1S66.] 
AMERICAN AG-HICULTURIST. 
129 
WBie:&t from CaliforBiiM.— A corres- 
pondent of liie American Aj,n-icuUuri.':t, James Cuss of 
Lagoon V:iliey. California, sends us a sample of vvlie;it 
wliicli he has raised for eiglit years, an. I \\ishes us to lell 
hira iis true name. He discovered a few heads of it 
growins in one of liis fields, and caiefuily saved the seed. 
On cuitivalioii, it proved to be much affecicd with smut, 
but with hiin, as witli us, blue vitriol (sulphate of ci»pper) 
proved ii perfect preventive. He has raised as much 
as eighty buslieis per acre. Sliaw tall and stiff; 
berry long, not very ptump, thin skin, and uncommonly 
white and handsome. Has obtained 42 lbs. of excellent 
flour from a bushel of wheal. We do not' know the 
variety. If he wdl send us lliree or four lbs. by mail in 
time for sowiniE; the corning fall, we will give it a trial, 
and can th?n tell something about it. The postage is 
only eight cents a pound. 
Drilled WHcat vs. flfiroatlcast.— '* J. 
C." tried the experiment of drilling in his seed wheat, vs. 
Bowing broailcast. At first, the drilled wheat looked 
much the best, but at harvest the broadcast came out far 
ahead. This is sometimes the case, but in four case^ out 
of five, drilling is ilie ht-tier practice. It saves seed, de- 
posits it more evenly, and at uniform depth, and in a dry 
autumn yiui can put the seed down into the moist eaith, 
whereas if sown broadcast, much of it will remain in the 
dry surface soil, and will not germinate until it rains. 
Hoe tlie Wlaeat. — To admit of which it 
must be chilled. VVc ought to have a machine to l\o 
this, but until we have, we should hoe the weediest 
portions by liand. It 'vill pay in many cases. It is 
not so MMich work as many imagine. Try an acre 
this spring, as early as the ground is dry enough to work 
well, but not before. Many farmers spend more time in 
pul.ing up red-ront when it is in flower, and after it has 
robbed the wheat of much nutriment, than woultl suffice 
to hoc over llie wh»de surface in the spring. In many 
cases a li:;lit harrow wdl destroy ihe weeds among the 
wheat, and at all events '.vill stir liie soil and favor the 
growth of tli« crop. One need not be afraid of the har- 
row, even if a heavy one, injuring the wlieat, if the 
ground is dry. It may pull up a plant here and there, 
and to a casual observer the wheat will appear badly cut 
up, but it stjon revives. 
SSroom Com. — Considerable interest is 
manifested in regard to this crop by numerous correspon- 
dents. We propose to give it more attention in the May 
rnmber, and now only say, that it docs well on swards 
turned over last fall, and on grass land broken up in the 
spring, if the tt)il i< rich, and ihe furrows fiat, and it can 
be manured in the iiill. It thrives on any good corn 
land, but pines on wet soil, or on heavy clays. 
Vctclies on Tares. — D. F. Spauldlu^, Iowa. 
The " Vikker," as you write it, which the Germans and 
Scani!inaviat)s in your neighborhood tallt at»out, is the 
Vetch. ^Wirke in the German laneuage. Yicker in 
Swedish. The plant has been cultivated to some extent 
in this country, but without marked success. It is of a 
nature, agriculturally, between peas and clover, an an- 
nual crop, good for hay, deliiihting in deco clayey loams 
in good tilth. Tliere are Doih spring and autumn va- 
rieties, and they ought to have a gootl trial in this coun- 
try. It does not thrive in very dry localities, nor on sandy 
soils. Tiie seed may probably be got of our seed import- 
ers, or they will get some out for you for next autumn's 
or spring's sowing, if you wish. 
About Fine Rone I>ust. — A Caution. 
To several recent inquiries, we answer: Bones are im- 
doubtedly a veiv valuable fertilizer. For unit trees and 
Tine-, the whole bones, or those coarsely broken, de- 
compose slowly auLl afforil noiiri:^iuiienl as needed, over 
a lonj; serie? of years. A little fine bi^ne dust added, is 
well, to produce immediate effects, while the larger 
pieces are getting into a slate of decomoosition. For 
immediate effect upon crons, tiie finer the bcnies are 
powdered the better. Tiic fine bone dust wliich has been 
long in use. is laigely decomposed :ind used diiring the 
growth of any ciop. The claim that bones ground to 
flour, are worth twice as much as tlie fine ground bones, 
is ha.div tenabie. Suppose we invest one sum in onr ton 
of flour of Ixmes, and as much more in 'wo tons of the 
simrjly fine ground bones. In the former^ we get most 
of the effect immediately ; in the latter, we get the 
early benefit of say a ton of the finest portitms, and 
siili have left a ton of the coarser portion for furtlier 
future effect in the soil. Some two years ago we 
examined a .sample of fine gn>und bones, sold in the 
market, and fmnd a large per cenrage of plaster so 
intimatelv mixed as not lo be recogrjized without careful 
inspectiim. We caution onr readers to be on the loidt- 
out for sucii frauds on tlic part of manufacturers, and 
espMially of unscrupuleus sellers, who can easily adul- 
terate the 01 iijinaily pure article. The finer the bone, 
the greater tiie chanee for detieption. The fraud can 
Usiiailv be detected with astroiig magnifying glass. l)y the 
foi in of the fine paiticles. By stirring a quaniity of it in 
water, the heavier plaster will settle first to the bottom, 
where it can be easily seen. Piaster is easily delected by 
burning a little of the material, dissolving the ashes in 
a pure hydro-ehloric (murinlicl aidd. and adding a solu- 
tion of nitrate of bai yla. A heavy prei ipitate of sulphale 
of Ijaryta, in the foim of a while powder, (or sediment,) 
which Is insoluble either in ai-iils or in much water, 
would show the presence of plaster (sulphate of lime) in 
the bone powder. 
Xestin;:: Soil fov Inline. — A gentleman 
describes to us a process, by wliicii lie proposes to test a 
soil for lime, lo see whettier it would be iieuefiie 1 or not 
by tlie application. For Ids information we would state, 
that the soil might be half lime-Blone, and one would not 
discover it by his test. The point we would make, how- 
ever, is, that a little knowledge is a dangerous thins, and 
any chernieal test, wldch a fa mei", who is not a chendst, 
might apply, would be likely to mislead. Be-^iiies, the 
soils most benefited by lime, often have an abundance 
of lime in tiiem for tlie use of plants, as great benefit fie- 
quently comes from the action of the lime in its fi eshly 
slacked state, in promoting decompositions and solutions 
of plant food in the soil, and in its changing more or less 
the mechanical character of the soil. 
Sor^ltuni Sug^ar. — The culture of Sor- 
ghum is making advances now-a days, and there isreaiiy 
some prospect, tiiat a maiketable at tide of brown sugar 
will be piuduced. It seems from statements brought mit 
by the comparison of views and piaciice at the recent 
Sorghum Conventions, that the early cut, even unripe 
canes, yield the most cane sugar with great uniformity. 
Improvements in evapoiating and in drying the sugar are 
introduced or susgested also, of which we shall endeavor 
to keep our readers informed. 
T^et tlic Horses Rest Occasionally. 
— We know a physician, in large practice, who is fre- 
quently compelled to drive his horses hard. He formerly 
drove the two together, and used them up in a few years. 
He now drives them singly, and as far as possible on 
alternate days. They are now, thuiich working harder, 
invariably healthy and strong. He attributes this lo the 
fact that if a hard drive strains any of the muscles, they 
have time to regain their tone Ihe next day. Were the 
horses driven every day, a slight sprain would produce a 
little stiffness ; the parts would rub ngalust each other ; 
inflammaiion would set in, and the horse be lame — per- 
haps incurably so. Farm horses are not so liable lo in- 
jury in tliis respect, as those driven fast over haril roads. 
B;it a day's rest occa>;ionally will help them materially. 
At all eveitis do not work lliem Sundays. Or if any are 
driven far lo church, or for any pressing etnergency, make 
it a rule and adhere to it scrupulously, lo let such horses 
rest Saturdays, or Mondays. Man and beast must rest 
one day in seven, or pay the penalty, Better work 
harder and rest longer. 
Every One slioul<l ** Insnre Iiis 
Life."— Theie is an unwarrantable prejudice on the 
part oT some persons in respect to Life Insurance. The 
practical opeiation of all good companies amounts to 
this : A thousand or ten thousand perstms, more or less — 
the more ihe lietter — unite together, and say tliat, as all 
our lives aie uncertain, we will each contribute annually 
a small sum to a general fund, to be drawn upon by the 
family of the first one taken away by death, then by the 
next, and so on— in proportion to what each has sub- 
scribed. The small sums thus gathered, form a large 
fund which is constantly increased by being placed 
secuiely on interest. By long extended cbsei vation, it is 
known to a certainty what will be the average length of 
life of the whole company, and how much must be an- 
nually contributed to secure $1,000, more or less, to every 
one of the company, at tlie time of his death. A very 
small additional sum furnishes funds to pay a few officers 
or managers, and to have a little surplus against emer- 
gencies. So sale are the calculations, and so well ha\e 
such companies been always managed, that they have 
been tlie most substantial of all joint companies formed 
in this or any other coimtiy. — We esteem it Ihe diHy of 
every map having a finiily, or creditors, likely lobe affect- 
ed pecuniarily bv Ids death, to have at least a small sum 
of ready money sure to come to them at ids decease. He 
may be indepen lent to-day, but riclies often take to them- 
selves wings and fly away. Every month's observation 
shows that the best estaidisiied properties may l)ecome 
involved, if not by the want of judicious care cm the part 
of the proprietor, at least ihrough the rascality of othcs. 
A millionaire of our arqaaintance went to bed la t night 
assured of a million and a half dollars, in good U, S. 
seeuritles, in hU strong safe box. To-day we learn that 
the thiePs han<l has spirited ihem all uway. Tlie 
fanner has his land nearly paid tor. He tlics, jind Ihe 
confusion of his affairs, or the want of good maniiijcmeiit 
oil the part of his family, or surce.esors. may involvu fhe 
htss of Ihe vxhole ; while a few liun-lrcd, tn- a fi-w thous- 
and dollars of ready money at his death, may save a 
homestead for Ihem, free from incumbrahce. And >o of 
every other calling. That a man U strong, and belongs 
to a lonydived family, gives him no certain teiiuie nf life. 
The weak or sickly are likely to lake most caic of them- 
selves, and thus prohmg life We aUvavs think of Iho 
operations of death, as llio^e of an enemy who stands at 
a distance, and sliiiots a poisoned arrow at randoin into a 
large crowd. It is as likely to strike llie young us the 
old. the strong as the weak. It is well therefore forevery 
one lo be always ready for the f ital shaft, both as respecls 
this world and the next. — —We believe a life Policy 
renl.'ij fmds to " in.iure "' and prolong life. Thus : A man 
is .sick, and the anxiety of nuiid, as t.> how he will leave 
his family, aggravates his disease. and of'en ilm-s shorten 
a life, which would have been saved could the man have 
resteil easy in the feeling that hi3 insurance policy 
would place his w(M-idly affairs it a safe position in the 
event of his death. So, we s;iy, let every man devote a 
small sum annually to securing a couveni'-nt safe guard 
to his f.imily or others, in the event of Ids riealh. — We 
wriie as we have long practiced, a'ul not in the Interest 
of any company. (We chance to he insured in ihr»-e 
different ones.) Seve;al goo i compaides arc from time 
lo lime admitted to our advertising columns. Send for 
Iheir circulars and statemeuls. which are fu;ni>hi'd fiee, 
and give full particular-, and then rhoo'C the (ure most 
in accordance with ymir views. They are all of tln-m, 
safe, and differ but Utile in the ends lo l»e secured. Tlie 
larger the comoany, Ihe less is the perceniai;e for ex- 
penses, and llie less their liability lo fluctuations iu their 
operations; and the chanee loss of a large amount by 
pestilence or otherwise, w ill tell less upon the aggregate. 
XBtc Deatli of Georg^e :?!. BSeeler. — 
Just as we are closing up litis paper the sad news comes 
to us of the death of the Seereiavy of the Indiana Horli- 
cultural Snrietj', Mr. George i\!. Beeier. Though only 
in his 25lh year, Mr. B. was well known, not onlv in his 
own State, as a nurserym.m and orclia'di>l. but lo the 
pomolopists of the routitry f u* his devotion lo iheir pur- 
suits A friend who knew him well, writes : "Modest and 
unassumincr. but. fmm his meiils. put forward promi- 
nctiily among his fel'ows, — Secretary of the Stale and 
County Ilottieullural Societies since their otg-nizatif n, 
and always devoted to their interests,— liiera!, and 
anxiously seeking information every w here, he aitended 
other societies, both East and We*t, and thus hi-eame 
widely known an Dng horticulturists, by whom he was 
everywhere considered ihe rising man. Young as he 
was, his opinions upon all pra(dical points were hiyh'y 
valued. lie died as he had lived— at peace with ail, and 
with an abiding Christian hope and confidence." 
Osag:e Oranjsfe See<l. — Now that this 
long wanted seed is again offered for sale, we have qnes- 
tititis as to how lo spiout it. and if il i< to be planted in 
place, \\ lieie the hedge is to stand It shoitld be fiozen 
before sowing; but as il is now too laie to do thai, the 
seed miHt be soaked. Pour scalding water, as hot 
as the hand can bear, over the seed, and let the whole 
stainl in a warm idace. repeating Ihe operation everyday 
for five days. Then drain off the water, and keep the 
seeds covered in a shallow vessel in a warm room until 
Ihev begin to sprout, when they may be sown. As the 
plants are liable to be thrown out by the first winter's 
frosts, it is necessary to raise the jilanls in a nursery. 
Rich land in fine tilth is marke I out with drdls. ai'out 
two feel apart, or wide enough to work with ihe euliiva- 
lor ; sow the seed thinly, about an inch apart, and cover 
two inehes deep. Keep carefully cultivated Ihe wh"i|t! 
season. Warder's Hidges ami Everpreens-see Book 
List— gives tlie various methods of forming hedges. 
Honey liocust See«l. — We know that this 
plant, properly cut back, will make a good hedge. It Is 
objecled to it that it is naturally a hee. and cannot be 
cramped into a hedge plant. So is the 0:iage Orange, 
and so is the Hawthorn. It is useless to look nn- a plant 
that will make a hedpe of itself. Even the Beech may 
be grown as a hedge-. if properly clipped. The seed of 
Honey Locust will often grow without preparation, bait 
as seed is bought at the stores it is safest to scald it 
before sowing. It is best sown in nursery drills, when 
the soil is warm— about the lime for planting corn. 
Sjaurel Poisoning- Ae^^ain. — " C," Rich- 
piond, R. I., gives to a lamb five to ten teas.DOonruls, and 
lo a full-grown sheen two to four ounc/-s of salts, [ep'-om. 
we suppose.] dii^solved in new milk. If the p nn does 
not appear to subside In a reasonable time, he repeats it. 
He thinks if Ihe poison is not thrown 'tff from Iha 
stomach It must be rcmovcU by moving the bowels. 
