68 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
[March, 
Into which are thrown Various useful or interesting 
Items 9 Replies /o* Questions, Extracts from Letters , Glean¬ 
ings from other Journals , eic . 
In a New Place.— Hitherto, the “Basket” matter 
lias been placed at the end of the paper, where it has been 
subject to contraction, and sometimes to crowding out al¬ 
together, by the varying space occupied by the markets, 
business items, and advertisements. But this department 
has come to be so valuable, that we shall hereafter allot 
it a definite space here. [Several readers have criticised 
the arrangement of our pages; they are not aware per¬ 
haps, that it is necessary to place most of the finer en¬ 
gravings on the inside sheet, and put it upon a double 
steam press nearly a month in advance, so that it can be 
worked carefully. The outside sheet, containing the 
markets, etc., is printed more rapidly on two presses, and 
is delayed to the last moment possible, without missing 
the Pacific mail, leaving on the 21st. Contributors will 
therefore understand that communications and items must 
come very early to hand, to find a place in a particular 
number, and especially so, if to go on the inside sheet. 
To Correspondents and Contributors.— 
We beg our friends who have kindly contributed a great 
variety of articles, suggestions, queries, etc., not to be an¬ 
noyed at any apparent want of attention. From the great 
mass of letters received, and articles contributed, we 
must necessarily select for each paper, not only the best, 
but such as will make up a variety, and be most season¬ 
able. We have many really good articles that will not 
spoil by keeping any length of time. 
The Lists of Apples, and of Officers of 
Societies, asked for last month, come in slowly, so that 
we can not yet begin to make up anything like com plete 
tables. Please forward them as early as may be. 
Onion Culture— New Edition. —Our first edition of 
1000 copies having been exhausted, we have printed a new 
edition. This most valuable work should be in the hands 
of every one growing onions. It will be sent, post-paid, 
for 21 cents. See New Premium list, page 96. 
An Elementary Book on Agriculture, 
for use in the schools of the State, is being prepared un¬ 
der the auspices of the Mass. Board of Agriculture. 
Cutter’s Seedling Strawberry—Correction. 
—On page 57, February Agriculturist, tliis berry is wrong¬ 
ly classed with the pistillates. A note from Mr. Cutter, 
correcting the error, says “it is not only a perfect flower, 
but is not excelled in quality by any other berry in that 
vicinity.”—We have not grown it as yet. 
Evergreen Nursery—Correction.— This nur¬ 
sery is located at Woodbury, N. J., instead of “ Woodlawn," 
as advertised last month. 
Raspberries. —James Glass, Livingston Co., Ill. 
The Antwerp is generally considered an excellent varie¬ 
ty; it may be yours are not true to name. The yellow va¬ 
riety described by you resembles what is known as the 
“ Keeler.” It is highly esteemed by those who have it. 
Grapes in California.— Vine-growing in Cala¬ 
veras County, California, has greatly increased in the 
last two years. In 1855 the assessor reported 24,000 vines, 
while in 1800 he reports 169,000. 
Japan Pea. — A. A. Chandler, Cumberland Co., Me. 
The small bean, as you call it, is the Japan Pea, but re¬ 
sembles a bean in appearance. It is principally grown 
for stock, being quite prolific. The larger kind sent, ap¬ 
pears to be a sort of Southern bean. 
Sprouting Sweet Potatoes.— M. C. Taylor, 
Chester Co., Pa., and others. Sweet potatoes will usually 
sprout readily in a hot-bed. Without artificial heat they 
sometimes remain long in the ground and rot. 
Germinating old Seeds.—D. Pangburn, White 
Co., Ark. Old seeds which do not grow readily when 
planted in the ordinary manner, will frequently vegetate 
after being scalded for a short time, say two minutes ; or 
better, soak in warm water until the shell is softened. 
Old Seeds Vegetating.— S. B. M., New-York. 
As you do not name the kinds of seeds 3 or 4 years old, 
we cannot judge whether they are good or not. Many 
kinds, if kept dry, and not subjected to great changes of 
heat and cold, will preserve their vitality for many years, 
centuries even; while a few, parsneps for example, are not 
to be positively depended upon when more than a year 
old. Better try a few r in pots or boxes of earth, in-door. 
Hubbard Squash.— The Massachusetts Horticul¬ 
tural Society has granted a special premium of $25 to 
Mr. James J. II. Gregory, for the introduction of the 
Hubbard Squash. This variety, which has been on our 
list for free distribution for two years past, has given the 
highest satisfaction to those who have tried it, as is attest¬ 
ed by numerous letters received from correspondents. 
The greatly praised Honolulu excels it in prolific bearing, 
judging from our own experiments, but for flavor; either 
in “ sauce ” or pies, it must yield the palm to the Hub¬ 
bard. We like it so well that we have procured a large 
supply of seed from Mr. Gregory for free distribution. 
Carrots—Value, etc.— P. G. Daniels, Tioga Co., 
N. Y., writes, that for ten or twelve years past he has 
raised one to two hundred bushels of carrots annually. 
He considers 500 bushels per acre a fair yield, and that 15 
cents per bushel will pay well for growing them, which 
would afford a profit of $105 per acre, reckoning them at 
$12 per tun (00 lbs. per bu.)—providing the yield be 500 
bushels. He esteems one bushel of carrots fed with one 
bushel of oats, to be fully equal to two bushels of oats, for 
horses; and ranks carrots as the best roots for other stock. 
Locust for Timber.— J. K. Whitson, Ii-iley Co., 
Kansas. Locust is a good timber for you to raise, and the 
Yellow (wood yellow) variety is the best. The Osage 
Orange will probably be a good hedge plant with you. 
Imphee Sugar. —Walter Carothers, of Richland 
Co., Ohio, sends us a fine sample of sugar, made from the 
Imphee or African Sugar Cane; says he raised both Sor¬ 
ghum and Imphee last year, and found the latter to crys- 
talize much sooner than the former, and advises the plant¬ 
ing of a greater breadth of this and less of the sorghum 
the coming season. This is against the general experience, 
we believe. In this particular case the imphee probably 
went back to a valuable form, but it may not be so with 
the next crop, for we doubt whether there has been any 
pure [unhybridized) seed distributed in this country. 
Sorghum Syrup iu Iriquois Co., Ill.— J. G. 
Brandenburg, writes that there were at least 10,000 gal¬ 
lons of this syrup of excellent quality, manufactured in 
the above County during the past Fall. 
Tlie Immense Grain Crop of tire West.— 
Some of the Western subscribers to the Agriculturist 
found fault with our high estimates of the grain crop last 
Autumn. Here are a few figures for them ; During the 
year 1860 there were received at Chicago, 36,500,000 bush¬ 
els of grain of all kinds ; at Toledo, 14,504,203 bushels; 
at Milwaukee, 11,040,488 bushels; at Detroit, 6,780,099 
bushels; at Cleveland, Sandusky, and other ports, over 
11,000,000; or in all, over 80,000,000 bushels 1 This is only 
a portion of the surplus sold, not including w hat went 
down the Mississippi, out by railroads, etc., while the sur¬ 
plus still on hand at the close of 1860 was vastly more 
than at the close of 1859. 
Moore’s Rural New-Yorker,- During a recent 
pleasant call from our friend D. D. T. Moore, we 
were glad to learn that this journal is holding its ground 
well, notwithstanding the “ hard times.” The Rural is 
worthy of the success it has attained. It is devoted in part 
to Agriculture and Horticulture, and in part to news, fam¬ 
ily reading and miscellany. Published at Rochester, N.Y. 
$2 a year. Like the Agriculturist, it aims to promote 
good morals, as well as communicate useful Information. 
Though our strongest business competitor, it is laboring 
for the same ends, the elevation of cultivators and their 
families, and we bid it god speed—there is room enough 
for a dozen such journals, and every family would be the 
gainer by taking both papers. No one should confound 
the Rural New-Yorker with an imitation published in 
Oneida Co., called “ Miner’s Rural American”—a differ¬ 
ent affair altogether. 
Class Book of Botany, by Prof. Alphonso Wood, 
author of a popular botanical text book, published fifteen 
years ago. The arrangement of this new work, upon the 
natural system, is clear; and many families of plants 
enumerated, contain additions not found elsewhere; 
some of the well known exotics are also included. The 
descriptions are distinct and full, and the illustrations, 
particularly of structural botany, are well executed. It. 
contains 882 pages and is a valuable addition to the stu¬ 
dent’s library. Puplished by A. S. Barnes & Burr, N. Y. 
Price $2. If desired we will forward copies post-paid 
upon receipt of price. 
Harris’ Work oil Insects. - We are glad to 
learn from the Message of Gov. Boutwell, of Mass., that 
a revised edition of this valuable work of the late Dr. 
Harris is to be published at the expense of the State, dur¬ 
ing the present year. As 1000 eopies will be at the dis 
posal of the present Legislature, he recommends that a 
portion of them be furnished for distribution, to Professor 
Agassiz, who has gratuitously rendered important service 
in the revision of the work. 
Book on Horses.— Silas M. Douzer, Washtenaw 
Co., Mich. Herbert’s Hints to Horse-keepers, is a valu¬ 
able, plainly written work. Price $1.25, for which it can 
be forwarded post-paid by mail, or it can be easily ob¬ 
tained as a premium—See page 96. 
A Clieap New Pen. —We have in daily use a new 
style of metallic pen, patented by Messrs. Warren & Lud- 
den, of this City, which is formed:by a combination of 
metals, and “ diamond pointed ” with iridium in the usual 
manner. The advantages claimed for it are, that while it 
is, like gold, uncorrosive, it is, if any -thing, more elastic, 
and can be made at one-third the price of gold pens. 
They are also ingeniously fitted upon an ordinary wood 
pencil, so that both can be carried in the pocket, always 
ready to be used as pencil or pen. 
To I'revcnt Skippers In Hams.— In a com¬ 
munication to the Cotton Planter, Mr. W. McWillie says 
he avoids the skipper by simply keeping his smoke-house 
dark, and the moth that deposits the egg never enters it. 
He has now hanging in his smoke-house, hams one, two, 
and three years old, and the oldest are as free from insects 
as when first hung up. 
Byfleld Swine. —A subscriber in Winnebago Co. 
Ill., wishes to know where he can get a Byfield sow for 
crossing with the Suffolks. 
Colic in Horses. —The Farmers’ Advocate pre¬ 
scribes’for colic in horses : a blanket wrapped around the 
body and drenched with cold water. It steams like a boil¬ 
ing pot, and cures infifteen minutes—[if it don’t kill.—E d. 
American Agriculturist .1 
Cure for Laurel Poisoning. —Wm. F. Bassett, 
Franklin Co., Mass., recommends to give to each poison¬ 
ed sheep, one oz. essence of wintergreen; a little more 
in bad cases. 
Keeping Moths from Bees.— J. F. Wescotl, 
Green Co., Wis.—Remedies are given in Apiary for July 
and August of last volume. Vessels of sweetened water 
set about the hives, only at night, during the early part of 
July, are the best remedy; they entrap and drown the 
night flying millers. 
A High priced Dog.—A new feature at the late 
annual cattle show at Birmingham, England, was a show 
of dogs of every known breed. Among other costly dogs 
was a King Charles spaniel, priced at $2500. Whew ! 
Protecting Trees from Sheep.— C. Jackson, 
Niagara Co., N. Y., writes that young trees may be pro¬ 
tected from sheep, which sometimes nibble and injure the 
bark, by applying to the trunks a mixture of four quarts 
of hog manure with eight quarts of water. Put it on 
with a broom or brush—the sheep will prefer nibbling the 
grass, and the application will not.injure the trees. 
Cement for Glass and Iron under Water.— 
The following is, we believe, the method of making ce¬ 
ment for aquaria, used in the London Zoological Gardens 
Sift together, say one gill of litharge ; one gill of calcined 
plaster of Paris ; one gill of dry white sand ; and one- 
third of a gill of finely powdered rosin. Keep corked 
tightly, and use as needed, by mixing into a putty with 
boiled linseed oil, adding a little patent dryer. Mix each 
lot at least 15 hours befoie using. After applying, let it 
dry a few hours before letting on water. A writer in the 
Tribune endorses this as the best of a hundred different 
compositions tried by him, and says it is equally good in 
salt or fresh water, and does not affect the water at all. 
Reapers and Threshers Combined.—C. 
Durst, Gillespie Co., Texas. There are reaping machines 
with threshing attachments which cut, thresh, and win¬ 
now at one operation, but the cost of which, or the names 
of the manufacturers we can not now give. Most grain 
growers prefer a simple reaper. 
Hauling out Green Manure.—J. Miller, jr., 
Fairfield Co., O. Usually, it is not best to haul and 
spread manure upon the field as fast as produced. It is 
improved by fermenting; and is increased in value by 
adding to it muck, sods, or even good soil. If specially 
desirable to take it to the field during Winter, let it be 
put in heaps and covered with a layer of soil, until you 
are ready to spread and plow it under. 
Dressing Sheep—Quick Work,— At a sheep¬ 
dressing match in this City, in February, after the 
sheep were merely killed, Rodger Gorman dressed ten 
of them, fully preparing them for the meat market in 22 
minutes and 3 seconds! His competitor dressed ten 
rather larger sheep in 32 minutes. 
