182 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
cropping one of her wings, so that she cannot fly, pre¬ 
vent the swarm from going off to the woods, for the 
bees will not leave their queen, Mr. Rightmire states 
that several years since, he caught a queen bee at the 
time a swarm was coming out of a hive, and cropped 
her wings. He put her into a new hive, and the swarm 
soon followed her. He kept this bee for Jive years, du¬ 
ring which time she came out with seven or eight new 
swarms, always coming out whenever the hive she was in 
swarmed. This bee was at last killed by accident. She 
came out with a swarm, and being unable to fly, fell on 
the ground. Mr. R. noticed the confusion of the bees, 
and went to search for the queen; but she, lying on the 
grass, could not be readily seen, and he inadvertently 
crushed her with his foot. She was full of eggs, and but 
for her tragical end, might have lived to propagate her 
species for five years longer. 
Sometimes there are several queens come out with a 
swarm. In this case, the swarm is either sub-divided, 
each queen taking a portion, or as is more frequently 
the case, battles ensue between the queens, and the right 
to wield the sceptre of government is decided by mortal 
combat, the contest continuing until only one remains 
alive. Mr. Rightmire says he has often witnessed these 
conflicts, and in one instance knew four queens to be 
killed in a single hive, before peace was secured. Du¬ 
ring these battles, the bees seemed in the greatest com¬ 
motion, doing nothing but running about in the most 
agitated manner. Sanford Howard. 
Zanesville, O., Sept. 1843. 
QUEENS CO. AG. FAIR. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —The Queens County 
Agricultural Society held their Fair, Cattle Show, etc., 
for the present year, at Hempstead, on the 17ih inst., 
where every'thing passed off with much harmony, and 
the best spirit prevailed among all who assembled to 
witness the proceedings and riches of the country. There 
was evidently a decided increasing zeal in the great 
cause, exhibited upon the happy countenances of the 
thousands assembled, (thousaniis I may safely say,) for 
never before was there such a ‘‘ gathering together” of 
the people in Queens co. 
The annual aildress delivered b}' the Hon. Lt. Gov. 
Dickinson, was worthy of all praise. He spoke not of 
agriculture superficially, as is usual upon such occasions, 
but as the primaiy first step in the civilization of man— 
its pursuits of the most high and noble order—where toil 
was honorable, and labor successful. 
There was about $350 awarded in premiums richly 
merited. The day was closed by a sumptuous dinner, 
prepared by Mr. Anderson, when John A. King, Esq., 
in his usual happy manner, welcomed the Lt. Governor 
to Queens co., and pi'oposed his “ future health and hap¬ 
piness.” Lt. Gov. D. responded in a veiy neat, perti¬ 
nent and appropriate manner, reciprocating the senti¬ 
ment. I trust to see at an early day, the address publish¬ 
ed in your highly valued paper, as all should read it. 
Oyster Bay, Queens co., Oci. 20, 1843. S. Y 
(^ariicu anb tlje 0rc!)ari». 
GOOD FRUIT. 
That it is just as easy to have good fruit as poor, is a 
truth that every farmer should remember; and this, if 
acted upon, will be found not only easy but profitable. 
If the fruit orchard is deficient in numbers or varieties, 
lose no time in correcting the evil; and the best way is 
to apply to some experienced nurseryman for the kinds 
and qualities most desired. We know that formerly 
disappointments sometimes arose from orders being fill¬ 
ed with trees different from those ordered, or of inferior 
varieties, but no professed dealer in trees will now ha¬ 
zard his reputation b}' such acts. Public opinion has 
corrected the evil. If the number of your trees is defi¬ 
cient, but the quality inferior, lake note now of the trees 
you wish grafted or inoculated, as the fruit is before you 
and its qualities easily tested. Then during the winter 
collect such grafts and make such preparations as shall 
obviate all objections to fruit hereafter. A few good 
fruit trees of each desiretl variety is far better than great 
numbers with inferior fruit. A succession of good fruits 
is indispensable. The varieties of summer, autumn and 
winter should follow so as to leave no interval. Enlarge 
your list of different kimls of fruit, rather than your va¬ 
rieties of the same. Cultivate all of which your soil 
and location will admit, and you will find your labors 
amply repaid in the jileasure and profit you will I'e- 
ceive. 
CULTURE OF THE PEACH. 
Messrs. Editors —I presume you will have many 
commentaries on Mr. P hy sick s statement and theory about 
peach trees, in your last number; if so, you will publish 
whatever you think most useful on the subject. As to 
the disease called the Yellows being contagious, I have 
always supposed it was; but have tried no other experi¬ 
ment except the common one of observing that when 
one tree was infected, other trees standing near would 
be, unless the infected tree was immedia'ely removed; in 
which case the healthy trees would generally be pre¬ 
served. And I cannot understand Mr. Physick as giving 
any fads to prove the contrary, but only to prove the 
disease not incurable. Having some years ago removed 
all my trees affected with the yellows, I have not since 
been troubled with that complaint. 
As to peach or other fruit trees being injured by plow¬ 
ing and cultivating the ground where they grow, in our 
soil and climate, I think facts do not prove it at all. I was 
always fond of fruit of almost every kind, and peaches 
were ray particular favorites. I came into this part of the 
country to reside, early in 1801, and have resided here 
ever since. When I first came here, peaches were very 
plenty. They were not raised for market, but for the 
family to eat, preserve, and give to the neighbors and 
friends, and were almost as sure a crop as potatoes. This 
continued to be the case till 1810. In December, 1809, 
there was a very extensive and severe cold freezing turn, 
which killed nearly all the peaches in this vicinity, and 
as far west as to Lake Erie. Since then, for some cause 
to me unknown, it has been much more difficult to grow 
peaches in this part of the country; but no more difficult 
on plowed land than on sward. I have ever since tried 
to grow my favorite fruit, but with vei-y ill success. 
Sometimes I have had one or two trees that would bear 
a few peaches for a few years, and then die. And for 
the last ten or twelve years I hav'e not grown a I'ipe 
peach, although I had more or less young trees all that 
time; nor do I think there has been ten bushels of ripe 
peaches grown in any one year, within six miles of here, 
during that period; when forty years ago they could be 
grown in plenty, without any special care or trouble. 
I have never attempted to grow peaches in plowed 
ground, except in some parts of my garden, which I 
thought succeeded better than sward. I have now seve¬ 
ral young peach trees, some one, and some two years old, 
but hardly hope for any fruit from them. It may be said 
that I have not been thorough enough in taking care of 
my trees. I have tried all the remedies prescribed, and 
have succeeded in raising other fruit in plenty. If Mr. 
Physick, or any one else, can inform me how peaches can 
be grown hereabouts without very great trouble, old as I 
am, I will try again. C. Butler. 
Plymouth, Ct., Sept. 1, 1843. 
HINTS IN REGARD TO THE GARDEN. 
Messrs. Editors —I have been a practical gardener, 
and if in my practice I have observed anj'- thing which 
may be deemed beneficial to my contemporaries, you 
may be assured it will give me peculiar pleasure to ad¬ 
vance any thing original. None, I presume, are more 
fond of originality than I am, where it is likely to give 
pleasure or profit to myself or others; having been bene¬ 
fited in practice by the suggestions and drawings on va¬ 
rious subjects given by your able and obliging corres¬ 
pondents, I regret that it is not in my power to offer 
something of more importance than fortune at present 
has favored me with. 
Or ape Frame. — (Fig. 94). 
I will give you a description of a grape vine frame, 
which is original and iny own, so far as my observation 
has extended. However trifling it may appear, I like it 
for its econom}'' and simplicity; and when the vast extent 
of country which is in these United States, is considered, 
if this frame were made a substitute where all nailed fa¬ 
brics are used, (even where my observation alone has 
extended,) how many pounds of nails, and how many 
dollars and cents might be saved, I will not pretend to 
calculate. The posts of this frame may be from 10 to 12 
feet in height above ground, (fig. 94,) set firmly in the 
ground, 2^ or 3 feet. Posts measuring 5 or 6 inches at 
bottom, will be stiff enough. Chestnut saplings answer 
well. They may be 6 feet or more apart; pins 2 feet 
apart are drove through the posts in 1| inch holes, at an 
angle of 22^^ or one-eighth of a circle or more, at the 
point of juncture of the pin with the post. Length of 
pins, 6 inches clear of post. Lath or poles are laid on 
the pins. Such a frame I have in the center of a garden; 
beneath is a vacant ground plot, which I have had co¬ 
vered with tan, around which is spherical and right 
lined grass edgings and flower beds. The advantages of 
this frame are these:—1st. The posts being near toge¬ 
ther, they will bear a ladder against them for the pur¬ 
pose of gathering fruit. 2d. The pins will answer to 
hang y'our basket or other necessaries about the garden 
on. 3d. The fowls will not trouble themselves to fly so 
high as to fake the grapes in a paled enclosure. (They 
are very troublesome in a post fenced yard of grapes, de¬ 
vouring them nearly all.) 4th. Persons of common sense, 
little skilled in mechanism, may make this fence as I 
have done. 5th. The grapes will do as well 12 feet 
from the ground as 6, thereby saving half the ground. 
6th, and lastly, it takes no nails, and requires no mortice. 
Persons who are desirous to have a more ornamental 
frame, essentially on the same principle, may have the 
posts turned with nobs on, and set as tennents in blocks 
in the ground, thereby saving them from rotting. The 
posts may be painted green or other colors; round pie.^ 
ces of lath or sawed strips may be let through the center 
of the posts, equi-distant as before. 
A CHEAP BOWER. 
Persons who will take the pains to plant the jinne- 
creeper* in their garden, or other enclosure of ground, 
at particular points where they wish shade produced, 
may in process of time have a very fine thick commodi¬ 
ous shade, and an efficient bower, simply by placing 
chestnut forks around the shrub at intervals, and placing 
poles on the forks athwart each other, for the branches 
to lay on. Such a one I have, which forms an impene¬ 
trable shade of some ten or twelve feet in circumference; 
beneath which, I drove pins in the ground, and nailed 
boards on the top, thus quick forming convenient bench¬ 
es on either side. It will be seen that this mode of con¬ 
structing bowers leaves the freest possible circulation of 
air, are quick made, and economical in their construc¬ 
tion. John M. Harlan. 
E. F., Chester co., Pa., July, 1843. 
PROTECTION FROM MOLES. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker— Some five years ago, I 
had an old garden so much infested with moles that I was 
compelled to abandon it. I then built a new one. Af¬ 
ter selecting a proper site, I laid off acres; dug a 
trench or foundation, 12 to 15 inches deep, entirely a- 
round it, and built a brick wall, one brick thick, best 
hard burnt brick, laid in strong lime mortar; at every 8 
feet, a pillar brick thick; the main wall two feet high 
above the surface of the ground, and the pillars four feet 
on the top of the wall; between the pillars I laid cap, level¬ 
ed or splaid brick, projecting one inch on each side of the 
wall to carry off the drip; wrought in the pillars two heart 
pine scantling, 2 inches square; left a hole in (he center 
of the pillar 12 inches deep; dovetailed the end of a 
piece of scantling 3 inches square, into a heart pine cap 
2 inches thick, to cover the pillar, projecting 1 inch all 
around the same. I then took heart pine paling, 1 inch 
thick, 4 inches wide, and sawed them through from cor¬ 
ner to corner, putting the two broad ends down on the 
cap brick, so each 4 inches paling fenced 8 inches; the 
spike ends up; it makes a fence proof against all intru¬ 
ders, well dressed up and painted white. I consider it 
the most ornamental, durable, and best garden fence I 
ever saw. Well, stop; all this don’t keep out the moles, 
for they will dive down even 4 or 6 feet, and go under 
the wall and into the garden; but here comes the secret. 
I dug down 6 inches below the surface on the outside of 
the wall, and laid a detached course of brick end waj's 
butting up against the wall, entirely around the garden. 
Now the moles always rooting near the surface,will come 
to the wall and dive down to the brick shelf, (which is 
to be well covered up,) and I have no hesitation in say¬ 
ing will not in 50 years, turn back 8 inches and take the 
second dive. There has never been the track of one 
made in my garden since its construction. I pursue the 
same plan in regard to all out-buildings which I desire 
to make rat proof; especially the smoke house, which 
can be done even if the same is a frame house or logs, 
only underpin with brick or stone, and nail around the 
outside on the weather boarding, a strip of tin 4 inches 
wide, or a slanting piece of board. 
protection from bugs. 
I commenced this spring as usual, in planting early en¬ 
cumbers, squashes, melons, &c., which were no sooner 
out of the ground, than the greatest pest we have, the 
yellow bugs, devoured them. After trying two or three 
times, I made 30 or 40 boxes, lO by 12 inches in the 
clear, of three-fourths chestnut boards, 6 inches wide; 
covered the tops with coarse millinett, nailed on with 
cut tacks; made the hills level with the surface of the 
ground, and laid on the boxes; as the vines rise, hill 
them up and lay them over again, till they are nearly 
ready to run. One crop has already more than doubly 
paid me. I shall make 70 more, which is as many as I 
want—will last many years with care. Ten days is long 
enough to keep them over one set of hills, and they will 
not cost over 3 or 4 cents per box. I have a great many 
other little matters to mention, which must be deferred 
till another time. A. B. N. 
Three Otters, Bedford co., fa., 1843. 
SHADE TREES. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —picked up a scrap of 
newspaper the other day, containing an account of a 
great fire a few weeks since in Danvers, Mass., a few 
lines of which struck me very forcibly,-and should be 
generally circulated. It stated many buildings were pre¬ 
served by very great exertions, and many more by the 
shade trees surrounding the buildings. Thus an expen¬ 
diture of perhaps two or three dollars, saved probably as 
many thousands; comment is needless. I have likewise 
made another accidental discovery: by setting out the 
roots of the Mountain ash, or in other words, cutting off 
the top of the tree near the ground, and setting out the 
stump, the shoots of which, in three years grew to the 
height of fifteen feet, and nearly three inches through. 
As it will soon be the proper time for setting out those 
beautiful trees, I hope to see some of your citizens in 
Albany, and the neighboring cities and villages, try the 
experiment; or if they choose, the whole tree, as noth¬ 
ing can exceed it in beauty for an ornamental tree. It 
* Query—Is the plant here designated, the Clematis Virginica 
which we believe is sometimes called the Virginia creeper? 
