1880 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
4r97 
front of the year’s numbers, for ready reference.—By the 
way, a glance at this sheet will show how great a number 
of topics have been talked about, and illustrated in this 
single volume. The next Volume will be quite as full 
mainly of fresh hints and suggestions, etc., with new, 
larger type in the body of the paper. No one, we think, 
will exercise wise economy if he fails to secure every 
number for 1881. 
Bound Copies of this Volume (39) will be 
ready on or before Dec. 10th. They are in the uniform 
6tyle, cloth, with gilt backs. Price at the office, $2. If 
sent by mail $2.30. We can supply, at the same rate any 
of the 23 previous volumes, or from volume 16 to 39 in¬ 
clusive. Any ten or more volumes, in one lot, will be 
supplied at the office for $1.75 each ; or be forwarded by 
mail or express, carriage prepaid, for $2 each. 
Binding.— Sets of numbers sent to the office will 
be bound up in our regular style for 75 cents per volume, 
with 30 cents additional if to be returned by mail. Any 
missing numbers supplied to complete volumes at 12 cents 
each. The prepared covers, ready for inserting the num¬ 
bers by any bookbinder, sent by mail for 50 cents each. 
About Club Subscriptions and Rates, 
etc,— Every P. O. receiving papers, whether one or a 
dozen, must have a separate Book Entry, and a full wrap- 
perand address. If three, five, or ten papers go to the 
same office, they all go under the same entry, and under 
one wrapper and address, with a simple slip on each 
giving the subscriber’s name. Every added name dimin¬ 
ishes the proportionate cost of each, for time and wrap¬ 
pers, throughout the year. Again: In all business; 
“ wholesale ” rates for increased quantities are lower. 
Lastly, the lessened cost is an inducement to subscribers 
themselves to enlarge the number. So, while for this 
Journal, with its superior printing paper, its many en¬ 
gravings, requiring slow careful printing and frequent 
washing of plates, its careful editing, and the number of 
experts required for accuracy where there are tens of 
thousands of varieties of plants, fruits, animals, insects, 
implements, modes of cultivation, etc., $1.50 a year is a 
low rate. Yet experience has shown that a scale of rates 
can be adopted like this: “ One or two subscribers, $1.50 
each, Three subscribers, $4 (SI .33 each), Four for $5, five 
for $6, and so on, until ten is reached, at and after which 
the lowest possible club rates of $1 each is adopted, and 
must necessarily be adhered to.— Yet Clubs may be in¬ 
creased with advantage to the subscribers. Any one forward¬ 
ing a club of say four at $5, or $1.25 each, may add other 
names at the same rate if to begin at the same date. But 
when several additions are made by the same person, 
the whole may be reduced to him to the rate for a larger 
club. Thus, if he has sent four at $5, he can send six 
more for $5, that is ten in all, for $10. 
N. B.—The above scale of rates has nothing to do with 
the giving of Premiums. The premiums are a separate 
matter ; they are paid for out of advertising receipts, on 
the principle that by securing enlarged circulation they 
thereby increase the value of advertising space, and bring 
more receipts out of which to pay the premiums. 
containing a great variety of Items , including many 
good Bints and Suggestions which we throw into smaller 
type and condensed foi-m , for want of room elsewhere. 
Distribution of Carp.— Since the publication 
of the illustrated article on the European Carp, in Jan¬ 
uary last, we have had a multitude of inquiries as to the 
method of distribution of this valuable fish. Upon a 
recent visit to the Fulton Market, in this city, we saw, at 
E. G. Blackford’s stand, a large tank filled with upwards 
of a thousand young carp, about three mouths old. 
Mr. Blackford is State Fish Commissioner, of New York, 
and these carp have been received by him from the 
United States Carp Pond at Washington, and are for 
gratuitous distribution throughout the State of New York, 
to persons having suitable waters for growing them. 
A pond with a muddy bottom is preferable, that there 
'may be an abundant growth of plants during spring and 
summer. The carp are vegetable feeders, and should 
be the only fish occupying the pond. Applications for 
these fish are to be made to Mr. Blackford; the largest 
number supplied to one person is five pairs. Those who 
send for the Carp must provide the requisite cans for 
their transportation. 
Exports of American Apples.— Reference is 
made elsewhere to the unnsually large shipments of our 
apples to European ports. When informed a few weeks 
ago in Covent Garden Market that there were at that 
time 13,000 bbis. of American apples on sale in London, 
the quantity seemed so large that we feared there might 
be some error in the figures. Recent interviews with 
some of our shippers show that the figures far exceed 
anything we had supposed. We learn, from reliable 
sources, that up to Nov. 3d, 280,000 bbis. of apples had 
arrived at Liverpool. It was estimated that, at the above 
date, at least 100,000 more bbis. were on the way. That 
there had been received at London, Glasgow, and other 
ports, 200,000 more, making a total of 580,000 bbis. of ap¬ 
ples exported up to the first week in November. 
Guinea Grass.— In an account of this grass, in 
March, 1877, we indicated that it had become thoroughly 
naturalized in some of the Southern States, the result of 
early experiments in its cultivation. “L. A. B.,” Little 
Rock, Ark., sends an extract from the “Memoirs of the 
Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture,” 1814, 
which shows that the Guinea grass was cultivated in Jef¬ 
ferson Co., Ky., by Jos. B. Oglesby, at that early date. 
Though Mr. O. is quite as enthusiastic as to the great 
value of this grass as are some of the present writers, 
claiming that it yielded “ten times as much as timothy,” 
it does not appear to have made much progress. Both 
this and the Durra have been cultivated since the early 
part of the century, and though they are brought forward 
at intervals, they for some reason fail to make themselves 
a place among the regular farm crops. Mr. B. kindly 
quotes the remarks of the Editor of the “Memoirs,” on 
the botanical relations of the grass, which shows that he 
knew but little about it. The accepted botanical name 
of the grass is Sorghum Ealepense. 
I.ocust Trees from Seed.— “W. S. U.” Myers- 
town. Pa. The better way is to sow the seed in a seed¬ 
bed, and transplant the young trees when one, or better 
two years old. Spring is the proper time; pour scalding 
water upon the seeds, and when cold sow them in light 
rich soil, dropping them 6 or 8 inches apart. Keep the 
bed clear of weeds during the summer. 
Learning Phonography.— “ W. B. W.” The 
fact that Mr. Chaffee, of Oswego, N. Y., has an advertise¬ 
ment in our colnmns shows that we have been satisfied 
that he will do what he proposes. That he can surely 
teach you or any other person to become an accomplished 
phouograplier, does not depend upon the teacher alone. 
The scholar is an important factor in that problem. Your 
best course is to correspond with him rather than with us. 
History of the Mass. Horticultural So¬ 
ciety, 1829-1878.—Boston: Published by the Society. 
This handsome volume of nearly 550 pages, while full of 
local interest, has a value to every horticulturist in the 
country. Being, with the exception of that of Pennsyl¬ 
vania, the oldest society of its kind, its history must be 
in good part the history of American horticulture. Per¬ 
haps the most valuable portion of the work is the sketch 
of the History of Horticulture in the United States, pre¬ 
vious to the founding of the Society, which brings to¬ 
gether much concerning our early history that will inter¬ 
est those who are not horticulturists. Though his Dame 
does not appear upon the title page, the completeness 
of the work is due to its Editor, Robert Manning, the 
present Secretary of the Society, who possesses the in¬ 
dustry and appreciation of the necessity for accuracy 
that eminently fit him for the task. A portrait of the 
first President, Gen. H. A. S. Dearhorn, and views of the 
present and former halls of the Society embellish the 
volume. The work was published by subscription of the 
members of the Society, but we learn that the Secretary 
can supply a limited number to others at $3 each. 
Barrel Cart Again. —“R. C. J.,” Opelika, Ala., 
writes: “ I was interested in your cart shown in the Oct. 
No., for hauling barrels and tubs of slops for hogs and 
cattle. I have one which I have been using since 1860, 
which I think is much more convenient and cheaper. I 
use a pair of buggy wheels, with the axle shortened, so 
as to barely let a barrel, set on end, pass between the 
wheels. I then fasten the shafts to the axle, letting them 
extend beyond it far enough to pass under an iron pivot 
on each side of the barrel. The pivots rest in a notch on 
each shaft near the end, so that when pressure is applied 
to the long ends of the shafts, the barrel will be raised 
up and still keep perpendicular. One of the great ad¬ 
vantages of such a cart is, that it can be so easily at¬ 
tached to different tubs or barrels. The length of the 
shafts is in proportion to the size or strength of the man 
or boy who is to use it.” 
Millet for Name.— “J. O. K.,” Kearney, Neb. 
The specimens appear to be of that variety of Hungarian 
Millet which was introduced a few years ago as “ Golden 
Millet.” Ithas been tested to some extent as an annual 
grass, and has been highly spoken of as giving a heavy 
crop of hay, which, though coarse, is much relished by 
farm animals. It is cut soon after flowering, and long 
before the small, globular grain matures. The seed is 
produced in great abundance, and affords food for poul¬ 
try and pigs. Horses are fond of the grain, but we should 
not feed it to them, as the rough bristles that accompany 
the grains have sometimes been injurious. 
Keeping Peas and Beans.—" S. A. C.,” Mil- 
ledgeville, Ga., writes: “ 1 have observed from time to 
time complaints of the difficulty of preserving peas and 
beans from the weevil, particularly in the South. Your 
subscriber, several years ago, found an effectual means, 
and I give it for the benefit of those desiring to keep 
their peas and beans free from weevil. Harvest and dry 
the seeds thoroughly in the sun, and then place them in 
jars, cans, or barrels, which have been heated before the 
fire, deposit in the vessel a bottle of turpentine, not 
corked, but simply closed with a piece of cloth. Expose 
the vessel now and then to the sun, keeping it closed as 
near air tight as possible. The fumes of the turpentine 
kill the larvae of the weevil that have hatched from eggs 
deposited when the seeds were green.” 
Apples and Milch Cows.— Sweet apples do 
not hurt milch cows, unless fed in too large quantities. 
Many sour apples certainly decrease the flow of milk. 
A few do not seem to hurt either the cows or the milk. 
Slint Ont Cold and Save Enel.— A narrow 
crack or opening by the side of, or under, a door or win¬ 
dow, will let in more cold air during winter than a ton 
or two or more of coal will warm. Besides, a draught, 
however small, is productive of colds. A strip of listing, 
or a weather-strip put on, will save fuel largely, as well as 
save health. Weather strips are now very common. 
Those consisting of a strip of wood and rubber are 
good when easily obtainable. A new form, introduced 
last year, is very convenient for sending anywhere by 
mail. This is anarrow rubber sheet curved over to form 
an elastic cushion, a, and its edges are sewn to a strip of 
thin tin, as shown in the engraving. Fig. 1 gives a small 
size. Fig. 2, of double size, shows the form better. Small 
tacks, driven through the holes in the tin at every two 
or three inches, fasten these strips against the edge of 
a door or sash. The elastic rubber cushion, a, closes the 
opening, but allows the sash to be raised or lowered. It 
comes in lengths of 25 and 50 feet, coiled as shown at 
the right-hand, figure 3, so that it. can be mailed at a cost 
of half a cent per foot on pre-payment of postage. The 
price is about 5 cents a foot, or 5‘/j cents, if sent by mail. 
Our readers who cannot obtain it elsewhere, may send to 
this Office, and we will procure and forward what they 
may desire, in even lengths of 25 or 50 feet, at the above 
prices. This is for the best half-inch-wide kind. There 
is a cheaper kind, which may answer for temporary use 
a season or two, supplied at one cent less per foot. The 
size shown in fig. 1, answers for both doors and win¬ 
dows. A narrower strip that will answer for windows, 
costs 4 cents per foot, or 4X cents if sent by mail. 
“Curious Plant.” — “D. D.R.,” Polk Co., Minn., 
writes; “ Enclosed find seed and fibre of a curious plant 
found here. It grows about three feet high, and has 
several bulbs resembling those of the cotton plant, and 
has a good handful of fibre in each bulb. What is it ? 
When found they had burst open and the cotton was 
protruding. Only three stalks have been found, and they 
were among bushes under the trees, and were probably 
some chance dropping of the birds.”—The seed and fibre 
is that of the Common Milkweed (Asclepias Cormili). 
This is a common plant in rich ground almost every¬ 
where, and is counted a troublesome weed in some local¬ 
ities, and one exceedingly difficult to eradicate. The flat 
seeds,contained in large pods, are provided with a copious 
tuft of silky hairs, which serve with the aid of the wind, 
to distribute them. The “ fibre ” has no textile value. 
liUeerii or Alfalfa. —“A. L. F.” asks if it can 
be grown in New England. We know that it is culti¬ 
vated with success near Boston, where the winters are 
quite severe. The seed is kept by all the seedsmen. 
Tlie Dentil of IS. F. Johnstone, Editor of 
the Michigan Farmer , took place in Detroit, on the 24th 
of October last. Mr. J., a native of Ireland, came to this 
country in his youth, and for the last thirty years had 
been an active promoter of the agricultural interests of 
Michigan, both as an Editor and as Secretary of the State 
Agricultural Society. 
