7. 
Y0ESEB, 
WINDOW GARDENING. 
' In onr last we promised to give some directions 
for the management of Window Gardens, and this 
promise we now design to perform. Those who 
attempt to grow plants in sitting-rooms, meet usually 
with indifferent success, and often wonder why they 
cannot have plants as healthy and vigorous and 
flowers as abundant as they find in the green-houses. 
If they purchase a fine plant, in a few weeks it shows 
signs of languishing, hsrely lives, soon becomes 
unsightly, and finally dies or is discarded as worth¬ 
less. The cause we give, in the language of Prof. 
Linih.et, who shows very plainly the necessity for 
adopting window gardens. Wardian cases, or some¬ 
thing that will preserve a moist atmosphere and a 
uniform temperature. This is more necessary here, 
even, than in England, for our living-rooms are 
kept much warmer and dryer during the day, and 
cooler in the night: 
“What, it may be asked, is there in the air of a 
sitting-room which plants are thus unable to support? 
Can anything be purer than the atmosphere of an 
English drawing-room? Perhaps not; but it is this 
purity which in part inflicts the Injury. Plants 
would thrive better if it were otherwise—but it is 
more especially its dryness. Let any one measure 
the moisture of a sitting-room and the open air, and 
he will see how great a difference prevails. We 
have,” says the learned Professor, “this moment 
tested it by Simmon’s hygrometer. In the open air 
this instrument indicates 40*, in a sitting room 00*. 
When plants are kept in a dry atmosphere they 
rapidly lose their water of vegetation; the sides of 
their pots are rubbed at the same time; and it is 
impossible for plants to sack ont of soil thus par¬ 
tially dried the moisture demanded for the sustenance 
of their exhausted foliage. Such a state of things 
is inseparable from a sittiug-room. To reuder the 
latter congenial to planks, it would he uninhabitable 
by ourselves. The extent to which plants are Injured 
in a common sitting-room is strikingly illustrated 
by the condition of cut flowers. Let two clusters of 
fresh-gathered flowers be introduced into a sitting- 
room; place the one in the mouth of a narrow-necked 
jar of water, and arrange the other upon such a 
shallow pan of wateT as a deep dish will furnish. It 
will be found that the latter will he perfectly fresh 
days after the former have faded. The reason is, 
that in the narrow-necked jar the flowers have no 
access to water, except through the ends of their 
shoots, and are surrounded with a very dry air; 
while, in the flat dish, they are able to absorb abund¬ 
ant water, because a large part of tbeir surface is in 
contact with It, and are, moreover, surrounded by 
air incessantly moistened by the vapor which con¬ 
tinually rises from the dish. 
“Of this we may be sure, that darkness, dust, 
heat, want of verttilation, and all the other calami¬ 
ties to which plants in sitting-rooms are subject, are 
as nothing compared with the inevitable dryness of 
the air—which, indeed, acts injuriously not merely 
by exhausting plants of their water of vegetation, 
but by lowering the temperature of the pots in 
which they are grown, in consequence of the evapo¬ 
ration constantly taking place there. What makes 
the evil greater is, that the plants which are pur¬ 
chased for sitting-rooms are invariably brought into 
high condition by being urown in a damn attuos- 
pW«. They are transferred from the hands of 
skillful gardeners, armed with the most perfectly 
constructed forcing-houses, into the care of inex¬ 
perienced amateurs, whose means of maintaining a 
plant in health are something considerably less than 
nothing.” 
N. Ward, a lover of flowers, who lived many 
years in the heart of London, was the first to make 
an advance in this direction. He constructed small 
glazed cases, or miniature green-houses, and in these 
carried the cultivation of plants even rare ones 
and those difficult of growth—to an amazing state 
of perfection. These cases soon attracted attention, 
and became popular under the name of Wardian 
Cases. 
“Mr. Ward has published a very interesting pam¬ 
phlet on the growth of plants in such cases, which 
those interested in the matter should peruse. It 
contains, as Dr. Lindley has justly observed, ‘all the 
information that can be given; but it is in few 
bauds, and everybody does not understand the prin¬ 
ciples on which his cases are constructed. It is 
imagined, by uninformed persons, that complete 
exclusion of air is the entire object which Mr. Ward 
sought to Becure by his contrivance; bnt we need 
hardly tell the reader who knows anything of the 
atmosphere, that such an effect cannot be attained 
by a Ward’s apparatus: the air finds its way iuto 
every place not hermetically sealed, and such con¬ 
trivances as close glazing, puttying, &c., cannot 
exclude it. What Mr. Ward sought to gain were 
P§ 
- -/J A 
PLAIN WARDIAN CASE. 
• 
uniformity of moisture and an exclusion of soot, 
and these he effectually secured. It is the dryness 
of the air that destroys plants in sitting-rooms and 
great towns, and not imparities in the gaseous con¬ 
stitution of the atmosphere, the importance of which 
has been singularly overrated. By inclosing the 
plants in tightly glazed cases, light is admitted, soot 
is excluded, and any desirable amount of moisture 
is securable. There are, however, some practical 
difficulties in the way of growing plants in close 
moist cases, which amateurs nnacquaiutcd with the 
nature of plants are unable to overcome. Among 
these difficulties, the principal is the adjustment of 
the amount of moisture to which a plant is exposed 
in oue of these cases, to the surrounding heat and 
to its own nature. Another ia the prevention of 
dew upon the inside of the glass, by which the 
interior is often entirely hidden. These are practical 
difficulties that must exercise the ingenuity of culti¬ 
vators. Upon the former we can give no information, 
because each species requires a special considera¬ 
tion. As to the deposit of the dew upon the glasses, 
we may observe, that as this is owing to the inside 
of the case being colder than the air that surrounds 
it, the only course to take is, either to warm the 
internal air by some means, or to open a door in tbe 
case for a short time; and as the latter is the most- 
easy, and is quite efficient, it will be tbe more gen¬ 
erally adopted.’ 
“Plants have been kept in Wardian cases for 
upwards of twelve months in good health and con¬ 
dition without renewal, and all this while but with 
one supply of water. ‘This to some may appear 
strange, but the principles of evaporation and con¬ 
densation sufficiently explain it. The heat of the 
sun, or even of the room in which the case stands, 
naturally produces evaporation through the daytime, 
and during night the process of condensation takes 
place, and the moisture which has been evaporated 
is returned to the soil. These two principles arc in 
active operation alternately day and night. It ought 
to be noticed, however, that owing to the growth of 
the plants, as well as other contingent causes, such 
as apertures in the framework, the quantity of moist¬ 
ure in time becomes lessened; and when this is the 
case, a fresh supply will be necessary. As monotony 
and continuity cease in time to afford gratification, 
and as it may happen, no doubt, that some of the 
plants will grow beyond their bounds, fresh removals 
and replacements will be found necessary.’ Add to 
this, much of tbe pleasure to he derived from plants 
growing under one's care, and iu one’s drawing¬ 
room, would be lost, were we not allowed to arrange 
and re-arrange them, according to our taste and 
fancy.” 
- •*. , » 
it liiiii'llrf < 
f i tip s' * 
urn 
ORNAMENTAL WARDIAN CASE. 
These caseB may be made quite plain, or orna¬ 
mental, and' we give a design for each. The plants 
and flowers, however, should always constitute the 
principal ornament. 
On the Continent of Europe, window gardens are 
more common than the cases before described, and 
they are becoming gradually introduced here. There 
many of the windows, und even the balconies, are 
turned into miniature green-houses, where flourish 
the* most beautiful auil the choicest plants, Tbo 
window garden as commonly constructed in Belgium, 
is within the reach of all. Our engraving shows 
one owned and constructed by our engraver, Georoe 
Fraubnueroer, Esq., wlu-re may be now seen a nice 
collection of flowering plants, as thrifty as though 
growing in the conservatory of the florist. Where 
more room is required, the case may exteud beyond 
the window. The sloping glass roof is hinged to 
the window frame, and in this way good ventilation 
is scoured, while the window, raising in the usual 
way, affords access from the room. 
|'l . "'ii'ii'unflTm 
llj. ' !J l lli|Mlljl j| I 
-T- . I "S', » "&‘ll 
L p H jjp );jl| 'if 
xill Mil 
WINDOW HARDEN. 
The window to which this case is attaohed, is two 
feet four inches wide and four feet high; the case 
twenty-two inches deep, from front to back, and 
thirty inches in width; the glass eight by twelve; 
and the whole cost, Mr. F. informs ua, besides his 
own labor, was less than $2.25. It is arranged with 
shelves, and contains thirty plants, in pots ranging 
in size from three to eight inches in diameter. It 
is attaohed to a window of the living-room, and 
requires no extra heat; and did not suffer in the 
least from frost during the severe cold of last winter. 
We know of no prettier object, and yet, it will be 
seen, it is a luxury that may be enjoyed by every 
housekeeper of taste, be be rich or poor. For about 
five dollars and a little labor, such a window garden 
may be constructed and well stocked with plants. 
PLUMS FOR PEACHES. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker: —It must at last be 
admitted, although the fruit growers of Western New 
York have been very reluctant to make the admission, 
that tbe peach crop is so uncertain, or, I think we 
may say, bo certain to tail, as to be unprofitable. 
Once in three or four years we get a good crop and 
are encouraged; for when the peach bears, the profits 
are lyge; but in ten years together, I think grapes, 
or apples, or most any fruit crop, would pay better. 
But apples we are growing in great abundance, 
enough, no doubt, to meet the demand at fair prices, 
anl any large increase of crop would only reduce the 
price without giving the fruit grower ranch more 
money. Grapes are being planted in immense quan¬ 
tities, I judge, though how many will ruin their vine¬ 
yards by neglect, I cannot say. Perhaps half that 
are planted will be cared for, and produce good fruit. 
Grape culture on an extensive scale ia pretty much 
an untried experiment. In Western New York we 
have raised a few tung of good Isabellas every year, 
and they have found paying markets at the East; 
some have been sent West, but perhaps the greatest, 
portion have been sold in Montreal and other Cana¬ 
dian markets. The prices obtained for good fruit 
have been good—from ten to twenty cents a pound 
when well grown and packed well and neatly. 
Whether, when the vIucb planted within the last six 
years come into bearing, a good market will be found 
for their products, I cannot say, but I think good 
grapes like the Delaware can be grown for six cents 
the pound, with a fair profit to tbe producer. At 
this price, too, everybody cau afford to eat grapes, 
and everybody will want to eat them, and this will 
cause a demand not supplied very easily. But, it 
will be many years before grapes are so plenty as to 
be sold at this low figure. Then, at this price they 
can be manufactured into excellent wine, without 
water, or sugar, or alcohol, that can be furnished at 
one-qnartor the price of the stuff, both foreign and 
native, now sold at the stores for wine. 
The grape, however, is not, and cannot be, a sub¬ 
stitute for the peach, no matter how cheap or abund¬ 
ant. We want a summer fruit, and one that will ship 
und preserve for winter use like the peach. There is 
nothing to fill this place like the plum. The better 
varieties are delicious, may be eaten from the tree or 
at the dessert like our old favorite;’ they may be 
picked before rally ripe and shipped with far more 
safety than the peach, while for winter use, or for 
cooking purposes at all times, there is no fruit in the 
world equal to the Damson family. 1 cannot say 
what the price would be should fruit growers culti¬ 
vate pi urns extensively, but the season before last T 
obtained more per bushel for plums than ever I did 
for peaches, and the demand has been far ahead of 
(he supply for the past ten years. 
Two objections will arise in the minds of readers. 
First, the curculio, and then the black knot. The 
latter evil I am hnppy to say bns about passed away. 
It is not worthy of a moment’s consideration to those 
who give tkeir trees decent care. The curculio is 
less destructive than formerly in this section, aud 
with a little labor can he conquered, as 1 have proved 
as well as others. You, Messrs. Editors, know of 
plum orchards that have given a good crop every 
year for ten or twelve years. Last year was the first 
failure during that time, and the cause was unseason¬ 
able weather when ill flower. This very much injured 
fruit o( all kinds. I intend to act upon tbo hints here 
given your readers, and I hope others will do like¬ 
wise; for here is a profitable field for the fruit grower, 
I verily believe. Fruitist. 
Monroe County, N. Y.. Nov., 1861. 
- > I # S ♦- 
APPLE TREES-MICE AND GRAFTING. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:— Now that the first 
snow has fallen we should turn attention to apple 
trees, with a view to protect them from the depreda¬ 
tions of mice. Quite a percentage of our trees are 
killed every winter, when wo have heavy snows, by 
these mischievous little scamps. Most persons know 
how to apply the remedy, and such need only atten¬ 
tion called to the matter. Others have yet to learn. 
Still the knowledge is of no nse unless put. in prac 
tico, like a neighbor of mine, who lost thirteen 
trees last winter by the gnawing of mice and under¬ 
stood, as well us any one could, how to avoid such 
things. He told me he neglected it. from time to 
time all winter. 
Au orchard kept clean, will seldom be troubled. 
But with grass for nests and shelter, or on ground 
where millet, buckwheat, etc., or the seeds of weeds 
furnish feed, they nre sure to be nnrnerous in the fall 
and to tarry all winter; when, if the stock of food 
gives out or 1st bound up with ice on the ground, such 
as occurs with a freezing rain and a. snow falling 
after, they are driven to subsist on bark, or whatever 
offers a subsistence. To avoid this, tramp the snow 
around the trunks of your trees, and repeat it at inter¬ 
vals, after a deep snow has fallen. 
Some depend on washing their trees with a mixture 
that is unpalatable; but famine pressing hard, will 
overcome the scruples of tbeir palates in many in¬ 
stance*, and it turns out to be no defence, and spring 
opens with onr trees girdled and of courso about as 
good as used up. They may be saved by grafting 
scions across the denuded space, but such trees are 
never sound again. Tf grass is growing near the 
bodies, or if coarse manure ba* b on strewn around 
tticffl, it should be removed. Tiene precautions are 
believed to be sufficient guard against the ravages of 
mice. 
Any time from now till severe cold weather is the 
besttime to cut grafts. Severe freezing isaptto injure 
them to some extent. Select shoots of the present 
season's growth, well ripened in thelrjwuod. The 
more thrifty or pithy specimens reject. Have with 
you something to label them on tbe spot, for a delay 
in this matter may have a tendency to mix things. 
Tie each kind separately, and when all the varieties 
are obtained, put them for convenience in one large 
bundle and put in the cellar, or an out-door pit, till 
time for use. Bury them in earth, neither too dry nor 
wet, but just moist enough to keep them about as 
when cut. 
Any having seedling trees or grafted, that bear 
indifferent fruit, BhouUl see to it now and obtain 
scions of sorts to suit, if you do not know how to 
do the job of changing, call upon a man that does, 
and observe how it is done, and thereafter do your 
own grafting. In the operation there is no hocus 
pocus science. Anyone can learn iu ten minutes, 
and all should know how. I'ructiee makes perfect 
iu this, as in all other trades. Good tools facilitate 
also. But any farmer, or housekeeper, will have all 
the tools necessary for home grafting. The same 
remarks will apply with equal forco to pears, &c. 
Treat your friend to au Early Strawberry, Lowell, 
Wagner, or any of our famous apples, and be in¬ 
quires, “What is this?” “1 must have a Beedling 
tree changed to this,” and be meant it just then. The 
season passes for such jobs, and a year after the old 
“seedling tree” bears its worthless fruit. Now at¬ 
tend to these things. J. T. Elliott. 
' Grand Rapids, Nov., 1861, 
fmln'ttltuval 
Miniature Fruit Culture.— A correspondent of the New 
York Journal of Commerce communicates to that paper the 
following interesting particulars of a new system of fruit 
culture, which was explained at on« of the recent conversa¬ 
tional and exhibit! >n meetings of the Brooklyn Horticultural 
Society: 
Mr. Alfred Chamberlain, of Newport, R. [., alter years of 
patient Investigation, has recently succeeded in perfecting 
his plan of growing fruits and flowers in small wire baskets, 
tilled with moss. He has received a patent from the Govern¬ 
ment for his invention, and this was the (tret public exhibi¬ 
tion of them. In two of the baskets were a miscellaneous 
collection of plauts, such as are usually contained on flower 
stands. Hero they were all growing in one basket, In full 
(lower and vigor, as if ench was try ing to outshine the rest, 
There was a basket tilled with strawberry plants in all 
stages of growth—in flower, partially and fully ripe, of an 
extra size and most luscious in appearance, here in the 
middle of November. What ornament can equal this with 
its beautiful green, glossy foliage and tbe bright red berries, 
peeping out from their mossy beds, away from the cold and 
damp of earth. 
The next was a grape vine, which had produced a dozen 
bunches of splendid grapes, showing where they had been on 
the vine, and that there had been no humbug about it. 
When Mr. Chamberlain was iu Washington he presented a 
basket, with a vine in the same manner covered with fruit, to 
Mrs, Lincoln, By this plan, every one could truly “sit 
under his own vine and fig-tree.” The next was a peach tree 
which had produced ten large peaches, as fine iu color and 
flavor as any that are grown In the ordinary way, and was 
fully set with fruit buds for next year’s crop. 
But the crowning wonder was a pine apple also grown in 
the mo-s baskets, and which almost surpassed belief. Mr. C. 
-dated that he was growing large numbers of them in pots 
and pits, in the ordinary wavs, and none of them were equal 
to thiB one. Mr. Fisher Howe stated that he had seen large 
quantities of them grown in England by the most skillful 
gardeners, and also in tbe West Indies, and hsd never seen 
any so fine as this. Mr. Chamberlain Stated that as he had 
obtained a patent, he would tell them the ingredients he 
used, which were moss, bone dust, charcoal and sand, and 
’bat the plants were watered with liquid manure about 
twice a week. 
Fruit Cellar.— S E. Todd describes in the Country Gen¬ 
tleman the fruit cellar of Andrew Campbell, of this county, 
as follows: — A neat cellar, with water-liuie bottom was first 
made; then it was ceiled up neatly and tight, on every side, 
aud above and beneath also. A space of about six inches was 
left on the sides and bottom, between the ceiling and the 
stone walls and over the water-lime bottom, so that the sir 
could circulate freely all around. Between the ceiling over 
head, and the carriage floor, the space is filled with grouting 
or lime mortar. The windows to the cellar are double, that 
is one window in the wall, and one window iu the ceiling; 
and either of them can bo opened at pleasure, or the inside 
wiudow can he closed, and the outside onn Opened; and thus 
a current of fresh air cun psss entirely ronud between the 
walls. The entrance, also, Is secured by double doors, one 
neatly fitted on each side of the jamb casings. The fruit is 
placed iu idiullow bins, one above tbe other, on ench side of 
the cellar. By this arrangement, all dampness is excluded, 
and fruit will keep much longer and better than in ordinary 
cellars. 
Fortune's Notes on Japan.— The Japanese gardener 
understands the art of chrysanthemum culture rather better 
than we do, and produces blooms of wonderful sizo. This in 
done by great care, good soil, and by allowing only one or 
two blooms to be perfected at the end of a ah not. The tea 
plant was common in these gardens, and was frequently used 
as an edging for the walks. In this position it was kept 
clipped, and had a pretty and novel appearance. In other 
places in this district. I observed It cultivated rather exten¬ 
sively for the sake of its leaves. There Is also In the gardens 
of Ah sax saw a collection of living birds and other animals 
for the amusement of visitors who may happen to be fond 
of this branch of natural history. I observed green pigeons, 
speckled Crows, a fine large eagle, gold and sliver pheasants, 
Mandarin ducks, rabbits, and squirrels among the eollec 
tion. Altogether, there are many things here calculated to 
nmuje and instruct the good people of Yertdo when they 
come out for a holiday; und when the plum and cherry trees 
are in hlos-om, these gardens roust be very enjoyable, —Gar 
timers' Chronicle. 
The Crab Apple and Almond Dwarf as Stocks.— The 
Crab Apple (Mains coronaria) grows in great abundance in 
this neighborhood, and has been repeatedly used as a stock 
to graft upon, with success; and if they were worked near 
the ground, low heads being formed, they would, with some 
varieties, form dwarf trees equal to those worked upon 
Ooncain stocks, perhaps superior. 
Our attempts at dwarfing tbo Peach and Almond have 
proved quite successful. Two years ngo we budded some 
Poach and Almond varieties upon the Dwarf Double flowering 
Almond (Jmyjjdalus, fl. pi) Last year they grow vigorously, 
making prettv little shrub like trees before fall, and were well 
furnished wilh fruit buds. This year we shortened tbe new 
growth two thirds, leaving sufficient fruit for the bushes to 
mature well, but they were stung by the curculio and dropped 
off before maturity. 
We may, perhaps, bo more sncaessful with them next year; 
and un they have not overgrown the root much, they may 
last for one year, their natures being dwarfed.— Illinois cor¬ 
respondence of Gardener's Monthly. 
Culture ov AflPARAGPS for the New York Market.— 
The last number of the Queens County Sentinel, published at 
Hempstead, L. I, contains a list of premiums awarded at the 
Winter Meeting of the County Agricultural Society, held on 
the 25th ult. Among the awards we observe $fi to Petek 
Cock, of Locust Valley, for the best crop of Asparagus, con¬ 
sisting of ft litlle over itevun amen. Mi 1 . C. commenced cut¬ 
ting April 27tb and finished June 18th. Sold 10,112 bunches 
at 20 cents per hunch, amounting to $2,022 JO. Cost of 
manure, $316,00; labor and other expenses $380,81; leaving 
a profit of $1,326 59 on the seven acre*. Market gardening, 
if properly conducted, is profitable in the neighborhood of 
New York. 
Clark r a rlrgans a:, ha plotik plkno. — This handsome 
variety is newly introduced, and will be found an ornamental 
annual for the summer months. Its habit of growth differs 
from C. pulchella in being taller, with larger leaves, and 
more slender branching outline; the petals also, instead of 
being lotted, ns in the last named species, are undivided, and 
of a dear white color changing Into pale flesh; it is moreover 
most distinct in being semi-duplex with two and three series 
of petals. Iu freoners of growth, it is equal to V. elegant , aud 
blooms abundantly from June until September. It forms a 
good con trait with the rose and vloletcolored varieties in 
the same tribe. 
Grapes in Missouri. — Grape vines can be grown on level 
Missouri prairie laud, provided the land be so underdrained 
that the saturation of the soil during winter is thereby pro 
vented. The Concord, Holmes, Clinton, Hartford Prolific, 
Ariadne, August Coral, Early Amber, Ohio Prolific, Pond’s 
Seedling, Bruddock, Ramsdell, Troy Hamburg, Venango, 
Warren’s Seedling and Mootieth are some of the moat hardy 
varieties, aud doahtless they would all succeed in Missouri 
and Illinois.— Wm. H. Prince. 
Pennsylvania Grapes and Grape Growers.—A t a late 
meeting of the Grape Growers of Pennsylvania, a vote was 
taken on the six best grapes for the tabic, andthe three best 
for wine, and the reNUlt wa« as follows; 
Pot table use - Concord 21 votes, Delaware 20, Isabella 16, 
Diana 15, Rebecca 11, Maxatawney 8. For wine-making — 
Clinton 8 votes, Catawba 7, Delaware 4. 
Shade Treks in Paris. —It has been calculated that Paris, 
at present, covers a space of 78,080,000 yards. It contains 
148,000 trees, occupying ft space equal to 336,890 square 
yards. The trees consist of horse-chestnuts, elms, acacias, 
lime trees, and others. It is estimated that these trees 
cover, with their shade, axpaee of 220,200,000 yards, sufficient 
to protect 1,589,000 individuals from the rays of the sun. 
#f 0 H 0 i»g. 
gupidfs mb 
Hawthorn Seed — Chrysanthemum.— in reply to the 
inquiry in the Rural of 16th inst., “ where hawthorn seedH 
can bo obtained," I would Say there are aiiy quantity of them 
now hanging on the bushes lit this vicinity, which can be had 
for the gathering, or for a reasonable compensation. I pre 
BUimi some one would gather and forward the quantity wished 
for. They were introduced hern several years since by an 
English farmer, Mr. Robson, who has been very successful in 
cultivating and planting the hawthorn hedge, aud would, I 
presume, give, any instruction required as to cultivation, tie. 
1 would like to learn the correct botanical immu of the 
inclosed plant now in flower and usually kuowu by the name 
of Alt';mi.via. Mis Lincoln's liotany says the plant usually 
called Artemisia Is the “ Chrysanthemum coronariuiu;" but 
as that is au annual and the Inclosed plant a perennial, l 
conclude she does not refer to this. — L, Woodworth, John¬ 
son's Creek , Niagara Co., A". 1'., Non. 22, 1861. 
The plant received with the above is Chrysantlnrmvm Sinense , 
commonly called Artemisia. Thn Chrysanthemum eoronarium. 
may ho called Artemisia sometimes, as stated by Mrs. Lin¬ 
coln, but wo have never known it so named by any one. The 
true Artemiaiss are the Wormwoods. 
Covering Perennial and otiikk Plants in Winter.—I 
would like to know whether It is best to cover perennial 
plants, like the Picotee, in winter, or allow them to be 
expojedf If so. what should they b« covered with!* Again, 
is it best to protect young trees that are somewhat tender, 
such as the Catalpa?— Young amateur. 
Picotees and most perennial plants are not benefttted by 
much covering; indeed, we have often thought they were 
better left unprotected entirely, The main point is to have 
the ground well drained. If covered, they often rot. Our 
present course is to throw a few leaves between the rows. It 
is well to protect tender trees and plants the first year or two 
with Btraw, or evergreen boughs. 
Anclk Worms —How shall we Destroy Them?— They 
trouble u* vo much on our beat manured Uml a« to almost 
forbid cultivation, without at least treble the labor, and n 
muoh lighter production even at that, t know many garden « 
that hare been given up on account of them and reeded to 
grass, supposing this would drive them off; but after laying 
in sod a few years, and breaking again, it has seemed but 
little Imurovement., They do not seem to injure grass much. 
—W. E. P., Eden, N. Y., 1861. 
Who will answer? We have succeeded pretty well with a 
good dressing of Balt. 
A CLOTHES SPRINKLE!*. 
I must tell your lady readers of a new invention 
we have iu our family to spriukle clothes for ironing. 
It was a present from a carious friend, who is always 
seeking ont new inventions, and I have never seen or 
heard of any other except the one wo have; but it is 
strange such a simple aud convenient article iB not 
in use in every house, as any tinner can make one for 
fifteen or twenty cents. 
The Sprinkler is a tin box about the size of a pint 
Cup, with a hollow hnndlo attached to the middle of 
the side, like the handle to a child’s rattle, or like a 
common tin dipper handle. Where the handle is 
attached to the barrel there must be a hole through 
the barrel about the size of the hollow iu the handle, 
say about large enough to take in one’s finger; this 
Is to have a place to potir water through the handle 
to fill the barrel or cup of the Sprinkler. The handle 
should be abont six inches long, and the end of the 
handle must be stopped with a oork, like you would 
cork a bottle. One end of the cup of the Sprinkler 
is made flat and tight just like the bottom of a tin 
cop; the other end is raised or oval, jnst like the top 
of a pepper box, and is pierced full of Very fine holes, 
to let out the water. 
When you wish to dampen the clothes, fill the 
Sprinkler with cleur water, aud stop up tho end of 
the handle, and then proceed to dash the tine spray 
of water over the clothes ns you would dash pepper 
on yonr food or dredge flour upon cooking meat, or 
on ft molding board. A very little practice will 
enable any woman to get the hang of using this little 
implement, and when Rhe has once become accus¬ 
tomed to it, she will never again think of sprinkling 
her clothes in tho usual way of taking water in her 
hand aud throwing it over them. The Sprinkler dis¬ 
tributes the water much more uniformly and saves all 
tho nucomfortableness of constantly splashing the 
hand in cold water. — “Run Bonnet,” in Field 
Notes. 
CURE FOR CONSUMPTION. 
Eat all that the appetite requires of the most nour¬ 
ishing food, such as fresh beef, lamb, oysters, raw 
eggs, fruit, vegetables, and three times a day take a 
glass of eggnog, made as rich as tho patient can 
bear. Avoid all alcoholic drinks. Bathe twice a 
week in water made agreeably warm and in a warm 
room; after bathing rub the body and limbs with 
sweet cream or sweet oil. Exercise daily in the open 
air; walking is tbe best. Stand erect, exercise the 
arms and lungH freely, keep the mind cheerful; take 
freely of tho best cough sirup, and consumption will 
be a stranger t,o yonr household. 
For making tho best cough sirup, take one ounce 
of thoroiighvimit, one ounce Of slippery elm, one 
onnee stick liquorice, and one ounce of flax seed; 
simmer together in one quart of water until tho 
strength is entirely extracted. 
Strain carefully; add one pint of best molasses and 
half a pound of loaf sugar; simmer them all well 
together, aud when cold, bottle tight. This is the 
cheapest, best, and safest medicine for coughs now 
or ever in use. 
A few doses of one tablespoonful at a time will 
alleviate tho most distressing cough of tbe Jungs, 
soothes and allays Irritation, and If continued sub¬ 
dues any tendency to consumption; breaks up entirely 
the whooping cough, and no better remedy can be 
found for croup, asthma, bronchitis, and all affections 
of the lungs and throat. Thousands of precious lives 
may be saved every year by this cheap and simple 
remedy, as well as thousands of dollars which would 
otherwise be spent in tbe purchase of nostrums, 
which are both useless and dangerous.— Exchange. 
Gelatine Hoap.- It is impossible to cleanse greasy 
dishes, unaided by Boap, and many soft hands arc ren¬ 
dered unfit for needlework by daily immersions in 
hot dishwater. As an emollient for chapped akin 
and a superior soap where a quick lather is desired, I 
would recommend the following recipe: —To two 
pounds of olive soap cut up Into small slices, add two 
ounces of borax, put the ingredients into a crock, 
pour over two quarts of cold water, set. the vessel on 
a part of tho range where there is but little heat, stir¬ 
ring occasionally until the borax 1 b dissolved (eight 
or nine hours,) and when cooled, a thick gelatine is 
produced, which housekeepers need use but once to 
prove its efficacy and economy.— Selected. 
To Stew a Breast of Veal. — Cut it in pieces, 
and put it into a pot with a bunch of sweet herbs, a 
small piece of bacon, a little mace, and a few black 
peppercorns, salt, and one or two onions, and as 
much water as will cover it; stew well over a slow 
fire; boil florae peas aud lettuce by themselves, and 
when the veal is stewed enough, strain the liquor 
from it, and put it into a stewpan with part of the 
liquor, the peas, lettuce, aud a piece of butter, and 
let them stew again; thicken with the yolks of two 
or three eggs and a little flour. 
-• -+ ■ 
Washino Woolens.— Tf you do not wish to have 
white woolens shrink when washed, make a good 
suds of hard soap, and wash the flannels in it, without 
rubbing any soap on them; rnb them out In another 
suds, then wring them out of it, and put them in a 
clean tub, and turn on sufficient boiling water to 
cover them, and lot them remain till the water ia 
cold. A little indigo, in the boiling water, makes 
the flannel look nicer. If you wish to have your 
white flannels shrunk so as to have them thick, wash 
them in soft soap suds, and rinse them in cold water. 
-—-♦ — 
Coring Hams. — At a late Fair of the Maryland 
State Agricultural Society, the first premium was 
awarded for hams cured thus:— To one hundred and 
fifty pounds of ham take one and a half ounces salt¬ 
peter, four quarts fine salt, with enough molasses to 
make paste; rnb well on the flesh side; let it lie four 
weeks; then hang and smoke two days before remov¬ 
ing from the smoke honse; paint with black pepper 
and strong vinegar; after which, bag them. 
Mince Pies.—A reader of the Rural would be 
obliged for a good recipe for making “mince pies.” 
—Mrs. A. L., Cliillicolhe, Ohio, 18G1. 
[SPECIAL NOTICE.] 
nuMBUGS.—If you want to get a Saleratus abont which 
there is no humbugery, get I). B. Dk Land & Co.’s Chemical 
Saleratns. Bead t!q> label around it, every word of which 
you will Bud to he true. It will cost you no more than an 
Inferior article and is much cheaper In the end, ns it spoils no 
bread or biscuit. You will find it for sale by all rn.ponsible 
dealers at retail, and at wholesale by all wholesale dealer* iu 
Rochester, Buffalo, Detroit, Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, 
Adrian, Coldwater, Toledo, Cleveland, Chicago, Milwaukee, 
Sic., &c. 
