1861.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
untied the outer covering of the cradle so as to give 
me a better view of the contents. 
A glance at the engraving will show you that an In¬ 
dian cradle is but little like those in which we have 
rocked our baby brothers and sisters to sleep. Out¬ 
side was a basket-like case, made of the inside bark of 
trees and willow twigs. When the edges are drawn 
together over the child, and tied with leather strings, 
an opening is left just over the child’s face, which 
can be covered by the round lid, as seen in the 
engraving, thrown back behind the cradle. This 
lid serves to keep off insects, etc., when the child 
is asleep or is swinging suspended from the limb of 
a tree. 
The inside case is of softer material, apparently of 
dried grass, and within this is whatever of cotton or 
woolen cloths the mother can obtain. 
There is a strap of leather which passes around 
the cradle, and, when traveling, fastens it to the 
back of the mother. To us, who seem to have hard 
work to keep babies still, even by jumping and trot¬ 
ting them until our arms and knees ache, it is a 
matter of wonder how the Indian baby with hands 
and feet bandaged straight and stiff, can be so sub¬ 
missive. I rather think there would be a fearful 
revolution up stairs if my baby was put into one 
of those cradles ! But these Indian babies probably 
do not know their own rights, and so are very quiet 
and contented. 
Into which are thrown all sorts of paragraphs—such as 
Notes and Replies to Correspondents, with Useful or 
interesting Extracts from their Letters, <$c., <5 -c.,—to be 
drawn from whenever we have room left here. 
Five Hundred More Basket Items Want¬ 
ed. —We shall try to make room for at least 500 items in 
this department, during the present volume. So, send 
along the queries, useful items of information, etc., etc. 
We have many on hand, but shall soon use them up, 
when our present heavy “ business season ” is over. The 
“ Basket ” alone shall be worth many times the costof the 
volume. The rest of the paper we’ll “ throw in.” 
Those Cream Pies—Erratum.— One of our Male 
Editors rashly intermeddled with the directions for cream 
pies on page 22 of this number (already printed), and as 
might be expected,he got it wrong ; it should read “ flavor 
with lemon peel," not juice. 
Water for Stock. —A subscriber asks whether fat¬ 
tening cattle fed on roots and hay, should have water, or 
be kept close in their stalls. Give them all they desire to 
drink. Thirst is nature’s call for a necessary element in 
the body. Fattening -animals particularly, need plenty 
of water, to aid in eliminating the nutriment being added 
to the system. 
Water from Spring’s.— A. M. Gates, jr., New- 
Haven Co., Conn. If a spring be properly enclosed, the 
water will rise to the level of its source, and can be con¬ 
veyed away by pipes. We cannot judge of its feasibility 
on your premises, without examination of the locality ; 
from the description, we judge the plan might succeed. 
“GrubWorms” Destructive. —Geo. F. Con¬ 
nor, Hamilton Co., Ind., writes that his corn crop has been 
almost destroyed for two years past, by a worm or grub 
which attacks the roots of this and other grains, usually 
during May, and continues to work until nothing green 
remains. He describes it as 1} inches long when full 
grown, the body white, and the head black. He inquires 
for a remedy. Plowing late in the Fall will expose 
many to the Winter frosts, and so destroy them. Perhaps 
some of our readers have succeeded in extirpating them 
from their own grounds. If so will they please commu¬ 
nicate how it was done. 
Distinguishing Quince Stocks.— J. S. Gra¬ 
ham, Calaveras Co., Cal. It is not easy to describe the 
varieties of quince so that one can tell a particular sort 
by its growth. The Angers is the best stock for working 
the pear upon. It is propagated by cuttings and layers, 
is stronger and of more upright growth than the common. 
Better Peaclies.— George W. Murphy, Alleghany 
Co., Pa., referring to the “good peaches” described in 
last October No., page 313, says they were excelled by the 
yield obtained by a neighbor, Mr. McClosky. Out of 
twenty five, none measured less than 7% inches in cir¬ 
cumference ; the largest was 11} inches and weighed 8% 
ounces. They were probably Crawford’s late. 
Grapes for tke Nortli.— W. B. Hazard, Addison 
Co., Vt. The Delaware grape is superior to the Rebecca 
in flavor, and more hardy. It will doubtless succeed in 
your latitude, but the Concord should be your main re¬ 
liance. It is doubtful whether Anna, Elsinburgh, Allen’s 
Hybrid, Clara and Cassady will prove hardy so far north. 
Texas Wild Grapes. —J. B. Elliott, Austin Co., 
Texas. The grapes you forwarded were too far gone 
upon arriving here to admit an opinion of their quality. 
Inducing Fruit Bearing.— “An Old Subscriber” 
writes, “ I have tried with most gratifying success a method 
of promoling fertility in trees, which was first suggested 
to me in the Agriculturist. I have a large Bartlett pear 
tree which has persisted year by year in making a most 
rampant growth; but which refused to do its duty in the 
more important matter of fruit bearing. In July last 
year, I took a stout cord and bound it as tightly as possi¬ 
ble, three or four times around the trunk of the tree, and 
left it there until November. The result is that this year 
my tree had about three hundred large, fine-looking pears 
upon it, so loading it down that I had to prop up 
several of the branches to prevent their breaking. The 
tree at the same time has made a strong, healthy growth 
of about six inches.” 
Pin-Cusliion Cactus—Sent 2000 miles by mail.— 
Dec. 1st, we received from James Eubank of Circleville, 
Texas, a pretty Cactus, the head about the size of a 
hen’s egg, and resembling, in form, a globular pin-cushion 
on a short standard. Mr. E. writes that: “It is found 
chiefly on dry stony points of land, and bears the most 
beautiful blossom I ever saw. By some it is called the 
Mountain Cactus, from its locality ; while others call it 
the Pin-Cushion Cactus from its form.” It was put up 
with a little ball of clay around the root, and rolled in 
paper; and though knocked about in the mail bags for two 
weeks, it now appears to be growing well in a pot of earth. 
California Grass. —J. A. Wigginton, Boone Co., 
Mo. We cannot make out the variety from the specimen 
sent. It resembles the Italian Rye Grass, but coming 
from the Humboldt River, Cal., it is probably a native 
sort, and from your account, may be worth cultivating. 
Egyptian Corn. —This humbug which was exposed 
in Vol. XIX, page 71, March No., is thus alluded to in the 
Prairie Farmer. “ A most wonderful humbug .. the man 
who got the people’s money for it, should be compelled to 
swallow nothing but grains of this corn for a whole year.” 
Cltinese Tree-Corn.— R. Martin, Washington 
Co., N. Y. Do not invest in this article—it is a humbug. 
Manzanneta.— Mrs. E. Bowman, Cal., sends a 
twig with leaves of a very beautiful evergreen shrub 
known there by the above name. We should be pleased 
to receive a full description of the plant, and also to ac¬ 
cept the seeds kindly offered. 
Sketches of Flowers.— Miss. L. A. Matson, 
Orange Co., Vt., sends several very neat sketches of 
flowers and fruit, for which she will please accept our 
thanks. One or two of them may appear in our columns. 
Braining a Garden.— B. R. Phelps, Jr., Scott 
Co., Iowa. The effect of draining, is to deepen the soil ; 
to allow better facilities for the roots to descend for food ; 
to get rid of superfluous moistuie, and to introduce air 
which plants need. It will pay in clayey soils; every crop 
is benefitted by it. 
A Kansas Garden.— J. P. Cone, Atchison Co., 
Kansas, writes that there grew in a neighbor’s garden, a 
beet weighing 10 lbs.; a radish of 11% lbs.; a cucumber 
19} inches long and 8 inches around, and a winter crook- 
neck squash 3 feet in length. This, in ordinary seasons, 
would not be remarkable, but where a drouth has prevail¬ 
ed for the whole season, it gives promise that under fa¬ 
voring skies Kansas vegetation will be difficult to beat. 
Cheap Lands iu the ©Id States. —II. of Iowa. 
These lands may be found all along the lines of travel 
from Ohio to New-York, frequently advertised in the lo¬ 
cal papers, but always to be obtained on inquiry. 
Mammoth Foghorn Squash.— C. M. Green, 
Broome Co., N. Y. The above squash when pure, is near¬ 
ly round, flattened at the ends, what might be called 
rather oblate, of a creamy yellow color, and growing 
from 30 lbs., to 150 lbs. or more in weight. Though not 
equal to the Hubbard or Honolulu in flavor, it is good, 
and so very prolific as to be quite profitable. 
Preparing Dried Grasses. —Jas. A. Graves, 
Waverly, N. Y. Collect the specimens when in flower, 
hold them for a few moments in hot steam, then spread 
them carefully between folds of blotting (not tissue) pa¬ 
95 
per to absorb the moisture. Lay weights upon them ; 
leave them until pressed dry. They can then be made 
up into bouquets according to the fancy. Steaming them 
before pressing, aids in keeping them of the natural color. 
Tall Corn, and a Great Deal oi' it.— A. B 
Miller, of Marion Co., Iowa—a first-rate county to hail 
from—writes to th e American Agriculturist, that a premium 
having been awarded in 1859 for about 80 bushelsj of corn 
per acre as the largest crop, several farmers made an 
effort to excel this in 1800. The result of the competition 
was, that Mr. B. Long, produced one hundred and seventy 
eight bushels per acre, on three contiguous acres. Several 
others raised from 100 to 122 bushels per acre. If there 
was no mistake in the measurement, “ King Corn ” must 
install Mr. Long, as Prime Minister. But, hold ! Further 
on in the same letter, we read that Mr. Long’s own son, un¬ 
der 14 years old, raised 94 bushels and 50 lbs., on half an 
acre, and carried off the premium of $10 offered to the boy 
under 14, living in the county, who would raise the most 
corn on half an acre. This is at the rate of 189% bushels 
per acre ! That will do. 
Gardener’s Wages. —George Martin, Bath Co., 
Va. There is no reason why a man employed in the 
garden should not receive equal compensation with a 
farm laborer, provided the skill of each be the same. In 
tliis section the gardener is usually better paid than the 
man of all work upon the farm. The compensation 
should be governed by the amount of service required, 
and the skill necessary to perform it. 
A Digging Match. —A subscriber at Niagara, 
N. Y., forwards for the Agriculturist an account 
of a friendly match at digging potatoes which came 
off in that neighborhood. James Black and John Gal- 
igher, each dug one hundred bushels within four hours, 
using a common potato fork. The men were so nearly 
equal that the match was decided to be drawn. 
Fong Feaf Fine. —Seeds received from Ira T. 
Wychc, Halifax Co., N. C., which we shall have planted, 
to test them at the North. 
Standing Cypress.— Wm. Hayes, Ulster Co., N. 
Y., sends a specimen of this beautiful plant, cultivated in 
his garden. He writes that the plant grows eight to nine 
feet high. We should be pleased to receive seed. 
A Heavy Dog Tax. —A farmer in Ohio, writing to 
the Steubenville Herald, says that in one night he had 61 
Spanish Merino Sheep killed and wounded by a dog. 
He estimates his loss as follows : 61 sheep at $5—$305 ; 
damage to balance of flock, $25. Total, $330. A pretty 
severe tax for one man to pay. 
A California Farm. —According to the authority 
of the “California Culturist” the great grain farm of 
Hutchinson & Green, of Yolo Co., Cal., contains 5,000 
acres, 1,000 of which were in wheat the past season, 1,000 
in barley, and 900 were mowed, the balance being in pas¬ 
ture. The wheat averaged 30 bushels, and the barley 40 
bushels per acre. Of hay, 1,800 tuns were cut and stack¬ 
ed. Among the stock was a herd of 100 milch cows, a 
cross of the native with the Durham. 
Aged Horses. —Mr. Damper, a farmer near London, 
Eng., is said to have in his possession a horse 56 years 
old, which he rides daily about his farm, and occasionally 
on a hunting excursion. It might be well to gather a few 
facts respecting the age to which horses live in this coun¬ 
try. We invite those knowing horses over 40 years old 
(without mistake) to send us a note of them. 
Insects from Illinois.— Wm. H. J., Piatt Co., 
Ill. The insects upon the wheat stalks sent to this office 
are the Hessian Fly, in the chrysalis state. When very 
abundant they are quite destructive to the crop. A full 
description of the insect, with engravings, was given in 
Vol. XVIII, page 240, (August No., 1859.) If, on examina¬ 
tion by a competent person, they should be found numer 
ous enough to greatly impair the yield, it might be ad¬ 
visable in the Spring to turn the wheat under and plant to 
com or sow r with oats. 
Carrot Culture. —J. B. S., Waterloo, Doon, C. W. 
writes, that last year he raised from threq-fourths of an 
acre, 700 bushels of White Belgian Carrots. The land 
was enriched with well-rotted barn-yard manure, and 
plowed deeply in the Fall, turned over again in Spring, 
and sowed on the 5th of May. A neighbor of his manured 
with bone dust and leached ashes, and the yield was quite 
small. He says the carrots grew well until they reached 
the manure, and then branched off in every direction. 
[It is quite likely they “ touched bottom ” on a thin soil, 
and were obliged to spread, or stop growing. Draining 
or subsoiling the field might remedy the difficulty.— Ed.] 
Poison Ivy—TSlms Badicans. (R. Toxicoden¬ 
dron of Gray,) —J. Jenks, Wright Co., Minnesota. The 
specimen you sent, proves to be the above. Some persons 
can hardly even pass it without being poisoned, while oth¬ 
ers handle it with impunity. Probably the humor you al¬ 
lude to was caused by eating the leaves. The writer of 
