1880 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
459 
give no attention to his medical practice, for his own 
health's sake, and had only incidently referred to the case 
be f ore them in a thoughtless moment, overcome by the 
kindness of his host.’ His host is thoroughly aroused, 
“fears the family physician may not understand the 
•case,’’ and beseechingly implores his wonderously skilled 
guesi to “ do something for them.’’ After many objec¬ 
tions on his part and much earnest entreaty, he finally 
lets it out that he is going to visit a dear friend who has 
a member of his family similarly affected, and that be¬ 
fore leaving the College he had prepared a single bottle 
-of medicine that was considered the only sure remedy 
He is implored to let his host have it, but he protests 
that it was difficult to make up, that his friend was wait¬ 
ing for it and he had perhaps done wrong in delaying 
for the night ; that he could only get another bottle by 
telegraphing and calling an expert from a distance to 
make it up : that he was to have $50 for it, and that it 
would cost almost that to get it made by telegraph and 
forwarded with extra dispatch by rapid express, or by 
special messenger perhaps. 
RESULT. 
The host gladly pays the $50, or perhaps $100; the 
Professor drives off rapidly to reach the nearest telegraph 
■office—(rather to find another victim a few miles off) the 
inert medicine is used and speedy cure obtained, because 
there was no disease ; the family are wonderfully grate¬ 
ful and Providence is often thanked for directing the 
angel unawares to their door. Of course no one reveals 
to others the fact that a member of the family has been 
-so near the verge of epileptic “fits” or “insanity”; 
and the swindler goes on unexposed and unmolested, 
finding other victims If successful once a day, it yields 
him $25 tc $100, which is nearly clear profit as his “ ho¬ 
le. bills ” are next to nothing. This is a veritable case 
We here give it in full, to help put our readers on their 
guard, not only against this particular imposter, but a- 
.gainst a variety of other “angel’s visits unawares.” 
NURSERY AND TREE AGENTS. 
“S T. R.,’ of Cal. (and many others). Mr. R asks, 
1st, ‘ if Ellwanger & Barry, of Rochester, N. Y., are re¬ 
liable?”—They are entirely so, or their advertisement 
would not.be found in the American Agriculturist; and 
2nd, Mr. R. asks: “If I buyof -who claims to 
be E & B’s. agent, will I get what I pay for.”--Of 
that we know nothing There are agents and ageDts, 
everywhere almost—some good, and reliable; many 
-others are the veriest swindlers of the meanest kind 
To sell a man a tree over which he is to devote years of 
time and care before he can know that he is imposed 
upon is worse than stealing his money directly from his 
pocket. The best way to do is to send always direct to 
the nurseries themselves. If disposed to listen to the 
agent, get his terms, etc., but never give the order to him 
in anij case; send the list directly to the proprietor, if 
well known as a reputable party, and ask him all about 
it the terms and quality, etc., and if satisfied send the 
order directly to him. The “agent,” if an authorized one, 
will settle his commission on sales with his employers. 
• PROF. CALDWELL’S MAGNETO-GALVANIC BATTERY,” 
which he asks Postmasters to become agents for, was 
shown up and pictured in our last May number, page 177. 
.Then it was “ Prof. Boyd's,” but had no “heart” in the 
middle It is just now most extensively pushed all over 
the country. The claims for it are non-scientific, and 
the sheerest nonsense. We would not give five cents a 
bushel for them, except as old metal. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
Don’t buy, or touch, or become agent for any of the 
mixtures and preparations offered as cheaper than kero¬ 
sene, for producing light, no matter how tempting the 
offers of profits, or of patent lever watches to agents. All 
these mixtures are positively dangerous, however “safe” 
the burners are claimed to be. More such offers go out 
•from Michigan than elsewhere.Subscribing for be¬ 
fore unheard of new papers and magazines is risky, if 
issued by parties one has never heard of. Of course 
there are worthy- new enterprises, but there are every 
year numerous such sheets started with tremendous in 
•ducements to subscribers and agents, which are frauds, 
•or are issued by enthusiasts, or by parties with no capital; 
and after one, two, or three numbers go out, cease to 
live, and those subscribing lose the money paid in. Often 
there is lack of honesty or lack of money to pay postage 
on answers of explanation to inquiring and complaining 
subscribers. Complaints of such treatment are among 
the commonest contents of our humbug drawer. 
“ W. J K.," of Mo., and many others sending medical 
circulars and inquiries, are respectfully referred to the 
full showing up of all sorts of Patent Medicines, on page 
'300 of the American Agriculturist, for August 1880_ 
“The D. S. Washing Machine’ was pictured and its 
sellers exposed on page 133 of April American Agricul 
turist, to which our Lady Subscriber in California and 
•many othei inquirers among new comers, are referred ... 
-To inquirmg new readers: Rev Joseph T. Inman, 
Thbie House. N. Y., an extensive advertiser, is a humbug 
of the first water, often exhibited in these columns. 
Liquid.manure. —“ A Subscriber,” Millheim, Pa., 
writes: "Please let me know whether it would profit a 
farmer to apply Liquid Manure to land, and the quantity 
to the acre.”—Liquid Manure is the “double-distilled 
extract of fertility ’’—distilled, so to speak, in the animal 
economy. There is not a plant on the farm which will 
not be grateful for it. but it must not be too strong. 
Whether you can apply it with profit, is another ques¬ 
tion, Probably you could with proper appliances, 
especially a good sprinkling cart. The quantity to be 
applied to the acre is hard to measure Experience will 
indicate the strength desirable, and it will be found 
most beneficial upon grass and grain crops, frequently 
applied while they can be gone upon without detriment. 
Peacli Yellows.— “J. S.,’\ Harrison Co., Ohio, 
writes : ’’ My peach orchard has all become affected with 
the disease termed “ Yellows,” and most of the trees 
died from it. Would it be safe forme to replant the same 
orchard immediately, after grubbing out and burning the 
old trees? Or in other words will the young trees take 
the disease by their roots coming in contact with those 
of the old trees?”—It is proved beyond a doubt that the 
“ Yellows ” is contagious, and whatever the exact nature 
o( it may be, it is not safe to plant a new orchard upon 
the sauie ground where the “ Yellows” has prevailed to 
a destructive extent—not immediately at least. 
Removing a Ream for Horse Fork.— 
The old barns, which had more and much larger beams 
than were necessary, had to be changed somewhat in 
side for the working of the horse hay forks. The method 
of removing the upper or " little beam ” and supplying 
REMOVING UPPER BEAM FOR HORSE FORK, 
its place with braces is shown by dotted lines in the ac¬ 
companying engraving. With this beam removed the 
hay fork, with its load, has free working ‘room, and at 
the same time the roof is as thoroughly braced as before 
New Jersey Exhibition at Waverly.— The 
especially noteworthy portion of the show this year was 
the exhibition of fruit. It was almost altogether that of 
amateur fruit-growers, and the specimens were superb. 
There was only one exhibit by a professional nursery¬ 
man. Mr Quinn, the officer of the Society in charge of 
the Horticultural Exhibition, said it was the best show 
of the kind he ever saw, and we are quite ready to be¬ 
lieve him. In other respects the show was about as 
usual. A new feature has recently been added. The 
Sanitary Department, in which apparatus for house¬ 
plumbing. drainage, city sewerage, disinfectants, etc., 
were exhibited. In connection with this, but not of it, 
the State Experiment Station displayed a large number 
of samples of commercial fertilizers sold in the State dur¬ 
ing the year. These had been carefully analyzed, and the 
analysis was given, together with the estimated value, as 
shown by the analysis, and this compared with the price 
at which it was sold. This " estimated value ” is really 
no guess work, but the real value of the ingredients at 
prevalent market prices. It would be better, perhaps, to 
call it “Deduced value,” as showing that the value is 
taken directly from the analysis in each case. In this 
connection we may allude to the article of baled horse 
manure, put up by a company in Newark forshippinginto 
the country. This indicates real progress in handling 
the article. The bales are compact and inodorous. 
“Worm” on “ Pussley.”— “C. T. S.” sends a 
“ worm’ which he found feeding iipon the common gar¬ 
den pest, the purslain or “pussley.” The “ worm ” did 
not arrive in the best condition ; it is the larva of some 
insect which we do not recognize. We rejoice with 
Mr. C. that there is an insect enemy to the “ pussley,” 
and only hope his tribe may increase, if it will only eat 
out this rapid growing pest of the garden. It may be en¬ 
couraging to many gardeners to know that there is a 
white mould making a vigorous growth of late years 
upon this same plant, that may help to keep it in check. 
(Basket Items continued on page 485.) 
Editorial Items from tlie West. 
New Texas Cattle Routes. 
At Prairie du Chien, on tlie Upper Mississippi, 
we noticed extensive cattle yards in course of con¬ 
struction, and, on inquiry, learned that they are 
intended as resting and feeding yards for cattle 
brought by railway 400 miles, from Running Water 
where they cross the Missouri River near the mouth 
of the Niobrara. Open a map and follow the cattle 
as they start from Texas over the long route, up t* 
Nebraska and Southern Dakota, feeding and grow¬ 
ing as they go, 10 to 15 miles a day. Pastured i» 
Nebraska and Southern Dakota, and sometimes 
finished off on corn in Nebraska, they are gathered 
at Niobrara, and started on a railway journey of 674 
miles to Chicago—hut profit and safety, as well a* 
a humane legal provision, require them to be un¬ 
loaded for rest and feeding at this point. If 
destined for Eastern markets, a thousand miles 
more of railway carries them from Chicago to New 
York. The map will show four other railway 
routes running across Iowa from east to west, and 
two across Minnesota, all extending to Chicago, and 
all will take part in gathering and transporting 
these vast herds of cattle, both those originally 
from Texas, and those fed or raised in Western Ne¬ 
braska, Dakota, and Wyoming. It will be seen 
also that half a dozen other railways cross the Stats 
of Missouri, extending westward and southwest to 
the vast piaius south of Nebraska, etc. 
Cattle from Montana for tlie East. 
Away up the Missouri River, 200 miles above the 
mouth of the Yellowstone River, we saw a single 
herd of over 1,000 cattle being slowly driven down 
the north bank from Western Montana to Bismarck, 
where (nearly 2,000 miles from New York), they 
will be shipped over the Northern Pacific R. R., and 
on eastward via. St. Paul and Chicago. We also 
saw other large lots coming down by boats, a thou¬ 
sand miles or more from Fort Benton and west¬ 
ward, to Bismarek. All accounts agree that there 
is to be an immense business done in stock raising 
—cattle, horses, etc.,—in Western Montana, now 
that new outlets to Eastern markets are opening. 
The extent and possibilities of our country can 
be but faintly appreciated until one has gone 
over at least a portion of the “ Great West ”—in¬ 
cluding that part west of the middle Missouri River. 
Flax on Prairies—Mills "Wanted. 
As we have before noted, many farmers at the 
west find it profitable to put in flax as a first crop 
on newly broken prairie. [See September American 
Agriculturist, page 340.] It requires little work, 
and yields 8 to 12, or more bushels. We found in 
Central Iowa a number of farmers who raise a good 
deal of flax on older land, the yield being 12 to 20 
bushels of seed per acre. Oil mills will make * 
home market for the seed, and the more oil-cake 
there can be sent east, the better it will be for the 
older farms. Query : Will it not pay enterprising 
men to start more establishments for using the 
straw or fibre which is now mainly wasted? It 
strikes us that here is a good field for occupancy— 
perhaps for new inventions in the way of working 
and using the machine-thrashed straw or fibre. 
There are now, here and there, manufactories which 
buy this straw at $2 to $4 a ton—that which has 
been run through the ordinary thrashing machine. 
Quick-Growing- Trees. 
We have seen many vigorous groves, wind- 
brakes, and fences, in several parts of Iowa, of the 
quick-growing Soft Maple, Willow, Lombardy Pop¬ 
lar, and Cottonwood. The Maple is raised from 
seed: the other three from cuttings. Slips six to 
eight inches long are stuck into the new-broken 
ground, and grow so rapidly that in the course of 
four years they give an abundant supply of wood, 
and, when placed in line, a good fence is left after 
cutting the upper part off for fuel. We found 
farmers almost equally divided in their preference 
for Maple, Poplar, Cottonwood, or Willows. In 
Benton County, Iowa, there are flourishing Osage 
Orange Hedges, but north of this the plant is con¬ 
sidered uncertain as a general rule—not always. 
