1880.] 
AMERICAN AGrKIOULTURIST, 
5 
by the Teacher or some of the pupils, by getting the 
sum in subscriptions of 10 cents to $1 among the patrons. 
(In most districts, if the patrons of the school were 
aware of its usefulness, there would be found ten who 
would contribute $1.50 each, which would not only se¬ 
cure the Compound Microscope for the School, but also 
the American Agriculturist during 1880, for each one 
subscribing $1.50. Or the teacher might collect the sub¬ 
scriptions and receive the instrument himself or herself.) 
The Premiums 
All Available to Every Osie 
This Month. 
Every Reader is invited to look over the grand 
list of Premiums, including no less than S."f§ de¬ 
sirable articles of various kinds, besides 847 
choice Books, which include many Standard Works 
from the leading Publishers. ' (If any one has not 
received the Descriptive Premium Sheet, or has it 
not at hand, he will be supplied by sending a Postal 
Card request for it.) The Articles and Books of¬ 
fered were secured early last year, before the great 
rise in prices, and so far as they are exclusively for 
Premiums, the Publishers’ contracts hold good 
during the continuance of the present Premium 
List. The Premiums range all the way from small 
articles for sending single new subscriptions, up to 
$150 articles, and every person can secure some one 
or more of them now. We believe the present 
number of this Journal, if shown to non-subscribers 
as an earnest of what the Volume for 1880 is to be, 
will prove attractive enough to secure their sub¬ 
scriptions, and every one who takes a little trouble 
to present the paper to others, and invite such sub¬ 
scriptions, will be entitled to the premiums offered. 
The Sliding Gate.— “M. J. S.,” Butler Co., Pa. 
On reference to ttie American Agriculturist , for Dec., 
1879, page 521, it will be seen that the so-called “Lee 
patent,” on the common sliding gate, and another known 
as the “ Teal patent,” have been brought into court in 
Michigan and defeated, the court having decided that 
these patents were illegal. This is a sufficient answer to 
give to any person claiming a patent right fee for the use 
of any such gate. Thousands of dollars have been frau¬ 
dulently collected under these illegal patent claims. 
The President’s Message in what it says of 
the financial position of the nation, its peaceful relations 
at home and abroad, our abundant harvest, and all other 
things relating to our material prosperity, will meet with 
a hearty response from every thoughtful person. But the 
President says other things, with which we cannot agree, 
and makes recommendations which ought not to be 
adopted. In spite of the deplorable figure our Govern¬ 
ment makes, so far as it has gone into the business of 
agriculture, he proposes to extend it, and to add divis¬ 
ions of Forestry, and of Veterinary Matters, to the pre¬ 
sent Department of Agriculture. Even Presidents do 
not appear well, when they talk on subjects about 
which they know little, and we regret that a message 
which begins so well, should have so lame an ending. 
Disease In Fowls.— “J.” When the head and 
eyes of fowls swell, and fetid matter comes from the nos¬ 
trils, the disease is Roup. It maybe cured by washing 
the head, mouth, and nostrils, with warm vinegar, and 
dressing the nostrils and throat with a soft feather dipped 
in a solution of one dram of Sulphate of Copper (Blue 
Vitriol) dissolved in a tea-cup full of water. 
Books on Orcharding and Gardening.— 
We are often asked by those who would select some 
book as a guide in the different departments of horticul¬ 
ture, which one of several will best answer their purpose. 
Perhaps we can aid to a selection by enumerating the 
leading works in each branch of horticulture. For the 
Orchard, from starting trees in the nursery, planting 
and general management, no other work is so full and 
complete as the “Fruit Garden,” by P. Barry. It is un¬ 
fortunate that the title does not. convey an idea of its 
full scope. It describes select lists of fruits of each kind. 
For a list and descriptions of nearly all known varieties, 
Downing’s “Fruits and Fruit Trees of America” is best 
for reference. In Small Fruits, “ The Small Fruit Cul- 
turistand Grape Culturist” by Fuller, andRoe’s “Manual 
of Small Fruit Culture.” For Market Gardening, “ Gar¬ 
dening for Profit,” by Peter Henderson; “Money in the 
Garden,” by P. T. Quinn ; “ Farm Gardening and Seed 
Raising,” by F. Brill, is a most useful work, and the only 
one of its kind. For the Flower Garden, “Breck’s New 
Book of Flowers ” is still the favorite with those who 
follow old-fashioned gardening. “Practical Floricul¬ 
ture,” by Peter Henderson, is suited to both the profes¬ 
sional florist and the amateur—and “Gardening for Pleas¬ 
ure ” by the same author is intended for those who wish 
one book to tell them all that they wish to know on 
fruits, vegetables, and flowers. There are many other 
works, which will be found in the advertised book list. 
Extermination of Willows.— “J. P. T.,” 
Rio Grande Co., Col., asks: “ How can Willows and 
their roots be most easily destroyed? ”—Our native Wil¬ 
lows, as a general thing, grow where they are most need¬ 
ed, along the banks of streams, where they render most 
valuable service in keeping the banks from being washed. 
Those which are above ground, mere bushes, have very 
long, far-reaching roots, and often of much greater diame¬ 
ter than any of the stems. In clearing land it is desira¬ 
ble to leave this natural barrier to the encroachments of 
the water. But to exterminate them from land which it 
is desired to clear, is our friend’s question. He says that 
cutting them with the axe is most tedious work, and asks 
if any implement is made for the purpose. There are 
bill-hooks, an old-fashioned implement for clearing 
under-growth; the brush scythe, a short, thick, and heavy 
scythe, made for the work indicated by its name; then 
there are implements made especially for tropical coun¬ 
tries, the “machete” and cane-knives, very heavy, long- 
bladed knives that are most effective in the hands of 
those accustomed to them. Among these no doubt some¬ 
thing can be found that will make more rapid work than 
the axe, which will still be required for the larger Wil¬ 
lows. A grub-hoe should be used for the roots, and when 
all of these that is practicable are removed, there will be 
a continous sprtfuting from what remains in the soil; 
these may be kept down by goats, or perhaps by sheep. 
Atavism, what is it ?-“AReader.” Whenan 
animal possesses any peculiarities not found in its 
parents, as of form, color, disposition, etc., but common 
to grandparents some generations back, it is said to have 
obtained them by atavism. It is the cause of croppings 
out of characteristics in distant descendants ; or to put 
it in another way, a reversion to an older form. 
Fastest Time—An 
Year. Horse. Time. 
1810.. Boston Horse.... 2.48 
1843.. Confidence .. ..2.36 
1834.. Edwin Forest...2.311 
1845. . Lady Suffolk _ 2.29} 
1849.. Pelham.2.28 
1853. .Highland Maid. .2.27 
1859.. Flora Temple _ 2.19} 
Interesting Table.— 
Year. Horse. Time. 
1807. .Dexter.2.17} 
1871.. Goldsmith Maid.2.17 
1572.. “ “ .2.16} 
1870.. “ “ .2.15 
1874.. “ “ .2.14 
1878. .Rarus.2.13} 
1879.. 5.. Julian ......2.12} 
Fating Shot. —The London Lancet cautions those 
who eat game, to be careful and not swallow the shot by 
which the animal was killed, as serious results have 
followed taking Lead into the system in this manner. 
A Horse in Poor Condition.— “ C. T.,” Kent, 
Iowa. A horse that is in poor condition, and troubled 
with worms, will probably be relieved by a dose of one 
pint of Linseed Oil, given even every third day, for three 
times, then give weekly a pint of the Oil, with one ounce 
of Spirits of Turpentine. Feed bran mashes, boiled oats 
and potatoes, giving them slightly warm. 
Jack Rabbits.— “ O. B. O.” writes that fonryears 
ago parties in Kern Co., Cal., imported greyhounds from 
England, for the protection of their crops, there being 
“ millions ” of the pests in that and adjoining counties. 
The statement would have been more complete, had he 
told us what success attended the experiment. 
To Utilize Sti auAVitiiout Stoc-It.—“L.P.F." 
Charles City, Iowa. When stock are not kept by which 
straw can be made into manure, it is well in many cases 
to spread the straw over the fields and let it rot, or plow 
it in—preferably the latter, for if left loose upon the sur¬ 
face it would probably blow into heaps. 
Cotton Seed and Uinseed Cake.— Dr. Lawes 
estimates the manurial value of these two concentrated 
foods, at $29 per ton for the former, and $23 for the 
latter. This is more than the market price of cotton¬ 
seed meal with us at the present time. Does this not 
appeal to the American stock feeder, to use these con¬ 
centrated foods more abundantly 1 
Bran as a Food has not been fully appreciated. 
The laxative tendency does not produce any unsatisfac¬ 
tory results, provided the bran is fed as it should be. A 
slight laxative condition of the bowels is better than the 
constipation that a lack of such food produces. Be¬ 
sides, the bran is rich in phosphates, so essential to the 
development of healthy stock. 
The American Agricultural Association. 
Last month we announced that the preliminary steps 
had been taken towards the formation of an Agricultural 
Society which should be truly national in its scope and 
membership. The meeting for final organization was 
held in New York December 10th-12th and was quite as 
largely attended as the most sanguine friends of the 
enterprise could have expected, while the assemblage 
was of a character such as one rarely sees brought to¬ 
gether. Indeed, the gathering was a remarkable one for 
the solidity and dignity of its members, it being com¬ 
posed, with few exceptions, of men of middle age. The 
first day was devoted to preparatory work, and in the 
evening the meeting was addressed by Prof. A. R. Le- 
Doux upon the “Adulteration of Seeds,” and by Dr. M. 
Miles on “The Correlation of Forms in Animals,” abund¬ 
antly illustrated by the aid of one of McAllister's finestere- 
opticons. On the second day the election of officers took 
place, which resulted as follows : President , John Merri- 
man, of Maryland.— Pi'ce Presidents at large , N. S. 
Townsend, Ohio ; Moses Humphrey, New Hampshire ; 
J. C. Stevens, Ohio; J. B. Bardwell, Maine; G. Gregory 
Smith, Vermont; David Taggart, Pennsylvania; E. H. 
Hyde, Connecticut; John Scott, Iowa; George H. Cook, 
New Jersey; Ashbel Smith, Texas; C. V. Riley, District 
of Columbia.— Vice Presidents , L. L. Polk, North Caro¬ 
lina; Dr. Henry M. Ridgley, Delaware; C. W. Thompson, 
Minnesota; S. D. Gillett, Illinois; Daniel Needham, 
Massachusetts; Edward D. Pearce, Rhode Island; J. W. 
Avery, Georgia; Ezra Whitman, Maryland; John D. 
Adams, Arkansas; D. Wyatt Aiken, South Carolina; 
Governor George F. Drew, Florida; F. T. Francis, Ala¬ 
bama; Governor Alcorn, Mississippi; Colonel J. B. 
Killebrew, Tennessee; Cassius M. Clay, Kentucky; J. 
Floyd King, Louisiana; RogerW. Woodbury, Colorado ; 
John Bidwell, California; S. G. Reed, Oregon ; John P. 
Jones, Nevada; Henry G. Davis, West Virginia; General 
Gilbert S. Meem, Virginia; Claude Mathews, Indiana; 
Chester Hazen, Wisconsin; H. G. Wells, Michigan ; J. 
H. Scofield, Kansas; D. II. Wheeler, Nebraska; Prof. G. C. 
Swallow, Mo., and Lawson Valentine, New York.— Direct¬ 
ors for one year , N. F. Sprague, Vermont; P. M. Pulford, 
Maryland; Thomas M. Holt, North Carolina; T. E. Gould, 
Illinois, and J. N. Coleman, Missouri.— Directors for two 
years , Major Alvord, Massachusetts ; A. L. Kennedy, 
Pennsylvania ; J. T. Henderson, Georgia;-McGrath, 
Kentucky;-Trumpy, Michigan; J. B. Grinnell, Iowa; 
Powell Clayton, Arkansas.—Diratfors for three years, 
Governor Fred Smyth, New Hampshire ; General N. W. 
Curtis, New York; Robert Beverly, Virginia; M. J. 
Lawson, Ohio; William S. King, Minnesota; Henry 
Hubbard, Colorado; General A. T. A. Torbert, Delaware. 
Mr. J. II. Reall was chosen General Secretary, and Lawson 
Valentine, of N. Y., Treasurer. The Board of Directors 
appointed an Executive Committee, to consist of: The 
Senior Vice-President, N. S. Townsend of O.. and others. 
The principal addresses on the second day, were by 
ProfessorC.V. Riley, of Washington, on Agricultural Ad¬ 
vancement in the United States, and by Prof. W. O. 
Atwater, of Wesleyan University, Middletown, Ct. Both 
gentlemen took occasion to compare our govern¬ 
ment’s efforts on behalf of agriculture, as manifested 
in the seed-shop at Washington, with the unostenta¬ 
tious, inexpensive, but wonderfuliv efficient methods of 
European governments. On the third and last day the 
Society was addressed by Prof. X. A. Willard on The 
Dairy: Prof. W. H. Brewer, of Yale, on Science and Agri¬ 
culture; Peter Collyer, Chemist to the Department of 
Agriculture, Washington, on Sugar from Sorghum and 
Corn Stalks. The concluding address was by the Hon. 
J. B. Grinnell, of Iowa, who gave a very enthusiastic and 
patriotic address on agriculture in general. We lookupon 
the beginning of this Society as a success, and as full of 
promise. An excellent spirit pervaded the meetings, which 
we trust may be found in all future sessions of the Society. 
TIi© American Dairymen’s Association 
will hold its loth Annual Convention at Syracuse, N. Y., 
January 13-15. An attractive programme is sent us, 
containing the subjects of addresses by Prof. James 
Law, E. W. Stewart, G. C. Caldwell, L. B. Arnold, and 
others. All Dairymen are earnestly invited to be 
present and participate in the work of the Convention. 
Manure a Product of Feeding.—We wish 
to call the attention of all readers to the above point, as 
set forth in Professor Atwater's article. Read it carefully. 
Hatching Codfish.—Professor Baird’s attempts 
in hatching codfish have been successful, and the Com¬ 
missioner hopes to re-stock the waters of New England— 
waters where formerly this valuable fish was abundant. 
Pine Cones for Kindlings. — When dry, the 
cones from pine trees are excellent for starting fires ; 
they so abound in resin that.a small amount answers. 
