AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
•455 
18 ^ 9 .] 
Horse-racing and Side-shows at Fairs.— 
It will, of course, be understood that our stated contrib¬ 
utor only expresses his own personal “ view of the case ” 
iu what he says on page 459. The stand always taken by 
this journal against all efforts to level down, or “ bolster 
up,” an agricultural exhibition by introducing horse- 
racing, or any questionable side-shows, is well known. 
The largest, and financially the most successful, County 
Fair we have attended this year was more of a horse 
racing exhibition than an agricultural fair, by far—and, 
generally, more than ever before, the largest attention 
and the highest premiums are bestowed upon a few fast 
trotters. Shall this go on until the agricultural part of 
such “ fairs ” ceaces to be of any importance whatever f 
The question is one of grave importance, and needs the 
caroful thought and the thorough discussions of the 
wisest heads, who look beyond mere immediate success. 
Poland-Chluas In Australia.— The D. M. 
Magie Company, Oxford, O., inform us that they have 
sent these swine, also called “ the Magie,” to Australia, 
and that the gentleman who received them reports that 
they took the three highest premiums at the great Metro¬ 
politan Exhibition of New South Wales. He also writes 
“ such grand swine ” as those sent him “ were never be¬ 
fore seen in Australia.” This breed is one of established 
value, and is becoming widely known. 
Tlie New Jersey State Fair.— This year’s Fair 
was regarded as the most successful ever held by the 
prosperous N. J. Society. Our visit was not on “ tho 
biggest day,” not caring for the “ Agricultural Horse 
Trot,” though we must agree with those who advocate it, 
that it does draw the people, and fill the treasury. A con¬ 
spicuous feature on the grounds was the Horticultural 
Hall, which was the large, well-filled “ tent on the hill,” 
under the superintendency of our good friend, P.T. Quinn. 
That this is a remarkable season for pears, was shown by 
the long tables loaded with this fruit, the favorite Bartlett 
leading in quantity, with scores of plates of very fine qual¬ 
ity. The Women’s Department was well filled with useful 
and ornamental articles, and the Poultry Pavilion con¬ 
tained much of interest. The Incubators were busy at 
their work, one of them having just turned out—not into 
a cold world, but a well protected little apartment—30 
chicks, with scores more well on the way. If things go 
on in this fashion, hens can soon give their whole atten¬ 
tion to the manufacture of eggs. But details can not be 
given. The fair was a success in more than one sense. 
New Farms—Immense Number.— The forth¬ 
coming annual report of the General Laud Office Com¬ 
missioner will show that during the two years ending 
July 1 last, no less than 15,817,093 acres of public 
lands were taken by actual settlers, fully nine-tenths un¬ 
der the free Homestead act, which allows the actual set¬ 
tlers to take 160 acres each, except in the alternate sec¬ 
tions of railroad land grants, where the amount is limited 
to 80 acres. The above 15,817,093 acres has therefore sup¬ 
plied at least 100,000 new farms to that number of 
persons. During the same period, there have also been 
very large sales of lands by the various railroad com¬ 
panies. Where the occupants of these new farms have 
left others further East, the land left has been occupied 
by others from still further East, or from Europe. It is 
probably safe to say that there are now some 250,000 more 
farms under cultivation than there were only two yenrs 
ago. During the previous three years, the new land 
taken up amounted to only 3,500,000 to 4,000,000 a year. 
The American Pomologlcal Society held 
its 17th biennial session at Rochester, N. Y., Sept. 17- 
lb last. The meoiings took place in a most convenient 
room in the City Hall, the gathering was large, and much 
was done to promote the objects of tho Society in the 
way of fixing the status of fruits, the reports on new 
varieties, etc. The specimens brought by the mem¬ 
bers were exhibited in an ample tent on the gronnds of 
the Western N. Y. Agricultural Society, which held its 
fair at the same time. This was, in one respect, a mis¬ 
take, the gronnds being some miles distant from the 
place of meeting, and one could not see the fruit without 
losing a meeting. After all, why should there be a gen¬ 
eral exhibition of fruit at the meetings of the Society? 
Every member knows the possibilities of Duchesse pears 
and Concord grapes. Let the exhibition be confined 
solely to new fruits, or to such specimens as settle dis¬ 
puted questions, or illustrate methods of culture, or some¬ 
thing of the kind, and leave the exhibition of old and 
well-known varieties to local societies. If this course were 
pursued, but very little room would suffice for such a^i 
exhibition, and the members could keep together. The 
members will receive the report of Transactions in the 
Annual Volume. Greatly to the regret of every one, the 
President, the Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, was detained at 
home by the severe accident we have already noticed; 
he, however, sent his annual address, which was read 
with muoh feeling by Dr. John A. Warder, Vice Presi¬ 
dent for Ohio, who presided for a part of the time. Aside 
from a Vice President for each State, the Constitution 
was amended to create tho office of First Vice President, 
to which P. Barry was elected, and who presided at the 
remaining meetings. Notwithstanding that Col. W. de¬ 
clined a re-election, he was unanimously and by acclama¬ 
tion rc-chosen to the office he has so long and so accept¬ 
ably filled ; besides the olection of lllr. P. Barry, of 
Rochester, as First Vice President, a Vice President 
from each State was chosen, and E. W. Buswell, of 
Massachusetts, was made Treasurer, and Robert Man¬ 
ning, Secretary. In the address of the President, the 
usual notices of the deaths of those who were, or had 
been, officially connected with the Society, were given, 
Tho list included the names of W. C. Flagg, of Illinois, 
Secretary at the time of his death; F. R. Elliott, of Ohio, 
a former Secretary; Silas Moore, Vice President for 
Rhode Island; Dr. A. P. Wylie, Vice President for South 
Carolina; and Dr. II. A. Swasey, Vice President for 
Louisiana. The attentions paid the Society by the citi¬ 
zens of Rochester, were in good taste and acceptable. 
The place for the next meeting will be fixed by the Pres¬ 
ident, in consultation with the Executive Committee. 
Typhoid F©Ter Among Swine.— This dis¬ 
ease, which is that known as hog cholera, is by no means 
an American disease, as is generally supposed. It is now 
prevalent in several places in England, and many dis¬ 
tricts where It occurs are isolated by the local authori¬ 
ties, in accordance with law. The affected animals are 
slaughtered, and an attempt is thus mado to prevent the 
spread of the disease. Unfortunately, this stamping out 
process is remarkably ineffective, and year after year the 
disease exists, and causes enormous losses. The only 
advantage from it seems to be to shift the loss from the 
shoulders, or pockets, of the owners of diseased stock to 
those of the public. The results of these long continued 
efforts to eradicate the disease, by the English Govern¬ 
ment, are well worth considering with reference to a 
similar course suggested here. 
Prairie Fires.—“Frank,” Ottawa Co., Kansas, 
writes that prairie fires are abundant, and do moro or less 
damage, but aro not so destructive as one would expect in 
view of the great exposure of property, and the general 
neglect to provide any safeguards. The usual remedy, or 
rather preventive, is to form fire-guards by bnrning strips 
or lanes of grass when it may bo safely done. A strip of 
prairie thus deprived of combustible material will act as 
a barrier to the fire. Our correspondent suggests that 
this matter should bo attended to by tho Government, 
which should organize the people into companies, with 
proper officers, to have general charge of the means of 
prevention. Organization of the people by themselves 
for this purpose would be a good thing, but the less tho 
Government has to do with such mattery the better. 
Vermont Merino Sheep Breeders’ Asso¬ 
ciation. —The officers of the above named Association 
are: N. T. Sprague, Brandon, President.; S. G. Holyoke, 
St, Albans, Vice-President; Ed. Stowell, Cornwall, 
Treasurer ; Albert Chapman, Middlebury, Secretary. A 
copy of the constitution, etc., may be had of the Secretary. 
Injury to a Cow’s Teat.— “T. C. P.,” Balti¬ 
more Co., Md. Cow's teats are frequently injured by their 
being trodden on in tho stable, and by other accidents. 
In treating these, it is well to insert a milking tube in the 
injured teat, both to draw off the milk and furnish a stiff 
foundation for the healing process. The cut parts may 
be brought together with sntures, and should be well 
strapped with sticking-plaster cut into narrow strips, and 
well supported by covering tho sound parts with the 
strips as well as the wonnded portions. When thus 
treated, there is no danger of the misplacement of the 
parts, and as the milk flows away through the tube, there 
is no inflammatory action from its retention. 
The 84 National Agricultural Congress” 
met at Rochester, N.Y., on Sept. 16, and was held for three 
days.—“ How many members are here ? ” we asked of 
one of its principal officers.—“I don’t know,” was the 
reply.—“ Are there fifty ? ”—“ I could not say, but prob¬ 
ably not.”—Here were less than 50 men, probably not 
over 30, who convened as a “ National Congress ”—not 
more than would make up a respectable Farmers’ Club. 
Now we would not say one word against the gentlemen 
who assembled under this oppressive name, “ National,” 
for we know that among them were some of tho veiy 
best men that we have—men who would make any as¬ 
sembly respectable and to be respected—but there are 
not enough of them to be “ National.” This Association 
has tho beginning of a society or body which has great 
possibilities, but so long as it consists of a mere handful 
of members, it has no proper claim to bo considered 
“National.” It would be a good—a most excellent 
thing, if the leading agriculturists from every State could 
come together annually and discuss agricultural topics. 
Can this be done ? A nucleus, however small, is of great 
Use in gathering others to itself. Can ibis present body 
do this? If it can, then we are heartily in favor of it 
But if it is to continue as a select club, wherein one shall 
show how ho increased the length of the parsnips, or 
another shall show how much Joneses’ “ High Old Super- 
whats-its-nanie ” helped the pumpkin crop, the sooner it 
ceases to call itself “ National ” tho better. We should 
like to see a “National Agricultural Congress,” but it is,so 
far as present indications go, among tho things hoped for. 
Illinois Farm Products.— We see estimates 
that the farm products of this great agricultural State 
will amount to $200,000,000 for the present year, which 
seems to be a fair calculation, as the total area amounts 
to 55,410 square miles, or 35,462,400 acres, and a large pro¬ 
portion of it is iu productive cultivation or pasturage. 
An average yield of $5f per acre, for all the land, would 
be $200,000,000—which is double the products of all the 
gold and silver mines of the entire country. 
A Simple Protection for metallic surfaces, as of 
plows, aud indeed of all other implements, tools, and 
many household articles, is a mixture of say a pint of 
lard and a piece of rosin (resin) the size of an egg, melt¬ 
ed with it. This supplies a sort of cheap varnish that 
may be rubbed on with a cloth very thinly. The rosin 
will shut out air and moisture, and keep the surface 
bright. Steel knives and forks kept laid away for occa¬ 
sional use, if smeared with the thinnest film of this mix- 
ture, and wiped nearly clean, will be saved from rust 
The coat is quickly removed by dipping in hot water, 
and wiping, when they are brought out for use. This 
appliGB to all metal surfaces, steel, iron, brass, etc. 
The American Veterinary College.— Doct. 
Liautard and his associates, who have these many years 
struggled against various difficulties in their efforts in 
behalf of Veterinary Education, must have been especial¬ 
ly gratified on the evening of Oct. 7th. On this occasion 
the College conrsc for 1879-80 was opened, and the new 
lecture room was first occupied. To see this room filled 
with a large and intelligent audience, assembled to hear 
addresses by Profs. T. A. Lyons and A. W Stern, who 
opened the conrse, indicated an interest in Veterinary 
Education that must have been gratifying and encourag¬ 
ing. We are glad to know that the College opens with a 
much larger class than on any former year, and that it 
includes a largo number of well educated young men. 
Tomatoes Rotting.— Complaints havo come 
from Long Island, from Northern New Jersey, and lastly 
from Oregon, that there is great loss among tomatoes 
from a trouble which all agree in calling, “the Tomato 
Rot.” Several years ago a similar complaint came from 
Westchester Co., N. Y., but we have since heard no more 
from that locality. It is now too late to learn anything 
about, the trouble this year, but w r e would ask our friends, 
wherever it may occur next year, to watch their plants, 
and on the very first appearance of the rot, to send speci¬ 
mens. In all such troubles, the first step is to learn tho 
nature of the disease. In sending specimens, slate the 
variety of tomato, and if tomatoes havo been previously 
grown on the same soil. Also how long the disease has 
been known, and tho causes assigned forit in the locality. 
As our Oregon correspondent informs ns that his entire 
crop is lost, the matter becomes one of serious importance. 
The N. Y. Horticultural Society.— The au¬ 
tumn show of this Society came oft’ Sept. 17-19, at Mad¬ 
ison Square Garden, when this spacious building again 
manifested its peculiar fitness for such an Exhibition. 
We can not enumerate all that was exhibited, but note 
some of the most striking features. In the way of flow¬ 
ers and green-house plants, the S. B. Parsons’ Sons Co., 
of Kissena Nurseries, Flushing, L. I., made a fine display, 
as did W. C. Wilson & Co., N. Y. and Astoria, L. I. This 
firm took first premium for the best new plant, Olebachla 
2Xiluetris, and for a window garden-box, attractively filled 
with Caladiums, Marantas, Ivies, and other plants ; the 
same firm had an excellent Wardian case. Louis Me- 
naud, of Albany, whose collections are very sure to merit 
prizes, carried oil' several for Agaves (12 species), Cacti 
(50 species), and Succulents (25species), all in the perfec¬ 
tion of growth. The basin of the fountain allowed of the 
exhibition of several rare aquatics, among which were a 
Neluitibium speciosum, with light purple flowers 8-10 inch¬ 
es across, exhibited by E. D. Stnrtevant, Bordentown, N. 
J., who also had Nymphcm Devoniensis and others. 
Among Palme, J. T. Kennedy, Flatbush, L. I., took the 
premium for the best single specimen., as did Woolson 
& Co., Passaic, N. J., for the best collection of Hardy 
Herbaceous Perennials, of which they iiad 160. The best 
cut-flower prize was taken by Peter Henderson, of 35 
Cortlandt St., and a remarkably rich collection of new 
and rare plants came from John S. Bush, Tremont, N. Y, 
James Vick, of Rochester, N. Y., carried off the prize 
in Gladioluses. The rare Australian Stenocarpns Cun- 
TiingktZTnUvttis shown by Chas. Parnell. Bouquets, floral 
designs, baskets of dried flowers, grasses, etc., were as 
