82 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[Majicii, 
better not -write. We are tired of "Subscriber" and 
" Constant Reader," as signed to letters. It is not con- 
sidered gentlemanly to write an anonymous letter to a 
private individual ; why should it be otherwise to an 
editor? We do not wish to publish names, but it is 
right that we should have names as a guarantee that a 
statement is made in good faith. Sign initials or any 
fancied signature to the article intended for publication, 
but give us the real name, as a clue to the author. 
Tlie IfceatS* or Sir. Paidee.-.Mr. K. 
G. Pardee, well known in the horticultural world, died in 
New York City on February 4th, in his 57th year. Mr. P. 
was an enthusiastic lover of horticulture and the author 
of a work on the strawberry ; besides he was widely 
known as a devoted worker in the Sunday-school cause. 
"Veeos-asaary Education. — The New 
York Legislature could not do a better thing with the 
people's money than to extend such aid to the New York 
College of "Veterinary Surgeons as it gives to other educa- 
tional institutions. If they were to liberally endow it, it 
would be money well appropriated. 
Tlae <nrape Cultiirisfc is the title of anew 
monthly by George Husmanu, St. Louis, Mo., at $2 a year. 
Mr. H. informs us by letter that copies have been sent, 
but they have failed to reach us. The starling of a pe- 
riodical devoted exclusively to grapes and wine is an in- 
dication of the importance attached to this branch of in- 
dustry. Mr Husmann is not only an experienced grape 
grower and vintner, but a remarkably vigorous writer, and 
we look for not only an instructive journal, but one with 
a great deal of " snap M to it. 
The Caaicinuati Hoi'ticialtiirsil So- 
ciety shows remarkable vitality. It will hold spring 
and summer exhibitions every Saturday from June 5th 
to July 31st, and offers most liberal premiums for such 
fruits, vegetables, and flowers as may be in season. The 
merchants of Cincinnati have taken hold of the matter, 
and offer liberal special premiums. The prospectus is a 
capital specimen of tasteful printing. The President of 
the Society is Capt. W. P. Anderson, and the Correspond- 
ing Secretary, C. II. Wavdlow. 
Psilinor's fct Leaveu SBsiMMi'e.'* — In 
our December number, we published an item in respect 
to this. It was written by one of our editors wholly from 
what appeared in the Circular itself, which was sent 
to us from a subscriber for an opinion. That Circular, 
taken by itself, without any explanations, would warrant 
the general inferences drawn. But Mr. Palmer has called 
upon us and made some explanations, which put rather 
a different face upon the matter. He says he did not in- 
tend that Circular to go beyond the bounds of his annua! 
route (though printed in general terms ;) that the $35 (or 
$15) he asks applies to those only so far aside as to re- 
quire extra labor, and includes recipes, a book of 200 
pages, and all necessary attention in preserving and pre- 
paring mixtures and manures of all kinds. We have no 
doubt that in such a work he may be of practical service, 
however much we may call in question his science of 
manures. Any man devoting his whole time to making 
or working manures will be able to afford aid to those 
who give no observation to the subject, but work hap- 
hazard. Mr. Palmer also brings us certificates from 
many of his neighbors and patrons for his good charac- 
ter as an honest Christian man, with good intentions. 
With these explanations and certificates, and after hear- 
ing from himself his desires and mode of operation, we 
very cheerfully withdraw any reflections upon his personal 
character, or his intention to humbug people, for we 
judge that he means to do right. In saying this as to his 
personal character and intentions, we do not necessarily 
indorse his manures or " science.'" We are perfectly will- 
ing that he should demonstrate his faith by his works. 
A (hi-smmI JBazsnuu" for Oui a USentlei-M 
is provided in the Advertising Pages, where they can 
find what is for sale and by whom, and consult a great 
variety of establishments. We are sorry to be compelled 
to leave out nearly three full pages of advertisements that 
arrived too late. Please be on time. Probably nowhere 
else can one find so many reliable business announce- 
ments brought together, for our rules exclude those not 
known personally, unless they furnish evidence that they 
have the ability and intention to do what they promise. 
We repeat the request that those sending to our adver- 
tisers lor cards or circulars, or ordering, should mention 
the fact of seeing the advertisement in this journal, It 
gives special pleasure to advertisers to know where their 
business notices arc seen; and we like to have them 
learn something of the vast number of wide-awake 
people that see this journal, not only in every part of 
this continent, but also in remote lands. 
XBie 2Ioi a tic'iilturisrt»— The first number 
of this journal under its new management has a pleasant 
look, as it has returned nearly to its original form of page. 
The contents 6how signs of vigor, though bearing the 
marks of having been hastily made up. An eminent writer 
said to us a few days ago that "no one ever shonld 
publish a first number, but destroy it after it was made 
up and begin with the second." While we do not intend 
to say that the first number of the Horticulturist deserves 
this fate, we are sure that the second will be better, whon 
the new editor becomes used to the harness, where we 
hope he will have a heavy load (of subscribers) to pull. 
The Currant Borer.- H. T. Prindle. 
The only way to ,L prevent" the ravages of the currant 
borer is to destroy the parent insect which lays the eggs. 
Traps of sweetened water might help. There art; two 
borers, one the larva of a small beetle, and the other that 
ofasmall moth. Cut off and burn the infested twigs. 
Tlae Ainericaffft Pomological So- 
ciety.— A special meeting of the Executive and Fruit 
Committees was held in New York on February 10th, the 
Hon. Marshall P. Wilder presiding. The main object of 
the meeting was to give the fruit catalogues a more care- 
ful revision than could be done at the annual meeting. 
Though we missed many whom we hoped to see present, 
there was an assemblage fitly representing the pomolo- 
gists of the country. The gentlemen went into the work 
with earnestness and prosecuted it with perseverance. 
and their labors will relieve the annual gathering of much 
time-consuming work. The prompt and well-matured 
decisions given by those present indicated a great 
amount of careful observation. As the work of revision 
was going on, it occurred tons that people in general 
know but little of their indebtedness to these workers in 
pomology, who give years of experiment to enable 
them to say whether a variety is worthy or unworthy of 
cultivation. Fruit growers all over the country reap the 
benefits of these observations, win eh for the most part 
are carried on through a love fur the cause rather than 
from any prospect of gain. Among those who took an 
active part in the proceeding? were Wilder, Hovcy, Hyde, 
and Manning, of Massachusetts, New York was repre- 
sented by Downing, Barry, Ell wanger, Messrs. Parsons, 
and others; New Jersey by Perry, Fuller, and Q.uinn ; 
Eastern Pennsylvania by Mitchell, Hoopes, and Meehan, 
and the western part of the State by Knox and Bockstoce. 
Ohio found an able representative in Elliott. Saunders 
and Saul were present for the District of Columbia. 
Other names escape us at the moment, but enough have 
been given to show the character of the meeting. 
Asparag'u*. — The Horticultural Annual con- 
tains an excellent article on the market and garden cul- 
ture, by F. Brill, a New Jersey market gardener. 
Excelsior Potatoes, from Mr. Jus. J. H. 
Gregory, Marblchead, Mass. , were of really first quality. 
Pn-sictical FlorStriiHiH'e. — The imme- 
diate sale of the first issue of this work rendered it neces- 
sary to print a second edition at once. In doing so some 
typographical errors— which any one familiar with the 
snbjeet must have seen were merely mistakes of the types, 
and not of the author— have been corrected. It is the 
only work which gives a full account of the management 
of a commercial florist's establishment. The wants of 
the amateur are also kept in mind. Price by mail, $1.50. 
Tlie 1%'ew York 'SVIUmn** deserves 
thanks for the persistence with which it advertises the 
Agriculturist, in addition to what we pay for. Some one 
thought the tail of a cat in a picture in our children's de- 
partment too large, and accordingly wrote to the Farm- 
ers' Club (as the body most competent to judge of such 
subjects) upon this and other minor details of cur pic- 
tures. This letter the Tribune kindly published, as it 
often does letters in which the Agriculturist is mentioned. 
The February number, containing the pictures alluded to, 
has had a remarkable sale, showing the influence of the 
Tribune's advertising. We return the favor by saying 
that the Weekly Tribune is a most admirable paper. If 
it would devote the columns which it facetiously heads 
"Agricultural" to some useful matter, well understood, 
it would be even a still greater marvel of excellence com- 
bined with cheapness than it now is. 
The StarU Apple— A variety under this 
name lias recently been attracting attention at the West. 
We give an outline of it, with Dr. Warder's description, 
on another page. Since that page was printed a meet- 
ing of the Fruit Committees of the American Pomologi- 
cal Society was held in New York, at which specimens of 
the "Stark" were presented. The pomologists pro- 
nounced them to be the Pennock, or Pennock's Red Win- 
ter, an old and but little valued sort, under a new name. 
Bomiuer , » >3eilion. — Weare rather taken 
to task for having said in a recent issue that we did nul 
endorse the little book called "Bommer's Method." 
The writer sent for the pamphlet, made the tank, and 
followed the directions with great satisfaction, — no doubt 
greatly increasing the quantity and the quality of his ma- 
nure, and he does not see why we do not endorse it all. 
We do heartily approve the general process, and follow 
the same as nearly as we conveniently can ; but there are 
some claims and statements in the book a little extrav- 
agant, or at variance with views at present received. 
<jireeii"9Ioii»<;» I'pon Honse-Tops. 
— A correspondent of the Country Gentleman suggests 
that the modern style of building houses allows of the 
ready conversion of the attic in to a conservatory or green- 
house. The idea is not a new one. it having been advo- 
cated as long ago as 1S61 by Mr. Samuel B. Parsons. An 
article on the subject, with illustrations, will be found in 
the Agriculturist for April, 1861, It is not surprising that 
a plan so feasible should have suggested itself to others. 
'S'Sac IS T ew York Fruit Growers' 
Club arc to have a committee who are to call on all the 
powers that be and are to be, to enlarge the " Bureau of 
Agriculture into a full Department, so as to insure greater 
attention to horticulture." Now we do not know what 
the " Bureau 1 ' of Agriculture is. There is a Department 
of Agriculture in Washington, and had the Club desired 
to know what that has in contemplation for horticulture 
and about its plans, the execution of which is only defer- 
red until spring, it could easily have obtained the knowl- 
edge. Mr. Saunders, of the Department, was present 
when the resolution was offered, and had he been called 
upon, he might have shown the Club that quite all they 
propose is already on iis way toward accomplishment. 
SBiiidvy lltimtoiig's. — The "Gift Enter- 
prise " business, which fur tome months past seemed 
to be on the decline, has in a measure revived again, and 
several of the more prominent companies arc flooding the 
country with their circulars of " great promise," regard- 
less of the law in the matter. Those who have seen the 
notices of these various firms in our Humbug articles for 
the past year will not, of course, trust any of them. To nil 
persons we say, invest in no " gift lottery" or cheap jew- 
elry enterprise whatsoever. An instance showing how 
successful these leeches of society sometimes are in their 
operations was given in the Brooklyn police reports. 
On January 29th, one Jonah Andrews, of Fulton Street, 
Brooklyn, was arrested, and, although proof was strong 
against him, he was let go on his promise to quit the 
business. He admitted to the authorities that he had 
made over $100,000 at the business, most of which was 
invested in real estate. Young men of the country, when 
you feel tempted to trust the promises of such persons, 
remember that every cent yon send them is so much en- 
couragement to villany, and that, as a rule, you will never 
see the prize you send for or hear of the money again. 
Half a dozen parties in Button, iu Williamsburg, N. 
Y., and elsewhere, are operating iu the " dry goods ** 
line. On the receipt of a specified sum they propose to 
send a certain number of yards of cloth of various kinds 
and patterns. And to those who are willing to act as 
agents for them, they will, besides allowing 15 per Cent 
on their sales, give them twelve yards of cloth as n pre- 
mium on their first sales amounting to$(i. The wise will 
risk no money on these schemes. The cat is well mealed 
over, but we see the ears, toes, tail, and the teeth sticking 
out. Some of them have no " cat," but are like the "Eu- 
reka Print Works"— well known to our readers as a 
thing nut to be found except on paper... E. A. Saunders is 
impressed with the belief that people will think him hon- 
est and that he will do as lie agrees. Ilis plan is this : To 
make it appear to the managers of the " Delaware Stale 
Lottery " that they owe yon a prize, you arc to send him 
$10 in a Inter dated one day previous to its being mailed. 
This letter he will put into the bands of the " Managers," 
and by a judicious system of lying obtain from them a 
prize-ticket which will entitle the holder to $400 iu 
"greenbacks." This ■■prize-ticket " he agrees lo return 
to you with instructions how to get the prize ! 01" course 
none of our readers are verdant enough to be caught in 
such a trap. The game is altogether too ancient. Mr. S 
and you will have to try something new, or go amoni; 
those the Agriculturist doe.- n't reach. . ."Music bi 
(a three-penny reed whistle), sold for one or more dollars 
each, are-just now a favorite swindle adopted by swindling 
parties, new and old "Rev. Edward H. Wilson 1" 
This swindling wolf in sheep's clothing continues to ad- 
vertise. We are glad to see in the Methodist Homo 
journal of Philadelphia a letter from a correspondent 
