1865.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
237 
Stra-^vl>ei*ry ijuerios, — "J. A. J.," Indian- 
apolis, Ind. Strawberry seeds should be sown us soon as 
ripe. Fuller's Illustrated Strawberry Culturist is the best 
work on the subject... Miss B. S. Payson. The pinch- 
ing off of runners should be continued if fruit is wanted, 
but If more plants are needed, let the runners grow and 
6irikeroot....W. A. Walker. R. I. Pots would be likely 
to be broken If left out all winter. The plants can be taken 
up ha spring with a ball of earth around the roots without 
disturbing them much E. C. Sohn, Knox Co., III. 
The fact that one of your plants did not bear this spring, 
is no proof that it Is not of the right kind. Plants set in 
the fall do not always show fruit in the spring. There 
could not be any mistake with the "Agriculturist" sent 
from this office, as no other plants grow near them V. 
A. Pearsalt. If your plants are really staminate, there Is 
no way to make them fruit. Dig them under and plant 
kinds with perfect flowers. 
Strawberries in England. — It is said 
that the strawberry crop has been almost a total failure 
In England this year. This is in part attributed to the 
extensive planting of new varieties that had not been 
sufficiently tested. Sir Charles Napier, a variety which 
very rapidly acquired a reputation, was largely planted 
and has proved so worthless, that we have accounts of 
its being plowed under by the 100 acres. Sir Harry and 
Grove End Scarlet are mentioned among the sorts which 
have done well the present year. 
Xlic "^Vilsom Early 'Blackberry,— 
This comparatively new variety has been sent us by John 
S. Collins, of Moorestown, Burlington Co., N. J. Judg- 
ing from the fruiting branches exhibited (we have not 
seen it growing), it would appear to be very productive, 
Mr. C. says more so than the New Rochelle. The fruit 
is of very good size and well flavored. We received the 
first sample on July 5th, and another a week later, at 
which time the crop seemed to be at its hight. The whole 
crop is said to be yielded in about three weeks. If it 
proves to be as claimed, a week or more earlier than the 
New Rochelle, it will prove a valuable variety. 
Ijarge Currants. — A few days ago we had 
some currants from a distinguished horticulturist, who 
dislikes to see his name in print, which exceeded in size 
any we have ever seen. They were of the Cherry 
variety, and appropriately so called, as the largest berry 
measured 2^ inches in circumference. 
Xlie Cnrrant "^Vorni. — J. P. Bogardus, of 
Sullivan Co., N. Y., says : " A small green worm com- 
pletely strips the leaves (of currant bushes) as if by 
magic," and that "children have died in consequence of 
eating the fruit from the bushes thus affected, it is sup- 
posetl. Two died in one family about the same lime, 
afier eating the fruit." We don't think that the worms 
had anything to do with the death of the children. We 
have already noticed the use of white hellebore for the 
currant worm, and have had accounts of Its efficacy. 
Xhe lona and. Israella Grrapcs.— 
The interest which attaches to these comparatively new 
varieties has led us to look after their progress during the 
growing season. Our own vines not being old enough to 
fruit, we have observed them, in the grounds of several 
cultivators, and made a special visit to lona Island for 
the purpose of seeing these varieties. The lona, espe- 
cially, on the grounds of Doct. Grant, is remarkably pro- 
ductive, the bunches being very large, and giving a pro- 
mise of being more compact than has been the case with 
fruit shown from younger vines. We have already spoken 
of the high quality of the fruit of this variety, and can 
now only say that the vines appear as vigorous and as 
fruitful as those of any kind whatever. The specimens 
of Israella at the Island were looking finely, though not 
so full of fruit as a vine we saw near Newburgh. As 
there has been some discussion about the means taken to 
jlpen this variety, it is but just to say that we saw no 
indications of any thing of the kind, and have no doubt 
that the story about their being forced was a sheer fabri- 
cation. The propagating operations at lona are carried 
on upon an extensive scale, and will repay a visit to those 
interested in grape culture. We understand that all 
lovers of horticulture are invited to make a visit to lona 
Island, which they can reach from the Peekskill station 
of the Hudson River R. R., w^hcre boats may always be 
had to convey them across. 
Tlie Ittilde-n- on tlie Orape,— Along the 
Hudson the unusually cool niglits succeeding warm days 
have brought on the mildew to an unprecedented extend 
In several large collections it has made sad havoc, the 
leaves in almost every case, .ind the fruit in many in- 
stances, being attacked by it. The Delaware, usually so 
free from all defects, Is, as far as the leaves are cont^^rp^U, 
as bad as any. Several of Rogers' Hybrids have the fruit 
entirely ruined. The leaves of even such a hardy sort as 
Hartford Proliffc were not exempt, and the lona and 
Israella were somewhat touched, but nothing like as 
badly as the Delaware. These observations were made 
in the immediate vicinity of Newburgh, and we do not 
know how far the trouble extends along the river beyond 
that locality. This visitation was so sudden and unex- 
pected, that none of the cultivators were prepared to use 
sulphur upon its first appearance. The vines around 
New York City are also badly troubled by mildew. 
Xbrips or Fritters. — This pest seems to 
be on the increase and is really an annoyance to fruit 
growers. It is a little whitish insect that hops about in 
the most lively manner, and is about as difficult to catch 
as a flea. We wish some entomologist would give us an 
account of its habits. We only know that It has the habit 
of attacking the leaves of almost everything, from a grape 
vine to an elm tree. The leaves injured by it seem to 
loose their vitality and turn pale. One cultivator says 
that he has kept them off by the use of sulphur, while 
others say that they have not found this, or any other re- 
medies of any avail. What is the insect, a *' thrip," or a 
" fritter," for it is called by both names, and how can it 
be disposed of? 
Horticultnral Register. — It will be 
seen by advertisement that W. C. Flagg, Secretary of 
the Illinois State Horticultural Society, proposes to 
publish a register of all persons in any manner connected 
with the nursery and fruit business. A work of this kind 
thoroughly done, will be a very useful one, and as a hint 
towards making it more complete, we would suggest that 
he adds a list of those journals that are wholly or partial- 
ly deroted to horticulture. 
Xomato Seed.— "A Subscriber" in West 
Nottingham, Md., wishes to know how to save tomato 
seeds. The great difficulty with these seeds is due to the 
fact that they are covered with hairs as well as a very 
strong mucilage which is very difficult to separate b 
any ordinary washing. The tomatoes may be put into a 
vessel of water and the fruit allowed to decay there until 
the seeds will wash clean, or the pulp containing the 
seeds may be removed and placed in a dish, until fer- 
mentation has so changed the mucilage that it can be 
washed out. Of course fruit for seed should be selected 
from the earliest and most prolific plants, and the best 
shaped specimens only be taken. 
€a1>bng-e Seed.— "W. B. G.," Fountain, 
Ind. We have frequently stated that cabbage seed 
should not be raised from stumps. On the contrary, the 
best heads should be preserved with the greatest care, and 
only the strongest shoots allowed to grow and bear seed. 
Horticnltnral Unmbngs.— " A Sub- 
scriber" in Bond Co., 111., wishes us to warn people 
against tree peddlers who sell " Self-pruning Grape 
Vines." and plum trees grafted on a stock which does not 
allow the plum to start until the curculio is gone. If 
there are any people in Bond Co., 111., or any where else 
who can be made to believe any such stuff as he describe?, 
we fear that they don't take the Agriculturist and our 
warning wilt not reach them. If there is anything that is 
a nuisance in the West, it is peddlers, and those who sell 
nursery stock are the worst of the lot. 
ForeigTi Intelligence.— Under the head 
of "Foreign Intelligence." the Gardeners' Monthly re- 
produces articles from the European horticultural periodi- 
cals. We noticed in the July number of that excellent 
serial an article on the "■ Ornamental varieties of the 
Beech, "which we thought read like something we had seen 
before. Upon referring to our file for September, 1S63, we 
found it was one of our own articles with a few verbal 
changes to adapt it to England, and it had been appropri- 
ated by the (English) Gardeners' Weekly as original. 
The Country Gentleman also thought the article worthy 
of being reproduced here, and it also copied it from the 
English paper. There is nothing like foreign travel to im- 
prove individuals, and we suppose that an article is all 
the better for crossing the ocean. 
^fTicre to Buy Il.and and Settle.— 
East, West and South ? Day after day the post brings us 
requests for information, where persons should buy land 
and go to farming, from every part of the country. Re- 
turning soldiers, worn-out tradesmen, and mechanics, 
seek in country life health "and happiness which they 
find so small a sliare of in the city. Our fiicnds mutt 
realize that tht'sc are among the hardest questions that 
can be proposed.— Were we going to *'pull up stakes" 
ourselves, it would take us long to decide where to go. 
Within 30 miles of New York tlierc are many very at- 
tractive spots. The banks o( llie Hudson and the ad- 
joining country furnish romance and picturesqueness 
of scenery unrivaled, and at the same time well adapted 
to farming, especially to grazing and the hardier kinds of 
fruits. New Jersey lands are of all qualities and condi- 
tions, from swampy to sandy, from mountainous to flat. 
Delaware is like Jersey, except the mountains. Mary, 
land has a great variety of land ; old tobacco farms, wcU- 
worn, and forest land, as yet untouched, some very ctieap, 
others dear at any price. And much the same may bo 
said of the whole South, reading cotton, or corn, for 
tobacco, for the more southern States. The South has 
many attractions to enterprising good principled men, and 
cheap lands are the least of these. It is one of the most 
beautiful and richest countries of the world. The pro- 
ductions are most varied, including a multitude of fruits 
and plants, of which Northern people know nothing, be- 
sides figs, oranges, pecan nuts, etc., which we prize. The 
country has never been half developed, and white 
men can bear the climate and work all day in the sun, 
almost all the year perfectly well, as is demonstrated 
every year by the foreign mechanics in New Orleans and 
other cities. " Society " there may not welcome northern 
men, who ought to go in colonies, so as to form a society 
of their ow'n and to be independent of those who would 
maintain the principles which have cursed the land and 
the nation. Treated as reasonable men and women, the 
negroes will be faithful laborers and staunch friends , 
a farmer might find some of them bungling, slow, lazy, 
and untrusty ; but what hands are not? Working among 
them, taking an interest in them and their welfare, he 
would see less of this, and secure fai Ihful and cheap labor 
Xlie Death of Sir Josepli I»axton.— 
This distinguished horticulturist died in England on the 
8th of June last, at the age of 64. lie began life as gar- 
dener's apprentice and was afterwards connected with 
some of the best horticultural establishments in England. 
He is most widely known as the designer of the first 
Ci-ystal Palace, built for the first International Exhibition 
at London, for which service he was knighted. He was 
a contributor to horticultural and botanical periodicals, 
and the author of a very useful botanical dictionary. 
Oood Sorgo -^ Machinery .—The large 
number of those who are just entering the business of 
making syrup from sorgo, justifies nur calling attention 
to the superior mills and evaporator made by Blymyer, 
Bates & Day, and the Clark Sorgo Machine Co. adver- 
tised in our business columns. Successful trial for years 
has given their apparatus a deserved reputation for 
superior excellence ; we can heartily recommend them. 
That Bij? Bnll Frog advertised for ia 
our columns is honestly wanted by a reliable man, who 
will pay the premiums offered as soon as the winners 
shall be known. Boys living in the vicinity of ponds, or 
swamps may find frog-hunting profitable, especially if 
they can secure any of extra size. The exhibition will no 
doubt be a unique and funny affair. 
Report of the Department of Agri- 
culture.— '*W H. G." and many others. We know of 
no wayof procuring this except by making application to 
the Department. The present Commissioner is Isaac 
Newton— we wish it was'nt, buthe is the manto write to, 
and he at present lives in Washington, D. C. 
Difference in Chnrning-.— J. E. Wildoy, 
Lake Co., III., desires us to explain why milk needs 
churning, where he lives, nearly twice as long, before 
butter appears, as it does at the East. If he will prove 
to us that such is the fact, we will try to give a satis- 
factory explanation. 
The hest Chnrn. — We have repeated ia-" 
quiries as to " which is the best churn ? " We cannot 
answer this question positively, because we have never 
tested them all. But the writer has no hesitation in stating 
that, after having used the Brinkerhoff churn (advertised 
page 227, July number) for three years, and testing it 
thoroughly, he thinks it one of the best, if not the best. 
Cnttlng off" Xeats.— " F. O. W." desires 
us to answer through the Agriculturist what to do with 
a double teat on one of his heifers. Twist a piece of 
small wire around it sufficiently tight, to obstruct all cir- 
culation. In 10 or 12 days the teat will drop off, and new 
skin will form over the scar. This should not be done, 
however, when a cow gives milk, as the wound would be 
kept from healing over, by the flow of the milk, before a 
scab could form over it. 
Frnit Jars.— C. IT. Roword, Cook Co., 111., 
Potter i Bodines' Javs were mentioned because we have 
tried them and found them vnluabU". Wo have no doubt 
the kind you refer to, as well as oMiers, which are tight 
when closed. aj;d are easily opened, will provcjustasgood. 
