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MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND EAMILY NEWSPAPER 
MARCH m 
Dr. Grant stated that it had been exposed at 
Hudson for the past three years, remaining on an 
open trellis during the winter, and had not suffer¬ 
ed in the least, while many other things, which 
were usually hardy, had been destroyed. 
Mr. Downing had Been it for three season past, 
and considered it perfectly hardy, though not a very 
strong grower. 
Mr. Reid said that it was the only good while 
native variety within his knowledge, and thought 
it desirable, if only for that reason. 
Mr . Prince knew of another variety in Pennsyl¬ 
vania. 
Recommended as promising well. 
For the excellent figure of this grape we are in¬ 
debted to C. M. Hovey, Esq., editor of Honey's 
Magazine of Horticulture, in which journal it was 
first figured. 
but where poultry range it will be necessary to get 
the vine so high that they cannot reach the fruit 
The amount of pruning should be regulated on the 
following principles: in autumn, as soon as the 
leaves drop, take off three-fourths of the young 
wood, but the benefit of this pruning is nearly lost, 
unless the summer pruning is attended to. It is 
June before the vines are in blossom, and by that 
time there is enough youug wood growing to ex¬ 
haust the supply of sap. J ust before the first blos¬ 
soms appear, give the vines a thorough pruning, 
and that fills them with sap again just in time 
to set the clustCi s full of fruit. Any one can tell 
whether the vines were summer pruned by seeing 
a dish of the Grapes, for if it was neglected the 
fruit is thin and scattering on the clusters. I have 
had clusters where some of the fruit crowded oil 
before fully grown. In conclusion, where the 
peach does not flourish, plant more hardy and 
early ripening varieties than the Isabella, and select 
a southern slope for the vines. Jn all cases, as 
much as possible, give the fruit the sunny side, 
and spread the vines so thin that the sunwillahine 
on the ground through them all summer. Grape 
vines arc great feeders, so keep the ground rich. 
By cave and the blessing of God, I think they will 
he found profitable, even at greatly reduced prices. 
Alvin Wilcox. 
taken awny when the plants are two or three inches 
high, and the earth drawn to the plants. This 
drawing of the earth t.o the plants should he re- 
— peated several times, as it is a great protection, 
preventing injury Irom the wind. When eight or 
ten inches high they should lie staked, and of 
course the length of the stakes or brush, depends 
upon the variety sown, some sorts growing only 
two or three feel, high, and others live or six feet. 
The stakes should he placed on both sides of the 
rows, slanting inwards bo that the tops will meet, 
m- and so firmly set in the ground that they will not 
m- blow over. 
•is, The two best early varieties are the Prince Al- 
hg birl and Early Kent. The first is the most praised, 
ive but we have often tried tliem together, growing 
of side by side, and prefer the latter. They grow 
from two to three feet high. Of the later sorts wc 
would recommend the Blue Marrow, a 
« fine, large pea of good flavor; the Sugar 
Pea, a very sweet, fine pea, growing five 
I A-i'M A or six feet high; the British Queen, a 
w ffl'' | large and luscious pen, growing also 
some five or six feet high; Knight's 
. Wrinkled Marrow, an excellent, Due 
A NEW STETHOSCOPE, 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. —No. Ill 
An Italian correspondent of the Newark Adver¬ 
tiser, has the following account of a new instru¬ 
ment, which promises to he useful: 
Stethoscopie auscultation established a principle 
—thanks to M. Laennec—which has at length pro¬ 
duced the Dynamoscope, perhaps its greatest ser¬ 
vice. Other Frenchmen had made some ap¬ 
proaches in their efforts to End a mechanical 
gauge for the animal economy—M. Bonnet, for 
example, with his age-telling Spirometer, and M. 
Guillet with his Pneumutometer — hut M. Colloa- 
gues appears to have won all the honors of discov¬ 
ery by hia little steel ear trumpet, which reports 
to the practiced ear the organic action and actual 
condition of the entire body at any given moment 
—gauges ita vitaL force, its age, health and tem¬ 
perature, indicates the course and event of dis¬ 
eases, Ac. The marvelous iittle instrument, which 
would seem to leave ‘‘clairvoyance” without an 
apology, is said to be the final result of a series of 
experiments in auscultation, which led to the dis¬ 
covery that all vital organization gives out an 
audible sound, a low hum, accompanied by very 
distinct crepitation or crackling. 
These sounds may be discerned, we are told, by 
an acute ear, hut more distinctly with the aid of a 
steel or cork conductor; and they are said to vary 
in a measurable manner with the age, tempera¬ 
ment, health and seasons, to indicate the differ¬ 
ence between the effects of fatigue and disease, 
apparent and real death, &c. In complete paraly¬ 
sis, epilepsy, and the like, they entirely disappear, 
though they continue for ten or fifteen minutes 
after the cessation of pulsation and respiration in 
death. They are also heard in amputated limbs 
for some minutes after the operation — as 3ome 
creatures appear to he alive after losing their 
heads. The humming (bourdonnemenl) appears in 
every part of the body to which the instrument 
may he applied, but the crepitation only at the ex¬ 
tremities of the fingers and toes, when one of them 
is placed in its howl. I am not aware that any 
theory has been deduced from these singular re¬ 
sults of this new course of physiological inquiry. 
West Bloomfield, Fell. 185' 
THE HEBECCA GRAPE. 
According to promise, we give a description . 
and drawiugof this new and delicious IF/uYeGrape. 1 
We obtain the following facts in relation to itshis- j 
tory, &e., from the Report of the Committee on j 
Native fruits, made to the American Pomological 
Society, at its last session in this city: 
The Rebecca originated in the garden of Mr. 
E. M. Peake, Hudson, New York, abont eight years 
ago. Mr. Peake's garden is in one of the thickly 
settled streets of the city, andnearly the usual size 
of a lot, perhaps one hundred by one hundred and 
fifty feet deep. Between the house and the street, 
there is a small flower garden. It was here that 
the original vine grew. Mrs. Peake was about 
making some alterations in her flower beds, and 
this vine being in the way, her gardener advised 
her to d ig it up, as it was only an “ old wild grape.” 
But disliking to destroy it, she removed it with 
her own hands, and planted it very carelessly in 
the garden, back of the house, in a very poor and 
cold clay soil. Here the viue made slow progress, 
but continued to increase in size until the third or 
fourth year, when it produced a few clusters of 
small white grapes. These appeared to possess so 
much merit, and were so much better than had 
been expected, that pains were then taken to feed 
and nourish it, and prune it into s iape, and it soon 
well repaid all the labor bestowed upon it. It 
grew vigorously, making shoots ten or fifteen feet 
long and bore abundant crops of the most delicious 
grapes, until at the present time it has reached the 
top of the house, and covers a trellis ten feet wide 
and twenty-five feet high, loaded with fruit. 
We give iu this connection a figure, of a well- 
trained vine, in bearing, and iu previous numbers 
have given directions for pruning and training. 
The success of the vineyavd_depends almost en¬ 
tirely upon pruning, for though the soil may be 
rich, and well drained, and ’well cultivated, and 
the vines make a healthy and rapid growth, unless 
winter pruning and summer pinching is attended to 
faithfully, the crop will be poor and worthless. 
GOLDEN BARTONIA. 
Tiie Golden Baktonia is truly a most brilliant I 
flower. We give Dr. Lindley's very accurate de¬ 
scription. “ It is only beneath the bright sunshine 
that its splendid flowers unfold. In the early morn¬ 
ing the plant is a shabby busli, with pale grecuish- 
grey branches, and weedy leaves; but as the 
sun exercises his influence, the petals gradually 
unroll as if in acknowledgment of his power, till 
every branch is radiant with gold: and so meulic 
is the lustre of the inside Of its petals that one 
would really thiuk they must be composed of some¬ 
thing more solid and enduring than the delicate 
and perishing tissue of a flower.” It was brought 
from California in 1835. The seed should be sown 
in a rich moist soil, and iii a sheltered situation, as 
the branches arc very brittle, and easily broken by 
the wind. 
Tub China Aster. — At the first introduction 
of this flower from China, iu 1730, they were 
single, and there were but two colors, red and 
Waite. The Germans have taken great pains 
It is claimed that the gTeat refracting telescope 
at Cambridge, Mass., is the most perfect instru¬ 
ment of Its kiad that the art of man has ever pro¬ 
duced, having but one rival, viz: that at the impe¬ 
rial central observatory of Russia. The extreme 
diameter of the object-glass of the Cambridge 
telescope is fifteen and a half English inches; the 
effective aperture is 14 and !)5-10Otbs inches; the 
solar focus is 22 feet and ti inches; the distance 
from the outer surface ot the object-glass to the 
point of intersection of the declination and polar 
axis is 13 feet and 7 inches; and from the same 
point, to the solar focus of the object-glass it is S 
feet and II inches. 
The centre of motion of the telescope is 12 feet 
8 nd 9 inches above the floor of the dome. The 
polar axis of the instrument is of steel; its length, 
from the end-bearing of its lower pivot to its junc¬ 
tion with the bed of the declination-axis, i3 3 feet 
10 inches, and its bearings are 2 feet S inches 
apart. The friction on tbe upper bearing of the 
axis relieved by two friction rollers, 7 inches in 
diameter, attached to the short arm of a lever, 
which moves on a steel pin passirgthrough it be¬ 
low the axle. The longer arm of the lever passes 
through the upright part of the cradle, and sup¬ 
ports at a forked extremity a powerful balance- 
weight, which may be adjusted as desired. The 
defining capacity of the object-glass is such that 
powers of from 700 to 1,200 are habitually used in 
the measurement of double stars, and on rare oc¬ 
casions a power of 2,000 may be used to advan¬ 
tage. With this power the telescope has shown 
well the discs of Neptune and of the satellites of 
J upiter. 
Treatment for an Unproductive Orchard.— 
Permit me to ask through the medium of your 
valuable paper, a few questions in regard to my 
business. I have in my care an apple orchard, 
noted many years for its productiveness, owing in 
some degree to the fine gravelly soil upon which it 
stands. But many years and good crops have 
somewhat lessened the yield of fruit lately. Now, 
wbat I want to know is, what kind 
of manure to use, and the mode of 
application, so as to give it, a first 
rate dressing! Would it not be well 
fir me not olIj to apply manure to 
the large roots, but also to the small 
ones, as far ss they extend? When 
should it be done, and will it benefit 
next crop?—J. H. W., Canoga , N. Y., 
March, 1857. 
v\ Remarks.—A good thorough dress¬ 
ing of batu-yard manure, well plowed 
-^ in, a3 deeply as possible, without in- 
juring the roots, would undoubtedly 
The manure should 
help your trees, 
extend, at least as far as the roots.— 
Perhaps severe cropping, in addition 
to the growth of the trees have im¬ 
poverished the soil. Manure thor¬ 
oughly, prune so as to admit light 
and air freely into the heads of the 
trees, wash their trunks with soft 
soap, nsiug a stiff brash, and if mossy, 
scrape them before washing. Plant 
no crop for a season, but keep the 
ground well cultivated, and we have 
no doubt your orchard will be re¬ 
suscitated. 
GRAPE CULTURE 
That the subject of Grape Cultnre is attracting 
especial attention, in all parts of the country, we 
have abundant evidence, iu the many inquiries we 
are daily receiving, and the almost numberles com¬ 
munications that crowd our table. Our limited 
space will prevent the publication of many of 
these, but wcshnll endeavor to answer allinquiries, 
and givo theinformation so eagerly sought. Many 
who do not receive specific answers to their ques¬ 
tions, will find the knowledge they need, contain¬ 
ed in this and other articles we shall give on the 
subject. 
THE ISABELLA GRAPE. 
Messhs. Editors: —I have read with care what 
has been published in the present volume of the 
Rural ou Grape Culture. Now, we don’t want 
any Morns Multieanlis, or Barnum excitement on 
thi»8ubject. Tbe Grape is the most choice fruit 
that grows, and stands first, as reference to the 
laws of the Lord will show. It is important at 
this time, when bo many in this section are just 
commencing to cultivate the Vine, that they have 
such information as will enable them with proper 
care sind the blessing of Providence, to realize 
such crops as they expected. Mr. Laxgwortuy 
stated before the Fruit Growers’ Society, that he 
noticed that part of his vines that had got off of the 
thicket, on the trellis, and stretched to some neigh¬ 
boring fruit tree, produced the best fruit. Mr. 
AtNSWOimi urges the importance of giving the 
fruit all the benefit possible of light and air, by 
1 summer. 
No man need expect a good crop of line fruit 
w ithout exercising judgment on this subject, with 
diligent care. 
My vines are large, and the number of years 
that I have taken cave of them enables me to come 
to the following conclusion—that fruit that makes 
its entire growth in the sun, and is up the most in 
tbe light and air, is fit to gather from one to two 
weeks earlier than that which grows iu the shade; 
and it is of much better quality. 
In a volume on the industrial arts, from tbe pen 
of Mr. Charles Babbage, is a valuable chapter de¬ 
scribing asystem for distinguishing lights by caus¬ 
ing them to show their numbers by vapid eclipses 
and flashes of light. Any digit may be expressed 
bv au equivalent number of occnltations and res¬ 
torations of the light; thus, one eclipse and one 
restoration would stand for the number one. The 
value of the digit, whether belonging to the units, 
tens or hundreds’ place, might be indicated by 
occupations preceded by shorter or longer inter¬ 
vals of light, as three occnltations at intervals of 
a second would express three units; then a pause 
of several, say three seconds; then five occnlta¬ 
tions would express five in the ten's place; then a 
pause of say three seconds and two occnltations 
would express the hundreds; then a longer pause 
of say ten seconds would show that the num¬ 
ber was complete. Thus the number of a light¬ 
house might be repeated more than once in a 
minute, even where the figures are quite high, and 
Spanish Chestnuts, Almonds and 
Walnuts.— Can you, or any of your 
correspondents give us any informa¬ 
tion in regard to the Spanish Chest¬ 
nut, or English Walnut? Will they 
do well in the latitude of Rochester? 
What soil is best, aud at what age do 
they bear nuts? What treatment do 
they need? Also, is the Almond 
hardv enough tor the same section, 
and which variety is best where fruit 
A. W. S., Greenville, 
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. —No. Ill 
I is wanted? 
. Mich., March, 1857. 
c / Remarks. — The Spanish Chestnut 
\ -’'A and English Walnut both do well 
\ J here. The Spanish, like the native 
J J chestnut, flourishes best iu a warm, 
J- -^ light soil. The English Walnut, or 
^ Madeira nut, will flourish in any good 
soil where the hickory would grow; 
it may be grafted on young hicko¬ 
ries. They form large irees, and do not bear, until 
of considerable age, particularly tbe walnut. The 
a.mond will do well where the peach flourishes, and 
requires the same treatment and soil. The Sweet 
Hard-shell is the only variety worth cultivating 
here. The Soft-shell is too tender. 
Breaking of Pear from tiie Quince PxOOT.— 
Will Pear trees be likely to break from the Quince 
inch in diameter at the ground. 
We love to see a good Vegetable Garden. We 
dislike to have so many write and talk about 
screening it from the ornamental grounds, as an 
unsightly object Our taste in gardening is quite 
republican. We think a well kept vegetable gar¬ 
den far mote beautiful thau a slovenly flower 
garden; and a magnificent field of maze or golden 
grain far more sightly than a poor kept lawn and truiniug and pruuing, both autumn and 
half starved shrubbery. 
For a successful vegetable garden the soil must 
be well drained, thoroughly and deeply pulverized 
by plowing or digging, and made rich with manure. 
The ground must bo kept mellow as the crops are 
growing, by hoeing, and all weeds promptly de¬ 
stroyed. 
Early Peas arc among the first things to be 
sown, and this should be done as soon as the frost 
is out of the ground. Some writers recommend 
raising pea plants in boxes in hot-beds, and trans¬ 
planting them, but wo never found tills to pay for 
the trouble, 
a pale amber color at full maturity, covered with 
a thin white bloom; flesh very juicy, soft, and 
melting, and free from pulp; flavor rich, sugary, 
vinous, and brisk, with a peculiar musky and lus¬ 
cious aroma, distiuot from any other grape; seeds 
small, two to four in each berry; leaves scarcely 
of medium size, ubout seven inches loeg and seven 
iu width, very deeply lobed and coarsely and 
sharply serrated; upper surface light green, slight¬ 
ly rough; under surface covered with a thin whit¬ 
ish down; nerves prominent; petioles rather 
slender. 
The merits of this grape were discussed at the 
late meeting of the American Pomological Socie¬ 
ty, aud we give the remarks of different speakers. 
Mr. Prince had no doubt that this as a variety 
of the Chasselas family, aud though tihat no such 
grape could be perfectly hardy. 
Mr. Reid said that it showed no indication of an 
origin from the Chasselas, except some resen; ,.lance 
in the foliage. 
Ainsworth 
recommends building trellises north and south.— 
1 would suggest, us au improvement, to build them 
east and west, then train the vines ou the south 
side and mftke all the young wood grow ou the uorth 
side, which gives the fruit the benefit of the sun all 
day, instead of half a day. When the fruit is 
nearly full size 1 think it helps it to ripen to pick 
the leaves off the young wood as far as the fruit ex¬ 
tends, but uo farther. 
It is my opiniou that the Isabella Grape can be 
profitably grown, and well ripened, iu all places 
where the peach tree flourishes well, and ripens its 
fruit. The Isabella fruit buds will stand about the 
same degree of cold that the peach buds will, with¬ 
out Injury, but the Grape is much the surest crop, 
as H is so late iu blossoming, and thus escapes late 
frosts. Mr. Ainsworth's form of pruning is good, 
and gives to the vines a handsome appearance— 
root. If they are one 
where grafted?—C. II. R-. Stonnville, A r . 1. 
Remarks. _Not if they arc of varieties that unite 
freely with the Quince. Some varieties, like the 
Bartlett, do not form a perfect union with the 
Quince, and are very liable to break off, no matter 
what may be the size. 
-<•—- 
Currant Cuttings.— Those that wish to raise 
more currants, and have them grow without 
sprouting at the root, should take the cuttings of 
last year's growth, and before sticking them into 
the ground cutoff all the lower buds close to the 
wood, and bo careful to take all the small ones 
clean oft; leaving three or four on the top for 
branches. As the roots strike from the wood and 
sprouts from the buds, for high trellises only leave 
one bud on the top; by so doiug you can train 
currants quite high if you wish to do so.—b. 
ear Geneva, iV. Y. 
Value of Iron Filings.— Old scraps and filings 
of irou have been considered of very little or no 
value, perhaps not more than live dollars a tun.— 
But recently ingenious men have discovered modes 
by which these may all he turned to account— 
One plan, devised by Mr. A. I’evey, ot Lowell, is 
this:—Y cheap hollow casting is provided, which 
is filled with these small pieces, and then the whole 
are placed on the furnace and melted together. 
Mr. E. Lyon, of Boston, has another plan of his 
own contrivance. These small bits are placed in 
a compact mass near tho center of each charge, so 
that the draft will pass irecly through the coal on 
all sides of it. In this way the tendency to choke 
and clog the ohimuey, endangering an explosion 
or at least injuring the success of the process, is 
in a great measure, if not entirely, prevented. 
The best way is to select the wannest, 
dryestsoil and the most sheltered position in the 
garden, and sow in drills, (running east and west 
if possible,) two iuebes deep. Two rows, twenty 
feet long will take abont one pint of seed, and will 
be enough of one variety for the first sowing. As 
soon as sown, place a wide board on edge, on tho 
north side of each row, inclined over the rows at 
a slight angle, and supported at each end with 
sticks, as seen In the engraving. This will afford 
a good shelter, and the ground will become quite 
warm, having the full benefit of the sun, while 
sheltered from the wind. These boards may be 
..... 
