inquiries anir £Ui3iocr9 
vines—ray hoe being so shaped, with a' long 
handle, as to admit of reaching under and work¬ 
ing up the soil thoroughly. 
What I mostly seek, by keeping my vines so 
tow, is to have the fruit ripen better. I have, 
every year, tried the experiment by setting up a 
row or two higher than the others, aftd have 
always found those lowest the ripest, hut, of 
course, they must not be so low as to touch tho 
ground. Where it is necessary to lay vines down 
during the winter, there cannot he a more con¬ 
venient or more suitable trellis constructed for 
the purpose, than this; for, it is difficult to take a 
strong vine from an upright trellis and lay it 
down, and in the spring raise it up again, without, 
more or 
Fruit Culture Is Iowa.—I wish to set out quite a 
number of fruit trees the coming year. I see iu the 
RURAL of Feb. 4th that G. J. Kellogg has kindly fur¬ 
nished a list uf 21 ,-.motion of tu ples that are adapted to 
thii soil und climate of Wisconsin. Now, can any uf your 
correspondents give us a list that will he hardy, excellent, 
and productive, in this purl of low i’ The fact of it is, 
very many uf the old inhabitant:! say that fruit cauunt he 
grown here; hut I have seen has good apples that were 
grown here, as 1 every -aw anywhere, ttnd I think what 
iia* beau done by a 1Y«, can he done by many, with 
proper Investigation, judgment, and care. They say that 
after the ground is frozen hard, that no snow, or hut very 
little, covers the ground to protect the roots of the trees, 
in consequence of which, a tew days ol warm weather. 1 
such a« wo httvo here, even in winter, will thoroughly 
soften the ground and thaw tho toots, and the sap 
springs to the tree, whore a northeaster catches it, and, 
in freezing It, hursts the hark ami Utils the true, Now, 
would not a simple application id’ straw luauure around 
the tree, after the ground is thoroughly frozen in the 
fall, prevent this nnsitasonahle thawing till pit in remov 
ed in the spring, aild thereby save the tree' — U. W,, F.d- 
dyville., Iowa, 1800. 
Uka vy mulching would no doubt ho of great benefit In 
Will nnt4bmo 
every spring, cut ttacK me previous suimum •- 
growth so ns to leave hut three or four good buds 
remaining on the shoot It is impossible here to 
give a detailed description of the best method ot 
pruniug. Practice will soon teach an observing 
man what branch needs to be cut closest, and 
where to let in the light and air. I have never 
yet seen a dwarf pear tree that had been pruned 
too much, and am fully persuaded that, without 
proper attention to this part of the culture, the 
trees cannot be preserved in health and vigor, nor 
the fruit he large and fine. 
Then, there is the thinning out of the fruit. 
Some varieties of pear set their fruit in clusters, 
and these need to he thinned so that the pears will 
there is a 
MY LABOR-SAVING HUSBAND. 
Bomb husbands are more plague than profit, 
and make vastly moro work than they do; but 
mine is one to brag about. When I was married, 
to my shame bo it spoken, T had never made a 
loaf of bread or a pie. I bail no idea of saving 
time or saving work, but haul a husband who had 
love enough for me t«> hear with my simplicity, 
and not scold when the bread was burned and 
the pies not lit to eat. Going into the kitchen 
one morning, ho saw me baking buckwheat cakes, 
and greasing tho griddle with a piece of pork on 
I the end of a fork. lie said nothing, but went 
into tho wood-houBC, and soon returned with a 
smoothly-whittled stick, about six inches long, 
through tho split end of which he passed a folded 
strip or white flotb, and then wound it around 
the end and tied it with a hit of string. Bo I had 
a contrivance which could he dipped in melted 
grease, and put it smoothly over the griddle. 
One day ho saw me scouring kuives with a 
piece of eloth. “Dear mo!” said lie, “you will 
less, loosening the bark and injuring the 
wood, which, if followed np for a few years, must 
necessarily injure the vine. But with this trellis, 
(it never being necessary to raise it more than 
half upright,) a vino does not get strained enough 
to cause any injury, 
from severe winters, the vines 
not touch each other. Besides tliii 
great tendency in the dwarf pear tree to bear too 
much. This most he prevented by taking off a 
part of the fruit. It is best to do it early iu the 
season, before the pears attain much size, selecting 
the smallest and the ill-shaped specimens. As to 
the quantity that should he taken oil, I can only 
the size of the crop to a just 
all ueetidus whore trees suiter from Trust 
of our readers in Iowa give us such Tacts in regard to 
fruit c.ulturo iu that State as will be profitable to our 
correspondent and others who are desiring knowledge on 
the subject. _ 
Dwakk At'PLKS. —Will you. or some of your experienced 
correspondents, give us a chapter upon the apple dwarfed 
upon tin! DoileaUi. How largo a size does the true attain? 
How early and how long do they boar, under proper 
treutmout? In what, does tho treatment consist? What 
are the twenty varieties best, suited to the Doueain for 
profitable culture -oiy live early, five autumn, (ivu win¬ 
ter, and 11 vo long-keepers? An answer to tho above, with 
such other net vice us experience may suggest, would, 
wo believe, induce thousands to plant dwarf apples, 
whose grounds are too limited lor lin go trues, or whose 
uuu having passed the meridian, Cannot wait for their 
bearing. A good neighbor of on re, Who owns plenty of 
land, but wan impatient for the limit,, planted, a few years 
hluco 700 dwarf pear trees, with which bis success 
hits been so complete that he, last fall, purchased 
1,000 apple trees, dwarf' d on (he Douruiu. In reading, 
for years past, with Increasing interest, tho reports of 
Fruit Growers Associations, 1 have often wondered why 
an item so important us tins, should be overlooked.—A 
Constant KiCAOKH, Oxford Co., C. IF., I860. 
Where there is much danger 
should ho trained | 
on the under side, and firmly tied to tho trellis. 
The smaller branches and canes may he brought 
up between the slats and properly spread and tied; 
or, where they cannot be brought on top, they 
may be firmly tied to the nndcr side of it, as it 
does not matter much; for the young wood will 
uatnrally grow upright, and finally lap over on 
the trellis. Then, when winter comeB, and tho 
vines are pruned, the tying may be cut and tho 
vines let down—and, if desirable, some litter 
thrown cm, and the trellis dropped down upon 
them. Tf any snow falls, the trellis will prevent 
the wind from blowing it off. 
say. aim 
proportion to the size and vigor of the tree. It is 
harder to 6Crew one’s courage np to the right 
thinniog point when pears are to be cut away, 
than only the branches. Bnt the fruit taken is 
not so much lost. The nourishment, distributed 
among so many, would not have been enough to 
have brought any of them to perfection. Prop¬ 
erly reduce tho number, and those that remain 
will he brought np to the highest degree of excel¬ 
lence of which the variety is capable. Besides, 
the tree that is allowed to overbear will soon 
exhaust itself. 
If any, who have had the patience to follow me 
thus far, think they cannot find time to prune 
their trees in the spring, to thin out the fruit and 
keep the ground mellow and clean in the summer, 
and to give them a good top dressing in the fall, 
let them not plant. To such, dwarf pears would 
only bo a disappointment and a vexation.— 
Slightly to change the words of one of .your emi¬ 
nent statesmen, the price of good fruit is eternal 
vigilance. Nor need they read further; the few 
suggestions that will follow in my next are for 
those who are willing to endure the toil that they 
may reap the fruit. D. W. Beadle. 
St Catharines, C. IF., 1860. 
There is one drawback to this trellis, in me 
opinion of some, and that is, the cultivation of 
the soil has to be done by hand—though, where 
laborers can he had, 1 consider it the cheapest; 
for r think one spading, in a vineyard, better 
than all the plowing that could he given it during 
the season. With the spade, you lay the soil 
where you want it, but with the plow, you lay 
it where you can. 1 think it plow should never 
enter a vineyard after vines begin to bear. 
Perhaps it will not ho amiss here to state how 
the idea was first, brought to my mind, of placing 
grape vines low down, as it will the more clenrly 
show the object which I sought to obtain by it. 
When I first commenced putting out grape vines, 
I at the same time began looking after our wild 
ones, witli a view of testing some of them, with 
regard to their quality for wine. As I was strol¬ 
ling along the river bank, one day, quite early iu 
the fall, looking to see how they were prospering, 
I came to a vine, spread out on a grass plat, which 
was covered with beautiful clusters of black 
grapes, all fully ripe, at which I was greatly sur¬ 
prised, as it was so early that. I had not expected 
to find anything of the kind. My first idea was 
that I had discovered an early variety; hut, on 
tracing the vine to its root, I found branches of 
the same running np on sojne bushes, and there 
ing to color, 
while ministering so abundantly to tue delicacies 
of the table. 
I said the dwarf pear tree is the gift of art; and 
it is by remembering this simple fact, and treating 
it accordingly, that it can be successfully grown 
and made to bear its yearly burden of delicious 
fruit. Nothing valuable without labor, is a maxim 
that has its application here. Tho man who is 
not willing to bestow the requisite care, ought 
never to plant. 
First, then, os to where to plant. Great care 
should be exercised in selecting a suitable place 
in which to plant dwarf pears. It should be a 
rich, warm, dry spot, where no water stands; and 
where, if you dig a hole two feet deep into the 
ground at any season of the year, water will not 
remain in it for move than twenty-four hours. It 
the soil bo not thus drained naturally, it should be 
thoroughlynndordrainetl. Thehcstsoilisastrong 
clay loam; yet any soil that will yield good corn 
or potatoes, may he used. If, however, it should 
KiNOBLE y AlTLRi—WUl you be so good as to give me 
a little inftumillion? 1 wish t<> know in there is .iueli uu 
apple ns the Kingsley? Elliot, is his Fruit Book, says 
It. is n unlive of Monroe Co., N. Y If von. or any oT 
your correspondents, will answer this in the Rural, and 
give a description of tlm apple, yon will oblige a subaori- 
lio.r. Also, please describe tlie Summer Bellellour of 
Dnte.Vie** Co.,N. Y.— Wm. b. \V., Rosamond, Christian 
Co., III., i860. 
Tint Kingsley is a small apple, of only fair quality, but 
a long keeper. It originated, we believe, in this county, 
and was ft great favorite with an old citizen of Rochester, 
now deceased, r>r. 1 , 0 X 0 , who, in addition to his medical 
practice, did something at tho nursery business. The 
Dr. called it the apple of apples of the. world ,” but it 
has not geuerully been deemed worthy of cultivation. 
The Summer Bellelleur Is ft medium sized, oval, yellow 
apple, with white, line grained, tender flesh, rich, and 
half acid. Ripe, latter part of August. 
NEW GRAPE TRELLIS, 
•I herewith present 
Eds. Rural Nkw-Yobker 
you with a description of my mode of trellising 
grapes, which 1 think will be quite useful to grape- 
growers in some localities, especially so where 
there is much danger from severe winters. 
topic of conversation. He reads to me every 
advertisement and every letter from women who 
praise them in the papers. If he could make one 
1 should he in possession of oho immediately, 
but as he cannot, 1 must wait till “ the ship comes 
in.” These are some of the ways by which he 
lightens tho labor of the house. Would more 
husbands were like him. Perhaps, another time, 
I shall tell you how ho contrives his own garden 
tools,and saves time and money by his ingenuity. 
—Fireside Monthly. 
Runs.—It is muddy out of doors—in the liouso, 
grandmother says, with a sly, good-natured glance 
at those boots which are always sure to find mud, 
and the bottoms of pants or skirts with unfortu¬ 
nate tendency. There is an old piece of carpet or 
a what do you call it?—a rag very conspicuous on 
the stops of the front and back door, which you 
arc expected to wipe your feet on ere you go in. 
You forgot it till the door closes behind you; 
then somebody calls from beyond in a sharp, 
shrill voice, “Wipe yer feet, sir!” or in an affec¬ 
tionate tone, “My dear, did you notice that rug?” 
or In a jovial way, “You've forgotten the rug, 
I’ll bet my bonnet!” A most, provoking thing is 
that rug, but it is as necessary to gain an entrance 
anywhere, juBt now, as the door bell. Next to 
£j o vt t cultural Notes 
the grapes, were 
although they were favorably situated for ripen¬ 
ing—at least, what would usually ho considered 
so. Now, the question 
my grapes low—e 
manner as 
Fruit in Minnesota. —In the Minnesota Ileucon, pub¬ 
lished at Minneapolis, wo observe a very interesting dis¬ 
cussion, at the Farmers’ Club at that place, on the sub¬ 
ject of fruit,— the best soil, the difference between 
seedling and grafted fruit, &c, Mr. HOUGH, of Washing¬ 
ton Co., “ had trees five years old, grafted in the root, and 
seedlings of the same age. He saw no superiority in the 
former,—they were about the same size. Soil, clayey; 
land, high. Woe confident oT having fruit next year. 
None of his trees had boon entirely killed. Mr Foito 
was satisfied that Minnesota could be a good fruit couu- 
Even now we hear of apples growing in 
parts of tho State, but mostly on heavy clay soils 
arose, how I could train 
pread out flat, and iu such a 
would admit of cultivating the soil. I 
was satisfied that the difference here was caused 
by their lying on the ground, where they were not 
exposed to the cold winds as much as those 
higher up. The result, niter about a year's con¬ 
sideration, was the trellis here presented. Now, 
although 1 do not find as much difference between 
the upright ones and those lying down, as there 
was between those wild ones, I still find enough 
to induce me to continue the same style. 
Charlotte, N. Y., Feb., I860. Gxo. Buck. 
Remarks.— We present our readers with the 
above, and will only remark that we have often 
been surprised at the magnificent and early 
ripened grapes shown by Mr. Beck. He grows 
Clinton as large as people generally grow the 
Isabella. Next season we will have an eye to Mr. 
B.’s vineyard. 
FlO. 1— Trellis as it would appear if Erect. 
Figure 1, shows the appearance the trellis would 
present if erect Figure 2, shows the end view of 
trellis raised up for spading. Fig. 3, trellis as it 
lies during summer. Figure 4, as laid down for 
winter. 
try in time, 
many 
anil high land, particularly in tho openings and timber. 
Many of the kinds now iu cultivation may he grown in 
such localities, and Tor the prairies, and all lighter soils, 
wo shall have seedlings of a hardy character, Grapes 
will do linely here, if covered a little in the winter, and 
vineyards could be made highly profitable along our river 
bluffs. Currants, gooseberries, and raspberries, are at 
home with us, and every man may have his 
‘Dish of ripe strawberries 
Smothered in cream.'" 
At the conclusion of the meeting, it was resolved that, 
with proper care, the culture of apples and pears can be 
successfully carried on iu that State. 
Tun Hubbard Souasii —Dr Jkwitt, the well-known 
lecturer, writes to the Milwaukee Democrat to say that 
iu his discourse on the nutrition of the human body, at 
Albany Hall, he alluded to the lino arrangements of the 
elements of nutrition in the Hubbard Squash, It has a 
rind, or shell, when thoroughly ripened, almost iih hard 
as a gourd, and may be kept through tho entire winter 
without injury. In point of flavor, this variety is unri¬ 
valled. Dr. .Ik witt says that he analysed a Hubbard 
Squash with the following results:—lie cut from a fine 
specimen a pound and a half, and found that it yielded a 
large quantity of vegetable llbrino, a considerable quan¬ 
tity of albumen, identical in composition, and equal In 
value, to the white of eggs; along with these ingredients 
lie also obtained two ounces of a One syrup, scarcely 
inferior to Stewart’s best, and one or two tablespoou- 
From the results of this analysis, 
portion below the surface. If planted deeper, the 
pear often throws out roots, thereby depriving ns 
of the advantages of working on the quince. 
After the tree is planted, a mulch or covering 
of leaves from the forest, spread on the surface 
under the tree, will help to keep the ground moist 
and at a uniform temperature, thereby greatly 
promoting the growth of tho tree during its first 
summer. Coarse manure iB sometimes recom¬ 
mended, bat the rains often carry down a solution 
too strong for the newly transplanted tree, and on 
this account, if leaves can not conveniently be 
had, sawdust, chopped straw, moss, or spent tan, 
would be preferable to manure. 
And now, it is just here that so many seem to 
think that their work is all done; that henceforth 
the trees will care for themselves and their mas¬ 
ter too. It is a great mistake, from which has 
resulted much of the disappointment that has 
been experienced in the growing of dwarf peare. 
In truth, it is just here that the labor really 
begins. The trees are well planted in a warm, 
thoroughly-drained, fertile soil, and in a few days 
they will begin to grow. But about the same 
time the weeds will begin to grow also. These 
must be kept down, perfectly subdued, and the 
soil kept mellow by repealed cultivation; and that 
not only during the first summer, but during every 
subsequent summer while the trees stand. The 
cultivation should not be deep; not by spade or 
plow, lest the roots be cut and torn; hut with the 
caltivator or hoe, so that the surface may he kept 
mellow and the weeds destroyed; and that not for 
a little circle just around the tree, but for a radius 
of at least ton feet. 
Again —the trees must be fed. And that they may 
he supplied with a suitable quantity all the time, 
e an annual dressing. The best 
Fio. 2— Trellis Elevated for Spading. 
I construct the trellis in the following manner: I 
For the beams for the slats to rest on, I use two- 
by-four-ineh hemlock, six feet long, where the 
rows are eight feet apurt. For blocks under the 
foot of the beams, three-by-four, eight inches 
long; for slats, pine, one-by-one and a half inches, 
sixteen feet long. I reduce the thickness of the 
foot of the beam to about one inch, and nail it 
to the block with two tenpenny nails, —and 
when all are prepared, scatter them through the 
vineyard. Then I begin at one end of a row, the 
row’s running east and west, and place the foot of 
the beam exactly in a line with the stock of the 
vines, and lay the other end directly northward, 
placing the beams eight feet apart along the row's. 
Then I begin with the slats,—begin with three, to 
reach to two beams, and two long ones, reach- 
TO PRESERVE SQUASH SEED PURE. 
Dear Rural:— I notice in yonr columns of 
Feb. 4tb, a communication iu relation to “Pre¬ 
serving Squash Seed Pure.” 1 agree with the 
writer, Mr. Clacknbr, that, “a pure seed of its 
kind will produce its like to an indefinite time, 
provided it is kept from intermixing with other 
sorts.” Ves, but then, how are we to do this? It 
does seem next to impossible to keep them pure, 
and from all I have read, I don't see that we are any 
nearer a practical way t.o do it, than before all the 
plans were proposed. Mr. C. takes it for granted 
that a squash “ sets ” before it blossoms. I think 
it does not "set.” 
One question I will ask; does not a squash vine 
produce blossoms, both male and female, on dif¬ 
ferent parts of the vine? In Mr. C.’s mode of pro¬ 
tection, if a vine of another kind were planted 
near by, it might fertilize the plant on which we 
place our hopes for “jrore seed,”—the pollen from 
the other vine might impregnate the Hubbard be¬ 
fore the pollen of the Hubbard would reach the 
blossom of the Hubbard; at least, so I think, but 
then, if (?) the squash produces a perfect flower, 
then Mr. C.'s mode is ptjflect. I hope you, Mr. 
Editor, will state in your next, after you get this, 
if the squash has “ perfect blossoms.” 
I think the only reliable way is that which 
some seedsmen have adopted, viz., plant for 
seed, on a neck of land out in the sea, at a long 
distance from where they raise aDy other kind. 
Pittsburg, Pa., Feb., 1*00. J- H. Poster, Jit. 
Remarks.— The female flowers of the squash 
need fertilizing by the male (lowers, so that Mr. 
C., to make his system perfect would liave to pro¬ 
tect a few of the male blossoms and fertilize by 
hand. This is a nice operation, as the pollen must 
be taken just at the right time. 
and two long one; 
ing to three beams, placing the first slat about 
twenty inches from the foot end of the beams. 
Having these nailed down, I continue with full- 
length slats, thus getting a part of the joints 
upon each beam, which is actually necessary to 
make the work strong enough to bear handling. 
To obviate the necessity of cutting the slats 
exactly of a length, I slip the ends past each 
other, as shown in figure 1, which, at the same 
time, makes stronger work. The short props 
should be two-by-four, eighteen or twenty inches 
long, and the long ones should be about four fe6t 
long, one by-three-inches. Of these, enough to 
set up one or two rows at a time is sufficient. 
This trellis may he made any continuous length; 
but still, in a large vineyard, roads must be left 
across for hunting in manure, and from there it 
must necessarily be carried in wheelbarrows over 
the vineyard. A slight hillock may be kept under 
the foot of the beam, or a larger block used, to 
clear the fruit sufficiently from the earth. 
fills of pure starch, 
he U fully convinced that this variety of squash is one 
Of the best and most nutritions vegetables that can be 
raised. 
The Progressive Gardeners’ Society. —The gar¬ 
deners of Philadelphia havo organized a Society under 
this name, the object of which Is “Mutual improvement 
in the branches connected with the profession of horti¬ 
culture, the elucidation of doubtful points In relation to 
the culture and treatment of trees, plants, and garden 
crops generally, and the dissemination, by means of 
essays and other similar channels, of reliable Information 
on the various operations of gardening. The majority of 
the members are professional gardeners, actively engaged 
in the pursuit of their calling. The following are the 
oliicers:— (The President to be appointed at each meeting 
from the roll of members, each member in rotation being 
eligible.) Treasurer—John Gerney. Secretary— R. 
Robinson Scott. 
Calls. —During the past week, we had a call from our 
friend V. K. PiiokNIX, the well-known nurseryman of 
Bloomington, Illinois. Mr, P. is doing a good work at 
the West, in introducing line fruits and encouraging 
their culture. We hope he will pay us a visit next sum¬ 
mer, when we shall be pleased to show him and other 
friends around among the flowers and fruits that abound 
here. 
— Also, from M. D. Freer, of Watkins, in this State. 
Mr. F. has for several years been extensively engaged in 
the nursery business, and is probably the largest grower 
of tobacco in this State. We hope to have an opportu- 
nity to return these calls. 
they should rcceiv 
fertilizer I believe to be a compost of well-rotted 
barnyard manure, leaf mold, and charcoal, of 
which the manure forms two-thirds; that the fall 
is the best time to apply it, and the best method 
of application is to spread it on the surface of 
the ground. By this means the too stimulating 
effects of fresh manures is avoided, the roots are 
protected from the severe and sudden changes 
of weather during the winter, while the early 
spring rains carry down the soluble portions 
into the soil. 
Then, in the spring, comes the pruning ,—and that 
not once in three or four years, but every spring. 
The pruning is a point iu which many fail, and 
because of this failure on the part of the cultiva¬ 
tor, the trees soon fail also. It seems to be hard, 
after taking so much pains to make the trees 
grow, to cut that fine, thrifty growth away. But 
Fig. 3 — Trellis in Proper Position for the Summer. 
After the spading, in the spring, is done, I let 
the vines down, as showm in figure 3, and do the 
hoeing during summer without disturbing the 
We give up this department the present week 
almost entirely to correspondents, and still sev¬ 
eral valuable articles are crowded out. 
