the trees and failed, and then asks “ how is it that 
the fruit is in market each year? Can he tell us? ” 
I answer, by grafting in trees that bear the alter¬ 
nate year. My observation and experience of 
thirty.'years proves the fact; try it. e. f. 
Rose, Wayne Co., N. Y. 
THE NEW YEAR 
APPLE BUTTER, 
THE APPLETREE AND CUT WORM 
Tice New Year brings us to our work again— 
the pleasant and responsible labor of aiding our 
readers in their garden and orchard work. We 
all remember the dawning of the year just closed 
—how it awoke our solicitude for Loth fruit 
buds and’trces, and bow in many portions of the 
Rural, parish the worst apprehensions were fully 
realised. And yet, the fruit harvest was a glori¬ 
ous one to the grower— perhaps not so bountiful 
in quantity as it has proved profitable in prices 
received, And the most hopeful feature of the 
past year is that the disasters of its earlier months 
did not discourage extended planting; on the con¬ 
trary, tree planting, of all kinds, seems to have 
boon stimulated; and we venture to say that the 
year closed is without, its parallel in this respect 
among the lost, twenty yeans. Not only have we 
this encouraging fact, but another equally signif- 
fcantand promising-that Floriculture is keep¬ 
ing pace with Arboriculture, a faithful and 
unmistakable index of the progress of our people 
in refinement and general intelligence. We have 
evidence of this, not only in the increased de¬ 
mand for seeds and plants, and the continual 
inquiry which drops in numberless leave* upon 
our table, but In the interest manifest and the 
part taken by all classes of both sexes in onr 
floral exhibitions. And go where vre may, in 
farmer’s, mechanic's or merchant's homes, os¬ 
tentation gives place to the perfume and beauty 
of flowers. More than we can tell does this 
influence extend hourly and penetrate the sacred 
places nf our llresides, lifting ns all higher, and 
keeping us all purer, and moulding our hearts 
and minds into corresponding comeliness and 
beauty. 
Now wo are stepping across the threshold of 
the New Year. What we find in it as we ad¬ 
vance must depend upon what we bring with us 
from the past, and how we use what we have of 
resources. These columns are open to onr read¬ 
ers for exchange of experience and practice, and 
for making known their wants. And this is no 
light ’privelege we grant. We are not purely 
selfish in announcing it; for the value of such a 
medium of communication to those who use it 
is increased in proportion as it is used. We trust 
our readers will think of this, appreciate it, and 
act accordingly. No matter what ability and 
experience one man may bring to the work of 
conducting such a department, its interest and 
value must depend more npon the extent to 
which it reflects the actual work of those en¬ 
gaged in Horticulture In Us different deportments. 
The Rural is not the organ of one man, nor of 
one class of men. Its highest aim is to be a 
medium for the elevation of its readers, and for 
promoting their progress in all that is worthy 
and desirable—reflecting both their condition 
and progress. So if our readers want informa¬ 
tion let them ask for it; and let such as can give 
information asked for, furnish it, remembering 
always that we lose no knowledge by giving it 
away, but are far more likely to obtain what we 
have not in compensation for what we give. It 
is our desire to promote and secure this com¬ 
munity of feeling and Interest among our readers. 
To this end shall we labor in the year before up. 
a group of petunias. 
HORTICULTURAL DOGMAS. 
At almost every Convention of Horticulturists, 
or Pomologists, certain time • honored dogmas 
find utterance, which it is “flat burglary” for 
any one to question or gainsay. Should any 
member presume to do so, the eyes of all the 
Bages in the assembly are turned upon him with 
a sort of holy horror. The unfortunate member 
finds himself in a posltiou similar to that occu¬ 
pied by Oliver Twist, at the Charity 8ehooI 
dinner, when he committed the unparalleled 
offence of asking lor “ more.” It is a breach of 
custom not to be permitted or endured. 
One of the dogmas referred to, which was put 
forth for the hundredth time, by two or three 
members, at the late Convention of the Natioual 
Pomologlcal Society, is, that certain varieties of 
pear trees cannot produce perfect lYuit, a fruit of 
the highest quality, until the trees “attain, age," 
meaning generally the age of twelve, sixteen, or 
eighteen years. The writer of this article is 
reported, iu the Rural, as saylug, in reply, that 
he didn t see” why any tree, if it produced 
fruit at oil, should not product! us good fruit 
when young ns when old. Now, the report in 
the Rural is, on the whole, the best report that 
has ever been made of the proceedings of the 
National Pomological Society. But, in this in¬ 
stance, the reporter did not repeat my remark 
with precision. What I said was, not that I 
‘‘didn’t see" a certain thing, but that I dUi see a 
fallacy in thut dogma. I questioned the sound- 
ness 0 ( tlle assertion, that young trees, of any 
variety, cannot produce fruit equal to the best 
specimens which Unit variety i* capable of bear¬ 
ing when it has “age.” I do not doubt the fact 
that the best truit of certain varieties lias fre¬ 
quently, and indeed generally, been found on 
trees upwards of six or eight years old. But 
tins, by no means, proves that fruit equal in 
every respect cannot, aud shall uot, be pro¬ 
duced upon trees less than six yearn old, now, 
heuceforth and forever, world without end 
The best specimens of Duchcsse d’Angouleme 
we ever get are loand on trees three and four 
years old, the first season of fruiting. So with 
many other varieties. The finest fruit ever seen 
is frequently produced ou gratia the third season 
after they are inserted. 
The remark which I made in the Convention 
was, that in my opinion when all the conditions 
necessary to produce perfect fruit were present 
(such as a sound, healthy tree, a good, P Umm 
fruit bud, and the proper nutriment in the soil 
climate aud season being favorable,) as good fruit 
be produced on a young tree as the variety 
is capable of producing on a tree of any age. 
And In this connection, I referred to the success 
which has attended the fruiting of pear trees in 
pots, In the orchard house, where the best speci¬ 
mens of fruit have been obtained, from very 
young trees. Indeed, I have seen specimens of 
orchard house pears on young trees, at the exhi¬ 
bitions of the Massachusetts Horticultural So¬ 
ciety in Boston, which have never been, and 
probably never will be, equaled by the present 
practice in out-door culture. 
It is commonly assorted that it requires fifteen 
or eighteen years to fruit the Dix pear, and some 
others, on standard trees. This mav be so, in 
common orchard management. But will any 
one deny that, under certain other treatment, a 
tree ofthe Dix pear, on its own roots, two ye^rs 
old, cannot, in three or four years, be covered 
with perfect fruit, out-of-doors? 
Now the Dix is one of the pears which we are 
not permitted to believe can be good, or first 
rate, until the tree has “age.” 
Another dogma, [frequently indulged in, by 
the fathers of Pomology is, that varieties or 
races of fruit trees, run out, or fall into such a 
state of decay, that it is impossible to produco 
good specimens, and that this depends chiefly 
upon tlie exhaustion of vitality in the variety. 
“I know a man,” as Toodles savs, who never 
fails, at every horticultural meeting which he 
attends, to give us a lecture of an hour or more 
on this dogma, which is a favorite doctrine with 
certain persons who rarely do grow good fruit. 
Now mark how plain u. tide shall put this dogma 
down. In the Loudon Gardeners' Chronicle, Oct. 
15th, IS04, may be found the following deeply 
interesting and highly instructive statement: 
“ In the nursery of Mr. Rivers occurs a tree of 
the Golden Pippin Apple, which is some century 
Old at least. This tree bears small, scrubby fruit, 
of good quality nevertheless, but scarcely bigger 
than a large Walnut, and may bo taken to repre¬ 
sent the “degenerate” condition of this variety 
under ordinary, and not very favorable condi¬ 
tions, Tills tree is ou the Crab stock. Grafts 
taken from this very tree, and worked on the 
Paradise stock,'were submitted to pot culture iu 
an orchard house, when lo! the fruit became at 
least trebled in sire, acquiring the richest golden 
color, and the choicest flavor. Verily, there was 
no trace of degeneracy in these. 
"There can be no doubt that this result was 
caused in a great measure by Uie healthy root 
action set np under the improved climatal condi¬ 
tions to which these potted trees have been sub¬ 
jected. The trees were well fed by the generous 
top-dressing which Is part of Mr. Rivers’ sys¬ 
tem, and the root* were at the same time influ¬ 
enced by the warm air of the house acting on 
them tlirough the sides of the pot, aud were thus 
able to do their work thoroughly. Hence the 
well swelled fruit, which, under stall circum¬ 
stance* was carried forward to perfect maturity, 
aud altogether surpassed (he choicest specimens of 
the olden time." 
Here was an old head put upon youug shoul¬ 
ders, age and youth united, the “run out” vari¬ 
ety aud the youthful stock; aud vet fruit of 
=*F= 
THE PETUNIA. 
Tile Petunia is a well-known and favorite 
bedding plant, though more generally, perhaps, 
treated as a hardy Annual.. Plants in pots may 
be obtained at most of the nurseries, though as 
they can be grown easily from seed, and flower 
easily the first season, this course 13 the most 
common way of obtaining plants. Perhaps no 
flower has been more improved within the post 
ten years than the Petunia. We now have flow¬ 
ers of extraordinary size, striped, blotched, 
veined and mottled, single and double. Double 
flowers can only be obtained by procuring plants, 
as there Is no certainty that seeds will produce 
double blossoms. For a brilliant, showy bed, 
the single varieties are (he best. If seeds are 
sowu in a hot-bed or cold frame, in April, or in 
the open ground about the first of May, the 
plants will begin to flower by the last of June, 
it planted about eighteen inches apart, by the 
middle of July, the whole bed will be covered, 
and exhibit a mass of brilliant yet delicate flow¬ 
ers until hard lrosts make an end of their glory. 
The following are some some of the best veri¬ 
ties I have ever grown, and they are exceedingly 
tine: 
JCemiisena Grandijlora , a very large dower, 
ranging from crimson to scarlet. There is one 
variety in other respects the same, with a white 
throat, and it is elegant. 
Afaeulata Grandijlora has white ground spot- 
teal, striped and marbled with red or purple. It 
is a large and magnificent flower, somewhat of 
the character of Buchanan's Blotched, but 
larger, and of more robust growth. 
Maryinata, is mottled and vOined with green. 
More singular tbuu brilliant, and uot always 
true. 
Rosea Grandijlora , a very flue, large, deep rose 
colored flower with white throat. This is a truly 
beautiful flower. 
Verwxva Grandijlora is of a variety of good 
colors finely veined, with * delicate net-work of 
a deeper color than the ground of the flower. 
Countess of Ellesmere, is x smallish rose-colored 
flower, with a white throat, always comes true 
from, seed, and makes a most magnificent bed. 
The engraving exhibits a group of Hie Petu- 
hul-i described, but I think those who grow them 
next season will say that tfre artist has not done 
justice to these flowers. ',‘0 portray their beauty 
iu a wood-cut is as difficult a work as painting 
the rainbow.—j. v. 
TO GET EARLY HARVESTS ANNUALLY. 
Lns. Rural Nkw-\orkkr: — Your corres¬ 
pondent, “Central Indiana,” in issue of Dee. 10 
writing of Early Harvest apples, says “ they bear 
ouly In alternate years," And that a learned pro¬ 
fessional gentleman Laid tried to change a part of 
Eds. Rural New Yorker:—I see, of late, 
much is being Baid about the Apple Moth and 
Apple Worm,—their depredations, aud the pre¬ 
ventives.! ’A few observations aud experiments 
may not be amiss, though made out of the usual 
channel. Some years ago my brother and myself 
spent some time and pains iu learning the habits 
of many of the insects that are destructive to 
the farmer’s labor; and among these were the 
common cut worn and the apple worm, with 
this result. 
The cut worm can be easily destroyed by light¬ 
ing bright fires just at dark, in open grass fields> 
say one fire to four acres ; this done for ten days, 
at the right time, for a few years, would effectu¬ 
ally destroy them. Just at night, before the dew 
gets heavy, is the time they fly about in quest of 
a suitabic place to deposit their eggs, and seeing 
the light they rush into it. 
Just so with the fly that begets the apple 
worm ; it Hies out just at dark, and perforates 
the Bkin of the growing apple, to deposit the egg 
which soon hatches and makes wormy fruit, as 
all western farmers know to be almost universal 
this year. By lighting bright fires in the orchard 
near the trees that first mature, the fly will be 
attracted to the light and be destroyed, and 
thereby save the fruit from this very destructive 
enemy. 
Any practical man can see the benefit of 6nch 
a plan if it succeeds, and any one can test the 
thing for himself in the following manner:—Take 
half a dozen common cut worms, put them in a 
glass jar half fuB of loose moist earth, keep it 
so, in a suitable pbee where light and air are 
abundant, cover so as to prevent escape, feed 
with plantain and lettuce, or any tender plant, 
every evening, plentifully, and then watch the 
result carefully, and the whole secret can be 
learned in a practical manner, if yon do not fore- 
get to exercise patience. The same must be 
done with an apple that has a worm in it, the 
earth in the jar being kept warm and moist, to 
prevent the apple from withering and placing a I 
small twig in, for the worm to come out upon. 
When the fly or miller of any Insect is thus 
identified, it will be recognized in the field and 
orchard aud its habits soon learned; that once 
done, means for its destruction may be devised 
to suit circumstances and location. 
Hendricks Co., Ind. Addison Coffin. 
TO ROAST A RABBIT. 
I' 
treble size, of the rich--at golden color, and 
choicest flavor is the result. “ Where be your 
gibes now?” J. s. Houghton. 
Philadelphia, Dec., IStM. 
APPLES FOR LATITUDE 45 DEGREES. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:—I saw an inquiry 
in the Rural for a list of hardy apples for lati¬ 
tude 45 deg., consisting of three Summer, Sve 
Autumn, twelve Winter varieties, r have had 
some little experience, but could not give so 
large a list. The following, I think, will be 
found to be about as hardy as a crab apple for 
the North : Summer— Red Astrachan. Arnuum 
—Dutchess Oldenburg, Famcuse, Graven stein. 
Wilder—Pomme Grisc, Blue Pearmain, North¬ 
ern Spy, Yellow Bellflower, Ribston Pippiu, Tal- 
mon Sweet. ^ - j M 
Winthrop, Me. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker: —A correspondent 
wishes a list of apples lor an orchard of two 
hundred trees, consisting of Lhebest three Sum¬ 
mer, five Autumn and Twelve Winter varieties. 
I would suggest the following as answering me 
very well: Summer— Red Astrachan, Early Har¬ 
vest, Keswick Codlin. Autumn—Dutchess of 
Oldenberg, Autumn Strawberry, SL Lawrence, 
Autumn Swaar, Alexander. Winter — Yellow 
Bellflower, Famense, King of Tompkins Co., 
Ram bo, Pomme Gris, Northern Spy, Tollman’s 
Sweeting, Pound SweeL.Rhode Island Greening, 
Esopus Spitzeuburgh, Twenty Ounce, Canada 
Red. That there are others that would succeed 
well here I doubt not. E. A. Hyde. 
North Bangor, Fraukiin Co., N. Y. 
This is much improved in appearance, when 
brought to table, if the back-bone is removed, a 3 
well as being much easier to carve. In this case, 
line the body with some thin slices of tat bacon, 
and fill it with forcemeat, prepared in the follow¬ 
ing manner:—6 oz. of bread crumbs, the grated 
rind of a fresh lemon, two scraped anchovies, 
some parsley, thyme, and sweet marjoram shred 
fine, salt, grated nutmeg, and cayenne to taste. 
M:x these into a light forcemeat, with 4 oz. of 
better broken up into small bits, the unbeaten 
yolks of two eggs and a little cream. Stuff the 
inside of the rabbit with this, sew it up, and 
truss it the same as a hare. Pin a slice of fat 
bacon lengthwise down its back, dredge it weU 
with flour, and roast it before a clear brisk fire, 
basting it continually with butter or lard. It 
will take nearly an hour to roast. Serve with 
good brown gravy, and hand currant jelly round 
Receipe for Black Writing Ink.— Extract 
of Logwood, 300grains; Gum Arabic, 300 grains; 
Dried Sulphate of Iron, 300 grains; Gallic Acid, 
GO grains; the guto and extract to be in moder¬ 
ately line powder. Add to the above one pint of 
hot rain water. Strain it after it cools. If the 
ink thickens by evaporation, it may be diluted 
with water. The ink is black, flows easily, and 
is less corrosive to steel pens than the “fluids” 
commonly used. 
The foregoing recipe is famished the Rural. 
by a well known physician of this city. We 
know from experience that the ink so made is 
most excellent. 
Hop Yeast Cakss.— Take a handful of hops, 
a little more than a quart of water, and let it 
come to a smart boil; then strain it over a quart 
of flour while boiling hot. Stir it well, let it 
cool a little, then stir in a little yeast, (Brewers 
or bilkers’ yeast will do,) and when it is perfectly 
light, which will be in a few hours, add corn 
meal enough to make a stiff dough; make it into 
roll?, let it become quite light, then cut it unto 
pieces half an inch thick, and dry in a warm 
place. This will keep a long while.—Mrs. J. 8. 
Leib, Suspension Bridge , IV. Y. 
Horticultural lions aud Queries. 
Onion Seed.— Young Farmer: We have never 
knowa onions grown from seed planted in the spring 
to perfect seed the same season. 
Muffins. —Mrs. Lee R. wished a recipe for 
making “ Muffins." I send one -.—Melt half a 
teacup of butter in a pint and a half of milk; 
| add a little salt, a gill of yeast, and fonr eggs; 
stir in floor enough to make a batter rather 
stiffer than for griddle cakes. If kept in a mod¬ 
erately warm place it will rise sufficiently in 
eight or nine hours.— Mrde, Salem, Ohio. 
Tits Fruit Growers’ Association of Upper Can¬ 
ada, holds its next regular Meeting at the Mechanics’ 
Hall, Hamilton, on Wednesday the 18th day of Jan¬ 
uary, 1S65, at i o’clock P M. 
Onion Seed.—“C an yon inform me where to look 
for a quantity of reliable onion seed?” So writeB a 
subscriber. If we were going to buy, we should go to 
the most reliable Seedam.au within our knowledge, for 
it. It will probably he advertised in the Rural before 
planting time. 
-- 
Ants and Strawberry Plants.—I have had my 
Btrawberry plants destroyed by ants making their 
uests among aud around the roots. Have tried ashes, 
sulphur, tobacco juice, kerosene oil, lye, aud whale j 
oil soap suds, but without effect. Can you or any of 
your readers inform me of a sure preventive ?—H. 
Thomas. 
To Color Cochineal Red. —For one pound 
of goods, take two oz. of cochineal, two oz. of 
madder compound, one oz. of cream tartar; boil 
the cream tartar and cochineal twenty minutes, 
then add the mudder compound and doth, and 
boil all together fifteen minutes. Then rinse in 
soft water. Brass or tin kettles should always 
be used in coloring bright colors. 
Sorghum Cake.— The following I think good: 
Three teacups of sorghum syrup, one teacup of 
butter, one teacup of buttermilk or cream, oue 
teaspoon each of mace, cinnamon and cloves 
half a wine glass of rose-water or wine, half a 
teacup of common sugar-dried currants and four 
and a half teacups of flour.— Laura, Rockford, 
T.linois. 
Missouri State Horticultural Societt. — The 
Sixth Annual Meetiug of this Society will be held in 
the Court House in the city of St. Louis, ou Tuesday, 
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, January 10th. 11th, 
lhth aud tSth, 1860 . -Specimen-* of Fruits, Flowers, 
Plants, Wines, Seeds and other products are solicited 
for examination and distribution. 
Fruit Growers’ Society of Western New York. 
—The Winter Meeting of the Fruit Growere’ Society 
of Western New York, will bo held at the Court House 
In the City of Rochester, commencing on Tuesday the 
24th day of January. Soaaiou to oommenoo at 11 
o’clock in the forenoon. Members, and all Interested 
iu the culture of Fruit are invited to bo present and 
to bring with them specimens of fruit* for exhibition. 
To Clean Rrochb Shawls with White 
j Centers.—T ake one oz. of borax and one half 
oz. of camphor gum; pulverize and dissolve in 
a pint of hot water; take a sponge and dip iu 
the solution, and rub on the shawl until the dirt 
is removed; wring aud hang in the air until 
nearly dry, then iron.—Mrs. N. M. Young, Lib¬ 
erty, K Y. 
In the Rural of Oct. 29th, I saw an inquiry 
for making apple butter; and again in Nov. 12th, 
A. Gipple’s modus operandi which may all be 
very good where there is an opportunity to make 
the cider. But in the back-woods where we are 
here where many of the inhabitants never saw 
a real cider-mill and press, a barrel of cider is 
quite an object. Apple butter i* often made 
here without cider. For ten gallons, boil four 
bushels of apples after they are nicely pared, cut 
and cored, put in a little water to keep from 
burning until the apples begin to stew. If the 
kettle fa not large enough to contain all the 
apples at once, fill up us they boil down. When 
boiled to ten or twelve gallons put in molasses 
to sweeten. If the apples are sour more mo¬ 
lasses will be required than if sweet.—F. F R 
New Milton, W. Ya. 
Apple Butter, or Cidep. Apple Sauce, as it 
should be denominated, is best made of new 
cider, pressed from sweet apples, boiled down 
about four to one. Thea pare and core sweet 
apples and put into the syrup and cook till ten¬ 
der; skim out and put in more. If the weather 
is warm it may be necessary to scald or reduce 
the whole batch. It is better for common use 
than the best preserves. The large water cored 
apple, called “ Purewater,” raised in the State of 
New York, is an excellent apple for the purpose, 
it has a muskmelon flavor.— 8 . W. Arnold De- 
Kalb Co., IU. 
To Curb Chillbiajhs.— Take a piece of but¬ 
ter the site of a large walnut, work in salt as 
long as you can, and then apply to the part 
affected, heating in by the fire and it will cure.— 
T. J. M., TroopevilU. 
