390 



DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



ing, a cone-like stack may be formed of branches 

 of^evergreens, or corn italks, over the whole bed. 

 This cone or stack should be hollow in tlie middle ; 

 and then it answers the purpose of ventilation and 

 protection admirably. 



The Agricultural Journals. — It is impossi- 

 ble not to notice, with feelings of the liveliest in- 

 terest, the excellent and constantly improving cha- 

 racter of our agricultural journals. 



A few years ago, and one or two journals, ex- 

 clusively devoted to agriculture, were supported 

 with some difficulty, and hfno means met with a 

 hearty welcome from the farmers themselves. 

 Now, every section of the country has its farming 

 paper. Some of the states support several ; while 

 some of these journals have each a circulation of 

 fifteen or twenty thousand copies, and are charac- 

 terised by a practical sagacity, a straight forward, 

 coming to the point, way of treating their sub- 

 jects, that we look for in vain in most of the Eu- 

 ropean agricultural journals. Among these, we 

 always read, with especial pleasure, the oldest of 

 the modern school of agricultural journals, — the 

 Jlbany Cultivator, which enjoys the largest op- 

 portunities of collecting valuable information from 

 all parts of the Union, and the matter of which is 

 always marked by sterling sense, and strong prac- 

 tical talent ; the Genesee Farmer, emanating 

 from one of the richest farming districts in Ame- 

 rica, and always varied, spirited, and instructive; 

 the Prairie Farmer, truly western in energy, 

 boldness, downrightness, and essentially in the 

 profound opinion, (which we are not disposed to 

 dispute,) that the west is the seat of the greatest 

 a<Tricultural people that the world has ever seen ; 

 the Southern Planter, of Richmond, edited with 

 the educated feeling and tact which Mr. Daniel 

 always evinces ; and the Southern Cultivator, of 

 Augusta, which is fa.st opening the eyes of south- 

 ern agriculturists, to the necessity and value of 

 agricultural science, versus planter's routine. 



Mr. Bateham too, is, we see, earnestly striving, 

 in the Ohio Cultivator, to crystallize the large 

 experience of that great state in his columns. 

 Mr. Cole has lately established a new journal in 

 Massachusetts, under the familiar and popular 

 name of the New-England Farmer, which we 

 have not yet seen. 



We ought not to forget here the new journal of 

 that veteran agricultural editor, Mr. Skinner. 

 His ■' Plough, Loom and Anvil," now published in 

 Philadelphia, and devoted, as its name implies, to 

 the interests of these allied industrial powers, 

 though edited with a solid gravity, not unsuited 

 to the years of the senior agricultural editor in the 

 country, is marked by an earnestness, and a labor, 

 that commends it to a large circle of our most in- 

 telligent readers. 



We wish these (and other able journals of the 

 same class, which we are not in the habit of see- 

 ing,) all possible success. To raise the character, 

 a.nd elevate the intelligence of the agricultural 



class, is a truly noble and praiseworthy occupa- 

 tion in a country like ours, where this class, from 

 its immense majority, and the importance of its 

 labors, both sustains and overshadows all other 

 classes. .... 



Osage Orange Hedges. — We are glad to find 

 that this beautiful hedge plant is becoming so po- 

 pular all over the middle and western states. It 

 is, indeed, only necessary to see a hedge of it to 

 be struck with its great beauty and excellent 

 protective qualities. Rich glossy foliage, thick 

 habit, rapid growth, and stout thorns; these are 

 its strong recommendations. In the prairies of 

 the western states, miles of this hedge were 

 planted last year, and many more miles will be 

 planted this. If good seeds can be obtained, they 

 are almost as easily raised in drills, in any good 

 garden soil, as peas; and they are fit for planting 

 the second year. 



We have had numerous inquiries lately, from 

 various parts of the country, regarding the hardi- 

 ness of the Osage Orange. As the best way of 

 showing the hardiness of an untried plant, is to 

 compare it with one that is known, we have be- 

 fore said that as far north as the Isabella grape 

 ripens its fruit regularly, the Osage Orange can 

 be grown. We may also add, that wherever the 

 soil is dry, and the thermometer does not fall 

 lower than 12^ below zero in winter, Osage 

 Orange hedges may be cultivated. We have no 

 doubt, when the plant is raised several genera- 

 tions from northern seed, that it will be hardy as 

 far north as Canada. As yet, however, we look 

 upon it as essentially the hedge plant of the mid- 

 dle and western states, as the Buckthorn is of the 

 extreme northern states, and the Cherokee Rose 

 of the southern states. The Hawthorn is liable 

 to so many casualties, and is so long in arriving 

 at maturity, that experienced cultivators have 

 nearly abandoned it in the United States. 



The Japan Quince — This most beautiful of 

 spring flowering shrubs, Cydonia japonica, (bet- 

 ter known to many as Pyrus japonica,) is not 

 half so much cultivated as it deserves to be 

 throughout the country. About the principal 

 cities it is becoming common ; but it is yet little 

 known in the interior. It is perfectly hardy, — 

 forming a bush about five feet high. Its foliage 

 is always neat and green; and, in the month of 

 April, its flowers, of so brilliant a red that they 

 are sometimes called " Fairies' fire," are thickly 

 sprinkled over every twig. There is also a blush, 

 (or, as it is called, white.) variety; the flowers 

 of which closely resemble large apple blossoms. 

 Though not so beautiful as the red, they afford a 

 pleasing contrast when growing near by it. 



Nothing is more easy of cultivation than this 

 shrub; and it is readily increased by planting 

 pieces of the root four or five inches long in a 

 rich soil, — burying the tops of the roots a couple 

 of inches. Yours, An Amateur. New-York, 

 Dec. 15, 1848. 



