a  man  would  bo  foolish  not  to  tako  advantage  of 
Uioni.  But  it  is  not  fair  to  advise  a  mau  to  plant 
oranges  in  a  climato  and  soil  whore  he  cau  scarce¬ 
ly  aucccod  with  crab  apples. 
FEEDING  WOKK  H0H8E8, 
I  SOME  IDEAS  ABOUT  GBAPES. 
A  wniTER  In  the  Cincinnati  Oaxotte  says  that 
“  the  more  he  knows  about  grape  rot  the  inoro  ho 
don  t  know.  Ho  illilati'a(.ca  tliis  ju'opoHition  ad¬ 
mirably  by  Huggostuig  a  theory  (hat  grape  rot  is 
caused  by  the  burning  heat  of  July  when  the  fruit 
ia forming.  Lotth>g  this  noiiseusieal  idea  pass  for 
the  very  little  it  is  worth,  wo  quote  something 
decidedly  more  valuable  in  a  praotioul  remedy, 
for  grape  rot.  It  is  found  in  aiiading  manure  in 
Gm  ground,  of  courso  cutting  oil'  old  grape  roots 
ill  the  fall,  and  causing  new  rootlets  to  imsb  out 
into  Gio  fertilized  soli.  Tho  following  exporiinont 
was  vei-y  satisfactory  and  indicates  that  there 
is  Homotbing  valuable  in  this  practico. 
Early  in  November  (ho  ground  oi'ound  tho 
collar  of  th9  vinos  was  removed,  Icaiving  a  dish 
of  about  a  foot  in  diamater  and  six  inches  deep 
and  a  pitchfork  of  good  ricli  manure  applied. 
This  was  done  to  some  oigbteen  Jiiindred  vinos,  or 
three-fourths  of  an  acre.  Tho  manure  then  gave 
out.  Tho  next  Hoasou  (bo  rot  was  very  groat, 
but  the  vines  so  treated  escaped  it  almost  entire¬ 
ly.  making  some  .“lOO  gallons  of  wine,  while  tlio 
8,000  vines  romauhng  yielded  Imt  50  gallons  all 
tokl.  On  ojietiing  the  manure  it  was  found  to  bo 
pierced  with  roots  a  foot  long.  A  deep  furrow 
was  thou  plowed  between  tlio  rows  and  partly 
filled  with  manuro  and  covered.  Those  vinos 
have  averaged  their  300  gallons  for  fotu-  years 
in  succession. 
To  ascertain  tJio  best  time  to  apply  the  ma¬ 
nure,  oxporimonts  were  tried  montbly  till  tlio  Ist 
of  .Tune.  All  the  vines  so  tested  after  the  hi^gin- 
niiig  of  March  showed  no  benefit  whatever,  while 
those  done  the  fall  before  gave  tho  bo.st  results 
To  stai-t  now  rool,s  mto  an  exhausted  soil 
would  show  hut  a  ti’ansieiit  improvement.  This 
many  have  tried.  But,  followed  iiji  by  aoovored 
deposit  or  manure,  tho  result  wiU  bo  more  la.st- 
ing. 
Thor.)  is  no  dinibt  tliat  almost  all  kinds  of  grape 
vines  are  bonofilod  bv 
Four  hostlers  attend  to  these.  Proinjitly  at  4 
o’clock  A.  JI.  the  watc'hman  of  the  stable  gives 
to  each  horse  eight  cars  of  corn.  Then,  about 
6  o’clock,  the  hostlers  commence  then'  duties.  Of 
those  under  (he  euro  of  ea.'b,  one  by  one  is  led 
to  tho  watering  b-ougli  and  tJien  to  the  minary. 
This  consists  of  a  pit,  sunken  10  c)r  12  inches 
below  tho  level  of  the  Vmsement  gi'oiind  floor  and 
kejit  compactly  tilled  with  sawdust  and  short 
Hhavings.  And  it  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  a 
hors.!  in  this  stable  scarcely  ui  inatos  excepting  at 
this  place,  especially  prepared  for  him.  Wien 
horses  come  in  from  their  work  the  Jinniesses  are 
removed,  and  they  are  then  led  at  once  to  the 
urinary.  When  a  fresh  or  green  h.jrse  comes  to 
the  stable,  by  being  driven  with  some  old  “sta¬ 
ger"  that  knows  the  rules  of  tho  stable,  the  new 
comer  soon  loams  to  conform  to  tho  habits  of 
the  older  inmates. 
From  6  hi  7  o’clock,  each  horse  is  taken  in  hand 
and  thoroughly  eiuriod,  brushed  and  cleaned, 
from  ten  t-o  fifteen  minutes  l>eing  spent  by  a 
hostler  upon  each  horso.  A  damp  woolen  cloth 
is  always  nibbtsl  over  tho  coat  of  a  horse  after 
being  curried  and  brushed.  Tills  serves  to  re- 
inovo  all  loose  dainlnilT  and  to  give  that  fine, 
glossy,  sleek  appearance  so  noticeable  in  tho  ani¬ 
mals  of  this  stable. 
Tho  horses  are  fed  notliing  in  the  morning  ex¬ 
cepting  tho  eight  ears  of  corn.  After  being  Jed 
back  to  tho  stalls  when  cleansed,  they  arc  then 
rea<ly  for  work.  Tho  same  process  of  cun-jing, 
bnishing  atul  cleaning  is  also  gone  throiigli  with 
at  noon  and  at  night,  at  tho  close  of  their  fore¬ 
noon  and  aft-enioon’s  work.  At  noon  oaoli  horso 
is  fed  with  half  a  peck  of  oats.  At  night  chop[)cd 
feed  is  given.  This  is  composed  of  slicnf  oats  or 
rye  straw  passed  through  a  straw  cutter  and 
tlieii,  wher*  wot,  ground  oats,  corn  and  bran 
mixed  up  with  it.  .V  pock  and  a-half  of  this  is 
given  to  each  horso.  In  addiGon  to  the  chopped 
food  tho  rack  is  mipphed  witli  eight  or  nine 
THE  NUTMEG. —  MYRI8TICA  MOSOHATA 
pnno  race 
l)robably  in  tho  long  run  tho  gain  from  their  use, 
grape  for  general  cultivation  is  stUl  wanGng,  and 
will,  jirobably,  remain  a  liiddon  treasm-o  for  some 
time  G)  come.  But,  as  wo  have  progressed  in 
this  dir(x!Gon,  Giere  is  every  reason  for  believ¬ 
ing  Giat  a  still  further  advance  is  not  only  possi¬ 
ble  but  qiiib)  probable. 
Tliero  arc  men  still  at  work  experimenting 
with  BocdlingH,  and  every  yooi-  some  of  their 
wares  come  G)  light  in  (he  shape  of  new  sorts  of 
promise,  and  this  is  all  that  it  is  safe  to  say  of 
any  variety  until  more  has  been  proved  through 
dissemination  and  oxtondod  cnltivation.  Tlio 
experience  of  our  grape  growers,  during  tho  pa.st 
two  decailes,  has  taught  them  a  lesson  that  will 
not  1)0  nnlearuod  in  Gio  next  two  oi’  more,  and  it 
is  not  safe  to  decide  ujicn  value  from  tho  quahty 
of  Uic  fruit  or  Us  appoai’anco  or  that  of  tho  vino, 
as  seen  in  any  one  locality. 
These  conditions  must  also  bo  looked  at  in  op- 
liositc  directions,  for  if  a  variety  promises  to  bo 
only  second-rate  in  quality,  it  may  posBosa  other 
valiiahlo  properties  which  will  eventnally  give  it 
a  i)rominono.e  over  Gioso  of  superior  flavor.  Wo 
have  a  noG:d  instance  of  this  in  (Uo  Concord, 
which,  at  the  time  of  its  advent,  was  denounced 
in  no  unmeasured  terms  by  tliose  considered 
authorities  in  grape  culture,  still,  in  si.itc  of  this 
kind  of  opposition,  it  soon  became  tho  mostpoj)- 
ular  grape  in  America,  and  even  at  this  day  lias 
not  fallen  very  low  on  the  Hcalo.  even  witli  tlie 
many  iiowcrful  rivals  in  the  fiekl,  Tho  Dela¬ 
ware,  however,  wliich  came  in  with  all  the  hon¬ 
ors  imaginulile,  on  account  of  its  generally  ac- 
kuowlcdgi.)d  superior  quality,  has  dropped  far 
behind  its  jioor  but  more  robust  rival. 
We  miglit,  if  necessary,  review  Uic  ontu-e  list 
of  noted  sorts,  sliowing  why  (bey  failwl  to  moot 
exp»)ctatioiis,  but  the  well-known  characteristics 
of  the  two  sorts  named  abovo  will  illustrate  the 
point  which  wo  desire  to  bring  plainly  into  view, 
i.  c.,  Giat  vigorous,  robust  constitution,  and  fair 
quality  of  fruit,  will  surely  win  tho  race  agahist 
any  onfoohlod  sort,  no  matter  how  superlativoly 
good  tho  fruit  may  bo  when  obtained.  Wo  any 
this  njoro  emphatically  at  this  Gino,  on  account 
of  some  objections  which  have  boon  made  iu  ro-  ' 
gard  to  wlut  was  Buid  in  these  columns  a  few  * 
weeks  since,  in  regard  to  tho  value  of  a  few  new 
and  unnamed  aeedUngB  of  white  grapes  of  purely 
native  or  oifia  labruam  origin. 
It  is  certainly  well  to  aim  high  in  fimit  culture,  ' 
but,  at  the  same  Gnie,  a  well  tilled  bag  of  ducks 
may  go  furtber  to  supply  a  family  than  one  lone  ; 
snipe.  Now  tho  host  grape  for  tho  masses  is  th«  ' 
ono  whieh  will  yield  an  abundance  of  good, 
wholesonio  fruit  without  eosGng  more  to  produce 
it  than  tho  average  cultivaGir  can  afford.  In 
some  locaUtioH  and  soils  the  very  best  in  quality 
can  ho  jiroduced  nearly  or  quite  as  cheaply  as 
tho  inferior  sorts,  and,  under  tlio  ciicuinstaneos,  , 
Gian  now— but  the  in-oportion  of  jKiwer  fiirtiishod 
by  horses  is  steadily  decreasing,  and  is  destined 
to  further  decrease.  Engines  ai-o  used  forth  rcsli- 
ing,  wood  sawing,  Iced  cutting,  and  various  farm 
;  oporatiuns  requiring  considerable  power  and  en- 
I  gines  are  now  made  cheaply  and  portable,  Gi  be 
use<l  on  all  the  faims  in  a  noighborJioocL 
Tliat  horse  breeding  is  less  profitable  at  the 
West  Is  indeed  a  matter  of  some  siirpriso.  Gheup 
lands  and  abundance  of  feed  would  indicate  this 
section  us  tho  natural  homo  of  tlio  liorsoinan.  But 
at  the  West  enormous  and  usurious  rates  of  in¬ 
terest,  from  ton  per  cenL  a  year  to  two  per  cent, 
a  month,  tako  away  profits  and  compel  famjcrs 
to  invest  only  in  products  giving  qnickost  returns. 
Sheci)  and  cattle  are  sniiersodiug  Gio  business  of 
horse  breeding.  It  costs  less  to  keep  a  calf  till  it 
Is  tliree  years  old  than  a  colt  till  it  is  two,  and  at 
throe  the  stoei-  will  bo  fattened  and  tnrmxl  into 
cash,  wliile  tlio  colt  must  wait  two  years  or  mure 
before  fin<]iiig  a  pundiiiser,  and  at  last  may  very 
possibly  Ixi  worth  loss  than  the  sfeoi-.  Boor  sGadc 
is  of  course  responsihlo  for  much  of  this  loss ; 
hut  there  ia  more  variation  in  price.'*  of  horses 
than  of  ctttUo.  When  a  man  grows  a  calf  tiil  it 
is  three  yoai-s  okj  to  be  sold  for  lienf,  ho  can  eul- 
enJato  pretty  closely  liow  much  it  will  weigh  and 
what  it  will  sell  for.  Not  so  a  colt.  It  inny  be 
ono  of  tlio  few  jirizes,  soiling  for  ifiSOO  to  i?l,000 ; 
or  much  more  likely,  it  may  ho  a  blank— worth 
less  Gian  tho  ex[>enso  it  has  cost.  Aiming  at  tho 
fashionable  and  fast  breed  of  hcirsc.i  lia.s  intensi¬ 
fied  this  oviL  If  tho  jirogeny  of  one  of  tho  trot¬ 
ting  staUions  is  not  among  the  few  that  ■’  can 
make  their  mile’’  Inside  current  fashionable  ti'ot- 
ting  rates,  ho  ia  not  wanted  by  the  gambling  fra¬ 
ternity,  iu  of  no  Use  on  tho  farm  and  precious 
little  use  anywhere  else.  A  much  safer  business 
and  we  aii.’qjcct  more  generally  profitable,  is  tlie 
breeding  of  good  farm  and  work  horses.  They 
are  less  Jialilo  to  accident,  have  a  surer  sale  and 
at  a  higher  averago  prioo  than  tho  majority  of 
wonld-bo  racers. 
DAIRYMEN  AT  THE  CENTENNIAL. 
Tnv.  American  Daii’ynien'M  Association  lias 
issuoti  an  appeal  to  Dairymen  fniul  I’litrons  of 
Husbandry  throughout  tho  entire  country  for 
aid  in  presenGng  a  creditable  oxliibition  at  the 
Centennial  ExposiGon.  Mr,  J.  V.  H.  Soovim, 
Chairman  of  tho  Committeo  appointed  for  this 
purpoHrt  writes From  such  facts  ns  have  como 
under  my  ohsorvaGon  T  am  led  to  believe  that 
dairymen  an:  laboring  under  groat  einbarrass- 
inent  for  want  of  more  concerted  effort,  lioth  in 
tho  Caro  of  their  goods  to  be  jilncod  on  exhibition 
at  tho  Oontonniul  and  in  the  arrangement  and 
economy  of  space,  and,  in  order  to  sociirc  nioio 
uniformity  of  action,  T  luihesitatingly  issue  tho 
following  calf: — "All  Tliiiry  Assooiatioiis  or 
Boards  of  Trade  in  thd  various  Rtates,  ivJicther 
fitute  or  local,  are  roquosGxl  to  send  one  or  two 
delegiitoH,  asi.H  most  convenient,  to  a  mooting  to 
bo  belli  at  tho  City  of  Itome,  N.  Y.,  on  Wednos- 
d.ay,  tho  12th  day  of  Januai-y,  I87t5,  for  Gic  pur¬ 
pose  of  taking  siioli  .act  ion  ns  will  best  unite  our 
various  interests,  and  at  the  same  time  stimulate 
the  largest  mid  most  effective  display.” 
Gontrihiitioiis  may  be  I'owiwded  to  J.  V.  II. 
Scovill,  Paris.  Onioda  Co..  N.  Y.  ;  T.  8.  Gold 
West  Coniwall,  Conn.  ;  0.  8.  Georgia’ 
Vermont;  David  W.  Isiwis,  No.  85  Broad  8t.’ 
Now  York  City;  Artemau  Ward,  Sec’y  of  Pro¬ 
duce  E.xohango,  Pbiliidelphia;  Geo.  E.  Morrow 
every  third  day, 
CENTENNIAL  BELLS. 
The  Centennial  Year  was  ushered  in  on  Friday- 
night  by  a  grand  celobraGou  in  Philadelphia. 
Beside  a  parade  of  tho  military,  a  salute,  and  a 
general  UliunhiaGon  of  the  public  and  private 
buildings,  other  events  transpired  appropriate  to 
tho  occasion.  On  New  Year’s  moruing  an  Ameri¬ 
can  flag  of  the  original  design  was  raised  on  tho 
old  State  Hoinse  atcoplo  and  a  parade  of  tho  New 
Year's  shootor.s  occurred.  Altogether  tho  Pliila- 
ilelphians  seem  to  have  inaugurated  tho  Centen¬ 
nial  in  a  right  joyful  and  spiriUsl  matuier. 
Many  other  ciUos  and  villages  celebrated  tho 
event  ajippropriatcly — tho  ringing  of  bells,  ilJum- 
iiinUons.  etc.,  eGj.,  oi'lng  tho  order  of  Gie  night. 
Tho  putchoHM  Co.  (N.  Y.)  Board  of  Supervisors 
provided  for  the  ringing  of  the  chm-ch  and  town 
bells  in  every  town  in  the  county  at  midnight  on 
Friday,  whieh  we  presumi'  was  accoinplislicd  suc- 
C'-'SsfuUy, 
THE  BEST  GRAPE, 
Scores  of  times,  dui-ing  the  past  twenty  years, 
t/u;  best  grape  for  all  localities  and  puriiosos  has 
been  announced,  but  wo  are  about  as  far  from 
possessing  it  as  ever.  It  is  true  that  we  have 
many  better  varieties  of  graiies  than  wore  known 
ten  or  twenty  years  since,  but  the  ojie  first-class 
