32 



THE LANCASTER FARMER. 



[February, 1881. 



I found some under Its neck. It occurred to me at 

 once that I had seen in the Country Oentieman that 

 kerosene mixed with lard enough to prevent its run 

 ning, would not only kill lice on fowls, but the nits 

 also. I tried it and it thoroughly killed th em . I 

 now go over every brood of chicks, when they are 

 ten or twelve days' old, and rub the kerosene and 

 lard on their heads and under their wings,' and 

 whenever else I find lice. They look very rough for 

 some hours afterwards, but it is not long before they 

 look all right again. From the time I began to do 

 this I have had no chickens gaping and'dying. I 

 ■ lose chickens from time to time, and fowls, but not 

 on account of lice. 



Raising Ducks for Profit. 



It is a pleasing fact that the increase of the supply 

 cvf ducks in our markets is very sensible in the last 

 few years, and they are readily bought up at good 

 prices as a change from chickens and turkeys. Farm- 

 ers tell us tb.at t1ii-y are as easily raised as chickens ; 

 indeed cost less for food and bring a better price, es- 

 pecially if the kinds are raised which look plump 

 and appetizing on table. These are the Rouen, the 

 Pekiu and Aylesliury. They are of good size, and 

 in their growth tliey consume almost anything and 

 really keep the premises clear of many things that 

 would prove an annoyance, such as insects, grubs, 

 ofl'al, wormy apples, &t. In October and November, 

 meal or oat-meal mush, fed a Ittle warm, mixed with 

 sour or skimmed milk, will in about two weeks fat- 

 ten them for market. From every farm from twen- 

 ty-five to fifty pairs should be annually sent to 

 market, the returns of which would do a full share 

 in filling the family purse from the pleasanter and 

 lighter branches of the farm. 



Literary and Personal. 



The Weeklv Fancier. — A three-columned, 

 four-paged quarto, published at Reading, Pa., at 

 Jl.OO a year, postage paid. This is a «ew candidate 

 for public patronage, but if we muy be permitted to 

 ju'lgc it hy '';.• .|uality of the number before us, 

 (Janu.iry I'.i, l.SHl,) we have no hesitation in s.aying 

 it is a ii:oi-;hij (tin-, and we give it our "ballot." 

 True, compared with other subjects of the newspaper 

 realm, it is a " small potato," but as the maiden 

 replied to the old bachelor, it is a "sweet one" — 

 sweet, at least, to the genuine fancier. The number 

 before us eontain.'i sevrn .nhimns of as interesting 



fou 



?pt, 



5, Robesonia, Berks county, 



AUr.imuiiaii 

 be made to F.H. Schwai 

 Pa. 



The Catalpa.— Additional facts and information 

 in relation to the " Catalpa Trr-c," fT',. '„'.,; hirjno- 

 moide.s) and its variety s^ecios'/. !' 1' ' l;:iiney, 

 Dayton, Ohio. A demi-oetavo |> ;' ' ! ' ■ i-ages, 

 which discusses the uses, the m" ' • '• ' "' cul- 

 ture of the catalpa in a very abii; ai.J lXi« ilmeutal 

 manner, and also very scientifically. We have 

 known this tree for full sixty years, but until re- 

 cently we never supposed that it possessed any other 

 value than as a beautiful flowering shade tree. Al- 

 though its specific gravity is less than hickory, 

 white oak, elm, walnut, birch, wild cherry or 

 ailanthus, yet it is said to grow more rapidly and is 

 more durable than any of them. It can be used for 

 posts, rails, railroad ties, cabinet work and general 

 building purposes, and in the general depletion of 

 our forests this tree may become our uUimatutn. 



AN^a'AL Report of the "Fruit-Growers' Society." 

 Prepared by its ofticers, 1880. 76 pp. Royal octavo, 

 with four full-page plates, illustrating ehoice varie- 

 ties of fruit", two of which are colored. The colored 

 illustration of "Kieffer's Hybrid Pear," is the most 

 beautiful picture of a pear tliat has ever been brought 

 to our notice, and if one-half can be realized that 

 has been said in behalf of this pear, it will be an ad- 

 dition to our fruit list that is invaluable. The colored 

 illustration of the .Martha Grape is also very beauti- 

 ful. The "Yacob, or Schautz," and the "Sohaeffer" 

 apples, are the subjects of the uncolored plates, 

 equally well executed. The quality of the paper, 

 the typography and the literary contents are unex- 

 ceptionable. 



Illustrated Catalogue of optical goods manu- 

 factured and imported by Meyrowitz Bros., opticians. 

 No. 297 Fourth avenue, southeast corner of Twenty- 

 third street, building of the Society for the Preven- 

 tion of Cruelty to Children, New York, is one of the 

 finest illustrated catalogues of its kind that lias ever 

 been published. It is 7 by 12 in- i - :\i >:/,«, mtains 



134 pages, and 1,63S finely exvi I, ; ,,,- ns of 



everything in the optical line t; im , mation 



can conceive of. Such a cataln-u. i.iu.i iinlirate a 

 large and profitable business, and we advise our 

 readers who have any wants in that line of goods to 

 order one immediately. 



We are indebted to Prof. Meehan, editor of the 

 Gardener's ilonthly, for a copy of his paper read 

 before the Academy of Natural Sciences of Phila- 



delphia, "0/( the Timber Lineof High Mountains;" 

 also, one on the " Sexual ■ Variation in Castanea 

 America?ia," by Isaac C. Martindale, and himself. 



Our thanks are also due to Prof. A. E. Foote, 

 M.D., for six numbers of the "yatnralist's Leisure 

 Hour, and Monthly Bulletin." 1323 Belmont avenue, 

 Philadelphia. To one desiring to accumulate a col- 

 lection in any department of natural history this lit- 

 tle periodical is almost indispensable, especially as it 

 contains catalogues and prices of all that the doctor 

 has for sale at his scientific depot. 



Frances Dunham's Bee-Comb Foundation Ma- 

 chine. A pamphlet of beekeepers' supplies, DePere, 

 Brown county, Wis. 



Life and Health— Physical, mental, moral; 

 how lost, how gained. 'Vinemont and Reading, Pa. 

 January and February, ISSl. A beautiful royal 

 quarto of 8 pages. Edited and published bi-monthly 

 by Thos. F. Hicks, M. D., Wernersville, Berks county. 

 Pa. "An independent journal of health, progress, 

 religion and sanitary science." A remarkably well- 

 gotten up paper, and of unexceptionable literary 

 contents. Only 30 cents a year. 



The "Southern Planter and Farmer," pub- 

 lished by I/ulfe S. Sanders, Editor and Proprietor, 

 for January l.sSl, comes to us greatly enlarged, im- 

 proved, and beautified ; and, as to quantity and qual- 

 ity, will compare with any agricultural magazine in 

 the entire country. It is an octavo of 76 pages, and 

 is published at No. 28 Ninth street, Richmond Vir- 

 ginia, at 83,00 a year in advance, with exceedingly 

 liberal cliib rates. The fact that it contains'Sl 

 pages of advertisements in addition to its regular 

 number (of literary letter press) evinces 

 that it elicits a fair appreciation as a medium of 

 business communication with the people. Its list of 

 distinguished contributors cannot fail to place it in 

 the very front rank of agricultural, livestock, and 

 rural literature, and the character and quality of 

 their contributions, must continue it, as it now is, 

 "the oldest (and best) agricultural journal in the 

 South," being in its forty-second year. Its me- 

 chanical execution is unexceptionable, and a real 

 "godsend" to those under the ban of that dimness 

 of vision which is the usual accompaniment of in- 

 creasing age. It enters upon the new volume with 

 increased facilities for carrying out its design to 

 impart additional interest and increased value to the 

 work. So mote it be. 



"Seed-time and Harvest,"— An illustraled 

 quarterly horticultural magazine, published by 

 Isaac F. Tillinghast, La Plume, Lackawanna county. 

 Pa., " for every one who plants a seed or tills a 

 plant," at the very low price of 35 cents a year, with 

 liberal premium inducements. Number 5 for Jahu- 

 ary, 1881, has been received, and the article upon 

 hot-beds in this number is, we think, the most com- 

 plete ever published, and contains hints of great 

 value to gardeners. It is worthy of note to state 

 that this magazine will be sent free to all the patrons 

 of Mr. Tillinghast's seed and plant establiflini.-nt. 

 This magazine contains 2-1 pji. Svo., and we w^mld 

 not know where else to send our patrons that, tli-'y 

 would be so sure of getting so much at so small a 

 price. 



The Journal of Forestry and Estates Man- 

 agement for January, 1881, reached our table in 

 that month, but too late to receive a notice in The 

 Farmer for January. We kindly greet the familiar 

 face of this excellent journal, for we have been in the 

 regular receipt of it from its very first number, and 

 are pleased to note its onward and upward progress. 

 Edited and published by J. & W. Rider, No. 14 

 Bartholomew street, London, and D. Van Nostrand, 

 2B .Murray street. New York, at 12 shillings a year, 

 (post free) or one shilling per number. Three more 

 numbers will complete the fourth volume, and if the 

 minds of our countrymen have not been imbued with 

 ideas of systematic forestry, still, since its advent 

 there has been a strong sentiment excited towards 

 the preservation of our present forests, and the re- 

 planting of new ones. A large double-page plate in 

 this number, illustrating appliances used in forestry, 

 invests it with additional value. 



Musical Journal. — Edited and published by 

 Thomas Brothers, Catskill, N. Y. A monthly royal 

 quarto of 28 pages, including ornamental covers, 10 

 pages of which are printed music, mainly vocal. A 

 remarkably well executed work, and of the' finest 

 and best material. Its general appearance looks. like 

 "business" — and as an advertising medium it cer- 

 tainly has no superior within its special sphere. 

 Terms, $1.00 a year, postage paid. 



The American Garden.— a quarterly illustrated 

 journal, devoted to the gardening interests of 

 America. Published by B. K. Bliss & Son, No. 34 

 Barclay street, N. Y'., at the very low price of 35 cts. 

 a year. No cheaper and better 16 pages, on fine 

 calendered paper and fair type issued in this country; 

 the illustrations and literary contents are simply 

 superb. 



Nebraska FARMER.--This excellent journal is 

 now issued semi-monthly. Devoted to agriculture 

 and kindred subjects. Published by McBride & 

 PruBBj at 51.50 a year in advance, at Lincoln, Neb. 

 16 pp., 4 to. This new departure is a vast improve- 



ment on what was almost faultless heretofore, and 

 greatly enhances its usefulness. The letter-press 

 and illustrations are excellent. 



Worcester Monthly Visitor.— Devoted to 

 literature, mechanics and the farm. A demi-folio 

 of 8 pages, at 50 cents a year in advance. Worcester, 

 Mass. A new candidate for public patronage, and 

 from the number before us, amply deserving it. 



Keystone Farmer and Miller.— This is another 

 new candidate for public favor, and is published by 

 a company under the management of J. S. Sanders, 

 Plymouth, Pa., at .50 cents a year. 8 pages, demi- 

 folio. There seems to be an opening for a paper de- 

 voted to the milling interests of the Commonwealth 

 at least, and this journal ought to secure it. 



New Mexican Miner.— We hardly know whether 

 to call this a royal quarto or a demi-folio. It is a 

 new journal of le'pages and is devoted to the mining 

 interests of that far-oflf State, and is of paramount 

 value to those eng.aged in mining, or who propose I 

 engage in it. And in looking through its pages w 

 cannot but wonder at the expansion of our country, 

 the enterprise ofour people, and the progress making 

 by the "art preservative of all arts." 



Injdustrial News.— Published by the Inventors' 

 Institute, Cooper Union, New York. 24 pp., royal 

 quarto; monthly, at *1. 50 a year, postage paid. This 

 is a splendidly gotten up journal, and the January 

 number, 1881, is embellished with an excellent 

 portrait of Peter Cooper, and a sketch of his life. 

 Its material and execution is first-class, and it must 

 be of inestimable value to those engaged in inven- 

 tions and patent-rights. 



The Musical Herald for February is one of the 

 best numbers yet issued of this leading magaz 

 It opens with a humorous illustration, " The Musical-. 

 Committee in Session," which is in every respect ai 

 capital "hit," overflowing with sarcasm. An article' 

 on " Wasted Talent," by Dr. E. Tourjee, speaks in-^ 

 a very practical manner on the number of young' 

 voices which conld • be advantageously used in: 

 church, Sunday, and public school, jnd the most' 

 efficient manner of their instruction. Mr. Gotthold 

 Carlberg, the well-known symphonic conductor of' 

 New York, contributes an instructive paper upon ■ 

 "Modern Instrumentation," wlierein the use and- 

 abuse of difi'ereut orchestral instruments are fully 

 discussed. Mr. W. F. Apthoi-p draws many useful 

 thoughts for the advancement of the present art 

 from'the history of the past. Mr. Louis C. Elson, 

 in an essay on " Criticism," defends the critic from 

 the necessity of art-creation, and proves that the 

 best composers, poets, and painters have been the 

 poorest critics. There is an excellent paper giving 

 " Hints to Teachers of the Piano-forte." The inter- 

 esting serial story of "The New Tenor" is con- 

 cluded. The departments of Foreign and Editorial 

 Notes, Questions and Answers, Critiques, Reviews of'j 

 Music, Hymns and their Authors, etc., etc., 

 piiiuaiit, brilliant and reliable. There are numerous 

 uMii r I ililorials; and the music represents some of 

 llic laii.sl, [iroductions from the pens of Sullivan, 

 Ko.schai, Joseffy, Hopkins, etc., much of it being of 

 very moderate difficulty, but of sterling worth. 



Texas Planter and Farmer. For the farm and ■ 

 fireside. Fublished semi-monthly, by H. C. and J. 

 P. Jones, office corner Main and Market-sts., Dallas, 

 Texas, at $1".00 ayear. Six copies for $5.00. 



The copy -of this paper before us is a five columned, ' 

 eight paged folio. No. I, vol. 1, of an indefinite se- 

 ries, issued on the 15th of January, 1881, about 

 the size of "Colma?i's Rural World," and makes, 

 quite as preopssessing an appearance. We consider" 

 the general "make up" and literary contents of this 

 agieu[tural infant (infant only in age, however,) as a 

 credit to the Lone Stir, and we cheerfully reciproca 

 the X; but, "at this event we stil must wonder." In 

 December, 18o6 we stood on the banks of the lower 

 Ohio river and witnessed the steamboat struggling 

 against an ice flow, which bore the famous Santa 

 Anna, as a hostage under the protection of our flag, 

 to the city of- Washington, after his inglorious defeat . 

 by General Houston, on the field of San Jacinto. • 

 Times looked " blue " in Texas then, and Dallas was 

 not yet even conceived ; and here we already have a , 

 representative agricultural journal that would do 

 honor to any country an hundred years old. 



Afield and Afloat is a " right down " good pa- , 

 per, perhaps, one of the best representations of the . 

 sporting interests in the country, a specialty, howev- 

 er, in which we must confess hi« take very little inte- 

 rest; and, therefore, we are hardly competent to- 

 speak wl ii.s [nerits. It has some good points outside 

 of the siiuitiu^ King; but, "for the life of us" we 

 cannot be either interested or entertained in gunning, 

 fishing, rowing, walking or sailing, as sources of 

 mere sport, although we are far from intimating that ; 

 they are illegitimate or useless. 



SoRrBNER's Monthly, for December 1880, is on 

 our table, and is laden with its usual literary budget, 

 among which is a marked article intitled " The Rail-., 

 roads and the People," with which we are in sympa- - 

 thy so far as we understand the subject, but morel 

 observation "and reflection will be necessary to the ex- . 

 pression of an unqualified sentiment. 



