1877 .] 
AMERICAN. AGRICULTURIST. 
75 
the title of “ Professor ” has lost most of its former dis¬ 
tinction. Once it was only given to the holder of a chair 
in a regular university or college. In some States it is 
now given to every school teacher, and it is used for all 
sorts of persons, down to boxers and bruisers, who are 
“ Professors of the manly art of self-defence.” Still we 
did not know how readily the title was acquired, until 
we saw the circular of some gimcrack sold by agents. In 
setting forth the inducements to undertake the agency of 
the thing, the “ outfit ” is described ; the articles the out¬ 
fit is to contain are enumerated, and include “ one thou¬ 
sand circulars with your name (as professor if you wish) 
printed on them.” The whole outfit costs only $30, and 
one can get a lot of gimcracks, and be a professor (“ if 
you wish ”) besides.—Let us all be professors. 
Tlie Japanese Persimmon, Diospy- 
roa Kate, fruited with Mr. G. F. Wilson. It was tried by 
the members of the Royal Horticultural Society-result, a 
general pucker—only the account put it ‘ wry faces.” 
Such an indignity must be looked into, and Kate was at 
once analyzed. Over Spercent of tannicacid found. Now 
we know what was the matter. Any Southern darkey 
would have said “ dem ’ simmins wasn’t ripe.” It must 
have been a very funny thing to have seen that august 
body with its mouth involuntarily in a whistling position. 
We doubt if this fruit will completety ripen in England. 
We tasted of the first fruit that matured here, and 
there was no trace of astringency. 
Bitter Rot in Apples.— This difficulty 
appears to be on the increase, to judge front the inquiries 
that are made concerning it. Light brownish spots ap¬ 
pear in the flesh of the apple, and these are of the most 
intensely bitter taste, while the unchanged portions are 
of their usual character. If any proper investigations 
have been made as to the 'cause, we have not heard of 
them. Cases are recorded in which manuring the trees 
has been followed by a recovery. So far as is known at 
present, we can only work on general principles; assum¬ 
ing that there is a lack of proper nutrition, it is safe to 
see to the general health of the trees. On poor soils ap¬ 
ply manure, and on those apparently fertile, give lime, or 
ashes, or both. Until the precise cause is known, to ap¬ 
ply special remedies will be working in the dark. 
Fish Guano. —The Moss Bunkers, or Men¬ 
haden, are not caught, as many suppose, with the chief 
object of converting them into a fertilizer. Fish scrap 
or fish guano, a valuable fertilizer, is only a secondary 
product. The principal object of the business is the oil, 
which, since the decline in the supply of whale-oil, is 
now put to many uses for which that was formerly em¬ 
ployed. After the oil is pressed out of the steamed fish, 
the residue, dried and ground, is put on the market as 
fish guano. There are now about 75 fisheries, in which 
some $3,000,000 are invested, and these employ 250 sail¬ 
ing vessels, 30 steamers, and nearly 4,000 men. The oil 
product of last year (1876) is estimated at 3,000,000 gallons, 
and that of scrap, or guano, at 40,000 tons. 
Ciovernmeiit Land, in Florida. — 
“ J. G. D.,” Cambridgeport, Mass. There are a plenty of 
U. S. Government lands in Florida, subject to entry un¬ 
der the homestead act, on the same conditions as in (lie 
Western States: or a person can preempt, and pay $1.50 
per acre. The cost of a homestead is only the office-foes 
and the expense of surveying, in all about $18 for 160acres. 
‘‘ Tlie Illustrated Adelaide News.” 
—Nothing more strikingly shows the wonderful progress 
made by that far off country, Australia, than to receive 
from there an illustrated monthly paper. Seven of its 16 
pages, each nearly twice as large as this page of the 
American Agriculturist , are quite filled by engravings, 
not copied from English papers, but original, with a 
strong local flavor. If some of the engravings do not 
show quite so fine work as those in older journals, they 
are remarkably spirited in drawing, and highly credita¬ 
ble. Local shipwrecks, fights with the natives, hunting 
scenes, new buildings, and Australian scenes make up a 
variety, and two views of Australian exhibits at the 
Centennial, show an enterprise that deserves success. 
Japanese Botany.— 1 The Japanese are 
making such wonderful progress in adopting whatever is 
desirable in the life of other nations, that we forget that 
they had by themselves reached a high state of culture, 
which prepared them for this sudden advance. Thus, 
their plants have been studied by native botanists, and 
classified according to a system of their own, and their 
illustrated botanical works represent the plants in figures 
which show great skill and fidelity to nature. One of our 
pleasantest mementoes of the Centennial Exhibition, is 
a work presented by one of the Imperial Commis¬ 
sioners, containing specimens of the wood of 100 native 
trees and shrubs. Each species is represented by a cross- 
eection, and mostly by two length-wise sections cut dif¬ 
ferent ways of the grain. The sections, cut as thin as 
writing paper, are attached to the pages of a book; at the 
top of the page is printed, in English type, the Japanese 
name, the botanical name, according to our system, 
and that of the family to which it belongs. In a column 
at the right hand of the page, is descriptive matter in 
Japanese characters. The book has a very full index, 
and its reading matter looks very instructive. The whole 
forms a most interesting collection, the like of which 
but few other countries can show. 
To H«ill Clover-Seed.—“ J. J.,” Green 
Co., Wis. Clover seed may be thrashed and hulled in 
great part without a huller, by the following method. 
Take out the concave of a thrashing machine, and replace 
it with a piece ^f oak plank in which grooves have been 
plowed lengthwise with a gouge, chisel, or a grooving- 
plane. Feed the clover into the machine so as to keep it 
crowded full, and hang a bag in front of the discharge to 
keep the chaflf from leaving the machine freely. This 
will cause a great deal of rubbing in the machine, by 
which most of the seed will be hulled. Clean with the 
fan, with a light draft, or toss the cliafl: with a fork or 
rake, and rake-off the top, keeping the bottom for sow¬ 
ing. Or else thrash and rake off the coarse chaff, and 
sow the fine chaff, in which all the seed will be found. 
Fistula on tlie Jaw.-“F. A. P.,” 
Blue Earth Co., Minn. The difficulty of healing a run¬ 
ning sore upon the face of an animal, is probably due to 
a disease of the bone beneath it. To reach this, through 
a very small pipe inject a few drops of Carbolic Acid in a 
spoonful of water, by means of a small common syringe. 
Do this twice a day, until the discharge ceases, then in¬ 
ject a few drops of Compound Tincture of Benzoin, twice 
a day, until the hole closes. If this does not succeed, 
open the hole with a knife, down to the bottom, and then 
treat it as above, keeping a plug of lint in the opening 
until the bottom heals. 
Spavin. Cure. — “E. S. E.,” Talbot Co., 
Md. It is impossible to say what may be the effect of 
any application for spavin, without knowing of what the 
remedy consists. But it is very safe to say that no reme¬ 
dy whatever can be expected to succeed in all cases, and 
anything that is claimed to cure every case to which it is 
applied, will fail to do what is promised. There are some 
cases of spavin, such as when the bony growth is fully 
formed, that can never be cured by outward applications. 
SBna.ll Fai-m CJrist Mills.—“ W. D. R. 
M.,” Savannah, Ga. The various mills illustrated in the 
American Agriculturist recently, are made of different 
sizes, some of them small enough for hand-power. To 
procure one to suit, write to the manufacturers, whose 
cards appear in the American Agriculturist, for cata¬ 
logues with prices, and select what sterns most suitable. 
Bifiticulty of Breathing in a Horse. 
—“F„” Warren Co., Ohio. When a horse breathes with 
difficulty while working in harness, it may indicate a 
disease of the lungs, or a pressure of the collar; which it 
is, may easily be tested. As the horse is hide-bound, and 
troubled with some affection of the kidneys, it is more 
probable that the difficulty of breathing originates in a 
general poor condition of health; this may arise from in¬ 
digestion, or there may be tuberculosis of the lungs. It 
might be well to give him a pint of linseed oil daily, for 
a few days, to clear the bowels, and then feed bran- 
mashes, with crushed oats and linseed meal, mixed with 
cut hay moistened. One ounce of ground gentian root 
might be given in the night’s feed. If tuberculosis or 
consumption is the cause, there is no help for the animal. 
Catalogues Received. 
The Catalogues for the spring trade have already began 
to appear. If any dealers who have sent their lists fail 
to find them enumerated below, it is because they came 
to hand too late. The paper goes to press on the 15th of 
the preceding month, and Catalogues that did not reach 
us by Jan. 15th must lie over until March. 
NURSERYMEN. 
Charles Black & Bro., Hightstown, N. J. General 
stock of fruit and ornamental trees, with special atten¬ 
tion to peaches. 
John S. Collins, Moorestown, N. J.—A full list of 
small fruits, peach and other fruit-trees, and berry boxes 
and crates. 
Robert Douglas & Sons. Waukegan, Ill., offer tree 
seeds, and evergreen and other forest trees either as 
young seedlings from the seed bed, or several times 
transplanted, and several years old. 
P. H. Foster. Babylon, (L. I.) N. Y.—General fruit and 
ornamental trees, hedge-plants, etc. 
A. Hance & Son, Red Bank. N. J.—A select retail list 
of fruit-trees and small fruits, describing novelties, 
especially among peaches, raspberries, and strawberries. 
E. W. Krause, Waco, Texas.—Fruit and ornamental 
trees, small fruits and flowers, selected with reference to 
the climate of Texas. 
D. S. Marvin, Grape-vine Nursery, Watertown. N. Y. 
A special list of grapes selected for a northern climate! 
E. P. Roe, Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, N. Y., sends a 
compendious circular of strawberries, raspberries, and 
other small fruits, which gives useful talk about them, 
and their prices. 
SEEDSMEN. 
W- H. Carson, 125 Chambeis st., New York, sends out 
his first catalogue, which is as neat as a row of new pins. 
In both vegetable and flower seeds he judiciously 
confines himself to a selection of the best. A Calendar 
of Operations and various tables increase its usefulness. 
J. A. Foote, Terre Haule, Ind., has the leading varie. 
ties, and makes a specialty of the 100 days Tomato.” 
noticed elsewhere. 
David Landreth & Sons, Philadelphia, Pa.— This 
long-established house enjoys a reputation which each 
year confirms. Their “ Rural Register and Almanac ” is 
as fresh and useful as ever, and not the less so because it 
contains their price list. 
J. M. Philips, Mercersburg, Pa. A catalogue of seeds 
largely grown by himself, with directions for culture. 
J. B. Root, Rockford, Ill.—Before the sudden death of 
Mr. Root, mentioned last month, he had prepared his 
“ Garden Manual and Catalogue,” which is as fresh and 
useful as ever. The business will be continued by Mrs. 
Root, aided by his long-time foreman. 
R. H. Shumway, Rockford, Ill., has an abundantly H- 
lustrated Catalogue, with cultural directions, largely of 
seeds of his own raising, which, from the array of testi¬ 
monials, have pleased many persons. 
Charles Sizer, Mount Lebanon, Columbia Co., N.Y., 
sends his catalogue of Shaker’s seeds. It is well illus¬ 
trated, in clear large type, on fine paper, with no air of 
antiquity about it, yet we are informed that the establish¬ 
ment, dates back to 1795. Mr. Sizer can go to the head. 
J. M. Thorburn & Co., No. 15 John st., N. Y.. send 
their annual catalogue of vegetable, agricultural and tree 
seeds, which is as full and concise as usual. It is very 
full in grass seeds, with descriptive notes. 
James Vicii, Rochester, N. Y., sends out so many pub¬ 
lications that it is difficult to keep the run of them. The 
one before us is a catalogue purely, well illustrated, ex¬ 
quisitely neat, and as full as it can stick. 
FLORISTS. 
Bellevue Nursery Co., Paterson, N. J.. H. E. Chitty, 
Supt. A full stock of grefnhouse and bedding plants, 
with novelties, and a general vegetable & flower-seed list. 
Benj. A. Elliott & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.—Greenhouse 
and bedding plants, sent in collection or singly. 
Greenbrook and Paterson City Nurseries, Pater¬ 
son, N. J. , send a comprehensive business card of green¬ 
house stock, upon the opposite side of which is a calen¬ 
dar surrounded by a handsome border of flowers. 
Tyra Montgomery, Mattoon, Ill., sends two lists, one 
of a general collection and one of roses, which have long 
been a specialty at this establishment. 
Thomas Pray, Jr., Central Falls, (which is a suburb 
of Providence), R. I., offers bedding plants, select orna¬ 
mental trees and flower seeds. 
IMPLEMENTS, MACHINERY, FERTILIZERS. 
W. H. Bowker & Co., Boston, issue a catalogue of 
special fertilizers, expressly prepared for all crops which 
have been satisfactorily tested ; including wheat, corn, 
oats, potatoes, grass and vegetables. Also of the Brigh¬ 
ton Fertilizers made from blood, bone and refuse meat 
from the Brighton Slaughter-houses. These are war¬ 
ranted pure. Catalogues sent free by mail. 
Deere & Company, Moline, Ills., keep the farmer ad¬ 
vised of their excellent plows and cultivators, by furnish¬ 
ing him with a pocket almanac, memorandum and ex¬ 
pense book—both neat and useful. 
Leonard & Silliman, Bridgeport, Conn. Burr-stone 
Mills of various sizes, and Flouring and Grist-mill ma¬ 
chinery in general. 
"Whitman & Burrell, Little Falls, N. Y., manufacture 
the Economizer Return Flue Boilers and agricultural 
engines, also a Steam engine and Pump combined, which 
will raise 30 gallons of water per minute. These ma¬ 
chines are in extensive use and are highly recommended. 
Nason Manufacturing Co., 71 Beekman and Fulton 
sts., New York. Iron pipes, steam fittings, steam heat¬ 
ers, and Blunt's Universal Force Pumps, also steam en¬ 
gines and a great variety of similar articles. 
EUROPEAN CATALOGUES. 
GREAT BRITAIN. 
Waite, Burnell, Huggins, London, Eng.—This prom¬ 
ising young 6eed house—only about 300 years old—send 
their wholesale list, which is as neat and full as usual. 
Wilson & Rankin, Glasgow, Scotland.—A wholesale 
list of garden and a:ricultural seeds, especially grasses. 
BELGIUM. 
Auguste VanGeert, Gand.—A catalogue of over 150 
pages of stove, greenhouse and hardy flowers. 
J. Van der Swaelmen, Gendbrugge-Gand, makes Lil¬ 
ies a specialty and offers a great variety. 
FRANCE. 
Louis Leroy, Angers.—This catalogue is as usual full 
of everything kept m any nursery 
Vilmorin, Andrieux & Co., Paris, send their general 
seed catalogue for 1877, and a special list of novelties in 
vegetable and flower seeds.—Messrs. Pabst & Esch, 11 
Murray st., N. Y., are agents for both these French houses. 
PRUSSIA. 
Ernst Benary, Erfurt.— A list of vegetable and flow¬ 
er seeds, with many novelties from a house noted for the 
excellence of its products. 
Frederich Adolphe Ha age, Erfurt. — Vegetable, 
flower, tree and other seeds in immense variety. 
Haage & Schmidt, also of Erfurt, which is a great 
seed center, require nearly 200 pages for seeds, and an¬ 
other large catalogue for ornamental plants of all kinds. 
