1OT7.1 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
4,7 
DON’T FAIL 
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GOOD THINGS OFFERED 
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ready received it. 
Fruiting the Ahebia.— The “American 
Naturalist,” in reporting the proceedings of the Academy 
of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, has the following: 
“ Mr. Meehan spoke of the Akebia quinata, an indige¬ 
nous plant of Japan, where it bears fruit, although it 
had not been known to do so in this country until re¬ 
cently, when the fruit had been produced by a vine cul¬ 
tivated by Mr. Canby, of Wilmington, Del.”—We know 
that onr friend Meehan studies the American Agricultur¬ 
ist faithfully, but in this case his memory is at fault. 
The Akebia fruited in Westchester Co., N. Y., in 1868, 
and the fruit was figured in the American Agriculturist 
for January, 1869. Still the fruiting is of so rare occur¬ 
rence that it is worth while to record it, and it gives us 
an opportunity to again call attention to the merits of 
this most excellent hardy climbing vine. 
“ Game Grass.”- 11 G.” Philadelphia. We 
know of no grass called “ Game-grass ” in West Tennes¬ 
see or elsewhere. Several grasses are called grama and 
gama. Please get ns a specimen. 
Fine I>ouble Chinese Primroses.— 
Mr. John Saul, Washington, D. C., who has been remark¬ 
ably successful with Chinese Primroses, sends us speci¬ 
mens of some of his new seedlings. We have seen 
nothing to approach these in size of truss and of indi¬ 
vidual flowers, or in doubleness. The white is without 
a tinge of green, and the colored ones are of the most 
delicate tints imaginable. We congratulate Mr. Saul on 
his success, and add as a practical hint that Chinese 
Primroses are most satisfactory Window plants , provided, 
the amateur starts early, and gets his plants before they 
have been subjected to greenhouse culture. Plants that 
have formed their buds in the greenhouse, will rarely 
flower if transferred to an ordinary room, but if taken 
early in the season, they will bloom finely. 
“ The Lord’s Land.’* — Three years 
ago, while spending a few weeks in Naples, Italy, we 
were agreeably surprised one winter morning, by the ar¬ 
rival of a goodly company of acquaintances and friends 
from America, on their way for an extended tour from 
Suez through the Sinaitic Wilderness, and on through 
Palestine, in various journeyings to and fro, up to the 
northern boundary. Among these tourists were James 
Strong, S.T.D., author of Harmony of the Scriptures, etc., 
etc., Rev. Dr. Ridgeway, and others, including engineers, 
photographers, etc. After doing Vesuvius, Pompeii, 
Naples and vicinity, we bid them God-speed as they 
sailed away on a stormy day for Alexandria.Before us 
is one of the results of that journey—a large, beautiful 
volume with the above title, from the pen of Dr. Ridge¬ 
way, very copiously illustrated with 114 engravings and 
maps, and full of interesting descriptions of the country, 
incidents of travel, habits of the people, etc., etc. It is 
one of the most instructive as well as entertaining works 
on the entire Bible Lands that we have ever read. Pub¬ 
lished by Nelson & Phillips, 805 Broadway, New York. 
744 octavo pages. 
Value of Corn-Bran. — “ G. W. B.,” 
Phenix, R. I. We do not know precisely what is the 
feeding value of corn-bran, as compared with wheat-bran, 
but it is certainly much inferior to that. We should not 
wish to give more than 25 cents a hundred pounds for it, 
at which price it might pay to use it as food for hogs. 
Foaming of the Cream.— “Subscriber,” 
Alleghany Co., Pa. The foaming of cream in the churn 
is generally due to a too high temperature. To reduce 
it, turn ice cold water into the churn, let the cream stand 
a short time, and then go on with the churning. 
Forage Plasits — Durra, —Green forage 
plants are receiving more attention from our farmers 
than ever before; we last month gave an account of a 
new introduction, the Prickly Comfrey ; this month we 
call attention to the merits of Durra, which, though old 
a? a gram plant, has recently come forward as a forage 
plant, and we have at least two more little known plants 
to describe, for which great claims are made. We pre¬ 
sent these plants as matters of news, giving such infor¬ 
mation as can be procured, and leave our readers to judge 
whether it is desirable or not to experiment with them. 
In considering the value of different forage plants, it 
must be borne in mind that productiveness is not the on¬ 
ly desirable quality, and that there is a difference of the 
nutritive value of different kinds of foliage, as there is 
in different grains and roots. A plant that produces 
three tons of green fodder to the acre, may be really more 
valuable than one yielding five tons. In our description 
of Durra on pages 59 and 60, there was not room to men¬ 
tion the nutritive value of its foliage. It is well known 
that the value of a food depends upon the amount of 
carbo-hydrates—fat and heat producers, and albuminoids 
—the flesh forming principles. The German chemists, 
Wolff and Knop, who appear to have analyzed every 
green thing used, or likely to be used, as forage, give an 
analysis of Durra, under its botanical name, Sorghum 
vulgare. A comparison with our most important forage 
crop, Indian corn, also their analysis, stands as follows: 
Carbohydrates. Albuminoids. 
Indian corn, leaves.10.9 1.1 
Durra, leaves.11.9 2.9 
From this it appears that Durra is somewhat superior 
to Indian corn in its fat-forming elements, it is more 
than twice as rich in its flesh-forming constituents. 
Farmer’s Clubs, —“ Volinia (Mich.) Farm¬ 
er’s Club,” send their programme for 1877, which sug¬ 
gests some matters that may be of use to other clubs. The 
list of officers, and the whole programme for the year, is 
printed on a postal card. This is an economical hit 
which perhaps the officers of other clubs have not thought 
of. It goes to each member, and is in a convenient form 
to preserve in a pocket-book or elsewhere. The subject 
to be discussed at each meeting of the year is given. 
This shows wise forethought. We notice that one sub¬ 
ject is the “Improvement of Highways.” This should 
be on the programme of every club in the country. The 
roads in many sections are a public disgrace, and we hope 
that general discussion will lead to corresponding action. 
Potato PoiffI —Any left oyer mashed pota¬ 
toes may be made into an excellent dish for next day’s 
dinner. Mashed potato, 2 cupfuls; melted butter 2 table¬ 
spoonfuls, work well together and add milk, 1 cupful, 
and 2 well-beaten eggs. If the potato was not sufficiently 
seasoned for the table salt will be required. Bake in a 
quick oven until the top is a light brown. 
Brown Bread. —Several have asked for a 
recipe for this celebrated New England bread, which is 
often called Boston brown bread. The following has 
been thoroughly tested and approved. Indian and rye 
meal, one quart each. Milk, 3 pints; soda and salt, two 
teaspoonfuls each; molasses, % of a cupful. Steam for 
five hours, at the end of which time set the pan in a hot 
oven long enough to well brown the crust. 
Cotswolds for Rhode Island.— Eight 
ewes and one ram of the flock sent to the Centennial 
from the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, Eng., 
were purchased by Dr. H. M. Howe, and placed on his 
farm on Hogg Island. The islands of Narragansett Bay 
are celebrated for the excellence of the mutton produced 
on them, and these fine sheep could have no better lo¬ 
cality in which to develop their best qualities than here. 
The Popular ISealth Almanac lor 
18 7 7, by F. Hoffmann, and published by E. Steiger,N. 
Y. So many almanacs are published in the interest of 
quack medicines, that it is gratifying to find one which 
has for one of its objects battling “ unsparingl v against 
that insidious foe to health—the patent medicine hum¬ 
bug, a disgraceful and dangerous trade, conceived in 
fraud, and leading to disaster.” Besides the almanac 
proper, there are useful tables, and much condensed and 
useful information on health topics. Analyses are given 
of a number of the popular nostrums. We wish this 
little work a large sale. Itcosts only 10 cents, and should 
be in every family in the land. 
Tlie One Hundred Days Tomato. 
—This variety was sent out last year by Mr. J. A. Foote, 
seedsman, Terre Haute, Ind. We had the seeds from 
him last year, raised the plants, and 6et them out with 
several other new kinds. The almost unprecedented 
drouth so checked and dwarfed our early plantings, that 
we had nothing like a trial of this or any other new sort, 
and we can only report what others say of it. Several 
well known cultivators in the Western States give very 
positive testimony as to its earliness and productiveness, 
and confirm Mr. Foote’s moderate claim that it is one or 
two weeks earlier than any other. We hope to be able 
to give a better account of it another season. 
Swivel Plows. —“M. H.,” Bayfield, Wis. 
Swivel plows, those which turn so that a hillside can be 
plowed, or that flat land can be plowed, without making 
lands, or going around the field, are made by several 
manufacturers. The Higganum Plow Co., of Higganum, 
Ct., make a very good one ; the Ames Plow Co., Beek- 
man st., New York, also make a good swivel plow. By 
writing to these parties, a circular may be procured. 
Braining- Plow.— “M. H.,” Bayfield, 
Wis. A ditching or draining plow with a share shaped 
something like an egg, and fastened to a thin strong 
standard, is often used for making drains. It leaves a 
round hole or space in the ground, similar to a mole’s 
burrow, for which reason it is called a “mole plow.” 
They are most useful in clay soils. 
Sundry Humbugs. 
Some months ago we con¬ 
gratulated our readers on 
the probability that, in fu¬ 
ture, they would not be an¬ 
noyed by the receipt of so 
many lottery and other 
fraudulent schemes, as here¬ 
tofore. We based our hopes 
upon the law passed at the 
last session of Congress, or 
rather the additions to a 
former law, which we sup¬ 
posed, as no doubt did the 
law makers, would effectu¬ 
ally debar the swindlers 
from the use of the mails. 
While some of the smaller 
fry have been frightened 
off, the larger operators 
keep on, and their cir¬ 
culars continue to be car¬ 
ried by the United States 
Mail, in spite of the fact that the law forbids. In one of 
our interviews with the Post-office officials, in whose 
province such matters come, this lottery business was 
thoroughly discussed. These lottery swindlers have often 
been prosecuted, but never convicted ; they have a plenty 
of money, which they make easily, and spend freely, and 
they engage the most acute and ingenious lawyers, and 
stand up and fight. The trouble is in the law itself, 
which is so defective—we need not point out to other 
swindlers where—that a sharp lawyer can “ quash ” any 
indictment found under it. “ Why not amend the law ?” 
—it will be asked. We are very sure that this will be 
done, but until it is, the law is of little value. We can 
assure our readers that this immunity enjoyed by these 
lottery and other swindlers, is not due to official indiffer¬ 
ence. Whatever may be the case with some public of¬ 
ficers, those of what we may call the criminal Department 
of the Post-office, whether especially attached to the New 
York Post-office—by far the largest in the country—or 
those whose powers extend to all the post-offices in the 
country—are thoroughly in earnest; they not only accept 
the enforcement of the law as a duly, but are really de¬ 
sirous of doing all in their power to protect the com¬ 
munity against the designs of swindlers of every grade. 
THE WYOMING LOTTERY 
has turned up in a new place, and a new game is being 
played. It is pretended that in settling up the affairs of 
The Topeka and Laramie Lotteries, there were $47,000 
in unclaimed prizes, and that the “Supreme Court” 
(oh 1) decided that the managers shouldn’t have this snug 
little sum, but that the “Finance Committees” (oh yes!) 
should invest the money in useful prizes, and make an¬ 
other lottery. This is gravely set forth in clear type on 
handsome paper, and there are people who actually be¬ 
lieve it. Well, the “Finance Committee” remove the 
remains of the defunct Kansas and Wyoming lotteries, 
“body, boots, and breeches,” to New York City. Circulars 
go hence to numerous people, informing them that the 
“supplementary drawing” has been held, that the re¬ 
cipient has drawn a gold watch valued at $200, which can 
be had by paying the committee their “ assessment ” of 
$20. The mere statement of this scheme should be suffi¬ 
cient. Yet there are persons receiving these circulars, 
who write to us and ask us to go and get the aforesaid 
watch for them, and get back our $20 by selling the 
watch 1 Here we have been exposing humbugs all these 
years, and are expected to go and deal with the defunct 
remains of one of the biggest humbugs of the day. Ex¬ 
cuse us 1 If any one supposes that the Wyoming lottery 
is dead while Pattee still lives, he has small knowledge 
of the nature of things. It still waves its banners, but 
they are now inscribed 
“THE CHEYENNE STATE LOTTERY.” 
The blade may be lost and replaced, and the handle a 
new one, but it is the same old knife. The same genius 
who devised the “ special terms to agents ” in the Lara¬ 
mie affair, is manifest here. Poor Wyoming, were not 
the grass-hoppers enough ? We can only hope to warn 
the unsuspecting ; the regular lottery gambler is beyond 
