60 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[February, 
Into which- are thrown all sorts of paragraphs—such as 
Notes and Replies to Correspondents, with Useful or 
interesting Extracts from their Letters, <5 -c., <5 •<:.—to be drawn 
from as we have room lift here. 
To or respondents .—An unusual lot of com¬ 
munications, hints, suggestions, and queries are corning 
III daily with the letters enclosing subscriptions. We 
liave a'so several letters received heretofore, but laid 
■isidu for consideration. Not unfrequently a query is kept 
for months in order to make investigations, or to find time 
nnd place for a reply. We are thankful for the many 
favors received, but trust our friends will be patient if we 
sometimes keep their letters on hand for months, until a 
seasonable opportunity occurs to introduce them. Very 
often a studied article is suggested by a dozen or twenty 
queries, without referring directly to them. 
One other item. We try to adapt articles to 'he season 
in part, and often prepare items which lay over until their 
Appropriate time. Further, the length of time required to 
work off I he large edition of the inside sheet, which con¬ 
tains most of the illustrations, and must be printed slow¬ 
ly, compels us to prepare all matter for that sheet, and 
tend it to press a month in advance, and articles appro¬ 
priate to those pages (0 to 24) must be on hand several 
weeks before they can appear. 
TSie New American Cyclopaedia. — Vol. 
Fill, of this valuable work, from the publishing house of 
D. Appleton & Co. has come to hand freighted as usual 
withstores of information packed in well written, con¬ 
densed articles. The topics, arranged alphabetically ex¬ 
tend from FUG, to HAY. covering a space of 747double 
loliiinn pages and numbering somo 1600 separate articles. 
Science, Art, Biography, History, in short every depart¬ 
ment of knowledge is drawn upon to make the work 
w hat it professes to be, a compendium of w hat is know n. 
Sending' Grafts by Mail.—M. M. Ferguson, 
Williamson Co., Texas. Cuttings for transmission by 
mail should have their cut ends coated with wax, or gum- 
shellac dissolved in alcohol, wrapped in oil silk to retain 
the moisture, and so enveloped as to be secure from in¬ 
jury by rubbing. Secuied in this way they will go safely 
to distant points. A subscriber sent a parcel to Fort 
Laramie, N. T., last Winter, which are now thriving. 
Apliiftjor Plant L»tisc,-J.Morton, ReufewCo., 
C. W. Tlie new shoots of your young apple trees are in¬ 
fested by green, or plant lice. They can be easily de¬ 
stroyed by a pretty strong decoction of tobacco water. 
Steep the stems or waste of tobacco for twenty four hours, 
and with a pail of the liquor, go among the trees bending 
the infected shoots into the water w hich will quickly kill 
the aphides. It is well to make a trial or two before 
using it extensively, reducing with water if needed, for 
if too stiong it may injure the twigs. Sprinkle or syringe 
those branches w hich can not be dipped repeating the pro¬ 
cess if a second brood of Insects appear. 
Grab or Wisilc Worm 111 App’e Trees— 
Borers. — E F. Maynard, M. D., Essex Co., N. J. The 
white grub with a dark head, you describe, is that de¬ 
structive pest, the apple borer ( Saperda bivitlata ) of which 
both Hie worm and winged parent are shown on page 
60 (Feb. No.) of volume 17. A full chapter upon the in¬ 
sects is there given, and another article on page 243 of 
the same volume (Aug. No.), to which we refer you. 
There are numerous hints on the same subject in the 
Orchard Calendar of recent papers. Several other in¬ 
quirers will find their questions answered as above. 
Taylor’s Tree Protector.—J. C. J., of New 
Castle, inquires for the results of actual trials with this 
Apparatus the past year, by those uninterested in its 
sale. He adds: “ It has always been understood that it 
is the Codling moth which produces the worms in apples 
by stinging the young fruit. But said moth being a winged 
insect, he would hardly stop to wade the troughs on the 
trunks to get to the branches.” 
Bngs.-J. A. Stuart, Middlesex Co., Mass. The 
•‘creeping tiling ” you sent us is not recognized, either as 
friend or foe ; being dead and crushed when taken from 
the mail, we are unable to watch its transformation. 
Observation of their habits in their several states is the 
best means of ascertaining whether they are injurious. 
Timothy—Mertls-jfrass— (To several subscri¬ 
bers.)—These are only different names for thesamo vari¬ 
ety. It is best sown in the latter part of August, and in 
the month of September. It may be put in with grain or 
alone. Many farmers prefer the latter. Plow and har¬ 
row as for grain, sow a half bushel to the acre, and cover 
with a brush harrow. It may also be mixed with clover 
seed and sown on Winter grain in the Spring, when the 
ground is frozen in the morning. 
ISeiiges for Shelter.— F. M. Henrick, Washtenaw 
Co., Mich. Honey Locust will make a good hedge in the 
place desired, but as a protection from the cold north 
winds. Arbor Vitas, red cedar, or some other evergreen 
would be preferable. With either sort for a hedge it 
would be better to remove the standing trees, or plant the 
hedge just inside of them. 
Chrysanthemums from Seed.—A. Hopkins, 
Berkshire Co., Mass. The Pompon varieties of the Chry¬ 
santhemum as well as other kinds, may be raised from 
seed. It is better, however, to procure these from slips 
or roots, especially when particular kinds are wanted, 
as there is no certainty of the seed growing true to kind. 
Morse Nettle ( Solatium Carolinense) C., Floyd 
Co., Ind. The Yellow berries you sent us, are not the 
Winter Cherry, but a fruit under the above name, and too 
nearly resembling the poisonous nightshade to be eatable. 
A description of the Winter Cherry (Physalis), with cuts, 
is given on page 340, Vol. XVII, which will readily ena¬ 
ble you to identify the plant or fruit, when seen. 
Perennial Winter Cherry.— Thomas Allen, 
Athens Co., Ohio has forwarded a specimen of a variety 
of Winter Cherry ( Physalis ) of which the roots were 
found green and full of living buds on December 6th, 
which indicates that it is perennial. It bears quite a re¬ 
semblance to the Physalis Viscosa ; the fruit is smaller 
and remains attached to the vine when ripe, while the 
common variety ( viscosa ) drops off as soon as ripe. 
Securing 1 second growth of Timber.— 
II. Jessup, Chautauque Co., N. Y. The second growth 
of timber will sprout most readily we believe, when for¬ 
ests ate cut during Winter. 
Hong Kong Geese, Pea Fowl, etc.— AVe 
have not at hand the particulars as to price, cost of trans¬ 
portation, and other items asked for by a subscriber in 
Rock Island Co ,111., Dane County, Wis., and Jackson 
Co , Tenn. For full information address C. N. Bement, 
Po’keepsie, N. Y., or Richard McCormick jr.. Wood- 
haven, Long-Island (N. Y.), or some of those who ad¬ 
vertise poultry from time to time in the Agriculturist. 
Antimony for Sivinc.- S. J. Wheeler, Hartford 
Co , N. C. Powdered Antimony is sometimes given to 
fattening swine to assist digestion and promote appetite ; 
half an ounce mixed w ith the food once in ten days, is 
the amount prescribed by Youatt. Sulphur administered 
in the same manner, is generally used, and probably 
preferable. 
Keeping Potatoes.—H. Shane, Jefferson Co., O., 
gives the following directions for keeping potatoes free 
from rot through the Winter. Let the potatoes be per¬ 
fectly dry when stored. On the bottom of the bin, or bar¬ 
rel, place a layer of spent tan bark, say an inch thick, on 
which place the potatoes to the depth of a foot; then 
another layer of bark, then potatoes, and so on till the bin 
is filled, leaving the top covered with bark. This will, we 
judge, preserve from dampness to some extent and favor 
their remaining sound. It is worth a trial. 
Tliorley’s Cattle Food.— A number of sub¬ 
scribers inquire about this article which is now adver¬ 
tised in flaming showbills, etc. We are investigating 
the subject, and will now oqjy say that at best it is 
only a condiment which may sometimes be useful to 
diseased or debilitated animals, and not a profitable 
article of food as nourishment. A leading agricultural 
journal in England estimates that the price asked for 
it, is six or seven times the cost of the materials of 
which it is composed. We shall have more to say of it. 
“Miner’s Bee Hive” not Patented .—M. 
E. H., Columbia Co„ N. Y. No patent has ever been 
granted to T. B. Miner, for any bee-hive, or any im¬ 
provement upon a hive—at least so says a recent letter 
from the Commissioner of Patents now before us. Mi¬ 
ner formerly sold “ Rights” to use “Miner’s Patent 
Bee-Hive,” at $2 each. We supposed that after being 
once called to account, he had stopped doing so, but we 
still find these rights advertised on the fly leaf of a book 
on sale in this city. Those w ho have paid Miner for such 
“rights” on the supposition that the article was pat¬ 
ented, must settle the matter with him. 
Manufacturing Ice.- Jno. G. Storrs, Tioga Co., 
N. Y., living at a distance from any pond or stream sup¬ 
plies his ice house thus : A tin vat, 30x20 inches, and 16 
inches deep, with the sides a little flaring, is filled with 
water and left to freeze. When the sides are frozen suf¬ 
ficiently solid, the vat is inverted, the block removed by 
pouring a little hot water over the tin, and left to become 
solid. The process is repeated until a supply is made, 
though this requires some trouble. 
- t — H E — ■ -»-•«.- 
A Bad Failure—Explanation. 
The non-appearance in this number of the promised 
first article on “ How Things are made,” demands an ex¬ 
planation. In October last we received a w ritten com¬ 
munication from a gentleman well known as an interest¬ 
ing and instructive w riter, and who occupies a responsible 
editorial position in this city. In his letter, he proposed 
on certain terms, which were specified, to furnish for the 
Agriculturist an extended series of illustrated articles— 
of the form and character announced in our November 
and December issues. We very cheerfully acceded to the 
terms without the least abatement, and accordingly made 
the announcement after showing a proof of it to the 
writer and receiving his approval. The first article for 
the beginning of this volume was to be furnished in 
November, but after several calls for it, it did not come to 
hand in time for last month.—sundry reasons being giv 
en, such as the unwillingness of manufacturers to 
have their processes made public, etc. But a note from 
the writer (see page 25 Jan. No.) left us still confident 
that the articles would be forthcoming. All we can now 
say is, that after frequently sending for the copy, we have 
to-day (Jan. I4ih) received a note informing us that the 
writer “ finds it impossible to meet his engagement with 
us and our readers.” This matter has been a source of 
no little vexation, and we exceedingly regret the 
final failure, for our own credit’s sake, as we have al¬ 
ways aimed to fulfil,every promise, though we trust that 
after the full explanation now made, we shall be excused 
for what is in no w ise our own fault, especially as the 
original proposition did not come from us. We shall 
from this result, learn to henceforth adhere more strictly 
to our general rule, viz-: not to announce an article until 
actually in type. To our readers we will promise that 
they shall lose nothing by the present absence of these 
articles, as we shall spare no effort to hereafter obtain 
similar information from other sources—or at least to fill 
our pages with what may be equally useful and interest¬ 
ing. Publishing Editor. 
---~»o — ■ «■ - 
To Onion Growers. 
Perhaps all who are cultivating onions somewhat large¬ 
ly, may not be aware that we published last year a very 
valuable little work of 31 pages on the subject—consisting 
of seventeen practical essays by as many different men 
who have had extensive experience, in various parts of 
the country. These essays are short, condensed, and full 
of useful information. They are all written independent¬ 
ly, and in competition for a prize offered by us. As the 
several writers were cultivating under different circum¬ 
stances, they each supplied information differing some¬ 
what in detail, from the ethers, and taken altogether the 
instruction is very complete. Deeming these essays too 
valuable to be lost, ar.d not having room for them in this 
journal, we published them in neat pamphlet form, and 
offered them at a price (21 cents including postage) which 
will in the end just cover the cost. We have a few hun¬ 
dred copies left, and w ill print more should they be want¬ 
ed, as we have kept stereotype plates This is not a mat¬ 
ter of pecuniary profit ; we only speak thus particularly 
of the w ork, because w e think it of great value to every 
one raising onions for sale. 
--» ---a«*>-- «■- 
$30 Premium for Plan of a Barn. 
A friend authorizes us to offer $20 Premium, for the 
best plan of a Barn to suit his peculiar circumstances. 
We propose to publish an engraving of one or more of the 
plans offered, in the Agriculturist. The barn required is 
for a small plot, say four or five acres, near a village. 
It is to cost about $900 to $1200. It will stand on a line 
with the north side of a street. The internal arrange¬ 
ment is to comprise : A carriage floor for three four- 
wheeled vehicles, and one sleigh—accessible both from 
the street and rear ; stalls for four horses, and two cows ; 
grain and feed bins; root, and manure cellars ; toolroom 
and workshop combined, with ample space for storing 
farm and garden implements ; one or more rooms for 
storing garden truck of various kinds in Autumn ; ample 
space for hay and straw above. Any other suggestions 
as to outside style, or internal arrangements and conve¬ 
niences, will be taken into account. The plans may be 
addressed to C. T., care of this office, at any time prior 
to March 25th. If any plan is presented which is accept¬ 
able, or of sufficient interest to be published in the Agri- 
cultunst, we will guarantee the payment of the premium, 
which is offered in good faith. 
