24:4 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
[July, 
Li;; Eat niii^-ICtxls. — Several have sent 
circulars of makers of patent lightning-rods and asking 
if this or that is the best in use. There is so much non- 
sense and ignorance of the simplest laws of electricity 
mixed up with matters that arc true, in claims for these 
rods, that they are amusing reading. The essentials of 
a good rod are these : it should have a good connection 
between all its parts ; it should extend some feet above 
the highest parts of the building, and terminate in a 
Kharp, indestructible point ; and it should at its lower cud 
be in contact with moist soil. Where there are several 
rods upon a building, let them be connected, and if there 
is a tin roof, let this be in contact with the rods. In- 
sulators are not of any consequence, and add needless 
expense to the rod. Copper is a better conductor than 
iron, but more expensive, and iron rods will answer every 
purpose, if properly put up. It is probable that any of 
the several " patent" rods will prove efficient, but not 
more so than a common square nail-rod properly put up 
by one who understands it. Some of the lightning-rod 
travellers are honest men who will do what they agree to 
do, while others are regular swindlers. Those who en- 
gage to have rods put up should make a bargain for the 
■whole job beforehand and not trust to after-measure- 
ments at so much a foot. An honest man will be willing 
to contract for the work at a stated price. 
The American Association lor tlie 
Advancement of Science will hold its 18th meet- 
ing at Salem, Mass., on August 18th. We advise the A. 
A. F. T. A. O. S. to devote its first hours to the adoption 
of some name less cumbersome than the one it now holds. 
In spite of the name, the Association is a very excellent 
one, the conditions of membership of the most liberal 
kind, and its gatherings are attended not only by those 
eminent in the various departments of science, but by 
the lovers of science who wish to hear what the oracles 
have to say. Salem is a delightful old town and already 
of itself a center of science, and it is appropriate that 
the Society with the long name should meet there. 
Canned B*eaclies. — A valued correspond- 
ent in Boston writes us a protest against the quality of 
the canned peaches in the market. He says, and truly, 
that as a general thing they are not fit to eat. Last year 
was one of uuusual scarcity, and anything in the shape 
of a peach, whether ripe or not, was usod to fill the cany. 
The present season there promises to be an abundant 
peach crop. Now here is a first-rate chance for some 
canning establishment to make a reputation. Let it be 
known that a certain brand of peaches will be when 
opened eatable, and not the tough, slimy apology for 
peaches that we have had, and the fortune of that 
honse is made. Buyers wish a good thing or nothing. 
** Rascally*' Seedsmen. — We have re- 
ceived several letters complaining of seedsmen in differ- 
ent parts of the country. We do not answer these 
" through the paper," as requested, as we find the charges 
are against persons whom we believe intend to deal fair- 
ly, and our experience with many thousands of letters 
yearly shows that the fault is rather more likely to be 
that of the correspondent than that of the seedsman. At 
a large seed house in this city, we recently saw a file of 
perhaps fifty letters, most of which had contained money, 
and there was not the least possible clue to the senders. 
In some the signature was omitted, in others the name 
of the State, and in some both P. O. and State were want- 
ing. No doubt, the writers of these letters feel badly 
treated, and have set the seed establishment down as a 
swindling concern. It would be well before asking us 
to publish this or that dealer as a humbug to first ascer- 
tain if he ever received the order. In our large seed 
stores all hands work IS hours a day, and then are often 
several days behind their work. 
An Excellent Practical Poultry 
Book. — At a time when such rational interest is taken 
in the subject of poultry keeping, as of late, it has been a 
source of regret that we could not offer to onv rcadorp, 
without qualification, some book to be implicitly relied 
upon as a guide. The books which we have arc many 
of them very good, so far as they go, or were good when 
they were written, while others arc mere compilations, or 
valuable chiefly for showy pictures and descriptions of 
fancy fowl*. We have wanted a book to put into the 
hands of the novice, who has means and tastes to become 
a poultry fancier and breeder; the village mechanic need- 
ed a book which would guide his wife and children in 
raising fowls and making a profit of a hundred dollars or 
more a year, on their one or two lots ; the farmer needed 
one as much as any, to aid him in the choice of the most 
profitable breeds, in the rearing of early chickens, and 
in fattening market fowls; and the amateur or genuine 
fancier, whose fowl or poultry are his delight, and whose 
ranges of separate yards and runs indicate the expense 
he is willing to go to for his pets, especially needed a 
book in which to find the views of the most successful 
and distinguished breeders and prize takers in regard to 
poiuts, breeding, feed, preparation of different breeds 
for exhibition, and many other things of which the books 
we had treated very unsatisfactorily, if at all. Such a book 
was, we repeat, a long standing want, but now we have it. 
Some weeks ago we received from Cassell, Pettcr & 
Galpin, of London and New York, a neat volume by Mr. 
L. Wright. We were charmed by the simplicity, clear- 
ness, and common sense of the book, and with its prac- 
tical character. Its author exhibits the utmost familiar- 
ity with poultry keeping in its minute details and diffi- 
culties, and has not less accurate views in regard to the 
principles of breeding, which are equally applicable to 
the rearing of thoroughbred short-horns and chickens. 
The united experiences of the editorial staft'of the Agri- 
culturist arc not very limited, and finding them to agree 
so well with Mr. Wright in all essential particulars, we 
are confirmed in the view that good practice in England 
is good in the United States also, and on this account 
Messrs. Judd & Co. secured the work as soon as possible 
for the American public, issuing it as one of their own 
publications and with the same hearty endorsement and 
recommendation. It is fully illustrated in all its depart- 
ments, and we venture to say that no poultry raiser, 
however experienced, can read it without obtaining 
valuable hints and solid good. The subject is treated 
under six " sections," viz. : I.— General management 
with a view to profit. II.— Breeding and exhibition of 
prize poultry. III.— Different breeds of fowls,— charac- 
teristic points,— comparison of merits and defects. TV. — 
Turkeys, ornamental poultry, and water fowl. V.— Hatch- 
ing and rearing chickens artificially. VI.— Breeding and 
Management of Poultry on a large scale. New York : 
Orange Judd & Co. 343 pages. 12mo. Price, 6ent by 
mail, $2.00. 
Cnnniii"' Green Peas. — V. Miller and 
many others fail in preserving green peas. We have 
several times stated as follows: Peas are pnt in the 
cans, soldered up, and boiled several hours ; the cans are 
then punctured, the steam allowed to escape, soldered, 
and boiled for several hours again, about eight hours 
in all. Then— they may all keep or may all be worth- 
less. Our most experienced preservers, who follow the 
business of canning vegetables, find peas more difficult 
to manage than any others. 
The Reconstructed Farmor. — We 
welcome this journal with particular pleasure. While 
we have not found it within our province to protest 
against the constant snarls and flings at the North, of 
some of the Southern agricultural journals, we have 
nevertheless felt sad that those who were engaged in 
ably advocating agriculture — a national cause — should so 
obtrude their political prejudices ; we have kept silent 
in the hope of a change, and that change comes to us in 
the " Reconstructed Farmer." It proposes to forget the 
past and work for the future. Coming with this spirit 
we welcome and commend it, and hope that its success 
may warrant the manly stand that it has taken. 
A New Potato Growing' from an 
Old Owe.-" W. M. B.," Virden, 111., sends an old po- 
tato with a new one growing from its side. This is noth- 
ing unusual, and often occurs where potatoes are kept 
sufficiently warm to start into growth and are perfectly 
excluded from light. 
Articles of Association ibr Farm- 
ers* Club* and Similar Societies. — We have 
frequent calls for the best form of Constitution and By- 
laws for local Agricultural and kindred associations, and 
would esteem it a favor if our readers who are members 
of Farmers' Clubs or local Agricultural Societies would 
send us copies of their articles of association, etc., that 
we may give the subject proper study, for the benefit of 
future inquirers. It shows a "healthy" state of feeling 
among farmers where these institutions are established. 
In general, the simpler the formal bond of association, 
the better. The real bond is and ever will continue, — 
interest in a common subject, maintained by interesting 
and improving stated meetings and exhibitions. 
A Word to Col- Harris.— Harris of the 
Ohio Farmer comes to New York now and then. Wo 
are glad to have him come, as he brings a fresh breeze 
from the lakes with him. We treat Col. II. as politely as 
we can, and after all this, is it right for him to go home 
and pitch into our pet institution, the Farmers' Club? 
Just see what, he says :— " Next to a visit to the Olympic, 
to see the play of Humpty Dumpty, is a Tuesday after- 
noon's amusement at the meeting of the Farmers' Club 
of the American Institute, which we went to see, as we 
usually do when we can command the time, on our visit 
to New York. The room was full of attentive listeners 
and enthusiastic talkers, but the management has fallen 
into ruts of most profitless verbiage, from which the 
vehicle must be lifted by some original process, or its 
transactions will continue to be lightly esteemed in agri- 
cultural literature. The sayings and readings at this 
Club form a sort of weak aud weekly gruel, which fur- 
nishes the staple diet in the agricultural columns of the 
political city papers. We hope to see this venerable in- 
stitution reconstructed and made better." Now, Col., 
this will not do. State pride and city pride call upon us 
to protest. What do you Buckeye fellows know about 
farming, that you should sit in judgment on the assem- 
bled wisdom of New York City J You are not a Doctor 
of anything, nor an Ex-Alderman, nor an " Agricultural 
Editor" of a city paper. What can you know about 
farming? There is one comfort, though ; you will be paid 
by the N. Y. Weekly Tribune. That sheet owns the 
Club and runs it for our amusement. We gave the Club 
a gentle punch some time ago, and they advertised us in 
two issues for nothing. Perhaps, after all, what we have 
quoted is just a clever dodge on the part of the Col. to 
get a notice of his paper in the Tribune. They bite at 
very naked hooks over there. 
Sagrc— "S. A. T., n Danvcrs Centre, Mass., 
says : " Here, where sage is raised by the ton, it is sown 
in the field between May 1st and 10lh, weeded and thinned 
like carrots, and never transplanted." In this case the 
land is given up to the crop. About New York it is grown 
only as a second crop after cabbages, etc., come oft'. 
Potato-Flies.— Several of the blistering 
beetles are destructive to the potato vine, and are popu- 
larly known as potato-flies. Mr. Daniel Hubbard, Mont- 
gomery Co., 111., writes that his sons effectually destroy 
these insects by making a fire of straw and other light 
stuffupon the edge of the field at twilight. The insects 
are attracted from a great distance by the light, and 
in two instances the fields were completely cleared. 
Liveforerer (Scdum Telrph'unn) is often a 
troublesome weed. Will some one who has successfully 
exterminated it tell how it is done? 
Asparagiis IBeetle. — "J, B. M.," Newark, 
N. J., asks if we know of anyway of destroying the 
asparagus beetle, except to cut and burn the shoots. As 
our bed ia not tronblud wo hnvo not had ail opportunity 
to experiment. The pest is a serious one, aud we shall 
be glad to hear of a remedy. 
Tree Boxes.— "E. P. B.," Danbury, Conn. 
We never heard of properly applied tree boxes injuring 
a tree. They should be open, to allow access of air, and 
not so small as to cramp the tree in any way. 
Sweet Potatoes. — Several ask if they 
shall move the vines after they take root at the joints. 
The roots which form at each joint soon begin to form 
potatoes, but they fail to attain any considerable size 
before they are cut off by the frost. In sub-tropical 
climates it is well to let them remain, but wherever there 
are frosts sufficient to kill the vines it is better to lift 
them and allow all the nourishment elaborated by the 
leaves to go to the principal roots. 
Almonds aii«l 3->iis>li*lt IValmits. — 
" D. II.," Sherman, Texas. No doubt both these will 
succeed with you, as far as climate is concerned, if your 
bothersome ants will let them alone. Even as far north 
as New York they manage to flourish. Any of our large 
nurserymen can supply you with trees. 
"Fire Cracker I»Isiul."— " A. A.J. P." 
wishes to know the name of the plant usually called 
" Fire Cracker " and sometimes u Ladies' Cigar." Its 
botanical name is Ouplvea pkttycerUra, a native of Mexico, 
and a capital thing, whether out of doors or in the house. 
Slabs for Strawberries.— " G. F. J.," 
Fayetteville, N. Y., recommends the use of slabs between 
the rows of strawberry plants, to protect the fruit from 
being soiled and to facilitate picking. This might 
answer for those who live near a saw-mill, and a bed 
covered with slabs wonld be much in the condition of 
the tiled beds made in England. 
ISIoodroot ami Pennyroyal. — "Sub- 
scriber," Coulton, Ky. We doubt if these would pay for 
collecting if one has anything else to do. If Bloodroot 
is in such quantities that it could be plowed out and 
raked up it might do to gather it, but Pennyroyal would 
require to be pressed, to make it manageable, and the 
demand is not large. 
Itlaclc Raspberries. — C Carlcton. 
These may be transplanted in the fall or spring, us may 
be most convenient. Set them four feet apart each way. 
