MANURING GRAPE VINES, 
Eds. Rural New-Yokrk : — From reading 
your remarks on "Manuring Grape Vines,” in 
the Rural of Nov. 10th, I am induced to offer 
a few words corroborative of your views, and of 
course against the opinion and advice of Mr. 
Hovet, to whom yon refer. 
The question or propriety of manuring vine¬ 
yards, to what extent, «fcc, is one deserving 
more attention thau it receive*. If grape cul¬ 
ture continues to advance for ton years to come 
in the same ratio that it has for the last ten 
years—and that it will continue toadvanceeven 
rapidly, I entertain not the slightest doubt 
VARIOUS ORIGINAL RECIPES, Ac. 
Soup —IIow to Make It. — Take a small 
quantity of beef or mutton with a small mar¬ 
row bone that will not produce a large quantity 
of grease; boll them long enough to get tho 
virtue in the water; take them out; stir in a 
thickening made of 2 common-Bized potatoes, 
1 do. onion, 1 do. carrot, l cup of cabbage, l 
cup of turnip, all chopped tine as minee meat; 
savor it, if you liavo it, with summer savory, 
red or black pepper and snlt, agreeable to your 
taste."* When uearly cooked put a crust pre¬ 
pared as follows : Beat up an egg, put it In half 
a cup of water, a little salt; make a stiff paste, 
roll it as thin as a water, if you can; let the 
upper side dry; turn it over; dry again; then 
roll it over in lolds like Jell cake; cut It in as 
narrow strips as possible; cook It with the 
soup, and if yon can’t say it is as good soup as 
you could wlBh for, you will please try to make 
a better one, and those who have eaten mine 
must acknowledge their mistake. N. B.—Place 
a plate or dish on the bottom of your kottle 
before thickening it, to prevent burning it, and 
be sure you have water so plenty as to have 
abundant liquor to absorb the bread or crackers 
you wish to eat with it.— Desiue Stone, Jklvi - 
dere, 111. 
Dyeing Cotton Blue.— Four oz. copperas, 
2 oz. prussiatc of potash, 1 oz. oil vitriol. Boil 
in the copperas water fifteen or twenty minutes; 
then take out the goods, rinse in cold water; 
throw out the copperas water, and boil in the 
potash water; take them out, put iu the vitriol, 
and scald them again. This will color four lbs. 
of cotton goods. Woolen cannot bo colored 
iu this way. Rinse in rain water.—M rs. 8. A. 
Pope, Anamosa, .Iowa. 
I 8knd tho following in reply to an inquiry 
for “Jelly cake with icing between instead of 
jelly % cup of butter, 3 enps of sugar, nearly 
4 cups of hour, the whites of 9 eggs, one cup of 
sweet milk, 2 teaspoons of cream tartar, 1 tea¬ 
spoon of soda. Bake very light color. Havo 
icing and put between the layers instead of 
jelly. Let the cake get cold hefore the icing, 
is put on, or tho icing will run.— Lucy. 
One oz. prnssiate of pot- 
depend very much on the protection given to 
its contents against cold weather. If yon have 
taken delight in its abundance of luscious and 
healthful fruits in the past, take care to expend 
a little timely work and make sure of a like 
result again In the future. Winter protection 
is of vital importance—not merely to save from 
absolute destruction the vines and shrubs, but 
to retain their vigor so they shall put forth a 
strong and early growth in the spring. 
Strawberries are m03t easily protected; clean 
straw, evergreen boughs, or cornstalks are good 
materials for this purpose. But do not cover 
60 closely as to smother. 
Raspberries, blackberries, and ail bush fruits 
—if the canes have been trimmed and the old 
wood ent out—can be tied up in straw very 
expeditiously, and at this season it is preferable 
to adopt this method rather thau attempt to 
bury them In earth. 
Grape vines may be laid down and covered 
with corn stalks, evergreen branches, or straw. 
Such covering is preferable to earth, as the 
latter sometimes injures buds that are not fully me quite apparent, 
matured. It would be well to place poisoned And fi r8 fc, I rem: 
bread underneath the covering to destroy ver- oped, medium-siz 
min. ripened canes, is 
Dwarf trees may be protected by setting com grape culture. W) 
stalks around them and tying the tops; but number of vi 
protection should also he given the trunk space or piece of £ 
against mice. be trained and su| 
more 
— it will beau Important element in our agri¬ 
cultural productions. 
Are stimulating manures of any kind neces¬ 
sary or desirable to successful grape culture? 
and if so, what kinds, and when, and to wbat. 
extent, Bhould they be applied? It is not my 
pnrpose at this time to write a lengthy article 
upon this subject—but rather by briefly pre¬ 
senting the resultB of my own experience and 
observations, to provoke others to bring for¬ 
ward their testimony, so that by aggregating 
our experimental tests, we may eventually de- 
velope the true method. Nor do I intend now 
to argue the points I am about to state, hut 
merely to present a few statements ot facts, to 
ILLUSTRATIONS OF PLANTS, FLOWERS, Ac. ( 
On another page we have given numerous t 
engravings of Plants, Flowers, Fruits, &c — * 
one of the choicest pages from the new 111ns- < 
trated Edition of Webster’s Dictionary. Many f 
of these illustrations, portraying our well known i 
fruits and flowers, are doubtless familiar to nearly i 
every reader, and a description will bo unnecea- * 
8ary. Of other varieties, with which few are ' 
acquainted, some remarks will be instructive 1 
to many and we hope interesting to all. 
First we have tho Banana tree, under the 
botanical name Mum, one of the most valuable 
of all the tropical trees, furnishing the inhabit¬ 
ants of warm climates with abundance of health¬ 
ful, delicious fruit. 
The Narcissus, a beautiful, bulbous - rooted 
flower of the common Daffodil family, that will 
thrive well in our climate in any dry garden 
soil. The one portrayed In the engraving be¬ 
longs to the lhlyanthus section of the Narcissus 
family, bearing its flowers in clusters, and is not 
only beautiful but deliciously fragrant. After 
planting in the autumn, which is the only time 
they can be planted, cover the ground with 
leaves or manure, as a protection against frost, 
and they will flower finely in May and June. 
I\tpyrus.— A species of rush abounding in tho 
rivers of Egypt and other warm countries, and 
noted as furnishing the ancient substitute for 
paper. 
Strawherry-Tea r—IIas a very fine combination 
of names, and should be excellent; but otir read¬ 
ers would think the fruit insipid and entirely 
inferior to either the strawberry or pear—at least 
until they became used to its flavor. It Is the 
fruit of a Cactus, a native of the West Indies 
and other warm countries. 
The Sweet-sop is another West Indian produc¬ 
tion, the fruit of a large shrub, Anona Squamosa. 
It Is sweet and pulpy. 
The Trujjle is a curious fungous growth, some¬ 
what resembling tho mushroom in flavor, but 
said to be mneb superior, and is highly prized 
by epicures, bringing a high price in the mar¬ 
kets. It grows entirely under ground, gener¬ 
ally in the shade of woods, and near the roots 
or 6tumpB or trees, often attaining a large size. 
Sim-Few, a plant of the genus Drorera, the 
leaves of which are furnished with small, hristie- 
like glands that exude a liquid substance having 
the appearance of dew. 
Tanqhinia venenata is a poisonous plant, a na¬ 
tive of Madagascar. 
Taro, the native name of an Arum, resembling 
somewhat our well known Calla Ethiopica or 
Egyptian Lily, The roots are used for food in 
tropical countries. 
Tephrosia Toxicaria, a leguminous tropical 
shrub, covered with a silky down. 
Venus' Fly-Trap, a plant with very sensitive 
leaves, closing when touched, and sometimes 
enclosing insects in its folds; hence its name. 
Victoria Ileyla .— This is the queen of the 
Water Lilies, found in the Amazon river twenty- 
eight years ago. It was first called Earyale Am- 
but afterwards named in honor of 
stimulating manures, — especially, from the 
strODg growing varieties, such as Isabellas, Con¬ 
cords, Dianas, and almost every other sort now 
being generally cultivated in our country, ex¬ 
cept the Delaware. So far as my experience 
goes, this variety, being naturally of a slow and 
stinted growth, will bear a richer soil, and even 
to be well fed with composted or well rotted 
manures, nor can it be expected to produce sat¬ 
isfactory results upon such soils, and under such 
treatment as will be found best adapted to the 
Isabella or Diana. That excessive growth and 
development of wood In grape vines, or fruit 
trees, is unfavorable to the production of fruit, 
is a l'aet long since recognized, and now pretty 
generally understood, even by persons of lim¬ 
ited experience. The trees of a thrifty youDg 
orchard, when a high state of cultivation is 
maintained, will attain to a large size, before 
producing fruit, — except in a very limited 
amount; nor will they produce abundantly, un¬ 
til this excessive growth abates, while Nature’s 
process of “getting ready to bear fruit, is vig¬ 
orously carried ou, fruit-bearing will be kept in 
aheisance. Hence, some have advised and prac¬ 
ticed “root pruning,” with a view to check the 
too rapid growth of the tree, and encourage the 
development of fruit buds. 
But there is another, and still more Berious 
difficulty, resulting from excessive growth, in 
grape vines. I refer to the danger and almost, 
certain occurrence of the destruction of what 
few fruit buds there may bo developed by the 
storms and frosts of winter, and added to this, 
the almost certain destruction of even the fruit- 
bearing canes, themselves under very low tem¬ 
perature, for, let It be borne in mind, that 
To Coloh Blue, 
ash; one tablespoonfal of copperas; one do. 
oil vitriol; bring to a boil, then put in the 
goods for twenty minutes, stirring often. Tc 
be colored in iron. Rinse in clear warm water. 
This is sufficient for five pounds cotton rags.— 
Mks. R. W. G., Jacksonville. 
pyriform, but with unequal sides. Skin warm 
yellow, inclining to fawn, shaded with orange 
and crimson, thickly covered with rnsset dots, 
and sometimes sprinkled with rnsset. Stalk 
short, stout and fleshy, inserted by a ilp at an 
Inclination almost without depression ; when the 
Up Is absent the cavity is uneven. Calyx open. 
Segments stiff, in a shallow, furrowed basin. 
Flesh ytdlowisb, buttery, juicy, somewhat gran¬ 
ular, with a sugary, perfumed, vinous flavor. 
This valuable pear was originated by M. 
Clairgeau, Nantes, France, in 1848, and the test 
of long and varied cultivation has proved it to be 
one of the moat profitable varieties. The tree 
is very vigorous, and succeeds well as a dwarf 
or standard. It comes early in bearing, and is 
very productive; a* shown by i he cut the size is 
largo. The time of ripening is from October 
to January. We extract from Downing’s Fruit 
Book the following description: — Fruit large, 
PRESERVING EGGS EOR iWINTER. 
A country minister’s wife writes to the Scot¬ 
tish Farmer:—Every evening 1 take all tho eggs 
collected during the day and rub them carefully 
with butter, or the finest and purest lard. Every 
pore of the shell must be thoroughly filled, other¬ 
wise the air eaunot be excluded. I have ready a 
box or tin cannister, and plenty of salt. I put a 
layer of salt in the bottom of tho box and then 
place, in rows, my buttered eggs. Go on alter¬ 
nately with layers of eggs and salt until you. 
leave perfect room for tho lid closing firmly. 
Tho exclusion of air is the great secret ol pres¬ 
ervation. I have many different sizes of canis¬ 
ters stored in my pantry (on an open shelf) with 
preserved eggs. Those canisters I got from the 
baker or grocer for a trifle. My one and a half 
dozen canisters are 3d each. My largest size 
contains ten dozen eggs, and cost 1 b. The lid 
is quite as important as the box. Be sure it is 
close fitting, otherwise you will he vexed to find 
the eggs like those we get in London, very un- 
lik ewise-like Scotch eggs. Many ladies tell me 
they havo particular positions for placing the 
eggs, but I find mine are delicious, after four 
months, by placing them comfortably, without 
reference to top or bottom. 
produce the requisite firm, hard, closc-jointed, 
mature wood, under any other circumstances. 
Successful grape culture demands thorough 
cultivation, that 1b, that tho ground should be 
stirred often (but not too deep,) and kept loose 
and entirely clean from grass and weeds, but 
the soli should be only moderately fegtillzed, or 
this teudancy to overgrowth will continually 
disappoint the hopes and expectations of the 
attentive and painstaking cultivator. The ob¬ 
jection to the use of manure in grape culture — 
as recommended by Mr. Hovey— is well staled 
in the closing paragraph to your brief remarks, 
and is, as I think, in keeping with tire experi¬ 
ence of all our grape growers In this section of 
the country. And I doubt not that the aggre¬ 
gate testimony of all our cultivators throughout 
the entire coun'ry, will fully corroborate your 
statement that “it tench to augment the wood 
Horticultural Notes and Queries 
Tub Illinois State Hoivriuut.TintAL Society will 
hold its eleventh annual winter meeting at Barrett’s 
Hull, in the town of Champaign, Decemberllth, 12th, 
lat.h and 11th, I860, at.9 o'clock, A. M. All State or 
local Horticultural Societies are invited to send del¬ 
egates; and the attendance of all persona Interested 
in the objects of the organization will lie cordially 
Specimens of Fruits, Flowers, Plants, 
welcomed, 
Vegetables, Wines, Seeds, Scions, Ac., are solicited 
for examination and distribution. Winter Peats, 
grown in the State, are specially desired. 
it is expected that the Illinois Central, Terre 
Ilaute, Alton and St. Louis, Toledo, WabuBh and 
Western, and Chicago and Alton railroads, will re¬ 
turn members in attendance free, or at one-Hfth rates. 
The Citizens or Champaign will extend their hospi¬ 
tality to members from a distance. 
Persons unable to attend, by remitting the snm of 
two dollars will bo entitled to membership for 1807, 
and a copy of the Transactions for 1800. 
Parker Earlb, President. 
W. C. Fi.aoo, Cor. gee'y, Alton, IU. 
spongy and immature. They continue their 
growth late In the fall, so that the early frost 
finds them in “ 
full feathor,” and in vigorous 
growth, finds them immature throughout, in 
root, branch, leaf and fruit-buds. Stimulated 
beyond the requirements of their nature they 
keep on growing, keep on “getting ready” to 
bear fruit, and they will keep multiplying and 
extending their vigorous and rampant laterals, 
keep climbing upon and smothering each other, 
to the inevitable destruction of tho small 
amount of fruit that may have appeared in the 
early part of the season, and to the utter dismay 
and discouragement of the “ vine dresser.” He 
sees no hope of restraint, through any of the 
modes of training or trimming, of which he has 
read or heard, and in reading, perhaps, to con¬ 
clude that his vines are planted too close to¬ 
gether, or that his trellises or stakes are too 
low. He imagines, perhaps, that he has neg¬ 
lected to prune sufficiently during the fore part 
of the BCason, and hence, seeing tnat something 
must be done, he 6ets to work cutting and 
slashing, and vigorouly prosecutes hi8 heroic, 
blind surgery to the sure and certain destruction 
of the over-fed and over-grown vines. Or, re¬ 
tiring in disgust, he permits the weeds and grass 
to grow and check and choke bis ungovernable 
and rampant vines, until they arc thereby dwarfed 
and stunted, until a few loose clusters of fruit 
are developed and partially matured. Straights 
way he comes out with his newly attained suc¬ 
cess and jealously proclaims his accidental discov¬ 
ery of the “ true way” to produce grapes. One 
of our best varieties has thus far failed, almost 
universally, from no other cause than being 
planted on too rich ground, or from being stim¬ 
ulated with strong fertilizers. Hence, it is 
almost universally condemned. It is said that 
it grows vigorously, that it produces very large considt 
and slroDg canes, but that they are generally power 
either killed outright in the winter or that their air by 
frnit-buds are destroyed; or, if any fruit is left, of heat 
it does not ripen at all or very unevenly and remain 
late. The truth Is, this grape, I speak of the of 
Diana, is a prolific bearer, and ripeu-J ten days j^ther 
or two weeks earlier than the Isabella; but it j n m ju 
requires a dry, lean soil and cannot bo made to spring, 
HOW NATURE PROTECTS PLANTS IN 
WINTER. 
destroy the cultivated part of the bush. This proba¬ 
bly is the difficulty with his hushes that failed to 
blossom. The hushes should be examined often and 
all such suckers bo removed. Aud to insure profuse 
blooming, they should once a year, or ofteuer, have 
manure put on the ground around them, and be cut 
back one-third, or half way to tho ground. The new 
wood bears tho flowers; and this process causes new 
wood to grow rapidly. These fragrant beauties 
should adorn every lady’s yard. In this Nursery the 
proprietor cultivates aud grows biB perpetual roses 
wholly upon their own roots. Though the process is 
more cOntly to him, it. is much to the advantage or 
purchasers, as the bushes never fail in the manner 
above named.— Florist, Genesee Nursery, Ltma,N. Y. 
azomeum 
Queen Victoria. It has been found in almost all 
civilized countries, always attracts crowds 
of visitors when in flower. For its perfection 
it needs a glass house and a large tank of water, 
kept constantly warm, and few are able or wil¬ 
ling to hear the expense for tho sake of one 
plant, however magnificent, hence its cultiva¬ 
tion will never become general. The flowers are 
about a foot in diameter, white aud red, and the 
leaves so large and 6trong that when floating on 
the surface of the water they will bear up a 
child five or six years of age. 
Canker-worm in Michigan. — This dangcroiiB en¬ 
emy to the apple tree has appeared in several orchards 
in Calhoun Co., Michigan. Its spread is alow but its 
ravages fearful. United effort should bo made by 
orchardists to exterminate this pest when It first 
makes its appearance in a locality. 
Melon Seeds.—W ill you please to make the inqui¬ 
ry through the Rural that some of your numerous 
readers will give the information where a good arti¬ 
cle of melon seed can he obtained, as I am in the 
business.— a. k. e. 
Peaji Blight.— In answer to repeated ques¬ 
tions in relation to fire-blight in the pear, its 
cause and remedy, we may state briefly that no 
satisfactory explanation has been given of the 
reason why it attacks some trees and spares oth¬ 
ers, or prevails in certain, seasons and in certain 
districts. The best remedy we know is to cut 
off fearlessly ail affected branches or portions as 
fa6t as they appear, and burn or bury them. 
The best prevention is planting on good, firm 
upland, not using much manure, but promoting 
a good, healthy, well-ripened growth by thor¬ 
ough and frequent passage of the cultivator.— Ex. 
A Wedding Johnny Cake.— One pint sour 
cream, the same of sweet milk, half cup batter, 
three eggs, tablespoon of salt, same of soda, one 
quart ot meal, one pint of flour, one pint ot rai¬ 
sins, half pint citron. This roakeB a very large 
cuke, and is delicious; and if one does not marry 
more than once iu a lifetime, can well afford to 
make it. 
t ---- 
Buckwheat Cakes may be improved by ad¬ 
ding corn meal, prepared in the same way, ir. 
about the same proportion as for bread. 
Lime on tub Garden.— Old garden soils, which 
have been liberally manured, sometimes become sour 
for want of alkali, and in such cases the use of lime, 
and even of qulck-limc, is judicious. 
A distinousihed New York gardener says, as a 
rule, flower seeds should be covered with their own 
diameter or thickness of earth. 
iWjf. 
till) 
I A I 
