328 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[September, 
game is played. The Lightning Rodman proposes to 
appoint the farmer tin agent, and he oilers to put rods 
upon said farmer’s house, to be paid for out of the first 
job that the fanner-agent may bring “ the company,” and 
holds out such inducements that the farmer agrees. To 
make it all slight, L. R. man gives the farmer a signed 
agreement to put up the rods, within 60 days—there is 
nothing like doing business in a business-like way—and 
the farmer is requested to sign a receipt for this agree¬ 
ment. It is the old story—another chap comes along to 
collect a bill for $180—the cost of the rod on the farmer’s 
building, and if he demurs, there is his name signed to 
the order,—old, but too often effective — The success of 
frauds of this kind depends upon the representations of 
the profit that may be made. If a farmer is attending to 
his own business properly, he has no time to engage in 
outside speculations, especially those about which he 
knows nothing whatever. It will be noticed that almost 
every swindle of this class—the spring-bed, the wire 
fence, the lightning rod, etc., is clinched by 
THE FARMER’S SIGNATURE, 
and though we have frequently urged upon every one to 
“be careful what you sign,” the injunction is still need¬ 
ed. Indeed, it will be a great deal better uot to sign at 
all. Those only, who do not listen to, or tolerate any of 
these chaps, who infest the country east and west, north 
and south, are safe.... Another, and a 
BRAND NEW SWINDLE, 
comes from Illinois, and this appeals more directly to his 
wife and daughters than to the farmer himself. A ped¬ 
dler comes along with laces and other fine goods, which 
he offers at such low rates that the good woman can not 
resist the temptation to buy, and the peddler goes off, 
leaving them happy over their great bargains. In a day 
or two, two men drive up, and show a printed hand-bill, 
giving an account of the robbery of a store. The sup¬ 
posed robber is known to have stopped at the house, one 
of the men claiming to be the store-keeper, recognizes 
the goods bought of the peddler as a part of those he 
has lost, and especially if there is no man at baud to pre¬ 
vent, they seize and carry them off.... A correspondent in 
Iowa is very indignant at having received a circular from 
some phrenologists, which proposes if he, the recipient, 
will send a profile view of his head and five dollars, they 
will send a description of the character of the individual, 
giving directions as to “ the future development 
NECESSARY TO SUCCESS IN LIFE,” 
and asks us if this is not “ a mean humbug that ought to 
be ventilated.” To answer this correspondent would 
open the whole question of the truth of phrenology, 
which we do not propose to discuss. If denouncing it as 
a humbug or delusion would kill it; phrenology would 
have been very dead, years ago, yet it seems to survive in 
spots, and many well-meaning persons actually believe in 
it. While we have our own opinion on the so-called 
“ science,” we can not sec that the case is one that comes 
under the head of fraud. The phrenologist offers to fur¬ 
nish, under certain conditions, his guess at a man upon 
examining his portrait. There may be a difference of 
views as to the value of such an opinion; if any one 
wants it, the price is named, but no one is obliged to buy 
at that or any other price TFe would not buy_New 
York had at one time a matrimonial paper, but as we 
have seen nothing of it for a long time, we infer that it 
has gone the way of all such things; but Philadelphia 
is not without a 
MATRIMONIAL ADVERTISER, 
a little sheet called “ Fortuna,” of which the 1st and 2d ■ 
numbers have been sent us. Its heading states, “ Con¬ 
taining Information for all who are desirous of Marry¬ 
ing.” We infer that business must be dull, as there are 
only 9 “ Cards from Ladies,” while there are 11 “Cards 
from Gentlemen.” Very funny reading they are. A 
young lady of genteel appearance and $150,000, ought 
uot to wait long for a taker. A widow with six children, 
weighing 156. pounds, has a lager-beer business, which 
brings in $2,000 yearly, and wants a man to look after the 
business. One can not help wondering if these are 
Iona fide offers—yet as there are matrimonial agencies in 
large cities, which have been in operation for many years, 
we suppose there must bo cases in which husbands and 
wives are traded for like horses, cattle, and provisions. 
....The circulars of what purports to be the “Finance 
Committee of 
THE LOUISVILLE LOTTERY ASSOCIATION ” 
continue to come from all quarters. It is alleged that in 
settling up the affairs of the “Company,” there were 
$91,000 in undivided prizes. Some how this was invest¬ 
ed in watches and things, and a second drawing made on 
behalf of the ticket holders in said lottery. Circulars 
are sent out informing individuals that their “joint in¬ 
terest in the Louisville Lottery Association has resulted 
in your drawing a ”-there is after this a blank to be 
filled in with ink, and in the numerous circulars that have 
been sent us, this is filled with “Gold watch and chain 
valued at $150." Then the individaal is informed that 
“ the 10 per cent assessed on all prizes, makes the amount 
due on your prize $15,” and that by sending this amount 
to Russell & Co., N. Y., they will forward the prize. We 
have had numerous letters regarding the matter, some 
asking us to get the watch, sell it at near its valuation, 
and forward the balance, taking pay for our trouble, and 
do various other things that are quite out of our line. 
Others ask our advice, or our opinion in the matter. We 
have in former numbers, and often, expressed our opin¬ 
ion as to lotteries of all kinds. Holding, as we do, that 
they are wrong in principle, and do a vast amount of 
harm, we can not consistently aid and abet in procuring 
prizes, or in acting as agents for those who choose to 
have dealings with them. Looking at the matter on gen¬ 
eral principles, we judge that those who send out these 
circulars do it to make money. They do not anywhere 
state what is the cost of, or the real value of, the watch, 
but state that it is “ valued ” at $150—a very easy thing 
to do. They propose to send a watch on payment of $15. 
If any one supposes that the “Louisville Lottery Co.,” 
or any one else, will send them any more than fifteen 
dollars worth for $15—he has a confidence in human na¬ 
ture that is likely to be disappointed. Our advice is to 
let lotteries in all their manifestations and develop¬ 
ments severely alone, and our opinion is that this one is 
an ingenious scheme to make money. We are very sorry 
to say that some of the letters relating to this matter 
have given a glimpse of the 
WORST SIDE OF HUMAN NATURE. 
These circulars profess to be addressed to those who held 
tickets in, or had an interest in, the Louisville Lottery. 
Some have admitted that they had no such ticket, but if 
a watch worth $150 could be had by paying $15—they 
were willing to have us get it for them. The moment 
one who has had no interest in such a lottery roads that 
his “joint interest has resulted” so and so—he knows 
that it does not concern him, and whatever may be the 
character of the scheme and its promoters—he has no 
moral right to avail himself of whatever alleged advan¬ 
tages may follow_A correspondent in Illinois com¬ 
plains of an 
ADVERTISED REMEDY FOR CORPULENCE, 
advocating the use of some sea-weed, the taking of 
which will cause leanness. Our friend invested, but re¬ 
gards himself “ a victim,” for, as he says, if one will fol¬ 
low the system of diet and exercise recommended, he 
will get lean without the use of the sea-weed. Our 
friend has discovered the secret of many of the medi¬ 
cines that are taken, and of various external applica¬ 
tions. Several years ago there was a popular hair reme¬ 
dy; in its use the head was to be brushed for 15 minutes 
before applying, and for the same time afterwards. It 
was really the friction that was useful. So with various 
remedies that can only have effect if the patient abstains 
from stimulants of all kinds, pepper and all other condi¬ 
ments, bread of fine flour, and many other things. The 
medicine, to be taken in carefully measured quantities,' 
at closely observed hours, amuses the mind and gets the 
credit, while the diet does the work.Several months 
ago we noticed a circular from a man in .Cincinnati 
who practises what he calls 
YTTAPATHY, 
and as we could not show up the absurdity of the thing 
so effectually in any other way, we quoted from his pam¬ 
phlet, with some running comments. Vitapathic man 
did not like it, and wrote us to the effect that we should 
investigate it, as it, Yitapathy, was to be a great benefit 
to the human race. He now sends several copies of a 
new edition of his pamphlet. Prof. Carpenter, of Lon¬ 
don, the renowned physiologist, in one of his works, 
speaks of people who are unconsciously self-deluded, 
and illustrates by the case, among others, of a “ water- 
witcher,” who really thought he had the power to discov¬ 
er water by the use of the divining rod. This vitapathic 
man may believe what he prints—but what a capacity for 
credulity he must have 1 The first page of this precious 
document (which on the cover he begs us to “ Read it 
to our Family”—not to excess,) tells us that 
“THE VITAPATHIC SYSTEM 
commences with the beginning of things—ascertains 
what is life, its nature, its power, its source and extent, 
what it is, what it does, and how it does it, and how we 
are to use it to accomplish all things and make it a pan¬ 
acea for all diseases, and for death itself.” There is page 
after page of stuff in a similar strain, including a “ Vi¬ 
tapathic Marriage Ceremony,” and a “ New Vitapathic 
Remedy ” for Hog Cholera 1 If the man believes the 
stuff he has printed, his friends should kindly care for 
him; if he does’nt believe it—then he is about the most 
arrant humbug amongst all the many that we have had 
the misfortune to know of. 
Portable Poultry House. Egg 
Carrier.— Some time ago we received a letter in refer¬ 
ence to a portable poultry-house, and a very promising 
Cgg carrier, from A. R. Sprout, Picture Rocks, but where 
the Picture Rocks are situated there was no clue. Con¬ 
sequently we could not write, as we wished, to ask for 
drawings of the poultry-house. We should be glad to 
have them. Will Mr. S. write with full address in refer¬ 
ence to the egg carrier. 
Au Honor lor Col. Waring-.—Col- 
Geo. E. Waring, Jr., Newport, R. I., has been elected at 
member of the Royal Institution of Engineers of the- 
Netherlands. As there are only six other members be¬ 
sides the Royal and other officials, this is regarded as a. 
distinguished honor. The services of Col. W. in relation 
to the exhibition of the plans of the public works of the 
Netherlands, at om- Centennial Exhibition, and his writ¬ 
ings upon Holland and its great engineering works, are 
assigned as the reasons for bestowing the honor. 
Sonic Remarkable Individual sends 
a notice of a “National Convention” of Beekeepers, 
to be held in New York in Oct. The date is not given, 
but that is no matter, and no name is signed, and that 
shows that there is just one person now alive who sup¬ 
poses that we are stupid enough to notice a meeting off 
which he is so ashamed that he will not connect his- 
name (providing he has one) with it. 
Artificial Switch lor a Cow,—Mrs. 
|“ D.,” Cumberland, Md. It is very difficult to fasten an 
artificial switch on to a stump tail cow, as it will eilher- 
•lip off when moved violently, if not fastened tightly, aud 
if tightly strapped on, it will hurt the stump. We never ■ 
knew any substitute for the natural tail to be of any use. 
We suggest covering the cow with a net or cotton 
cloth, such as is used for horses, or to spongedier with, 
carbolic soap suds, leaving it to dry upon the skin. 
To Preserve Horse manure from 
“ Fire-Fang.” — “ T. J. C.,” Paiuesville, Ohio. 
Horse manure may be kept perfectly well until thoroughly 
decomposed, by piling it in thin layers with earth inter¬ 
mixed alternately. The heap should be wide and flat, 
and made hollow to catch the rain. The fermentation, 
is slow, and all the gasses are absorbed by the earth. 
Hooks on Cattle, Skeep, and Pigs. 
—“ H. F. N.,” Mandarin, Fla. The best available books 
on the subjects mentioned, are Dadd’s American Cattle 
Doctor, price, $2.50. Stewart’s Shepherd’s Manual, $1.50. 
Coburn’s Swine Husbandry, $1.75. Stonhenge on the 
Horse, $2.50. An Egg Farm, by Stoddard, 75 cents. 
The nearest breeder of Short-horns to Florida, known 
to us, is Richard Peters, Atlanta, Georgia. 
Wliai Crop on a Poor SlilT §oil.— 
“ T. B. P.,” Goldsboro, N. C. It is useless to expect a 
profitable crop of wheat, corn, or oats, without manure- 
on a soil run down by the constant planting of cotton. 
Perhaps as good a plan as any, in this case, would be to 
plow the soil thoroughly, harrow well, aud sow down to 
winter oats, witli 200 pounds superphosphate of lime per- 
acre. To pasture the oats in the spring, would probably 
be the best plan, and afterwards plow in time to plant 
corn, using a handful of either the Alapes or Bowker’s 
corn fertilizer, scattered around each hill just before the 
first hoeing. The field might be sown with peas when 
the corn is laid by, and these plowed in for a crop of rye,, 
with which the field might be seeded to clover in the 
spring. After the second year corn might be taken again,, 
then winter oats seeded with clover, and so on. By and 
by, doubtless, the land can be profitably sown with wheat. 
'1’Iie B3clio I’ai'iii Herd.—From a neces¬ 
sarily hurried visit to the Jersey herd at Echo farm, 
which was described in the American Agriculturist of 
August, we were led into an erroneous supposition that 
“ Pride of the Village,” one of the cows mentioned, was 
sired by Litchfield, and was one of the herd exhibited at 
the Centennial. We are informed by the owner of the 
herd, F. Ratchford Starr, that our statement to the above 
effect was not correct. We therefore make the needed 
correction. We do not consider, however, that this de¬ 
tracts from the merits of “ Pride of the Village,” which, 
we judge to be one of the choicest animals of the herd. 
Hrainiiig.—The present season has made it 
evident to hundreds of farmers, that money or labor spent 
in draining upon low grounds, is a profitable investment. 
We have seen many pieces of corn, either parts of fields- 
or whole fields, that are now much injured by too much . 
moisture, and the loss in many cases is equal to what 
would be the whole cost of the needed drainage. Now 
that fields are being prepared for wheat, there are some 
that are either too soft in low spots, or are hard audi 
lumpy, being more like baked mud than arable soil. Had 
these been drained, this defect would not have hindered^ 
work, nor have prevented the wheat from being sown iu 
the best manner. The crops of the past season will bring 
