S'8 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[March, 
Sweet Herlss,- 1 “Market Gardener,” Bloom¬ 
ington, Ill., wishes to know, “whether there would he a 
ready sale for dried sage, etc., at a fair price.” Sweet 
herbs are raised in the market gardens near New York as 
a second crop, and are considered a paying one. They 
are put up in loose bunches and are sold green or dry, 
aecording to the season. In this state they are so bulky 
that it would not pay to send them any great distance. 
Those brought from distant places come pressed in“ack- 
ages or are ground and putup in tin boxes, and are main¬ 
ly sold by druggists and grocers. This branch of the 
'business is chiefly in the hands of the Shakers, and we 
are not aquainted with the many statistics concerning it. 
JPlES.sa.tiB&g’ C/iattisig-s. — In the “ Notes 
aboutWork,”we 
have often in¬ 
sisted upon the 
necessityof firm¬ 
ly crowding the 
earth against the 
base of the cut¬ 
tings. Much of 
the failure to 
raise currants, 
grapes, and oth¬ 
er plants from 
cuttings arises 
from a neglect of this. A light porous soil around the 
cutting allows it to dry out, and besides 
this there is something in the close con¬ 
tact of the earth with the cutting which 
seems to favor the production of roots. 
AVe give from that very practical work, 
Fuller’s Small Fruit Culturist, two illus¬ 
trations. Figure 1 shows a section of 
the trench in which the cuttings are to be 
placed; this is made with the spade, by 
thrusting it down perpendicularly, and 
throwing the earth to one side. This 
gives a trench with a nearly perpendicular 
wall, against which the cuttings are to be 
placed. After the cuttings are put in, 
from two to four inches apart, some soil 
is thrown in, and pressed down firmly 
against the base of the cutting by means 
of the rammer, figure 2. This implement 
is shaped from a piece of 2-iuch plank of Fig. 2. 
convenient length. In its absence, use a bit of board. 
66 ISEassisBii Cb-siBb.-’—A pomologist who 
knows, writes us: “ Certain nurserymen or interested 
parties AVcst, are pushing the Tetofsky apple as the 
“ Russian Crab” trees, at $1 each, I hear. It is hardy for 
thq North-west, but no crab whatever; and from several 
years’ trial of it on my soil, it does not compare in 
general productiveness aud value with the Duchess 
of Oldenburg. AVhy not sell it under its true name ?” 
IPlamting 1 ©rclaav&s.— 1 “ G. B. G.,” De¬ 
catur Co., Ind., asks: “How should an orchard be 
planted on flat, wet, heavy clay soil, drained only im¬ 
perfectly by open ditches ? It cannot, short of great cost, 
be well drained.” Surface planting is often practised at 
the AVest, and is much better than placing the roots in a 
heavy, damp soil, The roots of the tree arc placed upon 
the surface of the soil, and a broad, low mound of earth 
heaped over them. In the subsequent working of the 
orchard, the earth is thrown towards the tree and thus 
the drainage is made more effectual 
ESai-lk as sa Munlcla.—J. AVhitte- 
more, Broome Co., N. Y., has been told that tan bark used 
as a mulch will injure the soil, and asks if it is true. 
■ Simply used on the surface it will do no injury. If a 
large quantity of tan bark were worked into a very light 
soil, it would be a detriment mechanically, rendering an 
already too open soil still lighter. When decomposed, 
and it decays very slowly, it makes a good manure. 
Trees for si Wet gsoil. — “A Young 
Farmer,” asks: “What kind of trees shall I set out 
on a Western wet marsh for the purpose of making 
shade for cattle, the marsh not being so wet but it 
can be mowed with a two-liorse mower.” The Tama¬ 
rack or American Larch, the Poplars or Cottonwoods, or 
any of the tall-growing willows, such as the AVhit.e or 
Golden. We have never seen the Weeping Willow used 
for this purpose, but have no doubt it-would answer ad¬ 
mirably. It grows rapidly, makes a fair shade, and is 
one of the-first to leaf out in spring, as it is the last to 
shed its leaves in autumn. 
iaa F. II. Dickson 
says: “ Please give us your opinion on grape culture in 
this Territory. Climate as follows: Frosts not very late 
in spring, in fall from 20th of Sept, to 15th of October; 
season very dry, so much so that irrigation is necessary 
for the raising of most kinds of crops. Soil, all kinds 
usually found in Illinois or Wisconsin, except that it in¬ 
variably has more or less alkali in it. The winters as a 
general thing are mild, with but little snow, and some very 
high winds. Wild grapes grow here, and I am anxious 
to try an acre or two of tame grapes, if, in your opinion, 
they will prosper here. What kinds would you advise 
me to plant?”—Your soil is not very different from that 
of parts of Northern Mexico, where we have seen the 
grape flourishing. If you have no late frosts in spring, 
and can irrigate, there does not seem to be any good rea¬ 
son why most of our varieties should not succeed. As to 
the sorts to plant, it must be in great measure an experi¬ 
ment with you, and if no one has done it before, you can 
not do a better service to Colorado than to make a trial 
of the leading varieties. We think that the Israella, 
which lias succeeded so well at the South, should be one 
of the newer sorts to be tried, but we would advise an 
experiment with all the leading sorts. Please report. 
UfcsiMg-eroEis ©Us.—In an article in the 
Household Department, reference is made to a law con¬ 
cerning the sale of oils. It is to he found in Section 29 
of Amendments to the Internal Revenue Law, approved 
March 2, 1867, aud reads as follows : “ And he it further 
enacted, that no person shall mix for sale, naphtha and 
illuminating oils, or shall knowingly sell or offer for sale, 
such mixture, or shall sell or offer for sale oil made from 
petroleum for illuminating purposes, inflammable at less 
temperature or fire-test than one hundred and ten degrees 
Fahrenheit; and any person so doing shall be held to be 
guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof by in¬ 
dictment or presentment in any court of the United 
States, having competent jurisdiction, shall be punished 
by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more 
than five hundred dollars, and by imprisonment for a term 
of not less than six months nor more than three years.”— 
If some one who is able to bring a case before a U. S. 
Court, wishes to do so, he can find subjects enough in 
every town. Show this law to the man of whom you buy 
your kerosene—also test the oil as directed elsewhere. 
deiastijig- KBaives sibimiI Foi'lss.—Next 
to a clean plate, clean knives and forks are desirable, but 
in some respectable families one finds a clean plate, and 
even a napkin sometimes, where the knives and forks are 
exceedingly dingy. If knives have become rusty by dis¬ 
use or carelessness, cover the blades with sweet oil, and 
after lying a day or two rub them with unslaked lime until 
the rust disappears. For knives and forks the common 
scouring brick, freely and strongly applied every day, is 
very good. This not only improves the appearance of 
the table, hut is a good appetizer, and helps digestion 
more than the best hitters in the market. 
44 "Woos! anins ^^—New era in house 
decoration. —Being prompted to investigate the “New 
AA r ood Hangings,” we found ourselves in one of the most 
beautifully decorated rooms we ever saw. The walls were, 
so to speak, veneered in panels with choice and brilliant 
woods of many hues tastefully arranged, and oiled so 
as to bring out their colors. These were put directly 
upon the plastered walls, just like paper hangings. We 
saw the veneerings or “wood hangings,” as cut from the 
log, and noticed AVhite wood, Holly, Maple, Beech, Chest¬ 
nut, Oak, Cherry, Mahogany, and Black Walnut, and 
were told that the veneerings, as soon as cut, were moist¬ 
ened with glycerine, a substance which never dries, and 
so they are kept moist, tough, and flexible, until applied 
to the wall. So far, the test of actual use has been favor¬ 
able, as we learn. It is said to cost less to cover walls 
with this than with good paper hangings, and a joint- 
stock company has been formed to carry on the business. 
A»l!a l&ece-ptsacles.—Anthony M. Carson, 
Clark Co., Ohio, writes to the Agriculturist describing 
an ash receptacle called “ Hall’s Ash-House,” which ap¬ 
pears to consist of a hopper with a sieve at the bottom, 
forming the top of the iron-lined, wooden ash-holder, 
which may ho used as a leach tub as well. AVhen the 
ashes are leached, by undoing four hooks the box may he 
taken off from the ashes-and set up again. The idea 
seems to he a good one, and such an ash receptacle would 
not he difficult of construction. Mr. Hall may have a 
patent for it, hut if he does not enable the public to 
buy it, ho must risk people making use of his ideas. 
EgS'S F »■©««> la 8 Years.—Salt 
ami Liinc.—J. Baker, New Haven Co., Ct., has heard 
that salt and lime will keep eggs sweet a long time—even 
eight years, and asks for the proportions of the ingredients. 
AVe have heard of this mixture being employed, and have 
used-simple lime water, or a very thin milk of lime, with 
success for a few months. The salt may he, and probably 
is; a valuable addition. We would slake the lime tea 
Fig. 1 —CUTTING TRENCH. 
pastey consistency, after a few hours or days thin it to a 
milky fluid, adding salt enough to make a moderately 
strong brine, and try the experiment with a few dozen 
eggs, pouring the mixture over them in a jar that may be 
kept closed. We should he glad to know how to keep 
eggs fresh for six months. 
A ffVeiacla Siicei*.—Those wlio have vis¬ 
ited city restaurants have no doubt been impressed with 
the skill that could make so small a weight of meat fur¬ 
nish such a great show. A large plate has its surface 
FRENCH SLICER. 
beautifully covered with slices of a thinness that are tho 
admiration of any hut a hungry man. The carving of meats, 
as well as the equally delicate cutting of the bread, is done 
with a knife called a French Sheer. For some time we 
have used one of these as a carving knife upon the table, 
and though it is not elegant in appearance, it does such 
excellent work that we think our readers would like to 
know about it. The engraving represents the shape; it 
has a broad and very thin blade of most excellent steel, 
the weight of metal being put in the width of the blade, 
and not in its thickness. The one we have has a blade 
14 inches long, hut they are made both longer and shorter. 
They are kept in the cutlery and furnishing stores. 
Soft Waiter isa ©eiaaeBit <Disteirias.— 
The Journal of Chemistry says that washing the cistern 
over inside with silicate of soda, “soluble glass,” will 
prevent the water becoming hard, and a subscriber re¬ 
cords his entire success in following the advice. This is 
worth knowing; the material is easily obtained in cities. 
MsalciiBg- Sowp iia tlae Family.— Leach¬ 
ing ashes, boiling lye, and soap making on the good old 
plan, are tedious, and, on the whole, unprofitable opera¬ 
tions. We can far better buy onr soap, and use the ashes 
on the onion hod or elsewhere. But we have found the 
“ Saponifier,” of Clifford Pemberton, Pittsburgh, Pa., ex¬ 
cellent—so much so that we not only use up refuse 
grease with it, hut buy tallow, and have no trouble in 
making good soap cheaper than we can buy it. 
IPig'eosfis.—Mr. Tegetmeier, the author of the 
Poultry Book, and editor of the poultry department of 
the London Field, lias recently written a book of 190 
pages, royal Svo., on Pigeons, illustrated by 27 richly 
colored plates of the most striking varieties, which is 
published by Geo. Routledge & Son, London, 1SGS. Few 
persons who are familiar only with the common blue 
pigeons of our city and village streets, not to say farm¬ 
yards, where they are rarely favorites, are aware of the 
great number of varieties into which the species (Colurriba 
livia) is, so to speak, broken up. Our common blue pig¬ 
eons are very much like the wild Rock Pigeon of Europe, 
which is said to he the parent of all the domesticated 
varieties. Not even do barn-yard fowls vary so greatly 
as pigeons. They have a greater variety of color, of form, 
of habit, and of flight. The work shows all these pecu¬ 
liarities, and besides being a standard guide both for 
breeding and forjudging of the birds at shows, it is an 
elegant center-table ornament. For sale at the office oi 
the American Agriculturist , or sent by mail for $5.00. 
Ait BiBipi'oveBsaosatf.—AA r e thought our old. 
office at 41 Park Row a very good-looking one, consider¬ 
ing that the hurry and hustle of a large, active business 
makes the best-looking place a scene of confusion. But 
our “illustrious successors,” Messrs. B. K. Bliss & Son, 
have completely eclipsed all we could do, and old 41 Park 
Row shines as one of the most beautiful and well-ordered 
seed establishments in the country. It will pay to drop 
in, and see tho fine display of good seeds and ornamental 
things to adorn tlie rural home. The American Agricul- 
turist retains an office for subscriptions and the display 
of books, at the old stand of 41 Park Row. 
Cost ©f CBaecs© Fsictoi'Ics.—“P. G.,” 
of AYrmont. The capital needed to start an enterprise 
of this kind depends upon the number of cows to sustain 
it. In eight factories in Massachusetts, the cost ranges 
from $3,000 to $S,009. In the report of the American 
Dairymen’s Association the average number of cows to a 
factory is put at 45S, the highest being 1049 and the 
lowest 140. The better way is to visit a cheese factory in 
running order, before perfecting your plan. And before 
building, it will he well to consider if, at the present 
prices, a butter factory, or one where the making of 
cheese and butter are united, will not pay better than a 
cheese factory. The price of butter has been for some 
time quite high. Our Agricultural Annual for 1868 (price 
EG cts-.) contains an excellent article on Cheese Factories. 
