68 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[March, 
Acacias — Should now show -if fine bloom. Give 
them little water, and a good exposure to light. 
Annuals. — Pot off those sown last month, and sow 
anew if a larger stock is to be provided for. 
Azaleas are now nearly out of flower. As soon as 
they have done hloomins, cut back straggling 
branches to preserve a neat and compact form. 
Bidding Plants. — Cuttings maystill be put in, and 
those already rooted should be potted off and trans- 
ferred to the green-house or cold frame to harden. 
Gamellias are still among the attractions of the 
conservatory. The leaves should be carefully 
washed without wetting the flowers, which would 
spoil them. Inarching may be done this month. 
Chrysanthemums may be propagated by cuttings. 
Calceularias will need shifting if pot-bound, and 
fumigating if attacked by green-fly. Water freely. 
Fuchsias should now be brought forward. Train 
to a compact round or pyramidal form, according 
to the habit of the plaut. Repot young plants. 
Heaths will need to be shifted into larger pots. 
Insects. — These are the gardeners' constant ene- 
mies and need his constant care and watchfulness. 
Zanlanas should be repotted, to flower early. 
Pelargoniums should be brought near the glass as 
they come into bloom, frequently turning them. 
Parlor Plants. — There are but few which do well 
in the dry air of our rooms. The dust should be 
removed by syringing, or careful washing, and the 
pots should be frequently turned toward the light, 
to keep the plants from becoming one-sided. 
Syringe the foliage frequently, and keep up a 
moist atmosphere by sprinkling the walls and floors. 
Water should be given freely to growing plants, 
provided there is perfect drainage at the bottom. 
Apiary in Marcli. 
After their long winter confinement, the bees 
will be in haste to improve the first return of mild 
weather. In some sections considerable pollen will 
be gathered this month, and in good stocks breed- 
ing will go on quite rapidly Where aolouies have 
been kept in the cellar, or removed from their usual 
summer stand, let them be returned in time to 
commeuce operations early. It is best to bring 
them out a few hives at a time, if the number be 
large. Place them as far apart as practicable, and 
afterward till the intervening spaces. This will en- 
able the bees more readily to mark their own loca- 
tion, and prevent loss from their entering the 
wrong hives. A stranger bee usually finds little 
mercy in his neighbor's domicile Ascertain the 
condition of each stock on some cool morning as 
soon as possible after removing. Contract the en- 
trance of the weak ones, until only a single bee can 
pass at once. Watch for robbing bees on the first 
warm days — it requires close observation to detect 
thorn at first. Ascertain which are destitute of stores, 
and feed as they require it, taking care not to ex 
pose any honey where other bees may get to it 
The utility of flour as a substitute for pollen is 
pretty well established. It is difficult, sometimes, 
to get them to take it, especially wheu offered after 
a little is obtained from the flowers ; but when given 
early, and a taste for it acquired, they will use large 
quantities. To feed the flour, make a floor several 
feet square, the size proportioned to the number 
of stocks. Put it in some warm place within a few 
rods of the apiary. . The unbolted wheat flour is 
best, but any kind of flour will probably do ; buck- 
wheat hits been used extensively. Begin by scatter- 
ing some on the ground or in the grass near the 
floor ; they will usually find it in a few hours. 
Keep them busy by feeding every fair day. Weak 
stocks should be fed with honey, or 6ugar water. 
Any stock having lost its queen during Winter, will 
be likely to show it near evening of the first day 
they fly out freely, by running about in apparent 
confusiou. A queenless colony now should be 
united with some feeble stock, unless the queenless 
one is much superior in numbers, and in other re- 
Bpecta will make the best stock ; in which case, that 
should receive the bees from the other. The combs 
and honey of a queenless hive, if all right, may be 
set away for a new swarm, taking care to smoke 
with brimstone once or twice to destroy the worms 
as they hatch out. If the colony that contains the 
queen is the one removed, there will be some brood 
in the combs, necessary to be taken out before 
putting the hive away. Be careful and not save 
for a new swarm any combs containing foul brood. 
Contahihig a great variety of Items, including many 
good Hints and Suggestions which we give here hi small 
type and condensed form, for want of space, elsewhere. 
The Basket Full.— We have on hand, in 
type, and in preparation, for this department, many ilems 
which are necessarily crowded over to next number. 
Unanswered Letters.— Our readers must 
excuse us for not promptly answering many letters re- 
ceived, some of them asking "an answer by the first mail." 
We waste no time, work hard all day, and to a late hour 
at night, but still find it impossible to answer all the let- 
ters marked " for immediate reply." Our readers give 
us too much credit in supposing that we can write an 
oft" hand correct answer to a thousand and one queries 
about the best treatment of crops, and of soils we have 
never seen, about the quality of nearly every implement 
manufactured, etc., etc. The letter-writing season will 
slacken as Spring work comes on, and we hope to then be 
able to respond to most of the communications on hand. 
A Cjrnpe Vine For Everybody.— 
There is scarcely a family among our readers, whose 
garden-plot or house-yard might not well contain one or 
more good grapevines. A few minutes time in preparing 
the ground and planting, and a little care afterward in 
training, will soon enable one not only to " sit under his 
own vine," but to enjoy a supply of delicious fruit. It 
does not take long for a vine to grow large enough to 
produce fifty to a hundred pounds of grapes. The Pub- 
lisher's offer, on page 96, will place it in the power of al- 
most every one to get a vine or two of the best sort, de- 
livered free. Every one will know of two or more 
friends and neighbors who ought to take the Agriculturist, 
and who would be induced to do so by a little persua- 
sion, or setting forth of its merits. The vine or vines-re- 
ceived, can soon be multiplied by cuttings and layers to 
supply the new subscribers with vines also. We have 
provided the vines for this special purpose, and hope the 
additional subscriptions received in this way, will mate- 
rially aid in meeting the greatly increased expenses of 
this year, while we believe the distribution of the vines 
and the circulation of more papers will, at the same time, 
be beneficial to the country. We trust our friends will 
be incited by these triple considerations to assist in 
making this special premium a very successful one. 
The Oeneral Preanimns still Con- 
tinued. — Those interested in securing any of the good 
articles in our premium list, will find by referring to page 
89, that the offers are still continued. Partial lists can 
therefore yet be completed, and new premium clubs made 
up. All names received from any person for this year, 
can be counted in making up a club for these general 
premiums. Names for the special grape premium can 
not be counted in any other list, and this premium applies 
only to names sent after March 1st. This restriction is 
absolutely necessary the present year. 
The Seed Distribution by mail is in 
progress. The applications already in will be got through 
with before the close of March. Seeds to be called for at 
the Office, will come In from our country place, about the 
second week in March. As before stated, owing to the 
increased expenses this year, and no advance in sub- 
scription prices, we cannot be as liberal in furnishing 
seeds free, as we have been hitherto, and hope to be 
hereafter. New subscribers coming in will be able to 
still get some of the seeds. Applicants should now send 
six or eight numbers, and we will select and forward 
three or four kinds, taking the first on the list sent, that 
we chance to have. Sec last month's Agriculturist (p. 58.) 
The Advertisements Good Itead- 
Iii£.— Our business columns are well filled this month, 
notwithstanding the severe sifting given. Large num- 
bers have been rejected— those "from known parties not 
tu good repute, and all from unknown parties not pre- 
senting some evidence of their integrity and good repute 
at home. All humbugs, patent medicines, ice. are of 
course excluded. Of all the numerous parties adver- 
tising, we think there are none who do not intend to do 
what they propose to do. The advertisements are ar- 
ranged mainly to suit the convenience of the printer in 
making up the paper, and not to give any preference of 
place to any one. It will be well to look through the 
whole, and see what is offered, and send for the circulars 
and catalogues. (It may interest the advertisers to tell 
them their business notices were seen in the Agricultu- 
rist, as many of them would like to know in what journal 
they reach the largest circle of reading, enterprising men.) 
Some of those who have recently asked for the best way 
of investing a few hundred dollars now, may perhaps do 
worse than to put the money into fruit-trees that will ere 
long pay back a large interest, as well as into good imple- 
ments, seeds, etc., that will bring immediate returns. 
.Books Advancing-.— As the old stock of 
books decreases, and new ones have to be made from pa- 
per at double cost, publishers are advancing their rates, 
though they have not nearly doubled them as yet. From 
present appearances, prices will go still higher, and it 
will probably be economy to purchase now, any that will 
be wanted this year. It will be seen by our list on page 
91, that we have necessarily advanced the price nf several 
books to the rales now charged to us by the publishers. 
Those choosing book premiums will, of course, be guided 
by prices given this month, and not by any pievious list. 
Pray Don't Send Seed Envelopes 
to Albia, Iowa!— The directions were full and ex- 
plicit, yet the Postmaster at Albia (whose office chanced 
to be taken merely as amodel) writes us that many en- 
velopes for seed-are being sent to him. instead of to us. 
To Correspondents.— It is a growing 
custom, and one which we do not admire, to make sever- 
al copies of a communication and send them to the differ- 
ent agricultural journals. It is but fair, when this is done, 
to indicate to each that it has been sent to other papers. 
Write Briefly.— We again repeat that we 
cannot publish long dissertations. We are always grate- 
ful for facts and records of practical experience, but a 
page of real information is not improved by a preface of 
two pages of general remarks, and then a long ending. 
Postage Only Six Cents a Year.— 
Complaints still come of over-charges. Will Postmasters 
please turn to Section 117 of the "Regulations" furnished 
to thern by the Department for their guidance? It is 
there plainly slated, that the Quarterly postage on 
Periodicals weighing 3 ounces and under, sent to any part 
nf the United Stales, is on monthly issues only ]>£ cents. 
N. B.— This is \y& cents per quarter, not per number. 
We only pay paper-makers for 2% ounces in each num- 
ber; they certainly would not furnish over "3 ounces" 
except in a chance thick sheet, made in starting the mills. 
Strawberry and Other Exhibitions. 
—We briefly announce now, that there will he several 
Exhibitions at the office of the American Agriculturist, the 
present year, with prizes offered, similar to those held last 
season ; say one of Strawberries En June, and probably 
one of Pumpkins, Squashes and Gourds in Autumn, and 
perhaps exhibitions of Roses and other Flowers, of apples, 
pears, grapes, etc., and of several kinds of vegetables. 
We have been too busy to arrange the matter, and merely 
make this announcement now, that growers may be 
thinking over the matter, and offer any suggestions they 
have to make. Further particulars next month. 
Baclc Volumes and lumbers.— To 
many inquirers.— Any full volume of the Agriculturist 
from XVI to XXI, can be supplied in numbers at $1.00 (or 
$1.12 by mail.)— If bound $1.50, (or $2.00 if by mail.)— Any 
single numbers from 1857 to the present time will be sent 
post-paid for 10 cents each. (No German copies on hand, 
prior to July 1858.)— Numbers lost by Mail supplied free. 
" I Don't Get the Papcr/'-'A week 
ago I sent you my subscription for 1863, but I don't get 
the paper.*' — The above Is an exact copy of a letter from 
Western Illinois, dated Feb. 10. On examination, we 
found the subscription letter dated Feb. 3, mailed accord- 
ing to the postmark on Feb. 5 ; it reached us Feb. 10; 
was that day placed on the entry-book ; and on Feb. 11 
the wrapper was written, and the January and February 
numbers mailed on the evening of the same day. If they 
went as fast as the letter came, they would reach the 
subscriber on Feb. 16, six days after his second letter, 
though papers generally go slower than letters, often 
much slower. Such is one case, and we have had many 
similar ones. There are always difficulties occurring, 
notwithstanding the utmost care and promptness on our 
part. Sometimes, but not often, the first papers sent fail 
