MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER 
AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER, 
THE GREAT FRUIT QUESTION, 
that I am determined to "keep up agitation” on 
this fruit question. 
As C. B. C. says he is new atthe business of writ¬ 
ing, I will suggest for his improvement that my 
article deprecating the small consumption of 
fruit had reference to the whole people and the 
whole country, from the “St. Johns to the Gulf of 
Mexico.” He makes denial of the correctness of 
my statements, and attempts to sustain himself by 
the affirmation which I have noticed above, con¬ 
cerning the “farmers” of Western New York, 
which, even if it had been true, would go but a 
short ways in disparagement of my general posi¬ 
tion. WesternNew York is a small place, and bad 
off as it is, is altogether in advance of our country 
at large. A writer's anxiety to contradict some¬ 
body should not induce him to intimate that I had 
proposed to 11 substitute strawberries and cream” 
in the place of the substantial fare of the country, 
as diet for working-men. All that I claimed was’ 
that these fruits should be cultivated and brought 
iDto general use. I do not say that the substantiate 
should be left out. I do say emphatically that the 
men who do “ big day's works'* are entitled Co these 
fiitlls if anybody is, and I will guarantee that they 
There is nothing like a blissful experience, and 
when the reality lags, there is nothing like a lively 
imagination to smooth our deficiencies. Verily it 
is bliss to feast continuously for forty years on 
peaches and cream—in imagination even. But 
can modern patriotism, with all its adaptation to 
circumstances, get up such an illusion with the 
mass of the people, taking the different tempera¬ 
ments together, nervous, bilious, lymphatic, with 
all their crosses aud grades? That is the question! 
C. B. C., of Gates, N. Y,, succeeds admirably. The 
sugared delicacy glides luxuriously over Mb palate, 
and he marvels that all the denizens of Western 
New York don’t smack their lips and enjoy it—in 
Hear what he says:— 
NEW PROCESS OF TANNING. 
We have received from Edwin Daniels of Elk- 
horn, Wis., a sample of calfskin “upper leather,” 
tanned by a process for which a patent was issued 
to him on the 6th of January last. It is well tanned, 
firm, yet soft and elastic. No bark was used in 
preparing it, and the inventor informs ns that the 
outlay of buildings and fixtures is just about, one- 
tenth that of taDoing with bark, only one vat be¬ 
ing required for every ten used in the common 
process. 
Catechu (old terra japonica) contains more tan¬ 
nin than any other substance employed in the 
manufacture of leather; hitherto, however, it has 
not been used for making the best qualities of 
leather, because it rendered the skins tanned by it 
brittle, and liable to crack. This defect has been 
overcome by Mr. Daniels, who employs it as the 
principal agent in his process, combined with 
the sulphate of aluminum, the nitrate of potash, 
and acid, by which the skins and hides are 
“plumped” in a high degree, and the tannin made 
to combine with the gelatine in proper propor¬ 
tions to form soft and firm leather, susceptable of 
a line finish, free from brittleness, and not liable to 
crack. 
Catechu comes to us from India in the form of 
a concentrated crystalized extract; it has simply 
to be dissolved in warm water, and is then ready 
for use. Considerable machinery and apparatus, 
such as bark, mills, etc., required for bark tanning, 
are unnecessary for this process. Persons inter¬ 
ested in the manufacture of leather will be fur¬ 
nished with samples by addressing Mr. D.— Scien¬ 
tific American. 
Op the beauty of Evergreen Trees we need not 
speak, as few of our readers we think will be slow 
to acknowledge their claims in this respect. They 
are beautiful in spring, when the color of their 
foliage contrasts so finely with the delicate shade 
of the young leaves of deciduous trees; they are 
indispensable in the winter, and give ns a winter 
garden, when without them Dot a green leaf could 
be seento relieve the tediousness of our long win¬ 
ters. Evergreens are invaluable for the shelter 
they afford to other and more tender trees, as well 
as to buildings. If there is a country in the world 
where evergreens should be prized more than in 
any other, it is here, where we are exposed to the 
bitter blasts from the north-west, often injuring 
our trees and destroying our fruit. We have 
recommended a list of shrubs and flowers suitable 
for the lawn. We now describe a few of the beat 
Evergreen Trees, and in a future number will 
delicious truit. It is simply thoughtlessness and 
nothing else. There is no man, woman or child, 
who canDot appreciate, a dish of strawberries, or 
peaches and cream, or a hasket of nice pears or 
rich fall or winter apples; and still, seven-tenths of 
the land owners of the country are too regardless 
of their best interests to put forth the necessary 
exertions to supply themselves with these cheap 
luxuries. The object I have in view, in penning 
this brief epistle, is to try to induce those who 
have not moved in this matter, to make a move 
now. If you have not planted an orchard—do it 
Order the number of trees you think you will want, 
from some reliable Nurseryman, and while you are 
about it, see that, you get the best varieties, and 
such as will ripen in regular succession, from early 
summer until the next spring—dig holes six feet 
in diameter, and eighteen inches deep—fill with 
muck from the woods, decayed leaves, Ac., plant 
your trees, tie each tree carefully to a stake firmly 
3et, throw around each free a liberal quantity of 
straw or litter of any kind, to keep the ground 
moist and protect the roots from the heat of the 
summer sun. See that the ground is kept free 
from weeds—in good cultivation— and your trees 
properly pruned, and before you are aware of it, 
you will have a bountiful supply of choice fruit. 
If you have but a single half acre of ground- 
stick a dozen apple trees into the corners, and ont 
of the way places find room for a few peach and 
pear trees of choice varieties, and of the small 
fruits, such as currants, gooseberries, raspberries, 
grapes and strawberries; you will be surprised at 
the large quantities yon can grow ou a small piece 
of ground, if properly attended to. If you can do 
no better, cultivate the common blackberry, which 
is getting quite scarce in its wild state, in this vi¬ 
cinity at least. The thimble-berry or black rasp¬ 
berry is cultivated to some extent in this region, 
and pays well—it is be lieved by many to be worthy 
of more attention than it has as yet received. 
fact he thinks they do, 
"Many of the choicest varieties of apples and 
peaches have been cultivated pretty extensively 
and used without stint by the Western New York 
farmer from its earliest settlement.” 
My former article was written under the belief 
that for the last few years peaches, except about 
Rochester and the “Ridge Road,” were almost an 
obsolete idea. Being about a good deal I thought 
I had some right to know. C. B. O', says they have 
heeu “used without stint,” Ac. Two doctors disa¬ 
greeing in this way, there was nothing left but a 
council; bo I consulted Mr. Duncan Cameron, au 
extensive dealer in wool and wheat, and well 
known through Wyoming and several adjoining 
counties. Said he, “not one family in twenty, and 
perhaps not one in thirty, have grown an average 
of two bushels per annum of peaches through this 
region of country for the last ten years.” Mr. 
Chari.es Kendall, of Genesee Co., and Mr. J. S. 
Walker, of Wyoming, well informed and well 
known citizens, confirmed the same statement; 
Air. Wh. Dwight, of Livingston, and Mr. Guthrie, 
acquiesced. 
C. B. C. asserts the extensive cultivation of “the 
choicest varieties of apples!" Everybody, well in- 
formed, knows that a majority of onr bearing or¬ 
chards are made up of seedling trees, a few of 
which have been grafted with such common sorts 
as itinerant grafters happened to have with them— 
(I admit some exceptions; I state the rule ) Now, 
if these trees, without systematic and scientific- 
pruning, without manure or cultivation, bruised 
and battered by animals, aud left to the tender 
mercies of the whole tribe of worms, ants and cat- 
terpillars, will produce the “choicest varieties of 
apples,” then they are “extensively cultivated.”_ 
give 
some of the smaller deciduons trees suitable for 
the lawn. 
BLACK KNOT ON PLUM TREES, 
For the following information, the value of 
which I hereby guarantee, I do not claim any 
merit, as the originator thereof. As long ago as 
1S24, the late Dr. Reynolds, of Florida, N. Y., the 
father of that well known counsellor, Marcus T. 
Reynolds, of Albany, in a little work written by 
him, “The New York Gardener,” published the 
same — as far at least as relates to the Sinner of 
the “Black Knobs,”—and I am not sure that even 
he was the first discoverer. Since then, having 
followed his directions, without ever losing a tree, 
while all my neighbors lost all theirs, planting 
after planting,—I claim some confidence for the 
remedy proposed. But, though I have freely given 
what T have so freely received, it has “done no 
good, but wicy warcyf scarcely one of all to whom 
I have told the method, having tried that to pre¬ 
serve the trees, which he “would give any money 
to be enabled to save.” But I propose to “try 
again”—this time through the press; and if that 
fails, perhaps I will travel through the country— 
selling my recipes for $5 a piece. Those who buy 
it, will be apt to use it; and /shall be paid for my 
trouble. 
I think it strange that Dr. Fitch, in hi 3 late “Re¬ 
port,” says nothing of this insect—one of the most 
destructive—and, to naturalists, one of the best 
known, of the pestiferous “ varmints” of the United 
States. Equally strange does it seem to me, after 
the really wide dissemination ot the information I 
offer to reiterate, to see in respectable prints many 
skeptical, contradictory and stubborn discussions 
respeotingthe cause and cureforthe “blackknobs” 
— as though they were still a “confound mystery,” 
and we were yet “ at sea” as to any reliable knowl¬ 
edge of the matter. But nos mutons" — to 
PERPETUAL MOTION 
The original perpetual motions man —the bona 
fide inventor — E. P. Willis, of New Haven, Ct.,— 
has arrived in this city, and put up four of his re¬ 
markable machines in the American Mnseum, 
where they are now on exhibition as puzzlers to 
curious, cute and canning in saeh matters. One 
is a magic clock; the other sn electric wheel, and 
the fourth four revolving brass balls on a glass 
pedestal. They move apparently as if they pos¬ 
sessed the power of motion iQ themselves. We are 
no believers in perpetual motion, for such a thing 
is impossible; but for rare, skillful specimens of 
mechanism, Mr. Willis h3s shown himself to be 
an original genius, and his machines are well 
worthy of examination on this account .—Scientific 
American. 
AMERICAN ARBOR V1T.R. 
The American Arbor Vit.« is a small tree of 
a graceful pyramidal form, as will be seen by the 
engraving. The foliage is of a yellowish green 
color, thus contrasting finely with the Spruces and 
Firs. They are admirable for a screen, either for 
shelter, or to hide some unsightly object. It is 
also the best plant we have for au evergreen hedge, 
as it bears shearing well, and is not injured by 
growing thick. 
Ihe Chinese Arbor Vit.r grows more thick 
than the American, and by many is considered 
much more LeantifuL It becomes quite brown in 
the winter. 
The Norway Spruce, all things considered, is 
the beat and most popular evergreen we have. 
Unlike the Bulsam Fir, which becomes ill-look¬ 
ing as it grows old, the Norway does not ex¬ 
hibit half its beauty until it attains a height of 
from fifteen to twenty feet It then begins to 
exhibit itH finer characteristics,—its rich, thick 
foliage and drooping branches. Few objects are 
at once so grand aud graceful ns a fine Norway.— 
It flourishes in almost any soil, from light sand and 
gravel to deep moist loam or clay. As a tree for 
shelter we know of nothing equal to it, as it is of 
very rapid growth, and forms au almost perfect 
hai rier to the wind, ~ 
But C. B. C. will pardon me if I appeal to the con¬ 
sciousness of the people for matters of fact, and to 
such gentlemen as Messrs. Thomas, Frost and 
Barry in matters of opinion, Aly own experience 
in getting up choice fruit after this Democratic 
Republican model, iB ample enough, but my modes¬ 
ty withholds it. 
Leaving amplification for a futnre article, I will 
say that the ” choicest varieties” would iuclade the 
earliest, and a regular succession of sweet and sour, 
high flavored and pleasant to the taste, till apples 
come again, not omitting a full aopply of the most 
productive kinds for market and for general use._ 
Pardon the digression—I am glad the « Orchard 
and Garden” has Us place in the Rur.il, but it 
smacks of fogyism in somebody to furnish a list 
of only “six” or “ ten” choice varieties for family 
use. [See Rural of April 18tb, 1857.*] a family 
might spin out a miserable existence, possibly, on 
six sorts, but could they live in any desirable ac¬ 
ceptation of that term. 
It is doubtful whether the diversities of faate and 
use and the proper succession can be provided for 
in “twenty" varieties; stewing, baking, drying, 
making pies, and above all the dessert, require pe¬ 
culiar and distinguishing qualities. Having got a 
“ specific” tor each case, I would stop right there, 
and not multiply “sorts” when the quality wanted 
was secured in proper shape. In addition to a 
supply for family use, which should have principal 
reference to quality, there should be au abundance 
Kentuckt Mechanics Institute Fair. _The 
fifth annual exhibition of the above Institute will 
be held in Louisville, commencing on the 18th of 
August next. Mechanics, manufacturers, and ar¬ 
tists from all parts of the UnioD are invited to ex¬ 
hibit their inventions and manufactures. The 
past exhibitions of this Institution have been 
very successful, and were managed with great 
ability and honorable discrimination, and the next 
will no doubt be equally excellent. The exhibi¬ 
tion committee consists of Geo. Ainslie, W. H. 
Dulaney and Wm. Kaye, who will make every ex¬ 
ertion to aid conbributors to display their articles 
to advantage. Those intending to exhibit at this 
fair are requested to communicate with the Actu¬ 
ary, D. McPherson, Louisville. 
section of Show Pelargoniums but almost uni¬ 
versal disappointment has resulted. For in a rich 
soil the plants produce a vast excess of foliage and 
few flowers; and in a poorer soil, the plants being 
proportionately weakly, prodnee slender shoots, 
and but a lew small flowers. Daring the last two 
years the plan of plunging the plants in pots, by 
digging a hole in the bed where the plant was to 
stand, but nearly double the depth of the pot, and 
only so wide as to fit the size of it; the plant, in 
its pot, is then inserted in such a manner that the 
riin of the pot is level with the surface of the bed 
thus leaving a vacuity of several inches in depth 
below the bottom of ihe pot. Attention to water¬ 
ing is required, the same as if in the greenhouse, 
and the plants bloom more freely than if turned 
out of the pots; but the method is attended with 
much care, aud they do not continue blooming 
long, and must be replaced by a succession from 
What was wanted was a number 
me amus, or wnerever tue tree is not protected 
by thick bark, this insect pauses occasionally; and 
at each pause, inserts a sharp sting through the 
bark, deposits an egg, (some hundreds for each 
insect,) in each such wound. The sting is poison¬ 
ous to the tree, as may be seen bv examining the 
wood near the stings. From each of such stings 
oozes a gum, which, soon turning black and hard, 
forms the “ nub” aforesaid. 
The egg thus deposited, soon batches to a worm 
which, eatiug its way back, drops to the ground 
where it bnrrows for a while, then, becoming a 
new parent insert, returns np the tree to renew 
with the augmented efficiency of hundreds to one' 
the ravages of its mother. Thus, in a rear or two' 
sometimes in one. the previously healthy, beautiful' 
and profitable plum orchard becomes a dead black 
unsightly nuisance; and its owner folds his arms! 
“satisfied that we can no more raise plums "and 
gives up his trees to Hie inevitable “blaek’nub” 
Every one should plant the 
Norway liberally, particularly in exposed situations. 
The Black Struck is a fine native tree. When 
unobstructed by other trees aud in a favorable 
situation for its growth, it forms a perfect cone, 
from the ground to the top, of strikingly regular 
and symmetrical proportions. It is well to plant a 
few, but where many are seen on a lawn, they give 
a very stiff' and unpleasant appearance to the whole 
scene. 
The White Spruce is very similar to the black, 
but both the bark und the leaves are of a lighter 
color. Its growth is more slender and tapering. 
It is generally found growing wild in swamps and 
wet laud. 
The Balsam Fir is a common hardy tree. Em¬ 
erson describes it truly as follows:—“It is hardy, 
easily transplanted, and grows rapidly and with 
great vigor, of a regular pyramidal shape, and 
rich, deep-green foliage. The large cones with 
which the upper branches are often loaded, give I 
it additional beauty. Its defects are its stiffness, 
and the raggedness which it assumes in old age, 
which comes on early, as it is a short-lived tree.” 
The Red Cedar maybe introduced with very 
good effect among other evergreen trees. 
The European and the American Larch arc 
not really evergreen, but as they belong to the 
sumo natural division, aud in summer very much 
resemble them, they are generally found growing 
with evergreens. The European is math the 
finest for oruaruent. It is of very rapid growth, 
leautiful shape, aud the delicate leaves are of a 
vei y lively green. Eaily iu the spring they attract 
universal attention by their strikingly lively color. 
I hese, like the evergreens, should never be shorn 
another source, 
of Show felargoniums (viz., such as are seenatour 
metroplitan exhibitions,) that, being planted in the 
open ground, would bloom profusely during the 
entire summer. We have long had the Pelargoni¬ 
um Diadematum and Sidonia, both dwarfish grow¬ 
ers and free ’loomers, in beds, but not or approved 
shape. 
ui tauie to mat is clear and unquestionable,” 
and they are pomologists enough to know the dif¬ 
ference between a crab-apple and a Talman Sweet. 
Of the "smaller fruits” named by C. B. C>, it is 
useless to bandy words. If he means that’they 
exist, and have found their way sometimes on to 
some people’s tables, nobody will understand me 
as intending to deny it; but if he means to assert 
their common use by common people, he is utterly 
at variance with fact. 1 know that our farmers set 
out plums and cherries, (“sprouts” were cheaply 
obtained,) and as long as they would bear in spite 
of opposition—in the very face of difficulties,- so 
long we had bine plums, sprinkled with green 
gages, and sour cherries seasoned with worms- 
but when the “black knot,” and the “curculio,” 
the grass and t€e weeds advanced upon our fruit 
trees, we surrendered them without a struggle — 
“Sons of ‘ 76 ,” mated! 
Not wishing to make random statements, I asked 
Mr. II. A. Olmsted, of Wyoming Co., formerly of 
Genesee Co., how many families since the “ earliest 
settlement” of this eounty have cultivated straw¬ 
berries, raspberries, and Bartlett pears. ” Not one 
in a huudred, until within two or three years,” he 
replied. Mr. Oi.mstkd is a well known citizen and 
well informed—in fact it is notorious that the cul¬ 
tivation and use of these fruits Is altogether ex¬ 
ceptional. Not one meal in a thousand has been 
made with either of them, and probably not one in 
five thousand, and yet C. B. C. feels called upon to 
affirm that they are raised, placed on the people’s 
table, and eaten with cream and sugar too. I 
should not dispute upon this subject were it not 
• “ a. T. B." uiUBt have AU exceedingly vision to 
dlKOOver Anything like “Jogyism" in the fnot that wer.uh 
huhed the opinion ot a very intelligent truit grower r* to 
which he consWore.1 “ the bent *u rerleties [of Xo 
pirtut, want of roam or other etrcumstancee should ren¬ 
der it impracticable to plant moro than thi* number "- 
Wo, probably, have thoneandg of render* bring 
than a quarter ot an acre euch ; and we would lit® 
to know how many apple trees, with Peaches. Strawberries, 
&«-, (about which onr trtenda talk ao earnestly,) oould be 
grown „ u snob a lot The Ri kaCs circulation la not con- 
fined to farmer*, nor to auy regiou, (suck as Western New 
or -,) and hence lta teaching* aud opinions must neces¬ 
sarily be more or leu adapted to the wanta and circum¬ 
stances of different localities and claraes. 
ixemeay.—vr. k, s was, and mine is, this.-—Once 
O' twice a week,/r<im cold weather to cold weather 
walk through your plum orchard—scan carefully 
each limb on each tree—and if you detect a knot 
off wich the limb^ and — don't throw it down to 
help the >sorm Hong, but with malice in votir 
heart, march to the tire with it. as straight as’ the 
mischievous sow towards the weak fence, and 
“ n deposit” in the roaring flame. Follow 
this up, through your orchard—do it “again and 
again,” till the leaves are all off’: and don’t give it 
np then, if you find any left, hitherto concealed 
"Better late than never." 
“But what if more than half the limbs are alrea¬ 
dy infected; or the body of the tree is badly im¬ 
plicated? or if the main brandies are so infected 
that I cannot remove the evil without ruining the 
tree, whose fruit I highly prize?” “Cut it down' 
cut it down! Why cumbereth it the ground ?” for 
it will henceforth do nothing else—save that it 
will destroy all your other plum trees, both new 
and old. Clear all your ground of all sneh, and of 
an la.leu limbs—begin anew, aud “do better next 
time.” It will pnv better than pitching quoits,— 
Don t fear being forestalled. Depend upon ir, nine 
out of ten ot those who read this verv article, will 
go to sleep over it, and never think of it again; or. 
at best, but halt try—and that is no better; and 
you can still have the market principally to your- 
seii, and sell your plums for your own prices. 
Note. — Keep budding and re-planting young 
plain trees, us in the case of the peach tree ' h 
Sharon, N. Y. S. PaImsr 
Eds. Rural 
■If you deem the following recipes 
worthy of a place in your valuable paper, please 
insert them for the benefit of those interested in 
domestic economy: 
Thanksgiving Cake.— Eight cups of flour, 4 
cups of sugar, 2 cups of butter, 1 cup of molasses, 
1 cap of raisins, 9 eggs, 1 pound of currants, 1 
teaspoonful of saleratus. Spice to your taste. 
Harrison Cake .—One cup of sugar, 1 cup of 
molasses, 1 cup of milk, two thirds of a cup of 
lard, l cup of raisins, 1 egg, 1 teaspoonful salera¬ 
tus. Spice with nutmeg and pimento. 
Raisin Cake .—One cop ot sugar, 1 cap of mo¬ 
lasses, 1 cup of raisins, 2 eggs, a piece of butter as 
large as an egg, 1 teaspoonful saleratus, a little 
spice. 
Pork Cake .—Two and a half enps of molasses, 
1 cup of sugar, I cup of chopped fat pork, 1 tea- 
spoonful of saleratus; spice, raisins and currants; 
flour enough to mix as hard as cream of tartar 
bread. 
French Cake .—Four and a half tumblers of 
flour, 3 tumblers ot sugar, one-half tumbler of bat¬ 
ter, 1 tumbler of milk, 1 teaspoonful of cream of 
tartar, 1 teaspoouful of soda. Spice, citron and 
raisins added if desired. 
Haverhill, Mass , 1857. A Farmer’s Dacqhtkr. 
Htignt name many more varieties, such as 
■ e Japan Cedar of Lebanon, the Yews, Ac., but 
wo propose at this time to speak only of those va¬ 
rieties that are perfectly hardy, and easily obtained 
by most of our readers. At some future time we 
will give a list ol the more rare varielieu 
AUUUsTE MIKLLKZ. 
The gardener of Mr. James Oilier, in France, has 
for a few years been endeavoring, by impregna¬ 
ting these kinds by patterns from the best formed 
and most striking varieties of the Show Class, and 
has succeeded in an admirable manner. Already 
twenty most beautiful kinds have been sent out, 
many ol which have a very strikingly distinct 
spot, or blotch, in the centre of each of the five 
petals. They are of dwarfish ha bit, pro fuse bloom¬ 
ers, and of superb form. The one we here give a 
representation of, its size and marking, is named 
P. Auguste .Mietlez it is remarkably handsome. 
The upper petals have a large clouded blotch of 
nearly black crimson, with a broad beltof carmine, 
and a light margin. Each of the three lower pe¬ 
tals have a very distinct dark spot, edged with 
orange; and the white ground of the rest is beau¬ 
tifully chequered with orange-red and white edging, 
while the centre is tinged with violet. Every 
flower garden ought to have beds of these superb 
varieties; they may now be procured in our own 
country.— Gardeners' Almanack, (London.) 
Of A KLAUK fciURPACS ON VEGETABLE 
ani, Fruit Trek Borders.- It is well known that 
black color absorbs heat. This fact induced some 
cultivators to paint the fences black on which 
peach trees or grape vines are trained. This led 
to further experiments, and the London Gardener's 
Chronicle is now advising that the surface of veg¬ 
etable and fruit borders be covered with charcoal, 
to ascertain if the effect wilJ not be beneficial._ 
There seems to be ouly one objection to this, that 
is, that charcoal is a non-conductor. A very thin 
coating only should be given, just euough to 
blacken the surface. In raising eurly radishes, we 
have always used a slight surface dressing of coal 
ashes or soot, and with very beneficial results. 
lkkvknt t urrants Sprouting.— In the Ru¬ 
ral ot April 25th.over the signature of A Farmer, 
reads as follows :—“The Currant can be brought 
to form a tree also, aud not sprout at. the bottom.” 
out does notiuform how to prevent their sprout¬ 
ing. V ill you or some of your able contributors 
impart the desired information, and oblige_A 
Subscriber. 'Fhree Rivers, Mich., 1*57. 
Remarks. —V heu planting cuttings, remove all 
the hnds from that part which will be below the 
ground. Do the same with young plants. If any 
sucker should come up after this precaution, don’t 
cut or break it off at t he surface of the ground, bu 
ternove the earch, so that you can cut it clean 
To “ Head ” and Expel Rats.—A writer in the 
Boston Cultivator recommends potash for this 
purpose. The rats troubled him very much. They 
appeared in great numhers and were very trouble¬ 
some, so that he felt jnstifled in resorting to ex¬ 
treme measures to effect their exDulsion. He 
