298 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[AUGUST, 
The hive that is used fur this purpose can be made 
to winter a colony afterwards, if it has sufficient 
hone}'. The bees from some light one may be in- 
troduced in November or December. The Italian 
queen can be introduced in November as well as 
any time. 
The Crops— General Prospects. 
Mr. Judd, Editor of Ihe American Agriculturist, writes 
from Grinnelr, Poweshiek County, Iowa, July 18lh: 
"....In passing over the great belt of country, lying in al- 
most a direct line between here and New-York, I have 
carefully observed the growing crops, and conversed with 
many farmers in regard to the prospects. As the result. 
I conclude that the wheat crop will he fully an average 
one. At some points there was considerable winter-kil- 
ling, and the fields show hut a slim stand. In other places 
the stand is huge, and the heads well filled. The favor- 
able weather for harvest is telling well. The berry is 
large and plump, and very little will be lost by rust, or in- 
jured by rains in the gathering. Though there is a scar- 
city of help, enough appears to be found to gather the 
crop. Oats look wsll in many places ; in others they 
are heading out short and slim, owing to dry weather, 
The first hay crop was generally fair— frequently large. 
The drouth now prevailing is drying up the pastures. 
Corn also looks well in most sections, but in limited lo- 
calities, it is badly injured by dry weather. Unless co- 
pious rains fall ere lung, the crop as a whole, will be be- 
low the average. 
Great American Exhibition of 
Pumpkins, Squashes, and 
Ornamental Gourds. 
The Second Annual Exhibition of Pump- 
kins, Squashes, and Ornamental Gourds, at the 
office of the American Agriculturist, 41 Park Row, New 
York City, opening on Wednesday, Nov. ltlt, 1863, 
at which the following Prizes will he paid by the Publish- 
er, upon the official award of competent Committees. 
CASH PREMIUMS, 
A— For the Heaviest Pumpkin or Squash ftlO.OO 
B — For the '2nd Heaviest Pumpkin or Squash. .. 5*00 
C— For the 3d Heaviest Pumpkin or Squash 3.00 
1)— For the Best Pumpkin or Squash fur cooking. 5.00 
K — Fur 2nd Best Pumpkin or Squash for cooking 3.00 
F — For the largest yield on a single Vine * 1O.O0 
G — For the 2nd largest yield on a single Vine...* 5.00 
H — For the largest and finest col lection of Fan- / w nft 
cy or Ornamental Gourds* . ( ' ,uu 
I — For the 2nd largest and finest collection 
of Fancy or Ornamental Gourds* 
*AU to be grown by one person and to be accompanied 
by positive evidence from the grower, and one disinterest- 
ed. person who assists in gathering the specimens. 
Note 1. — The specimens receiving the Prizes will re- 
main on Public Exhibition at the pleasure of the Publish- 
er who offers the prizes. The other specimens will be 
subject to ihe order of the exhibitors, or they will be 
sold at auction or otherwise disposed of, for their benefit. 
Note 2.— All Exhibitors must notify us of their intentions 
by Oct. 15th, and deliver specimens for competition on or 
before Nov. 2d. Specimens to be delivered free of charge. 
Note. 3. — The same specimen can compete for only one 
of the premiums offered above. 
1.00 
/^JS-^Sp 
Containing a great variety of ftc?ns, including many 
go/til Hints and Suggestions which we give here in smalt 
type and condensed form, for want vf space elsewhere. 
Working* under Difficulties. — On 
another page will he found a most interesting letter from 
the absent Editor of the Agriculturist, describing the 
harrowing scenes witnessed upon the ground after the 
great battle of Gettysburg. It was fortunate for him and 
for our readers that he was not compelled to collect and 
work over materials for the regular monthly issue in the 
neighborhood of that conflict while it was raging. Not 
but that he might have accomplished it, but it would 
have been an up-hill job. Quite unexpectedly the re- 
maining editors here in New-York have found them- 
selves surrounded by a struggle, not indeed so tremen- 
dous as that in Pennsylvania, but one for a time so all- 
absorbing as to make work on the paper next to an 
impossibility. The events to which we refer, the break- 
ing out of the most violent riot ever witnessed here, 
conducted by a mob unparalleled for ferocity, and the 
reign of terror in some parts of the City for several days, 
have been duly described In the various newspapers, and 
wc need not here chronicle them. Suffice it to say that 
our office being situated In immediate proximity to the 
Times and Tribune offices, was at headquarters where 
excitement was felt, and on several occasions it became 
the duty of the able-bodied inembersof our establishment 
to stand on guard for the preservation of the property 
and peace of the neighborhood. This, wilh the fact 
that the office of the parties where the paper is 
printed was closed for a time, from fear of threats by 
the mob, will account for the delay of a day or two in the 
issuing of the paper, and will insure the indulgence of 
our readers, and their charity for any imperfections that 
may have escaped notice. 
Our " <nift Enterprise.'" — We have 
come to it at last. After showing up gift enterprises for 
years past, we have gone into a sort of " gift enterprise " 
on our own hook. The details are given on page 241. It 
will be seen however, that there are no chance Prizes in 
this enterprise, and no money required — the u gift" is to 
be a genuine one, and rtll on our side. The Agriculturist 
for next year will be as good as it has ever been, and 
partially better, and will be amply worth not merely the 
dollar subscription, but many of them, while every per- 
son paying in his dollar will not only get the paper, but 
one or more plants of the greatest strawberry the world 
has ever produced. First come, first served, will be the 
order. A thousand names are already down for next 
year. The next subscriber coming in for 1864 will go 
down next, and so on. As fast as plants can be produced, 
they will be sent out, beginning with the first on the list 
All old subscribers, renewing for 1864, if their time does 
not already extend to that year, will of course come in 
for a "gift." New Subscribers will have the gift also. 
We ought to have ten or twenty thousand of them, but if 
all the present subscribers renew and get the strawberry 
plants we shall be satisfied. Our family is now nearly as 
large as we can superintend and provide for. 
Xlie Agriculturist as a Premium. 
— W. F. Williams, Clay Co., Ind. Many hundred copies 
of this journal have been yearly distributed as premiums 
by the County Agricultural Societies of different States, 
ami numerous correspondents have assured us of their 
satisfaction at receiving what they came to consider a 
valuable prize, when they became fully acquainted with 
it. There are many advantages in offering some good 
agricultural journal in the list of premiums ; we know of 
nothing better calculated to stimulate improvement upon 
the farm and in the garden. 
Wool-Growers' Association. — Samuel 
Ingels, Sec, writes that a Wool-Growers' Association 
has been formed in Mahaska Co., Iowa. At a meeting 
held July 16, there were represented 19,067 sheep, prin- 
cipally Spanish Merinoes, and it is expected that the 
number will be considerably increased at the next meet- 
ing. We are glad to note that wool-growers in other 
sections are forming similar associations, as by this 
means their interests can be protected and forwarded. 
Sale of Sheep at Thorndale.— We 
have just learned that a large number of the first-class 
Southdown Sheep belonging to Samuel Thome, will be 
offered for sale to the highest bidder without reserve, the 
coming Fall. The noted excellence of this flock for 
purity of blood should attract a large number of buyers. 
Full particulars are given in an advertisement on p. 251. 
Stra wherry Questions. — Either on ac- 
count of our Exhibition or some other cause, there is just 
now a great interest manifested in the strawberry cul- 
ture. We have numerous letters upon the subject, and 
many of the writers wilt find their queries answered in 
the article on page 241. We answer a few others here, 
and to save room do not mention the names of the in- 
quirers. . . .We know of no remedy against grubs where a 
strawberry patch has been made on an old pasture. Bet- 
ter begin again on other soil The Hovey's Seedling is 
still a favorite berry around Boston, and in some other 
localities. The reason why it is generally discarded, is 
because it is a pistillate berry and needs a fertilizer, 
while there are plenty of perfect berries quite as good. 
The inquirer's total failure is probably due to the fact 
that his other kinds do not bloom at the same time with 
the Hovey. The Boston Pine is found to answer best as 
a fertilizer The Austin is not a first-class berry as to 
flavor. It stands dry weather remarkably well, and is a 
desirable family sort. It is remarkably prolific. We had 
on our table from G. K. Itiker, of Stamford, Conn., one 
hundred and twenty-six berries from a runner set out in 
the Spring of 1862. . .Trembley's Union is a most beautiful 
berry. Some of our fruit men think it the same as Trol- 
loppe's Victoria, but admit that they never saw that 
variety bear like the Union. With Mr. T. it has been 
very productive, and has remained long in bearing ... 
We consider the Crimson Favorite a first-class berry, 
and have Mr. Fuller's assurance that It is a good bearer. 
Sowing Strawberry Seed.— A Sub- 
scriber. They should be sown as soon as the fruit is ripe. 
They will come up much more freely than if kept until 
the following Spring. 
Plants tor a Name.— S. Elliot, Cumber- 
land Co., Pa. The specimen is Tradescantia Virgini ca, 
or Spider-wort. It is much cultivated, and though its 
flowers keep open for only a portion of the day, it is 
worthy of a place in the garden. There is a variety with 
pure white flowers, which contrasts well with the blue.. 
..W.B. W., Buel, N. Y. The leaves and flower are those 
of the Saracemua purpurea. It is not a rare plant in our 
cold swamps, and is known by various popular names 
such as ; Side-saddle Flower, Pitcher Plant, Whippooj- 
will's Shoe, Huntsman's Cup, etc J. W. Bancroft, 
Barry Co., Mich. Your specimen is " Cotton grass;" it 
is not a proper grass, but belongs to the sedge family. Its 
botanical name is Eriopharum polystachyum. Eriophornm 
means wool-bearing, and is given on account of the long 
hairs upon the flowers A subscriber, St. Joseph Co., 
Mich. The leaf and flower are those of the American 
Columbine — See July Basket, page 198 Irene Cole, 
White Co., Ind. Your No. 1 is the Trumpet Creeper, 
(Tecoma radicans,) a very pretty climber, but quite dis- 
tinct from the Virginia Creeper, which has very minute 
flowers. No. 2 is Calystcgia pubescens. Speclabjljs is 
accented on the second syllable Martin Allen, La 
Salle Co., III. The plant sent is Tradescantia, noticed 
above S. H. Marrow, Androscoggin Co., Me. Your 
specimen is Saracennia, and is already noticed in this 
item. There are other "pitcher plants," but none grow 
in your State "F. G. C," Monterey, Ind. The plant 
is American Columbine, mentioned above. 
Propagation of Plants. — Baltimore. 
We know of no work exclusively devoted to this, though 
the various works on gardening treat of it to some ex- 
tent. The case for striking cuttings is figured and de- 
scribed in the Agriculturist for April, 1860. 
Saving Ulaple Seeds.— John Moore, 
Cook Co., III. The seeds may be mixed with dry sand 
and kept in a dry place out of reach of the mice. 
Work on hardening. — Mrs. Agnes 
Kemp, Penn. We know of no better work for vour 
purpose than Watson's American Home Garden. It is 
in many respects the best work on gardening yet publish- 
ed in this country. Sent by mail from this office for $1.50. 
Work on the Cultivation of Trees. 
Martin Allen, LaSalle Co., III. We know of no American 
work on the cultivation of trees for timber. The French 
work of Du Dreuil is a good one, but it has not been 
translated. Emerson's Trees and Shrubs of Massachu- 
setts has a little upon the subject, but that is out of print. 
Fruit Books. — To several Inquirers. Down- 
ing's Fruits is the best descriptive work, and Harry's 
Fruit Garden, the best for culture, propagation etc. Both 
are in our book list and will be sent by mail at the prices 
there given. The Prairie Farmer has not suspended ; 
the mail is probably at fault. 
Pure Squash Seeds.— J. Patterson, Ohio, 
If but one kind is cultivated there is no danger. Where 
there are other sorts in the vicinity, the artificial fertiliz- 
ation must be practised. The fertile flowers, those that 
set a fruit, must have the pollen of the barren ones 
applied to them. This must be done before the fertile 
flower opens ; it should be taken when just ready, and 
will open with but slight force and have the pollen or dust 
from a barren flower rubbed upon the pistils. The 
flowers thus treated must be protected from the visits of 
bees, by means of gauze, until the fruit begins to grow. 
Saracennia tor Small-Pox. — John 
Keen. Wayne Co., 111. We believe that this plant has 
not, upon trial, proved to have any particular curative 
properties. It is common in swamps, and is known as 
the Pitcher plant. Its hollow leaves, which are shaped 
somewhat like a horn, and hold water, distinguish it 
from all other Northern plants. 
Gladiolus Bulbs.— R. II. Martin, Sussex 
Co., Del. These can generally be left in the ground 
without risk. If we had any very choice sorts, the hardi- 
ness of which was not proved, we should take them up 
to make sure of them. 
Farms tor Sale.— Two or three of tliese 
will be found among the advertisements on the last pages 
of this number, among which is one in a good agricultural 
and slock region of Illinois. 
