218 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[July, 
$ 
requires considerable practice. Do not be discouraged, 
therefore, if your first attempts are not printed, and please 
don’t scold if your letters appear to be unnoticed. When 
somebody invents a reading, writing, and thinking ma¬ 
chine, vve hope to be able to answer all our letters per¬ 
sonally. 
•-•-*-' W»» ' — »-«■- 
Jnto which are thrown all sorts of paragraphs — such as 
Notes and Replies to Cokkespondents, with Useful or 
interesting Extracts from their Letters, (J-c., <5c .—to he drawn 
from as we have room left here. 
Kinds oi Grapes and Number per Acre. 
—J. L. Neyman, Guernsey Co., 0. The number of vines 
per acre must depend upon the method of training. Some 
cultivators plant in squares 6 feet apart (1210 per acre), 
while others prefer 8 feet (680 per acre). In some of the 
vine growing districts of Europe they are set 4 feet distant 
each way (2722 to the acre), and trained to stakes about 
five feet high. Your selection of equal quantities Dela¬ 
ware, Diana, Concord, and Hartford Prolific is not a bad 
one. The Delaware is still held at such prices, that 
planting many of them is costly. The Isabella and Ca¬ 
tawba are still valuable sorts in many localities. Bright’s 
Grape Culture (50c.) will give you valuable information. 
Designating u. Grape.—J. S. Nixon, Franklin 
Co., Pa. It is impossible to tell the name of your grape 
from the description given. Excepting with the well 
known marked sorts, such as Isabella, Catawba, Rebec¬ 
ca, etc., to distinguish the variety even from the wood, 
foliage and fruit, much less can one recognize a new sort 
from a mere description. 
Cranberries thrown out by Frost.—B. 
Ryan, New-London Co., Conn. If possible, flood your 
cranberry plot late in the Fall, and leave the water on, 
until freezing weather is over in the Spring. This can 
probably be done, as you say the land is low and wet. If 
it can not be flowed, the plants must take their chance— 
probably enough will remain uninjured to produce a fair 
crop. 
Cauliflower. —D. H. Wells, Suffolk Co., N. Y. 
The cauliflower looks much like a cabbage while grow¬ 
ing. Instead of forming a compact head of leaves, it 
spreads out into a flat, or oval shaped head of “ flowers,” 
which somewhat resemble coral in appearance. Cook as 
cabbage, oniy not quite as long. They are usually 
esteemed a luxury. 
Quince Stock for lire Pear. —J. Borland, 
Bucks Co., Pa. There is a real difference between the 
common (orange,) Angers, and Portugal quinces. The 
Angers stock is the one used by nurserymen for budding 
the pear upon. 
Cypripcclium puhescens. —Win. L. Burton, Edgar 
Co.. III. From the 'pencil sketch and description you 
forwarded, we judge the plant alluded to is the Cypripe- 
dium, or Moccasin-flower—probably C. puhescens (Large 
Yellow Lady’s Slipper) or possibly C. spectabile, usually 
found in moist places under the shade of trees. We have 
transplanted it with some success, but it needs shade in 
the flower border. 
Plant from Seed found in Coffee.— Philip 
Withnan, Beekersville. It is not easy to name a plant 
from the appearance of the leaf alone. The one forward¬ 
ed resembles some species of fig, but the flowers are nec¬ 
essary to determine accurately. See the article “ Nam¬ 
ing Flowers,” on page 210 of this number. 
A Singular Leaf,-J. A. Anderson, Hunterdon 
Co., N. J., sends us a lusus natural, found in his garden. 
A large cordate (heart-shaped) leaf resembling rhubarb, 
lias springing from the main rib at its base, a stem an 
inch and a half high, bearing a small leaf of an entirely 
different character, being peltate (shield shaped), quite 
similar to the leaf of the nasturtium. The phenomenon 
is unexplainable. Extraordinary growths of this kind 
called “sports” are due to peculiar circumstances often 
beyond detection. 
I.ily of Hie Valleys.—P. p., Pottsville, Pa. This 
plant mentioned in the Song of Solomon, is belived by 
some commentators to be identical with the Egyptian Lo¬ 
tus or the Nelumbluin speciosum mentioned on page 200 of 
this number of the Agriculturist. The glowing account 
given of the “ lluleli Lilly ” by an author w ho supposes 
it identical with the “Lilly of the Valleys” is probably 
partly due to his lively imagination, and desire to make 
a readable work. 
'Flic Honolulu Squash. —Several inquirers. 
We have specimens of this highly praised variety under 
cultivation, and shall be able to give a definite opinion of 
its qualities after full trial. The vines now appear hardy 
and promising—the fruiting will decide whether it is wor¬ 
thy of introduction to our list for distribution. 
Spelt Wanted.—We have had repeated inquiries 
where seed of Spelt or German Wheat can be obtained 
by parties who wish to experiment with it in districts in¬ 
fested by insects preventing success with other grain. 
Those having a supply, should advertise the fact—in the 
appropriate pages—we can not introduce business an¬ 
nouncements into the reading columns as some desire. 
©estroyiiis" Cut Worms at Niglit.—J. M. 
Rose, Clearfield Co., Pa., after trying various remedies 
proposed for the cut w orm, cleared his garden of them by 
examining each plant several evenings by candle light, 
and crushing them with a pair of pincers. As they com¬ 
mit most of their depredations in darkness, this is more 
effectual than seeking them in the morning, besides sav¬ 
ing a night’s destruction, which is considerable where 
they are plentiful. The pincers relieve from the disa¬ 
greeable work of handling the worms. 
laisect Wanted.—Will “Y. Z,” of Cincinnati, 
w ho sent “ C. T.” of Norwich last July some twigs of 
grape vine, inclosing a small brown beetle, watch for any 
appearance of the same, either in the larva or the perfect 
state, in the same location where he found them last year, 
and send them to the above direction. He w ould confer 
a great favor. 
Acid, for Insect Specimens. — Alexander 
Houston, Franklin Co., O. Entomologists use Prussic 
Acid, one of the most virulent poisons known, for killing 
insects to be preserved as specimens. The point of a 
needle is dipped in the acid, and inserted in the body of 
the insect near the wing. This requires great care in 
handling, and is unsafe to keep where children or inex¬ 
perienced persons can have access to it. We prefer 
to use chloroform. A few drops upon a sponge, placed in 
a tight box with the insect, will soon put him asleep be¬ 
yond awaking. 
Wlierc tJic Borer Works.—T. Cooke, Winne¬ 
bago Co., Wis., writes that the apple tree borer, (Saperda 
bivittata) does not work at the bottom of the tree, but is 
found from one to two feet above the surface of the 
ground ; and that he has taken out hundreds of them dur¬ 
ing the past year or two. They will be found as de¬ 
scribed by him after they have been at work a few months. 
The egg of the parent beetle is deposited within a few 
inches of the ground, and the larva when hatched bores 
his way upward, emerging at length some distance from 
his first starting point. Mr. Cook thinks the upper side of 
leaning trees most liable to attacks from the borer. Have 
any other of our readers observed this ? 
Elder Leaves for Insects.— In answer to the 
inquiry made as to the usefulness of elder leaves to re¬ 
pel insects, several subscribers state they have found them 
worthless. S. of North Hempstead, N. Y., writes “ What 
does the striped bug care about smell ? Has he any nose l 
I have tried coal tar, spirits turpentine, soot, guano and 
elder leaves, and they do no good.” They certainly have 
noses enough to smell out growing vines, as every year’s 
loss bears witness, but whether any of the above articles 
are unpleasant to their senses, we can not answer. “S.” 
recommends protecting plants with a covering of milli- 
net, or fine wire cloth, with which we agree. 
Specimens of Sqnaslx Bugs sent in by Wm. 
H. Niles, Ottawa Co., Mich,, are named Coreas tristis 
by entomologists. These insects when full grown, meas¬ 
ure about six tenths of an inch in length. Their color is 
rusty black above, and a dirty ochre yellow beneath. 
They pass the Winter in a torpid state, in crevices of 
fences, walls, etc., whence they issue on the return of 
warm weather. They seek the shelter of the young 
squash and pumpkin vines, and pair and lay their eggs 
during the last of June and first of July. The young in¬ 
sects puncture the leaves and live upon the sap, which 
injures or destroys the vine. The eggs are laid and hatch 
in successive broods, consequently the plants are in dan¬ 
ger the Summer through. We know no certain 
remedy but picking off the eggs and insects by hand. If 
this is done early in the season, it will require but little 
time daily, and prevent their multiplying beyond control. 
Seventeen Year I.ociisls.— E. A. Tanner, 
Rockland Co., N. Y., and several subscribers in Ncw- 
Jcrsey and oilier sections, will please accept our thanks 
for specimens ofthese insects both in the pupa state and 
fully developed. Other matters have prevented our giving 
a full illustrated article on this insect this month. The pre¬ 
dictions of their appearance this year have been verified 
in many sections heard from, and their abundance has at¬ 
tracted great attention. Entomologists will doubtless im¬ 
prove this opportunity for learning more of their habits. 
The Comprehensive Farm Uncord.—Wo 
have repeatedly urged upon our readers the great advan¬ 
tage of keeping a complete journal or diary of farming 
operations. No one who has a well kept record of the 
kind extending over a few years, would willingly part 
with it, which is good evidence of its valut. The princi¬ 
pal objection made to such a work, has been the trouble of 
attending to it. Much time is required to note all the facts 
one would wish to remember, and to arrange them sys¬ 
tematically for easy reference in future is no small task. 
A book bearing the title at the head of this article, by 
Franklin B. Hough, and published by Saxton, Barker & 
Co., N. Y., in a great degree removes this difficulty. By 
a very simple system, the pages with appropriate head¬ 
ings are arranged so that notes on farming operations, 
accounts of various crops, and animals, weather phenom¬ 
ena, comparative forwardness of seasons, first appearance 
of birds, etc., can be readily entered, requiring but a few 
minutes time each day. The topics include nearly or 
quite every thing in farm life upon which observations 
are requisite or desirable. Of course, only a part of these 
need receive attention, but many points of value are here 
suggested that might otherwise pass unnoticed. The 
price of the work $3, at first thought, seems objectionable; 
but though not a large volume, it contains the necessary 
blanks for use during twenty five years, making the cost 
but the small sum of twelve cents a year. 
Bees and Bee Steeping 1 , a book of 286 pages, 
by W. C. Harbison, an experienced Apiarian, has been 
received. The practical parts of the work are plainly 
written, and contain suggestions of value to the bee 
keeper. The directions for transporting bees to Califor¬ 
nia or other distant points are timely. As every man sees 
things in a different light, theories will differ, but the 
author gives his reasons clearly for his own views on dis¬ 
puted points, and in the main treats those differing from 
him fairly. It is a noteworthy fact that bee writers gen¬ 
erally seem imbued with peculiar acerbity in their dis¬ 
cussions of mooted questions; whether this be derived 
from the insects of which they treat, is a question on 
which we should like to hear their opinion. The sub¬ 
ject of bee keeping is of almost inexhaustible interest, and 
of great economical importance, and w e hail every record 
of facts and deduction from experience by adepts, as an 
acquisition to agricultural literature. 
Bone Mills.— J. P. Prescott, Shelby Co., Tenn. 
Tho regular bone mills cost $80 to $100. We have seen 
the “ People’s Mill,” $30 and $40 sizes, grind bones very 
well, after they had first been broken up by hand. 
Cause of Glanders. —E. J. Dodge, Carroll Co., 
Ill. This disease is highly contagious where horses are 
exposed to actual contact with an infected animal. It 
most frequently originates with horses reduced by exces¬ 
sive overwork and scanty feeding. Animals in this con¬ 
dition are in danger of having glanders follow the con¬ 
traction of a cold, which under other circumstances, 
would be of no serious consequence. The proper treat¬ 
ment of the disease requires the best veterinary skill. 
Substitute for a Bridle.— One of our Agricul¬ 
turist boys sends a description of a contrivance of his 
own to hold horses with a halter when taking them to 
water. It consists of a block some two inches square, 
hollowed on one side to fit the top of the horse’s nose, un¬ 
der the nose-piece of tho halter, from which it hangs by 
two hooks driven in the front. Tacks are driven into the 
hollowed side of the block where it comes against the 
horse’s nose, the heads being left protruding a little. A 
pull upon the halter brings these against the horse’s 
nose. If we understand the construction, this is objec¬ 
tionable, as being likely to wear and wound the skin 
which is quite tender on this part. It would be better 
to take lime to use a bridle. 
Measly Povlc.— S. D. Jared, Whiteside Co., Ill. 
sends an abstract of a pamphlet, for which we have not 
space, arguing that measly pork contains the larva of 
tapeworm, and that its presence in man may bo caused by 
eating swine’s flesh. The full discussion of the subject 
belongs to a medical rather than to an agricultural jour¬ 
nal. 
Where (o Buy a Farm.— Frederic C. Law, 
Ozaukee Co., Wis., and others. We could not well de¬ 
cide upon the propriety of a purchase in any section with¬ 
out a personal inspection and investigation of the sur¬ 
rounding circumstances, and no one is safe in buying with¬ 
out using his own eyes upon the tract offered for sale. 
We have no acquaintance with tile new land described 
in the circular forwarded. A young man “by careful 
management, and industry ” may succeed almost any¬ 
where. 
Will it. Pay to Hire a Farm 7 — Chs. H. Bliss, 
Providence Co., R. I. Sometimes, yes, sometimes, no 
