1879.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
253 
“Grass In tSie Market. ’’—“The quality of 
‘ grass ’ depends much upon the wayit is grown. Good 
‘grass' must not be cut too old. The canning of ‘ grass ’ 
is a large and paying business, and the ‘grass ’ so put 
up is as nice as fresh ‘grass.’ “—Such is, essentially, a 
conversation we recently overheard between the proprie¬ 
tor of a New York commission house and a fellow mer¬ 
chant who does not deal in “ grass.’’ While in England 
it is customary to say “Sparrow-grass,” in our markets 
the “ sparrow” is generally cut off, and we have “grass” 
pure and simple, thus doing great injustice to the bird. 
We have heard it claimed that Asparagus was a corrup¬ 
tion of “ Sparrow-grass,” hence those who are choice as 
to their language are careful to give emphasis to “ Spar¬ 
row”—as some, are particular to say “ koo-cumber," to 
get as far as possible from the vulgar “ cow-cumber.” 
The name Asparagus is an ancient Greek one, and to 
correct it by calling it “Sparrow-grass” is no more 
proper than the common market abbreviation “grass.” 
Tree Isabels.— “F.,” Clarion Co., Pa., having 
noticed the various devices for permanent tree labels 
published from time to time, gives us the manner in 
which all his fruit trees are marked. The label, of any 
shape and size desired, is cut from half-inch white pine; 
one side is painted with white lead, and before it dries 
the name is written with a lead pencil. When dry, the 
label is so hung by a wire, that it will swing clear of the 
tree. The paint wears off, but the mark remains ; some 
are 20 years old and perfect yet.—This is one of the very 
oldest methods of labelling trees, and we give it for the 
benefit of novices who may have overlooked it because it 
is so simple and old fashioned. When well done it is very 
satisfactory. Great care should be taken in hanging the 
label; the wire loop should be abundantly large, and 
should never be placed where it can work down to the 
crotch of the branch. If the labels are examined yearly, 
as they should be, this will be found as effective as any, 
being easily made and within the reach of all. 
A Boy Writes.— “I desire to get on a farm to 
work, and write to you, thinking you may know of some 
farmer who wants a boy to work for him. I am 18 years 
old, strong, and healthy. I should like to get a place in 
Vermont or New Hampshire, but would go anywhere. 
Any information you can give,” etc. We give this as a 
sample of many letters we receive in the course of a year. 
No doubt there is many a farmer who would be glad to 
get just such a boy. The trouble is that we have no time 
to give to such cases. We are constantly occupied by the 
work of the paper. If any method can be devised by 
which such boys who wish places on farms, and farmers 
who wish such boys, can be brought in correspondence, 
it will meet with our good wishes and hearty cooperation. 
The Cow-Sucking Jewel. —“C. II. W.” The 
jewel usually fixed in the 
nose of a self-sucking cow, 
or a calf that is difficult to 
wean, can be made by any 
tinsmith; a piece of strong 
tin plate or sheet iron is 
cut in a semi-circular 
shape, with a hollow in 
the straight side ; a steel 
wire is soldered to the tin 
so that the ends, which 
are curved spirally, can be sprung into the nostrils of 
the animal, and so hold the jewel firmly and yet loosely. 
The jewel is shown in the annexed engraving. 
Pocket Gophers. —“W. H. E.,” Texas Creek, 
Colorado. These are said to be readily poisoned with 
Strychnine, inserted in a small cavity in a bit of carrot, 
apple, or other vegetable food, and placed in their runs. 
Can any one give a better method of getting rid of them ? 
An Energetic Farmers’ Club.— Jas. O’Neil, 
River View, Lyon Co., Iowa, reports that in his township, 
a new one with only 45 voters, there is an active Farmers’ 
Club with a library of 300 volumes already in existence. 
It is safe to predict that that township will be found a 
good one for farmers seeking new homes in the West. 
Prices for Wool.-' 1 J. M.,” La Fayette Co., Wis. 
The prices for wool are regularly quoted in our monthly 
market report. We have no means of knowing or guess¬ 
ing the future value of wool, or anything else, and object 
to giving even our opinion of such a matter, for obvious 
reasons. At. present, quotations are strong, and the mar¬ 
ket is reported as favorable for a brisk business. 
Provide Shade for the Stock. —Shelter from 
the burning sun may be provided by means of a cheap 
open shed of boards, or by throwing boughs upon a 
framework of posts and poles. Some such provision for 
the comfort of the stock should be made, as it is not 
only humane, but profitable. Better still is a little grove 
of trees of sufficient size only to make a good shade for 
the whole flock. A single tree is not usually enough- 
such comfoit is often monopolized by the “ master ” of 
the flock or herd. It is cruel to turn a flock of sheep 
into a field where the only sign of a shadow is that cast 
by a fence, and it may be a wire one at that. The poor 
suffering animals will stand bare-backed in the hot sun 
with their heads under each other, endeavoring to make 
their own shade. Half a day’s work will give them a 
shelter which will more than repay for the trouble. 
Sundry Humbugs. 
There is no subject con¬ 
cerning which we receive 
more letters than about 
Wall Street speculations. 
At the risk of repeating we 
say--to answer many let¬ 
ters—that while some of 
those who advertise and 
send out circulars, showing 
how great gains may be 
made from small invest¬ 
ments, are persons as to 
whose character and stand¬ 
ing we can learn nothing; 
there are others doing the 
same thing who are reported 
to have abundant capital, 
and though not members of 
the regular Board of Bro¬ 
kers, have a good account 
witli their bankers, and are 
regarded as safe in money 
matters. Our objection is not in this case to individuals, 
but to the whole system. Whoever invests in stock 
speculations at all, really takes a share in a game of 
chance, where the chances are very largely against him. 
We have stated once before, but in this case 
REPETITION MAT BE USEFUL, 
that the best comment upon the character of all stock 
speculations is to be found in the fact that, wherever 
there is a “defalcation,” “breach of trust,” or whatever 
soft name may be chosen for robbery of another’s funds, 
the first question after the exposure is—“ Did he go upon 
the street?” or—“Did he dabble in stocks?” This 
shows how such operations are regarded by business 
men. This does not apply to those who make dealing in 
stocks a regular business, but to those outsiders who 
gamble upon the fluctuations of the market. Another 
comment upon these speculations is, 
THEY ARE ALWAYS DONE IN SECRET, 
through some broker. No clerk or book-keeper in a 
reputable business house, no teller or other officer of a 
bank, no secretary, treasurer, or other person holding an 
office of trust in an Insurance or other Company would 
dare to let it be known that he engaged in stock specula¬ 
tions, for he knows in what repute they are held by all 
solid business men, and is aware that he would lose his 
place the moment it should become known to his em¬ 
ployers. We repeat this once more to show to the many 
who write us, that where the business is carried on in all 
fairness, it is in its very nature too risky for persons of 
moderate means to engage in. It has all the fascination 
of gambling, and many a really honest man, having met 
with losses, has been tempted to borrow enough from his 
employers to redeem them, and at the time really intend¬ 
ing to refund, and has come to ruin and the prison. So we 
say to those who write us—Let it alone. No matter what 
the character of those who present the attractive side, 
and show great gains—they do not publish the losses. 
THE THING ITSELF IS WRONG. 
Sometimes we are requested to show up a party as a 
“humbug," upon the mere assertion of the writer that 
he has been defrauded, without a particle of evidence, 
and sometimes without even a statement of the case. 
Still more strange are those who, without date, write ac¬ 
cusations against certain Michigan parties in a large 
hand, saying “Ventilate ’em A Victim.”—Now we 
are in the ventilating business, but must inform this 
“Victim,” and all other victims, that we can not do it 
without something to ventilate. We do not make ex- 
posuresof humbugs at random. Wehold that the accused 
has rights as well as the accuser, and we do not set a 
person down as a fraud 
WITHOUT SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE. 
Sensational charges amount with us to little; a calm 
statement of facts, supported by evidence, is what we 
need... .Sometimes cases are presented in which we fiud 
it difficult to decide whether they are fraudulent or not. 
An example of this kind comes from Canada, in which 
the writer, being out of business, and seeing the attrac¬ 
tive advertisement of a Chicago concern offering an at¬ 
tractive letter-copying contrivance on easy terms, sent 
for an outfit. He received the outfit, but failed to make 
gopies of writing to his satisfaction. The writer sayg 
that he is “at loss to see what their (the Co.’s) object 
was, for I believe the books must have cost all they 
charged for them.”—Our Canadian correspondent, who 
feels himself unfairly dealt with sends us specimens of the 
best copies he could make with his “ outfit.” We can 
only say that they are perfectly legible—a great deal more 
so than the usual copies taken in a copying-press. We 
give this as an example of many cases in which the thing, 
though it did not come up to the writer’s expectations, 
is not necessarily fraudulent_Of late we have had sev¬ 
eral inquiries from the publishers of newspapers in 
various parts of the country concerning the 
BANDANAH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 
which sends them an advertisement to be inserted for one 
year, and asking them to “ draw upon at the expiration 
of each quarter.” The fact that this “ Bandanah ” (what 
a name 1) gives in its circulars no local habitation or ad¬ 
dress in New York, it can not want to be known to any 
great extent. Country publishers, and every one else, 
may be sure that a concern that gives neither street, 
number, nor Post-Office box, is not one that they can 
“draw upon at the expiration of eacli quarter” with any 
great success... .In some of the Western States offers are 
made by which farmers can 
RAISE MONEY UPON THEIR FARMS, 
upon apparently easy terms. A correspondent in the 
“ Western Farm Stock Journal ” was called upon to ap¬ 
praise the land of a farmer who wished to take a loan 
from the “ Pennsylvania Home and Dower Association,” 
and finding the terms so positively in favor of the Com¬ 
pany, and so evidently against the farmer, that he felt it 
his duty to write to the “ Journal.” The editor of that 
excellent periodical very properly advises farmers not to 
deal with any such companies unless they find, after sub¬ 
mitting the papers to some competent attorney, that there 
is no possible chance for fraud.—The foregoing, from an 
influential Western Journal,isgratifying evidence that we 
are not alone in our endeavors to save farmers from loss. 
THE SOLARGRAPII WATCH 1 ONLY $1 00, 
is advertised in certain country journals—who ought to 
know better, but don’t—as “a Perfect Time-keeper,” 
warranted “ to denote time as accurately as a $100 Chro¬ 
nometer Watch ”—and all the rest of it. This is a very 
old fraud that we published years and years ago. It is 
only a pocket sun dial, which, if it may approximate to 
the correct time when the sun shines, can not be of the 
least use in a cloudy day, or at night, when one wishes to 
know the time more frequently than in the day. Those 
papers which publish such trash have little regard for 
the interests of their readers_We have had a number 
of inquiries concerning 
“ THE CENTENNIAL ILLUMINATING OIL,” 
the recipe and “right” for making which is sold by 
agents acting for a concern in Marshall, Mich. This oil 
they claim was “ invented by the renowned chemist, 
Dr. S. G. Montague, of Paris,” and they say “ It. is as far 
superior in every respect to kerosene oil as sunlight is 
superior to moonlight.” The recipe which is sold by the 
agents is as follows: “ Recii>e for Making One Gal¬ 
lon. Take seven-eighths gallon of benzine or crude 
petroleum; add to it one-half ounce gum camphor, one- 
half ounce of alcohol, one-half pint of common salt, one- 
half ounce oil of sassafras; stir and mix it well for about 
five minutes; let it standfor twenty-four hours, and it is 
ready for use. It is better to buy the benzine by the 
barrel from Pittsburg, Pa., as druggists usually charge 
two or three times the wholesale price.” This recipe is 
BOTH DANGEROUS AND NONSENSICAL. 
Its basis is Benzine , which should never be kept in a 
house except with the greatest caution; to use it for 
burning is criminally wrong. The recipe says “benzine 
or crude petroleum.” Why petroleum is mentioned, un¬ 
less as a blind, we are unable to see. Benzine is gener¬ 
ally obtainable at the drug and paint stores, while petro¬ 
leum is not. It would make strange stuff to burn. It 
advises to get benzine from Pittsburg, but does not tell 
where to get petroleum. It is not easy to see what pos¬ 
sible good half an ounce of alcohol will do in nearly a 
gallon of benzine—but the funny part is the salt.! One 
recipe published a few years ago advised sliced raw pota¬ 
toes with the claim that these removed the dangerous 
qualities of the benzine ! Is the salt put in for that pur¬ 
pose ? But this is a serious matter. We do not publish this 
recipe that our readers may use it, but that they may see 
ITS DANGEROUS CHARACTER AND AVOID IT. 
There are in most States laws against selling kerosene 
containing a small portion of benzine and other lightoils. 
These, benzine, naphtha, and other oils, arc produced in 
large quantities in refining petroleum to get the kerosene 
or oil that is safe for burning; being very cheap there 
is a temptation to add them to kerosene, and very strin¬ 
gent laws in most States prevent the sale of kerosene 
thus adulterated. In this recipe nearly the whole liquid 
is of this most dangerous substance. We advise every 
one to have nothing to do with any such compound. That 
it will burn and give a bright light we do not doubt, but 
