390 
AMERICAN AaRICULTUmST. 
[November, 
Maternal Iiistiuct. — Mr. A. C. Coleman, 
of Preble Co., Ohio, sends us the following cuiious 
and inteiesling statement : "A short lime ago the chil- 
dren of Mr. Hripner brought from the barn four little for- 
saken chicks, and put tliem in a box for protection. A 
pullet not yet half grown entered the box, and remained 
brooding over them, until it was removed to the hen- 
house and the chicks covered up for the night. The next 
day the pullet again claimed her tittle charge, and since 
then has remained with them constantly, scratching the 
ground, feeding them and clucking in a most pompous 
manner, although the clucking, like the pullet, is on a 
Bmall scale. The pullet in fact is so small, that it can 
scarcely cover its four little cliicUens when brooding 
them."— Instances of the adoption of the young of other 
animals, by males as well as females, and often not of 
the same species, are not vcr;/ rare. We know no 
similar case to the one reported, but pullets that have 
never laid, and young cocks even, may be made to sit, 
hatch and take care of chickens. 
A ITIaiuiuotU S^qiiasli, weighing 130 lbs., 
is on exhibition at our office, contributed by Mr. Jas. 
Beveridge, of Flushing. L. I. Like mo.st big things, the 
seed was reported to have come from California. Mr. 
B. thinks its size due to a special fertilizer used. 
Permaueoit IPair <jri*on»4l>>i. 'JL^he 
Queens Cotiuly Fair was a great success tliis 
year, as it could not fail of being when such men as Sam- 
uel Taber, President, and John Harold, the long time 
Secretary, deteiinined to make it so. After years of 
talk and discussion, a majority vote was secured in favor 
of a *' permanent locatidn," whicli did not agree with the 
wishes of some parts of the County, and the feasibility 
of which is still an open question in tlie minds of a lai'ge 
number of the leading agricuilurists throut-liout the 
county. The townof Hempstead gave<i perpetual lease, 
for exhibition purposes, of 40 acres of land, near the 
Mineola Station, on the L. I. Railroad. It was well en- 
closed and suitable buildings erected ir, a brief time, in- 
cluding a fine central structure in the form of a Greek 
cross, covering SODO square feet. The arrangement of llie 
grounds and the buildings are a model well worthy of be- 
ing consulted by all who contemplate permanent loca- 
tions. We have visited some State Faiis which scarcely 
exceeded that of Queens County this year, and so long as 
John Harold and his present coadjutors (nanage the So- 
ciety, the experiment of a permanent location will be 
successful thei e. Whether under oi dinary ciicumstatices 
and management, Ihe good grounds and buildings always 
ready for use. counterbalance the advantages of competi- 
tion am^mg different towns, and of working up an interest, 
often in remote localities where it is most needed, may 
still be discussed pro and con. 
Xlie Fairs — Cattle Sko^rs — Frntt 
SHOWS. — We are obliged to refiain from noticing in 
our crowded columns, except in a general way, the va- 
rious exhibitions of this season, many of which we had 
the pleasure of attending. The interest and attendance 
upon some lield during the last week in September, were 
unfavorable affected by a norlh-east storm, but prevail- 
ingly good weather ensured large attendance. The 
Pennsylvania Stale Fair, at Easton, was famous for the 
wonderfully fine show of hogs made— the Chester Co. 
breed greatly predominatmg. We think a few such shows 
will indicate their claim to being a distinct breed. The 
Illinois Fair was a success, especially in the classes of 
neat catlie, draught horses, and implements. The Mis- 
souri State Fair is reported as very creditable in all de- 
partments, and a great pecuniary success. The Cana- 
da West exhibition, so far as we can learn, exceeded as 
a cattle show any hehl in the States. We have numer- 
ous reports of successful county and town fairs also, and 
congratulate the managers on their successful efforts— 
but cannot record particulars. 
Cal^-^s — Rearing: -n^itlioaat I^lillc. — 
A subscriber asks for the experience of our readers in 
regard to raising calves without milk ? We know it 
may be done, but without great and constant care many 
calves will droop and die. The practical questions really 
are : How may calves taken from Ihe cow at birth be best 
raised? How soon may all milk be safely withheld? 
What is the best substitute for milk? What course of 
feeding or medicine, or treatment (which includes both,) 
is best to check the scours or their opposite in young 
calves brought up by the pail ?— Our columns are open 
to valuable hints and experience. 
Reyniold^s Stove Hoolc (or " Dexter," 
as he calls it) is an ingeniotis arrangement of two pieces 
of iron like a pair of shears, combining a stove-cover 
lifter, kettle lifting hook, pie-tin lifter, a small hammer 
head, and sundry other uses about a cook stove — on the 
whole a convenient addition to the kitchen furniture. 
Xlae 171oon.— " A great niacy about here," 
says a Roofstown ?^nbFcriber (Stale not given,) "stick to 
the notion that shingles should be put on, garden * truck ' 
jdanfed, pnrk killed, sheep sheared, etc., etc., just at suck 
a time of the moon. Wiiat do you think ? ''—We think : 
Do your work when yon are ready, with the ground pre- 
paied. and the weather favorable, and let the moon take 
care of her affairs ; she won't trouble you. Let those 
wait and watch the moon who have nothing else to do. 
Xobacco. — We are often infiuired of by 
Farmers and others, as to some method of preparing for 
use the tobacco whicli they raise. The sailors' way is 
simple and good. After the curing and drying process is 
complete, select the inner and best outer leaves of the 
tobacco ; sprinkle with pretty sweet molasses and water, 
and lay them together, until they become uniformly 
damp. Tlien twist them into a roll, say 12 or 15 inches 
long, and 3 inches through. Bind tliem together tightly 
with twine. The twine should be wound on the tobacco 
in 2 or 3 layers, like thread on a spool, and drawn as 
tightly as its strength will allow. After remaining for 2 
or 3 weeks it will be fit to use, although the longer it is 
kept the belter it becomes, if not allowed to mould, 
which may be prevented by wiping occasionally with a 
rag wet in molasses, or liquorice and water. This will 
be found better for smoking and chewing than tlie ordi- 
nary tobacco to be had in country stores. 
Curious Gro-^rtli oft' a Radisli. — A 
radish from the garden of Mr. Halsey 
Minton, near Dover. N, J., presents such 
a curious form that we have had an en- 
graving maile of it. It is not unusal to 
see the long radish split up into several 
prongs and twist about in a curious 
manner ; but this appears to be a round 
radish, bent on repeating itself in the 
manner shown in the illuslration. A 
'' ■ "^' friend, who ought to be ashamed of it, 
suggests that it ought to be called a 
"foui horse radish," certainly it has one 
characteiistic in common with a tandem 
rteam. What circumstances induce these 
freaks of nature, no one knows. Some- 
y limes the influence would seem to affect 
the seed before germination, and at 
others afterward. The investigation of them would be 
difficult, but not less interesting — often instructive. 
Irrigation.— " W. W. O.," Suffolk Co., N. 
v., writes : '* I can turn the water of a brook upon my 
ground by laying a pipe l?^ miles, witli a fall of about 
ten feet. My plan is, to lead it through the center of my 
land, and place a faucet every ten rods, to which I can 
attach a hose and use the water as I wish. The grand 
question is, w ill it pay ? If so. what kind of pipe do I 
want, of what size, and what will it cost ? ^isiver.— 
There is much land in many parts of the country, where 
it would pay well to irrigate thus. We can hardly decide 
in a particular case without a full examination. The 
best pipe would be galvanized iron, about 2 inches in 
diameter (cost T5c. per foot). Thin sheet iron pipe lined 
with cement and laid in and covered with the same, would 
do also, at less cost, though not so durable. 
Pennyroyal Ground.— " B. B.," Wash- 
ington Co., Pa., asks how to reclain^ land that is "ad- 
dicted" to Dewberry vines and Pennyroyal. The soil 
appears rich, but it is a hard matter to get grass started.— 
Try plowing tills fall, hariowing in 100 to 150 btisliels of 
lime, planting corn next spring, manuring in the liill with 
A shovell'ul of good compost or yaid manure, and hoe 
well, by horse and by hand. If a good dressing of ma- 
nure is spread and plowed in for the corn, with flat cul- 
ture, the briars may possibly be so far destroyed that 
grass can be sown among the corn in August, and by roll- 
ing the ground flat in October, when the crop is off. a 
good sward may be obtained within the year. 
Farcyin Horses.— "J. W. H.," Fraukliu 
Co., Mo., and others. Farcy and Glanders are the same 
disease exhibiting itself in different forms. It is incurable, 
and very dangerous. The only safe way is to kill the suf- 
ferers, and take great care that the disease is not com- 
municated to men. In the early stages the disease is not 
conspicuously evident, and unscrupulous persons often 
sell glandered horses. This ought to be a State Prison 
offense. The symptoms and treatment are minutely de- 
scribed in our last volume, page 309, (October, 1^65). 
A Good Team marks a farmer as a iz;eneral 
rule ; horses or oxen, it is all the same.—'* Progress'' says : 
" If you see a farmer with a poor team, you may be sure 
there is a screw loose somewhere." 
13 Mouthf^ in a Ycnv I 
Ad new subscribers to the Ayricultnrist for 1867, 
whose names are received during Xove^nber^ will re- 
ceive free of" cliargfe the December number, which 
mil be a very valuable one. This tvill give 13 
inontlis for a year's price. Tlie offer applies to 
all new subscribers, singly, in clubs, in premium lists, 
etc. Extra time allowed for the arrival of names from 
the Paciflc Coast and other distant points, if started 
soon after this notice is received. All new names must 
be marked new, in order to receii'C the extra number. 
1867. 
The American Agriculturist Annuals. 
We propose soon to issue two Annuals for the year 
1667, the one Agricultural ^ the otiier Horticultural , 
They will each contain about 120 or more pages, 12 mo., 
and will be in a sense, a continuation of the Rural An- 
nual, published by us, and formerly by Mr. Harris of the 
Genesee Farmer. The names " Rural Aiuuial." " Rural 
Register," Annual Register," etc., are so constantly con- 
founded that we reluctantly drop the old name. These 
Annuals will, we hope, be worthy of and will doubtless 
gain a very large circulation. A limited space wii! be 
allowed for first class advertisements in either or both, 
which must be sent in before December 1st. 
Ylie American Agricultural Aunual will 
contain a brief review of the past year— noiices of im- 
portant events, inventions, pubUcalions, etc., affecting 
tlie agricultural interests of the country, importations of 
stock, introduction of new crops, etc. ; contributed ar- 
ticles of an interesiing and practical character, fully 
illustrated; practical hints in regard to work, and ma- 
chinery, besides convenient tables, and a full almanac. 
The American Horticultural Annual is 
the first of what we hope to make a permanent series. 
As it is late in the season, we cannot hope to make it 
entirely what it is ultimately intended to be— a record of 
the years progress in horticulture, giving positive land 
marks, describing vvhat has been done in the past year, 
and indicating wlmt should be done in ihe coming one, 
though the first number will be valuable to ail. It will 
contain contributions from well known horticulturists, 
and embody much useful, practical information. No an- 
nual of the kind has before been published in this country. 
The $1,250 Prizes: Prairie and Western 
Farming — Cotton Culture — Timber 
and Fencing for Prairies. 
As announced in October Agriculturist, page 344. we 
offer the following Prizes: For the Best Treatise or 
Essay on Prainc and Western Fanning, %Zhii% For the 
Second do., $100; For the Third do., $50- . . , For the 
Best Treatise or Essay on Cotton Culture, $400; For 
the Second do., $100 For the Best Treatise (u- Essay 
on TimbpT and Fencing for Prairies, $150; For Second 
do.. $75; For Third do.. $25. The manuscript on 
Cotton Culture to be ready Jan. 1st; on Timber and 
Fencing Feb. 1st, and on Praiiie Farming Marcli 1st. 
For full particulars, see October Agriculturist and printed 
slip furnished at this Office to those proposing to write. 
I ( l^«^ I ■ ! ^ 
$100 Housekeeping Prize. 
For the Best Essay on Housekeeping, to make 20 to 
25 columns in the Agriculturist, the Publishers will pay 
a prize of ^100 cash. Something after the manner of 
*' Walks and Talks on the Farm " may perhaps come Ihe 
nearest to what is wanted, though we do not limit the 
offer to any particular form or style. What we want, is, 
to get an article to be continued throutih the year 1867, 
of IJa to 2Ja columns in a papei', which shall be in- 
teresting and instructive to Housekeepers— one which 
shall bring in the work and cares of daily life. That 
Essay will be the most valuable wliic-h shall in tlie least 
space convey tiie greatest number of practical hints and 
suggestions in a readable, easy style. The Essays lo ite 
received on or before Dec. 1st, or at least enough of 
each lo exhibit its general style and ability. The first 
chapter is desired for the January number. After the 
selection is made, the writer will have opportunity to 
amend and improve the chapters subsequent to the first, 
as the time is limited for their first presentation. 
