■was immediately after gathering the fruit, 
i. the first of August. The plan is were 
then growing vigorously, and the steins and 
roots immature, consequently the cutting 
ami plowing was too much even for a black¬ 
berry. This simple method is almost equally 
as certain in destroying noxious plants of 
other species, hut the time must lie varied 
to correspond with the growth of the plant, 
as some mature early and others late. Al¬ 
ways select a lime when the plants are mak¬ 
ing or just finishing their most vigorous 
growth. 
Tall Weeds Among Strawberries* 
August 11.—The abundant rains, of late, 
have been as favorable to weeds as to culti¬ 
vated plants. In strawberry plantations, 
where it is desirable to allow the runners to 
grow and take root, hoeing at this season is 
out of the question ; but this is not a good 
excuse for allowing the tall rank weeds to 
grow unchecked, as is far too generally 
practiced. I have had my plantation gone 
over to-day, and all weeds with upright 
stems pulled out, and the improved appear¬ 
ance of the strawberry beds fully remuner¬ 
ates me for the labor, to say nothing of 
more practical results. 
Downing Mulberry* 
August 12.—Six years ago I paid five dol¬ 
lars for a handsome Downing Mulberry tree 
and planted it upon my lawn. IL Hus grown 
rapidly and had become a large and beauti¬ 
ful specimen ; but the two past winters have 
been a little too severe for this tree and the 
norli|west side of the stem began to decay, 
and some of the larger branches were also 
injured. To-day I have had it dug up and 
put upon the brush heap. I regret to lose 
&i> handsome an ornamental tree, hut I cannot 
say that as a fruit tree it was of much value. 
It is Into that the Downing is one of, or the 
very best, of the mulberries; but when one 
has plenty of other small fruits, such as rasp¬ 
berries and blackberries, that ripen at the 
same time, he is not likely to favor mul¬ 
berries, especially when, like this fruit, it has 
a handle (stein) that must be pulled or cut 
off before the fruit is eaten. 
^cunfific aittr StstfitL 
WILLOW LEAF TEA. 
Mr. MennuusT, the British Consul at 
Shanghai, says “ the preparation of the wil¬ 
low leaf for mixture with tea is openly prac¬ 
ticed in the villages on the Hong-ken sideof 
the Boo-Chow Creek, aud it has become an 
industry which claims an important share 
of the attention of the villages of that and 
other localities. The hanks of the numer¬ 
ous creeks are planted with willow trees, the 
young leaves of which are collected in April 
and May, very much in the way that the tea 
leaf is gathered. The produce is then col¬ 
lected in heaps on the hard threshing floors 
of the hamlets, and Is allowed to undergo a 
mild fermentation in the sun. The leaves 
are then manipulated, similarly to those of 
the ordinary tea plant. They are sorted in¬ 
to kinds, according to sizes, and afterwards 
roasted in common tea ovens. The appear¬ 
ance of the stulT, after this treatment, is not 
unlike that of the genuine article, and it is 
carried to Shanghai, and there intermixed 
with pure tea, at a ratio of from ten to twenty 
per cent. The cultivation and prepara¬ 
tion of willow leaves were begun in Shang¬ 
hai about ten years ago, ami have Increased 
year by year. The poorer classes near 
Shanghai have for a long period consumed 
this leaf as an infusion in place of tea, the 
'latter being too expensive for them to pur¬ 
chase.” 
As far as he can gather, its use is produc¬ 
tive of no ill effect, but its flavor has not the 
slightest resemblance to any known tea. 
I'iie cost of the article cannot exceed 2d. per 
pound, but when mixed with tea, and so 
sold to foreigners, it must represent a very 
large profit to the producers. 
He thinks the interference of the authori¬ 
ties with regard to this spurious manufacture 
may shortly be necessary, for the purpose, if 
not of its actual prohibition {.which may not 
ho possible), at all events, of placing it under 
such control as that foreigners may be in a 
position to satisfy themselves as tothequau- 
t iy produced, and the proportion used in 
taxing, so that the adulterated article may 
ukeiis proper position i« the tea market. 
From inquiries instituted through the super¬ 
intendent of police, it transpires that there 
■in' at this moment about 400 piculs—say 
53t00 ° Pounds—of this willow leaf in the 
course of preparation at various drying 
amses in the foreign settlements at Shanghai, 
llie probable amount made up last season 
r; T " ,ale<1 at not less t,mu 3 -< ,0 0 piculs, or 
- JXi pounds. He is not aware that any 
analysis of the properties of the willow leaf 
j as yet been made at Shanghai, hut alien- 
, 1,1 l!,e n,,ove will doubtless bring 
^itaii investigation of the kind, which is 
Jr J < i, eman(letl i» the general interest, 
' ie rapid expansion which is exhibiting 
‘hell m t!n S feature of the tea trade 
USEFUL AND SCUENTIFIO ITEMS, 
Itnruinc; Charcoal. 
Will some of the readers of the Rural 
New-Yorker please give me some informa¬ 
tion about the mode of burning charcoal, 
and how much of it a cord of wood will 
make ?—s. n. 
Spots oit Mahogany# 
Stains and spots may be taken out of 
mahogany with a little aquafortis or oxalic 
acid and water, rubbing the. part by means 
of cork, till the color is restored, observing 
afterwards to wash the wood well with wa¬ 
ter, and to dry and polish as usual. 
How to Iloro Holes in Glass, 
Any hard steel tool will cut glass with 
great facility when kept freely wet with 
camphor dissolved in turpentine. A drill- 
how may ho used or even the hand alone. 
A hole bored may be readily enlarged by a 
round file. The ragged edges of glass ves¬ 
sels may also be thus easily smoothed by a 
flat file. Flat, window glass can readily he 
sawed by a watch spring saw by aid of this 
solution. In short, the most brittle glass 
can be wrought; almost ns easily as brass by 
the use of cutting tools kept constantly 
moist with a enmphorized oil of turpentine. 
Cleaning Painted Surfaces Unvarnished. 
Put upon a plate some of the best whiting; 
have ready some clean water and a piece of 
flannel, which dip into the water and squeeze 
nearly dry, then take ns much whiting as will 
adhere to it, and apply it to the painted sur¬ 
face, when a little rubbing will instantly re¬ 
move any dirt or grease; wash well off with 
water, and rub dry with a soft cloth. Paint¬ 
ed articles thus cleaned look equal to new, 
and without doing the least injury to the 
most delicate color; it will preserve the 
paint much longer Hum if cleaned with soap, 
and does not require more thau half the time 
usually occupied in cleaning. 
Preservation of Wood Labels. 
In localities where durable kinds of wood 
cannot be procured, soft and perishable sorts 
may lie used if properly prepared. Common 
pine, or even basswood , may be made almost 
indestructible by soaking in a solution com¬ 
posed of one part blue vitriol and twenty of 
water. We have seen pine stakes an Inch 
and a half in diameter, that had been in use 
twelve years and still remain sound, and as 
strong as ever. It is only necessary to soak 
that portion of the stake driven in the soil in 
the solution, if the remaining portion is 
kept well painted as is usually done with 
those used for flowering plants. 
To Polit.li Marble, Etc. 
Marble of any kind, alabaster, any hard 
stone, or glass may be repolished by rubbing 
it with a linen cloth dressed with oxide of 
tin (sold under the name of putty powder). 
For this purpose a couple or more folds of 
linen should be fastened tight over a piece 
of wood, mat or otherwise, according to the 
form of the stone. To repolish a mantel¬ 
piece it should be first perfectly cleaned. 
This is best done by making a paste of lime, 
soda and water, well wetting the marble, 
and applying the paste. Then let it remain 
a day or so, keeping it moist during the in- 
Iic parirmcr. 
LEEKS AND THEIR CULTURE. 
Allium Formal. 
The Leek is not a favorite vegetable with 
our American people. But in our cities 
practice is to place them closely together in 
trenches and then cover with some coarse 
material like hav or straw, to prevent freez¬ 
ing, and permit of taking out whenever ne¬ 
cessary. 
-- 
FORCING- RHUBARB. 
Rhubarb or Pie-Plant has of late years 
TL'HE! LEEK. — IPorruin. 
tv hero there is a large proportion of foreign¬ 
ers, the demand for this strong-seen led bulb 
is considerable, and many acres of choice 
land in their suburbs are devoted lo its cul¬ 
ture. The demand is probably not sufficient 
to warrant very extended culture; but it is 
usually considered as quite profitable, inas¬ 
much as it. is always grown as a second crop, 
following some kind of early vegetables 
Hint can be disposed of by the middle or 
last, of July. The seed should he sown in 
this locality in April and in well prepared 
soil, and in rows wide enough apart to 
admit of weeding with a hoe. The soil be¬ 
tween the rows should he frequently stirred, 
not only to keep down the weeds hut to 
encourage growth. The last of July or 
first of August the plants should be either 
thinned out or transplanted; the latter is 
the general practice with market gardeners. 
The plants at this time are small, and with 
long slender leaves, as shown in the accom¬ 
panying illustration. The land where a 
crop of early vegetables has been grown is 
usually plowed and harrowed level, and 
during rainy weather, or just after a shower, 
the Leeks are transplanted into rows a foot 
apart aud six inches in the row, this distance 
admitting of about 87,000 per acre. If the 
plants are quite large when taken up for 
resetting, a portion of the oldest, leaves should 
bo removed, as this prevents wilting and 
become so universally popular as an early 
spring vegetable that, we often wonder why 
it is not more generally forced into growth 
in winter. It is a plant, possessing great vi¬ 
tality, and not readily killed by neglect, be¬ 
sides if will grow almost anywhere, provided 
the temperature is above freezing point. 
Any family who has a warm kitchen or cel¬ 
lar in which to set the plants may have 
plenty of rhubarb in winter if they will take 
the trouble to put a few roots into large pots, 
boxes or tubs this fall, and store them where 
they can he had when required. It is bettor 
to take up the roots in September than later 
in the season, because the soil will have suf¬ 
ficient. time to thoroughly settle about the 
roots and new fibers issue before cold weath¬ 
er. Very little light is required or necessary 
for forcing rhubarb, as the stalks are more 
tender and less acid when grown in the shade 
than when fully exposed to light. The 
kitchen is the best place to force the plants, 
provided the heat is kept up during the 
night—at least the temperature should not 
be allowed to sink below forty-tlvo or fifty 
degrees Fall. A good rank rhubarb plant 
in the kitchen or elsewhere is not only an 
ornament, hut a useful thing to have about 
the house iu winter, aud every housewife 
will know how to cover a coarse tub, or box, 
with moss, or strips of cloth to make it cor¬ 
respond with other furniture of the room. 
LitfW 
Up 
>-i ;_r_ ~ ^^5 
--ISP 
J U ]fg*d 
. .. . . v , , , r. r » • ■ uu m im: tan or e.ui v winter arc pouetl 111 
As the principal demand lor Leeks is m rieli soil and well cured for, they will usually 
winter or early spring, they must he care- last through the season, or until anting, and 
-C lmho i n v , .. vv miui ui wn y apriug, ui mubi ue care- last mrougn uie season, or until gprin 
‘ F hope desperation. I fully stored until wanted for use. The usual ' a further supply will not be required. 
GROWING LIMA BEANS. 
That gouty old critic, (wo don’t know ns 
he is gouty hut he always writes ns if he was) 
Maj. Freas, says; -Mr. McAfee,Superinten¬ 
dent of the University of Wisconsin Experi¬ 
mental Farm, informs ua that for three years 
past he has grown Limn brans without poles 
or stakes, by persistent, pinching hack after 
they reach the desired bight — about that 
of common hunch beans. lit? is confident 
the crop is very perceptibly earlier and thinks 
it is increased in quantity —the plant, being 
checked in its growth of vino, expending its 
energy in fruit production. On the Farm we 
saw some so treated that, were loaded with 
fruit, about the earliest we have no doubt. 
A3 to “ increased quantity ” we have a great 
doubt. The pinching, too, is probably as 
much trouble as the poles, saving only the 
expense. We view it as one of Ihe new 
fangled creation that experimenting profes¬ 
sors like to indulge in, but we believe that 
thus far they have never had any permanent 
practical result. 
nbttstrhtl Statui'm. 
> Q£> 
AMERICAN INSTITUTE PAIR. 
Great preparations are making for this 
fair, and the machinery is being put in. 
Workmen are now renovating the Empire 
Rink, painting the walls alight sky blue,and 
arranging the shafting for the nmchltery. 
Five hundred feet of shafting have already 
been placed in the machine building, and 100 
feet in the main building, above the Second 
avenue end of the well-hole. The shafting 
in the machine building will be devoted to 
running heavy machines for mining, slono- 
hreaking, tanning and other like operations. 
The shafting in the main structure will ho 
used for looms, carding and cotton machines, 
and light processes generally. It is expected 
that at least twenty steam engines and boil¬ 
ers will be placed on exhibition. Two of 
each are putting in now; in a few days the 
two 50-horse power steam boilers, tested to 
seventy-live, pounds pressure, will he placed 
in the Second avenue structure, An addi¬ 
tional structure, 100 feet long by 20 feet wide, 
will he erected on Second avenue for the ac¬ 
commodation of the machinery. The recep¬ 
tion of goods thus far 1ms been light, al¬ 
though many applications are now registered 
Oil the Secretary’s hooks. An allegorical 
painting on canvass will be placed at the 
Second avenue end of the structure. It will 
represent advanced Industry (colossal in size,) 
holding a rake in one hand and the fruits of 
the earth in the other. In the perspective 
will he seen the printing press, the telegraph, 
locomotive, &e. A new building, 74xlOH 
feet, with alcovotl galleries, is erecting at the 
Third avenue front, which will he in part, if 
not wholly, devoted to the fine art depart¬ 
ment. It is the intention of the Institute, as 
soon ns a proper site can he obtained, either 
in Central Park or some other suitable locali¬ 
ty, to commence Ihe erection upon it. of a 
costly and imposing edifice, at an expense of 
some $2,000,000. 
BUILDING FOR CINCINNATI INDUSTRIAL EXPOSITION, TO BE HELD FROM SEPT. 6 TO OCT. 7, 1871. 
terval. When this paste has been removed excessive evaporation of the juices of the When one set of plants begins to fail, throw 
the polishing may begin. The linen and plant. From this time forward until the away and bring out another from the store 
putty powder must he kept constantly wet. crop is gathered, the plants will require no room, because they are of little intrinsic 
Glass, such as jewelers show counter cases, other care except frequent hoeing. value, as every fanner Is supposed to have 
which becomes scratched, may be polished 8tol ., llK in winter. plenty of rhubarb. If the first plants start- 
in the same way. * " ,1 ®‘ n — 1 * ~ 1 ! 
value, as every farmer is supposed to have 
plenty of rhubarb. If the first plants start¬ 
ed in the fill or early winter are potted in 
CINCINNATI INDUST’L EXPOSITION. 
Herewith wc present, a view of the 
new and spacious building erected for the 
use of the Cincinnati Industrial Exposition, 
which is now open for the reception of arti¬ 
cles to he shown during the coming exhibi¬ 
tion. Thu central position of the city of 
Cincinnati as to the great lines of Western 
transportation, and the extent and diversity 
of her own manufactures, will insure a large 
attendance of visitors and a great display of 
material, One leading feature of this expo¬ 
sition is to raise the spirit of competition 
above a pecunious scramble for jnouey, and 
make it more a school of excellence, where 
the honor of success is the reward of merit, 
and the favorable verdict, of the great body 
of visitors is more sought for than the dol¬ 
lars which may come from the award of 
fallible judges. Medals of bronze, silver and 
gold, are offered as prizes in the leading 
classes. The following are dimensions of 
the principal halls in the exposition build¬ 
ing:—Power Hall, 172 by 173 feet and 50 
feet high; Central Hall, 250 by 110 feet and 
70 feet high ; Fine Art Hull, 350 by 31 feet 
and 21 feet high ; Mechanics’ Hall, 350 by 
31 feet and 30 feet high ; Horticultural Hall, 
350 by 81 feet and 21 feet high; Textile 
Fabric Hall, 118 by 03 feet and 25 feet high ; 
Ladies’ Department Hall, 113 by 08 feetand 
25 feet high; Ladies’ Reliring-room and 
Cloak-room, 48 by 20 feet; Refreshment 
Hall, 100 by 20 feet and 21 feet high. 
Other accommodations may he hereafter 
arranged. For special information, see ad¬ 
vertisement in this paper. 
- - 
Our List of Agricultural Fairs will 
he repeated next week, with such additions 
as may he made from information received 
since its first publication. Secretaries of So¬ 
cieties whose Fairs are not. included in our 
list will please give us proper data in regard 
to times aud places of holding exhibitions. 
