360 
AMERICAN AG-RICULTURIST. 
[September, 
Chess. —Not the wheat-weed of that name, but the 
game. A friend in S. Carolina, suggests that we devote 
a column to chess, in our Boys and Girls’ Department. 
That department is intended for the amusement and in¬ 
struction of young people. Chess is hardly an amuse¬ 
ment, it is a study calling for. mental effort. A friend 
who is one of the best chess players in the country, has 
often told ns that a close game the evening before, has 
exhausted, and unfitted him for the day’s work. While 
we should he glad if we could give room to a column 
to chess, it would not be in the Children’s Department. 
THe Boss Breasted Grosbeak. —“A. A. R.,” 
Hazel Green, Wis., sends us for name, the wing of this 
bird, which was killed while eating cherries. This 
pretty bird, which is easily recognized by its gay rose- 
colored breast, is common in some localities, and singu¬ 
larly rare in others. It frequents orchards and shrubbery 
near the house, feeds largely on berries, small fruits, and 
seeds, and like the one sent, often meets his death while 
committing depredations on the fruit trees. 
To Stain Wood Brown.- “K. S.” The most 
satisfactory method we have tried, is as follows. Get an 
ounce each of Catechu and Bichromate of Potash. Break 
the Catechu—which is a blackish gum-like substance 
—into small fragments, place it in a glass or earthenware 
vessel, with a piece of washing soda as large as a walnut, 
and pour upon it a pint of boiling water, and stir until 
dissolved. Put the Bichromate in a bottle with a pint of 
cold water, and dissolve with occasional shaking. Paint 
over the wood-work to be stained, first with the Catechu 
solution, and let it dry; it will be of a dull dirty brown. 
When dry, go over it with the solution of Bichromate, 
and it will turn to a very rich chestnut brown. By vary¬ 
ing the strength of the solutions, the depth of color will 
be varied. When quite dry, apply shellac, or other var¬ 
nish. Very cheap, easily applied, and satisfactory. 
Spade for the Fowls.— It is well to turn up sev¬ 
eral square feet of the earth of the poultry yard with a 
spade every now and then, as it will not only furnish the 
fowls with fresh meat, in the shape of worms, but give 
them an opportunity to exercise themselves at scratch¬ 
ing. It also turns under the droppings, and makes the 
yard more healthful 
Watering Horses.— During warm weather, horses 
should have water at frequent intervals. If allowed to 
get very thirsty, they will, unless prevented, drink too 
much when they come to it. A good sized pailful of 
cold water is as much as a horse should take at a time. 
When a horse is put out at noon, it should be first 
watered, and then given another pailful just before 
going to work. Little and often is the best rule. 
ferape Mildew.— “ .T. L. E.,” Metuchen, N. J., 
sends grapes, which, upon careful examination with the 
microscope, are found to be affected with the American 
Grape Mildew, a full account of which is given on page 
349 of the present number. It is this fungus which 
causes the young berries to cease growing, turn first pur¬ 
ple and then brown, and finally black,with a white cover¬ 
ing of mould upon the decaying parts. Sulphur applied 
in time, is the only known remedy. 
Stable and Carriage House.—“A. C. V.,” 
Mason Co., W. Va. Many plans for stables have been 
given at various times in the Ameiican Agriculturist; 
some suitable for one horse will be found in June, 18T8. 
Consumption of Ice in a Dairy.— “T. G. S.,” 
N. Y. The quantity of ice required in a dairy depends 
upon the method of using it. Fifty lbs. a day will keep 
a 3-can (100 lbs.) Cooley Creamery at 40 degrees, and the 
same quantity will coo! a 10-can 1 300 lbs.) Hardin Cream¬ 
ery at 45 degrees. A 4-cow dairy will be supplied by a 
3-can Cooley Creamery, and a 10-cow dairy by a 10-can 
Hardin one. 
A School in Australia.— We feel quite sure 
that there is one very good school in New South Wales, 
for its teacher writes; “ Attached to my school is a gar¬ 
den, and a small vineyard of my own planting, and I am 
indebted to your valuable periodical for many hints and 
suggestions.” We are confident that, where the sur¬ 
roundings of the school-house (a public school too,) are 
thus cared for, the plants within the school-house have 
proper care and training. Success to this far off school 1 
An Invasion from the North.— On July 28th 
last, there arrived in the port of New York, 15 families, 
numbering about 80 persons, from Iceland. The few Ice¬ 
landers who have heretofore left their country have set¬ 
tled on the coast in high latitudes, where they could fol¬ 
low their pursuit ns fishermen. But this colony comes 
with the intention of settling in Minnesota and becom¬ 
ing farmers. Though they arrived in our hottest weather, 
they clung to the heavy woollens and furs to which they 
had been accustomed at home, but in this, as in many 
other matters, they will soon adapt themselves to their 
new conditions, and we have no doubt that, like the 
Danes, of which nation they are really a part, they will 
become estimable and useful citizens. 
Rabbits. —We regret to say to the many who have 
asked where they can procure rabbits, that we have good 
reason to believe that there are none for sale. In view 
of the numerous inquiries, we some time ago suggested, 
that those having these animals for sale, should letothers 
know it. As this has met with no response, we are quite 
unable to answer a large number of inquiries, from those 
who would be purchasers of both common stock and 
fancy breeds. 
A Double Header.— The “Springfield (Mass.) 
Union ” gravely tells of what it truly calls “ a remarkable 
freak of vegetation,” which occurred at Worcester, also 
in Mass. It is nothing less than “ a potato-vine which 
bears tomatoes.” This is economizing matters truly— 
“ ’taters” underground and “ tomatuses” above ground. 
Why not throw in a streak of Egg-plant ? If we can have 
our tubers at one end and our fruit at the top, why not 
get in a cross of spinach, so that the foliage could at the 
same time be utilized as “ greens ”? “ Unfortunately the 
vines were pulled up” before any one who could tell the 
difference between a potato-ball and a tomato saw them, 
and the world has lost a remarkable improvement in the 
way of “garden sass.” It was about time for this story 
to “ come round ” ; it revolves once in about three years. 
Bananas and Cocoanuts.— During the year 
ending July 1st, 1879, there were imported into New 
York Bananas to the value of nearly $400,000, and Cocoa- 
nuts worth nearly $200,000. Cocoanuts are duty free. 
Will He Succeed ?— A young man in Cuyahoga 
Co., O., writes that he is 18 years of age, is going to Col¬ 
orado to engage in the cattle business, will- arrive there 
with little money, wishes our advice “ as to what course 
to pursue,” and asks: “ What are my prospects of suc¬ 
cess?” We do not think that the prospects of any young 
man can be very brilliant who writes on a purely per¬ 
sonal matter, asking purely personal advice, and does 
not sign his name. One who makes so important an 
omission as this, is likely to be careless in other mat¬ 
ters; success in life depends upon attentions to details. 
Value of Soda Asli. —“M. H. C.,” Webster. Mass. 
Soda ash is of no use as a fertilizer by itself, but to re¬ 
duce swamp muck,or soften bones,it may be made useful. 
Sowing Grass Alone.— “ F. n.,” Scotch Plains. 
N. J. Grass seed may be sown in August. Red-top will 
suit wet land, and may be sown with Timothy ; 20 lbs. 
of Red-top, and 10 lbs. of Timothy per acre may be 
sown. The bone-dust may bo sojvn with the seed, and 
all harrowed in together with a brush harrow. 
“ Apiarian.”— “ C. P. F.,” Kent Co., Mich. We 
have not the least desire to “reconcile” our use of 
this or any other word with Webster. We know that 
the dictionaries give Apiarian as an adjective, but trades 
and occupations are not governed by dictionaries. Not 
long ago, a flower-seller in England called himself “ Bou- 
quetist to her Majesty,” and others have since called 
themselves “Bouquetists,” and there is danger that the 
uncouth name may be adopted. If a dealer in Bees 
chooses to call himself a “Beevender,” a “ Beeologist,” 
or a “Beeist,” and people adopt the name, it will then 
become the business of dictionary makers to record the 
fact. Tlie dictionaries give “ Apiarist ” as the name of 
one who deals in bees, but bee-dealers choose to call 
themselves “ Apiarians.” It is a good word, and if those 
most concerned choose to adopt it, who shall object ? 
Dominique-Ijegliorns?— “n.” There is no 
such breed as Dominique-Leghorns ; the Dominiques 
and Leghorns are distinct breeds, and if crossed, the re¬ 
sult will be a mongrel, and not a pure bred fowl. 
Absorption of Water by leaves.— Recent 
experiments by Boussingualt, Henslow, and others, all 
go to show that the foliage of plants does absorb moisture, 
and to a considerable extent. 
Foultzy Houses. &c.—" F. H. S.,” Fort Plain, 
N. Y. The American Agriculturist, figured and described 
the Plymouth Rocks, in December, 1877. As to poultry 
houses, there have been but few numbers in the past six 
years, in which plans or suggestions may not be found. 
Celluloid Collars.— Among the many uses to 
which Celluloid is put, is that of making men’s collars. 
Celluloid is the name given to a preparation of Cellulose, 
or the material of which vegetable cells is composed. 
Cotton, or other pure forms of cellulose, is so changed by 
the action of acid, that it can be dissolved in ether, and 
other solvents, and thus obtained in a condition to be 
moulded or worked into various desirable forms. It is 
claimed for the Celluloid Collars, that they can not be de¬ 
tected from linen, arc much coolor, and can be worn for 
an indefinite length of time. They are cleaned by sim¬ 
ply rubbing them with a wet cloth or sponging. Some 
of the clerks in our office have worn them for several 
months, without their being noticed, and they are now 
as good as new. Shirt bosoms, and cuffs, and other 
similar articles are also made of Cellnloid. 
Weeds.— If agriculture had only to encourage the 
growth of desirable and useful plants, its work would be 
easy. But there is the more difficult task of preventing 
the growth of undesirable plants, to which we give the 
general name—weeds. The first step in destroying-weeds 
is to know what they are, and their habits of growth. 
In view of this, v/e ask farmers and gardeners in all parts 
of the country to send us specimens of any weeds they 
find particularly troublesome, the names of which they 
do not know, and especially such weeds as have re¬ 
cently made their appearance in their localities. 
The Travis Wheat Hoe.— “ W. J. G.,” Sparta, 
Ill. The address of Mr. Travis, the inventor of the Wheat 
Hoe, is Brandon, Oakland Co., Mich. Mr. Travis is an 
old farmer, and not a maker of machines. 
Preserving Eggs in Ice.— “ C. W. D.,” Cam¬ 
bridge, Ill. There is no process in use, by which eggs are 
preserved in ice ; at least we never heard of such. Eggs 
are preserved by the lime process, and are packed in re¬ 
frigerators or cool cellars. If there is any “ ice process,” 
we should be glad to hear of if. 
ILime on Prairie Soils.— “F. R. B.,” Macon, 
Miss. The application of lime to eld prairie soils, would 
probably be beneficial for a time ; it makes no difference 
whether the lime is made from stone taken from the soil, 
or brought from a distance ; lime, is lime—whatever its 
source, and its effect is to decompose vegetable matters in 
the soil, and it also acts upon some of the mineral mat¬ 
ter ; after these are used up, the land is in a worse condi¬ 
tion than before, unless manure of some kind is used. 
A One-Horse Drill.— The better yield of a cisop 
sown by a drill is sufficient to repay the cost of an imple¬ 
ment, frequently in one season. A drill costing 490 will 
be paid for in sowing 50 acres. The cost of a two-horse 
drill, however, prevents its use on small farms where but 
four or five acres are sown yearly, A one-horse drill is 
now made for this especial purpose, which sows either 3 
or 5 rows, and may be made to sow in rows 13* to 17 
inches apart. This drill is very useful where the wheat 
is to be cultivated. It can be drawn easily by one horse, 
and will enable small farmers to enjoy all the advantages 
of drilling in their seed with their richer neighbors. 
The Best Churn. —“ A. E. W.,” Davies Co., Ind. 
The best churn is usually the one with which a person is 
the most famiiliar. Of the large number (about 8,000) of 
different churns that have been invented, but a few have 
come into use, and of these, perhaps only 10 or 12 can be 
called good. For a one-cow dairy, the small sized dash 
churn, would get the most votes in a convention, and 
next to this would come the Blanchard. This is about 
the general popular estimate, as it appears to us. 
Troublesome Cows.-“J. K.,” Northampton, 
Pa. It is advisable to fatten, and kill off every cow, that 
is objectionable in any way, or that gives trouble in 
milking or breeding. There is no other manner of pro¬ 
curing cows that are free from faults, than breeding from 
the best, and discarding all others as quickly as possible. 
Wind Sucking.—“ M. M. P.,” Augusta, Wis. 
Cribbing and Wind Sucking is a habit and a vice, con¬ 
tracted through neglect and bad education. The first 
time a colt or a horse is seen to attempt this practice, it 
should be stopped by removing everything which will en¬ 
courage or allow it. It will soon be forgotten - T but if it 
is once acquired, it will never be broken up. It is not 
caused by disease, but is itself the cause of sore mouth, 
flatulence, indigestion, and other ailments. 
Film on tlie Eye. —“ C. W. B.,” Cumberland Co., 
N. J. A white or creamy yellow film covering the eye, 
is generally caused by a deposit of pus between the coats, 
which is one effect of inflammation. The inflamma¬ 
tion is more likely to be caused by a chaff in the eye, 
or a blow, than by anything else. The chaff may be re¬ 
moved by putting a few flax seeds in the eye, these exude 
soft, cooling,-mucilaginous matter, which eases the pain, 
and helps the chaff to escape. The pus will generally be 
absorbed by means of a counter irritation, caused by 
blowing a pinch of Burnt Alum into the eye, through a 
quill. The eye may be cooled by bathing it with a solu¬ 
tion of one dram of Sugar of Lend, in a qnnrt of water. 
Half a pound of Salts given dissolved in water, will help 
to remove any fever caused by the irritation. 
