OCT 28 
THE BUBAL HEW-* >RKER, 
738 
took the liberty of sending the paper contain¬ 
ing your remarks, and also some specimens of 
both sorts of flowers to Professor Asa Gray, 
at the same time requesting that for the ben¬ 
efit of all concerned, he would give us his 
opiuion about thiR matter, and we annex here¬ 
to a copy of his answer. Respectfully, 
Joiin B. Moore & Son. 
Cambridge, Mass., Oct. 7,1832. 
Messrs. Moore & Son, 
Dear Sirs: — I have examined the two 
specimens of asparagus in flower, sent by you 
to-day. The male plant you eent is truly 
male, with abortive pistil. The female plant 
has abortive stamens, wholly destitute of 
pollen. The flowers open in the ordinary way 
—are quite unlike cleistogamous flowers, 
those fertilised in the buds) and it is impossi¬ 
ble that they could be fertilized except by 
pollen brought from some other individual. 
You are at liberty to send this to the paper 
which criticized your statements. Asa Gray. 
Remarks. —We would merely ask those 
who are interested in the matter to exclude 
pollen from the fruit bearing plants by means 
of an efficient covering or by removing them 
far away from pollen plants. In our experi¬ 
ments not one of the plants marked as males 
bo e a fruit. Every one of those marked as 
femaleB did bear fruit. One of these grew in 
the middle (or about the middle) of an eight- 
acre field and apparently every flower matured 
a berry. The flowers could have received 
pollen only from the scattered wild plants 
growing far off. Other isolated fruit-bearing 
plants not so far from males were marked. 
This led us to examine the buds which had not 
yet opened and it appeared that tho ovaries 
wero enlarged, i. e. the ovules bad already 
been fertilized. The question is: Are the 
stamens of the ao-called female plants abortive 
both in bud and flower? 
Mr. Moore presents some interesting state¬ 
ments as to color in asparagus, and asks us a 
question or so which we cannot answer. We 
should not suppose that having purple or 
green parents would insure the same color of 
stem in the offspring any more than crossing 
a Concord upon Moore’s Early would insure 
the same color of fruit, stem or leaf, though 
it would tend in that direction no doubt. Mr. 
Moore asks what we consider the male plants 
are for if the seed bearers are fertilized in the 
bud? We do not know, as beb re stated. 
(Tl)c 0univc4)fn), 
CHESHIRE OR JEFFERSON COUNTY 
HOGS. 
COL. F. D. CURTIS. 
The hogs called Cheshires, originated in 
Jefferson Co., N. Y., about 80 years ago, and 
were produced by crossing imported York¬ 
shires upon the common hogs of the county 
and afterwards by crossing them upon im¬ 
proved white hogs. It was claimed by some 
of the original breeders that these hogs were 
descended from a pair of Imported pigs called 
Cheshires. This claim has never been estab¬ 
lished; but, on the contrary, Gen. S. D. Hun- 
gerford and James Brodie, importers and 
breeders of Yorkshire hogs in Jefferson Co. 
at the time the Cheshires were started as a 
family, have both told me that these so-called 
Cheshires were grade pigs from their stock— 
or, in other words, grade Yorkshires. There 
is no doubt of this in my mind; but after¬ 
wards, Mr. A. C. Clark, who then lived in 
Henderson, Jefferson Co., N. Y., and after¬ 
wards moved to Missouri, who was the most 
prominent breeder of these pigs and brought 
them to greater perfection than any one else, 
told me at the time that whenever he found 
a white pig better than his own, he purchased 
it and crossed It upon his stock. These hogs 
were also called, more appropriately, Jeffer- 
sou County hogs. 
In 1884-65, and for a few years afterwards, 
these hogs were the largest in number at the 
exhibitions at the New York State Fairs, and 
were extensively purchased and distributed 
throughout the country. They were after¬ 
wards so closely inbred in Jefferson County 
that they lost caste somewhat, and the num¬ 
ber of breeders became considerably less. 
Crosses were afterward made upon Yorkshire 
blood, which made the so called Cheshires al¬ 
most identical with Yorkshires. Their breed 
mg under the name of Cheshires, is now quite 
limited. At the National Convention of 
Swine Breeders, held at Indianapolis, Ind , 
Nov. 20, 1872, the following description was 
udopted by the Convention for the CtieshireB: 
“ Pure white, with a very thin skin of pink 
celor, with little hair. They are not uniform 
in this respect, as pigs in the same litter differ 
widely in the amount of hair. The snout is 
often long, but ve~y slender and fine. The 
jowls are plump a d the ear erect, fine and 
thin. The shoulders are wide and the hams 
full. The flesh of these hogs is fine-grained, 
nd they are commended on account of the 
extra amount of mess pork in proportion to 
the amount of offal. The tails of the pigs 
frequently drop off when youDg.” 
iilbccllflttemts. 
Green Tea for Young Pigs. 
I have tried this and my pigs are thrifty. I 
began to throw my young ones handfuls of 
green stuff, but they took a bite and trampled 
the rest und r foot, so I adopted a pig's pot, 
and into this I cast pig weed, lamb’s-quarter. 
refuse of lettuce, tops of parsnips, carrots, 
thistles, &c. I produced a good cup of 
tea three times a day, and as my hens were 
shut up on account of my crops, I gave them 
for dinner the tea leaves, which formed a wel¬ 
come green mess. I find my green tea, skim- 
milk and corn-meal porridge make a comfort¬ 
able ration, and perhaps it would be well in 
Winter time to make green tea out of cut bay 
for the same purpose. H. T. M. 
Ontario. 
To Cure Caked Bag in Cows. 
When the cake first appears take a cupful 
of salt, a cup of soft soap, two cups of Indian 
meal, two quarts of cold water, and mix in a 
large wash-basin. Hold the basin up close 
under the bag, dip the other hand in the mix¬ 
ture and mb the whole bag, especially the 
hardened part, gently but firmly, with the 
flat hand. Dip the hand often into the mix 
ture, taking up as much as you can on to the 
bag; continue this night and morning, ten 
minutes at a time, as long as there is any 
hardnesB. It will soon disappear. This is 
equally good for burns and scalds, mrs g.l.b. 
CATALOGUES, &C. 
Notes No. Ill, Signal Service Office 
Series. —This is a very useful little publica¬ 
tion, by Lieut. James Allen. It is a pamphlet 
of 11 pages, whose purpose it is to enable 
farmers and others who are engaged in the 
raising of crops to foretell—and, consequently, 
to guard against the effects of—frost. It is 
more particularly designed for the use of such 
persons as live in places not reached by the 
warning bulletins of the Signal Service. In 
determining whether a frost may be expected 
use is made of the well-known dry and wet- 
bulb hygrometer, which consist simply of 
two similar thermometers, one of which has 
its bulb covered with a bit of muslin kept 
constantly moistened by being connected with 
a cup of rain or distilled water by means of 
a few threads of durnine cotton or a narrow 
slip of muslin. The drier the air the greater 
the evaporation from the wet muslin and the 
lower the reading on the scale attached to 
the wet bulb thermometer. This reading is 
subtracted from the reading of the other ther¬ 
mometer, and the difference is made use of, 
by reference to the table prepared for the 
purpose, In determining the dew point. The 
dew point indicates about the lowest temper¬ 
ature which will be reached during the night 
uuder ordinary circumstances. When the 
air is cooled down to this point dew is depos¬ 
ited, aad the latent heat given out arrests a 
further decline in temperature. When the 
air becomes warmer the loss of heat by radi¬ 
ation from the plant and other surf aces speed¬ 
ily cools it, and the temperature, therefore, 
oscillates about the dew point. This point be¬ 
ing ascertained, it is evident that the ap¬ 
proach of frosts can also be determined be¬ 
forehand, and precautions taken in time to 
prevent the doing of harm. A minimum 
thermometer for showing the lowest temper¬ 
ature is a useful adjunct to the hygrometer. 
The Signal Service Office is prepared to fur¬ 
nish to observers accurate instruments at the 
actual cost price. To insure accuracy the in¬ 
struments should be kept in a shelter, designs 
for which are giveu in Lieut. Allen's pamph¬ 
let, which also contains full directions for 
takiug observations and fur making the nec¬ 
essary calculations. By the issue of this 
pamphlet the Signal Service Office does not 
intend to curtail any part of its system of 
frost warnings, which are this Fall on 
a very extensive scale. Two special bulle¬ 
tins are issued each day, at 1 a. m. and at 
10 a. m., and are sent by telegraph to the 
press, to exchanges, plantations, etc. How 
much the system is extended for the tobacco 
interests is shown by the fact that forecasts 
affecting the growth of the “weed” are 
sent to 21 distributing points in 11 different 
States and the District of Columbia, and 
from these points they are repeated to 
5G41 other places. The pamphlet as well as the 
instruments will be furnished by the Signal 
Service Office, Washington, D. C. 
Report of the Commissioner of Educa 
tion for 1880., Washington, D. C.—Like 
the Agricultural Reports, this on Education 
is old when it Is new two years having 
passed since the statistics were collected. So 
voluminous is it, however, that some delay in 
its publication would be excusable. The vol¬ 
ume contains over 1,100 pages, and ia an en¬ 
cyclopedia of statistical information on the 
educational interests of the country. We 
have space for only a few words on the status 
of agricultural schools and colleges. There 
are 46 institutions aided by the Nations 1 land 
grant, which have about 500 instructors, of 
whom about one-fifth give instruction in agri¬ 
culture and allied sciences. There were in 
1880 about 4,500 students in attendance, about 
1,500 of whom were pursuing courses of study 
that deal with the industries. There were 21 
institutions having departments or courses in 
agriculture, while in only two are horticultu¬ 
ral and veterinary science given as full courses. 
The Commissioner calls attention to a fact 
worthy of consideration. He says, “No re¬ 
lation seems to have been discovered between 
one branch of agricultural study and another, 
upon which to base a classification of them 
for the purpose of .consecutive study. Subjects 
pursued in the freshman year in one college 
are fonnd in the senior year of another. This 
is a glaring defect in agricultural education, 
and the best method of remedying it is a 
question which may well occupy the minds of 
those administering agricultural colleges.” 
Bowman & Breokbill, Donnelsville, 
Clark Co., Ohio. A descriptive catalogue of 
fruit and ornamental trees, vines, shrubs, 
roses, etc. We find in this most of the nov¬ 
elties of the times. Among crab apples we 
note the Lady Elgin to which the Rural has 
made reference for several years. 
8 ilob and Ensilage —A record of practi¬ 
cal tests in several States and Canada. De¬ 
partment of Agriculture 8pecial Report. 
-- 
Horse Trots at Fairs.— The subject of 
horse racing at agricultural fairs, against 
which the Rural New-Yorker has earnestly 
set itself for years, has been earnestly taken 
up by many good men an 1 papers. The El¬ 
mira Farmers’Club, as reported in the Hus¬ 
bandman, discussed the matter at length at a 
late meeting. Mr. Armstrong asks, has it 
come to be regarded as a necessity that an 
agricultural society must incorporate in its 
list of attractions hurtful influences to make 
its fair successful ? Does success mean liberal 
receipts, no matter how obtaiued 1 Every vis¬ 
itor of ordinary intelligence knows that horse- 
racing, as conducted at agricultural fairs, is a 
damaging excrescence—that it attracts spec¬ 
tators from the more useful exhibition, and 
that racing is but a form of gambling. He 
would, however, allow farmers and their 
sons, in fact all visitors, to show their road 
horses as they please, with the sole restriction 
that no matches for money or prizes should be 
made during the days of the fair. Mr. Brad¬ 
shaw noticed when the hour for trotting came, 
visitors hastened to the course, all the ghow 
counted as nothing while this attraction last¬ 
ed, and he said, “ what possible good can come 
out of a gambling performance that is a dis¬ 
grace to our agricultural societies?” He want¬ 
ed the races excluded because he believed their 
influence is hurtful. If we cannot sustain our 
fairs without them let us cease to hold fairs. 
But he believed we shall not fall when we ex 
elude what does not belong to an agricultural 
fair—races—especially when we elevate the 
moral character of the show by the exclusion. 
He is not alone in the desire that our fairs be 
made respectable in every feature. Take out 
whatever does harm and we shall bring to the 
suppor.of the societies many persons who will 
become exhibitors and visitors with earnest 
desire to do all their Bhare, but who stay away 
now because they will have no part or lot in 
gambling exhibitions. 
As to partiality in the award of premiums 
at fairs, we were glad to have Pres. McCann, 
who has been more or lass intimately ac¬ 
quainted with their management for many 
years, say that he has never seen the slightest 
evidence of a desire on the part of judges or 
officers to bestow favor, except as KUided by 
merit. All the talk about rings has its origin 
in diseased minds. The charge that there are 
cliques whose favor must be sought, is simply 
absurd, as anybody may see if he will exam¬ 
ine the methods at any fair. 
-»»♦ 
Com. Loring’s Impressions of the West. 
—The Boston Traveller has had an interview 
with Dr. Loring since his return from the 
West. In the course of the conversation he 
said that New England farmers might depend 
upon it that grain will be eheap this Winter 
and the profits of dairying large. What 
struck him forcibly in Kansas and Nebraska 
was the immense growth of the business of 
making hay of the native prairie grasses, to 
be baled and shipped to St. Louis and other 
markets, where it brings about $15 a ton. But 
the raising of horses, as well as cattle, is 
greatly on the increase. The breeding of 
heavy draft-horses, chiefly Clydesdales and 
Percherons, Is a good illustration. The Dr. 
says thefe is a close rivalry between the Short¬ 
horns and the Herefords, of which latter breed 
he saw many fine specimens. He also noticed 
particularly that the Polled An crus cattle, a 
black, hornless breed from Scotland, are com¬ 
ing rapidly into favor and doing flnel y in their 
new circumstances. The Jerseys, too, are 
everywhere being bred to the native milking 
stocks for dairy purposes, and he saw many 
Jerseys that would have been creditable to 
aoy Eastern breeders. 
He thinks that Western implement manu¬ 
facturers beat the world, both in the number 
and perfection of machines for farmers’ use. 
He thinks the superiority of their plows 
consists in a longer and firmer land-side. 
He thinks that small farms, more carefully 
tilled, will in the near future yield more 
profit than the grand style of farming, an 
opinion which he found to be gaining ground 
even in California. He speaks a good word 
for the enterprise of the Western people—of 
the cordial welcome they extend to every one. 
The question was asked what he thought of 
the opportunity for a young man to engage in 
agriculture here as compare! to farming in 
New England. His reply was that the West¬ 
ern chance was much better. No doubt there 
are locations in New England where a young 
man of enterprise and judgment, with suffi¬ 
cient capital, may make as good a living as he 
could in the West, but the increase in the 
value of Western farms is a: important fac¬ 
tor. With the same amount of capital, indus¬ 
try and good judgment, a young man could 
undoubtedly do much better at farming in the 
West than in the East, as snrely as that in 
manufacturing he will find the best opening 
at the East. He would, therefore, advise 
young men to “go West.” Not to say that he 
should expect all to succeed, for prudence, 
industry and a natural aptitude for farming 
are as necessary in the West as In the East. 
Bnt, all things being equal, the chances of 
acquiring a competence in farming are far 
better there than here. At Omaha he met a. 
young man whom he used to know eight or 
nine years ago as a student in the Agricul¬ 
tural College at Amherst. He was one of the 
leading exhibitors at the fair, and had evi¬ 
dently acquired a great influence among his 
brother farmers. He is getting to be one of 
the most prominent men in the State. Many 
Eastern men are engaged in cattle-raising in 
Nebraska and el«ewbere. with from three to 
six thousand head of cattle apiece. They re¬ 
port great profits, hut to succeed are obliged 
to attend closely to their herds, and experience 
all the hardships of frontier life. 
Flowering of the Victoria rkgia in the 
Open Air. —Mr. E. D. Sturtevant, the well 
known grower of aquatics at Bordentown, N. 
J., has flowered this famous water lily of the 
Amazon in the open air this Summer. The 
Monthly says: So far as known, this has not 
been attempted since Mr. Caleb Cope grew the 
plant in the open air in a cement tank in the 
center of his vegetable garden, now over 80 
years ago. Mr. Sturtevant’s, however, seems 
to have been even more of a success than Mr. 
Cope’s, as the leaves are six feet in diameter, 
and it actually perfected flowers. The flow¬ 
er opened first on the 3d of September, and 
was twelve inches across. The flowering in 
this way haR excited intense interest In Bor¬ 
dentown, and we shall not be surprised If the 
fact of Its flowering in the open air does not 
induce similar attempts at the culture of ’the 
queen of flowers. It ought to be more easy 
South than here. 
Mr. Robert Douglas, the veteran nurse¬ 
ryman of Illinois, says that he is sorry to be 
compelled to confess that all his attempts to 
produce something nice from sports or h vhrids 
have been absolute failures. Whatever he has 
produced of value has been produced hv sheer 
accident, and in nearly everv Instance from 
common seeds sown in the nursery beds or 
nursery rows. 
-- 
Mr. Peter Henderson tells the Gardenei’s 
Monthlv that he finds no better plan in glaz¬ 
ing than that now almost universally in nse of 
bedding the glass in a thin layer of pnttv and 
tacking downright with good sized glazier’s 
points, using no putty on the top, but instead, 
painting thickly with white lead. The laps 
should never exceed one-quarter of an inch, 
and often an eighth of an inch is deemed 
sufficient. ^ 
In the Gardener’s Monthlv for October we 
find many valuable items. Speaking of plant¬ 
ing seedlings from the forest, Mr. George 
May Powell makes the very good suggestion 
that sprouting acorns or nuts from the forest 
may be planted with no more trouble than 
the setting out of cabbage plants and the 
training of the young to look after the growth 
of these “ forest babies,’’ would be one of the 
tost means of inducing the incoming genera¬ 
tion to take an interest in forestry. 
