AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
137 
in a few hours collected from small sums, enough 
to purchase the work and place it upon the 
teacher’s desk. 
A Timely Map.— Messrs. Ensign, Bridgeman, 
& Fanning have just issued a very convenient 
map of Europe, which shows on a large scale, 
the location and relative position of the various 
countries likely to be affected by the present 
war. We have examined a copy, and find it just 
the thing to refer to on the arrival of news from 
over the Atlantic. If children now studying 
geography, can have such a map for constant 
reference, it will materially assist them in fix¬ 
ing their knowledge of this important division 
of the earth’s surface. For price, &c., see ad¬ 
vertisement. 
CRYSTAL PALACE RE-OPENING. 
we have received a small parcel, we shall be 
happy to send an ounce or so to a few of our 
friends, who may desire to test the truth of the 
above statements. 
-« 0 • - - 
For the American Agriculturist. 
THE ASPARAGUS PEA—COW PEA. 
Enclosed is a sample of the Asparagus Pea 
in the pod, also seeds of the same. They re¬ 
quire a trellis or brush a few feet high to run 
on. The pods have been grown here to mea¬ 
sure three feet long. To cook, snap them into 
pieces of suitable length, and boil the same as 
asparagus, then serve up on toast with pepper, 
&c. 
I likewise enclose a variety of the Cow Pea, 
which is the earliest to mature with us. Per¬ 
haps you may succeed in ripening them, and 
thus acclimating this very valuable food for 
man and beast. It is not as delicate for the 
This interesting ceremony took place on 
Thursday of last week. The exercises consisted 
of speeches by several distinguished men, and 
delightful music discoursed by various cele¬ 
brated musical societies and bands, and individual 
singers and musicians. The attendance was 
very large—we have not seen a statement of the 
numbers present, but think that from thirty to 
forty thousand persons visited the Palace be¬ 
tween 8 A. M. and 10 P. M. We were pleased 
to find that in the reopening exercises, the 
rightful claims of labor were duly recognized. 
The artists and mechanics were treated as the 
real designers, artificers, and patrons of the 
World’s Industrial Exhibition, and due honor 
was awarded to them. • 
We missed a few curious and interesting ob¬ 
jects that were on exhibition last autumn, but 
we also noticed many new additions, and on the 
whole the general value of the Exhibition is not 
materially lessened, while there is a promise of 
a constant influx of the productions of art and 
labor. We expect to be well repaid for making 
a good many visits yet, and we advise all who 
can do so, to plan an excursion to this really 
grand collection. No one should come expect¬ 
ing to be satisfied with one or two half-day 
visits. The first day may well be devoted to a 
general survey of the building and the aggre¬ 
gate mass of objects, while future visits may be 
occupied with more particular examinations of 
the different departments. We shall at another 
time enumerate some of the more interesting 
objects. 
- 0-0 # — ■■ ■ 
WHITE FLAX SEED. 
In reference to the White or Canary colored 
flax seed alluded to last week, we have seen a let¬ 
ter addressed to Messrs. Abraham Bell & Son, of 
this city, from which we make the following ex¬ 
tract : 
The grower of this seed asserts that he ob¬ 
tained 15 to 18 bushels of the white flax seed, 
where the same soil and space of land yielded 
only 7 or 8 bushels of the common kind of seed; 
and he claims that the lint produced from the 
fiber is worth double the price of the ordinary 
production, from its delicate and silken proper¬ 
ties. I cannot positively vouch for the facts, as 
alleged, but believe you can safely reiterate 
them. Of one thing, however, I am certain, 
that the oil expressed from it is of as light color 
as if it had been bleached, and it is a good thing 
if half that is told about it be true. 
Messrs. Bell & Son expect to have a supply 
of this seed next spring. In the meantime as 
table as other and later varieties. The origin of 
the Cow Pea is not known with certainty. This 
variety is called the “Goose Craw,” from the 
fact that it was originally found in the crop of a 
wild goose shot here. An endless variety of 
the Cow Pea is cultivated at the south; and 
but for their ameliorating properties, our land 
would ere this have become barren. It is the 
clover of the south. James G. Rowe. 
AiJcin, N~. G. 
The above seeds are at our office, and we 
shall be pleased to distribute them among those 
desirous of experimenting with them. Mr. Rowe 
informs us that we mistook him in saying, in a 
late number of the Agriculturist , that the Or 
aDge Melon originated in the mountains of North 
Carolina, it was there he first saw it. The ori 
gin he does not know. 
POTATO ROT. 
A few days since we spent some time in con 
versation with the writer of the letter given be¬ 
low. Mr. Corey has evidently given considera¬ 
ble attention to the potato disease, and feels 
quite confident that he has discovered the true 
cause and at least a partial remedj'-. He wishes 
to pursue his investigations during the present 
season, and to have a few others also test his 
theories before they are gifen to the public. 
We have had no great faith in any remedy pro 
posed for eradicating this disease, but we will 
do Mr. Corey the justice to say that his reason 
ings appeared plausible. We shall endeavor to 
experiment somewhat this season. This letter 
contains some good suggestions aside from its 
connection with what Mr. Corey deems a new 
and valuable discovery. 
For tlie American Agriculturist. 
FACTS WORTII KNOWING. 
The potato rot may be propagated by means 
of diseased seedlings. Hence, much care should 
be exercised in the selection of potatoes for 
planting. There are but very few potatoes 
found in the market entirely free from this dis 
ease. The dry scab on the surface ordinarily 
indicates it as certainly as do the dark putrid 
spots within. Frequently the two show a dis 
eased connection. For planting purposes, se 
lect those potatoes whose surfaces are the most 
free from all blemishes. Examine them atten 
tively around the stem, eyes, &c., seeing also 
that there is no internal affection. If resor 
must be had to those which show signs of dis 
ease, cut out deeply all affected parts. It is far 
better to cut out and plant simply the potato 
eyes, including a reasonable quantity of the po 
tato, than to plant whole potatoes which are in 
the least affected. Here an ounce of prevention 
1 is better than a pound of cure. Elevated lands 
with a loose soil are better as respects this blight, 
than low lands naturally wet and heavy. New 
clearings recently burnt over, planted with 
healthy seedlings, are, other things being equal, 
least liable to said disease. Ground that has 
been well stirred and aired, and kept clean as 
in thorough cultivation of corn, for one or two 
prior seasons, is better than sod or stubble 
ground. Stable manure purified by filtration, 
with a mixture of salt, lime, and water, liberally 
applied to each hill at the time of planting, will 
tend to increase the crop and to counteract the 
disease. Plaster, lime, or ashes applied to the 
vines during their growing process, will have 
the same tendencies. 
The potato rot, judging from its nature, is 
probably destined to always remain in all coun¬ 
tries where it now exists; and, under the ordi¬ 
nary mode of cultivating the potato, is likely in 
warm wet seasons to increase. Much of the 
evil, however, arising from this disease, may be 
prevented on perfectly scientific principles at 
moderate expense, when its true nature shall 
have become generally known and heeded. 
The above remarks, all which are respectfully 
submitted, are based on known facts, gathered 
from investigations and experiments made dur¬ 
ing several consecutive years. C. Corey. 
Limn , Did., April 15th, 1854. 
- • o • -- 
For the American Agriculturist. 
SUBSCRIBER’S OPINION OF THE AMERICAN 
AGRICULTURIST. 
CROPS IN PENNSYLVANIA AND DELAWARE. 
We have received hundreds of flattering no¬ 
tices from our cotemporaries and from sub¬ 
scribers, which are a source of encouragement 
to us in our efforts to furnish a reliable and in¬ 
structive paper. We do not think it just to our 
readers to occupy space to publish these, how¬ 
ever much it might gratify our vanity. We 
will, however, depart from our usual custom, 
and insert the following letter, as it more par¬ 
ticularly interests some of our correspondents 
than ourselves. We see the writer is “ mar¬ 
riageable,” and we publicly hand him over “ to 
those interested.” Here is his letter : 
McDonough, Del., April 25,1854. 
Gentlemen : —I subscribed to your paper for 
six months to try it, and although that time is 
scarcely half out, I send you the dollar needed 
to finish the year, while I think of it, for I say 
in all candor that it would be a great disap¬ 
pointment to miss it for only one week. In the 
first place, I think its pages are filled with mat¬ 
ter just suited to the taste, wants, and compre¬ 
hension of the farmer, and it does not depart 
from its legitimate sphere for the purpose of 
“ filling up,” which is so general among our 
agricultural journals. The articles are so sea¬ 
sonable too, every number containing the very 
information needed and wished for at the time 
of its arrival. 
Not least interesting, are the articles written 
by your fair correspondents. I like them, and 
take great pleasure in looking them up, and 
reading them too—and that frequently more 
than once. I think the portion of your paper 
occupied by them, affords to the whole the savor 
of an exceedingly well-relished spice, and such 
as is found in very few of its kind, if in any, in 
so acceptable a form. I hope they will be con¬ 
tinued, and increased in number, rather than 
otherwise. It strikes me very forcibly that 
they would make capital farmers’ wives, (if they 
are not already.) Now, I am a young farmer, 
and some say I need, and I know I want a 
wife—and one that has a heart as good as some 
of your correspondents’ articles indicate them 
to possess, if that is not aiming to high for me. 
The fact is, the ladies here take so little interest 
in farming, that it does me good to even hear of 
one who loves the occupation well enough to 
induce her to contribute to the happiness of its 
