tijr VittsintrO Gay*, FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD. HOUSE PLANTS IN WINTER The great obstacle to the health and beauty of house plants kept in living rooms in Winter is the dryness and heat of the atmosphere of such rooms. This is a difficult matter to provide for. Many who love to beautify their dwellings with these cheerful pots cannot afford the ex pense of Wardian cases and other elah orate devices for providing a separate at mosphere for their plants. A good sub stitute is made by settuag 'the pots into a broad,. shallffw box, and filling the space between the pots with moss. Then lay over all a smooth coat of muss, covering everything but the earth immediately around the plants lu the pots. The moss should then be kept moderately damp. This arrangement not only adds much to the appearance of the plants,-giving the effect of their growing directly from the bed- of bright green moss—but the con tinual evaporation from the moss will im part a considerable degree of humidity to the air immediately surrounding the plants. If the bOx is lined with zinc it adds. very much to its durability. In ad dition to any such arrangement the leaves of the _plants shell' be frequently washed or syringed. To protect plant from freezing nights nothing is more si plc and effectual than newspapers folded around them. A sin gle thickness of a newspaper folded around a tender plant is sufficient protection_ against a moderate degree of frost. The most convenient form for the paper is that of a conical cap. It is quickly slipped on at night and off in the morning.—Buffado Express. STRAWBERRIES IN THE FALL. Mr. J. G. Mask Moosefield, Wesi4Vir fimia, Geniis to the Country Gentleman the following . acconnt of strawberry cul ture as practiced by Mr. S.A. McMechan, . of the same place, who had very fireiand large berries (sobae measuring over three inches in circumference) about the 20th of October: The strawberry which has borne this fall crop is the Agriculturist, and the. se cret.of its tuns• bearing out of season is only the result of good ruttare; any one who desires to have fine strawberries in . October can have them (barring very un favorable seasons) by following his mode of managing the plants. In the first place - it must be borne in mind that the straw berry planted in August will make crowns of &tilt buds the following summer, for bearing the text year and under ordinary cultivation as-commonly practiced, will not bear after the fruit has been gathered from its original buds, until the second year after planting. In the above case the strongest young runners were plant ed out in August in a square in a friend's private garden, which had been made ' very, fine and rich. The young plants were well put-in and well attended to un til well rooted, and were then kept clean, and before the weather set in coil were well mulched with tan. They we:.e thus well protected through the winter, and after a nice cleaning and running over in the spring, the same mulch vas re turned, and the young 'runners wee care fully kept off during the whole season. After the crop had been removed, the bed was well cleaned, all dead leaves, stems, etc., picked off, and a good shallow work ._ ing given, the mulch of course beirg, con tinued. By this course of treatment and a propitious season, the newly brmed - crowns or Vida which were formel, and which would not have borne fruit under ordinary treatment until the following summer, were stimulated or forcel into maturity the present season, and sore a very fine crop -of perfectly ripened ber ries, of the very largest size which the Agriculturist is capable of attaining— many specimens measuring over-an inch an diameter. Present success' has determined the owner to try the same course the coming . season on a more extended scale, and up on other varieties. It is my opinion that 'in this, or some such course of treatment, a crop of this fruit might be produced in September and October as certaitly as in June, in out-door culture. These I plants were cultivated in hills or bunches two feet apart each way. - PROFAGATENG vrs. - Es BY ETES When the proper time arrives for prun ing, preserve the prunings by sticking them in the ground, or in a flower pot filled with rather moist, but not very wet soil, In January,. or early in. February, . you may prepare the eyes by malting on the bull of the shoot, opposite the eye, a -cut with a sharp knife, bringing the knife out almost three quarters of au inch below the eye. The same proceeding is to be repeated, bringing the knife out above the . eye, and you have an eye with a portion of wood aboie and below it, and slanting from the back to. the side on which the eye is situated. The eyes, when prepared, are to be inserted-in pots or pans filled to within an inch with turfy, light loam; the eyes being placed either horizontally or vertically, about an inch and a half apart, and covered with half an, inch of fine soil: They should be placed in a house or frame ?where there is a hot-bed,. in which . they'-sliould be plunged; the temperature being not more than 00 deg., nor less than 75 deg: Tire top heat may be from GO deg. to 65 leg. at night, and 75 deg. by day, and 80 or J 35 deg. with nI sun heat. The soil ought •to be kept moist, but not wet, until the eyes have begun to grow; then keep it moist, afford ing a light syringing morning and even ing. When the eyea . hare pushed a few inches, they may • be, taken up carefully, and potted off singly; and it' kept in hot-bed, and a moist atmosphere is pre served Tor a time, they will grow freely. The.young vines thus produced must be repotted as often as the pots become filled with roots. Give them their last shift about June.—Journal of Horticulture, HOW TO FATTHN H/CICRNS. We make the followin extract from an _article on this subject in the London Cottage Gardener: "It is hopeless to attem t to fatten them while they are at liberty: They - must be put in a proper coop; and this, like moat all appurtenances, 'need not be expensive. To fatten twelve fowls, a coop may be three feet. Mug, eighteen inches high and eighteen inches (Jeep, made entirely of bars. ' No part of it solid—neither top, •eides nor bottom. Discretion must be used according to the sizes of the chickens put up. They do not want room, indeed, .the closer they are the better—provided they can: all stand up at the same time. Care must Le taken to put up such as have been accustomed lo be together, or they will fight. If one is quarrelsome, It _ is better to remove it at once, as, like otherbatUvx4ripkw;iLsoorilinds-im.ita4: tors. A dpeased chicken should not i.e put up. "The food should be ground oats, and may either he put in a trough or on a flat hoard running along the front of the coop. Irmay be mixed with water or milk, the latter is better. It should be well soaked, forming a pulp as loose as can be, provided it does not run off the board. They must be well fed three or four times per day—the first time as SeIMI after daybreak as may be possible or con venient, and' then at intervals of four hours. Each meal he as much and no more than they can eat up clean. When they hate done feeding the , board should be wiped, .and some gravel may be spread. causes them to feed and thrive. After a fortnight•of this treatment you will have good fat fowls. It', however, there are but four or six to be fatted, they Must not have as much room as though there were twelve. Nothing is 'easier than to allot them the proper space; as it is only necessary to have two or three pieces of wood to put between the bars, - fdrm a partition. This may also strve When fowls are up at different de grees of fatness. This: requires atten tion, or fowls will not keep fat and healthy, As soon as the •fowl is sufficiently fat ted it must be killed; otherwise it will still get fat, but it kiln lose flesh. If fowls are intended for the market, of course they are, or may be, all fatted at once; but if for home consumption it is better to put them up at such intervals as will suit the time when they will be required for the table. When the, time arrives for killing, whether - they are meant for market or otherwise, they should be fasted without food or water for twelve or fifteen hours. This enables them to be kept for some time after being killed even lu hot weather." A GOOD ROT BED An exchange says : One of the first things to which we would call yt ur at tention is that of the early preparation of hot-beds; and, although very simple, and generally understood, it may be well to give our plan and . views in reference to their structure, etc. After saeciing the position, which should be entirely ex posed to the sun, make a frame the size you want the bed, one side as muchlower than the opposite one as to cause the wa ter to run off rapidly, when a cover of glass or boards is put on. It is best to sink the frame several inches, digging out the earth the full size. Place it so as to_ slope towards the South, and then, being ready for manure, put it in to the depth of six or eight inches, fresh from the horse stable. The next thing to be done is to cover With dirt several inches deep, and wait for the heating process. The tem-' perature can be regulated by putting on more or less dirt; and this we regard as the most difficult point to determine, as some seeds require, or can stand snore heat than others. Great pains should he taken just before sowing the seed. Every clod should be broken and thoroughly pulverized, and after the seed is sown, roll or slightly pack, the surface. _ To successfully manage a hot-bed and a variety of plants, one must' have been schooled to the business. Nothing re quires more care and attention . , and to point out in detail every particular nec essary to be done, would require more time and space, perhaps, than our readers would justify. CURING POLL EY/L.—l had a horse that was pronounced incurable of the poll-evil, as the horse doctor had given him up to die. I thought I would try an experiment. T. laid open — the swelling with a knife and forced it to riin• ' after it had run twenty-four hours I wasllecr, out the incision with soap and wattr, and sprinkled quick lime into the cavity. This process of washing out and liming I re peated every twenty•four hours for about two weeks, as.the end of which time the Swelling had gone down and the sore healed over. This I did two years ago last November, and there is no sign of the return of the poll-evil. I would ad vise a trial. FELON o THE FINGER.—ThiS Often gives the greatest distress and pain. To cause it to break, construct a leather thimble, fill it with soap and lime mixed together, then thrust into the tnimble the finger or thumb that may be affected. After the felon breaks, -dress it with a poultice made from the pulp of a roasted scoke root, the effect of which will be most soothing and delightful. A cure soon follows. In some parts of the coun try this plant goes by the name of "poke" instead of scoke, the true name. It bears numerour clusters of berries, which pig eons and other oirds are very fond of. To LOOSEN NUTS ON BOLTS.—Place the head of an ax, iron wedge, or other solid substance on one side of the nut, and give a few smart blows with a ham mer on the other. Wetting with spirits of turpentine or coal oil will also be a benefit. lIISCELLAI`.;£OIIS A MAINE MAN gives his method of treating baulky horses as follows: "Let me inform humane men and hostlers, and all who hold the rein, that the way. to cure baulky horses is to take them from the carriage and whirl them rapidly round till they are giddy. It requires two men to accomplish this—one at the horse's tail. Don't let him step out. liold him to the smallest possible circle. One dose will often cure him; two doses generally will; three doses are final with the worst horse that ever refused to stir." SOUTRERN VIRGINIA and upper. North Carolina furnish the principal supply of peanuts for the United States. Fifty bushels to the acre are easily raised, and find a ready market at $2,50 per bushel. They do best in a thin, poor soil, and re quire lime only as a specific fertilizer. During the war peanuts were converted into oil for lamps in this section. The demand for them is constantly on the in crease, and the varied uses to which they are put render them a very profitable crop; Farmers in this region frequently plant as much as fifty acres of peanuts and grow them in hills about the same distance apart as sweet potatoes. IF old hay is well stacked, or in the barn, it is worth about as much the sec ond year as the first. It is a good plan to keep over a few stacks to meet the emer gency-of a short hay crop. It is a poor plan to buy hay when it bears the highest price. The most thrifty farmershave hay to sell in years of short grass crops, and the extra price pays very well for keep ing. NESIDENT &MIR, of the Alton Horti cultural Society says to prepare new oak barrels for wine or cider; use one pound of alum and four or five pounds of salt, to four bucketsfull of wat7 ; heat boiling hot an i put one bucket at a time in a bar- PITTSBURGH GAZEIIt; TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1869. rinse:th ht t 'a , • oroug y; e aan onb oo r , turzkit-ont,.:antl..repeat the .operation,with another bucketful. .Finally, rinse with cold water and fumigate with sulphur, and all will be right. LIME water is most beneficial for an oc casional drink to fowls. It is a preven tive of many diseases, and assists the for mation of bone and ezas. It should he prepared as follows: Pour over (pita:- lime some warm water, and when the lime has slacked and settled, draw the clear water rff, which cm be kept for a considerable time. The lime will he use ful for whitewashing. A FARMERAVIIO has bad largr, expel ence _in feeding cabbage and turnips to coiv§, says his practice is to feed immedi ately after milking—never before—and he has -never been troubled with the milk being flavored. He also says he feeds turnips whole, with the tops on, as there is no danger from choking when fed in this way. WE know of-no good reason why peas should not be more generally raised in the Northern States. They are a very common crop in Canada, and from thirty to forty bushels are grown to the acre, on good soil. They are much used in 1 feed ing swine and sh ep, and make pork and mutton of the bet quality; MANY an unsi htiy slough-hole in the fields, if sodded; and seeded with young willows, to catch and keep the rainfalls, would make a capital resorvoir of water for the use of stock. •It is frequently done in England. .141k.tiv value mules more than horses. They live longer, are tougher, require less food and a smaller harness, and can jump higher. - i WREN the millenium of farming is reached, white clover will be valued equally with red clover. An Inbhie Look at Things are in terrible shape here. ,For ty or tiny Congressinel going out for good next March, and only anxious to go out with full pockets. The lobby is here with a million of dollars, which is' eing paid out with perfect reeklessness. .All the subsidy schemes are in combination, and nothing in earth or heaven but Ulyss es S. Grant could save the country from robbery to the• extent of two hundred millions between now and March. Grant is making a regular campaign of it; talks of nothing else; lobbies as persistently as "the other fellows;" declares that no man need expect anything from his—adminis tratiOn, who takes any part in the rascAl lv schemes of the lobby, and apparently will just be able to pull through. Noth ing can save us if he does not. Andrew Johnson's administration is going out in a flood of corruption, The only hope is to stave off action on any anti every subject, until we have An honest man in the White House. - SPECIAL NOTICES !:,:a7"IIATCIIELOEVIS 'HAIR DTE. TiliF Eplent!HH.Alr Dye to tht. best In the ..vorle: the only true and perfect Dye; harrrnlesi, itnitarauaeou; ni. , Wappoic.uneut; cc, xi- Lculon4 :lets; teraerlles Inc Lit effects of had dyed; tr,l len vet the 1111 r s6l: a r.rl be.antlful. Heir* or 4roura. Sold b3' aII Druyrl,ll3 ar. , lPerfamers;ald rwe:rly :11.1.1.ed at. LaVl..t: - lorq WIA , Factors', N 6. 113 Bond . street. New York. rar2.3:p it7ARRIA:4II AND CELIBA.. u ti, ,, iay for y.‘ung men on the crime of Solitude, and the Irlit.E.a:-eS nod A BPS /..•3 witch create impetil meat, to 31A.HR1 AGE, with sure meaanof .1.• 1 lel. i,eut ia st letter et, velop-s frie of charge. Add ess. l)r. J. LIOUIAIroN. Howard Association, Phila delphia. Pa. Jail rORNA:CIENTAL AND USE , FLIL. 14“1" ONLY SILVER TIPPED SHOES. For children. Will outwear three pairs without, tips. BEI AUCTION SALES ' BY H. B. SMITHSON & 00. • • BOOTS,'SIIOES AND CARPETS FOI THE OfILLION: AT SMITHSON'S EMPORIUM, 55 AND 57 FIFTH AVENUE. Messrs. H. U. :i3ILTHSON & ,CO.. proprietors of the well known Mammoth Auction House are creating On exciteoent consequent upon the ar rlVal of uew iwildr which are being soul at re markably low prices. Goods ofeverr variety; the finest sewed b °Ls, the most fashionable bal. Inorul gaiters and anklet shoes. slippers, &c., blankets, tiaunebi ' tn cloths. cassieres. cutlery and carpets. Call and extuntue. so trouble to show goods. Ladles'. misses' and children's furs at almost your own prices. All goods war ranted as represented. n0..4 BY A. LEGGATE BERT FOR SALE. Bakery For Sale. Bakery For Sale. The property, No. 40 PALO ALTO sTrtE Second ward, Allegheny, is offered at private sale. it conslas of ground 10 feet by 110 feet, on which are erected a brick building, comprising store and rlvrelling hohse of seven rooms, and In the 'real' a Baking House cdpable of baking fifty barrels !per week. There is a first rate business established, which can be runner limn ase'd by a msn ofienergy and business tact. For ful. par ticulars visit the premises or enquire of A. LEGUATE, Auctioneer, BY L M'ILWAINE. SUPERB House and Grounds, No. V 9 Fulton St., N6ir r'yde. TUESD kV EVENING, FEBRUATIT 2d, at olclutk, will be solo ,os floor•of Com• tuercir..l:,ales Rooms, 10(f. •••nittli field street. that huge 101.1 . hands, snely tit wiled property, Melton strew, near Wylie street. the house being Vf ry commodious and 'substantially built two story brick mansion, with wide ball, double par lore, dining room, kitctien and wash room on first floor, onesrooms and bath room oirstmond flour, lialshed 'attic and excellent ory Each chamber Is Onished with wardrobe, and a pantry and war...mune In second floor hail; parole top wash stand, wills hot and cad water, sec ono floor; gas thronehout the house; elegant stairway In hall and front vestibule. The lot is 48 feet 4 inches front on street,'and.l32 feet in depth, through toi ford street. Tier lot has al oon the Crd Street front, a two stor y brick , c ing four rooms with water In kitchen. whole is not sold together, the improved a cant lots, through hoot Street to street, sold separately. — TEIOI - -/nc-half cash, balance triton two nears. with interest. Those wishing vited to examine the premises. This the most comfortable situations for rest' and valuable gronuds for investment. Ja3o _ A. MeLLWAINE, Auctio A D I III IIVISTRATORS , SAL VALUABLE DANK AND 01 bf••CKt' —TUESDAY EVENING. irebruli,i at 7t o'clock, wlil.be sol -. by orderofAdi frato.s, on second floor of Counnerclall Room+, 1011 Smithfield street, • . 30 shares llerehants and Mannf.l • National Hank.- 311 •• Fourth ~ational Dank. • 25 •• German Insurance Content .40 '• Sionougatiefa do. do. 20 •• Western do. do. 20 •• ALAI N. .do. 100 " Pittsburgh Fruit 'Ouse A. Don. • _ 100 Pittsburgh Paper Manufaci Company. 3,000 " / l alston Oil Company. 6,450 Marine do. original -shares Great National 0 Lumber Comp any • A. MCILWAINE, Auotico _159 FEDERAL STRICET nl ton Craw v. ford li.main the el a le I be e and le In pne of 14103 Ce, 1 E, THER, ry gd. mltils tales =EI MCI ECM EEO iNsultAh'Cif..;) ..14. STATEMENT OF THE . NATIONAL - INSTEIANCE COMPANY Of the C i ity of Alleaheny, FROM J.1n..111 1 i 1, 1q3,11 DEC. 11, Publlshed in tteortlttnee with the Act of ,6- srmht.. nw:torize, C..pilai :add in... J.. BEM S , o^ l / 4 Nnte. 50.0u0 31 , 0rtgag.,i.e,(3: pr . ; per., 41.495 S. 5-.• U :17,:ti)f) (.'su.'n haw, ..... 1/51 .Averued int , re,t.... 1.217 (Mice furalLur,:..... 741 tECEIPTb Am'ln of prirlun ,t0 , ,079 75 AtuounLof Intere t. 5.7475 76 Total recapts DNB CrItSEaBENTS: Dividends $ 10,000 00 Fire lusts 6,255 43 ottlee expenses 3,380 20 • ommissluns 1,050 53 Premiums returned 058 4u U. S. Tax & Stamps 651 SO • Re.lnsurance 34u OS t,, Total * 22:639 33 Ratio of losses and expenses to receipts, 41 per cent. Amount of outstanding risk ...$1,729,269 67 Unsettled lossea and bundry 011111 3,10/ 00 • JAMES E. STEVENSON, ja26.1136-7:TH:6 STATEMENT OF THE ARTISANS' INSURANCE 00. From J‘nuiry 1,186 R to December 31, 1868, I'ubll.lie . .l In accordance With Law. Authorized Capital Subscribed Capital. Paid up Capital.... ASSLT3 Cali on H - and n 7.636 07 'look .Kixotinte. for I'loolllms_ 154 94 Loans on Hon S 000 Mongatre,. 71 0411 00 Loans on Other micuritien........ 12.033 3:1 Mock N tes 36,000 00 Unice Furniture :am s.fe 673 00 JnLere.tAcerued, bat nut 1- ue:. 1,220 00 . e 128,777 34 Balance, Jana - ry I, TB6c. .... •. 437,258 17 Hectored Fire Premlunts.h. '6ll. 20.058 76 Itecalveo Interest la 1. 0 2i68 . 6,935 79 Be eetved from other nuurees In 1668 Fire losses, paid... 9 7.199 00 Itrturn Premiums 500 ssi ( . 0111111bol , •11 503 43 ;salarl , s. Rent and other Expenses... 4.6 26 33 Taxes :tn.! :Ita:nris. 1,141 63 Dlvldeuti3 .. 14,060 00 Batl Lnce 1),.e. 31, 'Ciii.51,133,376 47 IJAL'ILITIE9 Fin"' :/1", A 32 20 2.200 GO 1.093 11. TYll:a co Stn.te .1. G. COFFIN. a2l-(11i -T. , • - : 13EN FRANti LIN INSURANCE COMPANY, OF ALLEEMENT, PA. OFFICE IN rnAxKLIN sAlk - IN,is BANK BUILDINGS, No. 41 onto st., Allegheny. • A HOMES COMPANY, managed by Directors wet. anown to the community, who trust by fair deallns to Merit a scare of your patronage. HENRY IRWIN.. QEO. D. RIDDLE DIRECTORS: Hoary Irwin, U. L. Patterson, Geo. R. Riddle, Jacob Franz, Sill.loll Drum, J. It. Smith, W. M. Stewart,; Ch. P. Whitton, Joe. Ltutner, ill. J. Einkan.t, aphuo:tl gi=ll FIRE INSURANCE CO., OE' LONDON. ESTAIILTSHFD 1803. CASH CAPITAL PAID UP AND INVESTED PI.NDS EXCEED• ING $8,000,000 IN GOLD. Insurance against Fire elected on Houses and Building ! , Goods, Wares and Merchandise, Steamboats, &c. Po licies iesued payable in cold or carreraty. Ala' United r•tates Branch