144 
AMERICAN AQRIGULTURIST. 
PttAT, 
How to CultlT-ate S-weet Potatoes. 
— The following, from Mr. J. C. Thompson, Staten 
Island, came too Jatc to be used In the notes on page 
154, and we give It here. Mr. T. Is one of the most 
snccessful growers In the vicinity of New- York. He 
requests us to say that he has no plants for sale ; " For 
garden culture, tine, well-rotted manure is deposited in 
strips three feet apart, upon undug ground. Make the 
ground fine between the rows of manure, and throw the 
pulverized earth upon the manure, thus forming sharp 
ridges about ten inches high. This should be dc-ne In 
Ai>ril, or early in May, when the ground is In good work- 
ing order. Let it stand till planting time, — from May 
lOtli to June 10th,— then rake off tiie sharp edge of the 
ridge, so that it is a little flat on top. Set the plants 12 to 
Id inches apart. When they have run 10 to 15 Inches, 
break down the ridges. Use a fork, and run it down quite 
close to the plants, throwing the earth into the furrow. 
This leaves the plants statiding on a thin ridge of earth. 
Then, with the edge of !he fork, knock out the earth be- 
tween each plant. E;''_-'i plant will now stand upon a 
separate mound. This vrocess cleans them thoroughly, 
and should he perfo'med in dry, hot weather. Make the 
earth which has been removed as fii .as possible, and re- 
form the ridges in an oval, or crowning shape, on top. 
This moving and fineing the earth the second lime pre- 
vents its caking, and gives just the condition required, — 
soft soil at the sides. As the vines run, lay them on top 
of the ridges once or twice, and keep out weeds, and 
they will soon cover the ground. Treated In this way, 
dry weather does not affect them. I grew them at the 
rate of over 400 bushels to the acre last summer." 
Xo Hive a, S^varm of Bees. — Mr. Jones 
of Dutchess Co., N. Y., communicates a convenient way 
of hiving a swairn of bees. He says : ** Take a long pole 
and make the small end bulky by wrapping paper around 
it, making it about as thick as a man*s arm, and half as 
long; then bind a black cloth around It, (I draw an old 
woolen stocking over it,) and secure It with a cord, then 
when the bees are swarming, as soon as they attempt to 
settle, put that end of the pole In the place where they 
are about lighting, and usually they settle on It Immedi- 
ately, but should they persist in settling on the limb, or 
whatever it is, jar it, so as to disturb them, and they will 
leave It for the pole; then lay it gently down and set the 
hive over them. Sometimes when fastened pretty firmly 
on the pole it Is expedient to shake It a little to make 
them leave it for the hive. We have tried this plan for 
years, and have seldom failed in bringing them down." 
Slcilled Lialtor lor tlie' Farm or 
Garden.— American farmers need labor, and pay a 
high price for it. Tliey are obliged to put up with a very 
poor kind, and almost all of this foreign. We have long 
needed the ability to select from the crowded labor 
market of Europe just such men and women as we 
want, without going there. There are thousands of 
good farm hands, shefiherds, herdsmen, etc., gardeners, 
and young men, with or without families, of every craft, 
ready and anxious to come to free America, and would, 
did they know that homes, witli steady employment, are 
sure when they arrive. A company has been formed to 
• do this really benevolent work, which bids fair to be 
profitable to the company, and of great benefit to all 
who Import labor through its agency. We have 
watched this matter with interest from Its Inception, 
and know ,1 (■■; be In responsible and excellent hands. 
Persons who I; we been brought out to this country, 
selected by the workingmen's committees and agencies, 
with which the company is In connection, have given 
great satisfaction. See last page of the April number. 
Kefrigerators. — Housekeepers who do not 
have a constant supply of ice on hand during warm 
weather, are at their wits' end to presei-ve meats, fruits, 
etc. Those who use ice, and keep it in home-made con- 
trivances, are still very far from enjoying all its conveni- 
ences and advantages. A good refrigerator Is essential, 
for convenience, for economy of ice, for security in many 
ways. There are many forms, but none more philoso- 
phical or handy than the one advertised by Lesley & 
Elliott,— the " Polar Refrigerator." This maintains a 
1 dry and rolil atmosphere, preserves the ice from contact 
} even with impure air, the water from the ice collecting 
in a reservoir, while the situation of the ice-holder in 
the middle divides the space into two chambers, which 
are each furnished with locks. One side may thus be 
opened without affecting the temperature of the other. 
We speak from a year's ejperience in using one. 
l.loyd IWtaps.— H. H. Loyd & Co. have sent 
us a number of excellent and well-finished large maps, 
including those of the United States, of New- York, of 
New-Jersey, etc. We have already spoken favorably of 
the reliable character of this house. P***) tiicir ad- 
vertisement. (Note the tnllial letter? H, H.) 
The Cireat Bereavement. 
Before these words reach the eye of the read- 
er, all that was mortal of Abraham Lincoln, 
will have been laid in the earth. We do not 
propose to write his eulogy, for it has been 
spoken in every loyal dwelling throughout the 
land, and the private grief in every household, 
not less than the ostentatious motirning of this 
great City, with its drapery of black, and the 
almost total suspension of its traffic for many 
days, tell how universal and sincere is the sor- 
row of the people. Probably never did the 
death of any one man come to the hearts of so 
many as a personal bereavement. AVithout 
brilliant gitls or great acquirements, of humble 
birth, and no greater opportunities than are 
open to every farmer boy who reads this no- 
tice, he had a greater share of the love and trust 
of the people, than was ever possessed by any 
.single individual. The general deep grief at his 
death enables us to see the great lesson of his 
life : that sincerity of purpose, a determination 
to do right, and a kindliness of heart, ennoble the 
highest as well as the humblest. Without these, 
Abraham Lincoln would have been officially 
mourned as the President, but being true, 
just and kind, all good people grieve. We 
can not better express our estimate of the Na- 
tion's loss, than by recording the just portrait- 
ure of this greatest and best of American citi- 
zens, in the words of a distinguished clergyman: 
" Our beloved President, who had enshrined 
himself not merely in the confidence, the re- 
spect and gratitude of the people, but in their 
very hearts, as their true friend, adviser, repre- 
sentative and brother; whom the nation loved 
as much as it revered; who had soothed our 
angry impatience in this fearful struggle with 
his gentle moderation and passionless calm ; 
who had been the head of the nation, and not 
chief of a successful party ; and had treated 
our enemies like rebellious children, and not as 
foreign foes, providing even in their chastise- 
ment for mercy and penitent restoration ; our 
prudent, firm, humble, reverential. God-fearing 
President is dead ! 
The assassin's hand has reached him who 
was belted round with a nation's devotion, and 
whom a million soldiers have hitherto encircled 
with their watchful guardianship. Panoplied 
in honesty and simplicity of purpose, too uni- 
versally well-disposed to believe in danger to 
himself, free from ambition, self-consequence 
and show, he has always shown a fearless 
heart, gone often to the front, made himself ac- 
cessible to all at home, trusted the people, 
joined their amusements, answered their sum- 
mons, and laid himself open every day to the 
malice and murderous chances of domestic 
foes. It seemed as if no man could raise his 
hand against that meek ruler, or confront with 
purpose of injury that loving eye, that sorrow- 
stricken face, ploughed with care, and watch- 
ings and tears! So marked with upright patient 
purposes of good to all, of justice and mercy, 
of sagacious, roundabout wisdom, was his 
homely paternal countenance, that I do not 
wonder that his murderer killed him from be- 
hind, and could not face the look that would 
have disarmed him in the very moment of his 
criminal madness." 
Fourth Annual Strawberry Show. 
The success of former Exhibitions has Induced thff 
Proprietor of the Agricultural to hold another Show of 
Strawberries the coming season, under the auspices 
and direction of the Fruit-Growers' Meeting. At a re- 
cent meeting, a Committee, consisting of R. G. Par- 
dee, Wm. S. Carpenter, C. Taber, T. Cavanagh, and 
G. W. Huntsman, wag appointed, to make arrange- 
ments for the Exhibition. The Committee, In order to ac 
commodate early and late varieties, decided to hold Ex- 
hibitions on June 8th, and on June 15th, the two days 
forming one Exhibition. The fruit must all be on the 
tables by one o'clock on the days above mentioned. The 
Secretary of the Fruit-Growers' Meeting will be in at- 
tendance to take charge of the fruit. At one o'clock the 
doors will be closed to allow the Judges to make their 
examination, after which they will be thrown open to thw 
public. The Judges will report aflerthe second Bx-hibii- 
tion, and will make the awards to the best fruit shown ore 
both occasions. The following gentlemen have heew 
selected as Judges: S. B. Parsons, Chas. Downing, 
B. C. Townsend, S. B. Conover, J. W. Degiaw. 
SGHEDri.E OF PRIZES. 
1.— Best Strawberry, new or old, size, beauty and ex- 
cellence considered $5; 
S.— Best IS approved varieties— (1 pint each) fi. 
3. — Second do do 3. 
4.— Largest and best collection of Strawberries S 
5.— Best show of Strawberries in bearing (on plants). & 
6.— Best market variety — (two quarts) S 
7.— Heaviest three berries of one variety % 
8.— Best pint White Strawberries < 
0. — Best pint Alpines % 
10.— Best new seedling, fruited at least two years, but 
never offered for sale or exhibition, a bearing plant 
to be shown 5 
II.— Best collection of the newer Imported varieties. .• % 
12, — Best show of Strawberries grown on a city or 
village lot (25x100 feet)., <t 
13.— For the best pint of Agricuitnn'st, Russell's Pro- 
lific, Brooklyn Scarlet, Monitor, Col. Ellsworth, 
Triomphe de Gand, Wilson, Hovev, Buffalo, 
Burr's New Pine, and Hooker, $1 each It 
C. TABER, Sec.o/Com. 
The Stra-wberry Plants Sent.— Tha 
distribution of these by mall began April 3d, and to-dajr 
(April 21) we have sent off the last applied for to this 
date— a little sooner than we expected, as the season is 
fully a week earlier than usual. Above 20,000 of these 
have been mailed In turned wooden boxes, made for us 
by Newton * Thompson, of Brandon, Vt. The others, 
going to clubs, or In parcels of four or more plants, have 
mostly gone In paper packages. In both cases, the 
plants were first enveloped In damp moss, and then 
wrapped In oil-cloth. Those sent this spring, are, oB 
course, smaller than those distributed in autumn, as. 
those had a longer growth, but these now sent are vigor- 
ous and i/>e/(-roo(eit. The boxes are partially an experi- 
ment, but from our trials of keeping plants in them la 
warm localities, and for several, days, and even weeks, 
we have great hopes of perfect success. If those thui 
packed now all go in good order, the plan will be an ex- 
cellent one, and must come Into general use. We have 
sent plants to all new subscribers (and those failing last 
autumn) who have applied for them, and forwarded the 
five cents for postage, packing, etc. Further applications 
now coming in will be filled daily. N. B.— A plant 
will be sent to every new subscriber now receiveil before 
the plants become too far advanced to take up. If the ap- 
plication be made, and the usual five cents be forwarded 
with the subscription. These plants, thus offeied, are 
each worth, at the market rates, half the subscription 
price. Any person forming a club, or filling up a pre- 
vious club to twenty subscribers, will receive a doien 
plants, sent post paid. 
Flax and Hops— Very Valuable In- 
formatiou.— These Manuals have been pi epared from 
the Essays on these subjects, with many instructive en- 
gravings. Th.it on the Culture and Management of 
Hops is ready for delivery. It contains the recorded 
experience of eleven practical hop-growers, to three of 
whom the prizes were awarded. The Flax-Book, con- 
taining about 64 pages, will consist of the seven 
Prize Essays, and the gist of some twenty more , 
the amount of labor required in its preparation has 
delayed it a little, but it will be ready for delivery soon 
after the 1st of May. These pamphlets will each con- 
stitute the most complete hand-books for the American 
farmer ever published on the subjects of which they 
treat respectively. They are fully illustrated. Price of 
the Hop Culture, 40 cents ; of the Flax Culture, 50 cents. 
They will be sent by mail post-paid, at this price. 
The Practical Farmer.— J. T. Mapi<8 
and others, ask what has become of the Practical Farmer. 
It died months ago, there not beiirg a demand for that 
particular style of journal. 
A 
