I 860 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
219 
If a man have practical skill, sufficient capital, and can 
secure favorable term's, there is good prospect of success. 
If he has had no experience in the business, the chances 
are against him. 
A Mowing Machine Trial of the Kight 
Kind.—The trialof mowing machines and reaping ma¬ 
chines, announced to be held at Providence, R. I., June 
26, by the R. I. Society for the Encouragement of Do¬ 
mestic Industry, strikes us as having been got up in the 
right way. The announcement says : “ It is the intention 
of the Society to furnish an opportunity to test the rela¬ 
tive merits of different Machines in the presence of all 
persons interested, but no premiums will be awarded, and 
no discriminating report will be made at the close of the 
exhibition by the committee superintending the same.” This 
is the true way. Let there be ample opportunity for every 
manufacturer to show what he has to offer; and then let 
every farmer be his own judge of what is best for his pur¬ 
pose. The judgement of the mass will be better than 
that of a small committee, and often avoid bickerings 
and complaints of unfairness, or partiality. 
Gooseberry Show at Patterson, N. JT.— 
This novel show of great gooseberries is appointed on 
July 16th. The weighing will begin at 3 o’clock P M., 
at George Parrott’s, 301 Straight-st. As large as were 
the berries last year, they are expected to excel this year. 
Agricultural lilibrary. —We are glad to learn 
from Mr. Chas. J. Elliott, that the Montgomery County 
(Pa.) Agr. Society have just established a library for 
the use of the Society, and voted an annual appropria¬ 
tion of $100 to keep it supplied with agricultural and hor¬ 
ticultural literature. Such a library would be valuable 
in connection with every town and county association. 
If kept at a central point, the members could draw out 
and exchange over books several times during a year, 
and a few books would be used by a considerable num¬ 
ber of persons, who might not perhaps purchase them for 
their own individual libraries. The Library of the Mont¬ 
gomery Society, is to be kept in the new and spacious 
village Library Buildings at Morristown. Mr. E. gives 
especial credit to Col. Thomas P. Knox, Pres, of the 
Society, for active and efficient efforts in getting up the 
Library. 
Else of Old Fluster ot! Paris. —We have in¬ 
quiries from several Dentists, and Stereotypers, as to 
the value of Plaster, after it has been used in making 
molds. Ordinary ground plaster, such as is used on soil, 
contains considerable water. Calcining, or burning this 
drives off the water, and it is then the material used for 
making plaster casts of various kinds. On wetting it, 
it takes back the water expelled by heat, and hardens. 
It is then of course like the original unburned plaster, 
and may be used for the same purposes in cultivation. 
The only difficulty will be to pulverize or grind it, 
which will be necessary after it has become hardened. 
Tarring' Shingles.—E. Y. Palmer, of Hillsdale 
Co., Mich., writes that he is about to use white-wood 
shingles, and proposes to saturate them with tar, by heat¬ 
ing it in-a kettle, and letting the shingles lie in it until 
the tar is thoroughly soaked in. This would seem to 
be an excellent plan. We have had no experience or 
observation of such a practice to judge from. Perhaps 
some of our readers have tried the plan, and can speak 
of the results. 
Church for Jlcaf Mutes. The amount for¬ 
warded to this institution by a reader at Norwalk, has 
been handed to Rev. Mr. Gallaudet, the Rector. One 
feature connected vvirth this enterprise is worthy of no¬ 
tice. By the efforts of the rector, who is continually en¬ 
gaged in their behalf, places of employment have been 
procured for a large number of this afflicted class : so 
that the work of doing good to the bodies as well as the 
souls of men is not neglected. The parties interested, 
have already obtained possession of the church, and by 
help of the benevolent, it will, we trust, be made a per¬ 
manent institution. 
Knitting' Machines Wanted. —D. II. II., of 
Montgomery Co., Md., asks where these can be obtained, 
and at what price. If there is a really good one in the 
market, the manufacturer would find it to his interest to 
advertise it. 
The Fi’csmsESBis §!I8I ©peBsu 
[FOR SPECIAL PREMIUMS SEE LAST PAGE.] 
[The premiums below are offered for subscribers to Vol¬ 
ume XIX of the American Agriculturist whenever re¬ 
ceived. Those having partial lists made up can complete 
them, and other new lists can still be formed.] 
Every person collecting names for premiums, can 
send in the names with the money as fast as received, so 
that the subscribers may begin to receive their papers ; 
but if designed for premiums, a double list of eacli lot of 
names should be sent, one of them marked at the top, 
“For premiums,” and with the name of the sender. 
Any premium will be paid as soon as the list for it is 
completed, if we have the duplicate lists to refer to. 
Premium VI.—Every person sending 30 new; subscribers 
at 80 cents each, will be entitled to a silver-cased pocket 
Microscope— with Coddington lens. Value $4. Sent by 
mail securely packed and post-paid. (See Premium 18.)" 
Premium VII.—Every person sending 45 new subscri¬ 
bers at 80 cents each, will be entitled to a copy of the 
large new Pictorial Edition of Webster's Unabridged Dic¬ 
tionary. Price $6.50. It weighs 81 lbs, and can go by 
express, or be sent by mail at 1 cent per ounce within 
3000 miles, or 2 cents per ounce over 3000 miles. 
Premium IX.—Every person sending 144 new subscri¬ 
bers .at. 80 cents each, (or 100 at $1 each), will be present¬ 
ed with one of Wheeler & Wilson’s best $50 Sewing 
Machines, new from the factory, and of the very best 
make. There is no better family machine than this 
made, as we have proved by nearly tw o years’ use in our 
own family. We want no belter.—The machines will he 
selected at the manufactory, be well boxed, and forward¬ 
ed without expense to the recipient, except for. freight 
charges after leaving the city. Full instructions for set¬ 
ting up and using, go with each machine. 
Premium XII.—To every person sending 130 new sub¬ 
scribers at, 80 cents each, (or 95 at $1 each), we will pre¬ 
sent Appleton's New American Encyclopaedia , now in 
course of publication, consisting of fifteen large volumes 
of 770 pages each. This is a magnificent work, forming a 
whole library embracing every topic of human know ¬ 
ledge. Eight volumes are now ready, and the remaining 
seven will be furnished as fast as issued. Price, $45. 
Premium XXVII¥.—Having proved the accu¬ 
racy and convenience of Kendall’s new and improved 
Portable or Aneroid Barometer , we propose one of those 
instruments as a premium to any person colleoling and 
sending in 66 subscribers to the American Agriculturist , 
at the lowest club price, 80 cents each, or 33 subscribers 
at $1 each. These barometers in form resemble a large 
watch, or smalL round clock, with the varying pressure 
of the atmosphere indicated by an index upon a dial plate. 
Each instrument is packed in a neat leather case, and 
can be carried about readily, and be hung up v\ herever 
desired. They are just as accurate as fhe long, inconve¬ 
nient mercurial barometer, and every way a more desir¬ 
able instrument for common use in predicting changes in 
the weather, marking the bight of a plr.ee above the level 
of the sea, etc.—Price $10. 
f^“For oilier Premiums see last-month, page 187. 
ns him IJoiues. 
Sixty Cents a Line of Space, 
A CARD. 
ITALIAN BEES. 
Much interest has been recently awakened in' regard to 
the “Italian Bees” (Apis Ligustica), and owing to my in¬ 
cidental connection with the subject, I am in daily 
receipt of a great number of questions of all sorts, relat¬ 
ing to the value of the bees, their origin, the purity of 
those brought to this country, w hether they can be ob¬ 
tained through the government, on what terms they are 
offered for sale by myself and others, etc., etc. Not 
having time to respond individually to these various 
inquiries, I will here give a general statement of my own 
connection with the bees, and such information as can be 
condensed in this card, trusting my correspondents will 
accept this instead of a private letter. In Autumn of 1858, 
while preparing to visit Europe with my family, I re¬ 
ceived from the Agricultural Department of the Patent 
Office at Washington, a request, and subsequently a Com¬ 
mission, to make sundry investigations and some pur¬ 
chases in behalf of the Government. Among other things 
embraced in my Commission, was an investigation in re¬ 
gard to the Italian Bees, and an order to purchase a few 
hives for the Department. After some unsuccessful in¬ 
quiries, in various directions, I placed myself in com¬ 
munication with the secretary of the Paris Apiarian So¬ 
ciety, by whom I was referred to a gentleman in constant 
intercourse with the Valtelin, as the only reliable man 
from whom to procure the bees in absolute purity. With 
my letters from the Paris secretary I visited the gentle¬ 
man referred to, among the Italian Alps, and becoming 
satisfied of the purity of the bees, I purchased ten swarms 
—the extent of my commission—and gave full directions 
for their shipment via Havre, by Hie steamer Arago, on 
the 18th of October. Becoming interested in the subject, 
I also purchased three swarms to be forwarded for my 
own homestead. I wrote to the captain of the Arago, and 
to agents in Havre and New-York, giving directions to 
have special care taken in forwarding them safely. I also 
paid the seller 33 per cent in advance of his own price, to 
guarantee their safe arival, hoping by this means, to se¬ 
cure the greatest possible care on his part. Two months 
afterward, while in England, I learned by letters from 
home, that the bees did not arrive by the Arago. I im¬ 
mediately wrote to the seller, and after some time learn¬ 
ed from him, that he had thought proper to send them via 
Genoa. This was contrary to my express orders and the 
terms of the guarantee. The bees all came dead, and 
the guarantee remains yet to be made good to the Patent 
Office and to myself. This will explain why the Depart¬ 
ment has no bees for distribution as yet; and will give 
due credit for the efficient and timely efforts made to se¬ 
cure their early introduction at the expense of the govern¬ 
ment. 
The attention given to this subject, and what I learned 
in Europe respecting these bees, awakened not a little 
interest, and I concluded to send over a hundred swarms 
for introduction into the United States. The commission 
for the Government not allowing this to be done at public 
expense, as I should have preferred, I bought them on 
my own account. Ten of these I undertook to bring 
home with me, and stipulated with the seller to himself 
come over with the remaining 90 swarms. 
Of the 10 swarms brought with me all are now dead. 
Of the 90 swarms only 17 have yet been sent forward, of 
which a part died on the way, and only two swarms are 
now living. These, I am happy to say, are now doing 
finely, and the progeny being constantly hatched, show 
them to be of absolute purity. My bee-keeper has had 
them under his personal supervision since the moment 
they were removed from thpir stands in the Valtelin. 
Soon after my arrival here in February, the numerous 
letters of inquiry pouring in upon me, compelled the issue 
of a circular, stating that I expected a bee-keeper with 
90 hives, and that he would “ probably be ready to send 
them out in May_” The non-arrival of a large portion, 
and the death of part of those coming over alive, of course 
extinguished this probability, and I issued another circu¬ 
lar, stating the facts, and declining to receive any money, 
or to deliver any bees, before Septemper at the earliest. 
Having seen in some of the New-York papers a “dial 
lenge ” to exhibit my bees, I have only to say that—learn¬ 
ing from reliable sources that there was a probability of 
impure bees being brought from Germany—at the sug¬ 
gestion of several intelligent bee-keepers, I cautioned the 
public by a card in the last Agriculturist, to satisfy them¬ 
selves of the purity of any purchases they might make, 
advising them to ask to see a bill of sale from me. This, 
of course, referred only to such bees, as should be offered 
as having come from my stock. I have named no parties, 
and shall not be drawn into a controversy with Individuals 
who may, with or without reason, feel touched by that 
caution. 
If these bees prove to be as valuable to the country, as 
it is hoped they will, it is of the greatest importance that 
no spurious or impure stock be disseminated. I am cer¬ 
tain that my own bees are pure, and they are under the 
constant supervision of my German bee-keeper, and also 
of Messrs. Langstroth, Carey, anti Brackett, who are 
well-known and reliable apiarians, and who take great 
interest in the enterprise. We are determined not only 
to guard against impurity or crossing, but also to test their 
value before they are offered for sale. I do not look for 
pecuniary profit, but having expended a very large sum 
in the enterprise, I shall of course desire to secure at 
least a partial return for the outlay—if the bees prove va¬ 
luable. If they do not, I shall cheerfully pocket the loss 
on the experiment. 
My original, and present plan, is, to distribute pure 
queens to reliable apiarians at different points, from 
which they may be more readily and conveniently dis¬ 
seminated over the country. The only condition I have 
asked, or expected to ask, is, that those who receive the 
pure queens from me, either share with me the proceeds 
of the first sales, or else decline parting with tiieir bees 
to others during the first year. Only in this way can 1 
hope to receive a reimbursement of my expenses. I have 
not the least desire or intention of being considered the 
only importer or propagator of pure Italian bees — indeed, 
bee-selling is foreign to my legitimate business of growing 
trees and plants, and I have only been drawn into it in¬ 
cidentally, as above observed. 
For answers to the numerous questions addressed to 
me by correspondents in regard to the management of 
bees generally, I must refer to the valuable works on this 
subject by Langstroth, Quinby, Ilarbison, etc. 
SAMUEL B. PARSONS. 
Flushing, N. Y., June 9 , 1860. _ 
CH&OVES& & JSAKSjjjp’S 
CELEBRATED NOISELESS 
FAMILY SEWING MACHINES, 
No. 495 Broadway, New-York ; No. 18 Summer st., 
Boston ; No. 730 Chestnut st,, Philadelphia ; No. 1S1 Bal¬ 
timore st., Baltimore; No. 58 West Fourth st., Cincin¬ 
nati. * * For nur own family use we become fully satis¬ 
fied that Grover Baker's is the best, and we accordingly 
purchased it.”—American Agriculturist. 
jglpEND FOR A CIRCULAJ®g 
WHEELER & WILSON’S 
SEWING MACHINES. 
“ Tile best in use .” —■ American Agriculturist, i860. 
Office 505 Broadway, New-York. 
SEND FOR A CIRCULAR. 
