THE BUBAL NEW-YORKER. 
photograph presented to the Kew Museum, pub¬ 
lished in the Loudon Gardener's Cbroi iole and 
deemed worthy of reproduction hero reproduced 
as above. 
Jam Copies. 
NOTES FROM MAPLEWOOD FARM. 
HECTOR BERTRAM. 
ORNAMENTING THE HOMESTEAD. 
I have often wondered at the lack of interest 
displayed by farmers in the matter of adorning 
and beautifying the home and farm. Men of no 
other occupation have the resources that they 
possess. Every wooded slope, every swamp, 
every piece of timber land furnishes ample ma¬ 
terial for the decoration of tho lawn, the gar¬ 
den, and the roadside. The Sugar and Black 
Maple, the White Ash and the Linden, are easily 
attainable by nearly all rural readers for road¬ 
side planting, and those who think they cannot 
afford to purchase Spruce, Fir, or rarer speci¬ 
mens for the lawn, or as a protection to out¬ 
buildings from the rigorous blasts of our north¬ 
ern latitude, can easily and cheaply procure an 
excellent substitute among the smaller speci¬ 
mens of Hemlock. Balsam, or even Tine. Noth¬ 
ing, to my mind, impresses a more desolate as¬ 
pect than the farm-house upon tho hillside, des¬ 
titute of any artificial protection save the skele¬ 
ton trunks and branches of a few stunted and 
ill-favored apple or cherry trees. A heavy belt 
of evergreens on the north and west side of all 
the buildings where practicable, a clump or a 
single tree hero and there upon the lawn, ar¬ 
ranged and grouped in accordance with nature, 
not set after any prescribed rule, would relieve 
the monotony of the view amazingly, and afford 
an immense amount of protection from the 
searching winds of winter. 
And tho road-sides ? They too should be the 
object of our attention. True, the law prescribes 
a remedy for tho lack of shade trees within the 
hounds of the highway in this State, in that 
twenty-five oents shall be deducted from the 
road tax of every landholder for every tree he 
shall plant aud protect until growing nicely. I, 
however, would net wait for this, or he influenced 
on this account, in a matter which is of as much 
interest, aud satisfaction to myself as to other 
people. Teu chances to one, the highway re¬ 
quires all the tax and perhaps an appropriation 
from tho Commissioner besides, in order to make 
it passable. For small hedges about the lawn, I 
consider planting seed the surest and easiest 
mode, digging trenches where tho hedge is de¬ 
sired, and filling them with soil from the woods. 
I would plant in the fall, as soon as the seeds 
mature. Somo people claim the proper time for 
setting Balsams to be in Jnuo ; yet that has not 
been my experience. Whenever I planted this 
species at that timo, I have always lost more 
than I saved. Somo people will claim they have 
no time for such “ fol-de-rolthat the more 
important features of the farm demand their 
exclusive attention. Fanners make a great mis¬ 
take here, it will he money in their pockets 
when thoy Bell or desire to sell their farms— 
should such an event ever occur—and if not, 
then it will amply repay them by the genuine, 
heartfelt enjoyment they will thereafter derive 
from the change. And as for time, let them 
rise a little earlier mornings, spend less time at 
the blacksmith shop and in talking to passers- 
by, and they will find ample time both to trans¬ 
plant evergreen aud deciduous trees, and to as¬ 
sist the good-wife in beautifying the garden and 
house. I have found it profitable aud more safe 
to select small trees for planting than large ones. 
They branch lower down, and in taking them up 
there are not so many roots to be removed. Tho 
idea that one will have large trees Booner by se¬ 
lecting large ones, is erroneous. The small oneB 
grow much faster, and make better-shaped trees. 
Balsams and Hemlocks grow thin tops in the 
forest, but transplanted to open ground, become 
thick and compact. 
MAPLE-SUGAR MAKING. 
The season of making maple-sirup and sugar 
is at hand, and a delicacy so easily obtained by 
tne majority of farmers, should be found in 
many more houses than it is. I claim to be 
something of an epicure myself, and I defy any 
one to produce an article that will entirely fill 
the place of light buckwheat cakes, swoot yellow 
butter, and delicious maple sirup. It is unne¬ 
cessary for me to say much in regard to the man¬ 
ner of semiring the sap and extracting the sweet¬ 
ness therefrom, for 8. J. B., in the Rural of 
February 16, has given us a detailed and compre¬ 
hensive account of the means employed. I dif¬ 
fer from him in one particular, however—that is 
in regard to the manner of tapping the tree. 
Formerly I cousidored an auger best, but shall 
hereafter use an ax, cutting a small notch; two 
blows are amply sufficient. I shall ubo the spiles 
recommended by him; but only slightly bent 
and driven into the tree underneath the notch. 
They should bo ground sharp on one side before 
bending. It is unnecessary to girdle trees, as 
some do: the two blows of the ax, if rightly ap¬ 
plied, will induce as great a flow as though a 
large chip were removod. Trees properly treated 
will retain their vitality for many years; and al¬ 
though there will not be as great a flow of sap, 
it will be much sweeter than at tho first season’s 
tapping. Let all Rural readers who are fortu¬ 
nate enough to possess sugar maple trees, make 
a little sirup, at least; and this spring enjoy a 
few meals that a king might envy. 
REMEDY FOR SCURF OH PIGS. 
Some time since I purchased a three-months- 
old pig that had become covered with a thick, 
black Bcurf, caused probably by sweating, for 
there wore several in tho pen together; or per¬ 
chance it might have been from eating buck¬ 
wheat, with which it had been fed occasionally. 
During tho warm days, I have poured buttermilk 
over its back, and the scurf is all removed and 
the pig doing finely. The remedy is simple ; yet 
I have never known it to fail, oven when the 
disease was of so long duration that the animal’s 
hack was raw with sores. 
TOO MANY FENCES. 
I have often wondered at the preference of 
farmers for small fields. One often sees two, 
three, or five acres inclosed by an old, zigzag 
rail-fence, and the whole farm, in many in¬ 
stances, cut up into small sections; whereas, 
one-third the amount of fencing would be just 
as satisfactory and much more pleasing to the 
eye. Cultivated as it usually is, nearly a rod in 
width of the land is left for the propagation of 
briars, weeds, and thistles. From what experi¬ 
ence I have had, I arrived at the conclusion, 
some time since, that the old-style, seven-rail 
staked and riderod fence was the most expensive 
that could bo built. Postraud-rail fences or 
board, are much neater, require less room, and 
are not nearly so liable to get out of repair. Aud 
in regard to small fields; we all, of course, need 
some; yet that does not compel us to divide all 
our land in the same manner. Seventy acreB of 
ground calculated for a grain crop, all inclosed 
in one field, is worth nearly double—one-third 
more at least—than the same area divided into 
four small fields: that is, considering the differ¬ 
ence in timo required to cultivate each, and the 
waste land taken up by the unnecessary fane ;e. 
Largo fields are more handy to till, are & saving 
of both land and fencing materials, look much 
’ better, while it requires less time to kee^Jhe 
fences in good condition. This last consideration 
I am sorry to say, is even by many otherwise 
good farmers, seriously neglected. 
- » 4 » 
i FARMERS’ INSTITUTES IN MICHIGAN. 
; PROFESSOR W. .T. BEAL. 
The last of these for this winter, has just 
, been held at Climax, in Kalamazoo County. 
, This is tho third winter that a series of six Iusti- 
. tntes haB boon held by the Agricultural College 
in various portions of Michigan. From tho first, 
s they have increased in interest and in attend¬ 
ance. Besides those held by the College, others 
of a similar nature are to ho held in various por¬ 
tions of tho State. At present we know of five 
’ such Institutes in preparation. 8ome of the 
j most interesting topics presented by Professors 
t of the College were:—Cost and Price of Farm 
. Products, ltotatiou of Crops, Relative Value of 
. Different Varieties of Michigan Wheats, Exper- 
ments in Testing Seeds, Economy of Farm Mau- 
j agement, Hessian Fly, Practical Education, Use 
3 of Steam in Agriculture, Voteriuary Science for 
Farmers, The Agricultural College, Tile Drain- 
3 ing, Starting an Apple Orchard, Healthy Homes 
3 for Farmers. Many valuable papers were pre¬ 
sented by farmers and their wives. 
3 The Institutes wero well attended, and con¬ 
sisted mostly of farmers and their families. At 
j each session there wero usually present from 
3 200 to COO persons. In Borne cases delegates came 
fifteen, twenty, or thirty miles, and in one case 
a man rode a day and a half in a stage-coach to 
get to the railway which took him to the Insti- 
r tute. 
f g The programmes were all good, and oallod out 
i profitable discussions. In some cases the agri- 
3 cultural bore was present with his long speech 
f or hiB paper filled with common-place sayings. 
1 However, the bores were so well managed that 
r they rather proved a source of amnsomont than 
- annoyance. 
Farmers seem well pleased with their occupa- 
- tion. Certainly, any other business carried on 
f as many farms are carried on, would lead to loss 
- and failure. Judging from the Agricultural 
- Fairs, the meetings of the Grange and Insti- 
s tutes, the farmers of Michigan are waking up 
. and making rapid progress in every department 
1 of agriculture. They have not yot arrived at 
3 perfection. We hardly dare venture to give the 
s meager number of agricultural papers taken by 
t the farmers, even in the beat portions of the 
. State. A reliable person of much intelligence 
said that in his neighborhood, in the garden of 
Michigan, not over one fanner in twenty took an 
agricultural paper, and not ono-half took any 
paper which protended to contain auy agricultu¬ 
ral information. If this bo true, the farmers’ 
milleninm is still a long way in the future ; for 
no farmer can keep up in these times without 
one or several papers devoted to his business. 
I could quote several pages from tho State 
and local papers, stating in the most enthusias¬ 
tic terms the delight of their editors in attending 
the Institute. 
- +++ -- 
CARBOLIC ACID IN CASTRATION. 
Probabx.y most readers of the Rural, who 
raise stock, have been troubled by animals get- 
ting lly-blown subsequent to castration. Such 
will bo glad to hear of any effective preventive 
or remedy. Dilute carbolic acid with thirty 
times its weight of water, and apply well to tho 
wounded part after tho operation. 
Last year I cut a boar in warm weather, and, 
as the parts appeared unduly swollen, I exum- 
amined tho wound and found it badly affected 
with maggots. It struck me that carbolic acid 
would roost effectually destroy them and restore 
healthy action. I thoroughly syringed the wounds 
with tho diluted acid and it afforded immediate 
relief, followed by speedy oloBing of the wounds. 
I now constantly uso it after castration, and find 
it most beneficial, preventing putrefaction aud 
uudue formation of pus. 
Monterey, Cal. Edward Berwick. 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
Northern Spring-time. 
Again wo have spring. One year of life gone 
another spring-time arrived. Have we a 
sharper appetito and a keener relish for the green 
things that are soon to spring up about us, for 
the floral beauties that soon will follow ? This 
is one of the pleasures that those who live in 
lands of perpetual verdure never know. Tbo 
long night of rest to plants has nearly ended. 
They hayo had their repose 
. and as if thoroughly re- 
ix freshed—as ir indeed wearied 
with rest —they are ready 
to awake again to work aud 
growth. 
EARLY WORK. 
The first work of tho enter¬ 
prising horticulturist is to se¬ 
lect from all plants accessible 
to him, those most naefnl, 
most beautiful, the best adap¬ 
ted to tho situation, soil and 
JL climate in which they are to 
grow. This done, he is to 
provide all uecessary oara and 
culture for their future well¬ 
being. It is timo that the preliminary etops 
were now taken. All needed information as to 
hot-beds aud cold-frames may ho found in any 
catalogue. Wo may now say a word as to tho 
preparation of tho borders where tho young 
plants are to he placed and to remain daring the 
season. Unless the soil is rich, either natur¬ 
ally so or from previous manuring, manure must 
be liberally supplied and unless composts have 
been previously prepared, perhaps old stable 
manure is best for general purposes. Spread 
this at the rate of a barrow fill to every fifty 
square feet, and as soon a3 tho eaith will crumble 
in the hand, spade it under. But lot this ho 
done carefully, thoroughly digging close to tho 
margins bo as to insure that the edging plants 
shall have a dno share. At the same time the 
sods forming the grass borders should bo cut 
sharply, thus preserving a distinct, perfect out¬ 
line. If the soil of tho plot is of that kind which 
readily hakes, good results would flow if pure 
sand were added aud well mixed with the soil 
previous to applying the manure. Leaf mold or 
sandy muck would answer the same purpose. 
Much tedious aftor-work may be saved if, while 
tho manure is being dug under, Buch perennial 
weeds as show themselves—as Dock, Sour Grass, 
Plantain, Ac.—are pulled out and destroyed. 
But whether tho soil needs manure or not it 
should bo turned over, pulverized, cleared of all 
stones and litter aud raked to a clean, tidy, level 
surface, so to remain until 
the plants are set in it, when 
another going-over will bo *. 
necessary. Thoso who prize fj 
their beds of hardy Jierha- \| jj 
coons perennials, will see |M 
that manure is spread over 
them in tho fall. Of course ri S , 
such plants can not bo spa- J1 l ^ 
ded up now, unless it is de- (fil J ril 
sir able to transplant or to 
divide the roots. But all 
chips, sticks aud rubbish fiL 
may be raked off, the ma- I® J&gjj 
mire incorporated with tko M 'Wr 
surface soil, the margins p ) 45|| 
rectified and a sightly, | 
cared-for appearance oh- I '.Wi 
tained. 
DO NOT UNCOVER TOO EARLY. ^ 
All plants, such as Clcma- ffjffl&ffl 
(is, Ivy, Pansy, Hydrangea, * »tig l 
Rhododendron, Rose, tLat 
have been protected with evergreen boughs, hay 
or straw, should so remain until all fear of cold 
snaps shall have passed. A good deal more 
harm ofton results from uncovering too early 
than many inexperienced persons suppose. And 
the more tho covcnng or protection, tho more 
there is to be feared. Too much is generally 
used. Some suppose that plants are covered to 
keep them warm. This is bo far from trne that 
they are protected rather to keep them cold, or 
at least to preserve, as far as may bo, a uniform 
temperature, Tho same may he said of Slraw- 
berrios, Grapevines, Raspberries, etc. 
THOROUGH WORK. 
We advise all of our readers to send to nursery¬ 
men and seedsmen for their catalogues. The 
catalogues of to-day are of much value to thoso 
who wish to select judiiiBPUaly and to plant with 
a knowledge of the requirements of tho plant. 
Compare these catalogues and study them. 
Make selections and forward your orders as soon 
as you can do so intelligently. Tben make or 
provide, substantia) labels aud mark them neatly 
aud plainly. Choose positions and dig ample 
holes, wheeling away tho inferior earth and 
wheeling back good earth. Throw it in lightly 
to await the arrival of the plants. Then without 
hurry or slight, the work of planting may be 
performed in a systematic, satisfactory manner. 
Respecting 
LABELS. 
we have a word to say. Five years ago, wo had 
labels made of pme wood of different lengths 
and widths, but all of the same 
shape. One end was cut wedge- • 
shape to go into tho ground readily. il 
Thoy wero given two coats of white 
paint and with a "penny" paint fj 
brush and black paint, the names if 
were painted upon them. The l| 
wedge-ond was thou dipped in warm LI 
tar, and after scraping off tho super- gl 
fluity, with a flit stick, sand was g! 
sprinkled upon all sides. They wero k Q 
thus in a day or so enveloped in al- B |j 
most stony and impermeable cover- M 
ings. Wo have nsed those labels for i 1 Y 
five years and they are still appar- |L 
ontly uninjured by moisture and 
exposure. n 1 
DRAFTING.' * 7 
Pew have failed to notice where 
the branches of trees have inter¬ 
sected and remained in coutaet for somo limo, 
that a union has occasionally taken place between 
them. From siioh occurrences, very likely the 
first hint was given to the early horticulturist 
that what nature thus accomplished might also 
he artificially effected. Scores of methods bavo 
since been devised and practiced, though for 
tho most part, differing bnt slightly from those 
known in Pliny’s timo and by him described. The 
inexperienced, to whom ulouo these noteB aro 
addressed, will, wo hope, by the aid of tbo ac¬ 
companying illustrations, be enabled with a little 
practice, to graft as succosfully, if not as rapidly, 
3 as old gardeners. 
1 Tho difference between grafting and budding 
j Is in name alone. In tbo former we uso a part 
3 of a branch (cion), in tho latter a hud which is 
* hut an undeveloped branch. Bud-grafting and 
3 cion grafting aro more appropriate and loss 
3 confusing terms. If wo cut off a piece of 
