360 Notes and Gleanings. 



A New Fertilizer for Grapes. — " The California Farmer " says, " Some 

 two years since, we spoke of a system practised by some scientific growers, of 

 enriching their vineyards by cutting into fine bits the spring-prunings, and 

 ploughing in the same, thus returning the needed material for manuring the 

 vine. 



" We have seen this experiment carefully and successfully tried, and have 

 seen its good results ; which is the keeping the soil light and porous, and giving 

 to the vineyard a wholesome look and a heavy crop. 



"We hope those vine-growers that have been in the habit of burning up 

 their grape-wood, or carting it oflf, will hereafter chop up the wood finely, and 

 plough it in deeply, and they will find their vineyards very greatly benefited 

 thereby." 



New Mode of destroying Wasps. — Wasps have been rather plentiful. 

 I have for several years adopted a very simple but very effectual plan of getting 

 rid of their nests. When I find a nest, I select the noon of a hot sunny day for 

 my operations. I procure a very strong solution of cyanide of potassium, and 

 saturate a piece of lint about three or four inches square with the solution. 

 This lint I quietly place at the outlet of the hole leading to the-nest on the ground, 

 in a bank or elsewhere. Nothing more is requisite. Every wasp that arrives 

 at the hole, on its descent alights on the lint, and, after one or two gyrations, drops 

 over the edge of the lint into the hole, dead, or else dies upon the lint : not one 

 escapes. After sitting down by the side, watching the operation for about ten 

 or fifteen minutes at most, the number of wasps arriving home becomes very 

 much lessened, and then only a few odd ones arrive. I then dig out the nest. 

 All are destroyed. There is no fuss, no risk of being stung, as every wasp com- 

 ing home falls on the fatal lint, and has no escape. The evaporation of the 

 cyanide is very rapid ; and the air all around the hole is tainted, and the wasps 

 seem fascinated by it, as I never see any turn away : they look as if they must 

 settle ; and, when once they alight, thjy have no power to raise themselves, the 

 use of the wings is gone, and they are soon dead from the inhalation of the 

 cyanide. 



This is a very simple way of destroying the nest, because, if you do not wish 

 to take the nest, you may leave the lint there : it will destroy all the nest, and 

 will do no harm to any thing else. 



When the nest is in a tree, I generally go in the evening, and hold the lint 

 soaked in the cyanide under the bottom hole. The wasps soon begin to drop 

 out, first one by one, then in a regular shower. Of course, caution must be 

 used to avoid the inhalation of the cyanide ; but, as so little is required, it is not 

 very probable any accident will result from the proceeding. — Cor. in Joiinial 

 of Hortictdture. 



[The method given above is feasible enough ; but assurance can be made 

 doubly sure by pouring a few drops of strong vinegar upon the cloth after it 

 has been moistened with the cyanide solution. Great care should be taken not 

 to inhale the gas given off; and it should be remembered that cyanide of potas- 

 .slum is a violent poison, its deadly principle being prussic acid. — Ed.'\ 



