1866.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
423 
Meaves in Cows and Horses,— Lyman 
Pike, of Iroquois Co., III., writes: “ In the American 
Agricuiturist of October (page 347) I notice a case of a 
‘ cow with tile heaves.’ I liave never seen nor even lieard 
of siicli a case before, but as I have been 16 years a prac¬ 
tising pliysician, I think I can prescribe for tlie case. 
Horses liaving the lieaves, on coming to the Prairies, soon 
get rid of the affection, and observation has proved that 
tile cure is effected by rosin-weed {Silphium terebinthiiia- 
ceum). Of late the same article has been successfully 
used in the treatment of asthma in tlie liuman subject. 
Jlay it not prove equally beneficial in the treatment of 
lieaves in cows.”—[There are several Silpliiums all called 
rosin-weed, and possessing similar characters, and most 
probably tlioy have like medicinal properties.—E d.] 
fiSeiii’isig' Csilves witUoHt IHillc.—In 
answer to our inquiry of last month, •' E. S.,” of Bedford, 
llicii., writes. “Calves should have the mother’s milk 
until three days old, yet tliey can be safely reared on the 
follow ing gruel • Take one tablespoonful of wheat flour, 
and a teaspoonful of salt; mix with cold w'ater to a 
paste I stir the paste gradually into three pints of boiling 
water, let it boil a moment, and remove from the fire. As 
the calf increases in growth, increase its food, which 
must be given blood-warm three times a day. When a 
week old, give ti lock of hay or fresh grass. When a 
calf is tliree weeks old, let it have a gruel of sifted corn 
meal—one teacupful of meal to three quarts water ; boil 
thoroughly, and never omit the salt. A handful of young 
mullein leaves boiled in sweet milk will cure the scours. 
‘ Their opposite ’ is relieved by half teacup of melted 
lard—poured down the throat—repeated if needful.” 
IPears aft Slaiaiaond^port, N. Y.— 
On another occasion we have mentioned the remarkable 
immunity from grape diseases enjoyed by the region 
around Haramondsport. The locality seems to be equally 
favorable to the growth of other fruits. We saw in the 
grounds of J. W. D.avis, Esq., President of the Urbana 
Wine Co., several trees of the Virgalieu, loaded with 
fruit without a spotted or cracked specimen to be seen. 
That the pears were as good as they looked, we know 
from some specimens forwarded to us by Mr. Davis. 
ISsieiffC dairg-eaii Shears.—If a hand¬ 
somer plate of pears can be shown than one of Buerre 
Clairgeaus, that has graced our table for a week past, 
we should like to see it. The specimens w-ere from Ell- 
wanger & Barry, the well-known Nurserymen, of Roch¬ 
ester, N. Y. ; they were so brilliant in color that many 
supposed them to be artificial. For quality, this variety 
cannot rank in the very first class, though we do not mean 
to say that it is bad, or even indifferent; it has a fine flesh, 
is sweet, but is rather lacking in spirit. Still its good size, 
great beauty, and tlie abundance with whicli it bears, 
combine to make it one of our most popular varieties. 
'i'lie Tildem Xomafto.—Iti the October 
“ Basket,” we stated that our own experience witli tliis 
variety, as well as that of our neighbors, was to the effect 
that we had the wront^ sort, or that the variety had been 
over estimated. Specimens from Mr. Tilden, Davenport, 
Iowa, Mr. Henry A. Dreer, Jr., Philadelphia, and reports 
from many correspondents, convince us that the Tilden 
tomato, as they grow it, is really a good thing—as good 
as need be—regular in shape, solid, few seeded, and of 
excellent flavor. We have either had the wrong sort, or 
the soil was not suited to this variety. The weight of 
the testimony received is decidedly in [its favor. 
S'^iiae Ci’saulaerries. — “ Are those Lady 
Apples?” asked a stranger on seeing a dish of cran¬ 
berries on our table. We do not wonder at the mis¬ 
take, for they were the finest cranberries we ever saw. 
They came from Mr. Orin C. Cook, South Milford, Mass. 
CSaestnutss and Morse-chestuuts.— 
“ Enquirer.” Whoever told you that the large Spanish 
Chestnut was produced by grafting the common Chestnut 
on the Horse-chestnut, simply told that which was not 
true. The Horse-chestnut is in nowise related to the 
common Chestnut, any more than the Pineapple is to an 
Apple, or a Prickly-pear to a Pear, and there is not the 
slightest chance of ihe one growing if grafted on the other. 
TIae Madras BSadisIa .—Baplmnus caxula- 
tus. —We scarcely open an English horticultural journal 
but what we find the merits of this thing discussed, and 
have several times seen it figured. It is a radish, the root 
of which is worthless, but is grown for the pods, which 
are 12 to 18 inches long, according to the soil. While 
some say that tlie pods are palatable when cooked like 
asparagus, others consider the thing worthless. We 
grew it gome six years ago, found the pods a great deai 
longer, but no better than any other radish pods, and dis¬ 
carded it as of no use. As the plant is making some 
stir in England, and may be again imported, we give 
our experience with it. 
TIae Pliilaidelphia, Horfticmltairal 
Society, —Mr. Henry A. Dreer, Jr., Treasurer, has sent 
us a photograph of the new Horticultural Hall now being 
erected in Pliiladelphia, with a description of the building, 
which will be of a size ample for tlie purposes of the So¬ 
ciety, and of a style that will make it an ornament to the 
city. We look upon this picture with mingled ’pleasure 
and mortification. It is gratifying to know that Philadel¬ 
phia- has a Horticultural Society so thoroughly alive and 
prosperous as to need a spacious and elegant edifice, and 
we wish them the continued success. Our mortification 
is, that we can point out no temple in New York devoted 
to Flora and Pomona. In the very center of one of Ihe 
largest gardening communities of the Continent, we have 
no Society to encourage the amateur, and no place to 
which the originator of a new thing can go for an en¬ 
dorsement. All other arts and sciences have a home, 
but Horticulture is shut out of New York as strictly as 
if it were a pestilence. 
Insects sasa«l Plaant Pertilizaftioia,— 
The concluding article of this series appears in tlie 
present issue, and in behalf of those who have read tliem 
with interest and profit, we thank their author for them. 
The facts that have been presented in these papers, have 
an interest to all wlio grow plants, while to the merely 
curious in natural phenomena, they open a new field of 
observations, whicli we doubt not many will improve. 
It is proper to add tliat these are from the pen of Dr. 
Asa Gray, of Harvard University. 
^Practical and SciemtiSic E'l’uit Cul¬ 
ture. —By Charles R. Baker. Boston; Lee & Shepanl. 
In August hist we gave a notice of this work, and should 
not recur to it now but for ;i conspicuous advertisement, 
in which the publisliers see fit to make the following 
statement: “The publishers liave the pleasure to an¬ 
nounce a new edition of this elegant and popular work, 
which, .according to the expressed judgment of candid 
and unbiassed critics in England and America, evinces 
the most extensive research, observation, and experience, 
and which lias also excited the fears of rivals.”—This 
statement is followed by several quotations, mostly frojn 
political papers. The above implies that those who have 
criticised this work adversely, w'ere neither “ candid nor 
unbiassed,” and reflects upon every one of our liorticul- 
tural cotemporaiies, who are supposed to be at least as 
qualified to judge of a pomological work, as the literary 
editor of a daily paper, and not one of whom but is ready 
to welcome any work that shows merit or promise. 
There never was a work upon horticulture so severelv 
and justly criticised as this has been in this country ; it 
may be true that it has been praised in England, for so 
much of it is quoted from English autliors, that it must 
have to the English critic a very familiar look. As 
long.as the publishers see fit to advocate this book on 
what merits it may have, we have nothing to say, but 
when they seek to prop it up by unfair inuendoes, we 
suggest that tliey are taking a course tliat will not be 
likely to accomplish what they seek.—If any of our read¬ 
ers desire to see how a large work can be made by “ ex¬ 
tensive i-esearch” among the xoritings of others, let liim 
invest $4 in Baker’s Practical and Scientific Fruit Culture. 
SiiaSls or Slssg's im Cellars.—One who 
has waged an unsuccessful war upon snails (slugs) in his 
cellar for many months, asks if some one who has been 
similarly annoyed and lias succeeded in getting rid of the 
pests, will give through the Agricitlritrist the means em¬ 
ployed.—Tlie slugs or soft snails vary in size from an 
inch long to the size of a man’s finger, and leave their 
slimey tracks everywhere on walls, vegetables, utensils, 
etc., and when cleared out, soon re-appear. We should 
think a free use of slaked lime would cure the evil, but 
trust to hear from the experienced. 
CiangstrotU’s Bee-Hive—Batent Ex¬ 
tended — Important to Bee-Keepers. — .Mr. 
Langstroth lias devoted a good part of his life to the 
study of bees—and the bee-keepers of this country owe 
much to him. His invention consisted in having moveable 
frames to which the combs are attached by the bees so 
placed in the box hive as to have the tops of the frames, in 
whole or in part, separated from each other, with a nar¬ 
row open chamber above the frames, .and narrow spaces 
also on each side—so narrow that there is not room for 
the bees to build combs in these spaces, which will prac¬ 
tically interfere with the removal of the frames. This 
gives ability to remove the frames and combs at pleasure. 
Mr. Langstroth patented his invention in 1852 ; it was re¬ 
issued in X§63 i nnd just before its expiration (a few w eeks 
since), it was confirmed, and extended for 7 years. This 
extension inures to Mr. Langstroth’s benefit, and not to 
those who liave received rights or privileges from him, 
except so far as he chooses to renew tlieir (irivileges. 
The invention of this moveable comb hive h.as wrought 
a complete revolution in bee-keeping, the progress of 
which has been greatly accelerated by its aiding so much 
the introduction and disseiniiiatioii of the Italian bee. 
Within a few years past a great many (not less than 40) 
moveable frame hives have been made, which, unless 
licensed by Mr. L., are infriiigemeiits upon ids patent. 
It has been currently stated, and believed by many, - 
that Mr. L.’s patent was worthless, from having been - 
anticipated in Europe, or in this country. On account of 
these statements boldly made, and endorsed by some 
promineiit journals, .Mr. L. applied for a confirmation 
of his patent and reissue in 1863, and as he found tlie 
Patent Office library very deficient in works on bee-cul¬ 
ture, he brought his extensive collection of works, chiefly 
European, bearing on this subject, with him, for the as¬ 
sistance of tlie examiners. We learn that ids claims to 
originality were thoroughly established. As he lias real¬ 
ized comparatively little from his invention, lie applied 
recently fiir an extension of his patent. In this he was 
vehemently opposed, and mucli evidence was taken. 
The Chief Examiner in his report to the Commission¬ 
er of Patents stated that the testimony of those opposing 
Mr. Langstrotli was so contradicted by their own letters 
and published works, as to be “unworthy of considera¬ 
tion.” The decision of the Examiner was appealed from, 
and a hearing was had before the Commissioner in per¬ 
son, who confirmed it, granting the extension. Mr. 
Langstroth’s claims are therefore fully established, and 
all who wish to use moveable comb frames on his princi¬ 
ple, will have to apply to him for the right to do so. 
This he proposes to grant on very reasonable terms. 
Medicines fov iPlasits.—We don’t be¬ 
lieve in them. One iias a patent for peach curl, anotlier 
keeps out borers by putting some compound in the crotch 
of a tree. The efficiency of lliese preparations is certi¬ 
fied to by people who doubtless lliink they are doing the 
public a service, but they are not known out of their 
own neighborhood as horticulturists. We wish no adver¬ 
tisements for plant medicines for this journal. 
'I’lae Eoresft 'fi’a-ce — By 
Andrew S. Fuller. New York : Geo. E. & F. W. Wood- | 
ward. In whatever comes from Mr. Fuller’s pen, wo i 
look for a certain amount of practical value, and while ^ 
in this respect we are not disajipointed in the present 
treatise, we cannot help regretting that he did not make 
it a more exhaustive one. The work is mainly devoted 
to the cultivation of our native trees, and will be found a 
useful guide to the tree planter. Price by mail $1.50. 
W«©dwa,i’d’s ISaii-sal Aid.—This is the 
first volume of what is intended to be an annual of Arclii- 
tectiire. Landscape Gardening and Rural Art. It is a 
neatly prepared volume, containing 58 designs of dwel¬ 
lings of various styles, out-buildings, plans for laying out 
small places, elc. Piiblislied by Geo. E. & F. W. Wood¬ 
ward. We send it by mail for 75c. in paper, or $1 in ciotli. 
IfiBillfs 5 A treatise on Hardy and Tender Bulbs 
and Tubers, by Edward Sprague Raud, Jr. Boston ; J. 
E. Tilton & Co. .K volume of about 300 pages, that in¬ 
cludes the common as well as the rarer plants usually 
called bulbs. As far as we have been able to peruse it, 
the directions for culture are plain and practical, and we 
doubt not it will meet a want long felt by amateurs. Tlie 
book is produced in very handsome style. Price $3.00. 
We shall keep it on sale, and to send by mail. 
Arftificial SSoney—I'lie Best.—We have 
from time to time published various specifications for 
making sweet preparations that resemble honey, and 
some of which answer very fairly as substitutes for that 
article. Indeed, some people prefer the manufaotured to 
the natural. Every now and then some chap gets hold of 
a recipe, and fixing up a giowiiig circular, persuades 
sundry trusting people to pay liim from 25c. to $5.00 for 
his “secret,” or “patent,” or “copy-right.”—To find 
him out we paid one of these fellows $2 for a “right” to 
our own previously published recipe.—Here is a recipe 
which we guarantee to make an article equal to or 
superior to any of the dollar or five dollar recipes offered; 
Put 10 lbs. of while sugar in 2 quarts of water, and gradu¬ 
ally heat it, stirring it occasionally until brought to the 
boiling point. Then remove from tlie fire, and add 1 lb. 
of real honey. When half cooled, add lb. more of 
honey, and when only blood warm, add another 14 ib. of 
lioney. When nearly cold, add 10 drops of good essence 
of peppermint. This makes 16 lbs. in all of a very 
pleasant sweetening. Its flavor can be varied to the lil^. 
ing by adding less pj- move peppermint essence, 
