this excellent vegetable, but will imitate his ex- | answer would have been merely offered in courample, by giving to the public the success which tesy, and not for any value of our own practical may attend their method of cultivating every plant, fruit or vegetable, which will render then easier attainable by all.—Ed. M. H.] ON CHANGING THE COLOR OF THE FLOWERS From the Magazine of Horticulture. experience on this subject. The following selected article may serve in some measure to inform H.; though we incline to believe that the writer has, in comparing the values of green crops and dry leaves, as manure, much undervalued the latter material. In selecting plants to raise and turn in for manure, there are strong reasons for preferring legumiWhat is there more beautiful and cool to look nous plants, or the pea tribe, to any grain, (as oals;) upon, of the flower kind, than the hydrangea? and, also, broad-leaved to narrow-leaved plants. Placed in the shady piazza, or window, it seems to luxuriate with you in the cooling breeze of the All plants draw a large part of their nutriment hot summer's day; participating the communing from the atmosphere, of which foreign supply to with you in the luxury of light, shade and air. their bulk, a greater or less portion is given to the Why! it will cool you, after a warm walk, to look soil on which they grow, by their death and deupon its large bright trusses of flowers contrasting with the broad deep green foliage. Then let me cay, whether the plants be green or dry, or killed suggest to those of your readers who may delight and applied by natural or by artificial means. in this beautiful plant, how they may make it sport There is no doubt as to this general position; but its colors, showing some very beautiful blending scarcely any thing is yet known precisely as to the comparative enriching values of different plants, and in different conditions. of shades. For several years past, I have been studying to effect this. Some of my friends suggested the watering of the plants with soap-suds from the time the buds begin to expand; others, a mixture of peat ashes, or the ashes of pitch pine, with the soil; soap-suds produce a luxuriant growth and large flowers; and the ashes only cause some very slight change in the coloring of the petals: others, again, have advised some peculiar compost, in which the plants should be grown. Though knowing nothing from properly conducted experiments, or practice, in regard to turning in green cultivated annual crops, we would be directed by reasoning to choose for this purpose, in preference to oats, rye sown on corn ground in September, as early as the corn could be safely reMy own experience convinces me that the best moved; next the rye turned under when in bloscompost for the growth of the plant, is, one half som, and field peas then sown broad-cast, which rich garden loam, one fourth old hot-bed manure, would also be turned in, in full growth, and wheat and one fourth coarse sand, the whole to be well sown. This, besides other advantages, would mixed together. The plants sould stand in a sit-doubtless serve well for another object of H. which uation where they will only receive the morning or evening sun for an hour or two. When the is to cure land over-dosed with marl. Vegetable buds begin to expand, or after they have opened, matter supplied in any form, is the cure for this the plants should be watered with water in which injury, and of course that object will be best and have been dissolved saltpetre and oxide of iron, in most cheaply effected by such mode as will most the following proportions:-to a table spoonful of saltpetre and a half a one of oxide of iron add one cheaply and effectually enrich the land. [See pail of water; these should be well stirred together, 'Essay on Cal. Manures,' 2nd Ed., p. 52] and the whole allowed to stand exposed to the atmosphere a day or more, or until it has acquired a temperature of 70°. Our general views on this subject will be given more fully hereafter. In the mean time, we unite I am fully satisfied with the very beautiful vari-in the request to all other persons for information ety of coloring which this fine plant produces un- as to results of the practice of green manuring. der this mode of treatment, and I am pleased to -ED. F. R. communicate this to your readers, hoping that they may meet with the like success; and if they will inform us, in return, of any thing which will effect any other changes in the tints of the blossoms, they will oblige all who love the Hydrangea hortènsis. Yours, JOHN D. W. WILLIAMS. Elm Hill, Roxbury, July 26, 1839. GREEN CROPS FOR MANURE. If our absence had not prevented, the queries from H. on the above subject, which were printed in the last number, would have been answered by some remarks immediately following. But the ON IMPROVING WORN-OUT LANDS. From the Southern Agriculturist. Dear Sir,-In your last favor you say, "that about three years ago I published an article in your journal, wherein I recommended the owners of poor lands to improve them, by planting a crop of small grain; then peas, broadcast; and these to be ploughed under before hard frost, for the next year's culture." This, I said, was the practice in Georgia. At your request I am now prepared to testify to the excellence of the suggestion, by my own, and the experience of others. To any kind of soil, green matter, turned under, is ever an advantage, because it returns to the earth what it takes; and much that t has absorbed from water leaves which produced the most potash or the most and the atmosphere. However, a few general gum, are best. Not because of the greater proremarks are necessary before I give you "my day." portion of ligneous matter in them, but, because It seems that near every exhausted soil in this such leaves are more readily decomposable than state, there is some material in approximation to others, and their nutritious particles more soluble revive it—that is, clay or marl, high' sandy lands,in water, in which form, the roots of plants conand vegetable matter in a state of nature, or to be sume them. The gum leaf, for a present crop, is produced by culture, nigh all of them. And to the first, then the hickory, then the oak; and, one or more of these materials, must we look for lastly, pine trash. The leaves of the yellow pine the renovation of the soil. By mechanical or cannot be used for a present crop, for they are chemical combinations, it may be made susceptible resinous, and for nearly a year insoluble in water, of improvement; but after all, vegetable matter in or, in other words, indecomposable. Dry leaves decomposition, or any substance that, when yield one-seventh of themselves in manure, warm decomposing, will give out the elementary princi- the earth in their act of decomposition, and, by ples of vegetables, such as carbon, hydrogen, and opening fissures in it, admit air to the roots of oxygen, constitute the food of plants. Moreover, plants. Yet, they are by no means so valuable as it will be found in the culture of corn and cotton, the turning under of green vegetable matter; beor in any other crop planted in as large quantities cause, they cost more and do not afford the same to the hand, as we do, the soil must be invested nourishment. by some material in approximity, or the yield will I selectod the best hand on my place, the driver not pay for the cost of manuring. Manures that himself, and ordered him to see how many loads act as chemical agents, that is, that induce the de- of gum or oak leaves he could rake and cart in composition of the vegetable matter, may be fetched one day; and though the leaves were close at from a distance; but it will be found that, for any hand, the result was but five loads. He might other purposes, their expensiveness will not pay have carted more, but the difficulty was in the filthe planter in the yield of short cotton. If these ling of the cart. We have no utensil, and, indeed, premises be correct, of which my attention to ma-it would be difficult to invent one, with which to nures has assured me, the first questions for the owner of poor lands to ask of himself are:-1st. What is the nature of my soil?-is it chiefly clay, or marl, or sand; or combined of those three original earths? 2dly. What vegetable matter have I nigh me, or if none, or not in sufficient quantities, how shall I procure it? To the first inquiry, after he is answered, he will then say that soil which absorbe most moisture from the atmosphere, and readily gives it out, is the best for cultivation; and that a due admixture of clay, sand, and marl, presents the soil desired; and if there is no marl at hand, clay, mixed with sand, and gravel or sand mixed with clay, he may use as next in value. Now, to make these combinations of soils, either of two plants may be selected. The first and most effectual would be, to cart into the field, that one, or more of "the original earths" required, and plough them in the second would be to mix them in the cow-pen and stable with the manure, to be carted out. Having in this way created a soil susceptible of being improved by manure, the planter should then look to the second question; which, because of its importance, I shall dwell on somewhat at large. To the second question. If the planter has an abundance of dry leaves at hand, he may use them; if not, he may plant rye or wheat; which, being winter growths, can be turned under for the spring crop. And as I am satisfied that the planters of short cotton in the middle and upper country will sooner or later have to use dry or green vegetable matter as a manure, to the relative value of each, let me call your attentien. I must also request you to bear in mind, that I intend my remarks to be applied chiefly to the middle country, the dry vegetable matter of whose high lands is less decomposable than that of the sea-board; and, therefore, must be used with more preparation for instant crops. I have used dry leaves both for corn and cotton beneficially on sandy lands: how much more so then would they be on cold, stiff, moist soils, you may easily conceive. I have noticed that those load; so in "my parts," we have to use a basket, trample the leaves in it, and then in the cart. With pine trash, we might use the ordinary fork, but the oak leaves fall through its prongs. I allow then that the driver, horse and cart, are worth fifty cents a day; I would not hire the same under one dollar. Now I am satisfied by experiment, that not less than one hundred cart loads of leaves to the acre will benefit cotton land, so as to make an impression on it; and to cart these, i would take twenty days, and therefore cost ten dollars. Now, let us plant rye in September, to be turned under in June or July, while in flower, with a broadcast of peas; and these to be ploughed in before hard frost, for the spring culture. One single-plough, planting an acre or more per day, is $ 371 Half bushel of rye to the acre, or less 50 One single-plough, to plant peas broadcast, One bushel peas, or less, One double-plough, to turn under pea 37 1 00 621/2 $2.871 $2.87 deducted from $10 leaves a balance of $7 12 in favor of green vegetable matter. And this is not all, it has been discovered by chemical analysis, that while green vegetable matter contains one-fourth af manure, dry vegetables contain but one-seventh. But let me take another view. Suppose that by some invention or improvement in the construction of the cart and fork, a hand might increase the number of loads carried in a day, could one have the smallest hope that he would accomplish twenty?-or if he did, that is, reduce the price of carting leaves to $2 874 the acre, would it be as valuable as green vegetable matter, which turns out nearly double the quantity of manure? But it may be said, that one hundred cart loads of leaves, though containing relatively less, will turn out on account of bulk, or quantity, or weight, more manure than a crop of rye to the acre. To this I reply, that to "During these two months, the Total loss, 236.52 624.67 862.19 produce the same effect on the acre as rye, the leaves must be double its weight; and, that they are not, you may decide, should you have ever seen the rye in flower, compared with one hundred cart loads of leaves strewed over an acre. The one may contain more bulk, but the former is heavier, and will afford more manure to the soil, inlependent of the pea stubble, the nutritious qualities "But as the seed weighed 1025.69 grains, the of which have been too long known to be denied, whole had increased in weight 160.47 grains, troy. However, I need not inform you how much green, From this experiment we may conclude, that the vegetable matter is valued as a manure; the books juices contained in plants, at the time of flowering, are full of its praise, and none presents a greater contributes to the formation of the grain in the number of prools of its effects than Chaptal's. proportion of 8 and that the excess of the Whoever uses this manure should not forget that weight of the grain which is 157, arises from the green vegetable matter should be turned under nourishment which the plant absorbs from the air while in flower, or before it goes to seed. or soil, during the two months of fructification." 160 Chaptal says, page 94-"In order fully to under- From this experiment, we at once see the imstand this doctrine, which appears to me of great portance of turning under green crops while in importance to agriculture, it is necessary to consi- flower, or before they go to seed. The effects of der the successive changes which take place in this process are thep, 1st. Green matter returns annual plants during their growth; first, they pro-to the soil nearly double that of stubble. 24. By duce green leaves, which by coming in contact ploughing it under in flower, we have less grass with the air, receive from it the principles of which to contend with the next spring. 3d. By expo I have spoken; subsequently the stalks increase in sing their roots to the sun or the coming frosts, size and number, and are covered with numerous many parasitic vegetables are destroyed, and deleaves, which absorb from the atmosphere a de-composing, add something to the productiveness gree of nourishment suited to the increasing wants of the soil. 4th. By the destruction of roots and of the plants; the strength, fullness, and depth of hue of the leaves and the stalks, particularly of the latter, increase in proportion to the richness of the soil. "This state continues till after the period of flowering, when a change, worthy of note, takes place; the roots dry up, the stalks wither, and change their colora; and when fructification is at length completed, both roots and stalks have become mere skeletons, which answer but little purpose either for nourishing animals, or manuring earth, During this period of vegetation, what becomes of the juices that were so abundant in the roots and stalks? They have been consumed by the formation of the seeds."" parasitic vegetables, less manure is taken from the THE TEA-TREE. C. R. C. From the Magazine of Horticulture. Whilst waiting for the return of M. Guillemin, whom the government [of France] has sent to BraTo iliustrate this, he gives the experiment of M. zil to procure seeds and plants of the tea-tree, we Matthieu de Dombasle. This gentleman on the have only to express our wishes for his success. 26th June, 1820, at their time of flowering, within News was received in January from this gentlea small space, selected forty wheat plants of equal man. He states, that he observed in the garden size and strength, each having three stalks bearing at Rio Janeiro 12,000 plants in full bearing, and heads; he pulled twenty of them, with all their he was on the point of setting out for the province roots, and left the rest to complete their fructifica- of St. Paul, where the number is still more consition. Having carefully freed from earth the roots derable. He mentions that it succeeds exceedingof those he had taken up, he cut the stalks two in-ly well in that country, and that half the tea conches above the base, and dried separately the roots, and the stalks surmounted by their heads." The roots and the portion of the stalks remaining with them, weighed, grains, The stalks, heads, and leaves, Total, ເ 657 1946.5 2603.5 sumed there proceeds from Brazil itself. He paid particular attention to the mode of preparing the leaves, and can now prepare them himself. Every thing leads us to suppose that the exertions of this gentleman will be crowned with success. On the 28th August, the time of harvest, he ON THE CULTIVATION OF MIGNONETTE FOR plucked up the twenty plants which had been left for seed, separating the roots, and cutting the stalks as of the first; of these, the weight was as follows: WINTER AND SPRING BLOOMING, From the Magazine of Horticulture. Probably no plant is more universally esteemed, and generally cultivated, than the mignonette. With the French and English gardeners it has been a favorite for a long time: in this country, however, it has not, until within a few years, been an object of common growth, nor is it at the present period so well known as it should be, except in the immediate vicinity of our large cities. and early in January will come into bloom. In the parlor they should be set as near the window sash as possible, and in the most airy part of the room. The mignonette is a native of Egypt, and was introduced into Britain about the year 1754; but it has become so generally diffused, both there and in France, that it has become in a degree naturalized. It is not long since, that we read, in some When the plants have done blooming in the foreign periodical, an account of its growing upon spring, they may be turned out into the border, the walls of an old ruined chatean, in the neigh- where they will throw out new branches, and make borhood of Paris, springing out from every crevice good plants for bloom all the summer. We tried where the seed could obtain a lodging place, and this method last spring, and at this moment the literally covering the walls with its odorous blos-plants are now before us, flowering as profusely as soms. In the Paris Marchè aux Fleurs thousands seedlings of this year. When they are turned out, of pots of it are annually sold, and the window of they should be cut down nearly to the soil. the peasant, as well as the saloon of the opulent, is decorated through the season with pots of this favorite plant. The only requisites to be observed, in pot culture, are a good drainage, light soil, and careful watering. BEES. From the Genesee Farmer. The mignonette is of remarkably simple growth in the open ground, and when once the seeds are planted, it will retain possession of the soil, springing up from self-sown seeds, and flowering early and abundantly every season. Successive sowings in May and July will afford a constant supply of Mr. Tucker-In the Monthly Genesee Farmer neat and compact plants, filled with flowers. In for August, I find an article on the subject of bees, rich moist soil, the plants grow luxuriantly and from Doctor Henry Spencer, of Starkey, whose spread out widely, but have a very scanty display physiological and scientific attainments, justly of flowers: it is in a dry and rather hard soil that entitle any remarks on the above subject, from his they show themselves to the best advantage; for pen, to favor and regard; still, he has to some exin such a situation they bloom early, and, without tent, as conceive, fallen into the same error which spreading out their recumbent branches too far, are, he endeavors to correct in others. His remark at the same time, overloaded with blossoms. Those that we should not attempt to give advice to others, cultivators, therefore, who would have the plants where only one or two isolated cases have affordin the greatest perfection, should select the driested us opportunities for observation, is very just. spot in the garden, and sow the seeds thickly. But it is for the production of good plants for flowering in the winter, that we commenced these remarks. He condemns the large hive recommended by L. N. of Windsor, Ohio, on the ground, as he alleges, of having made numerous experiments of the kind himself, all of which proved failures. To bloom the mignonette in good perfection from If he will examine personally the bee-houses in the decay of the out-door plants in the autumn, un- use among the farmers of Chenango, Broome, and til the return of the flowers in the spring, it is ne- Cortland counties, which are no other than large cessary that there should be two successive sow-bee-hives, or houses built of brick, wood, or stone, ings, viz. one in August, for blooming about Christmas, and another in September, for blooming from February till May. Select for the purpose as many No. 2 pots as there are plants wanted; fill them with a compost mixed in about the following proportions, viz. one hall good light loam, one quarter leat mould, and one quarter coarse sand. First give the pots a good drainage, for the health of the plants depends much on this; then fill them up to within half an inch of the rim, giving the pot a slight rap to settle the surface, sow the seed thickly, and cover it with about an eighth of an inch of the same compost. A frame (an old cucumber bed will answer,) should then be ready to receive the pots; set them so that they will not be far from the glass, and give a gentle watering; put on the sashes, and shade with a mat in the middle of the day, if the sun is two powerful, until the plants are well up. Give water cautiously and in small quantities, as the plants will damp off if they are kept too wet. Thin out the plants, leaving only three or four in a pot. In the month of November or December, according to the mildness of the reason, the plants should be removed to the green-house or parlor: in the former place they should be placed on a shelf within two feet of the glass, and if nearer they will thrive better. Water should be given sparingly, and when the plants get up an inch or two, the tops of each should be pinched out in order to make them branch well. They will now grow slowly, from six to twelve feet square-in the upper part of which, a swarm of bees is placed on rods, crossing each other in various directions-and witness their progress in the multiplication of numbers, and of consequence a proportionate increase of honey, his prejudice against large hives will probably be diminished. I am well aware, as are those who use the large hives, that the bees do not increase in numbers, nor in the accumulation of honey, as fast after two or three years, as they would if treated in the usual way with a multiplicity of small hives or boxes; but it is a great tax upon the time of the farmer to be compelled to leave his work during the swarming season, (which to him is usually a very important one,) and perhaps a hand or two besides, sometimes several times a day, to secure the new swarms as they come out. Whereas, in the large hives or bee-houses, the bees continue to labor for years, as the writer of this has had the pleasure of witnessing, without any trouble to the owner-who goes at any season of the year and selects such quality of honey as he chooses; and when done in the season of flowers, which is the time usually selected, the bees immediately set to work, with renewed industry to supply the loss. And it is found that by frèquently removing portions of the honey, the bees work as industriously as they do in smaller hives. The bees are not permitted to go out and in through holes or notches cut for that purpose, as is usually the case with small hives; but tubes are inserted into the ends or sides of the building near its top, through which they easily find egress and ingress. [ year, for 4 years past, and has not lost a swarm But the bee-moth cannot find its way in; it lights that was buried, and shall hereafter bury all, that upon the building and examines every crevice, he intends to winter; he has now about 40 swarms. through which it tries to find its way to the honey; Another fact-those that are buried do much betbut never lights upon the outer ends of the tubes,ter, and swarm much earlier in the spring. which project some 12 or 15 inches from the build- Į Mr. Eggleston's method of burying his bees, is ing. The same kind of tubes, are used with to dig a shallow trench in the ground, long enough advantage in the common small hives. to set the number of hives he wishes to bury, with a gentle slope in the trench, to carry off the water if there should any collect; and then place the hives in the trench, raised a little from the ground, by a small stone under each corner of each hive, then covers them with straw and lastly with dirt, to use his expression, as you would a pile of potatoes, so deep as not to freeze under the hives. As to the success of Mr. Eggleston in preser Dr. S. says, also-"A few months since, I saw an article in the Genesee Farmer from the pen of Dr. E. Barnes of Reading, which I fear is calculated to mislead. He says his neighbor buries his bees as he does his potatoes, and was told that they came out in the spring healthy and good condition." I trust I have no desire to mislead others or do any thing calculated to lessen the profits, great as they are, of that useful insect the bee. One stub-ving bees, as described above, there can be no born fact however, is worth a dozen pages of theory doubt, as it is known to all his neighbors, who (if alone. The article to which the doctor refers, necessary) will certify to the facts as stated. was communicated, as a method of wintering bees, Yours respectfully, which to me was entirely new, not however, until ANSON ANDREWS. I had personally examined the mound, where Mr. Eggleston, the owner of the premises, had buried his bees. Mr. E. from whom I derived my information, Reading, August 20, 1839. PARING TOMATOES FOR THE TABLE. is a man whose character is, I believe, above re- DIFFERENT MODES OF PRESERVING AND PREproach; and certainly it cannot be supposed he would have continued the practice for several successive years, of burying increased numbers of hives each year, if the doctor's fears are well founded. Mr. E. says he was faithless at first; and therefore buried the first year only two or three hives; these coming out well in the spring, he was induced, I think he said, to bury thirteen the next fall season; and when I examined his apiary, which was in October, 1837, he had thirty-seven buried. He thinks if buried in a dry soil, they would rarely fail of coming out healthy and in good condition in the spring. I have taken measures to ascertain the further success of Mr. E. in this business, and intend to communicate to you the result. Geneva, Aug, 22, 1839. E. BARNES. Mr. Tucker--Since mailing to you my letter of the 224 inst. in reply to the remarks of Dr. Spencer on the management of bees, I have received the inclosed from Doctor Andrews, which I beg leave to present for publication, in connection with my Jast, as it so fully confirms the former statement I made on this subject from information derived from Mr. Eggleston. E. BARNES. Geneva, Aug. 23, 1839. WINTERING BEES. From the American Farmer. Canonsburg, August 16th, 1839. Mr. J. S. Skinner-As the season of tomatoes is at hand. I will send a few recipes for preserving them for winter use. Take tomatoes, say half a peck, when ripe, but not too soft, skin them and cut them in two, leaving the seeds or not as you like; lay them on a dish, (I do not mash them; then take two quarts of strong vinegar, put one table-spoonful of allspice, the same of powdered ginger, the same of cloves, the same of salt, half a table-spoonful good Cayenne pepper; put all (except the tomatoes) in the vinegar; boil it in a very clean brass or bellmetal kettle for about half hour-then strain it through a sieve, put it again on a slow fire, and and when it begins to boil, put in some of the tomatoes, but do not crowd them. When they look clear, take them out carefully with a skimmer, and lay them on a dish; do so until you have them all done, and when cold, put them in a glass or white earthern jar, with the vinegar in which they were boiled. Dip writing paper in brandy or strong vinegar, and put over them: cover them tight, and put in a cool dry place. It is excellent with fresh, or any other kind of meat. Another-Take tomatoes when ripe, skin them, cut them in two, lay them on large dishes, put Mr. Tucker-Agreeably to your request, I called them in the sun to dry, turn them often, and when on Mr. Eggleston, and obtained from him the fol-sufficiently dried in the sun, put them in a dry lowing statement of his method of wintering bees, and the success attending it. place. They should be exposed to the sun after a damp spell of weather. When stewed or cooked in any way, they are almost as good as when first In the fall of 1837, he buried 30 or more hives, and the following spring they were taken out with-taken from the vines. out the loss of any. In 1838 he buried 10 hives, with the same success, but lost 7 or 8 hives of bees that stood in his bee-house through the winter. He says that he finds very few, or no dead bees under his hives that are buried, and that they winter on much less honey than when left in the house; some small swarms have lost but 3 lbs. in weight in wintering, and the largest but 10 lb. He has buried his bees or some of them, each Another and easy mode of keeping tomatoesMake a strong pickle of salt and water that will bear an egg, make it cold, strain it into a crock, or small keg; take ripe tomatoes, fiil the crock or keg, pour the pickle on them, and cover it with a thin stone to keep them under the pickle. In the winter when you want some for use, put them in cold water the night before, and in the morning change the water until they are as fresh you as |