6 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[January, 
■Containing a great variety of Items, including many 
good Hints and Suggestions which we throw into smaller 
type and condensed form, for want of space elsewhwe. 
War ik AH Subscriptions sent m as New, or Old. 
'I'o Correspondents. — Just now, when 
everybody is Bending subscription letters, we are receiv- 
ing many notes of experience, bints, suggestions, inqui- 
ries, etc. This is well nay, very desirable. Let them 
come without limit. But we must take time to read, di- 
gest, and use this mass of material ; we only refer to the 
matter, to excuse any seeming, but not real, inattention. 
Back Volumes Supplied.— The back volumes 
of the Agriculturist ai e very valuable. They contain 
information upon every topic connected with rural life, 
out-door and in-door, and the last ten volumes make up 
a very complete library. Each volume lias a full index 
for ready reference to any desired topic. We have on 
hand, and print from stereotype plates as wanted, all the 
numbers and volumes for ten years past, beginning with 
3857— that is. Vol. 16 to Vol. 25, inclusive. Any of these 
volumes sent complete (in numbers) :it $1.75 each, post- 
paid, {or $1.50 if taken at the office). The volumes 
neatly bound, are supplied for $2 each, or $2.50 if to be 
sent by mail. Any single number of the past ten 
years will be supplied, post-paid, for 15 cents each. 
Parsons «fc Co's. Sale oi" <*riipes. — 
Messrs. Parson & Co., the well known nurserymen of 
Flushing, N. Y., have for two years held a trade sale of 
grape vines. They claim that the mere disposal of the 
vines, was not so muofc of an object to them, as to ascer- 
tain, by putting up a large number of vines at public sale, 
the state of the market and the estimation in which the 
different varieties arc held. We attended the sale held 
on the 12th of Dec. last, and were surprised to find a com- 
pany, not of vine buyers and planters, but one made up al- 
most entirely of vine growers and dealers. People who 
should have gone to buy vines, stayed away, while those 
who had vines to sell and had curiosity to see how those 
of other people sold, attended in considerable numbers. 
As a consequence, but a small number of vines were sold, 
and those at low prices. 
Of j$miill CoiisequeBiee.— -The Country 
Gentleman thinks that the appropriation of the literary 
property of another is a " matter of small consequence." 
Is it though ? Just wait awhile and see. 
'JThe American H£airyBnen*,s Asso- 
ciation holds its Second Annual meeting at L'tica, N. 
Y., January 9th and 10th. The meetings of the Associa- 
ted Dairymen, for some years past, have been full of in- 
terest and profit to those attending. This flourishing 
Society was formed last year. Win. H. Comstock is 
President, and Gardner B. Weeks, of Utica, Secretary. 
Cornell University. — Hon. Andrew D. 
White, of Syracuse, has been chosen president. He is a 
:;T-.iduatc tif Yale College, for some time filled a professor* 
ship in the University of Michigan, and has from its 
organization been a member of the Executive Committee 
of the University. It is an excellent appointment. 
r JTne ^f. Y. State Ag^ricullnral f3o=» 
ciety holds its annual meeting in Albany, February 13. 
Kiiinois Horticultural Society.— 
The annual meeting was held at Champaignc, com- 
mencing Dec. 11. We were unable to be present, but 
have received from one of its prominent members the 
following smnmary : 
On the present occasion the attendance at opening was 
larger than usual. The address of welcome was pleasant- 
ly offered by Mr. J. O. Cunningham, and was responded 
to by the President, Parker Earle, Esq., of South Pass, 
who gave a very agreeable address, filled with valuable 
suggestions for the guidance of his fellow members. 
The reports of the Vice-presidents, from the various 
Congressional Districts, were then read. Some of these 
■were quite encouraging as to the extent and results of 
horticultural operations. It was reported that at several 
points along the line of the Illinois Central Railroad, 
south of Centralia, there have been planted within a few 
years: 500,000 Peach Trees ; 250,000 Apple Trees ; &5,000 
Pear Trees ; 100 acres of Grape Vines ; 325 acres of Straw- 
berries ; 75 acres of Raspberries, and that all of these 
kinds of fruits do well in that region. One gentleman 
stated that eighteen tons of strawberries had been shii*. 
ped from a single station in one day, and it was estimated 
that in a few years, in a favorable season, a daily train of 
thirty or forty cars would be required for the transporta- 
tion of the peach crop alone. 
The bird question was brought up on the reading of the 
reports upon this subject, by committees appointed last 
year. This topic always excites a good deal of animated 
discussion. Fruit growers who suffer from the depreda- 
tions of these creatures are becoming very jealous of their 
intrusion upon the privacy of the garden and orchard, 
and are hardly willing to acknowledge the sendees 
rendered by our feathered friends. 
B. D. Walsh, of Pock Island, who ought to be Cie State 
Entomologist, delivered a very interesting popular lecture, 
illustrating the importance of a knowledge of entomology. 
He was listened to with markedattention.— Strong resolu- 
tions were adopted, urging the State Legislatures to act 
liberally in this matter, to appoint and pay State Ento- 
mologists to instruct the people by reports on injurious 
insects.— The members and all others were urged to sus- 
tain the Practiced Entomologist, which is published in 
Philadelphia at a low price. — Much time was occupied by 
reports as to the Status of Horticulture in different sec- 
tions of the State, and in revising the fruit lists.— Among 
the lectures read, was one by Hon. it. L. Dnnlcp, of 
Champaigne, who pointed out the great advantages which 
might be hoped for from the establishment of our great 
school, supported by the proceeds of the Congressional 
Land Grant. — The meeting closed with the feeling on the 
part of all, that the occasion had been one of profit and 
pleasure to those in attendance. 
Muss. Agricultural College. — It is 
often it good thing that "events happen Which put a dead 
lock upon the proceedings of people in power, or those 
holding important trusts, and force them to stop and think. 
This has occurred to the Trustees of the Mass. Agricultural 
College, which body, unwieldy from its numbers and slow 
to act — its members disagreeing among themselves— has 
finally come to the point of stopping to think. Their 
president, and also the president of the College, Hon. H. 
F. French, has resigned, Prof. Chadbourne of William's 
College has been appointed president ; a first rate fanner, 
Levi Stockbridge, of Hadley, has been appointed farm- 
manager, and things look now as if beginning anew with 
more moderate ideas, the Institution might gain a healthy 
growth. A mistake too often made, is in attempting to 
create a great institution in a short time. Strength, vigor 
and sound vitality come with a gradual growth — as wit- 
ness Home and the Oak. — In the beginnings of our agri- 
cultural colleges and similar institutions, the error fallen 
into, has been in considering a grand building the most 
important thing. Set a number of earnest men, capable 
of teaching agriculture, down upon a good farm, with a 
good large house and barns upon it, and the co-operation 
of a good farmer ; put up a few temporary buildings, if 
need be, for lecture rooms now, and perhaps for stables 
by and by ; give the faculty a little money to spend Upon 
books, apparatus and fitting up ; let them know that they 
shall have more as fast as they can show results ; let all 
permanent improvements be made with a view to the 
future ; and leave the Faculty as unhampered in regard to 
matters of instruction and discipline as possible, and suc- 
cess of the most gratifying character will be almost cer- 
tain in any State of the Union. The grand establishment, 
with all desirable surroundings, will come in good time, 
with that practical fitness of things to ends, which comes 
with gradual healthy growth. 
Ifienort oi* tlae Commissioner of 
Agriculture. — The opening of a new session of Con- 
gress last month was the occasion of the message from 
the President and reports from the Departments, and the 
report of ''The Honorable'" (what arc titles worth?) 
Isaac Newton, Commissioner of Agriculture, comes also 
among them. This document has been extensively 
published by the daily press of the country, and we will 
here only call attention to the fact, that nothing of any 
importance has been done, with the exception of collect- 
ing and publishing statistics In regard to growing crops 
and the prospects, the wholesale distribution of seeds, 
(amounting to 992,000 packages,) and of plants (34,000,) 
with the reported "interesting and suggestive'' opera- 
tions of the experimental farm, where grains, etc., re- 
ceived from all over the world arc tested. These, with 
the publication of the Annual Report, has cost §162,000.43, 
but how much real good is accomplished ? Mr. Newton 
has sent away his best men. The chemist has been kept 
at work analysing copper, iron and silver ores, testing 
rhubarb wine and such things (for Mr. Newton's friends). 
The museum has grown, as it should, under the care of 
Mr. Glover ; the garden improves year by year under Mr. 
Saunders; the farm is, we presume, in good hands, and 
the statistical department seems to have careful thought 
a_nd labor. Mr. Newton has nothing to do with these 
things, except to make himself a nuisance, and interfere 
With, their better operation, as he has with the able 
chemist, Dr. Erni, who, for faithfulness, has lost his posi- 
tion. Mr. Newton has kept his own place, though notori- 
ously inefiicient and a disgrace to the country, which has 
such an illiterate, thick-headed man in so respon- 
sible a place, simply by the dilligent use of means — 
fruits to this Senator, flowers to the wife of another, 
delicacies to the White House, a sinecure clerk-ship 
to the lazy cousin of some one of intluence, and so 
on. Does agricultural education receive a thought from 
the Commissioner? Do the causes of the diseases which 
are so destructive to our animals ? Hog-cholera has been 
among us for years, and is as yet uninvestigated ; the 
Spanish fever threatens great damage to the cattle of our 
Western States ; abortion in cows is on the increase at 
the East, and glanders and farcy are destroying thousands 
of horses. Why no word about these things? Does he 
concern himself with agricultural immigration, and the 
occupation of United States land under the Homestead 
Act? The instruction of immigrants? The projects of 
planting trees upon the prairies ? The encouragement of 
emigration southward, to restock and cultivate the South- 
ern States ? and many such like things ? Not he. — In liis 
concluding sentence, Mr. Newton says, l, hc cannot repress 
the conviction that a new era is dawning upon the agri- 
culture of our country."— May his own speedy retirement 
from office give force to the conviction. 
Hog Cholera. — This pest grows worse and 
worse — its ravages have been the past year greater than 
ever before within our knowledge. Many a farmer's 
profits for the year have been swept away by the almost 
utter loss of his swine just maturing for the butcher. 
We know of no investigation of the disease by any really 
scientific veterinarian, and the quacks either disagree or 
follow the last published opinion. The anxious queries 
of multitudes of our correspondents, and the reports 
which burden the press, carry the conviction that some- 
thing must be done by our General or State Governments 
to investigate and stay this plague if possible. The 
Prairie Farmer expresses the belief that the disease 
prevails in every county in Illinois, and over a large part 
of Kentucky, and our information is to the same effect. 
Wire Fences.— J. Flanagin, Pawnee Co., 
Nehr. Wire fences answer very well after cattle are used 
to them, and if they arc not inclined to be brcachy. A 
fence with one rail at top and wire below is safer than all 
wirCj although horses will get accustomed to this and 
jump it, as they will any wooden fence not too high. JSo 
animal likes to jump a wire fence, but they will learn to 
crowd it down. The use of living trees set as posts for 
wire fences is not new, and it works very well when 
plenty of ground can he given up to the rows of trees. 
l)ou-t Buy those PesicH Trees.— "J. 
L. J., 11 Gallia Co., O., says, a peddler has been along with 
peach trees budded on a "Persian Pool," asserting that fil- 
aects will not kill the trees, they will bear fruit every year, 
and frost will not hurt the bloom. Now one of those 
good things would be enough for one root, hut three such 
precious qualities is more than one root could have, and 
be anything less than Persian. Friend 3. doubts the state- 
ment—as he evidently reads the papers— but he wishes 
his doubts confirmed. Suppose it were possible for a 
stock to confer such qualities, would you be likely to firs? 
hear of it through a peddler V— If you had such a stock, 
Mr. J., you could be the richest man in OhU, and your 
country's benefactor at the same time. Some things arc 
" too good to be true." 
AllOTe>^ronnd Cellars. — "J. A. M.,*' 
Miami Co., Ind., asks for the experience of the readers of 
the Agriculturist in regard to buildings made with double 
walls, filled with saw-dust, and used as cellars.— We know 
that "bomb-proofs" made altogether above ground, by 
building up with logs and covering the structure with many 
feet of earth, make excellent cellars, and think a braiding 
walled with saw-dust, if thick enough and well roofed, 
would answer a good purpose. They certainly would if 
they contained ice houses in one cud. 
« Northern Cofflee."- u J. R.," South- 
wich, Mass. This is just the old Chick Pea, Cicer arie- - 
tinum, that in years past we have freely shown up when 
offered for sale as a new kind of " coffee." It is probable 
that it is as good as any of the substitutes. We cannot 
publish the offer of any one to send the seeds of anything 
free, unless assured that they have seeds by the ton, and 
a large force with nothing to do but put them up, for in our 
next issue we should be obliged to inform the public that 
the stock was long ago exhausted. Such offers are made 
in a liberal spirit, but it is kindness to refuse to publish^ 
them, though it may not seem so. We do not rccollec§5 
a case, in which our giving such notice did not bring u{ ^ 
told vexation to the one making the offer, and disnppoitf w 
ment to thousands of un supplied applicants. Every such 
offer through the Agricultunst, is seen by at least half a mil- 
lion people^ and responded to by many thousands at lea^t. 
