<3UNE S 
THE ROSE SECRET. 
It may perhaps interest your readers to 
hear that from the different articles which 
hare appeared in The Gardes in reference 
to what is called “The Rose Secret," I got 
“a notion;" and instead of throwing ray 
primings away this spring I used them as 
cuttings, putting a whole lot of them—about 
a dozen or more—in (I am almost afraid to 
mention it) a marmalade jar filled with 
coarse sand and water, with sufficient of the 
latter to be about a quarter of an inch or so 
above the sand. I then plunged the jars into 
a slight, hotbed (covered by a Rendle span- 
roof protector), and let the cuttings have all 
the light and sun possible—never shading 
once. This was about eight weeks ago. Last 
week I thought l would have a look how the 
cuttings were going on at the bottom, as 
they appeared very healthy at the top; fan¬ 
cy my delight to find that the new roots had 
covered the sides of the jar, and were mat¬ 
ted together in such a way that I bad to 
wash the sand away under a tap to be able 
to separate the out tings without breaking 
the roots. I call this “striking liko wil¬ 
lows;” some bits with only one eye at the 
top struck almost better than any; others, 
where I put perhaps two eyes beneath the 
surface of the sand, have struck from every 
eye. I can assuro you I never saw cuttings 
so well furnished with roots as these were. 
Out of about 120 cuttings of some three 
dozen different kinds of Roses, I only miss¬ 
ed striking fifteen, which I think is a very 
encouraging result; anj’how I shall consid¬ 
er it the road royal, and experiment again 
in a'similar manner in summer, when I shall 
pay more attention to the preparing of the 
cuttings and the way they will strike the 
readiest. The beauty of my system is its 
extreme simplicity; the trouble or labor is 
nil; beyond the mere procuring of the cut¬ 
tings, all one has to do is to leave the jars 
alone, only giving a little water from time 
to time to replace what has been lost by 
evaporation. 
As to the size of cuttings, I have put in 
anything—thick or thin, pithy or weedy, 
straight shoots or jointed ones, shoots with 
from one to six eyes—only taking care that 
the cut In every case was a clean one, such 
as a good sharp knife will make.— Max 
Klose, Rose Cottage , t 'hr,I ford, In Garden . 
SELF-TYING STAKE FOR CARNATIONS 
AND PICOTEES. 
Ottr lady readers will be interested in 
this cheap and lasting, self-tying stake. Fig. 
1 shows it as it is made for carnations, by 
taking galvanized wire, about one-twelfth 
of an inch In diameter, and t wisting it in a 
long spiral, about four times, around a stiff, 
straight piece of wire, a quarter of an inch 
in diameter—once around in about three 
inches, finishing with a sharp turn round 
the top about three-fourths of a revolution, 
and then outting off so as to leave half an 
inch of straight wire at the tip; the straight 
part at the bottom being about nine inches 
in length. Fig. 2 shows it applied to a pico- 
tee, and it is stuck in so deep that the top 
bud shall just rise above it. The plant is 
then wormed round so as to let it fall into 
a position in the middle of the spiral stick; 
and when the top is also slipped into its 
place it will be found as safe as if it were 
tied ever so well, being supported by the 
bit of straight wire left for the purpose. A 
few yards away this stake is scarcely ob¬ 
served, so neat is it compared with ordinary 
sticks. Another good point is the freedom 
which it allows to the foliage and long hang¬ 
ing flower-stalks to fall away from it if they 
wish; and, in addition, if the stem grows 
after it is applied—as it. nearly always does 
—it slides up without making any ugly hitch 
in an attempt to push up against ties, as in 
the old way. 
—--• 
FLORICULTURAL NOTES. 
Climbers for Shading' Greenhouses. 
—The Cottage Gardner says:—We have the 
following, and find them first-rate, never 
giving us any trouble as regards insects, 
and they are not syringed: Tacsonia mol- 
lissima, T. Van-Volxemi , Passiflora cm- 
rulea raccmosa rubra, P. Impera trice Eu¬ 
genie, P. Comte- Nesselrode, P. Countess 
GuUjllnf. They give us all the shade re¬ 
quired, and are fine flowering climbers. 
They will succeed if grown in pots, but are 
best if planted out. Ours are now quite a 
sight—tho shoots hang from the roof as 
climbers ought, in a mouth will be all in 
bloom, and they continue throughout the 
season. They are admired by everybody. 
Vase Decorated With Grasses.—We 
give herewith an illustration of a vase deco¬ 
rated with grasses. This style of deoorating 
table vases with grasses is grow¬ 
ing more and more in favor. A 
little taste and skill will enable « 
those who grow the ornamental 
grasses, or who live where they 
can gather the different species of 
our native grasses when in their 
perfection, to produce unique and 
graceful table ornaments without 
the aid even of flowers. With the 
grasses may be used some of tho 
leaf plants with good effect. 
A Garden Umbrella, or 
“Umbrella Trainer," (see il¬ 
lustration,) is now made of strong 
iron work as shown in the en¬ 
graving. It iB suitable for climb¬ 
ing plants, and the weeping ash 
is sometimes trained to*it. It 
makes a beautiful garden or lawn 
shade when covered with foliage. 
Tho size represented herewith is twelve feet 
in diameter and eight feet six inches high. 
Potting Orchids. — Henderson says 
that the best material he ever found for 
potting orchids, was a very fibrous kind of 
turf found in a dry part of a fresh water 
swamp, and mixed with sphagnum and 
charcoal. 
Geranium Leaves are often made spot¬ 
ted by the rays of tho sun striking on them 
when wot. This occurs indoors, whero air 
enough is not present to evaporate the 
moisture before the sun’s power is felt. 
(Btitomo logical. 
LOOK OUT FOR THE 17-YEAR LOCUST. 
Dear Rural: — If you can find Rpaco, 
please insert the following notice of a brood 
of this singular iuseot, which is to appear 
along the Atlantic seaboard tile present 
year. I am quite anxious to complete the 
chronological record of the appearance of 
the different broods, and shall feel greatly 
obliged if any of your numerous readers 
will inform me of the appearance or non- 
appearance of Cioadas in any parts of the 
territory mentioned. Let us fix tho limits 
of this brood, as accurately as possible, so 
that seventeen years hence, and for all time, 
geographical range. From the southeastern 
part of Massachusetts, it extends across 
Long Island, and along the Atlantic coast 
to Chesapeake Bay, and up the Susquehonua 
at. least as fur as to Carlisle in Pennsylvania; 
and it probably reaches continuously west 
to the Ohio, for it occupies the valley of 
| ipP*v 
garden umbrella. 
that river at Kanawha in Virginia, and on¬ 
wards to its mouth, and down the valley of 
the Mississippi probably to its mouth, and 
up its tributaries, west, into the Indian 
Territory. This brood has appeared the 
present year, 1855, and 1 have received 
specimens from Long Island, from South 
Illinois, and the Creek Indian country west 
of Arkansas,” etc. 
There is every reason to believe that Dr. 
Fitch, in this account, has confounded this 
sCpterndceiin Brood VIII, with the great 
tredeclm Brood XVTII. for it so happened 
that they both occurred simultaneously in 
1865, buttho exact, dividing line of these two 
broods is not bo easily ascertained. Cer¬ 
tainly, after reaching the Ohio river, the 
septemdccl-m brood extends beyond Galli- 
polia, Ohio, for Prof. Potter, in his ‘‘Notes 
on tho Cicada decern septima," records 
their appearance at that place in 1821 ; and 
Dr. Smith records their appearance at 
Frankfort., Lexington and Fleniingsburg, 
Kentucky, in 1888, and 1855. But I strongly 
Incline t<> believe that, well nigh the rest of 
tho territory mentioned by Dr. Fitch was 
occupied by the tredeclm brood, tho reasons 
for which belief will be found in the account 
of brood XVIII.—From the First Missouri 
Entomological Report. 
LEAF ROLLERS. 
Please inform me what kind of an in¬ 
sect, is this which I inclose on a leaf of hon¬ 
eysuckle, Also tell me tho best method of 
destroying it.—II. F,. B., I Vales, Erie Co., 
New York. 
The small, hairy, pale green worm, about 
a half inch long, which you send rolled in a 
honeysuckle leaf, is tho larva of some one 
of the many species of Tortrlx, more com¬ 
monly known ns Leaf Rollers. The eggs 
from which they hatch are laid by a very 
small moth, the specific name of which we 
cannot give without waiting until the ent- 
Fig. 1. 
Fto. 2. 
SELF-TYING STAKE. 
VASE DECORATED WITH GRASSES. 
those who come after us may know just 
where to expect these periodical visitors. 
We shall not have another opportunity for 
17 years to come. C. V. Riley. 
St. Louis, Mo. 
brood vin.— Septemdealm —1865, 1872. 
In the year 1872, buing tho same year as 
the preceding, and at Intervals of 17 years 
thereafter, they will, in all probability, ap¬ 
pear in tho southeastern part of Massachu¬ 
setts ; across Long Island; along the Atlantic 
coast to Chesapeake Bay, and up the Sus¬ 
quehanna at least as far as to Carlisle in 
Pennsylvania; also, in Kentucky, at Kan¬ 
awha in Virginia, and Gallipoli*, Ohio, on 
the Ohio river. This is the brood referred 
to iu Brood V, and which there is every rea¬ 
son to believe is the one recorded by Morton 
in his “Memorial," as occurring in 1638. 
Dr. Fitch, in the account of his 3d brood 
(N. Y. Rep. 1, p. 39i, says:—“The third 
brood appears to have the most extensive 
ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES. 
Grape Vino Borer,— Inclosed find a 
couple of borers and a specimen of their 
work on the grape vines in this vicinity. 
They are very numerous on my vines, and 
new to me. I do not think that, Mr. Fuller 
says anyt hing about them in his treatise on 
the grape vino.— J.W. Middleton, Bi'ovms- 
vtlle, Neb. 
The two specimens inclosed In the letter 
were smashed past recognition; but wo 
found a perfect, beetle in one of tho pieces 
of vine inclosed in your letter. Wo recog¬ 
nize the beetlo as the well known twig 
borer, Bostrichvs bicaudatm. Say. But, 
this is the first, time w© have ever found it, 
at work on tho grapevine, as it usually con¬ 
fines itself t,o tho apple tree. Its mod© of 
attack upon tho grape vino is tho same as 
upon the apple, viz:—commencing just, 
above a bml or small lateral twig, boring 
into the pith and theuoe downward two or 
more inches. These beetles feed iu their 
perfect state, while most of tho borers 
which infest our fruit trees are harmless, 
except in the grub or larval stages. Wo 
cannot suggest a better method of destroy¬ 
ing those beetles than by burning all the 
trimmings of tho vines—at least those show¬ 
ing the presence of beetles. Perhaps when 
apple trees become more abundant iu Ne¬ 
braska these pests will leave the vines and 
attack the apple. 
Mounting Beetles.—In your article on 
Collecting, Transporting and Preserving 
Insects, you say that beetles should be 
placed in vials of alcohol. Is it necessary 
to do this? Cun they not bo mounted in a 
case the same as butterflies and moths? 
Last summer I mounted butterflies so, and 
would like to know why beetles can't, be 
treated likewise. Young Naturalist, 
Hpencerporl, N. V. 
Certainly, beetles are mounted and pre¬ 
served in cases tho same as other insects; 
but our directions wore intended only for 
those who wero constantly asking how to 
collect, and scud specimens to us. But, if 
you will look over the directions again, you 
will find that wo told how to mount (pin) 
beetles when they wero to be put into a case. 
erpillar has passed through its various trans¬ 
formations and become a moth. We do not 
know of any better method of destroying 
than by killing tho caterpillars by hand. 
Look over tho plants every day and give 
every leaf you find rolled up a good pinch 
with your thumb and linger, or a pair of 
pincers. The caterpillars are so protected 
in their leafy inclosure that, it. is difficult to 
reach them with any liquid that might be 
thrown upon the plunts. Small birds usu¬ 
ally flnd these insects and destroy them; 
but few persons enoou rage the presence of 
our little friends; therefore, they are shy 
and do not frequent tho arbor, or plants 
growing noar a dwelling house; lienee the 
superabundance of such insects as leaf roll¬ 
er© and other caterpillars. Sometimes 
syringing the plants with a solution of 
cresylio soap and water, or strong tobacco 
water, will keep the moths from laying their 
eggs upon the leaves; but when there are 
frequent showers tho application must also 
be often repeated to do any good. 
COAL OIL AND LAMPS. 
Now that nearly all civilized people use 
til is best of all portable light,, it behooves 
us to study its nature and properties thor¬ 
oughly, with a view to safety, in Ita use, to 
our persons and property. That there are 
good and bud oils, and safe and unsafe kinds 
of lamps, no one can doubt, who has either 
used them or observed them in use. Wit h¬ 
out “puffing" any special brand of oil, or 
any particular patent, lamp, we think it tho 
duty of scientific men to investigate tho 
matter thoroughly, and by actual test as¬ 
certain which is the safe and which the un¬ 
safe kind of oil, and what, kind of lamp is 
the safest and best; and when this is fully 
established, It occurs t-o my mind that rigid 
laws should be enacted and rigorously en¬ 
forced, forbidding the vending of any other 
kind of oil or other kind of lamp. Is it, 
true that metal lamps are safest? If so, 
then glass lamps should not, ho manufac¬ 
tured, or permitted to be sold to the pub¬ 
lic. Suppose it be true that a certain pat¬ 
ent lamp is absolutely safe? Is it, right pol¬ 
icy or humane policy to refuse to say so in 
all our newspapers and other means of 
communicating such information, simply 
because it, would give a grat uitous adver¬ 
tisement to the patentee? Wo think not,. 
On the contrary, we feel bound to say that 
the patentee of such a lamp would deserve 
the thank* of all meu, and his discovery, in¬ 
stead of being “hid under a bushel," should 
be “heralded from the housetop," and pro¬ 
claimed by every tongue. 
When Franklin “ tamed the lightning,” 
when Sir Humphrey Davy gave tho world 
the Safety Lamp, and Morse the Telegraph, 
and Fulton the steamboat— or when any 
other of the many contrivances, for tho use 
ami benefit of man, were discovered, who 
would have hesitated to proclaim it first, 
last, and all the time, simply for fear that 
such proclamat ion would have given a gra¬ 
tuitous a<l vertisement ? 
We do not ask for information concern¬ 
ing any particular brand of oil, or any given 
patent lamp- Wo only desire to know what 
specific gravity of oil is best, etc,, and what 
is the best substance — utility considered — 
of which coal oil lamps are made. 
We seo it stated in some of our papers, 
under the advertising headings, that cer¬ 
tain metal lamps “ are absolutely safe and 
non-explosive with any kind of coal oil " 
(kerosene). We do not belie ee any such 
statement; but if we are wrong in our in¬ 
credulity, then we desire to be “ set 
straight “—not by interested patentees or 
those who have them for sale; but by those 
scientists who have the means and knowl¬ 
edge necessary to test the correctness or in¬ 
correctness of the assertion. Let us have 
light on this subject from those who are not 
groping in the darkness like vour corre¬ 
spondent. Woodman. 
Stanford, Ky. 
MOOBE’S BUBAL NEW-YOBIEB. 
