336 
AMERICAN ACRICULTURIST, 
[Novembek, 
Brandy from Sorg'lium.—A subscriber 
asks : “What quality and quantity of brandy can be mada 
from Sorghum ?” None at all. Sorghum would, like any 
other sugar, make rum or whiskey, but brandy can only 
be made from grapes. This manufacture is one not 
within the legitimate scope of this journal. 
Ssi 'Fftiis Advice Oood ?—“ Farmer,” of 
Oakland, near Quincy, III., writes : “ To the young farm¬ 
ers of the East wh® have capital and wish to start out in 
life, either as farmers or business men, the South and 
particularly the West, is the place to go. Missouri is 
destined to be one of the Golden Stars of our Union. 
Bounded on one side by the Mississippi, traversed by the 
ilissouri and other navigable rivers, railroads in all di¬ 
rections and room for more, abounding in more natural 
products than any other State, central in position, with 
a soil adapted to the growth of every thing that will grow 
in a temperate climate, with the black population as la¬ 
borers, and enterprising, ingenious men from the Mid¬ 
dle or Eastern States to manage, Missouri will in afew 
years be tlie leading Stale of tlie West. The South 
affords rare chances for young men to make a start in 
life. I think it strange tliat men will buy or rent the 
stone-ribbed land of the East, when land is so cheap and 
plenty South and West. Let them that can't leave the 
East, slay there, but let the young and enterprising buy 
landin the W^est, which in a few years willdouble or treble 
in value. Let the heretofore Slave Stales be filled 
with enterprising, industrious and Union-loving people.” 
Is the Advice Good? —We say, yes —because, though 
the same thought, energy, capital and labor, expended at 
the East will pay just as well, or better, yet going West 
wakes up many an Eastern young man to ten times the 
energy, and, of course, ten limes the success he would 
ever show or gain at home. 
Meas^irisig C«rw Ears.—“J. M. P.,” 
Ross Co., O., can find the cubical contents of his crib by 
Rules in his Arithmetic. Then by instructions on page 
303, October Agriculturist, can ascertain the number of 
bushels in any crib or bin. 
CjJrass asKl Cradlle Scytlies.—E. W. 
Allen, Chatauqua Co., N. Y. The edge of a grass scythe 
may be made of the same form of the diagram of cradle 
scythes in the August number of the Agriculturist. 
The edge near the heel should not be on a smaller curve, 
as the scythe would cut too squarely across the grass. 
Smwlce lIoBise.— “Mrs. A. K.” Blair Co., 
Pa.—Perhaps the simplest smoko house is the best. Such 
a one is a square box, say Cx6 or 8x8 feet on the ground, 
and with 7 or 8 foot posts. Put the sills on a brick or 
stone wall, cemented or plastered so as to be rat-proof. 
The roof really ought to be what is called “ hipped,’’ 
(that is of four slopes- a flat pyramid) one-third pilch. 
This will make it about lOX feet from the floor to the 
rafters at the pea'x. The floor is the natural soil, it per¬ 
fectly dry, or it may be of brick. In the middle of the 
room there ought to he a stone table 2 feet high. This 
may rest on stone posts, or wooden ones, and the fire 
is made under it. It serves to spread the smoke, and 
prevents the heat from the fire affecting the meats which 
liang above and are often hurt if the smoking fire chan¬ 
ces to blaze up. Ventilators m:iy be [lut near the ground 
on opposite sides, and one near the top. All shoukl be 
furnished with fine wire gauze to keep out the flies. The 
door must shut very tight, and ought really to be opened 
only at night in the summer and autumn, to keej^ out flies. 
Moving SI CiSrape Tine.—G. H. Lincoln, 
Henry Co.. III.—If the vine has a single cane 10 or 12 
feet long, it should be cut back, whether it is moved or 
not. Cut it off to within 12 or 15 inches of the ground, 
remove as carefully as possible, protect the stem with a 
mound of earth, and next spring allow one, or if the vine 
is a strong one, two buds to grow. 
Eatteaiing- 'I’Ujviilcsg-iving- XurJicys-t. 
—For each turkey mix about a pint of Indian meal with 
one pint of unbolted wheat flour, and pour boiling water 
on it, stirring rapidly till it forms thin mush. Place the 
dish where the fowls can have access to the feed at any 
time. Let skimmed milk or water be given also. In two 
wee’xs they will be fat and oily as butter. They will fat¬ 
ten better to have their liberty in a spacious yard. 
Siclc <J!iicltens — SSotip.—Many letters 
Inquire about a disease among fowls which we are con¬ 
fident is in many cases the roup. This is a highly infec¬ 
tious, and often fatal disease, butj'f ttiken in time ctin bo 
cured. The premonitory symptoms tire a slight hotirso- 
ness anci catching of the breath, as if from cold. Soft 
food only, mixed wish ale and chopped green vegel.ables 
should be given. Administer castor oil, say one table- 
spoonful, before any other medicine, but if the disease 
has made much progress before discovery, and rattling 
in the throat (with discharges from the eyes and nostril,) 
has commenced, stronger remedies must be used Tinc¬ 
ture of iron placed in the water pans, is a strongremedy, 
and if the fowl will not drink some, prepare half an 
ounce of sulphate of iron and an ounce of Cayenne 
pepper in fine powders. Mix carefully a teaspoonful of 
these powders with butter, and divide into ten equal 
parts, one to be given twice a day, each morning and 
evening, until the complete restoration of the patient to 
health. Wash the eyes and inside of the mouth and 
nostril with vinegar. The disease runs its course rapid¬ 
ly. If the fowl is not better in a week, it will be dead ; 
whole yards are often depopulated by the ravages of this 
scourge. Single cases occur which are overlooked, and 
then the disease becomes universal Some think roup 
merely a neglected cold ; but there is evidence to show 
that it is contagious. The first sufferer perhaps contam¬ 
inates the water, and such is the virulence of the malady 
that it often runs quickly through the whole stock, and 
is indeed tlie poultry plague. Even when the fowl ap¬ 
pears to have recovered, it must undergo a long and strict 
quarantine before it is restored to liberty. We do not 
advise this care to be given any but valuable fowls. If 
those of little value are attacked, the sooner they are put 
out of pain and hidden from sight, the better. 
X^Sie “Winte This has been so 
often noticed in the Agriculturist, that we supposed out- 
readers knew all about it. It is nothing more than the 
common Rhubarb or Pie-plant. Its juice, fermented with 
tlie addition of sugar, will make a liquid containing more 
or less alcohol. If any wish to make this for a beverage, 
or other purpose, they need not pay peddlers a large price 
for “ Wine plant,” when Rhubarb can oe bought cheaply 
at the nurseries. We cannot now discuss the question as 
to whether this juice may safely be substituted for wine, 
but whatever its merits, let it stand in its own name. 
We were quite surprised to find the N. Y. Tribune ex¬ 
travagantly puffing the thing under the name of the 
“ Linnaeus plant which resembles the rhubarb, but is dif¬ 
ferent.” ^is article could never have been seen by the 
agricultural editor of the Tribune, for he knows better. 
Ttie fermented juice makes a poor alcoholic liquor, which 
by coloring and flavoring may resemble wine, but it is a 
poor liquor, and no healthier than the cheapest whiskey, 
and we repeat, that it is not worth and can not be sold in 
quantity at half the price the plant peddlers claim for it. 
XSie S'weet aasil Sosir Apple Ag'ain. 
—W. F. Truesdell, Pike Co., 0., says“ There has been 
considerable controversy in regard to what causes the 
variety,” and asks our opinion. We only know that 
there are some apples which become sweeter on one side 
than on the other, but in several specimens have failed 
to see that there was anything like a dividing line septi- 
rating the sweet part from the sour. External lines upon 
apples are not rare, and are found upon several varieties. 
The story of an apple half sweet tind half sour having 
been produced by uniting a bud of the two kinds, is 
simply an absurd impossibility. 
Eima, Bca,n iPods Injurious to 
Swine.—Two or three correspondents have written 
that the pods of Lima beans would kill hogs. We sup¬ 
posed that there must be some mistake, as it can hardly 
be possible that the pod of this delicious bean contains 
anything [loisonous. Mr. J. K. Eby, Ilarrisburgh, Penn, 
has explained the matter. Mr. E. lost two hogs, and a 
neighbor of his had seven die, after eating the pods. A 
careful examination was made and it was found that the 
sharp hard point of the shell stuck in the throat of the 
animal, causing an irritation which resulted in death. 
Stra'w'berry ISumsjers.— G. H. Lincoln, 
Henry Co., III., wishes to know if the statement is true 
that the first two runners from a strawberry plant are 
the only ones that will fruit the next year. The earliest 
formed runners will make the strongest plants and they 
will usually bear a small crop the next year, but this is 
not confined to two plants or any particular number. 
PlsiMts Namacd,—P. Ritz, W. Terr. The 
grass is exarata, ti peculiarly far-western spe¬ 
cies, related to Red-top. We shall be glad to know 
something of its agricultural value-E. J. Labarriere, 
Douglass Co., Kansas. Apios tuherosa, the Ground-nut 
or Wild Bean, common all over the country. Some 
years ago an attempt was made to introduce it into culti¬ 
vation, as an edible root under name of Dacotah potato, 
but we have not heard with what success—Adda 
Maynard, North Lizard. A double variety of Achillea 
Plarmica. or Sneezewort; it is own brother to the common 
Yarrow, and a very pretty perennial for the garden- 
M. R- A., York Co., Me. No. 1. Lysimachiaverticillata, 
No. 2. Dalibarda repens. No. 3. Bidens chrysanthe- 
moides....A, W, Tabbutt, Columbia Falls. No. 1. Tri- 
/ohum agrarium. Hop-clover, a worthless species. No. 2, 
some species of Amaranthus, but loo small and too 
young to make out; is a bad weed, whichever ills.... 
Judge V’Foolman, Woodson Co. Kas. The seeds and 
drawing are those of Cucurbita perennis, common in the 
far West; the small bitter fruit is worthless. We have 
seen donkeys eat it in the absence of other food.W. 
L. A., Venango Co., Pa. The grass is Briza maxima. 
Quaking grass, often cultivated. There must be some 
mistake about its occuring in the earth thrown out from 
a well ...M. Crabb, Lawrence Co., Ind. No. 1. A 
thistle, but in too poor condition to determine. No. 2, 
is not a thistle, but the Wild Teasel, Dipsacus sylvestris. 
....W. J. L., New Milford, Conn. Gilia tricoloi, a very 
pretty California annual, now common in cultivation. 
Xl»e Xilfien. Xoinato. —This comparative¬ 
ly new variety is held in high esteem by the cultivators 
near Philadelphia. It is oval (flatwise), very smooth and 
solid. It is said to be of superior flavor, great bearer, and 
so firm when ripe as to be very good for marketing. 
Woric Nsirsery Ctaltssre. —J. 
G. Paulding and others. Barry’s Fruit Garden is the 
best work on the cultivation of fruit trees. We know of 
no work solely on ornamental shrubs. Mehan’s Hand¬ 
book of Ornamental Trees, contains good hints on forest 
trees. The above are in our book list. Dubreuil’s Ar¬ 
boriculture (in French) gives the details followed in the 
continental nurseries, and may be had of the foreign 
book-sellers. 
Eila-cs in SeptenEber.—Two little girla 
have written that they picked all the leaves from their 
lilac bushes in August, and had blossoms in September, 
The lilac knows much belter about the matter than our 
little friends do, and this unnatural treatment if continued 
will injure the plant. There is plenty of work that they 
can do to better advantage, such as trying which shall 
have the cleanest garden and the best flowers of their 
kind in the proper season. 
Moot Praiisisig'.—This is practised upon 
dwarf trees to keep them small, and upon standards to 
induce them to fruit. The treatment of dwarfs was giv. 
en in January last, on page IS. The operation is per- 
lormcd on standards that have altained a good size, but 
show no disposition to fruit, but the cutting is performed 
at a greater distance from the tree, according to its size. 
A tree three inches in diameter may have the roots cut at 
three feet from the stem. Dig out a trench all around 
at this distance, cut off all the roots tliat are met, and fill 
up the trench with rich compost. 
Make Ceittiiig's iiE AiEtiEiiiiE.—In propa- 
g.ating currants, gooseberries, quinces, etc., from cut¬ 
tings, a full year is gained over spring planting by plant¬ 
ing them in autumn. During the winter the cuttings 
callus and are ready to strike root and grow as soon as 
spring opens. The directions given in September in an 
article on currants, page 262, will answer for other cut¬ 
tings made at this setison. When it is not convenient to 
plant them this fall, the next best thing is to tie the cut¬ 
tings in bundles and dip them in mud for one third Iheir 
length. The mud should be sufficiently thin to coat each 
cutting. Thus prepared, the bundles are set in a cool 
cellar and occasionally sprinkled to keep the mud from 
becoming very dry. In spring the cuttings will usually 
be well callused, ready to strike root as soon as set out. 
lEEibi'iiiation 'liVasEtcd altont EeiBcetti. 
—A gentleman proposes to us a series of questions about 
fences, which we pass over to our readers, in the .assur¬ 
ance that in the multitude ot counsellors there is wis¬ 
dom, and in the hope that we shall have many specific 
answers with illustrations. The information elicited 
will be given in the Agriculturist. —“ What is the most 
substantial, tasteful and economical, farm fence, that will 
turn cattle, sheep, and pigs, made throughout of sawed 
stuff?” Please answer as to the following points: 
1st. Depth of setting and shape of posts below ground, 
whether square, straight, tapering or enlarging below. 
2d. The hight above ground ; the size and the best form. 
3d. The kind of timber for posts, :md time to cut it. 
4lh. Whether to set them as they grew, or reversed. 
5lh. How near shall they stand to each other. 
61h. Should the bottoms of the posts be charred, dipped 
in slacked lime, boiling tar, asphaltum, or be prepared 
in any other way before setting, to secure durability. 
7th. The kind of lumber for boards or rails. 
8th. Thickness and width of each board. 
9th. How high should the fence be, and how many 
boards or rails will be needed in each length ? 
loth. Should one be placed as a cap-rail ; if so should 
it be horizontal, or at an angle, and at wnat angle? 
11th. How many nails in each board, what kind of 
nails, and put how near the ends and edges of the board ? 
12th. Should the boards be battened over the ends ? 
