232 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[August, 
tired and sixty six. Of these fifteen are Arabian 
horses of the finest blood. Of course, our 
country Tvill not send horses or cattle four 
thousand miles across the seas, but we expect 
a very good exhibition of farming utensils, and 
believe we shall excel all other nations in this 
department. I have learned in relation to 
American implements, a fact worth noting. A 
Russian diplomatist, high in official position, 
wrote a letter to one of the managers of the 
Fair, wishing to know if America would be rep- 
resented, Baying if she were not he would not 
attend. On being informed that America would 
be represented, he replied that he would attend, 
and twenty or thirty Russian nobleman with 
him. Similar inquiries have been made from 
different parts of Germany." 
The New Mail Law. 
On the 1st of July a new act of Congress 
went into effect, which makes several changes 
in our rates of postage. For the convenience 
of our readers we note the provisions of most 
interest to them. 
Postage on letters weighing half an ounce or 
less is three cents to any part of the United 
States. Formerly letters to California and other 
Pacific States were 10 cents. Letters delivered 
from the office where they are mailed pay two 
cents. In towns where there are letter-carriers 
they make no charge for delivery. 
Postage on newspapers must be paid in ad- 
vance. The postage on the Agriculturist is now 
twelve cents a year, to be paid in advance at 
the office where it is delivered. 
The postage to the Canada line has to be 
paid here, and the subscription price of the 
Agriculturist to be sent to our Canadian friends, 
will be §1 12. 
Newspapers sent .by mail to those who are 
not subscribers must have a two-cent stamp, if 
not over 4 ounces in weight, and the same for 
each additional 4 ounces. 
Books by mail must pay 4 cents for any 
weight not over 4 ounces, and 4 cents for each 
additional 4 ounces, or part of the same. No 
parcel weighing over 4 pounds can be sent by 
mail. Postage on books to California is the 
same as to an}' part of the United States. 
The franking privilege has been greatly re- 
stricted. We are requested by the Commis- 
sioner of Agriculture to say that the right to 
6end seeds, cuttings, etc., from that Depart- 
ment, has not been abridged, but that they can 
still frank parcels weighing not over 32 ounces. 
•-. — -— ♦» i ■ 
What of the Future ? 
In forming an opinion as to the probable 
prices for the produce of this year, there must 
be taken into account some elements not 
usually affecting the course of trade. First 
there is the continuation of the war, the effect 
of which has been largely felt, and upon which 
very materially depends the state of the mar- 
kets. The present prospects are full of hope for 
its successful termination at no distant day. 
The recent glorious victories have so restored 
confidence, that gold, which at one time stood 
at 170 and over, has fallen to 125, and few are 
eager to speculate in it at that figure. The 
cD'ect of this will, of course, be to reduce the 
price of wheat, but with it other commodities 
to be purchased by the farmer must fall in 
equal ratio, which will compensate for the ap- 
parent loss. As the rate of exchange with 
foreign countries follows the fluctuations in the 
precious metals, all imported goods will he 
subject to a falling off in market value, so that 
the diminution in this direction need not be 
counted as unfavorable, but rather the con- 
trary. The accumulated stocks of foreign 
wares will be rapidly pressed upon the mar- 
kets, and ensuing competition must still further 
depress the figures at which they are held. 
From all the information we have received, 
we judge the wheat crop to be about an average 
one, and as a large breadth was sown, there is 
prospect of a good supply. The harvests abroad 
appear to be an improvement upon those of the 
previous two years, -which will have the ten- 
dency to somewhat lessen the exportation. But 
the political aspects of Europe are such that 
the whole course of foreign trade may be en- 
tirely revolutionized within a few months, or 
even weeks. Should a general war convulse 
the Continent, the demand for breadstuffs from 
this side the water must greatly increase before 
the close of the year, and everything must go 
up with rapidity. The uncertain feeling on this 
subject even now influences the general market. 
From a survey of the whole field it would 
appear that there will be at least remunerative 
if not high prices for what provisions the farmer 
may have to sell. There is not, we judge, any- 
thing to favor holding on in anticipation of any 
great rise in value. Wool will probably con- 
tinue firm, not perhaps maintaining the un- 
precedented rate it has attained during the 
year, but yielding returns that should satisfy 
wool-growers, except perhaps those who em- 
barked in the business at the height of the 
tide, hoping to realize almost an independent 
fortune. The producer who so keeps his ac- 
counts that he can calculate at what figure he 
can afford to sell his commodities, and who, 
year by year, disposes of them when that figure 
is reached, will in the long run show a better 
balance-sheet than he who trusts to occasional 
sudden rise of prices to ensure him large profits. 
■ -•-. — »« » t-m 
What to Do with Money. 
Not a few of our readers have during the 
past year or two accumulated more than is ap- 
parently wanted in their business. To many it 
is a somewhat perplexing inquiry how to bestow 
their goods. They desire that their surplus 
capital shall be safe, and that it shall yield a 
fair return for the investment. We have coun- 
selled, and still advise, that the Government se- 
curities now in the market are among the very 
best stocks. Their value enhances with every 
victoiy, and we rejoice that these are multiply- 
ing weekly. But there is danger that many will 
overlook investments nearer home that would 
be equally safe, and in the end more remuner- 
ative. It has been proved over and over again, 
that capital judiciously used in farming can be 
made to pay a percentage with which reasona- 
ble men will be abundantly satisfied. Indeed 
the want of sufficient means to properly im- 
prove the farm and bring it up to its best pro- 
ducing capacity, is the great hindrance to the 
advancement of thousands. They are barely 
able to make ends meet when interest day 
comes round, and are unable to drain, to sub- 
soil, to manure, to build and fence, and thus 
from year to year the farm is at a stand still, if 
it be not running down. To such we repeat 
the advico repeatedly given in these columns, 
sell part of the farm and improve the remaind- 
er, and there will be more satisfaction in work- 
ing, because of less embarrasment, and in the 
end, greater profit. To those whose farms are 
already paid for, and who are so fortunate as 
to be inquiring what to do with their surplus 
capital, we say, spend it on the farm, if it be 
not already at the highest point of productive- 
ness. Fifty dollars per acre spent in draining 
will often give an increased fertility to the soil 
equivalent to ten, or even twenty par cent on 
the amount expended. So of buildings for shel- 
ter, planting of orchards, and purchase of man- 
ure. Each for himself will be enabled to judge 
what is lacking to make his a first class farm. 
Many capitalists have shown their foresight 
by seeking investments among the agricultural 
community, advancing funds to young men 
just starting in the world, for the purchase of 
farms, or to those desiring to improve the land 
already owned. Others have wisely purchased 
homes in the country, and deeded them to then- 
wives, that something substantial may remain 
in case of reverses which often prostrate the 
most successful business men. Hundreds of 
these will in after years discover that this was 
wise, not only because it saved something from 
the wreck of their fortunes, but from finding in 
the peaceful occupations of intelligent husband- 
ry a satisfaction never enjoyed in the whirl of 
the city, and more than this, a better atmos- 
phere, moral as well as physical, for the educa- 
tion of their children. Many among our read- 
ers are of the mercantile and manufacturing 
classes, and they may well give this subject their 
careful thought. In the end, some of them will 
without doubt, thank the Agriculturist for hav- 
ing made these timely, practical suggestions. 
Mallory and 
Sanford's 
Machine. 
Flax-Dressing 
As the time is not far distant for gathering 
this crop, so important the present year, we are 
impelled to again call attention to the great im- 
provement effected in the preparation of the 
fibre for market, effected by the use of this ma- 
chine. We have watched the progress of the 
invention for several months past, and have 
been pleased to find our first opinion of its im- 
portance and excellence endorsed by many 
who have during this season purchased ma- 
chines and had them in operation. Not only 
will this apparatus effect a large saving in time 
and material, but by its use, tangled flax straw, 
which has heretofore been counted only as so 
much waste, where flax was grown for the seed, 
can be brought to a marketable state, to be 
transported to the paper mills, and worked up, 
or to be manipulated by the manufacturers of 
flax cotton. We know of no invention recently 
introduced that bids fair to do more in cheapen- 
ing paper stock, and also in reducing the price 
of textile fabrics. If the manufacture of flax- 
cotton proves an ultimate success, of which 
there seems at present to be strong probability, 
it will be difficult to estimate the value of this 
flax-brake to the farming community. The 
hand-power machines recently manufactured 
by this firm will enable a single person to dress 
600 lbs. of flax straw in a day easier than half 
that quantity could have been broken with the 
old-fashioned hand-brake. Whoever has this 
year engaged in flax culture, will do well to 
correspond with this firm in relation to their 
implement. Their advertisement will be found 
upon another column. We have no personal 
interest in this or any other machine, but we 
deem it a favor to the community to bring 
so useful an implement into general notice. 
