and the continent, until now, the cars, which, by hemming in the water to the form of a river, and the way, are in England always called carriages, then suddenly falling away, through a green valare constructed in sections, each with two seats ley, the eye wanders over fields of grain and verfacing each other, so that half the passengers dure, till it catches over the nearer hills, glimpses ride backwards, and each carriage accommodating of the glaciers, shining in the sunlight, and again about ten persons. There are usually first, the tall peak of the Jungfrau away in the dissecond and third class carriages, the first class tance, white with his eternal snows. stuffed and cushioned and comfortable, the second At a small village on the shore of the lake, in in England with bare boards for seats and backs, the afternoon, we left the boat, to ascend Mount and stiff and hard enough they are, the third not Rhigi. Taking horses and guides, we mounted divided off so carefully, and much like the and followed a narrow precipitous path about nine second in point of comfort. The cost of travel- miles, slowly winding our devious way up-up, ling in the second class in England is somewhat till behind us the mountain peaks on the opposite greater than by our first class. Most decent peo-side of the lake rose up in scores, white as the ple take the second class, very few occupying the unsullied snows could paint them, and brilliant first class, which I tried sometimes, but soon with the rainbow tints of the setting sun. We abandoned, finding very little society there, some- found at the top a large hotel, with accommodatimes riding fifty miles entirely alone, which did tions for two hundred persons, and crowded benot at all answer my design in going abroad. The fore night with visitors, who had come like oursecond class cars in France, and generally on the selves, to behold the setting and the rising of the continent, are cushioned and quite comfortable. sun.

On all these railways you show your ticket be- A storm of rain, with thunder and lightning, fore the train leaves, and are then locked in, and burst upon us, just as we arrived, which to those cannot get out till the guard unlocks your door unaccustomed to thunder showers seemed very at the station. Probably accidents are prevented grand and awful, but to those of us who had spent by this precaution, and fewer mistakes made than summers in New England, it brought nothing new where each man looks out for himself, and takes of fear or grandeur. 'At the dawning of the next the risk of jumping on and off at pleasure. I day, the sound of a horn brought out the two hunwas glad to find our social, free and easy style of dred pilgrims, in a chilly, bleak morning, to witcars here in Switzerland, for away from home our ness the sunrise. A more disconsolate looking own customs and habits have a wonderful charm set of beings never met to worship the god of for us wanderers. day. Few had brought up from the valley where We reached Lucerne at about eight P. M., and summer heat was raging, either overcoat or shawl, it being a brilliant moonlight night, immediately and now the morning was like chill November. took a boat, and were rowed across the lake to a Some had borrowed a blanket from their beds, bath-house on its shore, and enjoyed the luxury others were apparelled in straw hats and thick of a bathing in the clear waters, a familiarity we overcoats; all were walking to and fro, wishing had also indulged in with the waters of the Rhine the job were over, so that they could retreat to at Coblentz. The morning brought us a realiz- the house. Finally, the sun deigned to show his ing proof that we were indeed in Switzerland, head, and as his beams were caught by the distant and among her mountains, for the first glance of peaks for a few moments, we began to grow ensunrise brought us a clear view of the snow-cap-thusiastic, and to forget the wintry chill, when an ped mountains in the distance, overtopping the envious cloud dropped like a curtain across the hills which surround the beautiful lake Lucerne. east, and with one accord, we turned our faces Embarking on the little steamer, close by our ho- towards the hotel, forgetting our disappointment tel, we made the tour of the lake. This is the in the anticipation of a warm room and hot coffee. land of William Tell, and on the lake shore we After breakfast, we undertook the descent, our saw his chapel, erected at the spot where it is said party on foot. The day was tolerably clear, so that he leaped ashore in a storm, from the boat where we had fine views of the level country of nearly he was carried as a prisoner. A storm had arisen, all Switzerland, spread out in one broad expanse and fear of shipwreck had induced his keepers to below us. We could see herds of cows grazing unbind him to assist in managing the boat. Tak- so far below that they seemed no larger than grassing the helm, he run the bark close to the point of hoppers, yet the tinkle of the bells which each rock which here projects into the lake, and as they wore on her neck, came up distinctly through the shot by in the tempest, he leaped upon the rock, clear air. We met droves of cows feeding on the leaving his captors to their fate. mountains, a fine, large breed, resembling in shape The scenery on lake Lucerne is said to be the and color those which Mr. Webster and others most beautiful in all Switzerland. The abrupt imported as Hungarian cattle. I do not know, by mountains stand up, like walls along the shores, the way, that I have mentioned the goats kept

for milk in this country. At various points we ceeded then and there to feed upon it, the parrot have met them, driven up at night like cows to looking down on him and calling him "Pretty be milked, and giving indications that they car- When dinner was brought, the parrot would Beau," ever and anon during the operation. ried with them a good supply of milk. Our de- climb up the bar of its cage, and there remain, scent from the mountain furnished much amuse- crying, "Bring Polly's sop," till something was ment, partly at my own expense, for when I had given to it. If a bottle of ale or wine were walked some five miles down the almost perpen- brought in, it would say, "Waiter! Waiter! a bottle of wine and a cigar." dicular side, I had such warnings of the frailty This parrot, which was an excellent talker, had not been taught to of human means of locomotion, that I was glad call the dog, but he had been in the habit of hearto avail myself of one of the peculiar institutions ing him called to receive bones and bits, and did of the country and take a chair for the remainder likewise.-Frazer's Magazine.

For the New England Farmer. ECONOMY IN BEE CULTURE.

of the journey. A chair is a vehicle in the form of a large arm-chair, with two handles before and behind, by which it is carried by two or more men, precisely as farmers pole out hay from a swamp. A large French gentleman and his lady were I was pleased to notice an article in the New carried all the way down in this manner, the man England Farmer, monthly, for June, entitled having five bearers, who changed hands, and the "Cheap Bee Hives," coming from the pen of one lady, who was of smaller dimensions, two. The will, I am confident, have a salutary influence so justly celebrated as a successful apiarian. It bearers prefer to have you sit with your face up- upon many. The numerous attempts that have hill, and ride backwards. Thus in solemn pro- been made, and the large amount of money that cession we proceeded down the hill, at a pace to has been spent to improve the dwelling of the outstrip the mules, and on the whole, as it costs honey bee, and which have proved futile, have caused many to think that bee culture, is a branch no more to be carried thus than to ride a mule, of rural economy that "wont pay." Others have I would recommend to all who try the mountains gone back to the old box hive and brimstone, as to make one experiment of this mode of progres- the only sure way of getting a portion of the sion. My companions, to my surprise, made very honey gathered by their bees. I want a cheap little fun of my ride, which I had supposed would bee-hive-one that will give the bees ample room, and every facility for storing their food for the amuse them for a week, but next morning I was many months they are unable to gather from the uncharitable enough to suggest, when I found one fields, and to rear their young; one in which they of them confined to his bed by sore limbs, and will deposit for my own use the surplus they may another with the skin so worn from his toes that gather, and in a style that will look the neatest when placed upon the table, or that will find a he could not walk, that they were as badly used ready sale when offered in market. up as I was, and did not dare to laugh at me.

This was our first attempt at much of a walk, and on the whole, was not a very prudent beginning.

But this is as much of Switzerland as you can find room for in the paper, so farewell.

Yours, &c., H. F. FRENCH.

The honey harvest with us is usually of but short duration, and whatever the bees do they must do quickly. If a swarm of bees are put into a hive that is lined upon the sides and top with loose particles of wood or dirt, that might prevent the bees from fastening their comb firmly, they are, from necessity, detained from their proper vocation of honey-gathering and combbuilding, until they can remove it from the hive. When the honey is plenty in the field, a large

DO BIRDS UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY colony of bees will store it very rapidly. For

LEARN?

instance, in June, 1856, a swarm of bees was put into an empty hive containing 1965 cubic inches, And now comes the question whether birds do which within thirteen days from the time they not, in some degree at least, understand what they were hived, was filled with brood and store comb; learn. It cannot be denied that, in a state of na- also two boxes, each containing 12 pounds of ture, their notes and intonations are significant honey. The hive was of a very simple model, to each other, and convey intelligence on which planed smooth and clean inside. Planing the they act; nor does it require much observation inside of a hive is but the work of a few moor credulity to lead one to the conclusion that ments for a mechanic, and much less time than it they are not altogether ignorant of the meaning would take a large swarm of bees to clear from of the words which they are taught. They apply the hive the loose particles of wood that always them, at least, very often, very opportunely. We adhere to sawed lumber, besides the dirt and dust know of a parrot that was very fond of a bone-that usually finds a resting-place upon lumber not a good thing to give a parrot by the way-while it is seasoning. I think the swarm of and when the bird had picked it, he would whis- which I have made mention stored more honey tle to and call by name, the spaniel that was suf- than they would have done in an unplaned hive. fered to run about the house. When the dog In that particular I must differ from Mr. Quimcame, as he always did when within hearing, the by, thinking it true economy to plane the inside parrot would drop the bone out of his cage; and of a bee-hive, and charge the necessary expense the dog very complacently picked it up and pro-to the bees. AMICUS.

This is a new variety, which originated in New the growth of weeds. We follow this plan with Lebanon, N. Y. Fruit of medium size, roundish- entire success. oval, red; flesh fine, tender, and when fully ripe, the production of any fruits, if the necessary and It is folly to complain of a want of succesc in sweet, and fully equal to the best. Skin not as obvious means are not adopted to entitle us to thick as many of the English sorts. Great grower success. Those who are unwilling to give a little and bearer; fruit on long stems, on drooping time, labor and expense to their proper cultiva branches; few thorns; fruit very easily gathered. tion, had better abandon it altogether.-Germantown Telegraph. Perfectly hardy in bush and fruit, as it never mildews. One of the very best, if not the best, for general cultivation, as it is free from all the objections brought against the English sorts in plants will be gradually brought to the notice of regard to mildew, while it is much larger than the cultivator of the soil as long as he finds it the Houghton's seedling, a well known and fine necessary to resort to it for a subsistence, and American sort. others, not considered so good, will gradually give place to them. The Chinese sugar cane may take high rank, and long be considered one among the good ones; at any rate, we do not yet know enough about it. We are, therefore, happy to notice that Mr. J. F. C. HYDE, of Newton Cen

STRAWBERRY BEDS.

THE SUGAR CANE.-It is probable that new

It is a common objection with amateur cultivators of the strawberry, that their beds constantly require replanting. Also that they are greatly troubled with the weeds during the bearing tre, proposes to lecture upon it during the comperiod. To such, and to all others not acquainted ing winter, for a moderate compensation, before with the cultivation of this most desirable fruit, such associations as may favor him with a call we would say, that if they will as soon this month Mr. H. has incurred considerable expense in culas convenient give their beds a good dressing of

short, well-rotted stable-manure, broken up fine- tivating the cane, expressing its juice and manuly-as solid lumps may press too heavily upon facturing it into syrup, and in making paper from the plants-previously applying a tolerable sprink- the waste stem.

ling of wood ashes, if at hand-the plants will

be preserved in fine, vigorous health, and will A ROUSING CROP.-It is estimated that Itake a very early start when the season opens nois this season will produce two hundred and again. In the spring, very little of the manure, eighty millions bushels of grain-more than ten if any, need be removed-the plants will strike bushels for every man, woman and child in the through the covering energetically, and the top- United States. This will knock the speculators dressing will act as a mulching, preserve the into the middle of next year.-Ohio Valley Far ground in a properly humid state, and prevent mer.

MANURING ON THE SURFACE. pitched into the cart, the ammonia, of course all Surface manuring is no new idea; yet if our the time seeking its freedom; it is hauled, reek memory serves us, the practice is almost univer- ing and smoking, a long distance perhaps, to the sally ignored by agricultural writers of the pres- field; now it is dropped into small heaps, where ent day, as a method of manuring. It is acknowl- it remains a week or so, until you are ready to edged as a very good thing to preserve favorite plow the land. If you are ready, or when you plants or newly set out trees from the effect of are ready, these heaps are carefully spread out on drought, but very little beyond this. "Those who the ground, the more perfectly the better, and imagine," says the editor of the Working Farmer, then plowed under, not immediately, even under "they find good results from spreading of manure the most careful management, but as soon as it on the surface, and leaving it for days, weeks or can be done with a delay, ordinarily, of an avmonths before it is plowed under, mistake the ac- erage of some hours. Now, with all this necestion of the litter or longer portions of the manure sary opening and forking, and tossing and spreadas a mulch, for the action of the manure on the ing, our impression is, that the free ammonia is soil." We so far differ from this and kindred very much like the Frenchman's flea, which, when opinions on the subject, that we think manuring he put his finger upon it, wasn't there; the point on the surface, for ninety-nine farmers in a hun- of time when we are ready to lay hold of it, is dred the best general method of application.-just when we may as well save ourselves the trouWe except all cases where the drill application ble: it is not there. But let it be borne in mind, of compost is found desirable, and garden and that the ammonia we have been dealing with, is lot culture. Nor do we maintain that there is that only which was generated in the rotting heap, not a more perfect method of preserving and pre- before its removal. When the heap was opened paring all the elements of the manure heap, by to the air, the process of rotting ceased, and amits careful husbandry under sheds, an occasional monia was no longer formed. Supposing, then, treatment with diluted sulphuric acid, or some this free ammonia is pretty well gone, at any rate, other "fixer," a cistern to catch the drainings, and we have the remainder of the manure, with its a pump to pump them back upon the heap, and unchanged nitrogen, (not ammonia) to deal with. patience and perseverance and constant watchful- Plow this under to the depth of eight inches, and ness. A more perfect method still is that of Mr. for want of the proper temperature to cause its Mechi, who applies his manure only in a liquid putrefaction, it may remain unchanged and unastate, and for this purpose has his farm traversed vailable, until another plowing shall bring it up with iron pipes, to convey the fluid to the differ- again to the influence of heat and moisture, which ent fields. He says it pays in England, and it will disengage the ammonia. It is a frequent exmay be so, though his neighbors doubt it very perience, that we plow under deeply for a spring much. But on a Virginia farm, we think sensible crop, fresh stable manure, and receive no benefit men would account the Sheriff of London stark from it whatever, until it is brought up again ot mad. We maintain that this mode of manuring the surface, and the wheat crop following reaps (viz. on the surface) is in itself so little inferior the advantage.

:

to the most perfect methods, that taking into con- But suppose, instead of making a week or two sideration the circumstances of our farming pop- weeks' heavy labor of hauling out manure in the ulation, the extent of surface and high price of spring, when the teams are at best not strong, and labor, the attention, and time and management there is a press of hard work on hand, you get that the mass of farmers can give to this branch rid of this necessity of hauling out and plowing of their operations, it is for them the most econ- under simultaneously; and hauling at your conomical and the best. It will pay better. venience, you throw the manure upon the surface We ask now the reader's attention to the am- of the grass field, what is the result? At the monia theory. That ammonia is the element of worst, as we have shown above, there is equal loss greatest value in stable manures, we do not ques- of the free ammonia, when the manure is plowed tion. That it is very volatile, flies off and escapes under. In both cases, that is about all gone, beby exposure to the atmosphere, everybody knows. fore it can be with certainty taken possession of, Upon these principles is based the recommenda- by any process. The mass remaining on the surtion to plow under immediately, manures which face, however, the work of putrefaction, which yield ammonia, that the earth may absorb and made the free ammonia, and which was stopped preserve it. Now let it be distinctly borne in by the opening and exposure of the heaps, is now mind, that fresh manure of any sort does not recommenced and very slowly carried on by the contain this volatile ammonia, but only nitrogen, warmth and moisture at the surface. The ammowhich is not volatile, out of which the ammonia nia thus formed is absorbed by the litter above is formed; and that ammonia is generated only it, and washed down by every shower into contact, as the nitrogen putrefies in the rotting manures. and combines chemically with the humus at the If the manure accumulates in the stable, the surface, or with the soil itself. But bear in mind, warmth and moisture of the daily additions soon that when these frequent removals are made, we bring on active fermentation, and the pungent never find the heaps in such a state of putrefacammonia which assails us, is the result of the pu- tion as when we postpone to some one allotted trefaction thus caused. Until this process of rot-time, and therefore never have so much free amting commences, ammonia is not formed, and the monia to deal with. A very large proportion of manure not liable to waste, and it ceases to be the manure never begins to rot before it is regenerated when the rotting is checked. Now when moved. By this plan, moreover, we take favorawe are ready to remove our manure heaps in the ble opportunities for hauling, and may carry out spring, we find them usually rotting to some ex- much of the manure in damp or moderately rainy tent. Let us follow, and observe the whole pro-weather, when the showers will wash the ready cess It is taken up first, forkful by forkful, and formed ammonia immediately into the soil.

HYBRIDIZATION.

We have thus undertaken to show, that the practice of manuring on the surface is not inconsistent with admitted chemical principles, when MR. BROWN:-In reading the address deliverproperly applied; and we submit the explanation ed by A. R. POPE, before the Middlesex Agricultural Society, I noticed a few remarks upon the to the judgment of practical men, familiar with the processes of farm management.-American hybridization of plants. Will you please inform me through the columns of the Farmer, concerning the manner in which it is performed. A. DEWOLF. Deerfield, Mass., Oct. 12th, 1857.

Farmer.

For the New England Farmer.

HOW TO KEEP PARSNIPS FOR WINTER

AND SPRING USE.

REMARKS.-Shake the pollen or dust of the blossoms of one species into the blossom of anoth

Let them remain in the ground as long as they can, without danger of being frozen in for the er, and that makes a cross, and is called hybridiwinter. Then dig them, cut off the tops, and zation. The subject is one of interest, and ought pack them in boxes, barrels, or casks of any kind, to be better understood than it is. We have excover them with moist earth, shaking it down so amined some authorities, and give the following as to fill pretty solid; cover over the tops so as to as a brief illustration of the principles involved keep out too much wet, and let them stand out of in the process. doors until they are well frozen, then move the vessels into the cellar, being careful not to disturb Observing that farmers who rear cattle improve he roots, and let the frost work out gradually. the progeny by means of crossing the breed, Mr. The best parsnips that I have ever eaten were KNIGHT argued from analogy, that the same imtreated in this manner, and they were in fine eat

ing order, from the middle of January to the mid-provement might be introduced into vegetables. dle of June. Those that follow the old method of His principal object was that of procuring new letting their parsnips remain in the ground until and improved varieties of the apple and pear, to spring, cannot know how much they lose in good supply the place of such as had become diseased eating, and economy. I think that parsnips would and unproductive. But as the necessary slowness be a profitable crop to cultivate for feeding stock, of all experiments of the kind, with regard to the particularly swine, since the failure of the potato.

To insure a good crop, and good roots, be very fruit in question, did not keep pace with the arparticular in the choice of seed; always choose dor of his desire to obtain information on the the largest, smoothest, and best shaped roots to subject, he was induced to institute some experiraise seed from, and see that no wild parsnips are ments upon the common pea; a plant well suited suffered to grow in their neighborhood.

MRS. N. DARLING.

New Haven, Conn., Nov. 6th, 1857.

TO FORSAKE THE LAZY HABIT ?

to his purpose, both from its quickness of growth, and from the many varieties in form, size and color which it afforded. In 1787, a degenerate sort of pea was growing in his garden, which had HOW CAN SETTING HENS BE TAUGHT not recovered its former vigor even when removed to a better soil. Being thus a good subject of exMake a small open pen, of laths, or some simi-periment, the male organs of a dozen of its imlar material, in one corner of your hen-house, mature blossoms were destroyed, and the female about eight inches wide, and of any convenient length and height. Let one of the laths or slats organs left entire. When the blossoms had attained their mature state, the pollen of a very be so secured that it may be easily taken out, or moved one side, so that a hen may be convenient-large and luxuriant grey pea was introduced into ly passed into or taken out of the pen. On the the one-half of them, but not into the other. The bottom of this pen, and running lengthwise pods of both grew equally; but the seeds of the through it, set up a couple of laths on edge, and

fasten them about the same distance from each half that were unimpregnated, withered away other, and from the sides of the pen. Run a small without having augmented beyond the size to perch across the pen and the work is done. When which they had attained before the blossoms exa hen wishes to set, put her in there. She will panded. The seeds of the other half were augsoon find that she can walk leisurely upon the mented and matured, as in the ordinary process floor, or roost comfortably upon the perch, but she can't set without “riding on a rail," and that, of impregnation; and exhibited no perceptible they seem to think, isn't decorous. The length difference from those of other plants of the same of time for which they will have to be confined variety; perhaps because the external covering will vary somewhat, and in obstinate cases it may of the seed was furnished by the female. But be necessary to put a few pegs or tacks into the when they were made to vegetate in the succeededges of the laths.-Genesee Farmer.

ing spring, the effect of the experiment was obvious. The plants rose with great luxuriance, inHENS.-If the legs of hens become broken, dicating in their stem, leaves, and fruit, the inthey will lay their eggs without shells until the fracture is repaired, all the lime in the circulation flence of this artificial impregnation; the seeds being employed for the purpose of reuniting the produced were of a dark grey. By impregnating bones.-Ohio Valley Farmer. the flowers of this variety with the pollen of oth