290 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



The Action op Plasteu.— (M. S.) Why gypsum has 

 a good eflfect on clover and not on wheat, we can not tell. 

 The fad seems to be well established. We can not tell 

 why superphosphate of lime has a good effect on turnips 

 and not on wheat, but the fact is undeniable. Analyses 

 of the plants afford no satisfactory explanation. You 

 think the good effect of plaster is to be ascribed to its 

 power of drawing ammonia from the atmosphere. This 

 is Liebig's explanation ; but there are two objections to 

 it : — First, it is very doubtful whether plaster will attract 

 ammonia from the air ; and second, if it does, an applica- 

 tion of plaster ought to have the same effect as a dressing 

 of sulphate of ammonia, but it has just the reverse effect. 

 Sulphate of ammonia has a much greater effect on wheat 

 than on clover, while plaster benefits clover and has little 

 if any effect on wheat, in the majority of cases. 



Potato Oat. — (R. G.) This variety is said to have been 

 discovered in a field of potatoes, in Cumberland, in 1788. 

 For many years after its first introduction it was consid- 

 ered superior to all other varieties, both for the quality 

 and quantity of grain produced. Of late years, however, 

 its cultivation has greatly diminished on clays and secon- 

 dary soils, in consequence of its increasing liability to 

 become tulip-rooted and sedge-leafed. It is still cultiva- 

 ted to a considerable extent in Scotland and the North of 

 England, on rich, well sheltered, easy soils, composed of 

 black earth and brown loam. It has been repeatedly in- 

 troduced into this country, but we believe it is not gene- 

 rally considered superior to the common kinds. 



Cutting Scions — Grafting Wax. — I would like to 

 have you or some of your correspondents answer a few 

 questions. When is the best time to cut apple grafts, in 

 the winter or at the time of setting? The best recipe for 

 making the wax to set with, and the best- directions about 

 setting, to have success ? D. 



Scions may be cut any time before the buds swell in 

 spring, and laid in the cellar for use. 



A good composition for out-door grafting may be made 

 of 1 lb. tallow, 2 lbs. beeswaz, and 7 lbs. rosin. 



The best time for setting grafts is after the danger of 

 severe frosts is past in the spring, and before the buds 

 have pushed much. 



Colored Plates of Frtit. — (R. T.) The beautiful 

 colored plates given in the Horticulturist, when published 

 in this city, were colored by Joseph Prestele, of Ebene- 

 zer, near Buffalo, N. Y. He may be able to furnish you a 

 few at this time, but he has generally more orders than 

 he can fulfil. D. M. Dewet, of this city, exhibited some 

 colored plates at the meeting of the Western New York 

 Fruit Growers' Society, which were well done. He sells 

 tliem at 25 cents each. 



Guano for Wheat.— (T. B.) The genuine Peruvian 

 is the only guano we would recommend you to try. Sow 

 two hundred pounds per acre, and harrow it in before the 

 wheat is sown. It should be broken up fine and sifted, to 

 remove all the lumps. It is entirely unnecessary to mix 

 plaster, salt, or anything with it. 



R. R. Horse Powers. — (M. S., Seneca, C. W.) We can 

 confidently recommend the Railroad Horse Powers manu- 

 factured by G. Westinghouse & Co., Schenectady, N. Y., 

 or those of Wheeler, Melick & Co., Albany, N. Y. You 

 will get full partioulars by addressing either of these well 

 known firms. 



Duty on Grain Imported into Great Britain. — (R. 

 S. T.) From the British Provinces, there is no duty on 

 grain imported into Great Britain. From the United 

 States and other foreign countries, there is an import 

 duty of three cents per bushel on wheat and other grain, 

 and nine cents per cwt. on flour, meal, etc. In Cuba there 

 is an import duty on wheat of ^5 per quintal (110 lbs.) 

 When carried by Spanish vessels 22 per cent. less. 



Wooden Water Pipe. — (M. B., Mich.) The wooden 

 water pipe is not designed for draining purposes, but for 

 conveying the water from a spring to the house, barn- 

 yards, etc. We believe it gives good satisfaction. I. S. 

 HoBBiE & Co., of this city, manufacture it, and you will 

 obtain full particulars by addressing them. It is also 

 manufactured by Gould & Allen, Quincy, Illinois. 



Tents for Fairs. — (R. T.) You can get all kinds of 

 tents from Jas. Field, of this city. Mr. F. has had much 

 experience in his business, and you will find him every 

 way reliable. See his advertisement in another column. 



Summer Pruning Grapes — To kill Dandelions. — 

 What will kill dandelions'? My grass plat is just filled 

 with them, even after I cut out about two thousand roots 

 and filled every hole with salt. Whv did you not give 

 the opinion of the Fruit-Growers' Society of Western N. 

 York on summer pruning of grapes? 1 am cultivating 

 some young vines, and would have liked a hint or two, as 

 they seem to be the only sure crop of fruit in this part of 

 the country. Mrs. James Cummings. — Hamilton, C. W. 



Messrs. Editors: — Your Hamilton friend had better 

 allow her young vines to grow to their full length now, 

 for it is too late to begin summer pruning projierly. Let 

 them be spread out so as to receive plenty of sun and air 

 to ripen the wood, and keep them secured to the trellis, 

 that they may not be injured by the wind ; and about the 

 middle or last week in September, when the wood begins 

 to turn brown, which is a sign of maturity, cut out all the 

 small laterals growing on the main cone, close to the axil 

 of the large leaf, but without injury to that leaf. This 

 will leave some splendid wood for winter pruning and 

 bearing next summer. 



I should be afraid of using so much salt on a lawn near 

 the house, to kill dandelions, as it may show its effects in 

 the grass next year, — the dandelion being able to bear 

 more salt than the grass. The most effectual way is to 

 thrust a strong knife or chisel (a long narrow instrument 

 is best, as it will not cut the roots of the gi'.ass so much as 

 a broad one) iuto the ground, so as to reach the bottom of 

 the root; loosen it and draw it out entire, and you need 

 not put h.nything in the hole. If a few pertinacious old 

 fellows, which cannot be got out whole, persist in show- 

 ing themselves, a drop or two of sulphuric acid, or blue 

 vitriol, dropped into their crowns, will effectually settle 

 them. Now persist in the regular mowings and rakings. 

 My rule is to inovk' every alternate week, whether it appa- 

 rently wants it or not, and rake everi/ week ; and roll, with 

 an iron roller, one day before I mow. This will roll down 

 small stones, worm dirts, etc,, and leave a smooth surface 

 for the scythe. A proper lawn rake will rake out all the 

 dead grass, pull ofi' white clover heads, dandelion leaves 

 and flowers, and prevent their seeding before it is time to 

 mow, which they would do between the times of mowing. 

 These regular rakings and mowings will efi'ectually purge 

 the lawn of everything but the grass. Josiah Salter. — 

 East Avenue Nurseries, Bocheter, iK Y. 



Grafting old Grape Vines. — I wish you or some of 

 your readers would tell me at what time and in what way 

 to work grape vines, — whether to bud or slope-graft in 

 last year's growth, or graft in stub as apple trees. I have 

 a thrifty vine of the frost kind, which lias been cut down 

 a number of times but wont die. I wish to turn its ob- 

 stinacy into usefulness. D. Hickok. — Amhoy, Ohio. 



Lay by your scions in the winter, and when the vine is 

 about to start in the spring, cut the stock close down to 

 the ground and cleft-graft, putting in one or two grftfls, 

 ccording to the size ot the stock. 



