1 
plying it to give away a rooted slip to a 
newly married member of the family having 
failed. It is certainly true that the Fraxi- 
nellas are difficult plants to propagate by 
divisions of the roots; but they may be 
increased rapidly from seed sown as soon as 
ripe. Seedlings do not usually bloom until 
they are three years old. 
There are two varieties commonly culti¬ 
vated, one with purple 
and another with white 
flowers. They usually 
( grow about two feet 
high, producing long 
racemes of flowers in 
June, and of the size 
and form shown in the 
Y/irj &k a**,, accompanying il lustra- 
The entire plant pos- 
i^Y^v sesses a strong aromatic 
\\scent, highly pleasing to 
j Yvjoj? some persons and quite 
w s'Fi repulsive to others. In 
t j//j /K some of onr old works 
tU/'nljl 1on floriculture, it is 
jsm XjMm! staled that the Fraxiud- 
m las emit an inflammable- 
gns, and that it was the 
daughter of Linneaus 
^ ^ who made this discov- 
ery; but later investi- 
|| NS|\ gations have shown that 
the pedicels of the flow- 
■J&, eis are covered with 
■ r © glands that exude a res- 
ym J) f i nous juice, which burns 
& when set on fire. Aclns- 
'Jg & ms ter of flowers two or 
three days old is better 
for this purpose than 
those just opened. It is 
also necessary to experl- 
v ^ ment in the evening or 
.✓V/ in a dark room. 
a I Arrbitcrturt 
is best to paint shingle, as well as all other 
roofs. 
It is proper to remark that I have had the 
roof of the first-named building painted 
twice, at a cost of $30 each time—$00. It 
will cost me $120 to put on a new roof. 
Hence I conclude t hat two paintings, cost¬ 
ing $60, is worth as much as a new roof 
costing $120; the opinion of Martin E. 
Thompson, that “ painting destroys shingle 
roofs,” to the contrary notwithstanding. 
Lysandicr W. Babbitt. 
Council Bluffs, Towa. 
cultivate immediately after the fruiting 
season is past. It is at this time, if ever, that 
the plants require stimulating to insure a 
healthy growth; but it is far too generally 
omitted; and even the old Canes are not re¬ 
moved until late in the fall or winter. 
Df«en*t*il WiM Grapea. 
July 21.—We are often told that diseases 
affecting the grope have been produced 
a iUmdist 
DAILY RURAL LITE. 
A CHEAP HEN HOUSE. 
From the Diary of a Gentleman near New 
j York City. 
When a lad of seven, I was delighted by 
a present from one of my venerable grand¬ 
parents, of a rooster and two bens. From 
that time my ambition was thoroughly 
aroused, and every means or device from 
that time on, that my genius could invent, 
was devoted to the comfort of my fowls and 
their offspring, which have been innumer¬ 
able. 
My father’s old pile of boards was literally 
sacrificed for the furtherance of my plans. 
Among the cheapest ami most satisfactory 
hen houses of many, one is illustrated by the 
accompanying diagram, and has met with 
such success that I offer it tor the benefit of 
Rural New-Yokkek readers, many of our 
neighbors having already adopted it. Last 
summer 1 built one at a relative’s in Con¬ 
necticut, from whom, 1 since learn, three 
others like it have sprung into existence. 
The main building (of which Fig. 1 is an 
end view) is closely hoarded and battened, 
with occasional holes for light and ventila¬ 
tion. The roosts are made of round poles, 
us represented by ihc dots, the lower one 
being only a step to others above, which 
they reach by the ladder A, which runs to 
the nests, Chickens are fond of laying in 
secret places, and 1 soon found they pre¬ 
ferred Ihc nests I arranged lo the divers 
places they formerly sought. It consists of 
a grand hall (7?) or passage along which the 
nests (C) are arranged, and entrance to ihis 
hall made at one end only, the nest being 
boarded up close. Access from the outside 
to nests is secured by means of a drop door 
seen open in Figure 2 at Z>, fastened by a 
button or lock and key. Entrance to main 
house by door at end not shown in figure, 
and which I seldom used. 
To the right, of the main building issliown 
the yard, in figure 2, made of laths, about 
the bight, of an ordinary fence and made any 
length desired, A small hole ( E ) admits the 
fowls to the main building, and a gate at the 
end (not shown) large enough to admit a 
person, serves all other purposes. Fowls 
confined until four or five o’clock in this 
pen each day, and well cared for, thrive 
well and have been universally free from 
disease in my experience. So long ns I re¬ 
mained a country lad, at my Western home, 
I did well In poultry, and sometimes wish 
myself again a poultry breeder. This pen, 
1 will add, is desirable for young chickens 
from six weeks old and upwards, and teaches 
them good habits in the society of their 
older companions. W. B. Dimon. 
A Group ol CaimiiN. 
July 17.—Since the taste for ornamental 
leaf plants has become so general, the old 
Indian shot, or Ganna, is receiving its share 
of attention. The genus is widely distributed 
over the tropical countries of both hemis¬ 
pheres. Both the East ami West Indies and 
adjacent continents furnish an almost innu¬ 
merable number of species, from which our 
florists have not only selected the most 
showy, but from them raised many excellent 
varieties. Although the seeds of these plants 
areas hard ns shot,(hence the common name,) 
they grow almost as readily US peas, provi¬ 
ded they are scalded before planting, or put 
into the ground in autumn. The roots or 
tubers are tender and must be kept in a dry, 
warm place during winter, else they will rot. 
The French cultivators of these plants rec¬ 
ommend lifting the tubers just before the 
frosls kill the leaves, for they say the rotting 
in winter often proceeds from the frosted 
stems, which I can readily believe. My 
most showy (Juanas are the large green- 
leaved, C. niocrojihyllum, and the “Two 
colored,” C. discolor and Wurszewicz purple, 
C. warsmeimi. But where there are so 
many desirable sorts, it is a difficult task to 
decide which are really the best. 
Fiphliuir tlie Weed*. 
July 18.—For the past two or three weeks 
we have had a shower almost every day, 
and to keep the weeds flown requires a con¬ 
tinual and unceasing fight. If weeds are 
hoed up during the day, and while the Run 
is pouring down its scorching rays, they 
soon shrivel up and apparently die; but a 
rainy night will bring a great portion of 
them to lire, and by morning new roots will 
have penetrated the soil again. The only 
certain method of getting rid of weeds in such 
weather is lo rake them out. of the rows and 
haul to the compost heap, cleaning up all 
ground hoed during the day every evening 
before quilting work. This is the only safe 
plan during unsettled weather; and I be¬ 
lieve the manure made from the weeds will 
pay for the extra expense of raking and part¬ 
ing, to say nothing of being sure that the 
work is well done. 
i’rntihiK You hit Tree*. 
July 19.—With all the sophistry advanced 
by the non-prunists, I could never make 
myself believe that cultivated trees of any 
kind required no pruning. Last spring I 
planted fifty thrifty ihree-year-old pear 
trees. They had about a dozen branches 
each, from two to three feet long, and, 
according to my usual practice, I short¬ 
ened them to about one foot, and in some 
instances to six' inches, of the main stem. 
Having read Prof. Stay man’s article in the 
Gardener’s Monthly, wherein he advised no 
pruning the first season, I thought an exper¬ 
iment in that line might be interesting. I 
therefore left a few trees unpruned. To¬ 
day I have examined these trees and noted 
the result. All the trees are alive and 
healthy; but those not pruned have made 
scarcely any growth, while the severely 
pruned have thrown out new shoots two to 
three feet in length, and those are consider¬ 
ably larger than those cut away last spring. 
On one tree I merely cut off the end ofa single 
branch, leaving the others entire, and still 
the good effects of this slight pruning are 
shown in two healthy shoots a foot long, on 
this shortened branch, while there is no new 
growth on the others. During my quarter 
of a century of practical experience, in rais¬ 
ing and planting millions of trees, 1 have 
failed to discover the benefits of any of the 
let-alone or non-pruning systems, so strongly 
advocated by some few wiseacres of the 
present day. If I were planting trees on a 
poor soil, and had lo take my choice be¬ 
tween a pruning knife (with the liberty to 
use it) and plenty of manure, I should cer¬ 
tainly choose the former. Of course I refer 
only to the first season and at the time of 
planting. 
Cutiiiiu out oUl Rnapberry Cane*. 
July 20.—Just as soon as the last picking 
of raspberries is finished I have the old bear¬ 
ing canes cut away. It is usually supposed 
that the old canes, after fruiting, cease to 
draw nourishment from the roots, conse¬ 
quently do no greater injury than to merely 
crowd the young shoots which are required 
for next season’s fruiting; but even if ihis is 
really all the harm they do, it is well to have 
them out of the way as soon as possible. I 
am satisfied, however, that the old canes do 
draw nourishment from the roots so long as 
the leaves upon them remain green ; and the 
sooner they are cut away the better. Be¬ 
sides this, the young cunes require thinning 
out and tying up to the stakes or trellis, not 
only to insure a good healthy growth, but to 
allow of proper cultivation. And I will say 
further that it is just here where many of 
our raspberry growers make a serious mis¬ 
take, by neglecting to clean up and carefully 
)t (l)rtvbcncr 
LAYERING CUCUMBER AND SQUASH 
VINES. 
We presume very few of our readers ever 
think of |aj r ering cucumber or squash vines, 
as a prevention against root, borers or for in¬ 
creasing productiveness. It is, however, a 
beneficial operation, and should not he ne¬ 
glected in localities where insects injurious 
to these plants are abundant or the vines 
are likely to fail for want of proper nourish¬ 
ment or moisture. The lime to begin layer¬ 
ing is as soon as the vines fall over upon the 
surface and begin to run. They are usually 
at this time twelve to eighteen inches long 
and very tender, therefore must be handled 
with care to prevent breaking. 
Ilow lo Layer. 
Dig a narrow trench two to three inches 
deep, beginning close up to the root, and 
make it long enough to admit three or four 
joints of the vine. Lay the vine carefully in 
this trench and cover it with soil, leaving 
the remaining portion in a natural position, 
extending out ward from the hill. From Ihis 
bulged portion scores of new x'oots will he 
produced, each equally capable of drawing 
sustenance from tlie earth with the first or 
original. By this process, weak, sickly vines 
may be strengthened, and should a root 
borer attack the main stem in the hill, ns it 
usually does, the plant will be slightly in¬ 
jured, if at all, and by twice layering, vines 
may be kept growing and fruiting through- 
on! the longest and dryest season. 
Last year we had a quantity of Hubbard 
squash vines that were badly infested with 
root borers; but. by layering twice, leaving 
a space of about, eighteen inches between 
each, we succeeded in obtaining an abund¬ 
ant crop, although the old roots wore entire¬ 
ly destroyed. It is often the case that squash 
and encumber bugs of various species make 
sad havoc with the young vines early in the 
season, and it is only by giving extra stimu¬ 
lating manure, or layering, that a good 
growth can be secured. If any one doubts 
the benefits of this layering system let him 
try it on a few vines and satisfy himself of 
its value. 
PL0RAL NOTES, 
/ j | I 1*1 a n t h— N ii m«‘M W a lit «d. 
\i • J 1 inclose a few flow- 
/} ers which you will 
J l )leas<1 name. (1.) The 
l \ /// yellow has come up in 
‘jfiy//' L^y >».V h (; d three years in 
succession, and grows 
about two feel high, (2.) 
^'Jie pink is a hush 
which 1 bought of 
Chase Bios., N. Y., and 
is not near as pretty as 
wild ones which grow 
here in abundance. This 
is the first season it 
bloomed. (3.) The black 
* ants have destroyed it. 
^ 1’lease say what will 
keep them off. (4.) What 
is the proper name for 
the Thornless Rose, so-called?—J. S., Kant 
Abimgton, Mass. 
(1.) A. Lysmachiu, probably L. stricta , but. 
in absence of leaves we cannot decide posi¬ 
tively. You should always send a few leaves 
as well as flowers of the plants which you 
desire named. 
(2.) SpimasalwfoUa,, or willow leaved spi¬ 
raea. There are many varieties of this spe¬ 
cies growing wild as well as cultivated, and 
it is not at. all strange that you should have 
purchased a plant of some one of the number 
from a nurseryman. 
(3.) Try carbolic soap, or dusting with 
sulphur. 
(4.) Inernm, which simply means unarmed, 
'CHsitf/T 
11ICTAM NC8 FRAXJNKLLA, 
through what some persons choose to call 
injudicious pruning; and in proof of the cor¬ 
rectness of such statements the wild vines of 
the forests are referred to as examples of 
health and productiveness. If the wild 
vines fail to produce fruit three years out of 
five, which is almost universally the case, 
no account of these exceptions is taken by 
our nature-isls; but they will still reiterate 
the theory that uncultivated and unpranod 
vines never fail to produce fruit. In ram¬ 
bling in ihe woods to-day among the old 
Fox grapes, 1 have found fruit not only 
affected with the “black rot,” but, on one 
large vine there was scarcely a berry that 
had not been stung by a cnrculio or other 
insect. In fact there is not, a variety among 
the hundred or more in my vineyard that is 
so badly affected by insects and diseases as 
some of those 1 found in the woods to-day. 
Caltiiage Worm*. 
July 22.—The.signs are certainly encourag¬ 
ing In regard to this great pest, of the cab¬ 
bage. The warm weather early in the 
spring brought out the butterflies in great 
numbers (see Diary, April 5th,) and there 
being few or no cabbage planted upon which 
to deposite their eggs, they died leaving no 
progeny. During the first two weeks in 
April, this butterfly (Pier is rapes) was exceed¬ 
ingly abundant, but scarcely one has been 
seen since; consequently cabbages are free 
of those ugly green worms which were such 
a pest last year. It is quite evident that, this 
European cabbage pest is not going to thrive 
in our hot, dry climate, for which we should 
all be thankful. 
SHALL WE PAINT SHINGLES? 
In your issue of June 3d, I notice the 
above question is answered by Martin E. 
Thompson in the negative, and lie goes on 
lo assert that “ it destroys shingle roofs to 
paint them,” and states as a reason that “ the 
water backs up under llie shingles when 
painted and they rot much sooner than if 
left alone.” This may Ik* very good theory, 
but it will not hold good in practice; as I 
have proved to my satisfaction. 
Seventeen years ago I built a good-sized 
farm-house. Three years afterwards, I added 
to it a kitchen,wood house,milk room, smoke 
house and tool room. I painted t he roof of 
Ihc first part built. When I came to make 
the addition, my master builder, whom T re¬ 
garded as “ architectural authority,” advised 
me not to have the roof painted, and 1 took 
his advice. The shingles on the roof on 
the first part built are as sound lo-dav as 
they were the day they were put on. The 
shingles on the last part built, which were 
not painted, are more than half rotten, and 
(lie roof leaks badly. The roof not. painted 
Arboriculture 
ARBORICULTURAL NOTES, 
Ovfi'urow ii Apple Grafts. 
1 had our fruit trees grafted two years 
ago. This year the wind is clearing the 
grafts off close down to the stump. Do you 
know of any way to prevent it?—N T. S., 
U r eR/ Candor, A. Y. 
Your grafts have grown altogether too 
rapidly for safety, and you should have 
pinched off the ends last season and com¬ 
pelled tliftin to throw out lateral or side 
shoots. When this cheek to lengthy growth 
is not observed the first season, then a 
judicious shortening of the grafts in winter 
or spring should have been attended to, lie- 
cause the leverage of such vigorous shoots is 
far too great for the slight hold they have 
upon tlie stock. It is not too late even now 
to shorten them, and we would advise you 
to do it immediately, although earlier in the 
season would have, been far better. This is 
but another instance where pruning is neces¬ 
sary to success. 
Pui'cllfisitllf Plant*. 
I want to purchase a few plants such as 
the Achillea inilltfolmm, Lafhyrus , 8axifraga 
efamifoMa, Campanula yrandijlora , Ac. Will 
those flowers do as well when bought and 
transplanted in the fall us in the spring?— 
John Sullivan. 
Yks, and better than to wait until they 
begin to grow in the spring. If planted 
this fall and then covered with a little coarse 
Irrrirttltttrr 
Figure 1 
manure, as a winter protection, they* will 
bloom finely next season. Nearly all the 
hardy herbaceous plants succeed better if 
transplanted early in autumn than late or 
in spring. 
Smilnx Aspnrnifoitle*. 
Please tell me whether Smilax {Myr- 
siphyllum asparagoides) is so hardy as to 
stand the winter in this climate.—1L D. I., 
Tabor , Iowa. 
No; for it is a native of the Cape of (-lood 
Hope, where cold weather is unknown. It 
will, however, thrive in a warm room, and 
is a very delicate and pretty twining plant. 
is covered with dirt and something like moss. 
The painted roof is smooth and has no 
lint or moss upon it. The lint on the un¬ 
painted roof holds the water and causes it 
to back up under the shingles and rot them, 
while on the painted roof the water runs off 
freely. The conducting spouts for both roofs 
run down, side by side, and discharge the 
water into the cistern. Both roofs are of the 
same pitch ,yet the con d actor from t he pain ted 
roof commences discharging water into the 
cistern, in a moderate shower, nearly a min¬ 
ute before the one from the roof not painted. 
From the foregoing facts I conclude that it 
several specimens of which were brougm 
from Panama, some seven years since, and 
planted at CaJistoga, are now flourishing, 
being from ten to eighteen feet high. 
Htiavimi* for Mtllcli. 
Dr Hall in Prairie Farmer says Pine 
shavings ns a mulch for both evergreens and 
raspberries may be used frtsely, as they will 
not injure either, 
Glimbina Cricket. 
Will Mr. Dick Hopson, Sherman, Texas, 
send us a specimen of the climbing cricket, 
wbicli be says does bis fruit trees more in¬ 
jury than the whole cut-worm family ? 
DIOTAMNUS FRAXINELLA, 
This is not only one of the oldest but best 
of our hardy plants. The generic name 
Dictamnm is the one adopted by Virgil 
nearly two thousand years ago, and the 
specific Fmnnslla is a diminutive of Fraxi- 
nu8, the name of the ash, from the general 
resemblance of their leaves. Some curious 
stories are told in regard to the longevity of 
the FraxineHas. G. W. Johnson states that 
instances are known where a plant lias out¬ 
lived father, soil and grandson in the same 
spot without increase, all attempts at multi- 
X 
