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4 THE SOUTHERN WORLD, SEPTEMBER 1,1882. seed, and let none be picked from it. By proper care, the quality of a vegetable may be improved; in saving Lima beans we have for several years selected only those with four beans in the pod; as a consequence, the greater number of pods in the whole crop now have four beans. The selection of the first ripened and best formed tomatoes for seed will have a marked effect on future crops, and this is the case with all other veg etables; and if one has a choice melon he would preserve in its purity, the surest method is to fertilize a few female flowers. Take a male flower of the same kind that is shedding its pollen, remove the corolla, to expose the stamens. Select a female flower that is just ready to open, but has not been visited by insects; open it, and apply the stamens to the pistil of that flower. Cover the flowers thus operated upon by a bit of muslin until the fruit begins to grow. INQUIRY COLUMN. GRASS FOB NAME. Is the enclosed sample, Bermuda gross? If not what is it ? Please answer. F. M. Franklinton, La. Answbb: We cannot positively say that the sample is Bermuda, as it is not in flower; but it has evgry other appearance of that grass. Bend a specimen in full bloom. It. JERSEY CALVES. 1 have a Registered Jersey bull-calf, nine months old and want to make him grow rap idly, what ought I to feed him on in addi tion to daily grazing, to push him fastest— and how much each day and how often ? You will greatly oblige by answering in the next (1st September) issue of the Southern World. Respectfully, W. R. Lee. Coatapa, Ala. Answer : While it is true that a bull in tended for the best and most effective ser vice should be well fed from his birth, he should not be forced by too rich food. He should have been allowed milk as the main food until six months old. The ordinary published food standards are not generally adapted to our food resources in the South, but our correspondent will find no difficulty in arranging a suitable Southern bill of fare for his pet, if be will keep in view the cor rect principle of feeding. The object should be to develop the bones, muscles and nerves of tbe growing animal. To do this he must be fed on nutritious—not fattening food. If running on good pasture, the feed night and morning should be majnly oats and sweet good fodder, or clover hay. The feed may be varied by adding wheat bran, a little cot ton-seed meal, turnips or mangolds and or dinary hay. During cold weather a small allowance of corn meal will be a very proper addition. While grazing a good ration to be fed at night would be—for each 100 pounds live weight—about as follows: Good bay or com fodder 3 lbs Cotton-eeed meal 'A “ Wheat bran l'A “ or Oats 2 lbs Wheat bran 2 “ and corn, fodder or hay ad lib. In feeding for the special purpose in view, economy is of secondary importance. The above is a liberal day’s ration for each 100 pounds weight while running on pasture. If not consumed or not sufficient, tbe amount may be diminished or increased accordingly. During the winter if not practicable to supply green rye or oats, tur nips or sweet potatoes may be given, and the animal should have opportunity for daily exercise and pure clean water. The curry-comb and brush will be quite as ben eficial as they are in the grooming of a horse. R. Pcavlnea aa m Fertiliser for Oata. Editor Southern World.—Having been a constant reader of your valuable paper since its birth, and wishing to learn as much about my chosen occupation (farming) as possible, I have concluded to ask you a few questions which are of much interest to me. I am a grass and grain planter and am using all the improved implements and farming machinery that I can. I have read with great interest the many letters which have appeared in your paper on " Peas as a Fer tiliser.” This year I sowed about two bush els and a half to the acre after my oats were harvested, and expect to turn them under with a Champion Sulky Plow. (I.) Now the first question with me is what is the proper stage to do this to get best re sults. My calculation was as soon as the vines were turned under to seed the ground to oats immediately and harrow in with an Aome Harrow; but a friend told me that if owed the oats Immediately after turning under this immense mass of vegetable mat ter, that the oats would be killed in the sprout and I would get no stand. (2.) Is this true, and if I must wait for it to decompose, bow long? One more question and I am done: (3.) If I sow two and a half bushels peas to the acre on land that ordinarily would make fifteen bushels of.oats to the acre, turn tbe vines under, and at tbe proper time ap ply 500 pounds cotton seed meal per acre, of a seasonable year, what would be a fair yield per acre ? Wishing you all the success your paper deserves, I shall expect a reply in your next issue. Catoma. • Montgomery County, Alabama. Answer.—(1.) The peas should be turned under when they have attained their most luxuriant growth, which will be when a few peas have been formed, but the vines still in full flower. It is a growing opinion that equally good results will follow if the vines be not plowed under but left to decay upon the surface. (2.) It would not be good practice to sow oats immediately after turning under a*large mass of green vegetation. The soil would lack that compactness which is very import ant in the early stages of a small grain crop; and the fermentation of the decaying matter would be deleterious to the young grain. If eight or ten bushels of lime were sown to the acre before turning under the peavines, .decomposition would be more rapid. It would require six weeks or more before the land would be in suitable condition for sow ing grain. For these reasons a late crop of peas should be followed by wheat, rather than oats, os the wheat may be sown much later than oats. (3.) Under the conditions named fifty bushels of oats per acre would be a fair yield, and one hundred not impossible. Utilising Grass. Grass is the cream of tbe soil. Every ele ment in its composition has been drawn from the soil; and if that grass were re turned, as it should be, to tbe hungry land, every leaf and stem would add to the pro ductiveness of the seed-bed. Yet, a great many people who supervise the management of lawns and gardens, direct every great thing in the form of grass to be cast on tbe beaten track of the highway, as if such plant-growth, if allowed to decay where it grew, would exert a pernicious influence on the fertility of the land. There is no better fertilizer for lawns than the grass which the lawn-mower cuts down. The mown grass should never be raked off the lawn. If allowed to remain where it grew, every spear and stem will soon settle around the live roots of the growing herb age, where it will decay, and thus provide excellent pabulum for the roots that pro duced the crop. If grass and weeds must be raked off and removed, let all such accumu lations be spread neatly around tbe vines of Strawberries or near the bushes of Black berries or Currants. If weeds and grass be collected in a pile, during hot and dry weather, every root and stem will soon die. All the grass, weeds and grass-roots that can be collected together, should be utilized for the purpose of mulching growing plants. Decayed grass will make rich land, and will keep the surface of the soil mellow. Don't allow grass to be wasted.—American Garden. f Preserving Plants. (American Garden.) In a small way, as keepsakes merely, plants may be dried between the leaves of a book with soft paper ; but to make a Herbar ium for botanical studies requires more care, yet expensive or complicated apparatus Is not necessary. Two pieces of board, a little larger than the paper to be used, a quantity of drying paper, and a stone or other weight, is all that is needed. If, in addition to the drying papers,—for which unsized newspapers or any kind of porous paper are suitable—single sheets of light printing paper are used, the changing of the “dryers” becomes consider ably facilitated. On one of the boards are placed several thicknesses of drying pads, and on these one of the single sheets. The specimen, which should be as perfect as possible, showing all the essentail parts of the plant, is then spread upon it, so that all the organs of the plant are plainly visible when dry, and yet that the natural form is not changed more than is necessary. Leaves and flowers and stems should not be crowded upon each other, else the plants will not dry well; and when this is unavoid able, small pieces Of paper should be put between the crowded leaves. A single sheet is placed directly on the plant, followed by a drying pad, on this another sheet and another plant, and so on. When all specimens are thus disposed of, a few addi tional layers of dryers are laid on the top and covered with the second board. On this is placed a weight of about twenty-five pounds. After twelve hours tbe weight is removed, the drying papers are changed for dry ones, without disturbing the plants between the single sheet, and the weight replaced. This process has to be repeated every twenty-four hours, until all the most succulent parts of the plant are entirely dry. The dry speci mens are then arranged upon dry, clean pa pers, and properly labeled with their names, locality, and date when found. tfforlicuUuwl department. Ornamental Shrubs. - American Garden. The proper selection of the kinds of shrubs best suited to the extent and general- character of our lawns is always a matter of importance, and, even after a judicial choice has been made, the requirements of each kind should be regarded in planting. To obtain success, precaution must be taken as to their adaptability to soil, and that the more tender ones be placed in sheltered po sitions. Shrubs may flourish and be per fectly hardy on one spot, while but a short distance off they will prove a failure. The soil must be thoroughly drained and the wood well ripened, or else the shrubs will not stand the winter. The Massachusetts Horticultural Society during the past year devoted several meet ings to the discussion of this important sub ject, and the list below comprises the species most highly recommended by members of the Society. Bydranega panicnlata grandiflora, though introduced here over a quarter of a century ago, and one of our most beautiful and de sirable shrubs, has not been cultivated to any extent until a few years ago. The plunt is perfectly hardy, and requires no care other than that bestowed upon our finer varieties of flowering shrubs. Hydranega paniculata, of which grandiflora is a variety, has a finer foliage, is more graceful, and quite as hardy. Whether grown singly or in groups, the Hydranega represents all that is grandest in a shrub, as Exochorda grandiflora does all that is most beautiful. To these may be added a third. Viburnum plicatum, introduced into this country some thirty years ago, and, though neglected at that time has recently taken its place among our handsomest shrubs. It re sembles the common Snowball,, but is mucli more delicate. It produces large trusses of pure white flowers in great profusion. The trusses are very compact and the individual flowers have great substance, It is not as common as the Hydranega, being of slower growth and more difficult to propagate. Fi'iumum macrocephalum resembles Vi burnum plicatum only the cluster of flowers is larger. There are several native species well worthy of cultivation, and which thrive wondrously under a little attention. Kalmia latifolia, also a native, is one of our most beautiful as well as showy flowering shrubs, though somewhat difficult to grow ; yet, with proper attention to the condition of the soil, success will generally reward our efforts. Prunu* triloba is a beautiful shrub, with wreaths of rosy pink blossoms. Spirea aricefolia, 8. prunifolia, and S. Thnn- bergii, are all fine, handsome shrubs, and readily cultivated. Thunberg’s Spirea does not grow large, and is very appropriate for small places. It blooms in early spring. Cornui tanguinea, the Red Dogwood, “ is well known, and is desirable for its winter effects, its red branches being very showy when divested of their leaves.” Deutxia crenata-flore pleno. The double flowering Deutzias are rapidly growing in favor, and they ought to find a place in every garden, large or small. The dwarf single-floweiing is a charming plant, which, on account of its small size, free flowering qualities and hardiness, cannot be too high ly commended for small gardens. It has ample, bright foliage, its flowers are snowy white, and are produced in great profusion early in Jane. Weigela rosea has held its own against all new-comers, on account of its fine habit. The Rhododendron! and Ghent Azalea* are too well known to need any description here. Few shrubs possess the attractions of these magnificent plants, and the admiration they excite should be a spur to their more gen eral dissemination. Clethra alnifolia and Catiandra ealyculata, both native shrubs, are also very beautiful under cultivation. Among shrubs of recent introduction, the following are named as being of great prom ise, and desirable for hardiness and beauty: Clematis Davidiana and C. Tubulosa are erect-growing species, from two to four feet high, and in midsummer are covered with beautiful blue flowers like panicles of Hya cinths. Unfortunately they do not seed freely, and are difficult to propagate. C. Davidiana is the most desirable of the two. Dctmodium pendulaflontm, D. pendulceflorum album and D. Canadetue are hardy on dry soils. All ore suffruticose rather than shrubby. The first two are especially valuable on ac count of blooming late in autumn, when there are but few flowers. The flowers of the first are purple, and all are pea-shaped. Styrax Japonica is perfectly hardy in dry soils. It has white flowers, similar to those of S. Americana, but perhaps a little larger. The latter is a very pretty shrub, from four tp six feet in height, which ought to be in every collection. The flowers resemble those of ITaletia, or Silver Bell. Andromeda polifolia is a native species which under cultivation becomesjone of the gems of the garden. The foliage is of a glau cous color. It is perfectly hardy. Andromeda Catesbcei is of rapid growth and easily propagated. When planted with rho dodendrons nothing is more beautiful, and with the protection they afford is perfectly hardy; if not sheltered, the ends of the shootsare sometimes injured. Andromeda Japonica is perfectly hardy. It wants to bloom too early in spring, but five years out of six it will be good. Berberis Sinentis is perfectly hardy, grows two to three feet high, and is of drooping habit. When full of ripe fruit it looks like a fountain of scarlet Berberis Thunbergiihas fine autumn foliage, and when the fruit which is of a deep, rich, scarlet color, is ripe, forms a picture. It is a low growing shrub. Neviusia Alabamentis belongs to the rose family; it has numerous bunches of pure white-flowers, and is quite showy. Though from Alabama, it is perfectly hardy. Erica vagans, E. v. rubra, E. cornea, and Cal- luna vulgaris all do well on thoroughly drained land, with a slight covering; if the snow blows off and leaves them bare, they burn. Leiophyllum buxifolium has stood in the Botanic Garden at Cambridge, for twelve years. It is a small evergreen bush, grow ing about one foot high. A larger form, from tbe mountains of North Carolina, has a larger leaf, of a more waxen appearance. ■’reserving Rustic Work. The difficulty to preserve in our climate natural wood when exposed to the influence of the weather, deters many from the em ployment of this kind of lawr furniture. The Country Gentleman suggests a cheap and easily applied remedy which seems to an swer its purpose well: “Rustic work, if neatly and tastefully constructed and cau tiously introduced in the more wild and picturesque portions of ornamental grounds, may give a very pleasing effect. But if fully exposed to the weather, without any kind of protection, it speedily decays—a result which is hastened by the slendor young ma terial used and the numerous joints and crevices where water can enteT. Nothing can appear much worse than decayed and broken seats; distorted summer-houses, and crumbling and rotten bridges. To avoid these bad results great pains and expense are sometimes incurred in procuring branch es and poles of red cedar and other durable kinds of wood; but a cheaper and more last ing way to prevent this difficulty is to apply two or three heavy coats of crude petroleum to any kind of wood employed, by means of a coarse brush, the oil quickly penetrat ing the pores and entering - tbe cracks and joints. We have now on our grounds light ly constructed work of soft and perishable wood, which has been exposed to the weath er for fifteen years without any sign of de cay, having been well impregnated, when new, with petroleum.”—American Garden. Two directions are now open to capital and industrial enterprise. The development of tbe iron and cotton and jute and hemp interests of the Southern States, and the sugar, and flax, and machinery interests of the West in mining and manufactures. An astonishing amount of capital is hastening in both directions.—Chicago Journal of Com merce.