1863.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
147 
back to a single leaf. The object of the first 
year's cultivation should be to make as strong a 
main shoot as possible. In Autumn the season's 
growth is to be cut down to two buds. If a 
vine two years old is planted, it should be cut 
back, and only two shoots be allowed to grow. 
These are to be trained to stakes, and to have 
the side shoots pinched off, as directed for the 
one-year-old vine. In the Autumn there will 
be two strong canes, which are to be cut off to 
three feet in length. The vine treated in this 
way becomes vigorous, and is in proper condi- 
tion for the favorite renewal system of pruning. 
The Currant Worm. 
It does not seem possible to exterminate this 
pest, but it may be kept in check. Deluge the 
bushes with diluted whale oil soap, applied 
through a garden syringe having an upturned 
nose. Mind to give them a good soaking under- 
neath, as well as overhead. If any one has not 
the soap at command, let him burn tobacco or 
sulphur, in an old pan, setting the dish under 
each bush for several minutes. Let it consume 
slowly, to make as much smoke as possible. Or 
this : Make a smudge of old scraps of leather, 
and let it lie under each bush until the entire fo- 
liage is filled with a cloud of smoke. This will 
be more efficacious if a little powdered sulphur 
is thrown in. Be careful not to scorch the leaves. 
For the American Agriculturist. 
Use Large Potatoes for Seed. 
The question of the best kind of seed pota- 
toes is not settled for all parts of the country. 
It is settled among market gardeners of large 
experience who have to dispose of their crop in 
the cities. It is important for them to raise the 
largest number of merchantable potatoes from 
a given quantity of seed, upon a given area. 
They have no home market for small potatoes, 
and do not believe in keeping them for seed. 
"With the farmer at a distance from market, the 
case is different. He raises his crop mainly for 
home consumption, and what are not consumed 
in the family are fed raw or cooked, to stock. 
Small potatoes weigh more to the measured 
bushel; they are as nutritious, weight for weight, 
as large ones, and if they yield as well, he is sat- 
isfied. He does not stop to consider the in- 
creased labor of harvesting, or the small value 
of this root for feeding stock in comparison with 
its value for human food. For the former use, 
they are not worth over twenty-five cents, 
and for the latter, are worth the market price, 
which is fifty cents and upward in this vicinity. 
[Good mercers are now, (April 10,) wholesaling 
in New- York at $2.35 per bbl., and peach-blows 
and other common sorts at $1.50 to $3.— Ed.] 
In the suburbs of the city, especially on Long 
Island, potato growing is pretty nearly reduced 
to a science. Many of the farmers make this 
their main crop, and not a few raise two 
thousand dollars' worth and more, in a season. 
They plow in horse manure and plow deep. 
They select their largest potatoes for seed, quar- 
ter and plant the pieces in drills about fifteen 
inches apart, and prefer to have only four stalks 
in a place. The product is potatoes of very uni- 
form marketable size, with few or no small ones. 
They require very little sorting, and the whole 
crop is turned into money at the market price. 
These farmers doubtless know what is for their 
interest, and ridicule the notion of planting 
small potatoes to realize from. 
Farmers who do not make potatoes a special- 
ty, may learn something from the large experi- 
ence of these men. It is more profitable to raise 
potatoes for market than for stock, and with all 
the drawbacks for rot, potatoes generally pay 
better than corn in the old States, especially 
where farmers are within convenient wagon 
drive of a market. It looks reasonable that the 
body of the tuber should contain the strongest 
germs, and be most secure from rot. Possibly 
the continued planting of small tubers has a 
tendency to weaken the stock and to induce 
rot. This year a multitude of men that were 
upon the farm last Spring are in the tented field, 
and we shall want all the potatoes we can raise, 
to make breadstuffs cheap. Plant one more acre, 
and let the seed be large. Connecticut. 
For the American Agriculturist. 
Botes on Bedding Plants. 
BY THOMAS CAVANAGH. 
At this season of the year, the markets are 
well stocked with beautiful flowers, principally 
house plants. These are grown in hot-houses, 
and forced into bloom, and many are tempted 
to purchase them by their showy appearance. 
But although beautiful for a short period, 
they soon cease flowering, and in most cases 
lose their leaves, much to the disappointment 
of the purchaser. The reason of this is, the 
sudden check they receive upon being removed 
from a very high temperature, to one much 
lower. As a general rule, a rapid growth makes 
a weak plant, and a slow growth makes a 
strong one. In purchasing plants the proper 
way is to make a list, go or send to some re- 
sponsible florist, and let him select young and 
thrifty plants not yet in bloom. These when 
planted out, will go on growing, and when fair- 
ly established in the soil, will commence bloom- 
ing and continue to do so during the Summer. 
Many experience difficulty in purchasing plants 
not yet in bloom, from not knowing the names 
and colors. The following is a list of some of 
the many favorites now in cultivation, and 
which from their cheapness may well be added 
to every private flower-garden. 
Roses. — Hybrid Perpetuate: Baron Provost, 
bright rose color ; Giant de Battailes, crimson ; 
Duchess De Cambaceres, bright rose, very fra- 
grant ; Jules Margottin, bright crimson ; Mad- 
ame Plantier, pure white ; Caroline De Sansel, 
blush. The above flower at intervals only, 
during the summer. — Monthly roses, flowering 
all through the season : Hermosa, bright pink ; 
Agrippina, dark crimson ; Souvenir De la Mal- 
maison, white changing to blush ; Safrano, straw 
color; Devoniensis, white tinged with cream 
color ; Archduke Charles, dark crimson. 
Verbenas. — Lady Palrnerston, blue with a 
white eye ; Ocean Pearl, maroon with a white 
eye ; Mrs. Woodruff, bright scarlet ; Philadel- 
phia, striped white and crimson ; Indigo, deep 
blue ; Snow Wreath, white ; Manetii Coceinea, 
striped white and scarlet, good for edgings; 
Adrienne, purple; Princess Clotilde, white, 
purple eye ; Giant des battailles, crimson ; Mrs. 
Field, deep crimson; Black Knight, dark maroon. 
Geraniums. — Tom Thumb, scarlet ; Hender- 
sonii, white; Tom Thumb's bride, pink; Prin- 
cess Royal, blush white; Variegated leaved 
Pennyroyal ; Flower of the day, silver edged 
leaves, color scarlet. 
• Lantanas. — Grand Sultan, red ; Aurea, or- 
ange ; Album, white ; Mrs. Shale, pink. 
Heliotropes. — Corymptosum, lavender ; 
Reine Des Heliotropes, dark violet. 
Fuchsias. — Speeiosa, pink ; Princess of Prus- 
sia, crimson, and white ; Madame Cornellison, 
crimson, double white centre ; England's Glory, 
waxen sepals, crimson centre ; Black Prince, 
dark purple ; Folia variegata, variegated leaved. 
Salvias.— Splendens, bright, scarlet ; Amab- 
alis, lavender blue ; Patens, deep blue. 
Petunias.— General McClellan, finest double 
one yet raised, spotted crimson and white; 
Zouave, beautifully marked, pink and white. 
Dahlias. — Sir Colin Campbell, crimson; King 
of Yellows; Negro, dark maroon; Amazon, 
yellow, scarlet edge; Celestials, violet; Mrs. 
W. Paget, pure white. — Dwarf Dahlias. — Little 
Negro, dark maroon ; Snow Flake, white ; Vic- 
tor Hugo, crimson; Bouquet, blush; Golden 
Pheasant, yellow, edges tipped with red ; Mr. 
Schwab, scarlet. There are other fine ones. 
Miscellaneous Plants. — Ageratum, flowers 
light blue. Cuphea platicentra, or fire cracker 
plant, curious shaped scarlet flowers. Calceola- 
rias, or ladies' pockets, showy plants, but soon 
out of bloom. Nierembergia Gracilis, flowers 
light blue. Gazania Splendens, showy flowers, 
of a bright orange, white and brown. Bouvard- 
ias, bright scarlet. Lobelia Speeiosa, color blue, 
fine for rustic basket. Tropotolum: Tom Thumb, 
scarlet. Aloysia citriodora, lemon scented ver- 
bena, delicate white flowers. Feverfew (Py- 
rethrum), double white, daisy like flowers. Co- 
leus Verschaffettii, one of the new bedding plants 
which is not yet sufficiently well known to have 
a common name. The foliage is of a rich vel- 
vety crimson, the edges of a bright green. 
Arranging the Spring Flower Garden. 
Much enjoyment of the garden in Spring is 
lost, by having flowering plants scattered about 
over so wide a surface that they cannot be seen 
together. They thus fail of the fine effect pro- 
duced when grouped near each other, and with 
some regard to color. The flowers of early 
Spring are few in number, small in size, and mod- 
est in coloring. They need bringing together, 
to have the benefit of each other's company. 
For example : the Snow-drop is almost noth- 
ing if alone, and so the Bulbocodium vernum ; 
but group them in clumps of a half dozen plants 
each, and they will command the attention of 
even Mr. Gadgrind. It is a good plan to set 
the crocus in clusters of distinct colors, or in 
circles, making rings of the different colors — 
orange, white, blue, and the intermediate shades. 
The Hyacinths are larger and more showy, 
and can better take care of themselves, but 
even these do best in a bed by themselves, in- 
stead of being scattered about in places wide 
asunder. So of Pansies, and of the Primrose 
family, including the Polyanthus and Auricula. 
We were much pleased last Spring, in seeing an 
oval bed of the Polyanthus, arranged with the 
different colors in distinct circles. And here, 
let us add, that the common practice of setting 
these in the open, sunn}' border, is not a good 
one ; they succeed best in a partially shaded 
aspect. The modest Liverleaf of the woods may 
be brought in to play an important part in the 
spring garden ; also Blood-Root and other 
native plants. As to the sweet-scented violets, 
white, blue and double blue, we would set them 
in masses, but would also scatter single plants 
about here and there and everywhere, so that 
their delicious fragrance may regale the senses 
in all parts of the garden. A little forethought 
and planning will make many spring gardens 
much more attractive than they usually are. 
