1884.] 
289 
AMEEIOa:^ ageioii lte eist. 
OUR 
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BASKET. 
Bostou Brown Brea«l. —Several liouse- 
keepers have asked for a recipe for Boston Brown Bread. 
The term “ Boston,” is applied in all New England cities 
to bread baked in conical iron pans. We give the recipe 
which has long been in use in the family of the writer. 
Inasmuch as the recipe came from Boston, the bread 
may be called Boston Brown Bread. At any rate, if there 
is any better bread than that made by this recipe, we 
should like to know how to make it: Indian meal, two 
heaping cupfuls ; rye meal, two heaping cupfuls ; milk, 
three cupfuls, scant; soda, one teaspoonful; salt, one 
teaspoonfnl; molasses, three-fourths of a cupful. 3Ii.v, 
and steam for five hours. 
Sel/l-0|>«iiiiig' Oatoili.—Every' few weeks 
some one, all the way from Maine to Oregon, asks, 
“which is the best self-opening gate?” Those who 
mamifacturo such gates should advertise them. We 
some years ago lived in a neighborhood where such gates 
were in frequent use. From our experience there, wo 
would not have snch a gate, if it were put up without 
cost. Tlioso that open by the striking of a wheel of the 
vehicle against a lever, cannot endure the sliock of re¬ 
peated blows, and soon give out. In winter Ihey'are so 
clogged with snow and ice, as to be useless. But wby 
have a self-opening, or any other gate ? A gate is only of 
use to keep out stray animals. In all but newly settled 
localities, the law against allowing cattle to run at large, 
should make gates of any kind a useless expense. 
Xlie Orleans I'lxliibitiori.— 
Though the full title reads, “The World's Industrial and 
Cotton Centennial Exposition,” it will not be so exclu¬ 
sively confined to Cotton and Industrial matters, as gen¬ 
erally understood, as its title might suggest. Abundant 
space is provided, and liberal prizes offered for horticul¬ 
tural and pomological exhibits of all kinds, not only from 
our own growers, but those of Europe also. >Ir. P. J. 
Berckmans, President of the Georgia Horticultural So¬ 
ciety, and tlio leading pomologist of tlie Southern States, 
left for Europe last montli, as a special Commissioner 
to interest European pomologists and horticulturists in 
the New Orleans Pair. Abetter selection for this com¬ 
mission could not have been made, and we commend 
Mr. Berckmans and his object to European cultivators. 
IStocks I’oi- tUe CUei-ry,— J. R. O.sborne, 
Bethany, N. C. Cherries are separated into two classes : 
those with heart-shaped fruit, the Hearts and Bigarreaus, 
and those with round fruit, the Dukes and Morellos. 
The Mazzard, which you probably know as the small 
black cherry, makes the best stock for the Heart and Bi- 
garreau varieties, while the sour red or pie cherry, is 
used for the round-fruited kinds. To preserve the seeds, 
allow the fruit to be tborougbly ripened ; it is placed in 
a tub witli water, and by a gentle pounding, the pulp is 
removed and washed off Tlie stones are then spread on 
boards to dry; afterwards tliey are mixed with sand, 
which is very slightly moist, and kept as cool as possi¬ 
ble. It will proliably be better, in North Carolina, to 
plant the stones in the fall, as even in Northern locali¬ 
ties, it is difficult to keep them from sprouting before the 
soil is ready in spring. 
How to Keep Eggs.—Eggs may be kept 
from late summer or autumn well into the winter, or even 
spring, but it is next to impossible to deceive the dealers, 
and very few consumers are deceived by them. “ Limed 
eggs ” have their regular market quotations throughout 
the winter, and usually sell at one quarter to one sixth 
less than fresh ones. They are limed by packing them 
into barrels or smaller casks, point down, and pouring 
on them the water from lime slacked with brine, to a 
thin milky consistency, using just enough to cover the 
eggs, so that the next layer can be conveniently placed 
upon these, and then more lime-water added. When 
the cask is full, the eggs must be covered with a cloth 
and this spread over tliickly with the pasty lime, then, 
if the water evaporates, or if the pasty lime cakes 
and cracks, more water must be added. It is essen¬ 
tial that the eggs should be perfectly fresh, clean, 
and sweet when packed, or the whole lot will go 
wrong. There is probably no better way of keeping 
eggs for market than this. For family use they may be 
greased, dipped in hot paraffine wax, scalded, and per¬ 
haps preserved in other ways. Tlie lime and salt liquid 
imparts no flavor, and does not deface the egg, which, 
when offered for sale, has a sliglit chalky appearance 
foreign to and distinguishes it from a fresh laid egg. 
Chat with Readers. 
Is Sulphur a Good Fertilizer Cor Fruit Trees? 
asks Deal, Seneca Falls, N. Y. Sulpliur Is of no value In 
supplying plant food, though it may be of use in destroying 
and preventing the growth of fungi, and thus benefit the 
trees by keeping off their enemies. 
“Old Subscriber,” Basking Ridge, N. J., asks us for 
reference to a back number, and also where a market can be 
found for old coins. Had the name been given, we could 
have referred the writer by letter to September, 1879, and 
also giventhe name of a dealer in coins. It is against our 
rules to advertise coin dealers and others in these columns. 
liiine or Ashes with Guano, etc.— J. C. Norris, 
Huntsville Conn. When lime or ashes is mixed with guano, 
hen manure or other fertilizers containing ammonia, or 
readily yielding it, there is a loss of a valuable constituent. 
If the soil needs lime or ashes, sow the other fertilizer first, 
and when that Is well incorporated with the soil, the lime or 
ashes may be applied without loss. 
llemoving Varnish.— J/.F. Carfton,Chicot Co., Ark., 
asks how to remove varnish without the use of sand paper. 
Benzine will dissolve varnish readilj', but as we are not in¬ 
formed what kind of a surface it is upon, it would be well 
to make sure that, benzine will not injure the rest of the 
work. In using benzine, be cautious and keep away from 
fire or flame ; the vapor mixed with air will explode. 
Crude Petroleum and Kerosene.—IF. F. Broicn, 
Columbus, O., asks, if coal oil, or kerosene “ is not as valu¬ 
able for preserving fence posts as crude petroleum?'’-By 
no means. Kerosene is a light volatile oil, which in time 
would completely evaporate from the wood. Crude petro¬ 
leum, on the other hand, contains the non-volatile and pre¬ 
servative matter, whicii will remain in the wood. 
Chestnuts for Plantins.— J. B. Gowiley, Dallas Co., 
Iowa, asks us, “ where can I get chestnuts for planting?” 
Chestnuts for seed should be procured in autumn, at the 
time they are ripe, mixed with an equal bulk of sand, and 
kept until spring in a cool place. There will be less danger 
from freezing than from heating. IVe have sent you by 
mail the addresses of several dealers, who may be able to 
supply chestnuts that have been properly kept for planting. 
Kightnius Rods.— In a former article upon Lightning 
Rods it was stated, that the lengtlis might be joined by 
welding. Several have written to ask, if round rods can 
not be united by means of screw couplings in the same 
manner as gas-pipes are joined. Certainly, a screw coup¬ 
ling will answer; we mentioned welding, as the average 
country blacksmith can more readily join the rods in this 
way than in any other. 
Pinching Tomato Vines.— C. U. Tufts, 'Wakefield, 
Mass. If tomato vines arc allowed to bear all they will, the 
frost will arrest their growth with a heavy load of green 
fruit, from that just set, up to that nearly ripe. Had all the 
clusters of flowers and young fruit been cut away, except 
that which could have ripened before frost came, the re¬ 
maining fruit would have been larger, finer, and probably 
somewhat earlier, though the gain would have been more in 
quality than in time of maturity. 
Screen for a Carp Pond.— S. Schwartz, Wynant, O., 
has a carp-pond, and would like to know how to prevent the 
young fish from escaping when water runs out of the funnel- 
shaped waste-way. We infer that the waste-way is built of 
wood, and it can be readily made safe by the use of a screen 
of wire netting, which can be had of any desirable fineness. 
As floating leaves, sticks, and other rubbish may clog this 
screen, it will be well to place in front of the netting, and a 
few inches from it, a screen of wooden slats, to arrest the 
floating matter before it reaches the wire. 
Trouble witU Currant Busbes,—“Samuel Miller," 
Phillipsburg, Pa., sends us stems of a currant bush, which 
look as if they had been sprinkled with whitewash. These 
spots are thin white scales, under which, if examined early 
in the season, will be found minute red eggs. The same 
scale is not rare upon pear trees, but we do not recollect to 
have seen it on the currant before. It is known as Harris’s 
Bark Louse. We should try the emulsion of kerosene, 
mentioned in the March American. Agriculturist, page 114, 
applying it freely. 
Almonds and Pecan Nuts.- J?. M. Gard, Moultrie, 
Fla. The almond can usually be cultivated wherever the 
peach will grow, and is propagated in the same manner, i. e., 
choice varieties are budded upon seedling almonds. It is 
also budded upon the peach and plum. As the Pecan grows 
abundantly in Texas, in a similar latitude to yours, so far as 
climate is concerned, it would no doubt flourish in Florida. 
It is said to be, like other hickories, very slow in coming 
into bearing from the seed. Trees of both Almonds and the 
Pecan, may be had at the large nurseries. 
Time to Start Cuttings.— Miss ff. Gibson, Peters- 
burgh. Pa., asks us the proper time to start cuttings of flow¬ 
ers for winter blooming. As the kinds of plants are not 
mentioned, we can only give a general answer. Plants that 
grow slowly should have their cuttings made this month ; 
for rapid growers, like verbenas, September will be early 
enough. The two methods mentioned in an article on 
“ Cuttings from Unripe Wood,” will either of them answer 
for ordinary bedding plants, though the “ Saucer Method ” 
will succeed better after the hottest days are over. 
A liot Overrun With Plantain.— In April last 
fpage 154), we made use of the complaint of a subscriber in 
New Lisbon, N. T., that he had a ten-acre lot "covered” 
with Plantain, as a text for an article on weeds. Now, Mr. 
F. H. Brinker, .Medina Co., Ohio, suggests with reference to 
this lot, that seeding it down to Timothy grass, will kill out 
the Plantain. Otlierwise, he suggests making use of the lot 
as a pasture for a few years. He says that in Ohio, both 
cows and sheep are fond of the Plantain when it is young 
and tender, and they keep it so well subdued, that it docs 
not go to seed. Sheep are excellent weed exterminators. 
Troubled with Wasps.— J. 11. Francis, Fall River, 
Mass., having altered over an old house, is much troubled 
by wasps, which enter the rooms and are very annoying. 
Probably a search would discover the wasps’ nests, which 
are sometimes built under the eaves, or in some part of the 
garret. 'When the nests are discovered it should not be dif¬ 
ficult to destroy them. If the place admits of it,fumigation 
with sulphur fumes might he tried. Fumigation by burning 
Insect Powder (Pyrethrumi, is said to kill mosquitos, and it 
would be worth while to give it a trial with the wasps—al¬ 
ways avoiding the business end of the insect. 
Railroad Horticulture.— The surrounding of the 
signal houses and other buildings of some of the railroads 
running out of N.T. City, are decorated and kept in a manner 
highly creditable to the workmen, and pleasing to the pas. 
sengers who pass over the roads. AVliat were formerly 
waste places, disfigured by rubbish, are now laid out in 
lawns and grass plots, in which are beds of showy flowers 
and plants with ornamental foliage. There is room upon 
most railroads for improvement of the grounds around the 
stations. Some railroads have this done by contract, while 
the horticultural adornments seen on others, are due to the 
good taste and enterprise of the employees. 
Squash Bugs.—" C. H. Blair," East Palmyra, N. T., 
wishes to know “ how to keep the bugs off of squash-vines, 
especially the Hubbard,” By “ bugs,” we suppose that our 
correspondent refers to what is known as the Squash-bug, 
Anasa (formerly Coreus) tristis, that solemn-looking in¬ 
sect, belonging to the true bugs. It is readily recognized by 
the horrible stench it gives oft' when disturbed or crushed. 
The last of the mouth of June, or early in July, these insects 
leave the places in which they have hidden themselves dur¬ 
ing tlie winter, and seeking the squash-plants, lay their eggs 
on the under surface of the leaves. The only remedy is, to 
catch and kill the female insects, and to crush the eggs, al¬ 
ways upon the underside of the leaves. These are the best 
methods of keeping these insects in subjection. 
Glass lusulatoi’s for liiglitniiig Rotls.— We have 
frequently stated that the use of glass Insulators upon 
lightning rods was a useless expense, because as soon as 
they are wet by the rain, they cease to insulate. W. E. God¬ 
ding, Norfolk, Mass., describes a case occurring in his town, 
which would seem to be an exception to the statement that 
insulators were useless. A copper rod was fastened to the 
house by glass insulators, the lowest of which was broken 
off. The lightning descended the rod, and when it came to 
the broken insulator, left the rod and entered the house, 
following the floor timbers, tearing up the floor, and went 
out in the direction of the well, about twenty feet from the 
house. This shows nothing as to insulators, but indicates 
that the rod had not a proper earth termination. The lower 
end of the rod was in dry soil, and the lightning merely took 
the shortest road to a good conductor, the water in the 
well. The lower end of the rod, which is out of sight, is 
really the most important part of a lightning rod. 
Gapes in Chickens and Turkeys.—J. IF. Bailetj, 
Bridgeport, West Va., sensibly asks, how to prevent as well 
as to cure gapes. Our domestic animals, especially poultry, 
would need very little medication were the causes of their 
diseases generally understood, and preventive measures 
adopted. Chicks and turkeys are attacked when from four 
weeks to six months old. The disease shows itself, as its name 
implies, by continuous gaping; the chicks are dull,and cough 
and sneeze. When dead, numerous small worms are found 
upon opening the wind pipe. Damp quarters, unwholesome 
food, and especially impure drinking water, are regarded as 
promoting the disease, if not the cause of it. A small 
feather has the plume stripped from all but about half an 
inch from the smaller end of the shaft; this Is dipped in 
spirits of turpentine, and passed Into the wind pipe through 
an opening to be seen back of the base of the tongue. The 
feather is turned around once or twice and removed. A 
share of the worms will come out with the quill, while 
others will be thrown out by the coughing caused by the 
turpentine. After the worms have been removed in this 
manner, the young birds should be kept in a warm coop 
from the damp earth, and be fed upon warm soft food. 
Cabbages and Club-Foot, or Clumping,—J. B. 
Overton, Tort Jefferson, N. Y., asks us if we have known 
cabbages to be raised upon the same ground two years in 
succession, without “ clumping,” and if potash salts or 
plaster would be of any use In preventing the trouble. 
There are lauds on the New Jersey shore, upon which cab¬ 
bages have been grown for twenty years or more in suc¬ 
cession, and no club-root has appeared. Finding this soil 
to be filled with minute fragments of shells, Mr. Peter Hen- 
■derson suspected that these acted as a preventive of the 
cabbage trouble. In order to ascertain if lime in any other 
form would act in the same manner, he applied bone-dust, 
at the rate of a ton to the acre, to land that would not bear 
two successive healthy crops of cabbages. This was done 
side by side with a plot highly manured with stable manure, 
and both were planted with cabbages. On the manured por¬ 
tion, the plants were badly injured, while on that to which 
bone was applied, not an injured plant was noticed. Exper- 
iments are needed to ascertain if a much smaller application 
of bone would not prevent the trouble, and if lime in the 
form of ground shells may not serve the same purpose. 
