AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[January, 
Containing a great variety of Items, including many 
good Hints and Suggestions which we give here in small 
type and condensed form, for want of space elsewhere. 
Send iii tlte Items.— The multitude of 
subscription letters now arriving contain many hints, sug- 
gestions and queries. Let them come — the more the 
better. We will work them up into useful items as rap- 
idly as possible ; some have been necessarily crowded 
oyer this month. Every item for the Editors, should be 
on a separate sheet from business matters, and this sheet 
always contain the date and the full address of the writer. 
Important to Canadians.— We are 
happy to announce to our readers in Canada, that the 
Post Office Department at Quebec has issued a circular, 
dated Nov. 24, 1863, allowing the passage through the 
mails of "seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, and cions or grafts," 
at one cent per ounce, prepaid, in packages of not over one 
pound. "When received from the United States, the one 
cent per ounce is to be paid by the recipient, in addition 
to the same amount of postage prepaid here. This is very 
important, as it will admitof our sending seeds and plants 
to our Canada subscribers without the danger of Jieir 
being taxed $3.20 per pound, though prepaid here, as has 
often been done. Ourstrawberry plants can now be sent 
to Canada subscribers the same as to others. Books go at 
the same rales. After making a few inquiries about par- 
ticular items, we will give full information next month. 
Special Announcement to Adver- 
tisers.— We wish it to be distinctly understood by all 
parties concerned, that we have not altered the rule here- 
tofore laid down by us in regard to advertisements, viz. : 
The proprietor of this journal reserves the right to reject 
any and all business cards that he does not approve or de- 
sire for any reason. Nothing of an unreliable character 
is wanted and nothing received from those unknown to us 
personally or by good repute, unless proper references 
are furnished. This does not refer to their paying us, 
(the terms are cash in advance,) but to the question 
whether the readers will be fairly treated by them. 
^ews in tHe Advertising- Pages* — 
An intelligent subscriber to the Agriculturist writes : "I 
always read the advertising pages to keep posted in 
general information." He is right; the columns of that 
department show what the wide-awake business classes 
are doing. We call attention to their cards with pleasure, 
from the fact that the advertisers, so far as we know, are 
worthy men, who will do what they promise. (We hare 
rejected more advertisements than are inserted this 
month, selecting only those believed to be of good charac- 
ter.) There is no distinction in place — the arrangement 
of the pages being at the convenience of the printer, who 
classifies those in type when he is making up. Those on 
the last pages are as likely to be important to the reader, 
as those on the first pages, and vice versa. We repeat the 
standing request, that in writing to advertisers, with or- 
ders, or for circulars or information, they be informed 
where their business announcements were seen. This 
gives them satisfaction, and is advantageous all around. 
Xlie " Five-Twenties" Nearly Gone. 
— We have already referred to the gold-bearing 6-per- 
cent. U. S. Bonds, as one of the most desirable invest- 
ments for any sums of from $50 upward. There were 
five hundred million dollars to be issued, of which proba- 
bly less than fifty millions will remain unsold at the 
beginning of 1S64. This is both a patriotic and profitable 
investment, we think. All needed particulars are given 
by the Government Agents in our advertising columns. 
A I\ew Railroad Line to the West 
has recently been opened, by the completion of some 200 
miles of the Atlantic and Great Western It. R. from 
Salamanca on the Erie R. R., westward, via Meadville, 
Pa. This is part of a broad gauge track all the way 
from New- York City to St. Louis. The line is so far 
completed that cars will run through within a few months. 
We were sorry to be compelled to decline a courteous in- 
vitation to join in the festivities of an excursion to Cleve- 
land, the latter part of November. A friend who took 
our place, furnished a lengthy and interesting account of 
the pleasant trip, but we have not room to publish it. 
Above-Ground Cisterns.— L. Pierce, 
Chautauqua Co., N. Y. If you use straw in your barn, 
and so have a warm place to set the cistern, and can per- 
haps use a little spare straw around the cisterns besides, or 
if your barn is a very tight one and the number of stock 
you keep, takes off the chill from the air so that water 
seldom freezes, then you may with safety put up a cis- 
tern in your barn. Otherwise we advise its being set in 
the earth. Accidents from frost, most provoking in their 
character, often occur if cisterns are exposed. 
A Wag-on Question.— David Williams of 
Winnebago, proposes the following, to draw out informa- 
tion : "Suppose that of two wagons, made alike and 
of the same weight, one has iron axles, and the other 
what we use, 'thimble skained,' the axles of both worn 
smooth— would there be any difference in the power re- 
quired to move them empty ? Also, what would be the 
difference in power required, if any. supposing both 
were loaded with 40 bushels of wheat (2,400 lbs.) ?" 
Raisins.— Subscriber, Ottumwa, Iowa. The 
Delaware contains sugar enough to form raisins, but the 
seeds are so large in proportion to the pulp, that the fruit is 
of little value when dried. We have no good raisin grape. 
The Adiroudac Grape— A Correc- 
tion.— The Horticulturist for November in speaking of 
the prize awarded to this grape at the October exhibition, 
says : " It must be borne in mind that the prize was for 
favor alone, without regard to earliness, size., or any- 
thing else but this." The Adirondac was entered under 
Class H, of the schedule, which says : " For the best 5 
bunches of native grapes of any kind, quality to rule, 
$2," and it received the prize over all others offered in 
this class. If favor instead of quality had been the test, 
the rest of the committee would doubtless have agreed 
with Mr. Downing. These terms are often used as 
synonymous, which leads to frequent confusion. — We 
have no interest in the Adirondac, or any other grape, 
beyond the desire to have every candidate for public 
favor stand on its own merits. Every new variety of 
fruit is a long while in reaching its exact place in the 
scale of quality. While we consider it our duty to bring 
all new fruits of promise to the notice of the public, we 
are not committed to the productions of any one person, 
but hope to see the day when we shall have a grape 
superior to the Delaware, Adirondac, Concord, or Iona. 
Constitutional.— D. P. Young*, Scott Co., 
Md., asks if we have the constitution of any Horticul- 
tural Society to serve as a model.- We have several, but 
they are in bound volumes. They merely define the du- 
ties of the different officers, and fix the terms of member- 
ship, leaving details to the Executive Committee. In 
such societies a few earnest people do all the work, and 
the less they are hampered by rules the better. 
Plants for Barnes. — James Strong*. Tour 
grape is the Frost Grape, Vitis cordifolia. . . A. B. Parme- 
lee, Wabash Co., Minn., sends Calopogon pulchellus, 
which may be translated "beautiful-beard flower" — one 
of our finest orchids. 
Inqniries about Seeds.— Samuel E. 
Cooper and Geo. E. Roach.— We cannot find that the 
seeds are to be had in this city. Seed catalogues are out 
by Feb. 1st, and those interested should send to the deal- 
ers. The advertisements of the principal seedsmen are 
in our columns at the proper season,, some of them now. 
Seeds Received. — J. Ellsworth, Washing- 
ton Co., HI. Those sent as " Flowering Locust" are 
probably of Cassia Chammcrista. The plant called 
" wild petunia" is not recognized ; send a flower. 
Lice on Cauliflowers.— C. E. Phelps, 
N. Y. ? is much troubled by lice on both early and late va- 
rieties. We should try salt upon them. Can any one 
suggest a better remedy ? 
A Ijarge Onion.— Wm. N. Byers, Editor of 
the Rocky Mountain News, at Denver, Colorado, sends 
us an onion, which weighed two lbs., and this was not 
his largest, It was from Mexican seed, which seems to 
ptoduce large onions with him, but if brought East only 
yields them of the ordinary size. It is by means of irri- 
gation that these immense vegetables are raised in 
Colorado Territory. 
Soil for Small Fruits.— " D. D. L." A 
good deep loam, which is well worked to the depth of 16 
Inches to two feet, will suit small fruits of all kinds. If 
not naturally drained, provide for it by artificial means. 
Sonie Pumpkins. — Silas C. Herring seems 
to be as successful at raising pumpkins as he is at manu- 
facturing safes. A few days ago he deposited at the 
Agriculturist office a specimen weighing 204 lbs. 
Utter Apple.— Thos. D. Plumb, Madison, I 
Wis.,— Apples and cions received. The apples were 
past their prime, but gave evidence of fine quality, while 
the handsome form, and red color wiil doubtless make 
them a good market fruit. It is an Illinois seedling, un- 
known at the East. 
The Siinday-Sehool Question-Rooks 
No. 1 and No. 2, are believed to be worthy the atten- 
tion of all Superintendents and Teachers, hundreds of 
whom have -written in the highest commendation of them. 
They each contain 52 lessons, averaging 7 to 8 verses. 
taking up the more important events of the New Testa- 
ment in the order of their occurrence. A running history 
of the intermediate events, with the notes, etc., give 
these books the character of a combined history, chro- 
nology, commentary, text-hook, and question-book. No. 2 
is designed to follow No. 1, but it may be used inde 
pendently. The price of either book is 10 cents per 
copy, and 3 cents each extra, if 10 or more go by mail. 
If sent by mail pre-paid, the rates will be as follows : 
1 copy, 14 cents I 4 copies, 52 cents, i 7 copies, 90 cents. 
2 copies, 28 cents. 5 copies, G6 cents. 8 copies, 1 04 cents. 
o copies, 42 cents. 6 copies, 80 cents. ' 9 copies, 1 18 cents. 
Dr. Hart's Opinion of the Above Works.— This eminent 
gentleman, the long-time Principal of the Philadelphia 
High School, gave the following unsolicited notice in the 
Sunday-School Times, of which he is Editor : " We have 
just been examining a little book published by the Editor 
of the Agriculturist, called 'Lessons for Every Sunday 
in the Year,' and have risen from the examination with a 
feeling of thankfulness that such a book has been made. 
We have never seen a Question-Book that contained so 
many conveniences and advantages as this— so many 
excellences, both positive and negative. ...The author of 
the plan is a life-long Sunday School man, and this book 
is the fruit of the experience of himself and some of his 
friends in trying to meet the practical wants of the Sun- 
day School. Like all good text-books, it has grown out of 
actual necessities and experience ; it is a growth rather 
than a work. We advise every Superintendent to send at 
once for a copy." 
A Ufeat Snnday Scliool Medal is offered 
in our advertising columns, by J. C. Garrigues & Co., of 
the S. S. Times. We have examined a sample of the 
gold one, which would doubtless prove a valuable sou- 
venir or keepsake to any child so fortunate as to obtain 
one as a reward of good conduct and diligence. It is 
about the size of a double-eagle gold coin, neatly em- 
bossed with a Bible, wreath, etc.- 
Voaimans" Class Book of Chemis- 
try. — This new book of 460 pages, we have read entirely 
through, and we advise every person at all acquainted 
with Chemistry, to get and read it. It is laboriously pre- 
pared, full of facts and principles packed closely together, 
embraces the latest theories and discoveries, and is writ- 
ten in the lively, interesting, and vigorous style that char- 
acterizes Prof. You mans' popular lectures. Though 
charmed by the work, we are in doubt whether to recom- 
mend it as a school book, except for adult classes in acad- 
emies and colleges. We fear that children of only 
ordinary mental ability, and others entirely unacquainted 
with the science, would find this too strong meat. It 
would require considerable previous knowledge of science 
to enter understanding^ into the discussions of the first 
part of the book. All teachers should have and read it, 
to obtain facts and illustrations, and to bring them- 
selves up to date in a science which is rapidly developing, 
and outgrowing many of the theories of but yesterday. 
We think Prof. Youmans should prepare a preliminary 
elementary book of half the size, and less than half the 
amount of matter— one beginning with simple facts and 
experiments, and gradually leading the mind on to prin- 
ciples and theories— keeping all the while in view, that 
though strong adults march off with long strides, the un- 
educated mind, no matter what its years, must take 
short steps. The above class-book contains over 300 
engraved illustrations. Price §1,25 by mail orotherwise. 
Disreputable Business.— Several sub- 
scribers, mostly Postmasters, forward to us copies of 
papers, called the "New York Atlas", the "Lansingburg 
Gazette", and the "New York Weekly Casket", which 
are sent out in packages to Postmasters, with enclosed 
slips requesting them to distribute the papers in the post- 
office boxes, as sample copies, "to help increase their cir- 
culation." An examination of the said papers show them 
to be mainly filled with advertisements of quacks who 
pretend to great skill in any certain diseases. If the 
publishers of these papers lend theirsheets for such hum- 
bugging, they are in the very disreputable business of 
helping to swindle the people. Postmasters should report 
to the department at Washington all such papers coming 
unpaid, and burn up all that come prepaid, if undirected. 
