AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
27 
plant for general cultivation. They should only be plant¬ 
ed where they can remain permanently, for it is difficult 
to eradicate them after they are once introduced into a 
plot of ground. We hear that poultry are very fond of 
them, though chiefly raised for hogs, which dig them 
themselves. Foriurther notes see last volume, page 150 
(May No.) 
Fsil ling: Corn Stalks. —Orlando Bland, of Suffolk 
Co informs us that the corn on land whi'-h has been fre¬ 
quently dosed with ashes falls down in August without 
any apparent cause. Much of the land on the east end 
of Long Island has been treated too exclusively with 
fish and ashes. It wants carbonaceous matter, either in 
the form of muck or turning in green crops, to keep it in 
balance. Sow plaster and clover, and turn in the crop 
when in full blos-om, and plant corn only once in six 
years, and the stalks will hold out until the end. 
Root Crops lor Stock. —Thomas D. Burral, 
Geneva, N. Y-, favors us with a copy of his address de¬ 
livered before the Ontario Agricultural Society away back 
in 1622, in which he speaks disparagingly of root crops, 
lie remarks that he sends the address as a matter of curi¬ 
osity to show how we thought and talked upon “ the sub¬ 
ject in the woods before we had the means of getting to 
market by Railroads and Canals ’’—These records of the 
olden time agriculture, and of the efforts then being made 
at improvement are interesting. 
Winter Keeping- of Onions— M. 1). Seward, 
Christian Co., Ill.—Keep onions cool and dry during win¬ 
ter. Light freezing even will not hurt them if they are 
covered and not handled while frozen. Cellars aie usu¬ 
ally too warm and especially too damp to keep them well. 
An attic or garret floor is belter. Further information 
will be called out by the prizes offered on page 5. 
Bulbs by Mail— Thos Frazer, Luzerne Co., Fa., 
and others.—Small bulbs, such as snow-drop, crocus, ox- 
alis, &c , can be sent by mail. The larger ones better go 
by express, and even smaller ones, if many are wanted. 
We can hand orders or remittances to reliable dealers ; 
but, except in special cases, we would prefer orders sent 
directly to those who advertise them. 
Hrading Back Raspberries and Black¬ 
berries— Wm. Weaver, McDonough Co., III. — We 
prefer heading back old canes when they first start in 
Spring, and new shoots as soon as they have attained a 
height of say four feet in mid-summer. This induces 
side branches, and consequently an increased fruit sur¬ 
face. 
Ifelloxv Locust Seetl— W. C. H. John, Cayuga 
Co., N Y.—You will find this frequently advertised in 
this paper. The tree is ornamental when young, but 
quite the reverse w hen old. It is readily distinguished 
by the yellow color of its heart-wood. Is excellent for 
timber. See page 5. 
Price off the Newer Grapes.—F. B. Parker, 
Erie Co., N. Y. These can now be had of most nursery¬ 
men. Parsons & Co., of Flushing, quote them as fol¬ 
lows in their last catalogue. Hartford Prolific, 50c ; 
Concord. 75c. for one year old, and $1, for ;wo year old 
plants; Diana, $1 ; Delaware, $2 50 ; and Rebecca, $1 
each. 
Root Pruning Grape Vines.— Win. M. Reed, 
Macon Co., Ala. We differ from those nurserymen who 
recommend “cutting away all'the upper roots of the 
Grape.” We would cut away the top rather than the 
root, but not this as much as many advocates. Save all 
the roots you can, to draw up moisture for the long vines. 
Grape or Pruning Shears—We have received 
from Messrs. John Rowe & Co., 269 Pearl street, N. Y., 
a very efficient implement, of American manufacture, for 
pruning grape vines, etc. The form of the handies is su¬ 
perior to those of the imported kind. Tne cutting blades 
sever a i-inch grape vine w ith a clear cut and very easily, 
without crushing or bruising it. 
Braining Level Land.— Thos. F. Davis, of O., 
makes inquiries upon this topic. Much land that lies ap¬ 
parently level has fall enough to clear it of water. A 
competent engineer should examine it wilh his leveling 
instrument, and determine the lowest point and the pros¬ 
pect cf an outlet beyond If entirely level, a small pond 
and a wind-mill pump may be necessary. * 
.Dissolved Rones with Asbes— S. W. Joy, 
Straflord Co , N H., writes ; “ The inclosed dollar is for 
the Agriculturist for 1859—it is worth many dollars . 
Query : Is it well to mix ashes wth dissolved lime J” It 
is not. They withdraw a part of the acid from the lime 
and render it insoluble. 
Barilla.—G. G. Ruth, Berks County Pa. The near¬ 
est di.uggist will procure the article for you, if he has it 
not ali, ady on 
Homological Report.— S. W. Providence, R. 1. 
The proceedings of the last Pomological Convention have 
not yet been published officially. For copies, when issued, 
apply to the President, M. P. Wilder, of Boston, or Ihe 
Secretary, T. W. Field, of Brooklyn, N. Y. A perfect 
list of the fruits commended, at the last meeting, togeth¬ 
er with the present officers of the Society, &c., is given 
in the Agriculturist (Vol. XVII page 314). 
Wcstffield. (Mass.) Academy—Agricul- 
lnrc.-We learn from the Circular of this old Institu- 
tution that $5,000 were given by Will to found an Agr. De¬ 
partment, and the town of Westfield, in its corporate ca- 
paciiy, has contributed an additional $5,000. This De¬ 
partment is now ip. operation. The Institute is under the 
caie of J. B. Holland, A. M., Principal. Rev. E. Davis, 
D D , President, and N. T. Leonard, Esq., Secretary of 
Board of Trustees. Term began Dec 8. 
Making Burning Fluid.— W. C. A., Oswego, 
N. Y. The common burning fluid is simply a mixture of 
about Jive gallons of 95 percent alcohol (the strongest you 
can get) with one galbrn of esmphene. They are put to¬ 
gether cold and shaken well two or three times. Alcohol 
varies in strength, and the right proportions of camphene 
is all that will dissolve in the alcohol. If more be added 
a smoky light will result. If much less, a dim light will 
be given. If an excess of camphene be added it will sep¬ 
arate, in a layer by itself, and the perfect mixture may be 
decanted or drawn off. Burning fluid is dangerous stuff 
in careless hands, but not in careful hands if tight metal- 
ic lamps be only used. We now use the “ Carbon Oil ” 
instead, and would advise every one else to do so, but 
unfortunately there is not enough of it produced, as yet, 
to half supply the demand. 
Aquariums, i'riccs, etc.— W. A. P., Putnam 
Co., III.—These differ greatly in price, depending upon 
size, finish, stocking, &c. A plain one, like fig. 1 on page 
256, vol. 16, fourteen by twenty inches and ten inches 
high, costs, without the table, $7 to $8, if not fitted up 
with animals and plants. Some very small ones are got 
up lor $2.50 to $3. Others of large size and fine finish 
cost all the way up from $12 to $100. 
Cholic isj Morses. —A New Jeisey subscriber 
says he has seen obstinate cases frequently cured by 
drenching the animal freely with urine. He does not 
state the amount of urine to be given, nor from which 
animals. But this is not material, for we would not ad¬ 
vise its use. It has doubtless been useful at times—w-e 
have known of its being given to children for colds, and 
sometimes successfully ; but the urinary organs carry off 
much foreign material from the body, anil the urine is of 
very variable character, and, on the whole, as likely to 
produce injury as good. 
Borkings for Seed.—W. R. Pierce, Plymouth 
Co., Mass., infers from a note on page 347, vol. 17, that we 
are breeding Dorking fowls, and probably have them for 
sale, and he “ wishes to get tvvo or three white ones for 
seed.” We have never “taken” the “hen fever” strongly 
enough to go into raising poultry for the market. In 
short, the only stock we are propagating or improving for 
sale is the Agriculturist. 
Milk Sickness, or “ Trembles.”—A lengthy 
article from C. W. V., of Ill., is received, and reserved to 
appear early in summer. 
- -o- - 
Webster and the Witness. —Everybody who has 
had the misfortune to stand in a witness box, enjoys hear¬ 
ing a pettifogger wound up by the subject of his cross¬ 
questions. Even the skillful Daniel Webster more than 
once met his match. In the famous trial of the Boyden 
will case, the wife of Rev. Wm. Greenough was an im¬ 
portant witness, and Webster tried hard to break down 
her evidence. She remarked, “she believed, etc.,” when 
he roared out, “We don’t want to hear what you believe, 
but what you know.” “ That, sir, is just what I am about 
to say,” she replied, and went on with her statement. 
Shortly after, as was his wont, he look a large pinch of 
snuff, and drawing out his large handkerchief blew his 
nose wilh a report that rang through the crowded hall. 
Shortly after he asked Mrs. Greenough if Mrs. Boydon 
was a neat woman. She replied that she could not answer 
definilelv, but Mrs B. had one dirty trick. “What’s that 
ma’am I” said Webster. Ans. “She took snuff.”—The 
effect of this reply may be conceived. 
A sweet little girl was looking at the twilight sky, 
wherein the stars were fast overcoming the daylight. 
Suddenly she discovered a constellation brightening glori¬ 
ously out of the blue, and eqelaimed with delight; “ Oh 
mother, mother, see, see ! God is making a brqutt out of 
the stars 
A Dublin mercer, recommending a piece of silk to a 
lady for a gown, said, “ Madam, it will wear forever, and 
make a petticoat afterwards. 
“My dearest Maria,” wrote a quite affectionate husband 
to his wife, a strong minded woman. She wrote him 
back, “Dearest, let me correct either your grammar or 
your morals. You address me, ‘ Mv dearest Maria.’ Am 
I to suppose you have other ‘dear Marias?’ ” 
“ I would not be a woman,” said Jean Paul Ritcher, 
“ for then I could not love one.” 
- -—aeo—-» - 
A Word on our Engravings. 
We are laying out our plans for an unprecedented num¬ 
ber of large as well as smaller new engravings to be giv¬ 
en in this volume. Many of these will alone be worth 
the price of the volume. We doubt whether one sub¬ 
scriber in a hundred would for one or even ten dollars, 
part with the knowledge and pleasure derived from the 
engravings in our last volume, on the Telegraph, the Hy¬ 
draulic Ram, the Sewing Machine, Dining Table, Cattle, 
Farm Buildings, Flowers, Trees, etc., etc. We do not 
intend to publish a “ picture book,” but we believe al¬ 
most any topic can be better explained by illustrations 
addressed to the eye ; and further, why should not the 
farmer's own family paper or magazine have not only a 
pi actical character, but also be got up in the best style and 
in a form to please, instruct and inculcate true artistic 
taste. Other classes have access to avenues of art which 
are denied to the family isolated upon the farm. The 
Agriculturist it is hoped will in some degree make 
up this deficiency. We are exceedingly pleased that the 
increasing circulation of this journal bids fair to enable 
the publisher not only to take the front rank, but to far 
excel in beauty as well as intrinsic value and cheapness, 
and in this respect to far surpass anything that has ever 
been attempted or thought of, hithc-to. Last year we 
published engravings costing some $2,500. This year we 
hope to double that amount. We shall do so if our read¬ 
ers continue to bring in their friends and neighbors, as 
they have been doing during December. 
Rowing Against the Title. 
note to readers and correspondents. 
The editorial preparation of this (Jan.) number of the 
Agriculturist has been rather more of an up-stream job with 
us than any previous number we have ever issued. Ne 
ver before has the month of December brought us any 
thing like such a rush of letters on business, letters of in 
quiry, etc. For example, we have received more new 
subscribers since December 1st, than the entire number on 
our books two or three years since. We had looked for 
this and provided for it, not only by an increase of busi¬ 
ness help, but also by engaging an additional office editor. 
But unfortunately, just the man we wanted could not 
come into the office until after this number goes to press. 
Added to this, a troublesome affection of one side of the 
head during the first part of Ihe month almost incapacita¬ 
ted us for very effective duty. With these explanations 
we must beg the indulgence of our readers if they find in 
this number any less variety or depth of thought th* 
they had been led to expect—with the assurance that: 
will be made up, and more, during the volume. \ 
should not consider this apology necessary, but from the 
fact that most journals are expected to put on their best 
show at the beginning of the year, while wilh us it has 
necessarily been the reverse. 
For the reasons given, we must also ask pardon of many 
nundreds of correspondents w hose enquiries, communica¬ 
tions, etc-, yet remain to be answered, or otherwise at¬ 
tended to. A multitude of letters on various topics have 
been examined, and assorted into drawers labelled with 
the twelve successive months in the year, to be “worked 
up” each in its appropriate season—and thousands of 
others will be similarly treated. From our fifty thousand 
intelligent subscribers (and we may say almost half a 
million of readers ) a vast number of hints, suggestions and 
experiences are accumulating for profitable use in these 
pages. 
Show-Rills. 
We have a new, large and beautiful Agriculturist show¬ 
bill, illustrated with forty-four engravings. Copies have 
been sent to several Post-Offices. O her copies will be 
forwarded, post-paid, to News Dealers, or others who 
may desire to use them in procuring subscribers. 
Rank Rills. 
Bills on all solvent or specie-paying Banks, in the 
United States and British Provinces, will be received 
at par, for subscriptions to the Agriculturist. Bills on 
New-England, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, 
and Delaware are most desirable, because worth more 
here. Drafts on New-York City banks cost but little, and 
are the most desirable method of sending sums of $10 and 
upwards. 
