Oct., 1859 . 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
live together. But in some things even the Siamese 
twins have to agree, by agreeing to disagree—that is, by 
agreeing to be different. Now we ought not to wish 
other people to be exactly like ourselves. If all people 
thought and felt just alike, talking to others would be 
like talking to one’s self, and one might as well be all 
alone in the world. How foolish, then, for children to 
quarrel with each other because they can not agree. 
You know children, that by learning your letters, 
and how to spell and read, you can read all kinds 
of books. So by learning the letters of the face, and 
how to put them together, you can read all kinds of 
faces. The letters of a book are called signs, or char¬ 
acters, and so are those of the face. Your mother 
taught you some of these signs when you were abate, 
and you will learn more and more of them as long as 
you live, so that you can read faces better and better. 
When your mother smiled 
upon you, she showed you 
the sign of happiness, and 
when she was sad she could 
not help showing in her face 
the sign of unhappiness. I 
will describe some of these 
signs of character. 
Here is a picture of a face 
with the mouth turned up at 
the corner. What turns it 
up ? A string of red flesh, 
called a muscle, which comes 
from the corner of the 
cheek bone and is attached to the corner of the month, 
shortens itself, and in so doing, draws the mouth up, as 
you see. This muscle is shortened by a little white 
cord, called a nerve, which comes from the brain, and 
this nerve is acted upon by the soul, and the soul 
shows in this way how happy it is. You now know 
what is meant by the upturning of the corners of the 
mouth, better than before you reflected upon it. 
Here is a picture of a mouth turned down at the cor¬ 
ners. What does this mean ? 
This is just the other way 
from the other sign, and it 
must show unhappiness, 
which is just the opposite of 
happiness. By carefully ex¬ 
amining t'nesa pictures, vou 
will see that they are exact¬ 
ly alike, with the single ex¬ 
ception of the corner of the 
mouth, and yet how different 
they appear. Look out and 
keep the corner of your 
mouths always turned the right way. 
I will tell you more signs another time, perhaps. 
(Please do.— Ed.) By learning the letters of the face, 
you can read it like a book. 
ABOUT TILE PROBLEMS. 
No. 42, Illustrated Rebus. —Ans. “ When there is a 
will, there is a way.” Correct, readings received from: 
Lucian J. Limmere ; Tremaine C. Hurst; C. A. Ileilig ; 
Bell Banker; Sarah D. Lord; Lizzie M. Steele; John 
D. Sabine; Wm. Sharp, (who writes some good things 
about that picture); John II. Moore; N. II A. ; Joshua 
Knight; Charles Flowers; Ella Red Ion ; Lulie Wool- 
ley; Elroy M. Avery; Samuel S. Myers; Joseph T. 
Brown ; T. H. and A L Smith ; D E. Henry ; James K. 
Frew; C. Flora M’Clintock ; Barclay Ejre; I,ester W., 
(thank you for the pains taken with the enigma, but we 
do not publish that kind of puzzles); J. S. Downs; Helen 
M. Peck; J. T. Reynolds; Matilda F. Van Houten ; T. 
Angelina Munro; W. VV. Stapler: M. R. W.; J. Thornley. 
No. 43, Rebus. Ans. “ Many a little makes a mickle,” 
(much.)—Correct answers received from T. Angelina 
Munro, Joseph T. Brown, C. Flora McClintock. 
Into which arc 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. 
Premiums.—Numerous inquiries in regard to these 
will be found answered in another part of this paper. The 
premiums offered will he found worthy of attention. 
“ Indefinite Questions ” again? wiih 
Answers lo OTtMcli.— “ How long is it necessary to 
be on a farm, with the aid ofbooks and papers to farm on 
my own hook V’ Ans.—Until you know enough about it. 
The length of time will depend on ability and applica¬ 
tion. “ Is $4000 too much for a farm and buildings, etc., 
in Rockland Co.?” Ans,—Not if they are worth the 
money. 
To make Caibbag’cs Mead.—H. Selleck, Cook 
Co., Ill., writes that cabbages which are backward about 
forming heads, maybe caused to do so by dropping a small 
portion of fine salt into the inside leaves. (?) 
Season for Transplanting.—D. Townsend, 
Greene Co., N. Y. Nurserymen are divided in opinion 
as to whether Autumn or Spring is the better season for 
transplanting. Trees that are sufficiently hardy to stand 
the first Winter, will probably do best transplanted in 
Autumn, as the soil packs around their roots, and they 
are ready in Spring to go on with their growth without 
delay. More depends upon the proper manner of per¬ 
forming the operation than upon the season. 
Slow far apart Should Apple Trees be 
Set ?—L. E. Benson, Shelby Co., Iowa. Apple trees 
may be set 25 to 35 feet apart, depending upon the char¬ 
acter of the tree, and the scarcity of land. Some varie¬ 
ties incline to great lateral growth, others aspire perpen¬ 
dicularly. Thirty feet each way does very well. 
Testing Seedling’ Trees.— T. S. Warner, Clin¬ 
ton Co., Iowa. Fruit may be early obtained from seed¬ 
ling trees by inserting scions taken from them into 
bearing trees. Treated in this way, varieties of slow 
growth come into bearing years before the seedling tree 
would arrive at maturity. 
Cultivating Filberts. —Geo. J. Dexter, Tioga 
Co., N. Y. These could probably be easily raised 
in this country. They are already grown by a few ama¬ 
teurs. A wild variety (hazel nut) is very common in the 
Northern and Middle States. Those found in market are 
chiefly raised in Europe ; large plantations are cultivated 
in England. We cannot say as to the profitableness of 
the crop. 
Cultivating Merborvlcs (“ Barberries.’’)— W. 
R. Handy, Mo. These are very easily propagated either 
by seeds or roots. Sow the seeds in Spring. It is a mis¬ 
taken notion that the berberry blasts wheat. They are 
usually considered a pest at the North. The fruit makes 
a nice jelly or preserve. 
Protecting Fruit from Ants.— S. II. B , Van 
Buren Co., Mich. If a paper be tied closely around the 
trunk of the tree and covered w ith tar, it will probably 
prevent the ascent of the ants. Soft soap, applied to the 
trunks of trees, will be beneficial rather than injurious, 
unless used too freely. We have often recommended it 
for the removal of bark lice, moss, etc. 
Will Stiirlcy turn to Oats ?—Lewis Neitgett., 
Belmont Co., O. We answer, decidedly, no 1 The oats 
whose appearance among the barley has caused so much 
discussion, sprang from oat seed and from nothing else. 
This seed may have been among the barley when sown, 
or may have been scattered otherwise, which, w e can 
not determine, but it is a fixed fact that seed of grain will 
remain true to its kind, excepting, of course, varieties pro¬ 
duced by hybridizing or mixing in the flower. 
Cardinal Flower. —Miss Ellen M. Davisson, 
Doddridge Co., Va. The flower you enclosed is the Lo¬ 
belia cardinalis. It is described in botanical works as a 
very showy red flower, growing in moist places, from one 
to two feet in hight. It makes a fine addition to the flow¬ 
er border, but requires watering freely. 
No. 44.— New Puzzle —These six figures, if propeny 
arranged, will form an exact square. 
S-t-r-a-n-o-e-st of all, Elroy M. Avery, Monroe Co., 
Mich., sends us a list of 248 words, actually made up 
from the letters of the word s-t-r-a-n-g-e. 
To Eradicate Brakes (Pteris Aquilina?').— G. 
W. G., New-IIartford Center, N. H. Brakes require for 
their growth abundant moisture in the soil, as maybe 
seen by their abounding in swampy grounds. Thorough 
drainage will 11 dry them up.” 
318 
White Poland Oat*.—G. H. P., Eminence Co., 
Ind., writes that while other varieties of oats in tnat vi¬ 
cinity have failed on account of rust,.the White Poland 
is uninjured. He also thinks the grain is more plump, 
and the straw stronger and less liable to lodge than the 
common kind. 
Charcoal Must for manure.—J. Pott, Fullon 
Co , Pa. Charcoal, of itself, has but little value as a rna- 
nuro. Though it is composed almost wholly of organic 
matter it is almost imperishable, remaining in the soil 
year after year without apparent decay. But it acts a 
very important part in the soil by the property it possesses 
of absorbing and retaining gases given out by other de¬ 
composing substances. It is thus a storeroom from which 
the rootlets of plants may draw nourishment. It can be 
used as a top dressing, though we should prefer to plow- 
it in, as it will assist in lightening the soil. Perhaps the 
best use made of it is to mingle it with fermenting ma¬ 
nures. 
'Treatment of Pasture I.aiid.—J. Hamilton, 
Hampden Co., Mass. A very full article on this subject 
is contained in the Agriculturist of last year (Vol. XVII, 
June No., page 173). We can not repeat it, at least not 
at present. 
To Protect Trees from Rabbits.—H. P. 
Danforth, Monekee, Kansas. Tiees may be protected 
fi@m iniury done by rabbits in gnawing the bark, by wrap¬ 
ping paper or straw around their trunks, and covering it 
with tar. Where a large nursery is infested, they might 
be fed with apples and strychnine. 
To ©cstroy Ttloles.—R. W. Turner. If small 
pieces of lean beef are sprinkled with strychnine or arsen¬ 
ic, and placed in the burrows of moles they w ill be de¬ 
stroyed. Generally we should spare them, as they feed 
upon grubs and destructive insects found in the soil. In 
gardens and grape borders, however, they sometimes be¬ 
come a nuisance, w hich the above remedy will abate. 
Ice Mouses—Mow Made.—Several subscribers, 
who iiavo made inquiries, will find full directions in last 
November Agriculturist, page 251, Vol. XVII. 
Cement Floors for a ©airy.—S. W. Joy, 
Strafford Co., N. II. A floor may be laid with small stones 
and hydraulic cement, the latter to cover the stones and 
be laid even. This is as goad a hard floor for a dairy as 
can be made, except perhaps w here large flag stones can 
be obtained. It is not as liable to be undermined by rats, 
or to break up, as when built with common brick and 
mortar. 
SSrtisli Kindling.—A. Jones, Suffolk Co., L. I. 
There is a machine worked by horse-power, for cutting 
up the waste brush of swamp land. You will find an ad¬ 
vertisement in the present number. We have seen the 
kindling sold in this eity, and judge it answers a good 
purpose. 
Cold Frames.— J. Smith, jr., Susquehannah Co.. 
Pa. Your queries are fully answered under “Vegetables 
for next Spring,” page 276, September Agriculturist. 
Protection from I,ig1ituiiig. —L. D. Fuller, 
Livingston Co., Ill. A lightning rod is said to protect a 
space each way from its base equal to twice the hight of 
the rod. As it is often difficult to carry a rod very high, 
it is usually considered more convenient to have several 
branch conductors made of light rods, terminating in 
points on different parts of the roof. The points should 
be gilded or otherwise kept bright, and the fastenings of 
the rod to the building should be insulated with glass or 
other non-conducting material, though this is not abso¬ 
lutely necessary 
Gutla Perclia fov Roofing.— II. A. Morrill, 
Licking Co., O. In ihe absence of any reliable informa¬ 
tion on this subject we should judge that it must be too 
expensive for general use, particularly as some process 
of manufacture must be adopted to enable it to withstand 
the heat, which would otherwise soften and render it 
w orthless on a roof. 
Apparatus for Milicing Cows.— Thomas 
Hartley, Ohio Co., Va. Not having seen the cow-milker 
to which you refer, no opinion can be given as to its par¬ 
ticular merits. Sofaraswe have investigated, there aro, as 
yet, only two kinds of apparatus for this purpose in which 
we have any faith—a calf’s mouth and the human hand. 
Prescript ions for ©iseaseil Animals.— 
E J. Ellison, Hamilton Co., O It would be impossible 
to prescribe safely for your horse without personal ex¬ 
amination of his case. If he is sufficiently valuable, 
avail yourself of the best veterinary skill within reach- 
otherwise, let him restand take his chances. He may- 
only need a little more letting alone both in doctoring and 
working. 
Propel* Age for Gelding’Morses.—D. A. T., 
Dauphin Co., Pa. Horses may be castrated even after 
they have grown to maturity, but the operation is tbeu 
