336 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[November, 
Brandy from SorgHum.— A subscriber 
asks : "Wlialquality undquantity of brandy can be mada 
from Sorghum ?" None at all. Sorghum would, like any 
other 6Ugar, make rum or whiskey, but brandy can only 
^f be made from grapes. This m;inufacnire is one not 
within the legitimate scope of this journal. 
Is* XUis Advice Oood ?— " Fai-mer," ol 
Oakland, near Quincy, 111., writes : " To the young farm- 
ers of the East who have capital and wish to start out in 
life, either as farmers or business men, the South and 
particularly the West, is the place to go. Missouri is 
destined to be one of the Golden Stars of our Union. 
Bounded on one side by the Mississippi, traversed by the 
Missouri and other navigable rivers, lailruads in all di- 
rections and room for more, abounding in more natural 
products than any other Stale, central in position, wiih 
a soil adapted to the growth of every thing that will grow 
in a temperate climate, with the black population as la- 
borers, and enterprising, ingenious men from the Mid- 
dle or Eastern States lo manage, Missouri will in a few 
years be the leading Stale of the West. The South 
affords rare chances fur young men to make a start in 
life. I think it strange that men will buy or rent the 
stone-ribbed land of the Ea^^t, when land is so clieap and 
plenty South and West. Let them that can't leave the 
East, stay there, but let Ihe yuung and enterprising buy 
land in the West, which in a few years will double or treble 
in value. Let the heretofore Slave Slates be filled 
wiih enterprising, industrious and Union-loving pei>ple.'' 
Is the Advice GoocU—We say, yes — because, though 
the same thought, energy, capital and labor, expended at 
the East will pay just as well, or better, yet going West 
wakes up many an Eastern young man to ten times the 
energy, and, of course, ten times the success he would 
ever show or gain at home. 
IVleasiiriu^ Corn li^ars. — "J. M. P.," 
Ross Co., O., can find the cubical contents of his crib by 
Rules in his Arithmetic. Then by inslructions on page 
303, October Agriculturist, can ascei tain the number of 
bushels in any crib or bin. 
^ra,ss aiid Cradle ScytBies. — E. W. 
Alien, Chiitauqua Co., N. Y. The edge of a grass scylhe 
may be made of the same form of the diagram of cradle 
scythes in the August number of the Agriculturist. 
The e^ige near the heel should not be on a smaller curve, 
as liie scythe would cut too squarely across the grass. 
SeuoUe House,— " Mrs. A. K." Blah* Co., 
Pa. — Perhaps the simplest smoke house is the best. Such 
a one is a square box, say 6x6 or 8x8 feet on the ground, 
and with 7 or 8 foot posts. Put the tills on a brick or 
stone wall, cemented or plastered so as to be rat-proof. 
The roof really ought to be what is called "hipped," 
{that is of four slopes- a flat pyrpmid) one-third pilch. 
This will make it about lOV feet from the floor to the 
rafters at the peak. The floor is the natural soil, it per- 
fectly dry, or it may be of brick. In the middle of the 
room there ought to be a stone table 2 feet high. This 
may rest on stone posts, or wooden ones, and the fire 
is made under it. It serves to spread the smoke, and 
prevents the heat from tiie fire affecting the meats which 
hang above and are often hiui if the smoking fire chan- 
ces to blaze up. Ventilators may be put near the ground 
on opposite sides, and one near the top. All shoukl be 
furnished with fine wire gauze to keep out the flies. The 
door must shut very tight, and ought really to be opened 
only at night in the summer and autumn, to keep out flies. 
IVIovingf a Cvi-ape Vine. — G. H. Lincoln, 
Henry Co., III. — If the vine has a single cane 10 or 12 
feet long, it should be cut back, whether it is moved or 
not. Cut it off to vviihin 12 or 15 inches of the ground, 
remove as carefully as possible, protect the stem with a 
mound of earth, and next spring allow one, or if the vine 
is a strong one, two buds to grow. 
flattening- Xltanlcs^iTing: Xurl^eys. 
— For each turkey mix about a pint of Indian meat wilii 
one pitit of unbolted wheat flour, and pour boiling water 
on it. sUrring rapidly till it forms thin mush. Place the 
dish where the fowls can have access to the feed at any 
time. Let s^kimrned milli or water he given also. In two 
weeks they will be fat and oily as butler. They will fat- 
ten better to have their liberty in a spacious yard. 
icicle Cliiclcens — Ronp. — Many letters 
inquire about a disease among fowls which we are con- 
fident is in many cases the roup. This is a highly infec- 
tious, and nfien falal disease, but if taken in time can be 
cured. The premonitory symptoms area slight hoarse- 
ness ond catching of the breath, as if from cold. Soft 
food only, mixed with ale and chopped green vegetables 
should be given. Administer castor oil, say one table- 
spoonful, before any olher medicine, but if the disease 
has made much progress before discovery, and rattling 
in the throat {with discharges from the eyes and nostril,) 
has commenced, stronger remedies must be used. Tinc- 
ture of iron placed in the water pans, is a strongremedy, 
and if the fowl will not drink some, prepare half an 
ounce of sulphate of iron and an ounce of Cayenne 
pepper in fine powders. Mix carefully a teaspoonful of 
these powders with butler, and divide into ten equal 
parts, one lo be given twice a Jay, each morning and 
evening, until the complete restoration of the patient to 
health. Wash the eyes and inside of the mouth and 
nostril with vinegar. The disease runs its course rapid- 
ly. If the fowl is not better in a week, it will be dead ; 
whole yards are often depopulated by the ravages of this 
scouige. Single cases occur which are overlooked, and 
then the disease becomes universal Some think roup 
m'jrely a neglected cold ; but there Is evidence to show 
that it is contagious. The first sufferer perhaps contam- 
inates the water, and such is the virulence of the malady 
tliat it often runs quickly through the whole stock, and 
is indeed the poultry plague. Even when Ihe fowl ap- 
pears to have recovered, it must undergo a long and strict 
quarantine before it is restored to libeity. We do not 
advise this care to be given any but valuable fowls. If 
those of little value are attacked, the sooner they are put 
out of pain and hidden from sight, the better. 
The "'Wine I»lant."— This has been so 
often noticed in the Agriculturist, that we supposed our 
readers knew all about it. It is nothing more than the 
common Rhubarb or Pie-plant. Its juice, fermented with 
the addition of sugar, will make a liquid containing more 
or less alcohol. If any wish to make this for a beverage, 
or other purpose, Ihey need not pay peddlers a large price 
for " Wine plant," when Rhubaibcan be bought cheaply 
at the nurseries. We cannot now discuss the question as 
to whether this juice may safely be substituted for wine, 
but whatever its merits, let it stand in its own name. 
We were quite surprised to find the IS. Y. Tribune ex- 
travagantly puffing llie thing under the name of the 
" Linnaeus plant which resembles the rhubarb, but is dif 
ferent." I'his article could never have been seen by the 
agricultural editor of Iho Tribune, for he knows betler. 
The fermented juice makes a poor alcoholie liquor, which 
by coloring and flavoring may resemble wine, but it is a 
poor liquor, and no healthier than the cheapest whiskey, 
and we repeat, that It is not worth and can not be sold in 
quantity at half the price the plant peddlers claim for it. 
Xhe S^veet and Sour Apple Ag^ain. 
— W. F. Truesdell, Pike Co., 0., says. "There has been 
considerable controversy in regard to what causes the 
variety," and asks our opinion. We only know that 
there are some apples which become sweeter on one side 
than on the otiier, but in several specimens have failed 
to see that there was anything like a dividing line sepa- 
rating Ihe sweet part from the sour. External lines upon 
apples are not rare, and are found upon several varieties. 
The story of an apple half sweet and half sour having 
been produced by uniting a bud of the two kinds, is 
simply an absurd impossibility. 
ILima Ifiean Pods Injurious to 
Swine. — Two or three correspondents have written 
that the pods of Lima beans would kill hogs. XVe sup- 
posed that there must be some mistake, as it can hardly 
be possible that the pod of this delicious bean contains 
anything [loisonous. Mr. J. K. Eby, Harrisburgh, Penn. 
has explained the matter. Mr. E. lost two hogs, and a 
neighbor of his had seven die, after eating the pods. A 
careful examination was made and it was found that the 
sharp hard point of the shell stuck in the throat of the 
animal, causing an irritation which resulted in death. 
Stra\»'berry Runners.— G. H. Liueolu^ 
Henry Co., III., wishes to know if the statement is true 
that the first two rtinners from a strawberry plant are 
the only ones that will fruit the next year. The earliest 
formed runners will make the strongest plants and they 
will usually bear a small crop the next year, but this is 
not confined to two plants or any particular number. 
Plants UTamed.— P. Ritz, W. Terr. The 
grass is Agrostis exarata, a peculiarly far-western spe- 
cies, related to Red-top. We shall be glad to know 
something of its agricultural value — E. J. Labarriere, 
Bouglass Co., Kansas. Apios tuherosa, the Ground-nut 
or Wild Bean, common all over the country. Some 
years ago an attempt was made to introduce it into cuUi- 
vation, as an edible root under name of Dacotah potato, 
but wc have not heard with what success — Adda 
Maynard, North Lizard. A double variety of Achillea 
Ptarmica, or Sneezew ort ; it is own brother to the common 
Yarrow, and a very pretty perennial for the garden — 
M. R. A., York Co., Me. No. 1. Lysimachia verticil lata. 
No. 2. Dalibarda repeiis. No. 3. Btdens chrysanthv 
7noide5... .A. W. Tabbutt, Columbia Falls. No. 1. Tri- 
folium agrarium. Hop-clover, a worthless species. No. 2, 
some species of Amaranthus, but too small and too 
young to make out; is a bad weed, whichever it is 
Judge Woolman, Woodson Co. Kas. The seeds and 
drawing are those of Cucurbita perennis. common in ihQ 
far West ; the small bitter fruit is worthless. We have 
seen donkeys eat it in the absence of other food W. 
L. A., Venango Co., Pa. The grass is Briza maxima. 
Quaking grass, often cultivated. Theie must be some 
mistake about its occuring in the earth thrown out from 
a well ...M. Crabb, Lawrence Co., Ind. No. I. A 
thistle, but in loo poor condition to determine. No. 2, 
is not a thistle, but the Wild Teasel, Dipsacus sylvestris. 
W. .1. L., New iMilford, Conn. Gilia tricolor, a very 
pretty California annual, now common in cultivation. 
Xlie Xilden Tomato.— This comparative- 
ly new variety Is held in high esteem by the cultivators 
near Philadelphia. It is oval (flatwise), very smooth and 
solid. It is said to be of superior flavor, great bearer, and 
60 firm when ripe as to be very good for marketing. 
■%%''orl£ upon I^ursery Culture. —J. 
G. Paulding and others. Barry's Fruit Garden is the 
best work on the cultivation of fruit trees. We know of 
no work solely on ornamental shrubs. Mehan's Hand- 
book of Ornamental Trees, contains good hints on forest 
trees. The above are in our bunk list. DubreuiTs Ar- 
boriculture (in French) gives the details followed in the 
continental nurseries, and may be had of the foreigji 
book-sellers. 
I^ilacs in September.— Two little girU 
have written that they picked all the leaves from the it 
lilac bushes In August, and had blossoms in September. 
The lilac knows much belter about the matter than our 
little friends do, and this unnatural treatment if continued 
will injure the plant. There is plenty of v\ork that they 
can do to better advantage, such as trying which sImU 
have the cleanest garden and the best flowers of their 
kind in the proper season. 
Root Pruning;, — This is pmctised upou 
dwarf trees to keep them small, and .upon standards ta 
induce them to fruit. The treatment of dwarfs was giv, 
en in January last, on page 18. The operation is per- 
formed on standards that have attained a good size, bul 
show no disposition to fruit, but the cutting is performed 
at a greater distance from the tiee, according to its size. 
A tree three inches in diameter may have the roots cuit at 
three feet from the stem. Dig out a tiench all around 
at this distance, cut off all the roots that are met, and fill 
up the trench with rich compost. 
IVXaWe Cuttin;2;s in Autuniu. — lu propa- 
gating currants, gooseberries, quinces, etc., from cut- 
tings, a full year is gained over spring planting by plant- 
ing them in autumn. During the winter the cuttings 
callus and are ready to stiike root and grov^' as soon as 
spring opens. The directions given in September in an 
article on currants, page 282, will answer for other cut- 
tings made at this season. When it is not ctmvenient to 
plant them this fall, the next best thing is lo tie the cut- 
tings in bundles and dip them in mud for one third their 
length. The mud should be sufficiently thin lo coat each 
cutting. Thus prepared, the bundles are set in u cool 
cellar and occasionally sprinkled lo keep the mud from 
becoming very dry. In spring the cuttings will usually 
be well callused, ready to strike root as soon as set out. 
Intbrntation AVanted about Fences. 
— A gentleman proposes lo us a series of questions about 
fences, which we pass over to our readers, in the assur- 
ance that in the multitude of counsellors there is xvis- 
dom, and in the liope that we shall have many specific 
answers with ilhistrations. The infoimation elicited 
will be given in Ihe Agriculturist.— -^^ What is the most 
substantial, tasteful and economical, farm fence, that will 
turn cattle, sheep, and pigs, made throughout of sawed 
stuff ?" Please answer as to the following points : 
1st. Depth of setting and shapeof posts below ground, 
whether square, straight, tapering or enlarging below. 
2d. The high t above ground ; the size and Ihe best form. 
3d. The kind of timber for posts, and time to cut it. 
4th. Whether to set them as they grew, or reversed. 
5th. How near shidl they stand to each olher. 
6lli. t?li -Mid the bottoms of the posts be charied, di[>ped 
in slacked lime, boiling tar, asphaltum, or be prepartd 
in any other way before setting, lo sejiure durability. 
7th. The kind of lumber for boards or rails, 
?th. Thickness and width of each board. 
9th. How high should the fence be, and how many 
boards or rails will be needed in each length ? 
10th. Should one be placed as a cap-rail ; if so should 
it be horizontal, or at an angle, and at what angle? 
11th. How many nails in each board, what kind of 
nails, and put how near the ends and edges of the board ? 
12th, Should the boards be battened over the ends ? 
