1878 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
167 
teetli, where formerly it seemed ns if the young man 
(now in College) had got to wear through life a very 
uncouth, distorted set of dentals. 
Books Upon 5'oultry Biiising’.— 
“ W. G. L.,” Ford Co., Ill. A very useful and cheap 
book upon poultry raising is “An Egg Farm, etc.,” by 
H. H. Stoddard, who is a practical poultry breeder. It 
contains selections and illustrations from the back vol¬ 
umes of the American Agriculturist from articles written 
by Mr. Stoddard and those editors of the American Agri¬ 
culturist, who have been largely and successfully engaged 
in raising poultry. It mu3t not be expected that any 
book whatever can provide for every contingency and 
accident; judgment and common sense must be used 
when the directions given do not precisely meet any par¬ 
ticular case. Only general rules can be given in books. 
Sent by mail in paper covers, 50c.; in cloth, 75c. 
A Business Oiang'e. — Mr. W. Atlee 
Burpee has retired from the firm of Benson. Burpee & 
Co., 223 Church Street, Phila., dealers in seeds, grains, 
and live-stock. The business will be continued at same 
location, under the firm name of Benson, Maule & Co. 
W. Atlee Burpee & Co. will conduct a similar business at 
221 Church Street, Phila. Mr. B. is an enterprising, in¬ 
telligent business man, and deserves success. 
A Sissy Forlc Carriage.—“ H. D. M.” 
The first necessity for the return of a MSS. is to send 
your post-office address. When a letter is dated only, 
and no place given, it is a clear impossibility to com¬ 
municate by mail, although a stamp may be enclosed. 
Some people are very thoughtless in this regard, and 
blame us for what we can not possibly help. The draw¬ 
ing is received, and is only waiting for an opportunity to 
be published. It is not always possible to print.any 
article the day or even month after it is received. 
“Forestry and Its Needs,” is the 
title of an address, delivered before the “American 
Forestry Association,” at the meeting held at Washing¬ 
ton in February last, by its President, Doct. John A. 
Warder. It is brief but comprehensive, and shows that 
much careful thought has been given to the needs of our 
“forestry,”—if we can be said to have any in the proper 
sense of the term. We read to the very next to the last 
page, giving assent as we went along—feeling that here 
is a forestry movement which is not pivoted upon, and 
does not revolve upon the central idea, that the Govern 
ment must send some one to Europe to examine and re¬ 
port—but, alas, here was the same old story, somebody 
must go to Europe. The suggestion that immediately 
precedes this is an admirable one, and would accomplish 
much good, viz., to introduce some ol the many edu 
cated and trained foresters so numerous abroad, to 
teach in our scientific schools. 
Tlte Trial of Steam Engine«i for 
farm uses, held at Syracuse last fall, under the direction 
of the N. Y. State Agricultural Society, was a very thor 
©ugh one. Among the premiums then awarded was one 
of a gold-medal to B. W. Payne & Sons, Corning, N. Y., 
for the best engine in the Second Class, i e., under 
6-horse power. All the vertical engines made at their 
establishment are provided with “ Taber’s Patent Auto¬ 
matic Cut-off Governor,” which, it is claimed, allows of 
the best control over the movements of the engine. 
Sewitig- Mncliiises. —Over 20 years ago 
the American Agriculturist published the first popular 
description of “how sewing is done bt machinery, ” 
showing by a variety of illustrative engravings just how 
the stitches were made by the leading machines, and 
setting the matter forth so plainly that ordinary persons 
could understand the whole process. This was in Febrn 
ary, 1858. We have, from the first, recognized the import¬ 
ance of this labor-saving implement, and not only labor 
saving, but life and health-saving; and have many times 
urged every man to spare his companion the everlasting 
“ Stitch , stitch , stitch! Sewing at once with a double 
thread, A shroud as well as a shirt," and advised selling 
an acre of land, if necessary, to secure this important aid 
in the household. Of course we have watched the progress 
of improvement, and have tried a majority of the ma¬ 
chines brought out. So much by way of introduction to 
what we bave to say of the New “Automatic” Machine 
of the Willcox & Gibbs Company. One of these has 
been in use at home during three months past, by the 
same hands that have tested so many of the machines, 
from time to time spoken of in this Journal. It may be 
said in brief, that, all things considered, this is “ The 
Best ” one yet tried. Its elastic scam, easily fastened, 
and yet capable of removal when desired, is an excellent 
feature. It has sundry attachments, that work admira¬ 
bly, as the Hcmmer, Tucker, Quiltcr, Ruffler, Braider, etc. 
It runs with wonderful case and quietness. But the 
great improvement is the new “Automatic Tension,” 
which is perfection itself. With this, the most inex¬ 
perienced can sew the thinnest fabric as well as the 
thickest; and what is more, pass from one thickness 
directly to another, as often as desired, without chang¬ 
ing the tension, and with the certainty of producing 
perfect work. Every lady who has used any machine 
and worried, and even cried, over getting the tension 
always right, will at once recognize the importance and 
value of such an improvement in sewing mechanism. 
SSelntmg- to Skephcrdius-.- 1 ' D. H.,” 
Chicago, Ill. Stewart’s “American Shepherd’s Manual,” 
gives fuh instruction for caring for sheep ; all that is 
necessary in addition to what is there told, is some 
ordinary common sense, to apply it to differing circum¬ 
stances. Kansas and Nebraska are good localities for 
keeping sheep. There a homestead can he bought cheap¬ 
ly, or taken on Government land for next to nothing, and 
for the present plenty of free pasturage can be procured. 
Probably the best plan would be to purchase 640 acres of 
cheap land from one of the railroads, ancl enter 160 acres 
of Government land, at $1.50 per acre, adjoining it. This 
would give 800 acres, which would furnish winter feed¬ 
ing for three or four thousand sheep, and summer pas¬ 
ture could be had on the range. Either native or half- 
bred sheep could he purchased in Colorado at $2 to $2.50 
per head. There is no necessity to purchase more land 
at present than sufficient for winter pasture, as plenty of 
wild hay can be put up for one or two dollars a ton. 
Price, sent by mail from this office, $1.50. 
German Millet.—“ E. J. S.,” Queenstown, 
Md. Millet can not ho sown safely until the soil is 
warm. It thrives in warm weather. May and June are 
the months for sowing it. One to two pecks per acre 
will be sufficient seed. 
Bean Flatter.—“ H. C. P.,” Kinston, N. 
C. The Albany Corn Planter, made by R. II. Aden & 
Co., and illustrated in the Amencan Agriculturist, April, 
1877, plants beans as well as corn, and other seed. Any 
threshing machine will thresh beans, by putting a smooth 
plank in place of the concave, and running slowly 
Kcltraska, —Mr. Leavitt Bumliam, the new 
Land Commissioner of the Union Pacific Railroad Com¬ 
pany, has for many years been a resident of Nebraska. 
He is familiar with the country, and those who contem¬ 
plate moving westward would do well to consult him. 
We learn that there is an unprecedented emigration this 
spring to that portion of Nebraska through which the 
Union Pacific road runs. 
Capons.—“ N. F.,” Picton Co., N. S.—A 
capon is an emasculated male of the ordinary fowl. The 
operation has the effect of greatly increasing the size of 
the bird and the tenderness and flavor of its flesh. It is 
very easily performed when one knows how. The instru¬ 
ments are kept for sale by H. H. Stoddard, of Hartford, 
Conn., who can also furnish directions for operating. It 
is one ol those cases in which seeing the operation is of 
greater value titan all the directions that can he printed. 
“ Economic Tree Planting- ” is the 
title of a pamphlet by B. G. Northup, LL. D., Superin¬ 
tendent of Public Schools in Connecticut. Dr. Northup 
is an enthusiastic advocate of village improvement, and 
has done much to organize “Village Improvement Asso¬ 
ciations,” the good done by one of which, that of Litch¬ 
field, was described in Feb. last. The present work is 
a report to the State Board of Agriculture of his observa¬ 
tions in Europe, on the economical aspect of tree 
planting, with added evidence of examples in this 
country. The work reaches ns just at the moment of 
going to press, and we can at this time only briefly an¬ 
nounce it. It will be supplied by the publishers of this 
Journal, and by mail for 25 cents. 
Matt for Feed.— “J. A. McD.,” Kings Co., 
P. E. I. Malt is eagerly eaten by all kinds of live stock, 
on account of its sweetness; but the result of many care¬ 
ful experiments has shown that the benefits derived from 
feeding it do not repay the trouble and cost in malting 
the grain. Every advantage from the malting may be 
gained by simply adding a little molasses to the fodderor 
grain, and this is'much cheaper. In malting grain, there 
is a loss of substance, as well as a change of its form 
in germination, and this reduces the actual value of 
the grain, although it renders it more palatable. 
Butter Tattle. — “H. K.,” Blair Co., Pa. 
The butter table illustrated in March is not made for 
sale; any carpenter can make it from the description 
given. The moulds can also be made by any good 
mechanic. Most of the articles described and illustrated 
in the Am. Agriculturist are designed purposely for it, 
are unpatented, and are so simple and exactly described 
as to be easily made by any one who can use tools. 
Sundry Humbugs. 
We have often referred to 
the “Butter Compound,” 
and tlie difficulty of getting 
direct information concern¬ 
ing it. This we consider 
one of the most pernicious 
of the swindles of the pres¬ 
ent day, as it is a fraud 
upon those who may use it, 
ignorantly and in good faith, 
and a fraud upon those who 
purchase, as butter, the 
stuff produced by its use. 
In view of its importance, 
we give in a separate article 
the results obtained by the 
Trustees of the “Mass. So¬ 
ciety for the Improvement 
of Agriculture,” and pre¬ 
sume that they will in due 
time furnish the public the 
details in full.Last 
month, we gave a considerable space to an account of 
the operations of a firm calling itself 
“CLARK & CO., ADJUSTERS OF CLAIMS, ETC.,” 
who pretended to have money to the credit of various 
parties, and who, to be sure that they were addressing 
the right parties, enclosed a slip containing a signature 
for identification. One would suppose, from the account 
there given, that the scheme had been completely 
squelched. But these things have as many heads as 
Hydra, and as many names as a confidence-man, and 
while as “ Clark & Co., 1,267 Broadway ” that head is cut 
off, it already appears in another form. Precisely such 
letters as the one quoted last month, from Clark & Co., 
—word for word—are being sent out right and left, but 
they are headed and signed, instead of “Clark & Co.,” 
“ J- C. Keys & Co.,” and no longer from 1,267 Broadway, 
but are dated at “37 Bond St.” Now 37 Bond street is 
the place where not long ago the celebrated firm of Rus¬ 
sell & Co. were supposed to deliver those magnificent 
prizes of watches and jewelry from that “ Decision at 
Last” Lottery Combination. Can it be that Russell & 
Co. have retired, or can one small number— 37 —hold two 
such firms ns J. C. Keys & Co. and Russell & Co. at once ? 
This last move more than confirms the opinion of that 
shrewd officer, Special Agent Sherrett, as quoted last 
month, that the Silver Mining Co., so flourishing last 
year, Russell & Co., and Clark & Co., were all schemes 
of Elias ; evidently, Keys & Co. is but another alias of 
Elias. By the way, Keys & Co. do their business thor¬ 
oughly, as we have two letters of the same date and ex¬ 
actly alike sent to the same person ! Of course, when Keys 
& Co. arc denied the use of the mails, as were Clark & 
Co., the check will be but temporary; as soon as some 
other name can be engraved on the letter-heads, the same 
thing will turn up in another form. Fortunately it is a 
scheme which will catcli only those who are dishonest 
themselves....Circulars concerning a 
WONDERFUL GOLD MINE, 
arc being circulated freely. They are sent far and near 
with an introductory note to the recipient which reads: 
“Dear Sir—Returning from the mines, we met a gen¬ 
tleman in the cars from your locality, and asked him to 
give ns the names of persons who might take an interest 
in mining. Therefore we send a prospectus, etc.” 
It is really astonishing how many people “ we ” met in 
the cars. The whole tiling is “ too thin”_We still re¬ 
ceive inquiries concerning those parties whose circulars 
offer great inducements to invest in 
STOCK OPERATIONS IN WALL STREET. 
In all the many cases we have inquired into, the parties 
sending out these circulars are not members of the Stock 
Board, and they are not known at all, or are unfavorably 
known, among the regular dealers on the street. Our ad¬ 
vice to every one who does not understand the business, 
is to keep out of the stock-market, whether in person 
or by proxy_There seems to he 
A NEW CROP OF LOTTERIES, 
at least, new in name, and we are often inquired of con¬ 
cerning them. We have very frequently given our 
opinion of lotteries, hut as many new subscribers have 
been added since we have said anything about them, we 
state, in brief, that we are opposed to the whole of 
them, as wrong in principle and injurious to the com¬ 
munity. Very few are honestly conducted, and if any 
are so, the chances are fearfully against the ticket holder. 
In most States the sale of lottery tickets is prohibited by 
law, and if, as they often are, tickets are sold in defiance 
of law, the purchaser is accessory to an illegal act. 
Never mind where the lottery is held, by what name it 
is called, or who give it countenance—let it alone. 
... .Every now and then the old story turns up in one 
form or another, that a farmer finds he has a note to pay 
