8 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[January, 
rice, or anything like rice. It is the same old thing 
turned up again, which a year or two ago was “ Ivory 
Wheat,” and was offered to our grandfathers as “ Choco¬ 
late Corn,” and has as many aliases as a confidence man. 
If people wish to grow V Durr a Corn,”—which this is— 
we have no objection, as we doubt not it may he made 
useful, but we do object to putting old and well known 
things before the public under false names. 
LOOK OUT FOR THE BOYS. 
Last month we mentioned, though not in these col¬ 
umns, a case, in which the young son of one of our 
friends liad all sorts of vile circulars sent to him; since 
then we have learned of a similar case much nearer 
home. The son of a gentleman connected with this of¬ 
fice, a boy of some 12 years, seeing something advertised 
that struck his fancy, sent the required 10 cents, and re¬ 
ceived the article, which was satisfactory, and well worth 
the money. Soon after this circulars, and letters began 
to come to this boy from places, where the father 
knew that the bo v had no friends, and this induced him 
to examine the matter that came by mail; he found it of 
the vilest character, not sent once, but frequently, and 
it keeps on coming. The original advertisement was a 
trap to get the name, and the address has evidently been 
passed about to several in the “ trade.” Parents should 
he on such terms with their children that these will have 
no correspondence that is kept secret, and they should, 
as a matter of safety, see that no matter reaches their 
children through the mails, which does not pass through 
their own hands. We can not give the names of the 
scoundrels who are engaged in this business, but if we 
are not mistaken, at least one of them, up on the Canada 
border, will find that he can not use the U. S. Post Of¬ 
fices for his purposes, and should he read this, he will 
exclaim “ that’s what’s the matter.” 
MEDICAL MATTERS. 
The circulars, pamphlets, and other documents, put 
forth by quack-doctors of all sorts, are so perfectly ab¬ 
surd to one with any knowledge of medicine, that 
we can hardly avoid treating them with ridicule. We 
feel that by showing up the thorough folly of their 
claims, we can better prevent people from giving them 
serious attention, than we could by any amount of rea¬ 
soning. Still, after all, this matter of quack-medicines 
has its serious side, and there is much about it that is 
really pathetic and quite beyond ridicule. An honest 
physician says to his patient: “ Your disease is beyond 
cure ; you may live for months, or even years, but you 
can not hope for a cure. Medicine can do nothing for 
you, care and good nursing may do much. For me to 
continue my visits, would be a needless expense; care, 
nourishing food, and gentle exercise are all that you 
need, and these you can get without my aid.” An up¬ 
right physician often does this from the best motives, but 
we are sure that he almost as often makes a mistake; his 
visits, even if but twice a week, have been of the greatest 
importance to the patient; they have been looked to as 
great events; about the time when the doctor should 
come, he listens to the sound of every vehicle. When 
the doctor comes he brings a cheerful face, he listens to 
the story of every pain and ache, he says that this may be 
or may not be eaten; tells him some bits of news, such as 
so and so has received a lot of fine oysters, or that quail 
are now in season, and that he may have half a one—no 
more, every other day, and many other things of like im¬ 
port. The physician goes off leaving the patient feeling 
better, and he thinks for a day or two of what the doctor 
said, and the next day or two of what he will ask or tell 
the doctor, so that he is really much better in mind, at 
least, for the visits. When the doctor says that he shall 
come no more, the invalid is deprived of this pleasant 
excitement, and something must be found to supply its 
place. The patient reads the newspapers. He can, un¬ 
fortunately, read but few in which his own case is not 
exactly described, and—of course—a sure cure offered. 
Then begins a trial of this and that quack medicine— 
most of them being stimulants of one kind or another, 
he feels better when he begins with one of them, the ef¬ 
fect though soon wears off, and he tries another, which 
being a stimulant or anodyne in another form, is just the 
thing—for a while—and so it goes on—until the end. 
This is enacted over and over again in every town in the 
country, not by the poor and ignorant, for they cannot 
afford it, but by 
REALLY INTELLIGENT PERSONS. 
We received only a few days ago a letter, which in 
point of penmanship and composition is rarely excelled. 
We were told in touching terms of a sick friend, who 
wished to try the enclosed recipe, but first our advice was 
desired, and would we not reply immediately. We could 
see the whole at a glance, the last hope was hung upon 
this stuff. We saw how the mail was watched, and when 
at last our reply came, we could almost see the hope fade 
away as it was read. It was with a feeling of sadness 
that we wrote (the letter enclosed circulars from a 
Syracuse quack who had stolen the trick of Joseph In- 
mann) to this effect: *• It is the old story: this Syracuse 
chap, from a ‘ sense of duty,’ gives a recipe in which in¬ 
gredients are given by names not known in medicine. 
Also from a sense of duty, knowing that these names are 
not known in any drug store, he has the stuff put up, 
which he will sell at a round price,” and stated that we 
could not advise the venture. Such cases occur frequent¬ 
ly in our correspondence, and are sometimes brought to 
our notice in 
PERSONAL INTERVIEWS. 
Not long since a stout, hearty, honest-looking young 
man from the country, called on us. His story was, that 
he had sent about $20 to some quack establishment 
in this city, having teen prompted to do so by his kindly 
desire to benefit a poor but worthy friend who was on a 
sick bed, and in reference to whose case the quack cir¬ 
culars that he had received made, as they always do, the 
most definite promises of cure. The money was sent, 
sundry bottles of “ stuff ” were received, but his poor 
sick friend was >his poor sick friend still, and now he 
was trying in vain to get his money back, or some kind 
of satisfaction. “ Could we help him in any way “Do 
you see and read the American Agriculturist ? ” we asked. 
—“ I see it, for my mother takes it, and thinks everything 
of it, but I am sorry to say, I haven’t read it as I ought to 
have done.”—“Didn’t you know that there was a chapter 
there every month entitled ‘ Sundry Humbugs,’ designed 
to protect just such honest, and well-meaning, but too 
credulous persons as yourself?”—“Well,” said he in a 
regretful, self-accusatory way, “ my mother did tell me 
I’d better send to you American Agriculturist folks, be¬ 
fore letting my money go, but I thought it was aU right." 
As the poor fellow stood there evidently as much grieved 
at his failure to help his sick friend, as at the loss of his 
own hard-earned money, it was a pitiable case. But what 
could we do ? Money thus lost is never recovered. Poor 
fellow, we could only give him a few friendly words, and 
he went home if a sadder, a wiser man. He “ thought it 
was all right,” as unfortunately do many, when the prom¬ 
ises second their hopes, We can give our friends no 
better New Year’s advice, not only not to believe the pre¬ 
tensions of the numberless “ medical ” circulars that are 
cumbering the mails, but to not even read their claims, 
as they excite hopes that can never berealized, and what 
is of less consequence, their whole end and aim is money, 
which, once parted with, can never be regained. 
Experiment iMg - with Fertilizers.— 
The writings of Prof. Ville in Europe, and in this coun¬ 
try of several who have claimed great results from fer¬ 
tilizers made by certain formulas, have induced in many 
of our more intelligent farmers a desire to experiment 
in the same direction. When told that a given formula 
must contain so much of ammonia, potash, phosphoric 
acid, lime, etc., they are at once met by the great ex¬ 
pense of these in a pure or separate state, and they are 
at loss to know how they can buy them in the cheapest 
and most available forms. To meet this want Mr. C. Y. 
Mapes has prepared circulars giving very full informa¬ 
tion on these points, showing the cost per pound of the 
above named constituents in the various forms in which 
they are to be found in commerce. Thus, potash in one 
drug may cost the farmer 13c. per pound, while he may 
buy it in another form at 7c., and so with ammonia and 
the rest. To further aid experimenters he gives the 
proportions of each of these constituents in each of the 
leading farm crops, not in percentage, but reckoned in 
bushels or tons. Mr. M. also furnishes the formulas 
given by Prof. Ville, and much other useful information 
in a compact and popular form. 
The Forest aud Stream Hand-Book 
for Riflemen, by Major Geo. C. Starr, N. Y.: J. B. Ford 
& Co. Rifle-shooting as a recreatiou, and a useful and 
interesting one, is increasing with wonderful rapidity. 
Those about to form clubs will find in this little hand¬ 
book full directions for organization, for outfit, and for 
regulating their matches. Directions are given for 
choosing and using a rifle, a list outlie existing rifle- 
clubs in the country, and much other useful matter, and 
illustrated with maps and engravings, all in a compact 
pocket volume of 64 pages, and sold for 50 cents. 
Fairinouiit Park— A Good Ap¬ 
pointment.— New Yorkers are at present justly con¬ 
cerned as to the future of Central Park, and pending the 
quarrels of officials, are deprived not only of many facili¬ 
ties for recreation, but the well keeping of the Park ap¬ 
pears to be in danger through the lack of money to pay 
the laborers. At the same time Philadelphians may con¬ 
gratulate themselves that their beautiful and extensive 
Fail-mount Park is in the control of a harmonious Com¬ 
mission, which is constantly working for the improve¬ 
ment of this grandest of public play-grounds. The de¬ 
sign of this park does not demand so much aid from art 
as that of Central Park, yet there must be more or less 
done in opening views, planting, etc., and it is desirable 
that there should be a harmony of design throughout. 
With a view to this end, the Commissioners have ap¬ 
pointed Chas. H. Miller, Esq., as “ Consulting Landscape 
Gardener.” Mr. M. is of the firm of Miller & Hayes, 
Mount Airy Nurseries, Philadelphia, and was the Chief 
of the Bureau of Horticulture at the Centennial Exhibi¬ 
tion. A large number of country seats in the suburbs of 
Philadelphia, and the telling effects produced with very 
limited materials on the Centennial grounds, afford 
■abundant testimony as to the fitness of Mr. Miller for the 
new and responsible position to which he has been 
chosen, and we congratulate the city of Philadelphia on 
having here the right man in the right place. 
Texf.Book on Veterinary Obstc- 
tries.—We have received the third part of this work, 
to which we have previously referred. This part, which 
occupies over 60 pages, describes the anomalies of 
gestation and the accidents of pregnancy. Amongst the 
latter, abortion is treated of to a considerable length, and 
in an interesting manner. Breeders and dairymen, who 
have suffered serious losses of stock from this cause, will 
be greatly interested in the history of this malady, and 
the explanation of its causes, its prevention, and the 
treatment, as given in this part. 
The Jerusalem Artichoke—Where is 
it from? 
The “ Rural New Yorker,” in a useful article upon the 
agricultural value of the Jerusalem Artichoke ( Helianthus 
tuberosus). says that it is “found growing wild in Brazil.” 
This positive statement as to a long doubtful point, in¬ 
duces ns to ask our cotemporary by whom was it found ? 
If it has some recent-dnformation in the case, it should 
give it for the benefit of others. Humboldt did not find 
it “ wild ” or in cultivation in any part of Brazil or other 
part of South America, nor did Von Martius, whose 
“ Flora of Brazil” is one of the most elaborate of botani¬ 
cal works, meet with it; in fact, up to the present time, 
there is—unless our friends of the “Rural ” have it—no 
evidence whatever that it was brought from Brazil, or 
was even ever seen there. That its Brazilian origin is 
given in various works is true, for it is very common for 
an error to be copied by one after another, but it is not 
stated by authors who, in recent years, have investigated 
the matter. It is given by Parkinson (1640) under the 
general head of Potatoes, and is figured as Batatas de 
Canada. Linnsens first mentions the plant in “ Hortus 
Cliffortianus” (1737), and accredits it to Canada, though 
in his later works he, for some reason, changed it to 
Brazil. In those days geographical boundaries were very 
indefinite, and Canada was apparently nearly all of the 
present United States, not included in Virginia. There 
is not only no evidence that the plant was brought from 
Brazil, or that it now exists there, but there is no Heli¬ 
anthus, or Sunflower, nearly related to it found there, 
they being all natives of Mexico and the United States. 
It is true that this is negative testimony, but it is 
strengthened by the fact that the Jerusalem Artichoke is 
quite hardy, even in New England, which tells against its 
Brazilian origin, and would, were it from that country, 
stand alone as a tropical plant hardy enough to endure 
our severest winters. As we have shown that the proba¬ 
bilities are strongly against the accuracy of the “Rural’s” 
statement that the plant “is found growing wild in 
Brazil,” it will no doubt, and properly, ask where it did 
originate. Here also we can only give the probabilities. 
There is one of our wild Sun-flowers— Hdicmthus doroni- 
coides —which grows from Pennsylvania and Illinois, 
southward, and is quite abundant in the southwestern 
States and the valley of the Mississippi; this produces, 
in its wild stale, long tubers, so like those of the Jerusa¬ 
lem Artichoke as to suggest that they are its wild parent- 
The tuber-forming habit of this species is not an ac¬ 
cidental thickening of the root-stock, as it has been no¬ 
ticed several times in the wild plant, and is held by spe¬ 
cimens cultivated in botanical gardens. The plant itself 
is so like H. tuberosus, that Gray, in his last edition of 
Manual, says in speaking of it: “ This is probably the 
original oi H. tuberosus , the Jerusalem Artichoke,” an 
opinion in which he has since been so strongly confirm¬ 
ed, that he says he has “ no doubt ” of it. The historical 
evidence that the aborigines cultivated the plant is lack¬ 
ing ; but. from what we do know of their agriculture, and 
the well established fact that they had different, varieties 
of squash or pumpkin, and corn, it is not improbable- 
that they cultivated the Artichoke; indeed, a recent 
writer, though he does not give his authority for the 
statement, enumerates “Sun-flowers” as among the 
plants grown by the Indians. A plant so hardy and cul¬ 
tivated with so little labor, is one that would especi¬ 
ally commend itself to their rude agriculture. As to its 
introduction into Europe, it may have been taken to 
France by the way of Canada, or to Spain by the way 
of Florida, as both countries had settlements in those 
parts of the new world three quarters of a century before 
the alleged date of its cultivation in Europe. If any of 
our readers in the Indian Territory have any information, 
traditional, or otherwise, bearing upon the use of this, 
