1866.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
^■^1 
lion iias been culled to what was. to b.iy liie luiist. very 
far frnra an honest, straighlforward business transactiun. 
An editorial notife appeared in the N. Y. Daily Times, 
referring to the awaid of the gold medal to tlie Buckeye 
for sundry enmneraied excellencies as a mower. This 
notice had an extensive circulaliua itioUiT journals, with 
the name of W. A. Wood's machine iubstituted for lliat 
of the Buckeye, and the notice clianged to read " for the 
best combined mower and reaper," followed by an enu- 
meration of the excellencies of the Buckeye, printed as if 
belonging to the Wood, viz., " Perfection of woi k in ail 
kinds of grass, and on every variety of surface, liglxtnessof 
ihuft, ease of management. peiTeclioEi of meclianical con- 
struction, simi)iicity. strength, and durability.'' The com- 
mittee, on the contrary, gave to the Wood macliine tiie 
preference over its chief competiloi', the Eagle, for ease of 
diaft, and smalinessof side draft. Tiieygave the Eagle 
machine the preference for quality of work and facility of 
management, as compared witli tlie Wood machine, and 
placed them on the same luvel as regards simplicity of 
construction and durability. The Buckeye will, of course, 
not be injured in the end by tliis improper boriowing of 
itspUimes. The actual decisiun of the Auburn cninmittee 
will not be obscured by any specious efforts of interested 
parlies. We are lUvorably disposed toward the Wood 
machine for its real excellence, but it is our duly to refer 
to the attempt to use the press to give a wrong coloring to 
Ihe fads, as we understand them. 
Ci*ib-I5itiug-. — An "Ex-Of^cer," wlio has 
studied this disease in tlie army, before he entered it, and 
since lie letuined from service, makes some suggestions 
wiiicli, considering the very indefiuile views usually held 
by veterinarians about it, are worthy consideration. We 
regret he iias no experience in regard to a cure. *' I have 
read the Agriculturist for years past, and have found tliat 
authors call this disease an alTeciioii of the siomach. or 
locate it in other places, still more remote from the seat 
of the complaint. I have taken pains for the last six or 
seven years, both in ihe army and while out of it, to look 
into every horse's mouth that gave the well known in- 
timation of being afflicted with what is generally termed 
'cribbing,' or * wind-sucking.' and 1 have in no instance 
failed to find that the gums grow down between the 
upper teeth— some within a quarter of an inch of the 
ends of llie teeth, others not so far, but all that char- 
acteristic without exception. From this I conclude 
it is a crowding of the teeth and gums, instead of any 
intestinal diseases. The pain and irritation caused by 
the pressure, makes the horse press his teeth upon the 
first horizontal piece of anything lie comes in contact 
with, to obtain relief. The pain he is in, no doubt causes 
him to grunt, and the eructation of wind from the stomach 
is but the effect of having the heud and neck in the posi- 
tion he lakes. For a cure, I would suggest that keeping 
the teeth from crowding each other, or the gums, or both, 
will at once cure the malady." 
^Vhite IVire for Clotlies Hiiues. — 
'■White Wire" is simply galvanized iron wire, that is, 
iron wire coated with zinc, which prevents its rusting. 
Jlost telegraph wire is thus prepared. Several cor- 
respondents have written that tliey use this telegraph 
wire obtained from the telegraph companies, and find it 
to answer a very good purpose, while it is permanent- 
ly durable. The '"Washburn & Moen Wire Works" 
make this galvanized iron wire witii extra smooth sur- 
face for clothes lines. It is wholesaled by the Agent in 
tliis city (E. A. Moen, 42 Clitf street) by the ton, at 13 or 
14 cents per lb., and in half mile coils (about IVO lbs.) at 
I5c. per lb. The No. 8 or No, 9 size is that used for 
cloliies lines. No. 8 weighs about 7 lbs. to the 100 ieeU 
which at 15c. per lb. would cost one cent per foot, ex- 
clusive of freight. A few neighbors could readily com- 
bine and get a )4 mile coil, the smallest quantity sold by 
tiie agent, and divide it. Allowing $2.60 for freight on 
2,640 feet, would make the cost only $1.10 per 100 feet. 
Wc presume hardware dealers would get it and retail it 
at about 2c. per foot if requested to do so. Anybody has 
a right to buy, or sell, or use this wire. 
Xo tlie l.Vives ofOenerals, Judg^es, 
l^euators, etc.— We have been shoaked recently by 
seeing the names of the wives of some of our most 
esteemed Generals, U. S. Senators, etc., boldly published 
as patrons and endorsers of various " Gift" and other en- 
terprise;;, ostensibly got up in aid of charitable or benev- 
olent objects. A close examination shows that in 
most cases the operators use these names only in- 
directly, tiiough in such a manner as to deceive the public 
into a belief that these ladies are really at the head of the 
schemes, or at least largely interested. But in, some of 
our humbug investigations, noted elsewiiere, we have 
seen letters, undoubtedly genuine, from some of the 
l.idies referred to, in which they do give their direct 
countenance and encouragement to Gift Enterprises, 
presentation feslivalf, cliaritable fairs^etc, whiclx are in , 
reality neither more nor less than *" covert Lotteries." 
These are of a worse character, if possible, than the old 
fashioned " regular" lotteries, where a man is boldly told 
the risk he runs, the chances in his favor, what he is to 
pay, and wliat to hope for. In these, on the contrary, 
his kind feelings and sympathies are worked upon, to 
filch money fitun him, ostensibly for good objects, when 
the chief jiart of it really goes into the pockets of the 
shrewd managers. We earnestly entreat these ladies 
not to lower the good reputation of their husbands, whose 
names we have delighted to honor, by connecting tliem 
in any m ay with these enterprises, and not to allow them- 
selves to he made the instruments of extracting money 
from people who would not think of giving it but for the 
endorsement of distinguished and esteemed names. 
Give liberally to our country's defenders and their fami- 
lies, but do it directly— not $1 to them, and $4 for pocr 
plated ware, and to tlie pockets of artful operators, 
JYlaiiure Iflakiug: l>y System,— Last 
montli (p. 3S6,) we noticed the fact that Bommer's Patent 
Method for making manure was open to the public, and 
that we had a stock of the pamphlets describing the pro- 
cess for sale. — (See Cook List.) We have received so 
many letters that we add : The description is in both Eng- 
lish and German, illustrated sufficiently to give a clear 
idea of the process by which ail kinds of herbaceous 
vegetable growth, muck or peat, in short all the litter and 
refuse of the farm may, with the addiiion of a certain 
quantity of animal maiiure, solid and liquid, on simple sub- 
stitutes easily obtained, be converted into a rich manure. 
Paiuting^s, EngraTings, etc. — To sev- 
eral inquirers in regard to objects of art, we will say 
that the largest and best retail stock in the city of these 
things, including beautiful carved work in wood, artists 
materials, etc., is probably at Kncedler's (late Goupil & 
Co.), 772 Broadway, cor. 9th st. There is a fine picture 
gallery connected with the establishment, to which ad- 
mittance is usually free, that is well worthy of a visit. 
Largfe Floclis of Chiclcens.— '' A. C. 
H.," Washington, Iowa. — We have never kn<ivvn of more 
than a few hundred fowls being kept in one yard in this 
country, and these large flocks did not do well more than 
a year or two. It is our opinion that, with ordinary care, 
when 25 or 35 hens and 2 or 3 cocks are wintered in one 
well furnished yard, and are allowed to liatch 300 to 350 
chickens before the middle of June, that these may all be 
well cared for upon one acre of ground, and the chick- 
ens, say 250 to 300 of them, fattened for market. But even 
then we w ould plow this acre, a quarter at a time, once or 
twice during the summer, and the next year take a new 
piece of ground, and raise a crop on the first. With this 
practice we think a man might keep as many separate 
yards of fowls as he can devote land and labor to, allow- 
ing about 3 acres to each yard, and having conveniencies 
to isolate diseased birds, if it is desirable to give them a 
chance for life. On some such plan great numbers of 
iiealthy poultry may probably be raised on the same farm. 
Experience TritU .Sick Cliickeus.— 
Mrs. E. A. F. A.,of Vincennes, Ind., writes in sympa- 
thy with Mrs. J. R. T., thinking the disease he describes 
on page 347 (October) is identical with one by which her 
poultry has suflFeied. She says she dissected many 
that died, and found in every instance the liver badly dis- 
eased. '• We tried every remedy we could hear of with« 
out avail ; as a last report we shut them up in a light airy 
coop, and lost no more until we again let them run at 
large, when they again sickened, and we again cimfined 
them as before. This fall, after several weeks, we again 
let them out, when five took sick and died. Since then we 
keep them shut up, and they are in perfect health, and 
when we occasionally kill them for the table, " e find their 
livers very different from the gangrenous things of those 
that sickened and died when allowed their liberty." 
BarbeiTy Seeds. — T. Roselougb, Douglas 
Co., Kansas. It is not necessary to sprout these. The 
seeds may be sown as soon as ripe, or they may be kept 
mixed with sand, in a cool place, until spring. 
Plants Aamed. — J. McXicoI, Co. Bruce, C. 
W.. The grass is probably Ely/nus strialus, a species of 
Lyme Grass, or Wild Rye....H.F. Hyde, West Wood- 
stock. Conn. Not a Cactus at all, but one of the very 
best Sedums, Sedian Suboldii ; a most valuable recently 
introduced herbaceous plant, as it is a late bloomer — 
Doctor Lceffler. N. Y. The vine is Boussingaultta 
hasselloides, commonly known as Madeira Vine, a useful 
climber with very fragrant flowers. The leaf is that of 
the common Pitcher-plant, or Side-saddle flower, Sara- 
cennia purpurea Wm. Warder, Pine Meadow, Conn. 
The Fringed Gentian, Gentiana crinita, and one of the 
-most beautiful o/ our wild flowers, ...R.. Paraell, Queens 
Co., N. Y. Appaieiilly Soltdago latifohn. Solidagos 
and Asters are not always certainly determined front 
fragments — H. Siidolph, Jefferson Co., Mo. The 
Spider-wort, of which flowers but no leaves are si-nt, is 
probably Tradescantm pilosa N. B. B., Troy, N. Y. 
Apparently Coroiulla varia^ but pods too young to tell 
certainly. ...Mrs. M. Ceck, Litchfield Co.. Conn. The 
annuid is Ccntrosttgia mncrosipkon ; tlie other is some 
ZephijraiUhts, but too much broken L. W., Johnson's 
Creek. No. 1 is like the leaf of Arteynisia vulgaris, or 
Mug-wort. No. 2, the young growth of Red Cedar— 
or some such — J. K. Leaning, Otsego Co. Some 
Euphorbia, which needs seeds for determination A. L. 
Child, Glendale, Nebraska. No. 1, an Aster, related to 
multijiorus, no telling without leaves. No. 2, another 
Aster^ iiiito. No. 3, ditto. No. 4, Gentiana Saponaria, 
Soapwort Gentian. With the exception of a few speci- 
mens put aside for more careful examination than we can 
now give, we have named all the plunts on hand that 
could be uiiined, and the rest have gone into tlie rubbish 
basket, and we thus close up our botanical matters for 
the year. Now a word to the good friends who send us 
specimens. We do not keep a guessing shop, we cannot 
afford to soak out crumpled specimens. Such help as 
we can give in delermining phmts, is given cheerfully, 
but you must do your part, and give decent specimens. 
When the lower leaves of a pl;mt difl["er from the upper 
ones, send one of them. We like conundrums, but don't 
care for them in the shape of plants, and hereafter shall 
not guess at the little snips that are sent. Very few have 
any idea of how much time may be wasted in trying to 
make out what woidd be plain enough, did the collector 
take a little pains to give us a leaf with the flowers. 
Planting' Cliestuiits.— S. Seymour, Rock- 
ford, 111. — The nuts are diflScult to keep and do best if 
planted in autumn. Plant in seed beds of light soil, not 
deeper than the thickness of the nut ; then cover the bed 
with several inches of leaves, upon which a little earth 
may be sprinkled to keep them from blowing away. 
This closely imitates the natural sowing in the forest. 
Of course the leaves are to be removed in spring. 
?Iai*1>le>ltea<l IVIammotli Cabbag'e. 
—Mr. J. J. H. Gregory, of Marblehead, introduced this 
variety some years ago. He sent us one of tlie kind he 
buries for the winter to be used for seed raising next 
spring. The man of the Independent will please notice 
that this was a Cabbage and not a Cabbage Stump. We 
are glad Mr. G. sent only one, or there would not have 
been much loom for anything else in the office. This 
head, divested of its outer leaves, measures 24 inches in 
dUmeter ; weighs over 30 lbs. ; is very solid, and is crisp, 
and sweet in the raw state; certainly a fine specimen. 
Sundry Iliinibuffs.— Subscribers are cou- 
tinually writing to inquire about parties that have already 
been shown up in these articles. We cannot afford room 
for reprinting. Please look through the past numbers. 
Over 200 swindlers have been directly or indirectly ex- 
posed during the present volume After the continu- 
ed hard knocks administered to the swindling fraternity, 
inevery paper for a year past, we are half disposed to 
take a •' breathing spell " for a month. We would very 
gladly drop the subject entirely, as it is always a disagree- 
able one; but somebody shoukl do it, and until the press of 
the country generally shall help to open the eyes of the 
people, and cease to aid swindlers by advertising for them, 
we shall not shrink from the labor, at whatever cost of 
time, expense, and pleasure. If need be, a half colunm, 
or more, will be devoted to this subject in the numbers of 
the next volume, and our readers will, therefore, please 
aitlin the important work, by keeping us promptly advised 
of all new circulars and other schemes that come to their 
know ledge. The reports for a month past, embraced in 
a peck or so of letters before us, we wilt not take up in 
detail, but give a few general hints covering most of them : 
1st, Here are nine different gift enterprises, generally of 
a very plausible character, and well calculated to deceive 
the unwary, and even some Intelligent people. The most 
dangerous of these are those got up professedly to aid 
wounded and disabled soldiers, or their wives, widows, 
or orphans. Concerts, tickets, gifts, greenbacks, houses, 
farms, pianos, watches, sewing machines, jewelry, etc., 
etc.. are offered to subscribers in large amounts as bonuses, 
to be distributed by lot to subscribers to these charitable 
funds, of which, ostensibly, a large, but really a very 
small proportion, is ;)roniiserf to sucli funds. The daily, 
weekly, and illustrated papers, setup these schemes in 
large displayed type, and attractive form. The names of 
generals, and of men in high places, and their wives — 
generally obtained under false pretences, are used with- 
out any permission— or displayed in a way to make them 
appear patmns of these enterprises. We have looked 
into the machinery and operations, and, mark our 
words, all of these soldiers', soldier orphans' and widows^ 
charitable Jesti^U, concerts^ £tc., in which presents are 
