which drains itself. Have known good crops of 
grapes taken from heavy, drained clay soil. 
J. J. Thomas. — Div Faki.by, of Union 
Springs, grows good crops of grapes on gravel 
and clay—well drained and well manured first 
Moody.—A good clay soil is required to pro¬ 
duce a grape which will make a good quality of 
wine. 
The President.— In Bloomfield a heavy 
soil is producing good grapes. A good, heavy, 
well drained soil, is now regarded the best for 
grape culture. 
Ross, — l was once of the opinion that a light, 
loamy soil was preferable, and planted accord¬ 
ingly. A portion of my vineyard is on clay 
soil; and the grapes mature better than on the 
light soil. If the season is long enough, they 
ripen on the sand, but not so early as on heavy 
soil. 
Lkigil—M y experience is precisely the re¬ 
verse of the last speaker’s. My grapes on 
sandy, light soil, ripen first, and are of best 
quality. My clay soil is drained. 
Smith, of Livonia.—Do not different varie¬ 
ties require different soils? A grape cultivator 
told me the Diana required a poor soil; and he 
attributed my failure with it to the fact that my 
soil was too rich. 
Lkioh. — l would make the soil rich in the 
outset—before planting; but after grapes begin 
to bear they should not be manured. While 
making wood there is less objection to manure. 
[Continued next week. 
ture, produced one quart to Wilson’3 five. 
But I think such results and such difference is 
due to locality; for we know that it is not uni¬ 
formly the experience of cultivators. And I 
wish to say here, in proof of what I have said 
concerning locality, that with me Hovey's 
Seedling is one of the best varieties. And fur¬ 
ther, 1 never had any strawberry, either stami- 
nate or pistillate, that was not improved by 
standing in beds with other varieties. 
year,) to the lowest rail of the trellis, cutting 
back all others to one bud, as before. 
“ The third spring I do not tie up the bearing 
cane until all the buds have fairly started. Se¬ 
lecting, as before, the strongest cane from the 
buds, at the base of the vine, I tie it as near 
perpendicular as possible, leaving the others to 
run upon the ground, as before. The bearing 
cane I pinch very little indeed, or not at all. In 
the fall, of the third year, I cut down this 
(bearing) caue to within two or three inches of 
the ground, laying down the cane, which I 
trained perpendicularly to the lowest rail, as 
before, leaving it to bear the next year, and cut¬ 
ting all other canes to one bud. This principle 
f carry out in the following years. I allow no 
cane to grow higher than seven feet, but I often 
select two or three of the strongest buds at the 
base for bearing wood, making my choice of 
numbers according to the strength of the vine. 
“It is now nearly five years since I started 
this plan, and thus far I have had always more 
wood than wanted; but I think my experience 
not sufficient, since ten years are required to 
test any mode thoroughly. I offer this for what 
it is worth.” 
Ginger Snaps.—O ne cup of molasses, one 
cup sugar, one cup butter, a small tablespoon of 
ginger, one teaspoon of saleratus, dissolved in as 
little hot water as possible; flour enough to 
make it a consistent thickness. Boll thin and 
bake in a quick oven. 
Another.—T wo cups of molasses, one cup 
lard, one tablespoon ginger, one of saleratus, a 
teaspoon of salt; flour, Ac., as above. For a 
smaller batch take half the quantity.—M. M. C., 
Independence, Iowa , 1864. 
SUMMER MEETING. 
[Continued from page 215, last No ] 
PLANTING STRAWBERRIES. 
Qufitinn .— II’Ani treatment should the strawberry plant 
receive before setting out; and how deep should it be 
planU-d? 
II. N. Langworthy.—I think the prosper¬ 
ity of the plant depends somewhat upon the 
mode of culture. I have adopted a mode of 
treatment which I think secures good results. 
If a plant has good, long, strung roots, I take 
hold of them with my hand just below the 
crown of the plant, and cut oil' all below my 
hand—leaving roote as long as my hand is wide. 
This shortening in causes the laterai roots to 
develop quickly and strongly. 1 then dip the 
r$ots in clay water, make a hole with a dibble 
and put the roots in straight—do not spread 
them—I set the plant deep, as deep as practice 
ble and not suffocate it. 
J. J. Thomas.— I tried an experiment in 
planting this last spring. I directed a man to 
set four rows of plauts—one row I directed to 
he set after the common mode, with a dibble. 
Three rows I ordered planted as follows:—Take 
up the plants carefully with a spade, shake off 
the soil, cut off the roots, make a hole with a 
mound in the center, and spread the roots over 
the mound, as a man would spread a sheaf over 
a shock of wheat. I recently examined these 
four rows, and found that the three rows where 
the roots were spread have made about twice 
the growth of the other row. And the man 
planted rapidly where he spread the roots. It 
did not require much longer. I am satisfied it 
is better to spread them. 
POPULARITY OF STRAWBERRIES. 
Question .— What is the average period of popularity of 
the different highly lauded varieties of the Strawberry7 
J. J. Thomas,—I think about five years is 
the average. And the reason of the decline in 
popularity, may be due to the fact that, when we 
get a new strawberry, for which we have paid a 
big price, we give it a fair chance, and with 
good culture it produces well, and iarge fruit. 
When the plants get cheap and plenty, we 
neglect it, and it resents our neglect. 
H. E. Hooker. —The popularity of varieties 
usually continues until plants are common. 
And I think Mr. Thomas lias placed the aver¬ 
age duration of popularity too high. Still I am 
not certain that some of these varieties do not 
do better than others—do not wear a good deal 
longer then five years. Hovey's Seedling is 
still popular in Boston. And Burr’s New 
Fine still has an excellent character, although 
it may not he found in tho nurseries. 
The President.—O ne cause of the depre¬ 
ciation of popularity is doubtless that after they 
become to be generally cultivated, and people 
have experience with them on different soils, 
climates and seasons, some defect is developed 
or discovered which was not at first noticed. 
Moore, or Moore Brothers. — Hovey’s 
S eedling has been named here as retaining its 
popularity. It there is a humbug, Hovey's 
S eedliug is one. 
The President.—N ot in Boston. It is no 
humbug there. It is the favorite in the market. 
It is not safe to call any variety a humbim: for 
To Keep Lard.— Isabel Smith, of Ohio, 
writes:—“If I had lard that I feared would 
mold, I would put it over the fire and boil it as 
long as it would hear without browning. Then 
strain through a linen cloth into whatever you 
wish to keep it in, and cover close. In render¬ 
ing lard, I cut it in small pieces, then put in a 
kettle and add a little water to prevent it burn¬ 
ing in the outset. Keep it boiling until the 
scraps swim and look brown—not burnt,—then 
take off and when cool enough strain. My lard 
keeps well.” 
THE CURRANT WORM. 
Sprinkle lime on the ground, under the 
bushes. In the evening, and early in the morn¬ 
ing, while the dew is on, shake the bushes. 
After rain, a new dressing of lime will be neces¬ 
sary. Repeat the operation till all are destroyed. 
From 1856 to 1800 I had neither currant nor 
gooseberry, the worms having nearly destroyed 
the bushes. There is not a currant worm on 
my premises now, and having been exempt so 
long, I claim the victory. How long will it be 
till a dozen readers, or more, of the Rural 
will complain of currant worms, and inquire 
for a remedy ? O. T. Hobbs. 
Randolph, Pa., 1864. 
How to make Alum Baskets.— Tell A. A. 
M., of Ohio, to make her basket of covered wire, 
in any shape she chooses, so it is very open, 
then dissolve five pounds of alum in three gal¬ 
lons boiling water, suspend her basket with 
small threads in a wooden vessel, pour the liquid 
over and let it stand in the shade twenty-four 
hours, and she will have a beauty. The longer 
it remains in the liquid, the heavier the basket 
will be.— Mollie W. Graves, Indiana. 
THE PEACH CROP-NATURAL AND ARTI¬ 
FICIAL CAUSES. 
I have a peach orchard, of about eight hun¬ 
dred trees, seven years old, and quite thrifty, 
upon the southern slope of a hill, protected by 
an apple orchard on the north. They promise, 
to-day, at least one and a half baskets, on the 
average, to the tree; and very many of Honest 
Johns, Large and Early Yoiks, unless the half 
should drop, would break the trees. 
Now If, as Mr. Langworthy states, (page 
182,) the rains are the cause of the destruction 
of the crop in Greece, and other places, why 
are mine as yet saved ? For I certainly think 
we have had as much rain this spring in Hen¬ 
rietta as in Greece. Now, I charge the salva¬ 
tion of my crop thus far, not to natural causes 
alone, but to the southern slope and protection 
on the north from the north wind and frost that 
vve had while the trees were in blossom, (al¬ 
though I saw no frost where I live, of which 
others complain.) Apples and cherries in this 
vicinity appear to be all right. H. Corbin. 
Henrietta, N. Y., Jane, 1864. 
Molasses Cake for Hard Times.— Here 
is a good recipe for a molasses cake which I wish 
every woman knew how to make these hard 
times:—Take one and a half cups molasses; half 
cup butter-milk; half cup butter: one teaspoon 
soda; one tablespoon ginger; three cups Hour. 
Bake in two small round tin dishes.—A Farm¬ 
er’s Wife. 
Training the Concord Grape —In Herat, of Jane 
Uth, in your article on “Grapes in theMisdssippl Val 
ley,’* it. }q Mated In reference to the Concord tr, vineyard 
No. 10- “ V vine pruned with Ions canes produced only 
four or five hunches or fruit, while and tier, pruned 
after Mr. Hpsmann’9 plan, yielded 11 or 15 18?. of 
•rape?.'' Will you Ho so kind a? to -ay what it Mr. 
Hohmann s plan with reference to the length or cane, 
number of cane?, whether on stakes. ortral'is, or oth¬ 
erwise in the ln“tanc<? referred to? And confer a favor 
and benefit on yoor constant reader—J. G. Colson. 
The first spring after planting he cuts the vines back 
to two eyes, leaving two shoots to grow if vines are 
strong. Pinches off all stickers and laterals to one 
joint or leaf beyond leading shoots. The second spring 
after planting he cuts the weakest vines back to three 
buds; of those that are strong enough, one cane is cut 
hack to two eyes, and the other to eight or ten for 
bearing if a crop !s desired. Treat the same way as 
the summer before, with the exception of the canes left 
for bearing. The third year, snppose the vine is cut 
hack to four eyes, producing four 9hoots of which two 
are to hear the next season. And suppose the young 
shoots are grown three feet long, say about the end of 
Ho now goes through and pinches off 
To make Hard Soap from Soft. — Take 
salt in the proportion of a pint to a gallon of 
soap, put in a kettle and boil half an hour; set 
off to eool; take the top off' (it will be hard) and 
put in the kettle with rain water and boil more; 
then set it off and when cold the soap is on the 
top; cut in cakes and put it to dry.—E. T. C., 
Mouth Boston , Michigan, 1864. 
A GOOD WAY TO MAKE BREAD PUDDING.— 
Soak the bread and prepare the mixture as uswab 
When the table is nearly ready, put your pud¬ 
ding into the spider and boil it, stirring it. I 
think it better than baked in an oven, and it is 
a saving of wood in summer.—A. E. Waters. 
A NEW CURRANT WORM-ITS PARENT. 
Thomas Barlow, of Oneida Co., writes to 
the Utica Herald, that he has succeeded in se¬ 
curing the parent of the worm which is prey¬ 
ing upon the currants and gooseberries in that 
county, and thus describes it: 
“It is about three-eighths of an Inch in 
length; abdomen lemon yellow; head and eyes 
black; upper and lower sides of the thorax 
black; the other sides of the thorax yellow; 
legs yellow except the tarsal joints of the hind 
legs, which are black; antenme about half the 
length of the body, or three-sixteenths of an 
iueh; four wings, or by men opterous, with a 
small black spot on the outer edge of the upper 
pair, about one-third distant from posterior ex¬ 
tremity. 
“ The worms passed into the pupa state the 
2Gth of May, and on the 8th of June they ap¬ 
peared in the perfect fly. The whole insect has 
a shiny, glassy appearance, like a winged para¬ 
site. Tho wings are very transparent, and rib¬ 
bed considerably, like the wings of an aphis. 
The abdominal form is much like that of the 
ant, and the wings lie along upon the body, 
with but little spreading at the hind ends. Al¬ 
though I have specimens of last season pre¬ 
sented me, as stated in a former article, they 
were in too much of a shriveled condition for 
definite description. 
“ Having appeared thus early, we may well 
apprehend another army of worms to prey 
upon our shrubbery as the consequence. I can 
find tto description of this insect in any work at 
my command on entomology. Although it first 
appeared in this section last year, so far as any 
Information I have been able to contain is con¬ 
cerned, it may not he unknown to entomologists 
of our country, and it would be interesting to 
learn whether it were known in this country 
before 1863. They must not bo confounded 
with the well-known currant worm, which is a 
looper, white, with a yellow line along the 
back, a lino of iarge yellow spots on each side, 
aud the body covered with black spots similar 
to this novel depredator. The currant worm is 
from a yellow moth with dark spots on the 
wiugs. But few of these have appeared this 
season. The others have come in armies, and 
committed vast ravages through our country." 
May or June. 
the tops of the canes destined for bearing. They will 
then Immediately throw ont sucker? from the axil? of 
the leave?, of which, say four on each cane should be 
allowed to grow. These wilt make medium-sized canes 
each, and it is on these that he expects fruit the next 
year, aa they produce fruit much more readily than 
strong canes. When he comes lo prune these for the 
next year s crop, each of the principal canes will pre¬ 
sent the appearance of a young tree, with a well grown 
top of four branches. These branches are now ent 
hack to from three to six buds each, according to the 
strength of the vine, Just like culling back a young 
tree, and are securely fastened to the trellis, one cane 
with its hrauches on each side of the vine. The two 
smaller shoots are cut back to two eyes each, to produce 
each a cane for the next year's hearing, which should 
he treated in the same way during the summer. Under 
this treatment the Concord produces fruit much more 
abundantly than on the strong caue? left to grow un¬ 
checked. This Is substantially Mr. Hcsmaxn's mode 
as given by himself in an essay on Grape Culture in 
the Great West. 
A Sample op Hhibarb “Wine" prom Mich.— 
James Kenney, of Michigan, sends us a sample which 
he says “ is made as pure as the Juice of the plant and 
sugar can make it.” Ho adds“ This wine 1? not old 
enough yet to be near a? good as it ought, but judges 
of wine can tell what it will be when it has age. As 1 
am taking your paper 1 should like to hear what you 
think of the wiue." We (hunk our friend for sending 
us the sample. He does uot tell us alter what formula 
it is made; but we are compelled to say that we have 
tasted much hotter samples of rhubarb Juice and sugar. 
This will suit the taste of such persons a? like cordials 
with a rhubarb flavor. No one who is a judge or wine, 
however, would fail to call it too sweet; and age wi 1 
only Improve it by developing a greater amount of 
alcohol from tho sugar that is in it—rendering it more 
intoxicating. Our friend asserts there is “a great call 
t'or it,” and he finds its culture and manufacture profit¬ 
able. We are quite well aware that there are a great 
many temperance people who do uot drink “liquor,” 
who are greedy after alcohol in the shape of currant, 
gooseberry, rhubarb and other similar “ wines." And 
as we have befurt said, there are many people who 
buy whies now a days and pay big prices for the same, 
who get nothing hut rhubarb jalce, water and sugar, 
under the names of “Sherry," “Madeira,” &c.; and 
they do not kuow the difference. 
Cream Stonge Cake.— Beat two eggs in a 
teacup, HU with sweet cream, add one teacup ot 
sugar, one and a half of flour, a teaspoonful of 
cream tartar, half one of soda, and a pinch of 
salt.— Mr.s. E. A. <’. 
TO HOUSEKEEPERS EVERYWHERE 
If vou don’t wa.it. vour clothes twisted and wrenched, 
and pulled to pieces by tho above old-fashioned Back- 
breaking, wrist-straining and cluiues-dxstuox- 
fNO process of washing and wringing, go before next 
washing-day and buy one of the best labor-savin®, 
CLOTUICS-SAV INU, UK VLTI1-S V VINO. T! MR-SAVING, au»t* 
money-saving inventions of the age. 
Wild Flowers por Name.— A Lady in Barry Co., 
Mich., sends flowers aud writes:—" The one with green 
flowers is a woody trailing vine. It grows flat on the 
ground and never climbs unless forced to. After the 
blossoms arc gone come pink-colored burs which, 
when ripe, open and expose to view bright, scarlet 
berries. It Is very singular In its growth, adding one 
foot to its length every year. It also branches pretty 
freoty, aud Is perfectly hardy aud very pretty. I have 
one In my garden which Is now about eight feet long. 
It is pretty to train on lattice work.” 
This is the trailing variety of Euonymus Americanus 
— E. Anu.icanux vur abocalus, Torrky & Gray; 
Euonymus obovatut, Nuytall. Straw bery Bush. 
She adds :—The One cv'th pink flowers resembles the 
Phlox Druminoudi in grow tu, but is a perennial in¬ 
stead of au annual. Our uncultivated lauds are now 
covered with them. They grow well in gardens.” 
This is Phlox pitosa E. It is found on the borders of 
thickets and prairies from New Jersey to Wisconsin 
and southward. May and June. 
The scarlet specimen sent us is the Castilhia coccinea 
—scarlet painted cup— a very beautiful plant, remarka¬ 
ble for its large, bright, scarlet bracts. Grows in wet 
meadows. 
PLANTING AND PRUNING THE GRAPE. 
Mr. G. Heines, of Downiugton, Pa., gives 
his mode, iu the Gardener's Monthly, as fol¬ 
lows;—"Having procured the vine, I cut it 
back to two buds, aud plant as follows: I dig 
the hole deeper than wanted, put into it a good 
forkful of fresh horse manure, upon that about 
an Inch of good soil, and then tho vine, tramp¬ 
ing all firm. After the buds have started, I 
select tho strongest and train perpendicularly, 
leaving the other to run upon the ground. In 
tho following fall, (November.) 1 out down the 
upright cane to two buds, and tho horizontal to 
one. Next year 1 select again the strongest 
shoot, and train perpendicularly, leaving all 
others to run upon the ground. In tho fall I 
bond down the upright cane, (if strong enough 
to bear, if not, I repeat the operation of last 
53,818 SOLD Ilf 1S<33 J 
46,814 
SOLD IN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF 18S41 
They are for sale in nearly every town in the country. 
Wherever they are not already introduced vve want a 
GOOD CANVASSER 
t.llwangku —It is not so productive ai 
>V ilson’s, hut it is as valuable. It does no 
require any better cultivation. 
Moody'.— i ;uu satisfied that some varietie 
Jo better in one locality Mian in another- evet 
with good cultivation. With me, the Triomphe 
su 1 !, - v Wilson’s, with the same cul 
The EXCLCSIVE RIGHT OE S.UE will be guanm- / [ 
teed to the first responsible applicant for tho territory. X 
Liberal luducemeuts offen d and Descriptive Circulars A 
furnished by JI.LIC8 1VKS A eo„ | 
763-tf 347 Broadway, New York. f 
For full description and testimonials of [j 
the UNIVERSAL WRINGER, please refer to 5 
pages 108, 116, 124 and 148 of the Rural, 8 
