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AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
309 
1864.] 
than one trench is dug, the earth from one trench serves 
to cover the cabbages In the next. Bank earth up around 
the heads and tread close. The trench is left thus until 
the earth upon the cabbages is frozen nearly through to 
them, then 4 or 5 inches of litter or 3 inches of sea-weed 
is put over the earth. A drain should be dug around the 
trenches to carry off the water. 
Is lO Acres Euougli ?—“ Pluma,” of 
Trumbull Co. O., with wife and two children, has loca¬ 
ted himself on 10 acres of land. It is a stiff Cray .oam, 
half of it so wet as never to have been plowed. He keeps 
one cow, earns at his trade $1,75 to $2,25 per day, and 
asks if it will pay for him to devote his whole time to the 
soil ? We believe it will, if lie makes his work tell. 
To do this lie must love it; he must make close calcula¬ 
tions, and carry out his plans, and be able to show some¬ 
thing for every hour’s work. At first it will not pay, but 
finally it will, better and better. Make all the manure 
possible in winter with one or two cows and pigs. Plow 
pretty deep this fall and put in some manure, or lime. 
Use this for green fodder crops and roots next year. 
Plow in the spring for corn, both for grain and for fodder 
and soiling. Either keep the manure under cover, or in 
well made compost heaps. Very likely much work 
might be done by a man hired at less than $2,25 per day. 
“Is Farming ji Profession ?”—“G. A. 
K.”, Whitebear Lake, Wis. The employments of men 
which require a considerable degree of intelligence, are 
classified as arts, trades, and professions. Arts are po¬ 
lite or liberal (including letters, poetry, music, painting, 
sculpture, etc.) ; mechanical , (including all the common 
trades, housebuilding, stonecutting, shoemaking, print¬ 
ing, weaving, etc.) ; and useful, (including agriculture, 
fishing, trapping, lumbering, mining, etc., as well as the 
occupations of the seaman and the soldier.)—A profes¬ 
sion is a business, essentially not mechanical, but requir¬ 
ing studious preparation, in distinction from service as an 
apprentice, (such as chemistry, engineering, navigation, 
arms, finance, government, politics, etc.). The “ three 
learned professions,” so-called, are Law, Medicine, and 
Theology. The distinction of learned is not merited nor 
real. Agriculture may be, and is properly a profession, 
if study enough has been given to it; otherwise it is a 
useful art. The difference is the same as exists between 
the business of the navigator and of the ordinary sea¬ 
man, or that of the officer and the common soldier. 
Lady Exhibitors sit Fairs.— At the 
recent New York State Fair two very fine collections of 
flowers were exhibited by ladies who were present, and 
able to “ talk flowers ” with any one interested in such 
matters. Mrs. J. T. VanNamee, of Pittston, Pa., a most 
enthusiastic amateur, who cares for her plants with her 
own hands, brought her flowers and her neighbor New¬ 
comb’s over three hundred miles ; the two ltad over 1000 
varieties. Mrs. Lamb, of Fulton, N. Y., made also a very 
fine exhibition. We hope to see their example followed. 
Peat. —The high price of coal has led people 
to look about for some substitute. 0.ne of the most 
available is peat, of which there are large deposits in 
many parts of the country. Specimens merely cut into 
blocks and dried, were exhibited at the State Fair, and 
we saw piles of it in several places in Rochester, indica¬ 
ting a disposition to make a trial of it. Of course peat 
for fuel must be dried before freezing weather, or it will 
crumble. Whoever contrives a plan for compressing it 
cheaply will do a very good thing for the entire country. 
Grape Kotcs and Queries. — So nu¬ 
merous have been the specimens of fruit submitted to 
us. that although we have quite a long article on page 
315, several recent specimens must be noticed in the 
“Basket.”... Union Village. —Very few people have 
seen this thoroughly ripened, and consequently have no 
idea of how good a grape it can be. Doct. J. B. Chapin, 
has sent us specimens from his place near Providence, 
R. I., showing that with him it is much better than is gen¬ 
erally supposed. Its large size, great beauty, and fair 
quality, make it valuable as one of a small collection... 
Flora. —This little known grape is sent by A. M. Spang¬ 
ler, Esq., of Philadelphia, who states that the specimens 
were the last on the vines, and inferior in bunch and ber¬ 
ry. It is a medium sized purple grape, and its freedom 
from pulp, its small seeds, and great sweetness, make 
it a variety of great promise. We hope to see a better 
sample. The season has been so favorable that some 
foreign varieties have ripened out of doors. We have 
upon our Exhibition Tables, some bunches of Golden 
Hamburgh, ripened in thq open air by Mr. John Eggert, 
of Brooklyn, L. I... Mr. G. H. Hite, of Morrisania, N. 
Y„ shows some Chasselas, which are said to be from a 
seedling, and which has ripened for 12 years in open cul¬ 
ture. We saw the vine on Mr. Hite's grounds, and it 
seemed perfectly healthy and very fruitful. .. We have 
seen the Zinfindel ripening finely this season on the 
grounds of Mr. Buchanan, at Astoria ...Adirondac. Ex¬ 
cellent specimens of this grape have been received from 
Mr. Bailey, and we have seen high commendations of it 
from persons who have fruited it this year in other places. 
Will those who have fruited it send us their experience, 
as we shall be glad to put this grape on the list for 
general cultivation, as soon as we have sufficient evi¬ 
dence to warrant us in doing so. ..Grapes sent for names 
by W. C. Masters, Somerset Co., Ind., had all dropped 
from the bunches and hardly to be recognized. There 
was no Concord among them, but one may be a Diana. 
Grapes should be packed in cotton if sent by mail.... 
Specimens from Conrad Scheckler, (no State.) No. 1, 
Concord. No. 2, York Madeira, and the others were 
Creveling. Some who have sent fruit have been an¬ 
swered by mail ; many other specimens were not of suffi¬ 
ciently good quality to be noticed in our limited space. 
Insects to be Hianicd.— E. Downs, New 
Haven Co., Conn. The very remarkable insect is close¬ 
ly related to the Limacodes, figured on page 286 (Oct.) 
It has a beautiful green 
coat,—like a pea-green 
military saddle-cloth, with 
a white edging,—and a 
reddish, brown oval patch 
bordered with white, in 
the centre. It has horns 
at both ends, clothed with 
stinging hairs. The insect 
is found on a great variety 
of plants, and is called 
Empretia stimulea by Dr. 
B. Clemens, of Easton, 
Pa. It unfortunately es¬ 
caped, or we should have 
figured it. The Limaco¬ 
des, above alluded to, we 
are kindly informed by 
Mr. F. G. Sanborn, of the 
Agricultural Department 
of Massachusetts, is the 
L. pithecium We could 
not make it out satisfactorily from the figure given in’JHar- 
ris’ Insects. Some one, whose name has been mislaid, has 
sent the nest of the Sack-bearer, also called Basket- 
worm and Drop-worm. The species cannot be told 
without the perfect insect, or moth. It probably belongs 
to the genus Oilceticus, or may be Psyche. The caterpil¬ 
lars build a nest or bag, which they cover with bits of 
sticks, and sometimes with thorns. This they carry 
about with them as they travel in search of food. When 
about to undergo transformation the insect fastens its 
sack to a twig, stops up the holes, and in case of the male 
in due time comes out as a moth, but the female does not 
leave the case ; she lays her eggs and dies there. They 
are found upon the larch, arborvitse, maple, etc , and we 
have seen them in abundance on the tamarisk and other 
shrubs. They are destructive, but are easily disposed of 
by picking off the nests after the leaves fall. The engrav¬ 
ing shows a nest of natural size fas.ened to a twig. 
Canker Worms.— J. W. Manning writes 
that the wingless moths can be effectually prevented as¬ 
cending, by placing finely sifted coal ashes about the base 
of the trees, say six to twelve inches high, as steep as 
they can be made to lie. The insects lose foothold in the 
loose ashes and roll back to the bottom. When in large 
numbers they cling together and cannot extricate them¬ 
selves. This was first practiced in Reading, Mass., by 
W. F. Hartshorn, about four years ago, and was a perfect 
success, no canker-worm having been seen on his 
orchard since. The surface must be brushed over fre¬ 
quently to prevent its becoming compact, and if soaked 
with rain, renewed with dry ashes. Commence to apply 
ashes in November, and attend to it when the insects run, 
as they do in moderate weather until well into the spring. 
FsiU Flowing to Mkeslroy Grubs.— 
“ L. E. T.” The effect of late plowing if it be very soon 
followed by severe freezing is to destroy many grubs and 
other insects. If they have time they will again make 
themselves comfortable and safe for the winter. Still 
the disturbance destroys many, and water settling and 
freezing in the furrows, no doubt kills many more. 
To Destroy Baru Weevils.— Burn the barn! 
Giis Liinc.—H. II. Dickey, Androscoggin Co., 
Maine. Fresh gas lime contains sundry .compounds of 
sulphur, sulphurous and hyposulphurous acids in very 
variable quantities. These are all poisonous to plants, 
and usually gas lime applied fresh will kill any crop. 
Exposed to the air it gradually loses all noxious quali¬ 
ties, the compounds mentioned being converted into gyp¬ 
sum. It may be spread upon land to be plowed, so as to 
lie exposed through the winter, to advantage. It may b* 
composted with muck in its fresh state, the lumps being 
well broken up. It is death to vermin, and for the pur¬ 
pose of killing grubs and cutworms, plow it in fresh in 
the fall, and spread a dressing on the surface besides. 
For many interesting and valuable facts, see the article 
in the American Agriculturist for January, 1858, page 15, 
Protection ami Mulcb for Plants 
in Winter.— E. P. Thompson, of Schuylkill Co., Pa., 
gives the readers of the American Agriculturist the fol¬ 
lowing hint: “ I want to suggest the superiority of corn 
stalks for covering strawberry beds, etc., in winter. Let 
any one try one square yard and he will never use 
anything else if this article is to be had. It gives protec 
tion and ventilation. Not a leaf is hurt by cold or sun.” 
Moss for lEulbs ami Other Plants.— 
“ Ignorant Mossa.” The kind of moss for growing cro 
cuses, is the Sphagnum or bog-moss. It grows in such 
cold bogs and swamps as produce cranberries. It is an 
article of commerce, and is to be had of gardeners and 
nurserymen. Any of the green mosses from roads and 
trees may be used on the surface of the earth in pots, but 
they generally will not live in the dry atmosphere of the 
room. The “gray moss” is not a moss at all, but a 
lichen. It would not hurt plants if placed around them. 
Thorn Seeds.— T. G. Hall and others. Our 
principal seedsmen have seed of the English White 
Thorn, or Hawthorn. Send to any of those who adver 
tise with us. The seeds are imported, usually genuine. 
IVbif.e IVillows. —Several inquirers who 
send specimens of willow twigs, are informed that the 
differences between some of the varieties and species 
are so slight, and the shape and size of the leaves and 
color of the bark differ so according to the exposure and 
soil, that no one can pronounce with accuracy on the 
specimens sent. The only way to get any plants true to 
name is to buy of responsible and well known dealers— 
whose reputation for honesty is part of their capital. 
Fi'o]iitg:ation of Honeysuckles.— 
“ Progress,” York Co., Me. This is done by cuttings set 
in the open ground in autumn, or by layers made at the 
same time. It is well to give them a covering of litter. 
Value of tlic Hlackberry Crop. —An 
exchange relates that during the blackberry season the 
inhabitants in the neighborhood of Winsted, Conn., 
gathered some eighty bushels of fruit to be preserved, 
dried, and made into wine, syrup, etc., for the soldiers. 
After this was done, Mr. Gail Borden advertised to pay 
eight cents per quart for all which might be brought. 
Within ten days he received 535# bushels! costing 
$1358.90. They were worked up into jelly by Mr. Bor¬ 
den’s process, and are now no doubt most of them in the 
army. This amount was almost clear gain, as the ber¬ 
ries were wild. Another season, no doubt, they will be 
found worth the picking in other localities. 
Many Fears on a Stem.— A friend has 
shown us a photograph of pears exhibited at a Sanitary 
Fair in San Francisco, Cal. There were 50 pears on 
a bunch, 8 inches long, and the whole weighed 19 pounds. 
An Apple-butter Stirrer.— L. P. Riley, 
of Ohio, recommends those who are 
troubled by the burning of their ap¬ 
ple butler to use a stirrer made as in 
the figure. It is a paddle made of 
plank, with three holes near the bot¬ 
tom. Corn husks are drawn through 
these holes, bent down over the edge 
of the paddle, tied there, then cut off 
so as to leave a projection about 2 inch¬ 
es long. Any convenient handle may 
be attached. He says that the lmsks 
will keep the bottom of a badly dent¬ 
ed kettle clean, and prevent burning. 
Making Good Cider.— Wm. D. Garrison, 
of Union County, N. J., sends to the American Agri¬ 
culturist his process of making cider, by which he says 
he obtains an article that sells for 25 to 30 cents per 
gallon, when that made in the common way brings only 
6 to 12 cents, in the same market. We have only room 
for an epitome of his statements. Good sound apples, 
free from leaves, stems, slicks and dirt, are kept as long 
as possible in bins under cover, in layers not over two 
feet deep. The moment the least decay appears, they 
are ground as fine as possible without crushing the seeds. 
The pulp is put in the, press as fast as ground, and the 
screws applied as soon as there is pulp enough. The 
cider flows through fine, wire cloth, and is poured 
