AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
34-7 
regard to the cots ; these are almost indispensable to the 
majority of readers. 
Bouquet Books. —M. C. P., Freeport, Ill. We 
know of no books specially on this topic. 
Water Colors.—A “School-boy” inquires about 
these. They usually come in little paper boxes, in small 
cakes, ten or a dozen in a box. They can generally be had 
at the book stores at small cost—say 25 cents pei box, and 
upward. He will not need any book to instruct him in 
their use, as they are applied with an ordinary camel’s 
hair brush, which is simplv wet and rubbed upon a cake 
of paint. 
CUestnuts, Quinces, etc., iu BllJnois.—J. N. 
Baker, La Salle Co. Chestnuts do best a light dry soil, 
but thrive well on that of poor quality Procure seed 
from a region where the chestnut thrives, and do not let 
the mits become dry before they are planted in the Fall 
or put in boxes of earth for Spring planting. Voung trees 
may also be obtained from chestnut regions.... Of quinces, 
that variety called the Apple or Orange is perhaps the 
best for your region_“ Buist’s Kitchen Garden,” (75c.) 
is a cheap and good work on vegetables unu the small 
fruits. 
Pinching Pumpkin Vines, and not Lima 
Beans. —T. T. Hughes, York Co., Me., writes : “ May 
20th, I planted 30 pumpkin seeds in old pasture newly 
broken up; pinched off the vines, as recommended in the 
May Agriculturist : they sent out numerous side shoots, 
and I now have 75 ripe pumpkins, weighing 15 to 45 lbs. 
each ...Lima beans, planted May 23, now have vines 
24 feet long, with ripe clusters of pods 15 feet from the 
ground. 
Large Squashes. —Any amount of big squashes 
are reported to us this year Here are examples : Down 
Easl—S. S. Hobbs, Cumberland Co.. Maine, has five 
squashes weighing 400 lbs. ; the largest, 134 lbs ; the 
smallest, 56 lbs. Out West —Aaron Price. Fulton Co , 0.. 
tells of a squash weighing 220flbs. In Pennsylvania, J. 
H. Smith, of Wayne Co., has 16 squashes, weighing 
I, 9581 lbs. ; average, 122 lbs. 6 oz. each ; largest, 211 lbs., 
and 7 feet 91 inches around ; next largest, 170 lbs., 71 feet 
around ; third largest, 1631 lbs., 61 feet round. The 
above will do for three squashes, until somebody beats 
them. What kind were they? If good, send along the 
seed, and we will sow it broadcast over the country—if 
you wish. 
“Nutmeg) Pea.”—J. Cutler, Bristol Co., Mass., 
sends us samples of a pea which he calls by the above 
name. He says they grow 10 to 12 feet high, yield large- 
.y, and he considers them the best pea that can be raised 
for market. We find, on examination, that they are what 
is generally known as the Scotch Speckled Pea. They 
nave been in this country many years, and most seed 
dealers have them. 
Dr. Underkilt’s Isabella anti Cataw'ra 
Grapes are quite equal to any we have seen in market, 
or tasted in*past years. If he would only tell us bow- 
many he sells in New York market (and at a higher price 
than others), he would gratify curiosity at least. We 
“guess” it can’t be less than 100,000 lbs. a-year, if not 
twice that amount. If you don’t tell us, Doctor, we shall 
keep guessing. Such grapes in such quantities can not 
be hid under a bushel—basket, R. T. U. 
Big Apples.— We have before us a Fall Pippin, 
weighing 14 ounces, from Mr. Seldon G. Ely, of Middle¬ 
sex, Co., C*nn., who, we hear, is in the habit of raising 
such fruit We could not find it in our heart (or mouth) 
to object to a barrel of apples like this one—it would not 
take long to count them. 
Apples Rotting on Trees- W. B. Morgan, 
Gibson Co., Tenn., will probably find nearly all decaying 
apples penetrated by insects. Every such apple should 
be gathered as soon as it falls, or before, and fed to ani¬ 
mals, or boiled at once to prevent the laying of eggs for 
another year. A few varieties habitually rot in some lo¬ 
calities. For such there is no remedy but to discard them 
for better kinds. 
Dead Bark on Pear Trees.— J. H. Foster, Al¬ 
legany Co., Pa. The difficulty is probably at the root 
We have usually found such cases of numerous spots of 
dead bark, when the trees stood on shallow, hard soil, or 
on one not well drained. It is sometimes caused by an 
excess of fermenting manure applied. Deep draining a 
intle distance fro m the root, loosening the soil, and an ad¬ 
mixture of ashes or lime with it, will generally renew the 
trees, if they be not too far gone. 
An AUantus in Hie Garden. —“ Amateur.” 
in Philadelphia, has an Ailantus in his garden, with wide 
branches, but trimmed so high as to shade only the build¬ 
ings, and not the ground. A large number of roots and 
valuable seeds planted came up, and promised well, but 
jtr ugh they were well yyafered and cared for, most of 
them died, and none came to maturity. The neighbors 
attribute the injury to the tree, and say that nothing will 
thrive within its influence ; the enquiry is, whether this 
he so. This is still a disputed question. We doubt any 
direct poisonous influence, having ourselves raised seve¬ 
ral varieties of flowers and other plants around the border 
of a grass plot 20 feet square, in the center of which was 
a large ailanthus tree, whose branches spread out only ten 
to twelve feet from the ground We have looked in vain, 
so far, for any evidence of poisonous influence from this 
tree, and think it much abused, though not very par¬ 
tial to il as a shade tree. Still it grows so rapidly that 
we would not discard it altogether, and would even recom¬ 
mend it for planting along the sides of streets, where its 
root-shoots would be kept down, especially if a rapid 
growth be desired. Its roots occupy most of the ground 
near, and on this account it is injurious to plants growing 
round the trunk “ Amateur” does not tell us how near 
to ttie tree his seeds and roots were put—we should have 
written to enquire had we known his address—ner does 
he state whether those nearest the tree were more in 
jured than those at a greater distance. We suspect there 
may have been some other local cause, in the soil, drain¬ 
ing, manure, watering, or other treatment. 
Clover anal Breeding; Animals.—A corres¬ 
pondent in Western Kentucky says that “ in that region” 
itis a currently received opinion that clover prevents ani¬ 
mals w hich run upon it from breeding well. This is, to 
us, a new suggestion, one not well grounded we think. 
Does this opinion prevail elsewhere? The only plausi¬ 
bility in the idea, is, that animals feeding on good rich 
clover pastures are likely to be in high flesh, and fat ani¬ 
mals do not breed so w ell as those in moderately good 
condition. 
Milk, Bleating 1 .—It is usually better to scald 
milk to be kept, and milk is never really fit for coffee until 
it has been boiled. 
Draining) witk Wood ; Clover.— Junius J. 
May, Davis Co., Ky. White oak plank in the bottom of 
ditches would be better than to leave the wide open 
drains “3 feet deep, and 2 feet wide at the top,” though 
the wooden drains would have to be renewed in a few 
years. A good tile drain costs more at first, but will last 
a century. We can not answer as to the size of the tiles 
required without a personal examination to learn the 
amount of water to be carried off... .Clover will not die 
out in a year or two, nor in a dozen years on deeply 
drained land. It is the poison in the wet sub-soil, which 
is reached in a year or two by the deep clover roots, that 
kills this crop... .Clover plowed in is the best possible 
fertilizer. 
Grass Seed for the Lawn or Yard. - Geo. 
Frazee, Moscow. A mixture of seeds thickly sown is 
best. A very good “lawn grass seed” for general use is 
prepared by the seedsmen as follows: 1 lb white clover 
seed ; 2 tbs. sweet vernal grass ; 8 tbs. orchard grass ; 14 
lbs blue-grass ; 20 tbs. rav grass ; and 30 tbs. red-top, or 
in these proportions. These varieties can be procured at 
most seed stores, or such as can be got may be used. 
They are usually advertised in this journal by one or 
more dealers. Any two or three varieties of grasses 
sown thickly , and kept mowed or shaved down, will form 
a thick mat. One advantage of using a large variety is 
that you are pretty sure to get two or more kinds peculi¬ 
arly adapted to the particular soil. 
Hcrds-grass or Timothy.- iPhleum pratense.) 
O. T. Seward, Dutchess Co , N. Y. This grass is called 
Timothy in some parts of the country, and Heris-grass 
in others, while in many localities it goes by both names. 
It is more generally known as Timothy, a name derived, 
itis said, from Timothy Hanson, who is reported to have 
introduced it into England, where it is largely used. The 
name Herds-grass is supposed to have been derived from 
a Mr. Herd, of Piscataqua, N. H., who is said to have 
found it growing in a swamp there, 150 or 160 years ago, 
probably introduced by seed from England We do not 
remember to have called it “ high-priced grass,” though 
we may have quoted it as being relatively high compared 
with some other season. The present retail price in this 
market is now only $3 per bushel (45 lbs.); it wholesales 
in large quantities at $2 50 per bushel. 
Crops in Dodge Co., Wis.— S. B. Ormsbee, 
says: Oats very light; China and Scotch Fife Spring 
Wheat i crop ; Club Wheat a failure, many hundreds of 
acres were not worth harvesting; Corn good; Potatoes 
t crop and rotten. 
Shallow vs. Deep Plowing.-We have sev¬ 
eral communications on this topic, which are held in re¬ 
serve, to be answered in an article discussing the subject 
in full. Many soils would, under certain circumstances, 
be injured by deep plowing; but of this hereafter. 
Manure enquiries.— J. S. G., Cayuga Co., N. 
Y.—We do not quite understand your questions, but wjll 
say in answer to your inquiries, and about a dozen others 
on similar topics, that, as a rule, it is safe to give these 
secret and patent manure processes “ a wide berth.” 
There is no reason for trying lo keep secret a process 
which is really patented. We shall endeavor to keep 
track of any valuable patented mode, an 1 make its claims 
known. Those not valuable we do not usually give even 
the notoriety of a condemnation. 
Wind-mill. —Sidney Mooney. We are unable, a, 
yet, to say what is the best form ot acheap Wind-mill, for 
ordinary work on the farm. We have given some atten¬ 
tion to the subject, but not enough to give intelligent ad¬ 
vice ; and in this as, in other cases, we are unwilling to 
run the risk of leading others astray, lest we should not 
sustain a reputation for “ knowing everything.” How¬ 
ever we are desirous of further information on Wind¬ 
mills, shall seek for it, and will be obliged for any help in 
that direction. 
Red Ants.—E. G., of Mass. A Long Island corres- 
pondent writes, “ that his wife destroys these troublesome 
pests by occasionally pouring boiling water over theii 
haunts. It takes them a long time to recover from a 
thorough scalding, and a few applications have cleared the 
premises.” The best remedy we have found, is to sprin 
kle sugar over a dry sponge, which the ants gather into, 
when they may be killed in hot water, and the sponge 
“ set ” again. 
“Horse Oil.”—The recipe contributed is not defi¬ 
nite enough. The weight or measure of each ingredient 
should be given. A “pennyworth ” is very variable—de¬ 
pending upon the chance mood of the seller. 
Best ESreeds of Fowls.— J. B. Ford, OhioCo, 
Va. It is a difficult matter to say which is the best fowl 
under all circumstances. One breeder extols the Black 
Spanish, another the Dorkings, while a third prefers the 
Dominick and occasionally we hear that there is nothing 
like the Shanghai. Our individual preferences are in 
favor of the two first named varieties. 
Hens—To Make them Lay xvlien shut 
up.— M. Barnes, Clinton Co., Pa. Hens rarely lay as 
well when shut up. The chief secret of making them lay 
under such circumstances, is to furnish them with that 
food which they naturally find in their rambles, a large 
portion of which, in the Summer season, is insects and 
grubs. Give them chopped meat, green cabbage, some 
grain, pounded bones, oyster shells, or lime ; and let them 
have ground room to scratch in, with warm quarters in 
Winter, and they will lay a large proportion of the time 
while shut up .... Parsneps are good for milch cows. 
A Cement AVanted. —Bv several subscribers ; the 
best water-tight, for making aquariums, etc., to be used 
to join glass, or wood and glass. Who has a recipe proved 
to be good—something that will not affect the water, tc 
the injury of the fishes ? 
Castor Oil for Leather.— E. Kalb, of Fairfield 
Co., O., writes, that he has tried castor oil for softening 
boots and shoes in cold, freezing weather, and finds it the 
very best thing in use. The leather does not become hard 
and stiff, as is the case when other grease is used 
Wood — Weight when Green and Brj r .— 
Mr. D., of Sag Harbor, L. I., writes that he weighed three 
sticks of green wood, one Black or Yellow Oak, one 
White Oak, and one Hickory. These were kept under 
cover 12 months and again weighed. The Black Oak 
lost about one-third (32 per cent); the White Oak about 
one fifth (22 per cent); and the Hickory about one-ninth 
(11 percent.) This will give some idea of the relative 
amount of solid material in the three kinds of wood. 
A Team of Birds —S. P. Campbell, Manterville, 
Min., proposes to harness a team of birds—say the sand¬ 
hill cranes, which abound at the West—and attach them 
to a balloon, to guide and propel the carriage through the 
air in any desired direction He would attach them to 
the balloon by cords from their bodies, and guide them by 
reins (strings), fastened to small rings in their bills. He 
has been meditating on this subject for eleven years, but 
has not the necessary capital to try it, and therefore of¬ 
fers the hint to aeronauts. If this plan should succeed, 
raising the air horses, or birds, will be another addition 
to the multifarious occupations of the farm. 
Stuffing) Birds, Snakes, fltc.—A. J. A., Ma 
rion Co., Ill. We have had no experience in this line 
except with a few foxes, and other quadrupeds. There it 
very little difficulty, however, if the skin is carefully re¬ 
moved. Apply a little arsenic and alum to the flesh side 
to partially tan it, and when somewhat dry, stuff with fine 
hay, or wheat bran, previously baked, pressing out all the 
parts to a natural position. A little camphor gum pow. lur¬ 
ed and mixed with the stuffing, assists to repel insects. 
Glass eyes are needed to give a natural look. We do 
not know where they can be bought, except of J. L. Bodo 
16 North Wijliam-street, New York City. 
