4.02 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[November, 
PREMIUM ARTICLES FOR SALE 
To Our Readers. 
The articles described on pages 439 to448, are intended 
for premiums or presents to those who gather and for¬ 
ward subscriptions, and until last year, were confiued 
solely to this. But in response to many requests, always 
coming, we have arranged to supply most of the articles 
described, to such of our readers as may not desire, or 
may not have the opportunity, to obtain them through 
the subscription offers. This applies to all our readers, 
and especially to those living remote from regular deal¬ 
ers, and to those who may wish our judgment in select¬ 
ing and guaranteeing the good quality of the articles. A 
note will be found at the end of the description of each 
article that can be so supplied, stating the cash price; or 
the price may be found in the table on page 439. A para¬ 
graph at the bottom of that table, tells which articles 
are delivered with postage or express charges prepaid. 
Extra Numbers Free. 
All new Subscribers now received for 1879, are en¬ 
tered at once on the mail books, to receive the paper up to 
the end of 1879 for only one years’ subscription price. Wo 
print a lot of extra copies.pf this November Num¬ 
ber, and for the first 8 or 10 days of the month will for¬ 
ward one of these to new names received, if the extra 
copies hold out so long. After these are exhausted, or 
after November 10, new subscribers for 1879 coming in 
during November, will receive the December number 
free. This offer will aid those beginning at once to 
make np Premium Clubs. 
THE EDITORS call special attention to the Pub¬ 
lishers’ announcements on pages 439-448. It will be well 
to read through those pages ...As Editors, we 
promise to spare no effort to meet the wishes of the 
Publishers, to have the American Agriculturist for the 
coming year exceedingly valuable to ali, its readers. 
We trust they will agree with us, that a Journal like this, 
going into a family for a year, will not only exert a 
healthful influence in stimulating thought and improve¬ 
ment, aud thus elevate the mind standard of all culti¬ 
vators of the soil, and of others too; but that it will also 
help guard against errors, against imposition, and assist 
all to make their labor more profitable. With this view, 
we invite all to lend a kind influence in making this 
journal even more widely known, aud in drawing to it 
as readers, many who are now without its visits. This 
we ask as a friendly favor, aside from the rewards which 
the Publishers offer on an unusually liberal scale. 
Tlie Microscope Still Available.— The offer 
of the American Agriculturist Microscope , extended all 
throngh the year 1S78. Every subscriber entered on our 
books, prior to Dec. 31, is entitled to one, on payment of 
40 cents if it be taken at the oflice, or 60 cents if the mi¬ 
croscope is to be delivered free anywhere in the United 
States or Territories. The price to non-subscribers is 
reduced to $1.00 at the office, or $1.20 if delivered free. 
No other Microscope equals it in value for the price. 
The “American Agriculturist” for tlie 
West.—Though this journal has now, as for many 
years past, a very large circulation all over the West, and 
is highly prized there, we propose to give more atten¬ 
tion to the special features of prairie farming and West¬ 
ern culture generally, for two reasons. First , for the 
benefit of our Western readers themselves, and, second , 
because there is a remarkable increased interest in farm¬ 
ing in the West by people all over the Eastern States, 
and they are anxious to know all about it. The hard 
times, affecting especially the manufacturing and min¬ 
ing districts of the older States, have turned the atten¬ 
tion of hundreds of thousands to the broad, fertile, and 
Btill unoccupied fields between the Mississippi and the 
Pacific Ocean. As noted elsewhere, one of our staff is 
now on an extended Western tour, accompanied by an 
artist. Some of his general notes are given on pages 410 
-411, and we are making arrangements for new editorial 
associates living and working on the Western fields. 
This will not diminish, but rather increase the value of 
the paper to all the older regions of the country. In¬ 
deed, the principles of cultivating, of feeding, of fruit¬ 
growing, of mechanics applied to implements, are tlie 
same everywhere. The specific practices applying only 
to particular localities are few, and every section of the 
country can learn somethiug useful from every other. 
This Journal, as indicated by its name, is for America 
as a whole , as well as for other lands. 
Every German Cultivator and Laborer 
on tlie Farm, or in tlie Garden, OUGHT 
to have the German American Agriculturist , and thou¬ 
sands of new subscribers are taking it this year. It 
contains not only the Engravings and all the essential 
reading matter of the American edition, but an additional 
S]>ecial German Department, edited by the Hon. Frederick 
Munch, of Missouri, a skillful, successful cultivator and 
excellent writer. No other German Agricultural or Horti¬ 
cultural Journal i n America has been so long issned,or con¬ 
tains so much useful information and so many engravings. 
Tlie “Defiance” Spring Wheat is coming 
to the front, if the trials, so far reported, in competition 
for the prizes offered by Messrs. B. K. Bliss & Sons, are a 
fair indication. We condense a few of the reports—all 
sworn statements: (1) California—16 ounces sown in 
drills 8 inches apart; y 64 of an acre area; 3 tons barn¬ 
yard manure applied; yield, 316 lbs., equal to 337 bushels 
per acre_(2) Colorado—16 ounces sown ; yield, 240 lbs. 
.(3) Colorado—14 ounces sown; area, 29x137 ft.: 
yield, 290 lbs_(4) Vermont—16 ounces sown thickly on 
damp land; yield, 50 lbs., some of the heads 7 inches 
long_These reports show that this is a superior variety 
of spring wheat, and also what is possible in wheat yields 
under the highest cultivation. Beference to page 447 will 
show that the Publishers have secured a quantity of this 
valuable variety of spring wheat for distribution. 
A WIiipple-Tree Guide is advertised by the 
Semple & Birge Manufacturing Company of St. Louis, 
Mo., which appears to be valuable for wagons and other 
implements drawn by two horses. It consists of chains 
connecting the double-tree directly with the front axle, 
for the purpose of taking the strain of an obstruction to 
one of the wheels and dividing it between the horses, in¬ 
stead of allowing the pole and an undue proportion of the 
strain to press upon one horse. This “ Guide” has been 
adopted by many large Western wagon manufacturers. 
Tlie American Veterinary College opened 
Oct. 5th with a new class of 20, and indications of a total 
attendance this year of about 50 students, an increase of 
60 per cent over the last session. We are glad to see this 
evidence of a growing interest in veterinary education. 
Jersey-Ayrshire Sale.— Mr. Thomas Fitch, New 
London, Conn., announces a sale of the cross-bred Jcrsey- 
Ayrshirc stock, Nov. 7th. See page 437 for particulars. 
Saint Nicholas. —After the failure of so many 
journals for young people, it was a great risk for Scrib¬ 
ner & Co., to undertake a first-class children’s monthly. 
But in selecting Mrs. Mary Mapes Dodge as Editor, suc¬ 
cess was sure to follow. If there was ever a person 
adapted to fill a particular place, it is this lady in her 
fitness to fill the position she now occupies. Mrs. 
Dodge’s great success is due to the fact that — every other 
qualification being present—her heart (and a large one it 
is), is in her work. To say that 11 St. Nicholas ” is the 
best children’s journal now published, is to say what 
every one familiar with it knows. If there is any way 
of making it better than it now is, Mrs. Dodge is just 
the one to find it out—and then to “go and do it.” 
Scribner’s Monthly is always a welcome visi¬ 
tor. It is a curions fact, that although, there are some 
half dozen of what may be regarded as first-class 
monthly magazines, they are essentially unlike,each hav¬ 
ing its peculiar features. Scribners’, while not neglect¬ 
ing general literature, including fiction, always has one 
or more articles showing how things arc done, which 
are instructive as well as pleasing. Au example of what 
we mean, is found in the last (October) number, in the 
article on “The Art Schools of New York,” in which 
the reader is taken “ behind the scenes” and shown the 
various methods of instruction. In the matter of engrav¬ 
ings, Scribner, if equalled, is not excelled by any other 
journal, many of its illustrations being wonderful for 
their beauty. We are glad to learn that this excellent 
monthly meets with the success it so well deserves. 
Pneumonia in a Heifer.— “M. S. G.,” Mor¬ 
ristown, N. J. Pneumonia is now frequent among cattle 
in parts of New Jersey, and it is probable that your heifer 
is suffering from it. On the first attack take special care 
of the animal; protect from heat as well as cold; pro¬ 
vide pure air and clean stable; nurse well; wrap a rug 
around the fore part of the body, and give warm slops of 
linseed or oatmeal. Tf fever is present give one ounce 
of saltpetre in a bran mash. If worse symptoms occur, 
either call in a veterinary surgeon, or follow the direc¬ 
tions given in some good veterinary work. 
The Chicago Fat Stock Show, to be held by 
the Illinois State Board of Agriculture, at Chicago, Dec. 
2d to 7th, promises to bean interesting exhibition, and 
a profitable one for the farmers. In view of tlie increas¬ 
ing interest in and demand for meat products, such shows 
as this are of special importance, and deserve success. 
Cattle, sheep, swine, and poultry are included, and the 
premiums are liberal and numerous. Most of the rail¬ 
roads centering at Chicago will make reductions in 
freight rates for the occasion. 
“Twenty-five Cent Dinners for Fami¬ 
lies of Six,” by Miss Juliet Corson, Sup't of the N. 
Y. Cooking School.—Most of us have learned by experi¬ 
ence, that a costly dinner is not necessarily a good one, 
and it is equally true that a cheap dinner need not be a 
poor one. Miss Corson, in her book with the above 
title, undertakes to show that a good dinner can be 
made for that sum, not only for one person, but for a 
family of six, comprising the two parents and four chil¬ 
dren of the usual ages and appetites. To provide a din 
ner for this price, not only must Miss Corson’s directions 
for cooking it be followed, but also those for buying 
the materials. Miss Corson is doing a good work ; while 
she teaches the wives and daughters of the wealthy to 
make Poulet a la Marengo and Omelet Souflce , she does 
not forget that the wives and children of the laboring 
men need to be taught how to make a Beefsteak Pie ora 
good Pudding. Some months ago, we gave a notice of 
Miss C.’s, ■“ Twenty-five Cent Dinners,” aud later ex¬ 
perience with the work has increased our appreciation of 
it. The object of the work is to teach the wife of the 
laboring man and of others with a small income, how to 
live well. To this end, she shows how to buy and how to 
cook the materials when bought, in the most economical 
manner. It is poor economy to put a piece of meat 
in the oven and dry it to three-fourths or two-thirds of 
its bulk. There are much better methods pointed out m 
this little work. European nations have long ago learned 
the value of soups and broths, and there is no reason 
why these should not be common among us; the intro¬ 
duction of these is one of the important features of this 
work. Another is the introduction of kinds of food 
that, while cheap and nutritious, can be served in various 
styles, and should be oftener seen upon the tables of 
the more prosperous,, as well as of those who count the 
cost. Among these, are split peas, lentils and maccaroni 
—articles affording, the most concentrated nourishment, 
at a low price, but with us regarded as luxuries for 
the wealthy, rather than every-day food for everybody. 
So well convinced are we of the utility of Miss Corson’s 
“Twenty-five Cent Dinners,” that we have arranged 
with her for the publication of an enlarged edition ; 
it is now in preparation, will be issued shortly, and 
sent by mail, post-paid, for 25c. We can commend this 
little work to every family, especially to farmers’ fam¬ 
ilies, who will find here the methods of cooking the 
articles of food furnished by the farm, in a variety of 
acceptable forms. Most farmers have a great abundance, 
but their tables lack variety, and to this end, Miss Cor¬ 
son’s little work will be found full of useful hints. 
Wire Mattresses. —Many years ago we received 
one of the first wire mattresses that were made. We 
found it a great comfort, and gradually all the beds were 
changed from the old style -with wooden slats to the com¬ 
fort-giving wire substitute. We regard the wire mat¬ 
tress as one of the great improvements of the century in 
the way of house-furnishing. Since the first attempts, 
great improvements have been made, and wo find our 
latest investment in one of the mattresses made by the 
National Wire Mattress Co., New Britain, Conn., to be 
vastly better than the earlier articles of this kind. 
Silver Plate.— There are some articles, the quality 
of which can not be judged of by mere inspection, and 
prominent among these is silver plate. The loss by care 
less servants, and the temptation to thieves is so great, 
that many families who can well afford solid silver for 
their table ware, use plated ware in preference. Burg¬ 
lars arc good judges, and they will not be at the trouble 
of carrying off plated articles. In purchasing such ware, 
the most shrewd can not distinguish between that which 
has a mere film of silver and that which has a good, ser¬ 
viceable coating; the sole reliance must be upon the rep¬ 
utation of the maker. The New England Silver Plate 
Co., New’ Haven, have the reputation of making articles 
that are just what they represent them to be—as good as 
can be furnished at the price. 
Tlie Rubber-cushioned Axle is a simple 
contrivance by which the axle is cushioned within the 
hub with rubber. Its objectis to prevent the jarring and 
noise produced when the axle is in direct contact with 
the hub, and is used by some of the first carriage mak¬ 
ers in the country. The testimony of well known per¬ 
sons who have this invention in use, would seem 
to demonstrate that it will do what is claimed for it. 
