136 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[Mat, 
Tree Cotton.— As we have before been 
rather severe upon a speculation of this kind, some of 
our old subscribers may be surprised that we publish 
two advertisements for Tree Cotton seed, (one last 
mor.th and one now.) We have been at consider- 
able trouble to Investigate the matter before admitting 
(lie advertisements, and believe the parlies are acting in 
good faith in introducing this variety of cotton as an ex- 
periment. We have in one case ascertained that the 
seed was received precisely in the way the advertiser as- 
serted, and in the other we have seen the cotton before 
it was ginned. The shape of the bolls is different from 
ordinary cotton, and the fiber lias a different feel. It is 
yet to be proved by experiment whether it is at all 
adapted to our climate, but those disposed to try it will 
doubtless get genuine seed offered by the advertisers. 
Beware of Traveling Tree Ped- 
dlers.— We do not like to quarrel with traveling Tree 
Sellers, for many of them are upright, honest men, and 
not a few of them are the very best agents for extending 
the circulation of the Agriculturist ; but there is so much 
swindling by some of this class, that we must caution our 
readers to exercise special care in dealing with those 
who are far from home, and not personally known lo the 
purchasers. The most common mode of defrauding their 
customers is, to get a certificate of agency from some re- 
spectable nursery, and do just business enough for that 
nursery to keep their agency good, and then to lake 
orders and supply them with inferior and untrue trees, 
picked up here and there at nominal prices. They blus- 
ter the purchasers into paying for the trees " lo get rid of 
them," and when after half a dozen years the trees turn 
out untrue, the " agent" is non-com-at-ibus. The 
best way is to send directly to some responsible nursery- 
man ; or if any communication be held with the agent, 
listen lo what he has to say, canvass his list and pro- 
posals, and when the list of trees is made out, yourself 
send the order direct to the proprietors of the nursery, 
with all specifications as to kinds and size of trees, 
time and mode of delivery, price, etc. If Ihe agent be a 
recognized one, he will be satisfied with this course, as 
he will draw the same salary or commission as if he car- 
ried in the orders himself. 
Grape Culture, Wines and Wine 
Iflakillg.- This is the title of a work of over 400 pages, 
by A. Haraszlhy, published by Harper & Bros. The 
author is a native of a wine-growing country and made 
a trip to Europe to collect material for this work. The 
European vine flourishes well in California, and what re- 
lates to the culture of the grape is of course adapted lo 
that climate, but the very detailed accounts of the pro- 
cess of wine-making will be valuable everywhere. 
A l> T ew Work on Vegetables.— Crosby 
A Nichols have just published "The Field and Garden 
Vegetables of America, by Fearing Burr, Jr." This is 
rather a descriptive catalogue than a treatise upon the 
culture of vegetables, and contains much information 
upon the origin and peculiarities of the different varieties. 
The author has followed the classification of Loudon, 
which we do not like, but this is a minor point. The 
work is beautifully executed, and the engravings being 
from original drawings by Sprague, are of course good. 
Botanical Works.— A. Domas, 111. Gray's 
Manual is the best work. American Weeds and Useful 
Plants is fully illustrated. Both are in our Book-List. 
Hew American Cyclopaedia, Vol. 
16.— This volume completes ihe great work published 
by the Appletons. Whoever owns a set, has a valuable 
library. Among the striking merits of this work is Ihe 
information it contains about living people, and upon 
peculiarly American topics. An annual volume, two of 
which are already issued, will record passing events. 
American Pomological Society's 
Frult-lilsts— Distributed to members only. The 
terms are $10 for a life, and $2 for a biennial member- 
ship. Life members will be furnished, as far as possible, 
with the back volumes. Remittances for membership 
maybe made to Thos. P. James, Esq., Treasurer, Phila- 
delphia, or Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, President, Boston. 
Catalogues.— Each year shows a great im- 
provement in the catalogues of the various nurserymen 
and seedsmen. Instead of being a meagre list of articles 
for sale, many of them contain concise descriptions of 
fr'iits and plants, together wilh full directions for their 
planting and culture. Some of these are really valuable 
works of reference. We have accumulated a mass of 
these, and intended to notice them in detail, but are pre- 
vented by want of space. We thank Ihe contributors, and 
often in an indirect way benefit them by referring our 
many inquiring visitors to their pages. 
Messrs. Wilder and Breclf . — The pro- 
ceedings at the Quarterly Meeting of the Mass. Horl. So- 
ciety. April 4th, were unusually interesting. By a vote of 
the Society an account of the proceedings has been fur- 
nished us for publication, but we have /lot space left for 
a full report. First, an elegant Silver Pitcher or Vase, 
and a dozen Silver Forks, were presented as a suitable 
testimonial lo the lale retiring President of Ihe Society, 
Hon. Joseph Breck (Ihe well-known author of " Breck's 
Book of Flowers "). Following this was the presentation 
to the Society, by C. 0. Whitmore Esq., of a Marble Bust 
of Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, wdio has for more than thirty 
years been connected wilh the Society — eight years as 
President — and labored unceasingly for the promotion of 
its interests, and of the horticultural and pomological in- 
terests of our country generally. The Bust was received, 
and resolutions unanimously passed, expressing gratitude 
to Mr. Whitmore, and highly complimentary to Mr. 
Wilder. The Bust will be placed in the Society's rooms, 
to which it will be a most appropriate ornament. 
The 
Tobacco Essays— Plagiarism— New 
Award of the Second Prize. 
The Committee to whose decision the Tobacco Essays 
were referred, were intelligent men, and they sought for 
the Essay which should give them, if they wished to en- 
gage in its cultivation, the most plain and complete prac- 
tical instructions, as called for in the ofTer of prizes. 
The decision, published in the last issue of the Agri- 
culturist, was made upon this ground, and in good faith, 
and they supposed that every essay before them came 
within the conditions, and was written "from practical 
experience or observation." After the book was stereo- 
typed and printed, the Committee learned, to their 
surprise and regret, that they were imposed upon by Mr. 
A. B. Foster, of Crawford Co., 111., who copied almost 
word for word an essay by W. W. W. Bowie, of Prince 
George's Co., Mil., which was printed in the Agricultural 
Report of the Patent Office for 1849-'50. This essay re- 
ceived a prize of $30, which was awarded lo it by a 
Committee of Maryland Agriculturists. While the Com- 
mittee feel gratified that their decision should accord 
with that of these distinguished gentlemen, they ex- 
ceedingly regret the unintentional injustice done to Mr. 
Bowie. The only amends they can make are this public 
acknowledgment, and to put his name to the Essay should 
another edition of the book be called for. The sec- 
ond prize of $10 will belong to Mr. Christian Schnei- 
der, of Madison Co., 111. As to Mr Foster, we leave him 
to reflect that he has done a very mean thing, and to the 
chagrin this exposure must bring him. Fortunately the 
discovery was made before forwarding the prize-money. 
Judges for the Strawberry Exhibition. 
The following gentlemen have been chosen by the 
Fruit Growers' Society a Committee of Judges on the 
forthcoming Strawberry Exhibition, announced else- 
where in this paper, viz. : Mr. Charles Downing of New- 
burg, N. V. ; Mr. Samuel B. Parsons of Flushing, N.Y. ; 
Mr. Peter B. Mead, Editor of the Horticulturist, N. Y. ; 
Prof. Geo. W. Huntsman of the Free Academy, N. Y. ; 
Mr. Stephen D. Pardee of New-Haven, Conn. ; Mr. John 
J. Thomas of Union Springs, N. Y., (Horticultural 
Editor of the Country Gentleman, Albany) ; and Mr. 
Isaac C, Winans of Newark. N. J. The first five named 
gentlemen have signified their acceptance ; the last two 
have not yet been heard from, but will doubtless attend. 
This is a very excellent committee, all of whom are well 
known as practical and skillful judges of fruits, while not 
one of them has a special or personal interest in the prop- 
agation of any variety of strawberries. Mr. Winans 
was formerly largely engaged in marketing strawberries 
in New- York, and his practical experience will be 
specially valuable in this department of the exhibition. 
The Michigan Agricultural College. 
We are glad to learn that this, the pioneer institution 
of its kind in the country, is still in a flourishing condi- 
tion. Like every new enterprise* it has had to contend 
against ignorance and prejudice. The Legislature of the 
State has now placed it in a condition to sustain itself 
until the lands granted by the General Government can 
be made available. The Slate Board of Agriculture, 
composed of some of the most intelligent farmers of the 
State, have control of its affairs. Prof, T. C. Abbot, is 
President of the Institution, and there is an able corps of 
Professors, most of whom ate personally known to us. 
To Ihe farmer's son thiscollege offers especial advantages, 
as he is enabled by means of his labor to defray a good 
share of the expenses of his education, and is brought in 
contact with those only who consider labor honorable. 
We know that the studies relating to agriculture arc 
taught more fully than they are in most colleges and sci- 
entific schools, while the course in the ordinary and high- 
er branches of English education is very complete. If 
the farmers of Michigan properly appreciated the institu- 
tion it would be filled to its utmost capacity, but at pres- 
ent there is room for a few from other States, who are 
admitted at a yearly charge of $20 for tuition, which is 
free to residents of the Stale. Catalogues and Circulars 
may be had by applying to Pres. T. C. Abbot, at Lansing. 
Agricultural Department at Washington. 
It gives us pleasure to state thai there are strong indi- 
cations of a desire on the part of the Commissioner and 
his associates to make this Department what it should 
be, — a real benefit lo the agriculture of the country. A 
very capable man, Mr. Wm. Saunders, is placed in charge 
of the propagating garden. Prof. Townend Glover has 
been selected as Entomologist to the Department— an 
appointment eminently fit to be made, and vie are espe- 
cially gratified at this, as Prof. G. was very shabbily treated 
by the old Agricultural Bureau of the Patent Office. We 
have no doubt, from Prof. Glover's ability and enthusiasm, 
that his labors will do much to enlighten the farmers con- 
cerning their great enemies, the insects. Another favor- 
able indication is the determination to stop the promiscu- 
ous scattering of seeds, and to distribute them hereafter 
through organized agricultural societies and clubs, where 
they will be carefully tested, and the results made 
known, which is the course we have urged for a long time 
past. The Commissioner requests us to state that he de- 
sires all such organizations now existing, or which may be 
formed, to at once forward to the Department the name 
of its President and Secretary, in order that they may be 
supplied with seeds and agricultural reports. Things 
seem to be taking a proper shape, and we have only to 
ask the Commissioner that, while he is exercising prop- 
er care in the distribution of seeds, he will improve 
still more upon the old ways of the Patent Office, and 
send out such seeds, only, as are new and worthy of 
trial. We decidedly object to furnishing, at the expense 
of the people, such as are to be obtained at the seed stores. 
Thus, among the seeds now being sent out, several are 
quite common ; some of them we have scattered broad 
cast for years past, in our free distribution. 
Strawberry [Exhibition.. 
AT THE 
Office of the American Agriculturist. 
The Proprietor of the Agriculturist invites Strawberry 
Growers, of this vicinity and elsewhere, to make an exhi- 
bition of their choice fruit on Thursday and Friday, June 
18th and 19th.* at the American Agriculturist Office ; and 
to give zest to the exhibition, he offers the following 
PRIZES : 
A— For best 25 approved varieties (one quart each). . . $7 
B — Second prize 5 
C— Third prize. 3 
D— For best dish of market berries (two quarts of 
one variety.— It will be very desirable to show 
plants with fruit in addition) 3 
E— For second and third best do. do. $2, $1 
F— For largest three berries of one variety, (weight 
and size both being considered) 2 
G— For best New Seedling not before exhibited 5 
H — For Second Best Seedling not before exhibited. . . 2 
1 —For best flavored Strawberries (one quart) 2 
J —For best quart of White Strawberries 2 
K— For best quart Everbearing — 2 
L— For best quart of Bonte St. Julien 1 
M— For best quart of La Constante f 
pj— For best pint of Princesse Frederick William 1 
O— For best pint of Empress Eugenie 1 
p— For beslpint of Marguerite 1 
Q— For best quart Fillmore 1 
R— For best quart Cutter i 
S— For best quart of Triomphe de Gand 1 
T— For best quart Wilson's Albany 1 
U— For best quart Hooker's Seedling 1 
V— For best quart Hnvey's Seedling ., t 
W-For best quart Victoria 1 
X— For best quart Jenny Lind i 
Y— For best quart Vicomtesse Hericart deThury i 
fl^ 3 No sample can compete for more than one prize. 
The beiries to come in competition for the premiums 
must be upon the tables as early as 11 A. M. on Thursday 
June 18th, and each specimen must be correctly labeled. 
The Awarding Committee will attend to their duties at 
12 M.— The exhibition will not open to the public until 
2 P. M. When the premiums are awarded, the names, resi- 
dence, aXiH places of business of the exhibitors will be put 
upon the specimens, and the prize samples designated. 
No Fruit exhibited will be removed before Friday 
evening without special permit. 
* Should any peculiarity of the season require a change 
to be made in the date of holding the exhibition, notice 
will be given in the American Agriculturist for June, 
