1863.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
135 
Is Old Seed Wheat Best ?— To this 
question, asked in a previous number of the American Ag- 
riculturist, several correspondents have answered " Yes"; 
none say no. D. Sleek, Lycoming Co., Pa., writes thus : 
" Our experience here is, that after three or four years, 
wheat begins to degenerate or ' run out ;' or rather it be- 
comes more susceptible to injury from insects. The 
smooth varieties of white wheat having failed, the bearded 
while chaff Mediterranean was introduced ; but in a few 
years this became subject to the Hessian fly, or to the 
Midge, equally with the white, previously used ; and now 
the indications are that the * Lancaster' or Red Mediter- 
ranean, introduced three years ago, will suffer the same 
fate. But of some seed of the white Mediterranean saved 
the second year after its introduction, and sowed three 
years later, the crop was equal to the original, while new 
seed from that grown five years in succession was nearly 
all destroyed by insects. It is certain that seed wheat 
will keep good three years (and I know not how much 
longer), especially if it be kept dry, in the chaff or un- 
threshed, and free from the attacks of rats and mice." 
IStilkley's Seedling- Potato. — Ectus. 
This is considered a good variety and preferred by some 
to the Peach-blow. 
Lime — Quantity — Experiments.-J. 
S. Parker, York Co., Me. In the lime directions, page 
107 of April Agriculturist, the quantities recommended 
referred to the bushels of unslaked lime, in the condition 
it comes or should come from the kilns to market. The 
quantity per acre will depend wholly upon the character 
and condition of the soil, as described in our article. It 
is well in all cases to leave a small strip through the mid- 
dle of a field without lime, and also to apply an extra 
amount to another strip, so as to observe the compara- 
tive results upon two or three succeeding crops. The 
information thus gained will be useful to Ike experiment- 
er himself, and to others. 
Hair as a Manure.— B. Marple, Baltimore 
Co., Md. We are not able to tell you the precise money 
value of hair as a manure. As it contains about 16 times 
as much nitrogen as barn yard manure, it is theoretically 
worth 16 times as much ; we doubt not it is practically 
worth much more ton for ton. But hair is very slowly 
decomposed and its fertilizing effects will be only gradu- 
ally developed. It would no doubt be a very lasting 
manure and could it be obtained at a reasonable price we 
should experiment with it, applied directly and in compost. 
A. .llamnre Hill. — A recent estimate of the 
amount of artificial manures annually used in England 
gives the following as about the figures : 
Guano $14,300.000! Nitrate of Soda. . I,000;000 
Bone dust 1 ,200.000 'Snl. of Ammonia 450,000 
Bone S'phosphate 4,000,ooo|Olher substances 250,000 
Coprotite iio.... 1,800,000 1 Tota j $23,000,000 
This amount of twenty-three millions.be it noted, is 
for fertilizers the materials of which are mainly im- 
ported from abroad. The first and fifth items, amounting 
to over $15,000,000, are used just as imported, without 
having their value increased by manufacture. — By the 
way, can not some statistical reader give us an opprox- 
Imate estimate of the amount annually paid by the 
farmers of Long Island, for stable manure from New- 
York City and Brooklyn, for ashes and lime, and for 
fish used as manure ? It would be interesting also to 
know the amount used by some of the individual farmers. 
Use of Liquid. JYluunre. — R. P. Clarke, 
Cortland Co., N. Y. Fill the tanks with murk to absorb 
all the liquid, and work it over until fine, then apply to 
crops in the same manner as barn-yard manure. 
Moss on Meadows. — Samuel McWilliams 
Chester Co., Pa. Apply a liberal top-dressing of lime 
and if the grass be very thin, go over with a heavy har- 
row, sow grass seed, roll it in and top dress with well 
lotted fine barn yard manure. 
Seal* in Sheep. — " Subscriber," Damascus, 
0. After shearing, scour the scabs off with stiff brushes 
and a suds made of a decoction of tobacco and soft soap, 
then dip the sheep in strong tobacco water with a little 
spirits turpentine thrown in after dipping every third or 
fourth sheep. Randall in his " Sheep Husbandry " says, 
he entirely cured a flock by this treatment. 
Millet, etc., for Poultry .— "W. F. Pills- 
bury, Merrimac Co., N. H. Fowls are fond of millet, 
and it is considered excellent. Buckwheat is also good. 
Setting: the Mole-trap. — "J. E.," and 
others. In the engraving given a year ago this month, 
(p. 141,) the cross-piece,/, g, turns on a pivot in the up- 
right: so also does the piece e. The heavy block, b, 
fastened to the strips, c, moves up and down on a, but is 
help up by the short end of e. When g, is raised, the end 
of e. is released from the notch, and flies up ; then b, slides 
off from the short chamfered end and drops down, carry- 
ing the points into the mole track. Perhaps the trap 
shown on page 140 of this paper may be more easily made, 
and be equally effective. 
Starting a Peach Orchard,— Geo. T. 
Russell, Cheshire Co., N. II. The usual method is to 
plant trees one year alter budding, selecting from the 
nursery, so as tq have only known varieties. As seed- 
lings are hardier than budded trees, in colder climates 
pits of good sorts, from bearing trees in your vicinity, 
may be planted. Peaches come nearly true to Hie kinds 
planted, so it is not difficult to raise an orchard of good 
seedlings. In your northern latitude, 15 feet (193 to the 
acre) is a suitable distance for peach trees, and 30 feet 
(48 per acre) for apple trees, so as to prevent shading. 
A Good Fruit Locality in Niagara 
Co., N. "If. — We remember that some 25 years ago, 
when peaches and other fruits were almost wholly cut 
off by Spring frosts, there was a belt along the southern 
shore of Lake Ontario, where, owing to the influence of 
that large body of water, the peach crop was saved and 
an abundant yield secured. We believe this experience 
was not confined to any particular year. In a recent let- 
ter to the Agriculturist, a subscriber gives some statistics 
just gathered, concerning the four Lake School Distiicts, 
in the northern part of the town of Wilson, Niagara Co., 
comprising a strip about 1>* miles wide, and G miles long : 
Apple trees growing, 12,4,14, of which not half are yet bear- 
ing ; product last year 18,275 bushel?. Pear trees grow- 
ing, 3,132. Grape vines growing, 12,578, all Isabellas; 
product last year 57,500 pounds ; wine manufactured, 
1100 gallons. One vineyard of 500 Isabellas yielded last 
year, by actual weighing. 17.000 lbs. of grapes, of which 
10,500 lbs. were sold, and 6,500 made into 631 gallons of 
wine. (The age of the vines is not given. Nothing is 
said of the peach crop.) 
Prolonging; tlie Strawberry Sea- 
sou. — E. WeslfatI, writes to the Agriculturist that in 
Autumn he covered a portion of the ground between his 
strawberry rows with cut straw, to keep the weeds down. 
This proved effectual, but the straw was put on so thick- 
ly that the plants started late, and blossomed and ripened 
fruit 10 days longer than those not thus treated— making 
a strawberry season of 'AH weeks with the same variety. 
A Western Strawberry Patcli. — 
S. S. White, Mercer Co., 111., writes that "on moving 
West, I was told that Eastern agricultural papers were 
not suited to that climate, and that I might save the ex- 
pense of the American Agriculturist. I took the paper, 
however, read it, and acting on its suggestions planted a 
strawberry bed ±% rods long, by 2 rods wide, from which 
I picked last season, 10 bushels of berries, besides what 
75 visitors picked and ate. Persons came miles to see 
the patch. 1 had to remind them of their unbelief in the 
A griculturisCs teachings, and hope their eyes are opened. 
I also had fine grapes from cuttings planted since I came 
here two years ago." 
Shrubs from the Patent Office.— 
" S. R." The shrubs you name do not need any especial 
culture. Myrica Gale will do best in a wet place. 
Sketches of Bee-Houses, Imple- 
ments, etc.— "J. F. S.," of St. Louis, and others. 
We are always glad to receive drawings and descriptions 
of novel bee-houses, implements for the farm, garden, 
household, etc., but can not decide whether engravings 
will be made and published, until we have examined them 
and formed an opinion of their utility. No charge is made 
for engravings of unpatented articles, when they are for 
public use, unless some individual interest is to be sub- 
served, in which case the person to be benefited should 
justly bear the chief expense. Where the public interest 
is to be promoted, engravings and descriptions of patent- 
ed articles are sometimes inserted, though in such cases 
it is proper that the owners of the patents, who have an 
Individual Interest in the matter, should share in the ex- 
pense. We are not so benevolent as to support a paper 
at an expense of $70,000 a year, and let everybody use its 
column as a free medium of communication with the pub- 
lic. But the first question in all cases, is, will the publi 
cation of this or that description benefit our readers t 
Currant Wine 28 Years Old.— A bot- 
tle of currant wine, made in 1835, was recently presented 
at the Fruit Growers' Meeting by J, L. Gourgas, of Mid- 
dlesex Co., Mass., and pronounced very good. Mr. G., 
stated that the currants were boiled before pressing; the 
expressed juice was left to ferment in the tubs, then put 
in wine casks, and one gallon of the best French brandy 
added to twenty-eight gallons of the currant juice, wiM> 
sugar enough to make it palatable. 
Live Forever as a Weed.- "L. D. B.," 
Plymouth, Conn. Some months ago we asked for infor- 
mation respecting this plant, and learned from one cof* 
respondent that hogs would uproot and destroy it. The 
Live Forever is different from the Houseleek. The latter 
has a dense cluster of leaves close to the ground, while 
the Live Forever, though of the same fleshy character, 
has its leaves along a stem which is a foot or more high. 
The National Almanac— In referring 
to this valuable work, in March, the price was wrongly 
given at $1 50, which was considered cheap enough. Wo 
are glad to say the price is only $1 25 in the better bind- 
ing. We add it to our book-list on page 159. 
The American Farmer and Me- 
chanic— Numerous correspondents are informed that 
we know nothing about this paper, and have seen no 
number of it since January. Our own legitimate busi- 
ness is all that we can attend to, and we can not devote 
time to answering inquiries about other papers, or to get- 
ting premiums from them which have been promised, 
and are not forthcoming. 
American Bee Journal.— J. B. Cripp, 
Marshall Co., Iowa, and others. The above journal, 
formerly issued at Philadelphia, has been discontinued, 
for the present at least. Journals devoted to a single 
special department of Agriculture or horticulture, have 
not yet been found self-sustaining. 
A Sate Promise. — An Iowa subscriber 
writes, " After trying a week without success, to procuro 
subscribers for the Agriculturist, I told five persons I 
would send them the paper, and if at the end of the year 
they did not think it worth the money, I would make no 
charge. In a few days after they received their first num- 
ber they were so well pleased they all paid up. If all 
your subscribers would try this plan, they could benefit 
their neighbors, anil increase your circulation with very 
little trouble.'' Many others have made the same exper- 
iment, and have thus secured valuable premiums. 
Cecropia Cocoon.— E. S. Holmes, Niagara 
Co., N. Y. Specimen received, and is doubtless the Al- 
tacus Cecropia. The caterpillar, when full grown, is 
about 3 inches long, and the moth spreads its wings nearly 
5 inches. The cocoon is a silky material which perhaps 
might make a strong fabric, if obtainable in quantity. 
Roots and Shoes. — " Homespun," advises 
those farmers who wish to reduce the cost of shoeing 
the family, to buy leather and make the boots and shoes 
themselves. Any one will be willing to do it after the 
annoyance he has had with split leather and ripped seams. 
Climate at Puget Sound, TV. T.— 
At first thought, one would hardly expect to find many 
readers of an agricultural paper in the newly settled re- 
gions on the Pacific Coast. But the enterprising meu 
who go out to clear up land and build themselves homes 
in the Wilderness, are just the ones who are on the alert 
for every hint to be derived from a paper devoted to theu 
chosen pursuit. On the morning of the 21st of every 
month, we make up for the mail a large edition of the 
American Agriculturist, to go out by the California steam- 
er, to be distributed to subscribers scattered all the way 
from Western Mexico to Washington Territory, north of 
Oregon— hundreds of copies going to the latter region. 
A letter before us from J. H. Nagel, dated at Puget Sound, 
Dec. 19, (lat 42°,) describes the season up to that date as 
similarly mild and spring-like, to what it was on this side 
of the Rocky Mountains. Cattle were grazing in the 
fields, and potatoes and turnips were still in the ground 
unfrozen. Mr. N. says he has been there ten years, and 
that, except in 1861, he has never seen snow enough for 
more than one week's sleighing during a Winter. He 
compares the climate to that of Italy, with the heat of 
mid-day in Summer tempered by cooling breezes. The 
mild Winter comes on almost imperceptibly. We sup- 
pose this description applies only to places immediately 
upon the Coast, and under the influence of the Pacific 
Ocean, which of course, varies but little in temperature, 
throughout the year. 
Weather Notes.— TV. G. Phelps, Geauga 
Co., Ohio, and others. It is interesting to see and com- 
pare notes from different parts of the country, to notice 
the variations of temperature, beginning of storms, etc., 
but of course we have not room to publish many such. 
Spring;- W inter in New-Hampshire, 
—Sumner C Hill, in a postscript to a letter dated Con* 
way, N. H., (lat. 44°.) March 13th, 1863, says: "Ther- 
mometer 18°. below zero this A.M.... Snow 8 feet deep." 
