1864 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
85 
ed, communicating between the adjoining cells. 
There are other forms of ducts, the most com¬ 
mon of which is the spiral duct, so called from 
the spiral lines with which it is marked 
(fig. 6). This peculiar appearance is caused by 
a delicate lining to the cell, arranged in a spiral 
manner, and which can be pulled out from the 
cell itself. By carefully breaking across a leaf 
of a rosebush, or strawberry 
vine, this lining will be pulled 
out, and if the breaking is done 
with skill, it will keep the two 
parts from entirely separating, 
as in fig. 8. Sometimes the lin¬ 
ing is in the form of rings (fig. 
9). The spiral ducts can be seen 
in the stringy portions of Rhu¬ 
barb stalks, and Celery. These 
various forms of cells are what 
the microscope shows us in¬ 
side of a plant; they are clos¬ 
ed cavities of different form and 
size, but all of essentially the 
same nature. It is evident that Fi §-‘ 9.— rings 
,, „ ,, , IN DUCTS. 
the growth of the plant con¬ 
sists in the multiplication of these cells, and 
that whatever takes place inside of the plant 
must take place within these small cells. 
Black-Cap Raspberries. 
The introduction of several improved varie¬ 
ties of our native Black-Caps, such as Doolit¬ 
tle’s and the American, has added another to our 
list of small fruits. These varieties have the 
advantage that they do not spread by suckers 
like the ordinary raspberries. They are perfectly 
hardy. The plants may be set in any good 
soil early in Spring. Three feet in rows six 
feet apart, will be a good distance; this will al¬ 
low room to use the cultivator between the 
rows. The plants the second spring are trimmed 
by cutting the tops back to about 21 feet, and 
in June the new canes which have shot up are 
clipped when they reach the same liiglit. At 
each spring’s pruning the wood which has borne 
the year before is cut out, and any branches that 
are in the way of cultivation removed. ' The 
plants are propagated by layering the ends of 
the pendent branches in September or as soon 
as their tips become firm. The ends of the 
branches are inserted perpendicularly in the 
ground, just deep enough to secure them from 
being blown out. In this position the layers 
will root and be ready for removal next spring. 
Clear up the Front Yard. 
A pleasant home should never have an unpleas¬ 
ant approach. In the general spring clearing up, do 
not forget to put the front yard “to rights.” We 
do not advocate anything stiff, formal, or expen¬ 
sive. Straighten up and repair the fence. Remove 
everything from the yard that docs not belong 
there. Have a good walk from the gate to the 
front door, not one that is sunken below the gen¬ 
eral level and always flooded in rains ; but let it 
be a little raised so as to be passable in all wea¬ 
thers. Have some flower borders by all means, but 
if there is unfortunately neither time nor taste for 
these, have grass and some trees and shrubs, not 
set in stiff rows, but dotted here and there. Then 
get a Virginia creeper (American Woodbine), or 
Wax work vine from the woods and run it over the 
porch, if there is one, or if not, run it upon the 
door. A climbing rose may be easily obtained and 
will be very beautiful when in bloom. A small 
amount of work, and a little taste will make even 
an humble house look attractive and homelike. 
THE MUSEIBKOm 
A Villainous Scheme — “Photographic 
Union.” 
An operation has recently come to our knowl¬ 
edge which calls for prompt and vigilant attention 
by the parents of every young lady, and concerning 
which young ladies themselves will do well to take 
heed. Parties in New-York City have distributed 
circulars to unprincipled young men in different 
parts of the country, requesting them to collect 
and send to the “ Photographic Union,” photo¬ 
graphs of young women, with particulars' concern¬ 
ing their residence, pecuniary circumstances, dis¬ 
position, habits, and other matters of interest. 
Prizes from $20 in cash to a “ set of jewelry,” are 
offered to those who shall send in the largest num¬ 
ber of “photographs and biographical notices.” 
The proprietor of the “ Union ” proposes, after 
having got together a large number of portraits, 
to exhibit them in a “private gallery ” and to al¬ 
low young men to examine them “ for a consider¬ 
ation,” and also to study the “ biographical sketch¬ 
es” with a view to select a partner, or a victim. 
The latter idea of course is not published in the 
circular, but the slightest thought will show that 
not one in a thousand men would visit such a gal¬ 
lery with any commendable motive. Some would 
he looking for money, some for mere curiosity or 
for an adventure, and not a few for the worst pur¬ 
poses that can be imagined. We understand that 
measures are already taken to endeavor to break 
up this concern, and every parent will rejoice if 
they prove successful. Every reader of the Agri¬ 
culturist will see the necessity for care as to what 
becomes of the photographs they may order. Un¬ 
scrupulous artists might easily keep duplicates for 
the “ Union.” The only preventive is to employ 
no one to take a picture whose character and stand¬ 
ing are not above suspicion. 
Hotes on Dress for Spring. 
Prepared specially for the America. Agriculturist, 
BY MME. DEMOBEST. 
All nature will soon be putting on new robes, 
and not a few of our lady friends will desire to fol¬ 
low her example: a few suggestions as to favorite 
or desirable styles of dress are here presented. 
Bonnets .—For these the shape is very little alter¬ 
ed. A shirred silk front with full cap crown ; the 
cape shirred, or with small folds of silk laid on ; a 
ribbon bow with long ends, falling over the crown, 
or bunch of fruit or flowers outside, is the favorite 
style for a simple promenade bonnet. 
Mantles .—The basquine, richly trimmed, both in 
silk and light cloth, takes the lead. For travelling 
suits the short sacque and the talma, generally trim¬ 
med to match the dress, are preferred. For dress 
goods, rich poplins in mauve, pearl gray and London 
smoke (known also as coal oil colors), will be very 
popular, along with self-colored taffetas in those 
shades, and in green cuir color. The best trim¬ 
mings for these are chenille and the handsome 
gimp ornaments made in sets for sleeves, waist and 
skirts. Alpaca still retains its place as a most 
useful as well as stylish material for ordinary wear; 
plaids are worn, although less in favor, except for 
young people. A ronde or circular of plaid or 
plain material with a deep plaid trimming is a favor¬ 
ite mode; with this, should be worn a plaid scarf 
made of netted silk with fringed ends. Silks in all 
colors, are very handsome this season, but high 
priced. We have seen some very beautiful materi¬ 
al for morning dresses just imported. It is white 
pique, also white and buff French cambric, with a 
deep braid pattern round the skirt-jacket, and 
sleeves in black, very novel and tasteful both in 
style and shape of jacket. 
Dress skirts are still worn very long, and from 
five and a half to seven yards in width at the bot¬ 
tom. In the street the skirt is universally raised 
from contact with the walk by the convenient use 
of the new imperial dress elevator, before noticed. 
Bodies for pique and French cambric are made 
round with belt and buckle, for evening, dinner, 
and walking dresses ; favor is pretty equally di¬ 
vided between points, Figaro jackets and vest, and 
the postillione. All the varieties of dress and 
of basques have narrow 6leeves. Velvet is much used 
a shade darker or lighter than the dress. Fringe, 
especially chenille is very popular. Ruches, floun¬ 
ces, butterfly bows, medallions and leaves of lace 
for decorations are all in high vogue this spring. 
About Moths. 
Many a lady, on taking out her furs the past 
winter, noticed the hairs falling out, and, on exam¬ 
ining the skins themselves found them perforated 
with small holes. These holes are cut by the moth 
—an insect whose habits every lady should know 
all about. Naturalists tell us that the moth is the 
larva of a family of insects called Tinea. Its winged 
life begins in the spring, and lasts only a few 
months. It is small, and of a light brown color. 
After fluttering around a short time, it finds a mate, 
when the happy pair go to housekeeping, and to 
building up a family. The female creeps into 
cracks and crevices, into closets and clothes’ press¬ 
es, under the edges of carpets, wherever woolens 
or furs are stored away, and there she lays her eggs. 
The parents soon die. In a fortnight, the eggs 
hatch out into, light colored caterpillars about a 
quarter or half an inch long. They begin to gnaw 
upon whatever they can find to make nests of. It 
is in doing this that so many carpets, so much up¬ 
holstering, and so many furs are punctured. In 
winter they lie torpid. In spring the chrysalis 
gives birth to the winged insect, which again begins 
the circle of pairing and egg-laying as its parents 
had done before.-Now, as moths lay their eggs 
mostly in June, that evidently is the best time for 
making an onslaught upon them. Take out every 
article of fur or wollen, give a thorough shaking and 
whipping, along exposure to hot sun, if practicable, 
and another dressing with the switch before stor¬ 
ing them. Put salt and Scotch snuff under the 
edges of the. carpets. Fumigate the closets and 
drawers with tobacco. On returning the articles 
to their places, put small branches of cedar or dis¬ 
tribute little packages of camphorgum among them. 
Tim Bunker’s Trip to Washington. 
Mb. Editob.— Being a modest man I was consid¬ 
erably surprised when I saw in the February Ameri¬ 
can Agriculturist, that you had many inquiries after 
my health. Indeed I was never so much surpris¬ 
ed afore, but once, and that was when the people 
of Hookertown made me a justice of the peace— 
an office that I still hold to the general satisfaction 
of my fellow citizens—that is, if they don’t lie. I 
wasn’t particularly flattered however, that they 
should think I had been sick, as if an honest man 
had nothing to do in the world but to be sick, or to 
write for the papers. You see, I hold that a. man 
who comes into the world with a good constitution, 
(which by the way, is the richest inheritance parents 
can leave to their children,) and lives temperately 
and virtuously, has no business to be sick. If he 
indulges in drink and tobacco, late hours and fast 
living, he is very likely to have fevers, colds, head¬ 
aches, and all “the ills that flesh is heir to.” To 
hear inquiries about my health looked a leetle as if 
there was a suspicion that I had been doing some¬ 
thing that I ought not to. I am happy to say to 
your numerous readers, that I have not been rob¬ 
bing hen roosts, and haven’t been sick. 
And to prevent any anxiety in their minds in the 
future, in case I don’t write, I may as well say that 
I manage a farm in Hookertown, and that is my 
business, except when I hold a justice’s court, or 
something of that kind. A man who is feeding 
cattle, getting up his winter stock of wood, draw¬ 
ing muck and sea weed, top-dressing meadows, 
making compost heaps, relaying wall, and attending 
