Q86 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[October, 
with his success that he considers this hint alone worth 
many years’ subscription. The excellent results we have 
seen induce us to'recommend those who wish togiaft 
their vines to try it this season, after the leaves fall, and 
any time before the ground is frozen. As the article is 
rather long, it is not possible for us to reprint it, and we 
refer to the Sept. No. 1863, which can be procured by 
those not having last year’s volume, by sending 12 cents. 
Slate lor Strawberry Metis.— Key. 
C. E. Little, Rutland Co., Vt., covers his beds with roof¬ 
ing slate. The usual size of the slate is 6x12in., the cor¬ 
ners are clipped from 
each slate by resting it on 
the edge of a board, and 
striking a blow with the 
side of a heavy chisel, 
and the slates are put to¬ 
gether, as in the diagram. 
The slates are laid on 
the bed as the plants are 
set out, and the bed is sur¬ 
rounded by a board edging 
to keep them in place. 
The diamond shaped 
spaces in the diagrang re¬ 
present openings, where 
four slates join, and 
through which the plants 
grow. In England, tiles made for the purpose, are used 
in a similar manner to force the plants. Where slate 
can be readily obtained it may be worthwhile to experi¬ 
ment upon a small bed ; Mr. L. claims several advantages 
for this method: that it saves labor of weeding: that 
it acts as a mulch, preventing evaporation, while the 
cracks between the slates allow the rain to .pass 
through ; that the slates absorb heat and hasten the 
ripening of the fruit; that runners are kept from 
taking root; and that the berries are kept clean. 
Active Gooseberries. — “Progress,” 
York Co., Me. The Houghton is said to have originated 
from the wild gooseberry, and doubtless other varieties 
might be obtained in this way, but we should rather start 
with the seeds of an improved sort like the Houghton. 
3s tile Currant ;i Derry ? asks “An 
unconvinced Enquirer.” Yes, and so is the gooseberry, 
huckleberry, grape, cranberry, tomato, egg fruit, etc., and 
so are not the raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, mulber¬ 
ry, etc. A berry is any fleshy fruit resulting from the 
ripening of a single pistil. The raspberry, etc., are col¬ 
lections of fruits from numerous and distinct pistils. 
Oranges and lemons are berries with very thick rinds. 
The berries of the gourd, squash, etc., where the rind 
becomes hard, are known as pepo, or gourd fruit. 
Grapes anil Applets in Virginia.— 
A. D. Ottarson, Jefferson Co., N. Y. The vine would 
doubtless do well on the banks of the Potomac. Norton’s 
Virginia is one of the most prominent wine grapes ; but 
before planting largely visit the vineyards of Missouri. 
The Baldwin seldom does well in southern localities. 
Striking Cuttings.—“ H. O. B.,” Oslca- 
loosa, Iowa, thinks that the method described on page 
411 (Feb.), “ is a humbug,” as he tried it and failed. We 
have tried it and succeeded finely. All summer we' have 
had a dish of wet sand in a handy place, and have put 
into it Verbenas, Petunias, Geraniums, of various kinds, 
Weigela, Ivy, Pilea, Cupheas, etc., etc., and have sel¬ 
dom failed to get roots. Try it again Mr. B. 
l\otrs on Grnpes.—From the number of 
samples of fox grapes which are sent for our opinion, it 
would seem that there are many persons w ho never tasted 
a good grape. The wild fox grapes vary greatly in size 
and color, and only differ in quality by some being a little 
worse than others. The best are only fit for wild boys 
and pigs, and no one w ho has tasted a Delaware, or a well 
ripened Catawba, will ever think of eating such fruit. 
The berries of the fox grape are often very large, globu¬ 
lar or depressed (not elongated), with a very tough skin, 
a hard pulp containing three or four very large seeds, and 
a strong aroma which some person^ profess to like, but 
which is exceedingly disagreeable to most people of 
cultivated taste. Grapes sent by S. D. W., and by A. 
Richardson, are of the common fox species. Mr. R states 
that his were raised from a raisin seed.—There must be a 
mistake, and the vine came from a seed already in the 
earth. No raisin seed could produce a fox grape. These 
and other similar specimens are utterly worthless, and 
the vines are occupying space which might be filled by 
good sorts . Hartford Prolife: It has been unusually 
good this season. Itsearliness Isa very great rccommend- 
Jjfiop.. ..Rogers' Hybrid No. 3; fppdiqm sized t|uncll, round 
berry of the color of the Diana. Ripe around New York 
the last of August. Sweet, and agreeable. Shows no 
signs of being a hybrid_ Israella : originated by C. W. 
Grant, very sweet, black, and ripening about middle of 
August, it promises to take the lead as an early variety.. 
Underhill’s Seedling : Early, very sweet, but it has a thick 
skin and tough pulp, and can not be recommended - 
Iona: Mr. Fuller gave us the last week in August fine 
specimens of this really excellent grape. It is first class 
in every respect, and should it prove suited to widely dif-' # 
ferent localities, it will become a leading variety- Con¬ 
cord: Van Wyck and Johnson, Dutchess Co., N. Y., 
show four bunches of this variety which together weigh 
within 1 ounce of 3 lbs. They are covered with a fine 
bloom and are the best specimens.we have seen — Del¬ 
aware : the same exhibitors show fine bunches of this 
splendid sort, three of which weigh 1 lb. 1 oz., and in 
size of berry excel any we have yet seen. The Dela¬ 
ware is apt to overbear when young, and this should be 
guarded against_C. S. Halsey, N. Y., sends a seedling 
supposed to be from the Delaware. It may improve 
as the vine grows older, and is worth a further trial. 
“ American ©rape Culture.” —Con¬ 
rad Witter, of St. Louis, Mo., has just published, a neat 
little book on this subject in German, by Fried. Muench, 
of the same State, under the title “ Weinbauschule." The 
directions are very concise, but clear, and it is written in 
the pleasant style which has given the author so high a 
place among the German writers of America. An Eng¬ 
lish Edition is promised. 
©rape Pies—Hew and Good.— E. Kalle, 
Rushville, 0., writes : " I have seen a good deal of grape 
pies, but never ate any as good as my wife makes. I 
would recommend every housewife to try her plan which 
is as follows : Pop the pulps out of the skins into one 
vessel and put the skins into another. Then simmer the 
pulp a little and run it through a colander to separate 
the seeds. Then put the skins and pulp together and 
they are ready for jugging or for pies. Pies prepared in 
this way can hardly be distinguished from plum pies.” 
Planting - Small Fruits. —S. A. Smith, 
Green Lake Co., Wis., and others. Currants, gooseber¬ 
ries, raspberries, etc., may be planted in October. If 
done as soon as growth stops, the plants get well estab¬ 
lished, and on dry land, do better than spring planting. 
Insects to be Gained.— Some one has 
left a most singular caterpillar, found on a pear tree. In 
order to show it, it is necessary to give two views of the 
animal. Fig. 1, is taken, 
looking directly down upon 
its back ; it appears com¬ 
pletely overspread with a 
cloak or broad shield, which 
is dark biown and covered 
with short hair, and at the 
edges cut into long and un 
equal points or teeth. This cloak entirely hides the insect 
from view, and to see it, it is necessary to turn it side- 
wise, as in fig. 2. It is a caterpillar of the size shown in 
the figure, and having very short feet it moves with a very 
smooth gliding motion. On account of their slug-like 
movements the genus to which 
it belongs is named Limacodes 
(slug-like), and popularly called 
Hag-moths, from the wrinkled 
appearance of the caterpillars. 
The species can not be made out 
without seeing the perfect insect. 
Another of an allied species was found on some grapes 
on our table. It had instead of the tunie, a horny shell. 
They turn into small brownish moths. Many insects, 
caterpillars especially, have been received in a condi¬ 
tion which renders it impossible to identify them, and 
others have been laid aside for future study and report. 
Tlie Gopher.— T. M. Harley, Cedar Co., Ia. 
says that the statement quoted from Audubon on page 77 
(March) to the effect that these animals do not carry dirt 
in their pouches, is wrong. He has himself seen them 
come from their holes with their pouches filled with earth 
and discharge it by quick strokes with their paws. 
Steam Plowing - —Meeting of tlie 
Itoyal Agricultural Society.— At the recent 
meeting and exhibition, at Newcastle, the chief interest 
was in the trial of steam cultivators, of which seven 
were exhibited. One machine was withdrawn, and in 
the course of the very severe tests which the trial elicit¬ 
ed, no breakage of any account nor accident of import¬ 
ance occurred. The prizes have especial interest to us, 
as an American secured and shipped the 1st Prize ma¬ 
chine to this country, and we may therefore expect soon 
Fig. 1. 
Fig. 2.' 
to record trials on our own soil. The awards were : 
—1st Prize “ For best application of steam power forcul 
livation of the soil,” to John Fowler, £100. 2nd do. do. 
John Fowler, £50. 1st Prize “For best application of 
steam power adapted for small occupations,” John Fow¬ 
ler, £50. 2d do. do. J. & T. Howard, £25. “Best plow 
for steam power,” John Fowler, £20. 2d do. do. J. & 
F. Howard, £10. “Best cultivator for steam power," 
John Fowler, £17.10s. “For the best Steam cultivator 
and ridging plow combined,” J. & F. Howard, £ 12.10s. • 
Other prizes were given, and “ high commendation ” 
for various improvements and articles connected with 
the new business, of which John Fowler came in for his 
full share. We understand that 100 of Fowler’s engines 
complete are ordered for Egypt, and others for various 
other countries, particularly where cotton cultivation is 
being vigorously pushed. 
Sorglmm Cane Mills.— By a mistake 
the cut of an old-fashione'd Cane Mill was inserted (in 
August No.) in the illustrated advertisement of Messrs. 
Blymyers, Bates & Day, of Mansfield, Ohio, not Cincin¬ 
nati, as, apparently by a fatality, another error located 
them. Their Victor Cane Mill is several years ahead 
of the antiquated picture referred to. 
Make a Sketch.— It often happens that 
communications are received which give an account of 
some implement or contrivance, apparently new and 
useful, but so imperfectly described that we can not be 
quite sure that we get the author’s meaning.' A sketch 
with the pen or pencil, no matter how roughly done, will 
often save a deal of guessing. If an engraving is de¬ 
sirable, our artists wHl put it into the proper shape. 
Neglected Grass Eot.—“S.,” your 2 
acre lot which you want to keep in grass, and which is 
so much run dow>n, ought to be “ taken up” and well 
manured, and cultivated with hoed crops for a year or 
two, and then seeded down either alone or with a grain 
crop. Or you may manure and plow this fall and seed 
down along with spring wheat. Or if you are bound not to 
plow it, give it a good top-dressing at once, and in spring 
sow plaster and wood ashes—a pretty liberal supply. 
Deep Working Heavy Soils.— “A. 
S.,” asks for the experience of readers of the American 
Agriculturist in deepening clay soils by subsoiling, that 
is, simply stirring the subsoil, or by bringing the subsoil 
upon the surface, as by the Double or Michigan plow. 
The former may be practised without danger to the im¬ 
mediately succeeding crops, but deepening of all clays, 
heavy loams, or gravelly soils, with hard-pan underlay, 
must be gradual, or the land may be spoiled for a year or 
two, and sometimes longer, by mingling with the soil 
the deleterious, and even poisonous substances in the 
untamed substratum. We shall always be happy to re¬ 
ceive the facts and views of our readers on this subject. 
Icc-33ouse Queries.—“ P. G.,” J^he room 
15 feet square in your cellar might do very well as an 
ice-house. Make an inner wall on all sides, and fill with 
sawdust, cement the ground to form a basin, and provide 
drainage as described on page 291, and have a good sized 
ventilator communicating with the outer air at the top. 
It wilt have a greater or less effect on the temperature of 
the cellar, according to the thickness of the walls.... 
“ J. G. H.,” Berkshire Co., Mass. The object of venti¬ 
lation is to remove the damp air from above the ice, to 
keep the surface covering of straw dry, and thus inter¬ 
pose a non-conductor of heat between the ice and the 
roof, which becomes of necessity more or less heated. 
When the air is damp, as it is when in contact with the 
wet straw, and there is no ventilation, the melting of the 
ice upon the surface is often quite rapid....Joseph 
Mayer, Rockford Co., Ill. There is no reason why 
Western people may not make excellent ice-houses of 
straw ; in fact, a great compact pile of ice will keep well, 
if placed where the drainage is good, and covered on all 
sides with straw, closely packed and made to shed rain. 
Cold Pits and Frames-Clicap, Ea¬ 
sily Made, and Useful.—These are very usefui 
and convenient to protect cabbage plants, cauliflow¬ 
er, etc., in the kitchen garden, as well as where then* is 
no green-house, to winter over roses, pansies, carnations, 
and other half hardy things from the flower garden. A 
cold frame is simply a hot-bed .frame with its sash, set 
over a dry spot facing the south and banked around with 
earth. In other words, it is n box of any convenient size 
or form, banked around with earth, and covered with 
a window sash, or better with a sash made so as to let all 
water run off freely. Pansies, violets, candytuft, etc., 
set out in this may be had in flower nearly all winter. 
The plants should have air during the middle of every 
mild day, but in very cold weather the sa3h is not only 
to be kept closed, but covered with shutters. Early cab. 
