1864.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
are made, statements of profits arc given, uml a largo 
salary is offered ; but, every ono accepting an agency Is 
required to first buy one of the machines at the retail 
price, and the promtso Is made thiit tin- discount for 
wholesale shall be refunded nl the nexl purchase. s "" 10 
who have caught at this bait, Inform us that they sent 
their money, but have beard nothing further ol it. ddi of 
the promised machine. Others say the Aral machlno, for 
u Ulcli $10 or more was charged, came as directed, but it 
was not worth more than its weight In old Iron. Of 
course they could make nothing by acting as agents for 
BUOll trumpery, and they were obliged t»> pocket the loss. 
Well-established ami reliable companies have thejr 
agents, but we know of none that send out circulars 
promising to employ whoever may choose to engage in 
the business. They select their men only after some ac- 
quaintance or guarantee of fitness. Beware of all such 
gilded baits : they invariably cover u sharper steal. 
Humbug* iTliuing- Companies.— For 
special reasons, we omit giving this mouth the particulars 
In our possession concerning a ".Mining Company," 
hatched up In Philadelphia by third-story self-styled 
" Bankers," who refer for their responsibility to unknown 
U. S. officers ; to " cashiers" who have been discharged 
from their places months ago ; to small potato "wholesale 
merchants" selling a few trinkets In an upper room in a 
small alley— etc. Any one who has money enough to pay 
for primer's ink, can get up (on paper) a splendid show 
for a " Mining Company," with blank forms for "Shares" 
on imitation of parchment, and loo many of this class 
succeed In filching money from the unwary. Beware of 
all new Mining Companies, whose officers are not per- 
sonally known to yourself or friends, and beware espec 
ially of those sending out circulars over the country. 
dicap Sewing Machines Again. — 
" F. M, L.," Itockford, III. The $15 machine referred to 
may answer a good purpose for several years, but it is a 
pirated machine. That is, no license is paid for the two 
or three patents involved in it, which are owned by other 
parlies. Any person purchasing the machine is liable to 
have it taken away by those whose rights are infringed. 
This is one ground of our caution against purchasing 
" cheap machines." We know of no good machine, 
licensed to use the various patents held by several sewing 
machine companies, and requisite to accomplish the work 
satisfactorily, that is sold for less than $49. 
A I%c w Patent Fertilizer. — Au exchange 
paper makes itself merry over a new manure it has seen 
advertised. It is said to be deposited by a bird with a 
grandiloquent name, from a southern ocean, which lives 
on electrical eels, and its offal contains ammonia and 
lightning combined in remarkable proportions. It reconf- 
rnends that, instead of waiting for a ship-load, in these 
perilous times, the farmers of a town or county club 
together and buy a few birds ; for if one of them only flies 
over a corn-field, it will start the corn knee-high at a lick ! 
Who wants a bird ? They are very scarce as yet. 
Hoove in Sheep. — L. R. B., Grant Co., Wis., 
writes the Agriculturist as follows: " What remedy is 
there for sheep that become bloated on fresh clover ? 
About October 1st, I turned ray sheep into rank clover, 
letting them stay on it but one or two hours twice a day. 
On the fourth day, after having been In an hour and a half, 
a nice two-year old wether bloated up, and died in a few 
minutes. The next day, after having been in one hour, a 
three-year old ewe was observed to be in pain ; I imme- 
diately turned the flock out, and went to a neighbor's for 
advice, and when I got back (3u minutes having elapsed) 
the sheep was dead. I opened both sheep, and found the 
stomach a mass of fermentation, and inflated to its utmost 
capacity. The sixth day, and subsequently, the sheep re- 
mained in the clover, and no more deaths occurred." 
The remedy in such cases is to drive the sheep about 
actively. If the animal is in such pain that tins cannot be 
done, an opening must be made through the flank into the 
paunch. There is an instrument called a Trocar which 
not only makes the cut, but forms a lube for the escape of 
the gases. Usually there is little time to wait, and the 
pocket-knife must be used. Make the cut through the 
flank near the backbone, just behind the ribs. The paunch 
will be seen distended, and pressing up into the flank ; 
puncture it, making the animal lie so that the hole will 
be uppermost, so as to let off only gas. Should solid 
matter escape into the abdomen, it will prove fatal. 
Portable Fence tor a Sheepiold. — 
H. P. Thompson, Pendleton Co., Ky.— The coarse wick- 
er-work hurdles used in Europe make a perfectly- tight 
fence. A dog could jump over— but were the upright 
slicks left long and pointed, extending say two feet 
above the top of the wicker-work, we think dogs would be 
effectually excluded. These hurdles maybe bound to- 
gether with thongs of raw-hide, and supported besides by 
stakes set us braces, and the fence lashed to them. Wo 
may be able to describe and Illustrate them soon. 
To Relieve Choking Cattle.— Ghae. w. 
Ilalght, Westchester Co., N. V., writes to the Agricultu- 
rist : "I lately wltnessfltl a very practical and easy 
method of removing the obstruction, [(consists simply 
of a Bllffly-twlsted Inch rope, long enough to push the 
obstruction from the gullet quite Into* the stomach. The 
end should be wound with strong cord, far enough from 
the end to form a fibrous knob. Two men hold the cow, 
another with this clears the gullet, and saves the animal." 
A Cow With I\o Appetite.— CUns. R. 
Smith, Barnstable Co., Mass. From your statement you 
appear to think your pet heifer needs a purgative as well 
as a tonic. The following treatment will be safe at any 
rate, unless some decided symptoms of disease arc ap- 
parent, in which case we of course would not advise. 
Give )i lb. epsom salts, and 4 oz. sulphur, in ginger tea, 
letting it flow slowly down the throat. Repeat the dose 
if It does not operate. Follow this treatment with 
powdered Ginger 2 drachms, Gentian 1 drachm, and Car- 
raway seed I ounce, given daily In cut feed, or sprinkled 
upon finely sliced roots (carrots if possible,) for ten days. 
Books on Stock. — In auswer to several 
inquiries, we recommend Ftiiit's Milch Cotvs and Dairy 
Farming. Youatt and Martin on Cattle is an old, but 
excellent work. The most practical work on the treat- 
ment of disease in cattle is Dadd's American Cattle Doctor. 
For the horse breeder and owner, there is no book so good 
as Herbert's Hints to Horse Keepers. It is plain direct and 
reliable in its teachings, and written in a very agreeable 
style. Dadd's Horse Doctor is good, and Mayhew's Illus- 
trated Horse Doctor most excellent. For Hog literature, 
Youatt's work is best, though Richardson's contains much 
valuable information. Randall's Practical Shephcrdis, as 
we have said before, the best hand-book of sheep hus- 
bandry. BcmcnVs Poulterer's Companion is a good and reli- 
able work. All these books, with the prices, are in our 
booklist, page 29, except the Practical Shepherd ; we have 
however the Fine-wool Sheep Husbandry, by the same 
author, and also his Sheep Husbandry at the South, the 
latter also bound with Youatt on the Sheep, and called 
the Shepherd's Own Book,— all of which are very good. 
Pumpkins tor Cows. — (R. T.) It is a 
mistake of your neighbor, that pumpkins increase the 
quantity but injure the quality of milk. Experience is 
largely against him. Pastures are apt to fail in the Fall, 
and the milk fails too. Every farmer should provide 
green corn fodder and pumpkins enough to keep up the 
flesh and milk of his dairy to their average standard. On 
commencing to feed pumpkins, it is well to begin mod- 
erately, and then feed regularly. Take out the seeds. 
Cribbing; Morses. — G-. W. Dewey. This 
disease arises from sour stomach, (dyspepsia,) in all 
probability. The Horse cannot vomit or easily belch 
wind, and so, to relieve the stomach of gas, takes this 
method of placing his throat in a position which will let 
the gas out. Try the effect of keeping salt constantly be- 
fore the horse. Dampen his food and sprinkle prepared 
chalk or magnesia in small quantities upon it. Besides 
this, Mayhew recommends a handful of powdered oak 
bark fed with his grain daily. 
Smith's " Cantering- Horses." — We 
have had one of these several weeks, and can speak of it 
in the highestterms. It is an unfailing source of pleas- 
ure to the little folks, who "take turns" in riding 
whenever the weather admits of their being out of doors. 
A boy of seven drives it at*a rapid pace, and guides it 
very readily. Its strong construction, and consequent 
durability, are decided recommendations for anything to 
be used by bouncing boys and girls. 
If ones tor Hens.— " B. W. 0.," South 
Reading, Mass., asks, "Is bone-dust good for hens to 
make them lay V* Hens will pick over and eat common 
bone-dust ; but one of the best things we ever fed to hens 
In Winter or Summer is finely pounded fresh bones, from 
the table. There are solid flat rocks enough in old Mid- 
dlesex that will make good pounding beds, and for a 
pounder use a 6-pound sledge. 
" Will Tobacco Cir owing Pay 
Now ?» asks a Kentucky reader of the Agriculturist. 
"Will not the greatly increased*tax upon it, recommended 
by the Secretary of the Treasury, and likely to be im- 
posed by Congress, tend so far to. lessen the use, as to 
lessen the demand?''— We might well hope so, for the 
sake of the health of the people ; but with this as with 
other narcotics and stimulants, cost is seldom reckoned. 
The more difficult the acquisition, the in Srffl I in the 
devotee to Berlins ihc object of his desire. Further, a 
large amount Is exported, and the foreign demand will 
not be likely to decline; while the war hao dim In lined 
the prod UOt Ion In the prominent tobacco growing regie 
and the old stock has been decreasing for two fears. Bo 
we suppose tobacco culture will go on m prosperously 
as hitherto. We shall not publish much on I 
this year. Those Intending in grow tobacco In Inrgi 
small quantities, will find full and complete InJbrmnUon 
from m praotlcul growers, In the book of nrla • 
published last year. See bonk list on page 29. 
liinls of* l-'ruit. — John l-'isk, Middlesex ('«»,, 
Mass., asks why wedo not recommend a single variety of 
apple or other fruit instead of a list of several. It would 
be impossible in the first place to suit all tastes . secondly, 
one variety will not give a succession of early and Inte 
fruit ; and thirdly, It is never safe to depend on any m i 
sort, as diseases frequently attack a particular kind and 
destroy It throughout a large section of country. 
Crab Apples. — P. Mulford, Camden Co., P.*., 
Jr., is troubled by the falling of the fruit before maturity, 
and wishes to know the cause and the remedy. We 
should look first for an Insect in the fruit, and If the cause 
could not be found, then would try severe pruning. Wo 
do not recollect having heard a similar complaint, and 
should be glad of any information In the matter. 
Seedling Apples.— E. D. Blakcman, Co- 
lumbia Co., N. Y. The fruit seoms to be a very fine 
crab apple, of large size and good color. The bottle of 
sauce sent was very good, by some relished like cran- 
berry sauce, and by others not liked so well. We can 
not decide from our slight knowledge of it, whether it Is 
superior to other crab apples now in cultivation ; it evi- 
dently promises well. We should prefer a name consist- 
ing of a single word, to the one you propose. The name of 
either your county or town would be appropriate. 
Fruits tor Central Illinois.— L. Mars- 
ton, Vermillion Co., wishes a selection of five each of 
apples and pears. Bartlett, Belle Lucrative. White Doy- 
enne, Seckel and Duchesse among pears ; and Early Har- 
vest, Maiden'sBlush, Snow, Yellow Bellftower and Roman 
Stem Apples, will do well in his section, though there 
may be local peculiarities which will render it injudicious 
to plant some of them. 
Watson's American Home (warden. 
— This book of about 530 pages, by Alex. Watson, is recom- 
mended to the many inquirers for a book on gardening. It 
treats of vegetable gardening, fruit growing, and as 
much of flower gardening as most people will be able to 
practise. The various implements In use are described 
and figured, as are the fruits and many of the vegetables. 
The different modes of propagating and training arc 
clearly explained and illustrated. All tho subjects arc 
treated in a plain and practical way, and we know of no 
belter work for the purpose for which it is intended. 
Price $1.50, by mail, or otherwise. 
" The Fruit SjJarden " is a very complete 
treatise by P. Barry, of the well known Mount Hope 
Nurseries. It is not, as one would suppose from the 
title, confined to the fruit garden, but includes instruc- 
tions for starting a nursery, planting orchards, budding, 
grafting, pruning, training, laying out plantations, etc. It 
is valuable to any one engaged in raising fruit, and 
especially so to beginners in the business. It contains 
398 pages, well illustrated. Price, by mail, $1,50. 
More SjSrape Queries.— Geo. "W. AMred, 
Hamilton Co., End., asks what kind of grapes we would 
recommend a farmer to plant. If confined to one kind 
we would say the Concord. We doubt if there are 20 
varieties worth cultivating by any but amateurs. See 
grape notes in November and December Agriculturist. — 
W. R. Chapman, Burlington Co., N. J. We have al- 
ready given all the information we have upon this new 
grape. The Yeddo Grape has not fruited in this country. 
Xlsc Crcvcliuff Grape. — Mr. Mossey, 
"Editor ■ bf< the Siartbury American, Northumberland Co., 
Pa., informs us that he has fruited this variety for four 
years. He says that with him it is not as early as the 
Hartford Prolific, but he prefers it to that variety, and 
Its keeping qualities are remarkable for an early grape. 
The Haw or While Thorn.— Jno. Fitz- 
gerald, St. Joseph Co., Ind. Both the plants and the 
seeds can be obtained in this country. The objection to 
It as a hedge plant is its tendency to drop Its leaves 
during our hot Summer, which weakens its growth. 
