128 
AMEHICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[April, 
FeftiBiz:er for Ijsa^vns*.— Ouc Lusbel gyp- 
sum, two bushels asiies, one Ijushel fine bonedust (sifted). 
Sow about one peck of the mixture to the square rod. 
CoBBftf»ost fot* Corn in the Hill. — TakG 
hen raanuie 1 hbU, bonedust I bu., dry muck 2 bbls., 
chamber-ley 3 p;uifuis. Soften the diy hen ni:inure wilh 
the urine, and mash the hinips— then mix tlioroughly 
with the bone and muck; 1 handful to the hill. Worth 
more tijan best poudrette. Good also for any root crops. 
CooBipost Tor Coiiimou Crsirden 
CroiJS.— For suiface dressing, to be raked iu after 
lljorough manuring, lien matiure one bushel, mix witii 
chainber-ley or stable liquor, and soften, add Jialf a bushei 
plaster and half a bushel ashes, mix intimately, adding at 
the same time one busliel of good soil or fine muck. 
Use wilhin tliree days, or add 2 bushels more of muck. 
l-Vrtilizer ior H*otatoes in tUe I>rill. 
—Bone-dust or good bone meal, mixed with oil of vitriol, 
?^ water, and well stirred thiee days, then dried wilh 
Jeaclied asiies and muck, equal parts. The proportions 
being about one bushel bone, ten pounds acid, twenty 
pounds water, one-half bushel ashes, and one-half bushel 
dry muck. This preparation is good also for corn. 
<(itBcU Aelin;;!: Compo?*!*. — "J. D. B.," 
Summit Co., Ohio, and oiliers. Materials are wUhin 
easy reach of most people tliat, judiciously compounded, 
will make first-rate fertilizers for the garden, for field 
crops in the liill, for the lawn- or for top-uressing mow- 
ing-lands or grain. There are some which everv one has 
on his own place ; others he must buy. Almost any man 
this side of the Grand Prairie can afford to pay for good 
hardwood ashes as mauv cents a bushel as Iiay Is worth 
dollars a ton. There are other things, like gypsum and 
lime, that it will always pay to have on hand. Soapsuds, 
chamber-lev. and many articles of household waste, are 
often lost, which migiit. if collected, make many dollars 
worth of rich fertilizers in the course of the year. See 
other items for several recipes for clieap composts, 
which are not specific, but good for the uses suggested. 
Sin?>!^fllitBatc fba* S^viimp Muclc. — 
Swtimp muck, or peat, so far decomposed as to fail to 
powder, is one of the most useful articles about a farm 
or gai-(len to save and increase the value of tlie manure, 
form part of composts, or the chief bulk of stable manuie, 
being used instead of litter to a great extent, and to pre- 
vent burrung in the mass, and to absorb all liquids. A 
very good substitute may be made by Ihrowing sods from 
thert>a Isidesor fence-rows together, spreading upon them 
about one bushel of slacked lime to the cubic yard. 
A Seed I>rill. — Several inquire about a seed 
drill. We have tried the Wetliersfield, and found it quite 
satisfactory. It will sow anything from turnip seed up 
to beane. We have seen no better ones in use. 
Orion on BSoets.^Avery good article is of- 
fered in the dialogue form, an attractive one— but it takes 
two or three times the space of a succinct account of the 
matter. We should be glad of more cimcentrated articles. 
•' Xlie l>eep Arcana or Facts,'' — 
Congress called for a report from the Commissioner of 
.\griculture— a "statement in detail" of the disburse- 
ments and expenditures of the Department of Agricul- 
tuie. We are indebted to the Hon. Mr. Washburn for a 
copy of the official document. We find a great many 
figures, and get some insight into how the money goes, 
though not in all rases a very clear one. Of course the 
report closes wit i the usual amount of seif-laudation, 
which, if it wei 3 expressed in good taste, might be 
endured, but wh -n we learn from the Commissioner 
that certain labor of the department opens " the deep 
orca«a of facts." vc turn for relief from the literary p<u- 
tion of the report t j the figures, which, if not poetical and 
" hlfalutin,"are at least suggestive. In perusing these 
many columns, we are struck with the wonderful amount 
nf horse hire, and are tempted to add up how much it 
costs to "run" the department in this way. Aside from 
buying a pair of horses for $225, we find for horse 
hireand liorse-keeping in a little over 3 years. $3,4.13,00, 
and this is so lumned in sums ranging from $3.00 to 
$100, '.haj, we are at a loss to know wdiich is cheapest— to 
keep a horse or hire one. Surely the Department might 
give us some statistics on this point. This report is very 
great on little things, but very unsatisfactory on large 
ones. Every individual man and woman who has receiv- 
ed $3 or upwards, for making seel bags, is pvit down in 
full with the amount, and we are told distinctly who yets 
Ihe money ; but when it comes to the large sum'^, all is 
lumped, and we find that** Isaac Newton era/," are down 
for thousands. Perhaps the people will like to know 
^vho et al. are, and we are quite sure that some of the 
" watchdogs of tlie treasury '' will look into the matter. 
Then we find Isaac Newton, Jr., et al. were paid $4000 
in one year. We are glad to know that there is an Isaac 
Jr., and that he has an et al., and that they get well paid. 
There are more interesting items wliich we must reserve 
for anoliier lime, such as where the seeds come from, 
how much is paid for the long drawn articles in the so- 
called reports, what it costs to write a preface to one 
of those precious volumes, etc., etc. 
Stalling; Trees. — Wheu youug trees have 
the proper bulance of root and top. there i> seldom need 
of staking them except in very exposed places. But 
there are cases in wiiich it is necessary to do it, especially 
where large trees are moved. Two firm stakes are 
Fig. 1 
placed opposite each other in tiie direction of tlie pre- 
vailing w inds, and about a foot from tiie trunk of the tree, 
or one stake only may be used. The figures show two 
methods of securing the tree. In figure 1, a straw rope 
is put around the tree, twisted until it reaches the stake, 
and then passed around it. and fastened by a nail. In fig. 
2, the tree is kept in place by two straps of leather or 
stout canvas, which are secured to the stakes by nails. 
Phenomena of I*Iaiit I^ife.— Aueat lit- 
tle volume, published by Nichols & Noyes, Boston, and 
containing a series of popular essays by Geo H. Grindon, 
of Manchester. England. When we take up a book 
of this kind we feel pretty sure of being bored. Essay- 
ists and preachers are generally careless as to their 
science ; but heie is a writer who can present tlie 
phenomena of plant life in its moral and lesthetic as- 
pects, without violating scientific accuracy, or being 
tediously preachy. We do not quite agree with the 
author's description of the embryo; but he is, withal, so 
genial and so readable that we are not disposed to find 
fault with him, and we commend the book as one that can 
not fail to please the thoughtful reader. Handsomely 
bound in beveled boards, 94 pages. Price $1, by mail. 
Ifioolc on '^Ijand I>rainaae,''' by John 
H. Klippart. We have recently placed this book on our 
list, and can recommend it to our readers. Those 
who already have the work of Judge French on the 
same subject will find this, in some decree, a new pre- 
sentation of the same facts and conclusions, but besides 
containing much that is of especial vahie, not touched 
upon in that. The Secretary of the Ohio Board of Agri- 
culture adapts his work especially to the wants of the 
AVeslern farmer, while the Judge views his subject 
more from a more Eastern stand-point. Price, $1.50. 
Xlie American House Carpenter, by 
tl. G. Hatfield, is a new book upon our list. It treats of 
the principles of carpentry, and is calculated to supply a 
want which our correspondence indicates is felt by many 
of the readers of the A^ricnUurist. The work will be 
valued, we think, by every carpenter who makes a study 
of liis trade, as the mathematics of architecture are 
made simple ; and with the aid of tables and very 
numerous diagrams and illustrations, strength of materi- 
als, framing, drawing and shadows, practical geometry, 
and the principles of architecture are ably discussed. 
An appendix contains numerous convenient tables and a 
glossary. Sent by mail, post-paid, for 'the price, $3.50. 
Xnrner's Cotton BManter's Blannal. 
— In answer to inquiries for works on cotton giow ing, we 
wish we were able to recommend a better book than this. 
But as this is the only work, as far as we kno%v, on 
the subject, we keep it in piint to supply the demand. It 
is a compilation of ess.iys by different well known South- 
ern authors, and it contains much useful information, 
good, as it is, but would be more available were it more 
systematically arranged. Price $1.50, by mail. 
Boussinganlt's Rnral Economy. — 
This is not, as its title might imply, a handbook of direc- 
tions for the management of rural affairs, but a discus- 
sion of the [irinciples iiivolveil In agricultural operations. 
Its author is one of tiie first chemists France has produced, 
and this work embodies his views of chemisti y as applied 
to agriculture. It is a work which should find a place in 
the libraries of agricultural societies and clubs, as well 
as in private collections of the best works on agriculture. 
Cirapc Culture in Stenl>en Co. — Our 
notice of the essay by the Hon. Goldsmith Dcnniston. has 
called out so many inquiries for it, that we liave procured 
a number of copies, and can supply them at 40c, post- 
paid. It is a neat pamphlet of 24 pages, with maps of 
the famous grape localities, and illustrations of the 
methods ift prun'mg followed in one of the noted grape 
regions of the country. 
I'^arm Ifiool<»l£eei>in^. — There are a num- 
ber of rathei' expensive forms of farm account-books 
which are offered to farmers. All that we have seen 
contain some good ideas ; but to give a plain, straightfor- 
ward knowledge of business ways, and to lead the 
farmer into keeping accurate Debt and Credit accounts 
with himself, his farm, his animals, and those with whom 
he deals, we really know of no better guide than May- 
hetv's Practical Book-Kccping, with the accompanying 
Saviple Account Books. It is calculated for the use 
of schools, but needs no explanation. We would be glad 
to be instrumental In placing it in the hands of every 
farmer's boy in the land. Price of the volume, 90c. ; of 
the set of accoimt books, $1.20,— Sent post-paia. 
A 4]Soocl tStory. — "Luke Darrell, the Chica- 
go Newsboy, "advertised in our columns, is a live, wide 
awake story, which will lead boys to love truth, courage, 
and manliness. The young will be quite sure to read it, 
if it cnm»s within their reach. We can forward it post- 
paid on receipt of price, $1,50 
Krecls's i^e'W Itoolc of Flo'^vers. — 
Breck's Book of Flowers has long been a standaid work 
on floriculture. The author having for the most part re- 
written it, it is now called Ihe New Book of Foweis. It 
desciibes all the favorite annual, biennial, and perennial, 
plants of the garden, as well as the flowering shriibs. 
Its chlcT vame consists in its giving the experience of the 
author, who is well known as one of our most successful 
and devoted cultivators of flowers. Aside fiom its prac- 
tical directions, there is an amount of quaint gossip about 
plants, and personal reminiscences, that make it a very 
readable, as well as useful, book. Ready in April. $1.50. 
Fiel*!*** Pear Cnltnre. — Manuals upon 
specialties are lapidly taking the place of large volumes 
ufton general culture. This manual upon the pear com- 
mends itself to pear growers only, and its scope is 
modestly set forth in the author's own words : " Its de- 
sign is to answer in ,a clear and intelligible manner, the 
oft repealed questions of the novice : ' What kind of Pear 
Trees can I plant most profitably ?— and how shall I 
treat Ihem, to insure a return of the investment V " $1 25, 
CoTV Milker — To several inquiries we an- 
swer, that we have no evidence that any machine for 
milking cows has ever been tried and given satisfaction. 
The one advertised last month may be the best of them, 
but we have no evidence about this that will establish its 
claims to favor. Until satisfied of its real value, we can 
not give it the endorsement of further admission to our 
advertising columns. 
I>o;? and Moon.— Judge Oliu, of Vermont, 
being badgered at a dinner by a young sprig of the Law, 
made no reply. A friend asked why he did not squelch 
him. The Judge simply responded, that. "In his neighbor- 
hood, there used to be a little dog (hat would sit for hours 
and bark at the moon'"— and resumed his eating. " Well, 
Judge," resumed his friend presently, "what about the 
dog and moon ?" " Oh." said the Judge, " the moon kept 
on .'" We commend this incident to one or two captious 
cotemporaries, who cavi! at very small matters, and won- 
der why the Agriculturist does not stop to bandy words 
with them. Advertising, $2 a line. 
