ISS 
ilOOBE’S BOBAL WEW-¥©BiCEB. 
SEPT, %% 
tlie European kinds, it being between the Turkey 
Oak (Q. cerris) andtbe English ( Q, robur). In 
Mexico the species are numerous, and in the 
East Indies and the Phillipines they abound. 
What might be termed the Mexican race of Oaks 
extends up into California. 
Many California trees will stand the rigors of 
the winters of the Middle States, but the Cali- 
fornia species of Oak will not, probably because 
they are but emigrants to the Golden State from 
the land of the Aztecs and have already gone as 
far north as prudence would dictate. 
For ornamental purposes adapted to our gen- 
eral cultiu’e, I would make a list were it not that 
all capable of standing the climate are worthy 
of culture. They are all so beautiful, it is hard 
to make a choice. Where it is practicable and 
the greatest beauty is desired, I think they look 
best when branching direct from the ground; 
but still a bold, heavy trunk, straight, tall and 
branchless, with its head formed of bold, strong 
branches, is so beautiful that I should not be 
sorry if I had to be fined heavily for not making 
a choice. Of those adapted to culture in the 
Middle States, there are the Overcup Oak (Q. 
lyrata), the Mossycup Oak (Q. macrocavpa), 
Spanish Oak (Q. stellatci), White Oak (Q. alba), 
Post Oak (Q. obtusiloba), Durand’s Post Oak (Q. 
Durandi) — a recent discovery of Buckley in 
Texas; Swamp White Oak {Q. bicolor), Kock 
Chestnut Oak (Q. pnnus), Michaux’s Chestnut 
Oak (Q. Michauxii of Nuttall), Eocky Moun- 
tain Oak (Q. undulata)—onQ of the best for 
forming into an Oak thicket; Pin Oak (Q. palus- 
tris), Eed Oak (Q. rubra). Scarlet Oak (Q. coc- 
cinea). Black Oak (Q. iincioria), Jersey Scrub 
Oak (Q. ilicifolia)—a, good dwarf for thickets ; 
Black Jack Oak (Q. nigra), Southern Black Jack 
Oak (Q. Catesbaei), Water Oak (Q. aquaiica). 
Upland Water Oak (Q. laurifolia), Shingle Oak 
(Q, imbricaria). Willow Oak (Q. Phellos), En- 
glish Oak (Q. pedunculata), and Turkey Oak (Q. 
cerris). 
Besides the above there are numerous other 
varieties, the European especially being abun- 
dant, and in their characters for practical pur- 
poses they are as good a species ; indeed, in 
many respects they are much more distinct. 
Our native trees are often found varying in a 
remarkable degree — so much so, indeed, that 
some of our best botanists regard the variations 
as ‘-'hybrids.” But gardeners who are familar 
■ with the wonderful variations among the English 
i Oaks, in which no hybridization is possible, do 
\ not accept this opinion. Those who would know 
y all about the American Oaks adapted to culture 
' should read Guay’s Works— “ The Monograph of 
Oaks,” just issued by that great botanist, En- 
GELMANN-— and the KuE.iL New-Yoekee. 
ENGLISH OE EOYAL OAK. 
Mr. Tuomas Meehan, in his excellent article 
on the Oak, which may be found preceding 
this, speaks in such high terms of (tJje 
the English or Eoyal 'ORlk^ikltwe'Wero prompted 
(as will bo seen by refer- 
ring to first page) of a handsome specimen of 
this tree now growing in the grounds of one 
, of our esteemed correspondents, residing a few 
miles from this city. The tree is about twenty- 
five years old, and having been planted where it 
had room to grow, being unobstructed on all 
sides, the branches consequently spring from 
near the base of the stem, assuming a natural 
and most graceful form. 
lit is to be regretted that our native as well as 
foreign species of the oak are so little planted in 
this country, for they are deserving of especial 
attention, and it is to be hoped that Mr. Mee- 
han’s remarks will awaken a new interest in 
these trees among all of the many thousands of 
our readers, even if they do not extend any 
further. 
Jjifllr Crops. 
EYE EOE PASTUEE. 
In localities where the drought has prevailed 
during the present season, pasture will be light 
and thin next spring, and it would be well for 
farmers to provide some substitute to make up 
for the deficiency. We have already recom- 
mended the sowing of rye for this purpose, and 
are pleased to add to our own experience that of 
the Journal of Agriculture as to the value of 
this crop for pasture. 
Two years ago our corn crop was a short one 
on account of an extended drought. All kinds 
of expedients were resorted to, to bridge over 
the winter months. Not only corn but all kinds 
of crops save wheat, were comparative failures. 
We experimented that year with rye and our 
success was far beyond our expectations. Our 
first sowing consisted of a ten-acre field upon 
which we had grown and fed down the corn to 
hogs. The corn crop had been well cultivated 
and the ground was entirely free of weeds and 
grass. We commenced about the first of Sep- 
tember by sowing down on the ground and 
harrowing in with a two-horse harrow. We 
completed about half the field in this manner, 
using about five bushels of seed, or one bushel 
per acre, when we concluded we were not putting 
our rye in as we should. The remaining five 
acres we plowed in with double-shovel plows 
after which we harrowed thoroughly. Our rye 
soon came up and made a luxuriant growth 
upon which we grazed pigs, calves and cows 
during the winter (when not covered with snow) 
and until such time in the spring as blue-grass 
pastures would do to turn on. Contrary to our 
expectations the portion that was only harrowed 
afforded much the best grazing and the rye was 
much less injured by the stock going over it 
than the other portion. After taking our stock 
off, the rye made a fine growth and yielded more 
per acre than did our wheat crop, which was not 
pastured at aU and Which was sown on much 
better soil. 
We mention this little experience that others 
may give our readers the benefit of their experi- 
ence. We are satisfied this crop will grow and 
be a profitable one upon soil upon which wheat 
will not pay expenses. As regards the benefits 
to stock, lambs, sheep, calves or any other kinds 
of a change of diet during the long winter 
months it is not necessary to speak, all acknowl- 
edge this as a necessity. 
COEN EOE THE POOE OF ENGLAND. 
The London Pall Mall Gazette says:— The 
enormous import of wheat from the United 
States into this country, and the probability that 
it will increase rather than diminish in time to 
come, lead us to reflect how it happens that 
Indian corn, which is so largely consumed in 
various forms by aU classes in America, fails to 
find favor with Englishmen at home. In some 
way maize is certainly to be preferred to wheat ; 
and those who have once acquired the taste for 
it on the other side of the Atlantic certainly miss 
the Indian corn on their return. We suppose, 
however, that there is little hope that our work- 
ing classes will ever take to this cheap, whole- 
some and nutritious food. The mere fact that it 
is cheap, operates in some measm-e against its 
adoption. There is nothing, perhaps, in an En- 
glishman’s nature so stupid as his dislike to have 
it supposed that he is content with 
And Indian corn is very cheap. 
SOWING SALT ON WHEAT L *ND. 
The Toronto Globe recommends tha| the best 
time to sow salt on land for winter wheat is im- 
mediately before the seed is sown. Where land 
is plowed in the fall for spring crops then sow 
the salt late in the season on the plowed land. 
It is always sown broadcast when applied alone 
and it has been applied with jgood effeet at the 
ratje to twelve bushels per acre, 
Bujlt ah trouble and labor of that kind may be 
saved by scattering it on the manure heap, 
when it will do just as much service as when 
sown alone. That salt is beneficial on many 
soils there is no question, but it has not been 
tried sufficiently on the several kinds of soils to 
indicate with certainty how much or how little 
will serve as a fertilizer. 
^arm 05 fouaing, 
EAEM CEOPS IN NOETH CAEOLINA. 
Anothee year of toil is closing and the farmers 
are reckoning the results. The heat in the first 
half of July was intense and destructive in this 
State. The drought was protracted, except in a 
few limited localities ; but the heat was so great 
that unusual injury was done to farm crops in a 
short time. The month of August was generally 
seasonable — restoring the corn and tobacco to a 
considerable degree. 
A respectable but not full crop of corn is 
made. Perhaps a little over one-third of a crop 
of tobacco was planted. That is much improved 
during the last month. I think that more than 
usual of the old crop was held back and is seek- 
ing the market now. Prices are rather high. 
It seems in this case that waiting will pay. The 
year has been quite favorable for hay. The first 
moving was good ; the second injured by drought; 
the last (not yet cut) promises a very fine yield. 
Indeed it is seldom that grasses grow as they 
have for the last month. 
Potatoes average well. Early Irish potatoes 
were hastened by the heat. My experiments 
this year proved the Early Vermont estimable 
for quality and earliness, but unprofitable as to 
quantity. Brownell’s Beauty, though not white 
or mealy, gave satisfaction at the table and pro- 
duced well. The Snowflake, with only ordinary 
care, made thirty to one, and possessed every 
good quahty. 
Apples are scarce in the central part of the 
State— probably the same throughout the entire 
State. There has been enough of them for a 
limited supply for immediate demands. Enough 
peaches to remind us of the delicious feasts of 
other years and awaken the hopes for another 
season. 
The scarcity of money is sorely felt. The 
people generally are perforce practicing more 
economy, and slowly adaptmg themselves to the 
stringency. There is a growing impression that 
we have seen the worst of the “ hard times.” 
Yom-s truly, N. c. 
A COEN‘ HOESE. 
H. Ives writes to the New York Times that a 
corn-horse is an implement of so much utility in 
harvesting corn that it is a wonder that so many 
farmers will cut up their corn without the aid of 
one to stand the shock up to while cutting. It is 
a tool which any farmer who wants it will make 
for himself, for there are none in market, and no 
agent about to tell us of their great usefulness. 
But they are of no less merit for all that. By 
using one to form the shock to, instead of placing 
it against a standing hill, we have something 
much firmer to^stand it to, we have all tho corn 
cut up, and are pretty sure to have the shock 
better balanced, and for that reason standing 
better, because every quarter as it is cut will be 
placed into each quarter section of this imple- 
ment (or corn horse), thus bracing the whole 
nicely from each quarter when bound together 
at the top. 
For instance, if I take six rows of corn for a 
row of stooks, and six hills of a row (as I 
generally do), giving thirty-six hills to a bunch, 
I take my horse in between the third and fourth 
rows and stand it for the shock between the 
third and fourth hills ; standing so it represents 
nine hills in each quarter Then I cut the first 
three hills of the third row and place in one 
quarter, while the man working against me cuts 
the first three hills of the fourth row and places 
them in the second quarter opposite. Then 
each cuts the next three hills of the same rows, 
placing into third and fourth quarters. Next 
cut the second and fifth, then the first and sixth 
rows just the same, thus only putting three hills 
into each quarter at once alternately, will balance 
it up good to stand. 
The best way to make a corn horse is to get a 
dry cedar pole 16 feet long, about 4 inches at the 
butt, and if a little crooked, bowing about a foot 
all the better. Put two legs into the butt of the 
pole 2)4 or 3 feet long, with a spread of 2 feet on 
the ground, and so as to have the pole bowing up 
if it is crooked, for then it won’t require so long 
legs. At 5 feet back from these legs bore an 
inch hole horizontally through the pole, through 
which insert a loose pin 20 inches on each side, 
that is, 33^ feet long. Then for use stand this 
in the corn as described above, so that the shock 
will be stood lip into the angles made by this pin 
and tlie pole. When this is cut and bound pull 
out this long pin, then taking the large end of 
the pole draw it ahead through this shock and 
place it for another, and so on through the field. 
It will be found plainer, handier work, and can 
bo done by coarser or less skilled help to put it 
up in good order as quick and as well as in any 
other way. 
PEOTECTION AGAINST GEASSHOPPEES. 
Daniel G. Lane writes to the Council Bluffs 
Globe, from Bermuda, W. I., teUing how crops 
may be protected against grasshoppers, and po- 
tatoes kept clear of beetles. Now while we do 
not believe either of the protective agents 
proposed are of any practical use still they may 
be worth trying. Mr. Lane says For the last 
two weeks I have been in this country from the 
West Indies, and I find the grasshoppers making 
great ravages in vegetation. In order to prevent 
this, burn one pound of sulphur on charcoal, in 
the center of a field, and save what it has taken 
so much toil to develop. To prevent potato ])ugs 
from destroying the crop, plant two grains of flax 
seed in each hill. This will prevent them from 
injuring the potatoes, as they will not go near 
the flax. 
f orscmaii;. 
THEICOACH OE GAEEIAGE HOESE. 
The Kentucky Live Stock Record takes a very 
sensible view of the late excitement in breeding 
fast trotters, to the neglect of the good carriage 
and general utility horse, and we are pleased to 
place its remarks before our readers as they are 
worthy of a careful consideration. 
The old style coach or carriage horse is almost 
extinct in Kentucky. His place is supplied by 
the trotter. The horse of five and twenty or 
thirty years ago is rarely seen now-a-days. The 
big bays, browns and chestnuts of former days, 
ranging from 15% to 16% hands high, with deep 
and well-proportioned bodies, arched crests, 
strong and clean bone under the knee, open, 
sound, tough feet, with great knee action, lifting 
their fore feet high, are as scarce now as they 
were plentiful at that period. The display of 
coach and carriage horses at our local fairs some 
years ago, as well as at other less notable gather- 
ings, was one of the most popular and charming 
parts of these exhibitions. Most of these horses 
walked and trotted well, picked up their fore feet 
smoothly, bent their knees and kept their hind 
feet well under them. This activity, with their 
great beauty, short, pointed ears, extra style, 
hardiness, endurance and docility, eminently 
distinguished them as splendid specimens of the 
coach and carriage horse. 
Without the speed of the modern trotter, they 
stood remarkably well over our hard unyielding 
macadamized roads, and could travel all day. 
Our farmers -would do well to go back and breed 
this class of horse and give up to a great extent 
the breeding of trotters, the supply of the latter 
in the last few years being greatly in excess of 
the demand. 
Suitable sires to cross with the common mares 
and stock of the country can be obtained at a 
trifling expense among the many thoroughbreds 
that either break do-wn yearly, or have not suffi- 
cient speed to be classed high as racehorses. 
Among them are many strong, stout and sound 
horses that can be bought cheap and whose 
service fees could be put at from $10 to $25, and 
pay a handsome per cent, on the investment. 
Nearly all our farmers seem desirous of breeding 
a trotter, and every year valuable mares are 
bred to inferior sires because they stand cheap, 
many of whom possess serious deficiencies. In 
this section, one of the best breeding districts in 
America, there are every year many indifferent 
sires advertised, whose stud career it would be 
better for the country at large if it was cut short 
by the free use of the knife. Many of these 
candidates for public patronage possess neither 
beauty, style nor finish, but have many faults 
which should not be perpetuated, such as weak, 
narrow loins, light thighs, bad curby hocks, 
light bones and thin, shelly feet. Many of them 
have nothing beyond their breeding to recom- 
mend them, and this often consists of some 
remote connection with a once fashionable strain 
of blood. 
When farmers use such sires there is great 
uncertainty in producing sound, good-looking 
offspring. We would not be considered as 
opposed to the breeding of trotters, for we are 
not ; but we are opposed to the indiscriminate 
breeding of mares either unsound themselves, or 
to sires that are unsound, with the expectation 
of getting a sound colt, fast trotter or good 
coach horse. When a farmer possesses a well- 
bred mare of known blood or of high 
marked characteristics, it m ifco tbe 
best sire withiBi reach, but to breed a common 
mare of little trotting action to the best trotting 
sires, will oftener fail than succeed in producing 
a good trotter, and in nine cases out of ten will 
bring the farmer in debt before the youngster is 
half developed. Dissatisfaction and disappoint- 
ment are nearly sure to follow such breeding, 
and when it does fail, the blame is generally laid 
on the sire, irrespective of the bad or indiffer- 
ent qualities of the dam. 
With young trotters selling in Kentucky at 
from $150 to $250 per head, even after they are 
broken and partly handled, it will not pay to 
breed anything but the best mares to high-priced 
stalhons. Most of the stallions in Kentucky 
have been standing too high, and they must 
come down to suit the times. It is well enough 
perhaps for a few who have acquired a national 
reputation through their produce to demand 
high fees, but they are few and far between. It 
will not pay to breed common or ordinary 
mares of the country to $100 and $150 stallions. 
We firmly believe that it will pay a majority of 
our farmers better to breed and rear the old 
style coach and carriage horse than it will the 
trotter, especially when you take into considera- 
tion the cost of the stallion’s services, and the 
expense necessarily incurred to develop the 
trotter. There are a number of men who make 
a speciality of breeding trotters, and it should be 
left with them. If a farmer possesses good 
mares he had better breed on the shares or farm 
them to some reliable breeder, than to breed 
himself, and have the country dotted all over 
with tracks, his sons driving young trotters to 
the neglect of more important work on the farm. 
The farmers of this State have enormous 
advantages over other less favored sections of 
country. We have better material than is to be 
found elsewhere, from the long and free use of 
thoroughbred sires, which enables our farmers 
to enter into breeding under more favorable 
circumstances. We are in possession of the 
most delightful climate, the finest soil and most 
luxuriant grass region in the world and need 
fear no rivals ; and the large number of thor- 
oughbred horses bred annually that are not good 
enough for races, fm’nish capital material to 
produce the coach, carriage and general utility 
horse. 
Fenee in the Feet.— There is nothing better 
for fever in the feet of horses than bandages 
wet with water. It is better than “stuffing’^ 
with filth, so often recommended. 
Si"'/™""-''- 
eoRge Engelhann Papers 
