AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[March, 
. 1 — CUTTING TRENCH. 
Sweet Herbs. — "Market Gardener," Bloom- 
fngton, 111., wishes to know, " whether there would be .1 
ready sale for dried sage, etc., at a fair price." Sweet 
herbs are raised in the market -aniens near New York as 
a second crop, and are considered a paying one. They 
are put .up in loose bunches and are sold green or dry, 
according to the season. In this state they are so bulky 
that it would not pay to send them any great distance. 
Those brought from distant places come pressed in pack- 
ages or are ground and put up in tin boxes, and are main- 
ly sold by druggists and grocers. This branch of the 
business is chiefly in the hands of the Shakers, and we 
are not aquainted with the many statistics concerning it. 
Planting- Cutting's. — In the " Notes 
abontWork,"we 
" ^Sl v \4des& liave ou °n in- 
- .vv~r,* '■'• \ 1 ^^sHHr sisted upon the 
necessityof thin- 
ly crowding the 
earth against the 
base of the cut- 
tings. Much of 
the failure to 
raise currants, 
grapes, and oth- 
er plants from 
cuttings arises 
from a neglect of this. A light porous soil around the 
cutting allows it to dry out, and besides 
this there is something in the close con- 
tact of the earth with the cutting which 
seems to favor the production of roots. 
We give from that very practical work, 
Fuller's Small Fruit Culturist, two illus- 
trations. Figure 1 shows a section of 
the trench in which the cuttings are to be 
placed; this is made with the spade, by 
thrusting it down perpendicularly, and 
throwing the earth to one side. This 
gives a trench with a nearly perpendicular 
wall, against which the cuttings are to be 
placed. After the cuttings are put in, 
from two to four inches apart, some soil 
is thrown in, and pressed down firmly 
against the base of the cutting by means 
of the rammer, figure -.'. Tliis implement 
is shaped from a piece of 2-inch plank of Fig. 2. 
convenient length. In its absence, use a bit of board. 
" SSisssissii Crab.**— A pornologist who 
knows, writes us: "Certain nurserymen or interested 
parties West, arc pushing the Tetofsky apple as the 
'■ "Russian Crab" trees, at At each. I hear. It is hardy for 
the North-west, but no crab whatever ; and from several 
.years' trial of it on my soil, it does not compare in 
general productiveness and value with the Duchess 
of Oldenburg. Why not sell it under its true name?" 
l*laaiting Orcliards.-'G. B. G.," De- 
catur Co., Ind.. asks: 'How should an orchard be 
planted on flat, wet, heavy clay soil, drained only im- 
perfectly by open ditches? It cannot, short of great !. 
be well drained." Surface planting is often practised at 
the We-i. and is much better than placing the roots hi a 
heavy, damp soil. The roots of the tree are placed upon 
the surface of the soil, and a broad, low mound of earth 
heaped over them. In the subsequent working of the 
orchard, the earth is thrown towards the tree and thus 
the drainage is made more effectual 
T'aci BS:n-li as a Miilcli.— J. Whitte- 
more, Broome Co.,N. Y., has been lold that tan bark used 
as a mulch will injure the soil, and asks if it is true. 
Simply used on the surface it will do no injury. If a 
large quantity of tan bark were worked into a very light 
soil, it would be a detriment mechanically, rendering an 
already too open soil still lighter. When decomposed, 
and it decays very slowly, it makes a good manure. 
Trees for a Wet Soil. — " A Young 
Farmer," asks : "What kind of trees shall I set out 
on a We=tern wet marsh for the purpose of making 
shade for cattle, the marsh not being so wet but it 
can be mowed with a two-horse mower." The Tama- 
rack or American Larch, the Poplars or Cottonw 1-. or 
any of the tall-growing willows, such as the White or 
Golden. We have never seen the Weeping Willownsed 
for this purpose, but have no doubt it would answer ad- 
mirably. It grows rapidly, makes a fair shade, and is 
one of the first to leaf -ail in Bpring, as it is the last to 
t?hed ii leave 1 in autumn. 
€Jrai*es in Colorado.— V. II. Dicksqn 
says: • Please give ns your opinion, on grape puJtnre in 
vhla Territory, Climate as follows i Fioatl not very lata 
season very dry, bo much so that irrigation is necessary 
for the raising of most kinds of crops. Soil, all kinds 
usually found in Illinois or Wisconsin, except that it in- 
variably has more or less alkali in it. The winters as a 
general thing are mild, with hut little snow, and some very 
high winds, "Wild grapes grow here, and I am anxious 
to try an acre or two of tame grapes, if, in your opinion, 
they will prosper here. What kinds would you advise 
me to plant?'' — Tour soil is uot very different from that 
of parts of Northern Mexico, where we have seen the 
grape flourishing. If you have no late frosts in spring, 
and can irrigate, there does.not seem to be any good rea- 
son why most of our varieties should not succeed. As to 
the sorts to plant, it must be in great measure an experi- 
ment with you, and if no one has done it before, you can 
not do a better service to Colorado than to make a trial 
of the leading varieties. We think that the Israella, 
which has succeeded so well at the South, should be one 
of the newer sorts to be tried, but we would advise an 
experiment with all the leading sorts. Please report. 
l>an?£erons Oils. — In an article in the 
Household Department, reference is made to a law con- 
cerning the sale of oils. It is to be found in Section 29 
of Amendments to the Internal Revenue Law, approved 
March 2, 1S67, and reads as follows : " And be it further 
enacted, that no person shall mix for sale, naphtha and 
illuminating oils, or shall knowingly sell or offer for sale, 
such mixture, or shall sell or offer for sale oil made from 
petroleum for illuminating purposes, inflammable at less 
temperature or fire-test than one hundred and ten degrees 
Fahrenheit; and any person so doing shall be held to be 
guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof by in- 
dictment or presentment in any court of the United 
States, having competent jurisdiction, shall be punished 
by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more 
than five hundred dollars, and by imprisonment for a term 
of not less than six months nor more than three years." — 
If some one who is able to bring a case before a U. S. 
Court, wishes to do so, he can find subjects enough in 
every town. Show this law to the man of whom yon buy 
your kerosene — also test the oil as directed elsewhere. 
Cleaning* Knives and Forks. — Next 
to a clean plate, clean knives and forks are desirable, but 
in some respectable families one finds a clean plate, and 
evenanapkin sometimes, where the knives and forks are 
exceedingly dingy. If knives have become rusty by dis- 
use or carelessness, cover the blades with sweet oil, and 
after lying a day or two rub them with unslaked lime until 
tli- ■ rust disappears. For knives and forks the common 
scouring brick, freely and strongly applied everyday, is 
very good. This not only improves the appearance of 
the table, but is a good appetizer, and helps digestion 
more than the best bitters in the market. 
M Wood Hanging;*.*" — New era in house 
fbromthn.— Being prompted to investigate the "New 
Wood Hangings," we found ourselves in one of the most 
beautifully decorated rooms weeversaw. The walls were, 
so to speak, veneered in panels with choice and brilliant 
■woods of many hues tastefully arranged, and oiled so 
as to bring out their colors. These were put directly 
upon the plastered walls, just like paper hangings. We 
saw the veneerings or "wood hangings," as cut from the 
log, and noticed White wood, Holly, Maple, Beech, Chest- 
nut, Oak, Cherry. Mahogany, and Black Walnut, and 
were told that the veneerings, as soon as cut, were moist- 
ened with glycerine, a substance which never dries, and 
so they are kept moist, tough, and flexible, until applied 
to tin- wall. So far, the test of actual use has been favor- 
able, as we learn. It is said to cost less to cover walls 
with this than with good paper hangings, and a joint- 
stock company has been formed to carry on the business. 
Ash Receptacles. — Anthony M. Carson, 
Clark Co., Ohio, writes to the Agriculturist describing 
an ash receptacle called "Hall's Ash-House, 1 ' which ap- 
pears to consist of a hopper with a sieve at the bottom, 
firming the top of the iron-lined, wooden ash-holder, 
which may be used as a leach tub as well. When the 
ashes are leached, by undoing four hooks the box may be 
taken off from the ashes and set up again. The idea 
Seeme to be a good one, and such an ash receptacle would 
not be difficult of construction. Mr. Hall may have a 
patent for it, but if he does not enable the public to 
buy it, he must risk people making use of his ideas. 
Eggs Kept Fresh S Ycars.-Salt 
and Lime.— J. Baker, New Haven Co., Ct.. has heard 
ili.it -alt and lime will keep egga sweet a long time— even 
n, and asks for the proportions of the ingredients. 
We have heard of this mixture being employed, ami have 
1 implo Jime water, or n very thin milk ot lime, with 
tot ft row rooattjB, Tho salt may bo, ajid probably 
l^fl VniuM-lr. ,.|;'T,. : m, WflWpHkl riAtaj tVl 1'I.M' I"."' 
pastey consistency, after a few hours or days thin it to a 
milky fluid, adding salt, enough to make a moderately 
strong brine, and try the experiment with a few dozen 
eggs, pouring the mixture over them in ajar that may be 
kept closed. We should be glad to know how to keep 
eggs fresh for six months. 
A French Slice r.— Those who have vis- 
ited city restaurants have no doubt been impressed with 
the skill that could make so small a weight of meat fur- 
nish such a great show. A large plate has its surface 
FREXCII SLICER. 
beautifully covered with slices of a thinness that are tho 
admiration of any but a hungry man. The carving of meats, 
as well as the equally delicate cutting of the bread, is done 
with a knife called a French Sliccr. For some time we 
have used one of these as a carving knife upon the table, 
and though it is not elegant in appearance, it docs such 
excellent work that we think our readers would like to 
know about it. The engraving represents the shape; it 
has a broad and very thin blade of most excellent steel, 
the weight of metal being put in the width of the blade, 
and not in its thickness. The one we have has a blade 
14 inches long, but they are made both longer and shorter. 
They are kept in the cutlery and furnishing stores. 
Soft Water in Cement Cisterns.— 
The Journal of Chemistry says that washing the cistern 
over inside with silicate of soda, "soluble glass," will 
prevent the water becoming hard, and a subscriber re- 
cords his entire success in following the advice. This is 
worth knowing; the material is easily obtained in cities. 
Plaiting- Soap in the Family.— Leach- 
ing ashes, boiling lye, and soap making on the good old 
plan, are tedious, and, on the whole, unprofitable opera- 
tions. We can far better buy our soap, and use the ashes 
on the onion bed or elsewhere. But we have found the 
" Saponifier," of Clifford Pemberton, Pittsburgh, Pa., ex- 
cellent—so much so that we not only use up refuse 
grease with it, but buy tallow, and have no trouble in 
making good soap cheaper than we can buy it. 
Fig-eons.— Mr. Tegetmeier, the author of the 
Poultry Book, and editor of the poultry department of 
the London Field, has recently written a book of 190 
pages, royal Svo., on Pigeons, illustrated by %t richly 
colored plates of the most striking varieties, which is 
published by Geo. Routledge & Son, London, IStiS. Few 
persons who are familiar only with the common blue 
pigeons of our city and village streets, not to say farm- 
yards, where they are rarely favorites, arc aware of the 
great number of varieties into which the species (Columba 
Ur'i<n is. so to speak, broken up. Our common blue pig- 
eons are very much like the wild Rock Pigeon of Europe, 
which is said to be the parent of all the domesticated 
varieties. Not even do barn-yard fowls vary so greatly 
as pigeons. They have a greater variety of color, of form, 
of habit, aud of flight. The work shows all these pecu- 
liarities, and besides being a standard guide both for 
breeding and for judging of the birds at shows, it is an 
elegant center-table ornament. For sale at the oflice of 
the Ajnericaii Agriculturist, or sent by mail for $5.00. 
An Improvement.— We thought our old 
office at 41 Park Row a very good-looking one, consider- 
ing that the hurry and bustle of a large, active business 
makes the best-looking place a scene of confusion. But 
our "illustrious successors," Messrs. B. K. Bliss <fc Son, 
have completely eclipsed all we could do, and old 41 Park 
Row shines as one of the most beautiful aud well-ordered 
seed establishments in the country. It will pay to drop 
in, and see the fine display of good seeds and ornamental 
things to adorn the rural home. The American Agricnd- 
turist retains an office for subscriptions and the display 
of books, at the old stand of 41 Park Row. 
Cost of Cheese Factories. — "P. G.," 
of Vermont. The capital needed to start an enterprise 
of this kind depends upon the number of cows to sustain 
it. In eight factories in Massachusetts, the cost ranges 
from $3,000 to $S,000. In the report of the American 
Dairymen's Association the average number of cows to a 
factory is put at 453, the highest being 1049 and the 
lowest 110. The better way is to visit a cheese factory in 
running order, before perfecting your plan. And before 
building, it will be well to consider if, at the present 
pries, a butter factory, or one where the making of 
phecse and butter are united, will not pay belter than a 
chei 30 foctpry, The prico of butter has Ken for 50m o 
time quite high, pug k rti Hltuval Animal tor 1883 (prictt 
;,,,■ ... 
