NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



227 



THERMOMETER CHURN 



In churning, it is of great importance to have the 

 cream or milk of a proper temperature, which is 

 about G2 degrees ; and this churn affords this advan- 

 tage "with convenience, despatch, and exactness. 

 The churn is encircled with a case for water, by 

 which the desirable temperature may be obtained, 

 and indicated by the thermometer permanently iixed 

 in the end of the ch\irn, where it is not liable to 

 injury. 



This churn is simple, light, portable, and durable, 

 easily operated and cleansed. The price is mod- 

 erate. They are made of various sizes. 



POKE ROOT, OR AMERICAN HELLEBORE. 



{Veratrum viride.) 



Panicle -downy ; partial bractes longer than their 

 pedicles. Segments of the corolla thickened on the 

 inside at base. 



A large, green, leafy plant, not uncommon in 

 meadows and swamps. The root is thick and fleshy, 

 its upper portion tunicated, its lower half solid, and 

 sending forth a multitude of large, whitish radicles. 

 The stem is from three to five feet high, roundish, 

 solid, striated, and pubescent. Throughout the greater 

 part of its length, it is closely invested with the 

 sheathing bases of the leaves. The lower leaves are 

 large, from half a foot to a foot long, oval, acuminate, 

 pubescent, strongly plaited and nerved ; the lower 

 part of their edges meeting round their stem. The 

 upper leaves become gradually narrower, and the 

 uppermost, which perform the ofRce of bractes, are 

 linear-lanceolate. The flowers are numerous, and 

 distributed in compound racemes, axillary from the 

 upper leaves, and terminal ; the whole forming a 

 sort of panicle. Peduncles roundish, downy. Bractes 

 boat-shaped, acuminate, downy. The pedicle of 

 each flower is many times shorter than its bracte. 

 Calix, none. Corolla divided into six green, oval, 

 acute, nerved segments, of which the alternate ones 

 are longest. All the segments are contracted at base 

 into a sort of claw with a thickened or cartilaginous 

 edge. Stamens six with recurved filaments and 

 roundish, two lobed anthers. Germs thi"ee, cohering, 

 with acute recurved styles as long as the stamens. 

 A part of the flowers are barren, and have only the 

 rudiments of styles, so that the plant is strictly polyg- 



amous. The seed-vessel consists of three capsules 

 united together, separating at top and opening on 

 their inner side. Seeds flat, imbricated. — June. — 

 Perennial. 



The root of this plant, when taken internally, pro- 

 duces violent effects, and is dangerous in considera- 

 ble quantities. It is chiefly used in the country 

 as an external application in cutaneous affections. 

 Prom its gi-eat affinity in habit to the Veratrum 

 album, a European species, which has lately ac- 

 quired considerable celebrity as a remedy in gout, 

 the American plant is particularly entitled to the 

 attention of physicians. — Bigehid's Plants. 



GRASSES. 



Ribbon G-rass (Phalaris Americana) is the beau- 

 tiful striped grass occasionally used for garden bor- 

 ders. It has been highly recommended for swamps, 

 to which, if transplanted, it is alleged that it will 

 supersede all other grasses, and afford a fine quality 

 of hay, of an appearance quite different from the up- 

 land growth. The writer tried several experiments, 

 both with the seed and roots, on a clay marsh, but 

 without success. Its proper pabulum is probably a 

 rich carbonaceous soil, such as is found in an allu- 

 vial swamp or peat bed. 



MusKEET Gkass, found growing on the plains of 

 Mexico and Texas, is considered one of the best of 

 the indigenous grasses. I have seen it growing on 

 the plantations of Louisiana, where it has been suc- 

 cessfully transplanted. 



Grama is held in the highest estimation by the 

 Mexicans. It attains a medium height, and is deemed 

 the most nutritious of the natural grasses in our 

 south-western frontier prairies, in California, and 

 parts of Mexico. It grows on dry, hard, gravelly 

 soils, on side hills, the swells of the prairies, and the 

 gentle elevations in the valleys. The principal value 

 is found in the numerous seeds, which are retained 

 in the pods with great tenacity, long after they are 

 ripe, serving as a luxurious food for all the grami- 

 nivorous beasts and fowls of the regions where it is 

 known. 



Buffalo Grass is found intermixed with the 

 grama, and seldom grows more than a few inches in 

 height. It forms a thick, soft herbage, on which the 

 traveller walks with ease, and reposes, when weary, 

 with delight. It yields a rich sustenance to count- 

 less herds of wild horses and cattle, buffaloes, deer, 

 and antelopes. — Allen's American Farm Book, 



