1867.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
435 
Co., dealers in bogus watches, is Bent instead of any of 
those of the respectable firms whose names have been 
used without authority. It is better to buy a ten dollar 
watch or any other article that is worth the money, of a 
dealer whom you know, than to send it to a villain ex- 
pecting to get a hundred dollar article in return, and get 
nothing, or a bogus thing of no value. A Chicago Dodge. 
— "E. C. S," Franklin Co., Me., sends us a letter, which 
ne, received from a Chicago sharper. Said sharper writes 
(hat he has bought out the business of a firm in Ann 
Arbor, and finds by their books that "E. C. S." has sent 
money for an obscene publication, which had not been 
forwarded. He asks for sixty-four cents to pay the post- 
age, wben he will send the book. " E. C. S."- hopes you 
may get it Mr. Chi-Carr-go. There are villains so wretched 
as to send circulars to respectable people of both sexes 
too vile to be mentioned in a public journal. In most 
cases the overdose is its own antidote, but lest some in- 
valid and unwary persons should catch at these straws, 
we advise all to burn at sight every paper that savors of 
quackery or villainy. Of this class are C. D. Murphy & 
Co., L. J. Merton & Co.. Kuhu & Co., Reeves & Tuttle, 
Hosea B. Carter, Charles Elmer. Many parties send hum- 
bug tickets and notices of prizes drawn, etc., to us for 
collection, offering liberal commissions, or half the pro- 
ceeds for collection. Money could be made more rapidly 
and more honorably by gathering rags in the streets than 
by running after one of these villainous schemes, and we 
include lotteries, gift sales and gift enterprises of every 
kind. We have the assurance from hundreds, that 
our exposures of humbugs during the year have saved 
thousands of dollars, mostly to the poor, and themselves 
from many regrets. Our efforts in this line will be con- 
tinued, and we invite all our readers to assist us by send- 
ing information, circulars, etc., with responsible names 
(not for publication), and by calling attention to our ar- 
ticles on this subject, and thus saving thousands more. 
Letters Ouce More. — "We have requested 
that those who send postage for a reply should send a 
stamp and no more. We do not write letters for pay, and 
when 50 cents or a dollar is sent, it is only a letter to re- 
turn the change. Letter writing is done when it will not 
interfere with other matter. "We answer all we can, but 
some are quite unanswerable— such as those entirely 
without the scope of this paper. 
IFinc ^vSsiri^'oSds. — Ml*. John Hague, un- 
English gardener who has made his home at Clinton, 
Iowa, sent us some specimens of his French Marigolds. 
For richness of color and regularity of form, they are 
superior to anything we have seen. Mr. H. has made 
them a specialty for ten years, and his flowers are an in- 
teresting illustration of what can be done by careful cul- 
tivation and selection, with a flower that, in its ordinary 
form is not very highly prized. 
Plants in Rooms. — "Reader." We have 
answered this once before. Plunts, as many as can be 
kept in a sleeping or sitting room, will not vitiate the 
air as much as an extra person or a burning lamp. The 
odor of some flowers is often unpleasant to sensitive per- 
sons and invalids. So far as that goes, they are injurious. 
We know a person who is made very sick by the smell of 
cheese, another who cannot tolerate the odor of vinegar, 
and two who cannot sit comfortably at a table where there 
are green peas. These things are ' ; injurious" to these 
parti nilar persons. 
TVeliraslta Plums and Cherries.— 
S. L. Bnlis, Mich. Wo do not know which particular 
things Mr. R. O. Thompson describes, nor do we much 
care. All these western cnrculio-proof plums are varieties 
of the common wild plum, of which there are a plenty in 
your State. The cherry, two feet high, is the sand cherry, 
worthless as to Bruit, but pretty as a bush. 
'I'ree Seeds. — We can answer some twenty 
letters by saying that J. M. Thorburu & Co., 15 Johu si., 
New York, Issue each year a catalogue of tree seeds, and 
that Thomas Meehan, Gcrmantown. Pcnn., also sells trco 
Bcods, and makes a specialty of seeds of evergreens and 
hedge plants. 
** Nome Pumpkins" is the heading under 
which Mr. 1<\ W. Livingston, of Illinois, sends a descrip- 
tion of a specimen ofa young plant that was found with- 
in;! sound pumpkin. The radicle is :i Inches long, has 
seed leaves and a well developed plumule. It Is not a 
very rare occurrence, and we haw several times noticed 
it in pumpkins that had been loft for some weeks on ex- 
hibition in our office, and we have many times seen seeds 
of oranges that had germinated within the fruit. Warmth, 
moisture, and air, are the conditions that induce germi- 
nation. We can readily see how the (lrst two may be 
present, and from what we now know of the diffusion of 
gases, it is easy to see that air is readily supplied. There 
are some plants the seeds of which always germinate be- 
fore the fruit is severed from its connection with them. 
"Water Cress. — B. D. Overton. The cress 
sent to market is generally cultivated. Running water 
with a gravelly bottom is required, and the plantation is 
made by putting in pieces of the plant, and securing them 
in place by means of stones. It spreads rapidly, and will 
take care of itself. 
Strawherry Tree.-W. J. Brown. A 
species of Enonymus, or Spindle-tree, is sometimes called 
Strawberry-bush or strawberry-tree, from the color and 
appearance of its fruit. No tree bears strazvberries. 
Herbaceous Pereuuials. — S. C. P. 
By these we mean those plants the roots of which live 
from year to year, while the top dies down in winter. 
The common Pieony, Columbines, Rhubarb, and Horse- 
radish are familiar examples. 
Halsaiu l«*ir. — M. A. Runyou. Tlieconcsare 
not to be planted, but the small seeds contained between 
the scales. Keep the seeds in the cones, and remove them 
in spring, and sow as soon as the frost is out. 
Fuchsias Wont Sloom. — "Subscriber," 
Tullytown. — The want of success in blooming Fuchsias 
is a common complaint. There are very few varieties 
that are winter bloomers. The best way to treat them is 
to allow them to rest in the fall, in a cool cellar 
where they will not freeze. They will need but very lit- 
tle water, but should not get absolutely dry. In Febru- 
ary or March, bring them to a warm room, and previous- 
ly priming into shape, give water, and they will soon be- 
gin to grow. When they once start, give them all the wa- 
ter they need and all the light you can. 
Sweating' Sni:?Il Greeii-IIousies. — 
Several ask by letter if a greenhouse cannot be warm- 
ed by gas, kerosene, and gasoline stoves. Leaving out of 
consideration the expense in case of gas, and the risk at- 
tending the use of the other things, we say yes, provided 
the stove has a flue to carry off the products of combus- 
tion. Do not think that, because the combustion of these 
is not attended with smoke, that nothing results from it. 
Either of them, burned without ample provision for carry- 
ing off the invisible gases thus produced, will be sure to 
kill the plants. Putting a pan of water on the stove, as 
one suggests, will be of no use as far as this goes. 
Barn Cellars- — Uncle David says that, the 
manure made in his barn cellar, by forty hogs, in six 
months, is worth more than the hogs themselves. Study 
it up, farmers, We have great confidence in what Uncle 
David say?, for he is great on barns. 
Ground Viuery, — \V. L. wishes those who 
have tried the gronud vinery to give their experience. In 
England, this manner of growing grapes is followed with 
success. We gave in June, lStli;, an account of it with an 
illustration. 
Grape Trellis or Arbor. — u Sub- 
scriber, ^ Archibald, Pa., proposes to build an arbor with 
old gas pipe, and asks: "'"Will not the iron injure the 
vines in severe winters ?" Not at all ; the iron is no colder 
than the vine. It only feels so, because it is a better con- 
ductor. Old telegraph wire will answer for your trellis, 
provided it is not weakened by rust. Best to try it first 
with a powerful strain. 
Verj»alieu Pears. — Mr. .T. W. Davis, of 
Hammondsport. N. Y., sent to our Grape Show some spec- 
imens of this fine old pear. They were perfect— and 
nothing can be better than this variety in its he^t estate— 
aud recalled the time when this was the leading variety 
at the East. No cracks and bitter rot at Pleasant Valley. 
Pro|fta£'alin;v the Oleander. — W. B. 
B., Elk River, Minn. This roots very readily. For your 
purpose, the old way of putting cuttings of the past sea- 
son's growth In a bottle of water will answer. Several 
things are called myrtle, aud we do not know which one 
yon mean. 
Itarl»crry lor Hedges. — Mrs. M. A. B., 
Maes. This Bhrub makes a very attractive and effective 
hedge, and would undoubtedly do well in your region, It. 
should be thoroughly cultivated until it is well established. 
«fitJu1»e.-~3. O. Chase, K. I. The Jujube is a 
tree, growing in the Mediterranean' countries, and as 
It is not hardy in the north of France, it would probably 
not succeed with you. Formerly its acid fruit was used 
in making the Jujube paste. The article now sold under 
that name is made of sugar and cheap Gum Arabic, 
(Gum Senegal,) flavored and colored. We are told that 
the cheaper kinds are only sugar and gelatine. 
Agricultural College, at Amhers;, 
Itlass. — N. F. This institution opened in October with 
34 scholars. The course of study extends over four years, 
and promises to give a good literary and scientific educa- 
tion at moderate cost. W. S. Clark is the President, and 
will give you any further information you desire. 
Large Meets*. — Joseph Bridge, of Detroit, 
took the premium at the Michigan State Fair, for Turnip 
Rooted Blood Beets, weighing 14'i pounds each, and for 
Mangel wurzels, weighing IS to 22 pounds each. The 
seed of the Mangels were sown June 5th. 
Lak<» 3&ahopac. — Uucle David says that 
the medical institution, located at this beautiful place, 
is a real boon to the afflicted, being only the second 
asylum of the kind in the world. He has been there 
with one of his friends, and staid quite long enough to 
satisfy himself that the establishment is of the right 
kind, properly conducted, and calculated greatly to relieve, 
and in many cases absolutely cure epileptic and paralytic, 
diseases. We have great confidence in what Uncle David 
says, aud besides that, we know that Doct. Echeverria 
has a good reputation among medical men, aud is well 
known as a writer upon the forms of disease to which 
ho gives special attention. 
Lilies iu B>. C.— Mrs. Brooks. The Marta- 
gou and other lilies you mention should succeed with 
yon. We can only accotmt for your failure bu supposing 
that the bulbs had been too long out of the ground. They 
will not bear a great deal of drying. 
Planting' Corn iu a*>rills. — John John- 
ston, of Geneva, has proved that this practice secures 
about one-fourth more corn, and twice as much fodder as 
when the corn is planted in rows both ways. About eigh- 
teen acres are planted in a day, with two horses and a drill . 
Winter Muleh for Grass Lands.— 
B. F. G. Nothing is so cheap as grass, and it is pretty 
well settled by our best farmers that pastures and mead- 
ows shonld not be fed closely in the fall. Give them 
time to make their own covering. Coarse manure or 
straw is good, but more expensive. 
Breeding* Fowls. — K, G. The old birds as 
well as the chickens should be fed frequently, or. what i> 
better, let them have access to food and water constantly. 
If allowed to feed themselves, they will cat a little at a 
time, aud frequently, aud this is much better for them than 
to cram their crops full. Give them corn on the cob or 
in a platform bos, wh^re the weight of the hens will lift 
the cover.nnd they cau help themselves. 
Bucfcwlieat Slaort-calte. — B. F. (J. 
Two cups of buttermilk, one teaspoon fill of soda-salcnitus, 
a piece of shortening the size of a butternut, and buck- 
wheat Hour to make a stiff batter. Bake in a moderately- 
heated oven 20 minutes. This makes one tin full. 
Tainted Barrels.— People will still salt 
their meat in this kind of package, and spoil it for (bod. 
Some think that they succeed in cleansing them by 
thorough soaking, others char them, but the only 
really infallible remedy is a new barrel. The cooper 
will tell you he never knew it fail, aud he knows. Not 
that a tainted task cannot be cleansed ; but we know no 
way that will be surely successful. Who does ? 
When to Take I'p Old Mead©-vr*.— 
G. F. N. If a mowing field does not yield a ton of hay to 
the aere. either plow and manure or top dress. It does 
not pay to cut hay from it in its present condition. 
"Wheat Crop of I^ngluud. — J, B. Lawes, 
of Rothamsted, Bug., estimates it as twenty per cent, 
short of the average. 
Yeas*.— Pare mx gnod-sizeil potatoes, and boil 
with them three handmls of hops; also put into an open 
vessel one cup of sugar, half a cup of salt, half a cup of 
ginger; pour the boiled hops and potatoes, while hot, 
through a sieve, rubbing a little, making, when strained, 
one dlon. When lukewarm, add one cup of good yeast, 
and when a froth rises, pul all in a jug, and cork tight 
Tula will keep good for three months. Use one cap for 
five or six loaves. No Hour! Sent by Lota Steele 
