282 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
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in which are imbedded some raspberry seeds. Not the 
slightest trace of a berry, except these seeds, and the 
jam. Had not the cotton fortunately absorbed the juice, 
the parcel would have been thrown out as injurious to 
other mail matter. It is not safe to send fruit, insects, 
or anything that can be crushed, in any other than wooden 
or tin boxes. We ask our friends, for their own sake, to 
endeavor that these specimens shall not only reach us in 
good order, but that they may be so marked that we can 
identify the owner. As it is, about half of those sent fail 
of their object through no fault of ours. 
“The Sportsman’s Library of Standard 
“Works,” is the title of a beautifully illustrated Cata¬ 
logue, just issued by the Orange Judd Company. Some 
account is given of the various works on Hunting, Fish¬ 
ing, Shooting, Horses, Dogs, and also the popular works 
on Natural History of most interest to the sportsman. 
The engravings arc abundant, and add much to the inter¬ 
est of the Catalogue, which is sent to any address for two 
3-cent postage-stamps. 
Cranberries.— “ S. 6. R.,” Iiion, N. Y. The re¬ 
quisites are a peat bog, an abundance of pure sand, and 
water under such control that it may be let of!' or on to 
the plantation as may be needed. “Cranberry Culture,” 
by J. J. White, published by the Orange Judd Co. 
($1.25), gives every needed particular, and is by far the 
best guide that we know of. 
Disease in Sheep. — “ P.,” Brunswick, Ga. A 
soft, loose swelling under the jaw in sheep is indicative 
of a dropsical effusion, caused by disease of the lungs or 
liver. It accompanies pleurisy and pneumonia, and is 
known as “ liver rot.” Alone, it is not sufficient to indi¬ 
cate fully the condition of the sheep, and no treatment 
can be suggested without further information. For full 
directions for determining the nature of the disease, aud 
proper treatment, consult Stewart's Shepherd's Manual. 
American Berkshire Record. — Pedigree 
goes for something either good or bad; and a record 
that shows a valued ancestry is a considerable item in the 
salable estimate of either a horse, a bull, a cow, or a pig. 
This fact has tended to the successful establishment of 
the Berkshire Swine Record, of which the third volume 
is now in course of preparation. Entries for this volume 
can be sent to P. M. Springer, Springfield, Ill., Secretary 
of the American Berkshire Association. 
“Food from the Far West.”— We do not 
know just where the “Far West ” is, but an intelligent 
Scotchman, James Macdonald, has found it in Texas, 
Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and the neighboring States, 
and gives in a work with the above title the results of 
his observations during a protracted tour in our cattle- 
raising States. It is sometimes an advantage to have 
portions of our own country described by a stranger, as 
many points which an American regards as matters of 
course, strike him as novel and of interest, and if the 
writer from abroad be a good observer, he is likely to 
give us a fuller account than would an American de¬ 
scribing the same territory . In the present book we 
find the whole subject of cattle, sheep, and hog raising 
in the Western States discussed in detail, and by a disin¬ 
terested observer. It is a work that can not fail to be of 
value to those who contemplate entering into this branch 
of agriculture, and to those who are engaged in the ex¬ 
portation of meat to other countries. Those who are in¬ 
terested in the development of this branch of industry, 
as related to our national prosperity, will find here a 
vast fund of information upon food supply—a subject 
of interest both at home and abroad. Published in Lon- 
don,Eng. For sale by the Orange Judd Co.; price, $1.50. 
“House Drainage and Water Service in 
Cities, Villages, and Rural Neighborhoods,” by James C. 
Bayles, New York: David Williams. This is a large 
octavo of 360 pages, with numerous wood-cuts and work¬ 
ing drawings. A work of this importance requires more 
careful study than this mid-summer weather will allow, 
and we can only at present say that we are most favor¬ 
ably impressed with its apparent thoroughness and com¬ 
pleteness. It, while giving full plans for supplying water 
to and carrying off the wastes of costly city-houses, does 
not omit the wants of the humblest farm-house, but it 
gives the simple earth-closet—without machinery, which 
we have on several occasions presented to the readers of 
the American Agriculturist. A copious index and mar¬ 
ginal referencesadd greatly to thevalueof the work. Sent 
from this office, post-paid, for the publisher’s price, $3. 
Grafting and Budding.—Several years ago, 
we had occasion to notice "If Art de Greffer." by Chas. 
Baltet, who kindly, through a mutual friend, sent us a 
copy of the work in the original French. Since then it 
has been translated into English, and published by Mac¬ 
Millan & Co., London, Eng. It is the most complete 
work on grafting—including budding—in any language, 
and though the American propagator may not need to use 
many of the processes here described, it is well for him 
to know about them. Wo know of ho other work that is 
so full on this method of propagation in all its varieties. 
It can be sent from this office post-paid for its price, $1.75. 
“ How We Raised the Baby, ” is the 
title of a handsomely gotten up work by Derby Broth¬ 
ers, New York, written by “A Benedict,” with a preface 
by the author of “ Helen’s Babies.” It is well written in 
a pleasing style, and, so far as we have examined it, is a 
work which young mothers will welcome, giving both 
instruction and pleasure. Price, paper, 50c.; cloth, $1.00. 
Book for Slieplierds.— “ A. J. K.” Spring- 
field, HI. Randall’s Practical Shepherd is a very 
good book, but is not modern. Randall’s Sheep Hus¬ 
bandry relates chiefly to the Southern States. A modern 
book, which includes all that is valuable in other works, 
and contains much new matter that is found in no other, 
is Stewart’s Shepherd’s Manual. This describes all the 
newer breeds, and even the cross-bred sheep, that are 
now coming into notoriety. 
Foultry Journal.- “ R. G.,” Allegheny Co., Pa. 
The American Agriculturist contains every month much 
information regarding the breeds and management of 
poultry. Those, however, who desire a journal entirely 
devoted to poultry, will find an excellent one in the 
“ Poultry World,” Hartford, Conn. 
A New Work on Birds, by the rising natural¬ 
ist, C. J. Maynard, of Newtonville, Mass., is now being 
issued by the author. It is called “ The Birds of Florida, 
with the Water and Game Birds of Eastern North Amer¬ 
ica,” and, with its appendix, is intended to describe all 
the birds occurring between the Mississippi and Atlautic 
Ocean. We say a “ new work,” though it is a new and 
revised edition, with many additions and improvements, 
of a work previously issued. With its additions it is 
practically new. Though it might have been somewhat 
condensed, it is a work full of interest to the lover and 
student of birds. The 16 plates, hand colored, are of 
new or little known species, and are handsome and life¬ 
like. The work has the charm of originality, being 
mostly from the author’s own notes, gathered during 15 
years of study and observation. It is issued in monthly 
parts, 16 in all; five are now out. Price, 85 cts. a number. 
Harrison’s New Standard Flouring Mill 
has, we understand, been recently improved by doubling 
the discharge spout, by the addition of a safety spring, 
which prevents damage from the passage of stones, 
nails, etc., and the substitution of a steel spindle in 
place of an iron one. Thus fitted out, these mills are 
doubtless equal to many years of grindiug, as they are 
honestly made in other respects. 
Clawson Wheat.—Our contributor, Joseph Har¬ 
ris, who Talks about Crops on Moreton Farm, sends us 
specimens of heads from his crop of Clawson wheat. Be¬ 
ing several years ago convinced of the value of this 
variety as a white winter wheat, he has taken pains to 
keep it pure and to introduce it to the attention of other 
wheat growers. The specimens, in both head and grain, 
warrant Mr. H’s. high opinion of it. He offers it to 
those who wish to test it on very moderate terms. 
Wheat on Poor Land.— “ J. II. T.,” Portage 
Co., Ohio. For a very poor soil, either of the special 
wheat manures made by Bowker & Co., or the Mapes 
Formula Co., could be used with the probability of 
success. It should be sown on harrowed ground, and 
harrowed in, after which the seed is to be sown. A wry 
popular wheat is the Clawson. Fall wheat should be 
sown about the middle of September, or later where the 
fly is feared. Clover may be sown until early in the 
spring, or about the first of August, which some prefer 
as the best time. 
Experiments with Wheat. —Last spring the 
American Agricutiumt inaugurated some important farm 
experiments with fertilizers, which created a great in¬ 
terest, and are being carried out by a large number of 
farmers in various sections of the country, aud with quite 
satisfactory results thus far. We are pleased to learn 
that this good work is to be continued by at least one 
prominent fertilizer house. The Mapes Fertilizer Com¬ 
pany have arranged a “ Complete Manure ” set, on a sim¬ 
ple and easily understood plan, which they offer to send to 
farmers at a merely nominal cost, as compared with the 
work and expense involved, especially for trial this fall 
on wheat, rye, and grass. There are four bags in the set, 
of a uniform size of 50 lbs. each, to be used on uni¬ 
form sized plots. No. 1 is a complete fertilizer, contain¬ 
ing nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash; Nos. 2, 3, and 
4, are the same as No. 1, save that the nitrogen is left out 
in one, phosphoric acid in another, and potash in the 
last, thus covering the ground in a simple manner. These 
experiments, while they may not tell just what and how 
much any particular soil lacks, aud must be continued! 
perhaps for years in order to reach any definite results, are- 
instructive aud valuable for any farmer to try, as they 
familiarize him with the substances employed, and teach 
many principles in the use of artificial fertilizers, which 
are fast becoming a necessity in American agriculture.. 
Reliable Business Men, those who have- 
both the ability aud the intention to do what they 
promise, are the only ones invited to use the business- 
pages of this journal, and those in charge of that depart¬ 
ment are under positive instructions to admit no others 
at any price, and they try to live up to it, and generally 
do, though once in a while they may make a mistake—to 
err is human—but this seldom occurs. We could make a 
fortune in a single year, and supply the paper at lower 
rates, if the advertising pages were thrown open to those 
who gladly pay high prices, as they can afford to, 
because they give little for much. But we mean our ad¬ 
vertising pages shall be a valuable source of trushvm'lhy 
information to our readers.—When ordering from, or cor¬ 
responding with any of our advertisers, or sending for 
catalogues, etc., it is well to state that you are a reader 
of this Journal. They will know what we expect, and 
what you expect of them as to prompt and fair treatment. 
Ashton’* Factory-Filled Salt.— There are- 
certain products which have a world-wide reputation; 
this has been established by observing through a long- 
series of years a uniformly high standard of excellence. 
Among the various brands of Salt in the market, none- 
has, to say the least, a better reputation among dairymen 
than the Ashton, and this has been acquired by preserv¬ 
ing a high quality as to purity—and, what is of equal im¬ 
portance, a uniform texture as to grain. But our present 
object is not to extol the quality of the Ashton salt—a 
task as useless as to praise Day & Martin’s Blacking, or 
Crosse & Blackwell’s Worcestershire Sauce—articles to- 
be found in every port in the world. The reputation of 
this stilt was made many years ago, and its excellence has 
been frequently alluded to. in.these.columns. The object 
of the present notice is to call the attention of those who 
have found the sacks of 250 lbs., in which this salt could 
heretofore only be obtained, inconveniently large, to the 
fact that it is now put up in small bags of 66 lbs. each, 
and the small dairyman can now purchase the salt in¬ 
quantities suited to his needs, and of a quality guaranteed; 
to be equal to that in the larger sacks. 
An Interesting Excursion.— Our readers can¬ 
not spend their leisure more pleasantly than in visiting re¬ 
gions whose magnificent imposing scenery enlarges one’s 
ideas, lifts him, so to speak, out of himself, and carries 
him nearer to the Creator, through a contemplation of His 
wonderful works. Excursions are now arranged by the 
various public thoroughfares at so reasonable rates, that 
the farmers, after the labors of the harvest are ended, and 
at other periods, when work does not press, can take their 
families on jaunts of a few days for a comparatively small 
outlay. . There.is no locality in the Middle States which 
presents more magnificent natural -scenery, more objects^ 
of interest aud instruction, than what is known as the 
Lehigh mining region of Pennsylvania, extending from 
Bethlehem through the Lehigh Valley to Wilkesbarre- 
Two of our associates have this week returned from a 
visit thither. One of them, after travelling eight thousand 
miles through the Rocky Mountains and the far Western. 
States and Territories, says that he nowhere found more- 
imposing and romantic scenery, than he has now met 
with during his last week’s jaunt in the Lehigh Valley. 
There are numerous railroad routes which convey visitors 
to this region, whether coming from the East or West.. 
Two entire days should be spent.at Mauch Chunk, where 
the Coal Mines, the “ Switch Back” Railroad, Mt. Pis- 
gali, Mt. Jefferson, Panther Creek Gorge, Onoko Glen,, 
with its innumerable cascades and waterfalls, and many 
other points of attraction, afford a succession of gratifying- 
surprises for the tourist. 
The Interesting- Market Tables, 1 to 5 r 
on page 285, are, as usual, instructive—especially Table 3. 
The exports of Wheat since Jan. 1, have been nearly 
six times greater than last year, or 23,216,000 bushels 
against 4,640,064. Taking the flour as wheat, (5 bushels 
to the barrel), the excess this year is 22,443,881 bushels,, 
or an excess of two million bushels over the greatest en¬ 
tire export for any season during six years previous. 
Many other figures in the several tables will repay care¬ 
ful study and comparison. 
Herding Slieep.—“ K.,” Half Day, HI. One man 
can herd 2,000 sheep upon the plains with the help of a 
boy and two dogs. To herd 1,000 will require as much 
help. There is no belter grain than corn for yield, ease? 
of growing, and for use in feeding sheep. One ear per 
sheep each day, or one pint of shelled grain, is sufficient, 
with fair pasturage. 
