1867.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
9 
Large Poultry Estaolisnment.— "We 
are gratified to learn that a project is set on foot by/ honor- 
able and responsible parties, well fitted for the under- 
taking, to test the question of the profit of a large poultry 
farm. It is proposed to he locate the farm near New 
York, and attention will he given to raising pure breeds 
for sale, and also eggs and poultry for market. We think 
the success of this enterprise would put the trade in 
fancy poultry on a reliable basis. 
Sliding or Balance Gates.— These 
gates made as described in the Agriculturist for June last, 
page 219, and in the number for November, 1864, p. 312, 
are so simple and excellent, that many of our readers 
have adopted them, and some are annoyed by persons 
who have patented "improvements" upon the principle 
which consist in swivel rollers of different patterns (we 
know of three). The parties who sell those rollers, or 
the rights for their use, tell the public that their patent 
covers the use of the gate— which is not true. It only 
covers the rollers, which are, perhaps, an improvement 
for gates much used, but not for field gates opened no 
oftener than ordinary bars. We supposed that the prin- 
ciple of the gate itself was not patented until quite re- 
cently. Now it seems that it is one of those still-horn 
patents which are given and not used — no effort being 
made to introduce it extensively. The Patentee is Ami 
C. Tell, of Galesburg, 111., whose patent covers the prin- 
ciple. The fact that this principle is patent should dis- 
courage no one who wishes to use it. The roller Paten- 
tees, however, should themselves make terms for the use 
of the principle. 
Potatoes in a Warm Cellar. — "J. 
W.." Rehoboth. Mass. No vegetables will keep well 
in a warm cellar, except sweet potatoes. The tempera- 
ture should be as low as possible, and yet not freeze. A 
mild uniform temperature is betterthan a fluctuating one, 
averaging considerably lower. A cellar where the ther- 
mometer will stand between 40° and 46° in winter 
weather, will keep roots perfectly well. Keep the cellar 
well ventilated, the potatoes covered with straw, and 
watch the temperature to guard both against heat and cold. 
Experience with SorgSium. — L. Graf- 
ton, of Pulaski Co., Ind.. writes, giving his experience 
as a sorghum syrup boiler. He says that the old original 
black seeded sort makes the best molasses. The nicer it 
is stripped, the better, and green cane makes an inferior 
product. He appears not to hold strongly to the theory, 
that green cane makes sugar, while the ripe makes syrup. 
Cane cut when ripe, and woqked up will make more syrup 
than if stored a while, but it improves the quality of the 
product to store the cane. He planted the White African 
cane on good black soil, and expected to make sugar. A 
small quantity cut early and boiled down, tasted salty. 
This was accounted for by its having been evaporated in 
a meat pot. A quantity of juice expressed with a light 
pressure, boiled down in an evaporating pan. had no 
such taste, but when a hard pressure was given, the syrup 
had the same "tang" again. 
Arbor or Trellis.— G. T. Tanner, Bristol 
Co., Mass., has his vines planted, and asks if he shall put 
up an arbor or a trellis for them. A trellis by all means, 
aa the vines have a much better exposure to light and air, 
ate always accessible, and easily kept under control. If an 
arbor is needed for a screen, we would cover it with vines, 
but never build one on purpose for vines. 
»o Weeds Emigrate witU a I»eople? 
is the substance of a letter from a " Doubter.'' They do 
just as fir as the people take the seeds of weeds along 
with them. The more civilized the people, Ihe more 
agricultural and other seeds they would take from their 
old home, and would thus sow many weeds with their 
first crop. Besides, the seeds of weeds will be taken in 
Ihe wool of sheep, in packing straw and other material, 
and in a hundred unthought of ways. Some seeds are 
carried by the winds, and others by streams, but the great- 
er number arc taken to a new country by human agency. 
Tree JVotlicinc — We have in general terms 
expressed our opinion, that no medicine would help trees, 
—and have refused the advertisement of several of these 
tree medicines. We find the following in the Country 
Gentleman, of Nov. 22, in relation to one of these com- 
pounds: "J. D. Wisencr. Weal Dresden, writes ns as 
follows: P. S. Sheldon's patent composition for fruit 
Irees has been tested in this vicinity, this season, on 
hundreds of trees. The result has been worse than fail- 
ure, as it has killed quite a number of thrifty trees, and 
others are as good as dead. It was removed a few weeks 
after it was applied, or it would have been far worse for 
the trees. Wherever it washes down the tree, the bark 
dies and cracks open to the wood. There are also borers 
in the trees now." The advertisement of this stuff was 
offered to us, and when its composition was made known, 
we refused to publish it, on the ground that we could not 
see how a well known poison could kill the borers, unless 
actuallyplaced in their holes, and that injury might result 
from its use. The above shows that our view was correct, 
and all other persons having tree medicines for sale will 
please take notice. We have before us a circular of a 
"Patent Fruit Tree Invigorator," which does still more 
wonders, and makes '"mineral gases," and "airgasses"' 
forma strong bud, besides a lot more of "gas"' about 
keeping worms, curculios and borers from the tree. 
Unnatnral Grafting*. — "Inquirer" takes 
exception to onr statement, that a common chestnut will 
not be converted into a Spanish chestnut by grafting on 
the Horse-chestnut. He cites the grafting of the pear 
upon the Hawthorn as an instance of the union of plants 
as dissimilaras the Chestnut and the Horse-chestnut. The 
best advice we can give our friend is. to study the structure 
of plants a little, and he will not be so apt to be misled 
by similarity of names. He has seen somewhere a draw- 
ing of a Horse-chestnut stock prepared for grafting with 
the Chestnut. We can beat that : we have seen a drawing 
of a peach not only grafted on, but growing on a willow 
tree ! The value of a drawing depends upon its source. 
Death of" Siewold. — Perhaps no one else 
has so largely contributed to our knowledge of Japan and 
its productions, as Philippe Francois de Siebold. who died 
at Munich, the ISth of Oct. last, at about the age of 70. 
He accompanied the expedition sent by the Dutch Govern- 
ment to Japan about the year 1823, and resided there for 
a number of years, in the enjoyment of peculiar facilities 
for acquiring information about the country and for 
procuring plants. Of late years, introductions from Japan 
have been numerous, but horticulturists must ever he 
indebted to Siebold for some of their choicest plants. 
§al£ as a Manure. — "The reason why 
salt acts as a manure," says the N. T. Tribune, " is be- 
cause it contains much of the quality of unleached ashes. 1 ' 
Shade of Solon !— Takedst thou thy mantle with thee 
when thouwentest at novel writing? — In the same way 
a stone quarry ' contains much of the quality of a brick 
meeting house. Salt contains soda : ashes contain pot- 
ash. Potash and soda are about as mnch alike, being 
alkalies, as brick and stone. Ashes are alkaline, salt is 
not. Soluble potash (contained in ashes) is a rare, yet 
very desirable substance in most soils ; soda (contained 
in salt) exists in abundance — more than the plants need. 
The uses of salt m agriculture are more discussed and 
less understood than almost every thing else. Its action 
may be beneficial, or the reverse, and it is often neutral. 
Long Keeping- Sqnasues. — H. L. Loo- 
mis, Westfield, Mass.. writes, that a squash, a cross of 
the Hubbard with some other, raised in 1SG5, kept sound 
until the middle of Nov., IS06, and asks if we ever "before 
knew a squash to keep 15 months. We have frequently 
known the old Winter Crookneck to keep until the same 
kind was ripe again, a year at least. 
Coal Tar and BSats. — A. Ransom, of 
Ulster Co.. N. Y., says that rats dislike coal tar very niuch, 
and that he is in the habit of daubing it about their holes 
and runs, with good results. Taking the hint from the 
suggestion to dip rats in red paint, he proposes to dip 
some in coal tar and let them go. Mr. Gilbert J. Green, 
says: "Coal tar. mixed with sand, to the consistency of 
thick mortar, is an effectual stopper to rat holes. The 
process isnot patented, and a sure cure is warranted." 
"Wonderful Phenomena. — Accounts of 
phenomena are frequently sent tons for an explanation, 
which, as they are related, arc inexplicable. Many per- 
sons, who would not for any consideration misrepresent 
a thing, are simply inaccurate observers. For in-. 
we have an account of a quince found two and a hall" (eel 
below the surface of a gravel bed. The quince "had all 
the appearance of stone'' when broken to get oni the 
seeds, which were planted and givw. Ii is assumed t lint 
this was a petrified quince, and we are asked, ll how long 
would a <piiu.ee lie buried before it would petrify, and how 
long would the seeds lie in it and come out in a condition 
to germinate. 11 In an ordinary grovel bed ii Is not prob- 
able that a quince would ever ]vtrify, and no one can tell 
how long seeds will retain their vitality when boiled be- 
low the influences thai Induce germination. Had this 
been h really petrified quince, containing Living seeds, it 
would be very strange, but the probabilities are all 
against its being Buch, and the buried quince ceases to be 
wonderful knottier remarkable instance is cited, of a 
Black Currant bush, in the crotch of a pear tree, where it 
grew and produced fruit for many years, T<» decide 
whether this presents anything out of the ordinary course 
of things, one must examine what is the real relation be- 
tween tho two. The crotch of the pear tree may have 
formed a convenient depression to retain dust, decayed 
leaves, etc., and thus forma soil for the bush: the case 
would then be no more strange than if it grew in a flower 
pot. We notice, almost every season, Ailanthus trees, 
two feet or more high, growing upon the stone window 
caps of buildings in New York City. Some plants, if 
shaded, will get along with an astonishingly small amount 
of soil, and the Ailanthus finds enough in the dust of the 
crevices of a stone or brick building to allow it to make 
a vigorous growth. A good observer puts objects through 
as searching a cross-questioning as a good lawyer does a 
witness. Every child should be taught some branch of 
natural science, if for no other purpose than to teach him 
how to observe accurately. The lack of this power gives 
rise to a large proportion of the wonderful stories that are 
spread abroad and handed down in print and by tradition. 
Is Snow a Fertilizer ? — " Farmer," of 
Sullivan Co., N. Y., writes: "I have frequently heard it 
said that snow is very beneficial to land, and hence it is 
sometimes called the 'poor man's manure.' Although 
this is a commonly received opinion. I have hitherto 
failed to meet with any one who could explain it upon 
philosophical principles, and have been led to doubt 
the truth of the assertion. Why is it said to he so *?' — 
Answer. — Snow absorbs from the atmosphere very con- 
siderable quantities of ammonia, which is especially 
abnndant in the air near cities, as it is set free from coal 
and other fuel. It is a warm covering, protecting the 
plants covered by it, especially such as the grasses and 
winter grains, from the unfavorable action of frost, for it 
matters little how deeply the ground is frozen, a good bed 
of snow lying upon it several weeks will thaw it all. and 
even permit a growth of grain and grass to take place 
under it. When it melts, the soil has the benefit of the 
ammonia, and any fertilizing dust that the snow may have 
caught, and the snow-water besides contains much 
oxygen — hence the effects are like those of manure, and 
the reason for the popular judgment, which is quite right. 
I*. I*. Pea. — Seedsmen and all others will 
please take notice. In August last, we published a note 
from a valued correspondent, to the effect that Cartcr"s 
First Crop Pea, was a late one. Our friend, by some mis- 
take, had got the wrong sort. In September, pages 311 
and 31-1, we gave testimony on the other side. These last 
articles seem to have been overlooked, as we still get 
many notes from Seedsmen and others, on the matter. 
Now, be it xmderstood that, as far as evidence can go. 
Carters First Crop Pea is a first-rate thing, and please 
don't write us any more about that particular pea. 
3) £ flic alt to Answer. — W. L. Lent, Seneca 
Co., Ohio, asks: " Can grapes or Osage Orange be grown 
on a clay side-hill, from which the surface soil has been 
removed by grading? "—Generally, no : but there are 
some kinds of drift, often called clay, that are good grape 
lands. It is a local question, and difficult to answer. 
lame TVatcr and Cream of Lime. — 
" L. R. V."— Lime water is a saturated solution of lime. 
Lime is very little soluble in water, one part requiring 
about 700 parts of water. A quantity of slacked lime is 
put into alight vessel of water and stirred up, and after 
the undissolved portion has settled, the clear liquid is 
poured off. Cream of lime, or milk of lime, is water with 
enough undissolved lime in it to make a thick mixture. 
Pelargonium will not Bloom. — "S. 
F. S.," Setauket, L. I. One of the difficult cases to 
answer, as you do not say whether it is in a dwelling or 
green-house. In cither case pelargoniums need to be 
kept rather dry and cool until towards spring, and then 
be started into growth by plenty of heal, light and water. 
Iffu1»1>ai-<1 Sqnash.— ** Stat en Island."— 
This variety will sometimes come splashed with orange 
colored spots, and be in all other respects like the clay- 
colored. One of the distinctive characters off the Hub- 
bard is its very hard shell. 
Insect on ■•iiimw and Cherries* — 
Q. Tniiar, Oswego (o.. x. y. The [need thai destroys 
ynm- plums and cherries, is the CnrcoUo, which Is able to 
fly as well as to elinib. Any invention for preventing 
its ascending trees will therefore be of UtUi 
Snails in 111** Cellar. — J. \Y. Hath/ 
Macon County, in., finds that a toad kept in a cellar 
where snail- are troublesome, soon disposes of them.— 
Mother writes thai he has found a land tortoise or ter- 
rapin to perform the same - 
Salt the #liigr> and Snails.— J. S. 
Swain, of Jacksonville, Fla,, eays, sail sprinkled freely 
in the haunts of snails and Bluga in the cellar, is a perfect 
bane to them. He baa tried it with BQi 
