screw. 3. The peculiar adaptability of this 
progressive principle to the work, in that the 
power increases in a similar ratio to the in¬ 
creasing density and resistance of the pomace 
until absolute solidity is attained. 3. The 
system of laying up the cheese in successive 
layers of racks a rid cloths, by which means 
the facility for the escape of the cider is in¬ 
creased an hundred fold — rendering it prac¬ 
ticable to apply great power and reducing 
the time of the operation fully one-lialf as 
compared with the old system. 4. The clean¬ 
liness and economy of this mode of laying up 
the cheese, whereby the expense as well as 
the dirt and litter incident to the use of 
straw is avoided and the cider discharged 
from the press free from particles of pomace 
or other matter and in the most pure and 
cleanly condition attainable. 5. The saving 
of at least one-lialf labor and time with an 
increased percentage in production. 
By referring to the advertisement of the 
Boomer & Bosehcrt Press Company, in an¬ 
other column, it will be seen that they send 
free illustrated circulars with full particulars, 
also valuable information to eider makers. 
IMPROVEMENTS IN CIDER MACHINERY 
DAILY RURAL LIFE. 
The improvements in this class of ma¬ 
chinery for the last three years deserve more 
than a passing notice, in view of the ap- 
preaching fruit season and the consequent 
preparations for fall work which must soon 
ensue. The above cut illustrates the Boomer 
From the Diary of a Gentleman near Mew 
York City. 
A LATE FROST. 
June 13.—After having one of the coldest 
winters and latest springs known for years, 
a frost in summer would seem to be a littiug 
climax, and this we had last night ill some 
of the low grounds of this vicinity. The 
wild ferns and some other tender plants near 
the creeks look quite black and frost-bitten 
this morning. One of my neighbors, who 
has a raspberry plantation near a wood in 
low grounds, reports the crops ruined, as the 
plants were in full bloom. Only once before 
in a dozen years have I known a late spring 
frost to do any damage to plants in our gar¬ 
dens, and that was on the 12th of May, just 
one month curlier than it came this season. 
A frost ou the 12th of May this year would 
have done no damage, because vegetation 
had scarcely started at that date, but in the 
one in which it did my grape vines had made 
a growth of IS inches or more at the time 
they were cut oil by a freeze. 
“ Circumstances alter cases” in farming 
and gardening as well as other matters, and 
the man who lifts low, moiBt soils Is likely to 
raise larger aud better crops in dry seasons 
than those who cultivate high, dry lands, 
but the former is more subject to early 
frosts in autumn and late ones in spring; 
therefore the advantages aud disadvantages 
are very nearly balanced. All the good 
things of this world are seldom found in one 
spot, and the man who seeks such Elysian 
Fields will not remain very long in any one 
pliUl ‘ SOWING CARROTS. 
I have tried to raise a crop of carrots by 
sowing the seed early, or about the time we 
usually put in beets, but have found that by 
delaying until the ground had become warm 
there wa 3 more certainty of securing a good 
stand of plants. Then, if the land is pre¬ 
pared early, the lirst crop of spring weeds 
will have started, and can be destroyed by 
the harrow or rake at the time of sowing 
the carrots, thereby avoiding the first crop, 
which ia usually the most luxuriant and 
troublesome. The first time of weeding 
carrots is the one which takes the most 
time, because, unless carefully done by hand, 
the delicate plants will be disturbed in pull¬ 
ing up the larger weeds ; but after this the 
cultivator and hoc will do most of the work 
necessary. I have sown several beds and 
vacant patches in my garden with carrots 
this morning, for I consider this root one of 
the very best to feed to horses, cows aud 
other stock in winter. Of course they are 
not used quite os freely as turnips or beets, 
b jeause not quite as cheaply raised ; but I 
like to have a variety of food myself and 
believe my animals enjoy the same. With 
25 bushels of turnips, 10 of carrots, 10 of 
beets, a stack of lowland hay, corn stalks or 
straw in the yard to work at through the 
day, and some upland bog to feed in the 
stalls at night, with a little bran or meal 
twice a day, a cow will go through the win¬ 
ter pretty fairly and keep up a good flow of 
milk. 
Whenever either of the above-named roots 
fail 1 endeavor to make up the deficiency in 
something else of a similar nature ; even 
potatoes will come in very well as an occa¬ 
sional appetizer, especially if a little meal is 
added. Every farmer should endeavor to 
raise an abundant supply of roots for his 
stock, not only because they can be grown 
cheaply, but in order to keep the animals 
healthy during the winter months. More 
than one-half of the diseases which afflict 
domestic animals are due to insufficient and 
improper food, and the remainder to expo¬ 
sure during severe weather. 
FLAHTS FOR HANOIHO-BASKETS. 
•We—that is, my wife aud I— 
are not fully exposed to the sun during the 
entire day. The ivies thrive best in a balf- 
slmdy situation, and the variegated-leaved 
sorts lose their bright colors when fully ex- 
posed to the sun. 
Ivy leaved geraniums are another class of 
plants adapted to culture in baskets and are 
superior to the true ivies, which they so 
much resemble in foliage. Their leaves are 
exceedingly pretty and of such firm texture 
that they are. not likely to wilt or burn in 
the son. lu addition to these merits their 
dowel’s are very showy and produced in 
abundance during the entire summer. 
The Bpidcrwerts (Tradcxcantiax) also do 
well in baLf-shady situations. Tile varie¬ 
gated-leaved (T-rcpcnx vUtala) and common 
plain-leaved (T-repcnx) are the best known 
of the creeping species. 
Creeping Myrtles, or Periwinkles ( Vincas ) 
are also good basket plants, not readily in¬ 
jured by heat or drouths. The variegated- 
leaved variet 3 r of the V'inCd Major is very 
showy, harmonizing with other silvery-fo- 
liaged plants, like some of the Begonia* t, 
ivies and geraniums. 
But if all these trailing beauties are left 
out of the list there will still be left plenty of 
handsome, as well as suitable, plants for 
vases aud hanging-baskets. The exotic as 
well as native ferns furnish us materials for 
giving graceful outlines to such ornaments, 
aud even many a species of grass can be 
employed with fine effect. For a really 
showy basket that will not be “overgrown” 
before the season is half over, the Begonias 
afford a splendid material lor structure. By 
placing some moderately tall-growing species 
in the center, like Zebrina , surrounded by a 
row of Hex, and bordering the basket with 
some of the bright silver-leaved sorts, with 
their broad foliage slightly drooping over 
the edges, the result will be an ornament 
scarcely less attractive or beautiful than one 
composed of plants of smaller leaves or more 
graceful habit. But with handsome plants 
it is difficult to make a homely ornament; 
hence our (my wife and I) discussion in re¬ 
gard to the best plants for hanging-baskets, 
THE BEST LATE-KEEPING POTATO. 
June 15.—Among the hundred or more 
varieties of potato wliich 1 have tested 
during the past ten years, none excel the 
“ Snow-Flake ” as a late keeper; in fact, 1 
do not know as there is a better sort for any 
season. But I urn reminded of its excellent 
keeping qualifies at this time, as all the 
more common and older varieties, and espe¬ 
cially the Early Rose and similar well-known 
sorts, soon wither and lincome worthless for 
use in spring, or as soon as warm weather 
sets in ; but my Snow -Flakes are sound and 
firm, and of such excellent quality that we 
are in no haste for new potatoes, as we would 
be were it- not for this very promising new 
sort. If it continues to be as good in the 
future as my one ye aria experience with it 
leads me to hope, then 1 shall place it very 
high on the list of excellent sorts. 
KILLING WEEDS 
It is a great mistake to cut off the tops of 
thistles, quack and other weeds whose roots 
are tenacious of life. Frequently this is done 
in order .to plow- the whole under more ef¬ 
fectually; but a jointer and chain to drag 
the weeds down will generally effect the ob¬ 
ject. When once turned under, the more 
top there is attached to the roots the hurder 
the latter find it to start. When we trans¬ 
plant garden vegetables we thin the tops 
severely io insure life, and for a converse 
reason we si ould not do this with weeds. 
This spring we are ashamed to say some 
mallows got a rank growth in a corner of 
the garden before it was plowed. The first 
thought was to mow’ the weed, in order to 
plow it better; but a moment’s reflection 
gave us a better plan t han this. We turned 
the whole under as completely as possible, 
aud to-day (Juno 15) every particle of the 
weed has rotted. The top was full of sap, 
and til is in the hot earth rotted so rapidly 
that the roots attached to it could not get a 
chance to rally. The growth of this late- 
planted corner of the garden has been most 
extraordinary and we have small doubt it 
was due to those decaying mallow’s. 
Notwithstanding the very severe winter 
these weeds had lived uninjured in the open 
ground and were ready to grow with the 
opening of spring, havingstarted in fall after 
all the garden vegetables had been gathered. 
1 do not recommend growing mallows for 
spring plowing. Fossibly a little rye sown 
on garden or corn and potato ground would 
answer every purpose and be less objec¬ 
tionable in many respects. 
& Boscliert Power Press as constructed by 
that com pany for expressing cider and wines, 
and is adapted to work either by hand or 
power. The cut shows the follower at its 
full hight, with a grooved platform ut the 
base ready to receive the cheese which is to 
be laid up. By revolving the right and left 
screw shaft, either at, the wheel or by work¬ 
ing the ratchet lever in the center, the joint¬ 
ed arms on either side are drawn together, 
forcing the follower downward upon the 
mass to be pressed. This movement is pe¬ 
culiarly adapted to compression, in that the 
downward movement grows continually 
slower and hence continually more powerful 
until the full extent of downward movement 
is reached. This press is simple in construc¬ 
tion and working and capable of producing 
any required amount of power. 
The improved Apple Grater, as now 
manufactured by the same Company, aud 
here illustrated, appears to combine all the 
commonly - acknowledged points of sim¬ 
plicity, utility and durability. The frame Is 
constructed of iron. A cylinder of iron, 
carefully turned and supplied with heavy 
steel knives, mi is in nicely adjusted boxes, 
and being finely balanced, may be ruu at 
great speed. Five flat steel spring concaves, 
curved in form, are bolted securely to the 
frame, having at their lower ends bolts pass¬ 
ing through the frame, by means of which 
they pan be quielOy adjusted to any desired 
distance from the cylinder, and allowing 
thorn to fly back when any stone or other 
hard substance passes through—t hereby pre¬ 
venting any injury to the knives. These 
concaves, being bolted to the frame, are not 
removed with the hopper, and, therefore, 
al ways retain their position. Experience has 
demonstrated :—1. That the finer apples are 
ground the easier the juice is extracted aud 
the more obtained. 2. That, if possible, every 
cell of the apple should be broken. .3. That 
ONIONS IN THE COUTH 
Eds. Moore’s Bubal. :—On page 301 of 
current volume, under the above caption, 
you give the opinions, experience, say-so, of 
“ A Cincinnati Gentleman.” Please let a 
man born on the Southern soil assure you 
that he knows it is a mistake ; knowledge 
perhaps from a very limited experience. 
Beed can be sown here in September, and 
can make as good onions as do the sets or 
buttons if planted in the spring. So is it 
done by early spring seeding. Some people 
do not make good onions from any seeding 
or culture. Make land rich and fine as your 
gardeners do about New York— Peter Hen¬ 
derson, the prince of gardeners, for instance 
_and 1 know we can grow as fine onions as 
the Piperall folks ever did. I have seen and 
used both. For thirty years I never dared 
eat them, but it has ever been a pet of mine 
to grow fine onions. 1 assure you we can do 
a great deal more, aud some of us do, than 
we get credit for from our neighbors. 
I Speculate Nott. 
Mississippi, May, 1875. 
EFFECTS OF POISON ON PLANTS. 
Prof. Wm. McMurtie, of Washington, has 
written a long letter In the N. Y. Herald, 
showing that the use of arsenic or Paris 
green for destroying the potato beetle, can¬ 
not possibly injure vegetables thus grown 
unless at least five hundred times the amount 
usually applied is given. The chief danger 
of poisoning is from inhalation of the fine 
particles of dust or from some of it coming 
in contact with abrasions of the skin. Too 
much care cannot be taken in these respects. 
It should be remembered that arsenic is a 
cumulative poison, and if taken in small 
quantities for a long time, accumulates in 
the system producing disease often when 
least expected. 
June 14. 
have been trying this morning to decide 
what kinds of plants were best for hanging- 
baskets, aud without coming to any very 
positive conclusion. The difficulties in this 
case are of such n nature that it is not easy 
to make selections to suit all tastes, especially 
in a fid® containing an almost unlimited 
variety of materials from which to choose. 
The general idea is that small drooping or 
trailing plants are best adapted to culture in 
hanging-baskets, aud although to a certain 
extent this is in accordance with a true 
artistic taste, still plants of a different habit 
may be employed for the sake of a variety, 
and with almost equally as good effect. For 
trailing plants for basket culture the follow- 
the Grater; ne best tnown device for ac¬ 
complishing the above. 4. That it must run 
at a high rate of speed to ensure fineness and 
the breaking of the cells. 
The foregoing appliances in connection 
with the new system of laying up the pomace 
with rucks and cloths only, are pronounced 
by our largest cider manufacturers to con¬ 
stitute improvements which are fast revolu¬ 
tionizing and giving new character to the 
trade. The advantages claimed are sub¬ 
stantially as follows :—1. The superior and 
progressive power of the Press, by which 
means the maximum pressure is obtained 
with one-fourth the labor of the ordinary 
GARDENERS’ NOTES, 
Earth Worms in Gardens — (B. J. H. — 
The common earth or angle worms are uot 
particularly injurious to gardens, although 
when very numerous they make the sou 
rather too porous for small plants. Lime 
water or even a good sprinkling of fresh 
slaked lime will usually destroy them, and 
not injure growing plants. The best appli¬ 
cation, however, is lime and salt combined, 
nut on the ground in the fall and early 
* « J. _ TiSwo Tlfil'ln 
Caoutchouc in Harness.— In France the 
idea is being tried of introducing Caoutchouc 
in the harness of draught animals, so as to 
augment the strength of the cattle, on the 
principle, that a weight attached to a spring, 
can be raised more readily than if lifted 
without it, or like the elastic union of a rail¬ 
way train. 
straying worms and insects, besides acting 
as a fertilizer. 
