Dissolving Bones

J. R. S., (Clarksville, Ga.) To dissolve bones, provide a strongcosk, fill it three-fourths full of bones - (broken into pieces if you wish to gave time.) Pour over them a mixture of sulphuric acid, (oil of vitri- of, which may be bad at the druggists for 2 1/2 cents per lb.) and water, in the proportion of one measure of acid to eight measures 6f water. In ten days, or a fortnight, the bones, or most of them, will be found dissolved - and if any remain, a fresh dilution of acid can be applied to them. Whatever acid remains not taken up, should be poured into the compost heap, as it is a very powerful manure.. If you cannot procure acid, you may bury a large mass of bones in a heap in the earth; they will heat, and gradually decompose of themselves - to aid which, pour hot water over them before covering them up. They are usually ground in a strong mill, without being calcined - when offered for sale as a manure.

Distance Apart In Planting

All the old records give twenty-five to forty feet apart as proper distance at which to plant apple-trees. So, grape men say, plant 8+ 10, and 10+12 feet, etc. These distances are all probably correct when the tree or vine arrives at full maturity, but during the time intervening the ground has all to be worked; and as trees often bear more or less fruit many years before arriving at full size, we believe there is a gain in closer planting, and so believing we have practiced accordingly, setting our apple orchard 10+12 feet, our grapes 4+8, our dwarf pears 4+8, and so on with other trees, designing to take away the surplus, as those intended to be permanent require more space.

Woodbury, Conn., September 15th, '67.

Distance For Grape-Vines

The proper distance apart to plant grape vines will depend very much upon the system to be adopted in pruning and training. We think that eight feet by six, is enough room to give any variety; bat others think differently, and advise planting sixteen feet apart. If a man owns plenty of land, and wishes to count acres of vineyards instead of tons of fruit per acre, then wide planting is just the thing for him to do. But we have always noticed that the more experience a man has, both in study and practice, the less likely is he to spread a few vines over a great deal of land. Plant close, and prune close, and thereby receive an early return on your investment, and at the same time keep your vines under control. This advice is given because asked for; but it would be well for you to expend a few dollars in books on grape culture, and study principles as well as the practice of the various writers on this subject. - Ex.

Dixon's Low-Down Philadelphia Grate

Furnaces have now come into general use for heating dwellings of the better class, and as many of them are now constructed, maintain a genial and moist atmosphere - superior, in our opinion, to all forms of steam heating. Still, every man who builds a house, either in city or country, should have at least one open fire-place or grate, either for coal or wood. The comfort to be derived from the cheerful blaze of an open fire in the evenings of the early fall of the year, when it is yet too early to light the furnace fire, is only to be appreciated by those who have experienced the luxury. The open fire is also available on very cold and windy days - when the furnace fails to create a sufficient warmth. Of all the forms of grates that we have seen, that manufactured by Messrs. F. S. Dixon & Sons, of Philadelphia, seems to us best adapted to the purpose - as they burn either hard or soft coal or wood, are easily set in any fire-place, and are, in appearance, very ornamental.