1869. J 
AMERK AN AGRICULTURIST. 
163 
same old story. Gold watches aud chains, valued at 
$300 or more, and then comes the assessment, $10, or 
$15, etc., etc. Mr. K., your experience out West does 
not seem to have improved you much ; it can't he you 
read the papers. Your old trick has been worn thread- 
bare daring your absence. Try to think of something 
new. Better change your name to begin with We 
are again called upon to warn persons against using 
any form of cheap burning fluid or Kerosene. A circu- 
lar with the very imposing heading, tv Sunlight Oil," is 
before us. This stuff, wo are told, is "non-explosive, 1 ' 
and the "cheapest and best oil in the world," and it costs 
only 23 cents per gallon to make it. "Agents to sell 
family rights wanted in every town." No safe oil or 
burning fluid of any kind can be made for any such 
price, and any person foolish enough to nse the stuff "places 
his life and property in jeopardy The " Mt. Vista Gold 
and Silver Mining Co." turns up after some months of rest, 
with surplus stock to sell. Sufflco it to Bay, no 6uch 
company is to be found at the number given Tho 
i% One Dollar Time-keeper " man seems to reside in Chi- 
cago at present. Look out for him. His handsome 
" time-keeper" is only a very poor sun-dial, which may be 
worth 10 cents Gumbridge, having succeeded in keep- 
ing out of jail, notwithstanding his arrest for circulating 
bad money, has, by his example, stimulated others to 
try their hand at counterfeiting. W. H. Bailey & Co., 
New York, have gone into the business. They make 
" Fac-similes of U. S. Treasury Notes" for sale, aud also 
have a " Magic Comb," for dyeing the hair any color you 
wish. Both are equally worthless and wicked.... We 
have said enough about Oroide Watches to make people 
careful about purchasing such things by name simply. 
Some companies make very tolerable watches, while a 
large proportion of the so-called Oroide Watches are 
perfectly worthless We are glad to find that our new 
Mayor reads the American Agriculturist. He has issued 
an official proclamation (given below) which contains 
what we have constantly proclaimed these many years 
past. We bid Mayor Hall good speed, and will be glad 
to second his efforts in this line vigorously. 
Mayor's Office, New York., March 27, 1S09. 
To the Press of the United States ; 
I beg to caution strangers against New York circulars, 
tickets, shares, chances and prospectuses in cooperative 
unions, or gift enterprises, or dollar stores, or in any 
other possible scheme whereby property or value is 
promised greater thau the price asked to be paid. Ev- 
ery such an advertised scheme is necessarily a swimlle 
and a false pretence : there does not and cannot tangibly 
exist any such schemes in this City. Country newspa- 
pers which advertise them simply aid in the swindle. 
If all newspapers in the Union would now make a point 
of publishing and reiterating this information, they will 
charitably, and, I think, effectually, counteract the swin- 
dling intentions of those who use the mails for the false 
pretences, and will also save to the uuwarv hundreds of 
thousands of dollars. A. OAKEY HALL, Mayor of 
the City of New York. 
" Orange JTudd Prize Wheat. ^— Sev- 
eral parties offer wheat with Mr. Judd's name attached. 
While there is no impropriety in those who took the 
Orange Jndd Prizes making known the fact that their 
wheat, of a certain variety, took the premium, no ono 
has a right, on this account, to re-name old and well- 
known varieties, as all those were to which the prizes 
were awarded. Mr. J. Knight, Ottawa Co., Kansas, 
writes, that he "saw the 'Orange Judd Prize White 
Spring Wheat ' offered by a party in Hartford, Conn., as 
a 'celebratednovelty.' Believing that whatever had your 
endorsement so emphatically must be superior, I was in- 
duced to send for a quart of the wheat. I have received 
a package of amber wheat, badly mixed with common 
black oats." Mr. Judd has never " endorsed " any wheat 
** emphatically" or otherwise, he has never seen any of 
the wheat which took the prizes, nor is his name used 
by his authority. Mr. Judd offered prizes for wheat, and 
placed them at the disposal of the N. Y. State Society. 
An award was made which satisfied no one but those who 
took the prizes. He probably has not thought of the 
matter since. — Ens. 
The Market Assistant.— This Is the 
title of a work by Col. Thos. F. De Voe, author of the 
Market Book, and numerous valuable historical papers, 
a practical butcher, who spends the first half of every 
working day at his stall in Jefterson Market, and is. and 
from childhood has been, thoroughly familiar with tho 
subject on which he writes. The book contains " a brief 
description of every article of human food sold in the pub- 
lic markets of New York, Boston, and Philadelphia;" it 
tells the best ways to market, the best pieces to buy, how 
meat should be cut up ; how to tell inferior qualities of 
meat, fish, vegetables, etc. ; the seasons when certain 
fish, shell-fish, game, etc., are best ; and in many other 
ways gives practical information, useful to every one who 
has a family to provide for, or who has animals to kill 
and dress for home consumption or for market. Not- 
withstanding the thoroughly useful character of the 
book, it is so enlivened with curious historical incidents, 
anecdotes, etc., that it is entertaining reading. Fewpeo- 
ple, even of thoBe who do their own marketing, really 
know what they cat, and we feel that we do our readers 
a service by bringing this book to their notice, and 
placing it within their reach for $-2.50. It is a 12mo, of 
455 pages, illustrated. Published by Orauge Judd & Co. 
I>catli of Col. B. I*. Johnson.— 
The veteran Secretary of the New York State Agricul- 
tural Society, Benjamin P. Johnson, died April 12th, at 
his home in Albany, at the ripe ago of 76. He has been 
the Corresponding Secretary and chief business mana- 
ger einco 1844, until the last annual meeting, at which 
time he declined re-election on account of his increasing 
infirmities, but was elected to the Recording Secretary- 
ship, in order that he might continue to feel that he was 
still officially connected with the Society, which owes so 
much to his zeal and untiring efforts. His memory will 
be held in high regard by all who knew him. 
My Ten-IEod Farm ; or, Hpw I Became 
a Florist. By Mrs. Maria Gilmau. Pp. 110. Loring, Bos- 
ton. This work gives the story of a widow lady, who 
made a living for herself and family by the sale of flow- 
ers. Tho story is so interesting, and so well told, that 
one is tempted to finish it before laying it down. While 
the lesson of perseverance it inculcates is a good one, 
we cannot consider the work as affording a guide to 
those wishing to become florists, though some useful 
hints are given. Narratives of this kind, in which a 
slight foundation of fact is embellished by a superstruc- 
ture of fiction, while they serve to create a taste for hor- 
ticultural pursuits, are always unsatisfactory as to their 
practical details. Sent from this office at tho publisher's 
price, 50 cents. 
Grapes. — " D. P., Jr." The Delaware is apt to 
crack after a rain. The Iona will probably ripen evenly 
when the vine gets older. Young vines should not carry 
too much fruit. 
ISIaclt Knot.— "D. P., Jr." We know of 
no variety of plum that is exempt from the black knot. 
Canary Seed. — " Subscriber." This is 
grown in the south of England and should succeed in 
N. J. In England it is sown in rows a foot apart, using 
16 to 20 quarts of seed to the acre. It ripens in Suptem- 
ber. The yield is 30 te 40 bushels to the acre. The 
straw has but little value as fodder. 
"Varieties of the Grape. — M.Sisley sends 
us a work containing the descriptions and synonyms of 
the varieties of the grape cultivated by M. Pulliot at 
Chiroubles (France). Four hundred and six varieties are 
described, and numerous synonyms referred to the proper 
name. A work of this kind demands a great amount of 
careful experiment and labor, and we hope to see the 
time when some one shall do for our American grapes 
what Mr. P. has done for those of Europe. 
l>isease<* or the Grape. — Mr. Vordoc, 
an European Vine Dresser, has given a lecture before the 
Cincinnati Horticultural Society on the above subject, a 
copy of which has been sent us. The lecture was given 
in French, and we hope it has been incorrectly trans- 
lated, as wo have rarely seen bo much false science as it 
presents in its English dress. 
"California Bean.** — (l Subscriber,' 1 
Point Edward, Ontario. The description given applies 
to the Asparagus or Yard-long Beau. Thorburu has it. 
Manual of Fig Culture in the North- 
ern and Middle States. By Mr. James T. Worthington, 
Chillicothe, O. Mr. W. has for some time been known as 
a successful fig-grower, and in this little pamphlet he 
gives his method. It is to grow the plants in such a 
manner that they may be laid down and covered with 
earth to protect them dnring the winter. 
Honeysuckle* and Aphides. — u W. 
A.," Poughkeepsie, N. Y., finds the flowers of his honey- 
suckles completely destroyed by plant -lice, which resist 
ordinary remedies ; and he asks what to do. We have 
never been troubled with the lice upon the flowers. Prob- 
ably if the vines are examined early, the trouble can be 
checked before it gets desperate. Try strong tobacco 
water and soft soap. Who will suggest something better ? 
Sage and Thyme. — Several Subscribers. 
These herbs are grown around New York as annuals. 
The seeds are sown in a seed-bed as early as the soil is 
ready and kept free from weeds. The plants arc set out 
in June and July as a second crop, after cabbages, beets, 
peas, etc., have been cleared off. The details of culture, 
which we have not space for, were given in June, 18M. 
We are unable to say how this method compares for 
profit, with that in which the plants are grown as peren- 
nials and possess the land year after year. 
Olcra.— " A. S. R." See notes on work for 
plaining. The pods are the parts used, and are taken 
when perfectly tender and not stringy. They are sliced 
crosswise and used for thickening soups. Tho whole 
pods are boiled tender, dressed with drawn butter, ami 
served as asparagus. Most persons do not like them in 
this way at first trial, but soon become fond of them. 
Gardening- without a Garden.-- " 
"J. R. McT.,' 1 who has no garden, wishes to know what 
he can flower in summer in pots. Among annuals the 
Balsams, Asters, Phlox Drummondii, Petunias, Portn- 
lacas, Nemophila, Tagetcs signata pumila, Bartonia 
aurea, Mignonette, and most of the medium-sized annuals, 
Geraniums, Fuchsias, Cuphea ignea, Mimulus, Gazanias, 
Lobelias, and many others, may be had of the florists. It 
would be well if the pots could be plunged in moss, sand, 
or some other material, to retain moisture and prevent 
the roots from becoming dry. Proper attention to water- 
ing aud shading is essential to success. 
Striped Bug's. — Every year brings propos- 
ed remedies. A. F. Gibboney, Mifflin Co., Pa., writes, 
that water in which refuse onions or the tops and peel- 
ings of onions have been steeped is efficacious in, driving 
away bugs from squashes aud all their family, as well as 
the insect that troubles cabbages. 
Xo the Ag-riciilturistS and Horti- 
culturist s of Illinois.— Gentlemen:— As the spring 
is now opening, and "bugs" are about to commence 
operations, I wish to iuform you all that I am on hand, 
ready and willing to attend to all such cases. Any infor- 
mation that any of you may desire on this subject, I 
shall always supply, so far as I am able, answering all 
communications promptly by mail, or, if preferred, 
through the columns of the American Entomologist. If 
possible, send in every case, along with your letter, 
specimens of the particular "bug''' that is troubling 
you, with a full account of when he appeared, where he 
works, how he works, what amount of damage he has 
done, whether he is also troubling your neighbors, etc., 
etc. The more specimens you send, the better ; and they 
should never be inclosed loose in the letter, because hi § 
11i.:i < rise Uncle Sam always "squashes " them so flat that 1 
ii is often impossible to recognize them. Flies, beetles, 
moths, etc., may be packed either dead or alive in any 
little stout pasteboard box, along with a little cotton 
wool, or any such matter, to fill up the empty space. 
But grubs, maggots, caterpillars, worms, etc., should al- 
ways be inclosed alive in a little tin bos — the tighter, the 
better — along with a sufficient supply of their natural 
food to last them on the journey. Otherwise they gen- 
erally die on the road, and shrivel up to nothing. For 
very small insects of any kind, and whether dead or 
alive, a quill, securely plugged at both ends, forms a very 
convenient package. 
Sock Island, III., ) Bent. D. Walsh, 
April 8, 1S60. f State Entomologist. 
Xlie iaeolog-iezil Survey ot* I^'evc 
Jersey, — The State of New Jersey has done two very 
sensible things. It has completed its geological survey, 
and then placed its report where those interested in it 
can obtain it otherwise than through political influence. 
The report is a handsome octavo, well illustrated, aud is 
accompanied by a portfolio of geological maps. Every 
one interested in the agricultural and mineral resources 
of New Jersey should have this report, which may be 
obtained of the State Geologist, Professor Geo. II. Cook, 
New Brunswick, N. J. The report, with portfolio of 
maps, $0.00; or with a single map of the State, $4.00. 
Barherry and HIBig-ht.— " Senex,' 1 Al- 
bany, N. Y. The blight upon grain is one of those <<1> 
scure forms of vegetation that have several distinct 
stages of existence ; the progeny of the grain blight nay 
live upon a very distinct plant, the progeny of this upon 
another plant, and the offspring of this third may be the 
grain blight again. It ia a subject which ha- but recent- 
ly commanded the attention of naturalists, aud though 
the matter is not decided, it looks as if the rust on the \ 
barberry leaf might be one of the forms of grain blight. \ 
Whitewashing* Trees.-' 1 J. T. B.," 
Falls Church, Va., asks for our ideas on whitewashing 
trees. The object in whitewashing is to destroy vegeta- 
ble parasitic growth, such as mosses and lichens, as well 
as such eggs and crysalids of insects as may be sec: i ted 
under the loose bark. There are several objections to 
it: in the first place, the appearance of a whitewashed 
tree is unnatural and exceedingly Ugly; this may be 
overcome by using coloring matter in the wash. An- 
