308 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[NOVEMBEK, 
we saw the Creveling in much better condition than any 
from Pennsylvania. At the grounds of Hooker & Co., 
we saw the cement tanks for heating propagating 
houses, about which there has been so much discussion. 
All the young stock here gave evidence of successful 
propagation. These are all the nurseries w r e had time 
to visit, but there are many others which are worthy of 
notice. We must not forget the flower garden of Mr. 
James Vick, whose seed advertisement figures so large- 
ly in our advertising columns at the proper season. It 
is probably the largest collection of annuals to be found 
in the country. Any one interested in any branch of 
horticulture can pass several days with pleasure and 
profit in the suburbs of the beautiful city of Rochester. 
Containing a great variety of Items, including many 
good Hints and Suggestions which we throw into small 
type and condensed form, for want of space elsewhere. 
Agricultural Companies — Caution. 
Many have lately written to the American Agriculturist 
Office, inquiring about the reliability, prospects, etc., of 
sundry enterprises, here and elsewhere, called " Agricul- 
tural Companies," and other similar names, and designed 
to speculate or deal in land, manures, and implements, 
and to publish papers, etc., etc. We can only answer in a 
general way : Great caution is needed in all such cases. 
First, obtain from some independent reliable source, 
definite information about the parties engaged in getting 
up any enterprise. What has been their previous history. 
Have they failed in other business operations, or in any 
way broken faith with the public. If honest, have they 
really business capacity and tact, or merely business am- 
Dition and a sanguine temperament. If they have failed 
from any cause to carry out their own enterprises, will 
they be likely to succeed any better in managing the af- 
fairs of an Association ? Then, as to the enterprises them- 
selves. Are there really good reasons for expecting suc- 
cess ? The promoters, or their agents, and circulars, may 
give a golden coloring, perhaps honestly, perhaps not. 
Some can only see the favorable side of a question ; they 
may fail adozen limes, and yet not learn to calculate the 
drawbacks when they get hold of a new scheme. Thirdly, 
do not be lured by the show of well-known names on the 
list of stockholders. These are often put down without 
the consent or knowledge of the persons themselves, and 
in other cases men carelessly allow their names to be 
recorded as stockholders (receiving as a return, a free 
share or two) in an enterprise which appears plausible 
)r> them, but which they have not time to investigate. 
'4. of an inch. He re- 
I have no further trouble 
To Stop a Coiv Millcing Herself.— 
Henry Bill, New London Co., Conn., bought an Alder- 
ney cow very cheap because she would milk herself, 
which nearly destroyed her value as a milch cow. At 
the advice of a neighbor, who performed the operation, he 
split the end of her tongue, 
as shown in the engraving. 
The cut is 2 inches long, 
just starting the blood at 
the beginnng, but cutting 
clean through at the tip for 
ports, " It worked like a charm 
with her." The reason why it is effective is obvious to 
any one who has ever let a calf suck his finger, antl 
noticed the clasping pressure of the tip of the tongue. 
A Bran Mash. — When horses or cows are 
sick and it is desirable to give them change of diet, or a 
light and somewhat aperient food, a bran mash or hot 
mash is recommended. This is considered to mean simply 
a pailful or less of hot water thickened wilh bran, salted, 
and stirred well so as to soak thoroughly, and cooled a 
tittle before feeding. The additions of from a gill to a 
pint of molasses, a handful or two of ashes, and some 
ginger, one or all, are frequently made, and are useful ac- 
cording to the object for which the mash is given. — " B " 
of Genesee Co., Mich., recommends a tonic or strenth- 
ening mash composed of 6 quarts bran, 1 teacupful 
brown sugar, 1 tablespoonful ginger, 1 teaspoonful sal- 
eratus, 1 teaspoonful black pepper, and 1 handful salt. 
Cattle Lice.— "N. S.," Floyd County, Iowa. 
These parasites probably exist in very small numbers in 
almost all herds. When the cattle are dirty and poorly 
fed, (as on nothing but straw, which was the case you men- 
tion,) and fallen off in flesh, lice increase very rapidly, so 
that if the stock continue neglected, the vermin will lit- 
erally devour them alive. Clean cattle, with enough to 
eat, are seldom troubled with lice. All cattle ought to 
be rubbed down and brushed occasionally, and then rub- 
bed hard with a woolen cloth (a bit of blanket) greased 
with whale oil or lard. When infested with vermin apply 
" unguentum-;" ( Unguentum Hydrargyria mercurial oint- 
ment,) and make sure work at once. Let the strong oint- 
ment of the druggist be well rubbed together with 4 
times its bulk of lard, and of this apply a mass as large as 
a hickory nut to a calf. Rub it in behind the horns, and 
down the -neck and back; finally spread it as much as 
possible, by rubbing thoroughly with a greasy cloth. Be 
very careful abovtt applying too much, or leaving it in 
lumps so that even the least particle may be licked off. 
Bloody Garget.— A. F. G. It is not hard 
to cure the Garget ; but a cow may have a tendency to it 
which will hold on for years. With us, successful prac- 
tice has been to balhe the bag gently.no matter how tender 
and swollen it may be, in arnica (3 parts quite warm 
water, 1 part tincture of arnica), to take the soreness out ; 
then as soon as the cow will bear it let the calf "butt it 
down," or knead it with the hands, finally washing it 
with warm water and castiie soap, and stripping it 
thoroughly but not violently. Do this three or four times 
a day and a cure will generally be effected. If not, give 
I lb. epsom salts mixed with 3oz. ginger, feeding on bran- 
mashes and dry hay, and repeat the bathing. Sometimes 
it is well to take a Utile blood by parting the hairs over 
the end of the tail, and slashing deep with a sharp knife. 
Fountain for a JPouItry House. — 
J. H. Mabbit, of Saratoga Co., describes the contrivance 
figured. It is simply a barrel containing water, (a) open 
at top or simply covered, from the bottom of which pro- 
ceeds a light india rubber lube (&), which may easily be 
obtained at any city druggist's. This tube passes over 
the strip (rf) which is 
attached to the frame 
which supports the 
cask, and terminates 
inan upi ightbent me- 
talic tube, as shown 
in the' figure. A 
horizontal board is 
attached by a hinge 
to the frame in such 
a way that a pan may 
be set and securely 
fastened upon one 
end, so as to be un- 
der the bent tube. 
This pan is a little 
more than balanced, 
when empty, by a 
brick, or other weight, on the other end of the board. 
The barrel being filled, the water flows into the pan until 
it brings it down upon the rubber tube which lies under 
the board, and this shuts off the.flow, which is renewed 
when so much water is drank by the fowls as to make the 
end of the lever on which the pan is, the lighter. 
An Eccentric Hen.— Orvill Kellogg wri- 
ting to the American Agriculturist from Fayette Co., Pa., 
gives the following curious account: "In a stable on 
the farm of Mr. Gerauld of this place, are three little 
pigs, probably six weeks old. One which we call a ' tit- 
man' generally takes the middle berth when turned in for 
a snooze. As soon as the mother was removed from the 
pigs an old white hen took up her quarters with them, 
and seemed determined to make them comfortable, man- 
ifesting in all respects the same care and attachment that 
a hen does to her brood, clucking and calling them when 
finding a good morsel ; and to carry out fully her moth- 
erly care, she broods them as she would over chickens. 
She does this by getting astride of the little one which lies 
in the middle and extending her wings so as to cover 
those on eilher side. No amount of force or moral-sua- 
sion will induce her for one moment to leave her adopt- 
ed family, but if the pigs are interfered with in any way, 
she is as ready to fight their battles as though they be- 
longed to the feathered tribe." Pretty well for Mrs. Biddy. 
"■Will it Pay to Raise HucUs?"— 
The pictures of ducks recently given in the columns of 
the American Agriculturist call forth many queries. 
No doubt ducks will eat beans, leaf and pod, if they can 
can get at them, and they will eat many other things too ; 
so it surely will not pay to let them have the An of the 
garden. The best way to raise ducks is to fence off a 
large yard in which is a pond fed by a stream, and shaded 
by trees or shrubs. In this the ducks will do no harm 
and will thrive. The ducklings should be put in as soon 
they begin to wander much away from the coop, the old 
hen being left with them till she can no longer brood litem. 
Blinders on Horses.—" W. S. G.," of 
Harlland, Vt., warns us against indiscriminately recom- 
mending our readers to dispense wilh blinders, giving 
this incident- "A four year old Black Hawk colt, being 
bitted and driven without blinders, was put before a one- 
horse sled and started. The result was a runaway, and 
the spoiling of a $200 horse."— This was not at all be- 
cause he had not blinders, but because the sled was be- 
hind him. Had he been gradually accustomed to the 
sled by having a man to lead him on one side, and one 
to draiv the sled on the other, without ils being attached 
to him, after a few minutes he might have been regularly 
" hitched" into the thills, and driven well enough. Com- 
mon sense is an excellent thing lo have about the stable. 
A young horse should never be trusted in novel positions 
or where he is likely to be alarmed— but be gradually ac- 
customed to new things, and always be kept under control . 
Coal Ashes for Grass E,aml, etc.— 
The ashes of mineral coals differ greatly in quality. 
Nearly all, however, may add valuable ingredients lo the 
soil, and most produce a very good effect upon heavy 
clayey land. Joseph Morgan, of Penn., thinks we do 
not sufficiently value thern, and says that he has made 
use of the article for more than 20 years, and, if well 
applied, prefers it to barnyard manure in some locations , 
that it is improved by lying a few years exposed ; and 
that, with the addition of a little phosphate and plaster 
of Paris, he has raised on a heap of coal ashes as fine 
pumpkins as he ever saw, 
Grass in a liawn.— TVe can not name 
the specimens, as there is neither fruit nor flower, tt 
does not seem to be " Kentucky blue grass." That is not a 
weed but makes an excellent lawn, and the more you 
have of it the better. For a guess, this is Poa compressa, 
or wire-grass, sometimes called blue-grass. An abun- 
dance of good grass on rich land ought to crowd it out. 
Hungarian Grass, has, we learn from 
correspondents, been quite extensively sown in some 
parts of the West, for hay for the use of the army. 
Grain in Orchards.-" H. E.," Reading, 
Mass. It is a well known fact that grain checks the 
growth of orchards, unless a very heavy manuring ac- 
companies it. Wheat, the ground being previously well 
manured, would no doubt be better than rye, for which 
the ground is seldom manured. A crop of roots Is much 
better, for these need an enriched and well stirred soil. 
Muskegon Co., Mich.— Jacob Wheaton 
settled three years since on a quarter section farm— a 
"run-over sand plain," supposed by many " to be totallv 
unproductive, being too light." He farmed on the green 
manuring principle, turning under clover. He has made 
a comfortable living, put up a new dwelling and out- 
houses, stocked his farm with improved breeds of ani- 
mals, has 60 acres in good cultivation, 700 fruit trees, 
(150 of which were on the place before, and are now- 
thrifty and in bearing,) and clears $800, in this year of 
drouth, from his crops. All this with little capiial, after 
buying the farm, but head and hands. Land about him 
as good as his was originally, sells at $1,25 to $2,00 per 
acre, and he offers readers of the Agriculturist who 
want to purchase and will come to see him, a " Michi- 
gan welcome." If we were to give his address, his 
house would be full for the next six months. He says 
nothing about fever and ague ; perhaps there is none » 
Cabbages which Don't Head.— O. 
Moffat, Wapella Co., Iowa, writes to know how to treat 
badly headed cabbages. They may be set out in a dry 
cellar, or a pit may be made for them. The engraving 
shows a section of 
a pit. It is dug 
wide enough for 
to, 3 or 4 rows of cab- 
I bages, and deep 
^ enough to allow 
the tops of the 
\ , .. ■, \ x - ^ '' \ ; x ' heads lo be about 
level with the sur- 
face. The plants are set out in the pit as closely as they 
will stand, and covered with a roofing of rough boards. 
As the weather increases in severity the boards are to be 
covered with straw and a coating of earlh thrown on lo 
keep the frost out. Provide ventilation at the ends dur- 
ing mild weather. The object is to keep them from 
freezing, and at as even a temperature as possible. 
Wintering Cabbages.— J. J. II. Gregorj-, 
the great raiser of cabbage seed at Marblehead, Mass., 
gives in the Massachusetts Ploughman the method he 
has found best to preserve the crop during winter. He 
digs a trench in a location where the snow will bank up, 
under a cliff if possible. In this Irench, which is 6 or S 
inches deep, and wide enough for 3 rows, he sets the 
cabbages as closely together as possible, first removing 
all but the last layer of leaves from the head. He then 
covers the head with 6 or 8 inches of earth. If more 
