4-20 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[Decrmber, 
they will ueed thereafter. A good hive shouUl last 
a life-time. If one inteutls to iucrease his bees, he 
should lint forget to provide suflicieut hives. Iia 
dccidiiij^ this, let him consider if flowers arc plenty 
yieldiu'.,' pollen duriiii^ the season ; if not, can they 
be supplied. If honey is his object (which also in- 
cludes an abundance of honey producing flowers), 
large boxes, without top or bottom, holding frames, 
called " supers," as well as boxes, will be neces- 
sary, though supers without boxes are often prefer- 
able. Xoii swarming hives have been patented to 
obtain large yields of surplus honey, (still the bees 
do frequently and repeatedly swarm) ; their greatest 
fault is, that you lose the reproductive force of the 
hive. By using supers, into which j-ou lift frames 
from belnw^, replacing them with empty one.'^, you 
avoid swarming and increase tlie working force. 
HORTICULTURAL ANNUAL for 1867. 
An Important Work. 
This Annual is rapiilly progressing, and will be ready 
before the opening of tlie New Year. Its plan will be 
different from any heretofore published in this country, 
and it will aim to be a 
Itecorcl of Hortieultural JPa'Ogress, 
for the year 1S66, free from matters not legitimately be- 
longing to Horticulture. 
The Blaterial is all I\eAV, 
and not a reproduction of oht articles that have served 
their turn elsewhere. The volume will be 
Ijibernlly Illcistrated, 
with engravings maile especially for the purpose. That 
a Ve;ir Book of Horticulture is needed, is shown by the 
readiness with which 
I>i*>ittug:uislied Morticulturi^^ts 
have contributed lo its page.*:. Among other contribu- 
tions from experienced cultivators, there will be 
Tlie Ax>i>les of 1S66, by Doct. John A. Warder, 
President <if the Oliio Slate Portiological Society, Author 
of American Pomology, etc. New Ohio Apples; New 
Iniiiana Varieties ; Southern Varieties fruited at the 
North, etc. Illustrated. 
New and Noteworthy Pears, by P. Barry, 
author of the Fruit Garden, etc., ^vin^ descriptions of 
new varieties as well as of the less known ones that 
nave been fully tested, Ilhistmted. 
Ne\r Bedding: and otiier Plants of 1866, 
by I'eter llemlerjon, Floiist, etc. An ancount of the 
iiev\er varieties of bedding and other flowering plants, and 
Iheir success and failure during the past year. Illustrated. 
The Karer Erersreens tliat have Proved 
Valuable, by Thomas Meehan, Edilor of the Garden- 
er's M(#thly and author of the American Hand-book of 
Ornamental Trees. 
New Ve»-etables of 1866, by Fearing Burr, Jr., 
author of American Field and Garden Vegetables ; giving 
the author's experience with newer culinary vegetables. 
Small Fruits in 186G, by Andrew S. Fuller, 
mirserym:in, author of the Grape Cullurist. Forest Tree 
Culturist, etc. A valuable summary of all the small fruits, 
excepting grapes. 
Home Dceorations, by A. Bridgeman, Florist. 
How to treat Ivy; Hanging Baskets, Rustic Stands, etc. 
Illustrated, 
New Roses of 1866, by John Saul, Florist, of 
Washington, D. C, and well known authority on Roses. 
The Cultivation of Horse-radish, by Peter 
Henderson, author of Gardening for Profit. Concise di- 
rections for growing this profitable crop. Illustrated. 
Grapes in 1866. From notes by Geo. W. Camp- 
bell, Delawiue, Ohio, and other Grape Growers. 
Propagatin-j: Grapes in the Open Air, by 
William Patrick, Terre Haute, Ind., giving a meth- 
od by which the Delaware and other difficult varie- 
ties may be grown— without artificial heat. 
Useful Seed Tables, by James Fleming, Seeds- 
man, New York, giving the amount of seed to the acre, 
to a given length of drill, etc. 
Other communications by well known authorities, be- 
sides a great amount of Editorial matter, including a 
Calendar for each month in the year, articles on Wine 
Grapes, Table Orn:unents. Hedges. Farm Nurseries, Tree 
Labels, New Putaloes, List of Engravings of New Fruits 
and Flowers published in I6GG. List of Works on Hor- 
ticulture for ISGtj. A Dictionary of Horticultural Terms, 
and a host of other matters of interest, both to the 
professional and amateur gardener.— Price 
Containbiff a ^reat varietu of Items, including many 
good Huits and Sus^g-FstTOTts li'hic/i wr throw nito smaller 
type and condensed form, for want of space elsewhere. 
Mavlc All Subscriptions sent in as JVw, or Ohl. 
For Marlcet Report, See PaRc 451. 
—The report of the Live Stock Markets show unpre- 
cedented large receipts of cattle, sheep, and hogs, with a 
consequent heavy decline in prices, thouch the selling 
rates are still far above former limes. Now, 15frttl6c. per 
lb. dressed weight for good cattle is considered very low ; 
it is not many years since 8fa)9c. wns considered very 
high, Other farm products are even above the war prices. 
Nniidry Rimiiies!^ Items, important this 
month, will be found on \he inserted extra sheet, pages 425 
and 42G. — The Title page, and Index to the volume are on 
a loose extra sheet, which should be preserved, as noted 
on page 425. These extra sheets each cost the price of 
quite a farm, on our enormous edition, at the present ex- 
horbiiant prices of printing paper ; but with the generous 
patronage extended by our readers and advertisers, we 
can afford to make these additions instead of curtailing 
the reading matter in the least. 
Inlc Recipe — CorrectioM. — Instencl of 
the directions on page 346 (Oct. No.) read, as corrected, 
Mr. Bidl : In one gallon rain water put 2 ounces of ea:- 
tract of logwood, and 'a ounce of bi-chiomate of potassa. 
Heat, and when dissolved, strain, and add }4 ounce of 
aqua ammonia. The articles are kept by most druggists, 
Xhe American A^riciiltiiirnil Anmtal 
will contain a brief review of the past year — notices of im- 
poitant events, inventions, publications, etc., affecting 
the agricultivral interests of the country, importations of 
stock, introduction of new crops, etc. ; contributed ar- 
ticles of an interesting and practical character, fully 
illustrated; practical hints in regard to work, and ma- 
chinery, besides convenient tables, and a full almanac. 
The publication of this will be a few days later than that 
of the Horticultural Annual. We can promise articles 
from ilistinguished contributors, varied and practical in 
character, and a store of valuable facts for reference. 
4JSar4leuins; ibr Profit, by Peter Hender- 
son. We hoped to be able lo announce in this issue that 
this book was ready, but the crowd of work in the en- 
graving room has delayed the illustration';. The work is 
otherwise nearly ready, and we shall doubtless be able to 
fill the numerous orders by or shortly before the new year. 
Steaming* Fodder.— Co:\rse fodder may be 
made to go a great way, with a little art. Cattle and 
horses refuse cornslalks. not because they are not good 
feed, but because they aji^ hard to chew, and they choose 
not to chew them. Cut up by a good strdk cutler that 
either cuts them in half-inch pieces, or slices them very 
diagonally, and soaked 24 hours, wet with hot water, 
meal and the hardest salt being added, will almost all be 
eaten. Still, steamiug- is belter, for it does not necessitate 
keejiing 24 hours' slock of prepared feed on hand all the 
time, '^e most convenient steaming apparatus is prob- 
ably a hogshead hung in trunnions, the steam being 
passed to the bottom through a rubber hose from a boiler 
With such an arrangement all kinds of fodder, straw, 
stalks, hay, roots, etc., may be cooked for cattle €ir swine, 
and the greatest possible economy in fodder attained. 
Smart-weed Tor Fodder.— A writer in 
the Nov. Gardener's Monthly has an article on the use of 
Smart-weed as fodder for horses. As Smart-weed is a 
very acrid plant, and will cause severe inflammations 
when applied to the skin, it struck us as rather strange 
horse food ; but on reading the article, we find the botani- 
cal name put down as Polygonum Persicaria. which is 
not Smart-weed at ail, but is Lady's-thumb, which a 
horse might be ung.a.llant enough to eat. Smart-weed is 
Polygonum Hydroptper. It is not often we catch our 
friend Meehan out in his botany, and this is really only a 
misapplication of common names, which ate quite apt to 
get mixed. We only picked him up for the sake of let- 
ting him down very gently, and congratulating him upon 
making so useful and excellent an horticultural journal, 
lis title indicates its real character as Gardener's Monthly. 
Xhe Common IVIilkin;^ Groat.— "T. 
M.," Alleghany Co., Pa., wishes information about the 
'' Common Goat. "How much milk will one give? Are 
they not good milk stock for those living near railroads T' 
Ans. : The quantity of milk varies greatly. There is 
a Maltese breed said to give 1 gallon per day ; 1 quart 
per day is, however, not unusual, and considered a good 
quantity. The goat is a very intelligent animal, and in 
little danger of harm from locomotives, boys, or dogs. 
The milk is held in Eastern countries to be better than 
cow's milk for those affected by miasmatic diseases (chills 
and fever, etc.), probably a mere notion. Goals are great 
nuisances, getting very familiar, and pushing themselves 
where they are not wanted, besides they will bai k any 
fruit and shade tree they can get at. 
Cotirs for a Small Oairy.— " G. W. A.." 
Morgantown. West Vn,. asks "What breed of cows is 
best for a srnall bnller dairy ?" Were we to stock a yard 
with dairy cows, they should be selected without refer- 
ence to breed from some good dairy region : if the object 
were butter especially, we wotild buy besides one or two 
good Alderney cows and an Alderney bull. 
SHieep for a ^inall Flock.— Our ques- 
tioner, '• G. W. A.," ask^ about sheep. We presume his 
wish is lo raise mutton for his own table, so without hesi- 
tation we recommend the South Down as the preferable 
breed. If, however, he wishes to raise mutton to sell, 
the Cotswolds, Leicesters, or some other large long wool 
sheep might be more profitable; depen-ling on Ihe market. 
MusqnasU SUiiis. — Decxlers inform us that 
prices paid last year, when there was an umisual foreign 
demand, form no criterion to judge of the prices this year, 
which will probably rule as low as 30 to 35 cents for 
prime skins, and perhaps less. — So the fashions vary. 
The SahUftatli School <|kiestEon 
BookS) entitled ^* Lessons for Every Sunday in the 
Year,'^ are being rapidly adopted by schools of all Chris- 
tian denominations Itiroughout the country They seem 
to exactly meet the wants of teachers, Judging from the 
fact that over half a million copies have already been 
called for. They are supplied at about cost, viz., $12 
per hundred, or $1.50 per dozen. If by mail. 4c. per 
copy extra, or 3c, each if in parcels of ten or more copies. 
Four sample copies (Nus. 1,5, 3 and 4.) will l)e sent post 
paid for 65 cent^. Superintendents and Teachers nre in- 
vited to examine these books. 
I^ong: Sithserigvtion I^etters are not 
necessary or desirablo. Here is a convenient short form 
Washington, Johnson Co., Iowa, Dec. I, 1866. 
Messrs. Orange Judd if Co.. New York City : 
Enr.lnspd are. Five Dollars for the Ajnerican Agricul- 
turist for four subscribers, to begin January 1st, 18G",7-'i2, 
John Doe. Washington. Johnson Co.. Iowa. 
Richard line, do. do, do. 
Peter Smith , Webster. do. do. 
S. J. Karly Freeport, Sioux Co.. Wis. (Oei'manK 
Yours, respectful 1 1/, John Doe. 
Seal tightly, and aiidress plainly to Orange Judd if Co,, 
41 Park Row, New York C(^(/.— Let all matters referring 
to the reading columns only, such as Infoimation given, 
notes, queries, etc., (which are always welcomed,) be on 
n separate piece of paper, marked "for Editors," each piece 
containing the date, name and residence of the writer. 
loiia and l^^raella Cvraite!^. — W. B. 
Waldo. Both these varieties grow from cuttings in the 
open ground, but the wood is as yet too valuable to 
use in this way. 
Xrade Sale of Grape Vines.— The 
periment of a regular Trade Sale of Grape Vines, at auc- 
tion, commenced by Parsons & Co., last year, is to be 
continued this season, as will be seen by their advertise 
ment. There are many advantages in this methotl of sup- 
plying the wants of dealers, which should lead them to 
encourage the permanence of this arrangement. 
Xhe Bitclceye ItIo"wer. — This implement 
was selected and placed in our Premium ist last year, 
and again this year, before vre had the least inkling of the 
probable decision at the great Auburn trial. We are, of 
course, highly gratified, on lindingthe propriety of our se- 
lection confirmed by the result of that trial, which was 
far more thorough and exhaustive than anything of the 
kind previously undertaken in this countrv. The award 
was announced in the October Agrimlturist.-p-Age 3iG. 
Farmers will, of course, work all the harder now to se- 
cure this premium. Several obtained it last year, and 
many more can do so this year.— By the way. our atten- 
