1872.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
289 
A Xeclinolo^icul Dictionary. — The 
greatest trouble one experiences in studying a language 
other than his own, is with the purely technical words- 
words that occur in business or the arts. If we think of 
the varied meanings that the words " stick" and tl bar " 
and eorA like have, we cm appreciate the difficulties 
which 'beset one in learning English ; and the same 
trouble attends us in learning French and German. Ordi- 
amry dictionaries fail to give us the technical uses of 
'woTdf, and we gladly welcome three email volumes from 
X. W. Schmidt, £4 Barclay st., entitled "A Technological 
'.Pocket Dictionary in the English, German, and French 
■Languages." The title sufficiently explains the scope of 
btlM work. The real value of a dictionary can only be 
learned by use, and we can only say that this appears to 
be as valuable as its mechanical appearance is neat. 
Carbolic Acia in Soap. — u F. N.," 
New Albany, Ind. The use of carbolic acid in soap is 
patented. We do not know the proportions, but in using 
it you would be infringing upon a patent right. 
Barberry Hedg;e. — " F. N.," New Albany, 
Ind. Procure the seeds in fall, and sow them then, or 
keep them in sand over winter and sow in spring. Treat 
them for one year just like cabbages or other seedling 
plants, by keeping them clear of weeds and thinning 
where too thick. 
Holly-leaved Cherry.— " P, W. M." We 
•trust we have no one in our office eostupidasnottoknow 
'the difference between the Holly-leaved Cherry and the 
Holly-leaved Barberry, especially when the one has 
simple leaves and the other compound ones; besides, the 
structure of the flowers is entirely different in the two. 
Sweet-Corn Sue leering. — We have 
reports that, one and another variety of sweet corn 
suckers badly in different parts of the country. As the 
same complaint has been made of different kinds of 
field corn, we ar^inclined to think that soil and climate 
ttCffeot thesuckering. The only remedy we can suggest, 
ris to grow those kinds in each particular locality that 
^seem beet adapted to it. Corn, whether sweet or field, is 
-veryreadily modified by locality, and any one can by a 
Tittle care in selection obtain what the gardeners call a 
• l -strain " suited to his wants. 
Colorado Potato-Bag. — Many in- 
■qtrirers. We must repeat, that if the bugs are too abun- 
dant for hand-picking, the only resort is the deadly poi- 
son, Paris green. Mix this with from twelve to twenty 
parts of flour, and sift from a perforated tin box, or one 
with a gauze cover, over th^ vines, while the dew is on. 
Keep tke stuff away from children, and do not inhale the 
dust in using. If you must use it, keep in mind its viru- 
tently poisonons character. 
Yeast Powders.- The immense and grow- 
ling consumption of the various substitutes for the old- 
fashioned saleratus we believe to be favorable to the 
(health of the community. These mixtures are, in the 
Basin, carefully compounded, so that there shall be no 
^preponderance of either acid or alkali, thus forming in 
^the bread only a harmless, neutral salt. We have nsed, 
•with ranch satisfaction, the preparation manufactured by 
'Messrs, Dooley & Brother, and sold by them very largely 
throughout the country. 
tiirape Cutting'*. — "'J; B. S.," Madison, 
Neb. You can do nothing about grape cuttings until the 
leaves fall. Then when you trim your viues make cuttings 
of two buds or eyes each, tie them in convenient bundles, 
and bury them in sand in the cellar, or out of doors in a 
place where water does not settle. In spring set in rows, 
putting the cuttings six inches apart, and one bud at the 
surface, taking care to get them right side up ; press the 
soil well to the bottom of the cuttings, and give the bed 
a mulch of leaves or litter. Most, grapes will grow, treated 
in this way, but some varieties require a propagating- 
hoase. These you can raise from layers. 
"Tlie Garden." — Mr. Robinson'6 paper, 
the establishment of which we announced at the time, 
continues its career with every appearance of prosperity. 
It differs in many respects from other English horticul- 
tural journals, and would probably best suit those of our 
readers who wish to keep the run of British horticulture. 
We are *:lad to notice that the editor finds frequent occa- 
sion to quote from our columns, and to transfer our en- 
gravings. He always gives credit in the most courteous 
manner, and is most heartily welcome. 
Jvlezunit or l?Iu«keet Grass. - J. A. 
Reagan. M.D., Buncombe Co .N. C, asks about the value 
of tk Mu-l-.cet Grass," its cultivation, and where seed can 
be procured —This is one of severaJ queries of the 6ame 
purport. In a pretty extended tour in Texas, some years 
ago, we found that several grasses were called Mezquit, 
and we do not know of any particular one which can be 
designated as the Mezquit. It may be that some of our 
Texan readers can help our correspondent. We should 
be glad to get from our friends in different parts of Texas 
specimens (mjtoiver) of the grass knownin their localities 
as Mezquit. Even so intelligent an observer as the late 
Mr. Affleck sent us the Buffalo grass as what he considered 
the true Mezquit. 
Fruit Trees. — A correspondent at Bealton, 
Va., writes : "Can you tell me how to make my fruit trees 
grow down, or heavier in the body of the tree ? I have 400 
apple-trees, and as a general thing they are too light in 
the body." — Unless the traes are crowded, we do not see 
why they shouldbe "too light in the body." An apple-tree 
that has room to develop itself properly, will naturaily 
keep a proper proportion between the trunk and head. 
Xlght-Soil for flruit Trees. — " In- 
quirer," Brunswick, Me., asks if night-soil is good dress- 
ing for apple-trees, young ot old, and if so, best way of 
application. — We would use night-soil for corn and other 
quick-growing crops, and apply a compost of stable ma- 
nure or of muck and lime to the trees. 
The Plymouth Pulpit.— Messrs. J. B. 
Ford & Co., under the title above given, publish a sermon 
of Henry Ward Beecher each week. They bow send us 
the fifth and 6ixth series, bound in two handsome volumes, 
and including the sermons of apart of 1870 and the whole 
of 1871. Mr. Beecher is a full-hearted, manly, hopeful 
man, and thoroughly impresses these characteristics upon 
his sermons, We can not conceive lhat one, whatever 
hi6 '* denomination," or even if of no particular faith, 
can read these sermons without feeling refreshed. There 
is something in them to meet every phase of life, and 
every mood and temperament. Though the writer is not 
of the Plymouth pastor's " denomination," he would no 
sooner be deprived of his Beecher than our regular readers 
would be of their Agriculturist. 
Garden and Lawn Weed.—" F. S.," 
Rothsville, Pa. Your weed is the Low or Running Mal- 
lows, Malva rotundifolia. Children eat the slimy, unripe 
fruit-capsules, and call them "cheeses." There is no 
better mode of getting rid of it than the one you suggest 
—"pulling and digging it out by the roots." There are 
no specifics for destroying weeds and leaving useful 
plants unharmed. 
The Hancock Kire-Exting;ui*lier. 
— A bucket of water at the right moment is of more use 
in checking a conflagration than a whole fire department 
would be a few moments later. The Babcock Fire-Ex- 
tinguisher claims to have at hand a liquid more efficacious 
in extinguishing fire than simple water, and with a self- 
generating force to throw the stream where it is needed. 
As we understand the apparatus, it is upon the principle 
of a soda-fountain. By the turn of a screw a quantity of 
acid is emptied into a solution of alkaline carbonate, 
thus generating a force sufficient to propel the liquid, and 
the solution, being highly charged with carbonic acid, is 
more effective than the same amount of water. The ap- 
paratus seems to be constructed upon correct principles, 
and there is abundant evidence as to its utility. 
Chicken Cholera.— " J. H. D.," Perry 
Co., 111., says that he never knew assafoetida to fail in 
curing chicken cholera. He uses a piece of the drug the 
size of a marble to two quarts of corn-meal mixed with 
water. We suppose that he first dissolves the assafoetida 
in water, though he docs not say so. The drug is not 
really soluble, but if soaked in water can be rubbed up 
into a milky mixture. 
Curious Corn. — " Bermudian Subscriber " 
will accept our thanks for specimens of abnormal corn. 
Such malformations are not very rare, had people eyed 
to notice them. One of yours is different from any wo 
have seen, and with some others that we have on ban 1 
will serve to illustrate an article on the structure of cori 
that we hope to write when the weather is less tropical. 
We are always glad to hear from our Bermudian friendi-. 
Akehia — Kalmtas from Seed. — 
" Mrs. L. E. D.," Ohio.— We have no trouble with Ake- 
bia, treating it as we would any other hardy climber. I 
the last very severe winter some of the younger twig I 
were killed. The seeds of Bothnia are so small, and tli i 
young plants so delicate, that it requires an experience 
cultivator to succeed with them. The trouble with th 
Abronia and other seeds named is probably dne to th 
fact that they were not sown as soon as ripe. It 1b fatf 
to many seeds to keep them over winter. We neve ' 
succeeded with Abrcmia fragrans. 
A Locust-Mung Orchard. — "J. R. 
E.," California, Ky. The "stinging" is mainly due to 
the incisions made by the female for the purpose of de- 
positing her eggs. The wounds, as well as the presence 
of a foreign body, the eggs, of course injure young trees. 
When the trouble "extends nearly to the ground," it 
will be cheaper to replace the trees with new ones. 
When the branches only are injured, we should cut off 
and burn the perforated portions. Probably before an- 
other visitation your trees will get so large as not to be 
seriously damaged. When the locusts once come there 
is do known help. 
Bee Notes for August— By M. Quinby. 
Any diseased stocks that have been neglected should 
be driven now. What Utile they may do will come good 
another year. In sections where buckwheat is abundant, 
boxes should be'put on with reference to it. Remove all 
boxes containing clover honey, to prevent their being dis- 
colored by that from buckwheat. As honey grows scarce, 
a weak stock will sometimes take every particle of honey 
from a box that they may have partly filled, while strong 
swarms may be gradually filling boxes. To secure honey 
from swarms disposed to remove it from the boxes, will 
require close watching. Honey in these boxes Is nice for 
the table, and it might not be safe to put the boxes on 
another hive for filling, the supply of honey being limited. 
Any swarm coming out now, should be returned to the hive 
from which it issued, after taking away tbu queen ; or thy 
half, with the queen, might be given to some queenless 
stock, and the remainder returned to the old hive. Sur- 
plus honey that has been taken off, should be watched for 
worms. Should there be any indications of the presence 
of worms, the boxes should be put in a close box and 
smoked with brimstone, caro being taken not to have 
the fumes 60 strong aB to discolor the combs. Keep good 
watch of weak colonics. If such are in movable frames, 
they may be given a comb or two of sealed brood from 
stronger ones. Queenless colonies, if in box-hives, may 
he broken up, and contents seenred, unless In sections 
where buckwheat is plenty, when it pays sometimes to 
give them a queen, thereby gaining a few combs for 
another year. 
If it is desired to rear Italian queens late in the fall, 
when native drones are gone, measnres to secure the 
Italian drones at that time should be attended to now. 
A strong Italian stock that is getting honey should be well 
provided with drone combs, that they may be filled with 
drone brood. Or, if they do not raise drones, for want of 
honey, it will be necessary to save what they have already. 
No drones are reared for the season, after thiB month. A 
queenless hive, or at least one without a laying queen, 
will preserve their drones best. ^ Remove the queen until 
about October. She may be given for the time to some 
nucleus, or some other colony. 
Another Jersey Cow.— Mr. Andrew Robe- 
son, of Tiverton, R. L, has an imported Jersey 
cow which dropped her first calf April 1st, 
1871 (when she was less than twenty-eight 
months old). From April 11th lo January 6th, 
when she was dried for calving, she gave of 
milk 6,023 lbs. She dropped her second calf 
February 8th, 1872, and from February 12th to 
March 30th, both inclusive, she gave 1,339 lbs. 
Total for the year, 7,302 lbs. Of the 365 days 
she was dry 33 days, and Iter milk was not used 
for 14 days. During the 819 days when the 
milk was weighed she gave a daily average of 
20 lbs. per day. "We cite ibis case rather because 
it is a carefully recorded one than because of the 
amount of milk given, but, at the same time, 
the cow must be commended as a very good 
one indeed, and a good representative of her 
valuable race. 
The Value of Night-Soil. 
From a German work, on "The Employment 
of Human Excreta and Animal Remains in 
Agriculture," by Wilhelm Halin, we extract 
the following statement of the value to the far- 
mer of a manure that is now almost entirely 
wasted in every part of our country. Accord- 
ing to these tables, the human excrement of 
our population of 40,000,000 is equal, in respect 
