I 860 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
345 
Into which are thrown all sorts of paragraphs—such as 
Notes and Replies to Correspondents, with Useful or 
'nteresting Extracts from their Letters, SfC., 4fC. to be 
drawn from whenever we have room left here . 
Premium Queries# —To a multitude of letters mak- 
ng inquiries about our premiums, we have not been able 
o make any other reply than to send a marked papei. 
We have tried to give all needed particulars under the ap¬ 
propriate head. See the remarks under head of Iie- 
miums for 1861” on page 348, and also the several 
terns on the last page. 
Returning Articles. —We can not possibly retum 
articles or contributions not published. Those wishing 
copies of articles sent in, should copy them before for¬ 
warding the original manuscript. The non-appearance of 
an article for six months, is no certain indication that it 
will not find an appropriate place within twelve months. 
Fastening Cattle In Stalls.-E. Moultrie, Mon¬ 
mouth Co. N. J. A strap buckled around the animal’s 
horns, with a ring, to which a small chain er rope may be 
attached by a “ snap,” is convenient. The rope or chain 
should play up and down freely on the stanchion. 
Xo Prevent Horses Rubbing.— C. D. J., West¬ 
chester Co., N. Y. recommends as a preventive of horses 
rubbing their tails in the stable, to hang a buncli of thorns 
behind them. This is objectionable; many horses will 
be taught the dangerous habit of kicking, by this means. 
A horse rubs because there is itching, the cure for which 
is thorough cleaning with the brush. If there be irritation, 
use a little oil upon the parts. 
Saving Horses from Burning.- It has often 
been found that when a stable was on fire, the horses, ter¬ 
rified by the flames, refused to leave the building, and 
many have thus perished. In the Spirit of the Times, it 
is related that on such an occasion a gentleman harnessed 
his horses, and they were led out without difficulty. This 
may be the case, but it would often be impracticable from 
the rapidity of the fire. A simpler method, which is said 
to be effectual, is to blindfold the horse, before attempting 
to remove him. 
What is tlie Turkish Rath?— C. J. Farnham, 
Kendall Co., Ill. This apparatus recently recommended 
as a cure for pleuro-pneumonia in cattle and horses, is 
simply a tight room or box supplied with means for rais¬ 
ing the temperature of the air to a high point. I hei e is 
some danger that its use may be carried too far, we think, 
after reading an account from a gentleman who gives 
his horses such a bath every week, though they are in 
perfect health. He says his horses enjoy it greatly, and 
enter the room of their own accord as soon as the door 
is opened. 
Remedy for Laurel Poisoning.— David Hall 
jr., Sullivan Co., Pa., writes, that when sheep aie poison¬ 
ed'by laurel, the effects are soon seen in their staggertng 
gait, and that they can be readily cured by administering 
nearly a teacupful of water saturated with salt. 
Scrub Oak.— I. B. Hitchcock, Cherokee Nation. 
Samples sent appear to be Quercus ilicifolia, a shrub 
from 3 to 8 feet high. The annual appearance you speak 
of, w as caused by their being burned down each year. 
Cedar Herries—Will they Grow.— S. Gilbert, 
Muscatine Co., Iowa. The Cedar ( cupressus ) has no ber¬ 
ries, but produces seed in small cones, like the hemlock. 
The juniper, to which you probably refer, has a berry 
like the red cedar (Jumperus Virginiana), which will 
grow' by sowing in the Fall, as soon as ripe. 
Wheat and Chess.— Since our offer in the Octo¬ 
ber Agriculturist of $500 for chess grown from wheat 
seed, numerous communications have been received, 
telling how the thing may be done—as sowing upon 
hard beaten soil, allowing it to winter-kill, letting 
noultry range over it, etc. To which we reply, accom¬ 
plish the result according to the terms proposed, in 
whatever way, and the reward will be paid. 
“Spot” the Humbugs.— On page 324 we have 
offered a word of caution which seemed to be specially 
needed. We refer to the matter again to ask those who 
have been recently fleeced, or who may receive circu¬ 
lars etc., to send us the particulars, in such a form that 
they may be used as evidence if needed. We know of 
seveial suspicious establishments, but they operate 
through the mails and always at a distance from the city, 
so that it is difficult to secure available evidence sufficient 
to warrant us in publishing them. In one case there are 
at least four enterprises all carried on by the same con¬ 
cern, but under four different names. As we have be¬ 
fore stated, farmers as a class are more easily deceived 
than otiiers, because being less crafty themselves, they are 
not suspicious or on the look out for fraud. It is on this 
account that we feel specially called upon to warn that 
class jwhere the Agriculturist is most largely patronized. 
Arbor Vitae from Cuttings. —W. D., Essex 
Co., N. J. The Arbor Vitae will grow from cuttings, but 
only in the hands of a skillful propagator. Several tilings 
are essential to success, as a proper mechanical condi¬ 
tion of the soil, just enough moisture, shade, heat, etc., 
which an inexperienced person would hardly secure. 
44 Xbat Oregon Xree.” —G. F. Whitworth, 
Thurston Co., W. T., alluding to the shrub spoken of by 
P. Reitz, page 114 April Agriculturist, thinks it the Ceono- 
thus, and lias decided it to call it C. odorata, from its fra¬ 
grance. He does not find it described in Micliaux and 
Nuttall’s work, nor in any treatise lie has seen. 
Non Rearing Plum Tree.—J. W. Bucher, 
Northumberland Co., Pa. The “ Peach Plum ” tree does 
not bear very young. Quite likely your five-year-old tree 
will yet yield fruit. 
Form of Hedges. —The best shape for a hedge is, 
narrow at the top and wide at the bottom ; it is thus more 
fully exposed to the light. When cut perpendicular, it can 
never be kept close, for the lower branches will die out. 
The Norway Spruce is said, by John P. Cushing, to be 
superior to the Arbor Vitie for a hedge ; the spruce bears 
cuttinglequally well, and is not likely to be winter-killed. 
Quince Stock for Pears.— S. R. Baily, Allen 
Co., O. The Angers.Quince, which is propagated by lay¬ 
ers and cuttings, is used for dwarfing pear trees. They 
are kept for sale at most extensive nurseries. 
Fall Grape Cuttings.— A correspondent of the 
Ohio Cultivator recommends fall cuttings of grapes. He 
says that on the 7thof October he cut 38 cuttings of the 
Delaware Grape, two or three eyes to each cutting, tied 
them together, dug a hole in the garden about three inch¬ 
es deep and covered them up, in the Spring took them up 
and planted them ; of 38 cuttings, 36 are growing finely. 
Cutting Grape Cions.— C. M. G., Broome Co., 
N. Y. Cut in November or December, from well ma¬ 
tured wood ; if intended for grafting, bury in sand or earth 
in a dry-cool cellar to keep them from starting early ; and 
graft about the middle of May, under ground. 
Location of Vineyard. —“ Southern Subscriber,” 
Rockingham Co., Va. Your location on the banks of ttie 
Shenandoah river is a good one. I there is a clay sub¬ 
soil, underdrain thoroughly, and plow and subsoil deeply, 
manuring well before planting. As the wild vine flour¬ 
ishes with you, the cultivated ones should succeed well. 
Grapes from Wayne Co., N. Y.— Specimens 
of Isabella, Diana, and To Kalon, received from W. F. 
Steele. Isabella lacked flavor and sweetness ; Diana was 
very fine, and To Kalon good. Mr. S. says Isabella mil¬ 
dews badly and Rebecca slightly, with him, while the 
Delaware is quite free from the disease. The Clara mil¬ 
dews as badly as any foreign variety. 
Rhubarb—Distinguishing tlie Varieties.— 
J. McMeekin, C. W. It is not easy to name a particular 
kind of rhubarb ; but the Linnaeus, which you ask about, 
has a stout stalk of medium length, quite red where it 
starts from the root, and is very tender and less acid than 
most other sorts. 
Wild Tomato.-J. Jenks, Wright Co., Minn. 
The fruit and leaves sent are a species of the Physaiis— 
probably P. viscosa, and the berries may be eaten with 
impunity. They are cultivated in many places with good 
results. We highly prize the fruit for sauce, pies, jellies, 
etc., and have a large patch growing in our garden. They 
have been much improved within a few years by cultiva¬ 
tion. They are usually known as the “ Winter Cherry” 
from their long keeping properties. 
Paid for Itself.— Amos Heater, Mason Co., Ill., 
writes, that squashes of the Leghorn and Hubbard varie¬ 
ties, raised from seeds distributed free from this office, 
brought him the premium at the County Exhibition, so 
that his Agriculturist subscription paid for itself. 
Pliysalis.— Mr. Douglass, Essex Co., N. J. The 
specimens you sent, are different varieties of the Physaiis 
-one is the viscosa, another the tomentosa (the purpie 
sort), but neither is the alkekengi. It is well to be cautious 
in the use of some varieties of this family, as they so 
closely resemble thepoisonous nightshade, that the inex¬ 
perienced might mistake the one for the other. 
Cranberries in Ill. —W. E. Thomas, De Kalb 
Co., III. Your 160 acres of low land which is covered 
with water from November to April, will make an excel 
lent “ Cranberry patch.” Plow as soon as dry in Spring, 
and set out roots of the Bell variety, two feet apart each 
way ; keep down the grass and weeds, and you will soon 
have a mass of vines covering the ground. 
More Large Squashes.— S. R. Baily, Allen Co., 
0., writes that from one seed received from the Agricul¬ 
turist office, he raised thirteen very large squashes, be¬ 
sides twelve or fifteen which were picked off when small. 
Deep Rills for Potatoes.— C. J. Welsh, Madison 
Co., Ind., recommends that potatoes be placed in deep 
bins, rather than spread over much surface. He says they 
are less liable to decay. This, quite likely, is true. The 
natural resting place for tubers during winter is under the 
surface, where light and air are mostly excluded. 
Yellow Bellflower Apple.— E. C. Holmes, 
Plymouth Co., Mass. This variety is usually considered 
an abundant bearer, but st> far as our own observation 
goes, it usually bears a full crop in alternate years only. 
Ventilating Karrels of Fruit. —A correspond¬ 
ent calls attention to the necessity of allowing free ac¬ 
cess of air to fruit sent to market in barrels ; particu¬ 
larly if it be packed soon after gathering. Inch-auger 
holes should be bored in both heads of the barrel to 
allow the moisture to pass off freely. For want of tills 
precaution, apples frequently arrive in market in an un¬ 
salable condition, or Shrivel and decay soon after opening. 
Great Yield of Wheat, —Thomas Thornbury, 
Clinton Co., writes that the yield of Wheat in Iowa 
the past season, is unprecedented. Several large fields in 
his neighborhood are mentioned as giving from 30 to 40 
bushels per acre for the first return from a virgin soil. 
One man gathered 105 bushels from two acres. He thinks 
the average yield of the State amounts to 25 bushels per 
acre. The Corn crop also is very large, yielding in many 
instances 75 bushels per acre. 
Marking Rags.— C. L. Davids, Rensselaer County, 
N. Y., urges the propriety of farmers keeping their names 
plainly marked on implements, bags, etc. A branding 
iron may be purchased for a few shillings. Where this 
is not easily obtained, black paint answers a good purpose. 
A siieet of lead, with letters cut through, and laid oh the 
article to be marked, makes the process very expeditious. 
Prolific Wheat.-We have seen samples of a 
white wheat, plump but small berry, resembling Fife 
wheat, said to yield 70 bushels per acre in Minnesota. It 
is claimed that it originated from a few kernels found in 
some straw from Germany. It is a bearded sort, short 
but shouldered or branching heads, but whether a Winter 
or Spring variety, we are unable to say. 
Subsoiling easily Done.— A. W. Parsons, 
Westchester Co., N. Y., while plowing last Fall, followed 
in each furrow with a light one horse plow and found it 
to answer a very good purpose. Where the soil is not 
too heavy, this method is well worth a trial. 
Cleaning Seeds.— T. J. H., Armstrong Co., Pa., 
Tomato, cucumber, and other similar seeds, that are en¬ 
veloped in a slimy pulp, are best cleansed by washing. 
A convenient method is to lay the pulp containing the 
seeds on a sieve, and place it under a stream of water, at 
tlie same time gently rubbing them with the hand. When 
separated from the pulp, spread upon shelves or sheets. 
SI Well Expended. —Elias Westfall, Washtenaw 
Co. Mich., writes that he had a large strawberry bed 
which yielded little or no fruit, although it always flower¬ 
ed full. The Article in the April No. of this Vol., page 
117, describing the male and female plants, enabled him to 
determine that his were of a female or pistillate variety, 
which needed to be fertilized. He procured male or stam- 
inate plants, and gathered an abundant crop of fruit— 
sufficient to pay many times the price of the Agriculturist. 
Tulips from Seed.— W. R., N. Y. Tulips bloom 
tlie second season from seed. There is no definite way to 
secure a certain color, but seeds from highly colored 
flowers will be likely to produce a rich bloom. Better 
select the bulb from some extensive collection, while 
the flowers are in bloom, which is the only method of ob¬ 
taining a particular sort. 
Keeping Marvel of Peru.— J. Taylor, C. West, 
keeps roots of this flower in sand or dry earth in the cellar, 
and by planting in the Spring, gets an earlier bloom, witli 
larger and finer plants. He thinks that those who once 
try this method, will not return to seed sowing,except when 
the roots have run out. 
Rlue Flower from Iowa.— H. A. Terry, Potta- 
wotamie Co., Iowa. The spike of pretty diminutive blue 
flowers which you speak of as a sort of perennial shrub, Is 
unknown to us, as are many of the wild prairie flowers. 
We should judge it worth cultivating, the fragrance adds 
much to its value. 
Wild Flower.—Wood Anemone (Anemone 
nemorosa). —F. M. Smith, Ramsey Co., Minn. The flow 
