THE CULTIVATOR 
183 
will likewise be the proper season for transplanting any 
kind of forest or fruit trees, particularly the sugar maple, 
the pride of the American forest, or the world, so far as 
I have seen, for beauty and use. Jn setting out the ma¬ 
ple, I invariably cut olF nearly or quite all the top, and 
if the ground is not wet, am almost as sure to raise them 
as a hill of potatoes. C. K. 
HINTS ON ONIONS. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —The preparation of the 
ground should not be stirred and made light for this ve¬ 
getable, so deep as for others with tap roots. Two inch¬ 
es is deep enough to stir the ground, then lay strips of 
boards in a parallel direction, side by side on the ground, 
eight or ten inches wide, and leave a space between each 
board to sow the seed, of about three inches; let these 
boards remain on the ground until the onions are one- 
third grown, before they are removed. The advantage 
of the boards is obvious; it prevents the weeds from 
growing between the rows, and it aids in getting over 
the beds in weeding time without disturbing the plants, 
thus saving about one-half the labor, a necessar}'’ item. 
To make eatly Onions. —When the common seed onions 
are the size of a goose quill or a little larger, pull out all 
thand too thick on the bed, and lay them by on the grass 
or ground to dry; all the natural juice that belongs to 
the top will enter the bottoms and aid in its growth, and 
in a couple of weeks form a perfect onion about the size 
of a robin’s egg; when the tops are well dried, put them 
into a bag and keep them frost until the next spring, 
when they may be transplanted early in beds, for rare¬ 
ripes ; these will mature early in spring or summer, for 
the table. 
The bottoms of common seed onions, if preserved, 
will answer to transplant for several consecutive j'cars, 
to raise seed from. They should be taken up each fall, 
and put them on to strings, and hang them in a cellar. 
There are many other curiosities and properties of the 
onion which your readers may be aware of, that I de¬ 
cline mentioning in this letter. S. W. Jewett. 
Weybridge, Vt., Sept. 29, 1843. 
GRAFTING. 
The mode of grafting mentioned in the July no. of the 
Cultivator, is not a new one, and I will name some other 
methods of applying that principle in practice. 
1st. Instead of inserting the scions in a shoot, and bend¬ 
ing it down, we may uncover a root under any tree, in¬ 
sert the scion through it as directed for the shoot, and re¬ 
move it in the same manner. 
2d. Where a young tree bifurcates, so as to be in dan¬ 
ger of splitting when the tree is loaded with fruit, a scion 
may be sharpened at both ends, and inserted one end in 
each branch, which will thus form a connecting limb, 
and thus effectually guard against the danger. To insert 
the scion properly, the branches should be spread apart 
so as to press firmly upon the shoulders of the scion, and 
if the tree has so much top as to be acted upon by winds, 
a string should be lied across above the scion, till adhe¬ 
sion has taken place. p. 
Grafting Grape Vines. —In Hovey’s Magazine, a 
simple mode of grafting grape vines is described, which 
in substance is as follows:—Cut off the vine below the 
surface of the earth; split the stock as in cleft grafting; 
let the scion be of one year’s wood with two or three 
buds, make it wedge shaped, and insert it in the cleft; if 
the cleft does not hold it sufficiently firm, secure it by 
binding it tight; draw the earth over the whole, leaving 
the second bud from the top uncovered; take off all sprouts 
from stock and scion, except one, and train that as usual. 
V e think those who have unproductive, or wild vines, 
would do well to try this method. The time is after the 
vines cease to bleed. 
Worms on Cabbage —These pests of the garden may 
be destroyed by taking off one of the large lower leaves 
of the cabbage, about sundown, and laying it on the top 
of the plant, “ backside down.” Take it off early in the 
morning, and the whole or a large part of the worms of 
that cabbage will be on it, and maybe destroyed at plea¬ 
sure. So says W. Chandler, in the Tenn. Agriculturist. 
Wool —A letter from the Register of the Treasury to 
a member of Congress from Vermont, gives the impor¬ 
tations of wool for the first half of the present fiscal 
year, and admitting the last half to equal the first, the 
irnportation of wool for the present year, as compared 
with the last, will stand as follows: 
Wool costing 7 cents or under,. 1,762,736 lbs. 
“ over 7 cents,... 451,924 
Total importation for 1843,. 2,214,660 lbs. 
Importations for 1842. 
Wool costing 8 cents or under, .... 10,538,988 lbs. 
“ over 8 cents,. 751,384 
Total importation for 1842,. 11,290,382 lbs. 
Deduct,. 2,114,560 
Diminution of importation in 1842,. 9,075,722 lbs. 
^ W^ill not this exU'aordinary falling off in the importa¬ 
tions account for the activity and better prices of the 
domestic wool market?—a result most satisfactory, as 
owing to the competition in manufacture, woolen cloths 
were never cheaper than at oresent. 
SDottieatic Qfc0tTOttt2. 
Al 
BUTTER STAMP.—(Fig. 95.) 
Editors of the Cultivator —I lately met with a 
notice of a method of printing butter, in a little \’’olume 
entitled “ Frank,” issued some time since, which if you 
have not already noticed, might be new as well as inter¬ 
esting to some of your numerous readers. It would seem 
that the principal advantages of this mode are, that the 
butter need not come in contact with the hand in any part 
of the process; and that the lumps when printed, will be 
of a uniform weight and size. In addition to these, not 
only the top but the sides may be printed of any pattern 
to please the fancy. 
It consists of a small round box fastened to a board, 
through the bottom of which, is a hole for the introduc¬ 
tion of a handle, connected with a second and moveable 
box inside the first. This second box is formed of three 
staves accurately fitted, so as to form a regular mold on 
the inside. These rest in a groove round the edge of a 
round piece of wood attached to the handle alluded to, 
and fitting loosely on the inside of the first box. This 
handle and top being first put down, the three staves are 
then placed with their ends in the groove, and the butter 
pressed down hard into the box. The print is then 
forced down on the top of the butter, which is afterwards 
to be pushed out by means of the handle below,when the 
staves may be taken apart. 
The whole of this apparatus, with the exception of the 
stand, should be neatly turned from some hard and com¬ 
pact wood. 
In the above drawing, A. represent the mold with the 
stamp on; B. one of the three moveable staves in the in- 
nerbox, and C. the bottom with the handle. J. C. 
PRESERVATION OF APPLES. 
In the London Gardener's Chronicle we find the fol¬ 
lowing account of the mode of preserving apples adopted 
by a gentleman in Herefordshire. Wc are of the opin¬ 
ion it would succeed any where. 
‘‘He covers the floor of his cellar, with hurdles, two 
in thickness, and on these he puts a little straw, upon 
which the apples are placed without further care or at¬ 
tention, except removing all that appear to be faulty as 
he places them in the cellar; and he thinks it is unne¬ 
cessary to use any particular care in this respect. He has 
at present, 110 bushels of apples thus heaped up in his 
small cellar; two or three times a week, he gives agooti 
wetting with fresh water, as much as he thinks will leell 
wet the whole of them. This water drains off through the 
straw and hurdles, into a well. In this way, his apples 
keep well until the time he usually disposes of them, the 
best to make him a good return after Christmas. At pre¬ 
sent the apples look as well and as firm as if just gather¬ 
ed, and I understand that during the last 10 years, they 
have always kept just as well and as fresh, as now. How 
much less troublesome and easy of application for keep¬ 
ing large quantities of fruit, than storing them away in 
dried sand, on shelves, or in boxes, or in many other 
ways highly recommended.” 
EGYPTIAN WHEAT. 
The Caledonian Mercury gives one of the most strik¬ 
ing proofs of the vitality of seeds, or the lengh of time 
their germinating properties, under favorable circum¬ 
stances, may be retained. In unrolling a mummy in 
the Thebiad, the hieroglyphics on which proved it to 
be more than 3,000 years old, or in other words, that it 
was a cotemporary of the judges of Israel, or Samuel, a 
few grains of wheat were found in the envelop. On 
the first of November, last year, Mr. Ford, gardener to 
the Earl of Haddington, into whose hands a few of these 
seeds had fallen, sowed them in the garden. The pro¬ 
duce was about 100 stalks, nearly six feet high, and 
from 45 to 55 grains in each ear. The wheat is bearded 
and thick heads, not unlike barley. The leaves are 
nearly an inch broad. It is evident, therefore, that the 
general character of Egyptian wheat was the same 3,000 
years ago that it is now, bearded, clubbed, and the 
grain dark or inferior. The wheat which has been cir¬ 
culated under the name of Texas or California wheat, is 
a variety of the same kind, but containing more kernels 
to (he ear. One which was forw'arded to us, contained 
109 keniels. The character of the wheat, however, 
renders it unfit for fine flour, and our experiments on its 
productiveness was not favorable to an extension of its 
culture. 
Gapes in Chickens.—A writer in the Tennessee Ag¬ 
riculturist, states that chickens or fowls fed with corn 
ground coarse, as for hominy, will never have the gapes. 
It is not improbable such would be the result, and those 
whose fowls are liable to this disease, would do well to 
try this manner of feeding. It is only a preventive, how¬ 
ever, not a cure. 
MONTHLY NOTICES. 
New-Castle Co., Delaware_ The Fair of this 
flourishing Society was held at Wilmington, on the 13th 
and I4th Sept. It was with extreme regret that we found 
ourselves unable, from our presence being required at 
Rochester, to accept the invitation extended to us to be 
present on the occasion. This was their 7th exhibition, 
and was in some respects superior to any that have pre¬ 
ceded it. Seventy-four yoke of beautiful oxen were pre¬ 
sent, and attracted the universal admiration of all present, 
as they were paraded with banners denoting the districts 
from which they came. The Plowing Match here, as 
elsewhere, excited the greatest attention—14 teams were 
entered, all horses but one. The space plowed, one- 
eighth of an acre. The ox team, belonging to our friend 
C. P. Holcomb, Esq., came out ahead, performing the 
work in 21J minutes, the others varying from 23 to 26 
minutes. The Report of the Committee on the Plowing 
Match, of which E. Tatnall, Esq. was chairman, is a 
pattern for such reports, and we much regret that want 
of space prevents our publishing it at length. The pre¬ 
miums were awarded, 1st, to John Newlove—2d, to J. 
W. Andrews—3d, to John More—4(h, to F. Lawden. 
The Societ 5 ' oi-dered a copy of The Cultivator to be sent 
for one year to the holders of the several plows. The 
Address by Dr. Darlington of Westchester, Pa., is 
spoken of in the highest terms, and is soon to be pub¬ 
lished. 
The American Institute, —The show of stock, im¬ 
plements, farm products, &c. at the late Fair of the In¬ 
stitute, was respectable, though perhaps not on the whole, 
equal to some of its previous exhibitions. The Short 
Horns were well represented by animals from the yards 
of Messrs. Vail, Hull, and others of this state—Dr. Poole 
of Nevv-Jersey, and Messrs. Whitney and Watson of 
Conn. The prize for (he best bull over two years old, 
was awarded, as we are informed, to Mr. Vail’s beauti¬ 
ful bull “ Meteor,” by Wellington, out of Duchess, both 
from Mr. Bates’ stock. 
Town Fair —The enterprising farmers of Friends- 
ville, Susquehanna co., got up a splendid Cattle Fair on 
the 1st of Sept. There were present 300 head of horned 
cattle, more than 100 horses, with sheep, swine, &c. 
The Durham breed and its crosses, were predominant, 
and a couble of bulls, owned by Mr. Carmalt and Mr. 
Turrell, are spoken of as very superior. We hope this 
example of the farmers of Friendsville, will be follow¬ 
ed, for we should rejoice to see these To'vn Fairs spring¬ 
ing up in every section of our country. 
Domestic IVine. —Among the articles exhibited at 
tl e State Fair, were several bottles of wine, manufac¬ 
tured from the Isabella and Catawba grape, by E. Fay & 
Sons of Portland, Chautauque co. Though it might not 
suit the taste of the drinker of “choice old wines,” it 
was a very good article, and had this recommendation, 
that it was “ the pure juice of the grape.” 
Bommer’s Method of making Manure. —We give 
place to Mr. Bommer’s announcement of a new and en¬ 
larged edition of his “Method of making Manure,” in 
our reading columns, notwithstanding it partakes so 
much of the character of an advertisement, because, from 
what we have seen and heard, W’e have the fullest con¬ 
fidence that it is a work of great practical utility, and 
that by following his directions our farmers may greatly 
add to, and increase the value of their manures. We 
would, however, advise no one to purchase it who does 
not improve all the advantages he now possesses to in¬ 
crease the size and value of his dung heap. It will be 
of no use to him who by his want of attention or indus- 
try, fails to improve to the best advantage, the sources of 
wealth which he now possesses, because to make ma¬ 
nure, even by Bommer’s process, requires labor and care; 
but the fiirmer who is willing to gather up all those sub¬ 
stances within his reach which may be made to enrich 
his fields, will find in this “ Method,” information which 
wilt materially aid him in converting these matters 
speedily into a “rich, unctuous and durable manure.” 
Horses —H. C. Merriam, Esq. editor of the Farm¬ 
er’s Advocate, Boston, who was present at oUr State Fair, 
speaks of the show of horses as follows:—“ The horses 
exhibited were very numerous, mostly descendants of 
horses imported from England. In this department, the 
show suri)assed that at Albany the last year. About a 
dozen colts by Sir Alfred, imported into Rochester, by 
Mr. Thomas Weddle, abundantly proved that our breed 
of horses may be as much improved by availing our¬ 
selves of improvements already made in the mother 
countr}', as our cattle and she^ p have been. We think 
the remark is not extravagant, that Mr. Weddle, in the 
importation of Sir Alfred, conferred upon Western New- 
York a greater benefit than he could by a direct dona¬ 
tion of $300,000. Horses of this stock are worth at least 
a third more than the common horses of the country. 
They are a beautiful dark bay, and from their largo size 
and speed, admirably adapted to the coach and the plow, 
and are said to be the descendants of the Cleveland Bays 
of England.” 
Value of Time —From the manner in which time is 
wasted, it is fair to infer that few are aware how much 
may be accomplished when what may be called its shreds 
and parings are fully occupied. The celebrated French¬ 
man, Chancellor D’Augesseau, had a wife who habitual¬ 
ly kept him waiting some ten or twelve minutes, when 
called to dinner. These minutes, and these alone, he de¬ 
voted to the composition of one of his works; and in fif¬ 
teen years, three quarto volumes were produced, which 
are still admired, and still remain a proof of what men 
