AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
71 
vitality of the seeds in the least. I know that 
red lead was recommended for the same purpose 
some years ago; but used with water alone, I 
found it could not be depended upon. I have 
long known that birds do not like the smell of 
turpentine, but to test this knowledge I used 
two sorts of sawdust for the same purpose; one 
sort was from foreign deals which contained a 
large portion of turpentine, the other was from 
elm, and of course contained none; the birds 
did not at all like the former, but the last- 
named was not the least protection, as I have 
often seen them basking in it on a sunny day. 
This is the third year I have tried it with 
autumn-sown peas as a protection against mice; 
they have once or twice tried a row, but that 
trial, in all probability, cost them their lives. 
Of the peas I sowed last autumn not one has 
been touched, though I know that there are 
mice in the garden.—J. Holland, in London 
Florist. 
If the above process for protecting seeds is 
adopted, care should be taken to keep domestic 
fowls from access to the garden, lest they should 
be killed or injured by devouring any of the 
seeds so prepared.— Eds. Agriculturist. 
- >•< - 
CULTURE OF THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 
PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS. 
The following practical directions for cultivat¬ 
ing this beautiful flowering plant, are from Mr. 
J. Shephard, foreman in the gardens of Bath, 
(Eng.,) and are found in the Floricultural Cab¬ 
inet. The writer says: 
I need scarcely advance any thing in favor of 
this beautiful autumn-flowering plant, as I feel 
confident those who are fortunate enough to 
have become acquainted with it, will not easily 
relinquish its culture; and those not already 
possessed of a collection, will find this an excel¬ 
lent time to make their purchase; for what can 
be a more salutary employment than cultivating 
the beautiful and bounteous gifts of our Creator ? 
It is apt to lead a contemplative mind, in the 
language of Shakspeare, to 
“Find tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, 
Sermons in stones, and good in every thing.” 
We are principally indebted to our brethren on 
the continent for the many improvements made; 
likewise to our principal nurserymen for bring¬ 
ing them before us. Could we but get them to 
seed in this country, we should undoubtedly 
have a more numerous variety, and very likely 
possessing what in England are considered per¬ 
fection in form. Their culture is so simple, that 
those of the humblest pretensions may indulge 
in it; a common garden frame being all that is 
requisite, in the way of glass, providing it is of 
sufficient depth for head-room. 
The cuttings should be taken off about the 
first week in April; they may be either inserted 
in cutting-pans or thumb-pots. Preference 
should, however, be given to the latter mode, as 
they receive no check after re-potting. They 
should be partially filled with a nice rich mold, 
adding a little coarse sand on the surface, slightly 
damp them, and insert a cutting in each pot, 
plunging them in a nice bottom heat, keeping 
close till fairly rooted; after which give air 
gradually, till they become a little hardened. 
They may then receive a shift into pots known 
as large sixties; and if convenience will admit, 
they may again receive the benefit of a slight 
bottom heat; if not, keep them close for a few 
days, after which give air on all favorable op¬ 
portunities. As soon as they have taken well 
hold of the soil, stop them to within a few j oints 
of the bottom ; this will be found to keep them 
bushy; shift them on as they become rooted 
into forty-eight sized pots, using three parts of 
a good strong fibrous loam, three parts to one 
part of well decomposed cow manure and a lit¬ 
tle sand. After potting, let them be plunged 
nearly to the rim of the pot, either in coal ashes 
or in the open ground, duly attending to them 
with water; for if once permitted to become 
dry, their leaves will turn yellow (for want of 
this necessary attention how often do we see 
plants with long naked stems ?) and eventually 
fall of. They must be shifted again, as soon as 
well rooted, into thirty-twos, or if wanted large, 
twenty-fours, using the same kind of compost; 
and if the large flowered varieties are grown, 
larger pots must be used. Let them be again 
plunged, after which little more will remain to 
be done, beyond supplying them with manure- 
water twice weekly, and clear water as they re¬ 
quire it. Neatly stake them out, to prevent their 
being broken. 
Very large plants may be obtained by plant¬ 
ing them out early in the open ground, and tak¬ 
ing them up after setting their flower buds. 
Care must be exercised in this operation, other¬ 
wise they will flag. Dull showery weather 
should be taken advantage of for this; pot in a 
good rich soil, and place them in the shade of a 
north aspected wall; and if not showery, fre¬ 
quently syringe them. I have grown the large- 
flowered varieties in this way without losing a 
leaf, and they were admired by all who saw 
them. If wanted for decorative purposes, in 
small pots, I recommend the Pompons (or Min 
imas,) propagated as late as August. They will 
form little gems for the drawing-room; and if 
a few pots of Mignonette are added, it will im¬ 
part to the whole a charming fragrance, at once 
exhilerating and delightful. 
The following descriptive list of kinds com¬ 
prises what will give _a striking variety, as well 
as containing most of the best out. 
Pompms. —Drine-Drine, fine soft yellow; 
Bijou de Horticulture, creamy white ; Atropos, 
crimson; Atala, fine rose ; La Fianc6e, white; 
LaLapajou, deep yellow center, edged with red ; 
Sacramento, orange-yellow; Lais, crimson-pur¬ 
ple; Graziella, rosy-blush; Madame Jules de 
Gory, white shaded with yellow; Perfecta, lilac; 
Adonis, rosy-purple. Large flowered varieties. — 
Temple de Solomon, fine yellow; Madame Poggi, 
crinson-chestnut; Nancy de Sermet, white; 
Queen of England, blush-white, fine; Princess 
Maria, rosy-lilas; Annie, canary-yellow; Pio 
Nono, mixed red or scarlet; Dupont de l’Eure, 
carmine orange; Jenny Lind, rosy-buff; Duke, 
blush; Campestroni, plum-colored; Gluck, gol¬ 
den-yellow, fine. 
Destruction or Peach Tree Blossoms. —The 
Portsmouth (N. H.) Journal of April 1st, says 
that the cold of the past winter has been ex¬ 
tremely destructive to the peach blassoins in 
that vicinity. Mr. D. H. Spinney, who has a 
large nursery, informs the editor that he cannot 
find a single bud which indicates a live blossom. 
Mr. B. F. Butler, of Pelham, says that he ex¬ 
amined his peach trees on the 22d of February, 
and was not able to find a single living bud. 
They were alive on the 16th of January. 
■——«-• •—-— 
JUDGMENT NECESSARY IN COOKING. 
A person devoid of judgment and palatal 
taste, cannot serve a savory meal, however 
abundant the material may be, or of whatever 
richness. A well-prepared dish will recommend 
itself to fastidious appetites, though plain in its 
ingredients, when one of luxury may be set 
aside from mismanagement in cooking. All the 
“ cook-books” ever written, of themselves, never 
made a good cook ; and these, joined with the 
requisite articles, in the hands of inexperience 
cannot produce a good dinner, the first, and 
most often overlooked requisite for which is, 
that the food be healthy. 
As a community we have a horror of con¬ 
sulting physiological demands in regard to what 
and when we shall eat; and the consequences 
are that health, sound, robust, vigorous health, 
is rarely to be met with. When grains, fruits, 
vegetables or meats are used, let them be of 
good quality, neatly prepared, cooked the proper 
length of time ; the intensity of heat being of 
I great importance, and served when “ just 
right;” on these points there will be but little 
variation among good cooks, however, much they 
may differ in regard to seasoning. Many dishes 
are rendered indigestible and unpalatable by 
cooking too slowly, or by being overdone, or 
being kept warm when ready for the table, in 
consequence of too early preparation. 
The importance of having each dish ready in 
season is known to all in the habit of serving 
good meals. Many things are equally palata¬ 
ble, whether eaten warm or cold; in fact, this 
depends almost wholly on habit, whereas there 
are few articles but what are greatly injured in 
the fineness of their flavor by being “ kept 
warm.” Were more food eaten cold, more brains 
at least might have an occasional meal. 
A full view into the culinary arrangements 
of our homes, would in a measure solve the prob¬ 
lem of the apparent famishing condition of the 
female intellect. When the palate is the wor¬ 
shiped idol, the mind must boio subservient to it, 
and soon becomes a degraded, famished slave. 
Not only the female intellect suffers, man’s does 
scarcely less; he must first labor uselessly hard 
to procure dainty articles, and he then over-eats, 
which produces mental stupefaction by the de¬ 
mand the stomach makes on the vitality to en¬ 
able it to discharge its heavy burthen. 
As a relish among farmers, where it is usu¬ 
ally to be found, I know of nothing more plea¬ 
sant than sweet cream; and in the vast array 
of dishes to which it is adapted, I place it at 
the head. In use with sugar it forms a more 
dainty dressing for puddings, “short cakes,” 
fruits of various descriptions, and various forms 
of prepared farina, than any or all other com¬ 
bination of sauces, and as a seasoning for vege¬ 
tables it is almost indispensable. In the pre¬ 
paration of fish itis equally good. It is far more 
healthy than butter, into which it is rendered 
after much fatiguing labor, and therefore much 
cheaper. Remember I am writing for farmers, 
else I might feel guilty in holding a tempting 
bait to those who cannot reach it. For pies and 
cakes I would never use lard, and seldom but¬ 
ter, could cream be obtained, not strong cream, 
but fresh sweet cream— sweeJsour cream when 
necessary.— Correspondent Michigan Farmer. 
Sweet. —Kissing a pretty girl (down south,) 
a young gentleman asked her “what made her 
so sweet?” “Oh,” she replied, in utter igno¬ 
rance, “ my father is a sugar planter.” 
Perventive Better than Cure. —It is better 
to throw a guard about the baby’s cradle than 
to sing a psalm at the bad man’s death-bed; bet¬ 
ter to have a care while the bud is bursting to 
the sun than when the heat has scorched the 
heart of the unguarded bosom. 
-• • •---- 
A Musical Voice. —A young man at a social 
party was urged to sing a song. He replied 
that he would first tell a story, and then, if they 
persisted in their demands he would try and ex¬ 
ecute a song. When a boy, he said, he took 
lessons iu singing, and on Sunday morning he 
went into his father’s garden to practise by him¬ 
self. When in full play, he was suddenly sent 
for by the old gentleman. 
“This is pretty conduct,” said his father, 
“ pretty employment for a son of pious parents 
to be saioing boards on Sabbath morning , loud 
enough to be heard by the neighbors. Sit down 
and take your book.” The young man was ex¬ 
cused from singing the proposed song.— Del. 
Co. Republican. 
Every school-boy knows that a kite would not 
fly until it had a string tying it down. It is 
just so in life. The man who is tied down by 
half a dozen blooming responsibilities and their 
mother, will make a stronger and higher flight 
than the old bachelor, who having nothing to 
keep him steady, is always floundering in the 
mud. If you want to ascend in the world, tie 
yourself to somebody. 
