390 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



lieve most seed-dealers now usually carry 

 the Bantam in stock. 



This corn is becoming each year more firmly fixed 

 in popular favor because of its extremely early char- 

 acter, vigorous growth, and surpassingly delicious 

 flavor. We have had hundi-eds of most enthusiastic 

 letters ficm customers, giving it tlib highest ijraise 

 as the finest extra-early sweet corn they have ever 

 grown. Although the dry grain is entirely free from 

 any flinty glaze, it is exceptionally hard and firm, 

 hence can be planted earlier than any other true 

 sweet coin. The stalks are dwarf and sturdy in 

 habit, growing to a height of four feet. They bear 

 two and .hree fool ears, which are set well above 

 the ground. The ears, five to seven inches in length, 

 have eight rows of broad yellow grains, extending 

 to the extreme rounded tip. 



We first grew this Golden Bantam in 

 northern Michigan, close by the "cabin in 

 the woods." Since then we have grown it 

 every season, and recommended it to the 

 rest of the Roots and our neighbors; and 

 we all agree with what is said in the above 

 extract. By the way, 1 think we owe a 

 vote of thanks to that enterprising seeds- 

 man, W. Atlee Burpee, not only for the 

 Bantam corn, but for the many other good 

 things he has given us. 



POKEWEED "greens;" STILL MOEE ABOUT IT. 



My father tells me that fifty or sixty years ago 

 he remembers eating pokeroot cooked as greens, but 

 is under the impression that, if gathered in certain 

 seasons, it is unfit for food. 



My wife tells me that when a girl her mother 

 cooked pokeroot. The earliest shoots alone were 

 used, the shoots being peeled and parboiled to ex- 

 tract the poison, and afterward cooked and eaten as 

 asparagus. 



Mrs. Hamlin thinks that, if left too long bsfore 

 gathering, poke is poisonous. This is as explained 

 to her by her father. I have not felt like having 

 my family use the plant, not knowing enough about 

 it, and I should be pleased if Gleanings would tell 

 us how it is cooked for the table, when it is best to 

 gather it, etc. 



Pittston, Pa., May 8. P. M. C. Hamlin. 



Later. — I just now find the following in 



the Rural New-Yorker: 



false helleboeb. 

 This has very bright green stemless plaited leaves, 

 coming up in thick tufts in spring. It is very dis- 

 tinct, but is occasionally gathered with marsh mari- 

 gold, and boiled for spring greens, with fatal re- 

 sults. The plant, botanically, Veratrurn viride, is 

 also called Indian poke, wolfsbane, devil's bite, and 

 bear corn. It must be remembered that vegetable 

 poisons are very variable in character, and indi- 

 viduals also differ in degree of immunity. The dead- 

 ly upas of Java may be handled with impunity by 

 a person who would be blistered by an innocent little 

 Himalayan primrose. 



From the above I gather, as I before in- 

 timated, that there is some jjlant (may be 

 Indian poke) resembling pokeweed; and 

 this plant is probably resjDonsible for the 

 poison, 



TOBACCO-GKOWING IN OHIO; SHALL WE EN- 

 COURAGE OUR BOYS TO ENGAGE IN THE 

 INDUSTRY? 



As a rule, I feel happy to get a new 

 farmers' bulletin — especially one that em- 

 anates from our Ohio Exijeriment Station ; 

 but just now I am greatly pained to receive 

 a nicely written and printed pamphlet, pur- 

 porting to come from our Ohio Experiment 

 Station at Wooster, with the heading, "To- 



bacco-growing in Ohio." I have carefully 

 scanned each of its nearly hundred pages 

 to see if I could find a single sentence even 

 remotely touching on the benefits of tobacco-! 

 growing to the people of the State of Ohio, 

 especially to our boys and girls. This bul- 

 letin holds out no incentive to the industryl 

 except the money there is in it; and, if I 

 cm correct, the summing-up does not show 

 that the profit is any moie than that from 

 growing corn, wheat, and potatoes, if as 

 much. I happen to know (may God be 

 praised) that the experiments with the to- 

 bacco plant are not conducted on the great 

 farms at Wooster. When the Board of 

 Management wislied to have tobacco in- 

 cluded in a list of farm products, there were 

 at least two farm professors, and 1 do Lot 

 know how many more, who objected ; there- 

 fore the tobacco industry is conducted at 

 ?orae of the sub stations in different parts 

 of the State. I could not discover from 

 the bulletin just where. It is a grand and 

 glorious thing, this matter of introducinf, 

 even in our public schools, lessons in agri- 

 culture, and teaching our boys and girls to 

 be expert in gi'owing 2'ood and wholesome 

 food for a hungry world ; but ( God help me 

 wliile I say it, to have nothing but love and 

 charity in my heart) who is there that dares 

 to stand before our people in uublic or in 

 Lrint, urp'ing that progress in growing lo- 

 Lacco will be a benefit to the coming gen- 

 eration of boys and eirls? Of course, to- 

 bacco culture would include as a side issue 

 tie maufacture and sale of Cigarettes. Let 

 me give you a clipi3ing right here from that 

 grand little monthly, the Philadeb^hia 

 Farm Journal : 



STAMP IT out! 



Judge Burke, of Chicago, has stated, "Our laws 

 and times would not tolerate for one single moment 

 the cigarette evil if the desolation which it work* 

 could oe fully realized." 



The New York Journal recently printed the fol- 

 lowing facts : 



It is estimated that from 1200 to 1500 boys begin 

 smoking every day. 



Bad habits are the starting-point of criminal ca- 

 reers. . Crime is keeping pace with the cigarette 

 habit. Ninety per cent of youthful offenders are 

 cigarette-smokers. 



Students' mental and physical efficiency is low- 

 ered by smoking. 



Tuberculosis fatalities are greatest among cigar- 

 ette-smokers. 



The cigarette is considered a key to the insane- 

 sylum. 



Most school dullards and truants are cigarctte- 

 tmokers. 



The cigarette torch imperils life and property 

 tverywhere. 



Eleven States have prohibited the manufacture 

 and sale of cigarettes. Prohibitory laws are upheld 

 l,y the United States Supreme Court. 



All right-thinking people demand the extermina- 

 tion of this pest of society. Will you, boys, do your 

 part in helping to stamp out the evil? 



And, by the way, may the Lord be prais- 

 ,cd that our agricultural periodicals, almost 

 (if not quite Avithout exception, are holding 

 up a high standard of morals for these 

 same "coming bovs and girls." 



