1869.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
203 
in other directions. The above named “ Herald,” being 
about to make a change in the paper, says : “ But our 
ground feature is to be something widely different from 
any other paper published in the State of Maine, and, in¬ 
deed,almost any other weekly in the United States. We are 
bound to undertake what no other daily or weekly and only 
si few of the monthly papers have had courage or principle 
enough to undertake. We shall, from the date that our 
sheet appears in its new dress, henceforth publish noth¬ 
ing, neither in advertising or reading columns, that par¬ 
takes, in any degree, of humbug or swindle. No patent 
medicines, lotteries, one dollar sales, nor those worst of 
all swindles, private circulars to “ females in poor 
health,” and letters to indiscreet young men, will bo ad¬ 
vertised. In short, we shall advertise nothing from 
which the purchaser would not receive a fair equivalent 
for his money. On this principle, which we believe to 
be the only true and just one, we shall stake our success 
as a newspaper.” Such a paper deserves success, and 
we hope it may meet with it. We commend its example 
to some very prosperous religious and agricultural papers. 
. . .Gumbridge, whom we have before shown up as one 
of the dealers in fac-similes of U. S. Treasury notes, is 
the subject of an amusing letter from U. S. Treasurer 
Spinner, at Washington, to Police Superintendent Ken 
nedy, of New York Gumbridge proposes to send lac- 
similes of currency, and some fools, or scoundrels, infer 
from his circular that he counterfeits notes which can 
be passed. They send money to Gumbridge, who re¬ 
turns reduced photographic copies of the notes. We are 
at loss to say which is the more culpable of the parties in 
the transaction. Gumbridge gets money under false 
pretenses, by promising fac-similes of the notes, and 
sends copies differing in size, while those desiring to 
obtain possession of them evidently have the- intention 
of making money dishonestly by the operation. 
IPoultry Blouses.—“ W. H.” likes the 
“ Poultry House at Ogden Farm,” and asks: 1. “ Is the 5- 
foot wall as good made 8 or 9 feet high ? 2. Why is the 
cash sloping instead of perpendicular? 3. Would not a 
framing with tight outside and inside boarding, with 
bay, or tan, or sawdust be as warm as the stone-wall and 
dryer? 4. Would not air-space be just as good for all. 
purposes, omitting the filling in? 5. If, instead of fifty 
fowls, accommodations are wanted for six times that 
number, will the expense of the structure, divided in six 
parts, costovcr four times that of the Ogden ?”— Answers. 
—1. The wall was already in place, and not built for the 
purpose. It is high enough, and better for cold weathc: 
than if higher. 2. A sloping sash admits more sun than 
a perpendicular 0116 . 3 Yes, in winter, but in summer 
it might be damp and mouldy, and would harbor vermin. 
4. No. It would bo almost impossible to make it tight 
enough to prevent a circulation of the air. 5. The cost 
would be less, in proportion to the number of fowls, for 
the larger house—probably not so much as one-third 
less. It would be better for the fowls to be in small 
buildings, at a moderate distance from each other, than 
to be in different apartments under the same roof. 
I-itimp Wiclcs.—Mrs. S. A. Philip writes a 
word to Aunt Hattie.—“ You say you have known it to 
be necessary to harness the horse and drive to town for 
lamp wicks. We live in the backwoods, twelve miles 
from a store, and husband never can remember such a 
trifle, he thinks, as lamp wicks; so I have given up ask¬ 
ing him to get any. Several years ago I saw in some pa¬ 
per how to make them. Take a strip of Canton flannel 
three times the width of a wick, double it, so it will be 
three thicknesses, the smooth side out, and sew the raw 
edge and the doubled edge together over and over. Do 
not, get it too large, and it will burn as well as the best 
sale wiok. Every one generally has scraps of Canton 
flannel in the house, so that all a wick will cost will be 
about Jive minutes’ work.” 
Stalky 'fl'eats itti Cows.—“ J. C.,” Col¬ 
umbus, Ohio, writes: ‘‘I have a valuable cow that 
Joses her milk; at times it runs from her in streams. 
Will you give mo a remedy ?”— Ans. —Milk three times a 
day, say at five in the morning, at noon, and at eight in 
the evening. If this does not stop it, have a little collo¬ 
dion, (which is gun cotton dissolved in. ether) to be 
had of all druggists or photographers, and put a drop upon 
the end of each teat after milking, being careful not to 
touch it to a sore spot, or the cow will kick. The hole 
need not be covered except in extreme cases, for a little 
ring of collodion will shrink in drying and draw the 
hole together. 
IPoJce-Trcetl Again.—A Richmond cor¬ 
respondent of the London Field states that the Poke- 
weed, Poke-berry, or Pigeon-berry, is never used in Vir¬ 
ginia as food, and the Field asks for information. If the 
Virginians do not use it, so much the worse for them; 
the only difficulty we ever found with the young shoots 
was our inability to get all we desired. De Voe, in his 
Market Assistant, puts them down among the vegetables 
to be found in the markets of our large cities. 
The Naomi Kiispberry. — We have 
read all that has been published upon this variety, and 
conclude with Betsey Prigg that “there ain’t no such 
pusson.” The best that can be said about the Naomi, 
if any one has live Naomi, out of the many so called, is, 
that it is so near like the Franconia that no one can tell 
the difference, but it is suspected of being a little hardier. 
The St. PcterslMifgh ISorticuItui’- 
al Congress. — The only American that we have 
thus far heard of, as being invited to serve on the com¬ 
mittees of this International Exhibition, is Dr. Charles 
Siedhoff, North Hoboken, N. J., well known as the 
“Horticola” of various journals. We regret that Dr. 
S. declined, as lie would have creditably represented 
American horticulture at this most important exhibition. 
Bjicc oil BSoiieysnelties.—Mrs. J. B. Doe 
writes that she has successfully used wood ashes sifted 
over the vines just before a shower. 
H)r:iiai ies” a Garden.—“ F. IT.” Tf we 
understand the shape of your garden wc should advise 
four drains the whole length of it. In very stiff soils, 
where thorough drainage is needed, the tiles arc some¬ 
times put still nearer. 
Vnt-Worails.—Mrs. “M. L. H.,” Peoria, Ill., 
says: “ Tomato, cabbage, sweet potat®, and all similar 
plants, can be protected from cut-worms by a little strip of 
paper around their stems, extending from near the roots 
to about an inch above the surface of the ground. The 
trouble is comparatively small.”—This is not new, but 
we give it again, as it may be useful to some. It will do 
very well in small gardens, but where one plants cab 
bages, etc., by the acre, it would be impracticable. 
The Native Countries of I'lants.— 
Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe writes from Florida: “ Sweet 
potatoes, sugarcane, rice, cotton, melons, and cucum¬ 
bers, all of which are the native growth of the soil.”- 
This will be news to those who have given attention to 
such matters. De Candolle, who is the highest authority 
on geographical botany, does not assign either of these 
plants to North America. 
Scale I.oiise from IV. t,'.— J. G. Frowey 
sends ns a portion of a branch very badly infested with 
some kind of Coccus, but does not say what tree it is 
from. The bark is very much disfigured, and we can 
only guess that it is that of an orange tree. Persons who 
send us insects should always give the name of the plant 
upon which they are found. 
Price of Potatoes. —By an oversight in 
dropping two lines of type from the advertisement of 
Messrs. L. D. Scott & Co., in the April number, they 
were made to offer Bresee’s Prolific at far less than cost. 
The correct reading is in their advertisement in the 
March number, page 111. Those ordering from this firm 
will please make a note of the fact. 
Beet Sugar.— Mrs. S. A. Philip.—The proc¬ 
ess for extracting sugar from beets requires too much 
machinery to allow it to be followed in the family. 
More Grubs with. B’uiigi.— After page 
220 was made up we received from T. II. Winder, John¬ 
son Co., Kansas, specimens of grubs similar to those 
there described. Mr. W. says that he has seen the para¬ 
sitic plant four inches long. He wishes to know “what 
they arc and what they will be.” Wc have told on the 
page above cited all that we know as to what they are, 
and hope that Mr. W. will carefully observe them and 
assist us in finding out what they will be. 
Best Boots for Milch Cows.—" 6. 
W. A.,” Lawrence Co., Ind. Sugar Beets arc probably 
the best roots you can raise for cows. The season is 
usually a little too far advanced by the first of June for 
them to do very well, and we advise you to raise also 
Swedish turnips (ruta bagas) and cabbages, which will 
make full crops with proper care. See Hints about work. 
The “ Meshaitnoclc ” Potato.—“C. 
L.,” Sanpete Co., Utah. The Meshannock is known at the 
East as the Mercer and Chenango. It is a most excellent 
variety, which of late years has proved very unproductive 
and liable to disease. Those sent, the finest we have 
seen for years, are planted and we will report results. 
Fishing in American Waters. By 
Genio C. Scott. New York: Harper <fc Brothers. We 
have not had time to examine this handsome volume. 
Its author has long been known as a leading writer on 
angling matters, and if the instructions he gives are in 
keeping with the beautiful manner in which they are 
presented, they will be of great value to sportsmen. 
North - Western Hedge Plant 
Growers’ Association. —A meeting will be held at 
Mendota, Ill., on the-23d of the present month. A full 
attendance of plant growers and an interesting time are 
expected. II. N. Pease, Bloomington, Ill., is the Secre- 
lary. Any one engaged in growing hedge plants may 
become a member by the payment of one dollar. * 
fi*Bnms.—“C. Porter,” Lehigli Co., Pa., finds 
his plums set every year, but that they all drop when 
half grown. Probably C. P. does not know the curculio 
by sight. Let him spread a sheet under the tree as soon 
as the plums are fairly set, and give the tree a sudden 
jar. He will soon discover the cause of his trouble in 
the shape of a small beetle. If he expects to have plums, 
he must do this every morning. 
SSef'iaso Inline.— “J. II.,” Wheeling, Va., 
asks, “ What value is there in the refuse of glue manufac¬ 
tories as a fertilizer?”— Ans. — Nitrogen, if it contain any 
glue or animal matters. If it is soluble, dissolve it, and 
add it to your compost heaps. 
Trailing' Arbutus. —“ J. IV. R.,” Bethle¬ 
hem, Pa. The Trailing Arbutus, or May-flower, Epigceo, 
repens, can he transplanted if ils natural requirements 
are observed. It needs shade and a covering of leaves in 
winter. The best way is, to take up a large tuft, and 
place it in a situation as near as possible like that from 
which it was removed. 
Potato (Jneries. —“Norwood,” N. C. -It 
is difficult to say what potato is best fora late crop. The 
old varieties arc very uncertain, while the new ones are 
not well established. The Ilarison is a great cropper, 
sometimes good and again poor in quality. Gleason 
has done w.»l, both in quality and quantity, in some 
places at the North. Rolling in plaster after cutting is 
good practice, or the sets maybe exposed to the air to 
dry after cutting. 
Worms on Vines.— ‘‘TV. IT.,” Newark, 
N. J. We cannot say from the description which one of 
the many insect enemies of the grape vine troubles you. 
I ines, if trained so low as to have all parts within reach, 
can be daily visited, and all “worms” kept in subjec- 
lion by hand-picking. With large, rambling vines the 
case is difficult. Did wc know which insect it was wo 
might suggest a remedy. 
“ Best's Eiii|>rorcd Fruit Tree and 
Vino Insect Destroyer and Iiivijs,orator.”— 
So many have written us about this, that wc advertise it 
by giving the full title. Circulars without number have 
been sent to us, and people who have invested five dol¬ 
lars for the recipe send it to us, and ask if it is safe to 
use it. As the article is patented, the recipe is no longer 
a secret. Wc copy one from Bedford Co., Pa., which is 
tlie same as many others that have been sent to us: 
“ One gallon Whale Oil, one quart of Pine Tar, one quart 
Coal Tar, two pounds Potash, two pounds Carbonate of 
Ammonia, to forty gallons of water. Mix the oil and 
the tar well before adding the other ingredients. Put 
the ingredients into a barrel, take cotton wool or straw, 
loose, three inches thick, then bind it around the tree, 
one foot above the surface. Every other morning, for 
ten days, early, before the sun gives much heat, with a 
watering pot wet the wool or cotton (how about the 
straw ?) with the above preparation. This must be done 
in the spring, when the frost lias left the earth, and the 
trees commence budding. It is very important that, this 
should he strictly observed. When the trees are much 
decayed, this preparation should be used in (he fall of 
the year.”—Our correspondent states that the foregoing 
is a copy of the deed, allowing him to use it. The fol¬ 
lowing are extracts from a pamphlet furnished by Mr. 
Best: “For wheat, let it dry ; this will cause the grain 
to come up with strength, so the frosts of winter will 
not kill it, whether covered by snow or not; it will 
grow stronger, head heavier, and no weevil or fly will 
touch it, and dew or rain will not cause it to rust. The i 
reason of this is, that the mineral substances of the in- i 
vigorator connect with the mineral substances of the 
earth, and nitrogen and hydrogen form a power of life in 
the seed; a greater amount of this power, starting with 
the first growth, connects with the oxygen in the air, and 
swells the tree or stalk, as a greater amount of sap forms 
through the pores of the stalk, and the branches receive 
more, and being filled with the substances from the 
earth, receive a greater amount of carbon from the sun ; 
it forms a greater heat, and produces a more vigorous 
bud on fruit trees, and rust will not gather on the head, 
