the end. 
To all things human there must be an end; and it 
becomes the duty of the Horticultural Editor to write 
“ finis ” in the present number, for here his labors for 
the present year close. One more issue makes up 
the fifty-two numbers of the Rural for the year, 
every one of which has been issued promptly, and 
we hope all have reached our subscribers, and been 
perused with pleasure and profit. As we have stated, 
one more number completes the year or volume, but 
this will be occupied to so large an extent by a full 
index, which has been prepared with great care, 
making the work complete for binding and future 
reference, that we shall have uo space for the horti¬ 
cultural matter, and therefore now make a few closing 
remarks. 
It is sad to say farewell, but we have no reason to 
suppose that these arc farewell words to any consid¬ 
erable number of our readers. Some who com¬ 
menced the year by subscribing for the Rural, and 
who greeted its weekly visits with pleasure, are now 
in the tented field, devoting life's best energies 
to the preservation of the life of their country, 
breasting manfully the tide of barbarism that threat¬ 
ened to overflow onr fair land. For this they deserve 
and will receive the honor of their countrymen, and 
of every lover of civilization and liberty. Wo shall 
no longer have to look back to ’76 for our national 
honor and glory, for we have shown that the men of 
’61 are worthy descendants of noble alres, that they 
are prepared to meet the responsibilities of tho day, 
with a patriotism and zeal never excelled in what has 
been considered the purest and best days of tbe 
Republic. These we hope will soon return to the 
peaceful pursuits of Horticulture and Agriculture, 
crowned with honor, to peruse with increased 
pleasure the copies of the Rural which have been 
preserved with care by the loved ones at home. 
Bat, notwithstanding we are thus deprived of some 
readers, from the many letters wo have received, and 
from other friendly tokens, we have every reason to 
believe that the number of Rural readers will be tl 
increased by many thousands, for a great host are *' 
now engaged in helping to enlarge its circulation, w 
and thus aid us in our efforts to increase knowledge K 
and improve the ta*to of the people, until the waste f 
places shall be made glad, the deserts blossom as the K 
rose, and every man sit under bis own vine, and * 
enjoy the luscious fruits and beautiful flowers which * 
a kind Providence has provided for the support and 1 
comfort of man. ^ 
The Ilorticultteral Department we have endeavored ' J 
to make as plain and practical as possible, giving f 
just such information ns is needed by the farmers and ^ 
fruit-growers of the country; and to accomplish this 
desirable end no expense or pains have been spared. 
It wonld be difficult, wo think, to find in any book or ^ 
journal such a mass of information, well illustrated, 
as is to be found In this department the present year. j 
The Horticultural Department for 1861 has contained j 
as much reading matter as an ordinary book of a 
thousand panes, while wo have given more and better * 
illustrations numbering about ono hundred — than j 
can be found in any horticultural work published In 
the country. Ho large an amount of useful horticul¬ 
tural mutter, so well illustrated, oouid uot bo obtained ^ 
in any other form for much more than the price of 1 
tho Rural. The past is before our readers; for tbe 
future we have only to say that wo shall be unceasing 
in our efforts to make this department of tbe Rural 
equal, if not superior, to any thing in the country as 
the assistant and guide of tbe amateur and horticul¬ 
turist. 
-1 ■ ♦ • ♦ - 
TREES FOR WINTER. 
No class of plants are more useful and none made 
worse use of than evergreens. For shelter there Is 
nothing like the Norway Spruce, yet we see many 
gardens and Iioubcb exposed to the northern blasts 
without an evergreen or tree or shrub of any ldud to 
break tho force of tho fierce winter winds. Other 
gardens are nearly filled .with evergreens, and this 
gives them a dark and gloomy appearance. For a 
screen, of coarse, the trees must be planted close in 
rows, but on the lawn, for beauty, here and there a 
fine specimen intermixed with other trees are all that 
is required. Trees with bright berries, like the 
Mountain Ash and Eaonycaous are very desirable, 
and give to the winter garden a bright and lively 
look. A correspondent thinks that evergreens, and 
especially evergreen shrubs, are neglected in this 
country, and writes us to urge our readers to give 
more attention to thiH beautiful class. It is true that 
there is uo country where evergreens are more 
needed than onr own. Without them, how cheerless 
and desolate onr gardens appear full five months of 
the year. Onr attempts to introduce new evergreens, 
however, have not always been crowned with success, 
a9 many things of which we had strong hopes have 
proved too tender for our severe climate. Then our 
most beautiful native evergreen shrubs, such as the 
Holly, tho Rhododendron, and the Kalmla, are diffi¬ 
cult to remove, and do not thrive well with common 
treatment and in an ordinary soil. They are not 
generally propagated or planted, and deserve far 
more attention from both nurserymen and amateurs 
than they have received. We have, however, many 
beautiful evergreeu trees, that will grow us easily as 
a Poplar, and are hardy enough for any climate 
between this and the Polar Sea. 
- < ■ -*- 
HINTS TO CULTIVATORS. 
Edb. Rural New-Yorker:— Will you allow me to 
give, at the close of the year, a few hints to cultiva¬ 
tors, especially to amateurs. They are such as I 
practico, and to which I attribute my success in 
the main. 
If you don’t understand how to do a thing, never 
attempt it, if you can hire some ono that knows just 
how it should be done. If yon have trees or vines to 
prune, or grafting or budding to be done, or a hot¬ 
bed to make and care for, or plants you wish pro¬ 
tected in the ground or preserved In the house over 
the winter, don’t blunder along for three or four 
years spoiling everything you touch, until you be¬ 
come discouraged and disgusted. Employ a good 
gardener, assist him, observe his practice, and learn 
3 as fast as you can. 
Don’t be stingy about the expenses of the garden. 
y Many persons who furnish their houses and dress 
P like princes, and keep horses and a carriage, &c., and 
"A spend money as freely as water in many ways, when 
rir they come to the garden are seized with a sudden 
■£j streak of economy, and are niggardly and mean in 
V* all their expenditures. If a gardener is hired ho 
jy must be obtained at about tbe price of a common day 
pd laborer, and if plants or trees or seeds are purchased, 
they must be of the cheapest and consequently the 
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IV I V I .J Ul UIIVIIV V « . I' l 
THE MELON APPLE. 
> . , . EARLY JOE. NORTON'S MELON. AND NORTHERN SPY. 
One of the very best apples we have ever tasted is 
the Melon, of which we give a good likeness. It has Eds. Rural New-Yorkku: — The writer, a short 
been very well described as being juicy as a peach, time since, while spending a few hours with the 
with a peculiar and agreeable perfume, which sug- family of G. V. N ; LothR or, of Detroit, gathered the 
pact and rognlar.^ Shoots — slender, olive-colored, 
with numerous russet specks. Leaves — large, folded, 
serrate, smooth and shining above, and woolly under¬ 
neath. It grows well on the Paradise stock, and 
makes a handsome, prolific bush, for small gardens. 
The foilwing from a very intelligent Horticulturist 
of Michigan, giving some interesting statements 
respecting'the origin of this and other apples, sup¬ 
posed to have been produced in the orchard of 
Oliver Chapin, will be read with interest by all 
, lovers of thefle excellent Apples; 
EARLY JOE. NORTON'S MELON. AND NORTHBRN SPY. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorkku: — The writer, a short 
time since, while spending a few hours with the 
gents its name. It originated, as we have good 
reason to believe, and as we think is acknowledged 
generally, with tho Northern Spy, in the orchard of 
Oliver Cuafjn, of East Bloomfield, Ontario county. 
It was brought to the notice of PomologUts by 
Reuben Norton, of East Bloomfield, and first 
described tn the Horticultural journals about sixteen 
yeatB ago. Allbongh the fruit Is so fine It Is not very 
generally cultivated, as tho tree being a delicate 
grower is Boiuewhat difficult of propagation, and the 
stock of trees has consequently been very limited. 
following particulars of tho history of the above 
named fruits, Iroin his inother-in law, Mrs. Strong, 
who is a daughter of Hkman Chapin, a brother or 
cousin of the Oliver Chapin in whoso orchurd'two 
of these fruits are said, by Mr. Downing and others, 
to have originated. MrB. Strong is uot only aa 
ardent devotee of Floriculture, but also an intelli¬ 
gent, Pornologlst; and states, positively, that the 
Early Joe and Northern Spy originated, not In the 
orchard of Oliver Chapin, hut in that of her father, 
Human Chapin. Mr. Lotukop, also, in corrobora- 
Never lose an opportunity of getting sods from the 
corners of old pastures, or tho breaking up of com- 1 
mens or meadows, where they can be spared. Placed 
in heaps, and rotted, they make excellent mold for 
tender plants or trees. 
Never buy fruit trees in the “market places,” of 
unknown venders, who have no character to lose. 
You cannot tell by “examining the article,” whether 
they cheat you or not; and you get, your tree at half 
price, only to wish, wheu it comes to bear, that yon 
had gone to an honest dealer and paid ten times as 
much fur something worth planting. 
Collect from about your neighborhood all the 
bones that are thrown away as nvelesB by persons 
ignorant of their value.” 
-* . ♦ «—♦- 
FRUIT IN ROCKLAND COUNTY. 
Ens. Rural New-Yokker: Your Albany corres¬ 
pondent, “H.,” Inquires if the “stony, gravelly” 
soil of Orange and Rockland counties of New York 
and the northern counties of New Jersey, is adapted 
to tho growing of fruit, and more especially to the 
grape, &c. I can answer for Rockland comity, N. Y., 
and Bergen connty, N. J., that the soil in both of 
these counties, for the most part, is well adapted to 
fruit, growing of all kinds -all such fruits, at least, 
as are suited to our latitude. Fruit, growing has 
been a Bourco of very considerable wealth in both 
the above named counties. Homo of the more de¬ 
sirable kinds of apples formerly produced, to con 
siderablo extent —such as the Newtown Pippin, 
HpR/.enburgh, and Jersey Bweot — are much less 
perfect than formerly, and seem to have had their 
day, but others not less valuable are taking their 
place, quito to the satisfaction of the fruit growers 
such, for instance, as Baldwin, R. I. Greening, North- 
, era Hpy, Ac. 
i The cultivation of the grape is mostly confined to 
. the village of Nyack, although it is grown to a con- 
f siderablo extent in almost every part of Rockland 
1 county. There are several vineyards (containing in 
total about 200,000 vines) in Nyack, all of which are 
remunerative to the proprietors. Tho grape is also 
cultivated near Rockland Lake, for marketing, and 
thus far successfully. The experiments in grape 
1 culture thus far in Rockland county, have fully 
B equaled expectations. 
We do not doubt, that fruit cnltnre, especially the 
8 grape, is to occupy a much more important position 
’ the above named counties than tho most sanguine 
r at present contemplate. «• 0. l, 
l> Rockland Lake, N. Y., November 23, 1861. 
Petunia Madams Fkiiguson.— This is tho name of a now 
amt very distinct l’ottinia, raised by Mr. Ferguson, of Stowe, 
England, in 1860. Being the smallest of thousands of aoed- 
11 ogH, it did not flower tilt October of last year. Last spring 
a specimen, loaded with Upward of u hundred flowers, was 
exhibited at the opening fete of tho Royal Horticultural 
Soclotv, and pronounced a most charming variety. Tho 
Rowers are of a rich glosBy silk white, regularly and distinctly 
marked with five bands or stripes of beautiful bright purplish 
crimson. Out-of doors it makes a good bed, — and under 
gla>s, both in the ehupa of bushes in pots or trained up pillars, 
it is both pleasing and effective.— Florist. 
Black Lombardy and Wkbt’s St. 1'kthr’s — ' Tho Garden¬ 
ers’ Monthly says, at the November meeting of the Pennsylva¬ 
nia Horticultural Society, Mr. Saunders presented two largo 
dishes of tho Black Lombardy and West’s St. Peters grapes. 
These two varieties are generally considered synonyms, and 
so laid down in horticultural works generally; but the sam¬ 
ples presented, while quite similar In slue and llavor, show 
some difference in the form .of the bunch and color of tho 
berry, amt Mr. Saunders states that, tho diversity in foliage 
nnt! wood Is still inoro marked. They certaiuly appear to be 
distinct varieties. _ 
Pknnbylnania IIoktioultural SOOIKTY.—At tho last 
meeting of this Society, the following gentlomcnt were 
elected officers for the ensuing year: President M. W. Bald¬ 
win. Vice Presidents James Dundos, It. A. Fahnestock, D. 
R, King, Culub Cope. Recording Secretary—A W, Harrisou. 
Corresponding Secretary W. Saunders. 'I'reasnn.r— Robert 
Hoist. Professor of Entomology— ft . 8, Katkvon. Professor 
of Botany— Dr. \V, Darlington. Prqfessor of Horticultural 
Chemistry —James C, Booth. 
Fruit Growers’ Society or Western Nbw York. —The 
auuual meeting of the Fruit Growers’ Society of Western 
New York will he held at. tho Court House, in Rochester, N. 
York., at 11 o’clock A. M., on Wednesday, the 8th day of 
January, 1802. A line show of fruits is expected. 
Fruits Rkceivicij.— From I. If. Os hciun, Henrietta, live 
specimens of the MoLellau, sometimes called the Martin 
apple. H is an excellent apple, tender and juicy, with a flue 
1 vinous llavor; medium site. The tree is an upright, good 
' grower, and very productive. 
Than as it grows slowly, thoso who adject large, fine tion of her statement, gave the following account of 
looking trees atthe nurseries, would not he very likely 
to select the Melon, and we lmvo no doubt many tree 
planters have blamed tho nuiserymcn for sending 
them small, crooked trees, when they should have 
thanked them for sending trees of the Melon, of any 
size or form. This apple, we fear, will never be 
tho manner in which the Early Joo received its 
name. When the original tree was commencing to 
bear, its good qualities wero first discovered by a 
neighboring representative of Young America, who 
rejoiced iu tho cognomen of “Joe;” and Mr. Cua- 
t'lN’s attention was first drawn to it by observing 
grown very generally for market, as it is too tender that this young Filibuster had already, by his frequent 
to bear much handling, oe jolting about in carriage, visits, wont a distinct path to tho tree; and had 
and the tree is not snllieiently vigorous in growth, appropriated the entire crop, with the exception of a 
uerhans. for profitable culture. It should have a couple oi »p««rtiu<m». u* ~ 14U u ‘- 
, - l ...I 1 a. .* At.r. it .. 4 A..,./* il.rt nem.. 
SoHifutturat 3ohs. 
Grafting the Grace.— Since the introduction of the Del¬ 
aware and other new and 6ne grapes, many who have plenty 
of old InabuUns and Catawhas are anxious to change them by 
grafting. In this work many have failed entirely, while oUieis 
have met with partial success only. Information on this sub¬ 
ject la looked for with eageruuss. The IaH. numher of the 
Horticulturist contains tin- experience of a correspondent in 
grafting grapes, as follows Tbo “subjects”of my experi¬ 
ments wore a row of fifteeu (sahcllmi and another of fourteen 
wild vines in ray garden They were an old, neglected and 
“rough set of customers,” which an Irishman might say hud 
been “kicked and cuffed all over creation.” At least, every 
gardener who bad wielded a boo for my predecessor seems to 
have given them ll whack Hug*, rough, gusi-led, knotty 
things they were, apparently Impregnable, both above and 
noW\v g 4 » t» *<, tntuu>u* j . - .. -x 
.. . A *1..twllln.... ..•.LL.nlo »u IIJWO! n>i the 
iilaoo in every family orchard and fruit garden, and pocket knife, cut, in the hark of tho tree tho namo thu campaign against those rebellious subjects as soon as the 
will be found tho finest of all winter dessert apples. “ Early .loo,” doubtless with the hope of conveying frost was out of the ground, la the last days of February, 
s ,„ 0 larK0 three to three and a half inches a lesson to the lad. Tho name, thus bestowed, has protected by a thick overcoat, and armed with -urn or Jack. 
f-ii/.O — largo, ion i. w ixuco . , , , son'll best Fogllsh bandsaws, Limbs and roots were attacked 
broad and three Inches deep. Form —round, slightly ever since been retained. amt amputated at tho most assailable points, and attempts 
flattened on tho ends. Stalk about an inch long, Mr. Lothiiop, who, by-the-by, is ono ol onr most ..„ lllt x Utt ,i aH w „n tried to “split a 
about an inch long, 
rather slender, and inserted in a pretty deep, regular careful and discriminating Pomologiste, also states, 
cavity, covered with russet. Calyx — closed, large, 
in a large, deepbaisin. Skin — smooth generally, but 
often rendered rough to tho touch by a tracing of 
rusBct, pale whitish yellow in the shade, nearly cov¬ 
ered with light red, and frequently with bright ver 
million stripes. Flesh white, and remarkably 
tender, with abundance of juice, very mild sub-acid, 
with a sort of melon llavor. Heasou — November to 
March, in Western New York. Tree— erect when 
young, spreading aa it grows older, but still cow- 
poorest kinds. The consequence is the garden is put 
in tho care of one ignorant of tho profession ho pre¬ 
tends to practice, and is poorly cared for and filled 
with trash. Bo liberal with the garden and it will 
pay you a hundred fold. Remember that ono seed of 
anything new and good is a treasure, while a quart oi 
common poor things is not worth a cent. Good 
seeds are cheap at any price, and poor are dear for 
nothing. 
After you get a good thing be liberal with it—dis- 
thatthe early cultivators of the Norton’s Melon did not 
claim its origin for that section, but that it was 
brought there in scions from tho State of Connecticut 
Mr. Barry says of this last variety, (de/tesee farmer 
for 1848|) it is uot a large fruit; but hero, so far, it, is 
decidedly large, and instead of keeping, as ho says of 
it, till March, it cannot be relied on to continue 
beyond tho first of February. It is a great bearer, 
and of the finest quality. T. T. Lyon. 
1‘lymouth, Mich., Dee. 9th, 1861. 
keep all fruit trees in shape. It is when an orchard 
is neglected only, that it is necessary to remove 
largo limbs, and every one cut away Injures tho tree. 
A tree is a living object and suffers from amputation. 
I might give many more hiuts, which wonld doubt¬ 
less be profitable to Rural readers, and may do so 
at another time; but I wish now to present a few 
from one who, though dead, still speaketh words of 
wisdom, the lamented Downing. Amateur. 
“ Don’t let insects of various kinds overrun your 
peiiso to those who will give it good care, but don’t orc ] iar( j or garden, and then lazily fold your arms 
be bored with those who aro always begging nice uri( j gft y i “it’s no use, this trying to raise things, now 
things, and then let them dto from neglect. Bo t kat so many vermin aro ubaut.” Spend three days, 
honest, and tell them plainly the reason why you j n j uj ,t r i 0 usly, in tho early stage of the matter, in put- 
cannot answer their calls. Always encourage taste, t j n g ( j 0WI1 rascals, and then look around you and 
particularly among the poor and the children, even Heo jf a uttlo industry is not better than grumbling, 
at some cost and sacrifice. In this way you can do a jj y QU wftU t early vegetables, sot yourself, in wiu- 
great deal of good. ter, about making some boxes to protect them. A 
The foundation of all good gardening iB iu having a c h e „p boxes, a foot square, with a pane of glass 
good Boil well prepared. This preparation consists in j u X | 10 Xo p U ^ over tender things at night, will 
thorough draining, so that water will not lie nearer COf)t y Qa ^ trifle, and will give you ten days’ start 
the surface than about two feet, and complete pul- of tll0 open ground. 
verization of the soil to about that depth, and enrich- jf y OU j mvo u tree that grows “apace,” but won’t 
merit with good stable manure. Sometimes when the bear, dig a trench around it, and cutoff a third of the 
soil iB heavy, sand and ashes are ncccBuary to ameliorate r00 t8. This will chock its growth, and set it about 
its character, and when very sandy, clay and muck raa king fruit buds. 
may be used with advantage. How different from y 0U ,j on 't love flowers yourself, don’t quarrel 
this is tbe common practico, which eveu in gardeus w [th those who do. It Is u defect in your nature 
of some pretensions are only plowed a tew inches w biufi you ought to bo sorry for, rather than abuse 
deep and smoothed over with tho rake, and then the Hiose who are more gifted. Of what possible “ use" 
work is considered done. Is it any wonder that the j B t jje rainbow, we should like to know? and yet a 
trees and shrubs make a poor growth, that the w j aer than you did not think tho earth complete 
flowers arc much inferior to what was expected, that without it. 
the vegetables are poor and tough, and almost useless, fj 0 no t grudge the cost and labor necessary to 
and the fruits the most inferior? plant a few of the best shade trees around your house; 
In growing hedges, exercise patience, anil deter- and if you have auy doubts about what to plant, stick 
mine from tho first to have good ones or none, iu an elm. There aro few trees in tho world finer 
Nothing looks meaner than a poor hedge, and we Bee than a flue sweeping elm; and two or three of them 
them scattered all over the country, while scarcely will give even a common looking dwelling a look of 
ono good one greets the eye. The main thing Is to dignity. If you plant fruit trees for shade, they are 
secure a good base, and this cannot be done without likely to be broken to pieces for the fruit, and they 
severe pruning. It is not well to cut three or four grow unsightly by the time that forest tio*s grow 
times during the year. Some persons never prime spreading and umbrageous. There arc very few men 
their hedges, und of course they fail; but others clip whoso friends build so fair a monument to their 
them every few weeks. The latter course prevents memory, aa they can raise with their own hands, by 
the formation of roots, and the hedge becomes weak planting an elm or a maple where it can grow for a 
and sickly. As a general rule, one thorough pruning century, t« lie an ornament to tho country. 
Iti the spring Is enough, but a slight pruning after Don’t be afraid to clip hedges, or ent back young 
the spring growth is over, just for improving the trees, wheu you are planting them. You gain more 
appearance of the hedge, will not do injury. The growth than you lose, though you may not be able to 
form best for a hedge is that which will give the comprehend it till you have seen it with your own 
most light and air to the under branches. Prune, eyes. 
therefore, in the form of a wedge - a gradual slope Never work your gronnd in wet weather if you can 
from the top io the bottom on both eldCB. avoid it, aa it makes it clod-like and compact by 
An axe may be a very good implement for the for- forcing tho air out. And ridge up your kitchen 
est, but it should never be allowed in the orchard, garden gronnd before winter, so as to expose as 
A common pruning knife, if used persevciingly, will much surface as possible to the action of the frost 
protected by a thlolc overcoat., and armed wim 'UH< oi .ibok- 
nnn’n best Kngllsb handsaws, Llmlm and roots wore attacked 
and amputated at tlm moat assailable points, and attempts 
w«n) made to split them. 1 had as wnll triod to “split ft 
horn croBKwayn.” I was ropnlaod, and thought I was K ,,in K 
to be defeated, when I luckily thought of my surgpon'M anw, 
and put it to a good if an nnaacunlouind use. With it I care 
ully sawed out a thin wedge of wood, which I nantl trndaad 
of a cleft; and whoro the atump wan very large fund some 
wero four or live inches In diameter) 1 Hawed out a second 
wedge, at right anglua with tho first, thus making four places 
for the insertion of grafts. The sawed surfaces wore carefully 
smoothed with a sharp lmRe, like a scalpel; and the grafts, 
with but one hud, were accurately fitted In. A bass bandage 
was then applied, not to comprtBS the stumps, for they were 
impressible ; but, 1 suppose, only iu obedience to orders, in 
HUchcascH. Soft earth was then put over tho grafts. I put 
in (Ifty-slx Delaware grafls, of which ouly twenty are now 
living ; so that hut little more than one-third succeeded. 
Fifteen old and worthless stocks were grafted, or which 
eleven are now converted into (with one exception) very 
strong and vigorous Delaware vines, for which I wonld not 
take 410 each, as hard as aro the times. On tho unsuccessful 
stocks I may try my hand ugaiu next spring. I am, as I 
thiilk I ought to be, fully satisfied with my beautiful row of 
Delawares. For a single season’s growth they are very 
large, healthy and well matured, almost to the tips of the 
canes. The roots are so strong 1 shall prune them but very 
little, and allow them to bear all they will.” 
Officers Elect or the Illinois State Horticultural 
Society for 1862. The annual meeting of this Society 
occurred iu Ghicago, commencing December J and continu¬ 
ing four days. It was largely attended, and tho discussions 
interesting, spirited and profitable. Our Western Aid, who 
was present, will furnish an abstract of tho more important 
parts oi' the dlscnssionn ut uu early day. 
Tho session of tbe Society closed with a grand banquet, 
given its members and guests by tho proprietors of the Tie 
mont House in that city. Wo are Informed that several 
samples or excellent “Still Catawba” were tasted and tested 
on the occasion. Tho Society elected the following ofiicurM' 
for 1802: 
President -O. B. Galuhha, of Lisbon, Kendall county. 
Vice Presidents — 1st District, Charles D. Bragdon, of Cook 
county; 2nd District, Robert Douglas, of Lake connty; 3d 
District, Charles II. Ronenstiel, of Stephenson county; 4th 
District, J H. Stewart, of Adams county; fith District, Arthur 
Bryant, Jr., of Bureau county; Gth District, J. F. Nash, of 
La Halle county; 7th District, M. 1,. Dunlap, of Champaign 
county; 8th District, K H. Fell, of McLean county; 0th 
District, N. Overman, of Fulton county; 10th District, Jona¬ 
than HlgginH, of Macoupin connty; llth District, James K. 
Starr, of Madison county; 12th District, G. It. Baker, of 
Union county. Corresponding Secretary —C. T. Chase, of 
Chicago. Recording Secretaries —W. C. Flagg, of Madison 
county, und J. T. Little, of Lee county. Treasurer— 8. G. 
Mlukler, of Kendall county. 
Illinois Stats Horticultural SooiKTr. —This Society 
has determined to hold its next annual meeting ftml exhibi¬ 
tion (combined) at, Chicago, sometime in September or Goto, 
her next, the time t,o bn fixed by tho Executive Committee. 
It has heretofore held its exhibitions In conjunction with the 
Illinois State Agricultural Society. It now cuts loose from 
it, as a Society , and proposes to go aloue. It is believed that 
the movement is a good one, and will result in giving tho 
Society an influence it has oot hitherto secured.— o. d. a. 
Exhibition of tub American Institute. — Not having 
had a public fair this year, the Institute lias determined to 
hold an exhibition at Us rooms in the second week of Febru¬ 
ary next. It will be confined to improvements in Agricul¬ 
ture, Manufactures, and the Arts, for which tho gold and 
silver n^dal of the Institute will bo awarded. 
Total Dkrravitv. From the last number of tho Vrilmne. 
we learn that, a fi>w nights since, some person entered the 
garden of Solon Robinson, In Westchester County, and stole 
ten dwarf pear trees, in fine bearing condition. Mr. it. offers 
1 a reward of Lin dollars for an introduction to this aealous 
horticulturist. 
HOW TO COOK CHICKENS. 
Eds. Rural New-Yuukkk:—P lease accept the fol¬ 
lowing in answer to Anna C., and all others who 
may wish to know how to cook chickens and have 
them good. Boil until tender, then take out and 
cool, season with plenty of butter, suit, and pepper. 
Make a crust as for good biscuit, have the crust one- 
fourth of an inch thick; let the peti he filled with 
gravy, tho rest to he served when eaten; cover with a 
top crust, and bake one hour. 
Another Way.-B oil tho chicken in water enough 
to make a good dressing till the meat will easily slip 
from the bones- the latter to be nil removed. Mix 
the meat well together, Henson with suit., popper, 
butter, sweet cream, and a little flour. Make the 
crust in the Htimo way as for the other; put in tho 
meat with plenty of gravy; cover with paste. 11118 
does away with the choice of parts. 
Stuffing for Cuickkns or Turkeys.—T ake light 
bread or eraokorS, with tho heart and gizzard, which 
have been boiled with the chicken until tender; chop 
them fine, then BcnBOn with plenty of butter, salt, 
pepper, and two tnlilespoonfuls of thick sweet cream, 
a,n...«« w«u Lc’utiin. and a lit,tie sage, moisten with 
the broth the chicken was boiled in. If more than 
ono chicken m used, more eggs will ho wanted. 
AUeti Center, N. Y., 1861. A. S. F. 
Chicken Pin.—Noticing an inquiry in a late num¬ 
ber of your paper, for the best method of making a 
chicken pie, I send you mother’s recipe, which I 
think would satisfy a French epicurean. 
Take one-half pint sour milk, the same quantity of 
sour cream, a little salt, 2 tcaspoonfuls saleratus, 
flour, and mix the same as for biscuit. Roll out a 
part of it, and lay it in a six quart pan; then take a 
piece of butter the size of a butternut, and roll it 
into tho remaining crust. Have your chickens (two 
old ones or three young ones) boiled until they aro 
done, season them with salt, pepper, and batter, lay 
them nicely into the pan, put a few slices of crust 
with them, pour over your gravy, cover, and bake 
t,wo hours.—H a i. lie, lieUmmj, teen, Co., /V. V,, lHO], 
V * - ■ ■ • 
Cure for Frosted Feet. — Tt is said that frozen 
feet can bo speedily and certainly cured by being 
bathed and well rubbed with kerosene or coal oil, for 
a few times at, night before retiring to bed. Several 
person< have already tried it, all of whom unite in 
pronouncing it an effectual cure, which, if they aro 
correct, is an easy and cheap mode of getting rid of 
a very sore and troublesome affliction. Thoso who 
have tried it inform us that tho foot should bo well 
warmed by a hot stove during and after the applica¬ 
tion Of the oil, and it, will certainly efleet a speedy 
euro. Persona suffering from tho pain of fronted feet 
will no doubt do well in giving it, a trial, for it is 
surely a very cheap ointment, and one that is very 
easily applied, llarrisburgh Union. 
- ♦ ■ » • ♦ - - 
Cuke for tub Ear Ague. —Take a Bmall piece of 
cotton batting or cotton wool, make a depression in 
the center with the Anger, and fill it up with as much 
ground pepper as will rest on alive cent piece; gather 
it into a ball and tie it up, dip the ball into sweet oil 
and Insert it in the ear, covering the latter with cot¬ 
ton wool, and use a bandage or cap to retain it in its 
place. Almost instant relief will be experienced, 
and the application is so gentle that an infant will 
not be injured by it, but experience relief, aa well as 
adults. 
Recipe for Sausages. — As the time has arrived 
for making sausages, 1 presume that many Rural 
subscribers would like to use the following recipe, 
viz.: for forty pounds of meat, 1 pound salt; J ounces 
pepper; 4 pint sago, pulverized; 1 teacup molasses. 
A. Willson, Marcellas, N. Y„ 1861. 
To Take Rust from Flat Irons. —Perhaps every 
one does not know that bees wax rubbed on wheu 
the iron is moderately heated, and the iron smartly 
rubbed on a woolen cloth, will remove ruatentirely.— 
Betty Wrinkle, Elkhorv, Wit., 1861. 
Hardening Tallow for Candles.— Iu tho first 
place, tallow Bhould he well cooked when trying with 
the acraps, and then if it is soft add fonr ounces of 
alum to ten pounds of tallow when melting for dip¬ 
ping your candles. — I, M. W., Moreland, N. Y., 1861. 
[SPECIAL NOT/O'K.] 
To thk Lauiks.—L adies, if you duly knew how muoh 
difference there Is between a good ami a poor article of 
Saleratus, you wonld never use any other but D. B. Da 
Land & Co.’s Chemical Saleratus. It is truly wliat it claims 
to be, tbo “housewife’* favorite,” and we are happy to see 
thftt our lady friends are finding it out and axing nothin;; else. 
