1883.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
QG1 
M iinimy Wlieat.— J. M. Shaw, of Lcc Co., 
111., sends us a. sample of wheat " said to have originated 
from Unit found with an Egyptian mummy some years 
ago," and asks what are its qualities. We have not the 
least confidence in the mummy story ; it is one of the 
popular errois. The wheat sent, has a remarkably long 
and black beard. The head is short, but well filled. ,The 
grain is plump, but from inspection merely, we should 
not think it would make the best quality of flour. We 
have no knowledge of this variety, and should be very 
glad if Mr. S. can answer his questions from experience. 
Chewing- Tobacco.— We hare Lad nu- 
merous inquiries a3 to the method of converting leaf 
tobacco into the manufactured or chewing tobacco, but 
can give no positive information on the subject. We only 
know, in a general way, that the tobacco is sprinkled 
with water sweetened with molasses or liquorice, and 
sometimes flavored with vanilla or some other aromatic. 
It is then rolled into balls and submitted to strong pres- 
sure, which forms it into cakes. The manufacturing is usu- 
ally done on a large scale by those who buy the leaf, and 
make a business of it, the same as with cotton or wool. 
What is Muck?— City Farmer, Buffalo, 
N. Y., says that we often mention Hie use of muck, and 
he confesses that he does not know what it is. If we 
were to call it swamp mud, perhaps he would know it. 
It is the deposit found in low swampy places where part- 
ly decomposed vegetable matter has been accumulating 
for ages. When dug out and exposed to the air, it par- 
tially dries and becomes a valuable absorbent of gases 
from manure, and is of itself an excellent manure from 
the large amount of vegetable matter it contains. There 
are few farms of any extent that have not deposits of 
muck or black earth at some point. 
Sex of Eg:g;s. — Charles H. Grower, of Long 
Island, says in reference to Mr. Genin's plan for determ- 
ining the sex of eggs (given in the June Agriculturist), 
that wishing to have a number of cocks, he put a dozen 
eggs with rough ends under a lien, and two males and 
seven females were hatched out. Seeing it stated in 
Dements' American Poulterer, that if the air bubble is 
in the centre of the end of the egg, a male bird would be 
produced, and if slightly at one side the egg would give 
a female, he tried 15 eggs selected as male, and the result 
was 7 males and 6 females. 
Canada Thistle* — The Legislature of 
Pennsylvania In 1862 passed a law requiring owners or 
occupiers of lands on which Canada Thistle may be 
growing, Lo cut the same, so as to prevent it from going 
to seed, and the seed from ripening, under a penalty of 
$15; and providing further, that if any such person shall 
neglect or refuse, after receiving five days' notice in 
writing, to cut and destroy such thistles, it shall be law- 
ful for any person aggrieved, or believing themselves 
about to be injured thereby, to enter on such lands, and 
cut and destroy such thistles, and recover compensation 
therefor from such owner or occupier, at the rate of $2 
per day. A similar law was recently enacted in Michigan. 
How Can I I>estroy Horse-radish V 
asks F. M. Abury, Washington Co., Pa. We know of no 
other way than to actually dig it out. The ground must 
be spaded up and forked over at least two spades deep, 
and all the roots, even to the smallest particles picked 
out. It is a difficult task, but we have successfully ac- 
complished it. Horse-radish should never be planted ex- 
cept where it can remain permanently. 
Yellow Daisy*— M. R. Campbell, Colum- 
biana Co., Ohio. We do not know what plant you refer 
to. Send us a specimen. 
Kerosene on Plum Trees. — In the 
February number of the Agriculturist we published a 
note from M. A. P. Richardson, of Norfolk Co., Mass., to 
the effect that he had kept his trees free from curculio by 
the use of kerosene oil applied to a band of cotton sur- 
rounding the tree. We have had several letters from 
those who have tried it and killed their trees. We pub- 
lished this as we do other items which come to us 
apparently in good faith. We cannot try every recipe 
and experiment ourselves. We deeply regret that any 
trees have been destroyed by what would seem to be a 
safe application. We shall be glad to hear if Mr. 
Richardson continues the practice with safety, and if he 
can account for its success with him and its disastrous 
effects in other places. 
Tree I*cddlers. — W. W. Beck, writing 
from Montgomery Co., Ind., says all we have written of 
itinerant tree venders is true. His neighbors have patron- 
ized them, and generally lost half their trees— in some 
cases all of them. He ordered and paid for one standard 
pear and tv\o apple trees. The pear proved a poor, forked 
dwarf, and the apples were not the variety ordered. 
Shade Trees Free from Span 
Worms.— I. C, Brooklyn, L. I. Few trees, save the 
Ailanthus, are exempt from worms, in badly infested lo- 
calities like yours. On account of this freedom, and its 
rapid growth, even in poor soil, we often advise planting 
the Ailanthus along the streets of cities. The Sweet 
Gum (Liquid amber) is a pretty tree, on rich soil, and 
tolerably free from worms. The Linden is one of the 
worst preyed upon, and the Elm and Maple come next. 
Gang' Flows* — A. D. Henry, Lycoming Co., 
Pa. Gang plows of various patterns are in use in differ- 
ent sections of the country, particularly at the West, hut 
they are not as common as we think they might be with 
advantage. Perhaps some modification In the present 
construction is needed to make them satisfactory. We 
are not prepared lo name the best. Hildreth's is a good 
one, though not having seen it advertised recently, we 
cannot say where it is manufactured or for sale. 
Hubbard Squash.— John A. Allen, St. 
Louis Co., Mo., has had much trouble from the destruc- 
tion of the flowers of his vines by the squash-bug. The ' 
only remedy we can suggest is to begin early in the 
season, and look over the vines every day and destroy 
the inserts. By killing those which come early, before 
they lay their eggs, much may be gained. The eggs are 
deposited on the under side of the leaves: these and the 
young insects, and in fact those in every stage of growth 
must be crushed. We know of no preparation or appli- 
cation which will keep them off. 
Treatment of Raspberries. — T. W. 
Kingsbury, Pike Co., III., forks in a gooddressing of ma- 
nure in the Spring, and when the fruit begins to ripen he 
cuts the new shoots back to let the sun in, and also to in- 
duce side branches. The canes are in hills, four together, 
lied to a single stake. As soon as the fruiting is over, he 
cuts out all the old canes and the weak growth of the 
new, and forks in more manure. By this method he gets 
strong shoots for fruiting the following year. 
Preserving; Figs.— C. Pell, Wayne Co., 
N. Y. In the South of Europe the figs are simply dried 
in the sun, or, in wet seasons, in a heated room. They are 
turned frequently to insure equal drying. You think 
fresh figs insipid ; we do not. The taste for them is partly 
an acquired one like that for tomatoes. We should like 
to breakfast with you if you could give us fresh figs and 
cream,— you would not be troubled to dry them. 
Hardiness of Flants.— John Walling, 
Clinton Co., Mich. The Catalpa is barely hardy here, 
and will probably not stand your winter. It depends upon 
the sort of magnolia you plant, whether it will endure. 
Magnolia acuminata and glauca may stand, and Ihough 
we should not like to insure them, they are worth try- 
ing. It is impossible to predict about plants with- 
out actual experience. We have seen the Southern Cy- 
press quite hardy in your State, while plants which nat- 
urally grow much farther north were killed. Clematis 
Virginiana grows wild in Michigan, and is hardy. 
Tlie Wistaria.— " J. W. R.," Bath— (State 
not given.) If in Maine, the Winter is too cold in your 
locality. Try laying down the vine next Fall, and cover- 
ing it with some litter ami a few inches of earth. 
Two Very Long Iron ISars ! — We 
write this item in Central Iowa, at Grinnell, the farthest 
point west to which the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad 
is yet completed. Before our window lie two paralell 
heavy bars of iron, the ends meeting other bars eastward 
in one continuous line all the way to New-York City — 
over the prairies, through cities, winding among the hills, 
and crossing rivers on substantial bridges. A car loaded 
with the products of these fertile prairies can go through 
to the great Metropolis on the Atlantic, without being 
broken in bulk. We can step on board, and in 51 or 52 
hours, traverse the whole distance, of i 19G miles ! We 
occupied two weeks in coming here, as we made frequent 
digressions, but always returning to the main route. Here 
is the route : From Grinnell to Davenport, by the Mis- 
sissippi and Missouri R. R., 1*20 miles ; thence by the Chi- 
cago and Rock Island R. R. to Chicago, 18*2 miles ; thence 
by the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne, and Chicago R. R., to 
Pittsburg, 468 miles ; thence by the Pennsylvania Central 
R. R. to Harrisburg, 249 miles; thence by the Leba- 
non Valley, the Eastern Pennsylvania, and the New- 
Jersey Central Railroads, to New-York City, 177 miles. 
All these roads join so as to form a continuous line, and 
the trains connect, so that if in haste, one need not slop 
night or day, except lo eat, for which time is allowed at 
suitable intervals. Commodious sleeping cars are pro- 
vided in the trains running at night, and we have found a 
very commendable effort, on the part of all employed in 
running the trains, to make their passengers comfortablo. 
It is worth a trip over this route to see the broad country 
on the way, and to see and enjoy these magnificent prai- 
ries. Thanks lo the skill, and enterprise, which laid 
down these two very long iron bars ! 
Keeping- dJrapes.—S. Mitchell, of Steuben 
Co., N. Y.. gives in (lie Rural New-Yorker his expe- 
rience with several modes of packing Isabella grapes. 
They were all put in boxes one foot square and six 
inches deep, to admit three layers of clusters, and kept 
in a cool, dry cellar, so cool that water froze. Those 
packed in colored sheet- wadding — a layer of grapes, 
then wadding— kept tolerably well until the middle of 
December, when they began to rot and mould. Others 
packed in fresh-grape-leaves kept nice and plump until 
the last of December, improving in the meantime. They 
then began to mould badly. The best results were with 
grapes packed between alternate layers of newspapers. 
By changing the papers and repacking he kept grapes 
plump and fresh until used up March 15lh. 
Hybridizing Strawberries.— G. Pills- 
bury, Rockingham Co., N. H. This operation, which 
should properly be called crossing, is performed by cut- 
ting out the stamens of the flower to be fertilized, as 
soon as it opens, and then applying the pollen from the 
flower with which you wish to cross, by means of a 
camel's-hair pencil. If not familiar with the structure of 
flowers, the Boys and Girls' Garden for July will explain. 
Mulching- Strawberries*— W. H. Mor- 
gan, Harford Co., Md. The winter covering of straw- 
berries should not be more than one or two inches thick 
over the crowns of the plants. Perhaps with you a very 
thin covering would answer as a protection against sud- 
den changes of temperature. This Fall covering is 
designed not only to protect the plants during Winter, 
but to keep the ground around the roots moist during the 
Spring drouths, and also to keep the fiuit clean and the 
weeds down. Forest leaves answer an excellent purpose 
as a winter protection, and we have known tan-batk, 
saw-dust, and shavings from a planing-mill, to be used 
with good results. The last-mentioned articles are dis- 
posed to pack closely, and should be put very thinly 
over the crowns of the plants. Strawberries do not so 
much need protection from the severity of Winter as 
they do from frequent freezing and thawing. 
Cobcoa Scandens.— Jos. Marsh, Wis. This 
is grown as an annual, but it is a perennial in the gieen 
house. You will be more apt to get flowers by starting 
new plants than by any treatment of the old ones. 
IVIusltrooms. — J. Wickershara, Ind., is refer- 
red to the Sept. Agriculturist, 1861, for full directions 
for cultivation. The spawn may be had at the seed stoies. 
Stuffing Hirds. — "Ignoramus" will find a 
brief article in the Agriculturist for October, 1862. The 
skinning is not difficult, but the setting up depends upon 
one's natural taste ami eye for form. He can learn more 
from seeing an experienced taxidermist work a few 
hours than he can from any printed directions. 
International Wheat Show, — We 
again call attention to the International Wheat Show, 
to be held at Rochester, N. Y., Sept. 8, 9, and 10th, 
at which samples from any part of the world will be ad- 
mitted for competition. The large premium list, amount- 
ing to five hundred and forty dollars, is well worthy the 
attention of wheat growers. As there will also be an 
opportunity of selling good wheat at extra prices for seed, 
the inducements to contribute to \\\e exhibition are in 
themselves sufficient to warrant a large show, aside from 
the fact that the interest of farmers generally will be 
greatly promoted by a comparison of the different varie- 
ties of wheat, and the selection of that best adapted for 
culture in the United States. 
Fair or the Ameriean Institute* — 
The Thirty-fifth Annual Exhibition of this Institution is 
announced to be held at the Academy of Music in this 
City, commencing Sept. 3d, and to continue three weeks. 
A Horticultural Exhibition is to be had in connection with 
the general Fair, during the last week. Articles of every 
kind are admitted, provided they are of American manu- 
facture. Investors and manufacturers have an opportu- 
