1870.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
9 
Trees and Rabbits. — A. S. Proctor, 
Peoria Co., Ill., sends the following, which, though not 
altogether new, is worth repeating at this time: “Cut 
straight corn-stalks, long enough to reach higher than 
the rabbits can; stick them into the ground around the 
tree, and tie the top with twine. The protection is per¬ 
fect ; it never fails. This plan is very expeditious, and 
costs nothing but a little labor and twine,” 
Wisconsin Horticultural Society. 
—The Annual Meeting will he held at Madison, on the 
first Tuesday in February, and continue for two days. 
The Secretary, O. S. Willey, sets a good example to other 
secretaries of such societies. We received his an¬ 
nouncement of the meeting in December, and extract 
from it the following: “First, we don’t want any one to 
say he did not have a timely notice. Second, we want 
every body to know that there is a Wisconsin State Hor¬ 
ticultural Society, and that its members, and all interest¬ 
ed in fruit growing, either as a luxury or profession, are 
invited to be present and participate in its discussions, 
or at least to'add their mite by way of encouragement by 
their presence. Third, we want any one who has raised 
any fruit, and still has it on hand, to have this timely 
notice, that they may have some of their fruit still farther 
kept, and send or'bring such samples as will add a share 
of interest to the occasion,” etc. 
Sledging.—An article upon Hedges for the 
West, by our Iowa contributor is unavoidably put over to 
another month. It is by a practical hedge-grower and 
will answer several who have inquiried about hedges. 
European JLarcIa.—Most nurseries keep 
these in moderate supply. Those who have seedlings in 
quantity should advertise. 
T8»e Kittatinny.—This Blackberry seems 
to do splendidly in Iowa, to judge from a photograph of 
a cluster sent by B. Lamed of Eddysville. 
Opinun.— 6 . D. Cramer and others. Wc have 
no evidence that opium has yet been made in this coun¬ 
try. An extract of the poppy plant, a very different thing, 
was exhibited as opium. This was subjected to analysis, 
and found variable, and of poor quality. The opium ex¬ 
citement started in Vermont, and its apparent object was 
the sale of directions for poppy culture. Ifanyonecan 
furnish us reliable information upon the subject we shall 
be glad to receive it. Opium is not, as many suppose, to 
be made by pressing the juice from the poppy and evap¬ 
orating it. It is the dried milky juice which exudes 
when the unripe seed-vessel of the poppy is carefully scari¬ 
fied. In India each head only yields about two grains, 
and wo doubt if at the present prices of labor and onr 
uncertain climate it can be made to pay. It is, however, 
a good field for experiments, and we would like to hear 
of something more reliable than the newspaper accounts 
heretofore published. 
Fine Grapes. —Win. Hamilton,Gardener for 
Win. Hoyt, Stamford, Conn., lias been very successful with 
his vinery. The cluster he sent us attracted much atten¬ 
tion and—we are sorry to say it—proved too much for 
some fingem. 
Peaches.—“ W. L. S. ” Currituck Co., N. C. 
It is customary to plow the orchard after the fruit is 
gathered and cultivate it as long as weeds grow. We do 
not see how it can affect the starting in the spring. A 
mulch put on after the ground is frozen, might retard the 
buds somewhat, but not much. The buds being exposed 
to the influence of spring will he apt to start without 
much reference to the condition of the soil. 
Vines in nn OrcJ»»s*«l.—J. B. asks ifwc 
would advise planting grape vines or raspberries in a 
peach orchard where the trees are 15 feet apart each way. 
—Decidedly not. Annual hoed crops may be grown and 
the breadth given to them diminished until the third year, 
after which they should be stopped and all the ground 
given up to the trees. Grape vines will he well estab¬ 
lished about ths time the orchard comes into full bearing, 
and each will be in the way of the other. 
Rabkits, Mice and Trees.—Dr. M’Can¬ 
ned, Adams Co. O., finds that a mixture of asafeetida 
and soap, painted upon the hark of trees, will preserve 
them from the attacks of rabbits and mice. Will the 
Doctor kindly give us the prescription, as he lias for¬ 
gotten to say what proportions he lias found best, or the 
form in which the asafoetida is used. 
Swindling- tlae Nurserymen.—A well- 
known dealer writes: ‘‘ Last spring, a man in Ohio is¬ 
sued circulars stating he wished to purchase a certain 
amount of small frnit stock, as he was going into the 
berry business. He sent these circulars through the 
country, asking nurserymen to bid for filling the pro¬ 
posals, reserving to himself the right to accept all or any 
part of the bid. In time an answer came, stating, 'Your 
proposal has been accepted for a certain amount of stock, 
to be forwarded to S-, and to draw on the First 
National Bank of that place for the amount of bill.’ All 
that any on» got was a protest from the hank, with costs. 
I understand he is doing the same this "fall, only in other 
places.” We hope that our friend did not purchase his 
experience at too high a price. Hereafter, he will ask for 
references of those who order and are unknown to him. 
Smoking Plants.— “F. C. S.,” Boston. 
The length of time a plant should he smoked will depend 
upon the density of the smoke. In half an hour the lice, 
if not dead, will generally be so stupefied that they will 
loose their hold, and may he shaken off. 
Dwarf June Berry.— Dr. M’C. This 
variety came from the West, and we look for information 
concerning it from that quarter. W T e, as well as others, 
have the plant on trial, but it has not yet fruited. 
Watering ami Hannre Water.— 
“R. J. H.” writes: “How is a person who has never 
had experience to teach him to know what amount a 
moderate quantity of water is, or what is a moderate 
quantity of manure water?”—The want of “experience” 
is just our correspondent’s trouble, and which he can, 
with a little patience, overcome. Dust and mud are the 
two extreme conditions to which the earth in flower pots 
can be brought, and both, with rare exceptions, must ho 
avoided. A rapidly growing plant will require an 
amount of water that would ruin a slow growing or a 
dormant one. Now, no written rules will instruct one 
just how much water to give a particular plant. The best 
way is to experiment. More plants are killed by over¬ 
watering than by drying up, and it is better for the 
health of the plant that the soil should get dryish occa¬ 
sionally. As to manure water, use liquid cow manure, 
diluted so that the water is slightly colored; apply this 
once a week, and if the plants seem to do well under it, 
use it twice a week, making it a little stronger if the 
plants appear to demand it... .Fuchsias, except a few 
winter-flowering ones, are better stored in the cellar 
for the winter, as they are generally poor parlor plants. 
An Erratic <Srass. —Daniel Noble, Sliair- 
ano Co., Wis., sends specimens of Timothy in which the 
palets , or envelopes of the flower, are developed as small 
leaves about half an inch long. Wo have seen the same 
condition in this grass several times before. 
Tiae Rcw York Fruit = Grower.*’ 
Club.—We were informed by an officer of this Club that 
it had become mortified at its inability to pay its premi¬ 
ums, and had committed Hari-kari , and made an announce¬ 
ment to that effect. It seems that it was only cut in two, 
and like a polyp, its separated parts are struggling into 
individual existence. Nine men and one woman met at 
the rooms of the American Institute and made an attempt 
to organize. As all could not he chairmen at once, this 
portion—which represents the head, as it contains what¬ 
ever of brains there was in the concern—adjourned to a 
more favorable season. The tail end has since shown 
signs of vitality and lias called itself—of all tilings—the 
“Horticultural Society of New York.” Well, there is 
something in a name. We do not observe that anyone 
ever suspected of horticultural knowledge is identified 
with the movement—hut the name looks well in print. 
Tlae ii Mexican. Everbearing ” 
Strawberry.—The Michigan Farmer quoted us tri¬ 
umphantly as endorsing the claims of this variety to ho 
new. We gave its statement the positive denial it de¬ 
served, whereupon it. follows with a column, the purport 
of which is, t hat oun pin on is not worth anything either 
way. The Farmer mistakes greatly if it thinks to draw 
us into a controversy with it. Abuse will not help the 
strawberry nor will it hurt us; and the editor of that 
paper may feel just as badly as ho chooses. The question 
which interests the public is this—Is the “ Mexican Ever- 
hearing” Strawberry worth growing? To which we 
answer, if the old Red Alpine is worth growing, that is, 
for we are unable to see the difference. The inability to 
see the difference between the “Mexican” and the Red 
Alpine may be stupidity or it may be an Eastern preju¬ 
dice, for both these charges arc made against those who 
think them as alike as two white beans. For ourselves, we 
consider the Alpine and the “Mexican,” he they alike or 
different, as not worth growing. The fruit is small, soft, 
pasty, and without the flavor we are accustomed to asso¬ 
ciate with the strawberry, and have no doubt that nine 
out of ten who should plant either would be sadly disap¬ 
pointed. There are a few who.like a frnit of this kind j 
and they will find it in the so-called “Mexican.” The names 
of some persons whom we highly esteem are quoted as 
stating that the “ Mexican” is a distinct variety. Neither 
of these have ever grown the two sorts together. We 
know them well enough to be sure, that should they find 
upon trial that the “ Mexican ” is not a new variety, they 
will frankly say so, and should our experience with the 
two side by side, show the plants in any respect different, 
we shall admit that onr present opinion is not well found¬ 
ed. Mr. B. Hathaway of Little Prairie Ronde, Mich., 
publishes in the Michigan Farmer and elsewhere the 
most positive testimony as to the identity of the two 
sorts. Mr. II. grew the “Mexican” and an Alpine, which 
he had cultivated for many years, side by side. He says, 
“ And carefully comparing in size, form, flavor or fruits, 
and in habit of productiveness, there lias been no appre¬ 
ciable difference. Had I not set them myself I could not 
tell them apart.” The testimony of so well-known a fruit 
grower as Mr. Hathaway is worthy the consideration of 
the Michigan Farmer. The Farmer says: “ Why did not 
the editors of the Agriculturist and the Jtural Neiv Yorker 
in the convention respond to the remarks of Mr. Median? 
or why not call the attention of Mr. Elliott or Dr. Warden 
to the identity of the two varieties? Simply because 
they dare not 1 ” If that conundrum was not answered 
by its propounder we should say that the only reason wo 
did not do these things—we can’t answer for onr friend 
Bragdon—was the perhaps insufficient one, that at the 
time wc were some 30 miles away_Since the foregoing 
was in type, we notice that Mr. B. Hathaway lias written 
to the Country Gentleman an article giving his ex¬ 
perience with the “Mexican.” He states that he has 
the “Mexican” and the Alpine planted together, and 
that he will give any one $500 who will at any time of the 
year pick out the plants of tho “ Mexican.” Here is a 
chance for the Michigan Farmer. 
Norway Spruce Hedge.—“ G. H. F.,” 
Montgomery Co., Pa. Tho Norway Spruce can be kept 
at any desired size by clipping. Cut a young hedge in 
October, to secure a strong growth, and when the hedge 
is once well established, prune the young growth in June, 
and trim again in October to bring it to the desired shape. 
Bark Lchsc.—A. P. Lark, Millersburgh, 
Pa., sends a twig covered more thickly than we ever be¬ 
fore saw with Harris’ Bark Louse. Mr. L. says that the 
whole tree is covered with them, from root to top, and 
that they even were on the fruit. On this point wc have 
a letter from D. A. Norris, Greenville, Conn.: “In tho 
spring of ISOS I purchased a house and lot; there were 
about a dozen pear trees on the lot, and one of tluyn (the 
Duches.se) was badly infested with scale lice. The former 
owner of the place had been trying for a number of years 
to get rid of the pests, but could not succeed, and I de¬ 
cided to cut the tree down. I had some painters at work 
on my house about the first of June, and I thought I 
would try an experiment; so I took ft paint keg and 
brush and painted that tree from stem to stern (as a 
sailor would say), covering tho leaf buds and everything 
else with a thick coat of white paint, lead and oil, such 
ns they were painting the outside of my house with. All 
of my neighbors (and some of them knew very much 
more about trees than I did) said I had killed the tree. 
I told them, ‘ better dead than lousy.’ The tree leaved 
out very well, though some buds couldn’t break tho crust 
of paint. It made a good growth of wood, some of the 
shoots growing from twenty-four to thirty inches. What 
is better than that, I could find no lice on them. I 
thought I would say nothing to you about it until I had 
tried it another season. I have watched it closely this 
season, and can find nothing on it that has any resem¬ 
blance to a louse, and I am well satisfied that I have ex¬ 
terminated them. Some of my neighbors are troubled 
with them, and they say they ‘ shall try the paint next 
season.’ The tree which I painted was seven or eight 
years old, and has never fruited until this year, when it 
bore one pear. I am in hopes to get a good crop from it 
next year.”—A tree in the condition of Mr. Lark's is fit 
for no other use than some such heroic experiment as 
here detailed. If it is killed under the treatment, never 
mind, as it should bo cut down if it cannot he cured. It 
is likely that linseed oil, without the paint, would do 
as well. Wc have no doubt that soap, made thin enough 
to work, would have answered as well as the paint, if ap¬ 
plied early in June, just before tlie insects batch. The 
experiment is interesting as showing how much abuse 
a tree will stand. 
New Vegetables are described by J. J. IT. 
Gregory and others in the Horticultural Annual for 1S70. 
Treatment of S-.aiiid tf<>r Cores.—“ C. 
H. S.” asks the best way to prepare a neglected, white 
clayey soil for corn. He has little manure. It is poor policy 
to winter-fallow for corn usually. Heavy clay lands are 
