8 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
[January, 
to pay attention to others, which, operating in a smaller 
way, are none the less pernicious. One of the biggest of 
THESE SMALL HUMBUGS, 
is one E. C. Abbey, “ M. D.,” of Buffalo, who advertised 
everywhere his “Puzzle Picture,"the Toll-Gate.”—Very 
innocent indeed is the advertisement.—We saw it in a 
religious paper, edited by a distinguished “D. D.,” 
whereupon we sent the good Doctor of Divinity the 
“ Toll-Gate ” itself. The advertisement did not appear 
in that paper any more. Now this same Abbey adver¬ 
tises in religious and other family papers his “puzzle 
picture” of “the truant boy,” and, like the “Toll 
Gate,” it is a (so-called, but very poor) “ puzzle picture” 
on one side, and on the other side, we have just such an 
advertisement as went with the Toll Gate, and one 
which no parent would wish his son to read. The card 
of the rascal says:—“ This picture is ‘ intended to intro¬ 
duce a far more interesting Book' (the italics are his), 
containing new truths never before in print”— * * * 
with portrait of the author, (Oh!) It tells all about 
Manhood, Womanhood. Sex, Beauty—well, we can’t, in 
decency, tell the rest. Now you gentlemen who publish 
religious and family papers, won’t you, in the interest 
of common decency and morality, just send and get a 
copy of the “Puzzle Picture” which you advertise to 
the young of both sexes, and who suppose that nothing 
improper can appear in your pages. Won't you, we say, 
send and get one of the things you advertise. You will 
get something which you dare not read aloud in your 
family circle. Yet you invite all to get the vile thing. 
in the medical line 
are several things that must have attention soon. If you 
get an alarming circular, headed “Diphtheria Suffering 
and Death,” from Honesdale, Pa., put it in the fire, and 
read what is said about diphtheria on page 25. 
THINGS GOOD TO LET ALONE 
are a “ Wonderful Tea Importing Co.” in Cincinnati_ 
Likewise the various concerns which are after owners of 
property in England, Scotland, and Wales, of which, no 
doubt, “ the rightful heirs” are perversely keeping the 
many Smiths, Joneses, and Robinsons out of.. . Also, 
those Telegraph Schools, which promise good situations 
at high salaries, are to be investigated before paying for 
“scholarship.”_If any one has money to throw away, 
there are still several “Mining Companies,” notwith¬ 
standing the inglorious fizzle of the “ Silver Mountain ” 
concern, that will take in all that may be offered.... We 
can well understand the indignation with which a gen¬ 
tleman doing a respectable business in Connecticut, 
opened a letter addressed to his recently deceased father, 
informinghim that he (the father) had been recommended 
to the writer as a “ reliable party ” to assist in the “ dis¬ 
posal of some goods,” which “ goods” were counterfeit 
money. If the son had kept the run of our exposure of 
this worst of swindles, he would have known that no one 
was safe from vile proposals, and that the few who were 
caught were most deservedly fleeced. 
A Personal Convenience.—We do not 
know what it is called, but it was sent us by J. S. Birch 
& Co., No. 33 Dey St., who have so long advertised their 
“ Universal Watch Key ” in our columns. The article is 
about the size of a coat button, and fastens to the vest 
like a hreast-pin. It has a cord, and at the end of the 
cord a hook, to which the eye-glasses are attached. The 
cord is taken up within the button by a spring, and the 
glasses are ready for use, or out of the way in an instant, 
by the proper management of this very clever contrivance. 
Tlie Talne of Starch Factory 
Refuse.—“ F.,” Ashland, Me. The “ slump,” or waste 
from starch factories contains all the substance of the 
potatoes except the starch. If this waste, along with the 
vines, is returned to the soil, it is difficult to say why 
potatoes may not be raised many years in succession 
upon the same field, without exhaustion. The starch is 
wholly carbon and hydrogen, which are plentifully sup¬ 
plied by the atmosphere and by water, there is probably 
a loss of some (but very little) nitrogen in the finer por¬ 
tions of the potatoes which escapes with the waste water. 
What Is a Cord?—“J. M. E.,” South 
America, III. There are 12S cubic feet in a cord of wood, 
or a cord of manure ; a cord being a heap 8 feet long, 4 
feet high, and 4 feet wide. A cord foot is a 32nd part 
of a cord—that is, it is a heap of wood having a face one 
foot square, irrespective of its length. A cord of stove- 
wood consists of 32 cord feet, and if the wood is one foot 
long, would be a pile 8 feet long, 4 feet high, and one foot 
wide, containing 32 cubic feet; if the wood were 2 feet 
long it would contain 64 cubic feet. 
Slarimlcasfe of 1 Hraim.—The loss of 
weight and bulk of grain in process of drying, Is from 
one-fifth to one-fourth for corn, and one-twelfth to one- 
tenth for wheat, and other small grains. In addition to 
this shrinkage there is the loss by the depredation of ver¬ 
min, and that of interest on the value until the grain is 
sold. The whole amount of loss is a serious item, hut 
one that rarely enters into the farmer’s calculation when 
he determines to hold over his grain until the spring, or 
next summer, for an advance of a few cents a bushel. 
Instead of gaining by this, he very often loses, and the 
loss may easily be figured up to from one-sixth to one- 
fourth of the crop, or its value, when harvested. 
Blug-toone.— M. W. Patterson, Clark Co., O. 
The only cure for ringbone is blistering. The hair should 
be shaved off from the part, and some common blistering 
ointment rubbed in. When the blister acts, the part 
should be washed and sweet-oil applied. 
Apples Hot upon, the Trees in Mis¬ 
sissippi, and N. L. L. asks how to prevent it. The very 
first step will be to ascertain if he has varieties suited 
to his climate, and of this nothing is said. Northern va¬ 
rieties, as a general thing, do not succeed, but there is a 
set of fine Southern apples that do finely in his State. 
The varieties being all right, we should look first to 
drainage, and next to nutrition; if the trees are poorly 
fed, the fruit will complain. 
Winter Oats.— “A. A. H.,” Cumberland 
Co., Tcnn., writes in regard to Winter Oats, that “they 
are not so hardy as Winter Wheat, although they are 
more extensively grown of late than previously.” To 
test this matter, wo have procured seed for one acre of 
these oats, and have sown them: if they succeed we 
shall report the fact in good season next year. 
IIow to Ulan age a Farm.-“J. K.,” 
Chicago. We have not space in any one number of the 
American Agriculturist to explain fully how a farm 
should be managed by one who knows nothing of the 
business. A pretty good idea could he gained by read¬ 
ing a whole volume, and carefully noting the Hints for 
Work, and the seasonable articles published every month. 
Insects from Spain, sent by “H. G.,” 
were crushed and in fragments beyond all recognition. 
Even for short distances it is necessary to send insects 
in a box or something which will keep them whole. 
Is Heal Best l>ry, or Scalded.— 
“ J. E. W..” Frankfort, Ky. If the labor is not too 
great, it would he hotter to scald the meal, rather than to 
feed it dry. It is less apt to cause indigestion when 
scalded and fed moist. 
How to Burn Lime in Heaps.— 
“ E.,” Athens, Ohio. Lime, where there is no kiln, may 
be burned in heaps, lain up upon a foundation of dry 
wood and made in alternate layers of wood and lime¬ 
stone. The heap is covered with sods, or coarse hay and 
earth, as charcoal pits are, and burned in precisely the 
same manner, except that the fire is made to burn brisk¬ 
ly instead of smouldering; the lime is completely 
burned in three days. Lime may he spread upon the land 
to advantage in the spring. 
When to Sow Orchard CSrass.— 
“E. S.,” Athens Co., Ohio. Orchard grass makes the 
best pasture for early use. It succeeds best if sown by 
itself on well prepared ground early in spring. 
Coal Tar am«l Coal Aslaes.—Coal tar 
is hurtful to shingle or board roofs, unless it is first 
mixed with some air slacked lime to neutralize the acid 
contained in it. Coal ashes have no appreciable ferti¬ 
lizing value. 
Slaontlaorms and 5> irritants are the 
same. “ J. A. T.,” Georgetown, Mass. The Shorthorn 
cattle were first bred largely in the County of Durham in 
England, and near the river Tees. Hence they were 
called Durhams and Teeswater, as the case might he. In 
a few years they were spread all over England, and the 
name Shorthorn was given them to distinguish them 
from the formerly popular Longhorns, and stock that 
was not thoroughbred. When the Shorthorn Associa¬ 
tion was formed, and a Herd-book was established, the 
old names were dropped, except by those who were not 
well informed about the matter. A few of these keep 
the old names yet, which leads to confusion. 
44 Fern I.cal Mottoes.'’ —In these, ferns 
(which have no “leaves” proper), are made to work in a 
good cause. Their fronds, and parts of them, are neatly 
arranged to form such mottoesas “ God Blessour Home,” 
and to surround them with a border. Impressions of 
these, fixed by photography in black and white, form 
very pretty ornaments. They are sold in considerable 
variety, solely where they will aid in the work of both 
foreign and home Missions. Particulars may lie had of 
Mrs. J. R. Nicholas, Darby P. O., Philadelphia, Pa. 
Catalogues Received. 
The catalogues of seedsmen, nurserymen, florists, etc., 
are not usually ready before February. We give those 
that have thus far come to hand, placing them, as usual, 
in order not to give one precedence of another, in 
alphabetical sequence. 
NURSERYMEN. 
G. H. Banta. Riverdale, Bergen Co., N. J., offers at 
the Glenwood Nurseries a general assortment of fruit 
and ornamental stock. 
Samuel C. DeCou, Moorestown. N. makes a 
specialty of small fruits, offering the latest novelties. 
A. Hance & Son, Red Bank, N. J., send both their 
wholesale and retail list of a full and varied stock, with 
many novelties and specialties. 
R. S. Johnston, Stockiey, Del.—A general nursery 
stock, with several new peaches. 
Randolph Peters, Wilmington, Del., at the “ Great 
Northern and Southern Nurseries” offers a very large 
stock. He makes a specialty of peaches, and his list 
and its classification is an interesting study to all pro¬ 
posing to plant peach trees. 
E. Ware Sylvester, Lyons, N. Y., sendB an abridged 
hat comprehensive list of fruit and ornamental stock. 
SEEDSMEN. 
Wm. H. Carson, 125 Chambers street, New York City. 
—Special circular describing the Egyptian or “ Pearl” 
Millet, a new “ Spiral Mignonette” and other novelties. 
David Landreth & Sons, Philadelphia. Pa., send 
their “ Rural Register and Almanac,” including a cata¬ 
logue of the seeds raised and sold by this well known firm. 
J. B. Root, Rockford, Ill.—The Garden Manual for 
1878, and Seed Catalogue—the business of seed growing 
and selling being continued by Mrs. Root. 
Charles Sizer, Mount Lebanon, Col. Co., N. Y., is 
quite early with his “ Shaker’s Catalogue and Amateur’s 
Guide to the Flower and Vegetable Garden.” The cata¬ 
logue is neat, full, and well illustrated. 
E. Wyman, Jr., Rockford, Ill., is out with his cata¬ 
logue of flower and vegetable seeds for 1878. the flower 
seeds predominate, and good cultural directions given. 
FLORISTS. 
Wm. E. Bowditch, 645 Warren street, Boston, Mass., 
offers greenhouse plants and seeds. 
L. B. Case, Richmond, Ind., issues a “Botanical In¬ 
dex,” quarterly, as a combined magazine and catalogue. 
J. C. McConnell & Co., Jacksonville, Hi., have a very 
full s'oek of greenhouse and bedding plants, roses, bulbs, 
and florists goods. 
Henry A. Dreer, 714 Chestnut street, Philadelphia, 
Pa., though perhaps best known as a seedsman, sends a 
separate catalogue of greenhouse and other plants, 
showing that his stock in this line is very large and up 
with the time. 
EUROPEAN CATALOGUES. 
Wm. Bryce & Co., Glasgow (Scotland), and London 
(England).—A wholesale price list of vegetables and 
agricultural seeds. 
Lenault-Huet, Ussy, France, W. L. Ferris & Co., 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y., agents —A general nursery cata¬ 
logue, the English of which it very Frenchy, but the 
collection is a fine one. 
Waite, Burnell, Huggins & Co., London, (Eng.), 
and Paris, (France.) This, one of the great seed houses 
of Great Britain, has now a branch house in France. Be¬ 
sides a wholesale price current of seeds of all kinds, they 
send a special list of Lilies, Gladioluses, (they have it 
“ Gladioli ”) and other spring bulbs. 
Wilson & Rankin, Glasgow (Scotland).— A wholesale 
list of farm and garden seeds, very full in the grasses. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
E. Webster Peck, 110 Chambers street. N. Y.—Scroll 
saws, designs and materials, and ornamental iron work, 
including aquaria, ferneries, etc. 
George Such, South Amboy, N. J.—A price list of 
cream-colored flower-pots, including very large sizes. 
Trump Bros., Wilmington, Del. — Scroll saws of 
several patterns, and all the appliances and materials 
belonging to the art of scroll sawing. 
Racine Hardware Manufacturing Co., Racine, 
Wis., issue a handsomely illustrated catalogue of the 
ornamental and useful articles made by them. 
MACHINERY, IMPLEMENTS, ETC. 
C. & G. Cooper & Co., Mount Vernon, O.. send their 
42d Annual Catalogue, which indicates that this is no 
new concern. They make a great variety of agricultural 
and other steam engines, mills, and other machinery. 
Geo. W. Rue, Hamilton, O.—A catalogue of his 
popular potato diggers, his seed drills, etc. 
Stedman & Co., Aurora, Ind., offer a great variety of 
engines, boilers, mills, presses, and other agricultural 
machinery. 
J. W. Stodard <& Co , Dayton, Ill.—An illustrated 
account of the “Tiger” Sulky Hay Rake. 
The Farmers Friend Man’f’g Co., Dayton, Ohio, is¬ 
sue a neat pamphlet, giving a detailed description of 
their Grain Drill, and illustrate the peculiar excellencies 
claimed for their machine. 
The Mansfield Machine Works, Mansfield, Ohio, 
send illustrated cata.ogues of their Agricultural Steam- 
Engines, Saw Mills for farm use, Grist Mills, and other 
agricultural machinery. 
The Straub Mill Co.. Cincinnati, O., make the 
“ Gladiator” Corn Sheller of different sizes. 
Yale Iron Works, New Haven, Conn., make the 
“ Yale Steam Engine ” in various forms, also the “Yale 
Vertical Mill.” a grist mill of novel construction, the 
merits of which were explained in these pages several 
months ago. 
