198 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[July, 
Hen Manure for Insects. —A Wisconsin sub¬ 
scriber has tried this remedy with success in driving away 
ants from apple blossoms, and from pceonies, and to expel 
bugs from squashes. For four years he lias covered the 
top of the ground around cucumbers, squashes, and mel¬ 
ons, vyith hen manure, and has had no trouble from bugs. 
He applies a wash made of hen manure to the bark of 
fruit trees and shrubs, to guard them against mice, rab¬ 
bits, and sheep. It also routs the bark louse. One thing 
is certain, it is a powerful fertilizer, and perfectly safe. 
Manure Slicds.—To several subscribers. There is 
no doubt as to the economy of erecting some cheap cov¬ 
ering for the manure heap. It need not be water-tight—a 
little dripping will be needed, and sometimes an occasion¬ 
al watering, if the heap begins to fire-fang, that is to get 
and mouldy in any part, which should be looked af¬ 
ter. The washing of heavy rains carries off most of the 
best portions of manure. Plenty of straw, or muck, or 
even of loam, under and over the manure heap, is a great 
economizer of rich fluids and gases that would otherwise 
escape and be lost. 
Sorgiium Syrup.— S. D. Watkins, Grant Co., Wis., 
manufactured 75 gallons first quality syrup from % acre 
of cane, and asks what book will give him the most infor¬ 
mation relative to raising and manufacturing upon a large 
scale. We think he is already ahead of the books pub¬ 
lished on the subject. The practical experience of culti¬ 
vators, detailed in the Agriculturist, will be of much value. 
Sugar Crop of Vermont. —C. T. Alvord, writ¬ 
ing to the Country Gentleman, from Wilmington, Vt., 
says the maple sugar crop of that State is one of the 
most profitable crops produced. In 1857 it was more than 
8,300 tuns. It is estimated that 200,000 pounds were made, 
the past Spring, in a single town ; this, at 9 cents per lb., 
amounted to $18,000. 
Ms^iure for Use Hauling.—D. Edson Smith, 
Johnson Co., Iowa, writes that in their cities and villages, 
manure can be had for the hauling, with help to load it 
thrown in. How our farmers about New-York would 
make money out of that! In our own neighborhood we 
pay 60 cents per small one-horse cart load—and small 
loads they are—yet find it better than to do without good 
stable manure. Western farmers should improve the 
present opportunity to keep their laud in good condition— 
a little expense now will tell hereafter. 
What is a Sound Horse ?—Oliphant defines 
soundness thus: “ We may call a horse sound, when he 
is free from hereditary disease, and is in the present pos¬ 
session of his constitutional health, and has as much bodi¬ 
ly perfection as is consistent with his natural formation.” 
This is not so very definite. It is perhaps enough to say 
that a sound horse is one which has no marked hereditary 
disease, and no present disease or defect, to impair his 
present usefulness for the kind of labor he is intended for. 
liaising Late Calves. —“ Inexperience.” Calves 
may be raised successfully at any time of the year, pro¬ 
vided sufficient pains be taken to feed them properly. It 
is advisable, however, to have cows come in early in the 
season, say in April, as the calves get a better start before 
Winter, and are more easily kept on dry feed. 
Fatal Disease in Calves.— A. Gardner, Wyo¬ 
ming Co., Pa., writes that he recently lost two calves, one 
of which died in twelve hours, and the other lingered 
three or four days, and was killed to relieve it. The 
symptoms of the disease were obstructed breathing, and 
wheezing, followed by bloating. He desires to know the 
nature of the disease and the remedy if there be one. 
Sucking Heifers.— A subscriber asks for a reme¬ 
dy. The slitting of the tongue we do not approve. There 
is nothing better than a stiff leather muzzle, with small 
tacks driven through to prick the cow when the calf of¬ 
fers to suck. She will not stand the pressure a moment. 
Making Breeding Sows Docile.—Y. T. H. 
writes that by rubbing or scratching the back of a wild 
young sow while she was fed daily, she was made as 
gentle as could be desired. 
Clapes in Chickens.—A subscriber recommends 
one feed of soft soap with Indian meal, as a cure. We 
•an not speak of its efficacy from actual trial. 
Remedy for Cliolera in Hens.— “ S. A. C.,” 
Binghamton, N. Y., writes in answer to a query in the 
J une A griculturist, that he had hens affected with a dis¬ 
ease resembling cholera, which were cured by adminis¬ 
tering pounded duckweed ( Stellaria media) and pub 
'prized cba'coal, mixed with sweet milk.—IIow much, 
and in what proportions ? 
Prairie Fowls on Long Island.— Grouse 
were formerly plenty upon the plains of Long Island, but 
tpe sportsman’s gnn long since swept them awav. Efforts 
are now being made to introduce them from Illinois, and 
a supply has already been received. We hope that the 
attempt will be successful. The game laws, which are 
ample for their protection, should be resolutely enforced. 
Partridges and Prairie Hens have been sent 
to England for naturalization. They arrived at their 
destination in good condition. 
Worms under a Plank.—J. S. Perry, Wayne 
Co., Mo., writes, that cut worms can easily be captured 
by laying boards along rows infested by them, under 
which they will collect in great numbers. He says he 
discovered this accidentally while removing a board 
from his garden, where he has killed hundreds of worms 
by turning the board every few hours. Query: were 
they cut worms ? Common earth worms collect in this 
manner, but does the cut worm ? We think not. 
Ants Injuring Poeonies.— Mary Burger, Co¬ 
shocton Co., O. Your white poeony is doubtless kept 
from blooming by the ants. They injure the roots by bur¬ 
rowing among them. Strew a little lime over the foliage 
of the plants and upon the soil. A few applications will 
drive them away. 
Camphor Gum for Bugs in Peas.— A cor¬ 
respondent writes that he puts camphor into the cask 
where he keeps his peas through the Winter. He observes 
that dead bugs are always found in the bottom of the cask, 
and very few bugs appear in his peas the following sea¬ 
son. He puts these facts together, and has faith in the 
remedy. It is well known to many housekeepers, that 
camphor is very offensive to moths and other insects. 
Currant Bush Borer. —“ Boy Reader,” Buffalo, 
N. Y., will find his currant bushes have been preyed upon 
by the JEgeria tipuliformis, of the same family as the ap¬ 
ple tree borer. The blue-black moth lays its eggs near a 
bud during the latter part of June. The eggs soon hatch 
and the insects bore into the pith nearly severing the shoot. 
We know of no good remedy. Destroying the moths, 
either by bon-fires for them to fly into at night, or entrap¬ 
ping in bottles of sweetened water, will diminish their 
ravages. 
Aj>ple Tree Insects.— M. J. Eagan, Milwaukee, 
Co., Wis. Specimens of wood with eggs enclosed have 
been examined. We can not make them out, but judge, 
they were deposited by a species of Cicada less in size 
than Cicaca septendecim. Shall be glad to learn more 
about them—when the first punctures are made, aad if 
possible by what insect. 
Bllglited Apple ILeaves.— “Inexperience,” Da¬ 
venport, Iowa. The leaves forwarded are received, 
some wliat dry and broken; they show no signs .of insects 
that we can discover in their present condition. The 
probability is, that too much water at the roots, or soluble 
iron salts in the soil, or other defects in its structure, are 
the cause. Try loosening it up, adding ashes if heavy or 
damp, or rotten manure, if the soil be sandy. If water 
stands in holes dug near the tree, draining is essential. 
Bark Lice. —M. J. Eagan, Wisconsin. Strong 
soap suds, or potash water applied to the trunks and 
branches with a cloth or brush, is the best remedy. Wash 
the trees in June or July, when the insects are young and 
easily washed off. 
Scale on Osage Hedges.— S. Smith. Better 
destroy the scale than cut down your hedge, especially as 
only 10 feet is affected. See directions given above for 
remowing these insects from fruit trees. 
New Seedling Rhubarb.- Mr. Elizur E. Clark, 
New-IIaven Co., Conn., has exhibited at the office of the 
American Agriculturist specimens of a new seedling 
rhubarb of great promise, which he has named the Wash¬ 
ington. It was selected as the best of over 2,000 plants 
raised by him from seed of the Victoria variety. The 
stalks exhibited were from 2X to 3 feet in length, and 
from IX to 2X inches broad, weighing, with the leaf at¬ 
tached, from 2X to 2% lbs. each. The color is a fine 
light green, the leaf less in size than the Victoria, and 
very soft and tender. The variety is distinctly marked. 
It is claimed to be two or three days earlier than the Vic¬ 
toria, of a finer acid, and the most tender sort known. 
Sugar Beet and Horse Bean.— E. B. Whit¬ 
man, Douglas Co., Kansas. The white sugar beet is 
considered the best variety. We do not know where the 
English horse-bean can be had in this country. 
English Brown or Speckled Pea.— S. Hess, 
Lancaster Co., Pa. The peas enclosed in your letter, are 
of the above variety. They are largely grown in England 
as a field pea, but are little cultivated in this country. 
Squashes without Seeds.— John Ruddle, Car¬ 
bon Co., Pa., raised some Honolulu Squashes last season, 
pnp of which, weighing 20 lbs., was kept until May 21, 
and when cut, proved excellent, but had not a single seed 
in it, or the appearance of a seed—certainly a very un¬ 
common occurrence. The othp » on the same vines were 
all filled with seeds. 
Dahlias from the Seed.— This is not the Ipest 
method of getting this flower, and is resorted to only to 
obtain new varieties. If the seed is sown in a gentle hot¬ 
bed in April, the young plants will be ready to set out in 
two or three months. Only a small number will produce 
perfect flowers, and they will likely be of a great variety 
of colors, even though the seed be all from a single plant. 
The most satisfactory method of multiplying this plant, is 
by dividing the roots. Each tuber must have a shoot at¬ 
tached, and to secure this, it is better to start them in 
boxes of earth before planting. 
Double Flowering Apple.— Mr. J. F. Cleu, 
Dutchess Co., N. Y., hasLown us apple blossoms with 
25 to 30 petals, instead ef tire 5 ordinarily seen in tire ap¬ 
ple bloom. On this tree the flowers are always double, 
and quite showy, and the tree bears fair crops of good 
fruit. It was imported from Europe. Variety not known. 
A Large Fine Apple.— Pine Apples usually 
weigh 2X to 4 or 5 lbs., and such have lately been selling 
at 6 to 15 or 20 cents each. We notice one in the window 
of Taylor’s saloon, marked “ eleven pounds ”—price $4 ! 
Mammoth Foppy.— Mr. H. T. Haviland, Kings 
Co., L. I., brings us a flower of the Papavor orientalc, the 
four petals of which are each about 5 inches broad by 4 
inches in length, forming a cup 8 inches in diameter. The 
color is a bright scarlet, except that each petal has a jet 
black spot just below the center. The plant is perennial 
and difficult to propagate, either from seeds or cuttings. 
Aloe.—The drawing sent by J. Paxson, Schuylkill 
Co., Pa., is evidently a variety of the aloe, of which there 
are nearly 100 species. We are unable to give the specific 
name of the kind sent. This family of plants requires a 
moderate temperature, but little more than that of the 
green-house,watering only once a fortnight,or three weeks. 
Green-House on a Hill SItle.—J. S. Harris, 
Houston Co., Minn. A hill-side will answer well, only 
have at least one side exposed, and a glazed roof. Use 
stone for the ground walls and wood for the open or outer 
sides. Better make a hot-bed each season, rather than 
construct a permanent one. 
Grapes for Wisconsin.— J. P. Kepler, Richland 
Co., Wis., will find the Concord and Delaware hardy and 
sufficiently early for his climate. They can be had of our 
nursery advertisers, at say $1 each for Delaware and 50c. 
for Concord. 
Nasturtiums.— A. B. Phillips, writes that Nastur¬ 
tiums should be planted on the north-east side of a wall, 
so as to have shelter fro;n the midday sun ; and that they 
will then run from twelve to twenty feet according to the 
moisture of the season. 
Detecting Poisonous Mushrooms. —Mrs. C. 
II. Vail, states that mushrooms may be tested by stirring 
them with a silver-spoon; if any poisonous ones are in¬ 
termixed, the spoon will be tarnished. We can not vouch 
for the reliability of the test. 
The Tobacco Question In France.— The pu¬ 
pils of the Government Military School in France have 
recently furnished some curious and instructive statistics 
bearing on tobacco. Dividing the young men of that 
school into groups, the smokers and the non-smokers. It 
is shown that the smokers have proved themselves in the 
various examinations far inferior to the others. Not only 
in the examinations on entering the school, are the 
smokers in a lower rank, but in the various ordeals they 
have to pass through in a year, the average rank of the 
smokers has constantly fallen. 
Douglass Pine Flagstaff. —The English Gar¬ 
deners’ Chronicle mentions the raising of a magnificent 
“ staff” at the Kew Gardens, which was 159 feet in length, 
19 inches diameter at the but, and 7 inches at top: it 
weighed near 4X tuns. The tree was found growing in 
British Columbia, was 220 feet high, and supposed to be 
200 years old. 
Water from SulpUur Wells.— Luther S. Davis, 
Manington (?), writes, that he tried the experiment of pro¬ 
curing water from the upper part of a well with the appa¬ 
ratus described in the Agriculturist, Vol. XVIIL, page 
301, and found it needed the hose to be twice the diameter 
of the discharge pipe, in order to work well. 
A Medical Humbug.— B. R. P., Davenport, 
Iowa. Rev. Wilson, or any other man, whether Rev. or 
M. D., who advertises a prescription for the cure of con¬ 
sumption, is a humbug. Save your money to buy ahor* 
to ride; this will prolong life more than all the quae» 
out of States Prison. 
