1877.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
195 
Three-Horse Ereners.— We have re¬ 
ceived many descriptions, with illustrations, of eveners 
for three horses, by the use of which one horse may be 
enabled to draw on one side of a pole or chain, against 
two horses on the other, without increasing, the length 
of his end of the evener, or what is equivalent thereto, 
and without side draft. While we are thankful to our 
friends for their kindness in sending these illustrations, 
we are compelled to say that they are all wrong, and that 
the thing can not be done. No combination of pulleys 
or levers, can balance two pounds against one, on an 
equally divided beam, or even suspend these, without 
making the two pounds tend to draw the support over 
towards its side. 
Minks and Minkeries.—“E. J. N.,” 
Fort Plain, N. Y. The only minkery in existence, that 
we know of, is that of Henry Kesseque, Verona, Oneida 
Co., N. Y. Wild minks could probably be procured of 
R. E. Robinson, Ferrisburg, Vermont. 
Prices oi' Short-horns.—-' The specu¬ 
lative prices of pure-bred Short-horns seem to have 
reached their limit. Instead of thousands of dollars, 
hundreds can now buy one of the cream of the herds. It 
has not been an evil, perhaps, that this fine breed of cat¬ 
tle has been the foot ball of speculators for some years, 
as it has brought them to the notice of every read¬ 
ing farmer. Now that they have reached about their 
intrinsic value, farmers who can raise heavy beef cattle, 
or heavy dairy cows, may provide themselves with pure 
bred bulls at moderate prices. At a sale of the Excelsior 
herd some time ago, hulls were sold for from $45 to $230, 
which latter figure was the highest price paid fora bull. 
However much the herd may have deserved the name 
given to it, there was not much “ excelsior ” about these 
prices, and this is a source of gratification to those who 
wish to see the noble breed filling its proper and import¬ 
ant place in agriculture. 
Fertilizer for Wheat.- “G. P.,” Trum¬ 
bull Co., Ohio. One of the best artificial fertilizers for 
wheat, to be applied in the spring, is nitrate of soda. 1U0 
lbs. of this, per acre, should be sown evenly over the 
wheat as soon as it begins to grow in the spring. 
Prevention of Over-reaching.— 
“J. L. L.,” Martinsburg. W. Va. The clicking noise, 
caused by the toe of the hind shoe striking the heel of the 
fore shoe when a horse is trotting, is the effect of what is 
known as over-reaching. This may be prevented by 
lengthening the toes of the hind shoes, and shortening 
those of the fore ones. This will enable the horse to lift 
the fore foot a little quicker, and will slightly retard the 
hind feet; but it is enough to clear the fore foot. A very 
small fraction of a second, probably a hundreth part of 
one, will be sufficient gain of time to prevent the contact. 
Muck ami Marl.—“ S.,” Easton, Md. A 
compost, to be of any effect, must have some active fer- 
mentible matter in it. Muck and shell marl together 
would be quite inert, but if caustic lime were mixed with 
a quantity of these materials, they would be decomposed 
and made useful. One bushel of fresh oyster-shell lime, 
mixed with a wagon-load of the muck and marl, would 
be proper. The compost, along with some stable manure, 
would be beneficial for grass or corn. 
Corn on Fall Plowing.—“ E. H. C.,” 
Lee Co., HI. Upon prairie soils, where mnch is planted, 
fall-plowing will be proper for corn, but where clover-sod 
is to be turned under, and the breadth planted is small, 
spring-plowing is preferable. Corn starts into growth 
quicker, the weeds are not so numerous, and the crop 
thrives better upon ground plowed just before planting. 
Where com is largely planted, fall-plowing must neces¬ 
sarily be done. 
Shed with moviible Roof*.—“B. E. 
B.,” Fayette Co., Ind. A shed that will be useful to 
stack wheat under, is described and illustrated in the 
American Agriculturist of October, 1875. The roof can 
be raised or lowered, and is held in the desired place by 
pins inserted in the posts. 
Value of ;■ Phosphate.—“ W. W. C.,” 
Harford Co., Md. A phosphate containing 3 per cent of 
soluble phosphoric acid ; 4 per cent, of reverted and 5 per 
cent of insoluble, with per cent of ammonia, is worth 
about $25 a ton. It is a very poor fertilizer. 
Technical Education.— To know how 
to do one thing well is, under our present circum¬ 
stances, more valuable, than to partly know how to do 
many things. The tendency now is, to make a single 
chosen pursuit the business of one's life, and this is 
mode ppcgfjsary by the present close competition ip ftU 
industries and professions, in which a person who knows 
but little of the technical portions of them, can not com¬ 
pete with those who are experienced and expert. It is 
so in farming, in which there is now so great a competi¬ 
tion, that only expert men can succeed satisfactorily. 
Others may make a living at the business, but that one 
may live comfortably, and improve his circumstances, he 
must have a thorough acquaintance with his art, and a 
sufficient knowledge of the other arts and the sciences, 
with which his own is very closely connected. Without 
this knowledge, he has an uphill struggle, and meets 
with so many losses and disappointments, and so many 
failures, that he becomes discouraged. Is not this the 
reason why so many farmers are desirous of changing their 
positions; of selling-out, and going to some new place, 
of which “ distance lends enchantment to the view f ” 
Swelled Legs in a Horse.- 11 S. W. S.,” 
Ansonia, Conn. The fact that a horse’s legs swell more 
when kept standing upon a plank floor, than when he 
stands upon the earth, should be sufficient to induce a 
change of floor to be made. It may be that the floor 
slopes backward too much, and thus throwing too much 
strain on the hindlegs, causes the swelling. Too much 
standing in the stable will, in some horses, produce this 
effect. Perhaps a remedy may be found in keeping the 
horse in a roomy loose box (12 xl2 feet), in which he can 
move about freely. The legs may be bathed in cold 
water in the evening, and rubbed perfectly dry with a 
coarse woolen cloth, using considerable friction. 
Western Kansas.- “ C. C. K.,” Edwards 
Co., Kan. We would not advise persons to engage in 
farming in the extreme western part of Kansas, unless 
irrigation is practised. The advantages of irrigation in 
this locality are discussed favorably in a new work on Ir¬ 
rigation, by Henry Stewart, published by the Orange 
Judd Co., which might be consulted with benefit. In 
that part of Kansas there are ample facilities for profitable 
irrigation. The country is well adapted to stock raising. 
Fertilizers for Mangels.—“ J. E. S.,” 
Greensboro, N. C. Superphosphate of lime and salt, 
along with barn-yard manure, are the proper fertilizers 
for mangels. We doubt if a good crop can be grown 
without the barn-yard manure, and with it alone good 
crops are raised. But with a moderate quantity, say 
6 or 8 loads per acre, plowed in in the drills, and 200 
lbs. of superphosphate, with 300 lbs. of salt per acre, 
scattered along the rows as soon as the plants appear, 
a profitable crop ought to be grown. 
Sundry Farming Matters. 
Breeding Sows,- “ O. O. F.” If it is desired 
to breed from a sow twice in a year, she should be turned 
out the third day after pigging. But it is not every 
sow that will breed so early, and young sows are espe¬ 
cially averse to it v ... Poke for Breaclty Ani¬ 
mals.—" S. J. B.,” Orange Co. The length of the 
poke, of whatever kind it may be, must be proportioned 
to the size and kind of the animal that is to wear it. 
If there is any danger of chafing the skin, that must be 
provided for in padding or shaping the poke_ Com¬ 
post for Corn.— "G. M. P.,” Franklin, Tenn. There 
is no danger of corn heating, when planted in drills 
with well rotted compost. The compost will not decom¬ 
pose any further, and hence can not heat.. ..“No 
Milk in the Bag.” —“ A. G.,” Passaic Co., N. J. 
One can not reasonably look for milk in a cow’s udder 
two months before she comes in. There may be a (.Lick, 
watery fluid or serum in the udder, which is nothing to be 
alarmed at. Corn Drill for Planting two 
Rows.- “M. S.,” Muscoda, Wis. Machines for plant¬ 
ing two rows of corn at once’ are only used in the West. 
The Vandiver corn planter, made by the Vandiver Co., 
Quincy, Ill., is extensively used. ...Soil for Man¬ 
gels.— “ Subscriber,” Hudson, N. Y. A good sandy 
loam is excellent for mangels. Superphosphate of lime, 
and very fine ground bone-dust, (flour of bone), if pure, 
are good fertilizers for this crop. Mowers that 
will Cut Lodged Grass.— “ M.,” West Middle¬ 
sex, Pa. The machine that most successfully cut the 
rolled grass at the Centennial trials, was a new one, of 
which we do not remember the name. If the owners do 
not wish to let the public know the merits of their ma¬ 
chine, we can not help it. .. Brick Making.— "G. 
W. L.,” Dallas Co., Iowa. The process of making bricks 
by hand, was described and illustrated in the American 
Agriculturist for Febuary and April, 1872. ...Cheese 
and Butter Factories.—” W. W. F.,” Clark Co., 
Ind. Descriptions of some butter and cheese factories, 
with several illustrations, were given in the American 
Agriculturist for April. 1874, which may be had. ... 
Broom-making Machinery.— “ D. B.,” Shreve, 
Qh}o, Tlje jnachinery }s described in p, email book, 
entitled “Broom-Corn and Brooms,” which can be pro¬ 
cured of the Orange Judd Company for 50 cents. 
Catalogues Received. 
NURSERYMEN. 
C. H. Banta, Riverdale, Bergen Co., N. J. General 
assortment of fruit and ornamental trees. 
D. C. Benton, Quincy, HI., has greenhouse and bed¬ 
ding plants in addition to nursery stock. 
Bronson, Hopkins & Co., Geneva, N. Y., send a 
wholosale price-list of their extensive stock. 
Seth A. Bushnell, Oberlin, O., has, besides the usu¬ 
al varieties, a number of specialties in apples, etc. 
B. P. Davenport, Saline, Mich.—Small fruits and 
vegetable plants. 
Downer & Brother, Fairview, Ky.—A wholesale list 
of the nursery long favorably known as their father's. 
Thos. Jackson, Portland, Me.—Fruits and forest trees, 
with nursery grown and wild evergreens. 
Fred. W. Kelsey, Rochester. N. Y.—Large variety 
of fruit and ornamental trees. Select lists or the best 
trees of various classes. 
J. W. Manning, Reading, Mass., sends an essay on 
tree planting, with his wholesale list of fruit and orna¬ 
mental trees. 
Polk & Hyatt, Odessa, Del.—General list, with a very 
great variety of peaches. 
C. S. Pratt, North Reading, Mass.—Full list of small 
fruits. 
I. E. Remsburg, Atchiuson, Kas., puts his catalogue in 
the form of the “ Rockland Fruit Farm Annual,” in which 
the Col. Cheney Strawberry, occupies the larges; space. 
D. B. Wier, Lacon, Ill.—Fruit trees, with specialties 
of hardy sorts; ornamental trees and shrubs. 
SEEDSMEN. 
D. C. Brainard, Mt. Lebanon, N. Y.— A handsomely 
illustrated catalogue of flower and Shaker’s vegetable 
seeds; also a useful Almanac and Rural Register. 
John Lewis Childs, Queens, N. Y.—Flower and Vege¬ 
table Seeds, Bulbs, and Plants. 
Samuel N. Cox, St. Joseph, Mo.—Remarkably neat 
and full catalogue of seeds and greenhouse plants. 
Crosman Brothers, Rochester, N. Y.—A full illus¬ 
trated catalogue, with novelties in vegetables and flowers. 
Hawkins & Cornish, Goshen, Orange Co., N. Y.— 
Garden and field seeds, with various novelties, especially 
in potatoes. 
C. F. Lane. Koskonong, Wis.—A very instructive and 
well classified catalogue, including apiary requisites. 
Aaron Low, Essex, Mass. — Garden and flower seeds, 
including several local specialties ; also implements. 
Price ^Knickerbocker, Albany, N. Y.—Seeds and 
horticultural implements ; fully illustrated. 
W. H. Spooner, Boston, Mass., has removed to .98 Fre¬ 
mont St., near Horticultural Hall. 
William Rennie, Toronto, Canada.—Grass, grain, and 
other field seeds, including field peas. 
H. W. Williams & Son, Batavia. HI.—Potato cata¬ 
logue, with a full treatise on cultivation. 
FLORISTS. 
D. C. Benton, Quincy, HI.—A general stock, including 
novelties. 
Dingee Conard Co., West Grove Pa.— A New Guide 
to Rose Culture, including a long catalogue of roses, of 
which the firm make a specialty. 
J. K. & S. J. Galloway, Montgomery, O.—Green¬ 
house and bedding plants at wonderfully low rates. 
M. Michel, Bryan, Brazos Co., Tex.—Bedding and 
vegetable plants. 
John Saul, Washington, D. C., issues a special cata¬ 
logue of roses, including the novelties of 1877, and the 
older sorts. 
H. W. Williams, Batavia, Ill.—A very full descriptive 
list, with novelties. 
MOWERS, REAPERS, AND OTHER IMPLEMENTS. 
Adriance Platt & Co., Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and 165 
Greenwich St., city of New York, issue a beautifully exe¬ 
cuted illustrated catalogue of their Buckeye Mowers and 
Reapers. This is the twentieth annual circular, and, as 
since.the first, this justly celebrated implement has been 
improving in every possible way to keep pace with every 
modern requirement, the new Model Buckeyes may be 
considered to have attained “the highest standard of 
excellence.” 
H. B. Griffing & Co., 60 Cortland St., New York city. 
—Catalogue of agricultural implements, seeds, fertilizers, 
and bone-meal, and beef scraps for feeding purposes. 
Gardner B. Weeks. Syracuse, N. Y.—Descriptive cir¬ 
cular of Chapman’s Railway Hay Pitching and Stacking 
Outfit. Also catalogue of dairy supplies and apparatus. 
Fisher & Norris, Trenton, N. J.—Price-list of anvils 
and double-parallel leg screw vise. 
John B. Varney, South Berwick, Me. — Circular and 
price-list of Varney’s Standard Plows. 
Thomas Peppler, Hightstown, N. J.—The Climax 
Plow and Cultivator Combined. 
P. S. Wiseman, Toledo, Ohio. — Illustrated circular of 
Wiseman’s Register for measuring grain from the spout 
of thrashing machines. 
FERTILIZERS AND MISCELLANEOUS. 
A. E. Cooper. Cooper's Plains, Steuben Co., N. Y. 
—The “CooperChair” in remarkable variety of styles. 
Rafperty & Williams, manufacturers of bone and 
blood fertilizers. 
The Mapes Formula & Peruvian Guano Co.. No. 
158 Front St., New York, send a “ Descriptive Price Cur¬ 
rent," which gives the names, guaranteed composition, 
and prices of an astonishing number of articles, whicj) 
&re or may be used as fertilizers, 
