1880 .] 
AMERICAN' AG-RICULTCJRIST. 
133 
others failed.—The machines were made in New Jersey. 
Stacks of letters upon a table indicated a large corres. 
pondence : there were many machines packed and ready 
to be sent off. We could not resist the temptation, and 
bought a machine— 
HERE IS A PORTRAIT OP THE U. S. WASHING MACHINE l 
The card says: "The machine is simplicity itself.” 
An inspection allows us to confirm this statement. This 
Washing Machine is 5% inches long, 4J4 inches wide, 
and 2>/, inches in altitude. There are two rollers, one 
handle, and two castings (one at each end), and 4 screws 
—“ simplicity itself.” The card states that the " iron 
parts are covered with zinc to prevent lusting — 
true again, and moreover “the wood-work is 
made from the hardest aud best seasoned timber. 
The handle is black walnut, one roller with an irregular 
surface is of ash, and the other roller is covered with 
THE “ UNITED STATES WASHING MACHINE.” 
rubber—stuck into a piece of rubber tube—does not show. 
The U. S. Washing Machine weighs 8 ounces, and goes 
by mail for 10 cents. The machine must have cost nearly 
10 cents to make it, and the profit of at least 50 cents on 
each 75 cent trade, is very fair considering the capital in¬ 
vested. Their “confidential wholesale rates are $36 per 
gross, which is 25 cents each.” A washing machine for 
25 cents 1 But we have omitted the 
“ DIRECTIONS,”—HERE THEY ARE. 
“Use with any wash tub and board. Grasp the han¬ 
dle or rest the fingers on the cross piece, and rub the 
clothes backwards and forwards, pressing lightly. The 
friction of the corrugated rollers cleanses thoroughly. 
Dip the clothes or mach'neinto the water as often as it is 
pressed out. When ready to rinse, roll the machine over 
the clothes as they are drawn out of the watrr.”—We al¬ 
together object to that last sentence. This is a “ wash¬ 
ing machine,” and you have no right to use it as a 
wringer, especially as a chap in Chicago makes a wringer 
which is much such a wringer as this is a washer. 
Parties calling themselves James W. Winslow & Co., 
and other aliases, advertise wringers at $1.50 and $2.50 
each, which they modestly call “ the best wringer in the 
world.” Our friend Browning. President of the Metro¬ 
politan Washing Machine Co., thinking that he made a 
pretty fair sort of wringer in the old, well known “ Uni¬ 
versal,” had a natural curiosity to see 
“ THE BEST WRINGER IN THE WORLD,” 
and wrote to a Chicago Correspondent, to get him a 
sample. The Chicago man went to the advertised place, 
and found—a vacant lot, but after hunting with the aid of 
the Post Office folks, he at last found the wringers—and 
they are on exhibition at Mr. B’s. New York office. 
Such a caricature upon a useful machine, we never before 
saw! It might help in washing, but not as a wringer, 
its place is under the boiler, to help boil the clothes. 
In the $1.50 wringer, the rollers are a couple of round 
sticks, but for $2.50 you get a thin piece of rubber over 
them. It is a good deal to have seen such a washer and 
such a wringer all in one day... It was suggested last 
month, that there would be various 
SWINDLES PLAYED WITH THE CENSUS, 
and gave a brief account of one of them.—Now comes 
another. Well dressed chaps visit the houses of well-to- 
farmers, and leave blank forms to be filled out showing 
the amount of certain crops raised on the farm. The un¬ 
suspecting farmer fills out the blanks and is requested 
to sign it. In a few weeks the farmer is notified that 
his note for $100 -$200—as the case may be, is due at 
such a bank. The note turns out to be made over his 
signature to the census paper. The census will not be 
taken until June, of which due notice will be given, and 
no doubt the officials will be able to show that they are 
the proper persons.Here is more Postal Card work. 
This time it is an advertisement making a special 
OFFER OF SHVER TEASPOONS, 
by the “Tremont Spoon Company, of Boston.” For 60 
cents they send a set of six teaspoons. This is just 10 
cents a spoon, which may be cheap or dear, according to 
the spoon. But it would look more business-like if the 
Tremont Spoon Co. of Boston, would give a street and 
number, and not have several of their cards, which are 
called “certificates” and to be returned with the order, 
all bearing the same number. 1723.The most ridic- 
nious “craze” just now is in reference to the so-called 
ELECTRIC MEDICAL BATTERIES. 
These are affairs about the size of a half dollar, made 
of two different metals, hung by a silk cord, and to be 
worn “as near the heart as possible.” This thing is 
offered as “the most effectual and sure remedy for all 
diseases of the blood and nerves.” What is the strang¬ 
est thing about it all is, that people will believe that 
the wearing of the thing does them good. There is 
Boyd's Battery, with its “ gimlet-pinted” electricity, 
and one apparently sincere man writes that it helped 
his wife when she did not know what the thing was. 
But then here comes one Elias, who says that “a 
wooden button worn upon the breast would be quite as 
effective as the so-called ‘ batteries ’ which have hitherto 
been sold as curative to an over credulous public.”— 
That is one thing in Elias’ circular that we can fully 
believe. But then Elias goes and makes an affidavit, 
and publishes it, and we will say that 
IT IS A GOOD DEAL OF AN AFFIDAVIT. 
It tells that there is no such chap as Prof. J. C. Boyd— 
that the battery of Boyd is not patented—and that his 
battery “ was, and is, a contemptible fraud ”—and ever so 
much more of the tallest kind of affidaviting—but alas I 
not one word about Boyd’s “ gimlet-pinted ” electricity. 
Elias has the thing brought to the finest point. He is 
logical. He tells us 
“THE BLOOD IS THE LIFE,” 
that is his starting point, which no one can deny. Then 
" Electricity is the Life of the Blood ”—that’s not quite 
so clear—but we are informed that his Medical Galvanic 
Medal generates electricity—and there you are, what 
more do you want, ? Our medal is the only one that turns 
out the real sort of Electricity.—“ Electricity is the Life 
of the Blood.—“ The Blood is the life ”—would you live ? 
—Then wear our medal. All else follows, from Rheuma¬ 
tism to Corns. The affidavit of Elias declares that Boyd’s 
Battery is a “ worthless fraud.” Yet we know an intelli¬ 
gent young lady who can feel the electricity as soon as 
she takes it in her hand 1 One druggist in a small town 
sells several of these batteries every week, and the buy¬ 
ers are sure they are benefited. There is a pitiable 
popular ignorance about electricity, and an equally piti¬ 
able readiness to believe whatever is said about it. The 
idea that any combination of metals worked up into a 
medal and placed upon the skin, can have any effect upon 
the body in general, is simply absurd. Still it. is asserted, 
and people like to believe it, just as some otherwise in¬ 
telligent persons believe that carrying a Horse Chestnut 
in the pocket will keep off rheumatism....Last month 
we stated that a person was cutting a big swath in the 
doctoring field in Ohio, and claiming to be from 
THE GREENLEAF MEDICAL INSTITUTE 
of New York City. We hinted at the remarkable modesty 
that refrained from giving the street and number of a 
remarkable Institute, that could send out such a remarka¬ 
ble doctor as Dr. Greenleaf, the son of his father. Now 
we get the fellow’s circulars from Davenport. Iowa, and 
these read : “ Greenleaf Medical Instit ute, No. 648 Broad¬ 
way.” To be in New York City several hours daily, and 
not know about such an Institute, was a state of ignor¬ 
ance not to be endnred, and so soon as we had the num¬ 
ber we started from 245 for 648. So far from finding any 
sort of a Doctor’s shop. 
NO. 648 IS THE ST. CHARLES HOTEL ! 
The clerk of the hotel had never heard of Doct. Green¬ 
leaf or his Institute. As the most likely means of learning 
about such a chap we inquired of the policeman of that 
beat. He knew nothing of Doctor Greenleaf or his Insti¬ 
tute.—Yet the honest people of Ohio are running after 
and paying money to this pretender—even the press 
helps him with favoring notices.—To judge from his cir¬ 
cular, we do not think that the fellow is any more of a 
doctor than the St. Charles Hotel is an “Institute.” 
Early Strawberries.— The first arrival of straw¬ 
berries from Florida, was about the first week in Jan., 
and since then the market has been well supplied. We 
have kept the run of the fruit that has been offered, and 
have been surprised to find that the variety reaching 
market in the best condition, is Charles Downing, a berry 
generally regarded as too soft for transportation to great 
distances.. The fruit from Florida makes the greater 
part of the journey by steamer in a refrigerator, and, as 
a general thing, arrives in excellent condition. While 
some varieties, like the Wilson, become dark colored 
and dull, after they have been picked for a day or two, 
the Charles Downing remains as bright and lively in 
color, as if just from the vines—a most valuable quality 
in a market fruit, and especially in one for shipping. 
The Great Dog Show.— The exhibition of the 
Westminster Kennel Club, has become an established in¬ 
stitution, and is looked for with the crocuses. This year 
the show will be held on the 27th,28th,and 29th of the pres¬ 
ent month, the entries closing on the 12th. We recorded 
the great success of last spring's show, but the managers 
think the coming one will excel all former exhibitions in 
attractiveness. As in former years, Madison Square 
(formerly Gilmore’s) Garden, will be the place. 
(Basket Items continued on page 159.) 
Bee Notes for April. 
BY L. C. ROOT. 
In most locations bees will be placed upon their sum¬ 
mer stands during the present month. At this season of 
the year great care should be taken to give the bees 
every advantage and encouragement to increase in num¬ 
bers. After they have had an opportunity to fly freely, 
the hives should be examined and thoroughly cleaned. 
A good way to do this is to start with a clean, empty 
hive, and place it upon the stand of the first hive to be 
examined, having the one containing the bees directly in 
the rear; lift the combs from the oil hive and place them 
in the new one. After cleaning the hive from which the 
bees have been taken, pass to the next, and transfer from 
that into the first hive, and so through the yard. When 
handling the hives, be sure that each colony has a laying 
queen, and plenty of honey. Let there be only a suffici 
ent number of combs for the bees to occupy. Carefully 
open the hives in the morning, when the bees are com¬ 
pactly clustered, and remove those combs not occupied 
by the bees. This will allow those inexperienced to de¬ 
cide the proper number of combs to leave. The combs 
that are thus removed from the hives should be cared for, 
and kept in a dry place where mice or rats will not have 
access to them. If any colonies should be found queen 
less, unite such with the lightest stocks that have good 
queens. After the bees have had an opportunily to fly 
for a day or two, the presence of a queen may usually be 
ascertained by the presence of eggs in the combs in the 
center of the cluster. When the number of frames is 
limited, have a good, close fitting division board at the 
side of the combs to diminish the space which the bees 
must keep warm. Contract the entrance to the hives, and 
be sure that all upward ventilation is prevented. All 
this should be done in the middle of the day when it is 
warm. Care must be taken not to expose combs, or in 
any other manner to induce robbing. After bees are put 
in proper shape do not make the mistake of opening the 
hive too often until the season is sufficiently advanced. 
Handling bees too early, to stimulate breeding, olVn re¬ 
sults greatly to their injury. As the season grows warmer, 
and the bees increase in numbers, combs may be added. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Size of Boxes.—” What is the most desirable size for * 
section honey boxes f ”... .This subject is receiving 
much attention of late. Jt was discussed at the session 
of the North Eastern Bee-Keepers’Association, recently 
held at Utica. The sizes that are the most used at present 
are 4 by 4 inches, 5 by 5 inches, and 5 by 6 inches. The 
honey dealers of New York have decided in favor of the 
medium size, which takes 5 by 5-inch glass, aud weighs 
about lb. when filled with honey. Two inches is 
the proper width. 
Mrs. Cotton’s Method.— A correspondent writes: 
“I have received a circular from Mrs. Lizzie E. Cotton, 
in which she claims large yields of honey, if we will 
adopt her hive and system of management. Is it reli¬ 
able?”_The numerous inquiries in reference to the 
above mentioned circular, make it necessary that we 
should give our views. One with but a slight knowledge 
of matters relating to bee-keeping should be able to see 
at once that the statements in this circular are not reli¬ 
able. For the benefit of those who are uninformed, we 
would say that we have known of this Mr. Cotton (it 
is said that it is he who sends the circular) for many 
years, and regard his claims as to his hive and his state¬ 
ments as to the management of bees as thoroughly 
unreliable. Whoever is induced by the statements of 
this circular to commence bee-keeping, will be sure to 
meet with great disappointment. 
Comb-Foundation. —One correspondent asks : “ Do 
you advise using comb-foundation in honey boxes. How 
large should the piece be, and 
how do you fasten it in the 
box ? ”... .A Foundation is now 
made which is so very light that 
it is not objectionable in the 
boxes. Make the guide for 
each comb of the width of the 
boxatthe top, and let it come to 
a point at the bottom, as shown 
in the engraving. Some advise 
a piece of the full size of the 
box. Whatever the shape, it should reach to within 
about three-eighths of an inch of the bottom of the box, 
so that the bees can reach it. I use the best white glue 
to fasten the foundation in the boxes. 
Brood Frames.—“Do you advise filling brood frames 
with comb-foundation before hiving a swarm?”_If 
you use foundation in which wires are incorporated to 
prevent sagging, its advantages cannot be overestimated, 
