1806.1 
AMEBIGAN AGRICULTURIST. 
47 
tielicioiis as peaches which may be eaten right from the 
tree.” But he is nothing to Luther Sutton, who hails 
from Wisconsin. Luther has wheat with seven heads on 
one stalk. Likewise he has seed of the “ Western 
Green Tea,” which people must be very green to buy. 
Moreover, he has “ paint seed.” A wonderful seed it is 
loo—with botii paint and oil in the seed, and as brooms 
can be made from the lops of this w'onderful plant, we 
don’t see why not paint brushes too. Besides all this, 
tile same chap will “doctor for fits, cold sores and con¬ 
sumption, one month on trial for the receipt of 15 cents 
down,” which is cheap. The blasphemous wretch uses 
tlie name of the Almighty several times in his circillar,' 
and calls himself a “Minister of the Cross of Christ.” 
Will not people learn tliat seeds, plants, trees and such 
things of real value, do not first find their way to the pub¬ 
lic through peddlers, nor through the agency of such 
circulars as we have, described. 
CSrape Mildew, Kcmedy l*roposed. 
Mr. J. Maccracken, Secretary of the Hocking Valley 
Horticultural Society, sends minutes of a meeting held 
at Lancaster, 0., from which we extract the following: 
“ Informal remarks were made by Mr. Fetters in regard 
to mulching as a preventive of mildew in vineyards and 
protection to orchards. He had experienced the bene¬ 
fits by comparing results in portions of his vineyards 
mulched and not mulched, and he was so well satisfied 
of the benefits, that he intended-mu Idling his whole vine¬ 
yard to the depth of eight or ten inches with bagasse (the 
ground cane of sorghum), thereby protecting the soil 
from the hot rays of the sun. Dr. Sanders always keeps 
surface soil wet, believing that rain on hot parched soil 
creates mildew.” Mr. M. states, tliat while neighbor¬ 
ing vineyards were ravaged by mildew, the mulched 
portion of Mr. Fetter's remained inline condition. Please 
send the note on propagating the Delaware. 
An Essay om Crrape Culture.—We 
are indebted to Col. B. P. Jolinson, Sec. N. Y. State 
Agl. Society, for a copy of an Essay on Grape Culture 
in Steuben Co., by Hon. Goldsmith Dennislon. This Es¬ 
say forms a part of the Transactions of the Society for 
1865, and is also printed separately in a pamphlet form. 
Steuben Co., now ranks as one of the great grape regions 
of the country, and this account of the character of the 
land devoted to vineyards, and the methods of culture 
that have proved successful, is interesting and useful. 
It is fully illustrated by maps, etc. There are doubtless 
many other localiiies as well adapted to the grow th of 
the grape, as are those near Crooked Lake, and this 
Essay will be a useful aid in forming an opinion of them. 
'Elie Catawba iu Iowa.—Mr. A. Brodt, 
Lee Co., Iowa, sends us samples of Catawba wine, which 
shows that ihe grape ripens with him. The wine, tliough 
of a lighter character than that made further South, was 
exceedingly well made and a very creditable specimen. 
Steubeu County drapes.—The neish- 
borhood of Crooked Lake, in Steuben Co., .seems to be 
especially favorable to the growth of the grape, and the 
brands of Hammondsport, Vrbana, Pleasant Valley, and 
others, have already become well known in tlie Mew 
York Market. On the Idth of December, we saw ten 
tons of grapes from those places, at the Commission store 
of C. W. Ideli, on West st. The fruit was Isabella and 
Catawba, in 5 and 10 pound boxes, and in excellent order. 
It met with a ready saie at 20 cents per pound w holesale. 
ESeeping' drape Cuttings.—Rev. \V. K. 
Darcey. In a dry cellar in dry sand, the grape wood 
will be likely to become dry itself. In a cool cellar, 
they will do well if the sand be kept moist, but if it be 
both dry and warm, it is better to bury the cuttings out of 
doors below the reach of hard frosts. By putting some 
straw or litter over the place, the ground may be kept 
from freezing so that they can be easily taken out. 
Iona and Israella drapes.—W. S. 
Waters, Wilson Co., Tenn. We have nothing to add to 
th* opinion given in October last. They are both worthy 
of trial in your State— I. Mattison, DeKalb Co., Ill. 
The Iona is not as hard to strike from cuttings as the 
Delaware. It is easily propagated from cuttings in the 
open ground, but the wood is just now too valuable to 
use in that way. 
Apples iu Wisconsin.— E. W. Daniels, 
Washara Co. says, that with him the King of Tompkins 
Co. proves one of the most tender varieties. From his 
own experience and that of his fruit growing neighbors, 
he gives the following as the hardiest. Dncliess of 01- 
denbnrgh, Talman Sweet. Golden Rnsset, Perry Russet, 
St. Lawrence, Reil Aslrachan, Fameuse or Snow, Fail 
Orange, Sops of Wine and Westfield Seek no-fnrther. 
Apple .for a —J. Osborn, Union 
Co., N. J. Apparently Victuals and Drink, a favorite 
variety in some parts of your Stale, where it is also cal¬ 
led Big Sweet, and Pompey. 
Crn1> Cider.— A corresponcieufc wishes to 
know how the famous Crab Cider of Franklin Co.. Pa., 
is made, and what kind of apples are used. Will some 
of our Franklin Co. readers respond ? 
Emit Drawinj^s.— “F. H. H.,” White 
Marsh, Pa., sends some clever drawings, wliich he need 
not be ashamed to pul his name to. The large apple is 
Peck's Pleasant. A fine fruit and good keeper. The 
other we do not recognize so readily. It may be 
Jefferis, a Chester Co. variety—but that is a guess only. 
The other fruit is that of Celastrus scandens. See en¬ 
graving and description in August, 1864. 
Eoretst Trees.— Many correspondents. It 
is our intention to give more attention to the culture of 
these than we have lieretofore done. No progress can 
be made with their propagation at this season. If any 
seeds are on hand, do not let them dry up. Thin shelled 
seeds should be kept in sand, and those very difficult to 
start, such as Thorns and hard nuts, sliould bepiitinto 
boxes of earth and exposed to the cold of winter. Ar¬ 
bor Vit* seed may be kept in sand. 
European Alder. —J. G. Eisentrandt, 
Washington Co., Wis. The European Alder is sold at 
large nurseries, but at a price which would make it too 
costly to plant on river banks to keep them from wasli- 
ing. Our native Alders would answer as well, and prob¬ 
ably the White Willow would be better than either. 
Exterminating: Eociist Sprouts.— 
“ E. K. T ,” Orleans Co., N. Y., writes. “I would bo 
thankful if some person could recommend, through the 
Agriculturist, an effectual way to remove or prevent 
young locusts growing up from the old roots.” The 
only way is to cut oflf the sprouts when they are not more 
than a foot or two high. Young locust trees will give 
little or no trouble if tliey are mowed twice every season, 
close to the ground, when grass is cut for hay. 
Eate Strawberries.— B. F. Butterfield, 
Windham Co , Vt. Tlie Georgia Mammoth is perliaps 
tlie best of the later varieties, and is a fair fruit, hard 
enough to bear transportation to market. 
Flowering’ Slirabs.—Mr. II. Allen, Wash¬ 
ington Co., N. Y. The shrub witli double yellow flow¬ 
ers seen at Central Park was doubtless Kerria Japonica 
(often incorrectly called Corchorus Japonica), the Japan 
globe flower. It spreads greatly by means of suckers 
and often becomes troublesome. The Rose of Sharon, 
Hibiscus Syriacus, may be had at any of the nurseries. 
Wasliing Seeds.— One of our readers cal¬ 
led in to say that the easiest way to wash tomato, cucum¬ 
ber and other slimy seeds, is to tie lliem in a cloth and 
then wash them, clolh and all, in soap snds, then rinse 
and dry. He says that the mucilage is readily removed 
by this treatment. Make a note to try it next summer. 
Foison Ivy.—Joseph Lux. That this plant 
poisons some persons and is harmless to o.thers is a 
well known fact. We cannot tell why, any more than 
we can why clieese. honey, or any otlier nsnally harmless 
things are poisonous to some individuals. The queries 
propounded by you are without the scope of an agricuL 
tural journal, as they refer to obscure points in pathology. 
Xlie Fractical Eatoinologist.— We 
have received two numbers of tliis slieet, and find it filled 
with interesting matter relating to insects, presented in a 
popular form. It may be had by sending 12 cents in 
stamps, to E. T. Cresson, 51S South 13th St., Philadelphia. 
Xlie Fotato Trade.— New York enjoys 
a very large inland and coastwise commerce in potatoes, 
whicli has sprung up, or at least immensely increased 
witliin a few years. Formerly the seaboard towns of 
Connecticut, New Jersey, and Long Island were chiefly 
interested in this trade, and their crops were for the most 
part calculated for marketing in fall or winter. Now, 
however, the tlade is controlled by dealers who purchase 
at the West, cliiefly along tlie lines of emigrant travel. 
They make use in cold weather of the returning emigrant 
cars in wliich fires may be kept up if there i.s any dang¬ 
er from frost: and thus, in the coldest weather, and at 
an expense quite inconsiderable, compared with the ad¬ 
vantage, the crop of the great West is brought to our 
markets. We learn that tliis system, which wa.s at first 
put in operation, according to the Detroit Free Press in 
Southern Michigan, by a Mr. Shoeoraft of St. Joseph Co., 
in 1857-3—is gradually extending—as it sliould. The 
use of warmed cars should not be confined to potatoes ; 
apples, and other roots, especially carrots for cattle 
feed, might be profitably transported in this way. Another 
result is that eastern fanners who formerly raised winter 
potatoes now make their c'ops in mid-summer, or hold 
tliem over for spring prices. The former is the best 
practice, for the land is used for a crop of cabbages, or 
pickles after the potatoes come off, with great profit if 
in good condition and well enough tilled and attended. 
A i^'e’vv IVoa'lc osi llee-Iceepiaig:.—Mr. 
Quinby, wliose work on bee-keeping has long been a 
standard one, has entirely rewrillen the volume, and 
given the results of an experience of many years. The 
work is well illustrated, and directions for all the piactl- 
cal operations in the .-•piary are given. The plates of this 
work have been ready for some time, and we have only 
been waiting until tlie printers sliould be relieved of the 
pressure of holiilay work to print and issue it. It will 
be ready during the present month. 
The Egti'opcaii XimeJceeper largely 
advertised to be sent on receipt of one dollar, in some 
cases 50 cents, is a form of sun dial on a card, costing the 
maker perhaps 5 cents, and of liille or no practical 
value. An advertisement of it was offered to tlie Jgri- 
culturist, but declined because it was thought the pur¬ 
chasers would not receive the worth of their money, 
Vict,os*’s Stories, for boys and girls, by 
the writer of “Uncle Paul’s Stories,” is an excellent 
book for children. There are 45 of these stories, told in 
a pleasant manner, and each inculcating some valuable 
lesson, without being '"preachy" in style. The numerous 
engravings, its printing and binding, are all attractive. 
Published by the .American Tract Society, Boston. 
Ado1»es or Soin1>iiri!it: Bi'icics.—N. J. 
Smith, Mitchell Co., Iowa. We have had some ex¬ 
perience wdth houses built of these, in Northern Mexico. 
There the climate is perfectly dry for nine months in the 
year, and there is but very little frost. The houses are 
seldom more than one story in hight. with very thick 
walls. When covered by a good roof and tlie outside is 
protected by a thick coat of plastering, they stand very 
well, but when, as is usually the case there, the roof is 
faulty and the walls unplastered, the bricks wash away 
badly in heavy rains, and they require pretty thorough 
repairs at the close of the rainy season. We know of no 
instances iu which tliis material has been used in North¬ 
ern climates. It strikes us that the great difficulty, in our 
uncertain climate, would he to get the brii^ks thoroughly 
dry. If tliey retained any considerable amount of moist¬ 
ure, the frost would cause them to crumble. We should 
be glad to hear from any who have tried tliis material. 
IVire Clotlies Eiwe.—Ctiarles Sylvester, 
of -Mercer County, N. J., writes: “ We have used a 
Wire Clothes Line for over five years. It has not been 
hou-sed at all, and it is just as good as ever. It. does not 
injure Ihe clothes a bit. It is an old telegrapli wire about 
inch in diameter and ‘galvanized’, (tliat is, coated 
with zinc.) The wire was a present to us, so I do not 
know what it costs, but can assure y’ou it will pay for 
everybody to get one.” [We believe it.— Eds.] 
“ Eoot^cn a, Rusted Tiglit, by 
holding a tiainrner or .something heavy against one side, 
then placing a cold chisel as you would to cut the nut 
through to the bolt; give a few light taps on the cliisel, 
which will expand and loosen the nut and seldom'injure 
it.” So says “ P. G.” of Peekskill, N. Y. 
Eaurel Foisouiaig'.—Another remedy is 
propose ! by a Farmer of Wickford, R. I., whioli is salt 
pork forced down the throat of cattle and sheep that 
have been poisoned by Laurel. He says that he has tried 
it with success. Such an inert antidode would indicate 
that the poison must be very mild, or the medicine useless. 
Seeds l»y Mail,—E. P. Horne, Denver, 
Colorado. Seeds and plants liave a legal right to go 
wherever there are Post routes and Post Offices, at the 
same rates in the Territories as in the Stales. We fre¬ 
quently send and receive such things in this way from 
Washington, and other Territories. 
Flaut ibr Edgii&g's.—D. Noble, Shawanaw 
Co.. Wis. The plant is Lycopodium complanatum, and is 
noticed on page 22. Mr. N. recommends this for edgings, 
but we do not understand from his letter that he has so 
used .it liimself. With us it only grows well In the shade. 
If Mr. Noble has succeeded with it In cultivation, w* 
will thank him for an account of its management. 
