376 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
About Our Free Seed Distribution. 
SEEDS SCARCE AND HIGH THIS YEAR. 
On page 373 we presents partial list of seeds to be 
distributed free during the winter. It is impossible at this 
date to make the list as large as we intend it shall be, 
because we can not yet ascertain whether enougli of| 
several desirable kinds, can be obtained to warrant us in 
offering them generally. The past season has been a very 
bud one for growing good seeds. In this country, especial¬ 
ly hereabouts, the drouth has greatly diminished the yield. 
Several kinds of valuable new Squashes and Melons, 
which we attempted to raise for seed, were kept back by 
the drouth so much, that they did not mature their seeds 
before frost. The same may be said of some other 
plants.' In England, where we get many of our most 
valuable seeds, the excessive rains were of more serious 
injury than the drouth here, and our agents have not yet 
been able to fill our orders, so that we do not include in 
our list several choice garden and flower seeds, a part .of 
which, and we hope all, will be added next month. As 
it is, the seeds we now offer will be found of special 
value. Nothing but pure, fresh, reliable seeds, of good 
varieties, will be distributed. 
All good garden and flower seeds will be scarce and high 
this year, in all parts of the country, for the reasons above 
stated, and on this account our seeds sent out, will be more 
valuable than usual. They will also cost us much more 
than in other years. But they will be cheerfully distrib¬ 
uted. The fact that half a million plots of vegetables and 
flowers, springing up from seeds sent out by us, will be 
growing all over the country, from Newfoundland to Cal¬ 
ifornia, Oregon and Washington Territory, will of itself 
be a pleasure that will in no small degree compensate the 
expense and trouble involved. And as these seeds will 
be multiplied indefinitly, who can estimate the ultimate 
results of the Agriculturist Seed Distribution for 1861. 
TO EVEKYfilOBY. 
One or More Valuable Premiums for 
Every Neighborhood! 
HOW AND TO WHOM THEY ARE GOGJO. 
Let it be remembered that our Premiums, (see page 3.3) 
are not limited in number. They are not confined to a 
few articles offered for the highest lists, but each one is foi 
a definite number of names. The more of them given, 
the better can we give others, for the larger our subscrip¬ 
tion list, the less the cost for each paper. So, then, we 
can give one or more premiums for clubs to every town 
and neighborhood in the land, and shall be happy to do so. 
All the articles offered are good ones, useful everywhere, 
and there is not a neighborhood of twenty families in the 
country where one of them ought not to be secured, and 
might be if some person would take hold of the matter. 
Does not this single December number, with its varied 
contents, and the long index catalogue of topics treated in 
this one volume, show that such a volume, (especially the 
next one, which is to be better than any previous one,) 
will be worth its small subscription price to every family ? 
Will not the reader, then, have the kindness to see to it 
that someone, (if not himself or herself,) makes the effort 
to get up a club, if it is not already being done ? 
We have heard from over 4,000 persons who are now 
making up clubs, and we know not how many more are 
doing it. There Is yet time to begin the work. 
Many persons are making up clubs on their own account. 
Others are making up clubs to secure a SewingMachine 
for a clergyman, and others for a poor widow, and the 
machine will be on hand at Christmas. 
A good many men, Including a large number of Post- 
Masters, are preparing to surprise their “better halves” 
with a Sewing Machine, about the Holidays. Not a few 
did this last year. 
Several Congregations are obtaining Premium Melode- 
ons for tiie Churches and others for Sabbath School-rooms. 
A -arge number of Schools are making up clubs—some 
to get Melodeons ; some to obtain the Cyclopmdia ; and 
some for the Dictionary and other books. 
Tiie Ozaukee Agricultural Society, in Wisconsin, sub¬ 
scribed $93 for 95 copies to be given among their premi¬ 
ums, and received the Sewing Machine, which was ex¬ 
hibited at their Fair, and then sold at auction for the ben¬ 
efit of the finances. (A good hint to other Societies.) 
A Shoe Dealer in Ashtabula, Ohio, offered a copy of the 
Agriculturist for 1861, for each $15 worth of shoes sold to 
his customers. He lias already sent $167 for 167 names, 
and has himself received a $100 Melodeon. 
Several Railroad Conductors are collecting lists of sub¬ 
scribers, as they have opportunity in the cars, and thus se¬ 
curing various premiums for themselves,Sewing Machines, 
Cyclopaedias, etc., etc. 
And so the work is going on all over the country. Tiie 
enterprise pays all round. Tiie people are persuaded to 
read and think ; the canvassers are getting good articles 
(without money,) in pay for their time ; our subscription 
list is going up, and of course we are pleased. 
---» - -—»<2> r—-. c- 
“ The Baker’s Dozen.” 
“Time Dp.” 
This number ends the subscription of a kirge portion of 
our subscribers. We trust every one will renew, and do 
so promptly, that we may get the names regularly upon 
tiie mail books and send off the January number before 
the beginning of the year. It will be as easy to do it now as 
a week or two later, and it will assist us greatly in malcing 
up our books for the coming year. Please get a neighbor, 
or two, or three, or more, to join you. 
Now for West Year ! 
This item closes our Editorial Labors upon volume 
nineteen. We look with pleasure to the intercourse we 
shall hold with our readers through volume twenty. Many 
thousands of new readers have already enrolled them¬ 
selves witli us, and we have the most encouraging indica¬ 
tions that the number will be very greatly increased. Our 
former readers, will, we believe, very generally continue 
with us. We have added largely to our working force, 
and we shall, as editors, have much greater opportunity of 
mingling with our readers upon their farms, and in their 
gardens, and hence be able to gather more practical in¬ 
formation. We do not like to promise too much—we 
have always tried to do the best we could — but our own 
hopes are strong that volume 20 will be eminently worthy 
its advanced place in the series. Farewell to our “ teens.” 
•-< ■ q Ofc—-- 
All new subscribers for 1861, received before Dec. 22, 
will be presented with this December number. When 
specially asked for, we will also send a copy of the No¬ 
vember number. After Dec. 22, the January number will 
be sent at once to all names coming in. 
- --- — - * - 
Please Remember the German Edition. 
We are publishing, at a good deal of expense, a com¬ 
plete edition of the Agriculturist in the German Lan¬ 
guage, every way equal to the English Edition. Will our 
friends please remind their German neighbors of the fact. 
--- -- « G n» -—» --■ 
What Money to send for Subscriptions, 
Bills on Banks in New England, N. Y., N. J., Del., and East¬ 
ern Penn, are most valuable to us; those on any spGCie paying 
bank in the U. S., orCanada, will be received however. 
Three-Cent Postage Stamps are very good. For sums of 
over five dollars, it is usually better to send a draft on a New 
York bank, payable to the order of the publisher. These are 
absolutely safe, though few money letters are lost when prop¬ 
erly sealed, and mailed by an honest Postmaster. Nine out 
of ten losses reported, result from the omission, by accident, 
or otherwise to put the money in. Seal money letters close¬ 
ly, clear to the corners. Gold coins should be fastened into a 
card bv splitting and pasting or sewing it, or be fastened be¬ 
tween two thick pieces of paper. Postage stamps should 
have a piece of paper between the gummed surfaces, to pre¬ 
vent sticking together, or upon the letter. Three-cent stamps 
are just as good'as money. Ten-cent stamps are not easily 
disposed of here, in large quantities, Canada P. O. stamps 
are valueless here, either for postage or to sell. Many let¬ 
ters come in which the name, or P. ().. or State, is omitted. In 
such eases we have to wait for a scolding letter before learn¬ 
ing where to send the paper. 
^gnnilkrisf. 
(DISTINCT ENGLISH AND GERMAN EDITIONS.) 
A thorough going, RELIABLE, and PRACTICAL 
Journal, devoted to the different departments of SOIL 
CULTURE—sucii as growing field CROPS ; orchard 
and garden FRUITS; garden VEGETABLES and 
FLOWERS; trees, plants, and flowers for the 
LAWN or YARD; in-door and out-door work around 
the DWELLING ; care of DOMESTIC ANIMALS, 
&c., &c. 
A full CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS every month. 
THREE to FOUR HUNDRED, or more, illustrative 
ENGRAVINGS appear in each volume. 
Over SIX HUNDRED tlain, practical, instructive 
articles are given every year. 
The Editors and Contributors are all practical 
WORKING MEN. 
The teachings of Me Agriculturist arc confined to no 
State or Territory, hut are adapted to the wants of all sec¬ 
tions of the country — it is, as its name indicates,for the 
whole American Continent. 
The German edition is of the same size and price as the 
English, and contains all of its reading matter, and its 
numerous illustrative engravings. 
TERMS—INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE. 
One copy, one year.$1 00 
Six copies, one year. 5 00 
Ten or more copies one year.SO cents each. 
Add to tiie above rates: Postage to Canada 0 cents; 
to England, France, or Germany 24 cents, per annum. 
Postage anywhere in the United States and Territories 
must be paid by tiie subscriber, and is only six cents a 
year, if paid in advance at the office where received. 
Tiie paper is considered paid for whenever it is sent, 
and will be promptly discontinued when the time for 
which it is ordered expires. 
All business and other communications should be ad¬ 
dressed to tiie Editor and Proprietor. 
ORANGE JUDD, 41 Park-Row, NowYork City. 
Contents for December, 1860. 
Agricultural Lectures at Yale College. 374 
Apple—Mammoth—Gloria Mundi. Illustrated. .368 
Baby—How to Care for.. 308 
Banner of Welcome to the Prince of Wales. 355 
Barometers — Reduction in Price..... 374 
Beef—Plenty in New-York. 305 
Bees—Apiary in December... 354 
Bees Robbing a Vineyard... 350 
Beet Culture—Hints on. 302 
Birds—Familiar, Useful Hints—Goldfinch. Illus.. 3 C,\ 
Bordering for Flower Beds—New. Illustrated ..366 
Boys’ and Girls’ Columns. Editor with his Young 
Readers—Don’t Cheat Yourself—A safe Property 
— Too Sharp for Him—Spelling Puzzle — New 
Problems — Answers to Problems — Gathering 
Christmas Greens—About Christmas—Down in the 
Mouth—Uncle John’s Study — Believing one’s 
Eyes — Curious Experiment. .3 Illustrations. .371-372 
Cabbage—Keeping in Winter. 359 
Cakes for Holidays—Welcome ; New Year’s; Spice; 
Wealthy; also Good and Shrewsbury. 370 
Calendar of Operations for the Month . 354 
Chess and Wheat — That $500 Premium. 374 
Cooking Directions—Bread Making; Codfish Balls; 
Molasses Candy ; Christmas Pie ; Apple Sauce all 
the Year; Sour Apple Jelly; etc.; etc. 370 
Corn—Improved King Philip. 373 
Cows — Concert by — Bells Wanted. 374 
Currant—Boston Lady. 374 
December—Suggestions—Meditations for the Season. .353 
Draining Pays. 339 
Exhibition—Our Tables during November. 335 
Fair—Market, in Westchester.. 359 
Farm Work in December. 354 
Farmer—Compliment to a Royal English. 305 
Floral Taste—John Chinaman’s. 305 
Flowers — French Asters. 374 
Flower Garden and Lawn in December. 354 
Flowers—Novelties—Green Roses — Double Zinnias..366 
Fodder—Green versus Dry. 353 
Garden — Kitchen and Fruit in December... 394 
Garden — Large Vegetable. 355 
Gardening—Winter. 397 
Grape Vine Borders — Heating. 393 
Grapes—Notes on the Newer. 363 
Green and Hot-IIouses in December. 354 
House Plans—$200 Premium.2 Illustrations. .356 
Humbugs—Sundry, Mock Auctions, etc., etc. ..Illus ..357 
Ice Houses with Double Walls.I 374 
Insects—Microscopic Views — VIII—White Cabbage 
Butterfly.7 Illustrations ..300 
Items, Queries, etc., Wanted.. 
Knitting—Elementary Instructions. ..3 Illustrations. .369 
Lawsuit — $10,000 Damages Wanted from Agricul't _ 355 
Manure — Ammonia—How to Save.. 358 
Manure—Bone Dust.. 
Market Review, Weather Notes, etc.. 375 
Market—W ashington. Illustrated '! 304 
Meats—Minced Veal — Spiced Hasli . 371 
Ncw-England—Summer Rambles in.. '302 
Orchard and Nursery in December. 354 
Parsley — Fresh in Winter. [[397 
Plants—Care of House.. 
Potato Man—Note from. 374 
Poultry -Eggs in Winter, etc.359-371 
Poultry — How the Turkey was Named. 359 
Premiums for 1801.373-376 
Pumpkins — Large. 374 
Pumpkins and Squashes—Best Mode of Drying. 370 
Rain — Amount of in Connecticut. 359 
Root Pruning—Best Time for. 374 
Roses—Prairie. 395 
Seeds—Cheating in. 374 
Seed — How to Clean Tomato . 359 
Seeds for Free Distribution.373-370 
Sewing Machines — Cheaper. 373 
Sontag—New-Pattern.3 Illustrations. .360 
Spontaneous Vegetation. 393 
Strawberries — Covering. 395 
Tim Bunker on Bad Water. 358 
Trees—Pruning Dwarf Pear.3 Illustrations. .306 
Trees—Regrafting Pear.306 
Turnips and Beet Tops—Curing for Fodder.392 
Turnips — Preserving in Winter.362 
