362 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[August. 
Wise iJeglslation.— The French Govern¬ 
ment has passed a law that hereafter all owners of stal¬ 
lions for service must produce a certificate showing that 
the animal is free from disease and unsoundness of all 
kinds. It is a pity that our Government does not enact a 
similar law. If it did, and strictly enforced it, the horse 
stock of the United States would be increased in value at 
least 25 per cent. To this, if good action, endurance, and a 
mild temper were added, it would make the future stock 
still more valuable. Over ten million horses were re¬ 
ported in the census of 1880, and we presume there may 
be nearly twelve millions now, for they have increased 
with unexampled rapidity during the past three years. 
Tlie .Japanese Bla.<ldei*-^fuit.— A few 
years ago, we gave an engraving of Staphylea Bumalai , 
for which “Japanese Bladder-nut” will answer as a 
common name. Our native " Bladder-nut ” (S. trifolia) 
is not rare in moist places in the Northern States. It is 
showy in both flower and fruit, and is well worth grow¬ 
ing, though rarely seen in cultivation. The Japanese 
species is vastly superior. The engraving referred to 
was from specimens sent by a correspondent. Having 
since flowered it, we find the blooms much finer and 
more profuse than those sent us. Every twig is termi¬ 
nated by a large cluster of flowers of the purest white, 
each a bouquet of itself. We can commend the Japanese 
Bladder-nut to lovers of fine shrubs, as one of the best 
of recent introductions. 
A Great Importation of <JiiniSs.— 
Steamers from Alexandria and Messina have carried to 
the port of Marseilles from twenty thousand to thirty 
thousand quails each. Quails abound in vast numbers 
in the neighborhood of the first two ports. They are 
caught in nets, conveyed in shallow, well-ventilated 
boxes, supplied with plenty of food on the voyage, and 
thus reach their deslination in good condition. These 
importations begin before or at least early in February, 
and continue into May, if not longer. During this time 
hundreds of thousands are brought over from Egypt 
and Sicily. After April, their consumption is forbidden 
in France, and the quails are then sent mostly from 
Marseilles to England. There is no necessity, then, of 
sportsmen there to supply the markets, even if the 
shooting season were not already long since over. 
'l'lie Ilecoralions lot* tlie Fair.— 
Most of the Fair grounds of the County Associations 
have a building devoted to the display of flowers and 
fruits, usually called “Floral Hall.” This is often, at 
the time of the Fair, a rather barren place. Those who 
take an interest in the exhibition should provide for its 
decoration. If they have any showy plants that can be 
spared, such as Cannas, Castor Oil plants, or other dec¬ 
orative specimens, let them prepare these well in ad¬ 
vance for the Fair. Nail kegs, or half-barrels cut down 
to the proper size,will answer for “ pots.” Carefully tuke 
up the plants and place them in these, giving a supply 
of good soil. Keep the plants in the shade until they 
recover from the shock of removal, and then promote 
their growth by applications of weak manure water. 
The plants must be set where violent winds will not in¬ 
jure them. A few large specimens, distributed about 
the hall, will go far to relieve its barren appearance. 
Hose-lnigs on tlie Grape Vines.— 
A correspondent writes us that the JRose-bugs are doing 
injury to his grape vines. They first attacked them 
three years ago in large swarms, but were picked off 
almost daily until the season was over, thus preventing 
them from dropping to the ground to pass the winter. 
Picking by hand is the only sure remedy. Each picker 
carries a tin can containing some water, and drops the 
beetles into it. Afterwards pour off the water, and 
empty the insects into the fire. It is not well for poul¬ 
try to eat the bugs, as they sometimes cause sickness. 
Our correspondent’s leading complaint is, that his 
neighbors do not pick the bugs, and he cannot therefore 
hope to get entirely clear of the pest. Concerted ac¬ 
tion is needed in this, as in all other cases of insect 
trouble. 
Skelter lor Stock. —Live stock writers 
are strenuous in advising comfortable shelter from frost, 
cold, and fierce winds during the inclement season, all 
of which is highly necessary and very proper. Few, 
however, have anything to say in regard to that of the 
■hot season, in protecting their animals from the extreme 
heat of the sun and tormenting insects. When these 
were most prevalent, it has been our rule to keep as 
many of our animals as possible in cool, darkened sta¬ 
bles, from nine to ten o'clock in the morning until five 
to six o’clock in the evening. The rest of the day, and 
through the night, we let them remain at pasture. In this 
way they need soiling only at noon, and get plenty of 
exercise and feed during the other part of the twenty- 
four hours. This is specially advantageous to the 
growth of calves, and indeed of colts also. We do not 
permit our calves to run with the cows here at the East, 
as we know is unavoidable at the great West, and we do 
not think it advisable for the colt to run during the 
whole day with the mare. If nursed at morning,and again 
at noon, it may then rest until towards evening. H. H. 
Suriiiif Grove Cemetery.—Ailolph 
Straucli.— Spring Grove Cemetery, at Cincinnati, is 
probably the most beautiful of the many garden ceme¬ 
teries of the country. This, if we mistake not, was the 
first cemetery in which all visible boundaries to individ¬ 
ual lots were abolished; the whole was laid out accord¬ 
ing to a general plan, which was not marred by the in¬ 
trusion of fences, hedges, and other fancies of lot- 
owners. The beauty of Spring Grove is due to the de¬ 
signing and subsequent superintendence of Mr. Adolph 
Strauch. A visit to this cemetery under the guidance 
of its designer and architect, who pointed out beauties 
that might have been passed unnoticed, and gave reasons 
for every departure from usual methods, remains as a 
delightful remembrance. At last, he who prepared this 
lovely resting-place for so many, has been himself laid 
away. His influence has been felt all over the country. 
Importation of Meiit Instead of 
Hiving Animals. —We are pleased to see the sub¬ 
ject of meat importation from America fully discussed, 
in accordance with its importance, in the British agri¬ 
cultural journals. The objection to the importation of 
live cattle is two-fold. The first is, that for many years 
past they have carried disease to the native stock, 
causing a loss of millions of pounds sterling to the 
farmers, and also considerably increasing the price of 
meat to consumers. The second is, that cruel suffering 
is often endured by the poor dumb beasts in their im¬ 
portation. Dead meat, packed in improved refrigerators, 
can be transported thousands of miles, and will improve, 
rather than deteriorate, in quality. There is the addi¬ 
tional advantage of being able to hold it for sale, if the 
market happens to be a little glutted on arrival, until 
a good price can be obtained. Cattle must be sold 
at once, or go into an expensive quarantine ; and they 
often arrive in such poor condition, as to require weeks 
or even months to bring them around fit for slaughter. 
Temperature of Woodlands and 
Open Fields.— Professor Prentiss, after a prolonged 
series of tri-daily observations with thermometers, finds 
that the temperature of a wooded belt is somewhat 
higher than that of an open field, that the fluctuations 
are less rapid and extreme, and that gradual changes in 
the temperature of the field are not felt in the woods 
until a day or two later. The apparent difference be¬ 
tween the temperature of the woods and that of open 
fields is always far greater than’the real difference. By 
means of thermometers, inserted in holes bored into 
the hearts of trees, it was found that the average tem¬ 
perature of the interior of a pine tree is one or two de¬ 
grees higher than that of an oak. During the winter 
season, the thermometers will register twenty-five de¬ 
grees below zero at the center of large trees. This fact 
does not strengthen the opinion of some scientists, that 
trees and shrubs are killed if the sap in the living cells 
becomes frozen. The low temperatures recorded do not 
prove that the vital liquid is congealed, but they throw 
additional doubt on an already very doubtful theory. 
Ivy Foisoning'. —The “ Poison Ivy,” also 
called “Poison Oak,” and in some localities known as 
“Marcury,” is often the cause of great distress. The 
vine is abundant all over the country, one form being 
low, running along on banks and rambling over stone 
walls. Another form climbs tbe highest trees, clinging 
to the bark by its many rootlets. It is often confounded 
with the Virginia Creeper; indeed, we have known it to 
be planted as an ornamental vine, it having been mis¬ 
taken for that. The two are readily told apart, the Vir¬ 
ginia Creeper having its dark-green, shiny leaves five- 
parted, while the light-green leaves of the poison vine 
are three-parted. The Poison Ivy is so very abundant, 
that were all equally susceptible to its influence, we 
should hear much more of its effects than we do at 
present. With many, the poison produces only a slight 
eruption on the skin and an intense itching. Others 
are more seriously affected, and the face swells up to 
such an extent that the features are hardly visible. 
Nearly every locality has its popular remedies for the 
poison, and new ones are frequently proposed. As a 
general thing, most cases are relieved by keeping the 
bowels open by the u-e of salts, and washing the erup¬ 
tions with a strong solution of sugar of lead. The latest 
remedy, which is now going the rounds, is to bathe the 
affected parts with lime water, applied as hot as it can 
be borne. This is simple, the remedy is usually at 
hand, and is worth trying, as other alkaline washes 
have been found useful. No harm can result. 
Tlie Black Walnut in (lie South. 
—“ S. D. S.,” Evergreen, Ala., wishes to grow the black 
walnut for timber. He has a hill-side that has never 
been in cultivation, with clay about twelve inches below 
the surface. If the foot above the clay is good soil, 
there is little doubt that the trees would flourish. Our 
correspondent should make arrangements to procure the 
nuts before they come dry. He mentions the natural 
growth of his land. It will be necessary to clear off 
this before hoplants his walnuts. He can not hope to 
successfully grow the walnut while the land is already 
occupied. The usual method is to plant the nuts in 
rows, eight feet apart, placing two or three nuts every 
eight feet in the row, afterwards removing all the seed¬ 
lings but one. As young walnut trees are disposed to 
branch near the ground, nurse trees are used, in order 
to make the walnuts grow up and form tall timber. 
Silver maples and white willow (from cuttings) have 
been used as nurse trees. The object of these is to 
induce an upward growth of the walnut, and they are to 
be removed as soon as they have answered their purpose. 
If our correspondent has cleared land, that has been in 
cultivation, he probably will meet with better success 
than to undertake to grow the black walnut on wild land. 
In tlie Hay and Harvest Field.— 
People drink too copiously of ice-cold water, and every 
summer the list of deaths from this cause is a long one. 
Excessive drinking of ice-cold water becomes as much 
of a habit as some other forms of drinking. If ice-cold 
water be used to reduce the temperature of ordinary 
well-water, “ half-and-half,” it will be found to quench 
thirst quite as readily as when taken into the stomach 
at the melting point of ice (32°), and there will be no 
danger of sunstroke and “sudden prostration in the 
hay field.” Still better than ice-water is some prepared 
drink, to be taken in moderate quantities. Nothing is 
better for those who work in the hay and harvest field 
than the old-fashioned “ Switched.” This is water, 
sweetened with molasses, to which are added vinegar 
and ground ginger. We do not know of any definite 
proportions, as the ingredients are usually mixed “ ac¬ 
cording to taste.” It is a most refreshing draught, and 
if cooled by adding a moderate quantity of ice, the gin¬ 
ger prevents any unpleasant effects. Another capital 
drink for workmen in the field is “Tea Punch.” Make 
strong tea, sweeten it, and then squeeze into it the juice 
of one or more lemons. This may also be cooied by 
adding ice in moderate quantities, and those who like 
tea at all, will prefer it to any other harvest drink. 
Strong coffee, with sugar and milk, placed on ice until 
well cooled, is another excellent drink for the field. 
Tlie Back Stoop.—Bootjacks.— On 
many farms the “hired men” eat at the family table. 
These men often come in from the field in such a con¬ 
dition, that they need to prepare themselves to take a 
seat at the table. This is usually done on the back 
stoop, where there should be abundant water, a suffi¬ 
cient supply of towels, combs, and whatever else may 
be needed. So far as we have noticed hired men, -they 
are quite desirous of making themselves presentable, 
and will gladly avail themselves of every opportunity 
for doing so. It will pay the farmer, if he has a regard 
for his wife, to provide a lot of cheap slippers, which 
his hired men can use when they come into the house. 
He should also provide a bootjack, by means of which 
the boots that have been worn in the field may be re¬ 
moved. Perhaps there is no simple affair upon which 
more inventive talent has been expended than on the 
bootjack. After all, the common old-fashioned form 
shown in the engraving is as useful as any. This is one 
of those appliances that the farmer or his boys can 
make in the workshops in winter. The back stoop 
should be provided with a bench. Whisk-brooms will 
prevent the introduction of dust into the house, and if 
provided, will generally be used. If the farmer himself 
does not come to the table in his shirt-sleeves, he will 
soon find that his hired men will contrive to properly 
attire themselves for the meals. 
