4=04= 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[November, 
is a copy, written under a large printed letter head, and 
with various dates. These dates were well timed to 
come out just after our paper went to press last month, 
probably so as to have time to operate before our nest 
paper should appear: [copt.] 
"694 Broadway, N. T., Sept. 27, 1S60. 
" Sir:— About fourteen months since,Messrs. Read & Co. 
paid us $200.00 for a fine solid gold Geneva watch, which 
they stated your ticket, No. 83,111, had drawn, requesting 
us to send it to you, as soon as $10.00 per centage was re- 
ceived. We have since then paid $3.00 taxes on the 
watch, making the charges on it now $13.00. Let us 
know by what express to send the watch, so you can call 
and get it, and pay the $13.00 charges to the Express 
Agent. We are, Sir, most respectfully, 
"J. M. Blake & Co. 
u To , Meriden, Conn.' 1 
These letters are all alike, excepting in the date and 
ticket number mentioned, and from the variation in the 
handwriting we judge that quite a foi-ce of clerks are em- 
ployed in getting them up. We at first supposed this hum- 
bug too transparent to catch any one, but we have letters 
seriously asking us to call and get the watches aud for- 
ward them Wogan & Co. (edicts Darly & Co., alias 
Stevens & Co., alias Noyes & Co., alias Barkley & Co., 
etc., etc.) have two or more branches. In one kind of 
circular this concern, with a great show of respectability, 
pretended to be "Receivers" for Kelly & Co.'s old sol- 
diers-orphans-gift-enterprise swindle. In another de- 
partment the following is a specimen circular. These 
circulars arc sent to boys as young as 10 years, and unless 
parents are watchful, their sons will be tempted on to 
early ruin— though, as a rule, these villainous thieves 
seldom ever make the slightest answer or return for the 
money sent them : 
"New York, Sept. 15th, 1869. 
"Dear Sin:— Believing you to be 'true blue,' we will 
introduce for your consideration a matter which will be 
the means of putting many thousands of dollars in your 
pocket in a very short time. We have now on hand, 
ready for circulation, $S50,500 in $1, $2, and $5 bills. They 
are the best counterfeits ever put on the market, and we 
defy the Treasury experts themselves to detect them. 
They are of the same size as the genuine, are printed on 
first-class paper, are correctly numbered, and are so ex- 
ceedingly well executed in every respect that they cannot 
possibly'be detected, even by the aid of a powerful mi- 
croscope. We have them put up in packages of $500 
each. We will sell you $500 of the $1 or $2 bills for $100 ; 
$1000 fur $180. We shall charge you $200 per $1000 on the 
$5 bills, as the engraving of the plate cost us considerably 
more than for the others. If yon desire to feel your way 
before investing largely, we will send you $500 upon the 
receipt of $5 or $i0, whichever you see fit to send us, 
and you may pay the balance within 15 days after receiv- 
ing the bills, or we will wait until you arrive. Auy rail- 
road ticket agent will take them, because he cannot de- 
tect them. Don't show more than $50 at a time in a place. 
You crm well afford to remit the balance in two hours ; 
but we will give you plenty of time. You may form some 
idea about the quality of our stock by reading the in- 
closed extract cut from the Herald. The stock is in a 
nafe place, and we defy the sharpest detectives in New 
York, unless you blow on us, which we know yon will 
not do. Always send money by express or registered 
letter. We will do the same. Then nothing will be lost 
in the mails, and everything will work harmoniously be- 
tween us. If yon preferwe will sendit by express. C.O.D., 
packed in such a way as not to excite the suspicion that 
it is money. Depend upon it,we are in earnest in this mat- 
ter, and if you take hold of it in a proper manner you can 
make $2,000 before November. We have taken every 
precaution in the execution of these notes to render you 
as safe as if you were handling good money, for better 
executed bills were never issued in the world. In case 
you should be indiscreet enough to let it be known to 
anyone, don't mention where it came from. We have 
the reputation in New York of being men of good stand- 
ing, and therefore we will never be suspected of dealing 
iu counterfeit money. If you could manage to come on 
we could talk freely about the matter, and make arrange- 
ments for a big business. If you come on, show this en- 
velope to the man at the desk, and he will introduce you. 
Don't mention any thing about counterfeit money, as he 
will pretend not to understand you. He will know 
what's up. We implore you not to betray us in case you 
are not inclined to go in. State what denominations 
you wish, how much, and either destroy this or send 
it back. Address plainly, 
"Wogan & Co., St., New York." 
" P. S.— Depend upon it, as long as you are true to us 
you will never be out of funds. 11 
None but those having money to throw away will 
send any money to the so-called "Grand Distribution of 
$98,000 worth of Diamonds and Watches, at Cincinnati, 
Nov. 13th." A Dr. Ganiett, or " Gammon," professing 
to hail from No. 1,970 Broadway. N.Y., and to be employed 
by the Slate at $7,000 a year, is out West curing ears. Is 
he swindling the State by neglecting his home duties, or 
robbing foolish Western people with his plausible lies? 
We can dispose of him in one sentence, viz., there is no 
No. 1,970 Broadway. The highest No. on that street 
given iu the City Directory is 1,415, and that is away up 
to West 53d St. Another pretender advertises and writes 
from this city. Every one of these eye and ear doctors 
thus advertising is a swindler. 
The White <Urnl> in Pennsylvania. 
A. J. Woodkok, Bedford Co., writes : "The corn crop 
has suffered the most severely. Iu many places it will be 
mi entire failure. The grubs commenced operations as 
Soon as the corn was up in the spring, and are at it yet. 
In the first place, they cut off the center root, which 
checked the growth and stunted the stalk. In many 
places, even in the most fertile soil, the crop will not 
average twenty bushels per acre. In examining my field 
the other day, I found as many as twenty-three at one 
hill ; some of my neighbors have found as high as thirty. 
Potatoes have been entirely destroyed iu many places. 
Timothy sods are rendered entirely useless (as we be- 
lieve) for the hay crop the coming season. We are at a 
loss to know whether to turn our sod for com this fall or 
wait until spring. The roots are so completely mown off 
that the sods can be rolled up in heaps by hand. They 
are now commencing upon the grain. Some farmers 
have been obliged to re-sow their entire crop." — This is 
a sad story, and it would seem from this and other cases 
that have come to our notice, that our white grub is 
likely to prove as serious an enemy to our agriculturists 
as is that of Europe to the cultivators of that country. 
The perfect insects, the May beetles, may be destroyed in 
large quantities by shaking the trees on which they lodge, 
in the morning, and scalding them. For the grubs 
themselves, no better remedy has been proposed than 
picking them up at plowing time. In France, children 
follow in the furrow and collect the grubs. We do not 
think that any application to the soil will be of use. 
Resources of tlie Southern Fields 
and Forests. By Francis Peyre Porcher,M.D. Charles- 
ton: Walker, Evans & Cogswell. Pp.740. Price, $3.50. 
Dr. Porcher has long been known as an industrious 
worker in medical botany, and he has in this work given 
a quite full account of the vegetable products of the 
Southern States, with their uses in the arts and medicine. 
Being a medical man, his descriptions of the remedial 
properties of plants are more full than those of their 
other qualities. The work is altogether a valuable addi- 
tion to our too limited list of those on economical botany. 
Cure for ESeas Braying* Soft Eg-gs. 
— "Harlem" finds that of all the cures tried none is so 
good as bone meal, and says that " some of this mixed 
with the soft feed once a week is a sure cure." 
Salt for Fowls.— "H." asks, " Will the 
water that ham or salt beef is boiled in be injurious to 
fowls if used to wet up the meal given to them." We do 
not like to give salt in any form to fowls. 
Death ofK. ffj. Allen. — As we go to press 
we receive the sad tidings of the sudden death at Stock- 
holm, Sweden, Sept. 22d, of Mr. R. L. Allen, one of the 
first editors, and subsequently proprietor, of the Ameri- 
can Agriculturist^ author of several agricultural works, 
and long and widely known and respected as a manufac- 
turer and dealer in agricultural implements. A more ex- 
tended notice of his life will be in the December number. 
Grape Trellises. — "Inquirer," "Viuing," 
and others. Posts should be of the most durable wood 
to be obtained ; five feet out of the ground, and two feet 
below the surface is a common hight; 16 feet apart, 
with a stake between to support the centre of the wire ; 
No. 10 wire is the usual size. Galvanized wire costs a 
few cents more per lb. than other, but it lasts longer. 
The manner of putting up the wire was given last May. 
If necessary to lay down the vines, they are detached 
from the wires. 
Apple Butter. — A request for directions to 
make this has called out several replies. A majority of 
the directions are essentially the same. Cider, fresh 
from the press, is boiled down to one-half or one-third, 
then from 2Y Z • to 3 bushels of sweet apples, pared aud 
cored, are added, and the whole carefully boiled, stirring 
meanwhile to prevent burning. We add three of the 
recipes differing most widely in their details. "J. B. S.," 
York, Pa., says: "Have ready on the day previous to 
boiling apple butter, one barrel of good sweet cider, just 
from the press ; enough sweet apples (say about two and 
one half bushels) to make one and a half bushels, after 
being pared, cored, and quartered; a wooden " stirrer" 
made of a piece of walnut board, two feet long and five 
inches wide, and having holes to allow it to move freely 
when being used, and also a handle about eight feet long ; 
and a copper kettle large enough to hold the cider at once. 
Commence on the secoud day quite early, as it will re- 
quire about fifteen hours to complete the boiling. Put 
the cider in a kettle and start a brisk fire ; in about two 
hours the cider will have boiled down sufficient to put in 
some of the apples. These are to be added from time to 
time until all are used. As soon as the apples are put in 
the stirring commences, and is continued, to keep from 
burning at the bottom, until the contents of the kettle are 
removed. As soon as the boiling is sufficieut, which is 
shown by a thick, glossy appearance, the kettle is to he 
taken off the fire aud spices added ; cinnamon and all- 
spice are generally nsed. The apple butter must be taken 
out of the ketttle immediately and put into the vessels 
intended to keep it. Stone ware is best ; glazed earthen 
ware, when quite new, will impart poison to the apple 
butter." Mrs. Wm. Woodford, Sandusky Co., O., gives 
the following recipe : " Boil one barrel of cider from sweet 
apples, right from the press, down to the consistence of 
thick molasses. Pare and core four bushels of sweet or 
moderately sour apples, and stew them in a small quan- 
tity of fresh cider, or water, until quite soft, and then 
strain them through a colander. Add the cider molasses, 
and boil over a moderate fire for about three hours, or 
until of the desired consistence, stirring constantly while 
boiling. All the boiling and stewing should be doue in 
brass or copper vessels, and when done it should be 
stored in wooden or earthen vessels. The cider can be ex- 
peditiously boiled down in a copper sorghum evaporator." 
Mrs. G. W. Spratt, Bangor, Me., makes the apple butter 
without cider thus: "To ten gallons of water add six 
gallons of the best molasses, mix them well together, 
and put it iuto a large kettle over a good fire. Let it come 
to a boil, aud skim it, as long as any senm rises. Take 
out half the liquid and put into a tub ; have ready eight 
bushels of fine sound apples, pared, cored, and quar- 
tered, and throw them gradually iuto the liquid that is 
still boiling on the fire. Let it continue to boil hard; as 
it thickens add by degrees the other half of the molasses 
and water; stir itfrequently, to prevent itsscorching, and 
to make it of equal consistence throughout. Boil it ten 
or twelve hours, continuing to stir it. At night take it 
out of the kettle, put it in tubs to cool, and cover it. 
Next morning boil it six or eight hours longer. Half an 
hour before taking it out stir in a pouud of mixed sp'ce, 
cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. When done, put up in 
stone or earthen jars. I use a brass kettle." 
"Our Tonng- Folks " continues to be 
as pleasant and instructive as ever. Perhaps one secret 
of its success is, that its writers treat the young people 
as possessed of a good amount of intelligence, and give 
them interesting reading, without appearing to write 
down to juvenile comprehension. Any one, old or 
young, would be interested in the " Story of a Bad Boy." 
The young scamp has fallen iu love, aud has become a 
"blighted being," in a very happy way. Old as we are, 
we always make itapoiut to look over Our Young Folks. 
Dealers in Implements, I\nrsery- 
men, Seedsmen, and all who sell agricultural and 
horticultural wares, including stock, poultry, fertilizers, 
etc., should send us their circulars or business addresses 
if they have not already done so. Our Annuals are now 
being made up, and we wish to present as complete a 
directory as possible. 
Tltc Christian Union. — The paper for- 
merly known as the Church Union takes a more compre- 
hensive title, and in changing proprietors has introduced 
improvements, the foremost of which is to secure the 
services of the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher as editor. The 
name of Mr. B. alone will secure success to a journal 
which has heretofore been conducted with ability. 
Potatoes "by ITlail. — A correspondent in 
Suffolk Co., N. J., sends us a sample of potatoes by ex- 
press, as the postmaster would not take them to go by mail. 
Tiic best way in such cases is to ask to see the law, which 
will soon settle the matter. Hundreds of bushels of 
potatoes go by mail every year, and this is the first case 
in which we have heard of any refusal to take them. 
I\o Advice to Sell. — Sometimes 50 cents 
to $5 comes in a letter to pay for an answer. We must 
repeat that this is worse than useless, as it puts us to the 
trouble of returning the money. When we have any ad- 
vice to sell we shall publish a card of terms. 
Names. — If somebody in some Canterbury, 
who has written twice about a washing-machine, will 
tell us in what State he lives, he will get an answer. 
Horse-radish. — "L. S., "Salisbury, Mo., will 
find an engraving of a horse-radish grater given in April, 
1867. We do not know who makes them. 
Scnppernong Grape. — We are indebted 
to Mr. E. A. M'Intosh, ofS. C.,for specimens of this variety, 
which being riper than any we had seen before enabled 
us to better judge of its character. It has a very leathery 
skin, but is more sweet and less foxy than we had sup- 
posed. It is said that persons accustomed to it become 
very fond of this variety. 
The Weehawken Grape.-' ( C," Vicu- 
na, O. This is a seedling raised by Dr. C. Siedhof, an ama- 
teur, at Weehawken, N. J., from the seed of a grape 
from the Crimea. We have not heard of its fruiting else- 
where, but with Dr. S. it was productive aud healthy. 
