1863.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
37 
American Short-horn Herd Book, 
Vol. VI.— Owing to the disturbed condition of the 
country, the Vlh Volume of this standard work was not 
called for so extensively as expected, and the compiler 
had concluded to suspend the preparation of Volume VI, 
for the present. He writes, however, that numerous ap- 
plications to have the work go on, have been received 
from the more spirited Short-horn Breeders, and that if a 
sufficient number of pedigrees are offered, and a corre- 
sponding number of books subscribed for, to warrant the 
undertaking, the Sixth Volume will be issued as soon as 
the pedigrees can be received and compiled. We hope 
this will be done ; it would be a pity to suspend the reg- 
ular biennial issue. The temporary depression in the 
value of this noble race of cattle will not long continue, 
and the purity of their breeds, and the perpetuation of 
their lineage should be carefully guarded. Every Short- 
horn breeder is interested in keeping the blood and line- 
age of his herd on an indisputable record. The form and 
terms of application will be the same as hitherto", and we 
hope every one interested in the matter, will speedily 
communicate with the Editor of the work, Hon. Lewis 
F. Allen, Black Rock, Erie County, N. Y. 
Mangers Dangerous to E&orses. — 
" S. E. G.," Norwich, Conn., writes that the manger for 
ahorse should be boarded down to the floor, to prevent 
the possibility of injury to the animal by getting his head 
underneath it. The lack of such a precaution cost him 
the eye of a valuable horse, and three of his neighbors 
had their horses' heads caught fast under the manger. 
Xo Prevent Over-reaching.— S. Ed- 
wards Todd, in tiie Boston Cultivator, after having tried 
the plan successfully, recommends to hold up the head of 
over-reaching horses with a check rein. This he says 
throws the center of gravity of the animal further back, 
gives more work for the hind legs to do, hence they are 
not thrown forward against the heels of the front shoes. 
Many I*5gs. — A correspondent writes that 
I. J. Halsted, Douglass Co., III., owns a sow that brought 
forth 19 pigs on the 18th of December last. He asks 
" Who can beat it ?" The same mail brings a letter from 
Wm. B, Lord, Kendall Co., III., saying that he knew a 
sow in Windham, Conn., which had three litters between 
April 4th 1848, and March 1st 1849, numbering 17, 23, and 
27! — 67 pigs in 11 months!!! That's the biggest record 
yei; ; to beat it, some one will have to invent a story. 
Pumpkin Seeds Medicinal.— u J. L. 
R.," Jefferson Co., N. Y., inquires why Pumpkin Seeds 
are more injurious to cattle than sorghum, green clover, 
etc., which also increase the amount of urine. For the 
reason that the seeds contain a medicinal principle which 
stimulates the kidneys, thereby causing an unnatural se- 
cretion of.urine from the blood. They are often used as 
a diuretic in domestic practice. Succulent plants, as 
sorghum, etc., probably cause increased flow of urine, 
because of the large amount of water they contain. 
Poultry Wanted.— We have frequent in- 
quiries for fowls of different breeds, from those wishing to 
purchase, which we are often unable to answer, for want 
of time or of information as to where they can be procured. 
Those engaged in raising them for sale should advertise. 
I>rills Better than Hills.— T. J. Hol- 
lingsworth, Armstrong Co., Pa., writes: Last Spring I 
plowed nearly 2 acres of sod. part of which was mostly 
sorrel. I marked out the rows about 3 feet apart. As an 
experiment, we planted 8 rows in drills, the grains one 
foot apart. We also had 8 rows on each side planted in 
hills 3 feet apart and 3 grains in a hill. All received the 
same cultivation. At husking the 8 rows planted in drills 
turned out 10)4 bushels of corn, the other 16 rows— 8 on 
each side, turned out 8 and 9 bushels respectively. 
fl.oam for Composting,***" R. G." If 
dried peat or muck is not at hand, use virgin loam, as dry 
as possible, to mix with your putrescent manures. For 
a worn out soil, this simple loam is worth carting a long 
distance. Spread this alone upon a rod square of poor 
pasture land in the Spring, and its effects will be visible 
all Summer — It is doubtful whether night-soil disinfect- 
ed by sulphuric acid or sulphate of iron, etc., will pro- 
duce as good and reliable a manure, as when mixed half 
and half with maiden earth. 
Manure tor Ija.wns.-L. D. Peters, Cha- 
tauqua Co., N. Y. The constant mowing of the grass 
upon lawns makes it necessary to replenish it with ma- 
nure. Yet neanly ail manures bring in foul weeds and 
coarse grasses. To meet this difficulty, some gardeners 
use soot, scattering it broadcast and very thinly, in the 
Spring. It is a powerful agent and should be used cau- 
tiously. Worms can not abide it. Charcoal dust may also 
be used to great advantage, and with more safety. This 
and ashes should be applied in the Fall, so that the snow 
and rain may wash down the gritty particles below the 
reach of the scythe. 
Northern EJ ice. — We have had several in- 
quiries for rice which can be grown at the north. A 
species which grows in India upon drylands and upon 
the sides of mountains has been successfully cultivated 
in some parts of Europe. We do not know that it has 
yet been introduced into this country. It is a subject 
which might well receive the attention of the Department 
of Agriculture at Washington. The " Minnesota Rice " 
is a native plant which is not confined to Minnesota, but 
grows along the margins of rivers and in flooded locali- 
ties, all over the country. It is known as " Wild Rice " 
(Zizania aquatica), is a favorite food of birds and of 
the northern Indians, wiio collect it in large quantities. 
Chichory.— C. Allison, Jackson Co., O. The 
seeds of Chickory, or wild endives as it is sometimes 
called, are to be had at the seed stores. It is cultivated 
in deeply worked soil in rows 12 or 15 inches apart, and 
thinned to 8 inches in the row. The plant being a bien- 
nial, enough roots should be left in the ground to produce 
seed the second year. When allowed to escape from 
cultivation it proves a troublesome weed. 
Qnach Grass. — A. T. Nortbup, Otsego Co., 
N. Y. The plant known by this name, in this country, 
has a head somewhat like wheat, sometimes with a short 
beard, and at others beardless. It is sketched in Flint's 
Grasses and Forage Plants, which figures and describes 
many useful or troublesome grasses. See our book list. 
Cotton from Illinois. — Rev. J. A. Bent, 
of Washington Co., III., sends as a sample of his crop, 
10 lbs, of unginned cotton. He has had encouraging suc- 
cess, and thinks that in his latitude the cultivation will 
pay. when ginned cotton will bring 20 cents per lb. The 
staple of the sample is rather short, but an abundance of 
this quality would find a ready market. 
Sorghum Syrnp. — Very fine samples of 
clear, thick, honey -like syrup are on our exhibition ta- 
bles, manufactured from cane grown by John Fleming, 
Hunterdon Co., N. J. 
diseased Pear Trees. — F. "Walter, Jay 
Co., Ind. Your tree appears to be troubled by the leaf 
blight, which is not regarded as a permanent disease, but 
caused by some peculiarity of season. It usually occurs 
after a long warm rain followed by hot sunshine. 
Pears— Soldat lLaboreur, anil I>u- 
chesse de Berrl d'Etc— " F. T. R.," Ottawa Co., 
Ohio. The former is considered, when well grown, one 
of the finest pears of its season— Oct. and ETov. The 
latter is ripe about the last of August ; the tree is a free 
grower and bearer; fruit rather small but sweet and 
melting, but not yet sufficiently tested to be recommended 
for general cultivation. Both these pears are described 
in Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, a work 
which should be in the hands of every fruit grower. We 
can still supply it, post-paid, for $2, which is very cheap 
in these times of high-priced paper, for an illustrated 
standard book of 760 pages. 
Clay tor Frnit Trees.— J. J. Joslin, 
Rutland Co., Vt., asks: "In transplanting fruit trees into 
a gravelly loam with coarse gravel subsoil, will a bed of 
clay in the bottom of the hole be beneficial?" We judge 
not. It would be likely to retain too much water. If 
danger from drouth be apprehended, it would be better 
to thoroughly mix a portion of clay with the soil in which 
the trees are to be set, which would enable it to hold suf- 
ficient water without danger of too great accumulation. 
Mulching around the tree as far as the roots extend will 
aid in keeping a supply of moisture. 
Isahella drapes in "Winter. — Next to 
Dr. Underbill's, perhaps no Isabella grapes are better 
known than those produced by E. A. McKay, of Naples, 
Ontario Co., N. Y. That locality and soil seem to be 
peculiarly adapted to this old standard native variety. 
On January 2d, we received from Mr. McKay's city agents 
(Haley «fc Sayre), a box of the grapes In a good state of 
preservation, and which would be hard to excel in flavor, 
and especially in the size of the clusters, and largeness 
of berry. They were simply laid in a thick paper box, 
without cotton or other packing material. 
Peach on Plum Stochs.— J. Webster, 
Marion Co., III. The peach grafted on the plum suc- 
ceeds much better in cold damp soils than it does on its 
own roots. The wild plum is successfully used and 
makes a very hardy stock. The peach grown on plum 
stocks, is somewhat dwarfed. 
Curculio— A NewRemedy.-A.P. Rich- 
ardson, Norfolk Co., Mass., thinks that his success in 
preventing the attacks of the curculio is such as to war- 
rant him in suggesting his plan toothers. As soon as 
the trees blossom, their trunks are surrounded by cotton 
saturated with Kerosene oil. This is placed a foot or two 
from the ground, and the oil is renewed once or twice a 
week as long as the curculio continues to appear. 
Earth Worms in an Apple 'Free. — 
A correspondent at Franklin, N. Y., writes as follows: 
"Standing under an apple tree, I discovered a rotten 
spot in the trunk, above my head, where a limb had for- 
merly been cut off. I commenced digging out the rotten 
wood with my knife, when, presently, two earth-worms 
fell from it. How came they there ?" A bird may have 
inadvertently dropped one in a crevice, and the second 
one may be its progeny ; earth containing the worms 
may have been thrown there. In absence of positive 
knowledge, one guess is about as good as another. They 
certainly did not originate there spontaneously. 
What 4* rapes to Plant.— Daniel Chillas, 
Del., (and several other inquirers,) is informed that 
the subject of grapes is under consideration by the Fruit 
Growers' Meeting, held each Thursday at the office of 
the American Agriculturist. We shall publish a list of 
the varieties they fix upon, in season to be of service to 
those who intend to plant next Spring. For cheap gra- 
peries see Agriculturist for September, 1861, p. 272. 
Wine from Grapes Only. — At the re- 
cent session of the Illinois State Horticultural Society, a 
committee, to whom was referred the consideration of the 
expediencyand economy of making Wine from Rhubarb 
or Pie-Plant, recommended that the juice of the Grape 
alone be designated as wine, and that all liquors, the result 
of vegetable compounds, be known by such names as will 
not be likely to confound them with grape pi oducts. 
Cncnmber and Tomato Seeds.— S. R. 
Parsons, Maine. These seeds may be readily freed from 
the surrounding mucilage by allowing the fruit to partial- 
ly decay. If placed in heaps and allowed to heat, the 
seeds would be injured. The best way is to place them 
In a box or tub and keep covered with water until suffi- 
ciently decayed to allow the seeds to be washed clean. 
Vegetable ISonqnet. — This must be seen 
to be appreciated. A finely arranged basket, from B. 
Stevens, Washington Market, this city, represented ca- 
mellias, roses, dahlias, etc., cut from vegetables. A tur- 
nip, beet, carrot, parsnep, or onion, has one end rounded 
off, and with a jack-knife, petals are cut out, so natural 
as to deceive a person at first look. The different color- 
ed flowers are then neatly arranged in a fiat turnip scoop 
ed out for a basket, and with a few green leaves, cran- 
berries, etc., tastefully arranged, they form an interesting 
and attractive ornament. They soon fade, however. 
I>ahlias and Asters from Seed. — " E. 
C. P.," Caledonia Co., Vt., says that where dahlia roots 
can not be obtained, many have fair success with seeds. A 
ten cent paper furnished, in four months from planting, a 
number of very perfect varieties,as well as many worthless 
ones. The same correspondent adds that double asters* 
which generally produce very few seeds, may be made to 
seed freely by pulling out some of the center florets or 
petals, as they are often improperly called. This prac- 
tice gives the seeds the needed room to develop. 
Mignonette without Fragrance. — 
S. E. Warner, Fairfield Co., Conn. The trouble seems 
to be that you grow it on too rich a soil. Use more sand, 
or work in some poor earth, and the Frenchman's favor- 
ite plant will be as odoriferous as you can desire. 
Arranging- Hyacinths. — John D. East- 
wood, Essex Co., N. J. A very satisfactory way, Is to 
prepare a circular bed, say five feet in diameter. Set the 
bulbs in circles, one color to a circle, and the bulbs about 
three Inches apart. Put the reds in the outer circle, the 
whites in the next, and the blues in the center. Such a 
bed viewed across a lawn, has a very striking effect, far 
superior to a mere melange of sorts and colors. The 
ground may be filled with annuals or bedding plants, as 
soon as the foliage of the hyacinth decavs. 
