230 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[August, 
Trouble with Currant Bashes.- 
"E; G.", Norwich, Conn., has experienced nearly a total 
failure by the dropping of the fruit. Examine the 
orahches by splitting them longitudinally and see if the 
borer has not been at work. If he is still there prune 
severely and burn the cuttings. Start new bushes from 
cuttings this autumn. 
General Fruit Book-How to re- 
cognize Fruits. — Many inquire after a book, 
which will enable them to name fruit will find Downing's 
Fruits and Fruit Trees of America the best work. It 
contains descriptions of all the standard varieties and 
has figures of most of them. See book list. 
Grape Questions, Pruning:, etc.— 
■' C. L." Fuller's Grape Culturist is the best treatise up- 
on the general management of the vine yet issued in this 
country. See our book. list. 
An unfruitful Peach Tree.— D. E. Os- 
wald has a thrifty peach tree which blossoms but has 
never borne a peach. The flower sent had its pistil so 
badly malformed that it could not develope into fruit. If 
the blossoms are all like the specimen, nothing can be 
done for the tree. 
Ants on Pear Trees, — Eudora Stone, 
Foxlpw, Mass. Tarred paper, or paper smeared with an 
ointment of rosin and lard, and bound around the trunk 
will probably keep the ants from ascending the trees. 
The Currant Worm,-S. Edward Todd 
states in the Country Gentleman that he has found that 
the currant worm could be destroyed by dusting the bush- 
es with the powder of White Hellebore, which is sold at 
the drug stores. Make a note of this for trial next year. 
Smut in Onions. — A gentleman from 
Southport, Connecticut, has shown us specimens of young, 
onions, the leaves of which were filled with a black pow r - 
der having every appearance of the smut which affects 
corn. It attacks the plants when quite young, and soon 
kills them. Large fields have been destroyed, and unless 
some means can be found of checking the evil, the culti- 
vation of the onion, in that section, will have to be 
abandoned. A free application of salt to the plants, 
while young, and a solution of copperas were suggested 
as experiments. If any readers have successfully treat- 
ed this disease-, their experience should be given for the 
benefit of others. 
* 
The Onion Crrub.— If any of the readers 
of the Agriculturist have successfully combatted the at- 
tacks of this insect they will please communicate their 
experience for the benefit of others. 
Propagation or Grapes and 5£oses. 
— " H. L.," Dayton, Ohio. Fuller's Grape Culturist gives 
minute directions for growing the grape from cuttings by 
heat. We know of two cases in which persons, quite 
inexperienced, have succeeded perfectly by following 
his book to the letter. Roses may be propagated by 
making cuttings in the fall about 8 inches long, keeping 
them in sand in a cellar or green-house over winter, 
when they will callus, and then planting out in spring- 
Free growing kinds may have cuttings taken of the 
new growth after it is mature, and put in sandy soil un- 
der a shaded frame and kept moist and close. 
Renovating; an Asparagus Bed.- 
"E. G.", Norwich, Conn., has an asparagus bed which 
has been neglected and yields poorly. Give manure 
now, and a thick covering of it over the bed in" autumn. 
Next spring sow seed and prepare for a new bed to re- 
place the worn out one. 
Sweet Basil.— W. A. Block. This is an 
aromatic herb and is much more prized in Europe than 
in this country. It is used in soups, stews and salads, to 
which it imparts its peculiar flavor, somewhat resem- 
bling that of cloves. It is annual, cut in flower, and dry. 
The Cranberry Tree again. — E. 
Holmes, of Kennebec Co., Me., puts in a protest against 
our statement that this shrub is "quite worthless for its 
fruit." He has eaten it in the wilds of Maine when it was 
a great luxury with his salt pork and hard-tack. Mr. H 
is right, and we are right. In traveling through unsettled 
countries (and we have had our experience of Arostook 
Co. and Mt. Katahdin with an additional three years 
more in the wilds of Texas and Northern Mexico), we 
know that any thing seems good, simply by contrast. But 
we are writing for civilized people and we maintain that 
the Tree Cranberry is not worth cultivating for its fruit, 
because there are many better things. On another page 
we mention that we have eaten purslane and thought it 
good; but we don't recommend the cultivation of purs- 
lane as long as we can grow spinach. Having had our 
say. we quote the conclusion of Mr. Holmes very pleas- 
ant letter : "The berries, where not exposed to the ravages 
of birds and the thrashings of high winds, will remain on 
the bushes until next May, and thus make a beautiful 
winter ornament. After they have been frosted severely 
the "bitterness" of which you complained is destroyed 
and the acid is more mild and agreeable. The berries 
may be then cooked and passed through a colander, to 
separate the pulp from the Seeds, and used for sauce, or 
pies, in addition to other Jixiyis. A very pleasant juice 
resembling cider may be expressed from the thawed ber- 
ries in winter. I have never known any gathered and 
laid down as preserves as are other small fruits, because 
they preserve themselves all winter on the bush, when 
growing in situations above named. Now I don't believe 
you would knowingly, or willingly injure or abuse even 
a cranberry bush. I hope you will retract your accusa- 
tion of its * being worthless for its fruit ' and allow that it 
is both beautiful and useful whether for flower or fruit 
and worthy of cultivation for its many merits." 
Treatment of Bulbs. — "A subscriber," 
Noblesville, Ind. Gladiolus, Tigridra and Tuberose are 
to be taken up as soon as the frost kills their leaves. 
With Oxalls Deppii there will be found several bulbs or 
buds at the top of the root, which keep in dry sand. 
" Verbena montana," etc. — There has 
been much talk about this, and it has been noticed in 
some journals as a new, fine, and hardy Verbena from the 
Rocky Mountains. This summer dried specimens have 
been received, and were determined to be the old Verbena 
aubletia, an opinion which has been corroborated by the 
highest botanical authority in this country and also by 
one of the most distinguished florists of England. Verbe- 
na aubletia is found wild in Illinois and southward. In 
comparison with our garden sorts, it is a coarse plant, 
and though it is not unworthy of cultivation, it ought to 
stand in its proper name and on its own merits. There 
has of late been a persistent attempt to bring forward 
common native plants under unfamiliar names; these 
have high colored descriptions, and many who buy plants 
or seeds from these will be sadly disappointed. Our rea- 
ders need not be told that we advocate the cultivation of 
every American plant worthy of a place in the garden, its 
native origin being to us an additional recommendation. 
But we do object to introducing under the name of 
"Prairie Flowers" and "Rocky Mountain Plants" a lot 
of worthless trash. Last season one of our principal 
seedsmen published in his catalogue a list of plants from 
the prairies under their botanical names. We saw at a 
glance that the majority of these seeds were those of 
vile weeds, and informed the dealer, who very properly 
suppressed the list. There maybe some desirable things 
offered in this way, but there is so much of either 
ignorance or humbug mixed with it that we must advise 
our readers to beware of American novelties, until they 
can learn that they have been properly tested. 
Gazania splendens, etc.—" J. S..", 
Brunswick, Me. This is not a hardy plant. Downing's 
mulberry originated at New-burgh, N.Y., and is perfectly 
hardy there, where they have quite-severe winter. 
Hiimbugs- (i Howard Association." 
—Several persons have from time to time written us, that 
we were wrong in denouncing this and that advertising 
"Doctor," "Medicine," etc., each one of the writers 
claiming to have experienced or seen remarkable cures 
by some one of these " doctors " or medicines. In most 
cases, doubtless, the persons thus writing are the em- 
ployed agents of the parties in whose behalf they write. 
But in some cases, at least, they speak candidly. Many 
persons imagine themselves "cured" of a distressing 
disease, which was only an imaginary, or very slight one 
at first. Nine-tenths of all the cancer and other remark- 
able "cures" are merely natural recoveries from sup- 
posed terrible maladies. A stimulant in a medicine has 
made one feel well for the time being, and the medicine 
has been lauded to the skies as the curing agent. 
Cooking in Summer, — Have those of the 
many readers of the Agriculturist, who live in towns and 
tillages where gas is used, ever tried, a gas stove ? Gas, 
as ordinarily burned to produce light, will smoke any 
vessel placed over it to be heated. In a gas stove the 
gas is first mixed with air, and then it bums with a flame 
which gives but little light, but a great deal of heat, 
and the combustion is so complete, that no smoke is 
produced. In preparing meals in summer, all that is 
required is heat enough to boil a teakeltleful of wafer 
and cook some simple dish. To build a fire to do this, 
makes a great waste of fuel, besides heating the apart- 
ment uncomfortably. In a gas stove the fire Is kindled 
in an instant, and as soon as it has performed its office, 
it is extinguished by the turn of a stop-cock. For pre- 
paring breakfast and tea a small gas stove will be found 
wonderfully convenient, if not economical. Those who 
live where gas is not supplied, will be glad to know that 
the inventions for using kerosene or coal oil are assum- 
ing a practical shape. We have recently tried one of 
these kerosene-stoves, of the kind advertised in our col- 
umns, and found that, reckoning the oil at the highest 
price, we could boil a gallon of water for less than two 
cents' worth of fuel. The apparatus was perfectly new, 
and there is no doubt that subsequent experiments will 
show a lower cost. The same stove is calculated for 
frying, stewing and other small culinary operations. 
Doubtless there are many families who are so situated 
that they would find an article of this kind economical ; 
but with an equal cost with other fuel, the ease with 
which it is managed, and the ability to cook without 
overheating the room, will commend the kerosene-stove 
to the attention of hundreds. 
To Polish Patent Leather about 
Carriages, etc.— W. C. Hart, Orange Co., N. Y., 
writes to the American Agriculturist as follows : " The 
' dash ' and bodies of wagons covered with patent leath- 
er, and parts of harness of the same, as the blinders, sad- 
dle, etc., may be polished by taking sweet oil and apply- 
ing it with a sbft piece of muslin ; after well oiling let it 
remain for a few hours, then take a piece of muslin that 
is soft and pliable, and polish by rubbing. It will look 
as well as new, and well repay the trouble. 
Coffee Mixtures and Substitutes. — 
Hundreds of these are in the market, many of them worth- 
less—not a few deleterious, and none of them equal to the 
real article. The latter however has reached such a 
price that a palatable and wholesome substitute is desira- 
ble in many families. The London Club Coffee contains 
a portion of the pure Java, and having been made ac- 
quainted with its entire com posi lion, we can say the addi- 
tions are not hurtful. The flavor is agreeable, superior to 
that of samples sold as pure coffee, roasted and ground. 
Surface Signs of Water. — "H. E. P.," 
Passaic Co., N. J. There are no signs that indicate 
surely where water may be found in many places. Still 
there are some external evidences of water which may 
be observed with advantage in locating wells. For in- 
stance where the water comes out all along on a hill-side 
it is highly probable that a well dug higher up on the hill 
will strike water when it comes to the level of the 
springy places or before. A knowledge of the geological 
structure of the country furnishes the only men ns of 
judging, and this would fail to be a good practical guide 
in many cases. 
To render Surface Waters whole- 
some.— "E. J, J.," of Geneva Co., N. T., writes 
to the American Agriculturist that 40 years' experience 
confirms him in the opinion that boiling surface water, 
and allowing it to cool before drinking will thoroughly rid 
it of any injurious miasmatic, or other effects, so that it will 
no longer cause diarrhoea, dysentery and similar com- 
plaints. Our own experience is similar. Boiling frees 
water from many impurities, which fact is well known to 
our soldiers. 
Insects to be iianied.-J. L. Albreelit. 
The cocoon is that of the C ectopia moth, Attacus Cecro- 
pia. The caterpillar lives on fruit trees. We know of 
no attempts to utilize the silk R. D. Weeks, Essex 
Co., N. J., sends Galeruca duodecimpunctata, the ]2-spot- 
ted Galeruca. It is own brother to the striped bug, and 
even more destructive than that pest, as it will attack 
full-grown leaves of squash vines and rapidly destroy 
them. We have never seen them in very large numbers, 
and cleared the vines of thern by catching them early ir 
the morning. The insect is of the size and shape of a 
large Lady-bug, of a dull yellow color with 12 black spots. 
Plants for Names.- Lucy Wilson, Flag- 
staff, Somerset Co., Me., sends a leaf of what appeals 
to be the Day-lily. It is a Funkia of some kind. The 
white-flowered one is F, subcordata, and the blue or vio- 
let one is F. ovata. Both are hardy garden peiennials of 
the easiest culture. Miss W. also sends a wild plant, the 
Cassandra calyculata, or Leather-leaf. It is one of the 
prettiest small shrubs of our northern bogs. Its buds are 
largely developed in autumn, and if gathered any time in 
winter and put in a glass of water in a warm room its 
beautiful white bell-shaped flowers will soon open 
Mrs. J. A. Walter, sends a strawberry from Utah that is 
so much crushed we cahnot identify it . . A. Hulsey, La- 
salle Co., HI., sends a Clematis. We cannot determine 
whether it is C, Viorna, or C. Pitcheri, from the speci- 
men. Send the fruit. ..."E. C. H."j Mt. Kisco, N* Yij 
