168 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
f.luNt, 
supply anil demand invariably fix. The man that 
waits for some such disturbing cause to raise the 
tide, that it may flood his pocket with a higli 
price, will be quite as likely to wait a little too 
long, for the ebb of such currents is always rapid, 
and the reaction almost invariably brings a period 
of corresponding depression. After the bulk of the 
crops in the country is secured, and sufficient 
time has elapsed for dealers to learn the amount 
of supplies on hand, prices are usually steady, 
with a fair demand ; then it is safe to dispose of 
produce. An average of prices obtained for ten 
years under this system, will exceed what is re¬ 
ceived by those who wait for the highest rates. 
In his anxiety for returns above the market, the 
farmer is often tempted to sell on credit to un¬ 
reliable parties. If prices go up, he receives his 
pay, if they fall, the speculator “breaks,” and the 
producer loses. The loss of a single crop in this 
way has crippled many a man for years. If credit 
must be given, know your man, but sell for cash, 
if it be possible. The producer having waited 
months for his crop to yield, can ill afford to wait 
months longer for them to be turned into money. 
In making a bargain, nothing is gained by hig- 
ling, or setting a price above what is really ex¬ 
pected, and then falling by degrees to the requir¬ 
ed sum. Let the seller inform himself of the 
real value of his commodity, fix his figure, an¬ 
nounce it at once, and not deviate from it. Buyers 
soon learn their man. They meet the chafferer 
with his own tactics, and usually with the advan¬ 
tage that it is less necessary for them to pur¬ 
chase, than for him to sell. If they can beat him 
down a notch below the market, the bargain is 
made, otherwise they will at least wait until an¬ 
other time. But a man of one price—if he is 
reasonable in his expectations, saves his time, 
does not loose hie self-respect by the reflection, 
that he has overreached or been outdone by an¬ 
other—is applied to by those who are ready to pur¬ 
chase, and in the long run is better paid than he 
who l * uses many words in buying and selling.” 
The higgler is approached with caution, you feel 
that you must look out for him, you are not safe in 
believing his statements, for his practice tends to 
dishonesty ; you may go with all confidence to 
the lair dealer, knowing that his terms do not 
vary, and you can buy of him as favorably as the 
shrewdest speculator. 
In all contracts, a full and plain statement of 
terms in writing, is the best preventive of mis¬ 
understanding. The form is of less consequence 
than such a record of details as leaves the mean¬ 
ing clear and explicit Ten drops of ink, rightly 
put on paper, may be worth many times ten dol¬ 
lars in ill feeling, or lawsuits and costs. 
There is a class of farmers who rely more on 
their powers of bargain making, than upon the 
productiveness of their soil. When others are 
plowing and planting, they are buying and selling 
oxen. They will leave the cornfield unfinished 
for a chance to trade horses, and a vendue will 
attract them from .every other occupation. One 
of this class is usually known by the remarkable 
assortment of wagons, carts, and miscellaneous 
implements scattered about his premises, gene¬ 
rally by the roadside ; by the backwardness of 
his fields, the dilapidation of his fences, his 
breachy cattle, marauding hogs, balky horses, 
and complaints' of hard times. Always ready 
for a “ trade,” his neighbors find him of service 
in relieving them of undesirable stock, and his 
place becomes a kind of eddy, into which the rub¬ 
bish of the town is swept. But as such persons 
seldom read the Agriculturist, advice here would 
be wasted ; they are mentioned only as we would 
set up a finger post with the inscription : “ A 
hard road to travel,” which is a sufficient caution 
to the wise to avoid it. Homespun. 
Berkshire Co ., Mass. 
Advertising Information—Gratis—X. 
We ought to be rich—we’ve had the assurance 
of it many times. Advertisements glittering with 
golden promises, have beguiled many a dollar from 
our hard earned gains. Have we not invested in 
recipes, books, powders, pills, inventions, gift en¬ 
terprises, and western lands'! Where is the pile 
we were to make by the “ Hunter’s Secret,” “ The 
secret art of catching Fish,” “ Tiie Honey Re¬ 
cipe,” the tea plants, and Dourah Corn! We 
know where it isn't. Although we have said 
little on the subject for some time past, we have 
not been idle, but have continued to follow up 
every avenue opened by the kind-hearted adver¬ 
tisers, hoping to find some way to wealth, by 
which not only we, but all our readers, could with 
one grand stroke, or at least, by a good many little 
strokes, make money—with what further success 
shall now appear. 
LNo 33.] 
W 'ANTED. The “Little Money-maker.” 
The m.»st salable article in the known world. Agents 
wanted everywhere. For particulars, directions, and sample, 
enclose four red stamps to-,-. 
That looked a little suspicious. The Little 
money maker. Well, “ little and often ” fills the 
bucket; perhaps it's all the more certain for com¬ 
ing by liltles —at any rate, the stamps were sent, 
and here’s what came of it. Messrs.-& Co. 
return us a sample of their self-sealing newspa¬ 
per envelope, worth perhaps a third of a cent, 
which they offer to sell us for $1 per hundred, 
and we are to make our “little money ” by re¬ 
tailing them at two cents each. They seem to 
be ashamed of the little operation, by which they 
make at least one red stamp, for they say in their 
letter : 
“We have been forced to adopt a system of 
advertising, which may seem at first glance to 
be an imposition, that is, requiring four stamps for 
a sample, but we return their equivalent on first 
order. We have done it for the reason that we 
are daily in receipt of letters from parties who 
write us merely out of curiosity, and with no in¬ 
tention of engaging in the business, and to whom 
we are obliged to send circulars, pay postage, and 
in many cases write letters to no purpose what¬ 
ever, and we deem it no more than simple justice 
that they should pay us for time spent in such a 
manner.” 
To which we reply. Messrs.-, had you 
advertised plainly what you had to sell, our cu¬ 
riosity would not have been excited, we should 
have saved twelve cents. However, it may be 
worth that amount for our readers, to know how 
little money can be made, by noticing any adver¬ 
tisement of this class. It appears by the extract 
quoted above, that other parties are paying 
Messrs. - foy exciting their curiosity, and 
spending time in gratifying it. 
[No. 34.] 
M end your own tin ware, a 
new and novel process, so simple that any person can 
mend all their old leaky tin ware, kettles, etc. Implements and 
materials, with full printed directions, sent to any address on 
receipt of 25 cents, by , . 
The above appeared in the Country Gentleman 
a few weeks since. To be sure, not a great deal 
of money was promised, but then, a penny saved 
is a penny gained, and stopping leaks is one of 
the very first principles of economy. A soldering 
tool alone would cost fifty cents, to a dollar or 
more, and this man offers everything necessary 
for a “ quarter,” and we concluded to invest. 
A letter soon returned, enclosing the necessary 
“ implements, materials and directions,” to wit : 
a small piece of brass wire, flattened at one end, 
a small strip of sheet lead, and about i oz. of salt¬ 
peter, we judge, by the appearance. They cost 
probably one cent, all told, and are worth for sol¬ 
1 Cash. .$50110 
1 Cash.. 3000 
1 Cash.. 2000 
1 Cash.. 1500 
dering purposes exactly nothing. Accompanying 
the above was another letter from the same party, 
offering to sell us for thirty-seven cents a recipe 
for making hard and soft soap. Thank you for 
nothing at all, Mr.-, you sold us once for 
25 cents, and we feel too cheap, to have the 
price raised so soon. 
[No. 35.] 
Dear Sir : If you will give the following three months In¬ 
sertion in your paper, among the general advertisements, where 
it may be seen to advantage, we will, on receipt of a copy, send 
to you by return mail the Engraving and also a Gift. Also after 
you receive the Engraving, please call the attention of your 
readers to the advertisement. Yours, truly,-,_. 
MAGNIFICENT ENGRAVING OP CHRISTOPHER: 
COLUMBUS and his Crew. This Beautiful Engraving was- 
designed by Rubens, one of the most celebrated artists'that*, 
ever lived ; the cost of the original design ami plate beine over 
$8000, size 22 by 29 inches. 
SCHEDULE OF GIFTS 
To be given to the purchasers. For full particulars send tor at 
Bill. 
1 Cash. $1000 I 5 Cash... .$300 I 10 Cash . $100* 
l Cash.. 500 | 10 Cash... 300 10 Cash.... 50* 
i Cash.. 500 I 10 Cash... 250 1000 Cash. 5000- 
4 L ash.. 300 | 10 Cash... 200 | 2000 Cash. 5000' 
Together with a great variety of other valuable gifts, varvin 0 ’ 
in value from 50c. to $25. 
Any person enclosing in a letter $1 and five 3-cent postage' 
stamps (to pay for postage and roller) shall receive, bv return or 
mail, the magnificent engraving of Christopher Columbus, (andi 
one of these valuable gifts as per bill.) Address all orders fotr 
bills or engravings to-•,--. 
This comes to us directly from the party en¬ 
gaged in the enterprise, and we very cheerfully 
give it an insertion. As space in the reading- 
columns is worth more than three times as muchi 
as “among the general advertisements,” we ex¬ 
pect one insertion will secure us the engraving: 
and a gift. Please send us the first one on the- 
list, the $5000 cash. You do not state how the 
“ gifts ” are to be distributed, and we take it for 
granted, we can have our choice... .On second 
thought, we believe the above is a kind of lottery 
operation, in other words a gambling enterprise, 
or to speak more plainly, it is a trap to catch 
gulls, so, we don’t expect the $5000—the adver¬ 
tisement you are welcome to. 
[No. 36.] 
“Dr”- -advertised for agents to make 
money fast. A reader in Tennessee inquired as 
to particulars, and received a circular describing 
a wonderful book, price one dollar, which would 
give information on every subject mortals would 
like to know about, particularly those topics about 
which nothing can be known, such as the “secret 
power of charms, spells, incantations,” and other 
nonsense ; how to bring a dead tree to iife ; how 
to keep cattle from growing old ; how to change 
the color of the eyes, and hundreds of other ab¬ 
surdities. Our correspondent, thinking such a 
book would sell, sent his dollar for a specimen 
copy—and that's the end of that story. The man 
was sold, the book was not. 
Numerous medical circulars have been received, 
many of them sent out from this City to distant 
points South and West, and returned by our sub¬ 
scribers for investigation. It would take all our 
time, space, and more patience than fails to the 
lot of any one man, to follow up these fellows in¬ 
dividually—it is not necessary. If an animal 
with sharp nose, yellow fur, and bushy tail, comes 
prowling around the hen roost, he is shot at once, 
without inquiring if he be the particular animal 
that has destroyed the poultry, it is enough that 
he is a fox. So when a medical circular is re¬ 
ceived, promising certain relief from all diseases 
whatsoever, or inviting you to send one or more 
dollars to an unknown party for medical advice, 
or for a wonderful herb, root, or other specific, 
call it a humbug, and save your dollar and your 
disappointment. There is one class of these 
medical circulars, of too delicate a nature fully 
to discuss here, that ought to consign their au¬ 
thors to prison. Throw them in the fire as soon 
as they are received. Their statements are 
false, their purport wicked, their tendency ruin¬ 
ous. Let not their evil communications corrupt 
good manners. • 
(To be continued as needed.) 
