24.8 
AMERICAN AGrRIOULTURIST. 
[JULY, 
feet confidence ? Wo put the question directly to our Illi¬ 
nois editorial friend : was your father your best friend, 
tlie one to whom of all others you would first tell of some 
success, and to whom you would first go for comfort in 
some boyish trouble, or for advice when in doubt ? Prob¬ 
ably not, but it matters little now—but it matters greatly 
with your own boys whether their relations to you are 
such that they can have no secret, or think it necessary to 
conceal anything from you. The evil complained of is 
one that affects the peace and purity of the home circle, 
and it is just there that the remedy is to be found. Isn’t 
it so, brother L. ?_We have been expecting if, and it 
has come at last 1 The opportunity was so good that we 
wonder it has not been seized before. Ilere it is : 
M A TIMELT WARNING—EIGHT HUNDRED TONS OP DEADLY 
POISON !” 
is the heading of the hand-bill. Of course, this means 
Paris Green. And the account of the horrible things that 
may happen, aDd a general statement — with no particu¬ 
lars—of what has happened, is enough to make one give 
up potatoes for the rest of his life. But what good will 
it do to stop eating potatoes, and cease using Paris Green 
at this late day ?—Not a bit—the deed is done—the world 
is in a bad way! — If it be any comfort to know our fate, 
read 1—“ Poisoned Blood is to-day coursing through the 
veins of thousands of people who do not, as yet, know 
the fact — but the awful truth will burst upon them by- 
and by.”—Now, where are we; or, rather, where shall we 
be when that bursting bomb shell bangs us to bally- 
hack ?—it is rather hard on the thousands of people who 
do not know it. After “piling up the agony” until it 
becomes actual mental torture, we become anxious, 
and we begin to wonder if it wasn’t the potato that 
brought all the evil into the world, instead of the histori¬ 
cal apple (a pomme de terre , instead of a ponime de Vcii, 
so to speakl. Let any one read this hand bill, and the 
world will look differently to him. The boasted triumphs 
of our civilization, our telegraphs and phonographs, our 
telephones and microphones, become as nothing. Why 
have we graphs and phones, why Paris Expositions and 
Commissioners of Agriculture, if, when that “awful 
tru-th will bust,” wo are all at once to go to the bow¬ 
wows ! But out of all this blackness of darkness is there 
not a single ray of hope; has not our dark cloud just a 
bit of silver lining (or green-back—we don’t mind, legal 
tenders being worth 99 cts.)? This despondent view 
comes of reading the thing only half through. — A “ray.” 
It gives us a whole sunburst of hope. We read: 
“BUT IT MAY NOT BE TOO LATE.” 
See how gently he lets it on—as Pat fired the cannon 
“ aisy,” so as not to hurt Mike, who held the iron pot 
over the nozzle, that the ball might not be lost—“May 
not be too late to use a powerful blood remedy, such as,” 
“SUCH AS P * * * * "S PILLS.” 
Hear themWe appeal to every lover of his race to 
spread the information contained in this hand-bill, with 
all possible haste ’’—which we proceed to do — in our own 
way. It is perhaps not just the way our down East 
friends would like, but it is the best we can do. “ Let 
every Minister of the Gospel take it for a text and 
preach from it. Why not?” — “Why not?”' — Well, 
the only reason that occurs to us just at this mo¬ 
ment, is, that Ministers of the Gospel are not, as a gen¬ 
eral thing, unmitigated donkies, and while they may 
show a want of taste, they have texts in a work which 
has answered tolerably for over 1800 years, and they 
haven't got to preaching from hand-bills yet. 
- -o c — -- 
Useful Additions to Our Rural Literature. 
It is with pleasure that we announce that the already 
comprehensive list of rural books, published by the 
Orange Judd Company, is about to receive important ad¬ 
ditions. Those in the greatest state of forwardness are 
here noticed: 
Talks About Manures, by Joseph Harris, M. S., 
Moreton Farm, Rochester, N. Y., author of “Walks and 
Talks on the Farm,” “Harris on the Pig,” etc., is the 
title of a new work now in press, and shortly to be is¬ 
sued by the Orange Judd Company, 245 Broadway, New 
York. In the series oT “ Walks and Talks on the Farm,” 
and later in “Talks About Farm Crops,” Mr. Harris has 
become so well known to the readers of the American 
Agriculturist that lie needs no introduction to them. In 
the above-named series, he adopted a colloquial style, 
which, while it is too diffuse for the close student, is 
popular with many readers. 
The assertion “ I have done so and so,” will arrest the 
attention of many, where the abstract statement that “ so 
and so has Iven done,” will be passed unnoticed save by 
few. The writer, who speaks in the first person, at once 
places himself on friendly terms with his reader, who, 
feeling that the teachings are for his special benefit, 
gives them a careful attention that he would withhold from 
the same matter presented in the usual form. In “ Walks 
and Talks,” the author succeeded in conveying and in 
popularizing scientific teachings, and in presenting to 
the ordinary reader the results of scientific researches in 
a pleasant manner. One marked and useful feature 
of “ Walks and Talks,” etc., is the introduction of “ The 
Deacon,” a plain, old-fashioned farmer, slow to adopt 
new ways, but of sufficient intelligence to accept new 
views and methods when convinced of their value. The 
Deacon, by propounding such questions, and presenting 
such objections to scientific teachings as would occur to 
the common-sense farmer, became at once popular with 
tlie reader, as he usually proposed just such views as 
would occur to tlie average farmer, and put the author on 
his defence. Besides the Deacon, the Doctor and the 
Squire gave variety to “ Walks and Talks.” In “ Talks 
on Manures,” the readers of the author’s former writings 
will meet his old friends, the Deacon, the Doctor, and 
the Squire, to which are here added young Charley, who 
contributes his share of the Talking. These persons go 
over the whole ground, from considering the general and 
important question “What is Manure?” through the 
methods of making, keeping, and applying it, to the 
choice of particular manures for special crops. The au¬ 
thor makes, great use of the experiments on manures by 
Lawes and Gilbert, at Rothamsted, England. In this he 
is justified not only by the intrinsic value of the experi¬ 
ments themselves, but by the fact that he was himself at 
Rothamsted when a large share of these were made. 
Having a personal relation to this important series of ag¬ 
ricultural experiments, his accounts of them possess an 
interest which the bare results, as presented in tables, 
do not convey, and while the tables are given, the au¬ 
thor’s comments on them increase their interest and 
value. We may add here, that the most important tables 
recording the Rothamsted experiments, are presented 
in full; these are not, to our knowledge, accessible in 
any other American work, and these alone will be to 
many worth the price of the whole book. It is not often 
that the results of scientific investigations are presented 
in a manner so thoroughly popular, there being noth¬ 
ing in the work that may not be understood by the intel¬ 
ligent farmer or by his boys. To the author’s large circle 
of readers we have no need to say more about the work— 
to others, we can commend it as presenting the teachings 
of modern science as sustained and illustrated by the best 
modern practice. Ready shortly. 
Winter Greeneries at ESonie, by Edwin A. 
Johnson, D. D., author of “ Half Hour Studies of Life,” 
“The Live Boy,” etc. The title of this work is fortu¬ 
nate ; had the author called it “Window Gardening,” it 
would have met with a doubtful welcome. In all our 
horticultural literature, there are no works so thoroughly 
unsatisfactory as those on window gardening. They are 
beautiful works to look at, being illustrated with fine en¬ 
gravings of plants, which “ might, could, or should,” but 
somehow never “ would ” flourish in the window-garden, 
in fact made up by persons with no practical knowledge 
of the subject. These works recommend a large share of 
the ordinary greenhouse plants, for window culture, while 
all who have had experience know that but a few of such 
plants are suited to the purpose. The author of “ Winter 
Greeneries” is a clergyman, who for several years has 
found recreation in beautifying his study with plants; 
his work resulted in so much enjoyment to himself and 
his friends that he has been induced to tell what he did, 
and how he did it, in a little work, with the above title. 
“Winter Greeneries ” implies, what all with much expe¬ 
rience will admit, that the first and main thing to be 
aimed at in window-gardening is an abundance of green. 
Green vines, green trailers, and erect plants, with foliage 
of various shades of green, are in themselves always 
pleasing, and arc within the reach of every one who has 
a window, no matter how unfavorable the aspect, or how 
unsuited the room to plants in general. If this work did 
not go a step further than to show how to accomplish 
this, it would be most welcome, but the author, after 
many trials, has learned that it is possible to add some 
flowers to the green, and gives a list of the select few 
that, if his directions for their treatment be followed, 
may be depended upon for winter bloom. Some may be 
disappointed that so few flowers are commended, but 
this, to our mind, is the most valuable feature of the 
book. In window-gardening, it is not what we would 
like, but what will Tike us—or rather our surroundings, 
that must direct our selection, and in this the work is an 
eminently safe guide. The book is not a mere dry set of 
directions, but its teachings are presentedin the pleasant 
form of letters to some young ladies, who, having wit¬ 
nessed the author’s success, have asked his instruction, 
and this allows a genial personality to pervade the work, 
and makes it withal readable, as well as instructive. It 
must not be Inferred from this that the teachings are the 
less concise and practical; having years ago gone over 
almost every step of the same ground, we can safely 
commend “Winter Greeneries” as the best guide to suc¬ 
cessful winter-gardening, as suited to American homes, 
with our peculiar domestic surroundings, that we have 
seen, and we feel sure that those who follow its teachings 
will reach a satisfactory measure of success. The work, 
which is now in press, gives engravings of the author’s 
study, and other illustrations. 
The Paris Exposition, 
The International Fair now being held in Paris is 
worthy of tlie versatile, enterprising, industrious, 
economical French people. The American Agricul¬ 
turist is represented at the Exposition, by Mr. 
George Houghton, who may have something to tell 
us a little later. We give below a partial list of 
the leading American exhibitors ; 
Auburn Man'fact’g Co., Auburn, N. Y., Agricultural Tools. 
Adriance, Platt & Co., New York, Mowers and Reapers. 
Aultman, C. & Co., Canton, Ohio, Agricultural Machines. 
American Watch Co., Waltham, Mass., Watches & Move’nts, 
Americau Fence Manufacturing Co., New York, Fence. 
Allen, R. H. & Co., New York, Warehouse Trucks. 
Bay State Rake Co., Wiuchendon, Mass., Hay Rake. 
Baker, Walter & Co., Boston, Mass., Chocolate. 
Bickford & Huffman, Macedon, New York, Seed Drill. 
Baker, H. .J. & Bro., New York, Chemicals. 
Browne & Sharpe M’f’g Co.,Providence, R.I.,Machine Tools.. 
Brooks, Ezra, Hartford, Ct„ Automatic Pump. 
Bailey Wringing Machine Co., New York, Wringers. 
Blake Crusher Co., New Haven, Ct., Stone and Ore Crusher.. 
Cortland Wagon Manufact’g Co., Cortland, N. Y., Wagons. 
Chadboru & Caldwell, Newburg, N. Y., Ag’l Implements. 
Case, J. I., Racine, Wis., Agricultural Tools. 
Crozier, L. S., Williamsburg, Kan., Cocoons & Reeled Silk. 
Coates, A. W. & Co., Alliance, Ohio, Grain Rake. 
Deere & Co., Moline, 111., Plows. 
Douglas, W. & B., Middletown, Ct., Pumps. 
Dederich, P. K. & Co., Albany, N. Y„ Hay Press, Horse 
Power Bale Machines. 
Eagle Mowing Mach. Co., Albany, N. Y., Mowers & Reapers,. 
Fairbanks, E. & T. & Co., New York, Seales. 
Farmers’ Friend M’f'g Co., Dayton, Ohio, Grain Drill. 
Farquhar, A. B., York, Pa., Threshing Machines, Horse 
Plows, Rakes, etc. 
Gale Manufact’g Co., Albion, Mich., Plow and Hay Rake. 
Gillott, Jos., & Sons, New York, Steel Pens. 
Globe Horse-Slioe Nail Co., Boston, Horse-Shoe Nails. 
Howe Scale Co., Rutland, Vt., Scales. 
Hill’s Archimedean Lawn Mower Co., Hartford, Ct., Lawn 
Mowers. 
Ivers, F., Cambridge. Mass., Buggies. 
Johnson Harvester Co.,Brockport, N.Y., Mowers & Reapers. 
Lovell, Juo. P. & Sons, Boston, Mass., Air Guns and Pistols.. 
McCormick, C. H. & L. I., Chicago, Ill., Mowers & Reapers.. 
Mason & Hamlin Organ Co., New York, Organs. 
Massey, G. B., New York, Revolving Boot-heel. 
Najon Manufacturing Co., New York, Universal Pump. 
Nonotuck Silk Co., Florence, Mass., Spool Silk. 
Osborne, D. M. M’f’g Co., Auburn, N. Y., Mowers & Reapers. 
Randolph, Tlieo. F., New York, Ditching Machines. 
Remington, E. & Sous, Ilion, N. Y., Fire Arms. 
Snyder & Bro., New York, Steam Engine. 
Stratton & Cullom, Meadville, Pa,, Hay Loader. 
Stanley Rule & Level Co., New Britain, Ct., Rules & Levels. 
Speer, Alex. & Sons, Pittsburg, Pa., Plows and Cultivators. 
Studebaker Bros., South Bend, Ind., Wagons. 
Stoddard, J. W. & Co., Dayton, Ohio, Ag’l Implements. 
Sharpe Rifle Co., Bridgeport, Ct., Fire Arms. 
Taylor Mau’fact’g Co., Westminster, Md., Portable Engines.. 
Trump Bros., Wilmington, Del., Scroll Saws. 
Taylor, B. C., Dayton, Ohio, Hay Rake. 
U. S. Wind Engine & Pump Co., Batavia, N. Y., Windmills. 
W. A. Wood Mowing & Reaping Machine Co., Hoosick 
Fails, N. Y., Mower and Reaper. 
Wheeler & Wilson M’f'g Co., New York, Sewing Machines. 
Warder, Mitchell & Co.,Springfield,Ohio,Mowers & Reapers.. 
Withington & Cooley M’f'g Co., Jackson,Midi., Garden and 
Fanning Tools. 
Treatment of Working Oxen, 
These patient, useful, animals are much abused, as a 
general thing. A smart pair of oxen, well-trained, and 
well-fed, can do as much plowing and other work on a 
farm, as any horses that I have ever owned. What I 
mean by “ well-trained, and well-fed,” is to give them 
the same care that yon give horses. Instead of leaving 
them standing in the yoke beside the fence or barn, to 
eat their dinners, put them into the stable and make 
them comfortable. Feed lightly In early spring, and 
when they have come into full working condition, give 
a bushel of ground oats every day, to a pair weighing 
2,800 to 3,200 lbs. I consider ground oats much better 
than the whole grain. Many farmers have an idea that 
any one can drive oxen, but as it is most important with 
them, as with all animals, that they should be treated 
with uniform kindness. I think the best man on the farm 
should do this. Never drive with a club or goad, but 
with a whip, and seldom use it. Oxen can he guided by 
the voice. I trained one pair that would stop instantly 
at the word “ whoa,” start at one cluck, and at a second 
decided cluck, move off into a trot. Be firm, but kind, 
and you will find them returning affection ; showing it 
pleasantly if any is manifested for them. Oxen can be 
made to grow, while working daily. It is economy to 
