44 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
doubt that the remedy is just as good for headache, ear¬ 
ache, and all the aches that pertain to the cranium. Aches 
m general are caused by an excess of electricity in the 
system. The way the cure works is this. You see, as 
Tim Bunker would say, there is a set of small-sized 
lightning-rods running between the head and finger-nails, 
sometimes called nerves. The cutting of the nails 
opens a safety-valve for the excess of electricity, and as 
it works stops the pain easy. Our correspondent says 
that “in case of cold or inflammation, the remedy some¬ 
times fails.” This only shows that there is too much 
electricity on, and we would suggest that the cutling of 
the toe-nails in addition would give immediate relief in 
the most desperate cases. There is nothing like a little 
philosophy to explain the way things work. 
Agricultural Medals— For the distinguished 
benefactors of the race, who have introduced new escu¬ 
lents, is a very excellent suggestion from our Kentucky 
correspondent Like too many good things in this world, 
it is too good to be realized at present. We are obliged 
to hint for his commendations of our course in exposing 
humbugs. 
Salt for Packing Eggs.— Our friend W. B. C. 
complains of thi8 remedy. The process of decay had al¬ 
ready begun in those that spoiled. The salt, however dry 
apparently, was so moist as to penetrate the shell of the 
egg and salt its contents. It is not a safe remedy unless 
one has experience in using it. Eggs are the best kept in 
the hen, and the sooner they are used after being deposit¬ 
ed in the nest, the better. A good hen-house will furnish 
fresh eggs even in winter. 
Soil for Boses.— Ours flourish admirably in a soil 
with a large proportion of sand. The base was coarse 
gravel, with a small admixture of yellow loam. The bor¬ 
der is well covered with roses every fall. 
Beardless Barley —We have received a few 
headsof this new grain from S. W. Briggs,AVestMacedon, 
N. Y. It professes to be a new barley, from the Himala¬ 
ya mountains. We deem it of interest enough to our 
readers to say that Mr. Briggs will send one head of it 
gratis to any cultivator who will 'direct to him a stamped 
envelope, with the applicant’s address. 
The Beariug Year off Apple Trees —This 
can be changed by generous cultivation. We have seen 
an inveterate bearer in alternate years change its habit, 
by plowing and planting with potatoes. The stirring of 
the soil, and the manure furnished new plant food enough 
to make the tree bear two years in succession. The land 
was seeded again, and the tree returned to its former hab¬ 
its. We suppose habit, and the natural constitution of the 
tree, and the condition of the soil, all have something to 
do with this fact. We think, in young trees of most va¬ 
rieties, it can be remedied, and that it will pay to do it. 
We are trying the experiment, and expect to succeed 
with an inveterate alternate grower. 
Improvement off poor land. —A friend in¬ 
quires how this is to be done, where stable manure and 
lime are difficult to procure. In his circumstances, which 
he has too briefly described, we would recommend sow¬ 
ing clover, and turning in the crop when in full bloom. 
If he can sow plaster with it, it will be better. 
Ja.pa.11 Pea is yet upon trial. The reports concern¬ 
ing it are conflicting. We cannot recommend it at pres¬ 
ent. 
Wyandott Corn. —A contributor records his ex¬ 
perience in this article as a failure. We think it not 
worth cultivating in the Northern States. 
Change in the color of Daltlias. —These 
colors are not produced as our correspondent seems to 
suppose, by any treatment of a particular variety, but by 
hybridizing, or encouraging occasional sports,—to origin¬ 
ate new varieties. A variety once originated is fast in its 
colors. 
Stunted Pear Trees.— M. H. Fisk, of Paducah, 
Ky., inquires “ if young trees will come from the roots of 
an old pear tree, and if this will affect their growth, or 
fruitfulness.” The roots of some varieties of the pear 
tree sucker very freely, and if taken up and set out will 
make trees. Thev are not considered equal to seedlings, 
and we do not advise their cultivation. But we have 
three I rees upon our grounds,that we know to be suckers. 
They are grafted, and as they made wood four feet-in 
length last season, we think sucker trees will not be want¬ 
ing in glow h. All three have been free growers. It is 
not yet time for them to fruit. We look for it with confi¬ 
dence in due time. We suspect that the trouble with our 
friend’s trees is not in their origin, but in their treatment. 
.It looks as if they stood in sward ground, and were stunt¬ 
ed. Plant all the ground around the trees for a rod on 
everv side with potatoes, spade 12 inches deep, where 
you can do so without injuring the roots, manure the 
whole space heavily with stable manure, use a bushel of 
ashes under each tree annually, spreading it over the 
whole planted patch, wash the trunks and branches as far 
as you can reach, with strong soap suds, three times a 
year, and we think they will take a fresh start. Every 
Fall we would put six or eight bushels of coarse stable 
manure around each tree. Possibly the trees are lousy. 
If so, they should be washed all over with the suds with 
a good brush. If they start, under this treatment, they 
should be grafted upon the new wood. 
Imported Trees arriving: in Winter.— 
If frozen and thawed in the open air, the roots will lose 
their vitality. We would put them in a cellar, and cover 
the roots with earth immediately. 
Dwarf Pear Trees —May be planted in rows, 
twelve feet apart, and eight feet in the row. If planted 
in this way, the ground should be kept under cultivation, 
and manure applied every fall. They need high living 
and constant attention, in order to furnish fine fruit. 
Stuck out in green sward, and left to themselves, you 
might as well put out so many white birch bean-poles. We 
piefer to plant them between standards, two dwarfs to 
one standard. Well cared for, they will yield fruit early 
and pay. 
Best Varieties off Peas for Market.— We 
cannot undertake to name them, for what might be best 
for one location might not be the best for another. The 
Prince Albert and Early Charlton, Emperor, Imperial 
and Kent are excellent early varieties, and have always 
done well with us. The Champion of England is about 
a week later, and is without exception the richest and 
most prolific pea we have ever cultivated. These are to 
be had at the seed stores, and if seedsmen do not under¬ 
stand their business, we cannot undertake to advertise for 
them in our editorial columns. 
A One Dollar Receipt tor Work iiiaile 
Easy.- For one dollar, the holder of this valuable se¬ 
cret will instruct all the greenhorns how “ to raise all 
kinds of farm produce in large quantities without spread¬ 
ing manure, or much labor, and grass in abundance in the 
woods. We think people must live in the woods who 
are to be taken in by this sell. We shall get rid of labor 
and the necessity of using manure in good husbandry, 
when we get rid ofsin. “ The quicker farmers wake up 
to these facts the belter,” as Timothy Bunker, Esq. would 
say. 
Farmers’ Clinks.—Our friend Underhill, of Cro¬ 
ton Point, grape famous, bears his testimony to the value 
of these associations. In a private note he says: These 
associations, when properly conducted, have proved very 
useful. I havp been interested in the formation of seve¬ 
ral in the county of Westchester within the past seven 
years, and I believe no one who has been a member of one 
of them, lor any length of time, will be slow in admitting 
that they have given an impetus to agricultural improve¬ 
ment wherever they have been established. 
Divers other matters are on hand for advice, but we 
must defer them until our next number. Articles on the 
cultivation of onions and tobacco, ox-yokes, over-leeding 
of plants, Ac., will appear in March. 
N. B.—We invite hints, inquiries, and communications 
from any and all of our readers. 
|ever write on more than one side of the sheet, and 
let the lines be wide apart for corrections and additions. 
Tlie Peabody Strawberry. 
We are indebted to Mr. Peabody for a beautiful colored 
drawing of his new seedling, which he is now prepared 
to send out as soon as he shall have obtained one thou¬ 
sand subscribers at five dollars for a dozen plants ; and 
he states that no plants will be sent out till that number 
have subscribed. Each subscriber will receive a colored 
drawing upon entering his name, and will be duly notified 
when the list is complete and the plants ready for delive¬ 
ry. We have put the drawing up in our office for the in¬ 
spection of all who may wish to see it. Mr. Peabody 
claims for his seedling the great merit of being one of the 
best ever raised. Last spring he sent some of the fruit to 
J. M. Thorburn & Co., New York, and we had the grati¬ 
fication of testing them just after their arrival. This must 
have been at least a week after they were picked, and 
yet they were in good condition : a sufficient testimony 
of what they will endure in the way of transportation. 
The following is our description of the fruit, copied ver¬ 
batim from notes made at the time : “ Berries generally 
large ; smaller ones somewhat cone-shaped, larger ones 
flattened ; neck long ; seed red, and somewhat prominent; 
calyx closed ; peduncle very long ; color crimson ; flesh 
red, firm, and agreeably sub-acid, with a fine aromatic 
flavor. A handsome fruit.” 
fl.oili I*oii ill rede Co. 
This company considering themselves aggrieved by re¬ 
cent articles in this journal, sent us a letter in reply. The 
letter partakes rather too much of a business character to 
be admitted otherwise than an advertisement, and they 
have accordingly inserted it as a paid business notice. 
Good Beading.— Those wishing to furnish their libraries 
with good substantial reading will give heed to the adver¬ 
tisement of the Eclectic Magazine, headed “ Emperor of 
Russia.” We have known and valued this magazine for 
years past. 
Read on Manures, Draining 1 , Ac. 
We ask particular attention to the series of articles on 
manures, the second of which will be found on another 
page. The plan to be pursued hereafter will be found at 
the close of the article. In order to make the subject as 
complete as may be, we have been somewhat lengthy in 
the introductory chapters. The future articles will be 
more practical. We hope, however, that every reader of 
the Agriculturist will carefully study this series, whatever 
else may be passed over. It is important to successful 
practice that one stait with right views. If all will read 
and understand these articles, it will save us much use¬ 
less repetition hereafter. 
Read tlie Market Review. 
On our last page will be found a very full, complete 
and labored review of transactions in produce. These 
are prepared with great care, and will be valuable not 
only in the present, but for reference in future years. 
Printing tlie “Notices.” 
An associate says: “ Why not overhaul that drawer 
and print, now and then, a page or two of extracts from 
other journals, and letters from subscribers? Each read¬ 
er will be gratified to see how highly the Agriculturist is 
esteemed by others.” We cannot spare the room. We 
are very thankful for the many kind words of commenda¬ 
tion sent to us by our readers, and printed by our cotem¬ 
poraries. Each ond will please to consider that there are 
multitudes of others who think just about as he (or she) 
does of this paper. Will not that do ? 
WJio Writes tlie Articles. 
Hitherto we have added “ Ed.” to our editorial articles, 
whether written by ourself or any one of our dozen asso¬ 
ciates residing in various parts of the country. Hereafter 
we shall discontinue this custom, wishing it to be under¬ 
stood that all articles in this journal are original editorials, 
unless otherwise marked. Our worthy associates, equal¬ 
ly with the resident editor, are interested in sustaining 
the high and useful character of the Agriculturist. As 
the conducting editor, and the one more immediately in¬ 
terested, both pecuniarily and otherwise, we of course 
sustain a greater degree of responsibility, and must needs 
answer to the public for each article that appears 
A Fancy Head Wanted, &c. 
Several kind friends have suggested that we might im¬ 
prove the attractiveness of the Agriculturist by having an 
illustrated head upon the first page. We must beg to differ 
with them. Nothing seems to us so appropriate as our 
plain letters, which gives the name of the paper, its de¬ 
sign, terms, location, date, &c. This is all that is neces¬ 
sary. More than this would not be in keeping with the 
design of this journal. If we must have a fancy head, 
we should want a new one for every number. But in fol¬ 
lowing our own taste we do not reflect upon that of oth¬ 
ers. Let every one follow his own liking— De gustibus 
non disputandum est. 
Clubs. 
Additions may always be made to subscribers’ clubs 
at the price paid by the first members, if the new names 
added commence with the beginning of the year. 
Small Type. 
There is so much to be said every month, that even 
with 22 pages of reading matter we are compelled to re¬ 
sort to smaller type in a part of the paper. 
TWO APOLOGIES. 
FIRST.—We intended to issue, and so far have issued, 
each number at least as early as the first day of the 
month of date. This time we are behind 6 days, for the 
reason that our February stock of white paper was used 
in printing an edition for January, twice as large as we 
supposed would be wanted. The paper for this month 
was made in Massachusetts, and on the way here early 
in January, but was caught in the great storm, which 
stopped all freight on Railroads. This will not be likely 
to occur again. 
SECOND.—We looked for a large increase of business 
with the opening of the year, and provided for it, but wdth 
only a country business experience, we were wholly un¬ 
prepared for such an increase as it has been our good for 
tune to meet with. The consequence has been that wt 
could scarcely keep up with business—let alone editing. 
We are getting more clerks into the harness, and now we 
will put just about five times as much editorial force upon 
these columns. See if we don’t! 
NEXT MONTH. 
AVe have taken the liberty to say ‘ considerable ’ about 
ourselves in this number. The space thus occupied shall 
be given to our readers hereafter. February is a pretty 
dull month to talk about out-door work anyway. Next 
month the Spring Work will ‘ begin to begin,’ and we’ll 
try and get the paper ready for it. 
