press, as well as nurserymen in their cata¬ 
logues, describe it as a white grape; anil in 
a late report of a fair in St. Louis, it is re¬ 
ferred to as the “ best white grape." The 
p;ist favorable season, however, lias shown 
that the Goethe is neither light green, white 
nor amber, but a decided brownish red, al¬ 
most as dark as Catawba, but not of so bright 
a color. It is very seldom that this variety 
ripens in the Northern States; but when it 
does, it is far from being a white grape. 
(idle Sportsman. 
ENGLISH FOX HOUND. 
The modern English fox hound is really 
one of the most wonderful animals in crea¬ 
tion, owing, probably, to the great care 
whieh has been given to his breeding for the 
last three centuries. Some fox hound es¬ 
tablishments have cost their owners £8,000 
to £10,000 per year; and the money and 
talent, which has been expended for this pur¬ 
pose has resulted in wonderful success. The 
fox hound, like all other dogs, must he select¬ 
ed for the country he is to range in. The 
middle size is the most, approved, for the 
reason that, like all other animals, they are 
found to be stronger and better able to en¬ 
dure fatigue, llight, and color is a matter of 
taste. A good dog cannot be of bad color— 
that is to say, we do not think color has 
much to do with the specific character of 
the animal; but in shape all must agree. 
Wo should not prefer a large, hound to one 
of medium size, since in a thick 'woven 
country, or in a thorny brake, he, as the 
poet says, “ Painfully Lugs, and, torn and 
embarrassed, bleeds.” 
One of tbc most important features is that 
the pack be all of a size and look of tbc 
same family. There are certain points in a 
hound, as in a horse, which should be always 
looked a Her. If nut of perfect symmetry, 
be will not show speed nor get through 
much work. Ilis legs should be perfectly 
straight; Ids feet round and not too large; 
iiis shoulders well back ; breast rather wide; 
chest, deep; back broad; head small; neck 
thin ; tail thick and bushy and carried well. 
A small bead indicates high breeding and 
looks more beautiful. We do not say large- 
beaded dogs are In any wise inferior. The 
accompanying engraving is intended to rep¬ 
resent a pure bred fox bound. His cars are 
rounded by the irons of the huntsman, to 
save them from the tears and scratches which 
they would inevitably encounter in dranny. 
Tim prevailing colors of the present day arc 
black and white, with tan. The mixed or 
blended colors are known ns “ pies”—red pie, 
blue pie, yellow pie, gray pie, lemon pie, 
hare pie, and badger pie. The last two are 
very handsome. Tan black, white, red, blue, 
arc more or less mixed with white. 
The lox hound is always to be looked at. 
as a part of a park, just as a soldier is a part 
of a regiment; so that it is of no use to breed 
liitu exceptionally high, or small, or other¬ 
wise, if you make him run different from his 
companions. His nervous and physical or¬ 
ganism makes him peculiar for dusli. 
We know that this English fox hound dif¬ 
fers materially in form uud size from the 
favorites of the fox-hunting districts of our 
own country. Wo shall bo glad to have 
some old huntsman tell us wherein, aud if 
our own breeds are better for our country 
sport than the English breed. 
-♦-»» - - 
CATCHING PICKEREL. 
1 have not fished for pickerel through the 
ice in three years; but having fished a great 
deal before, that time with experienced sports¬ 
men, 1 think I cun tell James L. Wooi> ex¬ 
actly how. First, of course, a hole must be 
cut. Cut where the depLh is from ten to fif¬ 
teen feet. The hole should be round, and 
eighteen inches across. Cut with a sharp ax, 
evenly all around, until nearly through; then 
strike with sufficient force to dislodge the 
cake. Make an oblique incision in the ice 
near the aperture, aud insert a small bush, 
large enough so that if Ihe fish should pull it 
out, it could not get through, the hole, which 
is not often the case, as tho bush generally 
freezes in. Sound, aud make your hue two 
feet shorter than the depth. Tie it strongly 
to the bush near tho ice; make a loop and 
attach it to a twig, so that when the. fish 
bites the line will be easily pulled off. Bait 
with live miunowB. 
The minnows are generally caught in the 
fall and preserved in springs, or in perforated 
boxes in streams. Feed with corn meal or 
crumbled bread. If the spring or box gets 
foul, put the minnows in a pail of fresh 
water and cleanse it. 
If you wish to catch perch, place a line 
in twenty-five, thirty, or even forty feet of 
water, according to the capacity of the lake, 
and follow the given directions. Bass are 
sometimes caught, though not often. As 
many lines may be set as can conveniently 
bo attended. The fish caught can be pre¬ 
served alive by cutting (if the ice be thick 
enough) a large square, with a small perfo¬ 
ration at the bottom. Great care should be 
taken in landing, that the fish be not allowed 
to strike the ice as it will surely break the 
book, and away goes your fish. The fisher¬ 
man will arrange things—including fire—for 
bis comfort according to iiis Ingenuity. 
J. J. J. 
-♦♦♦- 
NOTES FOR SPORTSMEN. 
How to Oatcli a Cooil. 
Years ago, when 1 lived in the backwoods 
of Michigan, I was some on coon. The 
surest way to catch them is with a good cur 
dog. One that will not give tongue on track 
but will bark at the tree. I have hunted 
from dark until daylight catching from one 
to five a night, lint if you wish to trap them 
with steel traps, go to the woods, near a 
Uisntssions. 
AMERICAN INST. FARMERS’ CLUB. 
Notes of Discussions, Extracts from Let¬ 
ters, JLe. 
To Keep Cider Sweet. J. 8. ClUKT, Calais, 
Maine, asks liow to keep cider sweet. The Pro¬ 
fessor of Early Rising says it is easy enough to 
do it, (but don't, tell lio\v,) if the apples contain 
sufficient saccharine matter; if not, it will spoil. 
Major C'Uima says it ouunoti ho kept sweet it ex¬ 
posed to tho air without the aid of chemicals, 
and then it Is unwholesome. [Since none of tho 
eavtuis give any Information, wo will let Fran¬ 
cis (J Hanoi: u, a. correspondent of the Rural 
New-Yorkiju, answer, lfo says:—*‘Iu answer 
to this question, In a late Rural, I would any 
that. 1 have been experimenting for tho last 
protected. [The Rural New-Yorker will be 
glad to receive specimens of insects, sent in this 
way, about which information is desired. Ac¬ 
companying tho insect should bo the post-office 
address oi l he sender, the name Of the plant or 
plants upon which It is found, and all the details 
known oonoornlug Its habits. 1 
Ultahi In Pears.—Mr. Vick Hits lues blight in 
his pear orchard, but from what ho says of It. 
Duchess Quinn says he euimot determine 
whether tt la flroblight or not. If it is flro- 
bliglit he recommends Hint tho branches af¬ 
fected bo cut off four or five indies below tho 
part affcotod, aud immediately burned to de¬ 
stroy tiio insect which causes it. Mr. Fuller 
asked it' it is mi insect which causes tho tlro- 
blight. Mr. Quinn thought it was. 
To Destroy the Curculio.—E. T. Thompson, 
Lansing, Mieh., has found that the best, way to 
destroy tho eurculio and peach borer is to 
“plow or spado up tho soil tho higtmoRS of tho 
top around tho tree; Just before freezing tlrno 
turn in tho store hogs, lot them do thoir work 
smaller feathers, being especially particular not 
to tear tboskiu.andalways keeping in miudllmt 
tlie least disfiguration will Injure the sale. When 
it is Hourly picked, oouslgn the bird to some less 
muscular person to takeout, the pin-feathors. 
This can be easiest doin' with the point of a sharp 
penknife, pressing against tho thumb wiili tho 
feather between. In no ease should tho body bo 
laid aside (ill everything Is removed that would 
offend the eye of tho most fastidious buyer. AI 
ter the bird is u llltlo enolod, lay it on a board 
covered with .several thicknesses of woolen cloth, 
and while it is held on its back by an attendant, 
cut with a sharp penknife, n circle about, tho size 
of a two-cont piece around tbc vent, through 
which a port lire remove wire fully and complete¬ 
ly tho entrails, keeping all tho tut attached to 
thorn lu tko body with the Augers of one baud, 
while the drawing is performed witli tho other. 
Thou cut off the wings, If you have not done it 
before, at tlm third joint, wipe tho neck thor¬ 
oughly, leaving not u particle of dirt or a stain 
of blood; lay the turkey on Its baolt in a cool 
place; tho next, morning draw the skill over tho 
bone of tlm neck, and tie it. firmly with a string, 
ttQd your bird Is ready for sale, and if well I'ut- 
toned will bring the best pried. 
Gen. Curtis said there was a lad ter way to 
■(ill turkeys. Catch them, (be sure ami do tlmt,) 
tie their legs, hang them on u hook or line, with 
tlm heads down, and with u sharp penknife cut 
tho jugular vein. Troutman Crowell said t lm 
proper plan Is to chloroform the fowl, remove 
tiio feathers while tho Imd is insoiiaiblo, then 
pass tlm ladle bludodown tho throat and sever 
tiio carotid artery. 
I*imi|ikln Secilii Air Mllcii t'uwa. W. L. TliA* :t- 
KR, Hartford, Fa., asked if seeds should tr- :c- 
movod from pumpkins i iferuled for milk cows. 
Mr. Crank said Yes. Captain Cuutls had never 
hoard of such a thing, though lxo laid fed many 
pumpkins to cows. 
A Cheap Fruit Drier.— J. 1C. JlsN kins, Wyo¬ 
ming, Fa., writes:— 1 “Take one, two, three, live, 
or ton mush-meat sieves of tho same size, so the 
lower end of the hoop of one will Ut into tiio 
top of tlm next, like tin' joint.-' uf a stopo-pipe. 
As fast us tho fruit is prepared till tlmsiovesiind 
stack them, fasten them together with twine or 
wire, so that, they aro easily adjusted. Sot your 
stack on the stove at night, keen a slow heat by 
banking tho coal, and remove your fruit, in tlm 
morning. Tho tup sieve slum Id servo nail cover. 
Turn tlm nest of (sieves upside down once an 
hour during the day. Lay a paper ovor tiio top 
so us to keep out dust and to lot tho rarollcd air 
pass. Tills caps all other ways of drying fruit.” 
pc §arbcncr. 
TIIi<; IfllNGfLlSII FOX HOUND. 
swamp, find a lug log lying in or near the 
swamp, set your trap on the log and then got 
two old limbs, sot one on each side of tho 
log over the trap, crossing at tho top, form¬ 
ing an x, so that the coon will have to go 
under them and over tho trap. Bait if you 
choose with frogs or chicken. But whether 
you bait or not the coou will run the old log 
if lie comes in the neighborhood. Or on tho 
same plan you cau set a dcad-lall. Now if 
the hoys wish lo know anything more of 
trapping or hunting from a hear down to a 
muskrat let them ask and I will give my ex¬ 
perience, which is one of twelve years in the 
backwoods.—O. Iv. V., Burlington, Iowa. 
To Catch Gophers. 
Prairie Boy wants to know how to catch 
gophers. Their fur is very soil aud nice. 
We get, in Iowa, for their scalps, a bounty 
of ten cents. In summer they burrow un¬ 
der ground, about ten inches from the sur¬ 
face, for roots, throwing up mounds a few 
feet apart. In winter they go deeper. To 
catch them, dig down to their run, set a steel 
trap, run a board into the ground three or 
four inches above the trap, and the other 
end on the top of the ground, with a hole 
bored in it slanting, so that the sun will not 
strike directly on tho trap; stop all other 
cracks. They do great damage to hedges 
and young trees by eating off the roots.— 
L. H. Fitch._ 
I low to Clean a Shot Gun. 
P. G. Houston asks how to clean a shot 
gun. Wrap clean tow around the cleaning 
rod; then take a bucket of boiling water— 
soapsuds if procurable—and run the rod up 
and down the barrel briskly until the water 
is quite black. Change the water until it 
runs quite clear through the nipple; pour 
boiling hot water (clean) down the barrel, 
aud vttb dry with fresh clean tow; run a 
little sweet oil on tow down the barrel for 
use. To clean the slock, rub it with linseed 
oil.—E. W., Aum, N. Y. 
Trnp for Culcliiutt Coons Wanted. 
Will some one of your many readers tell 
us how to make some kind of a trap for 
catching coons that will kill them as soon 
as caught? The raccoon, when, caught iu 
the steel trap, will often be taken by the toes 
aud thus get away. Also, I would like in¬ 
structions for making and setting snares, 
traps, Ac., for tho purpose of taking quails, 
partridges, rabbits, aud the like.—A Reader. 
fciretchlnsr IWinlt and IMumU-Rhi Skins. 
T would advise J. C. B. to cut his skins 
only from the middle joints of one hind leg 
directly across to the same joint of the other 
leg. Then turn the skin off and re-turn it 
on to a lnirrcl hoop bent up nearly double. 
This, 1 think, will prevent tlie skin from con¬ 
tracting too much. —Q. Tt. D., Piltxjicld , N. U. 
IIow In Cuicli lfnbSitN. 
I saw in the Rural New-Yorker of Sep¬ 
tember 10th, an inquiry by J. C., about 
catching rabbits. I think a box trap a very 
good way. Bait with sweet apple or Coni.— 
L. F. A., Lccnawce Co., Mich. 
twenty years to solve it, and think 1 have suc¬ 
ceeded, after having - tried about every method 
recommended. The unities, ol' course, should lm 
clean and sound ; the hotter the apples tho bet¬ 
ter tho elder. I believe it » mistaken notion that 
natural fruit makes the best. Make them up in 
as cool weather and windy days are best—as 
possible, with no water, as little straw »is can be 
used, and perfectly free from must. Racks are 
best to lay up the pomace in, as you can use less 
straw. Thu first of tlioruu should go for vlu- 
cgur. When llm cider ions clour, strain it through 
a sieve and several thicknesses of tlmuioi Cloth 
into a new Iron-bound cask. A liquor cask Is 
best that, lias been tilled with pure liquor. A 
wine cask will not do; it will sour the cider. 
Place the. barrel in position In a coot place, and 
after drawing a gallon to allow room for fer¬ 
mentation, add three pounds of the bent raisins, 
mashed, and three-quarters of a pound of white 
mustard seed, whole, to a oask of forty gallons, 
and hung uptight. Lot stand tenor tll'teeu days, 
and draw without vent, and you will have tho 
best drink man over used in an ague climate— 
the last as good as the first. 1 huvu thus pre¬ 
pared about olio hundred barrels; and hundreds 
of the good people of Toledo, O., will attest to 
the fine quality of the drink.”] 
Large v*. hitmll Wagon Axle*.— 8. W. llRKTT, 
Sliortsville, N. Y., asks “whether there is any 
difference in the draft of a load, say from two 
to three tons, on tin iron axle tree (to oxen) of 
two-luch,or the thimble skeiu of three aud three- 
quarter or four-inch diameter? Ono cost $110, 
and tho other $125, and wo want tho lightest 
draft, and ns we have nothing to test tho mat¬ 
ter, thought that by addressing you we might 
find out If tlila hud been tried.” Tho Professor 
of Early Rising (who must have drank too much 
Jersey older for breakfast) assured i lie Club that 
tlie larger the axle the greater tiio leverage and 
the easier tlie wagon runs. Mr. Fuller said tiio 
smaller the axle tho less the friction, tlie greater 
the leverage, uud tiio easier It runs. Ditto Prof. 
Curtis, so it was generally agreed by ull who 
bad not been iu the habit of drinking sano-reoti- 
ffed Jersey cider. 
Trun-qdnnting Fear Trees. -Thomas C. Vick- 
bus, Chest ertowu, Md., has a pear orchard too 
close planted. The trees arc four years old, and 
ho asks If lie can transplant them with safoty. 
Duchess Quinn answers yes 1 Transplant with 
safety If the trees are carefully taken up and 
the t ops out, back. In digging them up he should 
commence digging from four to six feet from 
the tiody of the tree, inserting tiio spade, ahvajfii, 
with Its edge toward tho body. Thus he will 
uvold cutting off roots, and cun lift more of 
them—tho more tho bettor. 
Transpluudiig Old Grape Vines.—Mr. VICKERS 
asks if he can transplant boiuo old grapevines 
safely. Mr. Fullek replies yes, but It is better 
to lot them remain where they arc. If they are 
properly pruned and trained, they will produce 
more fruit than limy will if transplanted. [To 
learn how to prune and train, he should read the 
Rural New-Yorker.] 
The Eumeluii Grape.—Mr. VICKERS asks if 
the Eumelau grape is better tbau Clio Concord. 
It Is replied that so faros flavor is concerned it 
is; but. whether It is as profitable or not, is not 
known, and can only be determined by more 
experience th in anybody lias yet hud witli It. 
Iimcct* m> Grape Vine*. Mr. VlUKKits writes 
Of insects on Ids grape vines, giving in detail an 
account of their work. Mr. Fuller urged t.liut 
when correspondents of the Club find insects 
about which they desire information, they send 
spool mens l<> tho Club, so that they oun be Iden¬ 
tified and specific information given. They 
should be inclosed in a small vial filled witli al¬ 
cohol, and tlm pith uf an elder punched out, ora 
hole (large enough to receive the vial) bored iu a 
Iff* '■co of light wood, tho viul inserted, the hole 
plugged up, and the whole sent by mail. It will 
not answer to send a viul by mail unless it is so 
thoroughly. Sow some grain around tho trees 
to Induce them to work; turn in tlie chickens 
alternately with the hogs.” 
When to Prune. Mr. Thompson says Feb¬ 
ruary la the best time to prune trees and cut 
timber for durability. Mr. Lawton preferred 
the spring tor pruning trees. The Professor of 
Early Rising said the best limn to prune is 
whenever tiio tree Is in n dormant condition. 
Mr. FUllkr would prune at any time (except 
when the Bap is (lowing fresh in tho spring! hav¬ 
ing regard, as to time, as to the object of prun¬ 
ing, choosing the fall ami winter if Ihn object Is 
wood or growth; lu summer if tlie object is 
fruit. 
When to Prune Grape Vines,— 1 Tho Commander 
asked Mr. FULLER when ho would prune grape 
vines. Mr. F. replied that an answer depends 
upon climate, soil, variety of grupu and other 
things. Tho Commander then asked, “ W lien do 
you do the most pruning to your own vinos?” 
Mr. F. replied, “lu December.” Tlie Com¬ 
mander—” Then I venture lo say that, the best, 
time to prune grapevines Is when Andrew S. 
Fuller takes the knife, viz., in December. 
When to Het Wtllmv Cutting*. —Esquire CUR¬ 
TIS' men hadn't much to tie, and lie wanted to 
screen an exposed field from which the wind 
blows tlie snow in winter, and thereby the grass 
Is killed; so ho set them to work tiio other day 
driving willow cut tings, with I lie aid of a, crow¬ 
bar, with a view to protecting said field. Asks 
tho Club if they will grow now that they aro set. 
Mr. Fuller replies, wait until spring and you 
can tell yourself, since they are planted. If tho 
soil is a stiff one, it is probable tlie fall-planted 
cuttings will lie found lying on tlie surfuoo of 
tiio ground, thrown out. by tho frost. It they 
stick they will grow. Father Lawton had suc¬ 
ceeded well by sining planting; never planted 
in llm fall. Mr. Fuller would not recommend 
fall planting would rather make tho cuttings 
iu the tail, heel them in and plaul in spring- 
Orchard Grn»*. Col. CURTIS hud tried all the 
clovers and grasses nearly on an exposed field 
aud they perished in winter. At last lie tried 
Orchard Grass and it. has thus far withstood tlm 
freezing and thawing and possesses t he land. It 
lias a great ninny Strong root fibers ami is not 
easily displaced. W. S. Cu knell, near Ashevitlo 
N. C,« exhibited chcoso made from milk from 
cows fed on Orchard Grass which thrives admir¬ 
ably la the locality named—four tliciusuud feet 
above the sea level. Dr. Scuppkhnonu com¬ 
mended the locality for dairy purposes. 
Conover’* Colovial Asparagus, roots of which 
were exhibited and dcstributed, was highly com¬ 
mended by Duchess Quinn and Strawberry 
Hexamer, In terms similar to those before used 
and recorded in tho Rural New-Yorker. 
How to Kill Turkey*.— Deacon liEAPK has 
been to Boston (since Ills return from the Pacific 
Slopei and found that all turkeys were not sell¬ 
ing at the same price. His efforts to find out the 
reason resulted iu tlie discovery that some were 
better dressed than others. He proceeded to 
study Boston fashions and tells tho Club tlie 
latest style of market costume for turkeys: 
Darken tho doors of your stable, and quietly 
seize a bird, holding it so that, iu its struggles to 
free itself from your grasp.lt shall not hit its 
body or wings against auysolid substance. Thun 
with your loft hand Like fast, hold of tlm legs 
and wings, drawing tlm latter backward, and 
placing tlm neck of the bird across a round stick, 
sever tho bead from tlm body with a sharp ax 
hold in tlie right hand; then hold the bird at an 
angle from you, or, what is as well, press it firm¬ 
ly against the even ground, breast downward, 
so that there will be no possibility of its bruising 
itself while struggling. As soon as tho bird’s 
struggles are ended, seize and pull out first tfir: 
(ail and larger wing Can then*, up to the third 
wing joint, counting from the body outward; 
theft, holding tlie bird on your knees, never al¬ 
lowing it to touch the tub, carefully take out tho 
TRANSPLANTING RHUBARB. 
Rhubarb roots require re-planling occa¬ 
sionally. II' the stools remain undisturbed lot- 
several years, they often commence to decay 
in the center, and after a while the whole 
plant becomes diseased. Every four or five 
years the stalks should he lifted and divided, 
leaving hut one large crown, with ils ac¬ 
companying roots attached. These may he 
again planted in Ihe same soil, or upon some 
fresh plat, the latter method being preferable, 
although wo are not a very strong disciple 
of the theory that plunks run out if grown 
for many years in the same soil. 
Rhubarb is very much like asparagus ae 
regards fertilizing materials; (lie more the 
heller, and an extra application afterward;, 
will always be beneficial. A very deep rial 
rich soil are among the indispensable ad¬ 
juncts of successful rhubarb culture. Trans¬ 
plant in fall, if possible, amt plant in rows 
or hills, allowing plenty Of room; no crowd¬ 
ing will answer if lurgo and thrifty stalks 
are desired. Tliu crowns of the plants 
should be two to four inches ituder the sur¬ 
face, and a coat of mulch to new planta¬ 
tions Avill prevent injury from cold, and as¬ 
sist growth very materially the following 
spring. 
-♦-«--*- 
GARDEN NOTES. 
Preserving Fiii'suip*. 
The almost universal practice among 
farmers is to allow their parsnips to remain 
iu the ground through winter, just where 
they were grown. Wo believe die quality 
of this root is improved by being frozen, or 
at least kept cool, but it is not necessary to 
leave them lu the open garden during win¬ 
ter, where, if thy ground remain frozen, they 
cannot be got at until it thaws in spring, ami 
tlieu used in a Ycry few weeks or not at 
all. If tho roots are dug up late in the fall, 
leaving all the tops on, then carefully heeled 
in thickly together in rows, after which cover 
with a little coarse litter, they can he reach¬ 
ed whenever wanted during winter. 
Kcepiuif Onions. 
Onions are often injured in winter by 
keeping them in too warm % place. They 
will seldom be injured by frost, if kept in tlie 
durk, and iu tight barrels or boxes, w here not 
subjected to frequent changes of tempera¬ 
ture. If is the altcnmte freezings and thaw¬ 
ings that destroy them, and it' placed iu a 
position where they will remain frozen all 
winter, aud then thawed out slowly and in a 
dark place, no considerable injury would re¬ 
sult from this apparently harsh treatment. 
Onions should always be stored in tlie coolest 
part of the cellar, or put iu chuff aud set iu 
the barn or borne out-house. 
Vitriol lor Cu libuiifM. 
A correspondent of the New England 
Farmer says, if “ persons who have lost their 
cabbages this year by the caterpillar, which 
is the oU&pring of the Picris Jiapte , will an¬ 
other year, after setting out their cabbages, 
keep them well sprinkled with a solution 
of blue vitriol and water—a piece uf vitriol 
as large as a walnut to a pail of water—they 
will not be troubled much with the worm. 
Hellebore answers very well in place of (he 
vitriol. Care must he taken not to get tlie 
solution too strong, as it is poison. Liquid 
hen manure is also very good,” Wo regard 
this recommendation with much distrust, 
