which it is bloomed in the house during winter, to 
be on especial favorite with every lover of {lowers. 
It is not a plant that demands years of care and cul¬ 
ture before ir yields a return; for if planted in 
autumn, next April or Hay shows all its beauty in 
the highest perfection. 
The Tours are among the earliest and gayest of 
our spring flowers. They are classed in two general 
divisions, though there are many minor distinctions, 
FRUIT IN WESTERN MICHIGAN 
del units, and a harbor, now being improved undoi 
an act of the Legislature, which already serves well 
our shipping interests, and which, in natural advant¬ 
ages for tx first class-harbor, is superior to that of St. 
•Joseph. Wo are within 12 hours steaming of Chicago, 
Kacme, Milwaukee, and intermediate points; and. 
unless the St. Joseph people should monopolize 
these valuable markets, we will freight our steamers 
in the evening with peaches, grapes, <fcc., which, by 
the night run, will arrive early in the various marts, 
Jresh and delicious, to tempt the morning appetite. 
In all this we assure your correspondent we are 
nut “ manufacturing theories,” but only stating that 
whereof we do know. A. S. Dyokman. 
South Haven, 1862. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:— In replying to the 
second communication of your St. Joseph corres 
pondeut, we would express our regrets that a dispo 
sition should exist in*any locality to build itself uj 
at the expense of its near neighbors. 
St. .Joseph and South Ilav 
BLEACHING AND 
COLORING BONNETS. 
Lns. Roral New-Yorker Observing that 
A i.ue, of Deerfield Prairie, Ill., wishes tor a recipe 
tor coloring straw brown or purple, if you think 
proper to send it to her through the columns of 
your paper, here it is, together with a few others— 
Mrs. S. M. Mekrvfteld, Mantua, Fortune Co., 0., 
1862. ’ ’ 
Bonnet Bleaching Recipe.— First. Wash the 
bonnets in warm soap and water. Second. Take 
two tablespoonluls of sal soda and two quarts of 
Farmers often complain of the quality of seeds 
purchased of seedsmen, someihnes with good cause, 
no doubt, and often when the parties complained of 
are entirely innocent of wrong. The matter is not 
well understood, either by the makers or adminis¬ 
trators of law. A few years since a very ridiculous 
law on the subject was reported to our State Legis¬ 
lature, but did not pass that body. We have been 
much interested in the report of a case in the Scotch 
agricultural journals, in which a farmer sued a lead¬ 
ing seed firm in Edinburgh, because the seeds 
bought of them failed to germinate. The lower 
courts awarded the farmer damages, when un appeal 
was made to the Lord Advocate. The case was 
stated in four queries, which we give, with the opin¬ 
ion of the judge: 
1 . Does the statement of the case referred to, as 
set forth in the report, appear to counsel to warrant 
the judgment pronounced? 
2 . Assuming that turnip or other seeds are sold 
under warranty of soundness, and as being of the 
kind stipulated for, is not tho purchaser who shall 
claim under the warranty bound, if required, to 
en have interests nearly 
| identical, and being about 25 miles apart there need 
be no unfriendly rivalry in trade; there 
.. should bo no fear that fruit will ho too 
extensively cultivated; and when the time 
comes to add a Lake Shore Railroad to 
our present lake shipping facilities, the 
wealth ami influence of each point on the 
line will help make the enterprise success¬ 
ful. which is to benefit all. Therefore, 
/ft this would seem rather an unnatural 
/ffl quarrel; but wo must write in self-de- 
fjfl fenee. We will refer to the essential 
points made by your correspondent. 
ffljM 1st- After committing grave errors in 
jjfJmB topography, he says: —“Hence, north- 
' itvn weB ^ wes t? an£ J south-west, are the pre- 
fljmm ▼ailing winds there, while at St. Joseph 
i/m the north winds are known to prevail as 
'MfS mUch 118 any other," — intimating, of 
course, that there are no winds which 
jSF prevail more than any other. 
Wo are astonished at such an expres¬ 
sion, when common observation could 
not but teach any one that our prevail¬ 
ing winds are westerly; when all our 
seamen know, as well as they know their 
alphabet, that in spring and fall, when 
i winds are high, dangers beset them on 
the east shore, while they can trade with 
,J||pp comparative safety along the west shore; 
fl °d s *nce nothing but tho prevalence of 
westerly winds would give St. Joseph 
P^/V mor « than Chicago of tho lake’s soften- 
y / , * n £ influence. Another evidence is found 
yf 1Q drifting of ice upon the east shore. 
2d. To prove that we have no lake pro- 
'yjMfk tection from north winds, the writer says: 
‘‘South Haven is some eleven miles east 
of SL Joseph by the gradual widening of 
the Jake from the head. Further north 
the land puts out into the lake, leaving 
South navon in a kind of bay,” 
It will be necessary to state, for the ben¬ 
efit of your correspondent, that a bay is an 
arm of the sea—and then we will proceed 
to correct his topography. 
Take a radius of 66 miles; with it describe an arc 
45 miles in length; and the arc being applied, will 
very nearly correspond throughout with the lake 
shore line from St. Joseph via South Haven to the 
Kalamazoo river, with a direction cast of north the 
whole way. In other words, if South naven were 
placed only three miles into the lake from its pres¬ 
ent position, it would then be in a direct lino from St. 
Joseph to the mouth of the Kalamazoo—a distance 
of about 18 miles. Where does the “land put out 
into the lake?’ Where Is the arm of tho sea? Here 
is not near enough curve for a graceful shoulder. 
But further; wc have already observed that t.be 
lake shore from South Haven, a distance of 20 miles, 
bears east of north; thence its course is due north 
about 20 miles; thence north about 20- west, about 
50 miles to the extreme west point, made oy the east 
shore in that direction. Now, a line drawn due 
north from South Haven would run the first 53 
miles through Lake Michigan—a distance nearly 
eqnal to that from St, Joseph to Chicago. 
We hope we will not offend your correspondent’s 
evident distaste for philusophy by asking again 
these pertinen t q ueslionsWhere does the “ land put 
out into the lake?” and where is the «mofthesea,or 
fmiintlturiU 
■. . . A«, a roeem ffl«tm K0 f t | lcflora , com 
mitrcc of tin! Royal Horticultural Society, Mr Stumlfeh of 
B»f?»hot, exhibited a lily from Japan, »ent I,on,., by Mr 
Port,,no. Unfortunately, we only saw its remains which 
although insufficient for definition, were quite enough to show 
that it is uni!escribed; wherefore we name it after its 7 ..„,i olls 
disco,erer. The only published Japanese species to which it 
approaches is lihum callosum, but as that ,s a racemose 
Martagon, it cannot be the brother of this, which, on the 
contrary, is much nearer B. tmuifoHwn, resembling it in 
foliage, and C. Catesbiei, to which its (lowers may be com¬ 
pared. As to L. spcctabitc and sintcum, their broad leaves 
and clawless pet,Us are quite different, 
I lie plant grows 18 inches high, lias narrow grassy alternate 
leaves, and a solitary flower with long bUamelkte unguJeulate 
floral leaves, orange yellow, richly dotted with brown purple. 
If it were not for its color, it might be almost referred to £. 
tenui/olium. It is a very pretty acquisition.— Gard. Chran 
nonnets about five minutes iu the same, then rinse 
them in clean warm water, and bang them out to 
min. Sun them until about half dry, thou put them 
in the bleach, if you have time; ’if not, dry and 
size them, and they are ready to press. 
Coloring Brown or Dr ah Straw Bonnets.— 
hirst To twelve quarts of water add one teacupful 
oi black tea; heat the water and tea until they boil; 
then add one teaspoonful of copperas; aUr the same 
one minute or so; then take it off and let it stand 
about five or ten minutes; then put in the bonnets 
to be colored drab; Ruck as Neapolitan, chip, rice, 
shaw nr fine Dunstable, that are clear and white, 
and they will color very quick. All other braids 
hml better be colored brown, and let them remain 
in the dye some six hours, but look to them, and if 
they don’t take good color, let them be in until they 
do. You can color any shade of brown, by giving 
longer or shorter time in the dye. 
bon Coloring Black.— Take logwood, or the 
extract, which is better; half-pound of chips or a 
small quantity of the extract to twelve quarts of 
water; heat it to boiling; then add odo teaspoon¬ 
ful of copperas; put in the bonnets and boil until 
black. It generally takes six hours—and if the dye 
is not strong, it will take longer. Take them out, 
wash them dry, and brush them. 
make good in evidence that reasonable care has 
been taken to do justice to the seeds by sowing 
them at the proper time, and after the usual method, 
in soil fitted and duly prepared to receive them, 
beforo he can recover compensation in damages for 
loss by total failure or defective crop? 
3. Assuming that, notwithstanding the seeds had 
been sown at the proper time, in the usual manner, 
and in soil fitted to receive them, they had failed to 
vegetate, would not the sellers be relieved from lia¬ 
bility for damage if they proved that the failure of 
the seeds complained of was an exceptional case, 
and that other parties, who, being supplied from 
the same parcel, had grown good and regular crops? 
and 
4. Are there any other questions of liability under 
this head which counsel think the memorialists are 
exposed to, and if so, counsel will please indicate 
them, as tending to guide the memorialists in their 
after dealings. 
oriNioN. 
1 . We have read the report of the small-debt 
action referred to, and assuming the report to con¬ 
tain a complete and accurate statement of the evi¬ 
dence adduced, we areof opinion that, that evidence 
was not sufficient to warrant a decree for damages 
against the memorialists. It appears to have been 
proved conclusively that seed from the same bag as 
that from which the pursuer was supplied produced 
first-rate crops. We think the mere failure of the 
pursuer’s crop, even although ho used due precau¬ 
tion, was an insufficient ground on which to subject 
the memorialists in damages. The failu 
to have arisen from some latent cause not ii 
to the memorialists. 
2 and 3. When a warranty of soundness 
I’RITIT IN Southwestern Ohio.— Tlu! prospect for a large 
crop ol fruit at this season was never morn promising than 
now Peach trees are loaded with blossoms, and apples will 
be in bloom in a few days, and cherries will be abundant, 
unless killed by late frosts. I 
produced about twenty thousand bushel# of 
Last season this neighborhood 
-: peaches, and the 
probability is there will be a larger crop this year Apples 
wore a failure last season, but this spring we hnvn the promise 
of an abundant crop. Here, in Southwestern Ohio.Uie soil 
and climate appear to he peculiarly adapted to fruitgrowing, 
especially the highlands, for whore peaches, apples, and cher¬ 
ries have been tried, every attempt lnw been crowned with 
sueecss. Pears have not been cultivated here for a market 
crop yet. Considerable attention is being paid u> the culture 
of strawberries, raspberries, and gooseberries.— U. G. W.. 
Miami i‘ill' Ohio, 1862. 
8avi.no Picach Treks from the Borhr.—J. C. Thompson, 
of Staten Island, writes to the Iforticutturi.it as follows:— 
” After several years’ trial, 1 am confident that the application 
of line brimstone (flour of sulphur) to the base of the tree 
will preserve it, first moving away the earth about three inches 
deep, and destroying the worms, if there be any, applying a 
small or largo handful, according to tho size of the tree, and 
replacing tho earth. This may be done every year, for u ocr 
tuiuty, or once in two years. This 1 accidentally discovered, 
moving the earth from a peach tree six or eight inches in 
diameter, much injured by the worms, the hark all off, and 
the wood badly eaten away Having a Jar of flour of sulphur 
by me, I emptied the contents, from half a pound to a pound, 
in the opening made around the tree, to clean out the worms. 
The earth was replaced, with slim hopes of the tree recover¬ 
ing; but during the summer, the foliage assumed a deep, rich 
green, am! the tree grew finely. > 
DUC VAN THOL TULIP. 
particularly among the later varieties. The early 
Tulips begin to flower in the Northern States about 
the first of May, and continue for about three weeks, 
when some of the later class will begin to show their 
colors. The earliest of all is the Due. Van Thol, 
single and double. It is very dwarf, only growing 
about threo inches in height, and makes a most 
beautiful edging when planted with care and regu¬ 
larity. We give an engraving of the single variety, 
taken from nature and of life size. The portion of 
the flower shown dark in tho engraving is red, and 
the white edges a bright yellow. The double is of 
about the same height, and with similar color. 
These varieties are excellent for house culture, and 
may be grown in pots with as much ease as the 
Hyacinth. Following these are a number of others, 
of a little taller growth, and every variety of colors. 
We notice now in flower, Edarde, double, red. edged 
with yellow; Imperialis, bright red, single; Yellow 
Prince, light yellow, single; Drab 1 1 Or, single, 
creamy white, edged with pink; Grootmaster, single, 
white, bordered with dark rose; Hose, single, white 
and rose, delicate and fragrant; Canary Bird, tine 
in given 
in the sale of seed, the purchaser, in order to obtain 
damages, must prove that the seed at the time of the 
sale was unsound. This is always a question of 
fact, on which the judge or the jury must be satis¬ 
fied, and the onus of establishing which lies upon 
the purchaser. 
It is impossible to say what evidence would be 
sufficient to establish unsoundness. This, of course, 
will depend upon the particular circumstances of 
each case. We may observe, however, that tho 
mere failure of the crop will go very little way in 
proving that the seed was unsound, because the 
failure may be caused by many circumstances, of 
soil, moisture, weather, Ac., apart altogether from 
the quality ot the seed. 
We may further observe, in answer to the memo¬ 
rialists’ question, that if the seller could clearly 
prove that tho same seed aa that complained of, sold 
at the same time, and taken from the same bag, 
produced unexceptionable crops, it appears to us 
that this would be almost conclusive in the sellcr ’3 
favor, because it would prove that the failure com¬ 
plained of must have been caused, not by the 
unsoundness ot the seed, but by other circumstances 
with which the seller had no concern. 
In such a case we think It would be insufficient 
for the purchaser to prove that he had used every 
known precaution, for there will often bo circum- 
A Good \V ahu kou 1 kkks.— l Btiiid you a recipe for a wa&h 
for Irens, recommended some years since by Prof. Mates, in 
the N. Y. Tribune. I have used it, and find it to be the heat I 
eve- tried. Put on the lire an iron pot, and hent it red hot, 
then put into it one pound sal soda. When It is about done 
blubbering, (it burns similar to alum,) say about ten minutes, 
take it out, nnd add to it one gallon of soft water. The beauty 
of this wash is, that is does its «wn scouring. You need only 
apply it with a brush or swab, and when the rain washes it 
off, the baric will shine like varnish. It instantly kills every 
tiling of the insect kind with which it comes in contact, and 
does not Injure the tenderest leaves.— Wm. Bassett, Bloom- 
iT .I.J /1 .1 l * m «... . . 
it into a dish. When cold. It is ready for use. 
V kt Another. —The milk must be sour—what is 
called kippered milk. Put tho milk in a brass kettle 
or tin pan, set on the stove over a slow lire. It 
should not be allowed to get warmer than one can 
hold their hand in. When the curd rises, dip it into 
a coarse cloth, and press all the whey out; salt the 
curd to suit the laste. If to be eaten fresh, to one 
gallon of curd add a quarter of a pound of butter, 
or one pint of sweet cream, and work it up into 
hall pound rolls, and it is ready for use. 
Another way is, when the card is pressed, salt 
and pack it in a jar, and let it stand for a week; 
then put into a kettle u quarter of a pound of butter 
to one gallon of curd; melt the butter, and then 
pour on the curd; when well mixed, butter a large 
mouthed jar or large coffee cups, (I like the cups 
the best,) fill with the cheese and set in a dry place; 
when dried so as to retain their form, take out of the 
mold and set away to dry .—Prairie Farmer. 
light yellow; Claramonde, white; Kciscrskroon, large, 
red, bordered and shaded with yellow, one of the most 
showy of the early Tulips. There are many others 
now in flower, but this will give a good assortment. 
We recommend these early Tulips to the lovers of 
spring flowers. There is no mystery, and need be 
no difficulty, about the culture of Tulips. They may 
be grown in any good garden soil. It should be 
well drained; and if a little sandy, ail the better; if 
inclined to clay, add a little sandy loam; and if poor, 
add rotted turf, or soil from an old pasture, with any 
thoroughly rotted manure. 
The time for planting is in October. Make the 
bed prepared for them fine and mellow, and plant 
the bulbs in rows six to eight inches apart each way. 
Unless the ground is quite light, it is well to sur¬ 
round the bulb with sand at the time of planting. 
This is for beds entirely devoted to the Tulip; but 
they look well if placed in the border or on the lawn, 
half a dozen or more in a cluster. Bulbs can be 
obtained from the nurseries and seedsmen at prices 
vaiying tiom one dollar to three dollars per dozen. 
1 RF.K Vior.KTS, To form these, take runners of the double 
purple anil white violets; pot them, and as they grow, care¬ 
fully pick ofl all aide shoots or runners, until the stem has 
attained tho desired height. Turn them out of doors the 
moment they have done flowering, m u shaded place, until 
November; frequently water overhead, as they are much sub 
jected to rod spider; and when taken into the greenhouse give 
them an airy situation They cannot bear confinement— 
Gardener's Monthly. 
To Keep Bugs from Ccc-umbers, &c.— Those who would 
keep the bugs off their cucumbers, watermelons, &c., have 
only to plant beans around near by. Bean tops are repulsive 
to bugs, and will keep them away for several feet. These 
may bo dug up the first time hoeing. Try it and see. I have 
successfully tried this several years.—A. D. 
To the Bovs— Woodchucks, &c.—Don't let 
chucks eat up your peas and beans this spring; set 
bo sure to catch them; take off their hides and ta 
whiplashes or strings; boll the meat, either for 
hens, and you will be well paid.—Y ankee Laj, 
Depot. Ct., 1862. 
Erfurt Cauliflower. 
earliest of all. 
CORN BREAD WITHOUT SODA. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker; —Noticing an inquiry 
for corn bread without soda, I send you mine, which 
we think is excellent. Pnt one quart of cornmeal 
into your pan and pour over it sufficient boiling 
water to wet it thoroughly, then add one quart luke¬ 
warm water, one do. of cornmeal, one do. of un¬ 
bolted flour, one tablespoonful of salt, four do. of 
good hop yeast, and ouo teacupful of gobd molasses. 
Mix thoroughly with the hands. After pouring into 
your bread-pan, wet the hand and smooth off the 
top; keep in a warm place until light; bake two 
hours in a moderate oveu. 
I mix mine in the evening, and keep warm as 
possible over night, the same as bread sponge, and 
it is ready to bake next morning by !) or 10 o’clock. 
I tried the ten dollar prize recipe of a New York 
city agricultural journal some time ago, and found 
it poor, dry stuti; unfit, in my opinion, for the human 
stomach. I can’t say I admire that editor’s taste for 
corn bread.— B. L., Beaver Dam. IFis.. 1862 . 
The Bon Jardinier says this is the 
apple house FOR Kentucky.— I Am by profviuion a farmer, 
ami have been a subscriber to yom- very useful paper long 
enough to know the practical benefit of such in a family 
fertile benefit o< boiih: of your Kentucky patrons. w 111 you 
give us a plan, or make the luquiry. so that one can he sag 
gesten. of the best ami must approved plan for building an 
apple house.' In Kentucky we are very much annoyed with 
cl Norway rats. They nre very ilestructiv ■ 
when put away tor winter use. Therefore, to guard against 
them will he essential, as also protection from cold, and a 
Stmt eve to economy, as nnr Government has a claim, and we 
tear a heavy one, on us to help defray the expenses in putting 
down the rebellion.—it. H. Gatew ood, Mount Sterling. Ky. 
SPRING FLOWERS. 
The spring flowers are always the most welcome. 
IIow pleasant the sight of brilliant beds of the Cro¬ 
cus and Snow Drop early in April, giving us assur¬ 
ances that tlreary winter is over. Then close upon 
them, May brings us Hyacinths, with their delicate 
and beautiful hues and fragrance that tills the air. 
W ith them we have the gaudy Crown imperials and 
the more humble variety of Frittilaria, with the 
Narcissus, the Pansies, Violets, and I’olianthus, and 
<*>uiy Tulips. These all we have enjoyed before the 
trees have ventured to put forth a leaf or blossom. 
All these charming spring flowers we have named 
are of the easiest cultivation, and muy decorate 
every garden, large or small, at a cost so trifling as 
to be within the reach of all. But they are sadly 
neglect; not because people do not admire them, 
or desire to have them, but because they forget to 
make timely preparation for them. How common 
d is for people to go about planting them just at the 
Straw he it Kina.— Having seen many questions asked and 
answered in your vtiuatj© paper, I also take (he same privilege. 
Will strawherries thrive and produce berries after the vines 
are three years old; and when a new bed is set out, will it do 
to dig out the old roots and plant iu the same bedr—F akmek’s 
Daughter. Cmtogu, Seneca Co., X K, 1862. 
It all the runners arc token off strawberries ss fast as they 
form, the original plant will continue to throw up a number of 
crowns each j«ur, until It becomes very large, and will pro¬ 
duce fruit a number of years. If the runners are allowed to 
root, the old plant becomes exhausted and dies, or becomes 
worthless after the second year. Tho young plants are best 
for transplanting. We would prefer a change of location, but 
if the old bed was broken up and exposed to the air and well 
manured, it might them be re-planted. 
French Muffins.—A quart of warm water in. 
which has been dissolved a quarter of’ a pound of 
hard yeast, and mixed with sufficient flour to make 
rather a still batter; set it in a warm place four 
hour?, then stir it down and divide it into pieces of a 
quarter of a pound each, which mold with the hands, 
and put into wooden trays containing a round bed 
ot flour for each; let them stand two hours in a 
warm place, and cook them upon an iron griddle, 
turning them over when nicely risen. They will 
be baked iu about ten minutes, if the stove is suffi¬ 
ciently hot. 
-- « ♦ « - -- 
Diphtheria—A gentleman who has administered 
the following remedy for diphtheria, informs us that 
it has always proved effectual in affording speedy 
relief. Take a common tobacco pipe, (new,) place 
a live coal within the bowl, drop a little tar upon 
the coal, ami let the patient draw smoke into the 
mouth and discharge it through the nostrils. The 
remedy is safe and simple, and should be tried when¬ 
ever occasion may require. Many valuable lives 
may be saved, our informant confidently believes, 
by prompt treatment as above. — Hallowed (Me.) 
Gazette. 
Wood ashes and common salt, wet with water, 
will stop the cracks of a stove, and prevent the 
smoke from escaping. 
CROWN IMPERIAL. 
The Crown Imperial is a very old and stately 
flower. Occasionally we see a tew specimens in the 
oldest gardens; but now it is not looked upon with 
as much favor as it deserves. Its odor is not very 
agreeable, and perhaps this is the reason that it has 
of late received little attention. Some of the new 
varieties uieexceedingly fine, exhibiting agreat vari¬ 
ety of colors, from creamy white to the darkest brown, 
yellow, scarlet, orange, striped, and double. It flow¬ 
ers here during April and May, throwing up u strong 
flower stem, producing near the top a cluster of 
bell-shaped flowers, entirely surrounding the stem. 
Above the cluster of flowerB is a crown of glossy 
leaves, as shown in the engraving, which is much 
reduced from the natural size. The nectaries are 
singular, each cell containing a large drop, which 
looks like a pearl, or, as the children say, like eyes. 
The bulbs may remain in the ground a number ot 
years without removal. Flant them four or five 
inches deep in a good garden soil. 
moment when they are coming into blossom, or quite 
ns likely in foil bloom. They are told, “ this Is not 
