M’CORMICK’S REAPER. 
This machine was patented in 1845, hy C. H. M’Cor- 
mick, of-Virginia. It has been extensively- 
used in most of the grain growing States of the Union, 
and if we may judge from the numerous certificates of 
those by whom it has been tried, it is a very effective 
and valuable implement. By reference to Mr. M’C’s 
advertisement, to be found in this number, it will be 
seen that the machine is warranted to cut from fifteen 
to twenty acres of grain in a day, and at a great saving 
of expense over the common mode of harvesting. 
DESCRIBING- FRUIT. 
Eo. Cultivator —Allow me two or three comments 
on H. W. Beecher’s excellent remarks relative to Down¬ 
ing’s “ Fruit and Fruit Trees of America.” 
He intimates that “saccharine flavor ,” means sweet ; 
it is true that ought to be its meaning, but it is often 
applied to acid and sub-acid fruits. As examples, see 
the descriptions of the Alexander, Ribston pippin, 
Baldwin, Fall pippin, and other apples in Kenrick's 
Orchardist, which are all termed sugary or saccharine 
in flavor; and also Summer Queen, a quite sour apple, 
which Kenrick describes as “sweet.” Many instances 
might be given in other writers, did time permit. I 
mention this point, to show the miserable looseness which 
has prevailed with nearly all pomological writers, rela¬ 
tive to the unvarying and most important distinctive 
test of varieties, the flavor. 
He says “a highly improved and luscious pear, not 
unfrequently is wholly seedless, while fruits not far re¬ 
moved from the wild state abound in seeds.” Are there 
not too many exceptions to this rule, on both parts, for 
its correctness? The Seckel is regarded the richest of 
all pears, and is full of seeds; while some worthless 
seedlings have little or no seed. 
An experienced person can often know a variety by 
the appearance of the young wood and growth of the 
tree, and nurserymen usually know at a glance the dif¬ 
ferent varieties they cultivate, without seeing the labels. 
Hence great stress is laid on the importance of this dis¬ 
tinctive trait in describing fruits. But a serious diffi¬ 
culty is not noticed. However well we may know 
varieties after we are familiar with their appearance 
by personal inspection, it is next to impossible to con¬ 
vey a knowledge of those appearances in words. We 
know a familiar acquaintance at the first glance of hi.s 
face; and hardly a man exists but knows a thousand 
persons by looking in their faces, even though their 
names are not written on their cheeks; but the iftost 
minute description of the features would fail to convey 
a distinctive knowledge of the appearance of an indi¬ 
vidual. The light hair, the grey eyes, the bushy eye¬ 
brows, the hooked nose and sharp chin, might apply to 
fifty individuals, while that peculiar uhdefinable expres¬ 
sion which cannot be described, is more characteristic 
than all. It is precisely the same with the appearance 
of varieties in trees; when once familiar, we know them 
vi'ell; but the points of distinction are too untangible 
to describe with precision. Hence this character, 
though useful, is not of the greatest importance. 
J. J. T. 
PROP FOR CLIMBING PLANTS. 
The annexed figure represents a very convenient 
support for any climbing 
annual plants, whether 
useful or ornamental—it 
may be used for running 
garden beans, or for the 
ornamental Ipomeas, as 
the morning glory or cy¬ 
press vine. 
Stretched cords are fre¬ 
quently used, as being 
often cheaper where ex¬ 
tensively used, and pos- 
Fig. 00. sessing also a lighter and 
more elegant appearance. But their contraction by 
wet, where the cords are fastened to pegs in the ground, 
sometimes draws the plant up by the roots. The above 
represented contrivance removes this difficulty, and is 
at the same time very expeditiously made. Take nar¬ 
row strips of board, or lath, and fastening two of them 
together by a nail near the top, as shown in the figure, 
and spreading the lower ends so as to form a moderately 
acute angle, stick them into the ground. Two more 
are arranged precisely similar, (not represented in the 
figure,) and placed at several feet distance from the 
former. These are connected by similar pieces of lath 
at the bottom, on each side, three or four inches from 
the surface of the earth. A slender, round pole is also 
laid on the short fork at the top formed by the intersec¬ 
tion of the upright laths. Cords, all of equal length, 
are then tied to the lower horizontal pieces, and passed 
once round the upper horizontal pole, so as to form a 
hanging loop about a foot in length. Through these 
loops a pole is thrust, and sufficient weights hung upon 
it to keep the cords always sufficiently stretched; and 
which will rise and fall with the contraction and ex¬ 
pansion of the cords. In this way, in fact, the pole by 
rising and falling, serves as an imperfect hygrometer. 
Very cheap cords, lasting one summer, may be made 
by twisting strings of bass, which is made by soaking 
the bark of large basswood trees a fortnight in water, 
peeilng off the inner portion, and then soaking the re¬ 
mainder a month and .peeling the rest. The bark may 
usually be had in abundance in the early part of sum¬ 
mer, at saw-mills, and must be perfectly fresh from the 
log when it is immersed in water. 
A cat, after being twenty-one days under hay, with¬ 
out food or drink, has completely recovered. 
