186 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
tate removing the cuticie or thin skin. They 
were next salted and boiled, just as if for imme¬ 
diate use, no water being added to cook them in, 
and then put into the jars, previously well scalded, 
the jars made just full, and the lids put in loosely. 
They were then set into kettles of cold water, to 
avoid breaking them, the water around them 
being nearly up to the neck on the outside. The 
water was then made hot, and kept so twenty 
minutes, or long enough to raise the fruit within 
the jars to the boiling point, and thus expel any 
enclosed air. The lid was taken up for a minute, 
near the close, to allow a free escape of air and 
steam, and then placed back closely down upon 
the fruit, adding some more cooked fruit when 
necessary to make the jar just full and leave no 
air under the cover. Before placing the cover 
down the last time, it should be wiped clean, and 
also wipe the jar above the fruit. A circular 
piece of Canton (cotton) flannel, a little larger 
than the lid, should be put under it. The jars 
were then removed from the water, and melted 
bees-wax poured in upon the cover. While the 
wax was still hot, the projecting edge of the flan¬ 
nel was carelully pressed down into any place 
where the cover did not chance to fit tightly, 
and wax enough then added to make a perfectly 
tight joint. After the jars were wiped dry, they 
were examined carefully, and a little wax put 
upon any imperfect places, on the outside. Where 
they are designed to be kept for a year or two, 
we recommend rubbing all over their bottom, as 
well as sides, while still warm, a cloth dipped in 
melted wax, or a cake of wax will do. This will 
render them perfectly air-tight. 
Good two-quart jars can be everywhere ob¬ 
tained for 12 to 20 cents each. The process de¬ 
scribed above is not difficult nor troublesome, and 
we think the jars will answer just as well for 
other fruits as for tomatoes. For currants and 
other acid (sour) fruits, they are better than any 
kind of metallic cans. They are not, however, 
as convenient as the tin cans, and where the latter 
are easily obtainable, they are to be preferred for 
sweet fruits, such as peaches, pears, sweet cher¬ 
ries, berries, &e. 
TIN CANS FOR PRESERVING. 
The original form of these is, an air-tight tin 
canister, with a circular opening in the top, 
large enough to put in the fruit, and a small 
tin cover to fit over this, with a pin-hole in the 
centre. The fruit is then put in, and the cover sol¬ 
dered on. The can is next set into boiling water, 
and heated until all air is expelled through the 
pin-hole, and steam issues rapidly, when the can 
is lifted out, and a drop of solder put upon the 
pin-hole. As comparatively few persons can use 
the soldering-iron well, this kind of can is not 
adapted to general use. They are not easily 
opened, and are seldom good for a second year, 
at least, without the aid of a tinner. Except in 
large fruit-preserving establishments, and even in 
many of these, they are now superceded by what 
are called 
“ SELF-SEALING CANS ” 
These are prepared with a wide metallic neck, 
and screw cover, as in Ketcham & Co.’s (Taylor 
& Hodget's), Wells & Provost’s (Sprat’s), and 
others ; or, like Arthur & Co.’s, they have a cup¬ 
like flange around the top, to be filled with wax 
or cement, into which is set the edge of the 
cover. Any of these cans answer a good pur¬ 
pose. We have used all of them, and found little 
difference, though our principal experience has 
been with the two first named. The particulars 
as to cost, &e., can be learned in our advertising 
columns. I hey can be used for several years, if 
well taken care of. 
As full directions for using these cans are al¬ 
ways furnished to purchasers, we will not take 
up space for more than a general remark or two. 
In no case trust alone to the screw cover and 
India rubber under it to secure perfect exclusion 
of air. Bees-wax is cheap, and a little of this, 
melted and put upon every point where air may 
get in, will give double protection. Glass bottles 
may be filled with fruit, and stopped with a cork 
dipped in melted bees-wax, and then, by adding a 
coat of melted wax over and around the top, no 
air will enter. We have a glass flask in our 
office, freed from air, and stopped in the above 
manner with cork and wax, years since, and 
the air has not yet entered it, as is shown by the 
heavy lead-like fall of a quantity of water en¬ 
closed. 
Always take fruit just at the point of ripening, 
and use it as soon as possible after picking, re¬ 
jecting any specimens that have been at all 
bruised. 
Small Type.—The remaining pages are not set in 
smaller type because less important than the preceding, 
but to make room for more matter in the same space. 
FOB THE BOYS AND GIRLS. 
Well, well, Boys and Girls ! We came home from 
“ out West ” just in time to put this paper to “ press ” at 
a late date, and we found a whole hat-full, yes, two hat- 
fullsof Boys’ and Girls’ letters, giving answers to the prob¬ 
lems in our July number, and on other matters. Some of 
them contain very pretty drawings. We took the first op¬ 
portunity to look them over, but after spending several 
hours, assisted by the Editress, in trying to sort them out, 
and get some of them ready for the engraver, we gave up 
in despair of doing it now. So we are compelled to ask 
you to wait until our next number, when we will give 
you extra space. For the benefit of our Pennsylvanian 
Boy and Girl leaders, and a good many new ones else¬ 
where, we will repeat the problems to be answered next 
month. 
Problem 3. — How can 10 trees be planted so that there 
shall be 5 rows and 4 trees in each row 1 
Problem 4 —How can 12 trees be planted so as to have 
6 raws and 4 trees in each row ? 
Problem 5.—-How can 19 trees be planted so as to have 
Grows and yet 5 tiees in each row 7 
Problem 0.— How can 27 trees be planted so as to have 
9 rows and 6 trees in each row 7 
NOTES UPON VALUABLE BOOKS- 
[Purchasing Books. —Book selling is no part of our busi¬ 
ness, and we would prefer to have all ou. readers get 
► uch works as they desire directly from the publishers, or 
from a regular book-seller. But many are remote irom 
book stores, and are cautious about sending money to un¬ 
known publishers. To accommodate such, we will at 
any tune be happy to procure any desired book, especially 
on any subject treated of in the Agriculturist. As a gen¬ 
eral tiling we can send any book by mail post-paid on re¬ 
ceipt of the regular retail price—the discount allowed us 
by publishers being just about enough to cover the cost of 
mailing.] 
A Farmer’s library. 
A number of persons, each enquire for a list of good 
books, such as would make up a fair library for a farmer. 
We will name off-hand, a few of those which we consid¬ 
er among the best, giving the publisher’s price for each. 
We could add considerably to the list, though in this de¬ 
partment of literature, as in every other, not a fourth of the 
works published are worth binding : American Farm 
Book, by R. L. Allen, §1; Nash's Progressive Farmer, 
60 cents i Norton’s Scientific and Practical Agriculture, 
60 cents ; Mtinn’s Land Drainer, 50 cents; The Stable 
Book, $1 ; Allen on Diseases of Domestic Animals, 75cts ; 
Dadd’s Cattle and Dadd’s Horse Doctor, each $1; Be. 
ment’s New Poultry Book, $125; Quinby’s Mysteries of 
Bee Keeping Explained, $1 ; Langstroth’s Hive and 
Honey Bee, new Edition, $1 50 ; Allen’s Rural Archi¬ 
tecture, $1 25 ; Buist's Family Kitchen Gardener, 75 cts. ; 
Breck's Flower Garden, $1 ; Chorlton’s Grape Grower’s 
Guide, 60 cents , Pardee’s Strawberry Manual, 60 cents ; 
Eastwood’s Cranberry Manual, 50 cents. 
On Fruits.— Downing’s Fruits and Fruit Trees of 
America, $ 1 50; Barry’s Fruit Garden $ 1 25 ; Cole’s Amer¬ 
ican Fruit Book, 50 cents ; Elliott’s Fruit Growers Guide, 
Si 25. 
The above can be had of most Booksellers, at the prices 
named. We can procure and send any one or all of 
them when desired, as noted above. 
Into which are thrown all sorts of paragraphs—such as . 
Notes and Replies to Correspondents, with Useful or 
Interesting Extracts from their Letters, together with Glean¬ 
ings of various kinds from various sources. CjtP^The print- 
ers always have access to this Basket when they “ have 
nothing else to do." 
A large amount of prepared “ Basket matter" has ac¬ 
cumulated,and scores of letters are still waiting conside¬ 
ration. If our correspondence continues to increase atthe 
recent ratio, we shall have toboth enlarge the paper and 
employ additional help in this department The enlarge¬ 
ment will be made by November, or before. 
MouselseepiEng; it* iSie Country.—.Emily’s 
excellent letter is in type for next No. 
Sewing Machines.—J. F.’s article in type wait¬ 
ing room. 
©raining.—The queries of Albert Mackey and 
others will be answered in ihe series of articles on this 
topic. The chapter designed for this number has been 
necessarily omitted for want of time to prepare it. 
Brain Tiles in Sand.—J. C. Reily, of Monroe 
Co., N. Y., says stone drains choke up in sand, and asks if 
drain tile will be affected in the same way. We answer 
no. if the ti'es are laid with close fitting joints. The water 
passes through the porous tiles which answ er as a strainer 
to keep the sand out of the water channel. 
ESee-IKccping in Winter.—J. M. Maine, of 
Schuyler Co. We have marked your communication for 
the October number when it will be in season. 
Sugar Came Slickers.— A “New Subscriber ” 
at Berlin, Ind„ says many of the stalks of the sorghn have 
seven suckers each, and enquires if he shall pull them 
out. We should say cut them up and feed them if there 
is a sufficiency ol mainstalks. When planted in hills, how¬ 
ever, on good soil, as many as five or six stalks may be 
left to grow together. It is desirable that, all the stalks 
should mature at the same time, if designed for pressing, 
and the weaker, backward shoots may qune as well be 
out of the way at once. Cut and not pull them, to avoid 
injuring the stalks remaining. 
Corss-'S’©pj>ingf.—D. Elisworth, Harwinton. We 
do not believe in “topping” corn before ripe. The upper 
stalks and leaves are quite as essential as the roots to 
elaborate the sap, and they should be left on until t.he 
whole stalk, w ith the ear, is cut, just before full harden¬ 
ing of the kernel. Hilling corn we cannot discuss here 
Hill and flat culture are both good sometimes, depending 
entirely upon the particular soils under treatment. 
Slaclisixsifli Sliop Sweepings—Muck.— 
W. Winchester, Alleghany Co., N. Y. These are valua¬ 
ble, especially the hoof parings and horse droppings, but 
should not be mixed with ashes or lime unless just before 
putting them into the soil. They may well be thrown 
into a manure heap. Two of our associate editors have 
used a few loads of Smith’s sweepings on their gardens 
the past two years, adding nothing with them, and the re¬ 
sult has been highly satisfactory. “ Raw muck,” as a di¬ 
rect manure, is not equal to good stable m inure, though 
excellent to loosen the soil when that-is needed. Get out 
all the muck possible during dry weather to mix with the 
cattle droppings during Winter. 
Wire Worm.— The best advice we can give J. 
Fraizer, of Wilmington, is that given us when a boy 
learning to hoe corn, viz : make two worms of every one 
we found. Salt, lime and ashes, are offensive to these 
worms, and when mixed with manure are good preven¬ 
tives. Corn is frequently injured by them, and we ad¬ 
vise soaking the seed in copperas water, and rolling il 
in lime when planting on land infested by the wire worm, 
which attacks the kernel. 
Peabody’s Strawberry-—D. C., Richmond, 
Ohio. We have a few plants growing and “running ’’ 
well. We raise nothing of the kind to sell— may, ner- 
haps, distribute a few plants next Spring to localities 
where we have a large number of readers. We have not 
fruited this plant yet, and therefore cannot tell how it will 
do in this latitude. 
SiCaky ISooffs.— A correspondent says; Four 
pounds rosin, one pint of linseed oil thoroughly mixed and 
applied with a brush, while hot, will effectually stop leaks 
by the side of chimneys, skylights or w here an L or wing 
is joined to the main body of the house. 
Grape Grafting.—*A friend informs us that hav¬ 
ing some scions of a choice grape sent him, he tried them 
in various ways upon a barren vine growing in his yard. 
The cleft grafting, usually recommended for the grape, 
was an entire failure, and the only one which united was 
inserted in a gimlet hole of the size of a wooden pencil 
bored into an exposed portion of the root. The scion was 
rounded to a point and pressed firmly into the hole and 
the earth replaced about it. 
