THE CULTIVATOR. 
319 
1852. 
ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES, 
Leaves of Rhubarb Poisonous. —J. C. C. is inform¬ 
ed that the leaves of the Rhubarb or Pie plant, are poi¬ 
sonous. A few years ago, in the spring of the year, our 
pie plant being rather scarce, a friend told my wife the 
leaves of the plant were as good for pies as the stems. 
For trial she made one pie of the leaves, which was eaten 
by the family, seven in number; and the result was, it 
made us all sick, except two Irish laborers which belong¬ 
ed to the family, one or both of whom eat of the pie, 
but would not acknowledge that they were effected in 
the least. B. Goshen, Ct., 1852. 
Mowing Machines.— W. L. R., Babcock Hill, N, Y. 
You will find the information you want, in the account 
of the trial of implements at Geneva, given in this num¬ 
ber. For information in relation to the contrivance for 
unloading hay, see Cultivator for June. 
South-Down Sheep.— -II. B., Bethlem, Ct. There is 
but one genuine breed of South-Downs. Different ani¬ 
mals of this, as in all other breeds of stock, vary greatly 
in quality. South-Down rams have been considerably 
used with the common ewes of the country, for raising 
lambs for the butcher, and the cross has been generally 
very satisfactory. The prices vary from $10 to $25. 
They may be procured, we presume, of L. G. Morris, 
Fordham; J. McD. McIntyre, Albany, or J. M. Sher¬ 
wood, Auburn, N. Y. 
Raising Lopped Horns. —In answer to the inquiries 
of N. W. Moore, of West Turin, I would say that the 
horns of steers can be raised without the least damage to 
their growth—(the most convenient time to do it is when 
they are kept in the stable)—by taking two small pul¬ 
leys; place one of them directly over the front edge of 
the manger, high enough to be out of the way of the 
horns—the other at any place you wish, the weight 
to hang out of the way; pass a cord through them 
with a loop at one end, to slip over a button on the 
end of the horn; at the other end attach a weight of from 
two to four pounds. This should be put on every night 
when the steers are put in the stable, and be taken off* in 
the morning when turned out. I have never known that 
operation, when faithfully performed, to fail of raising 
one or both of the horns to any desired position, in from 
two to six weeks time. Our success has been such that 
we consider the lopping of one or even both of the horns, 
no serious objection, provided they are otherwise in good 
shape. L. C. Fuller. Kent, Ct., August 9, 1852. 
Wire Worms. —I notice in the July number, a com¬ 
plaint by one of your correspondents about wire worms. 
I have been much annoyed by them, but in one instance 
have headed them off, and will relate the circumstance. 
In the spring of 1851 I planted about four acres to In¬ 
dian corn, that had been under the plow for the two 
years previous; in about eight days after the planting, I 
found that this destructive insect was making sad havoc 
of the seed; not one kernel in five was coming up. It 
occurred to me that some preparation of the seed might 
prevent their attacks, and knowing that tobacco is parti¬ 
cularly nauseous to the taste of most of the lower orders 
of creation, I made a strong decoction of this ingredi¬ 
ent, using one pound of the plug to four gallons of hot 
water, and when at blood heat, turned it onto the seed, 
and let it remain 24 hours, taking the seed out no faster 
than four men could plant in the common way with hoes, 
which lasted the most part of a day. 
My neighbors thought the soaking process in such a 
liquid, would destroy the germ of the kernel, but it did 
not prove so; it all, or nearly all, came up well, grew vi¬ 
gorously, and though it w r as the first of June when this 
second planting took place, I had a very fair crop. The 
worms neglected it entirely, and I am fully persuaded 
that thej r are not lovers of the “ noxious weed” in auy 
form. J. W. Colburn. Spri . gfield, Vt. August 7. 
NEW PUBLICATIONS- 
History of the United States. By Richard Hildreth. Vol. VI. 
Harper & Brothers: New-York. 
This volume completes the series, and is, we believe, 
the only work which covers the whole ground from the 
settlement of the country to so late a period. A care¬ 
fully written and impartial history is a desideratum 
which every one who wishes a knowledge of his country, 
more complete and just than our political papers afford, 
must have felt. The author brings his narrative down 
to the year 1821, the close of Monroe's term of office, 
and as a consecutive, systematic, well digested, and well 
arranged history has no equal. Its style of execution is 
admirable, its table of contents full, and the dates are 
given with accuracy. * - 
Lotus Eating, a Summer Book. Bv Geo. Wm. Curtis. Harper 
& Brothers. 
The traveller upon the Nile and in Syria makes a tour to 
the Catskill Mountains and Falls, to Trenton, Niagara, 
Saratoga, Lake George, Newport, and Nahant, dreaming 
and writing as he goes, still waking now and then to a 
pleasing reverie or a life-like comparison. It is a lulling 
book for a weary hour, and some of its references to 
European scenery are beautiful. Its style is fanciful, yet 
there is good sound sense at the bottom. 
The Mother at Home. By J. S. C. Abbott. Harper Sc Brothers. 
The title is an epitoine of the work. A Mother's du¬ 
ties, trials, responsibilities and joys are told faithfully and 
impartially. No writer understands better the secret 
springs of human affection, or arrays truth more pleas¬ 
ingly in its own native garb of loveliness, than Mr. Ab¬ 
bott. This book has been for some years before the 
public, and is now republished in a neat and attractive 
form. - 
The Child at Home. By John S. C. Abbott. Harper Sc Brothers 
This little volume is an excellent companion to the 
Mother at Home. It should be in every Christian family 
and read by every child. Its simple and impressive les¬ 
sons, once made familiar, will rouse echoes in the heart, 
which can never die. —— 
A Latin English and English Latin Dictionary. By Chas. 
Aiithon, L. L. D. Harper Sc Brothers: New-York. 
This is another result of Dr. Anthon’s indefatigable 
labors. It is compiled from the best authorities, both 
English and German, and its arrangement is admirable 
