4:8 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[February, 
precisely the same manner that he did, and along side of 
them I planted the same kinds, the same distance apart, 
covered with a plow, and kept them well plowed and 
hoed. Those covered with earth came up sooner, grew 
faster, the vines had a much better color, and at digging 
time produced a third more and better potatoes. Mine 
under straw, like his, were badly eaten by the moles, etc., 
and while he covers his this year with straw, I shall cover 
mine with dirt. In digging, I found it as much trouble 
to remove the straw as the earth. Seeing it stated that 
a mixture of coal oil and water sprinkled on potato vines 
would repel the 10-lined potato beetle, I tried it, making 
it strong enough to turn the vines black in places ; I ap- 
plied it with a swab, made by tying a rag around the eud 
of a stick. In applying it. I knocked off a great many bugs, 
and by the time I got back on the nest row to where I 
started, the bugs would be up eating away as greedily as 
ever, and the only plan by which I could get rid of them 
was to go over the patch once in two or three clays, with 
a tin pan, hold the pan beside the potato hill, and with 
the hand brush the bugs into the pan, where I had 
them at my control. The Garnet Chili potato, bragged 
about so much in the East, has proved the poorest potato 
I ever raised, as far as eating qualities are concerned. It 
is often hollow, watery, and hard ; will not cook tender, 
and has a strong, rank flavor, when cooked." We quite 
agree with Mr. P. in his estimate of the Garnet Chili. 
Whetstone Holder and Guard.- — In 
using a stone for sharpening a scythe, beginners or inex- 
perienced persons often cut their hands against the edge. 
Then, again, the best stones are usually fragile and likely to 
be broken into pieces 
too short to hold in the 
hand. We bought in 
Loudon a little instru- 
ment useful in both of 
the above cases. Fig. 2. 
is a little ring of zinc- 
coated iron, with four 
flanges or prongs and a 
tightening screw on one 
side. This is slipped 
over a wooden handle 
cut out in the centre like 
a clothes-pin. (fig. 1). A 
whole stone, or a broken "'£• *■ 
half of one, is securely fastened by turning the screw, 
which enables one to use up fragments, or to use very 
short stones; while the flanges guard the hand from 
being cut, if a wrong movement happens to be made. 
The Report of the Department of 
Agriculture for 1866.— This is a volume of about, 
the size of its predecessors, and in quality of its contents 
above the average of them. It presents one new feature, 
in having taken to advertising certain favored agricultural 
machines. Under the head of " Improved Farm Imple- 
ments," particular makers get first-rate notices, which, 
we presume, they paid handsomely for to somebody. 
Why a collection of essays by writers— known, unknown, 
and those who never ought to be known— should be put 
together each year, and called a report, we arc at loss to 
understand. Much of the writing is of the magazine 
style, and of interest to no one but the public printer. All 
that it is of any importance in the volume could have 
been better told in one third of the space. With other 
reforms we look for one in this matter of reports, and it 
will be well for the new Commissioner to see if book- 
making in his department does not need to go the way 
of the seed peddling. 
Wooden Cards. — One of the Parisian nov- 
elties is visiting cards, cut of the usual thickness (or thin- 
ness) from Beech. Sycamore, or other white wood, with 
the name printed from a copperplate in the usual way. 
Not likely to become pop(n)lar. 
I>eath of R. A. Alexander. — The 
death of an enterprising, judicious, and successful ore 
of improved stock, is always the occasion of sincere re- 
gret among all who regard the prosperity of the co 
In the death of Robert Atchison Alexander, we lose from 
among the prominent breeders of this country not only one 
of the most distinguished, enthusiast!. •. and successful, 
lint a gentleman of cultivation, refinement, and high-toned 
character, of great wealth, which was freely used to pro- 
mote the cause of Agriculture, especially in improving 
the stock of horses, sheep, and cattle. Though possessing 
some of the most famous blood and trotting horses, it is 
said he never bet upon a race, and used his influence 
against degrading by wagers and bets both the horse and 
otherwise useful trials of speed. We regard his loss as a 
public calamity. His death took place December 1st, at 
his home in Woodford Co., Ky. 
E*otatoes on Broadway.— The win- 
dows of the office of the Agriculturist are at present 
occupied by a fine display of potatoes, from Reisig & Hexa- 
mer, Newcastle, Westchester Co., N. Y. It is curious to 
observe the crowd they attract. Probably many wonder 
at the great number of varieties; others stop and think 
of the time when they used to pick up potatoes on the 
farm ; others, may be, think that when they are able to 
leave the city and live upon the farm, they will raise just 
such. Whatever may be their thoughts, there is generally a 
crowd of interested spectators who inspect 'taters. 
The American Agricultural An- 
nual for 1868 is, we think, decidedly in advance of 
its predecessor, which met with such general acceptance. 
It presents a great variety of information upon subjects 
of universal interest to agriculturists; its illustrations, be- 
sides, are carefully executed, and numerous. In addition 
to the Almanac, guide for work for each month, numerous 
useful tables, and minor items, the especially attractive 
articles are: Factory Dairy Practice, by the Secretary of 
the Am. Dairymen's Association, fully illustrated by en- 
gravings; Milk and Butter, by Prof. S. W. Johnson, of 
Yale College, giving the results of recent scientific inves- 
tigations; an article on the Wastes of Sewerage and 
Projects for their Utilization, and upon Earth Closets, by 
Col. Waring, author of the article on Drainage in the An- 
nual forlSGT; Horse Breaking and Bitting Colts, (illus- 
trated) by Col. Headley, of Morristown; on the Potato 
Crop of 1867, by Dr. Hexamer ; on the Culture of Wheat 
in Western New York, with description of favorite vari- 
eties, by Joseph Harris, accompanied by an interesting 
letter from John Johnston, of Geneva; on Scythes, 
Snaths, and Cradles, (fully illustrated,) by John W. Doug- 
lass. There is an article on Fish Manure, of especial in- 
terest, one on the Prices of Fertilizers, and How to Judge 
of Fertilizers and their Analyses. giving useful information. 
The chapter on " Progress of Invention," etc., discuss- 
es a number of new or recently introduced implements 
of sterling value ; and the one on " Progress in Agricul- 
tural Education " gives a statement, in brief, of the 
condition of the various State Agricultural Colleges. 
The Annual closes, after giving lists of Agricultural 
Books published during the year, and of Agricultural and 
Kindred Journals, with a Fanners' Directory, giving 
names of Manufacturers and Dealers in Agricultural Im- 
plements, Dealers in Seeds and in Fertilizers, and Breed- 
ers of Improved Animals of all sorts, Poultry, and Bees. 
It is a very valuable companion to the farmer, and in- 
teresting and useful for everybody. It is printed very 
neatly, and the engravings are excellent. 12mo., pp. 152. 
Orange Judd & Co., New York. Price, in paper covers, 
50 cents; bound in cloth, 75 cents. 
Seeds. Plants and Implements. — 
Where to Get Tliem.— It is not necessary to in- 
form our old subscribers that we do not answer queries 
as to the best place to get seeds, nursery stock, imple- 
ments, etc., but the number of letters received of this 
purport, makes it necessary to state the fact to our new 
subscribers. These questions answer themselves in our 
advertising pages, and if we wished to purchase our- 
selves, it would be quite difficult to decide which adver- 
tiser apply lo. We believe them all to be fair dealing 
men. Each dealer has his specialties, wnlch are usually 
Indicated in the advertisement. 
Girdled Trees- ( T, V. M." gives the 
following timely advice. When spring opens in many 
places, the trees will be found to be girdled by rabbits. 
The damage should be repaired as R. V. M. directs, be- 
fore vegetation starts. "With a sharp chisel, about a 
half or three-fourths of an inch wide, make several in- 
cisions around the tree, downward into the bark and 
wood just below the girdled portions. Then make sev- 
eral similar and corresponding incisions upward into tlie 
bark and wood just above the girdled part. Into these 
fit round portions of apple limbs, with the bark on, 
sharpened into a wedge at each end. These form a con- 
nection between the upper and lower bark, through 
which the sap flows upward and the elaborated juice flows 
downward, and if these portions are placed thickly around 
the tree, they soon unite together at their sides, and form 
a complete belt. The places of union must of course be 
wa ted. I ionnecting the two separated portions of bark 
in this way has long been practiced, but this particular 
mode of doing the work by means of a chisel, is little. 
known and is the only one of any value, as it can be 
done with great expedition. It scarcely ever fails to 
secure union, and the wedge at each end fits so securely, 
as not to be easily displaced." 
Feed for Milch Cows in Winter.— 
E. Naylor, Ohio. The quantity depends upon the size of 
the cow. She should have as much hay as she will eat 
up clean, and at least four quarts of Indian meal per day, 
or its equivalent in other kinds of grain. Roots are ex- 
ceedingly desirable for milch cows. We err in giving too 
little oily and succulent or moist food to cows in milk. 
The Pashas' Standard.— On page 53 
reference is made in 
connection with a de- 
scription of the beautiful 
flowing tail of the Thib- 
etian Yak, to its use by 
the Pashas as a standard 
and as a badge of office. 
The accompanying en- 
graving gives an idea of 
how they are borne. As 
our general officers have 
their rank indicated by 
wearing one, two, or 
three stars, so these of- 
ficers are distinguished 
as Pashas of one or of two tails. Horses' tails are also 
used for this purpose, and perhaps more commonly. 
Poultry in Winter.— Before the fowls 
begin to lay generally, make a careful study of them, if 
breeding for fancy at all, and divide up the flock; put 
the finest pullets with the best old cock, and the best hens 
with your choicest cockrels. Give six hens to one cock, 
and set a few clutches of nine eggs each, this month. A 
correspondent says the best place he ever had for young 
turkeys was an empty hay bay. No place could be better 
for the earliest broods of chickens, if the bam be light 
enough. Early chickens sell well as broilers, and are 
generally the prize-takers at the fall shows. 
Care of Swine. — Take good care of breed- 
ing sows ; give them warm nesting places, and plenty of 
straw, a few cabbages or roots occasionally, and twice a 
week or oftcner a pint of freshly burned charcoal, pound- 
ed very fine, and mixed with meal ; a handful of ashes is 
good now and then. 
Hop-Sets.— W. Farmer, Dacotab Co., Minn. 
—These can be safely sent a long distance by rail. The 
dealers usually advertise them at the proper season. 
Triplets — Calves.— John P. Dodge, of 
Macomb's Farm, had an Ayrshire cow, which dropped 
three bull calves, Dec. 2Sth. They are half Alderney. 
Xlie Rinderpest in Belgium. — An 
alarming eruption of this disease, it is announced, has 
occurred simultaneously at two points below Antwerp. 
The infected, localities were at once put under the charge 
of Government officials, sanitary cordons established, 
several animals slaughtered, and it was hoped the disease 
was under control. 
The American Naturalist.— This pop- 
ular journal of Natural History gains in value as it gets 
older and more firmly established. The January number, 
now before us. has an especially interesting article by the 
eminent comparative anatomist, Br. Jeffries Wynian, on 
the Shell Heaps of New England. These shell heaps, 
often au acre in extent, and several feet in thickness, 
occur at various points along the coast from Florida t# 
Maine, and indicate the favorite places of resort of the 
Indians. A careful examination of them shows, not only 
the kinds of "shell fish, " which served the aborigines as 
food, but tin- bones of several birds and quadrupeds indi- 
cate the variety of their fare, while fragments of pottery, 
implements of bone, etc., give us glimpses of their do- 
mestic life. Besides the article of Dr. Wymau, there are 
others upon different branches of natural history, in which 
the subjects are treated in a manner sufficiently popular 
to be acceptable to the general reader, and well illustrat- 
ed. Those who have been wishing fora magazine of pop- 
ular science, should see to it that this one is supported 
not only by their subscriptions, but by their contributions. 
The magazine is published by the Essex Institute. Salem, 
Mass., monthly, at $3.0Q a year. 
Canada Tliistlc— C. W. Jones writes: 
•■ I ha\ ■ several patches of Canada Thistles on my farm, 
and have been at work on them for several years with the 
do kspadeand salt, and found that I can keep them 
under, but cannot eradicate them, by this process. It has 
occurred to me whether you could not point out aless ex- 
