isas] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
107 
Woodward’s Country Hotises.— 
O-eo. E. & F. W. Woodward, Architects of tliis city, 
have just issued a little work very tastefully gotten up, on 
aounlry dwellings. It contains thirty or more original 
designs, including cottages, gardens, houses and villas, 
a country church, fences, gales, etc., with a valuable 
chapter on balloon frames, fully illustrated. Price $1.50. 
^©w ]JI[iiga*iiie«—Messrs. Ciias. Scribner & 
Co., announce a new Magazine, called “i/o»r« at Home." 
It is to be distinctively religious in character, and, as 
will be seen by the advertisement, many prominent 
clergymen and laymen are engaged as contributors. 
Staftiiig Sweet Potatoes.—“ J.W. C.,” 
Salem Co., N. J., sends us an account of the method he 
has followed for the past 24 years. He commences early 
or late in April, according to the season. The hot-bed is 
made by digging a trench 6 feet wide, 2K feet deep, and 
one foot in length for each bushel of potatoes. The 
trench is filled with stable litter, well trodden down, 
and watered with one bucket of warm water to every 2 
feet of bed. A layer of the best horse manure is spread 
over this, to the depth of 4 or 5 inches, and over this, 4 or 
5 inches of light, rich soil. The potatoes are tlien laid 
upon the soil, nearly touching each other, and are covered 
with the same kind of soil, to the depth of IX inch. The 
whole is then covered with hay, to tlie depth of a foot on 
the edge, and forming a heap 5 feet high in the middle of 
the bed. The heat of the bed is tested at the end of three 
days, by running the arm tlirough the hay, and if llie soil 
Is found to be more than blood warm, the hole left by tlie 
arm is left open, and if the heat continues to increase, the 
hay is turned over and shaken up. If the heat increases 
too violently, take off the hay, put some rails across the 
bed, and place the hay over them. Be careful not to cool 
the bed too much, as it is difficult to restore the heat if 
once lost. In 10 or 15 days the bed is uncovered, to give 
the plants air and sun. Leave it uncovered for two 
hours daily, at first, gradually increasing the exposure 
until past danger of frost, when they may be left open 
night and day. The plants will be ready by May 15. 
Mails from tSie Pacific Coast 
fireatly Belayed. — On March Sth, we received a 
very large batch of letters, with money for subscriptions 
and books. Many of these date back as far as Deo. 12. 
This extraordinary delay explains our late responses. 
A Transparent Steam Eng-ime.— 
One of the prettiest and most instructive things we have 
ever seen in Barnum’s American Museum, is a late addi¬ 
tion in the form of two complete steam-engines made 
almost wholly of glass, one a high-pressure and the other 
a low-pressure engine. The formation of the steam 
in the glass boilers, its course in the pipes, steam chest, 
condensers, etc., as it drives the wheels, are all visible 
to the eye. It affords a capital opportunity for grown up 
people, as well as children, to study and understand this 
most interesting source of power, in practical operation. 
Doty’s ■^Vasliing’ Maclilne. —The pro¬ 
prietors write that they can supply orders west of the 
longitude of Washington, most cheaply from their iiead- 
quarters at Janesville, Wis. This includes part of the 
territory assigned to Mr. Lane, of New-York, in the 
notice of the Washer in March Agriculturist. 
Eaiid Advertisements.—This class of 
advertisements we admit to our columns without special 
care or examination, where no money is asked of parties 
at a distance, for the reason that it is not supposed that 
any one will buy a farm or plot of land without a per¬ 
sonal examination both of the character of the land and 
the title, and therefore there is no such danger of parties 
tieing imposed upon as there is when one sends money 
or orders for seeds, plants, etc., to unknown parties. 
Crood Boolis. — Any one desiring |vood books 
on Agriculture, Horticulture, and Domestic Economy, 
can receive a descriptive trade list with an account of 
some fifty different books, by addressing this office. 
Catalogues, &c,, ISeceivcd. —Transac¬ 
tions of the American Pomological Society, 1864. This 
voli^me gives the revised list of fruits, as well as the dis¬ 
cussions which took place at the meeting held last 
autumn, and is a valuable work of reference to the fruit¬ 
grower.The Transactions of the Massachusetts Hor¬ 
ticultural Society gives, besides the reports of the 
thirty-fifth year of this pioneer institution, an account of 
the laying of the corner stone of its new Horticultural 
Hall. — Brill & Kumerle, a new firm at Newark, N. J., 
tend their catalogue of vegetable and flower seeds, and 
Francis Brill, of the same firm, issues a catalogue of 
mall fruits, containing all the novelties.... F. K. PhcB- 
Is, Bloomington (Ill.) Nursery, is out with a catalogue 
which, besides the usual price lists, contains much lively 
reading. Our friend Pheenix is always very much in 
earnest....-The Greenvale Nurseries of W. D. Stronger, 
Oswego, N. Y., offer a general assortment of nursery 
stock.....The seed list of James J. H. Gregory, Marble¬ 
head, Mass., contains the usual assortment, besides a 
number of Mr. G.’s specialties, some of wliicli we have 
already noticed.McElwain Bros., Springfield, Mass., 
send an illustrated vegetable and flower seed catalogue. 
....C. B. Scliotte & Co., Humboldt Gardens, Armstrong 
Co., Pa., offer a select list of fruit and ornamental trees. 
_Yilmorin, Andrieux & Co., the world-renowned 
seedsmen of Paris, send their catalogue of novelties, 
most of which are announced by our own dealers..... 
J. Knox, Pittsburgh, Pa., has issued his small fruit cata¬ 
logue. Grapes and strawberries are specialties with 
Mr Knox, and his list includes all the desirable sorts. 
Downing’s Eaaiclscape <war<l«‘ising’. 
—This most valuable and beautiful work has been out of 
print for some time, oviing to the burning of many of the 
engravings, at the great Frankfort street fire. The bonk 
has been so scarce, and so liighly prized, that $10 to $12 
p.er copy has been readily paid for all that could be ob¬ 
tained. The illustrations are nearly re-engraved, and a 
new edition is now in press. It will probably be ready 
the last of April, The price is reduced to $6 50. 
Beef for onr Soldiers !—At the 
present time, a large proportion of the fresh beef for our 
principal armies, in Virginia and North Carolina, can be 
best forwarded from this City, tlie cattle being sent on 
steamers (transports). A government contract, under 
heavy bonds, has been taken by Henry Westheimer, to 
furnish all the beef cattle required at this point, from 
M.arch loth to June 15th. The cattle are to be strictly 
first qualUtj. rmCi without the slightest imperfection or 
blemish ; every lot is to average 1300 lbs., live weisht, and 
no single animal to be taken weighing under 1250 lbs. 
on the scales, nor under three years old. All the animals 
are to be examined by the government inspector, and they 
are to be delivered at such points in or near New York 
City, and in such quantities, as may be ordered by the 
Commissary of supplies, from time to time. We notify 
tlie contractor and the inspector that there are several 
friends of the soldiers who intend to watch over the 
matter, and see that the inspection be rigid. Tlie price 
will pay for good cattle. The contract price of $13.49 
per 100 lbs. live weight is equivalent to 24c/®25c per lb. 
for tlie dressed or net weight, as bullocks of the required 
quality sliould dress full 56 lbs., to 100 lbs. live weight. . 
Brcmiiims for every one,—We invite 
special attention to the premiums on page 104, which 
have been omitted, but are restored again this month. 
The articles offered are all very good, and worthy 
of no little effort to secure them. See particular des¬ 
cription of each article, on page 2 of January number, 
which we cannot spare room to repeat. Partially com¬ 
pleted premium clubs can be filled up, and new clubs 
started now. The spring work in field and garden, now 
beginning, will lead many to feel the want of a journal 
like this. There are many thousands who would get 
some hints or suggestions from these pages, that would 
in the end be worth far more than the cost of the paper. 
Aside from the premiums, we solicit a good word from 
each of our readers. An invitation to neighbors or 
friends, will often lead them to subscribe—to their own 
benefit as well as that of the Publisher. 
Sell tlie ISags Now.—The papermakers 
don’t fall a peg on the price of paper from last December 
rates, but rather go up as gold goes down. They say 
rags are scarcer and higher than ever. Better take them 
at their word, and sell every wliite rag that can be 
gleaned up. These prices can’t hold long. 
Tlie A^riciiItJirist Strawberry 
Plants to go out tliis montli.—With the present 
prospect of good weather, we hope to begin mailing the 
Strawberry Plants soon after April 3d. They wil! be first 
sent to the more southern points, and on northward as the 
.season allows—probably to the most northern regions the 
last of April. Those to receive them, will do well to ar¬ 
range to get them soon after their arrival. Open the 
parcel, and if ready, set them out at once. If not ready, 
set the roots into moist earth. Have a plot of ground for 
each plant, lightened a little, if needed, by black earth 
from the woods, or rotten muck, and a little well-rotted 
manure, well mixed in. Set the plants nearly even with 
the surface, but not so that water will wash in soil upon 
the crown when they settle. Only have the ground damp ; 
too much water is injurious to any plant. Spread out the 
roots. This spring, we shall remove all the foliage. The 
experience of last fall was that the attempt to send out 
the leaves on, '’urnished loo large evaporating surface. 
The best planters always remove nearly or quite all the 
leaves in transplanting strawberries. The main point is 
to have a supply of fibrous roots, and an uninjured crown. 
Plants look small witli the leaves off, but we .shall follow 
our bast judgment, even if they do not show so well.— 
Many who thought their plants dead last fall, simply be¬ 
cause the leaves did not always come fresh, will find th« 
plants alive this spring.—We only send the plants wher* 
they were specifically asked for at the time of subscrUr- 
ing, and the 5 cents extra enclosed for postage and e«- 
pense of putting up. On counting the applicants so far, 
we find we sliall have some more plants for the first nevf 
subscribers applying for them.—Aside from the reserva 
tion made for subscribers, as previously announced, our 
entire stock was sold to Mr. Knox. (See his advertiso- 
ment.) We have no plants or seeds of any kind to sell. 
Sti-awS»erry Blants.—For 
terms see last item under “ Good Premiums,” page 104. 
Tobacco — Scetl IScds. — “ J. F.” The 
seed beds are generally prepared in the warmest, sunnif 
est spots, where the ground is ricli, dry, and free from 
weeds. Its soil is manured and well worked, by spade or 
plow, then brush with straw and other ligltt stuff, is 
burned upon it, which not only gives a dressing of ashes, 
but destroys weed seeds, and warms the soil. Tlie bed is 
made smooth by raking and rolling, the seed sowed, 
lightly brushed in, and the surface patted with a boarilf 
or rolled with a hand-roller. The .seed should be tested 
beforehand, and it may be kept mixed with moist soil, in 
a warm place, a few days, till it nearly sprouts. When 
sowed, tobacco seed ought to be moistened at least, and 
rolled in plaster, so that the sower may see where it 
falls. A table.spoonful of seed to the square rod, and a 
rod of seed bed to the acre, will furnish plenty of plant*. 
Toljacc*#.—Ilow to €Srow It.—The beat 
possible information on all departments, from selecting 
seed, through the harvesting, curing and marketing the 
crop is given in the Book containing the practical direc¬ 
tions of fourteen experienced growers. Price 25 Cts. 
ESSAYS €»W FEAX CUI.TIJRE, 
Award of Pi-isKcs. 
Tliirty-five essays were presented, in response to the 
offer of prizes made in November by the Publisher of the- 
American Agriculturist. The writers of the essays, as 
well as our readers, are equally fortunate in tliat We were 
able lo avail ourselves of the services of a Committee of 
extensive practical experience and scientific knowledge. 
The report of the chairman (Dr. Warder, of Ohio), is a- 
valuable document, but too extended for publication 
here. We are happy to have been able, following a sug¬ 
gestion of Dr. Warder, to secure the services of the 
writer of the first prize essay, to assist in preparing the 
other essays for publication in book form, and we have 
also now made arrangements with him to become one of 
the editorial corps of the Agriculturist. 
Repobt.— “ The Committee award as follows : For the- 
best essay, No. 33, by S. E. Todd, Auburn, N. Y. (now 
of New-York City), $50. For the second best, No. 24, by 
James Cairns, Ballydurane, Cionokitty, County Cork. 
Ireland, $40. For next five which were considered better 
than any of tlie remainder, $10 each ; these are respec¬ 
tively, No. 17, by G. S. Kuester, Newcastle, Lawrence 
Co.. Pa.; No. 5, by Wm. H. White, So. Windsor, Hart¬ 
ford Co., Conn.; No. 18, by Hugh McKee, Norwich, 
Canada West; No. 19, by James Barker, Hoosick Falls, 
Rensselaer Co., N. Y.; No. 20, by John E. Stewart, 
Redding Ridge, Fairfield Co., Conn. 
“All which is respectfully submitted by your Com¬ 
mittee.” [Signed,] John A. Wardeb, Cftairmati, 
Cincinnati, Feb. 12th, 1865. 
First Brize Essay. 
The subject of flax culture may be properly considered 
under three parts : 1st, The preparation of the soil. 
2nd, The seed, the growth and culture of the plant and 
harvesting. 3d, The rotting and dressing for market. 
The first tw'O parts belong particularly to the tiller of tha 
soil ; -while the third is more properly a process of manu¬ 
facture, and though very distinct from each other, they 
are frequently performed by the farmer. Flax is grown 
sometimes for the seed only, and sometimes for both 
the seed and lint. The seed yields a drying oil of the 
best quality for painters’ purposes, the residue being oil 
cake, used for feeding stock : and the straw yields lint of 
two qualities, called flax and tow. Flax is the long, 
straight fibre, and tow consists of the short and tangled 
fibre, which separates in dressing the long lint. Some¬ 
times, however, tlie entire fibre is prepared as tow. Th« 
lint that is separated from the long fibre, when the flas 
is dressed, is called in market, “ fine tow ”; it is man 
