1863." 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
Keeping: J* utter. —George W. Pomeroy, 
Montgomery Co., Ph., says lie tried the recipe of D. E. 
Smith, given by a subscriber in the Agriculturist on page 
13S of last volume (May No.) and injured his butter there- 
by. The recipe says : "Work Mayor June butter two 
or three times, adding at last working one grain saltpeter 
and a teaspoonful loaf sugar to each pound of butter. 
Pack in stone jars to within two inches of top, and fill 
with strong brine, cover tightly and bury in a cellar bot- 
tom." Has any one else tried it? 
Steamed Carrots For Cows. — M. S. 
Wickersham, Philadelphia, Pa., writes to the American 
Agriculturist, that his cow has improved in yield of milk 
since commencing to feed steamed in place of raw Car- 
rots. We believe cooked roots to be best for feeding ; 
the question not yet fully decided is, whether the cost and 
Additional labor will be repaid by increased thrift of the 
animal. 
Sawdust in Stables. — Rhode Island will 
find by referring to volume 18, page 357 (lb59) of the Ag- 
riculturist, that his suggestion is not a new one. We are 
glad to receive his testimony, that it makes a clean and 
comfortable bed and greatly increases the value of the 
manure by absorbing the liquids. 
."\o Use for Manure. — J. H. Hayes, Car- 
roll Co., Ind., writes to the American Agriculturist, that 
Its teachings on the general use of manures are valueless 
in that region, because the land is already rich enough to 
yield 80 bushels of corn and 25 to 40 bushels of wheat per 
acre. Just so it was once on thousands of acres in Vir- 
ginia, where now the land will scarcely bear the shadow 
of grain. Manure is needed at the West, to keep the land 
good. Jt is true that not so much will be required, as 
whereby neglect of manuring the soil has become ster- 
ile ; but sooner or later all land not fed will grow lean, 
and so will its owners' pockets. 
Flowing- Swamp Land.— H. G. Cbani- 
berlin. Land covered with muck, like yours, will not be 
benefited by flowing, unless it is planted with cranber- 
ries. It would injure the tame grasses of mowing lands 
to allow water to stand on them for a few days even. 
Cranberry lands may profitably be covered with 6 inches 
of water from the middle of Nov. to the middle of April. 
Sorghum Seed. — Wm. Fulke complains, as 
do many others, of the difficulty of procuring good seed. 
Sorghum and its allies are merely sweet varieties of the 
common Broom Corn, just as Sweet Corn is a variety of 
Indian Corn, and, like that, is liable to lose its peculiarity 
or " run out." Experiments are needed to determine the 
mode of cultivation which shall perpetuate or even im- 
prove the variety. Here is a useful and profitable field 
for some one, for we cannot afford to import our seed 
each year. Who will try? 
American Jiite.— This name has been given 
to a fibre prepared by a process patented by W. S. Can- 
telo, from the Hibiscus Moscheulos, or Swamp Rose Mal- 
low. The plant grows native on our salt marshes or river 
banks near the coast, and around salt springs. It throws 
up numerous stout stems 4 or 5 feet high, which bear 
large rose-colored flowers, much like those of a single 
Holy hoc k. It belongs to the Mallow family, the plants 
of which are remarkable for their tough bark, The Cot- 
ton plant belongs to the same family. It is claimed that 
three and a half tons of fibre, fit for manufacturing pa- 
per, and worth $100 per ton, can be raised from an acre. 
Should this statement be only partially true, much land 
that is now unprofitable could be devoted to its culture. 
Materials for Making; Paper. — The 
scarcity of Paper stock has led to experiments upon va- 
rious vegetable fibers, some of which we have noticed in 
other items. The fiber of the wood of the Linden, 
or common Basswood, has been for some time success- 
fully used. A patent has recently been obtained for mak- 
ing Paper from corn husks. The common Life Bverlast* 
ingiGnaphatium polycephalum) has been converted into 
talei able Paper, and we notice that in England the com- 
mon "Eel-grass," (Zostera marina) is proposed as a ma- 
terial for the same purpose. This latter is found abun- 
dantly along the coast, and is often incorrectly called 
Seaweed, the latter being an entirely different plant. It 
is used to some extent to fill matrasses, cushions, etc. 
A Troublesome Weed.— W. M. B., Tip 
pecanoe Co., Ind., should have sent a specimen of tiie 
plant which causes so much trouble. It cannot be the 
common Wild Morning Glory, which grows in low, 
moist ground, and which we never have seen disposed to 
encroach upon cultivated land. Perhaps the plant is the 
European Bind Weeil, having a perennial, creeping root 
by which it spreads rapidly. It is a mistake to suppose 
that particular weeds can be killed by some specific ap- 
plication, as that which will destroy weeds will also 
kill useful plants. Like other evils, prevention is easier 
than cure. The most obstinate weeds are easily erad- 
icated when young, but when they once get possession 
of the soil, the task becomes very difficult. 
The Cultivation of Peppermint. — 
"A Subscriber," Butler Co., Iowa, thinks Peppermint 
might be cultivated with profit, if there were a regular and 
steady demand for the oil. The plant has been profitably 
cultivated in St. Joseph Co., Michigan, which has during 
the last ten years produced the largest portion of the Oil 
of Peppermint used in the world. Not only our own 
country, but Europe has been largely supplied from this 
quarter. The product varies greatly in different seasons, 
and the price fluctuates accordingly. The amount of Oil 
produced per acre ranges from 1 to 20 pounds, and the 
price from $1.25 to $4.00 per pound. 
A detailed account of its culture may be found in the 
proceedings of the American Pharmaceutical Association 
for 1858. 
California Milkweed. — T. J. D. sends 
us from Sacramento the potls of a species of Milkweed, 
[Asclepias) suggesting that it may be useful to paper- 
makers. In the absence of leaves, we are unable to iden- 
tify the species, but the pod much resembles that of the 
common mitkweed, Asclepias incarnata. The hairs or 
down upon the seeds of the various species of Milkweed 
are among the articles which have been proposed as a 
substitute for the ordinary kinds of paper stock. We 
are not aware that any experiments have been tried with 
it, but doubt whether it has sufficient strength of fiber. 
CnD««-erl"oof — TTo Several Inquirers : 
— Ginger is a lender plant and will not stand our winters, 
though it may be grown in the open ground, by taking it 
into the Green-House during Winter, and giving it plenty 
of water. 
" I^ive tor Ever." — Scdum Tclrphium. — This 
plant, known also as Orpine and Aaron's Rod, is reported 
by a subscriber in Connecticut, to become a troublesome 
weed in some localities. If any of our readers have had 
any experience in exterminating it we shall be glad to 
hear from them. 
Propagating from Diseased Trees. 
— F. G. W ilson, New London Co., Conn. Experienced 
nurserymen object to propagating by grafting with cions 
from diseased trees. 
Trees vs. Flowers. — It must be acknowl- 
edged that tree-planting has this superiority over the 
making of flower gardens, that the former is designed 
chiefly for the benefit of a succeeding generation, while 
the latter is for our immediate personal gratification. 
• Euonymim. — How to Propagate. — 
From Fulsom, Rockingham Co., N. H. The Enonymus 
atropurpureus, called the Burning Bush, and at the West 
the Wahoo, is one of the finest of our native shrubs, being 
very brilliant in autumn, when covered with its scarlet 
fruit. It is raised both from seeds (to be had of seedsmen), 
and by cuttings or layers. Plants of this as well as of the 
European varieties can be had of nurserymen at 25 to 50 
cents each. 
To Enjoy Your Garden. — Keep within 
your means : both in respect to the size of it, and the la- 
bor, time and cost of keeping it in good order. There is 
a great deal of enjoyment in snugness. 
A. Fragrant Fancy.- — A highfaJutin cor- 
respondent of a certain paper, writing from his garden- 
bower, says: "The Chionanthus fragrans has been, for 
the last six weeks, covered with expanded blossoms in 
our shrubbery border. It hlooms best as a standard bush. 
The fragrance not only perfumes the garden, but all the 
neighborhood ; and in the direction of the wind, ( a gen- 
tleman informed me,) it may besme.lt half a mile off I At 
certain seasons, when this and a few other plants are in 
flower, a stranger may literally smell his way to my gar- 
den '." Whew ! 
To IHalce a Garden Roller.— 11 Mary," 
Vergennes, Vt. A pretty good home-made roller can be 
constructed as follows : Take a straight log from the 
forest, say 2 feet through, and IX to 2 feet long, the ends 
sawed off square ; remove the bark, and fasten into a 
frame by means of iron pins in the center of each end. 
This will answer for the lawn or gravel walk. They are 
sometimes made by nailing narrow planks upon circular 
end pieces, the edges rounded off to make a smooth cir- 
cular surface, and a box of stones or other weight fitted 
on top. If of pine or other light wood, the roller can be 
made larger in diameter, so as to roll more easily without 
being too heavy for hand use. 
Double Crocus.- In reply to the queries 
of " Hordeola," and our own comments in the November 
No., T. J. James, M. D., of Rochester, sends to Hordeo- 
la, through us, a neat box containing flowers of the double 
Autumnal crocus. We understood Hordeola asreferring 
especially to the Spring crocus, but the Autumnal is very 
beautiful and rare. 
Case-Knife and Lima Iteans.— Wm. 
R. Davey, Mass., asks whether the Case-Knife Beans 
can be improved by planting the large Lima among them. 
Most of the ordinary Beans are varieties of the same spe- 
cies, and will cross and mix freely, while the Lima is a 
distinct species, and will not do so. As the large Lima 
does not succeed in his locality, we recommend him to 
try the small Lima; by starting them in a frame upon 
pieces of sod, and not planting out until settled warm 
wealher, they have succeeded in a much colder locality 
than Massachusetts. 
Chili Potatoes.— Large Yield.— Geo. 
Nichols, of Madison Co., N. Y., writes that he obtained 
from 4 " Chili Potatoes" a yield of 42 lbs', probably re- 
fers to the "Garnet Chili." They were cut inlo pieces 
with two eyes each, and planted w ithout any unusual pre- 
paration of the soil. We have had two years' experience 
with this very productive variety, but found it always 
hollow in the centre. Have others found similar trouble ? 
Rig* Bassano Iteet. — Isaac Beemer, of 
Litchfield, N. J., reports fine success with this variety of 
Beet from seeds received from the office of the Agricul- 
turist. One of his specimens measured 26 inches in cir- 
cumference, and asksif any one can beat that Beet. He 
recommends planting in a seed-bed, and transplanting, 
and thinks it is not generally known that Be ets may be as 
readily transplanted as cabbage. 
Topping- or Facing.—" C. C," of James- 
burg, N. J., says we must not spare the " little sins," us 
some are inclined to call the deception used in " topping " 
or "facing," apples, potatoes, etc. He regrets that the 
practice has become so common, that words are even 
coined to express it, and thinks that the corruption in 
government even may be traced back to such beginnings. 
We recently saw a striking instance. A very poor lame 
man had managed to get togther money enough to buy a 
basket of apples to peddle. He took the basket from a 
barge at the wharf, brought it upon his back with much 
exertion for him, and sat down near our door to com- 
mence business. The first two layers were fine fair ap- 
ples, but all below them were hard, gnarly specimens that 
a pig would squeal over. Instead of making a profit, the 
poor man lost half of all the money he had in the world. 
That was at least one degree below stealing. 
Parasites. — Those plants which live upon 
the juices of other plants, are of two kinds: Those 
which take the crude or ascending sap, and those which 
live upon the elaborated or descending sap. The former 
receive the crude sap and elaborate it in their own 
green leaves, and can, like the Misletoe, live upon widely 
different plants, while the others, living on material al- 
ready prepared for them, are without green foliage, and, 
like the Beech Drops, are always found on the same or 
closely related species. 
Sweet Potatoes for Co flee.— E. Still- 
well, of Monmouth Co., N. J., sends us a sample of 
Sweet Potatoes prepared for Coffee according to the fol- 
lowing directions: "Wash the potatoes clean, cut into 
thin slices, dry in the sun or an oven, and then roast the 
same as coffee. For 12 persons, take % cup of ground 
coffee, and Z A cup of roasted potatoes not ground but left 
in slices, and add water in the usual manner." We tried 
the sample'as directed, and find it of fair quality, but 
having a little more coffee taste than the mixture of rye and 
coffee more common in the market. The potatoes may 
have'been roasted a little too much in this instance. Po- 
tatoes too small for ordinary cooking can be used thus. 
Extract of Flcsli, or Solidified* Beef 
Tea. — This articie is recommended not only for use in 
hospitals, but as a concentrated and readily portable food 
for soldiers. It is prepared by chopping beef, free from 
fat and bones, as if for sausage meat, and mixing it with 
its own weight of cold water. It is then slowly heated to 
