1863.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
207 
for the largest and most showy articles, the pat- 
ronage of the race course, and the tolerance 
and introduction of shows entirely foreign to 
the object of the meeting. It is fully in the 
province of the managers of Agricultural Asso- 
ciations lo institute a reform in these particulars, 
and to educate the public to a just appreciation 
of the appropriate work of such Exhibitions, 
viz.; to show the proceeds of the best culture, 
and the methods by which all may secure like 
results. Farmers will gladly spend a few days 
and dollars if they can gather facts which shall 
increase their harvests or lighten their labors. 
It is not intended by these remarks to entirely 
condemn the present management of Agricul- 
tural Exhibitions in this country, but only to 
call attention to some growing abuses which 
threaten to bring these almost indispensable in- 
stitutions into contempt. Taken as a whole, 
our Annual Exhibitions will compare favorably 
with those of any other country; it should be 
our aim not only to make them superior to oth- 
ers, but to raise them to the highest possible 
standard of excellence. Observer. 
Working of the Homestead-Law. 
The following extracts from a familiar letter 
written by a subscriber to the Agriculturist, indi- 
cate how great a benefit has been conferred by 
the Homestead Law upon thousands who need 
only a start in life to become the independent 
possessors of a home and the means of support. 
Let those who from untoward circumstances 
find it impracticable or difficult to make their 
way by other means, find encouragement in the 
example here shown. The writer says : " I 
failed up in the mercantile business, had nothing 
left but a span of horses and some household 
furniture and a few dollars in money, with 
wifcli I started for Nebraska to take a home- 
stead under the new law. I arrived here in 
March with just $5 left, took a claim, put up 
a log house, and went to work. I have 1G0 
acres of splendid land which will make me a 
good farm, which only cost me $13 ; and five 
years' residence on it secures me the title by 
paying $2 more at the end of that time. I have 
got 10 acres of land broken up and a good gar- 
den started, and am greatly indebted for the 
latter to volumes 20 and 21, of the Agriculturist, 
which I bought on the way out where I stopped 
over night. I have read them thoroughly, and 
come to the conclusion that I cannot get along 
without the paper. I have no experience in 
farming, and when I want information on any 
point I refer to the paper and am almost sure to 
find it — consequently I send the dollar for the 
present year, which I got by working out by the 
day, and this is the very best investment I can 
make. I wish some thousands of the hard- 
worked clerks and mechanics in the city, that 
have families to support, could know what a 
chance there is here for them to secure a home 
and a sure competency. I have been through 
the mill, and can truly say that I am happier 
and better contended here in my log house, with 
i lie prospect before me of securing an attract- 
ive home for myself and children, than I ever 
was when in successful pursuit of a mercantile 
business. Here is ample room for thousands — 
produce of all kinds is high and commands cash 
at any time. The soil is a light loam with a slight 
intermixture of sand, the country is healthy, 
plenty of good water to be had by digging 10 
to 12 feet, to say nothing of creeks. My claim 
is on the great military road from Omaha to the 
mines, upon which hundreds of teams pass dai- 
ly, laden witli stores of every description. The 
middle branch of the Pacific Road (when built) 
will pass near here, and right here in the valley 
of the Platte River are thousands of acres 
waiting for somebody to take them in possession 
— "to tickle with a hoe, that they may laugh 
a harvest." Do tell the poor hard-working 
drudges that barely eke out a scanty subsist- 
ence, that here they could be lords of the soil 
and soon gain an independence. 
A Few More Humbugs. 
Circulars and Advertisements of various 
swindling schemes continue to be received at 
the Agriculturist office, from subscribers who have 
been duly warned by our previous exposures, 
and are desirous of having others put on their 
guard. The following are among the latest new 
operations. A writer in the Chicago Tribune, 
in a long communication claims to have discov- 
ered an infallible method of determining be- 
tween the middle of October and the middle of 
February of each year, what will be the success 
of the wheat crop of the following season. He 
professes to have tested his theory for thirteen 
years past, and found it infallible. He modest- 
ly claims to predict with certainty only concern- 
ing the " territory west of Lake Michigan, and 
north of forty one degrees, and to some extent 
South of that line, but would not be so sure, as 
the effects of those causes disappear as you go 
south." What becomes of the causes after the 
effects have disappeared, we are not informed. 
This individual proposes to impart this informa- 
tion for sixty dollars, or thirty dollars each year 
for two years, or ten dollars a year for ten years ; 
at the end of that time the key of the guide will 
be given; but all necessary information will be 
given before the seeding time of each year, etc." 
He oracularly says " this year is indicated by 
those causes to be an extreme one — either very 
large, or very small. Immediately after seeding 
time I will state which." Seeding time is past, 
but we have not yet seen the promised state- 
ment. This man may sincerely believe he can 
do what he professes ; we do not, and advise 
our readers to remain incredulous and save 
their money. 
HEms Wanted for a Large Estate. — 
One of the easiest ways to procure money, is 
to inherit it, and probably few persons have not 
at some time dreamed, either awake or asleep, 
of a fortune left for their enjoyment by some 
unknown relative. Occasionally such cases 
have actually occurred, and being duly set forth 
in the newspapers, have added stimulus to the 
imaginations of fortune seekers. Sharpers 
have not left this field uuworked, and their cir- 
culars glitter with golden hopes for those long- 
ing for easily obtained wealth. One professes 
to keep a register of all unclaimed property in 
England, to which register, access is allowed for 
one dollar. .Another requests all families of a 
certain name, say Smith, to communicate with 
him concerning a large estate to which the 
Smith family are heirs ; of course a small fee 
is expected if particulars of the said estate are 
required. In one instance the promised estate 
was said to have been lying unclaimed in Eng- 
land one hundred and fifty years. There 
would be about as much probability of heirs in 
this country realizing from such a property now, 
as there would of recovering Pharaoh's crown 
by fishing in the Red Sea. The circulars con- 
taining such offers are worth something as ma- 
terial for lamp-lighters, or making over into 
new paper ; to which use we commend them. 
Transmutation.— Not of wheat into chess, 
but of copper and zinc into gold, or something 
that resembles it. A " Dr." sends out circulars 
from New- York City soliciting agents to sell 
the " British Metallic Mutual Association Trans- 
mutater's Guide." There's something in that 
name, surely. It is said to be the most com- 
plete exposition of ancient Alchemy ever pub- 
lished, " contains important information to 
bankers, merchants, farmers, mechanics, clerks, 
laborers— in fact the most important informa- 
tion to every one ever brought to light from the 
Hidden Storehouse of Nature, being a sure fortune 
to all who possess a copy of this wo>-k, and practise, as 
laid down in Uie simple receipts in tine Guide." Then 
for the inevitable one dollar extra, " a person 
may become a member of the Society and en- 
joy all rights, benefits, &c." We can tell the 
reader how to make two dollars in connection 
with this concern. Just keep your money; it 
will be clear gain : the " transmutation " con- 
sists in transferring cash from the pockets of 
the credulous to those of a " sharp practitioner." 
If any choose to invest in the scheme, will they 
please inform us when they are successful ; we de- 
sire to be present " when the laugh comes in." 
" American Farmer and Mechanic." 
Perhaps an apology is due to our readers for 
not earlier denouncing this concern outright; 
we have hinted at it several times, but it was 
claimed by some that the more recent operators 
intented to fulfill their promises, and were only 
temporarily hinderd by the " hardness of the 
times, etc." Two or three numbers were issued 
last year, with the suspicious claim of being 
" an old established Journal." Then came out 
a January number, with large promises of the 
future, and private circulars to Postmasters and 
others, offering great inducements. We could 
not say these promises would not be fulfilled. 
The reputed publisher could never be found in 
when we called, or sent round, as we did fre- 
quently. Complaint after complaint continued 
to arrive, and we followed up the concern, 
with no satisfaction. To day (May 29) we went 
with one of the swindled Postmasters, determin- 
ed to call to a prompt personal account whom- 
soever we might find in, be he clerk, boy or 
the " boss " himself. But the shop was shut up 
— occupied by another business — and to our in- 
quiries through the building, the answers were, 
"gone down," "gone up," "gone off," etc.— 
When a responsible agricultural ofhorticultural 
paper, with a fair prospect of continuance, is 
next started hereabouts, we will announce the 
fact in the Agriculturist. Until then, better give 
a wide berth to these hundred and one new 
agricultural papers in New- York City, got up 
by parties who think it easier to make a fortune 
by gulling farmers, than by honest labor. 
»-« — »i» ■ - 
Treatment of Kicking Cows. 
J. C. of Norfolk, Ct., says in a letter to the 
Agriculturist: "The following treatment, which 
I have tried for some years, has never failed to 
stop the evil. Put a strap around the body of 
the cow just in front of the bag and buckle 
rather tight. If the cow tries to kick, draw the 
strap a little tighter. She will never get used 
to it, and it never does any injury. She will 
keep on eating as usual, but has no inclination to 
lift her feet even to walk about." This may an- 
swer the purpose ; the experiment is easily tried, 
