68 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
is dry, applying the water at night. Keep the 
earth loose around them—stirring it every week 
—and replacing the litter. When Fall comes, 
put upon each hill two bushels of manure ; and in 
the Spring dig a trench far enough from the hill 
not to injure the roots, put the manure into it, 
and cover slightly with earth. If the Summer 
be dry, water occasionally, and treat in the same 
manner as before. Pie plant is a gross feeder, 
and must have a great quantity of nutriment to 
thrive well. 
After the roots have stood three years, dig up 
and quarter each hill and plant as before, putting 
the hills four feet apart. If the plants stand 
the fourth year, they begin to go to seed, and as 
the roots are considerably exhausted by this time, 
they do not yield so well. 
Managed in this way, on a sandy soil, I have 
the first year obtained enough from six hills for a 
family of as many persons, and the second and 
third years have often supplied two families be¬ 
sides my own. * 
Milan, O. 
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS 
AND GLEANINGS. 
| We have a very large number of letters from corres¬ 
pondents which must go over to next month for consider¬ 
ation and reply. They could not be attended to in the short 
month just past, abbreviated as it was, seven days at 
the beginning by the unavoidable delay in issuing the 
February number, and three days at the end by the Alma¬ 
nac.] 
Anonymous Letters— are seldom noticed even. 
Woodlands, White Pines, «fcc.—J. Carter, of 
Oxford, Pa., asks how to improve those of sparse growth. 
This is pretty fully answered in the leading article 
Work for the Month.” Respecting the White Pines al¬ 
luded to, they will be found difficult to transplant with 
success unless quite small and removed with a quantity 
of earth attached to their roots. Better sow the seed in 
common with yellow locust and other varieties. The 
cones containing the seed of pines, spruce, hemlock, fir, 
&c., should be gathered in the fall or beginning of winter, 
and thoroughly dried. Remove the seeds from them in the 
spring and sow broadcast. Where forests are cut off, with 
the exception of a few scattering trees, and the small 
growth, and cattle and sheep kept from them, there need 
be no fear but an abundance will spring up. On the 
contrary thinning will usually be requisite. It would be 
advisable to cut off only a portion at once, at intervals of 
a few years. We advise to obtain the drain deposite al¬ 
luded to, if it contains much decaying vegetable matter. 
If it be chiefly fine clay it is not worth the carting, unless 
to be added to very sandy soils—a matter to be discussed 
in articles on the Mechanical treatment of Soils. 
Virgalien Pear.— J. H. Dudley, of Poughkeepsie, 
N. Y„ asks what he shall do fora tree of the above varie¬ 
ty, which produces worthless fruit. This pear com¬ 
menced to fail at the East some years ago, and that fail¬ 
ure appears to be extending through this region. It is only 
a few years, since good fruit was raised upon the Hudson 
but now the only really fine Virgalieus are produced at 
the West. We have tried severe pruning, scraping the 
bark, and washing with different solutions, but all to no 
purpose. We advise grafting to Bartlett, Lawrence, or 
some other good variety. 
Insects.—W. S. L.—The insect you speak of upon hot 
house plants, is doubtless the turtle. Tobacco fumiga¬ 
tions will destroy the larvae, although they may not affect 
the insect itself. Wash the plants in a solution of whale- 
oil soap, or immerse in the solution described under 
“Hot House,”page 3 of the January number. This will 
destroy almost any insect without injury to the plant. 
Pumpkins, Squashes, melons, A:c.—Mix¬ 
ing Seed. —J. G . L., asks “ if the fruit of these will 
mix when planted side by side, or only the seed.” It is the 
seed alone that is affected, e sc there would be great con¬ 
fusion in the vegetable world. Did the fruit itself mix, 
we should find a pear tree producing various kinds, a 
squash vine bearing, perhaps one squash, one pumpkin, 
and a mongrel between the two, and so on through the 
vegetable kingdom. Hybridizing does take place, and to 
preserve a species distinct, care should be observed to 
plant it away from another of the same class. This how¬ 
ever is not perceived the first year, so that where the 
present crop is the only object, pumpkins, squashes, cu¬ 
cumbers, melons, &c., may be planted together without 
danger of a mixture. The seed of these, planted another 
year might be true, but quite likely they would vary some¬ 
what from the original, and If the same practice were 
continued, the stock would change greatly or run out en¬ 
tirely. _ 
New Subscriptions Still in Order. 
We are abundantly satisfied with the measure of suc¬ 
cess thus far attending our enterprize. The former readers 
of this journal, without any urging on our part, or scarcely 
a word of prompting, seem to have joined in one united 
effort to bring all their friends and neighbors into the ‘Agri¬ 
culturist Phalanx,’ and already our subscription list is 
many thousands larger than that of any other journal in 
the world which is devoted to solely Agricultural and 
Horticultural improvement. For these kind evidences of 
appreciation, we tender our heartfelt thanks. 
But “ Excelsior” is our motto. We have no set bounds 
to the improvement of the Agriculturist intrinsically, or to 
the sphere of its influence. We extend the invitation to 
every new as well as old subscriber, to become an agent, 
so to speak, in diffusing light and information in every di¬ 
rection around him. Every person whom you can induce 
to read and think, will be benefited thereby. If you deem 
the Agriculturist the best means of accomplishing this 
end, set forth its advantages to the unappreciative. If any 
other journal is better adapted to your purpose, then re¬ 
commend that one. As for ourselves, we “ aim at perfec¬ 
tion, hit where we may.” Aside from any personal advan¬ 
tage, we should be glad to see this paper go into five 
homesteads where it now visits one, and that, too, this 
present season. We are publishing a scries of articles 
which we shall not wish to repeat another year, and yet 
which we shall wish all our next year’s readers to have 
perused. Cannot many of them be persuaded to com¬ 
mence now, or rather at the beginning of this volume, for 
the back numbers can be supplied at all times from the 
stereotype plates. 
PREMIUMS.— ' v e have no special PREMIUMS to 
offer, though we will here propose to send ail extra pack¬ 
age of Sugar Cane Seed, or of the King Philip or Sweet 
Corn, to any present subscriber for each new subscriber he 
or she may send in during this month (March), and per¬ 
haps later. Every new subscriber will of course be enti¬ 
tled to such seeds as we offer free to all our readers. 
About Seed Envelopes. 
We have just got through with sending off nearly 
fifteen thousand packages of Sugar Cane Seeds, and on 
page 56 have offered to send off some other Seeds in the 
same manner ; and as we expect to follow up this seed 
distribution, from time to time hereafter, we shall be ex¬ 
cused if we give a few simple suggestions in reference to 
envelops. A single half minute saved in putting up each 
of twenty thousand packages into letters, will amount to 
seventeen days time. 
1st. We put up all seeds sent out in paper packages, 
ready to be dropped into an envelop of the ordinary letter 
size. One smaller than this is inconvenient, while a 
large, heavy envelop often doubles the postage. 
2nd. When just as convenient, it is better to use an en¬ 
velop of the “ Government Pattern.” Those of the com¬ 
mon form often fail to close together when any bulky 
substance is put inside. The former are always safer for 
all letters, and need not cost over six cents per hundred 
more than the common kind. 
“ Government Pattern.” Common Form. 
3d. The wdiolc address should be plainly written, and 
not left to be studied out from the accompanying letter, 
or guessed at from the post-mark. This will save much 
time, and insure the proper direction of the seed. 
4th. Spell out the name of such states as Massachusetts, 
Maine, Missouri, Mississippi, Indiana and Iowa. Ms., Mo., 
Me., Miss., Mass., &c., are often confounded. Ia. is too 
often used indiscriminately for Indiana and Iowa, and Ia. 
and La. are frequently written alike : so with Penn, and 
Tenn. 
5th. Put the stamp or stamps upon the right hand side 
of the envelop—one above the oilier, if more than one is 
used. This gives room to Post-mark them without crush¬ 
ing the seed. Our seed letters are usually deposited in 
our country Post-Office, where they are mailed with extra 
care, and “ mailed direct.” 
6th. Mark upon the upper left hand corner what kind 
of seeds the envelop is designed for. 
igp Those forwarding unpaid envelopes will of course 
not be disappointed if they receive no return. We offer 
seeds free, but can not, in addition to this, afford to pay 
postage also. 
|gP Always put the postage stamps upon the envelop, 
and not drop them loosely inside, where they may be lost. 
|g5p Send only the number of stamps required for post¬ 
age on the seed. We have no seeds of any kind Ur esli. 
usings IMas. 
rc* J Forty Cents a Line. 
NOTICE TO FARMERS AND GARDENERS 
Superphosphates and all other artifical Manures are 
excelled by Schwager’s “ Patent Animal Fertilizer.” 
It consists of Bones, Hair, Hides, Fish, Flesh and Blood 
from the Offal of the City of New-York, which are con¬ 
verted by the Patent process of John A. Schwager, into 
a concentrated and granulated powder, in appearance re¬ 
sembling Guano, and of much greater intrinsic value. 
Manufactured by this process all the nitrogen and 
Ammonia is retained, and none of the natural fertilizing 
properties contained in the above named materials are 
lost, as must be the case in the use of Shell Lime, Acid, 
&c., which are employed in the manufacture of the many 
varieties of advertised Ammoniated Superphosphates. 
Th e Patent Animal Fertilizer is furnished to consumers at 
$50 per ton. Farmers will require to use only from 
200 to 400 lbs. of this manure per acre according to the 
condition of the soil, and its fertilizing properties will 
also be very apparent the second affwell as the first year, 
making it by far the cheapest article ever offered to the 
public. Please notice advertisement in another column. 
CHINESE SUGAR CANE. 
I am expecting an additional and full supply of genuine 
Chinese Sugar Cane Seed, from France, which will be 
ready for the Spring trade at fair prices. 
R. L. ALLEN, 189 Water-st., New-York, 
GRINDING SUGAR CANE. 
In answer to repeated inquiries for cheap portable sugar 
cane mills, we are happy to inform the public that we 
have just completed a new and superior one, adapted to 
the wants of all engaged in sugar making. It will be on 
exhibition in actual operation at the Fair in Washington, 
D. C., which opens March 2nd. Full particulars in the 
April Agriculturist. HEDGES & FREE, 
(Successors to Scott & Hedges,) 
Cincinnati, Ohio. 
Plenty of Sugar Cane Seed. 
When first making the offer of Sugar Cane Seed, we 
supposed three or four thousand packages, at most, would 
be the extent of the demand. But instead of the calls 
stopping there, they have run up to nearly four 
times that amount, and are yet coming in at the rale of 
one hundred and fifty, to three hundred, daily. We have 
two or three times been troubled to get the seed, but by 
securing all we could get hold of, at any price asked (in 
one case $4 per pound, and in another $70 per bushel), 
we have been able to meet all calls from subscribers, and 
now have some'two thousand packages left, with the 
daily expectation of the arrival of six to eight thousand 
packages more, so that we can confidently promise at 
least three hundred seeds free to new or old subscribers 
not having received them, and also continue the offer of 
three to four thousand seeds to clubs of six. Of course 
those wishing this or any other seed will send a ready- 
directed, post-paid envelop to mail it in. The clubs of six 
will need to send twenty-four cents for postage, in addi¬ 
tion to the $5 for subscription. 
Almost every day brings reports encouraging us to hope 
much of this plant for the future ; still we are con¬ 
strained to repeat the caution given at the close of page 
thirty-seven. 
Sent! for lost NitinLers. 
With the utmost care, an occasional mistake will occur 
in entering twenty thousand names from letters (not al¬ 
ways plainly written), and transcribing them to the mail 
book, and also in writing the wrappers and mailing to so 
large a number of different individuals. But every possi¬ 
ble precaution is taken to reduce these errors to as few as 
maybe. A much greater source of loss and delay is in 
the irregularity of the mails, which have been in worse 
confusion than ever, during the past few months, owing 
to the great amount of snow and subsequent freshets. We 
earnestly desire that every subscriber should receive all 
the numbers of the volume—and we ask each and every 
one who fails to get any number after waiting for any 
unusual detention of the mail, to send for a duplicate copy 
which will always be forwarded freely and with pleasure 
As the paper is stereotyped from the beginning of volume 
XVI, we can always furnish any necessary number, and 
also send the entire volume to new subscribers. The 
paper is usually mailed before the first day of each month. 
Our last number however, was not all mailed before Feb¬ 
ruary 10th, for the reason given at the end of page 44. 
The Advertisements 
will be found as interesting to readers this month as any 
other part of the paper. They are nearly all on topics 
pertinent to the farm and garden. 
