I860.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
SOS 
of hen manure, which he wishes to use in the liquid 
form. A peck or so in a barrel of water will make it 
quite strong enough. This sho'ild not be put upon the 
foliage, but over the roots of plants. It is better to apply 
it weak and have it dlifused in the soil, as far as the 
M*ts extenii. Once or twice a week will be ofl«n 
ttough, and if possible apply It just before a rain. 
What I found in a barrel of Pou- 
drette.— Lemuel Church, writes : " In a past number 
of the Agriculturist I saw it stated that stovepipes, wa- 
ter buckets, etc., etc., were taken from the night soil be- 
fore it was prepared for poudrette. I found in a barrel 
of poudrette a year or two ago, the foUowing articles: 
coal cinders, ashes, burnt and unburnt bones and shells, 
pieces of earthen, stone, glass and china ware, pieces 
of window and looking glass, pieces of black, blue, 
green and white bottle glass, pieces of tobacco pipes, 
bricks, lime and cement, shirt and other buttons, nails, 
feathers, rosin, peanut shells, piece oflobsters claw, pins, 
piece of comb, a dress hook, hair pins, shavings and 
pieces of bark, isinglass, a pair of sleeve buttons, a hog's 
tooth, a marble, whalebone, rattan, straw, fish scales, 
pieces of springs of hoop skirls, wire, leather, rags, egg 
shells, piece of slate, a carpet tack, matches, corn, oats, 
seeds of dates, oranges, watermelons, muskmelons, and 
raisins, two kinds of seeds name not known, cherry 
stones, saltpetre, a child's toy of turned wood, dead 
leaves, etc., etc., etc." A curious compost, truly ! 
Quantity of Turnip Seed per Acre, 
"A. H. J.," Morris Co., N. J., asks of the A^icuUurist : 
" How much turnip seed is required to sow an acre 
broadcast." There is no rule that can be recommended 
to suit different kinds of turnips, and a variety of soils. 
If the seed is good, and the soil in fine condition, one 
pint will be sufficient to seed it well, if distributed even- 
ly. Mingle the seed with eight or ten quarts of gypsum, 
dry sand, or ashes, and sow both ways. Divide the seed 
into as many parcels as there are rounds sown. (A round 
has the width of two casts— forth and back.) In this way 
Uie seed can bo scattered very uniformly. If there is 
danger that the turnip fly will destroy more or less of 
the young plants In the seed leaf, belter sow one quart of 
seed. Then, if they are too thick, after the tops are too 
large to be injured by the fly, go through them and thin 
out with a broad hoe or a bayonet hoe. A man can thin 
a large patch in a day. 
Merits of Durarf Broom Corn,— 
EliasReed, of Lucas Co., O., writes to the Ag-n"cu?(uris(; 
"The proportion of limber com in my crop was compar- 
atively small, probably not more than one sixth part of 
the whole. But, without this, I know not what we 
should have done for the middle of the brooms, as the 
greater portion was only suitable for wrappers. Those 
who have seen the brooms made of this corn acknowl- 
edge that they are very nice and elastic. The stalks of 
this variety, if cut up as soon as the corn is pulled off, 
which is the usual manner of harvesting it, afford more 
fodder than I know how to raise from any thing else, on 
the same ground. The leaves of the dwarf corn are large 
and numerous, of course they absorb from the atmos- 
phere more nourishment than small ones. Tlie stalks 
are well covered with husks which, If properly cured, 
make nutritious feed for stock. It is doubtless two weeks 
later than the tall variety, and therefore should be plant- 
ed early and on rich soil." Our readers will remember 
that we have published reports unfavorable to this variety. 
Each kind has its strong and sensible advocates. 
Tree Protectors.— These are mostly con- 
structed with a view to prevent the wingless female in- 
sect from crawling up the trunk of the tree to lay her 
eggs, from whicli the destructive worms ilarva) are 
hatched, as noticed in an article on canker worms. Sey- 
mour's Patent, manufactured by P. & F. Corbin, Is very 
simple in principle, easily applied, and durable. *' Can- 
ker " worms, and all that come from crawling ancestry, 
will be effectually headed off by their careful use. 
l^ei^hing on tlie Farm, of grain, wool, 
cattle, etc., would in many instances be of great ad- 
vantage to the producer. With a good scale at hand, 
there will be no need of estimating in selling produce by 
weight. The increase of stock under different modes of 
treatment can be correctly noted, thus enabling one to 
'udge of the proper management. Fairbanks' scales ad- 
vertised in this paper, have a long tried and fully sustained 
reputation for accuracy and durability. Their manu- 
factures are we believe the most varied and extensive in 
this country, if not in the world. 
I^i^htning; Rods.— Some one concerned in 
Uie sale of a i)Litent Ughtningiod, writes to say, that the 
di-liclc published in the June Agnculturise, upon the 
fitructuie of lightning rods, 4oes him great injustice. To 
which we reply, we can not help it. We gave some 
general principles, such as are recognized by scientific 
men, and if this is unjust to any patented notion, so much 
the worse for the patent. Now, we have not the least 
doubt, that most of the patented rods will protect a build- 
ing, If properly applied, for they generally fulfil' the es- 
sential conditions stated in the article referred to, and the 
patented portion usually applies to some unimportant 
peculiarity, which it is easy to make people, who under- 
stand nothing of the subject, believe to be essential. As 
we never before heard of our correspondent's rod, we 
certainly had no reference to him, and as his especial 
grievance is, that the article recommended iron, while 
he sells copper rods, we will say that copper is a much 
better conducter than Iron, and lliat a rod of copper of a 
given size will conduct electricity much more readily, 
than an iron one of the same diameter. As an iron rod, 
suflicienlly large and properly placed, will afford ade- 
quate protection, it is generally used on account of its 
greater cheapness and stiffness ; but there is no reason 
why those who choose to do so, should not use copper. 
Clothes-Wringers have deservedly become 
a household institution in the land, to the great satisfac- 
tion of the housekeeper, and the benefit of those who 
have to pay for clothing. From several years' experience 
with the Universal Wringer, we believe it has paid for 
itself every year in the saving of the wear of garments, 
to say nothing of the relief to the wrists of the washer- 
woman. We have sent out hundreds of these imple- 
ments as premiums for obtaining subscriptions to the 
Agriculturisty always with satisfaction to the recipients, 
and we have yet to hear of a family where they have 
been thrown aside from dislike, after being well tried. 
^Uxing; of Sqnaslies.— " Long Island.'* 
Different varieties will mix, but the readiness with wliich 
they do so, seems to vaiy. We have excellent authority 
In proof that squashes and pumpkins will form a cross. 
As to the question whether the results of such a mixture 
will be manifest in the fruit, or only be seen in its proge- 
ny, it Is one upon which we have but little.posltive infor- 
mation, and concerning which we should be glad of 
facts. We have given, last year, all the proof upon this 
point in our possession. The general belief is that the 
fruit is not affected, and we know one large cultivator 
who grows the different varieties in proximity, and says 
he can discover no change in the fruit, but that he never 
plants seed of his own raising for fear of crosses. Please 
give us the result of the planting of your squashes and 
pumpkins near together. 
Canada Thistle.— A Canada correspondent 
Is " in a state of mind " because this farmers' pest is in 
our country called after Ais country, and thinks it is in 
some way an unmerited reproach upon Canada. If we 
had had the naming of the plant, we should have spared 
our neighbors over the border, but as it is now we are 
obliged to use a generally recognized name. The 
British subjects dignify one of their troubles as the Am- 
erican Blight, so we don't see but the account is square. 
We suppose that the thistle Is named so because the 
plant first found Us way to this country from Europe by 
the way of Canada, and the people of that country 
ought to be made to suffer a little for giving such a rebel 
aid and comfort, until he was strong enough to make a 
raid across our borders. If it will comfort our Canadian 
friend, we will admit that Cursed Thistle, one of its Euro- 
pean names, is more expressive and appropriate. 
Orapcs and "Wine.— 0. 0. E. It is not 
possible 10 make wine from unripe grapes. If your 
grapes have a " very thick skin," the variety is probably 
not worth cultivating. It makes but little difference 
whether they drop or not. It is likely that the juice of 
green grapes, with the addition of sufficient sugar, would 
make a liquid wliich some people call wine, as will the 
juice of rhubarb stalks, but we don't encourage the mak- 
ing of such stuff. We shall probably have something to 
say of wine-making at the proper season; in the mean- 
while see article in last October's Agriculturist, 
Orape Tines in Pots.— M. H. H., Mount 
Pleasant, Iowa, writes to know how to dwarf a grape 
vine so that it will grow in a pot. Our native vines may 
be grown in pots for amusement, and we should select 
the Delaware for the experiment. Plant a J-year old 
vine in a large pot, and treat as we directed April, 1884. 
Viite Culture at the South.— The gen- 
tleman who advertises respecting vine culture in the 
Southern States, comes recommended to us as one of 
experience and reliability, and one whose reputation is 
woithy the attention of Northern capitalists. 
Asparog^us Beds and Currant 
Bll9h«0»~'' Subscriber," CarliusvUIe, 111., asks " how 
deep should Asparagus roots be covered with soilt" 
Three to four inches. "Should the seed tliat fills an 
nua'.ly be suffered to sprout and grow ?" No. the young 
asparagus \ iants are as troublesome as any other weed. 
" Does the bed need a protecting coat of manure in thvc 
latitude?" Yes, not only as a protection but for the 
nourishment thus afforded. See method of training tkia 
Gooseberry and Currant on page 339, November, 18M. 
Xrainin^ the Melon.^W. A. Duff, Wells 
Co., Ind. This is but little practised in our countr>*. 
Pinch the end of the plant when it has made two leaves; 
this will cause two runners to grow, (one from the axil of 
each leaf) which are stopped by pinching when they have 
made 5or G leaves, and the branches which start from 
these may be allowed to run, or be stopped by pinch- 
ing wlien sufficient fruit is set. 
Form of Flovrer Ueds in Turfi— 
"Lady Subscriber." An oval is the most generally 
pleasing form. A crescent with rounded points, is very 
appropriate in some situations. Avoid all angular 
shapes or anything elaborate. 
Xhe Fuchsia drops its buds. — "M. D. 
W.," Portage Co., O. There are but few of the Fuch- 
sias which will bloom during the winter, and prot)ably 
your plant needed rest. The best way "with Fuch- 
sias generally is, to put them in the cellar after they have 
dropped their leaves in autumn, and keep them there till 
March or April. Thenby watering them and placing them 
in asunny window, they will start into a vigorous growlh, 
and give an abundance of fluwers all summer, 
A Fine Azalea.— There was shown on our 
exhibition table a magnificient specimen of Azalea Ivery- 
ana, renjaj-kably weU shaped, over three feet across and 
so completely coverei will; bloom, as to'conceal the fo- 
liage. This plant wu? a whole floral exhiblllon in itself, 
and reflects great cieuit upon Its grower, Wm. John Hut- 
chinson, gardener to P. A. Lane, Esq., Slalen Island. 
An Frerlasting: Flo^v*r for Name.— 
"U. B.," Adrian, Mich. The specimen is Gnaphalium 
fatidum, so much used uy the French under the name of 
immortelles, to form fune-al wjeaths. The seeds may be 
had at seed stores , aiid it does best in rather poor soil. 
Seeding do^wn -with Hungarian 
Grass.— E.Wilson, Westchester Co. Tliis millet makes 
so much leaf and shades the ground so much, that it is 
hardly possible for the grass sowed with it to get suffi- 
cient strength to bear the sun after the Hungarian grass 
is cut. We have set,n a seeding take very well aqd 
make a good sward tl e first season, sowed with Hunga- 
rian grass, but this is not a usual occurrence. 
Persimmon Seed,— J. L. Martin, Merrick 
Co., Kansas. We never had occasion to plant these , 
should gather the seed when the plant was thoroughly 
ripe and keep in sand until spring. 
Xhe ButtouYi'oods. — "Buttonwood" 
Philadelphia, asks what is the matter with some trees in 
his vicinity. The unljeallhiness of the Bultonwood or 
Plane trees, extends to most parts of the country, and we 
have not seen a flourishing one this year. The trouble, 
with how much truth we cannot say, is attributed to not 
maturing the growth of the year before. The trouble 
first became serious in 1842, and since then the trees 
have had a hard struggle for existence, and they seem to 
look worse this year than ever before. 
E«ocust Suckers.— A. J. Richards asks, if 
the common locust will throw up suckers if raised from 
seed. Ves. It will sometimes sucker under any cir- 
cumstances, and especially if the roots are wounded by 
the plow or otherwise. 
Fapaw-Bark Tor T3ring;', — J. A« 
Whistlilt, Ray Co., Mo., uses the bark of the papaw as a 
substitute for bass bark to tie up grape vines, etc. The 
bark is removed from the tree and soaked in water 
until the layers separate readily, taking care not to let 
it be in the water too long, as it becomes weakened. 
Plants in Partial Shade.— C. Days, 
Huron Co., C. W. Among fruits, raspberries, goose- 
berries and currants ; of vegetables, carrots, celery, late 
lettuce, radishes, spinach, and probably some other things 
will do well when not in the sun until afternoon. 
Soap -waste fov Caterpillars. — A cor- 
responderd lakes the liquor left after m.ikiiio' liaid soap 
from &oil by means of suit, diluiL;^ it Mitlt Luo parts of 
wattr, and liuows liie liquid over Uic ti-^es by meiuis of a 
syriDgei he says that it eflfectively dc-itioyed caterpillurs. 
