1867:] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
207 
scheme. On the last indictment a verdict of guilty was 
taken and exceptions Aled and allowed, but "Which the Har- 
ris Brothers waived to day. District Attorney Sanger stated 
to the Court tliat at the time of the search about 323,000 of 
U. S. securities were found ic the defendants* trunk; also 
that a large number of letters were found at the Post Office 
directed to these brothers, respecting the lottery business, 
and that the clerk at the Dead Letter Oilice testified to re- 
ceiving oh an average of five letters a day respecting Har- 
ris Brothers* schemes, and that Harnden's Express Company 
also testified to money packages coming very frequently for 
the defendants. He also shew a number of letters which had 
been received by the Chief of Police, the Major of thi3 city 
and the Governor of this State, from parties who had re- 
ceived them from Harris Brothers, and requesting that pros- 
ecutions might be made. The District Attorney claimed 
■that this money had been illegally gotten, and that the max- 
imum fine should be imposed. 
Cbas. H. Hudson, Esq., who appeared in connection with 
Geo. Starkweather, Esq., as defendants* counsel, stated to 
"the Court that he had but recently been brought into the 
case, and, as far as be was able to ascertain, he felt sure that 
the defendants believed that they were doing a legitimate 
business within the law, and very likely they have been re- 
puted to be doing more than they really were. Mr. Hudson 
did not deem the business done by the defendants any more 
of a lottery than Fire Insurance companies, of one of which 
the District Attorney is President. Inasmuch as the indict- 
ment under which the defendants might by sent to the State 
Prison had been laid on tile on account of doubtful ques- 
tions of law, Mr. H. did not feel like urging the matter of 
clemency with too much persistency. 
Judge Morton said he could not but characterize the busi- 
ness carried on by the defendants,— to call it by its right 
name,— as an extensive swindle, and he was unable to see 
how he could do otherwise than impose the maximum fine, 
as, in his opinion, to do less would be offering a premium to 
swindlers. 
The prisoners (for their bail had been surrendered) were 
then fined, each, on the first indictment, $2000 ; on the second, 
#1000 on two counts; and on the "Rural Home" Indictment 
$1000, making a total of $14,000, with costs, which will 
amount to about two hundred dollars. Under the Sth sec- 
tion of chapter 167 of the General Statutes, [of Mass ,] the 
defendants forfeit to the Commonwealth— about $50,000 worth 
of property, which includes the $23,000 in TJ. S securities, 
the " Rural Home " at Woburn, valued at $13,000, and the 
Mine of $14,000 and costs 
Wasliing- Compounds of any hind we 
cannot commend. We do not say there cannot be a good 
one, but we do not know any one which we are willing 
to recommend. We regret that the admission by over- 
sight or mistake of an advertisement of such compounds 
should make us appear to recommend them. It will not 
be likely to occur again, at least until we find one we can 
positively indorse from a knowledge of its composition 
nnd use. Our advice is, buy none of these things, patent- 
ed or unpatented, but use good soap, made at home, or 
by some well known or well recommended manufacturer. 
See our last volume, page 403, (November Number). 
Weighing* on the Farm.— Too much 
■ '* guessing " is practised in disposing of bulky farm pro- 
ducts, whereby the buyer, but more frequently the seller, 
is the loser. Dealers are usually expert from long practice 
■and have the fanner at a disadvantage. A drover Eoon 
learns to weigh a bullock with his eye, so as to come 
Within fifty lbs. of Ins weight even- time. A Fairbanks 
or other good scale on the farm will change this, and put 
both parties on the same footing. (We name the Fair- 
banks as of well-known reliability.) In addition to 
insuring fail" dealing, such an apparatus will enable one 
to conduct many interesting and profitable experiments 
in feeding stock, etc., and to ascertain their comparative 
thrift at any time. 
Sundry Humbugs. — We have no "truce" 
to offer to the swindling fraternity, but it would seem 
that after the many exposures given in these columns, 
little mure need be said, just now, to guard our readers 
against the multitudinous schemes constantly resorted to 
to filch money from the unwary. No regular reader of 
tixe Agriculturist can be pitied, if, after what has been 
Baid, he throws his money away upon any ono of these 
"confidence men'" who pretend to solicit his services as an 
agent for any ticket or lottery scheme. We earnestly 
caution the reader against every one at these gift enter- 
prises, ticket schemes, prize concerts, secret medicines, 
Tniou Associations, artists' unions, jewelry associations, 
five dollar sewing machines, express parcel men, soldiers' 
orphans and widows* "distributions' 1 of various kinds, 
cheap oil manufacturers, ink nnd washing compounds, 
honey recipes, wonderful com nnd other seeds before un- 
heard of, every advertising doctor, Howard Association, 
advice to the married, ditto to the unmarried : eye 
curers, vile instruments, Tuion book companies, silent 
friends, cheap money, §100 to $500 a month salary or 
wages, "greeubax," magic wands, hunter's secret, cider 
recipes, vinegar recipes, complexion bcautiflers, love 
powders, price and prize associations and parcels, farms 
sold by lot or tickets. Elixirs, etc., etc., etc. We have 
before us hundreds of these letters, circulars, and adver- 
tisements, all of them humbugs. Scarcely one In a hun- 
dred of the operators will ever send any return for money 
forwarded them by mall, or even acknowledge Its receipt. 
Perhaps in one case in ten thousand, a showy article is 
sent as a blind to draw the foolish recipient into a larger 
investment, to his loss. 
The Fairoftke W. E. Agricultural 
Society, is to be held this year, at Providence, R. L, 
beginning September 3d. It is to be upon the new 
Sprague Park, and, by the reports, the buildings and ac- 
commodations promise to be of unusual elegance and 
convenience. We hope for a large attendance. 
The B*aris Exposition.— We hear from 
the daily papers, that this exhibition is rich in this and 
that, but we learn very little about American agricultural 
implements. In the first World's Fair in London, 1851, 
we astonished the world with our implements. We do 
not know what has been sent to the present Paris Show. 
There was an American Commission to select articles to 
send over ; this Commission was composed of a great 
many nobodies, with just a few somebodies to give it 
respectability. We do not know wbo made up this 
i; Commission "'—but their fitness for the work is shown 
by the fact that Mr. Greeley, a life-long advocate of total 
abstinence, was put on the sub-committee ou fermented 
drinks, or liquors, we have forgotton which. If all the 
other sub-committees were made up with equal fitness, 
there will be a show well worth going to Paris to see. 
Of course, there must have been a choice in the agricul- 
tural implements, and the man who was most convincing 
probably had the preference. Zsow that the Show is 
fairly open, we look with interest for the results. We 
are glad to learn that Mr. Ruggles and Prof. Joy, are 
going over, as they will save the American Depart- 
ment from utter contempt. These gentlemen will wor- 
thily represent the scientific interests of our community. 
Who shall represent oar agricultural interests ? We 
learn that the Department of Agriculture has appointed 
some one to represent its insignificance, but who shall 
represent our noble body of farmers ? Can not some 
State Society send out a proper person ? At all events, 
we would say to European farmers, that the Department 
of Agriculture of this country, is in the charge of a man 
who is kept there in spite of the recorded protest of 
every or nearly every Agricultural Society- in the country. 
It is our National disgrace, our repulsive sore. Whoever 
may be sent to represent this miserable concern, no more 
represents American Agriculture than a lump of clay 
represents a Sevres Tase. 
American Pomology. — The reception 
given to this work even-where must be very gratifying to 
its distinguished author, as it certainly is to his publish- 
ers. Very few, who have not tried to classify any thing, 
can have any idea of the difficulties of the task, and when 
it comes to putting in order things that arc so nearly 
alike, as are the different varieties of apples, the diffi- 
culty is greatly increased. We look upon Dr. Warder's 
Catalogue of Apples as a remarkable result of patient 
labor in classifying life-long observations, and this, 
which is in size a very small portion of his book, should 
entitle him to the gratitude of every true pomologist. 
.llaunre .Waking — Bominer's "Hotii- 
od. — There is so much good sense, albeit miugled with 
comparatively harmless error, in the old patent method 
of Bommer for making tor rather increasing the valno 
and quantity of) manure, that we are not surprised that a 
considerable edition of the old pamphlets should have 
been sold, at the low price wc offered them at. The old 
patented process is fully described, and all that used to 
be sold for $10, may now be had for *25 cents, for to 
accommodate those who constantly order it, we bought 
the old plates and had a new edition printed. The aim 
of the author is to explain the best method of preparing 
vegetable and mineral composts ; to augment and Improve 
the manure of the farm ; to prepare fertilizing liquid for 
Irrigation ; to convert into manure the refuse of manu- 
factories, distilleries and kitchens; to revive hot beds 
without changing the litter. 
At tlic Paris Exhibition. — The 
American Agriculturist will he represented by Mr. Juno 
in person— wind and tide favoring. II-* will probably 
al«o extend his trip to St, Petersburg, perhapB to have a 
little chat about our new Northwestern Farm.— The Agri- 
culturist is abundantly provided for editorially and other- 
wise, and matters will go mi as usual during his absence. 
The Department of Agriculture. 
— We have, nt last. Been one Journal that praises the 
present management of the Department of Agriculture. 
It u the " Watchman and Reflector, 11 of Boston, aud we 
arc sorry to see it " nff'-ding" the stupidity of tho 
National Seed Shop. The article says: "Mr. Newton 
has been denounced by several agricultural societies 
by votes, asking his removal. These vote* were 
procured, undoubtedly. In most cases, by tin* mamige- 
ment of aspirants for Mr Newton's place, and it is time 
somebody asked for him at least, fair play/'' Some Bos- 
ton Societies are involved in this matter, and probably 
the "Watchman aud Reflector"' knows what means 
were used to influence their votes — but we do not believe 
that any influence was needed to procure from any re- 
spectable association au endorsement of the present offi- 
cial's stupidity. Now, editorially, we wish to answer a 
number of printed slurs and private inquiries. As Mr. 
Judd is away, we speak for hi m. and say we are sure he has 
never desired, or sought for the office of Commissioner, 
and we believe he would refuse it if forced upon him. He 
has too long been at the head of a far more powerful and 
vastly more useful '"Department"* than that at Washington, 
to take an inferior position. Besides this, he could not 
afford to hold any office in Washington, from that of Presi- 
dent, denen to that of the head of the Department of Agri- 
culture.— Snarlers will please be quiet on this subject. 
Blackberries.— For those wishing that 
really charming new blackberry, the Kitta tinny, there is 
yet ample time and opportunity, as may be seen by notic- 
ing Mr. Phoenix's advertisement in this number. From 
samples shown at this oflice, as well as the very liberal 
price and offer Mr. P. makes, we can heartily recommend 
them to the notice of amateurs and planters, who would 
keep up with the times and enjoy the fruit next year. 
Abortion in Cows.— -The N. Y. Legis- 
lature, at its last Session, made provision for a commis- 
sion to investigate the subject of abortion in cows. They 
made an appropriation so disproportioued to the talent 
to be engaged in the work, that we are ashamed to say 
how much — or rather how little — they did appropriate. 
Prof. John C. Dal ton, M; D., has been appointed com- 
missioner, than which no better appointment could be 
made, and the whole subject is sure of a thorough search. 
Doct. Dal ton has secured the services of Docts. Carmalt, 
Haigh, and others, known for their devotion to animal 
physiology, aud we await their report with much interest. 
Tight Boxes, Barrels, Pails, ete. 
— Macferran & Co.. 721 Chestnnt-st., Philadelphia, man- 
ufacture a style of hooped ware with an arrangement 
whereby the upper hoop may be instantly and powcrfhlly 
tightened by means of a lever, thus fastening the head 
in, air-tight. These vessels are of various sizes, and use- 
ful as fur cases, sugar boxes, slop barrels, milk and but- 
ter pails, meat barrels, etc. For these purposes, they 
are obviously most excellent. In regard to the churns 
with heads on this principle, we can. at present, only 
say they are exceedingly convenient. 
Benedict's Time Tables, issued month- 
ly by Benedict Bros., 171 Broadway, at 25 cents per copy, 
contains a Map of the City, and gives iu convenient form 
the time tables on all the Railroads and Steamboats 
leaving New York for American Ports. 
Fuller's Small Fruit Culturist*— 
Though too late for those who wish to plant this Spring, 
this work, which is a "■Culturist," will be useful to all 
who grow fruits. We have heretofore had no work 
especially devoted to small fruits, and certainly no trea- 
tises anywhere that give the information contained iu this. 
It is to the advantage of special works that the author 
can say all that he has to say on any subject, and not be 
restricted as to space, as he must be in those works that 
cover the culture of all fruits— great and small. It is 
not possible for Mr. Fuller to follow in the track of 
another, and in the present work he gives his own 
experience and his own views with the freedom that 
characterizes all his other writings, lie will win the 
esteem of all true lovers of horticulture by the Bsarcbing 
criticism he has given to varieties, while those who 
believe in names rather than things, will of course I 
oflbndcd. The worfe i- especially valuable for the sifting 
it baa given tho varieties of Currants and 1.' - 
and if it were for this alone, it would be a valuable addi- 
tion to our horticultural literature. But besides these. It 
treats Of all the small fruits, including several kiuds 
generally slighted or passed over by other authors, and 
describes the propagation and culture of all iu his usual 
clear and vigorous manuer. The chapter on gathering and 
packing fruit is a valuable one. aud iu it aro figured all 
the baskets and boxes now in common use. The book i« 
very finely and thoroughly Illustrated, and makes an 
admirable companion to his Grape Culturist; about S73 
pages, son! by mail for $1,50. 
Fruit Preserving 1 Solution.— This 
compound, advertised In another column, was tried last 
year by one of the editors, and was much liked. Fruit 
put up with it kept well, had no unpleasant taste, ar.d. 
being cooked less than Is usual in other methods, retain- 
ed much oMts flavor. 
