188-2.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
127 
Fairs for 1882.— The first notice of a fair for j 
this year reached us en Dec. 24th, and was from Sec. 
Hamm of the Neosho Valley District Fair Associa¬ 
tion ; it states that the 9th annual fair of this Soci¬ 
ety will be held at its Park, Neosho Falls, Sept. 25- 
30,1882. It is desired that the Secretaries of all 
Fair Associations will give us the earliest possible 
notice of the date of holding their fairs, that we 
may be able to answer enquiries, and also to make 
our fair list as full and accurate as possible. 
Maggots in Apples.— “ G. E. L.,” Merrimack 
Co., N. H., writes there has been trouble iu that 
vicinity with maggots in the apples. These mag¬ 
gots are “ an eighth of an inch in length, and about 
as large around as a pin ; they perforate the apple 
in all directions.” The matter was referred to 
Prof. A. J. Cook, who says: “The only maggot 
that has been described as working in apples is the 
Trypeta pomonclla, but this is not the one said to in¬ 
jure the apples in New Hampshire. I should judge 
that this is a new enemy.” 
‘‘Prairie JSice,” Egyptian Corn, Etc.— 
F. J. Beuitz, Fe, Argentine Republic, South Am¬ 
erica, having seen accounts of the so-called 
“ Prairie Rice,” would know more about it, its 
yield per acre, etc. The plant in question is a form 
of Sorghum vulgare , and has been grown in some 
States as a fodder crop with fair results. As a grain 
crop, we doubt if it is equal iu any respect to Indian 
corn. As it is common in most warm countries, 
we have no doubt that it is iu cultivation with you 
under some of its other names, such as “Durra,” 
or “Doura,” “Indian Millet,” “Guinea Corn,” 
etc. The name, “Prairie Rice,” is a recent one 
given in one of our Western States. “ Ivory Wheat ” 
is another of the fanciful names that have been 
given to it, and the seeds were advertised in such 
a manner as to give the idea that it was a new 
variety of wheat. There are many varieties, and 
the grain varies from pure white to dark brown. 
Blatters in SoutU America.— “F. J. B.” 
writes us from Argentine Republic that he is de¬ 
lighted with the country. Frosts seldom occur in 
,i winter, and snows are unknown. Land sells at §1 
an acre, though in localities near cities it is from 
$7 to $10. Cattle as they run are worth $8 per head ; 
those fit for the butcher are §12 and §14. A milch 
cowand calf cost §16 to $18; and working oven, 
$25 to $30 each. I met with a gentleman the other 
day who told me that he had had an increase in his 
cattle of 42 per cent. Linseed is now cultivated to 
a great extent—in fact, farmers appear to have a 
Linseed fever. The seed is exported in large 
quantities to Europe for pressing out the oil. 
Boots in Wet Weatlier.— We have published 
it before, but the hint should be repeated every 
year. When wet boots are taken off and allowed 
to dry during the night, the}’ shrink and are diffi¬ 
cult to get on in the morning. This may be easily 
obviated by filling the boots, when taken off, with 
oats. A sufficient quantity of oats kept for the 
purpose, will allow the boots to dry without 
shrinking, and prove a great comfort. 
An Uneasy Horse.— Mr. “ J. R. A.,” asks for 
a remedy for a horse “ that will not stand to be un¬ 
hooked.”—We can suggest nothing better than to 
make a business of “ hooking” and “ unhooking” 
the horse with firm and kind treatment until the 
tendency to be uneasy is overcome. 
A Manual of the Coniferse, containing a 
general review of the Order; a Synopsis of the 
Hardy Kinds Cultivated in Great Britain; their 
Place and Use in Horticulture. With numerous 
Woodcuts and Illustrations. James Veiteh and 
Sons, Royal Exotic Nursery, King’s Road, Chelsea, 
8. W., 1881. A work on the Conifer®, which in 
■ this country are more popularly known as “Ever¬ 
greens,” may be written from a botanist’s or a 
nurseryman’s standpoint. The work, the title of 
which we have given above in full, is essentially 
the work of a nurseryman. He does not trouble 
himself about the critical distinctions of genera, 
which so puzzle the critical botanist, but taking 
the trees as he finds them, endeavors to show their 
uses to the cultivator, and to give their behavior 
under cultivation in England. English nursery¬ 
men long ago had their collectors on our Western 
Coast, and the climate of England being better 
suited to them, they have had vastly better success 
with our far western Coniferse than has attended 
their trial on the Atlantic slope. But it is not alone 
to the western American Conifer® that this work 
is devoted ; it gives those from all countries, and, 
of course, includes not only those European moun¬ 
tain forms, but those from Japan and Northern 
China, which as a rule succeed better with us than 
do those from our Western Coast. The work, a 
small 4to. of 342 pages, is illustrated both by large 
engravings showing the port and uses of the trees 
in landscape, and smaller wood-cuts showing de¬ 
tails of structure. We are surprised that the 
authors retain the name Wellingtonia gigantea for 
the Mammoth Tree of California, while they give 
Sequoia sempei-virens for the Redwood ; both are of 
the same genus, and botanists, both American and 
English, have long ago decided that they both be¬ 
long to Seqzcoia. But it is not our purpose to find 
fault with the work, but rather to commend it to 
the attention of those who, on both sides of the 
Atlantic, will find it a useful aid in the cultivation 
of the Coniferce. 
Strawberries for Minnesota.— F. G. Bond, 
Clay Co. In a climate with winters so severe as 
yours, it will pay to cover all strawberries ; even 
the most hardy will be more productive. Among 
the newer varieties the Bidwell has proved among 
ths hardiest. With an abundance of straw the 
protection is simple. When the ground begins to 
freeze, cover it with straw, plants and all, taking 
care to work it down to the soil under large plants. 
Near the coast, we avoid covering the tops of the 
plants heavily, but you will not be likely to smother 
them, a danger we must avoid. Iu spring the 
straw need not be removed, but go along the rows 
and open the covering just over the plants. 
Bailing Slops.—“M. C.” wishes to know if 
we “or any of our correspondents” can give him 
“any idea about raising a Hop Orchard, when the 
plants ought to be set,” etc., etc. Had M. C. writ¬ 
ten his name in full, and his address plainly, for the 
post mark is utterly blind, he would several weeks 
ago been informed of what we state now. To 
wit: That our pamphlet on Hop Culture, pub¬ 
lished to meet such inquiries as his, can be had 
at this office, post paid, for 30 cents. This gives 
full details by ten experienced growers in different 
parts of the couutry, and is much more extended 
than any one article can be; it is abundantly illus¬ 
trated and is just the work that “M. C.” wants. If 
our friends would take the trouble to give their 
names in full, and see that the address is plainly 
written, they would be auswered more promptly. 
Horses and Dahlias.— II. II. Logan, Suffolk 
Co., L. I., writes that a horse, last summer, gained 
access to some Dahlias, and ate a considerable 
quantity of their leaves and stems. The animal 
soon afterwards went to the barn, ate its evening 
ration as usual, and the next morning was found 
dead, though apparently in perfect health the day 
before. Mr. L. is inclined to regard the Dahlias as 
the cause of death, for the reason that on one or 
two former occasions the horse had taken a bite of 
the plant and did not seem to be well for several 
days afterwards. While the Dahlia is not regarded 
as a poisonous plant, it may have a peculiar effect 
upon horses, and we readily comply with our cor¬ 
respondents suggestions that we ask for informa¬ 
tion. If any others have observed that the Dahlia 
is injurious to horses, we hope that they may report. 
Millet for Horses.— “ M. L. B.,” Neodesha, 
Neb., asks, if millet hay, or millet that has not 
been, threshed, is safe to feed to horses, mules and 
cattle. “ If there is danger, in what quantity would 
it^be safe ?”—So many different plants are now 
grown as millet that we are not sure which kind is 
referred to. The only dangerous kind is that vari¬ 
ously called “Bengal,” “Golden,” “Mammoth,” 
and Hungarian Millet, and closely resembles Hun¬ 
garian grass. The alleged danger from this is not 
due to the amount fed, but its state of ripeness. 
Each grain has just below it a few small, rough 
bristles. If cut while the grain is yet green, it may 
be used freely. If the grain is ripe, it is said that 
the bristles accumulate in the stomachs of the 
animals, forming masses which cause trouble. 
Farmers’ Club. —The “ Yolinia, Mich., Far¬ 
mers Club ” and some others, turn Postal Cards to 
good account in giving notice of their meetings. 
The names of the officers, the order of business, 
and a list of the dates of the meetings for the year, 
together with the subjects to be discussed, and the 
names of those who are to present them, are all 
plainly given, with room for much more upon the 
Postal. A properly prepared card of this kind costs 
very little, and serves each member as a reminder 
for a whole year. 
Tlie Profits of Orange Culture.—“ II. A. 
T.” sends us from De Land, Fla., notes on that 
locality, in which he says : “ One acre of orange 
trees (76) budded five years ago, netted the owner 
$522. Another took 6,000 oranges from one tree 
which at a cent and a half each brought $90. Last 
year 14 trees netted the owner $420. The largest 
tree I .have seen is estimated to have on it 10,000 
oranges ; the same tree yielded last year $125.” 
These and many other such items indicate that 
orange culture, properly managed in a suitable 
locality, is often exceedingly profitable. The State, 
and orange growing have been greatly injured by 
high-colored statements of great profits, and at the 
same time implying that they were within the reach 
of every one. The impression has been given that 
the lazy, the shiftless, and all the “ne’er do weels ” 
of everywhere else, can go to Florida and at once 
become rich from oranges. It is only those who 
bring knowledge, skill, and constant personal at¬ 
tention to their work, who succeed in raising- 
oranges or cabbages. The advantages are all men¬ 
tioned prominently, the drawbacks are not noticed. 
This very letter says: “ What we most miss is the 
butter and milk of the north.” Florida still offers 
most excellent inducements to the right kind of 
settlers—those who go there knowing that there 
are difficulties to be met with, and carry a deter¬ 
mination to overcome them. 
Sunflower Culture.— “C. E. B.,” Huron, Dak., 
asks about the cultivation of sunflowers, as he 
has seen somewhere an article advising their cul¬ 
ture for their seeds, and for their stems as fuel. 
Our correspondent evidently has in view the grow¬ 
ing of them especially to burn, as he says that all 
kinds of fuel, save hay, is very scarce. So far as 
we are aware, Russia is the only country in which 
the sunflower is grown to any extent, and there the 
oil obtained from the seeds is the chief considera¬ 
tion. It is said that the crop is about fifty bushels 
of seeds to the acre. French writers on oil-produc¬ 
ing crops do not advise the culture of the sun¬ 
flower, because it requires a very rich soil, and the 
birds take a large share of the seeds ; besides these, 
the yield is small—about fifteen per cent.—of an 
oil of inferior quality. We know of no demand 
for the seeds for pressing in this country, and if 
raised they must be utilized upon the farm. They 
are regarded as a valuable food for poultry, and 
have been given to horses as a stimulant and appe¬ 
tizer. If any of our readers have tried the sun¬ 
flower as a farm crop, we shall be glad to have their 
experience. As to the use of the stalks for burn¬ 
ing, we think that better fuel may be raised more 
cheaply. Bur few plants draw so heavily upon the 
soil for potash as the sunflower, and unless the land 
is rich the crop of stalks will not be large. The 
Ailanthus tree would be better for fuel, and when 
the trees were once established they could be cut 
over every year; new shoots springing from the 
roots would give an annual crop of most excel¬ 
lent fuel. Peach trees grow rapidly and might be 
raised from the stone, if the climate will allow. 
