284 
arc sweet to the taste and much relished by 
cattle. Like the other two. it is propagated by 
PANICLE OF SORGHUM HALEPEN8E.—FIG. 125. 
its large creeping roots, and needs to be cut 
repeatedly during summer. 
It is nay impression that this last will not 
prove of value at the North; but I think the 
others arc,'at least worthy of trial, for the pur¬ 
poses I have stated, and in the manner sug¬ 
gested. 
[The large cut of Sorghum halepense, which 
is taken from the last Agricultural Report, 
does not seem to us accurate. The simple 
panicle is our own from nature. Our corre¬ 
spondent at Aiken, S. C., says, in the Rural 
of March 27th: “Sorghum halepenso is also 
being tested here, with some promise that it 
may prove of value in this land which so stands 
in need of this class of plants. The roots are 
quite hardy here and the leaves are now a foot 
high. The roots, or rather root-stocks, form a 
complete net-work in the soil of whieh they 
will take possession in a few years. How long, 
however, they will yield a paying quantity of 
leaves is not yet known.”— Eds.] 
istfllaitcotis 
NOTES FROM AIKEN, S. C. 
P. J. BERCKMANS'S HOME. 
I took a run down (we are 600 feet above 
sea level here) to Augusta t'other day—thence 
to the nursery, farm and home of P. J. Berck- 
mans, situated about live miles out of that 
very respectable city- After running down to 
Augusta, one must run Up to Mr. B.’s, for his 
home is nearly as high as Aiken—the difference 
being scarcely more than 100 feet. 
A little world within itself! When have I 
seen a bit of country in my Southern travels 
that eo combined the desirable characteristics 
of the North and South ! Never before? 
Hardly ever before, I may truly say. Mr. 
BerckmanB has grass about him—the very 
thing beyond all others that a Northern man 
yearns for after he has lived In the South long 
enough to prize it adequately—grass, winter 
and summer! As one enters the carriage gate, 
a straight avenue, 750 feet in length, confronts 
him, lined (twenty feet apart) with the incom¬ 
parable Southern Magnolia—M. grumUilora. 
What a grand tree to be sure ! You have at 
the North trees which in summer may be 
compared to this. But taken the year round, 
it has always seemed to me the noblest—the 
finest tree that grows upon the face of the 
earth. This aveuue leads to a large, square, 
plain, substantial building—the Berckmans 
home—and those qualities, if 1 may so speak, 
are found, by all who know them, to be nobly 
personified in the members of this worthy 
family. Hills and valleys on evfeiy hand 
spread out, but the view is intercepted by pine 
TIH £ BUBAL MEW-Y0BKEB. APBIL 24 
forests in such a manner as to suggest the 
“little world within itself,” comprising, in all, 
500 acres. It is full of surprises. Now we are in 
a forest. In a minute more we are iu a peach 
orchard—a strawberry plantation or an oat 
field. 
“How many oats per acre?" I asked, as we 
looked at the oat field. 
“Oh! sixty bushels,” he replied. 
“What manure?" I asked. 
“None,” he replied. “Our oats sown in 
October are ready to cut about the middle of 
May. The stubble is turned under and Cow- 
peas are sown at once. These are cut for hay— 
and a fine hay they make—In August- The 
peas continue to spread and grow and this 
second growth is turned under and oats sown 
in October or November, according to the 
season.” 
“ How long can this be kept up ?” I asked. 
Some of them are no doubt visionary enough— 
the rest not only practicable, but easy of ac¬ 
complishment. What is Btill needed (in my 
poor judgment) is Energy—and that alone. 
Then the “possibilities” and “capabilities" 
will find a quick demonstration. But the cli¬ 
mate is enervating. Northern people who are 
frisky enough at home and who “ drive" things 
unceasingly, here soon wear off the wiry edge 
and become as obtuse and easy-going as those 
“ to the manor born.” Still there are exceptions, 
aud the e e are the ones who, when “established " 
in the South, seldom care to be transplanted to 
their quondam Northern homes. 
On and off, Mr. Berckman has had strawber¬ 
ries during the entire winter, for you must 
know the winter here has been exceptional as 
well as at the North and West. As we stood 
surveying two large fields of various kinds, I 
I cannot do justice to bis nursery grounds, 
greenhouses and the natural beauty of his lit¬ 
tle world, so I pass them without notice. But 
I may be pardoned for expressing my satisfac¬ 
tion at having become acquainted with this 
worthy gentleman and his congenial family, 
who, through many years of earnest attention 
to their chosen occupation, have yet always 
managed to find time to entertain those who 
visit them, with that rare and delightful hospi¬ 
tality that seems to spring from a desire, first 
of all, to please aud profit others. 
ft!]t apiarian. 
A HOUSE APIARY. 
A proper summer and winter dwelling for 
bees needs two requisites—to be cool in sum¬ 
mer and warm in winter. It should be a 
double-walled house, whieh may be rectungular 
or octagonal in form and of such dimensions 
as the present and prospective needs of the 
apiary may demand. The outer wall is best made 
of brick and as thin as possible. Inside of 
this there should be wooden strips two inches 
thick, which should receive a layer of paper 
sheeting inside, whieh may be held by nailing 
strips two inches wide immediately inside the 
first-mentioned strips. These last strips should 
receive la h, after which all should be plas¬ 
tered. This may cost more than a purely 
wooden structure, but it will be more nearly 
frost-proof than any other kind of wall, and 
in the end will be the cheapest. If it is de¬ 
sired to build the outer wall of wood rather 
than brick, let it be of matched plank or 
double-boarded. There will be two dead-air 
chambers, each two inches deep—one between 
the paper and the wall, the other between 
the paper and the plaster. The entire wall will 
be nearly eight inches thick. If desired, it 
may be made less thick by using one-inch 
strips, though for our very severe winters the 
above is none too thick. TbedoorB and windows 
should be double and should all shut closely 
against rubber. The outer one should consist 
of glass, aud should be so hung as to swing 
ont. 
In hot weathei it should be replaced with 
door and window screens of coarse, painted 
wire gauze. A small window, just above each 
colony of bees, is very desirable. I would have 
the building but one story, with joists and ceil¬ 
ing above, eight inches thick. Above these I 
would sheet with building paper, fastened by 
nailing strips two inches deep on top, above 
which I would ceil with matched boards. Lath 
and plaster below the joists. The hives, which 
are to be kept constantly in this house, may 
rest ou two rows of shelves, one at the lloor, 
the other three feet high. The entrances, of 
course, pass through the wall. An alighting- 
board, 60 hinged as to be let down in summer 
but tightly closed over the eutrauee during 
very severe winter weather, would be very de¬ 
sirable. Between the double windows—which, 
it will be remembered, shut closely against 
rubber—sacks of chaff may be placed in win¬ 
ter, if found necessary to keep ihe proper tem¬ 
perature. With few colonies this might be 
very necessary. The adjacent entrances should 
vary in color, so that young queens would not 
go astray when they returned from their “ mar¬ 
riage flight.” Somewhere in the walls there 
should be a ventilating tube—a brick flue would 
be very good—which should open into the 
room just above the floor. Ventilators such as 
are so common on barns might be used. The 
pipe tor admitting air should puss ihrough 
the ground aud enter the floor from below. A 
good cellar well ventilated and thoroughly dry 
will be convenient, and should not be ne¬ 
glected. 
Are they desirable ? 
That Ihe early use of these houses has met 
with so much favor, seems to argue that with 
more experience aud greater perfection they 
may become popular. The desirable points in 
the case, as it now stands, are: First, the bees 
are in condition to winter with no trouble or 
anxiety. Second, tlrey are handled in the 
house, and as they IIy at once to the windows, 
where they can be suffered to escape, they are 
very easily and safely handled, even with little 
or no protection. Third, as we can extract ) 
manipulate honey boxes, etc., right in the 
same bouse, it is desirable on the score of con¬ 
venience. Fourth, as the bees are protected 
from the sudden rise of the out-door tempera¬ 
ture, they will be kept lrotn frequent flights 
during the cold, forbidding days of the fall, 
winter and spring, and will thus be more secure 
against spring dwindling. Fifth, as they are 
so independent of out-door heat, because of the 
thick walls, with intervening air-spaces, the 
bees are found less iuclined to swarm. Sixth, 
the house can be locked and oue will know that 
thieves cauuot steal the hard-earned property. 
The objections to them are: First, the bees 
leave the hives while being handled, crawl 
about the house, from which it is difficult to 
dislodge them, especially the young bees. 
This objection may disappear with improved 
houses and practice. Second, in very severe 
TWIG OF CORK OAK.—FROM NATURE.—FIG. 124. 
“Forever,” 
the better!” 
he replied—“and the longer, 
Near the house several men were digging 
under what looked to be Couch or Quick grass 
(Triticum repens). The. grass aud roots were 
cut up in pieces two or three ineheB long- 
spread thickly upon the ground aud then 
spaded under. 
“ What is it, I Inquired ?" 
“Bermuda Grass,” he replied, “the great 
boon to the Southern people and country ! 
You know it does not seed, so that we propa¬ 
gate it in this way.” 
“ Does it keep green during your summers ?” 
“Yes,” he said, “if clipped or mowed the 
same as you would treat your Northern lawns. 
As a forage plant,” he continued, “it is in¬ 
valuable. Mr. Ravernell has harvested ten 
tons per acre on ground that would not pro¬ 
duce twelve bushels of corn per aere. He uses 
Bermuda grasi and Vetch. (Vicia Craeca—not 
sativa). The Vetch is rolled and affords pabu¬ 
lum for the Bermuda. This dies down in April 
and seeds itself for next year’s growth.” 
“ Have you the nydra grass?” 
“ Yes, and we do not fear it, either. The 
fact is, no plant is to be feared under culti¬ 
vation.” 
This is known too as Nut grass—botanically, 
Cyperus rotundas var. Hydra—and is generally 
deemed the vilest pest that ever cursed the 
husbandman. When Southern farmers are 
asked what kinds best suited the climate. He 
replied “ Wilson first; next, Monarch of the 
West; then Cumberland Triumph, Black De¬ 
fiance and Kentucky.” 
Col. Cheney is also fine here. Along the 
coast there is none so much esteemed for 
market as Nunan. It is by far the earliest, it 
is mulched with pine straw, and, thus treated, 
they get three quarts of Nunan where they get 
one of Wilson or any other. [The engraving 
is made trorn an average burry sent to us by 
"Maior" from Aikeu, and received in good 
order.—Ens.J The berry at first colors iu 
blotches of bright red. Picked at this time, it 
will carry for long distances. But it is always 
sour and, in fact, is simply to the South what 
the Wilson Is to the North. 
Near the avenue of Magnolias alluded to, 
grows a Cork Oak—Quercne suber. It is about 
14 inches in diameter aud sixteen years old. as 
I remember. I send you a twig for illustra¬ 
tion. Mr. Berckmans cut out a piece of the 
bark three inches long and one deep. It seems 
to be of fair quality. 
[This is the species of Oak that supplies the 
world with cork. Its home is in southern 
Europe and northern Africa, where it grows 
in abundance, especially in Portugal aud 
Spain. The first stripping takes place when 
the tree is fifteen years old. This is called vir¬ 
gin cork and is useful only us a tanning 
material aud for forming rustic work. Subse¬ 
NUNAN 9TRAWBERRY.—FROM NATURE.—FIG. 125, 
ready to praise or even speak toleratingly of 
what has previously been cursed without stint, 
it may be supposed that revolutions here as 
elsewhere are going on in farming. 
I hear an everlasting deal of talk about the 
Capabilities and Possibilities of the South.” 
quently the cork is removed every eight or ten 
years, and the trees continue to thrive under 
the operation for upwards of 150 years. The 
annual cork harvest from the regions men¬ 
tioned above, is estimated at about 12 000 tons. 
— Eds ) 
My stay at Mr. Berckman’s was 60 short that 
