^rboriatlturr. 
enough to go around the tree and lap. The which to store celery, beets, pat snips and 
felt being saturated with coal tar, nothing salsify; being of a cold, unfermenting na- 
WEEPING SOPHOEA. 
It is a little more than a century since the 
Japan Sophora ( Sop/wra Jap/mica) was in¬ 
troduced into European gardens. Bernard 
De Jussieu, a renowned French botanist, 
planted seed received from Japan in 1717, 
and a few years since some of the trees 
grown from them were still standing in the 
environs of Paris. The war which is now 
raging near that unfortunate city will prob¬ 
ably cause the demolition of those old mon¬ 
uments that have so long recorded the good 
deeds of one of the greatest of the early 
botanists. Wc have some very fine speci¬ 
mens of this tree in the Eastern States; but 
the Weeping Sophora, which is only a va¬ 
riety of tin; former, is more highly prized 
than the original species. 
To produce handsome specimens, it must 
be worked upon stocks ten or twelve feet 
will trouble it. The expense of the felt is 
four and a-half cents a pound; one pound 
will cover twenty trees. In the spring re¬ 
move. 1 will warrant this to be a sure pre¬ 
ventive.—!. M. Showerman. 
Tobacco Water for Tree* nod Plants. 
Sam. Miller, Bluffton, Mo., writes the 
Iowa Homestead that “ tobacco water, after 
ture, there is little danger of these succulent 
vegetables rotting, or in any way injuring, 
when kept in moss; besides, it is always 
cleanly—much more so than common loam, 
or even sand. 
Tender roses, or any of the common house 
plants, such as Abutilons, G'itriodoras and 
Oleanders, may be easily kept through win¬ 
ter if the roots are plunged in damp moss. 
Itsntssions. 
AMERICAN INST. PAEMEES’ CLUB. 
Notes of Discussions. Extracts from Let¬ 
ters, dire. 
Success in Jown, — Henry Stanley, Funk’s 
Mills, Iowa, writes the Club that eleven years 
ago he went thither front Pennsylvania, with a 
single horse and fifty cents in money. Now he 
high; the branches will then droop grace¬ 
fully, forming a beautiful round-headed 
tree. Probably the largest and most perfect 
specimen in this country is at Flushing, N 
Y. Our artist has given an excellent repre¬ 
sentation of this remarkable tree in the ac¬ 
companying illustration. This tree is about 
fifteen feet high, and the branches extend 
nearly twenty, forming underneath a com¬ 
modious and elegant bower. The Sophoras 
belong to the /cyiuninosai or Pea Family of 
plants, and the seeds arc borne in pods. 
The trees nro propagated in various ways. 
Stocks upon which to graft or bud the weep¬ 
ing, variegated and other sorts, may lie 
grown from seed, cuttings of the roots, or 
layers. North of the latitude of New York 
city the Sophoras should be planted in a 
rather poor, dry soil; for if the growth is 
very vigorous, and continues late in autumn, 
the trees are likely to he winter killed. 
There nro few more beautiful trees than the 
Weeping Sophora, and we would advise 
every one who has room to plant at least 
one specimen. 
AUSTEALIAN TEEES. 
Various notices have appeared in the 
papers of the giant Australian trees, the 
Eucalyptus, Acacia mollimnia, and Acacia 
lop/uinke, which alike were remarkable for 
their rapidity of growth and the great bight 
they obtain, instances being given of lheir 
attaining 400, 4.50 and 480 feet. Once a 
Week, in an article on the Eucalyptus says 
of a specimen measuring 400 feet“ The 
hollow trunk of this tree was sufficiently 
large to admit of three riders, with an ad¬ 
ditional pack-horse, entering and turning 
around in it without dismounting." Numer¬ 
ous articles on these trees induced me to 
scud to Melbourne, Australia, for seed, on re¬ 
ceipt of which 1 planted it in pots, and in 
from fourteen to thirty days, the seed of the 
Eacaiyptm and Acacia lophankv germinated. 
My beat specimen of the Eucalyptus etuhula, 
now about eight months old, stands four 
feet high and measures one inch in circum- 
— -t_ 
WWW i 
fZSFWto 
THE WEEPING SOPHORA 
the tobacco leaves are taken out, is not only 
au excellent wash on trees, or as a syring¬ 
ing on plants, where injurious insects infest, 
hut is a most excellent fertilizer. The salt¬ 
peter extracted from the tobacco is one oi 
the best, and will stimulate anything in a 
We have often kept the soft, succulent 
plants, such as geraniums, in dry moss 
packed away in boxes and then placed in a 
warm cellar. It is a very handy material to 
have in the cellar during winter, for it is 
quite often that there are a few cuttings of 
ference. The Acacia hophantw, also eight soil slightly deficient in that mineral; while grapes, currants, gooseberries, or cions from 
months old, presents a very attractive ap¬ 
pearance, having numerous branches, the 
leaves of which are very small and of a 
bright green color. The leaves of this 
species and the Acacia invllmi/na fold to¬ 
gether in evening and open again in morn. 
The Acacia hphantm is four feet in bight, mid 
measures two and a-half inches in circum¬ 
ference. The Amom moUmima did not 
come up at all, but seed planted in the sum¬ 
mer came to maturity, and plants are do¬ 
ing well. I have sent seed to friends in the 
South, but have not heard how the plants 
are doing. 
1 fear the climate as far north as Phila¬ 
delphia will prove too cold. I expect to 
plant more seed in the spring, and give 
them a fair trial. Frank Musselman. 
Philadelphia, Pa. 
the mixture is death to all manner of in¬ 
sects. Some years ago, while growing 
strawberries in pots under glass, a friend of 
ours, out of curiosity, watered a few pots 
with tobacco water, and we were astonished 
with the results, viz.: darker and more luxu¬ 
riant foliage, and fruit of greatly increased 
some choice fruit tree to be preserved, and a 
box of damp moss is just the place to store 
them until spring. 
Leaves for n Name. 
Miss Elvie Larkin, East Otto, N. Y., 
sends a few leaves and asks us to name 
them. They arc from a plant, known in 
florists’ catalogues as AUerruxnthera versicolor, 
or many colored Alternanthera, a very pretty 
bedding plant from South America. 
gait for Aa|mrneti«. 
MRS. U. E. C. writes:—“ L would be glad 
to know how much salt, per square yard, au 
asparagus bed requires; and at what season 
it should he applied. Also, whether the salt 
is valuable as a fertilizer, or only as an 
eradicatojr of weeds." A pint of salt may 
1)0 applied to every square yard of an as¬ 
paragus bed without doing any injury. Salt 
acts both as a fertilizer and destroyer of 
weeds. 
iarfretur. 
Gnrilen Seed* Dfseiierntiiic. 
Abstractly w’c are not believers in the 
theory of degeneration of species or varieties. 
Plants or animals removed from a congenial 
to an uncongenial soil and climate may de- 
bas a farm of 120 acres, nearly half in full culti¬ 
vation, and worth at least $1,900. Ho thinks any 
other poor boy can do ns well there by honesty 
and Industry. He accounts Iowa as the best 
grazing section of our country, and thousands 
Of acres of wild land can be bad for $f> each. 
Amonir his productions during’ the past year 
were 800 punds of butter from four cows. 
Thorough - Bred Orrlodiiri*«, — S. J. Krt.KY. 
Lima, O., asks what 1 lie color of a thorough-bred 
Berkshire is. Dr. Crank said black and white. 
Dr. Trimble said black and ted. The Com¬ 
mander said the color should resemble that Of a 
turtle shell. Dr. Crane would admita few sandy 
hairs. Prof. Squelch said they arc a sandy, 
whitish-brown, spotted with black or brown, 
< nii Hr L»e n Syphon t- T. F. Thomas lias a 
piece of land with no water. Wants to know if 
tie can dijra well and convey the water from It 
to a lower point by syphon, and at tho same 
time regulate the flow of water with a stop¬ 
cock. 8everal members said yes. 
About Ox-Yokes. — H. C. Conklin, Sag Har¬ 
bor, N. Y„ bad seen an offer of $100 premium 
for an ox-yoke that would not gall animls. Ho 
asked for further information. Dr. Crane said 
that if an ox's nock was sore, the part of tho 
yoke pressing the sore should bo lined with lead. 
He had lined his yokes with lead, and never had 
an ox with a sore ueck. 
I’runlui: Rn-pbi-rrics.—H. Inman, Hagantan’s 
Mills. K. Y., asked when he had better prune his 
Black-Caps. Dr. Orvne replied in March or 
the East to the Pacific Slope, and he thought the 
fact remarkable enough to mention and record. 
Prof. SQUfci.cn asked where lie could get a lock 
of that remarkable cow’s hair to deposit in the 
arehfvcs of the Club, not so much because of its 
intrinsic worth as that it might bo kept ns a me¬ 
morial that. Lieut. (Anms and Ids cow had both 
been to the Pad fie Slope. 
Growing .Muxtnrd Seed.—Mr. InmAN* asked if 
mustard seed is a prod table crop to sow ? What 
is the best sort to sow? How much seed per 
acre, the yield to be expected and price per 
pound, and added that he had raised it at the 
rate of thirty bushels per acre. Members 
thought it would be found profitable tit that 
rate of production, but gave uo further iufor- 
mation. 
Hollow Horn, N. PROSSER, Fly Creek, N. Y., 
had a cow aflliotbd with hollow horn; bored 
t hem with a gimlet and poured in black pepper, 
vinegar and salt, which warmed them, and the 
cow improved. Asked if that was proper treat¬ 
ment. The Commander thought a man who 
would do that to a cow ought to he bored him¬ 
self. Dr. Trimble said that this disease resulted 
in great pain to the animal, in consequence of 
the generation and accumulation of gas in the 
horn ; that boring the horn nod allowing the 
gas to escape relieved the animal; and the ap¬ 
plication of the Ingredients named might be a 
needed tonic, and not’so Inhuman as the good 
Commander seemed to regard it, though he did 
not know. Dr. Crank said that during thirty 
years’ experience he had not bored animals' 
horns, and does not think it necessary. He ap¬ 
plies spirits of turpentine to the bead, back of 
the horns, and It affords immediate relief. 
Worms In sheep.—Is.ti ah Zayneii, Albany, 
Pa., found his sheep dying, and discovered that 
they were—eight out, of sixteen of them—full 
of worms all along the small of the back. Said 
the green fly laid the eggs which produced these 
worms, and the sheep with the heaviest fleeces 
were the most in tested. He wived four by 
shearing off the wool and killing the worms by 
applying spirits ol' turpentine and hogs’ lard. 
The sheep that died were his best. Prof. 
Squelch said such worms ought to be squelched, 
ami the correspondent should scud specimens of 
that “green fly,'’or of the worms, to tho Ento¬ 
mologist of the Club for examination and iden¬ 
tification. 
The Beef New Yorkers Eot.—President Bergii 
of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to 
Amiininls, told (heClub, what it knew before, of 
the cruelties practiced by drovers and transport¬ 
ers upon beef cuttle en route to this city. They 
arrive here in a half-starved and feverish con¬ 
dition, their meal i» diseased, becomes filled with 
great, rotten ulcers from which fatty matter ex¬ 
udes, and the community eats this flesh and is 
diseased and poisoned thereby. Now ears had 
been Invented to bring these animals on in a 
more humane manner,and >» a healthful condi¬ 
tion. Whether the railways would adopt these 
improvements must depend upon the pressure 
of public opinion, expressed by both producers 
and consumers of beer. 
The Poor Canal Horse*, Mr. BBItOfl, said ought 
to attract the attention of all who admire this 
animal and have any humane feeling. They 
are w’orkod during the summer with their breasts 
raw, are poorly fed. and in tho fall arn turned out 
to die. He urged that farmers who have any in¬ 
fluence shmi Id exert It to stop this disgrace upon 
our civilization. 
A New - Fancied Instrument of Torture for 
Horses was discovered by Mr. Bbroh, ns he had 
found it on the finest teams, owned by the 
wealthiest citizens of New’ York oily. It consists 
of a circular piece of leather, pierced full of 
sharp nails, three-fourths of an inch long. These 
lire attached to the headstall or bit, on each side 
of the mount, in such a way that if tho animal 
turns his head a half an iuoh either way from a 
direct line, these nails pierce the flesh. The ob¬ 
ject of the grooms, who are usually responsible 
for their use, is to prevent tlieanimal from turn¬ 
ing liis head when driving, even though the reins 
are loose. He had taken them front many teams 
whose owners did not know they were used. 
flipping nud Singeing Horses was denounced 
in strong ami Just terms by Mr. Bkhgh, espe¬ 
cially since it Is usually done at a season of tho 
year when the animal most needs the covering 
nature has provided. He very Justly said that 
the practice originated with the l«zy grooms, 
who ure too indolent to properly take care of 
the horses, and who have invented this practice 
os a means of avoiding their proper grooming. 
Ho regards it a burlmrous practice. Professor 
Squelch agreed with him ent irely, and said tho 
man who Invented it ought to wear thin linen 
clothes throughout the winter months, have his 
bead shaved and his boots filled with cold water 
six times a day. . 
Ingitmc Information. 
HYGIENIC NOTES. 
AEBOEICULTUEAL NOTES. 
Hickory Nuts Received. 
We have received a package, of hickory 
nuts from H. II. Doolittle for comparison 
with the Ilale’s and other Boris received. 
The specimens from Mr. Doolittle arc 
very good, although rather small, and not 
specially distinct from those found in many 
other sections. Wc shall be happy to receive 
choice specimens of this or any other native 
species or varieties of nuts, hoping in this 
way to discover the whereabouts of the very 
best. We believe that our nurserymen are 
ready to go into the propagation of the best 
sorts when discovered. 
GAEDEN NOTES. 
generate; t. e., become diseased; therefore, April; he-would not have them pruned at this 
they may be said to degenerate. Tills pecu- season, on tiny account. Dr. Fuller said he 
ltartty h often noticed In garden vegetable*. “SSI 
Michigan Itch. 
John J. Tallmnn, Stedman, N. Y., of¬ 
fers to send “ Viola” a specific for “ Michi¬ 
gan Itch,” without charge, if she will send 
him her address. 
Club-Rooted Cabbage. 
Geo. nR kumann asks if the application 
of shell lime to soil will prevent the club- 
root in cabbage; if so, how many bushels 
should be applied per acre, where the lime 
can be obtained, and at wliat cost per bush¬ 
el If any of our correspondents know that 
lime will prevent club-root, by experience, 
let them answer these questions. 
liaritv is ofteu noticed in garden vegetables, i--“ ~ ~ ' 
, , c , -p„_ m from late tall pruning- Prof. Squelch Mod the ---— 
hence tllC necessity of changing seed. 1 arm- lnqu j rcr c0U ia evidently take his choice and do now to Avoid l>y»i*cp*la« 
ers in the more Northern States know that j lC . p | ea9f ,d. Some one asks, in a recent number of the 
melon seed, from the Middle and bouthet n Potatoes from Nebraska. — j. w. Reynolds, iu\ l how to cure dyspepsia. We would 
States, usually produce larger and finer Ashlnnd, Nebraska, sent potatoes to the Club V eat sta i e bread; never eat when 
rr*r 
thia ilegcneracj» 1 1 * ’ known. Dr. Hexamkr wished he could got a sense of haste on the mind; take no dunk 
this degeneracy, if wc please to call it so, is 
Mosn for the Gardener. 
Few persons appear to be aware of the 
value of common swamp moss for storing 
roots, cuttings, bulbs and tender plants 
To Protect Trees from Mice, 
For the benefit of all having fruit trees in 
danger of being girdled by mice, I would 
say, a sure preventive is to remove all dead 
grass, manure, Ac., which is a liarltor for 
the vermin, aud wrap around the body of 
the tree a strip of common roofing felt and 
secure with a string. The strip should be 
cut about eighteen inches long, and wide 
during winter. It may not be too late even 
now for those who have not already laid in 
a supply to obtain a quantity from the near¬ 
est swamp. Pack away in barrels or boxes 
in the cellar, and whenever any of the vege¬ 
tables become withered, lay them iu the 
damp moss for a few days, and they will 
come out crisp and fresh as when first dug 
iu the fall, it is au excellent material in 
wholly attributable to climate; for in one 
locality Ibc season is too short and cool to 
bring fruit, native of warmer latitudes, to 
perfection. Cabbages, parsnips, turnips, 
potatoes, and many other vegetables actually 
do better in a cool climate than in one that 
is very warm ; and a change from north to 
south is often beneficial; but whenever a 
particular kind of fruit or vegetable is found 
that does succeed, and come to perfection, 
the grower should be slow to acknowledge 
that it has degenerated in his hands, for this 
would only be a confession of ignorance or 
neglect. Always save the best specimens for 
seed, and then with good culture, there will 
be but little danger of degeneration, but a 
fair prospect of progress. 
Specimen of the Peach Blow potato from every 
State In the Union, for the purpose of learning; 
how this variety succeeds in different localities. 
Been to the Pool lie Slope.—Lieut. CURTIS In¬ 
formed the Club that when hew its on the Pacific 
Slope (it was well known he had been there with 
Deacon Rkadk) he found some nati vc outs grow¬ 
ing abundant ly, and he brought a specimen over 
for the stay-at-home members to examine. And 
when he was on the Pacific Slope (with Deaoon 
Reade) ho found that Californians fed barley 
to their animals. A year before he had asked 
about feeding barley, and was informed by a 
member of the Club that In some countries it 
was all the (train raised for feed. That, lie knew 
before; and his reason told bint it was an excel¬ 
lent food. Now he Lad tried it, mid found It to 
be so. He had also sant a cow to the Pacific 
Slope, but. he hadn’t any more to send. It was 
1 the first lone cow which Had ever been sent from 
till ten minutes after eating.— l. s. a. 
piiy-dolocica.1 Influence of I.iabt. 
A scientific contemporary says“There 
can be no doubt that bright red and yellow 
rays stimulate, and in some cases irritate, 
the brain and mind. Deep blue is said to 
depress or exhaust the vital force. Some 
animals are excited when brought in contact 
with scarlet color. This may be observed 
at the bull fights that take place in different 
parts of Spain, and the effect of the same 
color upon a turkey cock is familiar enough 
to Americans. Green, violet, and in fact all 
the neutral tints, soothe the nervous system 
and allay mental irritation.” 
