would it be? In my opinion, there is nothing so great, no other one thing that we could do that would benefit him so much, as to annihilate the tobacco plant from the face of the earth.,

Mr. Asher H. Chapman, of Pendleton Hill, Conn., recommends carrots as a substitute for coffee, and thinks them much better than chiccory. One of its principal 'recommendations with Mr. Chapman is that it takes less sweetening. It is the very point upon which we should condemn it. We repeat our previous assertions, that chiccory is the best substitute for coffee that has yet been used. Mix one part chiccory, two parts rye, and one part coffee. It will make a beverage that at least one-half the coffee drinkers will prefer to pure coffee, and we are satisfied it is more wholesome. The rye should be carefully picked over by hand, clean washed, well roasted and ground. The chiccory should be cut in small slices, thoroughly dried, well roasted and not ground, and it should be thoroughly boiled. The coffee will then be clear.

FRUIT IN MICHIGAN.

Mr. George Redfield, writing from Mill Point, speaks in the most hopeful terms upon the prospects of fruit culture in Michigan, particularly in its western portion: "Hundreds of acres have been planted within the last two or three years in this immediate vicinity."

TREE COTTON."

Mr. Thomas C. Buckmaster, Newburgh, writes:

"There is nothing that I read with more interest, or take more pleasure in, than the report of the Farmers' Club.

"Wishing for some further information in regard to the South American cotton tree, which you had under consideration some time since, and seeing the pure seed advertised by one Edward Tathesall, Wilmington, Del., I write to inquire whether he is reliable, whether the seed is reliable, and whether the former statements of this tree are reliable."

Professor Mapes.-A certain Mr. Kendall appeared before the Club last year, and made very flattering statements about this South America cotton tree, and deposited with me a quantity of seed for sale. Some months afterward, circumstances came to light which convinced me that Kendall was an impostor-that he never grew the tree in Maryland except as a hot-house plant; and any one selling the seed now, with the recommendation that it will grow here, is either humbugged himself, or trying to humbug others.

MEXICAN GUANO.

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Upon motion of Prof. Mapes, a committee was appointed to inquire and report upon the value of Mexican guano, found upon the Atlantic coast, which, although destitute of ammonia, he says contains from forty to sixty per cent. of phosphate, which must make it a valuable application upon all well prepared soil, for that does not require ammonia. He does not allude to the volcanic phosphate or rock guano, as it is termed for that has been

proved nearly worthless, while phosphatic bird dung guanos, like some of the best samples from Swan Island, have been proved highly valuable, and can be procured at less than half the expense of that from the Chincha Islands, which is now selling at the extravagant price of $100 per ton.

Mr. Eli H. Cope, of Westchester, Penn., writes to inquire if Sombrero guano can be made to take the place of bones as a manure.

To this we answer, yes. It has been made to take the place of stones in building a dock in Connecticut, where a ship load of it was imported for the purpose of taking the place of bones, but experiments proved that it was more valuable for dock building. We think that question is answered. Dr. Trimble, of New Jersey, earnestly recommends the substitution of Jersey marl in place of guano. Thousands of acres of land are underlaid with marl, where it can be obtained for one dollar a ton.

Mr. Carpenter.-I am willing to concede all that is claimed for marl upon the almost barren sands of New Jersey. Upon the coast of Long Island Sound it is of less value than Sombrero guano. It would not even answer for dock building. I approve of the appointment of the committee, but think we ought to be careful not to recommend anything that is not of value to the farmer.

Professor Mapes.-It is wonderfully valuable upon my sandy farm in Burlington county; it is utterly valueless upon my farm at Newark. One bushel of ashes is worth a thousand bushels of marl upon that soil. In Burlington it beats my own phosphates. It is a great mistake to recommend green sand marl as a universal manure.

Mr. John G. Bergen.-It fails upon Long Island, which is as sandy as New Jersey. The greatest objection to the use of marl is the cost of transportation, as it requires some 400 bushels per acre.

Prof. Mapes.-It varies very much in quality. From some of the marl pits, if 30 bushels, after being exposed to the atmosphere for some time, be applied per acre, a very favorable result will be produced. Some marls are improved by mixing with lime, for they contain a considerable propor tion of copperas, which by the action of lime is changed to gypsum.

Messrs. Mapes, Pardee and Berti were appointed the committee. Prof. Mapes.-Can any one inform us how to restore the heat to an old hotbed? I have applied fresh manure to the outside of the bed.

Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter.-I have known spent hops to make a good hotbed.

PREPARATION OF NIGHT-SOIL.

Mr. Isaac G. Darlington, Westchester, Pa., writes:

"I would very much like to hear the opinions of the Farmers' Club on the best plan of preparing night-soil for manure at as early a day as convenient."

He also inquires about mixing bone charcoal and gypsum with the nightsoil:

"I tried this plan once, but did not receive the benefit that I expected, although it perfectly deoderized the night-soil."

Prof. Mapes. That is not the best way to use bone charcoal-its value is mostly lost unless it is treated with sulphuric acid. The best thing to

deoderize night-soil is charcoal dust. The next best is prepared muck. The next, any fine, dry mold, such as the scrapings of roadsides or fencecorners. It should be thoroughly mixed, frequently stirred, and remain in compost some months before using. There is no better manure than wellprepared night-soil; there is none that will give more unsatisfactory results used in a raw state. At the price at which it is usually obtainable it is also a very cheap manure. It is cheap at five dollars for a horse-cart load, and at that price will bear transportation two or three miles.

Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter.-Barley sprouts is an excellent article used as a top-dressing. I am looking out for fertilizers. There is a great quantity of spoilt salt fish now in this market, the barrels weighing two hundred pounds, and selling at from twenty-five to fifty cents per barrel.

Prof. Mapes. I should think the barley sprouts a good manure, but the spoilt salt fish is nearly worthless.

CULTIVATION OF THE POTATO.

Mr. D. A. Bulkeley. No other crop that the farmer raises has received so little attention as that of the potato. Until within a few years it was thought the potato patch must be in some out of the way place, and on land not fit for any other crop, and quite enough was supposed to be done to the potatoes when the ground was plowed and the seed, such as could not be sold in the market, or fit for the table at home, was put in the ground, without much hoeing, or other attention till harvest, and then a full crop expected, not so with any other crop. The best seed is selected,-care and attention are bestowed till safely harvested.

Except bread and meat, there is no other article of food that comes into more general use than the potato, or is of more importance,-for it is found daily on the table of all, from the king to the peasant, and in a large portion fills the place of bread, meat, pies and cakes; all animals and the feathered tribe are fond of them, either cooked or raw. I cannot see why the potato is not deserving of more attention.

In the cultivation of the potato, the first requisite is good seed;-diseased or run-out seed makes poor returns, however good the soil, cultivation or season.

Sward newly broken up, of old meadows or pasture, is much the best for potatoes if dry, always avoiding wet, cold clay soils. If manure is used, spread it on top before plowing and turn it under; then it will not affect the potato to cause rot, as by putting in the hill or spreading on the top of the furrows.

Horse manure is the best, that from cattle next, while hog manure is worthless, as it causes the potato to grow to vines. When the land is dry, furrows can be made with a small plow three to three and one-half feet apart, and the seed dropped at eighteen to twenty-six inches, with two pieces to each hill, and a small handful of dry wood ashes, and cover with the plow or hoe.

I plant the seed as it is given me, except the very small ones, using none smaller than a hen's egg, and cut once only and rolling them immediately in plaster, which dries up the new cut and prevents the juice from

wasting, and puts the plaster just where it is needed, and saves the labor of a man or boy when planting of putting it in the hill.

The seed may be cut at any leisure time in winter, and put into barrels or boxes, and be ready for use at planting, and the drying of the seed is a decided advantage to the crop to prevent their rotting.

After the potato is up, so as to be seen in the rows, a light dressing of plaster is useful, and then a cultivator should be run in each row, once or more, to cut up the weeds that may have started, and to loosen up the soil to warm the ground. This is all that, is needed till they are up sufficiently to receive a little earth; cultivate again and hoe, after which another dressing of ashes and plaster mixed will fit them for the second hoeing or hilling up, which should be done before they blossom or begin to fall down, as too late hoeing makes small potatoes that don't get ripe.

Potato seed should be changed often, as well as other seeds; some do it every year, others never.

Any person that makes a business of raising potatoes will do well to plant every year a few seed or balls of the potato and raise new varieties; it is very troublesome to get potatoes in this way, as it takes many years to do it, but the securing of a good potato will pay for some extra trouble. A word about keeping potatoes after they are dug, or in the cellar: they should never be exposed to the sun, more than to dry them,-or be bruised more than apples, or be left scattered about, as light and air injure them, but should be put in barrels or piles and covered up with straw, sawdust or dry sand. The reason that the potatoes in the cities are so poor is that they are roughly handled and exposed to air and sun, and are only bought as they are wanted for the table, a peck or less at a time; much better get them of some one who grows good ones on dry soil, and keep them covered as above described, and then always have fresh potatoes for the table. I am now raising only three varieties, Bulkeley's seedling, Monitor and Prince of Wales, all of my own originating from the seed. They combine more desirable qualities in my estimation than any others with which I am acquainted. The first named has been widely distributed within the last three years, to the entire satisfaction of all growing or eating them. The other two varieties are newer, and are but just ready for distribution for seed; both are unsurpassed in excellence for the table, the first for boiling, the last for baking. All three produce largely, are of good size, shape and color, ripen seasonably, and are more mealy and proof against the rot than any of the approved varieties with which I am acquainted.

The pen of the theorist has been for years scratching off conjectures about the cause of the potato disease. The hoe of the practical farmer must now take its turn, and with due attention to seed, soil, season and scratching, we shall bring back the old times of bounteous crops with greatly improved varieties.

Mr. William S. Carpenter.-The method detailed in Mr. Bulkeley's paper gives an expensive way of growing potatoes I am successful in growing them upon sod ground, simply plowed once, harrowed, and planted without manure, and when the soil is heavy, covering only three inches deep. I prefer to renew my seed from a distance every year. I cut it, and dry it one day in the sun, which gives the cut part an artificial skin.

I then plant in drills two feet apart, and as soon as the potatoes are up, plow and brush over the ground, and cultivate flat. I never put ashes or plaster in the hill, but always on the surface.

APPLE-TREE WORMS.

Mr. Solomon Beckley, of Montrose, Iowa, writes for information about a worm which is beginning to infest the orchards of that State. He says: "The worm is about one inch in length when full grown, brown color, moves along by measuring his head forward and drawing up its tail for a new start; attacks the trees about the time they commence blooming, destroying the blossoms and eating the leaves. They come in multitudes. Two years ago we found they had destroyed most of the blossoms, and trimmed the leaves on about twenty-five trees before they had been noticed. We endeavored to stop their progress by rapping on the limbs of the trees with poles; the jar would cause a hundred to fall two feet or so, hanging on a thread like a spider-web; we then swept them off with the pole. They would soon return from the ground to the tree again, to prevent which we put tar about the body of the tree, and, as they gathered about it, we killed them by brushing them with old stiff broom-brushes; a thousand would crawl up in a short time. A few days thus employed destroyed most of them. Last year we kept watch, and, as soon as they appeared, not above a quarter of an inch in length, we began to rap and shake the limbs twice a day for several days. We so effectually headed them off, that no material damage to the fruit was done by them. I have not discovered how they originate; I know not whether any wash applied to the trees will kill the eggs, or destroy them. I should like very much to hear from your Club on the subject; I have read the essay on Entomology, in the Patent Office Report, but am not satisfied that this species is mentioned."

Dr. Trimble thought from the description this must be the measuringworm, so common on the trees about this city, and, so long as they exist only in moderate quantities, they may be kept under subjection by the plan recommended by the writer of that letter.

BIRDS AND WORMS.

Mr. D. A. Barker writes from North Bergen the following letter, which is appropriate to the preceding subject:

"Mr. Robinson: I have read your stand for the birds and against the dogs with interest. I will add my testimony: Fifteen years ago I came on this farm. Every year the orchard caterpillars have troubled us. One year they took every leaf off the trees; we got no apples that year or the next. Last year, the worms were thick enough to eat half the leaves, and then wound their cocoons in the leaves that were left. Now for the birds: About two hundred common blackbirds came and picked out the cocoons, held them with their feet, and picked out the grub and ate it till there was not a cocoon left on the trees, and consequently there were no millers hatched, except a few that were hatched in the fences and crevices, that the birds could not get into. These birds were worth one hundred dollars to me."