AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
951 
that her father was obliged to compel her to sit by his side 
until we reached home. Now Fannie’s trouble was the 
FinGETS, 
and it is a very common complaint. I have noticed that 
it is very apt to trouble little folks who are really the best 
off. Everything surrounding little Fannie w'as calculated 
to make her happy, but before she became really engaged 
in one tiring, her thoughts and wishes ran off after some¬ 
thing else within reach, so that she found enjoyment 
in nothing. Fidgety people, instead of taking comfort 
with what they have, are continually imagining that 
something else would be better, and the more they have, 
the more puzzled they are to know w hat to do with them¬ 
selves. They are like a child I knew, that W'ent to pick 
berries, in a field where they were plenty, but instead of 
filling her basket, she wasted the afterno'on by running 
around to find some place where they were thicker. 
There are two ways to cure the fidgets. The best way 
is to make up our minds to be content to enjoy what we 
have ; but if children can not do that, then I would let 
them have just as few pleasant things as possible within 
their reach, so that they will not be troubled to choose, 
just as Fannie’s father obliged her to sit still and enjoy 
her sail, which she might, and ought to have done with¬ 
out being made to. 
Now I hope you will think about this. Perhaps you 
will remember it better if you hear some verses I found 
the other day in a newspaper that was sent to me by one 
of our cousins in England. Mary, please read it for us : 
“ A BIRD IN THE HAND WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH.” 
There are two little songsters well known in the land, 
Their names are I-Have and O-Had-I; 
I-Have will come tamely, and perch.on your hand, 
But O-Had-I will mock you most sadly. 
I-Have,-at first sight, is less fair to the eye, 
But his worth is by far more enduring 
Than a thousand O-IIad-I’s that sit far and high 
On roofs and on trees so alluring. 
Full many a golden egg this bird will lay, 
And sing on: “ Be cheery ! be cheery !” 
Oh, merrily then, will the day glide away, 
And sweet shall your sleep be when weary. 
But let 0-IIad-I but once take your eye, 
And a longing to catch him once seize you, 
He’ll give you no comfort nor rest till you die ; 
Life-long he’ll torment you and tease you. 
He’ll keep you all day running up and down hill, 
Now looking, now panting, now creeping ; 
While far overhead, this sweet bird, at his will, 
With his bright golden plumage is sweeping. 
Then every wise man that attends to this song 
Will count his I-Have, a choice treasure, 
And whene'er an O-Had-I comes flying along, 
Will just let him fly at his pleasure. 
ABBREVIATIONS. 
Several young as well as older correspondents have 
from time to time inquired the meaning of sundry abbre¬ 
viations in common use. We throw together here an¬ 
swers to a few most inquired for, which are in common 
use 
A. B. or B. A., signifies Bachelor of Arts, (not hearts). It 
is only given to those who have completed the full 
course of study in a regular college. B. S., meaning 
Bachelor of Science, is sometimes given to those who 
go through a partial course of study, mainly of the na¬ 
tural sciences and mathematics. 
A, M., or M. A., signifies Master of Arts, an honorary title 
usually given to those who have completed a collegi¬ 
ate course, and followed literary pursuits—and be¬ 
haved themselves three years afterwards. This de¬ 
gree is sometimes conferred as a mark of honor upon 
those who have not been through college, but w ho 
have distinguished themselves in literary pursuits. 
This and the preceeding title are too often conferred 
upon unworthy persons, from interested motives. 
A. M. also signifies Anno Mundi , that is, in the year of 
the world. It also signifies Ante Meridian, that is, 
before mid-day. [The latest definition we have heard 
for A. M. is “ After Money.”] 
II. M. S. signifies H-er Majesty’s Service, that is, in the 
British army. 
M. C. signifies Member of Congress, (Senator or Repre- 
sentative.) 
II. R signifies Member of House of Representatives, (not 
Senator.) 
i. e. signifies that is, (id est). 
ib. signifies in tke same place; or, from the same place, 
id. signifies tke same , (idem). 
M. P. signifies Member of Parliament. 
N. B. signifies Note well, (Nota Bene). 
Nem. con., means ; No one contradicting, (nemine contra- 
dicente). A vote nem. con. is one in which no one 
votes against the majority. 
Nem. dis. means : No one dissenting. 
Sine die means : w ithout a day ; thus, a meeting adjourns 
sine die, that is, without naming a day or time for an¬ 
other meeting. 
We give these few abbreviations to answer querists, 
and to fix them in the mind of the reader. These and 
others are given in most dictionaries, and even spelling- 
books—usually too briefly however. 
Into which are thrown all sorts of paragraphs—such as 
Notes and Replies to Correspondents, with Useful or 
interesting Extracts from their Letters, together with Glean¬ 
ings of various kinds from various sources. 
(S’© Coi-respoiideaits. —Indefinite Questions, 
etc. —Many inquiries are received week by week, to 
which no answer is, or can well be given, from the fact 
that they are not sufficiently definite. For example ; one 
writes, 11 What is the matter with my cow ; she is drying 
up although her feed is good; please tell me the cause 
and remedy!” Now how do w'e know what to say in 
such a easel She may be too old to give milk, or the 
milker may beunskillful.or a hundred other things could 
be imagined. Another says: “ What shall I do for my 
plum trees ; they are six years old and never bear any 1” 
The shortest answer, and perhaps as correct a one as any 
in this case would be, ‘ cut them down;’ but the querist 
would not be satisfied. Usually no notice is taken of 
such ; we have no ammunition to waste in firing at ran¬ 
dom queries, and we must leave the questioner to won¬ 
der, perhaps to find fault because his inquiries have ap¬ 
peared to be neglected. 
In other instances, persons send a long description 
of a farm, or homestead, and ask for full directions how 
to manure and otherwise treat their soils. We can not 
undertake to prescribe in such cases, first, because we 
have not confidence in our ability to give suitable direc¬ 
tions for a farm we have not seen ; second, it would be 
impossible to devote the hours of time required to study 
out all the points to be taken into consideration; and 
third, we can only consider, in the columns of the paper 
such questions as are likely to be of somewhat general in¬ 
terest. It would be unjust to take up space belonging to 
all our readers alike, with matter of only individual in¬ 
terest. 
Infforisaatioii about Bees.—Subscriber, New¬ 
ark, N. J. We are always pleased to receive reliable 
practical information on any agricultural subject, but can 
judge of the value of an article only by actual examina¬ 
tion. 
Freservisig Green Peas and otlier Yeg-- 
eJaMes.—H. M. Painter, Cook Co., Mo. Green Peas, 
Beans, Tomatoes, and other garden vegetables may be 
kept for a long time in air-tight cans or bottles, put up 
like fruit as described in the July Agriculturist, page 213. 
They should be cooked thoroughly, as if for the table, 
nothing being added, however, but salt enough to season 
them properly, then put in the cans while boiling hot, 
and sealed up. 
Tomatoes injured by Worms.—A subscri¬ 
ber asks for a preventive of the attacks of a species of 
large green worm, which has proved very destructive to 
his tomato plants. He says he has tried lime and plaster 
without effect. Perhaps some subscriber who has had 
experience in the matter, can give the desired information. 
We have had none. 
Taylor’s Tree l*rotector.—This was fully 
illustrated and described in last volume, p. 244, and we 
have received several favorable reports from those who 
used them last fall to check millers and other insects 
from ascending the trees to deposit their eggs. It is 
worthy the attention of those who would save their shade 
and other trees from the canker worm, caterpillar, etc. 
We refer those making inquiries of us to Capt. W. W. 
Taylor, South Dartmouth, Mass. 
Wiieis will Seeds Mis:George Smith, Han¬ 
cock Co., Illinois. If plants of the same family 
grow sufficiently near each other to allow the pollen 
(fertilizing dust of the flowers) to mix in the flowers, the 
seeds produced will partake of the qualities of both parent 
plants which furnish this pollen; thus, Melons, squash¬ 
es and cucumbers frequently lose their distinguishing 
peculiarities. Where they must be sown near each oth¬ 
er, new seed should be procured each year. They may 
be kept separate by planting at a distance, and putting 
peas, corn, or other tall growing plants between the plots 
devoted to vines. 
!Soroe=®Uist ff©r Strawberries.—C. A. Win- 
throp, Tioga Co., N. Y. We have found no better appli¬ 
cation. When making a new bed for berries we dig in 
deeply, a large supply of either finely ground bones or 
bone-sawings, and the effect is very marked. This and 
other fertilizers may be dug into the soil of beds already 
planted, with care to not injure the roots over-much. 
Colored IPiatcs o£ Fruits,Flowers, etc.— 
We have received from D. M. Dewey, Rochester, N. Y., 
his very pretty colored plates of apples, pears, plums, 
and grapes. They are rather highly colored, but not too 
much so, perhaps, for the beauty of the picture. From a 
catalogue received, we learn that Mr. Dewey, is getling 
up a great number of these colored plates embracing all 
the better varieties of fruits, flowers, trees, etc. We 
commend the enterprise to all who desire to adorn their 
homes with fine rural pictures. 
‘ Care in Building-.—E. J. Ellis, Mercer Co., N.J., 
wiites that one cause of ill success in budding or innocu- 
lating trees, is that care enough is not taken in removing 
the bark to leave the cambium uninjured. The cambium 
is the soft mucilaginous substance left by the descending 
sap between the inner bark and the wood, which supplies 
the growth of the adjacent parts, and on a supply of 
which the inserted bud depends for its nourishment. 
Boot Granting- Grapes.— A. W. Smith, Kansas 
Ter. The grape vine succeeds well when grafted, and 
where thrifty wild vines are plenty, and choice varieties 
of the grape scarce, it would probably pay well to graft 
upon these native stocks. The best way is to cut the 
stock off below the surface of the ground and insert the 
scion. Root grafting proper, that is uniting slips with 
small portions of roots of common varieties, is seldom to 
be recommended. 
Prusimg- Evergreen filedges.—C. A. Win- 
throp, Tioga Co., N. Y. The latter part of May or first 
of June is the best time for pruning hemlock and other 
evergreens. Unlike deciduous trees the exuding sap is of 
a resinous nature, and forms a good covering or prolec¬ 
tion to the wounded parts. 
Slsootiug- liie Army Worm.—Eli Armatrout, 
Clinton Co., Ind., writes that the army worm may be de¬ 
stroyed by discharging heavily loaded muskets, morning 
and evening, in the field infested by them. It may be so, 
but it would undoubtedly be more effectual to “draw a 
good sight ” on the “ varmints ” and put a bullet through 
their heads. This would ctrtainly do the business. 
Arc Pear Slieots good for Standards'!— 
Henry F. Gifford, Barnstable Co., Mass. Experienced 
nurserymen have mostly abandoned the use of shoots 
thrown up from the roots of old pear trees. Seedlings are 
generally preferred as ensuring a stronger and more du¬ 
rable growth for standards. Quince siocks are used for 
dwarfing. 
M®sacy Eocust for Meilg-es.—A. W. Hoffmeis- 
ter, Lee Co., Iowa. The Honey Locust ranks among the 
best hedge plants yet tried in this country. A full ac¬ 
count of the relative value of this and other plants for 
fencing may be found in the Agriculturist, Vol. XVII, 
pages 176 and 208. 
Mojo or Tfellow Clover—SS tack Seed.— 
Enoch Williams, Niagara Co., N. Y., asks if this Clover, 
which is highly esteemed in England, is cultivated in this 
country. He has found it in a wild state near Suspension 
Bridge upon the Niagara River, and also in Hudson Co., 
N. J., and thinks it might be profitably cultivated. We 
can not give any definite information. 
Sap Stickers Again.—J. R. Russell, Trumbull 
Co., O., asserts that the bird called the sap-sucker in the 
West, is not the woodpecker, but a mischievous little fel¬ 
low that bores into trees, especially the sugar-maple and 
the apple, for the purpose of extracting the sap and the 
mucilage under the bark, and is thus quite destructive 
especially among young trees. A. H. Snyder, Mercer 
Co., Pa., also writes to the same effect, adding that they 
always select thrifty trees for their operations ; and that 
in the early settlement of Pennsylvania, they were great 
pests, destroying many fruit trees. If an examination of 
the gizzards of these birds shou'd prove that sap only and 
not insects is their food, then they probably deserve the 
fate of trespassers—otherwise not. 
What are Bone Sawings A subscriber tells 
us he has always understood this term to imply bits of 
bone sawn off in manufacturing sundry articles, as but¬ 
tons, knife handles, etc. This is a mistake. Bone saw¬ 
ings is the name used to designate the saw-dvst made in 
these operations. It is of course very fine, and is, by the 
way, the best and cheapest fertilizer we know of. Bits of 
bone, broken or crushed bones, are better for fruit trees, 
grape borders, etc., where long continued action is de¬ 
sired Bone sawings, or saw-dust soon decays and yields 
up its fertilizing elements, 
Spoiled Meat for Manure.— J. P. Prescott, 
Tenn. The refuse bones, lean meat and scraps of spoiled 
meat, from which the oil has been extracted, without 
doubt possess much value for manuring purposes. As has 
often been stated in the columns of the Agriculturist, ma- 
