1674] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
365 
• > 
where it is possible, the wheat might bo followed with 
grass, raised or not with clover, or the corn might be 
followed with a crop of roots. Any of these would be 
better than our present rotation. 
Our Premium List.— Do uot fail to read 
the Descriptive List of Premiums to canvassers for the 
American Agriculturist, which will be found on pages 393 
to 39U. Everybody wants something that will he found 
there. Look it over carefully, select the thing you want 
from the useful and valuable articles named, and then go 
to work and secure it by collecting the necessary number 
of subscribers, which you can do with but little effort, as 
thousands have done in past seasons. 
Cotswold-Merino Sheep.—' 1 L. R. D.," 
Washington Co., Pa. The cross-bred sheep produced 
from Merino ewes and a Cotswold ram, are probably the 
most useful class of farm-sheep that can b« kept, both 
for early lambs, wool, or mutton. They are becoming a 
favorite class of sheep in Europe, ana we notice that at 
the Vienna Exhibition of last year, they attracted a great 
ileal of attention, and were considered " fine examples of 
sheep" by the judges. Specimens from a flock of 340 of 
the6C, bred in Moravia, are described as having wool 4(i 
inches long, 10 months after shearing, much finer than 
the Cotswold wool, very bright, having good curl, and 
thickly set npon the skin. The flesh was firmer than 
that of the Cotswolde, and lambs, 12 to 14 months old 
weighed 139 to 143 pounds per head. The halt-bred ani 
mals bred well together without deteriorating. 
Ralloon Hanging' Baskets, Pot- 
Holders, Etc.— Peter Henderson & Co. seno. us an 
entirely new floricultural appliance, which can be better 
nnderstood from engravings, than from description. In- 
stead of making a hanging " basket,'' with a wooden bowl 
and rattan supports, the harness of the bowl, so to speak, 
is of narrow steel strips, strong, flexible, and elastic. Some 
of these are contrived as pot-holders, by which a pot can 
be suspended in the quickest possible manner. Many 
plants show much better when seen from below, and this 
contrivance allows any such specimens to be suspended 
at the window or elsewhere. 
Information as to Cheese Factor- 
ies.— In an item under this head last mouth, we inadver- 
tently gave the address of Gardiner B. Weeks, as Utica, 
N. T., instead of Syracuse, N. T. Persons desiring trust- 
worthy information respecting cheese or butter factories, 
can procure it from Mr. Weeks. 
Burlington Co., IV. J., is one of the 
great fruit producing districts between New York and 
Philadelphia, audits Annual fair should he in some re- 
spects one of the best in the couutry. We notice that 
the time of holding the fair at Mt. Holly has been changed 
from September to October 6 and 7. 
Goldsmith Maid.—" Pioneer." Through 
the kindness of Col. Skinner, of the Turf, Field, and 
Farm, we are enabled to give you the desired informa- 
tion respecting " Goldsmith Maid." Owner's name, 
H. N. Smith ; age, 17 years ; on the course, 9 years ; best 
recorded time, at Rochester, N. Y., August, 1874, 2 min. 
14Jf sec. She did not beat Dexter's time in California 
last year ..Goldsmith Maid has since beaten her own 
lime, as above given, at Mystic Park, Mass., Sept. 3, the 
mile being made in 2.14. 
Gathering' Leaves. — "W. C," Kala- 
mazoo, Mich. We have gathered forest leaves with a 
steel tooth hay rake, after clearing out all the brush, and 
cutting off the stumps and snags level with the ground. 
The rake gathers the leaves up as easily as it docs hay 
into windrows, from which they may be piled into heaps 
and left until there is leisure time to draw them home. 
They 6hould be drawn in a hay rack upon which arc 
pprcad some blankets or barn sheets. The easiest 
method of loading them is with barley forks, or large 
barn baskets made very wide aud shallow. Such baskets 
are made purposely for gathering leaves, for the use of 
charcoal burners, and are sold in large quantities in 
Detroit and other lake ports, for shipment to the North- 
em iron regions. They would be very useful for farmers. 
Petroleum. — "G. T. C," Ancora, N. J. 
Crude Petroleum is not kerosene. The oil, as it comes 
from the wells, is what is meant by crude or unrefined 
petroleum. It is a thick black semi-liquid substance, 
similar in appearance to the coarsest molasses. This oil 
has the propertv o f "* V.iig into the pores of wood rapid- 
ly, an'l L-.^,cutng and smoothing the surface. When 
handled, it does not stick to the skin as does linseed 
oil. For this reason it is preferred for preserving shovel 
handles, rakes, and all the implements about a farm. 
Situation of a Bairy Farm.— "J. 
A. O.," Grautville, Mass. The richest grass lands are 
the most suitable for a dairy farm. As these are gener- 
ally found in what are called bottoms, or level alluvial 
tracts, such a location should be chosen in preference to 
less fertile uplands. But where rolling lands productive 
of excellent grass can be secured, we would prefer such 
to a river bottom for healthfulness of the stock. A lime- 
stone soil is preferable to any other. 
College of Veterinary Surgeons.— 
The session of the College of Veterinary Surgeons of 
New York, commences on Thursday, the first of October. 
Information as to fees, etc., can be had from Dr. A. F. 
Liautard, Secretary, 205 Lexington Ave., New York. 
The Home Cook Book is the title of a 
work made up from the contributions of the ladies of 
Chicago and other places, published by J. Fred Wagener, 
and sold for the benefit of " The Home for the Friend- 
less." We have often stated that no oue can give a 
proper opinion of a cook-book, until after thoroughly 
testing it. A hook made up in the manner in which this 
is, will present a greater variety, than if it were the 
work of one person, aud for the same reason we should 
expect to find various discrepancies in it, as the views of 
one contributor differ from those of another as to the 
method or doing tne samo thing. We eau only say of the 
present work, that it impresses us favorably, and the 
lady who presides over our household affairs is of the 
same opinion. It has the merit of freshness and origi- 
nality, and we Lave no doubt whl prove ItaalC a favorite 
household guide. Its mechanical appearance is excel- 
lent, and its utility is increased by the binding in of nu- 
merous blank leaves, which allows the addition of other 
recipes under their proper heads. We must, however, 
ask the editor to leave out in another edition, the med- 
ical recipes, some of which, especially for hydrophobia 
and small pox, arc too absurd to be published anywhere. 
The Ohio State Fair.— Just as we are 
closing up these pages, there came to hand copious 
notes from an associate, who attended the Ohio State 
Fair, at Columbus. We at this late hour can only record 
its general success, financially and otherwise. The en- 
tries exceeded those of any previous year by over 1000, 
and thus made a very full and varied exhibition. Live 
stock, especially cattle and horses, were in large num- 
bers. Cattle from Kentucky and Illinois, as well as from 
the best herds in Ohio, made a fine show. Sheep, swine, 
aud poultry were much as last year. " Fruit Hall " was 
well filled, and the fruit of great excellence. The new 
grounds are regarded as admirable, aud the management 
in general is spoken of in the highest terms. 
Death of Doet. J. II. Slack.— This 
gentlemen at the time of his death (Aug. 27) was one of 
the Fish Commissioners of New Jersey. He was well 
known by his writings on fish culture, and by his suc- 
cessful fish-breeding establishment at B'.oomsburg, N. J. 
His last public service was to hatch a quantity of the eggs 
of the California salmon, aud distribute the young fry in 
the waters of the Southern and Middle States. He was a 
remarkably versatile, and at the same time a very modest 
man, and his death at the early age of 3S is a public loss. 
" English " Sparrows.—" S. F.," Rock 
Grove, 111. These sparrows are not exclusive English, as 
they abound on the continent. They are to be had of the 
bird dealers in early spring at $2, more or less, the pair, 
according to the demand. They have done good service 
in cities in freeing trees aud gardens of insects, but we 
should hesitate about introducing them into a grain- 
growing neighborhood. Better protect and encourage 
the native insect-eating birds. The sparrows do not 
migrate, hence they must be provided with food in win- 
ter when snow is on the ground. 
See Pages393 to 396. 
Prize Farms.-It is a part of the regular 
business of the English Agricultural Associations to 
offer premiums, frequently of $500 in amount, for the 
best cultivated farms. Generally there are three premi- 
ums offered for the first, second, aud third best of the 
farms entered for competion. In some parts of Ger- 
many, in addition to the award of prizes to the best 
managed farms, the worst cultivated farms are sought 
out, and the students of the agricultural schools are 
given the opportunity of comparing the worst and best 
managed farms together. This is a most valuable aid 
in their education. We commend the idea of awarding 
premiums to the best cultivated farms of certain dis- 
tricts, to the State Agricultural Societies, believing this 
would result in great good. The prize farms might not 
be visited by a large number of fanners from a distance, 
but the agricultural journals would take pains to make 
known in the widest manner, everything of interest con- 
nected with them. 
The ttraylin;;*.— A correspondent at Adrian, 
Mich., writes : lt I notice your article upon the Grayling 
in the Agriculturist for this mouth. This fish is found on 
the west side of this State, (that is the lower peninsula.) 
from the Manistee river northward to the Straits of 
Mackinaw, and thence in several of the streams on the 
northeast coast. My son, who lives near the Boardman 
river, which flows into Grand Traverse Bay, aud in which 
both trout and grayling are abundant, has this season 
seut me both kinds of fish. Being a native of western 
Massachusetts, where in my neighborhood trout were 
plenty, my prepaesious were strongly in their favor, but 
after trial we consider the grayling fully equal to the 
trout for the table. They are decidedly a game fish. I 
have not learned whether they are found iu the streams 
of our upper peninsula, but it is well known that they 
abound with trout. 
SUNDRY HUMBUGS.— Friends often 
write ns about s«:r.e swindling operation, and ask us to 
show it up in our Humbug Columns, if it comes within 
"OUR scorE." 
We have never in this matter stopped to consider 
what were the limits or extent of our (; scope." We 
regard every attempt to get money without rendering 
a fair equivalent in return, as belonging to the geuus 
humbug, whether the operation is iu railroad bonds or 
postage stamps. We do not give much space to swindles 
involving large sums of money, as those are only prac- 
tised among bankers, brokers, aud other men, who are 
usually supposed "to have their e3'e teeth cut." It is these 
numerous minor swindles, where the sum concerned is a 
few dollars at most, that need exposure, for it is this class 
that find their field ot operations among rural communi- 
ties. When we say that farmers are more apt to be 
taken in by these swindlers, it is not spoken to their 
discredit. Persons who are perfectly honest and upright 
themselves, are slow to suspect others of wrong doing, 
and the man who has never defrauded another of a cent, 
can not conceive of the meanness which will stoop to 
wrong him Wc are tempted by some recent occur- 
rences that came under our notice, to repeat some advice 
which we perhaps have already given iu substance in 
former years. Almost every one, no matter where he may 
live, expects at some time iu his life to visit New York 
city. While there arc many other fine cities, there is but 
one New York, aud every farmer's boy, even- village 
clerk, and even every young miss, has an undefined 
uotion that some day they shall see the sights of the 
wonderful city, of which their reading has told them so 
much. So it happens that thousands of strangers, from 
near at hand and from the far West and South, come to 
the metropolis solely for the purpose of sight seeing. At 
all times of the year there arc numerous visitors of this 
kind in the city, but of all other seasons 
OCTOBER BRINGS ITS CROWDS. 
This month is the most favorable for seeing tho city, 
the days are fine and cool, wanderers have returned from 
their vacations, the streets arc full, the stores are at their 
best, and there is no other time at w hich the city is so 
attractive as in these golden autumn days. Where there 
are grapes there will be the foxes, and the rascals who 
make their living by prowling around, increase in propor- 
tion with the visiting strangers. Then swindlers, gam- 
blers, and confidence men of all kinds, who have been 
plying their games at the watering places, the race courses, 
and the countiy fairs, or wherever people gather i;i 
crowds, are on hand in full force, to meet the crowd that 
this month assembles in the city, and a few words of 
CAUTION TO STRANGERS IX NEW TORK 
may save our visiting friends much annoyance and loss. 
Some of these swindlers, not content to await the arrival 
of their victims, go out to meet them, and many a man 
who has met an agreeable traveling companion on his 
journey to the city, has learned a lesson in regard to this 
kind of swindling that he will not soon forget. To those 
