88 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[March, 
claim that he “ knows it all," for he says : “ It is the in¬ 
tention of the Management to offer every possible con¬ 
venience to Shippers, and correspondence is invited on 
this subject, or any other affecting the joint interest of 
the road and its patrons.” Mr. Spencer’s address is 
Long Island City, N. Y. This arrangement will bring the 
central, and even the eastern part of the island into easy 
and cheap communication with the New York markets, 
and make a great saving, not only of horse-flesh, but of 
human flesh and health, as it will do away with much of 
the tedious night travel. The practical good sense shown 
in the management of the railroads by Receiver Sharp 
and Sup't. Spencer, are a guarantee that the above ar¬ 
rangement will meet the wishes of farmers. The inter¬ 
ests of a railroad and its patrons are always mutual ; in 
too many cases this fact is ignored by “ officials," re¬ 
sulting in dissatisfaction, and injury to both interests. 
Silver-SMated. Wsn-e. —Numerous inqui¬ 
ries have come concerning the plated wares advertised in 
our columns, and we have received a few letters censur¬ 
ing us for advertising them at all. If any one is foolish 
enough to suppose that he will get silver when plated 
ware is advertised, we cannot help him. These wares 
are, as distinctly as.the English language will allow, of¬ 
fered as plated. After we depart from solid silver, 
whether “coin silver,” or “English sterling silver,” we 
must have plate, and the real value of that plate must de¬ 
pend upon the honesty of the manufacturer. Plated tea¬ 
spoons, for instance, may be offered at $6, $5, $4, $3, $2, 
$1, the set of half dozen, and each be good of its kind, 
and each well worth its cost. The great majority of the 
users of spoons and forks in the world, use plated spoons 
and forks, and when we assure ourselves that those who 
advertise these plated articles will give the best possible 
for the money , that they are men whose word is to be 
taken, we feel tlia.t it is better for.onr readers to buy ar¬ 
ticles whicli will be exactly as they are represented, than 
to purchase them here and there, with no one responsi¬ 
ble for their quu-ity. We can assure our readers that 
none of those who advertise plated-ware will give them 
solid silver; and we can also assure them that we have 
examined the ware, and are convinced that those who 
buy their plate of those who advertise with us, as 
Stevens Brothers & Co., and others, will get as good as 
can be bought anywhere for the price. We know of 
no law which will oblige people to buy plated-ware. 
Sale of Choice Jersey and Ayr¬ 
shire Cattle.— We are informed that Mr. Win. Cro- 
zier, of Northport, Long Island, N. Y., contemplates a 
public sale of his valuable stock of finely-bred Jersey and 
Ayrshire cattle, Southdown sheep, and Berkshire swine, 
on the 10th of April next, at his farm, near Northport. 
To facilitate access to the farm, the Long Island R. R. 
Co. will carry passengers at half usual rates, and run a 
special return train after the sale. A favorable opportu¬ 
nity will here.be offered to procure, at reasonable prices, 
some of the best imported and home-bred stock. A no¬ 
tice of the sale appears.elsewhere. 
The SPolaSwine in Eng. 
land. —We are informed that the Poland-China swine 
sent to England by Mr. Magie, of Oxford, Ohio, the origi¬ 
nator of this breed, have been received with much 
satisfaction by the purchaser, Mr. Munson. This gentle¬ 
man writes that he thinks these swine are the finest of 
any in England ; he is a breeder of Berkshires, Yorkshires, 
and Windsors, all of which are cast into the shade by the 
American pigs. This is another intimation that the 
opinion we have often expressed as to the excellence of 
American bred stock of nearly all kinds, is well founded. 
Pampas ISice. —Some persons who last 
year advertised “Pampas Rice,” did not like it at all be¬ 
cause from their engraving and description we inferred 
that their so-called “ Rice ” was only the “ Durra Corn," 
Sorghum vulgare , which was described and figured in 
February of last year. A person in Montour Co., Pa., 
evidently does not read the Amet'icanAgricidtui'ist, for he 
sends a circular of the “Pampas Rice,” some specimens 
of the grain, and wishes to know onr terms for advertis- 
ing it. The grain sent proves the accuracy of our con¬ 
jecture, for it is the seed of the “ Dnrra Corn,” and noth¬ 
ing else. Now, we have not the least objections to the 
cultivation.of “Dnrra Corn.” Both the grains and the 
stalks may be very useful, and it may be that it will be 
found to have been too much neglected; bnt let ns be 
truthful, and call things by their right names. As “Dur¬ 
ra,” and other names given in the article referred to, 
this has been cultivated in the old world for centuries, 
and was known in this country last, century. Then why 
call it “ Pampas.” or any other “Rice.” It is not at all 
related to rice, except that, both are grassses, and the 
grain is not near so much like rice in appearance ns the 
“ Rice Pon-Corn.” Why say it is of “ South American ori¬ 
gin,” when it was in common use in Africa and Asia, long 
before Columbus engaged in the ferry business. Gentle. 
men in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Michigan, and else¬ 
where, bring on all the new grains and plants you can 
get hold of. If useful, we will help make them known, 
but we shall insist that old and well known things shall 
not be rechristened, but that they be offered under their 
proper names. Farmers, whatever the grain may be, 
the name “Pampas Rice” is a miserable alias, a fraud. 
Easy dirarnaHj^.—“L. S. S.,” Delaware 
Co., N. Y., writes that “ the difficulty in churning and 
bringing butter late in the season, especially with the 
cream from one cow, can be obviated by a very simple 
process, viz.: after the milk is strained, set the pans on 
the kitchen stove and scald the milk, which will cause 
the cream to rise in a much shorter time, and if it is of a 
proper temperature, it will churn and bring the butter in 
from 5 to 10 minutes, of a better quality, and entirely 
free from any bitter or unpleasant taste.” 
A Wlaiivire €lul>.— “A. B. S.,” Bucks Co., 
Pa. We fear the cost of transportation of manure from 
New York to Bucks Co., would be too great for profita¬ 
ble purchase from the street-car companies. If the ma¬ 
nure was baled, the carriage would be easier. The 2d, 
3d, 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th Avenue are the largest car com¬ 
panies in New York. It is sufficient to address either 
of these by their title at the City of New York. 
-— 
Sundry Humbugs. 
We take up our budget of 
Humlnigs—what a heap it is 
that collects in a month! 
There are letters from cor¬ 
respondents, bits cut from 
papers all over the country, 
memoranda made as things 
have turned up, and notes 
of information that we get 
from—but we don’t propose 
to tell all of our sources of 
information. Some people 
would “ peel their eyes,” 
did they only know the how. 
Well, we take up this for¬ 
midable parcel, and assort 
it—Lotteries in one place, 
“Queer” in another pile; 
“Oil Paintings” make a 
pile, “Medical Matters” 
another, and so on through 
the heap. The size of these 
parcels afford a fair indication of the run of a particular 
scheme. We at first thought that the largest pile be¬ 
longed to the “Oil Painting ” affair, but as Irving’s 
DUTCH JUSTICE, 
was it Wouter Von Twilier ? weighed the law in the case, 
by balancing a law-book in each hand, we find that the 
lottery swindle—“A Decision at Last”—is a little the 
heftiest. This is the concern which proposes to settle 
up defunct lotteries by making new drawings, and they 
give orders on Russell & Co. for Gold Watches and 
Chains, and no end of Jewelry. We are so tired of this 
thing ; and yet the circulars will come piling in by the 
bushel 1 We would gladly let this thing drop, but when 
we get letters, like the one before us, evidently written 
by an educated person, who signs himself (giving, of 
course, being a gentleman, his real name, also,) “A 
Reader of Your Paper,” we wonder, really, if it does any 
good to expose humbugs. What can 
THIS HEADER HAVE READ ? 
when for the last several months we have been obliged 
to give special prominence to the “ Decision at Last ” 
fraud, with Russell & Co. as executors ? If anything has 
been set forth, ventilated, and warned against, It has 
been this, but yet these come—several this month, per¬ 
sons as innocent as can be, and ask about it in all sin¬ 
cerity ... Here is a letter enclosing one of the “ Decisions 
at Last” circulars, from Sharon, Pa. The writer, who is 
entitled to a lot of jewelry, wishes us to go to Bond 
street, and see if they will not change the jewelry for “ a 
part watches,” yet this very man claims to have read the 
Humbug articles. Do people comprehend what they 
read?... It is refreshing to get hold of anew swindle, 
but here is one that is such a miserable imitation for the 
foregoing, that we are tempted to think it is the same old 
Topeka thing, under a new name. Its circulars are headed 
“CONSOLIDATION OP ALL THE LOTTERIES,” 
the same old story about “ unsettled prizes,” and a 
“Committee,” and a new “drawing.” The orders are 
not upon Russell & Co., but upon J. S. Blanck & Co., 
Broadway, N. Y. Gold watches and chains have fallen ; 
this scheme values them at only $40—a base imitation. 
“Blanck” is a good name to use with this. 
“THAT ROTAL DOMINION GIFT CONCERT,” 
at St. Stephen, New Brunswick, continues to send its 
schemes all over the States, and is getting to be more- 
and more of a nuisance. Its manifestoes are more flaring 
than before, and include 
A BAREFACED LIE, 
as they print in conspicuous type, “ Money can be sent 
by mail legally,” which, as an abstract statement, is true,, 
bnt it can not be sent “legally” to help any such swin¬ 
dles as this “ Royal ” one, and postmasters in the United, 
States have not only the right, hut are by law obliged, to- 
stop any letters sent to this and similar concerns. 
CHEAP JEWELRY.^ 
Here is a letter that serves a^a specimen of many. It 
encloses an advertisement of what is called jewelry. 
The writer, in Canada, wishes our opinion, but as he en¬ 
closed no postage, he did not get it. He says, “ You will 
understand my question—is it a humbug.” The adver¬ 
tisement contains several “ lots.” The first is a “50-cent 
Lot;” it offers a Watch Chain, a pair of Sleeve Buttons,, 
a Stone-Set Scarf Pin, three Spiral Shirt Studs, one Col¬ 
lar Button, and one Wedding Ring—six articles in nine- 
pieces—just 5 5 / 9 cents a piece. If our correspondent will 
think of the matter, ho will admit that the advertisers do 
business to make money, and that their “goods” did not 
cost them anything like what they ask for them—now 
what does he, or anyone else, want with a “wedding 
ring,” or any of the rest, that the seller values at only 
5V 9 cents, and which, probably, did not cost half that to- 
make. If he thinks they are worth any more than is- 
asked for them, let him buy and try.A recent plant 
humbug is 
“ THE CINNAMON VINE,” 
advertised by a party in Wayne Co., N. Y., who, we are 
sorry to say, also advertises the American Agriculturist' 
along with books, groceries, and other merchandise. We 
know nothing of the party; he can buy the Amoicaiv 
Agiiculturist as he can coal or gold, or other staple article, 
and sell it in the same shop with his other wares, and we 
are in no manner connected with, or responsible, for it. 
We hold that any one who knowingly sells a well known 
plant under a new name, and one that does not belong to- 
it, commits a fraud upon the purchaser. In this case, the- 
liumbug does not consist in the plant itself, but in put¬ 
ting it out under false pretences. The so-called “Cinna¬ 
mon Vine ” is nothing more nor less .than the old 
Chinese yam, (Dioscoreea Batatas), 
which has been so long known under its proper name. 
We have often spoken of its utility ns an ornamental 
climber, whatever may be its merits as a food-plant. It 
has good foliage, and when the plant gets old enough it 
produces small flowers with a pleasant cinnamon-like 
fragrance. It is simply an imposition to offer it under 
any other than its own name_The “ Weekly Visitor,”' 
Galveston, Texas, goes for that 
U. S. SECRET SERVICE COMPANY 
iu a most lively manner. We are glad of a coadjutor in- 
the “ Lone Star State,” and hope he will continue to do 
so—but that “Secret Service Co.” is defunct. One Cin- 
cinnatti humbug the less, but there is “ a few more left 
of the same sort.” 
FARMERS MUST LOOK OUT 
for seed and nursery swindles, which appear every 
spring, and of which there promises to be an unusual 
crop this year. If a concern writes that they have “ no 
time to talk with customers,” but do all their business 
by correspondence by letter—just let them alone, and 
buy of people whose names are in the directory,-and who 
can be found when wanted. See article on “New and 
Wonderful Seeds,” on p. 100... Having to do with hum¬ 
bugs is not calculated to give one a view of 
HUMAN NATURE IN ITS BEST ASPECTS. 
Money-making—or more properly money-getting, is at 
the bottom of all the many schemes, and whether it is to- 
recover an ancestral estate, or to cure some inherited dis¬ 
ease, the low aim of mere gajn is always manifest, and 
the operators are “of the earth earthy.” Imagine how 
welcome the change, when we found one letter at 
i 
ONLY SECOND HAND FROM THE SPIRITS. 
Now there are people who do not believe in spirits, and 
spiritism, and mediums, and things. It makes no differ¬ 
ence what may be proposed, in proof that spirits in the 
other world find their highest enjoyment in visiting close 
chambers in tenement houses in this: tipping over the al¬ 
ready rickety furniture, banging tamborines and—when 
very jolly, in slapping the faces of people in the dark- 
still there are people who don’t believe in them. More¬ 
over, they ill naturedly say that the spirits always foretclll 
that which has happened. Now we have a document that 
is calculated to silence these hard-hearted persons. It 
comes from one Reno—who is a “ Prof..” and he lives in 
New York, at No. 205-, but these are not advertis¬ 
ing columns. It has a greasy look generally, being writ¬ 
ten on manifold paper. Some unbelievers may say that 
this is in order to send several copies of the same “ reve¬ 
lation ” to different persons, bnt as we have but turn- 
copies thus far, and the date is filled in with blue pencil,. 
