more rapidly and with less labor, but per 
faction has not yet been reached by any means. 
1 have found great benefit on the limestone 
clay soil, where 1 am, in thorough pulveri¬ 
zation and understand far better than I did 
a few years ago, that “tillage is manure.” 
One dollar an acre spent in pulverizing a 
held with the harrow-roller and drag, will 
often give us an increase of the wheat crop 
amounting to five or ten bushels to the acre. 
I am glad of every invention which lightens 
the fai mer’s labor, for it gives him more time 
to cultivate his mind, and adds to his happi¬ 
ness and intelligence. 
f Sulky Plows.— Nearly all the farmers in 
this section use sulky plows. They are con¬ 
sidered far better than walking plows. I use 
the-, which is hereabouts preferred to 
all others. It does much better work than 
any walking plow, but it is heavier on 
three horses than a walking plow is on two. 
It runs more steadily without a rider than the 
other does, and of course it is easier on the 
man. A light boy can manage It. c. B. 
Iredell, Texas. 
the ring large enough to go over a gloved fin¬ 
ger it can be used advantageousl y with gloves. 
Lackawanna Co., Pa. W. E. Manchester. 
[The husbing-pin mentioned above is shown 
at Fig. 401. The novelty consists in its having 
notches on the end to catch the husks.— Eds. 
when both sexes were present, and not by per¬ 
sonally examining the botanical characteristics 
of the flowers representing the different sexes. 
Now for a moment let us pass to the ques¬ 
tion of variation of color in asparagus, by 
some supposed to l>e caused by different soils 
aud conditions, for it will be seen further on 
to have a direct bearing on this matter of 
cross-breeding. Your remark,“It may be that 
in different soils and climates the sexual char¬ 
acter of the asparagus plant varies the same 
as it “varies in color,’’speaks for itself. We are 
aware that most horticultural writers of note 
adhere to this theory about color, but can it 
be sustained ? 
We have a bed of the so-called Giant in 
which there is green top, purple top, pink top, 
and at least two other shades of color, all 
growing side by side in the same Soil and un¬ 
der like conditions, and these invariably come 
true to their respective colors each year. On 
the same piece is a bed of the “Cross bred” 
growing by the side of the Giant, and on the 
the same kind of soil, and in it we have been 
unable to detect any variation in color even 
to a single stalk. Again, we have a large bed 
of the so-called Conover’s Colossal, in which 
there appear fully as marked variations as in 
the Giant, and these are al! growing in the 
same soil; and there is still another bed of the 
Conover’s which varies as much, while beside 
it on the same kind of soil is a bed of the 
Cross-bred which does not vary. We have 
three bedsof the Cross-bred—oneof an acre or 
more growing in a black loam; another of 
about an acre planted where a growth of oaks 
had been cut, in a sandy soil, and the third 
bod of one-half an acre planted in a gravelly 
loam in which there are more or less small 
stones. These three beds, planted in three 
distinct sorts of soil, are still free from varia¬ 
tion. Let us go still further: if a plant of the 
green-top variety is token up, divided, and 
the divisions replanted in different soils, we 
will guaranteean invariable green top growth 
of stalks from each plant; while if a purple- 
top plant is treated in the same way, the result 
will be a purple-top growth in every instance. 
How then will you account for this? Per¬ 
haps If we turn to the plants raised from 
seed, we can get some idea how these varia¬ 
tions in color are brought about. Seedlings 
raised from seed taken from a green-top or 
purple-top plant growing in a bed where there 
is a mixture of colors, will vary iu color to a 
large degree; but, on the other hand, if the 
respective colors are kept distinctly separate, 
the seedlings therefrom will follow distinctly 
true. How can these facts be accounted for 
if the seed-bearing plants are solely self-fer¬ 
tilizing, or fertilized in the bud? if your theory 
is correct, would it seem possible for the off¬ 
spring of purple and green-top plants to vary 
in color, even though the seed should be taken 
from plants of different colors growing ad¬ 
jacent to one another? But they certainly do 
vary when treated so, and certainly do not 
vary when the colors ate kept distinctly 
separate. Can you reasonably and satisfac¬ 
torily explain these facts so that they will 
harmonize with your theory? If so we shall 
begin to think you are right Our experience . 
leads us to believe that green-top, purple-ton f 
etc., are perfectly distinct varieties in them¬ 
selves, and by careful observation there will 
be found other characteristics pertaining to 
each, perfectly distinct from the others. For 
instance, they may produce different shaped 
stalks, or one may have a tendency to produce 
twisted or crooked stalks, or bud out soon 
after coming through the ground, while 
another will not; or, again, one may 3 ieid 
twice the amount that the others do, or one 
may invariably produce small stalks, while 
another will produce large ones, all of there 
perhaps growing in thesime soil, and under 
exactly the same conditions. Further, it ap¬ 
pears that asparagus seedlings vary in color 
when the seed-bearing plant is exposed to 
the influence of pollen from one or more dif¬ 
ferent varieties, and then only, and that the-e 
variable seedlings must therefore be crosses 
resulting therefrom. If we are correct, the 
different colors in asparagus are distinct varie¬ 
ties, and asparagus can be crossed. 
Next let us determine whether the seed 
bearing plants cross between themselves, or 
whether the male plant has a part to perform 
in the perpetuation of its kind. If the flowers 
on the seed-bearing plants are fertilized in 
the bud, then, of course, the male plant has 
nothing whatever to do in the matter; but 
what do you consider the mule plant is for 
According to you, its pollen is all waste, and 
the male plant lias no function. Does this 
seem reasonable? Wo have examined the dif¬ 
ferent sorts of flowers, as you suggested, as 
carefully as we could, and as nearly as we 
can determine the flowers from the non-sted- 
bearing plants are distinctly male, while those 
from the seed bearing plants seem distinctly 
female; at least, in the last named we could 
not seem to And any stamens whatever, either 
in the open flowers, or in the bud. But not 
being botanists, of course we could not feel 
sure that our examination was correct, so we 
Weeds as Green Manure. 
The late Dr. C. Reinhold of Williamsport, 
Pa., published more than twenty years ago 
an illustrated treatise on this subject, recom¬ 
mending series of weeds for certain soils and 
crops as ameliorating intervening crops 
often more available and serviceable than 
clover, etc. The difficulty of procuring seeds 
in quantity was a bar to the full trial of his 
scheme. The hated docks were among the 
leading plants in the Doctor’s varied and ex¬ 
tended lists, and the Oxeye Daisy, of which 
I heard an old and very successful farmer 
Living in a region where sulkies and gangs 
are the rule and walking plows the exception, 
and where all the leading kinds are in compe¬ 
tition, I have had ample opportunities for 
testing their merits by practical use. 
A good walking plow in the hands of a com¬ 
petent and faithful man may be depended on 
for good work, but if the plowman is incom¬ 
petent or careless the practical value of the 
work done is reduced in proportion to his de¬ 
merits. A good sulky plow that will cut and 
turn a uniform depth and width is the remedy, 
and if the difference between good said bad 
plowing is sufficient to cause even a small dif¬ 
ference in the yield of crops, the economy of 
using the sulky plow is apparent. We must 
not expect, however, that the sulky plow will 
do more work and better work without a cor¬ 
responding addition to the labor of the team, 
nor that all sulky plows are alike good. Some 
are excessively hard on the team and quite 
difficult to manage. Others are almost as 
light-running as a walking plow, and are so 
easily managed that a boy ten years old can 
use them, so the selection of a good one is an 
important item. Borne require that the plow 
should be lifted out of the ground by the 
driver; others have a power lift and the driver 
has only to press the ratchet into mesh, and 
the team does the lifting. In the case of some 
it is harder to lower the plow into the ground 
than to lift it out, and one defect is common 
to all except one, *, e., a tendency to dodge 
through the narrow strip in finishing up a land. 
The one exception is the -sulky 
plow. Both the plow and the sulky are dif¬ 
ferent from all others. The plow has no “land- 
side,’’and the furrow-wheel of the sulky is 
adjusted, when in use, to an inclination of sev¬ 
eral degrees from the perpendicular. The 
inclined wheel carries all the lateral pressure 
usually sustained by the land side and follows 
the corner of the furrow, gauging the width 
of cut, and insuring a full width of furrow all 
the time. This arrangement, also, by trans¬ 
ferring the lateral pressure to the right side of 
the furrow-slice and just abreast of the share, 
makes it the nicest plow in existence to finish 
up a land with, as it never dodges when the 
strip is narrow. 
In using this plow the team is allowed more 
freedom than with others, for if the horses 
keep the furrow at all the plow will guide itself. 
My experience with sulky aud gang plows has 
been confined to level and moderately rolling 
laud. In estimating the comparative economy 
in the use of sulky and walking plows, hired 
labor that costs the same in either case is the 
basis; but the farmer who does his own plow¬ 
ing may well consider the advisability ol 
husbanding his energy and applying it where 
it will do more good than in trudging after a 
plow. Ira D. Blanchard. 
Polk Co., Minn. 
CONDENSED PEDIGREE OF “JOHNNIE 
COPE” (1164.) 
Johnnie Cope (1164), bay Clydesdale stal¬ 
lion, white hind foot and star in face; foaled 
Husking Pin.—Fig, 401, 
June 1878; imported by Powell Brothers, 
“Shadeland” Crawford Co., Pa. He was sired 
by Prince Edward of Wales (1255) by the 
famous 9 tock-getter and prize-winner Drew’s 
Prince of Wales (673), winner of the first prize 
at the Highland Society’s Show at Aberdeen 
in 1869; second at Dumfries in 1870; first at 
Kelso in 1872; first at the Royal Agricultural 
Society’s Show at Manchester. He by Gen¬ 
eral (322), winner of the first prize at the High¬ 
land Society's Show at Inverness in 1865. He 
by Sir Walter Scott (797) by Old Clyde (574) 
by Scotsman (754) a noted horse once. 
Johnnie Cope’s dam was Jess by Young Gar¬ 
ibaldi (973) by Garibaldi (312), winner of first 
prize at Helensburgh and second at Dun¬ 
barton, when one year old; first at Helens¬ 
burgh and Dunbarton, and third at Maryville 
when two years old, and first at the Highland 
and Agricultural Society’s Show at Perth in 
1861; moreover he was the Battersea National 
Prize Horse. He by Clydesdale Tam (175) by 
Lothian Tam (506), winner of the Highland So¬ 
ciety’s first prize at Glasgow Show, and the 
premium for Hamilton in 1850 and 1851. He 
by Clyde alias Prince of Wales (155), winner 
of first prize at the Highland Society’s Show at 
Glasgow in 1844. He by Clyde (153) by 
Broomfield Champion (95) by Glancer 2nd 
(337), winner of Recond prize at first slow of 
the Highland Society held in 1836. He by 
Glancer 1st (336) by Glancer alias Thompson’s 
Black Horse (335) foaled about 1810, the most 
noted of the founders of the Clydesdale breed 
say not long ago, “ 1 had rather have a good 
stock of daisy to turn down for wheat than 
as much clover; I have never failed with 
wheat on a daisy fallow.” Even Couch Grass, 
rightly managed, is a first class caterer of 
food for grain crops, aud is of itself valuable 
as a pasture and especially on steep banks, 
which it holds by its tough interlacement of 
stolons safe from washing or waste, yielding 
ihe while agood store of pasture. It is easily 
managed in our hot, dry climate Although 
the leant joint of sound stem will serve to 
start it, it is easily killed by shallow plowing 
after harvest under our burning sky. w. 
[It is bo at Rural Farm, as we have often 
Baid. Eds ] 
CROSSING” ASPARAGUS, 
We have carefully read and considered the 
Rural’s criticisms following our letter in an¬ 
swer to the question, on how our asparagus 
has been crossed published in the issue of 
Sept. 2d. If the Rural’s observations are 
correct, our asparagus is certainly not cross 
bred, and when the Rural’s theory is proved 
we shall lie obliged to acknowledge our mis¬ 
take, but for the present we are still inclined 
to the opinion that asparagus can be crossed, 
for reasons to which we now ask leave to 
direct attention. 
It seems proper to state here that any 
knowledge iu our possession about asparagus 
comes from observation and experience only, 
and our stateme ts aliont classification, struct¬ 
ure, etc., are made by reference to botanical 
authorities. For instance, by referring to our 
previous letter it will be seen that immediately 
A Husking Pin. 
Feeling that a small benefit conferred on 
many may be of as much service as a much 
What I know of Bulky Plows. 
I have used a sulky plow for a year and I 
find it a most indispensable implement for 
a farmer; because, first, it does its work in a 
manner very much superior to any walking 
plow in existence; second, it is no harder on 
the team than would be a walking plow doing 
the same quality of work. I have never had 
any difficulty in plowing under lodged spots 
of grain, and it never clogs unless the coulter 
is allowed to get very dull. In one instance, 
I plow ed across a bundle of oats that had been 
left in the field; the coulter struck it diago 
n&Uy and cut it completely in two, and the 
half was covered completely out of sight. It 
will plow corn-stalks under, cutting them 
whenever the coulter strikes them, doing away 
with the need of a stalk cutter. There are a 
great many used about here. 8 . H. H. 
Rockford, IU. 
Somethin* about Sulky Plows. 
I am using sulky plows and prefer them to 
a walking plow on accouut of quality and 
quantity of work performed. The sulky 
laaves the ground in better shape and the 
depth or furrow more uniform than the walk¬ 
ing plow. I am using a 16-inch sulky, and 
think it runs as easily as a 14 ioch walking 
plow. I can plow from three to four acres a 
day with alight team. I use three horses, but 
they will not weigh over 90 pounds each. I 
prefer to have a hired man ride on one of 
them than to use a walking plow. ; 
Vermillion Co., Ill. J. H. Stone. 
Johnny Cope (1164).—Fig. 402. 
larger benefit conferred on a few, I have in- | following our assertion that 
closed what I call a common-sense husk- I officinalis is what is called polyga 
ing pin. A cut and description in the i. e., on one or the other sort of 
Rural would be a benefit to its numerous duces some perfect flowers, or si 
readers who have corn to husk. The device feet,” we note our own obser 
originated with my son a few years ago, and “ the so-called perfect flowers, 
we have used it ever since, liking it better really only seemingly so, or arc 
than anything of the kind we have ever used. incapable of self-fertilization,” 
Anyone with a bit of wire, a hammer and a file observations on the fact that in 
can make one in a few minutes. By making we known asparagus to bear se 
