198 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[July, 
each peck of lime. As the lime slakes, the heat will melt 
the tallow, which is to be thoroughly stirred, the stirring 
to be repeated while using, if any of the grease rises to 
the surface. Spoiled lard or other grease may be used 
in place of tallow. 
Sowing- Grass with Buckwheat.— 
A. L. Fowler, Litchfield Co., Conn. It would not be ad- 
visable to sow grass seed with buckwheat. The latter 
would shade the ground too much for the grass to get a 
good start. Better sow with buckwheat alone, and seed 
down with rye next Fall. Or, if it be desirable to start 
the grass at once, try a crop of millet, sowing it rather 
thinly ; this will give the grass as good chance as winter 
grain, or oats. 
Shelter Stacks.— ** D. K. W." recommends 
that where hay must be stacked and fed out without re- 
moving it to the barn, the stacks be built in the form of 
sheds, to give shelter to cattle which are to consume the 
hay in winter. He says it can readily be done by making 
a rough frame of timber or rails, on which the hay is to 
be stored. We consider the plan objectionable, because 
the enclosure would be liable to become filthy without 
great care ; there would be insufficient ventilation, and the 
odors arising from below would make the hay unpalatable 
and unwholesome. If the hay cannot be drawn to the 
barn or sheds and fed out there, better erect temporary 
shelters near the stack. No one but a shiftless farmer 
would think of letting cattle remain without shelter, and 
lie around the stack all Winter. A few uprights of poles, 
with a roof of rails, and a covering of straw or poor hay 
would amply repay for the trouble of building, if nothing 
belter could be had. 
The Peeler Plow. — To many inquirers. 
This affair first came up in an offensive manner. Mr. 
Peeler, said to be a Southern clergymen, pressed it upon 
manufacturers with the specious plea that the Bishops 
and clergy of the largest and most influential Church 
in the country would all act as friends, and indirectly, 
if not directly, as agents, partly from sympathy with 
a brother minister, and more especially because he 
was making immense donations of the (prospective) pro- 
fits to the educational institutions of that church. But 
notwithstanding this, we gave the plow a somewhat care- 
ful examination, and found it to be a rather rude con- 
glomeration. The main idea was, to have a variety of 
mold-boards, land-sides, points, etc., all to be attached 
to the same beam, as wanted. The arrangement, if well 
executed, might answer for light soil, but the attachments 
were not firm enough to stand the rough usage of heavy 
or stony land. Deeming it of little practical utility, and 
disapproving of the effort to turn religion to money mak- 
ing account in so direct a manner, we passed the thing 
over in silence, and only make this note now in response 
to a great number of questions that have accumulated 
during some months past. Mr. Peeler is probably now 
among the rebels ; happily he carried little with him from 
Northern manufacturers, who were somewhat taken with 
his promise of ministerial agency. If any of the Insti- 
tutions of Learning have received a first instalment upon 
the splendid subscriptions made by him, we shall be hap- 
py to hear of the fact. 
manuring: with Brains.— If any of our 
readers happen in the vicinity of Ellenville, Wavvarsing 
Township, Ulster Co., N. Y., we advise them to visit the 
farm of Mr. Joseph H. Tuttle, and see what the appli- 
cation of intelligent thought, of " brain manure" as our 
friend 'Squire Bunker would say, will do for a farm. 
They will see stony, hilly land, with wet bogs between 
the hills, converted into a fertile, paying farm. Draining 
on the side hills arrests the surplus water, and where only 
bog grass would grow, and where cattle would mire out 
of sight, may now be seen luxuriant meadows of Timo- 
thy. There is a story in the neighborhood to the effect, 
that one of these wet spots, restored by draining, and 
liberally limed and manured, yielded last year about 15 
tuns of good hay on V4. acres! Every year's crop will 
doubtless pay for the cost of the drainage. Mr. T. has 
been for many years a careful reader of the Agriculturist, 
and has practised upon the hints obtained from Us pages 
— with profit directly to himself, and indirectly, through 
his example, to his neighbors. He endorses the teachings of 
the Agriculturist almost as a whole, draining and all, but 
takes exception to our advice in regard to laying stone- 
drains with side stones and cover. He tried these, and 
they failed. He now drains wholly by setting the stones 
on edge in the form of an inverted v, thus /\ f with cobble 
stones against them to hold them in place. We examin- 
ed tlie drains June 9th, and though in the middle of a se- 
vere drouth, a stream of pure water flowed from the 
different drains, showing the necessity of their construe- 
tlon, even on bill sides which would usually be thought 
the last land to need draining. Mr. Tutlle raises roots 
for his stock, cuts all the feed, and steams it. He fur- 
nishes dumping ground for the scavengers, or night soil 
gatherers of the village, and pays them liberally for de- 
positing this material upon his farm, where it is mixed 
with muck, and converted into a valuable home made 
poudrette. We had not time in our brief chance visit to 
note down the items of cost, etc. Will Mr. T. give 
our readers some account of his mode of raising, 
storing, and feeding roots, straw food, etc. We know 
from his neighbors, that he makes his farm pay, and 
others would like the particulars, as to how it is done. 
Apparatus for I>rying Fruit.— John 
Kostenbader, Lawrence Co., Indiana, A simple cheap 
apparatus by which fruit could be dried expeditiously and 
well, would undoubtedly be very useful, and profitable 
where the operation is to be conducted on a large scale. 
Its patentability would depend upon its novelty and su- 
periority over methods at present used. 
To Draw a Spike. — Chauncy Lynch, 
Rutland Co., Vt., writes to the Agriculturist, that alight 
spike may be withdrawn from the wood, by holding a 
sledge hammer, or the head of an ax, against one side of 
the projecting part, and striking upon the opposite side 
with a hammer. The blow should be an upward one 
against the under side of the spike head, if practicable. 
Cal>1>age Puller. — M. Scougale, Mich. , 
says in reference to the cabbage puller, figured in the 
March Agriculturist : " I think a hook made from a small 
sapling is as good as any. The pole should be about 5 feet 
long, with a limb about 5 or 6 inches from the end. This 
is more easily made than the other and is just as good." 
Accounts with the Farm-— H. Baker, 
Mercer Co., N.J. , suggests that farmers should keep a 
regular account of everything sold from the farm. He 
gives the proceeds from six cows for one year as follows : 
Butter 490 lbs. $108.08 ; calves sold $26.83 ; Alderney calf 
raised, $25. Total $159.91. Besides the butter sold, the 
family table was well supplied. If in addilion to a re- 
cord of receipts, there be also kept an account of ex- 
penses, the showing will be more valuable. It is desir- 
able to know both profit and loss on all farm operations. 
Xo prevent Chickens from Scratch- 
ing:,— G, W. Kitterman, Wapello Co., Iowa, writes that 
all trouble may be prevented by tying a forked stick 4 or 
5 inches long upon each leg. "Have the stick long 
enough, so that there will be more weight on the hind 
part than on the fore part, and when the chickens go to 
scratch they will find themselves walking away, if the 
sticks are heavy enough behind." 
Soaking- Seeds.— The Chinese seldom sow 
a crop without having previously soaked their seeds in 
diluted manure, keeping them there even until they be- 
gin to sprout. They hold that this not only gives the 
plants an early and vigorous start, but preserves the seed 
from worms or birds. The practical results of Chinese 
agriculture are too important for us to speak of them 
with contempt. Would it not be well for us to use some 
safe steeps for our corn, squashes, melons, etc., as a gen- 
eral rule, and not as an exception ? 
Pruning Trees to Good Form.— 
Too little attention is usually given to the formation of a 
good head, in pruning fruit trees. Begin as soon as the 
tree Is planted, and use only the pruning knife. Never 
allow a tree to become "crotched," as it will be lia- 
ble to split down. Rather encourage several branches 
upon different sides to preserve the balance. It is easy 
to start a branch to fill a vacancy, by cutting back a limb 
close to a bud at the point where the new one is required. 
Snmmer Queen Apple.— Dr. Ward, of 
Newark, N. J., spoke highly of this apple at a late Fruit 
Growers' Meeting. He kept an account of the sales from 
two trees one season, and they footed up $60, selling 
from $2.00 to $2.50 per bushel. Being a large showy fruit, 
and ripening by the middle of August, it commands a 
ready sale at high prices. 
well understood, but the prevention here indicated is 
worth trying elsewhere. 
Winter Mulching Peach Trees.— 
M. Gookins, Fountain Co., Ind., writes to the Agricul- 
turist, that for several years past he has each Fall placed 
around his peach trees a layer of half decayed straw 
about six inches thick, and extending three feet each way 
from the trunks. This was done to prevent the swelling 
of the buds during temporary warm weather toward 
Spring, by which much fruit is annually destroyed. Re- 
cently the peaoh trees in his neighborhood have been 
affected by the " Curl," a disease or blight causing the 
leaves to shrivel and the trees to die ; but those which he 
has mulched as described above, have remained entirely 
free from this ailment. The cause of the ** Curl" is not 
Natural Peach Trees not Health* 
lest.— Thos. Roberts Jr., of Monmouth Co., N. J., the 
heart of the peach growing region, says that his experi- 
ence, and that of others in the neighborhood, is, that nat- 
ural peach trees are more subject to the " yellows" than 
budded trees. He planted both side by side and the 
worked trees were every way the healthiest. 
Curl on the Peach. — P. A. Bettens, 
Florence, Ind. The specimens of peach leaves were 
affected by the Curl, a common disease in both this coun- 
try and Europe. Some writers ascribe it to the puncture 
of a minute insect, while others consider it to be due to 
sudden changes of temperature, and most liable to appear 
when warm and damp days are succeeded by a compar- 
atively cold spell. We have made several examinations 
and have never been able to find any insects. It is a sub- 
ject upon which there seems to be very few accurate ob- 
servations, and we have never known any remedy to be 
suggested. The diseased leaves soon fall and are suc- 
ceeded by a new growth. If this is often repeated the 
vigor of the trees will be impaired. 
Cutting Itnckthorn Hedges, — 6. 
Kimball, Kennebec Co., Me. Your hedge set out last 
Fall with plants fourteen inches high, should have been 
cut back in the Spring to six inches, so as to form a 
thick mass at the bottom. Cut back to ten inches now. 
Chinese Chrysanthemums. — Is it 
known to every one that these plants can be raised from 
cuttings about as easily as willows ? That they bloom 
abundantly and continue at it from November to Christ- 
mas ? That after a short rest, if the tops are cut off, new 
shoots will start up from the roots and bloom again in 
houses in March? And then, what a variety of colors 
and shades ! Everybody should grow chrysanthemums. 
Crocus — When Planted. — Media, TVayno 
Co., Pa. The bulbs should be planted in September or 
October, at which season they are for sale at seed stores. 
Camellia.— "E. F. S.," Canajobarie, N. T. 
The Camellia will not hold its buds in a hot, dry room. 
Try U in a room where there is no fire, and no freezing. 
Lemon Tree.— Mrs. G. B. W., Meadville, 
Pa. The tree would probably bear in time, but will do so 
much earlier, and bear better fruit, if budded or grafted. 
The best way is to send it to some experienced florist. 
Mulching Staw berries. — Irene Cole, 
Ind. Our best fruit growers put on a mulch of long 
straw in the Fall, opening it over the crowns of the 
plants in the spring. We have never heard of any injury 
from mice, resulting from this treatment. Take up Ti- 
ger Flowers and Tuberoses after frost kills the leaves. 
Books on Fruit. — David Templeton, Craw- 
ford Co., III. A good work on Fruit Culture is " Barry's 
Fruit Garden" ; the best descriptive work on Fruits is 
" Downing's Fruit and Fruit Trees of America." Any 
one largely interested in Fruit Culture should have both 
these works. We send them (post paid) at $1.50 and $2. 
Plants tor a Name.— I. L. Herricks, St. 
Josepha Co., Mich. The leaves sent here are not the 
Silver Maple, but the Abele or White Poplar (Populus 
alba). It is a rapidly growing tree and a very showy one 
from the strong contrast between the green upper sur- 
face and white underside of its leaves, but it is a great 
nuisance on account of the numerous suckers it throws 
up from the root. Some of the small parks in New-York 
have the grass quite ruined by the abundance of these 
suckers. In streets, where the pavements keep them 
down, this is not so strong an objection F.C.Camp- 
bell, Pulaski Co., Ind. The plant sent is the American 
Columbine {Aquilcgia Canadensis). It is very common, 
and hence we rarely see it in gardens, yet it is much 
more graceful than any of the imported species Irene 
Cole, Ind. The specimen is the " Star of Bethlehem" 
(Ornithogalum umbcllatum). It is sometimes cultivated 
in old gardens, but in many of the Eastern states it has 
become naturalized and grows wild. The true Snow 
Drop is a very different thing. 
Gloves for Chapped Hands. — Buck- 
skin gloves do very well in dry weather, but are poor 
things when wet. India-rubber gloves are used to some 
extent, and have the merit of being waterproof. 
