3 
. 800 .] AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
Shutters—Have in readiness and use during snow 
6torms and when very cold or windy. It is not best to 
leave them off at night unless the w eather is quite mild. 
Water—Examine the pots and apply water when the 
soil becomes partially dry. Syringe frequently, but avoid 
excess. More water will always be needed as rapidity 
of growth increases. The water should always be soft, 
and taken from a tank or cistern in the house itself. 
Apiary am January. 
Plenty of air is as necessary for bees in Winter as in 
Summer. Without care the passages may be ciused by 
rain freezing on the outside, or moisture condensing from 
the inside, and the bees be smothered. Dead bees and 
filth falling from the combs sometimes obstruct the en¬ 
trance. Turn back the hive occasionally, and clear away 
all litter and frost. It is not necessary to dig out hives 
that maybe covered by drifting snow'_During mild 
wrather, unless there be new fallen snow on the ground, 
it is well to allow the bees to fly ; but on days only warm 
enough to tempt a few to issue, shade the hive to discour¬ 
age them. In very cold weather the heat of the sun is 
needed upon them_Continue to guard against depreda- 
t oiis from rats and mice,especially with those stored in the 
house. These latter, should be kept dark and as quiet as 
possible. The offensive effluvia from dead bees may be 
removed by sprinkling air-slaked lime upon the floor of 
the room. 
■-«-<— — s 
Descriptive Motes tapom tSse Seeds 
Distriimttcd to oni' Subscribers. 
Explanation.—For list of Seeds, see page 26. The fol- 
.owing notes are designed not only to describe the seeds, 
Dut also lo indicate the mode of culture. This list should 
be preserved. Other fuller articles on various plants will 
appear from time to time, and also hints as to the time of 
planting, etc., in the monthly Calendar of Operations. 
The missing numbers in our seed list are those of seeds 
dropped, in some instances because supposed to be suffi¬ 
ciently disseminated, and in others because having been 
generally tried, they have not proved worthy of further 
introduction. A portion ofthe seeds offered this year, are 
quite common in seme parts of the country, but we offer 
them for the benefit of those w ho have not yet had them, 
and especially for numerous subscribers who live in the 
Western States and Territories remote from convenient 
access to seeds of any kind. Our packages are necessa¬ 
rily small ; in some cases they are put up with 
reference to the little weight that can go under postage 
stamps, and in others, because of the great cost of choice 
seeds. Very many of our flower seeds for example, cost 
us four, five, and six dollars the pound, and several of 
ttiem much more than this, even when bought at the lowest 
wholesale prices in Europe, and imported by us duty free. 
Most of these seeds are annuals, and the product of the 
first year will furnish an abundant yield of seed for the 
future. Generally, the small packages of flower seeds 
will supply all the plants required in an ordinary flower 
bed or garden, if sown and cultivated with moderate care. 
Field Seeds. 
No. 2. Improved Kino Philip Corn.— Described 
particularly last mouth. A heavy brow n corn, maturing 
early ; larger than the older King Philip, but not quite so 
early. Specially adapted to short seasons, or late planting. 
No. 3 Stowell's Sweet Corn. —A large growing va¬ 
riety, long in maturing, and hence called “ Evergreen.” 
Difficult to obtain ripened or pure seeds ; much of it being 
nipped by frost; and a large portion of that in the coun¬ 
try being impure, from hybridization. Valuable for size 
both of ear and stalk, and from the length of time it may 
be gathered for cooking. 
No. 6. Ashcroft’s Swedish Turnip. 
No. 7. River’s Swedish Stubble Turnip. 
No. 70. Waite’s London Purple-top Swedish Turnip. 
These are improved varieties of the ruta-baga, yielding 
well and of good quality ; and maturing early, and hence 
may be sown late, say in June or even in July. 
No. 94. Crystal Flint, or Hominy Corn.— Described 
in an article last month. A beautiful, large growing, pro 
duettve corn. Kernel white, or almost transparent flint, 
beautiful for meal or hominy. Requires the ordinary 
corn season, and plenty of room. 
No. S3. Long Red Mangel Wurzel.—A good beet for 
fie ling and fair only, for cooking. Requires early plant¬ 
ing, and the same culture as ordinary beets, but needs 
i. ore room, as they grow' to a large size. 
No. 101. Improved Long Orange Carrot.— This is 
an improved variety of the well known Orange Carrot, 
cultivated by the Society of Friends at Pawtucket, R. I., 
it requires the usual culture of common carrots. 
Veg'eta.lblc or Garden Seeds. 
No 8. Daniel O’Rourke Pea. —See page IS. 
No. 9. Champion of England Pea.—S ee page 18. 
No. 11. Koiil Rabi—“A turnip out of ground;” re¬ 
sembles a round turnip growing on a short cabbage stalk, 
with a dozen or so of long-stemmed cabbage leaves grow¬ 
ing from different parts of the bulb. Cooked when green, 
tlie same as turnips, it is tender, sweet and better than 
a turnip or cabbage. If left to mature it becomes hard 
and tough. Cultivated the same as cabbages. It matures 
earlier, however, and when not for early use may be sown 
in the open ground in May. Sow at several intervals for 
successive use during the Summer. We have never known 
it to fail of growing good head3 or bulbs, and recommend 
its general culture. Cook when the bulbs are not larger 
than tea cups if you would have it in its best state. Those 
who have left it to harden before cooking, do not know its 
value. 
No. 13. Enfield Market Cabbage.—A small quick 
growing very fine early cabbage. With us no early cab¬ 
bage has equaled this. It, was first introduced from Eng¬ 
land, by us three years since. 
No. 15. Mammoth Cabbage Lettuce.— Its character 
is sufficiently indicated by its name. One of the best va¬ 
rieties we have known. 
No. 17. Red Stbap Leaf Turnip.— The most rapid 
growing turnip we have, and of very fair quality. Ma¬ 
tures early for Spring and Summer use ; and may be 
planted later than any oilier, and yet mature. 
No. 21. Winter Cherry (Physalis viscosa).— Sow 
in open ground at any time, the earlier the better, though 
the seeds may not come until May or June. For 
early use a few of the seeds may be slatted like cabbage 
seed, in a green-house, or hot-bed, or in boxes, or bits of 
turf It bears transplanting well. The fruit matures 
early, and when lemon is added to give it a little tartness, 
is excellent for sauce, and pies. Isa substitute for fruit 
in newer countries. The green fruit makes good pickles. 
The ripened fruit keeps all Winter—hence its name. 
Fruit about the size of cherries ; drops off when ripe. 
Plants grow spreading, and two to four feet high ; re¬ 
quires 2 lo 3 feet squate for each plant. We have plenty 
ofseed of our own raising .—Physalis alkekengi is another 
variety bearing a larger and more acid fruit, and would be 
far preferable, but it does not mature in this latitude, un¬ 
less started early ip. the green-house, and not always then. 
Of this variety we have a litle seed for Southern sub¬ 
scribers specially desiring it. 
No. 53. W’eite Globe Onion. —A new variety intro¬ 
duced by us two years since. Large, white, globular, 
good flavored. We had many good reports from it during 
the past year. 
No. 57. Eugenie Pea.—S ee article on page 18. 
No. 58. Napoleon Pea.—S ee page 18. 
No. 63. London Particular Long Scarlet Radish. 
No. 64 Extra Red Round Turnip Radish. 
Both of these were introduced bv us two years ago 
and they have given very good satisfaction. They were 
the best of several kinds tried last, season. Sow early in 
Spring, and at intervals for a succession. They mature 
quickly. 
No. 71. Long White French Turnip.—A large, 
white, sweet turnip, good for garden culture for table use, 
nr for field culture for feeding. We know of no turnip 
equal to it for the table, and for long keeping. In two or 
three localities it did not do well the past season, owing 
to the weather, or soil, or manure, but the general reports 
are decidedly in its favor. May be sown for table use at 
any time up to June ; and for a general crop and Winter 
keeping from the middle of June to middle of July or 
later. 
No. 72. Brussels Sprouts (Imported).—This belongs 
to the cabbage tribe, and is cultivated similarly. It bears 
on each stalk antimbei-of little cabbage-heads, hardly tfle 
size of a hen’s egg. These are cooked like cabbage, and 
are considered a delicate, excellent vegetable. 
No. 74. Solid White Celery —This is the best vari¬ 
ety cultivated here. For Summer use sow in the hot-bed 
in Winter ; and in the open ground in Spring, for Fall and 
Winter use. A special chapter on its culture w ill be 
needed by the inexperienced. 
No. 76 Skillman’s Nutted Muskmelon. 
No. 77. Mountain Sweet Watermelon. 
These are the most popular varieties for family use. 
We have tried others the past year, but found none ex¬ 
celling them. The seed is now pretty well diffused, and 
is only offered to meet the wants of those unable to get it 
of dealers Plant when danger of frost is passed, or be¬ 
fore by using boxes of earth, or sods, as will be referred to 
in due time. 
95. Hubbard Squash.—T his was illustrated and de¬ 
scribed in last volume, page S3. It is a good squash for 
Winter and Spring use, and may be cooked also as a hue 
Summer squash. We did not succeed in getting a very 
good yield, or large specimens, but several neighbors 
had goo t Success and like it very w ell We shall planl 
again, and offer the seed to those desiring it. 
No. 99. Prince Albert I’ea — We have not tried this, 
but several subscribers who have done so recommend tl 
very highly, and we place it in our general list. Crows 
21 to 4 feet high, according to soil, and matures very 
early. 
No. 100 , Early Cape Broccoli —A variety of cabbage 
somewhat resembling cauliflower, though less delicate. 
Sow early in May, on rich ground in the open garden. 
Cover lightly, and water a few times if dry, until the 
plants appear. Transplant in July iti rows two feet apart, 
twenty inches in tiie row, and cultivate like cabbage. 
Cut the heads before they open. 
No. 102.—Mammoth Leghorn Squash —This was de¬ 
scribed at length in Vol. 18, p. 327. It was recently in¬ 
troduced from Leghorn, Italy, is very Ip.rge and of fine 
quality for the table. We saw a number of specimens 
growing last Summer which weighed faint 75 lbs. to 100 
lbs each. This w as of course on good soil. We secured 
all the seed from 4,5( 0 lbs. of the squashes, but although 
large in size they contain bttl a small number of seeds. 
We have scarcely ten pounds in all. As there are many 
applicants it will not be possible to send more than 3 nr 
4 seeds to each and probably very many asking for them 
can not be supplied at all this season. 
No. 103. Sage is too well know n to require description. 
The seed is distributed for supplying subscrib, rs in newly 
settled districts w here even common seeds are sometimes 
obtained with difficulty. 
No. 104. Thyme. —A common aromatic herb sent like 
Nos. 103 and 105, for convenience of remote subscribers. 
No. 105. Chili Red Pepper.— For seasoning, pickles, 
etc. Sow thinly, half an inch deep in a pan in the house, 
or a hot-bed in March or April, and transplant in May or 
June, a foot a part, in rows eighteen inches dislart. 
Transplant when three or four inches high, hoe frequent¬ 
ly, and earth up the stems. 
No. 10S. Sweet Marjop.am. —A popu'ar pot-herb, sow 
early in April, cover ve r y lightly in row s ten inches a art, 
and when up, thin to too inches in the row. Cut the 
plants when first blooming and dry them in the shade. 
No. 107. Giant Asparagus.— This hah been brought to 
superior size by continued good culture. Sow eariy in 
Spring, in drills one and-a-half incites deep, and eighteen 
inches apart, on well manured ground. Keep free I'to .m 
weeds during the Summer. In October cover the bed 
with litter to protect the roots from frost. The roots may¬ 
be transplanted when one year old, into beds prepared by 
deep trenching and heavy manuring. Further directions 
for its culture given from lime to time. 
No. 108.— Mammoth Pumpkin. —We have not culti¬ 
vated this variety, but obtained the seed from a reliable 
source, where it was pronounced superior. 
No. 109.—Mammoth Red Tomato.— Recommended to 
us as oflarge size if well grown, and ofexcellent quality. 
Flower, Fruit* ind Onianscatal Seeds. 
No. 23— Mignonette (Reseda odorala). A fragrant 
annual, with moderate claims to beauty of flower, but a 
favorite for its perfume. Of easy culture ; grows on 
almost any soil ; blooms profusely until killed by frost; 
sow May 1st, to June 15!h. 
No. 25 — Nasturtiums (Troptzolum. majus) A serin 
creeping annual, often trained on a trellis or allowed to 
run over rocks or walls. Bears a psefusion of flowers. 
The mixed seed we distribute givii.g yellow and crimson 
colors; is doubly valuable, as it yields beautiful flowers, 
and its seed capsules [licked green make an excellent 
spicy pickle, 
No. 27— Cockscomb (Celosia cristata). A pretty well 
known plant, named from its corymb or head which in 
some varieties resembles a cock’s comb. This is made 
up of an infinite number of minute scat let flowers. Wo 
luve seed of a variety which produces a cone-shaped 
head, of a splendid deep crimson color. (The seed post 
us §24 per lb.) It is often grown in pots, but florishes 
well in the open ground; continues long in bloom ; sow 
in Spring; grows 2 to 3J feet high. 
No. 29—Double Balsams (Impatient! balsam ina). Cal¬ 
led also “Garden Ladies’Slipper”, in distinction from tho 
wild Ladies’ Slipper. They are sometimes called “Touch- 
me-not”, as the seed capsules, or pods suddenly burst 
when touched. We send out several varieties of seeds 
mixed, to give a diversity of color in the flowers, 
which range from pure white, lilac, pink, rare, and a 
blending of these colo-s. The double flowers tire very 
pretty, but it is difficult to preserve them double, as they 
are prone to return lo their natural single state. The 
balsams are annuals ; grow 1J to 2 feel high ; branching 
