UBAIi 
and leaving on that cane two to four buds, 
according as it has started from near the 
center, or the end of the two-year old. Now 
drive down three strong stakes in a triangle 
of eighteen inches diameter, and then wind 
the two canes in opposite directions. See 
the following figure: 
stiff, clay soils ns a mechanical agent, but doubts 
if they have any manurial value. Dr. Trimble 
suggests that Mr. Young try the experiment of 
putting coal ashes on laud at the rate of l,00tj 
loads to the acre, and report to the Club. Mr. 
Quinn says that the ashes of anthracite coal 
contain little fertilizing material. Thinks 1,000 
loads to the aero a pretty largo close. He uses 
them nl. the rate of thirty two-horse loads to the 
acre on Ills stiff soils; but if he. did not. have 
them on his place he would not haul them a mile 
if given to him to apply them. A better way to 
lighten stiff clay soils than by applying coal 
ashes, is to plow in the fall and twice in the. 
spring before planting. Prof. Tone entered 
into a ortJoulatlon and came to the conclusion 
that 1,000 loads to the acre would not. furnish the 
soil much more than a good, heavy sprinklingof 
salt upon our mefct. 
Mr. Ca Uubnteb. thinks the main value of an¬ 
thracite coal ashes its u manure depends upon 
the amount of kindling wood used in the com¬ 
bustion of the coal. A learned doctor said the 
silica in coal ashes const it utes their chief value as 
a manure. Another gentleman called attention 
to the fact, tha t coal ashes are excellent absorb¬ 
ents. They arc used often to deodorize vaults 
and to mix with manures, still another gentle¬ 
man said he knew a city garden that lutd been 
filled in with cool ashes to the depth of twelve 
to eighteen inches, and ho never saw a more lux¬ 
uriant growth of strawberries, gooseberries and 
peach trees. He thought, the recommendation 
to apply 1,000 ono-borso loads of coal ashes per 
acre rather extravagant, like many other of the 
Club's recommendations. Allowing twenty-five 
bushels to the load, he calculated that, such a 
dressing would afford the modest amount of 
CiuMwn quarts to the square foot. 
Coal Ashe* and iVn Manure. Mr. You NO asks 
whether hen nmiviro, plaster and coal ashes, 
mixed, would bo a profitable top-dressing to 
apply to corn. Mr. Qi:i.vn said lion droppings 
and plaster are excellent for corn, but he would 
leave out the coal •i.Mnr, ami substitute common 
loam or muck. Vrot. ItmrBJt had used such a 
compost nine years, growing corn in the same 
spot evory year, and tlio ninth year crop was 
t he best of all. 
Harley After Corn.- .T. H. BrbC'KBILL, Lan¬ 
caster Co., Pa., an overs an inquiry about barley 
after corn, by say ittg: 
“ Yes; you can grow barley after a crop of corn 
In this way: Manure heavily with green man¬ 
ure, plow as early as possible, make your ground 
in good order, roll, and drill quite shallow. If 
you sow by hatid, borrow well first, finish with 
rolling, sow two hi labels clear seed. It will ripen 
nuro. Ho would grind the hones instead of 
treating them as recommended by the Professor 
of Chemistry, If the gentleman has plenty of 
water power they may bo ground; but he 
thought It still more profitable to sell t he bones 
at thirty or forty dollars (which price ho said 
could be obtained) per ton and use the mono) 
to buy guano. He thought the sulphuric acid 
applied to bones as suggest ed would be lost t o a. 
degree. The Professor of Chemistry said the 
gtde& of the pit should he well packed. The ad¬ 
dition of sulphuric acid does not turn bones 
into plaster, but into superphosphate of lime; 
thus two great, points are gained — the phos¬ 
phorus is Increased, and the whole is converted 
from a slow, torpid, insoluble mass into a lively, 
soluble, prompt manure. There wits a good 
deal of profound learning wasted cm this .sub¬ 
ject, for which wo have no space. 
Apple Tree Horcr. — Mr. I>aol asked if there 
was any better remedy for this follow than cut¬ 
ting him out each year. Or. Trimble, Profes¬ 
sor of Entomology, says that when they once 
get into tile tree, they cannot, bo cut oul, with a 
knife, lie recommended transfixing them with 
a sharp pointed annealed wire thrust into the 
space t hey had bored. ’ Mr.Wrr.LtAMS, with grent 
earnestness, ussqrleil that he had aeon evidence 
that, a nail driven into a tree, by furnishing 
oxl lo or Iron for circulation through the tree, 
prevented the ravages of the borer. Dr. Trim¬ 
ble called the tiling ”preposterous and a wild 
theory." Mr. Wn.i. vms had seen the evidence 
of its effects with his own eyes, and t he gentle¬ 
man who had practiced it. many years was one of 
intelligence and great, experience. Mr. Paul, 
who was preset it, said he had succeeded in keep¬ 
ing hia trees clear of the borer with a knife, 
going over his trees twice a year; and he had 
heard that a paste id' snap, lime and sulphur, 
spread over the tree, prevents the entrance of 
the borer. Mr. CARPENTER'S remedy ia to take 
a sheet of brown paper In the last, of May, re¬ 
move thi‘ earth for an Inch or so, and wrap it 
around the tree to the extent of one foot up, 
and no borer will attempt to deposit, its eggs 
lliat season. As regards tho nail business, the 
best kind of miil is the finger nn.il. 
Dr. Trim in,is said t he paper business was 
another humbug, it’ the beetle cannot get at 
the tree at the roots it. will go into the top of the 
tree, and paper to he effectual must, cover tho 
tree. Mr. Carpenter, said that was por/eet 
nonsense. [Audible smllos.J The beetle will not 
at tempt to deposit its egg except in the tender 
wood. Mr. Pai l said ho knew the beetle would 
deposit its eggs in the tender twigs at the top of 
the tree. He thought the paper remedy good so 
far as It wont. If properly employed. Mr. Wil- 
i.i ams thought a better remedy (one which he 
had fried) was to wind the base of the tree with 
waved cloth instead of paper. If there is no 
borer In the tree, they will not, go above tho 
waxed eloih to got Into it. 
The Y. Y. Huue Poultry Exhibition,—A Com¬ 
mittee, consisting of Messrs. Hyman, Fuller 
and Carpenter, appointed by the Farmers' Club 
to visit I lie exhibition of tho V V. Slate Poultry 
Association, made a report, from which wo copy 
tho following practical suggestions: 
We do not find that improved blood rind fancy 
combs or guy feiiHn-rs in chickens makes u deci¬ 
ded and uniform difference in the value of poul¬ 
try. Those who show the most satisfactory 
account current with their poultry yards do not 
keep fanny fowls. Yet, there is mi doubt that, 
breeding to a special end or point has accom¬ 
plished for poullrv nearly a» much as It, has in 
neat outHe. The chief marks of excellence in a 
chicken are three -to boa good layer at all sea¬ 
sons; to yield a tender and woll-fijivnred tlesh ; 
and, to falleu rapidly. There Is no breed that 
excels all others in each of the,., points. Thus 
for instance, we have no breed that are in size 
equal to the ISrnhmns.tn delicacy and tallness of 
breast, equal to the Dorkings, and as egg pro¬ 
ducers iqual to Hie Leghorns. To require this 
would he as hard as to demand of a cow to he. as 
large-lamed and fleshy ns the Durham, to be as 
copious of milk on moderate fet'd U s the Ayr¬ 
shire, to give as yellow milk as an Alderney, and 
to ne a i elegant In shape mid a.- bright in color 
asafull-blooded Devon, auchncomhinutionof 
merits is not lo he expected. In el loosing among 
the breeds of fowl- one win get at hast two 
good qualities combined; and tv is for i nub per¬ 
son to know and decide for himself for what 
ex eel le aces he chad, values poultry. 
1. In the white Leghorn he wtll find a regular 
and eons:ant egg producer and Hie flesh quite 
good, but a bad mother. They will not sot. 
i. In tho Dorking ho will get fine, delicate 
flesh, a, Tull development of breast, hardiness and 
self-help, the ability to ntok up a living where 
any hen can live. But. they are not great layers. 
istmswm 
GRAPE PRUNING. 
NEW YORK FARMERS’ CLUB 
I have a grape vine which, according to my 
ideas, wants pruning very badly. Is there any 
danger of cutting off too many of the fruit 
buds? Some say cut so as to leave only two 
joints of last, year's growth. What season of the 
year is the best time to perform the. annual prun¬ 
ing? Some say one t ime, and some say another. 
If I follow all I shall have po vine left, in two 
years. I have not had experience, but want to 
learn, and now I want, to know how much of Inst 
year’s growth I shall cut. away. E. (’able. 
Our correspondent, is evidently a novice 
—perhaps no more so than many others; 
and as it is onr duty as well as pleasure to 
endeavor to convey information, we will try 
to make the way clear, even though we have 
to repeat somewhat of that which we have 
already printed. 
First, Mr. Cable says his “vines want 
pruning badly,” but he does not. tell us how 
old is the vine or wliat its previous pruning; 
we will therefore assume that it is a vine of 
four or more years, and that it. has been 
somewhat, roughly and unsystematically 
primed heretofore something like the accom¬ 
panying- sketch, only a good deal more 
We continue our notes upon the proceedings 
of this body of accomplished and versatile gen¬ 
tlemen. Every weak accelerates their progress 
in the art of affording amusement, combined 
with instruction. The last meeting was an es¬ 
pecially funny one. 
Planting Trees.—E. RICHMOND,' of Brooklyn 
Heights, has a farm ho wants to improve by 
planting trees, and lie wants to know what, kinds 
to plant and bow to plant them. He is advised 
to employ a competent experienced horticul¬ 
turist to make a plat, of hi? grounds and fur¬ 
nish the information lie asks for. 
A Stump Puller (a model) was exhibited by a 
Mr. Brown, which wo should think practical. 
The cost and where It was made wits not given, 
but it, was referred to a committee to test. 
The Professor of Agriculture, with the serenity 
for which his name is famous, read a niostsolemn 
and affecting - sermon upon Pains and Penalties 
which was received with decorous groans and 
sighs. 
Ponl Allies for Hens. — Hf.nry N. Wilber of 
Connecticut, asks if coal ashes distributed under 
hen-roosts will harm hens or their manure. He 
is answered no; nor will w-ood ashes. Mr. 
Carpenter, when he sets his hens, puts two or 
three handf ulls of wood ashes in the nest to keep 
them free from vermin, and when the chicks 
comp out, to prevent them becoming afflicted 
with it. He believes it. destroys the lice. The 
Early Rising Professor tried everything, in¬ 
cluding ashes, to exterminate the lico from his 
hens and their houses, but. failed until he fumi¬ 
gated them by burning brimstone. That fixed 
’em. Dr. Trimble doubted if wood ashes would 
kill lice, but ho did not doubt that, the brimstone 
did. 
Egg Plant. Culture. A correspondent, asked 
about egg plant culture, best variety, &c. Mr. 
Quinn responded that the Now York Improved 
was regarded the best variety, it is started In 
hot-bods, and should not lie transplanted until 
the weather and soil is warm, and all danger 
from frost ia over. In transplanting take all 
the roots and disturb them as little as possible - 
so Important, is this regarded that cultivators 
grow plants in pots in order that they may be 
transferred to tho field without, breaking a 
root fiber. Good rich loam is tho best soil the 
richer the bettor. Plant in row's throe and a. 
half feet apart each way, cultivate well, uud 
each plant ought to produce ten eggs. 
DomesticatingBuffaloeii. V.Dhvtnny, Denver 
City,Col., corroborates the statements of .I esse 
Felt of Pennsylvania, recently, relative) to the 
feasibility of domesticating the buffalo. They 
are not any more liable to jump h igh fences, when 
once domesticated, than our domest.io cattle. 
He has seen twenty tame buffaloes confined in a 
field of poor pasture by a fence four feet high. 
He adds: 
“Mr. Greeley asserts that * Hie meat tasted like 
half-both’, I chip* itrc.o report m tin World) 
when fie ate the rami. on the plains.' it is well 
to remember tliut Mr. Greeley gaveu like dam¬ 
aging account of Colorado at. that time in ins 
scare letters, lu which lie wrote ‘ no geld,’ ‘ hum 
hug,’ *o. But as there is a reason tor everything 
under the sun, there may bo a cause for Hie 
toughness of that buffalo ’meat' (beef rutfior.) 
It is a tact well known to hunters tluit, when a 
herd ot huffnlo< s are alarmed, the male* linger 
behind and make some show of courage, while 
Hie females, with natural instinct, line with their 
young, leaving their brave companions In the 
rear to receive the fatal bullet, from the hunts 
man 's rifle. It Is wife to Bay that five, males are 
killed to one female. Were it. otherwise, but 
lew tnilfaloos would now bo found on Hie plains, 
from tile description given wo may easily Infer 
the ItJ/ml of hoof tasted, the qualities of'which 
have long ago passed into a proverb. I must say, 
m truth* that, under the Hama circumataneen 
One more point about this old. neglected 
vine pruning, and we are done. If there are 
two or more good strong canes of last year’s 
wood that have started from any point with- 
rugged, with some canes, at least ton feet or 
more in length, and all full of laterals, and 
small, imperfect, but long jointed canes, 
some of which, when you cuti into them, 
will be found dead. 
Now tbere are several ways of pruning 
and training this old, neglected vine, and of 
causing it to produce a good crop of fruit 
this year; but whichever you chose to adopt, 
the first, thing is to go into the vine with 
your knife and cut away all the slender, 
long jointed canes lliat are soft and dead, or 
partly (lead; then cut away the small canes, 
or sucker shoots, of which such vines often 
have two, three or more, sprouting just from 
the junction at the surface of the ground; 
then cut away all the lateral shoots that 
have grown from the strong canes of last 
year’s growth. 
So ranch being done, now comes the 
choice of form which the vine shall be 
trained to, this and after years. If the vine 
has several long canes of two years’ old wood 
starting from the main stem, and no canes 
of last year’s wood except those which have 
grown from near the ends of those two year 
old canes, then perhaps the best way of 
training for the year will he to prepare your 
trellis of wires or slats—the lower wire or 
slat being about eighteen inches from the 
ground, the next eighteen inches above that, 
and then two above, making the trellis six 
feet high; then prime in tho canes of the 
in eighteen inches of the ground, then cut. 
all the old or two or more years’ wood ent irely 
away, leaving these canes of from six to eight 
or ten buds on each, and if in that length 
any good, strong laterals were grown from 
them last year, do not cut these laterals en¬ 
tirely away, but leave one bud on each lateral. 
If the vine last year made a great deal of 
small, slender, long jointed wood, it will 
have to la; examined frequently as growth 
commences, and have the surplus buds 
rubbed away before they have a chance to 
develop into leaves anil wood; also have the 
ends of the bearing canes stopped from time 
to time by pinching tlie end with thumb and 
finger; but do not destroy foliage already 
grown. 
We consider the month of Novemher the 
best lime to prune, but it may be done any 
time during winter or early spring before 
the buds begin to swell — whenever there is 
no frost in the wood, or say whenever the 
thermometer is above thirty degrees. 
Grafting the Grape.—A discussion on this sub¬ 
ject by the Alton (Ill.) Hort. Soc. elicited the 
following - from Mr. E. A. Ribhl: — “I have 
grafted for three years, and have had such uni¬ 
form success that I would undertake it with as 
much certainty of suoeoss as I would in graft¬ 
ing an orchard. My method is to saw or cut off 
Hie vine from four to six inches under ground. 
The stock T split with a thlii-bladed knife, being 
careful to cut. rather than split, t make the 
split, as near the center of the stock as possible, 
introduction of nocks of some of the improved 
Varieties. If one wishes to breed mainly for 
poultry, we recommend u Dorking cock as a 
consort to Brahma lions. If in eggs there is 
more profit, let him get ii Houdan or a Leghorn 
cock, 'i’ha Black Spanish Is a good layer, but 
not so remarkable in that, respect as a Leghorn ; 
his ties',, h usually dry ami hard. II lie respects 
flavor amt appearance of tlesh nml fullness of 
breast, the Dorking blood should predominate. 
II Ik, raises poultry for market, am! wishes to 
sell the great er number of pounds, titid especially 
it he wishes to convert, his eggs Into Spring 
chickens In the shortest t ime, the Brahma fowl 
will be found most profitable. 
The Professor of Poultry, commenting upon, 
the report, said he would rather have the com¬ 
mon barn-yard fowl, tlio Leghorn and the Doini- 
niqne, than any other varieties for profit. Was 
astonished not to see a. single Dominique at the 
exhibition named. Mr. Quinn said the Black 
Spanish is not a Imrdy fowl with him. Dr. 
Thimble objected to tho report because it said 
nothing about the Hamburg?. 
Timber for Fencing.—H. S. Bickford, of Kan¬ 
sas, wants information with regard to fencing 
with i ree». Wants to know if there arc not va¬ 
rieties of trees, planted eight to ten inches 
apart, which will make good tVnoo in a few 
years as well as a wind-break—something that, 
will grow from cuttings. Mr. Williams said 
they know more about such matters in Kansas 
than here. Ho had seen thousands of miles of 
hedge (Osage) in the West, and he saw not more 
than a half mile that was taken care of and 
trimmed as it Should be. If they would take 
care of their Osage, they did not, need a better 
hedge. [Mr. Bickford has evidently heard of 
the White Willow. If he can get. it, (true, to 
name) or Golden Willow, or Lombardy Poplar, 
and plant it as he proposes, it will make u wind¬ 
break and a fence. But the willows should bo 
planted on moist soil; tlio Lombardy Poplar 
will answer in dry soils. We would recommend 
Osage iu preference to either. -Ed. Rural.] 
vine to about three of those of two years 
old, cutting them so ns to leave about two or 
three buds of the last year’s canes which 
grew from near their ends, and cutting the 
laterals or side canes which spring from them 
back to one bud from the base, as we have 
roughly sketched above; then bend and 
train the canes something after the manner 
we have here represented. It is rare that 
any two old neglected vines can bo at once 
trained in alike, but from this you will per¬ 
haps get an impression from which to work. 
Spiral training is also a good way of train¬ 
ing old, neglected vines, and especially an 
old vineyard when there are few or no 
strong young canes of last year’s growth. 
To do this select the best two-year old 
and am very careful to have the hark of stock 
and cion fit nicely at, one point at least. The 
stock will usually hold the cion firm enough 
without tying; if not, I tie with a string, but 
never wax the grape. The earth is then firmly 
pressed about tlie einu up to the top bud, a little 
saw-dust put on the top to protect the bud and 
keep the earth from baking, and the thing is 
done. I prefer early spring. It is simply cleft 
grafting under ground. My cions are from four 
to sii inches long.’’ 
Large Grape Vinca. — A correspondent, of the 
Southern Cultivator, writing from Amite City, 
I,a., tolls this story of three grape vines—one a 
cutting, and a graft of 1868 and a cutting of 
1867. The cutting of 1868 is an Isabella, which 
threw out six laterals that made an aggro- 
gate growth of 154 feet; the second, a Rogers, 
inadeagrowth of 35f> feet; tho third,an Isabella, 
was cut back to seven feet, bore thirty-two 
bunches of grapes, and made the season of 1868 
a growth of 453 feet. 
