846 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
including walnut, chestnut, butternut, beech, oak, locust, 
etc., should be sown in the Fall before they have become 
dry and hard. By putting in boxes of earth they may be 
kept until early Spring, and then planted or sown. We 
advise raising most of these in nursery rows, and then 
transplant where they are to grow permanently. 
Moving Hearing Pear Trees.—R. Sewell, 
Baltimore Co., Md. Your Seokel and other pear trees in 
bearing condition, may be transplanted safely if done with 
sufficient care. Where the ground freezes in Winter, it 
would be better to remove them at that season, taking up 
a large mass of frozen earth without disturbing the roots. 
Ordinarily, small trees suffer removal less, and overtake 
in growth those transplanted when of a larger size. 
Michigan SeecUing Grapes.— Mrs. E. F. 
Haskell, Monroe Co., Mich. The lot of Grapes forward¬ 
ed came to hand, the Haskell’s Seedling rather over ripe, 
somewhat foxy and too much pulp for a fine grape. The 
“Peninsular,” with less pulp, more juice of a vinous 
flavor, though somewhat acid, suits us better. The 
“ Michigan Seedling ” to our taste appears to be better 
than either of the others, although not fully ripe. Its 
large clusters and sweeter berry are also in its favor. 
They may also improve as the vines attain age. The 
soecimens were all rather too mnch jammed, a trifle 
soured, which prevented a fair estimate of their intrin¬ 
sic as well as relative merits. 
How Sparkling Wine is Obtained.—S. F., 
Mahoney Plain, Pa. Sparkling wine if pure, owes its 
peculiar property to the kind of fruit used in the manufac¬ 
ture. Those who manufacture wines from whiskey (most 
wine so called is thus made) hare, we suppose, various 
drugs which will impart the desired sparkle, but they are 
secrets known to themselves, and will remain so, for any 
thing we shall publish. The less that is known of such 
arts the better. 
44 Some Onions.” —Phineas Mahan, of Philadel¬ 
phia, presented us this morning, (Sept. 23,) with a white 
onion rather hard to “ beet.” It weighs two pounds, 
measures 151 inches round, and set upright, stands six 
inches high, and is nearly a globe in shape. He has a 
larger one, but not quite so perfectly globular. He brought 
two dozen of these from Southampton, (England,) where 
they were just landing from Portugal. We have always 
known that Portugal was great on onion raising, but this 
is the best occular evidence we have had of what they 
raise to send abroad as an ordinary market product, for 
these onions are a common article of sale in London gro¬ 
cery stores. Their flavor is said to be as superior as their 
size, but we must take this on hearsay, as our specimen 
must be saved for seed. It can be seen at our office for a 
month or two. 
Cultivation off Mushrooms. —M. R. W. 
Chagrin Falls, O. Full directions for raising Mushrooms 
are given in the November Agriculturist, Vol. XVI. 
AVhy make Compost ?— J. Pott, Fulton Co., Pa, 
The benefit attained by composting leaf-mold, tan-lRrk, 
lime, etc., is that the ingredients are brought into closer 
contact, and act upon each other more readily than if each 
article was applied to the soil separately. 
Also for tluntrained Swamps.—W. H. Nel¬ 
son, C. West. Cranberries are adapted to undrained 
swamp lands. “ Huckleberries ” do better on upland. 
Fever and Ague.—E. P. Riley, Morgan Co., O. 
You are probably right in supposing the cause of this dis¬ 
ease in your family to be the decaying vegetable matter in 
the cellar. Any decaying vegetable matter sends off a ma¬ 
laria, or poisonous exhalation, which, when received 
through the lungs, may cause disease, usually fevers, es¬ 
pecially if the general health be not robust. 
Description off BSreeds off Cattle.—W. L. 
Adams, Clark Co., Ill. A series of articles with full de¬ 
scription of the various noted breeds of cattle, extending 
through six numbers, was published in the Agriculturist 
last year, 1858, Vol. XVII. 
Grubs in tlie backs off Cattle.— John Wil¬ 
son, Clarion Co., Pa., writes that rubbing the backs of 
cattle with a strong brine of salt and water will effectually 
kill the grubs. It would probably be well to squeeze them 
out even if killed, as they might otherwise cause unpleas¬ 
ant sores. 
To Exterminate Fleas.— J. W. Alder, Prince 
William Co., Va. These can be expelled from rooms, 
and from clothing by sprinkling with a little oil of worm¬ 
wood. The sheds or pens where they breed, should be 
thoroughly cleansed, all loose dirt, chips, and rubbish re¬ 
moved, and a good coat of whitewash applied. A quan¬ 
tity of tansy and wormwood scattered about might aid in 
driving them away. 
To Get Rid off Weevil.—C. J. Thomas, Fulton 
Co., Pa.—The insect, (Calandria Granaria) described in 
the August Agriculturist, page 210, may be killed by kiln 
drying the grain. Most of them may also be expelled by 
running the grain through a fanning mill. No grain 
should be stored for several years in buildings infested by 
them, and thus they will be starved out. 
Silk Worms ffter Eurcpe.-A disease among 
the Silk Worms of Europe and Asia,' seriously threatens 
the prosperity of the Silk manufactories, and has ad¬ 
vanced the price of Silks materially. Unsuccessful efforts 
have been made to get healthy worms in Turkey, in 
Asia, in Persia, India, and China, and attention is now 
turned to this country. Enquiries from abroad have been 
addressed to this Qffice, and we shall be thankful for any 
information, as to where healthy worms can be obtained 
of choice varieties, the quantity, price, etc. 
Italian BSees.—Considerable has been written 
within a few years past in regard to these bees. Their 
practical value in this country is now in a fa.r way to be 
tested. In the steamship New-Yokk, which landed here 
Sept. 22d, 14 swarms were received direct from Europe. 
Of these, 6 swarms were brought by Phineas Mahan, of 
Philadelphia, on his own account. He started with 10 
swarms, but lost 4 by the rough weather on the ocean. 
The other 8 swarms were imported by Samuel Wayne, of 
York, Pa., on account of himself, and L. L. Langstroth, 
Richard Colvin, R. C. Otis, and one or two others. We 
are glad to note this enterprise, and shall watch the re¬ 
sult with interest. The design, we believe, is, to raise 
queens as rapidly as possible, and introduce them into na¬ 
tive swarms. 
Ferrets.— J. Flanagan, Cumberland Co., N. J., and 
others. We know of none in market. Parties raising 
them for sale should advertise the fact. 
Are Head Water Pipes Poisonous ?—E. 
B. Good, York Co., Pa. Water in contact with lead will 
dissolve and hold in solution the oxide (rust) of the met¬ 
al, which is poisonous. Where the water is constantly 
running through the pipe, the quantity taken up is too 
small to produce serious effects, but where the water is 
allowed to stand some length of time in the pipe there is 
danger of its becoming charged with the poison to a 
dangerous degree. Whenever drinking water passes 
through lead pipes, it is always well to draw' of what has 
been standing in the whole length of pipe, before catch¬ 
ing any for use. 
Mow Mucli Capital to Com Hit em.ee Farm- 
ins'.— To Young Farmer, New-York City. Much de¬ 
pends upon the location. This will of course determine 
the amount necessary to expend for land. For properly 
stocking a farm of 100 acres, with plenty of animals, and 
improved implements, from §1000 to $1500 or more will 
be needed for a beginning. The value of the stock and 
implements upon a well conducted farm of this size, in 
full operation, will range all the w ay from $1000 to $3000. 
Keeping Turnips.—J. Sawyer, Mahaska Co. 
Iowa. Where there is no cellar for storing roots they 
can be kept in good condition by burying them with earth 
as shown in the cut. It is difficult to take them out dur¬ 
ing the Winter, except when the ground is not frozen. 
Make a windrow of the roots upon the level, or better 
on slightly elevated ground, piling them up to a sharp 
point at the top. Cover with a few inches of straw and a 
foot of earth, taking the soil from each side of the heap 
leaving a sort of trench to carry off water. Dry or sandy 
soil is best. 
Cubic Contents off a Tun off Hay.—The 
size of a tun of hay will vary much with the variety of 
grass and the condition as to being pressed, etc. A tun 
of clover hay may be estimated at from 300 to 325 cubic 
feet, say a load 13 feet long, 5 feet wide, and 4f- to 5 feet 
high. A tun of hay from the meadow, will average about 
270 cubic feet, say 13 feet long, 5 feet wide, and 4 feet 3 
inches high. If taken from a mow or stack which is well 
settled, about 230 cubic feet, or say 13 feet long, 4(-feet 
wide, and 4 feet liigh, will make a tun. 
Cooks’s Sugar Evaporator.— This apparatus 
which is described and illustrated on page 205 of this 
Vol. (July No.), we have recently seen in operation, and 
have formed a high estimation of its value, not merely 
for making sugar from the Chinese sugar cane, for which 
it was originally contrived, but especially for manufac¬ 
turing maple sugar, as well as that from the common 
Southern oane. Every person making 200 or 300 lbs. of 
maple sugar annually, will do weLl to look into its merits. 
TJie New American Cyclopedia. — We 
have already referred to this magnificent work, now be¬ 
ing published by D. Appleton & Co., of this city. We 
have before us Vol. VII, which contains 792 2-column 
quarto-pages, and extends down the alphabet from EDW 
to FUE, embracing 1413 different topics, which average 
nearly a whole column each The more important sub¬ 
jects are treated at length. There is no conceivable topic 
from Edw. to Fue., which is not here discussed as fully 
as most persons would care to find it. From these notes 
upon a single volume, the reader can form an idea ol 
what will be embraced in the entire 15 volumes The 
work is furnished at $3 per volume. (It will be found 
offered in our premium list. See page 348.) 
Monthly Strawberries. E. E. Low, Provi¬ 
dence Co., R. I. There are varieties of Strawberries 
bearing monthly, but they are of little value, as other 
fruits are abundant and preferable, out of the regular 
Strawberry season. 
Supcr-pbosplaate Manures.— -These are in 
dustriously pushed upon farmers by means of specious 
names, false statements, ingenious theories, and the 
teachings of so-called agricultural papers in the interest 
of manufacturers. We do not speak at random when we 
advise cultivators to let them alone, unless they have 
money to throw away. There may be, now and then, and 
doubtless is, a good article made from unburned bones, but 
a super-phosphate, “ nitrogenized ” or un-nitrogenized, 
which is worth half the price asked for it, is so rare a 
thing, that a safer rule Is to avoid them all. Certain 
it is that some of those most puffed, and most widely ad¬ 
vertised, are not worth ten dollars a tun, though sold at 
$35 to $45 or $50. We have yet to hear of a dozen men 
who have not been satisfied with one or two trials. But 
new victims annually come forward to fill the purses of 
the manufacturers. 
Prince Albert Potatoes —T. S. Clarkson, of 
Dutchess Co., N. Y., sends us four specimens, which are 
7i inches long, and average 15 ounces. We noticed at 
the Conn. State Fair a bushel of similar size. They 
shame our own crop, which this year took pattern after 
bantam’s eggs, few being equal to hens’ eggs. We have 
formerly considered them as among the best, but our own 
experience this year, and that of some acquaintances is 
rather against them. Others speak of them in the high¬ 
est terms. The “ Peach blows" have rotted badly the 
present season in our vicinity, as well as in some other 
sections of the country. 
Keep on Trying 1 .—' T. H. B. H., Ottawa Co. 
Mich., may succeed in writing a very acceptable piece by 
continued practice. It will require many trials, and 
many disappointments may be experienced before finding 
any thing “in print,” but it can be done in time. Select 
some plant or process in cultivation, for a topic, observe it 
carefully,find something new about it, and when you suc¬ 
ceed, all readers will be glad to hear from you. 
Brown informs the Boston Post, that of twenty-three 
men whom he helped to a cigar-light, or loaned a news¬ 
paper, twenty said “ Thank you, sir.” Of nineteen 
women to whom he paid a courtesy—such as giving up 
his seat—picking up a dropped veil, shawl, or the like, 
only seven said, “ Thank you,” and two of those were 
“ furriners.” Brown must be a crabbed disappointed 
bachelor—the ladies say. 
A man was once relating a story of being on a locomo¬ 
tive that struck a cow standing on the track, and threw 
her several rods into the field, where she lit squarely 
upon her feet, with her head towards the train, and strange 
to tell, “ she wasn’t hurt a mite.” “But didn’t she ioolc 
seared!” inquired a listener. “Well, I don’t know 
whether she was scared or not, but she looked a good deal 
discouraged .” 
“Many hands make light work,” said a farmer as he 
was raking hay at the head of half a dozen “ hands." 
“ Then father,” said his boy who was tugging away lo 
keep up, “ suppose you come and rake behind.” 
A priest said to apeasant whom he thought rude. “You 
are better fed than taught.” “ Shud think I was,” re¬ 
plied the clodhopper, “ as I feeds myself and you teaches 
me.” 
Scratched out.— A man asked to be excused from 
duty on a jury, without giving his reasons; but under a 
semi-compulsion from the judge, stated that he had the 
itch. The judge in a solemn and impressive tone ex¬ 
claimed : “ Clerk, scratch that man out! ” 
What word is that which, if you take away the first let¬ 
ter, all will still remain ? 
The best way to curb a wild young man. is to bridle 
(bridal) him. 
