36 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
[FEBRUARY, 
Verbenas intended to flower in pots, will need 
their final shifting. 
Syringe often to maintain proper moisture in 
the atmosphere. Wet the walks if the air he dry. 
Water, should be given according to the demands 
made by the foliage. Recollect that an excess is 
as injurious as too little. Avoid the use of wa¬ 
ter colder than the air of the house. 
Grapery ai«i ©rchaa’d-House. 
In this latitude, cold graperies and orchard houses 
will require little attention during the present 
month. The temperature should be kept low, and 
injury from dampness guarded against. In houses 
where a moderate heat is employed, the vines may be 
put up and the inside borders watered with liquid 
manure. When growth commences, it should be 
followed up by judicious pinching in. Sprinkle oc¬ 
casionally, and keep the temperature at 45° or 50”. 
In forcing houses the vines are in all conditions of 
forwardness, and it is not possible to give particu¬ 
lar monthly directions for these. 
Apiary in February. 
Observe the directions given last month. Suffi¬ 
cient ventilation should be allowed, and the air pas¬ 
sages kept open. During the warm days, the bees 
will be disposed to fly, and they should be permit¬ 
ted to do so, except where there is newly fallen 
snow. Weak hives should he protected against the 
raids of marauders, by closing the entrance so as to 
allow but a single bee to pass at a time. Cleanli¬ 
ness should be preserved by sweeping off the floors ; 
thus saving the bees the labor of removing the rub¬ 
bish themselves. Guard against vermin as directed 
last month. If a new bee-house is to be built, it 
should be done during the fine days of the present 
mouth. This is the proper time to purchase bees ; 
the hives are most readily brought home when there 
ie snow upon the ground. Hives weighing from 
35 to 40 pounds are to be preferred to heavier ones, 
provided there is a good cluster of bees. The hive 
should be carried upon a spring wagon or sleigh, 
and should be inverted. A piece of thin muslin is 
to be tacked over the mouth of the hive. When 
they are placed upon the stand, the hives should 
be at least 4 feet apart; six feet would be better. 
Weak swarms need to be fed. It is best to take the 
hive to a dark warm room, and place the honey 
where the bees will be sure to find it. 
Selection of Garden Vegetables. 
The following list is given to aid novices in gar¬ 
dening, in making a selection. Many in looking 
over a large seed catalogue, are apt to be confused 
with the great number of varieties presented to 
their choice, and we enumerate such as we know 
from experience to be good of their kind, and wor¬ 
thy of cultivation. Those marked with a * are on 
our list of seeds for free distribution: 
Beans, Dwarf or Bush.— Early Valentine, for string 
or snaps; Yellow Six Weeks, do. do. ; Dwarf Horticul¬ 
tural, for early shelling. 
Poi.e Beans.— Large Lima, in warm locations ; Small 
Lima, North of New-York. 
Beets.— Early Bassano*, fine and early ; Long Blood, 
for main crop ; Swiss Chard, fine for greens only. 
Cabbage.— Early York, small but early ; Early Sugar 
Loaf*, large and early ; Early Ox Heart, do. do. ; Win- 
ningstadt, medium early, large, very hard heads; Flat 
Dutch*, for Winter; Red Dutch*, for pickles ; Marble¬ 
head Drumhead, very large ; Green Globe Savoy, small 
and late, the richest of cabbages. 
Carrots.— Early Horn*; Long Orange*, for main crop. 
Cauliflower.— Early Paris, fine; Thorburn’s Nonpa¬ 
reil, superb; Large Asiatic, fine, late, 
Celery.— Early White Solid, for earliest; Giant White 
Solid, for late crops. 
Corn.— Dwarf Sugar, small ears, 4 feet high ; Darling’s 
Early*, good ; Stowell’s Evergreen*, fine late. 
Cucumbers. —Early Russian, small, early, and prolific ; 
White Spined, best for table ; Long Green, for pickles. 
Eoo Plant. —Long Purple*, earliest; N. Y. Purple, 
large, but late. 
pifDivE.—Green Curled, for Summer and Fall salads. 
Kale.— Green Curled Scotch*, winter and spring greens. 
Kohl Rabi*. 
Leek.—L arge Flag, for soups. 
Lettuce. —Curled Silesian, for earliest; Neapolitan*, 
large and solid; Ice Drumhead, fine; Butter, superior. 
Muskmelon. —Fine Nutmeg*, see Seed List, Jan. No., 
p. 4 ; Jenny Lind, very early ; Green Persian, large and 
good ; White Japan, the best. 
Watermelon. —Mountain Sprout, productive and ear¬ 
ly ; Ice Cream*, very fine ; Black Spanish, fine but later. 
Onion.— Large Red ; White Portugal. 
Parsneps. —Hollow Crowned*. 
Peas. —Princess, extra early and fine, feet; Daniel 
O'Rourke*, do. do. do.; Tom Thumb, productive, 8 to 10 
inches ; Bishop's Long Rod, fine dwarf, 18 inches ; Cham¬ 
pion of England*, for main crop, 5 feet; White.Marrow¬ 
fat, later and fine, 5 feet. 
Peppers.— Squash for pickling ; Sweet Mountain, for 
stuffed pickles. 
Potatoes. —Ash Leaf Kidney, early, productive, and 
good; Early Shaw, early, productive, and good. 
Radishes. —Early Scarlet Turnip* ; Long Scarlet 
Short Top. 
Salsify. —Vegetable Oyster. 
Spinach. —Round Leaved*, for early; Prickly, for 
wintering over. 
Squashes. —Summer Crookneck, best early ; White 
Scalloped Bush, early and productive ; Boston Marrow, 
Fall and early Winter; Hubbard*, fine keeping ; Vow- 
Vow, new and fine. 
Tomatoes. —Large Round Smooth, early ; Fejee, or 
Italian*, fine and productive ; Pear Shaped, for preserves, 
etc.; French Tree, late, stocky, curious. 
Turnips. —Early Dutch, very early ; Red Top Strap- 
leaf*, for Spring and Fall ; Yellow Swedish, or Ruta 
Baga, for keeping. 
Winter Cherry.— For sauce and preserves. 
Containing a great variety of Items , including many 
good Hints and Suggestions which we give in small type 
and condensed form for want of space elsewhere. 
Another Ag'ricsiltairist Editor. —We 
are glad to be able to announce that the readers of the 
American Agriculturist will hereafter enjoy the benefit of 
the constant labors of Prof. Geo. Thurber, in addition to 
the previous editorial force. Prof. Thurber is well known 
as an efficient Botanist and Naturalist, engaged by the 
Government-during the extended Boundary Survey be¬ 
tween the United States and Mexico in 1850 to 1853 ; as 
editor of that valuable work, “ American Weeds and 
Useful Plants ;” and during three years past as Professor 
of Botany and Horticulture in the Michigan State Agri 
cultural College. Some years since we solicited from 
Dr. Gray a series of elementary articles on plants, of a 
popular and useful character. His reply was, that his 
engagements did not admit of it, or he would gladly ac¬ 
cede to our request, but that Mr. Thurber could execute 
the work better than any other one he knew of. We 
were then unable to secure the desired aid, but as soon 
as our new associate gets well into the editorial harness, 
we shall feel relieved of some labor at least, and our 
readers will doubtless be profited.—0. J. 
Advertisements, “Vineland Lands.” 
—Several subscribers write asking if they are to under¬ 
stand the admission of the Advertisement of the “ Vine- 
land Lands,” as an endorsement from us of all that is 
claimed for them. We answer, No, we do not endorse 
this nor any other advertisement, unless it be specially 
done in ail editorial; notice. If we could visit every 
plot of ground offered for sale, and thoroughly examine 
the soil, the title, etc.; if we could look into every adver¬ 
tiser’s books, and mode of doing business; if we could in 
spect every tree and plant and other thing advertised, then 
we might give a general endorsement. Our rule is: to 
exclude advertisements of articles or enterprises, known 
or supposed to be humbugs, though such usually can af¬ 
ford to, and do offer the best pay; ail patent medicine 
nuisances ; advertisements from unknown parties, unless 
they furnish references of their integrity ; also from those 
who by public repute, or from our own knowledge, are 
suspected of dealing dishonestly with their customers. 
Our aim is to fry to shield our readers from imposition 
and deception, even in the advertising pages as well as 
in the editorial columns. From the nature of the case, 
however, we can not always thoroughly sift all that goes 
into the business pages, though we believe the censor¬ 
ship in tills department is quite as rigid as that of any 
other journal, not excepting the professedly religious 
press.—In regard to “ Vineland,” as stated in November, 
we have not found it practicable to visit or examine the 
locality in person but hope to do so when the growing 
season comes round. After considerable inquiry we found 
no reason for excluding the advertisement, and therefore 
admitted it. 
TSae Eras at Growers’ Meetings arc 
increasing in interest. Except at the Biennial gathering 
of the American Pomological Society, we never before 
saw together so large an assemblage of real fruit talent, 
with so little of charlatanism, as at the meeting held at 
the Agriculturist Office on Jan. 8th. The meeting on the 
16th was also well attended, notwithstanding the rain 
storm. A President is appointed at eacli meeting for the 
next week, who calls the assembly to order, and takes 
charge for the day. Specimens of fruit, etc., are brought 
in and tried and discussed ; committees report on the best 
varieties for culture, and their reports are thoroughly 
canvassed; modes of cultivation, etc., are talked over. 
In short, anything pertaining to fruit growers, and kindred 
topics, is in order. It is not a good place to introduce and 
advertise any man’s personal hobby, though anything of 
a valuable or promising character is fairly treated. The 
discussions are in the form of familiar conversation. We 
cannot find room for full reports ; all said at any one 
meeting would fill half a number of this journal. The 
results arrived at we will endeavor to give, from time to 
time, with occasional more detailed reports. A brief re¬ 
port is given on page 51, and another one of the meeting, 
on Jan. 15, is crowded out from this number. 
Aiaotlaei* Monster California 3®eai*. 
—Every one doubtless remembers the excitement over the 
great California pear produced a few years ago, in the 
orchard of E. L. Beard, Esq., at San Jose Mission ; its 
weight was over three pounds. Rev. Dr. Bellows, Pres¬ 
ident of the Sanitary Commission, has just received no. 
tice, via overland mail, that another pear, from the same 
tree, weighing an ounce more than the former one, has 
been forwarded to him by the steamer leaving San Fran¬ 
cisco Dec. 20, together with other interesting horticul¬ 
tural products. Dr. Bellows has kindly proposed to place 
the pear, etc., on public exhibition at the office of the 
American Agriculturist, instructing us to receive the 
package from tile Express Office on itsarrival. We shall 
look for it with interest, butthe steamer is already several 
days over-due, and we fear it may have met with some 
mishap—perhaps fallen a prey to the piratical “Ala¬ 
bama.” If the box reaches us safely, the fact will be an¬ 
nounced in the daily papers of the city. The interest Dr. 
Bellows has taken in tile welfare of our soldiers, and the 
pleasant interchange of courtesies in connection with the 
munificent gifts of the Golden State to the Sanitary Com¬ 
mission, has doubtless led to the sending of these inter¬ 
esting horticultural products to him. 
Agricultural College of Pennsyl. 
vania.— We have received the Fourth Annual Cata¬ 
logue of this Institution. The Faculty consists of five 
professors with two assistants. Besides these there are 
several superintendents in charge of the farm, garden, 
and other departments. During the last session it has 
had 110 students, nine of whom graduated. Upon look¬ 
ing over the titles of the theses of the graduates, we find 
that they are all upon subjects relating to practical agri¬ 
culture. The catalogue gives the standing of ea«h stu¬ 
dent in the different studies, and also in manual labor. 
The officers of the College feel encouraged at their suc¬ 
cess thus far. The next session opens on the 18th of 
February. The terms are $100 in advance for board, 
washing and tuition for a term of ten months. Letters 
of inquiry should be addressed to Dr. E. Pugh, Agricul¬ 
tural College, Center Co., Penn. 
BBtimlaugs to l»e Avoided.— Just at this 
season, or a little later, there usually appear extensive 
advertisements and printed circulars without number, 
announcing new seeds, “Egyptian Corn,” “Japanese 
Wheat,” “ Tasmanian Oats,” “ Tree Cotton,” “ Northern 
Coffee,” etc., etc. It w ill be safe to let somebody else go 
into tire speculation and make his fortune first. Last year 
a new Agricultural paper was started in this city, claim¬ 
ing great age, and offering unprecedented premiums to 
Postmasters and others, and a few numbers were issued. 
We judge, from the numerous inquiries addressed to us, 
that a good many did not get the premiums, did not get 
tlie papers, and cannot get any reply to letters of inquiry 
about their money. Some parties, not in the best repute, 
are buying up grape vines, refuse trees, old seeds, etc., 
and offering them “dog cheap,” or for no money. But 
the varieties of humbugs are too numerous to specify. 
Tlie better way is to buy what is w anted, of parlies of 
known reliability. Tlie new plants from the Old World 
will not be first heard of from an out-of-the-way, unsettled 
place in the far West—nor always from NewWork City. 
