412 
AMERICAN AQRICULTUKIST. 
[November, 
but we dill not know about its '1)050111'], it lakes on a 
sort of V(i,'elablc ijJiiigrene— and hence Its tlipaj^reeable 
odor." — ■■Veg;etablc gnngicne " soiuuls woll. But the 
way the vcn;ctable physiolocry is mixed up, is nothing to 
what liappens with the animal life. We read: '■When 
the worm has completed his work, he bores his way out, 
and in his new character he is ready to deposit his eggs 
for another summer campaign." Fuller, tliis is pretty 
tough entomology. By worm, we suppose tiiat the afore- 
said larva is intended, and wliile it is news that larva; 
lay eggs, it is not less astonishing than the information 
that this is a function of the male larva. "His eggs," 
indeed ! Would it not be well for those who report upon 
obscure subjects, like smut in wheat, to granges and 
other associations, to first ascertain what others have 
done in the same line ; they might begin with the treatise 
of Sir Joseph Banks, in 1805, and follow it up to the 
present time, and find that a great deal has been done in 
the way of careful investigation. That a journal of the 
present day sliould publish such crude matter, is strange, 
but still more strange is it that it should give a quasi en- 
dorsement to the aphis origin of the potato rot. In a 
notice of ttiis we meet with the following assertion : "-As 
the microscope has been little used in studying insects, 
this fact satisfactorily accounts for the previous lack of 
knowledge of the subject." The first work (so far as we 
know) publislied on microscopic matters, Lecuwcnhock, 
1G87, is about half devoted to the minute anatomy of 
insects, and if the \vritcr of that remarkable statement 
would know what has been done since, let him turn to 
Siebolds'' ''Anatomy of the Invertebrates." where he will 
find in Book Uth, an amount of references, which will 
show that the microscope has been used a great deal " in 
studying insects." and to some purpose. Wc are sur- 
prised to see such statements in a journal which has so 
accomplished an entomologist as Mr. Fuller in its editor- 
ial corps. 
A ^€\r Corn-Hiiskei*. — Many of our 
readers who have not yu-t finished husking corn, will be 
glad to know of the handy little busker shown in the an- 
nexed engraving. It is made of a stout bent wire, and 
attached to a leather strap by which it fits in the easiest 
possible manner upon tlie hand, the forefinger going 
through the upper loop and the others through the lower 
one; the wire then being grasped in the palm of the hand. 
This husker is sold for 25 cents each onlv, and is made 
by Chambers & Quinlan, of Decatur, III. The comfort of 
such a husker as this would enable one to husk at least 
several bushels of corn more in a day than with the ordi- 
nary wooden or irou huskiug-pins. 
I^yinsm Keed^s Caii»$e and Cure of 
the Potato Rot,— One of England's most distin- 
guished men of science sends us a personal letter, which, 
being private, we can not print. He has received one of 
Lyman Reed's circulars, and his letter fairly shouts— if a 
letter can shout— with astonishment, and he wonders if 
such things can be believed here. To answer our friend 
M., as well as inquirers in this country, in regard to 
this matter, we briefly state the case. Mr. Lyman Reed 
ten or more years ago, claimed that he had discovered 
that the potato rot was caused by an aphis, or plant 
louse, and showed us specimens which he thoiiglit de- 
monstrated the matter. To our mind it only illustrated 
the fact that aphides are found on potatoes, and though 
we saw a portion of a tuber in a bottle, with the aphides 
said to have been hatched from it, we were at a loss to 
see how the aphides could any more cause the rot 
than the " White grub," which often so seriously attacks 
the tubers, or the many insects which infest the plant 
above ground. Some members of Congress and other 
distinguished gentlemen, signed a certificate that they 
saw aphides apparently hatched from the tubers, and 
their names arc used in his circular. So much for 
Lyman Reed's claim. Berkeley, Ilassal, Cooke, Worth- 
ington Smith, and others, iu England, find the potato 
disease to be due to a fungus, which they have thorough- 
ly investigated, and within the present year, as wc have 
recently stated, have made out its complete history in 
discovering its sexual spores. These gentlemen stand in 
the very front rank of careful investigators, and they 
pursue their studies for the sake of the truths of science. 
They and a host of others have traced the whole career 
of the fungus of the potato rot, until its history is as well 
known as that of the potato itself ; they have studied all 
the conditions of its development, and have transplanted 
it to sound potatoes, and know it from beginning to end 
— and they have not a thing to sell to ciu'c it. On the 
cpntiuent, Montague, Payen, and others in France, hare 
arrived at the same results, and the history of the fungus 
has received valuable contributions from De Bary, and 
other eminent German mycologists. In this country 
several have made microscopic observations on the fun- 
gus, and a most admirable presentation of a difficult sub- 
ject to popularize, was recently made by Prof. W. G. 
Farlow, of the Bussey Institution, of Harvard. Upon one 
hand we have the most eminent men in their department 
of science in England, France, Germany, and America, 
who say, and prove completely, that the potato rot is due 
to a fungus. On the other hand wc have Mr. Lyman 
Reed, who claims it is due to an aphis. Neither English- 
man. Frenchman, German, or scientific American oflfers 
any secret preparation or nostinim to prevent the rot, 
while Mr. Lyman Reed has a " Remedy for Potato Blight 
and Rot," which he offers at so much a ton. And that 
is all we need say about it. 
Basket Items con- 
tinued on pa^e 43T. 
Catalogues Received. 
NITRSERYMEN. 
W. K. Bates, Stockton, Winona Co.. Minn. Fruit and 
Ornamental trees, especially hardy apples. 
P. J. Beuckmans, Augusta, Ga., sends his general and 
wholesale catalogue for 1876. Mr. B.'s locality allows 
liim to grow a stock especially suited to the south. 
A. Bryant, Jr., Princeton, III. Both wholesale and 
retail lists of a nursery full in all departments, and espe- 
cially strong in forest trees. 
J. Capps & Son, Mt. Pulaski, 111. General nursery 
stock, with the Alexander Peach as a specialty. 
Ellwanger & Baurt, Rochester, N. Y.. whose various 
catalogues form a small library, send us the 23id edition 
(!) ofth?irNo. 2, which includes x surprising variety of 
ornamental trees, shrubs, and plants, and is abundantly 
illustrated. 
Frost & Co., of the Genesee Valley Nurseries, Roches- 
ter, N. Y. A very full list from what is now one of the 
oldest of our nurseries. 
HooPEs Brother & Thomas, West Chester, Pa., send 
a catalogue which, as usual, is very strong in evergreens. 
T. S. IIiTBBAno, Fredonia, N. Y., makes a specialty of 
grape-vines, but does not neglect'other fruits. 
A. IIaxce & Sox, Red Bank, N. J., include in their trade 
list, greenhouse plants as well as fruit and other trees. 
R. S. JoHNSTox, Georgetown, Del., has a general assort- 
ment, but makes a specialty of peach trees. 
C. C. Langdox, Mobile, Ala. Mr. L. has now assumed 
whole control of Ihe well known Laugdon Nurseries, and 
given up his interest iu the seed store. 
Thomas Meehax, Germautown, Pa. A very full list, 
including many things no one else would think of. 
D. Redmon-d, Ocean Springs, Miss., makes specialties 
of oranges, bananas, and otlxer semi-tropical fruits. 
W. S. Strobe, at Ipa%*a, Fulton Co., 111., makes a spe- 
cialty of small fruits, but has the large ones. 
JoHX Saul, Washington, D. C, sends a wholesale cat- 
alogue which is, as usual, remarkably full. 
John C. Teas, Carthage, Mo., has a general nursery 
stock, but makes a specialty of stone fruits, and among 
these puts the Amsden peach prominently forward. 
B. F. Traxsou & Bro., Humboldt, Teun., offer a large 
stock of kinds best suited to their climate. 
A. R. WniTNET, Franklin Grove, III. Mr. W. is cele- 
brated for his Crab-apples, and has general nurseiy stock. 
B. B. WiER, Lacon, III., oflfers a large stock at low 
wholesale prices; among other specialties are the Sibe- 
rian Crabs, of which he hasnoarly 1,000 varieties. 
BULBS, WINTER-FLOWERING PLANTS, SEEDS. 
IIexrt a. Dreer. Phihuk-lphia. Pa. Bulbs, a full 
greenhouse stock, and various fiorists' requisites. 
Peter Hixbeusox & Co., 35 Cortlandt St,, N. Y. An 
illustrated bulb catalogue, also small fruits and winter- 
flowering plants. 
Long Brothers, Buftalo, N. Y. Bulbs, Plants for 
Wardiau Cases, and various other stock. 
W. F. Masset, & Co., Chcstertown, Md., send a trade- 
list of a full florists' stock, and small fruits. 
IIesry S. Rrpp, Shircmanstown, Pa., has a special 
" mail catalogue" for flowers and small fmits, and an- 
other for general nursery stock. 
SroxET Wilkinson, Providence, R. I., sends his trade- 
list of winter-blooming plants, very full and veiy neat. 
Young A Elliott. 12 Cortlandt St., N. Y., have an 
annual catalogue of all bulbs and general florists' goods. 
EUROPEAN CATALOGUES. 
William Butce & Co., Glasirow, Scotland, send their 
wliolesale list of agricultural and vegetable seeds. 
Lexault-Huet, Us^y, (Calvados), France, sends a most 
interesting catalogue, mainly of young forest trees. 
Louis Lerot, Angers, France, (Pabst & Esch, 11 Mur- 
ray St., N. Y., agents). Notwithstanding the death of 
the eminent Chevalier, the great establishment of which 
he was so long the head, is still continued in his name. 
The catalogue gives an idea of the immense stock, with 
notes of some new pears, the fruit of which will be ex- 
hibited at the Centennial. 
P. Seduce, Ussy, (Calvados), France. A very full cata- 
logue of j"oung forest trees. 
ViLMoitiN, AxDRicux & Co., Pai'ls, France, (Pabst & 
Esch, Agents), send their ''preliminary wholesale seed 
list," which is very full and abundantly illustrated, 
MISCELLANEOUS. ^ 
B. a. Elliott & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa. An assortment 
of florists' goods in iron, or iu which iron is largely used. 
Fred. Mather. Iloneoye Falls, N. Y. A price-list of 
fish and eggs, with various wild geese, ducks, and ferrets. 
E. Steiger, 22 and 24 Frankfort St., N. Y., sends a. 
classified list of American and foreign periodicals devoted 
to the various useful arts, including agriculture and hor- 
ticulture. Also a catalogue of Schedler globes, and a 
manual for their use. Tbe globes range from S inches iu 
diameter to the large scientific globe. 
F. Trowbridge, New Ilavcn, Ct. Waterproof paper 
and grafting-wax. 
J. E. WooDHEAD, Chicago, 111. Indestructible labels. 
Agriciiltural Journals in General — The 
American Agriculturist in Particular. 
As this is the season when old subscribers renew, and 
many become subscribers for the first time, we would say 
to both classes of readers something about agricultural 
journals in general, and our own in particular. Every 
now and then we see something in print, the aim of 
which is to show that an agricultural journal, to be use- 
ful, must be published in the state where it is to be read. 
One of the advocates of this view is Mr. H. T. Williams, 
who is. among other things, editor of the '■ Horticultur- 
ist." lie seems to take a fatherly interest 'n\ agricultural 
journals, and having surveyed the whole range of agricul- 
tural journalism, he gives " an opinion as is an opinion '* 
in the columns of the "Advertiser's Gazette." His ar- 
ticle contains a great deal that is amusing, but we now 
confine ourselves to what he says under the head of 
" Changes in Journalism." 
"A great change is coming over the future of American 
agricultural journals. Hitherto it has been possible to 
obtain very large circulations for National agricultural 
monthlies or weeklies, circulating all over the United 
States. This day is now passing by and will never be 
seen again. The reason is this : American farming is 
becoming sectionah i. t., the climates, crops, seasons, and 
tastes ofYarmers of each section differ greatly from those 
of any other. Each section must have its own rural joi;r- 
nal, devoted especially to the peculiarities of the crops 
where the subscriber fives. His interest is concentrated 
only in his local paper, and he declines to take anything 
published far away, however excellent* In my travels 
west I have noticed this feature very distinctly. Western 
farmers refuse to take eastern pajters, saying: farming 
and frnit-culture with us are so different from the east, 
that eastern journals are of no use to us. Southern states 
must liave tlieir own papers. New England her own, and 
the other states each theirs. The same thing is true in 
horticultural journals. It is impossible to cover the 
whole country with one journal, for each section has its 
peculiar climate and modes of treatment. All those who 
patronize rural journals iu the item of advertising will 
realize largest returns by spreading their cards over the 
whole area than to concentrate on one or two. The re- 
sult, a few years hence, will be no agricultural journals 
of verv large circulation, but a large number of local 
journals with moderate issues." 
The article, from which the above is extracted, is 
signed " Ed. ' The Horticulturist,' New York, and * Ag'l 
Ed. N. Y. Independent."' " Now the plain English of all 
this m.ay be stated thus : '* The large agricultural papers 
are going to the ' bow-wows,' so don't advertise in them, 
but come and advertise in the ' Independent,' which is 
suited to all climes .and latitudes." Of course, Mr. W. has 
a right to entertain what views he pleases of the future 
of agricultural journals, but he evidently has kept but 
little run of those of which he predicts with such an air 
of wisdom. Now we have not a word to say against 
" local " agricultural journals ; if tiicre was a good one in 
every state, it would be so much the better for us. When 
people read their loail papers, they all the more wish to 
know what is being done elsewhere. If one wishes to 
know about these local journals, let him look at our ex- 
change list, and see how many are discontinued within a 
year ; and then he may look at our exchanges, and see 
how largely these " local" papers arc made up from the 
" national monthlies," the day of which ie now '" passing 
