18G-1.] 
AMERICAN 
AG-RIO ULTURI S 
■■ ■ 
r. 
n;r> 
s. Robinson— Had 50 maple trees deitroyed b) planting 
too low . sel 50 more Last yew at the propel depth end 
they « fie ;ttl ;ili\ i\ 
Solon Robinson— Alluded to the decay of young or- 
chords in Now England. 
Mr. Field— The reason why young trees did not suc- 
ceed like old ones, was owing to the exhaustion of the 
soil. Old orchards were set on virgin soil, « Ltlch had not 
been poisoned by the excrements of other plants. 
Mr. Carpenter— Some sorts had lived out theft time, 
of 30 N. v. Pippins, sol out seven years ago, only 1 treo 
was lefl ; other sorts, very fine, were either diseased >>r 
running out Trees were no! pruned as they should be. 
The orchard should be pruned when young, beginning 
when the limbs ore no larger round than the finger. 
Dr. Ward— Is it advisable to trench vineyards? 
Mr. Holton— The best conducted and most successful 
vineyards on the continent are trenched. 
Mr. Carpenter— The success of the vine depends more 
on alter culture, than on trenching. 
It. S, Williams— Both may err, those who always ad- 
\ Ise Irenchlng, and those who recommend none at all. 
Grape vines near a spring grow well, but do not ripen 
fruit. It is absurd to dig a trench 3 or 4 feet deep In good 
soil, but if the subsoil is a tenacious clay, subsoiling is 
necessary to promote capillary attraction. 
Containing a Treat variety of 'Items, including many 
good Hints and Suggestions which we give in small type 
and condensed form, for want of space elsewhere. 
To Correspondents Once More. — 
We cannot answer many personal inquiries, and do not 
like to devote time to this and pay return postage besides. 
Sometimes it is impossible ; for instance Mr. C. H. C. 
writes about some point in grape culture and sends a 
stamp for reply. We write an answer and look for the 
address to put on the envelope, and all the clue he gives 
us is, Chester Co.j Pa, There are over 90 Post Offices 
in that county, and we can not look over the mail list of 
each of these as it would take a long time, so Mr. C.'s 
answer instead of going to Chester Co., goes into the 
waste basket. This is only one of hundreds of similar 
Visceof indefiniteness in letters received. 
Asking Questions*— A letter before us 
ssks how to make an asparagus bed. This is a sample 
of numerous queries which have been answered over and 
over again. This year the calendar lias contained suffi- 
cient directions for asparagus with notes in the "Basket" 
and elsewhere. Will notour readers look through the 
Calendar and index of the current year, if they have only 
that, before they make queries about the culture of com- 
mon things. We are willing to answer useful ques- 
tions, and sometimes those we have already anticipated. 
l>istrU»iiting- Seeds. — Some of our cor- 
respondents, when they have saved a fair stock of seeds 
of some particular thing, ask us to say to our subscribers 
that they will he glad to distribute to those who apply. 
We do not publish these notices, as we wish to save our 
readers from disappointment. Unless one has fine seeds 
by the pound and coarse ones by the barrel, and a half 
dozen people with nothing else to do but put them up, he 
had better not offer seeds to the readers of the Agricul- 
turist. Letters will come in by tens of thousands, the 
person who offers will not be able to supply the hundredth 
part of the demand, and he will be blamed for proposing 
to do what is generally impossible for ordinary cultiva- 
tors to accomplish. The regular subscribers number 
about a hundred thousand, and the rcadrrs hundreds of 
thousands. What one will like to get, many thousand 
others will also want, especially if it is offered free. One 
subscriber offered seeds in this way, and received over 
13,000 applications for the 400 parcels he had to give. 
The Agriculturist ' Strawberry. — 
We are propagating plants as rapidly as possible, with all 
the more satisfaction as another year gives evidence of its 
great hardiness. It will be hardly fair to expect much 
from our plants in the way of fruit this year, they have 
been 60 severely taxed in multiplying the stock. Still 
we hope the berry will tell a pretty good story for itself 
at the coming Strawberry Show. 
A Secure Investment.— The 1040 United 
States Loan advertised in our columns and referred to 
lasi month, is being rapidly taken up, not only by capi- 
talists, hut by private individuals who have small sums 
not wanted for present use. The recent glorious suc- 
cesses of our armies are well calculated to strengthen 
confidence in the penuaiu'iUT t>l the Federal Govern- 
ment, if any doubts could be previously entertained. 
w e con, without hesitation, advlsi all who have money 
to lay by permanently or for a short time, to avail them* 
. rh e ol iii«' present opportunity. 
Death <>t* a Prominent A^i'icultu- 
rt»C— Edward G. Palle.Inte President of tho N, v. State 
Agricultural Society died recently at Ids resilience In 
Westchester County. Although a merchant by profes- 
sion, Mr. Falls has long been known as a must successful 
stock breeder and farmer. His influence was « [dely 
felt In connection with the Stale Agricultural Society, 
of which he was many years a prominent member, from 
the Presidency of which ho retired only last February. 
His sterling qualities as a man and a Christian made 
him universally respected and beloved. 
Oyster Shell Lime.- "A: W. R," Cedar 
Co., Iowa. Shell lime is abundant on the sea-hoard, and 
costs from 6c to 12c. per bushel, but It will not pay to 
transport it far inland. This is the best agricultu- 
ral lime, but good building lime is nearly as efficient, 
and some cheap kinds are often more valuable on 
the soil than higher priced, whiter and finer qualities. 
Manure for Caouages.— " E. S.," Cam- 
den Co., N. J. If barn-yard manure can not be had, 
use muck and ashes on sandy soil, or ashes alone in soil 
rich In vegetable matter. Use some sort of liquid ma- 
nure while the plants are growing. An application of 
salt is said to make them head ; we never tried it. 
Manure for Strawberries. — Mrs. F. 
E. G. Stoddard, Northampton, (State not given,) says 
that the ashes of sea-weed applied to strawberries have 
produced wonderful results in flavor, size, and yield. 
" A good quantity " was applied, but amount not stated. 
Those who live near the shore will do well to repeat the 
experiment. Mrs, S. finds that a sprinkling every even- 
ing is better for fruit than profuse occasional waterings. 
Seedling; Strawberries. — Rev. A. G. 
Perkins, Dakota Co., Minn. It is very common for 
chance seedlings to be produced from fruit dropped from 
the vines. Some fine varieties have originated in this 
way. As it is usually three years before they come into 
fruit, there is but little danger of a careful observer mis- 
taking these seedlings for the original stock. Cultiva- 
tion in hills and allowing only the runners needed for 
new plants to grow, will obviate any difficulty. 
Everbearing; Strawberries. — W. O. 
Crittenden, Olmstead Co., Minn. "We have never seen 
any of these worth cultivating ; they bear a few berries 
through the season, but do not give a good picking at 
any one time. Unless you have something better than 
any now known, it is not worth propagating. 
Plants tor I\ames.— A. B. Gage, Jasper 
County, III., and F. L. Bull, Shelby County, 0., both 
send Mertcnsia Virginica, called Lungwort or Virginian 
Cowslip. It is one o'f the prettiest native perennials of 
the West and should be cultivated much oftenerihan it 
is H. Roe, Fairfield Co., Conn. The seed appears to 
be that of the true millet, Panicum miliaceum J.N. 
Kanaga, Floyd Co., Ind., sends Callinsia verna. This 
is a neat little annual which appears among the early 
(lowers of the West. C. bicolor, from California, is 
grown in gardens and this, though small, might find a 
place there "S. E. S.", East Setauket, sends a Pelar- 
gonium flower which tends to become double after the 
manner described for the rose on page 177 R. D. 
Gray, Armstrong Co., Pa. The plant is the Globe Ama- 
ranth, Gomphrena globosa, an annual easily raised if the 
seeds are first scalded. It is useful in the garden and in 
dried bouquets. 
Brooks 4 Writing; anil Toilet Case 
advertised in the May number, is a most convenient 
travelling companion, well adapted for soldiers' use. It 
contains wriling and sewing materials, and other small 
articles frequently needed, but not always easily attain 
able away from home. The whole is compactly envel- 
oped in water-proof cloth. It would make a capital lit- 
tle present to a friend in the army. 
" Agriculture of Mass." — Another 
Annual Volume of the doings of th« Mass. Board of Ag- 
riculture is before us— by the favor of Mr. Charles L. 
Flint, Secretary, than whom there are few whose contri- 
butions to agricultural literature are more justly popular 
and really valuable. The farmers of the "Bay State" 
are happy in having a Board of such liberal views, and 
the expense to the Slate of the publication and distribu- 
tion of a volume of this kind annually, is an hundred fold 
returned if a proper use of the work is made by the farm- 
books we all know. We take the liberty ol propo In 
the subjecl ol an " Agricultural E ppcrimeni Station," on 
the plan of those of Germany, to the consideration ol 
this enterprising body, 
N. B.— The Sunday School Booltv- 
Someofour friends In ordering Sunda) School 
get to allow for the postage— an. Important Item to 
and are doubtless disappointed In not receiving quid a 
many books as ihey order. Plea i obsei i tin following 
table and remil accordingly— allowing 3 .this each foi 
any number over 10 coplei 
l copy, 1 1 cent 
$ copies, 28 cenU, 
3 copies, 12 cents. 
> c ipli . 52 cents. 
5 copies, M cents, 
<i copies, so cents. 
i cop i M centt 
B coph i G . , at 
copies, i 10 i cm 
Illustrated Horse Management.— 
The Illustrated Horse Doctor by the same author, Ed 
ward Mayhew, member of the Royal College of Veteri- 
nary Surgeons, etc., has been received with grca fa 
by the lovers of the hor.se. The diseases ol the horse In 
this counlry arc no similar to those with which he le af- 
flicted in Great Britain, that for the most part that work 
has been found well adapted to our wants. The same 
may be said of the book now before us, Issued by Lip- 
plncott & Co., and though it is written with especial rcl- 
erencc to horses which enjoy the highest degree of "civ- 
ilization, "'it contains a vast amount of knowledge which 
would profit even the rangers of the great plains. An 
admirable humaneness pervades the works of this author, 
a genuine love of the noble animal, and a pointed way 
of rebuking the revolting cruelties which many, kind- 
hearted men even, practise under the plea of necessity. 
The illustrations are from Mr. Mayhew's own pencil, 
and are very striking and instructive. To him who looks 
at the pictures alone and reads barely enough to know 
what they are about, the book is worth all it costs. The 
work is devoted not only to the management of the horse, 
but equally to that mismanagement which impairs the 
usefulness, induces disease, and shortens the lives of so 
many horses. Sent by mail, post-paid, for $3 50. 
Hints to Riflemen.— This Is the modest 
and attractive title of a neat volume, fully illustrated on 
the rifle and its use, by H. W. S. Cleveland. Every man 
who owns a rifle would do well to possess himself of this 
little book, for it discusses what makes a good rifle, de- 
scribing the prominent ones in use, how to lake care of and 
use the rifle, the principles of projectiles, and the various 
circumstances which govern the flight of balls. We have 
studied it with no little interest and profit. As game dis- 
appears before improved agriculture, our people are los- 
ing their skill with the rifle, and shot-gun too, to such an 
extent that in many districts a gun is seen and handled 
by the majority of the male population as a curiosity. 
The lormation of Rifle Clubs has already commenced, 
and properly managed there might be thus afforded not 
only an agreeable pastime, but knowledge of, and skill 
with, a weapon upon which to a greater extent than 
we realize, may depend the liberties of the Republic. 
Xlie Spencer Rifle.— Wc had the pleas- 
ure of examining at Ihe Office of the Agriculturist, some 
of these remarkable pieces which were presented by the 
Spencer Rifle Co., of Boston, to the Metropolitan Fair 
More than 20,n00 of these rifles and carbines are now in 
use by our soldiers, and no doubt doing terrible work 
in the exciting days in the midst of which wc go to 
press. This piece is so constructed that by the simple 
motion of a lever-guard which shuts over the trigger, 
it is loaded ; no capping or priming is needed. It ran 
thus be charged and fired faster than any man can take 
correct aim, and when the shots contained in the 
" magazine " which is in the breech are all fired, it can be 
reloaded with 7 or 9 cartridges much quicker than a 
common rifle can be loaded with one. Both officers and 
men in the army speak in enthusiastic terms of this 
rifle, as never failing, never getting out of order, and 
very accurate. The loading may be done with one hand. 
The National Almanac and Annn- 
nl Record for 1864 .— G. W. fluids, of Philadelphia, 
has published the second number of this most valuable 
annual All statistics and facts relating to the coun- 
try, whether in the Generator State Governments, the or- 
ganization and principle rules of the army, navy, postal 
and other departments, are given, and abstracts of public 
laws. Statistics of Territories of the United States and 
of Foreign countries, election returns and a host of other 
things are classified and condensed into a neat volume of 
641 pages, which form the most useful work of reference 
of its kind in print. Sent by mail for $1.50. 
Chip Manure-Pond Bind.— Gilbert 
Rogers, Crawford Co., Pa., writes that he has rotten 
