—A Patron says in the Farmers’ Union : 
“A picnic dinner, occasionally, is right and 
very nice ; but when for amusements they 
bring in oyster suppers, dancing, etc., I think 
it very wrong and ex' rnvagant. As I under¬ 
stand it, the object of the Grange is to teach 
economy, and if we pay out our money for 
such purposes, it is leading the youug astray 
and teaching them to pay out money for 
what is worse than useless, for dancing is 
very fascinating and leads to almost every - 
cies and ruinous in its consequences if not 
checked at some period of its progressive 
course, and the present is the opportunity 
for ‘ nipping it in the bud.’ ” 
After School Officer* and School Book 
Mono poll es. —The Clark Co. (Itid.) Council 
has resolved “That the office of County Su¬ 
perintendent of Schools is useless, and does 
not advance the interests of common school 
education;” also, “That the school book 
ITEMS FROM THE GRANGES, 
PLANTS THAT HAVE PROSPERED WITH 
US THE PAST SEASON. 
One of the most notable is Ampelopsis 
VeitchU, a plant recently introduced from 
•Japan, which proves perfectly hardy even on 
a south wall fully exposed. By hardy plants, 
I mean those that stood out unprotected, 
without injury, during the winter of 1872-3, 
wheu the mercury marked 30* below zero; 
an unusual, but actual occurrence here. . 1. 
Vvettchit attaches itself firmly to either wood, 
brick or stone walls and grows rapidly; the 
foliage has such a bright gloss and also such 
a delicate shade of green, as to form a strik¬ 
ing contrast with other climbing plants. The 
foliage turns brilliant red in autumn. It 
answers admirably for vases und rock-work. 
Among grasses we flud nothing equal to 
Sacoharinum madden £ and Erlanthus ra¬ 
ven me-, both being perfectly hardy and of 
luxuriant growth. Our plants have stood 
out entirely unprotected the past four win¬ 
ters, without injury in any case, and in sum¬ 
mer preseut magnificent green columns 
seven to eight feet high and six feet in diam¬ 
eter. The large, silvery plumes rise two to 
three feet, higher and number twenty to 
thirty to each plant. In this condition these 
spoeies are the crowning glory of our garden. 
Each matures seed in, this latitude and can 
be easily propagated. 
Pampas grass is not quite hardy with us, 
requiring some protection in winter. This 
also is a very handsome plant when well 
grown. 
The single Tuberose is, we think, superior 
to the double, in that it blooms much earlier 
and mote certainly. Very small bulbs are 
almost certain to bloom the first summer, 
and large ones flower in the border in July 
and August. The flowers are as fragrant as 
the double and are very desirable for the 
florist. y. t. 
Richmond, Ind. 
“Dancing in the Grange.” As I am not a 
“ Granger,' 1 T cannot say whether I am or am 
not in favor of it; so I shall not say anything 
on that point. Ln one place in this article 
dancing i- styled “ The flowery entrance to 
hell,” and “is admitted by our best, uoblest, 
&c., men to be the first step to most all deg¬ 
radation that our fallen humanity is led 
into.” I scarcely know how to speak of this 
subject, my indignation is so great. The 
mere sight of persons dancing excites my 
wonderment as well as admiration. It seems 
wonderful that they have such power over 
their own bodies as to move them so nimbly 
and so gracefully and keep such perfect time. 
It excites my admiration to see their grace¬ 
ful motions, the excellent time that is kept 
by these motions, and the gratiiioation ex¬ 
pressed by the faces of the dancers. It is, in 
my opinion, only a more perfect way of feel- 
ing, appreciating and enjoying music. When 
I hear music I feel I must put my body in 
motion. I dare say every one feels so, al¬ 
though it. may affect them differently. Some 
trot their feet, others bob their heads, others 
drum with their fingers ; but no matter what 
organ they put in motion, motion seems nec¬ 
essary to express their feelings. Now, as 
motion seems necessary, why not have it 
general, refined and graceful ) Webster 
says, “Dancing is expressing pleasure by 
motion.” 
I can say much against dancing, particu¬ 
larly at public assemblies. Promiscuous 
dancing I do not approve of, nor should it be 
countenanced by refined people. I also think 
excess in dancing should not be allowed, for 
it is detrimental to health as well as charac¬ 
ter, and we are commanded to “ Be temper¬ 
ate in all things.” Setting aside these two 
objections, which common sense and good 
breeding discountenance—how much can be 
said in favor of it ? I am very fond of this 
most graceful amusement, and feel proud 
and thankful that God made me strong, 
healthy, well-formed, and that he also gave 
me the power to show my grateful apprecia¬ 
tion and love for music by graceful motion. 
I also think it an exercise to be commend¬ 
ed. It warms the blood and sends it coursing 
through every vein in the body and develops 
the muscles and limbs. I liave been accus¬ 
tomed to exercise all my life, but think no 
exercise so beneficial in so many ways as 
dancing. Numerous instances may be quoted 
from the Bible to show that it is a mode of 
expressing happiness, delight or joy. I can¬ 
not see how it can degrade any one. it lias 
an opposite influence on me.— r. c. o. 
Beaulieu of Grani/e Life.— A Kentucky 
Patron says The Order of the Patrons is 
the only association that originates, exists 
and works with its members in their daily 
avocations. It is a part of the farmer’s life. 
It does not call liim from his work to put his 
mind on any other subject, but tends to rec¬ 
reation in his daily duties, and, by cheerful 
instruction, to lighten and elevate his labor. 
Its teachings are the loftiest man can seek. 
It does not interfere with his religious or po¬ 
litical views. In morality it seeks the high¬ 
est point. Honesty is inculcated, education 
nurtured, charity is a prominent character¬ 
istic, temperance is supported and brotherly 
love cultivated. It. is designed to bind the 
farmers together in fraternity and, by en¬ 
couraging education, advance to a higher 
state of perfection the science of agriculture. 
We aim to encourage the planting of fruits 
and flowers, by which to enhance the value 
and increase the attractions of our homes— 
adorning them with those beauties so lavish¬ 
ly given ns by the God of nature. There is 
no calling more elevating to the mind than 
agriculture, when viewed as instructed in 
our Order. 
Telling Merchant a What to Do.—A Ken¬ 
tucky Patron thus advises merchants:—“ The 
great trouble with the merchant would seem 
to be this—‘How am i to be supported if 
the farmer from whom I get many of mv 
supplies will not in turn purchase from me V 
Now Cousin Merchant, you just go to work 
and cease to be a middleman and become a 
manufacturer. Take your capital and invest 
it in an enterprise such as that to which I 
refer. Make plows and hats and coats and 
boots, and 1 warrant if you sell as cheaply 
and make as good an article as can be ob¬ 
tained elsewhere, the farmers will not only 
pay you their money, but the money will be 
kept in Kentucky.” 
Qystw Suppers w\d Dancing in the Orange. I 
FLORICULTURAL NOTES. 
Browing and Transplanting Flowers .—I 
take good, thick paper, cut three-cornered, 
and double it in the shape of a funnel; fill 
with dirt and plant a seed in each one ; bury 
it in a box filled with earth. The seeds will 
soon germinate. When the plants are ready 
to remove to the flower-bed, lift the paper 
out and plant it like roots. The paper will 
soon rot and the plants will never wilt. I 
transplanted Nasturtiums in this way with 
perfect success.— Moi.lik C. M. 
llosea Under Glass.—The Rev. S. Reynolds 
Hole, than whom there is no better judge 
nor more devoted admirer of the rose (The 
Horticulturist says), says that for cultivation 
under glass, Souvenir d’un Ami, with its 
broad, blushing petals and lustrous leaves ; 
and Mareehal Nie), in its golden beauty, 
symmetrical form and exquisite fragrance, 
are specially and invariably beautful. 
SIPfRIIsro COSTUME 
thing that is bad, and I know of some that 
will not join, if such things are practiced, 
and some that have joined will not attend, 
therefore I hope such things will be kept out 
of the Order.” 
The Social influence of the Orange .—On 
this subject a Missouri Patron says “ The 
Grange has already effected a great good to 
our part of the country. Its efficiency lias 
already been attested ; its strength is every¬ 
where felt. Nor does it show its power and 
virtue to a better advantage in any other of 
its works than is exhibited in that pleasant 
and genial sociability it causes to pervade 
society. The hand of friendship is grasped 
with different feelings ; their sympathies for 
each other awake—in fact it is a grand me¬ 
dium through which is diffused a higher 
estimate of the virtues of our neighbor. 
A void Internal Discords.— A Michigan 
Patron urges brethren to be “Blind to aU 
opinions in discord with the general wishes 
of the Grange.” He adds “ We are strong 
enough to meet and have no foal's of our out¬ 
side foes. But there is another, the most 
dangerous of all foe?, namely, Internal dis¬ 
cord, differences of opinion which have a ten¬ 
dency to break down the unity of action 
necessary to success.” This advice is given 
because of opposition in some of the Granges 
to county purchasing agents and because of 
the tendency to centralize power, &c. 
Mileage of Members of the Shite Grange. 
—A Tennessee Patron protests against the 
provision in the Constitution of the State 
Grange which gives members a mileage of 
five cents per mile and a per diem of #3 
while engaged in the discharge of their duties, 
in the following manner:—“I hope that it 
will be rejected by the Granges throughout 
the State ; because it is wrong iii its tendon- 
monopoly is insufferable, and the greatest 
swindle perpetrated on our people.” It rec¬ 
ommend? “ the immediate establishment of 
a State publishing house where books can 
be had at reasonable cost.” 
Pop Corn Balls in a Minnesota Orange .— 
An enthusiastic lady Patron, describing her 
first evening in a Grange, gives the follow¬ 
ing, arm ugothers, in her catalogue of events: 
“ One of the good sisters prepared a nice lot 
of pop corn balls for the young folks. A 
worthy brother repaired to the parlor, which 
was filler 1 vvith the youth and beauty of our 
Grange, and tossed those pop corn balls into 
the hands of fair ladies and brave men.” 
Patrons of Ohio and Temperance .—The 
State Grange of Ohio unanimously adopted 
a resolution with reference to the temper¬ 
ance movement in Ohio, to this effect:—“We 
do heartily indorse this movement of the 
noble women of Ohio in their efforts to sup¬ 
press tills evil, and that we extend to them 
our hearty support in then-noble, Christian 
work.” 
Sidling Grain for Manufacture into Liq¬ 
uor. — An effort was made to induce the 
Ohio State Grange to adopt resolutions that 
would pledge Patrons not to knowingly sell 
grain to be manufactured into liquor, but 
the Grange thought best to leave this to the 
discretion of the memhers rather than bind 
the individual members of Subordinate 
Granges. The State Grange acted wisely. 
A Orange Strikes on Coffee .—The New 
Hartford Grange ol’ Pike Co., Mo., has re¬ 
solved not to buy any coffee on and after the 
first day of April, unless the unusual high 
prior of coffee is reduced to 25 cents per 
pound, provided a majority of the Granges 
concur therein. Two other granges g,re 
recorded “concurring.” I 
EXTERMINATING THE COLORADO 
POTATO BEETLE. 
E. A. Roby, Kent Co., Mich., who has 
had eight or nine years’ experience with this 
pest, writes the Germantown Telegraph: 
1 use plaster or gypsum, arid mix about one 
part Paris green to twenty parts plaster, and 
sprinkle or dust it over the vines just as soon 
as the bugs appear. If there is no dew or 
rain I sprinkle the vines with a watering pot 
and then dust on the mixture. I claim that 
in this way the old beetles may be killed and 
the depositing of the eggs prevented. This 
is on the principle that prevention is better 
than a cure. As they travel constantly and 
are continually putting in their appearance, 
so must the poison be. on the vines constantly 
as long as any of the enemy is to be found 
The plaster is an excellent fertilizer for the 
potato, and the poison is no injury to the 
plant or tubers. These pests sre like some 
visitors I have heard of, they come to stuy 
and get their living, and nothing but decisive 
and prompt measures will avail, Good, clean 
cultivation is indispensable ; for these vermin 
will deposit their eggs on weeds, grass, or 
anything they happen to fasten to, Don’t 
wait to see the bunches of orange-colored 
eggs, but don’t let any be laid. And don’t 
plant any more potatoes than you can keep 
free from these very unpleasant visitors. 
Borers in Apple Trees.— (A Subscriber). 
Cut them out every fall before they get into 
the stems very far. The beetle lays her eggs 
in spring and soon often the small worm can 
be found just under the bark. Then is the 
time to destroy it. 
