7a 
AMERICAN AaRICULTUMST. 
[Makch, 
Spring: «reeiis.— Those who prefer dande- 
lions to other greens can lake a hint fron:i Daniel Emer- 
son, Summit Co., Ohio. He says, " I let a few dozen 
damlelion roots grow in the richest part of my garden, 
and cultivate them from year to year. Very early in the 
spring, our neighbors see with amazement that we have 
greens long before they have begun to think of them." 
A New Camellia.— Mr. Isaac Buchanan, of 
Astoria, has raised a new red seedling, which is quite re- 
markable for its size, and very rich color. The flower 
measures over five inches across, and the petels are 
over two inches broad. Mr. B. names it Camellia 
TtiuTberi; it is a very striking variety. 
Successftil Orape Orartiiig.— Mr. H. 
Tronsue, Northampton Co., Pa., stales that he followed 
the instructions for grafting the grape given in the Ag-ri- 
culturist for Sept. 1863. In March 18(54, he set a graft of 
Concord and Maxatawney into two common grape roots. 
The Concord made 35 feet and the Maxatawney 62 feet 
of lipened wood, and large and vigorous in proportion. 
The process is recommended to bsdone in early wimer, 
before the groimd freezes, but it may be done very early 
in the spring. ^Remove the earth for a few inches around 
the worthless vine, cut it off, and put in a graft of some 
valuable sort. Let the cion be of one good eye and put 
in like an ordinary cleft graft. Tie the stock with bass 
matting or yarn and cover with eaith. Grafting is only to 
be recommended where there is a valueless vine. We 
would not set out a vine for the purpose of grafting it. 
Xent Caterpillars. — An experienced fruit 
grower on Long Island, sends tlie following seasonable 
item : '■ Last year we had a hard job to destroy all their 
nests in our orchard, but we succeeded with the excep- 
tion of perhaps half a dozen. But the moths came from 
the wild cherry trees and otliers' orchards near by, and 
laid their eggs on Die outside rows. One pleasant day of 
last month, after a rain, we went aiound, and in about 
three hours collected 300 nests, containing about 100,000 
eggs. I look tliern to the Farmers' Club, gave a history of 
their habits, and presented them to tlie members to ex- 
amUie, in order that they might destroy tlie eggs on their 
trees, as it takes much less time than when hatched." 
Keeping' Smoked ITIeats. — Philip 
Fischer, Clark Co.. Ind„ asks ; " Can you not give us 
a goud method for keeping smoked meats in summer ? " 
(1) Pack in dry salt, V-) Let them hang in a tight smoke 
house, and make a smoke once in a while, especially in 
fly time. (3) Pack in tight barrels, and fill up with 
strong brine. The first way named is probably the best. 
Ackno'n'ledgiiieiit. — We have received 
and handed to the U. S. CHRISTIAN COMMISSION, 
$78 80, from B. O. Stephenson, the proceeds of a festival 
in behalf of Sick and Wounded Soldiers, held in Nevins- 
ville, Adams Co., Iowa; also $1 from J. H. Fowler, 
Westchester Co., N. Y. ; 50 cents from Francis Turkel, 
Guernsey Co.. 0.— Forthe U. S. SANITARY' COMMIS- 
SION: from"G," Green Co., Wis., $3; from H. Groen- 
wold, Stephenson Co., III., 60 cents ; from W. G.Talbul, 
Huron Co., Mich., $1 ; Watson Robinson. $1 ; Mrs. G. 
Marshall, 50 cents; Easterbrook, $1; Thos. Philip, 
$1; John Peacock, 50 cents, Mr. Whitelam, 50 cents. 
Book for Kee-keepers.— No book that 
we have ever read gave us so much information in re- 
gard to the habits and nature of the honey-bee as the 
work of Mr. Langstroth. This book with the monthly 
hint under the head "Apiary" in each number of the 
Agriculturist will furnish as good a guide as the bee- 
keeper need to have. See book-list. 
^evrtott's l^cn^spaper, or Uncle 
Sam's Journal,— The concern which under the 
name of the Department of Agriculture, uses up a goodly 
share of the taxes paid by hard-working farmers, has 
lesumed the issue of an Agricultural paper under the 
name of Monthly Report. We should not so much mind 
this if it went to those who paid for it ; but as it cannot go 
to every farmer, we object to publishing a paper for the 
favored few. Tliis monthly report is so cumbersome, 
that according to the Commissioner, " it requires from 
fifteen to twenty days to have the reports printed, folded, 
stitched and trimmed." Stop them altogether, and save 
fifteen to twenty days of valuable time, and also of paper 
which in its white state has a decided market value, but 
in llie shape of a " report" is of precious little use. It 
may interest the people in, Clinton, 111., to know that 
there was " bright zig-zag lightning in the Southeast at 
7 P. M." on December 2d, and for the people in Otiawa, in 
the same Slate, to have it recorded Ihat on December 
4tli, there were " wild geese flying eastward this morn- 
ing." But farmers most prefer to wait until war expenses 
abate before these geese or any other are brought be- 
fore the public at their expense. The report contains an 
article on hops, an excellent specimen of job work made 
up mainly from European authorities, and containing 
much that is incorrect. New- York hop growers will be 
glad to hear from this paper that they can learn the soil 
and manure best adapted to the growth of the hop from its 
analysis, which is all very scientific, but not very prac- 
tical. If the Commissioner must come before the public 
every month, all that is useful in his report may be put 
in a single sheet, which might be issued from any New- 
York office in a single day. 
Hook for Sap Buckets and other 
purposes. — A subscriber in Otsego Co., N. Y., sends 
one of the hooks he uses to support his wooden sao buck- 
ets. The hook made twice the size here shown, is driv- 
en inverted firmly into the tree ; the edge of the buck- 
et is then placed between the hook and the tree, and 
pulled out slightly so that the tooth on the honk shall 
take hold a little. Thus it 
will be held perfectly se- 
cure. Tliis is probably the 
most convenient way to 
suspend buckets when they 
must be hung high above 
the reach of cattle, etc. Sap 
flows equally well at a hight, as near the ground This 
contrivance is applicable to hang buclsets in other places. 
"XeacUers* Agencies."— Wc have oft- 
repealed inquiries from different parts of the country 
respecting llie value, the reliability, etc., of this, that, 
and the other *' agency " for securing teachers, which it 
is usually impracticable to answer. We can conceive 
of such an agency, conducted honestly and economically, 
as being of material advantage to both teachers and em- 
ployers—a sort of Intelligence ofiice, where is kept a 
record of vacancies and unemployed talent. We would 
not advise a teacher to send $5 or $10 to unknown par- 
ties, merely to have a name recorded among a great 
number of others. Let the agency assume some risk ; 
a nominal charge of 50 cents or $1, for postage, trouble, 
etc., is all that should bo made, -until something is 
actiially accomplished for the teacher. When a place is 
secured, a small percentage upon the salary obtained 
would be proper. There are a multitude of teachers re- 
turned from the South, who are seeking occupation, and 
it is hard upon such to send perliaps their last $5 to 
some agency, with no certainty of having any retura. It 
is proper that we should say. in this connection, that our 
remarks do not apply to the advertisement, last month, of 
the Educational Agency of Prof. Nash, formeily of Am- 
herst College. From what we know of him, we believe 
he is aiming to promote the best interests of both teach- 
ers and employers, and at a very moderate remuneration. 
Xhe 6iuii Spi"ing- I>rill9 advertised in 
last month's Agriculturist, is sold atSlOO: aspreading 
of the types made the price look like one dollar. 
A W^ord to Coii'espontlents.— Very 
many letters would have been answered had the basket 
room been larger. Be patient. Please always give 
full address, ^\hich will be omitted if desired. No 
letters of a merely personal nature are answered, un- 
less postage for reply is inclosed, and not then if the 
information desired requires time for investigation. We 
repeat that we cannot reply in " the next Agricultu- 
rist" where to gel a hundred diflferent things. The seed- 
men, nurserymen and implement-makers, who adver- 
tise in our columns, all of them have all the usual .articles 
in their line. Those who have specialties advertise 
them. Inquiries about the potatoes figured in February 
are informed that we know of no seed for sale. 
Any one kaving Fifty Dollars or up- 
ward, that he can possibly spare, should put it into one 
of the 7..^0 U. S. Bonds, now offered. Not only will it 
help to furnish the means of speedily finishing up the 
war, but it will be a good investment. We urged our 
readers to buy the old 5.20s, and all who did so have not 
only drawn six per cent in gold, but they can sell the 
bonds to-day for ten or twelve per cent advance. The 
new bonds now offered bring 7-3-10 per cent interest for 
2X years, and then every holder can have his money 
back, or demand a 5-20,6-per cent gold bond, which are 
likely to be quite as valuable as the old ones, because 
having longer to run. Some prefer railroad and other 
securities, lest reverses should happen to the Govern- 
ment and depress its bonds. But should the Govemment 
paper depreciate, all other values would go down with it. 
We do not fear faihire. Our cause is just, and Provi- 
dence will make it wholly successful, and this year, too, 
we believe. Let every one who can, contribute towards 
it by investing all the money he can spare, in the govern- 
ment bonds. Most banks throughout the country will 
furnish the Bonds. Those remote from banks can pro- 
cure them through the Government agents, as noted in 
the advertisements of Messrs. Fisk & Hatch, and Jay 
Cooke, which from patriotic considerations, we give a 
prominent position here in the reading columns. 
An Excellent S. S. Paper.—" The Sun- 
day/ School Tijnes", edited by John S. Hart and I. N. 
Baker, and published weekly by J. C. Garrigues & Co., 
Philadelphia, at $1.50 per year, is a very valuable journal 
for Superintendents and Teachers. It contains a large 
amount of information, hints, and suggestions highly use- 
ful not only to Sunday-School people, but also to teach- 
ers in secular schools, and to parents. We often find in 
it single articles, worth more than the annual subscrip- 
tion. Send to the publishers for a specimen number. 
CUIiTIVATIOlV OF HOPS. 
Hop Essays— Award of Prizes. 
A large number ot responses have been received to 
the offer of prizes for (he best Essays on the Culture of 
Hops, anil their preparalion for market. It was very 
difficult to find practical hop-growers to whom the de 
cision in regard to relative value of these essays could be 
referred, and by whom the prizes could be awarded, and 
have this Committee act in time to enable us to pub- 
lish the first prize essay the present month. Tlje sub- 
ject was, therefore, referred to Ihe Associale Editors of 
tlie Agriculturist, who were happy in receiving llie as- 
sistance of Hon. George H. Andrews, of the N. Y. State 
Senate, in the decisions, especially upon one very impor- 
tant point, viz. : Whether an article advising the use of 
certain patent rights and metliods depending on their 
use ought to be entertained ? Mr. Andrews has long been 
a cultivator of the hop, and for many years the editor and 
publisher of "The Hop Growers' Journal" (now no 
longer issued), and is probably better qualified to 
judge than any one else in this country. Wilh his ap- 
proval, therefore, we feel warranted in awarding the first 
prize ($40; to Ihe writer of Ihe essay below given. It is 
to be regretted thai it is not more fully illustrated. The 
author, however, is preparing other drawings, which will 
appear in Ihe book or pamphlet soon to be issued, em- 
bodying all that is valuable in these essays, with much 
additional information. The Second prize ($20) is awarded 
to " E. O. L.." Vernon, Veiraont ; an excellent arlicle, 
well illustrated. The Third prize ($15) is awarded lo 
S. B. Ryder, Coventry, Vermont.' 
Culture, Drying, and Ballug of Hops. 
FIRST PRIZE ESSAY. 
BY HERMAN C. COLLINS, MORRIS, OTSEGO CO., N. Y. 
Varieties.— There are many varieties of hops cultivat- 
ed in this country, but English Cluster and Grape Hops 
succeed best. The Pompey Hop is very large, with 
long arms, but it is more injured by rust and insects than 
the first nienlioned, on which the hops hang in large 
clusters, and both are early varieties. 
Soil and Situation.— The situation for a hop yard 
should be such that there is a free circulation of air- 
never by thick woods in a valley, for there rust, blight, 
mould, and lice most abound. They should have plenty 
of sunshine, which is the surest prevenlive for all these. 
The soil should be dry in winter, and have no water 
on Ihe surface at any time. If not naturally rich enough, 
it can be made so by manuring. Any soil where good 
crops of corn or potatoes can be grown is suilable, but 
it should be easily worked and kept mellow, as there is 
much cultivation to be done. Where wheat will not 
grow, the soil roust have lime, if hops are planted. In 
central New-York, they are .raised on very high land, 
where none but the smaller varieties of corn will grow. 
Plantino.— The best lime lo plant a hop yard is in 
the spring, as early as Ihe ground can be worked. The 
ground should be plowed and made as fine and mellow as 
possible ; then stake it ofl", and either mark it out wilh a 
plow or line it, and plnnt wilh a -'dibble," which is tlie 
surest way to have the planls all live. Corn, potatoes, 
or any other hoed crop can be raised the first year wilh 
the hops. The rnws should never 'be less Ihan 8 feet 
apart, and on the ricii bottom lands of the West 9 or ID 
feet is better. Make Ihe hills the same distance apart 
both ways, and the rows perfeclly straight. It is a "rent 
mistake to have the hills crowded, as they often are in 
some yards, to 7 feet each way, or even less. 
The sets for planting, are runners from old vinos, 
which can be had from any old yard. Care must be taken 
to keep the sets from male plants separate from the 
others. The hop is a diacious plant, that is, having the 
staminate oi- male, and pistillate or female flowei-s, on 
separate planls. There should be about one male hiUto 
every eight hills, each way, or one in sixty-four, making 
from eight to twelve to the acre. These hills should be 
