FOREST AND STREAM. 



343 



1 o\ though, if well cared for, it will amply repay the 



neg Hon Ensconced is a pleasant nook by the window, 



atteD iuhowa wonderous vitality, and enhance the beauty of 



I il nm tenfold. The leaves may easily be cleansed from 



tbe t°ptc with a wet sponge, and the plant itself kept cool 



> j ' met' will thrive to suit the most eager expectations of 



i&o.a-.ists. . R-. 



tthw to Get Rid ov Tree Stumps.— General Colquitt, 



frtporria in a recent address, gives the followiag two 



of doing them: "To remove stumps from a field, all 



Wus necessary is to have one or more sheet-iron chim- 



""Vsome four or five feet high. Set fire to the stump 

 ik&ce the chimney over it, so as to give the requisite 

 i it at the bottom. It will draw like a stove. The 

 d will soon he consumed. With several such chim- 

 8lU ? of different sizes, the removal of stumps may be ac- 

 "nmnlished at merely nominal labor and expense. 



I "in the autumn bore a hole an inch or two in diameter, 

 wording to to the girth of the stump, virtually in the cen- 



' , r of the latter, and about eighteen inches deep. Put into 

 v from one to two ounces of saltpetre; fill the hole with 



1 Is ter and plug up close. In the ensuing spring, take out 



V nlue and pour in about one or two gills of kerosene oil 



ndWte it. The stump will smoulder away, without 



filing, to the very extremity of the roots, leaving nothing 



but aines." 



Tompost Heaps.— It is now a proper time to look to 

 making compost heaps; and from the various inquiries as 

 tohovv is the be.it mode of making these heaps valuable, 

 we hope farmers will give their views and plans upon so 

 important a subject. One writer says for making leaf 

 -mould that leaves "laid in small heaps will decompose 

 fficie'nily j n a few months to mix with good soil as 

 compost for plants. To hasten decomposition, turn the 

 leaves over occasionally, and mix with a small quantity ot 

 loam at each turning. At the end of twelve mouths leaves 

 are sufficiently decomposed for potting purposes; but they 

 are not thoroughly so until during the second year. Leaf 

 mould is too open and becomes finally too close and satur- 

 ated to be employed alone." 



Another says a "good compost for common house plants 

 can be made up of one pari clean sand, free from salt; 

 one part mould from thoroughly decayed leaves; one part 

 cow manure, well rotted and pulverized; two parts rich 

 garden soil, or better, well decayed turf mold. About 

 one-fifth of the pot may be filled with materials for drain 

 age, composed ot oyster shells, charcoal, or broken bits of 

 crockery. A small quantity of moss placed over these pre- 

 sents the earthy washing thiough." 



Crassula Lactea a Good Plant for Winter Decora- 

 ; iTI0N _This is a plant which is not so generally grown in 

 gardens as one could desire, seeing that it flowers in the 

 greatest profusion, even in mid-winter in a cool greenhouse 



"'.'or window, for the ornamentation of both of which it has 

 few equals. Small plants of it are, as a matter of course, 

 comparatively ineffective, but, after they have attained 



fcimp, so as to produce from sixty to eighty white star-like 

 Bowcison aplant.it becomes an object both attractive 



' and striking. We have plants of it here three years Irom 

 the cutting stage in eight-inch pots, that are each producing 

 the number of blooms just mentioned, aud which we 



■ found useful for the decoration of the conservatory, in 



i which thoyare much admired. The culture of this succu- 

 lent is so easy that nobody need experience any difficulty 



'.'' in the matter. It is readily propagated, and grows freely 

 in sandy-loam, in which there is an admixture of broken 



: sott brick and lime refuse — materials more suitable than 

 erocks for this class of plants. The pots should tie well 

 drained, aud, in order to secure thorough maturity, Crassu- 



i : las are benefited by being exposed for a time after they 



'Have made their growth under glass. Water should be aU- 



w ; ministered sparingly when they are in bloom, but when 

 hi active growth they require a liberal supply. A good 



a companion plant to 6. lactea is (J. quadnhda, a pretty 

 ■pink -flowered kind.— Arthur Ooombes, m the Garden, L&n- 

 (lon. 



Manubing Oechaeds in the Fall.— Last week we gave 

 several considerations in favor of manuring orchards in 

 Autumn, but left the subject unfinished. Theie are other 

 advantages in addition to that of applying fertilizers to 

 teed the trees and plauts, to be gained from fall manuring. 

 IrOne that we wish to specially consider in this article, is 

 dJjjUMof mulching. 



We mulch in the summer to retain the moisture in the 

 soil, and to prevent the burning effects of the sun's severest 

 ' ;;"rays; but why should we mulch in 'winter? 



1. Fov the same purpose that we mulch in summer, to 

 , ; r,': retain the moisture in the soil. J.t is an unquestionable 

 ; .fact that the roots of trees often receive injury from drouth 

 in winter. We doubt whether there was ever a summer's 

 drouth that destroyed so many long established trees and 

 1 pnts as did the winter's drouth of 1874-5. True, the 

 i ^mediate cause of the dea*th of the trees was frost, but the 

 ;!i !pnme cause was drouth. We come to this conclusion be- 

 muse, while we have had much colder winters when the 

 J ; ; host penetrated to a greater depth, we do not remember 

 another so dry a winter, nor one in which so many hardy, 

 fiuil-grown trees were killed. 



A few inches of partly rotted manure spread over the 

 f foots in autumn would do much toward preventing the 

 'moisture from evaporating. The cold wintry winds will 

 ! : dry out the soil as certainly, if not as rapidly as the warm 

 iii winds of summer, and a mulch would be a beneficial pro- 

 ji^'etor. Trees planted but one, or a few years, would be 

 especially benefit ted bv a mulch covering the roots, from 

 hfi trunk outward. 



llav C JJ mfort - When we see how much nature and man 

 I* 6 done to prevent the too great reduction of the animal 



,,, """"«• 



Mb we would, mulch to prevent the escape of heat, as 

 ,J U as . moisture, from the toil. If an animal is ever 

 ™zen, it is because of the escape of heat from its body. 

 ie human body we cover with warm woolen clothing in 

 clmi t0 P levenL tll e too free escape of heat. Nature 

 Ion r tile brule wiLl1 ljair » iur or feathers, which grow 

 his^~. a * t * dicker in winter than in summer, thus securing 



liav 



^mpeiature, may we not take the hint and do something 

 om , y, eQt lu e escape ot heat from the soil in which is 

 redded the roots of trees and plants?— Mural Home. 



flow E - Catalpa Thee.— Whether or not this handsome- 

 «ow ) Dg uat . ive is entitled to the many eulogies <,f late be- 

 h& o UP0Q il Decause °f tne supposed value of its timber, it 

 lor tr 6 advanta S e ov er some other species now propagated 

 tlie la pur P° se > ancl tna -t is as an ornamental specimen for 

 taKk P W ^' Among the various species of trees,at present 

 Agoing test on the great western plains. W^ may notice 



such objectionable kinds as the Ailanthus or "Tree of 

 Heaven," which is so offensive to most persons that its culti- 

 vation, even for useful purposes, is open to severe objec- 

 tion. 



Even the Catalpa is not entirely free from fault, the crooked 

 habit of growth being very much against it, both for orna- 

 ment and timber. By a systematic training, however, this 

 objection may to a great extent be overcome, as we have 

 seen specimens of this species, as well as of even more 

 intractable trees such as the Weeping Beech, entirely 

 changed into the most desirable round-headed form. A 

 limb tied into shape here, another removed there, or a 

 third cut back somewhat, will assuredly bring the most 

 unsightly head into entire subjection. The main point, 

 however, is to start right, by cutting the young tree down 

 to within a few inches of the ground after being planted 

 out, say two years. It will then exert all its eneigies to 

 form a straight stem of several feet in length, which is 

 very desirable in its cultivation for any purpose. It is a 

 native of the South, but, being quite hardy at the North, 

 is frequently found in cultivation in the Middle States, and 

 in some localities here has become quite naturalized. 



The showy white flowers are prettily tinged with violet 

 and spotted in the throat; they are produced in large open 

 panicles, and are followed by pods twelve inches in 

 length. The seeds are flat and furnished with fringed 

 wings. It is not difficult to propagate, provided the seeds 

 are not covered too deeply; the slightest sprinkling of soil 

 over theui will be sufficient to induce germination. During 

 summer the young and tender plants must be sheltered 

 from the sun, and in winter from the,f*ost. The latter not 

 unfrequently kills the immature seedlings to the ground if 

 not covered with pine "brush or some other loo3e material. 

 It can also be increased by means of root cuttings.— Ex, 



— The first day of the second ceutury of the American 

 Republic will be ever memorable for its snow storm, 

 which for extent, severity, and accumulation of gelid de- 

 posits, is almost without parallel. It is twenty years since 

 such a fall of snow visited this city. 



-*.«». . 



— To free your stove of clinker, push down a few oyster 



shells between the burning coals and the body of the stove 

 -*..*_ 



— The fear of an invasion of potato bugs from America 

 has caused such a scare in England that the custom house 

 officials at the ports of that country have been supplied 

 with photographs of the insect. Aided by these, they are 

 keeping a sharp look-out for the pests on incoming vessels. 



• — ♦ 



No Notice Taken or Anonymou! Communication*. 



G. W. F., New Galilee. — Did you receive pedigree of the dog Staunch 

 sent you some time ago? Ans. Yea, and certificate will be sent you in 

 a few days. 



J. H., Jr., New York.— Can yon inform mo if partridges are known 

 to be treed by dogs in the region of thick and unfrequented woods? Ans. 

 Yes, they are frequently shot in this manner. 



J. L. E., Memphis, Term.— What is good to give my dog? He has a 

 slight attack of distemper. Ans. Have mailed to you a remedy for 

 distemper which larely fails to cure. 



C. H. N., Cranstou, R. I.— Will you please give me the name of the 

 maker of the turkey call, as described by Mr. Vandei burgh iuyour pa- 

 per of Dec. 21st, page 3*5? Ans. Dr. G. A. Stockwel), Tore Huron, 

 Michigan. 



0. B. V., Indianapolis, Ind.— Would like address of one or two par- 

 ties of whom I could get all the different egg preserving and bird skin- 

 ning instruments. Ans. J. Wallace, 19 North William stree f , New 

 York, and A. M. Decker, 113 Third street, Chicago. 



J. T. B., Stamford, Ky.— .Please give me the address of Professor 

 Coons, keeper of "Egmont Lighthouse" on southwest coast of Florida, 

 I desire to obtain valuable information touching his immediate vicinity. 

 Ans. Prof. Eugene Coons, Egmont Key, Hillsboro county, Florida. 



J. W. R., Philadelphia.— Please be kind enougn to reply through 

 your columns where I can get Everhart's poem on the Fox Hunt,, Ans. 

 Can some of our correspondents answer this? Col. Skiuner don't know, 

 and what he don't know about matters pertaining to fox hunting we 

 wen't pretend to know. 



W.» W*terbury, Conn. — Can yon inform me of whom I can procure 

 yearling trout? I wish to place some in a pond in each spring, and pro- 

 cure them from some party^neare^t to this locality. Ans. All the Fish 

 Cultnrists have fish and spawn for sale. Apidy to Stone & Hooper, 

 Charlestown, N. H., who are reliable and near. 



N. F., St. Louis.— Please inform me where soft shed crabs are caught 

 this time of year, and the cheapest place to purchase them? Ans. The 

 only soft crabs in market at this time of the year are the rock crabs 

 that Bhed their shells during Dec. aud Jan. They are not so large as 

 the common blue crabs that shed their shells during June, July, August 

 and September. The soft shell rock crabs can be bought at $1 per doz. 

 Blackford, Fulton Market, can supply you. 



A. B. D., Bronson, Florida.— I have made the acquaintance of a gen- 

 tleman here owning some very fine hounds, one of which is affected 

 badly with the mange, and thus far he has been unable to effect a cure, 

 and having seen your notices in regard to the disease many times, think 

 you might be able to furnish a copy of your paper containing instruc- 

 tions for cure. Ans. In an answer to T. E. L. jou will find an excel- 

 lent remedy for mange . 



W.H. S., Bangor, Me.— A parrot of mine began, about two years 

 a°o, to tear out its feathers. The bird, as far as 1 can see, is perfectly 

 healthy and clean. It tears out all the feathers it can reach on its back 

 and breast. Can you suggest a remedy or assign any cause for the hab- 

 it? Ans. It is probably owing to the presence of some parasite on the 

 feathers causing an irritation. Procure some of Steadmau's insect pow- 

 der advertised by Holberton & Beemer, and dust under the" feathers. 



L. H., Jk., Philadelphia.— Will you please inform me whether the 

 quail shooting is best in Virginia or North Carolina, and if the latter, 

 what particular place can you recommend; also how much linger does 

 the season last? Ans. The general close season for quail commences 

 in Virginia on January 1st; in North Carolina April 1st. Our reports 

 do not indicate a very great abundance of birds. Probably Weidon, 

 which is easily reached from Norfolk, would be a good place for head- 

 quaiters; or Greensboro. 



W. II. S , Philadelphia.— 1. Is the No. 6 shot that the Englishgun. 

 makers use in testing their guus at a 30 inch circle, the same size as Tat- 

 ham Bro's. American standard shot of the same number, and if not, 

 which of Taiham'a comes the nearest it? 2. What time does spring 

 duck shooting commence near Philadelphia, and what is the best size 

 shot to use? 3. Is Dupont'sNo. 1 duck shooting powder too coarse to use 

 in a 12-gauge breech loading gun, and if so what is the best size? Is 4 

 drachms too much? Ans. 1. English No. 6 shot has £70 pellets to the 

 ounce; Tatham's 290. 2. Much depends upon the state of the weather, 

 but generaUj the duck make their appearance in tbe Delaware about the 

 first of March. No. 3 and 4 shot is generally used. 3. Dupont'e No. 1 

 ducking powder is a good size, and xf your gun weighs 8 pounds or iHo r e < 

 4 drsehras is not too much , 



H. G. , New York.— Can yon tell me if there is any deer hunting now; 

 if so, where is the best place to go, and about what would be the coot; 

 also what is a deer hound worth? Ans. There is good deer hunting to 

 be had in some parts of Virginia and North Carolina, also in Northwest- 

 ern Pennsylvania. For the latter go to Olean, Catteraugus county, this 

 State, and there inquire for Charley Garr, who lives at the mouth of 

 Two Miles. Isaac M. Bradley, Eldred, Sullivan county, says there is 

 good deer hunting in his vicinity. You can buy a deer hound for $50. 

 Some advertised this week. 



J. H. R., Woburn, Mass.— 1. What is the address of J. C. Cooper 

 whose name appears in an advertisement in Fouest and Stbeam of the 

 27th ult.? Would a letter addressed to Limerick reach him? 2. Are 

 there any real English Beagles in this country? if so, of whom can they 

 be bought, and fj* how much? Ans. 1. J. O. Cooper, Cooper Hill, Lim- 

 erick, Ireland, wnere letters will reach him. 2. For Beagle hounds ad- 

 dress Nathan Drake, corner One Hundred and Thirty- Eighth street and 

 Third avenue, N* Y. Have written you. 



G. V., Philadelphia.— I have a new nine-ounce duck sail of about lfO 

 yards, which has been bleached, and notwithstanding the greatest care 

 during last summer has slightly mildewed along the bead and foot. How 

 can it be removed? What is the best kind of cover for a sail? Aus. We 

 question whether anything will remove mildew; but it can be made Je^s 

 unsightly by dipping the sail in lime water. Take apiece of lime weigh- 

 ing say two pounds, and slake it in a barrel, after which fill the barrel 

 with sof t water and dip the sail in it; or it can be applied with a broom. 

 A painted canvas cover is as good as any. 



J. B. M,, New York.— I have two pointer bitches, about fonr months 

 old, from good stock and seemingly in good health. But when I take them 

 out, after walking a short distance their fore legs give from under them and 

 they fall forward on their nose,and lie there a few seconds. Their legs from 

 the first joint to the shoulder are rather large for dogs of their age. Please 

 explain the cause, and suggest a remedy. Ans. It is not an unusual 

 thing for pups to be affected as yours are. Give them moderate exercise 

 and good strong nourishing food end they will come all right. 



Enquirer, Albion, N. Y.— 1. In loading shells for breech-loading 

 rifle with 50 grs. powder and 275 grs. lead, what pize powder of the 

 Orange brand would be best? (distance to be shot 300 yards). 2. How 

 would the Dittmar powder answer at such range? 3. What kind of 

 powder and what size rs used at Creedmoor in long range shooting? 4. 

 Where can I get swedged balls, 40 cal., 275 to 300 grs. weight and what 

 would they cost? 5. Is the Maynard rifle considered equal to the Sharps 

 or Remington for accuracy at 500 or 600 yards? Ans. 1. F. G. Rifle. 

 2. .answer well if rightly loaded. 3. Mostly Hazard's F. G. See shoot 

 ing. 4. Most any of stores in N. Y; cost 1.20-100. 5. Yes. 



J. E. S., Philadelphia.— I have a bitch pup ten weeks old, who ap- 

 pears to be suffering from worms. Her excrement rfow and then con- 

 tains a white stringy substance veiy resembling a worm, about six inches 

 long and as thick as a knitting needle. This and an occasional slight 

 disturbance in her throat, and biting at the root of her tall are the only 

 Judications of any trouble. Her health and appearance are good; she eats 

 well, and is very lively. I should like to have your opinion, and if you 

 advise areca nut, please give directions as to its use and where to get it. . 

 Ans. Give your pup ten grains of powdered areca nut every two hours 

 until she has taken three doses, and five hours after giving the last dose 

 give enough castor oil to purge. If you cannot get the remedy there we 

 can send it. 



C. L. J., Philadelphia.— I desire some information about a Frank 

 Wesson rifle 1 possess, viz: it being a 22 calibre, will it shoot accurately 

 at 100 yards! 2. How must I regulate the rear sight for different dis- 

 tances, it having twelve marks on the sight frame, each mark measuring 

 the sixty-fourth of an inch? It also has an extra set of sights. The 

 front one is a bead Bight, and the rear one inserted in the top of the 

 stock at the grip, is a peep sight, held by a set screw; how are they to 

 be adjusted? Ans. 1. It will not. with any wind blowing. 2. The only 

 way to adjust your sights is by actual firing at a target, and raise or 

 lower your sight till you get it right: then mark it so you will know 

 next time where to set it for the same distance. The marks on sights 

 are not to be depended upon. Yon bad better commence firing with 

 sights too low, as then you can see where your balls are striking. 



G. A. E., North Brookfield, Mass.— 1. Do you think it is sportsman- 

 like to shoot ruffed grouse under the snow, as it takes some good judg- 

 ment to guess their whereabouts? 2. What success did Mr. 8. New- 

 house have trapping beaver in the fall of '75? 3. When is Ira expected 

 home across the pond? Ans. 1. We consider the sport legitimate, when 

 the birds are kicked up out of the Bnow and shot on the wing. The 

 practice is common in the northern and eastern States, in shooting ruffed 

 grouse, and also in Minnesota and Manitoba, with ptarmigan. 2. Mr. 

 Newhouse got about $800 worth of pelts. 3. Ira Paine returned from 

 Europe a month ago, and was in this city aB recently as a fortnight ago, 

 at which time he expected soon to return to Europe again. 



J. E. 8., Boston. — tteing a constant reaaer ©f your paper I wish to ask 

 you if you will please inform me of the nature of the disease with which 

 my setter dog (six months old) is afflicted. The symptoms are: Run- 

 ning away from hi< plate of food, and trying to bite under his neck, and 

 then standing and looking all around in a dazed sort of a way; then 

 opening and shutting his mouth, emitting a quantity of froth, etc.; eyes 

 looking very bad, elc. Ans. Your dog is probably afflicted with worms. 

 Give him 60 grains of powdered areca nut, 20 grains at a dose, every two 

 hours, and five hours after giving the last dose give him one ounce cas- 

 tor oil. If you cannot get the remedy, then we can send it to you 

 by mail. 



T. E. L., New York.- -I have a mastiff pup three months old who has 

 never received any other food than bread and milk. He is growing rap- 

 idly and is perfectly well, but a slight eruption appeared about bix weeks 

 ago under his front legs and upon his forehead, which causes him to 

 scratch almost incessantly. Is he likely to outsrow it, or must I dose 

 him with raedicjme? He has been several times washed with carbolin 

 soap, which seems temporarily to allay the itching. Ans. Take 2 ozs. 

 Basilicon ointment, i oz. flower of sulphur, and spirits of turpentine 

 enough to make an ointment of the proper consistency to be well 

 rubbed into the parts affected. Wash the dog occasionally with carbolic 

 soap, and when dry apply-the ointment. 



J. C. N., Hastings, Minnesota.—A few weeks ago, while on a hunting 

 trip, I came across a double-barrel, breech-loading shot gun. 10 gauge, 

 wiih an extra barrel rifled (calibre say 40) and properly proportioned so 

 as to admit of its being inserted in one of the shot barrels. Do you 

 suppose the rifle attachment would remain a good fit? Be kind enough 

 to mention some reliable maker in this country to whom I could refer 

 in case I should decide to have one, Ans. We have recently heard of 

 a shot gun made on the principle mentioned by our correspondent, but 

 cannot recall the maker's name. It will probably soon be heard from 

 through these columns. The National Guard of this city have been 

 using for gallery practice a suo calibre rifle, viz., a barrel of 22 calibre 

 fitted inside of the regulation piece. If suitable for this service we see 

 no reason whv it should not be made available for shot guns. 



Buzftjz, Newton.— Is there any land to be had in Florida for settling 

 on it? What are the provisions of tbe Homestead Law? Ans. We 

 quote: — Under the Homestead Law. any person over twenty-one years 

 of age, male or female, native or foreign born— married woman except- 

 ed— may take 160 acres of Government land on payment of $14 fees, 

 and after a residence of five years on the land they can have a clear deed 

 of it from the Government. After six months' residence, if they 

 choose, they may pay $200 and get a d«ed without fnriher residence •, 

 Soldiers may dednct'the time spent in the service of the Union, not to 

 exceed three years. By the pre-emption act any person over wtnty- 

 one years of age— except a married woman — may take 160 acres of Gov- 

 ernment land on paying ot" $2 fees, and after residing on it six months, 

 or for any time not exceeding three years and a half, may get a deed on 

 payment of $200 and making proof of settlement and improvement. The 

 timber culture law gives 160 acres to any one planting one-fourth of it 

 in trees and cultivating for eight years; 40 to 80 acres maybe taken oa 

 like conditions r *''h« fees a'*a tb*> mffie m for hw \w-M 



