1865.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
39 
anv one can see by rubbing a bit of raw potato on glass, 
and lelting it dry) absorb it, just as when starch or flour 
paste is bailed, only the starch in the potato is in cells, 
which, with tlie albumen also, prevent it forming a jelly. 
When all the 75 per cent of water in the potato is ab¬ 
sorbed they boil dry; if some of the cells burst they 
are “ mealy but when all of the water is not absorbed, 
and the cells do not burst, tliey are “waxy." Potatoes 
are more digestible when boiled, steamed or roasted than 
when fried, which makes the surface tough, and slowly 
permeable by water or the fluids effecting digestion. 
Candy from Sorg’linm.— A subscriber 
asks how to make “ Taffy ” candy from Sorghum syrup. 
The method with New Orleans molasses is. to boil I pint 
of molasses and K lb. of butler together until it hardens 
when cold. Those who have experimented witli sor¬ 
ghum molasses can say if any different way Is necessary. 
©Id ISoop Sliirts.—C. T. Starr, Chester 
Co.. Pa., suggests that old hoop skirts may be used to 
make trellises for climbing and other plants, in the same 
manner that rattan is often used. Tliat will dispose of a 
few, but what sliall be done with the rest ? 
Hang- Up tlae Krooms and 'I'ooSs.— 
“ W.” says : “ Why do 99 in every 100 housekeepers set 
tlieir brooms in the corner brush down T Miserably slack 
practice! Put a half-cent screw eye in the h:indle of 
each broom, and suspend it by a nail: and then tell the 
man to .serve every rake, hoe, etc., in the same way.” 
Water Pipes.—W. B. IValdo, Duchess Co., 
N. Y., does not wish to use lead pipe through which to 
pump water from his well. Iron pipe, “galvanized,” as 
it is called, that is, coated inside and out with zinc, is 
probably the best pipe you can use. There is a kind 
of wooden tube, bored out of 3x3 or 4x4 joists which 
might do if coated inside and out with paint or cement. 
Clean Kettles and Vials.--A corres¬ 
pondent writes to the Agriculturist : No vial or bottle 
should ever be put aside, without cleansing it, ready for 
use, and fitting it with a cork to keep out du.st. Few 
houses contain any convenience for draining bottles, etc. 
Every one should have a board say 8 inches wide, and 
long enougli to reach across tlie sink, containing holes 
bored 5 inches from centre to centre with a 1 5-8 inch bit, 
interspersed with smaller ones, varying in size, or with 
upright hard wood pins, 4 or 5 inches high, for vials. 
Tin Tree Ualwjlis.—“ A. M. W.” says be 
uses them and likes them. The names must be scratch¬ 
ed with an awl. The weather rusts the iron, laid bare 
by the scratch, and thus brings out the writing clearly. 
They will no doubt last several years, but the rust will 
finally spread, and make the inscription quite indistinct. 
Peach Trees for Pea Brush.—D. 
Emerson, Summit Co., Ohio, says that he grows peach 
trees in his garden for furnishing pea brush. The same 
roots last for several years, and throw up a new crop of 
shoots each year. In localities where suitable brush can 
not be obtained, it may pay to raise it in this way. We 
once used a lot of overgrow n nursery stocks for peas, and 
found them, as Mr. E. states, “handy and symmetrical.” 
Protection of Melon f^ines Against 
Bugs.—E. B. Ester, of Essex Co., N. Y., states that 
last spring he employed Benzine, such as is used by paint¬ 
ers instead of turpentine, dipping rags in it, and setting 
them, held in split sticks, near each hill of cucumbers, 
squashes, melons, etc. Before, the striped bugs or beetles 
{Galeruca vitatta) were abundant, and doing great harm. 
Afterwards, they all di.sappeared. 
©as Tar for Wasps Nests.— A small 
quantity of gas tar poured into the nests after dark, is 
said to destroy the wasps before morning. A bit of turf 
is laid over the hole after pouring in the tar. 
C 
Maple Trees and Peacli Trees 
Growing from Layers.—W. B. Waldo sends the 
following statement to the American Agriculturist: 
“ Years ago I got maple trees for the front of my house. 
They were quite large and tall. I feared they would 
lean, on account of length and weight. My hired man 
requested the privilege of planting, and I consented. He 
set them so deep that the surface roots were a foot or 
two below the surface. Every limb was pruned off. ex¬ 
cept some little watery sprouts. The first year these 
leaved out. The second, again. So for seven consecu¬ 
tive years, T do not believe these trees added to their 
weight three pounds apiece. The eighth year they 
started and made limbs six rr seven feet long. On ex¬ 
amining below. I found the surface roots had started 
very thriftily. The trees grew rapidly, and are now 
large, healthy trees. I do not believe there is an original 
root about the trees, but that every one is a genuine layer. 
“ I once planted a lot of peach pits, very carefully. 
Some in the garden were six inches underground. On 
taking these up, I found roots protruding from the stem 
several inches above where they should be. On split¬ 
ting them down through the pith, I found it dark yellow, 
rusty, and unhealthy in appearance. I rejected every one 
of these, for they were layers too, if stems striking root 
are so. A peach pit, stuck point foremost in the ground, 
throws a straight, smooth stem up, and its tap root down¬ 
ward. Lay tiie pit on its side, it forms a crook and plants 
badly, exposing in the short bend a convenient place 
for the worm to attack.” 
A Itot-lSeil,—Mr. J. McAfee, 
Bristol Co., Mass., encloses his hot-bed in another 
frame. His outer frame is fixG feet, 2j^ feet high in front, 
and 3X feet at rear, with sash in the usual manner. 
About the middle of Fetn uary he fills litis to within 8 
inches of the top of the front with manure and leaves. 
When the heat is up the manure is covered with rich 
loam, and aiiother frame, about a foot shorter and nar¬ 
rower, is placed upon it. This inner frame is covered 
with sash, and has a space of about six inches all around 
between it and the outer one. which may be filled with 
manure, or left as an air chamber. Mr. M. finds that 
his seed bed. arranged in this way, is belter protected 
from frost, require.s less frequent watering, and that the 
plants are not so liable to be scorched by the sun. 
Top Brosssiia"'.—A subscriber in Wasliinf'- 
ton Co., 0.. exi'resses concisely a principle which fann¬ 
ers are very apt to overlook, viz.: “ In autumn the ground 
takes up manure; in spring the air.” Top-dressings of 
solid manure are of much greater value in autumn than 
in the spring. Fermenting manure ought really to be 
covered, at least lightly, vriih soil if we would obtain the 
full benefit of it. When top dressings with animal 
manure are desirable, the loss may to a great degree he 
prevented or compensated by employing an extempora¬ 
neous compost of manure and soil or muck. The kind 
of top-dressings which have an equal or superior effect in 
spring to fall, are, liquid manure and salts of various 
kinds which are readily dissolved and carried down into 
the soil, such as gypsum, nitre, soda, saltpetre, sulphate 
of ammonia, unleaclied aslies, etc. 
Clover Sown wifli ©jit.s.—C. L. Kin- 
man, Morgan Co., Ill., asks if it will do to sow- red clover 
with oats. We have never done it; but ciover is some¬ 
times sowed with other spring grains, being bushed in 
after harrowing in the gr:iin, or even left on the surface 
for the next rain to cover. It may be sowed by itself in 
the spring, anil do well on many soils, and we would not 
hesitate to sow with oats as above, if desirable. Any 
testimony on the subject will be acceptable. 
Uowr»lcavc«l Clover.—Mrs. M. L. Strolim 
sending specimens of leaves, writes that she plucked 
from a single clover plant 22 leaves of 4 or 5 leaflets each. 
Bed Sorrel.— N. P. Mix, Franklin Co., Ohio, 
imported some red sorrel in clover seeil a few years since. 
Now it covers more or less a quarter of an acre, and as 
it is the only locality, in his neighborhood, of this pest of 
eastern farms lie desires to extirpate it. Whether this 
can be done or not is very doubtful; but the best thing to 
do is to keep the patch in hoed crops, taking no grass or 
small grains from the ground for some years—nor re¬ 
moving the tops of potatoes or other roots in which the 
seeds might be concealed. This will confine it to the 
locality,.and go a good way towards ridding the land of it. 
Cran'berries.—P. Birkenmayer. Cranber¬ 
ries, from a very wet bog, would probably be less likely 
to succeed on upland than those from a drier locality. 
We have heretofore expressed our doubts that cranber¬ 
ries can be grown upon ordinary soil with certainly and 
profit. Mr. G. N. Wright, of New London Co., Conn., 
states that from tw'o square rods of good garden soil he 
gathered, in 1863. four bushels and six quarts of cranber¬ 
ries. Some of his plants were taken from upland and 
others from low ground. They increased rapidly and 
soon covered the ground. Last year droutli and worms 
prevented a good crop on his ground. 
Treatment of tlae Orcliard. —J. J. 
Richardson. Bay Co., Mich., revives the old question as 
to the cultivation of orchar is. The general practice of 
good orchardists is to cultivate the ground, while the 
trees are young, with hoed and heavily manured crops, 
and when the trees become large to sow it to clover or 
grass, leaving a clean circle around each tree. In culti¬ 
vating an orchard, every precaution should be used to 
prevent Injury to the trees from whiffletrees or chains. 
The Israella and Iona Grapes—An Ex¬ 
planation, and a Wrong Righted. 
It would be strange indeed, if in an independent journal 
of the character of the Agricu/turixt-discussingas itdoes 
a great variety of topics, and its Editors receiving every 
year many thousands of communications—there siuitild 
not sometimes occur an error of statement or opinion. 
It is a source of special gratification to us. tliat not hah 
a dozen times in twice as many years, has there been any 
retraction needed.-While seeking first the public 
good, we aim to be always just to individuals, and if 
through oversight, a wrong impression is conveyed to 
our readers, no pride of opinion or position will prevent 
a proper correction. We liold that a liigher, nobler cour¬ 
age is indicated by a change from false opinion.-, or by 
the correction of one’s own errors, than by a dogged per¬ 
sistence in them. With these views, we hasten, on un¬ 
derstanding the facts, to offer the following exrlarvation 
In the December Agriculturist, appeared a communi¬ 
cation over the signature of H. P. Byram, tlie material 
point of which was, that Dr. Grant’s new grape, the Isra- 
ella, would not prove elsewhere so early as had been 
promised for it, or as it did .at Iona Island, because, as 
Mr. Byram alleged, the vines were forced into two or 
three w eeks earlier ripening by the use of glass in front, 
and protecting and heat-reflecting wooden screens at 
the back. In the January Agriculturist, both Dr. Grant, 
(in an advertisement), and his foreman, Mr. Bushnell, 
(in the reading columns), denied in toto Mr. Byram’s 
statements and allegations. We had publislied Mr. By¬ 
ram’s communication in good faith, supposing him to be 
a man of truth, as he had for a long time stood in good 
repute as an editor, and among horticulturists generally. 
He professed to write only for tlie public good, and ex¬ 
hibited no appearance of being governed by malice or 
ill-will. The question of the value of these new candi¬ 
dates for public favor, the Iona and the Israella grapes, 
was a pi-oper subject for discussion pro and con. When 
Mr. Byram’s letter was received and passed to the prin¬ 
ter, it did not occur to us that it contained statements 
which, taken in connection with what Dr. Grant had 
published elsewhere, implied want of integrity or hon¬ 
esty on his part. With his advertisements. Catalogues, 
and other information now before us, Mr. Byram’s letter 
appears in a very different light, and we are satisfied that 
its publication by us was wrong, and are glad to avail 
ourselves of this opportunity to make reparation, and to 
set Dr. Grant right before the public. 
After the above positive denial of Mr. Byram’s state 
ments (last montli.) we suspended judgment, and asked 
the public to do so, and we set about an inquiry into the 
facts. Mr. Byram adhered to his former statements, and 
referred us for proof to persons employed at Iona. We 
souglit the evidence of these persons, with that of others, 
which is given below in a positive, verified form. We con¬ 
fess to surprise, mortification, and indignation,at the result 
of these inquiries, and at the strong evidence tliat Mr. 
Byram liad previously threatened to injure Dr. Grant 
through his own influence with the press of the coun¬ 
try. An attempt by any man to covertly use our columns 
for any such ends, is a fraud and imposition, upon the 
publisher and editors, and upon the readers. We leave Mr. 
Byram, in view of the testimony below, to settle the 
matter with his own conscience, and with Dr. Grant. 
We should perhaps add, th.at Dr. Grant, while not ex¬ 
cusing the motives of Mr. Byram, is yet charitable 
enough to explain that sashes and screens were used with 
a few Delaware vines for experimental purposes, but 
none with the Israellas, and none on any vines in the 
manner alleged by Mr. Byram. Poblisher. 
[Copy.] 
Westchester Co., ss.— We, the undersigned, being 
duly sworn, do depose and say, that we were employed 
at Iona Island, through the growing season of 1864. and 
daily saw the management of the vines there; we have 
also read the letter of Mr. H. P. Byram, in the Dec. No. 
of the American Agriculturist, and declare all his state¬ 
ments in regard to the use of “glass and screens,” for 
hastening the ripening of the Iona and Israella grapes, to 
be entirely false. 
Subscribed and swnrn'\ Alvah Bushnell, Foreman, 
to before me. this loth I Jacob Herfeley, Carpenter, 
day of Jan.. 1865. } Patrick Savage. Propagator, 
Thos. a. Whitney, ( Woolsey Weyakt, Planter, 
Justice of the Peace.) Ralph Isham, Trainer of Vines. 
[Copy.] New York, Jan. 17th, 1865. 
To whom it may concern :—I would slate that I have 
read the communication of Mr. Byram, in the Agricultu¬ 
rist of December, and also the one signed “ Peconic,” in 
the Ohio Farmer. I have been at Iona Island from early 
Spring to late Autumn, and during the growing sea.soh 
almost weekly, from two to four days in the week, en 
gaged in the critical study of the vines, making accurate 
drawings of them. I know that no such appliances as 
M r. Byram asserts to have seen in use there, were so. My 
visits to the vines have been so frequent, and my observa¬ 
tion so thorough, that I could not have overlooked the 
matter by any possibility. I have read Dr. Grant’s state¬ 
ments and know them, in this respect, to be true. 
Henry Holtoh. 
Sworn to before me, this Ylth day of January, 1865. 
; Wm. M. Martin, Notary Public, 
