1861.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
357 
Minnesota Crops.— The Commissioner of 
Statistics for 1860 reports the average yield per acre, of 
this young but prolific State, as follows: Wheat 22.05 
bushels ; rye 21.56 j barley 33.23 ; oats 42.39; buckwheat 
15.73; corn 35.67; potatoes 138 bushels. Near 10,000 
gallons of Syrup were manufactured from the Chinese 
Sugar Cane. (The Cane crop was very much larger this 
year, (1861), as we learn from several correspondents; 
the amount has not been reported.) 
A Large Dwarf Pear Orchard.— 
We learn that Messrs. Smith & Hanchett of Onondaga 
Co., N. Y., have recently planted an orchard of ten acres 
with 4000 Dwarf Pear trees, and intend to test the ques¬ 
tion whether they can be grown profitably for market fruit 
or not. The orchard is surrounded with a heavy stone 
wall, and is to have the further protection against in¬ 
truders, of a honey, locust hedge. We shall watch the 
experiment with some interest. There is, and is to be 
for some time to come, a large unsupplied demand for 
good pears, in this and in other markets. 
Seedling Apples from Illinois.— D. C. 
Benton, of Quincy Ill., sends to our table a box of seed¬ 
ling apples raised by himself, and requests a description. 
They are of full medium size ; color red, a little striped 
upon the shaded side, the whole covered with greyish dots; 
calyx nearly closed and set in a deep, broad cavity ; stem 
slender, deeply set; flesh yellowish white, crisp, tender 
and juicy, of a mild, acid flavor, very good. If the tree be 
thrifty and a good bearer, it will be worthy of propaga¬ 
ting, in the vicinity of its native locality at least. 
Grapes on Kelley’s Island.— This 
Island, lying near the Southern coast of Lake Erie, is be¬ 
coming quite noted for its adaptation to grapes. It con¬ 
tains about 2800 acres, nearly all ti'lanle. According to 
the Field Notes, there were 380 aires in grapes last Spring, 
and the crop of this year will be about 5000 lbs. per acre. 
Nine pounds of Catawba grapes are used for a gallon of 
wine, and the wine is wholesaled at $6 per dozen quart 
bottles, making the wine crop this year worth near $75,000. 
Sex of Strawberries.— W. H. White, of 
Montreal, C. E. The Triomphe de Gand, Austin, Early 
Scarlet, Wilson’s, Iowa, Jenny Lind, Longworth’s Pro¬ 
lific, and Hooker, are all hermaphrodite or perfect plants, 
requiring no other sorts to fertilize them. They are fast 
taking the place of the pistilate or imperfect varieties, as 
Hovey, McAvoy’s Superior, Crimson Cone, Scarlet Mag¬ 
nate, etc. These last named require some one of the 
other kinds growing near to fertilize them. 
Making Dahlias Variegated.— Cyn¬ 
thia M. Green, Broome Co., N. Y. The different colors 
are obtained by sowing seed. It is a tedious process, 
however, some of the seed failing to vegetate, while most 
of that which does come up will probably give an unde¬ 
sirable bloom, but by persistence, one may obtain some 
choice varieties. As the desirable sorts are named, it is 
better to buy such roots as have become well established. 
Dahlias Retrograding.— L. T. Gil- 
key, Franklin Co., Me. The large double dahlias now 
so common, are in one sense artificial, that is, they have 
been brought up to their present development, from the 
small single flower, by high culture, and if neglected they 
always show a tendency to return to the native form. 
The artificial growth may be maintained by generous 
treatment—good soil well manured, with sun light to 
grow in, at least part of the day. 
Frost Aid in the Garden.—“ New-Eng- 
land Mechanic ” writes to the American Agriculturist 
thus : “ My garden soil was stiff, heavy, and wet. I 
drained it, but it was still too compact to work well. 
Last December (1860) I spaded half of it into narrow 
ridges two feet high, so that the frost penetrated at least 
2X feet below the usual surface. The present year, the 
part so treated has been mellow, has worked easy, and 
produced nearly twice as much as the other half. Before 
leveling the ridges in the Spring, I put some leaves and 
eow-yard litter in the bottom of the trenches, which doubt¬ 
less aided some, but the fine pulverized condition of the 
soil abundintly paid for the digging.” 
Celery Grown between Corn Rows 
—A. Good Hint.— We have received for the Agricul¬ 
turist tables some large specimens of celery from Mr. 
Thomas Kearns, of Clifton, S. I., with the following ac¬ 
count of the mode of culture he has followed with good re¬ 
sults for several years: By planting between rows of 
corn, the ground yields two crops, and what is important, 
the celery plants are shielded from the “ burning up ’’ so 
much co^nlained of. The corn (sweet) is planted in 
drills four feet apart, the stalks 8 inches asunder. At the 
last hoeing and hilling of the corn, the celery plants are 
set between tire rows, where they ar« shaded and get the 
benefit of most of the rain that falls. The drooping ends 
of the corn leaves conduct the falling rain and condensed 
dews directly upon the celery rows. When the plants are 
well established, the corn is topped, letting the sunlight 
in more freely; and when ripe, the stalks are removed, 
leaving the celery in full possession of the ground. 
Poultry Rook.— C. Babcock, Essex Co., 
Mass. Bement’s Poulterer’s Companion, is the best 
poultry book. Price post-paid $1.25. 
A Neigkbor’s Poultry.— J. J. H. Gregory 
relates in the Country Gentleman, how two neighbors 
settled the question of marauding fowls. Mr. P. missed 
his fowls, and hearing Mr. A. had them in his possession, 
sent a note asking their return. Mr. A. replied, that find¬ 
ing some poultry trespassing upon his premises, he had 
cooped and fed them, end that they would be returned 
whenever the damages and expenses were paid. Mr. P. 
replied, “ keep them.” And so the question is peacefully 
solved without resorting to sticks, stones, or terriers. 
Poultry Feed. —The Maine Farmer re¬ 
commends to feed poultry with meal made by grinding 
corn together with the cob. It says that hens and tur¬ 
keys cat it with avidity, and thrive well upon it. 
Rird Laws of HewYork.— George 
Gratacap, Westchester Co., N. Y. The laws enacted by 
the last Legislature of New-York are ample for the pro¬ 
tection of birds, if they are enforced. It is the duty of all 
interested to see that the penalties are promptly inflicted 
in every case of violation. 
Convenient Pig Trough.— J. W. Fre- 
ley, Windsor Co., Vt., writes that one of his neighbors 
tried the plan of a pig trough described on page 293 (Oct. 
No.) and says the idea is alone worth a year’s subscrip¬ 
tion to the American Agriculturist. 
Prolific Sheep.— D. R. Dean, of Chautau- 
que Co., N. Y., writes to the Agriculturist that a Mr. Ed¬ 
wards, of that place, has a cosset ewe which dropped 
twins in January that are now full grown sheep. Early 
in October she had another pair of twins, making four 
lambs in ten months. 
Leicester vs. Rakewell Sheep. — 
“ Gailey,” Indiana Co., Pa. The old Leicester sheep, a 
large, coarse breed of Central England, was carefully 
bred up by Mr. Bakewell, who judiciously selected the 
best animals with the design of combining a good form with 
prime fattening qualities. The result was highly satis¬ 
factory,and his improved stock were called the Bakewell 
or New Leicester sheep. They of course differ materi¬ 
ally from the original Leicesters. 
A More Prolific Sow.— H. "YV. Cheney, 
Franklin Co., Vt., writes to the Agriculturist that he 
has a more prolific sow than the one mentioned on page 
325 (Nov. No.). His animal dropped 14 pigs, Aug. 5th, 
1860 ; on April 2d, 1861, she had a litter of 16, and Sept. 7th, 
1861 gave birth to 17 pigs, making 47 in 13 months. Who 
will beat it, and lay claim to having the prolific-est sow ? 
P. S. This looks like it.— J. W. Freley, Windsor Co., 
Vt., writes that a sow in that neighborhood brought forth 
21 pigs in February, and in August 18 more, (39 in seven 
months !) 37 of them lived and thrived ! 
Horned Toad.— A. L. Siler, of San PetoCo., 
Utah, sends a specimen, such as was shown on page 24, 
Vol. 18. The animal is quite lively after its long incar¬ 
ceration-having been bottled 7 weeks previous to send¬ 
ing. It may be seen in our office. As it lives on land, 
and in other respects resembles a toad, we think that is its 
proper name, though it has quite an alligator “ look.” 
Sweet Rutter in Winter.— L. Palmer, 
Luzerne Co., Pa., writes to the American Agriculturist, 
that to ensure a thick cream, and prevent the bitter taste 
which Winter milk and butter often have, the milk should 
beset on the stove after straining, and heated thoroughly, 
but not boiled. She says the quality of the butter from milk 
so treated, will be greatly improved. 
Paying- .Fudges at Fairs—A New 
Feature.—Few persons without actual experience 
know the labor required of those who consent to act as 
officers, judges, etc., at our Agricultural Fairs, and it is 
not to be wondered at that so many are absent at roll call 
on exhibition day. The Columbia Co. Agricultural Society, 
at Hudson. N. this year complimented seventy five 
members of the various committees of judges, by present¬ 
ing each of them with a copy of the American Agricultur¬ 
ist for 1862.—Not a bad idea. 
Metropolitan Washing Machine.— 
“ Subscriber,” Athens, Ill., will find this machine ful¬ 
ly described in American Agriculturist, Vol. XVIli, 
page 280 (Sept. No.). We can not now republish the ar¬ 
ticle. The above number, or any other as far back as 
Vol. 16, will be forwarded post-paid on receipt of 10 cents. 
Flax and Cotton.—“D. R.” As to your 
Inquiry whether there is any reason for going into flax cul¬ 
ture, except to compete with cotton, we say, we hope so. 
A paper on our table states that “ from $14,000,000 to 
$15,000,000 is annually expended by the United States in 
the purchase of linen goods from Great Britain, which 
country is obliged to procure the raw material for their 
manufacture from other countries with which the United 
States has no commercial relations.” 
Humbug at Plaistow, N. H.— Several 
subscribers have forwarded to the office of the American 
Agriculturist, circulars or schemes of what is called a 
“social banquet” to be held at Plaislow, N. H., at which it 
is stated prizes from $10,000 to 50 cents will be distributed 
by lot. Do the authorities of that place allow a lottery 
(for it is nothing else) to be conducted there, contrary to 
law? A lottery is bad enough at best, but this scheme is 
probably a swindle throughout. Will some subscriber in 
that vicinity please have an eye to the matter. V 
How Swindlers Operate.— It appears 
from the circulars forwarded by subscribers to the Ag¬ 
riculturist, that some of humbugging fraternity, recent¬ 
ly exposed as operating in New Hampshire, are issuing 
their schemes for a “social banquet” from a new locality. 
Their plan of operation appears to be, to change their lo¬ 
cation once a month, to avoid the consequences of ex¬ 
posure. Let our readers be on their guard against all 
circulars from unltnown parties making great promises, 
no matter where they come from. 
Medicinal Property of* Corn “ Silk.” 
—The Botanische Zeitung (Botanical Journal) of Ger 
many says: “ According to Landerer, in Greece the silk 
orpistils of Indian corn are claimed to have peculiar heal¬ 
ing power, especially for gravel and other urinary dis¬ 
eases. A strong decoction or tea is made of the silk 
steeped in water, which is given to the patients, and hun¬ 
dreds who have used it, acknowledge its excellent effects.” 
Save tbe Coal Ashes. —Hard Coal is com¬ 
ing into such extensive use throughout the country, that 
the ashes produced yearly amount to a large aggregate 
Though not worth nearly so much as wood ashes, they 
contain some alkali, especially when wood is freely used 
in kindling, and should not be wasted. They are well 
adapted to lighten compact, heavy soils, and several cor¬ 
respondents speak of good effect from applying them 
as a top dressing to grass lands. They should be sifted 
before using as a lawn top-dressing, or for garden ma¬ 
nure. The coarser cinders are excellent for making paths 
across wet places. 
Salt in Manure. —It is claimed that sfflk 
added to fermenting manure will unite with and retain 
the escaping ammonia. Whether this be so or not, salt 
Is of itself a good fertilizer on most soils, and all refuse 
salt, and waste brine should be added to the manure heap, 
and not be thrown out into the street gutter, or elsewhere, 
to be lost or wasted. 
Wool Waste for Manure.— B. S. Russel, 
Towanda, Pa. Refuse wool, or the dust, sweepings, etc., 
from a woolen factory, make a first rate fertilizer, as wool 
contains much nitrogen. There is hardly a. choice of 
crops to use it upon, though it would probably be more 
profitable on the cereals or grain crops, than on root crops. 
It will do no harm on your grape border, though in very 
large quantity it might stimulate too great a growth of 
vine at the expense of fruit. We can give no better rule 
than to apply it wherever you want good manure. 
Fickle for Reef and Fork.— J. R. Aten 
thinks his rule is better than that of Mrs. E. F. Haskell, 
on page 343, November Agriculturist. He thinks too 
much salt is used, and recommends the following: Pack 
the beef or hams in a cask, rubbing them with salt. Cov¬ 
er with a brine made of 4 gallons water, 3 quarts salt¬ 
peter, or mix in these proportions enough to entirely 
cover the meat. Leave the meat in the pickle for two 
months, when it may be taken out, and smoked with hick¬ 
ory wood. He says it always keeps well, especially if 
packed in a box and covered with oats. [We don’t know 
about the oats, especially where they are worth 40 to 50 cts 
a bushel. A friend at our elbow says, be has used cut straw 
to keep out flics and to preserve a uniform temperature/ 
