1884.] 
AMERICAjSJ AGEIOULTUEIST, 
325 
Stumps. — Saltpetre anti Kero< 
sene.—An item went the rounds of the papers a few 
years ago, advising to bore a hole in the stump, drop in 
some saitpetre, and All the hole with water. The next 
spring the hole was to be filled with kerosene, which, on 
being lighted, would consume the stump to the very 
ends of its roots. Mr. S. C. Sweetser, Aroostook Co., 
Me., adds his testimony to that of others, to show the 
entire inutility of this process. He tried it two years in 
succession, and the stump, which stands high upon the 
river bank, remains, to hundreds yearly, a prominent 
land-mark. Dynamite, or gun powder, would no doubt 
dispose of the stump. But why not, as it interests 
travellers by the river, let it remain ?_Mr. J. A. Conk- 
ling, Baltimore Co., Ind., writes that he tried the salt¬ 
petre method on thirty or forty stamps, “and in every 
case failure was the result.” He tried dynamite car¬ 
tridges, placed in a hole made under the stump with a 
crow-bar. After tlie match was lighted, “there was a 
large hole in the ground, and the stump in the form of 
kindling wood.”_Thos. P. Jones, Nova Scotia, adds, 
that he tried the saltpetre and kerosene method, and 
“ the stumps are as sound as over.” 
A Home-made F'l-iiit Picker.—J.Ely, 
Kane Co., Ill., asks, if we have given an engraving of a 
good, home-made Fruit Picker. We have, first and last, 
given a great number of fruit pickers, but perhaps none 
better than one proposed by J. H. Ten Eyck, Cayuga Co., 
N. Y., who kindly gives every one the privilege of mak¬ 
ing and using it. A make-shift picker maybe made from 
an old tomato or similar can. Cut some notches in the 
upper edge of the can, fasten it to the end of a stick of 
convenient length, and put a lock of hay in the bottom 
of the can. Mr. Ten Eyck’s can is a bottomless dish, 
three inches high, five inches across at the top, and three 
and-a-half inches at the bottom. This dish has a socket, 
by means of which to attach it to the pole. Above the 
socket project two stout wires close together below, and 
spreading above, to detach the fruit. To the bottom of 
the dish is a long, bottomless bag of cotton cloth, of 
a proper width, to be tied to the bottom of the picker. 
This bag, or hose, should be about two feet longer than 
the pole. By means of this, fruit upon the outside of 
the tree, always the largest, can be detached, and slid 
ing down the cloth channel, may be caught and conveyed 
to the basket wittiout bruising. 
“How is Com Hyl>ri«lize«l ? ”—J. 
S. Harmon, Madison County, Iowa. In answering tlie 
above questions, as we, of course, have no means of know¬ 
ing how mucli the questioner understands of the fertiliza¬ 
tion of plants, we are obliged to assume that he knows 
nothing. The majority of people at'e aware that 
there arc two parts of the flower concerned in fertili¬ 
zation, the pistil, the part to be fertilized, and the stamen 
to furnish the fertilizing principle, the pollen. In our fruit 
trees, in the bean, pea, the tomato, and many others, these 
parts, the stamens and pistils, are in the same flower. In 
squashes, cucumbers, and all of that family, the stamens 
are in one.set of flowers and the pistils in others, but on 
the same plant. If the bees and otlier insects did not carry 
the pollen from the staminate, or male flowers, to the pis¬ 
tillate or female flowers of these plants, these latter 
would not be fertilized. In corn, tlie two kinds of flow¬ 
ers are upon the same plant. The flowers of the tas¬ 
sel are staminate only, and produce pollen. The pistil¬ 
late flowers, very simple in their structure, are closely 
set upon a short stem, the cob, and are surrounded and 
protected by leafy bracts, the husks. Each one of these 
flowers has a long, slender, thread-like portion to its pis¬ 
til (the style), which extends from even the lowest 
flowers on the ear to tlie top, and there tliose from all the 
flowers hang out as tlie silk. The end of each thread of 
silk (stigma) is especially adapted to receive tlie pollen 
and convey its influence to the part of the pistil .(ovary), 
which will in time form the grain. No insects are re¬ 
quired by the corn to convey the pollen. The pistillate 
flowers, in the ears, are placed where the pollen from the 
tassel will fall directly upon them. But it often happens 
that, just at the critical time, when pollen is falling, a 
wind may blow. The wind may carry a part, at least, of 
the pollen away from a corn plant, and bring pollen from 
a distance, from another kind of corn. This wind- 
brought pollen, falling upon the pistils of our corn, will 
cause a mixture, or as our correspondent would say, it 
will “ hybridize ” it. As onr varieties of corn are all 
forms of one species, the term crossing is better than 
hybridizing to apply to the fertilizing of one variety by 
the pollen of another. It is in this manner, by the aid of 
the wind that accidentai crossing or mixing takes place. 
It may be that Mr. H. wishes to cross or hybridize two 
varieties intentionally as a matter of experiment. In that 
case he must plant both varieties near together. As soon 
as tassels appear upon the stalks of the kind selected for 
seed-bearing, they should be cut away before the flowers 
open. The ears upon these stalks will receive the pol¬ 
len of another variety, and the seed wiil be a mixture. 
Chat with Readers. 
How He Treats Ants.— S. C. Sweetser, Aroostoo'k 
Co., Me., says: “ Tell your readers it they are troubled with 
ants, to open the hills, pour in a little gas tar, and the ants 
will leave or die.” 
Pine Saw Dust.—“H. M. 6." asks, if well rotted pine 
saw dust has any value as a fertilizer.—In itself the saw¬ 
dust can have little or no value. It might be useful to di¬ 
vide and dilute some active fertilizer, in the same manner 
as peat and muck are used, though not so useful as are peat 
and muck. 
Trouble with Plums.—if. IT. AfiWer, Westchester Co., 
N. T., writes us that he has three large, thrifty plum trees, 
which bloom every year, but soon after the blossoms drop, 
the little plums fall also. Not a dozen plums have matured 
upon the trees.—We cannot guess in this case. Specimens 
should have been sent. 
Robins and Cherries.-ii”. Perrin, Dutchess Co., N. 
T., asks, how robins and other birds can be prevented from 
taking all his cherries.—Tlie only effective way, so far as we 
are aware, is to protect the trees by means of nets. In 
England, netting is sold for the purpose. In this country, 
old flsliing seines, not strong enougli for their proper use, 
have been employed. 
Grass for a Name.—Jf. Haggar, Harrison Co., Tex 
The specimen of the vigorous grass you send, is no other 
than the mucli talked of Chess or Cheat {Bromus secalinusj. 
There are people who believe that this grass is'a degenerate 
wheat, as it is often found as a weed among wheat. This is 
no more likely to be the case, than that yonr Jack-ass Rab¬ 
bit is a degenerate Burro. As a fodder it ranks very low, 
and the grass should be treated as a weed. 
Red Ants.—T.C.UnderMU, Orange Co., N. T., asks us to 
how get rid of red ants.—The best method we ever tried was 
to smear the surface of plates with lard; tliese are to be set on 
shelves, etc., and small bits of stick or chips laid from tli^ 
edge of the plate to the shelf, to form bridges or causeways 
for the insects to ascend. When a large number are 
caught, scald them, and set the trap again. Insect Powder 
(Pyrethrum), is said to kill them, but we have not tried it. 
A Hay Twister Wanted.—In parts of Dakota, and 
other far western localities, wild hay is used for fuel. Mr. 
E. A. Forbuth, Kingsbury Co., Dakota, hopes that among 
the many useful contrivances publisliel by the American 
Agriculturist, some one will contribute a hay-twister, “ a 
clieap and durable machine to save time and labor.”—Any 
one having a twister in use, will please send a drawing, 
however rude, and description, to help our Dakota friend. 
Hungarian Grass.—IF. T. Coolridpe,Spink Co., Dak. 
Ter., and others.—Hungarian grass rightly managed, is 
most valuable, whether for green fodder or for hay. It 
needs land In good condition, and six weeks of good grow¬ 
ing weatlier, with warm nights. Sow a busliel of seed to 
the acre—some sow a bushel and a half. The most impor¬ 
tant point with this grass is to cut it early enough. Cut 
when the heads are in flower, before the seed begins to 
form. If cut too late, the bristles that surround the grain 
become hard, and have been known to injure horses. 
HLeepiiig Early Apples.—J. L. Porter, Seward Co., 
Neb,, asks us how early apples can be kept until the time 
of autumn fairs, other than in jars of alcohol.—The fair 
authorities do not regard that in alcohol as fresh fruit. 
Strong brine, and a mixture of glycerine and water will 
preserve the fruit, but there would be the same objections 
to these as to alcohol. Probably if the fruit were picked 
while yet hard, and packed in tight boxes, which were 
placed in an ice-house, they might keep. Tiie experiment 
is worth trying. Fruit so kept would perisli soon after 
being taken from its cool storage. 
A Deposit of Eignite.—Mr. L. A. Page, Baltimore 
Co., Md., sends us a sample of Lignite, a vein of which was 
found in digging a well. He asks if it has any value as a fer¬ 
tilizer.—Lignite is wood, more or less completely converted 
into coal, and at best has no more fertilizing value than 
charcoal. If it could be dug without cost, and exposed to 
freezing, it would probably be converted into a fine powder. 
In tliat state it might be used as an absorbent in stables, 
etc., and then used on the land. Its value would depend al¬ 
most entirely upon the matters it had absorbed. For this 
use, it would not pay to dig for it if mucli below the surface. 
A Rare Tree in His Neighborliood.—Michael 
Hege, Franklin Co., Pa., having found a tree new to him, 
transplanted it to his yard, where it grew so finely that he 
wishes to know its name.—The leaves and fruit show it to be 
the Ash-leaved Maple, also called Box Elder (Negundo acer- 
oides), and is common along the banks of the Western 
rivers. Its rapid growth and regular shape, make it valuable 
as an ornamental tree. Its wood is much like the Red 
Maple; it is valuable to plant for fuel on account of its 
rapid growth. Sugar is made from its sap. The tree is 
raised from the seed, which is often abortive. The seed 
ripens in the fall, and should be kept through the winter in 
sand, and sown in spring. 
Trouble witU Currant aiul Suow Ball Bushes, 
—W. Angus, Douglas Co., Minn., sends us specimens of 
leaves, upon the underside of which are numerous small in¬ 
sects, and “ the leaves curl up around them.”—The insects 
are one of the many kinds of plant lice. Most of the plant 
lice are readily destroyed by tobacco water, and these 
would probably yield to the same treatment. A pound of 
tobacco stems, removed from the leaf by cigar makers, or 
other cheap form of tobacco, may be steeped in water. 
When the liquid is of the color of black tea, apply It by 
means of a syringe with a curved pipe, that will allow the- 
lower side of the leaves to be reached by it.The same 
answer Is made to C. II. Carlton, Chicot Co., Ark., who 
sends plum leaves attacked by plant lice. 
Orchard Grass.—If. F. Juneman, Mercer Co., Ohio. 
Tlie strange grass found in your friend s meadow is Orchard 
grass (Dactylis glomerata), in England almost universally 
called Cocks-foot grass. It seems strange that this grass is 
so little known, as it is very often sent us, and from States 
much older than Ohio, to ascertain its name. In many re¬ 
spects Orchard grass is vastly superior to the popular Tim¬ 
othy, especially to sow with clover. Those who sell hay, do 
not sow it for the reason that purchasers will have Timothy, 
no matter how hard and woody it may be. It is worth while 
for every farmer not acquainted with Orchard grass, and 
that will include the majority, to look into its merits, and 
indeed into those of several other grasses, and see if it 
is to his interest to always raise Timothy for all purposes. 
Peaches from Florida.—Jfessrs. Eppinger dc Bussell,. 
New York City, send us specimens of two peculiar peaches, 
grown on their lands at Olustee, Fla., upon trees only eigh¬ 
teen months old.—Tliey were the Honey and Peen-To 
peaches, and both of Chinese origin. The Honey is small, 
oval, with a projection or beak at the end opposite the 
stem. The flesh has an intense sweetness. This is repro¬ 
duced from seed almost exactly. It has been cultivated at- 
the North by amateurs, but is too small for market. The- 
Peen-to is the flat-peach of Ciiina, which we flgui ed several 
years ago. It is remarkably flattened at both ends, the flesh 
being at the sides of the small stone, giving the fruit an odd 
appearance. The flesh is very sweet with a pleasant peach- 
stone flavor. This has ripened in Georgia, but we are not 
sure as to its hardiness in the Northern States. 
Is Blood lit for Human Food?—P. Westrum, Ham¬ 
ilton Co., Iowa. Blood, containing all the elements 
of the flesh which is formed from It, is regarded as. 
higlily nutritive. On the other hand, if the animal from 
which the blood is taken be diseased in any manner, the 
germs of that disease are likely to be in the blood, and to 
communicate the disease to those who use it as food. This 
objection is answered by those who advocate the use of 
blood as food, by the assertion that these germs may be 
killed by cooking. Among Americans there is a general 
aversion to the nse of blood, though their English ancestors, 
were very fond of “ black pudding,” made with blood, fat, 
spices, and oat-meal. The Germans use blood largely in 
the form of sausage. If one wishes to make use of blood 
as food, we know of no reason why he should not do so, 
provided the blood is taken from healthy animals. 
Surgery upou a Tree.—3fr. H. P. Hubbard, New 
Haven Co., Conn., has a favorite Horse Chestnut tree, which, 
having received some injury when young, had begun to de¬ 
cay. A portion of the trunk had rotted away, leaving a hole 
about eighteen inches long, and some six or eight inches, 
wide and deep, and this was increasing in size. 'Wishing to. 
save the tree. Mr. H. carefully dug out all the rotten wood,. 
fixed some boards in front of the hole which was tilled up 
full with cement, mixed thin enough to be poured in. The- 
hark is now growing over the cement, and promises to 
completely cover It and conceal the injury.—We give this 
as a hint to others, who may have trees similarly injured,, 
that they would like to save. Common mortar has long 
been in use for plugging up holes in trees; cement is doubt¬ 
less much better. Success in the operation will largely de¬ 
pend upon the thoroughness with which the decayed matter 
is removed; only clean sound wood should be left. 
Cut-Worms.—P. IF. Martin, Windham Co., Conn., 
asks us: “ Is there any way to get rid of cut-worms, other 
than to hunt and kill.”—This is in brief the purport of many 
letters we have received this season. Dr. A. Oemler, of 
Georgia, having suffered severe losses from the abundance 
of cut-worms, tried various remedies. He gives the follow¬ 
ing as the best remedy he has found. Cabbage or turnip 
leaves are dipped in a mixture of a tablespoonful of Paris 
Green to a bucketful of water, which is kept well stirred. 
Another method of poisoning the leaves Is, to first moisten 
them, and then dust them with a mixture of one part of 
Paris Green, to twenty parts of flour. The poisoned leaves 
are placed fifteen or twenty feet apart, both ways, all over 
the field, taking care to place the leaves prepared with the 
flour mixture, dusted side down. The Doctor quaintly re¬ 
marks: “Two such applications, particularly in cloudy 
weather, at intervals of three or four days, will suffice to 
allow the cut-worms to make away with themselves, which 
they generally do with perfect success.” 
Castor Oil Beans.—Mr. B. B. Brown, the President of 
a large Oil Pressing Company at St. Louis, Mo., writes us 
with reference to an item in our columns. The company 
still loans seeds to farmers, and contracts to buy the 
crops either at a fixed price, or at the current rates at har¬ 
vest time. There are, however, not at present any restric¬ 
tions upon the trade in the beans, but they are bought and 
sold and consigned to dealers the same as any other produce. 
The prices at St. Louis the past spring and fall, have been 
from $1.75 to $2.00, and during the past fifteen years, they 
have ranged from $1.00 to $4.00 per bushel. There is always 
a demand for them at St. Louis, and the market requires 
about five hundred thousand bushels .annually. Mr. Brown 
thinks that there are few products so useful to a farmer in 
a new country, or which, in the absence of railroads, he can 
so profitably haul a long distance to market, as the Castor 
Beans, which always bringready money. In the printed di¬ 
rections sent for treating the crop by Mr. B., it is advised 
to drop eight or ten seeds in each hill, rather than two 
or three as stated by us, though but one plant is finally left. 
