Q18 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
ling their foreheads, twitching their noses or continually 
winking their eyes. Such habits are sometimes formed 
by imitating these motions in others. It would be very 
mortifying when you are grown to be obliged to make 
these motions, for habits sometimes become so fixed that 
a person cannot control them. 
Some children have a very awkward way of sitting. 
They bend over and rest their elbows on their knees, or 
cross their feet, or sit wilh a foot under them, or get into 
some crooked shape that is not only ungraceful but inju¬ 
rious. Always sit straight, with the feet upon the floor. 
You need not look as stiff as if you had been dipped in 
starch, for that would be worse than looking careless. An 
easy, natural position, letting the hands and limbs take 
care of themselves without fidgetting to get them into 
shape, will be the most pleasant for yourselves and for 
those who are in your company. 
I don’t think I need say a word about scratching the 
head, picking the teeth, biting the nails, and such vulgar 
practices. Your own good sense, I am sure, will tell you 
that anything of that kind which needs attention should 
be done in your room, or in private. It would take too 
long to tell you about all the habits you should avoid. 
What I have said will be enough to think about for a 
while ; at some other time I may have another chat with 
you on the same subject. 
Into which are thrown all sorts of paragraphs—such as 
Notes amt Replies to ConnEsroNDENTS, with Useful or 
interesting Extracts from their Letters, together with Glean¬ 
ings of various kinds from various sources. 
What SJlisrhts (lie Rose SSusises 7 —“ Eliza,” 
Queens Co., L. I., sends the following letter for answer 
in the Agriculturist. “ What is the matter with my rose 
bushes? They look as though a fire had been among 
them, and left scarcely a green thing. My choice hy¬ 
brids, selected from the list you gave in a former paper, 
have already ceased to bloom, and my climbers are any¬ 
thing but ornamental. Is it a blight that has come upon 
them, or was it the frost in the early part of the 
month.”.If our correspondent will carefully exam¬ 
ine the leaves of the bushes, she may discover a small 
green worm about half an inch long, very busily feeding 
on the upper side of the leaf, leaving the veins and the 
underside untouched. A solution of whale-oil soap, 1 lb. 
to 7 gallons of water, applied with a syringe or otherwise, 
will kill them. If this can not be had, they may be picked 
off by hand, though this is a troublesome operation. 
Mildew on Gooseberries.—A. D. Ferrier, Can¬ 
ada West, writes that mildew may be prevented by 
thoroughly dusting gooseberry bushes with plaster, when 
the close sultry weather occurs in which mildew is likely 
to be produced. This, he says, should be repeated at in¬ 
tervals throughout the season of such weather. 
To Repel Insects from young Plaints.— 
B. R. Palmer, Clinton Co., Iowa, writes that he has kept 
his growing garden plants, cabbages, cucumbers, melons, 
etc., free from insects by sprinkling them every morning 
with water in which lien droppings have been soaked 
during the night. This application, even if not de¬ 
structive to insects, will stimulate the plants to a rapid 
grow th, and thus soon put them beyond-the reach of suclt 
depredators. 
Tree Caterpillars.—S. B. Ormsbee, Dodge Co., 
Wis. The large worm in the bottle came safely to hand, 
and proves to be the Attacus Cecropia, often found in this 
region on apple and pear trees, and also upon the smaller 
fruits. Being of such large size it requires abundance of 
food, and to obtain it, it does considerable mischief. We 
have never found them sufficiently numerous to cause ex¬ 
tensive injury. The best way to destroy them is by hand 
picking. The cocoons are very large and conspicuous, 
hanging from the bushes during the winter when they 
may be easily destroyed. 
Silk _ worm IRst'S's Wanted.—There has been 
much inquiry for these the past Spring. The stock of tho 
older silk growing countries in Europe has become dis¬ 
eased, and parties are now in this country to obtain a sup¬ 
ply of eggs where the disease is not know n. Not many 
years since silk worms were quite common in ihis coun¬ 
try, but we have been unable, this year, to point to a local¬ 
ity where eggs could be had. 
fFropatfratlns 1 Roses.—Mrs. T. II., Litchfield Co. 
Conn. It will be well to iayer new wood in Summer, 
say iu July or August. The process is illustrated in June 
No., page 163, under “Carnations.” They will be quite 
sure to root well. To propagate by cuttings requires 
practical skill, which may be best learned by observing, 
and following the directions of an experienced gardener. 
See article on page 211. 
Tite Cypress Vine.—E. Dickinson, Hampden 
Co,, Mass., writes that he succeeds best in raising this 
favorite ornamental vine, by soaking the seed in hot wa¬ 
ter, and planting early in June. He recommends shading 
the ground when they are planted for two or three days, 
after which the plants are strong enough to stand the sun¬ 
shine. 
Wild Flowers £s - oe>i Missniesota.—0. M. 
Lord, Winona Co. Thanks for the flowers you sent ; 
they were so compressed ard wilted that it was difficult 
to make them out. The yellow variety is recognized as 
the Belle-wort ( Uvularia ). We doubt whether these 
would add much to the flower border. 
tLarjfe Strawberries.—Dr. Habel, Westchester 
Co., N. Y., recently exhibited at the Agriculturist office, 
specimens of fruit from two new seedlings which came 
up in his beds from seed accidentally dropped. They 
measured from 3 to 51 inches in circumference, the lar¬ 
gest one weighed -i of an oz. • and most of them were i 
an oz., or more, in weight. 
ILarge Gooseberries.—Thomas Graves, ofPater- 
son, N. J., informs us that in that city they have an annual 
show of Gooseberries, and the specimens are weighed as 
in England. He sends for the Agriculturist the following 
list of the weights of some varieties, as shown for 8 years 
past. The weight was sent in pennyweights, (dwts.) and 
grains. An advoirdupois ounce contains 437! grains. 
Years. Name. Color. Weight. 
1851.. Pilot.Yellow..13 dwts, 1 gr. (313 grs) 
1852.. Pilot.Yellow.. 14 dwts." 7grs. (343 grs) 
1853. .Conquering Hero.Red.14 dwts, 20grs. (356grs) 
1854.. Teaxer.Yellow.. 19 dwts, 20grs (465 grs) 
1855.. Peru.Yellow.. 18 dwts, Ogrs. (432grs) 
1856.. Thumper.Green.. .17 dwts, Ogrs, (408grs) 
1857.. Peru.Yellow.. 18 dwts, 15 grs. (447grs) 
f Speedwell.Red.19 dwts, 21 grs. (477 grs) 
| Greed Overall_Green. ...19 dwte, 12grs (468 grs) 
1858-i Careless.White... 19 dwts, 14 grs. (470 grs) 
| Washington.Yellow.. 19 dwts, 10 grs. (466grs) 
LPaterson.Green. ...18 dwts, 10 grs. (442 grs) 
It will be seen that seven of these specimens weigh 
over one avoirdupois ounce each. The Washington and 
Paterson varieties are seedlings raised in Paterson. The 
others w ere imported from Lancaster lit England. The 
exhibition this year will occur on the 18th July, at George 
Parrott’s, No. 301 Straight-street, Paterson, and all who 
desire to see large gooseberries are invited to be present, 
free of charge, of course. Mr. Graves informs us that the 
prospect is fair for a show of larger berries than ever be¬ 
fore. 
Wliy arc Trees dwarfed 7 etc.—Subscriber, 
Des Moines Co., la. This operation is performed on trees, 
partly to make them more ornamental, and to bring them 
into earlier bearing, but mostly for economy in plant¬ 
ing, as a larget number of trees can bo set upon an acre. 
We do not think, however, that much is gained in this re¬ 
spect. Room in an upward direction is so plenty, that 
probably more pears can be realized per acre from standard 
than from dwarf trees, while dwarfs are much less certain 
in their growth and bearing. Wo are not aware that 
plums are dwarfed. Peaches have been reduced in size 
somewhat, by grafting on plum stocks. 
Sowing 1 Grass witlk 5£iucltwl»eat.—L. B. 
Pratt, Crawford Co., Pa. This cannot be recommended, 
from the fact that the buckwheat with its dense growth 
shades the ground too much for any other plant to thrive 
with it. Even weeds, except hardy perennials, have but 
little chance in a season favorable to the growth of buck¬ 
wheat. 
Sorrel for fcrfilixtiitg’ tlsc Soil.—W. D. B. 
Van Buren Co., Mich. All vegetable matter returned to 
tho soil probably increases its fertility by furnishing to it 
elements which the plant lias appropriated from the at¬ 
mosphere. But we should hardly cultivate sorrel for this 
special purpose, when clover will do so much better ; nor 
is it good in theory or practice to make the fertilizing 
properties of this or any other weed an excuse for allow¬ 
ing it to grow in place of other more useful plants. 
WSiy do Onions graw Jo Scallions?—B. 
R. Palmer, Clinton Co., Iowa. In the pamphlet on Onion 
Culture, lately published at the office of the Agriculturist, 
will be found the greatest amount of information on this 
arid other matters connected with the onion crop, that we 
I have met with. 
To kill Skunk Cabtoas’c.—L. G. Lowe, Ply- 
mouih Co., Mass. This plant delights in low swampy 
situations, and will soon die out if land be sufficiently 
drained. Where this is impracticable ; t will be difficult 
fully to eradicate it, although repeated pulling out by the 
roots will finally destroy it. Cutting the leaves just below 
the crown, and treating the stump to a handful of salt may 
be tried. It would probably discourage its growth at 
least. 
Stacking Hayin the Field.— L. E. Andrews, 
Berkshire Co., Mass. The practice is not to be com 
mended, except where it is impracticable to find sheltei 
for the hay, or to stack it in the immediate vicinity of tho 
farm buildings. The stock must be exposed while feed¬ 
ing unless temporary sheds are erected, which is seldom 
done ; much manure is wasted ; a bad spot is left in the 
meadows, and very often a great crop of weeds from seeds 
among the hay find a good bed among the surrounding 
manure, showing by their presence for years, where the 
stack was located. 
Cementing tine Floors for Haymows.— 
Jared P. Smythe, Dutchess Co., N.Y. To cement the 
floor of the hay-mow would make a very nice, smooth 
bottom, preferable to earth, perhaps, as it would prevent 
the escape of moisture from the earth below r . It would 
not answer well, however, to lay the hay directly upon 
this flooring; the bottom layer would be liable to heat and 
spoil. Rails or other timber should be laid upon the floor. 
This leaves room for circulation of air below’. 
Try Hydrawlic Cement "before buying' 
it.—J. II , Queens Co., L. I., suggests that parties pur¬ 
chasing hydraulic cement or water-lime, may easily as¬ 
certain if it is in good condition, by mixing up with water 
in the usual proportion a small lump, say of the size of an 
egg, and leaving it to dry in the sun about two hours. It 
should then continue to harden if placed in water, but if 
it grows soft and crumbles easily, it is worthless. 
To Remove a Film from ISse Eye.—H, 
Brown, Suffolk Co., N. Y., writes that a film maybe re¬ 
moved from the eye of an ox or other creature, by filling 
a goose-quill with ground ginger and blowing it into the 
diseased eye, repeating it several times in the course of a 
day or two. He adds, it should be done as soon as tho 
film is discovered. 
Improved Stock In Greene Co., N. ’S r „— 
“ Veritas” informs us that a fine nddition to the stock in 
Greene Co,, N. Y., has lately been received ; being a pres¬ 
ent to (Ion. Zadoc Pratt of Prattsville, from Mr. Israel 
Cross of New-York City. The animals, a bull, cow and 
calf, are of Durham and Herefordshire origin, from the 
herd of Morris Ketchum, Esq.. Conn. It is certainly de¬ 
sirable that the best breeds of animals should be intro¬ 
duced into such localities. 
Feed for Cows.—J. L. Rice, Jefferson Co., N. Y. 
We should not advise to feed sour milk to cows ; it is not 
their natural food, and on several accounts would not seem 
to be well adapted for the production of healthful milk.. 
Barley meal has been found very good for milch cows we 
believe. It is better to feed it ground or cooked, with cut 
hay or grass. 
Can Heaves be Cared 7 — W. T. Wylie, Nor¬ 
thumberland Co., Pa. The nature of the disease is such 
that a general answer can not be given either in the affir¬ 
mative or negative. Horses sometimes exhibit symptoms 
of this disorder which may be removed by proper treat¬ 
ment, and perhaps most cases could "be relieved if taken 
hold of in time. Where it is chronic, it is probably in¬ 
curable. Being usually caused it is supposed by indiges¬ 
tion induced by over work, improper feeding, etc., a 
treatment to improve the digestive organs has been found 
efficient in its alleviation. 
What is the best Farm Bog 7 — E. F. Archer, 
Parke Co., Ind. Tho terrier, black and tan, or Scotch, 
is probably best for general purposes. They are small, 
active, watchful, and courageous, and will, if properly 
trained, keep all roving stock and swine from llie premises, 
and fowls from the garden. They are first-rate for hunt¬ 
ing rats, woodchucks, skunks and other “varmints.” The 
Colly, or Scottish Shepherd dog, is unequaled for the man¬ 
agement of sheep. for w hose company and care he seems 
to have an instinctive liking, as the terrier has for rat¬ 
killing. 
How I.OW2’ Will a Horse ILive 1—L. D. Ger- 
shon, Chaulauque Co., N. Y. From 30 to 35 years may 
he considered the average age to which horses fairly 
used will attain. Rare instances have been known where 
they have lived 40 and even 50 years. 
Put up tine Ears!— James R. Leute, Ulster Co., 
N. Y., in a lengthy communication, for which we cannot 
find space, very properly urges the necessity of care in 
keeping all entrances to fields carefully closed against 
marauding pigs and stock of all kinds, that sometimes in 
an hour destroy the fruits of weeks of hard labor. We 
do not think it necessary to say much on this head ; the 
penalty for neglect is so heavy that if this does not cure 
the negligence, any thing that could he said certainly 
would not. 
