284r 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[August, 
Missouri State Entomologist.— The 
State of Missouri has had the good sense to create the 
office of State Entomologist, and then showed that it 
knew what it was about by appointing C. V. Riley, Esq., 
to fill the office. Mr. R. has long been favorably known 
through his writings in several of the Western agricul- 
tural journals, and his course since his appointment 
shows that he means work. Instead of secretly accumu- 
latiuga lot of materials for the long-delayed report of some 
slow-going Society, he gives his matter while it is fresh 
aud iu season through the Missouri and other Western 
papers. We hope that our many Missouri readers will 
aid Mr. Riley by sending him their observations and 
specimens of such insects as are found injurious to vege- 
tation. Ilia address is 2130 Clarke Avenue, St. Louis. 
Strawberry I>r. Nicaise. — Messrs. 
Frost <& Co., Genesee Valley Nurseries, Rochester, N. 
Y., have sent us specimens of this berry, which we be- 
lieve they were the first to introduce. The berries, grown 
from plants set last September, were of remarkable size. 
One weighed an ounce aud a half and measured seven 
inches around. The fruit being picked under-ripe, on ac- 
count of the long distance it had to travel, did not enable 
us to fairly test its quality. The flesh was solid and of 
good texture. We are uot informed of its productive- 
ness, but the specimens sent show that it is an excellent 
exhibition fruit, and worthy the attention of cultivators. 
Another Tomato Trellis.— "F. B., 1 ' 
of Newark, N. J., surrounds his garden with a very cheap 
trellis upon which he trains his tomatoes. The trellis is 
made of sticks cut from the swamp, set in an inclined 
position, and where they cross they are tied with a strong 
twine. When the tomatoes reach the top of the trellis 
the tops are bent over to the other side and there fasten- 
ed. The sticks are completely hidden by the foliage, 
amongst which the ripe fruit shows with a very pretty 
effect. A trellis of this kind made of cedar would last 
many years, The engraving shows how it is constructed. 
Fruit in New England, — Very un- 
favorable accounts come to us from various parts of New 
England, and the prospect for fruit is anything but prom- 
ising. The long-continued rains which occurred at the 
time of blossoming of apples and pears prevented fertili- 
zation. Col. Wilder informed us that he should not have 
more than a third of a crop of pears, aud that on July 1st 
he had not a grape vine in blossom. Many usually hardy 
vines were killed by the winter, the wood not being well 
matured. At the Botanical Garden, Cambridge, the 
Magnolias, etc., bloomed a month behind their usual time. 
Fuller in Oerman, — The Small Fruit 
Culturist, by A. S. Fuller, has been accepted as a standard 
work by our fruit growers, aud we are pleased to rind it 
hasmetwith so much appreciation iu Germany that a 
translation of it has been brought out in that country. 
The book is in excellent style, with all the illustrations 
neatly done in tinted lithograph. The translator is F. 
Maurer, who is one of the leading small fruit growers in 
Germany. The work so pleased Juhlke, the director of 
the King's gardens, that he requested to be allowed to 
write an introduction to present it to the German pomol- 
ogists. This translation in so handsome a manner is a 
great compliment to Mr. Fuller, and not only to him but 
to Americau horticulturists generally, for all of them have 
iu one way and another helped to bring our knowledge of 
the small fruits up to its present state. It is pleasing to 
see that German pomolo^ists are ready to avail themselves 
of experience, from whatever quarter it may come ; their 
conduct is in marked contrast to those of England, who 
persistently ignore American horticu.ture. 
Whitlock's Exhibitions.— Mr. "Wlut- 
lock, besides his " perpetual exhibition of implements 
pertaining to horticulture and agriculture, has every 
Thursday a Bilow of such fruits and flowers as may be in 
season. Mr. W. in the spacious halls in the Agriculturist 
building is able to offer ample room to all exhibitors, and 
a neatly furnished room for discussions. Our fruit grow- 
ers and florists have availed themselves of advantages he 
offers, and the exhibitions have been attractive and the 
meetings for discussion instructive to those who attend. 
These weekly exhibitions and meetings are free to all. 
Gas-Tar or Asphalt "Walks.— Iu the 
July AgHeultwrist we mentioned the walks in Central and 
City Hall Parks as illustrations of the excellence of pave- 
ments made with gas-tar and other materials. We have 
since learned that these walks were made with a patented 
composition under the Burlew patent, iu which other 
materials are used besides gas-tar. As the report of the 
comptroller of Central Park gave no hint that the walks 
there were made with a patented article, we were led to 
suppose that they were the old gas-tar and sand walks 
that have been in use these many years. We know that 
mere sand or coal ashes and tar make a good walk, but 
are willing to admit that the patented one is better. 
Hill's I.nivn Mowing; Machine.— 
A lawn mower of moderate size that could be worked by 
one person without great exertion has long been wanted. 
We have tried Hill's machine sufliciently to see that it 
does the work easily and efficiently. By the use of this 
machine once a week, a lawn or grass plot can be kept 
in admirable order with a velvety turf. We hope that the 
manufacturers will have so great a demand as to allow 
them lo furnish the mowers at a still cheaper rate. 
Massachusetts Horticultural So- 
ciety. — The exhibition of Roses, Strawberries, etc., was 
held by this Society June 30th and July 1st at their mag- 
nificent Hall iu Boston. The number of varieties of 
strawberries was not so great as we expected to see, but 
those exhibited were of remarkably fine quality. Wilson, 
Hovey, Jucunda, Triomphede Gaud, Brighton Pine, Agri- 
culturist, Boston Pine, and Scott's seedling, were the prin- 
cipal varieties. Notably well grown specimens of all 
these varieties were shown. Col. Wilder's seedlings at- 
tracted attention ; these are referred toelsewhere. Roses 
were out, like Sophy Squeers' sensibilities, "in full blow." 
F. Parkman, author of a work on the rose, gave proof 
that he could raise roses as well as write about them. H. 
H. Hunnewell and J. C. Chaffin had collections as fine 
as they were profuse. Hovey & Co., exhibited beautifully 
grown specimens of the rarer green-house plants. E. S. 
Rand, Jr., had a good seedling Azalea, valuable for its 
late blooming, and garden specimens of the charming 
Showy Ladies Slipper, C'lfprijxdium sjiecfabite. Some 
most gracefully arranged baskets and vases were upon 
the tables. Amidst all the display of exotics we were glad 
to notice a stand of our native wild flowers, with their 
names, a very pleasing and instructive collection. The 
exhibition was a success, but one in visiting the fetes of 
the Massachusetts Society sees more than fruits and 
flowers; he meets the men who by their persistent labor 
have made this the most prosperous of our horticultural 
societies. It is good to meet such men as Col. Wilder, 
Breck, Parkman, Bus well, Brackett, Rand, Hovey, and a 
host of others eminent in the horticultural world. We 
wish some of the wealthy men of New York could see 
how things are done in Boston. They might be shamed 
into doing something for horticulture in their own city. 
White Hellehore for Squash Bug^s. 
— W. B. Waterer, Troy. N. Y., writes that his vines being 
covered with squash bugs he dusted them with powdered 
White Hellebore while the dew was on, and has seen 
nothing of the iusects since he made the application, which 
was some four weeks previous to the date of his letter. 
UFew Jersey State Agricultural 
Society. — This Society held an Exhibition on June 
83d and 24th, at their new grounds at Waverly. Every- 
thing about this Society bears the marks of energy and 
determination to achieve success. The grounds are nat- 
urally well adapted to the purpose, and the improve- 
ments made and in progress are judicious aud substan- 
tial. Gen. Halstead, the President, and Mr. P. T. Quinn, 
were untiring in their exertions to promote the conven- 
ience of exhibitors aud the comfort of visitors. The fine 
large tent of the Society was decorated by abundant 
floral contributions. An excellent show of vegetables 
was made by B. J. Quinn & Bro., of James Island, S. C, 
grown upon land heretofore devoted to cotton. Rcisig 
& Hesamer, Westchester Co., N. Y., exhibited over SO 
varieties of strawberries. F. Brill, Newark, N. J., took 
the premium for the best collection of 10 varieties. E. 
W. Durand, Irvington, N. J., exhibited 7 new seedlings, 
some of which were of marked excellence. P. W. 
Sehenck, of Irvington, showed specimens of Boyden's 
No. 30, which attracted general attention for their enor- 
mous size and fine appearance. Romeyn's Seedling waa 
well represented by plants in tubB, and the fruit upon 
plates. We are glad to learn that the exhibition, notwith- 
standing the rainy weather, proved a pecuniary 
The Study of Insects.— Doctor A. &. 
Packard, editor of the American Naturalist, t»s commenc- 
edthe publication of "A Guide to the Study of Insects/' 
which will be issued in 8 or 10 parts. The first part con- 
tains a profusely illustrated account of the anatomy of in- 
sects, their transformations, etc., and supplies information 
upon points in which our few American works on in- 
sects are remarkably deficient. Price 50 cents each part, 
to be had at the office of the American Agriculturist. 
Propagating- Wew Strawberries* 
— Mr. Seth Boyden, so well known as a successful grower' 
of some remarkable varieties of strawberries, sends us 
the following: "The strawberry plant is subject to many 
variations from external causes, which should be avoided 
when the highest success is desired. The best varieties 
will retrograde if they are neglected and choked with 
weeds, or grown too thick, or iu sterile soil, and will be- 
come an inferior variety, requiring years of good cultiva- 
tion to restore them to their original condition. For a new 
setting the best plants should be selected from healthy 
parents, with large runners, and carefully handled. An in- 
jury to the plant is an injury to the future crops. If the 
roots are broken or tangled, the plant will never fully re- 
cover. The young plauts should be set as soon as they 
have roots sufficient to sustain themselves, and not want 
for water before they have become firm in their place. 
New land or soil not much worn is preferred, and should 
be trenched a foot deep under the rows and a layer of 
manure put on the subsoil or bottom of the trench. If 
the soil is heavy and liable to dry hard, a small quantity 
of fine manure should be added, and well mixed before 
the trench is filled. The roots should not come in con- 
tact with much strong manure, but after the plants have 
become firm they may be liberally top-dressed." 
A Watering--I*ot Sprinkler.— Mr. S. 
Fisher, Framingham, Mass., sends a drawing of a rose 
or sprinkler for a watering pot, which he finds very con- 
venient for directing the jet in any desired direction. 
The form is sufliciently shown in the annexed engraving. 
IVIichig-an Rose.-"W. B. W." This may 
be propagated by layering shoots of this season's growth. 
How to Xell a Pure Brahma Fowl. 
— John Flegg. A bird which is true to feather may not 
be of pure blood, for as fowls are not bred with the same 
accuracy as Short horns, we must always expect to find 
occasional departures from the marks of absolute perfec- 
tion in well-bred fowls, and also occasionally grade birds 
taking so strongly after the prevailing blood that they 
cannot be recognised. If the stock at six to eight months 
old is well marked, this would, in our mind, establish the 
purity of well-marked parents, and nothing else will. 
Brahma fowls fit to breed from should have small heads, 
single or triple combs ; large, full bodies ; broad chests ; 
short, flat backs ; large, strong thighs down to the hocks ; 
short and feathered legs ; clean feet, with the outside and 
middle toes well feathered. The plumage may be either 
white, with a dark penciling of a grayish brown on the 
neck and back, and dark on the breast and body, or very 
light. This leads to the distinction between light and 
dark Brahmas. The dark birds have a light head and 
black flight and tail feathers. The light Brahmas which 
are the most common in this country are prevailingly 
white, with the neck hackle and saddle penciled with a 
distinct dark stripe in each feather. The tail is short, 
erect, and black, and the wings are short, with the flight 
feathers black. The body flutf or down is usually white, 
but occasionally smoke colored, while the feathers arc 
white, and the feathers of the feet and legs are more or 
less dark also. Lung leathers projecting back from the 
hocks, (called " vulture hocks.") are undesirable, but do 
not show impurity or bad breeding. Single combs arc 
admissible, but we do not like them. The legs should be 
yellow, or dusky yellow, and always well feathered. 
White-necked birds should not be bred from. Neither 
are those pure enough which have dark feathers scat- 
tered about on the body, or anywhere except properly 
penciled on the spots indicated above. Early chickens 
get their true plumage in the autumn, but late ones often 
do not show their tme feathers until six months old. 
