fldifttltttfuL 
FLORAL TALK BY THE LADIES. 
Buying vs. Growing Seeds. — Mrs. M. A. 
Earle, of Rook Co., Wis., writes that:—“The 
result of my experiment with the Aster has 
been much the same as that of ‘a fanner’s 
daughter,’ with this difference, that instead of 
buying my seeds. I have grown them myself, 
and preserved them with especial care. 1 select 
them only from the double-bearing stalks; and 
to my surprise, nearly all of them came single. 
The plants were as thrifty as I could wish. 
Why they should bloom with a single row of 
petals, around a largo sunflower-like center, 
must be assigned to circumstances over which 
we have no control.” 
Seeds do not always disappoint —E. A. K,, 
of Eutouville, who sends to Rochester for seeds, 
says: — Very seldom do they disappoint me. 
But never do I watch my Double Zinnias, Im¬ 
ported Asters, English Tansies, Ac., with more 
real satisfaction than was afforded by those Tor- 
tulncas, Phlox Drummondi, German Asters, 
Double Balsams, Petunias, Candytufts, and 
Sweet Peas, which composed my first collection, 
and whose descendants still lift their bright 
faces to greet me every summer. And they are 
none the less warmly welcomed because they 
are no longer novelties to me, as many of them 
were.” 
Abmtcroioding Plants. —Thcsame lady writes: 
“The first venture of one, entirely inexpe¬ 
rienced in the cultivation of flowers, is quite 
likely to prove exceedingly ludicrous in its re¬ 
sults, especially, if to inexperience is added 
ignorance of the habits and modes of growth of 
the different varieties. Well do I remember 
the dire confusion which reigned rampant in 
my first flower beds; how each individual plant 
asserted itself without the slightest regard to 
neighborly rights or social proprieties. No 
sooner was the first pair of tiny green leaves 
fairly above ground, than commenced a contest, 
in which, most assuredly, the race tww to the 
swift, and the battle to the strong, and which, 
insomo instances, well nigh proved a war of 
extermination. A row of Portulacas, which, 
from their high-sounding name, I had supposed 
would be fully able to push their own way in 
the world, and bid defiance to all opposition, 
were completely frustrated in all their attempts 
to spread themselves, by certuinoverhearingBal¬ 
sams, which waxed fat and lusty, andefl'cctually 
put dowu every effort on the part of their neigh¬ 
bors to * be somebody,’ and would undoubtedly 
have succeeded in putting them out altogether, 
but for timely interference in the way of short¬ 
ening in and pruning. The Sweet I’pas, too, 
seemed to consider it their mission to bestow 
themselves indiscriminately in all directions, to 
the great disgust and inconvenience of the 
Phlox Drummondi and Candytuft in the vicin¬ 
ity; but by dint of judicious application of 
‘ sticks,' they were finally made to know their 
place, and keep within proper limits. Mari¬ 
golds found themselves in positions so cramped 
that they were entirely discouraged from trying 
to ‘ blaze away ’ at all. In short, I had fallen 
into the mistake common to all beginners, of 
crowding too many plants into a small space—a 
mistake rendered none the less certain by the 
frequent cautions against it. However, as most 
annuals readily bear transplanting, this is a mis¬ 
take easily remedied, the only dillieulty in the 
way being, that as plans are usually laid with 
reference to the amount of space already occu¬ 
pied, there is generally no convenient place to 
w hich to transfer the superfiuous piauts, with¬ 
out preparing new beds, which few are likely 
to do, so there remains no alternative but to 
‘pull up and throw away,’ —a thing which 
most lovers of (lowers find it hard to bring 
themselves to do, generally preferring to let all 
remain and take their chances in the general 
scramble for life. There is also danger, in 
throwing away plants, of losing some beautiful 
varieties, especially if the seed was ‘mixed,’— 
that is, different colors of the same (lower in 
one package. Of course, a little experience will 
soon serve to correct all such mistakes.'’ 
-- -» »-♦ 
GLEANINGS FOR GARDENERS. 
Sulphur for Potatoes, —Au English gardener 
dusted his potato sets with sulphur and found 
that it not only drove away slugs, worms and 
insects, hut that the crop was entirely free from 
disease. 
Grapes for Green-Houses.—The editor of the 
Gardeners 1 Monthly is asked to name varieties 
of foreign grapes best suited (or cultivation in a 
green-house, and he names Buckland Sweet¬ 
water, Golden Hamburg, and Grizzly Frontig- 
nac. 
Growing luma Beans.— A correspondent of 
the Gardeners ’ Monthly says the trouble, about 
poles and poling Lima beaus *• is all nonsense.” 
lie grows his beaus in beds four feet wide, leav¬ 
ing a foot of space between the beds. Draws a 
deep di ill with a hoe across the bed, fills it with 
good, rich manure, draws the soil over it form¬ 
ing a steep ridge four feot long. These ridges 
are made every tcu feel, and the beans sown on 
these ridges six inches apart. Gets six or eight 
plants to each ridge. As soon as the plants are 
well above ground, brushwood or pea sticks are 
laid on the ground thickly between the ridges, 
covering the whole ground, on which the vines 
soon run, anti the beds are covered by them in 
August, the beans soon following. 
Coal Ashes.— A correspondent of tho New 
JCngktnd Farmer says it has been his practice to 
got all the coal ashes ho could and put around 
his trees. He says they keep the mice from 
girdling them in winter, saves t he trouble of 
digging about them, keeps the ground free from 
weeds and grass, and loose, and the trees are 
kept free, from vermin, borers and other injuri¬ 
ous insects. The editor of the same paper says 
a friend who has had much experience in the 
cultivation of grapes, put a high value on coal 
ashes as an ingredient, in his compost for the soil 
on which his grapes are planted. 
- - 
OSIER WILLOW CULTURE. 
W. A. Waldo, of Steuben Co., N. Y., w T ho 
says he has had seven years’ experience in cul¬ 
ture of this willow, writes: 
There are but few farms on which the willow- 
may not be grown with profit. Any low T , wet 
land, with a little draining, so as to enable you 
to cultivate it, will grow willows. The ground 
should be thoroughly subdued, and kept clean 
for two or three years after the willow’s are set, 
and then they will take care of themselves. 
They must be cut every year, close, say within 
an inch of where they start. I plowed twice 
in summer, and sowed to buckwheat; then 
plowed in fail and harrowed smooth, and, with 
the action of the frost through the w inter, the 
ground was in as tine condition in the spring as 
you could ask for; then, as soon as the frost was 
out of the ground, I set my willow’s. When 
they had started so that I could see the rows, I 
cultivated and hoed them twice. 
It costs but a little to start a patch, after 
which, you have something that las*9 you a life¬ 
time, and pays every year,—that does not get 
cut by the frost, as grapes or choice fruits are 
liable to be. After the third year, if your 
ground is good, and is cultivated as directed, 
you will get from two to four tuns per acre, 
worth, at the present time, iu New’ Yoik, eight 
cents per ft>., or $160 per tun, if of the right 
variety, which is the French Osier, Salix Vima- 
nalis. 
I set a part of mine sixteen and eighteen 
inches in the rows, and the rest twelve inches, 
the rows being three feet 3p3rt. I prefer the 
latter distance for the sets in the rows, viz., 
twelve inches. We will try debit and credit on 
an acre after the third year, and see what fig¬ 
ures will do for us: 
Dr. To catting one acre.. $ 10.00 
To setting in water.. 1.00 
To peeling three tons. 30.00 
Amount expenses. $41.00 
Or. By three tons, $140 per tun. $ 420 00 
41,00 
Net.$379 00 
The demand for w illows is increasing year by 
year; they are two cents per pound higher than 
they were last year, and none need he afraid of 
their running out in a few years, for the older 
the country is, the greater the demand,—at 
least that is my’ opinion. 
-»♦-» 
CAN FRUIT BE GROWN IN MINNESOTA? 
A correspondent at Farmington, Minn., 
asks this question, and says:—“ By dint of perse¬ 
verance and well directed effort, I have reason 
to believe that apples and cherries can he grown 
here with remunerative success." He asserts 
that what is wanted, is “a hardy class of trees 
that will withstand the twitching occasioned by 
our heavy winds.” Cold weather does not 
affect trees so much as heavy winds. Wind¬ 
breaks are needed and should be planted: let 
our Minnesota and all other prairie readers 
remember that one evergreen is worth five de¬ 
ciduous trees in the modification of climate. 
Our correspondent says : — “ There is no 
doubt in regard to raising small fruit, such as 
currants, raspberries, gooseberries, Ac. Any 
amount of these can be produced with proper 
care and attention. Wild fruit grows in abund¬ 
ance along our river banks—wild plums, grapes, 
Ac. The wild plums are delicious, the largest 
and best 1 have ever seen.” 
Our correspondent urges that the farmers 
of Minnesota should not purchase trees of 
irresponsible peddlers that are perambulating 
the country. This is good advice. We should 
select (i few of the hardiest western varieties, and 
plant and take care of them, giving the benefit 
of all possible protection. We think Minnesota 
will prove a fruit country. We invite those 
who have made experiments there — in fruit 
growing, as we know some have—to furnish us 
their experience. We do uot want theories. 
- - - 
UNCOVERING THE GRAPE VINES. 
Assuming that all cautious men in this cli¬ 
mate, upon the approach of winter, having 
trimmed the grape vine, with care and judg¬ 
ment. both in regard to leaving only the amount 
of vine that will have proper room upon the 
trellis the coming year, and in cutting out the 
old and immature wood as much as prudence 
will suggest, laid them down carefully ou the 
top of the ground, and covered slightly with a 
mound of loose earth, as a cheap insurance 
against the rigors of winter, the thing next in 
order is, as to tho proper tiino to uncover them 
in the spring, preparatory to being replaced 
upon tho trellis. 
Upon this period of time a diversity of opin¬ 
ion prevails. While some think the earliest 
moment the best that can he, to get them out 
and put upon the trellis, others are inclined to 
wait until it is quite late, aud warm weather, 
before uncovering, and eveu after the buds have 
started. 
Now, it must bo obvious to every reflective 
mind that thinks upon the subject, that it is 
entirely unnatural to the vino to be under¬ 
ground, aud pickled with its consequent damp¬ 
ness anil moisture,—it should only bo done as 
an insurance of safety while iu its dormant 
state. 
Following the dictates of mauy years’ of close 
I observation and experience, my practice is, as 
soon as the frost is out so that it can be done, to 
carefully lift the vines out of the ground, and 
there let them lie in process of seasoning for a t 
week or two, taking care that they are put up < 
before the buds get advanced so far as to be in i 
danger of being broken off in process of tying 
them up. S. N. Holmes. ] 
Syracuse, N. Y., 1864. ) 
-- < 
BIENNIAL FLOWERING PLANTS. < 
- t 
This is a beautiful class of plants, and many I 
of them are very fragrant, and are also of simple 1 
culture. Many of the varieties and sub-varieties { 
are wonderful improvements compared with 1 
their original species. I 
Althea sinensis, (Hollyhock) with its single < 
blooms, was almost banished from culture, but 1 
has returned with very rich, double blooms, of 
all shades, and is now a great ornament to the 
pleasure grounds. 
Antirrhinum has so many improved varieties 
that one is apt to exclaim, how much further 
will improvements go to reach perfection ? 
Aquiiegla, (Columbine,) has very many new, 
improved varieties; far transcending in loveli¬ 
ness the fondest wishes of their originators. 
Campanula, (Canterbury Bell,) has also very 
many improved varieties; they bloom twice the 
size of the old species—they are of far brighter 
colors aud of various hues—deep blue, light 
blue, pure white, yellowish white, Ac. 
Digitalis purpurea, (Foxglove) have many 
superior varieties of different colors, and bloom 
thrice the size of the species. 
Dianthus is of a very numerous and highly 
improved family. The Carnation pink has been 
a favorite for generations; how much more 
should it be now with the many superior varie¬ 
ties;' 1 and many of them keep in constant bloom 
all the growing season. The Picotees are also 
much improved. 
Sweet William was also a favorite, and is 
much more now, with the wonderful varieties, 
both of double and single blooms. Many as 
large as small roses and of dazzling colors. 
China pink is very numerous in varieties of 
surpassing beauty, of almost every shade, and 
many forms and sizes. They all bloom the year 
they are sowed, hut far more profusely the fol¬ 
lowing year; the Heddewigii is peculiarly superb 
in all its sub-varieties. 
Mule pink has also many improved varieties, 
and highly deserving good culture. 
Hesperis, (Sweet Rocket,) has many new va¬ 
rieties, and many of their blooms are as large 
and double as Daisys, and remarkably showy. 
Wall-flower—tho blooms of many of the new 
kinds are as large and double as Small Carnation 
Pinks, and all delightfully fragrant. 
Gilly-flowor has also very many improved new 
varieties, and all of the sweetest perfume. No 
one could pass by a bed of Wall-flowers, or a bed 
of Gilly-flowers. without being enamored with 
the beauties and sweet odors. And no one 
could pass any of the Biennials above named, 
without being struck with their amazing loyely 
blooms. 
They may be all sown in April or May, and 
transplanted into nursery bed* a foot apart eaeh 
way, in June or July, and they will be large 
plants in the fall. Those that bloom the same 
year should have the flowers cut off where they 
fade; if left to bear seeds their growth would be 
so checked as to injure their flowering the next 
year. They may all be left in the nursery beds 
until early iu spring, and lifted with balls of 
earth at their roots, and then planted in the 
flower beds and borders; then arrange them so 
as to make a pleasing contrast of colors. When 
they bloom their flowers should be eut off as 
they fade, and they will branch out and bloom a 
second time, and some will bloom all the season. 
Any one wishing pleasure in their flowering 
plants, should never let them bear seeds, as, by 
that, half the pleasure is lost. » 
Antirrhinums, Carnations, Wall-flowers and 
Gilly-flowers, need more protection in winter 
than any of tho others. Frames may be made 
with four boards nailed together at the corners, 
ami set on tho beds where they are growing, and 
covered in cold weather with lids or shutters 
made of boards. Indeed, they are well worthy 
of having shallow hot-bed frames, with glass 
sashes and shutters over them in very cold 
weather; they will well repay that small eare. 
Although all the others are hardy, yet they are 
benefited by a slight covering of tree leaves or 
clean straw, from December till the middle of 
March. Bean poles or pea sticks may be put on 
top of the leaves or straw', to prevent them 
being blown off by high w inds. Au annual 
bloom of Biennials can be kept up by sowing 
seeds every year, and manage them as above 
directed. If people could see the new and im¬ 
proved varieties, they would uot hesitate a mo¬ 
ment to purchase seeds and sow them. Their 
matchless beauties and sweet odors can not be 
described in a short article In a magazine; it 
would occupy several pages to describe any one 
species. They must he seen to be admired, as 
no lauguago can paint their various forms, hues, 
sweet odors aud wonderful markings.— Walter 
Elder, in Gardeners' Monthly. 
— .. ^ — i. — - ■ 
PRUNING EVERGREENS. 
Beaton, the English Gardener, gives the 
following rules for pruning evergreens:—One of 
the tii-st fundamental rules in pruning ever¬ 
greens is tliis,— The low est branches should bo 
lougest, whatever the shape of the head may be. 
There is not a single exception to the rule that I 
know of; as soon as a higher branch is allowed 
to grow out further from the main stem of a 
tree, or from the general mass of branches ou 
a bush, than the lower branches, a direct error 
is committed, and if not remedied by cutting in 
this longer branch, a sure foundation is laid for 
the destruction of the lower parts of the tree, 
which will, in the long run, cause it to get naked 
below, because the longer branch will shade the 
others and throw off the rain from them. 
“The second rule is, no leaf should be cut 
through iu pruning an evergreen. Clipping 
evergreen hedges does not come in under the 
rule of pruning. - 
“The last rule applies to the mode of cutting. SOUP CONTRIBUTIONS. 
No cut ends should be seen *>n bush or tree; and -- 
that is effected by beginning the cut on the Potato Sotri'.—Take potatoes the size of a 
opposite side to w here you stand, and always small egg; pare a quart basin full; put them in 
cutting with an np stroke, then cut part with a kettle and boil until you can pierce them with 
either face downwards or toward the center of a fork. Have ready a piece of butter as large 
the plant; and if you cut quite close to a lateral “ on ® of your potatoes; put in one pint of not 
branch, or to the bottom of a leaf-stalk, as all yer 7 ric h cream, and season with salt and pep- 
good pruners do in the summer, and as all the P er> Thicken a very little with flour. Be sure 
worst kind of pruners do in the winter, I should anti have plenty of water to cover them, and 
lifce to know how I, or anybody else, could find y° H Rave a nice and good dish of soup, if 
out at a yard’s distance that your plant had y° u make it right,—so I think,—A Rural 
been pruned at all.” Reaj>kr, Vandalia, Mich. 
-- A Savory Soup.—T ake fresh beef, mutton 
gmmimsi mu or veal, four pounds,—a piece that is not fit for 
_ roasting or broiling, with a good deal of bone in 
Transplanting Roses.— (N. H., Nassau, N. Y.) lt ’ 13 P referred< Rut in a kettle with six quarts 
Roses may be safely transplanted in the fall after they _ cold water. Let it come to a boil, then skim 
have ceased making wood. it; add half a teacup of barley. Let It boil two 
When totlant Strawberries.—(W. F. P.,Bruns- bou ^ 8 * tben ad 1 three good-sized onions, cut 
wick.) Yes, we should plant strawberries in the spring ne ’ a ,? ' v P° atoes, salt to taste. TV hen the 
by all means. You will get something from them this potatoes are hall-cooked, put in drop dumplings, 
year, if you allow them to Trait; and if you do not, made of one cup of buttermilk; one-half cup of 
they will produce more next year than If planted in the suet, or cream: one egg; one-half teaspoon of 
faU ' _ soda; thicken with flour as stiff* as you ean. 
Live Fence about a Cemetbrt —<F- Mallory, Take them out as quick as cooked, or they will 
Ind.) Weadviscyou to pi ant Norway Spruce. They can be sodden; also take out the meat and potatoes, 
bo got cheap at nurseries, and directions for planting Then put in thyme, summer savory and parsley, 
may be found on pigc 79, current volume of Rural. An —a little of each,—and you will have a nice 
evergreen fence will be more appropriate and satiafac- dish of soup, fit for any one.— W. P. B. Onta- 
tory than White Willow In snch a place. r : a p a /< Vp- 
Bark Lice. —(C. M., Ottawa, III.) The piece of 
apple tree bark yon forward us is covered with bark 
lice, which arc injurious, ir your orchard Is In grass 
turn the grass under, about the trees at least, and appty 
time and leached ashes as a dressing to the soil. Wash 
the trees with Icy, or strong sods, made of soft soap 
Late in the fall, whitewash your trees, bodies and 
branches, so far a3 practicable. We know of no better 
treatment. These lice rarely infest thrifty trees. 
Graftino Wax.—W ill you tell us how lo make 
grafting wax, and the best way of grafliug? and oblige 
—A New Subscriber. 
A very good grafting wax is made of equal parts of 
beeswax, rosin and tallow, worked together by the 
—a little of each,—and you will have a nice 
dish of soup, fit for any one.—W. P. B., Onta¬ 
rio Co., C. W. 
Vegetable Solt. — Take one-half pint of 
beans, or, better still, if in the winter, boil 
beans for baking, and, after skimming out the 
beans, leave about half a pint in the water. 
Then add three or four slices of salt pork, chop¬ 
ped fine: three moderate-sized onions; the same 
number of carrots and potatoes, all sliced very 
thin; a piece of red pepper; a tableepoonful of 
salt; and a cup of rice. If in the summer, you 
can add green peas, or any other vegetable in 
season. Boil the whole two and a half or three 
hours, aud add two-thirds of a cup of butter 
hand like shoemaker s wax. Some use oil instead of J L,S ^ before serving. This makes four or five 
tallow, and use enough to make the wax sufficiently quarts.—G. SMITH, Hazel Glen, 111. 
pliable. “ The best way of grafting " you must learn Vegetable Sour.-Take three pounds fresh 
Trait trees. p k ’ atul Iet ll bod one bour « then add carrots, 
- parsnips, onions, cabbage and potatoes, sliced 
Patriotic Flowers-Red, White and Blue.- fi ne . Let them come to a boil; then take two 
Please tell me what flowers I can raise from the seed ,. , ... 
of red, white and blue colors, in time for Independence e "S s a nd mix them with flour, as hard as possi- 
boqaets?—Mas. M F. C., uaier/ord, ilinn. ble; roll them as thin as for pie-crust; then 
Seeds muse be ^*1 Preuy early to get a good show glice pff in small pieces and add to the 
of flowers bv Die first of July. The White Candytufts 
will do, and "so will the Ten-Week Stocks, of all colors. 30Up ’ and b ° l1 llntl1 done ’ * [ake a S™'*? witb 
Whitburn Grandi flora is a tine blue, and so is Phaeelia flour and water: ^ pepper, and a little 
Cungerta, and Entoca Viscida. The Scarlet and Phlox parsley; if the meat is not rich enough, add 
Drummondiis will give plenty of red. butter.—M rs. M. F. Hootsel, Kalamazoo Co., 
Sowing Phlox, Aster and Candytuft.—A lady _ 
correspondent at Nassau, N, Y., asks if we think the _ 
flret week of May too early to sow seeds of the Aster, laud. 
Candytuft and Phlox. The Candytuft should be sown ^ ( — 
at once. You cannot get it in too early. We should C.» a farmer’s wife, writes: “In ren- 
hardly think the first week in May too early for the dering the lard, be sure to have it well done, 
other seeds; bet we should be governed entirely by the and the water thoroughly evaporated; then, 
weather and the condition of the soil. If yon have a just before taking from the fire, add a small por- 
hot-bed sow in it at once, which is the better way, and tion of sa it,_ a tablespoonful to two gallons will 
transplant when the s eason is far enough advanced. be suffident . Steam C3refuU y, and keep in a 
Keep the Runners off Strawberries-— A cor- cool place,” 
respondent asks if we would recommend keeping off Mrs. S. C. S., of Steuben Co., N. Y., writes: 
the runners from strawberry plants. We certainly .. Keep the leaf lard bv itself, and to each kettle- 
should doso If the object is fruit alone And especially M adJ h;lndful of 8a , t when T0U tirst t ifc 
iu small town gardens where space ts valuable, the , . * 
amount of fruit from a given space may bo largely in- on lb,? s0 t vat tbe sa lt may be ab- 
ereased, size enhanced, and quality Improved by the sorbed while there is moisture in the lard, 
pinching off process. After the runners start it should Cook it until scraps arc very crisp and brown, 
be a dally duty to go over the bed and pinch off the Then set it away until so cool that you can bear 
runners. The ladles In the family would not injure y 0 ur hand in it, when strain through a cloth 
themselves by making th:s their duty. into a erock. Cover close and keep in a cool 
Mildew on Gooseberries.— (A Subscriber, South place, but not where it will be exposeu to the 
Royalton, N. Y ) Wo do not know the cause of, nor frost in winter, or the crook will break. I have 
any remedy for, mildew on gooeeberries. An eminent never been troubled with mold when I have 
cryptogamlc botanist says, us the disease in its first „ ut j t doWB | n W3V *■> 
stage la an Oidtum, (vegetable parasite,! be thinks snl- Mr ,_ c of Marsha i V Mich „ writes: — “ I 
nhnr will prove a remedy. But we have seen sulphur , ,. , 
tried with no apparent effect There are some varieties, have seen prett v §°° d housekeepers who thought 
however, that appear to be less liable to this disease * be rou Sh hardly lit to use. But if properly 
than Olliers. Uoughton's Seedling is, perhaps, as free taken care of. it is as nice as any. As you take 
from mildew, in most localities, as any variety. The off the fat, put, it in a tub of cold water,—have 
Red Cluster is said to be equally free from it. plenty of it,— soak a few hours, change the 
Rose Bros,— I wish some person would be kind water, let it stand until morning, drain and try, 
enough to give a recipe for killing rose bugs which iu- and YOU will not know the difference. Do not 
fest the grape vines when they are in blossom. — '..... , , T , 
Laertes. put water in, in trying the lard. I do not think 
There are mauy others who would be thankful for it keeps as well. Add a little salt. Cook it 
such a recipe, provided it did not involve too much well; do not take it out until the scraps are all 
trouble. We know of only one mode, which is, to crisp. When put away, exclude the air as 
catch and burn, scald or otherwise destroy them, much as possible, and it will keep nice and 
Some pains Hiking grape cuiturista have undertaken to svvee { v 
save their cranes by covering tbe vines with raillinet; ", , T11 ., . 
but, of course! it is impracticable It has been assert MaLLIE > of Brighton, HL, writes:-” When 
by naturalists that fowls eat them. A friend assures f out my lard, I always put a few strips of 
us he has thrown them to fowls repeatedly, but he has slippery elm bark into tbe kettle when the 
never known a fowl to touch one. scraps are beginning to brown. Leave them in 
—- until the lard is ready to strain off. My lard 
Scions from bearing Treks.—P lease inform me , , m(i ,^,1 lhp vp „ r milnd <* 
whether trees grafted with scions taken from trees that kteps sWtet and -.cod me year round, 
have never borne will bear, or not? If they will, will 
they hear as soon as scions taken from a bearing tree? 
I am told they will not bear at all if taken from a young 
tree that has never borne, bnt it does not seem quite 
“logical.”—<?• L. W-, Tomp&ins Lb., .V. 1’. 
A tree grafted with scions from a young nursery tree 
of a single year’s growth (8 just as likely to bear, and 
to bear as soon, as if grafted with scions from a tree 
that had borne for half a century. Generally, scions 
used for grafting are shoots of the previous season’s 
growth. Sometimes a scion of older wood with fruit 
buds is used and bears the same season it is set, or the 
following one. B- 
The May Flower of Nkw England.—(A. E. K. 
R., Aurora, O.) The May Flower of New England Is 
Epigtca repens, or the Trailing Arbutus,—a little shrub 
by plant, which grows flat on the ground, ten or fifteen 
Inches in length, covered w ith a hairy pubescence in 
all Its parts. Leaves alternate, two to two ;ind a half 
by one and a half inches, roundish at the end and very 
abruptly tipped wftth a very short point- Flowers very 
fragrant, white, or ringed with various shades of red, 
iu small clusters on short stalks, calyx green, support¬ 
ed by three large bracts at tbe base. The tube of the 
corolla Is hairy within, longer than the ealyx, the bor¬ 
der tn five, rounded, spreading segments, tt is some¬ 
times called Ground Laurel. We presume it is found 
In your latitude. It is found in the woods as far south 
as Kentucky—more frequently in the pine woods, on 
sandy soil. When lu bloom, if wc can get hold of a 
specimen, will give au eugraving of it, as you request, 
ft is iti bloom in April and May. 
Dried Beef in Ten Days. —The following 
is dedicated to the lovers of good dried beef :— 
Take beef from any part of the quarter you 
choose, aud chop as you would for sausage, sea¬ 
son to your taste, and put in three-inch cloth 
sacks and bang it up to dry. In this way you 
can work up all the bits aud ends, or even the 
whole beef, into firstorate dried meat,—C. Jud- 
A Liniment for Inflammations.—I send 
you a liniment that I have used with good suc¬ 
cess. It is good for inflammations of all kinds, 
both on man and beast:—1 oz. turpentine; 1 oz. 
camphor gum; 1 oz. oil of spike; 1 oz. oil of 
organum; 1 oz. sweet oil; 1 oz- spirits niter; 2 
ozs. hartshorn; 4 piut alcohol. I sometimes add 
1 oz. arnica and 4 oz. laudanum.—J. \V. Ash, 
St. Johns , Mich , 
-- 
[special notice.] 
Woman’s Rights —We have not been advocates of 
woman’s rights in the extreme sense of the term; but 
we do insist that the good housekeeper ought to have 
the “ Housewife's Favorite,’’ the Chemical Saleratus, 
made by Be Laud & Co., for with it, and it alone, 
can she produce bread tit to be eaten. Woman has a 
right to demand this article of the grocer, aud he is 
bound to sell it, as moat grocers do. 
