192 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[December, IST^^ 



Take Care of the Horses. 



Tbe Illinois Humane Society, throusrh an appeal 

 issued by their committee, make the iollowing BUg- 

 ffcstious, which owners of horees will save their own 

 interests by attending to. 



1. Shoes. — If horses are sharp shod in icy weather, 

 they will pull larcrer loads to greater advantage ; It 

 is poor economy to neglect the proper shoeing of 

 horses, which may thus be seriously injured. 



1!. Blankets, etc. — Horses should be protected 

 by blankets or water-proof covers from rain or snow, 

 while standing. The cost of a blanket is very small, 

 and its use would repay the outlay very many times. 



Any wooleu or other protection placed under the 

 pad or saddle, and extending back over the hips, 

 will be found very useful, as protecting a weak part 

 of the animal. 



o. Ci.iPi"iN«. — The clipping of horses at this sea- 

 son is considered to be, at least imprudent, and by 

 this society inhumane ; owners are respectfully urged 

 to allow the animals to retain the covering which 

 nature has provided. 



i. Check Reins. — "Work horses, if at all, should 

 be checked very low ; they can thus pull to greater 

 advautage, protect their eyes from rain or snow, and 

 are less liable to stumble or injure themselves. It will 

 be noticed that the city railway companies have 

 largely abandoned the use of check reins. 



.5. Bits. — It is prudent to warm with the hands, 

 or otherwise, bits before placing them in the horses' 



mouths. 



^ 



Knowing Horses. 



A few mornings since the milk wagon of Mr. S. 

 Wm. Cox, near Kosedale, was harnessed and brought 

 tothedoorreadytogo to the railway station. Mr. Cox 

 went into the house for a few minutes, leaving "Bob" 

 iinhitchd as was the usual custom. Bob waited for 

 some time when, probably fearing that the milk 

 would be too late for the train, he trotted off. When 

 the owner came out the team had gone and he started 

 for the station on foot. Arriving there he found that 

 Bob had made the trip in good order, and had backed 

 up to the platform where "he was patiently waiting 

 fur the wagon to be unloaded. 



This animal was not more knowing than one owned 

 by a friend of ours near Marshallton. Last winter 

 his little son attended school a mile away. In the 

 morning he rode a favorite horse to the school, 

 where on being turned loose he trotted home. In the 

 evenings he was again turned loose, and proceeding 

 to the school he awaited the appearance of his young 

 master to be ridden home again. — Keimett Advance. 



Propagating Rabbits. 



A foreign correspondent of that veteran journal, 

 the New York Eveuviq Punt, in its weekly edition, 

 speaks of the propagation of rabbits in Italy, a busi- 

 ness that we have often thought could be profitably 

 conducted here on a much larger scale than at 

 ]iresent. The correspondent says that tbe rearing of 

 rabbits in Upper Italy has been very extensively 

 pursued for years, and is now extending Itself 

 throughout the country. For the jjclts and skins 

 aloneof this little animal, Italy i)ay6 foreign coun- 

 tries twelve million francs annually. As an article 

 of food it is highly esteemed, and iu fact almost every 

 portion of the labbit can be turned to profitable ac- 

 count. With us many of the cheai)er furs for sale 

 are made of the skin of the rabbit which is dyed in 

 various hues. 



LITERARY AND PERSONAL. 



School Text Books.— The study of United States 

 History, although sadly neglected in past years, has 

 received new impetus of late, largely owing to the 

 improvements in books upon that subject. We have 

 recently given some attention to school histories and 

 have found one so eminently worthy of recommenda- 

 tion as to deserve more than a passing notice. The 

 book referred to is Prof. Kidpat,h's History of the 

 United States, already largely in use in this State 

 and several of the Western States, and highly com- 

 mended wherever its merits are understood. Ex- 

 perienced educators everywhere vie with each other 

 in the heartiness of their words of approval for its 

 correctness, beautiful style, elegant illustrations, 

 comprehensive charts, authoritative maps, and 

 other noteworthy features ; while students are said 

 to seize upon and devour its terse, instructive and 

 entertaining narrative with all the avidity of youth 

 in the perusal of an exciting romance. It is fact 

 dressed in elegant periods, noble diction, impressive 

 characterizations, and illuminted by appropriate in- 

 cident and bcautilul pictures. Tbe publishers have 

 made the most elegant and attractive school-book 

 now bef<jre the public. 



It is not the purpose of this article to analyze its 

 merits nor indicate all the details in which it is supe- 

 rior to anything of the kind yet seen in this part of 

 the country.' A notice like this must be general, 

 but our readers will thank us for a word about one 

 valuable feature which really ought to be seen to be 

 adequately appreciated. Tbe colored cironological 



charts, which ehow at a glance — what cannot be 

 gleaned from t»e text of any history — the men and 

 events which were contemporaneous, make a new 

 and valuable feature by distinguished merit and pe- 

 culiar to this work. More than fifty topograpical 

 diagrams show the vicinity of every battle and Im- 

 portant event ; and the maps — which are not only 

 geographical but civil and historical — show the 

 political divisions of the country from time to time, 

 with comprehensive indices of our territorial 

 growth. 



It is as neat a volume in its physical proportions, 

 general make-up and Ulustratloue, as one would 

 wish to see. Its publishers, (Messrs. Jones Brothers 

 & Co., of Philadelphia, Cincinnati and Chicago,) 

 have spared neither pains nor expense to render it 

 acceptable to tx)th eye and mind, and we learn they 

 are reaping a rich reward for their enterprise and 

 forethought In Its large sales. If our citizens look 

 into the merits of this history, we have no doubt but 

 that the sales will be further accelerated. 



Prof. B. F. Shaub, our County Superintendent, en- 

 dorses the work in the following terms : 



"I have carefully examined Kldpath's History of 

 the United States. I like it in every respect. In ap- 

 pearance it is the most attractive school history that 

 I have seen. Its matter Is well selected and charm- 

 ingly presented. It is a book that can rest on its 

 own merit, 



Dickens' Little Folks.— Nothing has given the 

 writings of Charles Dickens so strong a hold upon 

 the hearts of parents as the well-known excellence 

 of his portrayal of children and their Interests. 

 These delineations having received the approval of 

 readers of mature age, it seemed a worthy effort to 

 make the joung also participants in the emjoyment 

 of these classic fictions. 



With this view, the different child characters have 

 been detached from the large mass of matter with 

 which they were originally connected, and presented 

 in the author's own language, to a new class of 

 readers, to whom the little volumes will, we doubt 

 not, be as attractive as the larger originals have so 

 long proven to the general public. 



A series of twelve volumes has been prepared, 

 presenting, among others, the following characters : 

 "Little Paul, from Dombey & Son ; "Smlke," from 

 Nicholas Nlckleby ; " Little Nell," from The Old 

 Curiosity Shop; "The Child Wife," from David 

 Copperfield, to., Ac. 



A new edition of the first volume of this scries, 

 "Little Paul," from Dombey & Son, has just been 

 issued, Illustrated by Darley, and attractively 

 bound. The other volumes will follow at short in- 

 tervals. 



For sale by all booksellers, or sent post-paid for ?1 

 by the publisher, John R. Anderson, Hartford, 

 Conn. 



Extracts from the "Transactions of the Academy 

 of Sciences of St. Louis, Vol. III. No. 4." By Chas. 

 V. Riley, M. A., Ph. D., State Entomologist of .Mis- 

 souri. An exceedingly interesting contribution to 

 natural science, in a well executed octavo pamph- 

 let of .34 pages, with one plate containing 40 finely 

 engraved figures, illustrating the Hypermetamor- 

 phoses of Epicanta and ITorina, insects belonging to 

 the family of "Blister Beetles," or Oil Beetles ;" be- 

 sides several wood-cuts. The letter-press relates 

 mainly to the "Larvae Characters and Habits of the 

 Blister Beetles belonging to the genera Macrobmit 

 Lee, and F;ncan«a, Falen ; with remarks on other 

 species of the family Meloid^ ;" and especially to a 

 remarkable new genus in said family, which has 

 been found infesting the cells of the Mason bee in 

 the United States ; with additional notes and re- 

 marks on other Insects. It is very probable that 

 these papers will possess little interest to the masses 

 of mankind, but to those who are laboring in the 

 field of practical entomology, with little time and 

 few oportunltlesto make personal observations on the 

 habits of insects, they will bea welcome help In solv- 

 ing problems heretofore dark or ambiguous, and 

 these will appreciate the labors of Prof. Riley, and 

 accord to him the credit due. 



Gone on Before, O'er the River of Time.— 

 A most magnificent song by Prof. P. O. Hudson, 

 adapted for Organ or Piano, and most respectfully 

 and affectionately Inscribed to the memory of a be- 

 loved comrade and brother. Major Joseph Barton, 

 who was for a number of years a member of the 

 Continental Vocalists (with the author.) Major 

 Barton passed to his spirit home March 10th, 1877, 

 at Urbana, Ohio. The song will no doubt become 

 ver}' popular as the melody is beautiful and the 

 words are well adapted to it. 



l8t Verse. 

 Lov'd ones are paeeing from shore to shorp, 

 One more liaa been called aud gone on before, 

 Gone to hifl home In that Ijeautiful land. 

 Where angels stand watctilng its magical strand. 

 We know be was welcomed by friends o'er the stream, 

 When mortal we oft sang as "only m dream," 

 Now a bright spirit In splendor is seen, 

 In hie new home of em'rald, Illy and green." 



4,-30.5 copies were sold by the publisher, in seven 

 days. Mostly all orders in advance of publication. 

 Every lover of music should buy a copy. Price 40 

 cents ; mailed upon receipt of price, Address all 



orders to F. W. Helmick, Music Publisher, 50 West 

 Fourth Street, Cincinnati, O. 



Helmick's Munical Monthly, 35 cents each number 

 or $2..50 per year. 



A Manual op Vegetable Plants containing tbe 

 experiences of the author in starting all those kinds 

 of vegetables which are most difficult for a novice to 

 produce from seeds. With the best methods known 

 for combating and repeling noxious insects, and pre- 

 venting the diseases to which garden vegetation is 

 subject. By Isaac F. Tillinghast; of the firm of 

 Tilllnghast Brothers, Growers of Plants and Seeds, 

 Factoryville, Wyoming County, Pa. 



This is a neat 12 mo. volume of over one hundred 

 pages, and contains a large amount of useful matter, 

 condensed in a small space, that is highly important 

 to nurserymen, seedsmen, market gardeners and 

 farmers geuerally. This little work sells readily at 

 jl.OOacopy. We will send The Lancaster Far- 

 mer to any address, post paid, for one year, and a 

 copy of this book, at the low price of ?1.50. 



The "Herald of Health" for 1878, will be a 

 volume of great importance to farmers and mechan- 

 ics. Inasmuch as it proposes to publish, during the 

 year, twelve articles especially devoted to the moral 

 "and physical interests of these classes of people ; ■ 

 besides other rich and varied literature, which we 

 shall notice more fully in our January number. 

 This excellent journal is published by Wood & IIol- 

 brook, i;i and 15 Laight street. New York, at?1.00 

 a year. The Lancaster Farmer and the Herald 

 of Health will be furnished to subscribers, postage 

 paid, at $1.50 a year in advance. Address the Editor 

 or Publisher of Farmer, 101 North Queen street, 

 Lancaster, Pa. 



Notice.— In our advertising columns is noticed 

 Stoddart's Musical Library, a serial publication, now 

 under way, which from its extraordinary cheapness 

 will effect a revolution in the music publishing inter- 

 est. Messrs. Stoddart & Co. agree to give for the 

 low price of one dime, a (joHection of the most popu- 

 lar instrumental and vocal music, printed on full 

 size music paper, of the best ([uality. The same 

 amount and quality iu fact as would costS1..50if 

 published separately. This is a step in the right 

 direction, and one which will find instant and hearty 

 favor with those whom it is intended to benefit. 



The Dominion Farmer and Agricultural 

 Gazette, a monthly periodical devoted to the im- 

 provement of live stock and the interests of 

 stock raisers, dairymen and the general farmer. 

 Oflftce Main street, Drayton, Ontario, Canada. Price 

 50 cents. Single copies 5 cents. By Proctor Brothers. 

 No. 1 vol. 1, issued 1.5th of November, is on our 

 table— an eight-page quarto— and from its neat ap- 

 pearance and solid contents, we think it worthy of 

 encouragement, and tender it ahcarty " God speed." 

 Pretty Little Blue Eyed Stkangeh, is the 

 title of one of the prettiest songs we have ever heard, 

 it was composed by Bobby Newcomb, tbe celebrated 

 minstrel professional. The melody is bound to cap- 

 tivate every lover of a good song and remain fresh in 

 their memory a lifetime. Price, 35 cents per copy. 

 For sale by any music dealer in the United States, or 

 can be had from the publisher, F. W. Helmick, .50 

 West Fourth street, Cincinnati, O. 



VicKs' Illustrated Monthly Magazine for 

 January, 1878, is on our table, and is a realization of 

 the most sanguine anticipations that the most fas- 

 tidious could have indulged, from its announcement 

 in the last number of the Floral QiMe. Its frontis- 

 piece, an illustration of " Phlox and Pansy," is 

 superb. Full of valuable floral literature, aud pro- 

 fusely illustrated from beginning to end, the scenic 

 aspect of which is "just heavenly." 



" Touch Me Gently, Father Time," is the title 

 of a new and beautiful song and chorus, by Charlie 

 Baker, author of the famous " He Holds the Fort of 

 Heaven." Dealers are ordering it tiy tbe thousand. 

 The whole couutry will soon be singing " Touch me 

 Gently, Father Time." Any music dealer will mail 

 you this beautiful song for 40 cents. Published by 

 F. W. Helmick, 50 West Fourth street. Cine nnati, 

 Ohio. 



The Youno Folks' Monthly.- The Christinas 

 number of the Young Folks' Monthly comes to us 

 full of good things for old and young ; Stories, .Ad- 

 ventures, Charades, Declamations, Puzzles, etc., 

 etc. This Magazine should be in every household 

 where entertaining and instructive reading is want- 

 ed. Only Jl.OO per year. Address The Young 

 Folks' Monthly, Chicago, 111. 



; We are under obligations to .Mr. A C. Veterling, 

 of Allegheny city, for a miniature folio, admirably 

 compiled and tastefully executed, and containing the 

 Ten Commandments, a brief summary of tbe Doc- 

 trines of the New Church, the inspired books of the 

 Sacred Scripture and the Creed, as used in the Pitts- 

 burg New Church Sunday-school, and which ought 

 to be appreciated and used by Sunday-schools ;)«i- «<•. 

 Photo-Electrotvpe Art Journal, a quarto 

 illustrating the wonderful new art of photo-electro- 

 typing, by which pictures on any subject can be fur- 

 nished at a very low price, and said to be better than 

 wood, and nearly equal to steel or copper. Issued 

 quarterly at 25 cents a year. Philadelphia, Pa. 



