1879.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
333 
it, and we do not know muck about electricity.”—I said, 
‘ that it was very true—lightning can perform many 
wonderful freaks,” and spoke of the vivid lightning 
which we had during the last two days. There was a 
pause—a stillness for a second—and not caring to be in¬ 
terviewed as to my stumps, their number, locality, etc., 
I thanked the philosopher and withdrew. P. S.—He said 
“ If the bark does not loosen in about seven days, it is 
host to put on more of the powder.” 
A STUMP, TWO NAILS, A WIRE, AND SOME POWDER 1 
What a stupid humbug! But, by the way, William V., 
a friend of ours, within an hour of New York, sent you 
the money for some of your powder over two weeks ago. 
Why don't you send it ? 
We are glad to notice that several papers are taking an 
active part in exposing the 
VARIOUS SWINDLES UPON FARMERS. 
The “Utica Weekly Herald” and the “Watertown 
Despatch,” both in N. Y. State, are deserving of special 
credit for their efforts in this direction. According to 
the “Despatch,” rogues named Johnson Wood, M. V. 
Quick, and another, whose name is not known, have 
been operating in Jefferson Co. in behalf of a “ Co-oper¬ 
ative Fertilizer Co.” These parties called on one M. O. 
Robbins, to make him an agent for the sale of a fertilizer 
which they claimed to have. Mr. Robbins gave them the 
following note: 
Sackett's Harbor, July 22d. 
§ 150.00. 
ix months after date I promise to pay to the order of 
myself One Hundred and Fifty Dollars, at the First Na¬ 
tional Bank at Watertown, for value received. 
[Signed] M O. Robbins. 
It was explained to Mr. R. that the note was of no val¬ 
ue, being made to his order, until he signed it, which he 
need not do until he found the fertilizer perfectly satis¬ 
factory. After more talk of this kind, Mr. R. was shown 
the back of the note, on which was the following state¬ 
ment, to which the maker of the note was requested to 
put his name. It reads thus: 
I hereby certify that I own and am worth in personal 
and real estate in the County of Jefferson, State of New 
York, $s.()00 over and above all indebtedness, and that 
the within note is given for goods bought by me of the 
Co-operative Fertilizer Company, and the above is in full 
demands of every name and nature between said Com¬ 
pany and myself up to date of this note. 
[Signed] M. 0. Robbins. 
When Mr. Robbins had signed this mere statement, or 
“ mere matter of form, you know,” contract, 
HIS NOTE WAS ENDORSED BY HIMSELF, 
and he was held for the amount. This view occurred to 
Mr. Robbins all too late, but he started in pursuit, and 
fortunately found the swindlers at Utica, where he had 
them arrested. Whether they can be held, the “ Herald ” 
is in doubt. That journal states that others have been 
victimized in the same manner. Are we wrong in our 
caution: 
FARMERS, DO NOT SIGN TOUR NAME TO ANYTHING? 
The “ Utica Herald,” in reference to this matter, says 
it has “no sympathy ” with those who become victims 
to such swindlers. It says: 
It seems to be useless to warn farmers to keep out of. 
all transactions of this kind with strangers. Every farmer 
can find well-known and trustworthy business men in 
their own town or in the nearest city, who will provide 
them with everything they require at reasonable rates, 
much cheaper than any travelling agent can afford to sell 
even if he is honest. Sensible people have lost all sym¬ 
pathy for the gudgeons who bite at every bait that shrewd 
men throw to them. Avarice is generally at the bottom 
of such bargains. 
While we admit that there is some truth in the remarks 
of the “Herald,” they are altogether too sweeping. We 
have given above a different view of the matter, and to 
the reasons there given, we may add 
A CHRONIC INABILITY TO SAY “ NO ” 
possessed by many good-natured people. While avarice 
may be the motive in some cases, we think that unsus¬ 
pecting good-nature is accountable for many more.... 
Syracuse, N. Y., is said to be the headquarters of much 
of this kind of swindling. There is said to be a raid on 
foot from that place into Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania 
Farmers , look out for the man with a churn. 
PURCHASING THE “QUEER.” 
As strange as it may appear, after the exposures that 
the American Agriculturist begun long ago, and which 
have been taken up and followed by the daily papers, 
there will be persons who are foolish enough to be caught 
by the circulars of those who pretend to offer counterfeit 
money at about 10 cents on the dollar. We always feel 
glad when one of these chaps gets caught, for no honest 
person can have any dealings with those who offer, under 
various names, counterfeit bank bills. Simpletons go to 
buy, pay their good money for a parcel supposed to con¬ 
tain counterfeit notes—are hurried off through a pretend¬ 
ed fear of the police, and when the victim gets in a place 
where he can examine his purchase, he finds no counter¬ 
feit money, but only a made-up parcel of paper. The 
latest victim is one O’Reagan who keeps a hotel in New 
Brunswick, who came all the way to New York to buy 
counterfeit money—what did he intend to do with it?— 
and was put off with a bundle of kindling wood. The 
man was foolish enough to complain at one of the Police 
Courts. He received very little satisfaction, and went 
home, let us hope, a wiser, if not a better man. When 
people act upon the fact that nothing worth one dollar is 
ever sold for less than 100 cents, they will stand less 
chance of being swindled... .A correspondent asks our 
opinion of an attractively advertised 
GIFT BOOK SALK, 
in which the purchaser of a book for a dollar, has a 
chance to draw all sorts of prizes. This so-called “ sale ” 
comes under the head of lotteries, and our opinion of the 
whole breed, no matter by what name it may be called, 
is too well known to need repetition. We advise all to 
keep clear of the lottery, no matter for what purpose it 
claims to be held, or whatever end it may have in view. 
If under a charter from any State—and many claims of 
this kind are fraudulent—so much the worse for the 
State. If under the management of any Generals, as 
some claim to be—so much the worse for the Generals ; 
they add no respectability to the lottery, while their con¬ 
nection with it degrades them. Any General out of busi¬ 
ness, should be able to find some more respectable em¬ 
ployment than that of “ Manager” of a lottery. 
VARIOUS MEDICAL MATTERS. 
For several months past, the medical portion of our 
Humbug budget has shown but little novelty, but we 
now find, what is just as good as a novelty, that 
OLD MOTHER NOBLE STILL LIVES, 
or, at least, her wonderful “ Healing Syrup ” is still sent 
out, and that the lithographed circular of the man of the 
diamond-studded shirt-front, is still sent to induce par¬ 
ties to engage in the sale of the stuff. We have seen the 
time when, returning from a long voyage, New York 
harbor seemed like an entrance to a happy land; we have 
in foreign countries seen the American flag afloat, when 
it seemed the most beautiful thing we ever b held—but 
what were these feelings to the emotions felt as we re¬ 
newed our acquaintance with 
OLD MOTHER NOBLE'S CIRCULAR. 
The “ view of the residence of Mrs. Deborah Noble ”— 
that house, those fence, and dear old Debby herself com¬ 
ing down the road with a tremendous old she lalah—or 
perhaps a broomstick, is enough to awaken the finer feel¬ 
ings. In turning back the pages, we find that picture of 
“The Place where this Remarkable Discovery was Made,” 
and it comes just as near bringing tears to our eyes as 
it did years and years ago. But what are these accessor¬ 
ies as compared with the picture on the very firstest page 
of old Deb. herself. There she is—with the Bible—stated 
so in letters, according to the size of the book, about 
(i inches long, and it rests upon a plank at least 6 inches 
thick—Debby is wiping her spectacles “on the edge of 
her apron,” just as she used to do it. and her “ daughter 
Abigail ” has the same cup and spoon and everything is 
lovely. The story of old Debby Noble is not to be allow¬ 
ed to die out—at least not so long as there are people 
foolish enough to believe it. 
“is NOT THIS A HUMBUG?” 
Is written upon several pamphlets sent out by “Medical 
Institutes,"owners of “Restorative Remedies,” Treatises 
for “Self Treatment” and the like. These pamphlets, 
of-which we have several before us, all treat upon matters 
which we do not care to discuss in a paper read by the 
whole family. We can only say that they are pernicious 
in the highest degree. They all begin by exciting the 
fears of young men—and they seem to be published 
solely to reach these—and they lead them on, by adroitly 
written descriptions, to believe that their only hope of 
recovery is in taking some particular nostrum. 
OUR IDEAS OF SUCH MATTERS, 
have been stated so often, that they should be known to 
all but very recent subscribers. They may be summed 
up in brief: Do not undertake to medicate yourself. Do 
not take any secret preparation. Have nothing to do 
with a so-called “ doctor” who publishes his cures. In 
short, let all of these chaps who send out pamphlets and 
circulars, severely alone. If a “retired physician ” or a 
“ former missionary ” advertises to send free of cost a 
“prescription” for any kind of “weakness” or “de¬ 
bility,” let that quack and his prescription alone. The 
“ prescription ” is advertised as “ free,” but, as we have 
shown again and again, it is only a dodge to sell stuff. 
Willows and Osiers.—Many suppose that Osier 
is the general term for all basket-willows. This is a 
mistake, and one which has probably given the impres¬ 
sion that willows could not be grown in this country. 
The Osier (Salix viminalis.) is the very poorest of the 
basket willows, fitted only for the coarsest work. Hence 
it is necessary for those who would grow willows, to look 
into the matter of quality, and plant the better kinds. 
It is a common notion that willows grow best on wet 
land. It may be that the plants will grow faster, but the 
best basket willows are grown on any good grain-land, 
and are injured by undue moisture in the soil. 
Cauliflower Seed.— “O. C.” But little seed of 
cauliflower is grown in this country, our summers being 
too hot for it. Those who do attempt to raise it, sow 
the seeds in July, and when the plants are large enough, 
set them out in rows, as if they were to grow a crop. By 
fall the plants will be partly grown, and they are then 
set in cold-frames, or placed in a cool cellar, with earth 
about their roots, the object being to preserve them in a 
dormant condition. In early spring, the plants are set 
out to complete their growth, flower, and produce seed. 
Stump Puller.— “F. S.,” Longlake, Ill. Stumps 
may be pulled out, if they are not too large, by the use of 
a long stout lever fastened to the stump by means of a 
chain and a hook, so as to give a twisting motion when 
the free end of the lever is pulled by a strong team A 
stump puller, consisting of two chains and a lever, by 
which the chains are drawn up alternately, was described 
in the Agriculturist for September, 1871. (See page 338.) 
Winter Pasture for SHeep. — “J. W. D.,” 
Limestone Co., Texas. Winter oats may be bad for 
sheep, but if so, it is probably because the sheep will 
eat too many of them when wet with dew, or when rust¬ 
ed, and thus become affected with indigestion and bloat. 
Any green crop, fed in winter, is more or less subject to 
the same objection ; but rye is less succulent and rich 
than oats, and for this reason, perhaps, is more popular 
for winter pasturage in the Southern States. If caution 
be exercised to prevent over-eating, the only source of 
danger, oats may be sown, if otherwise more desirable. 
Tlie Bag-Worm, Basket-Worm, or 
Drop-Worm.— In summer we expect to recieve spec¬ 
imens of this insect. This summer they have been sent 
in unusual numbers, but hope this is an indication that 
our readers are more observing, rather than that the in¬ 
sect is unusually numerous. To give a brief history of 
the insect: In winter, various trees will be found bearing 
objects like that shown in the engraving. If these are 
examined, some will be found empty—the males having 
left them; others will contain numerous eggs, and the 
shrivelled remains of the female. These eggs hatch in 
May, the minute insects leave the case, fix themselves 
upon a leaf by their fore-feet, and with their bodies erect, 
tail upwards, begin to spin a case, and cover it with bits 
of leaf. As the insect grows, it increases the size of the 
case, and when large enough, this hangs downwards, in¬ 
stead of being erect as at first. The caterpillar within, 
moves the case from 
place to place as it 
needs food, and makes 
its growth entirely 
within it. When full- 
grown, the case is made 
fast to a twig—not to a 
leaf, for that may fall— 
and the caterpillar goes 
into the pupa state, and 
finally becomes a small 
moth. The male leaves 
the case, but, the female 
does not ; she lays her 
eggs within it, and dies 
there. The insect visits 
almost every kind of 
tree; among ever¬ 
greens. it is especially 
fond of the Arbor Vitae, 
but it is found upon 
deciduous trees, those 
planted for shade, as 
well as fruit trees. 
The appearance of the 
case, bag, or basket, will depend upon the tree it inhabits; 
some are covered with bits of dried leaves, others with 
the footstalks of leaves, and on the Arbor Vine, they use 
short bits of slender branches. We found this, or a 
related species,upon the “Screw-Bean,” in New Mexico, 
with the bags covered with the small white thorns of 
this tree, forming a perfect protection from any bird that 
might attack it. The insect is very destructive and in¬ 
creases quite rapidly. It has several natural enemies, 
which keep it in check, but it will not do to depend upon 
these. The only remedy thus far known, is to hand-pick 
them. Doct. W. B. Dewees, Lebanon Co., Pa., sendsspeci- 
mens, and writes that in a portion of his County, whole or¬ 
chards are suffering severely from its attacks. In an or¬ 
chard. the bags should be entirely removed, and this can 
be best done when the leaves are off. It may he a troub¬ 
lesome job, but it is the only way to get rid of these de¬ 
structive pests, whether on fruit, or ornamental trees. 
The scientificnameof the insect, is Thyridop/eryxephem- 
eireformis ; there are two or or three others with similar 
habits, one feeding upon the Orange in Florida. 
BAG-WORM. 
