MOORE’S RURAL BEW-YORKER. 
159 
tfftifttltttvgt. 
y, K. PHCENIX AND WHITE WILLOWS, 
It will be remembered by our readers that 
on page 110, current Voh of Rural, we pub¬ 
lished a letter from Mr. PnaSNJx, propounding 
eertain queries to Mr. Brag don, to which re¬ 
plies were made categorically. At the close ol 
our reply, we asked the following questions:— 
“ Will Mr. Pikenix inform the readers of the 
Rural in the West, whether he employed men 
in the winter or spring of 1863, to cut willows 
at, or near, or in the region of Peoria Luke 1 
If so, how many men did he so employ, and 
liow long were they so employed ? And will 
he tell us whether those were White Willows— 
Salu alba —or not? If not, what did he do 
w ith those willow’s?—whither did he ship 
them?” At last we have Mr. PikeNIX’b reply, 
which we give herewith, omitting only that 
portion of his letter which relates to matters 
already fully discussed in these columns, and 
having no bearing whatever on the subject in 
hand: 
REPLY OF MR. PIKENIX. 
As to the queries propounded to us—Mr. B. is wel¬ 
come to the implication—wo believe the first of the 
kind ever made against tts, dining nearly a quarter of a 
FRUIT PROSPECTS. we have at command, we will compromise the stalk grow till bug time is over, you will not be 7* -- 
s srss? i« s! « fcmuf. 
Jate of Apnl 8th “I have been exam,eg band orwndoM Iheheav, ,p*I|„g, never forgefc jma ,and the bog.do notlanbla m, rtJT It - 
weathe’r, XhSS ““ ZmtXtl four C0NTEH1CTCES. 
r»s: v*z h ,;ii' t zrr zs&sszz d :z le tzz r to her 
rees nevr r looked better at this season of the we may well usk if there is not something we Eds. Rural New-Yorker:—I do not re- for the inside, makin* them thJ* 0W ® U 
fndt' bp 1 rm h! I ** nme | ty },er cent - of the can do to assist those who remain to bear their member having seen the following published, nesses. And iorteadof f^tcmin-AhenTt * C * 
fiuit blossom buds are killed with no, and in increased burden of toil. And whatever we That is, to produce a new species of fruit by a aprons with V" 
T g U 1 the rH Lak r e r fiDd t0 d0 ‘ WheUier in tbe vegetable or dower cross from the kernel, seed, or stone fruits. At top of cloth SrfE? o TSdel twiTe“to ot 
fluenee. The peach trees back from the Lake garden, we will work with cheerfulness, striving what period the Apricot or Nectarine fruits corner and ban* on a Lil nlr t !’ f 
are more or less injured, and I am of the opin- to promote the hanniness of others. Th,» JL first ovisto,!. T h L -- ^ ?“ aaa, i near the 8tove - A 
stalk grow till bug time is over, you will not be 
troubled with their company. I found this out 
by accident, and have followed it for seven 
years, and the bugs do not trouble my vines. It 
would be well to plant the poppies so that they 
will be up or nearly so before you plant your 
cucumber and other vine Beefis.” 
HOW TO OBTAIN A NEW SPECIES OF FRUIT. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:—I do not re¬ 
member having seen the following published. 
HOUSEHOLD CONVENIENCES. 
Mtll “ E. H. M.” allow us to add to her 
directions for making a holder for iron ware, 
that they are much better of flannel than cotton 
or linen ? Pieces of old stockings do very well 
for the inside, making them three or four thick¬ 
nesses. And instead of fastening them to our 
ion that titty per cent, of those are killed. 
Many of two and three years' setting are black 
about a foot from the ends of the twigs, (this 
distance may increase a tittle,) otherwise the 
bark looks bright; but the wood is more or less 
discolored on all, down to less than a foot from 
the ground. I am of the opinion, however, 
that the bodies will eventually recover. 
“ I recollect that in Northern Illinois about 
ten years ago, and again in 1856, peach trees 
had the same appearance under the bark, and 
many cut their trees down before the time for 
the leaves to start. The same seasons many of 
mine, near Cincinnati, Ohio, were badly in- 
shall secure a great object, the cultivation of our 
own hearts, which is even more desirable than 
the cultivation of flowers. m. e. w. 
West Onondaga, April 26,1864. 
STRAWBERRIES. 
Unless you have already set out a good bed 
of strawberries, don’t fail to plant one this 
spring. The right time to do such w-ork is to do 
it as soon a3 you can. If you neglect it in the 
spring, do it in the summer or early autumn, 
rather than put it off a whole year; though 
spring is, undoubtedly, the most favorable time 
mat exibieu, 1 nave seen no records. The name nail with no head is better for all such purposes, 
is not to be found in the British Encyclopedia, saving patience when one is in haste and not 
These were produced by a cross between the tearing clothes. 
plum and peach. It can only be effected where When your lamp wick gets too short to reach 
the time of blossoming of the two varieties is the oil, unless near the top, do not throw it away 
near each other, so that they may be mutually but fasten one end of the new piece evenly on 
... , the lower end of the old, and the oil will follow 
Let shoots be raised from the kernels or seeds it as well and the old piece can be used until the 
of fruit so impregnated. And, again, when sewed ends reach the tube, 
these shoots shall have blossomed, repeat the It may seem rather late in the season to re¬ 
process; be careful that you procure your pollen commend kerosene-oil for frost bites, but if the 
or impregnating semen from the same source as old theory is correct it may do as well for burns 
in the first operation. And from this shoot you and be worth remembering.* 
"iH v;u 'icties partaking of the nature of To clean shawls without getting them wet 
both parental sources. Be careful, however, to spread them on snow, then cover with the same 
^z'^LT^^\ hr r v t 
B| “™! and < > ui “ e ne “1 “ d * r 7 if “* “ >te05t ■“'? tlm ' ; rr °“ »[>'">?'<> P* a ”" d »I'Ple.» d various other fruits, might it to snow. AnJ to rid a cajet or floor™ dust° 
fall, at the Rockford State Hort Society Meeting. He B, » arr * au cherries, all our standard and dwarf winter; but reason and experience teach that be crossed by this method. Care must be sprinkle with snow before sweenin* or in 
only person we over knew with any such information, 
and he cannot deny that such was onr reply to him Inst 
fall, at the Rockrord Slate Hort Society Meeting. He 
there first named it, und though urgently requested to 
do so, refused to give his authority. We then utterly 
and contemptuously scouted the story, us we do now, 
ns false in every particular. We lnid no men cutting 
swamp willow, and have never sold a ending but of 
the genuine White Willow After Ltio emphatic con¬ 
tradiction then given, and his seeming, entire acquies¬ 
cence, we might be surprised ill this pnVllcatiou. As 
it is, we only ask him to give his authority—we have 
a right to know the name or names of parties who so 
informed him, or does he publish the charges as of his 
own knowledge? F. K. Puatxix. 
Now, in the outset, it is proper that the 
reader should understand that our—Mr. Brag- 
don’s— relations to Mr. Phcenix have always 
been pleasant and fraternal—that the asking the 
above questions was not the result of any desire 
to injure him or his business. And we shall be 
glad if his reputation for business integrity 
comes out of this trial unsullied. We confess 
to having written one reply to Mr. Phoenix’s 
former article, in rather an angular manner, 
because it seemed evident, either that he did 
not know what he was talking about, or that he 
was making an effort to place us in a false posi¬ 
tion, for the purpose of advertising himself and 
his willows; and our complacency was not in¬ 
creased by the suspicion, to say the least, that 
be had cut and sold swamp willows, extensively, 
as the White Willow. What the grounds for 
that “ suspicion ” are, we shall now gratify Mr. 
Phienix by disclosing. 
Some time last August or September we 
were informed by two prominent members of 
the Illinois Horticultural Society, that Mr. 
Pikenix hud employed, the previous spring, 
twenty men, more or less, a number of days or 
weeks, (we think weeks,) in the vicinity of 
Pure Lake, cutting and shipping willows. 
These members professed to have received their 
Bigarreau cherries, all our standard and dwarf winter; but reason and experience teach that be crossed by this method. Care must be 
pears, are uninjured. Our plums are all safe, toe best time to plant them is at the period of strictly preserved in preventing any chance of 
too. The most thrifty of our Delaware, Con- beginning their growth for the season. This is interference in the impregnation, by wind, bees, 
cord, Diana and Catawba grapes are pretty dark very early—so early that it is well to have the flies, &c., brought from other flowers. 
cord, Diana and Catawba grapes are pretty dark 
in the wood; hut our others (less thrifty) seem 
uninjured. The Lawton blackberries are mostly 
killed, except in our vicinity. Our grounds are 
elevated somewhat, and are about 100 feet above 
the waters of Lake Michigan, within one-quar¬ 
ter of a mile or its bank, and three miles south 
of this place. The thermometer stood at 12° 
below zero, January 1st, 8 A. M.” 
A. S. D., South Haven, Mich., writes, April 
25th:—“On a narrow belt of the shoreland— 
say about two miles wide—in this vicinity, and 
at least as far north as the Kalamazoo river, 
there is a good showing or live peach buds— 
many trees, imleed, promise a superabundance, 
and will need thinning to give the fruit mar¬ 
ketable size. We have examined our grape 
vines—Isabella, Clinton, Concord, Rebecca, 
Diana, Delaware, Hartford Prolific, Oporto, 
Catawba, Ontario and Northern Muscadine— 
which have been fully exposed, and find them, 
except the unmatured wood of last year’s 
growth, well alive, without exception. 
“The wind, during the extreme cold weather, 
was south-westerly, and the thermometer at 
this place, at 11 o’clock 1’. M. of January 1st, 
indicated 7° below zero, while at Paw Paw, 
thirty miles inland, it was noted at more than 
20°, and there the effect upon trees was quite 
serious.” 
MORE ABOUT FLOWERS. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:— Like your cor¬ 
respondent from East Randolph, N. Y., I, too, 
have been a lover of flowers from my child¬ 
hood. For more than two score years I have 
information from a railroad man over whose hailed the early spring flowers with inexpressi- 
road these willows had been shipped,-and who ble delight, and can even now forget all the 
objected to having his name used because Mr. cares of maturity, and feel myself a child again, 
hcenix paid the said road a heavy freight when wandering in the green wood, I pause to 
tariff. Wo stated to the parties that if this re- gather, 
port was true, and it was true that Mr. Pike- ~ „ 
nix was distributing these cuttings for WHITE With scented breath, and look so UkTa sm'ue| 
” ai0W8 i would be our duty to let the pub- Seeming, as it issues from the shupde »9 mold,' 
lie know it; and we urged that further inquiry An emanation of the indwelling Life; 
be made, so that the facts, whatever they might A vl8jWe token of the upholding Lore, 
be, could bo established. That is the aoal of this wide universe. 
Meantime wo met Mr. P. at Rockford, and The truo lover of the beautiful will find it 
told him what we had heard, and asked him if “ al1 wound our path,” and will gaze with won- 
it was true. He asked, without replying, der arul delight at the various creations in 
” Where is ‘Pure ’ Lake ?’’ We did not know, which beauty and utility seem so blended as to 
and told him so. He replied, “It is a foolish leavo us 511 doubt as to which were the object 
and malicious falsehood.” We think he asked soll " llt - The green velvet-like grass is itself 
us for the names of our informants, but we beautiful, and the first sunny days of spring 
declined giving them, preferring to investigate s€atter profusely the poor man’s gold, as the 
lurther. Subsequently, we learned that we had dande/fon has been poetically called. Tho small- 
misunderstood the name of the locality where e8t wec ‘d beneath our feet has elements of 
ibi, work was said to have been dono—that beauty, and the myriad weeds which infest our 
instead of ‘Pure,’ it was Peoria Lake; so that farmers’ lands, have each their blossom, many 
■ Tikenix’ 8 denial might have been valid, of tliem beautiful but requiring untiring vigi- 
ami yet not have affected the fact. lance and industry to keep them in subjection." 
M e were called East, but while in the East Now, is it remarkable that our fathers, hus¬ 
bands, or brothers, should consider it a waste of 
time to cultivate plants which are only valuable 
for their beauty and rarity? They will point 
us, anil justly too, to the wonderful exhibitions 
of beauty and utility combined, as we sec them 
in the blossoming orchards, showering beauty 
and fragrance, and at the same time giving prom¬ 
ise of the golden fruit. Do not infer from this 
that I do not believe in the cultivation of flow- 
Wrotn *1 A, -- - 7 vim RllUlTS, IlUb- 
f Urth J * tho JP a J’. tlc8? or one of them > urging or brothers, should consider it a waste of 
ram', 7' V69tgUt °. n ’ * lri< iukin * them to time to cultivate plants which are only valuable 
nothin! r :lct * as might be obtained. We heard for their beauty and rarity? They will point 
au in ,7'°‘ n lh ?T’ bUt !ate 5 “ liu> S0a80n had us ’ and too, to the wonderful exhibitions 
h u! r, W th ° ne 0t lhe * entIomen who of beauty and utility combined, as we see them 
; to make calculated to remove this in the blossoming orchards, showering beauty 
mit ] ■ ', UUU '' 0,1 tbe contl 'ary, statements then and fragrance, and at the same time giv ing prom- 
w ml i ° UH ’ by m<n who,u we do J mt believe bse of the golden fruit. Do not infer from this 
anv t) l >lil llie ci,arac *® r of Mr. Piuknix, nor that I do not believe in the cultivation of flow- 
incion » wautonly ’ co^umed that “ sus- ers. On tho contrary a few flower beds are pos- 
we hav ^ Aml 11 ha ' n0t becn tomoved, although itivcly necessary to my enjoyment, but 1 should 
establLsl '•? ku0Wlet,ge our own tending to be very careful how I asked the “sturdy farmer 
.. lt- ThU8 the matter has remained to assist In preparing them:” and in ease of his 
ground prepared for them the autumn previous. 
The advantages of planting strawberries in 
spring rather than in summer or autumn are 
very evident. Set in spring, they have the 
benefit of the frequent rains at that season, are 
soon established In their new places, and have 
the whole summer and autumn to grow in. 
They become strong, stout plants, able to en¬ 
dure the winter and give a line crop of berries 
the next year. On the other hand, if planted 
in summer or autumn, when the ground is dry 
and warm, they must wait often a good many 
days, and sometimes weeks, for rain enough to 
thoroughly wet the roots. In such cases it is 
necessary to resort to artificial watering, which 
is tedious, and a poor substitute for natural 
showers. Unless the season is very favorable, 
plants set in summer or autumn make but len¬ 
der growth and are quite apt to be winter-killed. 
At any rate, they bear but little fruit the next 
year. 
I believe it is a great mistake to devote the 
same piece of ground to strawberries several 
years in succession. As often as a new bed is 
made— as often as you re-set your plants —give 
them a fresh piece of ground to grow in. Straw¬ 
berries seem to exhaust the ground of some 
element they need sooner than almost any other 
plant, and it is difficult to find a fertilizer that 
will supply the waste. It is not necessary to 
make a piece of ground on purpose for straw¬ 
berries by the addition of manure, leaf-mold, 
ashes, salt, road-scrapings, &c .; just set them in 
any part of your garden where the ground is 
moderately rich and where strawberries have 
not grown before, or at least not in some years, 
and they will be satisfied, and will do better 
than if pampered with 3 variety of artificial 
food. But be sure and move them often. 
As to varieties, small cultivators— those who 
raise strawberries only for family use — should 
beware of running into the mania for new kinds. 
flies, &c., brought from other flowers. 
A New Mode of Preserving Fruits, etc.— 
Fruits and roots may be preserved, and re¬ 
tained in their original fresh state, by dipping 
them into liquid isinglass. A thin coating pro¬ 
tects them from the influence of the air. The 
process is simple and rapidly executed. 
_ S. 1Y. Jewett. 
Kern River, Cal., April 1,1S61. 
--- 
inquiries anti glnsums. 
Cost of Planting Osiek Willow.— Correspondents 
are asking W. A. Waldo the cost of setting an acre of 
Osier or Basket Wiilow, including the cost of cuttings. 
Will he respond ? 
Application of Let to Apple Trees.—(E. C. H.) 
W ash your trees at any convenient time during May 
and June—the sooner the better. 
Injured Young Apple Trees. — (E. C. H ) We 
should cut off the trees and graft them, or dig them up 
and replace with others, taking care to discharge a 
teamster who should drive a team against them in 
future, or deduct the value of the tree from his wages. 
It is gross carelessness that destroys trees as you 
describe. 
sprinkle with snow before sweeping, or in warm 
weather wet the broom often, shaking off all the 
drops of water so it will not drain. For dusting 
common furniture the wing of a fowl, taken off 
at the second joint from the tip, answers a very 
good purpose. 
Your “spring cleaning" may be done some¬ 
what easier by scrubbing floors with sand and a 
mop instead of a broom, saving more backache 
than it will waste of old rags. 
A large cork that will cost a penny at the 
store is more convenient for scouring knives and 
forks than a cloth or a cork nailed to a spool. 
Never scour spoons. Silver may be kept free 
from tea stains by care in washing, and rubbing 
dry with a clean cloth. German silver looks 
nicely if allowed to lay in sour buttermilk 
awhile when stained and washed in soap suds 
with pains in wiping. If not wholly clear at 
first repeat the course and be sure of success 
at last. Grace. 
Michigan, 1S64. 
* We have had it recommended to us for this pur 
pose by friends who have tested it.—E ds. Rural. 
teamster who should drive a team against them in To Keep Dried Fruit OVER SUMMER.— 
future, or deduct the value of the tree from his wages. Have it perfectly dry. Put ail small fruit into 
It is gross carelessness that destroys trees as you bags, tie closely. Get a dry, tight, clean barrel; 
68 ,c ' - put your fruit racks into it, take it to the cellar, 
Ornamental Grasses —A lover of flowers wishes 5et a P one l" 00 * from the ground, lay over the 
SJfSKT&SKS “p Of Wwl a hair dozen thidmeae, or paper to 
winter arranged with the everlasting flowers for winter exclude the dampness, cover with a smooth 
boquets ?—E. M., HI>. 
We do not know of any that will, and yet there may 
be some. U our readers know of any let them name 
them. 
Raisins from Grapes.— Will you or some of your 
readers please inform me how to make raisins from 
grapes, or if they can be made from them?— E. M., 
Wisconsin. 
Raising may be made from grapes if they contain a 
sufficient quantity of sugar. Only the early varieties 
will be found to contain this essential we think. We 
aave seen fair—not best—raisins made from the Diana. 
We should think the Delaware would be likely to make 
a good raisin, so far as sugar is concerned; but. would 
be likely to be seedy. When the grapes are ripe, pick 
them carefully and lay in the sun, on earth, to dry, 
If you are about making your first planting of turning them occasionally and carefully. Another 
strawberries, or are dissatisfied with those you mode is to suspend them in the sun. Experience from 
have, and wish to try some other kind or kinds, our reader3 ’ win be acceptable, 
get some of the old, well-approved sorts, such 
as are recommended for superior flavor, though . Fbe5, ' ci1 Osier Willow.—(F. K. D., Atlas, Mich.) 
of only medium size and moderate! v productive l f° U “V? Can n0t 1611 you how the 
, . ' , . ' - UCH> ’ N«i hx vtmtnaKs can be chsiimrmshed from other wil- 
eaung those whose great size and immense lows; if you are, you will be able to Identify it bv the 
crops are their chief claims to favor, to tlje at- following botanical description:—Leaves linear-laun- 
tention of persons who raise this fruit for ceolate, very long and taper pointed, entire or obscurely 
market. A . crenate, white and satiny beneath; catkins cylindrical- 
South Livonia, N. Y., 1864. ovoid, clothed with long silky hair; ovary long and 
narrow; styles elongated; stigmas linear, mostly entire. 
Leaves three to six inches, and sometimes (it is said) a 
foot long, of a beautiful luster beneath_“a snowv 
white pubescence.” The stems grow 8 to 10 and 12 
feet high, with long, straight, slender flexible branches. 
These branches are usually colored crimson. But little 
return can be expected from a plantation before the 
third year after planting. 
GLEANINGS FOR GARDENERS. 
PtitoklvVl . -° * WVV.. ^.lUlUA, w 
until \t U ’ ThU8 the niatUir remained 
ii , i ’ ll< - E - NIX 's recent letter decided 
p , ? 1 0 might be done to solve the 
whn M v siva the names of toe parties 
vno lurntshed us with the information, and 
Vlt i CAn ’ guiltless, furnish the name of the 
J‘ikk\i°y the * lOIy ' This k rurtainly duo Mr. 
iDnnoon : ’ as he ***crte and we hope, ho is 
facts m 18 als0 due tho P u,jlic th at the 
to thr, » >e sla tod-for they relate directly 
of mm? UbliC as H pilrty interested. The names 
mformauts are O. B. Galusha, Lisbon, 
tt, 8 -,, 0 - »•»«■•«*. SpKi. Qw.e, II,.; 
Nix ’ v b<? eV0 > Personal friends of Mr. I*iiu> 
surai u ■ ° ° ne ’ tluu Wft ur e aware of, has pur- 
”“ ,,or person#! Ul-feeW 
certainly we have not. 
in thp E m!v I* a great tor spare moments 
B>> i in these days. Siestas must be short. 
to assist iu preparing them;” and in case of his 
refusal to lend assistance, I should not thiuk 
“ I could, with as much propriety, refuse to cook 
his dinner.” 
When we count the many weary hours of 
labor the farmer is obliged to perform, labor in 
which the sole object is utiliy — the procuring 
of a decent competence with which to rear 
and educate his family — we cease to wonder 
he becomes insensible to the beauty which ap¬ 
peals only to the eye. 
If woman loves flowers, she should, as far as 
possible, refrain frem calling upon the farmer at 
this busy season. Her own hands should famil¬ 
iarize themselves with the spade and the wheel¬ 
barrow, as well as the transplanting trowel. 
This may be considered unladylike, but it will 
How to get Early Strawberries. — Walter feet high, with long, straight, slender tie: 
Elder, in a paper read before the Penn. Hort. These branches are usually colored crim 
Society, tells how to get early strawberries, as fol- rtmra canb« expected from a piantat 
lows:— 4 *Strawberries may be had ripe a month third year afler P lanlin g- 
before their natural time, by setting them a foot -- 
apart in beds five or six feet broad in spring, and ?Tt ti Y t i t It 11 tt r Jt T rt * t* e; 
lct the runners make all the plants they can; ^ 0 X U f U 11U X 3 1 H 0 U 5 ♦ 
keep them free of weeds, and in November set „ 
shallow hot-bed frames upon tho beds- sink , 8oc “ TT “ We aro 
.. , . . . ' F ^ ucus ' sma Indebted to President II. T. Mudd and W. C. Flagg. 
them a few inches in the ground, and bank up Esq., for copies of the proceedings of this Society at 
the outside a tew inches, so as to keep off cold its annual meeting last January. They are very valua- 
bottoin air. Iu December, cover the plants We > containing many excellent practical essays from 
with tree leaves or clean straw, three inches wtli ch we shall make extracts. 
thick. Do not cover them with hay, as it con- -- 
tains many seeds of weeds. In March, remove Rll ’ E Raspberries in San Francisco Market — 
the covering, and put glass sashes upon the Ttie CaHfbmla Fjrmtr - JatL ‘ d a Pk1 1 st, announces the 
frames, and give air on warm days the same as exhi ^ tion of ripc r8! T berrle3 in lhat by Audi- 
with 1 ,nfh*.K |,|.n . ,, V Ue * amL 1:5 SON Martin* Co., grown in Almeda Co., and adds:— 
near m l th fruit II > ^ ^ ^ US . they !lp * " ^\y appearance of the raspberries in market is 
pear, and the fiuit will be 11 pc a month earlier proof of the forwardness of the season, being some 
tuan its kind out-doors. The frames, of three f°ur weeks in advance of former years.” 
sashes each, six feet long and forty inches wide, -*-*-_ 
with a different variety in each frame, to sue- A Western Horticultural Extra 
ceed each other, will produce ripe fruit until Louis.-We have been asked if the Uliii 
those in the open garden come on to succeed tomltural Society is to hold a fair the o 
them. (The treatment will also produce earlv Thia ?ub Je<-t wu* di,cussed at ItsammaJ 
asparagus.) Melons can be had ripe tho Tear a committee was appointed, we believe, 
j , , . v . . pe lne ^ eai a committee of tho Missouri Horticult 
round in hot-bods; but it needs a skillful gard- view to unite in a grand exhibition 
aer to grow them in winter. ’ Whether any decisiou has been reache 
heme<ly for Melon Bugs. — A correspondent li ^’ > ' se ^' 
of the N. Tribune says:—“I tried a remedv „ , ~ 
for mwlnn hum vtidi . , . ; Fullers Grape Culturist.—W e ai 
for melon bugs with success last season, which theanthor . Asdrbw s . Fuller, Pract 
I have not seen noticed. It was simply a strong t.irist, Brooklyn, N. Y., for a copy of 
decoction of aloes, applied with a stitf brush to Oultntigt: a Treatise on the Cultivation 
sprinkle it with, or a small syringe. It coats Grape.” lt is a handsome volume of 2 
the leaves but does no injury. It must be re- ’'racing many original illustrations, and 
A Western Horticultural Exhibition at St. 
Louis —Wb have been asked if the Illinois State Hor¬ 
ticultural Society is to hold a fair the coming season. 
This subject was discussed at its annual meeting, and 
a committee was appointed, we believe, to confer with 
a committee of tho Missouri Horticulturists vvith a 
view to unite in a grand exhibition at St. Louis. 
Whether any decision has been reached we are not 
advised. 
equal the gymnasium for the development of newed after a shower or heavy dew.” 
muscle, and is far cheaper. If there is a new Another correspondent says:-“if you will 
bed to be spaded, requiring more strength than plant a few poppy seeds in each hill, and let one 
Fuller's Grave Culturist.— We are indebted to 
theanthor, Andrew S. Puller, Practical Horticul¬ 
turist. Brooklyn, N. Y., for a copy of -‘The Grape 
Oulturist: a Treatise on the Cultivation of the Native 
Grape.” It is a handsome volume of 2M1 pages, cm 
bracing many original illustrations, sind evidently able 
and practical iu its teachings. We Infer that it is the 
most practical work yet published on the subject in 
this country, and shall notice at greater length in an 
early future number. 
board wide enough to entirely cover the barrel. 
If you have a tight-fitting cover add as much 
paper as the cover will admit. Take common 
flour sacks for apples; if you have no sacks, line 
the barrel with paper several tiers, pour in the 
fruit. If the barrel is not full, press paper 
closely on top of the fruit, and cover top of bar¬ 
rel as above. See to it during the summer; if it 
has gathered dampness spread in a hot sun or 
oven to re-dry, and pack immediately away as 
before.— Molly Ann, Madison, Ohio , 1864. 
Lemon Jelly. — One and one-half oz. of 
isinglass, one pound and a half of sugar, four 
lemons, three pints of boiling water; lay the 
isinglass in cold water half an hour, take it out 
and put it with the sugar and the lemons, sliced, 
pour on the boiling water, stirring it all the 
time; strain through the jelly bag, pour into 
moulds, and when cold it is ready for use. In 
damp weather it will require a little more isin¬ 
glass to stiffen well.—M. J. S. A., Alfred, JV F. 
-- 
Mock Apple Pie.—T ake one eup of bread 
crumbs which your children may leave on the 
table at breakfast, two spoonfuls of sugar, one 
teaspoonful of tartaric acid, a little spice, enough 
water to moisten this well. The children will 
exclaim. Mama, where did you get apples?— 
Ervilla, 5t# Joseph, III.. 1864. 
Corn Bread, —One quart of buttermilk, one 
cup of molasses; three cups of meal; three and 
a half of flour; one teaspoonful of salt, and two 
of soda. Steam three hours, and bake one 
hour.—M. J. S. A., Alfred, 21. Y., 1864. 
To Keep Hands Soft. — Keep your hands 
soft by rubbing vinegar over them after having 
had them in soapy water.— Mrs. C. H. W., 
Nile, N. Y., 1S64. 
DOMESTIC INQUIRIES, 
Can White Kid Gloves be Colored?—C an yon, or 
any of your numerous correspondents, tell me whether 
w! >ite kid glovea can be colored any other color ?—if so, 
describe the process and oblige—A Reader. 
To Cook Cauliflower, Broccoli, &c. —Will soma 
person be kind enough to Inform me, through the Ru¬ 
ral, how to cook and prepare cauliflower for the table; 
also, how to:cook and prepare broccoli, celery, Ac., and 
how to nee parsley? At what stage of their develop¬ 
ment should they be gathered ? There are a great many 
persons in the country who know nothing about these 
vegetables, and information would be acceptable.— 
J. F. M. 
(SPECIAL NOTICE.] 
The Good and the Bad.—I t is by contrast that we 
best realize the difference between good and evil. If 
any housewife, who has been in the habit of using the 
Chemical Saleratus should happen to got a paper of the 
counterfeit, she would then perhaps better than before 
appreciate the value of the former, and detest the in- 
gratea who are making and vending the latter, The 
genuine is always in red papers. 
