102 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
T April, 
Are Oats a Poor Crop to Raise ?— 
The Ohio Farmer quotes the opinion of two first-rate cul¬ 
tivators “ that oats are the meanest grain raised j that the 
yield is very uncertain, one of the hardest crops for land, 
nr.d when raised they are not intrinsically of as much 
value for stock feed as other staple crops.” Let us have 
the facts, pro. and con.—theories can be made afterward. 
Hen Manure for Corn.— “ A. W. C.”, 
Fond du Lac Co., Wis. Mix hen manure well with an 
equal bulk of earth, and put a handful to each hill at the 
first hoeing. As you have plaster it may be used quite 
liberally with the earth. Leached ashes may be used 
with the manure; unleached should be applied alone. 
Hop Culture.—' This plant may be profitably 
raised cn any good corn land, but it should be well en¬ 
riched. A southeastern exposure is preferable, and a hill 
or wood in the direction of prevailing high winds essen¬ 
tial. The ground should be deeply plowed, harrowed 
fine, stones and sods taken off or buried, rolled, and 
marked off five feet each way. The hop plants are male 
and female. In planting, every eighth hill in every eighth 
row is set with male plants. The sets are underground 
stems taken off with a spade near the hills in an establish¬ 
ed hop yard, cut in pieces of 5 or 6 eyes each. Male and 
female sets are kept separate, and 3 bushels to an acre is 
the quantity used. The planting of a new yard should be 
made as early as the land can be well prepared—before 
the first of May if possible. 
Hops-Wild and Ciiltivated.-W. S. 
Van Meter, Coles Co., III. The hop grows wild over a 
large part of the United States. Cultivation has given 
rise to several well marked varieties, some of which are 
doubtless more productive than any wild ones likely to be 
found. Still for family use the wild are very good. 
Origin of (he Fotafo.— H. F. Sharer, 
3d Army Corps. The potato is a native of various por¬ 
tions of tropical America. There is some doubt as to who 
first introduced it into Europe. It is said that Sir Walter 
Raleigh took it to England in 1586, while others suppose 
that it was sent from Peru to Spain much earlier. 
A Potato Planter.— An implement for 
cutting and planting potatoes was recently exhibited be¬ 
fore the Maine Board of Agriculture, who appointed a 
committee to examine and report upon its merits. One 
of the members (not on the committee) commends it as 
worthy of attention. We shall hear more of it, if it plants 
successfully. The cutting needs intelligent skill. 
Application of Mamires.-The best 
mode of using manure was discussed at a recent session 
of the Maine Board of Agriculture, and most of the mem¬ 
bers gave their experience in favor of applying it near 
the surface, slightly covering with plow or harrow. This 
accords with experiments made under the auspices of 
the Massachusetts Ag’l Society, as noted in the Agricul¬ 
turist, Vol. XXII, page 234; August number, 1863. 
Home Made Fertilizers.— “William,” 
residence not given, states that he highly manured an 
acre of garden and sold $29.50 worth of manure, from 
the accumulations of a family of three. Will he please 
state how he did it, and the value of the whole product ? 
Will White and Red Clover and 
Blue Grass succeed in Iowa? H. A. Stiles. The 
clover will, doubtless. Blue grass will probably not do so 
well as further south. We shall be happy to hear from 
readers of the Agriculturist experienced in this matter. 
Pumpkins vs. Squasitcs.- 11 Which is 
the best feed for 6tock, pumpkins or squashes ?” “W. L.,” 
Kalamazoo Co., Mich. The names pumpkin and squash 
are convenient to distinguish between the coarser and 
finer kinds of this fruit. Neither can we say that under 
“ pumpkin ” we include all the coarse kinds, for some of 
the great “ squashes ” so-called, have the coarsest flesh of 
the pumpkin family. No accurate distinctions can be 
made between them. So we should say : when there is 
no obvious difference in the quality, thickness, sweet¬ 
ness and fineness of flesh, thinness and want of bitter¬ 
ness in the rind, then that kind is best, which produces 
most pounds, whether called by one name or the other. 
Horses Wanted. — According to the state¬ 
ments in General Halleck’s last report, the cavalry ser¬ 
vice of the army, on an average, requires horses enough 
to remount the whole force once in two months. At this 
rate, some 400,000 horses will be needed the present year. 
The low grade of the animals furnished in many cases, 
accounts for their speedy breaking down ; want of proper 
care ruins more, and tire balance are used up by service 
and the fortunes of war. The horse market promises to 
be pretty good in this country for a year or two to come, 
Sprang-Dait in Morses is a nervous 
affection for which there is no cure known. At times it is 
more violent than at others, but a horse that once has it 
thoroughly never recovers. It is usually observed more 
at starting than subsequently, and in many respects is 
like St. Vitus’ Dance or chorea in the human subject. 
To Stop a Runaway Horse.-A sub¬ 
scriber in Rippowam, Conn., sends the following: “ Take 
a small but strong cord, tie one end into a loop ( not a slip 
noose), pass it over the horses head, and attach it rather 
loosely to the throat latch, so that it will not fall down too 
low. The other end of the cord is passed to the carriage 
within easy reach of the driver. When the horse runs, 
and can not be stopped by the reins, pull upon the cord, 
hard enough to stop his breathing ; he will soon stop—in¬ 
deed he must stop. So soon as he stops, slack up the 
cord and quiet him by soothing words and kind treat¬ 
ment. There is no danger of his falling, as he will stop 
long before he becomes exhausted, and will brace himself 
on his feet so long as he has strength—the cord being 
slackened as soon as he stops, will relieve him. This sim¬ 
ple remedy may be applied to any horse which is in the 
habit of running away ; he will very soon connect cause 
and effect together, and after a few trials, will be entirely 
cured. Kicking, backing, and other vicious habits yield 
to the same remedy when judiciously employed. I hope 
your readers may not only try this plan but report the re¬ 
sults in the American Agriculturist .” 
Root Hraftii*g.— A subscriber at Chester 
Co., Pa., writes that he considers this method as having 
two advantages over budding. The graft placed partly 
below the surface will throw out roots of its own, and 
add to the vigor of the tree; and the roots being taken 
out of the ground to be grafted, they can be inspected 
and all diseased or deformed ones rejected. The writer 
states that with him the roots of apple seedlings have be¬ 
come much diseased, some of them covered with a spe¬ 
cies of aphis, and others with warts, which when cut 
open show a watery, semi-transparent substance, hav¬ 
ing an unpleasant odor. He wishes to know if the dis¬ 
ease has appeared elsewhere, and the cause and remedy. 
_“Green One.” The cuts on page 20 (January) re¬ 
present simply a tongue cut upon the slope of the stock 
and graft. There is no piece cut out, but the tongue is 
represented as lifted, to show its form more distinctly. 
Downing’s Mulberry.— E. E. Brown, 
Jones Co., Iowa, and J. C. Bowers, Warren Co., N. J. 
This is fine flavored, but too soft for marketing; probably 
not hardy in Iowa. Some western writers put this down 
among the humbugs. It is,good around New-York. 
Everything depends upon climate. To be had at nurseries. 
Transplanting Froiit Trees.— 
J. Rucklas, Adams Co., Ind. Almost any tree can be 
successfully transplanted, provide sufficient care be taken 
to keep the roots uninjured, and afterward to prune prop¬ 
erly. Where, however, the trees are of large size it is 
usually much better to set out young trees and wait for 
the growth; they will be more profitable in a few years. 
Tree Protectors.— In reference to those 
noticed on page 37 (February), Mr. E. T. Bouthorpe, of 
Norfolk Co., Mass., says he has used protectors of the 
exact pattern there described, but made of zinc. They 
were eight inches long and twice the size of the tree. The 
protector was set for half its length in the soil and the 
space between it and the tree was loosely filled with 
dirt. When used on young growing trees, the protector 
should be taken up once or twice during the season to 
prevent the earth from becoming packed by the growth of 
the tree and bursting the joint. Mr. B. considers these 
metallic tubes as a perfect protection from the borer and 
has not been able to discover a trace of one upon trees 
thus guarded. 
Borers — IJnhealtJiy Trees — Early 
Dropping Fruit. —There are so many letters asking 
upon these subjects that we can only give a general an¬ 
swer. If trees are unthrifty in good soil and with good 
culture, and if fruit fails to perfect without any assigna¬ 
ble cause, it is highly probable that borers are at work. 
These are usually in the trunk of the tree near the ground. 
The first thing to be done is to get rid of the insects which 
have already penetrated the tree. Examine the trunk 
carefully, close to the roots, removing the soil for the pur¬ 
pose, and if any holes are found probe them with a piece 
of whalebone and crush the insects. Having made thor¬ 
ough work with these, then measures should be taken to 
prevent the access of any others. Various preventives 
have been suggested and they are all alike in principle, 
which is to oppose sftme obstacle to the parent insect and 
prevent it from depositing its eggs One piles stones 
around the base of the tree, another p Is a mound of ash¬ 
es there,—others use a'Strapping of paper, cloth or tarred 
paper; a coating of grafting clay has been recommended, 
and lastly we have the tree protectors noticed in anothei 
item, and in the February Agriculturist on page 37. No 
doubt that either of these would prove effective if prop¬ 
erly applied. Whatever is used, the protection should ex¬ 
tend around the trunk several inches below the surface, 
as the borer often penetrates the trunk below the soil, 
and works several inches or even a foot above it. 
I>onkle Working- of Pears.—H. Zie- 
meyer, Cass Co., Ill. Some varieties of pears which do 
not succeed ort quince stocks, can be made to do so by 
budding or grafting them into some other variety which is 
already on quince and which is known to grow well on 
It. Such a pear tree is said to be “double-worked.” 
Quince Trees that !>rop their Fruit. 
“ D. B.”, Williams Co., O. Possibly your trees are 
troubled with borers. Examine the trunk around the 
roots, and if any holes can be found, probe them out and 
head back the trees and thin tiie head. Do not let suck¬ 
ers grow from the base of the trunk, to exhaust it. 
Rlack Knot in Plum Trees.—C. H. G., 
Philadelphia, has several trees affected with black knot, 
and wishes to know if it will do to graft them. This will 
depend upon how far the knot has affected the vigor of 
the tree. If the trees are generally healthy, and the knot 
only on the small limbs, we should graft them. The knot 
is a parasitic plant and not a disease, though if present in 
abundance, it will make the tree unhealthy. All affect 
ed limbs in the vicinity must be cut off and burned, or it 
will soon become established on the grafts. 
“ Winter Currants. ”—E. W. Knight, 
of Warren Co., N. Y., reports a variety of currant which 
retains its fruit until after a number of hard frosts. If 
picked in season they keep fresh until wid-winter. Not 
knowing the variety, we would like cuttings for trial. 
Heptk to set Fruit Trees.— D. D. Smith, 
Rhode Island. Four inches below the surface is fully 
deep enough to set the upper roots of fruit trees. If 
you fill in around growing trees to the depth of six inches, 
they will probanly receive a severe check as this will 
bring the roots too far from the surface warmth and air. 
Evergreen for Hedges.— J. S. Parks, 
Blue Earth Co., Minn. The Norway Spruce would prob¬ 
ably answer your purpose better than any other ever¬ 
green. Thorburn & Co., of this city, advertise the seeds 
and they are doubtless kept by other large dealers. But 
two or three years’ time is saved by buying the plants, 
which are advertised cheaply every year. 
* Hedge Plant for New-Jersey.— C. 
H. Perrine, Mercer Co., N. J. We should be disposed to 
try the Honey Locust in your locality. The plants can 
be started from the seed which is sold at the stores. They 
should be Soaked in warm water for 12 hours before sow¬ 
ing. A fine specimen of this hedge can be seen at Reid’s 
nursery at Elizabeth, N. J. 
Arbor Vitae for Hedges. — “E. A.”, 
Southington, Conn. This makes a good shelter, but is 
not a very strong hedge to turn stock ; will grow in any 
good soil. It should be planted two or three feet apart, 
and trimmed to the desired form in early summer. Some¬ 
times the plants will die out without any apparent cause, 
and leave a gap which is difficult to fill. For this reason 
the Norway spruce is preferable, and it bears pruning 
remarkably well. 
Dwarf Apples.—Geo. W. Scar, of Tioga 
Co., Pa., says the Paradise stock is of “ no account.” 
Apples grafted on the Doucin stock will give slow grow¬ 
ing, partly dwarf trees, which may be pruned to a pyra¬ 
midal shape, but which give fruit no sooner than stand¬ 
ards. In his opinion the best stock for dwarfing the apple 
is the common wild crab, which by hardiness and every 
other good quality, is perfectly adapted to the purpose. 
It should be grafted or budded at the collar. “ The varie 
ties succeeding best on the Doucin are Early Harvest and 
Red’Astrachan, for early ; Late Strawberry, for autumn ; 
Baldwin and Wagener, for winter. The last named is 
the best of all.” 
“ Caper Tree.”— Miss E. F. Brown, of Lcfttg 
Island, referring to a note in the December “ Basket,” 
sends a specimen of what is called’ chpei tree’’there. 
The plant sent is Euphorbia Lathyris, or Caper Spurge, 
a biennial about 2 feet high, sometimes cultivated for or¬ 
nament. It belongs to a very poisonous family and aa 
doubt if the pickled seeds would be a safe article of footL 
