AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
131 
1879 .] ‘ 
Three Months Yet. 
The Gist of Good and. Valuable Premlam 
Articles Is still open, and will be so for 
three months longer. The month of April 
Is a good time for completing Clubs which 
may have already been begun, and for 
making up new Clubs, large or small. 
Remember that it costs no money, and 
takes but little time to secure one or more 
of these valuable Premiums. We can 
not spare space to give even the cata¬ 
logue of the articles, but will be 
happy to send a list, with full descrip¬ 
tion of each article offtered, to any and 
every one desiring It, who will simply 
give us his or her address by postal card, 
and say on it, “Send me Illustrated Pre¬ 
mium hist.” Over 20,000 of our readers 
have received these premium articles 
with great satisfaction. Thousands may 
do the same THIS MONTH. 
The New Compound Microscope. 
A Most Valuable Instrument at a Very 
how Price.—It has a heavy Iron Stand; 
the Body turns on pivot to any position 
from perpendicular to horizontal; has 
finely working Rack and Pinion for 
adjusting focal distances; double lens 
Eye-Piece, working in draw-tube; two 
excellent Object Glasses, to be used sin¬ 
gly or together, and nearly achromatic ; 
fine large hard-rubber Stage, with dia- 
pliraglim having different apertures; Mir¬ 
ror adjustable below and above for trans¬ 
parent or opaque objects—in short, for al¬ 
most all practical purposes, it is as valu¬ 
able as tlie S50 to $100 instruments. It 
has a magnifying power up to 125 diame¬ 
ters, and a most valuable Camera hucida. 
We have now succeeded in securing; a Compound 
Microscope, that will surely give great satisfaction 
to all who can use any such instrument. It is a wonder¬ 
ful combination of the important elements of an instru¬ 
ment costing five to ten times the price at which this will 
be supplied. A Camera Lucida attached enables one to 
throw upon paper a greatly magnified image of objects 
invisible or nearly so to the unaided eye, and to sketch 
them accurately. Thus, for example, the foot of a fly or 
other small insect can be thrown upon paper and be 
sketched as large as one’s hand.—We know of notfling 
else that would afford such a perpetual source of interest 
and instruction, to young and old. We can not spare 
the space to give anything like a full description of it, bat 
we will send to any one desiring , a descriptive illustrated 
pamphlet. It is recommended in the highest terms by 
such eminent men as Prof. Gray, of Harvard, and others. 
Prof. Spencer F. Baird, Secretary of the Smithsonian 
Institute, happening to see one of these Microscopes, 
expressed the highest satisfaction with its working, and 
immediately purchased one for the Institution. 
Last year we offered a “Simple Microscope” 
to our readers, at a low rate, much less than its actual 
cost to ns, though it was manufactured in large 
lots (5,000 to 25,000) with newly devised machinery that 
reduced the work very greatly. It was only offered as a 
Simple , 3-lens Microscope, and it gave great satisfaction 
to many tens of thousands of people. After thorough 
testing, it was adopted for classes in Colleges, Semi¬ 
naries, Academies, etc., and it is largely sold now, at $1.50 
retail. (We supply it to our subscribers wanting it this 
year for 50 cents at the office, or 70 cents delivered free 
anywhere in the United States. To all others than actual 
subscribers the price is $1.50.)-But a few subscribers 
were disappointed in it. Some had formed exaggerated 
and unwarranted expectations; they expected to simply 
look into it and see monsters. Others, through lack of 
mechanical skill, and especially from failure to carefully 
study and apply the directions , did not learn how to use 
it, and appreciate its merits, and laid it aside in disgust. 
This was their fault, and not ours. Wo can show any one 
that it was and is all that was claimed for it, and more ; 
tiiat it is more convenient and effective for good use and 
service than anything ever before offered for live times 
the money. We hope all who failed to value it highly, will 
again get out the chapter of directions that accompanied 
each instrument, (or send a stamp for a new one if the 
former one was lost,) and study the working of the instru¬ 
ment until they learn its value. Every one of these Sim¬ 
ple Microscopes ought to be in frequent use; every 
one of them should be affording enjoyment and profit. 
containing a great variety of Items , inc’vding many 
good Hints and Suggestions which we throw into smaller 
type and condensed form , for want of room elsewhere. 
This Paper Contains: 
Two important chapters on fertilizers and experiments, 
pages 127-129, deserve immediate attention, as early ac¬ 
tion should he taken.... Two Garden items, page 141, to 
be examined and thought about at once; also Green 
Peas and plenty of them, see page 144. Look after the 
Salsify, page 145. While turning to these, some garden 
implements will be noted on page 142, etc... .The “ One 
Grapevine,” page 145, is important to everybody not al¬ 
ready supplied_As to flowers, see Flowering Black¬ 
berry, page 143; the P®ony, page 144, and the Star 
Anemone, page 145. .. The difference between bul¬ 
lock beef, and well fed, is similar to that between 
some ordinary poultry and nice Capons; but ca¬ 
pons are as easily produced as steers, and how to 
do it is fully explained on page 139... .Guernsey 
Cattle and their characteristics are clearly described, 
with illustrations, page 135_Sundry hints and helps to 
farmers and others, with numerous engravings, on pages 
137, 138, 139, 140, 141, etc_Wood-carving at home is 
becoming popular among ladies just now; our new con¬ 
tributor, “M. G. E.,” begins a talk on the subject, page 
145....Housekeepers will find their specialties on pages 
146-7_The “Doctor” is leading the little folks, and 
doubtless not a few of larger growth, in some of the sim¬ 
ple paths of useful knowledge, pages 148-9 ...The 
“House-Fly,” its origin, mode of life, etc., etc., are 
brought to your acquaintance on page 149 .. Pearls, 
where they come from, and how, will be enjoyed by all 
who are not familiar with the snbject, as few are. See 
page 150_The “ Metric System ” of weights and meas¬ 
ures will be the system everywhere, as soon as the mass 
of people understand its simplicity and value. It is 
fully explained on page 148....“ Prickly Coinfrey ” bids 
fair to become a staple fodder crop. See page 130, and 
the previous two papers_The first page speaks for 
itself, in the picture and description of an interesting 
breed of poultry_The Hints on Work for the Month, 
for farm, garden, orchard, etc., will be reminders of some 
things that might he omitted or neglected, and probably 
afford new suggestions to some at least_A fine Com¬ 
pound Microscope is offered. Several illustrated articles 
are crowded upon page 134_Prof. Atwater gives some 
lessons from last year’s Farm Experiments on p. 129_ 
Many other useful items will be found scattered through 
the pages_See “Three Months Yet,” on this page. 
If You Want Anything not yet provided for 
the Spring—any seeds, plants, trees, implements, or 
anything else, almost—it will be well to look through the 
business pages of this paper. The April number is al¬ 
ways crowded more than any other month, and more 
this year than before since the panic of 1873—one of the 
indications of reviving business activity. Wehave added 
4 extra pages (48 in all) to make room for these without 
trenchingupon the readingcolumns. Ourreaders will find 
the business cards of a great number of trustworthy deal¬ 
ers; we try to admit no others—hard as it is in these times 
—when ev.erybody wants a paper below cost—to send away 
large sums offered for advertisers and advertisements 
that stand just on the dividing line between reliable 
and questionable, and which come endorsed as “ad¬ 
mitted into the religious papers, etc.” It is, of course, 
pleasurable to show the door to recognized swindlers, 
quacks, qnack medicines, and the like. 
If You Don’t Want Anything, still it will 
always pay to go all through the advertisements, to see 
what is offered, how it is offered, when and by whom, at 
what price, etc. One can hardly do this, without gather¬ 
ing, insensibly perhaps, some hints and suggestions that 
will be useful in the end. Multitudes of new inventions 
and new thoughts have originated from reading over 
what others have done and are doing. As a source of 
general information, the business columns, filled with a 
great variety of descriptions, etc., are often as useful as 
the reading pages.... We repeat the standing suggestion, 
that in writing to any of t hose men, or ordering, or send¬ 
ing for catalogues, circulars, or information, it is well to 
let them know that you belong to the great, wide-awake 
American Agriculturist family. It will please advertisers 
and perhaps stimulate them to extra care in pleasing you. 
“Get the Mud Dry First.”— Here is a capital 
lesson that may well be impressed upon the memory of 
both young and old : Mr. Spurgeon, in walking a little way 
out of London to preach, chanced to get his pantaloons 
quite muddy. A good deacon met him at the door and 
desired to get a brush and take oft' some of the mud. 
“Oh, no,” said Mr. S., “don’t you see it is wet, and if 
you try to brush it now, you will rub the stain into the 
cloth ? Let it dry, when it will come off' easy enough and 
leave no mark." So, when men speak evil of us falsely— 
throw mud at us—don’t be in a hurry about brushing it 
off. Too great eagerness to rub it off, is apt to rub it 
in. Let it dry: by and by, if need be, a little effort will 
remove it. Don’t foster scandal about yourself or others, 
or trouble in a society, or in a church, by haste to do 
something. Let it alone; let it dry; it will be more 
easily eradicated than you think in the first heat of ex¬ 
citement. Time has a wonderful power in sugIi matters. 
Very many things in this world will be easily got over 
by judiciously “letting them dry.” 
A Milk and. Rutter Record.— The great and 
rapidly growingdairy interests of this country, have been 
several times spoken of and illustrated in recent numbers 
of this journal. As the success of farming depends 
largely upon having good land, and of manufacturing 
upon having good machines, so the success of dairying 
depends a great deal upon having good cows. The cow is 
the machine that changes grass attd other feed into butter 
and cheese. While some cows will scarcely do more than 
pay their keeping, if they do that, others are very profita¬ 
ble, because they have the ability to produce double 
the result from the same feed and care. The im¬ 
provement of our herds of cows, is, therefore, one of the 
more important subjects now before American farmers. 
Our contributor, “ Among the Farmers,” gives sugges¬ 
tions on this topic (p. 136), that will be read with interest. 
A Most Desirable Residence, with very su¬ 
perior Educational advantages and Society; fine surround¬ 
ings; in a delightful New England City-town; a capacious, 
first-class Residence, etc.—acres, within; but over¬ 
looking the City, and with splendid views. To Rent, 
Well-Furnished, to desirable Family, on very reasonable 
terms, for a year, more or less; or for sale low on easy 
payments. Address “ New England,” care of this office. 
Tli© Kansas City Rook and News Com¬ 
pany, of Kansas City, Mo , supply the publications of 
the Orange Judd Company in Missouri, Kansas. Arkan¬ 
sas, and adjacent States and Territories. Not only those 
who are already on the ground, but the large nnmbers of 
new settlers who arc now emigrating to that region, will 
find these Agricultural publications of a very valuable 
character. Every farmer going to Kansas City should 
visit the City Book and News Company, and inspect the 
Agricultural publications there. 
The American Plant-Rook, by Harlan H. 
Ballard and S. Proctor Thayer, is a valuable book for 
the convenient preservation and analysis of pressed 
flowers, ferns, leaves, and grasses. It gives explicit di¬ 
rections for gathering, pressing, and mounting, and will 
be found exceedingly useful for those fond of work of 
this kind. Daniel Slote & Co., New York, publishers. 
Information about Slioep.— “ W. W,,” Lyon 
Co., Minn. To give the history of several breeds of sheep 
in these columns, would be obviously impossible. That 
information can be procured in full in Stewart’s Shep¬ 
herd’s Manual, in which the various breeds and crossing 
them for the purpose of improvement are discussed. 
Lambs in Market.- “ A. B.,” Beaver Co., Pa. 
A lamb is a lamb in the market, until it is a year old, or 
until the spring lambs of the next season arrive ; the price 
of the new arrivals is then the highest, and quotations 
gradually fall until in winter they are the same as for 
sheep. A fat lamb may come from Virginia or Kentucky, 
without appearing gaunt or empty; thin ones cannot. 
The Great Walking Match, so-called, though 
the contestants walked or ran as they preferred, and did 
both, has excited no little attention throughout the 
country. Enough people about New York were inter¬ 
ested, to pay $51,009 gate-money. If such contests would 
result in getting all into a regular and continued habit of 
healthful exercise in walking, the effect would be bene¬ 
ficial. We attribute not a little of our health and muscu¬ 
lar vigor of later years, to such walking as is afforded by 
following a smart pair of horses drawing a harrow, all 
