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THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[May, 1878. 



LITERARY AND PERSONAL. 



Harper's Magazine for June, 1878. — Harper's 

 Magazine for June, while it has that largeness in 

 the character of the subjects treated which usually 

 distinguishes this periodical, is exceedingly beautiful 

 in its numerous illustrations and surprising iu its 

 variety. Lovers of the picturesque will read with in- 

 terest the exquisitely illustrated paper, contributed 

 by S. G. W. Benjamin, "Along the South Shore," 

 showing charming bits of coast and rural scenery be- 

 tween Hull and Plymouth ; also Miss Mitcliell's ani- 

 mated description of Heligoland, the "Enchanted 

 Isle." Mr. Benjamin's article opens with a fine pic- 

 ture by Bricher, illustrating; the gathering of Irish 

 moss in the salt marshes by Scituate Harbor. Another 

 illustration, by Kytinge, represents the old well on 

 the Woodworth place — the original of the "Old 

 Oaken Bucket ;" another, by Moran, illustrates the 

 wilderness of lakes in the vicinity of Plymouth ; 

 another, by Abbey, is a very effective picture, illus- 

 trating an incident in the war of 1812. 



Those interested in ceramics will be delighted with 

 Mr. Sikes's paper on the celebrated delft ware, with 

 thirty fine illustrations. 



For those interested in art and music, the paper on 

 J. Q. A. Ward, and his methods of work, by G. W. 

 Sheldon, Mrs. Despard's entertaining reminiscences 

 of music in New York thirty years ago, and the 

 " Easy Chair's" defence of the artist against undis- 

 criminating and ignorant critics, will have special 

 attractions. Tne article on Mr. Ward contains five 

 elfective illustrations, one of which is a portrait, 

 while another represents the sculptor at work 

 modelling a horse's head. 



To the distinctly literary field belong the Rev. Mr. 

 Baldwin's contribution, in which is published for the 

 first time a pleasant correspondence in verse between 

 Fitz-Greene Halleck and a young lady of Guilford, 

 Connecticut; General James S. Brisbin's interesting 

 paper on the poetry of Indians ; and Charlotte 

 Adams's eloquent review of the vicissitudes of Rus- 

 sian literature. 



Science is duly recognized not only in the " Editor's 

 Scientific Record " — the only authentic monthly 

 summary of scientific progress which is published — 

 but also a paper by George W. Beaman, entitled 

 " How shall our Boys be fitted for the Scientific 

 School ?" and in Simon Newcomb's story of " A 

 Manufactured Comet." 



Of larger and more national interest is Mr. Loss- 

 ing's able paper on the battle of Monmouth, with 

 fifteen illustrations, one of which — "The Carnival in 

 Philadelphia," by Mr. Pyle — is a very remarkable 

 picture, tlie engraving of which is as wonderful as 

 the artist's design. 



In another field — that of religious biography — we 

 have a concise but graphic portraiture of Hugh 

 La'.imer, the " Paladin of the Reformation" — from 

 the pen of Charles D. Deshler. 



In fiction we have further instalments of the two 

 great novels of the season — William Black's " Mae- 

 leod of Dare " and Tliomas Hardy's " The Return of 

 the Native ;" also three excellent short stories. Of 

 these, the longest and most striking is "The Drink- 

 water House," by Mrs. C. V. Hamilton, with three 

 remarkable illustrations by Abbey. Mrs. SpoH'ord 

 contributes "In a Storm," and Henrietta Hardy 

 " Greta's Boys." 



Bret Harte contributes a brilliant society poem, 

 " Telemachus versus vientor," which is effectively 

 illustrated by Reinhart. George Lunt contributes a 

 poem, "A Trio;" Miss Mary A. Barr another, en- 

 titled " Captive Queens in the Market." " Song of 

 the Clay," is the title of a peculiar, but very striking 

 poem by Z. D. 



The Editorial Departments are full of interesting 

 and entertaining matter in their several fields. 



Two BEAUTiKUL PICTURES, by Gcorge Stinson & 

 Co.'s, Fine Art and Publishing House, Portland, 

 Maine. These pictures are respectively entitled, 

 " Tfie Morniiifj of Liijht," and " Purily." Ofcour.se 

 people differ very much in their ideas of beauty, and 

 therefore to say that these pictures are handsome, or 

 magnificent, or majestic would only be bandying 

 words which might measure the mind of nobody. 

 Hence, we simply say they are baaiUifid , and when 

 we say this we mean that beauty involved in the in- 

 vocation of the Psalmist, when he utters, "Let the 

 beauty of tlie Lord our God be upon us ;" because 

 that beauty, we ai)prehend, is impressed with the in- 

 nocence and purity which the artist illustrates so 

 calmly and peacefully in these pictures. True, it is 

 innocence and purity of ignorence, as contradistin- 

 guished from that of wisdom or intelligence, but it 

 emits a spiritual fragrance almost infinitely sur- 

 passing any condition attainable in the most advanced 

 state of adult life. In "Purity" the artist has repre- 

 sented, in the dream of a little orphan, her angel 

 mother watching over her and ministering to her dur- 

 ing her unconsious sleep, with imwerful effect — a 

 sleep so profound, so confiding and so self-possessed, 

 that we imagine we can almost hear her breath and 

 see her bosom heave. 



In the "Morning of Life" the artist has portrayed 

 a wonderfully natural expression of affection and 

 tenderness in the face of a young little girl for an 

 elder sister, who has evidently been away from home 



all day, and the little pet has been lonesome and is 

 now so glad to see her return. Both of these pic- 

 tures plainly tell their own beautiful stories, and as 

 we gaze upon them we become inspired with the 

 subject, and if we are not totally depraved they re- 

 call those sinless periods of our lives which have 

 long been buried in the graves of the past. Both the 

 conception and the execution of these pictures are 

 creditable as illustrations of high art, which are 

 rarely, if ever, excelled. Indeed we have seen noth 

 ing yet issued by this liouse that was not excellent of 

 its kind. The plates are about 18 by 14, with wide 

 margins, and printed on fine, heavy paper, and will 

 be an ornament to any dwelling, and wherever they 

 may be domicilated tliey cannot but liave an elevating 

 and purifying effect upon the minds and hearts of all 

 who look upon them, for whole volumes of letter- 

 press might fail to leave an impression as indelibly 

 as they. Pictures, and their particular kinds, are 

 generally indicative of the ultimate character of 

 those who, from choice, patronise and possess them, 

 and these must surely help any one to be better for 

 having them about them. 



Pamphlets Reoeiveb. — Fiftieth Anniversary of 

 the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, held in 

 Horticultural Hall, Broad and Westmoreland streets, 

 Philadelphia, Friday, December 21st, 1877. This is 

 a beautiful octavo pamphlet of 24 pages, on fine 

 calendered paper, a complimentary copy of which 

 was sent us by the President of the society. But if 

 it liad been printed on the commonest of brown 

 wrapping paper, the grand old association and the 

 occasion would have dignified it with a value of no 

 ordinary consideration to us ; for its career, in the 

 measure of time, has run parallel with our own. In 

 1827, when fifteen years old, we left the parental 

 roof to buffet the world entirely upon our own re- 

 sponsibility, and never was an inmate of that home 

 again, the fiftieth year of which had its anniversary 

 on the 9th of July, 1877. In every respect this is an 

 interesting pamphlet, and especially so in an histori- 

 cal sense, for it records the first organizat on of the 

 society, half a century ago, and the preliminary 

 meetings and measures which led to that organiza- 

 tion, from which we learn that the late Hon. Horace 

 Binney was the first President of the society. Six 

 years subsequently we had the pleasure of a seven 

 months' residence in the city of " Brotherly Love," 

 the recollections of which are the most pleasant of 

 our whole life. Horace Binney then represented the 

 city in Congress, and occupied a conspicuous portion 

 of the public mind, for he was pitted against the 

 " Veto " and " Removal of the Deposits " measures 

 of President Jackson. The career of the Horticul- 

 tural Society since then has been glorious and pro- 

 gressive, (more so, we wot, than ours) and we hope 

 that those who may witness its next semi-centennial 

 anniversary may be able to make as glorious a record. 



Mr. W. Atlee Burpee, the well-known breeder 

 and shipper of fine stock, has withdrawn from the 

 late firm with which he has been connected for the 

 past two years, and will hereafter conduct business 

 only as W. Atlee Burpee & Co. He has opened a 

 new and commodious warehouse. No. 221 Church 

 street, Philadelphia. Mr. Burpee has for many years 

 been extensively engaged in breeding and shipping 

 thoroughbred stock, consisting of Ayrshire and 

 Jersey cattle, Cotswold and Southdown sheep, Ches- 

 ter White, Yorksliire, Berkshire, Essex and Poland- 

 China pigs, and high class Land and Water Fowls of 

 all varieties. He has paid special attention to choice 

 thoroughbred swine and poultry, and his sales in this 

 line have been very extended and have gained for his 

 stock a wide reputation. His aim has always been 

 to breed from none but the very best stock, but to 

 breed so largely as to be able to offer the choicest 

 animals and fowls at prices within the reach of 

 farmers who can appreciate choice blooded stock. 

 Mr. Burpee has now a larger and finer stock than 

 ever to offer his patrons, and will give special induce- 

 ments on early orders. Their new catalogue of 

 thoroughbred live stock of all kinds is just issued, 

 elegantly illustrated with numerous engravings, de- 

 scriptions, etc., and will be sent free upon applica- 

 tion. We call attention to their advertisement in 

 another column. 



Farming near home, or State legislation against 

 hard times, being suggestions for an "act" to facili- 

 tate the settlement of land, the promotion of agri- 

 culture, civilization and co-operation, and for the re- 

 lief of labor and capital witliin the boundaries of 

 the older States, and especiallv within the Common- 

 wealth. Published by K. J. Wright, Philadelphia; 

 an octavo pamphlet of Ifi pages. From which it ap- 

 pears that there are within the limits of the State of 

 Pennsylvania 10,122 square miles of unused lands, 

 and that within the States of Connecticut, Delaware, 

 Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, 

 New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Ver- 

 mont and West Virginia, not counting irreclaimable 

 marshes, 37'^; per cent., or .57,445 squaremiles fn these 

 States that might be brought under culture and use, 

 while multitudes of agriculturists and working men 

 are driven by force of circumstances to far distant 

 and uncongenial territories. 



Map of the water-front of the port of Philadel- 

 phia, and one of the International Exposition 



Grounds, Paris, 1878, illustrating the photo-electro 

 engraving of Shelniire & Brono, No. 110 South 

 Fourh street, Philadelphia, Pa. 



It is perfectly astonishing with what facility, ex- 

 cellence of execution and cheapness tlie art of photo- 

 electro engraving has become invested. For the 

 trifling sum of $-1.00 an electrotype plate, 7\4 by 9',^ 

 inches, can be furnished, giving a view of the city of 

 Paris and its surroumiinffs, the exposition grounds, 

 the river Seine, its numerous bridges, and a multi- 

 tude of other details, plaiidy and accurately sketched. 

 It seems that photo-engraving has ceased to be a 

 mere experiment, and is destined to entirely super- 

 cede the more expensive and laborious wood cntrrav- 

 ing, and the above company professes to produce 

 cuts of any subject and size at one-half the cost of 

 wood. 



L. B. Case's Botanical Index to the new, rare 

 and beautiful plants, grown and for sale at his 

 commercial green house, Richmond, Indiana, for 

 April, 1878. "An octavo periodical (vol. 1, No. 5,) 

 very handsomely gotten up, (something in the style 

 of"Vick'6 Floral Guide") fiuely embellished, and 

 containing copious price lists — a matter of very great 

 importance to those who desire to make purchases in 

 any line of goods. We observe that Mr. Case adver- 

 tises 103 distinctly named varieties of the Begonia, 34 

 of which are of the shrubbery kind ; 72 varieties of 

 Fuehsias, all named ; and 132 varieties of Qeraniams. 

 If there is not " a distinction without a difference," 

 then we should suppose the most fastidious taste 

 among floral connoiseurs might here be amply grati- 

 fied. Such results are not the work of a day, and 

 must be based on merit. 



Something Good and True. — We call the special 

 attention of the readers of The Farmer to the card 

 of Mr. C. H. Anderson, in the advertising columns 

 of this number of our journal, not only as someth- 

 ing new, but also something "good and true." The 

 intrinsic merits of the " Iron Stone," as a water and 

 drain pipe, are sufficient of themselves to recom- 

 mend this material to the confidence of the public. 

 Mr. Anderson is so respectably endorsed by those 

 who have used the " Ardenheim Iron Stone Pipes," 

 and is socially so highly connected in this county, 

 that we believe our farmers may repose the utmost 

 confidence in him, especially as through the superi- 

 ority of his wares he has been enabled to build up a 

 flourishing business. 



The Railroads, the Stock Yards, the Even- 

 ERS ! — Expose of the Great Railroad Ring that robs 

 the laborer of the east and the producer of the west 

 of $5,000,000 a year. By J. F. Rusling, Washing- 

 ton, 1878. An octavo pamphlet of thirty-two pages, 

 purporting to be based upon principles of justice and 

 humanity^ no doubt containing much that is true, 

 and also much that is imaginary or unavoidable. As 

 we have not yet had time to peruse it carefully we 

 must r6fer the subject to the consideration of our 

 readers to form their own conclusions. 



Some observations on the analysis and value of 

 commercial fertilizers, warmly recommendatory of 

 the Southern Fertilizing Company's Richmond, Va., 

 "Anchor Brand." Office 1321 Cary street, Rich- 

 mond, Va. ; 16 pages octavo. These fertilizers are 

 highly spoken of l3y those who have been using 

 them ever since 18fil5, but this is a matter which each 

 farmer must test for himself. Much depends upon 

 wliat his land may need. 



Smithsonian miscellaneous collections — 316 

 — a circular in reference to American archaeology. 

 Giving a "special memoranda" in describing, re- 

 cording, observing and collecting objects from shell- 

 heaps, cave and cliff-dwellings, masonry, sculptered 

 scabs, rock painting, graves and cemeteries, mounds, 

 quarries and workshops, &c., Ac, of the aborigines 

 of our country, and especially their localities and 

 their geosfraphical and topographical situation and 

 surroundings, &c., &c., 16 pages octavo. Very useful. 



Nineteenth annual edition of the "Sorgo Hand- 

 Book." A treatise on the Chinese and African sugar 

 canes; varieties, culture and manufacture. By the 

 Blymyer Manufacturing Company, Cincinnati, Oliio, 

 1878. A handsome octavo pamphlet of 30 pages, 

 illustrated A'ith ten fine photo-electro pictures re- 

 lating to the subject. If any of our readers desire to 

 engage in this branch of culture and production we 

 opine this pamplilet contains the information they 

 need. 



Catalogue of Cane Mills and Evaporators, Steam 

 Engines, etc. Manufactured by the Blymyer .Manu- 

 facturing Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, U. S. A. A 

 royal octavo pamphlet of 28 pages, with 38 illustra- 

 tions of the different machines it manufactures, on 

 finely and highly calendered paper, with explanatory 

 letter-press with price list attached. 



We would call the attention of our readers to the 

 advertisement of the Kearney Chemical Works in 

 another column, manufacturer of the improved Pest 

 Poison, said to he. the best and safest remedy for de- 

 stroying iill kinds of noxious insects. 



To Farmers, Truckers and Gardners. The "Crop 

 Grower," a now fertilizer, better than guano or phos- 

 phates. A. C. Adamson, 143 Front street, Philad'a. 



Wholesale price'list of grapevines, fruit trees, 

 &c. Spring, 1878. T. S. Hubbard, Fredonia, N. Y. 

 With testimonials of character. 



