THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
a delicacy without which, in its season, no 
table ean be considered complete. Its cultiva¬ 
tion is similar to that of the artichoke. The old 
plants are divided in the spring and the roots 
set three feet apart in well prepared ground. 
During the summer, they must be kept clear 
of weeds, and in the fall, on the approach of 
hard frost, each plant must be covered with 
ten to twelve inches of leaves or long manure. 
Sea Kale can also be raised from seed sown 
in the spring, thinued out to six inches when 
the plants are a few inches high, and in Sep¬ 
tember transplanted to their permanent place 
in the garden, and treated like those produced 
from roots. 
It is the young leaf-stocks that are eaten, 
but they must first be blanched like celery. To 
this end, heap the soil up around them, when 
they appear above ground in the spring, or 
invert pots or boxes over them, to exclude the 
light. When cooked, they have a flavor much 
superior to cauliflower. The engraving shows 
two shoots prepared for the kitchen. 
® 0 |ics. 
WORK FOR APRIL. 
Weeds. —On the farm and in the garden, 
annual weeds will soon make their appear¬ 
ance. They are harmless, inoffensive little 
things to begin with. Then is jtist the time to 
fight them. Cultivate often aud do not allow 
them to get a start. Perennial weeds should 
be watched for all through the growing sea- 
sou and not allowed to go to seed. 
The Orchard. —This is the time for graft¬ 
ing and settiug trees. The trimming is all done 
by this time. See that the trees are not suf¬ 
fering for manure, or cultivation. If young 
trees lean over, cut in ou one side, take out 
some dirt and straighten them up. Set trees 
leaning towards the prevailing wind. Look 
for borers. At the end of the month, remove 
the mounds made last autumn to keep mice 
away. 
The Garden. — Hot-beds are in full blast 
and need attention on warm days as much ou 
cold days. Young plants are started, trans¬ 
planted and hardened preparatory to being 
moved into the opeu air. In the open garden, 
as soon as the laud can be got in good order, 
sow lettuce, peas, onions, beets, carrots, sal¬ 
sify, parsnips. Potatoes for early Crop can be 
hastened by allowing them to sprout in a warm 
place before planting. Plant Strawberries, 
Raspberries, Gooseberries and Currants. At¬ 
tend to rhubarb, asparagus and horse-radish. 
tfarm (Pronomy. 
USES FOR WASTE FRUIT CANS. 
Millions of used fruit cans go to waste 
every year, and every back-yard is cumbered 
with a collection of them. But by a little in¬ 
genuity these cans may be turned to good ac¬ 
count. By placing them on a hot stove, top 
downwards, the solder is melted and the top 
may be removed. We have then the material 
for several useful purposes. By cutting a 
few small notches in the tin, as shown at Fig. 
1, filling the can with water, covering it with a 
small plate or flower-pot saucer, aud suddenly 
catch which will hold the hoop together. 
Fig. 5. The hoops are placed on a board or 
on small shingles, and filled with soil in which 
the seeds are sown early, in the house. 
When ready for planting out in May or 
earlier, the plant in its ring, is taken to 
fastening the rings. 
the place prepared for it, and the ring is 
slipped off the board or shingle, without dis¬ 
turbing the plant in the least: the ring is slip¬ 
ped up and removed, the soil is heaped about 
the plant, and the business is finished. The 
rings may also be fastened by punching a hole 
through both ends with a sharp nail, and put¬ 
ting a woodeu peg through them, or by punch¬ 
ing one hole at one end, and cutting a small 
tongue on the other, which may be put into the 
hole to fasten the ends together. Lastly, an 
excellent grater for horse-radish may be made 
by spreading out the sheet of the looseued can, 
tacking it on to a soft plank, and punching 
holes all over it with a square-pointed ten- 
penny nail, or the three-cornered end of a file. 
The perforated sheet is then tacked on to two 
pieces of board cut half-round, as shown at 
HORSE-RADISH GRATER. 
Fig. fi, and the grater is finished. If we con¬ 
sidered what a vast amount of varied labor is 
expended in procuring aud making the mate¬ 
rial, and forming one of these fruit cans, we 
should dislike to see them utterly wasted 
without finding some useful employment for 
them before the termination of their existence. 
i|t Kjitaiian. 
OUR BEE HINTS. 
What Ueea to Keep. 
We are often asked by beginuers in bee-keep¬ 
ing “ What kind of bees shall we keep ?” To all 
such our auswer will be to keep Italians. If it 
is uot. possible, or even couvenient, to obtain 
Italians at. the start, begin with the common 
black bees, and, later, procure one or more 
pure Italian queens with which to Italianize the 
stocks. It is now almost universally conceded 
—almost, for there are still some practical bee¬ 
keepers who prefer the black bees—that under 
similar circumstances the Italians are the most 
profitable. Professor Cook, in his Manual of 
the Apiary, enumerates no less tliau eleven 
points in favor of the Italians over the black 
bees. Borne of these points may not weigh 
heavily in the scales, but others are of prime 
importance. The main ones are: First, that they 
have longer tongues, and ean therefore gather 
from many flowers from which the black bees 
cannot. (Second, they are more active, and, with 
the same opportunities, gather more honey. 
Third, the queens are more prolific. Fourth, 
the yellow abdomeu makes her majesty more 
conspicuous, and she can therefore be readily 
found when looked for. Fifth, the bee-moth 
does not easily gain foothold among the Ital¬ 
ians. Sixth, they are more amiable. 
Transferring. 
When bees are purchased, either in boxes or 
in a style of hives different from the one the 
bee-keeper has"decided to U8e, it becomes nee- 
esssary to transfer them. This may be done at 
any time, thougli it is best uot to attempt it too 
early iu the season, as they cannot so readily 
repair the comb. Choose a warm day in the 
latter part of April or the beginning of May, 
when the bees are active gathering honey. On 
such a day blow some smoke into the box-hive, 
invert it, aud above it place the movable-frame 
hive, in which should be put some brood and a 
few frames of comb for the bees to adhere to ; 
wind a blanket, around the junction to prevent 
the bees from escaping, and drum on the box. 
Iu a few minutes the bees will have deserted 
the box aud gone into the hive above, which 
should then be placed on a bottom-board aud 
carefully removed to the colony’s former stand 
in the apiary. Now the bees are in the new 
hive adhering to the few frames of comb pre¬ 
viously placed there, aud there beiug brood in 
one or more of these, the bees will not desert 
the hive. Next, take the box into some build¬ 
ing to avoid being bothered by the bees, and 
with saw, chisel and hammer, carefully take 
it to pieces, with as little injury as possible to 
the comb. 
The comb mast now be put in frames and 
these placed in the hive with the bees. Cover 
a table, or a piece of board serviug as such, 
with a thick cloth to prevent injuring the 
brood; on this lay the comb, lay the frame on 
it, and letting the knife follow the inside of 
the frame, cut out a piece of comb that will fit 
it exactly. No worker brood should be wasted, 
as every worker that can be reared will he 
needed to carry honey to the hive. Drones, 
on the other hand, are a tax upon the hive in¬ 
stead of a help, and at no time should a large 
number of drones lie tolerated in the apiary; 
all drone comb and brood should therefore be 
cut out. Proceed thus till all are transferred. 
Save all the little pieces of comb that are cut 
off—they are haudy to use for guide-comb in 
other frames. The inexperienced can easily 
distinguish drone comb from worker comb, the 
former having the larger cells; and if there is 
capped brood, the drone brood projects further 
out than the worker brood. The comb eau be 
better fastened in a sijjall frame than in a large 
one, hence in this respect, the Gallup frame, 
which measures lljxll^ inches, is to be pre¬ 
ferred. Iu fastening a small piece, place a 
piece of lath beneath the comb, aDd support it 
by a string tied over the top bar of the frame. 
Be careful Dot to drop any honey about the 
apiary, as the bees will 6oon learn that it is 
much easier to gather honey when found in 
bulk, than laboriously to collect each little 
particle by traveling from flower to flower, and 
their greediness being thus aroused, they will 
assail aud rob the weak colonies. 
^litrjlii^rt. 
EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENCE. 
Taganrog, Caucasus, February 17, 1879.— 
I have just returned from a tour along the 
shores of the Black Sea and the Caucasian 
Mountains, to this quaint town on the Sea of 
Azof. The climate is delightful and the veg¬ 
etation most remarkable. Between Poti and 
Tiflis I rode for miles and miles through for¬ 
ests of Rhododendrons. Azaleas and Audrom- 
edas, so deuse iu foliage that they afford shade 
aud shelter for man and beast at auy season 
of the year. During the months of May ami 
June, when they arc in full bloom, the sight 
must be grand and magnificent. There are 
also many other trees and shrubs of beauty 
and utility. Among the latter is pre-emiuout 
the Boxwood tree which attains here considera¬ 
ble size. Large numbers of these are annually 
cut and transported to Poti and Taganrog, 
thence shipped to England and there disposed 
of at large prices for shuttle making, it beiug 
the most desirable wood kuowu for that pur¬ 
pose From here I shall return via Moscow 
to St. Petersburg. W. R. Bergiiolz. 
-- 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Kentucky, Owensboro, Daviess Co., March 
22.—Farmers are very much behind owing to 
the unfavorable winter. Some oats have 
been sown and some potatoes planted. Wheat 
is lookiug well on good land. Tobacco has 
advanced somewhat, which I think will cause 
strenuous efforts for a big crop. Seeds are 
lower this season than for many: clover, $4 10; 
timothy, s$l 50; orchard-grass, $1 35; red-top. 
45c.; oats, 30c.; corn, 30@35c. Pneumonia 
prevails to some extent, and is quite fatal. 
That terrible malady, “ the-worst-eold-I-ever 
bad-in-my-life,” prevails to an alarming degree, 
but a few good days aud ditto stews will cure 
most cases. a. w. s. 
Nebraska, Purple Cane, Dodge Co., March 
22 .—Wheat is going in everywhere in this coun¬ 
try. The ground is quite dry and rain must 
fall before seed can sprout well. Dust follows 
the harrow and seeder, but even that is more 
pleasant working than sowing on muddy laud. 
But to half quote a great poet, and wholly 
quote a small one, 
“ Hope sprluKS oterual in the luuuun breast,” 
" W'e arc bound to have a goad crop in the West." 
You see it took two of us to concoct that, hut 
two heads are better than one, if one is only 
fit for sour-krout. s. R. m. 
Kentucky, Milton, March 19. —Some of our 
fanners were planting potatoes last Thursday 
aud the next day were out in their over-coats 
and furs, looking decidedly blue, whether from 
sympathy with their potatoes I do not pretend 
to say. Potatoes that were “ holed up” escaped 
frost and kept well; while those iu cellars 
froze badly. They are now worth 50c. to 75c. 
per bushel;—Scotch Nobles in the lead. Our 
tobacco growers have “ raised” immense crops 
this winter. There is, however, a fair pros¬ 
pect of an increased acreage being planted 
this summer. 8. e. h. 
Michigan, Bloomingdale, Van Buren Co., 
March 19, 1879.—Our principal crop—logs 
and wood—is very heavy and we could not 
have wished better weather for harvesting it- 
Stock of all kiudB have wintered well and are 
in good condition. Cows arc worth 818 to 825; 
hogs, 2c. per pound ; sheep, 83 to 84 per head : 
corn, 30 to 85c.; wheat, 90c.; oats, 30c.; pota¬ 
toes, 50c. per bushel. We had a very heavy 
apple crop last year, and at present the pros¬ 
pect is good for a fair one the coming season. 
M. W. 
Kentucky, Fern Creek, Jeff. Co., March 24. 
After a severe winter the snow went off the last 
This is truly a busy season. There are many 
things which ean be done to good advantage, 
and some things which must be done now, or a 
loss will be iueurred. He who has studied and 
been industrious all winter, will get along 
easily at this time ; but the man who has been 
idle and who has no plans, will work to poor 
advantage and neglect many things. The ap¬ 
proach of warm weather, green pastures and 
spring-buds, will stimulate any man to go 
to work if he have a spark of ambition left. 
Be careful on the start not to work too hard. 
The Stock.— Cattle, sheep and horses are 
anxious to get to the field for a taste of grass, 
aud will dig away all day for almost nothing. 
They should not be allowed to go to the pas¬ 
tures. It destroys their appetite and damages 
the young grass. Feed them regularly. They 
will eat less than in cold weather. Lambs and 
calves need milk ; bran and roots are excel¬ 
lent to enable the mothers to furnish a supply. 
Feed working animals generously and use 
them moderately on the start, until they be¬ 
come hardened, shed their coats and get used 
to the warm weather. Horses should be 
blanketed for a time after work, unless the 
weather is quite wanh. Do not be in a hurry 
to curry off the old hair ; let it remain as long 
as it will, and the new coat will he all the bet¬ 
ter for it. 
The Road. —We repeat the advice of last 
month. Just as the mud has dried partially 
down—before it is hard and stiff—run a scra¬ 
per over the roads to fill the ruts with the lit¬ 
tle projections and ridges. This will allow the 
water to run off readily and prevent the road 
from “ cutting up.” A half day in scraping- 
just in the right time, on several different oc¬ 
casions in spring, will save five times the 
amount of work along in summer. 
Prepare the Fields. — Manure ean be 
drawn and should be spread at once for coi n, 
and the land plowed. Oats ean be put iu, and 
barley too. There will be nothing gained by 
cultivating heavy land when it is not in proper 
condition. Stones must be picked up in the 
meadow before the grass gets up to hide them. 
They can be drawn from any field which does 
not contain a crop. Stumps and old logs 
should be cleared up. The former come up 
easiest when the ground is soft in spring. 
This is a good time to repair feuces, or make 
new ones. Strive to do all work well, that it 
may not soon need to be done over again. 
This is an excellent time to plan the ditches 
and places for tiling Compare drained and 
undrained lands and see how much earlier and 
better the former can be worked in spring. 
Keep up the comparison till after harvest, and 
make note on the difference of crops. 
WATER fountajn for chicks. 
inverting it, we have a water-fountain for 
young chicks, which will prevent them from 
fouling their drink by paddling in it, as they 
so frequently do. By attaching a few wires to 
holes punched near the edge of the ean, (Fig. 
2.) making a hole in the 
bottom aud filling the 
can with rich soil, we 
can make numerous 
hanging pots for droop¬ 
ing vines, which may lie 
hung on the shade trees, 
or to walls or trellises, 
and which will soon be 
covered with beautiful 
verdure. By cutting the 
tin iu the shape'shown 
at Fig. 3, and fixing a 
Fig. 2. handle on to the bottom, 
hanging fower-pots. we may have a useful 
scoop for flour or sugar, or other purposes. 
The handle may be one of the common door¬ 
stops which are usually fastened to base¬ 
boards to prevent the door-handles from strik¬ 
ing the wall. A small nut may be procured at 
any stove shop, which will fit the screw, aud 
FLOUR OR SUGAR SCOOP. 
by using two round pieces of tin in the shape 
of washers, in the manner shown in the en¬ 
graving—inside the scoop and through the 
opening broken for that purpose—the junction 
of the haudle aud scoop is greatly strength¬ 
ened. By melting the bottom off aud loosen¬ 
ing the side joint in the same way, we have 
open tubes as shown at Fig. 4. These inav be 
placed around peach trees and 
small apple trees, aud pressed 
into the ground an inch, when 
they will effectually preserve 
them from the dreaded borer. 
Many other uses for these 
open tubes will occur. If they 
are cut into strips two or three 
inches wide, they may be used 
as seed-beds for tomato plants 
or early melons. To use them 
in this way, the ends of the open tube. 
strip should be bent down for a quarter of 
an inch on opposite sides, so as to form a 
