  hive.  But  in  large  apiaries. 
it  is  common  to  have  several  swarms  issue  at  once,  and 
cluster  together,  making  it  impossible  to  return  each 
swarm  to  the  hive  to  which  it  belongs.  In  the  movable 
comb  hive,  the  following  management  will  control  tliein: 
A  week  after  the  first  swarm  has  issued,  take  out  the 
combs  and  cut  off  all  the  queen  cells  but  one,  and  the 
work  is  done.  It  will  not  answer  to  wait  until  some  of 
the  queens  mature,  and  then  do  it,  as  by  that  time  the 
bees  get  up  the  swarming  fever,  and  they  will  sometimes 
come  out  with  the  last  queen  they  have.  Over-swarming 
is  disastrous,  even  when  an  increase  of  stocks  is  desira- 
ble, as  the  old  one  is  often  ruined,  and  perhaps  only  one 
of  the  new  ones  suitable  for  Winter.  By  a  little  manage- 
ment, two,  and  even  three  powerful  colonies  may  be 
obtained  from  one  in  a  single  season,  and  not  impoverish 
the  old  one  at  all.  The  queens  may  be  reared  artificially. 
The  Italians  work  much  better  in  this  way  than  the 
natives,  and  introducing  a  mature  one  to  the  old  stock 
almost  immediately  after  the  first  swarm,  will  result  in 
one  or  two  additional  swarms  without  leaving  the  old 
stock  almost  destitute  of  bees,  during  the  season  of  the 
best  yield  of  honey.'' 

46  Northern  Honey." — Several  inquirers. 
This  is  an  old  invention,  secret  recipes  of  which  were 
peddled  about  the  country  several  years  since,  at  from 
ten  dollars  to  twenty-five  cents,  according  to  the  verdan- 
cy of  the  customers.  The  directions  for  making  it,  pub- 
lished in  a  former  volume  of  the  Agriculturist,  are  as 
follows:  Dissolve  20  lbs.  of  coarse  sugar  in  3  quarts  of 
warm  water.  Stir  into  it  one-fifth  ounce  of  cream  of 
tartar,  first  dissolved  in  a  little  water,  and  also  five  or  six 
pounds  of  good  honey,  and  half  a  teaspoonful  of  essence 
of  peppermint.  Boil  the  whole  slowly  for  12  minutes, 
stirring  it  all  the  time,  and  it  will  make  30  lbs.  of  a  mix- 
ture which  with  some  may  pass  for  honey. 


llreaking  Up  Prairie  Lands.- "Min- 
nesota" desires  someone  practically  familiar  with  the 
operation,  to  give  in  the  Agriculturist  details  of  his  ex- 
perience in  breaking  up  prairie  land,  as  to  the  best  sea- 
son, what  is  preferable  for  the  first  crop,  method  of  culti- 
vation and  the  result.  He  asks  "  Does  the  sod  rot  better 
when  laid  flat  and  even,  than  when  rough  and  exposed  to 
the  weather  ?'*  Many  now  seeking  homes  in  Southern 
Minnesota,  Northern  Iowa.  Wisconsin,  and  other  prairie 


Preserving-  Cheese  from  Flies.— S.  E. 

Ogden,  Austin,  Mich.  New  cheese  should  be  anointed 
with  butter  or  oil  made  from  whey-cream,  which  rises 
from  whey  set  apart  for  the  purpose  after  being  drawn 
from  the  curd.  It  is  skimmed  off  and  churned  like  other 
batter.  In  hot  weather  a  sprinkling  of  cayenne  pepper 
mixed  with  it  will  repel  flies.  A  little  beeswax  added, 
hardens  the  mixture,  and  is  better  for  the  hot  season. 


The  "  Wine-Plant"  Hnmbug.-From 

the  frequent  advertisements  and  notices  now  appearing 
in  the  newspapers,  we  feel  constrained  to  again  caution 
our  readers  against  investing  money  or  time  in  any  so- 
called  "wine-plant."  Last  year  it  was  the  "English 
wine-plant ;'"'  now  there  are  several  names.  The  gist  of 
the  matter  is,  that  from  the  juice  of  any  variety  of  rhu- 
barb, it  is  possible  to  make  an  alcoholic  drink,  by  adding 
sugar,  and  fermenting  it.  The  same  is  the  case  with  the 
juices  of  a  great  number  of  other  plants  and  fruits.  But 
there  is  no  essential  difference  between  cider  whiskey 
or  cider  brandy,  and  the  so-called  "  rhubarb-wine,"  ex- 
cept in  the  amount  of  alcohol,  and  that  the  latter  has  a 
different  flavor.  There  is  little  if  any  difference  in  the 
different  kinds  of  rhubarb,  so  far  as  their  capability  of 
producing  alcohol  with  sugar  is  concerned.  One  of  the 
best  varieties  of  rhubarb  for  cooking  or  any  other  pur- 
pose, is  the  Linnaeus,  or  "  Myall's  Linnauis,"  as  the  same 
plant  is  sometimes  called,  from  Mr.  Myatt  who  first 
raised  it  from  seed.  This  variety  is  now  abundant,  and 
has  been  advertised  in  the  American  Agriculturist  the 
present  year  fur  $18  per  thousand  roots  !  If  anybody  in- 
vests in  it  at  $25  per  hundred  (that  is  *'250  per  1,000  !)  be- 
cause some  speculator  names  it  ;t  "  wine-plant,"  he  pays 


pretty  dearly  fur  neglecting  to  invest  a  dollar  a  year  in 
the  Agriculturist,  in  which  paper  the  imposition  was 
shown  up  some  lime  since.  We  see  it  staled  that  nearly 
4,000  gallons  of  this  (rhubarb)  wine  is  produced  from  one 
acre,  and  that  it  readily  commands  $2  per  gallon  !  Ore 
dat  JudtBus!  Pray  tell  us  what  responsible  party  i*. 
ready  to  contract  for  the  product  of  ten  acres  (25,000  to 
40,000  gallons,)  at  a  dollar  a  gallon. 

Souring  of  Wine. — Benjamin  F.  Hunting- 
ton, ■ .    Wine  and   other  fermented  drinks  will  sour 

from  exposure  to  the  air.  Fermentation  is  produced  by 
the  oxygen  of  the  atmosphere  uniting  with  the  sugar  ot 
the  juice,  at  first  changing  it  to  alcohol,  and  ultimately  to 
vinegar  if  the  process  be  continued  long  enough.  Cork 
bottles  or  casks  tightly  when  the  first  or  vinous  stage  of 
fermentation  is  completed,  and  it  cannot  sour.  The  ves- 
sels should  be  full,  otherwise  enough  air  may  be  present 
to  induce  a  change. 

Cover  tli©  Spinach.— O.  L.  Allen,  Berks 
Co.,  Pa.  Spinach  sown  early  in  Septernher  should  be 
covered  with  hay,  straw,  or  other  litter,  just  before  the 
ground  freezes  up.  A  covering  of  an  iiwh  thick  is 
sufficient,  and  the  straw  should  be  removed  when  danger 
of  hard  freezing  is  over  in  the  Spring.  Thin  the  plants 
before  the  covering  is  put  on. 

ISlaclc  Knot  on  Plum  and  Cherry 

Trees.— "F.  T.,"  Delhi,  N.  Y.  This  is  not  caused  by 
an  insect.  It  is  very  well  explained  and  figured  in  the 
Agriculturist  for  April. 


English  Ivy.— H.  P.  Rogers,  Fulton  Co.,  111. 
We  cannot  tell  whether  the  Ivy  will  flourish  with  you. 
We  should  try  it  on  the  northern  rather  than  on  the- 
southern  side  of  the  wall,  as  it  will  be  less  exposed  to 
alternations  of  heat  and  cold. 


Magnolias  in  Michigan.— O.  M.  Wood, 

of  the  Botanic  Gardens  and  Nurseries,  Clinton  Co., 
Mich.,  states  that  Magnolia  acuminata  grows  well  with 
him,  and  is  as  hardy  as  an  oak,  while  the  Catalpa  is  in- 
variably killed  to  the  ground  every  Winter. 

American  or  ^few-Jersey  Tea.-Some 
one  in  Columbia,  Pa.,  sends  us  a  specimen  of  the  leaves 
of  this  plant,  which  was  described  in  the  September  Agri- 
culturist. He  thinks  it  will  never  suit  the  palate  of  an 
old  tea-drinker.  There  was  money  in  the  letter,  but  no 
signature.  The  number  of  the  letter  is  95093.  The  paper 
can  not  be  sent  unless  we  have  the  address. 


E£T$r  Plants  I>elicions  if  Cooked 
Rightly. — Many  readers  say  they  do  not  understand 
how  others  can  like  the  egg  plant.  We  can  ;  cooking  is 
everything.  The  best  directions  are  given  to  the  Ameri- 
can Agriculturist  by  one  of  its  housekeeping  readers. 
Cut  the  plant  across  into  thin  slices,  say  H  inch  thick; 
salt  and  lay  these  together  over  night ;  in  the  morn- 
ing take  them  from  the  brine  and  sprinkle  finely  pow- 
dered cracker  over  both  sides  of  the  slices  j  then  fry- 
brown  (not  black)  in  just  enough  fat  to  keep  them  from 
sticking  to  the  griddle.  Some  use  Indian  meal  instead 
of  cracker,  hut  the  cracker  is  best.  We  eat  them  thus 
cooked,  and  esteem  them  a  really  cheap  delicacy,  though 
we  once  thought  them  poor  stuff.  A  subscriber  at  our 
elbow  says  :  "  Cut  them  into  slices  nearly  %  inch  thick  ; 
sprinkle  on  salt,  lay  them  together  with  a  lightweight 
on  the  top ;  in  the  morning  drain  from  the  brine,  roll 
in  flour  and  fry  in  butter,  and  they  can't  be  beat." 


Hfot  Quite  ISight  "Vet,  Mr.  lBimil>ii£>  ! 

One  of  the  swindlers  in  Philadelphia  sends  out  his 
"  gift"  and  other  enterprises,  under  the  name  of  Messrs. 
"Bane  <k  Co."  Right  so  far,  for  the  operator  is  a 
bant  to  society.  But  having  exhausted  his  list  of  known 
names,  he  is  now  putting  up  envelopes,  printed  with  a 
neat  mechanical  device,  which  he  sends  to  different 
parts  of  the  country,  addressed  :  "  To  any  mechanic,  in 
the  Town  of ,  County  of ,  State  of ,"  and  re- 
quests the  Postmaster  to  deliver  the  letter  to  some  me- 
chanic. Enclosed  and  sealed  up  are  a  lot  of  schemes, 
tickets,  etc.,  with  great  inducements  for  investing  from 
25  cents  to  $1  or  more.  We  suggest  to  Mr.  Bane,  that 
his  letters  would  be  more  appropriately  addressed:  "  To 
the  Greatest  Fool  in  the  Town  of,  etc." 

Pronunciation  ot"  Names. — J.  M.  Por- 
ter, Roxabel,  Ohio.  The  names  of  the  authors  mentioned 
in  your  inquiry  are  pronounced  as  follows:  Boussingault, 
Bo6-sang-go  ;  Brandt,  Brant ;  Buist,  Bu-ist ;  Chorlton, 
Ch  soft,  as  in  cheese:  Gooilale,  GooUlale ;  Guenon, 
Gernnon,  (G  hard,  as  in  get:)  this  is  the  nearest  ap 
proach  we  can  give  to  the  French  sound  of  the  u  in  the 
first  syllable.  Leuchar,  ch  hard,  as  in  chasm.  Licbig, 
Lee~l>t% ;  Ynualt,  Yoii-at. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


205 


"Stuffing"  lave  Poultry.— G.  J.  Waters, 
Broome  Co.,  N.  V.  This  is  practised  extensively  in 
Europe,  and  by  some  poultry  raisers  in  tliis  country. 
Fowls  are  confined  in  close  dark  quarters,  and  their 
Crops  ate  frequently  filled  with  dough  forced  down  their 
throats.  By  this  treatment  they  may  be  made  excessive- 
ly fat,  but  it  is  doubtful  if  the  meal  can  be  wholesome,  as 
".lie  process  is  clearly  an  unnatural  one— we  need  not 
My  It  is  cruel.  Plentiful  feeding  With  grain  and  sour 
milk  will  make  fowls  plump  enough  for  our  use,  "or  any 
other  man's." 

Keeping  Kgrs-s  in  Bran- M.  A.  Hum- 
phreys, Delaware  Co.,  Pa.,  communicates  to  the  Ameri- 
can Agriculturist  the  following  method  for  preserving 
eggs,  which  she  says  has  been  successfully  practised  in 
the  family  from  the  days  of  her  grandmother  of  the  17th 
century.  Prepare  bran  by  drying  it  in  a  pan  in  the  stove, 
to  prevent  its  moulding.  Place  a  layer  of  this  in  a  box  or 
barrel,  then  the  eggs  in  regular  rows,  points  downward, 
and  thus  with  bran  and  eggs  alternalely,  fill  the  vessel. 
They  should  be  kept  in  a  dry  place  and  free  from  frost. 

Sulphuric    Add  (Oil   oT   Vitriol).— 

To  several  querists.  This  is  usually  put  up  in  Carboys, 
that  is,  large,  thick  glass  bottles,  w  hich  hold  about  150 
pounds  each.  These  are  eacli  set  in  square  boxes  for 
carriage.  The  present  price  of  sulphuric  acid  is  2% 
cents  per  pound,  wholesale.  The  carboys  are  charged 
for  extra,  at  $1  50  (a)  $1  75  each,  which  price  is  refunded 
if  the  carboys  are  returned  empty.  This  is  the  acid  used 
for  dissolving  bones  for  manure. 


To  l>ry  i;p  Mills:.— Robert  H.  Martin,  Sus- 
sex Co.,  Del.  A  strong  solution  of  alum  in  brandy 
rubbed  on  the  udder  of  an  animal  a  few  times  daily,  will 
usually  check  the  flow  of  milk,  and  relieve  the  animal 
from  danger  of  garget,  when  the  young  are  weaned,  or  it 
is  desirable,  from  any  cause,  to  dry  them  off.  The  wash 
should   be   applied  as  warm  as  can  be  borne  by  the  hand. 

Caterpillars.— u  W.  G.  B.,"  of  Newark,  N. 
J.,  asks  what  he  shall  do  with  the  caterpillars  which  are 
tills  year  very  abundant  in  his  section. — We  were  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Newark  a  few  weeks  ago,  and  saw  large 
trees  completely  stripped  of  their  foliage.  We  know  of 
no  remedy  short  of  actual  destruction.  The  work  must 
begin  with  the  season  as  soon  as  a  nest  is  discemable. — 
Swabbing  out  the  nest  with  some  cheap  oil,  or  removing 
the  caterpillars  by  means  of  a  spiral  brush,  sold  for  the 
purpose,  are  the  usual  methods  of  warfare. 

IV©  t.  Alone  l>y  Farmers  is  this  journal 
taken  and  read,  as  we  have  abundant  evidence.  It  is  for 
the  Household  and  the  Garden,  as  well  as  for  the  Farm. 
Many  thousands  of  copies  are  taken  in  this  City,  and  in 
most  of  the  villages  in  the  country,  by  mechanics,  pro- 
fessional men.  tradesmen,  and  others.  A  letter  before  us, 
from  interior  New- York,  mentions  incidentally  the  occu- 
pation of  ten  subscribers,  thus:  3  stone-cutters,  3  teach 
ers,  1  blacksmith,  I   carriage-maker,  1  farmer,  1   editor. 


Seed?*  by  Mai!.— A  letter  from  the  Office 
of  the  P.  M.  General  informs  us  that  the  instructions  un- 
der the  new  law  are  amended,  so  that  packages  of  seeds, 
cuttings,  roots,  and  cions,  weighing  not  over  thirty-two 
ounces  may  be  franked  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 
Heretofore  the  limit  was  fixed  at  twelve  ounces. 

Seeds  or  Ailarithns  and  Sweet  6nm. 

— Irwtu  Folsom,  Rockland  Co.,  N.  H.  The  seeds  are 
usually  kept  by  Thorburn  &  Co.,  and  probably  by  other 
large  seed  dealers. 

Insects  Received.— I.  P.  Allen,  Whiteside 
Co.,  111.,  sends  us  the  beetle  of  the  borer,  winch  infests 
the  Locust.  This  is  the  Clytus  pictus  of  the  Entomolo- 
gists. Mr.  A.  says  that  the  borers  are  entirely  ruining 
the  Locusts  in  his  county,  and  is  afraid  that  they  will  at- 
tack the  fruit  trees.  We  have  never  heard  that  tiiis  par- 
ticular borer  injured  any  tree  except  the  Locust.  The 
perfect  insect  or  beetle  feeds  upon  the  Goldenrods  and 
some  other  wild  flowers,  but  the  eggs,  we  believe,  are 
deposited  in  the  crevices  of  the  bark  of  the  Locust  only. 
....James  Strang,  Franklin  Co.,  Ohio.  The  striped  in- 
sects are  Chrysomela  vittata,  and  the  black  ones  Lytta 
Ptnnsylvanica.  They  are  both  blistering  beetles,  and 
have  been  used  as  substitutes  for  the  Spanish  Flies  of 
the  shops.  They  are  very  destructive  to  potatoes  and 
many  other  plants.  Catching  by  shaking  them  into  a 
pan  of  water,  or  by  sweeping  the  plants  with  a  net  of 
muslin  ami  then  killing  them  by  heat,  has  been  recom- 
mended  Mr.  Goodyear,  Butler  Co.,  N.  Y.    The  cater- 

.  pillar  was  too  much  decayed  to  make  out  satisfactorily, 
but  it  is  probably  the  yellow-necked  apple  tree  worm — a 


most  voracious  fellow.  Your  method  of  getting  rid  of 
them  by  cutting  off  the  twigs  and  burning  them  is  cer- 
tainly effectual Vocative,  Philadelphia.    The  insect 

which  appeared  upon  theO  als  is  probably  the  grain  aphis 
which  has  been  frequently  noticed  in  our  pages.  The 
young  of  the  Lady-bug  is  not  injurious  to  vegetation,  but 
is  one  of  the  farmer's  friends,  as  it  lives  upon  plant  lice. 

Splendid  Flowers, — There  have  been  sev- 
eral collections  of  flowers  upon  the  exhibition  tables  at 
the  Agriculturist  office  within  a  few  weeks,  which  are  so 
very  fine  that  they  deserve  more  notice  than  a  mere  ac- 
knowledgement in  our  list  of  articles  exhibited.  The 
fine  display  of  gladioluses  mentioned  last  month  has  been 
kept  up.  Mr.  W.  P.  Wright,  of  Hoboken,  contributed  the 
finest  Asters  we  have  ever  seen— some  were  as  large  as 
a  medium  sized  Dahlia.  Mr.  W.  Davidson,  of  Brooklyn, 
has  paid  great  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  the  Verbena, 
and  has  shown  a  large  number  of  the  old  kinds  and  a 
great  many  of  his  new  seedlings,  comprising  some  very 
fine  and  distinct  sorts.  W.  &  J.  Cranston  of  Hoboken, 
and  Mr.  Pell  of  the  N.  Y.  Orphan  Asylum,  have  made 
fine  displays  of  Dahlias,  and  P.  Henderson  of  Jersey 
City,  lias  shown  a  collection  of  new  Petunias,  many  of 
which  were  remarkably  distinct  in  their  markings. 


Training*  (iSrapes  upon  Fences. — "T. 

C."  Kinks  Co.,  N.  Y.  If  the  fence  is  a  tight  one,  nail  on 
blocks  or  short  pieces  of  boards,  or  iron  brackets  for  the 
wires,  to  keep  the  vines  six  to  twelve  inches  from  the 
fence.  Air  should  circulate  freely  behind  them.  Be- 
sides, the  leaves  would  "btfrn"  if  in  close  contact  with 
the  fence. 


The  Benrre  Clairgeau  Pear.- This 
variety  bids  fair  to  sustain  a  good  reputation  for  quality, 
while  its  great  beauty  is  much  in  its  favor.  One  of  the 
finest  sights  we  have  seen  in  along  time  was  a  dwarf 
tree  of  this  kind  in  full  bearing  in  the  grounds  of  E.  Wil- 
liams at  Mont  Clair,  N.  J. 

Ground-Glass  Shades. — A  correspon- 
dent in  Maine  questions  the  correctness  of  the  opinion 
that  the  amount  of  light  transmitted  through  a  ground- 
glass  chimney  or  globe  is  as  great  as  that  transmitted  by 
plain  glass,  and  cites  a  record  of  experiments  in  the 
American  Journal  of  Science,  and  Arts  for  November, 
1860,  on  the  loss  of  light  by  glass  shades,  from  which  it 
appears  that,  while  common  window  and  plate  glass  in- 
tercepted from  4  to  13  per  cent,  of  the  rays,  ground  glass 
intercepted  about  65  per  cent.,  or  in  other  words,  reduced 
the  illuminating  power  nearly  two-thirds. 

"  The  Portrait  Monthly."— T.  B.  Leg- 

gelt  &  Co.,  Publishers  of  the  N.  Y.  Illustrated  News, 
have  commenced  issuing  under  the  above  name,  a 
monthly  sheet  of  16  pages,  of  the  size  of  the  pages  of  the 
Agriculturist,  giving  engravings  of  the  noted  men  of  the 
day,  mainly  army  officers,  accompanied  with  short  sketch- 
es of  the  life  and  acts  of  each  man.  The  work  is  well 
printed  on  heavy  paper,  and  is  probably  the  best  thing  of 
the  kind  issued  so  cheaply  ($1  a  year).  Few  of  the  hast- 
ily executed  newspaper  wood-engraved  portraits,  can  be 
called  very  accurate,  or  satisfactory  likenesses,  yet  they 
give  some  idea  of  the  general  features  and  expression  of 
countenance,  and  hence  are  better  than  nothing.  Good 
Photographs,  or  steel  engravings  are  of  course  prefera- 
ble, when  they  can  be  obtained. 

*k  Veronica  nuinqucrolia"  and  the 
Rural  New- Yorker.—  In  the  September  Agricul- 
turist we  took  occasion  to  publish  an  exposition  of 
what  we  supposed  came  legitimately  under  the  head  of 
humbugs,  that  is,  the  puffing  of  the  medicinal  qualilins 
of  a  very  common  herb,  by  communications  in  such  pa- 
pers as  would  print  such  matter,  and  its  sale  by  the 
writer  of  the  articles,  at  a  very  exorbitant  price.  Our 
much  respected  contemporary,  the  Rural,  quotes  our 
article,  and  then  undertakes  to  prove  us  in  error  as  to 
our  botany.  It  is  not  our  intention  to  make  any  state- 
ment that  cannot  be  substantiated,  and  in  the  case  in 
point  we  had  beforehand  abundant  evidence  of  the  truth 
of  our  assertions;  evidence  which  can  be  produced 
should  it  ever  be  necessary.  Our  statement  was,  that  the 
plant  in  question,  though  called  Veronica  quinquefolia, 
was  the  well  known  Veronica  Virginica,  also  called  Lep- 
tandra  Virginica.  We  might  have  added  that  the  name 
Veronica  quinquefolia  was  one  unknown  to  science.  The 
Rural  says  that  it  has  received  a  specimen  of  the  plant 
from  W.  R.  Prince,  and  goes  on  to  show,  from  its  botan- 
ical characters,  that  it  is  not  Veronica  Virginica,  and  in- 
deed not  a  Veronica  at  all.  As  we  do  not  know  what 
plant  has  been  sent  to  our  friend  by  interested  parties, 
we  cannot  say  whether  he  is  right  or  wrong  in  his  con- 
clusions, though  we  cannot  help  thinking  that  the  num- 
ber of  characters  he  has  made  out,  to  show  what  the  plant 
was  not,  ought  to  have  enabled  him  to  tell  us  what  It  teas. 


Our  point  was,  that  this  "wonderful  remedy,"  sold  .n  a 
high  price  under  the  name  of  Veronica  q unique foha,  was 
nothing  but  the  old  Veronica  or  Leptandra  Vitgimca.  That 
this  is  the  case  we  can  prove  beyond  doubt,  and  as  a  part 
of  our  evidence  of  this  we  quote  from  the  catalogue  ot 
W.  R.  Prince  &  Co.,  published  in  IS44,  where  on  page 
102  we  find  the  following: 

"Leptandria  VritnTNTCA.— N.  B.  This  plant  is  noted  for 
pnrirj  in;:  the  blood,  and  for  cures  of  salt  rheum,  leprosy  and 
dropsy.    For  the  quantity  of  the  root  and  prescription  $5," 

Aside  from  the  incorrect  spelling  of  the  name,  Leptan- 
dra can  any  one  doubt  that  this  is  the  same  thing  ? 

We  do  not  think  that  our  article  contained  any  mis- 
statement, except  perhaps  the  price  at  which  the  root  is 
sold.  We  learned  from  two  sources  that  it  was  sold  for 
$3  per  ounce  and  two  ounces  for  $5.  We  have  now  be- 
fore us  a  circular,  in  which  the  price  is  given  "3 ounces, 
$3  ;  6  ounces,  $5  ;  9  ounces,  $7  50  ;  and  12  ounces,  $10." 
Prices  sufficiently  high  to  warrant  our  calling  them  ex- 
orbiant,  when  the  same  article  is  readily  obtainable  at 
the  drug  and  herb  stores  at  about  a  dollar  a  pound,  We 
have  seen  it  growing  abundantly,  and  generally  along 
water  courses.  Of  its  medicinal  quafities,  the  United 
States   Dispensatory  says  :    the  "  Leptandra  Virginica  or 

Veronica  Virginica, when  recenl,  acts   violenlly  as  a 

cathartic,  and  sometimes  as  an  emetic It  was  formerly 

recognized  in  the  U.S.  Pharmacopceia,  but  was  omitted 
in  the  edilion  of  1840." 

The  Rcnd.y  Reckoner  or  Farmer's 
Manual,  is  the  title  of  a  work  issued  by  Benj.  Urner, 
N.  Y.,  containing  miscellaneous  tables  of  measurement 
by  farmers  and  others.  Willi  much  useful  matter  it  con- 
tains also  informalion  on  many  subjects  of  general  inter- 
est, and  is  probably  worth  the  price  asked,  $1.  The  ar- 
rangement is  very  defective,  the  different  subjects  being 
thrown  together  heterogeneously. 

A  Calitornian  Agricultural  Fair. 

—We  have  the  show-bills  and  programme  of  the  Agricul- 
tural, Horticultural  and  Mechanics' Society  of  the  North- 
ern District  of  California,  which  held  its  fourth  annual 
fair  at  Marysville  during  the  week  commencing  the  7th 
of  September.  The  premiums  are  ample  and  the  rules 
liberal.  As  we  received  the  announcement  some  days 
after  the  exhibition  closed,  we  could  not,  of  course,  at- 
tend. We  alwavs  receive  these  evidences  of  the  Agri- 
cultural prosperity  of  California  with  gratification,  and 
we  hope  before  we  are  many  years  older  to  witness  the 
wonderful  improvement  it  has  made  in  the  peaceful  ail. 


DwarfRroom  Corn.— C.  D.  Ellis,  Essex 
Co.,  N.  J.  This  variety  was  first  brought  to  our  notice 
by  Mr.  E.  B.  Good,  of  York  Co.,  Pa.,  from  whom  seed 
was  obtained  and  distributed  free  to  Agriculturist  sub- 
scribers. It  grows  about  four  feet  high,  the  brush  being 
about  two  feet  long.  We  have  not  recently  heard  any- 
thing concerning  it,  and  do  not  know  whether  it  was 
generally  liked.  The  first  reports  from  growers  and 
manufacturers  were  favorable. 

IVew-Jersey  State  Fair  a    Failnre. 

We  feel  personally  mortified  at  the  doings  of  one  of 
the  memhers  of  the  Agriculturist  family.  For  New 
Jersey  we  have  a  special  regard;  it  is  near  "head- 
quarters;" the  Agriculturist  is  peculiarly  the  agriculiu- 
ral  paper  of  the  State,  as  none  other  is  permitted  to  lire 
there.  There  are  plenty  of  good  farms  and  good  farmers 
in  the  State,  and  whatever  they  really  undertake,  they 
do  up  well,  as  a  rule.  Few  other  Slates  have  done  more 
to  furnish  men  for  the  national  defence.  Perhaps  it  was 
their  special  interest  in  the  raising  of  troops  just  now, 
that  led  them  to  forget  the  State  Fair  held  in  the  name  ot 
the  New  Jersey  farmers  this  year.  From  our  particular 
interest  in  this  State,  we  were  present  at  the  so-called 
State  Fair,  while  we  only  sent  representatives  to  other 
Slates.  A  visit  of  three  hours  was  enough.  If  there  were 
a  county  in  New  Jersey  (happily  there  is  not)  which 
could  not  get  up  a  better  agricultural  show  than  the 
State  affair  this  year,  we  should  advise  that  county  not 
to  try.  On  the '-State  Fair  Grounds"  at  Patterson  the 
agricultural  display  contained  only  two  sheep;  about 
thirty  cattle  (including  calves),  such  as  they  were:  a 
baker's  dozen  of  hogs  and  pigs;  any  number  of  fast 
horses  ;  two  plowmen  at  the  plowing  match  ;  one  firkin 
of  butter  and  four  boxes  of  cheese,  or  two  of  butter  and 
three  of  cheese,  we  are  not  certain  which  ;  about  a  dozen 
melons  ;  a  few  beets  ;  less  than  a  bushel  of  potatoes 
(where  was  Monmouth  County  ?)  and  other  vegetables  to 

match  in  quantity and  any  number  of  peddlers 

within  the  enclosure,  including  gift  enterprises,  chance 
operators,  and  the  man  who  sang  to  the  crowd,  ladies 
included,  songs  that  were  little  adapted  to  ears  polite,  If 
other  songs  were  like  one  got  off,  as  we  were  neces- 
sarily passing,  about  the  peculiar  effects  of  lager  beer 
upon  the  two  sexes.— The  show  as  a  whole  (except  the 
horse  races,  which  we  did  not  stop  to  see,)  was  such  a 
failure  that  we  have  no  patience  to  speak  of  the  few  good 


Q96 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[OCTOBER, 


features  we  found  in  the  fruit,  household  and  implement 
departments.  We  regret  to  speak  thus  of  the  show  of  a 
State  we  have  reason  to  especially  regard,  and  do  it 
"more  in  sorrow  than  in  anger."  Our  only  aim  is  to 
awaken  the  good  farmers  of  New-Jersey  to  a  sense  of  the 
disgrace  put  upon  them,  or  perhaps  put  upon  themselves, 
and  to  incite  them  to  right  action  in  the  future.  Mon- 
mouth County  with  its  potatoes,  and  Bergen  with  its 
vegetables,  can  take  the  job  and  get  up  a  big  and  useful 
display  ;  but  let  the  farmers  of  the  whole  State  come  to- 
gether next  year — at  some  central,  accessible  point — and 
show  what  New-Jersey  can  do  when  she  tries.  No  State 
could  beat  her  in  a  genuine  exhibition  of  soil  products. 

Interesting  to  Flax  and  Hemp 
Growers  and  Manufacturers.— Congress  hav- 
ing appropriated  $20,000  to  be  expended  in  investigations 
to  test  the  practicability  of  preparing  flax  and  hemp  as  a 
substitute  for  cotton,  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture 
has  placed  the  matter  in  the  hands  of  three  Commis- 
sioners, who  call  the  attention  of  manufacturers  to  the 
subject.  Samples  of  fibres. and  fabrics,  with  precise  de- 
scriptions of  processes,  and  statistics  of  cost,  are  to  be 
sent  to  the  Department  of  Agriculture  at  Washington,  on 
or  before  November  20th.  Parcels  and  letters  should 
be  endorsed,   "For    Commissioners  of    Flax  Culture." 

"White  Flax  Seed. — Henry  Gaylord,  New 
Haven  Co.,  Conn.,  sends  us  a  sample  of  white  flax  seed, 
and  asks  if  ihere  is  any  difference  between  the  fibre  from 
this  and  that  of  the  common  seed.  We  have  never  seen 
the  white  seed  before,  except  an  occasional  grain  mixed 
with  the  brown  and  have  no  knowledge  that  the  fibre 
is  different  from  that  of  the  ordinary  kind.— We  shall  be 
glad  to  hear  from  any   reader  who  can  inform  us. 


Wliul  Success  in  Cotton  Growing? 

— From  many  letters  received  last  Spring  we  judged  that 
a  comparatively  large  area  of  cotton  would  be  planted  in 
g-nne  of  the  Northern  States  this  year.  Will  those  who 
have  been  engaged  in  the  experiment  please  report  to  the 
Agriculturist  their  success  or  failure,  and  give  such 
practical  hints  as  their  experience  has  suggested. 

I>argje  Yield  of  Potatoes. — Mrs,  Elsie 
C.  Wheeler,  Essex  Co.,  N.  J.,  reports  to  the  American 
Agriculturist,  having  planted  a  plot  of  ground,  61  feet 
by  89  feet,  with  Bulkley's  seedling  potato,  and  realized  a 
return  of  39  bushels— over  312  bushels  per   acre. 

Ufative  Tobacco. — Geo.  H.  Brown,  Henley, 
Cal..  sends  seeds  and  specimens  of  a  species  of  tobacco 
which  grows  wild  in  all  parts  of  California.  We  sup- 
pose, from  the  limited  specimen,  that  it  is  Nicotiana 
Tustica.  We  have  not  known  of  any  attempts  to  culti- 
vate it,  and  can  give  no  idea  of  its  value. 

Tooncco  for  Ants.— W.  B.  Waldo,  of 
Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.,  informs  us  that,  after  trying  various 
expedients  for  ridding  his  walks  of  ants,  at  length  suc- 
ceeded in  clearing  them  out  by  the  use  of  a  strong 
decoction  of  tobacco. 

Pear  and   Peacli   Trees  in  Miclii- 

gan. — J.  N.  Lansing,  Mich.  In  your  locality  we  should 
prefer  to  "heel  in"  the  trees,  i.  e.  make  a  deep  trench 
for  the  roots  and  cover  them  with  a  good  amount  of 
earth,  in  a  sheltered  situation.  Plum  and  Cherry  trees 
we  should  prune  in  June  or  July.  Currant  bushes  may 
be  pruned  any  time  in  Autumn. 

Nig;ht-bloomiiig  Cerens. — We  have  a 
fine  specimen  of  this  beautiful  flower  from  Mr.  George 
Stillwagon,  of  Flushing,  L.  I.  Thanks  to  the  attention  of 
Mr.   S.,  we  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  it  also. 

Plants  fbr  a  Name. — Mrs.  N.  GouguD, 
Wild  Co.,  III.,  sends  Anagallis  arvensis,  the  Pimpernel, 
which  she  says  is  a  cure  for  hydrophobia.  We  never  be- 
fore heard  of  its  having  any  medicinal  qualities "Spiv- 
ins,"  PIqua,  Ohio.  The  specimen  came  in  rather  bad  or- 
der, but  it  seems  to  be  QuamocLt  coccitiea,  own  brother  to 
the  Cypress  Vine,  and  probably  not  a  cross  as  you  sup- 
pose. ...S.  A.  Decker,  (no  place)  sends  the  Bitter  Sweet, 

described  on  another  page Mr.   Seelbach,  Baltimore. 

The  plant  is  probably  Cleome  pungens,  but  the  specimen 
Is  too  small  for  accurate  determination H.  H.  Acker- 
man,  Bucks  Co.,  Pa.  The  seeds  look  like  those  of  the 
Hollyhock,  but  as  there  are  other  nearly  related  plants, 
we  can  not  be  sure  from  the  seeds  only G.  W.  Good- 
win, Conn.,  Lythrum  Salicariaulhe  Spiked  Loosestrife. 
It  grows  wild  in  Forne  parts  of  your  Stale,  and  is  often 
cultivated  ...Mrs.  Julia  H.  Mack,  Richland  Co.,  Wis. 
The  leat  sent  is  that  of  the  Canarybird  Flower  (Tropes- 
olum  peregrinum),  a  climbing  species  of  the  Nasturtium 
of  the  garden*.     U  is  a  charming  climber,  and  an  annual. 


Probably  the  flower  buds  of  your  lilacs  are  winterkilled. 
.  ..E.  W.  Daniell,  Meigs  Co.,  Ohio.  The  grass  is  Uniola 
latifolia,  the  Broad-leaved  Spike-grass.  It  is  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  of  our  native  grasses  and  worth  cultivat- 
ing for  ornamental    purposes Mariette    M.   Herring, 

Winnebago  Co.,  III.  Your  plant  is  Mertcnsia  Virginica, 
(formerly  called  Pulmonaria)  the  Virginian  Cowslip  or 
Lungwort.  It  is  one  of  the  most  beauliful  of  our  native 
plants,  and  better  deserves  cultivation  than  many  im- 
ported ones.  The  plant  is  a  perennial,  and  if  it  does  not 
perfect  seed,  may  be  propagated  by  division  of  the  root. 

T.  E.  Goodrich,  Ford   Co.,   III.,  sends  Trades cantia 

Virginica,  noticed  in  the  August  basket.  There  are 
several  varieties,  all  easily  cultivated  and  very  pretty. 
In  botanical  names  when  there  are  more  than  three  syl- 
lables the  accent  is  on  the  last  but  two,  and  thus  :  Tra- 
des-cau-ti-a  Vir-gvVi-ca.  The  name  officinalis,  winch 
is  often  used  as  a  specific  name,  comes  from  the  Latin 
ojficina,  a  shop,  and  is  applied  to  many  plants  which 
were  or  are  sold  as  drugs  in  the  shops. 


Spontaneous    Generation. — P.     Gara- 

brant,  Morris  Co.,  N.  J.,  proposes  to  leave  to  the  Agri- 
culturist the  settlement  of  the  question  "  Will  ground 
germinate  grain  or  weeds  if  there  are  no  seeds  in  it?" — 
If  Mr.  G.  has  read  the  back  volumes  of  the  Agriculturist 
he  will  have  seen  that  we  have  taken  very  strong  ground 
against  spontaneous  generation.  We  have  no  proof  that 
plants  are  multiplied  in  any  other  than  the  way  provided 
by  nature.  With  all  the  knowledge  we  have  at  present, 
we  should  answer  his  question  with  an  emphatic  NO. 


Mixing;  of  Strawberries. — L.  C.  Church, 
Plymouth  Co.,  Mass.  It  is  likely  that  strawberries  with 
perfect  flowers  will  mix  more  or  less,  if  planted  together, 
but  as  this  will  not  materially  affect  the  fruit,  it  is  of  no 
practical  consequence,  unless  you  wish  to  preserve  the 
seeds  or  plants  of  any  particular  kind   in  a  pure  stale. 


A  Good  Tomato. — The  Fejee  is  a  good 
tomato.  It  is  of  medium  to  large  size,  nearly  smooth,  of 
a  dark  red,  or  salmon  color,  with  a  solid,  meaty  flesh, 
and  is  of  fine  flavor.  If  tomatoes  were  sold  by  weight — 
which  really  gives  their  value— the  overgrown,  deep 
scalloped  sorts  which  have  to  be  broken  into  pieces  be- 
fore they  can  be  peeled,  would  be  discarded.  Any  smooth, 
solid  tomato  is  preferable  to  the  irregular  ones,  but 
commend  us  to  the  Fejee,  alias   Lester's   Perfected. 


"  Big  Things."— J.  D.  Ellis,  Columbia  Co., 
N.  Y.,  writes  to  the  A?nerican  Agriculturist,  condemning 
the  mania  for  producing  "  big  things."  He  asks,  "  Why 
is  a  pumpkin  weighing  200  lbs.  better  than  five  weighing 
40  lbs.  each  ;  or  a  strawberry  that  must  be  carved  like  a 
muskmelon,  more  desirable  than  a  larger  number  averag- 
ing one  to  a  mouthful  ?"  In  some  things,  undoubtedly 
there  is  little  gained  by  enlarging  specimens  to  unusual 
size;  but  in  many  fruits  and  vegetables  large  growth 
gives  superior  quality.  Thus  the  apple,  peach,  cherry, 
etc.,  are  improved  by  increase  of  size.  But  even  where 
this  is  not  the  case,  producing  extraordinary  specimens 
is  merely  a  gratification  of  curiosity,  an  innocent  though 
perhaps  unprofitable  amusement. 


Great  American  Exhibition  of 

Pumpkins,  Squashes,  and 
Ornamental  Gourds. 

The   Second    Annual  Exhibition  of   Pump- 

kins,  Squashes,  and  Ornamental  Gourds,  at  the 
office  of  the  American  Agriculturist,  41  Park  Row,  New 
York  City,  opens  on  Wednesday,  Nov,  4 tli5  1863, 
and  the  following  Prizes  will  be  paid  by  the  Publish- 
er, upon  the  official  award  of  competent  Committees. 
CASH  PREMIUMS, 

A— For  the  Heaviest  Pumpkin  or  Squash §10.00 

B— For  the  2nd  Heaviest  Pumpkin  or  Squash. ..       5.0O 

C — For  the  3d  Heaviest  Pumpkin  or  Squash 3.00 

D— For  the  Best  Pumpkin  or  Squash  for  cooking.      5,00 
E— For  2nd  Best  Pumpkin  or  Squash  for  cooking      3.00 

F — For  the  largest  yield  on  a  single  Vine *   1O.00 

G— For  the  2nd  largest  yield  on  a  single  Vine...*      5,00 
II— For  the  largest  and  finest  collection  of  Fan-  /       »  „n 

cy  or  Ornamental  Gourds* \       '*"" 

I— For  the  2nd  largest  and   finest  collection)        -  nft 

of  Fancy  or  Ornamental  Gourds" \       4,uu 

*A11  to  be  grown  by  one  person  and  to  be  accompanied 
by  positive  evidence  from  the  grower,  and  one  disinterest- 
ed person  who  assists  in  gathering  the  specimens. 

Note  1.— The  specimens  receiving  the  Prizes  will  re- 
main on  Public  Exhibition  at  the  pleasure  of  the  Publish- 
er who  offers  the  prizes.  The  other  specimens  will  be 
subject  to  the  order  of  the  exhibitors,  or  they  will  be 
sold  at  auction,  or  otherwise  disposed  of,  for  their  benefit. 

NoteS.— All  Exhibitors  must  notify  us  of  their  intentions 
by  Oct.  15th,  and  deliver  specimens  for  competition  on  or 
before  Nov.  2d.  Specimens  to  be  delivered  free  of  charge. 

Note  3.— The  same  specimen  can  compete  for  only  one 
of   the   premiums  offered  above.      See  note,  pa  e   292. 


Exhibition  Tablos    at    the   Oflice   of 
the  American  Agriculturist. 

The  following  articles  have  been  placed  on  our  tablps 
for  exhibition  since  our  last  report: 

Fruits.— Apples ;  Red  Aslrachan,  from  A.  J.  Hall, 
Wallingford,  Conn Specimens  for  name,  and  St.  Law- 
rence ;  T.  Briggs,  Schagticoke,  N.  Y Benoni  Apples, 

fine;   James   Weed,    Muscatine,    Iowa Hyslop    Crab 

Apple,  (described  under  "Basket :")  H.  A.  Conger,  White- 
water,  Wis. ...Specimens  kept   from   last  year;    Wm. 

Teffl,    Fordham,   Mass Specimens   for  name;    Wm. 

Howe,  Mt.  Vernon,  N.  Y Cranberry  Pippins  grown  in 

1862,  very  fine ;  Robert  Benner,  Astoria,  N.  Y Peart; 

Bartlett  and  Doyenne  Boussock  ;  Wm.  Doty,  Union  Hill, 

N.  J Specimens  for  name ;  Wm.  Van  Brunt,  L.  I  ... 

Fine  clusters  of  Seckels  ;  Peter  Voorhees,  Nyack,  N.  Y. 
...  -Peackes  :  Specimen  for  name  ;  J.  W.  Hughes,  Staten 

Island,  N.  Y Fine  basket  Crawford's  Early:  C.  W. 

Idell,    West   Washington    Market,    New-York    City 

Seedling;  Wm.  L.   Plume,  Brooklyn,   N.  Y Grapes: 

Hartford  Prolific;  Prof.  Hopkins,  Metuchin,  N.  J... Hart- 
ford Prolific;  Wm.  H.  Milcliel!,  Harlem,  N.  Y.... 
Northern  Muscadine  and  Hartford  Prolific;  G.  R.  Gar- 

retson,    Flushing,    L.    I Early    Canada    or    August 

Grape;  Mr.  Ripley,  South  Windsor,  Conn Hartford 

Prolific  ;  Wm.  Tefft,  Fordham,  Mass August  Pioneer  ; 

John    Friske,    Holliston,    Mass Berries:    Cut-leaved 

Blackberry;    S.   A.   Halsey,  Astoria,    N.   Y Lawton 

Blackberry;  Jno.  B.  Peck,  Yonkers,  N.  Y  ...Twice 
bearing  Raspberry,  Belle  de  Fontenay,  Pink  Black- 
berries, and  late  Strawberries  ;  Wm.  F.  Helns,  Morrisania. 
N.  Y ...  .Miscellaneous    Fruits:    Ripe   Figs,    large    and 

fine  ;  M.  J.  Taylor,  Jr.,  Southport,  Conn White  Japan 

Melon  ;  Mr.  Godfrey.  Weslport,  Conn Skillman's  Net- 
ted Musk  Melons,  splendid  specimens;  Richard  Ben- 
nett, Fort  Hamilton,  N,  Y... .Plum   for  name;  L.  Pfen- 

ninger,  Brooklyn,   N.  Y Cape   Cod   Cranberry  Plant, 

in  fruit;  Wm.  H.  Starr,  New-London,  Ct Nectarine; 

B.  N.  Leonard,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Flowers. — Cut  Flowers  and  Asters  in  pots  ;  O.  Judd, 
Flushing,  N.  Y. .  ..Dahlias,  Carnations,  Roses,  etc.;  C. 

S.  Pell,   New- York  Orphan    Asylum Canna   Indica, 

very  fine;  Wm.  F.  Heins,  Morrisania,  N.  Y...  Fine 
colored  Seedling  Petunias;  Peter  Henderson,  Jersey 
City,  N.  J. ...Balsams;  Mr.  Petrick,  Union  Hill,  N.  J. 
....Double    Sunflower,    Imperiale,    perfect    specimen, 

Lewis  A.  Burt,  Tremont,  N.  Y Magnificent  collection 

of  Gladioluses;  Andrew  Biidgman,  8TS  Broadway,  New- 
York  City...  Dahlias,  Seedling  Phloxes.  Petunias,  Helio- 
tropes and   Double   Balsams,  very  superior;  W.  ■&   J. 

Cranston,  Hoboken,  N.  J Bilbcrgia  fulgens  in  bloom  ; 

Isaac  Buchanan,  West  17th-st.,  New-York  City;  Night- 
blooming     Cereus     triangularis  ;      A.     P.      Cummings, 

New- York   City Cut   Flowers;    Mrs.    John    Harper, 

East  82d-st.,  New-York  City  ....Splendid  collection  of 
Seedling  Verbenas;  Wm.  Davison,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.... 
Caladium  nymph  of  olium  ;  Wm.  Heins,  Morrisania,  N.  Y. 
....Magnificent  collection  of  Asters  and  Zinnias  ;  W.  P. 

Wright,  Weehawken,  N.  J Balsams,  Prince's  Feather, 

Coxcomb,  and  Fancy  Gourds  ;  Wm.  B.  Weslcolt,  302 
Madison-st.,  N.  Y Balsams;  Mis.  Wm.  Hamon,  N.  Y. 

Vegetables. — Curious  growth  of  Sweet  Corn  ;  Wm. 
Bergen,  East  New-York.. ..Cucumber  grown  in  Bottle; 
E.  W.  Probasco,  Clinton,  N.  J.. .  .Tree  Tomato,  extia  , 

G.  M.  Usher,  Port  Richmond,   N.  Y Cucumber  and 

Melon  hybridized  ;  H.  W.  Olcott,  Mt.  Clair,  N.  J. ...Fe- 
jee Tomato;  Dr.  A.  Barber,  Brooklyn,  N.Y.... White 
Cucumber,   very  fine;    W.    G.    McLaughlin,    Harlem, 

N.  Y Cuban  or  Grape  Tomatoes;  W,  M.  Doty,  Union 

Hill,  N.  J  . . . .  Long  Blood  Beet,  Red  Turnip,  Yellow  To- 
matoes, Curious  growth  of  Carrot  and  Tomato,  superior 
Corn,  and    Lima   Beans;  J.  W.    Perkins,   St.   Joseph's 

Hospital,  N.  Y Purple  Egg  Plant,  improved  variety, 

While  Egg  Plant,  Okra,  Beefsteak,  Yellow  Plum,  Yellow 
Cherry,  Red  Plum,  Fig,  Apple,  and  Cuban  Tomatoes, 
and  Winter  Cherries  ;  Wm.  F. 'Heins,  Morrisania,  N.  Y. 

Large  Purple  Egg  Plant,  weighing  4!*  lbs  ;  John  G. 

Freeman,  Ravenswood,  N.  Y  —  Sugar  Beets;  John   B. 

Vroom,  Blooming  Grove,  N.  Y Fancy  Gourds  ;  Daniel 

Rankin,  Mt.  Vernon,  N.  Y Peach-Blow  Potatoes,  good, 

first  crop  from  Scrub-Oak  land;  M.  Foley,  Central  Islip, 

N.  Y Two  Purple  Egg  Plants,  very  large,  weight  5>£ 

and  t%  lbs ;  Mrs.  A.  A.  McElwee,  Walker  Valley,  N.  Y. 

Cucumber,   Z%   lbs.,   and   Long-necked   Squash,  20 

lbs. ;  W.  C.  Aubert,  New-Durham,  N.  J ...  .Fejee  Toma- 
toes ;  W.  W.  Davis,  130  Grand-st.,  Jersey  City,  N.  J 

Tree   Tomato,  curious  specimen;   G.   M.    Usher,   Port 

Richmond,  N.  Y Purple  Egg  Plant,  largest,  weight 

8  lbs.  10  oz. ;  Robert  McGarrety,  gardener  to  Frederick 
Wiggins,  Rye,  N.  Y. 

Miscellaneous  Articles.— Specimen  of  Raw  Silk; 
O.  U.  de  la  Harpe,  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah.. ..Red 
Currant  Juice  preserved  in  bottle  ;  Wm.  M.  Dotv.  Union 

Hill,  N.  J Mediterranean  Wheat:  A.  Milne,  Stamford, 

Conn..  .Mammoth   Millet;   Mrs.  A.  A.  McElwee,  Walker 

Valley,  N.  Y Fruit  of  Skunk  Cabbage,  iSympiocarpu* 

f&tutus  ;)  J.  M.  Knowfton,  Tarrytown.  X.  Y. 


18(33.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


307 


Care  of   Swine— Plan  of  a  Piggery. 


Because  swine  are  blessed  with  keen  appe- 
tites, strong  digestion,  and  hardy  constitutions 
capable  of  resisting  a  great  amount  of  neglect 
and  ill-usage,  they  have  been,  and  in  too  many 
instances  yet  are,  the  worst  used  animals  kept 
for  the  profit  of  man.  And  as  if  to  add  to  the 
abuse,  their  endeavors  to  mhke  the  best  of 
ill  treatment,  has  been  charged  to  the  account 
of  their  natural  uncleanliness,  and  the  idea  that 
wholesome  meat  can  not  be  made  by  feeding 
animals  with  garbage,  has  caused  pork  to  be- 
,  come  the  horror  of  dietetic  reformers,  who  pro- 
nounce it  unfit  for  human  food.  It  were  as 
wise  to  condemn  the  use  of  milk,  and  to  pro- 
nounce cows  unfit  for  civilized  communities, 
because  some  individuals  persist  in  confining 
them  in  filthy  stables,  and  dosing  them  with  dis- 
tillery slops.  In  his  native  slate,  the  hog  is  as 
dainty  in  his  taste  as  other  animals,  and  his  lair 
is  found  in  a  diy  situation,  well  cushioned  with 
clean  leaves,  unsoiled  by  any  neglect  of  his 
own.  Civilization  has  affiliated  him  with  the 
degraded  members  of  the  human  species,  and 
brought  his  name  to  reproach  by  associating  it 
with  the  vile  among  men.  Within  a  few  years 
past,  however,  a  change  for  the  belter  has  been 
apparent,  and  many  readers  of  the  Aijricullurist 
are  inquiring  for  good  plans  for  piggeries,  for 
the  best  methods  of  rearing  and  fattening  swine, 
and  other  kindred  matters  pertaining  to  their 
welfare  and  ultimately  to  the  profit  of  their  own- 
ers. It  would  be  within  the  mark  to  say  that 
in  most  instances,  twenty  per  cent  of  saving  can 
be  effected  in  food,  and  in  additions  to  the  ma- 
nure heap,  by  a  well  regulated  building  for  the 
accommodation  of  swine.  We  therefore  take 
pleasure  in  laying  before  our  readers  the  accom- 
panying illustrations  engraved  from  plans  for- 
warded by  Mr.  Roseburgh,  of  Amboy,  111.  They 
were  designed  and  constructed    for  use  on   his 


Fig'.  '*!.— FKONT    PARTITION. 

own   premises,  and  have  therefore  the  merit 

of  being  the  production  of  a  practical  man. 

Fig.  1,  represents  the  elevation.    The  main 


building  is  22  by  50  feet,  and  the  wing  12  by 
10  feet.  It  is  supplied  with  light  and  air  by 
windows  in  front,  ventilators  on  the  roof,  and 
by  hanging  doors  or  shutters  in  the  upper  part 
of  the  siding  at  the  rear  of  each  stall  or  apart- 
ment— these  last  are  not  shown  in  the  engraving. 
Fig.  8,  shows  the  ground  plan.  The  main 
building  has  a  hall,  II,  6  feet  wide,  running  the 
entire  length.  This  is  for  convenience  of  feed- 
ing, and  for  hanging  dressed  hogs  at  the  time 
of  slaughtering.  The  remainder  of  the  space  is 
divided  by  partitions  into  apartments,  A,  B,  for 
the  feeding  and  sleeping  accommodation  of  the 


and  contrived  so  as  to  be  swung  back,  and  fas- 
tened over  the  inside  of  the  trough,  T,  at  feeding 
time,  or  when  cleaning  the  trough.  It  may  also 
be  lifted  as  high  as  the  top  of  the  side  partition, 
H,  when  it  is  desired  to  take  the  hogs  to  the 
dressing  table.  Triangular  pieces,  E,  E,  are 
spiked  to  each  front  partition,  and  swing  with 
it,  forming  stalls  to  prevent  their  crowding 
while  feeding.  These  are  supported,  when  the 
apartment  is  closed,  by  notches  in  the  inner 
edge  of  the  trough,  made  to  receive  them. 
The  wing,  W,  is  12  by  16  feet.  This  answers 
for  a  slaughtering  room.  In  one  corner,  adjoin- 
ing the  main  hall,  is  a  well  and  pump,  P,  from 
which,  by  means  of  a  hose,  water  is  conveyed 
to  the  troughs.  At  the  opposite  corner,  K,  is  a 
large  iron  kettle,  set  in  an  arch,  for  cooking- 
food,  and  for  scalding  the  slaughtered  swine. 
We  would  suggest  that  in  many  localities  it 
would  be  a  desirable  addition  to  have  this  wing 
built  two  stories  high,  the  upper  part  to  be  used 
for  storing  grain  for  the  hogs,  and  also  that  a 
cellar  be  made  underneath  for  receiving  roots. 
—. — —.OC-. _» 

The   Care  of  Horses. 


Fig.  3.  — GKOOND   PLAN  OP  PIGOEKY 

porkers;  these  are  each  8x16  feet.  The  rear 
division  of  each  apartment,  B,  B,  is  intended  for 
the  manure  yard.  Each  apartment  has  a  door, 
D,  D,  to  facilitate  the  removal  of  manure,  and 
also  to  allow  ingress  to  the  swine  when  intro- 
duced to  the  pen.  The  floors  of  each  two  adjoin- 
ing divisions  are  inclined  toward  each  other,  so 
that  the  liquid  excrements  and  other  filth  may 
flow  to  the  side  where  the  opening  to  the  back 
apartment  is  situated.  Two  troughs,  S,  T,  are 
placed  in  each  feeding  room.  That  in  the  front, 
S,  is  for  food,  and  T,  for  clear  water,  a  full  sup- 
ply of  which  is  always  allowed.  This  is  an  im- 
portant item,  generally  overlooked ;  much  of 
the  food  of  swine  induces  thirst,  and  the  free  use 
of  water  is  favorable  to  the  deposition  of  fat. 
An  excellent  arrangement  (shown  in  Fig.  2,) 
is  adopted  to  facilitate  the  cleaning  of  the 
troughs,  and  the  transferring  of  the  hogs  to  the 
main  hall  at  slaughtering.  The  front  partition 
of  each  apartment,  F,  (fig.  2,)  is  made  separate, 


Some  persons,  in  their  anxiety  to  subdue  their 
horses,  take  every  opportunity  to  worry  and 
beat  them,  "to  let  the  beasts  know  who  is 
master,"  they  say.  They  whip,  scold,  and  beat, 
them  on  principle.  Now,  who  docs  not  know 
that  such  treatment  addressed  to  a  child,  with 
the  idea  of  subduing  him,  would  inevitably 
sour  his  temper,  and 
render  him  disobedient 
and  obstinate  ?  As  cer- 
tainly will  this  be  the 
case  in  the  discipline 
of  a  domestic  animal. 
Instead  of  this,  it  should 
be  our  aim  to  let  the 
horse  kuow  and  feel  that 
we  are  friendly  to  him 
and  desire  his  well-be- 
ing. This  may  show  it- 
self by  avoiding  what- 
ever will  tend  to  annoy 
and  provoke  liim,  by 
kindness  in  the  tone  of 
voice,  in  the  way  of 
handling  him,  by  oc- 
casionally fondling  and 
stroking  him,  and  by 
various  unmentionable 
things  which  will  at 
once  occur  to  those 
familiar  with  this  noble  animal.  He  will  un- 
derstand their  meaning,  and  they  will  affect 
his  character.  A  horse  so  treated,  will  be  a 
pleasant  beast  to  handle,  he  will  keep  and  fat- 
ten better,  will  be  in  better  health,  and  will  do 
more  work  than  one  managed  differently. 
This  should  be  done  from  the  animal's  earliest 
years,  but  even  if  neglected  while  young,  the 
horse  may  thus  be  taught  to  love  his  owner. 

Regularity  and  system. — This  will  show  itself  in 
determining  the  time  and  amount  of  feeding  and 
of  working.  Nearly  all  the  diseases  to  which 
the  horse  is  subject,  come  from  irregularity  in 
these  respects.  If  he  is  under-fed  and  over- 
worked, the  tone  of  his  system  will  become  re- 
laxed, and  disease  be  likely  to  set  in.  So  if  he 
is  over-fed,  and  has  deficient  or  irregular  exer- 
cise, he  will  contract  another  set  of  diseases. 
The  man  who  is  regular  and  systematic  in  his 
own  habits  of  living,  is  most  likely  to  enjoy 
health  and  long  life,  while  he  who  indulges  in 


298 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[OCTOBEf. 


excesses  of  any  kind  is  sure  to  suffer  from  fre- 
quent and  violent  attacks  of  illness,  and  end 
Uis  days  prematurely.  It  is  hardly  less  so 
with  man's  favorite  animal,  the  horse. 

Change  of  diet,  cleanliness,  and  good  shelter 
should  not  be  overlooked.  For  the  horse  run- 
ning at  large,  as  in  the  wild  state,  the  diet 
which  nature  gives  him  is  all-sufficient,  but  for 
one  confined,  stabled,  and  worked,  much  atten- 
tion should  be  given  to  his  food.  Hay  and  oats 
are  doubtless  the  best  food,  all  things  consider- 
ed, but  even  these  should  have  an  occasional  va- 
riation. Carrots,  potatoes,  bran,  fresh  cut  grass, 
should  be  given  him  in  their  place  and  time. 
During  Summer  it  seems  only  simple  j  ustice  that, 
when  practicable,  the  horse  should  be  treated 
for  a  time  to  that  food  which  is  most  natural  to 
him — fresh  grass.  If  every  stabled,  hard  work- 
ing horse  could  have  a  summer  vacation  of  sev- 
eral weeks  in  a  pasture,  it  would  soften  his  dry 
and  cracked  hoofs,  correct  his  digestion,  im- 
prove his  wind,  his  skin,  and  indeed  renovate 
his  entire  system.  But  where  this  indulgence 
can  not  be  enjoyed,  a  horse  should  have  fre- 
quent messes  of  loosening  food,  such  as  roots, 
bran  mashes  with  cut  straw,  fresh  grass,  etc. 

As  to  cleanliness,  both  good  looks  and  health 
demand  this.  A  horse  well  curried  will  make  a 
peck  of  oats  go  much  further  than  oue  uu- 
groomed.  Good  shelter  saves  many  a  horse 
from  taking  cold  when  coming  in  from  work, 
aud  adds  much  to  his  health  and  daily  comfort. 


Diseases  in  Animals— A  Useful  Society. 


Announcement  is  made  in  English  Journals 
of  the  formation  of  a  "  Society  for  the  Preven- 
tion of  Disease  among  Domestic  Animals." 
The  prospectus  declares  that  in  Great  Britain, 
live  stock  to  the  amount  of  $30,000,000  is  annu- 
ally destroyed,  principally  by  contagious  dis- 
eases. It  is  proposed  by  the  Society  to  aid  in 
reducing  this  enormous  loss,  by  collecting  infor- 
mation and  statistics  concerning  the  diseases  of 
animals ;  by  affording  advice  and  assistance  to 
stock-owners,  wherever  general  outbreaks  of 
disease  occur  ;  by  ascertaining  periodically  the 
health  of  stock  in  the  countries  from  "winch  for- 
eign animals  are  derived ;  by  stimulating  in- 
quiry as  to  the  most  advantageous  means  of 
disposing  of  diseased  animals  or  their  produce, 
so  as  to  secure  the  largest  amount  of  salvage 
for  stock  owners,  and  by  adopting  all  possible 
means  to  check  such  a  traffic  in  diseased  ani- 
mals as  tends  to  the  spread  of  plagues,  or  to  the 
sale  of  diseased  meat  to  the  public. 

This  movement  is  not  without  interest  to 
Ftock  breeders  on  this  side  the  Atlantic.  The 
importation  of  cattle  and  sheep  to  the  United 
States  is  yearly  increasing,  and  already  we  have 
had  in  the  pleuro-pneumonia  excitement,  an 
experience  of  the  disastrous  results  which  may 
come  without  some  proper  precautionary  meas- 
ures. It  would  undoubtedly  be  a  proper  sub- 
ject for  legislation  to  devise  means  whereby  the 
importation  of  diseased  animals  could  be  pre- 
vented. Quarantine  laws  are  very  stringent  as 
regards  persons  coming  from  unhealthy  ports, 
and  it  need  not  be  stated  that  the  sale  of  dis- 
eased animals  often  proves  of  fearful  detriment 
to  the  public  health.  But,  as  all  are  aware, 
years  of  agitation  and  discussion  of  a  subject 
are  usually  required  before  legislative  action 
can  lie  had,  and  meantime,  the  evil  may  be 
upon  us.  "We  know  of  no  way  in  which  the 
matter  can  better  be  brought  before  the  public, 
and  if  needed,  the  enactment  of  proper  laws 
be  finally  secured,  than  by  the  formation  of  a 


society  similar  to  the  one  referred  to  above. 
This  subject  may  well  claim  the  attention  of 
State  Agricultural  Societies,  and  to  their  espec- 
ial notice  we  commend  it. 

•»-* ■<!■  »    O 

Glanders  in  the  Horse. 


The  most  marked  symptom  of  this  fatal  mal- 
ady in  horses,  is  a  discharge  from  one  or  both 
nostrils.     As,   however,   the   same   appearance 
may  follow  other  less  severe  disorders,  no  horse 
should  be  conderaued  as  giandered,  unless  other 
well  marked  indications  of  this  disease  are  ob- 
served.     Mayhew  in  his   "Illustrated  Horse 
Doctor,"  gives  in  substance  the  following  direc- 
tions for  making  an  examination  of  a  suspected 
case.     The  animal's  head  should  be  turned  to- 
ward the  strongest  light  attainable.     The  exam- 
iner should  then  place  himself  by  the  side  of  the 
horse's  head,  not  in  front,  but  in  a  situation 
where,  if  the  animal  snort,  the  person  is  in  no 
danger  of  having  the  ejected  matter  thrown 
upon  him.     Such  an  occurrence  might  be  fol- 
lowed by  the  most  serious  consequences,  as  the 
discharge  from  glanders  is  veiy  poisonous,  and 
if  absorbed  into  the  system  would  cause  death. 
The  examiner  should  raise  the  wing  of  the  nos- 
tril and  jnspect  particularly  the  membrane  sit- 
uated more  internally  than  the  skin,  seen  at  the 
commencement  of  the  nostrils.    This  membrane 
is  easily  distinguished  by  its  fleshy  and  moisten- 
ed aspect,  as  well  as  by  its  situation,  the  termi- 
nation of  the  skin  being  marked  by  a  well  de- 
fined margin.    If,  on  this  membrane,  any  irreg- 
ular or  ragged  patches  are  conspicuous,  if  these 
patches  are  darker  toward  their  edges  than  in 
their  centers,  and  if  they  nevertheless  seem  shal- 
low, pallid,  moist,   and  sore,   the  animal  may 
be  rejected  as  giandered.     Should  any  part  of 
the  membrane  after  having  been  wiped  with  a 
bit  of  tow,  seem  rough,  or  have  evidently  be- 
neath its   surface,  certain  round  or  oval   shap- 
ed bodies,   the  horse  is  assuredly  giandered. 
The  membrane  may  present  a  worm  eaten  ap- 
pearance,  or  be  simply  of  a  discolored,   and 
heavy  hue.    In  the  first  case  the  animal  ought 
to  be  condemned  ;  in  the  second,  it  is  open  to 
strong  suspicion.    The  other  general  sj'mptoms 
of  glanders  are :  first,  loss  of  appetite,  quickened 
pulse,  and  a  staring  coat.     Soon  after,  a  slight 
discharge  issues  from  the  nostril,  and  usually 
one  of  the  lymphatic  glands  grows  fast  to  the 
jaw,  becomes  hard  aud  insensitive,  and  from 
being  wholly  imperceptible  in  the  health}'  ani- 
mal, enlarges  to  about  half  the  size  of  a  chest- 
nut,     Ultimately  the    discharge  thickens,    en- 
crusting the  hairs  over  which  it  flows,  and  ad- 
hering to  the  edges  of  the  nostril.    This  is  final- 
ly followed  by  ulceration  of  the  internal  parts 
of  the   nose,  until  death  relieves  the   animal. 
No  successful  treatment  has  yet  been  found 
for  glanders,  aud  hence  the  greater  necessity  for 
prevention.    It  may  result  primarily  from  the 
impure  air  of  ill  ventilated   aud   foul  stables, 
from  neglected  catarrh,  or  from  long  continued 
exhausting  labor,  with  stimulating  food.     It  is 
also  highly  contagious,  so  that   the   infection 
may  be  taken  from  a  stable  where  a  giandered 
horse  has  been  kept.    An  animal  in  high  condi- 
tion contracting  this  disease  by  infection,  will 
usually  have  it  in  the  most  acute  form,  and  die 
within  a  short  period.     If  it  has  been  engender- 
ed by  natural   causes,  it   may  remain  chronic 
and  in  an  undeveloped  stage  for  years.    Horses 
in  such  a  case  are  most  dangerous,  as  they  are 
capable  of  imparting  the  disease  to  others,  while 
it  may  not  be  suspected  in  themselves.    When 
once  it  is  clearly  determined  that  a  horse  is  thus 


afflicted,  the  sooner  he  is  dismissed  from  the 
world,  the  better  for  him  and  the  community. 

The   Bar  Horse-Shoe. 


Though  it  is  not  advisable  to  adopt  this  shoe 
often,  or  long  at  a  time,  there  are  occasions 
when  it  is  very  useful.  By  continuing  such  a 
shoe  around  the  heels,  the  pressure  is  taken  off 
from  one  part  and  is  equally  diffused  over  the 
whole.  Obviously,  such  a  contrivance  is  bene- 
ficial when  the  hoof  is  cracked,  when  corns  ap- 
pear, and  in  cases  of  thrush.  After  it  has  been 
worn  three  or  four  weeks,  or  as  soon  as  the  dis- 
ease abates,  it  should  be  dispensed  with.  If  not 
taken  otF,  the  frog  of  the  foot  will  suffer  under 
the  continued  pressure  of  the  bar.  Whenever 
this  shoe  is  used,  care  should  be  taken  in  driving 
to  avoid  slipping.  Neither  heavy  draft  nor  great 
speed  should  then  be  required  of  the  horse. 


Scratches  in  Horses. 


C.  G.  Siewers,  Campbell  Co.,  O.,  gives  his  ex- 
perience as  follows :  "  The  best  remedy  I  have 
every  tried  is  to  walk  the  horse  up  and  down  in- 
running  water  two  or  three  times  a  day,  for  a 
few  days ;  this  always  cures  my  horse.  The  cause 
I  ascribe  to  a  filthy  stable,  as  my  horse  never 
gets  the  scratches,  unless  I  employ  a  certain 
lazy  farm  hand  in  the  neighborhood  for  a  make- 
shift;   he  and  the  scratches  come  together." 


How  to  Send  Grain  to  Market. 


To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist : 

It  is  unaccountable  to  me  that  so  mauy  farm- 
ers have  not  yet  learned  how  to  send  hay  and 
grain  to  market,  so  as  to  make  them  pay  the 
most  profit.  I  see  boat  loads  and  car  loads  of 
such  produce  passing  through  my  neighbor- 
hood on  its  way  to  your  city,  hundreds  of  miles 
distant.  It  brings  prices  that  would  make  a 
"Western  farmer's  pocket  jingle  merrily,  only 
that  a  large  part  of  the  money  stops  in  tho 
hands  of  the  transporters,  to  pay  freight.  Now, 
railroads  and  canal  boats  are  excellent  insti- 
tutions, but  I  have  never  yet  found  so  good  a 
way  to  send  corn  to  market,  as  on  the  four  legs 
of  a  well  fattened  animal.  A  bullock,  or  a  hog 
will  pack  away  a  few  bushels  of  corn  more 
snugly  than  any  freight  master  could  do,  and  it 
brings  better  prices  after  they  have  worked  it 
over  into  beef  and  pork,  than  in  the  raw  state. 
"With  the  exception  of  wheat,  and  perhaps  rye, 
I  would  not  sell  a  peck  of  grain  from  my  farm, 
except  for  seed.  Along  in  the  Summer,  when 
pasture  is  scarce,  and  plenty  of  cattle  arc  to  he 
picked  up,  I  secure  enough  to  consume  all  the 
corn  I  can  spare,  over  what  will  be  needed  to 
fatten  my  hogs,  (these  I  raise  at  home,)  and  just, 
before  cool  weather  commences,  I  set  the  b 
factories  to  work.  The  chips  give  me  profit  in 
the  shape  of  manure,  enough  to  make  the  oper- 
ation pay,  even  if  I  could  only  get  the  same 
price  for  the  grain  as  before  feeding  it  out;  but 
there  is  a  gain  here,  too.  When  I  read  about 
Illinois  farmers  and  others  using  corn  for  fuel 
because  it  is  cheaper  than  coal,  I  think  they 
need  instruction  on  this  point.  If  they  have 
not  capital  enough  to  buy  stock  to  eat  up  their 
grain,  let  them  borrow  the  cattle,  and  agree  to 
return  so  many  pounds  of  fattened  beef,  for 
each  animal,  in  the  same  way  that  sheep  are 
taken  on  shares;  it  would  be  mutually  beneficial 
to  themselves,  and  to  those  who  have  more 
animals    than    they  can    keep    profitably.     I 


i863.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


Q99 


know  that  many  men  living  on  new  lands  will 
laugh  at  the  idea  of  using  manure,  hut  the  laugh 
will  he  on  the  other  side  not  many  years  hence, 
when  their  lands  begin  to  show  signs  of  weak- 
ness, as  those  of  western  New- York  have  done. 
It  is  very  easy  to  keep  a  soil  fertile,  but  a  slow 
and  costly  operation  to  restore  a  worn  out  one. 
But  whether  the  manure  be  used  or  not,  I  be- 
lieve it  will  he  found  to  pay  to  feed  out  grain 
before  sending  it  to  market.  Jonathan. 


Sale  of  South-Down  Sheep  at  Thorndale 

The  large  amount  of  space  devoted  to  a  full 
report  of  the  sale  of  South-Down  sheep  from 
the  flock  of  Mr.  Samuel  Thome,  is  justified  by 
the  fact  that  it  is  of  general,  we  may  say  nation- 
al importance.  The  beneficial  influence  which 
the  dispersing  of  such  improved  stock  through 
the  country  will  have  on  our  flocks,  can  hardly 
be  estimated.  As  is  well  known,  the  animals 
disposed  of  by  Mr.  Thome,  were  descendants 
or  direct  importations  from  the  best  flocks  in 
the  world,  and  it  may  be  questioned  whether  a 
collection  of  sheep  can  be  found  even  in  England, 
superior  to  that  from  which  these  were  sold. 
In  answer  to  inquiries  made  of  Mr.  Thome,  we 
learn  that  the  81  ewes  disposed  of  as  reported 
below,  yielded  at  the  last  shearing  419  lbs.  of 
clean  wool,  an  average  of  5  lbs.  2|  ozs.  per  head. 
The  rams  were  shorn  unwashed,  and  gave  from 
8  to  12  pounds  per  head.  Another  fact  of  much 
interest  may  be  stated  for  the  benefit  of  many 
readers  of  the  Agriculturist,  who  have  made  in- 
quiries upon  the  subject.  A  cross  of  the  South- 
Down  ram  upon  the  Merino  ewe,  produces  the 
finest  sort  of  lambs  for  marketing.  This  has 
been  practised  at  Thorndale  for  years,  and,  Mr. 
T.  informs  us,  has  proved  one  of  the  most  profit- 
able -parts  of  sheep  husbandry. 

The  recent  sale,  held  Sept.  2d,  was  very  well 
attended,  the  day  being  propitious,  and  the  bid- 
ding was  spirited,  although  prices  were  hardly 
what  might  have  been  anticipated  in  view  of 
the  demand  for  sheep,  and  the  reputation  of  the 
flock.  However,  as  will  be  seen  below,  enough 
was  realized  to  prove  that  the  raising  of  im- 
proved sheep  is  a  business  that  will  pay.  Want 
of  space  compels  us  to  omit  further  introduction. 

EWES. 

YEARLINGS. 

I  Ewe  by  Archbishop,  clam  by  No.  6,  grand  clam  an 
imported  Ewe,  from  the  dock  of  Henry  Lugar,  Esq.; 
ToT.  W.  Jones,  Amherst,  N.  H $35  00 

S  Do  by  do.,  dam  by  imported  Prize  Ram,  113,  g.  dam 
an  imported  Ewe  as  above;  J.  C.  Tatum,  Wood- 
bury, N.  J $22  00 

3  Do  by  do.,  dam  by  No.  G,  g.  dam  an  imported  Prize 
Ewe;  Hon.  E.Cornell,  Ithaca,  N.  Y *  30  00 

4  Do.  by  do.,  dam  by  Young  Salisbury,  g.  dam  an  im. 
Prize  Ewe;  G.  H.  Brown,  Wash'u  Hollow,  N.  Y...$3G  00 

5  Do  by  do.,  dam  bv  No.  0,  g.  dam  an  imp.  Prize  Ewe ; 
Hon.  E.  Cornell,  Ithaca,  N.  Y $3100 

6  Do  by  do.,  dam  bv  No.  6,  g.  dani  an  imp.  Prize  Ewe; 

Hill  &  Jones,  Delaware,  Ohio  $37  00 

7  Do  by  do.,  dam  by  No.  6,  g.  dam  by  113,  gr.  g.  dam 
an  imp  Ewe  from  Duke  of  Ric-lmioud's  flock  ;  G.  H. 
Brown,' Washington  Hollow,  N.  Y $11  00 

8  Do  bv  do.,  dam  by  No.  19,  g.  dam  an  imp.  Ewe,  as 

'   above;  Hon.  E.  Cornell,  Ithaca,  N.  Y $38  00 

9  Do  by  do.,  dam  by  No.  G,  g.  clam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe; 

'  Hill  &  Jones,   Delaware,  Ohio $10  00 

10   Do   by  do  .  dam  bv  113.  g.  dam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe  ; 

B.  A.  Alexander,  Woodburn,  Ky $41  00 

II  Do  by  do.,  dam  by  No.  G,  g.  dam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe ; 
Hon.  E.  Cornell,  Ithaca,  N.  Y $37  00 

12  Do  bv  do  ,  clam  bv  No.  6,  g.  dam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe ; 
G.H.'Brown,  Millbrook,  Wasli'n  Hollow,  N.  Y $41  00 

13  Do  by  do.,  dam  bv  Young  Salisbury,  g.  dam  by  No. 
'  6.gr.  g.  dam  by  113,  gr.  gr..  g.  dam,  an  imp.  Webb 

Ewe;  J.S.  Homans,  New- York r...  $31  00 

14.  Do.  bv  do.,  dam  by  No.  19,  g.  dam  by  113,  gr.  g.  dam 

lmp.Richmoucl  Ewe  ;  Hon.  E.  Cornell,  Ithaca,  N.  Y$33  00 

15  Do.  by  do.,  dam  by  Young  Salisbury,  g.  dam  by  113, 
er.  g.  dam  an  imported  Prize  Ewe ;  J.  C  Tatum, 
Woodbury.N.  J $30  00 

16  Do.  by  do.,  dam  an  imp  Webb  Ewe,  by  Reserve; 
Wm.  Hurst,  Albany,  N.Y $30  00 

17  Do.  by  do.,  clam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe,  by  Young  Nor- 
wich  ;  It.  A.  Alexander,  Woodburn,  Ky $51  00 

18  Do  by  do.,  dam  an  imported  Webb  Ewe,  by  Henry 
Webb's  Pet ;  R.  A.  Alexander.  Woodburn,  Ky $51  00 

19  Do  by  Imp.  No.  14,  dam  by  Young  Salisbury,  g.  dam 
bv  112  gr  g  dam,  an  imported  Prize  Ewe  ;  Hon.  E. 
Cornell,  Ithaca.N.Y. $:5S  00 


20.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  by  No.fi,  g.  dam  an  imp.  Ewe ;  Hon. 

E.  Cornell,  Ithaca,  N.  Y $43  00 

21.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  by  No.  G,  g.  dam  an  imported  Lugar 
Ewe ;  Hon.  E.  Cornell,  Ithaca,  N.  Y $37  00 

Average $35  39 

EWES— TWO-TEAKS  OLD. 

22.  Ewe  bv  No.  5.  dam  bv  No.  G,  g.  dam  an  Imp.  Prize 
Ewe;  Hon.  E.  Cornell,  Ithaca,  N.  Y $1G  00 

23.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  an  imp.  Prize  Ewe;  R,  A.  Alexan- 
der, Woodburn,  Ky $C0  00 

24.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  an  imp.  Prize  Ewe;  G.  II.  Brown, 
Washington  Hollow.  N.  Y $5100 

25.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  an  imported  Ewe  ;  Hon.  E.  Cornell, 
Ithaca,  N.  Y $50  00 

26.  Do.  bv  do.,  dam  by  No.  6,  g.  dam  an  imp.  Prize  Ewe ; 
Hon.'E.  Cornell,  Ithaca,  N.  Y $10  00 

27.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  by  No.  6.  g.  dam  an  imp.  Prize  Ewe ; 

J.  W.  Alsop,  Middletown,  Conn $10  00 

28.  Do.  by  do.,  clam  bvNo.  6,  g.  dam  an  imp.  Ewe  ;  Hon. 

E.  Cornel],  Ithaca,  N.  Y $-15  00 

29.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  by  No.  19,  g.  clam  an  imp.  Richmond 
Ewe;  G.  H.  Brown,  Wasli'n  Hollow,  N.  Y $5100 

SO.  Do.  bvdo.,  dam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe ;  Sandford  How- 
ard, Boston,  Mass  $0G  00 

31.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe  ;  Hon.  E.  Cor- 
nell, Ithaca.N.Y' $15  00 

32.  Do.  bv  do.,  clam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe  ;  R.  A.  Alexan- 
der, Woodburn,  Ky $80  00 

33.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe;  Saudford  How- 

ard, Boston,  Mass $63  00 

34.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  by  No.  6,  g.  dam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe  ; 
Saudford  Howard,  Boston,  Mass $15  00 

35.  Do.  by  No.  31.  dam  bvll2,  g.  clam  an  imp.  Lugar 
Ewe;  Hon.  E.  Corneft,  Ithaca,  N.  Y $58  00 

86.  Do.  by  do.,  clam  bv  112,  g.  dam  au  imp.  Prize  Ewe  ; 

Hon.  E.Cornell,  Ithaca,  N.  Y $37  00 

37.  Do.  by  do.,  clam  bv  112,  g.  clam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe ; 

Sandford  Howard,  Boston,  Mass $51  00 

SS.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe ;  S.  W.  Robbins, 

Wethersfield,  Conn $55  00 

89.  Do.  by  do.,  clam  by  No.  G.  g.  dam  by  112,  gr.  g.  dam 

au   imp.  Webb  Ewe;  G.  U.  Brown,  Wasli'n  Hollow, 

N.  Y $G5  00 

40.  Do.  by  do.,  clam  bvll'i.  g.  dam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe  ; 

G.  H.'Brown,  Wasli'n  Hollow,  N.  Y $60  00 

Average $53  37 

EWES— THREE  TEAKS  OLD. 

41.  Ewe  by  Young  Salisbury,  dam  an  imp.  Prize  Ewe  ; 

R.  A.  Alexander,  Woodburn,  Ky $53  50 

42.  Do.  by  do.,  clam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe ;  G.  H.  Brown, 
Wash.  Hollow,  N.Y $43  00 

43.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  by  112,  g.  dam  an  imp.  Richmond 
Ewe;  Sandford  Howard,  Boston,  Mass $15  00 

44.  Do.  bv  do.,  dam  au  imp.  Webb  Ewe ;  R.  A.  Alexan- 
der, Woodburn,  Ky $15  00 

45.  Do.  by  No.  6.,  dam  by  112,  g.  dam  imp.  Lugar  Ewe ; 

R.  A.  Alexander,  Woodburn,  Ky $10  00 

46.  Do.  bv  do.,  dam  by  112.  g.  dam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe; 
Wm.  Hurst,  Albany,  N.Y $10  00 

47  Do.  bv  do.,  clam  an  imp.  Lugar  Ewe;  J.  C.  Tatum, 

Woodbury,  N.  J $82  00 

43  Do.  by  do.,  dam  by  No.  19,  g.  clam   an   imp.  Lugar 

Ewe;  G.  11.  Brown,  Wash'u  Hollow,  N.Y $38  00 

49.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  an  imp.  Lugar  Ewe ;  J.  C.  Tatum, 
Woodbury,  N.  J $30  00 

50.  Do.  bv  do.,  dam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe  ;  G.  H.  Brown, 
Wasli'n  Hollow,  N.Y $95  00 

51.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  by  112,  from  an  imp.  Richmond  Ewe ; 

E.  Tliorne,  Po'keepsie,  N.  Y $25  00 

52.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe  ;  J.  S.  Homans, 
New-York 17  00 

53.  Do.  bv  do.,  dam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe  ;  G.  H.  Brown, 
Wash'u  Hollow,  N.  Y $37  00 

Average $42  25 

EWES— FOUR  TEAKS  OLD. 

54.  Ewe  by  No.  6.  clam  an  imp.  Lugar  Ewe ;  E.  Tliorne, 
Po'keepsie,  N.Y $89  00 

55.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  an  imp.  Prize  Ewe;  S.  W.  Robbins. 
Wethcrsfleld,  Conn $31  00 

56.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  an  imp.  Wrebb  Ewe;  F.  P.  Kincaid. 
Spring  Station,  Ky $37  00 

57.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  nn  imp.  Webb  Ewe  ;  J.  S.  Homans. 
New-York $33  00 

53.  Do.  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe  by  Reserve;  Wm.  Hurst, 

Albany,  N.Y $31  CO 

59.  Do.  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe  by  Young  Norwich;  Win. 
Hurst,  Albany,  N.Y *r.l  00 

60.  Do.  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe  by  Reserve ;  Wm.  Hurst, 
Albany,  N.Y $43  00 

61  Do.  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe  by  Young  Salisbury;  E, 
Thome,  Po'keepsie,  N.  Y $40  00 

62  Do.  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe  by  the  sire  of  Archbishop ; 
Wm.  Hurst,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Average $39. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

G4.  Ewe  by  112,  dam  an  imp.  Lugar  Ewe ;  P.  II.  Close, 

Greenwich,  Conn  $35  00 

G6.  Do.  by  No.  6,  dam  by  112,  g.  dam  an  imp.  Richmond 

Ewe;  J.  W.  Alsop,  Middletown,  Conn $29  00 

67.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe;  R.  A.  Alexan- 
der, Woodburn,  Ky $38  00 

63.  Do.  by  112,  daman  imp.  Lugar  Ewe $20  00 

69.  Do.  by  No.  6,  dam  bv  112,  g.  clam  an  imp.  Richmond 
Ewe;  J.  W.  Alsop,  Middletown,  Conn $23  CO 

70.  Do.  bv  do.,  dam  an  imp.  Prize  Ewe ;  S.  T.  Angel, 
Salt  Poiut,  N.  Y $26  00 

71.  Do.  by  112,  dam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe;  Wm.  Hurst, 
Albany,  N.  Y $12  00 

72.  Do.  bv  do.,  dam  an  imp.  Prize  Ewe  ;  R.  A.  Alexan- 
der, Woodburn,  Ky $40  00 

73.  Do.  bv  do.,  dam  an  imp.  Prize  Ewe  ;  J.  W.  Alsop, 
Middletown,  Conn $30  00 

74.  Do.  by  No.  19.  dam  by  112,  g.  dam  from  an  imp.  Rich- 
mond Ewe;  E.  Griffin,  Clinton  Corners,  N.Y $29  00 

75.  Do. by  112,  dam  au  imp.  Webb  Ewe;  J.  S.  Homans, 
New- York  $33  00 

76.  Do.  imported  from  the  floekof  the  late  Jonas  Webb, 
Esq.;  J.  S.  Homans,  New- York $20  00 

77.  Do.  imported  from  the  flock  of  Henry  Lugar,  Esq.; 

J.  W.  Alsop,  Middletown,  Conn $23  00 

73.  Do.  an  imported  Lugar  Ewe ;  J.  H.  Allen.  Pleasant 

Valley,  N.  Y $38  00 


79.  Do.  by  112,  dam  an  imp.  Richmond  Ewe  ;  J.  H.  Al- 
len, Pleasant  Valley,  N.  Y $20  00 

80.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  an  imp.  Lugar  Ewe;  D.  Haywood, 
Copakc,  N.  Y $25  00 

81.  Do.  by  do  dam  an  imp.  Prize  Ewe;  J.  H.  Allen, 
Pleasant  V  alley,  N.Y $20  00 

S3.  An  imported  Prize  Ewe  ;  Wm.  Hurst,  Albany.  N.  Y.$13  00 
83.  An  imported  Webb  Ewe  ;  J.  S.  Homans,  New-York.$14  00 

Average $25  53 

RAMS. 

1.  Imported  Prize  Ram  Archbishop ;  G.  H.  Brown, 
Washington  Hollow,  N.  Y $500  00 

THe  was  selected  and  purchased  from  the  flock  of  the  late 
Jonas  Webb,  Esq.,  in  1660,  at  a  cost  of  250  guinea,  ($12501. 
He  won  the  1st  Prize  in  the  Yearling  Class  that  season  at  tile 
Royal  Show.  and.  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  Cat- 
alogue of  Mr.  WTebb's  last  Southdown  Sale,  was  used  more 
largely  by  him  than  any  other  Sheep.] 

2.  Three yrs.  old  Ram  by  Young  Salisbury,  dam  an  im- 
ported  Prize  Ewe ;  John  Bard,  Barrytown,  N.  Y    $30  00 

3.  A  two  yrs.  old  by  No.  5.  clam  by  No.  6,  g.  dam  an  im- 
ported Prize  Ewe ;  G.  Armstrong,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y$25  00 

4.  Do.  bred  by  the  late  Jonas  Webb,  Esq.,  got  by  88, 
dam  by  Reserve ;  E.  Tliorne,  Po'keepsie,  N.  Y $125  00 

5.  Do.,  same  as  No.  4;  Josiah  Kirk,  Sag  Harbor,  L.  I.  .$40  00 

6.  Yearling,  by  No.  1 1,  clam  bv  Young  Salisbury,  g. 
dam  by  112,  gr.  g.  dam  imp.  Webb  Ewe;  J.  C.  Tatum, 
Woodbury,  N.J $30  00 

7.  Do.  by  Archbishop,  clam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe  by  Re- 
serve ;  Thos.  George,  Newburgli,  N.  Y $52  00 

8.  Do.  by  do.,  clam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe,  by  Young  Nor- 
wich ;  P.  W.  Jones,  Amherst,   N.  H $17  00 

9.  Do.  bvdo.,  clam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe,  by  Reserve; 
Sandford  Howard,  Boston,  Mass $131  00 

10.  Do.  by  do.,  clam  by  Young  Salisbury,  g.  dam  by  112, 
gr.  g.  clam  imp  Lugar  Ewe;  J.  Robinson,  Clinton 
Corners,  N.  Y $38  00 

11.  Do.  by  do.,  clam  by  No.  6,  g.  dam  an  imp.  Prize  Ewe ; 

A.  W.  Slorne,  Dutchess  Co..  N.  Y $30  00 

13.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  by  No.  6,  g.  dam  by  112,  gr.  g.  dam 

an  imp.  Richm'd  Ewe ;  J.  O.  Sheldon,  Geneva,  N.  Y.$55  0C 
13.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  bv  Young  Salisburv,  g.  dam  by  112, 

fr.  g.  dam  an  imp.  Lugar  Ewe ;  E.  M.  Bottsford, 
ewtown.  Conn $26  00 

11.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  by  112,  g.  dam  an  imported  Prize 

Ewe;  Sandford  Howard,  Boston,  Mass $57  00 

15.  Do.  by  do.,  dam  by  112,  g.  dam  an  imp.  Prize  Ewe  ; 

E.  Tliorne,  Po'keepsie,  N.  Y $70  00 

16.  Do.  by  do.,  dambv  19,  g.  dam  by  112,  gr.  g.  dam  imp. 
Richmond  Ewe; 'P.  W.  Jones,  Amherst, N.  H $41  00 

17.  Do.  bv  do.,  dam  bv  No.  G,  g.  dam  an  imp.  Prize  Ewe : 
Wm.  Hurst,  Albany,  N.Y! $50  00 

18.  Do.  bv  do.,  dam  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe  by  Reserve; 
Sandiord  Howard,  Boston,  Mass $35  00 

19.  G  yra.  old.  by  112,  clam  an  imp.  Prize  Ewe;  F.P.  Kin- 
caid, Spring  Station,  Ky $50  00 

Average $73  26 

Two  of  the  animals  advertised,  Lots  No.  G3  and  G5,  died 
before  the  sale,  leaving  100  the  number  actually  sold.  The 
average  price  obtained  for  the  whole  was  $41.92. 

TnE  RAMS  REFERRED  TO  IN  THE  FOREGOING  PEDIGREES, 
ARE  AS  FOLLOWS: 

112,  (Gaiety,)  was  imported  from  the  flock  of  the  late  Jonas 
Webb,  in  1853.  Winner  of  2d  Prize  at  the  Royal  Show  at 
Lewes,  was  purchased  at  Mr.  Webb's  Annual  Letting  for  130 
guineas  ($650,1. 

No.  6,  sire  112,  dam  an  imported  Webb  Ewe.  He  was  win- 
ner of  First  Prize  at  the  IJ.  S.  Show  In  1856,  and  of  First 
Prize  in  Aged  Class  at  N.  Y.  State  Fair  in  1859. 

No.  19,  sire  112,  clam  an  imported  Prize  Ewe. 

Young  Salisbury  was"bred  bv  the  late  Jonas  Webb,  sire  the 
First  Prize  Yearling  Ram  at  Salisbury. 

No.  11,  bred  by  Wm.  Rigden.  Esq.,  Brighton,  England. 
Winner  of  the  First  Prize  at  Chichester  in  1S60. 

No.  5.  sire  112,  dam  an  imported  Ewe  from  the  flock  of 
Henry  Lugar,  Esq. 

No.  30,  sire  No.  6,  clam  by  112.  g.  dan;  an  imp.  Webb  Ewe. 
Winner  of  First  Prize  in  the  Aged  Class,  at  the  N.  Y.  State 
Fair  at  Waferlown,  in  1S60. 


Spreading  Straw,  or  Composting  it. 

We  are  often  told  of  the  fine  effect  produce.1 
by  simply  spreading  straw  on  land  in  the  Fall, 
and  allowing  it  to  lie  and  rot.  It  protects  the 
roots  of  clover  and  grain  in  the  Winter,  and 
shields  them  from  burning  suns  the  following 
Summer.  This  practice  is  common  at  the  West 
and  South.  On  the  large  wheat  fields  of  those 
sections,  it  would  be  quite  laborious  l.o  haul 
grain  home  to  the  barn-yard  for  threshing,  as 
we  do  at  the  North  and  East,  and  then  after  it 
had  been  fed  out  or  mixed  with  manure,  t.o  cart 
the  strawy  dung  back  again  in  the  Spring.  . 

The  western  plan  doubtless  has  its  advantages. 
Yet  we  question  whether  the  waste  of  straw  is 
not  more  than  enough  to  pay  for  the  extra  labor 
required  by  the  eastern  practice.  When  left  on 
the  field,  straw  has  little  manurial  value.  It  is 
dry,  woody  matter,  and  amounts  to  little  more 
than  a  good  mulch.  If  drawn  to  the  cattle 
sheds  and  housed,  it  would  serve  in  pari  as  a 
coarse  fodder,  and  as  litter  for  all  kinds  of  stock. 
It  is  of  no  slight  importance  to  keep  stock  clean 
and  warm  in  Winter.  Then,  by  absorbing  their 
liquid  excrements  and  being  mixed  with  the 
solid,  it  makes  a  large  stock  of  valuable  manure. 


300 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[October, 


Fig.  1.— bitter-sweet  (Solarium  Dulcamara.) 


Talks  About  Weeds- 


TOISONOUS     PLANTS. 

Several  inquiries  have  recently  been  made  at 
the  office  of  the  Agriculturist  concerning  the 
alleged  poisonous  qualities  of  two  very  com- 
mon plants,  the  Bitter-Sweet,  and  the  Night- 
shade. These  are  both  species  of  the  genus 
Solatium,  to  which  the  potato  also  belongs.  The 
Bitter-Sweet  is  Solatium  Dulcamara,  a  perennial 
half-shrubby  vine,  with  leaves  presenting  a 
considerable  variety  in  shape,  but  generally  with 
two  ear-like  lobes  at  the  base  like  those  repre- 
sented in  the  engraving.  The  flowers  are  borne 
in  clusters,  their  purple  star-shaped  corollas  and 
bright  yellow  stamens  making  them  quite 
showy:  these  are  followed  by  a  berry  about  the 
size  of  a  pea  which  is  bright  red  when  ripe.  In 
Autumn,  the  brilliant  fruit  of  the  vine  makes  it 
very  conspicuous  and  attractive.  The  plant  is 
sometimes  cultivated  as  an  ornamental  vine  ;  it 
runs  to  the  height  of  8  or  10  feet,  and  is  used 
like  other  climbers  to  cover  walls  and  unsightly 
buildings.  Bitter-Sweet  is  a  native  of  Europe, 
but  it  is  found  growing  wild  in  most  of  the  set- 
tled portions  of  this  country.  It  is  found  in 
waste  places,  along  the  borders  of  meadows, 
etc.  A  recent  case,  in  which  three  children 
died  suddenly,  was  attributed  to  poisoning 
by  eating  the  fruit  of  the  Bitter-Sweet.  It  is 
not  known  positively  that  the  children  partook 
of  the  fruit,  but  as  there  was  a  plenty  of  it  to 
which  they  had  access,  it  is  supposed  that  it 
caused  their  death.  Since  this  circumstance 
came  to  our  knowledge,  we  have  been  at  some 
pains  to  look  up  the  records,  and  find  that  there 
is  a  great  diversity  of  opinion  as  to  the  poison- 


ous character  of  the  berries. 
Some  high  European  author- 
ities state  that  they  are 
positively  deleterious,  while 
others  declare  that  they  are 
harmless.  We  can  only  ac- 
count for  this  diversity  of 
opinion  by  supposing  that 
difference  of  soil  might  vary 
the  character  of  the  plant. 
It  is  well  known  that  the 
active  properties  of  plants 
are  greatly  modified  by  dif- 
ferences of  climate.  We  are 
disposed  to  regard  the  plant 
with  suspicion.  An  infusion 
of  its  twigs  is  sometimes  used 
medicinally,  and  narcotic  ef- 
fects have  been  produced  by 
an  overdose ;  although  it  does 
not  follow  that  the  berries 
possess  the  same  properties 
as  the  twigs,  yet  in  the  pres- 
ent uncertain  state  of  our 
information,  we  should  ad- 
vise discarding  the  plant 
altogether  from  cultivated 
grounds.  The  berries  arc  so 
showy  that  they  are  likely  to 
tempt  children  to  eat  them  ; 
though  we  can  not  say  that 
they  are  poisonous,  we  are 
not  able  to  saj'  that  they  are 
harmless,  and  we  would  ad- 
vise our  readers  not  to  tol- 
erate the  plant,  as  the  risk 
is  altogether  too  great. — An- 
other species,  Solatium  nigrum, 
the  Common  Nightshade  is 
very  common  about  dwel- 
lings, and  is  often  found  as  a  weed  in  gardens.  It 
is  a  coarse  annual,  1  to  3  feel  high,  and  very  much 
branched.  Figure  3  will  give  an  idea  of  the 
shape  of  the  leaf.  The  flower  is  white  and  the 
berries  black.  This  plant,  is  much  more  com- 
mon than  the  Bitter-Sweet,  but  not  being  so 
showv  cither  in  its  fruit  or  flowers,  is  much  less 


Fig.  3. — nightshade  (Solatium  nigrum.) 

likely  to  be  noticed.  The  remarks  upon  the 
poisonous  qualities  of  the  Bitter-Sweet  will  ap- 
ply also  to  this.     It  should  be  exterminated. 


A  "Shocking  Horse." 


This  name  does  not,  in  the  present  instance, 
indicate  a  four-legged  beast  afflicted  with  heaves, 
spavin,  etc.,  but  a  simple  contrivance  to  facil- 
itate the  shocking  or  "  shocking  "  of  corn,  as  cut 
at  the  ground.  Though  long  in  use  in  some 
parts  of  the  country,  and  heretofore  described 
in  the  Agriculturist,  it  may  be  new  to  many  of 
our  readers.  It  consists  of  a  light  pole,  a,  16  to  18 
feet  long,  with  two  supporting  legs  5  feet  from 


the  end,  and  a  cross  pin,  h,  about  4  feet  long,  3 
feet  from  the  end,  at  right  angles  with  the 
pole.  This  pin  should  be  about  an  inch  in 
diameter,  and  the  hole  to  receive  it  made  large 
enough  to  allow  it  to  be  slipped  in  or  out  easily. 
This  implement  is  to  be  placed  with  the  pin 
where  the  shock  is  to  stand,  the  stalks  set  up  in 
the  four  corners,  and  when  the  shock  is  made, 
the  pin  and  pole  may  be  withdrawn  and  the  ap- 
paratus moved  to  the  place  for  the  next  shock. 
It  will  save  considerable  time  in  setting  up  the 
first  stalks,  which  arc  usually  placed  about  a 
standing  hill,  and  will  also  obviate  the  necessity 
of  afterward  tearing  open  the  shock  to  get  at 
the  uncut  stalks,  when  the  corn  is  to  be  husked. 


Wheat  on  Clover  Sod. 


C.  S.  Mason,  Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  writes  to  the 
Agriculturist:  "I  have  always  had  the  best  suc- 
cess in  sowing  wheat  on  sod  ground.  I  mow 
clover  one  year  only  for  hay,  and  after  culling, 
turn  the  sod  under  live  or  six  inches  deep,  and 
harrow  lengthwise  once,  and  then  diagonally 
once.  The  wheat  is  drilled  in  from  the  first  to 
the  tenth  of  September.  Sod  ground  will  stand 
drouth,  or  if  the  season  be  wet,  the  water  has  a 
chauce  to  drain  off.  The  wheat  grows  strong 
in  Autumn,  stands  Winter  better  than  if  sown 
after  barley,  oats,  or  peas,  and  ripens  early." 

[We  know  by  successful  experience  and  by 
much  observation,  that  turning  under  a  heavy 
growth  of  clover,  is  an  excellent  preparation 
for  a  wheat  crop.  The  clover  gathers  from 
the  atmosphere  a  large  amount  of  nitrogen- 
ous material,  which  is  specially  adapted  to 
the  wants  of  wheat,  while  the  buried  roots  and 
stems  help  to  keep  heavy  soils  light  and  porous. 
Our  practice  at  the  West  was  to  sow  clover  on 
the  wheat  in  Spring,  pasture  it  in  Autumn,  mow 
the  next  year,  and  then  turn  under  a  heavy 
second  growth,  and  sow  wheat  directly  upon  it, 
without  a  second  plowing.  Or,  after  having 
pastured  it  in  Autumn,  the  following  Spring  the 
stock  were  kept  off,  and  the  first  growth  was 
plowed  in  while  in  bloom.  This  was  left 
fallow,  the  weeds  were  harrowed  down  occa- 
sionally, and  in  Autumn  the  field  was  thorough- 
ly harrowed  and  cross-harrowed,  and  the  wheat 
was  sown.  This  latter  plan  was  adopted  when 
the  wants  of  slock  required  the  pasturage  in 
Autumn,  or  when  the  soil  needed  recruiting 
by  the  heavy  sward  and  first  large  growth 
of  clover.  This  treatment  gave  an  increased 
crop  of  wheat  every  second  or  third  year  on 
the  same  land,  besides  the  hay  and  pasturage. 

When  needed,  a  top-dressing  of  plaster  was 
sown  on  the  wheat  in  Spring,  with  the  special 
object  of  promoting  a  strong  growth  of  clover. 
The  effect  of  this  application  was  very  distinct- 
ly seeii,  when  a  laud  was  left  unplastered. — Ed.] 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


301 


Miles'  Improved  Sap  Boiler. 

The  apparatus  represented  in  the  above  illus- 
tration was  devised  by  Henry  Miles,  Addison 
Co.,  Vt.,  who  sends  a  drawing  and  description 
for  the  American  Agriculturist,  witli  the  remark 
that  it  is  not  yet  patented,  and  perhaps  never 
will  be.  It  was  intended  for  evaporating  maple 
sap,  but  is  equally  applicable  to  boiling  down 
sorghum  juice.  As  it  contains  some  novel  fea- 
tures, which  Mr.  Miles  considers  valuable,  we 
publish  it  for  general  examination.  In  the  sketch, 
A,  represents  the  arch,  built  in  the  ordinary 
manner,  to  accommodate  the  boiling  pan,  B, 
resting  upon  it.  The  pan  is  of  sheet  iron,  20 
inches  wide,  and  G  inches  deep.  A  rim  of  hem- 
lock strips,  2i  inches  wide,  fitting  close  within 
the  edge  of  the  pan,  is  added  to  prevent  the  sap 
or  syrup  from  boiling  over.  The  pan  is  furnish- 
ed with  a  faucet,  F,  through  which  to  draw  off 
the  syrup.  A  cover  of  boards,  C,  nearly  steam 
light,  is  placed  over  the  pan,  resting  upon  the 
rim.  In  this  cover,  li  inch  holes  are  bored  to 
receive  hollow  posts  or  tubes,  T,  T,  to  convey  the 
steam  to  a  wooden  conductor,  D.  These  posts 
or  tubes  are  each  9  inches  long,  and  2i  inches 
in  diameter.  The  dimensions  of  the  conductor 
are  not  given,  but  the  drawing  indicates  a 
wooden  box  with  an  interior,  12  inches  wide, 
and  3  inches  high.  The  conductor,  D,  conveys 
the  steam  to  the  steam  box,  S,  (dimensions  not 
given)  in  which  rests  the  heater,  H,  a  sheet  iron 
pan,  20  inches  square  and  3  inches  deep.  An 
opening  from  the  steam  box,  not  shown  in  the 
engraving,  allows  the  escape  of  the  waste  and 
condensed  steam.  A  wooden  tube,  E,  passes 
from  the  heater,  II,  to  near  the  bottom  of  the 
boiling  pan,  B.  The  reservoir,  R,  for  receiving 
the  cold  sap,  is  placed  above  the  level  of  the 
heater,  H,  and  is  connected  with  it  by  a  tube. 

The  object  of  this  arrangement,  as  will  be 
readily  seen,  is  to  use  the  steam  escaping  from 
the  boiling  liquid,  to  heat  the  raw  sap  before  its 
introduction  into  the  boiler.  At  first  it  would 
seem  that  any  obstruction  interposed  to  the 
freest  escape  of  the  steam,  would  require  an  in- 
crease of  heat  and  consequently  of  fuel  to  expel 
it,  and  that  this  would  more  than  counterbal- 
ance any  advantage  accruing  from  heating  the 
sap  with  the  steam.  Mr.  Miles  asserts  that  his 
experience  and  that  of  his  neighbors,  has  proved 
that  there  is  an  actual  gain  in  fuel  by  covering 
the  boiling  pan,  from  the  fact  that  the  external 
cold  air  is  excluded,  which  would  abstract   a 


great  amount  of 
heat  from  the 
boiling  surface. 
He  says  that  the 
steam  will  take 
good  care  of  it- 
self, and  find  its 
way  out  without 
any  difficulty,  and 
that  the  heat  im- 
parled in  its  pas- 
sage through  the 
condensing  box, 
will  be  sufficient 
to  raise  the  cold 
sap  to  nearly  the 
boiling  point. 
Onr  own  idea  of 
evaporation  has 
always  been,  that 
.  there  should  be 
jjl}  f--  =  the  largest  pos- 
'  _  ible    surface    of 

liquid  exposed  di- 
rectly to  the  air,  in  order  to  get  the  best  results. 
The  air  acts  as  a  sponge  to  suck  up  the  fluid,  so 
to  speak.  It  is  well  known  that  evaporation 
goes  on  most  rapidly  when  the  atmosphere  is 
dry,  and  when  a  current  of  air  passes  over  the 
surface  of  the  fluid.  In  the  apparatus  here 
proposed,  a  moist  atmosphere,  or  rather  pure 
steam  is  constantly  over  the  boiling  liquid.  On 
further  considering  the  subject,  we  are  inclined 
to  think  the  amount  of  heat  saved  in  barely 
bringing  the  cold  sap  to  a  boiling  heat  would 
hardly  repay  the  loss  incurred  in  evaporating 
under  cover.  "We  may  perhaps  be  in  error.  A 
practical  test  would  be  to  evaporate  a  certain 
amount  of  sap,  witli  the  cover  on,  and  the  same 
quantity  with  it  off,  and  compare  the  amount 
of  fuel  consumed. 


Cheap  and  Good  Straw  Hives. 

E.  J.  Ferris,  of  Lake  Co.,  O.,  J.  T.  Smith,  of 
Unlontown,  and  several  others,  inquire  how  to 
make  the  straw  hives  referred  to  in  the  July 
Agriculturist.  While  at  M.  Quinby's,  we  ex- 
amined quite  a  variety  of  straw  hives,  mostly 
patented  by  different  parties.  We  will  describe 
one  of  the  best  forms,  one  which  is  unpa- 
tented, and  can  be  made  by  any  person  with 
moderate  skill.  The  size  depends  upon  what 
is  required.  If  for  a  particular  kind  of  honey- 
boxes  or  movable   frames,   the  size  must   be 


FliAME   SOB  THE  STRAW. 


made  to  correspond  with  what  is  wanted.  It  is 
a  square  or  parallelogram,  to  be  covered  with  a 
flat  board  to  receive  the  surplus  boxes,  and 
over  this  a  wooden  box  with  sloping  or  flat 
roof,  and  projecting  over  the  sides  to  shed  rain. 
The  essential  part  or  body  of  the  hive  is  made 
as  follows:  For  the  upright  corner-pieces,  cut 
2-inch  square    stuff   to   the   required    length. 


Upon  the  inside  of  these  nail  three  pieces  of  lath 
for  the  sides  and  cuds,  putting  one  strip  around 
both  top  and  bottom,  and  one  in  the  middle,  as 
seen  in  fig.  1.  Then  nail  flat  thin  strips,  2 
inches  wide,  around  the  top  and  bottom,  cover- 
ing the  ends  of  the  uprights,  as  also  shown  in 
fig.  1.  Next  cut  clean,  straight  straw,  in  a  cutting- 
box,  to  just  the  required  length  to  fit  into  the 
sides.  Pack  this  straw  in  firmly  upon  the  sides, 
and  nail  strips  of  lath  on  the  outside,  as  shown 
in  fig.  2,  and  the  thing  is  done.  To  prevent 
crowding  off  the  inside  strips  while  packing  in 
the  straw,  it  is  well  to  have  a  false  box  just  the 
size  of  the  inside,  and  slip  this  in  while  packing 
the  straw.  To  prevent  the  spreading  of  the 
lath,  bind  them  together  at  the  middle  points 
with  wire  running  through  the  straw,  especial- 
ly on  the  longer  sides  of  the  hive.  Straw 
hives  are  grateful  to  bees,  cool  in  Summer  and 
warm  in  "Winter,  and  with  the  straw  standing 
perpendicular,  as  above  described,  it  sheds  off 
all  rain.  As  2  inches  thickness  of  straw  would 
seem  to  be  more  than  is  needed,  if  the  corner- 
pieces  be  2-inch  stuff  the  outside  slats  might  bo 


l'K.VME    COMPLETED. 


let  into  the  pieces  the  depth  of  their  thickness, 
though  this  would  somewhat  increase  the  labor 
of  making  them.  They  are  quickly  and  cheaply 
made,  and  are  neat  in  appearance,  especially  if 
the  wood  be  planed  ;  this  is  not  essential,  how- 
ever. If  the  wood-work  be  painted,  they  will 
look  still  more  attractive. 

Fur  Vie   American  Agriculturist. 

A  Cure  for  the  Sorrel. 

The  deatli  of  this  pest  would  be  hailed  with 
as  great  joy  as  that  of  poor  Cock  Robin  was 
witli  grief.  The  bull  could  afford  to  pull  the 
bell  that  rung  its  death  knell,  for  henceforth 
hay  would  be  more  plentiful  in  many  a  scanty 
meadow.  But  it  is  not  dead,  as  the  meadows 
with  their  large  red  patches  testify.  It  is  found 
not  only  in  the  fields  of  the  slothful,  but  .in 
those  of  the  diligent.  To  be  sure  it  is  most 
abundant  on  the  former.  Mr.  Slack  descants 
upon  the  adhesive  qualities  of  sorrel  thus:  "  It 
is  of  no  use  to  try  to  get  rid  of  it.  It  is  one  of 
those  things  that  is  doomed  to  come.  Wan't 
weeds  a  part  of  the  curse  upon  the  soil  ?  What 
is  to  be,  will  be,  and  there  is  no  use  in  fighting 
against  nature."  Slack  is  provoked  at  any  com- 
plimentary allusion  to  the  ruddy  aspect  of  his 
fields.  Pray  don't  sorrel  grow  every  where  ? 
Not  excactly  every  where.  It  is  found  in  great 
abundance  on  old  meadows  where  the  grass 
begins  to  fail.  The  philosophy  of  this  fact  may 
be  that  the  grass  has  sucked  out  all  the  aliment 
in  the  soil  suited  to  its  nature,  and  the  sorrel 
comes  in  as  a  succession  crop.  It  is  worthy  of 
notice  that  sorrel  abounds  in  soils  that  have 
been  long  manured  with  uncomposted  fish. 
This  manure  stimulates  the  land  to  a  large  pro- 
duction of  cereals,  and  when  it  is  laid  down  to 


303 


AMERICAN    AGRIC  U  LT  URIST. 


[October, 


grass,  it  very  soon  relapses  into  sorrel.  It  also 
comes  in  extraordinary  quantities  upon  reclaim- 
ed  swamp  land  imperfectly  drained. 

Now  the  remedy  I  have  to  propose  for  sor- 
rel, is  an  old  fashioned  one,  and  requires  money 
and  labor.  Apply  manure  either  as  a  top 
dressing  or  for  hoed  crops.  Every  farmer  must 
have  observed  that  sorrel  is  not  troublesome 
upon  a  rich,  newly  seeded  meadow.  The  clover 
overshadows  it,  if  it  undertakes  to  grow,  and 
the  herds-grass  and  other  grasses  obscure  it  for 
several  years.  The  sorrel  is  only  a  gentle  hint 
from  nature,  that  the  last  grist  of  manure  put 
into  her  hopper  is  ground  out,  and  needs  to  be 
resupplied.  You  can  have  fodder  only  as  you 
keep  the  hopper  full.  If  the  soil  is  wet,  there 
is  no  effectual  remedy  but  in  drainage.  In  up- 
land meadows  the  manure  will  last  several 
years.  When  the  sorrel  reappears,  apply  ma- 
nure, and  if  the  grass  is  feeble,  sow  grass  seed 
at  the  same  time.  Connecticut. 


Tim  Bunker  on  Starting  a  Sugar  Mill. 

■ 

"  Who'd  have  thought  of  ever  seeing  a  sugar 
mill  in  Hookertown  !"  exclaimed  Seth  Tvstfggs 
as  he  looked  at  that  new  institution  just  put  up 
on  the  Shadtown  road. 

"And  such  lots  of  sorghum  too,"  said  Dea- 
con Smith.  "  Almost  every  farmer  has  a  patch." 

"  The  age  of  meracles  ain't  past  yet,"  said 
Tucker  in  a  meditative  mood. 

"  I  wonder  if  there  '11  be  any  rum  made  of 
the  leavings,"  inquired  Jones  expectantly,  re- 
calling his  experience  on  a  sugar  plantation. 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it,"  said  Seth,  with  a  t  winkle  in 
his  eye  and  an  extra  puff  at  his  pipe.  "  Suckers 
will  go  dry  in  these  parts." 

Ten  years  ago,  I  should  as  soon  have  thought 
of  seeing  an  elephant  in  my  barn  yard,  as  of 
seeing  a  sugar  mill  in  Hookertown.  In  the  first 
place  there  was  nothing  to  make  sugar  of,  ex- 
cept a  few  maple  trees,  and  they  did  not  require 
a  mill.  And  then  there  was  not  enterprise 
enough  to  start  a  new  project  of  that  magni- 
tude. We,  most  of  us,  believe  in  foreordination 
and  had  not  put  down  sugar  making  as  among 
the  things  that  were  destined  for  Hookertown. 
We  expected  always  to  get  our  sweetening  by 
barter,  just  as  our  fathers  and  mothers  did  be- 
fore us — a  pound  of  cheese  for  a  pound  of  sugar, 
and  brown  sugar  at  that.  We  expected  too  to 
cat  a  slave-grown  article  because  we  could  not 
get  any  other.  But  they  say  they  are  getting 
off  the  notion  of  forced  labor  on  the  sugar  plan- 
tations, in  Louisiana,  and  I  suppose  when  the 
Fates  got  to  making  a  change,  they  thought 
they  might  as  well  make  a  change  all  around, 
and  have  free  sugar  North  and  South.  At  any 
rate  it  is  a  settled  fact,  that  we  have  a  sugar 
mill,  where  they  are  going  to  make  molasses 
this  Fall,  and  where  they  may  make  sugar  by 
and  by.  I  suppose  half  the  farmers  in  town 
won't  pay  a  dollar,  for  sweetening  next  year,  and 
some  will  have  a  few  barrels  of  syrup  to  sell. 
The  world  moves,  notwithstanding  the  war, 
and  I  am  not  sure  but  the  war  has  given  a  good 
many  enterprises  a  new  hoist.  You  see  it  has 
made  sugar  and  molasses  dear,  and  that  has 
set  Yankee  wit  at  work  to  get  these  things  out 
of  our  own  soil.  In  raising  sugar  at  the  North, 
it  makes  a  great  deal  of  difference  whether  that 
article  is  eight  cents  or  sixteen  cents  a  pound. 

We  have  been  getting  ready  for  this  business 
some  years.  The  seed  sent  out  from  the  Agri- 
culturist office,  introduced  the  plant,  and  taught 
us  that  we  could  grow  it  as  well  as  corn.  Jake 
Friuk  could  see  that  it    looked    like  broom 


corn,  and  was  no  humbug.  It  would  pay  to 
raise  it  for  fodder  for  cattle,  and  hogs  ale  it 
greedily,  and  would  thrive  upon  it  wonderfully 
well.  There  was  no  chance  to  lose  much. 
Some  made  syrup  from  it,  the  first  year,  and 
put  it  up  in  bottles,  and  exhibited  it  at  the 
comity  fair.  It  looked  like  syrup,  tasted  like  it, 
and  went  well  on  buckwheat  cakes.  But  we 
had  no  mill  to  grind  the  cane,  and  no  conve- 
niences for  boiling  down  the  juice,  and  that  was 
the  great  objection  to  going  into  the  business. 

Last  Winter  we  talked  the  matter  up  in  the 
Farmers'  club.  Men  in  whose  judgment  we  had 
confidence,  said  the  thing  would  pay.  Mr. 
Spooner,  who  is  ready  for  every  good  word  and 
work,  said  there  was  no  good  reason  why  we 
should  not  make  our  own  sweetening,  at  home ; 
that  the  fanners  in  the  town  paid  out  twenty 
thousand  dollars  every  year  for  this  article,  and 
the3r  might  just  as  well  keep  that  amount  in 
their  own  pockets.  Deacon  Smith  read  ex- 
tracts from  the  agricultural  papers,  showing 
what  they  were  doing  out  West,  raising  two 
ami  three  hundred  gallons  of  syrup  to  the  acre, 
and  clearing  over  a  hundred  dollars  above  work- 
ing expenses.  He  said  the  crop  last  year  was 
worth  several  millions  of  dollars,  and  that  the 
business  was  increasing  rapidly  wherever  they 
had  learned  to  make  the  syrup. 

Seth  Twiggs  said  they  had  started  a  mill  at 
Smithtown,  and  it  worked  well.  He  brought 
along  several  bottles  of  the  syrup  made  at  the 
mill,  and  to  convince  the  skeptical,  sent  it  around 
for  trial.  It  was  found  that  it  made  good  ginger- 
bread, it  sweetened  coffee,  and  filled  the  place 
of  molasses  completely.  After  a  fair  trial,  and 
several  weeks  talking,  in  which  every  man  made 
sure  that  the  syrup  would  not  bite,  we  got  the 
club  up  to  the  question — "  Shall  Hookertown 
have  a  sugar  mill  ?"  This  was  the  name  the 
thing  seemed  to  take  of  itself,  though  I  suppose 
they  will  make  nothing  but  syrup  at  present. 
It  was  agreed  that  the  syrup  was  the  thing  we 
all  wanted,  and  we  were  all  ready  to  go  into  it 
if  the  thing  could  he  made  to  pay.  Two  men 
agreed  to  build  the  mill,  and  put  into  it  every 
thing  necessary  to  grind  the  cane  and  boil  the 
syrup,  if  they  could  have  cane  enough  to  make 
it  an  object.  They  wanted  three  hundred  acres 
pledged.  This,  with  what  they  raised  themselves, 
they  thought  would  make  it  a  safe  enterprise. 

To  get  the  cane  pledged  in  a  community  of 
small  farmers,  many  of  them  not  having  more 
than  ten  acres  under  the  plow,  was  a  good  deal 
of  an  undertaking.  It  was  agreed  to  appoint 
a  committee  for  each  school  district,  to  see  how 
much  could  be  raised.  There  were  fifteen  dis- 
tricts in  the  town,  and  it  would  take  about 
twenty  acres  to  each  district.  Mr.  Spooner 
took  the  matter  in  hand  in  his  district,  and 
worked  as  hard  as  any  of  us.  Some  subscribed 
two  acres,  and  some  a  half  acre.  We  raised 
about  three  quarters  of  the  pledges  here,  and 
for  the  rest  we  had  to  go  to  Shadtown. 

The  results  of  the  Winter's  work  are,  that  we 
have  a  wonderful  increase  of  sorghum  in  all 
this  region.  A  patch  may  be  found  on  all  the 
best  farms  and  on  some  of  the  poor  ones,  and 
even  in  the  gardens  of  the  mechanics.  A 
quarter  of  an  acre  of  sorghum  will  make  a  bar- 
rel of  syrup,  if  it  does  only  moderately  well. 
AVe  shall  not  have  syrup  enough  to  supply  the 
town,  perhaps,  but  we  shall  give  the  business 
a  good  start,  and  wake  up  the  sleepers.  I  should 
not  think  it  strange  if  we  became  exporters  of 
syrup  in  a  few  years,  and  Connecticut  syrup 
may  yet  stand  as  high  in  the  market,  as  Con- 
necticut River  shad.    The  mill  is  all  up,  and  the 


machinery  in,  and  they  will  be  ready  to  grind 
as  soon  as  the  cane  is  fit.  I  do  not  see  any 
reason  why  New  England  should  not  raise  its 
own  molasses.  We  have  plenty  of  unoccupied 
land,  and  capital  to  invest  in  the  crop,  and  in 
mills  to  manufacture  it.  All  that  is  needed,  is  a 
few  individuals  in  each  town  to  talk  the  matter 
up,  and  show  how  it  can  be  done.  There  must 
be  concert  of  action,  and  then  the  whole  busi- 
ness will  go  easy.  The  sorghum  is  coming  into 
favor  much  more  rapidly  than  the  potato  did, 
and  it  would  not  be  strange  if  it  wrought  as 
great  changes  in  our  husbandry. 

Hovkcrtovm,  t         Yours  to  command. 

Sept.  Will,  1803.     (  Timothy  Bunker  Esq. 


Gift    Enterprises   and   Other    Humbugs. 

We  had  supposed  that  the  "  Gift  Enterprise  " 
business  was  about  "  played  out "  in  this  coun- 
try, since  the  frequent  and  thorough  exposures 
of  the  knavish  character  of  the  business,  which 
have  from  time  to  time  appeared  in  the  Agricul- 
turist, and  various  other  journals.  Occasionally 
however,  we  receive  a  circular  indicating  that 
there  are  yet  parties  ready  to  be  duped  by  gol- 
den promises,  and  rogues  prepared  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  their  ignorance.  One  of  these  pro- 
grammes is  now  before  us.  It  dates  from  a 
"  National  Art  Gallery,"  and  proposes  to  sell 
"Twelve  Magnificent  Steel  Plate  Engravings," 
at  the  low  price  of  One  Dollar  each,  and  to  fur- 
nish with  each  engraving  a  valuable  gift,  valued 
at  from  50  cents  to  $100.  In  addition  to  all  this, 
50  United  States  Bonds  of  $100  each  are  offered 
as  additional  premiums,  and  "  as  each  print  will 
have  a  limited  issue  of  less  than  ten  thousand 
copies,  these  Bonds  must  soon  be  distributed." 
In  what  manner  the  distribution  is  to  be  made, 
is  not  stated.  As  the  "  fools  are  not  all  dead  " 
yet,  we  suppose  some  investments  will  be  made 
by  those  who  have  not  already  been  "  bitten  " 
by  the  same  operator. 

"  Honor  among  thieves  "  has  long  since  passed 
into  a  proverb,  but  its  fallacy  is  being  continu- 
ally shown.  A  recently  exposed  swindle  is  in 
point.  Letters  marked  "  strictly  private  "  were 
received  by  numerous  parties,  in  which  the 
writer  proposed  to  sell  them  gold  coins  of  the 
denomination  of  $1,  at  50  cents  each.  They 
were  warranted  to  be  such  complete  imitations 
of  the  genuine,  as  to  defy  detection  ;  not  even 
the  banks  would  refuse  them.  None  but  a 
rogue,  or  a  man  of  very  weak  honesty,  would  bite 
at  such  a  bait,  but  the  temptation  proved  too 
strong  for  many,  who  forwarded  the  dollar,  and 
received  their  coins  in  return.  As  was  promised, 
they  readily  passed  as  genuine,  "  even  at  the 
banks."  Elated  with  their  success,  the  dupes 
speedily  sent  larger  amounts,  from  $5  to  $25  for 
more  coins,  but  they  could  get  no  replies.  It 
turned  out  that  the  specimens  first  sent  as  a 
bait,  were  genuine  coin,  but  the  rascal  appro- 
priated all  additional  remittances,  rightly  judg- 
ing that  parties  attempting  to  purchase  counter- 
feit money,  would  be  in  no  haste  to  complain  of 
the  swindle  to  the  authorities.  Ultimately, 
however,  the  matter  was  brought  to  light,  and 
the  ingenious  operator  is  now  in  confinement 
awaiting  his  trial.  He  deserves  punishment  for 
holding  out  the  temptation  to  the  unwary,  of 
making  money  dishonestly.  The  rule  hereto- 
fore given  needs  to  be  often  repeated,  viz.: 
avoid  dealing  with  all  parties  who  offer  to  give  more 
than  a  dollar's  worth  for  a  hundred  cents.  They 
can  not  continue  to  fulfill  such  contracts  with- 
out dishonesty  to  some  one,  and  the  loss  will 
usually  fall  upon  those  who  are  caught  by 
splendid  offers  in  circulars  and  advertisements. 


1868. 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


30? 


Useful  Rules  for  Measurement. 


I  submit  for  the  benefit  of  readers  of  the 
American  Agriculturist  a  few  rules  for  ascertaining 
the  capacity  of  vessels,  and  for  the  measurement 
of  solids  of  the  descriptions  named.  It  is  un- 
necessary to  state  their  importance  to  all  who 
tiavc  to  measure  grain  and  other  produce,  and 
the  necessity  of  being  able  to  estimate  accu- 
rately the  capacity  of  vessels  temporarily  made, 
as  well  as  those  permanently  used ;  and  as  it 
is  well  known  that  very  many  of  those  who  are 
passing  large  quantities  of  goods  of  all  sorts 
through  their  hands  daily,  do  not  know  how  to 
ascertain  the  correctness  of  the  capacity  of  the 
vessels  they  are  in  the  habit  of  using,  and  may 
therefore  unknowingly  cheat  or  be  cheated, 
Hie  necessity  of  such  a  knowledge  is  evident. 

1— To  find  the  cubical  contents  of  rectangular  vessels. 

Rule.— Multiply  the  length  by  the  width  and  height. 

Example. — What  is  the  cubical  contents  of  a  vessel  30 
inches  long,  30  inches  wide,  and  60  inches  high  ? 
30X30=900X60=54,000  cubic  inches,  answer. 

2 — To  find  the  cubical  contents  of  cylindrical  vessels. 

Rule. — Multiply  the  square  of  the  diameter  by  .7854, 
and  the  product  by  the  height. 

Example. — What  is  the  cubical  contents  of  a  vessel  30 

inches  diameter  and  60  inches  high  ?  lanswer. 

30X30=900X. "854=706. 86x60=42,411. 6  cubic  inches. 

3 — To  find  the  cubical  contents  of  rectangular  tapered 
vessels,  mathematically  called  prismoids  and  frustrnms 
of  a  pyramid:  used  for  agricultural  purposes  in  weigh- 
hoppers,  etc. 

Rule. — To  the  sum  of  the  area  of  the  two  ends  add 
four  times  the  area  of  the  middle  in  a  line  parallel  to  the 
ase,  and  multiply  this  sum  by  one-sixth  of  the  perpen- 
dicular height. 

Kxair.ple. — What  is  the  cubical  contents  of  a  vessel  60 
inches  high,  21  inches  square  at  the  top,  and  40  inches 
square  at  the  bottom  ? 

'20x20=  400,  area  of  top. 
40x40=1000,  area  of  bottom. 
-3X30X30=3600,  four  times  area  of  middle.        lanswer. 
5000x10,  (one-sixth  of  the  height,)=56,000, 

4— To  find  the  cubical  contents  of  round  tapered  ves- 
sels, (fiuslrums  of  cones.) 

Rule. — To  the  sum  of  the  square  of  the  diameter  of  the 
two  ends  add  four  times  the  square  of  the  diameter  of  the 
middle:  multiply  this  sum  by  .1309,  and  the  product  by 
Hie  perpendicular  height. 

Example. — What  is  the  cubical  contents  of  a  vessel  20 
finches  diameter  at  the  top,  40  inches  diameter  at  bottom, 
and  00  inches  perpendicular  height  ? 

20x20=  400,  square  of  top  diameter. 
40X40=1600,  square  of  bottom  diameter. 
4X30X30X3600,  four  limes  square  of  middle  diameter. 
5600  X  .1309=733 . 04x60=43,982. 4,  answer. 

In  the  3rd  and  4th  examples,  the  middle 
diameter  or  distance  across  is  obtained  by  add- 
ing the  diameter  of  the  top  and  bottom  to- 
gether,  and  dividing  the  amount  by  2. 

A  bushel  contains  2150.43  cubic  inches, 
1.344  or  nearly  14  cubic  feet,  or  9.31  gallons. 
A  gallon  contains  231  cubic  inches,  and  there  is 
therefore  7.48  or  nearly  7*  gallons  in  a  cubic 
foot.  Hence,  dividing  the  number  of  cubic 
inches  contained  in  a  vessel  by  231,  we  find  the 
number  of  gallons;  or,  dividing  by  2150.42,  we 
have  the  number  of  bushels  it  contains.  Or  if 
the  contents  of  the  vessel  is  given  in  cubic  feet, 
then,  by  multiplying  them  by  7.48,  (or  7j,)  we 
find  the  number  of  gallons;  dividing  by  1.244, 
(or  14,)  gives  the  number  of  bushels  it  contains. 
As,  however,  there  are  many  men  who  can 
easily  do  the  first  four  rules  in  arithmetic,  but 
are  puzzled  at,  or  altogether  unable  to  work  out 
decimals,  I  subjoin  the  two  following  rules  by 
which  they  may  find  out  the  number  of  gallon' , 


ir  bushels  a  vessel  contains,  without  the  v 


e  of 


decimals.  These  rules,  it  will  be  obsor  -, 
only  for  the  calculation  of  gallons  mv'  ,  ,  ',  ■ 
round  vessels;  for  their  actual  CV>'oical  contenls 
they  must  be  worked  out  by  t'ae  first  fom.  ^ 

5 — To  find  the  number  of         ,,  ,   .      ,    ,     . 

cylindrical  vessel  with  par'   ,,  fa,.'°ns   and  bushels  in  a 
bushel  measure.  '       -llel  sldes-  as-  for  example,  a 

VLB.—  p  y       e  S(luare  of  tne  (i;ame[er  jn  inches 


by  the  height  in  inches,  and  divide  tlie  product  by  294  for 
gallons,  or  by  273$  for  bushels. 

Example. — What  is  the  number  of  gallons  and  bushels 
contained  in  a  vessel  30  inches  diameter  and  60  inch,  high  ? 
30x30=900X60=n4.000H-  294=183=3  gallons,  and 

54,000-^2733=19  5-7  bushels,  answer. 

6— To  find  the  number  of  gallons  and  bushels  contained 
in  round  taper  vessels. 

Rule. — To  the  sum  of  the  square  of  the  diameter  of 
the  two  ends^dd  four  times  the  square  of  the  diameter  of 
the  middle:' multiply  this  sum  by  the  height,  (all  in 
inches.)  and  divide  the  product  by  1704  for  gallons,  or  by 
16,428  for  bushels. 

Example.— How  many  gallons  and  bushels  are  con- 
tained in  a  vessel  20  inches  diameter  at  top,  40  inches 
diameter  at  bottom,  and  60  inches  perpendicular  height  ? 
20X20=  400,  square  of  the  top  diameter. 
40X40=1600,  square  of  bottom  diameter. 
4x30x30=3600,  four  times  square  of  middle  diameter. 
5600x60=33B.OOO— 1764=190ia-  gallons,  and 
336,000=16428=20  4-9  bushels,  answer. 

Although  as  has  been  remarked,  the  5th 
and  6th  rules  are  to  facilitate  the  calculations 
of  Ihe  description  of  vessels  named,  by  those 
who  do  not  understand  decimals,  it  will  be  ap- 
parent at  a  glance  that  they  are  simple,  and  use- 
ful to  all  who  have  such  calculations  to  make. 

A  similarity  in  the  whole  of  the  examples 
given  will  be  observed.  This  is  done  to  enable 
a  comparison  to  be  made  in  the  contents  of 
vessels  of  similar  sizes,  but  of  different  shapes. 

Schenectady  Co.,  N.  Y.  Wm.  TOSUACH. 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

A  Clay  Soil  no  Curse. 


How  often  do  farmers  whose  lands  are  clayey, 
complain  of  their  hard,  stiff  soils,  so  inclined  to 
be  cold  and  wet  in  Spring,  baked  hard  in  Sum- 
mer, and  tedious  to  work  at  all  times !  Very 
well,  these  are  bugbears  to  shiftless  farmers, 
but  not  so  to  enterprising  men.  Wet  and  cold 
in  Spring  ?  Shows  they  need  draining.  Baked 
stiff  in  Summer  ?  Shows  they  need  manuring 
and  diligent  working.  Tedious  to  till  at  all 
times?  Yes,  very  likely,  more  toilsome  than 
sandy  land  ;  but  then  how  much  more  produc- 
tive and  durable.  In  his  "  Principles  of  Agri- 
culture," Thaer  says :  "  Land  should  be  chiefly 
valued  according  to  its  consistence ;  the  greater 
the  degree  of  this  quality  which  it  possesses, 
the  nearer  does  it  approach  to  first  class  laud ; 
but  the  smaller  the  proportion  of  clay,  and  the 
larger  the  quantity  of  sand  which  enters  into 
its  composition,  the  more  rapidly  does  it  fall  iu 
value."  What  say  Jersey  and  Long  Island 
farmers  to  that  ?  What  say  the  Arab  farmers 
to  the  value  of  their  shifting  sands  ?  Are  not 
the  clay  lands  of  old  England  the  most  pro- 
ductive that  the  world  has  ever  seen  ?  Clay,  if 
not  mixed  with  foreign  and  noxious  ingredients, 
contains  in  itself  elements  of  fertility.  It  holds 
the  rich  deposits  of  many  ages,  which  only  need 
bringing  to  the  influence  of  air  and  tillage  to 
make  them  yield  their  riches  to  the  cultivator. 
Moreover,  clay  is  very  retentive  of  all  ma- 
nures applied  to  it,  while  saud  soon  leaches  them 
away.  How  often  do  we  hear  the  owners  of 
sandy  farms  complain  in  this  wise :  "  Oh  !  it's 
just  like  putting  water  into  a  sieve!"  Sandy 
soils  are  Easier  to  work,  but  in  the  long  run 
the  cliTyg  are  usually  most  productive.  Some 
ve,"y  interesting  results  have  been  achieved  by 
dressing  sandy  soils  with  clay,  the  clay  seeming 
to  add  positive  fertility,  as  well  as  to  increase 
its  consistency.  But  iu  the  question  between 
clay  and  sandy  laud,  probably  all  will  agree 
that  the  best  soil  lies  between  the  two  extremes, 
a  clayey  loam  being  better  for  all  ordinary  pur- 
poses than  either  pure  clay  or  pure  sand.     Z. 

[There  is  no  doubt  that  clay  lands,  if  rightly 
treated,  are  the  best,  unless  entirely  made  up  of 
tough  brick  clay.    Plants  ueed  a.  bed  of  fine 


earth  for  their  delicate  roots  to  flourish  in.  A 
clay  soil,  well  drained  and  deeply  broken,  fur- 
nishes this  bed.  Remove  all  surplus  moisture 
by  thorough  drainage,  then  turn  up  the  soil  deep 
ly  for  the  action  of  air  and  frost,  and  you  havo 
just  the  kind  of  land  that  will  bear  good  crops, 
and  last  forever.  If  devoid  of  sand  enough  to 
make  it  friable,  a  good  mixture  of  muck',  ma- 
nure, sod  turned  under,  or  other  vegetable  mat- 
ter, will  help  to  ameliorate  it.  Were  we  hunt- 
ing a  farm  to-day,  we  should  chose  a  stiff  soil, 
investing  only  a  part  of  the  capital  iu  the  soil, 
and  using  the  rest  to  put  it  into  good  condition 
— for  the  same  reason  that  we  would  buy  one 
good  machine  rather  than  two  poor  ones. — Ed.] 


Pedigree  in  Plants. 


The  general  superiority  of  blooded  animals, 
that  is,  those  whose  pedigree  can  be  traced 
through  families  possessing  marked  and  fixed 
points  of  excellence,  is  now  generally  conceded. 
It  is  acknowledged  that  an  equal  number  of  the 
Durhams,  Devons,  and  Herefords,  among  cat- 
tle, of  Merinoes,  Southdowns,  and  Cotswolds, 
among  sheep,  etc.,  will,  as  a  class,  show  supe- 
rior qualities  to  the  miscellaneous  stock  known 
as  natives.  But  the  same  principle  of  superi- 
ority from  breeding  among  plants,  has  not  yet 
been  as  fully  recognized.  Yet  there  is  abundant 
reason  for  supposing  that  the  same  law  is  equal- 
ly prevalent  in  the  vegetable  as  in  the  animal 
kingdom  ;  that  "  like  begets  like,"  and  that  ob- 
servance of  this  law  may  be  turned  to  most 
profitable  account  by  cultivators.  To  some  ex- 
tent this  is  acted  upon,  in  saving  the  best  seeds 
of  grain  and  other  products,  but  it  is  only  re- 
cently that  definite  experiments  have  indicated 
how  great  improvement  can  be  realized  by 
proper  and  continued  selection  of  seed.  The 
experimental  researches  and  success  of  Mr.  F. 
F.  Hallett,  of  Brighton,  England,  have  already 
been  noticed  in  the  Agriculturist.  '  New  in- 
terest has  been  excited  in  this  subject  recently 
by  a  meeting  of  a  large  number  of  the  lead- 
ing farmers  of  England,  to  inspect  his  farm 
and  witness  the  progress  of  his  operations. 
From  year  to  year  this  gentleman  has  selected, 
not  only  the  best  heads  of  wheat,  but  the  best 
kernels  of  the  finest  ears,  and  used  them  for 
seed.  One  of  the  visitors  says,  "  two  or  three 
features  in  the  appearance  of  the  wheat  fields 
forcibly  struck  us,  namely,  the  extraordinary 
strength  of  the  stems  which  enabled  them  to 
withstand  a  very  severe  storm  occurring  July 
21st,  and  maintain  their  upright  position ;  the 
uniform  size  of  the  ear,  and  the  absence  of '  uti- 
der-corn'  (dwarfed  wheat).  We  counted  on 
one  stool  42  ears,  all  of  which  were  of  the  same 
size  and  as  near  as  possible,  of  equal  hight." 
In  reply  to  the  question,  "  What  was  the  aver- 
age product  of  his  wheat  crop  last  year  ?"  Mr. 
Hallett  said  he  should  keep  far  within  the  lim- 
its of  truth  in  stating  that  the  maximum  was 
six  quarters  (48  bushels  per  acre),  and  the  mini- 
mum four  and-a-half  quarters  (36  bushels)  per 
acre.  He  also  gave  three  instances  which  had 
come  to  his  knowledge,  of  large  productiveness 
of  the  improved  wheat,  which  yielded  respec- 
tively, 72  bushels,  62  bushels,  and  00  bushels 
per  acre.— Now  what  has  been  done  in  Eng- 
land, can  be  repeated  here.  No  one  can  fix 
the  limits  to  which  productiveness  may  be 
carried  by  following  out  similar  experiments. 
May  we  not  hope  in  a  few  years  to  find  im- 
proved "  breeds  "  of  wheat,  of  corn,  and  other 
cereals  in  this  country,  as  well  marked,  as  are 
the  established  strains  of  horses  and  cattle? 


:J04 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[October, 


1??  \ 


AUTUMN      SCENE— 

The  scene  represented  above  is  peculiarly 
American.  Nowhere  else  does  the  maize  plant 
add  beauty  to  the  landscape,  and  abundance  to 
the  resources  of  the  Nation.  In  other  lands,  the 
failure  of  Wheat  is  followed  by  scarcity  of  food, 
and  suffering  among  the  poorer  classes.  In 
many  sections  of  our  own  country,  Indian  corn 
is  the  principal  dependence  for  human  food,  and 
in  case  of  necessity  it  can  be  generally  substi- 
tuted for  other  cereals,  as  has  been  repeatedly 
done  in  sections  where  the  wheat  and  rye  crops 
have  come  short  of  the  demand.  It  is  the  abund- 
ance of  corn  and  its  excellence  as  an  article  of 
food,  that  enables  us  yearly  to  export  such  im- 
mense quantities  of  other  grain  to  foreign  lands. 
To  this  staple,  as  much,  if  not  more  than  to  any 
other  one  production,  is  our  national  prosperity 
due.  Without  it  as  cheap  food  for  their  labor- 
ers, the  cotton  planters  could  never  have  made 
the  production  of  their  favorite  crop  a  paying 
operation.  If  ever  cotton  was  "  King,"  maize 
was  "  Prime  Minister,"  and  has  now  worthily 
succeeded  to  the  throne,  even  in  the  South. 
For  beauty  of  appearance  no  cultivated  plant 
may  better  claim  such  honor.  Its  stately  form, 
clad  in  garments  of  fairest  green,  gracefully 
bearing  aloft  a  jeweled  scepter,  and  bedecked 
with  golden  crown,  proclaims  its  royal  preroga- 
tive. Nor  is  the  simile  altogether  fanciful  when 
its  habits  are  regarded.  It  must  live  upon  the 
fit  of  the  land.  The  richest  stores  of  the  farm 
must  be  laid  at  its  feet ;  from  infancy  to  maturi- 


SECURINU      THE      INDIAN     CORN      HARVEST. 


ty  it  will  brook  no  neglect.  But  unlike  too 
many  sovereigns  it  makes  grateful  return  for  the 
homage  it  exacts  from  its  dependents.  The 
general  crop  during  the  present  year,  though 
not  as  largo  as  has  been  gathered  heretofore, 
from  early  and  recent  unfavorable  weather, 
is  j'et  a  fair  one — enough  to  supply  the  home 
demand,  and  leave  a  large  surplus  for  export. 
Much  loss  is  experienced  every  year  from 
neglect  of  the  corn  crop  after  it  is  ready  for 
harvesting.  As  we  have  frequently  said,  cut- 
ting up  by  the  ground  is  every  way  preferable  for 
most  sections.  Care  is  required  in  curing  the 
stalks.  If  the  stooks  are  made  too  large,  or 
carelessly  put  up,  they  may  heat,  or  be  soaked 
with  rain,  and  mould,  and  much  of  the  corn  be 
spoiled.  If  the  corn  is  to  be  husked  directly 
from  the  stalk  as  standing  in  the  Held,  it  is  de- 
sirable to  have  it  completed  as  early  as  practi- 
cable; otherwise  the  birds,  mice,  and  other 
depredators  will  take  a  large  toll.  We  have 
seen  the  golden  ears  peering  from  a  wreath  of 
snow  in  Winter,  having  been  left  uncared  for, 
except  by  vermin ;  such  management,  it  need 
not  be  said,  is  not  the  most  profitable  farming. 
The  first  fruits  of  the  crop  should  be  gathered 
for  seed,  carefully  selecting  the  best  ears  from 
the  most  prolific  stalks.  These  should  be  care- 
fully trussed  together  by  braiding  the  busks,  and 
hung  where  they  will  thoroughly  dry  before 
freezing ;  much  seed  corn  is  spoiled  by  neglect 
in  this  particular.    After  the  corn  is  removed 


from  the  ground,  it  is  desirable  that  the  remain- 
ing stumps  be  broken  down  before  plowing  for 
the  following  crop ;  otherwise  they  remain  a 
vexatious  impediment  to  cultivation.  This  can 
be  done  by  drawing  a  roller  or  a  rough  slick  of 
timber  across  the  field  when  the  ground  is  frozen. 


How   are   you   Marketing    your   Fruit  ? 

Fruit  can  be  knocked  from  the  trees  by  shak- 
ing, by  beating  the  limbs  with  long  poles,  and 
by  other  rough  ways ;  it  can  be  picked  up  in 
baskets  and  dumped  into  a  wagon  box,  and  taken 
to  the  nearest  village  and  sold — at  a  very  low 
price.  By  this  treatment  good  fruit  can  be  ren- 
dered nearly  worthless,  or  at  least  fit  only  for 
immediate  use,  while  the  same  fruit  carefully 
picked  and  properly  packed,  would  bring  a 
price  enough  higher  to  amply  repay  all  the 
extra  care  of  preparation.  We  may  say  with 
truth,  that  a  bruised  apple  is  a  spoiled  apple. 
An  apple  which  would  last  for  months,  will, 
after  it  gets  a  slight  bruise  in  falling,  soon  de- 
cay and  become  worthless.  The  first  thing  to 
be  attended  to  in  marketing  fruit,  is  the  picking. 
Hand  picking  and  careful  handling — as  careful 
as  if  the  fruit  were  eggs — is  absolutely  necessary 
if  we  would  get  good  fruit  to  market  in  good 
order.  If  the  trees  have  been  properly  trained 
with  low  branches,  most  of  the  fruit  may  be 
reached  by  some  kind  of  a  self-supporting  lad- 
der, and  there  are  several  fruit-pickers  which 


1963.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


305 


maybe  advantageously  used  to  reach  those  oth- 
erwise inaccessible.  If  the  fruit  is  to  be  disposed 
of  at  the  nearest  market  town,  it  will  pay  to  use 
care  in  picking,  but  if  it  is  to  be  consigned  to  a 
distant  citjr,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  t.o  do  so. 
During  the  first  week  or  two  after  it  is  taken 
from  the  tree,  fruit  loses  a  considerable  amount 
of  moisture, or  "sweats,"  as  it  is  termed,  and  it 
is  necessary  that  this  process  should  be  through 
with  before  packing.  The  "  sweating  "  may  be 
done  upon  a  barn  floor,  or  the  fruit  may  be  put 
in  heaps  in  the  orchard  and  covered  with  straw 
if  theve  be  danger  of  frost.  Fruit  should  be 
kept  at  an  even  temperature,  and  as  cool  as  pos- 
sible 'without  freezing.  From  the  time  that 
fruit  is  mature  it  constantly  tends  to  decay,  and 
that  state  in  which  we  say  the  fruit  is  "in  eating" 
is  one  step  toward  decay.  The  process  can  be 
made  to  go  on  slowly,  or  be  retarded  almost  in- 
definitely, by  keeping  the  fruit  at  a  sufficiently 
low  temperature.  After  the  fruit  has  gone 
through  the  sweating  process,  it  should  be  bar- 
relled. It  is  better  to  make  two  grades  of  qual- 
ity, separating  the  finest  from  those  less  large 
and  fair.  A  few  poor  looking  apples  will  injure 
the  sale  of  a  barrel  of  otherwise  first  class  fruit. 
Never  mix  sorts,  even  if  they  closely  resemble 
each  other,  and  mark  each  barrel  with  the  name 
of  the  fruit.  It  is  of  the  greatest  importance 
that  the  packing  should  be  so  done  that  the 
fruit  will  not  shake  about  and  bruise  one  an- 
other in  carriage.  The  use  of  packing  mate- 
rial is  now  generally  abandoned,  at  least  for  ap- 
ples, but  the  fruit  is  pressed  into  the  barrel  so 
strongly  that  shaking  is  prevented.  The  head 
may  be  pressed  down  by  means  of  a  lever,  as 
shown  on  page  9  of  the  January  Agriculturist 
for  18G1.  A  convenient  screw-press  for  the 
same  purpose  is  sold  at  agricultural  ware-houses. 


Strawberries   and  Other  Small  Fruits  at 
the  West. 


Mr.  S.  S.  "White,  Mercer  Co.,  111.,  sends  to  the 
Am.  Agriculturist  his  experience  with  small  fruits, 
which  we  give  for  the  benefit  of  our  western 
readers.  lie  finds  "  Hovcy's  Seedling  (well  fer- 
tilized) worthless.  Wilson's  Albany  suffered 
most  from  drouth.  Burr's  New  Pine,  and  three 
other  Pines  are  small,  but  the  fruit  sweet. 
Triomphe  de  Gand  does  not  bear  as  well  here 
as  at  the  East,  but  the  fruit  is  large,  and  the 
flavor  very  good.  The  Hudson,  an  old  market 
berry,  has  been  more  prolific  with  me,  and 
bears  the  drouth  better  than  any  other  variety ; 
the  berry  is  firm  and  the  flavor  reasonably  good. 
I  shall  discard  all  the  varieties  I  have  tried  or 
seen  tried  in  the  West,  except  Triomphe  de 
Gand,  Wilson's  Albany,  Hudson,  and  Austin." 

Mr.  W.  thinks  that  our  directions  for  planting 
in  narrow  beds  will  not  answer  for  the  West, 
where  land  is  plenty  and  labor  scarce.  He  makes 
his  plots  of  the  dimensions  of  a  quarter  of  an 
acre,  manures  well,  and  plows  deeply.  He  then, 
by  the  aid  of  a  line  stretched  across  the  plot, 
puts  the  plants  out  12  to  15  inches  apart  in  the 
rows,  and  sets  the  rows  at  three  feet  apart. 
"  To  dress  the  bed,  use  the  cultivator  early  in  the 
Spring  twice,  and  two  or  three  times  after  the 
vines  have  done  fruiting.  If  no  cultivator  is  at 
hand,  use  the  small  double-shovel  corn  plow. 
A  man  or  boy  will  go  over  a  quarter  of  an  acre 
in  an  hour,  and  brush  off  with  his  hand  the 
dirt  from  such  plants  as  may  get  covered.  Ex- 
pense of  work  with  cultivator  $2 ;  hire  of  girl 
6  days  to  clip  runners  $2;  pulling  weeds  in 
rows,  the  season  $1.  Whole  necessary  expense 
of  culture  $5.     Yield  of  berries,  25  to  40  bush- 


els on  a  quarter  of  an  acre  plot,  according  as  the 
season  is  wet  or  dry."  Mr.  White  advises  his 
western  friends  not  to  be  content  with  the  straw- 
berry alone,  but  to  grow  other  small  fruits. 
Houghton's  Seedling  Gooseberry,  and  the  New 
1  Rochclle  blackberry  have  done  finely  with  him. 
The  Hudson  River  Antwerp  is  the  only  good 
variety  of  Raspberry  that  will  stand  the  winter 
in  his  locality  without  covering.  Letters  of  the 
character  of  Mr.  White's  are  always  acceptable; 
though  we  may  not  publish  them,  they  are  of 
use  in  enabling  us  to  judge  what  varieties  are 
best  adapted  to  particular  States  and  localities. 


Leaden   Labels   for   Fruit  Trees. 

A  friend,  who  modestly  wishes  to  be  known 
as  "Ignoramus,"  having  read  a  note  in  the  July 
Agriculturist  upon  the  importance  of  looking  to 
the  tree  labels,  sends  us  a  device  which  he 
uses,  and  one  which  may  in  many  c.tjcs  be 
worthy  of  being  adopted.  The  eugraving  rep- 
resent his  fruit  label.  It  is  a  strip  cut  from  com- 
mon sheet  lead,  half  an 
inch  wide  at  one  end, 
and  gradually  taper- 
ing to  a  point.  Strips 
can  be  cut  to  this 
wedge  form  from  a  wide 
strip,  without  waste. 
Near  the  broad  end  a 
number,  corresponding 
to  that  on  a  catalogue, 
is  either  stamped  or  cut 
with  a  knife.  Just  be- 
yond the  number  a  hole 
is  made  with  a  square 
punch  or  nail-set,  and  the  small  end  of  the  label 
is  put  through  this  and  bent  over  to  fasten  it. 
This  appears  to  be  a  feasible  plan,  and  one 
which  will  be  found  useful  where  there  are 
a  large  number  of  trees  to  label.  Should  a  label 
be  thrown  off  by  the  expanding  of  a  limb,  or 
from  other  causes,  being  of  lead,  it  will  not  be 
blown  away  and  lost,  as  a  wooden  one  might  be. 

A  New  Melon— The  White  Japanese. 

This  superior  fruit  was  first  introduced  to 
the  public  by  the  enterprising  horticulturist, 
Win.  S.  Carpenter,  Esq.  We  understand  that 
the  seed  was  brought  to  this  country  by  some 
member  of  Com.   Perry's   Japan   Expedition. 


Fig.  1.— OUTSIDE   OF   MELON. 

Though  this  variety  has  been  known  to  a  few 
cultivators  for  some  years,  it  is  to  most  people 
quite  new.  We  have  grown  it  for  two  years  and 
are  so  well  satisfied  with  it,  that  we  are  desirous 
that  our  readers  should  be  on  the  look-out  for  it, 


as  the  seed  will  soon  be  so  generally  distribut- 
ed as  to  be  readily  attainable.  Fig.  1,  represents 
the  general  shape  of  the  fruit,  which  is  usually 
globular,  though  some  limes  it  is  slightly  oblong. 
The  furrows  are  very  shallow  and  the  surface 
but  sparingly  netted.  The  color  is  one  of  its 
most  remarkable  characteristics,  bring  nearly 


2. — INSIDE    OF   MELON. 


while,  or  at  hast,  a  greenish  white.  The  flesh, 
which  is  very  thick  in  proportion  to  the  size  of 
the  melon,  is  greenish,  tinged  with  orange. 
When  well  ripened,  the  whole  flesh  is  eatable, 
the  rind  being  scarcely  thicker  than  the  skin  of 
an  apple.  The  texture,  sweetness,  and  flavor  of 
the  flesh  are  all  that  can  be  desired.  We  know 
that  tastes  differ  with  regard  to  melons,  as  they 
do  with  respect  to  other  fruits,  and  can  only  say 
that  this  new  variety  pleases  us.  It  is  a  pro- 
lific bearer,  and  we  hope  to  see  it  introduced 
in  place  of  many  inferior  kinds  now  cultivated. 


How  to  Raise  Seedling  Tree  Stocks. 


II.  K.  Ackerman  and  others  ask  us  to  give 
some  bints  upon  planting  seeds  for  the  purpose 
of  raising  nursery  stocks.  This  is  a  matter 
which  is  generally  left  to  the  professional  nur- 
seryman, but  there  is  no  mystery  about  it,  and 
any  one  who  cultivates  fruit  can  readily  raise 
his  own  stocks.  The  soil  for  the  seed-beds 
should  be  finely  pulverized  and  well  fertilized 
with  old  manure.  The  young  seedlings  need  a 
tolerably  rich  soil  to  give  them  a  good  start  and 
insure  a  vigorous  growth  the  first  season.  Good 
clean  and  well-grown  wood  is  essential  to  suc- 
cess, whether  the  stocks  are  budded  or  grafted. 
The  seeds  should  be  secured  in  the  Fall.  In 
this  country  it  is  customary  to  take  the  sound 
seeds  of  any  variety,  and  for  apples,  the  pom- 
mace  left  after  making  cider,  is  usually  resorted 
to  for  obtaining  seeds.  In  the  family  where 
much  fruit  is  eaten,  a  quantity  of  seeds  can  be 
saved  daily,  if  each  one,  after  eating  an  apple, 
peach,  or  pear,  will  take  the  pains  to  preserve 
the  seeds.  A  box  or  common  flower-pot  of 
sand  should  be  kept  standing  in  a  convenient 
place,  where  each  one  can  deposit  the  seeds 
from  the  fruit  he  eats.  Where  pommace  is 
used,  the  seeds  are  separated  by  washing,  col- 
lected, and  dried,  and  then  sown  at  once,  or  put 
into  boxes  with  very  slightly  damped  sand,  and 
kept  until  Spring.  If  fruit  is  chosen  expressly 
for  the  seeds,  it  is  allowed  to  decay  until  the 
seeds  can  be  readily  separated.  It  is  altogether 
best  to  sow  in  the  Fall,  if  possible.  If  a  large 
quantity  is  to  be  planted,  it  is  best  to  make  the 
drills  about  three  feet  apart,  in  order  to  allow 
the  use  of  the  cultivator,  but  if  the  bed  be 
small,  the  rows  may  be  at  a  convenient  distance 
to  work  with  a  hoe.    Having  stretched  a  line  Pi 


30l 


AM ERIOAN  AGRICULT URIST. 


[Ocii 


mark  tho  row,  opeu  a  trench  with  a  hoe,  about 
three  inches  deep,  and  distribute  the  seed  as 
evenly  as  possible.  Then  cover  with  soil  to  the 
depth  of  three  inches.  A  thin  layer  of  old  and 
well-decomposed  manure  spread  over  the  rows 
will  be  of  advantage.  This  is  the  usual  way  of 
planting  apple  and  pear  seeds.  Pear  stocks, 
however,  need  rather  more  care  than  the  apple. 
Every  means  should  be  taken  to  hasten  the 
early  Spring  growth,  and  a  liberal  supply  of 
ashes  to  the  soil  will  be  found  beneficial, 
and,  unless  in  a  limestone  country,  a  good  sup- 
ply of  lime  should  be  given  to  the  soil.  When 
the  seeds  start  in  the  Spring,  the  plants  should 
be  thinned  out  so  that  they  will  not  crowd  one 
another,  and  the  growth  promoted  by  frequent 
cultivation  and  weeding.  In  thinning,  leave  the 
most  vigorous  looking  plants.  In  Autumn  the 
seedlings  are  to  be  taken  up,  with  care  not  to 
injure  the  roots.  They  are  to  be  cut  back,  both 
at  the  top  and  roots,  from  one-third  to  one-half. 
Those  large  enough  for  root-grafting  are  placed 
by  themselves,  and  the  weaker  seedlings  are 
put  together  to  be  planted  out  in  the  Spring,  to 
make  another  growth.  Both  sizes  are  to  be  pre- 
served in  slightly  damp  sand  or  earth  in  the 
cellar.  During  the  Winter,  the  grafting  may  be 
done,  and  all  be  ready  to  put  out  in  nursery 
rows  as  soon  as  the  ground  is  fit  to  receive 
them.  Cherry  stones  may  be  treated  in  the 
same  wa}'.  Keep  them  in  boxes  of  sand  until 
Autumn,  and  then  plant.  In  collecting  peach 
pits  for  stocks,  we  cannot  too  often  repeat  the 
necessity  of  securing  them  from  perfectly 
healthy  trees.  The  pits  may  be  kept  in  boxes, 
mixed  with  sand  or  earth,  and  exposed  to  the 
full  influence  of  the  frost ;  or  if  the  quantity  is 
large,  they  may  be  mixed  with  earth,  and 
made  into  a  mound  well  covered  with  soil,  in 
a  convenient  place.  When  the  germ  shows 
signs  of  starting  in  the  Spring,  the  seeds  may 
be  planted  with  a  dibble  in  nursery  rows.  By 
the  following  Autumn  the  seedlings  will  usu- 
ally be  large   enough  for  budding. 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Currants  and  How  to  Propagate  Them. 


Communicated  by  an  Experienced  Cultivator. 

The  Currant  is  one  of  those  fruits  which 
seem  to  thrive  in  spite  of  neglect,  and  to  give 
tolerable  crops  in  almost  any  soil  and  location. 
They  will  grow7  and  produce  some  fruit  if  the 
bushes  are  allowed  to  have  their  own  way  and 
are  choked  with  weeds.  Let  any  one  compare 
the  fruit  as  ordinarily  produced,  with  the  fine 
specimens  which  have  been  shown  on  the 
tables  at  the  American  Agriculturist  Office,  and 
he  will  see  that  there  is  something  to  learn, 
even  about  currants.  Any  sort  properly  culti- 
vated and  pruned,  will  give  far  better  fruit  than 
it  will  if  neglected,  and  there  are  new  and  fine 
sorts,  requiring  no  more  care  than  the  old  ones, 
which  will  produce  fruit  vastly  superior.  For 
red  sorts,  the  Cherry  and  La  Versailles,  and  for 
white,  the  White  Grape  and  Provence,  will  give 
a  good  selection,  though  there  are  many  others 
which  have  their  advocates.  The  sorts  in  culti- 
vation arc  generally  of  foreign  origin,  but  some 
native  species  have  lately  been  introduced  from 
the  far  West,  of  which  we  have  great  hopes. 
Tor  the  present,  however,  we  must  be  content 
with  the  European  sorts.  There  is,  perhaps,  no 
plant  more  easily  propagated  than  Hie  currant. 
During  the  present  month  (October)  select  strong 
wood  of  last  year's  growth,  and  make  cuttings 
of  six  inches  to  a  foot  long,  cutting  them  off 
just  below  a  bud,  and  square  across.     To  pre- 


pare the  cuttings  for  planting,  cut  out  every  eye 
or  bud  except  two  or  three  from  the  upper  end. 
Cuttings  may  be  planted  and  grow  without 
all  this  trouble,  but  if  good  tree-like  plants  are 
desired  it  is  necessary  to  take  some  pains  to 
procure  them.  Stretch  a  line  across  the  bed 
where  the  cuttings  are  to  be  planted,  and  then 
take  a  spade,  place  its  back  against  the  line, 
force  it  into  the  ground  nearly  perpendicularly 
to  the  depth  of  about  six  inches,  and  throw  out 
the  soil,  thus  making  a  trench  the  shape  of  a 
letter  V.  Now  set  the  cuttings  about  three 
inches  apart,  along  in  this  trench,  with  their 
upper  ends  about  even  with  the  surface,  as  the 
soil  will  settle  enough  during  the  Winter  to  ex- 
pose the  upper  buds.  Throw  a  little  soil  into 
the  trench,  just  enough  to  cover  the  lower  part 
of  the  cuttings  for  one  or  two  inches,  and  then 
with  the  handle  of  the  spade,  or  the  edge  of  a 
piece  of  board,  crowd  the  soil  down  firmly 
around  them.  It  is  essential  to  success  to  bring 
the  soil  closely  in  contact  with  the  freshly-cut 
portion,  so  as  to  exclude  the  air.  If  the  cuttings 
are  set  in  the  latter  part  of  September,  or  early 
in  October,  they  will  often  become  well  rooted 
by  Winter,  and  be  prepared  to  make  a  vigorous 
growth  in  Spring  ;  indeed  they  will  do  twice  as 
well  as  cuttings  put  out  in  Spring.  'When  cold 
weather  comes  on,  the  cuttings  should  have  a 
covering  of  three  or  four  inches  of  leaves  or 
straw,  not  so  much  to  keep  out  the  frost,  as 
to  prevent  them  from  being  thrown  out  by 
frequent  freezing  and  thawing.  In  the  Spring 
the  covering  ma}'  be  removed  altogether,  or  it 
may  be  parted  just  over  the  cuttings,  anil  left 
as  a  mulch.  The  soil  for  cuttings  should  be 
well  worked ;  only  old,  fine  manure  be  used,  and 
a  dry  situation  should  be  selected  for  the  bed. 


Healthfulness  of  Currants. 

Mrs.  W.  Hauff,  Richmond  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  a 
communication  to  the  American  Agriculturist  says: 
"  Whenever  I  see  the  abundant  planting  of  cur- 
rants recommended  by  yon,  I  feel  as  if  I  must 
tell  you  that  I  have  found  this  excellent  fruit  a 
sure  preventive  of  dyspepsia.  For  three  sum- 
mers past  I  have  made  my  breakfast  of  them  as 
long  as  they  were  to  be  bad,  and  eaten  them 
frequently  during  the  day  besides.  I  find  that 
a  plateful  of  currants  eaten  with  sugar  in  the 
morning,  disposes  of  all  the  bad  accumulations 
in  the  stomach,  without  giving  aiarrhcea,  and 
helps  to  strengthen  the  digestive  power  through 
the  wholesome  acid  this  fruit  contains,  in 
which  it  is  superior  to  the  strawberry,  rasp- 
berry, etc.,  for  I  have  tried  each  in  its  turn.  I 
can  digest,  without  trouble,  a  hearty  dinner  after 
I  have  had  a  breakfast  of  currants,  while  at 
times  my  stomach  has  been  so  weak,  that  a  cup 
full  of  broth  or  soup  only,  would  give  me  pain 
as  if  a  cancer  was  gnawing  within  me." — [This 
accords  with  the  experience  of  many  others, 
but  in  the  treatment  of  dyspepsia,  or  any  other 
disease,  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  "  what 
is  one  man's  meat,  is  another's  poison."  Each 
must  experiment  and  determine  for  himself 
what  is  suited  to  his  particular  case.  In  gen- 
eral, however,  it  may  be  safely  asserted  that  a 
more  liberal  use  of  this  and  other  fruits  during 
Summer,  in  place  of  meat,  would  greatly  dimin- 
ish dyspepsia  and  other  ailments  of  the  digestive 
organs. — It  is  to  be  remembered,  however,  that 
when  currants  are  eaten,  every  berry  is  to  be 
broken, before  it  is  swallowed;  the  gastric  juice 
of  the  stomach  can  not  act  upon  the  unbroken 
skin,,  and  whole  currants  produce  irritation 
through  the  whole  alimentary  canal,  often  caus- 


ing colic  and  diarrhoea.  Children  and  per- 
sons having  defective  teeth,  loo  often  swallow 
them  uumastlcated,  and  suffer  therefore.— Ed.] 


Eenovation  of  Fruit  Trees. 

Mr.  Wm.  II.  Morgan,  of  Harford  Co.,  Md., 
writes  to  the  Agriculturist :  "  I  had  a  fine  large 
apple  tree  which  was  very  thrifty,  but  did  not 
bear  in  the  Spring.  I  dug  a  ditch  just  under  the 
outer  ends  of  the  limbs,  cutting  off  all  the  ends 
of  the  roots;  and  some  months  before  the  leaves 
of  the  other  trees  faded,  this  tree's  leav:  -;  turned 
yellow.  That  Fall  I  manured  tho  ground 
heavily,  and  in  the  following  Spring  strewed  a 
peck  of  bone-dust  over  it,  and  plowed  it  in,  and 
then  put  on  a  half  bushel  of  ashes.  This  sea- 
son the  tree  looks  very  flourishing,  and  has 
half  a  crop  of  apples  upon  it,  while  before  it 
scarcely  ever  yielded  a  dozen,  and  they  were 
small  and  knotty.  Others  of  my  trees  which  1 
treated  in  like  manner,  except  cutting  off  the 
roots,  have  borne  full  this  season." 


Manuring  Fruit  Trees  Injurious. 

An  indignant  subscriber  writes  us  that,  in  ac- 
cordance witli  the  advice  of  this  paper,  he  dressed 
his  young  fruit-trees  last  Fall  with  horse  manure, 
forking  in  the  same  the  following  Spring,  but 
that  his  trees  were  injured  by  it.  They  did  not 
put  forth  leaves  until  June,  and  then  only  after  he 
removed  the  manure,  headed  them  back  severe- 
ly, washed  the  trunks,  soaked  the  ground,  etc. 

Did  we  ever  advise  to  apply  "  horse-dung," 
and  that  in  a  fre&h.  or  decomposed  state, 
as  we  learn  yours  was  ?  Well-rotted  manure, 
cow  and  horse  dung  together,  composted  with 
muck  or  sods,  would  lie  nearer  to  our  doctrine. 
We  have  often  said,  and  now  repeat  it,  that  per- 
haps the  sa  fest  and  best  fertilizer  for  young  trees, 
both  fruit  and  ornamental,  is  swamp  muck  com- 
posted with  lime  at  the  rate  of  two  bushels  to 
the  cord  evenly  distributed  through  it,  or  of 
ashes  at  the  rate  of  about  six  bushels.  This 
should  lie  in  a  heap  several  months,  and  be 
forked  aud  shoveled  well  together  several  times. 
And  when  used,  it  will  do  no  such  harm  as  did 
our  friend's  hot  horse  dung.  It  will  keep  the 
soil  healthfully  moist  in  Summer,  porous  and 
sweet  at  all  times,  and  will  furnish  vegetable 
food  for  the  roots  in  a  gradual  way,  just  as  they 
need  it.  A  little  old  dung  mixed  with  it  will  do 
no  harm.  And  when  applying  it,  let  it  be 
spread  over  the  entire  surface  of  the  roots,  not 
in  a  heap  close  to  the  trunk  of  the  tree. 


What  Early  Apples  to  Plant, 


Several  letters  have  been  sent  to  the  Agri- 
culturist office  asking  advice  as  to  early  varieties 
of  apples,  but  no  letter  has  stated  whether  they 
were  to  be  grown  for  market  or  for  home  eon- 
sumption.  Those  who  prefer  a  moderate  quan- 
tity of  choice  fruit  for  their  own  use,  would  re- 
quire a  different  selection  from  those  who  wish- 
ed to  get  the  most  for  their  fruit  in  the  market. 
As  the  best  summer  kinds  we  name :  Primate, 
Gravenstein,  Early  Joe,  Red  Astraehan,  Sum- 
mer Queen,  and  Yellow  Sweet  Bough ;  the  last 
three  being  best  adapted  for  marketing.  The 
Primate  is  an  apple  which  will  give  general 
satisfaction  and  is  in  some  places  cultivated  as 
the  Early  Bough,  and  Early  Harvest,  to  both 
of  which  it  is  greatly  superior.  Gravenstein  is 
a  remarkably  high  flavored  fruit,  and  the  Early 
Joe  is  probably  the  best  of  all  early  apples.    It 


1863. 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


307 


is  small,  bul  for  quality  wc  have  not  seen  it  sur- 
passed. The  Red  Astrachan  and  Summer 
Queen  are  both  showy  apples,  of  fair  quality, 
and  their  appearance  causes  them  to  bring  a 
good  price.  "We  are  the  better  pleased  with  the 
Summer  Queen,  the  more  we  see  of  it.  The 
tree  is  of  fine  shape,  a  good  grower,  and  the 
fruit,  though  not  of  the  very  first;  class,  is  very 
fair  and  beautiful.  A  friend  of  ours  says,  that 
it  is  the  most  profitable  fruit  he  raises,  and  all 
who  grow  it,  speak  well  of  it  in  this  respect. 
We  are  glad  to  see  those  who  live  near  market 
towns  turning  their  attention  to  the  best  varieties 
of  early  apples;  it  is  quite  certain  that  they 
will  find  their  account  in  it.  The  above  list 
comprises  the  best  sorts  we  know  of  at  present. 


Trials  of  Life  in  the  Country.— A  Hint 
to  Visitors  from  the  City. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist : 

I  am  one  of  those'who  have  left  the  city  to  try 
farming  on  a  small  scale,  in  the  country.  My 
wife  is  an  industrious  and  frugal  housekeeper, 
and  by  our  combined  management,  we  have 
paid  for  our  land  and  have  begun  to  lay  up  a 
little  against  a  rainy  day.  "We  have  built  a  pleas- 
ant cottage,  and  the  trees  and  flowering  plants 
around  it,  arranged  and  set  out  by  our  own  hands, 
begin  to  afford  us  much  satisfaction.  Our  pears, 
grapes,  apples,  and  other  fruits,  are  just  coming 
into  bearing.  Our  children  helped  us  plant  and 
cultivate  them,  and  they  feel  a  just  pride  in  the 
work  of  their  hands.  Much  as  they  love  to 
pluck  flowers  and  to  eat  fruit,  they  never  pick 
them  in  wanton  wastefulness,  but  they  are  in 
fact  as  careful  of  them   as   are  their  parents. 

But  here  begins  the  story  of  our  sorrows. 
Coming,  as  we  did,  from  the  city,  we  have  fre- 
quent visitors  from  town.  They  are  wont  to 
come  in  fruit  time,  and  that  in  flocks.  They 
seem  to  scent  the  strawberries  and  grapes  fifty 
miles  off.  And  when  they  come,  they  do  not 
always  wait  to  receive  what  our  limited  re- 
sources can  afford  to  give,  but  they  help  them- 
selves to  whatever  they  can  find.  Last  week,  a 
family,  consisting  of  the  mother  and  six  chil- 
dren and  a  maiden  aunt,  came,  and  the  way  they 
took  to  my  garden  and  fruit-orchard  was  "  a 
caution."  "While  wife  and  I  were  busy,  they 
rambled  about,  as  if  perfectly  at  home.  My 
Delaware  and  Rebecca  grape  vines  were  just 
beginning  to  favor  us  with  a  few  clusters.  On 
each,  were  a  few  bunches  which  I  had  reserved, 
expecting  to  exhibit  them  at  the  next  County 
Fair.  Our  visitors  picked  enough  from  these  to 
destroy  their  symmetry  and  beauty,  and  of  oth- 
er clusters  they  ate  freely.  Then  they  passed 
through  my  young  pear  trees,  tasting  right  and 
left,  throwing  away  the  half  ripe,  and  devour- 
ing or  pocketing  the  others.  Most  of  these  trees 
were  now  fruiting  for  the  first  time,  and,  after 
waiting  many  years  for  them,  I  had  hoped  to 
enjoy  the  first  taste  myself,  and  to  have  the 
pleasure  of  giving  away  to  appreciating  friends 
what  my  family  did  not  need.  But  here  they 
were  virtually  snatched  from  my  very  teeth  ! 

I  might  go  on  further  with  the  story  of  our 
annoyances  and  trials,  but  the  foregoing  is,  per- 
haps, enough  to  show  you  the  nature  of  our 
troubles.  "We  do  not  complain  so  much  of  the 
money  value  of  our  losses,  as  of  the  vexation  and 
disappointment  at  seeing  fruit  coolly  plucked, 
after  long  waiting,  and  so  much  labor  and 
care.  Some  city  people — surely  not  all,  or  the 
country  would  be  devastated— but  some  seem  to 
think  that  fruit  grows  spontaneously  in  the 
country,  and  that  the  supply  is  unlimited,  and 


is  common  property.  And  the  sufferer  must 
not  complain  to  his  visitors,  lest  they  call  him 
stingy,  but  must  spread  for  them  a  bountiful 
table,  and  be  good  natured  and  smilingly  agree- 
able. Mr.  Editor,  you  see  my  sore  spot :  par- 
don my  wincing,  and  won't  you  use  your  influ- 
ence through  the  Agriculturist,  to  cultivate  a  bet- 
ter public  sentiment.  A  Sufferer. 

["  Sufferer  "  is  unfortunate  in  the  character  of 
his  visitors,  though  instances  as  bad  as  tha^  he 
relates  do  sometimes  occur.  City  people  are 
.supposed  to  be  well-bred,  and  generally  arc, 
and  we  country  people  all  like  to  have  them 
escape  the  prison-dwellings  of  the  city,  and 
come  and  see  and  enjoy  our  country  homes. 
Aside  from  the  pleasure  their  society  generally 
gives,  we  feel  a  little  self-complacency,  in  doing 
a  sort  of  benevolent  deed,  when  we  take  them 
through  our  grounds,  and  share  with  them  some 
of  the  good  things  from  our  gardens  and  fruit 
yards — though,  like  "Sufferer,"  we  prefer  to 
have  them  let  us  do  the  gathering,  and  proffer 
the  fruits.  Of  course,  none  but  those  who  need 
the  admonition,  will  take  any  offense  at  the 
hints  of  our  correspondent. — Ed.] 


The  Quality  of  Grapes. 


There  is  perhaps  no  fruit  about  which  there 
is  such  a  diversity  of  opinion  aud  about  which 
tastes  differ  so  much  as  the  grape.  Nothing 
shows  more  strikingly  the  difference  between 
a  crude  and  a  cultivated  taste,  than  to  hear  the 
opinions  expressed  by  the  numerous  individuals 
who  subject  grapes  to  our  inspection.  One  per- 
son will  bring'us  a  parcel  of  grapes  which  he 
says  are  remarkable  for  their  perfume,  but  be- 
fore he  opens  the  package  we  recognize  the 
"perfume"  as  the  foxy  odor  so  disagreeable  to 
an  educated  palate.  "We  have  heard  a  person 
declare  that  he  never  saw  such  grapes  as  grew 
on  his  father's  farm.  "  Why  a  dish  of  them 
would  fill  the  whole  house  with  fragrance." 
This  person  probably  never  tasted  a  good  grape, 
and  would  be  perfectly  satisfied  with  a  fruit 
like  the  Charter  Oak.  Those  who  have  based 
their  standard  of  quality  upon  this  peculiarity 
of  our  worst  grapes,  we  have  very  little  hope 
of.  It  is  a  peculiar  taste,  and  argues  a  defective 
sense.  Others  show  a  more  cultivated  taste  in 
selecting  some  of  the  thin  skinned  and  least 
musky  of  the  wild  grapes,  but  their  knowledge 
extends  only  to  the  fact  that  there  are  wild  and 
cultivated  grapes,  and  that  the  cultivated  ones 
are  generally  the  best.  To  properly  judge  of 
grapes,  or  any  other  fruit,  it  requires  not  only 
a  refined  but  a  cultivated  taste.  It  needs  a 
naturally  delicate  palate  to  distinguish  flavors, 
and  this  must  be  educated  by  experience.  A 
good  grape  should  have  a  very  thin  skin,  be 
quite  destitute  of  foxy  aroma,  and  with  so  deli- 
cate a  pulp  that  the  seeds  can  be  separated  by 
the  tongue ;  after  these  prime  requisites  tne 
qualities  of  sweetness  and  flavor  are  to  be  con- 
sidered. "We  think  that  the  Delaware  may  be 
taken  as  our  present  standard  of  a  good  grape, 
though  with  the  attention  now  given  to  pro- 
ducing new  varieties,  we  look  for  a  fruit  which 
shall  be  even  superior  to  this  variety.  "We  are 
led  to  these  remarks  by  receiving  several  "  new 
seedlings"  sent  in  to  us  with  the  regret  that 
they  were  too  early  for  our  great  Grape  Exhibi- 
tion. They  were  sent  by  persons  whose  taste 
for  grapes  had  not  been  cultivated.  Had  they 
been  exhibited,  the  senders  would  have  been 
disappointed  iu  not  getting  a  prize,  and  would 
have  been  quite  surprised  to  learn  that  their 
fruit  was  condemned  as  tin  worthy  of  cultivation. 


My  Asparagus  Bed. 


To  the  Kditorqf  the  American  Agriculturist. 

My  Asparagus  bed  was  set  out  Oct,  20th, 
with  two-year-old  roots,  and  has  pleased  me  so 
well  that  I  must  tell  others  how  it  was  done. 
Perhaps  old  boots,  shoes,  leather  shavings, 
bones,  horns,  stones  and  other  things  recom- 
mended as  needful  might  have  benefitted  it, 
though  it  apparently  lacks  for  nothing,  and  a 
person  who  cannot  get  these  articles  should  not 
be  deterred  from  planting  this  early  and  always 
welcome  vegetable.  The  way  I  did  it  was  this  : 
On  a  dry,  sandy  spot  in  my  garden,  I  staked  off 
a  piece  15x18  feet,  manured  the  surface  heavily, 
and  spaded  two  spits  deep,  working  in  another 
good  dressing  with  the  lower  spit.  The  soil 
was  rich  to  begin  with.  I  set  the  roots  in  rows, 
eighteen  inches  apart,  and  nine  inches  in  the 
row,  which  gave  me  12  rows  15  feet  long,  each 
containing  20  roots.  The  crowns,  when  cover- 
ed, were  three  inches  below  the  surface,  and 
the  whole  was  raked  off  smooth.  Just  before 
Winter  set  in,  I  covered  the  bed  with  two  or 
three  inches  of  coarse  stable  manure,  the  finer 
portions  of  which  were  forked  in  lightly  be- 
tween the  rows  in  the  Spring.  "Weeds  were 
kept  down  and  the  soil  frequently  strirred. 
The  plants  made  a  fine  growth  the  following 
season.  Since  then  I  have  followed  the  same 
method  as  to  manuring  and  keeping  the  bed 
clean  of  weeds,  and  I  have  cut  more  real  giant 
asparagus,  each  Spring,  than  could  be  eaten  by 
a  family  of  eight  persons.  Gardener. 

Brooklyn,  If.  Y.,  Sept.  15lh,  1803. 

For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Crinoline  in  the  Garden- 


I  have  great  regard  for  the  ladies,  but  must  tell 
them  that  their  broad  phylacteries  do  spoil  our 
gardens.  Paths  wide  enough  for  their  ampli- 
tude can  not  well  be  afforded.  The  consequence 
is  that  if  a  delicate  plant  or  trailing  vine  hap- 
pens to  stand  near  the  margin  of  a  border,  it  is 
sure  to  be  crumpled  or  broken  down  by  their 
hoops ;  and  if  they  lean  over  to  admire  or  pluck 
a  flower,  they  are  very  apt  to  crush  down  sev- 
eral more.  Aud  then,  what  havoc  they  make  in 
the  green-house— bruising  plauts  and  knocking 
over  the  pots  !  How  many  an  amiable  garden- 
er scowls  when  a  row  of  hoops  come  to  his  door ! 

Dear  ladies,  what  shall  be  done  ?  Can't  you 
take  in  sails,  say  about  one  half?  Think  about 
it.  Some  of  our  lady  friends  love  to  do  light 
work  in  the  garden,  morning  and  evening, 
but  what  sad  work  the  dewy  plants  and  the 
wet  ground  make  with  their  trailing  skirts! 
"  Bloomer "  dresses  we  do  not  approve  of 
for  the  parlor,  or  even  the  street,  or  church, 
but  in  the  garden  and  kitchen,  why  may  not 
something  of  the  sort  be  wisely  adopted  ?  The 
ladies  are  full  of  ingenious  contrivances,  and  it 
would  seem  that  they  could  devise  some  sort  of 
compromise  between  the  sweeping  folds  of  the 
parlor  dress  and  the  genuine  Bloomer,  cos- 
tume. "Why  should  not  our  fashion-mongers 
contrive  a  working  dress  for  ladies,  neat,  mod- 
est, tasteful,  aud  becoming?        Gardener. 


Apples  keep  best  when  left  upon  the  trees 
until  quite  late  in  the  season.  A  white  frost, 
and  even  a  slight  freezing  will  not  injure  them. 
Pick  carefully,  and  leave  them  in  the  orchard 
or  out-house  to  sweat  for  a  few  days,  and  only 
take  to  a  cool  dry  cellar  when  there  is  danger 
of  their   being  injured  by  hard  frost. 


308 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[October, 


SPECIMENS    OF    GLADIOLUS    FROM    OUR    EXHIBITION    TABLES. 
Sketched  and  Engraved  for  the  American  Agriculturist. 


The  Improved  French  Hybrid  Gladiolus. 

— • — ■ 
Some  years  ago  two  or  more  sorts  of  Sword 
Lily  or  Corn-Flag  were  grown  in  the  gardens, 
but  they  did  not  excite  any  great  admiration. 
Within  a  few  years  the  Gladiolus  Gandavensis  and 
its  varieties  have  been  introduced,  and  have 
become  deservedly  popular.  Their  great  beauty, 
variety  of  color,  and  ease  of  cultivation  make 
them  among  the  most  valuable  plants  for 
garden  decoration.  The  engraving  represents 
a  group  of  flowers  selected  from  a  most  magni- 
ficent collection  exhibited  at  the  Agriculturist 
office  by  Mr.  Andrew  Bridgeman,  of  New-York. 
The  G.  Gandavensis,  is  so  called  because  it  origi- 
nated in  Gand  (Ghent),  and  it  is  claimed  that  it 
is  a  hybrid  between  two  old  species ;  however 
this  may  be,  it  sports  wonderfully  and  has  pro- 
duced a  great  variety  of  most  beautiful  sorts, 


differing  in  the  size  of  flower,  color  and  mark- 
ings. Some  are  pure  white  with  most  delicate 
purple  lines;  others  unite  white,  yellow  and  pur- 
ple, scarlet  or  crimson,  shaded  in  the  most  pleas- 
ing manner.  The  named  varieties  number  sev- 
eral hundreds,  and  sell  at  the  stores  from  20  cts. 
to  $3  a  bulb,  according  to  their  rarity.  The 
plants  will  grow  in  any  good  soil ;  the  colors 
come  better  if  the  ground  is  not  made  too  rich. 
The  bulbs  may  be  planted  as  soon  as  the  frost  is 
well  out  of  the  ground.  The  best  effects  are 
produced  by  planting  strongly  contrasted  col- 
ors in  groups  of  three  to  Ave.  When  a  flow- 
er stem  appears,  it  needs  Vo  be  tied  to  a  neat 
light  stake  to  keep  it  from  being  blown  over  by 
the  winds.  When  the  frost  cuts  down  the  fo- 
liage, the  bulbs  are  to  be  taken  up  and  placed 
in  a  sheltered  place  to  ripen,  and  then  put  up 
in  paper  bags  until  the  time  for  Spring  planting. 


The  bulb  planted  in  the  Spring,  will  usually  be 
found  to  have  multiplied  to  two  or  three ;  and 
frequently  numerous  small  bulbs,  not  larger 
than  peas,  are  found  attached.  In  case  of  a  choice 
variety,  these  minute  bulbs  should  be  carefully 
saved  and  planted,  as  they  will  in  a  couple  of 
years  also  become   good    flowering    bulbs. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  select  varieties  of 
Gladiolus.  It  does  not  by  any  means  comprise 
all  the  flue  sorts,  but  these  kinds  are  g_ood  and 
will  give  satisfaction :  Adonis,  Archimede, 
Brenchleyensis,  Calypso,  Comte  de  Morn}',  Cour- 
anti  fulgens,  Daphne,  Don  Juan,  Edith,  Eugene 
Verdier,  Junon,  Louis  Van  Houtte,  Mathilde  de 
Landevoisin,  Mazeppa,  Napoleon  III.,  Neptune, 
Osiris,  Premices  de  Mont  Rouge,  Vesta. 


The  Rose  as  a  Bedding  Plant. 

Of  upright  roses  we  have  often  spokeu,  and 
shall  again  speak,  for  this  is  their  true  position. 
But  for  variety  and  novelty,  it  may  frequently  be 
recommended  to  use  them  as  bedding  plants, 
pegging  them  to  the  surface  of  the  ground. 
To  do  this  well,  a  bed  of  deep,  rich  soil 
should  be  prepared.  The  work  should  be  done 
with  special  thoroughness  at  the  outset,  because 
the  earth  can  not  be  enriched  aud  spaded  after- 
ward, as  well  as  with  standing  roses.  Set  the 
plants  1}  to  2  feet  apart  each  way,  according  to 
their  habit  of  growth,  using  only  young  plants. 
Peg  down  the  branches  to  the  earth,  from  the 
very  start,  and  spread  them  equally  on  every 
side,  like  verbenas,  so  as   to  cover  the  ground. 

Of  the  kinds  most  suitable  for  this  treatment, 
we  would  name  for  the  latitude  of  this  city 
and  southward :  Deconiensis  (Tea),  Aggripma 
(China),  Mrs.  Bosanquet  and  Malmaison  (Bour- 
bons ;)  for  northward  of  this,  we  would  propose : 
Hermosa  (Bourbon),  Giant  of  Battles,  Mad. 
Laffay,  and  Due  d'Aumaule  (hybrid  perpetuals). 
Cover  these  beds  with  coarse  litter  in  the  Fall, 
uncover  by  middle  of  April,  and  prune  out  the 
oldest  wood  aud  peg  all  down  in  good  order. 
The  effect  of  such  a  bed  is  very  pleasing. 

About  Crosses  and  Hybrids. 


W.  K.  R,  of  Hastings,  N.  Y.,  asks  us  to  dis- 
cuss this  subject  iu  the  Agriculturist.  We  can 
only  briefly  answer  some  of  his  questions  with- 
out going  at  length  into  a  matter  which  is  in- 
volved in  much  obscuritjr,  and  one  which  treated 
at  any  length  would  concern  but  a  small  minor- 
ity of  our  readers.  Those  interested  in  the 
subject  will  find  some  very  pleasant  reading  in 
the  8th  chapter  of  Darwin  on  the  Origin  of 
Species.  The  term  hybrid  is  used  very  loosely 
by  gardeners  and  florists.  By  the  best  authors  it 
is  applied  only  to  the  product  of  one  species  fer- 
tilized by  another  distinct  species.  Hybrids  are 
rarely  fertile,  though  they  may  be  fertilized  by 
the  pollen  of  one  of  the  parents,  and  then  the 
progeny  tends  to  revert  to  the  original  character 
of  the  parents.  Hybrids  take  place  in  nature, 
though  rarely,  and  are  produced  to  some  extent 
by  the  care  of  the  cultivator.  The  product  of 
the  union  of  two  varieties  of  the  same  species 
is  properly  called  a  cross,  or  cross  breed ;  it  takes 
place  with  the  greatest  facility,  and  requires 
much  care  to  prevent  the  loss  in  this  way  of  de- 
sirable sorts  of  cultivated  plants.  We  know  of 
no  instance  where  the  crossing  extends  from 
genus  to  genus.  We  shall  look  with  much  in- 
terest for  the  result  of  Mr.  R's.  experiment  in 
impregnating  the  Tomato  with  the  pollen  of 
the  Red  Pepper.  Should  a  hybrid  be  obtained,  it 
will  go  to  show  that  the  Tomato  was  improp- 


1803.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


309 


erly  separated  from  the  genus  Solarium.  We 
know  of  no  instance  in  which  the  character  of 
the  immediate  fruit  is  affected  by  a  cross  fertil- 
ization, the  influence  being  confined  to  the  seed, 
and  showing  its  effects  in  the  next  generation, 
from  the  seed.  We  do  not  assert  that  this  is  a 
settled  point;  we  have  had  statements  to  the 
contrary,  but  have  seen  no  proof.  It  is  an  in- 
teresting subject  for  experiment  and  observation. 

Mil   IHOT8EM©IL]IDo~ 

"  Bitters  "—Worse  than  a  Humbug. 

The  land  is  full  of  bitterness.  We  speak  not  now 
of  the  woe  and  anguish  caused  by  war,  but  of  what 
promises  to  be  scarcely  less  disastrous  iu  its  results 
upon  individuals  and  families.  During  the  present 
year  we  have  traveled  four  or  Ave  thousand  miles, 
through  different  parts  of  the  country.  In  all  that 
route  there  has  hardly  been  a  point  where  the  eye 
did  not  meet  an  advertisement  of  somebody's 
"Bitters."  Upon  every  available  space,  on  the 
walls  of  buildings,  on  the  fences,  on  the  surface  of 
rocks  and  stones,  upon  the  bridges  aud  telegraph 
poles,  indeed  every  where  " Bitters," — " Strength- 
ening Bitters,"  "Healing  Bitters,"  "Invigorating 
Bitters,"  "  Life  Saving  Bitters,"  or  some  other 
"Bitters" — stare  one  in  the  face.  This  is  most 
strikingly  the  case  iu  some  portions  of  Illinois. 
So,  too,  the  newspapers  abound  in  advertisements 
of  these  various  bitters  ;  aud  in  every  hotel,  tavern, 
and  down  to  the  smallest  3  by  i  drinking  shop,  at- 
tractive rows  of  bottles  labeled  "Bitters"  are  every 
where  to  be  seen.  We  know  of  large  glass  manu- 
factories run  almost  exclusively  in  the  manufacture 
of  bottles  for  Bitters. — Now  all  this  costs  a  "  mint 
of  money,"  and  this  money  has  already  come  and 
is  coming  from  those  who  buy  aud  drink  th06e 
Bitters — showing  an    immense  consumption. 

But  what  are  these  "  Bitters  "  ? — With  scarcely  an 
exception,  they  are  essentially  a  cheap  form  of  al- 
cohol— whiskey,  gin,  or  rum.     Most  contain  a  little 
bitter  extract — some  more,  some  less — added  as  a 
blind,  or  as  a  Blight  tonic.    Take  out  the  alcohol, 
and  all  that  remains  would  not  amount  to  much — 
good  or  bad.    Whiskey,  or  giu,  that  under  its  own 
proper  name  would  not  seil  for  fifty  ceuts  a  gallon, 
is  put  into  bottles  costing  4  to  7  cents  each,  five  to 
eight  bottles  to  the  gallon,  labeled  at  the  cost  of  a 
penny,  and  sold  at  a  dollar  a  bottle,  or  at  least  five 
dollars  a  gallon.    The  attractive  label,  the  great 
stories  told  of  the  healing  and  strengthening  prop- 
erties, lead  people  to  pay  these  prices.    This  much 
;s  sheer  humbug. — But  there  is   a  worse  feature. 
We  stopped  at  the  house  of  a  western  farmer  who 
would  not  for  the  world  incite   hi   his  children  a 
taste  for  and  love  of  afcohotic  drinks.    Yet  influ- 
enced by  the  advertisement  iu  his  family  paper,  and 
a  religious  one  at  that,  he  had  bought  and  used 
several  bottles  of  these  bitters,  and  supposing  us  to 
be  wearied  with  a  long  day's  travel,  he  proffered  us 
a  glass   of  "strengthening  bitters."    Two  of  his 
little  boys  were  given  a  spoonful  each  before  break- 
fast— "to  keep  off  the  chills."    We  told  him  he 
was  feeding  them  with  gin,  and  faying  the  founda- 
tion for  a  drunkard's  life  and  a  drunkard's  grave. 
We  coustautfy  meet  with  persons  who  daily  use 
these  "bitters."     The  temporary  stimufaut  afforded 
by  the  alcohol,  deceives  them  into  the  belief  that 
they  are  "invigorating,"  or  "strengthening."  When 
the  excitement  subsides,  and  the  natural  reaction 
and  lassitude  follow,  they  take  another  dose,  aud 
so  go  on.    We  say  in  all  seriousness,  that  the  enor- 
mous sale  and  use  of  these  "  bitters  "  is  doing  more 
to  produce  wide-spread  dissipation  and  drunken- 
ness, by  begetting  a  taste  for  alcohol,  than  can  be 
counteracted  by  the  efforts  of  all  the  Temperance 
Societies  that  have  yet.  been  organized.    Let  us  beg 
of  every  man  who  would  not  bring  up  his  family  to 
be  drunkards,  aud  who  would  keep  out  of  temp- 
tation himself,  to  banish  these  "  bitters  "  of  every 
kind  from  his  house,  aud  discourage  their  sale  iu 
the  community.    We  have  had  column  after  columu 


of  advertisements  of  them  offered  for  the  Agricul- 
turist, but  we  would  as  soon  admit  advertisements 
of  sugar  pellets  which  we  knew  to  contain  conceal- 
ed arsenic  or  strychnine. 


A   Lung   Protector. 


A  very  absurd  fashion  requires  men,  while  wear- 
ing four  to  eight  thicknesses  of  cloth  around  most 
of  the  upper  part  of  the  body,  to  leave  an  open 
pface  iu  front  of  the  fungs  for  the  display  of  then- 
white  linen  bosoms,  and  gold  studs — if  they  have 
them.  This  front  of  the  neck  and  upper  chest  is 
the  very  part  that  should  be  most  carefully  guarded 
from  changes  of  temperature,  for  the  lungs  lie  just 
back  of  aud  under  the  collar  bone.  As  we  can  not 
compel  the  correction  of  the  fashions,  by  anything 
we  may  say  in  the  unfashiouable  American  Agricul- 
turist, let  us  give  our  antidote,  one  which  has  to 
our  certain  knowledge  proved  efficacious  in  several 
instances. — There  is  a  species  of  soft  leather,  sonic- 
times  real  "  Chamois  "  skin,  but  usually  a  sheep- 
skin imitation,  which  is  sold  almost  every  where 
for  25  to  50  cents  per  skin.  The  imitation  answers 
as  welt  as  the  real  Chamois  (pronounced  shammy). 


FORM   OF   TIIE   I'HOTECTOIt. 

From  the  smaller  end  of  the  skin,  cut  off  a  piece 
tike  the  engraving  above.  The  rest  of  the  skin 
maybe  used  for  cleaning  carriages,  windows,  silver, 
etc.  Put  strings  ou  each  corner,  to  fasten  it  around 
the  neck  and  waist.  This  kind  of  leather  is  so  open 
that  one  can  blow  a  light  out  through  it,  and  on 
this  account  it  is  valuable  to  shut  out  cold,  and  at 
the  same  time  not  retain  perspiration.  It  can  be 
washed  when  soiled,  the  same  as  flannel,  except 
that  the  suds  aud  rinsing  water  should  not  be  quite 
so  hot  as  for  flannel. 


For  a  Sore  Throat 


The  best  remedy  we  have  found  for  a  sore  throat, 
is,  ou  retiring  to  rest,  to  rub  on  the  outside  a  little 
"  Volatile  Liniment"  and  swallow  slowly  a  few  drops 
of  paregoric,  letting  it  dissolve  iu  the  saliva,  and 
spread  along  down  the  inflamed  parts.  The  lini- 
ment is  generally  sufficient  atone.  Volatile  Lini- 
ment is  simply  a  mixture  of  sweet  oif  and  aqua 
ammonia  (called  liquid  hartshorn).  These  arc  put 
in  a  vial  aud  shakeu,  using  such  proportion  as  to 
form  a  semi-liquid  soap.  An  ounce  or  two  can  be 
got  cheapty  at  the  druggist's,  and  if  tightly  corked, 
it  wilt  keep  for  months.  Rub  it  on  with  the  fingers. 
We  find  nothing  better  than  this  for  soreness  of  the 
chest  or  joints,  or  for   iameuess,  stiff  neck,  etc. 


To  Stop  Coughing. 

Siight  irritation  of  the  throat  may  be  relieved  by 
sippiug  a  little  thick  slippery  elm  tea,  or  by  suck- 
ing a  piece  of  gum  arable.  These  articles  coat  over 
the  mucous  membrane,  and  prevent  the  irritation 
of  the  air.  A  very  few  drops  of  paregoric  hefd  in 
the  mouth,  and  allowed  to  trickie  dowu  the  throat, 
wiil  allay  coughing.  The  best  cough  medicine 
for  children,  one  which  wo  have  used  for  several 
years   with  eutire  satisfaction  is   the    following : 


Mix  iu  a  vial  equal  parts  of  paregoric,  castor  oil,  and 
syrup  of  ipecac.  Always  shake  well  just  before  using. 
A  few  drops  of  this  swallowed,  but  not  washed 
down  by  water  or  other  fluid,  witf  almost  always 
BOOthe  a  cough.  Repeat  the  dose  as  often  as  (he 
coughing  returns.  From  one-fourth  to  one-half  a 
teaspoonful,  or  even  a  whole  teaspoonful  maybe 
given  when  a  lesser  quantity  does  not  suffice.  A 
large  dose  alter  a  full  meal  may  produce  a  little 
nausea,  Children  subject  to  coughs  should  cat 
very  light  suppers,  and  indeed  all  children  should 
cat  much  less,  aud  simpler  food,  at  night  than  at 
morning  or  noon.  The  above  mixture  may  bo 
kept  on  hand  ready  prepared,  as  it  does  not  deterio- 
rate if  kept  corked.  It  may  interest  those  afraid 
of  mineral  medicines  (though  they  partake  freely 
of  common  salt  which  is  a  mineral)  to  know  that 
the  ingredients  arc  all  "  vegetable." 


Soda  and  Mineral  Waters. 


If  properly  prepared,  "  soda  water"  is  a  refresh 
ing  and  harmless   drink.    Though   it  contains  no 
soda,  it   is  called  "  soda  water"  because  soda  was 
formerly   used    in    its   preparation ;    as    made   at 
present,  it  is  simply  a  solution  of  carbonic  acid  in 
water.   Carbonic  acid  is  a  gas  which  is  very  soluble 
in  water :  it  is  the  ingredient  which  gives  the  effer- 
vescence  or   sparkling    quality    to    bottled   cider, 
ale,   beer,   etc.,  and  is  very  strikingly  perceptible 
when  a  little  saleratus  or  cooking  soda  is  dropped 
into  vinegar.     It   is  seen   bubbling  up  from  the 
liquid,  aud  making  it  to  froth  and  foam.     Under 
ordinary  circumstances,   water    absorbs    its    own 
bulk  of  this  gas;   it   is  present,   to  a  greater  or 
less  extent,  in  all  drinking  water,  and  it  is  its  ab- 
sence which  gives  water   that  has  beeu  boiled  60 
flat  a  ta6te.    Under  pressure,  water  will  absorb  a 
much    larger    quantity  of  carbonic  acid,   and    by 
means  of  a  force-pump,  the  gas  may  be  forced  into 
water   in   a  strong   closed   vessel,    and    it   is  thus 
made  to  dissofve  many  times  its  own  luiik  of  the 
gas.     This  is  the  way  in  which  soda  water  is  made. 
The  fountain,  a  strong  vessel  of  iron  or  of  copper 
fined  with  tin,  contains  pure  water,  and  the  gas  is 
driven   in  by  means  of  a  force-pump,  until  15  or 
more  times  its  bulk  of  gas  has  been  absorbed  by  the 
water.     Wtien  an  outlet  is  afforded  by  opening  the 
stop-cock  of  the  fountain,  the  elastic  gas  forces 
the  water  out,  and  its  escape,  from  its  solution  in 
water  tinder  pressure,  causes  the  foaming  which 
we  see  iu  a  glass  of  soda  water.     When  taken  into 
the  stomach,  carbonic  acid  is  not  only  a  pleasant 
tonic,  in  health,  but  very  useful  iu  some  forms  of 
disease,  and  we  often  have  prescribed  in   fevers, 
soda  powders,  which   are   made  of    carbonate  of 
soda  aud  tartaric  acid,  and  produce  soda  water  in 
an  extempo- 
raneous way. 
"  M  i  nerai 
waters  "  are 
those  natur- 
al w  a  t  e  r  s 
which     con- 
tain so  much 
mineral  mat- 
ter   in   solu- 
tion    as     to 
affect        the 
taste, and  im- 
part a  medi- 
cinal quality. 

These  waters  hold  iu  solution  various  salts,  iron, 
sulphur,  etc.,  and  various  springs  of  water  of  this 
character  have  a  high  reputation.  In  our  own 
country,  the  Saratoga  and  several  other  noted 
springs  are  places  of  great  resort  for  invalids  ;  and 
in  Europe  there  arc  certain  springs  of  even  greater 
reputation.  If  is  probable  that  the  good  effects  of 
these  waters  are  in  great  measure  counteracted  by 
the  miserable  hotel  life  which  is  followed  at  such 
pfaces.  All  the  celebrated  waters  have  been  accu- 
rately auafyzed,  and  chemical  skill  has  succeeded 
iu  making  them  artificially,  and  in  reproducing 
exactly  similar  water  to  that  furnished  by  the 
celebrated  medicinal  springs.    Now,  one  can  drink 


rOHTACLE  GLASS  SODA  FOUNTAIN. 


310 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[OCTOBEtt, 


the  waters  without  the  annoyance  of  travel  or  the 
discomfort  of  a  watering-place  hotel,  but  surround- 
ed by  the  conveniences  of  his  own  home.  One  of 
the  most  successful  manufacturers  of  such  artificial 
waters  is  Mr.  Carl  Shultz,  of  the  firm  of  Sliultz  & 
Worker,  of  this  City.  Mr.  Sliultz  has  brought 
his  well-known  chemical  knowledge  to  the  produc- 
tion of  an  article  of  general  utility.  The  waters  are 
put  up  in  strong  glass  fountains,  the  soda  fountain 
in  miniature,  and  the  plain  carbonic  acid  (or  soda) 
water,  or  the  various  mineral  waters,  can  be  drawn 
in  the  room  of  the  patient,  in  all  perfection  and 
purity.  As  usually  drawn  from  tinned  copper  foun- 
tains, there  is  a  danger  of  metallic  impregnation,  as 
the  tin  used  for  this  purpose  is  most  generally  adul- 
terated with  lead.  In  the  apparatus  used  by  Messrs. 
S.  &  W.,  there  is  no  possibility  that  such  an  impu- 
rity can  occur.  The  water  is  liberated  from  the 
fountain  by  touching  a  spring  with  the  finger,  and 
may  be  drawn  in  any  quantity  desired.  We  present 
an  engraving  of  one  of  these  fountains,  which  are 
really  neat,  convenient  affairs.  They  are  sent 
around  to  families  ready  filled,  and  the  bottles  are 
called  for  when  empty,  or  exchanged  for  others. 
The  low  price  (10  to  15  cents  per  quart  fountain,) 
at  which  soda  and  several  kiuds  of  mineral  waters 
are  delivered,  is  an  important  consideration,  and 
they  are  worthy  the  attention  of  physicians  aud 
others  haying  occasion  to  use  them. 

For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Water,  Hard  and  Soft. 


The  medicinal  effects  of  water  are  not  enough 
considered.  Every  one  kuows  that  there  is  some 
friction  in  the  kitchen  when  hard  water  has  to  be 
employed  for  washing,  but  there  is  as  much  fric- 
tion in  the  human  frame  when  it  is  used  constant- 
ly for  drinking.  Medical  men,  from  Hippocrates 
to  this  day,  testify  that  the  habitual  use  of  hard 
water  tends  to  constipate  the  bowels.  The  water 
for  domestic  use  in  Liverpool,  is  quite  hard,  aud  a 
large  proportion  of  the  inhabitants  suffer  from 
visceral  obstructions,  a  malady  which  generally 
abates  when  the  sufferers  leave  the  city  aud  go 
where  soft  water  is  at  eommaud.  In  the  best  hy- 
dropathic establishments  of  Europe  aud  this  coun- 
try, the  aim  of  the  physicians  is,  to  get  the  "  softest 
aud  purest  water."  At  the  famous  Malvern 
institution,  where  thousands  of  invalids  resort 
annually  to  drink  the  healing  springs,  "  the  spring 
water  in  the  highest  repute  for  medicinal  quality, 
is  a  water  only  remarkable  for  its  purity." 

"Who  does  not  know  that  horses  have  an  instinc- 
tive love  of  soft  water,  and  refuse  that  from  wells, 
if  they  can  have  access  to  running  streams.  It  is 
the  tendency  of  such  water  to  produce  a  rough 
coat  on  horses,  as  well  as  to  disturb  their  diges- 
tion. In  England,  where  great  pains  are  taken  with 
race  horses,  soft  water  is  often  carried  for  miles 
to  the  raec-course,  lest  the  horses  should  suffer 
from  hard  water  furnished  on  the  ground.  Youatt 
says  :  "  Instinct  or  experience  has  made  the  horse 
conscious  of  this  (the  difference  in  water,)  for  he 
will  never  drink  hard  water  if  he  has  access  to  soft ; 
he  will  leave  the  most  transparent  water  of  the 
well  for  a  river,  although  the  water  may  be  turbid, 
and  even  for  the  muddiest  pool."  The  same  thing- 
is  true,  more  or  less,  with  sheep  and  other  stock. 
From  this,  it  is  plainly  of  much  importance  to 
provide  wholesome  water  for  our  families  and  for 
our  domestic  animals.  For  home  use,  where  chil- 
dren and  others  suffer  from  the  water  in  common 
use,  a  filtering  cistern,  or  one  of  the  various  filters 
in  market  becomes  an   indispensible  article.     M. 

[Pure  water  is  desirable,  but  spring  water  may 
be  as  impure  as  that  from  wells.  All  water  passing 
through  the  soil,  dissolves  out  soluble  minerals 
in-  salts.  For  this  reason  the  water  of  running 
streams  is  mineralized.  The  ordinary  filter  will 
not  remove  these  dissolved  substances  :  it  merely 
takes  out  the  coarser  materials.  Rain-water  is  the 
only  pure  liquid  to  be  depended  upon.  If  caught 
from  high,  clean  roofs,  and  kept  in  clean  cisterns, 
filtering  is  unnecessary.  The  peculiar  taste  is  ow- 
ing to  the  absence  of  flavoring  earthy  sails.    After 


a  little  practice,  rain  water  is  relished  better  than 
any  well  or  spring  water.  We  have  not  used  any- 
thing but  cloud-distilled  water  for  years,  and  now 
well  water  has  a  disagreeable  mineral  taste.— Ed.] 


Water-Proof  Walks. 


A  method  of  making  hard  dry  walks  is  coming 
into  use  in  some  parts  of  England,  which  in  cer- 
tain circumstances  must  be  excellent.  A  hard  dry 
bottom  being  prepared,  it  is  coated  with  about  two 
inches  of  hydraulic  mortar,  made  by  mixing  togeth- 
er about  six  measures  of  clean  gravel,  three  meas- 
ures of  sharp  sand,  and  one  measure  of  good  hy- 
draulic lime — usually  called  water-lime.  The  best 
hydraulic  lime  in  England  is  called  Portland  Ce- 
ment. Probably  a  larger  proportion  of  our  com- 
mon hydraulic  lime  would  be  required.  Those  who 
have  not  access  to  sea-shore  gravel,  can  usually  get 
that  which  will  answer,  by  sifting  over  any  soil 
which  contains  pebbles  and  gravel.  This  will  be 
improved  by  washing  it,  which  can  be  readily  done 
by  putting  a  bushel  or  so  iu  a  barrel,  and  fill  with 
water,  stir  it  well,  and  pour  off  the  water  rapidly. 
The  washing  may  be  repeated  two  or  three  times  if 
necessary.  As  the  mixture  sets  quickly,  only  a  few 
bushels  should  be  wet  at  a  time,  and  this  be  applied 
at  ouce  and  smoothed  down.  The  surface  should 
be  raised  in  the  middle,  and  slope  gently  and  evenly 
to  the  sides.  The  mortar  can  be  applied  and 
smoothed  with  a  common  shovel.  It  will  thus 
form  a  hard  surface  from  which  water  will  flow 
off.  Unless  the  walk  bed  be  hard,  or  thorough- 
ly under-drained,  so  as  to  be  dry  to  the  depth  of  12 
or  15  inches,  it  will  heave  and  crack  by  freezing  iu 
wiuter.  A  walk  like  the  above  will  not  be  expen- 
sive, aud  if  well  made  will  last  a  century,  and  not 
be  troubled  with  weeds  or  worms.  The  same  bed- 
ding answers  admirably  for  the  floors  of  cellars, 
green-houses,  poultry  houses,  etc. 


'Cheap  Thread— One  Cent  a  Spool 


i" 


On  our  way  home  from  the  Agriculturist  Office 
last  night,  we  saw  a  poor  laboring  woman  exhibit- 
ing to  her  friend  a  lot  of  spool  thread,  which  she 
had  "bought  very  cheap  of  a  'street  merchant' — 
only  one  cent  a  spool."  This  morning  we  visited 
several  of  the  "  street  merchants  "  who  have  dis- 
played upon  the  sidewalks,  and  at  the  street  cor- 
ners, large  heaps,  a  bushel  or  more  each,  of  this 
cheap  thread,  and  we  bought  a  few  samples  to  ex- 
amine. Though  appearing  to  be  full  spools  of 
good  thread,  on  measuring  the  length,  the  average 
amount  on  a  spool  is  only  11^  yards !  At  this  rate 
"200  "  yards  would  cost  about  18  cents.  The  best 
spool  cotton  thread  is  retailed  now  at  8  to  10  cents, 
the  spools  warranted  to  contain,  and  they  generally 
do  contain,  200  yards.  But  the  worst  thing  about 
this  "  cheap  thread  "  is,  that  it  has  no  strength. 
The  poor  women  will  find,  after  spending  hours  and 
days  iu  using  it,  that  the  stitches  will  break  very 
readily,  and  before  an  ordinary  garment  is  worn 
out,  almost  as  much  good  thread  will  be  needed 
for  mending,  as  would  have  sufficed  to  make  up  the 
garment  at  first.  The  truth  is,  poor  thread  is  very 
dear,  even  if  it  be  given  to  a  person.  The  very  best 
is  cheapest,  at  any  price.  We  allude  to  this  matter 
now,  because  that,  owing  to  the  present  higher 
price  of  thread,  hundreds  of  thousands  of  spools 
of  poor  stuff  are  beiug  worked  into  the  market — 
often  mixed  with  better  sorts. 


Sealing  Fruit-Bottles. 

Mrs.  C.  II.  M.  Newell,  Hampden  Co.,  Mass., 
writes  to  the  Agriculturist ;  "  Among  your  many 
plans  for  securing  jars  of  fruit,  I  find  no  mention 
of  one  that  I  have  used  several  years,  and  find  it 
preferable  to  auy  kind  of  patent  fastening,  and 
even  better  than  the.  patty-pan  arrangement.  Cut 
circular  pieces  of  thick,  stout  cloth,  sufficiently 
large  to  tic  over  the  jar  or  can.  On  these,  cover 
wilh  cement  a  space  that  will  fit  the  opening,  and 


extend  over  the  rim.  While  filling  the  jars,  lay  the 
cemented  covers  on  the  bottom  of  the  stove  oven, 
to  soften.  When  the  jar  is  ready,  wipe  the  rim  dry, 
aud  apply  the  covers,  cement  side  down,  smooth- 
ing out  the  wrinkles  and  tying  it  with  a  strong 
string.  Afterward  cover  the  top  with  some  of  the 
cement  thinly  spread.  A  few  minutes  will  show, 
by  the  depression  of  the  cover,  that  the  contents 
are  secure.  I  think  you  will  find  it  the  cheapest, 
easiest,  and  most  expeditious  manner  of  scaling 
that  has  come  to  your  notice.  Very  many  use  it, 
and  all  give  it  their  unqualified  approval.  The  ce- 
ment I  use  is  made  with  1  oz.  rosin,  1  oz.  gum 
shellac,  1  cubic  inch  of  bees  wax  :  melt  these  in  a  tin 
cup,  and  mix  thoroughly ;  use  gentle  heat  to  melt 
or  remelt,  as  great  heat  may  granulate  the  shellac." 


Don't  Rock  the  Baby. 

If  all  the  ultimate  consequences  of  one's  acts  are 
to  be  laid  to  his  charge,  the  man  who  invented 
rocking  cradles  for  children,  rests  under  a  fearful 
load  of  responsibility.  The  down-right  murder  of 
tens  of  thousands  of  infants,  and  the  weakened 
brains  of  hundreds  of  thousands  of  adults,  are  un- 
doubted results  of  his  invention.  To  rock  a  child 
in  a  cradle,  or  to  swing  him  in  a  crib,  amounts  to 
just  this  :  the  rapid  motion  disturbs  the  natural  flow 
of  the  blood,  and  produces  stupor  or  drovisiness.  Can 
any  body  suppose  for  a  moment  that  such  an  opera- 
tion is  a  healthful  one?  Every  one  knows  the 
dizzy  and  often  sickening  effect  of  moving  rapidly 
in  a  swing;  yet  wherein  does  this  differ  from  the 
motion  a  child  receives  when  rocked  iu  a  cradle  ? 
It  is  equivalent  to  lying  iu  a  ship  berth  during  a 
violent  storm,  and  that  sickens  nine  people  out  of 
ten.  A  very  gentle,  slow  motion  may  sometimes 
be  soothing,  though  always  of  doubtful  expedi- 
ency,  but  to  move  a  cradle  as  rapidly  as  the  swing 
of  a  pendulum  three  feet  long,  that  is  once  iu  a 
second,  is  positive  cruelty.  We  always  feel  like 
grasping  and  staying  the  arm  of  the  mother  or 
nurse  who,  to  secure  quietude,  swings  the  cradle 
or  crib  with  a  rapidity  equal  to  that  of  a  pendulum 
a  foot  long.  If  any  mother  is  disposed  to  laugh  at 
our  suggestions  or  consider  them  whimsical,  we 
beg  of  her  to  have  abed  or  cot  hung  on  cords,  then 
lie  down  in  it  herself,  and  have  some  one  swing  it 
with  the  same  rapidity  that  she  allows  the  cradleto 
be  rocked.  What  she  will  experience  in  both  head 
and  stomach,  is  just  what  the  infant  experiences. — 

We  insist  that  this  rocking  of  children  is  a  use- 
less habit.  If  not  accustomed  to  rocking,  they  will 
go  to  sleep  quite  as  well  when  lying  quietly,  as 
when  shaken  iu  a  cradle.  If  they  do  not,  there  is 
trouble  from  sickness,  or  hunger,  or  more  likely 
from  an  over-loaded  stomach ;  and  though  the 
rocking  may  produce  a  temporary  stupor,  the 
trouble  is  made  worse  thereafter,  by  the  unnatural 
means  taken  to  produce  quiet  for  the  time  being. 

•-■ -=»o— .-«, 

Curing  Pork  Without  Brine. 

— • — 

A  subscriber,  W.  C,  of  Carbon  Co.,  Pa,  sends  to 
his  co-readers  of  the  American  Agriculturist  his 
method  of  curing  pork,  which  he  has  tried  for  sev- 
eral years  with  good  results,  and  the  plan  is  now 
adopted  by  his  neighbors,  all  deeming  it  superior  in 
several  respects  to  the  brine  method:  "For  each 
hundred  pounds  of  meat,  take  5  lbs.  of  salt,  1  lb. 
of  sugar,  and  }£  ounce  of  saltpeter.  Mix  the  ingre- 
dients well,  then  thoroughly  rub  both  the  flesh  and 
the  skin  sides  of  the  pork.  I  always  do  the  rubbiiii/ 
in  with  the  hand,  although  it  might  be  well  to  use 
something  else  in  cold  weather.  The  meat  should 
be  slightly  cut  from  the  bones  and  filled  with  the 
mixture.  After  this  operation  is  completed,  the 
pork  must  be  layed  out  on  boards  for  three  weeks, 
dropping  on  the  pieces  what  of  the  mixture  may 
remain.  At  the  expiration  of  three  weeks  it  is  fit  for 
the  smoke-house." 

«*-. — —  »—        i  » 

Zinc  Vessels  Poisonous.—"  S.  M.,"  asks  why 
no  notice  of  zinc  milk  pans  has  appeared  in  the 
American  Afirieulttiri.it.      She  thinks    "  they  arc 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


311 


light,  convenient,  cheaper  than  tin,  ami  if  not 
punched  through  hy  sharp  poiuts,  they  are  almost 

everlasting." Answer:— Zinc  is  very  easily  acted 

upon  chemically  (that  is,  corroded  or  raBted,)  and 
the  salts  formed  are  poisonous  ;  a  very  small  quan- 
tity produces  vomiting.  As  these  salts  are  of  light 
color  and  easily  dissolved,  they  are  not  readily  seen. 
Sour  milk,  fruits,  etc.,  constantly  eat  off  and  dis- 
solve portions  of  the  zinc.  No  substauces  used  for 
human  or  animal  food  should  be  placed  in  zinc 
vessels,  or  those  lined  with  zinc. 


Pickle  the   Small   Onions    for   Soldiers. 


From  a  letter  to  the  American  Agriculturist,  writ- 
ten by  a  nurse  at  one  of  the  soldiers'  hospitals  at 
the  South,  and  from  a  variety  of  sources,  we  learn 
that  our  soldiers,  both  in  hospitals  and  in  the  field, 
have  a  strong  liking  for  pickled  onions.  Almost 
every  one  cultivating  a  garden  lias  more  or  less  of 
small  onions,  too  small  to  boil  well,  but  just  the 
thing  for  pickling,  and  we  urge  them  to  save  every 
one,  and  pickle  them  to  be  sent  in  bottles,  jars,  or 
wide  mouthed  jugs,  to  the  Sanitary  or  Christian 
Commissions,  or  directly  to  somchospital  or  camp. 
At  our  request  a  good  housekeeper  communicates 
her  method  for  the  readers  of  the  Agriculturist  as 
follows  :  Peel  the  onions  ;  lay  them  in  weak  brine 
over  night ;  scald  them  in  fresh  water  for  live  min- 
utes, not  to  soften  them ;  drain  off  all  the  water ; 
ponr  over  them  hot  viuegar  previously  seasoned 
with  a  little  cloves,  mustard,  and  pepper  boiled  in. 
The  stronger  the  vinegar,  the  less  spices  required 
to  keep  them.  After  standing  two  or  three  days, 
pour  off  the  vinegar,  scald,  and  return  it  to  the 
onions.  They  may  then  be  kept  in  any  convenient 
covered  vessel. 

Drying  Green  Corn— Good  Method. 

"  Housekeeper,"  sends  to  the  American,  Agricul- 
turist her  method  of  preserving  green  sweet  corn, 
which  she  says  is  always  successful.  ( We  have  for  a 
long  time  satisfactorily  practised  a  similar  method 
both  with  sweet  corn  and  the  common  sorts) : 
"  Gather  the  corn  while  still  soft ;  simply  scald  it  on 
the  ears,  not  boiling  it  soft ;  cut  it  off  with  a  knife; 
spread  it  on  plates,  and  dry  quickly  in  the  snu  when 
hot,  and  by  the  fire  or  in  an  oven,  at  night,  and 
when  the  sun  is  not  shining  warm.  It  sours  quick- 
ly, and  therefore  needs  rapid  drying,  but  too  high 
heat  spoils  it.  Keep  in  a  bag  in  a  dry  place.  The 
secret  of  having  it  good  when  cooked,  is  to  soak  it 
over  night,  and  boil  it  well  in  the  same  water.  It 
is  then  almost  as  good,  at  any  time  of  the  year,  as 
when  first  gathered.  Add  no  more  water  in  boiling, 
than  will  cook  away,  but  avoid  the  least  scorching. 
Any  common  corn  may  be  treated  in  the  same  way, 
but  is  improved  by  adding  a  little  sugar  when  cook- 
ing. Season  with  salt,  and  milk  and  butter  boiled 
in,  the  same  as  for  green  peas  or  beans.  Cream  is 
still  better." 


"  Higdum." 

A  lady  sends  to  the  Agriculturist  a  recipe  for  a 
pickle  under  the  above  name,  which  she  says  is 
much  liked  by  her  friends.  We  published  some- 
thing similar,  a  few  years  since,  but  can  not  recom- 
mend the  compound  as  a  particularly  attractive  or 
digestible  one.  It  may  be  pleasing  to  some,  and 
healthful  to  those  who  have  good  teeth  to  thorough- 
ly masticate  the  stuff  before  swallowing  it— if  they 
will  use  the  said  teeth  :  "  Take  equal  amounts  of 
onions,  green  tomatoes,  and  of  ripe  cucumbers  from 
which  the  seeds  and  skins  are  removed.  Chop  the 
whole  together  very  fine ;  sprinkle  salt  over  the 
mass,  let  it  stand  over  night,  and  drain  off  the  fluid 
thoroughly  through  a  sieve  or  colauder;  pour  over 
the  mass  and  mix  well  with  it  hot  vinegar,  previ- 
ously boiled  with  plenty  of  mustard,  cloves,  black 
pepper,  and  red  (Cayenne)  pepper.  After  a  few 
days  drain  off  the  vinegar,  scald,  and  return  it. 
Those  who  relish  sweet  oil  in  salads,  add  this,  after 
the  final  scalding.  Some  add  wine  at  the  same  time." 


[We  should  think  there  is  quite  enough  in  a  mix- 
ture like  the  above,  without  adding  the  wine. — Ed.] 


Piclcled  Green  Ceru. — A  lady  corres- 
pondent of  the  American  Agriculturist  says  she  has 
tried  various  methods  for  preserving  green  corn, 
but  has  always  failed  to  keep  it  iu  cans,  or  in  any 
other  way  than  by  drying  or  pickling  it.  She  finds 
that  by  pickling  it  in  strong  vinegar  it  makes  a  very 
good  winter  and  spring  relish. Another  corres- 
pondent directs  as  follows:  To  one  gallon  of  corn 
cut  from  the  cob,  add  one  pint  of  salt.  This  can  be 
freshened  out  by  putting  it  into  clear  water,  letting 
it  stand  about  one  hour,  changing  the  water  three 
or  four  times.  Cooked  in  milk,  with  butter  and 
pepper  added  to  suit  the  taste,  it  forms  a  palatable 
dish  for  winter. 

Apple  BBsitrlei". — "Mary"  of  Alliance,  O., 
communicates  to  the  Agriculturist  the  following 
directions  for  making  apple  butter  :  Boil  a  barrel 
of  cider  from  sweet  apples,  to  one  third  its  origi- 
nal bulk,  after  having  first  taken  out  two  pailfuls  iu 
which  to  cook  the  apples.  Nicely  pare  and  core 
sweet  apples  enough  to  make  two  bushels  of  fruit 
wheu  fiuished.  Boil  these  in  the  cider  which  was 
reserved  for  the  purpose,  until  they  are  a  little 
soft,  then  pour  the  whole  into  the  boiled  eider, 
while  hot,  and  cook  ;  stir  it  until  a  pulp.  Sauce 
thus  prepared,  will  keep  good  for  several  years. 

Bird's  Kest  Sagpo  Fmdding-.— Contrib- 
uted to  the  American  Agriculturist,  by  Mrs.  P.  J.  S., 
of  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.:  Pare  and  cover  enough 
apples  to  cover  the  bottom  of  yonr  pudding  dish. 
Soak  one  cup  of  sago  in  as  much  water  as  it  will 
absorb,  and  pour  it  over  the  apples ;  bake  until  the 
apples  are  cooked  soft.  If  it  dries  much  in  cook- 
ing, add  water.  The  dish  can  be  covered  to  pre- 
vent a  hard  crust  forming.  Other  fruits  can  be 
used  instead  of  apples.  Eat  with  cream,  milk  and 
sugrtr,  "r  other  sauce  made  according  to  the  taste. 


ib©ys  &  (bhm,s»  araraim 


A    GJlaost    Story. 

Do  any  of  our  young  readers  ever  get  frightened  when 

sleeping  nlone  in  a  room,  or  when  going  through  a  wood, 
or  a  secluded  road,  or  by  a  grave  yard,  by  imagining  that 
they  do  see  or  may  see  a  ghost  ?  Doubtless  many  of  them 
have  had  such  experiences.  The  writer  had,  when  a  boy, 
and  lie  has  never  conversed  on  the  subject,  with  a  person 
who  had  not  thus  suffered.  But  he  has  grown  older  and 
wiser  now,  and  after  studying  the  subject,  is  so  thorough- 
ly convinced  that  there  has  never  been  a  real  ghost  and 
never  will  be,  that  he  could  sleep  as  quietly  near  a  ceme- 
tery or  in  a  cave,  as  if  no  hobgoblin  stories  had  ever  been 
whispered  into  childish  ears. — We  have  just  read  a  long 
ghost  story  of  which  the  following  is  the  substance.  A 
man  had  been  fishing  all  day,  and  retired  to  rest  at  night 
at  the  house  of  a  friend.  He  was  awakened  after  midnight 
by  a  tapping  at  his  window,  and  saw  some  white  object 
moving  about  his  room.  He  also  plainly  heard  a  curious 
sound  "  fit,"  "  fit,'1  "  fit."  In  his  fright,  he  called  for  his 
host,  who  ran  in  with  a  light,  but  was  tripped  up,  and 
his  light  put  out  in  the  fall.  Both  sprang  from  the  room, 
being  tripped  several  times  before  reaching  the  door,  and 
they  waited  for  daylight  in  great  terror.  Then  the  mys- 
tery was  thus  explained.  The  fisherman  on  going  to  his 
room  had  unjointed  his  rod  and  carried  it  with  him,  for- 
getting to  remove  the  minnow  (little  fish)  used  as  a  bait. 
A  large  white  cat  coming  in,  hat*  snapped  at  the  bait  and 
been  caught  by  the  hook.  She  uTew  the  line  from  the 
reel  and  wound  it  around  the  bed  posts  and  chairs,  and  in 
striving  to  get  loose  made  the  noise  "fit,"  "fit,"  "fit." 
The  frightened  man  had  heard  these  sounds  and  the  beat- 
ing of  a  lilac  bush  against  the  window,  had  seen  the 
white  ghost  (cat),  and  stumbled  over  the  line.  Every 
ghost  that  has  been  reported,  if  investigated  at  the  time, 
would  prove  to  be  as  unreal,  or  real,  as  the  white  cat 
caught  on  a  fish-hook. 

Intelligence  of  Fishes. 

A  writer  in  a  recent  English  work,  "  The  Angler  Nat- 
uralist," says:  "That  fish  are  not  so  stupid  as  many 
people  suppose,  is  proved  by  a  little  incident  which  was 
observed  at  the  Zoological  Gardens.  In  some  plate-glass 
tanks  were  a  pike  and  several  perches.  These  fishes 
took  no  notice  of  our  entrance,  and  continued  perfectly 
supine,  though  the  keeper  walked  several  times  past  their 


tanks,  as  if  about  t-o  feed  them;  but  when  he  walked  away 
from  them  toward  the  cupboard  where  the  net  with  which 
the  baits  were  caught,  was  kept,  the  stolid  demeanor  ol 
tlie  fish,  both  pike  and  perch,  gave  way  to  the  most  in- 
tense excitement.  They  rushed  to  and  fro  across  their 
enclosures,  straining  their  noses  against  the  glass,  erect- 
ing their  fins,  and  exhibiting  every  token  of  agitation  ; 
and  when  the  keeper,  having  taken  the  net,  proceeded 
with  it  toward  the  bait  tank,  the  whole  shoal  fastened  their 
eyes  upon  him,  following  every  movement,  anil  constant- 
ly veering  round,  as  if  under  magnetic  attraction,  toward 
whichever  part  of  the  room  he  turned.  It  was  evident 
that  these  fish  knew  where  the  net  was  kept,  that  the 
keeper  was  going  to  fetch  it,  and  that  his  doing  so  was  a 
preliminary  to  their  being  fed." 

Hfot  Quite  sx  Meteor. 

A  correspondent  of  the  Agriculturist  communicates  the 
following  incident,  which  recently  occurred  near  Chilli- 
collie,  O. — Some  boys  who  were  playing  in  a  cornfield, 
were  startled  by  a  loud  rumbling  noise  not  far  from  them, 
and  on  searching  for  the  cause,  soon  discovered  a  large 
boulder  (rock),  which  had  evidently  just  arrived  from 
parts  unknown.  One  of  them  applied  his  bare  foot  to  it, 
when  to  his  great  astonishment  he  found  it  extremely  hot, 
as  though  it  had  just  been  ejected  from  the  crater  of  some 
volcano.  Then  there  was,  of  course,  great  wonder  where 
the  strange  rock  could  have  come  from  ;  some  thought  it 
had  fallen  from  the  sky,  as  they  had  read  accounts  of 
such  phenomena;  others  supposed  a  volcano  might  in- 
deed have  burst  out  at  no  great  distance.  If  the  investi- 
gation had  stopped  with  mere  guessing,  as  has  often  hap- 
pened when  strange  occurrences  have  been  observed, 
the  slonc  would  have  made  quite  a  noise  in  the  commu- 
nity; but  some  persevering  youngster  continued  his  ef- 
forts to  solve  the  mystery,  and  was  at  last  rewarded  with 
the  true  explanation.  Soraoone  had  been  burning  brush 
on  a  steep  hill  not  far  distant,  and  the  boulder  being  set 
free  by  the  fire  consuming  the  sticks  which  held  it  in 
place,  had  come  tumbling  down  to  the  plain  below,  and 
thus  the  meteoric  explanation  and  other  startling  theo- 
ries were   quickly  exploded. 

PVew  Puzzles   to  be  Answered* 

No.  53.  Mathematical  Problem.— Contributed  to  the 
American  Agriculturist  by  John  White,  Alleghany  Co  , 
Pa.  A  farmer  bought  a  circular  tract  of  land  at  the  rale 
of  $1  a  foot  for  the  diameter.  He  surrounded  it  with  a 
post  and  rail  fence  at  $2  a  panel,  each  panel  being  12 
feet  long,  and  stocked  it  with  sheep  at  $2  per  head.  His 
sheep  cost  him  three  times  as  much  as  his  fence,  and  he 
had  50  feet  square  of  pasture  for  every  sheep.  What  did 
the  land,  fence,  and  sheep,  each  cost  1 

No.  54.  Illustrated  Rebus.— A  truth  worth  considering. 


Answers  to  Problems  an<l  Frizzles* 

Answers  to  Problems  in  September  Agriculturist  page 
281.  Illustrated  Rebus,  (No.  50).— C  on  tin  ewe  din 
dust  rib  rings  C  on  tent  men  tea;  which,  properly  ar- 
ranged and  read  by  the  sound,  reads  :  Continued  industry 
brings  contentment.  No.  51.  Arithmetical  Problem.— A 
little  study  of  this  example  shows  that  the  key  to  its  so 
lution  is  found  in  the  mathematical  truth  that  "The 
product  of  the  sum  and  difference  of  two  numbers  is 
equal  to  the  difference  of  their  squares."  We  leave  it 
unanswered  for  another  month,  that  our  young  readers 
may  attempt  to  successfully  use  this  key.  Several  have 
already  done  so.  No.  52.  Enigma. — The  mystical  word 
is  Hannah.  No.  49.  Mathematical  Problem.— (August 
No.,  page  249.)    A  could  do  it  in  6  days  ;  B,  in  3  days. 

The  following  have  sent  in  correct  answers  ;  the  num- 
bers indicate  the  problems,  etc.,  answered  by  each: 
Henry  H.  Osgood,  46:  (we  like  to  receive  new  problems, 
accompanied  with  solutions  ;)  Orient,  44  ;  M.  E.  Brother- 
ton,  44;  George  Elcock,  46;  S.  A.  Dickey,  44;  W.  W. 
Dickey,  44;  "Little  Falls,"  46 ;  J.  N.  Miller,  44;  C.  A. 
Kaufman,  44,  L.  O.  Gay,  46;  Charles  T.  Pettit.  48, 
Aaron  S.  Littleton,  4S  ;  James  D.  McGifTert,  40,  50,  51  ; 
W.  Jones  Rodgers,  51 ;  Wat  Van  Flee',  51;  Charles  P. 
Hoffman,  51  ;  W.  Marsh,  49;  John  White,  49,  5t),  51,  52; 
P.O.  Jones,  49:    A.  A.  Rudolph,  52;  C.  ft.  Miller,  49,  50. 


312 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[October, 


CHILDREN      OPENING      THE      GAT  E. T  RUE 

Engraved  for  the  American  Agriculturist. 


POLITENESS, 


What  is  the  first  thought  on  looking  at  this  beautiful 
engraving?  Is  it  about  the  ragged  clothing  of  the 
largest  boy?  No,  certainly  ;  for  his  open,  pleasant  coun- 
tenance, and  his  respectful  salute,  made  by  carrying  his 
hand  to  tiie  place  where  a  hat  ought  to  be,  at  once  make 
you  feel  "  I  like  that  boy."— Not  a  thought  is  given  to  what 
he  wears.  His  homely  garb  makes  his  kindly  look  and 
polite  manner  even  more  noticeable.  Good  manners  are 
better  than  fine  clothing.  That  is  the  first  lesson  of  the 
picture.— But  there  is  something  more  to  be  noticed.  See 
how  trustingly  the  lad's  little  sister  nestles  up  to  his  side, 
and  you  can  also  tell  by  his  brother's  face  that  they  are 
on  the  best  of  terms.  This  lad's  politeness,  then,  is  some- 
thing more  than  appearing  pleasant;  it  springs  from  a 
loving  nature.  He  has  taken  no  lessons  in  the  parlor,  but 
his  heart  prompts  him  to  kind  feelings,  which  show  them- 
selves in  looks  and  actions:  that  is  true  politeness.  We 
have  seen  a  young  man  full  of  smiles  and  bows  for 
young  ladies,  when  in  company,  but  rude  and  selfish 
toward  his  sister  at  home  ran .1  there  arc  young  ladies,  so 
called,  that  are  all  sweetness  in  the  parlor,  but  unfeeling 
in  their  treatment  of  their  mothers;  such  might  learn  a 
good  lesson  from  this  poor  country  lad.  Many  persons 
who  aic  good  at  heart  might  he  greatly  improved  by 
taking  more  pains  to  be  agreeable,  but  it  i*  better  to  be 
good  and  kind,  without  appearing  so,  than  to  appear  so 
w  ithout  possessing  those  traits.  Politeness  may  be  called 
the  oil  of  society,  Which  enables  persons  to  easily  pass 
along  without  unpleasant  friction.  H  has  made  more  than 
one  man's  fortune.  An  instance  i  related  oi  a  former 
Governor  oi  one  of  the  Western  Slates.  When  a  boy,  he 
w  ,u  once  holding  a  calf,  while   his  mother   was   milking 


the  cow.  A  gentleman  approached  and  said,  "  Why  don't 
you  take  off  your  hat,  my  little  man  ?"  "  So  I  will,  sir,  if 
you  will  hold  the  calf,"  replied  Hie  boy,  respectfully. 
The  gentleman  was  pleased  with  the  quick  answer,  but 
still  more  with  the  pleasant  way  in  which  it  was  spoken. 
He  at  once  became  the  boy's  friend,  helped  him  to  an  edu- 
cation, and  the  boy  rose  to  distinction. But  what  arc 

these  children  looking  at?  Something  in  the  picture 
tells  you,  and  it  will  be  pleasant  to  study  it  out.  We  think 
they   have  opened  the  gate   for  a  man  on  horseback. 

Boys'  and  Oirls'  Garden-No.  7. 

The  season  of  flowers  has  nearly  past,  and  if  you  have 
carefully  read  and  thought  about  what  has  been  said  con- 
cerning them,  you  will  no  doubt  wish  that  it  might  have 
been  longer,  to  study  new  specimens.  But  we  have  not 
yet  done  with  the  plants  chosen  for  illustration.  After 
the  flower  comes  tiie  fruit,  and  there  is  something  to  be 
learned  about  this.  In  general  we  are  accustomed  to  re- 
gard fruit  as  something  eatable,  but  correctly  speaking, 
it  is  the  ripened  pistils  of  the  flower,  no  mallei'  what  its 
character.  In  oilier  lessons  wo  have  tried  to  show  you 
the  relation  i»f  ihe  different  parts  of  the  flower,  and  you 
have  probably  observed  that  they  were  ail  subservient  to 
the  pistil?:  the  floral  envelopes  -the  calyx  and  corolla— 
though  thi'v  make  up  the  showy  part  of  the  (lower,  are 
only  intended  to  surround  and  protect  the  more  Impor- 
tant parts.  The  stamens  fulfill  their  office  in  furnishing 
pollen  in  fertilize  the  ovuU  s  contained  in  the  pistil,  in  or- 
der tin'  [In  j  ma]  become  seeds.  The  whole  life  of  the 
plant  i     lirected  towards  the  formation  of  seeds  by  which 


to  continue  its  kind,  and  as  the  seeds  are  contained  in  the 
ripened  pistil,  it  will  be  seen  that  it  is  the  most  important 
part  of  the  flower.  After  the  ovules  are  fertilized,  the 
petals,  stamens,  and  sometimes  the  calyx,  fall  away,  and 
the  pistil  continues  to  grow,  to  accommodate  the  rapidly- 
increasing  seeds.  When  (he  pistil  and  the  enclosed  seeds 
arc  ripe,  they  together  form  the  fruit.  The  fruit  presents 
a  great  many  different  forms,  and  the  pistils  frequently 
become  very  much  changed  from  what  we  have  known 
them  in  the  flower.  It  was  stated  in  the  last  lesson  that 
the  Pea  had  one  of  the  simplest  forms  of  pistil.  Garden 
peas  are  generally  gone  by  this  time,  but  you  will  find 
some  pods  still  on  Hie  Sweet  Pea.  The  pea-pod  is  the 
fruit  of  the  pea:  that  is,  it  is  the  matured  pistil.  The 
change  which  has  taken  place  is  mainly  one  of  size.  The 
little  flat  green  pistil  has  very  much  enlarged,  and  the 
minute  ovules  it  contained,  which  were  smaller  than  a 
pin's  head,  have  become  full-sized  peas.  You  will  recol- 
lect it  was  stated  that  all  the  parts  of  the  flower  were 
to  be  looked  upon  as  leaves  modified  to  serve  a  particular 
purpose,  and  you  had  no  difficulty  in  understanding  that 
this  might  be  the  ease  with  parts  of  the  calyx  and  co- 
rolla; with  the  oilier  pails  of  the  flower  it  is  perhaps 
tmnc  difficult  to  make  you  see  this,  still  the  botanist 
looks  upon  the  pistil  as  a  modified  leaf,  or  leaves,  and  he 
thinks  that  you  can  have  n<>  difficulty  in  imagining  a  pea- 
pod  as  a  leaf  folded  together  and  bearing  the  peas  on  the 
part  where  Ihc  edges  of  the  leaves  meet.     Imagine  the 

edges  of  the  leaves  turned  in  a  little,  and  yon  will  see 
that  they  form  a  place  to  which  Die  ovules  arc  attached. 
This  portion  is  called  the  placenta,  and  is  a  mere  line  in 
the  pea,  but  it  is  much  more  conspicuous  in  other  fruits. 


/ 


1S63.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


313 


The  pistil  of  the  pea,  in  ripening  to  become  the  fruit, 
undergoes  but  little  change  except  that  of  size.  The 
style  withers  away  and  the  ovary  grows  on  to  form  the 
fruit,  which  in  this  case  is  a  pod.  The  ovary  when  ripe 
is  called  the  pericarp  (meaning  around  the  fruit,)  and  this 
in  the  pea  remains  thin  and   leaf-like.     The  fruit  of    the 


Fig.  34.— HALF   OF   A    PEA    POD. 

Morning  Glory  is  unlike  that  of  the  pea  in  several  re- 
spects. The  pistil  of  the  Morning  Glory  is  a  compound 
one  and  we  have  a  compound  fruit.  If  we  cut  across 
the  fruit  before  it  is  quite  ripe  we  find  that  there  are  three 
divisions  separating  it  into  three  compartments  or  cells, 
and  each  of  the  cells  contains  two  large  seeds.— When 
the  fruit  is  quite  ripe  the  pericarp  becomes  dry  and,  paper 
like  and  comes  apart  in  three  pieces  to  allow  the  seeds  to 
fall  out.  The  fruit  of  the  Tomato  looks  very  unlike  that 
of  the  Morning  Glory,  but  upon  cut- 
ting it  open  we  shall  find  that  it  is  not 
so  very  different.  For  this  examina- 
tion it  is  necessary  to  select  a  round- 
ish and  rather  small  Tomato,  as  by 
high  cultivation  the  fruit  has  become 
monstrous  and  very  much  changed 
from  its  natural  condition,  which  is  to 
have  two  or  three  cells.  The  round 
smooth,  and  regularly  shaped  Toma- 
to will,  when  cut  open  crosswise,  generally  present  the 
appearance  represented  in  the  figure  given  below.  You 
will  notice  that  in  ripening  the  pericarp  has  become  very 
much  changed,  instead  of  being  dry  and  thin,  as  in  the 
Pea  and  Morning  Glory,  it  has  become  thick  and  pulpy. 
You  will  generally  find  three  divisions  showing  that  the 
ovary  was  three  ceV.sd.  The  placenta  is  very  large— the 
white  portion  in  the  engraving— and  bears  a  great  number 
of  seeds  distributed  all  over  its  surface.    Each  seed  is 


MORNING 
GLORY  FRUIT. 


Fig.   36. — TOMATO    CUT    OPEN. 

surrounded  by  an  abundant  pulp.  Pulpy  fruits  like  the 
Tomato  are  called  berries.  The  Melon  when  cut  open 
shows  you  three  placentas  to  which  the  seeds  are  attached, 
but  they  are  not  united  in  the  centre,  as  in  the  Tomato. 

Origin  of  the  ZVame,  "  Canada." 

A  book  printed  in  London,  in  1698,  written  by  L.  Hen- 
nepin, and  entitled,  "A  New  Discovery  of  a  Country 
Greater  than  Europe,"  gives  the  following  explanation 
of  the  name  "Canada."  "The  Spaniards  were  the  first 
who  discovered  this  country  ;  but  at  their  arrival,  having 
found  nothing  considerable  in  it,  they  abandoned  it,  and 
called  it  '  II  Capa  di  Nada  ;'  that  is,  a  Cape  of  nothing  ; 
hence  by  corruption  sprung  the  word  Canada,  which  we 
use  in  all  our  maps."  More  recent  explorers  and  settlers 
have  discovered  that  the  name  was  very  far  from  expres- 
sing the  truth. 

Indian   JFnn— A.    Snalcc    Story. 

The  following  occurrence  was  related  by  Col.  Edward 
Raymond,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  near  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  N.  Y.  He  was  on  the  lake  in  a  canoe  with  an 
Indian  named  Big  Bear,  whom  he  had  employed  to  row 
him  to  a  distant  point.  In  their  course  they  passed  near 
a  sloping  ledge  of  rocks  where  lay  a  large  number  of  rat- 
tle snakes  asleep  in  the  sun.  The  Indian  looked  at  the 
Col.,  and  inquired,  "Raymun  love  fun?"  *'  Yes,"  was 
the  reply.  "  Well,  then,  Raymun  have  fun  ;  mind  Indian 
and  hole  a  glum"  (keep  still).  So  he  rowed  silently  to 
the  shore,  cut  a  crolched  stick  of  hazel,  and  carefully 
placed  the  crotch  astride  the  neck  of  a  serpent  that  lay 
asleep  close  by  the  water's  edge.  "  Take  urn  now  Ray- 
mun ;  hole  fass."  The  Col.  then  took  hold  of  the  stick, 
keeping  the  serpent  down,  while  Big  Bear  tied  up  a  little 
sack  of  powder  with  a  slow  match  attached   to   it.    He 


made  this  fast  to  the  snake's  tail,  lighted  the  match, 
and  gave  the  order  "  Let  urn  go,"  at  the  same  time  push- 
ing the  canoe  away  from  the  shore.  The  snake  being 
liberated,  crawled  away  to  his  den.  Big  Bear  immediate- 
ly stood  up  and  clapped  his  hands,  making  as  loud  a  noise 
as  possible,  which  roused  the  snakes,  and  they,  too,  quick- 
ly disappeared.  "Now  look  Raymun,  now  look,  see  fun," 
said  he,  and  in  about  a  minute  the  powder  exploded, 
when  there  was  fun  alive,  for  the  men,  though  not  for  the 
reptiles.  The  snakes  in  hundreds  covered  the  rocks,  all 
hissing,  rattling,  twining,  twirling,  and  jumping,  in  every 
way  imaginable.  Col.  Raymond  burst  into  a  loud  laugh, 
but  the  Indian,  true  to  his  nature,  maintained  the  utmost 
gravity,  though  doubtless  he  inwardly  enjoyed  the  sport 
quite  as  well  as  his  friend. 

Curious   Letter. 

An  old  German  work  contains  the  following  curious  let- 
ter from  the  manager  of  a  traveling  theatrical  company, 
to  his  business  agent :  "  We  have  arrived  here  safe, 
after  a  long  and  troublesome  journey,  the  ordered  goods 
have  arrived  in  good  order.  The  messenger  has  brought 
us,  snow  and  kail,  in  good  order,  the  storm  came  one  day 
later.  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  the  thunder  bursted  up  and 
the  lightning  we  had  to  patch  up  also.  The  ocean  and 
rivers,  I  wish  you  to  send  by  canal  as  the  freight  is  cheap- 
er, and  do  not  forget  to  send  us  new  clouds,  and  a  new 
sun.  But  the  most  important  thing  we  want  is  a  Bay,  as 
ours  has  been  burnt.  Then  we  want  a  few  yards  of  for- 
ests, and  at  least  twenty  yards  of  clear  air.  Roll  them 
all  up,  and  send  them  immediately."  These  terms  refer- 
ed  to  the  different  parts  of   the  scenery  on  the  stage. 


A  IVtodest  Request— A  Capital  Story. 

It  is  related  of  President  Lincoln,  that  recently  a  farm- 
er applied  to  him  to  secure  his  assistance  in  collecting  a 
bill  against  the  government,  for  damages  done  by  troops 
passing  through  his  premises.  The  President  referred 
him  to  the  proper  officer,  whose  duty  it  was  to  attend  to 
such  matters.  But  the  man  was  anxious  that  Mr.  Lincoln 
should  examine  the  case  personally,  and  give  an  order  to 
have  it  settled.  "  Then,"  said  hef"  they  will  attend  to  it 
at  once  ;  otherwise  I  may  have  to  wait  a  long  time." 
"But  I  have  no  leisure  to  took  after  such  things,"  said 
the  President.  "  It  won't  take  but  a  few  minutes,"  urged 
the  man.  "  You  remind  me  of  what  occurred  to  a  friend 
of  mine  on  the  Mississippi  river,"  said  the  President. 
"  He  was  Captain  of  a  steamboat,  and  when  passing 
through  the  rapids,  he  always  took  the  wheel,  and  steered 
the  boat  himself.  One  day  when  he  was  in  the  most  diffi- 
cult part  of  the  stream,  a  boy  came  blubbering  up  to  him 
crying,  (  Captain,  Captain  !' — l  Well,  what  do  you  want  V 
'Oh!  do  stop  the  boat,  I've  lost  my  apple  overboard!'" 
The  farmer  saw  the  point  of  the  story,  and  wisely  con- 
cluded   to  collect  his  bill  in  the  usual  routine  manner. 

Xaking    it   Coolly. 

A  not  very  skillful  mason  was  employed  to  build  an 
oren,  which  he  completed  in  his  usual  style.  The  first 
time  it  was  used,  the  whole  structure  tumbled  into  ruins, 
and  the  owner  having  found  the  mason,  the  following 
conversation  occurred  :  "  I  have  some  news  for  you." 
"Ah!  What  is  it."  "The  oven  you  built  for  me  has 
fallen  down."  "  O  that  is  nothing  new — if  it  had  fallen 
■up  that  would  have  been  news  indeed."  In  spite  of  his 
vexation,  the  owner  had  to  laugh  at  the  mason's  coolness, 
and  left  him,  to  seek  a  good  workman  to  rebuild  the  oven. 

A  large  number  of  Boys  and  Oirls 

have  in  past  years  secured  various  articles  from  our 
premium  list.  Young  persons  are  often  the  most  suc- 
cessful canvassers.  We  have  in  mind  a  boy  who  secured 
a  sewing  machine  for  his  mother  ;  another  who  got  a 
wringing  machine  for  his  mother  ;  and  a  school  which 
recently  obtained  a  melodeon  for  their  Room,  in  the  same 
way,  for  everybody  was  ready  to  help  them.  A  liberal 
hearted  gentleman  paid  the  freight  for  them.  These  are 
only  examples  of  what  has  been  done,  and  may  be  done 
again. 

A  Curious  Sign.— A  correspondent  writes  to  the  Ag- 
riculturist :  "  In  Y"reka,  the  county  town  of  Siskiyou 
County  (one  of  the  northern  counties  of  California,  and 
on  the  Oregon  line)  the  following  sign  hangs  with  glaring 
letters  in.  front  of  a  baker's  establishment,  viz.:  '  S.  Gil- 
lig's,  Yreka  Bakery.'  "  At  first  sight  this  presents  noth- 
ing remarkable,  but  upon  examination  it  will  be  seen  that 
the  letters  if  read  backwards,  form  exactly  the  same  sign. 
Such  a  coincidence  is  extremely  rare. 

A  Crooked  Company.— A  Hibernian  sergeant  was 
drilling  an  awkward  squad  of  volunteers,  and  spite  of  all 
his  efforts,  failed  to  bring  them  into  a  straight  line.  At 
last,  out  of  all  patience  he  cried  out,  "  Oh  !  what  a  bent 
row  ;    just   come    out    lads  and    look    at    yourselves." 


PREMIUMS    for    1864. 

Or     Pay    to    Voluntary    Agents    who     attend    to 

Collecting  and  forwarding  Clubs  of  Subscribers 

to  the  American  Agriculturist.  9 

(Premiums  opeu   to  all— No  Competition.) 

Owing  to  the  greatly  increased  cost  of  everything  con- 
nected with  publishing,  and  our  determination  not  to  raise 
the  subscription  price,  and  not  to  diminish  the  intrinsic 
value  of  the  paper,  but  rather  to  improve  it,  we  had  ex- 
pected to  give  no  premiums  hereafter,  excepting  the 
Great  Strawberry  which  will  be  a  premium  to  every  sub- 
scriber, and  ought  to  be  enough  to  secure  as  many  sub- 
scribers as  could  be  desired.  But  the  previous  plan  has 
worked  well,  and  many  of  those  who  have  obtained  pre- 
miums hitherto,  express  a  strong  desire  to  have  an  oppor- 
tunity to  get  some  of  the  higher  premium  articles.  After 
looking  the  ground  all  over,  and  making  a  careful  esti- 
mate, we  have  decided  to  offer  one  genera]  list,  as  named 
below.  Any  one  desiring  to  do  so,  can  go  to  work  at 
once,  and  perhaps  this  very  month  get  names  enough  for 
a  good  premium.  All  names  sent  in  now,  get  the  great 
strawberry  plants  and  the  two  extra  numbers.  Note  that 
five  cents  extra  are  needed  when  the  "  Agriculturist 
Strait-berry1'  plants  are  desired,  if  to  go  by  mail.  This 
will,  of   course,  be  paid  by  the  subscribers  themselves. 

The  names  (with  money  for  each,)  can  be  sent  in  as  fast 
as  gathered,  so  that  the  subscribers  can  begin  to  receive 
their  papers.  The  premium  will  be  paid  to  any  one  as 
soon  as  his  list  is  completed.  But,  let  it  be  distinctly 
noted,  we  can  reckon  for  premiums  only  those  names 
which  are  marked  as  for  Premiums,  when  they  are  sent  in. 
Hereafter  all  the  separate  names  thus  sent  and  marked 
as  for  premiums,  will  be  at  once  numbered  in  a  special 
book,  with  the  name  of  the  sender,  so  that  we  can  immedi- 
ately turn  to  any  canvasser's  list,  and  see  when  it  is  full. 

Premium  clubs  need  not  necessarily  be  all  at  one  Post- 
Office.  Each  list  ought  to  contain  a  fair  proportion  of 
new  names,  for  it  is  to  bring  the  paper  before  new  sub- 
scribers, that  the  premiums  are  in  part  intended. 

N.  B.— Every  article  offered,  is  a  good  one— nothing 
second-hand  or  of  poor  make,  or  quality,  or  kind.  We 
intend  in  all  cases  to  deal  fairly  with  everyone,  and 
esteem  as  special  friends  those  who  labor  to  promote  the 
interests  and  circulation  of  this  journal. 

This  list  may  perhaps  be  altered  or  amended  from  lime 
to  time,  if  circumstances  or  change  of  prices,  etc..  require, 
but  all  names  sent  in  during  any  month,  will  be  reckoned 
at  the  premium  rates  announced  for  that   month. 

C&~  Canvassers  need  not  choose  any  particular  pre- 
mium until  they  get  all  the  names  they  can.  To  avoid 
confusion,  please  send  in  the  exact  amount  with  each  list 
of  names.  In  special  cases,  the  whole  sum  for  a  premium 
list  may  be  forwarded,  and  the  premium  be  received  at 
once— the  names  to  be  sent  in  afterward. 

No  charge  is  made  for  packing  or  boxing  any  of  the  ar 
tides  in  this  Premium  List.  The  books  and  the  Premi- 
ums K,to  S,  inclusive, are  delivered  to  any  part  of  the 
United  States  and  Territories,  free  of  all  charges.  The 
other  articles  cost  the  recipient  only  the  freight  after 
leaving  the  manufactory  of  each.  t^-Every  article 
is  new  and   of    the   very    best    make. 

3 


Table  of  Premiums  for  1864. 


Names  of  Premium  Articles. 

Good  Books— See  terms  below  * 

A— American  Cyclopedia  (Appleton's  New). 836  00 

B— HestFamilv  Clothes  Wringer $7  00 

C— Nonpareil  Washing  Machine $10  00 

D— Sewing  Machine,  (Wheeler  &  Wilson)  "$45  00 

E— Sewing  Machine,  (Wilcox  &  Cibbs) $40  00 

F— Woodruff's  Mercurial  Barometer $8  00 

G— Woodruff's  Mercurial  Barometer.. $12  00 

H— The  Aquarius $10  00 

I— Five  Octave  Melodeon  (best) $so  00 

J— Four  Octave  Melodeon  (best).. 355  00 

V;  os 

*7  44 

|6  20 

&g  *4  % 

£S   83  73 


3*3 


K— Seven  back  Volumes  Agricultruist," 

L— Six         do  do  do 

M — Five     do  do  do 

N— Four     do  do  do 

O— Three  do  do  do 

P— Two      do  do  do 

Q— One       do  do  'do  ^^  $1  24 

R— Jacob's  Portfolio  Paper  File J  $1  so 

S— Osborn  &  Hod^kinson's  Paints- $1  an 

T— Premium  Cylinder  Plow. $10  00 

U— Eagle  Plow  No.  20 $935 

V— Hay  and  Straw  Cutter  (best) $0  00 

W— Steel-tooth  Cultivator  (host) $7  50 

X— Family  Lard  and  Wine  Press $7  00  j 


v. 


00 
105 
1S5 

63 

94 

G7 
WO 
234 
64 
58 
49 
42 
38 
24 
13 
17 
17 
78 
69 
65 
53 
54 


Descriptive  Notes   on  the   Premiums. 

*  Books.— Any  person  sending  in  20  or  more  subscribers, 
may  select  from  our  book  list  (page  317)  to  the  amount 
of  10  cents  for  each  name  sent  in  at  the  club  price  of  80 
cents,  or  to  the  amount  of  30  cents  for  each  name  at  $1. 
(No  books  sent  for  less  than  20  names).  The  premium 
books  will  be  delivered  any  where  in  the  United  States, 
or  to  the   border  of   the  British    Provinces,  free  of  all 


314 


AMERICAN    AGRICrTLTURIST. 


[October, 


cost,  by  mail  or  express.  Many  Fanners'  Clubs  have, 
by  means  of  this  premium,  obtained   a  good   library. 

A— Appleton**   New  American    Cyclopedia.— 

This  magnificent  work  is  now  completed,  and  ready  for  im- 
mediate delivery.  It  consists  of  10  heavy  volumes,  averaging 
800  large  two  column  pages,  or  in  the  whole  work,  US,804 
pages!  (The  books  1111  up  over  a  yard  of  shelf-room.)  It  in 
in  reality  a  complete  library  of  itself,  embracing  full  infor- 
mation upon  every  topic  of  Unman  knowledge,  alphabeti- 
cally arranged  for  convenient  reference.  The  subjects  dis- 
cussed number  over  ttceniy-jir*'  thousand  I  It  is  hardly  pos- 
sible to  name  anything  upon  which  pretty  lull  information 
may  not  be  readily  found  in  the  Cyclopedia.  Many  who  can 
not  purchase  the  work  may  be  able  to  obtain  it  through  our 
Premium  offer.  It  is  worth  a  year's  effort  in  raising  subscri- 
bers, though  not  a  few  may  make  up  a  club  of  130  names  in  a 
brief  time. 

B— Best  ClotHcs-Wringers.— This  is  a  most  excel- 
lent Household  Implement,  which  should  be  in  every  family. 
It  can  be  set  upon  any  form  of  tub,  and  by  turning  with  the 
right  hand  and  picking  up  the  garments  with  the  left,  they 
are  pressed  rapidly  and  easily  between  two  elastic  rollers, 
and  drop  out  into  a  basket  quite  as  free  from  water  as  they 
can  be  wrung  by  the  hardest  twisting  by  hand.  Every  lady 
knows  that  hand  wringing  is  really  harder  upon  the  arms 
and  shoulders  than  even  the  washing;  while  the  twisting 
stretches  the  fibers  with  lever  power,  and  hastens  the  wear- 
ing out.  All  tins  is  avoided  by  the  Wringer,  which  is  in 
truth  a  strength-saver,  and  a  clothes-saver.  "We  have  had 
one  of  the  first  imperfectly  made  instruments  in  weekly 
use  for  nearly  four  years,  and  it  is  as  good  as  ever,  while  it 
has  paid  for  itself  many  times  over.  A  child  can  with  this 
readily  wring  out  a  tub  full  of  clothes.  Our  Premium  Wring- 
ers are  of  the  family  size,  and  of  the  best  manufacture,  and 
are  provided  with  cogs,  and  with  springs,  so  that  they  will 
wring  equally  well  any  article  from  a  blanket  to  a  baby's 
stocking.  The  Wringer  weighs  only  15  lbs.,  occupies  hut  a 
small  space,  and  can  be  carried  by  hand,  or  sent  by  express, 
or  as  freight  to  any  point,  and  is  ready  for  instant  use  on 
removing  the  light  packing  box, 

C— Nonpareil  Washing  Machine. — The  best 
recommendation  we  can  give  of  this,  is,  that  while  we  have 
tried  fifteen  or  twenty  kinds,  this  is  the  only  one  that  our 
"  help"  continue  to  use  without  being  required  to  do  so.  It 
acts  somewhat  like  the  old  "fulling  mill;"  the  clothes  are 
pnt  into  the  hot  water,  and  beat  by  two  pounders  Which  con- 
stantly turn  them  over.  The  beaters  are  moved  alternately 
by  a  crank,  provided  with  balance  wheel  which  adjusts  the 
force  required  so  as  to  make  the  turning  easy.  Take  it  all 
in  all,  the  Nonpareil  is  the  best  Washing  Machine  we  have 
found.  If  we  could  find  a  better  one,  we  should  put  it  in  our 
list,  for  anything  that  helps  to  reduce  the  hard  work  of 
washing  day,  is  a  godsend.  The  machine  can  go  as  freight, 
or  by  express  to  any  part  of  the  country,  and  we  believe 
win  give  better  satisfaction  than  any  other  yet  brought  out. 

D — E — Sewing  Machines.— We  need  not  enlarge 
upon  the  benefits  of  Sewing  Machines.    They  are  doing  more 

I!  >  all  else  to  save  the  lives  and  health  of  females.  It  is 
no  exaggeration  to  say  that  a  woman  can  in  a  day  do  ten 
time*  as  much  ordinary  sewing  with  a  machine,  as  she  can 
do  by  hand.  We  know  many  ladies  who  formerly  employed 
a  seamstress  several  weeks  every  year,  but  who  now  do  all 
their  family  sewing,  with  less  confinement  and  wear  than 
when  the  common  needle  was  their  only  resort.  The  inter- 
est on  a  fifty  dollar  Machine  is  only  $3  to  $4  a  year,  which 
is  a  small  consideration  compared  to  its  advantages.  Five 
hundred  families  ought  to  be  supplied  through  our  pre- 
mium list  this  year.  At  least  SO  to  100  copies  of  the  Agri- 
culturist ought  to  be  taken  in  every  town,  and  would  be  if 
6ome  enterprising  man  or  woman  would  go  round  and  gath- 
er them.  Two  or  three  ladies  might  join  their  efforts,  and 
get  a  machine  for  use  between  them.  We  oiler  two  kinds  of 
Machines,  both  varieties  of  which  we  have  had  in  use  for 
several  years,  and  with  great  satisfaction.  They  are  both 
supplied  with  the  Hemmer,  and  are  sent  out  with  lull  in- 
structions for  use. Tlte  Wheeler  «&  Wilson  Ma- 
chine, we  have  used  during  five  years,  and  can  bear  full 
testimony  in  its  favor.  More  of  these  machines  are  sold  and 
used,  we  believe,  than  of  all  the  other  good  kinds  together, 

which  is  a  strong  proof  of  the  satisfaction  they  give. This 

sews  with  a  double  thread,  both  sides  of  the  fabric  showing 

the  same  stitch. The  "Wilcox  &   Gibbs  Machine, 

we  have  used  for  over  three  years,  and  for  most  kinds  of 
sewing  it  is  excellent.  It  is  very  simple  in  its  operation  and 
can  be  worked  by  those  who  have  the  smallest  amount  of 
mechanical  skill.  It  can  be  used  for  most  kinds  of  sewing, 
and  may  well  be  adopted  generally,  at  least  where  the  higher 
priced  machines  can  not  be  afforded.  We  know  many  who 
prefer  this  to  any  other.— For  every  kind  of  sewing,  especi- 
ally where  the  same  stitch  is  required  on  both  sides,  we 
prefer  the  Wheeler  &  "Wilson. 

K— G — Woodruff   Mercurial   Barometer.— This 

is  conceded  to  he  the  best  and  cheapest  instrument,  for  gen- 
eral use,  which  is  now  offered  to  the  public.  The  peculiar 
form  of  mercury  cup  Invented  by  Mr.  Woodruff,  renders  the 
instrument  far  more  portable  than  any  thing  previously  made. 
The  safe  delivery  of  every  instrument  given  by  us  as  a  pre* 
in'mm,  is  warranted  by  the  manufacturer  (Charles  Wilder, 
I'eterboro,  N.  II.),  when  to  be  sent  within  1,500  miles.  The 
instruments  are  beautifully  made,  are  about  3  feet  long,  and 
are  sent  direct  from  the  factory,  with  no  expense  save  the 
express  charges  which  vary  from  50  cts.  to  $1  d8,  according 
to  the  distance.  We  offer  two  forms  winch  differ  mainly  in 
the  style  of  case,  both  beingsupplied  with  Thermometer  and 
Vernier,  The  $12  form  is  of  course  more  ornamental,  and 
the  more  desirable  instrument,  though  either  of  them  is  high- 
ly valuable.  A  barometer  is  to  farmers  or  others  on  land, 
what  it  is  to  sailors  at  sea— an  indicator  of  the  weather 
to  be  looked  for.  There  are  many  times  every  year  when 
the  Indications  of  the  barometer  in  regard  to  the  weather, 
will  often  be  of  more  value  than  its  whole  price,  while  the 
interest  on  its  cost  would  be  less  than  half  a  dollar  a  year. 


The  habit  of  observation,  and  of  scientific  study  culti- 
vated in  a  family  of  children  where  a  Barometer  is  used,  is 
a  valuable  consideration. 

H— The  Aquarius.— This  is  an  excellent  little  porta- 
ble force-pnmp,  Useful  In  many  ways,  one  can  lake  this  in- 
strument in  his  hand  with  a  pail  of  water,  and  throw  a  con- 
siderable stream  to  any  point  where  a  fire  may  be  breaking 
out,  and  do  more  to  quench  it,  than  he  could  with  a  dozen 
pailfulls  dashed  on,  even  if  the  tire  could  be  reached.  We 
have  thrown  water  from  the  ground  up  against  the  third 
story  windows  of  a  house.  The  Aquariaa  Is  rery  useful  tor 
watering  gardens,  for  washing  windows,  carriages,  etc..  etc. 
It  is  provided  with  rubber  suction  pipe,  to  draw  water  from 
a  pail.tub  or  bucket,  and  an  ejection  pipe  having  both  a  noz- 
zle for  throwing  a  stream,  and  a  rose  or  sprinkler.  It 
has  also  an  air  chamber  for  giving  a  constant  stream.  It  is  a 
handy  instrument,  for  every  household,  aside  from  its  benefit 
as  a  fire  engine  with  which  many  an  incipient  fire  has  been 
subdued. 

I— «T— Mclodeons.— None  need  to  be  told  of  the  pleas- 
ure given  by  a  good  Melodeon  in  a  household,  or  of  its  util- 
ity in  the  Week  Day  and  Sabbath  School  Boom,  and  the 
Church.  "  Music  hath  charms  to  soothe  even  a  savage  breast," 

and  we  hesitate  not  to  say  that  a  benign  Influence  is  exerted 
upon  every  house  and  school  room  where  a  Melodeon  or 
other  good  musical  instrument  is  found.— We  offer  two  sizes 
in  our  list  above,  and  those  of  a  different  price  may  be  se- 
lected for  a  proportionate  number  of  subscribers.  (For 
sizes,  style,  prices,  etc.,  send  a  stamp  to  George  A.  Prince  & 
Co.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  and  get  one  of  their  illustrated  descrip- 
tive Catalogues,  which  will  be  sent  free).  We  have  used  one 
of  these  Melodeons  during  four  years  past,  and  it  continues 
to  give  the  highest  satisfaction.  It  has  not  been  tuned  or 
otherwise  repaired  in  all  that  time.  Tire  premium  instru- 
ments will  be  shipped  direct  from  the  manufacturers  at  But' 
falo,  ready  boxed.  They  can  go  by  railroad,  steamboat,  ex- 
press or  otherwise,  as  desired  by  the  recipient.  fS^  ft  will 
be  an  easy  matter  for  Churches,  and  both  Week  Day  and 
Sunday  Schools  to  unite  their  efforts  and  secure  an  instru- 
ment for  the  public  use.— Many  have  done  so    already. 

K— Q,— Seven  Volumes  of  the  Agriculturist.— 

Here  is  a  whole  Agricultural,  Bbrtteuttural,  find  Household 
Library,  embracing  also  a  large  amount  of  interesting  read- 
ing for  Children  and  Youth,  and  thousands  of  instructive 
and  pleasing  engravings.  Each  volume  contains  more 
printed  matter  than  half  a  dozen'  dollar  hooks  of  the  usual 
size.  There  are  in  each  volume  from  one  to  two  thousand 
articles  and  condensed  items,  among  which  every  reader 
will  find  something  useful  to  himself  and  family.  We  send 
them  post-paid  (as  in  the^above  table,)  in  new  clean  numbers, 
printed  from  stereotype  plates  as  needed.  The  last  number 
of  each  volume  contains  an  index  to  the  whole  volume. 
(Any  person  preferring  them  bound,  can  receive  them  in  this 
form,  neatly  done,  at  an  expense  of  65  cents  per  volume,  for 
the  cost  of  binding,  and  extra  postage  required  when  mailed 
in  this  form— or  if  called  for  at  the  office,  or  sent  by  express, 
or  otherwise,  if  not  to  be  pre-paid,  at  a  cost  of  only  25  cents 
per  volume.)  Let  every  one  selecting  this  premium  he  sure 
to  name  what  volumes  are  desired,  or  how  many  of  each,  as 
duplicates  of  any  number  can  be  chosen  if  preferred.— We 
can  only  supply  from  volume  16  to  volume  22  inclusive.  The 
previous  volumes  are  not  stereotyped. 

R— Best  File  for  tlie  A grienltnrist.— Jacob's 
Portfolio  file,  made  just  to  fit  the  Agriculturist,  with  the  name 
of  the  paper  gilded  on,  is  exceedingly  convenient.  It  is  a 
neatly  embossed  or  stamped  cover,  made  so  that  each  suc- 
cessive number  of  the  paper  cau  be  inserted  in  a  minute, 
When  it  is  strongly  held  in.  The  numbers  thus  fastened  togeth- 
er are  as  convenient  as  a  bound  book.  When  one  volume  is 
completed,  it  can  be  removed  and  stitched  together,  and  the 
numbers  of  a  new  volume  be  inserted.  A  single  cover  will 
answer  for  a  dozen  or  twenty  successive  years.  It  is  with- 
out doubt  the  most  perfect  paper  file  yet  made.  It  is  sent 
post-paid,  as  above. 

S—  "Water  Color  Paints.— Those  offered  (Osborne 
&  Hodgkinson's)  are  the  best  of  American  Manufacture,  and 
though  not  so  fine  for  artist's  work,  as  some  of  the  imported 
(which  now  sell  at  six  times  the  price),  they  answer  very 
well  for  common  sketching,  particularly  by  children  and 
beginners.  They  are  especially  useful  to  children,  as  their 
use  tends  to  develop  a  taste  for  form  and  color,  and  skill  in 
the  use  of  the  pencil.  We  send  them  post-paid,  in  a  neat 
mahogany  case  containing  24  small  cakes  of  assorted  col- 
ors, with  brushes,  etc.  . 

T— XT— Premium  Plows.— The  two  named  in  the 
table  above  (Cylinder  and  Eagle  No.  20.)  are  two  of  the  best 
farm  plows  in  use,  and  will  doubtless  give  ample  satisfaction 
to  any  one  securing  them  as  premiums.  We  have  not  space 
for  a  particular  description.  The  Eagle  Plow  is  well-known. 
The  workingof  the  Cylinder  Plow,  ami  other  items  concern- 
ing it  are  described  on  page  130  of  Volume  XX,  (May  1SG1). 

V-W-Hay  and  Straw  Cutters— Steel-tooth- 
ed Cultivators.— These  implements  are  of  first  Import- 
ance to  all  farmers,  some  of  whom  may  find  it  most  conve- 
nient to  secure  them  through  our  premium  list.  We  seud 
the  best  implements  we  know  of  at  the  prices  named. 

X— Family  Lard  and  Wine  Press.— This  is  a 
very  convenient  Household  implement  for  pressing  out  lard 
or  tallow,  the  juices  of  Grapes,  Currants,  Berries,  etc. 

Otlier  Premiums.— We  have  on  trial  several  other 
articles,  and  expected  to  offer  more  of  them  this  mouth— but 
those  most  carefully  experimented  with,  did  not  prove  good 
enough  to  be  strongly  commended,  other  new  articles  aro 
on  trial— some  of  which  may  be  oflered  next  month.  A  new 
Apple  Parer  was  decided  upon,  but  we  can  not  yet  get  the 
promise  of  a  supply.  Any  future  premium  articles  will  be 
oflered  on  similar  terms  to  those  in  the  table  above,  these 
terms  being  the  most  favorable  possible. — We  still  solicit 
further  suggestions  from  subscriber*  in  regard  to  what 
would  be  most  desired  in  the  Premium  List. 


The   Markets. 


American  Agriculturist  Office.      / 
New-York,  Friday  Morning,  Sept.  is,  it>63.  j 

1.  TRANSACTIONS  AT  TUB  NKW-YORK  JIAKKETS. 

Receipts.         Flour,    niieat.    Com,    Rye.    Barley.    Oats. 
25  days  (ftism'tb  335,000  1,734,000  2.01!i,0i)0    48£50   63.000     4fiJ  000 

-Ih'irtvs.V/.^m'th^O.WU-J.ilOi.Onu  2,i-;pJ,UU0     102,500    o7,00Q    974.IWJ 

Sai.es,  Flour.   Wheat.       Corn.       Bye,    Barley. 

83  days  this  month,   897,000    2.675.000    2,513.0(10       fci.500       7,000 
!G  days  last  mouth,   Su:;,0(JO  2,584,000     2.1'j;,Ip00        81,000      

2.  Comparison  with  same  ttme  Uut  year. 
receipts.  Flour.    Wheat,    Corn.     Rue,  Barley.  Oats, 

25  days  186S        SS5.000  1,784.000  3,019,000      lfl.250    62,000  ^l.nno 

26  days  1862  .  421,000  4,478,000  2,541,000  Sl.OOO  -13,000  910,000 
balks.  Flour.       1(7/  fii.       Oom.         Bye.     Barley. 

25  days  1863  ....  397,000      2,675,000    2,513000       64.500         7.000 

26  days  IBS!....     518,1  D    :;,065,000     104,500      

3.  Exports  from  Xeu- Yuri:,  Jan.  1,  to  Sept.  16. 

Flour.  Wheat.           Corn.            Rye.  Oats. 

Bbls,  Rush.              Bush.          Bush.  Bush. 

1863 1,832,899  11,700,100  7,292,761           409,157  116.029 

1862 2,254^501  15,893,811  8,640,118  1,081,646          60,531 

4.  Exports  of  Breadstuff's  from  the  United  States  to 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  earn'  of  17  years, ending  Sep.  I  : 

Flour,  obis.       Wheat,  boslt.  Corn.  hush. 

1S63  1,479.418  23,167,190  10,334  356 

1862 2,G?2,515  25,754,709  l-i.iiM.nw 

1861 2^61,661  25,553,870  11,705.034 

1S6G 717,156  4,988,71 1  2,221.857 

1S59 106,457                         439,010  342,013 

1858 1,295.  ISO  6,565,W8  8,317.802 

1857 849,600  7,479,401  4,746,278 

1856 1,641,265  7,956,406  6,731,161 

1S55 175,  109                        834,421  6,679,133 

1854 L846,920  &088 '  6,049,371 

1853 1,600,449  4,823,519  1,425,278 

1852 1,427,442  2,728,442  1,487,398 

1851  L559.584  1,496,355  2,205,601 

isr.0 574,757                          46L216  4.7.V..:::.3 

1S49 1,137,556  l,14n,i'.tl  12,685,260 

1R4S 182.583                         241,300  4,390.226 

1847 .3,155,845  jUHWl.:r>9_  17,157.059 

Total  for  17  yrs.22,,J63,842  1^0S$,ol8  110,315,953 

5.  Exports  from  the  United  States  to  the  Continent  of 
Europe,  for  nine  years,  each  ending  Sept.  1  : 

Flour,  bbls.      Wheat,  bus.  Corn.  1ms.  live.  bus. 

1P63 213,579  2,343^14  68,957  *  535,205 

1*12 i;\.V,.i;;2  7.517.4  72  322.07*  1,612,938 

1801 142.129  3,452,496  101.145  347,253 

1S00 49,243  178,031  19,358               

1859 51,388  57.M5  25,519               

1858 303,100  Si*  i,  US  16,848  13,100 

1857 .483,344  2,875,653  543,590  216,162 

is5(i 74S.40S  2,610,079  282,083  1,975,178 

1S55 7,763              4,972  3U*,42S           3.y>m 

Total  for  9  yrs.2,025,02G  lfi,53J),290  "1,688,002  4,636,898 

6.  Exports  from  Canada  ta  Great  Britain  and  Ireland, 
via  St.  Lawrence  R.,  in    each  of  years,   ending  Sept.  1  : 

Flour.      Wheat.       Corn.     Rye.     Barley.     Oats. 

1863 637,986     5,722.877    1,578,453      9,024 

1802 617.30S     6,376,905    2,016,010 780,756 

7t  Receipts  of  Breadstuff's  at  the  head  of  tide  water  at 

Albany,  by  the  Erie  and  other  Xetc-York  Caua/s,  from 
the  Commencement  of  Navigation,  May  1st,  to  and  includ- 
ing Sept.  9ih,  in  the  pears  indicated. 

Flour.     Wheat.       Corn.     Rye.     Barley.     Oats. 

1861 mi, 100  13,340.000    11.153.000     418.000    206.000    8,115,800 

1862 SS6.206   IH.MS.'.mii)     11,721.500      531,200    3Sl,Hl0    2,509,400 

1863 743,100  10,933,000    15,350,700      264,000      79,800    5,157,500 

We  present  above  a  series  of  tables  prepared  expressly 
for  the  American  Agriculturist,  \\  hic.h  give,  in  a  very  con- 
densed and  convenient  form  for  study  and  reference,  the 
various  transactions  in  Breadstuff's,  not  only  during  the 
past  month  but  for  a  series  of  years  past.  The  figures 
are  compiled  from  an  immense  number  of  records,  partly 
from  official  sources  and  partly  gathered  by  ourselves. 
These  figures  are  believed  to  be  very  reliable,  as  no  la- 
bor or  care  has  been  spared  to  make  them  perfect.  The 
tables  tell  their  own  story  so  plainly  that  there  is  little 
necessity  for  explanatory  remarks. — Table  1  shows 
that,  excepting  in  bailey,  the  Receipts  at  this  Port  have 
been  less  than  during  the  previous  month— oats  falling  oft 
one  half.  The  Sales  of  Wheat.  Flour  and  Corn  have 
been  large.— Table  2  shows  a  similar  falling  off  in  re- 
ceipts when  comparison  is  made  with  the  same  time  last 
year;  the  falling  off  in  wheat  and  oats  has  been  very 
marked.  The  smaller  Receipt  is  noteworthy. — The  Ex- 
ports (table  3,)  are  also  considerably  less  this  year  than 
last. — Tables  4  and  5  show  thai  while  the  exports  for 
the  grain  year,  ending  ISept.  1,  were  somewhat  less  than 
for  two  years  previous,  yet  they  were  much  larger  than 
in  any  year  between  1847  and  1801.  This  enormous  ex- 
port of  our  breadstuff's  during  each  of  the  past  three 
years  (tables  4  and  5)(  have  had  a  very  benign  effect 
upon  the  finances  of  our  country.  Every  bushel  of  wheat 
or  grain  exported  has  saved  the  export  of  its  value  in 
gold,  and  has  in  reality  added  so  much  to  our  aggregate 
national  resources.  We  can  hardly  hope  for  the  con- 
tinuance of  so  favorable  a  state  of  things  during  the  next 
ten  or  twelve  months,  as  our  advices  from  abroad  show 
positively  that  the  foreign  harvest  has  been  very  good, 
and  less  of  our  breadstufls  will  therefore  be  needed. 
Still,  Great  Britain  never  produces  enough  to  supply  the 
home  consumption)  and  as  we  can  furnish  breadstuff's 
cheaper  .than  any  other  country,  there  will  doubtless 
continue  to  be  fair  shipments  of  our  surplus,  which  is 


1863.] 


AMERICAN-    AGRICULTURIST. 


315 


consiilenible,  as  we  have  old  stocks  of  wheat  on  hum], 
and  the  past  harvest  was  fully  an  average  one.  We  had 
reports  of  serious  disaster  to  thegrowingcornby  frost,  on 
the  closing  nights  of  August,  but  later  accounts  show  that 
though  the  injury  was  considerable,  it  was  far  less  exten- 
sive than  the  first  newspaper  reports  indicated.  The 
drouth  still  prevailing  in  some  sections  will  further  re- 
duce the  yield,  yet  on  the  whole  there  will  be  a  fair  crop 
of  corn— perhaps  nearly  an  average  one,  taking  the  whole 
country  together,  if  no  further  casualty  occurs.  With 
the  remaining  stock  in  the  country  from  last  year's  crop, 
there  is  not  the  least  danger  of  a  scarcity.  .  .  .  The 
Breadstuff  markets  in  this  city  were  less  freely  supplied 
and  were  quiet  during  most  of  the  past  month,— prices 
fluctuating  frenuently.  Recently  rather  more  favorable 
market  news  from  Europe,  and  a  rise  in  Gold  and  Ster- 
ling Exchange,  encouraged  export  buyers,  and  heavier 
purchases  have  been  made,  the  market  closing  buoy- 
antly  Cotton  has  been  in  fair  demand,— falling  off  in 

price  early  in  the  month,  but  closing  at  rising  rates. 
The  stock  here  on  the  1st  inst.  was  only  about  15,000 
bales  ...Provisions  have  been  quite  plenty,  and  prices 
have  been  unsettled.  The  demand  has  not  been  very  ac- 
tive  Tobacco  has  been   more  sought  after,  owing  to 

the  frost  reports,  and  has  been  held  with  more  firmness. 

Wool  has  been  in  brisk  request,  particularly  within 

the  past  ten  days,  chiefly  for  manufacturing  purposes, 
especially  army    cloth-contractors    having    made    very 

heavy  purchases.     Prices  are  firmer  and  advancing 

Hay,  Hops,  and  Seeds  have  been  in  more  demand In 

most  other  agricultural  products,  transactions  have  been 
moderate.  The  annexed  table  will  show  the  changes  in 
prices,  since  our  last,  and  also  the  closing  quotations. 

Current  Wholesale  Prices. 

August  19.  Sept.  17. 

Fr.or/E-Super  to  Extra  State  f  3  85    @  5  25  $4  00  ®  5  45 

Superfine  Western.. S  85    ®  4  35  4  00  ®  4  4;. 

Extra  Western 4  50   ®  8  60  4  40  @  8  50 

ExtraGenesee 5  30    ®  7  00  5  50  @  7  25 

Super,  to  Extra  Southern  ....  5  25    ®  8  75  5  10  @  8  50 

Itv-E  Flour— Fine  and  Super.  3  40    ®  5  25  3  50  @  5  30 

Cokv  Meat 3  90    ®  4  30  4  00  ®  4  50 

Wheat— All  kinds  of  White..  1  27W51  1  45  128  @  1  50 

All  kinds  of  lied 85    O  1  30  85  ®  1  29 

COEH— Yellow 69    ®      73  77  @      79 

Mixed... 66    ®      68)4  76  ®     77 

OA-rs-Western 55    ®     61  65  ®     73 

State    62    @      65  67  ®      73 

IIVK  ...  80    ®      90  SO  @     90 

Uvrley Nominal.                         125 

Beans—  per  bushel 2  00   ®  3  35  1  50  ®  3  00 

Cotton— Middlings,  per  lb....  67    ®     67K  68  ®      69 

Hops,  crop  of  1862,  per  lb 15   @     22  16  @     23 

Feathzbs,  Live  Geese,  p.  lb,.  48   @     53  48  @     50 

Seed— Clover,  per  lb. 7K®       8  9  @     10 

Timotliy,  per  bushel 1  87H®  2  25  2  40  ®  2  ,o 

Flax,  per  bushel 2  10    ®  2  40  2  25  ®  2  55 

Sugar— Brown,  per  lb 9    ®      13  9','8    ISM 

MoLASSES.New-oi'teans,  p.gl..  35    ®      4;,  3iJ~j®     53 

Coffee.  Klo,  per  lb   25  K@     2S%  28  ®      31 

Tobacco— K.entuckji*c,p.lb..  9    ®     23  10  @     25 

Seed  Leaf,  per  lb 15    @      45  13  ®     42 

Wool— Domestic  fleece,  p.  lb..  00    @      75  60  @      i4 

Domestic  pulled, pel* lb 55k®     70  60  @     .0 

Wool,  California,  unwashed. .  '25    ®      50  23  ®      50 

Ta  blow,  per  lb 10!,'®      10J-J  Mk'®      10H 

On,  Cake,  per  tun 38  50   ©4-100  38  00  @44  00 

PORK— Mess,  per  bbl 13  25    ®13  37><  13  62>4®13  7d 

Prime  per  bbl  10  50    ®10  75  10  50  @10  75 

BEEF-t-lain  mess 10  00    @12  25  10  50  ®13  50 

Lard,  in  bbls.,  per  lb    B%®      WY»  10  @      10X 

Butter- Western,  per  lb 14    ®      l.>4  15  ®      19 

State,  per  lb 10    ®      22  16  ®      23 

Cheese 8    @      11^  9  ®     12^ 

Broom  Corn— ner  lb 8    @      10  8  @      10! 

Egss— Fresh,  per  dozen 14    ®      16  17  ®      21 

Poultry—  Fowls,  per  la. 16    @     18  14  ®     16 

Dueks,  per  pair 1  00    ®  1  7o  50  ®      io 

Geese/each 100    ®  1  50  7a  @  1  50 

Turkeys,  per  lb. ...  18   ®     20  15  ®     19 

PoTATOKS-Pykman,  P.  bbl..  150    ®  2  00  125  ®  1  55 

Mercers,  per  bbl 175    ®  2  00  175  f  2  28 

Buckeyes  per  bbl 12a  ®  1  37 

SweetDelnware  per  bbl 6  50  4  00  @  i  2d 

Jersey  Sweet  per  bbl —  3  50  @  3  o 

TURVips-Knta  baga,  per  bbl  1  25    ®  1  50  2  00  ®  2  25 

Onions,  Red  &  Yellow  p. bbl.  3  50  2  50 

Cabbages,  per  100 4  00    ®  6  00  10  00  @12  00 

Dried  Apples,  per  lb 5    ®       7'  4  ®       7 

Dried  Peaches,  per  lb In    ®      16  14  ®     lb 

Peaches,  choice  per  basket.  1  50    ®  1  75  2  00  ®  2  50 

F.-iCbes  common  per  basket.  75    ®  1  25  1  00  ®  1  nO 

Apples,  choice,  per  bbl  2  50    ®  3  50  2  50  @  3  00 

Apples,  common,  per  bbl 1  25    @  2  00  To  ®  1  oO 

Peaks  Barllrtt,  per  bbl 10  00    ®15  00  10  00  ®15  00 

Pears,  common,  per  bbl. 1  76    @  5  00  3  00  6c  5  00 

Pumpkins  Cheese,  per  100.  .  8  00    <»12  00  7  00  @10  00 

Tomatoes,  per  bushel  ...  ...  50    ®     75  75  @  1  00 

Squashes,  Marrow,  per  bbl..  2  00  ®  i  50 

Plums,  per  bushel 3  50  ®  a  00 

Jjf.  Y.  Live  Stoclc  Markets.— The  Cattle 
-  markets  have  been  abundantly  supplied  with  animals 
during  the  past  month,  the  average  being  5,669  per  week. 
At  the  first  market  after  our  last  report,  with  4,657  offered 
for  the  week,  prices  advanced  ?ic,  and  the  stock  sold  off 
rapidly.  The  following  week  there  were  5,820  on  sale, 
and  prices  fell  off  5ic. ;  cattle  about  all  sold.  At  the  next 
market  5,194  cattle  were  offered,  and  all  found  pur- 
chasers at  nearly  %c.  advance.  The  week  ending  Sept. 
15th  brought  the  largest  number  of  cattle  ever  seen  in 
New-York  and  vicinity ,'for  a  single  week.  They  footed 
up  over  7,000  head,  and  nearly  all  found  purchasers, 
though  prices  were  %c.  lower  than  at  the  previous 
market.  A  small  number  of  the  best  cattle  brought  lie. 
per  lb.  for  the  estimated  dressed  weight ;  good  steers, 
9,Ye.l2>10c. ;  common  cattle,  7Xc.<a8^c. ;  and  some  very 
poor  steers,  dry  cows,  etc.,  sent  in  on  account  of  the  de- 


pastures, went  at  6c. ©6}.   Average  of  all  sales  about  9,^c. 

Nlileli  Cows. — About  100  per  week  are  now 
offered  at  the  regular  yards.  The  demand  is  not  brisk; 
common  to  good  fresh  milkers  sell  at  $30  to  $-10  each; 
first  class  $45  to  $50  ;  fancy  animals,  at  higher  figures. 

Slieep  and  Kjambs.— Receipts  have  aver- 
aged 15,890  per  week  for  a  month  past,  which  is  a  great 
increase  over  the  previous  month.  They  have  been  sell- 
ing well,  and  just  now  there  is  a  large  demand  for  store 
sheep  to  winter  over.  Good  fat  sheep  are  worth,  for 
butchering,  5c.  per  lb.,  live  weight ;  common  sheep,  412'c. 
Lambs  are  abundant,  and  sell  slowly  at  $2J£  to  $3,'i  each. 

tiive  Hogs— Are  in  pretty  good  demand, 
at  5%ta!5%c.  per  lb.,  live  weight.,  for  corn-fed  ;  and  5&c. 
(o:51aC.  for  distillery  hogs.  Receipts  average  9,506  per 
week  for  a  month  past. 

Xl«e  Weather — For  a  month  past  has  been 
hot  anil  very  dry.  From  Aug.  17th,  to  Sept.  18,  less  than 
one  inch  of  waler  fell,  alt  told,  the  most  of  this  inch  on 
the  night  of  Aug.  29th.  Pastures  and  meadows  are  dry- 
ing up,  and  the  buckwheat  crop  will  doubtless  be  short. 
Early  sown  winter  grain  will  hardly  vegetate  until  we 
have  rain.  Our  daily  notes,  condensed,  read  :  August  19, 
to  24,  clear  and  hot — 25,  cloudy,  P.  M.,  slight  shower  at 
night — 25,  N.E.  rain  A.  M.,  clear,  cool,  P.  M. — 27,  clear 
cool — 28,  light  rain — 29,  clear  and  fine  A.  M.,  cloudy  P. 
M.,  with  rain  at  night— 30,  clear,  cool,  with  hard   frost  in 

some  portions  of   the  West — 31,  clear,  cool,  fine 

September  1,  cool,  light  rain— 2,  to  10,  clear,  fine,  moder- 
ately cool,  getting  dry — 11,  clear  A.  I\I.,  cloudy  P.  M.— 
12,  13,  light  rain,  but  not  enough  to  do  any  good — 14  to  16, 
clear,  dry,  warm — 17,  passing  clouds  and  shower  at  night. 

Rain  Fall  for  August  4.59,  most  of  which  fell  be- 
fore Ihe  12th.  The  Barometer  has  marked  a  pretty  even 
track — from  29}£  inches  to  30K  inches. 

Thermometer  at  6  A.  M.,  New-York. 

[Observations  carefully  made  upon  a  standard  Ther- 
mometer (Fahrenheit.) — r  indicates  rain — s,  snow.] 


1 

.   66"  1  8   . . 

..70  |1I.. 
..67r|12... 

68r  13   . 
..67  111.. 

70r 
,,   67 
6Sr 
.68 
..  69 
...71r 
...66r 

JULV. 

15 70rj22... 

16 71r  23... 

17 66rl24   , 

18  .   ...65  125   , , 

21 72r|28... 

63 

..64 

.  ,   65 

70 
.     70r 

...70 

29.... 

30 

71r 
73r 

4  , 

5 

6 

7 

Aver' 

!.68°. 

AUGUST. 

. . . 74    59 

filr 

2... 

3..  . 

4... 

5... 

6 

7... 

..74 
..76 
..74 
..73 

71r 
..68 

9 

10... 
11.. 
12.. 
13 
14 

71 
.  ..72 
..75r 

'",67 
...69 

16 68r 

17 68r 

18 56 

19 62 

21 66 

23... 
24... 
25... 

26 . . . 
27 

9,H 

...72 
74 

...74r 

...6Ir 
56 

...59r 

30  54 

31  54 

Aver'e..6S° 

SEPTEMBER. 

1    . 
3 

...60  14... 
...57  IK   - 

...59    1    7 67 

...58      8 63 

...60      9 67 

10... 

11 

12... 

.,,56 

53 

...61r 

13  ,, 

14  ... 
15 

P6r 
.62 
..62 

To  Sunday  School  Teachers  and  Others. 

The  Book  of  "Zesso?is  for  every  Sunday  in  the  Tear,"  has 
given  a  satisfaction,  and  met  with  a  snecess  far  beyond  any 
one's  expectation.  It  was  at  first  written  on  a  plan  prepared 
by  the  Editor  of  the  Agriculturist  for  his  own  School,  and 
the  copyright  was  freely  given  away  to  others  who  under- 
took to  supply  the  public  demand  that  sprung  up.  It  has 
been  adopted  and  used  generally  in  the  Sunday  Schools  and 
families  of  almost  all  Christian  Denominations  alike,  Near- 
ly or  quite  one  hundred  thousand  copies  have  been  sold  by 
the  different  Publishers  and  S.  S.  Depositories,  within  the 
present  year.  Successive  editions  published  at  the  Agricul- 
turist Office  alone,  have  run  up  to  full  twenty  thousand  cop- 
ies. Thefollowing  editorial,  which  we  have  learned  is  from 
the  pen  of  John  Hart,  LLD.,  the  well-known  Teacher  of 
Philadelphia,  and  Editor  of  the  Sunday  School  Times,  will 
indicate  the  reception  the  boob  has  met  with : 

From  the  Sunday  School  Times  {Philadelphia,')  March  14. 

"A  New  Question  Book.— "We  have  just  been  examining 
a  little  book  published  by  Orange  Judd,  (of  New- York  City,) 
called  *  Lessons  for  Every  Sunday  in  the  Year,'  and  have 
risen  from  the  examination  with  a  feeling  of  thankfulness 
that  such  a  book  has  been  made.  Wc  have  never  seen  a 
Question  Book  containing  so  many  conveniences  and  ad- 
vantages as  this,  so  many  excellences,  both  positive  and 
negative.  Mr.  Judd  is  a  life-long  Sabbath-school  man,  and 
this  book  has  been  the  fruit  of  the  experience  of  himself  and 
some  of  his  friends  in  trying  to  meet  the  practical  wants  of 
the  Sabbath-school,  Like  all  good  text  books,  it  has  grown 
out  of  actual  necessities  and  experience ;  it  is  a  growth,  rath- 
er than  a  work.  We  advise  every  Superintendent  to  send  at 
once  for  a  copy." 

The  Book  can  be  obtained  at  the  Agriculturist  Office  in 
large  or  small  quantities,  at  the  uniform  price  of  10  cents  per 
copy.  If  to  go  by  mail,  the  postage  to  be  pre-paid,  is  3  cents 
each  copy  in  packages  of  ten  or  more.  The  postage  being 
rated  by  the  4  ounces,  under  the  new  law,  the  price  for  lesa 
than  ten  pre-paid  by  mail  is: 


1  copy,    14  cents.  I  4  copies,  52  cents. 

2  copies,  28  cents.     5  copies,  66  cents. 

3  copies,  42  cents.     C  copies,  80  cents.  I 


7  copies,  90  cents. 
3  copies,  1  04  cents. 
9  copies,  1  IS  cents. 


Business  Notices. 

By  Eighty  Cents  a  Line  of  space. 

THE   CRAIG  MICROSCOPE. 

This  is  the  best  and  cheapest  microscope  in 
the  world  for  general  use.  It  requires  no  fo- 
cal adjustment,  magnifies  about  100  diameters 
or  10,000  times,  and  is  so  simple  that  a  child 
can  use  it.  It  will  he  sent  by  mall,  postage 
paid,  on  the  receipt  of  $2.35,  or  with  six  beauti- 
ful mounted  objects  for  $3,  or  with  24  objects 
for  $5.       Address  HENRY  CRAIG, 

ISO  Ccntre-st.,  New- York. 

A  liberal  discount  to  the  trade. 


JIbirutisenujtis. 


Advertisements  to  be  sure  of  insertion  must  be  re- 
ceived at  latest  by  the  1  oth  of  the  preceding-  month. 
TERMS—  (invariably  cash  before  insertion) : 

FOK  THE  ENGLISH   EWTIOX  ONLY. 

Fifty  cents  per  line  of  space  for  each  insertion. 

One  whole  column  (1J5  lines),  or  more,  $ij0  per  column. 

[Jj#"Busiuess  Notices,  Eighty  cents  per  line  of  space. 

FOR  THE  GERMAN  EDITION  ONLY. 

Ten  cents  per  line  of  space  for  each  insertion. 
In  both  English  and  German,  Fifty-five  rents  per  line. 
One  whole  column  (130  lines),  or  more,  $10  per  column. 
(JS^Business  Notices,  twenty  cents  a  line. 


Wanted. 

A  GARDENER  who  has  a  Mechanical  genius,  and  the  use 
of  carpenters1  tools.  Applicants  for  the  place  will  give  their 
qualifications,  expectations,  and  references  in  full.  Also 
enclose  postage  stamp.  Address  PRINCIPALS  of  Mt. 
CARROLL  SEMINARY,  Carroll  County,  Illinois. 

WANTED  an   experienced  Gardener,  having  a 
knowledge  of  fruit  culture.    Address  G.  S.  NORRIS, 
Reisterstown,  Md. 

WANTED  TO  RENT,  by  a  practical  Fruit 
Grower,  a  small  place  of  10  to  20  acres,  good  soil  and 
buildings.  Within  2  hours  of  New-York  by  steam  boat,  New- 
Jersey  preferred.  Address  with  particulars  "  FRUIT  GROW- 
ER/' care  of  American  Agriculturist,  41  Park-row,  N.  Y. 

FOR    SALE— A  Farm  of  180  acres,  near  Trenton, 
New  Jersey— suitable  for  Dairy  Truck  or  Grain— Water 
front  on  a  navigable  stream. 

Also  a  Farm  of  72  acres  in  Monmouth  Co.,  New-Jersey,  3 
miles  from  Camden  and  Am  boy  R,  R.  Apply  to  B.  Gill,  Al- 
lentown,  Monmouth  Co.,  N.  J„  or  to 

JOHN  C.  T.  SMIDT,  11  Wall  street,  New-York. 

0£|4Th  ACRES  of  choice  improved  Farm  land, 
•  V\f\J  in  will  Co.,  Ills.,  40  miles  from  Chicago,  10  miles 
S.E.  from  Joliet  on  the  Illinois  canal,  and  six  miles  south  of 
New  Lenox  Station  on  the  Chicago  and  Rock  Island  R.  R. 
Tins  tract  is  equal  to  any  in  the  state  for  grant  or  grass,  will 
be  sold  low,  either  entire  or  In  subdivisions  of  not"  less  than 
80  acres.  Terms  \i  down— the  balance  at  the  convenience 
of  the  purchaser.  For  particulars  address  the  subscriber 
through  Joliet  P.  O.,  or  apply  to  him  personally  on  the 
premises.  JOHN  YOUNG. 

FOR  SALE.— A  Splendid  Farm  of  835  acres,  in 
La  Grange  Co.,  Ind.,  with  extra  good  buildings,  good 
Orchards,  good  fences  and  running  water.  Price  only  $11,500. 
Terms  easy.    Title  perfect.    For  particulars.  Address 

S.  B.  JENKS,  Ontario,  Ind. 

New  Brunswick  Nurseries,  N.  J. 

EDWIN  ALLEN  offers  a  full  assortment  of  nursery  arti- 
cles, too  full  to  enumerate.  The  stock  of  PEAR  TREES  is 
unusually  large,  and  in  beauty  of  growth  and  form  unex- 
celled. A  general  catalogue  of  the  nurseries  furnished  gratis. 

CONCORD  GRAPE  VINES,  ONE 

YEAR  OLD,  FROM    CUTTINGS. 
No.  1,  $8  00  per  100.  or  $70  00  per  1000. 
No.  2,  $6  00  per  100,  or  $50  00  per  1000. 
No.  3,  $40  00  per  1000. 
GEORGE  SEYMOUR  &  CO.,  South  Norwalk,  Conn- 

A  Supplement  to  Dr.   Ure's  Dic- 
tionary ol"  Arls,  Mainiijaclurcs, 
ami  Mines. 

1  large  Svo.  vol.    Cloth,  $0  00.    Sheep,  $7  00. 

This  volume  of  Ure's  Dictionary  of  Arts,  Manufactures,  and 
Mines,  contains  the  additional  knowledge  which  has  accumu- 
lated within  the  past  ten  years.  Not  a  year  has  passed  but 
that  some  important  improvements  in  the  Arte  and  Sciences 
have  taken  place,  all  of  which  form  an  important  increase 
to  knowledge,  which  can  not  well  be  dispensed  with  by  those 
who  are  engaged  in  the  various  pursuits  in  which  they  are 
employed. 

The    Natural     I^aw    of   Hushamlry. 

By  Justus  von  Liebig.  Edited  by  John  Blyth,  M.  I>.  1 
vol.,  12mo.,  pp.  387.    Trice,  $1  50. 

D.   APPLETON   &  COMPANY,   443   &   445   BROADWAY, 
NEW-YORK. 

ME.  DEMOREST'S  MIRROR  OF  FASH- 
__  IONS— The  splendid  Fall  Number  now  ready,  with 
splendid  Illustrations,  five  full  size  Patterns,  and  other  valu- 
able novelties.  Single  copies,  25  cents;  yearly.  $1,  with  val- 
uable premiums.  Postage  ou  premiums,  2  cents.  The  Sum- 
mer Number  is  also  sent  to  all  new  subscribers,  without 
charge  when  requested.  Form  of  an  order  to  be  sent  to 
No.  473  Broadway,  N.  Y  ,  with  full  address: 

MME.  DEMOREST  will  please  send  the  Mirror  of  Fashions 
for  oue  year,  commencing  with  the  Fall  Number,  for  which 
find  Inclosed  $1,  and  2  cents  for  postage  on  the  premiums; 
also,  Bend  the  Summer  Number,  and  oblige  yours. 


M 


316 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[OCTOEER, 


JAMES  M.    MILLEK,   ArCTIOXEER. 

BY    JAMES    M.   MILLER. 

Office,  28  PINE  STREET. 
WEDNESDAY,  Oct.  7. 
Will  sell  at  Auction,  it  l  o'clock  on  the  farm  of 
PETKR  LOKILL  \i;i),   E*i\.. 
at  Fordham.  Westchester  Co.,  New  York,  12  miles  from  the 
City,  and  adjoining  the  Harlem  Railroad  : 

The  entire  flock  of  South  Down  Sheep,  consisting  of 
13  South  Down  Rams,  bred  from  Rum  selected  by  Mr.  Loril- 

lard  and  imported  from  Jonas  Webb,  of  England. 
TO  first-class  Breeding  Ewes,  bred  from  Ewes  selected  by 
Mr.  Lorillard.  and  imported  from  Jonas  Webb,  of  Eng- 
land. „ 
20  Buck  Lambs,  bred  from  imported  stock  of  Jonas  Webb. 
It)  Ewe  Lambs,  from  the  same. 

SHROPSHIRE  DOWN. 
22  Shropshire  Rams;    f>0  first-class  Breeding  Ewes. 
10  Buck  Lambs  :    If*  Ewe  Lambs. 

The  above  Sheen  have  always  taken  the  first  preminm 
wherever  exhibited,  and  were  selected  from  the  finest  flocks 
of  Jonas  Webb,  Karl  of  Elsford,  and  other  celebrated  sheep 
breeders  of  England. 

ALSO, 

1  Imported  Durham  Bull,  pedigree  at  sale. 

2  Imported  Heifers. 

13  Cows  and  Heifers,  bred  from  imported  Durham  stock, 

pedigree  at  sale. 
Also,  1  Imported  Devon  Cow.    The  whole  will  be  sold  to 

the  highest  bidder  without  reserve. 
For  full  particulars  and  catalogues,  enquire  of  the  Auction- 
eer, No.  23  Pine  st„   New-York. 

WHEELER   &  WILSON'S   HIGHEST  PREMIUM 


LOCKSTITCH! 


SEWING-MACHINES. 

505  Broadway. 
"There  Is  no  better  family  machine  than  this  made,  as  we 
have  proved  by  use  in  our  own  family." 

,i  merican  Agriculturist, 

PREMIUM  CHESTER-WHITE  PTGS.    Progeny 

■*■  of  Hogs  that  have  taken  State  and  United  States  Premi- 
ums sent  by  Express  to  all  parts  of  the  United  States.  Can- 
ada, Cuba  and  South  America.   Address  N.  P.  BOYER&  CO., 
Gum  Tree,  Chester  Co.,  Penn. 

]%TOKTH  DEVON  CATTLE.  —  The  undersigned 

i™  oilers  for  sale,  in  one  lot,  at  the  average  rate  of  one 
hundred  dollars  per  head,  his  entire  herd  numbering  about 
thirty  head  of  North  Devon  Cattle,  collected  and  bred  by 
himself  with  great  care  daring  the  nast  ten  years,  and  con- 
sisting principally  of  descendants  of  the  bull  Uncas  (winner 
of  two  first  premiums  at  exhibitions  of  the  United  States 
Agricultural  Society)  and  of  imported  cows.  For  particu- 
lars apply  to  J.  HOWARD  McHENRY, 

Pikesville,  Baltimore  Co.,  Md. 

Pfursery    for    Srtle. 

Desirable  nursery  and  green-house  stock  for  sale,  and  land 
to  lease  (if  desired),  on  reasonable  terms.  Situate  on  the 
best  avenue  of  the  citv  of  Milwaukee.  Address  GIFFORD 
&  CO.,  Spring-st.  Nurseries,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

50.04M)  Cherry  Currants. 
5,000  <j<rapc  Vines.    (L,  2  and  3  yrs.  old.) 
5,000  "Ravens wood  Pear"  Trees. 

(This  pear,  although  it  has  received  no  First  Premium  yet, 
is  nevertheless  the  beat  Summer  Pear  in  this  country  or 
anywhere  else.) 

1,000  I>OYvning;'s  Mulberry  Trees, 

together  with  a  great  variety  of  other  fruit  trees,  etc.,  will 
be  Bold  at  the  very  lowest  prices 

S3T"  Send  for  a  Catalogue,  which  are  mailed  free  to  all 
applicants.  CHARLES  F.  EKHARD. 

Ravenswood,  (Long-Island.)  N.  T. 

N.  U .— The  above  Nursery  is  situated  near  Jackson  Ave- 
nue, (the  grand  Avenue  leading  from  Hunter's  Point  to 
Flushing,)  two  miles  from  James  Slip  Ferry. 

BLOOMINGTON  NURSERY,  ILL.,  160  acres. 
Apple  Trees,— best  stock  ever  offered,  $30  to  $(50  per 
100O—  also  Pears,  Grapes,  and  small  fruits,  with  general  assort- 
ment. Ornamentals,  Nursery  stocks.  &c.  30,000  Tulips,  with 
Hyacinths,  Crocus,  &c.  Plant  in  Fall.  Send  red  stamp  for 
catalogue. F.  K.  PHOENIX,  Bloomington,  Ills. 

STRAWBERRIES. 

Send  for  our  CIRCULAR,  giving  description  of  varieties 
that  have  proved  the  most  valuable  during  the  past  season 
with  prices  of  plants,  and  other  information. 

J.  KNOX, 
^  Box  155,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

BOYDE.VS    GREEN    PROLIFIC     STRAWBERRY, 

50  cts.  per  doz.  $2  per  100,  $S  per  1000,  at 
PHILLIPSBURG     NURSERIES. 

ALSO 
Fruit  and  Ornamental  Trees,  Arc. 

CHARLES  DAVIS,  Jr.,  Phillipsburg.  N.  J. 

Genuine  Strawberry  Plants 

Of  the  best  varieties,  both  old  and  new.  For  sale  at  the 
lowest  living  rates.    Catalogues  gratis. 

E.  WILLIAMS,  Mont  Clair  P.  O.,  New-Jersey. 

now  kje-aj^y: 

OUR NEW  PRICE  LIST,  Of  STRAWBERRIES,  RASPBER- 
RIES, BLACKBERRIES,    CURRANTS,    GOOSEBERRIES, 

GRAPE  VINES,  &c.,  &C. 
Is  now  ready,  and  will  be  sent  to  all  applicants  free  of  charge 

J.  KNOX, 
Box  155,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

gUPEHIOR  STRAWBERRY  PLANTS  of  almost 
Meveryvartety  at  low  figures.    Send  for  a  list  of  prices. 
8AMLEL  L.  ALLEN,  Cinnamiuson.  Burlington  Co.,  N.  J. 


REID'S       NURSERIES, 

ELIZABETH,  NEW-JERSEY. 

For  sale  this  Fall,  a  ge  ieral  assortment  of  Nursery 
Stock  consisting  of 

APPLES   Standard  and   Dwarf. 
CHERRIES       do.  do. 

FEARS  Jo.  do. 

PLUMS  do.  do. 

PEACHES         do.  do. 

Apricots  and  Nectarines,  Grape  Vines, Native  and  Foreign, 
Figs,  Currants,  Gooseberries,  Raspberries,  Blackberries, 
Strawberries,  &c,  &c. 

The  collection  of  Fruits  cultivated  are  extensive  and  em- 
brace all  the  different  varieties  that  have  been  found  of  value 
as  well  as  those  of  late  introduction. 

The  ornamental  department  is  also  extensive,  consisting 
of  Shade  Trees  and  Ornamental  Shrubs,  with  a  fine  collec- 
tion of  Evergreens. 

The  above  can  be  furnished  in  any  quantity  and  of  various 
sizes,  suitable  for  Lawn  or  P  irk  planting.  Also  a  large  Btock 
of  Evergreens,  and  Deciduous  plants  for  Hedges  or  Nursery 
planting,  all  of  winch  will  be  sold  at  low  rates. 

Orders  by  mail  addressed  to  the  undersigned  or  left  at  the 
Nursery  will  have  prompt  ut  Mention. 
Catalogues  forwarded  on  receipt  of  stamp. 

DAVID  D.  BUCHANAN,  Superintendent. 


Fruit  and  Ornamental   Trees. 

We  oifer  a  large  stock  at  low  rates  of 
APPLE,   PEAR,   CHERRY.  ''LUM,  and  PEACH  TREES  of 

superior  growth  and  Quality, 
Also  NATIVE  GRAPE  VINES  consisting  of  Concord,  Hart- 
ford Prolific,  Delaware,  Diana.  Rogers  Hybrid,  &c,  &c. 
STRAWBF.KEIES— Triomrhede  Gaud,  Austin  Seedling,  and 

other  popular  varieties. 
A  large  stock  of  Forest  and  Evergreen  Tree*,  and   Hedg 

ing  Plants. 
1,000,000  Apple  Seedlings  fr<->m  one  to  three  years  old. 
50.000  Sugar  Maple  Seedlings  two  years  old. 

Those  wishing  to  purchase  will  and  it  for  their  interest  to 
either  examine  our  stock  or  communicate  with  us.    Cata- 
logues sent  to  applicants.  STEPHEN  HOl'T  &  SONS. 
New  Canaan,  Ct.,  Augus'  J*"th,  1863. 

FRTJIT  AND   ORNAMENTAL   TREES. 

RARE  CHANCES  OFFERED. 

200,000   Choice  Fruit  Trees,  Vines,  etc.,    for 

sal<-.  of  varied  size  to  an1*.  riPtomers. 

The  subscriber  calls  atten';on  to  his  unusually  large  stock 
of  well  grown  trees  now  on  hand,  and  especially  to  the  pre- 
sent stock  of  the  btasdakd  PBtriT,  Applk.  which  is  the 
largest  and  finest  cer  offcgA  at  these  Nurseries. 

With  twenty  years  of  experience,  by  careful  observation 
and  judicious  selections,  he  believes  he  is  able  to  judge  anil 
furnish  what  will  suit  his  customers,  as  well  as  the  varied 
soils  and  localities,  in  which  trees  may  be  wanted.  There  is 
also  special  attention  paid  to  local*  varieties,  adapted  to 
Southern  and  Central  Pennsylvania,  many  of  which  have 
proven  themselves  more  valuable,  than  BOrts  originating  in 
a  climate  di tiering  so  widely  from  these  sections. 

He  is  also  preparing  a  list  of  club  prices  for  those  who 
purchase  direct  from  the  proprietor,  offering  rare  induce- 
ments for  neighbors  to  join  together  and  get  trees  consider- 
ably under  the  regular  retail  prices. 

This  mode  is  adopted  for  those  who  may  not  have  an  op- 
portunity to  purchase  from  Irs  regularly  authorized  agents, 
and  hold  a  mistrust  towards  the  too  numerous  tree  venders 
spread  over  the  land. 

It#~  The  frequent  use  made  of  his  name  and  establishment 
by  strangers,  to  etl'ect  sale*  where  the  reputation  of  the 
nursery  is  known,  compels  him  to  warn  all  not  to  purchase 
—as  coming  from  these  Nurseries— stock  offered  by  pre- 
tenders, who  do  not  hold  au  authority  from  the  proprietor. 

Local  or  stationed  agents  will  be  accepted,  but  neither 
traveling  nor  stationary  agenuy  inquiries  will  receive  notice, 
unless  the  parties  produce  satisfactory  reference  as  to  their 
honesty  in  dealing  with  customers  and  employer.  Send  for 
Catalogues  and  priced  List,  wnich  contain  inducements  not 
before  offered  by  him.  Abundant  and  Teustwobthy  re- 
ference WILL  BE  FURNISHED  TO  ALL  WHO  ARE  STRANG- 
ERS TO  THE  ESTABLISHMENT. 

Address  DAVID  MILLER,  Jr., 

Cumberland  Nurseries,  Carlisle,  Pa. 

THE  NEW  EARLY  GRAPE, 
THE  ADIRONDAC, 

For  sale  by 
J.  "W.  CONE,  Norfolk,  Ct. 

The  Adirondac  is  an  early  grape  of  rare  excellence,  re- 
sembling the  celebrated  hot  tiouse  grape  Black  Hamburgh. 
Skin  thin  and  brittle,  almost  pulpless  and  very  sweet,  ripens 
from  one  to  two  weeks  before  the  Delaware  or  Hartford 
Prolific,  is  double  the  Bize  of  the  Delaware,  hardv,  prolific 
and  a  vigorous  grower,  has  a  perfectly  melting  juice  with  a 
flavor  of  the  most  delicate  and  excellent  character. 
Send  for  a  Circular  and  Price  List. 

Mr.  .7.  W.  Cone  of  Norfolk,  Ct.,  is  my  General  Agent  for 
the  sale  of  the  Adirondac  Grape  Vines  in  the  state  of  Con- 
necticut, and  will  be  prepared  to  supply  all  orders  both  at 
Wholesale  and  retail.  JOHN  W.  DAILY. 

Pittsburgh,  N.  Y„  Sept.  4th,  1S63. 

ADIRONDAC    GRAPE. 

The  earliest  and  best  Native  Grape  of  the  most  delicate 
flavor,  equal  to  the  best  Vinery  Grapes,  without  pulp,  and 
ripening  2  or  3  weeks  earlier  man  the  Delaware. 

2  years  old  No.  1.  very  strong,  £5.  No.  2.,  $1.  1  years  old 
No.  1,  very  strong,  $3.   No.  2.,  $2,  All  cut  back  to  S  or  4  eyes. 

Vines  will  be  packed  in  the  best  manner  and  forwarded  by 
express,  or  small  vines  by  mail  if  desired.  Apply  with  re- 
mittance to  JOHN  \V.  DAILY, 

Pittsburgh,  Clinton  Co.,  N.Y. 

True  Delaware  Grape  Vines, 

Propagated  from  the  original  vine,  25  to  50  cts.,  single  ;  $2 
10  $A  per  dozen  ;  $20  to  $30  per  100.  Strong  two  and  three 
years  old  vines,  and  extra  layers  for  immediate  bearing,  at 
low  rates.  Also  choice  plants  of  Concord,  Diana,  Rebecca, 
Hartford  Prolific  and  all  other  valuable  varieties.  Send 
stamp  for  Descriptive  Catalogue,  to 

GEO.  W.  CAMPBELL,  Delaware,  O. 

Grapes  for  the  Million. 

ROGER'S  HYBRIDS  No?.  4. 15,  and  19.  The  largest 
lot  in  the  State  from  wood  ot  Mr.  Rogers.  Also  buds  of  same 
at  best  rates.  Also  Concords  for  Vineyards  or  in  smaller 
lots.  Also  20  other  popnlai  varieties.  All  unsurpassed  in 
quality  and  price.    Send  for  trade  list. 

l.INDLEY  &  HIXKS. 
"Bridgeport Nursery"  Bridgeport,  Conn. 


DUTCH    BULBOUS    ROOTS. 

J.  M.  THORBURN  &  CO.'S 

Catalogue    of 


s  y  l  B  s 


$7.00 


h  U  Till, 

Wltli     directions    for   their    Management 
has  just  been  published  and  will  be 
mailed  free  to  all  who  apply  for  it. 
BEAUTIFUL     COLLECTION    OF    BULB- 
OUS  BOOTS. 
No.  1.— ASSORTMENT  OF 

G  Fine  Named   Double  and   Single  Hyacinths,    for"! 

pots,  glasses,  or  open  border 

1  Polvanthu^  Narcissus -,  «. 

5  Double  Tulips f  •1-^> 

IS  Fine  Mixed  Crocus    -  

1  Bulbocodium  Vcrnum J 

No.  2.-ASSORTMENTS  OF 

9  Fine  Named  Double  and  Single  Hvacinths,  fori 
pots,  glasses  or  open  border. | 

fi  Fine  Double  Tulips j 

15  Beautiful  Named  Early  Tulips ] 

Q:"  Fine  Mixed  Crocus "I 

3  Polyanthus    NnrcISBUfi ,"".".  f    " 

6  Double  Narcissus 

3  Bulbocodium  Vernum .. 

5  Persian  Iris 

Vi  Double  Snowdrops .... 

No.  3.— ASSORTMENT  OF 

18  Fine    Named    Double  and  Single    Hvacinths,  for 

pots,  glasses  or  open  border..". ... 

50  Fine  Mixed  Crocus 

'J!  Beautiful  Named  Early  Tulips 

12  Fine  Named  Double  Tulips 

■i  Polyanthus  Narcissus 

12  Double  Narcissus 

3  Persian  Iris 

3  English  Iris 

1  Crimson  Crown  Imperial 

6  Bulbocodium  Vernum. 

25  Double  Snowdrops 

ITIAHALFB  CHERRY  PITS. 

¥1.00  per  quart,  $25.00  per  bushel. 

FRESH  PEAR  SEEDS. 

Our  new  crop  will  be  ready  about  the  first  part  of  Novem- 
ber. Price  $3.00  per  pound,  or  for  quantities  of  25  pounds  or 
over,  the  price  will  be  $2JE5  per  pound. 

J.  M.  THORBURN  &  CO., 
Importers  and  Growers  of  Seeds. 

15  Johnstrcet,New-York. 

Delaware     Grapes. 

After  some  years  of  experiment,  the  subscribers  have 
adopted  a  mode  by  which  they  can  produce  plants  of  thiB 
valuable  grape  with  abundant  fibrous  roots  at  the  following 
very  low  rates : 

1st  Class,  825  per  100.       )     2nd  Class,  $15  per  100. 
$200  per   10U0.  )      $100  per  1000. 

Of  these  one  year  old,  they  can  furnish  50,000  deliverable  in 
October  and  November.— £F~Thesc  vines  are  not  grafts,  but 
are  raised  direct  from  cuttings. 

Those  who  wish  to  plant  largely  will  do  well  to  examine 
this  Stock  before  purchasing,  and  to  send  their  orders  early 
as  the  demand  last  year  exceeded  thesupply. 

Those  who  wish   can  also  see   THREE  ACRES  of  Dela- 
ware Vineyard  in  full  growth. 
CONCORD  and  other  Grapes  furnished  by  the  100  or  1000. 
Address  PARSONS  &  CO., 

Flushing.  N.  Y. 

GRAPE    VINES. 

Our  stock  of  DELAWARE.  CONCORD,  DIANA,  HART- 
FORD PROLIFIC,  CREYELING,  ELSINBERG,  HERBE- 
MONT,  LOGAN,  TO  KALON,  UNION  VILLAGE,  CUYA- 
HOGA, REBECCA,  ANNA,  TAYLOR  or  BULLIT,  and  all 
the  other  leading  kinds,  is  unsurpassed  any  where  in  the 
country. 

Parties  wishing  to  purchase,  and  who  cannot  visit  our 
grounds,  to  examine  our  vines  and  vineyards,  where  all  the 
above,  and  many  other  kinds  may  be  seen  in  fruit,  would  do 
■well  to  send  for  our  NEW  PRICE  LIST,  which  will  be  sent 
to  all  applicants  free  of  charge. 

J.  KNOX. 
Box  155,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

New  Japan  Grape, 

Although  their  stock  is  small  the  subscribers  desire  to 
disseminate  as  soon  as  possible  the  valuable 

YEDDO    GRAPE, 

They  will  therefore  dispose  of  a  few  plants  to  the  first  who 

apply.    The  plants  will  be  cut  down  to  two  eyes  aud  their 

price  will  be 

TEN  DOLLARS  EACH. 

Address  PARSONS  &  CO.. 

Flushing,  New-York. 

GRAPE    VIIVES- 

Planters  and  Dealers  will  please  send  to  WM.  PERKY  «fc 
SON.  BRIDGEPORT,  CONN.,  for  their  price  list  for  18GS. 
CONCORD  and  DELAWARE  Vines  of  superior 
quality,  at  low  rates, 

MTATIVE  GRAPE  VINES.— Strong  plants  in  jiots 
1™  from  bearing  vines.  Delaware  $J0  per  100.  Maxatawney 
(25  per  100.  Cuyahoga  $1  per  dozen  from  the  open  Ground. 
Concord  $12  per  100.  Terras  cash.  JOSEPH  KIFT,  West- 
Chester,  Pa. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


3V 


DUTCH  F1.0W1R  ROOTS. 

B.  K.  BLISS, 
Seedsman  and.  Florist. 

SPRINGFIELD,  MASS. 

Would  respectfully  inform  his  friends  and  patrons  of  the 
arrival  of  his  annual  importation  of  Bullions  Roots, 
and  is  pleased  to  say  that  they  are  particularly  line  this  sea- 
Bon.  This  selection  has  been  made  with  great  care  from  one 
of  the  oldest  and  most  respectable  growers  in  Holland,  and 
can  he  recommended  with  confidence,  as  being  in  everyway 
worthy  the  attention  of  Amateurs  and  others  interested  in 
their  culture.  The  stock  comprises  all  the  most  desirable 
varieties  of 

Hyacinths,  Double  and  Single,  Tulips,  Double  and 
Single,  Early  and  Late.  Crocus,  all  of  the  old,  and  many 
new  varieties.  Crown  Imperials.  Polyanthus 
Narcissus.  Double  Roman,  and  Paper  White 
Narcissus.  Jonquils,  Double  and  Single.  Japan 
Lilies.  Ranunculus.  Anemones.  Arum.  Snow 
Drops.  Iris.  Grape  and  Musk  Hyacinths,  &C, 
&c.  A  descriptive  priced  Catalogue  of  which,  with  full  di- 
rections for  culture,  will  be  forwarded  to  all  applicants  on 
receipt  of  a  three  cent  postage  stamp. 

Bulbous    Roots    by  ITfaiB, 

Post-paid  to  all  parts  of  the  Union,  where  there  is  postal 
communication. 

Thk  New  Postage  Law  authorizes  the  sending  of  Bulbs, 
Plants,  Hoots,  Cuttings  and  Seeds  by  mail,  upon  pre- 
paying the  postage  at  the  rate  of  two  cents  for  every  four 
ounces  in  weight.  To  meet  the  wishes  of  those  who  reside 
at  a  distance,  we  have  prepared  the  following  collections 
with  full  directions  for  culture,  which  will  be  sent  by  mail 
post-paid,  or  by  Express,  as  the  purchaser  may  direct,  at  the 
prices  affixed. 

Collection  No.  1,  by  Express  $'20,  by  Mall  $22,  contains  50 
Double  and  Single  Hyacinths,  60  Double  and  Single  Tulips, 

24  Narcissus,  5  Crown  Imperials,  12  Jonquils,  150  Crocus,  5 
Peonies,  4  Japan  Lilies,  13  Iris,  25  Ranunculus,  25  Anemones, 
20  Hardy  Gladiolus,  4  White  Lilies,  1  Liliuui  lougiflorum,  1 
Lilium  croccum,  12  Hyacinths. 

Collection  No.  2,  by  Express  $10.  by  Mail  $11.  contains 

25  Double  and  Single  Hyacinths,  30  Double  and  Single  Tu- 
lips, 12  Narcissus,  £  Crown  Imperials,  f>  Jonquils,  75  Crocus, 
2  Peonies,  2  Japan  Lilies,  6  Iris,  l .  Ranunculus,  12  Anemones, 
6  Hardy  Gladiolus  2  White  Lilies. 

Collection  No.  3,  bv  Express  $5,  by  Mail  $5  50,  contains 
10  Double  and  Single  Hyacinths,  20  Double  and  Single  Tu- 
lips, (i  Naicissus,  1  Crown  Imperial,  3  Jonquils,  36  Crocus,  1 
Peony,  1  Japan  Lily,  red,  4  Iris,  6  Kanunculus,  0  Anemones, 
6  Hardy  Gladiolus. 

Collection  No.  4,  bv  Express  $3,  or  by  Mail  $3  25,  con- 
tains (i  Double  and  Single  Hyacinths,  20  mixed  Tulips,  0  Nar- 
cissus, 20  Crocus,  3  Hardy  Gladiolus,  1  Japan  Lily,  white. 

The  different  varieties  in  the  above  collections  will  em- 
brace all  the  various  colors. 

For  a  more  particular  description  of  the  collections,  see 
Catalogue. 

All  of  the  Bulbs  named  in  the  Catalogue  will  be  mailed 
post-pa'.d  at  the  prices  quoted,  for  orders  amounting  to  $1.00 
and  upward,  the  freight  on  all  parcels  by  Express,  to  be  paid 
by  the  purchaser.  B.  K.  BLISS,  Springtleld,  Mass. 

BULBS 

For    Fall    JPlantinsf. 

My  Anuual  Illustrated  and  Descriptive  Cata!->£ue  of 
BULBS— HYACINTHS,  CROCUSES.  TUMPS, 
JAPAN  LILIES,  tSic.  &c,  is  now  published  and  will 
be  sent  free  to  all  who  desire  a  copy.    Address 

JAMES  VICE, 
Rochester,  N.  Y. 

ANTI-FRICTION    LEVER 

H0BSE    POWERS, 


BURR    STONE   MILLS, 

which  may  be  driven  by 

HORSE,  WATER,  or  STEAM  POWER. 

Send  for  Circular  to 

E.  H.  BENNET, 
42  and  44  Greenest..  New-York. 

POTATO  DIGGERS. 

CHICHESTER'S  combined   Hilling,   Hoeing    and  Potato 
Digging  Machine.    Price  $23. 

BYRAM'S  combined    Potato  Digger  and  Double  Mould- 
board  Plow.    Price  $7. 

Manufactured  and  sold  onlv  bv 

GRIFFlNG,  BROTHER  &  CO., 

GO  Courtlandt-st.,  New-York. 

Cider  Mifll    Screws. 

We  are  makina  THE  CHEAPEST  AND  BEST  CIDER  MTLL 
SCKEWS  IN  THE  WOULD.  Whole  length,  4  feet.  Length 
of  thread  3W  feet.  Diameter  of  screw.  4  inches.  Weight,  in- 
cluding nut,  125  pounds.    Price,  $9,00  each.    Address 

COWING  &  CO.,  Seneca  Falls,  N.  T. 

Cider  and  Wine  Mills. 

KEYSTONE,  EMERY'S  &  HUTCHINSON'S  PATENTS. 
Also 
WINE  PRESSES,  from  $5  to  M0. 

GKIfEINCi.  BEOTHEB  &  CO., 

60  Courtlandt-st.,  New- York. 


THE    CHAMPION. 

UICKOR'S  PATJEKT  PORTABLE  KEYSTONE 
CIDER      AND      WINE      MILL. 

10,000  ill   Use  uud  Approved. 

This  admirable  machine  is  "jcw  ready  for  the  fruit  harvest 
of  1863.  It  is,  [f  possible,  made  better  than  ever  before,  and 
well  worthy  the  attention  of  all  farmers  wanting  such  ma- 
chines. 

It  has  no  superior  In  the  market,  and  is  the  onlv  mill  that 
will  properly  grind  Grapes.  For  sale  by  all  respectable 
dealers. 

If  your  merchant  does  not  keep  them,  tell  him  to  send  for 
one  tor  you,  or  write  to  the  manufacturer  yourself.  Address 
the  manufacturer,  w.  o.  HICKOK.  Eagle  Works, 

Harrisburgh,  Pa. 


Wanted  !  Scrap  Iron,  Old  Boilers  and  Old  Iron 
Machinery. 

The  subscribers  will  pay  cash  for  any  quantity  of  wrought 
or  cast  scrap  iron,  old  boilers  and  old  iron  machinery  ;  deliv- 
ered at  their  Warehouse  28,  80  and  32  Terracc-st.,  Buffalo,  or 
at  their  Boiling  Mill  and  Noil  Factory,  Black  Rock,  N.  Y. 


Buffalo,  N.  y:,  July  1863. 


PRATT  &  CO. 


ONION  CULTURE-Fourth  (new)  Edition. 

This  work  comprises  ill 32  pages  all  the  particulars  for  suc- 
cessful Onion  Culture,  from  Selection  of  Seed  to  Marketing 
the  Crop— being  the  practical  directions  given  by  seventeen 
experienced  Onion  Growers,  residing  in  different  parts  of  the 
country.  Price  20  cents  (or  7  stamps),  sent  post-paid.  Ad- 
dress Publisher  of  AgriCUMltriRt, 

CLARK'S    SORGO   JOURNAL, 

CINCINNATI,   O. 

Devoted  exclusively  to  the  great  Northern  Cane  Enter- 
prise.— Monthly— one  year  $'.00,  sis  months  50  cents. 


men  nnmbers  free 
a6  above 


Now  is  Cue  lime  to  subscribe. 


.    Speci- 
Address 


T 


Auburn  Publishing  Co.'s 
BOOK    AGENT'S   HEAD-QUARTERS. 

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a:  great  work  i 

every  man  his  own  physician. 

THE  NEW  ILLUSTRATED  HYDROPATHIC  ENCYCLO- 
PEDIA: A  Complete  System  of  Hydropathy,  embracing  the 
Anatomy  and  Physiology  of  the  Human  Body,  Illustrated  : 
Hygienic.  Agencies,  and  the  preservaticn  of  Health ;  Dietetic 
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With  300  Engravings,  nearly  one  Thousand  Pages.  Including 
a  Glossary  and  Index,  complete.  Bv  R.  T.  Trall,  M.  D. 
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&  WELLS,  No.  SOS  Broadway,  N.  Y. 

PRAXRIE    FARMER. 

A   WEEKLY 
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advance.  C.  MATHEWS,  Proprietor, 

105  Fulton-et.,  New-York. 

Specimen  Numsbbs  will  be  scut  to  ad  applicants  for  Five 
Cents  In  Postage  Currency. 


BOWKS    FOR    FARMERS 
Ai\«    OTHERS. 

[Any  of  the  following  books  can  be  obtained  at  the  of- 
fice of  the  Agriculturist  at  the  prices  named,  or  they  will  bo 
forwarded  by  mail,  postpaid*  on  receipt  of  the  price.  Other 
books  not  named  in  the  list  will  be  procured  and  sent  to  sub- 
scribers when  desired,  if  the  price  be  forwarded.  All  of  these 
books  may  be  procured  by  any  one  making  up  a  libra- 
ry. Those  we  esteem  specially  valuable,  are  marked  with  a*.l 


American  Bird  Fancier jo 

American  Farmer's  Encyclopedia 5 

American  Florist's  Guide 

American  Fruit  Grower's  Guide,  by  Elliot 1 

American  Weeds  and  Useful  Plants i 


Allen  on  tiie  Culture  ot  the  Grape   _ . 
Allen's  (R.  L.)  American  Farm  Book*., 
Allen's  Diseases  of  Domestic  Animals, 

Allen's  (L.  F.)  Rural  Architecture 

Fruit  Garden 


Barry's 

Bement's  Poulterer's  Companion i 

Bridseman's  Fruit  Cultivator's  Manual 

Brklgeman's  Young  Gardener's  Assistant 1 

Brldgeman'B  Kitchen  Garden  Instructor 

Brldgeman's  Florist's  Guide 

Brandt's  Age  of  Horses"  (English  and  German) 

Breck's  Book  of  Flowers i 

Browne's  American  Poultry  Yard 1 

Btiist's  American  Flower  Garden  Directory 1 

Buist's  Family  Kitchen  Gardener* 

Choiilon's  Grape-Grower's  Guide* 

Cole's  fS.  W.)  American  Fruit  Book 

Cole's  Veterinarian 

Fine  Wool  Sheep  Husbandry 

Dadd's  (Geo.  H.)  Modern  Horse  Doctor i 

Dadd's  (Geo.  H.)  American  Cattle  Doctor l 

Dana's  Muck  Manmil  for  Farmers 1 

Downlng's  Cottage  Residences*. 2 

Downing's  Fruits  and  Fruit  Trees  of  America"" 2 

Downing's  Ladies'  Flower  Garden i 

Eastwood  on  the  Cranberry*'  

Employment  of  Women— By  Virginia  Penny" l 

Every  Lady  her  own  Flower  Gardener 

Fessenden's  American  Kitchen  Gardener , 

French's  Farm  Drainage  * ; 

Field's  (Thomas  W.)  Pear  Culture l 

Fish  Culture l 

Flint  (Charles  L.)  on  Grasses* l 

Flint's  Milch  Cows  and  Dairy  Farming* 1 

Fuller's  Strawberry  CnlturisU. 

Goodale's  Principles  of  Breeding ...  l 

Grape  Culture,  Wine  and  Wine  Making,  by  Haraszthy..    5 

Gray's  Manual  of  Botany. y 

Guenon  on  Milch  Cows 

Hall's  (Miss!  American  Cookery i 

Harris'  Insects  Injurious  to  Vegetation,  plain 3 

do.       do.  do.  do.         colored  plates.    4 

Herbert's  Hints  to  Horsekeepers** - 1 

Hooper's  Dog  and  Gun 

Johnson  on  Manures 

Johnston's  Agricultural  Chemistry l 

Kemps  Landscape  Gardening 2 

Kidder's  Bee  Culture 

Langstroth  on  the  Honey  Bee"  ] 

Leslie's  Recipes  for  Cooking l 

Lenchars*  Hothouses l 

Liebig's  Lectures  on  Chemistry 

unsley's  (D.  C.)  Moreran  Horses i 

Manual  of  Agriculture  by  G.  Emerson  and  C.  L.  Flint      1 

Mavhew's  Illustrated  Horse  Doctor s 

McMabon's  American  Gardener* 2 

Median's  Ornamental  Trees    

Milbnrn  on  the  Cow  and  Dairy 

Miles  on  the  Horse's  Foot .... 

Mistakes  of  Educated  Men 

National  Almanac  and  Annual  Record** i 

Norton's  Seientitlc  Agriculture 

Olcott's  Sorgho  and  Imphee i 

Our  Farm  of  Four  Acres..'*....  (paper) .... 

Onion  Culture"* 

Pardee  on  Strawberry  Culture 

Parlor  Gardener 

Parsons  on  the  Rose ..l 

Pedder's  Farmer's  Land  Measurer    

Phantom  Bouquet,  or  Skeleton  Leaves 1 

Phin's  Grape  Culture l 

Quinbv's  Mysteries  ot  Bee  keeping* i 

Randall's  Sheep  Husbandry   \ 

Richardson  on  the  Dog 

Richardson  on  the  Hog 

Robins'  Produce  ana  Ready  Reckoner 

Rose  Culturist 

Shepherd's  Own  Book  — 2 

Skillful  Housewife 

Smith's  Landscape  Gardening    i 

Spencer's  Education  ot  Children** i 

Stewart's  (John)  Stable  Book l 

Tobacco  Culture**  

Todd's  (S.  E.)  Young  Farmer  s  Manual 1 

Tucker's  Register  Rural  Affairs 

Turner's  Cotton  Planter's  Manual 1 

Watson's  American  Home  Garden i 

Wood's  Class  Book  of  Botany 2 

Yale  College  Agricultural  Lectures 

Youatt  and  Snooner  on  the  Horse 1 

Youatt  and  Martin  on  Cattle 1 

Youatt  on  the  Hog 
Youatt  on  Sheep  .. 
Youmans' Household  Science* 1 


TOBACCO, 

Just    How    to    Grow    it. 

Every  particular,  from  the  selection  of  the  Seed,  and 
preparation  of  the  ground,  to  the  Gathering,  Curing,  and 
Marketing  the  Crop,  is  given  in  a  work  issued  by  the 
Publisher  of  the  American  Agriculturist,  and  sent  post- 
paid for  25  cents.  This  work  consists  of  a  selection  of 
the  best  fourteen  out  of  eighty-five  Essays,  prepared  by 
eighty-five  different  cultivators,  residing  in  various  parts 
of  the  Northern  and  Middle  States.  In  each  oJ"  the  Essays 
contained  in  this  work,  the  writer  tells,  in  a  plain,  practi- 
cal, straight-forward  manner,  just  what  to  do,  and  how  to 
do  it.  Any  item  omitted  by  one  is  given  by  another,  so 
that  the  information  is  full  and  complete.  Several  en- 
gravings illustrating  the  method  of  drying,  packing,  etc. 
The  work  is  worth  its  weight  in  silver  to  every  one  grow- 
ing even  a  small  plot  of  tobacco. 


318 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[October, 


A     RELIABLE     AGENCY 

FOR    PURCHASING 

ARTICLES  OF  MERCHANDISE, 

Implements  for   the  Farm, 

Garden   and  Household, 

S  E  E  D  S,  &c. 

Special  attention  will  also  be  given  to  procnrinc  Sewing 
Machines  ;  Pianos  and  otlicr  Musical  Instru- 
ments; Philosophical  and  Astronomical  Ap- 
paratus ;  Boohs  for  Schools  and  Colleges,  and 
School  Furniture. 

Subscriptions  for  periodicals  will  also  be  received  at 
the  usual  subscription  price. 

No   Charge    made  to  Purchasers, 

BEYOND   THE 

Lowest  Regular  Price. 
FRUIT    TREES. 

The  best  quality  of  Standard  and  Dwarf  Pears— Apples- 
Cherries  and  Plums,  etc. 

Ornamental    Trees  &  Shrubs 

Suitable  for  Lawns  and  Gardens. 

©BAFE  VINES. 

Delaware,  Concord,  Iona,  Isabella  and  other  choice  Grape 

Tines. 

RASPBERRIES,  CURRANTS, 

and  other  small  fruits. 

AUTUMN    BULBS. 
Hyacinths,    Tulips,   Lilies,    &c,  &c,  &c. 
Dahlias   and  Grlacliolas, 

Choicest  kinds  ?2  per  dozen. 

Fnirersal    Clothes    Wringer. 

No.  1.  LAHOE  FAMILY  WKINGEB $10.00 

Ko.  2.  Medium       "  "  7.00 

No-  ^       "  "  "        5  without  co^s  I      '''■"" 

No.  ?..  Smaul  "  "       j  without  coss.j      5<s0 

No.  8.  Lakbe  HOTEL  "  14.00 

No.  is.  Medium  LAUXDKT  "    ( to  run  by  steam  I      1S.00 

No.  ti.  Laege  "  "     (       or  hand,        J     30.00 

Tiie    IN'onpareil    Washing    Machine 

Is  the  only  entirely  reliable  machine  in  use. 

Prices,  No.  1,  $12  ;  No.  2,  $IG  ;  No.  3,  $20. 
Send  for  Circular.    See  Premium  No.  3,  Agriculturist 

Xlie    Aquarius. 

A  Ilaud  Force  Pump.    Price  $10. 

Woodi-ufls  Patent    Portaulc    Ba- 
rometer. 

Carried  by  railroad  or  stage  express  in  safety. 
The  American  Agriculturist  recommends  this  Barometer 
above  all  others  l'or  general  use. 

PUICES  $5.00,  $8.00,  lira  $12. 

Glass  Fruit  Jars  with  a  Shoulder. 

Quart  Jars  with  Corks $!.?"»  per  P07.cn 

Pint  .(ars  do .    1.25       do. 

Tin  Covers 15  cts.   do. 

Baiter's    Patent    Kruit  Jars   with  Glass  or   Tin 
Covers.  Pints  $2.25,  Quarts  $2.75,  half  Gail.  $3.50  per  Dozen. 

HARVEY  B.    LANE, 

151  Nassau-st.,  New-York. 


BUTTER,      CHEESE, 
POULTRY,    EGGS, 


j 


'i 


AND     FARM     PRODUCE 

OF  ALL  KINDS 

SOLD     ON    COMMISSION. 

Constantly  on  hand,  for  sale.  Flour,  Fish,  Salt,   Mackerel, 
Pork,  Hams,  Lard,  Beans,  Dried  Fruit,  Soap,  Starch,  etc. 

COOK  &  NICHOLS,   Successors  to 

ISAAC  EMENS,  HiO  FF.ONT-ST.,  NEWVOKIC. 

Refers  to  .1.  De  Lamater,  Cashier  Marine  Bank.  N.  Y.  City. 
Lewis  &  Brown,  No.  42  Front-st.,  N.  Y.  City, 
Isaac  Emeus,  Castle  Creek,  Broome  Co.,  N.  Y. 


S.  B.  CONOVER, 

Commission    Dealer, 

2G0,  2C1  &  262  West  Washington  Market, 

FOOT  OF  FULTON-ST. 
Particular  attention  paid  to  selling  all  kinds  of  Fruit  and 
other  Farm  Produce. 
lieiei'8  to  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist. 


C.  W.  1DELL, 

COMMISSION    OEAI,ER 
In  Fruit,  Produce,  Ac. 

Special  attention  given  to  selling  all  kinds  of  fruit. 


70  &  71  West  Washington  Market. 


ESTABLISHED    1842 

Prn.N-o  the  past  Twentv  Tear?,  Messrs.  MUNN  .t  m  ,  in 
ComiRCLliiu  wiili  me  publication  of  the  Weekly  Illustrated 
Scientific  Auuiucan,  (ihe  only  paper  demoted  10  the  Me- 
cbamc  Arts  in  ihe  GuUDtry),  h  >ve  a -led  ns  Attorneys  for  pro- 
curing l*ettera  Patent  in  the  United  Slates  and  all  lureigu 
C'tUsitnea  1 

They  would  state  that  they  have  acted,  during  this  period, 
as  litems  lor  more  ih;in 

Twenty   Thousand   Inventors  ! 

In  fart,  thpy  have  become  identified  with  the  whole  hro'her- 
houdol  inventors  and  pa'eiitees.  at  home  and  atimad.  Thou- 
sands of  nweiitura  tor  whom  they  hare  taken  patents,  have 
addressed  to  them  most  flattering  testimonials;  and  the  wealth 
ttitt  has  inured  to  the  inventors  whose  patents  were  serrnred 
through  their  Office,  and  afterwards  illustrated  in  the  Scien- 
tific American  would  amount  to  manv  millions  of  dollars  ! 

Messrs.  MUNN  A.  CO.  never  had  a'mo-e  efficient  corps  of 
Draughtsmen  and  SpeciOcation  Writers  than  those  employed 
at  present;  and  they  are  prepared  to  attend  to  patent  business 
of  all  kinds,  m  the  quietest  lime  and  on  the  most  liberal 
terms.  , ,         ... 

For  further  information,  send  for  a  pamphlet  which  con- 
tains the  Patent  Laws  of  the  United  Slates,  and  much  other 
valuable  information  of  importance,  to  inventors  and  all.,  i  hers 
who  own  patent  property.  Ais  >  pamphlets  of  information 
furnished  regarding  the  Patent  Laws  ol  all  Foreign  L-ouu- 

jpji  further  particular*  address  MUNN  k  CO.,  37  Part-row, 
New  V'iik;  or  corner  F  and  7lh  streets  (opposite  Pateui 
Office),  Washington,  D.  0. 


THE  EUREKA  FEED  CUTTER. 
A  Cnttcr  adapted  to    the  wants  of  Farmers. 

> 

o 

Pi 


m 

£3 

M 

3 

H 

H 

< 

< 

H 
nfj 

Z 

- 

ti 

ft. 

0 

o 

en 
> 

This  machine  has  important  improvements.  It  crushes 
and  cuts  the  heaviest  corn  stalks,  and  hay  and  etraw  with 
great  rapidity,  by  either  hand  or  horsepower.  It  has  four 
cylindrical  knives,  ground  on  the  inside;  they  cut  with  the 
shear  cut,  and  can  be  EASILY  ground  and  kept  in  com- 
plete cutting  order  by  ordinary  farm  help.  It  is  well  made, 
easily  operated,  simple,  durable,  and  effective.  Hundreds 
are  In  actual  operation  to  the  perfect  satisfaction  of  the 
purchasers.  Orders  solicited— promptly  attended  to.  Send 
for  a  circular,  furnished  free.  Manufactured  only  by 
H.  K.  PARSONS,  Agent, 
Novelty  Works,  R.VRRISBURG,  PA. 

$— SOMETHING  NEW  !    AGENTS  WANTED. 

Our  New  "  Fancy  Carp  THERMOMETERS" — *'  Hkmmkr  and 

Shield"  for  hand  sewing— "Improved  Indelible  Pencil'*  tor 
marking  linen,  "Flexible  .Shawl  and  Nursery  Safety  Pin," 
"  Patent  Hair  Crimpers,'  and  10  more  novel,  useful  and 

indispensable  articles,  are  warranted  to  give  satisfaction. 
— Samples 25c.  each.    For  circulars  and  terms  address 

RICK  &  Cd..  37  Park  Row,  N.  Y. 

HlflTCMlNSOWS  lMI>KOri-J>  FAM- 
ILY WINE  ami  CIDER  MILL. 
PRICE  fis.    Bold  by 

(JKIFFING    BROTHER  &  rp, 

uU  Cuuillandt-bL.,  Nov-York 


TO    FARMERS 
TO   DAIRYMEN, 

TO  COUNTRY  MERCHANTS. 

ALIi  who  hare  for  Sa5e  : 

Sorghum    Sugar    and    Syrup, 
Furs      and      Skins, 
Fruits,  dry  and  green, 
Hops,  TaUow, 


Cotton, 
Butler, 
Lard, 
Pork, 

Eggs, 


Wool, 
Cheese, 


Beef, 
Hams, 
Poultry, 
Game,  Vegetables, 

Flour,  Grain, 

Seeds,  Petroleum, 

Ac.,  Ac. 

Can  have  them  well  sold  at  the  highest  prices 
in  New-York,  with  full  cash  returns  promptly 
after  their  reaching  the  City,  by  forwarding 
them  to  the  Commission  House  for  Country 
Produce,  of 

JOSIAH    CARPENTER, 

32  Jay-street,  Netv-York. 

N.  B. — The  advertiser  has  had  abundant 
experience  in  this  business,  and  trusts  that  he 
will  continue  to  merit  patronage  by  the  most 
careful  attention  to  the  interest  of  his  patrons. 
The  articles  are  taken  charge  of  on  their  arri- 
val, and  carefully  disposed  of  promptly  to  good 
cash  customers,  and  cash  returns  made  imme- 
diately to  the  owner.  (The  highest  charge  made 
for  receiving  and  selling  is  Jive  per  cent,  fruits  and 
vegetables  excepted.) 

A  New  York  Weekly  Price  Current  is  issued 
by  J.  Carpenter,  which  is  sent  free  to  all  his  pat- 
rons. A  specimen  copy  sent  free  to  any  de- 
siring it.  A  trial  will  prove  the  above  facts. 
For  abundant  references  as  to  responsibility,  in- 
tegrity, &c.,  see  the  "  Price  Current." 

f^T  Cash  advanced  on  consignments  of 
Produce. 

SEND    FOR 

A    FREE    COPY 

O  F 

PRICES   CURRENT, 

AND  ALL  OTHER  PARTICULARS, 

TO 

JOSIAH    CARPENTER, 
39  Jay-st.,  New- York. 

PRODUCE  OF   ALL  KINDS  BOUGHT. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN '  AGRICULTURIST. 


319 


Mode  of  applying  JOHNS  &  CROSLEY'S 
GUTTA     PEUCHA    CEMENT    ROOFING. 

This  Roofing  is  Fire  and  Water  Proof,  and  nan  he  applied 
by  any  ordinary  laborer.  It  costs  only  about  one- third,  as 
much 'as  tin,  and  is  more  durable. 

GUTTA    PKRCHA  CEMENT  PAINT 
applied  to  leaky  roofs  of  all  kinds,  will  render  them  perfect- 
ly water-tight.    It  is  put  up  ready  prepared  for  use  and  for 

"    rticu- 


shipment  to  all  parrs  of  the  country.    This  Paint  is  particu- 
larly adapted  for  painting  Outhouses,  Barns,  Fences,  &c,  i 
and*  will  effectually  prevent  wood  from  decaying. 


These   materials  have  been  tested  on   more  than  twelve 
thousand  roofs  during  the  past  six  years,  and  we  can  give 
abundant  proof  of  all  we  claim  for  them.    Full  descriptive 
circulars  am!  any  required  information  furnished  by  the 
JOHNS  &  CBOSLEY  MANUFACTURING  CCL 

78  William-st.,  cor.  Liberty,  New-York. 

USEFUL and  VALUABLE 
DISCOVERY  ! 


Great  Dis- 

COTEET  ! 


Applicable  to 
the  useful  Arts. 


Its     Combhm 
tion. 


Boot  and  Shoe 
Manufacturer 


It  is  a  Liquid 


HILTON'S 

INSOLUBLE    CEMENT! 

Is  of  more  general  practical  utility  than  any 
invention  now  before  the  public.  It  has  been 
thoroughly  tested  during  the  last  two  years 
by  practical  men,  and  pronounced  by  all  to 
Be  Superior  to  any 
Adhesive  Preparation  known. 

Hilton's  Insoluble  Cement 

Is  a  new  thing,  and  the  result  of  years  of 

study;  its  combination  is  on 

SCIENTIFIC   PRINCIPLES, 

And  under  no  circumstances  or  change  of 
temperature,  will  it  become  corrupt  or  emit 
any  offensive  smell. 

Boot  and  Shoe  Manufacturers,  using 
Machines,  will  find  it  the  best  article  known 
for  Cementing  the  Channels,  as  it  works 
without  delay,  is  not  affected  by  any  change 
of  temperature. 

Jewelers  will  find  it  sufficiently  adhesive 
for  their  use,  as  has  been  proved. 

It  is  especially  adapted  to  Ijcatli- 

er,  and  we  Claim  aa  an  especial  merit,  that 
tt  sticks  patches  and  Linings  to  Boots  and 

Shoes  sufficiently  strong  without  stitching. 

IT  IS  THE  ONLY 

LIQUID    CEMENT 

Extant,  that  is  a  sure  tiling  for  mending 
Furniture,  Crockery,  Toys,  Boitc, 
Ivory,  ami  articles  of  Household  use. 

i*:e:ivi:ej3Ve:b:ei3F8. 

Hilton's     Insoluble     Cement 

Is  in   liquid  form  and   as  easily  applied  as 

paste. 

Hilton's  Insoluble  Cement 

Is  insoluble  in  water  or  oil. 
Hilton's  Insoluble  Cement 

Adheres  oily  substances. 

Supplied  in  Family  or  Manufacturers'  Tack 

Ages  from  2  ounces  to  1(10  lbe. 

HILTON   BROS,   it  CO., 

Proprietors, 
PROVIDENCE,  R.  I. 


Life  Insurance. 
THE  MANHATTAN  LIFE  INS.  Co. 

OF  NEW-YORK,  No.  31  NASSAU-ST. 
Accumulation  $1.500,OOO. 
Claims   paid  83'»,0O0. 

Dividends  700,000. 

The  ereatlv  superior  advantages  of  this  old  established 
fViuinanv  can  he  ascertained  tree  of  expense  at  any  of  the 
airenc-iea"  or  by  writins  lo  the  home  office  for  a  prospectus. 
J   1.  H  \I.SEY.  Ast.  Sec'v.  HENRY  STOK  KS.  President. 

S.'  N.  STEBBINS,  Actuary.         <J.   Y.  WEMPLE.    Secretary. 


SULPHITE  OF  LIME, 

Used  for  preserving  cider  and  all  kinds  of  wine.    Prepar- 
ed and  sold  in  bulk  or  tin  Cans  of  10  oz.  each,  with  direct- 

°"S  '&AIL  &  SCHLEICHEli,  Manufacturing  Chemists. 
"West  Mount  Vernou,  New-York. 
Depot.  103  Maiden  Lane,  N.  Y.  Cily. 

TBUSSIA  OR  BASS  MATS,  SELECTED  EX- 
_■»/  presslv  for  budding  and  tying;  GUNNY  BAGS, 
rwiN'KS  HAY  HOPES,  ic,  suitable  for  Nursery  nnrpoaoa, 
for  sale  in  lots  to  suit,  by  D.  W.  MANYvAkim. 

Importer,  248  Front-st,,  New- York. 


UNIVERSAL 

CLOTHES    WRINGER. 

This  popular  machine  sells  rapidly  wherever  ottered. 
Every  Family  will  Have  one  ! 

It  is  only  a  question  of  time.  Thousands  of  families  every 
month  are  being  relieved  in  the  hardest  of  all  housework, 
Washing.  Thousands  of  dollars  are  daily  saved  by  pressing 
the  water  and  dirt  out  of  the  clothes,  instead  of  twisting  and 
wrenching  the  fabric,  and  destroying  the  garments. 

Cotton  is  Expensive, 
Save  it  by  using  the  Universal  Clothes  Wringer. 
"Time  is  Money." 

Okaxge  .Tttdd,  Esq..  of  the  American  Agricultural-,  says : 
'*  A  child  can  readily  wring  out  a  tubful  of  clothes  in  a  few 
minutes."  Therefore  use  the  U.  C.  W.,  and  save  time  and 
money. 

Ladies  who  have  long  used  them  and  know  their  value, 
speak  in  the  highest  terms  in  their  praise.  One  says— "I 
would  as  soon  be  without  my  cow,  as  without  my  wringer." 
Another,  "  I  can  now  go  to  bed  and  sleep  after  washing- 
day."  Another,  "I  had  to  pay  fifty  cents  for  a  washwoman 
before,  and  now  we  do  it  ourselves."  Another,  "The  rich 
may  afford  to  do  without  them,  but  I  could  not."  &c.,  &c. 
These  are  but  a  few  among  thousands.  Every  one  using 
them  will  report  likewise. 

We  have  seven  sizes,  from  $5  to  $no.  Those  suitable  for 
ordinary  family  use,  are  No.  1,  $10,  and  No.  2,  $7.  These  have 

COG.WIIEEI.S, 

and  are  warranted  in  every  particular.  This  means  especi- 
ally, that  alter  a  few  months*  use,  the  lower  roll 

WILL    NOT   TWIST  ON  THE   SHAFT, 

and  tear  the  clothing,  as  is  the  case  with  our  No.  3  ($5),  and 
other  wringers  without  Cog-Wheels. 

In  April's  sales  of  over  5,000,  only  27  were  of  the  No.  3,  $5, 
size,  without  Cogs.  In  our  retail  sales  we  have  not  sold  one 
in  over  a  year !  This  shows  which  style  is  appreciated  by 
the  public.    This  is  the  only  wringer  with  the 

PATENT  COG-WHEEL  REGULATOR, 

and  though  other  wringer  makers  are  licensed  to  use  our 
rubber  rolls,  vet.  none  are  ever  licensed  to  use  the  Cog- 
wheels. Therefore,  for  cheapness  and  durability,  buy 
only  the 

Universal    Cfiofhcs    Wringer. 

On  receipt  of  the  price,  from  places  where  no  one  is  sell- 
ins,  we  will  send  the  {'.  C.  W.,  pt.ee  of  expense.  What  we 
especially  want  is  a  good 

CANVASSER 

in  evcrv  town.  We  on>r  liberal  inducements,  and  guarantee 
the  exclusive  sale.    Apply  at  once  to 

R.  C.  BROWNING, 
547  Broadway,  New-York. 

ANOIY  A:  HAMLIN'S   CAUl^'GT 

ORGANS— One  to  twelve  stops;  prices  $70  to  $600.  A 
vast  improvement  on  everything  of  the  Melodeon  or  Har- 
monium kind.  See  written  testimony  of  more  than  one 
hundred  of  the  most  eminent  artists  and  organists  of  leading 
cities  to  the  great  excellence  of  these  instruments,  and  the 
superiority  to  all  others  of  their  class  for  private  and  public 
use.  Also,  Melodeons  from  $U0  to  $170  each.  Illustrated 
Catalogues  sent  free.  Ware  rooms  Nos.  5  and  ?  Mercer  st., 
New-York.    Addresss  MASON  BROTHERS. 

XKIJSSES.— Radical  Cure 
of  Hernia  or  IlrPTiRE.— Dr.  S.  N. 
.Marsh,  of  the  well-known  house  of 
Marsh  &  Co.,  No.  2  Vesey-st.,  Astor  House, 
opposite  the  church,  devotes  special  at- 
tention to  the  surgical  adaptation  of  his 
Radical  Cure  Truss  Also  every  kind  of  Trusses,  Supporters. 
Shoulder  Braces,  Elastic  Stockings,  and  Mechanical  appli- 
ances for  Deformities.    (A  lady  attendant.) 

LANE'S   PATENT   CARRIAGE    JACK. 

CONVENIENT, 

SIMPLE,  and 

CHEAP. 

This  Jack  is  made  to 
operate  on  a  new  prin- 
ciple, and  is  pronounc- 
ed by  those  who  have 
used  them,  as  the  most 
convenient  article  of 
the  kind  before  the 
public.  For  sale  by 
the  principal  hard- 
ware and  agricultural 
dealers,  also  by  the 
general  agent  A.  H. 
II  A  VIL  AND,  261 
Pearl-st.,  New- York, 
and  the  manufacturer 

J.  G.  LANE, 
Washington,  N.  Y. 
Send  fob  Cibculak. 

gSOKSE     POWEKS,     TRI2S1IJGKS 

**  AND  SEPARATORS,  CLOVER  HtTLLERS,  FAN- 
NING MILLS.  HICKOK'S  PATENT  CIDER  MILL,  HUTCH- 
INSON'S PATENT  CIDER  AND  WINE  MILL,  WINE 
PRESSES,  AT  LKN'S  and  other  Patents,  POTATO  PLOWS, 
FRUIT  &ATHSRERS,  FRUET  LADDERS,  &c,  &c, 

R.H,  ALLEN  &  '  0., 
153  &  191  "Water  street.  New-York. 


The  NONPAREIL  WASHING  MACHINE 

Is  the  only  entirely  reliable  machine  in  use. 

It  has  been  before  the  public  two  years,  and  has  not  in  any 
instance  failed  to  give  satisfaction. 

It  saves  two-thirds  the  labor  and  time  required  in  hand 
washing. 

It  is  a  squeezing  machine,  and  will  not  injure  the  finest 
clothing. 

A  girl  of  fourteen  years  can  operate  it. 

It  will  not  get  out  of  order. 

It  is  recommended  by  Mr.  Judd,  the  proprietor  of  this 
Journal. 

Prices  ■  No.  1,  M2i    No.  2,$1G.    No.  3,  $20. 

Send  ior  free  Circular  to 
OAKLEY  &  KEATING.  73  South-st„  New-York. 

AGENTS 

Wanted  kvep.yt\-here  to  sell  WOODRUFF'S  PATENT 
PORTABLE  BAROMETERS. 

CHARLES  WILDER,  Petevboro',  N.  H. 

TO  FARMERS, 
Hone  Tafcu.  Itoeic  TTafeei. 

MANUFACTURED  BY  tjie  LODI  MANUFACTURING  CO. 

The  large  sale  of  this  manure,  and  constantly  increasing 
demand  has  induced  the  Company  to  arrange  for  its  manu- 
facture on  an  extensive  scale. 

It  is  composed  of  Fixe  Raw  Bom  and  Night  Soil,  free 
from  all  Impurities,  dried  and  ground  to  a  fine  powder,  mak- 
ing it  quick  in  its  action,  as  well  as  permanent  in  its  results. 

For  Buckwheat,  Turnips  and  Winter  Grain,  no  manure 
can  be  found  of  equal  value  for  the  amount  invested. 

It  is  put  in  new  Barrels,  200  lbs.  in  each.  One  and  a  half 
barrels  will  manure  an  acre. 

Price,  free  of  cartage,  $4.50  per  Barrel. 

All  orders,  w"  '  ' 
directed  to  the 

6ii  Cortlandt-st.,  New-York. 

TO  FARMERS 

AND     OTHERS. 

We  are  manufacturing  a  Genuine  Article  of  vert  Fixe, 
BONE  DUST,  and  RAW  BONK  SIPERPHOS- 
PHATK  OF  LIME,  manufactured  from  unburned 
Bones,  containing  all  the  Animal  and  Chemical  Fertilizing 
Properties.  Please  address  the  Manufacturers,  and  get  the 
Intrinsic  Value  of  your  money. 
N.  F..  A  Liberal  Discount  made  to  Dealers  for  Cash, 
Address  A.  LISTER  &  BRO., 

Newark.  N.  J. 

PURE  BONE  DUST. 

COE'S  SUPERPHOSPHATE  OF  LIME, 
AND  ALL  OTHER  RELIABLE  FERTILIZERS. 
In  quantities  to  suit  purchasers. 

H.  H.  ALLEN  &  CO. 
189  &  191  Water  street.  New-Tort 


All  orders,  which  will  herealier  he  tilled  promptly,  must  be 
LODI  MANUFAI  TI'UlM.'i  O, 


BRUCE'S 

CONCENTRATED     MANURE. 

Farmers  wishing  this  valuable  manure,  will  please  send  in 
their  orders  early  for  the  fall  crops.  Sold  at  the  old  pri<-e, 
$40.00  per  ton.  For  Wheat,  Rye,  and  Grass  lands  it  has  no 
equal.  Send  for  a  Circular,  containing  testimonials  and  direc- 
tions for  use.  C.  W.  VAN  DORES  &  CO., 

58  Cortlandt-st.,  New-York. 

AMMONIATED  >  ACIFIC  GUANO. 

A  real  guano  containing  from  seventy  to  eighty  per  cent 
of  Phosphate  of  Lime,  to  which  has  been  added,  by  a  chemi- 
cal process,  a  large  percentage  of  Actual  Ammonia  so  fixed 
that  it  can  not  evaporate,  making  it  equal  if  not  superior  to 
anv  other  fertilizer. 

Pamphlets  with  copies  of  Analysis  by  Dr.  Jackson,  Mass. 
State  Asanyer,  and  testimonials  from  scientific  Agriculturists 
showing  its  value  can  be  obtained  from 

J.  O.  BAKER  &  i  O.,  Selling  agent*. 
87  Wall-st    New-York. 


320 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


Contents  for  October,  1863. 


Animals,  Diseased— Useful  Society 298 

Apple  Butter   311 

Apples  Early— What  to  Plant 306 

Apples— Hints  on  Keeping 307 

Asparagus  Beit— How  lo  Make 307 

Babies— Rocking  Injurious 310 

Bee-hives.  Straw— Cheap  and  Goud..2  Illustrations .  .301 

Bees— Apiary  in  October 291 

Bitters -Worse  than  a  Humbug 309 

Boys  and  Girls*  Columns — A  Ghost  Story — Intelli- 
gence of  Fishes — Not  Quite  a  Meteor — Puzzles  and 
Problems — Children  Opening  the  Gate — True  Po- 
liteness— Boys  and  Girls'  Garden,  No.  1 — Premiums 
Secured  by  Boys  and  Girls— Indian  Fun,  a  Snake 
Story — Modest  Request — Capital  Story  —  Curious 
Letter— Taking  it  Coolly— Origin  of  the  Name  Can- 
ada— Curious  Sign — Crooked  Company.  .5  III. .  311,  313 

Clay  Soil  no  Curse 303 

Corn,  Drying— Good  Method 31] 

Com— Pickled 311 

Corn — Securing  the  Harvest  ....    Illustrated.  .304 

Corn— Shocking-Horse Illustrated  .300 

Coughing — Remedy  for 309 

Crinoline  in  I  he  Garden 307 

Crosses  and  Hybrids  :. . ..308 

Currants  and  How  to  Propagate  Them 306 

Currants— Heal lli fulness  of 306 

Draining — Benefits  of Illustrated.  .289 

Exhibitions— Agricultural,  Slate  and  County  in  1863. 294 

Exhibition  Tables  at  Agriculturist  Office 296 

Farm  Work  for  October 289 

Flower  Garden  and  Lawn  in  October 201 

Fruit  Dottles— Sealing 310 

Fruit— Directions 'for  Marketing 304 

Fruit  Garden  in  October 291 

Fruit-Growers'  Meetings— New-York 291 

Fruit  in  the  Country— Hint  to  City  Visitors 307 

Garden— Kitchen,  in  October 290 

Gift  Enterprises  and  other  Humbugs 302 

Gladiolus — Improved  French  Hybrids  ...  Illustrated .  .308 

Grain     How  to  Send  to  Market.' 298 

Grapes— Opinions  on  Quality 307 

Green  and  Hot  Houses  in  October 291 

Horse-shoe—  The  Bar 29$ 

Horses— Glanders 298 

Horses— Remedy  for  Scratches 29S 

Horses — Suggestions  on  Management  ....   297 

Labels— Leaden  for  Fruit-Trees Illustrated. . 305 

Lung  Protector — Chamois  Skin Illustrated.  .309 

Market  Review,  Weather  Notes,  etc 314 

Measurement — Useful  Rules 303 

Melon— While  Japanese 2  Illustrations ..305 

Onions — Small — Pickle  for  Soldiers 310 

Orchard  and  Nursery  in  October 290 

Pedigree  in  Plants 303 

Pickles— '•  Higdum" 311 

Piggery— Plan  of 3  J I  lustrations  ..297 

Pork— Curing  without  Brine 310 

Premiums— Descriptive  List  for  1S64 313 

Pud. ling— Birds'-Nest  Sago   311 

Pumpkin  Exhibition  at  Agriculturist  Office 292-296 

Roses  as  Bedding  Plants    303 

Sap  Boiler— Miles'  Improved Illustrated.. 301 

Sheep— Sale  of  South-Down  at  Thorndale 299 

Soda  and  Mineral  Waters— Portable  Fountain  Illus.  .309 

Sore  Throat  Remedy 309 

Sorrel— Cure  for 301 

Straw — Spreading  or  Composting •. 299 

Strawberries  and  other  Small  Fruits  at  the  West 305 

Suggestions  and  Notes  for  the  Mouth. ..  Illustrated.  .289 

Swine— Care  of 297 

Thread,  Cheap— One  Cent  a  Spool 310 

Tim  Bunker  on  Starting  a  Sugar-Mill 302 

Trees,  Fruit — Manuring  Injurious 306 

Trees,  Fruit— Renovation  of 306 

Trees — How  to  Raise  Seedling  Stocks 305 

Walks— Water-proof 310 

Water— Hard  and  Soft    310 

Weeds— Talks   About.— No.  V.— The'Bittersweet  and 

the  Nightshade      2  Illustrations.. 300 

Wheat  on  Clover  Sod 300 

Zinc  Vessels  Poisonous    310 

INDEX    TO    "BASKET."    OR    SHORTER    ARTICLES. 

Agriculturist  at  58cents..292  Paint— Cheap  . 


Horses,  Feed  for 294iTobacco,  Native 296 


Apples.  Crab 293 

Bees.  Overswarming 294 

Big  Things 296 

Blackberry,  Cut-leaved.  .293 

Black  Knot 294 

Book,  Farm 293 

Broom  Corn,  Dwarf 295 

California  Fair 295 

Caterpillars 295 

Cereus,  Night-blooming. .296 

Cheese,  Keeping 294 

Clover,  Plastering 294 

Cotton-Growing 296 

Currycomb  Substitute... 294 

Eggs,  Keeping 29.t 

Egg- Plants,  Cooking 294 

Egg-Plants,  Large 293 

Fair,  New-Jersey. 

Fair,  N.  Y.  State. 

Flax  Investigations  ....  .296lSeeds  by  Mail 

Flax-Seed,  White 296JSeeds  Received    

Flowers,  Splendid 295  Shawls,  Cleansing 

Frost  and  Cotton 292lSheep,  China 

Fruit-Bottles,  Cleansing  .293) Smut,  Preventing 

Fruits,  Small 293  Soldier's  Widow 

Garget  in  Cows 294 1  Sorghum  Hints 

Generation  Spontaneous.296| Spinach,  Cover 

Glass  Shades 295  Strawberries  from  Seed 

Grape  Show 2921  Strawberries  Mixing 

Grapes,  Training 295jStrawberry  Plants  sent.. 

Grapes.  Unripe 293  Strawberries,  Productive 

Grape-Vines,  Pruning. .  .293  Subsoiling    ..'. 

Grass  for  Sheep 394 1 Sugar  Evaporators 

Grass,  Orchard     294  Sulphuric  Acid 

Grass,  Quack 293  Sumach  for  Dyeing 

Ileal,  Work  on 293  Tea,  New-Jersey 

Honey,  Northern 294lTobacco  for  Ants 


Pear,  Beurre  Clairgeau. 

Pear  Trees  in  Michigan 

Pears,  Profitable 

Plant,  Variegated 

Plants  Named 

Pork,  Packing , 

Portrait  Monthly   

Potatoes,  Deep  Plowing 

Potatoes,  Large  Yield.. 

Poultry,  Greasing 

Poultry,  Stuffing 

Poultry,  Vermin 

Prairie   Breaking 

Pumpkin  Show 

Questions,  Practical 

Raspberries,  Planting... 

Rats,  Expelling 

295]Ready  Reckoner 

292  Seed,  Ailanthus,  etc 


293 
295 
296 
293 
293 
296 
393 
295 
293 
296 
293 
295 
294 

393 
393 
394 

393 
■iw 
295 
295 
295 
•2M 
203 
393 
294 
292 
293 
294 
293 
296 
299 
293 
294 
293 
295 
293 
294 
296 


Humbug  .    294 

Husbandry,  Laws 293 

Husking  Aids 293 

Insects  Named 295 

Ivy,  English 294 

Lilies,  Japan 293 

Milk,  Drying  Up 295 

Names  Pronounced 294 


Tnmalo,  Good 296 

Tomatoes,  Ripening 293 

Udder,  Caked 293 

Veronica  and  the  Rural 

New-Yorker 295 

Wine-Plant  Humbug  ..-294 

Wine-Souring 294 

Wines,  California 293 


A    GEEAT 

66 Baker's    Dozen." 

Fourteen  for  Twelve. 

We  want  a  large  number  of  new  readers  to  see,  and  get 
acquainted  with  the  Agriculturist  before  January,  for 
those  who  do  so,  will  generally  bring  along  other  new 
readers  to  begin  with  the  next  volume.  For  this  reason, 
and  as  a  special  bounty,  we    make  the  following  offer: 

Every  new  name  arriving  on  and  after  October 
1st,  will  be  at  once  entered  on  our  booJcs  to  the  end  of 
1S64,  and  receive  not  only  volume  23  complete,  but  also 
the  remaining  numbers  published  this  year — all  for 
a  single  year's  subscription — if  the  name  is  distinctly 
stated  to  be  a  new  one,   as  noted  below.*) — Thus  : 

New  Subscribers  for  1864,  received  during  October, 
will  get  the  paper  for  November  and  December,  of 
this  year,  free. — (14   months  for  tlie  price  of   12.) 

Tfiose  received  during  Nov.  wilt  get  December  free. 

N.  B.— The  above  offers  extend  to  all  new  subscribers, 
whether  they  are  received  singly,  or  in  clubs,  or  on  pre- 
mium lists,  or  from  Agricultural  Societies,  or  otherwise. 

*N.  B. —Since  many  old  subscribers  are  renewing  in 
advance,  it  is  important  that  iieiv  subscribers'  names  be 
marked  as  "  new  "  when  sent  in,  if  the  extra  numbers  are 
desired,  for  we  shall  not  seiml  these  extra  numbers  unless 
they  arc  specially  and  definitely  asked  for. 


A  Pleasurable  Announcement. 


GOOD  PAY  is  offered  to  those  who  collect  Clubs 
of  Subscribers.  See  page  313.  This  is  a  good  time  to 
get  them  ;  the  above  "  Baker's  Dozen,"  and  the  Straw- 
berry Premium,  will  aid  canvassing  now.     See  next  item. 


THE    GREAT    STRAWBERRY   is  for   .7// 

Subscribers  for  1864,  who  apply  in  accordance  with 
terms.  Read  the  terms  carefully  through,  on  page  250. 
The  substance  of  these  terms,  is,  that  the  great  "  Agri- 
culturist Strawberry  "  is  being  multiplied  as  rapidly  as 
possible,  and  the  plants  produced  will  be  distributed  free 
next  year,  as  far  as  they  go,  beginning  with  the  names  in 
the  order  of  application  and  entry  on  our  books  for  1864. 
Those  to  receive  the  plants  by  mail  will  need  to  send,  in 
addition,  to  the  subscription,  5  cents  to  pay  for  oil-cloth 
and  postage  on  the  plants.  We  hope  to  have  plants  for 
all  who  receive  the  Agriculturist  for  1864.  No  distinc- 
tion will  be  made  between  old  and  new  subscribers. 

~~» -mt>^~ »-* 

Postage  011  Hie  Agriculturist  is  only 

3  cents  per  quarter,  if  paid  in  advance  by  the  recipient. 
The  old  dispute  about  the  weight,  is  settled  by  the  new 
law  which  allows  4  ounces  instead  of  3  ;  no  copyvveighs 

4  ounces  in  any  case.  Any  postmaster  who  insists  upon 
charging  more  than  1  cent  per  number,  when  paid  quar- 
terly or  yearly  in  advance,  is  either  too  ignorant  to  hold 
office,  or  is  guilty  of  extortion.  We  ask  the  name  of 
any  one  who  hereafter  exacts  more  than  the  above 
amount  of  postage,  as  has  been  illegally  done  hitherto,  in 
some  cases.    The  new  law  is  too  plain  to  admit  of  doubt. 


Specimens    or    Extra    Numbers  are 

costly,  and  each  copy  requires  two  cents  postage  paid  in 
advance.  So  they  cannot  be  scattered  around  very  freely. 
When  needed  for  canvassing,  the  judgment  of  the  appli- 
cant will  in  each  case  decide  whether  both  the  paper  and 
the  postage  should  be  at  the  expense  of  the  Publisher. 
Except  when  to  be  used  solely  for  our  benefit,  the  postage 
at  least  should  be  provided  for. 


ClitJBS  can  at  any  time  be  increased,  by  remitting 
for  each  addition  the  price  paid  by  the  original  members, 
if  the  subscriptions  all  date  at  the  same  starting  point. 
The  back  numbers  will  of  course  be  sent  to  added  names. 


Our  readers  will  doubtless  be  greatly  pleased  to  learn 
of  the  return  of  Mr.  Mason  C.  Weld,  to  resume  his  labors 
in  the  Agriculturist  Office.  A  year  ago  he  was  tempora- 
rily called  away,  on  short  notice,  to  an  important  place 
In  the  country's  service,  and,  as  Lieut.  Colonel  of  the 
renowned  25th  Regiment  Connecticut  Volunteers,  he  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  the  restoration  of  Louisiana,  and 
in  the  reopening  of  the  Mississippi  by  the  capture  of  Port 
Hudson.  His  regiment  having  served  out  their  time  and 
received  their  honorable  discharge,  Mr.  Weld  will  imme- 
diately enter  upon  the  more  peaceful  labor  of  gathering 
and  spreading  information  through  the  columns  of  this 
journal. — Our  good  Agricultural  Ship  has  never  before 
been  so  well  "  manned  "  as  it  is  now  to  he.  With  the 
constant  and  earnest  editorial  labors  of  Prof.  Tbuiber 
and  Lieut.  Col.  Weld,  both  of  whom  have  had  the  most 
thorough  practical  and  scientific  training  for  their  pro- 
fession, also  of  Messrs.  Fitch  and  Taber,  who  have  long 
been  engaged  in  the  office,  and  with  the  efficient  editorial 
aid  of  Mr.  Clift,  Mr.  Gridley,  and  several  other  practical 
and  intelligent  observers  in  different  parts  of  the  country, 
in  addition  to  a  widely  extended  circle  of  voluntary  cor- 
respondence, we  feel  justified  in  promising  a  still  further 
large  advance  in  the  intrinsic  value  of  the  Agriculturist. 
Our  aim  is,  to  condense  into  these  pages  the  largest  pos- 
sible amount  of  useful  and  reliable  information  upon  all 
topics  relating  to  the  labors  of  the  Farm,  Garden  and 
Household.  To  this  end  we  shall  continue  to  enlarge 
the  working  force.  The  more  thought  and  labor  we  can 
concentrate  upon  the  paper,  the  more  valuable  will 
every  line  become  to  the  reader.  It  is  not  too  much  to 
say,  that  now  here  else  ran  one  obtain  in  the  same  space, 
or  for  so  little  money,  so  much  of  really  valuable  infor- 
mation. We  take  no  little  pride  and  pleasure  in  con- 
trasting the  present  facilities  of  this  journal,  with  what 
they  were  ten  years  ago  when  the  writer  was  almost 
literally  "captain,  mate,  and  all  hands." 

Our  thanks  are  due  to  an  appreciating  circle  of  readers, 
now  close  on  to  eighty  thousand,  and  soon  to  be  a  hun- 
dred thousand,  we  hope.— As  the  circulation  enlarges, 
we  are  able  to  make  further  improvements,  without  in- 
creasing the  cost  to  the  reader. 

We  bespeak  a  continuance  of  the  favor  so  generously 
bestowed,  and  promise  to  spare  no  expense  or  effort  to 
merit  it  in  a  still  greater  degree.  Will  our  present  read- 
ers each  gratify  us,  at  this  lime,  by  a  word  lo  friends  and 
neighbors,  informing  them  of  what  are  the  plans  and 
aims  of  the  publisher,  and  how  useful  and  interesting  the 
paper  may  be  to  them.  We  would  like  to  begin  the  next 
year  with  the  round  One  Hundred  Thousand.  Will  the 
reader  of  this  supply  at  least  one  name  towards  this  re 
suit  ?  Every  new  name  received  this  month  will  come 
in  for  an  extra  allowance  of  two  months'  papers,  as 
noted  in  another  column.  The  Great  Strawberry  to  be 
distributed,  will,  we  hope,  prove  a  valuable  gift ;  but  aside 
from  these  extra  inducements,  the  Agriculturist  shall 
be  made  a  treasure  to  every  household— a  valuable  guide 
for  the  Farm,  the  Garden,  and  the  Household — and  a 
source  of  pleasure  and  profit  to  the  Young.  O.  J. 

Jmenran   ^gruuHnrist. 

For  tlie  Farm,  Garden,  and  Household. 

A  thorough-going,  RELIABLE,  and  PRACTICAL 
Journal,  devoted  to  the  different  departments  of  SOIL 
CULTURE— such  as  growing  field  CROPS  ;  orchard 
and  garden  FRUITS;  garden  VEGETABLES  and 
FLOWERS ;  trees,  plants,  and  flowers  for  the 
LAWN  or  YARD;  care  of  DOMESTIC  ANIMALS, 
etc.,  and  to  HOUSEHOLD  LABORS,  with  an  Interesting. 
instructive  department  for  CHILDREN  and  YOUTH. 
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ITCAU    PRESSES  Of    JOHN    A.   OHAr  I  QUEIf«    II   *   U    JACCt      HEST,   H.  y 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST, 

fou  the 

Farm,    GrarcLen,    and   Household! 


'AGKICULTCKE  IS  TJUE  MOST  nEALTIIFUL,  MOST   USEFUL,  AN1I  MOST  NOBLE  EMPLOYMENT  OP  MAN/'-W. 


ORAJVOE     IIIDD,     A.M., 

EDITOR    AND    PKOPKIETOR. 
Office,    41   Park  Row,    (Times  Building: 


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For  Contents,  Terms,  etc.,  sec  jiagc  352. 


VOLUME  XXII— No.  11. 


NEW-YORK,    NOVEMBER,     1863. 


NEAV  SERIES— No.  203. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress  in  the  year  ISttj,  liy 
OxtAMfiK  .1udi>,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of 
the  united  Stales  for  the  Southern  District  of  New-York. 
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freely,  (/"each  article  be  credited  to  American  Agriculturist. 


Suggestions   and   Notes  for   the  Month. 

November  with  its  sounding  blasts  gives 
wanting  of  the  advancing  march  of  Winter, 
and  the  prudent  man  will  heed  .the  signal. 
Every  where  may  be  noticed  the  care  with  which 
Nature  protects  her  children.  The  summer 
glory  of  the  trees  has  departed,  but  the  fallen 
leaves  spread  thickly  about  the  roots,  prepare 
them  to  withstand  the  benumbing  frosts;  and 
many  a  bulb  and  tender  sprig  and  waiting 
seed,  lie  snugly  nestled  within  the  folds  of  the 
kindly  shelter.  No  woven  blanket  could  better 
protect  the  pastures  and  meadows,  than  does 
the  downy  mat  formed  of  the  withered  blades 
of  grass.  Here,  too,  are  safely  kept  the  myriad 
seeds  of.  flowers  that  will  gladden  the  fields 
when  Spring  shall  waken  them  to  life.  Nor  are 
the  countless  tribes  of  animated  creatures  for- 
gotten. Warned  by  unerring  instinct,  the  bee 
has  filled  its  cells  with  abundant  stores,  and 
fears  neither  cold  nor  famine;  flies  and  their 
congeners  have  sought  sheltering  crevices ; 
many  insects  have  burrowed  iu  the  earth,  and 
for  others,  a  special  form  of  life  has  been  de- 
vised, and  their  chrysalides  hang  from  fence 
and  bush ;  the  squirrels  are  gathering  nuts  and 
acorns  with  which  to  regale  themselves  in  the 
intervals  of  their  long  winter  nap ;  in  the  wilder 
regions  the  bear  is  looking  out  his  hollow  tree, 
and  each  animal  is  rejoicing  in  the  thickened 
coat  which  shall  shield  him  from  coming 
storms.  Let  the  husbandman  note  these  kindly 
provisions,  and  be  equally  provident  for  the 
creatures  entrusted  to  his  care.  There  may  be 
danger  that  some  domestic  animals  will  be  in- 
jured by  excess  of  kindness.  They  should  be 
protected,  but  not  pampered.  A  horse  confined 
in  a  close  shelter,  kept  warmly  blanketed,  fed 
with  unsparing  hand,  and  but  little  exercised, 
will  Jm  J«*Uale   to  inflammatory  diseases  from 


every  slight  exposure.  Sheep  huddled  together 
in  warm  pens,  kept  iuactive  and  supplied  with 
abundant  food,  will  be  enfeebled  themselves, 
and  in  the  case  of  breeding  ewes,  their  progeny 
will  also  sutter.  As  with  human  beings,  the 
first  requisite  for  withstanding  severity  of 
weather  is  robust  health  and  vigor  of  consti- 
tution. With  these  and  plenty  of  food,  animals 
entirely  unsheltered  will  successfully  resist  al- 
most any  inclemency  of  the  season.  But  it  is 
both  humane  and  economical  to  give  that 
amount  of  shelter  which  will  not  interfere  with 
hardiness.  A  creature  exposed  to  the  full  force 
of  a  winter  nor'wester,  will  shiver  off  a  sur- 
prising amount  of  fodder,  and  usually  of  fat  also. 
The  importance  of  this  leads  us  to  repeat  what 
we  have  often  said  in  the  American  Agri- 
culturist, that  a  large  part  of  the  food  consum- 
ed is  used  up  in  the  system,  actually  burned, 
to  furnish  animal  heat.  The  need  of  this  repe- 
tition is  seen  in  the  absence  of  shelter  for  stock 
on  hundreds  of  farms,  particularly  at  the  West. 
We  believe  it  would  not  be  saying  too  much  to 
assert  that  the  hay  and  grain  annually  wasted — 
burned  up  for  want  of  protection  to  animals — 
would  keep  twenty-five  per  cent,  more  cattle 
and  sheep  than  are  now  raised  in  this  country. 
If  any  whose  animals  are  unsheltered,  are  yet 
doubtful  on  this  point,  let  them  commence  ex- 
perimenting. Build  stables  or  rough  sheds  for 
part  of  the  stock,  and  keep  an  exact  account  of 
the  feed  consumed  by  them,  in  comparison 
with  an  equal  number  allowed  to  run  at  large : 
we  have  no  doubt  as  to  the  result.  In  addition 
to  considerations  of  profit,  there  is  no  little  sat- 
isfaction in  the  merciful  treatment  of  dependent 
creatures.  The  lowing  of  unsheltered  cows  and 
bleating  of  neglected  sheep  are  anything  but 
soothing  music,  while  the  grateful  pleasure 
which  even  dumb  animals  can  express  in  re- 
turn for  proper  care,  will  add  not  a  little  to  the 
enjoyments   and  the  attractions  of  farm  life. 

Work   for   the  Farm,  Household,  etc. 

Animals. — Keep  them  always  improving. 
Comfort  for  the  animal  is  money  in  the  purse 
of  the  proprietor.  Take  them  up  early  for  the 
animals'  sake,  for  the  pastures'  sake,  and  for 
their  manure.  Provide  warm  sunny  sheds  for 
young  cattle,  close  sheds  or  boxes  for  colts, 
open  but  warm  sheds  for  sheep,  where  they  can 
have  the  range  of  a  dry  yard. 

Barns  and  Stables. — A  clapboard  loose  or 
gone,  or  a  great  crack  under  the  door,  lets  in  the 
cold,  and  the  horse  or  cow  must  have  more 
fuel  for  the  fire  within  the  body  to  counteract 
the  cold  from  without.  Pure  air  is  essential, 
but  let  it  not  come  in  chilling  currents  upon 
man  or  beast.  With  ventilators  above  for  the 
escape  of  bad  air,  there  will  generally  be 
cirough  good  air  stealing  in  almost  insensibly 
through  the  seams  and  crevices;  if  not,  admit 
it  from  some  point  where  it  will  not  blow  di- 


rectly upon  the  animals.  Every  stable  should 
have  one  glazed  window,  and  better  several. 
Butter  may  be  made  almost  as  well  at  this 
season  as  in  June,  if  the  feed  of  the  cows  is 
good  enough.  Sugar-beets  and  carrots,  with 
plenty  of  sweet  hay  and  corn-stalks  cut  up  and 
flavored  with  bran,  corn  meal,  or  cotton  seed 
or  other  oil-cake  with  salt  as  a  condiment,  will 
secure  the  cream  which  will  make  yellow  but- 
ter without  annotto,  and  plenty  of  it. 

Cellars. — The  fetid  air  from  decaying  veget- 
ables is  as  bad  as  the  malaria  from  a  swamp; 
hence  be  very  careful  in  storing  vegetables  and 
in  frequently  examining  those  already  in  the 
cellar,  to  remove  all  roots  and  leaves  beginning 
to  decay.  Thorough  draining,  ventilation,  and 
plenty  of  lime  whitewash,  are  good,  both  for 
the  things  kept  in  the  cellar,  and  for  those  liv- 
ing above  it.  A  little  hydraulic  lime  mortar, 
with  bits  of  stone  and  broken  glass,  are  good 
stoppers  for  rat-holes.  The  best  cellar  tempera- 
ture is  one  as  low  and  equable  as  possible  above 
freezing.  In  fact  a  little  frost  is  better  for  tip- 
ples than  too  much  warmth.  Potatoes  en- 
dure rather  more  warmth  than  apples  and  other 
fruits ;  these  must  be  kept  cool,  but  sweet  po- 
tatoes will  bear  quite  a  high  temperature,  and 
should  be  put  in  the  dryest  and  warmest  part 
of  the  cellar.  Sashes  with  double  glass  and  an 
intervening  thin  space  of  confined  air,  are 
nearly  equal  to  stone  walls,  in  shutting  out 
cold.  Protect  the  exposed  walls  with  a  bank 
of  earth  outside,  or  what  is  neater  and  better 
spent  tan-bark,  if  it  be  conveniently  accessible. 
Cisterns.— Pure  clean  rain  water  is  belter  for 
man  and  beast  than  well  or  spring  water  medi- 
cated with  lime  and  other  salines  dissolved  out 
from  the  soil.  If  not  already  done,  empty  and 
clean  foul  cisterns  early,  when  rains  may  be 
depended  upon  to  fill  them  again.  (See  note  on 
examining  cisterns  and  wells,  elsewhere.) 

Com.— Dampness  and  frost  combined,  injure 
it  for  food,  and  especially  for  seed.  Much  of 
the  corn  brought  to  this  market  is  sold  as  "  un- 
sound." The  sooner  it  can  be  husked  and 
placed  in  dry  cribs,  the  better.  The  crib  should 
never  be  more  than  3  or  4  feet  wide,  and  let 
abundant  openings  be  left,  by  slats  at  the  sides. 
The  eaves  should  project  far  over  the  sides  of 
the  corn-house,  to  prevent  storms  beating  in 
upon  the  sides.  A  rat-terrier  dog  chained  un- 
der or  in  the  corn-house,  is  the  best  rat-trap. 
Corn  Rusks.— There  is  a  ready  sale  for  this 
article  at  about  $10  per  ton  at  the  farm  in 
many  sections.  It  is  not  worth  this  for  fodder 
and  the  difference,  if  it  be  cash,  will  pay  for 
saving  them.  Tom  into  fine  shreds  on  a 
hatchel,  they  are  better  than  straw  to  fill  beds. 
Draining. — There  is  hardly  a  farm  in  America 
on  which  some  work  at  surface  or  under-drains 
may  not  be  done  to  advantage  this  month.  So 
long  as  the  ground  is  unfrozen,  this  important 


332 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[November, 


work  may  be  pushed  forward.  Surface  drains 
should  be  arranged  upon  a  well-matured  system, 
and  protected  from  washing,  by  securing  a  distri- 
bution of  the  surplus  water  upon  grass  land,  or  by 
stoning  the* bottoms,  or  securing  a  gentle  flow  of 
water  by  greater  width.  Underdrainiug  the  garden 
will  advance  spring  working  a  week  or  two,  and 
make  the  product  much  better,  by  letting  in.warm 
air  and  preventing  the  chill  produced  by  the  evapo- 
ration of  the  water  from  the  surface  during  Sum- 
mer. The  same  results  are  produced  in  the  field. 
It  pays  on  almost  all  soils,  even  those  usually 
considered  dry.  Clear  the  obstructions  from  the 
dead-furrow  drains  in  the  wiuter  grain.  Frost  will 
not  kill  wheat  or  rye ;  frozen  water  in  the  soil 
will.  Water  in  freezing  expands  one-eighth  of  its 
bulk,  and  tears  and  heaves  the  roots ;  perfectly 
dry  soil  does  not  expand  in  freezing ;  and  soil 
merely  moist  expands  but  little. 

Fuel. — It  takes  the  heat  of  almost  one  half  of 
green  wood  to  dry  the  other  half.  Therefore  keep 
the  Winter's  fuel  dry  and  under  cover.  It  will  save 
fuel,  time,  vexation  aud  health,  and  be  a  mercy  to 
the  housewife. 

Grain  usually  keeps  better  in  the  bin  than  in  the 
mow  or  stack,  especially  where  mice  abound,  while 
in  the  bin  it  is  ever  ready  for  market.  Do  not  burn 
the  straw,  even  in  the  new  rich  prairie  regions.  Let 
the  cattle  lie  on  it.  If  it  can  not  be  used,  let  it 
lie  even  Ave  or  ten  years  ;  there  will  in  that  time 
surely  be  some  place  that  will  be  benefitted  by  an 
application  of  well  rotted  vegetable  matter.  Clean 
the  grain  well  for  market.  A  bushel  of  chaff,  foul 
stuff,  or  shrunken  grain  in  100  bushels  will  lower 
the  price  of  the  whole  3  to  10  cents  per  bushel — an 
important  difference,  and  one  which  will  pay  well 
for  an  extra  fanning  and  screening. 

Hedges. — Thorns  and  other  deciduous  hedge  plants 
may  be  set  until  the  ground  freezes.  Leave  ever- 
greens until  next  May. 

Hogs. — They  fatten  most  on  the  same  food  when 
weather  is  warm.  As  cold  weather  comes  on,  give 
the  hogs  warm  pens  well  supplied  with  dry  litter, 
feed  regularly — gradually  increasing  the  amount 
of  food  and  its  richness.  Hogs  kept  in  pens  will 
always  dung  in  an  out  of  the  way  corner,  frequent- 
ly persisting  in  its  being  under  cover,  doubtless 
for  convenience  in  cold  or  rainy  weather.  By 
watching  their  habits,  and  exercising  a  little  per- 
suasion, when  the  pen  is  first  occupied,  a  great  ad- 
vantage in  cleanliness  may  he  secured.  For  early 
pigs  turn  in  the  males  now.  Sows  run  about  4 
mouths  (109  to  123  days.) 

Horses  need  clean,  well  veutilated,  and  well  light- 
ed quarters.  They  are  fastidious  in  regard  to  food 
and  drink.  The  nervous,  high-strung  nature,  which 
gives  the  horse  his  energy,  endurance,  spirit,  and 
docility,  cannot  be  maintained  without  constant  and 
judicious  care.  Young  and  old  horses  should  be 
brushed  clean  or  curried  daily,  blanketed  in  cold 
weather,  using  light  woolen  blankets  in-doors  aud 
warm  generous  ones  after  exercise  and  out  of 
doors,  especially  if  exposed,  even  for  a  few  minutes, 
to  wind,  or  cold  drafts  of  air.  These  blankets 
should  cover  neck,  breast,  and  flank  well.  No 
animal  takes  so  quickly  the  temper  of  his  master  or 
driver  as  the  horse;  so  be  firm  and  gentle  with  him. 

Implements  on  many  farms  are  depreciated  more 
by  exposure  than  by  use.  Rust  is  the  enemy  of 
iron,  and  soaking  aud  drying  will  warp  and  open, 
or  weaken  the  firmest  wood-work. 

Ice  Houses. — Ice  is  becoming  year  by  year  more 
necessary  to  the  comfort,  economy,  and  health  of 
the  entire  community.  During  this  month  prepare 
ice  houses  for  the  reception  of  the  new  crop.  See 
that  the  drainage  is  good,  and  that  there  is  no 
chance  for  a  draft  of  air,  in  or  out,  at  the  drain.  If 
you  have  no  ice-house,  put  one  up  at  once  if  practi- 
cable ;  10  feet  square  and  10  feet  high,  is  a  good  com- 
mon size.  If  placed  on  a  side  hill,  it  will  save 
lifting  the  ice  in  filling. 

Leaves — It  will  pay  to  collect  all  the  leaves  acces- 
sible, for  the  manure  heap,  for  the  hog  pen,  and  for 
horse  and  cow  stalls.  Here  they  furnish  a  good  ferti- 
lizing material;  they  are  also  excellent  as  a  mulch. 


Manures. — "  Your  muck  is  your  maun'1- — manure 
is  money— is  an  old  English  farmer's  proverb  as  true 
as  gospel.  In  England  'muck'  is  the  generic  name 
for  every  thing  of  the  nature  of  animal  or  vegetable 
manure,  or  substances  in  decomposition.  (With 
us  it  is  generally  used  to  denote  the  black  earth 
found  in  swamps  or  low  places,  and  consisting  of 
decayed  roots,  and  vegetable  matter.)  To  secure  all 
valuable  qualities  in  the  droppings  and  urine  of 
animals,  and  by  allowing  them  to  ferment  in  con- 
nection with  inert  vegetable  substances,  to  convert 
the  whole  into  the  greatest  quantity  of  available 
plant  food,  is  the  great  study  of  the  successful 
farmer.  The  "  muck  "  of  the  swamp,  straw,  swamp 
hay,  and  all  other  vegetable  matters  easily  decom- 
posed, are  desirable  to  use  as  bedding  and  absorb- 
ents iu  the  stalls,  or  to  mingle  with  manure  in  the 
compost  heap.  Save  every  thing  of  the  kind  to 
add  to  the  manure,  and  use  all  means  necessary,  to 
prevent  disadvantageous  heating,  fire-fanging,  etc. 

Flowing. — There  are  few  if  any  soils  which  are  not 
better  plowed  in  the  Fall  than  in  the  Spring,  for 
early  culture.  So  long  aB  the  ground  continues 
open,  keep  the  plow  running.  The  sod  begins  to 
decay,  and  is  quickly  decomposed  in  the  Spriug. 
The  frosts  kill  the  weeds,  and  also  affect  the 
inorganic  part  of  the  soil,  causing  it  readily  to  dis- 
solve ;  and  more  than  all  other  benefits  are  the 
getting  ahead  with  spring  work,  securing  dryness 
of  the  soil,  and  ability  to  plant  much  earlier. 

Potatoes. — Warmth  with  moisture  is  injurious, 
next  to  actual  freezing.  Dryness,  and  a  cool  but 
not  freezing  atmosphere,  in  the  cellar  or  earth-cov- 
ered heap,  are  essentials.  When  in  out-door  heaps, 
dig  a  deep  trench  arouud  them  with  an  outlet,  so 
as  to  keep  the  bottom  of  the  heap  always  dry.  Add 
more  earth  to  the  heap  only  as  needed  by  the  in- 
creasing cold,  always  patting  down  each  layer  of 
earth  smoothly,  to  shed  rain. 

Poultry  well  eared  for,  pay  by  the  eggs  and  ma- 
nure produced.  The  secret  of  having  eggs  all  the 
Winter  is,  to  give  the  hens  the  advantages  of  Sum- 
mer, viz. :  warmth,  shelter,  light,  water,  and  some 
animal  food  to  supply  the  absence  of  insects  which 
they  gather  in  Summer,  with  lime  enough  to  make 
egg  shells.  They  devour  and  grind  up  the  weed 
seeds  among  the  grain  tailings  fed  to  them  ;  they 
eat  almost  every  kind  of  grain.  Bones  pounded 
fine,  and  scraps  of  fresh  meat  they  devour  greedily 
and  convert  them  into  eggs.  We  find  that  a  cake 
of  scraps  from  the  fat  boiling  establishments,  plac- 
ed where  the  hens  can  pick  at  it,  always  keeps  the 
egg  machine  in  operation ;  if  the  supply  runs  out, 
the  eggs  are  missing. 

Pumpkins. — Avoid  bruises  in  handling ;  store  in 
a  cool  dry  place,  always  free  from  frost ;  remove 
seeds  when  fed ;  dry  as  directed  last  month. 

Sheep  are  fast  taking  the  position  in  American 
agriculture,  which  they  should.  The  high  price 
of  both  wool  and  mutton  is  effecting  this.  The 
sheep  owner  or  breeder  should  be  a  true  lover  of 
sheep  and  watch  them  carefully,  see  personally 
to  their  wants,  anticipate  their  needs,  know  them 
all  individually.  Thus  he  will  mark  the  deficiencies 
of  ewes,  in  form,  in  wool  production,  in  fattening 
ability,  iu  breeding  qualities,  and  so  match  them 
that  their  faults  will  be  corrected  in  their  progeny ; 
or  he  will  from  the  outset  devote  certain  ewes, 
or  their  lambs  to  the  butcher,  and  by  thus  weed- 
ing out  his  flock,  keep  it  ever  improving.  Select 
such  bucks  as  will  correct  defects,  and  sort  the 
ewes  accordingly  into  several  flocks.  Provide  se- 
cure protection  against  storms,  but  give  all  breeds 
some  range  in  open  yards.  April  lambs  must  be 
spoken  for  this  month.    See  p.  334.  on  fattening. 

Boots. — A  good  root  cellar  is  one  of  the  iudispen- 
sables  of  good  farming.  It  is  one-sided  farming  into 
which  an  extensive  use  of  roots  for  stock  food 
does  not  enter,  and  much  of  the  farming  of  the 
United  States  is  very  one-sided.  Before  storing, 
roots  should  be  clean  and  dry.  Store  them  so  that 
the  turnips  may  first  be  used,  the  sugar  beets,  man- 
gels and  rutabagas  subsequently — carrots  being- 
used  through  the  stabling  season  as  a  pleasant  tonic 


and  appetizerfor  horses,  and  for  milch-cows,  mixed 
with  other  roots,  or  cut  up  and  fed  by  themselves. 
Turnips.— It  is  best  to  let  them  stay  in  the 
ground  until  the  tops  are  decidedly  frosted,  but  not 
so  long  as  to  endanger  the  freezing  of  the  root. 
They  keep  longer  and  wilt  less,  placed  in  heaps, 
strawed  and  covered  with  earth,  than  in  any  but  a 
very  good  root-cellar.  However  stored,  have  them 
first  dry  and  free  from  soil. 

Weeds. — Gather  weeds  into  windrows  and  burn 
them  ;  do  not  move  far,  nor  so  as  to  scatter  the  seeds. 

Winter  Grain.— The  advantage  gained  by  feeding 
off  a  rank  growth  in  the  Autumn,  is  questionable 
after  the  near  approach  of  cold  weather.  The 
danger  is,  that  some  spots  will  be  too  much  denuded 
of  the  winter  mulching  which  the  foliage  affords. 


Orchard  and  Nursery. 

Last  month's  remarks  regarding  work  here,  apply 
with  equal  force  this  month.  In  order  to  have  a 
good  orchard,  the  work  must  begin  with  care  and 
conscientiousness  on  the  part  of  the  nurseryman, 
and  be  continued  with  equal  care  on  the  part  of 
the  purchaser  and  planter.  The  best  trees  from 
the  best  nursery  may  easily  be  ruined  and  rendered 
valueless,  by  bad  treatment  from  those  who  buy 
them,  while,  on  the  other  hand,  no  after  care  will 
make  a  good  vigorous  tree  of  one  which  has  been 
maltreated  in  its  early  growth.  Careful  selection 
of  the  trees,  and  an  equal  care  in  planting  them,  are 
among  the  main  essentials  in  starting  an  orchard. 

Cider. — Use  clean  sound  fruit,  and  see  that  every 
part  of  the  process  is  conducted  in  a  neat  manner. 
Much  more  fruit  is  frequently  stored  than  can  be 
used  or  sold,  and  this  excess  may  often  be  profit- 
ably converted  into  cider  or  vinegar. 

Cions  may  be  cut  at  any  time  after  vegetation 
ceases  if  they  are  kept  carefully  buried  until  Spring. 

Cellars  where  fruit  is  stored  should  be  kept  open 
as  long  as  they  can  be  without  freezing.  Wben 
closed  for  the  Winter,  provide  for  ventilation. 

Fruit. — Apples  which  may  have  fallen  or  been 
bruised  in  picking,  should  be  marketed  as  unsound 
fruit  or  made  into  cider,  or  fed  to  stock,  or  they 
may  be  dried,  as  noted  on  page  341.  Hand- 
picked  apples  should  be  placed  in  barrels  and  kept 
as  cool  as  possible  without  being  touched  by  frost. 
Toward  the  close  of  the  month,  after  they  have 
undergone  what  is  termed  sweating,  sort  them 
thoroughly  and  head  up  the  barrels,  handling  with 
care ;  one  bruise  rots  the  apple,  and  the  disease 
spreads  rapidly  to  others.  Apples  packed  in  dry 
oats,  leaves,  bran,  or  cut  straw,  and  kept  cool,  will 
remain  fresh  and  sound  long  after  their  usual  time 
of  decay.  Some  kinds  of  winter  pears  bear  the 
same  treatment,  but  it  is  usually  better  to  keep 
these  upon  shelves,  not  touching  each  other,  and 
covered  with  paper.  The  change  of  color  indicat- 
ing the  ripenness  of  each  one  may  be  readily  ob- 
served ;  or  each  pear  may  be  handled. 

Insects  are  now  in  their  dormant  state  of  larva, 
or  their  eggs,  contaiuing  germs  of  future  trouble, 
are  upon  the  twigs  or  bark.  Cocoons  and  collec- 
tions of  eggs  are  now  more  readily  seen  as  the  trees 
are  naked.     Destroy  them  as  soon  as   discovered. 

Label  everything  in  the  nursery  or  orchard  ac- 
cording to  some  plan.  If  labels  are  used  upon  the 
trees,  see  that  they  are  of  a  permanent  kind,  and  at 
the  same  time  not  likely  to  do  injury.  If,  as  is 
preferable,  the  record  is  kept  by  a  map,  see  that 
every  change  or  new  planting  is  promptly  re- 
corded. The  value  of  a  fruit  is  doubled  by  having 
the  correct  name  for  it. 

Manuring  should  be  done  in  the  orchard.  Fruit- 
trees  repay  good  feediug.  Use  a  liberal  dressing  of 
old  manure  or  compost. 

Mice. — Young  trees  will  need  protection  where 
these  are  troublesome.  AVrappings  of  paper,  tarred 
cloth,  sheet-lead,  and  various  other  appliances, 
have  been  suggested  from  time  to  time.  We  have 
not  tried  any  of  these,  but  have  found  the  hard 
tramping  of  the  snow  around  the  trees  effectual. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


333 


Nursery  Boas. — Plow  between  theni  and  turn  the 
furrows  toward  the  trees. 

Seedlings  of  nursery  stocks,  intended  for  root- 
grafting,  should  be  taken  up  this  month  and  stored 
in  the  cellar  to  be  worked  during  the  Winter. 

Seeds  of  apples,  pears,  etc.,  and  stones  of  peaches, 
etc.,  may  be  planted  as  directed  last  month. 

Seed  Beds.—  Seedlings,  especially  those  of  ever- 
greens, need  some  protection  the  first  year.  Sift 
some  dry  sandy  earth  over  them,  and  cover  them 
with  leaves  or  cedar  boughs. 


Kitchen  Garden. 

There  will  be  plenty  of  work  in  a  well  managed 
garden  until  freezing  weather  stops  all  operations. 
The  crops  still  remaining  out  are  to  be  harvested, 
and  the  ground  everywhere  to  be  cleaned  up,  so 
that  every  available  portion  of  refuse  shall  go  either 
directly  to  the  compost  heap,  or  to  the  pig  stye,  or 
cattle  yard.  All  work  of  preparation  done  now, 
will  greatly  facilitate  labor  next  Spring.  In  stiff 
soil  it  will  pay  to  throw  the  ground  up  in  ridges 
with  plow  or  spade,  and  leave  it  thus  to  the  mellow- 
ing influences  of  the  frost.  The  details  of  oper- 
ations are  the  same  as  those    given  last    mouth. 

Asparagus. — Cover  with  coarse  manure.  Make 
new  beds,  according  to  directions  given  last  month. 
The  ground  can  hardly  be  made  too  rich.  Ma- 
nure is  the  secret  of  the   "Giant  Asparagus." 

Beets.— The  harvesting  and  storing  should  be 
completed  before  hard  frost  comes. 

Cabbages.— These  should  be  covered  for  Winter  as 
advised  iu  last  month's  calender.  Finish  putting 
young  plants  into  cold  frames. 

Carrots. — Dig  and  store  the  remaining  crops 
early  in  the  month. 

Celery. — Coutiuue  to  earth  up  in  dry  weather. 
Harvest  before  severe  weather.  Stand  it  upright 
on  level  ground  and  cover  with  boards  and  bank  up 
with  earth.  Allow  no  earth  to  fall  between  the  stalks. 
Latterly,  we  have  practised  putting  enough  for  ear- 
ly winter  use  into  the  cellar,  covering  with  earth, 
and  leaving  the  rest  where  it  grows,  well  banked 
over  with  earth  when  first  struck  by  killing  frost. 

Cold  Frames. — Prepare  for  use,  and  set  in  them, 
the  cabbage,  cauliflower,  lettuce  plants,  etc.,  re- 
quiring winter  protection.  Cover  with  glass  or 
shutters  during  cold  nights,  but  keep  open  by  day 
as  long  as  the  weather  will  admit.  When  Winter 
sets  in,  cover  securely,  banking  up  about  the  sides, 
and  put  straw,  leaves,  etc.,  over  them  to  exelnde 
frost.     Every  mild  day,  open  for  a  short  time. 

Brain  every  wet  and  heavy  spot.  The  whole 
garden  will  be  all  the  better  for  draining ;  it  can  be 
worked  enough  earlier  in  the  Spring  t'o  make  it  pay. 

Mice. — Let  no  rubbish  be  left  to  harbor  them. 
Guard  against  their  intrusion  into  the  cold  frames. 
Dishes  of  meal,  poisoned  with  arsenic,  will  soon 
dispose  of  them. 

Onions.— Cover  with  litter  to  protect  those  sown 
late  to  be  left  iu  the  ground  during  the  Winter. 

Parsnips  and  Salsifij  are  improved  by  leaving  in 
the  ground  until  Spring.  Dig  enough  for  use 
during  Winter,  and  cover  with   earth  in  the  cellar. 

Poles,  slakes,  frames,  etc.,  should  all  be  carefully 
gathered,  and  housed  for  future  use. 

Rhubarb. — Set  roots  with  crowns,  any  time  be- 
fore the  ground  closes.  Cover  with  coarse  stable 
manure,  to  protect  the  roots  and   enrich   the   soil. 

Spinach. — Hoe  and  thin  the  plants,  and  cover 
with  straw  or  other  litter. 

Turnips.— -Gather  before  injured  by  frost,  and 
store  for  household  use,  and  for  feeding  to  stock. 


good  season  to  lay  out  such  a  garden,  drain  and 
prepare   the    soil,  making    all  ready  for    Spring. 

Blackberries  may  be  set  as  directed  last  month. 

Currants  and  Gooseberries. — Be  sure  to  provide  for 
a  good  stock  of  these.  Currants  particularly,  sel- 
dom fail.  Set  out  rooted  plants,  or  start  cuttings. 
Ample  directions  are  given  in  the  last  and  present 
numbers.     Manure  old  beds. 

Dwarf  Trees. — Apples  and  Pears  may  be  set  out 
this  Fall.  In  selecting  varieties  it  is  well  to  heed 
the  advice  given  by  'Connecticut '  on  another  page. 
Buy  only  of  parties  of  known  reliability,  and  be 
willing  to  pay  a  little  more  for  a  thrifty  well  grown 
tree,  rather  than  take  an  inferior  one  because  cheap. 

Grape  Vitus. — If  you  have  not  already  a  vine, 
plant  one — or  rather  several.  We  have  now  so 
many  good  sorts,  that  every  one  can  find  a  grape 
that  will  suit  even  the  most  unfavorable  climate. 
Planting  may  be  done  now.  Set  out  one  or  two 
year  old  well  rooted  plants  in  soil  deeply  spaded 
and  well  enriched,  and  in  a  locality  where  water 
does  not  stand.  Prune  this  montli  and  lay  down 
the  vines.  Read  article  on  page  340.  Yearling 
vines,  cut  back  at  this  season  may  be  protected  by 
having  a  mound  of  earth  drawn  up  around  them. 

Raspberries. — Bend  down  the  canes  and  cover 
slightly  with  earth.  New  roots  may  still  be  set  out. 

Strawberries.— Give  their  winter  protection  to 
both  old  and  new  beds.  Straw,  spent  tan  bark,  or 
forest  leaves  may  be  used. 


Fruit  Garden. 

If  the  weather  continues  mild,  hardy  plants  may 
be  put  out  with  advantage.  We  some  time  ago 
gave  our  reason  for  preferring  to  have  a  separate 
garden  for  small  fruits,  rather  than  mix  up  fruit 
and  vegetables  in  the  same  ground.  Whenever 
sufficient  laud  is  at  command,  it  is  altogether  bet- 
ter for  both,  to  have  them  separate.      Now  is  a 


Flower  Garden  and  Lawn. 

The  Chrysanthemums  have  the  garden  all  to 
themselves  at  this  time,  save  here  and  there  a 
straggling  flower  that  has  escaped  the  first  frost ; 
glorious  flowers  they  are  to  help  us  prolong  the 
season  of  bloom  into  Winter.  We  look  upon  the 
desolation  which  frost  has  made  in  our  borders, 
and  sigh  for  the  favorites  of  Summer,  as  we  re- 
member the  tender  care  with  whieh  we  cherished 
them.  The  memory  of  the  pleasure  their  beauty 
gave  us  should  incite  us  to  prepare  for  their  return. 
We  do  not  wish  the  readers  of  the  Agriculturist  to 
be  of  that  class  who  have  a  fever  for  gardening 
every  Spring,  but  which  subsides,  as  soon  as  the 
novelty  and  excitement  are  over.  We  would 
have  them  look  upon  gardening  as  a  pleasure 
which  is  best  enjoyed  when  its  labors  are  distributed 
throughout  the  year.  To  work  aud  plan  for  future 
results,  is  a  moral  lesson,  which  can  be  learned 
even  in  the  smallest  flower  garden.  During  this 
month,  much  can  be  done  iu  preparing  for  next 
season's  enjoyment.  Care  for  the  things  we  already 
have,  acquiring  additions  to  our  stock,  and  laying 
out  new  grounds,  or  changing  old  ones,  to  better 
suit  our  improved  taste,  will  give  abundant  work 
for  November. 

Bulbs.— Some  are  to  come  out  of  the  ground  and 
others  are  to  go  into  it.  Gladioluses,  Tigridias, 
Amaryllis,  Habranthus,  etc.,  should  be  lifted  be- 
fore the  ground  freezes.  Let  them  dry  off  in  the 
sun,  and  store  them  away  iu  a  cool  place,  secure 
from  frost  and  mice.  The  Dutch  Bulbs,  such  as 
Hyacinths,  Tulips,  Crocusses,  etc.,  should  have 
been  planted  last  month,  but  better  now  than  not 
at  all.  These  flowers  are  great  ornaments  to  the 
garden  iu  Spring,  and  produce  the  best  effects  in 
masses.  The  soil  should  be  light  and  rich,  aud  if 
disposed  to  be  wet,  drainage  is  to  be  secured  by 
removing  the  soil  to  the  depth  of  15  inches  and 
putting  in  a  layer  of  2  inches  of  small  stones,  brick 
rubbish  or  the  like ;  put  a  layer  of  good  soil  over 
this,  working  in  a  plenty  of  old  manure.  The  bed 
should  be  3  or  4  inches  above  the  general  level, 
to  allow  for  settling.  In  putting  out  the  bulbs, 
Hyacinths  should  be  set  about  9  inches  apart,  Cro- 
cusses 3  inches,  and  Tulips  6  inches.  Hyacinths 
produce  a  fine  effect  when  planted  in  a  circular  or 
oval  bed,  in  rows  of  distinct  colors,  one  within 
another.  The  tops  of  the  large  bulbs  ought  to  be 
3  inches  below  the  surface.  After  planting,  cover 
with  a  good  coating  of  coarse  litter  manure.  The 
bulbs  are  to  be  had  at  moderate  prices  at  the  city 
seed  and  florist's  stores. 


Climbers  — All  the  tender  ones  are  to  be  removed 
from  the  trellises  and  protected  by  a  slight  cover- 
ing of  earth.  The  Wistaria  will  not  flourish  iu 
many  northern  localities  without  this  care. 

Chrysanthemums— Kee-p  neatly  tied  up,  and  when 
the  frost  has  destroyed  the  flowers,  the  roots  may 
be  taken  up,  divided,  and  re-set. 

Dahlias. — Lift  the  roots  on  a  fine  day,  before 
freezing  weather.  Care  should  be  taken  not  to 
break  the  roots  from  the  stem.  Be  sure  to  have 
them  correctly  labeled  before  they  are  put  away. 
Dry  the  roots  for  a  few  hours  in  the  suu,  and  store 
away  in  a  cool  vegetable  cellar,  under  the  stage  of 
the  green  house,  or  in  boxes,  or  barrels  of  dry  sand, 
in  any  place  where  they  will  not  freeze. 

Sedges  of  deciduous  shrubs  may  be  set  now. 
Hedges  of  dwarf  pears  are  highly  recommended 
by  friends  who  have  tried  them.  The  young  trees 
are  set  two  feet  apart  and  grown  like  any  other 
hedge ;  they  fruit  very  well  treated  in  this  way. 
Such  a  hedge  would  be  an  appropriate  boundary 
between  a  fruit  and  flower  garden. 

Frames  and  Pits.— The  plants  iu  these  should 
have  air  every  fine  day  and  be  carefully  covered  at 
night.    If  mice  trouble  them,  set  poison  or  traps. 

Lawns.—  Rake  off  the  fallen  leaves.  These  will  be 
needed  for  protecting  plauts  in  the  borders,  or  as 
additions  to  the  compost  heap.  Give  a  good  top- 
dressing  of   fine  compost,  and  roll  if   necessary. 

Perennials — Phloxes,  Dicentra  ,  and  others,  may 
be  divided  and  replanted. 

Roses. — The  tender  varieties  may  he  potted  and 
placed  iu  a  pit,  or  cool  part  of  the  green  house,  or 
be  wintered  in  the  cellar.  The  climbing  sorts  do 
better  if  laid  upon  the  ground  during  Winter. 

Protect  all  tender  things.  Even  hardy  herbaceous 
plants  will  come  out  all  the  better  in  the  Spring,  if 
a  few  forkfuls  of  manure  are  put  over  their  roots. 
The  broadleaved  evergreens,  such  as  Kalmias,  Rho- 
.dodendrons,  Holly-leaved  Barberry,  etc.,  need  some 
shelter.  Cedar  boughs  struck  in  among  them,  or  a 
rough  thatch  of  boughs  made  over  them,  seem  to 
answer  better  than  tying  up  in  straw.  Where 
evergreen  boughs  cannot  be  had,  a  screen  can  lie 
made  with  sticks,  and  a  few  bundles  of  straw. 
This  is  not  needed  so  much  as  a  protection  from 
the  cold  of  Winter,  as  to  shield  them  from  the 
changes  of  temperature  in  Spring.  Even  with  the 
Rhododendron  some  care  of  this  kind  will  repay 
all  the  trouble  it  costs. 

Shrubs  and  Ornamental  Trees. — Hardy  sorts  may 
be  planted  now,  taking  plenty  of  time  to  do  it  well. 


Green  and   Hot-Houses. 

In  this  country  any  glass  house  for  plants  is 
popularly  called  a  green  or  hot  house,  without  mak- 
ing any  distinction  between  the  two.  Strictly 
speaking,  a  green-house  is  a  building  intended  to 
preserve  tender  plauts  from  the  effects  of  frost, 
and  without  any  regard  to  growing  them.  The 
temperature  is  kept  low— from  35"  to  45°.  In  the 
hot-house  plants  are  to  grow  and  flower,  and  the 
temperature  ranges  from  60°  to  75°,  or  even  higher, 
according  to  the  character  of  the  plants  it  contains. 
Some  houses  are  constructed  with  a  partition,  and 
the  heating  apparatus  so  arranged  that  the  advan- 
tages of  both  a  green  and  hot  house  cau  be  com- 
bined under  one  roof.  Of  course  directions  for 
management  can  be  given  only  in  the  most  general 
terms,  as  each  house  will  require  a  treatment  cor- 
responding   with    the    end   to    be    accomplished. 

Where  the  green-house  is  used  merely  for 
storing  plants,  the  care  required  is  but  little. 
Having  put  the  house  properly  in  order,  and 
stored  it  with  those  plants  needing  winter  protec- 
tion, or  which  are  only  to  be  forced  at  a  future 
tkne,  attend  particularly  to  ventilation,  as  the 
change  from  out-door  air  to  a  confined  room 
should  not  be  suddenly  made.  During  rains,  fogs, 
and  frosty  weather,  the  doors  and  windows  should 
be  closed,  and  before  the  end  of  the  month  some 
fire  heat  will  be  beneficial.  Little  water  will  be 
needed,  and  but  little  care  in  other  respects ;  the 


324 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[November, 


plants  may  be  left  to  a  quiet  rest.  The  decayed 
leaves  should  be  picked  off  as  they  appear,  and 
everything  be  kept  neat.  A  good  stock  of  bulbs 
should  be  potted  to  be  taken  to  the  forcing  house 
at  intervals  for  a  winter  bloom.  The  green-house 
is  also  the  appropriate  place  for  keeping  a  supply 
of  the  various  plants  to  be  taken  to  warmer  apart- 
ments for  flowering  during  the  Winter. 

The  hot-house  should  be  attractive  even  thus 
early  in  the  season,  as  many  of  the  blooming  plants 
have  not  ceased  to  flower  since  their  removal  from 
the  borders,  and  others  are  coming  into  bloom.  A 
nearly  uniform  heat  should  be  maintained,  ranging 
from  55^  to  65°,  or  even  70^  in  some  collections. 
One  of  the  first  things  requiring  attention,  is  to 
have  a  full  stock  of  young  thrifty  plants  put  in  a 
growing  condition,  to  furnish  a  succession  of  bloom 
during  the  entire  Winter. 

Bulbs  should  be  brought  from  cooler  apartments 
only  as  they  are  wanted  to  bloom. 

Camellias  are  beginning  to  push  out  anew,  and 
some  of  the  flower-buds  are  well  swollen.  Syringe 
and  water  more  freely,  giving  them  light  and  air. 

Fires  will  need  careful  attention,  as  a  little  neg- 
lect often  causes  much  mischief.  Most  of  the 
plants  being  tender,  a  near  approach  to  the  freez- 
ing point  will  check  their  growth,  while  too  much 
heat  will  unduly  force  them. 

Orapes. — Prune  and  lay  down,  or  tie  np  vines 
which  have  ripened  their  wood.  Give  them  a  sea- 
son of  rest  now.  If  the  roots  are  in  an  outside 
border,  cover  them  with  manure,  straw,  etc. 

Insects. --Keep  them  in  check  at  the  beginning,  or 
they  will  increase  rapidly.  Hand-picking,  syring- 
ing, and  tobacco  fumes,  are  appropriate  antidotes. 

J\)ts,  tubs,  and  boxes,  containing  growing  plants, 
should  be  frequently  examined.  Keep  the  drainage 
open,  remove  weeds  and  moss,  loosen  the  soil,  and 
add  liquid  manure  or  rich  earth  to  those  plants 
which  are  flagging.  Prune  or  pinch  to  a  good  form, 
and  hare  them  all  arranged  in  a  convenient  hand- 
some order,  the  lower  growing  varieties  in  front. 

Soil  for  potting  should  be  liberally  provided  for 
immediate  and  future  use,  it  improves   by  keeping. 

Verbenas,  Pelargoniums,  Petunias,  Salvias,  and 
other  bedding  plants,  should  be  started  from  cut- 
tings to  provide  a  supply  for  winter  flowering,  and 
for  planting  out  in  the  Spring. 

Water. — Give  moderately,  more  to  rapid-growing 
plants  than  to  those  which  are  resting.  Syringe  the 
floors  and  walls  frequently,  to  induce  evaporation. 


Apiary  in  November. 

Prepared  by  M.  Quinby — By  Request. 

The  apiarian  who  has  attended  to  his  work  at  the 
eight  time,  and  has  everything  now  in  the  right 
place,  will  find  but  little  to  do  among  the  bees  this 
mouth.  Hives  may  be  painted  at  this  season  with- 
out seriously  injuring  the  bees  in  them.  If  not 
satisfied  with  the  condition  of  the  winter  stocks, 
examine  them  again  on  a  cool  day ;  many  things 
may  be  now  ascertained  which  were  difficult  to  ob- 
serve iu  warmer  weather.  Kill  the  bees  of  very 
small  colouies  even  now.  It  is  almost  impossible 
to  get  them  through  the  Winter,  and  most  of  the 
honey,  if  they  leave  any,  will  not  be  tit  for  the  table. 

Any  one  having  the  movable  combs  can  make 
the  straw  hive  available  the  coming  winter.  Make 
the  inside  of  the  same  dimensions  as  the  wood  hive. 
As  soon  as  ready,  any  time  this  mouth  or  next, 
transfer  bees,  combs,  and  honey,  to  the  straw  hive. 
To  the  hive  described  ou  page  301  of  the  Agri- 
culturist, there  should  be  added  during  cold  weather, 
a  mat  for  the  top,  made  nearly  like  one  of  the 
sides.  In  the  "leaf "  hive,  the  frames  are  not  at- 
tached to  the  sides  or  top.  For  this,  a  square  box, 
or  basket  of  straw  instead  of  the  woodeu  box,  can 
be  made,  to  set  over  the  frames  for  the  Winter. 
Straw  hives  made  in  this  way,  are  much  superior 
to  ihe  conical  style,  for  wintering  the  bees,  especi- 
ally if  used  only  for  Winter  and  Spring. 

The  number  of  patent  hives,  instead  of  diminish- 
ing, is  increasing  yearly.  Not  one  in  a  hundred 
possesses  any  real  merit  over  the  old  box  style. 
The  readers  of  the  Agriculturist  should  be  guarded 
atjaiust  humbugs  in  bee  Uivss,  as  iu  other  matters. 


At  this  season  the  venders  will  be  around,  and  if 
they  can  ascribe  no  other  merit  to  their  hive,  than 
the  fabulous  quantity  of  honey  stored,  because  the 
bees  could  work  best  iu  their  hive,  it  will  be  safe 
to  let  them  pass.  If  the  story  of  a  large  yield  is 
true,  these  peddlers  are  generally  so  ignorant  in  the 
matter,  as  not  to  know  it  is  owing  to  the  colony, 
pasturage,  feeding,  robbing,  etc.  Every  body  hav- 
ing experience  knows  that  with  a  suitable  cavity 
for  deposit,  bees  will  store  as  much  honey  in  one 
place  as  in  another,  whether  flour  barrel,  nail  keg, 
or  square  box.  A  hive  for  improved  bee  culture  is 
not  expected  to  increase  the  amount  of  honey,  but 
to  facilitate  the  division  of  it — so  that  we  can  take 
a  portion  of  it,  leaving  the  rest  for  the  bees — and 
to  render  easier  the  inspection  of  the  interior. 
Aside  from  the  movable  comb  hives,  it  is  difficult 
to  find  an  improvement  over  the  old  box,  with  the 
surplus  boxes  added.  One  not  sufficiently  acquaint- 
ed with  the  nature  of  bees  to  take  advantage  of 
some  of  the  facilities  offered  by  the  movable 
combs,  would  do  better  to  U6e  the  simple  box,  un- 
til he  has  aquired  the  requisite  practical  knowledge 
to  make  the  others  profitable. 


Pumpkins,    Squashes,    and  Gourds. 


The  Second  Annual  Exhibition  of  Pump- 
kins, Squashes,  and  Ornamental  Gourds,  at  the 
office  of  the  American  Agriculturist,  41  Park  Row,  New 
York  City,  opens  on  Wednesday,  Nov.  4tli,  1863, 
and  the  following  Prizes  will  be  paid  by  the  Publish- 
er, upon  the  official  award  of  competent  Committees. 
CASH   PREMIUMS, 

A — For  the  Heaviest  Pumpkin  or  Squash $10.00 

B— For  the  2nd  Heaviest  Pumpkin  or  Squash. ..       5.00 

C— For  the  3d  Heaviest  Pumpkin  or  Squash 3.00 

D — For  the  Best  Pumpkin  or  Squash  for  cooking.      5.00 
E — For  2nd  Best  Pumpkin  or  Squash  for  cooking      3.00 

F — For  the  largest  yield  on  a  single  Vine *   10.00 

G — For  the  2nd  largest  yield  on  a  single  Vine...*      5.00 
H— For  the  largestand  nnestcollectionof  Fan- /       -  q~ 

cy  or  Ornamental  Goulds* J 

I — For  the  2nd  largest  and  finest  collection  )        .  «« 

of  Fancy  or  Ornamental  Gourds* i       <*.«« 

*AU  to  be  grown  by  one  person  and  to  be  accompanied 
by  positive  evidence  from  the  grower,  and  one  disinterest- 
ed person  who  assists  in  gathering  the  specimens. 

Note  1. — The  specimens  receiving  the  Prizes  will  re- 
main on  Public  Exhibition  at  the  pleasure  of  the  Publish- 
er who  offers  the  prizes.  The  other  specimens  will  be 
subject  to  the  order  of  the  exhibitors,  or  they  will  be 
sold  at  auction,  or  otherwise  disposed  of,  for  their  benefit. 

Note2. — All  Exhibitors  must  notify  us  of  their  intentions 
by  Oct.  15th,  and  deliver  specimens  for  competition  on  or 
before  Nov.  2d.  Specimens  to  be  delivered  free  of  charge. 

Note  3. — The  same  specimen  can  compete  for  only  one 
of  the  premiums  offered  above. 


Containing  a  great  variety  of  Items,  including  many 
good  Hints  and  Suggestions  which  we  give  here  in  small 
type  and    condensed  form ,   for    want   of  space  elsewhere. 

A  Full  Basket.  —  Iu  these  pages  we 
present  a  large  number  of  items,  many  of  which  are  too 
important  to  be  overlooked,  merely  because  they  are  in 
smaller  type. —  We  have  many  letters  still  unanswered. 
Many  who  do  not  find  a  special  reply  to  their  queries  will 
find  their  answer  in  some  of  the  more  extended  'articles, 
or  in  the  Calendar.  The  great  majority  of  our  queries 
concerning  grape  vines,  for  instance,  are  satisfied  in  the 
article  on  page  340,  and  so  with  other  articles.  We  can 
safely  say  that  the  short  items  given  on  these  pages  re- 
quire more  varied  information  to  write  them,  and  more 
care  in  preparing  them,  than  the  rest  of  the  paper.  Ques- 
tions are  often  received  which  we  can  not  answer,  nor 
can  any  one.  New  questions  occur  which  can  only  be 
settled  by  actual  experience.  Asking  questions  is  vastly 
easier  than  answering  them.  The-re  is  now  on  file  a  let- 
ter containing  fourteen  distinct  queries;  these  cost  the 
writer  but  little  trouble,  but  it  will  take  a  great  deal  of 
thought  to  answer  some  of  them.  We  do  not  speak  of 
this  willi  a  view  to  discourage  questions,  for  we  like  to 
have  them,  but  to  excuse  ourselves  to  those  who  may 
think  that  they  are  neglected. 

Sending;  the  Premium  O  rape- Vines* 

— Premium  Vines  which  were  secured  last  Summer,  will 
be  sent  out  the  first  week  in  November.  The  Concords 
will  be  marked  by  a  string  lied  around  each,  mside  of  the 
oil-cloth  ,   all  the  others  will  be  Delawaies.     Unpack 


them  carefully  when  received,  and  slightly  bury  them, 
root  and  stem,  in  most  soil  for  a  day  or  two,  and  then,  if 
to  be  left  long  before  transplanting,  uncover  the  stem 
portion.  Set  out  in  a  dry  soil,  preparing  a  deep  wide  bor- 
der or  bed.  with  plenty  of  rotten  manure  if  the  soil  be  not 
already  good.  Rotten  sods,  muck,  or  black  surface  soil, 
make  a  very  good  bed.  When  the  ground  begins  to  freeze 
hard,  cover  the  vines  lightly  with  litter  or  straw,  to  pre- 
vent alternate  thawing  and  freezing.  Too  much  straw 
may  harbor  mice.  The  vines  have  had  two  seasons  of 
growth,  and  are  well  rooted.  The  smallness  of  the  Dela- 
ware vines  may  disappoint  some  who  do  not  know  how 
weak  a  growlh  this  variety  always  makes  for  the  first  two 
or  three  years.  Our  vines  are  fully  as  good  as  those  of 
similar  age  usually  sent  from  nurseries. 

Paper  Mill  Waste.— "  R.,"  of  Chester 
Co.,  Pa.,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist :  "Near  my  place 
is  a  paper  mill,  from  which  runs  a  large  quantity  of  stuff 
containing  soda,  lime,  ink  of  old  papers,  and  dirt  of  the 
rags.  By  digging  a  hole  in  the  ground  and  turning  the  wash 
in,  I  can  obtain  it  all.  Now  if  I  haul  weeds,  dirt  and  such 
stuff,  and  turn  this  wash  on  it  and  thus  compost  it,  will  it 
be  of  use  to  the  land  ?" There  is  likewise  a  large  quan- 
tity of  "bleach"  (chloride  of  lime)  thrown  out  into  the 
race  which  I  can  get.  "  Will  it  benefit  the  mixture  ?"  To 
the  former  query  we  answer,  yes ;  to  the  latter,  probably. 

The  Expected  Crop  Reports  from 
the  Agricultural  Bureau  have  not  come  to  hand,  at  the 
early  date  we  are  obliged  to  go  to  press  in  order  to  work 
off  our  large  edition  in  season.  To  be  of  any  special 
value,  however,  the  reports  for  September  should  certain- 
ly have  been  ready  for  the  public  earlier  than  Oct.  19th. 
There  is  a  widespread  and  growing  feeling,  that  we  need 
at  the  head  of  the  Agricultural  Bureau  a  man  who  is 
more  efficient,  and  less  of  a  politician.  There  are  good 
men  in  the  subordinate  positions — Saunders,  Glover* 
Grinnell,  &c— but  what  can  these  avail,  if  the  head  he 
defective.  We  had  hoped  for  better  results  than  any 
they  yet  manifested.    Of  this  more,  when  Congress  meets. 


Emigration  to  Delaware. — G.  W.  For- 
tune, Ashtabula  Co.,  0.  There  is  on  foot  an  organized 
plan  for  encouraging  emigration  to  the  State  of  Dela- 
ware. The  Circular  of  the  Association  formed  for  this 
object,  states  its  purpose  to  be  "the  improvement  of  the 
State  by  the  introduction  of  agriculturists,  artisans,  man- 
ufacturers, and  tradesmen  from  other  States.  It  is  pro- 
posed to  accomplish  this  by  giving  information  concern- 
ing the  desirableness  of  the  State  as  a  place  of  settlement, 
and  by  employing  agencies  to  form  companies  of  colo- 
nists, and  facilitate  them  in  their  immigration  and  loca- 
tion." Governor  William  Cannon,  as  President,  heads 
the  list  of  officers.  The  morement  appears  worthy  of  at- 
tention from  those  desirous  of  changing  their  location, 
but  our  advice  in  all  such  cases  is  for  each  one  to  per- 
sonally visit  and  minutely  inspect  any  locality,  before 
taking  any  steps  toward  settling  in  it. 

An  Aged  Lady's  Investment. — There 
resides  at  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  a  lady  in  her  9Sth  year, 
who  was  therefore  18  years  old  at  the  close  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary War.  She  speaks  like  a  true  patriot  of  the 
stirring  scenes  when  the  foundation  of  the  Republic,  was 
laid,  of  the  Government  whose  whole  existence  she  lias 
witnessed,  and  of  passing  events.  She  has  had  some 
money  at  interest  in  bonds  and  mortgages,  but  recently 
transferred  it  to  the  U.  S.  bonds,  expressing  her  desire  to 
aid  the  Government  all  in  her  power.  Fortunately,  she 
and  many  others  can  now  serve  both  their  own  and  their 
country's  interests  by  investing  in  these  bonds,  for  we 
know  of  no  better-paying  good  security.  Those  who 
took  these  bonds  early  in  the  year,  will,  the  first  of  this 
month,  receive  interest  at  the  rate  of  6  per  cent,  in  gold, 
which  at  the  present  premium  is  equal  to  nearly  9  per 
cent,  interest.  Some  interesting  information  on  this 
topic  will  be  found  in  the  circular  on  page  348. 

Sunday-School  Question-Boole,  Hfo. 

2.— The  great  number  of  persons  who  have  used  the 
little  book  called  "  Lessons  for  Every  Sunday  in  the 
Year,"  will  be  pleased  to  learn  that  "Series  No.  2"  is 
to  be  issued  during  this  month.  This  new  book  is  on 
the  same  general  plan  as  No.  1,  and  is  designed  to  fol- 
low it,  though  it  may  be  used  independently.  It  has 
received  a  great  amount  of  labor,  and  is  very  complete. 
We  feel  quite  sure  it  will  be  esteemed  the  best  Sunday- 
School  book  ever  issued.  It  embraces  the  whole  New 
Testament,  and  contains  a  very  great  amount  of  mailer 
condensed  inlo  a  small  compass,  and  yet  in  so  plain  and 
simple  a  manner  as  to  be  adapted  to  small  children  as 
well  as  to  older  scholars.  The  price  (10  cents,  or  14  cents 
if  sent  by  mail)  is  the  same  as  the  first  series,  and  will 
barely  cover  its  cost.  Persons  sending  for  either  book 
should  be  careful  to  state  whether  No.  1  or  No.  2  is  de- 
sired.   Sec  last  column  on  page  347  of  this  paper. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


395 


Oiiplit  Stable  Floors  to  Slope  to  the 

Hear'?— Floors  Ihus  sloping  allow  the  urine  to  flow  off 
away  from  the  animals,  hence  they  are  so  constructed. 
Geo.  P.  Bissell,  King  Co.,  Wash.  Ter.,  protests  against 
this  practice,  and  presents  forcible  reasons.  He  says : 
"  No  sound  animal  seeking  rest  takes  a  position  with  the 
fore-feet  higher  than  the  hind,  but  rather  the  reverse.  The 
philosophy  of  it  is,  that  the  fore-legs  (of  neat  cattle  and 
horses)  are  straight  and  calculated  to  support  the  greater 
weight  (without  muscular  effort).  Suppose  the  horse  to 
be  in  motion,  then  every  one  can  see  the  hind-legs  to  be 
instruments  of  progression,  and  that  the  fore-legs  do  little 
more  than  catch  the  rebound,  and  sustain  the  weight  of 
the  body.  Do  urge  it  upon  the  whole  world  to  cease  tor- 
turing their  animals  by  forcing  them  to  stand  with  their 
weight  thrown  upon  their  hind-legs."— Mr.  Bissell  con- 
structs his  stable  floor  of  slats,  with  spaces  between  them 
sufficient  to  let  at  least  alt  the  liquid  excrements  fall 
through,  while  the  rear  of  the  stall  is  %  to  X  'ncn  higher 
than  the  front. 

Tight    Mangers    Otojeetnonal>le.~ G. 

A.  Jening,  Henry  Co.,  thinks  that  tight  mangers  may  be 
injurious  to  the  health  of  horses,  as  they  are  required  to 
feed  with  their  noses  thrust  into  the  hay  or  other  fodder, 
and  are  thus  excluded  from  fresh  air,  and  dust  is  drawn 
into  the  lungs.  He  proposes  a  manger  made  of  strips  two 
inches  apart,  with  a  frame  work  follower  to  rest  upon 
the  hay,  the  latter  to  have  interstices  large  enough  for 
the  horse  to  readily  draw  out  the  hay.  This  may  be 
somewhat  of  an  improvement,  though  we  do  not  appre- 
hend injurious  results  from   the  use  of  the  box  manger. 


Scalding-  Hen  Uce.—  "H.  P.,"  writes 
to  the  American  Agriculturist  from  Marietta,  O.,  that  his 
poultry  house  was  swarming  with  lice,  which  covered 
the  nests,  roosts,  floor  and  sides.  As  an  experiment  he 
gave  the  whole  apartment  a  good  drenching  with  hot  wa- 
ter from  a  sprinkler,  repeating  it  three  limes,  and  the  ver- 
min have  disappeared.  They  will  probably  appear  again 
soon,  unless  the  hens  also  are  cleansed.  Give  them 
ashes  mixed  with  sulphur  in  which  to  dust  themselves. 

What  is  tlie  Matter  with  the  Pota- 
toes ? — "  Workman,"  has  left  with  us  some  potatoes  of 
the  Prince  Albert  variety,  in  which  the  tubers  are  studded 
all  over  with  small  potatoes  from  the  size  of  a  small  pea 
to  that  of  a  pullet's  egg,  and  asks  the  cause  of  this  growth. 
We  suppose  that  on  accountof  the  drouth  the  first  formed 
tubers  stopped  growing  and  ripened.  Favorable  weather 
following  the  ripening  of  the  first,  a  new  growth  started, 
and  the  eyes  which  would,  if  planted  in  Sprag  produce 
stems,  now  develop  small  tubers.  This  difficulty  being 
due  to  a  peculiarity  of  the  season,  we  can  suggest  no 
remedy.  Gardeners  sometimes  produce  new  potatoes  in 
a  manner  somewhat  similar  to  this  second  growth  of 
tubers,  by  keeping  potatoes  in  a  cool  place  through  the 
Summer,  retarding  vegetation  as  much  as  possible,  and 
picking  off  whatever  sprouts  appear.  In  Autumn  these 
potatoes  are  packed  in  boxes  alternately  with  layers  of 
light  soil  5  or  6  inches  in  thickness,  and  kept  in  a  cellar 
or  other  place  where  the  temperature  is  about  60°.  In 
three  months  they  get  a  crop  of  small  potatoes  which  are 
produced  at  the  expense  of  the  large  ones,  and  without 
any  growth  of  vines. 


Farmers*  CInl)s-How  to  Organize 

One.-"  G.  P.,"  Athens  Co.,  O.  The  simpler  the  organ- 
ization the  more  effective.  Every  member  should  be 
able  to  carry  the  constitution  and  by-laws  in  his  head. 
In  case  a  library  is  wanted,  or  any  special  business  is  to 
be  conducted,  tools  owned,  or  work  done  by  the  club, 
special  regulations  will  be  required  ;  but  when  it  is  only 
desired  to  hold  meetings  for  discussion  of  agricultural 
subjects,  to  exchange  ideas  and  seeds,  and  have  a  good 
social  lime  once  a  week  or  fortnight,  you  will  need  only 
a  Chairman,  to  be  elected  at  one  meeting  to  preside  at  the 
next,  a  Secretary  and  Treasurer  perhaps,  to  be  elected 
for  the  season.  These,  with  one  or  two  other  active  men, 
should  constitute  the  executive  committee,  and  manage 
the  affairs  of  the  club,  make  some  simple  rules,  appoint 
meetings,  and  in  short,  do  every  thing  which  the  club 
does  not  itself  do,  all  their  doings  which  affect  future  in- 
terests of  the  club  being  subject  to  its  approval.  The 
principal  responsibility  will  devolve  upon  the  Secretary, 
or  the  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee,  who 
should  be  the  recognized  business  man  of  the  club. 
Clubs  which  have  any  other  constitution  than  an  under- 
standing to  behave  like  gentlemen,  usually  neglect  it. 

Corrosive    Sublimate    lor    Trees. — 

Milton  Painter,  Bait.  Co.,  Md.,  writes  to  the  Agricultur- 
ist that,  having  an  English  elm  badly  injured  by  insects 
upon  its  foliage,  he  bored  a  small  hole  nearly  through  the 
body  of  the  tree,  filled  it  with  powdered  corrosive  subli- 


mate, and  stopped  up  the  hole  with  wax.  This  was  done 
six  or  seven  years  ago,  and  the  leaves  have  been  nearly 
untouched  until  the  present  time.  The  same  was  tried 
upon  small  locust  trees,  and  it  caused  the  borers  to  back 
out  in  less  than  4S  hours,  and  they  have  not  since  troubled 
the  trees.  He  proposes  to  try  the  same  treatment  for  the 
cure  of  "  black  knot."  Notwithstanding  the  testimony  of 
Mr.  P.,  we  are  quite  skeptical  upon  the  subject  of  medi- 
cating trees,  and  are  disposed  to  attribute  his  apparent 
success  to  causes  not  connected  with  the  treatment.  We 
should  be  glad  if  it  were  proven  beyond  doubt  that  a 
poison  could  be  introduced  into  the  circulation  of  a  plant 
in  sufficient  quantify  to  render  it  free  from  the  attacks  of 
insects,  and  not  injure  the  tree.  We  do  not  assert  that  it 
cannot  be  done,  but  much  doubt  it.  If  any  other  friends 
have  trees  upon  which  they  are  willing  to  risk  the  experi- 
ment, we  should  like  to  have  them  try  it  and  report  the 
results.  There  are  plenty  of  locust,  and  plum-trees  also, 
fit  for  no  other  purpose. 


Maiden's  IBlnsh  Apples. — "We  have  re- 
ceived, through  the  kindness  of  N.  Farnum  and  Solon 
Robinson,  a  box  of  apples  from  the  nursery  of  James 
Smith,  of  Desrnoines,  Iowa.  The  fruit  was  all  fine,  but 
the  specimens  of  Maiden's  Blush  were  remarkable  for 
their  beauty.  Nothing  more  perfect  in  surface,  form, 
and  color,  can  be  imagined  than  one  specimen  of  (his, 
which  is  still  upon  our  exhibition  table.  It  is  so  wax-like 
in  appearance  that  not  only  people  in  general,  but  dis- 
tinguished pomologists  have  doubted,  from  merely  look- 
ing at  it,  that  it  was  a  natural  fruit.  We  have  had  waxen 
fruit  mistaken  for  the  natural,  but  never  before  had  a  real 
fruit  which  people  insisted  upon  calling  artificial.  The 
deception^if  such  it  can  be  called,  was  so  perfect  that  we 
were  obliged  to  label  the  apple  "  not  wax."  The  tree  is 
a  good  bearer,  and  the  fruit  of  fair  quality  for  table,  cook- 
ing or  drying. 

The  Apple  Pie  Melon.— Mrs.  G.  P.  Cook, 

Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  writes  to  the  American  Agriculturist 
that  she  considers  the  apple  pie  melon  a  valuable  acquisi- 
tion to  the  housekeeper.  Her  method  of  using  it  is,  to 
add  tartaric  acid  or  pie-plant  (rhubarb)  to  give  flavor  in 
making  apple  or  mince  pies.  For  custards,  the  stewed 
melon  is  strained,  thinned  with  milk  to  the  consistence 
of  sweet  cream,  seasoned  as  for  ordinary  custard,  and 
one  egg  added  for  each  pie. 

Valnc  of  Names  tor  Pmitf. — Fruit  al- 
ways sells  better  if  it  has  a  name.  It  should,  of  course, 
always  bear  the  correct  name,  great  confusion  is  often 
caused  by  ignorant  persons  who  have  fruit  for  sate,  giving 
false  or  fanciful  names  to  well  known  and  named  varie- 
ties. No  person,  except  the  originator  or  introducer  of  a 
new  fruit  should  ever  name  any  fruit  without  consulta- 
tion with  recognized  pomological  authorities,  or  the  con- 
currence of  some  well  known  pomological,  horticultural, 
or  agricultural  society.  The  name  should  only  be  given 
after  diligent  comparison  of  the  fruit  with  others,  and 
proving  so  far  as  possible,  that  it  is  distinct.  The  name 
first  given  with  a  published  description  of  the  fruit,  holds. 


Plants  for  Names.— From  Water-Vliet, 
Mich,  [address  lost].  No.  1,  is  Lamium  maculatuiu,  or 
Spotted  Dead-nettle,  an  old  and  but  little  cultivated  plant, 
but  quite  as  pretty  as  some  now  cultivated  for  their  vari- 
egated foliage.  No.  2,  appears  to  be  the  Blue  Gilia,  Gil- 
ia  capitata,  and  No.  3,  is  not  in  a  condition  to  be  made 

out.    Leaves  should  be  sent  as  well  as  flowers J.  IMP. 

Lain,  Indiana,  sends  Cassia  Marilandica,  or  American 
Senna.  It  is  one  of  our  most  showy  plants  and  is  frequent- 
ly cultivated  in  gardens.  Mr.  L.  says  that  under  the  name 
of  "wild  pea"  it  is  used  in  dyeing  a  drab  color— and 
asks  if  it  has  the  tanning  principle  of  sumac.  We  have 
not  at  hand  an  analysis  of  the  plant,  but  we  doubt  if  it  has 
sufficient  tannin  to  make  it  available  as  a  substitute  for 
sumach  in  tanning  leather.  It  is  used  medicinally  like  the 
imported  Senna  ...Mrs.  Jane  Hill,  Stark  Co.,  111.  The 
plant  is  probably  Aster  multiftorus  ;  not  usually  rare.... 
Harriet,  Montrose,  Pa.  The  plant  sent  is  the  Long-tubed 
Centranthus    (Centrantkus    macrosiphon.)      It  was   sent 

from  this  office  this  Spring  in  our  seed  distribution Mrs. 

H.  B.  Comstock,  Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  "chickweed 
like  plant"  is  Anayallis  arvensis,  or  Pimpernel,  and  is 
not  rare  near  the  coast.  The  spotted  leaved  specimen  is 
Mertensia  Virginica,  noticed  in  last  month's  basket.  The 
other  specimen  is  a  species  of  Euphorbia,  but  the  seeds 
are  not  ripe  enough  to  enable  us  to  determine  which .... 
Mrs.  F.  G.  Stanley,  Adams  Co.,  111.,  sends  Spigelia  Ma- 
rilandica, commonly  called  Pink  Root,  though  it  is  not 
at  all  related  to  the  common  pink.  The  root  is  a  popular 
worm  medicine.    It  is  worth  cultivating  for  the  beauty  of 

its  flowers R.  C.  Smith,  New-Haven  Co.,  Conn.    The 

plant  is  Phallus  impudicus,  the  Stinking  Morel.  It  is  not 
to  be  confounded  with  the  eatable  Morel,  as  it  is  said  to 
be  highly  poisonous.    The  plant  is  a  fungus,  is  most  re- 


pulsive in  appearance,  and  has  a  smell  worse  than  a  con 
gress  of  dead  rats.  It  springs  up  where  there  is  decay 
ing  vegetable  matter.  Probably  a  free  application  of  salt 
would  destroy  the  underground  fibres  from  which  the 
aboveground  offensive  portion  springs.  A  digging  out 
and  removal  of  the  soil  for  a  few  feet  around  the  place 
where  it  appeared  would  be  pretty  sure  to  exterminate 

the  disagreeable  visitor A.   Heus,   Medina  Co.,  Ohio. 

The  plant  suspected  of  poisoning  sheep  is  some  kind  of 
an  Eupatorium,  but  as  you  have  sent  us  no  leaves,  we 
can  not  make  out  the  species.     It  is  not  likely  to  be  the 

cause  of  the  trouble A.   F.   Alden,   Peoria  Co.,    III., 

sends  us  Cuphea  viscosissxma,  the  Clammy  Cuphea. 
With  Gray's  Manual,  the  minute  observation  which  has 
evidently  been  given  to  the  plant,  would  certainly  have 
led  to  the  proper  name  —  Mrs.  Wall,  Alleghany  Co., 
Penn.  We  can  not  determine  the  plant  with  any  cer- 
tainty from  the  leaf  sent.  It  would  be  guess  work.  Send 
flower  or  fruit.... H.  E.  Eastgate,  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.  The 
vine  is  Ckiogenes  hispidula,  the  Creeping  Snowberry. 
It  is  not  closely  related  to  the  shrub  commonly  known  as 
Snowberry,  but  is  more  nearly  allied  to  the  Winlcrgreen. 
L.  Norton,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  vine  is  Clematis 
Virginiana,  the  Virgin's  Bower.  It  belongs  to  the  Ra- 
nunculus family,  but  vou  probably  did  not  make  out  be- 
cause the  flowers  are  often  dioecious.  It  is  worth  culti- 
vating as  a  climber,  being  very  pretty  in  flower  and  fruit. 


Is    tlie  Strawberry  a   Fruit  ?— A.  F. 

Alden,  Peoria  Co.,  111.  There  are  many  things  popular- 
ly called  fruits  which  are  not  such  in  the  strictly  botani- 
cal sense  of  the  term.  The  true  fruit  of  the  strawberry 
is  the  little.grains  which  are  distributed  over  or  imbedded 
in  the  pulpy  portion.  Each  of  these  grains  is  a  little  one- 
seeded  fruit,  and  results  from  the  ripened  ovaiyof  one 
of  the  many  pistils  found  in  the  blossom.  All  these  pis- 
tils are  crowded  on  the  flatfish  portion  in  the  center  of  [he 
flower,  called  the  receptacle.  This,  as  the  ovaries  ripen, 
enlarges,  becomes  pulpy  and  fine  flavored,  and  forms 
what  we  call  the  fruit.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  straw- 
berry is  a  fruit  or  not,  accordingly  as  we  use  the  word  in 
a  popular,  general  way,  or  in  a  restricted  botanical  sense. 


Planting*  Strawberries. — D.  F.  Marck- 

res,  Conn.  Fifteen  to  18  Inches  apart,  and  one  plant  in  the 
place  is  near  enough.  If  the  runners  are  pinched  off,  the 
plants  will  form  large  crowns,  and  the  leaves  of  adjacent 
plants  will  touch  one  another.  Plants  forced  in  the 
house  in  the  Winter  will  not  fruit  again  in  the  Summer. 


What   ftrapes  to  Plant— SOO  Vines 

to  Produce  Grapes  for  the   N.  Y.   Market* 

— At  almost  all  times,  and  especially  since  our  recent 
Grape  Exhibition,  inquiries  are  addressed  to  the  Editors 
of  the  American  Agriculturist,  asking  :  "What  grapes  shall 
I  plant."  For  example,  a  gentleman  says,  "  I  want  to  put 
out  200  vines  to  raise  grapes  to  sell  at  the  most  profit  in 
New-York."  We  advised:  20  Creveling,  25  Hartford  Pro- 
lific, 80  Concord,  30  Delaware,  20  Union  Village,  ]0  Diana, 
and  15  Allen's  Hybrid;  and  for  the  following  reasons: 
The  Creveling  is  a  fair  grape,  and  being  one  of  the  earliest, 
will  sell  well  on  this  account  alone.  The  Hartford  is  next 
earliest,  very  prolific,  of  fair  quality,  and  will  therefore  sell 
well.  The  Concord  will  yield  more  pounds  than  any 
other,  for  the  same  trouble  and  number  of  vines,  and  is 
also  of  good  quality,  so  lhat  most  people  will  buy  it  also. 
The  Delaware  grows  slowly,  and  does  not  yield  largely  at 
first,  but  its  superior  quality  will  command  a  good  price 
from  a  considerable  class  of  persons.  The  Union  Vil- 
lage is  very  large,  of  fair  quality,  will  sell  well  for  its 
size  alone.  The  Diana  is  of  peculiar  flavor,  liglil  color, 
and  will  suit  a  particular  class  of  buyers  who  will  pay 
more  for  it  than  for  the  black  grapes.  The  Allen's  Hy- 
brid is  the  most  promising  hardy  white  grape  we  have,  is 
delicious  eating  ;  the  fruit  will  sell  at  a  high  price.  — The 
above  list  we  submitted  to  a  large  meeting  of  Fruit 
Growers,  and  it  met  with  almost  unanimous  approval. 
Two  or  three  objected  to  the  Diana  ;  with  us  it  does  very 
well.  The  above  list  be  it  noted  is  for  market  purposes 
in  New-York,  though  it  is  not  a  bad  list  for  home  use, 
and  may  answer  for  other  cities  north  of  Washington. 


«  Rats,"  "Mice/*  and  "Water- 
falls."—Most  of  our  lady  readers  know  that  the  cush- 
ions over  which  ladies'  hair  is  dressed  a  la  mode,  are 
called  "  rats,"  from  some  fancied  resemblance.  The 
names  "mice,"  and  "cats,"  are  given  to  the  smaller 
and  larger  cushions  ;  while  the  hair  is  dressed  in  fantas- 
tic forms  called  'bows,"  "waterfalls,"  "butterflies," 
etc.  A  dashing  Philadelphia  belle,  leaving  an  order  for  a 
hair-dresser  to  attend  at  her  residence,  added  "  Bring  two 
rats,  four  mice,  a  cat,  and  a  waterfall." — "Poor  young 
thing,"  said  a  smoolh  haired  Quaker  matron,  who  heard 
the  order,  "  she's  lost  her  mind." 


396 


AMERICAN    AGEICULTURIST. 


INoVEMBEK, 


Steamed  Fodder— Testimony  Want- 
cd.— Will  not  some  of  the  readers  of  the  Agriculturist, 
who  practice  steaming  fodder  for  cattle,  give  their  expe- 
rience. What  kind  of  a  boiler  is  used  ?  Does  the  waste 
steam  from  an  engine  impart  a  flavor  offensive  to  stock  ? 
What  estimate  of  the  net  savings  can  be  made  ? 

Butter  Dairy.— u  E.  S.  M.  H.,"  of  Otsego 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  from  six  cows,  made  and  marketed  1100  lbs. 
Of  butter,  besides  using  all  that  he  wanted  in  his  family. 
This  from  a  dairy  herd  consisting  of  4  old  cows,  and 
2  two-year  old  heifers.  Next  year  he  calculates  on  mak- 
ing an  average  of  200  lbs.,  at  least,  to  each  cow. 

MilUiug;  Machines.— " T.  J.  B.,"  of  Ore- 
gon. No  machine  has  yet  been  devised  which  stands  the 
test  of  use.  Few,  if  any,  of  the  many  articles  patented 
for  this  purpose,  are  now  offered  for  sale  in  this  country. 


Swans    in   tlie   Central    I'ark.-S.  G. 

Harvey,  Woodford  Co.,  Ky.  The  swans  are  a  success 
here,  and  would  be  with  you.  Some  of  the  first  importa- 
tions died,  partly  from  not  understanding  their  habits, 
and  partly  owing  to  improper  food  given  them  by  visitors. 
There  are  now  some  25  or  30  of  them,  sailing  majestical- 
ly upon  the  lake  in  the  Central  Park;  they  are  so  tame 
they  will  eat  out  of  one's  hand. 

Leached  Ashes. — A  Young  Farmer  in 
Windsor,  Ohio,  asks:  "How  much  can  one  afford  to 
pay  for  leached  ashes  and  haul  them  }-i  niiie  for  a  clayey 

soil." Belter  pay  25  cents  per  bushel   for  unleached 

than  5  cents  for  leached  ashes  as  a  general  thing,  but 
after  all  the  leached  ashes  may  be  worth  to  you  even  the 
former  price.  They  are  often  an  excellent  application 
to  grass  land,  and  a  desirable  ingredient  in  composts 
from  which  they  do  not  liberate  the  ammonia.  You  will 
have  to  experiment  for  yourself,  as  the  effects  of  leached 
ashes  are  very  different  on  different  soils.  On  many 
parts  of  Long  Island,  fanners  prefer  to  pay  from  14  to  28 
cents  per  bushel  rather  than  do  without  them.  Hundreds 
of  canal  boat  loads  are  brought  from  the  interior  and 
western  New-York,  and  sold  here. 

«  ill  it  Pay  to  Buy  and  Haul  Ma- 
nure.—"C.  G.  M.,"  Highland  Co.,  Ohio,  can  get  ma- 
nure by  paying  25c.  per  load,  and  hauling  it  to  his  farm 
%  mile — and  asks  will  it  pay  1  Figure  it  thus  :  Manure 
25  cts.;  man  and  team  (going  empty  10  minutes,  loading 
20  minutes,  returning  loaded,  30  minutes,)  1  hour's  work 
25  cts.— total  cost  50  cents  ;  and  then  ask  yourself  if  a 
load  of  such  manure  as  you  can  buy  will  be  worth  50  cents 
on  your  farm.  It  probably  will  be  worth  at  least  three 
times  that,  if  you  make  a  proper  use  of  it. 

Xo  Char  Saw-dust. — "A.  L.  B.,"  of  Perry 
Co.,  Pa.  Saw-dust  may  be  charred  in  any  vessel  from 
which  the  air  can  be  excluded,  and  which  can  be  exposed 
to  a  strong  heat,  a  gas  retort  for  instance,  or  an  old  stove- 
pipe covered  with  a  coat  of  clay  and  sand,  having  one  end 
stopped  tight,  and  the  other  only  partially  closed,  to  allow 
the  free  escape  of  the  gases  evolved  during  the  healing. 

Refuse   (hair   and   hits  of  hide)  of 

Tanneries.— Frank,  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  asks  what  to 
do  with  this  refuse,  and  if  he  may  add  lime  to  it  ?— Com- 
post it  with  good  soil  if  you  have  not  peaty  muck,  grass 
sods,  weeds,  straw,  etc.  It  will  convert  a  great  bulk  of 
vegetable  substances,  otherwise  not  worth  much,  into 
good  strong  manure.  Don't  let  lime  or  unleached  ashes 
come  near  it.  Apply  it  to  any  crop  benefitted  by  good 
stable  manure,  and  after  a  little  practice  you  can  judge 
of  the  strength  so  as  to  graduate  the  application  accord- 
ing to  the  needs  of  the  crop  and  the  land. 

Brakes  in  Pastures. — "B.,"  Proyidence, 
R.  I.,  writes  that  he  has  succeeded  in  destroying  brakes 
in  laud  where  they  rendered  several  acres  useless,  by 
mowing  them  while  they  were  in  full  and  vigorous 
growth — once  near  the  end  of  June,  and  again  in  August. 
After  the  second  year  they  have  mostly  disappeared. 


Lime — A  Chemical  Question.— "  Why 

does  lime  or  ashes  act  as  a  disinfectant,  and  yet  release 
the  ammonia  from  manures?"  asks  "  J.  R.  P."  The 
action  of  lime  on  organic  matter  is  much  like  ley  upon 
the  grease  and  matters  mixed  with  it  In  soap  making, 
Ammonia  being  formed  only  as  nitrogenous  substances 
reach  the  final  stage  of  decomposition,  when  the  lime 
or  ashes  is  added  to  any  substance  in  which  ammonia  ex- 
ists ready  formed,  the  ammonia  escapes,  and  further  de- 
composition is  in  a  measure  checked. 

Roots    or   Corn.— A  farmer  of   Lawrence 
C>.,  Pa.,  asks:  *' Does  the  culture  of  roots  pay  equal  to 


that  of  corn  ?"  and  "  which  is  most  profitable,  rutabagas 
or  beets?"  There  is  no  doubt  but  ordinarily  more  nutri- 
ment may  be  obtained  from  an  acre  in  rutabagas  or  man- 
gel wurtzels,  than  from  an  acre  of  corn.  This  does  not 
settle  the  question  "which  pays  best."  Corn  is  a  much 
more  concentrated  form  of  food,  adapted  to  different  uses  ; 
both  are  excellent,  and  no  stock  farmer  should  neglect 
either  crop.  For  milch  cows,  beets  (either  the  French 
sugar,  or  the  mangel  wurzel,)  are  best ;  for  other  slock, 
rutabagas  are  equally  good,  and  probably  yield  a  greater 
amount  of  nutriment  per  acre.  A  variety  of  roots  is  al- 
ways useful  ;  sometimes  the  fly  hurts  the  turnips  while 
the  beets  escape  ;  or  a  blight  may  attack  the  beets,  and 
turnips  escape  injury.    Avoid  relying  on  one   crop.     . 

Clover    Seed    Hnllers.— Many  inquiries 

have  been  received  at  the  Agriculturist  office  for  infor- 
mation concerning  the  price  of  clover  seed  hullers,  where 
they  may  be  obtained,  etc.  We  usually  refer  such  par- 
ties to  reliable  agricultural  warehouses,  but  it  would  be 
money  in  the  pockets  of  the  manufacturers  of  good  ma- 
chines, and  a  great  saving  of  time  to  us,  if  they  would 
properly  advertise  articles  wanted  by  the  public. 


Highly    Agricultural. 


Amoug    the 


prizes  offered  at  an  Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Socie 
ly  held  in  one  of  the  Eastern  States  this  year,  were  two 
silver  cups  for  the  best  rifle  shooting  ! — An  extra  entrance 
fee  of  25  cents  was  charged  for  admission  to  this  part  of 
the  performances. 

Costly  Rahhits. — A  suit  has  recently  been 
decided  in  England  awarding  $500  damages  to  a  tenant 
for  injuries  to  his  crops  by  the  landlord's  rabbits.  They 
gnawed  through  the  dividing  hedge  and  destroyed  the 
wheat  and  vetch  crop  to  that  amount.  The  decision  is 
regarded  as  an  important  one  to  those  renting  lands 
where  the  game  laws  prevent  entrapping  or  shooting 
game,  even  on  leased  premises,  except  by  special  license. 

Xoads  in  market. — Live  toads  form  a 
regular  article  of  commerce  in  the  London  Market. 
They  are  generally  imported  from  Fiance,  and  sell  for 
from  50  cents  to  $1  50  per  dozen,  according  io  size  and 
activity.  They  are  purchased  by  market  gardeners  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  city,  to  protect  their  choice  vegetables 
from  slugs  and  insects,  which  they  do  very  effectually. 

Weeping    Willows     not    Hardy  at 

the  North.— "  S.  T.,"  Waldo  Co.,  Me.  The  weeping 
willow,  when  well  grown,  is  a  very  beautiful  drooping 
tree,  but  can  not  be  relied  upon  in  your  northern  climate. 
It  often  winter-kills  in  latitude  42°,  on  the  Atlantic  coast. 


■  Ian  Trees  and  other  Vegetation.— 

A  subscriber  in  Boston,  Mass.,  says  that  he  has  been 
advised  to  cut  down  his  elm  trees,  as  they  will  destroy 
all  his  flowering  shrubs,  etc. — The  Elm  makes  a  dense 
shade  and  its  abundant  surface  roots  extend  to  some 
distance. — Shade  is  not  generally  favorable  to  flowering 
shrubs,  and  but  one  set  of  roots  can  well  occupy  the  same 
soil.  Beyond  the  extent  of  these  influences,  the  elms 
can  not  exercise  any  prejudicial  effect,  that  we  know  of. 


Fruit  from  Iowa, — Wesley  Redhead,  Esq., 
Prest.  of  the  Des  Moines  Horticultural  Society,  brings  us 
some  specimens  to  show  that  fruit  can  be  grown  in 
Iowa.  We  certainly  never  saw  finer  Rhode-Island 
Greenings.  Lyman  Pound  Sweet  was  of  very  large  size, 
and  Bolmar's  Washington  Plum  of  excellent  quality. 
Mr.  R.  informs  us  that  Mr.  Smith,  one  of  his  neighbors, 
and  the  oldest  tree  cultivator  in  the  vicinity,  has  about 
4000  bushels  of  apples  which  will  bring  him  from  $1  50 
to  $2  per  bushel.  The  Diana  Grape  has  done  well  this 
season,  but  the  Concord  is  the  most  successful  variety. 

Pears    for  New- York  Market.— J.  S. 

Fisher,  Niagara  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  Bartlett  pear  always 
sells  readily  in  this  market,  at  high  prices,  if  well  grown, 
and  received  here  in  good  condition.  They  brought  $12 
to  $25  per  bbl.  the  past  season.  The  White  Doyenne, 
(Virgalieu)  is  a  good  pear  to  raise  in  localities  where  it 
does  well.  It  will  probably  grow  fair  with  you,  and  is  a 
high  priced,  well-known  pear.  There  are  many  other  ex- 
cellent pears,  but  they  have  less  reputation  in  this  mark- 
et—the  Seckel  excepted.  The  Louise  Bonne  is  not  a  fa- 
vorite in  this  market.    Better  set  mostly  standards. 

Large   Flemish    Beauty   Pears. — E. 

W.  Hewitt,  of  Astoria,  L.  I.,  placed  on  our  exhibition  ta- 
bles two  very  fine  Flemish  Beauty  pears,  the  product  of 
a  dwarf  tree  which  bore  this  season  for  the  first  time. 
They  measured  one  foot  in  circumference,  and  weighed 
17  and  17X  ounces  respectively.  The  trees  were  highly 
manured  from  the  pig  pen. 


Cranberries  in  Canada.— A  reader  of 
the  Agriculturist  in  Tavistock,  C.  \\\,  asks  if  cranberries 
will  do  well  there.  They  doubtless  will-as  they  thrive  in 
Michigan,   and   the   difference  of  climate  is  not  great. 

IKaspberries    Killed   in    Iowa.— Ada 

Martin,  Clark  Co.,  Iowa.  You  have  too  tender  sorts.  The 
Hudson  River  Antwerp,  and  Belle  de  Fontenay,  are  prob- 
ably the  best  to  stand  your  severe  winters.  All  raspber- 
ry canes  arc  better  for  being  covered  in  Winter.  Bend 
down  and  cover  with  a  little  earth. 


When  to  Set  Orape  Vines.— J.  Camp, 
Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y.  Early  Fall,  soon  after  the 
leaves  have  fallen,  is  a  good  time  for  selling  hardy  grape 
vines.  The  ground  is  usually  sufficiently  moist,  and  the 
roots  will  often  push  out  fibres  before  Winter,  and  in 
Spring  be  ready  for  an  early  start.  Besides,  there  is  more 
leisure  In  Autumn,  and  the  transplanting  can  be  more 
carefully  done. 

Fruit  Pictures.— Among  the  many  inter- 
esting articles  on  Exhibition  at  the  Agriculturist  office, 
special  mention  should  be  made  of  a  series  of  twelve  oil 
paintings  representing  the  fruits  ripening  during  the  suc- 
cessive months  of  the  year.  They  were  copied  from 
specimens  shown  from  time  to  time  upon  our  Exhibition 
Tables,  and  are  well  executed.  They  were  painted 
by  Miss  Anne  Newberry,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  a  young 
lady  who  gives  promise  of  great  excellence  in  this  pleas- 
ing department  of  the  fine  arts. 


White  Lilies.— Ada  Martin,  Clarke  Co., 
Iowa.  These  are  hardy  in  much  colder  latitudes  than 
that  of  N.  Y.  We  have  no  doubt  that  they  would  live 
without  prolection  ;  but  some  litter  thrown  over  the  sur- 
face ought  to  make  them  safe.  If  you  prefer  to  take 
them  up,  do  s»  after  the  leaves  are  killed  and  before  the 
ground  freezes,   and  put  them  in  earth  in   the  cellar. 


Plans   tor  Farm  Houses.— "W.  C.  V.," 

Jefferson  Co.,  Ind.,  sends  to  the  Agriculturist  a  plan  foi 
a  one  story  cottage— good  in  many  of  its  details,  but 
faulty  in  others.  There  are  five  rooms,  and  five  outside 
doors,  all  opening  directly  into  the  rooms.  There  are  two 
porches  or  small  verandahs.  One  broad  piazza  or  veran- 
dah would  be  preferable  and  would  in  Summer  be  almost 
like  another  room.  There  are  only  two  closets— there 
should  be  many.  There  is  no  provision  for  wood-house, 
wash  room,  etc.  There  are  three  chimneys,  two  of  which 
are  in  outside  walls.  Chimneys  should  be  in  inside  walla 
so  as  to  retain  the  heat  in  the  house.  Two  outside  doors 
are  usually  enough  for  any  small  house,  and  they  should 
if  possible  open  info  entries  or  halls  in  whiah  the  stair- 
cases may  be  placed,  and  much  room  saved.  In  general 
study  to  have  as  little  outside  wall  as  is  compatible  with 
convenience. 

Round  Fined  Chimneys.— UW.  C.  V.,1 

Jefferson  Co.,  Ind.,  constructs  his  chimneys  with  round 
flues.  Setting  a  joint  of  y  inch  stovepipe  as  a  mold,  he 
builds,  filling  in  around  it  with  mortar,  brick,  or  stone 
and  then  drawing  up   the  pipe  as   the  wall  progresses. 

Salting  Beef.— George  A.  Lowell,  Wash- 
ington Co.,  Me.,  inquires  for  directions  for  salting  beef  in 
the  Fall  so  tliat  it  may  not  spoil  by  the  following  June, 
and  yet  not  have  it  too  salt  and  hard  to  be  palatable. 
Will  those  having  successful  experience,  please  commu- 
nicate their  methods  for  the  general  benefit. 

An  Ingenious  Swindle.  —  The  Yan- 
kees are  generally  supposed  to  be  the  cutest  swindlers, 
but  the  following  shows  that  some  other  nations  are  not 
far  behind.  At  a  show  of  implements  in  England  there 
was  a  trial  of  steam  engines,  and  one  rough  little  porta- 
ble machine  surprised  every  one  by  apparently  doing  the 
most  work  with  the  least  fuel.  The  fireman  was  shovel- 
ing<in  only  old  cinders  and  ashes,  and  yet  the  fire-box  was 
full  of  flame.  At  last  the  secret  was  discovered.  One  of 
the  fire  tubes  had  been  previously  filled  with  grease,  and 
plugged  up  with  wood.  As  soos  as  the  plug  was  con- 
sumed, a  flood  of  combustible  matter  was  added  to  the 
fire,  which, kept  the  engine  running  long  after  its  due  por- 
tion of  coal  had  been  consumed. 


Sill*  from  Utah.— Mr.  O.  Ursenbach  De 
la  Harpe,  sends  us  a  fine  specimen  of  raw  silk,  raised  by 
him  at  Great  Salt  Lake  City.  He  thinks  that  the  raising 
of  silk  will  in  time  become  an  important  branch  of  in- 
dustry in  Utah.  Next  year  he  proposes  to  feed  a  portion 
of  his  worms  on  knot-grass  (Polygonum  aviculare)  which 
he  says  has  been  successfully  used  in  Italy.  We  siiallbe 
glad  to  hear  the  result. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


327 


Fall  Sown  Fife  Wheat.- A.  E.  B.  Hall, 
Minnesota,  requests  some  reader  of  the  American  Agri- 
culturist to  communicate  an  account  of  the  results  of 
sowing  Fife  wheat  in  the  Fall. 


Keeping'  Celery  in  Open  tii'oiind.- 

Al.  H.  Wetherill  gives  the  following  as  his  plan :  A 
trench  is  dug  about  two  feet  deep,  from  one  to  two  feet 
wide,  and  as  long  as  required.  Two  boards,  one  an  inch 
or  two  wider  than  the  other,  are  placed  lengthwise  of  the 
trench,  and  on  the  ground,  in  a  position  to  support  the 
roofing;  these  are  kept  in  place  by  pieces  tacked  on 
the  ends.  The  roofing  is  made  of  boards  sawed  to  a 
proper  length  to  cover  the  frame  crosswise  and  project 
an  inch  or  two  over  each  side.  The  celery  is  set  up  in 
the  trench,  commencing  to  pack  at  one  end  and  crowd- 
ing it  close  together.  The  boards  are  then  put  over, 
covered  first  with  straw,  and  then  with  sufficient  earth  to 
prevent  freezing.  In  removing  for  use,  begin  at  one  end, 
taking  off  a  roof  board  at  a  time,  and  fill  up  the  trench 
with  the  straw  as  the  celery  is  removed. 

Japan  Melon  Seed.— We  have  several 
inquiries  for  this  seed,  but  have  no  stock  from  which  to 
supply  the  demand.  It  is  for  sale  by  Thorburn,  by  Lane, 
and,  we  suppose,  by  other  dealers  in  seeds. 


New  Zealand  Spinach.— Fine  specimens 
from  the  garden  of  Wm.  Shaw  of  Staten  Island,  were 
exhibited  at  the  office  of  the  Agriculturist.  It  is  quite 
distinct  from  the  common  Spinach,  and  is  regarded  as  a 
delicious  vegetable-.  It  grows  very  luxuriantly,  its  trail- 
ing branches  spreading  over  the  ground  for  a  distance  of 
3  feet  or  more  in  every  direction,  and  furnishes  a  sup- 
ply of  fine  succulent  leaves  during  the  hottest  weather. 


Large  Cucumber. — T.  J.  Carletou,  Hamp- 
den Co.,  Mass.,  has  placed  upon  our  exhibition  tables  a 
cucumber— variety  not  known— 13>X  inches  long.  15  inch- 
es in  circumference,  and  which  weighs  5  lbs.  'A  ounces  ! 

Propagating  the  Yucoa.-G.  Wolf 
Holstein,  Lawrence  Co.,  Pa.  This  is  usually  propa- 
gated by  separating  the  offsets  or  suckers  which  are 
thrown  up  abundantly.     It  may  also  be  grown  from  seed. 

The  llenuosa  Rose.-"  M.  M.  T.,"  Pen- 
dleton, Indiana.  All  the  Bourbon  roses  flower  better  for 
some  protection,  even  the  hardier  ones.  "We  can  not  tell 
how  tins  variety  would  do  in  your  particular  locality.  If 
in  doubt,  tie  it  up  in  straw  and  bank  earth  around  it,  or 
put  it  in  a  pot  or  tub,  and  winter  it  in  the  cellar. 

Evergreens  tor   Shelter.— "  H.  E.  P.," 

New-Jersey.  Red  Cedar,  Arbor  ViUe,  or  Norway  Spruce, 
*vill  each  of  them  make  a  good  shelter  to  your  garden. 
They  will  take  several  years  to  grow,  and  a  close  board 
fence  will  give  you  the  needed  shelter  at  once. 

A  Word  from  a  Laborer.— J.  W  John, 
Woodford  Co.,  111.,  objects  to  the  plan  proposed  by  a 
writer  in  our  columns,  for  securing  faithfulness  in  labor- 
ers by  requiring  all  seeking  employment  to  produce  a 
certificate  of  good  character  from  their  previous  places, 
before  engaging  them.  He  says  there  are  as  many  dis- 
honest masters  as  servants,  and  such  an  arrangement 
would  give  the  former  an  undue  advantage.  There  is 
undoubtedly  some  truth  in  this  view,  but  it  would  be  diffi- 
cult for  a  man  known  to  be  untrustworthy,  to  deprive  a 
laborer  of  his  good  name  by  refusing  him  a  certificate  ; 
while  the  possession  of  such  a  document  is  usually  bene- 
ficial to  a  person  seeking  an  engagement. 


Walnut  vs.  Oak. — A  subscriber  in  Niagara 
Co.,  N.  Y.,  writes  :  "  Black-walnut  stumps  last  longer 
in  the  ground  than  oak.  I  can  not  say  about  posts.  I 
have  replaced  one  of  walnut  which  has  stood   17  years." 

English  Ivy  in  Illinois.  —  "  Bay,"  of 
Madison  Co.,  says  that  the  Ivy  will  flourish  In  that  State 
*n  a  northern  or,  preferably,  in  a  western   exposure. 

Camellias.— Chas.  Edsall,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y., 
nsks  how  to  propagate  and  treat  Japonicas.  The  name 
if  this  plant  is  Camellia  Japo/uca,  and  it  is  better  to  call 
it  Camellia,  as  Japonica  is  used  as  a  specific  name  for 
«any  other  things,  and  has  no  definiteness.  It  is  hardly 
oracticable  to  propagate  them  without  a  green-house. 
The  double  sorts  are  grafted  on  the  quicker-growing 
«ngle  kinds.  The  stocks  are  propagated  from  cuttings, 
which  root  very  slowly.  The  plants  require  a  light  soil, 
with  a  good  share  of  vegetable  matter.  Peaty  earth 
mixed  with  sand  or  earth  from  sods  which  have  been  de- 
composed, will  answer.     The  great  difficulty  in  the  cul- 


ture of  the  Camellia  in  rooms,  is  the  dryness  of  the 
atmosphere  and  the  uncertain  temperature.  They  should 
be  in  a  room  where  the  temperature  never  falls  below 
45°,  or  gets  higher  than  70&.  Occasional  washing  of  the 
leaves  will  contribute  much  to  the  health  of  the  plant. 
We  have  had  them  flower  finely  when  kept  in  a  room 
where  there  was  no  fire,  removing  them  at  night  to  a 
warmer  room  when  there  appeared  to  be  danger  of  frost. 
G.  Wolf  Holstein,  Lawrence  Co.,  Pa.  Camellias  can 
be  raised  from  the  seed,  but  it  is  a  very  slow  process,  and 
is  not  to  be  recommended  unless  you  have  plenty  of  room 
and  a  taste  for  uncertain  experiments.  You  may  raise 
hundreds,  and  when  after  some  years  of  waiting  they 
come  into  flower,  there  may  not  be  one  worth  growing. 

Vinegar  from  Apple   Pomace. — It  is 

worth  remembering  that  after  thorough  pressing,  the 
pomace  still  contains  much  sugar,  which  we  may  extract 
and  make  into  good  and  salable  vinegar.  Wet  up  the 
pomace  with  as  much  water  as  it  wilt  hold,  adding  more 
from  time  to  time  until  the  mass  becomes  pulpy  and  well 
swelled  out.  Press  it  and  let  the  extracted  liquid  fer- 
ment. When  the  alcoholic  fermentation  has  taken  place 
to  a  considerable  extent,  the  cider  may  be  poured  so  as 
to  trickle  slowly  through  some  pomace  mixed  with  straw 
and  placed  in  a  hogshead  with  holes  in  the  bottom.  This 
will  promote  the  acetic  (vinegar)  fermentation,  and  be- 
sides it  will  add  to  the  strength  of  the  vinegar  each  time 
it  is  poured  through  the  pomace. 


BC;a  i*K    Louse  —  Another    Remedy. — 

Wm.  II.  Washburn,  Maine,  writes  that  lie  has  successful- 
ly treated  his  trees  in  the  following  manner :  He  makes 
a  wash  of  4  gallons  of  water,  3  pints  of  soft  soap,  1  lb.  of 
sulphur,  1  pint  of  salt,  and  3  or  4  lbs.  of  lime,  and  enough 
clay  to  make  the  mixture  as  thick  as  cream.  When  veg- 
etation begins  to  start  in  the  Spring,  the  .trees  are  thor- 
ougly  scraped,  and  the  mixture  applied  by  means  of  a 
brush  (stirring  occasionally),  to  the  trunk  and  limbs.  He 
says  that  two  years  of  this  treatment  have  completely 
freed  him  from  the  annoyance. 

Silkworms'  Eggs.  —  Will  the  lady  who 
sent  us  some  eggs  last  Spring,  have  the  kindness  to  send 
us  her  address,  if  she  will  have  more   to  dispose  of? 

Keeping  Cider  Sweet.  —  T.  P.  Boyd, 
Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  others.  Sulphite  (not  sulphate) 
of  lime  is  used  to  arrest  the  fermentation  of  cider  or  to 
prevent  it  altogether.  We  have  no  experience  in  its  use. 
It  is  sold  by  druggists  with  directions. 

Michigan    Agr'l.    College  Lands.— 

We  learn  from  the  Hon.  Justus  Gage,  of  the  State  Board 
of  Agriculture  of  Michigan,  that  the  State  has  accepted 
the  land  grant,  and  that  a  Commissioner  has  been  ap- 
pointed to  locate  the  240,000  acres  donated  to  that  State 
for  Agricultural  College  purposes. 

Salt  Meats  tor  Army  Use.— The  Gov- 
ernment has  purchased  in  the  city  of  Nfew  York  for  the 
use  of  the  army,  within  the  year  ending  October  31st, 
7,349  barrels  of  mess  beef,  42,288  barrels  extra  mess, 
in  all  49,637  barrels  of  salt  beef.  Pork,  86,449  barrels 
mess,  and  87,028  barrels  prime  mess,  in  all  173,477  barrels 
of  salt  pork — besides,  5,836,258  pounds  of  side  bacon, 
1,805,068  pounds  of  shoulders,  and  1,697,277  pounds  of 
hams,  making  a  total  of  9,338,603  pounds  of  cut  meats  ; 
and  of  pork  in  all  forms  no  less  than  44,034,003  pounds. 
These  figures  are  from  official  sources. 

Salting  and  I*aching  IBoric.— [The 
following  is  from  one  whom  we  looked  up  to  as  a  good 
farmer,  at  the  then  West,  some  thirty-five  years  ago.  His 
penmanship  shows  that  more  than  forty,  perhaps  fifty 
years  of  active  labor  on  the  farm  have  not  dimmed  his 
eye,  nor  stiffened  his  muscles,  nor  rendered  his  nerves  un- 
steady.— Ed.]— "  *A  subscriber  wishes  to  know  through 
the  Agriculturist  the  best  method  of  salting  pork.'  I  will 
tell  you  my  mode,  after  an  experience  of  40  years.  I  al- 
low the  hogs  to  cool  after  killing  ,  take  out  the  bones  ; 
[ribs  and  spine]  cut  off  the  hams  and  shoulders  ;  then  cut 
the  side  pork  into  strips  of  convenient  width  ;  put  a  quan- 
tity of  salt  in  the  bottom  of  the  cask  ;  then  put  in  a 
course  of  meat,  laying  the  pieces  on  the  edges  ;  then  a 
covering  of  salt;  then  another  course  of  meat,  and  so  on 
until  the  cask  is  full.  The  whole  is  carefully  kept  cov- 
ered with  brine  as  strong  as  boiling  water  and  salt  wilt 
make,  skimming  the  boiling  brine  so  long  as  anything 
rises.  The  brine  is  put  on  cold,  and  I  am  careful  to 
know  that  there  is  always  undissolved  salt  in  the  barrel. 
It  is  not  found  necessary  to  scald  the  brine  in  Spring.  I 
sometimes  use  saltpetre,  and  sometimes  not.  Hams  and 
shoulders  are  salted  in  separate  casks.  I  know  of  no  re- 
liable method  of  cleansing  tainted  casks,  and  would  not 
take  a  wagon  load  as  a  gift,  for  storing  meat." 


Exhibition  Tables    at    the  Oilice  ©tf 
the  American  Agriculturist. 

The  following  articles  have  been  placed  on  our  tables 
since  our  last  report: 

Fruits.— Apples  :  Fine  collection  from  Andre  Leroy, 
Angers,  France..  .Duchess,  a  fine  new  seedling  ;  C.  H. 
Rogers,  Stormville,  N.  Y.  .  .York  Pippins  and  King  ■  Sut- 
phin  Chadwick,  West  Washington   Market,   New- York. 

—  Gloria  Mundi ;  Richard  Weeks,  Lakeland,  L.  I 

Roxbury  Russet:   Mr.   Livingston,  Port  Lee,  N.  J 

Pompey  j    E.    Williams,    Mont    Clair,    N.    J . .  ..Gloria 

Mundi;  Mr.  Devoe.  Morrisania,  N.  Y. Lyman  Pump- 

kin  Sweet  and  R.  I.  Greening;  Wesley  Redhead,  Port 
des  Moines,  Iowa. .  Collection  of  Crab  Apples ;  E. 
Frost  &  Son,  Rochester,  N.  Y.  ..Trumbull's  Sweeting 
and  Higby's  Sweet ;  H.  K.  H a pgood,  Warren,  O..  Alexan- 
der, very  fine;  Daniel  Ball,  Perry  Center,  N.  Y  ... 
Pound  Sweet;  E.  Williams,  Mont  Clair,  N.  J  ...Fine 
collection   presented    by   Solon   Robinson,   from  James 

Smith,    Des    Moines,    Iowa Crab    Apples;    Ambrose 

Baldwin,  Gerard,  Mich.,  by  Solon  Robinson  ..  Collec- 
tion of  Apples:  S.  A.  Tabor,  Vassalboro.  Me  ..  Save- 
well;  Jesse  Ryder,  Sing  Sing,  N.  Y Newtown  Pip- 
pin of  1862;  A.  P.  Cummings,  N.  Y  —  Sheep  Apple  and 
Apple  for  name;  Mr.  Van  Brunt,  Fort  Hamilton,  N.  Y 

Maiden's  Blush  ;  J.  D.  Van  Nainee,  South-st.,  N.  Y. 

Twenly-oz.  Pippin,  grown  by  P.  M.  Browning,  Chatham 

Four   Corners;    O.    F.   Browning Orange,    Baldwin, 

Hawthornden,  Granny  Winkle,  Cheesehoro  Russet,  and 

specimen  for  name;  E.  Williams,  Mont  Clair,  N.  J 

Pears  :  Fine  Collection  of  varieties  ;  Andre  Leroy,  An- 
gers, France  ...Duchesse  d'Angouleme,  19  oz.  ;C.  A. 

Fuller,  30  Warren-st. ,    New-York Flemish   Beauty, 

veiy  large;   E.  W.  Hewitt,  New-York  City Beurre 

Clairgeau,  Duchesse,  Baked  fruit,  ami  one  for  name  ;  E. 
Williams,  Mont  Clair,  N.  J  ...Striped  Virgalieu  ;  Mr. 
Van  Brunt,  Fort  Hamilton.  N.  Y....Seckel,  5  oz.  ;  W. 

Kendall,  Cold  Spring,  N.  Y Seckel,  5%  oz. ;  Jaques 

Van  Brunt,  Fort  Hamilton,  N.  Y  ...Louise  Bonne  de 
Jersey;  C.  Smith,  Morrisania,  N.  Y...  Seedlings;  Jas. 
M.  Hannah,  Salem,  N.  J.,  by  Solon  Robinson,  New- 
York Oswego,   Beurre    Die!,   Bezi  de  Montigny,  Ur- 

baniste,  Seckel,  Alexander,  Flemish  Beauty,  Louise 
Bonne  de  Jersey,   Ganselles  Bergamot ;  G.  Zimmerman, 

Pine  Hill  Nurseries,  near  Buffalo,  N.  Y Beurre  Bosr. 

and  specimen  for  name  ;  A.  A.  Leverich,  Bowronville, 

L.I Fine  Duchesse  from  tree  18  months  old;  S.  R. 

Trembley,  Bergen  Point,  N.  J  , . .  .Duchesse  ;  Wesley 
Redhead,  Fort  des  Moines,  Iowa — Branch  of  George 

IV.,   very  full ;    Dr.    San  ford,    Ravenswood,   N.   Y 

Peaches:    Seedling;    Mr.    Howard,    Brooklyn,  N.  Y 

Specimen  for  name  ;  S.  R.  Howlaml,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y 

Crawford's  Late;  C.  A.  Fuller,  36  Warren-st.,  N.  Y.... 
Branch  in  bearing;  S.  R.  Trembley,  Bergen  Point,  N.  J. 

Seedling    from   Melocoton,   fine ;    R.   B.    Dore,  203 

West   loth-st.,    N.   Y..     Crawford's    Late,    Melocoton , 

R.  &  J.  L.  Burroughs,  Woodville,  N.  J Smock  ;  Sut- 

phin  Chadwick,  West  Washington  Market,  New-York. 
..., Graces  :  Diana,  Delaware,  Isabella,  Concord,  Clin- 
ton, Roiander  (foreign  grown  out  of  doors  ;)  G.  Zimmer- 
man, Pine  Hill  Nurseries,  near  Buffalo,  N.  Y  . . .  .Taylor's 
Bullitt,  Diana,  Anna,  Concord  j  E.  Williams,  Mont 
Clair,  N.  J Hartford  Prolific,  Isabella,  and  Ca- 
tawba; J.  A.  B.  Paradise,  Jersey  City,  N.  J.... Seed- 
lings ;  Jas.  M.  Hannah,  Salem,  N.  J.,  by  Solon  Robinson, 

New  York  City Fine  cluster  ;    Mr.    Dater,    Harlem, 

N.  Y Other  Fruits:   Apple  Quinces;  A.  A.  Leverich, 

Bowronville,  L.  I Belle  de  Fontenay  Raspberries; 

Moses  Baker,  Lyon's  Farm,  N.  J  —  Australian  Straw- 
berry Plants  in  bearing — commenced  fruiting  June  15th; 
J.  C.  Haines,  East  New- York,  L.  I  ...Large  Quince,  13 
oz.  ;  C.  A.  Fuller,  36  Warren-st.,  New-York ...  .Double 
Musk  Melon  ;  John  Chambers,  Scarsdale,  N.  Y. 

Flowers.— Lantanasin  variety,  fine  Dahlias  ;  W.  and  J. 

Cranstoun.    Hoboken,  N.  J Night-blooming  Cereus  ; 

George  Stillwagon,  Flushing,  N.  Y — Dahlias;  E.  L. 
Walton,  Bergen  Point,  N.  J.,  J.  D.  Hegeman,  N.  Y.  City, 
Mr.  Tremaine,  Hudson   City,  N.  J.,  and  C.  S.  Pell,  N.  Y. 

Orphan  Asylum Balsams  and  Pancratium  ;  W.  &  J. 

Cranstoun,  Hoboken,  N.  J Tom  Thumb  Coxcomb  j  L. 

Bodenberger,  Williams  Bridge,  N.  Y Named  Seedling 

Verbenas,  very  fine;  Win.  Davison,  Florist,  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y — Fine  show  of  Cut  Flowers;  Mr.  Kavanagli, 
Florist,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y Sunflower  41  inches  in  cir- 
cumference; Mr.  Miller,  N.  J Dahlias  and  Tube- 
roses;   Charles    Hairs,     New-York     City Passiflora 

Decaistne  ;  A.  P.  Cummings,  New-York  City...  Splen- 
did Collection  of  Cut  Flowers  ;  Isaac  Buchanan,  Florist, 
West  17th-st.,  New-York.... Dahlias;  C.  T.  Crolee,  Gar- 
dener to  James  Gordon  Bennett,  Fort  Washington.  N.  Y. 
...  Fine  Bouquet ;  Miss  M.  A.  Cortelyou,  Staten  Island. 
Vegetables.— Peach    Blow   and   Bulkley's    Seedling 

Potatoes;  E.  S.  Allen,  102   Chambers-st.,  New-York 

Curious  Potato,  "Japanese  Tommy  ;"  G.  M.  Usher,  Port 

Richmond,  N.  Y New-Zealand  Spinach,  (Tetragonal 

expansa,)  Prince  Albert  Potatoes,  very  knobby,  and  fine 

Lima  Beans;  Wm.  Shaw,  Staten  Island Club  Gourd, 

(63  inches  long;)  James  Angus,  West  Farms,  N.  Y.... 
Chinese  Egg  Plant;  Jaques  D.  Hegeman,  New- York 
City..-. Purple  Egg  Plant,  4%  lbs.,;  Thos.  Davenport, 
Passaic,  N.  J  ..White  Flint  Corn  ,  J.  J.  Van  Nostrand, 
Palisades,  N.  J. . .  .Mexican  Peppers  ;  Mr.  Swain,  Bronx- 
ville,  N.  Y. . .  .Scarlet-Runner  Beans ;  W.  VV.  Davis, 
Jersey  City,  N.  J. ..  .California  Tomato;  J.  B.  Hunter, 

Tremont,  N.  Y Wakefield  Sweel  Peppers,  Egg  Plant, 

Vegetable  Marrow,  Hybrid  Squash,  (Cuba  and  Valpa- 
raiso,) 147  lbs.;  James  McCabe,  North  Orange,  N.  J 

Seed  Chinese  Potato;  G.  M.  Usher,  Port  Richmond, 
N.  Y...   Prince  Albert  Potato;  Walter   Keeler,  North 

Salem,   N.  Y Peach-Blow   Potatoes;    James    Lyon, 

Nvack,  N.  Y  . .     Purple  Egg  Plant  and  Vegetable  Eggs  , 

J.    L.   Miller,   Richmond,   N.   Y California   Tomato. 

1  lb.  II  oz.  ;  L.  A.  Berte.  Tremont,  N.  Y...   Club  Gourd  , 

W.  W.   Woodward,   Brooklyn,   N.   Y Crook-necked 

Squashes  and  Orange  Beet  ;  Jesse  W.  Perkins,  Gar- 
dener to  St.  Joseph's  Hospital,  New- York  Cilv Large 

Radish,  3  lbs. ;  John  Bullock,  Bay  Ridge,  N.  Y. 

Miscellaneous  Articles. — A  series   of  12  beautifu- 
oil  paintings  representing  fruits  in  season  each  month. 

Miss  Anne  Newberry,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y Specimen  ol 

Saginaw  Salt ;  Mr.  Smith,  East  Saginaw,  Mich  .  ..Speci 

men  of  Cotton  ;  J.  S.  Meeker,  Piscatawav,  N.  J Fruit 

of  Osage  Orange  ;  Mr.  Van  Brunt.  Fort  Hamilton,  N.  Y. ; 
Same  weighing  26  oz. ;  J.  B.  Tindall,  Yonkers,  N.  Y. 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[NoVKMllF.r., 


Gold  up— Effects  upon  Farmers. 

At  the  time  of  this  writing  (Oct.  14th,)  the 
"Wall  street  bulletins  mark  gold  at  154,  and  up- 
ward, and  exchange  on  London  169  j.  That  is, 
it  takes  $154  of- the  general  Legal  Currency  of 
the  country  to  buy  one  hundred  gold  coins  that 
were  formerly  reckoned  as  dollars,  and  a  little 
more  to  buy  a  draft  on  London  payable  in  gold 
dollars  or  sovereigns.  [The  peculiar  style  of 
reckoning  the  nominal  par  of  exchange  at 
about  110,  or  10  per  cent,  above  the  real  par,  (or 
$4.44  to  the  Pound  Sterling,)  accounts  for  the 
apparent  discrepancy  between  the  quotation  of 
gold,  and  that  of  exchange.  Ten  per  cent 
added  to  154,  makes  very  nearly  1G9J.  The 
difference  between  gold  here  and  in  London  is 
generally  only  i  to  1  per  cent.,  which  pays  the 
cost  of  shipping  it  from  one  place  to  the  other.] 
Merchandise  imported  from  abroad  is  paid  for 
in  gold,  or  in  Exchange  bills  drawn  against 
gold,  or  against  flour,  grain,  meats,  lard,  tallow, 
cheese,  etc.,  exported  from  here. 

The  effects  of  a  rise  in  the  market  value  of 
gold,  upon  the  prices  of  farm  products,  are 
readily  seen.  Owing  to  abundant  crops  abroad, 
breadstuffs  are  not  now  in  great  demand  there. 
England  imports  an  equivalent  to  25,000,000  to 
40,000,000  bushels  of  wheat,  even  in  the  best 
years,  buying  it  where  it  can  be  most  cheaply 
obtained — on  the  European  Continent,  or  in 
America.  This  year  we  have  to  compete  with 
considerable  supplies  from  the  Baltic,  the  Dan- 
ube, etc.,  whence  it  can  be  obtained  at  prices 
nominally  cheaper  than  here.  But  the  greater 
relative  value  of  gold,  and  consequently  of  Ex- 
change, makes  it  more  profitable  to  buy  bread- 
stuffs  and  provisions  from  us.  To  illustrate: 
Suppose  wheat  to  be  worth  $1.20  per  bushel  in 
London.  A  merchant  in  New  York  wishing  to 
pay  for  a  bill  of  goods  in  London,  amounting 
to  $0000,  can  do  so  with  5,000  bushels  of  wheat 
delivered  there,  or  with  a  bill  of  exchange, 
which  at  154,  (the  price  of  gold),  will  cost  him 
here,  $9,240  in  currency.  He  could  then  just  as 
well  pay  this  sum  for  the  5,000  bushels  of  wheat 
(about  $1.85  per  bushel,)  and  send  that — or  say 
$1.65  per  bushel,  allowing  20  cents  extra  per 
bushel  for  sending  it.  All  that  he  can  save  by 
buying  below  $1.65,  will  be  clear  profit.  If,  on 
the  contrary,  gold  were  down  to  par,  he  could 
pay  only  $1.00  per  bushel  for  the  wheat.  The 
same  is  the  case  with  all  other  exportable  pro- 
ducts— corn,  wool,  provisions,  etc.  (The  trans- 
actions are  generally  carried  on  by  several 
parties,  thus:  The  exporter  ships  his  articles 
and  draws  bills  of  exchange  against  them,  pay- 
able in  60  days  or  thereabouts.  The  foreign  ex- 
change dealers  buy  these  bills,  less  interest  and 
profit,  and  sell  them  to  the  importers  who  send 
them  over  to  pay  for  their  goods.  There  is  a 
mutual  system,  by  Which  a  bill  drawn  against 
shipments  to  Liverpool,  for  example,  can  be 
used  in  payment  for  manufacturers'  wares  in 
any  part  of  Europe,  and  even  for  teas  and  silks 
bought  in  China.) 

But  the  chief  fact  we  desire  to  illustrate,  is, 
that  any  advance  in  the  relative  value  of  gold 
increases  the  sale  of  exportable  farm  products, 
and  sends  up  the  prices.  The  higher  price  of 
these  increases  the  prices  of  other  products. 
The  cost  of  transporting  products  from  the  in- 
terior to  the  seaboard  is  nearly  uniform,  so  that 
any  advance  experienced  here,  is  felt  through- 
out the  country.  We  are  not  arguing  that  gold 
at  154  indicates  a  healthy  financial  condition  of 
the  country  as  a  whole;  we  are  merely  stating 
that  it  is  specially  advantageous  to  those  who 
raise  any  kind  of  farm  products  to  sell.     "  But" 


says  the  farmer,  "  the  same  causes  which  carry 
up  the  prices  of  my  products  also  increase  iu 
the  same  ratio  the  cost  of  what  I  have  to  pur- 
chase." This  is  in  part  true;  but  it  is  to  be 
noted  that  only  a  small  part  of  the  proceeds  of 
his  wheat,  corn,  wool,  butter,  etc.,  are  used  in 
paying  for  imported  goods  of  any  kind— cloths, 
silks,  etc.  Nine  out  of  ten  farmers  are  in  debt 
for  land,  for  stock,  for  implements,  and  for 
store  bills.  The  legal  currency  they  receive  for 
their  products,  will  cancel  these  debts,  dollar  for 
dollar.  And  right  here  is  the  "  moral"  or  prac- 
tical lesson  we  are  endeavoring  to  impress  upon 
every  farmer  who  reads  the  American  Agricul- 
turist, viz :  that  now  is  the  time  to  economize 
and  get  out  of  debt.  Money  is  plenty,  and  the 
temptation  is  to  run  into  extravagance  in  dress, 
in  furniture,  and  in  living  generally.  Better  use 
every  possible  dollar  in  cancelling  old  debts.  Let 
the  purchase  of  luxuries  or  mere  conveniences 
in  dress,  furniture,  etc.,  be  deferred  until  these 
things  come  down  to  the  gold  standard— at 
least  if  there  is  a  dollar  due  to  any  body  that 
will  take  it  now.  When  Gold  is  "«p,"  sell  all 
you  can,  and  buy  the  least  possible. 

- *  '  •  *1m        — *-«. 

Going  to  the  Post  Office  to  Buy  a  Farm. 

■ 

Judging  from  the  letters  and  queries  received, 
there  are  now  more  buyers  than  sellers  of  farms. 
It  is  difficult  to  answer  judiciously,  the  frequent 
inquiry,  "  where  shall  I  locate  ?"  for  much  de- 
pends upon  personal  circumstances — habits, 
family,  previous  experience,  etc.  A  young  man, 
of  vigorous  constitution,  with  but  a  small, 
healthy  family,  and  his  children  yet  in  infancy, 
may  well  strike  for  the  cheap  lands  of  the  "West. 
There  he  can  grow  up  with  the  country.  Schools 
and  good  society  will  come  in  by  the  time  his 
children  are  ready  for  them.  With  good  morals, 
and  good  working  habits,  the  chances  of  suc- 
cess are  very  favorable.  The  mid-western 
States  are  peopled  by  well-to-do  families  whose 
heads  are  the  enterprising  young  men  and 
women  of  the  above  class,  that  swarmed  from 
the  Eastern  hives,  fifteen  to  thirty  years  ago. 
They  are  now  the  respectable  citizens,  honored 
and  looked  up  to — the  real  "bone  and  sinew" 
of  the  land.  Other  considerations  must  decide 
the  question  for  those  more  advanced  in  life, 
and  having  larger  families.  These  will  be  dis- 
cussed from  time  to  time  in  the  columns  of  the 
Atnerican  Agriculturist.  Allow  us  to  introduce 
here  an  extract  in  point,  from  the  letter  of  an 
old  reader,  whose  long  observation  of  men  and 
things  gives  weight  to  his  opinions  : 

" My  friend  S.,  is  about  to  buy  a  farm.     He 

has  fixed  upon  three  localities  which  appear  alike, 
as  respects  soil,  nearness  of  market,  etc.  I  tell  him 
that  if  other  tilings  are  equal,  he  must  go  to  the 
Post  Office  and  let  the  books  there  decide  the  ques- 
tion. The  place  to  settle  is  where  he  finds  the  most 
letters  sent  and  received,  aud  the  most  papers  taken, 
especially  those  treating  of  the  business  of  the  place, 
for  there  he  will  find  the  most  wide-awake  enter- 
prising people,  those  on  the  lookout  for  informa- 
tion from  every  possible  source.  There  he  will 
have  the  benefit  of  the  example  aud  experieuce  of 
neighbors  who  are  getting  aud  puttiug  iuto  practice 
new  ideas.     There  his  boys  will  grow  up  among  in- 

telliirent  thinking  meu Your  books,  Mr.  Editor, 

will  show  that  I  have  been  actiug  upon  this  idea. 
I  have  been  constantly  drumming  it  into  people. 
Eight  years  ago  I  sent  you  only  one  name,  then 
six,  then  tweuty-four,  then  sixty-five,  then  ninety- 
eight,  which  comprises  nearly  every  family  of  my 
acquaintance.  I  have  asked  no  premium  for  these 
names,  for  I  have  been  more  than  paid  by  seeing 
the  awakcued  spirit  of  inquiry,  the  improvements 
going  on,  the  better  culture  and  management  intro- 
duced. This  has  resulted  not  so  much,  perhaps,  from 
following  any  specific  instructions  of  your  paper, 


as  from  the  indirect  hints  and  suggestions,  and  the 
spirit  of  improvement  awakened.  I  have  no  doubt 
that  from  this  cause  alone,  our  farms  are  worth  ten 
dollars  an  acre  more  than  they  would  be,  had  we 
had  no  agricultural  paper,— that  is,  a  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  on  the  ten  thousand  acres  owmd 
by  your  hundred  readers  here.— I  shall  keep  on  do- 
ing as  I  have,  and  advise  every  farmer  to  try  to  im- 
provehimself,  his  farm  and  his  neighborhood,  by  act- 
ing as  self-appointed  agent  for  some  reliable  agricul- 
tural paper — I  care  not  what  one,  if  a  good  one." 


Discussions  at  the  Fruit  Growers'  Meeting. 

The  New  York  Fruit  Growers*  Society  have  met  regu- 
larly every  Thursday  at  1  P.M.,  during  the  month  since 
our  last  report.  We  have  only  space  for  a  brief  report  of 
the  meeting  of  Oct.  15,  which  was  large  and  spirited.  After 
the  ordinary  routine  business  of  examining  and  naming,  so 
far  as  possible,  the  various  fruits  on  the  table,  grapes 
were  taken  up.  The  Isabella  came  in  for  a  large  share 
of  malediction.  Mr.  Field  remarked  that  it  never  was 
a  suitable  out-clonr  grape,  and  would  not  ripen  unless  it 
received  some  kind  of  protection.  In  some  sheltered 
situations  like  those  of  Dr.  Underbill  on  the  Hudson,  it 
did  tolerably  well  for  a  few  years.  He  instanced  the  at- 
tempts of  various  individuals,  who  from  reports  of  Dr. 
U's  success,  planted  from  7  to  15  acres  of  vineyard  with 
this  variety.    In  no  case  was  it  a  success. 

Solon  Robinson  was  particularly  severe  on  the  Isabella. 
He  considered  that  the  introduction  of  this  sort  had  been 
a  great  curse  to  grape  growing,  as  it  nearly  always  failed 
to  give  satisfaction.  The  reputed  success  of  Dr.  Under- 
bill with  the  Isabella  was  an  injury  to  the  grape  growing 
cause,  as  it  operated  to  the  great  discouragement  of  those 
who  planted  this  fruit,  many  of  whom  in  their  disappoint- 
ment turned  against  the  culture  of  all  grapes.  Even  the 
grapes  sent  to  market  by  the  Doctor  are  sour  enough  to 
make  a  pig  squeal.  They  were  heralded  the  country 
over  as  superior  grapes.  This  kept  up  the  demand  for 
vines,  from  the  sale  of  which  the  Doctor  made  more 
money  than  from  the  sale  of  fruit. 

Mr.  Judcl  replied,  if  the  Isabella  be  dead  and  buried, 
"say  naught  but  good  of  the  dead;"  the  Isabella  has 
served  a  good  purpose  ;  without  it,  during  his  youth,  and 
early  manhood  indeed,  he  would  have  had  no  grapes  at 
all.  The  question  now  was,  "  what  shall  we  plant  in- 
stead ?"  He  recommended  a  variety  ripening  in  succes- 
sion.   See  List  in  Basket  Items,  page  325. 

Mr.  Fuller  alluded  to  the  new  seedlings  already  out, 
and  others  soon  to  be  offered,  and  said  he  should  be 
somewhat  cautious  of  seedlings  from  the  Isabella  and 
Catawba,  as  already  the  faults  of  the  parents  have  de- 
veloped themselves  in  the  offspring.  All  the  seedlings  of 
the  Isabella,  and  he  considered  the  Adirondac  as  one  of 
them,  were  subject  to  the  mildew,  which  destroys  the 
vitality  of  the  leaf,  and  then  it  falls  before  the  fruit  is 
ripened,  while  the  rot  of  the  Catawba  develops  itself  in 
the  Diana,  Anna,  and  other  seedlings  of  the  Catawba. 

Mr.  Carpenter  cautioned  all  against  planting  Delawares 
close  to  a  fence,  as  he  had  seen  the  foliage  nearly  burned 
up  in  such  situations.  He  was  pleased  with  the  Anna,  as 
out  of  15  kinds,  this  and  the  Rebecca  were  the  only  sorts 
entirely  free  from  rot. 

Mr.  Field  thinks  we  should  always  be  cautious  about 
going  into  the  extensive  culture  of  new  sorts,  as  Adi- 
rondac, lona,  Israella.  etc.,  which  had  been  tested  in  but 
few  localities,  mainly  by  those  interested  in  selling  plants. 
Mr.  Pollock,  of  Morrisania,  showed  two  samples  of 
Native  Wines,  which  were  the  simple  juice  of  perfectly 
ripe  grapes.  lie  used  most  of  Concords,  a  consider- 
able quantity  of  Catawbas,  and  a  few  Isabellas,  for  he 
could  get  but  few  perfectly  ripe  berries  of  the  last.  The 
grapes  are  allowed  to  remain  till  over  ripe,  even  till 
touched  by  frost;  the  berries  are  picked  from  the  stems, 
mashed  in  a  tub,  covered,  fermentation  allowed  till  the 
skins  and  pulps  rise  in  a  mass  to  the  top  of  the  liquid. 
This  is  then  drawn  off,  and  set  to  ferment  in  barrels  by 
itself,  while  the  rest  is  subjected  to  pressure,  and  forms  a 
less  valuable  sort  of  wine.  The  fermentation  goes  on  at 
the  lowest  practicable  temperature,  the  air  being  perfect- 
ly excluded.  The  wine  showed,  was  of  1S62  and  1648. 
The  latter  was  by  far  the  best,  anil  of  excellent  character, 
entirely  free  from  anything  like  foxiness,  or  the  harsh 
acidity  common  to  the  wines  of  this  latitude,  from  the 
above  named  grapes.  Mr.  P.  has  about  2,000  vines  of 
various  kinds,  on  a  stony  side  hill  trenched  2  feet  deep, 
standing  iy>  feet  apart  each  way,  trained  to  stakes,  one 
cane  only  being  allowed  to  grow.  He  particularly  in- 
sisted upon  the  view  that  true  wine  cannot  be  made,  it 
must  grow;  that  is,  it  must  be  the  fermented  juice  of 
ripe  grapes  without  addition  of  any  kind— in  which  he  is 
quite  right.  The  Isabella  alone  will  not,  in  his  experience, 
yield  a  wine  fit  to  drink.  The  Concord  yields  a  very 
good  wine,  but  he   prefers  a  mixture  of  several  kinds. 


1863." 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


39f> 


FS=-==  BFO  WAS.  J  cr 

MODERN     AGRICULTURAL     FAIR. 

Sketched  and  Engraved  for  the  American  AgritmUitrist. 


Our  humorous  artist  has  fairly  "taken  off" 
not  a  few  so-called  Agricultural  Fairs  held  dur- 
ing this  and  previous  years.  Any  apparent 
exaggeration  is  only  due  to  his  reach  of  vision 
into  the  future,  where  the  exact  scene  will  soon 
be  found,  if  things  in  this  line  go  on  as  they 
have  been  progressing  for  a  few  years  past. 
Time  was  when  an  Agricultural  Exhibition 
meant  a  sampling  of  the  farmer's  best  produc- 
tions for  the  year,  with  an  attendance  of  men 
and  women  who  came  to  learn  as  well  as  to 
enjoy.  Some  such  gatherings  we  have  visited 
where  instruction  abounded.  High  bred  cattle 
and  sheep  were  eloquent  in  encouragement  of 
enterprise  and  perseverance  in  improving  farm 
stock;  plethoric  swine  with  melodious gruntings 
told  of  careful  breeding  and  well  Blled  troughs  ; 
shining  samples  of  grain  testified  to  the  benefits 
of  subsoiling  and  underdraining;  and  luscious 
fruits  and  gorgeous  flowers  discoursed  poetry 
that  all  could  appreciate.  The  influence  of  the 
scene  opened  every  heart,  social  feeling  had  full 
flow,  and  all  rejoiced  in  the  farmers'  festival.  It 
was  an  evil  hour  that  suggested  the  introduction 
of  the  race-track  to  increase  the  attractions  of 
the  Agricultural  Exhibition.  Of' the  additional 
numbers  brought  in,  but  k'W  were  of  a  class  to 
render  the  gathering  more  attractive.  The 
patronage  of  "horse  "  men  and  fast  women  but 
poorly  repaid  for  the  loss  of  the  respect  of  the 
better  classes,  and  there  was  a  speedy  falling 
off,  both  of  attractiveness  in  the  Exhibition, 
and  of  the  numbers  in  attendance,  and  in  many 
societies  the  annual  gatherings  have  become 
disgraceful  failures.  In  some  cases  the  mana- 
gers perceived  the  drift  of  the  current  in  time  to 
stay  it,  and  we  believe  that  without  exception, 
where  the  race-track  has  been  excluded,  and 
proper  efforts  have  been  made  to  promote  the 
legitimate  ends  of  the  exhibition,  there  has  been 
continually  increasing  prosperity.  We  may  in- 
stance the  Exhibitions  of  the  New- York  State 
Agricultural  Society  as  compared  with  those  of 
her  sister  State,  New-Jersey  ;  the  former  with- 


out the  races,  was  a  matter  of  pride  t©  the  agri- 
cultural community  and  of  gratification  to  the 
managers  ;  the  latter  in  spite  of  the  race-track 
(rather  because  of  it)  a  failure,  which  we  trust 
will  never  be  repeated.  But  further  comment 
is  unnecessary :  if  the  facts  noted  are  insufficient 
to  convince  the  managers  of  failing  associations, 
of  the  necessity  for  a  change  of  policy,  we  com- 
mend the  above  engraving  to  their  careful  study, 
particularly  those  in  Connecticut  who  this  year 
actually  introduced  an  ox-race  as  one  of  the 
attractive  features. 

^~* —      n  m  ^     — »-*- 

The  New-York  State  Fair. 

We  condense  the  following  from  the  copious 
notes  of  one  of  our  editorial  associates  at  this 
Fair,  which  opened  just  as  the  last  number  of 
the  Agriculturist  went  to  press: — "The  exhibition 
as  a  whole  lias  been  a  success,  the  receipts  above 
expenses,  and  larger  than   the  previous  year. 

Implements. — In  some  departments,  the  en- 
tries were  below  the  average,  though  lack  in 
quantity  was  made  up  in  quality.  In  farm  im- 
plements and  general  machinery,  there  was  a 
creditable  display.  Plows,  harrows,  mowers, 
and  reapers,  hay  spreaders,  and  elevators,  sep- 
erators,  patent  bee-hives,  pumps,  well-curbs,  and 
various  machinery  for  raising  water,  churns 
and  cheese-vats,  abounded  in  numerous  va- 
rieties, each  better  than  the  other !  The 
steam  plow  was  not  on  hand.  The  horse  hay- 
spreader,  resembling  somewhat  a  mammoth 
grass-hopper,  attracted  much  attention.  It  has 
six  forks  worked  on  crooked  shafts,  like  the 
arms  of  a  man,  which  paddle  over  and  over, 
and  catching  up  the  hay,  flirt  it  behind  in  a 
finely  divided  condition.  This  must  prove  a 
great  saving  of  time  and  labor,  and  is  a  fit  com- 
panion of  the  horse  rake.  A  manufactory  for 
turning  out  these  implements,  is  soon  to  be  es- 
tablished in  central  New- York. 

Dairy  and  Household.— In  butter,  and  par- 
ticularly cheese,  the  show  was  °-ood.    In  hard- 


ware, including  stoves  and  furnaces,  the  articles 
were  chiefly  from  Utica  and  neighborhood.  In 
the  domestic  hall,  sewing  machines,  silver  ware, 
needle  work,  specimens  of  penmanship,  photo- 
graphy, pianos,  saddlery,  stuffed  birds,  coal  oil, 
shell  work,  wax  work,  paints,  ornamental  iron 
work,  Duryea's  maizena  and  starch,  domestic 
wines,  fans,  boots  and  shoes  were  mixed  up  in 
delightful  order.  Here  too,  was  a  novel  scene  ; 
three  elderly  ladies  were  seated  on  a  side  plat- 
form, spinning  flax  on  ancient  spinning  wheels, 
after  the  manner  of  our  grandmothers.  These 
spinners  belonged  to  some  of  the  most  respect- 
able families  in  Saratoga  County. 

Animals. — The  show  of  stock,  though  not 
large,  was  of  superior  merit.  Ayrshires,  Dur- 
liams,  Devons,  Short-Horns,  Herefords,  and  Al- 
derneys,  were  well  represented.  The  Herefords 
of  Hon.  Erastus  Corning,  of  Albany,  struck  us 
as  remarkably  fine.  In  sheep,  we  observed 
Spanish  Merinos,  full  blooded  Silesians  and 
their  crosses,  South  Downs,  Shropshires  and 
Leicesters.  A  few  Cashmere  goats  were  exhibit- 
ed. In  swine  and  poultry,  Jefferson  County 
alone  outdid  the  rest  of  the  State.  The  horse  de- 
partment was  never  better  filled,  in  matched 
and  single,  in  trained  saddle  horses,  stallions, 
and  mules.  One  of  Secretary  Seward's  Arabi- 
ans attracted  much  curiosity.  A  noted  horse- 
tamer,  "  Professor  "  Rockwell,  drew  a  crowd 
to  the  track  several  times  during  the  fair,  by  his 
feats  of  driving  a  team  of  high-spirited  horses 
without  bridle,  reins,  or  breeching,  controlling 
his  horses  solely  by  voice  and  whip. 

In  Fruits  and  Flowers,  the  show  was  cred- 
itable, though  not  large.  The  pears,  plums,  nec- 
tarines, and  grapes,  from  Ellwanger  &  Barry, 
Rochester,  were  a  marked  feature.  Mr.  Smith, 
of  Syracuse,  was  only  a  little  behind  the  form- 
er. Dr.  Underbill  of  Croton  Point,  had  a  fine 
show  of  grapes,  as  did  the  Pleasant  Valley  Co. 
of  Hammoudsport,  Mr.  Sylvester  of  Lyons, 
Mr.  Brehm  of  Waterloo,  and  others.  Not  to 
be  forgotten,  was  the  show  of  Adirondac  grapes, 


330 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


[NOVEMBER, 


by  Mr.  Bailey,  of  Plattsburgh,  not  fully  ripe, 
but  considerably  in  advance  of  the  Dianas, 
Concords,  and  Isabellas  grown  in  the  same  gar- 
den. The  quality,  as  judged  by  these  speci- 
mens two  thirds  ripe,  was  very  good.  Several 
of  Rogers'  Hybrids  were  exhibited,  but  only 
one  of  them  seemed  thoroughly  ripe.  The  flo- 
ral display  was  below  the  average  of  State 
fairs.  Tet  the  show  of  dahlias  was  excellent, 
and  there  were  choice  small  collections  of  rosi  . 
verbenas,  petunias,  pansies,  stocks,  double  zin- 
nias, asters  and  gladioli.  The  indefatigable  Mrs. 
Van  Namee,  of  Pittstown,  was  on  hand  in  full 
force,  and  contributed  much  to  the  fulness  ami 
richness  of  the  exhibition. 

Discussions. — Each  evening  was  devoted  l" 
the  discussion  of  agricultural  topics,  al  the  Cit}' 
Hall.  For  the  first  evening,  the  subject  was  : 
"  The  most  economical  mode  of  supplying  the 
surface  soil  with  the  mineral  food  of  plants." 
For  Die  second:  "The  best  rotation  of  crops 
suited  to  the  climatic  conditions  of  the  middle 
tier  of  counties  in  this  State,  on  farms  having 
at  least  eighty  acres  of  good  arable  land."  For 
the  third  evening,  it  was  :  "  The  best  method  of 
husbandry.  The  manures  obtained  from  the 
method  proposed,  (rotation  of  crops,  etc)  and 
the  best  time  of  applying'  them  to  the  several 
crops,  the  economy  of  the  management  in  that 
respect,  on  the  farms  being  the  same."  These 
subjects  were  discussed  with  spirit,  and  elicited 
many  useful  facts.  On  the  whole,  therefore,  we 
put  down  the  State  Fair  of  1863,  as  a  good  one. 


The  International  Wheat  Show. 

The  International  Wheat  Show'  held  at  Roch- 
ester as  announced,  did  not  bring  out  as  large 
a  representation  from  growers  as  the  importance 
of  the  interest  and  liberality  of  the  premiums, 
led  its  originators  to  expect.  We  learn  from  the 
Genesee  Farmer,  that  there  were  but  six  entries 
for  the  prize  of  $150  for  the  best  20  bushels  of 
White  Winter  Wheat.  The  premium  was 
equally  divided  between  Isaac  II.  Anderson,  of 
West  Flamboro,  C.  W.,  and  E.  S.  Hay  ward, 
Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y.  The  first  exhibited  a  fine 
sample  of  Blue-Stem  Wheat  weighing  G5  pounds 
per  bushel ;  it  was  cut  July  8th,  and  yielded  30 
bushels  per  acre.  The  other  parcel  was  a  beau- 
tiful sample  of  Soule's  Wheat.  For  the  one 
hundred  dollar  prize  for  the  best  20  bushels  of 
Red  Winter  Wheat,  but  one  lot  was  offered,  by 
E.  A.  Hebard,  of  Oanandaigua,  N.  Y.  It  was 
known  as  the  Amber  or  White  Mediterranean, 
was  harvested  July  15th,  and  weighed  02  lbs. 
per  bushel.  For  the  best  two  bushels  of  While 
Winter  Wheat  there  were  seven  competitors, 
five  of  whotn  offered  two-bushel  samples  of  the 
same  wheat  as  that  entered  for  the  twenty-bush- 
el prizes.  For  the  best  two  bushels  of  Red 
Winter  Wheat  there  were  three  entries;  and 
but  one  entry  for  Spring  Wheat.  Among  the 
lots  of  White  Winter  Wheat  offered,  there  was 
one  of  twenty  bushels  grown  by  Jacob  Hinds, 
Orleans  Co.,  N.  Y.  In  April  1852  he  received 
a  sample  of  Red  wheat  from  the  Patent  Office, 
which  he  thought  a  Spring  variety,  and  sowed 
immediately  in  his  garden.  It  came  up  and  re- 
mained green  until  Fall,  but  did  not  bead  out. 
The  next  Spring  it  came  rapidly  forward,  and 
early   in  July   produced   this    wliite   wheat. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  further  efforts  will  be 
made  to  awaken  an  interest  among  wheal  grow- 
ers, in  the  improvement  of  this  first  of  staples, 
despite  the  poor  success  which  seems  to  have 
attended  the  first  trial.  Perhaps  more  would 
enter  the  lists,  were  premiums  offered  previous 


to  putting  in  the  crop ;  we  should  then  be  likely 
to  learn  something  of  what  could  be  done  by 
high  cultivation. 


The  Fair  of    The  American    Institute. 


Now  that  the  Fair  is  a  thing  of  the  past,  we 
feel  disposed  to  indulge  in  a  few  reflections 
which  may  be  considered  by  the  managers  be- 
fore they  attempt  another  Exhibition.  In  form- 
er days  we  used  to  visit  the  Annual  Fair  for  the 
purpose  of  seeing  whatever  was  new  in  the  way 
of  agricultural  machines  and  implements,  and 
were  very  sure  to  be  gratified  and  instructed. 
This  year  we  went  to  the  Fair  with  the  hope  of 
finding  something  which  would  be  of  interest  to 
our  agricultural  readers,  but  with  the  exception 
of  a  single  model  (with  no  one  to  explain  it)  we 
saw  nothing  novel.  To  be  sure  there  were  nu- 
merous agricultural  implements,  but  they  were 
things  taken  directly  from  the  stock  of  dealers, 
and  were  evidently  exhibited  as  an  advertise- 
ment of  their  wares.  Even  these  things  would 
have  had  some  interest  to  many,  had  they  not 
been  so  huddled  together  that  it  was  impossible 
to  get  a  fair  view  of  them.  Those  things  which 
could  only  be  judged  of  when  in  motion,  were  so 
crowded  against  others  as  to  be  motionless,  and 
some  articles  were  not  even  unpacked.  The 
management  excuse  this  crowding  by  saying 
that  they  had  no  room.  After  they  had  taken 
such  an  unsuitable  building  as  the  Academy  of 
Music  for  their  Fair,  of  course  everything  must 
be  crowded  and  in  confusion.  The  fruit  show 
was  in  some  respects  fine.  There  wTere  large 
collections  from  celebrated  nurseries,  and  as  an 
advertisement  of  these  establishments  it  was 
good.  We  looked  in  vain  for  small  collections 
of  choice  fruit  from  the  hundreds  of  amateur 
cultivators  around  New- York.  A  stranger  vis- 
iting the  fair  would  suppose  that  we  had  no 
fruit  growers  in  this  vicinity,  and  that  our  friends 
from  abroad  bad  undertaken  to  show  us  what 
good  fruit  was.  While  we  were  glad  to  see  these 
line  displays  from  cultivators  living  at  a  distance, 
we  wondered  where  our  own  fruit  growers  were. 
The  show  of  vegetables  was  remarkable — for  its 
poverty.  With  the  exception  of  a  few  squashes, 
potatoes,  and  onions,  there  was  nothing  that  a 
corner  grocer  in  his  senses,  would  buy  to  retail 
to  his  customers.  A  lot  of  badly  grown  turnips, 
carrots,  parsseps,  and  other  roots  made  up  the 
melancholy  show  of  the  Institute.  The  man- 
ic i  i  -  say  that  they  had  no  room  to  enable  them 
to  invite  a  large  collection  of  vegetables.  If 
this  was  the  case  they  should  have  made  no 
show  at  all.  We  are  glad  for  the  sake  of  the 
exhibitors  that  they  do  not  depend  upon  mar- 
ket gardening  for  a  living.  We  regard  this 
branch  of  horticulture  as  one  of  the  greatest 
importance,  and  it  is  one  in  which  every  head 
of  a  family  has  an  interest.  In  the  vicinity  of 
New-York,  kitchen  gardening  is  carried  to  great 
perfection,  and  we  hold  that  a  show  of  its  pro- 
ducts should  be  at  least  up  to  the  average  of 
what  could  be  bought  out  of  a  New  Jersey  or 
Long  Island  firm  wagon. 

As  it  seems  to  fall  mainly  to  the  American  Insti- 
tute to  foster  the  horticultural  interests  of  this 
City,  we  hope  measures  will  be  taken  another 
year,  to  bring  out  a  fair  representation  of  the 
horticultural  products  of  this  community. 


of  three  rams  at  $1000  each,  and  another  indi- 
vidual in  the  same  district  is  reported  to  have 
refuse,!  an  offer  of  $50,000  for  bis  stock,  200 
Merinos.  We  should  say  of  this  latter  story  as 
is  often  remarked  concerning  news  from  the 
South,  "  it  lacks  confirmation." 


High  Piuced  Sheep. — At  the  recent  Exhi- 
bition of  the  Vermont  State  Agricultural  Society, 
Mr.  E.  S.  Stowed,  of  Cornwall,  refused  $1400 
for  a  ram;  a  farmer  in   Addison  Co.,  disposed 


Packing  Butter— Suggestions  to  Country 
Merchants. 


Very  large  quantities  of  butter  arc  received 
weekly  in  New- York,  from  country  merchants 
who  have  taken  it  in  barter  for  goods.  Perhaps 
it  would  not  be  too  much  to  say  that  the  major- 
ity of  butter  sold  at  this  port,  for  home  consump- 
tion and  for  shipping,  comes  through  these  chan- 
nels. From  want  of  skill  or  of  care  in  prepar- 
ing it  for  market,  the  prices  usually  realized  are 
far  less  than  might  be  obtained.  It  is  very  un- 
satisfactory to  producers  to  read  in  the  publish- 
ed price-lists,  "butter  23  to  27  cents  per  lb.," 
and  then  have  only  15  to  20  cents  offered  in 
goods  at  the  store;  and  they  can  not  credit  the 
statement  of  the  merchant  that  he  can  only  get 
that  figure  for  what  he  sends  to  the  city.  Yet 
such  is  often  the  case,  and  for  reasons  which 
might  be  obviated,  some  of  which  are  indicated 
in  the  following  suggestions  : — 

It  is  unjust  as  well  as  bad  policy  to  pay  a 
uniform  price  for  all  butter  brought  in,  as 
is  customary  with  many  dealers.  No  doubt 
it  is  not  pleasant  to  tell  a  customer  that  his  oi- 
lier butter  is  worth  less  than  some  neighbor's, 
but  if  the  same  price  be  paid  for  all,  it  is  in  ef- 
fect offering  a  premium  on  carelessness,  and 
only  a  second  rate  article  need  be  expected.  It 
is  essential  that  butter  should  be  of  uniform 
finality  and  color.  To  this  end  it  should  be 
sorted  as  received,  and  that  of  similar  character 
packed  together.  Most  of  it  will  need  working 
over  to  take  out  the  buttermilk,  which  in  "si  ore 
butter  "  is  usually  from  two  to  three  per  cent 
in  weight.  It  should  be  put  in  the  tubs  or  fir- 
kins at  once,  as  soon  as  worked ;  and  if  there  be 
not  enough  to  fill  the  package,  the  top  layer 
should  be  covered  with  a  strong  brine.  When 
the  package  is  full,  the  top  should  be  made 
even  and  smooth,  a  clean  piece  of  muslin,  dip- 
ped in  brine,  be  laid  over  it,  and  salt  sprinkled 
on  top  of  the  cloth.  The  head  of  the  firkin 
should  not  touch  the  butter.  The  actual  weight 
of  the  firkin  wdien  empty  should  be  plainly 
marked  on  the  head — two  pounds  additional 
tare  is  allowed  in  this  market  for  what  the  keg 
will  soak.  Nothing  is  gained  ultimately  In- 
marking  a  false  tare;  the  deception  is  sure  to 
be  discovered  in  time,  and  the  dishonest  party 
loses  credit  thereafter.  The  kind  of  vessel  in 
which  to  forward  butter  to  market,  depends 
considerably  upon  distance  from  the  city,  and 
the  time  of  year.  Early  in  the  season,  for  fresh 
butter  intended  for  immediate  use,  or  from  sec- 
tions near  market,  the  half-firkin  tub  (the  same 
as  a  firkin  sawed  in  two),  is  generally  preferred. 
Under  other  circumstances,  kegs  holding  about 
100  lbs.  are  best,  and  indeed  these  are  almost 
always  salable.  For  shipping  abroad,  or  for 
keeping  any  length  of  time,  none  others  will 
answer.  The  best  size  and  slwpe  are,  22  inches 
high,  1G  inches  diameter  of  bilge,  and  12  inches 
diameter  of  head,  outside  measurement;  well 
made  of  wdiite  oak,  with  smooth,  round  hickory 
hoops;  the  flat-hooped  firkins  of  ash  are  not 
liked.  No  hole  should  be  bond,  nor  plug  put 
in  the  head  or  bottom.  The  firkins  or  tubs 
should  be  thoroughly  soaked  in  brine,  and  the 
sides  and  bottom  rubbed  with  fine  dairy  salt. 
Those  who  are  receiving  any  considerable  quan- 


1863.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


331 


tity  of  butter,  should  have  a  cool  well  ventilated 
cellar  in  which  to  store  it  while  awaiting  a 
market.  No  fish,  onions,  or  other  strong  fla- 
vored articles  must  be  kept  near  it,  as  butter 
very  soon  absorbs  any  rank  effluvia,  and  its 
quality  is  injured. 

It  is  generally  found  most  profitable  to  send 
butter  forward  regularly  through  the  season, 
while  it  is  fresh  and  sweet.  This,  however,  will 
depend  upon  the  rates  of  the  price  current. 
Western  butter  is  the  principal  supply  for  ship- 
ment during  the  warm  months,  and  it  usually 
brings  better  prices  then,  than  if  held  back  until 
cold  weather,  when  better  grades  are  in  market 
and  Western  is  not  so  much  sought  after.  In 
the  Winter,  store  butter  ordinarily  sells  at 
higher  figures  in  the  original  rolls,  with  a  clean 
piece  of  muslin  wrapped  around  each,  and 
nicely  packed   in  barrels. 


How  to  Pack  Eggs  for   Market 

The  following  directions  for  preparing  eggs 
for  market  were  furnished  to  the  Agriculturist  by 
Messrs.  Surfleet,  Meadors  &  Co.,  Commission 
dealers  in  this  city,  to  whom  we  are  also  in- 
debted for  some  of  the  hints  on  forwarding  but- 
ter, in  another  column.  The  profit  of  shipping 
eggs  to  market  depends  more  upon  proper 
packing  than  to  an}-  other  circumstance,  and 
it    is    important   to   know   the    best  method  : 

Eggs  skillfully  packed  are  received  from  Ohio, 
Indiana,  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota,  in 
good  order,  with  but  few  if  any  broken,  and 
sell  more  readily  and  at  better  prices  than  those 
from  nearer,  which  are  not  so  well  handled. 
In  the  first  place,  it  is  a  matter  of  great  import- 
ance to  procure  good  sound  barrels,  which  will 
stand  the  usual  hazards  of  transportation; 
those  who  make  a  business  of  shipping  eggs 
have  barrels  made  to  order,  strong  and  well 
hooped,  rather  larger  than  ordinary  size,  to  hold 
about  75  to  80  dozen ;  05  to  70  dozen  is  as  many 
as  can  be  well  packed  into  an  ordinary  barrel. 

Rye  straw,  cut  into  about  half  inch  lengths, 
or  wheat  chaff,  are  more  solid,  are  not  so  slip- 
pery, and  are  better  than  oats  or  any  other  ar- 
ticle in  which  to  pack.  Oats  as  packing  are  ob- 
jectionable for  many  reasons,  and  except  in  ex- 
tr<  me  hot  weather,  should  not  be  used,  if  rye  straw 
cau  be  had.  And  even  in  extreme  hot  weather 
the  straw  would  be  sufficiently  cool,  and  pref- 
erable for  eggs  shipped  by  express.  Both  ship- 
pers and  buyers  generally  lose  money  on  the 
oats  ;  they  are  also  much  heavier  than  straw  or 
chaff,  and  add  considerable  to  the  freight  bill, 
which  shippers  would  do  well  to  consider;  in 
fact  those  who  ship  largely  and  understand  the 
business  best,  do  not  pack  in  oats.  A  mixture 
of  wheat  and  chaff  and  cut  rye  straw  is  very 
much  liked  by  dealers,  and  much  used.  What- 
ever is  used  should  be  perfectly  clean  and  dry, 
to  prevent  spoiling  the  eggs  by  sweating. 

Commence  by  putting  two  or  three  inches  of 
packing  in  bottom  of  barrel;  place  the  eggs  on 
their  sides  with  butt  ends  toward  the  staves  and 
not  nearer  to  sides  of  barrel  than  half  an  inch. 
Do  not  crowd  them  too  close  together,  but 
separate  by  at  least  one  eighth  of  an  inch  from 
each  other  in  every  direction.  Sprinkle  the  cut 
straw  or  packing  over  the  eggs,  and  rub  it  well 
into  all  the  spaces  ;  even  off  each  layer  with  a 
circular  piece  of  board  or  some  proper  leveller, 
made  for  that  purpose,  separating  one  layer 
from  another,  by  about  one  inch  of  cut  straw. 
Proceed  in  this  manner  with  each  layer  until 
the  barrel  is  full,  when  you  heap  cut  straw  on 


the  top,  and  while  you  press  down  the  head 
with  one  hand  rock  the  barrel  backward  and 
forward  on  end,  which  will  settle  the  contents 
as  much  as  they  will  be  likely  to.  This  rock- 
ing is  particularly  important,  as  the  eggs  settle 
into  a  position  from  which  the}'  will  not  shift 
during  the  whole  journey.  Fill  up  with  pack- 
ing, and  press  the  head  firmly  into  its  place,  and 
secure  it.  Be  careful  not  to  use  too  much  pow- 
er, as  eggs  are  iu  that  way  often  badly  broken 
before  leaving  the  shipper's  hands.  A  levei- 
generally  acts  with  more  force  than  a  person 
thinks,  and  is  not  so  good  as  a  screw,  which  is 
more  gradual  in  its  pressure,  and  the  effect  more 
apparent  ;  it  also  holds  the  head  firmly  in  its 
place  until  fastened.  A  carpenter  or  person  of 
any  mechanical  skill  would  know  how  to  ar- 
range uprights  of  proper  hight,  with  crossbeam 
and  screw  passing  through,  for  this  purpose. 

Keep  correct  count  and  mark  the  actual  con- 
tents plainly  on  the  head.  A  good  way  is  to 
first  count  out  as  many  dozen  as  the  barrel 
should  hold,  say  75  dozen  into  a  basket  or  half 
barrel.  A  reputation  for  accurate  count  is 
greatly  to  the  advantage  of  the  shipper,  besides 
saving  much  time  and  annoyance  in  correcting 
errors,  and  a  shipper's  marks  soon  become  either 
favorably  or  unfavorably  known  to  buyers. 

It  is  usually  advisable  to  make  shipments  by 
Express,  especially  in  hot  weather,  as  the  extra 
cost  of  transportation  is  quite  equalized  by  the 
eggs  reaching  market  quicker,  fresher,  and  in 
better  condition,  commanding  better  prices. 
There  is  no  charge  here  for  cartage  on  ship- 
ments by  express,  which  of  itself  on  small  lots 
nearly  saves  the  additional  express  charge. 
Always  be  sure  that  your  eggs  are  fresh  and 
sound  when  packed,  as  they  are  carefully  ex- 
amined here,  and  it  is  unprofitable  to  pay  freight 
on  rotten  eggs. 


Mummy  Wheat, 

In  the  American  Agriculturist  for  September 
(page  201)  we  stated  that  no  reliance  could  be 
placed  on  the  story  that  wheat  found  in  Egyp- 
tian mummy  cases  had  been  grown  and  the  pro- 
duce disseminated.  In  a  recent  number  of  the 
Presse  Scientifique  des  Deux  Mondes  (France),  is 
published  a  description  of  a  series  of  experi- 
ments made  by  Figari-Bey,  on  wheal  found  in 
the  ancient  sepulchres  of  Egypt,  and  by  him  re- 
ported to  the  Institute  of  Alexandria.  Two  va- 
rieties of  wheat  were  tried.  The  form  of  the 
grains  had  not  been  changed,  but  their  color 
both  within  and  without,  bad  become  reddish, 
as  if  they  had  been  exposed  to  smoke.  On  be- 
ing ground,  they  yielded  a  good  deal  of  flour, 
but  were  harder  than  common  wheal,  and  not 
very  friable ;  the  color  of  the  flour  was  some- 
what lighter  than  that  of  the  outer  envelope. 
Its  taste  was  bitter  and  bituminous;  and  when 
thrown  into  fire,  it  emitted  a  slight  but  pungent 
smell.  On  lieinsf  sown  iu  moist  ground,  the 
grains  became  soft  and  swelled  a  little  during 
the  first  four  days  ;  on  the  seventh  day  decom- 
position was  apparent,  and  on  the  ninth  day  it 
was  complete ;  no  trace  of  germination  could  be 
discovered  at  any  time.  Both  wheat  and  barley 
from  several  different  sepulchres  were  tried  with 
similar  results,  and  the  experimenter  is  of  opin- 
ion that  wheat  hitherto  reported  as  obtained 
from  mummy  wheat,  had  proceeded  from  grain 
accidentally  contained  in  the  mould  in  which 
the  former  was  sown,  or  at  any  rate  not  from 
seed  "more  than  two  thousand  years  old." 

During  several  years  past  we  have  from  time 
to  time   received  specimens  of  wheat,  said  to 


have  been  derived  from  mummies,  and  for  which 
extraordinary  qualities  were  claimed.  Adver- 
tisements of  such  wheat  have  been  sent  to  us,  but 
of  course  declined,  as  we  have  no  faith  in  any 
stories  of  the  kind— manufactured  as  wanted. 


Hints  on  Wheat  Culture. 

We  gather  the  following  from  an  address  by 
Joseph  Harris,  Esq.,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  before 
the  Monroe  Agr.  Society.  He  claims  that 
wheat  should  continue  to  be  the  staple  crop  of 
the  "  Genesee  Country,"  despite  the  midge,  or 
the  competition  of  the  Great  West.  The  rem- 
edy for  the  first,  is  found  iu  high  culture  that 
shall  make  the  crop  sufficiently  abundant  to 
give  a  good  yield  per  acre,  after  deducting  the 
amount  destroyed  by  insects ;  but  more  par- 
ticularly bringing  it  to  such  early  maturity  that 
the  midge  has  no  opportunity  to  work  among 
it.  The  Mediterranean  wheat  remains  uninjur- 
ed because  of  its  earliness ;  if  a  white  wheat 
ripening  at  the  same  time  could  be  found,  it 
would  be  worth  millions  of  dollars  to  the 
country.  Much  has  been  said  about  the  ex- 
haustion of  the  soil,  but  as  long  as  we  can 
grow  good  crops  of  clover,  the  soil  is  capable 
of  yielding  good  crops  of  wheat.  So  far  as 
merely  enriching  the  soil  is  concerned,  it  makes 
little  difference  whether  we  plow  under  the 
clover,  or  feed  it  to  animals  and  apply  the  man- 
ure. If  we  plow  in  the  clover  instead  of  eating 
it  off  witli  sheep,  we  furnish  the  soil  with  a 
large  amount  of  carbonaceous  matter.  But 
this  carbonaceous  matter  is  not  needed  for 
wheat.  In  fact,  the  wheat  would  usually  be 
better  without  it,  as  it  has  a  tendency  to  retard 
the  ripening  of  the  crop.  It  is  probable  that 
the  immense  quantity  of  clover  which  has  been 
plowed  under  in  Western  New-York,  lias  been 
one  reason  why  the  wheat  crop  has  been  in- 
jured so  much  by  the  midge.*  Had  the  clover 
been  eaten  off  the  land  by  sheep,  or  made  into 
hay  and  the  manure  returned  to  the  land,  the 
wheat  would  probably  have  ripened  earlier  and 
escaped  the  midge.  It  is  desirable  to  see  more 
wheat  raised  in  that  section  during  the  next 
twenty  years  than  at  any  former  period,  but  it 
should  be  done  by  sowing  less  land  instead  of 
more.  Plowing  in  clover  has  an  undoubted 
tendency  to  produce  an  excessive  growth  of 
straw,  and  the  use  of  poor  manure  will  produce 
the  same  result.  On  rich  land  salt  will  check 
this  tendency.  In  some  experiments  made  re- 
cently on  the  farm  of  the  Royal  Agricultural 
Society  in  England,  an  unmanured  plot  of  wheat 
produced  29  bushels  per  acre,  and  a  plot  dress- 
ed with  3  cwt.  of  common  salt  yielded  38! 
bushels,  or  an  increase  of  9i  bushels  per  acre. 
John  Johnston  of  Seneca  Co.  thinks  there  is 
nothing  better  than  salt  for  stiffening  the  straw. 
He  sows  a  barrel  per  acre,  j  usl  before  sowing  the 
wheat.  Lime  is  also  a  splendid  manure  for  pro- 
ducing plump  heads  of  wheat  and  a  stiff  straw. 

In  regard  to  competition  at  the  West,  there 
need  be  little  fear.  Our  soil  is  better  adapted 
to  wheat  than  most  of  the  laud  in  that  region, 
and  the  freight  is  equivalent  to  a  protective 
duty.  In  the  production  of  beef,  pork,  mutton 
and  wool  the  West  has  the  advantage  of  us,  and 
we  shall  be  obliged  to  submit  to  a  much  keener 
competition  in  the  production  of  these  articles. 

*  It  is  tlmiutful  whether  farmers  in  Western  N.  V.  wilt 
agree  with  Mr.  Harris.  Our  own  experience  in  crowing 
wheat  in  that   region  was  decidedly  in  favor  of  turning 

under  a  good  growth  of  clover,  especially  on  moderately 
compact  land.  It  bolh  lightened  the  soil  and  furnished 
the  nitrogenous  elements,  so  useful  to  wheat.  Let  ns 
hear  from  practical  men.— Ed. 


33; 


AME1UCAN    AGEICULTUKIST. 


[November, 


Method  of  Fastening  Cattle  in  Stalls. 


The  above  illustration  represents  a  plan  for 
confining  cattle  in  stalls,  practised  by  B.  Hatha- 
way, Cass  Co.,  Mich.,  who  writes  concerning  it 
to  the  Agriculturist :  "  Some  3Tears  since,  in  con- 
structing quarters  for  my  cattle,  after  consider- 
ing the  different  plans  in  vogue  for  stalling,  or 
fastening,  I  adopted  that  of  tieing ;  but  I  have 
never  been  wholhy  satisfied  with  the  arrange- 
ment, any  more  than  have  my  stock.  Last  Win- 
ter I  gave  my  stables  an  overhauling,  and  have 
constructed  stalls  after  a  new  plan,  differing  from 
anything  I  have  ever  seen,  and,  as  I  think, 
possessing  some  marked  advantages  overstanch- 
ion  or  rope,  in  simplicity,  security,  and  comfort. 

A  stable  best  suited  to  this  plan  should  be  at 
least  fifteen  feet  wide.  The  manger  would  oc- 
cupy three  feet,  leaving  twelve  for  the  stalls ; 
and  another  foot  would  not  be  thrown  away. 
The  stalls  are  formed  of  a  permanent  partition 
seven  feet  long,  and  a  small  gate  hung  at  the 
side  of  the  barn,  on  a  line  with  the  partition, 
which  when  shut,  will  complete  the  stall.  These 
gates,  made  light,  can  be  opened  and  shut  in  a 
moment.  They  should  be  hung  so  that  when 
unfastened,  they  will  swing  back  out  of  the  way. 
There  is  left  a  clear  passage  for  stock,  or  the 
removal  of  the    manure,   of   some    five   feet. 

With  safe  fastenings  for  the  gates,  that  the 
cattle  can  not  open,  there  is  the  utmost  security 
from  their  injuring  each  other,  and  with  three 
and  a  half  to  four  feet  of  width  of  stall,  they  will 
feel  abundantly  the  sense  of  liberty  and  comfort. 


American  Sheep  in  Europe. 

At  the  Wool  Growers'  Convention  held  at 
Rutland,  during  the  progress  of  the  Vermont 
State  Fair,  Col.  Daniel  Needham,  the  delegate 
from  Vermont  to  the  International  Exhibition 
of  Hamburg,  gave  an  interesting  account  of  the 
successful  competition  of  Mr.  George  Campbell's 
12  Merinos  with  the  best  flocks  of  Europe,  men- 
tion of  which  was  made  in  the  September  Agri- 
culturist. (We  glean  from  a  report  in  the  New- 
England  Farmer.)  He  said  it  required  a  con- 
siderable stock  of  presumption  and  confidence 
to  sally  out  from  a  Green  Mountain  home,  with 
sheep  from  the  pastures  of  Vermont,  to  com- 
pete against  those  of  the  imperial  flocks  in 
France  and  the  German  States ;  and  their  fore- 
bodings were  not  rendered  less  unpleasant, 
when,  on  the  outward  passage  they  were  in- 
formed by  intelligent  German  connoisseurs,  that 
for  the  Americans  to  enter  into  such  a  competi- 
tion, would  be  simply  for  them  to  roll  in  the 
mud,  as  a  premium  for  their  12  little  sheep 
would  be  entirely  out  of  the  question.  Howev- 
er, having  made  the  venture,  it  was  not  in 
Yankee  nature  to  "back  down."  The  Commit- 
tee of  awards  consisted  of  18  gentlemen,  most 
of  them  noblemen,  and  all  thoroughly  compe- 
tent judges.  Despite  the  attempt  of  the  Ger- 
man Press  to  forestall  public  sentiment  against 


the  American  sheep,  the  sub- 
committee of  this  body  agreed 
upon  bestowing  two  first 
premiums  and  one  second 
premium  upon  them,  and 
this  award  was  subsequent- 
ly ratified  by  the  unanimous 
action  of  the  general  Com- 
mittee. Mr.  N.  related  that 
the  time  appointed  for  the 
examination  of  the  sheep  by 
the  Committee,  was  6  A.  M„ 
and  that  on  going  to  the  ren- 
dezvous at  two  minutes  past  that  hour,  he  found 
that  every  man  belonging  to  that  body  had  al- 
ready reported  himself  and  entered  upon  his 
respective  duties — an  example  of  punctuality 
worthy  of  universal  imitation.  The  12  Ameri- 
can sheep  competed  against  1,761  foreign  sheep, 
60  of  which  were  contributed  by  the  Emperor 
of  the  French,  and  were  shown  in  a  separate 
and  costty  enclosure.  At  the  close  of  the  ex- 
hibition, Count  Slier  Thoss  purchased  Mr. 
Campbell's  little  flock  of  12  merinoes,  for  .$5000. 


Salt  Needed  by  Sheep. 

An  English  writer,  Dr.  Phipson,  in  a  Prize 
Essay  on  common  salt,  relates  that  not  many 
years  ago  a  German  Agriculturist,  Uberacker, 
made  the  following  experiments  to  determine 
the  influence  of  salt  upon  his  sheep,  which  were 
kept  on  low  damp  pasture  land:  Ten  animals 
were  selected,  and  their  usual  allowance  of  salt 
withheld.  In  the  first  year  five  of  this  number 
died  of  rot  and  worms,  while  among  the  remain- 
der of  the  flock,  numbering  over  four  hundred, 
only  four  sheep  were  lost.  The  second  year  a 
new  lot  of  ten  sheep  deprived  of  salt,  lost  seven, 
and  a  short  time  after  the  close  of  the  year,  the 
other  three  of  the  unsalted  number  died;  the 
remainder  of  the  flock  lost  only  five.  The  third 
year  was  very  rainy ;  sixteen  sheep  were  de- 
prived of  salt,  and  the  whole  of  them  died  of 
rot  and  vermicular  pneumonia. 


Improved  Hay   Knife. 

m  — 

Mr.  Wm.  S.  Wilson,  Mifflin  Co.,  Pa.,  sends  to 
the  American  Agriculturist  a  description  of  the 
hay  knife  illustrated  in  the  accompanying  en- 
graving, which  he  thinks  superior  to  those  in 
general  use.  The  cutting  part  is  in  fish-tail 
form,  made  of  cast  steel, 
3-16ths  inch  thick,  2  inches 
broad  at  the  top,  tapering 
toward  the  points,  and 
ground  to  au  edge  on  the 
inner  sides.  The  prongs  are 
about  7  inches  long,  and 
spread  about  6  inches  at  the 
points.  The  handle  is  a  rod 
of  J  inch  round  iron,  of  con- 
venient length,  say  30  inches, 
neatly  welded  to  the  knife. 
It  is  bent  outward  at  the  top, 
to  keep  the  hands  from  the 
edges  of  the  hay,  when  cut- 
ting down  a  stack  or  mow, 
and  furnished  with  a  cross- 
piece,  for  convenience  in 
handling  it ;  or  the  iron 
rod  itself  may  be  turned  to  make  a  loop  at 
the  upper  end.  The  horizontal  bar,  a  short 
distance  (about  18  inches)  above  the  blade,  is  a 
foot-piece,  by  which  the  knife  is  driven  into 
the  hay  with  more  force  than  could  be  done  by 
the  hand  alone.  This  implement  is  not  patented. 


HAT  KNIFE. 


Hand  Corn  Sheller. 


Various  implements  for  shelling  corn  are  for 
sale  at  the  agricultural  warehouses,  any  of 
which  are  great  improvements  over  thrashing 
out  the  grain  with  a  flail  or  with  horses.  Where 
large  quantities  are  to  be  got  out  for  market, 
one  of  these  to  be  run  by  horse  power  is  al- 
most indispensable.  For  those  who  do  not  re- 
quire so  expensive  an  apparatus,  the  implement 
here  illustrated  may  be  desirable.  A  descrip- 
tion of  it  was  furnished  to  the  Agriculturist  by 
Mathias  Muth,  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.  lis  use 
will  doubtless  be  much  easier  than  shelling  by 
hand  over  a  shovel  edge  or  the  cross-bar  of  the 
half  bushel  measure.  It  is  made  of  a  strip  of 
board,  about  two 
inches  wide  and 
nine  inches  long, 
sawed  lengthwise 
through  the  mid- 
dle, and  the  two 
pieces  shaped  to 
the  form  shown  in 
the  engraving.  In 
each  of  the  curved 
openings  are  driv- 
en nails,  such  as 
shomakers  use  for 
heels.  The  ends, 
A,  A,  are  fastened 
together  with  a 
hinge  of  leather. 
At  B,  a  wooden 
pin  is  inserted, 
passing  through 
the  two  pieces. 
This  pin  is  fast- 
ened at  one  end, 
and  is  fitted  rather 
corn  sheller.  loosely  into  the 
hole  on  the  opposite  side-piece,  so  that  the 
jaws  of  the  implement  can  be  opened  to  suit 
the  size  of  the  ears.  A  better  arrangement 
for  this  purpose  is,  to  have  a  metallic  spring 
connecting  the  two  pieces  as  shown  at  C,  in 
which  case  the  pin,  7?,  is  unnecessary.  To  use 
it,  take  the  sheller  in  the  left  hand,  and  with  the 
right,  pass  first  one  half  of  the  ear  through  the 
opening,  then  the  other  half,  at  the  same  time 
giving  it  a  twist;  thus  with  two  quick  motions 
it  will  be  speedily  shelled.  This  is  an  unpatent- 
ed arrangement,  and  can  be  readily  made  by 
almost  any  one  having  a  few  common  tools. 
»  i        —•—       ■  » 

For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Fancy  Poultry.— Some  Experience. 


Mr.  Editor: — Being  one  of  those  farmers 
who  believe  in  progress,  I  went  into  fancy  poul- 
try, a  few  years  ago.  The  huge  Shanghai 
took  my  fancy  particularly,  for  who  couldn't 
see  the  profit,  of  having  hens  nearly  as  large  as 
sheep,  and  eggs  in  proportion  ?  My  old  fash- 
ioned fowls  I  put  into  the  pot,  or  sold  to  my 
neighbors  at  a  sacrifice.  Now,  said  I,  we  shall 
get  on.  If  I  don't  realize  the  truth  of  the  old 
ballad,  about  that  speckled  hen  that 

11  Used  to  lay  two  eggs  a  day, 
And  Sundays  she  laid  three," 

I  shall  at  least  get  one  egg  a  day  from  each 
biddy,  large  enough  to  make  two  of  the  old  sort. 
Then  the  origin  of  these  birds  struck  my  fancy. 
Did  they  not  come  from  the  great  empire  of 
China?  Did  not  they  or  their  progenitors  flap 
their  wings  and  crow  on  top  of  the  famous 
Chinese  wall,  or,  less  aspiring,  sun  themselves 
beside  it  ?    They  were  "  traveled  "  hens  surely. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


333 


And  then,  what  an  erect,  military  carriage! 
what  a  lordly  step  !  For  the  table,  what  could 
be  in  better  keeping  than  a  Shanghai  cock  and 
a  cup  of  Souchong  tea  ?  Both  from  the  same 
country,  they  would  harmonize  well  in  the 
stomach,    and  make    pleasant   digestion    also. 

"Well  Sir,  the  high-bred  birds  were  bought— 
at  rather  a  high  figure,  my  neighbors  hinted — 
but  I  thought  them  cheap  at  any  price.  I  con- 
fess it  troubled  me  somewhat  to  see  how  vora- 
ciously they  ate  up  my  corn,  but  would  it  not 
surely  come  back  again  fourfold  in  mammoth 
eggs,  and  in  the  broods  of  imperial  chickens  ? 

But  Sir,  after  a  pretty  fair  trial  of  this  fancy 
stock,  I  acknowledge  myself  a  little  tired  of  it. 
They  are  lazy,  they  won't  scratch  for  a  living, 
as  my  former  hens  did,  but  prefer  being  fed 
from  the  granary.  Nor  do  they  lay  so  very 
freely  either,  after  all  my  care  in  feeding  and 
nursing,  and  making  enticing  nests  with  glass 
eggs  in  the  middle.  "  So  much  for  trying  to 
have  '  blood  stock',"  says  my  wife,  who  wants 
eggs  for  her  puddings  and  cake.  Nor  have  they 
proved  good  setters,  while  some  of  them  have 
shown  themselves  bad  mothers.  I  knew  that 
the  rascally  sow  would  sometimes  devour  her 
squeaklings,  but  that  the  hen,  the  very  image  of 
maternal  tenderness,  should  destroy  her  brood, 
was  a  new  and  sad  thing  to  learn  !  One  old 
biddy  killed  six  chicks  as  soon  as  born,  and 
raised  only  three,  out  of  a  nest  of  twelve  eggs. 

Do  you,  Sir,  like  the  looks  of  these  fowls  ?  It 
grieved  me  at  first,  to  wring  the  necks  of  my 
beautiful  Polands,  in  order  to  make  room  for 
these  awkward  fellows  ;  but  I  hoped  I  should 
learn  to  admire  them;  and  if  not,  their  utility 
would  certainly  atone  for  their  ungainliness. 
But  their  beauty  does  not  yet  appear,  nor  their 
utility.  Their  huge  carcasses  roll  and  tumble 
about  without  anything  like  "  the  poetry  of  mo- 
tion," and  their  feathers  seem  stuck  on  wrong 
end  foremost.  I  have  often  wished  their  tails 
and  wings  were  better  furnished  with  feathers, 
for  looks'  sake ;  but  I  now  remember  that  the 
man  of  whom  I  bought  them  said  they  were 
eminently  domestic,  had  no  filibustering  pro- 
pensities, would  not  try  to  fly  over  a  fence,  and 
could  not ;  they  preferred  to  stay  at  home  in 
dignified  retirement  and  be  fed,  and  Nature  had 
given  them  a  plumage  suited  to  their  desires. 
"  Their  sober  wishes  never  learned   to  stray." 

And  then,  as  to  their  crowing,  did  you  ever 
hear  the  like  !  They  go  it  strong,  but  it  is  of 
the  Chinese  gong  style  of  music— a  most  dolo- 
rous, unearthly  howling,  long  drawn  out.  The 
editor  of  a  paper  out  here,  whom  my  cocks  have 
disturbed  with  their  bass  solos,  says :  "  Their 
crow  is  not  the  honest  Saxon  crow,  expressive 
of  day-break,  love,  war  and  animal  spirits,  but 
a  horrid,  guttural  ejaculation,  between  a  Chi- 
nese sentence,  as  described  by  missionaries,  and 
a  badly  blown  dinner  horn."  The  editor  is  re- 
garded here  as  a  good  judge  of  music. 

Well  Sir,  to  cut  this  matter  short,  let  me  say 
that  I  am  convinced  that  while  these  fowls 
grow  to  about  double  the  size  of  common  poul- 
try, they  have  likewise  double  the  weight  of 
bones ;  that  while  the  cost  of  a  hundred  pounds 
of  them  is  more  than  of  a  hundred  pounds  of 
the  old  kind;  they  are  less  salable,  and  less  in- 
viting on  the  table.  These  "  celestials  "  often 
eat  their  heads  off  before  fully  gro.wu  and  fatten- 
ed. I  am  satisfied  that  the  more  I  raise  of  them, 
the  poorer  I  shall  be.  I  have  seen  the  elephant. 
My  poultry  is  for  sale.  Chanticleer. 

Those  who  have  lost  faith  in  the  celestials, 
and  still  want  to  raise  "  thorough-bred  "  poultry, 


might  try  the  Black   Spanish,  Black  Poland, 
Irish  Game,  Dorking,  or  Dominique  fowls. — Ed. 

Another  Wagon  Jack- 


A  subscriber  to  the  Agriculturist  at  Pylcsville, 
Md.,  sends  a  sketch  and  description  of  the  im- 
plement illustrated  below,  which  he  thinks  supe- 
rior to  the  one  described  on  page  77.  To  make 
it,  take  a  piece  of  hickory  or  white  oak  scantling, 
2|  inches  square  and  28  inches  long,  and  rip  it 
lengthwise  through  the  center  a  distance  of  25 
inches  :  saw  off  the  shorter  leg  B,  at  this  length, 
and  join  it  again  to  A,  by  a  strong  hinge.    In  the 


upper  end  and  on  the  inside  of  the  short  leg,  B, 
cut  4  notches,  li  inches  apart,  2  inches  wide 
and  |  inch  deep.  Procure  a  band  made  of 
1  inch  iron,  2  inches  wide  and  4  or  5  inches 
long  to  fit  the  notches  in  B.  A  wooden  wedge 
or  key,  C,  is  to  be  insered  in  the  band  to  hold  it 
in  the  notch.  When  used,  this  key  is  to  be 
placed  under  the  axle,  the  jack  being  in  the  pos- 
ition shown  at  Fig.  1.;  then  by  raising  the  long 
leg  to  an  upright  position,  as  in  Fig.  2,  the  axle 
and  wheel  will  be  lifted  from  the  ground,  and 
the  apparatus  will  stand  without  fastening. 
We  judge  it  will  be  necessary  to  block  the 
forward  wheels  to  keep  the  wagon   in    place. 


A  Caterpillar  Burner. 

Such  is  the  title  given  to  the  apparatus  here 
illustrated,  devised  by  a  subscriber  to  the  Amer- 
ican Agriculturist  at  Mount  Vernon,  N.  Y.  It 
consists  of  an  inverted  cone,  C,  made  of  tin  or 
sheet  iron,  containing  a  wire  grate,  A.  At  B, 
small  openings  are  made  in  the  cone  to  allow  a 
draft  of  air.  The  whole  is  received  by  a  sock- 
et of  suitable  shape  on  the  end  of  a  handle  of 
any  desired  length.  Shavings  or  other  light  ma- 
terials are  burned  in  the  cone,  which  is  held  di- 
rectly under  the  nests,  and  those  that  drop 
singed  or  half  roasted,  are  either  completely 
cooked  in  the  fire  beneath,  or  are  caught  in  the 
vessel,  whence  they  may  be 
emptied  and  crushed.  With- 
out some  such  provision  for 
catching  them  when  burning 
their  houses,  many  will  fall  to 
the  ground  and  ultimately 
escape.  There  are  objections, 
however,  to  attacking  cater- 
pillars in  this  way  ;  in  the 
danger  of  injuring  the  small- 
er limbs  with  fire.  We  pre- 
fer a  spiral  brush  with 
which  the  web,  caterpillars  and  all,  may  be 
wound  up  and  put  out  of  the  way.  An  oc- 
casional examination  of  trees  when  the  leaves 
are  off,  will  detect  the  clusters  of  eggs  from 


which  next  year's  crop  is  to  be  hatched,  and 
their  destruction  will  prevent  their  further  mis- 
chief. A  small  premium  for  each  cluster,  offered 
to  boys  for  this  work,  would  soon  clear  them  out. 

■ — -•-« — —»».■— _. . 

The  New  Silk  Worm. 

Mauy  readers  of  the  Agriculturist  will  remem- 
ber the  account  given  in  a  former  volume  (1861, 
March  No.,)  accompanied  with  an  illustration, 
of  a  new  silk  worm  said  to  have  been  imported 
into  France  from  China,  which  fed  upon  the 
Ailauthus.  We  have  made  repeated  efforts  to 
obtain  eggs  of  the  .insect  for  experiment,  but 
thus  far  without  success,  and  until  recently  have 
heard  little  further  concerning  the  result  of  the 
trials  made  with  it  in  Europe.  In  the  report  of 
the  Acclimatization  Society  in  England,  we 
find  an  account  of  experiments  made  by  Lady 
Dorothy  Nevill,  near  Petersfield,  England.  One 
who  visited  the  premises  says,  "a  portion  of  the 
garden  was  planted  with  young  Ailanthus  trees, 
which  were  covered  with  a  light  canvas-made 
building,  a  necessary  precaution  against  birds, 
which  pick  off  the  young  worms.  The  crea- 
tures were  feeding  on  these  trees,  and  were  really 
beautiful  to  look  at — not  pale-looking  things 
like  the  common  silk-worm,  but  magnificent 
fellows,  from  2i  to  3  inches  long,  of  an  intense 
emerald  green  color,  with  the  tubercles  tipped 
with  a  gorgeous  marine  blue.  Their  feet  have 
great  adhesive  power,  and  their  bodies  are  cov- 
ered with  a  fine  down  which  turns  the  rain 
drops  like  the  tiny  hairs  on  the  leaf  of  a  cab- 
bage, so  that  the}'  are  not  injured  by  wind  or  rain. 
Of  500  worms  placed  upon  the  trees  the  previ- 
ous Summer,  480  yielded  cocoons.  A  market 
was  found  for  all  she  could  grow,  a  gentleman 
in  Paris  taking  them  for  French  manufacture." 

The  Society  above  named  are  enthusiastic  in 
the  belief  that  the  raising  of  the  worms  can  be 
profitably  conducted  in  England,  so  that,  ulti- 
mately, ladies  may  grow  their  own  silk  dresses 
in  their  gardens.  Speculators  in  this  country 
will  doubtless  soou  be  on  hand  with  great  sto- 
ries, and  eggs  at  marvelous  prices,  but  the  mem- 
ory of  the  silk-raising  and  mulberry  fever  that 
found  so  many  victims  here,  is  yet  too  recent, 
we  trust,  to  allow  a  similar  mania  for  the  new 
silk  worm.  We  shall  continue  to  watch  the 
the  matter  and  report  from  time   to  time. 


Two  Queen  Bees  in  a  Hive. 

R.  B.  Ololt,  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  contributes  to  the 
American  Agriculturist  an  account  of  the  follow- 
ing singular  occurrence  which  he  noticed  in  his 
apiary.  He  says :  "  Some  time  in  July  last, 
having  a  queen  bee  at  my  disposal,  and  not 
wishing  to  destroy  her  myself,  I  put  her  to  the 
entrance  of  a  late  second  swarm  in  which  she 
readily  entered.  Wishing  (Sept.  1st)  to  use  this 
colony  to  raise  Italian  queens,  I  removed  the 
queen,  and  in  returning  the  combs,  to  my  aston- 
ishment I  found  another  queen.  This  puzzled 
me  considerably,  as  I  never  noticed  oi  heard  of 
such  a  thing  before.  I  returned  the  queen  I  had 
removed,  and  then  took  out  the  combs,  leaving 
the  two  queens  and  part  of  the  bees  in  the  hive. 
I  watched  them  several  hours  to  see  whether  the 
queens  would  quarrel  if  they  should  meet. 
The  bees  kept  a  constant  running  about  the 
hive,  and  the  queens  came  in  contact  several 
times,  but  apparently  did  not  notice  each  other, 
with  the  exception  that  at  one  time  one  took 
hold  of  the  other's  wing  and  held  her  for  a  sec- 
ond or  so,  but  soon  passed  on.    I  then  trans- 


331 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[November, 


ferred  the  queens  with  part  of  the  bees  to  an 
observing  hive  containing  one  comb,  in  order  to 
notice  their  actions.  When  not  molested,  the 
queens  moved  about  the  comb  apparently  un- 
concerned. I  kept  them  so  for  48  hours,  then 
returned  one  to  the  hive,  and  gave  them  an 
empty  comb  to  ascertain  it'  these  queens  were 
both  fertile.  This  comb  was  soon  supplied  with 
eggs.  I  then  removed  this  queen  and  introduced 
the  other,  but  egg  laying  continued  as  before. 
I  then  returned  the  other  queen  to  the  hive.  I 
have  examined  the  colony  frequently  since,  and 
always  found  the  queens  among  the  bees,  but 
never  on  the  same  comb.  Whether  one  of 
these  queens  was  that  which  I  had  introduced 
in  July,  I  can  not  say,  but  it  appears  likely. 
This  verities  the  old  saying  that  there  arc  ex- 
ceptions to  all  rules.  Has  a  similar  case  been 
noticed  before?  I  shall  endeavor  if  possible  to 
winter  this  swarm,  to  ascertain  if  these  queens 
will  remain  together  a  whole  season. 

»-. — _<♦»_ — _. — 

Bees  Working  in  Two  Hives. 

The  following  remarkable  incident  is  related 
by  a  correspondent  of  the  London  Agricultural 
Gazette :  "  On  the  20th  of  June  this  year,  I 
hived  a  very  large  swarm  of  bees  in  a  straw 
hive.  Before  they  had  been  in  it  many  days, 
they  discovered  an  unoccupied  hive  about  two 
feet  distant  from  their  own,  half  filled  with  clean, 
empty  combs.  They  sagaciously  took  posses- 
sion of  it,  and  used  it  as  a  storehouse  for  honey, 
while  combs  were  being  constructed  in  their 
new  domicile.  At  night  they  did  not  abandon 
their  store-house,  but  left  a  guard  of  about  500 
bees,  who  remained  there  contentedly,  without 
any  apparent  concern  at  the  absence  of  the 
queen.  This  hive  was  made  of  wood,  with  glass 
windows,  so  that  I  could  examine  the  interior, 
day  and  night.  I  could  see  the  honey  in  the 
combs,  and  the  bees  clustered  between  them, 
and  coming  out  by  hundreds  to  the  glass,  when 
I  held  a  light  to  it  atnight.  During  the  day,  the 
bees  at  the  mouth  of  the  storehouse  hive  buz- 
zed and  ventilated,  just,  as  if  the  queen  had  been 
there.  At  dusk,  some  of  them  flew  to  their  own 
home.  After  using  the  extra  hive  for  about 
three  weeks,  the  bees  removed  the  honey  from 
it  to  their  permanent  abode,  it  being  no  longer 
required  for  the  harvest  which  was  for  the  time 
too  abundant  fur  their  accommodation  at  home." 


Things  Surprising  to  a  Foreigner. 


Mr.  Harris,  of  the  Genesee  Farmer,  says  that 
when  he  first  came  from  England  to  this 
country  many  things  surprised  him  :  "  I  was 
surprised  at  the  excellence  of  American  beef 
and  the  inferiority  of  American  mutton,  and  I 
was  not  surprised  that  the  beef  sold  for  half  as 
much  again  as  the  muttou,  while  in  London, 
mutton  was  worth  a  cent  a  pound  more  than 
bet  f.  I  was  surprised  that  farmers  paid  so  little 
attention  to  their  gardens.  I  was  surprised  to 
find  so  many  farmers  with  large,  handsome 
houses  and  elegantly  furnished  parlors  that  they 
seldom  used.  In  England  at  that  time,  we  had 
a  window  tax,  and  the  houses  there  have  few 
wiudows.  One  of  the  first  things  that  struck 
me  was  the  number  of  windows  in  American 
houses,  and  the  great  effort  that  was  made  to 
Shut  them  up  and  exclude  the  glorious  Ameri- 
can sunshine  and  the  invigorating  American  at- 
mosphere. I  was  surprised  that  everywhere  I 
went,  the  people  thought  that  particular  spot  the 
most  fertile,  the  healthiest,  and   the  best   place 


on  the  whole  Continent.  I  was  surprised,  nev- 
ertheless, that  everybody  was  willing  to  sell. 
I  was  surprised  at  the  excellence  of  the  wheat 
and  the  inferiority  of  the  barley.  I  was  sur- 
prised to  see  the  farmers  so  rough  looking,  and 
jet  so  intelligent.  I  was  surprised  to  see  the 
country  ladies  so  much  better  looking  than  the 
men,  and  withal  so  interesting  and  fascinating. 
I  was  surprised  that  farmers  sowed  but  one 
kind  of  grass-seed,  and  that  they  paid  so  little 
attention  to  their  permanent  meadows.  I  was 
surprised  to  see  them  plow  so  wide,  and  still 
more  surprised  that  under  the  influence  of  our 
cold  winters,  and  dry,  hot  summers,  these  wide 
furrows  tumbled  all  to  pieces  and  formed,  after 
all,  a  very  fair  seed-bed.  I  was  surprised  that 
farmers  raised  so  few  peas  and  beans,  and 
thought  so  lightly  of  clover-hay.  I  was  sur- 
prised that  farmers  could  make  a  living  from 
crops  of  wheat  of  from  ten  to  twelve  bushels 
per  acre.  I  was  surprised  to  hear  rotten  straw 
called  manure.  I  was  surprised  at  many  other 
things — at  the  great  net-work  of  railroads — at 
the  magnificent  rivers  and  lakes — at  the  mar- 
velous rapidity  with  which  the  country  was 
settled,  and  at  the  enterprise  and  practical  in- 
telligence which  has  accomplished  such  aston- 
ishing results  in  so  short  a  time.  But  I  do  not 
think  that  any  one  thing  surprised  me  more 
than  this :  the  luxuriance  of  the  clover  crop  in 
Western  New- York!  Iliad  just  come  from  the 
very  fountain-head  of  agricultural  science,  and 
from  the  greatest  experimenting  farm  in  the 
world ;  but  never  had  I  seen  such  crops  of 
clover  as  I  saw  on  many  farms  in  this  section." 


The  Moon  Again. 

— » 
A  subscriber  in  Tuscarawas  Co.,  O.,  writes  : 
"  It  would  please  a  good  many  of  your  readers, 
if  in  your  next  issue  you  would  give  .your  views 
as  to  picking  apples,  sowing  wheat,  building 
fence,  etc.,  etc.,  during  certain  stages  of  the 
moon."  We  had  supposed  our  views  on  the 
"moon  question"  were  already  well  under- 
stood. The  moon  is  present  above  the  horizon 
during  just  about  half  of  every  24  hours,  though 
her  dark  side  is  towards  us  part  of  each  month, 
so  that  we  do  not  see  her.  The  moon  passing 
over  us  affect^  the  tides  regularly  every  day,  and 
if  she  affects  vegetation  at  all,  the  influence  is 
as  regular  as  the  tide,  and  it  is  doubtless  too 
small  to  be  taken  into  account.  A  little  knowl- 
edge of  astronomy  will  dispel  this  moon  farm- 
ing. We  say,  plant,  dig,  built  fences,  pick 
apples,  etc.,  when  the  soil,  the  season,  and  other 
things  are  right ;  the  moon  will  do  her  part 
whether  her  bright  or  her  invisible  face  be  turn- 
ed towards  us. 


Honey   From   Italian  Bees- 

R.  B.  Olott,   Union   Co.,  Pa.,   in   answer  to 

questions  in  the  Sept.  Agriculturist,  page  269, 
concerning  the  quality  of  the  honey  gathered  by 
Italian  Bees,  writes  to  the  following  purport.  He 
has  kept  them  two  seasons,  and  considers  them 
50  per  cent  more  prolific  than  the  common  sort. 
The  honey  this  season  he  thinks  superior,  which 
he  says  is  due  to  the  fact  that  in  his  neighbor- 
hood there  was  a  great  surplus  of  cherries,  from 
which,  as  they  decayed,  the  common  bees  gath- 
ered considerable  stores,  while  the  Italians  were 
busy  with  red  clover.  They  also  worked 
among  it  while  the  others  were  among  the  buck- 
wheat blossoms.  He  says  the  Italians  will  gath- 
er almost  as  much  from  the  second  crop  of  red 
clover,  as  is  usually  secured  from  buckwheat. 


We  should  like  to  hear  further  evidence,  partic- 
ularly with  regard  to  their  ability  to  draw  honey 
from   red   clover — a   point  not,  yet    admitted. 


Obstructions  in  Drains— Serious  Difficulty. 

a 

A  correspondent  of  the  N.  E.  Farmer,  states 
that  he  has  found  a  difficulty,  thus  far  insupi  ru- 
ble, in  his  drains  becoming  obstructed  with  a 
deposit  from  the  water.  The  tiles  were  laid  iu 
a  swamp,  the  water  of  which  was  strongly  im- 
pregnated with  oxide  of  iron.  In  a  year  or  two 
this  completely  filled  the  tiles  with  a  slimy  in- 
crustation which  stopped  the  flow  of  water,  ami 
rendered  the  drain  worthless.  A  partial  reme- 
dy was  found  for  the  main  drain,  as  follows: 
A  cast  iron  box  with  a  movable  cover  was  sub- 
stituted for  a  tile,  at  intervals  of  about  100 
feet  along  the  whole  length  of  the  drain.  He 
then  took  12  "Brazier's  rods"  (i  inch  ircn,  10 
feet  long),  linked  them  together  by  eyes  on  the 
ends  of  each,  first  drawing  the  end  of  the  rod  a 
little  smaller,  so  as  to  bend  the  point  around  the 
rod,  to  prevent  it  coming  apart  in  the  drain. 
Two  lamp  chimney  brushes  were  bound  togeth- 
er, to  make  a  brush  of  proper  size,  and  fastened 
with  a  copper  wire  on  one  end;  on  the  other  end 
was  a  swab  of  ball  shape.  Then  the  brush  end 
was  put  into  the  outlet,  and  pushed  along  by 
means  of  the  rod  up  to  the  first  east  iron  box, 
from  that  to  the  second,  and  so  on  the  whole 
length  of  the  drain,  and  then  run  back  in  the 
same  manner.  The  water  washed  out  obstruc- 
tions as  they  were  loosened;  the  ball  allow- 
ed the  brush  to  slide  over  any  projections  in  the 
tile.  This  left  the  drain  clean,  and  was  so  far 
satisfactory  ;  but  the  laterals,  he  says,  could  not 
be  so  reached.  This,  however,  would  seem 
practicable  by  beginning  at  their  common'  e- 
ment,  and  working  along  toward  their  entrance 
into  the  main  drain. 


Hints  on  Feeding  and  Fattening. 

• — 

Animals  destined  for  the  shambles  are  disposed 
of  to  the  butcher  to  the  best  advantage,  if  well 
fattened.  The  reason  is  that  the  flesh  of  a  fat  an- 
imal is  better  than  that  of  a  lean  one,  more  del- 
icate in  flavor,  tenderer,  sweeter,  juicier, — this 
aside  from  the  value  of  the  fat  itself.  A  very 
fat  animal  is  not  in  a  natural  condition,  and  on 
this  account  it  is  desirable  that  the  feeding 
should  be  brought  as  rapidly  and  steadily  as 
possible  to  a  consummation.  It  is  most  unde- 
sirable to  have  any  check  to  the  steady  laying  on 
of  flesh  and  fat;  positive  falling  off  in  flesh  is 
with  sheep  usually  fatal  to  their  ever  fattening 
well.  Fattening  animals  are  peculiarly  liable  to 
certain  obscure  disorders,  owing  to  the  unnat- 
ural circumstances  in  which  they  are  placed. 
Good  farmers  therefore  exert  themselves  to  keep 
stock  stalled  for  fattening,  healthy,  by  giving 
them  the  comfort  of  clean  stalls,  the  tonic  of 
fresh  air,  the  increased  appetite  accompanying 
a  variety  or  change  of  diet,  a  healthy  skin  se- 
cured by  occasional  currying,  now  and  then  a 
little  salt  as  an  appetizer,  and  to  secure  free- 
dom from  anxiety  by  quiet  surroundings,  regu- 
lar feeding,   and    the    kindest   treatment. 

In  feeding  swine,  which  are  the  most  easily 
fattened  of  our  domestic  animals,  great  econo- 
my may  be  exercised  by  feeding  very  regularly, 
by  cooking  the.  food,  by  occasionally  feeding  ra  w 
roots  in  small  messes  as  a  general  corrective,  by 
feeding  finely  broken  up  charcoal  now  and  then, 
or  giving  the  hogs  access  to  it,  and  securing 
cleanliness  where  they  are  fed  in  pens.  It  is 
well  to  remove  from  such  hogs  the  inducement 


1803. " 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


335 


to  exercise  in  rooting,  by  wiring  their  noses. 
A  hard  worked  ox  will  never  grow  fat.  The 
more  work  he  does,  the  less  will  he  lay  on  fat, 
the  amount  of  food  being  equal ;  and  converse- 
ly, the  less  he  works,  the  more  easily  will  he 
fatten.  _  Used  in  a  "  horse-power,"  he  may  .grind 
much  corn;  standing  in  his  stall  lie  may  grind 
only  that  which  he  himself  consumes.  Labor 
is  expended  in  both  cases,  and  why  may  we  not 
argue  that  the  fattening  of  the  animal  is  retard- 
ed in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  labor  he  does, 
and  that  the  labor  of  the  beast  in  grinding  his 
own  corn  is  thus  a  loss  to  the  farmer.  Cooked 
teed  digests  more  easily  than  raw  ;  that  is,  the 
stomach  labors  less.  Do  we  not  profit  there- 
fore in  cooking  the  food,  even  of  neat  stock  V 
In  feeding  this  class  of  animals  the  moderate 
fermentation  of  hay  and  stalks  in  connection 
with  bran  or  corn  meal  and  a  little  salt,  where- 
by the  stalks  become  softened  and  the  flavor  of 
the  meal  and  salt  is  disseminated  throughout  the 
mass,  has  been  found  a  great  saving.  This  is 
cooking  without  fuel.  Steaming  of  fodder  is 
extensively  practised  also,  as  is  well  known,  with 
economical  results  where  it  is  conducted  on  a 
sufficiently  large  scale  and  with  requisite  care. 
Sheep  are  best  fed  on  raw  material.  Let  them 
grind  their  own  grists.  For  some  reason  they 
seem  to  have  better  health  for  it.  The  exception 
docs  not  militate  against  the  rule,  but  shows  the 
necessity  of  watching  the  effect  upon  all  animals 
of  artificial  diet  and   unnatural  surroundings. 


Cranberry  Culture. 

Several  subscribers  at  the  West  ask  us  for 
some  hints  upon  the  cultivation  of  Cranberries. 
"VW  have  published  in  former  volumes  of  the 
Agriculturist  extended  details  upon  this  sub- 
ject, and  have  now  only  space  for  the  essential 
points.*  As  the  cranberry  grows  naturally  in 
low  places,  its  most  successful  culture  is  prac- 
tised in  similar  localities.  Almost  any  bog 
meadow  can  be  converted  into  a  cranberry 
patch  with  fair  prospect  of  success,  but  the 
most  suitable  place  is  one  which  is  so  situated 
that  it  can  be  flowed  at  will,  and  yet  be  capable 
of  being  drained  so  that  no  stagnant  water  will 
remain.  The  soil  should  be  surface  drained  ; 
all  bushes,  stumps,  and  tussocks  removed,  and 
the  whole  leveled  as  far  as  possible.  The  sur- 
face should  be  burned  over  to  kill  the  grasses, 
and  then  cover  the  meadow  with  three  or  four 
inches  of  sand.  If  sand  can  not  be  obtained,  it 
is  recommended  to  leave  the  ground  to  the  ac- 
tion of  frosts  for  one  Winter,  after  it  is  cleared 
and  levelled.  With  regard  to  the  vines,  they 
may  be  purchased  from  those  wdio  already  have 
good  varieties  in  cultivation,  or  they  may  be  se- 
lected from  natural  bogs  where  the  vines  bear 
abundantly.  The  cranberry,  like  all  our  wild 
fruits,  presents  considerable  variety  in  shape  and 
in  the  prolific  character  of  the  plants,  and  it 
will  bo  useless  to  plant  vines  from  an  unproduc- 
tive natural  sort.  It  often  happens  that  the 
finest  looking  plants  are  shy  bearers;  hence, 
where  there  is  any  doubt  about  getting  wild 
vines  which  are  good  bearers,  it  is  safer  to  buy 
of  those  wdio  have  reliable  plants  for  sale.  The 
planting  may  be  done  in  October  and  Novem- 
ber, or  in  Spring,  any  time  until  the  last  of  May  ; 
where  the  land  can  not  be  flowed,  spring  plant- 
in;;  is  preferred.  The  quickest  way  to  cover  the 
ground  is  to  remove  sods  of  living  plants  4  or  0 

*  Those  at  all  interested  in  Cranberry  culture,  will  do 
well  to  procure  one  of  the  books  on  the  subject,  named 
in  our  book  list  in  the  advertising  columns.  These  are 
not  perfect  works,  but  they  are  the  best  published  33  yet. 


inches  across,  and  set  them  out  from  2  to  3  feet 
apart  each  way.  As  the  sods  are  apt  to  contain 
grasses  and  Other  plants,  it  is  much  better  to 
break  them  up  and  carefully  separate  the  plants, 
which  are  put  in  hills  of  half  a  dozen  each,  at 
the  distance  of  two  feel  apart.  The  planting  is 
rapidly  done  with  the  hoe,  the  principal  object 
being  to  have  the  roots  well  covered.  If  the 
planting  is  done  in  Autumn,  the  meadow  should 
be  flowed  so  as  to  cover  the  plants  with  a  foot 
or  more  of  water,  which  is  to  be  kept  on  them 
until  danger  of  spring  frosts  has  passed ;  it  is 
then  gradually  drawn  oil',  taking  care  to  leave 
an  inch  or  two  of  water  as  long  as  there  is  any 
fear  of  frost.  The  ground  should  lie  kept  clear 
of  weeds,  by  the  use  of  the  hoe,  until  the  vines 
spread  and  get  in  the  way  of  cultivation  ;  as 
soon  as  they  mat  and  cover  the  ground,  they 
will  kill  out  all  other  vegetation.  The  princi- 
pal enemies  to  the  cranberry  grower  are,  a  worm 
which  attacks  the  young  fruit,  and  which  is  de- 
stroyed by  flowing,  and  the  rot,  which  is  pre- 
vented by  draining.  The  cranberry  has  been 
raised  with  more  or  less  success  on  ordinary 
garden  soils,  though  we  are  not  sufficiently  im- 
pressed with  its  practicability  to  recommend 
such  culture  on  a  large  scale.  A  small  plot  may 
be  tried  as  an  experiment,  and  if  successful  it  may 
be  readily  extended.  The  ground  is  first  well 
pulverized  and  then  covered  with  an  inch  or 
two  of  muck  which  has  been  exposed  during 
the  Winter,  or  with  fine  sand.  The  vines  are 
put  out  in  rows  18  inches  apart,  setting  two  or 
three  plants  together  every  G  or  8  inches  in 
the  row.  They  should  be  set  deep,  so  as  to 
cover  3  or  4  inches  of  the  lower  part  of  the 
stems,  and  their  growth  be  favored  by  keeping- 
out  weeds.  The  kinds  known  as  Bell  and 
Cherry  are  the  best  for  upland  culture,  though 
plants  may  be  obtained  on  the  dry  edges  of  a 
natural  bog  which  will  doubtless  do  well.  Mr. 
Downing  says  that  a  piece  twenty  feet  square 
will  yield  sufficient  fruit  for  a  family.  The 
Cranberry  cultivated  in  pots,  is  highly  orna- 
mental as  a  house  plant,  as  is  very  well  shown 
by  a  fine  specimen  now  on  our  Exhibition 
Tables,  from  W.  II.  Starr,  of  New  London,  Ct. 


A  "  Community  Gardener"— Good  Hints. 

[The  following  communication  has  been  sent 
us  by  an  intelligent  and  educated  gardener,  wdio 
has  had  large  experience  both  in  this  country 
and  Europe.  With  the  growing  taste  for  horti- 
culture in  this  country,  it  is  quite  time  that  gar- 
dening should  be  recognized  as  one  of  the  nec- 
essary professions,  or  at  least  one  of  the  useful 
arts,  and  we  shall  be  glad  if  these  suggestions 
shall  help  elevate  those  properly  educated  for 
this  worthy  pursuit  to  the  social  rank,  which  be- 
longs to  them.  In  Europe  the  scientific  horti- 
culturist is  an  honored  member  of  the  column- 
nity.  Sir  William  Hooker,  and  Sir  Joseph  Pax- 
ton,  were  both  gardeners,  and  if  we  mistake  not 
Andre  Leroy  has  been  knighted  by  the  Emper- 
or of  Prance,  in  acknowledgement  of  his  contri- 
butions to  horticulture. — Ed.  Am.  Agriculturist.] 

"  It  is  frequently  complained  by  those  who 
have  what  they  call  a  garden  and  no  proper  gar- 
dener to  take  care  of  it,  that  they  can  not  secure 
the  services  of  one,  notwithstanding  the  (as  they 
think)  liberal  inducements  they  hold  out  to  a 
competent  man.  What  is  the  cause  of  this  dif- 
ficulty, and  how  can  it  be  remedied  ?  First  of 
all,  it  is  necessary  that  one  attempting  to  secure 
a  well  qualified  gardener,  should  have  employ- 
ment for  such  a  one.  Next,  he  must  be  able  to 
appreciate  and  to  properly  compensate  him.  In 


both  these  respects  the  majority  of  employers 
are  lacking.  A  great  many  want  to  'hire  a 
gardener  '  who  have  no  place  worth  the  care  of 
a  thorough  gardener;  either  the  whole  concern 
is  too  small,  or  the  'eminent  amateur'  cares 
only  for  something  to  eat.  In  either  case  it  will 
be  difficult  to  find  an  experienced  and  intelli- 
gent man,  wdio  has  so  little  ambition  that  he  will 
waste  his  time  and  energies  in  such  unsatisfac- 
tory labor  as  taking  care  of  these  places,  or  be 
satisfied  with  the  generally  paltry  '  wages'  that 
are  paid.  The  demand  of  the  employers  gen- 
erally is:  '  I  want  a  man  of  experience  and  intelli- 
■/<  ■  ■ ,  and  one  willing  to  put  his  shoulder  to 
the  wheel.  'Where  do  they  expect  sueh  men  to 
come  from  ?  America  does  not  produce  them, 
nor  will  there  be  any  considerable  number  of 
American  gardeners  until  there  is  an  entire 
change  made  in  the  social  position  of  the  gar- 
dener, and  a  discrimination  made  between  the 
qualified  gardener  and  him  wdio  is  merely  one  in 
name.  The  profession  of  gardener  is  certainly 
not  an  inviting  one  to  young  men,  when  they 
see  how  most  employers  treat  those  who  are  en- 
gaged by  them ;  very  few  employers  have  a 
friendly  word  for  them,  all  consider  them  on  a 
level  with  the  coachman,  their  place  is  in  the 
kitchen,  and  their  pay  less  than  any  mechanic; 
and  all  this,  while  they  are  expected  to  have  at- 
tainments which  can  only  be  found  in  men  of  a 
certain  degree  of  refinement  and  education. 

"  Most  gentlemen  wdio  employ  a  gardener  are 
men  of  business,  but  they  do  not  seem  to  con- 
sider that  it  requires  more  knowdedge  and  men- 
tal and  physical  labor  on  the  part  of  their  gar- 
dener to  properly  manage  their  country  places, 
than  is  necessary  to  enable  any  of  their  clerks 
to  perform  his  duties.  Yet  socially,  the  clerk  is 
usually  considered  to  be  far  above  the  gardener. 
It  is  the  social  estimation  in  which  gardeners 
are  held,  and  the  personal  treatment  they  re- 
ceive, that  keeps  young  men  from  entering  this 
branch  of  industry.  It  requires  taste,  talent, 
time,  and  money,  to  enable  a  young  man  to  qual- 
ify himself  to  lay  out  grounds  well  and  then 
properly  manage  them  after  they  are  laid  out. 
"  As  the  demand  for  gardeners  increases  more 
rapidly  than  the  supply  does,  or  can  under  the 
existing  state  of  affairs,  I  would  propose  the 
following  suggestions  as  a  partial  remedy  for  the 
evil.  I  would  advise  several  gentlemen  living 
in  a  neighborhood  to  unite  and  engage  a  fully 
competent  man  as  '  Community  Gardener,'1  and 
give  him  full  charge  of  all  their  grounds,  etc. 
They  would  in  this  way  secure  a  uniform  sys- 
tem of  management — a  matter  of  great  import- 
ance to  their  fruit  trees,  which  suffer  most  by  a 
frequent  change  of  hands,  or  rather  of  heads. 
A  man  like  this  being  secured  for  general  super- 
intendence, other  and  less  capable  men  could  be 
engaged  to  work  under  his  directions. 

"  The  advantages  of  this  plan  will  be  evident 
to  those  who  have  places  too  small  to  warrant 
them  in  keeping  a  competent  gardener.  In  a 
community  where  there  are  large  or  small 
places,  this  having  a  common  superintendent 
would  not  only  save  many  vexations  and  disap- 
pointments, but  would  be  much  more  economi- 
cal  than  for  each  one  to  attempt  to  keep  a  gar- 
dener for  himself.  It  would  also  be  a  great  sav- 
ing in  the  item  of  tools,  as  one  set  would  answer 
for  several  small  places ;  and  these  should  be- 
long to  the  community  gardener,  wdiose  interest 
it  would  be  to  have  only  the  best  kind,  and  keep 
them  in  proper  order  for  good  and  speedy  exe- 
cution. I  trust  that  this  will  commend  itself  to 
those  who  live  in  parks  on  a  plan  like  that  of 
the  Llewellyn   Park,  at  North  OraDge,  N.  J." 


336 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[November, 


T  n  E     EMIGRANT'S 


F  A  K  h,    Vv 


!i  li  Xj  .  —  FUOM   A   PAINTING   12s    TJ 

Engraved  for  the  American  Agriculturist. 


JTliRNATIONAL   EXHIBITION,    BY   CABL   IIUBIINEB, 


The  scene  sketched  above,  will  cause  mingled 
feelings  of  pleasure  and  pain  in  thousands  of 
hearts.  However  the  emigrant  may  have  pros- 
pered here  in  his  new  home,  the  love  of  Father- 
land can  never  be  extinguished.  His  lot  there 
may  have  been  among  the  lowliest,  bat  thoughts 
of  even  the  rudest  cabin  where  the  hours  of 
childhood  and  youth  were  passed,  will  ever 
awaken  tender  emotions.  Not  a  few  of  our  read- 
ers may  recall  to  mind  a  scene  similar  to  the 
above,  in  their  own  experience.  It  represents 
the  preparations  of  several  families  for  de- 
parture to  the  New  World.  "  In  the  village  in  the 
distance  many  peasants  are  dancing  and  carous- 
ing noisily,  to  drown  their  parting  regrets  or 
vague  apprehensions.  In  touching  contrast  to 
these  revellers,  are  the  family  in  the  foreground, 
who  have  come  to  lake  a  farewell  look  at 
the  village  graveyard,  that  sacred  spot  of  earth 
which  will  lie  remembered  in  the  far-off  home 
when  all  else  in  the  old  country  is  forgotten  — 
where  amid  the  'rude  forefathers  of  the  ham- 
let,' sleep  their  own  immediate  ancestors,  and 
perhaps  in  some  lately-opened  grave,  one  of  its 
most-loved  members.  f/)Therc  is  real,  intense 
grief  in  the  honest  faces  of  the  sturdy  man  and 


wife,  as  if  at  some  recent  bereavement.  The 
kneeling  sister  with  her  humble  package,  includ- 
ing the  family  bible,  is  less  affected,  but  yet 
wears  an  expression  of  pious  sympathy  and 
sorrow.  The  younger  members  of  the  family 
look  ou  with  a  heedlessness  characteristic  of 
their  years  and  inexperience.  The  old  grand- 
dame  hobbles  along  to  the  sad  spot  with  her 
slick  and  her  bundle,  as  fast  as  her  rheumatic 
limbs  will  carry  her.  Poor  old  lady!  she  has 
not  much  to  look  forward  to;  unless,  indeed, 
she  finds  the  El  Dorado  in  her  family's  happi- 
ness ;  her  sun  will  soon  set  if  she  ever  reaches 
that  land  of  the  West  where  the  sun  himself 
goes  to  his  nightly  rest.  The  black  wooden 
crosses,  often  covered  with  wreaths  of  '  ama- 
ranths,' which  mark  the  spot  of  the  humblest 
grave  on  the  Continent,  are  suggestive  features 
which  we  miss  in  our  own  places  of  interment 
for  the  poor."  Plowersmight  well  be  added  here. 
While  it  is  lamentable  that  governmental  op- 
pression, the  existence  of  hereditary  e;istes,  and 
other  defects  in  the  social  organization  of  Eu- 
rope, make  it  desirable  for  so  many  of  her  sons 
and  daughters  to  seek  a  new  home  in  the  west, 
the  evil  has  its  compensations.  The  emigrant,  if 


he  worthily  fills  the  place  opened  for  him  here, 
not  only  secures  the  blessings  of  competence 
for  himself  and  family,  but  is  aiding  iu  develop- 
ing a  power  that  will  ameliorate  and  finally  de- 
stroy every  form  of  despotism.  America  is 
even  now  a  cloud  upon  the  horizon  of  foreign 
oppressors,  and  hence  their  rejoicing  in  her 
temporary  apparent  humiliation.  It  is  cheering 
to  know  that  in  every  European  country7,  thepeo- 
ph ,  iu  whom  is  the  life  blood  of  Nations,  appre- 
ciate the  facts  of  the  issue,  and  are  giving  their 
prayers  and  efforts  to  encourage  our  National 
government  in  the  mighty  struggle.  Nor  have 
they  lost  confidence  in  the  final  triumph  of  the 
right,  as  is  shown  in  the  remarkable  increase  of 
emigration  hitherward  during  the  past  year. 
And  we  may  repeat  with  confidence  what  we 
have  heretofore  stated,  that  there  was  never  a 
better  time  for  the  poor  of  the  Old  World  to 
emigrate  to  America.  They  will  be  sure  of  a 
warm  reception  and  abundant  employment  at 
paying  wages.  And  though  it  may  be  hard  to 
leave  loved  objects  behind,  they  may  ultimately 
make  a  home  here  to  which  their  children  will 
cling  with  even  greater  tenacity,  and  from 
which    no   necessity   shall    ever    force^them. 


1803.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


337 


For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

What  Dwarf  Pears  to  Plant. 

A   note  from  a  Hartford  correspondent  in- 
quires for  better  varieties  of   dwarfs  to  plant 
i  ban  the  Glout  Morcean,  or  Vicar  of  Winkfield. 
V>rhoever    plants  dwarfs,  necessarily  makes  a 
venture,  unless  he  have  some  neighbor  who  has 
done  pioneer  service  for  him.    No  one  can  tell 
beforehand  just  what  varieties  will  give  the  best 
results  in  his  soil  and  climate.    If  we  had  no 
experience  or  observation  in  our  own  neighbor- 
hood to  draw  upon,  we  would  take  the  list  of 
dwarfs  recommended  in  Downing's  Fruit  Book 
for  the  best  six  or  twelve  varieties.    Most  fruit 
growers  would  agree  in  the  main  upon  these 
varieties,  for  the  list  has  been  adopted,  as  the 
result  of  their  experience.    This  experience  is 
drawn  from  all  the  best  fruit   regions   in   the 
Northern  Stales.    Any  one  following  this  list, 
would  probably  get  eight  pears  in  a  dozen,  that 
would  give  the  best  results,  in  his  own  garden. 
If  we  had  an  enterprising  neighbor  who  had 
been  planting  dwarf  pears,  say  for  ten  years,  in 
soil  similar  to  our  own,  we  would  rather  take 
his  experience  for  our  guide,  than  the  list  re- 
commended by  Downing,  if  it  should  happen  to 
vary  in  some  particulars.    As  to  better  varieties 
than  those  named  by  our  correspondent,  it  is 
not  claimed  by  any  that  the  Vicar  of  Winkfield 
is  first  rate.    Col.  Wilder  has  said,  that  if  he 
could  have  but  one  pear  it  should  be  this,  and 
we  should  not  quarrel  with  him  in  this  matter 
of  taste.     We  do  not  claim  for  it  that  it  has  no 
superior  in  flavor,  but,  that  when  well  grown, 
it  is  good  enough  for  any  bo.ly.    In  other  re- 
spects it  has  so  many  good  qualities,  that  no 
garden  ought  to  be  without  it.     The  tree  is  a 
good  grower  on  both  stocks,  the  foliage  is  very 
beautiful,  and  hangs  on  to  the  last,   it  bears 
abundantly  every  year,  the  fruit  is  large,  and 
may  be  had  iu  good  eating  condition,  with  lit- 
tle difficulty,  for  at  least  ten  weeks  in  the  year. 
It  is  well  known,  and  commands  a  high,  though 
not  the  highest  price  in  the  market.    It  is  adapt- 
ed to  a  wide  range  of  soil  and  climate.     What 
we  mean  when  we  say  that  there  are  better 
pears   than  this,   is,   that   there  are   those  of 
better  flavor,  unless  this  is  kept  to  Mid-winter. 
The  Glout    Morceau,   though  of   the    best 
where  it  does  well,  has  many  faults.    It  is  a  late 
bearer  at  best,  and  with  most  cultivators  a  very 
capricious  bearer.    We  have  had  no  crop  worth 
saving  since  1858,  until  the  present  year.    Thej' 
are  very  fine  this  Fall,  so  far  as  our  observation 
has  extended.     Yet  the  fruit  is  so  good  that  we 
are  not  prepared  to  exchange  it  for  another, 
even  with  this  unfavorable  experience.     It  is 
said  to  do  much  better  as  the  tree  gets  age. 
As  better  varieties  for  the  quince  stock  than 
these,  we   would  name  the  Flemish  Beauty, 
Beurre  Diel,   Lawrence,   Urbaniste,  Beurre  d' 
Anjou,  Doyenne  Boussock,  Easter  Beurre,  and 
Winter  Nelis.     Wherever  the  Duchesse  d'  An- 
gouleme  does  well,  we  would  add  it  to  the  list. 
We  are  informed  that  the  Duchesse  does  not 
succeed  well  in  the  vicinity  of  Hartford,  Conn. 
The  true  doctrine  in  regard  to  dwarf  pears  is 
this :  let  the  amateur  experiment,  and  all  others, 
confine  themselves  to  the  very  few,  less  than  a 
dozen,  varieties  that  are  known  to  do  well    in 
the  neighborhood,  and  that  command  a  good 
price  in  the  market.     It  is  more  than  half  with 
the  fruit  grower,  to  sell  his  crop,  after  he  has 
raised   it.     A  much  better  new   fruit  than  the 
Bartlett,  would  not  sell  for  half  its  price,  simply 
because  it  was  unknown  to  the  public.     The 
making  of  1  reputation   for  a  fruit  is  a  very 


slow  process.  It  has  taken  sixty  years  to 
give  the  Bartlett  its  present  general  popularity. 
We  have  abiding  faith  in  the  success  of  dwarf 
pears.  For  small  gardens,  for  fruit  growers  who 
cater  for  city  markets,  and  want  early  results, 
they  are  a  great  institution.  We  saw  last  year 
a  large  onion  garden  of  several  acres,  enriched 
by  long  cultivation,  gradually  changing  to  a 
dwarf  pear  orchard.  A  thousand  trees  had 
been  planted  for  several  years  and  the  results 
were  all  that  could  be  desired.  A  fortune  is  in 
store  for  the  enterprising  proprietor,  for  he 
knows  what  varieties  to  plant,  and  bow  to  take 
care  of  them  after  planting.  Select  good  mark- 
et varieties  that  are  known  to  succeed  well  upon 
the  quince,  plant  in  good  soil,  manure  liberally 
with  compost,  half  muck  or  peat  at  least,  culti- 
vate cleanly,  and  prune  judiciously,  and  you 
can  hardly  fail.     So  thinks        Connecticut. 


Rose  Bugs  Destroying  Grapes. 

In  some  localities  the  rose  bugs  are  so  nu- 
merous at  the  time  certain  grapes  are  in  flower, 
that  they  destroy  the  entire  crop  by  eating  the 
blossoms.  At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  New- 
York  Fruit-Growers,  T.  W.  Field  alluded  to 
this  subject,  remarking  that  the  rose  bugs  came 
upon  his  vines  in  such  myriads  that  it  was  im- 
possible to  destroy,  or  even  drive  them  away. 
He  said  that  while  the  Isabella  aud  Catawba 
were  nearly  all  destroyed  by  these  pests,  the 
Hartford  Prolific  and  Delaware  bloomed  too 
early  for  them,  and  the  Concord  was  but 
slightly  affected.  If  this  proves  to  be  the  case 
elsewhere,  it  will  be  well  for  planters  to  select 
sorts  which  flower  before  the  rose  bugs  make 
their  appearance. 


A  Hew  Pear— The  Vanderpoel. 


Some  weeks  ago  we  received  from  Mrs.  Mary 
V.  Gilbert,  Columbia  Co.,  a  package  of  pears 
by  mail.  Coming  by  this  conveyance  the  fruit 
was  very  much  crushed,  yet  as  even  in  this  con- 
dition it  appeared  to  possess  great  excellence, 
we  wrote  for  other  samples,  which  came  to  us 
in  a  perfect  state,  though  rather  late  to  see  the 
fruit  in  its  best  condition.  We  learn  from  Mrs. 
G.  that  she  has  been  in  the  habit  of  planting 
the  seed  of  superior  fruit,  and  that  this  pear  is 


from  some  seed  she  planted  in  1825.  It  is  a 
good  bearer,  and  produces  annually.  The  twc> 
illustrations  will  give  an  accurate  idea  of  the 
size  and  shape  of  the  pear     The  color  is  of  a 


SECTION    OF   VANBEKPOEL   TEAR. 

uniform  lemon  yellow.  The  flesh  is  melting, 
juicy,  sweet,  and  without  any  grittiaess  at  the 
core.  The  pear  has  one  very  desirable  quality, 
it  has  not  the  least  tendency  to  rot  at  the  core ; 
several  specimens  which  were  more  or  less  de- 
cayed at  the  surface,  were  entirely  sound  at  the 
centre.  We  think  it  a  very  promising  fruit,  and 
one  very  well  worth  the  attention  of  amateurs. 
The  name  Vanderpoel  was  given  by  the  lady 
who  raised  it  from  the  seed. 


Grapes— The  Great  Grape  Show- 


The  exhibition  of  Grapes,  announced  to 
be  held  at  the  Office  of  the  American  Agri- 
culturist, opened  on  the  1st  of  October.  There 
were  nearly  fifty  exhibitors,  and  as  many  of 
them  showed  from  five  to  twenty  varieties 
each,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  display  was  a  large 
one."  The  amount  of  fruit  was  nearly  doubled 
after  the  judges  had  made  their  examination,  and 
dining  the  next  day — a  considerable  number  ol 
exhibitors  having  been  belated  by  other  shows, 
and  by  unfortunate  detention  of  parcels  sent  by 
express  and  railway.  A  box  from  Mr.  Huse 
man  of  Herman,  Mo.,  was  nearly  spoiled  on  tin 
way.  The  names  of  the  exhibitors,  as  well  as 
the  report  of  the  committee  of  judges,  will  be 
found  below.  This  first  attempt  of  holding  an 
exhibition  solely  of  grapes  was  attended  with 
most  gratifying  success.  We  do  not  say  this  on 
account  only  of  the  quantity  of  fruit  contributed, 
but  in  view  of  its  quality  and  variety.  We 
doubt  if  there  has  before  been  such  an  oppor 
lunity  for  the  public  to  see  and  compare  so  grea 
a  number  of  native  grapes.  That  this  priv 
ilege  was  appreciated  was  shown  by  the  interest 
ed  crowds  who  thronged  the  room  during  tilt, 
closing  days  of  the  exhibition.  It  was  particular- 
ly pleasing  to  observe  that  a  large  proportion  ot 
the  visitors  were  not  merely  sight-seers,  but 
persons  who  came  to  form  their  judgment  on 
the  different  varieties,  to  get  the  opinions  of  the 
numerous  cultivators  there  present,  aud  to  make 
notes  for  their  future  guidance.  Most  of  the 
leading  cultivators  of  grapes,  both   amateurs 


338 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


and  commercial  growers*  came  in  from  hun- 
dreds of  miles  around,  some  from  the  most  dis- 
tant West.  Indeed  wo  never  saw  together  so 
many  persons  of  good  judgment  and  experience 

upon  anyone  subject,  as  were  gathered  here  on 
Friday.    It  well  repaid  us  for  the  trouble  and 
expense  of  the  enterprise,  to  see  the  number  of 
this  class  together  around  the  tables,  earnestly 
engaged  in  discussing  the  fruit  and  in   a  most 
friendly  spirit.     We  have  no  doubt  that  the  cul- 
ture of  the  grape  will  receive  from  this  exhibi- 
tion an  impulse,  similar  to  that  imparted  to  the 
culture   of   the    strawberry   by   the   shows   of 
that  fruit  which  have   been  held   at  the  same 
place.     One  of  the  prominent  features  of  the 
exhibition  was  a  collection  of  20  varieties  from 
the  Rev.  J.  Knox  of  Pittsburgh,  Pa.   It  did  not 
arrive  until  after  the  judges  had  made   their 
award,  but  it  was  conceded  on  all  hands  that  it 
was  by  far  the  finest   collection   in  the   room. 
The  grapes  did  not  need   Mr.  Knox's  apology 
that  they  had  been  long  picked  and  had  made  a 
long  journey,  for  they  had  the  freshness  of  re- 
cently cut  fruit.  Whether  it  was  due  to  Mr.  K.'s 
mode  of  culture,  or  to  a  peculiarity  of  his  local- 
ity, we  cannot  say,  but  all  his  fruit  had  a  bloom 
upon  it  which  added  much  to  its  attractiveness. 
Among  the  novelties  of    the  exhibition    we 
mention  the  Iona,  a  seedling  now  fairly  before 
the  public  for  the  first  time.    It  attracted  much 
attention  from  grape  growers.    Dr.  C.  \V.  (  Iraut, 
the  originator,  was  awarded  the  first  prize  for 
seedlings.     The  Adirondac  was   presented   by 
Mr.  Bailey  of   Plattsburgb,  N.  Y.,  and  was  no- 
ticeable for  the  size  of  its  berries  and  their  line 
flavor.     It  received  the  first  prize  for  quality, 
by  the  decision  of   the  majority  of   the  com- 
mittee.    We  understand  that  Mr.  Downing  dis- 
sented entirely  from  the  verdict.     If  this  grape 
proves  as  fine  in  other  localities  as  it  is  in  that 
where  it  originated,  it  will  be  a  decided  acqui- 
sition.    Allen's  Hybrid  is  another  of  the  grapes 
not  generally  known.     It  was   shown  in   fine 
condition   by  Mr.   Hoag  of   Newburgh,   N.  Y. 
The  fruit  is  white,  and  lias  the  appearance  and 
flavor  of  a  foreign  grape.     It  was  generally  re- 
garded as  a  variety  of  much  promise.    We   re- 
gret that  there  was  not  a  better  display  of  Rog- 
er's Hybrids.     Only  two  of  these  were  shown, 
Nos.  4  and  15 — by  Geo.  Seymour  &  Co.,  of  So. 
Norwalk,  Ct.     Mr.  S.  says  that  the  vines  grow 
finely  and  the  fruit  ripens  with  the  Concord. 
From    tasting   the  single    specimens,   we   are 
pleased  with  these  grapes   and  consider  "them 
as    fruits    of   fair   promise.      The    Creveling 
though   past  its   season,    was    shown   by  Mr. 
Merccron  of  Catawissa,  Pa.     The  fruit  is  a  fine 
looking,  large  berry,  and  very  sweet  and  pleas- 
ant.   It  is  considered  by  several  cultivators  as 
the  best  very  early  grape,  it   being  a  week  or 
so  in  advance  of  the  Hartford  Prolific.  The  To 
Kalon  is  a  very  showy  and  fine  variety,  large 
in  bunch  and  berry.   We  find  cultivators  differ- 
ing with  regard  to  its  bearing  qualities,  and  the 
general  impression  is,  that  it  is  a  shy  bearer.    A 
couple  of  clusters  of  Loomis'  Honey  grape  were 
shown  by  Peter  Raabe  of  Philadelphia.    .This 
is  a  comparatively  new  variety.     The   bum  lies 
are  fiue,  the  berries  large  and   black,  and  of  a 
most  remarkable  sweetness.     The  vine  is  said 
to  be  hardy.     It  received  a  discretionary  premi- 
um, and  is  worth   looking   after  by  amateurs. 
Among  the  better  known   sorts  we  mention 
the  Delaware  first,  as  it  was   present  in  larger 
quantity   than   any   other   sort.     It    is   faulty, 
that  the  fruit  is  small,  but  is  an  illustration  of 
the  adage  (hat  "the  best  things  are  always  put 
in  the  smallest  parcels."     This  defect  may  be  in 
a  great  measure  remedied  by  the  liberal  thin- 


ning out  of  the  berries.  That  when  the  vine 
acquires  age  it  becomes  an  abundant  bearer, 
was  finely  shown  by  a  large  fruiting  branch 
contributed   by  Mr.  11.  Hale  of  Otego,  X.  Y. 

The  Concord  was  represented  by  many  lino 
specimens,  most  of  them  covered  with  the 
line  bloom  which  belongs  to  Ibis  kind  when  well 
grown.  This  and  the  Delaware  both  have  their 
advocates,  who  claim  for  each  the  first  place 
among  the  grapes  for  the  million.  There  are 
good  arguments  produced  on  each  side.  For 
ourselves  we  wish  that  "the  million"  had  a 
plenty  of  both  of  them.  Hartford  Prolific  was 
shown  by  Fuller,  Knox,  anil  others,  although  it 
was  too  bite  for  this  variety.  The  vine  is  a  great 
bearer  and  is  remarkable  for  the  vigor  of  its 
growth  and  healthy  character.  The  fault  of 
dropping  its  fruit,  which  some  complain  of,  is 
remedied  by  proper  pruning  and  not  allowing 
the  vine  to  overbear.  This  and  the  Creveling 
are  the  best  early  grapes  yet  well  disseminated. 
Diana.  We  were  much  pleased  with  this 
fruit  as  exhibited  by  Mr.  Brehm  of  Waterloo, 
N.  Y.,  and  by  Mr.  Knox.  The  berry  is  of  good 
size,  branches  very  compact,  of  a  fine  lilac 
color,  and  quality  nearly  first  rate.  The  vine 
is  a  great  bearer  and  needs  close  pruning,  and 
is  better  for  covering  during  Winter. 

Clinton.  A  rather  small  grape  but  a  strong 
grower  anl  abundant  bearer.  It  is  called  a 
fine  wine  grape,  and  when  thoroughly  ripened, 
of  fair  quality  for  the  table.  Union  Village  is 
a  most  showy  fruit,  although  it  cannot  take  a 
high  rank  for  quality.  From  the  size  of  the 
berry  and  bunch  it  is  a  very  valuable  market 
grape.  Herbemont  is  a  very  small  grape,  but 
the  vine  is  very  prolific;  fruit  very  spirited  in 
flavor,  and  though  its  size  unfits  it  for  a  market 
fruit,  it  is  worthy  the  attention  of  amateurs. 
The  vine  needs  protection.  Elsiuburgh  is  a 
grape  much  resembling  the  Herbemont  in  ap- 
pearance and  has  a  high  vinous  flavor  much 
relished  by  some.  There  were  but  veiy  few 
specimens  of  the  well  known  varieties  of  Isa- 
bella and  Catawba  exhibited.  These,  from  their 
uncertainty,  are  being  replaced  in  most  localities 
by  more  reliable  and  better  sorts. — The  follow- 
ing is  a  list  of  the  entries  in  the  order  in 
which  they  were  received. 

No.  1.— Concord  under    glass:    by    Wm.  Clark,  North- 
ampton, Mass. 

No.  2.— Seedling:  "Jersey  Counsellor."     Wm.  Plume, 

Newark,  N.  J.,  through  C.  M.  Saxton,  Esq. 
No.  3.— Isabella:  E.  Fitch,  Coxsaekie,  N.  Y. 
No.  4.— Rebecca :  John  Corbett,  Morrisania,  N.  Y. 
No.  5.— Delaware.  2  ;    Allen's   Hybrid,  S;    Rebecca,  2; 

Taylor's  Bullitt,  1 ;  Diana,  1  ;  Concord,  1 ;    Isabella, 

1  ;  Brinkley  (foreign  nut-door),  grown  on  a  city  lot, 

00x25;  Geo.  W.  Mar  tin,  Brooklyn,  E.  D. 
No.  6.— Adirondac :  Jno.   W.  Bailey,  Platlsburg,  N.  V. 
No.  7. — Iona,  Allen's   Hybrid,  Delaware  and  Alexander 

John  Hoag,  by  Chas.  Downing,  Esq.,  Newburg,  N.  Y. 
No.  8.— Delaware,   Diana,  Concord,  Union  Village,  El- 

sinburgh,  ami   Anna,  from  Vineyard  of  C.  M.  Beach, 

West  Hartford,  Conn. 
No.  9.— Clinton  :    Jno.  McFarlane,  New  Durham,  N.  J. 
No.  10.— Diana,  Delaware,  Herbemont,  Concord :    Fred. 

Baumeister,  Hast  Newark,  N.  J. 
No,  11.— Clinton  :  E.  William?,  Mount  Clair,  N.  J. 
No.  12.— Delaware :  Reuben  Hale,  Otego,  N.  Y. 
No.  13.— Rebecca,  Ruland  :  Chas.  s.  Schmidt,  Palisades. 
No.  14.— Catawba:    W.  B.  yYestcott,  raised  in  eiiy  yard. 
No.  15. — Seedling  :   Col.  D.  S.  Dewey,  Hartford,  Conn. 
No.  16Jr— Alvey,    Concord,  Wilmington    While,  Clinton, 

Taylor's  Bullitt,  Isabella,  Delaware.  Marion.  Diana, 

North  American,  Rebecca,  Louisa:  At.  Olm, gardener 

lo  Orange  Judd,  Flushing,  L.  I. 
No.  IT.— Delaware,  6  bunches:    B.  II.  Mace,  Newburgh. 
No.  IS.— Creveling.  Isabella,  Concord,  Diana.  Delaware, 

To  lvalue:    F.  F.  Mcrceron,  Catawissa,  Pa. 
No.  19.— Palestine,  Syrian,    Black   Hamburg.   Muscat  of 

Alexandria,   /.infirrdel.   Black    Barbarossa,  Reine  de 

Nice:   N.  Armstrong,  Bergen,  N.  J. 
No.  20.— 2  var.  Seedling.    .1.  D.  Williamson,  N.  Y.  City. 
No.  21.— Allen''.  Hybrid,  Canby's    August,  Delaware  (41) 

bunches    from    1   vine  4    years   old):  It.  W.    Helton, 

Schenectady,  N.  Y. 
No.  85.— Hartford    Prolific,    Diana,   Clinton.      W.  Tail. 

Fonlharn,  N.  V. 


|      0    EMBER, 

N°'tnn"l^:"h' ''"'"'"    ':i   ';    ■'•  "'  >'";'"  J''-,  West  New- 

No.  24,-DeIawar'e,  3  years  old  vine.     E.  O.  Eaton,  Troy. 
No.  25.— Clinton  :  G.  H.  Hite,  Morrl  anin    \.  Y. 

NO'o2verN0nj0rd'1  Baldwin,  Han- 

Nb.  «f.-^See  lling,  Native  :    Dr.  C.  W.  Grant,  Peeksklll, 

No.  28.— Seedling,  from  Hungarian,  out-door :    Mr   Pol- 
lock. Morrisania,  V  V. 

N"' p,!;^c:v'T  '""'•'''  ';l:"':  Si  i;-  T,'embl<»j. !- 

No.  3:1.-111  Delaware.   11  Diana     P.  C.  Brehm,  Walcr- 

,  N.  A  . 

No.  til.— Delaware,  Iona,  Union  Village:  c.  M.  Saxton. 
New  1  o:  k. 

No.  IB.— Delaware.    Rebecca,    Alvey,    Union    Village: 

W.  Brockshank,  Hudson,  N.  Y. 
No.  33.— Diana,  Herbemont,  Delaware,  Taylor's  Bullitt, 
Hartford  Prolific,  Red  Trammer,  EM::1 

Alvey,  Ann:,.  M 1  or  A  enango,  C 

"  r*e,Canby,  Concord    A.s.  Fuller,  Brooklyn,  I.   [. 

-Herbemont,  Diana:  C.  F.  Erhardt.  It  1/ 1. 

•Concord:  II   S.  Young,  Poughkeepsie,  N,  v. 
Boom    '  Honey,  Maxatawny:  Peter  Raabe,  Phn- 
rhia,  Pa. 


seymoui 


No.  84.— Herbemont,  Diana:  C.  F.  Erhardt.  It  1         1/ 1. 

No.  35.— Concord:  II    S.  Young,  Poughkeepsie,  N    Y 

No.  36.-   " 
adelphi 

No.  37.— Manhattan.     Isaac  Buchanan,  N.   Y. 

No.  38.— Concord,  Diana.  Delaware.  Herbemont,  Union 
\  tllage,  Creveling.  Cnnby's  August,  Elsinburgh,  Lo- 
gan, Mary  Ann,  Oporto.  Louisa,  Alvey,  Hartford  Pro- 
line. Rebecca.  Anna.  Taylor,  Catawba,  Isabella.  To 
Kalon:  Rev.  J.  Knox,  Pittsburg,  Pa, 

No.  39.— Celestial,  Valentine  or  Wine :  Dr  \  K  Un- 
derbill, Cborlton,  N.  Y. 

No.  40.— Concord  :  Judge  Whiting,  Tubby  Hook,  N   Y 

No.  41.— Ontario,  Delaware  :  J.  Dingwall,  Albany,  N  Y 

No.  -12.—  Seedling  from  Isabella:  .Mrs.  s.  W.  Randall 
Middle  Island,  N.  Y. 

No.  43.— Catawba  :  T.  B    Kissam,  Jersey.  City,  N.  J. 

No.  41.— Muscogee,  Diana,  Delaware :  R.  Richards, 
Fremont,  N.  J. 

No.  45.-Rogers'  Hybrid,  No.  4,  and  15:    Geo. 

&  Co.,   South  Norwalk,  Conn. 

Summary.— It  will  be  seen  by  the  above  that 
there  were  on  exhibition  51  different  varietir 
As  the   samples   averaged  about   five   clus  er  , 
the  total  number  of  clu  ters  reached  about  750 
— aline  collection  surely,  when  we  remember 
that  the  majority  were  of  the  leading  kinds  now 
prominently    before    the    public.     It   has    been 
said  that  few  specimens  of  the  fruit  of  the  Del- 
aware have  been  seen.     At  this    in    le  exhibi- 
tion there  were  not  less  than  125  clusters  of  this 
variety  alone.  Of  the  Concord  there  were  aboul 
GO  clusters,  and  of  the  Diana  some  TO  clusters  : 
Isabella  35,    New    Seedlings,   30   clustci 
JUDGES'    REPORT.— PRIZES. 
The  Judges  Oil  Grapes  submit  lire  following  report  : 

Best  Native  Seedling,  which  Iras  never  before  taken  a 
prize,  HO,  to  Peter  11.  Mead,  oi  New-York,  for  "Iona." 

Best  collection  of  Native  Grapes,  10,  to  A.  S.  Fuller, 
of  Brooklyn. 

Second  besl  do., 
to  Orange  J' 

Besl  six  varieties  of  Native  Crapes,  ?1,  to  F.  F.  Mer- 
ccron, Catawissa,  Pa. 

Second  best  do.,  do.,  ?;2.  to  George  W.  Martin,  Brook- 
lyn, E.  D.,  N.  Y. 

Best  four  varieties,  Native  Grapes,  $3,  to  W.  Brocks- 
bank,  Hudson,  N.  Y. 

Second  best,  do.,  do.,  $2,  to  Fieri.  Baumeister,  East 
Newark,  N.  J. 

Best  live  bunches  Native  Grapes  of  any  kind,  quality 
to  rule.  $2,  to  J.  W.  Bailee.  I  latl  tirg,  N.  Y.'for1'  Adi- 
rondac."   (Mr.  Downing  dissenting.) 

Be>t  five  bunches  Delaware,  S2,  to  E.  O.  Eaton.  Trov 
N.  V.  " 

Best  five  bunches  Diana.  $2,  lo  ".  C.  Brehm;  Water- 
loo, N.  Y. 

Best  five  hunches  Catawba,  $2,  lo  W.  B.  Westcott, 
New-York,  (grown  in  City  ■ 

Besl  five  i clu  s  ( loncord,  $2,  lo  II.  S.  Young,  Bough. 

keepsie,  N.  Y, 

Besl  live  bunches  Hartford  Prolific  :  j.  to  \Y  Tafl 
Fordham,  N.  A". 

Best  five  bunches  Herbemont,!  -'.  lo  C.  F.  Erhardt, 
it:i\ ens  '■  nod,  I..  1. 

Best  five  bunches  Allen's  Hybrid,  $2,  to  John  Hoag, 
Newburgh,  N.  A". 

Discretionary  Prize  of  $I,to  Geo,  vV.  Martin,  Brook- 
lyn, N.  A".,  fro-  Brinkley,  grown  oul  of  doors. 

Discretionary  Prize  of  $],  lo    Peter  Raabe,  Phihuli 
phia,  Pa.,  for  Loomis'  Honey,  in  point  ol   I 

Discretionary  Prize  of  $3,  lo  N.  Armstrong,  Bergen, 
N.  J.,  for  collection  of  hot-house  grapes. 

Norn'  avi :::!,!    fot  :  i    . 

there  being  no  competition  under  Ihescheduli  .    For  the 
only  lot  (containin  •  on  :  bunch  of  ear  h  the  Con 

mitti  G  have  recon in  led  adiscrel 

With  regard  to  Native 
gratified,  particularly  with  ihe  quality  ol      •    I  ait,  con- 
sidering tire   present  unfavorabli  a        ire   de- 
posed lo  comiui  nd  nol  only  the  de  i  ;n  of  Ihe  New-';  i    ' 
Fruit  Growers' Society,  in  arrart  display,  so 


est  do., do.,  $5,  to  M.  Olm,  Flushing,  gardener 

Judd,  41  Paik-Row,  1\.  Y. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


339 


interesting  and  instructive,  but  also  Ihe  public  spirit  and 
enterprise  of  Mr.  Orange  Judd,  Editor  of  the  American 
Agriculturist,  who  placed  his  rooms  at  t lie  disposal  of  the 
Society,  and  contributed  the  prize  money  and  entire  ex- 
pense of  the  Exhibition. 

CHAS.  DOWNING,  WM.  C'HORLTON, 

D.  S.  DEWEY,  ISAAC  BUCHANAN, 

JOHN  DAILLEDOUZE.  Committee  o*  Judges. 


Crab   Apples. 


Every  housekeeper  knows  the  value  of  I  his 
fruit  for  sweetmeats  and  jellies,  though  few  arc 
aware  of  the  number  of  varieties  now  in  culti- 
vation, presenting  a  great  difference  in  size  and 
color,  and  all  beautiful.  Aside  from  the  use 
of  its  fruit,  the  tree  is  well  worth  cultivating  for 
ornament.  In  Spring  it  is  covered  with  charm- 
ing flowers,  while  the  fruit  following,  remains  for 
several  months,  and  presents  a  very  showy  ap- 
pearance. Crali  apples  maybe  grown  as  stand- 
ards or  as  dwarfs,  and  in  either  case  when  load- 
ed with  their  brilliant  fruit,  are  most  attractive 
objects!  There  is  now  upon  the  Exhibition  ta- 
bles of  the  Agriculturist  Office  a  collection  of 
crab  apples  from  Frost  &  Co.,  of  the  Genesee 
Valley  Nurseries,  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  which  com- 
prises most  of  the  old  and  new  sorts.  The  largest 
and  finest  colored  is  the  Transcendent  Crab,  and 
it  is  difficult  to  conceive  of  anything  more  beau- 
tiful than  this  in  the  way  of  fruit. — Most  of  the 
crabs  are  from  the  Vaccata  variety  of  the  Pyrua 
mains  i  ir  Siberian  Crab,  and  vary  from  the  size  of 
a  currant  up  to  an  inch  or  more  in  diameter. 
The  "  Lady  Crab  "  does  not  belong  to  the  same 
variety,  and  is  not  a  proper  crab.  It  Is  a  very 
pretty  lit  tic  fruit,  about  one  quarter  the  size 
of  the  common  Lady  Apple,  and  like  that  is  an 
excellent  dessert  fruit.  It  makes  up  in  num- 
bers what  it  lacks  in  size,  for  the  limbs  are 
actually  crowded  with  them. 


Growth  and  Treatment  of  Gooseberries- 

Geo.  H.  Hite,  Esq.,  of  Morrisania,  a  success- 
ful cultivator  of  the  Gooseberry,  sends  his  meth- 
od to  the  American  Agriculturist.  As  his  com- 
munication is  rather  long,  we  extract  the  prin- 
cipal points  of  interest.  Mr.  Hite  does  not 
follow  the  usual  method  of  training  to  a 
single  stem.  He  plants  a  bush  of  one  year's 
growth  and  allows  but  a  single  branch  to  grow 
the  first  year.  The  second  year  several  shoots 
will  spring  up  from  the  root,  and  as  many  of 
these,  say  5  or  6,  are  allowed  to  grow,  as  will 
make  a  frame  work  of  the  bush,  and  all  others 
are  suppressed.  He  allows  these-  limbs  to 
grow  upward,  and  when  side  branches  appear 
on  them,  allows  them  to  grow  to  the  length  of  8 
or  8  inches  and  then  nips  them  off  to  4  inches. 
The  terminal  bud  left  at  the  pinching  will  start 
and  grow  a  few  inches,  when  it  must  be  pinch- 
ed back  to  a  single  leaf.  The  next  spring  be 
cuts  back  the  side  branches  to  the  first  pinching. 
All  laterals  (branches  which  spring  from  the 
main  stems)  must  be  treated  in  the  same  man- 
ner. The  main  stems  or  framework  are  allow- 
ed to  prolong  themselves  undisturbed,  while  the 
side  branches  are  kept  short,  in  the  manner 
above  indicated,  in  order  to  keep  the  bush  free 
and  open  to  admit  light  and  air.  Mr.  Hite 
prevents  mildew,  the  great  obstacle  to  the 
cultivation  of  the  foreign  sorts.  He  puts  a 
quart  of  dry  unleached  wood  ashes  into  a  ves- 
sel that  will  hold  about  5  gallons,  and  pours 
upon  it  3  gallons  of  boiling  water,  stirs  it  for  a 
few  minutes,  and  then  fills  up  the  vessel  with 
cold  water,  the  object  being  to  have  the  solu- 
tion as  hot  as  the  hand  can  bear  without  scald- 


ing. The  application  is  made  by  the  hot  liquid 
being  thrown  forcibly  into  the  bush,  by  means 
of  a  good  sized  garden  syringe.  The  work 
should  be  done  thoroughly,  taking  care  to 
drench  every  berry  and  every  leaf,  both  on  the 
under  and  upper  side.  Early  morning,  when  the 
dew  is  on,  is  the  best  time  for  the  purpose.  The 
application  should  be  first  made  as  soon  as  the 
fruit  is  formed — and  be  continued  from  time  to 
time  as  signs  of  mildew  appear — until  it  is  ma- 
ture. By  growing  his  bushes  in  the  manner 
above  described,  and  persistently  syringing  them 
with  this  solution,  Mr.  II.  succeeds  in  obtain- 
ing the  English  gooseberries  in  great  perfection. 
His  manner  of  training  leaves  the  bush  open 
so  that  the  liquid  can  reach  every  spot.  He 
adds  that  the  same  liquid  with  the  addition  of 
a  tablespoonful  of  sulphur,  has  been  used  by 
him  with  great  success  in  preventing  mildew 
upon  grape  vines. 


What  to  Do  with  the  Lantanas. 

"  E.  P.  H,"  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  furnish- 
es for  the  American  Agriculturist,  his  experience 
with  this  favorite  plant  as  follows  :  Four  years 
ago  a  white  lantana  in  my  garden  seemed  to 
be  so  flourishing  in  October,  that  I  determined 
to  try  it  as  a  house  plant  during  the  Winter. 
The  furnace  beat  of  the  house  allowed  it  to  do 
little  more  than  spindle  out  a  poor  existence 
until  Spring,  all  my  trouble  having  been  in  vain, 
so  far  as  blossoms  were  concerned.  In  May  I 
turned  it  out  into  the  garden,  and  then  came  my 
reward  ;  for  from  June  until  the  end  of  Autumn 
it  was  covered  with  a  profusion  of  its  beautiful 
flowers,  and  the  more  they  were  cut,  the  greater 
was  their  number.  Of  course  it  had  proved  it- 
self too  valuable  to  be  lightly  discarded,  and 
therefore,  it  being  too  C.;rge  for  the  house,  I 
sent  it  to  a  professional  gurdener  to  be  kept 
through  the  Winter.  The  same  plant  is  now  in 
my  garden,  this  being  its  fourth  Summer,  and 
it  is  5  feet  across  horizontally  in  every  direc- 
tion, and  5  feet  high.  Its  trunk  is  4i  inches  in 
circumference  at  the  base,  and  3  inches,  at  11 
feet  above  the  ground,  and  it  is  still  constantly 
covered  with  its  beautiful  blossoms,  which  are 
well  shown  off  against  the  deep  green  leaves. 
I  have  now  two  other  Lantanas,  one  the  com- 
mon yellow  and  the  other  the  deep  orange  col- 
ored, known  to  some  as  "the  Grand  Sultan," 
which  are  now  in  their  third  Summer,  and  a'so 
thrive  equally  well  with  the  treatment  given  to 
the  white.  Cared  for  in  this  way,  the  Lantana, 
instead  of  being  one  of  the  bedding  plants,  to  be 
ranked  with  Verbenas  and  Petunias,  becomes  a 
shrub  or  bush,  not  like  the  Weigelias,  Deutzias, 
and  Spiraeas,  covered  for  a  few  weeks  with  beau- 
tiful flowers,  and  then  resuming  its  sober  coat  of 
green,  but  it  is  always  in  its  holiday  dress. 
Neither  is  the  Lantana  thus  treated  a  delicate 
plant  which  must  be  pampered  with  rich  soils 
and  fed  with  liquid  manures,  but  it  thrives  in 
any  ordinary  garden  soil.  Now  this  may  be  all 
known  to  the  Editors  of  the  Agriculturist,  but  it 
was  not  to  me,  and  I  know  it  is  not  to  many 
others  who  will  look  upon  the  Lantana  as  a  tol- 
erable little  plant,  and  allow  it  to  die  every  Fall. 

[The  Lantana  is  one  of  our  favorite  bedding 
plants;  but  when  grown  in  the  manner  de- 
scribed by  our  correspondent,  it  forms  a  shrub 
of  great  beauty,  and  will  repay  the  trouble  of 
taking  up  and  keeping  through  the  Winter. 
To  those  of  our  readers  who  do  not  know  the 
Lantana,  Ave  can  best  describe  it  as  a  shrubby 
kind  of  verbena.  It  bears  numerous  trusses  of 
small  flowers  which  are  shaped  somewhat  like 


those  of  the  verbena.  There  are  quite  a  num- 
ber of  colors — white,  cream  color,  yellow-,  pur- 
ple and  orange.  The  orange  is  remarkable  for 
the  change  which  takes  place  in  the  coloi  of  the 
flowers:  they  arc  of  a  very  light  orange  when 
they  first  open,  and  gradually  change  to  an 
orange  red.  The  plants  grow  very  readily 
from  cuttings,  and  are  supplied  in  the  Spring  in 
large  quantities  by  the  florists. — Eds.] 

Bulbs   in  Pots. 

There  are  no  more  beautiful  decorations  for 
the  parlor  or  sitting  room  than  Hyacinths,  Cro- 
cuses, Tulips  and  other  bulbs  grown  in  pots. 
They  are  cultivated  with  great  case,  and  with  a 
little  care,  a  succession  of  blooms  may  be  had 
throughout  the  Winter.  The  soil  should  be  light 
and  rich ;  a  sandy  loam  enriched  with  well 
decomposed  cow  manure;  if*  the  loam  lie  not 
light,  a  portion  of  clean  sand  should  he  added. 
Hyacinths  are  general  favorites  for  their  beauty 
of  color  and  delightful  fragrance.  In  selecting 
these,  choose  medium  sized  heavy  bulbs  of  the 
single  varieties,  as  these  flower  much  more  free- 
ly than  the  double  ones.  It  is  also  desirable  to 
get  an  assortment  of  colors  in  order  to  produce 
strong  contrasts.  If  planted  singly,  a  5-inch 
pot  will  answer,  but  a  much  better  effect  is  pro- 
duced where  three  bulbs  of  different  colors  are 
planted  together  in  a  7-inch  pot.  In  potting, 
care  should  be  taken  to  secure  good  drainage; 
place  apiece  of  broken  crock  over  the  hole,  and 
on  this  some  coarse  fragments  of  charcoal  be- 
fore putting  in  the  soil.  The  bulbs  should  then 
be  planted  so  as  to  leave  just  the  crown  uncov- 
ered. Give  the  pots  a  moderate  watering,  and 
then  set  them  away  in  a  warm,  dark  place,  wa- 
tering occasionall}',  until  the  earth  becomes  well 
filled  with  roots.  The  condition  of  the  roots 
can  be  examined  at  any  time  by  inverting  the 
pot  in  the  right  hand,  which  is  spread  out  over 
the  earth;  then  give  the  rim  of  the  pot,  held  in 
the  left  hand,  a  slight  tap  against  the  edge  of  a 
table  or  other  hard  substance.  The  ball  ot 
earth  will  be  loosened  and  the  pot  maybe  care- 
fully lifted  off.  When  plenty  of  roots  are 
found,  the  pots  may  be  brought  to  a  light, 
warm  room,  and  with  liberal  watering  they  will 
soon  give  spikes  of  bloom.  When  the  flower- 
ing is  over  and  the  leaves  become  yellow,  the 
supply  of  water  should  be  diminished  and  the 
bulbs  dried  otf.  When  the  bulbs  are  completely 
ripened,  they  can  be  removed  from  the  earth  and 
kept  for  planting  the  following  Autumn.  If  not 
carefully  ripened,  it  is  better  to  plant  the  bulbs 
out  of  doors  and  take  fresh  ones  for  pot  culture. 
By  potting  bulbs  at  intervals  of  a  week  or  two, 
from  now  until  Christmas,  a  succession  of  bloom 
can  be  kept  up  in  the  house  through  the  Winter. 

The  little  Tulip,  called  Due  Van  Thol,  which 
is  a  dwarf  kind  of  various  colors,  is  best  adapt- 
ed to  pot  culture.  These  may  be  planted  from 
3  to  12  in  a  pot,  and  treated  like  Hyacinths. 
Crocuses  are  much  grown  in  pots,  though  the 
short  duration  of  their  flowers  renders  them  less 
desirable  than  either  hyacinths  or  Tulips.  A 
number  of  them  may  be  planted  in  a  pot  and 
treated  as  directed  above.  These  bulbs,  espec- 
ially the  Hyacinths,  are  sometimes  grown  ill 
water  in  glasses  made  for  the  purpose,  but  they 
are  more  trouble,  and  the  bloom  is  seldom  as 
fine  as  when  in  pots.  They  may  also  be  grown 
in  pure  sand  or  in  wet  moss,  taking  care  in  all 
cases  to  keep  the  bulbs  in  the  dark  until  they 
have  formed  strong  roots.  Narcissus,  Jonquil, 
Iris,  Snowdrop,  and  Scilla  are  readily  grown 
in  pots   and    are   pleasing   home   decorations. 


540 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[November, 


regard    to   the   young 
,  will  have  this  Fall  a 


What  Shall  I  Do  with  my  Grape  Vines? 

- — ♦ 
This  question,  though  not  always  expressed 
in  these  words,  forms  the  burden  of  numerous 
letters  which  have  recently  been  addressed  to 
the  Agriculturist.  We  cannot  answer  these  many 
inquiries  separately,  but 
must  make   a  compre- 
hensive reply,  leaving  it 
to  theiulelligenccof  our 
readers    to  apply  gen- 
eral principles  to  their 
particular    cases. — We 
prefer  pruning    in   the 
earty  part   of   Novem- 
ber, to  postponing  il  toa 
later  season,  as  the  cut 
surface    has     time     to 
harden     and     partially 
heal       before       severe 
weather  sets  in.     Those 
who  have  followed  our 
directions    given   with 
vine  planted  last  Spring 
single  stem.     This  is  simply  to  be  cut  back  to 
within  a  foot  of  the  ground.  Next  Spring,  when 
the  buds  start,  all  but  two  of  them  are  to  be  rub- 
bed    off,     and 
these   two    al- 
lowed to  grow 
during  the  next 
Summer,    tak- 
ing    care      to 
keep  the  stems 
tied  to  a  trel- 
lis or  a  stake, 
asiufig.  1.  The 
side    branches 
which  start  are 
permitted      to 
grow  until  they 
have  made  two  J 
or  three  leaves, 
and   are    then 
pinched    back 
to  a  single  leaf. 
It  is  also  well  to  cheek  the  growth  of  the  stem 
in  September,  by  pinching  off  the  growing  point. 
A  vine  in  this  condition,  having  two  strong  stems 
or  canes  in    the   second    year  of  its  growth, 
is  ready  to  make  two  arms  to  be  laid  down 
to  the  trellis.     If  the  vine  is  a  poor  grower 
and  the  new  canes  are  too  weak  to  form  arms, 
they  are  again  to  be  cut  to  a  single  bud  each,  and 
two  new  and  stronger  canes  obtained  the  follow- 
ing year.     Whenever   two  uprights  of  strong 
wood  are  obtained,  they  arc  to  be  cut  back  to 
three  feet  or  four  feet  in  length,  according  to 
the  plan  of  training  proposed.    It  is  from  these 
arms  that  the  upright  fruit-bearing  wood  is  to 
grow.     If  the  vine  is  intended  to  cover  a  trellis 
6  or  8  feet  high,  the  arms  should  be  3  feet  long, 
and  if  the  trellis  is  to  be  only  4  or  5  feet  high, 
the  arms  may  be  4  feet  each.    The  next  Spring 
the  arms  are  to  be  fastened  to  the  lower  bar  of 
the  trellis,  which  may  be  built  with  wooden 
slats,  on  the   plan  of   Mr.  Knox,  described   in 
the  April  Agriculturist,  or  of  wire,  as  directed  by 
Mr.  Fuller  in  the  August  number.     The   buds 
along  the  arm  will  all  start,  and  all  those  which 
are  not  needed  to  form  upright  canes  should  be 
rubbed  off,  leaving  buds— as  far  as  possible  upon 
the  upper  side — at  8  or  9  inches  apart.     In  this 
third  year  of  the  new  vine,  the   upright  canes 
will  be  formed,  which    are   to   be   tied  to  the 
trellis,  and  in  a  strong  vine  will  bear  three  or  four 
buuehes  each.     Whichever  of  the  two  most 
generally  employed    methods  of    pruning    is 


adopted,  the  treatment  of  the  vine  up  to  this 
point  is  the  same,  but  the  future  management 
is  quite  different.  The  mode  of  training  and 
pruning  adopted  by  Mr.  Fuller  and  many  other 
cultivators,  is  to  grow  the  vine  upon  a  trellis 
4  feet  high,  and  lay  down  the  arms  4  feet   in 


Fig.  1.— SECOND   TEAR. 


POLLER  S    METHOD    OF   FALL    1'IU'NING. 

length  each.  The  treatment  of  a  vine  the  first 
Fall  after  the  arms  are  laid  down,  and  which  has 
single  canes  from  each  bud,  is  to  cut  back  all 
these  uprights  to  within  two  buds  of  the  arms; 
this  will  leave  the  vine  as  represented  on  the 
left-hand  side  of  Fig.  3.  '  The  next  year  a  cane 
will  proceed  from  each  of  these  two  buds,  as 
shown  on  the  right-hand  side  of  the  figure ;  these 
are  to  be  kept  tied  up  to  the  trellis,  and  allowed 
that  season  to  grow  to  the  top,  where  they  are 
pinched  off.  The  Fall  of  the  fourth  year,  one 
of  the  canes  is  to  be  cut  back  to  two  buds,  and 
the  other  cut  away  altogether,  as  in  figure  3 ; 
the  cross  lines  show  the  place  of  each  cutting. 
By  following  this  treatment  each  Fall,  there 
will  always  be  produced  two  upright  canes 
from  each  spur  upon  the  arm — one  of  which  at 
every  Fall  pruning  is  to  be  cut  back  to  two 
buds,  and  the  other  one  removed  altogether. 
During  the  Summer,  the  laterals,  which  do  not 
bear  fruit,  are  pinched  off  to  a  single  leaf,  and 
the  uprights  should  be  pinched  at  the  third 
or  fourth  leaf  beyond  the  last  bunch  of  fruit. 
A  quite  differeut  system  of  pruning  is  follow- 
ed by  Mr.  Knox  and  others.  The  trellis  is  8 
feet  high,  and  the  arms  are  3  feet  in  length ;  each 
producing  4  upright  canes,  which  are  to  have 
the  laterals  or  side  shoots  pinched  off  to  a  single 
leaf  during  the  summer,  and  in  September  the 
end  of  the  upright  shoot  should  be  pinched  off 
to  induce  the  wood  to  ripen.  The  vine  in  the 
Autumn,  after  the 
arms  are  laid 
down,  will  pres- 
ent the  appear- 
ance shown  in  fig. 
4.  The  pruning 
consists  in  cutting 
back  each  alter- 
nate cane  to  two 
buds  only,  and 
shortening  in  the 
others  according 
to  their  strength ; 
thus,  a  vigorous  upright  will  be  left  to  occupy 
the  whole  night  of  the  trellis,  while  a  weak 
cane  is  cut  back  to  four  feet,  more  or  less.  The 
vines  will  present  an  alternation  of  long  canes 
and  of  short  spurs,  each  bearing  two  ej'es.  The 
next  Spring  the  long  canes  will  throw  out  fruit 
bearing  spurs,  which  after  the  fruit  is  set,  are  to 
be  pinched  off  at  the  3d  or  4th  leaf  beyond  the 
last  bunch,  and  all  other  laterals  stopped  off. 
Upon  the  short  spurs,  both  buds  will  start,  and 
the  most  promising  is  allowed  to  grow  while 
the  other  is  removed.     New  canes  will  be  form- 


WUEKE   TO   COT. 


ed  from  these  buds  which  will  fruit  the  follow- 
ing year.  At  the  next  Fall  pruning,  the  old 
canes  are  cut  back  to  two  good  buds,  just  as  the 
others  were  the  year  before,  and  the  new  canes 
shortened  or  not,  as  circumstances  may  require. 
In  this  way  of  pruning,  each  alternate  shoot  is 
cut  back  every  other 
year  to  buds,  only  one  of 
which  is  allowed  to 
grow.  The  advocates  of 
this  system  of  pruning 
claim  that  it  is  better 
adapted  to  our  native 
vines,  than  the  one  first 
described,  as  ours  are 
such  rampant  growers 
that  they  will  not  sub- 
mit to  the  close  confine- 
ment required  by  that, 
— Whatever  method  of 
pruning  is  followed,  the 
vines  should  be  removed 
from  the  trellis  and  laid  down  at  the  approach 
of  cold  weather,  and  in  northern  localities, 
where  the  Winter  is  very  severe,  covered  with 
a  layer  of  light  soil.  All  varieties  of  grapes 
are  benefitted  by  laying  down,  even  if  they  are 
not  covered.  With  perfectly  hardy  varieties, 
merely  removing  from  the  trellis  and  laying  up- 
on the  ground,  is  all  that  is  needed,  but  more 
tender  sorts,  like  the  Diana,  require  protection. 
They  may  be  protected  by  a  covering  of  soil, 
if  it  is  not  too  wet,  by  cedar  boughs,  or  by  a 
few  rough  boards   carefully  laid  over    them. 

n 


Fig.  4.— MR.  KNOX'S  METHOD  OF  PRUNING. 

Advice  is  asked  of  us  very  frequently  about 
pruning  old  and  neglected  vines,  by  those  who 
wish  to  get  them  into  a  shape  for  proper  train- 
ing. As  such  vines  differ  much  as  to  age,  and 
have  been  subjected  to  different  degrees  of  care, 
or  neglect,  it  is  very  difficult  to  give  directions 
without  seeing  each  particular  vine.  The  best 
way  to  treat  an  old  vine  is,  to  layer  good 
vigorous  branches  and  start  arms  from  them, 
as  directed  above  for  young  vines. 


Plants  Suited  to  House  Culture. 

Persons  who  visit  a  florist  and  buy  those 
plants  which  flourish  well  in  the  green-house, 
are  very  apt  to  find  that  they  droop  soon  after 
they  are  taken  home,  and  if  they  do  not  die  al- 
together, they  drag  out  a  lingering  existence. 
The  conditions  of  our  dwellings  are  so  different, 
in  respect  to  temperature,  moisture,  and  light, 
from  those  of  the  green-house,  that  there  are 
but  few  plants  that  will  stand  the  change  with- 
out injury.  It  is  much  belter  to  start  cuttings 
out  of  doors  during  summer,  for  winter  bloom- 
ing.   Plants  obtainad  in  this  way  will  be  much 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


341 


hardier,  and  will  do  much  better  in  the  house, 
than  those  which  have  been  grown  in  the  green- 
house. We  name  a  few  readily  obtained,  which 
do  well   in  rooms  with  a  fair  share  of  care. 

Eoses  —  These  are  put  at  the  head  of  the  list 
as  they  are  such  general  favorites.  Of  the  China 
Roses,  Agrippina,  Sanguinea,  are  very  good 
sorts;  and  the  Indica  for  common  monthly.  Of 
Tea  Roses ;  Safrano,  Odorata,  and  some  others. 

Geraniums.— Rose  Geranium,  always  admired 
for  the  fragrance  of  its  foliage,  and  Tom  Thumb 
or  some  other  of  the  scarlets  for  flowers.  The 
Ivy-leaved  is  pretty  for  both  foliage  and  flow- 
ers, but  it  should  be  grown  upon  a  trellis,  or  in  a 
hanging  basket,  where  it  appears  very  beautiful. 

Verbenas.— These  make  admirable  window 
plants.  They  can  be  kept  in  a  compact  stocky 
form  by   frequently  pinching   off  the   shoots. 

Petunias—  These  do  well,  but  require  some 
care  to  keep  them  from  growing  too  straggling. 

Heliotrope.— Always  desirable  for  its  fragrance. 
Cuttings  started  during  Summer  will  make  good 
blooming  plants  for  the  Winter  following. 

Abutilon.— We  consider  this  one  of  the  most  de- 
sirable plants  for  the  house.  It  is  described  and 
figured  in  the  September  Agriculturist. 

Cu2>hea.—The  little  Cuphea  ignea  (sometimes 
called  platycentra)  is  a  fine  plant  for  the  parlor, 
being  always  covered  with  its  brilliant  flowers. 

For  climbers  the  English  and  Irish  Ivy,  and 
the  plant  called  Mexican  or  German  Ivy  will 
give  a  refreshing  green.  These  may  be  run  up 
over  the  window  on  strings  or  wires.  The 
Canary  Bird  Flower  Tropxolum  peregrinum,  and 
other  Tropoeolums,  will  do  well  in  a  poor  soil. 

To  the  above  list  may  be  added :  Azaleas ; 
Hoya  or  Wax  plant;  Calla  ;  Chinese  Primroses; 
and  Camellias.  The  Camellia  will,  however, 
seldom  bloom  in  a  heated  room ;  the  temper- 
ature should  never  be  over  65". 


drying  done  very  expeditiously.     The  plan  of  a 
convenient  drying  frame  is  represented  in  the 


Hints  on  Drying  Apples. 


Apples  not  wanted  for  family  use  may  be 
turned  to  very  good  account  in  feeding  stock, 
but  they  will  give  much  better  return  by  care- 
fully drying  them.  Although  the  season  for 
gathering  this  fruit  is  mostly  past,  many  bar- 
rels will  not  keep  until  used  at  home ;  if  sent  to 
a  distant  market,  freight  expenses  would  con- 
sume most  of  their  value,  and  no  better  dispo- 
sition can  be  made  of  them  than  to  prepare  them 
for  sale  in  the  dried  state.  The  demand  for  such 
fruit  is  at  present  almost  unlimited,  and  those 
who  prepare  it,  may  not  only  have  the  satisfac- 
tion of  receiving  good  prices,  but  also  of  know- 
ing that  a  large  part  of  the  stock  will  go  to  im- 
prove the  fare  of  our  soldiers,  to  whom  they 
will  be  a  real  luxury.  The  work  may  be  great- 
ly facilitated  with  proper  apparatus.  The 
"  turn-table  "  apple  parer,  of  which  several  mod- 
ifications are  to  be  found  at  most  hardware 
stores,  is  a  great  time  and  labor  saver.  Where 
the  amount  is  small,  the  coring  and  slicing  may 
be  done  with  the  common  knife;  but  where 
large  quantities  are  to  be  prepared,  a  circular 
cutter  of  tin  to  remove  the  core  and  a  sheer 
having  several  blades  which  will  finish  the  work 
at  a  single  stroke,  are  desirable.  At  this  season 
most  of  the  drying  must  be  done  within  doors; 
and  if  properly  managed,  this  method  is  prefer- 
able at  all  times.  A  drying  room  may  be  cheap- 
ly fitted  up  with  a  stove  having  the  pipe  near 
the  floor  and  extending  lengthwise  of  the  room. 
The  frames  or  racks  containing  the  fruit  maybe 
placed  in  tiers  directly  over  the  pipes,  and  the 


accompanying  illustration,  designed  by  one  of 
the  editors  of  the  Journal  of  Health.  The  up- 
right posts  of  the  frame  a,  are  two  inches 
square  with  strips  about  one  inch  square 
nailed  across,  far  enough  apart  to  admit 
a  rack  between  them,  and  braced  with  inch 
strips  at  the  back,  as  shown  in  the  engraving. 
The  rack  b,  is  four  feet  long,  and  about  eigh- 
teen inches  wide,  made  of  common  wall  lath 
nailed  on  a  strip  at  each  end,  about  one  fourth  of 
an  inch  apart,  or  nearer  if  required  to  dry  small 
fruits.  Or  they  could  be  constructed  of  "  galvan- 
ized "  wire  cloth,  which  would  be  preferable, 
though  of  course  more  expensive.  A  lath  or  strip 
of  board  one  inch  wide  is  nailed  round  the 
edge,  to  prevent  the  fruit  falling  off.  These 
racks  are  slipped  in  upon  the  side  supports  as 
shown  in  the  figure.  The  legs  of  the  frame 
may  be  made  sufficiently  high  to  admit  of  its 
being  placed  directly  over  the  stove  pipe,  from 
which  a  current  of  heated  air  will  pass  up 
among  the  sliced  fruit,  and  dry  it  very 
rapidly.  There  should  be  good  ventilation  of 
the  room  to  carry  off  the  air  as  it  becomes  sat- 
urated with  moisture.  The  more  rapidly  fruit 
can  be  dried,  without  exposure  to  high  heat,  the 
better  will  be  its  flavor  and  color.  Drying 
within  doors  also  has  the  advantage  that  flies 
and  other  insects  can  be  excluded  by  mosquito 
netting  at  the  windows,  or  openings  for  venti- 
lation. One  or  two  cents  per  pound  over  the 
ordinary  price,  which  will  be  readily  realized 
for  nicely  dried  fruit,  will  in  most  cases  well  re- 
pay the  extra  cost  of  all  the  needed  appliances. 


Treatment  of  the  Croup. 

• — 

A  "  Physician's  Wife,"  at  Carrol  Co.,  111.,  writes 
to  the  American  Agriculturist :  "  Croup  gives  warn- 
ing in  advance,  and  woe  to  the  mother  who  fails  to 
heed  that  warning.  Last  Sunday  morning  the  good 
of  the  sermon  was  lost  to  me  by  the  dry  hacking 
croup  cough  of  a  little  boy  in  one  of  the  front 
seats.  As  the  sermon  progressed  the  coughing 
grew  deeper  and  harder,  and  I  thought  the  services 
would  never  get  throujrh.  A  mother  in  front  of 
me  clutched  nervously  at  her  shawl  every  time  the 
little  fellow  coughed,  as  if  she  would  fain  pull  it  off 
and  wrap  it  around  the  child.  There  he  sat  with  a 
low  necked  jacket  on  the  throat,  and  part  of  the 
chest  exposed  and  bare ;  the  sight  of  a  corpse  would 
hardly  have  chilled  me  more.  I  was  a  stranger  to 
the  lady  who  sat  beside  him,  but  learned  it  was  his 
mother.  '  Do  you  know  your  child  has  got  the 
croup  ?'  said  a  woman  as  she  came  up  the  aisle. 
'  Yes,  he  was  croupy  last  night,'  she  replied  quiet- 
ly. '  Wby  don't  you  tie  some  thing  round  his  neck 
then  ?'  said  the  friend,  '  and  if  you  want  to  save  his 
life,  give  him  an  emetic  when  you  get  home;  rub 
liniment  on  his  throat  and  chest,  and  get  him  in  a 
perspiration,  keep  him  warm  for  a  day  or  two  aud 
eive  him  lierbt.  diet.'    The  mother  passed  out  and  I 


hope  she  followed  the  directions.  'Who  is  it?'  I 
inquired  of  the  friend.  '  O,  it's  Mrs.  Blank,'  was 
the  reply,  '  it's  not  two  weeks  since  she  buried  a 
child.'  There  is  no  disease  more  simple  to  cure  than 
croup  at  its  outset,  inflammatory  croup  excepted, 
and  no  disease  more  baffling  to  physicians  when 
allowed  to  proceed  too  far.  Now  is  the  croup 
harvest ;  one  day  is  warm,  another  is  cold,  and  iu 
many  families  the  winter  clothes  are  not  ready  un 
til  near  Christmas.  This  ought  not  to  be.  Moth 
ers  ought  always  to  have  some  simple  remedy  or 
hand  for  child  diseases,  for  with  many  families  i 
doctor  is  so  distant,  and  his  being  at  home  sc 
uncertain,  that  sickness  may  have  made  fatal  pro 
gress  before  he  arrives.  The  butchering  season 
is  at  hand  now,  and  it  is  proverbially  croupy. 
Fresh  sausages  aud  pork  steak  are  too  temptingfor 
the  children's  appetites ;  and  the  stomach  out  of 
order,  I  have  noticed,  will  bring  on  croup,  nearly 
as  soon  as  taking  cold.  A  mother  who  seldom 
employs  a  doctor,  said  to  mo,  'I  Lave  never  known 
an  emetic  to  Aril  in  curing  croup  if  given  in  time.' 
It  is  always  used  in  our  family,  aud  always  with 
the  same  success."  [See  simple  cough  remedies 
in  the  October  Agriculturist. — Ed.] 


Designs  for  Ornamenting   Cravats. 

MissS.  R.  Bowman,  Philadelphia  Co.,  Pa.,  contrib- 
utes to  the  Agriculturist  the  accompanying  designs 
for  ornamenting  the  ends  of  gentlemen's  silk  cra- 
vats. They  should  be  worked  in  fancy  colored 
silks,  crimson,  blue  or  buff,  to  suit  the  taste  and 
complexion.  The  edges  of  the  ends  may  be  worked 
with  either  points  aud  dots,  or  finished  with  a  hem, 
and  stitched  or  chain  stitched  in  one  or  two  rows, 
with  silk  to  match  the  principal  design.  The  cra- 
vat itself  is  best  made  of  plain  black,  either  ribbou 
or  dress  silk.  To  our  individual  taste  the  plain 
neckerchief  or  tie,  without  any  such  addition,  is 
more  becoming  to  any  gentleman,  old  or  young, 
but  fashion  decides  otherwise,  and  most  young 
men  will  be  in  the  fashion  if  possible.  A  neck  tie 
neatly  ornamented  in  this  mauner  would  be  a  very 
suitable  present  from  a  young  lady  to  a  gentleman, 
on  the  approaching  holidays.  Articles  made  by 
the  hands  of  a  friend  are  more  highly  valued 
than  those  purchased. 


How  to  Fold  a  Lady's  Dress. 

Miss  S.  R.  Bowman,  Philadelphia  Co.,  Pa.,  con- 
tributes the  following  directions  for  the  American 
Agriculturist :  Take  the  exact  quarters  of  the  dress, 
from  the  bottom  of  the  skirt,  to  the  sleeves,  double 
them  together  with  the  bosom  out;  then  on  a 
bed,  lay  the  skirt  perfectly  smooth,  and  begin  at  the 
bottom  to  fold  it  up,  just  the  width  of  the  trunk  or 
drawer.    The  waist  and  sleeves  will  fold  nicely  to- 


343 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[November, 


gether,  and  must  be  laid  outside  the  folds  of  the 
skirt.  Then  double  over  the  cuds,  to  lit  1  lie  length 
of  the  trunk  or  valise,  and  it  may  be  carried  very 
smoothly  without  taking  much  room.  For  a  ear- 
pet-bag,  it  is  better  to  roll  it,  which  may  be  done 
very  tightly  without  rumpling. 


Parlors  and  Parlor  Ornaments. 

We  Americans  are  a  wonderfully  utilitarian 
people,  yet  few  seem  to  realize  that  there  is  utility 
in  refined  enjoyment.  We  have  often  alluded  to 
the  stiff,  dark,  shut  up  parlors  or  "  best  rooms", 
too  good  to  use,  aud  which,  while  scrupulously  neat 
and  furnished  with  chairs,  tables,  sofas,  and  hand- 
some lamps  or  candlesticks,  are  so  utterly  lacking 
in  attractiveness  that  they  would  be  shunned  by 
every  member  of  the  family  were  the  blinds  not 
closed  aud  the  curtain  down,  the  air  close  and 
every  thing  kept  ever  in  appropriate  order  for  a 
funeral.  A  stranger  shown  into  one  of  these  rooms 
has  nothing  to  do  but  twirl  his  fingers  and  wait. 
The  blinds  are  turned  and  throw  an  uncertain  light 
into  the  prevalent  obscurity,  and  there  is  not  a 
thing  to  look  at  but  some  old  fashioned  annuals  or 
gift  books  and  the  family  portraits  perhaps.  Now 
it  requires  a  great  deal  of  training  to  destroy  in 
man  or  woman  the  love  of  the  beautiful,  and,  it  is  as 
natural  for  a  girl  to  put  flowers  iu  her  hair  as  to  put 
cherries  in  her  mouth  ;  each  act  is  done  for  her  own 
enjoyment.  Her  staid  mother  regards  the  fruit  as 
food  and  the  flowers  as  vanity.  So,  gradually  the 
natural  taste  and  love  for  having  beautiful  things 
about  her  is  educated  out  of  the  daughter  of  this 
frugal  housewife  aud  excellent  mother.  The 
guest  who  is  not  a  stranger  is  shown  into  the  "  sit- 
ting room"  or  kitchen  at  once,  and  receives  hos- 
pitable welcome  that  more  than  takes  the  place 
of  a  welcome  which  might  be  extended  to  the 
stranger,  not  in  words,  but  by  the  pleasant  sur- 
roundings of  a  bright,  fresh,  genial  room,  adorned 
with  flowers,  pictures,  and  other  interesting  objects, 
Hi'  windows  of  which  look  out  upon  a  pleasant 
flower  garden,  grassplot,  or  distant  hills  and  valleys. 

If  any  young  lady  reader  of  the  Agriculturist 
knows  any  such  stiff,  close,  shut  up  parlor  within  a 
mile  or  two  of  her  comfortable,  light,  sitting  room, 
and  follows  our  counsels,  she  will  get  up  bright 
aud  early  somemorniug,  and  first,  opeu  the  windows 
to  see  from  which  the  pleasantest  views  are  ob- 
tained, aud  then  leave  the  bliuds  open  and  the 
curtains  drawn,  at  least  at  the  most  attractive 
one.  Then  she  will  set  the  chairs  at  an  easy  angle 
as  if  somebody  had  been  sitting  so  that  he  could 
cast  an  occasional  glance  at  the  prospect.  If  there 
is  a  centre  table,  place  a  few  of  the  most  attractive 
books,  engravings,  or  photographs,  she  has  upon 
it,  and  then  picking  some  flowers,  arrange  them 
in  a  plate  of  sand  and  moss,  or  in  a  loose  easy  bou- 
quet with  pretty  green  leaves,  and  place  this  among 
the  books  aud  pictures,  (don't  try  to  make  a  still' 
green-house  bouquet) ;  or  arrange  both  the  plate  aud 
the  bouquet,  put  the  former  on  the  table  aud  the 
latter  on  the  mantelpiece.  Now  she  may  draw  up 
the  rocking  chair  near  to  the  centre  table,  selecting 
that  spot  from  which  the  room,  the  tabic,  aud  the 
window  will  all  look  prettiest,  where  also  the  chair 
itself  will  have  an  inviting,  hospitable  look  to 
one  entering  the  door.  This  done,  let  her  take  a 
seat  at  the  window  or  table,  imagine  herself  a 
stranger,  and  think  how  she  would  feel.  See  if  the 
room  offers  not  only  a  welcome,  but  attractions 
Which  will  in  a  measure  make  good  the  lack  of  her 
own  society,  while  she  is  washing  her  hands, 
taking  off  her  apron,  and  making  ready  to  receive 
her  guest.  Finally  set  the  door  open,  and  fasten 
it,  if  the  chronic  tendency  to  stay  shut  makes  it 
swing  to.  This  is  what  may  be  done  iu  a  parlor, 
without  outlay  cither  in  money  or  labor  for  other 
adornments  than  those  which  the  garden  and  libra- 
ry of  every  well-to-do  farmer's  family  affords. 

The  outlay  of  a  little  money  and  the  exercise  of 
a  little  good  fastc  will  furnish  any  room  with  many 
additional  attractions,  without  considering  house- 
plants  which  add  so  much  to  the  agreeableness  of 
any  apartment.     The  multiplication  of  beautiful 


photographic  pictures,  copies  of  distinguished 
work-  of  art,  which  arc  sold  af.  very  moderate 
rates,  places  a.  most  elegant  and  interesting  class  of 
parlor  ornaments  within  the  meaus  of  almost  every 
one.  Really  beautiful  engravings  or  lithographs 
even,  are  much  more  expensive— and  let  us  beseech 
our  readers  to  content  themselves  with  flowers 
alone,  rather  than  make  use  of  the  cheap  colored 
lithographs  which  are  so  apt  to  attract  those  of  un- 
cultivated taste. 


Rustic   Picture  Frames. 


Rustic  work  for  (his  and  other  purposes  is  in 
great  favor  now-a-days  in  the  fashionable  world, 
and  many  and  beautiful  are  the  imitations  of  bark, 
rough  wood,  leaves,  viues  and  moss  upon  bark  and 
twigs  of  trees,  etc.  These  are  cast  in  bronze,  zinc 
and  iron,  for  picture  frames  and  similar  purposes. 
Papier-mache  is  also  pressed  into  a  multitude  of 
rustic  forms  of  great  beauty,  and  the  wood  carvers 
exercise  their  skill  in  producing  in  oak,  black  wal- 
nut aud  butternut,  devices  representing  rural  tilings. 
With  a  little  care  in  selection  and  skill  in  handling- 
tools,  we  may  frame  our  photographs  and  engrav- 
ings and  crayons  Willi  rustic  work  as  much  more 
beautiful  than  the  costly  products  of  the  bronze 
foundry,  as  nature  is  supcriorto  art.  Oak  wood  de- 
nuded of  the  bark  presents  a  beautifully  corrugated 
surface,  out  of  which  the  knife  easily  removes  the 
few  fibres  which  adhere,  aud  it  is  ready  for  varnish- 
ing as  soon  as  it  is  seasoned.  The  "season  cracks" 
should  they  occur  maybe  filled  with  dark  brown 
putty  and  will  even  highteu  the  general  effect. 
Natural  sears,  knots,  spots  whore  branches  have 
been  removed  or  only  short  spurs  left,  all  add  great- 
ly to  the  ornamental  effect.  Pieces  of  suitable  di- 
ameter, sawed  carefully  iu  two  lengthwise,  are  very 
easily  worked,  matched  at  the  corners,  etc.,  and 
make  strong  durable  frames.  Wood  having  beau- 
tiful bark,  uot  too  rough,  covered  partly  perhaps  by 
close  clinging  lichens,  is  very  pretty,  wrought  into 
frames  in  the  same  way,  and  when  one  once  begins 
to  make  such  things  it  is  remarkable  how  many 
beautiful    objects  he   will  find  ready  to   his  hand. 


Preparing  for  Cold  Weather. 


The  change  of  temperature  from  the  90*  of  Sum- 
mer to  the  freezing  and  zero  points  of  Winter,  ne- 
cessitates no  little  preparation  to  secure  continued 
health  and  comfort.  The  most  important  part  of 
this  work  is  to  have  the  body  itself  iu  right  condi- 
tion. No  extra  amount  of  clothing  will  secure  ge- 
nial warmth,  if  the  heat-producing  organs  in  the 
system  fail  to  properly  perform  their  functions. 
As  most  readers  are  aware,  our  garments  are  not 
needed  so  much  to  keep  the  cold  out,  as  to  keep  in 
the  heat  which  arises  from  slow  combustion  of 
part  of  the  food  in  the  system.  A  person  with 
vigorous  digestion,  active  circulation,  aud  a  clean 
skin,  will  feel  comfortable  with  an  amount  of  cloth- 
ing under  which  a  dyspeetic  or  consumptive  would 
shiver  with  cold.  The  out-door  life  of  the  farmer 
usually  secures  the  right  working  of  his  heat  pro- 
ducing apparatus,  but  the  female  portion  of  (he 
community  need  instruction  and  care  on  this  point. 
More  out-door  exercise  is  wanted  to  give  tone  and 
vigor  to  the  system,  and  prepare  it  for  any  changes 
of  weather.  Some  regard  should  be  had  to  the 
character  of  (he  food,  with  reference  to  maintain- 
ing auimal  heat.  That  containing  a  large  portion  of 
carbon  is  best  fitted  for  cold  weather,  as  fat  meat, 
buckwheat  cakes,  etc.,  which  wisely  form  a  large 
part  of  the  staple  provisions  iu  Winter.  We  re- 
peat a  bint  frequently  given  in  the  American  Agri- 
riilliirix/,  on  keeping  the  feet  warm.  As  they  are 
constantly  in  use,  perspiration  is  more  copious 
there  than  in  some  other  parts  of  the  body,  and 
hence  the  socks  soon  become  damp.  In  that  state 
they  rapidly  conduct  heat  away,  and  cold  extremi- 
ties and  the  resulting  evils  of  "  taking  cold,"  and 
other  derangements,  often  follow.  The  preventive 
is  to  wipe  the  feet  dry,  and  change  the  socks  dur- 
ing the  day.     Bathing  the  feet  iu  cold  water  in  the 


morning  and  rubbing  them  well  with  a  coarse  tow- 
el will  aid  in  making  them  less  sensitive  to  cold. 
It  is  unwise  to  defer  putting  on  thicker  clothing 
until  late  iu  the  Fall.  The  rapid  change  from  warm 
lo  cooler  weather  iu  Autumn,  is  often  more  trying 
to  thehcalththan  the  severer  cold  of  settled  Winter. 

In  arrangements  for  heating  dwellings,  economy 
of  fuel  is  worth  considering,  but  not  to  the  disre- 
gard of  the  health  of  the  occupants.  It  is  possible 
to  make  a  room  nearly  air  light,  and  thus  keep  out 
every  breath  of  wind  that  might  "bring  in  the 
cold,"  but  it  would  soon  become  unfit  for  occu- 
pancy. There  is  very  generally  great  disregard  to 
ventilation,  especially  in  Winter.  If  is  desirable  to 
avoid  cold  drafts  from  crevices  in  the  doors  and 
windows,  but  better  leave  these,  than  not  provide 
for  the  escape  of  the  vitiated  air,  and  the  ingress  of 
that  which  is  pure.  A  ventilating  flue  connected 
with  the  chimney,  such  as  was  described  in  the 
Agriculturist,  Vol.  XX,  p.  SOP,  (Oct.,  18111,)  is  well 
adapted  for  this  purpose.  A  large  sized  stove  is 
more  economical  and  less  prejudicial  to  health  than 
a  small  one.  Iu  the  latter  it  is  uecessary  to  keep 
flic  fire  brisk,  and  the  rapid  draft  carries  away 
through  the  pipe  a  much  larger  proportion  of  the 
heat  produced,  thau  would  escape  were  the  fire  only 
moderate.  The  stove  must  also  often  be  kept 
nearly  or  quite  red-hot  to  supply  sufficient  warmth, 
and  this  rapidly  spoils  the  air  for  breathing.  In 
large  stoves,  both  these  difficulties  arc  obviated ;  the 
fuel  is  more  slowly  consumed,  and  a  more  moder- 
ate temperature  is  diffused  from  the  greater  surface. 

Before  putting  up  stoves  and  building  fires  for 
Hie  Winter,  examine  all  flues  and  be  careful  that  no 
defects  will  allow  the  escape  of  fire  to  ignite  sur- 
rounding wood-work,  aud  also  that  there  be  no 
danger  of  conflagration  from  soot  which  may  have 
collected  during  the  previous  year. 


Put  Water  on  the  Stove.— Important. 


This  subject  has  been  referred  to  in  some  pre- 
vious volumes  of  the  American  Agriculturist,  bni  is 
so  important  iu  respect  both  to  health  and  comfort, 
that  we  refer  to  it  again.  Let  the  reader  look  a 
little  into  the  science  of  the  matter;  the  practical 
lessons  to  be  learned,  will  be  useful.  The  air  acts 
upon  water  like  a  sponge;  it  sucks  up  and  secretes 
more  or  less  of  the  fluid,  but  with  this  difference, 
viz.,  that  the  warmer  the  air,  the  more  water  will 
it  secrete.  For  illustration,  take  a  room  12  by  15 
feet  and  9  feet  high,  which  coutains  1630 cubic  feet 
of  air.  This  amount  of  air  at  the  freezing  point 
(82°  F.)  will  contain  only  3807  grains,  or  a  little  over 
J^  pint  of  water.  Heat  the  air  to  50°,  and  it  will 
absorb  6889  grains  or  very  nearly  a  full  pint.  Heat 
the  air  to  70°  or  barely  to  a  comfortable  summer 
warmth,  and  it  will  absorb  12,863  grains  or  nearly 
a  quart  of  water.  Heat  the  same  air  to  a  100°  or 
fust  above  blood  warmth,  and  it  will  absorb  30,975 
grains,  or  nearly  2}o  quarts  of  water!  That  is,  in- 
creasing the  temperature,  increases  the  capacity  of 
the  air  to  absorb  water.  In  a  cold  room  the  air 
often  feels  damp;  warm  the  air  by  a  stove  and  it 
becomes  dry  audunpleasant — the  moisture  hasbeen 
absorbed  aud  hidden  ill  the  air,  aud  Hie  sponge-like 
capacity  of  the  air  draws  the  moisture  from  the  skin. 

On  the  contrary,  cooling  the  air  lessensits  capac- 
ity to  hold  water,  aud  it  deposites  the  surplus.  A 
tumbler  of  cold  water  cools  (he  air  near  it,  and  the 
surplus  moisture  is  deposited  upon  the  outside  of 
the  glass.  The  window  panes  exposed  to  the  out- 
side cold,  cool  the  adjoining  air  on  the  inside,  and 
(lie  moisture  is  deposited  on  the  glass.  The  air 
thus  cooled  sinks  down,  more  warm  air  takes  i(s 
place,  and  more  moisture  is  deposited,  until  the 
glass  is  dripping  wet,  and,  perhaps,  the  water  freezes 
upon  (he  windows.  A  cold  current  of  air  meets  a 
warmer  one  in  the  atmosphere,  and  chills  it ;  the 
moisture  previously  concealed  is  thrown  out  in  the 
form  of  vapor  or  clouds,  and  when  the  deposit  is 
large,  the  watery  particles  unit  e  and  descend  in  rain 
drops.  (Digging  a  soil,  that  is  opening  the  cooler 
soil  to  admit  the  hot  atmosphere,  causes  a  conden- 
sation of  moisture;  hence  the  advice  to  hoe  fre- 
quently to  alleviate  the  effects  of  a  severe  drouth.) 


1863.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


343 


The  practical  lesson  now  aimed  at,  is,  tli.it  when 
we  heat  the  ah- of  a  room  by  a  stove  or  furnace, 
we  make  it  a  drying  Bpbngc,  and  it  sticks  up  the 
air  from  the  surface  of  our  bodies  and  from  the 
lungs,  and  not  only  produces  unpleasant  sensations, 
but  injures  the  health,  to  say  nothing  of  its  drying 
out  and  cracking  or  warping  furniture.  To  remedy 
this, there  should  always  be  an  artificial  supply  of 
moist  ure  to  the  air  when  heated  by  a  store  or  fur- 
(Tue  open  chimney  or  grate  carries  off  so 
much  air,  causing  the  introduction  of  fresh  cool 
air,  that  t  lie  dryness  is  not  so  greatly  felt.)  A  wide 
open  vessel  of  water  on  a  stove,  partially  supplies 
moisture.  But  even  this  is  not  enough  for  the 
greatest  comfort  and  health.  A  cloth  frequently 
dampened  and  hung  on  a  chair  or  frame  near  the 
stove,  is  preferable.  Everyone  must  have  noted 
the  balmy  effect  of  a  few  clot  lies  hung  on  a  frame  to 
dry  in  a  hot  room.  We  heat  our  whole  house  by  a 
hot-air  furnace  in  the  cellar,  as  being  the  most 
economical  as  well  as  Jfic  most  convenient  and 
comfortable  method.  Bui  tie:  warm  air  comes  up 
saturated  with  moisture  derived  from  a  wide  vessel 
placed  within  the  furnace  cover,  just  over  the  fire, 
and  always  kepi  supplied  with  water.  The  lack  of 
sufficient  water  apparatus  has  caused  many,  other- 
wise good,  furnaces  to  be  thrown  aside  as  disagree- 
able and  unhealthy.  The  so-called  "  burned  air  " 
is  simply  deprived  of  sensible  moisture.  A  stove- 
heated  room  may  be  made  far  more  pleasant  by 
supplying  plenty  of  moisture. 

Let  Teachers,  ami  Sextons  of  churches,  net  upon 
the  above  suggestions,  and  keep  a  spacious  wide- 
mouthed  evaporating  vessel  upon  the  stove.  If 
this  does  not  suffice,  and  at  anytime  the  pupils 
appear  specially  restless,  try  the  hanging  of  a  few 
clamp  handkerchiefs  or  garments  on  chairs  near 
the  stove.     The  effect  will  often  be  almost  magical. 

How  to  Pickle   Cucumbers- 

In  response  to  several  inquiries  from  Agricultur- 
ist subscribers,  we  publish  the  following  directions 
given  by  Mrs.  Haskell,  in  her  Housekeepers'  Ency- 
clopedia :  Cut  the  cucumbers  from  the  vines  with- 
out bruising  the  stems;  lay  them  carefully  in  a 
basket  ;  take  them  to  the  cellar  ;  sort  and  pack 
them  in  barrels,  putting  different  sizes  in  separate 
barrels,  spread  a  layer  of  salt  between  each  layer  of 
cucumbers  ;  there  should  be  sufficient  salt  to  en- 
tirely cover  the  pickles  between  the  layers.  Con- 
tinue to  pack  the  cucumbers  dailyas  they  are  pick- 
ed, never  using  any  but  line  cucumbers,  discarding 
all  that  are  crooked  or  of  slow  growth.  Keep 
boards  over  the  pickles,  and  weight  to  press  them 
under  the  brine,  which  will  be  formed  without  the 
addition  of  water,  with  the  juice  extracted  from  the 
fruit  by  the  salt.  Pickles  packed  in  this  manner 
may  be  preserved  for  years,  if  there  are  no  impuri- 
ties in  the  salt  ;  but  if  the  salt  is  mixed  with  lime, 
they  will  soon  soften  and  spoil.  In  two  mouths 
after  the  barrel  is  tilled,  take  them  from  the  brine, 
freshen  and  green.  To  green  cucumbers,  prepare 
alum-water;  put  the  pickles  in  a  vat  or  boiler, 
lined  with  tinned  copper;  heat  the  alum -water,  and 
pour  it  over  the  pickles.  This  is  the  process 
which  is  usually  employed  by  pickle-makers,  except 
that  they  throw  steam  into  the  vats  to  heat  the 
alum-water,  and  if  managed  properly  the  pickles 
may  be  greened  with  less  action  of  copper  than 
when  scalded  in  the  usual  method  in  bright  brass 
kettles.  Take  the  pickles  from  the  vat  when  a  lit- 
tle green,  and  pour  over  them  water  boiling  hot. 
If  not  greened  sufficiently,  repeat  the  hot  water 
until  they  are  the  desired  color,  and  when  cold,  put 
them  in  good  vinegar,  let  them  remain  until  quite 
soured;  then  change  to  pretty  strong  vinegar, 
which  will  keep  the  pickles  hard  and  sour;  add  to 
a  barrel  six  large  peppers,  without  bruising,  and 
keep  the  pickles  under  the  vinegar  with  weights. 


To  B>y«'  ivil.li  SsassiacJi.— Miss  Lizzie  M. 
Coggeshall,  Piatt.  Co.,  111.,  sends  the  following  di- 
rections in  answer  to  the  inquiry  iii  the  October 
Agriculturist:  Cover  the  berries  with  water  and 
boil  them  an  hour.     Strain  off  the  juice  and  add  a 


tablespoonful  of  copperas  to  each  three  gallons  of 
the  liquid,  stirring  it  in  thoroughly  while  boiling 
hot.  Wet  the  yarn  in  warm  water,  put  it  into 
the  hot  dye,  and  occasionally  stir  it  up,  while  the 
yarn  is  taking  the  color.  The  color  will  be  purple, 
and  it  can  be  made  darker,  by  boiling  the  berries 
in  an  iron  pot. — Another  correspondent  writes  : 
"For  one  pail  of  rain  water,  take  G  qts.  of  the  ber- 
ries, soak  them  in  iron  34  hours;  then  take  them 
out  and  put  in  the  yarn.  Stir  it  often  aud  keep  the 
dye  hot,  but  not  boiling,  while  soaking.  If  you 
wish  to  color  black,  set  it  with  copperas ;  it  needs 
no  setting  unless  to  color  black." 


Meals  for  a  Week. 

Some  months  since  a  correspondent  requested 
through  the  Agriculturist  "  Basket,"  that  some 
one  would  furnish  a  list  of  meals  for  a  week  which 
should  combine  economy  aud  good  fare.  Several 
communications  have  been  received,  of  which  we 
have  space  but  for  the  following.  "  II.,"  of  Rail- 
way, N.  J.,  writes  :  "My  living  expenses  being  re- 
duced since  the  war  from  $3000  per  annum,  to  less 
than  the  fourth  part  of  that  .sum,  economy  is  the 
strict  rule :  and  I  send  you  an  account  of  one  week's 
meals  of  our  family  of  five  (three  adults  and  two 
children,  one  an  infant).  The  cost  is  estimated  a 
little 'too  high,  as  the  month  just  past  averaged  15 
ceuts  per  week  less. 

Breakfast. — Each  morning  buckwheat  calces,  cold 
meat,  tea  and  coffee;  excepting  that  on  Monday 
and  Thursday,  eggs  are  served  instead  of  cakes. 

Dinner. — Sunday,  Monday  and  Tuesday,  roast- 
beef,  potatoes,  turnips,  and  bread  pudding — omit- 
ting the  pudding  on  Monday.  Wednesday,  roast- 
pork,  potatoes,  turnips  and  onion  sauce.  Thursday 
the  same  with  pancakes.  Friday,  corned  beef,  po- 
tatoes, turnips  aud  batter  pudding.  Saturday,  the 
same  except  bread  budding.     Tea  at  each  dinner. 

Ten. — Toast,  preserves,  tea  and  coffee,  and  twice, 
fried  kidneys  extra. 

The  cost  of  the  above  meals  was,  say 
14  loaves  of   bread,  5c.  eae.ll  "OjlO1^  lbs.  of   beef,   He. .84 
5    His.  of  pork,  10c. .50 


2    beef  kidneys,  5c.. 10 

Onions, ' 10 

Synip,    1  quart 14 

'.i  doz.  eggs,  20  ets.  .60 

i  lb.  flour 3 

Nutmeg,  yeast,  se.lt.  25 


5  lbs.  granulated   sugar,  15c. .75 

2  lbs.  brown  sugar,  lOcts 20| 

1  lb.  of  coflec,    Its' 

i,   lb.   of  tea.  88c 22 

4  lbs.  of  buckwheat, 161 

2\  ll.s.  of  belter.  28  els 77 

14  pints  of  milk,  6c.  per  qt 42| 

Total  expense  for  the  week ;-;o.  10. 

Tea  we  drink  weak  ;  coffee  very  strong.  Potatoes 
aud  turnips  are  my  own  growiug,  and  preserves 
made  from  fruit  of  our  own  raising.  Beef  at  8  ets. 
is  the  rump  which  hung  for  a  week,  roasted  slowly 
say  :i}{  hours,  and  well  basted,  is  equal  if  not  supe- 
rior to  porterhouse  roast." 

Anothereorrcspondeut,  "C,"  at  Andovcr,  Mass., 
gives  the  following:  "Breakfast. — Monday,  toast- 
ed bread,  either  Graham  or  brown,  also  white 
bread  ;  sauce  and  cheese,  or  broiled  salt  fish. — 
Tuesday,  milk  toast  and  doughnuts,  crust  coffee  or 
cocoa  shells,  and  boiled  eggs. — Wednesday,  warm 
biscuit  and  molasses  gingerbread,  with  some  slices 
of  cold  meat  left  from  yesterday's  dinner. — Thurs- 
day, hot  Indian  breakfast  cake,  cold  bread,  baked 
apples,  cheese,  beefsteak  and  baked  potatoes. — 
Friday,  griddle  cakes  aud  roasted  apples,  chocolate 
or  tea,  cold  bread  and  hash.— Saturday,  toast  dip- 
ped in  hot  salted  water  and  buttered,  mashed  or 
roasted  potatoes,  cold  meat  or  boiled  eggs,  and 
doughnuts.— Sunday,  fish  balls,  a  hot  breakfast 
cake  of  Graham  flour  or  fried  hasty  pudding;  pick- 
les and  horse-radish. 

" Dinners. — Monday,  beefsteak,  potatoes,  squash, 
bread  aud  butter,  baked  apples  or  sauce,  and  apple 
or  squash  pie. — Tuesday,  roast  beef,  or  fresh  pork, 
boiled  squash,  turnips,  cranberry  sauce  or  pickles, 
and  pie  or  puddings. — Wednesday,  remains  of  yes- 
terday's meat  warmed  up  in  the  gravy,  squash,  tur- 
nips, potatoes,  pickles  or  sauce,  and  pie  or  pudding. 
Thursday,  soup  made  of  the  bone  and  remnants  of 
bcof  or  fresh  pork,  and  bread  pudding. — Friday, 
cither  veal  cutlets,  tripe,  sausages  or  steak,  with 
boiled  rice  or  rye  mush.— Saturday,  salt  fish,  boiled 
carrots  and  beets,  potatoes,  drawn  butter  and  pork, 


with  scraps,  pickles,  and  boiled  apple  pudding. — 
Sunday,  baked  beans  anil  Indian  pudding. 

"  For  another  week's  course,  as  dinner  h  the  prin- 
cipal meal,  say  :— Monday,  boiled  corned  beef,  pota- 
toes, squash,  cabbage,  turnips,  carrots,  beets,  and 
baked  rice  pudding.— Tuesday,  cold  corned  beef, 
with  yesterday's  vegetables  warmed  over,  apple 
pie.  Bread,  butter  and  potatoes  are  of  course 
requisite  at  every  dinner. — Wednesday,  a  chowder, 
or  fresh  fish  in  some  form,  mince,  apple  or  squash 
pie.— Thursday,  boil  a  leg  of  mutton,  or  cut  it  into 
steaks  and  broil  ;  serve  with  drawn  butter  or  caper 
sauce  ;  potatoes,  squash  and  turnips,  and  pudding. 
Friday,  make  a  soup  of  the  remnants  of  mutton, 
having  saved  the  water  in  which  it  was  boiled  ;  or 
chopthc  remnants  fine  and  warm  upiu  some  of  the 
broth,  adding  pepper,  salt  and  butter:  toast  slices 
of  bread  and  spread  this  hash  upon.it,  break  eggs 
into  hot  water,  and  when  cooked  skim  them  out, 
and  lay  upon  the  hash  ;  this  is  very  nice.  Pie  for 
dessert. — Saturday,  ham  and  fried  eggs,  broiled 
steak  or  fi  ied  pork,  fried  apples  aud  potatoes.  Pie 
or  pudding.— Sunday,  steak,  stewed  or  scolloped 
oysters,  cranberry  pic,  with  custard  or  squash  pie. 

"  Supper. — Monday,  fresh  cold  bread,  sauce  or 
roasted  apples,  or  preserved  canned  fruit  witli  su- 
gar sufficient  to  make  it  palatable  ;  ginger  snaps. 
Tuesday,  hot  toasted  bread,  simple  sauce  of  some 
kind  ;  plain  cake. — Wednesday,  toast,  sauce,  cup- 
custard,  and  plain  cake. — Thursday,  cold  fresh  bis- 
cuit, sauce,  cranberry  or  apple  puff's. — Friday,  new 
raised  bread,  cold  tongue  or  ham,  sauce  and  cake. — 
Saturday,  milk  toast,  gingerbread,  picked  salt  fish. 
All  remnants  from  every  meal  should  be  carefully 
looked  after,  that  nothing  be  lost.  When  it  is  not 
desirable  to  have  meat  at  breakfast,  this  bill  of  fare 
will  extend  over  three  weeks  instead  of  two,  by 
serving  up  for  a  second  dinner  what  would  other- 
wise appear  on  the  breakfast  table.  By  these  rules 
a  family  may  live  well  and  yet  inexpensively. 

I  give  several  rules  for  preparing  soup,  etc.,  re- 
ferred lo  in  the  above  bill  of  fare  : 

"  Dumplings  fur  a  sonp.—To  1  qt.  of  flour,  add  3 
teaspoonfuls  of  cream  of  tartar,  1  of  soda,  salt, 
milk,  just  sufficient  to  wet  the  flour;  drop  this  by 
spoonfuls  into  the  pot  of  boiling  soup,  after  having 
put  in  the  potatoes,  and  boil  three  quarters  of  an 
hour,  or  even  an  hour.  The  soup  is  made  by  simp- 
ly boiling  any  kind  of  fresh  meat  either  cooked  or 
uncooked,  in  water  for  4  hours,  adding  three  or 
four  onions,  and  a  carrot  or  two  with  pared  pota- 
toes ;  season  with  salt  and  peppers. 

"Apple  Dumpling. — Butter  a  tin  pail,  and  line  with 
a  paste  made  as  for  cream  of  tartar  biscuit,  with  the 
addition  of  a  piece  of  shortening  as  large  as  an 
egg.  Mould  it  a  little,  but  have  the  dough  soft,  till 
the  pail  about  two  thirds  full  of  apples,  quartered. 
Cover  with  dough  over  the  top,  then  put  on  the 
pail  cover,  and  place  the  pail  in  a  kettle  of  water, 
aud  boil  three  hours.  Do  not  let  the  water  rise  so 
high  as  to  boil  over  into  the  pail,  and  aud  have  an 
inverted  plate  or  saucer  in  the  bottom  of  the  kettle 
in  order  that  the  pudding  may  not  burn. 

"  Crumb  Qriddle  Cakes.— Soak  bread  crumbs  in 
milk  (which  should  be  decidedly  sour,)  overnight. 
In  the  moruingmasli  the  bread,  and  add  a  little  sal- 
cratus,  salt,  aud  flour,  aud  bake  like  buckwheats." 

Double  Heeling  Stockings. 

Miss  S.  R.  Bowman,  Philadelphia  Co.,  Pa,  writes 
to  the  American  Agriculturist  as  follows:  "Sol- 
diers very  soon  walk  through  the  heels  of  theii 
stockings.  Now  if  the  good  ladies  who  knit  so 
much,  will  only  make  fine  double  heels,  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner,  "the  boys  "  will  probably  foot  up  a 
victory  in  "  double  quick."  Take  two  balls  of  yarn, 
and  on  the  right  side  knit  one  stitch  with  oue 
thread,  aud  the  next  with  the  other,  and  so  on 
accross  the  needle.  This  alternating  makes  a  loop 
on  the  inside,  which  renders  the  heel  very  thick 
and  durable,  without  making  it  any  wider.  On  the 
wrong  side,  take  both  threads  together,  and  knit 
as  one,  in  the  usuai  way." 


t3PFor  other  Household  Hints  see  Basket. 


344 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[November, 


Fal>le  of  an  Ambitious  Turtle. 

What  a  foolish  turtle  !  He  could  not  be  content  with 
his  beautiful  swimming  pond,  his  nice  bed  of  rushes,  and 
his  dainty  dinner  of  frogs  and  minnows.  He  had  heard 
the  ducks  tell  of  the  wonderful  things  they  saw  when 
sailing  through  the  air,  and  nothing  would  satisfy  him  but 
enjoying  the  prospect  for  himself.  So  having  made  friends 
of  a  pair  of  them  that  built  their  nest  near  his  home,  lie 
engaged  them  to  introduce  him  to  the  upper  regions  in 
the  manner  you  see  in  the  picture.  Cunning  fellows  they 
were,  real  sharpers,  as  you  will  presently  find.  Away 
.  they  went  up,  up,  until  t lie  poor  turtle  began  to  grow 
dizzy  and  faint,  and  just  as  he  was  immediately  over  a 
rocky  place,  he  let  go  his  hold,  and  down  he  came  upon 
the  atones,  where  he  was  dashed  into  a  hundred  pieces, 
and  the  ducks  had  a  grand  feast  picking  his  bones.  The 
writer  saw  just  such  a  turtle  a  short  time  since— only  he 
had  two  legs,  and  wore  clothing  like  yours,  instead  of  a 
hard  shell.  You  would  have  called  him  a  nice  looking 
young  man,  and  so  he  was  before  his  nose  was  painted 
with  brandy.  His  father  was  a  well-to-do  farmer  who  de- 
sired to  educate  Ins  son  to  the  same  profession.  But  the 
boy  heard  lads  from  the  city  tell  of  the  fine  times  they  en- 
joyed there,  of  the  balls,  the  theaters,  and  other  amuse- 
ments they  attended,  and  he  soon  despised  Ins  peaceful 
home,  and  when  of  age  he  took  his  own  way,  and  came 
to  New  York  to  enjoy  the  world.  He  had  a  few  hundred 
dollars  which  a  relative  had  left  him,  and  with  this  he 
started  in  business.  There  were  plenty  of  friendly  com- 
panions to  introduce  him  to  the  theater  and  the  gambling 
house,  and  they  were  not  long  in  picking  his  pockets  as 
clean  as  the  ducks  did  the  bones  of  the  turtle  ;  and  when 
we  saw  him  he  was  seeking  to  borrow  money  with  which 
to  return  home.  Poor  fellow,  let  us  hope  that  his  speedy 
fall  shook  the  nonsense  out  of  him,  and  prepared  him  for 
a  new  and  a  right  start  in  life.  We  have  seen  old  turtles 
sell  their  farms  to  buy  a  patent  right  or  a  flourishing 
store,  of  some  smooth  tongued  decoy  duck,  with  which  to 
make  their  fortunes,  hut  in  almost  every  case  they  soon 
came  down  with  a  crash.  The  girls  too  would  do  well  to 
think  of  the  ambitious  turtle,  when  tempted  to  slight  the 
affection  of  their  early  friends,  for  the  attention  of  some 
spruce  young  fop  from  town  ;  if  they  once  fall,  they  may 
scarcely  hope  ever  to  recover  even  their  former  place. 

More   Hfice  than   Scientific. 

A  gentleman  much  interested  in  botanical  matters  re- 
cently directed  one  of  the  clerks  at  his  place  of  business 
to  copy  a  list  of  names  for  him.  On  looking  over  w  hat 
had  been  written,  he  was  surprised  to  find  the  word 
"Large-nonia."  On  pointing  out  to  the  young  man  that 
an  error  had  been  made,  he  was  informed  in  all  sincerity 
that  it  was  not  really  incorrect,  but  oidy  an  improvement 
on  the  original.  The  word  was  B/g-nonia,  but  as  big  was 
rather  a  slang  term,  he  had  altered  it  to  large,  which 
meant  the  same  thing,  and   was   much   more  elegant! 

Alexander  Dnmas  and  Mushrooms. 

I  Once  while  traveling  toward  Lake  Constance,  Alexan- 
der Dumas,  the  noted  French  writer,  was  compelled  by  a 
storm  to  stop  at  a  small  hotel  in  Vadutry.  He  did  not 
understand  the  language  of  the  place,  but  managed  to  ask 


for  eggs,  cutlets,  and  potatoes,  nunc  uf  which  were,  to  be 
had.  Remembering  that  the  mushrooms  of  that  country 
were  in  very  high  repute,  he  attempted  to  ask  for  a  dish 
of  them,  but  his  language  here  failed  him.  As  a  last  re- 
sort, he  snatched  a  pencil,  and  paper,  and  drew  what  he 
thought  to  be  a  good  representation  of  them.  "  Oh,  yes, 
yes," "said  the  woman,  and  she  at  once  started  out.  In 
five  minutes  she  re-appeared,  bringing  Dumas  an  open 
umbrella!  A  second  look  at  his  sketch  convinced  him 
that  she  had  brought  what  his  picture  most  nearly  resem- 
bled. Perhaps  the  rain  then  falling  may  have  helped  her 
imagination.    (Try  your  skill  in  sketching  a  mushroom.) 


Impertinence   Punished. 

A  correspondent  writes  to  the  Agriculturist  from 
Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y. :  "Near  our  village  lives  a  young 
Bliss  just  blooming  into  womanhood,  who  attracts  much 
attention  by  her  beauty.  She  is  a  merry  hearted,  but  sensi- 
ble girl,  and  apparently  in  nowise  spoiled  by  the  many 
compliments  she  receives.  Recently  she  greatly  enjoyed 
the  discomfiture  of  a  young  man  who  rather  impertinent- 
ly attempted  to  introduce  himself.  He  had  recently  come 
from  the  City,  and  dressed  in  the  night  of  fashion,  was 
riding  with  a  companion  when  he  caught  sight  of  Miss 
L.,  who  was  just  drawing  a  kettle  of  water  from  a 
spring  near  the  house.  He  exclaimed,  *' what  a  charm- 
ing creature  !  I  must  make  an  acquaintance,*'  and  forth- 
with he  stepped  from  his  carriage,  and  with  a  very  stylish 
bow,  requested  "the  privilege  of  drinking  water  drawn 
by  such  fair  hands."  She  started  to  bring  a  tumbler,  but 
he  insisted  on  drinking  from  the  kettle,  and  raised  it  to 
his  lips.     Just  then  a  mischievous  pet  sheep  belonging  to 

Miss  L came  frisking  around  the  corner  behind  the 

stranger,  and  without  any  warning,  with  a  powerful  butt 
sent  him  sprawling  headforemost  into  the  spring,  kettle 
and  all  '.  He  was  not  injured,  but  the  starch  was  thor- 
oughly taken  out  of  him,  as  well  as  from  his  shirt  bosom, 
and  he  lost  no  time  in  scrainbling  back  to  his  carriage 
and  hurrying  away  from  the  sound  of  Hiss  L's.  laughter." 

A  Formidable  Weapon* 

The  New-Haven  Palladium  narrates  the  following: 
"Two  drummer  boys  of  the  Tenth  Conneclicut  Volun- 
teers, while  off  duty,  when  Gil  I  more  was  pounding  Fort 
Wagner,  determined  to  discover  the  effect  made  upon 
the  fort.  They  borrowed  an  opera  glass,  and  went  out  a 
distance  from  camp  to  obtain  a  favorable  site  to  witness 
operations.  They  had  proceeded  about  three-quarters 
of  a  mile,  when  they  came  suddenly  upon  a  burly  rebel, 
who,  upon  sight  of  them,  snapped  his  gun  at  them,  which 
did  not  explode,  the  piece  not  being  capped.  One  of  the 
boys  at  that  moment  thrusting  the  glass  into  the  case  which 
hung  by  his  side,  the  rebel  thought  he  was  drawing  a  re- 
volver, and  immediately  threw  down  his  gun,  crying  out 
"  I  surrender."  The  boys  immediately  sprang  forward, 
seized  his  gun,  and  at  a  "  charge  bayonet  "  drove  the  big 
fellow  into  camp.  When  he  discovered  that  the  only 
appearance  of  a  weapon  in  the  boys'  possession  was  an 


liable  of  an   Aristocratic   Beetle. 

Our  artist,  who  dreams  with  his  eyes  wide  open,  and 
who  sketches  the  marvelous  things  he  observes  when  in 
that  state,  says  that  this  is  a  correct  representation  of  a 
hum-bug  lie  found  among  the  insects.  To  common  eyes 
he  looked  like  only  a  fat  brown  beetle  ;  but  being  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  large  manure  heap,  he  was  accounted  very 
rich,  and  was  therefore  highly  honored  by  his  fellow  in- 
sects. He  disdained  to  employ  his  own  legs  for  crawling, 
and  the  humble  grasshopper  was  only  too  glad  to  earn  a 
livelihood  by  wheeling  his  carriage,  and  his  neighbors 
took  off  their  hats  and  made  their  obeisance  as  he  passed. 
We  presume  the  artist  had  been  rudely  treated  by  some 
purse-proud  and  ignorant  nobody,  and  his  imagination 
was  so  much  disturbed,  that  he  fancied  for  a  moment  that 
other  creatures  besides  men  were  capable  of  su-rh  mean- 
ness. We  will  leave  you  to  make  out  the  rest  of  the 
story,  and  to  discover  the  moral.  There  is  more  in  this 
picture,  than  appears  at  first  sight.  Examine  it  thought- 
fully, and  let  us  hear  what  instruction  you  find  in  it. 


opera  glass,  he  w  as  much  incensed,  declaring  he  could 
not  be  held  as  a  prisoner  of  war  ;  but,  of  course,  being 
fairly  caught,  his   protestations  were   of  no    avail. 

The  I>og-   and  tbe  Kitten. 

An  instance  of  the  intelligence  of  dogs  is  thus  re 
laled  by  a  writer  in  the  London  Agricultural  Gazette, 
who  vouches  for  its  truth.  The  dog,  a  female,  had  a  fam 
ily,  which  were  all  taken  away  ami  drowned.  Shortly 
afterward,  three  cats  on  the  premises  each  had  a  litter  of 
kittens,  and  these  were  all  thrown  into  the  water  by  a 
servant  ;  but  as  he  was  returning,  he  was  met  by  the 
dog,  carrying  in  her  mouth  one  of  the  kittens  which  she 
had  rescued.  The  servant  tried  to  take  it  from  her,  but 
she  escaped,  and  for  a  lime  no  one  could  make  out 
where  she  had  put  it.  Some  hours  later,  at  night,  a 
mewing  was  heard  in  the  far  end  of  a  large  stable,  and 
there  in  the  corner  were  the  three  cats  disputing  which 
had  the  right  to  care  for  the  little  one.  The  dog  sat  by, 
looking  on,  and  from  time  to  time  taking  the  Kitten 
in   her   paws,  and   licking,  and   warming  it. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


m  \\ 


IVot    Exactly  a.    Plaything*. 

"  0  what  a  nice  plaything  !"  our  young  friends  will  ex- 
claim, on  looking  at  the  little  girl  in  the  picture  seated  at 
a  tiny  sewing  machine.  But  it  represents  something 
more  than  a  child  and  a  toy.  The  "  little  girl "  as  you 
would  call  her,  is  Mrs.  Charles  S.  Stralton,  (Tom  Thumb's 
wife,)  and  it  is  a  very  good  likeness  of  the  petite  lady. 
The  little  sewing  machine  is  a  perfect  one  in  all  its  parts, 
andean  be  used  by  its  mistress  to  make  up  her  family 
clothing.  It  was  manufactured  by  Wheeler  &  Wilson, 
and  is  a  most  beautiful  specimen  of  art.  It  is  only  20 
inches  high,  and  15  inches  deep,  cased  with  richly  carved 
rosewood,  inlaid  with  beautiful  ornaments  of  pearl  and 
gold,  and  lined  with  satin  wood.  The  panels  are  painted 
-with  tasteful  devices,  fairies,  cherubs,  etc.  On  one  side 
5s  a  likeness  of  the  bride  arrayed  as  the  "  Goddess  of 
Liberty,"  and  on  the  other  is  the  General,  as  "  Young 
America."  There  is  also  a  representation  of  the  little 
bridal  party  with  their  attendants.  Those  who  visit  New 
York  soon,  may  see  it  at  the  sales-room  No.  505  Broadway. 

How  to  Improve  in  "  Composition." 

To  write  a  good  "  Composition"  is  an  accomplishment 
usually  requiring  much  study  and  long  practice.  Study 
is  necessary  to  furnish  the  writer  with  thoughts,  and  prac- 
tice to  enable  him  to  express  them  clearly,  forcibly,  and 
with  elegance.  One  of  the  best  aids  in  acquiring  a  good 
style  is  to  read  the  production  of  some  standard  author, 
remember  his  thoughts,  and  then  try  to  write  them  out 
The  effort  should  be,  not  to  remember  and  repeat  the  lan- 
guage of  the  copy,  but  to  express  the  ideas.  Then  com- 
pare what  is  written  with  the  model,  and  observe  the  dif- 
ference in  arrangement,  choice  of  words,  and  structure  of 
sentences,  and  notice  in  what  particulars  the  original  ex- 
cels. The  most  accomplished  authors  have  practised  this 
method  and  found  it  an  excellent  means  of  improving 
their  own  modes  of  expression.  This  suggestion  has 
particular  reference  to  the  manner  of  expressing  one's 
thoughts,  which  is  important,  as  the  reader  is  more  easily 
interested  by  that  which  is  stated  with  clearness  and 
grace.  But  the  first  essential  is  to  have  something  to  say. 
Atopic  in  which  the  writer  himself  is  much  interested, 
will  usually  furnish  matter  interesting  to  others  ;  there- 
fore the  author  should  endeavor  to  be  full  of  his  subject ; 
his  success  will  be  easier  if  the  theme  comes  within  the 
experience  or  observation  of  those  for  whom  he  writes. 

Pronouncing-  Either  and  Neither. 

"Vermont  Boy,"  writes:  "Will  our  Editor  of  the 
Agriculturist  please  tell  us  how  to  pronounce  the  words 
either  ^nd  neither?  We  have  in  this  town  two  learned 
ministers,  one  of  whom  says  'ee-ther,''  and  '  nee-ther,''  and 
the  other  says  '  i-therf  and  ini-ther.''  Which  is  right?" 
Answer.— The  general  custom  in  this  country  is  in  favor 
of  ee-ther  and  nee-ther,  and  the  standard  dictionaries  give 
this  pronunciation  the  preference.  We  noticed  that  in  Eng- 
land, Scotland,  and  the  North  of  Ireland,  thev  generally 
say  i-ther  and  nt-ther,  while  in  Dublin,  the  common  peo- 
ple say  a-ther  and  na-ther.  Where  universal  good  cus- 
tom does  not  forbid,  it  is  best  to  make  our  language  as 
regular  as  possible  by  following  analogy,  and  this  favors 
ee-ther  and  nee-ther,  as  in  ceiling,  conceive,  deceive,  re- 
ceive, seize,  and  in  most  other  words  where  the  ei  is  not 
followed  by  gh.  or  the  liquids,  I  and  n.  In  these  words 
ei  has  the  sound  of  a,  as  in  eight,  neigh,  sleigh,  weigh,  or 
fein,  rein,  skein,  veil,  vein.  Analogy  would  even  indi- 
cate the  Hibernian  pronunciation  of 'a-ther'   and  'na- 


ther, 'in  preference  to  i-ther  and  ni-ther.  To  preserve  the 
analogy,  we  would  prefer  the  foreign  pronunciation  of 
hight,  like  hate,  this  being  the  only  word  we  now  recall, 
in  which  ei  has  not  the  sound  of  e  or  a,  in  this  country. 


Writing'  ia*  "Cypher." 

This  is  a  method  of  sending  communications  in  such  a 
form  that  they  can  only  be  read  by  those  having  the 
key.  In  a  former  number  of  the  American  Agriculturist 
we  partly  explained  this  to  our  young  readers.  Here  is 
a  dispatch  in  cypher  of  historic  interest,  which  was  found 
in  the  coat  collar  of  a  scout  intercepted  by  the  Union 
soldiers,  on  June  30,  1863,  during  the  memorable  siege  of 
Vicksburg,  four  days  before  the  surrender. 

"  Nggpv  Icp  Rcoczgpvmp  Amwp  ocuqeeg  gd  vfg  46  vf 
kq  tcecklgb  K  ygnj  tcklhrntagamw  cr  vfggytjkcur  omocpr 
Jmnb  hyur  cr  cjl  qbfq  vgnj  K  teeaj  amw  K  ygnj  fgxgfc 
ow  hmlagq  elf  crvyei  Ipclvq  tgifv  ctf  nchr  cr  6' ck  qd  vfg 
qrj  qd  Isnw — Lmucrf  Lmjlurql,  Icp  Emo- Lyeiump  Oguq 
Lspc58vf  3061." 

This  was  deciphered  by  Michael  Mason  of  Waterhouse's 
Chicago  Battery.  The  key  to  the  cypher  is,  that  instead 
of  the  proper  iettei,  the  second  one  below  it  in  the  alphabet 
is  used  for  the  first,  third,  fifth,  seventh,  and  ninth  letterof 
each  word,  as  c  for  a,  d  for  b,  e  for  c,  and  so  on.  But  for 
the  second,  fourth,  sixth,  and  eighth  letter  of  each  word, 
the  second  one  above  is  used,  as  h  for  j,  i  for  k,  q 
for  s,  etc.  The  same  rule  is  followed  with  figures.  At 
the  end  of  the  alphabet,  suppose  another  alphabet  to  fol- 
low asvwxyzabcd;  and  so  of  figures,  8  9  0  1  2  3. 
With  this  key,  the  above  dispatch  (which  is  printed  wrong- 
ly in  all  the  papers  we  have  seen)  reads  : 

"  Lieut.  Gen.  Pemberton  :  Your  message  of  the  28th 
is  received.  I  will  reinforce  you  at  the  earliest  moment, 
Hold  fast  at  all  odds  till  I  reach  you.  I  will  divide  my 
forces  and  attack  Grant's  right  and  left  at  4  a.  m.  of  the 
7th  of  July.  Joseph  Johnston,  Gen.  Com. 

Jackson,  Miss.,  June  30th,  1863." 
Gen.  Johnston  has  doubtless  adapted  a  new  cypher  ere 
this.  Our  young  readers  can  construct  others  for  amuse- 
ment among  themselves,  though  it  will  not  pay  to  spend 
a  great  deal  of  time  over  this  when  you  can  be  better 
employed  in  reading.  Our  only  object  is  to  make  you 
familiar  with  what  is  a  very  important  aid  to  government 
officers,  especially  military  men.  Here  is  an  example  on 
a  different  plan,  which  you  can  read  if  you  get  the  key: 
No.  55. — TJkf  krvuodm  ddmofgukf  bpfujfbq  fjsldxmw- 
vujvu  jv  grs  ukf  gdsp  hdsgfq  bqe  irvvfkpoe  jqdovgjqh  ukf 
mluwmh  grmnt  Jw  drtwt  pqmb  pqf  ermobu  b  zhbu 
Qofdth  uhmo  bom  zrvu  ohjjieput  bepxu  hq  bqe  bvl 
ukfp  ur  udlh  jw    Ukfb   xlmo  mllh  jw   bqe   ukbql    zrv 


wife,  and  their  two  children.  At  first  it  may  be  a  little 
difficult  to  observe  them,  but  when  once  discovered,  it  will 
be  almost  impossible  to  look  at  the  picture  without  seeing 
them.  It  is  related  that  this  and  similar  methods  of  pre- 
serving the  likenesses  of  distinguished  persons  have  been 
extensively  practised  in  France,  when  the  ruling  powers 
have  forbidden  the  publishing  of  portraits  of  those  they 
considered  their  enemies.  We  have  seen  representations 
of  posts  turned  in  a  lathe  in  such  a  way  that  the  shad- 
ow   falling    from    them    showed    the    desired    profile. 


New  Puzzles  to  he  Answered. 


Concealed    Portraits, 

Many  of  our  young  readers,  and  not  a  few  of  the  older  * 
ones,  were  much  amused  in  making  out  the  portraits  of 
the  Bonaparte  Family,  contained  in  the  picture  of  a  bou- 
quet, published  in  the  Agriculturist  some  months  since. 
We  present  now  a  somewhat  different  device,  in  which 
are  four   portraits — the   French    King  Louis  XVI,   his 


Fig.  1. 
No.  56.  Puzzle  Picture.— (Fig. 
1.)     How  does  the  boy  in  the  -O  ^ -O 

picture  represent  a  musician?  Fi     2_ 

No.  57.  Illustrated  Rebus.  (Fig.  2.)— A  well  known 
Scripture  quotation,  very  nearly  in  the  words  of  the  text. 

No.  58.  Miscellaneous  Questions  .—What  relation  is 
the  door  mat  to  the  scraper  ?  Which  is  the  largest  room 
in  the  world  ?  What  word  of  three  syllables  includes 
all  the  letters  of  the  English  language  ? 

Answers  to  Problems  and  Puzzles. 

No.  51.  Mathematical  Problem.—1*  A,  B,  and  C,  with 
their  wives,  P,  Q,  R,  went  to  market  to  buy  pigs.  Each 
man  and  each  woman  bought  as  many  as  they  gave  shil- 
lings for  each  pig.  A.  bought  23  pigs  more  than  Q.;  B. 
bought  11  more  than  P.;  also  each  man  laid  out  63  shil- 
lings more  than  his  wife.  Which  two  persons  were  man 
and  wife?"  This  problem  excites  so  much  interest  that 
we  give  the  best  solution  received—  furnished  by  "  W.  C," 
Jefferson  Co  ,  Ind.:  Each  person  bought  as  many  pigs 
as  he  or  she  paid  shillings  apiece  for  them,  therefore 
the  whole  number  of  shillings  that  each  paid  is  a  square 
number.  And  as  each  man  paid  63  shillings  more  than 
his  wife,  therefore  63  is  the  difference  between  the  squares 
denoting  what  each  man  and  his  wife  paid.  But  "  the 
difference  between  two  squares  is 
equal  to  the  product  of  the  sum  and 
difference  "  of  the  two  numbers  from 
which  the  squares  were  formed.  Then 
03  is  the  product  of  two  factors,  one  of 
which  is  the  sum,  and  the  othei  the 
difference  of  two  numbers.  (And  the 
nature  of  the  problem  implies  whole 
numbers.)  Then  63  is  to  be  resolved 
into  two  factors,  one  denoting  the  sum 
and  the  other  the  difference  of  two 
numbers.  And  first,  A,  bought  23  pigs 
more  than  Q.  Then  the  sum  of  the 
numbers  that  A.  and  his  wife  bought 
is  evidently  greater  than  23,  and  it 
must  also  be  a  factor  of  63.  It  is  also 
plain  that  no  number  greater  than  23 
can  be  a  factor  of  63,  except  the  num- 
ber 63  itself.  Therefore  63  is  one  fac- 
tor (the  sum  of  A's  and  wife's  pigs), 
and  1  must  be  the  other  factor  (the 
difference  of  A's  and  wife's  pigs).  And 
/m//the  amount  of  the  sum  (63)  ani 
the  difference  (1),  is  32  the  greater  of 
the  two  numbers,  which  is  A's  num- 
ber of  pigs.  And  half  the  difference 
between  the  sum  (63)  and  the  differ 
ence  (1),  is  31,  A's  wife's  number  of 
pigs,  bein-g  the  less  number  of  the  two 
sought.  Second:  B.  bought  11  more 
than  P.  Then  it  is  evident  that  B. 
and  wife  bought  more  than  11,  and  the 
sum  of  the  numbers  that  they  bought 
must  be  a  factor  of  63.  The  only 
number  greater  than  11  which  is  also 
a  factor  of  63,  is  21  (except  63  which 
has  already  been  disposed  of).  There- 
fore 21  is  one  factor  (the  sum  of  B's 
and  wife's  pigs),  and  3  must  be  the 
other  factor,  (the  difference  of  B's 
and  wife's  pigs).  And  as  before  (21+3)-f-2=12,  the 
greater  number  which  is  B's  number  of  pigs.  And  (21 
— 3)-i-2=9  the  less  number,  which  is  B*s  wife's  number 
of  pigs.  Third,  the  only  remaining  factors  of  63  are  7 
and  9.  And  (9-|-7)-h2=8,  which  is  C's  number  of  pigs, 
and  (9— 7H~2=1,  which  is  C's  wife's  number.  Fourth,  A. 
bought  23  more  than  Q.;  but  A.  bought  32,  therefore  Q. 
bought  9,  and  we  have  seen  that  B's  wife  bought  9  ;  there 


346 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[NOVEMBEU, 


fore  Q.  is  B's  wife.  And  as  B.  bought  11  more  than  P., 
therefore  P.  bought  1,  and  it  has  been  shown  that  C's 
wife  bought  I  ;  therefore  P.  is  C's  wife.  Finally,  R.,  the 
only  woman  left,  with  her  31  pigs,  must  belong  to  A. 

No.  53.  Mathematical  Problem,  (October  No.,  page  311.) 
Answer.— The   land  cost  $2,500;  the   fence,  $1,309;  the 

sheep  $3,927. No.  54,   Illustrated   Rebus  (Oct.   No., 

page  311.)— Awl  men  (shoemakers)  th  in  K  awl  men  inoi- 
lal  (dead  man)  butt  hems  elves  ;  or  "all  men  thmk  all 
men  mortal  but  themselves"  The  following  have  sent  in 
correct  answers  ;  the  numbers  indicate  the  problems, 
ilc,  answered  by  each.  H.  S.  Loper,  49  ;  Maine  Cor- 
i  espondent,  51  ;  Wm.  Holmes,  51  ;  J.  M.  Cole,  51 ;  Mary 
Hoge,  51 ;  "  Nauticus,"  49  ;  "  W.  C,"  51 ;  E.  C.  Moder- 
u.  II,  51  ;  ••  J.  II.  B.,  Jr.,"  51 ;  J.  Oilman,  51  ;  3.  Biddle,53. 


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CSCD 

Bo 


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$A  68 

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A—  Appleton's   New  American    Cyclopedia.— 

This  magnificent  work  is  now  completed,  and  ready  for  im- 
mediate delivery.  It  consists  of  16  heavy  volumes,  averaging 
800  large  two  colnmu  pages,  or  in  the  whole  work,  12,804 
pages!  (The  books  fill  up  over  a  yard  of  shelf-room.)  /(  is 
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sible to  name  anything  upon  which  pretty  full  information 
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brief  time. 

B—  Best  Clothes-Wringers.— This  is  a  most  excel- 
lent Household  Implement,  which  should  be  in  every  family. 
It  can  be  set  upon  any  form  of  tub,  and  by  turning  with  the 
right  hand  and  picking  up  the  garments  with  the  left,  they 
are  pressed  rapidly  and  easily  between  two  elastic  rollers, 
and  drop  out  into  a  basket  quite  as  free  from  water  as  they 
can  be  wrung  by  the  hardest  twistiug  by  hand.  Every  lady 
knows  that  hand  wringing  is  really  harder  upon  the  arms 
and  shoulders  than  even  the  washing;  while  the  twisting 
stretches  the  fibers  with  lever  power,  and  hastens  the  wear- 
ing out.  All  this  is  avoided  by  the  Wringer,  which  is  in 
truth  a  strength-saver,  and  a  clothes-saver.  We  have  had 
one  of  the  first  imperfectly  made  instruments  in  weekly 
use  for  nearly  four  years,  and  it  is  as  good  as  ever,  while  it 
has  paid  for  itself  many  times  over.  A  child  can  witli  this 
readily  wring  out  a  tub  fall  of  clothes.  Our  Premium  Wring- 
ers are  of  the  family  size,  and  of  the  best  manufacture,  and 
are  provided  with  cogs,  and  with  springs,  so  that  .they  will 
wring  equally  well  any  article  from  a  blanket  to  a  baby's 
stocking.  The  Wringer  weighs  only  15  lbs.,  occupies  but  a 
small  space,  and  can  be  carried  by  hand,  or  sent  by  express, 
or  as  freight  to  any  point,  and  is  ready  for  instant  use  on 
removing  the  light  packing  box. 

C— Nonpareil  Washing  Machine.— The  best 
recommendation  we  can  give  of  this,  is,  that  while  we  have 
tried  fifteen  or  twenty  kinds,  this  is  the  only  one  that  our 
"  help"  continue  to  use  without  being  required  to  do  so.  It 
acts  somewhat  like  the  old  "fulling  mill ;"  the  clothes  are 
put  into  the  hot  water,  and  beat  by  two  pounders  which  con- 
stantly turn  them  over.  The  beaters  are  moved  alternately 
by  a  crank,  provided  with  balance  wheel  which  adjusts  the 
force  required  so  as  to  make  the  turning  easy.  Take  it  all 
in  all,  the  Nonpareil  is  the  best  Washing  Machine  we  have 
found.  If  we  could  find  a  better  one,  we  should  put  it  in  our 
list,  for  anything  that  helps  to  reduce  the  hard  work  of 
wasliing  clay,  is  a  godsend.  The  machine  can  go  as  freight, 
or  by  express  to  any  part  of  the  country,  and  w,e  believe 
will  give  better  satisfaction  than  any  other  yet  brought  out. 

D— E— Sewing  Machines.— We  need  not  enlarge 
upon  tlie  benefits  of  Sewing  Machines.  They  are  doing  more 
than  all  else  to  save  the  lives  and  health  of  females.  It  is 
no  exaggeration  to  say  that  a  woman  can  in  a  day  do  ten 
times  as  much  ordinary  sewing  with  a  machine,  as  she  can 
do  by  band.  We  know  many  ladies  who  formerly  employed 
a  seamstress  several  weeks  every  year,  but  who  now  do  all 
their  family  sewing,  with  less  confinement  and  wear  than 
when  the  common  needle  was  their  only  resort.  The  inter- 
est on  a  fifty  dollar  Machine  is  only  $3  to  $4  a  year,  which 
is  a  small  consideration  compared  to  its  advantages.  Five 
hundred  families  ought  to  be  supplied  through  our  pre- 
mium list  this  year.  At  least  80  to  100  copies  of  the  Agri- 
culturist ought  to  be  taken  iu  every  town,  and  would  be  if 
some  enterprising  man  or  woman  would  go  round  and  gath- 
er them.  Two  or  three  ladies  might  join  their  efforts,  and 
get  a  machine  for  use  between  them.  We  offer  two  kinds  of 
Machines,  both  varieties  of  which  we  have  had  in  use  for 
several  years,  and  with  great  satisfaction.  They  are  both 
supplied  with  the  Hemmer,  and  are  sent  out  with  full  in- 
structions for  use. The  Wheeler  &  Wilson  Ma- 
chine, we  have  used  during  five  years,  and  can  bear  full 
testimony  in  its  favor.  More  of  these  machines  are  sold  and 
used,  we  believe,  than  of  all  the  other  good  kinds  together, 

which  is  a  strong  proof  of  the  satisfaction  the-y  give. This 

sews  with  a  double  thread,  both  sides  of  the- fabric  showing 

the  same  stitch. The  Wilcox  &   Gibbs  Machine, 

we  have  used  for  over  three  years,  and  for  most  kinds  of 
Bewing  it  is  excellent.  It  is  very  simple  in  its  operation  and 
can  be  worked  by  those  who  have  the  smallest  amount  of 
mechanical  skill.  It  can  be  used  for  most  kinds  of  sewing, 
and  may  well  be  adopted  generally,  at  least  where  the  higher 
priced  machines  can  not  be  afforded.  We  know  many  who 
prefer  this  to  any  other.— For  every  kind  of  sewing,  especi- 
ally where  the  same  stitch  is  required  on  both  sides,  we 
prefer  the  Wheeler  &  Wilson. 

F—G— Woodruff  Mercurial   Barometer.— This 

Is  conceded  to  be  the  best  and  cheapest  instrument  for  gen- 
eral use,  which  is  now  offered  to  the  public.    The  peculiar 


form  of  mercury  cup  invented  by  Mr.  Woodruff,  renders  the 
instrument  far  more  portable  than  anything  previously  made. 
The  safe  delivery  of  every  instrument  giveu  by  us  as  a  pre- 
mium, is  warranted  by  the  manufacturer  (Charles  Wilder, 
Peterboro,  N.  H.),  when  to  be  sent  within  1,500  miles.  The 
instruments  are  beautifully  made,  are  about  3  feet  long,  and 
are  sent  direct  from  the  factory,  with  no  expense  save  the 
express  charges  which  vary  from  50  cts.  to  $1 50,  according 
to  the  distance.  Wc  otter  two  forms  which  differ  mainly  in 
the  style  of  caBe,  both  being  supplied  wim  TAt  rmonti  '-rand 
tyemter.  The  $12  form  -is  of  course  more  ornamental,  and 
the  more  desirable  instrument,  though  either  of  them  is  high- 
ly valuable.  A  barometer  is  to  farmers  or  others  on  laud, 
wlirii  it  is  to  sailors  at  sea— an  indicator  of  the  weather 
to  be  looked  for.  There  are  many  times  every  year  when 
the  indications  of  the  barometer  in  regard  to  tho  weather, 
will  often  be  of  more  value  than  its  whole  price,  while  th* 
interest  on  its  cost  would  be  less  than  half  a  dollar  a  year. 
The  habit  of  observation,  and  of  scientific  study  culti- 
vated in  a  family  of  children  where  a  Barometer  is  used,  is 
a  valuable  consideration. 

H— The  Aquarius.— This  is  au  excellent  little  porta- 
ble force-pump,  useful  in  many  ways.  One  can  take  tin.  in- 
strument in  his  hand  with  a  pail  of  water,  and  throw  a  con 
siderahle  stream  to  any  point  where  a  fire  may  lie  breaking 
out,  and  do  more  to  quench  it,  than  he  could  with  a  dozen 
pailfulls  dashed  on,  even  if  the  fire  could  be  reached.  We 
have  thrown  water  from  the  ground  up  against  the  third 
story  windows  of  a  house.  The  Aquarius  is  very  usoful  for 
watering  gardens,  for  washing  windows,  carriages,  etc..  etc. 
It  is  provided  with  rubber  suction  pipe,  to  draw  water  from 
a  pail,  tub  or  bucket,  and  an  ejection  pipe  having  both  a  noz- 
zle for  throwing  a  stream,  and  a  rose  or  sprinkler.  It 
has  also  an  air  chamber  for  giving  a  constant  stream.  It  i-'  a 
handy  instrument,  for  every  household,  aside  from  its  benefit 
as  a  fire  engine  with  which  many  an  incipient  fire  has  been 
subdued. 

I— J— Melodeons.— None  need  to  be  told  of  the  pleas- 
ure given  by  a  good  Melodeon  in  a  household,  or  of  Its  uhl- 
ity  in  the  Week  Day  and  Sabbath  School  Boom,  and  Un- 
church. "Music  hath  charms  to  soothe  even  a  savage  breast," 
and  we  hesitate  not  to  say  that  a  benign  influence  is  exerted 
upon  every  honse  and  school  room  where  a  Melodeon  or 
other  good  musical  instrument  is  found.— We  offer  two  sizes 
in  our  list  above,  and  those  of  a  different  price  may  be  se- 
lected for  a  proportionate  number  of  subscribers.  (For 
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Co.,  Buffalo,  N.  T.,  and  get  one  of  their  illustrated  descrip- 
tive Catalogues,  which  will  be  sent  free).  We  have  used  one 
of  these  Melodeons  during  lour  years  past,  and  it  continues 
to  give  the  highest  satisfaction.  It  has  not  been  tuned  or 
otherwise  repaired  in  all  that  time.  The  premium  instru- 
ments will  be  shipped  direct  from  the  manufacturers  at  Buf- 
falo, ready  boxed.  They  can  go  by  railroad,  Bteamboat,  ex- 
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be  an  easy  matter  for  Churches,  and  both  Week  Day  and 
Sunday  Schools  to  unite  their  efforts  ami  secure  an  instru- 
ment for  the  public   use.— Many  have  done  so    already. 

K—Q,— Seven  Volumes  of  the  Agriculturist.— 

Here  is  a  whole  AgriauUwal,  Horticultural,  ana]  Household 
Library,  embracing  also  a  large  amount  of  interesting  read- 
ing for  Children  and  Youth,  and  thousands  of  instructive 
and  pleasing  engravings.  Each  volume  contains  more 
printed  matter  than  half  a  dozen  dollar  books  of  the  usual 
size.  There  are  in  each  volume  from  one  to  two  thousand 
articles  and  condensed  items,  among  which  every  reader 
will  find  something  useful  to  himself  aud  family.  We  send 
them  post-paid  (as  in  the  above  table,  1  in  new  clean  numbers, 
printed  from  stereotype  plates  as  needed.  The  last  number 
of  each  volume  contains  an  index  to  the  whole  volume. 
(Any  person  preferring  them  bound,  can  receive  them  in  this 
form,  neatly  done,  at  an  expense  of  65  ceuts  per  volume,  for 
the  cost  of  binding,  and  extra  postage  required  when  mailed 
in  this  form— or  if  called  for  at  the  office,  or  sent  by  express, 
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per  volume.)  Let  every  one  selecting  this  premium  be  sure 
to  name  what  volumes  are  desired,  or  how  many  of  each,  as 
duplicates  of  any  number  can  bo  chosen  if  preferred.— We 
can  only  supply  froru  volume  16  to  volume  23  inclusive.  The 
previous  volumes  are  not  stereotyped. 

R— Best  File  for  the  Agriculturist. — Jacob's 
Portfolio  file,  made  just  to  lit  the  A</ri-  -nV.ui "ist,  with  the  name 
of  the  paper  gilded  on,  is  exceedingly  convenient.  It  is  a 
neatly  embossed  or  stamped  cover,  made  so  that  each  suc- 
cessive number  of  the  paper  can  be  iuserted  in  a  minute, 
when  it  is  strongly  held  in.  The  numbers  thus  fastened  togeth- 
er are  as  convenient  as  a  bound  book.  When  one  volume  16 
completed,  it  can  be  removed  and  stitched  together,  and  the 
numbers  of  a  new  volume  be  inserted.  A  single  cover  will 
answer  for  a  dozen  or  tweuty  successive  years.  It  is  with- 
out doubt  the  most  perfect  paper  file  yet  made.  It  is  sent 
post-paid,  as  above. 

S— Water  Color  Paints.— Those  ottered  (Osborne 
&  Uodgkinsou's)  are  the  best  of  American  Manufacture,  and 
though  not  so  fine  for  artist's  work,  as  some  of  the  imported 
(which  now  sell  at  six  times  the  price),  they  answer  very 
well  for  common  sketching,  particularly  by  children  and 
beginners.  They  are  especially  useful  to  Children;  as  men- 
use  tends  to  develop  a  taste  for  form  and  color,  and  skill  iu 
the  use  of  the  pencil.  We  send  them  post-paid,  in  a  neat 
mahogany  case  containing  21  small  cakes  Of  assorted  col- 
ors, with  brushes,  etc. 

T— U— Premium  Plows.— The  two  named  in  the 
table  above  (Cylinder  and  Eagle  No.  20.)  are  two  of  the  best 
farm  plows  in  use,  and  will  doubtless  give  ample  satisfaction 
to  any  one  securing  them  as  premiums.  We  have  not  space 
for  a  particular  description.  The  Eagle  Plow  is  well-known. 
The  working  of  the  Cylinder  Plow,  and  other  items  concern- 
ing it  are  described  on  page  130  of  Volume  XX,  (May  1861). 

Y-W-Hay  and  Straw  Cutters— Steel-tooth- 
ed Cultivators.— These  implements  are  of  first  import- 
ance to  all  farmers,  some  of  whom  may  find  it  most  conve- 
nient to  secure  them  through  our  premium  list.  We  send 
the  best  implements  we  know  of  at  the  prices  named. 


1863. 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


347 


The   Markets. 


American  Agriculturist  Office,      t 
New-York,  Saturday  Morning,  Oct.  17,  18^3.  J 

1.  TRANSACTIONS  AT  THE  NEW-YORK  MARKETS. 

Receipts.  Flow.    Wheat.    Corn.    Rye.    Barley.    Oats. 

25  days  (Afom'tU  354.000  1,839,000  2.S63.000  25,000  44,000  612,000 
25  days  fcwl  m'th  833,000  1,134,000  2,019,000  48,250  62,000  41)1.000 
Sales.  Flour.  Wheat.       Corn.    '  Rye.    Barley. 

25  days  this  month,  555,000  8,868,000  4,493,000  S0.800  361,000 
25  days  last  montli,  307,000    3,673,000    2,513,000       64,500      7,000 

2.  Comparison  with  same  time  last  year. 
receipts.  Flour.     Wheat.     Corn.      Rye.  Barley.  Oats, 
25  (lays  1863         354.000  L880.OOO  2,363,000      25.000    44,000    613,000 
25  days  1862     .     438,000  5,0?J,000  3,198,000      95,000  132,500    747,000 

balks.  Flour.      Wheat.      Corn.        Rye.    Barley. 

25  days  1863  .  555,000  3,366,000  4,193,000  30,800  361,000 
25  days  1862 541,000      6,514,000    3,687,000      101,101        94,500 

3.  Exports  from  New-York,  Jan.  I,  to  Oct.  15. 

Flour.  Wheat.  Corn.  Rye.  Oats. 

Bbls.  Bush.  Bush.  Bush.  Bush. 

1863 2,076,765  12,982,582  7,414,704  416,249  117,599 

1862 2,446,328  19,097,373  9,228,402  1,016,018  133,631 

4.  The  aggregate  quantity  of  Breadstuff's  left  at  tide 
water,  at  Albany,  from  opening  of  navigation  to  the  1th 
October  inclusive,  during  1862  and  1863,  was  as  follows  : 

Flour,  bbls.      Wheat,  bus.      Corn,  bus.      Barley,  bus 

1862 979,200  22,532,800  15,965,100  502,900 

1863 394,900  13,017,900  18,935,500  686,700 

Dec 84,300  Dec. 9,501,400    Inc.2,970,400      Inc.. .183,800 

The  foregoing  tables  present  a  very  carefully  prepared 
fciid  thoroughly  reliable  comparison  of  the  receipts  and 
sales  of  Breadstuff's  here,  during  the  past  and  preceding 
months,  as  also  during  the  month  ending  with  Oct.  17,  in 
each  of  the  last  two  years  ;  and  of  the  exports  from  this 
port,  from  Jan.  1  to  Oct.  15,  this  year  and  last.  The  busi- 
ness of  the  past  month  has  been  quite  heavy,  in  the  line  of 
reported  sates,  but  as  these  are  largely  on  speculation,  the 
reduction  of  the  available  supplies  is  not  very  serious. 
The  principal  speculative  purchases  have  been  made 
on  Western  account,  especially  of  Wheat  and  Corn. 
Western  dealers  have  been  endeavoring  to  get  com- 
plete control  of  the  market,  and  have  labored  strenuously 
to  accomplish  this  object,  but  have  been  only  partially 
successful,  and  they  are  now  becoming  apprehensive  of  a 
reaction  that  may  prove  disastrous  to  many  of  them.  In- 
flation of  prices  by  any  illegitimate  means  is  always  of 
very  temporary  duration,  and  is  ever  sure  of  being  fol- 
lowed by  extreme  depression.  As  will  be  seen  on  com- 
paring the  annexed  list  of  prices,  this  day  and  a  month 
ago,  every  article  in  the  produce  line  is  much  dearer  to- 
day. The  rise  has  resulted  less  from  legitimate  causes 
than  from  the  action  of  speculators.  It  has  checked  the 
demand  from  regular  buyers,  both  for  home  use  and  for 
shipment.  Stocks,  instead  of  diminishing,  have  been  ac- 
cumulating, and  at  the  close  most  holders  appear  to  be 
eager  to  realize.  A  serious  falling  off  in  prices  is  mo- 
mentarily expected,  though  the  rapid  rise  in,  and  prevail- 
ing high  quotations  for  gold  and  foreign  exchange,  serve 
for  the  time  being  as  a  prop  to  the  market.  The  wisdom 
of  parties,  purchasing  flour  and  grain  on  speculation, 
with  the  hope  of  making  produce  the  ruling  power 
in  the  Money  Market,  Instead  of  confining  themselves  to 
their  legitimate  province  of  forwarding  supplies  to  their 
agents,  to  be  sold  as  advantageously  as  practicable,  is 
questioned  even  by  the  self-same  agents,  who  are 
generally  experienced  business  men,  and  not  apt  to 
give  injudicious  advice  to  their  principals.  Those 
agents  now  say  that  they  are  quite  willing  to  make 
commissions  on  the  executions  of  all  orders,  which  are 
accompanied  with  ample  means  to  protect  them  from 
injury  ;  but  if  they  had  any  positive  influence  with  their 
principals,  and  were  really  consulted  as  to  the  propriety 
of  making  such  extraordinary  speculative  ventures,  they 
would  unquestionably  discourage  all  irregular  attempts 
to  get  control  of  the  market,  which  never  can  be  govern- 
ed by  such  means,  for  any  considerable  length  of  time. 
These  remarks  are  applicable  mainly  to  the  operations 
in  breadstuff's,  and  less  directly  to  those  In  provisions 
during  the  past  month.  The  following  significant  para- 
graph from  the  commercial  article  of  the  Chicago  Tri- 
bune, October  13,  is  decidedly  relevant  here  :  "The  wild 
recklessness  displayed  during  the  past  week  in  the  pro- 
duce market  in  this  city  was  very  materially  checked  to- 
day by  an  extraordinary  scarcity  of  currency.  The 
'brakes'  were  most  effectually  let  down  and  the  specu- 
lative train  was  'slowed,'  much  to  the  annoyance  and 
regret  of  those  on  board,  who  chafed  impatiently  at  not 
being  allowed  to  keep  on  at  lightning  speed  and— perhaps 
experience  a  general  l  smash-up.'  It  is  not  surprising 
that  currency  should  be  scarce.  The  excitement  in  grain 
has  affected  nearly  all  classes  and  almost  every  third 
man  who  has  a  thousand  dollars  to  spare,  is  eager  to  put 
it  up  as  a  margin  to  buy  wheat,  corn,  or  oats.  Nor  is  it 
surprising  that  bankers  should  be  unwilling  to  discount 
as  freely  to  produce  buyers  in  the  present  state  of  the 
markets,  as  when  there  is  nothing  but  the  usual  shipping 
and  speculative  inquiry.    The  truth  is,  a  very  slight  cir- 


cumstance would  '  knock'  our  market  10c.  per  bushel  in 
as  short  a  space  of  time  as  it  takes  to  read  this  paragraph. 
Good  news  from  Charleston  or  Chattanooga— or  any 
other  important  point,  would  spread  as  much  dismay 
among  some  operators  in  grain  in  this  city  as  it  would  in 

Jefferson   Davis"  cabinet  at  Richmond." Cotton  and 

wool  have  been  in  brisk  demand,  and  have  rapidly  ad- 
vanced, the  market  closing  very  firmly  with  a  lively 
inquiry,  especially  fur  all  kinds  of  Wool  wanted  by  manu- 
facturers  Tobacco  has  been  more  sought  after  and  has 

been  tending  upward. .  ..Hay,  Hops,  and  Seeds  are  dearer, 

with  more  doing Inmost  other  agricultural  products, 

transactions,  have  been  fair.      The  annexed  table  shows 

present  prices,    and  changes  since  our   last  quotations. 

Current  Wholesale  Tricks. 

Sept.  17.  October  17. 

Flour— Super  to  Extra  State  $4  00    ®  5  45     $5  40    @  6  50 

Superfine  Western.. 4  00    ©  4  45       5  40    @  5  75 

Extra  Western 4  40   @  8  50      6  10    @  9  75 

Extra  Genesee.. 5  50    @  7  25       6  60    @  8  50 

Super,  to  Extra  Southern  ....    5  10    @  8  50       6  40    @  9  75 

II vk  Flour  3  50    @  5  30       5  60    @  6  10 

Corn  Meal 4  00    @  4  50       4  75    @  5  30 

Wheat— All  kinds  of  White. .    1  28    @  1  50       1  45    @  1  75 

All  kinds  of  Ked. 85    ®  1  29       1  20    @  1  40 

Corn— Yellow 77    @      79       1  00    @  1  02 

Mixed 76    @      77  96^®      98 

Oats— Western 65   @     73         80    @     82 

State... 67    @      73  81    @      83 

Kye  80    @      90       115    @  1  20 

Barley 183       130    @  1  55 

Beans— per  bushel 1  50    @  3  00 

Cotton— Middling,  per  lb..  .        68    @      69  91    @      92 

Hops,  crop  of  1863,  per  lb 16    ©      23  22    @     28 

Feathers,  Live  Geese,  p.  lb.         48    @      50  50    @      52% 

Seed— Clover,  per  lb 9    @      10  10    @      11 

Timothy,  per  bushel 2  40    @  2  75       2  50    @  2  75 

Flax,  per  bushel 2  25    ©2  55       3  00    ©3  25 

Sugar— Brown,  per  lb    9W@    I8W  9jtf@      14K 

MoLASSES.New-Orleans,  p.gi..        3J^@      53  40    @      60 

Coffee,  Rio,  per  lb  ...       28    ©      31  31    ©      34 

Tobacco— Kentucky,&c,p.lb..        10    ©      25  9    ©      27 

Seed  Leal',  per  lb.  .  13    ©      42  12    ©      45 

Wool— Domestic  fleece,  p.  lb..       60    ©     74  70    ©     80 

Domestic,  pulled,  per  lb 60    ©     70         65   @     80 

Wool,  California,  unwashed..       23    ©      50  28    ©      55 

Tallow,  per  lb  . .  10J4®      10%       12&©      12% 

Oil  Cake,  per  tun 38  00    @44  00     44  50    ©52  20 

Pome— Mesa  per  bbl 13  62>f@18  7:.     14  60    @16  50 

Prime,  per  bbl 10  50    ©10  75      1175    ©12  25 

Beef— Plain  mess 10  50    ©13  50      10  50    ©13  50 

Lard,  inlibls.,  pprlb    .  10    ©      10^       11H©      12 

Butter— Western,  per  lb 15    @      19  19    ©      23 

State,  per  lb 16    ©      23  23    @      28 

Cheese 9    ©      12M       12    ©      16 

Broom  Corn— per  lb  8   @     10  8   ©     10 

Eggs— Fresh,  per  dozen 17    ©     21  21    ©      22 

Eggs,.Liined,  per  doz 17    ©      18 

PutLTRY—Fowls,  per  lb 14    ©      16  10    ©      14 

Ducks,  per  lb 50    @      75  10    @      16 

Geese,  per  lb 75    @  1  50  10    ©     12 

Tnrkeys,  per  In 15   ©     19  12    ©     18 

Potatoes— Dykman,  p.  bbl..    l  25   @  1  55      l  25   ©  l  50 

Mercers,  per  bbl 1  75  ©  2  28  2  00  @  2  50 

Buckeyes  pur  bbl 125  ©137  125  ©150 

Peach  Blow,  per  bbl  .. . 140  ©2  00 

Nova  Scotia,  per  bushel 40  @      50 

Sweet  Delaware  per  bbl 4  00  ©  4  25  4  00 

Jnsrv  Sw.'fl   per  bid             ....  3  50  «•    3  75  3  0(1  ©  3  51) 

TdknipSt— Rutabaga,  per  bbl  2  00    ©  2  25      1  25  ©  l  50 

Onions,  Red  &,  Yellow  p.  bbl.  2  50                      3  25  ©  4  00 

Cabbages,  per  100 10  00    ©12  00       4  00  @  8  00 

D  ried  Apples,  per  lb.  4    ©       7            4  ©        7 

Dried  Peaches,  per  lb 14    @      16           15  ©      17 

Dried  Easpbekkies,  per  lb..  16  ©      18 

Apples,  choice,  per  bbl  2  50    @  3  00       3  00  ©  5  00 

Apples,  common,  per  bbl 75    ©  1  50       1  50  ©  2  00 

Pk\ks,  choice,  per  bbl 10  00    ©15  00      14  00  ©16  00 

Pears,  common,  per  bbl. 3  00    ©  5  00        3  00  @  6  00 

Pumpkins,  Cheese,  per  100...  7  00.  filO  00        8  00  ©10  00 

Tomatoes,  per  bushel  .......  75    ©  1  00          50  ©      62 

Squashes,  Marrow,  per  bbl. .  2  00    ©  2  50       2  25  ©  2  50 

Hubbard,  per  bbl  ...     2  50 

Cranberries,  per  bbl  8  00  ©10  00 

Grapes,  Isabella,  per  lb 6  ©      10 

Grapes,  Catawba,  per  lb  10  ©      15 

Quinces,  per  100 2  00  @  3  00 

Pigeons,  Wild,  per  doz 75  ©  1  00 

Prairie  Chickens,  per  pair.  50  @      62 

Quail,  per  doz 75  ©  1  25 

Partridges,  per  pair 75  @     80 

N.  Y.  I^ive  Stock  Markets.— The  Cattle 
markets  have  been  very  largely  supplied  during  the  past 
month,  the  receipts  averaging  6,238  per  week,  while  the 
weekly  average  for  alt  of  1862,  was  only  4,532.  For  the 
week  ending  Sept.  22,  5,775  beeves  were  received  and 
sold  at  last  month's  prices.  For  the  week  ending  Sept. 
29th,  the  supply  was  the  largest  ever  received,  amount- 
ing to  7,051  head.  They  were  all  disposed  of,  some  of 
them  to  graziers,  at  an  average  decline  of  y3c.  "$  lb.  For 
the  week  ending  Oct.  0th,  6,581  cattle  were  received,  and 
a  further  decline  of  %c.  was  the  result,  with  200  left  un- 
sold. At  the  last  general  market,  Oct.  13th,  the  weekly 
supply  was  5,647,  and  all  were  sold  at  lie.  advance,  a 
few  of  the  best  at  10>£c.(2>llc.  per  lb.  for  the  estimated 
dressed  weight;  good  steers,  10c;  ordinary  cattle,  8c; 
and  the  poorer  sorts,  of  which  there  was  a  large  number, 
at  6c.fa)7c.    The  average  of  all  sales  was  about  8^c. 

I9£ilclft  Cows, — The  receipts  have  averaged 
112  per  week,  and  Ihey  are  now  selling  rather  better  than 
last  month,  a  few  fancy  ones  as  high  as  $70  each,  but 
most  at  $40.a$50,  which  is  the  price  of  good  milkers. 

Veal  Calves. — Average  receipts,  775  per 
week.  They  are  now  selling  readily  at  7c(5>7  Vc.  per  lb. 
live  weight,  for  fat  calves,  and  6c.  for  fair  veals. 

Sheep  and  Lambs. — The  receipts  have 
averaged  15,198  per  week.  There  has  been  considerable 
inquiry  for  store  sheep  to  winter  over,  and  butchers  have 
bought  freely,  paying  pretty  uniformly,  5#c.fS)5Xc.  per 
lb.,  live  weight,  for  fat  sheep,  and  about  7c  for  lambs. 
In  lots,  as  they  arrive  from  the  West,  sheep  and  lambs 
average  $4.25(£>$4.50  per  head.  The  advance  in  wool  en- 
hances the  value  of  sheep,  and  fanners  are  very  gener- 
ally increasing  their  flocks, 

liive  Hogs — Receipts  increase  as  the  weather 
grows  cooler.  Weekly  average  for  the  past  month, 
20,700,  or  double  the  number  for  the  previous  month. 


Prices  are  unchanged,  ruling  at  5^cS5?i'c.  per  lb.,  Uva 
weight,  for  fair  to  prime  corn-fed  hogs;  and  Ac.(cvb\-£c. 
for  pour  mast  and  fat  still-fed  hogs.    Market  brisk. 

.  The  Westther— For  a  month  past  has  been 
mild  and  pleasant  for  the  season,  with  comparatively 
little  rain,  and  but  one  or  two  light  frosts,  hardly 
enough  to  injure  vegetation  in  this  vicinity.  Timely  rains 
after  our  last  report,  revived  the  drying  pastures  some- 
what, and  helped  out  the  buckwheat  crop,  and  was  of 
material  help  to  growing  turnips.  It  has.  however,  been 
much  too  dry  for  strawberry  plants,  and  few  runners 
have  been  made  without  artificial  watering. — Ouit  Dailv 

Notes,  condensed,  read  : September  18  and  19,  rain— 

20,  showery — 21  to  24,  clear,  cool,  with  the  first  frost  here 
on  (he  morning  of  the  23—25,   light  rain— 26  to  30,  clear 

and  fine. October  1,  clear  and  fine — 2,  cloudy,  rain  at 

night— 3,  4,  cloudy— 5  to  7,  clear,  cool,  frost  morning  of 
7lh— 8,  cloudy  A.  Si.,  light  rain  P.  M.— 9,  clear,  fine— 10 
cloudy— 11  to  15,  clear,  fine,  rather  dry — 16,  rain. 

Itain  Fall  for  September,  1.05  inches,  making  a 
very  dry  month.  The  Barometer  has  ranged  from  29.35 
to  30.40,  making  a  variation  of  nearly  1  inch. 

Thermometer  at  6  A.  M.,  New-York. 

[Observations  carefully  made  upon  a  standard  Ther- 
mometer (Fahrenheit.)— r  indicates  rain— s,  snow.] 


1 60 

2 56 

3 57 

4 59 

5 56 

60 


SEPTEMBER 

7 67  113 fi6/-;i9 55r 

8 63     14  ...    .62    20 51 

9 67  (15 62  |*21 48 

10 50    16 64  122 50 

11 53    17 70    23 44 


12. 


-filr JlS 


.72r|24 47 


25 54r 

26 47 

27 44 

28 49 

29 50 

30 .     .     50 


The  coldest  Sept.  at  6  A.  M.,  for  17  years.     Aver*e..57° 

OCTOBER. 

1 54  1  4 54   |  7 46H10 52H13 42 

2 56;-  5 52   8 58r  1 1 48  !14  46 

3 62r|  6 47  |  9 48  |l2 43  |15 55 


To  Sunday  School  Teachers  and  Others. 

The  Book  of  "Lessons  for  every  Sunday  in  the  Year," 
can  be  obtained  at  the  American  Agriculturist  Ofllce  in 
large  or  small  quantities,  at  the  uniform  price  of  10  cents  per 
copy.  If  to  go  by  mail,  the  postage  to  be  pre-paid,  is  3  cents 
each  copy  in  packages  of  ten  or  more.  The  postage  being 
rated  by  the  4  ounces,  under  the  new  law.  the  price  for  less 
than  ten  pre-paid  by  mail  is : 

1  copy,    14  cents.  1  4  copies,  52  cents.  I    7  copies,     90  cents. 

2  copies,  28cents.      " 


i  5  copies,  66  cents. 
1  6  copies,  80  cents. 


8  copies,  1  04  cents. 

9  copies,  1 18  cents. 


3  copies,  42  cents. 

THE  SECOND  SERIES  of  the  abore  book  will  be 
published  early  iu  November.  It  will  be  of  the  same  size 
and  price  as  the  first  Series,  and  is  a  most  valuable  book. 

Business  Notices. 

B^~  Eighty  Cents  per  Line  of  space. 

BEST  AND  CHEAPEST.—"  Doty's  New- York 
Clothes- Washer "  is  warranted  to  clean  the  bulk  of 
eight  shirts  in  five  minutes,  and  not  injure  the  finest 
fabric.     See  advertisement. 

PREPARE   FOR  THE  HOLIDAYS! 

Booksellers,  Fancy  Goods  Dealers,  and  the  Public,  will 
please  remember  that  there  is  no  other  Gift  which  com- 
pares with  the  CRAIG  MICROSCOPE  and  MOUNT- 
ED OBJECTS,  being  an  endless  source  of  amusement 
and  instruction.  Over  200  dozen  Microscopes  and  700 
dozen  Objects  have  been  sold  within  a  year  by  the  Boston 
Agent  alone.  This  Microscope,  in  brass,  is  mailed,  post- 
age paid,  for  $2  25  ;  or  with  six  beautiful  mounted  objects 
for  $3;  or  with  24  objects  for  $5.  In  hard  rubber,  for  50 
cents,  in  addition  to  the  above  price.  A  liberal  discount 
to  the  trade.     Address, 

HENRY  CRAIG,  335  Broadway,  N.  Y. 

Lands— To  All  Wanting  Farms. 

Large  and  thriving  settlement  of  Vineland,  mild  cli- 
mate, 30  miles  south  of  Philadelphia,  by  railroad  ;  rich 
soil;  fine  crops;  twenty-acre  tracts,  at  from  $15  to  $20 
per  acre;  payable  within  four  years.  Good  business 
openings  ;  good  society.  Hundreds  are  settling  and  mak- 
ing improvements.  Apply  to  CHAS.  K.  LAND1S,  Pest- 
master,  Vineland,  Cumberland  County,  N.  J.  Letters 
answered.     Papers  containing  full  information  sent  free. 


^birniisemenfs. 


Advertisements  to  be  sure  of  insertion  must  be  re- 
ceived at  latest  by  the  1 5th  of  the  preceding-  mouth. 
TERMS—  (invariably  cash  before  insertion) : 

FOR  THE  ENGLISH.   EDITION  ONLT. 

Fifty  cents  per  line  of  space  for  each  insertion. 
One  whole  column  (145  lines),  or  more,  $iiO  per  column, 
fi3T"Busmess  Notices,  Eighty  cents  per  line  of  space. 
t3?~Busiuess  Notices,  twenty  cents  a  line. 


*%/"  ANTED— A  SITUATION  AS   FARMER,  OR 
w»   to  assist  a  gentleman  in  farming,  by  an  Englishman, 

capable  of  taking  the  charge  of  a  large  stock  farm,  having 
experience  in  buying  and   marketing  stock— knowledge  ot 

crops,  steam  machinery.  Dairy  Farm  accounts,  etc.  Address 
"  S.  S."  care  of  J.  MACK.AY,  221  Pearl-st.,  New  -York  City. 


:jim 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[NoYE^rBETI, 


[CIROULAH.] 

IJIPOUTAST    INFORMATION. 

U.  S.  5-20's 

THE   SECRETARY   OP    THE    TREASURY 

lias  decided  to  continue  for  a  short  time  the  sale  of  this  pop- 
DlarLoan  at  Par,  or  until  ten  days  notice  is  given  to  the 
contrary. 

The  whole  amount  of  the  Loan  authorized  is  Five  Hundred 
Millions  of  Dollars.  Nearly  Tlirco  Hundred  Mil- 
lions have  been  already  subscribed  for  and 
paid  into  the  Treasury,  mostly  within  the  last  six 
months.  The  balance,  (Two  Hundred  Millions.)  is  hardly 
sufficient  to  furnish  the  basis  for  circulating  notes  for  the 
National  Ranking  Associations  now  rapidly  organizing  in  all 
pails  of  the  country. 

The  sales  frequently  reach  Two  Millions  in  a  day. 
It  is  confidently  expected  that  the  sales  will  still  further  in- 
crease, especially  as  a  large  foreign  demand  (mostly  from 
Germany,)  has  lately  sprung  up,  which  is  likely  to  absorb 
One  or  Two  Millions,  weekly.  A  very  short  period  only 
Diust  elapse  before  this  Loan  is  wholly  absorbed,  and  as  it  is 
Well  known  that  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  has  ample 
and  unfailing  resources  in  the  Duties  on  Imports  and  Inter- 
nal Revenues  and  in  the  issue  of  the  Interest  bearing  Legal 
Tender  Treasury  Notes ;  it  is  almost  a  certainty  that  lie  will 
not  find  it  necessary,  for  a  long  time  to  come,  to  seek  a  mark- 
et for  any  other  long  or  permanent  Loans,  the  Interest 
and  Principal  of  which  are  payable  in  GOLD. 

Prudence  and  self-interest  must  force  the  minds  of  those 
contemplating  the  formation  of  National  Banking  Associa- 
tiitus,  as  well  as  the  minds  of  all  who  have  idle  money  on 
their  hands,  to  the  prompt  conclusion,  that  they  should 
lose  no  time  in  subscribing  for  this  most  popular  Loan. 
It  will  soon  be  beyond  their  reach,  and  advance  to  a  hand- 
Bome  premium,  as  was  the  result  with  the  "Seven-Thirty" 
Loan  when  it  was  all  sold  and  could  no  longer  be  subscribed 
for  at  par. 

It  is  a  Six  per  cent*  Loan,  the  Interest  and 
Principal  Payable  in  Gold,  thus  yielding 
Eight  to  Nine  percent,  per  annum  at  the  present 

rate  of  premium,  on  coin. 

The  Government  requires  all  duties  on  imports  to  be  paid 
in  Coin;  these  duties  have  for  a  long  time  past  amounted  to 
over  a  Quarter  of  a  Million  of  Dollars,  daily,  a  sum  nearly 
three  times  greater  than  that  required  in  the  payment  of  the 
interest  on  all  the  5-20's  and  other  permanent  Loans.  So  that 
it  is  hoped  that  the  surplus  Of  Coin  in  the  Treasury,  at  no 
distant  day,  will  enable  the  UUted.  States  to  resume  specie 
payments  upon  all  liabilities. 

The  Loan  is  called  5-20  from  the  foot  that  whilst  the  Bonds 
may  run  for  20  years,  yet  the  Government  has  the  right  to 
pay  them  off  in  Gold,  at  par,  at  any  time  after  5  years. 

The  Interest  is  paid  half-yearly  viz.:  on  the  first 
days  of  November  and  May. 

Subscribers  can  have  Coupon  Bonds  which  arb  payable  to 
bearer,  and  are  of  $50,  $100,  $500,  $1000;  or  Registered  Bonds 
of  same  denominations,  and  in  addition,  $5,000,  and  $10,000. 
For  Banking  purposes  and  for  investments  of  Trust-monies 
the  Registered  Bonds  are  preferable. 

These  5-20's  can  not  be  taxed  by  states,  cities,  towns,  or 
counties,  and  the  Government  tax  on  them  is  only  one-anrt-a 
half  per  cent.,  on  the  amount  of  income,  when  the  income  of 
the  holder  exceeds  Six  Hundred  dollars  per  annum;  all  other 
Investments,  such  as  income  from  Mortgages,  Rail  Road 
Stock  and  Bonds,  etc.,  must  pay  from  three  to  live  per  cent, 
tax,  on  the  income. 

Banks  and  Bankers  throughout  the  Country  will  continue 
to  dispose  of  the  Bonds;  and  all  orders  by  mail,  or  otherwise 
will  be  promptly  attended  to. 

The  Treasury  Department  having  perfected  arrangements 
for  the  prompt  delivery  of  Bonds  ;  Subscribers  will  be  ena- 
bled to  receive  them  at  the  time  of  Subscription,  or  within 
Four  days  thereafter.  This  arrangement  will  be  gratifying 
to  parties  who  want  the  Bonds  promptly  on  payment  of  the 
money. 

IV.  B.— The  above  Bonds  are  furnished  by 

F  I  S  K:    &    HATCH, 

No.  38   Wall-st.,  New- York  City. 

BANKERS    AND  DEALERS  IN 

All  Itinds  of  Government  and  oilier  Se- 
eurities.  Orders  from  the  Country  for  pur- 
chase of  Government  Bonds,  etc.,  attend- 
ed   to   WITH  CARE   and  Promptness. 

As  Agents  for  tlie  sale  of  IJ.  S.  FIVE- 
TWENTY  YEAR  SIX  PER  CENT.  BONDS, 

Messrs.  FISK  &  HATCH,  are  enabled  to  save  parties  all 
trouble  and  expense  in  finding  Legal  Tender  Notes,  or  other- 
wise, investing  in  these  Bonds.  Orders  or  inquiries  by  mail 
will  receive  prompt  attention,  and  the  Bonds  will  be  sent  to 
any  address,  by  mail  or  express,  as  desired.  Payment  may  be 
made  In  Bank  Notes  Current  in  New-York,  pB  \fts  and 
Checks  ok  Citt  Banks,  on  U.  S.  Legal  Tender  Notes. 
Persons  in  the  country  can  send  their  orders  and  money  to 
us  direct,  or  call  ai  the  nearest  Bank  and  ask  the  Cashier  to 
do  it  tor  them.  Drafts  or  checks  maybe  sent  safely  by  mail. 
Bark  Notes  or  Legal  Tenders  should  be  sent  by  Express. 


A  LADY  WISHES  EMPLOYMENT  IN  A 
kind  family  of  some  refinement.  She  understands  most 
of  the  details  of  housekeeping,  sewing,  care  of  milk,  &c., 
and  teaches  Music,  with  all  branches  of  a  thorough  education. 
Address  "INTEGRITY,"  41  Park  How,  New-York. 

New-Jersey  Farms. 

To  those  wanting  land  for  farming,  trucking,  or  fruit  grow* 
ing,  lam  prepared  to  offer  superior  Inducements,  as  I' have 
a  large  quantity  of  good  land,  which  I  will  sell  at  reasonable 
rates  in  quantities  oi  from  5  to  200  acres. 

The  lands  embrace  all  varieties  of  soil,  with  or  without 
Improvements,  in  good  neighborhood.-— Schools,  Churches, 
Post-Office,  Mills,  and  Kail  Road  depot  in  immediate  vicinity. 
Situate  on  the  Camden  and  Am  boy  It.  Ii.,  45  miles  from  New- 
York.    For  particulars  apply  to 

JAMES  BtTCKELEW,  Jamesburg,  N.  J. 

ONE  THOUSAND  ACHES  of  the  Best  Fanning 
Lands  in  Ocean  County.  N.  J.,  for  sale,  near  the  line  of 
the  Karitan  and  Delaware  Bay  Rail  Road.  The  soil  is  a  dark 
sandy  loam,  lying  on  a  clay  subsoil,  situated  central  between 
the  Rail  Road  and  Barnogat  Bay.— Convenient  to  the  Bay  for 
fish,  oysters,  marine  manures,  and  water  communication  to 
New-York.  Easy  access  to  the  Philadelphia  and  New- York 
markets  by  the  Railroad.    Apply  to 

EDWARD  BRINLET,  Perth  Amboy,  N.  J. 

mo  RENT.— Farm  of  about  100  acres  on  Oldfield 
■^  Point,  near  Setauket,  Long-Island— all  necessary  conve- 
niences.   Apply  to  C.  E    GROESBKECK, 

54  &  56  Broad  street,  New-York. 


Mode  of  applying  JOHNS  &  CROSLEY'S 

GIJTTA     PEKCHA    CEMENT    ROOFING. 

This  Roofing  is  Fire  and  Water  Proof,  and  can  be  applied 
by  any  ordinary  laborer.  It  costs  only  about  one-third  as 
much  as  tin,  and  is  more  durable. 

GUTTA    PEKCHA  CEMENT  PAINT 
applied  to  leaky  roofs  of  all  kinds,  will  render  them  perfect- 

'    "  tmc  and  for 
is  particu- 


lv  water-tight.    It  is  put  up  ready  prepared  for  use  and  for 
shipment  to  all  parts  of  the  country.    This  Paint  is 
larly  adapted  for  painting  Outhouses,  Barns,  Fence 
and  will  effectually  prevent  wood  from  decaying. 


This  Paint  is  particu- 
Barns,  Fences,  &c,  &c, 


ipment  to  all  par 
larly  adapted  for  painting  Outhouses, 
"    effectually  prevent  wood  fr. 
These   materials  have  been  tested  on   more  than  twelve 
thousand  roofs  during  the  past  six  years,  and  we  can  give 
abundant  proof  of  all  we  claim  for  them.    Full  descriptive 
circulars  and  any  required  information  furnished  by  the 
JOHNS  &  CBOSLEY  MANUFACTURING  CO., 

78  William-fit.,  cor.  Liberty,  New-York. 

WHEELER   &  WILSON'S  HIGHEST  PREMIUM 


505  Broadway. 
"There  is  no  better  family  machine  than  this  made,  as  we 
have  proved  by  use  in  our  own  family." 

American  Agriculturist. 

LANES  PURCHASING  AGENCY. 
GRAPES.  GRAPES, 

Adirondac,  2  vears  old,  No.  1.  $5  ;  No.  2.  $4. 
1  'year  old,  No.  1.  $S;  No.  2.  $2. 
Iona— fine  grape  for  table,  $2. 
Israella,  best  early  grape,  $2. 
Roger's  Hybrid.  No.  4,  dark  purple,  75c.  to  $1.50. 
"  HO.  15.  deep  Amber,  75C.  to  $1.50. 

Crevcling,  50c.  to  $1. 
Delaware,  2  vears  old,  $1  to  $2.50. 

1  year  old,  No.  1,  60c;  No.  2,  40c. 
D'iana,  25c.  to  $1. 
See  Report  on  "Great  Crape  Show,"  p.  337,  Am.  Agriculturist. 

FItTTIT    TREES. 

The  best  quality  of  Standard  and  Dwarf  Pears— Apples- 
Cherries  and  Plums,  and  Small  Fruits. 

Orsaamcutiafl    Trees   &  Shrubs 

Suitable  for  Lawns  and  Gardens. 

X>alili£iss   atitfl  GrlaxliolriSj 

Choicest  kinds  $2  per  dozen. 

H.4RTF.T  B.   E.4NE, 

151  Nassau-st.,  New- York. 


BEAUTIFUL  COUNTRY    HOMESTEAD 

Near  New-York  City. 
All  finished   and    ready   to  be   enjoyed    without 
farther  care  or  trouble. 
For  full  pM-ticulara  inquire  at  the    \uriaiUurist  Qfflce\ 


41  Park  Row,  New-York. 


ATTENTION 

MAP    AGENTS! 

Just  ready,   a  New  Edition  of  our     GREAT 
WAR  MAP,  colored  to  show 

The  Rebellion  as  it  was, 

AND 

The  Rebellion  as  it  is. 

I—  The  Loyal  States. 
II.— Territory  Wrested  from  the  Rebels. 
Ill- -What  the  Rebels  have  left. 

EACH   IN  A   DIFFERENT    COLOR. 

"  Look  at  it,"  said  Webster,  after  Choatc's  "  puttering  gen- 
eralities" had"  dazzled  the  eyes  of  the  jury  about  a  car  wheel 
—and  every  loyal  man  should 

Look  at  this  Map, 

and  show  it  to  his  otherwise  neighbor, 

E3?"  Battle  fields  and  strategic  points  are  marked  in  blood- 
red  lines  and  dots.  Mailed,  post-paid  for  25  cents  ;  also  OCR 
GREAT  COUNTY  COLORED  MAP  OF  THE  UNITED 
STATES,  for  50  cents,  and  Lincoln's  Letters,  pamphlet 
edition,  for  8  cents.  Agents  should  send  for  our  new  cir- 
cular, and  see  our  long  list  of  popular  Maps,  Charts,  Pictures, 
and  low  prices.    Address 

H.  II.   LLOYD  &  CO., 

No.  81  John-si,  New- York. 

Shepherd,  Seward  &  Co., 

Wholesale  Dealers  In 

AMERICAN  &   FOBtEIGlV  SEEDS. 

211  Pearl-Street,  New-York. 
Catalogues  on  application. 


The  NONPAREIL  WASHING  MACHINE 

Is  the  only  entirely  reliable  machine  in  use. 

It  has  been  before  the  public  two  fears,  and  has  not  in  any 
Instance  failed  to  give  satisfaction. 

It  saves  two-thirds  the  labor  and  lime  required  in  hand 
washing. 

it  is  a  squeezing  machine,  and  will  not  injure  the  finest 
clothing. 

A  girl  of  fourteen  years  can  operate  it. 

It  will  not  get  out  of  order. 

It  is  recommended  by  Mr.  Jucld,  the  proprietor  of  this 
Journal. 

Prices:  No.  1,  $12.    No.  2,$1G.    No,  3,  $30. 

Send  for  free  Circular  to 

OAKLEY  &  KEATING,  13  Sonth-st..  New- York, 


1803.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


349 


HIGHEST      PREMIUMS,     1363, 


WERE  AWARDED  THE 

HIGHEST    'PREMIUMS 

AT  THE  LATE  STATE  FAIRS  OF 
VERMONT,  ILLINOIS,         KENTUCKY,       IOWA, 

NEW-YORK,         INDIANA,        MICHIGAN". 
OFFICE,  495  BROADWAY,  NEW-YORK. 
"Grovei-ik  linker's  are  the  beat."— Am.  Agriculturist. 

Doty's  New-York  Clothes  Washer, 

Patented  and  manufactured  by  Wm.  M.  DOTY,  498  Broad- 
way, New- York,  is  undoubtedly  the  tifst  and  cheapest 
WASHING-MACHINE 

known.    Price  only  $10  ;  three-fourths  size  §9. 

It  is  pronounced  bbst  amt>  cheapest  by  Solon  Robinson, 
Agr'l  Editor.  N.  Y.  Tribune ;  lames  Brown,  of  the  Ann  of 
Brown  Brothers  &  Co.,  59  Wall  street;  A.  Holland,  author  of 
Laundry  Manual,  and  others.  Agents  wanted  iu  every  town. 

Send  for  Circular. 


SELF-ADJUSTING  aud  ADJUSTABLE ! 

The  only  Wringer  with  the  Patent 

Cog  Wheel  Regulator, 

which  positively  prevents  the  rolls  from 
BREAKING,  OR  TWISTING  ON  THE  SHAFT. 

It  was  pronounced  superior  to  all  others  at  the  World's 
Fair  at  London,  1862.  It  took  the  Frnsr  Premium  at  the 
great  Fair  of  the  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE,  New- York  City, 
1863  where  the  judges  were  practical  mechanics,  and  ap- 
preciated COG  WHEELS. 
It  took  the  First  Premium  at  the 

New- York  State  Fair 1862  and  1SG3. 

Vermont  State  Fair  1803. 

Pennsylvania  State  Fail' 1868. 

Iowa  State  Fair  18(53. 

Illinois  Stat  e  Fair 1363. 

Aud  County  Fairs  without  number. 
Orange  Judd,  of  the  American  Agriculturist,  says  of  the 
UNIVERSAL     CLOTHES     WRINGER, 
"We  think  the  machine  much  more  than   PAYS  FOR  IT- 
SELF EVERY  YEAR  in  the  saving  of  garments  !  There  are 
several  kinds,  nearly  alike  in  general   construction,  but  we 
consider  it  important  that  the  wringer  be  fitted  with  Cogs, 
otherwise  a  mass  of  garments  may  clog  the  rollers,  and  the 
rollers  upon  the  crankshaft  slip  and  tear   the  clothes,  or  the 
rubber  break  loose  from   the  shaft.    Our  own  is  one  of  the 
first  made,  and  it  is  as  GOOD  AS  NEW  after  nearly  FOUR 
TEAR'S  CONSTANT  USE." 

We  have  seven  sizes,  from  $5.50  to  $30.  The  ordinary  family 
sizes  are  No.  1,  $10,  and  No.  2,  $".  These  have 

CO  Cr-'WZXiaKIj  &  y 

and  are  warranted  in  every  particular. 

On  receipt  of  the  price,  from  places  where  no  one  Is  sell- 
ing, we  will  send  the  U.  C.  W.,  free  of  expense.  What  we 
especially  want  is  a  good 

CANVASSER 

in  every  town.  We  offer  liberal  inducements,  and  guarantee 
the  exclusive  sale.  B.  C.  BROWNING, 

3-17  Broadway,  New- York. 

Life  Insm'ance. 

THE  MANHATTAN  LIFE  INS.  Co. 

OF  NEW-YORK,  No.  31  NASSAU-ST. 
Accumulation  $1,500,000. 
Claims  paid  830,000. 

Dividends  700,000. 

The  greatly  superior  advantages  of  ttiis  old  established 
Company,  can  be  ascertained  free  of  expense  at  any  of  ttie 
agencies,  or  bv  writing  to  the  home  nmce  for  a  prospectus. 
J  L  HALSKY,  Ast.  Seo'y.  HEXIIY  STOKKS,  President. 

8.  N.  STEBB1J1S,  Actuary.         C.   Y.  WEMPLE,    Secretary. 

Imported  and  American  Game  Fowls. — Send  for 
Circular  to  Lock  Box  A,  Wellsburg,  West  Virginia. 


tTSBFULiinul  VALUABLE 
MSCOVJERV  ! 

HILTON'S 

INSOLUBLE    CEMENT! 

Is  of  more  general  practical  utility  than  any 
invention  now  before  the  public.  It  has  been 
thoroughly  tested  during  the  last  two  years 
by  practical  men,  and  pronounced  by  all  to 
15c  Superior  to  any 
Adhesive  Preparation  known. 

Hilton's  Insoluble  Cement 

Is  a  new  thing,  and  the  result  of  years  of 

study;  its  combination  is  on 

SCIENTIFIC   PSfiirVCIPCES, 

And  under  no  circumstances  or  change  of 
temperature,  will  it  become  corrupt  or  emit 
any  offensive  smell. 

Boot  mul  Slioc  Manufacturers,  using 
Machines,  will  find  it  the  best  article  known 

for  Cementing  the  Channels,  as  it  works 
without  delay,  is  not  affected  by  any  change 
of  temperature. 

Jewelers  will  find  it  sufficiently  adhesive 
for  their  use,  as  has  been  proved. 

Itis  especially  adapted  to  Leath- 
er, and  we  claim  as  an  especial  merit,  that 
it  sticks  patches  and  Linings  to  Boots  and 
Shoes  sufficiently  strong  without  stitching, 

IT  IS  THE  ONLY 

LIQUID    CEMENT 

Extant,  that  is  a  sure  thing  for  mending 
Furniture,  Crockery,  Toys,  Bone, 
Ivory,  and  articles  of  Household  use. 

Hilton's     Insoluble     Cement 

Is  in  liquid  form  and  as  easily  applied  as 
paste. 

Hilton's  Insoluble  Cement 

Is  insoluble  in  water  or  oil. 
Hilton's  Insoluble  Cement 

Adheres  oily  substances. 

Supplied  in  Family  or  Manufacturers'  rack- 
ages  from  ■}  ounces  to  100  lbs. 

HILTON    BROS.    &  CO., 

Proprietors, 
providence,  k.  i. 

AGENTS 

Wanted  everywhere  to  sell  WOODRUFF'S  PATENT 
PORTABLE  BAROMETERS. 

CHARLES  WILDER,  Pcterboro',  N.  H. 

INDIA    RUBBER    GLOVES. 

Are  invaluable  as  a  protection  of  the  hands  in  all  kinds  of 
Housework,  Gardening,  etc.,  and  are  a  certain  cure  for 
Chapped  Hands.  Salt  Rheum,  etc.  ««.«** 

Ladies' sizes.  $1.00  per  pair;  Gents'  sizes,  $1.25.  Sent  by 
mail  on  receipt  of  price  by 

GOODYEAR'S  I.  R.  GLOVE  M'F'G  CO., 

205  Broadway,  New-York, 
Manufacturers  and  Dealers  in  every  description  of  India 
Rubber  Goods. 


Great  Dis- 
covery ! 


Applicable    to 
thcusefulAr 


A  new  thing. 

Its    Combina- 
tion. 

Boot  and  Shoe 
Manufacturers 

Jewelers. 
Families. 

It  is  a  Liquid 


MONEY  CAN  BE  MADE  BY  AGENTS  every- 
1*1  where  in  taking  orders  for  KETTELL'S  HISTORY  OF 
THE  GREAT  REBELLION,  in  two  volumes.  First  volume 
664  pages,  1-1  steel  engravings,  0(3  portrails.  8  maps,  and  other 
Illustrations,  ready  fur  immediate  delivery.  Second  volume 
to  be  issued  at  the  close  of  the  war.  Liberal  terms  to  agents. 
Address,  N.  C.  MILLER,  Publisher,  No.  3  Park-row,  N.  Y. 

MME.  DEMOREST'S  MIRROR  OF  FASHIONS. 
The  Splendid  and  valuable  Winter  No.  Ready  Nov.  1st. 
Contains  an  Elegant  Cloak  Plate,  a  Splendid  Colored  Fash- 
ion Plate,  Numerous  Engravings,  and  live  full  size  Patterns, 
with  many  other  valuable  Novelties.  Single  copies  25c. 
Yearly  $1.  with  valuable  Premiums.  Published  iY.i  Broad- 
way, New- York,  and  sold  everywhere.  Every  Lady  should 
secure  this  splendid  winter  number. 

TRUSSES.— Radical    Cure 

OF     HEKNrA    OR     RUPTURE— Dl\    S.     N. 

Marsh,  of  the  well-known  house  of 
Marsh  &  Co.,  No. 2  Vesey-st.,  Astor  House. 
opposite  the  church,  devotes  special  at- 
tention to  the  surgical  adaptation  of  his 
Radical  Cure  Truss  Also  every  kind  of  Trusses,  Supporters, 
Shoulder  Braces,  Elastic  Stockings,  and  Mechanical  appli- 
ances for  Deformities.    (A  lady  attendant.) 

Portable 

Printing"   Offices* 

For  the  use  of  Merchants.  Druggists.  Nurserymen,  and  all 
who  wish  to  do  their  own  Printing.  Circular  sent  free.  Spe- 
cimen Sheets  of  Type,  Cuts.  &c,  on  receipt  of  two  :v.  stamps. 
ADAMS  PRESS  CO..  31  Park  Row,  N.  Y. 

fvoaess:  powers,  threshers 

**A\D  SEPARATORS,  CLOVER  HULLERS 
AND  FAN  MILLS.— ROOT  CUTTERS  of  several  pat- 
terns. HAY  and  STALK  CUTTERS,  CORN  SIIELLERS, 
HAND  and  POWER  HAY  aud  COTTON  PRESSES,  SAUS- 
AGE CUTTERS  and  STUFFERS.  LARD  PRESSES. 
For  sale  by  R.  H.  ALLEN  &  CO. 

189  and  101  Water-street,  Now- York. 


Steel  Composition  Bells, 

ICAN    BELL    COMPANY. 
i.  .'it)  Liberty-street,  New-York.) 

anufaciurers  of  this  descrip- 
tion of  Bell,  either  in  this  country 
or  in  Europe— the  combining  of 

certain  metals,  and  the  process 
of  manufacturing;  the  same  being 
the  discovery  of  the  President 
of  the  Company.  These  Bells 
we  can  commend  with  great  con- 
fidence to  the  public,  for  their 
cheapness  and  quality  of  tone. 
We  furnish  a  500  lb.  bell  with  all 
the  necessary  appointments— in- 
cluding Harrison's  patent- 
,  ed  Self-acting  Rotary,  for 
$100,  and  one  of  1000  lbs. 
1  '.  with  like  appointments,  for 
■Jg£'  $200.  The  price  for  the 
«-■*■  Bells  being  15c.  per  pound, 
and  that  of  the  hangings 
of  the  first,  $25,  and  those  of  the  latter  $42.  Our  circulars, 
containing  full  details,  will  be  forwarded  free  of  charge  to 
all  parties  desiring  the  same. 


A  in n,B  £!i  an    Bel  Is, 

At  prices  within  the  reach  of  every  Church,  School, 
Cemetery,  Factory,  or  Farm  in  the  land.  Their 
use  throughout  the  United  States  and  Canadas  for 
the  pasi  six  years  has  proven  them  to  combine 
most  valuable  qualities,  among  which  are  tone, 

STRENGTH,    SONOROUSNESS,    and     DURABILITY    OF 

vibration,  nnequaled  by  anv  other  manufacture. 
Sizes  from  50  to  5000  lbs.,  costing  two  thirds  less 
than  other  metal,  or  15  cents  per  pound,  at  which 
price,  we  warrant  them  twelve  months.  Old  bell 
metal  taken  in  exchange,  or  bought  for  cash.  Send 
for  a  Circular  to  the  Manufacturer. 

JOHN  B.  ROBINSON, 
No,  190  William-street,  New- York. 


HtTCIlI^'SOTS  IMPROVED  FAM- 
ILY WINE  and  CIDER  MILL. 
PRICE  $18.    Sold  by 

GRIFFING.  BROTHER  &  CO., 

60  Courtlaudt-st.,  New- York 

THE  EUREKA  FEED   CUTTER. 
A  Cnttcr  adapted  to    the  wants  of  Farmers. 


Xfl 

M 

Hi 

<! 
H 

02 

o 

O 


a 
xn 

H3 


HAY 


This  machine  has  important  Improvements,  It  crushes 
and  cuts  the  heaviest  corn  stalks,  and  hay  and  straw  with 
great  rapidity,  by  either  hand  or  horsepower.  It  has  four 
cylindrical  knives,  ground  on  the  inside;  they  cut  with  the 
sheag  cut,  and  can  be  easily  ground  and  kept  in  com- 
plete cutting  order  by  ordinary  farm  help.  It  is  well  made, 
easily  operated,  simple,  durable,  and  effective.  Hundreds 
are  in  actual  operation  to  the  perfect  satisfaction  of  the 
purchasers.  Orders  solicited— promptly  attended  to.  Send 
for  a  circular,  furnished  free.  Manufactured  only  by 
H.  K.  PARSONS,  Agent, 
Novelty  Works,  II.lKKllJBUKG,  PA. 

INGERSOEE'S    IMPROVED 

HORSE  AND  HAND  POWER 

AND    COTTON    PRESSES. 

These  machines  have  been  tested  in  the  most  thorough 
manner  throughout  this  and  foreign  countries  to  the  number 
of  over  1200. 

The  Horse  Power  is  worked  by  either  wheel  or  capstan, 
and  in  many  respects  possesses  nnequaled  advantages.  We 
invite  those  wanting  such  machines  to  write  for  a  catalogue 
containing  full  information  with  cuts,  prices,  &c,  or  call  and 
examine  personally. 

Orders  promptly  attended  to,  bv  addressing 
LNGERSOLL  &  DOUGHERTY,  Greenpoint,  Kings  Co.,  L.  I. 

ANTI-FRICTION   LEVER 

HORSE    POWERS, 
BURR    STONE    MILLS, 

which  may  be  driven  by 

HORSE,  WATER,  or  STEAM  POWER. 

Send  for  Circular  to 

E.  H.  BENNET, 
43  and  44  Greene-st„  New-York. 

OSIERS  OR  BASKET  WILLOWS.— 34  KINDS. 
The  largest  collection  in  America.  Of  all  colors  and 
decrees  ol  fineness.  Cuttings  at  low  rates.  Send  for  Cata- 
logues. PRINCE  &  CO.,  Flushing,  N.  T. 

PRINCE  &  CO.,  FLUSHING,  N.  Y.—  LINN-KAN 
NUIlSEIilKS,  Founded  1732.  New  Priced  Catalogues 
of  Trees  and  Shrubs,  of  Grapes,  of  Strawberries,  of  Bulbs, 
of  Peonies,  &c,  &c,  just  issued,  sent  to  applicants. 

RAPES,  STRAWBERRIES,  SEEDS  AND  ALL 
small  articles  sent  by  mail,  safely,  and  at  low  rates  by 
PKINCE  &  CO.,  Flushing,  N.  Y. 


i 


350 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[November, 


FRUIT   AND    ORNAMENTAL   TREES. 

RARE  CHANCES  OFFERED. 

■300,000   Choice  Fruit  Trees,  "Vines,  etc.,    for 

s:ile,  of  varied  size  to  suit  customers. 

The  suJisci'il'i-r  calls  attention  to  his  unusually  large  stock 
of  well  grown  trees  now  on  hand,  and  especially  to  the  pre- 
sent stock  of  the  btandaud  fruit,  Apple,  which  is  tlie 
largest  and  ftnesl  ever  offered  at  these  Nurseries. 

Willi  twenty  years  of  experience,  by  careful  observation 
and  judicious  selections,  he  believes  he  is  al)le  to  judge  and 
furnish  what  will  suit  his  customers,  as  well  as  the  varied 
soils  and  localities  in  which  trees  may  be  wanted.  There  Is 
also  special  attention  paid  to  local  varieties,  adapted  to 
Southern  and  Central  Pennsylvania,  many  of  which  have 
proven  themselves;  more  valuable,  than  sorts  originating  In 
a  climate  ilNlennu;  so  widely  front  these  sections. 

He  i^  also  preparing  a  list  of  club  pricks  for  those  who 
purchase  dlrecl  from  the  proprietor,  offering  rare  induce- 
ments for  neighbors  to  |oln  together  and  get  trees  consider- 
ably under  ihe  regular  retail  prices. 

This  mode  la  adopted  for  those  who  may  not  have  an  op- 
portunity to  purchase  from  his  regularly  authorized  agents, 
and  hold  a  mistrust  towards  the  too  numerous  tree  venders 
spread  over  the  land. 

B3f  The  frequent  use  made  of  Ids  name  and  establishment 
by  strangers,  to  effect  sales  where  the  reputation  of  the 
nursery  is  known,  compels  him  lo  warn  all  not  to  purchase 
—as  coming  from  these  Nurseries— stock  offered  by  pre- 
tenders, who  do  not  hold  an  authority  from  the  proprietor. 

Local  or  si  ttl I  agents  will  be  accepted,  but  neither 

traveling  nor  stationary  agency  inquiries  will  receive  notice, 
unless  the  parties  produce  satisfactory  reference  as   to  their 

h< sty  iu  dealing  with  customers  and  employer.    Send  for 

Catalogues  and  priced  List,  which  contain  inducements  not 
before  offered  by  him.  Abundant  and  trustwobthy  ref- 
erence WILL  BE  FURNISHED  TO  ALL  WHO  ARE  STRAN- 
GBR8  TO  THE   ESTABLISHMENT. 

Address  DAVID  MILLER,  Jr., 

Cumberland  Nurseries,  Carlisle,  Pa. 

Fruit  mid  Ornamental   Trees. 

We  offer  a  large  stock  at  low  rates  of 
APPLE,   PEAK,   CHERRY,  PLUM,  and  PEACH  TREES  Of 

superior  growth  and  quality. 
Also  NATIVE  GRAPE  VINES."  consisting  of  Concord,  Hart- 
ford ProlUie,  Delaware,  Diana.  Rogers"  Hybrid,  &c,  &C 
STRAWBERRIES— TriomphcdeGand,  Austin  Seedling,  and 

other  popular  varieties, 
A  large  stock  of  Forest  and  Evergreen  Trees,  and  Hedg- 
ing Plants. 
l.OHi.fiuo  Apple  Seedlings  from  one  to  three  years  old. 
50.000  Sugar  Maple  Seedlings  two  years  old. 

Those  "wishing  to  purchase  will  find  it  for  their  interest  to 
either  examine  our  stock  or  communicate  with  us.    Cata- 
logues sent  to  applicants.  STEPHEN  HOYT  &  SONS. 
New  Canaan,  Ct„  AugUBt  10th,  1863. 

BLOOMINGTON  NURSERY,  ILL.,  160  acres. 
Apple  Trees,— best  stock  ever  offered,  $30  to  $60  per 
1000— also  Pears,  Grapes,  and  small  fruits,  with  general  assort- 
ment. Ornamentals.  Nursery  stocks,  &c...  30,000  Tulips,  with 
Hyacinths,  Crocus,  &c.  Plant.  In  Fall.  Send  red  stamp  tor 
catalogue.  F.  K.  PHOENIX,  Bloomington,  His. 

THE  ADIRONDAC  GRAPE 

Took  the  Premium  at  the  great  Grape  Exhibition  recently 
held  in  New-York,  as  the  "BEST  NATIVE  GRAPE,  Qual- 
ity to  rule,"  over  all  others,  the  celebrated  Delaware  in- 
cluded. It  ripens  one  week  before  the  Hartford  Prolific  and 
two  weeks  before  the  Delaware,  and  is  more  than  double  the 
size  of  the  latter. 

Vines  for  sale  by  single  one,  dozen,  or  hundred.  Every 
plant  warranted  genuine.    Circulars  sent  free.    Address 

Oct.  8,  1B6S.  J.  W.  CONE,  Norfolk,  Conn. 

ADIRONDAC    GRAPE. 

The  earliest  and  best  Native  Grape  of  the  most  delicate 
flavor,  equal  to  the  best  Vinery  Grapes,  without  pulp,  and 
ripening  2  or  3  weeks  earlier  than  the  Delaware. 

2  years  old  No.  1,  ve*  strong,  $5.  No.  2,  $4.  1  years  old 
No.  1,  very  strong,  $3.   No.  2,  $2-  All  cut  back  to  3  or  4  eves. 

Vines  w'ill  be  packed  in  the  best  manner  and  forwarded  by 
express,  or  small  vines  by  mail  if  desired.  Apply  with  re- 
mittance fo  JOHN  W.  BAILY, 

Pittsburgh,  Clinton  Co.,  N.Y. 

Grapes  for  the  Million. 

ROGER'S  HYBRIDS  Nos.  4, 15,  and  19.  The  largest 
lot  in  the  State  from  wood  of  Mr.  Rogers.  Also  buds  of  same 
at  best  rates.  Also  Concords  for  Vineyards  or  in  smaller 
lots.  Also  20  other  popular  varieties.  "All  unsurpassed  in 
quality  and  price.    Send  for  trade  list. 

LINDLEY  &  HINKS, 
"Bridgeport  Nursery"  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

DWARF  PEARS.— Extra  fine  2  to  4  year  old 
trees;  unsurpassed  by  any  in  the  country. 
Also  a  general  assortment  of  Nursery  stock,  Fruit,  and 
(ir;:;.\MKSTAL  Trees,  Vines,  Bulbs,  Plants,  &c,  &c. 
Catalogues  sent  gratis  to  all  who  enclose  a  two  cent  stamp. 
FRANCIS  BRILL,  Newark,  New-Jersey. 

ORANGE  QUINCE   SEED.— A   small   quantity. 
A  choice  lot  for  sale  by  Win.  DAY,  Morristown  Nursery, 
N.  J.    Enclose  a  stamp  for  circulars. 

Wanted  !  Scrap  Iron,  Old  Boilers  and  Old  Iron 
Machinery, 

The  subscribers  will  pay  cash  for  any  quantity  of  wrought 
or  cast,  scrap  iron,  old  Boilers  and  old  iron  machinery  ;  deliv- 
ered at  their  Warehouse  28,  30  and  32  Terrace-st.,  Buffalo,  or 
at  their  Rolling  Mill  and  Natl   Factory,  Black  Rock,  N.  Y 

Buffalo,  N.  V.,  duly  1868.  PRATT  &  CO. 


$— SOMETHING  NEW  !     AGENTS  WANTED. 

Our  New  "  Fancy  Card  Thermometries"— "  Hemmer  and 
Shield"  for  hand  sewing— "  Improved  Indelible  Pencil"  for 
marking  linen,  "  Flexible  Shawl  and  Nursery  Safety  Pin," 
" Patent  Hair  Crimpers,"  and  10  more  novel,  useful  and 
indispensable  articles,  are  warranted  to  give  satisfaction. 
—Samples 25c.  each.    For  circulars  and  terms  address 

RICE  &  CO.,  87  Bark  Row.  N.  Y. 

RUSSIA    OR    BASS   MATS,    SELECTED    EX- 
nressly     for  budding    and    tying  :    GUNNY    BAGS, 

twines,  hay  ROPES,  &c,  suitable  for  Nursery  purpose* 
tor  sale  in  lots  to  suit,  by  D.  W.  M  ANWAKING. 

Importer  248  Front-st.,  New- York. 


TO    FARMERS 
TO   DAIRYMEN, 

TO  COUNTRY  MERCHANTS. 

ALL  who  have  for  Sale  : 

Sorghum    Sugar    and    Syrup, 
Furs      and      Skins, 
Fruits,  dry  and  green, 
Flax,  Tobaeco, 

Hops,  Tallow, 

Cotton,  Wool, 

Butter,  Cheese, 

Lard,  Beef, 

Pork,  Hams, 

Eggs,  Poultry, 

Game,  Vegetables, 

Flour,  Grain, 

Seeds,  Petroleum, 

At'.,  &c. 

Can  have  them  weU  sold  at  the  highest  prices 

in  New- York,  with  full  cash  returns  promptly 

after   their  reaching  the  City,  by   forwarding 

them  to  the  Commission  House  for    Country 

Produce,  of 

JOSI  III     CARPENTER, 

32  Jay-street,  NewTork. 

NT.  B. — The  advertiser  has  had  abundant 
experience  in  this  business,  and  trusts  that  lie 
will  continue  to  merit  patronage  by  the  most 
careful  attention  to  the  interest  of  his  patrons. 
The  articles  are  taken  charge  of  on  their  arri- 
val, and  carefully  disposed  of  promptly  to  good 
cash  customers,  and  cash  returns  made  imme- 
diately to  the  owner.  (The  highest  charge  made 
for  receiving  and  selling  is  five  per  cent,  fruits  and 
vegetables  excepted.) 

A  New  York  Weekly  Price  Current  is  issued 
by  J.  Carpenter,  which  is  sent  free  to  all  his  pat- 
rons. A  specimen  copy  sent  free  to  any  de- 
siring it.  A  trial  will  prove  the  above  facts. 
For  abundant  references  as  to  responsibility,  in- 
tegrity, &c,  see  the  "  Price  Current." 

Cash     advanced    on    consignments    of 


Produce. 

SEND    FOR 

A    FREE    COPY 

O  F 

PRICES   CURRENT, 

AND  ALL  OTHER  PARTICULARS, 

TO 

J0SIAH    CARPENTER, 
33  Jay-st.,  New- York. 

PRODUCE  OF   ALL  KINDS  BOUGHT. 


S.  B.  CONOVER, 
Commission    Dealer, 

360,  261  &  262  West  Washington  Market, 

FOOT  OF  FULTON-ST. 
Particular  attention  paid  to  selling  all  kinds  of  Fruit  and 
other  Farm  Produce. 
Kefcra  to  the  Krtitor  of  the  American  Agriculturist. 

C.  W.  I  DELL. 

COMMISSION    DEALER 
In  Fruit,  Produce,  &c. 

Special  attention  given  to  selling  all  kinds  of  fruit. 

70  &  71  West  Washington  Market. 


ESTABLISHED    1842 

Dcrivg  the  past  Twenty  Tears,  Messrs.  MUNN  k  CO.,  in 
connection  with  the  publication  of  the  Weekly  Illustrated 
Scientific  American,  (the  only  paper  devoted  to  the  Me- 
chanic Arts  in  the  Country),  h*ve  acted  as  Attorneys  for  pro- 
curing Letters  Patent  in  the  United  States  and  all  foreigu 
countries ! 

They  would  state  that  they  hare  acted,  during  this  period, 
as  agents  for  more  than 

Twenty  Thousand  Inventors  ! 

In  fact,  they  have  become  identified  with  the  whole  brother- 
hood ot  in  v. mui  i!  a  and  patentees,  at  home  and  abroad.  Thou- 
sands of  inventors  for  whom  they  have  taken  patents,  have 
addressed  to  them  most  flattering  testimonials;  and  the  wealth 
that  has  inured  to  the  Inventors  whose  patents  were  secured 
through  their  Office,  and  afterwards  illustrated  In  the  Scien- 
tific American  would  amount  to  many  millions  of  dollars  I 

Messrs.  MUNN  £  CO.  never  had  a  more  efficient  corps  of 
Draughtsmen  and  Specification  Writers  than  those  employed 
at  present;  and  they  are  prepared  to  attend  to  patent  business 
of  all  kinds,  in  the  quickest  time  and  on  the  most  liberal 
terms. 

For  further  information.  Bend  for  a  pamphlet  which  con- 
tains the  Patent  Laws  of  the  United  States,  and  much  other 
valuable  information  of  importance,  to  inventors  and  all  others 
who  own  patent  property.  Also  pamphlets  of  information 
iumished  regarding  the  Pateut  Laws  of  all  Foreign  Coun- 
tries. 

For  further  particulars  address  MUNN  &  CO.,  37  Park-row, 
New  York;  or  corner  F  and  7th  streets  (opposite  Patent 
Olflee),  Washington,  D.  C. 

THE 

AMERICAN  STOCK  JOURNAL 

FOR  1864. 

NOW  IS  THE  TIME  TO  GET  NEW  SUBSCRIBERS. 

Fourteen  lYumners  tor  one  Dollar! 

One  Premium  of  Taylor's  South  Down  Buck  Lamb 

worth  $50  ! !  ! 
One  Premium  of  Taylor's  South   Down   Buck   Lamb 
worth  $40!  !  ! 
Volume  Sixth  will  commence   January  1st,  1864.    The  Pub- 
lisher has  i*n n eluded   to  close   the   present  volume  with 
the  December  number,  bo  as  to  commence  the  New 
Volume  with  the    New  Year.    All   our  present  sub- 
scribers will  be  supplied  to  May  inclusive.— AH  such  may 
receive  the  Journal  to  December,  1864,  by  sending  seventy 
Jive  cents  to  the  Publisher. 

Terms  and  Premiums  for  1*04. 

Is*.— Any  person  sending  one  hundred  and  fifty  names  and 

ONE    HUNDKED  AND    FIFTY    DOLLARS,    shall    receive    150 

copies  of  the  Stock  Journal  and  one  of  Taylor's  South 
Down  Buck  La  nibs— Price  $50,  which  will  be  delivered  In 
New- York  to  order. 

2d.— Any  person  sending  one  hundred  and  twenty  Ave  names 
and  $125  in  money  shall  receive  125  copies  of  the  Journal 
and  one  of  Taylor's  South  Down  Buck  Lambs.  Price  $40. 

3d  —Any  person  sending  us  100  names,  and  $100  in  cash  shall 
receive  100  copies  of  the  Journal,  and  one  copy  of  Her- 
bert's Horses  of  America,  Price  $10,  and  one  Farmer's 
Encyclopedia,  Price  $5. 

4*//.— Any  person  sending  us  75  names  and  $75  in  money  shall 
receive  75  Journals  and  Coleman's  Agriculture,  Price  $6, 
and  Randall's  &  Youatt'sShepherd's  Own  Book,  Price  $2. 

5Wit— Any  person  sending  us  50  names,  and  $50  in  money, 
shall  receive  50  Journals  and  Kandall's  &  Youatfs 
Shepherd's  Own  Book,  Price  $2,  and  Kantlall  &  Youatt 
on  the  Horse,  Price  $1.25,  and  Kandall's  Fine  Wool  Sheep 
Husbandry,  Price  75  cents. 

6//'.— Any  person  sending  us  20  names,  and  $15,  shall  receive 
20  Journals  and  one  Shepherd's,  Own  Book,  Price  $2. 

lth.—At\y  person  sending  us  Ten  names,  and  Eight  Dollars, 
shall  receive  10  Journals  and  one  Herbert's  Hints  to 
Horse  Keepers,  or  Youatt  &  Martin  on  Cattle,  $1  25  each. 

8th  —  Any  person  sending  six  names  and  $5,  shall  receive  six 
Journals,  and  one  Allen's  Domestic  Animals,  price  75c. 

9th.— Any  person  sending  "  names,  and  $3,  shall  receive  3 
Journals,  and  one  Kandall's  Fine  Wool  Sheep  Husban- 
dry, Price  75c. 

\0tli—  For  one  Dollar  sent  previous  to  January  1st,  1864,  the 
Journal  will  be  sent  from  November  1S63  to  Deccmbei 
1S64.  Address  all  communications  to 

C.  M.  SAXTON,  Agricultural  Book  Publisher, 

D.  C.  LIXSLEY.         ?  cviitm-o  NeW-Yoik. 


ONION  CULTURE-Fourth  (new)  Edition. 

This  work  comprises  in  32  pages  all  the  particulars  for  suc- 
cessful Onion  Culture,  from  Selection  of  Seed  to  Marketing 
the  Crop— being  the  practical  directions  given  by  seventeen 
experienced  Onion  Growers,  residing  in  different  parts  of  tho 
country.  Price  20  cents  (or  7  stamps),  sent  post-paid.  Ad- 
dress Publisher  of  Agriculturist, 

SOMETHING     TO     DO.— "PLEASANT    AND 

^PROFITABLE."  Good  Books,  ready  sales,  and  good 
profits.  Agents  wanted.  Address  with  sump  to  FOWLKK 
&  WELLS,  303  Broadway,  New-York. 


1863." 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


351 


A  Book  for  all  Churches, 
THE  CHURCH  SINGER, 

A  COLLECTION  OF  SACRED  MUSIC, 

Published  by 
CARLTON  &  PORTER, 

200  Mulberry-street,  New-York, 

is  now  ready. 

A  great  proportion  of  the  material  for  this  work  is  the 
result  of  several  years'  labor  of  PROFESSOR  C.  C.  CON- 
VERSE, former- Organist  of  the  Broadway  Tabernacle,  New- 
York.  It  embraces  the  finest  music  collected  and  composed 
during  a  residence  in  Gekjust  and  England,  as  well  as 
the  most  popular  tunes  of  American  authors,  adapted  to 
the  hymns  in  use  by  all  denominations. 

The  great  number  and  variety  of  CHANTS  and  SET 
PIECES  found  in  this  work  will  greatly  enhance  its  value, 
and  the  Publishers  commend  it  to  the  notice  of  all  Church- 
es as  the  best  book  of  the  age,  according  to  the  testimony 
ot  persons  competent  to  judge. 

For  sale  by  the  Trade  generally. 

Price,  single  copy r $1  25 

"      per  dozen 10  00 

IK  MARVEL'S    NEW  WORK. 

Just  published  by  C.  SCRIBNER,  I'M   Grand-st.  New-York. 

MY  FARM  OF  EDGEWOOD.-A  Country 

BOOK.     By  the  Author  of  "Reveries  of  a  Bachelor," 

&c,  cloth,  Price  $1.30. 
The  work  has  grown  out  of  the  author's  farm  experi- 
ences, but  yet  is  not  a  literal  transcript  of  those  experi- 
ences, it  embodies  very  much  what  the  author  would  have 
said  in  way  of  advice-,  encouragement,  and  warning  to 
any  good  friend  who  thought  of  making  trial  of  country 
life.  There  are  tempting  dishes  of  fruits  and  sweet  home- 
ly nosegays  scattered  up  and  down  its  pages  ;  but  there 
are  also  stories  of  annoyance — of  chaffering  bargainers, 
of  pestilent  depredators,  of  stupid  teamsters,  and  of  inso- 
luble salts. 
The  author  says  in  his  closing  chapter  .— 
,lI  think  that  I  have  not  withheld  from  view  the  awkward  - 
ncss  and  embarrassments  which  beset  a  country  life  in  New- 
England,  nor  overstated  its  possible  attractions.  I  have 
sought  '.t  my  r-.i!E  fee  give  a  truthful  picture  and  to  6'uffiise 
it  all— so  far  as  I  might— with  a  country  atmosphere  ■  so  that 
a  man  might  read,  as  if  the  trees  were  shaking  their  leaves 
over  his  head,  the  corn  rustling  through  all  its  ranks  within 
hearing,  and  the  flowers  blooming  at  his  elbows. 

Also  Just  Ready,  by  the  same  Author, 
in  neat  pocket  editions,  $1.23  each : 

I.  REVERIES  OF  A  BACHELOR. 
II.  DREAM  LIFE. 

These  books  have  now  for  twelve  years  retained  popular 
favor.  Three  or  four  different  editions  have  appeared  in 
England,  and  as  many  more  in  France  and  in  Germany.  The 
aggregate  issue  of  the  first*  in  the  English  form,  has  not 
been  less  than  lOU.OOO  copies;  and  in  French  and  German 
from  thirty  to  forty  thousand.  The  publisher  therefore  feels 
warranted  in  giving  a  new  dress  to  these  old  favorites. 

Copies  sent  by  mail,  post  paid,  on  receipt  of  price. 

TOBACCO. 

Just    How    to    G-row    it. 

Every  particular,  from  the  selection  of  the  Seed,  and 
preparation  of  the  ground,  to  the  Gathering,  Curing,  and 
Marketing  the  Crop,  is  given  in  a  work  issued  by  the 
Publisher  of  the  American  Agriculturist,  and  sent  post- 
paid for  25  cents.  Tins  work  consists  of  a  selection  of 
the  best  fourteen  out  of  eighty-five  Essays,  prepared  by 
eighty-five  different  cultivators,  residing  in  various  parts 
of  the  Northern  and  Middle  States.  In  each  of  the  Essays 
contained  in  this  work,  the  writer  tells,  in  a  plain,  practi- 
cal, straight-forward  manner,  just  what  to  do,  and  how  to 
do  it.  Any  item  omitted  by  one  is  given  by  another,  so 
that  the  information  is  full  and  complete.  Several  en- 
gravings illustrating  the  method  of  drying,  packing,  etc. 
The  work  is  worth  its  weight  in  silver  to  every  one  grow- 
ing even  a  small  plot  of  tobacco. 

THE    PRINTERS'    DEVIL. 

A  handsome  8  page  literary  and  miscellaneous  Family 
Paper,  illustrated  by  BeUew,  Darley,  and  other  first  class 
artists,  will  bo  .sent  to  auv  address  six  months  on  trial, 
for  the  nominal  sum  of  twenty  five  cents.  This  affords  a  rare 
chance  to  secure  a  valuable  journal  for  the  fireside,  at  a  low 
rate,  and  no  lover  of  good  reading  should  fail  to  send  for  it. 
The,  puzzles'  will  be  just  the  thing  for  the  winter  evenings, 
and  the  valuable  prizes  offered  for  solutions  will  add  im- 
mensely to  the  inn.     Address 

"THE  PRINTERS'  DEVIL,"  US  Fnlton-st.  New- York. 

[Extract  from  Editorial  Notice  in  'Home  Journal.' Sept.  12] 
"Notwithstanding  its  name,  which  some  might  consider  objec- 
tionable, it  may  justly  rank  with  many  of  the  periodicals  i>t 
the  day.  Its  contents  are  varied,  and  include  tales,  sketches, 
poetry,  etc.,  for  the  elder  members  ot  the  family,  and  a 
"Puzzle  Department,"  "  Prize  Rebus,"'  and  other  specialties 
for  the  juveniles.  Possessing  attractions  of  real  merit,  and 
maintaining  a  high  moral  tone,  it  is  particularly  adapted  to 
the  familv  circle,  and  cannot  fail  to  have  a  good  influence 
With  the  young," 


BOOKS    FOR    FARMERS 
ANtt    OTHERS. 

[Any  of  the  following  books  can  be  obtained  at  the  of- 
fice of  the  Agriculturist  at  the  prices  named,  or  they  will  be 
forwarded  by  mail,  post  paid,  on  receipt  of  the  price.  Other 
books  not  named  in  the  list  will  be  procured  and  sent  to  sub- 
scribers when  desired,  if  the  price  be  forwarded.  All  of  these 
books  may  be  procured  by  any  one  making  up  a  libra- 
ry. Those  we  esteem  specially  valuable,  are  marked  with  a  *.] 

American  Bird  Fancier $0  25 

American  Fanner's  Encyclopedia 5  00 

American  Florist's  Guide 75 

American  Fruit  Grower's  Guide,  by  Elliot ■*  1  25 

American  Weeds  and  Useful  Plants  l  50 

Allen  on  the  Culture  ot  the  Grape 1  00 

Allen's  (R.  L.)  American  Farm  Book* 1  00 

Allen's  Diseases  of  Domestic  Animals 75 

Allen's  (L.  F.)  Rural  Architecture 1  25 

Barry's  Fruit  Garden 1  50 

Bement's  Poulterer's  Companion 1  50 

Bridgeman's  Fruit  Cultivator's  Manual 60 

Bridgeman's  Young  Gardener's  Assistant. 1  50 

Bridgeman's  Kitchen  Garden  Instructor 60 

Bridgeman's  Florist's  Guide 60 

Brandt's  Age  of  Horses"  (English  and  German) 50 

Breck's  Book  of  Flowers 1  25 

Browne's  American  Poultry  Yard 1  25 

Buist's  American  Flower  Garden  Directory 1  25 

Buist's  Family  Kitchen  Gardener* 75 

Burr's  Field  and  Garden  Vegetables.. '  4  00 

Chorlton's  Grape-Grower's  Guide* go 

Cole's  <S.  W.)  American  Fruit  Book. 60 

Cole's  Veterinarian 60 

Fine  Wool  Sheep  Husbandry ".,"  75 

Dadd'S  (Geo.  H.)  Modern  Horse  Doctor '  1  25 

Dadd's  (Geo.  H.)  American  Cattle  Doctor 1  25 

Dana's  Muck  Manual  for  Farmers 1  00 

Downing's  Cottage  Residences*. 2  50 

Downing's  Fruits  and  Fruit  Trees  of  America**. 2  00 

Downing's  Ladies'  Flower  Garden 1  50 

Eastwood  on  the  Cranberry*  50 

Emplovmcut  of  Women— Bv  Virginia  Penny* 1  50 

Every  Lady  her  own  Flower  Gardener 25 

Fessenden's  American  Kitchen  Gardener 25 

French's  Farm  Drainage  * 1  25 

Field's  (Thomas  W.)  Pear  Culture , "  1  00 

Fish  Cnltur? l  00 

Flint  (Charles  L.)  on  Grasses* 1  50 

Flint's  Milch  Cows  and  Dairy  Farming* 1  50 

Fuller's  Strawberry  Culturist 10 

Goodale's  Principles  of  Breeding 1  00 

Grape  Culture,  Wine  and  Wine  Making,  by  Haraszthy. .  5  00 

Grav's  Manual  of  Botany 2  50 

Guenon  on  Milch  Cows 60 

Hall's  (Miss)  American  Cookery 1  00 

Harris'  Insects  Injurious  to  Vegetation,  plain 3  00 

do.       do.          do.                   do.        colored  plates.  4  00 

Herbert's  Hints  to  Horsekeepers** 1  25 

Hooper's  Dog  and  Gun 25 

Johnson  on  Manures 75 

Johnston's  Agricultural  Chemistry 1  50 

Kemps  Landscape  Gardening 2.00 

Kidder's  Bee  Culture 50 

Lan  L'stroth  on  the  Honey  Bee* l  25 

Leslie's  Recipes  for  Cooking 1  25 

Leuchars'  Hothouses 1  25 

Li  chip's  Lectures  on  Chemistry 50 

Linsley's  (D.  C.)  Morgan  Horses 1  25 

Manual  of  Agriculture  bv  G.  Emerson  and  C.  L.  Flint-  1  00 

Mayhew's  Illustrated  Horse  Doctor 3  00 

MrM:dion*s  American  Gardener*. 2  50 

Median's  Ornamental  Trees 75 

MiUburn  on  the  Cow  and  Dairy 25 

Miles  on  the  Horse's  Foot 50 

Mistakes  of  Educated  Men 50 

National  Almanac  and  Annual  Record** 1  25 

Norton's  Scientific  Agriculture 75 

Olcott's  Sorgho  and  Imphee 1  00 

Our  Farm  ot  Four  Acres..* (paper) 25 

Onion  Culture** 20 

Pardee  on  Strawberry  Culture 60 

Parlor  Gardener.. 75 

Parsons  on  the  Rose l  25 

Pedder's  Farmer's  Land  Measurer 50 

Phantom  Bouquet,  or  Skeleton  Leaves. 100 

Pbin's  Grape  Culture  1  25 

Ouinhv's  Mysteries  ot  Bee  keeping* 1  25 

Randall's  Fine  Wool  Sheep  Husbandry.. 75 

Randall's  Sheep  Husbandry j  25 

Rand's  Flowers  for  Parlor  and  Garden 2  50 

Richardson  on  the  Dog 50 

Richardson  on  the  Hog 25 

Robins'  Produce  and  Ready  Reckoner 60 

Rose  Culturist 25 

Shepherd's  Own  Book 2  00 

Skillful  Housewife  25 

Smith's  Landscape  Gardening . .  1  25 

S]icncer's  Education  ot  Children"* 1  25 

Stewart's  (John)  Stable  Book 1  25 

Tobacco  Culture**  25 

Todd's  (S.  E.)  Young  Farmers  Manual l  25 

Tucker's  Register  Rural  Affairs 25 

Turner's  Cotton  Planter's  Manual.... 1  25 

Watson's  American  Home  Garden 1  50 

Wood's  Class  Book  of  Botany 2  50 

Yale  College  Agricultural  Lectures 25 

Youatt  and  Snooner  on  the  Horse 1  25 

Youatt  and  Martin  on  Cattle 1  25 

Youatt  on  the  Hog 75 

Youatt  on  Sheep 75 

Youmans*  Household  Science*  1  25 

A.    GREAT    WORK  I 

EVERY  MAN  HIS  OWN  PHYSICIAN. 

THE  NEW  ILLUSTRATED  HYDROPATHIC  ENCYCLO- 
PEDIA: A  Complete  System  of  Hvdropathv,  embracing  the 
Anatomy  and  Physiology  of  the  Human  Body,  Illustrated; 
Hygienic  Agencies,  and  the  preservation  of  Health  ;  Dietetic 
and  Cookery  ;  Theory  and  Practice  of  Treatment ;  Special 
Pathology  and  Hydro-Therapeutics,  Including  the  Nature, 
Causes,  SVmptoms,  and  Treatment  of  all  known  Diseases. 
Application  to  Surgical  Diseases,  midwifery  and  the  Nursery. 
With  80Q  Engravings,  nearly  one  Thousand  Pages,  including 
a  Glossary  andlndex,  complete.  By  R.  T.  Trall,  M.  D. 
Sent  prepaid  bv  FIRST  MAIL  for  $3.50.  Address  FOWLER 
&  WELLS,  No.  308  Broadway,  New- York. 

WANTED. 

Agents  are  now  wanted  to  travel  in  each  County  of  the 
United  States  and  Canada  and  procure  orders  for  Rev.  J.  S, 
C.  Abbott's  GREAT  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION, 
Splendidly  illustrated  with  Steel  Engravings,  Maps,  Charts. 
&c„  &c.  In  two  volumes.  First  volume  now  ready.  Second 
volume  to  be  issued  after  the  War.  For  an  appointment  as 
agent  or  for  intormation  apply  by  mail  to  HENRY  BILL, 
Publisher,  Norwich,  Conn. 


NEW  MUSIC  BOOK  BY  MR.  BRADBIRT. 


12?  PRESS, 
And  will  be  issued  early  in  November, 

T  H  E    K  E  Y»N  O  T  E; 

A  new  collection  of  Sacred  and  Secular  Music  for  Sinking 

Schools,  Choirs,  Congregations,  and  social  use 

BY  WM.  B.  BRADBURY, 

AUTHOR  OF  THE  "JUBILEE,"  AND  MANY  OTHER  Ml'SK'W 
WORKS. 

ONE  HUNDRED  pages  Will  be   devoted  to  the  ElennnU 

of  Music,  with  a  great  amount  of  new  Sin^hiL;  Set  ion;  Mn-ir 
and  nearly  THREE  HUNDRED  pages  to  Sacred  Music  :vi 
Tunes  of  all  metres,  Anthems,  Chants,  and  other  Set  Pieces 
mostly  new.  The  work  Is  printed  throughout  from  large 
plain  type,  one  part  on  a  staff.  Price,  $10  per  dozen.  A  single 
copy  will  be  sent  post-paid  to  anv  teacher  of  music  or  leader 
of  a  choir,  for  examination,  on  receipt  of  one  dollar. 

The  immense  success  of  Mr.  Bradbury's  previous  works, 
and  their  almost  unexampled  sale  (of  his  last  work  in  this 
department,  The  Jubilee,  more  than  two  hundred  thousand 
copies  have  already  been  sold)t  prove  his  knowledge  of  the 
wants  of  the  public,  and  his  ability  to  supply  them. 

The  present  work  was  designed  for  publication  last  year, 
but  having  been'delayed  because  of  the  unfavorable  times, 
the  author  has  had  opportunity  to  perfect  it  in  its  various  de- 
partments. As  a  SINGING  SCHOOL  BOOK  the  Key-Note 
will  be  still  more  comprehensive  and  complete,  than  its  pre- 
decessors, while  to  Choirs.  Congregations,  Societies,  &c,  it 
will  present  the  results  of  Mr.  Bradbury's  labors  in  compos 
ing  and  collecting  for  several  years.  For  sale  by  Mason  & 
Hamlin,  Boston.  Published  by  MASON  BROTHERS, 
5  &  7  Mercer-st.,  New-York. 

Ready  Early  in  November. 

General   Butler  at  New- Orleans, 

A  History  of  the  Department  of  the  Gulf  in  the  year  1862,  with 

an  account  of  the  capture  of  New-Orleans,  and  a  sketch  of 

the  previous  career  of  the  General,  civil  aud  military. 

BY   JAIUES   PABTON, 

AUTHOR  OF  "LIFE  OF  ANDREW  JACKSON,"  "LIFE  OF  AARON 
BURR,"  ETC.,  ETC. 

MR.  PAR-TON  has  had  the  best  possible  facilities  for  the 
preparation  of  this  work,  including  free  access  to  official 
documents.  The  capture  of  New-Orleans,  and  General  But- 
ler's administration  there,  form  the  most  brilliant  epoch  in 
the  present  war,  and  those  who  are  acquainted  with  Mr.  Par- 
ton's  previous  works  will  anticipate  a  volume  of  intensest 
interest.  It  will  be  ready  early  m  November,  forming  one 
octavo  volume  of  about  700  pages.  Price,  in  cloth  binding, 
$2.00.  MASON  BROTHERS, 

5  &7  Mercer-st.,  New-York. 

AGENTS  WANTED— TO  TAKE  ORDERS  FOR 
VICTOR'S  HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION,  the  ac- 
knowledged Standard  endorsed  by  the  President,  Cabinet, 
members  of  Congress,  Governors/Bancroft  the  Historian. 
and  by  the  press  generally.  Two  volumes  are  now  ready 
superbly  illustrated  with  Steel  Engravings.  Sold  bysubscrip 
tion  only  and  exclusive  territory  given.  Canvassers  make 
$o0  to  $100  per  week.  Send  for  circular  of  terms  S-c.  Addrcsn 
EDWARD  F.  HOVEY,  No.  13  Sprnce-st.,  New- York. 

Scliool    Teachers  Wanted, 

To  travel  and  solicit  orders  for  Rev.  J.S.  C.  Abbott's  GREAT 
HISTORY  OF  THE  REBELLION,  in  each  County  of  the 
United  States  and  Canada.  The  work  is  illustrated  with 
Splendid  Steel  Engravings,  Maps,  Charts,  &c.  In  two  vol- 
umns.  First  volume  now  ready.  For  an  Appointment  as 
Agent  apply  at  once  to  the  Publisher 

HENRY  BILL,  Norwich,  Conn. 

Ill  ORAL  PHILOSOPHY;  Or,  The  Duties  of 
Man  Considered  in  his  Individual,  Domestic  akd 
Social  Capacities.  By  George  Coombe.  Reprinted  from 
the  Edinburgh  edition,  with  the  author's  latest  corrections. 
Large  12mo.;  price  $1.35.  New- York:  FOWLER  &  WELLS, 
308Broadway.    A  contemporary  says: 

"  This  book  is  a  treasure.  It  is  the  only  American  edition 
of  the  Moral  Philosophy  containing  the  author's  latest  re- 
visions. It  should  be  m  the  librarv  of  every  lover  of  human- 
ity. Health,  happiness,  progression,  come  from  works  ot 
this  stamp,  and  we  heartily  commend  it  to  the  world." 

TO  FARMERS 

AND     OTHERS. 

We  are  manufacturing  a  Genuine  Article  of  very  Fine, 
BONK  OUST,  and  RAW  BONE  SUPERPHOS- 
PHATE OP  LIME,  manufactured  from  unburned 
Bones,  containing  all  the  Animal  and  Chemical  Fertilizing 
Properties.  Please  address  the  Manufacturers,  and  get  the 
Intrinsic  Value  of  your  money. 
N.  B.  A  Liberal  Discount  made  to  Dealers  for  Gash, 
Address  A.  LISTER  &  BRO., 

Newark.  N.  J. 

BBUCE'S 
CONCENTRATED    MANURE. 

Farmers  wishing  this  valuable  manure,  will  please  send  in 
their  orders  early  for  the  fall  crops.  Sold  at  the  old  price, 
$40.00  per  ton.  For  Wheat,  Rye,  and  Grass  lands  it  has  no 
equal.  Send  for  a  Circular,  containing  testimonials  and  direc- 
tions for  use.  C.  W.  VAN  DOREN  &  CO., 

58  Cortlandt-st.,  New-York. 


AMM0NIATED  PACIFIC  GUANO. 

A  real  guano  containing  from  seventy  to  eighty  per  cent 
of  Phosphate  of  Lime,  to  which  has  been  added,  by  a  chemi- 
cal process,  a  large  percentage  of  Actual  Ammonia  so  fixed 
that  it  can  not  evaporate,  making  it  equal  if  not  superior  to 
any  other  fertilizer. 

Pamphlets  with  copies  of  Analysis  by  Dr.  Jackson,  Mass. 
State  Assayer,  and  testimonials  from  scientific  Agriculturists 
showing  its  value  can  be  obtained  from 

J.  O.  BAKER  &  CO.,  Sellingagents, 
87  Wall-st,  New-York. 


353 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


Contents  for  November,  1863. 

Apiary  i"  Novemher 324 

Apples,  Crab— Different  Varieties 339 

Apples_Hi,,tson  Dging Illustrated.- 341 

Bees— Two  Queens"  a  Hive 333 

Dees  Working  in  Two  Hives 334 

Bovs  and  Girls'  Columns— Fable  of  an  Ambitious  Tur- 
tle—More  Nice  than  Scientific— Alexander  Dumas 
and  the  Mushrooms— Fable  of  an  Aristocratic  Beetle 
— Impertinence  Punished— A  Formidable  Weapon— 
The  Dog  and  the  Kitten— Sewing  Machine— Not 
Exactly  a  Toy— How  to  Improve  in  ''Composition  " 
How  to  Pronounce  "Either"  and  "  Neither"— Writ- 
ing in   "  Cypher"— Concealed    Portraits— Puzzles 

and  Problems 6  Illustrations .  .344,  345,  316 

Bulbs  in  Pots V339 

Butter,  Packing— Suggestions  to  Country  Merchants.  .330 

Caterpillar  Burner Illustrated. .333 

Cattle— Fastening  in  Stalls Illustrated  .332 

Cold  Weather— Preparing  for 342 

Corn  Shelter-  Hand Illustrated    332 

Cranberry  Culture 335 

Cravats— Designs  for  Ornamenting... 4  Illustrations  .341 

('roup— Treatment  of 341 

Cucumbers— How  to  Pickle 343 

Drains,  Obstructions- Serious  Difficulty 334 

Dress,  Lady's- How  to  Fold 341 

Eggs— How  to  Pack  for  Market 331 

Emigrants'  Farewell Illustrated. .336 

Exhibition— American  Institute 330 

Exhibition— Modern  Agricultural  Illustrated.  .329 

Exhibition-New  York  State  Agricultural  Society. ..  .329 

Exhibition  Tables  at  Agriculturist  Office 324 

Farm— Selecting  at  the  Post-Office 328 

Farm  Work  in  November 321 

Feeding  and  Fattening— Practical  Hints 334 

Flower  Garden  and  Lawn  in  November 323 

Foreigner— Things  Surprising  to 334 

Fruit  Garden  in  November 323 

Fruit  Glowers'  Meetings 328 

Garden,  Kitchen— in  November 32o 

Gardener,  "  Community"— Good  Hints 3)5 

Gold  Up— Effects  upon  Farmers 328 

Gooseberries— Growth  and  Treatment 339 

Grape  Show  at  Agriculturist  Office— Report 337 

Grape  Vines— Pruning  and  Training. . 4  Illustrations . . 340 

Grapes  Destroyed  by  Rose  Bugs 337 

Green  and  Hot-Houses  in  November 323 

Hay  Knife— Improved Illustrated.  .332 

Honey  from  Italian  Bees 334 

Lantanas— How  to  Manage 339 

Market  Review,  Weather,  Notes,  etc 347 

Meals  for  a  Week— Bills  of  Fare 343 

Moon's  Influence  on  Vegetation 334 

Orchard  and  Nursery  in  November 322 

Parlors  and  Parlor  Ornaments 342 

Pear,  New— Tire  Vanderpoel 2  Illustrations.  .337 

Pears— What  Dwarfs  to  Plant 337 

Piclure  Frames— Rustic 342 

Plants  Suited  to  House  Culture :.3J0 

Poultry— Experience  with  Fancy 332 

Premiums  for  1864 346 

Pumpkin  Show  at  Agriculturist  Office 320 

Salt  Needed  by  Sheep 332 

Sheep— American  in  Europe 332 

Sheep— High  Priced  330 

Silk  Worm— Chinese 333 

Stockings— Double  Heeling 343 

Suggestions  and  Notes  for  November Illustrated.  .321 

Sumach  for  Dyeing ■• 343 

Wagon  Jack Illustrated. .  3.t3 

Water  Needed  on  Stoves— Important 342 

Wheal  Culture— Hints  on    ...331 

vV  heat—  Mummy 331 

Wheat  Show— International 330 

INDEX   TO   "BASKET,"   OR   SHORTER  ARTICLES. 

Agricultural  Rifles 3261  Manure,  Buying 326 

Apple-Pie  Melon 325  Meals  for  the  Army 327 

Apples,  Maiden's  Blush. 325  Melon,  Japan „ ., 

Ashes,  Leached 326 

Bask.d  Full 324 

Beef,  Salting 326 


Brakes  in  Pastures 326 

Butter  Dairy 326 

Camellias 327 

Celery,  Keeping 327 

Chimneys,  Round 326 

Cider,  Keeping  Sweet.. 327 

Clnver-Hullers  326 

Coin  Roots 326 

Cranberries  in  Canada  .  .326 

Crop  Reports 324 

Cucumber,  Large 327 

Emigration  to  Delaware. 324  Silk  from  Utah 


Evergreens,  Shelter 327 

Farm-House  Plans 326 

Farmers'  Clubs 325 

Fodder,  Steamed 326 

Fruit  from  Iowa 326 

Fruits,  Naming 325 

Grape-Vines,  Planting.  .326 
Grape- Vines,  Premium.. 324 


Grapes  for  Market. 


.325 

Hen-Lice,  Scalding 3J5 

Investment,  Good 324 

Ivy  in  Illinois 327 

Laborer,  Word  from 327 

Liee,  Scale 32' 

Lilies,  White  326 

Lime,  Chemistry... 
Mangers,  Tight  .... 


.327 
Mich.  College  Lands. ...327 

Milking  Machines 336 

Paper-Mill  Waste 324 

Pears  for  N.  Y.  Market. 326 

Pears,  Large 326 

Pictures.  Fruit 326 

Plants  Named 325 

Pork.  Salting 327 

Potatoes,  Knobby 3L5 

Rabbits,  Costly 326 

Raspberries  in  Iowa 326 

Rats,  Mice,  etc 325 

Rose,  Hermosa 327 

Saw-Dusl,  Charring 326 

.326 


Silkworm's  Eggs 327 

Spinach,  New-Zealand.  .327 

S.  S.  Queslion-Book 324 

Slable  Floors 325 

Strawberry,  Fruit 325 

Strawberries,  Planting.  .325 
Swans  in  Central  Park.. 326 

Swindle,  Ingenious 326 

Tanners'  Refuse 326 

Toads  in  Market 326 

Trees,  Elms,  etc 326 

Trees,  Poisoning 325 

Vinegar  from  Pomace.. 327 

Walnut  vs.  Oak 327 

Wheat,  Fife 327 

82*  Willows,  Hardiness 326 

325  Vlicca,  Propagating 327 


Postage  on  tlie  Agriculturist  is  only 

3  cents  per  quarter,  if  paid  in  advance  by  the  recipient. 
The  old  dispute  about  the  weight,  is  settled  by  the  new 
law  which  allows  4  ounces  instead  of  3  ;  no  copy  weighs 

4  ounces  in  any  case.  Any  postmaster  who  insists  upon 
charging  more  than  1  cent  per  number,  when  paid  quar- 
terly or  yearly  in  advance,  is  either  too  ignorant  to  hold 
office,  or  is  guilty  of  extortion.  We  ask  the  name  of  any 
one  who  hereafter  exacts  more  tlian  the  above  amount  of 
postage,  as  has  been  Illegally  done  hitherto,  in  some  cases. 


Friend  "B's"  Objections. 

"  B."  writes  :  "  I  confess  I  get  many  times  my  dollar's 
worth  from  the  Agriculturist,  and  like  it  almost  first-rate 
now  ;  but  I  would  like  it  better  if  the  publisher  would  not 
say  so  much  about  premiums,  business  matters,  getting 
subscribers,  etc.,  on  the  last  page." 

That  is  frank  and  friendly,  and  we  like  it.  But,  friend 
"  B.,"  if  you  now  get  your  money's  worth  'many  times,' 
why  object  to  our  using  a  page  or  two  for  business  items  ? 
Please  consider  that  it  is  only  by  pushing  along  the  cir- 
culation, that  we  are  able  to  devote  so  much  expense  to 
the  preparation  of  the  reading  matter,  to  collecting  in- 
formation, to  procuring  engravings,  etc.  The  larger  the 
circulation,  the  more  can  we  return  to  every  reader  for 
his  money.  We  can  supply  a  much  better  paper  for 
a  dollar  a  year,  than  we  did  eight  or  ten  years  ago, 
though  we  then  gave  the  best  one  we  could  for  the  money. 

Again,  is  not  every  farmer  who  reads  any  good  paper 
devoted  to  his  occupation,  likely  to  think  more  about  his 
work,  to  lay  out  better  plans,  to  learn  what  pays  best,  and 
to  labor  more  systematically  and  profitably,  than  he  who 
plods  along  in  the  old  way,  getting  no  hints  or  sugges- 
tions from  others  engaged  in  like  pursuits  ?  Would  it  not 
be  better  if  every  man,  woman,  and  child,  read  some  such 
paper,  than  if  all  were  living  secluded  from  Ihe  outside 
world,  like  the  Japanese,  without  much  access  to  what 
olhers  are  doing  and  thinking — just  as  about  four  millions 
of  farmers  are  now  doing  in  this  country?  We  think  so, 
and  aside  from  any  personal  interest  in  the  matter,  we 
believe  we  are  doing  a  good  work  by  pushing  tills  journal 
into  every  family  possible.  With  this  view  of  the  case 
we  must  keep  on — urging  people  to  read,  offering  special 
inducements  to  them  in  a  variety  of  ways,  asking  our 
readers  to  solicit  the  attention  of  others,  offering  premi- 
ums to  those  who  do  so,  and  thus  keep  up  an  interest. 
When  every  body  is  brought  to  read,  to  talk,  to  think 
about  improved  modes  of  tillage,  better  and  more  profit- 
able stock  and  implements,  fruit  growing,  gardening, 
beautiful  flowers,  the  best  methods  of  cooking,  and  doing 
other  household  work,  etc.,  etc.,  what  a  change  will  be 
produced  !  How  much  better  off,  and  how  much  happier 
will  the  great  agricultural  class  be.  Give  us  your  help, 
friend.  Stir  up  all  your  neighbors,  and  induce  Ihem  to 
get  a  paper  that  will  pay  them  "  many  times  its  cost,"  as 
you  say  it  does  you.  If  they  don't  know  what  a  feast 
there  is  for  them,  go  out  and  "compel  them  to  come  in." 
And  we,  too,  must  keep  doing.  If  our  own  books  could 
hold  no  more  names,  we  would  even  work  for  some  other 
good  journal — any  way  to  get  all  the  people  to  reading 
and  thinking.  An  ox  has  very  good  muscles  for  mere 
working  purposes :    it  is  the   mind  that  makes  the  man. 


Condition  of  the  Strawberry  Plants- 

9 

As  the  Great  Strawberry  Plant  was  purchased,  and 
is  being  cultivated  and  multiplied  expressly  for  the 
subscribers  to  this  journal,  they  will  doubtless  be  glad  to 
hear  of  its  welfare  occasionally.  We  are  happy  to  re- 
port, that  from  the  few  plants  first  obtained  (that  is,  all 
there  were  in  existence)  we  have  so  far  succeeded  in  get- 
ting plants  enough  to  set  out  an  acre.  No  expense  or 
labor  is  being  spared  to  multiply  them  as  rapidly  as  pos- 
sible. They  aie  looking  well,  and  we  have  no  reason  to 
regret  the  enteiprise.  The  extraordinary  dry  season  -is 
very  greatly  diminishing  the  rapidity  of  the  multiplication. 
Several  thousand  buckets  of  water  have  been  applied^  but 
the  soil,  ordinarily  so  wet  as  to  be  underdrained,  is  almost 
11  as  dry  as  an  ash  heap.1'  The  only  effect,  however,  will 
be  to  delay  the  distribution  a  month  or  two  longer  than 
would  otherwise  be  the  case.  We  have  not  the  slightest 
doubt  of  being  able  to  distribute  next  season  at  least 
40,000  to  50,000  plants— good  strong  ones,  too,  and  not  lit- 
tle puny  things,  such  as  have  been  sent  out  from  some 
drouth-parched  localities  this  year. 

To  answer  numerous  letters  of  inquiry,  we  say,  that 
no  one  who  has  applied  thus  far,  or  who  shall  apply  for 
some  weeks  to  come,  will  fail  to  be  supplied  next  season. 
We  hope  and  expect  to  favor  every  subscriber  for  next 
year  with  at  least  one  good  plant,  though  to  prevent  any 
disappointment  or  misunderstanding,  we  promise  only  to 
send  them  as  far  as  they  go,  sending  to  subscribers  in  the 
order  of  application — "first  come,  first  served."  As  soon 
as  any  subscription  is  received  for  1864,  the  name  is  also 
entered  for  the  strawberry  plant,  if  desired.  The  plants 
can  go  by  mail  safely,  and  this  will  be  the  best  way  gener- 
ally, but  those  who  expect  them  thus,  should  remember 
to  forward  the  5  cents  in  addition  to  the  subscription,  to 
meet  the  expense  of  postage  and  oilcloth.  To  prevent 
confusion  or  irregularity,  let  the  application  for  the  plants 
always  come  with  the  subscription  for  volume  23.  We 
repeat,  that  the  plants,  as  far  as  they  go,  will  be  presented 
to  all  subscribers  for  1864,  who  apply  tor  them-— old  and 
new  subscribers,  Whether  coming  singly  or  In  clubs,  on 
premium  lists,  from  agricultural  societies,  oi  otherwise. 


Tlaii-teen   for  Twelve. 

All  New  Subscribers  for  1864,  received  this  month 
(November),  will  be  supplied  with  the  December  number 
without  extra  charge.  Those  arriving  during  the  first 
week,  will  also  receive  the  Nov.  number,  or  U  months. 

N,  B.— The  above  offers  extend  to  all  new  subscribers, 
whether  ihey  are  received  singly,  or  in  clubs,  or  on  pre- 
mium lists,  or  from  Agricultural  Societies,  or  otherwise. 

N.  B.— Since  many  old  subscribers  are  renewing  in 
advance,  it  is  important  that  new  subscribers'  names  be 
marked  as  "new"  when  sent  in,  if  the  extra  numbers  are 
desired,  for  we  shall  not  send  these  extra  numbers  unless 
they  are  specially  and  definitely  asked  for. 


Good  Pay. 

Again  we  call  special  attention  to  the  list  of  good  ar- 
ticles on  page  346,  offered  as  pay  to  those  who  gather  up 
clubs  of  subscribers.  The  various  articles  offered  are 
valuable,  are  generally  wanted,  and  not  difficult  to  obtain. 
if  any  one  sets  about  it  in  good  earnest.  Many  thousands 
of  persons  have  secured  one  or  more  of  these,  with  no 
outlay  of  money.  The  premiums  are  forwarded  as  soon 
as  the  names  are  received.  The  extra  number  offered 
above,  makes  it  pasy  to  secure  lists  of  new  names  this 
month.     Please  read  the  terms  and  the  descriptive  notes. 


Yes— Six  Years  for  $5. 

Several  subscribers,  especially  on  the  Pacific  Coast, 
have  from  lime  to  time  asked  if  they  could  not  just  as 
well  send  on  $5  for  five  years,  and  thus  save  the  trouble 
of  remitting  a  small  sum  every  year.  This  would  be 
convenient  where  dollar  bills  are  not  common.  We 
answer,  yes,  and  even  better  than  asked,  those  who  pre- 
fer to  do  so,  can,  for  $5,  receive  a  receipt  for  six  years. 


Specs B»e ias    or     Bixflrsi    lumbers  are 

costly,  and  each  copy  requires  two  cents  postage  paid  in 
advance.  So  they  cannot  be  scattered  around  very  freely. 
When  needed  for  canvassing,  the  judgment  of  the  appli- 
cant will  in  each  case  decide  whether  both  the  paper  and 
postage  should  be  supplied  by  the  Publisher.  Unless  used 
solely  for  our  benefit,  postage  at  least  should  be  provided. 
CIjUBS  can  at  any  time  be  increased,  by  remitting 
for  each  addition  the  price  paid  by  the  original  members, 
if  the  subscriptions  all  date  at  the  same  starting  point. 
The  back  numbers  will  of  course  be  sent  to  added  names. 


Baclc  Volumes  &  Niunbcrs  Supplied. 

"We  have  complete  sets  of  Vols.  16, 1",  13, 19,  20.  and  21,  both 

unbound,  and  bound  in  neat  covers  with  gilt  lettered  backs. 

PRICES   AT    THE    OFFICE. 

Volumes  1G,  17, 18, 19,  20,  and  21,  unbound $1,00  each. 

PRICES  WHEN  SENT  PREPAID  BY  MAIL. 
(They  can  not  go  unpaid.) 

Volumes  16, 17,  IS,  19,  20,  or  21,  unbound ....$1.24  each. 

Volumes  16, 17,18, 19.  20,  or  21,  bound..:..  $2.00  each. 

Single  numbers  of  any  of  the  above  Volumes,  10  cents  e:icb. 

Jnuritan   Agriculturist. 

For  the  Farm,  Garden,  and  Household. 

A  thorough-going,  RELIABLE,  and  PRACTICAL 
Journal,  devoted  to  the  different  departments  of  SOIL 
CULTURE-rSuch  as  growing  field  CROPS  ;  orchard 
and  garden  FRUITS;  garden  VEGETABLES  and 
FLOWERS;  trees,  plants,  and  flowers  for  the 
LAWN  or  YARD;  care  of  DOMESTIC  ANIMALS, 
etc.,  and  to  HOUSEHOLD  LABORS,  with  an  interesting, 
instructive  department  for  CHILDREN  and  YOUTH. 
The  Editors  are  all  practical  WORKING  MEN. 
The  teachings  of  the  Agriculturist  are  confined  to  no 
State  or  Territory,  but  are  adapted  to  all  sections  of  the 
country — it    is   for    the  whole    American    Continent. 

A  German  edition  is  published,  of  the  same  size 
and  price  as  the  English,  and  containing  all  of  its  reading 
matter,  and   also  its   numerous   illustrative  engravings. 

TERMS INVARIABLY    IN    ADVANCE, 

(For  either  the  English  or  German  Edition.) 

One  copy,  one  year $100 

Six  copies,  one  year 5  00 

Ten  or  more  copies  one  year 80  cents  each, 

f^W*  Add  to  the  above  rates:  Postage  to  Canada,  12cems; 
to  England  and  France,  24  cents  ;  to  Germany,  36  cents. 
Postage  anywhere  in  the  United  States  and  Territories 
must  be  paid  by  the  subscriber,  and  is  only  three  cents  a 
quarter,  if  paid  in  advance  at  the  office  where  it  is  received. 
AU  business  and  other  communications  should  be  ad- 
dressed to  the  Editor  and  Proprietor, 

ORANGE  JUDD,  41  Park-Row,  New-York  City. 

STEAM     PRESSES    OF     JOHN     A.     GRAY     &    OREEN,     IE     U    ISJACOB    STREET,     H       T. 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST, 


■ 


Farm,    Grarden,    and.   Household. 


"AGRICtTLTUnE  18  THE  MOST  HEALTnrUL,  MOST  USEFUL,  AND  MOST  NOBLE  EMPLOYMENT  OP  MAN."-Wi.iii»oto».i 


ORA»«E     Jt»D,     A.M., 

EDITOR    AND    PROPRIETOR 
O/Hce,   41  Park  Row,    (Times  Bnlltlin 


'■'\ 


ESTABLISHED  IN  1842. 

Published  both  in  English  and  German. 


I  $1.00    PER  ANNUM,    IN  ADVANCE 
•j         SINGLE  NUMBER,  10  CENTS. 
'  For  Contents,  Terms,  etc.,  see  page  384. 


VOLUME  XXII— No.  13. 


NEW-YORK,    DECEMBER, 


NEW  SERIES— No.  203. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1868,  by 
Ojiange  Jrnn,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of 
the  United  States  for  the  Southern  District  of  New-York. 
BSS^  Other  Journals  are  invited  to  copy  desirable  articles 
freely,  (/"each  article  be  credited  to  American  Agriculturist. 


American  Agriculturist  in  German. 

The  AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST  is  published  in 
both  the  English  and  German  Languages.  Both  Editions 
are  of  the  same  size,  and  contain,  as  nearly  as  possible, 
the  same  Articles  and  Illustrations.  The  German  Edition 
is  furnished  at  the  same  rates  as  the  English,  singly  or  in 
clubs.    A  club  may  be  part  English,  and  part   German. 


Suggestions   and  Notes  for  the  Month, 

The  clock  strikes  Twelve !  The  hands  have 
moved  steadily  around  earth's  broad  dial-plate, 
marking  off  the  months  and  the  seasons,  the 
snows  and  frosts  of  Winter,  the  flowers  and  new 
vegetable  life  of  Spring,  the  glowing  beauties 
of  Summer,  the  fruits  of  Autumn,  and  the  chill 
blasts  that  warn  man  and  beast  to  again  seek 
shelter  and  protection  while  the  frost  king 
reigns.  The  year  is  an  epitome  of  life — its  bud- 
ding infancy,  its  joyous  youth,  its  vigorous  man- 
hood, and  age  shorn  of  its  strength.  There  is 
this  difference,  however :  a  life  of  failures  can 
never  be  remedied ;  the  errors  and  deficien- 
cies of  one  year  may  be  corrected  in  the  next, 
if  it  be  allotted  to  us.  It  is  well,  therefore,  to 
carefully  scan  the  immediate  past,  and  gather 
lessons  of  wisdom  for  future  guidance.  Let, 
then,  this  closing  month  of  the  year  be  devoted 
to  a  careful  examination,  not  alone  of  our  busi- 
ness plans,  our  successes,  and  our  failures,  but 
of  our  motives  and  aims,  as  well.  He  is  not 
living  wisely  nor  well,  who  does  not  earnestly 
aim  to  make  each  coming  year  better  than  the 
past  one,  better  for  himself  and  for  others.  No 
one  lives  alone ;  no  one  is  so  humble  that  his 
daily  life,  his  acts,  his  words,  and  even  his  coun- 
tenance, do  not  exert  some  influence  upon  the 
thoughts,  feelings,  aims,  and  actions  of  another. 
Mere  regrets  for  the  past,  or  simply  wishing  and 
intending  for  the  future,  are  not  sufficient.  It 
is  truly  said  that  "good  wishes  and  good  inten- 
tions  pave   the   entire   pathway  of  the  lost." 


Earnestness  and  promptness  are  talismanic 
words.  In  all  plans  for  moral  improvement, 
"  to-morrow,  or  on  such  a  day,"  is  too  often  the 
fatal  error  in  our  calculations.  To-morrow  al- 
ways has  its  to-morrow.  To-day  is  the  word. 
To  make  next  next  year's  efforts  most  success- 
ful, begin  the  work  of  improvement  to-day. . . . 

This  paper  closes  our  editorial  labors  for  1863. 
While  we  have  earnestly  striven  to  make  this 
volume  not  merely  acceptable  but  profitable  to 
our  grand  circle  of  readers,  we  can  see  where 
still  more  might  have  been  done.  Strong  in  the 
purpose  to  remedy  past  defects,  and  to  do  more 
than  ever  before  to  promote  the  prosperity  and 
happiness  of  our  readers,  we  now  begin  the  la- 
bors of  volume  23.  Expecting  to  enjoy  the 
company  of  all  our  present  readers,  we  will  not 
stop  to  say  any  farewells,  but  on  to  our  work. 

The  artist's  vignette  for  this  month  tells  of 
children  on  their  way  to  the  school  room.  There 
is  food  for  thought  here.  We  who  have  passed 
the  meridian  of  life,  have  lost  much  time  that 
can  never  be  regained.  Errors  of  the  head  and 
heart  may,  and  must  be  rectified,  though  it  re- 
quires strong  effort  to  turn  out  of  the  ruts  and 
channels  already  deeply  worn.  But  the  gener- 
ation to  follow  ns  is  yet  in  the  plastic  period. 
The  boys  and  girls  of  to-day  can  be  molded  in 
thought,  feeling,  and  purpose,  much  as  we 
will.  If  we  guide  and  train  the  young  wisely, 
the  error  and  wrongs  of  the  present  generation 
will  be  remedied  in  the  next. — With  farmers, 
especially,  this  is  the  school  season  of  the  year. 
Even  those  children  whose  labors  have  been  in- 
dispensable during  the  busy  Summer,  can  now 
be  spared  to  devote  some  time  to  mental  im- 
provement. An  especial  glory  of  American 
Institutions  is  the  Common  School,  open  to  the 
common  people  without  distinction.  Let  them 
not  be  common  in  quality.  Nine-tenths  of  the 
great  men  and  women  of  our  country  received 
only  a  common  school  education. 

Let  every  parent  remember  that  beneath  the 
exterior  of  the  dullest  child  is  concealed  a  gem 
that  needs  but  to  be  polished,  to  make  it  shine 
with  brilliant  lustre.  Let  every  American  citi- 
zen do  his  best  to  foster  and  cherish  the  public 
school.  Go  to  the  school  meetings,  leaving  be- 
hind every  vestige  of  a  political,  sectarian,  or 
personal  feeling.  Talk,  vote,  and  act,  as  public 
spirited  citizens.  Spare  no  labor  or  expense  to 
make  your  school  building  attractive  within  and 
without.  A  few  dollars  extra  tax  to  secure 
good,  well  warmed,  and  well  ventilated  rooms 
with  pleasant  surroundings,  and  especially  a 
competent  instructor,  are  far  better  expended 
than  if  devoted  to  securing  a  little  finer  clothing, 
or  to  paying  doctors'  bills,  and  the  costs  of  pro- 
tecting society  against  the  depredations  of  the 
badly  trained.  Visit  the  school  room  very  often 
to  show  your  interest  in  what  is  going  on  there ; 
it  will  encourage  and  stimulate  both  teacher 
and  scholar    to    higher  purposes  and  greater 


efforts.  Who  does  not  remember  the  good  ef- 
fect of  a  visit  to  the  school  from  even  the  poor- 
est man  or  woman  in  the  neighborhood.  Let 
the  visits  be  systematic  as  well  as  frequent.  It 
often  makes  us  sad  to  see  a  man  constantly  at- 
tentive to  the  wants,  the  comforts,  and  the  pro- 
gress of  his  dumb  animals,  while  he  never 
goes  near  the  place  where  his  children  are  daily 
trained  for  weal  or  woe. 

Work   for   the  Farm,   Household,  etc. 

Accounts.— The  present  is  of  all  times  in  the 
year  the  best  to  establish  a  thorough  method  of 
farm  accounts.  Mature  a  simple,  easy  and  accu- 
rate plan,  and  between  this  and  the  first  of  Jan- 
uary, old  accounts  may  be  at  least  got  out  of 
the  way,  so  that  their  settlement  need  not  inter- 
fere with  taking  a  new  start  with  the  New  Year. 
Well  kept  farm  memorandums  and  accounts 
will  be  a  source  of  no  small  actual  profit,  be- 
sides settling  facts,  proving  dates,  preventing 
prosecutions  and  lawsuits,  and  oiling  the  ma- 
chinery of  social  life.  Book-keeping  is  a 
simple  art,  though  generally  made  a  mystery. 

Animals. — Shelter  and  food,  cleanliness  and 
ventilation. — The  better  the  shelter  for  horses, 
neat  stock  and  swine,  the  less  food  will  they 
consume;  if  ventilation  be  provided,  and  they 
be  kept  clean,  they  will  be  healthier  and  more 
profitable.  Pigs  as  well  as  horses  show  the 
good  of  clean  bedding  and  diy  pens  in  Winter. 

Buildings. — Tidiness  about  farm  buildings 
marks  the  thrifty  farmer,  and  it  is  a  virtue  which 
grows  by  practice.  The  comfort  of  the  family 
and  the  herd  are  alike  promoted,  and  in  this  as 
in  many  other  things,  there  is  as  strong  an  ap- 
peal to  the  pocket  and  to  the  conscience  as  to 
the  principles  of  good  taste.  He  who  neglects 
little  matters  and  can  only  "  slick-up  "  now  and 
then  when  he  makes  a  regular  business  of  it,  is 
an_  untidy  and  probably  a  thriftless  farmer.  If 
you  propose  building,  be  satisfied  with  no  plan 
until  it  is  most  thoroughly  studied.  Alterations 
and    frequent  repairs  are  costly  luxuries. 

Cows  in  our  climate  and  in  the  system  of  farm- 
ing usually  followed,  are  during  the  Winter  in 
a  delicate  condition :  early  preparation  should 
be  made  so  that  an  injured  or  sick  cow  may  be 
removed  from  the  rest  to  the  hospital  (a  box-stall 
in  an  adjacent  apartment).  This  is  best  even 
for  slight  injuries,  for  a  cow  may  unexpectedly 
slink  her  calf  and  others  "follow  suit."  Throw 
earth  on  slippery  paths  about  the  water-trough 
in  freezing  weather.  Milk  young  cows  to  with- 
in 5  weeks  of  calving,  to  fix  a  long  milking  ha- 
bit. Peed  generously,  for  not  only  the  size  and 
character  of  the  calf  is  affected,  but  the  amount 
of  the  milk  during  the  entire  season  following. 

Corn-Fodder. — Well  cured  corn-fodder  is  worth 
just  as  much  as  good  ha}'.  It  needs  a  greater 
expenditure  of  labor  to  prepare  it  so  that  cattle 
will  eat  it  clean,  but  cut  up  and  torn  or  crushed 
as  is  done  by  some  feed-cutting  machines,  wet- 


834 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[Df.cembeh, 


ted  and  allowed  to  stand  a  few  hours  with  a 
sprinkling  of  salt,  or  oil-meal  mixed  in,  it  will  be 
eaten  with  great  relish.  When  hay  is  high  and 
corn  scarce,  it  is  a  pity  to  have  any  of  it  wasted. 

Farmers'  Clubs. -He  who  neglects  opportunities 
to  meet  and  talk  over  agricultural  matters  with  his 
brother  farmers  loses  much.  See  to  it  if  possible 
that  there  is  some  regular  neighborhood  meeting 
of  farmers,  and  their  wives  and  adult  children,  to 
secure  improvement  in  farming  and  kindred  things. 

Fence.  Timber.— As  fence  mending  and  setting  is 
one  of  the  first  duties  after  the  frost  is  out  of  the 
ground,  so  a  standing  job  for  the  Winter  is  the 
getting  out  of  a  good  supply  of  posts,  rails,  and 
stakes.     Let  it  not  be  forgotten. 

1-Wding-Rnrks  and  Trouylis  should  be  substantial, 
sheltered,  under  roof  if  possible,  always  kept  clean. 

Grain. — Few  fanners  can  afford  to  risk  the  hold- 
ing of  grain  for  higher  prices.  If  possible,  make 
sales  by  showing  perfectly  fair  samples,  and  ar- 
range to  deliver  it  when  there  is  good  sleighing. 
Grain  loses  in  weight  by  drying,  anil  proportionate- 
ly increases  in  value,  but  rats,  mice,  and  weevils 
cause  ii  to  lose  weight  also,  and  this  is  a  dead  loss, 
besides  risk  of  bad  roads,  broken  harnesses,  etc. 

Grain-fields.— The  wandering  of  cattle  over  the 
grain  and  grass  fields,  particularly  when  covered 
with  snow,  and  in  thawing  weather,  is  to  be  avoid- 
ed. Snow-drift  dams  should  be  cleared  away,  and 
standing  water  drawn  off. 

Horses, — All  horses,  young  and  old,  should  have 
warm,  comfortable  shelter,  be  cleaned  daily,  and, 
if  used,  blanketed,  both  in  the  stable  and  out  of  it — 
the  stable  blanket  being  the  lighter,  and  not  cov- 
ering the  neck.  Colts  and  horses  from  which  no 
labor  is  required,  need  no  blankets  in  moderate 
weather,  or  in  a  warm  stable.  All  horses  should 
be  well  shod,  and  the  calks  kept  sharp  in  Winter. 

Tee. — The  experience  of  last  year  will  lead  to  the 
securing  of  the  first  crop  of  ice.  This  is  well,  for  it 
is  ordinarily  the  best.  If  snow  falls  upon  clear 
"black"  ice,  it  will  ordinarily  pay  for  family  use  to 
sweep  off  the  snow  front  a  sufficient  surface  to  fill 
I  lie  ice-house,  so  that  in  ease  of  a  rain  and  subse- 
quent freezing,  Ihe  upper  stratum  of  ice  will  not 
he  soft  snow-ice,  and  that  the  cold  may  penetrate 
more  readily.    See  article  on  iee-honses,  page  362. 

Manures. — It  is  best  to  keep  manure  under  cover 
and  enclosed,  so  that  a  slow  fermentation  will  be 
constantly  going  on.  Too  active  fermentation  is 
very  injurious  ;  it  may  be  checked  by  packing  it 
very  close  by  the  treading  of  animals,  spreading 
level  and  keeping  hogs  upon  it,  or  working  it  over. 
The  latter  secures  an  evenness  of  fermentation 
while  it  prevents  burning  or  fire-fang. 

Muck  from  Ihe  Swamp.— 'The  present  month  ordi- 
narily affords  a  very  favorable  opportunity  to  get 
out  muck.  Leaving  it  in  heaps  during  the  Winter,  it 
becomes  acted  upon  by  the  frost,  and  is  much  bet- 
ter for  use  in  the  Spring,  or  to  be  carted  to  th'e 
stables  during  (he  Summer  for  use  next  Winter. 
If  needed  for  use  at  once  in  the  stable,  haul  it  as 
soon  as  it  is  dry  enough,  and  keep  it  under  cover, 
or  it  will  be  of  little  service  as  an  absorbent. 

Wallows. — It  is  very  poor  policy  to  let  cattle 
browse  the  meadows  in  Winter,  or  even  wander 
over  t liein.  When  not  covered  with  snow  in 
thawing  weather,  they  injure  the  roots;  and  the 
places  of  cattle  paths  through  the  snow  arc  often 
traced    by    dead   grass    and   bare   spots  in  Spring. 

ftmUr}/. — To  secure  a  supply  of  eggs  keep  hens 
in  a  light,  warm,  airy  room,  feed  plentifully,  giving 
regularly  some  animal  food — oyster-shells  pounded 
line,  or  some  other  form  of  lime.  A  little  pulver- 
ized white  arsenic  in  the  whitewash  will  destroy 
lice  effectually.  Fowls  choose  the  highest  part  of 
the  house  to  roost  iu,  and  if  there  be  not  good 
ventilation,  they  will  sometimes  suffocate. 

Sheep. — Nature  protects  sheep  well  against  the 
cold,  but  they  suffer  from  soaking  rains.  They  are 
healthier  if  they  have  open  dry  sheds  to  stand  or 
lie  under  in  wet  weather,  and  a  good   dry  vard. 


Sheep  are  seldom  diseased  if  they  are  thus  treated, 
have  access  to  salt,  and  have  enough  good  feed. 
Swine. — In  the  course  of  this  month  the  peris 
will  be  for  the  most  part  cleared  of  fat  hogs,  and 
only  breeders  and  store  hogs  left.  Let  these  have 
dry,  warm  quarters,  with  rye  or  wheat  straw  for 
bedding;  feed  generously,  so  as  to  keep  them  iu 
good  growing  order.  Regular  feeds  of  roots,  with 
a  little  grain  daily  will  show  well  next  Spring. 

3W».— Winter  is  the  time  of  all  others  to  look 
over  and  put  tools  in  order  for  Spring  and  Sum- 
mer work.  And  at  no  time  are  good  implements 
so  much  injured  by  exposure  as  now,  when  it  is 
wel  and  freezing,  or  warm  and  dry  alternately. 

Wood. — Now  the  swamps  are,  or  soon  will  be 
frozen,  and  we  must  6ecure  a  full  supply  of  firewood, 
and  wood  for  other  purposes  also,  cut  ready  to  be 
drawn  to   the  house  at  the   first  good  sleighing. 

4>i'4'li;tril   sttul   aVlMPSevy. 

If  the  Fall  work  has  been  performed  in  its  season, 
there  is  little  to  be  done  now.  Sales  and  planting 
are  over,  and  the  nursen  man  can  now  arrange  his 
plans,  and  prepare  for  the  Spring's  business,  which 
promises  to  be  very  active.  During  a  mild  spell, 
ground  may  lie  plowed  and  prepared  for  planting, 
and  at.  these  times  draining,  often  so  necessary 
in  an  orchard,  may  be  successfully  prosecuted. 
Trees  which  were  temporarily  heeled  in  for  the  fill- 
ing of  orders,  should  be  looked  to,  and  if  the  work 
was  not  thoroughly  done,  the  roots  shoul  1  be  earth- 
ed over  so  as  to  prevent  freezing. 

Cions  may  be  cut  on  any  mild  day,  and  preserved 
iu  slightly  moist  earth  or  sand,  in  a  cool  cellar.  In 
cutting,  select  vigorous  well  ripened  wood  of  the 
past  seasou's  growth.  Tie  up  and  label  each 
sort  carefully,  and  to  guard  against  the  loss  of  the 
label  it  is  well  to  cut  a  number  on  one  of  the 
largest  cions  in  the  bundle  which  should  corres- 
pond with  a  number  on  a  memorandum  list.  In 
procuring  grafts  for  setting,  take  only  varieties 
you  have  proved  yourself,  or  those  having  snch  a 
reputation  that  there  can  be  no  risk  of  getting  a 
worthless  sort.  Many  persons  seem  to  think  that 
it  is  only  necessary  to  graft  a  tree  to  secure  good 
fruit,  and  do  not  reflect  that  it  is  as  necessary  to  be 
careful  about  the  character  of  their  cions  as  it 
would  be  if  they  were  purchasing  trees. 

Fndt  either  in  the  fruit-room  or  cellar  should 
be  kept  at  as  low  and  uniform  a  temperature  as 
practicable  without  freezing. 

Manure  may  be  applied  to  trees,  and  compost 
carted  to  places  where  it  is  to  be  used  in  the  spring 
planting.  Surface  manuring  as  described  on  page 
370,  has  many  advantages  ;  the  coating  of  manure 
prevents  injury  from  sudden  alternations  of  tem- 
perature, while  the  soluble  parts  are  diffused 
through  the  soil,  enriching  it  without  injuring  the 
roots  of  the  tree  by  actual  contact  with  the  manure. 

Mice  and  Babbits  do  much  injury  to  newly  plant- 
ed trees,  especially  when  there  is  snow  upon  the 
ground.  Various  protections  have  been  suggested 
from  time  to  time  iu  these  columns.  After  snow 
has  fallen,  tramp  it  down  firmly  around  the  trunks 
of  the  trees  so  that  the  mice  cannot  work  through 
it.  Rabbits  should  be  trapped.  Shields  of  tin  and 
drain  tiles  are  sometimes  used. 

Nursery  Rows  not  plowed,  may  be  worked  when- 
ever the  ground  is  open.  Throw  the  earth  against 
the  rows,  leaving  the  furrows  as  surface  drains. 
See  that  stakes  in  the.  nursery  arc  legible  and 
firmly  fixed  iu  the  ground.  While  no  careful  nur- 
seryman will  rely  upon  stakes  alone  for  the  identi- 
ty of  his  trees,  it  is  always  a  great  convenience  to 
have  them.  New  stakes  and  labels  can  be  prepared 
to  meet  next  season's  demands. 

Root  grafting  can  be  done  in  the  house  on  rainy 
days,  the  grafted  stocks  being  carefully  put  away  iu 
boxes  of  sand,  and  each  sort  unmistakably  labeled. 

Winter  pruning  is  not  to  be  recommended  where 
large,  limbs  are  to  be  removed.  Small  ones  left  at. 
the  summer  pruning  may  be  removed  by  the  knife. 


Kitclicii  <*;irtl<m. 

If  the  weather  is  severe  or  the  ground  is  covered 
with  snow,  there  is  but  little  to  be  done  here. 
But  if  the  mouth  should  be  mild,  some  of  the 
neglected  November  work  may  be  attended  to 
now.  Clearing  up,  which  is  generally  postponed 
until  Spring,  should  lie  done,  and  all  rubbish  put  out 
of  sight.  The  garden  will  not  only  look  neater 
during  Winter  if  this  is  done  now,  but  valuable 
time  will  not  be  consumed  next  Spring  in  clearing 
up  after  last  season's  crops.  Whenever  the  state  of 
the  soil  will  admit,  it.  maybe  thrown  up  into  ridges 
with  1  he  plow,  or  spaded  as  directed  on  page  370. 
But  few  special  directions  can  be  given,  and  these 
arc  all  comprised  in  the  general  one  to  do  every- 
thing possible  to   facilitate  operations  in  Spring. 

Asparagus.— II  the  beds  have  not  been  covered 
with  manure,  they  should  receive  a  thick  coating. 

Bean  poles,  stakes,  and  all  brush  needed  in  the 
garden   can   be   cut   and  stored  for  next  season. 

Celery. — If  any  still  remains  out,  store  it  as  di- 
rected  in  the  fuller   Calendar  for  October. 

Cold  Frames. — Give  plenty  of  air  whenever  there 
is  no  danger  of  freezing,  removing  the  sash  alto- 
gether on  mild  days.  As  severe  cold  weather 
comes  on,  bank  up  around  the  frames  with  stable 
manure,  and  cover  the  sash  with  mats  or  shutters. 

Compost  and  Manures. — Much  of  next  season's 
success  will  depend  upon  the  care  given  to  acceu- 
mnlating  these  during  the  Winter.  Every  fertiliz- 
ing material  should  be  saved.  Have  a  good  supply 
of  muck  on  hand  to  throw  into  privies,  hog  pens, 
and  the  barnyard.  If  muck  eaunot  be  procured, 
use  some  other  absorbent ;  forest  leaves  answer  to 
increase  the  stock  of  manure,  and  black  earth  is 
better  than  no  absorbent  for  the  liquid  portion*. 
If  manure  is  carted  to  the  garden,  cover  the  heap 
with  earth  to  keep  it  from  washing  by  the  rain*. 

Hot  Beds.— Repair  frames,  glaze,  and  paint  sash, 
and  make  all  in  readiness.  If  new  ones  are  needed , 
have  them  made.     Collect  manure  and  leaves. 

Parsnips  and  Salsify. — When  the  ground  is  open, 
take  to  the  cellar  a  good  supply  for  use  in  freezing 
weather,  and  cover  with  sand  to  prevent  wilting. 

Rhubarb. — Cover  the  bed  with  stable  manure. 

Seeds :  clean  and  carefully  put  away  any  not  al- 
ready cared  for.  Keep  no  rubbish  in  the  seed  bag. 
such  as  old  seeds,  or  those  of  which  the  identity  is 
not  positive.  Exchange  choice  sorts  with  neighbors. 

Tools. — Rainy  days  can  be  profitably  employed  in 
repairing  and  painting.  Many  an  implement  goes 
among  the  old  iron,  which  a  small  expense  for 
blaeksmithing  would  make  as  good  as  new.  The 
character  of  a  gardener  can  be  pretty  accurately 
judged  by  a  look  into  his  tool  house. 

Fruit  Garden. 

New  grounds  may  be  prepared  if  the  weather  is 
suitable.  Give  the  borders  a  good  mulch  of  ma- 
nure. Prune  currants  and  gooseberries,  and  save 
the  cuttings  in  the  cellar  for  Spring  setting.  Prune 
grape  vines  and  lay  down  the  vines,  giving  the  tin 
dcr  sorts  a  covering  of  earth.  Bend  raspberries 
down  and  cover  with  earth.  Strawberry  beds  should 
have  their  winter  mulching,  taking  care  not  tocori  r 
too  deep ;  only  an  inch  or  two  over  the,erowns.  1 1  is 
the  earth  rather  than  the  plants,  that  needs  covering. 


Flower  Gnrdeii    :m«l   Liitwti. 

The  directions  of  last  month  apply  in  general  lo 
this.  But  few  things  can  be  done,  except  to  pro- 
tect those  shrubs  and  plants  which  arc  still  unean  .1 
for — according  to  the  hiuts  given  iu  November. 
If  the  month  is  favorable,  new  walks  and  borders 
can  be  prepared.  If  new  improvements  are  pro- 
posed, first  accurately  measure  the  land  and  make 
a  plan  upon  an  exact  scale,  on  paper.  When  the 
plan  is  done,  let  it  be  submitted  to  the  criticism  of 
judicious  friends,  who  may  be  able  to  see  faults 
and  suggest  improvements  which  did  not  before 
manifest  themselves.  Inlaying  out  new  grounds, 
or  extending  those  we  already  have,  there  are  two 


1S63.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


355 


things  to  be  borne  in  mind:  1st,  to  have  no  larger 
grounds  than  can  be  well  kept,  and  the  style  such 
as  will  be  in  harmony  with  the  general  expression 
of  the  whole  estate.  It  is  in  poor  taste  to  lay  out 
elaborately  ornamented  grounds,  with  vases  and 
statuary,  wheu  the  house  plainly  says  that  these 
are  out  of  place.  All  embellishments  should  be 
made  in  view  of  the  dwelling  as  the  crowning  point 
of  the  whole.  Trees,  shrubs,  and  pleasant  walks, 
may  lead  to  a  house  of  the  most  moderate  charac- 
ter, but  it  is  only  when  the  house  lias  some  pre- 
tentions to  architectural  display,  that  highly  ornate 
grounds  are  appropriate.  2nd,  in  all  plans  for 
planting,  have  reference  to  the  appearance  of  the 
grounds  ten  or  twenty  years  hence.  It  is  often  the 
custom  to  plant  thickly  at  the  beginning,  with  the 
intention  of  thinning  out  the  trees  when  their  size 
requires  it.  Thinning  is  seldom  done,  as  it  demands 
more  courage  than  most  people  possess  to  cut  out 
.i  tree  that  has  grown  under  their  own  eyes  and 
rare  for  many  years,  and  as  a  consequence,  a  great 
many  grounds  are  seen  in  which  the  trees  have 
» rown  up  to  a  perfect  thicket.  Though  the  place 
may  look  rather  bare  for  a  few  years  with  young 
trees  planted  at  proper  distances,  it  will  be  more 
than  compensated  by  a  finer  development  than  is 
possible,  where  they  arc  crowded  for  present  effect. 

Every reens. — If  the  suggestions  given  in  the 
Spring  have  been  followed,  the  grounds  will  now 
lie  cheerful  with  the  pleasant  verdure  of  various 
evergreens.  A  little  care  will  be  required  to  keep 
the  branches  from  breaking  under  the  weight  of 
heavy  snows.  Remove  the  burden  by  jarring  the 
trees.  Junipers,  Tews,  and  other  pyramidal  ever- 
greens maybe  protected  by  winding  a  strong  twine 
spirally  around  them  so  as  to  keep  their  branches 
upright.  Protect  Rhododendrons  and  other  broad- 
1  javed  sorts  by  a  screen,  as  directed  last  month. 

Climbers. — When  Wistarias  and  roses  winter-kill, 
n-move  them  from  the  trellises  and  protect  by  a 
■slight  covering  of  earth.  Hardy,  climbing  roses 
will  lie  benefited  by  simply  laying  on  the  ground. 

Lama.—  Top-dressiugs  of  fine  manure  and  of 
1  cached  ashes    may  still   be  applied  with  benefit. 

Hoses. — Protect  the  less  hardy  sorts  by  bending 
down  and  covering  with  earth,  or  if  this  is  not 
practicable,  take  up  the  bushes  and  cover  their 
roots  and  tops  in  a  dry  place,  deep  enough  to  pre- 
vent freezing.  A  friend  informs  us  that  he  has 
found  hard  coal  ashes  to  answer  very  well  for  cover- 
ing, as  this  material  does  not  retain  much  water. 


Green  and   Hot-Houses. 

The  general  directions  given  last  month  are  ap- 
propriate to  the  present  one.  The  chief  matters  for 
attention  are  heat,  moisture  of  atmosphere,  and 
ventilation.  December  is  often  a  month  of  sudden 
changes,  and  watchfulness  will  be  required  to  guard 
against  these.  In  the  green-house,  fire  will  not  be 
needed  (except  on  damp  and  foggy  days),  unless 
there  is  danger  of  the  mercury  going  below  40". 
The  temperature  of  the  hot  house  should  be  adapt- 
ed to  the  nature  of  the  collection. 

Bulbs  should  be  brought  from  the  green-house 
into  the  warmer  apartments. 

Camellias. — Syringe  the  foliage  and  water  freely. 

Heaths  need  water  as  time  of  blooming  approaches. 

Insects. — Keep  in  check  from  the  start ;  fumigation 
and  whole  oil  soap  will  destroy  the  most  of  them. 

Bases. — Start  cuttings  for  a  good  summer  supply. 

Water. — Give  to  growing  plants,  and  keep  those 
at  rest  as  dry  as  they  will  bear  without  wilting. 
Stimulate  lagging  plants  with  a  little  liquid  manure. 

Apiary  in   December. 

Prepared  by  M.  Quinby — By  Request. 
The  temperature  of  a  colony  of  bees  must  at  all 
times  be  kept  above,  the  freezing  point ;  they  can 
generate  heat  only  by  the  cousnmptiou  of  honey. 
The  horse  or  ox,  exposed  to  all  the  inclemencies 
of  the  weather,  consume  much  more  provender 
than  when  protected  by  the  warm  stable.  So  with 
bees  exposed  to  cold,  they  require  more  than 
when  housed.     Small  colonies  often  cannot  gener- 


ate sufficient  warmth  to  prevent  freezing.  Large 
stocks  will  eat  scarcely  any  more  honey  in 
maintaining  the  proper  degree  of  heat,  than  medium 
sized  ones.  The  advantage  of  housing  bees  in 
large  numbers  is,  it  takes  less  houey  to  keep  up 
the  proper  warmth ;  small  colonies  are  warmed  by 
their  proximity  to  large  ones.  This  is  realized  only 
when  fifty  to  one  hundred  hives  are  put  into  a 
room,  to  make  it  warm.  To  get  rid  of  the  mois- 
ture in  such  a  room,  the  hives  may  be  turned  bot- 
tom up,  without  any  risk.  If  the  temperature  can- 
not be  kept  above  freezing  nearly  all  the  time,  the 
utility  of  housing  them  is  doubtful.  When  bees 
are  kept  out  of  doors,  other  things  must  be  re- 
garded as  well  as  keeping  them  warm.  Wooden 
hives,  when  made  of  double  thickness,  will  need 
openings,  to  let  out  the  moisture,  and  through  these 
much  heat  escapes.  Hives  made  of  straw,  and 
perhaps  rushes  and  flags,  may  be  entirely  closed, 
except  a  small  opening  at  the  bottom  ;  for  the  mois- 
ture will  pass  out,  while  the  warmth  is  retained. 
Ordinary  colonies  in  well  made  straw  hives,  will 
winter  outside  just  as  well  as  those  in  the  house. 
A  strong  colony,  with  abundant  stores,  and  a  suffi- 
cient supply  of  air  in  the  wood  hive  will  staud  in 
almost  any  situation,  with  numbers  only  slightly 
diminished,  while  the  small  ones  often  fail.  Hives 
can  he  made  warmer  by  surrounding  with  hay  or 
straw,  hut  this  does  not  assist  in  disposing  of  the 
moisture.  Air  passages  large  enough  to  admit 
mice,  should  be  covered  with  wire-cloth,  so  as  to 
exclude  them,  but  allow  the  bees  to  pass.  Such 
colonies  as  are  housed, should  be  put  in  the  first 
really  Bevere  weather.  If  any  need  feeding,  turn 
the  hive  bottom  up,  and  lay  pieces  of  honey  direct- 
ly on  the  combs  ;  candy  can  be  fed  in  this  way. 


The  Pumpkin  Show. 


This  exhibition  was  not  quite  equal  to  that  of 
last  year,  because :  First,  the  dry  -weather  was 
very  bad  for  squashes  and  pumpkins ;  and  sec- 
ond, those  who  had  fair  crops,  remembering  the 
splendid  exhibition  of  last  year,  held  back  their 
specimens  fearing  that  they  would  be  excelled 
by  others.  A  number  who  have  fine  squashes 
of  100  to  150  lbs.  weight,  now  tell  us  they 
would  gladly  have  exhibited  them,  but  the  200 
to  300  pound  squashes  shown  last  year  scared 
them  out  of  auy  attempt  to  compete.  Still,  fine 
specimens  and  novelties  were  exhibited.  One 
of  the  most  striking  things  was  a  large  gourd 
from  Waldo  F.  Brown  of  Oxford,  Ohio,  called 
the  "  Sugar  Trough  Gourd."  The  specimen  is 
shaped  somewhat  like  a  flattened  pear,  and  is 
about  16  inches  in  diameter.  When  divided 
and  cleaned,  the  thick  woody  shell  forms  two 
capacious  bowls,  which  may  serve  as  sap- 
troughs,  and  for  various  domestic  uses.  One  of 
these  which  had  been  used  for  gathering  sap  for 
fifteen  years,  was  sent  with  the  whole  speci- 
men ;  it  looks  as  if  it  might  do  service  as  much 
longer.  The  Yokohama  (see  page  372),  and  Tur- 
ban squashes  attracted  attention.  The  Tur- 
ban, so  called  from  its  peculiar  shape,  is  fine 
grained,  sweet,  and  of  good  flavor.  According 
to  Mr.  Gregory,  it  requires  to  be  planted  early 
and  have  plenty  of  room,  as  it  is  a  ranker 
grower  than  the  Hubbard.  The  yield  this  sea- 
son (a  poor  one  for  squashes)  was  six  tons  to 
the  acre.  They  were  grown  on  land  in  high 
culture,  planted  8x8,  and  but  one  vine  left  to 
the  hill.  This  variety  was  judged  by  a  majority 
of  the  Committee  to  rank  next  to  the  Hubbard 
as  a  table  squash,  while  one  member  gave  pre- 
ference to  the  Yokohama.  We  consider  both 
varieties  very  fine,  and  the  question  of  superi- 
ority difficult  to  decide  upon  single  specimens. 

The  following  is  the  award  of  the  Committee, 
Messrs.  Wm.  S.  Carpenter,  Geo.  Carpenter,  and 
E.  S.  Williams  : 

1st   Prize  ;    for   Heaviest  Specimen,   100X  his.,  to  P. 
Kearne,  gardener  to  William  Shaw,  Staten  Island, $10. 
2nd  Prize  ;  2nd  Heaviest  do..  95 '4  U"»s., to  same,  $5. 


3rd  Prize  ;  for  3rd  Heaviest  do.,  (a  Lima  squash]  63 
lbs.,  to  George  L.  Jackson,  Flushing,  N.  V.,  $0. 

4th  Prize  ;  for  Best  Squash  for  table  use  (Hubbard),  to 
James  J.  H.  Gregory,  Maiblehead,  Mass.,  $5. 

5th  Prize  ;  for  Second  do.,  (Turban)  lo  same,  $3. 

6th  Prize  ;  for  largest  yield  on  a  single  vine  (22  speci- 
mens, very  fine,  aggregate  weight,  119.' X  lbs.,)  to  Rev. 
Charles  C.  Keyes,  West  Morrisania,  N.  Y.,  $10. 

7th  Prize  ;  for  second  do.,  (3  specimens,  aggregate  weight, 
168;^  lbs.),  to  Geo.  L.  Jackson,  Flushing,  L.  I.,  $5. 

8th  Prize  ;  for  largest  and  best  collection  of  Fancy  and 
Ornamental  Gourds  (90  specimens),  to  William  P. 
Heins,  Morrisania,  N.  Y.,  $7. 

9th  Prize  ;  divided  equally  between  W.  B.  Westcott, 
N.  Y.  City,  and  J.  C.  Williams,  Mont  Clair,  N.  )  .,  $:,. 


Exhibition   Tables    at    the  Office    of 
ttie  American  Agriculturist. 

The  following  articles  have  been  placed  on  our  tables 
for  exhibition,  since  our  last  report : 

Fruits. — Apples:   Roman    Stem,  by  Mrs.  Van   Rens- 
selaer,  Burlington,   N.   J Vandeveie   and   Northern 

Spy;  George  A.  Read,  Deep  River,  Conn. ..  .Sweet  and 

Sour   Apple;    F.    A.    Reed,    FredericUtown,    Conn 

Golden  Russet  and  Baldwin  ;  S.  M.  Howard,  Perry,  N.  Y. 
....Gloria  Mundi,  23^  oz.  ;  Jacob  Erwin,  Westchester 

Co.,  N.  Y Pears:  Penn  ;  Rev.  A.  P.  Buel,  Borden- 

town,   N.  J....  Beurre   Diel ;    T.    Hagadorn,    Williams- 

burgh,   N.  Y Beurre  Diel  grown  in  triplets;   Col. 

Dillon,   Brooklyn,   N.  Y Duchesse;   B.   F.   Seaver, 

Orange,  N.  J ...  .Catiline,  23  oz.  ;  J.  L.  Miller,  Rich- 
mond,   N.    Y..  ..Duchesse   and   Beurre  Diel;    William 

Choilton,  Staten  Island Beurre  Clairgeau  beautifully 

colored  ;  Richard  Hales,  Aurora.  N.  Y Vicar  of  Wink- 
field  ;  C.  M.  Morton,  Hightstown,  N.  J.,  and  Mr.  Devoe, 

Paterson,  "TJ.    J. .Grapes:  Union   Village,   Catawba. 

Taylor's  Btillit,  Concord,  Diana,  Herbemont,  Creveling, 
To  Kalon,  Delaware,  Rebecca,  Elsinbnrgh,  Anna,  Isa- 
bella, and  Hartford  Proline;  Rev.  J.  Knox,  Pittsburgh, 

Pa Miscellaneous    Fruits,  etc.:    Fine    Hickory  Nuts; 

Isaac  F.  Stover,  Erwina,  Pa. ..  .Seedling  Raspberry 
from  Catawissa ;  Dr.  Holtick,  Staten  Island Cran- 
berries ;  W.  I.  Spence,  Blue  Point,  N.  Y.,  George  A. 
Bates,  Bellingham,  Mass.,  Wm.  H.  Starr,  New-London, 
Conn.,  T.  E.  Bridget',  Suffolk  Station,  N.  Y.,  James  Ga- 
mog,  Tolland.  Conn.,  and  E.  Dubois,  Lakeland,  N.  Y. 

Chinese  Quince;   H.  Coger,  Factoryville,  N.  Y 

Winter  Cherry,  Isaac  Haring,  Piermont,  N.  Y Apple 

Quince,  16  oz.  ;  J.  L.  Miller,  Richmond,  N.  Y Large 

Chestnuts;  E.  S.  Lamoreux,  N.  J. 

Flowers. — Chrysanthemums  ;  James  Wissing,  New- 
York  City  ...Dahlias,  tine  collection,  from  Orphan  Asy- 
lum, and  from  James  Gordon  Bennett,  N.  Y.  City. .  . 
Rose,  Miss  Stumpf:  Isaac  Buchanan,  New  York  City 
Pompone  Chrysanthemums,  splendid  Bouquet;  H.  T. 
Haviland,    Williamsburgh,    N.  Y  ...Chrysanthemums, 

fine  collection  ;  Wm.  F.  Heins,  Morrisania,  N.  Y Cut 

Flowers  ;  W.  B.  Westcott,  N.  Y.  City  ....  Beautiful  Bou- 
quet of  out-door  flowers;  Miss  M.  A.  Cortelyou,  Slnteu 
Island,  N.  Y.  ...Chrysanthemums  ;  Mrs.  W.  E.  Meserve, 
Hoboken,  N.  J..  Dahlias;  J.  D.  Hagaman,  Harlem,  N.  Y. 

Vegetables. — Chinese  Egg  Plant;    .1.  D.  Hagaman, 

Harlem.  N.  Y Sugar  Beet  and  Mangel  Wurzel  ;  Geo. 

A.  St.  John,  Norwalk,  Conn Carrot,  very  long;  Rev. 

N.  Brown,  Jersey  City,  N.  J Red  Onion  ;  Francis  A. 

See,  Gieensburgh.  N.  Y 2  California  Tomatoes,  2' 

lbs;  John  Metz,  Hudson  City,  N.  J Large  Cabbage  ; 

G.  A,  St.   John,  Norwalk,   Conn Purple  Top  Swede 

Turnip,  P.  C.   Barnurn,  Hempstead,  L.  I Cow  Horn 

Turnips;    Wm.    Blair,    Hackensack,    N.    J Brussels 

Sprouts,  Scotch  Kale,  Broccoli  Sprouts,  Cauliflower,  Sil 
ver  Skin  and  Red  Onions,  and  Rosette  Collanl  Cabbafir; 

Wm.  Erwood,  Sen'r.,  Deer  Park,  L.  I Sweet  Potatoes; 

J.  C.  Thompson  and  J.  W.  Davis,  Stnten  Island  ...  .To i 

nip  Beets;  Mr.  Carpenter,  Pokeepsie,  N.  Y Potatoes, 

Pink-eyed  Rusty  Coats,  Coppermine,   Garnet.  Chili  .-in, l 

Cuzco ;    E.   Williams,   Mont  Clair,   N.   .1 Vegetnb 

Eeg  Gourd  ;  Mr.  Bound.  N.  J....  Large  Cauliflower  from 
native  seed  ;  O.  Judd  —  Egg  Gourds,  Wm.  C.  Bryant, 

Brooklyn Purple  Broccoli  ;  F.  Heeyer,  Melrose,  N.  V. 

—  Carrots,  curious,  Dudley  P.  Ely,  South  Norwalk,  Ci, 

Miscellaneous.— Osier  Willows;  E.  Brideer,  Sufflilk 
Station,  N.  Y.  ..White  Willow  ;  James  Rceder,  Bnnlc.,- 
town,  N.  J  —  Rhubarb  Wine,  Louisa  Capner,  Flemihg- 
ton,  Ni  J  ...White  Flint  Corn  ;  G.  A.  St.  Jblin,  Norwalk, 
Conn  ..  Yellow  Flint  Coin;  Mis-es  Van  Wyc.k,  I'M, 
kill,  N.  Y....  White  Maryland  Deni  Corn  ;  Mr.  Hulling,- , , 
Wechawken,  X.  J — Tricolored  Sweet  Corn;  Col.  s., 
R.  Hazard,  Newport,  If.   I  ...Curious  growth  of  grass 

through    potatoes;    L.   A.   Ladd,  Greenbuigh,  N.   Y 

Dent  Corn  ;  Josiah  Valentine,  Shrewsbury.  N.  J Yel. 

low  Flint  Corn  ;  B.   P.  Jones,   Clinton   Point,  N.  Y 

Balsam  Pear  tXtormordica  balsamma),  Michael  Van 
Name,  Jr.,  Manner's  Harbor,  N.  Y...  Spanish  Leaf  To- 
bacco; J.  Reedfi.  Duck  Island,  N.  Y. 


356 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


Deckmeek, 


Containing  a  great  variety  of  Items,  including  many 
good  Hints  and  Suggestions  which  we  give  here  in  smalt 
type  and    condensed  form,  for   want   of  space  elsewhere. 

To  Use  the  Index— Binding.— Instead 
of  cutting  down  the  reading  matter  as  usual,  we  present 
the  Title-page  and  Index  on  a  separate  Sheet,  involving 
an  extra  cost  of  over  $500,  which  is  a  gift  of  so  much  to 
our  readers.  The  Index  sheet  can  be  bound  or  stitched 
in  front  of  the  January  number,  to  complete  the  volume. 
Numbers  of  any  volume  sent  to  the  office  will  be  bound 
in  neat  black  covers  with  gilt  backs,  for  50  cents  each, 
which  hardly  covers  the  present  cost.  Any  missing 
numbers  will  be  supplied  at  10  cents  each.  Those  de- 
siring them  can  get  the  Covers  for  any  volume  (back  to 
and  including  Vol.  XVI.)  They  are  ready  prepared  for  the 
insertion  of  the  numbers  by  any  bookbinder.  Price  25 
cents  each;  they  cannot  go  by  mail. 

Volumes  and  Numbers  for  Sale.— 

We  have  all  of  the  Volumes  from  16  to  22  inclusive, 
(1357  to  1863.)  and  can  print  more  from  stereotype  plates 
as  wanted.  Price  $1  50  each,  if  bound— or  $1  each  if 
not  bound.  If  to  go  by  mail,  add  24  cents  postage  on 
an  unbound  Volume,  or  48  cents  if  bound.  Any  single 
number  of  the  above  volumes  sent  post-paid  for  10  cents. 

A  Hundred  Good  Items  for  this  month's 
Basket  are  crowded  over.  The  Basket  for  next  volume 
will  alone  contain  perhaps  2,000  or  more  of  these  con- 
densed practical  notes.  The  present  volume  has  in  all 
nearly  4,000  articles  and  items  (40  for  a  penny!)  The 
next  volume  will  be  like  it,  "only  more  so." 

Hints  on  Sending  Money.— Some 
persons  still  need  to  be  reminded,  in  sending  money  :— 1st 
to  state  how  much  money  is  enclosed,  and  tell  plainly 
and  briefly  just  what  it  is  for.  2nd,  To  see  that  the 
amount  is  actually  enclosed.  3rd,  To  put  business  and 
editorial  matters  on  different  pieces  of  paper,  with  the 
name,  date,  and  place  on  each.  4th,  To  always  give 
both  the  Post-Office  and  State.  5th,  To  seat  firmly  and 
direct  very  plainly.  Attention  to  these  points  will  save 
much  trouble  and  ill-feeling.  In  our  experience,  not 
one  letter  in  ten  thousand  is  miscarried,  nor  does  a  mis- 
take occur  anymore  frequently,  when  the  above  direc- 
tions are  followed. 

Good  Premiums.— We  again  invite  atten- 
tion to  the  list  of  good  premium  articles  on  page  377. 
We  are  already  sending  a  large  number  of  these  articles 
to  persons  who  have  secured  them  thusearly,  and  there  is 
plenty  of  time  and  room  for  others  to  get  them.  The 
supply  is  not  limited,  and  there  is  no  competition,  except 
where  two  or  more  persons  in  the  same  neighborhood  are 
eacli  trying  to  get  up  a  list  first.  Of  course  they  can  all 
get  premiums  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  names  sent 
by  each.  Churches  and  schools  are  moving  in  the  matter 
of  getting  melodeons  ;  farmers'  clubs  are  working  for  li- 
braries, and  many  are  at  work  on  their  own  account. 

Strawberry    Plants     for    ACL.  —  A 

canvasser  for  a  premium  writes,  that  some  of  his  club 
ask  "  what  will  be  done  with  the  extra  5  cents  required, 
if  their  names  arrive  too  late  for  plants  ?"— Answer  :  No 
one  will  be  too  late.  We  shall  keep  on  propagating  and 
distributing  the  plants,  until  every  subscriber  for  1864  is 
supplied  who  applies  for  them,  and  piovides  for  the  post- 
age and  packing  (5  cents).  It  is  merely  a  question  of 
time.  Those  names  already  in,  and  many  thousands 
more,  will  certainly  be  supplied  in  time  to  get  the  plants 
well  started  next  season,  and  we  expect  this  will  be  the 
case  with  all.  Those  applying  last  will  be  supplied  last- 
perhaps  some  of  the  latest  not  until  the  following  Spring'; 
it  will  depend  upon  the  weather  next  season,  but  all  will 
be  supplied  as  soon  as  possible.  The  plants  will  be  sent 
out  In  the  order  in  which  the  names  stand  on  our  books. 
These  plants  are  not  given  as  premiums  for  getting  sub- 
scribers, but  are  offered  to  all  on  the  same  terras. 

A.  Word  to  Advertisers.— It  is  neces- 
sary to  repeat  to  persons  who  have  not  seen  our  previous 
notices,  that  we  cannot  take  any  business  cards,  at  any 
price,  for  secret  remedies,  except  in  special  cases,  and 
then  we  must  be  informed  of  their  cornposilion  and 
know  this  to  be  good.  Advertisers  unknown  to  us  per- 
sonally, or  by  reputation,  must  furnish  references.  Our 
rule  is,  to  advertise  nothing  which,  we  would  not  advise  a 
brother  or  nearest  friend  to  purchase,  if  in  want  of  any- 
thing of  the  kind  ;  and  to  admit  no  advertiser  whom  we 
have  not  good  reason  to  believe  will  do  just  what  he  ad- 


vertises to  do.  Advertisements  must  r-ome  in  before  the 
middle  of  the  previous  month  to  be  sure  of  insertion. 
See  the  terms  on  page  378.  These  strict  rules  are  needed 
and  adhered  to,  not  only  for  the  protection  of  our  read- 
ers, whom  we  desire  to  treat  as  if  members  of  our  own 
family,  but  also  to  protect  good  men,  who  of  course  pre- 
fer not  to  have  their  announcements  placed  among  a  lot 
of  promiscuous  advertisements  of  all  sorts — good,  bad, 
and  indifferent.  Considering  the  selection  made,  the  char- 
acter of  the  paper  and  style  of  printing,  the  length  of 
time  each  number  is  in  the  hands  of  the  readers,  and  the 
large  circulation  (90,000,)  we  are  sure  our  terms  are 
lower  than  any  other  journal  in  the  world.  We  do  not 
specially  solicit  advertisements— more  than  enovigh  for 
all  the  space  we  can  spare  are  usually  offered.  We  of 
course  are  thankful  for  a  moderate  number  of  good 
business  announcements,  as  these  materially  help  out  the 
finances  in  these  times  of  high  prices. 

Xo  Inquirers. — Numerous  letters  come  to 
the  Agriculturist  office  asking  about  matters  of  interest 
only  to  the  writer.  Questions  upon  subjects  where 
the  answer  will  be  of  general  interest  and  will  convey 
useful  information,  we  are  happy  to  reply  to.  It  would 
not  be  just  to  the  rest  of  our  readers  to  occupy  the  col- 
umns of  the  paper  with  replies  to  personal  queries.  Per- 
sons who  write  upon  matters  of  private  interest  should 
at  least  provide  for  the  postage  on  the  answer.  Just  now, 
certain  so-called  doctors  are  flooding  the  papers  with 
their  advertisements,  and  we  receive  numerous  queries 
as  to  the  standing  of  cancer  and  other  special  doctors. 
It  is  a  safe  general  rule  to  conclude  that  the  physician 
who  can  not  get  patients,  save  by  parading  his  wonderful 
cures  in  the  papers,  is  not  a  man  of  remarkable  skill.  A 
physician  who  has  a  proper  regard  for  the  dignity  of  his 
profession,  never  publishes  certificates  of  his  cures.  It 
will  save  our  readers  the  trouble  of  writing,  and  us  the 
trouble  of  replying,  to  recollect  that  we  can  not  recom- 
mend doctors  of  tins  sort,  the  different  "  sure  cure"  med- 
icines, nor  the   various  ''beautifiers  of  the  complexion. " 

The    New    Sunday    School     Hook, 

(**  Lessons  for  Every  Sunday  in  the  year,  No.  2,") 
was  issued  Nov.  21,  and  all  copies  previously  ordered 
sent  off  soon  after.  This  bonk  has  been  prepared  with 
great  labor  and  care,  and  is  doubtless  free  from  the  typo- 
graphical errors  occurring  in  the  first  edition  of  No.  1. 
It  will  be  found  very  complete,  and  full  of  information, 
and  it  seems  to  be  just  what  is  wanted  in  every  Sunday 
School,  and  in  families  as  well.  No.  2  may  be  used  after 
No.  1,  or  entirely  independent  of  it.  The  copyright  of 
these  books  was  given  away  to  others,  but  editions  are 
prepared  for  the  Publisher  of  the  Agriculturist,  who  will 
supply  them  at  a  price  hardly  covering  cost  at  the 
present  value  of  printing  paper.  They  are  both  well 
bound,  contain  112  pages  each,  and  are  supplied  by  the 
single  copy,  or  in  quantity,  at  10  cents  each.  If  to  go  by 
mail,  the  postage,  to  be  pre-paid,  is  3  cents  each  copy  in 
packages  of  ten  or  more.  The  postage  being  rated  by  the 
4  ounces,  the  price   for  less   than  ten   sent  by   mail  is  : 

7  copies,  00  cents, 
fi  copies,  1  Ot  cents. 
9  copies,  1  IS  cents. 


1  copy,    H  cents.  |  4  copies,  52  cents. 

2  copies,  2S  cents,  j  5  copies,  66  cents. 

3  copies,  42  cents.     6  copies,  80  cents. 


Send  your  Manic—Money  for  books  has 
been  sent  from  Reading,  Pa.  No  signature  to  the  letter, 
and  we  are  without  clue  to  the  owner.  The  same  oc- 
curs in  another  letter,  containing  $2,  from  Terre  Haute. 

Clothing*   for    Children   Wanted.— 

We  have  received  an  earnest  appeal  from  the  New-York 
'■  Children's  Aid  Society."  The  Association  provides  for 
a  large  number  of  homeless  children.  The  wardrobe  is 
empty,  while  clothing  is  needed  to  dress  the  children  for 
sending  to  the  West,  and  to  enter  the  city  Industrial 
Schools.  Any  common  clothing  will  be  very  acceptable 
— "shoes,  socks,  coats,  and  pants,  frocks  and  under- 
clothes. Old  clothes  can  be  used  to  much  advantage." 
Bundles  sent  for,  if  address  be  given,  to  J.  Macy,  Assist. 
Secretary,  No.  U  Clinton  Hall,  Astor   Place,  N.  Y.  city. 


say  the  party  would  return  no  equivalent  for  the  money 
so  earnestly  solicited  by  mail.  Gold  is  gold,  and  silver  is 
silver,  in  these  days,  and  nobody  lias  any  to  give  awny  at 
half  price.--"  Zissing  &  Co.",  (of  Philadelphia  we  believe) 
send  tickets  right  along  with  a  very  honest  looking  circu- 
lar, marked  "Private— To  Agents."  We  advise  that  no 
one  invest  money  there,  unless  he  can  carry  it,  and  get  the 
great  prizes  offered  when  he  planks  down  the  cash.  If 
any  one  can  get,  in  hand,  the  great  amount  of  jewelry, 
and  know  it  to  be  genuine,  and  if  he  wants  it  at  the  price, 

we  have  nothing  to  say. If  anybody  for  one  dollar 

can  get  a  weekly  paper  for  a  whole  year,  and  nlso  a 
grape  vine,  just  such  as  anybody  else  can  get  but  must 
pay  $2  for  ;  and  the  said  vine  is  known  to  be  alone  worth 
two  dollars,  it  will  do  to  invest,  for  it  don't  matter  wheth- 
er the  paper  is  kept  up  a  whole  year  or  not,  nor  whether 
it  is  worth  more  than  so  much  waste  paper,  when  it  is  got. 

"  Prof.  Weslook,  Box  W,  No.  175  Bleecker  Street, 

N.  Y.  City,"  (a  private  boarding  house  !)  advertises  two 
swindles  at  a  dollar  each.  We  sent  the  $2  to  catch  him, 
but  after  various  excuses,  he  told  our  young  man  he  could 
only  get  the  articles  through  the  Post  Office  !  We  have 
handed  him  over  to  Mayor  Opdyke,  also. 


A  Lot  of  Humbug's.— Never  before  have 
we  known  so  many  schemes  in  operation  to  filch  people's 
money.  We  have  written  item  after  item  [see  pages  359 
and  363]  supposing  each  would  be  the  last  needed,  but 
every  day  brings  to  light  some  new  swindling  enterprize, 
and  by  the  time  the  paper  gets  well  to  press,  others  will 
be  discovered.  We  will  group  a  few  together  here  :— One 
advertises  $4  for  $1,  in  gold  pens,  books,  etc..  at  1S6 
Broadway.  There  is  no  such  number.  John  Street  cuts 
through  between  181  and  192  on  the  east  side.  So  the  dol- 
lar we  sent  down  there  to  try  the  scheme,  came  hack.  We 
did  not  conclude  to  send  it  to  the  Post  Office  as  invited, 
for  we  like  to  see  into  whose  hands  our  money  goes  and 
what  we  are  to  get  for  it.  At  another  place  we  did  not 
conclude  to  invest  in  Gold  Lockets,  Watches,  eic,  ad- 
vertised at  "  half  price,"  though  we  could  not  positively 


In  Writing;  to  Advertisers  for  circu- 
lars, or  otherwise,  it  is  well  to  tell  them  where  their  busi- 
ness cards  were  seen  ;  they  are  always  glad  to  know  where 
their  announcements  are  noticed,  or  through  what  chan- 
nels they  reach  the  largest  number  of  wide-awake  readers. 


New    Boole    For    Sheep     Raisers.  — 

S.  Randall,  LL.  D.,  whose  Sheep  Husbandry  at  the 
South,  published  In  1848,  and  whose  essay  on  fine  wool 
sheep  read  before  the  N.  Y.  State  Agricultural  Society 
last  year  (lbG2)  have  caused  him  to  be  recognized  as 
authority  ort  Sheep,  is  again  before  the  public  as  the 
author  of  a  comprehensive  work,  adapted  to  the  wants 
of  American  farmers— entitled  The  Practical  Shepherd. 
It  is  a  12mo.  of  454  pages,  fully  illustrated.  We  esteem 
the  work  highly  and  while  recommending  it  to  our  readers, 
regret  that  it  is  not  yet  in  the  market,  but  for  sale  only  by 
traveling  agents.  D.  D.  T.  Moore,  Rochester,  is  the  pub- 
lisher, and  its  appearance  at  this  lime  is  opportune,  for 
there  is  now  a  great  interest  in  sheep  culture.  The  policy 
of  confining  its  sale  to  agents  is  hardly  advisable,  for 
thousands  would  obtain  it  through  regular  channels,  who 
will  not  be  found  by  agents.  When  we  can  get  a  supply 
it  will  be  announced  in  our  book  list. 

The  Illinois  State  Horticultural  So- 
ciety holds  its  Winter  session  at  Alton,  December  15,  to 
last  4  days.  The  meeting  will  doubtless  be  a  good  one, 
and  all  interested  in  Horticulture  are  invited  to  attend. 

The  "Report"  of  the  Department 
of  Agriculture  for  1862,  is  a  book  of  632  pages, 
far  better  than  any  of  the  previous  annuals  on  Agricul- 
ture, issued  at  Washington.  It  contains  many  pictures  of 
cattle,  sheep,  and  horses,  of  fruits  and  insects,  poultry- 
houses,  etc.,  is  excellently  well  adapted  to  the  purpose 
for  which  it  was  made,  namely,  for  an  attractive  and  in- 
structive volume  for  members  of  Congress  to  send  home 
to  their  friends.  It  does  not  comport  with  the  dignity  of 
the  Government  to  put  forth  a  picture-book,  nor  one  for 
the  purpose  above  slated.  Many  subjects  are  well  treated, 
the  articles  being  a  little  more  extended  than  would  ordi- 
narily be  published  in  an  agricultural  Journal.  Those  on 
sheep,  considering  the  great  interest  now  awakened  la 
sheep-raising,  will  give  the  book  especial  value  with  a 
great  many  farmers.  We  do  not  think  this  is  the  place 
for  descriptions  of  a  few  old  and  well-known  fruits,  most 
of  which  are  as  well  or  better  described  in  the  fruit- 
books,  nor  for  an  essay  on  marbles,  building-stones,  or 
coal-oil  springs,  which  are  hardly  agricultural  topics. 

ISoolc  on  Fruits.— Alfred  Street,  Middle- 
sex Co.,  Canada.  Barry's  Fruit  Garden,  is  a  very  good 
work  on  the  culture  of  Small  Fruits.     See  our  book  list. 

Books  out  of  Print.— There  are  several 
orders  on  file  for  agricultural  books  which  have  not  been 
filled,  for  the  reason  that  the  works  are  not  to  be  had. 
Where  there  is  a  prospect  of  a  new  edition  being  ready 
soon,  the  money  is  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  sender,  and 
the  books  forwarded  as  soon  as  issued. 

Osa^e  Orange  Hedge  Plants  Want- 
ed.—Tobias  Martin,  of  Mercersburg,  Pa.,  wishes  to 
secure  50,000  to  100,000  plants.  Who  can  supply  him 
and  other  inquirers? 

"  Smith's  Cantering;  Horses.*'— One 
of  these,  which  came  to  our  children  as  a  "  Christmas 
Present"  in  advance,  has  proved  a  very  acceptable  and 
interesting  gift.  Some  "grown  up  children"  enjoy  a  ride 
occasionally,  and  the  horse  manifests  no  signs  of  weak- 
ness  under'  the   loa,!.     His    rations  are  not   expensive. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


357 


Chloride  ofi*  liiiiic— Kxplauatlons.- 
This  is  recommended  in  some  papers  as  a  manure)  and  we 
are  asked  how  it  is  used  to  dry  the  atmosphere  in  fruit- 
rooms,  without  imparting  an  odor.  In  such  cases  the  article 
usually  known  as  chloride  of  lime  (bleaching  powders) 
is  not  intended  at  all;  here,  as  in  many  other  cases,  a 
misuse  of  chemical  terms  may  lead  to  an  unpleasant 
mistake.  When  lime  and  salt  are  employed  for  agricul- 
tural purposes,  whatever  decomposition  takes  place  pro- 
duces chloride  of  calcium,  which  is  the  chloride  of  the 
metallic  element  of  which  lime  is  an  oxide.  When  chlo- 
ride of  calcium  has  all  the  water  driven  off  by  heat,  it 
absorbs  moisture  again  very  readily,  and  this  is  the  ma- 
terial used  in  Fiance  to  destroy  the  humidity  of  fruit- 
rooms.  The  chloride  of  lime  is  a  common  name  for  a 
rather  complex  substance  containing  several  chemical 
compounds,  besides  a  quantity  of  free  chlorine.  It  is 
employed  as  a  disinfectant  and  for  bleaching,  but  not 
for  either  of  the  purposes  above  alluded  to. 

Sheep  Washes.— A  number  of  these  pre- 
parations are  used  in  England,  and  one  is  now  advertised 
in  our  columns.  As  a  general  thing,  we  refuse  to  adver- 
tise secret  preparations,  but  the  composition  of  this  being 
made  known  to  us,  we  should  think  that  it  would  be  cer- 
tain to  destroy  vermin,  and  be  beneficial  in  skin  diseases. 
The  certificates  of  reliable  men  who  have  used  it  would 
seem   to  warrant  others  in   making  experiments  with  it. 

Persian   Insect    Powder.-P.    A.    Ber- 

tens,  Florence.  This  is  the  powdered  flowers  and  leaves 
of  Pyrethrujn  Willemoti,  and  probably  other  Caucasian 
species.  The  powder  was  first  introduced,  put  up  in 
small  bottles,  as  a  secret  preparation,  but  it  may  now  be 
purchased  in  bulk  at  some  of  our  city  drug  stores.  It 
readily  stupefies  most  insects,  and  if  the  application  is 
thorough,  kills  them.  The  powder  should  be  kept  in 
well  closed  bottles,  otherwise  it  loses  its  power.  The 
article  has  become  one  of  considerable  importance,  and 
the  inhabitants  of  a  number  of  villages  in  the  Caucasus 
devote  themselves  to  its  cultivation  and  preparation.  It 
has  been  introduced  into  France,  but  we  have  not  heard 
of  its  being  grown  In  this  country. 

Sweet  Potatoes  and  Yams. — L.  Kes- 
singer,  Buffalo  Co.,  Wis.,  asks  if  these  will  succeed  in  his 
State.  We  have  a  letter  from  a  correspondent  who  says 
he  has  been  successful  with  the  Sweet  Potato  there.  If 
by  Vain  he  means  the  Dioscorea  Battatas,  we  suppose  that 
it  will  grow  there;  it  is  perfectly  hardy  here,  and  difficult 
to  eradicate  when  once  it  gets  a  foothold    in    the    soil. 

.Buying  a  Farm  on  Credit* — UA  Friend" 
asks  of  the  Agriculturist,  whether  it  is  advisable  for  a 
man  having  $300  cash,  to  buy  a  farm  for  $3000.  Decided- 
ly not,  unless  you  know  of  a  gold  or  other  mine  on  the 
premises  from  which  a  large  amount  of  the  price  can  be 
speedily  dug.  As  a  rule,  it  is  seldom  safe  to  run  in  debt 
for  more  than  one  half  of  the  purchase  money,  and  many 
have  found  even  this  a  heavier  load  than  they  counted  on. 


A  "Water  Gap."— "Young  Tennessee 
farmer"  asks  how  to  make  a  good  permanent  water  gap. 
Perhaps  some  reader  of  the  Agriculturist  can  tell  us  what 
it  is,  and  him  how  to  make  one.  It  is  probably  a  local  ap- 
pellation for  something  others  know  by  a  different  name. 

Straw  Beehives.— To  "  Black  Brook's" 
inquiries  about  the  straw  hive  described  in  the  Agricul- 
turist for  October  we  answer:  There  is  an  entrance  for 
the  bees  at  the  bottom  of  one  end,  three-eighthsof  an  inch 
high  by  three  inches  long.  It  will  admit  all  the  air  the 
bees  need  through  the  Winter.  Any  good  straight,  clean 
straw  is  suitable,  and  probably  flags  and  rushes  would 
do.  Oat  straw  looks  rough,  but  answers  well.  Rye  with 
the  heads  trimmed  off,  makes  a  very  neat  hive.  For  cut- 
ting the  straw,  the  old-fashioned  primitive  straw-cutter 
is  probably  best.  One  is  needed  that  will  allow  the  straw 
to  be  pushed  through  the  proper  length.  It  is  unnecessary 
to  wash  the  hive  with  any  thing  before  admitting  the  bees. 

drafting:  the    Shag-hark  Hickory. 

—"J.  S.  H.,"  Marlboro,  Mass.  This  is  sometimes  done 
in  the  South  of  Europe,  but  it  is  said  not  to  succeed  well 
in  cold  countries.  Flute  or  ring  budding  is  said  to  do 
best.  Walnut  trees  are  very  difficult  to  transplant  at  any 
time  on  account  of  their  few  fibrous  roots.  We  should 
prefei  Spring  for  the  experiment. 

Three  Crops  of  Pears  in  one  Year. 

— "  E.  N.,"  writes  that  there  is  a  pear  tree  in  Evansville, 
Ind.,  which  produces  two  crops  of  pears  in  a  season,  and 
this  year  bore  three  crops,  two  of  which  came  to  perfec- 
tion. It  is  not  rare  that  pears  set  fruit  for  the  second 
time,  but  such  fruit  is  usually  inferior,  if  it  ripens  at  all. 
It  is  not  a  desirable  character  in  a  tree. 


l>isinnee    for   Dwarf    Pears. — J.    C. 

Cole,  of  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  writes  that  he  set  his 
pears  at  6  feet  apart  and  finds  them  too  much  crowded. 
It  will  do  to  move  them  in  the  Fall  or  Spring  if  done 
with  care.  Pears  may  be  so  pruned  as  to  be  kept  at  this 
distance,  but  we  think  it  better  to  give  them  more  room, 
8  or  9  feet  is  near  enough  for  the  free  growing  kinds. 

Grape  Vines  on  Walls.— "  Subscriber," 
who  has  a  superabundance  of  stone,  in  a  rocky  part  of 
Rhode-Island,  wishes  to  know  if  it  will  do  to  train  grapes 
against  his  stone  walls  in  place  of  a  trellis.  In  this  coun- 
try the  European  practice  of  growing  wall  fruit  is  not 
practicable.  The  sun  here  is  so  powerful  that  the  leaves 
and  fruit  are  scorched,  and  this  takes  place  even  where 
the  vines  are  set  too  closely  to  a  common  board   fence. 

An  Enemy  to  the  Tine.— G.  L.  Morris, 
Baltimore  Co.,  Md.  The  caterpillar  is  the  larva  of  the 
Satellilia  Hawk-moth.  They  are  great  feeders,  and  are 
very  destructive  to  the  vine,  but  fortunately  not  very  nu- 
merous. They  enter  the  ground  after  they  are  ftdl  grown, 
where  they  undergo  their  transformation,  and  come  out  in 
the  following  June  and  July,  as  a  night  flying  moth  known 
as  Philampelus  Satellitia. 

What  is  fc*  Wine  "  ?— It  is  the  pure  juice 
of  the  grape,  which  has  undergone  the  vinous  fermenta- 
tion. The  addition  of  sugar,  water,  milk,  eggs,  etc.,  to 
say  nothing  of  logwood,  brandy,  alcohol,  or  sugar-of-lead, 
makes  compounds  which  may  make  medicine,  but  not 
wine.  The  juices  of  other  fruits,  of  rhubarb,  sugar  and 
water  with  a  little  ferment,  the  sap  of  birch  and  maple, 
and  other  things  fermented,  have  more*or  less  a  wine-like 
taste,  and  may  be  called  wines,  but  they  are  not,  and  as 
soon  as  we  admit  that  any  thing  but  the  pure  juice  of  the 
grape  is  wine,  we  are  all  afloat.  An  old  German  vintner's 
opinion  was  asked  in  regard  to  one  of  these  sugared  com- 
pounds profanely  advertised  "  for  Sacramental  use,"  with 
the  assurance  that  it  would  not  make  any  body  drunk. 
"  No,"  said  he,  "  it  wtil  make  you  sick  though." 

New-  Rochelle  Blackberries  Pro- 
ductive.—F.  W.  Winship,  Bureau  Co.,  111.,  writes  :  "h\ 
the  Spring  of  1661,  I  set  out  12  roots  of  the  Lawton  Black- 
berry on  the  east  side  of  a  high  board  fence.  They  made 
a  fair  growth  during  1862,  as  it  was  a  wet  season.  I  gath- 
ered the  first  ripe  berries  on  the  8th  of  July,  and  the  last 
on  the  12th  of  September.  One  stalk  had  on  it  1400  ber- 
ries at  one  time,  and  commenced  to  ripen  its  first  berries 
about  the  21st  of  July,  and  finished  on  the  12th  of  Sept., 
at  which  time  I  gathered  182  ripe  berries.  Some  of  the 
berries  from  this  bush  measured  4  inches  in  circumfer- 
ence, and  10  berries  laid  in  a  line  so  as  to  touch  one 
another,  measured  Il#  inches.  The  stalk  was  about  11 
feet  in  length,  and  had  15  lateral  branches.  From  the 
12  original  bushes  I  gathered  about  3  bushels  of  berries. 
Who  can  beat  this,  and  who  says  the  Lawton  Blackberries 
are  not  productive  ?"  [The  proper  name  is  New-Ro- 
chelle,  though  the  same  variety  is  sometimes  called  Law- 
ton— a  name  given  without  proper  authority.  The  gen- 
eral complaint  against  this  variety  is  its  sourness — a  pre- 
judice resulting  from  picking  the  fruit  as  soon  as  it  is 
black  ;  it  is  not  ripe  until  some  days  after  coloring.— Ed.] 

Cranberries  from  Seed,— E.  T.  Baxter, 
Tuscola  Co.,  Mich.  This  method  of  raising  plants  is  not 
recommended  by  cultivators,  as  the  plants  are  very  slow 
in  growing,  and  there  is  no  certainty  that  a  large  propor- 
tion of  them  will  bear  well.  If  disposed  to  make  a  trial, 
cut  the  fruit  crosswise,  when  the  seeds  may  be  easily 
taken  out  ;  these  are  to  be  sown  in  a  patch  of  moist, 
well  prepared  soil,  and  covered  very  thinly.  It  will  save 
much  time  to  get  plants  from  a  fruitful  bog,  or  to  procure 
them  from  some  of  the  experienced  cultivators. 

Small    Fruits    in    the    Shade.— J.    B. 

Jones,  Hudson  Co.,  N.J.  Blackberries  and  especially 
Raspberries  do  well  in  partial  shade.  Strawberries  require 
more  sun.    Currants  will  grow  tolerably  in  a  little  shade. 

Names  ot"  Fruits. — I.  M.  Chapman,  Port- 
age Co.,  Ohio.,  wishes  to  know  how  to  pronounce  Tri- 
omphe  de  Gand,  and  objects  to  such  "  outlandish  and  bar- 
baric names  being  applied  to  fruits,  etc."  Tree-omph  der 
Gan,  is  as  near  as  we  can  give  the  pronunciation  in  Eng- 
lish. The  strawberry  originated  in  Gand  (Ghent!  and 
the  name  means  the  triumph  of  that  place,  and  sounds  not 
strangely  there.  The  name  is  generally  pronounced 
Triumph  de  Gand,  in  this  country,  and  might  convenient- 
ly be  shortened  into  simple  Triumph,  in  the  same  way 
that  the  Duchesse  d'Angouleme  is  now  abbreviated  into 
Duchess.  A  Frenchman  would  be  as  much  troubled  at 
some  of  our  names,  Hubbardston  Nonsuch  for  instance, 
as  our  friend  is  at  that  of  this  strawberry.  When  new 
things  are  brought  into  a  country  where  a  different  lan- 
guage from  the  one  in  which  they  originated  is  spoken, 


their  names,  if  the  things  themselves  become  popular, 
are  soon  popularized.  Such  names  are  not  "barbaric" — 
they  are  only  unusual. 

Plants  for  Names.— "H.  J.  L.,"  Fairfax 
Co.,  Va.  The  plant  is  Gent  tana  Saponaria,  the  Soap- 
wort  Gentian —  R.  S.  Reeves,  Logan  Co.,  Ky.,  sends  a 
narrow -leaved  variety  of  the  same  species  ;  variety  line- 
aris. Gentiana  angusti/olia  has  only  one  flower  on  the 
stem..  J.  A.  Brown,  Wayne  Co.,  Ohio:  The  seeds  sent  are 
those  of  Frasera  Carolinensis,  or  American  Columbo,  the 
bitter  root  of  which  is  used  in  medicine  as  a  tonic,  and  is 
sometimes  sold  instead  of  the  imported  columbo  ...An- 
gelo  Brown,  Wayne  Co.,  Pa.  The  hardy  annual  is 
Erysimum  Pcroffskianum ;  it  came  from  the  Caucasus, 

and  is  a  species  of  Hedge-Mustard T.  C.  Wells,  Riley 

Co.,  Kansas,  sends  Dalea  laxifiora,  a  pretty  perennial 
from  the  prairies.  Those  who  send  specimens  are  re- 
quested to  give  their  address  in  full,  as  we  sometimes 
wish  to  make  inquiries. 

Yellow  JLiijtin.— "Reader,"  Pine  Plains,  N. 
Y.  We  have  not  heard  of  any  experiments  with  the 
Yellow  Lupine.  The  While  Lupine  has  been  tried,  but 
without  much  success.  The  difficulty  with  the  Lupines 
as  a  green  manure,  seems  to  be  that  the  seed  is  so  large  in 
proportion  to  the  amount  of  foliage  produced  that  it  lakes 
an  enormous  bulk  in  comparison  to  clover. 

Thorns  from  Seed.— T.  Wilbur,  Marion 
Co.,  Mo.  Gather  the  fruit  when  it  is  dead  ripe,  put  it  in 
a  vessel  of  water  until  the  pulp  becomes  sufficiently 
softened  to  allow  the  seeds  to  be  separated,  and  then  wash 
them  out.  Sow  at  once  if  the  ground  is  open,  or  mix  wilh 
earth  in  a  box  and  expose  to  the  weather  during  Winter, 
and  sow  in  Spring.  Some  species  of  the  thorn  do  not 
come  up  until  the  second  year  after  planting.  We  do  not 
know  how  the  Black  Thorn  is  in  this  respect. 

Osage  Orang-e  Seed.— Several  Subscri- 
bers. We  have  to  repeat  what  we  have  already  stated 
several  limes,  that  we  do  not  know  where  the  seed  can 
be  procured.  The  supply  formerly  came  from  Texas, 
and  other  Slates  now  in  rebellion.  Seed  is  produced  in  the 
loyal  Slates— but  not  at  all  enough  for  the  demand — Now 
that  the  commercial  supply  of  the  seed  is  cut  off  by  the  war, 
those  who  have  bearing  trees  are  turning  their  attention 
to  saving  the  seed  from  them,  and  we  have  several  inqui- 
ries as  to  how  it  may  be  secured.  The  fruit  Is  placed  in 
heaps  until  it  has  decayed,  the  seed  is  then  washed  out 
and  dried.  It  is  better'to  expose  it,  mixed  wilh  sand,  in 
boxes,  to  the  action  of  frost,  as  it  is  then  more  certain  to 
come  up  promptly  in  Spring. 

Allen's  Cylinder  Plow. — O.  Kiminet, 
Sibley  Co.,  Minn.  Allen's  Cylinder  Plow  is  not  made  of 
steel.  He  has  steel  plows  adapted  for  use  on  the  prairies, 
at  prices  from  $11)  to  $1S  ;  it  may  perhaps  be  cheaper  for 
you  to  purchase  one  from  some  house  nearer  home. 


Ughtning  Rods.— R.  D.  Warren,  Mass. 
Never  having  seen  the  copper  rod  of  which  you  speak 
we  can  not  express  any  opinion.  As  copper  conducts 
electricity  about  five  times  more  readily  than  iron,  it 
has  an  advantage  over  that  metal,  as  the  rod  can  be 
made  much  smaller  than  usual,  and  be  equally  efficient. 

Unreliable  "  Cures." — How  many  of  the 
vaunted  "cures"  of  animals  of  one  trouble  or  another, 
are  really  due  to  the  applications  made  by  the  would-be 
doctor?  Very  few,  we  apprehend.  Give  ailing  animals 
good  care,  a  loosening  diet  if  needed,  with  protection  from 
the  weather,  and  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten  they  will  get  well 
themselves.  Nature  will  often  effect  a  cure  in  spite  of 
all  manner  of  malpractice,  which  is  subsequently  regarded 
and  heralded  as  the  means  producing  the  cure. 


Cheap  Paint  Tor  Brick  Walls,  etc.— 

Mix  hydraulic  lime  (cement  or  water  lime)  with  water  to 
the  consistence  of  thin  cream,  and  apply  it  with  a  brush 
like  a  lime  wash.  The  color  which  is  a  pretty  stone 
color,  may  be  varied  by  using  any  of  the  ochres,  lamp- 
black, etc.     It  will  not  hold  upon  wood. 

Removing:  the  Blair.— A  lady  wishes  to 
know  if  there  are  any  means  by  which  superfluous  hair 
can  be  removed  from  the  hands  and  face.  Several  pre- 
parations called  "  depilatories"  are  sold  ;  but,  so  far  as  we 
have  any  knowledge  of  their  composition,  they  contain 
arsenic,  lime,  or  some  other  caustic,  unsafe  to  the  skin. 
A  less  dangerous  but  somewhat  painful  method,  some- 
limes  used  in  surgical  operations,  Is  to  cover  the  hairy 
spot  with  adhesive  plaster,  leave  it  on  a  few  hours,  and 
then  remove  it  with  a  smart  twitch,  which  will  take  out 
many  of  the  hairs  from  the  roots— if  not  all  of  them.  Most 
of  the  depilatory  operations  are  of  only  temporary  effect. 


358 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


December, 


Scuwcv«l  as  a  Manure.  —  S.  Coatee, 
Washington  Co.,  R.  I.  Seaweed  is  most  economically 
applied  as  a  compost.  Your  proposed  plan  lo  decompose 
it  with  lime  and  soil  or  muck,  is  the  right  one.  The  gel- 
atinous sorts  like  Ribbon-weed,  Rock-weed,  and  Devils- 
apron,  are  the  most  valuable,  while  the  eel-grass,  which 
is  frequently  called  seaweed,  is  worth  but  little.  The  re- 
port upon  the  geology  of  your  Stale  has,  if  we  recollect 
rightly,  some  interesting  matter  upon  this  subject. 

&»li<?*  oi*  Leaves. — "Will  the  leaves  of  the 
flic  same  plant,  grown  in  different  soiJs,  contain  in  their 
at  lies  different  proportions  of  any  earthly  materials  which 
may  be  abundant  in  one  soil  and  scarce  In  another  ?" 
hiil'iiires  W.  II.  Washburn,  Waldo  Co.,  Me.  The  ashes 
nf  (he  same  plant  grown  under  these  different  circum- 
-laiicr*,  are  very  similar,  but  important  differences  may 
sometimes  be  noted,  and  these  are  particularly  observ- 
ni  Hit  leaves.  Still  the  ash  of  the  leaves  will  not 
necessarily  contain  "  any  earthy  materials  which  may 
abound"  lor  clay  at  least  is  not  taken  up  by  the  roots. 
Olliei  things  may  also  be  rejected.  The  proportion  of 
potash  and  soda,  of  lime  and'magnesia,  and  of  oxide  of 
iron,  silica,  phosphoric  and  sulphuric  acid,  and  chlorine 
may  and  do   vary. 


Tobacco. — "J.  B.,1'  of  Pleasant  Valley  Mills, 
neat  Staunlun,  Newcastle  Co.,  Del.,  writes  to  the  Agri' 
cultnrist  about  some  very  fine  leaves  obtained  from  Cuba 
seed,  and  his  line  crop  generally.  He  says  his  system  of 
culture  is  very  different  from  the  methods  given  iu  the 
pi  ize  essays  published  by  the  Agriculturist,  and  described 
in  other  works.  Any  new  method  should  be  well  tested  a 
year  or  two  at  least,  before  giving  it  to  the  world.  One 
can  not  judge  of  his  success  before  the  crop  is  cut, 
cured,  and  weighed.  The  use  of  any  process  of  culture 
which  would  make  the  labor  less  by  doing  away  with  the 
necessity  Of  thoroughly  enriching,  working,  and  weeding 
the  soil,  would  be  most  unfortunate,  for  it  is  in  these  that 
tobacco  culture  is  of  any  real  value  in  our  agriculture. 

**<nin«  l.\  Ulue  <*rass. — J.  L.  "Wood- 
bury, Kent  Co.,  Del.  Kentucky  Blue  Grass  makes  good 
hay,  but  the  yield  is  much  less  than  with  Timothy  or  Red 
Top.  It  has  the  disadvantage  that  it  is  a  long  lime  In 
making  a  dense  sward.  It  is  more  valued  as  a  pasture 
than  kg  a  meadow  grass.  Experiment  only  can  deter- 
mine whether   it  will  do  better  than  Timothy  with  you. 

X.    tjioou    Crop    from  ai»    Acre.  —  M. 

Mlteii,  of  Columbia  Co.,  Wis.,  writes  to  the  Agriculturist: 
"  f  have  on  one  acre  raised  5370  pounds  of  ears  of  corn, 
Pijtlal  to  74  bushels  of  shelled  corn  ;  800  pumpkins,  8 
bushels  white  beans,  and  a  few  turnips  on  the  same  acre. 
Corn  worth  50  cts.  per  bushel,  $37,  beans  rated  at  $16, 
pumpkins  worth  $8,  making  a  total  of  $61.  No  extra 
preparation    or  care.      Can    New-England  do  heller?" 

In  ton  Sweet  Corn.— Au  ear  of  sweet 
com  having  the  national  colors,  red,  while,  and  blue,  in 
liic  kernels,  has  been  placed  on  our  exhibition  tables.  It 
was  raised  by  Col.  Sylvester  R.  Hazard,  of  Newport,  R.  I., 
a  veteran  of  the  war  of  1812.  Such  specimens  are  the  re- 
sult of  a  mixture  of  varieties,  and  can  not  be  depended 
upon  to  reproduce  the  same  assortment  of  colored  kernels. 

l*oi»iBlsir  Chemistry. — There  is  a  great 
deal  ol  nonsense  to  be  found  in  agricultural  and  other 
papers,  w  Inch  passes  for  science  among  those  who  are  ig- 
norant of  chemical  facts.  As  an  illustration  of  this  we 
«  ile  directions  for  making  a  tree  wash  which  appeared  in 
a  paper  edited  by  a  "  professor."  "  Heat  sal-soda  red  hot 
in  an  iron  vessel  ;  to  do  this  the  vessel  should  be  imbed- 
ded in,  not  over  a  hard  coal  fire;  this  will  drive  off  the 
water  and  carbonic  acid  which  it  contain?,  rendering  the 
soda  caustic."  We  should  like  to  see  sal  soda  rendered 
caustic  by  heating  in  an  iron  vessel.  Everyone  who 
knows  any  tiling  about  chemistry  knows  that  this  can  not 
be  done  by  the  action  of  heat  alone.  The  water  is  driven 
oft  and  whet)  the  heated  soda  is  dissolved  to  make  the  tree 
wash,  the  solution  will  be  precisely  the  same  as  it  would 
have  been  If  it  had  not  been  heated.— Another  exchange 
commenting  on  the  use  of  salt  as  manure  remarks  that 
"  in  the  vicinity  of  salt  water  the  lands  are  salted  by  the 
dews  which  fall."  Will  he  please  procure  a  small  boltle 
lull  of  this  salt  dew  for  exhibition  ;  scientific  men  would 
hail  it  as  the  most  remarkable  discovery  in  meteorology. 


Detection  of  Water   in    Milk.— The 

manager  of  an  extensive  cheese  dairy  in  New-York  con- 
Mills  us  in  regard  to  methods  of  testing  the  purity  of  milk. 
He  uses  two  lactometers,  neither  of  which  he  thinks 
"  will  detect  the  presence  of  1  gallon  of  water  in  'JO,  40 or 
8,0  gallons  of  milk."  That  is,  neither  will  show  5  per 
cent  of  water  which  is  1  gallon  in  20  (1  gallon  in  80  is 
only  \H  per  cent).    Of  course  not.    The  specific  gravity 


of  good  milk  is  about  1.031  to  1.032  ;  that  of  milk  rich  in 
butter,  is  1.030  to  1.031,  and  the  addition  of  10  per  cent  of 
water  will  reduce  the  specific  gravity  of  good  milk  only 
to  about  1.029  ;  20  per  cent  to  1.025,  or  near  it.  Different 
samples  of  pure  milk  often  show  more  variation  in  their 
specific  gravities  than  5  per  cent  of  water  added  to  cither 
would  effect.  The  only  way  to  judge  accurately  of  the 
value  of  milk  brought  from  various  sources  is  to  have 
some  man  or  woman  of  good  judgment  devote  him  or 
herself  to  the  study  of  the  different  samples,  testing, 
and  noting  down  every  day  the  character  of  the  milk 
from  each  dairy.  Noting  1st,  the  cleanliness  ;  2nd,  the 
specific  gravity;  3d,  the  length  of  time,  before  souring; 
4th,  the  amount  of  cream,  and  its  character,  setting  about 
a  gill  of  each  sample  for  these  purposes  ;  5th,  the  color  of 
the  skim  milk;  and  6th,  if  sweet,  its  specific  gravity. 
Thus  those  who  furnish  the  milk  can  each  be  credited 
according  to  the  quality  of  that  furnished. 

Prolific  Hens. — People  always  like  to  com- 
pare notes  about  poultry.  J.  B.,  of  New  Castle  Co., 
Del.,  says,  six  hens  costing  $2  50,  placed  in  an  empty 
hog  pen,  fed  on  scraps  from  the  table,  egg  shells,  etc., 
with  the  sweepings  of  the  mill  floor,  gave  407  eggs  and  8 
chickens  in  172  days.  He  estimates  his  only  outlay  $4.37, 
including  50  cents  deterioration  on  stock.  The  eggs 
were  worth  19cts.  per  dozen=$7.S6.  The  chickens  at  20 
cents  each  are  worth  $1.60,  and  the  manure  made  is 
worth  J8cents  (estimated  too  low)— in  all,  $9.64.  Sublract- 
ing  cost,  $4.37,  leaves  $5.27  profit  in  less  tiian  0  months. 

Damage    to    Sheep    in    Ohio. — 36,778 

sheep  are  reported  killed  by  dogs  in  the  year  1S62;  24,972 
injured,  and  the  total  damage  estimated  at $126,347.  Will 
any  body  tell  us  how  much  good  was  done  by  all  the  dogs 
in  Ohio,  dining  the  year  1862  ?  Also  tell  us  what  Ihe  board- 
ing bill  of  these  dogs  amounted   to. 

Ants  aud  Bees. — A  writer  iu  the  Rural 
New-Yorker  in  directing  how  to  get  rid  of  ants  from  bee- 
hives, advises  to  blow  smoke  into  the  hives,  which  will 
expel  both  bees  and  ants,  and  then  with  a  feather  apply 
spirits  of  turpentine  or  kerosene  to  the  places  where  they 
have  harbored,  which  will  keep  Ihem  away.  He  forgot 
to  add  that  bees  also  are  very  sensitive  to  unpleasant 
smells,  and  that  they  too  would  probably  stay  outside  the 
premises,  if  they  could  not  immediately  cover  over  the  in- 
fected parts  that  the  odor  would  be  suppressed. 

White  Flax  Seed. — John  Monteleiu,  Ste- 
phenson Co.,  111.,  informs  us  that  he  once  purchased  some 
bushels  of  this  variety,  and  that  more  or  less  of  it  has 
been  raised  in  his  vicinity  for  eight  years.  He  can  discov- 
er no  difference  between  this  and  the  brown  seed  either 
in  the  fibre  or  the  oil. 


What  cau  he  I>one  on  Scrub  Oak 
Land.— Mr.  Win,  Erwood,  an  English  gardener,  who 
8  months  ago  cleared  up  some  scrub-oak  land  upon 
Long  Island,  has  sent  to  the  American  Agriculturist 
Office  specimens  of  his  products,  comprising  fine  Brus- 
sels sprouts,  good  cauliflower  and  co Hards,  and  on 
ions  of  full  size.  Mr.  E.  stales  that  he  has  fine  potatoes 
and  corn,  and  is  altogether  pleased  with  his  attempt  at 
making  a  farm  in  such  an  unpromising  locality. 

A    Good    Suggestion.— E.    G.  Topping, 

Whiteside  Co.,  III.,  says  that  every  farmer  should  keep 
on  hand  a  supply  of  hoop  iron  and  rivets,  which  can  be 
procured  at  almost  any  store  having  an  assortment  of 
hardware.  It  requires  but  a  few  minutes  work  to  re- 
place a  hoop  from  a  cask,  pail,  or  tub  ;  and  this  if  done  in 
time,  will  often  save   the   purchasing  of  a   new    vessel. 

(Queries  About  Trees  and   Shruhs.- 

L.  Kessinger,  Buffalo  Co.,  Wis.  The  Crataegus  coccinea 
of  this  country  is  not  the  same  as  the  European  Medlar. 
The  objection  to  the  use  of  our  native  thorns  as  hedges  is 
(lie  early  fall  of  their  leaves.  Where  this  Is  not  a  considera- 
tion they  will  answer.  The  Persimmon  does  not  succeed 
much  north  of  New-York  city.  It  is  hardly  probable  that 
it  would  do  well  with  you.  We  think  that  the  Mulberry 
is  hardy  enough  to  stand  your  climate— at  any  rale  we 
should  try  it.  We  know  of  no  peaches  that  are  likely  lo 
be  successful  in  your  locality  —  I.  F.  McLain,  Morrow 
Co.,  Ohio.  The  soil  for  Osage  Orange  should  be  well 
pulverized  by  deep  plowing.  If  sod  ground  is  used,  the 
sod  should  be  broken  up  and  left  to  rot.  The  planting  is 
generally  done  in  the  Spring.  The  plants  are  cut  back  to 
fi  or  8  inches,  and  the  roots  are  trimmed.  The  hedge  is 
not  trimmed  the  first  year,  but  the  second  and  following 
years  it  is  brought  into  shape.  1 1  requires  about  four  or 
five  years  to  form  a  perfect  hedge.  We  have  not  space 
for  details  winch  have  already  been  given  in  former  vol- 
umes of  the  Agriculturist,  ami  may  be  found  in  Warder's 
Hedges  and   Evergreens  which  is  on  our  book  list D. 


P.  Leonard,  Washington  Co.,  Ohio.  Locust  seed  may  be 
planted  as  soon  as  gathered,  or  be  kept  until  Spring  in 
boxes  of  earth  exposed  to  the  action  of  the  weather.  The 
seed  bed  should  be  of  good  soil,  well  prepared,  and  the 
seeds  sown  thinly  and  covered  over  half  an  inch  deep 
The  plants  will  grow  from  2  to  4  feet  high  the  first  sea- 
son, and  can  be  transplanted  after  the  first  year's  growth 

Propagation  of  Forest  Trees.— "T. 

C.  H.,"  Pleasant  Plains,  N.  Y.  Cions  may  be  cut  any 
time  during  Winter,  aud  treated  like  those  of  fruit 
trees.  The  Hickory  has  such  long  tap-rools  that  it  is 
difficult  to  transplant;  the  seed  should  be  planted  when 
the  tree  is  expected  to  stand.  The  Chestnut  may  be 
removed  more  readily,  and  small  trees  from  the  forest 
may  succeed,  but  the  only  sure  way  is  to  get  or  grow 
seedlings  whiih  have  been  several  times  transplanted. 
...i\lilden  Luther,  Boone  Co.,  Iowa.  Mix  the  Red  Ce- 
dar berries  with  earth  and  leave  them  in  an  exposed 
situation,  where  they  will  freeze  and  thaw  during  the 
Winter.  Sow  when  the  ground  is  ready  iu  the  Spring. 
They  sometimes  remain  a  year  in  the  ground  before  they 
start,  but  treated  in  this  way  there  is  more  probability  of 
their  growing  the  first  season....  Thos.  Bell,  Joe  Davie - 
Co.,  III.  White  Birch  and  White  Maple  seed,  as  soon 
as  it  Is  gathered,  should  be  mixed  with  sand  or  moderately 
dry  earth,  as  without  this  precaution  they  get  too  dry 
and  lose  their  vegetative  power.  Prepare  the  surface  of 
the  seed-bed  by  burning  rubbish  upon  it,  to  destroy  the 
seeds  of  weeds,  and  cover  the  seeds  very  slightly  after 
sowing.  To  prevent  the  soil  from  drying,  a  light  Cover- 
ing of  litter  is  to  be  thrown  OTer  the  bed,  to  be  carefully 
removed  as  soon  as  the  young  plants  begin  lo  come  up. 

What  Trees  to  Plant.— Harry  Grundy, 
Montgomery  Co.,  II].,  asks  what  trees  he  shall  plant 
about  his  house.  Advice  of  this  kind  is  very  difficult  to 
give  without  knowing  the  character  and  climate  of  the 
locality.  As  the  maple  grows  with  Mr.  G.,  we  presume 
most  of  our  hardy  shade  trees  will  do  well.  It  is  well 
to  plant  both  evergreen  and  deciduous  trees.  For 
evergreens,  the  Red  Cedar  and  Norway  Spruce.  Instead 
of  putting  out  only  one  kind  of  deciduous  trees,  we 
should  select  a  variety,  not  only  as  producing  a  more 
pleasing  effect,  hut  for  the  reason  that  disease  or  insects 
frequently  attack  all  the  trees  of  a  particular  kind  within 
a  large  district.  Having  a  variety  of  trees  will  often  save 
one  from  great  disappointment.  The  American  maples, 
the  Sycamore  Maple,  Elm.  Whitewood,  and  Button- 
wood,  would  probably  all  flourish,    and  give    a  variety. 


•*  Responsible    Nurserymen."— C.  O., 

Hendricks  Co.,  Ind.,  pertinently  says  that  we  recomnfend 
planters  of  trees  to  "send  directly  to  some  responsible 
nurseryman"  for  them.  He  followed  the  advice  aud 
sent,  and  obtained  from  "a  nurseryman  of  large  busi- 
ness, and  reputed  honesty  and  responsibility,  badly  grown 
and  almost  worthless  trees."  Now  he  says  :  "  I  insist  on 
the  purchaser  selecting  his  trees,  etc.,  personally."  So 
we  have  often  advised,  to  always  do  when  practi- 
cable; but  it  is  not  always  possible,  and  we  musUru&t 
somewhat  lo  the  nurserymen.  There  are  few  men  in  the 
world  who  will  cull  out  from  their  nursery  rows  the  must 
saleable  trees  to  send  to  a  stranger.  If  he  comes  cash  iu 
hand,  and  makes  the  selection  himself,  it  is  a  different 
thing.  Sllll,  there  is  no  excuse  for  sending  a  poor  lot 
of  trees  or  vines,  when  a  first  class  price  is  charged. 


Pears  iu  Illinois.— Jabez  Webster,  of  Ma- 
rion Co.,  111.,  writes  that  "  pears  suffer  much  from  blight 
in  his  neighborhood.  The  Bartlett  does  best,  and  the 
Howell  next,  but  this  year  even  these  have  suffered.  The 
Vicar  of  Winkfield  grows  well,  but  does  not  bear  as  a 
dwarf  or  standard.  The  Tyson,  Beurre  Giffard,  Louise 
Bonne,  and  others  on  quince,  neither  grow  nor  bear. 
Bartlett,  Vicar,  Flemish  Beauty,  and  Osband's  Summer  do 
much  better  as  standards  without  manure  than  they  do  as 
dwarfs  with  manure."  Mr.  W.  says  that  "dwarfs  are 
about  '  played  out'  thereabouts  ;  people  begin  to  open  their 
eyes  to  the  fact  that  they  are  not  enough  adapted  to  the 
climate  to  pay  for  the  labor  and  trouble,  while  standard 
trees  will  flourish  as  well  as  apple  trees  and  come  into 
bearing  as  soon." 


The  Penn  Pear.— The  Rev.  A.  R.  Bud, 
presented  us  with  two  specimens  of  this" pear,  which  has 
also  been  known  by  the  names  of  Frazer  and  Railroad 
Fuss.  The  latter  name  was  given  because  Ihe  original 
tree  was  the  subject  of  some  difficulty  at  the  time  the 
Camden  &  Amboy  R.  R.  was  made.  It  has  been  called 
Penn,  because  it  originated  opposite  the  old  Penn  estate. 
The  shape  of  the  pear  is  remarkable,  it  being  very  much 
depressed  and  broader  than  long.  Downing  classes  it  as 
"very  good."  The  specimens  were  tested  at  the  fruit 
growers'  meeting  and  hardly  warranted  this  endorsement, 
probably   because   they  had  not  been  properly   ripened. 


1863.1 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


350 


<jl*j,od  i'utinvba  4* rapes*.  —  The  fiuest 
Catawbas  we  have  seen  this  year,  were  a  box  of  some  25 
lbs.  presented  Nov.  6th,  by  Josiah  Carpenter,  Commis- 
sion Merchant,  whose  business  curd  has  long  been  in  our 
columns.  They  were  grown  on  lattices,  by  J.  Larrowe, 
of  Hammoudsport,  Steuben  County,  N.  Y.,  which  must 
be  agood  locality  for  this  uncertain  variety,  judging  from 
the  well  ripened,  large  clusters  and  berries.  Mr.  C.  says 
tie  lias  had  them  from  the  same  place  through  the  Fall, 
and  they  have  sold  higher  than  any  other  Catawbas  in 
market.  They  come  packed  in  neat,  light,  board  boxes, 
ClxlUxo,!-'  inches,  with  a  division  across  the  middle.  The 
ends  and  division  boards  of  >;  inch  stuff;  the  rest  \&  inch 
thick.  White  wrapping  paper  is  placed  above,  below, 
aild  between  the  layers.  Query:  Would  not  small  air 
holes  preserve  the  fruit  longer  V— A  few  bottom  clust- 
ers, slightly  mashed  by  hard  handling,  were  a  little  sour. 

Cold  Cfrnpery.— B.  Ajors,  Rock  Spring. 
The  interior  is  usually  painted  white,  but  in  this  country 
there  is  no  objection  to  coloring  them  any  pleasant  tint. 
Light  stone  color  makes  a  good  contrast  with  the  foliage. 

Croton    Point    Isabellas.    -  Dr.  1!.  T. 

Underbill  sent  us  some  very  large  Isabella  grapes,  rath- 
er laiger  than  usual  even  from  his  vineyards,  but  hardly 
as  sweet  as  In  some  previous  years.  The  uncertainty 
of  this  variety  in  many  localities,  and  its  inferiority  in  fla- 
vor to  some  of  the  newer  grapes,  are  not  in  its  favor, 
though  Dr.  U.  is  still  successful  in  supplying  a  very  large 
amount  of  grapes  to  a  multitude  of  persons  in  New-York 
who  would  otherwise  be  unable,  as  yet,  to  eai  grapes  at 
ail.  Some  assert  that  his  example  has  retarded  grape 
culture  generally,  as  so  many  have  been  led  by  it  to  go 
largely  into  the  culture  of  the  Isabella,  with  poor  results. 
On  the  contrary,  we  suspect  the  noise  made  about  his 
grapes,  and  the  reported  profit  of  his  vineyards,  have 
done  much  to  awaken  an  interest  on  the  subject,  and  if 
this  leads  to  a  larger  culture  of  better  varieties  than  the 
Isabella,  good  will  come  of  it. 

What  (jirapes  lo  Plant.— "Onoudaga" 
asks  for  a  list  of  twelve  sorts  for  family  use.  We  do  not 
know  of  that  number  of  good  grapes  which  have  been 
sufficiently  tested  to  warrant  a  general  recommendation. 
The  list  given  on  page  325  (Nov.)  includes  seven  sorts, 
and  some  of  these  arc  put  in  as  only  promising  well.  If 
disposed  Lo  experiment,  we  shuuld  add  To  Kalon,  Anna, 
Edinburgh,  and  test  the  newly-introduced  Iona,  Israelis, 
and  Adiiundac.  Unless  one  wishes  to  buy  experience,  it 
is  best  to  plant  only  a  few  sorts  which  have  been 
thoroughly  tested.  Hartford  Prolific,  Concord,  and  Dela- 
ware, will  make  a  long  season,  and  are  reliable.  When 
w  ■  know  more  of  the C reveling,  we  may  be  able  la  put 
it  in"place  of  the  Hartford.  It  promises  well,  but  has 
yet  lo  stand  the  test  of  extended  cultivation. 

««ra|M>   lor  Canada. — K.   M.   Gooduntn, 

Ohama.  The  Delaware,  the  best  of  our  native  grapes,  is 
hardy  where  any  grape  will  grow.  The  Clinton,  only  a 
fair  quality,  is  also  hardy.  The  Oporto  is  not  a  good 
table  grape,  and  is  less  suited  lo  high  latitudes  than  these. 

*'  taper  Xree»7' — A  lady  at  Hampden,  Me., 

says  she  has  a  caper  tree,  and  wishes  to  know  how  to 
make  pickles  of  the  seeds.  The  true  caper  is  a  shrub, 
and  is  not  hardy  in  this  country.  Tne  imported  capers 
are  the  unexpended  flower-buds,  and  not  the  seeds.  We 
cannot  guess  what  the  tree  can  bo. 

Hawthorn  Hedges.- Charles  Elliott  will 
find  a  portion  of  his  questions  answered  in  another  Hern. 
The  plants  are  set  at  a  distance  of  li  inches  if  in  one  row  ; 
or  a  foot  apart  if  in  two  rows,  and  the  plants  alternating, 
i.e.,  those  in  one  row  set  opposite  the  spaces  in  the  other, 

Oregon  fttatv  Pair. — Many  Eastern  peo- 
ple, who  remember  how  recenllv  the  Flathead  Indians 
came  from  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  search  of  the 
Wltite  man's  Bible,  can  hardly  appreciate  the  fact  that 
Oregon  is  already  a  flourishing  State,  with  all  the  insti- 
tutions of  the  older  States  in  full  operation.  The  Pacific 
Christian  Advocate,  published  at  Portland,  reports  the 
Oregon  Stale  Fair  as  a  "fixed  fact,"  the  one  this  year 
exceeding  any  of  its  predecessors.  There  was  the  usual 
display  of  agricultural  and  horticultural  products,  of 
manufactures,  household  articles,  etc.,  and  (he  modern 
Inevitable  "agricultural"  horse-racing.  A  yearling  heifer, 
and  a  two-year-old  bull,  of  the  Durham  breed,  indicate 
that  blooded  animals  are  not  overlooked.  The  Fair 
tasted  five  days,  and  was  visited  by  about  10,000  persons  ! 
Military  companies,  and  bands  of  music  were  present  in 
large  force,  and  were  a  marked  feature  nf  the  occasion. 
The  Advocate  mentions  one  note-worthy  fact,  viz.,  "the 
order  observed  was  excellent;  we  did  not  see  a  single 
drunken  person,  and  heard  but  a  single  oath,  though  we 
mingled  freely  among  the  multitude  present." We  bid 


our  distant  friends  good-speed  in  their  efforts  to  improve 
the  agriculture  of  Ihe  new  State,  and  we  hope  the  many 
hundreds  of  copies  of  the  Agriculturist  they  now  re- 
ceive, increased  to  as  many  thousand*,  will  be  found  an 
efficient  aid  in  the  work. 

Measurement    of  a   Ton   of  May.— 

This  is  one  of  those  things  which  are  entirely  indefinite. 
No  man  can  tell  how  much  space  a  ton  of  hay  will  oc- 
cupy in  a  mow  or  stack.  II  depends  upon  the  dryness  of 
the  hay,  its  age,  Ihe  bight  of  the  mow,  whether  it  has 
been  trodden,  either  at  Ihe  lime  il  was  placed  in  the  mow 
or  afterward,  whether  the  hav  has  been  disturbed  or  not 
since  haying  lime,  and  what  kind  <>/  liny  it  ii,  A  ton  at 
the  top  of  a  stack  will  measure  more  than  one  at  the 
base.  In  a  mow  30  feet  high-  carried  up  square  to  the 
top,  the  average  will  be  about  100  cubic  feet  to  a  Ion- 
more  at  top,  less  at  bottom.     (See    May  Agriculturist.) 

Prairie  NeeUIia^-  Potato*— W.  S.  Car- 
penter, of  Westchester  Co.,  N.  V-,  has  sent  us  speci- 
mens of  this  potato,  which  is  a  new  variety  to  this  neigh- 
borhood. He  says  that  the  yield  is  300  bushels  to  the  acre. 
The  potato  is  of  good  size,  and  quality  excellent. 


Slug's  on  Potatoes. — Mrs.  Babcock,  Hamp- 
den, Me.  The  slug  which  infests  your  potatoes  is  not 
recognized  from  Ihe  description,  and  we  can  only  suggest 
hand-picking,  or  the  aid  of  a  brood  of  ducks  or   turkeys. 

Tan  ISark  as  a  Manure.— iD.  W.  Kins- 
man, Cheshire  Co.,  N.  H.  On  account  of  the  difficulty 
uilh  which  this  is  decomposed,  it  is  not  highly  prized 
as  a  manure;  it  may  be  decomposed  hy  composting  with 
lime.  lis  chief  value  isas  a  mulch,  for  which  it  Is  ap- 
plied around  the  roots  of  fruit-trees,  bushes,  and  vines. 

Fish,  etc.,  on  I>ry  Lan<lL  —  "  Subscri- 
ber," asks  how  fish,  frogs,  etc.,  crime  to  be  found  on  bind, 
as  occasionally  happens.  Usually  they  arc  drawn  up  by 
a  whirlwind)  and  fall  when  the  wind  subsides.  Some- 
times a  single,  one,  "alive  and  kicking"  like  the  one  de- 
scribed in  his  note,  is  dropped  by  some  bird  of  prey. 
They  do  not  ''generate  spontaneously"  in    the  clouds. 


Sc\of  JBg^s. — A  "friend  of  tlie  Agriculturist" 
writes  from  Blue  Point,  that  when  he  wishes  a  brood  of 
males  he  selects  the  longest  eggs  he  can  find,  and  if  fe- 
males are  desired,  the  roundest  ones  are  chosen.  He 
says  that  he  never  knew  this  lo  fail. 

Cheap  Sewing*  iVIaeliiiie  "Agencies." 

— Give  them  all  a  "  wide  berth." — "We  have  investigated 
some  half  a  dozen  and  not  yel  found  one  to  which  we 
would  entrust  a  dollar.  Some  offer  a  great  discount 
after  ihe  first  machine  is  paid  for  at  full  price.  A  good 
many  have  written  us  that  after  sending  $5,  §10  or  $15  to 
some  out-of-the-way  New  England  town  for  a  "sample," 
they  could  never  get  any  response  of  any  kind.  One  man 
ordered  a  sample  machine  to  be  paid  on  delivery,  but  the 
strict  orders  to  the  express  man  were  to  "  C.  O.  D." 
(collect  on  delivery,)  and  so  he  paid  $10,  and  $3  more  for 
charges,  and  when  opened,  the  machine  was  not  worth 
a  dollar— even  for  scrap  iron,  and  no  answer  can  be  got 
to    his  complaints.      That's   the  way  the  thing   works. 


Himilui"     Mi nin-    Companies.— Just 

now  the  country  is  flooded  with  sundry  "Mining  Com- 
pany" enterprises  nominally  located,  or  to  be  located  on 
the  Pacific  Coast,  but  of  which  ihe  real  and  only  location 
is  in  some  3d,  or  5ih  story  in  Philadelphia,  New-York, 
Boston,  or  Cincinnati.  Very  attractive  are  some  of  the 
schemes,  circulars,  blank  "Certificates  of  Shares,"  etc. 
Post  Masters  are  especially  solicited  to  act  as  agents  and 
offered  large  inducements.  Two  or  three  dollars  of  your 
money  will  buy  a  share  that  will  very  soon  be  worth 
$5000  to  $10,000,— all  in  gold  !  We  should  like  to  make 
a  few  such  investments  if  we  could,  but  "we  don't  see 
it."  We  have  one  of  the  most  taking  of  these  concerns 
in  tow,  whose  operations  we  shall  be  abtc  to  show  up  In 
full  by  next  month.  In  the  mean  time,  if  any  reader  will 
find  one  of  these  Eastern  Mining  Companies,  advertised 
by  circulars,  which  is  at  all  trustworthy,  we  will  pay  a 
large  premium  for  a  chance  in  the  enterprise. 


The  Wine  Plant  Humbug  is  still  car- 
ried on  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  as  we  learn  from 
several  letters.  For  example,  Mr.  B.  F.  Brown  writes 
from  Dane  Co.,  Wisconsin,  November  8,  that  "  an  agent  is 
there  selling  Linnfens  Rhubarb  at  $37  50  per  100  plants 
— many  of  them  noi  the  size  and  length  of  ;i  man's  little 
finger— telling  people  that  they  can  make  IV  gallons  of 
wine  from  each  plant  next  season,  which  will  sell  readily 
for  $2  a  gallon  ;  that  government  agents  are  contracting 
for  all  they  can  at  this  time,  etc."  This  is  sheer  lying 
and  swindling.  Neither  government  agents,  nor  any 
body  else  is  doing,  or  will  do  any  such  thing.  A  plant  set 
now,  will  not  make  \}i  pints  even  of  what  is  called  wine, 


next  season.  Reliable  men.  King  and  Murray  of  Flush 
ing,  and  others  have  Ibis  year  advertised  in  the  AffrtcuU 
turist,  good  Linnaeus  Rhubarb  roots  at  $18  to  $'J5  pel 
thousand  (only  $1.80  to  $2?a  per  ItHJ.j  Our  previous  no- 
tice of  this  matter  has  probably  put  upon  their  guard  all 
our  readers  except  those  subscribing  recently.  Don't 
believe  the  stories  told,  nor  trust  the  samples  of  real  oi 
pretended  wine  shown.  Lastly,  try  to  get  the  Agricul- 
turist into  the  hands  of  the  multitude  of  farmers  who 
are  being  constantly  swindled  hy  the  thousand  and  one 
humbugs.    It  will  save  them  much  money. 

Blar  99octor£. — It*  we  had  a  child  or  friend 
who  had  any  trouble  in  the  hearing  apparatus,  we  would 
consult  a  regular  physician,  not  those  advei  Using  ;  oi  go 
to  Dr.  Geo.  Wilkes,  (who  don't  advertise,}  sine  lhal  hi 
would  riot  charge  $50  to  $500  for  telling  thai  there  was  a 
little  wax  in  the  ear,  and  how  to  wash  it  out;  nor  hold 
on  to  Ihe  patient  (as  lung  as  he  has  any  money)  If  Ihe 
case  be  not  curable.  Dr.  W.  charges  $2  for  each  visit, 
we  believe.  His  office  is  at  2S  Laight-sl.  He  is  President 
of  the  New-York  Medical  and  Surgical  Society,  has 
business  enough,  and  will  doubtless  not  thank  us  for  Una 
public  notice  j  but  we  are  consulting  the  interests  of  our 
leaders,  and  not  his  personal  comfort.  We  have  not  seen 
him  in  several  years,  but  we  know  his  charactei  and 
skill.  This  notice  is  needed  now — we  have  just  refused 
an  $800  advertisement  of  an  ear  doctor. 

Philadelphia     Atuiubug**    in     tJaU= 

t'ot'uia.—  Our  old  college  "chum"  (Rer.  Jas.  Rogers) 
sends  us  from  Downieville,  Sierra  County,  in  the  Moun- 
tains of  California,  specimens  of  Humbug  circulars 
issued  in  Philadelphia,  that  have  been  scattered  even  lo 
that  distant  point.  One  of  these  sets  forth  a  sale  (said 
to  be  "  no  Gift  Enterprise  or  Lottery")  of  $700,000  worth 
of  Watches,  etc.,  valued  at  from  $o  to  $250,  all  to  be  sold 
at  $2£-  each.  The  other  is  nominally  from  the  next  door. 
In  the  same  street,  offering  a  beautifully  illustrated  Joui- 
nal  at  :$1  a  year,  and  a  gift  to  each  subscriber,  ranging  in 
value  from  $1  to  $100.  We  hope  these  circulars  shuw 
enough  on  their  face  to  put  people  on  their  guard,  yel 
somebody  must  patronize  the  operators,  or  they  would 
not  continue  swindling.  As  the  new  law  allows  two  oi 
three  circulars  under  one  envelope,  the  operators  now 
generally  send  out  their  schemes  in  pairs,  or  triplets, 
under  different  names,  hoping  that  if  one  bait  does  nol 
take  another  will. 

To  Remove  Coal  Oil    l'roni  Cloth.— 

"  S.  B.,"  of  Ontario,  Ind.  Benzine,  now  very  cheap  and 
largely  used  in  painting  as  a  substitute  for  turpentine, 
will  remove  this  and  similar  stains.  In  cleaning  clothing 
it  should  be  laid  on  a  cloth  folded  to  form  a  thick  pad,  oi 
upon  absorbent  paper,  so  that  the  benzine  which  has  de- 
volved the  greasy  matter  will  be  soaked  up.  The  spul 
should  be  treated  thus  several  times  until  it  is  thoroughly 
washed  out.  Merely  rubbing  the  oiled  place  wifh  a 
little  of  the  liquid   only  spreads  it. 


Why  the  P.  O^  Address  in  not  grav- 
en*— .V  correspondent  thinks  it  very  provoking  that 
we  generally  only  give  the  County  residence  of  those 
contributing  or  making  queries  in  the  Agriculturist. 
One  of  the  principal  reasons  for  doing  this  is,  that  we 
may  save  our  readers  from  annoying  correspondence. 
When  it  is  published  that  a  person  has  some  new  or  rare 
plant  or  other  thing,  he  is  immediately  besieged  by  a  host 
of  applicants  for  cuttings,  seeds,  etc.,  and  we  are  often 
requested,  on  this  account,  not  to  use  names  at  all. 
Swindlers  also  seize  upon  all  such  names.  One  lady 
whose  full  name  and  P.  O.  address  we  happened  to  give, 
received  57  circulars  within  three  weeks  after. 

Pickle*  for  Heet".  etc.— E.  Montgomery, 
of  Clay  Co.,  Ind.,  sends  the  following  recipe  for  200  lbs., 
of  beef:  "  Cut  your  beef  in  small  pieces  and  pack  il  in 
a  clean,  tight  cask.  Take  7  pounds  of  salt ,%  pound  of 
saltpetre,  1  pint  of  molasses;  put  in  a  pot  with  water 
enough  to  cover  the  beef,  and  boil,  skimming  ;  when  cold, 
pour  it  over  (he  beef  and  put  on  a  weight  to  keep  the  beef 
under  the  brine."  He  says  he  has  eaten  beefsteaks  in 
May  thus  preserved  all  Winter. 

An  Kxeellent  Meat  Pickle  lor  <*<n- 

cral  Use.— To  2  gallons  of  water  add  3  lbs.  salt,  1  lb. 
sugar,  1  oz.  saltpetre,  1  oz.  potash,  boil,  skim,  and  when 
cold,  pour  over  the  meat,  which  should  have  been  killed 
two  or  three  days.  The  amount  of  salt  needs  to  be  in- 
creased if  it  he  desired  to  keep  the  meat  into  or  through 
the  Summer,  or  if  the  meal  be  packed  in  Spring.  This  is 
excellent  for  her f  for  boiling,  dried  beef,  tongues,  hams, 
shoulders,  or   mutton   ham1:. 

Cleansing    Olu    Pork     Itarrels.  —  A 

subscriber,  in  Monroe  Co.,  Wis.,  recommends,  "  Afier 
scrubbing,  to  turn  the  barrels  open  end  down,  and  kefp 
a  moderate  smoke  under  them  for  half  or  a  whole  day,' 


360 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


December 


Straw  Valuable  for  Feeding. 


5.0 
13.3 
63.1 

4.6 


The  following  statements,  condensed  from  a 
report  on  the  above  topic  by  Dr.  Charles  C. 
Cameron,  to  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  of 
Ireland,  are  valuable  as  giving  light  on  a  sub- 
ject which  needs  further  experimental  investi- 
gation. Dr.  Cameron  concludes  that,  pound  for 
pound,  the  least  nutritious  kind  of  straw  equals 
the  best  varieties  of  turnips,  in  its  amount 
of  flesh-forming  principles,  and  greatly  ex- 
ceeds them  in  its  proportion  of  fat-forming  ele- 
ments. He  says  that  straw  is  more  valuable 
when  it  is  cut  in  the  just  ripe  state,  than  when 
it  is  permitted  to  over-ripen,  and  that  green 
straw  contains  a  far  greater  amount  of  nutri- 
ment than  is  found  in  it  even  when  just  ripe. 
The  different  kinds  of  straw  are  thus  ranked 
in  the  order  of  their  value :  1.  Pea  haulm ;  2. 
Oat  straw ;  3.  Bean  stalks  with  the  pods ;  4. 
Barley  straw ;  5.  Wheat  straw ;  6.  Bean  stalks 
without  the  pods.  The  following  table  shows  the 
value  of  Oat  straw  compared  with  Meadow  hay  : 

In  100 parts  of Meadow  Half.     Oat  Straw. 

Water 14.61  14.0 

Flesh-forming  constituents    8.44 

Respiratory  and  fatty  matters 43.63 

Wooily  fibre   27.16 

Mineral  matter,  (ash,) 6.16 

In  comparing  good  Oat  straw  with  common 
white  Turnips,  the  latter  were  found  to  contain 
but  little  more  than  1  per  cent,  of  flesh-forming 
constituents,  and  less  than  5  per  cent,  of  fat- 
formers  ;  while  the  straw  has  about  4  per  cent, 
of  flesh-formers  and  13  per  cent,  of  fat-formers. 
As  to  the  woody  fibre  of  hay  and  straw, 
experiments  made  in  1859  by  two  German 
chemists,  Stockhardt  and  Sussdorf,  prove  that 
cellulose,  or  the  substance  in  plants  of  which 
woody  fibre  is  formed,  is  capable  of  being  as- 
similated by  sheep  and  other  ruminant  animals. 
They  selected  two  wethers  and  fed  them — 1st,' 
upon  hay  alone  ;  2nd,  upon  hay  and  rye  straw ; 
3rd,  upon  hay  and  the  sawdust  of  Poplar  wood 
which  had  been  exhausted  of  soluble  matters 
with  lye,  with  a  little  bran  and  salt  added  to 
make  it  palatable;  4th,  with  hay  and  Pine- 
wood  sawdust,  bran,  and  salt ;  5th,  Spruce  saw- 
dust, bran,  and  salt;  6th,  hay,  pulp  of  linen 
rags  (from  the  paper-maker,)  and  bran.  The 
experiments  were  carried  on  from  July  to  No- 
vember, excepting  a  short  time  during  which 
the  sheep  were  pastured  to  recover  from  the 
injurious  effects  of  the  fifth  experiment.  The 
animals  and  their  food,  drink,  and  excrements, 
were  weighed  daily.  The  amount  of  cellulose 
in  the  food  was  determined,  and  also  the  pro- 
portion in  the  excrements.  In  this  way  it 
was  ascertained  that  from  GO  to  70  per  cent,  of 
the  cellulose  of  hay,  40  to  60  per  cent,  of  that 
substance  in  straw,  45  to  50  per  cent,  in  Poplar 
wood,  30  to  40  per  cent,  in  Pine  wood,  and 
80  per  cent,  in  the  paper  pulp,  was  digested. 
To  render  a  larger  portion  of  cellulose  di- 
gestible, Dr.  Cameron  recommends  cooking 
straw.  When  consumed  in  an  unprepared  state, 
most  of  its  cellulose  remains  unappropriated. 
He  advises  to  chaff  (cut  short)  the  straw,  steam  it 
and  mix  it  with  roots  and  oil-cake  or  grain ;  or 
mix  it  with  sliced  roots,  moisten  with  water,  and 
keep  it  until  a  slight  fermentation  sets  in.  Expe- 
rienced feeders  in  England  have  found  that 
dairy  cows  in  Winter,  if  fed  on  large  quantities 
of  roots,  particularly  Mangels  and  Carrots,  will 
eat  but  little  straw  and  become  very  lean  ;  but 
that  they  will  always  eat  a  full  portion  of 
sweet,  well-harvested  straw,  when  they  get  a 
moderate  allowance  of  roots— say  15  lbs.  of 
mangels  three  times  per  day.  Those  who  have 
roots   can  easily  experiment  in  this  direction, 


and  perhaps  arrive  at  conclusions  profitable  to 
themselves  and  to  the  whole  community.  We 
should  be  pleased  to  record  their  results  in 
the  American  Agriculturist. 


Northern    Sugar  —  Sorghum    and   Beets. 

9 

Many  farmers  may  be  discouraged  by  lack 
of  success  with  the  Sorghum  this  year,  and  so 
give  it  up  as  a  farm  crop.     In  this  they  will  err. 
Corn  has  suffered  equally  by  frost  and  drouth. 
It  has  been  abundantly  proved  that  an  excellent 
syrup  may  be  very  economically  obtained  from 
the  Chinese  sugar  cane,  and  from  several  of  the 
varieties  of  the  Imphee  or  African  cane.     It  is 
most  conveniently  and  cheaply  produced,  when 
the  operations  of  expressing,  concentrating,  and 
clarifying  the  juice  are  conducted  on  a  larger 
scale  than  most  farmers  would  like  to  manage. 
So  it  has  come  to   pass,  that  throughout  the 
country,    establishments    have    been    erected, 
each  capable  of  making  several   thousands  of 
gallons  of  syrup.    Many  of  these  have  this  year 
stood  comparatively  idle,  and  the  fear  is  that 
farmers  will  not  contract  to  plant  another  season. 
The  production   of  beet  sugar  is  now  in  its 
very  infancy  in  this  country — not  a  pound  has 
ever  been  in  the  market,  and  yet  we  anticipate 
for  it  a  great  future.    It  is  already  demonstrated 
that  the  sugar  beets  will  grow  upon  the  prairies 
and  in  Ohio,  standing  such  drouths  as  that  of 
the  past  season,  and  still  maturing  what  would 
be  considered  good  crops  in  Europe,  and  very 
rich  in  sugar.     This  sugar  we  surely  can  extract 
as  well  as  the  people  of  France  and  Germany. 
It  requires  a  good  deal  of  capital,  expensive 
apparatus,  in  fiict  a  large  establishment.     No 
syrup  is  produced — the  micrystallizable  sugar  is 
inseparably  mixed  with  substances  of  offensive 
flavor,  and  is  therefore  fit  only  for  distillation. 
Up  to  the  present  time  sugar  has  not  been  pro- 
duced from  the  Sorghum  in  sufficient  quantity 
to    appear   as  such   in    market,  but  syrup   is, 
and  we  suspect  will  be,  the  only  product.  These 
two  industries,    Sorghum   culture    and    Sugar 
Beet  culture,  do  not  directly  interfere,  except  so 
far  as  they  both  supply  sweets. 

The  question  whether  cane  sugar  exists  at  all 
in  the  juice  of  the  Sorghum  is  answered  affirma- 
tively by  Mr.  Wetherill,  chemist  to  the  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture.  Still  this  gentleman  after 
a  labored  discussion  of  the  subject  fails  to  make 
clear  distinctions  between  grape-sugar  and  fruit- 
sugar.  He  acknowledges  his  own  inability  to 
prepare  or  procure  pure  grape-sugar,  and  fails  to 
show  the  economic  value  of  the  syrup,  contain- 
ing as  he  asserts,  a  mixture  of  the  two ;  for  while 
the  grape-sugar  is  not  more  than  half  so  sweet 
as  cane-sugar,  the  fruit-sugar  is  equally  sweet. 
Experiments  conducted  on  a  large  scale  to 
prove  several  questions  in  regard  to  the  Sor- 
ghum are  now  in  progress,  which  we  antici- 
pate will  at  least  settle  the  question  whether 
any  marketable  cane-sugar  can  be  produced. 
For  feeding,  the  beet  refuse  forms  one  of  the 
most  valuable  products — in  fact  the  extraction  of 
the  sugar  does  not  apparently  reduce  the  value 
of  the  crop  for  cattle  feed  at  all. 


Talks  at  the   Fruit   Growers'  Meetings. 

These  meetings  have  been  interesting  of  late.  Pears 
and  grapes  have  occupied  considerable  attention — the 
different  varieties,  methods  of  cultivating,  and  training. 
The  grape,  particularly,  is  exciting  much  Interest  just 
now,  and  the  question  at  a  recent  meeting  was:  "  What 
Grapes  shall  we   plant  by  the  acre  ?" 

Sir.  Fuller  said  lie  had  little  hopes  of  the  new  seedlings 
sold  at  high  prices,    lie  would  as  yet  trust  only  two,  on 


an  extensive  scale,  viz.:  the  Concord  and  Delaware     He 
«  as  very  severe  on  parties  who  had  sent  out  some  of  the 
late  seedlings,  which  they  well   knew,  or  should   know 
would  prove  failures.    This  had  a  damaging  effect  on  the 
cause    by  discouraging  parlies  from  trying  sorts  which 
would   succeed.     The   Concord   may  safely  be   planted 
largely,  for  if  something  better  is  found  after  a  few  years 
the  Concord   vines  may  be  then    dug  up    and    thrown 
away,  and  they  will  have  abundantly  paid  for  themselves. 
Mr.  Judd  endorsed  the  Concord,  which  if  pitched  into  a 
man's  lot  would  be   likely  to  take  root  and   grow,  while 
the  weak  growing  newer  sorts  would  soon  die  with  the 
care,  or  lather  the  lack  of  care,  they  would  receive  at  the 
hands  of  most  farmers.— He  would  have  the  Delaware, 
the  Allen's  Hybrid,  the  Creveling,  and  other  new  promts 
ing  sorts  pushed  forward  as  experiments,  and  tu  supply 
smaller  Quantities  of  choice  grapes,  but  for  the  million, 
he  would  place  the  Concord  as  one  of  the  first. 

Mr.  W.  s.  Carpenter  took  the  ground  that  we  must  ed- 
ucate the  taste  of  growers  and  consumers,  until  the  fuxy 
sorts  would  not  be  relished  by  them.  He  thought  the  Con- 
cord would  soon  be  discarded  for  the  finer  flavored  Del- 
aware, lona,  Adirondac,  etc.— persons  that  would  take 
no  care  of  vines  did  not  deserve  to  have  grapes. 

Mr.  Fuller  formerly  had  some  faith  in  the  Diana,  but 
owing  to  imperfect  ripening,  will  dig  mostof  his  up  ;  has 
hopes  of  Creveling,  but  wants  to  see  100  vines  in  bearing, 
before  endorsing  it— Concords  can  be  grown  for  5c.  per  lb.' 
R.  L.  Williams,  of  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y.,  had  travelled 
pretty  extensively  over  the  grape  regions  of  this  Stale, 
and  especially  through  the  vineyards  of  Naples  and  vicin- 
ity, where  there  are  from  50  to  100  acres  of  bearing  vines, 
mostly  Isabellas,  with  some  Catawbas.  They  raise  these 
sorts  because  the  vines  are  cheap,  are  easily  grown,  and 
the  grapes  sell  well  in  market,  some  of  them  unripe  it  is 
true,  but  they  bring  paying  prices.  The  Catawba  ripens 
better  than  Isabella  in  that  vicinity,  and  is  really  a  good 
grape;  the  Isabella  is  hard  and  sour.  All  grapes  do  bet- 
ter away  from  the  coast;  a  limestone  formation  is  best. 
Mr.  Fuller  did  not  want  to  see  a  grapevine  shed  its 
leaves  early,  as  his  Adirondac  did  by  the  first  of  Septem- 
ber ;  leaves  are  necessary  to  ripen  wood  and  perfect 
fruit.  If  the  Adirondac  will  only  hold  its  leaf,  it  will  take 
rank  among  the  good  grapes,  though  it  has  no  very  mark- 
ed flavor  to  please  any  taste. 

E.  Williams  saw  some  rot  and  mildew  among  his  Con- 
cords, in  New-Jersey.  Dianas  were  also  affected— the 
only  sorts  entirely  free,  wereCIinton  and  Hartford  Prolific. 
Wm.  Clark,  of  Northampton,  Mass.,  showed  fine  Con- 
cords grown  under  glass,  where  they  had  hung  a  month 
after  ripening.  They  matured  several  weeks  earlier  than 
the  same  sort  out  of  doors. 

Dr.  Ward  thinks  the  Concord  improves  each  year.  A 
strong  vigorous  grower,  it  resists  deleterious  influences 
around  it,   to  which  the  Isabella  gradually  yields. 

The  Pear  claimed  a  large  share  of  attention  at  some 
of  the  meetings.  Dr.  Ward  showed  Beurre  Superfine, 
which  he  esteems  as  a  pear  of  high  flavor.  The  tree  is  a 
thrifty,  vigorous  glower,  and  bears  well.  It  should  form 
one  of  six  varieties  for  market.  He  shall  cultivate  it  ex- 
tensively—fruit hangs  on  well,  even  after  the  foliage  has 
gone.  In  response  to  the  inquiry  what  manure  was  best 
for  the  pear,  Dr.  Ward  says  he  uses  all  kinds,  and  nothing 
comes  amiss,  but  prefers  barn-yard  manure,  unfermented, 
applied  to  the  surface  in  November— would  give  a  tree 
two  or  three  wheel-barrow  loads. 

Mr.  Carpenter  spoke  of  the  Sheldon,  as  one  of  the 
very  best  sorts  either  for  the  amateur  or  for  market.  If 
he  had  but  one  sort,  it  should  be  the  Sheldon,  grown  on 
the  pear  stock.  Beurre  d'Anjou  was  a  very  fine  pear, 
worthy  of  more  extensive  culture,  is  a  strong  grower, 
good  and  early  bearer.  He  is  planting  a  new  pear  or- 
chard, one  fourth  Beurre  d'Anjou,  one  third  Sheldon. 
Mr.  Field  endorses  Beurre  d'Anjou  and  Sheldon,  but 
were  he  to  plant  a  pear  orchard,  he  wouid  set  it  wholly  to 
dwarf  Vicars,  and  then  bud  or  graft  in  the  branches,  to 
secure  strong  uniform  growth.  If  a  variety  of  sorts  be  set 
out,  the  orchard  soon  presents  a  very  uneven  appearance. 
Dr.  Ward  replied  to  the  inquiry,  how  to  plant  pear 
trees,  that  he  trenclied,  or  subsoiled  his  ground,  and  then 
dug  large  holes  two^eet  deep,  filled  up  one  foot  with  in- 
verted grass  sods,  trampled  solid,  covered  with  loam  and 
set  the  tree  in  this,  filling  in  and  sifting  the  fine  earth 
carefully  among  the  fibres,  and  spread  a  mixture  of  muck, 
lime,  charcoal,  and  decayed  manure  over  the  whole. 
Dr.  Trimble  likes  the  Beurre  Clairgeau  for  its  thriftiness. 
It  seems  to  rejuvenate  weak  sorts  when  grafted  on  Ihem. 
Dr.  War  I  endoises  its  growing  qualities,  the  grafts  al- 
ways bear  the  year  they  are  set,  when  pul  in   old  trees.  ' 

Mr.  Carpenter  says  it  is  too  great  a  bearer,  and  the  fruit 
should  be  thinned— does  not  do  well  on  quince,  spoke  of 
the  premature  ripening  of  pears  and  other  fruit,  owing 
to  the  drouth  in  Summer  and  Autumn— finds  fruit  does 
not   keep  as  well  on  young  as  old  trees. 

Dr.  Ward  had  observed  the  same  thing.  He  had  al- 
ready (Oct.  26,)  picked  his  Winter  pears,  including  Law- 
rence, which  he   usually  left  on  the  trees  much  later. 


1863.J 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


361 


A  Country  Dwelling   of   Medium   Size-  I 

So  much  of  the  comfort  of  life  depends  upon 
the  arrangement  and  conveniences  of  one's 
dwelling,  that  we  purpose  devoting  a  little  more 
attention  to  this  department  of  the  Agriculturist, 
now  that  we  have  more  editorial  aid.  A  differ- 
ent arrangement  of  rooms,  closets,  etc.,  may 
make  a  vast  difference  in  the  convenience  and 
utility  of  two  dwellings  erected  at  the  same  cost. 
Perhaps  the  best  way  to 
draw  out  information  is  to 
solicit  plans,  liinls,  and  sug- 
_  gestions,  from  our  readers. 
We  present  herewith  the 
essential  portions  of  a  very 
neat  colored  sketch  of  his 
own  dwelling,  furnished  us 
by  "Jack  Plane,"  of  Bur- 
lington, Iowa.  This  house 
he  has  occupied  a  3'ear,  and 
says  he  has  no  fault  to  find 
with  it.  (It  is  almost  exact- 
ly like  a  village  dwelling 
we  boarded  at,  when  at 
school  many  years  ago,  so 
we  are  pretty  well  acquaint- 
ed with  it.)  The  engraved 
plans  show  at  a  glance,  the 
general  internal  arrange- 
ment, and  the  figures  give 
the  dimensions  of  the  rooms. 
The  cellar  is  under  the 
whole  house,  as  it  should 
always  be,  and  is  6i  feet 
high  in  the  clear  (which  is  too  low  for  conveni- 
ence). The  first  story  is  9  feet  in  the  clear,  and 
the  second  story  8  feet.  The  rear  part  is  9  inch- 
es lower  than  the  front  or  main  building,  to  let 
the  roof  come  clear  of  the  chamber  windows. 
A  second  cellar  stairs  leads  from  the  dining 
room,  under  the  hall  stairs.  Cost  about  $1500 
Remabks. — "While  the  general  plan  seems  to 
be  a  good  one,  there  are  some  defects  that  might 
perhaps  be  remedied  by  a  different  arrangement. 
The  dining  room  is  of  course  used  as  the  gen- 
eral living  room,  and  the  'living  room'  kept  more 


Fig.    3. — SECTION 
STORIES. 


choice,  especially  if  there  are  chil- 
dren to  mar  the  furniture.  There 
is  not  enough  closet  or  pantry  room 
on  the  first  floor.  This  point  we 
consider  an  essential  one  in  every 
dwelling.  There  are  a  hundred 
articles  in  every  family  that  come 
into  almost  daily  use,  and  labor, 
steps,  and  time  should  be  saved  by 
having  closet  and  shelf  room  for 
all  such  articles  on  the  living  floor. 
Books  and  papers  may  be  kept  in 
furniture  cases  standing  in  the  main 
rooms,  and  the  better  hats  and 
overcoats  may  be  placed  on  a  rack 
behind  the  hall  door,  if  there  be 
room;  but  we  would  always  rec- 
ommend a  spacious  closet  in  or 
adjoining  every  living  room,  where 
common  overcoats,  cloaks,  hats, 
etc.,  may  be  kept  conveniently  at 
hand — otherwise  the  chairs,  table, 
or  mantel-shelf  will  be  constantly 
called  into  requisition. — The  main 
closet  in  this  plan  can  only  be 
reached  by  going  through  the  bed- 
room, where  perchance  a  sick  per- 
son may  be  disturbed. — The  bath- 
room is  so  located  as  to  be  inac- 
cessible to  persons  in  the  chamber, 
without  passing  through  the  whole  house, 
including  the  kitchen,  and  also  through  the 
open  porch.    Should  not  the  sink  be  on  the 


PLAN  OF  FLBST  6T0BY 


right  hand  of  the  pantry,  next  the  bath-room, 
instead  of  on  the  left,  or  rather  should  it  not 
be  in  the  kitchen  ?   The  dishes,  if  washed  iu  the 


sink,  must  be  carried  from  the  dining  room 
through  two  doors,  and  then  back  through  three 
to  get  them  into  the  china  closet  1    These  are 


Fig.  4. — r-LAN   OF   SECOND   STORT. 

minor  items,  but  everything  that  saves  steps 
saves  lime  and  labor.     Dishes  are  to  be  used 

1095  times  a   year. -There  is  hardly  closet 

room  enough  in  the  second  story.  One  or  two 
dresses  of  modern  style  will  fill  a  small  closet, 
and  can  hardly  be  put  into  a  wardrobe  standing 
in  a  room.  Perhaps  the  G.\7  room  over  the  hall 
may  answer  for  general  storage.  If  this  room 
be  used  as  a  bedroom  it  would  often  be  convenient 
to  have  it  connected  with  the  front  chamber  by 
a  door.  There  is,  however,  one  closet  not 
shown,  under  the  attic  stairs.  This  may  be  ex- 
tended 9  or  10  feet,  or  more,  and  if  needed  take 
one  foot  from  the  other  room  to  be  added  to 
this  one.  These  remarks  are  merely  offered  as 
general  hints  to  help  others  in  planning.  We 
shall  give  other  plans  and  hints  from  time  to  lime. 


Query  About  Prairie  Dwellings- 


In  traveling  thousands  of  miles  through  the 
West,  during  the  past  season,  we  could  but  no- 
tice that  nearly  all  the  dwellings  are  construct- 
ed a  scant  story  and  a  half  high,  the  first  story 
8  to  9  feet  high,  and  the  second  only  3  to  5  feel, 
at  the  eaves.  Now  it  requires  just  as  much  cel- 
lar, flooring,  roofing,  framing,  etc.,  for  such  a 
house,  as  for  a  full  two-story  one,  having  high 
convenient  rooms  above,  with  attic  room  also. 
The  only  difference  in  the  cost  is  for  a  strip  of 
3  feetall  around,  requiring  merely  a  little  logger 
posts,  a  few  more  boards  for  siding.,  -:.-d  a  s!!j,ht 
outlay  for  lath  and  plaster.  We  should  say  that 
for  the  ordinary  prairie  houses,  costing  $700  to 
$1200,  forty  to  sixty  dollars  more  would  be  all 
the  extra  cost  of  a  convenient  two-story  house, 
over  one  having  the  same  ground  space,  but 
only  14  or  14  stories  high.  A  little  figuring  will 
show  that  a  house  20  feet  square,  and  17  feet 
high  has  the  same  amount  of  walls,  a»  ..no  23 
feet  square,  and  only  14J-  feet  high,  while  the 
former  has  1G8  so  dare  fret  less  of  flooring,  and 
of  course  costs  less.  Q  -.ery. — Suppose  the  extra 
$40  to  $60  cost  can  not  be  added  to  the  23  feet 
square  hous- ,  to  run  it  up  2k  feet  higher,  would 
not  a  full  two  story  house  20  feet  square,  be 
preferable  to  one  22  feet  square,  and  only  1 J  sto- 
ries high  ? We  know  there  is  one  argument 

in  favor  of  low  houses  on  the  wind-swept  prair- 
ies, but  a  few  extra  braces  would  make  up  the 
extra  strain  of  two  or  three  feet  -more  in  higlit. 


362 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[December, 


Nepaul  Sarley— Large  Results- 

Three  years  ago  last  Spring,  Mr.  Isaac  "Wat- 
kins,  of  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  received  from  the 
office  of  the  American  Agriculturist  one  of  the 
little  seed  parcels  distributed  among  subscrib- 
ers, which  contained  a  sample  of  the  Nepaul 
Barley.  This  he  planted  in  the  garden  in  a 
3x4  feet  bed.  It  yielded  3k  quarts,  which 
was  sown  broadcast  in  the  field  the  next  Spring, 
but  the  cattle  destroyed  a  part,  so  that  be  only- 
got  about  i  bushel.  Last  year  the  1  bushel 
yielded  9  bushels,  weighing  71  lbs.  per  bushel. 
His  neighbors  were  so  desirous  of  getting  it, 
at  $5  per  bushel,  that  he  let  five  bushels  go  for 
$25.  The  remaining  four  bushels  he  sowed  this 
year  on  about  an  acre,  and  it  yielded  a  little  over 
40  bushels.  Mr.  W.  thinks  it  will  produce  fully 
a  quarter  more  per  acre  than  the  common  va- 
riety. (Mr.  Watkins  says,  this  is  only  one  of 
several  ways  in  which  he  has  been  more  than 
repaid  for  bis  investment  in  a  subscription  to 
the  American  Agriculturist.) 


Ice-Houses. 


The  views  of  both  practical  and  theoretical 
men  have  changed  much,  within  a  few  years, 
about  the  preservation  of  ice.  Why  ice  keeps 
ordinarily  better  above  ground  than  below,  is 
explained  in  sundry  ways:  the  fact  i.;  acknowl- 
edged. Why  ventilation  is  necessary  to  the  suc- 
cessful keeping  of  ice  in  small  quantities  has 
been  likewise  the  subject  of  many  learned  ex- 
planations which,  however,  do  not  well  agree. 
Still  it  is  a  fact.  In  keeping  large  quantities  of 
ice,  it  is  only  necessary  to  pack  it  in  a  compact 
mass  in  a  building  which  will  shield  it  from  the 
direct  influence  of  the  rains  and  sunshine,  fill- 
ing in  straw  or  sawdust  between  the  ice  and  the 
Walls,  or  having  the  building  double  walled, 
and  the  space  between  the  walls  filled  with  tan- 
bark,  sawdust,  or  similar  porous  and  non-con- 
ducting material.  The  ice-house  should  be  con- 
structed so  that  it  may  be  easily  filled,  and  the 
ice  easily  gotten  out,  bearing  in  mind  that  a 
mass  of  ice  melts  only  on  its  surface,  if  well 
packed.  It  is  desirable  to  have  a  double  roof; 
absolutely  necessary  to  have  perfect  drainage ; 
desirable  to  prevent  draughts  of  air  coming 
up  through  drains,  or  striking  the  ice  anywhere, 
and  absolutely  necessary  to  have  ventilation 
above  the  ice — that  is,  above  the  straw  or  saw- 
dust which  covers  it.  This  ventilation  ought 
not  to  be  a  draught  of  wind,  but  only  enough  to 
keep  the   air  from  becoming  close   and  damp. 

Farm  or  family  ice-houses  must  be  constructed 
on  the  same  principles,  but  the  amount  of  sur- 
face exposed  being  so  much  greater  in  propor- 
tion, it  is  much  harder  always  to  secure  the 
conditions  necessary  to  keep  the  ice  with  little 
loss  from  melting.  We  advise  no  one  to  build 
an  ice-house  that  may  not  contain  a  mass  of  ice 
10  feet  square,  and  at  least  8  feet  high.  12x12 
by  10  feet  high  is  a  good  size.  For  convenience 
in  filling,  the  house  may  be  set  on  a  side  hill. 
It  is  well  to  sink  the  bottom  a  little  below  the 
surface  of  the  ground  after  leveling,  to  cement 
the  bottom,  and  to  provide  drainage  secure  from 
currents  of  air  passing  through  the  drain. 
Eight  inches  is  sufficient  space  between  the 
outer  and  inner  boarding,  and  this  may  be  filled 
with  any  non-conducting  material — spent  tan- 
bark  is  perhaps  as  good  as  anything.  The 
building  should,  we  think,  be  entirely  of  wood, 
not  even  having  the  side  toward  the  bill  of 
stone  wall.    The  door  for  filling,  which  must  be 


in  the  gable,  toward  the  bill,  may  serve  also  for 
taking  out  the  ice,  and  ordinarily,  it  is  best  it 
should.  A  sliding  pannel  in  this  door,  opening 
a  hole  a  foot  square,  will  furnish  ventilation  and 
the  means  of  regulating  it.  The  roof  should 
be  well  shingled  with  extending  eaves,  and  the 
rafters  boarded  over  to  prevent  the  too  great 
heating  of  the  air  above  the  ice. 


Willow  Fences  and  Wind-Breaks— Eeport 
of  Personal  Observations  in  the  Field.    . 


During  two  years  past  there  has  been  no  little 
excitement  in  regard  to  the  practicability  of 
using  the  "White  Willow  (Salix  alba)  for  fences, 
especially  upon  the  vast  prairie  regions  of  the 
West  where  fence-limber  is  almost  inaccessible. 
The  Osage  Orange  is  successful  south  of  latitude 
about  40°  in  Illinois,  but  is  not  always  reliable 
north  of  this  line,  and  there  is  a  great  need  of 
a  plant  to  fill  its  place.  "While  in  Illinois  last 
season  we  tried  to  collect  some  items,  but  were 
not  very  successful.  Having  gathered  some 
rather  striking  facts  in  regard  to  the  willow  in 
central  New-Jersey,  we  deemed  the  matter  of 
sufficient  importance  to  send  one  of  our  associ- 
ates of  good  judgment  (Mr.  Weld)  to  Illinois  to 
make  a  thorough  personal  examination  of  the 
whole  subject.  Mr.  "Weld  started  Oct.  20th  and 
was  absent  nearly  three  weeks,  visiting  Ogle 
county,  where  the  willow  has  been  most  thor- 
oughly tried,  and  extending  his  journey  to  some 
other  parts  of  the  State,  to  examine  the  Osage 
Orange  hedges,  and  other  matters  of  interest  to 
our  readers,  of  which  some  account  will  be  given 
in  future  numbers.  He  visited  several  farms 
where  the  willows  have  been  tested  for  fences, 
and  for  wind  breaks,  from  two  to  twelve  years, 
and  reports  as  follows : 

My  visit  to  Ogle  county,  111.,  was  in  company 
with  gentlemen  intimately  familiar  with  the 
agriculture  of  the  prairies,  with  the  soils  and 
seasons,  the  crops  and  modes  of  culture.  "We 
traveled  many  miles,  and  examined  a  large  num- 
ber of  localities  where  the  willow  fences  are  in 
use.  We  found  a  few  hundred  yards  of  fence 
11  years  old,  the  first  planted  in  this  county,  or 
State,  some  also  on  the  same  farm,  set  during  the 
immediately  subsequent  years — but  of  fences 
planted  within  the  past  4  or  5  years,  particular- 
ly that  1,  2,  and  3  }'ears  old,  we  saw  miles 
upon  miles,  throughout  this  entire  region. 
Thus  the  conviction  comes  to  my  own  mind, 
that  where  it  is  best  known  the  willow  is  most 
highly  esteemed.  We  observed  poplars  and 
cotton  wood,  and  poor  powdery  locusts,  and 
the  yellow  willow  too,  all  giving  way  to  the 
white  willow.  The  ll-3rear-old  trees  were 
planted  at  first  merely  as  a  wind-break ;  cuttings 
of  finger  size  and  a  foot  or  more  in  length  being 
stuck  in  the  prairie  sods,  a  foot  apart,  so  says 
the  planter.  From  many  cuttings  two  or  more 
shoots  starting  from  the  ground  must  have  been 
allowed  to  grow,  for  as  the  trees  now  stand,  10 
to  12  trees  occupy  about  8  feet  length  in  the  row. 


The  cut  illustrates  the  manner  in  which  the 
trees  occupy  the  ground,  but  they  are  larger 
and  more  completely  fill  the  row  than  the  cut 
represents.  Lack  of  time  and  space  prevents 
giving  in  this  number  a  picturesque  view  of  the 
fence.  The  trees  cow  stand  at  least  40  feet 
high.  The  trunks  at  a  bight  of  2  or  3  feet  are 
from  6  inches  to  a  foot  or  more  in  diameter, 
and  rise  with  a  uniform  taper,  and  very  straight, 


to  the  top.  They  incline  a  little,  uniformly, 
showing  the  effect  of  the  prevailing  winds,  but 
not  one,  that  we  noticed,  was  broken  or  had 
lost  an  important  branch,  nor  had  one  died. 
There  is  one  vacant  space  of  a  few  feet  where 
a  pair  of  bars  had  been.  The  land  on  which 
this  row  of  willows  stands  is  good  corn  ground 
On  the  east  side  it  has  been  for  several  years  in 
cultivation,  and  now  sustains  a  luxuriant  growth 
of  clover  and  timothy.  The  land  on  the  exposed 
side  of  the  fence  has  never  been  plowed,  and  is 
prairie  grass,  tamed  by  the  grazing  of  cattle.  In 
this,  numerous  roots  extend  near  the  surface  to 
a  distance  of  a  rod  at  least,  as  I  proved  by  dig- 
ging, and  doubtless  they  go  farther  in  some 
cases.  These  roots,  however,  were  not  so  strong 
as  to  prevent  plowing  within  say  16  feet  of  the 
fence.  On  the  cultivated  side,  at  eight  feet  off, 
no  roots  were  found  of  large  size.  Still  nearer, 
where  the  plow  had  beeu  run  closest  to  the 
trees,  matted  fibres  abounded,  and  some  as 
large  as  one's  finger  were  stretching  out  into 
the  field.  The  grass  grew  well  within  6  feet. 
The  owner  of  the  land  estimates  that  as  a  wind- 
break, the  influence  of  this  screen  is  felt  for 
several  hundred  paces,  making  the  land  earlier 
and  more  productive,  preventing  the  lodging  of 
grain,  the  blowing  down  of  corn,  etc. 

In  a  few  places  the  trunks  spread  apart  at  a 
hight  of  a  few  feet  above  the  ground,  so  that  a 
man  can  easily  get  through,  but  no  farm  stock 
could  do  it,  and  a  better  stockade  would  not  be 
needed  to  confine  a  herd  of  elephants.  To 
make  it  dog-proof,  would  require  only  a  little 
labor  and  a  few  stakes. 

The  appearance  of  the  fence  is  attractive,  the 
bight  of  the  trees  being  very  uniform ;  and 
even  when  the  fences  extend  over  dry  knolls 
and  through  "  slues,"  (sloughs,)  the  result  only 
is  to  make  the  line  of  the  tops  a  little  less  undu- 
lating than  the  ground  line,  showing  that  the 
willows  grow,  faster  in  wet  soil  than  in  dry. 

On  the  same  farm  there  were  some  yellow 
willows,  set  at  the  same  time,  as  we  were  in- 
formed. They  had  not  made  nearly  so  good 
growth,  and  there  were  numerous  vacant  spots 
where  trees  had  died.  They  were  more  branch- 
ing and  crooked  also.  One  farm  which  we 
visited  was  not  only  fenced  externally,  but 
the  owner  was  dividing  up  the  land  into  10  to 
15  acre  lots,  using  the  willow  exclusively. 
Much  was  set  on  this  farm  last  Spring.  It  was 
well  cared  for,  and  the  growth,  though  small, 
was  healthy.  Here  we  saw  no  dead  cuttings. 
There  was  also  about  an  acre  set  last  Spring  for 
timber,  fuel,  etc.,  the  cuttings  being  a  foot  apart 
in  rows  12  feet  apart.  The  ground  has  beeu 
regularly  worked  all  Summer,  and  the  plants 
look  wrell,  having  made  a  growth  of  two  and 
a  half  to  three  feet.  Some  of  the  older  fences 
on  this  farm  were  originally  set  too  loose,  and 
the  result  is  that  in  the  four-year-old  hedges 
spots  are  not  infrequent  where  an  animal  might 
work  through.  It  had  been  attempted  to  remedy 
this  by  setting  some  large  cuttmgs  to  fill  the 
gaps.  They  had  all  failed.  The  willow  cutting 
must  have  light  and  air ;  it  will  not  grow  in  the 
shade  of  either  weeds  or  older  willows.         i 

From  what  I  have  seen,  and  from  the  views 
of  those  who  know  most  about  the  White  Wil- 
low, I  am  of  opinion  :  1st.  That  it  will  grow  on 
all  good  soil,  and  in  wet  soil;  2d.  That  in 
four  years,  it  will  make  a  fence  that  will  turn  all 
domestic  animals,  if  it  be  topped  at  a  hight  of 
four  feet,  and  the  tops  used  to  strengthen  the 
hedge  somewffiat ;  3d.  That  left  to  grow  it  will 
in  5  years,  or  6  at  most,  make  a  fence  without 
topping,  so  that  this  fence  will  be  an  effectual 


18G3.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


363 


wind-break,  and  after  it  is  9  or  10  years  old,  and 
periodically  thereafter,  will  furnish  a  large 
amount  of  good  firewood  or  durable  fcuce- 
rails ;  5th.  That  if  the  plow  be  run  once  every 
year  or  two  at  a  distance  of  a  few  feet  from  the 
fences,  the  roots  will  not  interfere  materially 
with  the  culture  or  products  of  the  soil ;  6th. 
That  the  roots  will  not  send  up  sprouts  either 
before  or  after  the  removal  of  the  tree  or  stump. 
In  regard  to  planting  and  subsequent  care,  I 
consider  it  indispensable  to  plow  several  deep 
furrows  each  side  of  where  the  cuctings  are  to 
be  set,  to  remove  all  weeds  and  grass,  to  let  but 
two  or  three  stems  grow  upon  each  plant,  to 
keep  the  ground  open  and  well  tilled  the  first 
year,  and  to  see  that  cattle  do  not  browse  it. 
There  is  no  doubt  of  the  fact  that  animals  will 
eat  it,  though  we  saw  no  hedges  especially  pro- 
tected from  cattle,  nor  damage  done  by  them, 
nor  did  we  hear  complaint  in  this  respect,  but 
this  ought  to  make  no  one  less  careful  to  prevent 
damage  to  his  young  fences  from  such  cause. 
While  I  do  not  say  that,  of  the  many  quick- 
growing  trees  and  hedge  plants,  which  are 
used  for  timber-belts,  shelter-belts,  wind-brakes, 
fences,  etc.,  on  the  prairies,  the  white  willow  is 
certainly  best  for  each  of  the  purposes  of 
fence,  wind-break,  firewood,  and  timber,  I  now 
believe  that  it  will  be  found  to  combine  them 
better  than  any  other  yet  brought  before  the 
public.  Where  the  willow  is  kuown,  and  among 
those  who  have  visited  that  part  of  the  coun- 
try where  the  fences  may  be  seen,  I  have  not 
been  able  to  find  a  man  who  did  not  regard 
its  claims  to  the  favorable  consideration  of 
prairie  farmers  at  least  well  founded. 

There  were  many  miles  of  cuttings  set  at 
the  West  last  Spring;  we  saw  some  of  these 
which  had  started  well,  but  had  died  during  the 
drouth,  and  heard  of  many  more  such.  In  my 
own  opinion  the  failure  of  many  cuttings  last 
season  militates  no  more  against  the  use  of  the 
willow  on  the  prairies,  than  the  almost  total 
failure  of  a  corn  crop  does  against  its  con- 
tinued use.  The  drouth  was  extreme;  corn, 
sorghum,  tobacco,  and  grass,  were  much  affect- 
ed, and  the  early  frost  destroyed  much  of  what 
had  withstood  the  drouth.  M.  C.  Weld. 


Breaking  Up  Prairie  Land. 


Several  have  written  in  response  to  an  in- 
quiry on  this  subj  ect  in  the  American  Agricultu- 
rist, and  most  of  them  agree  on  the  main  points. 
We  give  here  two  communications  which  in- 
clude the  more  important  particulars,  and 
coincide  with  the  opinions  we  have  heard  ex- 
pressed with  great  uniformity  by  prairie  farmers, 
during  our  trips  West. — Mr.  John  E.  Darby, 
Muscatine  Co.,  Iowa,  writes  :  "  The  first  point 
of  importance  is  the  season  of  the  year  for  break- 
ing. This  may  vary  slightly  in  different  years, 
but  as  a  general  rule,  the  very  best  is  the  month 
of  June.  The  operation  may  be  commenced  as 
soon  as  the  young  grass  is  sufficiently  started 
for  pasturage,  and  be  continued  until  harvest. 
This  gives  a  range  of  time  from  the  middle  of 
May  until  the  middle  of  July.  If  clone  earlier, 
weeds  sprout  up  through  the  sod ;  the  grass 
also  comes  up  and  renders  it  tough  to  work  the 
next  year.  If  later,  the  sod  does  not  rot  suf- 
ficiently for  wheat,  though  it  generally  lies 
clean  and  brings  good  corn.  I  can  see  no 
difference  in  the  rotting,  whether  left  smooth  or 
rough,  but  it  is  far  pleasanter  working  smooth, 
and  a  plough  laying  a  smooth  furrow  runs 
jghter.  New  sod  is  good  for  almost  any  field 
crop,  and  gives  the  surest  chance  for  spring 


wheat,  which  is  never  or  rarely  injured  by 
chinch-bug  or  rust,  and  less  liable  to  smut. 
Wheat  is  sown  on  the  sod  as  soon  as  possible 
in  the  Spring,  always  without  stirring,  but  thor- 
oughly harrowing,  which  is  easily  done  if  the 
sod  has  been  properly  broken,  and  at  the  right 
time.  For  corn,  the  sod  must  be  re-plowed  in 
the  Spring.  This  is  easily  done,  if  the  sod  is 
well  rotted,  and  it  generally  will  be  if  broken  in 
June ;  but  if  the  sod  is  a  little  tough  or  raw,  a 
rolling  cutter  is  of  great  use.  Plow  an  inch  or 
two  deeper  than  the  breaking,  and  proceed  as 
on  sward  in  the  East.  Another  thing  of  im- 
portance is,  to  break  as  shallow  as  possible  ;  2£ 
to  3  inches  is  sufficient,  the  sod  rolling  better 
than  when  broken  deep.  In  "roughs"  or  bushy 
land,  it  must  necessarily  be  broken  deeper. 

"Another  point  is,  to  have  the  land  freshly 
burned,  if  possible :  mark  it  off,  burn  the  old 
grass,  and  break  immediately.  If  the  grass  gets 
too  high,  the  sod  does  not  rot  so  well. 

"A  word  as  to  mode.  Breaking  prairie  was 
formerly  almost  exclusively  done  with  ox- 
teams,  from  3  to  6  yokes  to  a  plow,  the  plow 
cutting  from  18  to  28  inches.  This  made  it 
necessary  to  employ  regular  "  breakers,"  as  not 
every  one  could  afford  to  keep  such  a  team ; 
but  now,  smooth  prairie  is  frequently  broken 
with  two  or  three  good  horses — if  three,  worked 
abreast.  A  plow  of  10  to  12  inches  cut,  and  of 
sharp  wedge-like  form,  is  used,  and  some  prefer 
this  kind  of  breaking.  I  have  done  consider- 
able in  this  way,  and  with  two  medium  horses 
can  break  from  1  to  2  acres  per  day.  A  poor 
man  can  thus  make  a  farm  with  little  expense 
beyond  his  own  labor." 

Mr.  John  W.  Barrett,  Pierce  Co.,  Wis.,  writes : 
"  The  best  time,  or  I  might  say  the  only  time 
to  break  up  prairie  land,  is  from  the  1st  day  of 
June  to  the  20th  of  July.  The  reason  is,  that 
broken  before  June,  the  grass  does  not  get  a 
good  start,  and  it  will  turn  and  grow  through 
the  breaking.  If  it  is  done  in  June  and  July, 
the  grass  has  a  start,  and  when  broken  with  a 
hot  sun  on  it,  is  sure  to  rot.  Have  the  sod  all 
turned  over,  and  let  it  be  as  rough  as  possible 
to  make  it,  as  when  in  this  condition,  it  is  more 
easily  torn  up  and  prepared  for  seed  harrow- 
ing in  the  Spring.  Wheat  is  preferable  for  the 
first  crop,  and  also  for  the  second.  My  own 
practice  is  to  break  my  land  in  June,  then  sow 
turnips  or  rata  baga  seed,  which  usually  paj's 
for  the  breaking.  The  following  Spring  I  use  a 
large  cultivator,  dragging  it  over  twice,  then 
sow  wheat  and  drag  twice  again,  which  is  suf- 
ficient, if  the  land  is  broken  at  the  right  time. 
The  sod  rots  better  when  rough  than  when  laid 
smooth  and  even." 

"Why  will  not  'wild'  prairie  sod  rot  like 
that  of  '  tame'  grasses  at  the  West  and  East  ?" 
is  a  question  we  repeatedly  asked,  and  received 
the  response  that  the  roots  of  wild  grasses  and 
weeds  are  so  tenacious  of  life  that  they  can  not 
be  effectually  killed,  and  the  sods  made  to  de- 
cay, if  turned  under  deep.  In  opposition  to  this 
view  we  have  a  single  fact  to  present,  and 
our  prairie  readers  may  draw  their  own  con- 
clusions. Mr.  Theodore  Gennert,  of  Living- 
ston County,  111.,  (the  same  of  whom  mention 
was  made  in  the  September  number  of  the 
American  Agriculturist,  (page  270,)  as  testing  on 
so  extensive  a  scale  the  question  whether  sugar 
may  profitably  be  made  from  the  beet,  in  this 
country,)  plowed  the  land  for  his  beets,  and  for 
a  considerable  corn-field,  to  the  depth  of  10  or 
12  inches,  the  latter  being  reached  whenever 
practicable.  Double  Michigan  plows  were 
used,  and  the  top  paring  of  sod  was  covered 


with  9  inches  of  mold.  Mr.  G.'s  beets  were  the 
only  good  field  crop  we  saw  in  Northern  Il- 
linois in  October,  and  his  corn,  though  "sod 
corn,"  and  somewhat  damaged  by  the  frost, 
was  by  far  better  than  any  corn  raised  on  old 
land  which  we  saw,  in  that  region.  It  stood  the 
drouth  well,  and  a  large  portion  of  the  crop  was 
so  far  matured  as  to  be  uninjured  by  the  frosts 
of  August  and  September.  "  Sod  corn"— that 
is,  corn  planted  immediately  upon  the  sod — is 
seldom  worth  harvesting,  as  we  understand  it, 
except  by  cattle  and  hogs,  and  this  year  we  saw 
none  which  appeared  to  have  paid  for  planting. 


To  Prevent  the  Flavor  of  Turnips  in  Milk. 


D.  McM.,  of  Ulster  Co.,  N.  Y.,  writes  to  the 
Agriculturist  that  he  has  fed  turnips  to  cows  for 
over  30  years  and  has  never  been  troubled  by 
any  unpleasant  taste  in  the  milk.  He  cuts  the 
turnips  by  means  of  a  root  cutter  and  spreads 
the  pieces  in  a  layer  two  or  three  inches  thick, 
upon  the  floor  of  the  barn  or  other  convenient 
place,  where  they  remain  for  24  hours  before 
they  are  fed  out.  He  considers  that  by  this  ex- 
posure the  flavoring  principle  is  dissipated,  and 
the  turnips  may  be  fed  without  risk  of  impart- 
ing much  taste  to  the  milk.  This  is  certainly  a 
very  simple  plan  and  is  much  to  be  preferred  to 
the  use  of  saltpetre,  and  other  drugs  of  doubtful 
efficacy,  which  have  been  recommended  as  a 
preventive.  A  gentleman  who  has  had  much 
experience,  informs  us  that  he  never  found  any 
bad  taste  in  the  milk,  if  the  turnips  were  fed 
after  the  morning  milking,  but  that  it  was  al- 
ways bad  flavored  if  they  were  fed  at  night. 


How  Farm  Laborers  Live   in    England. 

The  Agricultural  Gazette  (England)  reports 
upon  the  condition  of  the  agricultural  laborers 
in  Norfolk  County.  Two  closely  printed  col- 
umns are   filled  with  statements    like    these: 

"A  man,  his  wife,  and  seven  children  occupy  a 
small  place  not  large  enough  to  be  called  a  room, 
being,  in  fact,  the  place  between  the  ceiling  and 
the  roof.  Here  we  find  the  man,  his  wife,  a  daughter 
aged  20  years  ;  girl,  16  ;  boy,  13;  girl,  11;  boy,  8) 
a  girl,  6;  and  a  girl,  3;  the  only  ventilation  and 
light  are  by  one  square  of   glass   11  in.  by  9  in." 

"  A  dilapitated  old  cottage  unfit  for  human  hab- 
itation, neither  wind  nor  water  tight ;  two  bed- 
rooms, one  occupied  by  a  man  and  his  housekeeper, 
and  the  other  by  his  five  children.  The  windows 
are  stuffed  with  rags,  and  the  floor  full  of  large 
holes,  with  large  cracks  in  the  walls.  The  lower 
floor  is  pulled  up  ;  pieces  of  wood  stretched  across 
the  rooms  to  support  the  roof;  a  disgraceful  place 
used  as  a  privy,  without  any  door,  and  drainage  run 
into  an  open  ditch." 

Let  our  farm  laborers  read  the  above,  and  be 
thankful  that  it  is  different  with  them.  No 
wonder  that  laborers  are  ready  to  leave  a 
country,  the  social  system  of  which  subjects  the 
tillers  of  the  soil  to  such  degradation.  In  the 
same  paper  we  find  it  stated  that  a  similar  con- 
dition of  things  exists  in  Hampshire. 


Salt  Cattle  Begularly  and  Uniformly. 
— A  correspondent  thinks  he  has  traced  several 
cases  of  cows  slinking  their  calves  to  their  hav- 
ing eaten  inordinately  of  salt.  Either  salt 
cattle  regularly  and  uniformly  in  the  manger,  or 
let  a  lump  of  hard  rock  salt  be  accessible  at  all 
times,  which  is  the  better  plan. 


An  Absurdity. — A  young  man  compliment- 
ing his  sweetheart  by  telling  her  that  her  breath 
has  the  sweetnes  of  roses,  without  shame  that 
his  own  has  the  stench  of  whiskey  and  tobacco. 


364 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[December, 


To  Eradicate  Sorrel- 


Lime  is  often  recommended  to  kill  out  sorrel; 
the  alleged  reason  being,  that  the  oxalic  acid  in 
the  sorrel  shows  that  the  soil  is  sour,  and  to 
remedy  this  we  must  apply  an  alkali,  like  lime. 
Doubtless,  good  often  comes  from  such  applica- 
tion of  lime,  but  not  for  the  reason  here  given. 

The  presence  of  oxalic  acid  in  sorrel  is  no 
belter  proof  that  the  land  is  sour,  than  is  the 
acidity  of  an  apple  or  of  the  rhubarb  plant. 
The  same  ground  which  grows  a  sour  apple,  will 
grow  a  sweet  one :  the  two  often  grow  on  the 
same  tree.  The  vegetable  acids  (of  which  ox- 
alic is  one,)  are  produced  in  the  organism  of  the 
tree  or  plant,  and  not  in  the  land.  True,  the 
elements  of  the  acid  are  gathered  from  the  soil 
and  air,  but  they  do  not  exist  in  the  acid  form 
which  we  find  in  the  plants.  These  very  ele- 
ments when  taken  up  by  a  potato  plant  form 
starch,  when  taken  up  by  a  corn  plant  form  su- 
gar, and  when  taken  up  by  a  grape  vine  form 
lartanjc  acid.  If  the  soil  itself  be  as  closely 
examined  as  science  will  permit,  there  will  be 
found  neither  the  starch  of  the  potato,  the  sugar 
of  the  corn,  the  cream  of  tartar  of  grapes,  nor 
the  oxalic  acid  of  sorrel.  In  view  of  these  facts, 
then  it  is  useless  to  apply  an  alkali  to  the  soil  to 
neutralize  an  acid  which  does  not  exist  there. 

But  is  there,  then,  no  way  of  eradicating  sor- 
rel ?  Yes.  It  spreads,  like  quack-grass  and 
Canada  thistles,  chiefly  by  under-ground  stems, 
with  numerous  joints,  each  of  which  will  form  a 
plant.  Break  up  the  land  in  July  and  August, 
and  put  in  a  crop  of  buckwheat  or  rutabagas, 
and  the  intruder  will  be  pretty  well  snubbed  out. 
So,  a  corn  crop  or  other  hoed  crop,  if  well  till- 
ed in  mid-summer,  will  answer  a  good  purpose. 

Dressings  of  the  soil  are  also  very  important. 
Applications  of  lime  are  useful  to  decompose 
vegetable  matter,  and  so  to  "  warm  up "  the 
land,  and  quicken  the  growth  of  plants.  Chief 
of  all  in  value,  is  barn-yard  manure,  applied  co- 
piously, and  well  worked  in.  This  gives  strong 
food  for  the  vigorous  growth  of  other  plants 
than  sorrel,  and  when  they  occupy  the  land, 
this  badge  of  an  impoverished  soil  will  disappear. 


New  Potato  Grown  without  Vines. 


In  ths  basket  columns  of  the  November  Agri- 
culturist will  oe  found  an  account  of  the  manner 
in  which  ne-v  potatoes  are  sometimes  produced 
without  vines.  A  friend  has  brought  us  a  re- 
markable illustration  of  this.  A  potato  was  ac- 
cidentally buried  under  a  brick  pavement, 
where  it  was  warm  enough  to  induce  growth, 
but  under  conditions  where  branches  could  not 
reach  the  light  and  air.  The  engraving  repre- 
sents the  appearance  of  the  potato,  the  old 
tuber  being  completely  shrivelled  and  exhausted 
of  its  substance,  while  the  new  one  is  fresh  and 
plump.  Had  this  old  potato  been  planted  in 
the  field,  the  nutriment  contained  in  it  would 
have  gone  to  produce  stems  and  leaves,  but  in 
this  case,  as  there  was  no  chance  for  these,  it  was 
consumed  in  producing  an  underground  stem 
or  tuber.    There  was  s'.myly  a  transfer  of  the 


starch  and  other  matters  contained  in  the  old 
potato,  to  the  new  one.  This  growth  went  on 
with  such  force  as  to  lift  a  brick  in  the  pave- 
ment, and  thus  led  to  its  detection ;  this  will 
account  for  the  flattened  shape  of  the  potato. 


An  Improved  Horse  Stable. 

A  letter  on  Horse  Breeding,  addressed  to  John 
E.  Dcnnison  by  TV.  Dickenson,  read  before  the 
Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England,  descri- 
bes the  stables  for  Draught  Horses,  used  by  the 
writer.  The  engraving  of  the  plan  given  above 
will    make  the  following  description   clear. 

"  The  stable  should  not  be  less  than  18  feet 
wide,  and  of  such  a  length  as  will  allow  0-feet 
standing  for  each  horse.  It  should  be  10  feet 
high.  The  horses  stand  in  a  single  row,  and 
the  harness  is  hung  on  pegs  in  the  wall  behind 
them.  This  width  admits  of  thorough  ventila- 
tion to  the  stable,  without  subjecting  the  horses 
to  draughts.  Each  standing  should  be  parted 
off  by  an  upright  post  reaching  from  the  ground 
to  the  ceiling  rafter,  placed  3  feet  from  the  wall 
at  the  horse's  head.  These  partitions  should 
be  closely  boarded  up  3  feet  above  the  manger 
and  hay  crib,  to  prevent  the  horses  quarrelling 
about  the  food,  and  biting  each  other.  To 
each  of  these  posts  a  "  bale,"  8  feet  long  and  20 
inches  wide,  should  be  hung  by  a  strong  chain, 
to  divide  the  standings,  and  suspended  by 
another  strong  chain  at  the  hinder  end  from  the 
ceiling  rafter.  Each  chain  should  have  a  hook 
and  eye  within  reach,  that  may  be  readily  un- 
fastened. This  arrangement  will  leave  a  space 
of  6  feet  opposite  the  head  of  each  horse,  avail- 
able for  feeding  purposes.  The  manger  for 
corn  and  chaff  (cut  feed)  may  be  2h  feet 
long.  It  should  be  2  feet  wide  at  the  top,  1  foot 
2  inches  at  the  bottom.  The  hay  and  straw, 
which  should  be  cut  into  6-inch  lengths,  will 
require  a  larger  receptacle,  which  should  be  3 
feet  G  inches  long,  2  feet  wide  at  its  upper  part, 
and  half  that  width  below.  It  should  be  so 
constructed,  that  while  it  is  even  with  the  man- 
ger above,  it  should  reach  to  the  ground,  2  feet 
above  which  should  be  fixed  to  the  wall  a  bot- 
tom, sloping  to  1  foot  above  the  ground  in  the 
front,  where  some  upright  openings  should  be 
cut,  to  allow  the  escape  of   the  seeds  and  dirt. 

At  the  top  of  this  hay  and  straw  crib,  an  iron 
rack  with  bars  6  inches  apart,  should  be  so  hung 
as  to  open  up  and  fall  back  against  the  wall  to 
let  the  fodder  be  put  in,  and  then  be  put  down 
upon  it  for  the  horse  to  eat  through.  It  should 
be  so  much  smaller  than  the  opening  that  it  can 
fall  down  with  the  fodder  as  it  is  consumed,  by 
which  means  not  a  particle  is  wasted.  The 
manger  may  be  constructed  of  yellow  deal  \\ 
inches  thick  for  the  front,  bade,  and  ends ;  the 
bottom,  of  slate  three-quarters  of  an  inch  thick. 


The  top  of  the  front  and  ends  should  be  cover- 
ed with  half  round  iron,  2A  inches  wide,  screw- 
ed on  to  project  over  the  front,  a  quarter  of  an 
inch  outside,  and  three  quarters  of  an  inch  inside 
the  manger.  This  prevents  the  food  being  tossed 
out,  and  the  manger  being  gnawed.  Ashort  post 
must  be  put  up  as  near  the 
centre  of  the  standing  as 
possible,  to  support  the 
manger,  into  which  a  large 
screw  ring  must  be  put  to 
let  the  chain  or  rope  of  the 
headstall  pass  freely  up  and 
down  without  constantfric- 
tion.  The  manger  may  be 
3 J  feet  from  ground  to  top; 
the  hay-crib  of  course  the 
same  bight.  The  paving  of 
the  standings,  to  '3k  feet 
from  the  head  should  be 
flat,  then  with  a  fall  from 
both  sides  to  the  centre, 
where  an  angle  iron  drain 
of  4  inches  wide  from  end 
to  end,  with  a  removable  flat  iron  cover  fitted  to 
the  inside  of  it,  should  be  placed  straight  down 
the  standing,  with  a  fall  into  another  larger  cross 
main  drain  10  feet  6  inches  from  the  head,  so 
placed  as  to  carry  away  the  uriue  from  all  the 
smaller  drains  into  a  tank  outside  the  stable. 
This  main  drain  so  placed,  takes  the  urine  from 
the  mares,  and  has  a  loose  cover  also  fitted  to 
it,  easily  removed  for  sweeping  out  when  neces- 
sarj',  perhaps  once  a  week.  This  system  keeps 
the  stable  healthy,  economizes  the  urine,  and 
the  straw  also — the  latter  very  important  where 
it  can  be  sold,  or  consumed  as  food.  The  width 
of  18  feet  for  the  stable  gives  room  for  narrow 
corn  bins  3  feet  high,  so  that  each  carter  may 
have  his  horses'  corn  separate." 

The  writer  proceeds  to  describe  his  method  of 
ventilating,  which  we  omit  because  we  have  re- 
peatedly published  superior  ways,  which  are  of 
universal  application.  In  some  respects  the 
stable  described  may  be  considered  needlessly 
expensive,  but  when  one  builds  a  stable  to  last 
100  years  and  to  need  no  repairs,  some  extra 
expense  at  the  outset    is  a  good   investment. 


A  New  Kemedy  for  Moles. 

■ — 

An  article  in  the  Horticulturist,  recom- 
mends castor  oil  pomace  to  drive  away  moles. 
It  says :  "  We  have  not  tried  it  sufficiently 
to  give  it  a  thorough  test,  but  we  have  the  most 
implicit  confidence  in  the  assurance  of  a  friend, 
who  says  that  he  has  used  it  for  many  years 
with  uniform  success,  driving  the  moles  entirely 
from  his  place.  The  run  of  the  mole  is  to  be 
opened,  and  some  of  the  pomace  placed  in  it. 
The  pomace  has  a  very  offensive  smell,  and  is 
supposed  to  act  by  diffusing  its  strong  odor 
through  the  run.  It  should  not  be  placed  too 
near  plants,  as  it  is  very  acrid,  and  will  destroy 
them."  Perhaps  this  is  worth  trying,  as  we 
know  that  castor  oil  beans  have  'been  recom- 
mended by  many  persons,  who  say  they  have 
used  them  with  success.  The  pomace  may  bo 
had  of  Mr.  Lane  and  other  dealers  in  fertilizers. 


"Bad  for  the  Cow." — When  Geo.  Stephen- 
son was  presenting  the  claims  of  his  first.  Loco- 
motive to  the  British  Parliament,  he  was  sneer- 
ed at  by  many  members.  Said  one  of  them  : 
"  Well  Mr.  Stephenson,  see  how  absurd  your 
idea  is.  Suppose  it  were  possible  for  you  to  run 
your  carriage  twenty  miles  an  hour,  on  straight 
rails  so  that  it  could  not  get  off.    What  if  a  cow 


18C3.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


3G5 


got  on  the  track,  and  you  could  not  turnout  for 
her?"— "Well,  ray  Lords,"  said  Stephenson,  "It 
would  be  bad  for  the  cow ! " 


A  Talk  Over  a  Cabbage. 


The  cabbage  is  so  common  an  article  of  food 
that  it  may  be  supposed  little  can  be  said  about 
it,  not  already  sufficiently  well  known.  Perhaps 
we  may  be  able  to  show  that  its  real  nature  is 
net  generally  understood.  What  is  the  cabbage  ? 
In  the  beet,  carrot,  and  parsnip,  we  eat  the  root ; 
in  the  potato,  the  underground  stem  ;  in  aspara- 
gus, a  tender  above  ground  stem ;  while  in  spin- 
ach, it  is  the  developed  leaves  which  furnish 
food.  What  is  the  eatable  portion  in  the  cab- 
bage? We  answer,  a  large  bud.  A  little  study 
of  the  cabbage  and  comparison  with  other 
plants,  will  show  that  this  is  so.  Let  us  com- 
pare it  with  a  twig  of  one  of  our  hardy  trees— 
the  horse-chestnut  will  answer  best  because  its 
buds  are  large— and  see  if  there  is  not  a  great 
similarity.  Upon  a  twig  of  horse-chestnut 
(Fig.  1,)  we  have  a  large  bud  at  the  end,  the 
terminal  bud,  and  smaller  ones  along  the  sides  of 
the  stem.  These  smaller  buds  grow  just  above 
the  scars  left  by  the  fallen  leaves,  and  before 
the  leaves  fall,  they  are  found  in  the 
axil  or  angle  made  by  the  union  of 
the  leaf  with  the  stem.  On  ac- 
count of  their  position  these  buds 
are  called  axillary.  The  figure 
shows  the  stem  witli  its  terminal 
bud,  and  the  axillary  buds  separ- 
ated from  one  another  by  a  con- 
siderable length  of  stem.  These 
buds  contain  the  rudiments  of  the 
next  year's  growth,  as  we  shall  see 
if  we  cut  one  of  them  open.  Fig.  2 
represents  a  diagram  of  a  section 
of  the  terminal  bud  of  the  horse 
chestnut.  It  is  found  to  be  filled 
with  leaves  packed  in  and  folded 
one  over  another,  and  all  upon  a 
stem,  the  joints  of  which  are  so 
short  that  the  lower  part  of  the 
leaves  touch  one  another.  The 
whole  growth  of  the  next  year  is 
here,    in    an    undeveloped     state. 

Flg.l.— HORSE  '  _       . 

chestnut.  When  vegetation  starts  in  spring, 
the  short  stem  in  the  bud  will  elongate,  and 
the  leaves  will  expand  to  their  full  size,  and 
thus  complete  the  growth  which  has  been  pre- 
pared for  and  commenced  the  year  beforehand. 
In  most  of  our  hardy  trees  and 
shrubs  the  annual  growth  is 
made  in  a  very  short  time,  and 
the  rest  of  the  season  is  em- 
ployed by  them  in  ripening  the 
wood  and  in  preparing  more 
buds  for  the  following  year. 
A  terminal  bud  is  again  formed, 
the  growth  of  which  will  length- 
en the  stem,  and  others  are 
formed  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves 
which  will  develope  as  side 
branches.  AVith  this  brief  sketch  pjg.  o 
of  the  growth  of  a  woody  branch, 
let  us  see  what  there  is  like  it  in  the  cabbage.  The 
early  growth  of  a  cabbage  is  much  like  that 
of  a  woody  twig.  The  first  leaves  are  at  some 
distance  apart,  and  as  the  lower  ones  fall  away, 
after  they  have  contributed  to  the  growth  of  the 
stem,  we  find  that  they  leave  leaf  scars  (fig.  3, 
a,  a,)  similar  to  those  on  the  horse-chestnut,  only 
longer  and  nearer  together,  and  that  above 
them  are  axillary  buds,  b,  b.     When  the  plant 


INTERIOR 
OF   BUD. 


has  obtained  sufficient  size  and  strength,  it  com- 
mences to  form  a  large  terminal  bud,  or  head  as 
we  call  it,  and  this  consists,  like  the  bud  of  the 
horse-chestnut,  of  undeveloped  leaves  crowded 
upon  a  stem,  the  inner  leaves  being  gradually 
smaller  and  less  developed  than  the  outer.  The 
figure  shows  the  head  cut  open,  and  it  is  seen  to 
be  only  a  highly  developed  terminal  bud,  much 
like  that  of  the  horse-chestnut,  only  larger,  con- 
taining numerous  leaves,  and  in  their  axils  quite 
conspicuous  buds,  c,  c.  In  this  condition  the 
cabbage  passes  the  Winter ;  when  it  is  planted 
out  in  the  Spring,  the  buds  in  the  head  start,  and 
being  supplied  with  the  abundant  nutriment 
which  the  fleshy  stem  and  the  thickened  leaves 


Fig. 


-rNTElUOR  OF  A  CABBAGE. 


contain,  thev  grow  very  rapidly  and  bear  flow- 
ers an.l  seeds.  If  the  head  be  removed  and  the 
stem  or  sturr.o  alone  planted  out,  as  is  frequent- 
ly done,  the  axillary  buds,  b,  b,  will '  start  and 
throw  out  vigorous  shoots.  By  cultivation  and 
selection,  varieties  of  cabbage  have  been  obtain- 
ed in  which  the  terminal  bud  attains  an  enor- 
mous size,  while  in  its  natural  or  wild  state  this 
is  very  small.  To  keep  up  the  peculiarities  of 
the  different  varieties,  the  best  cultivators  raise 
seed  from  well  developed  specimens  only,  the 
whole  cabbage  being  planted  out  and  only  a  few 
of  the  central  shoots  allowed  to  grow.  In  this 
way  the  whole  vigor  of  the  plant  and  all  the 
accumulated  nourishment  is  thrown  into  a  few 
stems.  Sometimes  cultivators  are  much  troubled 
with  the  bursting  of  the  heads,  especially  with 
the  early  varieties.  This  usually  takes  place 
when  a  rain  succeeds  a  drouth.  The  outer  leaves 
stop  increasing  in  size  in  a  dry  time,  and  when 
a  succeeding  rain  causes  the  interior  of  the  head 
to  increase,  the  outer  leaves  do  not  grow,  and 
being  closely  wrapped  over  one  another,  can 
not  yield,  but  are  ruptured  by  the  pressure  from 
within.  We  know  of  no  other  remedy  than  to 
lift  the  plants  and  thus  stop  their  growth.  The 
late  sorts  are  not  apt  to  be  affected  in  this  way. 


Long  Mn.ES. — Prentiss  says :  "  Recreants  to 
their  country's  service  should  be  scourged 
wherever  they  go.  Upon  the  road  they  travel 
there  should  be  more  than  three  hundred  and 
twenty  rods  to  every  mile." 


Fattening  Sheep  in  Winter- 

If  properly  managed,  the  winter  fattening  of 
sheep  may  be  made  profitable.  The  first  point 
of  importance  is,  to  have  them  come  in  from  the 
pasture  in  thriving  condition.  It  will  hardly 
pay  to  attempt  to  winter  poor  weaklings,  espec- 
ially where  large  numbers  are  kept;  better  se- 
cure their  pelts  at  once ;  fattening  such  animals 
at  this  season  is  out  of  the  question.  The  fol- 
lowing letter  from  John  Johnston,  Esq.,  of  Ge- 
neva, New- York,  well  known  as  one  of  our  most 
successful  farmers,  is  to  the  point— we  extract 
from  II.  S.  Randall's  new  and  valuable  work  on 
sheep  :  He  says :  "  I  generally  buy  iv.y  sheep  in 
October.  Then  I  have  good  pasture  to  put 
them  on,  and  they  gain  a  good  deal  before  Win- 
ter sets  in.  I  have  generally  had  to  nut  them  in 
the  yards  about  the  first  of  December.  For 
23  years  I  have  fed  straw  the  first  two  or  two 
and  a  half  months,  with  a  pound  of  oil  cake, 
meal,  or  grain  to  each  sheep.  When  I  commence 
feeding  hay,  if  it  is  good,  early  cut  clover,  I 
generally  reduce  the  quantity  of  meal  or  grain 
one-half;  but  that  depends  on  the  condition  of 
the  sheep.  If  they  are  not  pretty  fat,  I  continue 
the  full  feed  of  meal  or  grain  with  their  clover, 
and  on  both  they  fatten  wonderfully  fast.  This 
year  (1862-3)  I  fed  buckwheat,  a  pound  to  each 
per  day,  half  in  the  morning  and  half  at  4  o'clock 
P.  M.,  with  wheat  and  barley  straw.  I  found 
the  sheep  gained  a  little  over  a  pound  each  per 
week.  It  never  was  profitable  for  me  to  com- 
mence fattening  lean  sheep,  or  very  fat  ones. 
Sheep  should  be  tolerably  fair  mutton  when 
yarded.  I  keep  their  yards  and  sheds  thorough- 
ly littered  witli  straw. 

"Last  year  1  only  fed  straw  one  month.  The 
sheep  were  fed  a  pound  of  buckwheat  each. 
From  the  20th  of  October  to  the  1st  of  March, 
they  gained  nearly  li  pounds  each  per  week. 
They  were  full-blood  Merinos — but  not  those 
with  the  large  cravats  around  their  necks.  I 
have  fed  sheep  for  the  eastern  markets  for  more 
than  30  years,  and  I  always  made  a  profit  on 
them  except  in  1841-2.  I  then  fed  at  a  loss.  It 
was  a  tight  squeeze  in  1860-1  to  get  their  dung 
for  profit.  Some  years  I  have  made  largely.  I 
did  so  this  year  (1862-3,)  and  if  I  had  held  on 
two  weeks  longer  I  should  have  made  much 
more.  Taking  all  together,  it  has  been  a  good 
business  for  me." 

— •-. —     ■!■    — ^» 

American  Wool  Manufacture. 


The  American  Stock  Journal  gives  the  fol- 
lowing statistics  of  wool  manufactories  in  the 
United  States:  "In  Maine  there  are  32  woolen 
factories  running  32  sets  of  cards ;  in  New-Hamp- 
shire 50,  with  228  sets  of  cards ;  in  Vermont,  the 
same  numberof  factories,  with  122  sets  of  cards ; 
in  Massachusetts  154  factories,  running  999  sets 
of  cards ;  in  Connecticut  93  factories,  with  409 
sets  of  cards;  in  Rhode-Island,  56  factories  and 
225  sets  of  cards;  in  New-York,  208  factories, 
with  441  sets  of  cards.  They  are  devoted  to  the 
manufacture  of  satinets,  cassimeres,  cotton  warp 
cloths,  stocking  yarn,  worsted  and  woolen 
yarn,  blankets  and  flannels,  delaines,  carpels, 
cashmeres,  shawls,  feltings,  negro  cloths  and 
jeans,  linseys,  and  a  few  other  varieties  of  goods. 
A  report  on  this  subject  was  presented  to  the 
Boston  Board  of  Trade,  last  yea: ,  by  Mr.  Geo. 
W.  Bond,  who  stated  that  in  the  other  States 
there  were  about  five  hund.ed  sets  of  cards  in 
operation.  None  of  the  finest  broadcloths  are 
yet  made  in  the  United  States.  Long  wool  with 
a  silky  luster  is  preferred,  especially  for  the 
fabrics  used  for  ladies'  dresses." 


86G 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[December, 


Looking  into  the  Birds'  Stomachs. 

The  English  papers  have  heen  for  some  time 
engaged  in  a  discussion  upon  the  value  of  birds 
to  the  farmer  and  gardener.     Some  writers  con- 
tend for  the   destruction  of  the  birds   to  save 
the  grain  and   fruits  from  their  attacks  ;  while 
others  warmly  advocate  their  preservation  on 
account  of  their  usefulness  in  destroying  insects, 
and  consider  that  the  injury  they  do  to  various 
crops,  is  more  than  counterbalanced  by  their 
destruction  of  the  insect  enemies  to  vegetation. 
As  the  Agriculturist   has  frequently  advocated 
the  preservation  of  the  birds,  we  were  pleased 
to  see  a  list  of  the  contents  of  the  stomachs  of 
birds,  which  were  exhibited  at  the  International 
Exhibition  in  London.     The  list  comprises  20 
of  the  common  birds  of  Europe,  and  shows  that 
the  majority  of  them  feed  largely  on  animal 
food.    Even  the  mischievous  blackbirds  are  in- 
sect eaters  during  a  greater  part  of  the  year. 
The  stomach  of  the  blackbird  contained  in  Jan- 
uary and  February,   seeds,   spiders,  chrysalids ; 
March,  worms,  grubs,  buds  of  trees ;  April,  in- 
sects, worms,  grubs  ;  May,  the  same,  and  cock- 
chafers ;  June,  the  same,  and  fruit ;  July,  August, 
September,  all  sorts  of  worms,  and  fruit;   Octo- 
ber,   grubs    of   butterflies,    worms;    November 
December,  seeds  and  chrysalids.      We    believe 
that  similar  examinations  ^have  been  made  in 
this  country  and  show  like  results,  but  we  have 
not  them  at  hand.     Not  only  do  the  old  birds 
eat  great  numbers  of  insects,  but  the  quantity 
fed  to  their  young  is  enormous.    A  gentleman 
who  carefully  watched  a  nest  of  thrushes,  found 
that  the  old  ones  fed  their  brood  no  less  than 
20G  times  daily.    Considering-  Ihe  great  service 
the  birds  perform  in  lessening  the  number  of 
destructive  insects,  we  can  well  afford  them  a 
dessert  of  fruit.   This  view  will  be  objected  to  by 
some  who  will  declare  that  the  birds  cause  them 
a  great  loss  of  fruit  and  grain,  and  there  is 
much  to  be  said  on  both  sides.    It  seems  to  be  a 
choice  of  evils,  and  the  mischief  clone  by  the 
birds  seems  to  us  the  lesser  of  the  two.    We 
know  that  in  those  places  where  birds  are  left 
unmolested  and   are  encouraged  to  stajr,  there 
are  no  complaints  of  devastation  by  insects. 

Last  May  we  put  up  in  trees  and  elsewhere  a 
dozen  small  boxes  with  a  single  hole  each,  and 
they  were  all  quickly  occupied  by  wrens'  nests. 
These  birds  destroy  an  immense  number  of  in- 
sects. Next  March  and  April  we  intend  to  put 
out  from  fifty  to  a  hundred  boxes  of  different 
sizes,  and  with  apertures  suitable  for  the  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  birds. 


Sweet  Potatoes  Successful  at  the  North. 


A  correspondent  in  Connecticut  who  made  a 
single  trial  of  Sweet  Potatoes  and  failed,  thinks 
the  Agriculturist  should  not  recommend  their 
culture,  in  any  localities  north  of  New  Jersey. 
It  is  hardly  fair  to  form  a  positive  opinion  upon 
any  plant  from  one  year's  failure  or  success. 
This  is  especially  true  of  so  tender  a  plant  as 
the  Sweet  Potato.  At  our  first  trial,  years  ago, 
it  happened  to  be  a  very  wet  season,  and  the 
plants  ran  all  to  vines,  and  made  but  few  roots, 
and  we  did  not  get  enough  to  pay  the  cost  of  the 
plants.  Not  discouraged  with  one  season's  fail- 
ure, they  were  tried  the  next  year,  and  every 
year  since,  to  our  great  satisfaction.  There  are 
letters  before  us  from  Brown  Co.,  Wis.,  Water- 
town,  Ct.,  and  near  Providence,  R.  I.,  all  speak- 
ing of  great  success  with  sweet  potatoes  this 
year.  We  visited  the  garden  of  J.  C.  Thomp- 
son, Esq.,  at  Slaten  Island,  at  the  time  his  po- 


tatoes were  dug.  The  crop  was  grown  according 
to  the  method  described  by  Mr.  T.,  in  the  Agri- 
culturist for  April.  One  portion  of  the  planting 
was  upon  ground  occupied  by  the  same  crop 
last  year,  while  the  other  was  upon  land  which 
had  formerly  grown  cabbages.  Mr.  T.  has 
sweet  potatoes  in  two  different  places  where 
cabbages  had  been  raised  last  year,  and  the 
yield  in  both  instances  was  very  inferior.  Judg- 
ing from  this  single  experiment,  it  would  appear 
that  this  crop  can  not  properly  follow  cab- 
bages. Upon  the  land  which  had  borne  sweet 
potatoes  the  year  before,  the  crop  was  very  fine, 
yielding  at  the  rate  of  at  least  300  bushels  to  the 
acre.  The  roots  were  of  good  size  for  the  table, 
with  very  few  so  small  as  to  be  worthless.  We 
have  not  the  statistics  relative  to  the  cost  per 
bushel.  In  addition  to  the  above,  our  own  ex- 
perience on  Long  Island  may  be  given.  We  set 
out  200  plants  last  Spring  and  have  used  the 
potatoes  from  the  time  they  became  large  enough 
to  cook,  and  are  convinced  that  we  have  had  a 
supply  of'better  quality,  and  much  cheaper  than 
we  could  have  procured  them  in  the  market, 
aside  from  the  satisfaction  of  eating  the  product 
of  our  own  land.  They  cost  less  per  bushel 
than  the  common  potatoes.  We  commenced 
early  in  September  to  examine  the  hills,  by 
thrusting  in  the  finger,  and  when  a  large  tuber 
was  found,  it  was  taken  out  and  used,  and  the 
smaller  ones  were  left  to  increase  in  size,  until 
the  hard  frosts  late  in  Oct.  W.  H.  Lewis  of 
Ct.,  writes  that  he  obtained  the  best  results  from 
deeply  worked  soil,  contrary  to  the  experience 
of  Mr.  Thompson.  M.  S.  Shaler  writes  that  he 
raised  potatoes  in  the  cold  climate  of  Wisconsin, 
measuring  10  inches  long  and  3  inches  in  diam- 
eter. In  answer  to  queries  in  the  letters  above 
alluded  to,  we  would  add  that  the  vines  should 
be  moved  occasionally  to  prevent  their  rooting, 
and  that  the  crop  should  be  dug  as  soon  as  the 
tops  are  touched  by  frost. — Next  Spring  we  will 
give  further  directions  for  culture  at  the  North. 
Our  present  method   is   uniformly  successful. 


Fur  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Goodrich's  Seedling  Potatoes. 

— « 
These  potatoes  originated  with  Chauncey 
Goodrich,  of  Utica,  N.Y.,  and  have  been  before 
the  public  several  years.  They  have  been  quite 
widely  distributed,  so  that  they  are  not  a  mo- 
nopoly in  the  hands  of  any  seedsman,  and  gener- 
ally sell  for  the  same  price  as  other  good  seed 
potatoes.  I  received  four  varieties  from  Mr.  Good- 
rich two  years  ago,  and  have  tried  them  for  two 
seasons.  They  were  the  Garnet  Chili,  the  Cuz- 
co,  the  Copper  Mine,  and  Pink-eyed  Rusty  Goat. 
They  all  have  their  good  points,  and  are  worthy 
of  general  cultivation.  The  Garnet  Chili  was 
sent  out  some  ten  years  since,  and  is  much  bet- 
ter known  t*an  the  others.  It  is  a  large  red- 
skinned,  white  fleshed  potato,  of  very  good  qual- 
ity for  the  table,  but  not  the  best,  (ranks  about 
with  the  Davis  Seedling,)  very  productive,  very 
hardy,  and  yielding  few  small  potatoes.  The 
Copper  Mine  is  a  long  flattish  potato,  about 
as  smooth  and  handsome  as  the  Prince  Albert, 
coppery  skin,  white  flesh,  very  productive,  and 
of  about  the  same  quality  as  the  Garnet  Chili. 
The  Cuzco  is  a  white  skinned,  white  fleshed  va- 
riety, nearly  first-rate  in  quality,  and  the  most 
productive  of  the  four.  I  have  never  found 
any  thing  to  equal  it  in  this  respect.  The  only 
objection  to  it  is,  a  propensity  to  form  little 
knots  upon  the  tuber,  somewhat  marring  its 
beauty.  The  Pink-eyed  Rusty  Coat  is  the  best  in 
quality,  and  is  so  good  that  it  was  used  in  my 


family  last  Winter  in  preference  to  any  tiling 
else.  There  is  but  one  potato  that  I  should  pre- 
fer to  it,  the  Dover,  and  there  is  not  much  to 
choose  between  them.  It  is  a  large  potato,  with 
a  rusty  brown  coat,  white  flesh,  very  hardy, 
very  productive,  and  yielding  very  few  small 
potatoes.  To  test  their  comparative  produc- 
tiveness, I  planted  upon  a  two-acre  field  the  fol- 
lowing six  varieties. 

No.  of  rows.  Whole  yield.  Average  per  row 

Davis'  Seedling.... 26  92  bush.  About  3  l-5tll  hush. 

Prince  Albeit 6  19      "  "      3  1-Gth    " 

Dover 4  g       "  '<       2  (i 

Garnet  Chili is  45      »  «      2>£         <i 

Copper  Mine 8  20      "  "      2'£         " 

Cuzco 6  25       "  "      41-6th     " 

The  land  was  exhausted  meadow,  that  would 
not  yield  ten  bushels  of  corn  to  the  acre  with- 
out manure.  It  was  manured  with  twelve  bags 
of  fish  guano  costing  fifteen  dollars,  or  seven 
and  a  half  dollars  to  the  acre.  The  manure 
was  strewn  in  the  hill.  The  yield  for  the  whole 
piece  was  about  a  hundred  bushels  to  the  acre, 
which  was  quite  good  for  so  little  manure  upon 
so  poor  laud.  It  is  well  known  that  the  Davis' 
Seedling  and  Prince  Albert  are  among  the  most 
productive  varieties,  and  the  Cuzco  exceeds 
them  by  nearly  a  fourth.  This  is  the  general 
reputation  of  this  potato.  Under  favorable  cir- 
cumstances, it  has  been  known  to  yield  over 
five  hundred  bushels  to  the  acre.  A  neighbor 
planted  a  peck,  and  with  ordinary  field  culture 
dug  eleven  bushels.  The  productiveness  of  the 
Pink-eyed  rusty  coat  is  quite  equal  to  the  Gar- 
net Chili.  This  and  the  Cuzco  have  shown  no 
signs  of  disease.  The  other  two  have  rotted  a 
little  under  circumstances  calculated  to  develop 
disease.  I  regard  them  all  as  valuable  contribu- 
tions to  our  new  seedling  potatoes,  and  worthy 
of  general  cultivation.  If  I  were  to  have  but 
one  of  them,  I  should  choose  the  Pink-eyed 
Rusty  Coat,  on  account  of  its  excellence  as  a  ta- 
ble potato.  I  should  put  the  Cuzco  next  in 
quality,  and  far  ahead  of  the  others  in  produc- 
tiveness. It  makes  a  very  great  difference  in 
the  profit  of  raising  this  crop,  whether  the  yield 
be  one  hundred  or  two  hundred  bushels  to  the 
acre.  A  very  desirable  feature  in  these  potatoes 
is  that  they  are  nearly  all  of  merchantable  size. 

Connecticut. 
—. —«— _ 

For  the  American  Agriculturist. 

Tim  Bunker's  Reasons   against  Tohacco. 


"  Why  don't  you  use  tobacco,  and  raise  it  like 
other  people,  Squire  Bunker  ?"  asked  Seth 
Twiggs  one  day  of  me,  with  a  discharge  of 
smoke  from  his  pipe  that  would  have  done 
credit  to  a  locomotive. 

"  Because  you  do  !"    I  replied  a  little  gruffly, 
"  Wal  neow  I  don't  see  the  peth  of  that  Squire." 

"  I  do.  You  see  Seth,  you  and  your  farm  are 
a  standing  argument  agin  tobacco.  You  are  al- 
ways smoking,  smoking,  smoking,  and  you  have 
pretty  much  smoked  your  brains  out." 

"You  weren't  in  any  particular  danger  on 
that  pint,  Squire." 

"  Well  I  admit  I'm  not  so  smart  as  some  ot 
my  neighbors,  and  it  becomes  me  to  take  care 
of  what  little  brains  I  have  got." 

"  Jest  so,"  said  Seth.     "I  see." 

"  Your  eye  sight  is  darkened  half  the  time," 
I  continued  "  by  that  cloud  of  smoke,  and  you 
don't  know  exactly  what  you're  about.  You 
waste  time  and  money  as  well  as  brains.  It 
takes  you  about  one  half  the  time  to  load  j'our 
pipe,  anil  the  other  half  to  smoke  it.  And  it  is 
a  great  deal  worse  since  you  have  got  them  big 
Dutch  pipes,  with  big  bowls  and  crooked  stem, 
than  it  used  to  be  when  you  had  that  old  stump 


1863.] 


AMERICAN     AGRICULTURIST. 


367 


of  a  clay  pipe  that  lasted  you  five  years.  Then 
you  only  put  in  a  pinch  of  tobacco,  and  you  had 
to  stop  in  about  ten  minutes,  to  take  breath  and 
charge  anew.  But  with  these  big-bellied  things, 
that  hold  half  a  paper  of  tobacco,  you  smoke 
and  smoke,  and  it  seems  as  if  you  never  would 
stop.  You  make  every  place  blue,  where  you 
go.  You  go  out  to  feed  your  pigs  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  it  takes  you  twice  as  long  to  do  that 
chore,  as  it  used  to.  You  go  into  the  garden 
to  hoe,  and  you  pay  more  attention  to  your 
pipe,  than  you  do  to  your  hoe.  You  stop  and 
squirt  around  every  cabbage  as  if  it  was  cover- 
ed with  lice,  and  you  don't  do  an  hour's  work  in 
the  whole  morning.  The  weeds  get  a  start  of 
the  cabbage,  and  your  garden  looks — well  I 
can't  compare  it  to  anything  else  but  Seth 
Twiggs  iu  all  the  world — weedy.  You  go  into 
the  field  to  work  on  the  tobacco,  and  the  worms 
get  the  start  of  you,  and  what  the  worms  don't 
kill,  the  weeds  smother,  so  that  your  tobacco 
fields  look  worse  than  your  garden.  I  wouldn't 
have  a  man  on  my  farm  that  used  tobacco,  at 
half  wages.  Now  maybe  you  can  see  that  I 
don't  use  tobacco,  because  you  do." 

"  Yes  I  see,"  said  Seth,  "  and  Parson  Spooner 
couldn't  have  said  it  better.  This  has  been  a 
dreadful  season  for  weeds." 

"  Season !"  I  continued,  "  don't  lay  it  to  the 
rainy  season.  This  thing  grows  upon  you,  and 
laziness  goes  down  into  your  boues,  as  smoke 
goes  up  into  the  heavens.  You  go  about  dream- 
ing you're  making  a  great  stir,  and  when  night 
comes  you  find  next  to  nothing  done.  Tobacco, 
like  wine,  is  a  mocker,  and  if  a  man  don't  want 
to  be  befooled,  he  better  not  touch  it.  That  is 
my  opinion  on  tobacco  as  illustrated  in  the  life 
and  services  of  Seth  Twiggs,  the  smoker." 

Then,  to  come  to  the  question  in  the  abstract, 
it  is  nasty;  there  is  no  other  word  that  just  ex- 
presses it.  Don't  a  man  belong  by  nature  to  the 
clean  beasts,  and  what  right  have  I  to  make  my- 
self a  nuisance  among  my  kind  ?  It  is  offensive 
to  every  sense.  Look  into  the  smoking  room 
of  a  hotel,  or  a  steamboat,  and  was  there  ever 
a  stable  fouler  ? — splashes  of  juice,  ejectedquids, 
cigar  stumps,  and  a  reek  "  that  smells  to  heav- 
en." "Won't  the  world  be  foul  enough  without 
my  joining  the  smokers  and  chewers  ? 

And  it  is  a  very  expensive  habit.  Your  to- 
bacco would  cost  you  thirty  dollars  a  year  if 
you  did  not  raise  it,  and  if  you  take  into  account 
your  loss  of  time  under  the  influence  of  the 
weed,  it  costs  you  four  times  that  sum.  You 
stop  to  talk  with  a  neighbor,  and  it  makes  you 
long  winded,  for  your  brain  is  so  befuddled  that 
you  never  know  when  you  have  clone.  Many  a 
man  spends  fifty  dollars  a  year  for  cigars,  and 
if  one  has  a  good  deal  of  company,  it  is  mighty 
easy  to  use  up  a  hundred.  Your  friend,  who 
smokes,  never  knows  when  he  has  enough.  He 
always  wants  one  more  of  the  same  sort,  and 
the  result  is,  that  your  box  of  Havauas  is  gone 
mighty  quick,  and  you  can't  tell  how  or  where. 
This  makes  quite  a  hole  in  the  income  of  a  man 
who  lives  by  his  hands,  or  by  his  brains.  I 
have  brains  enough  to  see  that  I  can't  afford  it. 
It  is  very  bad  for  the  health.  The  doctors  are 
all  agreed  on  this,  even  those  who  use  it.  It 
don't  help  digestion.  It  don't  save  the  teeth. 
There  are  better  ways  of  reducing  the  flesh — 
eating  less  for  instance,  Aud  if  the  doctors 
were  not  all  agreed,  every  man  who  has  his  eyes 
open,  can  see  that  no  man  has  sound  health 
who  uses  it  in  any  shape.  They  call  themselves 
well,  but  have  headaches,  indigestion,  don't 
sleep  well,  are  nervous,  have  the  fidgets,  or  some 
other  complaints.  Occasionally  they  break 
down  tinder  paralysis.    Many  make  complete  I 


wrecks  of  their  bodies.  Always  life  is  shortened. 
Now  what  right  have  I  to  make  an  invalid  of 
myself,  and  go  through  life  sighing  and  groan- 
ing, when  I  ought  to  be  well  ?  It  is  worse  for  a 
man's  mind  than  it  is  for  his  body.  It  makes 
him  forgetful.  He  loses  the  control  of  its  pow- 
ers, and  can't  think  connectedly.  He  forgets  the 
names  of  persons,  and  places,  his  own  plans, 
and  in  short  about  everything  except  to  smoke. 
There  was  our  minister,  the  one  we  had  before 
Mr.  Spooner,  smoked  himself  out  of  his  pulpit. 
His  health  failed  and  his  sermons  failed  worse 
than  his  health.  They  were  so  foggy  that  even 
Hookertown,  that  never  dismissed  a  man  before, 
could  not  stand  it  any  longer. 

Then  it  is  a  bad  thing  for  morals.  It  begets  a 
great  craving  for  stimulating  drinks,  and  very 
generally  leads  to  their  use,  and  when  a  man 
gets  to  drinking,  he  is  in  a  fair  way  to  do  almost 
any  thing  else.  What  right  have  I  to  endanger 
the  morals  of  my  neighbor,  even  if  I  could 
smoke  with  entire  safety  ? 

Then  I  have  got  children  aud  grandchildren, 
and  I  think  the  best  inheritance  I  can  leave 
them  is  a  good  example.  John  would  smoke  if 
I  did,  and  I  should  have  more  fears  of  his  pipe 
in  the  army,  than  from  all  the  bullets  of  the 
enemy.  If  he  dies  now,  I  am  certain  he  will  die 
sober,  and  without  one  vicious  habit.  "What 
right  have  I  to  pollute  the  faces  of  my  grand- 
children with  the  stench  of  tobacco  ?  I  want 
them  to  have  pleasant  memories  of  their  grand- 
father's home  in  Hookertown,  and  I  should 
not  feel  sure  of  it,  if  I  scented  myself,  and  my 
house  with  tobacco. 

Then  I  am  the  husband  of  Sally  Bunker,  and 
I  think  she  has  the  right  by  marriage  vows,  to 
a  decent  companion  in  life,  with  a  clean  mouth 
and  shirt  bosom.  What  right  have  I  to  make  a 
nuisance  of  myself  in  her  home,  to  scent  her 
bed  with  this  unsavory  perfume,  and  to  befoul 
her  spit-boxes  with  quids  and  stumps  ?  I  am  a 
little  too  proud  to  do  that. 

Aud  lastly,  and  to  conclude,  as  Mr.  Spooner 
would  say,  I  expect  to  give  an  account  of  my- 
self hereafter,  and  if  I  were  to  be  charged  with 
the  use  of  this  weed,  I  should  not  know  exactly 
what  to  say.  That  fifty  dollars  a  year  burnt  up 
and  wasted,  I  think  would  weigh  against  me. 
If  I  gave  it  for  Sunday  Schools,  or  for  any  good 
cause,  I  should  not  be  troubled  about  an  answer. 
Then  as  to  raising  this  crop,  it  is  a  bad  thing 
for  the  land,  affecting  other  crops  injuriously,  so 
far  as  I  have  observed.  But  if  this  were  not  so, 
I  could  not  tempt  my  neighbor  to  use  what  I 
would  not  use  myself.  Whea  I  look  at  Seth 
Twiggs'  farm  and  my  own,  I  like  the  contrast. 

Hookertown,  )         Yours  to  command, 

Nov.  Tth,  1863.  (  Timothy  Bunkeb  Esq. 


How  Vegetation  Influences  Climate. 


That  climate  controls  vegetation  in  a  great 
degree,  is  quite  evident,  and  it  is  equally  true 
that  vegetation  itself  has  a  marked  effect  upon 
the  climate.  In  the  first  place,  it  exerts  an  influ- 
ence upon  the  wind.  Where  the  land  is  bare  of 
trees,  the  wind  has  an  unobstructed  sweep ;  and 
where  this  prevails,  and  is  violent,  the  climate 
is  not  only  unpleasant  to  man  and  beast,  but  is 
unfavorable  to  vegetation.  "Western  farmers 
know  how  this  is,  upon  their  broad,  unsheltered 
prairies,  and  New-Englanders  know  how  it  is 
along  their  bleak  sea-coasts.  The  only  way 
to  grow  handsome  and  healthy  trees  in  such 
localities,  is  first  to  surround  one's  farm  or  gar- 
den with  a  belt  of  strong,  coarse  trees,  like  the 
willow,  silver  poplar,  and  evergreens.  Outside 
of  such  verdant  barriers,  the  trees  and  shrubs, 


if  planted,  grow  lop-sided,  lean,  and  stunted; 
inside,  they  stand  erect,  well  developed,  and 
vigorous.  Without  this  protection  there  is  the 
unpleasantness  of  having  a  gale  forever  blow 
ing  about  one's  ears,  the  ceaseless  roar  of  the 
wind  around  the  dwelling,  the  rattle  of  windows 
and  doors,  the  increased  consumption  of  fuel, 
and  the  discomfort  of  cattle  at  all  seasons,  but 
especially  in  Winter;  put  these  and  the  like 
things  together,  and  we  find  that  whatever- 
serves  to  break  the  violence  of  the  wind,  or  to 
change  its  direction,  is  a  thing  of  considerable 
importance.  It  should  not  be  forgotten  that  air 
in  motion  produces  more  chilliness  than  the 
same  air  at  rest.  "Wet  your  finger  and  hold  it 
up  in  the  still  air,  and  you  will  hardly  feel  the 
cold ;  but  swing  it  around,  and  the  hand  will 
be  rapidly  chilled.  The  difference  between  the 
climate  of  a  windy  region  and  one  sheltered 
from  driving  currents  of  air,  is  equally  great. 

Again,  vegetation  affects  climate  by  limiting 
evaporation  of  moisture.  Many  years  ago, 
Humboldt  declared  that  men  in  all  climates,  by 
stripping  the  hills  of  trees,  were  preparing  for 
themselves  two  calamities,  viz.:  the  want  of  fuel 
and  the  want  of  water.  The  evaporation  from 
trees  produces  a  cool  and  moist  local  atmos- 
phere. The  overhanging  boughs  prevent  the 
too  rapid  evaporation  of  moisture  from  the 
ground,  and  its  dissipation  by  the  wind.  The 
sources  of  nearly  all  brooks  and  creeks  are  to 
be  found  in  springs  among  the  hills ;  and  by 
cutting  off  the  trees  which  have  always  over- 
shadowed them,  the  moisture  is  rapidly  evapor- 
ated, and  the  springs  lowered,  if  not  dried  up. 

Experience  is  continually  demonstrating  this. 
Every  old  farmer  will  tell  us  that  his  springs  are 
less  copious  now  than  they  were  thirty  years 
ago ;  and  so  of  the  various  streams,  large  and 
small.  The  rains  fall,  perhaps,  in  nearly  their 
former  abundance,  but  they  come  oftener  in 
torrents,  which  sweep  down  the  hill-sides,  un- 
obstructed by  trees,  brushwood,  and  low  vege- 
tation, and  pour  themselves  into  the  streams  of 
the  valley,  producing  freshets  and  hurtful  inun- 
dations ;  and  so  we  go  from  freshets  to  drouths, 
from  heavy  rains  to  long  periods  of  arid,  parch- 
ing dryness.  In  some  parts  of  Europe,  so  great 
harm  has  followed  the  destruction  of  forests, 
that  legislation  has  been  called  in  to  stay  their 
demolition  and  to  promote  the  planting  of  new. 

Artificial  Fertilization  of  Grain. 


Acting  upon  the  supposition  that  all  the 
flowers  upon  a  head  of  grain  do  not  produce 
kernels,  a  M.  Hooibrenck,  in  France,  has  made 
some  experiments  with  a  view  of  helping  the 
process  of  fertilization  by  artificial  means.  The 
method  of  doing  this  is  very  simple :  a  rope  20 
or  SO  feet  long,  covered  with  woolen  threads  so 
as  to  form  a  fringe  8  or  10  inches  deep,  is  drawn 
across  the  field,  by  two  men,  at  the  time  the 
grain  is  in  flower.  The  pollen  sticks  to  the 
woollen  threads,  and  is  by  them  deposited  upon 
the  pistils,  which  are  thus  fertilized.  These  ex- 
periments have  been  examined  by  a  commis- 
sion appointed  by  the  Government,  and  the 
following  are  given  as  the  results  upon  equal 
areas,  the  size  of  which  is  not  given.  The 
figures  only  represent  the  relative  amount  of 
the  product : 

Rye  not  fertilized 16    [Barley  not  fertilized 16 

Rye  fertilized 25. 5|BarIey  fertilized 24 

Wlieat  not  fertilized.  ...21     Oats  not  fertilized      ..        12 
Wheat  fertilized  31    | Oats  fertilized '.' n 

These  figures  show  an  increase  of  about  50 
per  cent,  obtained  by  a  very  slight  expenditure 
of  labor.  Let  those  curious  in  such  matters 
repeat  the  experiment,  and  report  the  result 


3G8 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[December, 


A     SLEIGH     RIDE     IN     THE      COUNTRY 


A  sleigh-ride !  Not  a  city  affair,  where  a  splen- 
did turn-out  is  hired  from  the  livery  stable  at 
five  to  ten  dollars  an  hour  (no  uncommon  price 
here),  and  where  you  are  driven  over  a  mix- 
ture of  snow  and  mud,  between  interminable 
rows  of  brick  buildings,  subject  perhaps  to  the 
envy  of  a  few  who  can  not  afford  such  a  dis- 
play, and  also  to  the  snow-ball  peltings  of  grace- 
less urchins  who  consider  the  perpetrators  of 
such  absurdity  fair  game.  Nothing  of  this 
kind,  but  a  genuine  jolly  country  sleigh-ride,  sug- 
gestive of  sleek  horses  full  of  mettle,  of  happy 
hearts,  sparkling  eyes,  cheeks  rosy  with  an  added 
glow  from  the  bracing  air,  of  inspiring  songs  and 
innocent  glee,  of  social  visits,  renewed  friend- 
ships, and  the  twining  of  yet  more  tender  ties. 
Such  experiences  banish  dreariness  from  Win- 
ter, and  compensate  for  the  absence  of  the  out- 
ward glow  of  the  more  inviting  summer  season. 
By  nature,  Americans  seem  eminently  fitted 
for  the  highest  social  enjoyment;  they  are  im- 
pulsive, frank,  and  generous,  yet  as  a  Nation, 
they  are  far  behind  some  others  in  realizing  the 
full  pleasures  of  intercommunion.  This  may 
be  because  earnest  devotion  to  business  monopo- 
lizes attention,  and  also  begets  cautiousness,  and, 
if  not  carefully  guarded,  jealousy  between  those 
who  should  be  neighbors  in  more  than  mere 
nearness  of  habitation.  Winter,  with  its  great- 
er exemption  from  imperative  calls  to  constant 
labor,  is  every  way  favorable  to  the  cultivation 
of  the  social  nature.  Neighborhood  gatherings 
should  be  everywhere  encouraged,  and  at  the 
North,  the  season  which  makes  all  the  highways 

smooth,  should  be  prolific  in  growth  of  social 
communion.    Let  the  old,  then,  as  well  as  the 


young,  hail  the  return  of  the  sleighing  season, 
and  realize  the  advantages  it  brings ;  let  the 
good  fathers  and  careful  mothers  remember 
that  their  children  will  be  all  the  more  affection- 
ate and  teachable,  if  they  enjoy  the  sympathies 
of  their  elders,  and  that  they  can  be  the  more 
surely  guided  aright  by  those  who  preserve  the 
freshness  of  their  own  social  natures.  Bring 
out  the  family  sleigh,  grow  young  in  the  re- 
vival of  old  times,  and  make  bleak  Winter 
green  with  the  joyousness  of  your  own  hearts. 
»  ■        «t»        i  «■  i 

Some  More  Humbugs. 

— . — 

A  Bin  One. — Just  as  our  last  number  was  be- 
ing mailed,  we  began  to  receive  from  various 
parts  of  the  country,  and  especially  from  the 
distant  West,  numerous  copies  of  a  sheet  sent 
out  from  N.  Y.  City,  called  the  "  Freeman's  Jour- 
nal of  Science  and  Medicine"  "  Vol.  37,  No.  12," 
(probably  the  only  number  ever  issued,  as  it  cer- 
tainly ought  to  be).  This  sheet  contains  a  mul- 
titude of  prescriptions,  letters,  etc.,  etc.,  admira- 
bly arranged  to  deceive  the  ignorant  and  unwa- 
ry, and  filch  their  dollars.  It  promises  untold 
wealth  to  those  who  for  two  dollars  "  initiation 
fee  "  become  members  of  the  "  British  Metalic 
Mutual  Association."  That  the  scheme  takes 
with  a  certain  class,  wre  have  abundant  evidence 
in  the  letters  received,  making  serious  inquiries. 
They  ought  to  have  been  able  to  see  the  nature 
of  the  animal,  when  "  Dr.  William  Freeman " 
offers,  for  $3,  to  tell  them  how  to  make  for  $8  a 
pound,  "  a  metal  that  can  not  be  distinguished 
from  California  Gold,"  which  will  "sell  in  New- 
York,  London,  and   Paris,  for  $150  a  pound ;"  \ 


and  moreover  he 
agrees  "  to  pay 
$120  per  pound 
for  all  that  can  be 
made."  Of  course 
he  would  prefer 
to  pay  $120  per 
pound.ratherthan 
to  make  it  himself 
("  easily  "  as  he 
says)  at  a  cost  of 
only  $8.  The  pa- 
per is  ingeniously 
got  up,  but  it  is 
all  humbug.  If 
Dr.  Freeman 
would  only  tell 
people,  or  tell  us, 
where  he  might 
be  found,  we 
would  straight- 
way call  upon 
him.  We  should 
like  a  hand  in 
some  of  his  enter- 
prises, if  the  hun- 
dredth part  he 
says  is  true,  for 
we  could  make 
money  ten  thou- 
sand times  faster 
than  in  publishing 
the  American  Ag- 
riculturist at  $1  a 
year,  with  print- 
ing paper  getting 
towards  a  quarter 
of  a  dollar  a 
pound.  But  his 
only  advertised 
place  of  business 
in  New- York  City 
is  just  4  by  6  by 
10  inches — a  large  establishment,  viz. :  "  No. 
5153  Post  Office "  Street.  The  above  is  all  the 
room  we  have  for  you,  Mr.  "  Dr.  Wm.  Freeman," 
of  the  "  Britith  Metalic  Mutual  Ass  ociation," 
and  we  hand  you  over  to  Mayor  Opdyke. 

The  Good  Salary  Humbug. — Our  country 
friends  will  very  often  see  fine  openings  for 
young  men  in  the  city,  especially  those  who 
have  a  few  hundred  dollars  to  invest.  Let  us 
tell  them,  once  for  all,  that  999  in  every  1000  of 
these  offers  are  humbugs.  We  give  two  illus- 
trations :  A  few  days  ago  an  "  Employment 
Agency"  advertised  for  a  clerk  in  an  oil  com- 
pany in  Pa.,  at  $800  a  year,  etc.  A  young  man 
just  over  from  England  applied,  and  was  told 
that  for  $6  he  could  secure  the  place.  He  paid 
the  money,  or  so  much  as  he  had,  and  was  told 
that  the  President  of  the  Company  was  coming 
to  the  city  on  the  following  Monday,  and  would 
call  for  him.  The  young  man  called  on  Mon- 
day, but  found  no  one  in  (probably  fifty  others 
had  paid  for  the  same  place  and  were  told  to' 
call  in  the  same  way,  but  on  some  other  day  or 
hour.)  The  young  man  called  again  and  again, 
and  finally  watched  the  door  all  one  day,  and 
at  last  caught  the  swindler  in.  He  plead  ab- 
sence from  sickness,  and  showed  a  (bogus)  let- 
ter from  the  "  President,"  saying  lie  had  been 
detained  by  important  business  but  would  come 
soon.  The  young  man  called  day  after  day  with 
the  same  result,  and  finally  becoming  impatient, 
used  some  harsh  words,  when  the  man  ordered 
him  out,  threatening  that  if  one  word  more  was 
said  he  would  have  him  arrested  for  assault,  and 
swear  him  into  prison.  The  swindler  had  found 
that  his  victim  was  a  timid  stranger,  and  got  rid 


1803.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


3G9 


of  him  thus ;  and  by  similar  subterfuges  he 
probably  pocketed  $500  from  a  hundred  victims, 
in  less  than  a  month ;  and  thus  the  game  goes  on. 
The  victims  are  strangers  ;  their  first  experi- 
ence makes  them  afraid  to  trust  anybody,  and 
they  refuse  to  appear  even  as  witnesses  if  any 
one  happens  to  find  out  their  case  and  offers  to 
aid  them. — The  following  letter  explains  itself : 

To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist : 

As  a  warning  to  others,  allow  me  to  give  your  readers 
a  little  of  my  experience,  if  you  suppress  my  name.  I 
am  a  farmer's  son  of  Western  New-York — have  devoted 
most  of  my  spare  hours  to  books,  and  learned  but  little  of 
the  '  ways  of  the  world.'  I  came  East  to  college  with  but 
a  small  sum  to  carry  me  through,  and  by  boarding  myself 
and  earning  what  I  can  in  vacations,  hope  to  complete  my 
course.  As  the  winter  vacation  was  approaching,  I  was 
casting  about  for  something  to  do,  when  I  saw  the  follow- 
ing advertisement  published  in  a  New-York  Daily  Paper  : 

66  A  GOOD  CHANCE  FOR  A  YOUNG  MAN.— 
■fA A  line  exhibition  of  works  of  art  is  nearly  ready.  A 
youns  man  is  wanted  lor  the  Winter  to  assist  in  explanations 
uud  in  attending  at  the  door.  One  preferred  with  $31)0,  to  be 
used  under  his  own  direction,  incompleting  some  final  pur- 
chases of  materials  which  he  can  retain  until  reimbursed. 
As  security,  he  will  have  charge  of  the  exhibition  works, 
which  are  worth  $8000,  and  he  will  also  have  the  care  of  all 
tlie  money  receipts.  Salary  $100  a  mouth  and  expenses,  or 
if  preferred,  a  part  interest.    Call  on,  etc." 

As  I  had  just  $300  left,  this  seemed  to  be  a  good  open- 
ing for  me.  So  I  hastened  to  New-York,  and  called  as 
directed.  I  found  a  very  bland  man,  who  was  exceeding- 
ly patronizing,  and  who,  under  the  plea  of  learning  my 
qualifications,  drew  out  my  personal  history.  He  decided 
I  was  just  the  man  wanted.  He  showed  me  a  printed 
handbill  (but  I  could  not  get  a  copy  to  keep,)  setting  forth 
a  magnificent  exhibition.  He  made  very  ingenious  ex- 
cuses for  not  showing  me  the  works  that  day,  and  for 
wanting  the  money  at  a  given  time.  On  my  insisting 
upon  seeing  them,  he  look  me  into  one  of  the  largest 
Picture  Galleries,  and  named  a  dozen  fine  painlings  as 
belonging  to  his  outfit,  which  (he  said)  had  been  left  there 
temporarily  by  special  request.  On  my  pressing  him 
further  to  show  me  the  chief  objects,  he  led  me  around 
through  several  streets,  and  finally  stopped  before  a  large 
building  closed  up.  He  knocked  violently  but  no  one 
answered ;  he  went  round  the  building  hastily,  and  soon 
after  came  back  with  the  statement  that  his  artists  had 
all  gone  off  on  a  target  excursion  without  mentioning  It 
to  him.  He  then  went  into  a  rapturous  description  of 
what  was  Inside  of  those  closed  doors.  On  our  way  back, 
he  invited  me  to  dinner  at  a  splendid  saloon,  and  on  going 
out,  felt  for  his  pocket  book  to  pay,  but  unfortunately  he 
had  "changed  his  pants,  and  left  his  purse"— wanted  me 
to  pay,  and  he  would  settle  it  at  his  room.  I  6tood  it,  but 
my  eyes  were  open  by  this  time.  I  had  two  hours  before 
the  evening  boat,  and  during  this  time  he  exerciied  h!s 
utmost  ingenuity  to  get  a  bonus  towards  the  $300  (which 
I  did  not  refuse  to  pay,  until  1  felt  myself  safely  out  of  his 
influence.)  At  last,  when  about  to  start,  I  told  him  I  should 
keep  my  money.  He  then  went  off  into  a  very  high 
strain  of  injured  innocence— accused  me  of  using  up  his 
whole  day,  and  demanded  $10  for  his  time— "  a  hundred 
dollars  would  not  pay  him."  He  claimed  I  had  agreed  to 
invest  the  money  early  in  the  day,  and  called  upon  an  ap- 
parently unconcerned  man,  who  had  been  near  us  several 
times,  who  at  once  said  he  woulu  swear  I  did  positive- 
ly so  agree.  The  two  tried  hard  to  scare  me  out  of  $25, 
then  $10.  I  was  a  stranger  in  a,  to  me,  strange  city,  and 
felt  a  Utile  nervous,  as  I  hardly  knew  the  way  to  the 
steamboat.  One  of  them  started  off  saying  he  was  go- 
ing round  the  corner  for  a  warrant,  and  that  I  could  not 
leave  the  city  until  I  had  made  it  right  with  him.  I  start- 
ed, however,  one  of  them  following  me,  crowding  me  and 
trying  to  frighten  me.  Seeing  a  policeman  I  quickened 
my  steps  and  called  for  his  protection.  Just  then  the 
chaps  disappeared  round  the  corner,  and  I  got  to  the 
steamboat,  arrived  at  my  room  the  next  morning,  minus 
two  days  time,  and  $9  expenses,  but  a  much  wiser  young 
man.  I  give  you  in  outline,  a  statement  of  facts— hoping 
others  may  become  wiser  at  less  expense. — Yours,  <fcc. 

Humbugs  not  m  New- York. — Before  us 
are  copies  of  a  most  ingenious  and  taking 
circular,  being  scattered  to  distant  points,  from 
Biddeford,  Maine,  which  is  well  calculated  to 
deceive  the  unwary.  The  matter  is  under  in- 
vestigation, and  promises  amusement  if  not  in- 
struction to  our  readers.  We  confess  we  for- 
merly had,  as  a  country  farmer,  a  little  expe- 
rience in  being  humbugged.  This,  with  the  law- 
suits commenced  and  threatened  as  an  intimida- 
tion, by  those  shown  up,  adds  zest  to  our  labors 
in  this  line.  Farmers,  as  a  class,  have  honest  aims 
and  intentions,  and  are  therefore  less  suspecting 


of  fraud  in  others :  we  therefore  consider  it  a  part 
of  our  legitimate  labors  to  specially  guard  them, 
by  frequent  examples  of  how  the  humbugs  oper- 
ate, and  shall  continue  the  practice.  The  ex- 
posures in  the  Agriculturist,  during  several  years 
past,  have  undoubtedly  saved  our  readers,  as  a 
whole,  many  times  as  much  money,  as  the 
entire  cost  to  the  country  of  issuing  this  journal. 

•-« —    in   — »-» — 

The  "New- Jersey  Tea."— A  Caution. 

o 

This  plant  has  been  noticed  in  various  papers 
as  "  Pennsylvania  Tea,"  "  Alleghany  Tea,"  and 
"  American  Tea,"  and  it  has  even  been  claimed 
that  it  is  the  identical  Chinese  tea  plant,  discov- 
ered here  in  America.  We  have  already  shown 
what  the  plant  is,  in  the  September  Agriculturist, 
page  2G5.  As  it  has  been  long  and  generally 
known  as  New-Jersey  Tea,  we  prefer  to  con- 
tinue to  so  call  it,  rather  than  to  apply  a  new 
name  to  a  well  known 
plant.  A  company 
claim  to  have  secur- 
ed a  large  tract  of  land 
iuPennsylvania  where 
this  plant  abounds, 
and  intend  to  prepare 
the  article  for  market. 
In  the  leaf  simply 
dried  we  are  not  able 
to  detect  any  strong 
resemblance  to  tea, 
but  when  prepared  by 
drying  by  heat,  and 
rolling  after  the  man- 
ner of  the  Chinese,  it 
has,  partially  at  least, 
the  odor  and  taste  of 
tea.  A  sample  which 
was  thus  prepared  in 
a  rough  way,  we  tried 
as  an  experiment,  and 
found  it  made  an  in- 
fusion resembling  that 

of  the  lowest  priced  Fi-  ^--Chinese  tea. 
imported  tea,  and,  if  properly  made,  it  may 
perhaps  prove  to  some  extent  a  sort  of  a  substi- 
tute for  teas  of  this  class.  If  low-priced  tea— or 
what  will  answer  its  purpose— can  be  made 
from  one  of  our  native  plants,  we  shall  be  glad 
to  see  it  done,  as  it  will  open  a  new  avenue  for 
industry,  and  by  producing,  on  our  own  soil,  an 
article  for  which 
large  sums  are 
annually  sent 
abroad,  it  will  be 
a  national  benefit. 
The  circular  of 
the  company 
above  alluded  to, 
which  has  been 
distributed  among 
capitalists,  states 
that  this  is  the 
'Tea  plant,' there- 
by conveying  the 
impression  that  it 
is  the  same  as  the 
Chinese  plant. 
This  is  simply  ab- 
surd, or  as  the 
London  Garden- 
Fig.  3.— N>iw  jerset  tea.  ers'  C  h  i'  o  ii  i  c  1  e 
very  appropriately  characterizes  it,  "  bosh." 
The  whole  thing  is  an  experiment,  and  should 
succeed  or  fail  on  its  own  merits.  We  repeat 
that  the  plant  is  not  the  Chinese  Tea,  (Thea  viri- 
din,  at  all,  nor  does  it  resemble  it  either  in  ap- 


pearance or  botanical  characters,  but  is  the 
"  New-Jersey  Tea  "  (Ceanothus  Americanus).  It 
is  not  confined  to  any  particular  locality,  but  is 
common  in  all  the  northern  States,  though  it 
may  grow  more  abundantly  in  some  localities 
than  in  others.  We  have  stated  that  the  infu- 
sion of  the  leaves  had  somewhat  the  taste  of 
tea ;  whether  it  will  have  the  refreshing  and 
stimulating  qualities  of  the  foreign  article,  or 
whether  it  can  be  made  a  constant  drink  with- 
out causing  derangements  to  the  system,  are 
facts  which  can  only  be  determined  by  experi- 
ence. The  American  Tea  Company  claim  that 
the  article  can  be  delivered  in  the  market  at 
eleven  to  thirteen  cents  per  pound.  In  this 
case  there  will  be  a  strong  temptation  for  dealers 
to  use  it  in  adulterating  the  imported  article. 
That  our  readers  may  be  on  their  guard  against 
this,  we  give  a  drawing  of  the  leaf  of  the  Chi- 
nese Tea,  and  one  of  the  New-Jersey  Tea.  By 
carefully  spreading  out  the  larger  pieces  from 
the  "  grounds  "  left  in  the  tea-pot,  the  shape  of 
the  leaves  can  be  made  out.  It  will  be  seen  that 
the  Chinese  leaf  is  narrow  at  the  base  or  lower 
part,  and  that  the  strong  veins  run  together  near 
the  edges  of  the  leaf,  and  make  a  series  of  loops. 
The  New-Jersey  leaf  is  wider  at  the  base,  and 
has  two  strong  veins  which  run  nearly  parallel 
with  them  near  the  edges,  and  are  nearly  straight, 
not  making  the  looping,  shown  in  the  other. 
«-• —     -«  — .-«. 

Mildew  and  Rot  in  Grapes- 

These  subjects  were  discussed  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  East  Pennsylvania  Fruit  Grow- 
er's Society,  with  the  following  result :  "  That 
it  is  the  experience  of  this  Society  that  mildew 
on  the  grape  is  principally  atmospheric,  and  that 
shelter  and  protection  are  the  only  expedients 
known  at  present,  that  seem  to  offer  an  exemp- 
tion ;  and  that  although  the  soil  may  influence 
the  general  vigor  and  health  of  the  plant,  and 
thus  render  it  more  liable  to  disease,  yet  it  is  not 
the  prime  origin  of  mildew.  That  the  rot  seems 
to  depend  more  particularly  upon  the  nature  of 
the  soil.  That  vines  on  open  porous  soils  are 
less  liable  to  rot,  that  heavy  manuring  and  ex- 
cessive enriching  favors  rot ;  and  that  clayey  sub- 
soils are  "  particularly  pernicious."  The  state- 
ment that  mildew  is  "  principally  atmospheric" 
is  a  very  vague  one.  Mildew  is  a  minute  parasitic 
plant  of  the  fungus  or  mushroom  family,  which 
lives  upon  the  tissues  of  the  leaves,  and  causes 
their  decay.  The  Society  probably  meant  to  say, 
that  the  growth  of  this  parasite  was  favored  or 
retarded  by  the  condition  of  the  atmosphere. 

<*-* —  —  mm     — ►-♦ 

Notes  on  Grapes. 


In  our  remarks  upon  the  grapes  exhibited  at 
the  Grape  Show,  the  Union  Village  was  passed 
with  rather  weak  praise.  Since  then  Dr.  J.  B. 
Chapin  of  Rhode  Island  has  sent  us  a  specimen 
of  the  fruit  thoroughly  ripened,  showing  that, 
with  him  at  least,  it  attains  a  perfection  we  did 
not  suppose  it  capable  of.  It  is  generally  the  case 
that  black  grapes  color  sometime  before  they 
are  really  ripe.  This  is  illustrated  by  the  Isa- 
bella, which  is  seldom  found  iu  the  market 
well  ripened.  If  the  Union  Village  can  be 
grown  elsewhere,  as  fine  as  those  sent  by  Dr. 
Chapin,  we  shall  rate  it  much  higher  than  here- 
tofore. In  size  and  beauty  it  is  hardly  excelled 
by  any  of  our  natives,  and  not  surpassed  by  the 
Black  Hamburgh. — Diana.  This  variety  is  re- 
markable for  its  keeping  qualities.  A  collect- 
ion of  about  20  varieties  has  been  exposed  upon 
our  tables  for  some  two  weeks,  and  while  most 


370 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[December, 


of  the  others  have  become  shriveled  and  un- 
sightly, the  Dianas  remain  plunip  and  fresh. 
Good  judges  place  it  high  as  a  wine  grape,  and 
consider  that  a  mixture  of  this  and  the  Dela- 
ware produces  better  wine  than  can  be  made 
from  either  variety  alone.  Elsinburgh  and  Her- 
bemont. — These  small  grapes  grow  in  favor  as 
they  become  better  known.  They  will  probably 
never  be  popular  as  market  fruit,  but  for  the 
table  we  consider  them  very  fine.  The  berries 
are  scarcely  larger  than  good  sized  peas,  but 
they  have  such  a  sprightly  vinous  flavor  that 
they  are  great  favorites  with  many.  The  Elsin- 
burgh is  the  more  hardy  of  the  two.  Though 
these  grapes  are  much  alike  in  size  and  general 
appearance,  they  differ  in  sweetness  and  flavor, 
and  are  both  desirable  in  amateur  collections. 

Origin  of  the  "  Clinton  Grape." 

— • — 

In  his  address  at  the  Kirkland  Agricultural 
Fair,  Prof.  North  stated  that  the  Clinton  Grape 
originated  in  the  horticultural  amusements  of  a 
student  at  Hamilton  College,  and  that  the  ori- 
ginal Clinton  vine  is  now  growing  over  a  tall 
elm  tree  near  the  house  formerly  occupied  by 
Dr.  Noyes.  It  was  planted  there  in  1821,  by 
Hon.  Hugh  White,  of  Cohoes,  who  was  then  a 
Junior  in  College.  Two  years  before,  he  had 
planted  a  quantity  of  grape-seed  in  his  father's 
garden  in  Whitesboro' ;  and  out  of  the  hun- 
dreds of  seedlings  that  grew  up  from  this  plant- 
ing, one  was  selected  that  looked  promising,  and 
was  planted  near  the  house  of  Dr.  Noyes,  with 
whom  Mr.  White  then  boarded.  It  proved  to 
be  a  rampant  grower,  and  wonderfully  pro- 
ductive. As  a  grape  for  making  wine  and 
jellies,  it  has  come  to  be  a  favorite  in  latitudes 
where  the  Catawba  will  not  ripen.  It  is  a  some- 
what popular  grape  with  those  who  make  no  spe- 
cial objection  to  a  little  foxiness,  because  the  vine 
is  so  thoroughly  hardy,  and  the  crops  so  unfail- 
ing. The  original  Clinton  grape-vine  now  girths 
fifteen  inches  for  each  of  its  main   branches. 

Mr.  L.  B.  Langworthy,  in  a  communication 
to  the  Rural  New-Yorker,  claims  to  have  first 
introduced  and  named  the  Clinton,  and  that  it 
originally  came  from  a  farm  in  Waterford,  on 
the  Hudson  River.  As  Mr.  L.  did  not  know 
the  vine  until  1830,  while  Mr.  White  planted 
his  in  1821,  it  is  possible  they  may  both  be  the 
same.  Mr.  Langworthy  invites  an  interchange 
of  specimens  to  settle  the  question  of  identity. 

« ■        »♦—        i  » 

Keeping   Grapes. 

J.  S.  Christian  communicates  to  the  Prairie 
Farmer  the  following  plan :  The  grapes  are 
picked  when  fully  ripe,  on  a  dry  afternoon,  and 
taken  to  a  dry  cool  room  where  every  unripe  or 
decayed  berry  is  removed  by  means  of  a  pair  of 
scissors.  The  bunches  are  laid  out  so  as  not  to 
touch  each  other,  and  allowed  to  remain  for 
three  weeks,  until  the  stems  are  thoroughly  dry. 
Tissue  or  soft  printing  paper  is  cut  into  pieces 
of  a  size  to  envelop  each  bunch.  The  square  of 
paper  is  laid  on  the  left  hand,  a  bunch  of  grapes 
is  laid  upon  the  paper,  and  the  edges  of  the  pa- 
per are  brought  up  over  the  bunch  and  secured 
by  twisting  the  ends.  The  bunches  thus  envel- 
oped are  laid  in  boxes  deep  enough  to  contain 
two  tiers.  The  boxes  are  covered  and  kept  in 
a  cool  room.  If  there  is  danger  of  frost,  they 
should  be  covered  with  carpets  or  quilts.  Isa- 
bellas, Diai-as,  and  Delawares,  may  be  kept  in 
this  way  until  Spring,  in  a  perfectly  fresh  state. 
— Query.  Will  the  grapes  keep  well  when  thus 
left  three  -weeks  in  the  open  air  ? 


Labels   for   Fruit  Trees. 


"  Shady  Side,"  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  thinks  that 
the  leaden  label  described  in  the  Agriculturist  for 
October,  may  be  good,  but  he  prefers  a  label 
of  sheet  zinc  which  has  a  hole  punched  at 
one  end  to  receive  a  piece  of  copper  wire  by 
means  of  which  it  may  be  attached  to  the  tree. 
The  name  is  written  upon  the  label  with  a  com- 
mon pen,  and  with  an  ink  made  as  follows :  1 
drachm  each  of  verdigris  and  sal  ammoniac,  i 
drachm  lampblack,  and  10  drachms  of  water. 
This  can  be  prepared  at  any  drug  store.  The 
recipe  is  not  by  any  means  new,  and  we  give  it 
for  the  benefit  of  those  who  may  not  have  seen 
it.  The  advantage  of  the  sheet  lead  label 
is,  that  it  yields  to  the  growth  of  the  tree  and 
there  is  no  danger  of  that  strangulation  which 
is  often  produced  by  copper  wire,  when  neglect- 
ed, as  it  often  is.  The  zinc  labels  might  be  fast- 
ened on  with  lead  wire,  which  is  sold  at  the 
agricultural  implement  stores.  In  the  engrav- 
ing of  the  lead  label  published  in  October,  the 
end  passing  through  the  slit  should  have  been 
bent  over  in  order  to  properly  secure  the  label. 


Prepare  the  Vegetable  Garden. 


In  December  there  is  often  a  mild  spell  in 
which  preparation  can  be  made  for  Spring  in 
the  garden.  A  deep  soil  is  essential  to  the  pro- 
duction of  garden  vegetables ;  but  if  the  soil  is 
unfortunately  shallow,  and  with  an  unfavorable 
subsoil,  measures  should  be  taken  to  deepen  it. 
Works  upon  gardening,  presuming  that  the 
soil  is  of  course  deep,  direct  trenching.  In  this 
operation,  properly  performed,  the  ground  is 
dug  at  least  two  spades  deep,  and  the  lower 
soil  brought  to  the  surface,  and  the  upper  soil 
put  in  its  place  below.  There  are  many  gar- 
dens in  which  it  would  be  decidedly  poor 
management  to  bring  a  poor  subsoil  to  the  top, 
and  to  bury  the  good  surface  mould  a  spade 
deep.  Where  the  soil  is  shallow,  the  aim  should 
be  to  increase  its  depth  and  better  fit  it  for  the 
growth  of  those  plants  the  roots  of  which  pene- 
trate deeply.  In  small  gardens  this  work  can 
be  done  with  the  spade  and  at  this  time  of  com- 
parative leisure,  provided  the  ground  be' not 
frozen  nor  too  wet.  The  usual  method  of 
working  is  to  dig  a  trench  about  three  feet 
wide  and  a  spade  deep,  throwing  out  the  soil 
on  one  side ;  put  a  good  supply  of  manure  into 
the  trench,  and  spade  it  well  into  the  sub- 
soil at  the  bottom.  This  being  done,  commence 
a  second  trench  close  to  and  parallel  with  the 
other,  throwing  the  top  soil  into  the  first  trench, 
working  in  manure  at  the  same  time.  The  sub- 
soil in  the  second  trench  is  treated  the  same  as 
that  in  the  first  one,  and  the  work  is  continued 
by  making  trench  after  trench,  and  manuring 
each  one  in  the  same  way.  The  top  soil  of  the 
first  trench  is  finally  put  into  the  last  one.     The 


d 

c 

a 

e 

/ 

accompanying  diagram  will  show  how  the 
work  may  be  laid  out  so  as  to  avoid  the  fa- 
tiguing labor  of  wheeling  the  earth  taken  out 
of  the  first  trench  to  the  last.  The  spading  is 
begun  at  a,  the  dirt  being  thrown  out  at  b; 
this  trench  being  treated  as  above  directed,  and 
the  work  continued  until  d  is  reached.  The 
top  soil  from  e  is  thrown  into  d,  and  the  other 
half  of  the  plot  is  then  spaded  over  and  treated 


in  the  same  way,  and  the  job  finished  by  put- 
ting the  earth  thrown  out  at  6  into  /.  If  the 
garden  is  of  sufficient  size,  it  should  be  st  ar- 
ranged that  the  greater  part  of  the  labor  can  be 
done  with  a  horse.  It  is  a  great  saving  to  sub- 
stitute the  plow  and  cultivator  for  the  spade 
and  hoe,  and  to  do  this  requires  a  little  fore- 
thought. All  those  plants  which  remain  in  the 
same  spot  for  several  years,  such  as  asparagus, 
rhubarb,  and  the  perennial  herbs,  should  have 
a  location  by  themselves ;  the  remainder  of  the 
garden,  which  at  most  needs  but  a  single  path 
through  the  centre,  will  then  be  left  unob- 
structed. It  is  a  great  waste  of  space  to  cut  large 
vegetable  gardens  into  beds,  as  it  costs  about 
as  much  labor  to  keep  the  paths  clean  as  it  does 
to  cultivate  the  crops.  Gardens  laid  out  in  beds 
and  edged  with  box  or  other  edging,  may  look 
very  neat,  but  they  are  unprofitable.  Every 
crop,  the  nature  of  which  will  admit  of  it, 
should  be  planted  in  rows  sufficiently  wide 
apart  to  allow  of  cultivation  with  horse  power. 


Manuring  Pear  Trees. 

At  one  of  the  Fruit  Growers'  Meetings,  Dr. 
I.  M.  Ward,  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  gave,  by  request, 
an  account  of  his  manner  of  manuring  his 
pear  orchard.  In  Autumn  he  applies  several 
barrow  loads  of  course  stable  manure  to  each 
tree,  spreading  it  several  inches  thick  all  around 
the  tree  as  far  as  the  roots  extend.  During  the 
Winter  the  soluble  matter  is  gradually  leached 
from  the  manure  and  carried  into  the  soil.  In 
the  Spring  what  remains  of  the  manure  is  cov- 
ered with  a  coating  of  salt  hay  (or  any  other 
cheap  hay)  and  it  is  allowed  to  remain  on  until 
Fall,  when  it  is  removed,  and  manure  applied  as 
before.  By  having  the  ground  mulched  in 
this  way,  it  is  kept  moist  and  free  from  weeds. 
This  mode  of  applying  manure  is  approved  by 
some  of  our  most  successful  cultivators,  and  is 
preferred  to  plowing  in  the  manure,  at  the  risk 
of  disturbing  the  surface  roots. 


Fruits  for  Eastern  Pennsylvania. 

— • — 
Frequent  inquiries  come  to  the  Agriculturist  as 
to  what  fruits  to  plant.  These  we  answer  when 
we  have  the  statistics  at  hand.  The  very  local 
character  of  many  of  our  fruits  is  not  generally 
appreciated.  AVhat  will  succeed  in  one  place 
will  sometimes  fail  in  an  adjoining  town  or 
county.  The  knowledge  of  the  geographical 
characters  of  fruits  is  yet  very  imperfect,  but 
each  year  is  adding  to  it,  and  we  watch  with 
much  interest  all  the  reports  of  discussions  of 
horticultural  societies,  farmers'  clubs,  and  the 
like.  At  the  Fruit  Growers'  Society  of  Eastern 
Pennsylvania,  the  following  were  decided  upon : 

Summer  Pears. — Manning's  Elizabeth,  Doy- 
enne d'Ete,  Tyson. — Autumn  Pears. — Bartlett, 
Seckel,  Belle  Lucrative,  Beurre  Diel,  Beurre 
d'Anjou,  Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey,  Sheldon. — 
Winter  Pears. — Lawrence,  Vicar  of  Winkfield. 

Strawberries  :  Wilson,  Triomphe  de  Gand, 
Fillmore,  Jenny  Lind,  Lady  Finger. — Raspber- 
ries :  Purple  Cane  (earliest  and  best),  Briuckle's 
Orange,  Franconia,  Hornet. — Blackberries :  Dor- 
chester, it  being  preferred  to  the  New-Rochclle, 
as  being  sweeter  and  earlier. 


How  to  Lay  up  Money.— Always  spend 
each  week  less  than  you  receive.  Our  real  wants 
are  always  less  than  our  desires.  The  writer 
has  lived  on  two  shillings  a  week  for  eatables, 
for  months  together,  living  on  hominy  and  milk, 


1863.1 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


371 


and  enjoyed  as  good  health  and  spirits  as  when 
eating  up  what  costs  thirty  times  two  shillings. 
He  modified  his  desires  to  suit  his  income,  and 
has  now   "something   for  a  rainy   day." 

. •-. —      m      — •-• 

Cranberries  on  Upland. 

From  the  fine  specimens  which  have  been  ex- 
hibited this  season,  our  hope  that  Cranberries 
may  be  successfully  grown  in  common  garden 
soil  is  increased.  The  tables  of  the  Agriculturist 
have  now  several  samples  of  the  fruit  grown 
upon  dry  land,  which  will  compare  favorably 
with  any  produced  in  bogs.  One  specimen,  re- 
markable for  the  high  color  and  beauty  of  the 
berries,  was  grown  upon  the  pine-  barrens  of 
Long  Island,  by  T.  E.  Bridget.  The  lands  were 
cleaned  and  broken  up,  and  planted  with  roots 
taken  from  a  natural  bog.  The  plants  have  now 
been  out  for  three  years,  and  produced  at  the 
rate  of  75  bushels  to  the  acre.  Another  fine 
specimen  is  from  W.  I.  Spence  also  of  Long 
Island,  who  shows  a  potted  plant  to  illustrate 
his  manner  of  growing  the  vine.  Mr.  S.  keeps 
the  runners  clipped  oif,  and  induces  the  plant  to 
grow  in  a  bushy  form.  The  plant  exhibited,  is 
a  miniature  tree  perfectly  loaded  with  fruit. 
Experiments  continued  through  several  years 
are  needed  to  determine  if  the  vine  will  do  well 
under  this  treatment.  Recently,  we  saw  a 
patch  set  out  in  common  garden  soil  with  the 
addition  of  a  dressing  of  sand.  The  vines  had 
been  planted  but  two  years ;  from  their  strong 
growth  they  looked  as  if  they  would  be  a  suc- 
cess. It  will  cost  but  little  trouble  to  make  the 
experiment  of  growing  cranberries  in  the  gar- 
dun  ;  the  plants  can  always  be  procured  from 
those  who  grow  them  for  sale.  We  have  some 
hope  that  garden  culture  will  prove  so  success- 
fid  that  the  cranberry  patch  will  be  as  common 
and  as  indispensable  as  the  strawberry   bed. 


Collect  a  Store  of  Leaves. 


There  are  loads  of  excellent  manure  being 
blown  about  by  the  winds  or  hidden  in  the  for- 
est, which  should  be  made  available  in  the  gar- 
den. If  the  snow  has  not  covered  them,  the 
leaves  may  yet  be  secured.  It  is  but  little  work 
to  gather  a  large  store  of  them  from  the  woods, 
while  those  which  disfigure  the  lawn  and  collect 
in  the  fence  corners  should  be  very  carefully 
saved.  They  are  best  preserved  under  a  shed, 
or  they  may  be  made  into  a  heap  upon  which 
some  boards  are  to  be  placed  to  keep  them  from 
blowing  about.  Leaves  are  an  excellent  mulch 
for  strawberries  and  other  plants,  but  require  to 
have  brush  laid  over  to  keep  them  in  place. 
One  of  their  most  important  uses  in  the  garden, 
is  in  the  making  of  hot-beds  in  Spring.  Used 
in  equal  quantities  with  stable  manure,  a  more 
manageable  and  lasting  heat  is  obtained  than 
with  manure  alone,  and  when  the  hot-bed  is 
done  with,  there  will  be  left  a  mass  of  most  ex- 
cellent compost.  Leaves  may  be  used  to  in- 
crease the  stock  of  manure  by  putting  them 
into  the  hog-pen,  barn-yard  or  compost  heaps. 
•-« -™e»— _ 

How  to  Fumigate  a  House  Plant. 

Bessie  W.,  wishes  to  know  how  she  can  de- 
stroy the  aphis  or  plant  louse  upon  her  roses 
and  geraniums.  "We  have  found  tobacco  smoke 
to  answer  the  purpose.  Coil  up  a  newspaper 
or  other  large  paper  in  the  form  of  a  cone, 
pin  it  so  that  it  will  keep  its  shape,  and  invert 
it  over  the  plant.  Then  if  you  happen  to  have 
Borne  friend  at  hand  who  smokes,  get  him  to 


light  a  little  tobacco  in  the  bottom  of  the  bowl 
of  a  common  pipe,  and  when  this  is  well  kin- 
dled, fill  up  the  pipe  with  tobacco.  Then  intro- 
duce the  bowl  of  the  pipe  under  the  edge  of  the 
paper  cone  and  blow  through  the  stem.  The 
fire  being  at  the  bottom,  there  will  be  copious 
clouds  of  smoke  driven  into  the  cone.  If  no 
smoking  friend  is  at  hand,  you  may  manage  it 
yourself,  by  putting  a  small  live  coal  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  pipe,  place  the  tobacco  upon  it,  and 
proceed  as  before.  Care  should  be  taken  not  to 
drive  the  hot  smoke  from  the  pipe  directly 
against  the  leaves.  Let  the  plant  remain  10  or 
15  minutes  in  the  smoke,  and  then  lay  it  on  its 
side  in  a  sink  and  give  it  a  thorough  drenching 
from  a  watering  pot. 

•-* WW    — »-•■ 

Hints   about  House  Plants. 


There  is  quite  a  pile  of  letters  upon  our  desk 
from  persons  who  have  written  to  the  Agricul- 
turist complaining  of  their  want  of  success  in 
growing  this  or  that  house  plant,  and  asking  for 
advice.  These  letters  we  shall  be  obliged  to 
answer  in  general  terms.  The  great  difficulties 
ingrowing  plants  in  the  living  room  are:  the 
excessive  dryness  of  the  atmosphere,  too  much 
heat  and  too  little  light,  the  great  alterna- 
tions of  temperature,  and  improper  watering. 
There  are  a  few  plants  which  will  stand  any 
treat  »ient  and  neglect,  but  most  of  the  choicest 
varieties  must  have  some  care  in  respect  to  the 
conditions  above  noted.  In  Winter  the  air  of 
our  living  rooms  is  too  dry  for  the  healthful  con- 
dition of  either  animals  or  vegetables — especi- 
ally when  the  house  is  heated  by  a  stove  or 
a  furnace.  Now,  unless  we  can  avoid  excessive 
dryness  by  evaporating  water,  either"  on  the 
stove  or  in  the  furnace,  there  is  but  little  use  to 
try  to  cultivate  house  plants.  An  atmosphere, 
not  unnaturally  dry  is  one  of  the  first  essentials. 

In  many  of  the  rooms  where  plants  are 
grown,  there  is  an  almost  tropical  heat  and  very 
little  sun.  Under  such  conditions  it  is  in  vain  to 
expect  a  healthy  growth.  The  plants,  to  flour- 
ish well,  must  have  the  sunlight ;  the  morning 
sun  is  preferable,  but  the  afternoon  sun  will  do. 
Plants  will  survive  if  kept  in  diffused  da3rlight, 
but  will  not  be  vigorous  unless  they  have  direct 
sunlight  during  some  part  of  the  day.  Another 
great  drawback  to  the  growth  of  plants,  is  the 
serious  changes  of  heat  to  which  our  dwellings 
are  generally  subject.  During  the  night  the 
temperature  is  allowed  to  sink  nearly  to  freez- 
ing, and  in  the  morning  when  the  fires  are  built, 
it  is  suddenly  raised  to  over  70°.  These  daily 
alternations  are  very  severe  upon  the  health  of 
the  plants,  and  only  the  most  hardy  can  endure 
them. — If  all  conditions  of  temperature  and  light 
are  satisfactory,  still  the  plants  will  not  grow 
unless  properly  watered.  House  plants  are  lia- 
ble to  suffer  both  from  a  lack  of  water  and 
a  superabundance  of  it.  All  glazed  pots  or 
porcelain  jars  should  be  discarded.  There  is 
nothing  so  well  adapted  to  the  growth  of  plants 
as  the  common  clay  pot  or  crock.  Nor  should 
these  be,  as  is  often  the  case,  kept  standing  in  a 
saucer  or  feeder  of  water.  The  saucers  may 
answer  very  well  to  keep  the  pot  from  contact 
with  the  shelf  or  stand,  but  as  a  receptacle  for 
water  it  is  worse  than  useless. — Too  much  atten- 
tion can  not  be  paid  to  potting.  The  pot,  if  of 
medium  size,  should  have  at  least  an  inch  of 
broken  crocks  placed  in  the  bottom  before  the 
earth  is  put  in,  to  afford  the  soil  ample  drain- 
age. The  proper  amount  of  moisture  for  plants 
is  just  what  can  be  held  by  the  s<  1  where 
it  has  free  chance  to  drain  off.    If  the  pots  are 


well  drained,  the  plants  may  be  watered  freely, 
and  the  excess  will  run  off  through  the  holes  at 
the  bottom.  In  warm  rooms,  plants  will  gener- 
ally need  watering  every  day ;  this  is  best  done 
with  a  watering  pot,  which  will  distribute  the 
water  evenly  without  disturbing  or  packing  the 
earth.  The  water  applied  should  be  at  least  of 
the  temperature  of  the  room.  It  is  a  serious 
check  to  plants  in  an  atmosphere  of  70°,  to 
give  them  water  at  40°.  The  water  should  be 
kept  long  enough  in  the  room  to  acquire  its 
temperature,  or  be  brought  up  to  that  by  the  ad- 
dition of  hot  water.  In  house  rooms  the  foliage 
soon  gets  covered  with  dust,  which  not  only 
injures  its  appearance  but  seriously  impairs 
its  health.  All  smooth  leaved  plants  will  be 
much  benefited  and  their  appearance  greatly 
improved  by  carefully  wiping  their  leaves  with 
a  damp  sponge.  Those  which  have  hairy  leaves 
and  can  not  be  treated  in  this  way,  should  be 
placed  out  of  doors  on  a  mild  day,  and  syringed 
or  showered ;  or,  if  the  weather  will  not  admit 
of  this,  they  may  be  placed  in  a  sink  and  there 
receive  a  drenching.  The  plants  should  have 
plenty  of  air  on  mild  days.  By  observing  these 
hints,  our  readers  will  have  less  cause  to  com- 
plain of  their  want  of  success  with  house  plants. 


Spring  Flowers  in  Winter. 


Several  favorites  of  the  garden  can  be  had  in 
flower  during  the  Winter,  by  taking  a  little 
pains.  The  Dicentra,  Lily  of  the  Valley,  Deut- 
zia  gracilis,  and  many  other  hardy  plants  may 
be  made  to  serve  as  ornaments  in  the  parlor  or 
sitting  room.  The  plants  taken  up  before  the 
ground  is  frozen,  and  potted,  will  make  a  toler- 
able show,  but  some  will  flower  much  more 
finely  if  they  are  allowed  to  make  their  first 
growth  in  the  dark  and  are  then  brought  to  the 
light.  The  Lily  of  the  Valley,  if  judiciously 
treated,  may  be  made  to  show  its  beautiful  and 
fragrant  flowers  by  Christmas.  The  following 
directions  for  forcing  this  charming  plant  are 
condensed  from  Rand's  excellent  little  work, 
called  "  Flowers  for  the  Parlor  and  Garden :" 
After  the  middle  of  November  the  oldest  tu- 
bers are  taken  up,  being  careful  to  select  those 
which  have  thick  blunt  buds,  as  these  alone 
produce  flowers.  The  tubers  are  wrapped  in  a 
little  moss  and  packed  as  closely  as  possible  in 
pots  or  boxes,  filled  with  light  porous  soil; 
they  are  planted  just  deep  enough  to  cover  the 
buds.  An  empty  pot,  or  box,  of  the  same  size 
is  inverted  over  that  in  which  the  plants  are 
placed,  and  the  whole  set  in  a  warm  place,  and  it 
is  all  the  better  if  they  can  have  a  little  bottom 
heat,  which  can  be  given  if  one  has  a  green- 
house. The  plants  are  kept  in  this  way  in  the 
dark  until  they  begin  to  show  flowers.  The 
pots  may  than  be  transferred  to  a  light  room, 
or  the  plants  may  be  placed  in  vases  or  in 
baskets,  where  they  are  to  flower.  By  bringing 
them  gradually  into  the  sun-light,  the  leaves 
will  soon  turn  green.  Of  course  as  soon  as  the 
plants  start,  they  should  have  a  supply  of  water. 
The  Dicentra  may  be  treated  in  the  same  way, 
and  we  know  of  no  more  beautiful  plant  for 
forcing.  The  Deutzia  gracilis,  from  its  small 
size  and  neat  habit,  is  one  of  the  best  shrubs  for 
winter  blooming.  Take  up  the  plants  with  a 
ball  of  earth  and  place  them  in  a  cool  cellar, 
and  when  wanted  for  flowering,  pot  them  and 
bring  them  into  a  warm  room.  Plants  forced 
to  bloom  in  the  Winter,  cannot  be  expected  to 
flower  again  in  Spring.  They  may  be  plant- 
ed out  and  allowed  to  recover,  or  if  there  is  al- 
ready au  abundance,  they  may  be  thrown  away. 


373 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


December, 


Notes  on   the  Basswood  or  Linden- 

A  note  in  the  Agriculturist  for  June,  upon  the 
preparation  of  basswood  bark,  has  called  out 
inquiries  as  to  the  characters  by  which  it  may 
be  recognized,  and  the  manner  of  its  growth. 
As  the  tree  grows  from  Canada  to  Virginia,  and 
southward,  it  is  probable  that  most  persons  who 
live  in  the  country  are  somewhat  acquaint- 
ed with  it.  The  botanical  name  of  the  tree  is 
Tilia  Americana,  and  it  is  known  by  the  popular 
names  of  Basswood,  Linden,  Lime-tree,  and 
White-wood — the  last  name  is,  however,  in 
some  regions  exclusively  applied  to  the  Tulip- 
tree.  When  allowed  to  grow  by  itself,  the  Bass- 
wood  forms  a  large  tree  of  a  very  regular  form, 
and  in  the  density  of  its  shade,  is  equalled  by  few 
of  our  native  trees.  The  bark  of  the  young 
trees  is  very  smooth,  and  that  of  the  young 
shoots  is  of  a  very  dark  color.  The  leaves  are 
roundish,  heart  shaped,  with  one  side  larger 
than  the  other,  sharply  serrate— rather  thin,  and 
about  5  inches  long  and  wide.  The  flowers, 
which  appear  in  July,  are  in  clusters  upon  a 
long  stalk,  are  yellowish  white  with  a  very 
pleasant  fragrance.  The  flower  stalk  has  a 
long  leaf-like  bract  or  scale  attached  to  it  for 
about  half  its  length ;  this  alone  will,  in  the 
flowering  season,  distinguish  it  from  any  other 
native  tree.  The  fruit  consists  of  a  round  gray 
nut,  about  the  size  of  a  large  pea,  which  con- 
tains a  single  seed,  and  is  ripe  in  October.  The 
tree  will  grow  in  poor  soil,  though  it  delights  in 
a  fertile  one,  and  is  valuable  as  a  shade  tree. 
The  European  Linden  is  often  planted  for  this 
purpose,  but  the  native  species  is  preferable  on 
account  of  its  greater  freedom  from  the  attacks 
of  insects.  The  flowers  are  much  liked  by  bees, 
and  the  honey  which  they  furnish,  is  said  to  be 
finer  flavored  than  any  other.  The  use  of  the 
inner  bark  is  well  known  to  all  who  work  in 
the  garden,  its  flexibility  and  great  toughness 
rendering  it  the  best  possible  material  for  tying. 
It  is  largely  used  in  northern  Europe  for  making 
mats,  cordage,  fishing  nets,  and  even  coarse 
clothing.  The  Russian  mats  furnish  the  main 
supply  of   tying    materia1,    to  our   gardeners, 


though  a  superior  article  can  be  made  from 
the  inner  bark  of  our  native  tree.  The  bark 
from  the  tree,  cut  any  time  during  the  grow- 
ing season,  and  treated  as  directed  in  the  June 
Agriculturist,  will  give  a  most  excellent  material 
for  tying.  In  localities  where  it  is  not  found 
native,  it  would  pay  to  cultivate  the  tree  for  this 
purpose  only.  Trees  of  a  foot  or  less  in  diam- 
eter are  preferred  to  larger  ones,  for  furnish- 
ing bark.  The  wood  is  tough  and  pliable,  and 
is  used  by  wagon  builders  for  panels,  by  cabinet 
makers  for  drawers,  and  by  stair  builders  where 
the  work  has  to  be  curved.  The  tree  is  readily 
raised  from  the  nuts,  which  are  planted  in  the 
Autumn, or  kept  through  the  Winter  in  boxes  of 
earth.  The  young  plants  are  left  for  two  years  in 
the  seed  bed,  they  are  then  taken  up,  the  roots 
shortened,  and  the  side  branches  trimmed  up 
and  set  in  nursery  rows  where  they  are  left  un- 
til large  enough  to  be  planted  where  they  are 
to  remain.  The  tree  is  also  propagated  by  lay- 
ers. When  a  tree  is  cut  down,  numerous  shoots 
spring  up  from  the  stump  ;  these  at  two  years 
old,  are  layered  in  Autumn,  and  at  the  end  of  a 
year  will  be  well  rooted,  when  they  may  be  re- 
moved. The  engraving  represents  the  flowers 
and  smaller  leaves,  with  fruit  of  the  natural  size. 


A  Jacket  to  Keep  off  Borers. — Geo.  T. 
Leach,  Litchfield  Co.,  Conn.,  uses  a  strip  of 
White-birch  bark  3  or  4  inches  wide  and  long 
enough  to  go  once  and  a  half  around  the  tree 
to  be  protected.  The  soil  is  removed  and  this 
is  wrapped  around  close  to  the  roots  and  the 
soil  replaced.  Mr.  L.  says  that  he  never  knew 
a  tree  thus  treated  to  be  harmed  by  the  borer. 
Any  wrapping  which  can  not  be  penetrated  by 
the  young  borer  will  answer  a  good  purpose, 
and  where  birch  trees  are  plenty  the  bark  may 
be  used  instead  of  wrappers  of  strong  paper, 
cloth,  and  other  materials,  which  have  been  rec- 
ommended. We  suppose  that  our  correspondent 
means  the  Canoe-birch  rather  than  the  White- 
birch.  A  gentlemen  in  Connecticut  informs 
us  that  he  saved  his  peach  trees  by  a  mound  of 
stones  around  the  trunk  to  prevent  the  parent 
of  the  borer  from  depositing  eggs  near  the  root. 


The  Growth  of  Pear  Trees  in  Hedges- 

Allusion  has  been  made  to  this  way  of  grow- 
ing the  pear,  and  those  who  have  tried  it,  are 
enthusiastic  in  its  praise.  Mr.  T.  W.  Field 
of  Brooklyn  has  a  large  number  of  the  Duchesse 
in  hedges  ;  he  thinks  this  variety  particularly 
adapted  to  this  treatment,  and  is  convinced  that 
he  can  get  larger  crops  of  fruit  than  can  be  ob- 
tained by  any  other  mode  of  culture.  Dwarf 
trees  are  planted  two  and  a  half  feet  apart,  and 
are  clipped  yearly,  like  any  other  hedge.  Such 
a  hedge  would  make  a  very  pretty  boundary  to 
a  fruit  garden.  Mr.  Field  cultivates  the  trees  in 
this  way  for  the  fruit,  and  his  hedges  are  parallel 
with  each  other  at  a  distance  of  only  4  feet. 
Mr.  J.  0.  Thompson  of  Staten  Island  is  cultivat- 
ing a  hedge  of  Bartletts,  but  he  follows  a  differ- 
ent method.  The  trees  are  five  or  six  feet 
apart ;  the  branches  are  allowed  to  grow  up- 
right at  first,  and  are  gradually  brought  to  the 
horizontal  position  by  bending  them  down  and 
tying  them  to  the  neighboring  trees  by  means 
of  strings.  Low  branching  trees  are  to  be  se- 
lected for  this  purpose,  and  if  they  do  not 
branch  sufficiently  low,  or  if  a  branch  is  needed 
to  fill  a  gap,  a  twig  is  inserted  by  side  grafting ; 
or,  if  a  dormant  bud  is  found  in  the  right  place, 
it  is  induced  to  start  by  notching  the  bark  just 
below  it,  Grown  by  Mr.  Thompson's  method 
the  tree  is  like  an  espalier  without  a  trellis.  The 
bending  down  of  the  branches  causes  the  forma- 
tion of  fruit  buds  along  the  whole  length.  Wc 
never  saw  a  greater  promise  of  fruit  than  these 
trees  present,  and  shall  watch  their  future 
growth  with  interest,   and   report  the  result. 


A  New  Squash— The  Yokohama. 


Thomas  ITogg,  Esq.,  the  well-known  horti- 
culturist, now  in  Japan,  sent  from  that  country 
to  his  brother  here,  Mr.  Jas.  Hogg,  some  squash 
seeds  which  were  planted  and  carefully  culti- 
vated at  a  distance  from  any  other  variety.  The 
vines  proved  to  be  very  robust  and  vigorous, 
running  freely,  taking  root  at  every  joint;  they 
bore  a  large  crop  of  squashes  so  different  in  ap- 
pearance from  anything  we  now  have,  as  to 
mark  it  as  a  new  variety.  The  engraving,  fig.  1, 
will  give  an  idea  of  its  shape.  It  is  about  8 
inches  across,  4  inches  thick,  and  weighs  from 
6  to  8  pounds.  The  stem  instead  of  being 
round  and  fleshy  as  in  Hubbard  and  other  fine 
fleshed  squashes,  is  very  long,  woody,  and  angled 


Fig.  1. — YOKOHAMA    SQUASn. 

like  that  of  the  pumpkin.  The  surface  is  strong- 
ly ribbed  ;  the  skin  warty,  and  of  a  dark  green 
color,  which  frequently  turns  more  or  less  com- 
pletely to  a  dull  orange.  The  cavity  for  the 
seeds,  as  seen  in  fig.  2,  is  very  small  and  placed 
near  the  blossom  end,  where  the  flesh  is  veiy 


1863.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


378 


thin.  Seeds  very  small,  not  larger  than  those  of 
the  summer  crook-neck.  We  have  cooked  this 
squash  in  various  ways,  and  consider  it  of  the 
first  quality.  The  flesh  is  very  tine  grained, 
sweet,  sufficiently  dry,  and  good  flavored.    It  has 


-aaSSSSBI 


{; 


\ 


Fig.  2.— INTERIOR  OIT    SQUASH. 

the  appearance  of  being  a  good  keeper,  but  in 
this  respect  it  is  yet  to  be  tested.  From  the 
size  of  the  seeds,  Mr.  Hogg  supposed  it  to  be  a 
bush-squash,  aud  planted  it  so  closely  that  the 
vines  did  not  have  a  fair  chance  to  run,  but  in 
this  unfavorable  condition  it  proved  to  be  a 
good  bearer,  and  much  earlier  in  maturing  than 
other  Autumn  varieties.  We  suppose  the  small 
stock  of  seeds  will  be  placed  on  sale  with  some 
of  the  seed  dealers ;  we  have  none  to  dispose  of. 
•-. — — «» >-• 

A  Convenient  Clothes-Sprinkler- 


A  subscriber  to  the  American  Agriculturist,  Geo. 
L.  Hale,  Cumberland  Co.,  Pa.,  sends  a  model  and 
description  of  the  clothes-sprinkler  illustrated 
herewith,  which  we  find  upon  trial  to  be  a  con- 
venient instrument.  It  is  made  of  tin,  the  main 
part  or  cylinder,  i}4  inches  long,  and  3%  inches  in 
diameter.  One  end  is  convex 
and  is  punched  with  very  fine 
holes,  J-^  inch  apart.  The 
handle  is  4)4  inches  long,  hol- 
low, and  opens  into  the  cylin- 
der. When  in  use,  the  top 
of  the  handle  is  closed  by  a 
well-fitting  cork.  To  fill  the 
sprinkler,  take  out  the  cork 
and  plunge  the  cylinder  into  a 
vessel  of  water  ;  then  insert 
the  cork,  and  with  a  gentle 
shake,  the  water  will  be 
thrown  over  the  clothing  clothes  sprinkler. 
more  evenly  than  can  be  done 
by  the  hand  alone,  and  without  necessity  of  wetting 
the  fingers.  The  article  is  not  patented,  and  can 
be  very  easily  and  cheaply  made  by  any  tinman. 


Economy  in  the  Household. 


With  cotton  cloth  at  40  cents  a  yard,  chickens  at 
18  cents  a  pound,  and  beefsteak  not  much  less — 
with  every  article  of  food  and  clothing  greatly  in- 
creased in  price,  there  is  need  of  economy,  especial- 
ly among  that  large  class,  haviug  fixed  salaries  and 
incomes.  The  war  or  something  else  has  greatly 
increased  the  expenses  of  living,  without  adding  to 
the  income  of  a  large  class  of  the  people.  The  la- 
borer and  mechanic  have  raised  the  price  of  their 
wages  very  properly,  perhaps  not  in  proportion  to 
their  increased  expenses.  But  the  doctor  does  not 
charge  any  more  for  his  visits,  the  lawyer  probably 
thought  that  he  charged  about  enough  before,  aud 
the  people  seldom  think  of  raising  the  minis- 
ter's salary,  40  or  50  per  cent.,  to  enable  him  to 
make  both  ends  of  the  year  meet.  The  board  of  di- 
rectors in  the  bank  have  not  increased  the  salary  of 
the  cashiers  aud  clerks,  and  the  grocers  aud  dry- 
goods  men  have  forgotten  that  the  board  and 
clothing  of  their  employees  have  advanced  a  third 
or  more.  (Though  printing  paper  costs  double 
now,  the  subscriptiou  price  of  this  journal  is  not 
increased  at  all.)  ,  With  the  general  prosperity  of  the 
country,  there  is  a  good  deal  of  pinching  in  spots. 


What  is  to  be  done  to  meet  the 
emergency  ?  The  hardest  mat- 
ter, perhaps,  is  to  get  rid  of 
a  little  pride,  and  adapt  our- 
selves, with  true  manliness,  to 
our  new  circumstances.  An  old 
coat,  if  it  be  clean,  is  handsomer 
upon  an  honest  back,  than  the 
most  splendid  garment  a  bank- 
rupt ever  wore.  In  these  days 
of  cheap  benzine,  (there  is  one 
thing  cheap,)  a  little  money  will 
go  a  great  way  in  removing 
grease-spots  and  renovating  an 
old  garment.  We  must  wear 
our  garments  until,  like  the 
deacon's  onc-hoss  shay  celebrat- 
ed in  Holmes'  muse,  they  fall 
to  pieces  of  their  own  weight 
aud  antiquity,  or  rather  until 
the  day  before  that  catastrophe. 
We  shall  have  less  to  sell  to 
shoddy  manufacturers,  but  they 
will  make  enongh  without  our 
patronage.  Then,  in  taking 
care  of  the  stomach,  we  must 
go  in  for  the  substantial  rather 
than  the  most  costly  and  fash- 
ionable dishes.  If  flour  costs 
$11  a  ban*!,  do  not  buy  a  poor 
article  of  flour,  but  use  more 
Indian  and  rye  meal  instead. 
Look  back  over  the  American 
Agriculturist  recipes  for  cook- 
ing corn  meal;  one  must  be 
hard  to  suit  if  he  does  not  find 
dishes  good  and  cheap.  A  dol- 
lar in  this  article  will  go  as  far 
in  sustaining  life  as  $3  in  fine 
flour.  Rye  makes  au  excellent 
bread,  and  is  much  cheaper 
than  wheat.  The  unbolted  wheat  commonly  known 
as  Graham  meal,  makes  a  very  wholesome  bread. 
If  sugar  is  $40  a  barrel,  use  less  of  it.  Substitute 
sweet  apples  for  the  prepared  sweetmeats,  and 
both  money  and  health  will  be  saved.  It  is  not 
necessary,  at  every  evening  meal,  to  have  preserv- 
ed quinces,  peaches,  or  strawberries,  that  have  been 
made  with  a  pound  of  sugar  for  every  pound  of 
their  own  weight.  Baked  apples,  with  a  little  milk, 
disappear  with  celerity.  If  coffee  is  50  cents  a 
pound,  barley  is  only  2  or  3,  and  the  latter  is  the 
more  nutritious  article,  aud  makes  a  very  fair  drink. 
If  tea  is  a  dollar,  use  water,  which  is  both  cheap 
and  wholesome.  You  will  soon  get  accustomed  to 
it,  and  find  that  it  agrees  well  with  the  nerves. 
"  But  would  you  have  us  starve  to  death  iu  these 
hard  times  ?"  Not  at  all.  The  country  is  too  much 
in  need  of  every  good  citizen  to  lose  one,  by  under 
or  over-feeding.  We  must  have  good  wholesome 
food,  and  that  which  is  enjoyable.  When  beefsteak 
is  IS  cents  a  pound,  it  is  not  necessary  that  every 
meal  should  come  out  of  the  sirloin.  A  shin-bone 
costing  a  quarter  as  much,  made  into  a  soup, 
will  dine  quite  as  large  a  family,  and  give  them 
as  much  strength  for  physical  or  mental  labor. 
We  are  greatly  behind  our  neighbors,  the  Germans 
and  French,  in  the  use  of  soups,  and  indeed  iu  all 
matters  of  economy  at  the  table.  With  the  same  in- 
come they  will  live  comfortably  and  save,  where  we 
should  feel  pinched  and  run  in  debt.  The  war  is 
working  out  good  results  for  us,  in  many  respects. 
It  will  be  one  of  its  greatest  blessings,  if  it  teach  us 
simpler  modes  of  living,  and  constrain  us  to  a 
more  healthful  use  of  the  bounties  of  Providence. 


Tainted  Barrels. — A.  Neeper,  Ohio,  says  :  "Fill 
the  barrel  with  hay,  then  fill  up  with  boiling  wa- 
ter, let  stand  for  34  hours,  and  the  thing  is  done." 
We  have  seen  hams,  which  duriug  a  long  overlaud 
journey  in  a  warm  country,  had  acquired  an  un- 
pleasant odor,  rendered  perfectly  sweet  by  putting 
them  for  a  day  in  a  tub  with  hay  and  cold  water. 
"  Wm.  L,"  Orange  Co.,  N.  T.,  directs  to  fill  the  cask 
with  sour  milk  or  whey,  let  it  stand  several  days, 
then  refill  with  water,  and  change  occasionally. 


Pattern  for  Crocheting  or  Netting  a  Tidy. 


The  above  pattern,  designed  for  the  American 
Agriculturist  by  Miss  Sallie  K.  Bowman,  Philadel- 
phia Co.,  Pa.,  is  intended  for  crotcheting,  or  for 
darning  a  netted  tidy.  Those  skilled  in  the  myste- 
ries of  such  fancy  work  will  have  little  difficulty  in 
making  an  enlarged  copy  to  work  by ;  or  by  noticing 
the  arrangement  of  the  small  squares,  the  design 
can  be  followed  directly  from  the  engraving.  As 
will  be  generally  understood,  the  smaller  figures  at 
the  top  are  samples  of  the  border  and  corners.  The 
space  left  betweeu  the  chief  ornament  in  the  centre 
aud  the  border  will  be  regulated  by  the  size  of  the 
tidy  aud  the  fancy  of  the  maker. 


A  Home-made  Toast  Holder. 


This  simple  contrivance  will  be  found  a  very  con- 
venient article,  particularly  for  those  who  use  coal 
fires,  and  are  often  troubled  to  toast  a  slice  of  bread 
quickly  by  holding  it  near  the  coals.  If  the  bread 
is  laid  upon  a  support  on  the  top  of  the  stove,  it 
dries  hard  before  the  surface  is  browned,  impairing 
the  sweetness,  and  requiring  cither  very  good  teeth 
to  masticate  it,  or  to  be  moistened  by  hot  water  or 
milk.  Or  if  a  common  fork  be  used,  the  fingers  are 
burned,  and  the  forks  heated  and  loosened  in  the 
handle.  To  make  the  "holder,"  take  two  pieces  of 
common  wire  about  the  size  of  coarse  kuitting 
needles,  each  3  to  :.''._'  feet  long.  Twist  them  to- 
gether to  within  about  5  inches  of  each  end,  bend 
the  twisted  part  double,  to  bring  the  ends  together, 
and  then  form  the  arms  or  supports  as  showu  in  the 
engraving.  They  can  easily  be  sprung  apart  to  re- 
ceive a  slice  of  bread,  which  cau  then  be  conveni- 


374 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[December, 


ently  held  in  any  desired  position,  without  burning 
the  fingers.  A  ring  may  be  added  to  the  end,  by 
whieh  to  hang  up  the  apparatus  when  not  in  use. 
It  is  an  unpatented  article,  originated  by  one  of  the 
Editors  of  the  Agriculturist,  and  is  free  to  all. 
-»-. — — — ■»-»         i  ■ 

Costume  for  the  Garden,  etc. 

A  "  Farmer's  wife"  writes  to  the  American  Agri- 
culturist :  I  have  just  been  reading  an  article  in  the 
October  number,  page  307,  wherein  "Gardener," 
calls  upon  the  ladies  to  devise  a  dress,  in  which 
they  can  visit  the  green-house  to  admire  his  beauti- 
ful plants,  or  work  in  the  garden  without  destroy- 
ing all  with  which  they  come  in  contact.  Perhaps, 
he  and  others  interested,  would  be  pleased  to  know 
that  such  a  dress  has  been  devised,  and  is  now 
worn  by  hundreds  of  ladies  all  through  the  East- 
ern and  Western  States.  The  "  American  Cos- 
tume," which  consist  of  a  dress  made  in  the  ordi- 
nary way,  except  that  the  skirt  is  shortened  so 
that  it  comes  below  the  kuees,  with  pants  of  the 
same  material  as  the  dress,  forms  a  costume  iu 
which  ladies  can  go  up  and  down  stairs  with  both 
hands  full,  work  in  the  house  or  garden,  or  take 
morning  walks  when  the  dew  is  on  the  grass,  with- 
out all  the  trouble  and  inconvenience  attendant 
upon  trailing  robes.  "  After  wearing  the  American 
Costume  as  a  working  dress,  for  over  two  years,  I 
can  say,  that  I  find  it  very  comfortable  and  conveni- 
ent, and  it  has  been  pronounced  by  many  sensible 
people  as  neat,  modest,  tasteful,  and  becoming." 


About  Starting  Thirteen   Million  Fires- 

An  old  adage,  and  a  pretty  true  oue,  is,  that  "It 
takes  a  fool  or  a  philosopher  to  build  a  fire  well" — 
which,  we  suppose,  means  that  the  fool  will  blun- 
der into  the  right  way,  the  philosopher  will  reason 
himself  into  it,  while  others  make  bungling  work 
of  it.  As  nine-tenths  of  people  belong  to  neither 
of  the  two  classes,  there  is  a  deal  of  worry  and 
bother.  The  ninety  thousand  families  who  receive 
this  number  of  the  American  Agriculturist  will  need 
a  fire  started  at  least,  once  a  day,  for  the  .next  five 
months,  or  in  all  over  thirteen  million  times/  How 
much  time  would  be  saved,  if  these  fires  could  all 
be  started  so  as  to  heat  up  the  house,  and  get  the 
breakfast  and  other  things  going,  in  half  an  hour, 
instead  of  the  average  time  of  an  hour.  (\3}{  million 
half  hours  equals  075,000  days  of  10  hours  each,  or 
nearly  2,000  years.  This  multiplied  by  five  in  a 
family,  amounts  to  'considerable'.)  How  mauy 
colds  would  be  prevented  if  the  houses  were  warm- 
ed early  for  the  children  to  wash  and  dress.  So 
the  subject  of  kindling  fires  is  not  so  insignificant 
after  all,  even  confining  it  to  our  own  read- 
ers. Let  us  study  the  science  of  the  matter  a  lit- 
tle, and  try  to  increase  the  number  of  philosophers. 

Heat  results  from  the  rapid  union  of  the  oxy- 
gen of  the  air  with  the  carbon  (coal)  of  wood  or 
other  combustible  material.  The  more  air,  the  more 
heat.  We  blow  the  fire  with  the  natural  bellows 
(lungs),  or  an  artificial  one,  to  drive  more  air  upon 
it,  and  thus  supply  more  oxygen.  Stoves  and  chim- 
neys are  constructed  to  make  the  fire  blow  itself. 
Heated  air  expands,  becomes  lighter,  rises  up,  and 
draws  a  current  of  fresh  air  after  it.  The  longer  or 
higher  the  stove  pipe  or  chimney,  the  greater  the 
upward  draught.  Open  a  hole  in  the  side  of  a 
chimney,  or  stove,  or  stove-pipe,  and  part  of  the 
air  drawn  in  comes  through  the  hole  instead  of 
through  the  lire  where  it  is  wanted.  Put  the  fire 
close  to  the  front  opening  of  the  stove,  or  directly 
at  the  throat  of  the  chimney,  and  it  gets  the  full 
force  of  the  in-rushing  current  of  air,  and  oxidiza- 
tion or  burning  is  intensified.  Put  the  fire  back  in 
the  stove,  or  low  down  on  the  hearth,  and  much  of 
of  the  current  of  air  passes  above  it.  The  secret  of 
starting  a  lire  quickly  is,  to  so  arrange  the  kindling 
that  it  will  receive  the  greatest  possible  draught 
at  the  very  point  where  the  first  spark  is  applied  ; 
then  arrange  the  fuel  closely  around  it  so  as  to 
allow  it  to  spread  rapidly.  Throw  a  lot  of  kind- 
lings loosely  over  a  grate  in  the  bottom  of  a  coal 


stove,  and  the  draught  is  diffused  all  over  the  grate, 
and  is  not  strong  at  any  point.  But  cut  the  kind- 
lings short,  pack  them  closely  iu  a  little  heap,  and 
cover  the  rest  of  the  grate  with  coal  so  as  to  par- 
tially 6top  the  air  current,  except  through  the 
kindlings,  and  the  latter  will  burn  more  intensely, 
and  soon  communicate  fire  to  the  rest.  To  secure 
this  latter  end,  all  fuel  should  be  placed  close  to- 
gether, with  just  space  for  the  passage  of  air  be- 
tween the  pieces.  The  finer  the  kindlings,  the  great- 
er will  be  the  surface  exposed  to  the  air,  and  the 
more  rapid  the  burning.  The  best  way  is,  to  have 
a  little  fine  or  nut  coal  to  put  around  the  kindling. 
The  small  lumps  will  quickly  heat  through  and  take 
fire,  and  heat  to  the  burning  point  the  larger  lumps 
placed  in  contact  above  and  around  them.  A  sin- 
gle handful  of  kindlings  placed  together  and  the 
draught  of  air  concentrated  at  that  point,  is  more 
effective  in  quickly  starting  a  fire,  than  a  large 
basketful  thrown  in  at  random.  It  is  often  well  to 
close  up  all  the  grate  with  ashes  underneath,  except 
just  under  at  the  point  where  the  match  is  applied, 
and  then  open  more  room  for  air  as  the  fire  spreads. 

The  above  is  the  general  principle,  which  may  be 
applied  in  various  ways.  If  the  draught  hole  in 
the  stove  be  in  front,  put  the  kindlings  compactly 
close  to  the  hole,  and  arrange  the  larger  fuel  upon 
and  against  them.  In  the  wood  fire-place,  arrange 
the  larger  sticks  to  form  a  sort  of  pipe  or  narrow 
opening  between  them,  for  the  kindlings.  This 
will  concentrate  the  air  draught  whieh  is  weak  at 
first,  directly  upon  the  starting  tire.  The  larger 
fuel  placed  above,  in  the  line  of  the  draught,  will  be 
rapidly  ignited.  The  best  chimney  fire-places  are 
those  which  have  the  throat  placed  high  up,  be- 
cause the  larger  back  surface  thus  exposed,  acts  as 
a  radiator  to  throw  heat  out  into  the  room.  But 
to  start  the  fire  quickly,  a  blower  (curved  piece  of 
sheet  iron)  is  extended  down  from  the  throat  to 
throw  the  draught  through  the  fuel.  The  closer 
this  iron  fits  to  the  throat  and  to  the  jams,  the 
more  effective  will  it  be  in  directing  all  the  air  cur- 
rent through  the  fire. 

There  are  several  points  relating  to  the  best  or 
cheapest  fuel,  modes  of  economizing  it,  best  stoves 
and  grates,  best  mode  of  conducting  heat  through 
buildings,  best  forms  for  fire-places  and  chimneys, 
smoking  chimneys,  etc.,  whieh  may  well  occupy 
our  attention,  in  the  coming  Winter  numbers, 
especially  in   these  times  of  high  priced  fuel. 


What  to  Eat,  and  When  to  Eat  What  ? 


Mr.  Editor  : — In  your  article  on  "  Meals  for  a 
Week,"  in  the  November  Agriculturist,  there  are 
some  startling  propositions — chacun  a  songout  finds 
pat  application,  and  truly  "there  is  no  accounting 
for  tastes."  Tet  it  is  a  fact,  that  men  of  civilized 
nations  have  settled  down  into  certain  usages  and 
proprieties,  and  consider  infringements  of  these  as 
— incongruous  with  good  taste.  Custom  among  re- 
fined people  and  good  livers,  banishes  pies,  molas- 
ses-gingerbread, doughnuts,  ordinarily  cheese  too, 
from  the  breakfast  table,  and  "  crust  coffee"  from 
anywhere  but  a  sick  room.  "  Sauce"  is  a  much 
abused  word — alone,  it  means  nothing,  except  vul- 
garly, what  we  none  of  us  like  to  take  from  any 
man.  Compound  condiments  (not  gravies)  to  eat 
upon  meats  or  fish,  arc  called  sauces,  as  Worcester- 
shire sauce,  caper  sauce,  etc.  So  stewed  fruits 
in  various  forms  are  called  sauces,  as  apple  sauce, 
cranberry  sauce;  but  what  sauce  is  referred  to  by 
your  correspondent,  when  he  mentions  "sauce  and 
cheese,  or  broiled  6alt-fish  "  for  breakfast,  I  do  not 
know.  Sauce,  as  a  name  for  table  vegetables  is 
simply  vulgar,  if  Webster  does  half  authorize  it. 
Your  correspondent  from  Rahway  has  civilized 
notions;  but  the  Andover  man  shows  his  utter  dis- 
regard for  all  the  proprieties  of  the  table,  when  he 
says  that  his  breakfasts  for  a  week  will,  if  meat- 
breakfasts    are    not    desired,   serve    for    dinners. 

A  few  general  principles  in  regard  to  meals  seem 
to  be  established  by  convenience  and  natural  pro- 
priety. In  this  country  it  is  usual  to  have  three 
meals  a  day— and  these  at  morning,  noon,  and  even- 
ing.   For  an  early  breakfast  it  is  inconvenient  to 


have  those  kinds  of  food  which  require  long  pre- 
paration  or  cooking  immediately  before.  Therefore 
roast,  boiled,  and  baked  meats,  pastry  and  confec- 
tionery, and  many  kinds  of  vegetables  find  no  place  ' 
but  broiled,  fried,  fricaseed,  cold  or  hashed  meats 
are  appropriate,  with  sundry  preparations  of  eggs 
fried  or  stewed  and  sometimes  baked  potatoes 
griddle  cakes,  etc.  In  hot  weather,  fruits,  musk 
melons,  tomatoes,  etc.,  are  appropriately  placed  oi 
the  breakfast  table.  So  also  may  stewed  fruit? 
(quite  tart)  be  served.  In  the  private  family,  pro- 
priety as  well  as  conveuince  is  outraged  by  a  great 
variety  of  dishes  which  do  not  go  well  together. 
For  example,  apple-sauce  which  is  excellent  with 
pork-steak,  is  shocking  with  fried  fish.  Kitchener. 


How  to  Keep  Beef. 

In  response  to  an  inquiry  for  practical  directions 
how  to  cure  beef,  so  that  it  will  keep  until  June, 
and  yet  not  be  too  salt  for  the  table,  W.  B.  Dryer, 
Douglass  Co.,  111.,  writes  to  the  American  Agricul- 
turist :  For  every  100  pounds  of  beef,  use  seven 
pounds  of  salt,  well  rubbed  on.  Allow  the  beef  to 
stand  in  the  salt  for  twenty-four  hours ;  take  it 
from  the  vessel  and  pour  off  the  drippings  ;  then 
pack  closely,  and  cover  with  brine,  made  as  follows : 
For  every  100  pounds  of  beef,  4  ounces  of  Salt- 
petre, 4  ounces  of  Bicarbonate  Soda,  1  qt.  Molasses. 

E.  A.  Leonard,  Defiance  Co.,  Ohio,  says :  I  allow 
the  beef  to  cool  sufficiently  after  killing,  then  cut 
it  into  convenient  sized  pieces  for  use,  and  pack  it 
loosely  into  a  barrel  in  which  I  have  previously 
placed  a  quantity  of  weak  brine.  When  the  meat 
is  all  in,  or  the  barrel  full,  see  that  the  brine  covers 
it.  Let  it  stand  two  or  three  days,  then  take  out 
the  meat,  throw  away  the  brine,  rinse  out  the 
barrel,  and  repack  the  meat  snugly.  Make  a  quan- 
tity of  brine  sufficient  to  cover  the  meat,  and 
6trong  enough  to  bear  up  an  egg.  Add  2  ounces  of 
saltpetre  for  every  100  pounds  of  meat,  pour  it  on 
the  meat,  and  it  will  keep  until  hot  weather. 

A  subscriber  in  Greene  Co.,  111.,  writes :  To  S 
gallons  of  rain  water,  add  3  pounds  of  brown 
sugar,  1  quart  of  molasses,  4  ounces  of  saltpetre, 
and  enough  of  common  salt  to  make  brine  suffi- 
ciently strong  to  float  an  egg.  Bub  the  beef  well 
with  salt  before  placing  it  in  the  barrel.  Then 
pour  over  it  the  prepared  brine,  and  put  on  it  a 
sufficient  weight  to  keep  the  beef  covered  with  the 
pickle. — Each  of  the-  above  contributors  says,  that 
the  method  recommended  has  been  tried  by  him 
several  years,  and  the  result  was  every  way  satis- 
factory. Where  a  considerable  quantity  of  beef  is 
to  be  cured,  it  might  be  well  to  try  all  the  above 
ways  on  different  parcels ;  we  should  like  to  hear 
whieh  produces  the  best  article  next  May  or  June. 


Pickled  Pork  Equal  to  Fresh- 


A  lady  contributor  at  Perry,  111.,  sends  the  follow- 
ing directions  to  the  American  Agriculturist :  "  Let 
the  meat  cool  thoroughly,  cut  it  into  pieces  4  to  6 
inches  wide,  weigh  them  and  pack  as  tight  as  pos- 
sible in  the  barrel,  salting  very  lightly.  Cover  the 
meat  with  brine  made  as  strong  as  possible.  Pour 
off  a  gallon  of  the  brine  and  mix  with  it  one  table- 
spoonful  of  saltpetre  for  every  hundred  pounds  oi 
meat,  and  return  it  to  the  barrel.  Let  it  stand  one 
month,  then  take  out  the  meat,  let  it  drain  twelve 
hours.  Put  the  brine  in  an  iron  kettle,  add  one 
quart  of  molasses,  or  two  lbs.  of  sugar,  and  boil 
until  perfectly  clear.  When  it  is  cold,  return  the 
meat  to  the  barrel,  and  pour  on  the  brine.  Weight 
it  down,  and  keep  it  covered  close,  and  you  will 
have  the  sweetest  meat  that  you    ever   tasted." 


Wire  Clo(lto<ii-I^ino.— Geo.  E.  Pomeroy,  of 
Lenawee  Co.,  Mich.,  says  in  reference  to  the  use  of 
galvanized  wire  for  a  clothes-line:  "In  the  first 
days  of  telegraphing  and  the  introduction  of  gal- 
vanized wire  for  telegraph  use,  I  fancied  it  would 
make  a  good  clothes-line.  I  used  it  and  it  worked 
well.    In  1848  I  moved  to  Michigan  ;  I  put  up  the 


1863.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


375. 


wire  for  a  line,  and  it  is  now  in  use  as  good  as  the 
day  it  was  put  up  :  it  never  rusts  or  mildews, 
shrinks,  or  stretches.  Tinned  wire  will  not  answer: 
it  must  be  ziuc-galvanized.  The  first  cost  is  no 
more  than  hemp,  and  it  will  last  always." 


From  the  New  England  Farmer. 

"West's   Improved   Pump."* 

Editors  of  Neii)  England  Farmer  : — I  can  give  Mr. 
Geo.  C.  Noycs  the  information  that  lie  wants.  Per- 
haps in  doing  so  I  shall  give  a  good  many  other 
persons  some  useful  knowledge  about  'pumps  for 
farm  use.  If  so,  I  shall  be  doing  some  good.  In 
doing  so,  I  may  benefit  the  pump  maker  as  well, 
but  what  of  that  ?  He  is  one  who  has  done  much 
for  the  beuefit  of  others,  by  his  powers  of  in- 
vention.    So  let  us  reciprocate. 

West's  improved  pump  is  au  anti-freezing  pump. 
I  have  proved  this  four  years.  The  only  protec- 
tion ever  given  is  to  open  a  small  vent  below  the 
platform  before  freezing  weather.  This  lets  the 
water  down  from  the  spout  in  a  miuute  or  two 
after  using  the  pump,  but  au  extra  stroke  or 
two  will  fill  the  pipe  again.  In  Summer  this 
vent  is  plugged.  In  four  years  this  pump  has  not 
required  four  cents'  worth  of  repairs,  though  in 
daily  use,  often  to  the  extent  of  many  barrels  a 
day,  for  the  use  of  two  houses  aud  barn,  neighbors 
and  travelers.  It  is  a  good  pump— the  best  I  ever 
used.  It  does  work  easily — so  easily  that  small 
children  can  always  get  water.  It  is  not  liable  to 
get  out  of  order.  It  is  both  a  suction  and  force 
pump.  I  have  a  hose  to  screw  on  the  muzzle, 
through  which  I  can  throw  water  wherever  I  please. 
There  is  also  a  place  below  the  platform  where  a 
pipe  can  be  attached,  through  which  water  can  be 
forced  any  distance. 

I  have  another  of  West's  pumps  in  my  kitchen, 
which  draws  water  from  a  cistern  twenty  feet  dis- 
tant. This  is  like  the  one  spoken  of  by  you.  The 
working  part  of  the  pipe  will  not  freeze.  The  pipe 
below  the  pump  requires  protection.  This,  though 
in  use  continually,  has  never  had  a  cent  expended 
for  repairs  in  four  years,  and  it  is  but  little  more 
trouble  to  get  water  than  it  would  be  to  draw  it 
from  a  cock,  it  works  so  easily. 

There  may  be  other  pumps  equally  good.  I  hope 
there  are.  The  more  the  better.  I  don't  know 
them ;  I  do  this,  and  give  it  this  unqualified  recom- 
mendation, for  the  beuefit  of  others — of  all  farmers. 
Near  New  York,  Oct.  14,  1863.  SOLON  KOBINSON. 

*  This  pump  is  manufactured  by  the  inventor,  Mr.  J.  D. 
West,  179  Broadway,  New  York  City,  who  will  doubt- 
less send  descriptive  circulars  to  all  applying  for  them. 


Washing  Machine  Queries. 

Letters  without  number  are  coming  to  hand, 
which  we  cannot  find  time  to  answer  individually. 
We  are  weary  of  testing  these  machines,  having 
tried  a  new  one  every  few  weeks  for  many  years 
past.  We  have  not,  of  course,  tried  every  one  of 
the  thousand  patented  washing  machines  ;  but  the 
only  one  which  has  stood  the  test  with  us  for  any 
length  of  time  is  the  "Nonpareil."  Doty's  ma- 
chine we  have  now  under  trial,  and  it  promises 
well.  The  washing  part  is  similar  to  that  of  the 
Nonpareil,  while  the  operators  seem  to  like  the 
motion,  which  resembles  the  old-fashioned  up  and 
down  washboard  movement  of  the  arms.  Our  first 
impression  would  be  to  call  it  one  of  the  best,  if 
not  the  best  machine  we  have  seen,  but  we  have 
long  since  come  to  the  conclusion  to  recommend 
no  machine  which  has  not  been  proved  by  long  and 
thorough  trial.  Several  years  ago  Ave  thought  the 
Metropolitan  washing  machine  to  be  just  the 
thing,  and  we  still  believe  the  principle — the  com- 
bination of  pestles  on  springs — to  be  better  than 
anything  else  yet  invented.  But  long  trial  develop- 
ed the  fact  that  working  the  pounder  at  arms'  end, 
was  too  much  like  lifting  a  ladder,  or  working  with 
the  short  arm  of  a  lever,  to  adapt  it  to  general  use 
by  the  weaker  sex.  If  strong  men  did  all  the 
washing,  we  would  say  get  the  Metropolitan.  The 
balance  wheel  of  the  Nonpareil  relieves  the  con- 


stant strain  upon  the  muscles.  The  only  difficulty 
is  that  those  habituated  to  the  up  and  down  motion 
in  using  a  washboard,  do  not  at  once  take  to  the 
crank  movement.  When  the  muscles  become 
accustomed  to  it,  the  Nonpareil  is  much  liked.  The 
movement  of  Doty's  machine  will  be  a  strong  re- 
commendation of  it  to  that  class  who  do  not  like  to 
change  their  habits.  Either  of  the  machines 
named  is  a  labor  saver  and  a  clothes  saver,  as  com- 
pared with  the  washboard,  and  anything  to  Eave 
time  on  washing  day6,  is  certain]}'  very  desirable. 


To  Our  Voting-  Readers. 

Wei],  we  have  had  pleasant  times  together  for  a  year 
past !  Although  we  could  visit  you  but  once  a  month,  few, 
circles,  if  any,  have  had  more  agreeable  and  interesting 
entertainments  than  we  have  enjoyed  together.  We  have 
laughed  over  the  stories,  puzzled  our  brains  with  the 
problems,  learned  curious  and  interesting  facts  in  the  Bot- 
any of  common  plants,  and  altogether  have  had  much 
real  .pleasure  and  profit.  But  we  are  reminded  by  our 
subscription  books,  that  some  60,000  of  our  nearly  90,000 
subscribers,  are  now  receiving  the  last  visit  which  we 
have  been  invited  to  make.  In  the  families  of  these  sub- 
scribers there  must  of  course  be  two  or  three  Hundred 
thousand  girls  and  boys,  or  more,  and  we  are  glad  to 
know,  from  hundreds  of  letters  received,  and  from  what 
parents  tell  us  daily,  that  the  American  Agriculturist  is 
the  especial  delight  of  the  young  people.  That  is  just 
what  we  like  to  hear,  and  is  just  as  it  should  be.  This 
paper  is  for  the  Household— all  of  it.  If  we  can  interest, 
instruct,  and  improve  the  growing  people,  the  boys  and 
girls,  our  ambition  will  be  greatly  gratified.  We  want  to 
see  the  next  generation  better  than  the  present  one, 
and  to  do  all  we  possibly  can  to  help  in  making  it  so. 

Shall  we  say  good-bye  to  any  one  of  you  ?  Cer- 
tainly not.  Our  "school"  keeps  right  on  without  va- 
cations—the  pupils  say  Agriculturist  school  hours  are 
as  pleasant  as  any  "vacation."— The  young  folks  do 
not  have  ail  the  pleasure  to  themselves.  What  should 
we  do  without  their  company  ?  How  blank  and  desolate 
would  our  own  home  be,  if  the  group  of  little  ones  were 
not  there  to  greet  us  on  our  return  from  each  day's  weary 
labors.  How  lonely  the  rooms  would  be  if  we  found 
not  the  sleepers  there  as  we  passed  through  them,  the 
last  thing  before  retiring  at  night,  as  is  our  custom,  to  see 
that  all  are  "tucked  up'  snugly,  and  resting  quietly. 
How  dull  the  waking  hours  if  we  missed  the  taps  at  the 
door  and  the  pleasant  "  Good  morning  papa."  Cheerless 
would  be  the  breakfast  circle  if  there  were  no  occupants 
for  the  little  and  larger  chairs  around  to  the  right  and  left. 

Perhaps  we  could  endure  it  if  our  household  was 
made  up  wholly  of  grown  people,  but  we  are  glad  it  is 
not— we  almost  wish  the  little  ones  would  not  grow  large. 
Our  greatest  desire  is  that  they  shall  grow  up  wise  and 
good.  The  same  feelings  that  go  out  to  our  own  little  ones, 
and  to  the  larger  circle  that  greet  us  on  Sunday  after- 
noons, are  in  a  measure  extended  to  that  still  greater  com- 
pany of  children  and  youth  who  make  up  the  Agricul- 
turist family.  They  are  scattered,  it  is  true,  over  the 
broad  expanse  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  but  when 
we  sit  down  to  prepare  this  department  of  the  paper,  we 
in  imagination  gather  them  all  around  us.  We  shall  love 
to  continue  the  "  Boys'  and  Girls'  columns,"  and  to  make 
them  even  much  more  interesting  and  profitable.  That 
you  may  here  gain  instruction  as  well  as  amusement  is 
our  anxious  desire.  We  shall  therefore  be  happy  to  meet 
you  all  during  1864 — not  one  can  be  spared.  Come  on  by 
tens,  by  twenties  and  by  hundreds  ;  there  is  room  enoueh, 
and  supplies  of  good  things  are  plentiful.  Invite  your 
playmates  to  join  the  circle.  All  of  you  can  get  one, 
or  more.  There  are  many  premiums  you  can  earn. 
We  have  sent  out  a  large  number  of  these  to  boys  and 
girls,  some  of  them  every  year,  and  there  is  always  a 
peculiar  pleasure  in  doing  so.  Can  we  not  double  the 
number  this  year  ?  Will  you  bring  at  least  one  more  ? 

About  tlie    Origin  of  Words. 

Where  do  all  the  words  come  from  ?  Men  do  not  agree 
as  to  how  language  was  made  at  first.  By  many,  how- 
ever, it  is  supposed  that  man  received  the  gift  of  speech 
at  his  creation.  However  this  may  be,  we  know  that  new 
words  are  being  added  to  every  language,  as  men  have 
new  thoughts  and  make  new  discoveries  requiring  new 
terms  to  express  them.  Thus  the  word  "  telegram  "  has 
been  invented  within  a  few  years  as  the  name  of  a  mes- 
sage sent  by  the  telegraph.  It  is  often  very  interesting  to 
trace  out  the  derivation  of  words  ;  sometimes  quite  a 
history  is  connected  with  them.  Thus  the  term  dunce  so 
often  used,  is  said  to  have  come  from  the  following  cir- 


cumstance :  A  Franciscan  monk,  named  Duns  Scotus, 
had  many  followers,  who  used  often  to  quote  his  writings 
in  defence  of  their  doctrines,  and  as  these  doctrines  be- 
came unpopular,  the  term  Dunsman  or  Duns  was  used  as 
a  term  of  contempt  for  those  who  advocated  them.  From 
this  it  came  to  be  applied  to  any  person  whose  notions 
were  considered  unreasonable,  and  with  a  kittle  alteration 
in  spelling  we  now  use  it  to  designate  a  stupid  person. 
Our  word  "tariff."  meaning  tax  or  duty  paid  on  importc  I 
goods,  comes  from  Tarifa,  the  name  of  a  Moorish  for- 
tress on  a  promontory  at  the  southern  point  of  Spain, 
extending  into  the  strait  of  Gibraltar.  At  this  point  the 
Moors  used  to  watch  all  vessels  passing  through  the 
strait,  and  require  their  owners  to  pay  a  tax  for  the  mer- 
chandise they  carried.  "Hurrah,"  is  from  the  word 
Hurrag,  which  was  used  in  old  times  as  a  battle  cry,  by 
some  of  the  warlike  nations  of  Europe.  It  signified  "  To 
Paradise."  They  believed  that  every  man  who  died  in 
battle  for  his  'country,  went  immediately  to  heaven.  A 
curious  account  is  given  of  the  origin  of  the  word  "Tee- 
total," so  commonly  used  to  express  entire  abstinence 
from  intoxicating  drinks.  It  is  said  that  a  Lancashire  la- 
borer in  his  first  public  speech  on  temperance,  was  much 
embarrassed,  and  repeatedly  stammered  at  the  word  total, 
making  it  t-t-t-total,  and  the  amused  audience  afterward 
frequently  repeated  it,  and  others  took  it  up  until  it  be- 
came a  fixed  word  in  the  language.  Many  more  exam- 
ples might  be  given.  Our  young  readers  will  find  in- 
structive amusement  in  studying  the  derivation  of  most 
words.  How  many  of  them  can  tell  the  origin  and  meaning 
of  the  name  of  this  journal— the  American  Agriculturist. 

New    Pwzzles   lo    J>e   Answered. 

No.59.  Puzzling  Sentence. 
— This  has  appeared  in 
print  before,  but  it  will 
probably  be  new  to  many 
of  our  young  readers.  It 
was  constructed  in  com- 
memoration of  a  great  his- 
torical event.  Those  who 
study  it  out,  will  be  pretty 
sure  lo  remember  the  oc- 
currences and  their  date. 
It  will  be  interesting  to 
read  the  whole  history  of  which  this  puzzle  forms  a  part. 

No.  60.  The  Wheel  Puzzle. — As  every  body  knows, 
a  small  whepl  must  turn  around  more  times  than  a 
large  one,  in  rolling  over  equal  distances.  Now  when 
you  examine  a  wagon  wheel,  you  notice  that  it  is  com- 
posed of  two  circles  or  wheels,  the  tire  and  felloe  or  outer 
circumference,  and  the  hub  or  smaller  wheel  at  the  cen- 
ter. Why,  in  rolling  any  number  of  miles,  does  this  smal- 
ler wheel  revolve  nooftener  than  the  outer  or  larger  one  ? 


^ 

# 


V0  I  IM 

->>     17  9  2 

X     # 

I  F-R-A-N-C-E 
3  rvipMKpf^ 
H  SMVT 

X 


& 


& 


% 


No.  Gl,  Illustrated  Rebus.— k  rule  for  successful  life. 

Answers  to  Problems  and  Puzzles. 

The  following  are  solutions  of  the  puzzles,  etc,,  in  the 
October  number,  page  345.  No.  55. — Sentence  in  Cypher. 
The  key  to  this  is  to  take  for  the  Jirst,  third  ami  Jifth 
letter  of  every  word,  the  next  letter  above  it,  as  a  for  b, 
m  for  n,  etc.  For  the  second,  fourth,  and  sixth  letter,  take 
the  third  letter  above  in  the  alphabet,  asm  forp,  u  for  x  : 

Ukf  krvuodm  ddmnfg  ukf  bpftijfbq  bjsldxmwvujvu  jv 
grs  ukf  gdsp  hdsgfq  bqe  irvvfkpoe  jqdovejquh  ukf  mlu- 
wmh  grmnt.  Jv  drtwt  pqinb  pqf  ermubu  b  xhbu.  Qnfdtli 
uhrno  bom  zrvu  gujhogt  bepxu  jv  bqe  bvl  ukfp  ur  udlli 
jv.  Ukfb  xlmo  mllh  jv  bqe  ukbql  zrv. — No.  50.  Puzzle 
Picture.— The  boy  is  making  mellow  D  (melody).— No. 
57.  Illustrated  Rebus.— Four  chair  I  T  covers  a  multi- 
tude of  s  in  s=  "  For  Charity  covers  a  multitude  of  sins." 
— No.  58.  Miscellaneous  Qitestiojis. — A  step  farther,  (step- 
father) ;  Room  for  improvement ;  the  Alphabet. — The  fol- 
lowing have  sent  in  correct  answers  up  to  Nov.  13th, 
the  numbers  indicate  the  problems,  etc.,  answered  by- 
each.  R.  Van  Namee,  55;  "  A.  N.  H.  E.,"  58  ;  Estis, 
57  ;  II.  F.  Boynton,  55,  57 ;  "  E.  E.  K.,"  55,  57,  58  ;  J.  N. 
Miller,  56;  Emily  L.  Webb,  57;  Charles  ftfunger  and 
Orra  Bruce,  57,  58  ;  T.  S.  Peck,  57  ;  Daniel  Gilbert,  57, 
58 ;  O.  Coombs,  51 ;  .!.  H.  Ransom,  53 ;  W.  Johnson,  53. 


370 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


[DECKM3JE11, 


"ASTON  ISHMENT."-  from  a  painting  by  w. 

*v  Engraved  for  the  American  Agriculturist. 

The  fifioy  in  the  Picture— Self  Control. 

"Very  much  astonished  indeed  this  lad  must   be.     His 


looks  show  that  his  senses  seem  to  have  escaped  from  his 
eyes  and  open  mouth,  even  faster  than  the  milk  is  pour- 
ing from  the  pan  he  is  carrying,  but  which  lie  appears  to 
have  entirely  forgotten.  What  he  is  gazing  at,  we  can 
not  even  guess — perhaps  at  a  while  cow,  which  in  the 
twilight  he  fancies  to  be  a  ghost ;  or  as  a  friend  at  our 
elbow  suggests,  perhaps  he  is  "  taken  all  aback  by  seeing 
a  silver  half  dollar,"  which,  in  these  times  would  be  a 
novel  sight.  It  Is  very  plain  that  he  has  never  learned 
to  be  master  of  himself.  He  would  certainly  make 
a  poor  soldier ;  the  first  shell  that  name  whizzing 
near  him  would  make  him  forget  his  musket,  his  compan- 
ions, and  his  duty,  and  he  would  be  of  no  more  use  than 
a  wooden  image.  But  he  may  not  be  much  to  blame  for 
all  that.  It  is  no  easy  matter  to  learn  to  control  all  one's 
powers.  It  takes  years  of  practice  to  know  how  to  man- 
age a  steam  engine,  but  what  is  that  compared  with  the 
wonderful  machine— the  body  with  a  mind  in  it — that 
every  boy  and  girl  possesses  1  The  lad  in  the  picture  ap- 
pears like  a  neglected  boy,  kept  by  same  unthinking 
employer  just  to  do  chores,  and  with  no  thought  or  care 
for  him  only  to  keep  him  at  work.  There  are  such  men, 
but  it  is  of  little  use  to  say  any  thing  about  them  here,  for 
they  are  not  of  ttie  sort  that  take  the  American  Agri- 
culturist or  any  other  good  paper  for  themselves  and 
their  girls  and  boys  to  read.— It  is  the  testimony  of  the 
Wise  Man  that  "  He  that  ruleth  his  own  spirit  is  greater 
than  he  that  tuketh  a  city,1'  and  it  will  be  found  that  no 
one  is  fitted  to  rule  others  until  he  lias  gained  some 
mastery  over  his  own  powers.    Strive  to  train  your  eyes, 


ears,  tongue,  hands,  feet,  all  the  faculties,  to  act  rightly 
and  at  the  right  time,  and  it  will  save  not  only  a  good 
deal  of  "spilt  milk"  but  of  spoiled  life.— The  most  diffi- 
cult thing  to  control  is  the  temper.  An  aged  friend  of 
ours,  who  is  noted  for  his  calmness,  says  he  commenced 
when  a  little  boy  to  always  count  seventy-two  before 
speaking,  when  he  began  to  feel  angry  about  anything.   * 

"A  Merry  Christmas. " 

It  will  soon  be  here.  Already  the  little  folks  are  count- 
ing the  weeks  and  days  before  Dec.  25th.  Some  boys  are 
dreaming  of  new  skates,  sleds,  knives,  or  books  ;  the  girls, 
of  dolls,  play  houses,  puzzle.s,  and  other  gifts  of  Santa 
Clans.  Christmas  should  be  the  happiest  holiday  of  the 
year.  Most  other  holidays  are  in  commemoration  of 
events  which  pertain  to  the  particular  history  of  the  na- 
tion in  which  they  are  celebrated.  Thus  we,  as  a  people, 
have  our  Fourth  of  July  and  22d  of  Frebuary  ;  in  Eng- 
land, the  Fifth  of  November  is  celebrated  ;  in  Gemany, 
the  18th  of  October.  (It  will  be  interesting  for  you  to 
learn  from  history  why  these  days  are  specially  regarded 
in  those  countries.)  Christmas,  however,  is  or  should  be 
a  holiday  for  all  nations.  It  is  in  rememberance  of  the 
Great  Gift  to  mankind.  In  all  Christian  nations,  it  is  re- 
membered with  rejoicing.  The  exact  time  of  the  birth 
of  Christ  is  not  determined,  but,  as  you  know,  all  have 
agreed  to  keep  up  the  25th  of  December,  to  bring  to  mind 
that  event.  The  word  Christmas  means  a  mass  or  spec- 
ial worship  to  Christ.  It  came  to  be  called  "Merry" 
from  the  revels  and  sports  which  were  instituted  in  Eng- 
land, at  Christmas  times,  extending  formerly  from  Dec. 
25th  to  Candlemas  (Feb.  2d).    In  the  houses  of  the  nobles 


a  "  lord  of  misrule  "  was  appointed  whose  business  it  is 
said  by  an  old  writer,  was  "to  make  the  rarest  pastime?, 
to  delight  the  beholder."  An  immense  fire  was  built  In 
the  largest  room  in  the  oh!  castles,  on  which  a  great  log, 
called  the  "  Yule  log,"  was  kept  burning  until  Candle- 
inns.  The  laborers  were  alt  invited  into  the  castle,  to 
feast,  and  dance,  play  games,  and  engage  in  every  kind 
of  amusement.  These  scenes  must  often  have  been  tu- 
multuous, as  barrels  of  ale  and  great  bowls  of  punch 
were  freely  given  out  to  the  revelers.  Although  such 
scenes  are  not  now  enacted,  Christmas  is  now  here  ob- 
served with  greater  spirit  than  in  England.  In  Germany 
and  the  north  of  Europe,  this  day  is  often  called  the 
"  children's  festival,"  and  the  Christmas  tree  is  introduced 
on  the  preceding  evening*  A  very  interesting  custom  on 
this  occasion  is  observed  in  some  places.  After  the  pres- 
ents from  the  Christmas  tree  have  been  distributed,  the 
mother  takes  opportunity  to  say  privately  to  the  daugh- 
ters, and  the  father  to  the  sons,  what  has  been  observed 
most  praiseworthy  and  what  most  faulty  in  their  conduct. 
In  other  places,  the  youngest  child  on  behalf  of  the  oth- 
ers, makes  a  little  speech  to  the  parents,  expressing  their 
love  and  gratitude  ;  the  writer  once  witnessed  this  per- 
formance where  the  occasion  was  kept  in  true  German 
style.  We  are  pleased  to  notice  that  in  late  years  Die  ob- 
servance of  Christinas  is  becoming  more  general  in  the 
United  Stales.  Many  families  have  the  Christmas  tree, 
bearing  its  beau-tiful  fruit  of  presents  for  oh!  and  young, 
though  inmost  places  the  good  old-fashioned  plan  still 
prevails  of  hanging  the  stockings  in  the  chimney  corner 
for  Santa  Claus  to  fill.  From  our  hearts  we  wish  you  all 
a  Merry  Christmas  this  year,  with  stockings  full  of  pres- 
ents to  help  make  it  so  ;  but  all  will  be  pretty  sure  to  have 
it.  who  take  care  to  keep  their  stockings  filled  with  good 
children's  feet,  until  that  time. 

Amusing;  Remarks  of  Children. 

A  very  talkative  ..little  girl  used  often  to  annoy  her 
mother  by  making  remarks  about  the  visitors  that  came 
to  the  house.  On  one  occasion  a  gentleman  was  expect- 
ed whose  nose  had  been  accidentally  flattened  nearly  to 
his  face.  The  mother  cautioned  her  child  particularly  to 
say  nothing  about  this  feature:  imagine  her  consterna 
tion  when  the  little  one  exclaimed,  "  Ma,  you  told  me  to 
say  nothing  about  Mr.  Smith's  nose,  why  he  hasn't  got 
any!" — This  recalls  an  anecdote  of  a  little  girl  whose 
teacher  often  had  occasion  to  reprimand  her.  One  day 
she  gave  the  child  an  unusually  long  and  sharp  talk  for 
some  grave  offence,  and  from  the  steady  attention  of  the 
latter,  supposed  she  was  making  a  strong  impression  on 
her,  when  suddenly  the  little  girl  exclaimed,  "  Why  Miss 
Jones,  when  you  talk,  your  upper  jaw  don't  move  a  bit." 

A  Thick  Fog;— A  Quizzcr   Relinked. 

A  talkative  individual  encountered  a  quiet  old  gentle- 
man on  the  ferry  boat  one  morning,  and  vainly  endeav- 
ored to  draw  him  into  conversation — evidently  with  a  de- 
sire to  make  spoil  of  him,  but  without  much  success.  At 
length  the  talker  remarked,  "I  suppose  you  consider 
Down  East  a  right  smart  place  ;  but  I  guess  it  would  puz- 
zle them  to  get  up  as  thick  a  fog  as  we  have  here  this 
morning."  "Well,"  said  the  old  man,  "  I  don't  know 
about  that.  I  hired  one  of  your  York  chaps  to  work  for 
me  last  Summer,  and  one  rather  foggy  rnornin'  I  sent  him 
down  into  the  meadow  to  lay  a  few  courses  of  shingle  on 
a  new  barn  I  was  finishin'  off.  At  dinner-time  the  fellow 
came  up,  am),  sez  he,  "That's  a  long  barn  of  yourn." 
Sez  I,  "  Not  very  long."  "  Well,"  sez  he,  "  I've  been  to 
work  ail  this  forenoon,  and  haven't  got  one  course  laid 
yet."  "  Well,"  sez  I,  "You're  a  lazy  fellow,  that's  all 
I've  got  to  say."  And  so  after  dinner  I  went  down  to  see 
what  he'd  been  about,  and  don't  you  believe,  he  had 
shingled  more  than  a  hundred  feet  right  on  to  the  fog  !'' 
"Answer  a  fool  according  to  his  folly  said  the  Wise  Man." 

Reading  One's  own    Obituary. 

An  eastern  journal  had  a  subscriber  who  had  not  paid 
up  in  several  years,  though  he  often  promised  to  "  call 
and  settle."  Finally  after  a  sharp  dun  he  said,  "  If  I  don't 
come  and  pay  up  to  morrow,  you  may  be  sure  I  am 
dead."  The  next  day  came,  but  no  money.  On  the  fDl- 
low.'ng  morning  the  subscriber  was  bonified  nt  readingin 
the  journal  a  notice  of  his  own  death,  giving  a  sketch  of 
his  life,  and  recounting  many  good  qualities  he  possessed, 
but  stating  that  one  of  his  failings  was  his  neglect  to  pay 
the  printer.  Seizing  his  hat  he  posted  to  the  office  and  ex- 
claimed, "  What  docs  this  mean  ?"  "  Why  "  replied  the 
editor,  "you  told  me  I  might  consider  you  dead  unless  that 
bill  was  settled  yesterday,  and  knowing  you  to  be  a  man 
of  your  word,  I  wrote  accordingly."  "Oh  !  ah  !  yes,  I 
see,"  said  the  subscriber,  "here's  your  money;  and  now, 
if  you  please,  contradict  the  report  in  your  next  paper." 
"That's  not  necessary,"  replied  the  editor,  "  the  article 
was  printed  only  in  the  copy  of  the  paper  sent  to  you  !" 
He  took  the  hint,  and  ever  after  paid  the  printer  promptly. 


1803.] 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


*77 


A  Miser  l&cftmkcd. 

It  is  related  of  Lord  Braco,  a  Scotch  Judge  of  the  last 
century,  and  an  intense  miser,  that  on  one  occasion  one 
of  his  farmers  saw  him  pick  up  a  farthing,  and  said  to 
him:  "I  would  give  a  shilling  Lord  Braco,  to  have  a 
sight  of  all  your  silver  and  gold.*'  "Well,  man,"  said 
his  lordship,  "it  shall  cost  you  no  more."  The  shilling 
was  paid,  and  the  judge  exhibited  to  the  farmer  a  con- 
siderable number  of  iron  boxes  filled  with  gold  and  silver 
money.  "  Now  my  lord,"  said  the  man,  "  I  am  as  rich  as 
you  are."  "  How  is  that "  asked  his  lordship.  "  Because 
I  see  the  money,  and  you  have  not  the  heart  to  do  any- 
thing else  with  it,"  was  the  sharp  reply. 

What  a,   Word   May  »©. 

The  chaplain  of  a  Western  regiment  relates,  that  while 
visiting  a  family  in  Illinois,  the  mother,  an  elderly  lady, 
told  him  the  following  circumstance:  Many  years  before, 
her  son  of  about  four  years  old,  was  one  day  playing  in 
the  road,  when  he  fell  and  hurt  himself  slightly,  and 
commenced  crying  very  loudly.  Just  then  a  tall  young 
man  came  around  the  corner,  driving  a  yoke  of  oxen,  and 
picking  up  the  boy,  he  said,  "You'll  never  make  a  sol- 
dier my  little  man,  if  you  cry  for  a  tumble."  The  child 
instantly  brightened  up,  and  from  that  time  seemed  to 
.  strive  to  be  more  manly.  "  There,  said  the  mother  is 
the  same  boy,  pointing  to  a  fine  looking  cavalry  Captain 
in  the  yard,  "  and  that  tall  young  man  who  spoke  to  him 
is  now  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  army  and  navy, 
viz. :   Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of  the  United  States." 

A  Key  to     a  Person's  Name. 

One  of  the  Agriculturist  boys  in  Fulton  County,  Ind., 
sends  the  accompanying  table  of  letters, 
by  which  the  name  of  a  person  or  any  A  B  D  H  P 
word  may  be  found  out  in  the  following  C  C  E  I  Q 
manner:  Let  the  person  whose  name  you  E  F  F  J  R 
wish  to  know,  inform  you  in  which  of  the  G  G  G  K  S 
upright  columns  the  first  letter  of  his  name  I  J  L  L  T 
is  contained.  If  it  be  found  in  but  one  col-  K  K  M  M  U 
umn,  it  is  the  top  letter:  if  it  occurs  in  M  N  N  N  V 
more  than  one  column,  it  is  found  by  ad-  O  O  0  O  W 
ding  the  alphabetical,  numbers  of  the  top  Q  R  T  X  X 
letters  of  these  columns,  and  the  sum  will  S  S  V  Z  Y 
be  the  number  of  the  letter  sought.  By  U  V  V  Y  Z 
taking  one  letter  at  a  time  in  this  way,  the  WWW 
whole  name  can  be  ascertained.  For  ex-  Y  Z 
ample,  take  the  word  Jane.  J  is  found  in  the  two  col- 
umns commencing  with  B  and  H :  which  are  the  2d  and 
Sih  letters  down  the  alphabet ;  their  sum  is  10,  and  the  10th 
letter  down  the  alphabet  is  J,  the  letter  sought.  The  next 
letter  A  appears -in  but  one  column,  where  it  stands  at  the 
top.  N  is  seen  in  the  columns  headed  with  B,  D  and  H  ; — 
these  are  the  2d,  4th,  and  6th  letters  of  the  alphabet ;  which 
added  give  the  14th  or  N;  and  so  on.  The  use  of  this  table 
will  excite  no  little  curiosity  among  those  unacquaint- 
ed with  the  foregoing  explanation. 

New  and  Useful  Premium  for  Boys  and 
Girls— and  Others. 

A  subscriber  in  Missouri  (an  officer  in  the  army,  we 
believe)  wrote  some  time  ago :  "  If  possible,  add  a  case 
of  Drawing  or  Drafting  instruments  to  your  general 
Premium  List.  Nothing  could  be  more  useful  to  the 
young,  and  to  the  old  also — farmers  and  others — than  a 
case  of  instruments  for  drawing  plans,  plotting  out  fields, 
buildings,  etc.,  etc." — Well,  we  have  engaged  an  Import- 
ing house  to  furnish  a  supply  of  such  instruments  for  our 
Premium  List,  and  the  first  instalment  is  on  hand.  They 
are  in  neat  cases,  four  by  eight  inches,  each  containing  a 
dozen  very  excellent  articles  — dividers,  points,  pencil- 
holders,  ruling-pens,  semi-circles,  etc.,  made  of  polished 
steel  and  brass.  The  dividers  are  furnished  with  exten- 
sion joints  and  adjustable  pieces  for  making  all  varieties 
of  circles,  angles,  etc.  Each  piece  is  fitted  into  the  vel- 
vet cushion.  The  price  ($6)  includes  postage,  and  they 
will  be  forwarded  post-paid  to  any  place  in  the  United 
States  and  Territories.  This  premium  (as  in  the  table  in 
next  column)  is  given  for  24  subscribers  at  $1  each,  or 
50  at  80  cents  each.    It  is  a  first-rate  thing. 


An  Amusing  Reply.— The  little  sister  of  a  friend  of 
ours  asked  the  meaning  of  the  word  biped,  and  was  told 
it  signified  having  two  legs.  A  quadruped  has  four  legs, 
continued  her  brother,  "  and  now,"  asked  he,  "what  would 
you  call  any  thing  with  three  legs."  In  a  moment  she 
replied,  "  I  should  say  it  was  a  biped  and  a  half." 

A  Comical  Mistake. — At  an  exhibition  of  a  magic 
lantern  the  children  were  asked  to  name  the  pictures  as 
they  were  shown.  A  view  of  the  children  of  Israel 
crossing  the  Red  Sea  was  brought  out.  "  What  is  this,' 
was  asked.  A  Utile  fellow  in  the  audience  enthusiastic- 
ally called  out '  is  Burnside  crossing  the.Rappahamiock.  !' 


*w  H 


|a4fca 
DOING  GOOD,  AKD  GETTING  PAY  FOR  IT. 

While  many  Journals  are  adopting  our  long-time  mode  of 
doing  business,  some  cotemporaries  decry  our  practice  of 
giving  premiums.  As  a  cloak  to  their  want  of  enterprise, 
they  intimate  that  certain  other  periodicals  are  not  good 
enough  in  themselves,  but  need  a  "  make-weight,"  or  pre- 
mium, thrown  in.  "We  Invite  a  comparison  in  quality, 
amount  of  reading  matter,  engravings,  and  in  price.  All 
these  journals  proclaim  the  importance  of  getting  farmers 
and  others  to  read  more  about  their  business,  and  constantly 
urge  their  readers  to  solicit  new  subscribers,  and  to  do  it 
'for  the  good  of  the  cause."  That  is  all  very  well;  every 
one  is  doing;  a  good  work  who  induces  a  neighbor  to  read 
and  think  more— to  make  his  head  help  his  hands. 

But  we  go  a  little  further,  and  offer  some  pay  to  those  who 
devote  time  and  effort  to  this  work.  The  easiest  and  best 
way  to  do  so,  is  to  offer  specific  Premiums  of  good  articles, 
for  a  definite  number  of  names.  Owing  to  the  special  good- 
will of  manufacturers,  publishers,  etc.,  and  to  some  adver- 
tising arrangements,  we  are  able  to  offer  much  larger  pre- 
miums in  this  way  than  in  cash.  There  is  no  "catch"  in  our 
mode— no  fine  premium  to  the  one  sending  in  the  largest  list 
of  names,  leaving  all  others  "  out  in  the  cold,"  though  they 
may  have  worked  just  as  hard,  and  obtained  almost  as  many 
subscribers.  The  canvasser  knows  just  what  he  or  she  is 
working  for,  and  that  the  pay  or  absence  of  it,  does  not  de- 
pend upon  what  some  other  unknown  party  is  doing. 

"We  do  not  pretend  to  give  an  article  costing  $2,  and  throw 
In  the  paper  for  a  year,  all  for  $1.  We  offer  no  article  of  in- 
ferior quality  or  value.  The  premiums  are  all  useful  and 
desirable,  and  cheap  at  the  prices  named.  Every  article 
offered,  is  a  good  one— nothing  second-hand,  or  of  poor  make 
or  quality,  or  kind.  We  intend  in  all  cases  to  deal  fairly 
with  every  one.  We  invite  all  to  make  au  effort  to  get  one  or 
more  of  the  preniiumns  described  below,  and  thus  do  good 
to  others  in  circulating  the  paper,  and  get  paid  for  the 
work ;  many  have  already  done  so  during  the  past  month. 


1.5 


Table  of  Premiums  for  1864. 
Open  to   all— No  Competition. 

Names  of  Premium  Articles. 

Good  Books—  See  terms  below  * 

A — American  Cyclopedia  (Appleton'a  Ncw).$^6  00 

B— Best  Family  Clothes  Wringer $7  00 

C— Nonpareil  Washing  Machine.  ..$16  00 

D— Sewing  Machine,   (AV  heeler  &  Wilson)... $45  00 

E— Sewing  Machine,  (Wilcox  &  Gibbs) $40  00 

F— Woodruff's  Mercurial  Barometer ,  $S  00 

G— Woodruff's  Mercurial  Barometer $12  00 

H— The  Aquarius - ....  $10  00 

I— Five  Octave  Melodeon  (best) $80  00 

J— Four  Octave  Melodeon  (best) $f>5  00 


$1  24 

$1  SO 


K— Seven  back  Volumes  Agricultruist,"]  $8  08 

L— Six         do  do  do  «■-•  ®7  ^ 

M— Five     do  do  do  "ag  $0  20 

N— Four     do  do  do  §,*   $4  96 

O— Three   do  do  do  f&§  $3  72 

P— Two      do  do  do 

Q— One       do  do  do 

K— Jacob's  Portfolio  Paper  File „ 

S— Osborn  &  HodgUinson's  Paints-. $1  50 

T— Premium  Cylinder  Plow.- $10  00 

U— Eagle  Plow  No. 20 $9  25 

V— Hay  and  Straw  Cutter  (best) $9  00 

W— Steel-tooth  Cultivator  (best) $7  50 

X— Family  Lard  and  Wine  Press $7  00 

aa—  Case  of  Drawing  Instruments $G  00 

No  charge  is  made  for  packing  or  boxing  any  of  the  ar- 
ticles in  this  Premium  List.  The  books  and  the  Premi- 
ums K,to  S,  inclusive,  are  delivered  to  any  part  of  the 
United  Slates  and  Territories,  free  of  all  charges.  The 
other  articles  cost  the  recipient  only  the  freight  after 
leaving  the  manufactory  of  each.  XKSTEvery  article 
is  new  and  of   the  very   best   make. 

The  names  (with  money  for  each,)  can  be  sent  in  as  fast 
as  gathered,  so  that  the  subscribers  can  begin  to  receive 
their  papers.  The  premium  will  be  paid  to  any  one  as 
soon  as  his  list  is  completed.  But,  let  it  be  distinctly 
noted,  we  can  reckon  for  premiums  only  those  names 
which  are  marked  as  for  Premiums,  when  they  are  sent  in. 
All  the  separate  names  thus  sent  and  marked  as  for  pre- 
miums, are  at  once  recorded,  so  that  vve  can  immediately 
turn  to  any  canvasser's  list,  and  see  how  it  stands. 

Premium  clubs  need  not  necessarily  be  all  at  one  Post- 
Office.  Each  list  ought  to  contain  a  fair  proportion  of 
new  names,  for  it  is  to  bring  the  paper  before  new  sub- 
scribers, that  the  premiums  are  in  part  intended. 

To  avoid  confusion,  please  send  in  the  exact  amount 
wilh  each  list  of  names.  In  special  cases,  the  whole  sum 
for  a  premium  list  maybe  forwarded,  and  the  premium 
be  received  at  once— the  names  to  be  sent  in  afterward. 

E^AIl  names  sent  in  now,  get  the  great  Strawberry 
plants.  Note  that  5  cents  extra  are  needed  if  the"  A gri' 
culturist  Strawberry"  plants  are  lo  go  by  mail.  This 
will,   of  course,  be  paid  by  the  subscribers  themselves. 


Descriptive  Notes    on  the    Premiums. 

*  Books.— Any  person  sending  20  or  more  subscribers, 
may  select  from  our  Book  List  (page  362)  to  the  amount 
of  10  cenls  for  each  name  sent  in  at  the  club  price  of  SO 
cents,  or  to  the  amount  of  30  cents  for  each  name  at  $1. 
(No  books  sent  for  less  than  20  names).  The  premium 
books  will  be  delivered  anywhere  in  the  United  States, 
or  to  the  border  of  the  British  Provinces,  free  of  all 
cost,  by  mail  or  express.  Many  Farmers'  Clubs  have, 
by   means  of  this  premium,  obtained   a  *good  Library, 

A—  Appleton's   New  American    Cyclopedia.— 

This  magnificent  work  is  now  completed,  and  ready  for  im- 
mediate delivery.  It  consists  of  16  heavy  volumes,  averaging 
800  large  two  column  pages,  or  in  the  whole  work,  13,804 
pages !  (The  books  fill  up  over  a  yard  of  shelf-room.)  It  is 
in  reality  a  complete  library  of  itself,  embracing  full  infor- 
mation upon  every  topic  of  human  knowledge,  alphabeti- 
cally arranged  for  convenient  reference.  The  subjects  dis- 
cussed number  over  twenty-Jive  thousand/  Itis  hardly  pos- 
sible to  name  anything  upon  which  pretty  full  information 
may  not  be  readily  found  In  the  Cyclopedia.  Many  who  can 
not  purchase  the  work  may  be  able  to  obtain  it  through  our 
Premium  offer.  It  is  worth  a  year's  effort  in  raising  subscri- 
bers, though  many  may  get  1C0  names  in  a  brief  time. 

B— Best  Clothes-Wringers.— This  is  a  most  excel- 
lent Household  Implement,  which  should  be  in  every  family. 
It  can  be  set  upon  any  form  of  tub,  and  by  turning  with  the 
right  hand  and  picking  up  the  garments  with  the  left,  they 
are  pressed  rapidly  and  easily  between  two  elastic  rollers, 
and  drop  out  into  a  basket,  quite  as  free  from  water  as  they 
can  be  wrung  by  the  hardest  twisting  by  baud.  Every  lady 
knows  that  hand  wringing  is  really  harder  upon  the  arms 
and  shoulders  than  eveu  the  washing;  while  the  twisting 
stretches  the  filters  with  lever  power,  and  hastens  the  wear- 
ing out.  All  this  is  avoided  by  the  Wringer,  which  is  in 
truth  a  strength-saver,  and  a  clothes-saver.  We  have  had 
one  in  use  for  nearly  four  years ;  it  is  as  good  as  ever,  and 
has  paid  for  itself  many  times  over.  A  child  can  with  this 
readily  wring  out  a  tub-full  of  clothes.  Our  Premium  Wring- 
ers are  of  the  family  size,  and  of  the  best  manufacture,  and 
are  provided  with  cogs,  and  with  springs,  so  that  they  "will 
wring  equally  well  any  article  from  a  blanket  to  a  baby's 
stocking.  The  Wringer  weighs  only  15  lbs.,  and  can  be  car- 
ried by  hand,  or  sent  by  express,  or  freight  to  any  point,  and 
is  ready  for  instant  use  on  removing  the  light  packing  box. 

C— Nonpareil  Washing  Machine.— The  best 
recommendation  we  can  give  of  this,  is,  that  while  we  have 
tried  fifteen  or  twenty  kinds,  this  is  the  only  one  that  our 
"  help"  continue  to  use  without  being  required  to  do  so.  It 
acts  somewhat  like  the  old  " fulling  mill ;"  the  clothes  are 
put  into  the  hot  water,  and  beat  by  two  pounders  which  con- 
stantly turn  them  over.  The  beaters  are  moved  alternately 
by  a  crank,  provided  with  balance  wheel  which  adjusts  the 
force  required  so  as  to  make  the  turning  easy.  Take  it  all 
in  all,  the  Nonpareil  is  the  best  Washing  Machine  we  have 
found.  If  we  could  find  a  better  one,  we  should  put  it  in  our 
list,  for  anything  that  helps  to  reduce  the  hard  work  of 
washing  day,  is  a  godsend.  The  machine  can  co  as  freight, 
or  by  express,  to  any  part  of  the  country,  and  we  believe 
will  give  better  satisfaction  than  any  other  yet  brought  out. 

D— E— Sewing  Machines.— We  need  not  enlargu 
upon  the  benefits  of  Sewing  Machines.  It  is  no  exaggeration 
to  say  that  a  woman  can  in  a  day  do  ten  limes  as  much 
ordinary  sewing  with  a  machine,  as  she  can  do  by  hand. 
The  interest  on  a  $50  Machine  is  only  $3  to  $4  a  year,  which 
is  a  small  consideration  compared  to  its  advantages.  Five 
hundred  families  ought  to  be  supplied  through  our  pre- 
mium list  this  year.  At  least  80  to  100  copies  of  the  Agri- 
culturist ought  to  be  taken  in  every  town,  and  would  be  if 
some  enterprising  man  or  woman  would  go  round  and  gath- 
er them.  Two  or  three  ladies  might  join  their  efforts,  and 
get  a  machine  for  use  between  them.  We  offer  two  kinds  of 
Machines,  both  varieties  of  which  we  have  had  in  use  for 
several  years,  and  with  great  satisfaction.  They  are  both 
supplied  with  the  Hemmer,  and  are  sent  out  with  full  in- 
structions for  use. The  'Wheeler  «&  "Wilson  Ma- 
chine, we  have  used  during  five  years,  and  can  bear  full 
testimony  in  its  favor.  More  of  these  machines  are  sold  and 
used,  we  believe,  than  of  all  the  other  good  kinds  together, 

which  is  a  strong  proof  of  the  satisfaction  they  give. This 

sews  with  a  double  thread,  both  sides  of  the  fabric  showing 

the  same  stitch. The  Wilcox  &   Gihhs  Machine, 

we  have  used  for  over  three  years,  and  for  most  kinds  of 
sewing  it  is  excellent.  It  is  very  simple  in  its  operation  and 
can  be  worked  by  those  who  have  the  smallest  amount  of 
mechanical  skill.  It  can  be  used  for  most  kinds  of  sewing, 
and  may  well  be  adopted  generally,  at  least  where  the  higher 
priced  machines  can  not  be  afforded.— For  every  kind  of 
sewing,  especially  where  the  same  stitch  is  required  on 
both  sides,  we  prefer  the  Wheeler  &  Wilson. 

F—G— "Woodruff's  Mercurial  Barometer. —This 

is  conceded  to  be  the  best  and  cheapest  instrument  for  gen- 
eral use,  which  Is  now  offered  to  the  public.  The  peculiar 
form  of  mercury  cup  invented  by  Mr.  Woodruff",  renders  the 
instrument  far  more  portable  than  any  thing  previously  made. 
The  safe  delivery  of  every  instrument  given  by  us  as  a  pre- 
mium, is  warranted  by  the  manufacturer  (Charles  Wilder, 
Peterboro,  N.  H.),  when  to  be  sent  within  1,500  miles.  The 
Instruments  are  beautifully  made,  are  about  3  feet  lonif,  and 
are  sent  direct  from  the  factory,  with  no  expense  save  the 
express  charges.  We  offer  two  forms  which  differ  mainly  in 
the  style  of  case,  both  being  supplied  with  Thermometer  and 
Yemier.  The  $13  form  is  of  course  more  ornamental,  and 
the  more  desirable  instrument,  though  either  of  them  is  high- 
ly valuable.  A  barometer  is  to  farmers  or  others  on  land 
what  it  is  to  sailors  at  sea— an  indicator  of  the  weather 
to  be  looked  for.  There  are  many  times  every  year  when 
the  indications  of  the  barometer  in  regard  to  the  weather, 
will  often  be  of  more  value  than  its  whole  price,  while  the 
interest  on  its  cost  would,  bo  less  than  half  a  dollar  a  year 


378 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[December, 


The  habit  of  observation,  and  of  scientific  6tudy  culti- 
vated in  children  where  a  Barometer  is  used,  is  important, 

H-Thc  Aquarius. — This  is  an  excellent  little  porta- 
ble force-pump,  useful  in  many  ways.  One  can  take  this  In- 
Htruinent  In  his  hand  with  a  pail  of  water,  and  throw  a  con- 
siderable stream  to  any  point  where  a  tire  may  be  breaking 
ont,  and  do  more  to  quench  it,  than  he  could  with  a  dozen 
naill'ulls  dashed  on,  even  if  the  lire  could  be  reached.  AVo 
have  Ihrown  water  from  Hie  ground  up  against  the  third 

ton  window/sofa  kbnse.  The  Aquarius  is  very  useful  for 
watering  gardens,  inr  washing  windows,  carriages,  etc..  etc. 
Ii  is  provided  with  rubber  .suction  pipe,  to  draw  water  from 
:■  pail,  tub  or  bucket,  and  an  ejection  pipe  having  both  a  noz- 
'1G  lb!-  throwing  a  stream,  ami  ;i  rose  or  sprinkler.  It 
Mil  -  also  an  ail-  chamber  for  giving  a  constant  Stream.  It  is  a 
handy  insti  nment,  for  every  household,  aside  from  Its  use  as  a 
lire  engine  with  which  incipient  tires  have  been  stopped. 

H  -J— Mclodeon&s. — None  need  to  be  told  of  the  pleas- 
iire  given  by  a  good  Melodeon  in  a  household,  or  of  ils  util- 
lly  in  the  Week  Day  and  Sabbath  School  Itoom,  and  the 
>  iniivh.  "Music  hath  charms  to  soothe  even  a  savage  breast" 
and  we  hesitate  not  to  say  that  a  benign  influence  is  exerted 
upon  every  house  and  school  room  where  a  Melodeon  or 
other  good  musical  instrument  is  found,— We  oiler  two  sizes 
in  our  list  above,  and  those  of  a  different  price  may  be  se- 
lected for  a  proportionate  number  of  subscribers.  (For 
sizes,  style,  prices,  etc.,  send  a  stamp  to  George  A.  Prince  & 
Co.,  Buffalo,  N.  1'.,  and  get  one  of  their  illustrated  descrip- 
tive Catalogues,  which  will  be  sent  free).  We  have  used  one 
«jf  these  Melodeous  during  four  years  past,  and  it  continues 
io  give  file  highest  satisfaction.  It  has  not  been  tuned  or 
otherwise  repaired  in  all  that  time.  The  premium  instru- 
ments will  be  shipped  direct  from  the  manufacturers  at  Buf- 
falo, ready  boxed.  They  can  go  by  railroad,  steamboat,  ex- 
press or  otherwise,  as  desired  by  the  recipient.  ZW  It  is 
easy  for  Churches,  and  both  Week  Day  and  Sunday  Schools 
to  unite  their  efforts  and  secure  a  good  melodeon. 

—Many  have  done  so   already. 

K— Q,— Sc-vcai  Volumes  of  the  Agriculturist.— 

Here  is  a  whole  Agricultural,  Horticultural,  and  Household 
Library,  embracing  also  a  largo  amount  of  interesting  read- 
ing for  Children  and  Youth,  and  thousands  of  instructive 
ami  pleasing  engravings.  Each  volume  contains  more 
printed  matter  than  half  a  dozen  dollar  books  of  the  usual 
size.  There  are  in  each  volume  from  one  to  two  thousand 
articles  ami  condensed  items,  among  which  every  reader 
will  find  something  useful  to  himself  and  family.  We  send 
them  post-paid  fas  in  the  above  I  able,)  in  new  clean  numbers, 
printed  from  stereotype  plates  as  needed.  The  last  number 
of  each  volume  contains  an  index  to  the  whole  volume. 
'Any  person  preferring  them  bound,  can  receive  them  in  this 
form,  neatly  done,  at  65  cents  extra  per  volume,  for  binding 
and  extra  postage— or  at  a  cost  of  only  25  cents  per  volume 
if  called  Tor,  or  sent  by  express,  or  otherwise,  so  as  not  to 
be  pre-paid,  Let  every  one  selecting  this  premium  be  sure 
to  name  what  volumes  are  desired,  or  how  many  of  each,  as 
duplicates  of  any  number  can  be  chosen  if  preferred.— We 
can  only  supply  from  volume  16  to  volume  22  inclusive. 

R — Best    File    for    tile   Agriculturist Jacob's 

Portfolio  tile,  made  .just  to  lit  ttie  Agriculturist,  Willi  the  name 
of  the  paper  gilded  on,  is  exceedingly  convenient.  It  is  a 
neatly  embossed  or  stamped  cover,  made  so  that  each  suc- 
cessive number  of  the  paper  can  be  inserted  in  a  minute, 
when  it  is  strongly  held  hi.  The  numbers  thus  fastened  togeth- 
er are  as  convenient  as  a  bound  book.  When  one  volume  is 
completed,  it  can  be  removed  and  stitched  together,  and  the 
numbers  of  a  new  volume  be  inserted.  A  single  cover  will 
answer  for  a  dozen  or  twenty  successive  years.  It  is  with- 
out doubt  the  most  perfect  paper  lilc  made.    Sent  post-paid. 

S— "Water  Color  Paints. — Those  offered  (Osborne 
<v  Hodgkinson's)  are  the  bestof  American  Manufacture,  and 
though  not  so  fine  for  artist's  work,  as  some  of  the  imported 
(which  now  sell  at  six  times  the  price),  they  answer  very 
well  for  common  sketching,  particularly  by  children  and 
beginners.  They  are  especially  useful  to  children,  as  their 
use  tends  to  develop  a  taste  for  form  and  color,  and  skill  in 
Hie  use  of  the  pencil.  Send  post-paid,  in  nealmaliogany  ease 
—•.'1  small  cakes  of  assorted  colors,  with  brushes,  etc. 

T— II— Premium  Plows. — The  two  named  in  the 
table  above  (Cylinder  and  Eagle  No.  30,)  are  two  of  the  best 
Isriu  plows  in  use,  and  will  doubtless  give  ample  satisfaction 
to  any  one  securing  them  as  premiums.  We  have  not  space 
fora  particular  description.  The  Eagle  Plow  is  well-known. 
The  working  of  the  Cylinder  Plow,  and  other  items  concern- 
ingitare  described  on  page  13G  of  Volume  XX,  (May  1861). 

T-W-Hiiy  and  Straw  Cutters— Stccl-tootli- 
r«l  Cultivators. — These  implements  are  of  first  import- 
ance to  all  fanners,  some  of  whom  may  find  it.  most,  conve- 
nient to  secure  them  through  our  premium  list.  We  send 
the  best  implements  we  know  of  at  the  prices  named. 


The  Markets. 

American  Agriculturist  Unlet;.  / 
New-York,  Thursday  Morning,  Nov.  Ill,  IB03.  j 
The  tables  below,  carefully  prepared  specially  for  the 
American  Agriculturist,  from  original  and  official  sources, 
present  a  very  comprehensive  and  clear  view  of  the 
transactions  in  breadstuff's,  during  the  past  month  and 
year,  Riid  a  comparison  with  similar  periods  last  year. 
\  study  of  the  fables  will  afford  much  general  informa- 
■  toii  Prices  of  most  agricultural  products  have  ad- 
vanced, as  shown  in  Ihe  tables  of  current  rales.  This 
lias  mainly  resulted  from  the  advance  in  gold,  as  was 
fully  detailed  on  page  32S,  November  Agriculturist.  The 
Breadstuff  markets  are  a-t  present  in  a  very  unhealthy 
con  litiim,  owing  to  the  rage  for  speculation,  and  most  of 
Hie  reported  sales  are  from  one  to  another  of  this  class. 
Buyers  for  the  home  trade  and  for  shipment  huld  off,  ex- 
pecting a  collapse  w  hich  will  be  produced  by  military  sue 


cesses  followed  by  a  fall  in  gold,  or  by  a  tighter  money 

market Bale  Hay  has  been  very  scarce  and   in   lively 

request  at  higher  rates Hops  have  been  more  sought 

after  and  quite  firm Seeds,  Hemp,  and  Tobacco,  have 

been  in  less  request,  but  uilhout  important  changes  in 
prices. ..  .Wool  has  been  in  very  brisk  request,  chiefly 
for  manufacturing  purposes,  and  heavy  sales  of  both 
domestic  and  foreign  have  been  effected,  (including  an 
extensive  calalugue  of  California  and  foreign  "Wools  at 
auction,  Noii  \~.)  at  decidedly  firmer  prices,  the  mar- 
ket closing  with  less  animation,  owing,  to  the  extreme 
firmness  of  holders.     Stocks  have  been  much  reduced, 

and   Ihe  liner  grades    are   now  becoming  scarce In 

ino.-t  agricultural  products,  transactions  have  been 
moderate.  The  Price  table  shuws  present  prices,  and 
changes  since  our  last  quotations. 

1.  TRANSACTIONS  AT  THK  NEW-YORK  MARKETS. 

llECEii'rs.  Flour.     Il7/m(.    Corn.    liye.    Barley.    Oats. 

37  days  tills  in'th  5SU.000  o.0:U,000  531,000  21,000  007.000  2,102.000 
'.'",d;i\s/«.,Im'i!i:;il.lXltl  l,S:;:i,000  3,303,000    25,000    41,000     013,000 

Sales.  Flour.  Wheat.       Corn.    ',  llye.    Barley, 

2?  days  </m- month,  .f'JS.OOO  3,113,000  3,018,000  20.OD0  588,000 
25  days  lust  moutli,  055,000    3,306,000    4,493,000       30,800    301,000 

2.  Comparison  with  same  lime  last  year. 
Flour.     Wheal.     Corn.      Bye.  Barley.  Oats. 

330.000  ::,034.000    531.000     21.000  007,000  2,102,000 
530,000  4,520,000  2,003,000    41,100  887,000     785,000 

Flour.  Wheal.  Corn.  Eye.  Barley. 
499.000  3.113,000  3,018,000  20,000  588,000 
070,030     0,378,000    3,105,000       35,000     361,000 

3.  Explris   from  New-York,  Jan.  1,  to  Nov.  18. 

Flour.  Wheat.           Corn.  Rye.  Oats. 

BIAS.  Bush.            Bush.  Bush.  Bush. 

1S03,.      .  2.278,535  11,190.323  7,480,835  410,249         12S.!l9ii 

1362 2,683,083  88,216,817  10,512,556  i  1,088,790        111,165 

4.  Receipts  of  Breadstuff's  at  Albany,  by  the  New-York 
Canals  from  the   opening  of  navigation   to  Nov.  Ih. 

Flour,       Wheat,     Com,     Eye,    Barley,       Oats, 
bhls.  bus.        bus.       bus.       bus.  bus. 

1863 1, 141,100  17,314,300  20,405,000  353,700  l.st',6,400  S,5S3,!>(|0 

ISO'!  .       .    1.311,3110  31.571,800  10,391,200  737,400  1,138,100  1,199,000 


RECEIPTS. 
27  days  1863 
21  days  1802 


27  days  1863 
27  days  1862 


Current  Wholesale  Prices. 
October  17. 


5  40 

6  10 
6  60 
6  40 
5  00 
4  75 
1  45 


81 
1  15 

1  30 
91 
22 
50 
10 

2  50 

3  00    @ 
0&@ 

40    (S 
31     @ 


Flour— Sillier  to  Extra  State  $5  40 

Superfine  Western.. 

Extra  Western 

Extra  Genesee.. 

Super,  to  Extra  Southern  . . . 

Uye  Flour 

Corn  Meai 

Wheat- All  kinds  of  White 

All  kinds  of  lied 

Corn— Yellow 

Mixed... 

Oats— Western. 

State 

Uye 

Barley 

Cotton— Middlings,  per  lb.. 
Hoes,  crop  "lisiK.  peril).... 
Feathers,  Live  Geese]  p.  in. 

Seed— Clover,  per  lb 

Timothy,  per  bushel 

Flax,   per  bushel 

StJQ  \  R— Brown,  per  lb  — 
Mni.\ssKs.New -Orleans,  p.gl 
Coffee,  liio,  pen  lb  .,  ... 
Tobacco— Kentnclsy,&c,p.lb 

Seed  Leaf,  per  lb.  ...  

Wool— Domestic  fleece,  p.  lb 
Domestic,  pulled,  per  lb. 
"Wool,  California,  unwashed. 

Tallow,  per  lb 

Oil  Cake,  per  tun 

Pork— Mess,  per  W>1... 

Prime,  per  bbl 

Beef— Phiin  mess 

Laud,  in  bids.,  per  lb    

Buttek— Western,  per  lb.  . 

Stale,  per  lb. 

Cheese 

Beans—  per  bushel  

Broom  Corn— ner  It, 

Ecus— fresh,  per  dozen 

Eg"S,.I.iuied,  per  doz 

Poultry— Fowls,  per  lb 

Ducks,  per  lb 

Geese,  per  lb 

Turkeys,  per  11 
Potatoes—  Dykman.  p. 

Mercers,  per  bill ■ .. 

Buckeyes  per  bid      

Peach  Blow,  per  bbl  .   

Nova  Scolia,  per  bushel 

Sweet  Delaware  per  bbl 

Jersey  Sweet  pea'  bbl  ... .  .... 

Turnips— Buta  baga,  per  bbl 
Onions,  Red  &  Yellow  p.  bbl. 

Cabbahes,  per  100    ..  

Dried  Aitlks.  per  lb.  .  .. 
dkieii  Peaches,  per  lb.... 


@  6  50 

(5)  5  75 

(Si  9  75 

Cm  8  50 

(.«  9  75 

(To  0  10 

([,<  5  30 

@  1  75 

1  20    @  1  40 

1  00    @  1  02 

9IP..;.,;  us 

80    @ 

@ 


Nov.  18. 
i  60    @  6  65 
>  00    a  5  80 
7  00    @11  50 
1  70      "" 
I  20 


„„ 


S2 

83 
1  20 
155 

SI 

28 

SiVs 

11 


.,  J  00 

<:,  n  oo 

5  75  a  6  75 

5  50  @  6  25 

1  60  @  1  85 

1  36  (31  1  57 

1  09  @  1  10 

1  09  @  1  10 


85    @      86 

I  20    @  1  23 

40    @  1  58 

87 


14>.; 

00 

31 

27 

12    on      45 

70    @      80 

65    ®      80 

28    ®      55 

12K®      V2H 

44  50    ®52  20 

11  50    SSI 6  50 

11  75    ®13  25 

10  50    (8)13  50 

11 X®      12 


86    .„ 

20    O  28 

57    ®  00 

9><®  ll'A 

2  50     (•••  2  05 

2  00    ®  3  10 

14-X 


50    ® 


70    ® 
68    @ 

80    (S; 


70 

K% 

28 

50 

85 


19 
23 

12 

150 


23 

>.'  28 
(51  16 
®  3  00 


(.? 
@ 
® 

@ 

(,. 


.  bbl. 


Drieo  IIv 
Apples,  el 
Apples,  mi 
Apples,  Rl 
Pumpkins 


rPBKRBIES,  per  lb. 

,oiee,  per  bbl 

xed'lots,  per  bbl. . 

rev,  per  bbl 

Cheese,  per  100. 

Marrow,  per  bbl.. 

Hubbard,  per  bbl  

Cranberries,  per  bbl  

Quinces,  per  100.     .. 

Pigeons,  Wild,  per  doz  .... 
I'kaiuie  Chickens,  per  pair 

Quail,  per  doz 

Pa  i: tkidges,  per  pair 


10 
22 

17  <?»  1S 
10  @  14 
10    @      16 

10    (,"       12 

t;   i."     is 

1  35    („>  1  50 

2  00    ®  2  50 

1   35     i„.    1  50 

"   e  2  oo 

@      50 

t    llll 

50 

@  1  50 
i!  25    ®  4  00 

4  00  @  8  00 
4  ®  7 
15     (.7.       17 

..;  18 
(.,  r,  no 
§  2  00 


60 
.  12;, 
OO  <ij>52  00 
50  @18  25 
Si'. ,.M2  35 
75  ®13  50 
11%®      T2M 

19  ®      24 
24    ®      28 
11    ®      15^ 
00    ®  3  00 

8    @      10 
22    ®      27 

20  ®     21 
14 


10  ® 
8  @ 
10    ® 

10   a 
!  50 
!  25 
1  35 


In 
40 


;  oo  ® : 


1  oo 


10 
3  00 

1  50 

8  00 

2  25 

S  00 

2  00 

75 

50 


32 
50 


14 
12 
15 

2  50 

1  50 

82    ®  2  00 

50    (■•       55 

50    ®  6  00 

50     »  5  00 

(II)     ®   1   35 

5(1     („•  8  75 

00     ®  8  00 

5    ®       0 

25 

24 

„  4  00 

5(1    ®  3  00 

00     @    'J  ."ill 

00  MO  00 

51)  ...    2  ,5 

51)  I-    3  75 

50  @U  00 

11.1  ...    1  511 

90  ®  1  25 

60  <;.>  80 

50     ...    .'  01) 
50    ®  1  00 

'I'he  W.  V.  lAve  Stock  Markets  during 

the  past  5  weeks  have  been  largely  supplied,  the  average 
weekly  receipts  being  6,225  beef  cattle  ;  lfi,S88  sheep,  and 
43,000  live  hogs.  The  shoit  winter  forage  hastens  the 
marketing  of  animals.  The  demand  is  good,  and  even 
under  the  large  receipts,,  prices  are  well  maintained,  the 
present  rates  being  :  for  cattle,  lie.  H?'  lb.  estimated  dress- 
ed weight  foi  the  best,  an  I  down  to  6c  for  scalawags- 
average  of  all  sales  S^c.  Good  full  grown  Sheep  bring 
5Jf(B5Xc.  V-  lb.  live  Weight ;  Lambs  OfSITc,  Good  corn- 
fed   hogs,  SlTxiOisCl?  lb.  live   weight  ;  still-fed,  5'jVn'5'Ae. 


@10  00 

@  2  50 
2  50 

®10  00 

...    8  oil 

®  i  oo 

®      62 
&   1  35 

...        s,| 


Business  Notices.  80  Cts-  per  Line  of  Space. 
Patents    for     New    Inventions, 

are  procured  in  this  Country  and  Europe,  by  MUNN  & 
CO.,  Editors  Scientific  American,   No.  37  Park  Row,  N. 

Y.     Pamphlets  of  advice  sent  free. 

Lands— To  All  Wanting  Farms. 

Large  and  thriving  settlement  of  Vinelund,  mild  cli- 
mate, 30  miles  south  of  Philadelphia,  by  railroad  ;  rich 
soil;  fine  crops;  twenly-acre  tracts,  at  from  $15  to  $80 
per  acre ;  payable  within  four  years.  Good  business 
openings  ;  good  society.  Hundreds  are  settlint;  and  mak- 
ing improvements.  Apply  to  CHAS.  K.  LANDIS,  Post- 
master, Vineland,  Cumberland  County,  K.  J,  Letters 
answered.     Papers  containing  full  information  sent  free. 

THE   CKAIG  MICROSCOPeT" 

If,  us  ;i  Holiday  Gift,  yon  woulJ  combine  instruction 
with  amusement,  the  useful  with  the  entertaining,  n_- 
meinberthe  Craig  Microscope  and  Mounted  Ohjeefs,  for 
they  are  an  endless  source  of  amusement  and  instruc- 
tion. Over  200  dozen  Microscopes  and  700  dozen  Objects 
have  been  sold  within  a  year  by  the  Uustun  Agent  alone. 
This  Microscope,  in  brass,  is  mailed,  poshige  paid,  for 
$2  25  ;  or  with  six  beautiful  mounted  objects  fur  $-"  ;  or 
willi  24  objects  for  $5.  In  hard,  rubber,  fnr  50  cents,  in 
addition  to  above  prices.  A  liberal  discount  to  the  trade. 
Address,    HENRY  CRAIG,  335  Broadway,  New-York. 

Jbbutisements. 

Advertisements  to  be  sure  of  insertion  must  be  re* 
ceived  at  latest  by  the  loth  of  the  preceding  month. 
TERMS—  (inviirinhlj'  cash  before  insertion) : 

FOr.  THE  KXGLISH   SMTlON  ONXY. 

Fifty  tienti  per  line  of  space  for  each  insertion. 
One  -whole  column  (X45  lines),  or  more,  $W  per  column. 
In  both  English  unci  Urcrm:in,  Fifiy-fwt  cents  per  line. 
German  Edition  alone,  Ten  cents  per  line  ot  space. 

Valuable  Farm  for  Sale. 

To  those  desiring  to  purchase  land,  we  would  call  their 
attention  to  this  valuable  farm,  situated  in  Hunterdon  Co., 
New-Jersey,  t  miles  from  the  Delaware  River,  and  Delaware 
and  Belvidere.  R.lt.  Very  convenient  toClutrcb,  Mill.  Stores, 
School,  etc.,  being  n  splendid  situation  for  a  country  resi- 
dence, having  a  "splendid  view  of  the  surrounding  country, 
not.  excelled  by  any  in  the  state.  The  soil  is  loiiiny  with 
clay  bottom,  ami  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Good  Build- 
inge.  Young  apple  orchard,  and  peach  orchard  jnst  in  IU 
prime.  The  Farm  contains  about  110  acres.  Terms  eas;-". 
FO'"  further  particulars  apply  to,  or  address 

WILLIAMSON*  ALLEN*  Stockton,  Huntorlou  Co.,  N.  J. 

FISK    &    H  ~K  T  c  n , 

No.  3S   Wall-st.,  New- York  City. 

BANKERS    AND  DEALERS  IN 

All  kinds  of  Oo vermaciit  and  other  Se- 
curities. Orders  from  tiie  Country  tor  pur- 
chase of  Government  Bonds,  etc..  attend- 
ed   to   WITH  CARE   and  Promptness 

Also  Agents  for  the  sale  of  U.  S,  FIVE- 
TWENTY  YEAR  SIX  PER  CENT.  BONOS. 

PEAjU    SEED,    Are. 

J.  M.  THORBURN  &  CO- 

Offer  of  the  growth  of  1863 
Prime  Pear  Seed  per  pound  $3,  or  in  quantities  of  io  pounds 

and  over,  per  pound $:>.ou 

Apple  Seed  per  Bushel $  7.    " 

Mannleh  Cherry  Pits,  per  QuSlicI 25. 

Plum  Pits,  "  5. 

Apricot  Pits      

Wevmouth  Pine  Seed,  per  pound £). 

Scotch  Elm  "  "  3. 

Scarlet  Maple         "  "  2. 

Magnolia  Accuminata        "  8. 

Quince  Seed  "  3 

Improved  White  liaspherry  Seed 

Improved  Tied  " 

Improved  Yellow  Gooseberry  Seed 
Improved  lied  " 

Improved  Green  " 

Honey  Locust  Seed  per  pound  60c. 
Yellow  Locust  Seed  per  pound  ?5c. 
New  "White  Japan  Melon 

J.  M.  XHORBTJKN  &  CO.,  Seed  "Warehouse, 
15  John-st.,  New-York. 
3^°  Parties  ordering  the  above  to  come  by  mail  nn*t  en- 
close in  addition  2  cents  for  every  i  ounces  ordered. 

MOTHERS  AND  WIVES  I~ 

THE  MOTHER'S  JOURNAL 

nnd  Family  Visitant  is  a  practical  Monthly 
Matrizine  for  Mothers  and  the  Household, 
substantia]  in  matin-,  attractive  in  Style. 

<)ne  Dulliii'  a  year;    Pp.-cimcn  copies,  tent 
r.'nls.     lie  sure  and  have  it.  [ 

Simd  by  mail, directed  to  Mofliertf  JmtrnalX 
335  Broadway,  New  York.      ' 

BLACK  SPANISH    FOWLS. 

A  few  pair  of  Pure  Blood  young  black  Spanish,  from  im 
ported  stock.    Apfny  tu    I).  H.  WILLETS,  Flushing,  L.  L 


Per  Quart. , 

.      SO 

" 

.,   1.00 

25 

..  1.00 

Per  ounce. . 

.    a 

.    •« 

.      211 

25 

" 

.       25 

■• 

.    1.00 

•• 

.     1.00 

11 

.    2.00 

.    2.00 

" 

.    2.00 

.       10 

*• 

.      10 

" 

.      50 

1863.] 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


379 


WANTED  A  SITUATION  by  au  American  man 
and  his  Wife,  to  take  charge  of  a  Farm,  one  that  thor- 
oughly understands  his  business,  and  can  furnish  Hie  best 
of  testimonials.    A  situation  near  Providence.  U.  I.,  would 
H.  C.  WHEKLEI!, 
North  Stoniiigtoii,  Conn. 


be  preferred.    Address 


^7" ANTED  A    SITUATION  AS   FARMER   and 

»»   Gardener,  understands  the  general  management  of 

t'.iriuin>r,  draining  and  reclaiming  of  "waste  lands,  growing  of 

rout  crops  bv  special  and  artificial  manures,  Lin-  v  -  ■:  1:iijlc  iiil«1 

applying  of  alt  agriculttu-al  machinery,  the  erecting  ol  farm 
buildings,  raising,  selling  and  buying  of  Btoi  ' 
bloodstock  and  their  management,  buying  ai 
farm  products,  keeping  working  and*  farm 
erecting  of  horti cultural  buildings,  growing 
grapes,  peaches,  &c,  growing  and  prbpiigatii 
Move  and  (iivt-ii-Hoir.se  plants,  Hie  pontine 
Kitchen  gardening,  laying  out  of  new  grounds,  the  planting 
of  orchards  and  selecting  of  sorts  to  sui*  soil,  growing  of 
hardy  grapes  in  \  ineyard  and  making  wine.  Having  had  the 
general  management  of  Gentlemen?  estates  as  manager  iu 
the  above  capacity  for  a  number  of  years,  would  like  to 
engage  to  a  Gentleman  or  Company  wishing  to  make  a  new 
place.    Address       GERALD  HO  WATT,  Newborgn,  N.  V. 


d  selling  of  all 
icconnts.  The 
and  forcing  of 

g  Of  Orchidia, 
of  flower  and 


WANTED  FROM  THE  FIRST  OF  APRIL  next, 

"  a  good  practicable  Farmer,  one  capable  Of  taking 
charge  of  aVegetable  Farm.  An  Englishman,  Scotchman  or 
German  preferred.    Address        F.  A.  STOW,  Troy,  N.  V. 


es^if- 


*®^?M 


rw 


W  |B  I  ■■  B I  B  i  8  i  HBeTnOTfifi  s  ■  BfTr|fl? 

ijiUi^iss!  ii|  ElSsssissiiiiRassHSiBiiaEiarigiii 

"  IE  E&i  El  P^1  i  W$  ffli  ®?a]  -%i  #MR s  §ISf 
.i:ir  -  s.*  s .  -A  m^^^^aJ^r  v.  'torn* ' 3 " 


FORT  EDWARD  INSTITUTE. 

Colossal  brick  buildings,  Best  sustained  Boarding  Semi- 
nary in  the  State.  The  accumulated  facilities  of  nine  years 
under  Hie  same  management .  A  Graduates  Course  for  both 
ladies  and  gentlemen.  A  thorough  Business  College  for 
young  in  en  EQCALTOTHE  BKST.  Expenses  for  14  weeks  board, 
washing  fuel,  furnished  room  and  common  English  branches, 
*4.\  Winter  term,  l>ee.  3d.  Good  students  received  at  any 
time     Actress  for  catalogues 

REV.  JOSEPH  E.  KING,  D.D. 

Fort  Edward,  N.  Y. 

WB  IL'LEY  FEMALE  COLLEGE  opens  for  pu- 
BLB-'itils.  Kebi  luirv.'kl,  1864.  Superior  facilities  for  Educa- 
tion ;  Splendid  buildings,  elegant  furniture,  highly  ornamen- 
tal grounds;  Preparatory,  Academic  and  Collegiate  Depart- 
ments. An  aide  corps  Of  Teachers  and  Lecturers;  Bath- 
ing. Horsemanship,  and  Gymnastics  prominent;  numbers 
Hunted;  charges  reasonable;  Send  for  nrospeetus  Address 
lie  v.  JOHN    NEAVMAX,    1?.D.,   Poult  ney,  Vt. 

S.  B,  CONOVER, 
Commission    Dealer, 

260,  261  &  262  West  Washington  Market, 

FOOT  OF  FULTON-ST. 
Particular  atfcentSoa  paid  to  selling  all  kinds  of  Fruit  and 
o  tiler  Farm  Produce. 
Refers  to  the  Editor  of  the  American  Agriculturist. 


Stammering. 

And  Stuttering:  cured  by  BateB's  Patent  Appliances. 
For  tnew  edition  of)  Pamphlets  and  Drawings  describing 
the  same,  address  H.  C.  L.  WEARS,  317  West  SSll  Street,  N. 
T.    P.  O.  Box  5076. 

Wanted  !  Scrap  Iron,  Old  Boilers  and  Old  Iron 
Machinery. 

Tile  subscribers  will  pay  cash  for  any  quantity  of  wrought 
or  cast  scrap  iron,  old  boilers  and  old  iron  machinery  •  deliv- 
ered at  their  Warehouse  38,  SO  and  32  TeiTaee-st.,  Buffalo,  or 
at  tiieir  Boiling  Mill  and  Nail   Faetorv,  Black  Roek   N   Y 

Buffalo,  N.  V.,  July  1863.  PRATT  &  00. 

RUSSIA  OR  BASS  MATS,  SELECTED  EX- 
presslv  for  budding  and  tying;  GUNNY  BAGS 
TWINES,  HAY  HOPES,  &e„  suitable  for  Nursery  purposes 
tor  sale  in  lots  to  suit,  by  D.  W.  MANWARING 

Importer,  348  Front-st..  New-York. 

M7-HITE  CAMELIA  FLOWERS  WANTED  dur- 

•  w    ing   tiie  Winter  se:ison,  ill  quantities  from   10   to  1000 

Also  other  ehoiee  cut  flowers  will   tie    received   at  market 

prices  by     J.  S.  BARNES,  Florist.  TI0  Broadway,  New-York. 

BJRINCE  &  CO.,  FLUSHING-,  N.  Y.— LINN.EAN 
U    NURSERIES,  Founded  17:«.     New  Priced  Catalogues 

"f  Ti s  and  Shrubs,  of  Grapes,  of  Strawberries;  of  Bulbs 

ol  i'leonics,  &e„  &c,  just  issued,  sent  to  applicants. 

AI»I»I.I3  SEED  Or  TUB  «KOWTII 
of  1880,  at  $4  por  bushel.             JAMES  A.  ROOT. 
Skeaneateles,  N.  Y. 

rffcSIERS  OR  BASKET  WILLOWS.— 34  KINDS. 
^-^  Tiie  largest  collection  in  America.  Of  all  colors  and 
degrees  ol  fineness.  Cuttings  at  low  rates.  Send  for  Cat  i- 
logues,  PRINCE  &  CO.,  Flushing,  N.  Y. 


TO    FARMERS, 

TO   DAIRYMEN, 

TO  COUNTRY  MERCHANTS. 

Aliffj  who  have  lop  Sale: 
Sopg'hmn    Sugar    au<i    *vruj>, 
Fhpm      and      Skills, 
Fruits,  dry  and  green, 

Fl-ax,  Tobaeco, 


ia  ops, 

Cotton, 
Eg  utter, 
Lard, 

Pork, 

B,1  ii'irw 

<*aiue, 
FIohp, 
Seeds, 


Tallow, 
Wool, 

Cheese, 
Ueei°, 
Hams, 
Poultry, 
Vegetables, 
<*pain, 
Petpolenaii, 


&c,  Ac. 


Can  have  them  well  sold  at  the  highest  pi-ices 
iu  New- York,  with  full  cash  returns  promptly 
after  their  reaching  the  City,  by  forwarding 
them  to.  the   Commission  House  for    Country 

Produce,  of 

JOSIAH    CAKPKNTEB, 

32  Jay-street,  New-York. 

Sheppard,  Seward  &  Co., 

Wholesale  Dealers  In 
AMERICAN  *  FOREIGN  SEEDS. 
■Ill  Pearl-Street,  New-York. 
Catalogues  on  application. 

PURE-BRED  AND  FANCY  STOCK  FOR  SALE. 

Spanish  Merino  Bucks,  from  $-15  to  $500  each. 
Spanish  Merino  Ewes,  from  $2")  lo  S'.'OO. 
\  orkshire  I'i^s  at  11  weeks  old,  $14  per  pair. 
White-Faced  IJlaek  Spanish  $4  per  pair,  SO  per  trio.  While 
Dorkins,  $4  per  pair,  $li  per  trio.  White-Leered  Karl  Derliv 
games,  S-i  per  pair,  *'i  per  (rio.  Champion  Clipper  Games,  $4 
per  pair,  $i>  per  trio.  Blade-Breasted  lied  Gaines,  $4  pei-  pair, 
$li  per  trio.  Malacca  Games,  $1  per  pair,  *li  par  trio.  Silver- 
Laced  Sebright  Bantams,  $5  per  pair,  $7  per  trio.  Black  Po- 
lands,  §a  per  pair,  $4  per  trio.  Silver  Polands,  $3  per  pair,  $4 
per  trio.  Silver  Hamburg,  or  Bolton  Gravs,  ?3  per  pair,  $4 
per  trio.  Dominiques,  $3  per  pair.  $1  per  trio.  Brahma 
Pootra.  S4  per  pair,  $5  per  trio.  Bronze  Turkeys,  $4  to  #<i 
per  pair,  (according  lo  size.)  Airieau  or  Hong  Kong  Geese, 
fli  per  pair.  White  Aylesbury  Ducks,  fS  per  pair.  Koucn 
Ducks,  .s:;  per  pair.  While  Fan-Tail  Shaker  Pigeons,  S3  per 
pair,  .iacobine.  or  Ruff  Neck,  $3  per  pair.  Trumpeters,  s:> 
per  pair.  Pomrhters,  S3  per  pair.  Stars,  $3  per  pair,  All 
orders  should  be  Accompanied  with  the  amount  in  cash  or 
Draft,  wilh  full  particulars  as  to  what  route  to  send  them  by. 
Direct  all  letters  to  E.  N.  B1SSEI.L,  Shoreham,  Vt. 

WHITE  AYLESBURY  DUCKS,  almost  as  large 
as  ^eese;  also  a  Colswold  Buck  from  imported  stock, 
for  sale  by  E.  C.  AllMSTBOXG,  Florida,  Orange  Co.,  N.  T. 

RETT'S     SELF-OPENING 

ROCKSHAFT    GATE. 

Orders,  inquiries,  etc,  may  be  addressed  to 

F.  B.  BJSTTS,  either  at  TVihaington,  Del.,  or  at  151  Ntissau- 
st.,  New- York  City,  where  a  model  can  be  seen,  or  to  K. 
LODGE, Cleveland,  Ohio. 

ItXftERSOLL'S    PATENT 

HAY    PRESS. 

The  best  in  use.    Sold  By 

GlilFFIXG  BROTHER  &  CO.. 

ill)  Courtlandt-st.,  New-York. 


IIORSE  POWERS,  TIIRESIIEKS 

AND  SEPARATORS,  CLOVER  HCI.LERS 

AND  PAN  MILLS ROOT  COTTERS  of  several    pat- 

terns.    HAY  and  STALK  CUTTERS,    CORN  SHELLERS, 
HAND  and  POWER  HAY  and  COTTON  PRESSES,  SAUS- 
AGE CUTTERS  and  STUFFERS.  LARD  PRESSES. 
For  sale  by  R.  H.  ALLEN  &,  CO. 

1811  and  191  Water-street,  New- York. 


.VTVT3    REAPER. 

For  the  Season  of  1864, 

The  scarcity  and  high  prices  of  labor  during 
the  past  season,  caused  a  demand  for  Harvest- 
ing Machinery,  much  greater  than  manufactur- 
ers could  supply.  The  fresh  calls  of  the  Gov- 
ernment for  troops  will  take  many  thousand 
more  laborers  from  the  country  before  the  next 
harvest,  and  the  farmer  will  have  to  rely  almost 
entirely  upon  machinery  in  gathering  his  hay 
and  grain  crop. 

Farmers  ivlio  were  disappointed 
in  procuring  BECKCYES,  can 
avoid  a  similar  disappointment  by 
purchasing  machines  this  Wiuter. 

We  are  now  prepared  to  take  orders  for  Ma- 
chines of  the  various  sizes. 

Circulars  with  terms  and  prices  forwarded 
by  mail. 

ADRIANCE,  PLATT  &  CO., 
Manufacturers  and  Proprietors. 

Manufactory,    Poughkeepsie, 

Warehouse  165  Greenwich-St.,  New-York. 

THE  EUREKA  FEED  CUTTER. 
A  Cnttrr  adapted   to    the   wants  of  Farmers. 


02 
M 

< 
cq 

PU 

o 
o 


X 

a 

CO 

JO 

> 


This  luadiine  lias  important  improvements.  H  ok  usher 
and  cuts  the  heaviest  corn  stalks,  and  hay  and  straw  with 
great  rapidity,  by  either  liducl  or  horsepower.  It  lias  four 
cylindrical  knives,  ground  on  the  inside;  they  cut  with  the 
shear  out,  and  can  be  easily  ground  and  kept  in  com- 
plete cutting  order  by  ordinary  farm  help.  It  is  well  made, 
easily  operated,  simple,  durable,  and  effective.  Hundreds 
are  in  actual  operation  to  the  perfect  satisfaction  of  the 
purchasers.  Orders  solicited— promptly  attended  to.  Send 
for  a  circular,  furnished  free.  Manufactured  only  by 
H.  K.  PARSONS,  Agent, 
Novelty  AVorks,  HARR1SBUKG,  PA. 

ANTI-FRICTION   LEVER 

HORSE    POWERS, 

-A.3NT33 

BURR    STONE   MILLS, 

which  may  be  driven  by 

HORSE,  WATER,  or  STEAM  POWER. 

Semi  for  Circular  to 

E.  H.  BENNET, 
41  and  44  Greene-fit..  New- York. 

HORSE         POWERS,         <'I.4>VB-:i; 
HULLEliS,  CORN  STALK  CUTTERS  &  CRIXOEKS 
HAY  AND  STRAW  CUTTERS.  VEGETABLE    CUTTERS 
CORN    SHELLERS,    SAUSAGE    CUTTERS,    and    8TTF- 
l'ERS,   LAUD    PRESSES. 
Sold  at  lowest  wholesale  and  retail  prices.  l>y 

ORIUFINO,  BROTHER  &  CO., 

60  Courtlandt-st.,  New-York. 


aso 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[DECEMBER, 


liluHESP      PREMIUMS,     1863. 


CEfEBRAfiD 


V 

C\M! 'Premium 


WERE  AWARDED  THE 

H16HEST    PREMIUMS 

AT  THK  LATE  STATE  FAIRS  OF 

VERMONT.  ILLINOIS.        KENTUCKY,      IOWA, 

NEW-roRK,        INDIANA,        MICHIGAN. 
OFFICE,  495  BROADWAY,  NEW- YORK. 

"  Grover  &  Baker's  are  the  best."— Am.  Agriculturist. 

WHEELER  &  WILSON'S 


i^acf^si"ireu 


SEWING-MACHINES 

Have  won  the  HIGHEST  PREMIUMS  at  all  the  import- 
ant state  and  Mechanical  fairs  where  exhibited  this 
season. 

FOOTE'S    PATENT  UMBRELLA    STANDS. 
No.  505  Broadway,  New-York. 

AGENTS 

Wanted  everywhere  to  sell  WOODRUFF'S  PATENT 
PORTABLE  BAROMETERS. 

CHARLES  WILDER,  Peterboro',  N.  H. 


BKOWTS 

BRONCHIAL 

TiiOCHES 

FOR 

COUGHS 

AND 

cot,  OS. 


I   A  NEGLECTED  COUGH,  COLD,  AN 

Irritated  on  Sore  Throat  if  al- 
lowed to  progress,  results  in  seri- 
ioua  Pulmonary  Bronchial  and  Asth- 
[matic  Diseases,  often  times  incura- 
|ble.  Brown's  Bronchial  Troch- 
■es  reach  directly  the  affected  parts, 
and  give  almost  immediate  relief. 
For  Bronchitis,  Asthma,  Ca- 
tarrh, and  Consumptive  Coughs 
the  Troches  are  useful.  Public 
Speakers  and  Sing k us  should 
have  the  Troches  to  clear  and  strengthen  the  voice.  Mili- 
tary Officers  and  Soldiers  who  "overtax  the  voice,  and 
are  exposed  to  sudden  changes  should  use  them.  Obtain 
only  the  genuine.  "Brown's  Bronchial  Troches"  having 
proved  their  efficacy  by  a  test  of  many  years,  are  highly  re- 
commended and  prescribed  by  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in 
Ihc  Army,  and  have  received  testimonials  from  many  emi- 
nent men. 

Sold  by  all  Druggists  and  Dealers  in  Medicine  in  the  Uni- 
ted States  and  most  Foreign  countries  at  25  cts.  per  box. 

Steel  Composition  Bells, 

THE    AMERICAN    BELL    COMPANY. 

(Office  No.  SO  Liberty-street,  New-York.) 
Are  the  only  manufacturers  of  this  descrip- 
tion of  Bell,  either  in  this  country 
or  in  Europe— the  combining  of 
certain  metals,  and  the   process 
of  manufacturing  the  same  being 
the  discovery  of  the  President 
of  the  Company.     These   Bells 
we  can  commend  with  great  con- 
fidence  to  the  public,  for  their 
cheapness  and  quality  of  tone. 
,  We  furnish  a  500  lb.  bell  with  all 
i  necessary  appointments— in- 
cluding Harrison's  patent- 
ed  Self-acting  Rotarv,  lor 
$125,  and  one  of  1000  lbs. 
t  withlike appointments,  for 
.      *-"0.       The     pur.-     foi-    the 

riSk     ir'^.    i     :    TUB    !!i«S^"       Bells  heingSuc.  per  pound. 
|UyfikiJ.li--a.^-t ;  J1J|1J^^-  ;im[   tnatof   the  ]lftnKings 

of  the   first,  $25,  and  those  of  the  latter  $42.     Our  circulars, 

containing  full  details,  will   be  forwarded  free  of  Charge  to 

all  parties  desiring  the  same. 


A  msilxam    Bells, 

At  prices  within  the  reach  of  every  Church,  School, 
Cemetery,  Factory,  or  Farm  in  the  land.  Their 
use  throughout,  the  United  States  and  Canadas  tor 
the  past  six  veiirs  lias  proven  them  to  combine 
mosf  valuable  qualities,  among  which  are  tone, 

STRENGTH,    SONOROUSNESS,    and     DURABILITY    OF 

vibration,  unequaled  by  any  other  manufacture. 

Sizes  from  50  to  5000  lbs„  rusting  two  thirds  less 
than  other  metal,  or  15  cents  per  pound,  at  which 
price,  we  warrant  them  twelve  months.  Old  bell 
metal  taken  in  exchange,  or  bought  for  cash.  Send 
for  a  Circular  to  the  Manufacturer. 

JOHN  B,  ROBINSON, 
No.  100  William-Street,  New- York. 


Lile  XTULisvurance. 

THE  MANHATTAN  LIFE  INS.  Co. 

OF  NEW-YORK,  No.  81  NASSAU-ST. 
Accumulation  $1.50  \oo.i. 
Claims  paid  «3    ,0O0. 

Dividends  700,000. 

The  greatly  superior  advantages  of  Unsold  established 
Company,  can  be  ascertained  free  of  expense  at  any  of  the 
agencies  or  by  writing  to  Uio  home  oilier-  for  n  prospectus. 
J  L.  HA1.SKY.  Ast.  Sec'v.  HEXUY  STOKKS,  President. 

6.  K.  BTEBBLNS,  Actuary.        C.  Y.  WEMPLE,  Secretary. 


FOR  HVBKY  FAMILY. 


DOTY'S     NEW-YORK 

CLOTHES  WASHER, 

Patented  July  21st,  1863,  byWM.  M.  DOTY,  New- York  City, 
Has  Proved  itself  to  be   the 

Best  "Washing:  31achine 


For  General  Family  Use. 

It  combines  the  three  great  essentials,  viz: 

Rapidity  of    Washing,    Ease    of 
Operation,   and  Cheapness, 

To  a  greater  degree  than  any  other  Washing  Machine  ever 
invented. 

It  "Washes  either  a  large  or  small  bulk  at  a  time  without 
danger  of  injury.  It  is  Covered  while  in  operation,  to  keep 
the  suds  from  cooling. 

It  is  easily  worked  while  Sitting   Down. 

It  is  so  East  of  Operation,  that  mere  children  can  easily 
do  out  large  washings  with  it,  the  clothes  requiring  neither 
Rubbing  nob  Boiling.    It  Rinses,  as  well  as  washes. 

It  is  so  Simple  that  the  most  ignorant  readily  understand 
it;  and  it  Requires  no  Regulating  of  any  kind.  It  is 
ready  any  moment  to  go  to  work,  or  to  stop,  and  takes  but 
little  room. 

It  has  but  little  Machinery;  none  in  the  Water,  lia- 
ble to  rust  or  swell ;  and  none  at  all  but  what  is  Durable. 

It  Costs  so  Little  that  none  need  do  without  its  great 
aid,  and  proves  a  Good  Investment  as  a  Clothes  Sayer 
Alone. 

It  has  the  Highest  Testimonials  :  Read  the  follow- 
ing specimen: 

15  Laight  St.,  N.  Y,  Oct.  10,  1S63. 
Mr.  Wm.  M.  Doty. 

Sir,— From  my  experience  in  the  use  of  Washing  Machines, 
lam  satisfied  that  your  "New-York  Clothes  Washer" 
combines  all  the  requisites  of  a  good  washer,  and  is  the 
Best  and  Cheapest  hand  washing  machine  I  have  ever 
seen.    It  is  truly 

A  GREAT    LABOR  SAVER, 

and  its  simplicity,  durability,  cheapness  and  ease  of  operation 
make  it  Especially  adapted  to  Family  use.  The  supe- 
rior and  speedy  manner  in  which  it  does  the  work  without 
injury  to  the  fabric,  must  be  satisfactory  to  all  who  use  it, 
and  I  cheerfully  recommend  it  to  public  favor  and  patron- 
age. A.  HOLLAND, 

Author  and  Publisher  Laundry  Manual. 

We,  the  undersigned,  having  thoroughly  tested  "Doty's 
New  York  Clothes  Washer,"  fully  endorse  the  above  recom- 
mendation, by  Mr.  A.  Holland. 

SOLOY  ROBINSON,  Agricultural  Editor  N.  Y.  Tribune. 
JAMES   BROWN,   Brown   Brothers  &  Co.,  59  Wall-st. 


In  short,  it  Is  Just  what  is  Needed  in  Every  Family, 
and  what  it  has  taken  Thousands  of  Years  and  Over  a 
Thousand  Inventions  to  bring  forth.  Do  not  be  without 
one  in  your  Family,  on  any  account. 

Washing  with  the  Washboard  is  too  severe  labor  for 
most  women.    Indeed,  it  is 


Killing   Them    by  Thousands 


Besides  wearing  out  millions  of  dollar's  worth  of  clothes. 

SAVE     THEM  !  !  ! 

Both  the  Women  and  the  clothes,  by  procuring 
"  Doty's   New  York    Clothes  Washer." 
Price  S10.    Weight,  aboutoJlbs,    Agents  wanted  every- 
where.   Send  for  a  Circular. 

WM.  M.  DOTY,  493  Broadway,  New-York. 


GOOBYEAR'S 

India    Rubber  Glove  M'fg.  Co. 
205  Broadway,  New  York. 

Manufacturers  and  Dealers  in  all  kinds  of 

INDIA    RUBBER    GOODS, 

Including   CLOTHING   of  all   kinds,  ARMY  BLANKETS, 
AIR  GOODS,  DRUGGISTS  ARTICLES,  COMBS,  STATION- 
ERS  ARTICLES.    FANCY   ARTICLES,  INDIA   KUBBER 
JEWELRY,  ETC.,  ETC. 
Catalogues  with  prices  sent  on  application. 

INDIA    RUBBER    GLOYES, 

are  invaluable  in  ail  kinds  of  Housework,  Gardening,  etc., 
and  are  a  certain  cure  for  Chapped  Hands,  Salt  Rheum,  etc. 
Ladies  sizes  $1  per  pair.  Gents  sizes,  $1.25.  Sent  by  mail  on 
receipt  of  price. 

Portable 

Printing   Offices. 

For  the  use  of  Merchants,  Druggists,  Nurserymen,  and  all 
who  wish  to  do  their  own  Printins:.  Circular  sent  tree.  Spe- 
cimen Sheets  of  Type,  Cuts.  &c,  on  receipt  of  two  3c.  stamps. 
ADAMS  PRESS  CO..  SI  Park  Row,  N.  Y. 


Mode  of  applying  JOHNS  &  CROSLEY'S 

GUTTA     PEIUHA     CEMENT    ROOFING. 

This  Roofing  is  Fire  and  Water  Proof,  and  cau  be  applied 

by  any  ordinary  laborer.     It  costs  only  about  one-third  as 

much  "as  tin.  anil  is  more  durable. 

GUTTA  PEKCHA  CEMENT  PAINT 
applied  to  leaky  roofs  of  all  kinds,  will  render  them  perfect- 
ly watertight.  It  is  put  up  ready  prepared  for  uh  and  for 
shipment  to  all  parts  of  the  country.  This  Paint  is  particu- 
larly adapted  for  painting  Outhouses,  Barns,  Fences,  &c,  &c, 
and  will  effectually  prevent  wood  from  decaying. 

These  materials  have  been  tested  on   more  than  twelve 
thousand  roofs  during  the  past  six  years,  and  we  can  give 
abundant  proof  of  all  we  claim  for  them.    Full  descriptive 
circulars  and  any  required  information  furnished  bv  the 
JOHNS  &  CROSLET  MANUFACTURING  CO., 

78  William-st.,  cor.  Liberty,  New- York. 


The  NONPAREIL  WASHING  MACHINE 

Is  the  only  entirely  reliable  machine  in  use. 

It  has  been  before  the  public  nearly  three  years,  and  has 
not  in  any  instance  failed  to  give  satis  lac  Lion. 

It  saves  two-thirds  the  labor  and  time  required  in  hand 
washing. 

It  Is  a  squeezing  machine,  and  will  not  injure  the  finest 
clothing. 

A  girl  of  fourteen  years  can  operate  It. 

It  will  not  get  out  of  order. 

It  is  recommended  by  Mr.  Judd,  the  proprietor  of  this 
Journal. 

Prices:  No.  1,  $12.    No.  2,$16.    No.  3,  $20. 

Send  lor  free  Circular  to 

OAKLEY  &  KEATING,  73  South-at^  New-York. 


1863.] 


AMERICAN  AGRICULTURIST. 


381 


Mason  &  Hamlin's 

CABINET    OBGANS. 


Essentially  different  from,  and  a  great  improvement  upon 
Harmoniums,  Melodeons  and  all  similar  instruments.  The 
manufacturers  would  hesitate  to  claim  this  pre-eminence  for 
their  instruments,  however  well  satisfied  they  might  be  of 
the  fact,  were  it  not  endorsed  by  the  written  testimony 

OF  A  VERY  LARGE  PORTION  OF  THE  MOST  EMINENT  MUSICIANS 

tn  the  country.  More  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  the 
most  eminent  organists  and  artists  in  the  country  have  given 
their  written  testimony  to  the  great  excellence  of  the  cabinet 
organs,  and  that  they  surpass  all  instruments  of  their 
class. 

The  most  eminent  composers  of  church  music  in  the 
country,  as  Lowell  Mason,  Wm.  B.  Bradbury,  George  F. 
Root,  TnoMAS  Hastings  and  others ;  the  most  eminent 
pianists  in  the  country,  as  Gottschalk,  William  Mason. 
Mills,  Wollenhaupt,  Sanderlon,  Strakosch,  and  others ; 
the  most  eminent  organists  in  the  country,  as  Morgan,  Zun- 
del,  Willcox,  Tuokerman,  Cutler,  and  a  host  of  others 
have  all  given  the  most  emphatic  testimony  to  the  great 
superiority  of  these  Instruments  to  all  others  of  their  class, 
which  testimony  may  be  found  in  full  in  our  illustrated 
catalogues. 

The  CABINET  ORG  AIT  Is  to  private  houses,  Sabbath 
Schools,  and  Lecture  Rooms,  and  smaller  churches,  what 
the  large  pipe  organ  is  to  larger  churches  and  halls.  It  oc- 
cupies little  room,  is  elegant  as  a  piece  of  furniture,  easily 
transported,  and  not  liable  to  get  out  ot  order. 

The  AUTOMATIC  BELLOVTS  SWELL,  patented  October 
1862,  and  used  only  In  these  instruments,  enables  the  bellows 
(as  testified  by  the  Musical  Review)  "to  approach  even, 
the  human  bellows,  the  1  tings  in  capacity  for  expression." 

STYLES   AND    PKICES. 

No.  10.  CABINET  ORGAN. -Our  largest  size;  for 
churches,  halls  and  private  use.  It  has  twelve  stops,  draw- 
ing six  complete  sets  of  reeds  ;  two  manuals  of  five  octaves 
each,  and  a  pedal  base  of  two  full  octaves.  Price  In  solid 
oak  or  blade  walnut  case  $500;  in  Rosewood  $000. 

No.  11.  CABINET  ORGAN— Has  eight  stops,  four 
complete  sets  of  reeds,  two  manuals,  of  five  octaves  each, 
and  the  Automatic  Swell.    Rosewood  case,  $i50. 

No.  12.  CABINET  ORGAN.— The  same  as  No.  11, 
except  that  the  case  is  of  oat  or  black  walnut ;  $390. 

No.  14.  CABIVET  ORGAN.— Has  six  stops,  three 
sets  of  reeds,  one  manual  of  five  octaves  with  Automatic 
Swell.    Oak  or  black  walnut  case  $260. 

No.  23.  CABINET  ORGAN,— Has  knee  Btop,  two 
sets  of  reeds,  one  manual  of  five  octaves,  compass,  with 
Automatic  Swell.  Black  walnnt  case,  paneled  and  orna- 
mented with  carvings,  $170. 

No.  29.  CABINET  ORGAN  is  the  same  as  No.  23, 
except  that  the  case  Is  of  rosewood,  $170. 

No.  21.  CABINET  ORGAN  is  the  same  as  No.  22, 
except  that  the  case  is  of  solid  black  walnut  or  oak,  $140. 

No.  20.  CABINET  ORGAN  has  two  sets  of  reeds 
knee  stop,  Automatic  Swell,  one  manual  of  four  octaves 
compass.    Rosewood  case,  $1-10. 

No.  19.  CABINET  ORGAN  Is  the  same  as  No.  20  ex- 
cept that  the  case  is  of  black  walnut  or  oak,  $115. 

No.  15.  CABINET  ORGAN  has  one  manual  of  Ave 
octaves,  with  one  set  of  reeds  and  Automatic  Swell.  Rose- 
wood case  $125. 

No.  17.  CABINET  ORGAN  is  the  same  as  No.  18,  ex- 
cept that  the  case  is  of  black  walnut  or  oak,  $100. 

No.  1G.  CABINET  ORGAN  has  one  manual  of  four 
octaves,  one  set  of  reeds  with  Automatic  Swell.  Rosewood 
case,  $110. 

No.  13.  CABINET  ORGAN  is  the  same  a3  No.  16,  ex- 
cept that  the  case  is  of  black  walnut  or  oak,  $S5. 

£5?"  All  the  rosewood  cases  are  highly  polished  and  ele- 
gantly finished.  The  black  walnut  and  oak  cases  are  smooth 
oil  finished,  but  not  polished. 

Send  for  an  Illustrated  Catalogue  which  will  be  sent  free 
to  any  address.  Warerooms  No.  7  Mercer  street,  New-York, 
No.  274  Washington  street,  Boston.    Address 

MASON  BROTHERS,  New- York,  or 
MASON  &  HAMLIN,  Boston. 


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FOR    EVERY    BOY    AND    GIRL. 

SOMETHING    NEW. 
A  Wonderful    CANTERING   HORSE,    which  goes  by  the  weight  of  the  rider,  runs 
with  the  greatest  ease,  and  is  guided  as  readily  by  the  bridle   as   the  gentlest   Horse.     The 
propelling  and  steering  apparatus  is  new,  simple,  and  very  efficient.    It  is  Strongly  Made 

and   is    very  Durable,    and    Cheap. Just  the  thing  for  the  Holidays. 

Call  and  see  the  IVew  Horse,  or  send  for  it,  or  send  for  a  book  of  Illustrations  and 
descriptions,  which  will  be  furnished  by  enclosing  stamp. 

^"  B. — This  Horse  can  be  run  on  any  hard  road,  and  is  strong  enough  to  carry  a 
man  of  300  pounds  weight.  It  is  a  capital  thing  for  INVALID?,  and  for 
CRIPPLES.    It  has  side-saddles  for  GIRLS,  who  can  ride  this  horse,  as  well  as  BOYS. 

STEPHEN    W.   SMITH,  Proprietor, 
49S   Broadway,  New -York.    (Opposite  St.   Nicholas  Hotel.) 


SELF-ADJUSTING  and  ADJUSTABLE  ! 

The  only  Wringer  with  the  Patent 

Cog  Wheel  Regulator, 

which  positively  prevents  the  rolls  from 
BREAKING,  OR  TWISTING  ON  THE  SHAFT. 

It  was  pronounced  superior  to  fill  others  at  the  "World's 
Pair  at  London,  1862.  It  took  the  First  Premium  v  the 
Ei-eat  Fair  of  the  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE,  New-York  City, 
lSfi3,  where  the  judges  were  practical  mechanics,  and  ap- 
preciated COG  WHEELS. 
It  took  the  First  Premium  at  the 

New-York  State  Fair       ..   136*2  and  1863. 

Vermont  State  Fair 1863. 

Pennsylvania  State  Fair 1863. 

Iowa  State  Fair 1863. 

Illinois  State  Fair 1SG8. 

Michigan  State  Fair...      1863. 

And  County  Fairs  without  number. 
Oranoe  Judd,  of  the  American  Agriculturist,  says  of  the 
UNIVERSAL    CLOTHES     WRINGER, 
"We  think  the  machine  much  move  than   PAYS  FOI1  ITS 
SELF  EVERY  YEAR  in  the  savins  of  garments!  There  are 
several  kinds,  nearly  alike  in  general   construction,  hut  we 
consider  it  important  that  the  Wringer  be   lifted  with   Cogs, 
otherwise  a  mass  of  garments  may  clog  the  rollers,  and  the 
Tollers  upon  the  crank-shaft  slip  and  tear   the  clothes,  or  the 
rubber  break  loose  from   the  shaft.    Onr  own  is  one  of  the 
first  made,  and  it  is  as  GOOD  AS  NEW  after  nearly  FOUR 
YEAR'S  CONSTANT  USE." 

We  have  seven  sizes,  from  $5.50  to  $^0.  The  ordinary  family 
sizes  are  No.  l,  $10,  and  No.  3,  $7.  These  have 

CO  G5-  -  *VS7-  H  E  H  Ij  S5  , 

and  are  warranted  in  every  particular. 

On  receipt  of  the  price,  from  places  where  no  one  Is  sell- 
ing, we  will  send  the  U.  O.  W.,  free  of  expense.  What  we 
especially  want  is  a  good 

In  every  town.  We  offer  liberal  inducements,  and  guarantee 
the  exclusive  sale      ■  R.  C.  BROWNING, 

347  Broadway,  New- York. 


Great  Dis 
covert ! 


Applicable   to 
theusefulArts. 


Its     Combina 
tlon. 


Boot  and  Shoe 
Manufacturers 


It  Is  a  Liquid. 


Finis. 


USEFUL and  VALUABLE 
DISCOVERY  ! 

HILTON'S 

INSOLUBLE    CEMENT! 

Is  of  more  general  practical  utility  than  any 
invention  now  before  the  public.  It  has  been 
thoroughly  tested  during  the  last  two  years 
by  practical  men,  and  pronounced  by  all  to 
Be  Superior  to  any 
Adhesive  Preparation  known. 

Hilton's   Insoluble  Cement 

Is  a  new  thins:,  and   the  result  of  years  cT 

study;  its  combination  is  on 

SCIENTIFIC   PRINCIPLES, 

And  under  no  circumstances  or  change  of 
temperature,  will  it  become  corrupt  or  emit 
any  offensive  smell. 

Boot  anrl  Shoe  Manufacturers,  using 
Machines,  will  find  it  the  best  article  known 
for  Cementing  the  Channels,  as  it  works 
without  delay.  Is  not  affected  by  any  change 
of  temperature. 

Jewelers  will  find  it  sufficiently  adhesive 
for  their  use,  as  has  been  proved. 

It  Is  rspoeSally  adaptor!  to  Leath- 
er, and  we  claim  :is  an  especial  merit,  that 
it  bucks  patches  and  Lfnines  to  Boots  and 
Shoes  sufficiently  strong  without  stitching. 

IT  IS  THE  ONLY 

LIQUID    CEMENT 

Extant,  that  is  a  sure  thing  for  mending 
Furniture,  Crockery,  Toys,  Bone, 
Ivory,  and  articles  of  Household  use. 

:£3.E3\H3:iv£:ojbJ-fc-s_ 

Hilton's     Insoluble     Cement 

Is  in  liquid  form  and  as  easily  applied  as 

paste. 

Hilton's  Insoluble  Cement 

Is  Insoluble  in  water  or  oil. 

Hilton's  Insoluble  Cement' 

Adheres  oily  substances. 

Supplied  in  Family  or  Manufacturers'  Pack- 
ages from  !i  ounces  to  100  lbs. 

HILTON    BROS.   «fc   CO., 

Proprietors, 
PROVIDENCE,  11. 1. 


383 


AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST. 


[December. 


KOOKtt    FOR    FARMERS 

AND    OTHERS. 

(.Any  of  the  following  books  can  be  obtained  at  the  of- 
lice  of  the;  Ay/'icttUtu-i-t  iW  tlie  prices  named,  or  they  will  be 
forwarded  by  mail,  postpaid,  on  receipt  of  the  price.  Other 
books  not  named  in  the  list  will  be  procured  and  sent  to  sub- 
scribers when  desired,  if  the  price  be  forwarded.  All  of  these 
hooks  may  be  procured  by  any  one  making  up  a  libra- 
ry. Those  we  esteem  specially  valuable,  are  marked  'with  a  *,"] 


American  Bird  Fancier 

American  Fanner's  Encyclooedin 

American  Weeds  and  Useful  Plants 

Allen  on  the  Culture  ot  the  Grape  

Allen's  (It. !..»  American  Farm  Book* 

Allen's  Diseases  of  Domestic  Animals  ...  

Allen's  (L.  E.)  Liural  Architecture 

Barry's  Fruit  Garden 

Bemuiifs  Poulterer's  Companion 

Bridgeinan's  Fruit  Cultivator's  Manual 

Bridgcjuan's  Young  Gardener's  Assistant.,  ..... 

Bridgemau's  Kitchen  Garden  Inst  rue  tor 

Bridgcman's  Florist's  Guide 

Brandt's  Age  of  Horses*  (English  and  German) 

Brack's  Book  of  Flowers .    

Browne's  American  Foul  try  Yard 

Bnlst's  American  Flower  Garden  Directory 

Uulst's  Family  Kitchen  Gardener* 

Chorl  ton's  Grape-Grower's  Guide* 

Cole's  <S.  W.l  American  Fruit  Book, 

Fine  Wool  Sheep  Husbandry 

Dadd's  (Geo.  n.)  Modern  Horse  Doctor 

Dadd's  (Geo.  II.)  American  Cattle  Doctor 

Downing  s  Cottage  Residences*.  

Downlng's  Fruits  and  Fruit  Trees  of  America**. 

Downing'8  Ladies1  Flower  Garden 

ftasvwood  on  tlie  Cranberry11  

Employment  of  Women— By  Virginia  Penny*.. 

Every  Lad*  her  own  Flower  Gardener 

Fessendens  American  Kitchen  Gardener  ....... 

French's  Farm  Drainage  * 

Field's  (Thomas  W.)  Pear  Culture 
■run 


.  ?0  2-n 

.    5  00 

1  50 
.     1  00 

1  00 
75 

1  25 

1  50 

.     1  50 

(50 

1  50 
fiO 
00 
50 


Mini  (Charles  L.)  on  (i 

Fnller's  Strawberry  Cultnrist 

Goodale's  Principles  of  Breeding 

(■rape  Culture,  wine  and  Wine  Making,  by  Haraszthy.. 

Gray's  Manual  of  Botany 

Gnenon  on  Milch  Cows 

Mall's  (Miss)  American  Cookery 

Harris'  Insects  Injurious  to  Yegetation,  plain 

do.       do.  do.  do.        colored  plates. 

Herbert's  Hints  to  Horsckcepersv* . . 

Hooper's  Doc;  and  Gnu 

lotinson  on  Manures  : .., 

i,:.::<.  siroth  on  the  Honey  Bee*  

Leu  chare'  Hothouses 

Licbig's  Lectures  on  Chemistry 

Manual  of  Agriculture  by  G. Emerson  and  C.  L.  Flint. 

Mavhew's  Illustrated  Horse  Doctor 

MeMal ion's  American  Gardener* 

Median's  Ornamental  Trees 

Milburn  on  the  Cow  and  Dairy 

Mistakes  ofBducated  Men 

National  Almanac  and  Annual  Record** 

Norton's  Scientific  Agriculture 

our  Farm  of  Four  Acres..* —  (paper) 

Onion  Culture"" 

Pardee  on  Strawberry  Culture 

Tedder's  farmer's  Land  Measurer 

Phantom  Bouquet,  or  Skeleton  Leaves 

Phin's  Grape  Culture 

Qninbv's  Mysteries  ot  Bee  keeping* 

Randall's  Fine  Wool  Sheep  Husbandry 

Wandull's  sheep  Husbandry   

llichardson  on  the  Dog 

Hlcliardson  on  the  Hog 

Shepherd's  Own  Book 

skillful  Housewife      

Smith's  Landscape  Gardening 

Spencer's  Education  ot  Children** 

Tobacco  Culture*"  

Todd's  (S.  E.)  Young  Farmer  s  Manual 

Tucker's  leister  I  Jural  A  Hairs 

Turner's  Cotton  Planter's  Manual 

Watson's  American  Home  Garden 

Wood's  Class  Book  of  Botany 

Vale  College  Agricultural  Lectures 

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THE  PRACTICAL   SHEPHERD, 

A  COMPLETE  TREATISE  ON  THE 
BREEDING,    MANAGEMENT,    AND    DIS- 
EASES OF  SHEEP. 
By   Hun.    HENRY   S.    RANDALL,  LL.  D.,  Author  of 
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THE  PRACTICAL  SHEPHERD, 

Comprises  454  large  duodecimo  paces,  is  well  illustrated' 
and  by  far  the  best  and  most  complete  work  on  siikfi' 
ursii.wDr.Y  published  in  America,  if  not  in  Europe  also 
Price  $1.50.  Copies  sent  by  mail,  post-paid,  on  receipt  of 
price.    Address 

D.  D.  T.  MOORE,  Publisher, 

ROCHESTER.  V.  Y. 

Mr.   Parton's  new   and    important    work 
is  no tv   ready. 

s, 

A  History  of  the  administration  of  the  Department  of  I  he  (".nil 

in  the  year  1863,  with  an  account  of  the   capture  oi 

New-Orleans,   and    a  sketch  of    the  previous 

career  of  the  General,  civil  and  military. 

BY   JAMES  PARTON, 

AUTHOR  OF  "LIFE  AND  TIMES  OP  AAUON"  BURR,"  "LIFE  OF 
ANDREW  JACKSON,"  ETC.     ClOWll    8\'0,  With  POT  trait  Oil    Bt60l 

and  maps.  About  700  pp.  Price  in  doth,  $2.00;  half  calf, 
extra,  or  antique.  $3.50. 

This  book  explains  many  things  not  before  understood  bv 
the  public.  The  author  has  had  free  access  to  official  dncn 
ments,  and  lias  produced  a  volume  of  absorbing  interest  to 
every  American.    Published  by 

MASON  BROTHERS, 
No.  5&7  Mercer-St.,  New-York. 

THE  GREAT  COUNTY  MAP 

OF  TIIE 

XJIVITEO    STATED 

Just  issued  by  II.  II.  LLOYD  &  CO.,  is  the  largesr  map  ever 
printed  on  one  sheet,  and  the  cheapest  map  ever  ottered  for 
sale.    Every  American  should  have  it. 

Price  in  sheets  sent  by  mail  50  cents. 

Mounted  on  rollers  $1.25. 

The  Rebellion    aw  it  was  and  is, 

a  war  map  in  three  colors,  showing  the  loyal  States— the  rebel 
territory— and  what  has  been  gained  from  the  rebels.    Price 

in  sheets  .'50  cents.    Sent  by  mail.    Agents  'Wanted. 

H.  H.  LLOYD  &  CO.,  81  .Tohn-st.,  New- York. 

THE    BEST    BOOK   TO    SELL.  —  Agents  and 
Newsmen  will  find  a  readv  sale  for 
HOW  TO  WRITE:  HOW  TO  TALK:  HOW  TO  BEHAVE 
and  HOW  TO  DO  BUSINESS.    Complete  in  one   large   gill 
volume.    Sent  by  first  post,  for  $2.  Agents  wanted  !  Address 
FOWLER  &  WELLS,  No.  UOS  Broadway,  N.  Y. 

Lalor's  Sheep   &    Tjftnib 


Dipping    Composition. 

Cures  Scab,  Ticks  and  Lice  on  Sheep  or  Catti.f,  ad  d 
over  a  pound  of  wool  to  the  fleece,  improves  its  quality,  and 
adds  to    the  general  health   of  the  sheep,  without   danger 
from  taking  cold. 
For  particulars  apply  to 

LALOR  BROTHERS,    Utica,    N.    Y. 
Agents  wanted  for  every  State. 

TO  FARMER" 

AND     OTHERS. 

We  are  manufacturing  a  Genuine  Article  of  ybry  Fink 
BONE-  BUST,  and  RAW  BONE  SME11PHOS- 
PHATE  OJE1  LIME,  manufactured  From  btK^ikimeti 
Bonos,  containing  all  Ihe  Animal  and   Cli  »rtf: fii  ETcrtilizmb 

Properties.    Please  address  the  MaMiUrlnnT-.  :inu  i'*-l  ilie 

Intrinsic  Value  of  your  monev. 
N.  B.    A  Liberal  Discount  rnakl©  to  Dealers  for  Cash, 
Address  A.  LISTER  &  RRO., 

Newark.  N.  J. 

AJLUONIATED  PACIFIC  GUANO. 

A  real  guano  containing  from  seirntv  tp  eighty  nor  c$nt 
of  Phosphate  of  Lime,  to  which  has  been  added,  by  a  chemi- 
cal process,  a  large  percentage  of  Actual  Ammonia  so  fixed 
that  it  can  not  evaporate,  making  it  equal  if  not  superior  to 
anv  other  fertilizer. 

Pamphlets  with  copies  of  Analysis  by  Dr.  Jackson,  Mass. 
State  Assaver,  and  testimonials  from  scientific  Agriculturists 
showing  its  value  can  be  obtain- 'd  from 

J.  O,  BAKER*  CO.,  Selling  agents, 
87  Wall-Bt.,  New-York.    \ 


384 


AMERICAN   AGRICULTURIST. 


Contents  for  December,  1863. 

■ — -» — 

Barter — Nepaui 362|Houses,  Prairie 86J 

Barrels,  Cleansing 373  Humbugs— Sundry,  etc..36S 

Ileef,  How  to  Keep 374|lce-Houses.  Hinls 362 

Birds,  Stomachs  of. SCO  Insects,  Borers 372 


Hoys'  and  Gil  Is1  Columns 
— To  Young  Readers — 
Origin  of  Words— Puz- 
zles— The  Astonished 
Bny.  Self-Control— A 
"Merry  Christmas"— 
Amusing  Remarks  of 
■Children,  A  Thick  Fog 
— A  Quizzer  Rebuked — 
Reading  his  own  death. 
Miser  Rebuked  — What 
a  Word  may  do — New 
Premium 3»  .375-?/ 


.365 


Cabbage  —  Growth..?* 
Cattle,   Salt  Regularly.. 363 
Climate  and  Vegetation.  .367 

Clothes-Line,  Wire 374 

Clothes-Sprinkler *..3 

Cranberries,  Upland — 371 

December  Work 353-1- 

Dress  for  Garden 374 

Economy  in  Household.  .373 

Exhibition  Tables 355 

Fires,  Starting 374 

Flowers,    Spring 371 

Food,  Appropriate 374 


Labels,    Fruit  Tree 370 

ILahorers  in  England 363 

Leaves  for  Manure 371 

Market  Review, etc 378 

Moles,  New-  Remedy..  .364 

Money.  Laying  Up 370 

Pear  "Tree  Hedges..  ..  372 
Pear  Trees,  Manuring. .  370 
Plants,  House,  Care  of.  .371 
Plants.  How  to  Fumigate371 

Pork,  Pickling 374 

Potato  Without  Vines.*.. 364 

Potaloes,  Goodrich's 366 

Potatoes.  Sweet 366 

Prairie  Land,  Breaking.  .363 
Premium  List  forlt-64.  .377 
Pump,  West's  Improved. 375 

Pumpkin  Show 355 

Sheep,  Fattening 365 

i  SleiKh  Riding *..368 

I  Sorrel,  to  Eradicate 363 

!  Squash,  Yokohama..2*.  .373 
i  Stables  for  Horses.  ..*.  .364 
I  Straw,  Value  for  Feed.  ..360 

Sugar,  Northern 360 

I.Suggestions  for  Month.  .355 
Fruit  Growers'Meetings.360  Tea,  New  Jersey.... V-.. 869 

Fruits  for  East.  Pa 370|Tidy  Pattern...' *.  373 

Garden.  Preparing 370,Tim  Bunker,  Tobacco..  .366 

Grain,  Fertilization   367  Toast  Holder *..373 

Grapes,  Clinton,  Origin.  ,370| Trees,  Basswond, *..3T2 

Grapes,  How  to  Keep   .   370|Tnrnips  and  Milk 363 

Grapes,  Mildew  and  Rot. 369  Washing  Machines 375 

Grapes,    Varieties 369|Willow  Fences *..362 

House,  Medium  Sized.4*.361|  Wool  Factories  in  Am.  .365 

INDEX    TO    "BASKET."    Oil    SHORTER    ARTICLES. 

Address,  P.  O.  not  Given.3591  Humbug,  Philadelphia. .  359 

Ants  and   Bees  ..   35s  Humbug,  Sew'g  Machine359 

Ashes  of  Leaves  36S|Humbug,  Wine  Plant. .  .359 

Barrels,  Cleansing 359| Humbugs,  Sundry 3-i6 

Beef,  Curing 359  Insect  on  Grape 357 

Bee-Hives,  Straw 357! Insect  Powder 357 

Books—  Su ndry 356, Lightning  Rods 357 

Blackberries. Productive  357  Lupin,  Yellow     357 

Borer  Remedy.   359, Manure,  Seaweed 358 

Caper  Tree 359) Manure,  Tan  Bark 359 

Chemistry,  Popular 358  Meat,  Preserving 359 

Chloride  of  Lime 357lMilk,  Testing 358 

Children's  Aid  Society.  .3561  Money,  Sending,  Hints.  .356 

Corn,  Union  35s  Nurserymen,  Good 358 

Cranberries  from  Seed.. 35T| Oil  Stains 359 

Crop,  Good 358  Osage  Orange   Seed 357 

Cures,  Unreliable 357iOsage  Orange  Wanted.. 356 

Dogs  in  Ohio  3»sl  Paint,  Cheap  357 

Ear  Doctors   3591  Pears  in  Illinois 358 

Eggs,  Sex  of 359  Pears    Penn 358 

Exhibition  in  Oregon...   359iPears,  Planting  Dwarf  .357 

Farm,    Buying   357iPears,  Three  Crops 357 

Fish,  etc.,  on  Dry  Lnnd.359JPIanls  Named 357 

358  Plow,  Cylinder 


Flax  Seed,  While.. 


.357 


Fruits  in  Shade 
Fruits,    Names    of 

Grapery,   Cold    359 

Grapes,  Catawba 359 

Grapes,  Desirable 359 

Grape*,  Isabella  358 

Grapes  on  Walls 357 

Snwa,  Iv  mucky  Blue.. 358 
Hail-,    Removing     35' 


.357 

Potato,  Seedling 359 

Potato,  Slugs  on  359 

Potatoes  anil  Yam 357 

Report.  Ag'l  Dep't 356 

Scrub  Oak  Land    358 

Sheep  Raising  Book 356 

Sheep  Washes   357 

Society,  III.  Hort 356 

,S.  S.  Question  Book 356 

Hay,  Weight  in  Mow  ..  35!IJThorns  from  Seed 357 

Hedges,  Hawthorn 359!Tobacco  Cultivation 358 

Hens,  Prolific 35S;Trees,  Desirable 358 

Hickory,  Grafting 357  Trees,  Propagating 358 

Hoop  Iron,  Convenient  358!Trees,  Queries 358 

Humbug  Mining  Co  ....359  Wine  Defined 357 

%mtxitM  Jgrintlturist 

For  tlie  Farm,  Garden,  and  Household. 

A  thorough-ooino,  RELIABLE,  and  PRACTICAL 
Journal,  devoted  to  the  different  departments  of  SOIL 
CULTURE — such  as  growing  field  CROPS  ;  orchard 
and  garden  FRUITS;    garden   VEGETABLES  and 
FLOWERS;    trees,    plants,    and    flowers    for    the 
LAWN  or  YARD;    care   of    DOMESTIC    ANIMALS, 
etc.,  and  to  HOUSEHOLD  LABORS,  with  an  interesting, 
instructive  department  for  CHILDREN  and  YOUTH. 
The    Editors    are    all  practical  WORKING  MEN. 
The  teachings  of  the  Agriculturist  are  con  fined  to  no 
Slate  or  Territory,   but  are  adapted  to  all  sections  of  the 
country — it    is    for     the.  whole    American    Continent. 
TERMS— INVARIABLY     IN     ADVANCE, 
(For  either  the  English  or  German  Edition.) 

One  copy,  one  year $100 

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Ten  V1'  more  copie^orie  year 80  cents  each. 

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to  England  and  France,  'J4  cents  ;  to  Germany,  36  cents. 
Postage  anywhere  in  the  United  States  and  Territories 
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quarter,  if  paid  in  advance  at  the  office  where  it  is  received. 
Address  all  communications  to  the  Editor  and  Proprietor, 
ORANGE  JUDD,  41  Park-Row,  NewYork  City. 


A   Few    Special  Words  to  All  our  Readers,   and  Particularly    to  those  whose 
Term  of   Subscription  expires  with  this  Number. 

I.  The  usual  Circular  Notice  of  Expiration  will  not  be  sent  out  this  year.  "We  are  retrenching 
all  outside  expenses  for  circulars,  show-bills,  etc.,  in  order  to  be  able  to  increase  the  intrinsic  value 
of  the  journal  itself,  and  yet  keep  to  the  old  terms.  Many  have  renewed  already,  and  those 
whose  time  expires  at  other  seasons  of  the  year  will  doubtless  remember  the  fact. 

II.  "We  have  confidence  that  all  our  present  readers  will  deem  it  a  pleasure  to  continue  to  re- 
ceive the  Agriculturist.  We  can  well  promise  that  the  next  volume  will  be  far  more  valuable  than 
any  previous  one.  Our  working  force  is  now  larger  than  ever  before.  At  least  five  thoroughly 
competent,  earnest,  practical  men,  will  devote  their  whole  time  and  energy  to  collecting  and  con- 
densing  into  these  pages  the  greatest  possible  amount  of  really  useful,  reliable  information.  Each 
one  of  these  men  is  abundantly  able  to  issue  a  good  paper  alone,  and  some  of  tfiem  have  done  so. 
But  it  saves  time  and  expense  to  the  reader,  to  thus  have  all  the  labor  and  energies  of  so.  many 
men  concentrated  upon  one  Journal.  The  greater  subscription  list,  and  the  larger  working  force,  give 
greater  facilities  for  more  careful  investigation  of  facts,  principles,  and  modes  of  practice.  Single 
items  of  but  a  few  lines  often  contain  the  result  of  several  hours  of  examination,  sometimes  re- 
quiring many  miles  of  travel.  (For  example,  the  single  article  on  "Willow  Fences,  on  page  362, 
required  a  journey  of  between  2000  and  3000  miles,  involving  much  time  and  expense.)  The  Agri- 
culturist  must  and  shall  be  a  constant  treasury  of  knowledge,  a  reliable  source  of  good  infor- 
mation upon  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  FARM  and  its  adjuncts,  to  the  GARDEN,  and  to  the 
HOUSEHOLD— not  omitting  the  rising  generation.  "Well  executed  ENGRAVINGS,  of  a  pleasing 
and  instructive  character,  those  which  convey  more  infonnation  than  words  could  do,  will  continue 
to  be  a  prominent  feature.  We  have  the  facilities  for  carrying  out  these  plans,  and  shall  do  so.  We 
do  not  intend  to  be  excelled  nor  equalled,  either  in  the  amount  of  practical,  useful,  reliable  informa- 
tion given,  or  in  the  low  price  at  which  it  is  afforded  to  the  public. 

III.  We  therefore  respectfully  and  cordially  invite  every  one  whose  time  now  expires,  to  re- 
new for  another  year ;  and  we  further  solicit  the  kind  words  of  all  our  readers  in  making 
this  journal  known  to  those  who  are  as  yet  unacquainted  with  it.  A  word  from  a 
reader  is  far  more  effective  with  strangers,  than  anything  the  publisher  can  say.  There  are  over 
three  million  Farmers  in  our  country,  not  more  than  one  in  twenty  of  whom  read  any  jour- 
nal devoted  to  their  own  important  calling.  There  are  at  least  a  million  Mechanics,  Merchants 
and  Professional  men,  many  of  them  having  garden  plots,  and  all  of  them  households,  who 
would  doubtless  be  benefited  by  the  hints  and  suggestions  given  from  month  to  month  in  the 
Agriculturist.  We  believe  we  are  not  entirely  selfish  in  desiring  to  place  this  journal  in  as  many  of 
these  families  as  possible.  Will  the  reader  not  take  pleasure  in  aiding  in  this  work  ?  Let  us  reach 
at  least  a  full  hundred  thousand  of  the  four  million  families  referred  to — about  one  in  forty ! 
The  multitude  are  not  aware  of  the  advantage  of  receiving  the  hints  and  suggestions  derived 
from  the  experience  of  others,  until  they  have  tried  it.  It  is  a  good  work  to  induce  them  to  take 
and  read  a  journal  devoted  to  their  calling,  and  designed  to  promote  their  interests.  On  another 
page  we  have  offered  some  remuneration  to  those  devoting  time  to  collecting  larger  clubs.  We 
will  earnestly  labor  to  do  our  part  in  making  the  paper  worthy  of  a  place  in  every  family 
in  the  land.  Will  the  reader  aid  the  enterprise  by  returning  the  form  below,  or  a  similar  one, 
with  his  own,  and  one,  two,  three,  or  more  other  names — or  with  other  names,  if  his  own  is  already 
forwarded  for  1864  ?     We  look  for  the  response  with  confidence. 

IV.  Printing  paper  now  costs  about  double  the  price  of  two  years  ago,  and  all  other  expenses 
are  much  greater ;  but  thanks  to  the  kind  aid  of  our  readers  iu  enlarging  the  list  of  subscribers, 
we  have  gone  through  the  year  without  the  loss  we  looked  for  when,  twelve  months  ago,  we 
decided  not  to  follow  the  general  course  of  "  raising  prices."  Printing  paper  has  recently  gone 
up  at  least  one  third,  but  having  secured  a  considerable  supply  ahead,  we  hope  to  be  able  to  go 
throuo-h  another  year  with  no  increase  in  the  price  to  subscribers.  It  can  be  done  if  our  readers 
continue  their  liberal  efforts  to  keep  up  and  increase  the  list.  In  reality  we  are  furnishing  the 
paper  at  about  half  the  former  price,  taking  into  account  the  rise  in  materials  and  labor,  the  heavy 
government  tax  paid  on  printing  paper,  on  advertisements,  license,  etc. 

V.  We  ask,  as  a  special  favor,  to  have  renewals  and  new  names  sent  in  at  once,  that  our 
experienced  clerks  may  have  all  the  month  to  get  the  names  properly  entered  and  arranged 
upon  the  mail  books— a  work  of  no  small  magnitude.where,  as  in  this  office,  every  name  is  recorded, 
and  written  on  the  wrappers.  This  will  save  a  world  of  hurry  toward  the  close  of  the  month, 
and  the  employment  of  clerks  inexperienced  in  this  department.    Please  favor  us  in  this  respect. 

VI.  Recording  names  in  the  form  below,  will  save  writing  a  formal  letter.  Seal  the  letter 
well,  and  direct  simply  to  Orange  Judd,  New-York  City.     See  hints  on  sending  money,  p,  356. 


Always 
note     here 

whether 
vhi  or  nrv 
subscribers 


Subscribers  to    the    AMERICAN    AGRICULTURIST,   beginning    with    Volume    23— January    1st,    1864. 
(Terms— in  Advance  :  $1  a  year. . .  .Six  Subscribers,  $5. . .  .Ten  or  more,  80  cents  each.    An  extra  copy  lor  15  names— if  no  premiums  arc  taken.) 


Names. 


Post  Offic;. 


County. 


State. 


Amount  for  each. 
$  cts 


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