I 4 IP 
ufacturing its own juices and building up its 
own body of cells differing more or less from 
all others of the same species. This principle 
holds good with regard to grapes as well as rhu¬ 
barb. Do all grape vines produce the same 
quality of grapes ? And do the various varieties 
of the grape produce a wine of equal quality ? 
As well may wc claim it for the grape as for the 
rhubarb. The root of the rhubarb is used by 
all classes of physicians as an alterative, tonic, 
astringent, &c., in certain conditions of the 
Bystem. 
Now, how was it ascertained what the specific 
action of the drng is, ou the living organism, 
until demonstrated by experience ? Slight ap¬ 
parent variations in the proportion of ingredi¬ 
ents will materially change the effect of the 
compound medicinally, which chemistry might 
fail to detect. The introduction into the stom¬ 
ach is a bette r test of the relative valu e of agents 
than the manipulations of the chemist. I have 
within the past year 6cen rhubarb wine used 
with marked advantage where grape wine and 
brandy had failed to benefit—in chronic hepatic 
derangements, kidney affections, dyspepsia and 
general debility. It appears to be peculiarly 
adapted to the enfeebled by reason of age. But 
the most, grave objection urged is, that “it is 
a poison.” I will ask what medicine, when 
taken in over doses, Is not a poison ? If it were 
not, it would be worthless as a medicine. But 
a dose that will kill one person may be a proper 
medicinal dose for another, or for the same per¬ 
son under different circumstances; (and it is 
only as a medicine that I would encourage the 
use of rhubarb wine, grape wine or brandy.) 
Should strychnine, nux vomica, pulsatllla, opi¬ 
um, tobacco, &c,, Ac., be stricken from the list 
of remedial agents because they will destroy life 
in over doses; or, in other words, are poisons? 
Friend Editor, is not the true “ poison” as con- 
FRUIT PROSPECTS IN THE WEST 
TRIP AMONG FRUIT GROWERS, 
VARIOUS ORIGINAL RECIPES, &c 
innate ot the prospects of the fruit cropra some 
portions of the west. The cold last winter was 
very severe upon all fruits, especially the more 
tender varieties, which are almost a total fail¬ 
ure. There will be no peaches north of Cent ra- 
lia, Ill., and 1 have seen vineyards of two and 
three acres in this State in which full three- 
fourths of the vines were killed down to the 
The cold weather of the past few 
weeks has nearly ruined the cherries of this 
region, and there will be a great scarcity of the 
small fruits generally. 
In Southern Illinois the peach crop was, two 
weeks ago, very promising, and, uuKsb affected 
by the recent cold weather, the yield will be very 
large. Peaches are grown in that region very 
extensively. A resident of that section told me 
that peach orchards containing from 10,000 to 
15,000 trees were no uncommon thing, and that 
one grower sold bis crop of peaches last year 
for the snug sum of 126,000. “Some peaches!” 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:— Having just re¬ 
turned from a trip among the strawberries grow¬ 
ers in the southern part of New Jersey, I send 
yon an account of it, as it may interest a few of 
your readers. Iu the vicinity of Cinnaminson 
the plants are looking very fine, although rather 
backward, and I think will be ten days later tbau 
last year, which will be about June 1st. Wu. 
Parky, a well known nurseryman of that sec¬ 
tion, was the first person called upon ; he was 
planting a large quantity of Knox’s 700, or Ju- 
cunda as they are called. His plants are healthy 
looking with the promise of plenty of fruit. 
He has a great variety of plants and does not 
hesitate to express his opinion in regard to the 
quality or value ot cither of them. One variety 
called Metcalf’s Early, he considers valuable to 
^rowers who wish a very early variety. He has 
twelve acres now under cultivation in strawber¬ 
ries; also twelve in raspberries and twelve.in 
blackberries. The Philadelphia Raspberry is 
considered very early by him, and a new vari¬ 
ety of blackberry, called Wilson’s Early, prom 
ises to be very choice. The vines all look well, 
but it was rather early in the season to judge of 
the prospect of fruit 
Nathan Leeds is also quite an extensive 
grower. His plauts all looked well and gave 
promise of a good crop. He has a new variety 
called the Ida, with which I was much pleased, 
as it promises to be a vigorous, hardy grower, 
and should it prove to be a prolific bearer will 
be a valuable variety for the more northern soc : 
tions, as it can stand more dry weather than 
any other variety, and will certainly become very 
popular for field cultivation. Near Moores- 
town there are several large growers. JonN 
S. Collins has about ten acres in strawberies, 
all looking well. Several others were also called 
upon, and the plants found looking finely. In 
this section the strawberries are cultivated in 
beds. The growere of this section have been 
accustomed to sending their fruit to the Phila¬ 
delphia market, but this year they intend send¬ 
ing it to New Y ork as they think it willl be more 
profitable. 
Hammonton was the next place visited. This 
is one of the new settlements on the pine lands 
of N. J., similar to Vineland, and not far dis¬ 
tant from it. The plants here were looking bad¬ 
ly, many of them having the appearance of be¬ 
ing killed by frost. They arc cultivated utmost 
exclusively in hills, which in a great measure 
accounts lor It, as the tops afford but little pro¬ 
tection, the cold reaches the roots more easily. 
As this settlement, is laid out in small sections, 
there arc no very largo growers. Last, year the 
crop was large and fine and made a handsome 
I did not have an opportunity of exam- 
About Cleaning Teeth.—M r. Moore Will 
you please find a little place In your very popular 
paper for an Improvement on Rev. H. W. Beech¬ 
er's advice to the people 
would have obtained. And I am naming a mod¬ 
est amount. T think he would put the increase 
at a higher figure. 
What does scraping do for an orchard that 
needs it? It does for it what currying ahorse | ground 
does for him! It opens the pores, breaks up 
the lurking places of insects, lets the sunlight 
upon the growing wood, thus awakening all the 
functions of It he developing bark. But the 
washing with soap-suds is not of secondary im¬ 
portance. It is essential, and if done twice duriDg 
the growing season, mil pay. And then in the 
autumn , after the leaves drop and the fruit Is 
gathered, whitewash the trunks and bodies of 
the trees. Do not do It in the growing season, 
but when the trees are at rest. The action of 
the frost upon the white-wash will cause it to 
cleave off in the spring, cleansing the tree, des¬ 
troying any lurking lice, and preparing it for 
the spring and summer campaign, «b no other 
process I have ever witnessed, or tried, will do. 
It is not too late, nor will it be for a month, 
to scrape and wash old orchards. 
Muv 21. 1606. Lead Pencil. 
to dean the teeth.” 
I agree with Mr. Beecher in Oil excepting one 
thing; — but. 1 am surprised that a gentleman 
who is reported to be so w(se, should use so lit¬ 
tle common sense as to advocate the cleaning of 
the teeth in the morning and omit the cleaning 
of them before retiring. Why clean them in 
tho morning, after they have been corroding all 
night? They are clean only a couple of hours 
at the moat, but have been corroding from six 
to ten hours. L think if the rule of cleaning 
the teeth at night was practiced more in the 
homes of our American people, there would not 
be so great a demand on Dentists for false teeth 
as there Is now. 
' hope Mr. Beecher (if this should meet his 
intellectual eye,) will not be offended at my au¬ 
dacity In thus alluding to a subject which his 
pen, guided by his steady hand and wise brain, 
has condescended to write upon But let my 
simple rule be added to bis advice, and both com¬ 
bined in practice must result, in tho accomplish¬ 
ment of much good.—A V'r, Farmer’s Daugh¬ 
ter, May 1860. 
RUSTIC SEATS, 
Corn Starch Cake. —Whites of eight eggs; 
pound of butter; % pound of sugar; 
pound of flour; pound of corn starch; oue 
teaspoon of cream tarter; % teaspoon of soda; 
a little lemon. 
Tapioca Pudding.— Eight tablespoons tapio¬ 
ca; one quart of milk; five eggs, (two whites 
left out for frosting.) Soak the tapioca three 
hours. Bake three-fourths of an hour. After it 
is done addangar to the whites and frost it, put¬ 
ting it in the oven to dry. 
Sauce for Tapioca Puddiny .—Half cup of but¬ 
ter; oue cup of sugar; one egg, stirred to a 
cream — enough boiling water to thin. Add a 
little nutmeg. 
Superior Corn Cake.— One coffee cup sweet 
milk; % cup rich sour cream, or iu the absence 
Of cream % cup of butter; two eggs; oue table¬ 
spoon of sugar; one teaspoon of soda; a little 
salt. In thickening use one cup of flour, two 
cups of corn meal. Bake twenty minutes. —E. 
A. Caravel:,, Herkimer , .V. Y. 
The Garden and Lawn are incompletely lur- 
nlshed if they are not supplied with some kind 
of seats whereon one may repose to admire their 
beauty and enjoy their 
fragrance. Fortunately 
these seats need not be 
costly; it would, indeed, /*? 
6how bad taste to have fjpV \ 
them so. Something /y j,,| v 
easy, graceful, fantastic, Mi&ri jv3 roOTR 
rustic, cheap, is appro- ||U| f 
priate— something that i \ | \ 
the sunshine or the wind W ’: 'OjM 
will not harm, or have 
its beauty destroyed by 
the rain. The materials 
for such seats are nearly ,'J /A_ 
always at baud—at least v!>- 
on every farmers’ premises. All that, la rcqulr- 
Sometime6 
Unproductive Fruit Trees. 
fruit trees are unproductive from other causes 
than poverty of the soil, or neglect of the or- 
chardist. They often groAv too luxuriantly to 
bear well. In this case root-pruning is very ef¬ 
fectual, and is performed by digging a circle 
round the tree. A fifteeu year old tree, for in¬ 
stance, may be encircled at five feet from the 
trunk. No rultm can be laid down for this; 
judgment must, be exercised. If cut too close 
the tree may be stunted for years, and if too far 
it will not be efl'ectlve. The aim should be to 
reduce the root about one-third. — (3 ardcnei'*' 
Monthly. _ 
do—the extremes—the excesses—which play the 
mischief. 
But auother objection is, “ rhubarb wine don’t 
taste good —is not palatable.” I am not dis¬ 
posed to quarrel with any one as to whose palato 
shall be the standard. Each can best Judge for 
himself. But when a beverage Is presented to 
twenty individuals, men, women and children, 
indiscriminately, and nineteen ont of the twenty 
regard the beverage as pleasant and palatable, 
it. looks rather odd to hear the exceptional one 
charge the nineteen with “ a vitiated or unculti¬ 
vated taste.” It is true, rhubarb like grape wine 
may be good, bad or Indifferent. All the condi¬ 
tions must be complied with in the manufacture 
In tho one case as well as the other. It may be 
made of a poor variety of the plant, poorly and 
bunglingly made—put into sour or musty casks 
—sugar^nferlor, &c., &c., all, or either of Avhlch, 
will proportionately detract from its quality. I 
regard the rhubarb wine as possessing sufficient 
merit to establish a place for itself eventually 
among those agents which, when properly used, 
bless mankind. 
In much good will, I am yours truly, 
Hiram Hughes. 
Savona, Steuben County, N. Y. 
Remarks, —We have only a few comments to 
make on the above plea in favor of the Rhubarb 
compound. If it is found to be a good medicine, 
let it be made and used as such. We have never 
written a word against employing it as a remedy 
for disease. But avc Bubrnit that this U6e re¬ 
quires but a small portion of the amount being 
manufactured. Besides, if our correspondent 
states a fact “ that the variety whose root is the 
most acceptable for medicine, its juice will be 
found the best adapted to wine making,” why 
dou’t the dealers advertise and tLelr dupes plant 
Turkey Rhubarb? And further, if so much 
medicinal virtue of the wine depends in the root, 
Avouldn't it be a better plan to make the wine 
from the root alone ? Its virtues would be more 
concentrated. Wine made from the root of 
Turkey Rhubarb I WouJd’nt it be a stimulat¬ 
ing, agrecablo, healthy beverage to set on the 
dinner table of a dyspeptic epicure? Let us 
not be misunderstood. Wo write against the 
attempted introduction of this compound as a 
common beverage, believing that it contains an 
acid base which renders its frequent use delete¬ 
rious. We don’t believe it is honest to adulte¬ 
rate (for which at present it is chiefly used) 
grapo wine with it, or to sell it under the fair 
name and fame of Sherry, Champagne, or other 
6Up erior wine. Good cider or grape wines cam 
be produced in this country, cheaper than this 
stuff, and with them, as a common beA'erage, 
having an extensive and therefore remunerative 
sale, this so-called Rhubarb wine can never com¬ 
pete. It may possibly be worth something, in 
some cases, as a medicine, but if so, we don’t 
advise every farmer or fruit-grower to rush into 
the business of producing it, thinking, mean¬ 
time, that he will make a fortune by stocking 
the drug stores. 
A Tree avithout Fruit. —An acacia of a rare 
species, of Avhich the like is only to be seen in 
the Jardin dcs Plantes, has just been trans¬ 
planted in Paris, It was planted as a “tree of 
liberty” in 1773 in the great courtyard of the 
Imperial Library in the Rue du Richelieu, where 
it has nourished ever since. In consequence of 
the great additions making to the Imperial Li¬ 
brary it became neceBsury to remove tbo acacia. 
It was at first proposed to cut the tree dOAvn, 
but it was subsequently resolved to transplant 
it, and it is now to bo seen in an adjoining court¬ 
yard. 
To Remove Varnish Stains.—“Irene,” of 
Madison, Ohio, asks how varnish stains may be 
removed from white linen cloth. This may bo 
done by rubbing the stain ou each side with wet 
brown soup; mix some Btareh to a thick paste 
with cold water; spread it over the soaped 
places, and expose the cloth to the air. It in 
three days, the stains have not entirely disap¬ 
peared, repeat the process. She also asks 
whether a scratch, on the face of a mirror, can 
be obliterated or restored by quicksilver. We 
answer noat least tho manufacturers of look¬ 
ing glasses say so. About the proportion of 
alcohol requisite to dissolve sealing wax, we are 
not Informed further than this:—It avUI not dis¬ 
solve the common article, made of beeswax and 
tallow, but, that made of shellac It will. The 
proportion is easily ascertained by experiment. 
return. 
ining very closely or extensively, as there is no 
hotel in the place, and J could obtain accomo¬ 
dations In a private house only for a limited pe¬ 
riod, consequently my stay was short. This de¬ 
fect, however, Avill soon be remedied, :ia a fine 
largbhotel is being erected, and will be comple* 
I would advise fruit 
Horticultural Notes ami Queries 
COLOuicn Pt.ATKs ov Fruitb, Flo avers, &c.—M essrs. 
E. Damkow & Brother have laid upon our table 
some specimens of the very Uno lithographic colored 
plates of Fruits, Flowers, Evergeens and Shrubbery, 
of which they »re the publishers. Their list Is very 
extensive, comprising most Of the varieties cultivated, 
for which they received tho flrst premium (huge sil¬ 
ver medal) at the N. Y. State Fair in 18615. The speci¬ 
mens are drnwu and colored lVotn Nature, and tho 
fruits, If not satiisfuntory on the dinner table, will 
adorn the parlor, and tho flowers will please tho eye, 
If not the Bmell, almost equal to real oues. Nursery¬ 
men, amateurs, and fruit and flower growers gener¬ 
ally, can obtain a full supply ol‘ the plates by address¬ 
ing the above firm, Rochester, N. Y. 
ted during the summer, 
growers to visit this section, and examine their 
system, as they think it the best known in the 
country. Their Idea Is to get the most out of 
a small space of ground, as some have only five 
acres and some from ten to fifteen, 
The pear 
crop lookB well here, and some think they will 
have a flair crop of peaches.. 
From here I went to Bergen Co., N. J., and 
Rockland Co., N. Y. There the plants are doing 
well, considering the extreme cold weather we 
have had during the winter. Many of the fields 
have been thinned by the frost, but those left 
are quite promising, and if not injured will be 
likely to yield a fair crop. One night during my 
visit there (May 14th) it was so cold as to form ice. 
In conclusion, I will state that the apple and 
cherry treesjwere loaded with blossoms, and in 
all probability we will have a good crop of these 
fruitsjthroughout the State. The pear trees also 
looked well. There are no peaches grown in 
this section, but the peach crop of New Jersey 
may be set down as a dead failure. 
Now and Then. 
Nevr.York City, May 16,1866. 
trunk. A few pine baardB cut out and nailed 
together as represented iu the engraving, will 
form a cheap and convenient rustic seat, which 
will be admired from its very simplicity and 
qnaintness. Of materials there are plenty around 
almost every homestead — tasteful labor only is 
wanting to make appropriate rustic seats. 
The Eoa Plant. — A lady correspondent 
wants to know if the fruit of the egg plant in 
good to cat, and if so how to cook it? Wd 
answer that the fruit is eatable, uud by some is 
deemed a luxury. It is used by some to season 
soups and stews, but is generally cooked by fry¬ 
ing. The egg should be cut latitudiually into 
slices about half an Inch thick and be allowed to 
stand awhile till a portion of the juice runs off, 
by tilting the plates ou which the slices arc 
placed. It is tben.browned upon n griddle or iu 
a spider, with au application of salt and butter 
to taste. The flavor w ill be improved if the 
egg is peeled before cutting up. 
Cabbaoe Plants—Tueir En km ids.— In my expe¬ 
rience this season In raising cabbage plants, I find 
they are subject to two enemies. The first is a small 
white worm with a black head, about an eighth of an 
inch long, which eats into the root and entirely de¬ 
stroys the plant. The oilier is a small black shining 
bug, known hero as the cabbage bug. It begins Its 
ravages soon alter the plant is out ol tho ground and 
eats off tho first leaves. I’crhapB some of your cor¬ 
respondents who have had experience in raising cab¬ 
bage can give, through the Rural, a recipe for pre¬ 
venting the ravages of these pestiferous insects. 
Will some one be so kind as to inform my wife how 
to make whiskey vinegar.—A Subscriber. 
Corn Beer. —Boil a pint of corn till it is soft 
and add to it one pint of molasses and one gal¬ 
lon of water. 8hake them well together iu a 
jug and set it in a warm place. In twenty-four 
hours a nice beer will be produced. When this 
Is gone add more molasBes and water. The corn 
will answer for several weeks. A little yeast 
occasionally forwards fermentation. 
Young Maple Treks. — We have noticed that the 
youngjimiples from seed have come up very abund¬ 
antly thielspring. In the forests, along tho edgcB of 
fields bordered by maples, and under the shade trees 
In the streets we have seen thousands of young ma¬ 
ples. Ju thick, compact turf they have sprung up in 
multitudes. If they grow so easily under these cir¬ 
cumstances it certainly ought tube an easy matter 
for our western friends to supply themselves with 
young trees by sowing the Beed under favorable con¬ 
ditions. 
The position of such seats is worthy of con¬ 
sideration. As they are mainly intended for use 
in hot weather they should be amply shaded, A 
position should be chosen that commands a 
good prospect — if not of a distant landscape, 
then of the beauties of the lawn and the flower- 
garden. Some, at least, should be screened from 
RHUBARB WINE-ITS DEFENSE 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:—I am a subscri¬ 
ber to and constant reader of your valuable 
journal, and having noticed from time to time 
some strietures on the manufacture and proper- 
tieB.of Rhubarb wine, and nothing as it were in 
its defense, permit me through the Rural, to 
enter my protest to your opinion of its value as 
a medicinal agent. 
It is commendable in any journalist to guard 
community against all impositions, if they are 
really .such, whether it be in wine or any thing 
else. But editors, like other mortals, may be 
mistaken in opinions, and frequently are mis¬ 
taken,' as their warfare with each other with the 
pen fully demonstrates. I regard you as mis¬ 
taken with reference to the Rhubarb wine ques¬ 
tion. 
It is said “the Rhubarb wine is made of the 
common pie-plant and nothing more,” thereby 
intimating that there is no difference in varier 
ties, or ignoring varieties altogether. Dr. John 
Kino in the Eclectic Dispensatory, enumerates 
twelve varieties of the Rhnbarh, only two of 
which are of much value In medicine, viz: 41 The 
Rheum Palinatum and Rheum Undulatum.” 
I he inference wonld therefore appear reasona- 
Drying Ref.e,— It is stated that flies can be 
kept from beef hung up to dry, in warm weath¬ 
er, by the use of black pepper. Heat a shovel 
red hot aud Bprinkle the pepper upon it. The 
smoke will rout the flies at once. Follow this 
up three or four days as occasion may require 
aud the flies will give it up. 
Protecting Trees krum Mick.—M r. J. M. Bates 
writes us from Titusville, Pa., that instead of UBing 
newspapers to protect his treus, S. W. A. ol' Cortland, 
HI., would find that a little crude petroleum smeared 
on the body of the tree Avould bo an effectual guard 
against mice, rabbits, sheep, &c. Mr. B. has tried 
the remedy with good success. Perhaps it would be 
a healthy wash for the bark of the tree. 
Good Yeast.— Take a dozen good potatoes, 
boil aud mash fine; add one cup of white sugar 
and a quart of boiling water. After standing 
ten minutes add a quart of cold water aud half 
a pint of yeast, and bottle off. A half pint of 
this will make one large loaf of bread. 
ORCHARD SCRAPING, 
Ed. Rural New-Yorker:— .You would like to 
hear from, “ the man who has tried it extensive¬ 
ly”—!. e., scraping rough bark off orchard trees. 
I’m oue of ’em. I tried it extensively, last sea¬ 
son, particularly. I went to the old homestead 
and found that the scarcity of labor daring the 
war had caused the grand old orchard trees to 
be sadly neglected. They did look rough—moss 
grown, burk-bound, lousey, and as if they had 
stood still three years, I took a sharp hoe and 
went at them, ecraping them until they looked 
red. I scraped trunk and limbs—tho larger ones 
8B high as I could reach and the interlacing 
branches would permit. Nearly a week of hard 
labor was employed in this manner. I then got 
BOft soap and rain-water and made a very strong 
suds, and with pole and swab washed the trunks 
and limbs of the trees as thoroughly and faith¬ 
fully as I had scraped them. Nearly another 
week was spent at this work, I believe. Did it 
Trans clan ting IIoney Locust. — (Subscriber.) 
Transplanting the young trees from the nursery bed 
to tho rows, may be done at any time, regardless of 
size, providing the season uud weather are suitable. 
They should not bo left in the nursery bed when so 
large as to crowd each other, and materially interfere 
with a vigorous growth. 
A Good Whitewash.— The Chemical Gazette 
says:—To make a good whitewash: take a clean 
water-tight cask or tub and put in a half bushel 
of lime. Slack it by pouring on boiling water 
sufficient to cover it five inches deep, stirring it 
briskly till thoroughly slacked. When this is 
done, dissolve in water and add two pounds of 
sulphate of zinc aud oue of common salt. These 
will cause the wash to harden aud prevent crack¬ 
ing. A cream color may be made by adding to 
the above three pounds of yellow ochre. Tho 
Scientific American says, that if to this wash 
glue bo added it will cause the wash to stick and 
not come off where touched. A half pound of 
glue will answer for a wash-tub full. 
observation by shrubbery—fragrant if possible— 
where one may read or work. The season is at 
hand when the Garden and Lawn ofl’er their 
greatest attractions, and every t';ing that tends 
to make them more enjoyable should be pro¬ 
vided. 
Cranberry Rake.— We have a request from Mr. 
N. T. Hall of Virginia City, Montana, for a descrip¬ 
tion of a rake or machine for gathering cranberries. 
Will some one who Is posted furnish a description for 
publication? And If the Implement I* a really valu¬ 
able one to cranberry cuiturista, wo would like a 
drawing of.it also. 
Fruit Raising :n Southern Illinois,— The 
Cairo, (Ill.,) Times asserts that there is no sec¬ 
tion of the Union equal to Southern Illinois l’or 
the production of firuit. It mentions the names 
of five fruit growers who have an aggregate of 
26,000 peach and about 2,000 apple trees. They 
have also considerable land devoted to the cul¬ 
ture of grapes and strawberries. 
Hawthorn Plants.— Mr. W. B. IIalsted, East 
Porter, this State, Inquires where he can purchase 
hawthorn© plants lor a hedge. They are probably 
little called for and somewhat scarce; but probably 
some of the nurserymen of this city have them. You 
can ascertain by writing to them. 
