AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
39 
IAme upon Time Soils.—R. R. Bryan, of 
Blair Co., Pa., writes to the Agriculturist: “X desire in¬ 
formation on the subject of applying lime to limestone 
soil. X have plowed and subsoiled some sixteen acres of 
heavy sod for corn, the subsoil plow loosened the yellow 
earth about five inches below the bottom of the 8-inch fur¬ 
row. It is called “ limestone clay,” and I am hesitating 
about burning lime, as it may be there is lime enough in 
soil.”.... It is an important fact that the action of lime, 
(fresh slacked) is often most favorable upon limestone 
soils. This not by virtue of its being valuable as plant 
food, but because it produces.some favorable chemical and 
mechanical effects upon the soil. By all means make the 
trial. 
Muck.— E. Gould, Wash. Co., N. Y., wants to 
know how to prepare muck for use, has large supply, 
some say burn it and use the ashes, others say slack lime 
in it to sweeten .. .Dig in the Winter or before ; let it lie 
and freeze and dry; when it can be handled, mix it with 
manure in the barn cellar, yard, or compost heaps ; or 
make a heap using 3 to 5 bushels of fresh slaked lime to 
a cord of muck, spreading the muck in six inch layers, 
and throwing the lime over it. Work the heap over in 
about ten days, and use it on the land in three weeks, or, 
as an absorbent with cattle manure after three months. 
Carrot Tops tor Byeiiig.— “ In the vi¬ 
cinity of Hartford,” writes a subscriber whose daughter 
is in East Hartford on a visit, “ carrot tops, mown off, sell 
for $30 a ton, to be used in dyeing blue cloth.” [We don’t 
understand how the blue color is obtained.] 
Mumlmgs to l»e Avoided.—“ Free Lot¬ 
tery Tickets for Agents,” sent to Canada, (and everywhere 
else,) by B. B. Holt, and Th. Owens & Co., hailing, at 
present, from Progress, N. J. Also, “ Grand Social Ban¬ 
quets,” “ Mechanics’ Union Clubs,” etc., at Salem and 
other towns in New-Hampshire, including George Hamil¬ 
ton, James R. Lawrence, and all others who write let¬ 
ters offering to procure $100 prizes by lying, for the small 
sum of $5. If they tell one lie, as they offer to do for $5, 
they will tell another one and keep the $100—i/drawn. 
Also , “ Doctors ” in Northern New-York, and elsewhere, 
offering $30 for distributing circulars, if you send 25 cents 
for entering your name on their “ Agents’ Books.” Also, 
those hailing from Boston and elsewhere, who offer you 
$20 to $30 a week if you send $1 fora pamphlet of instruc¬ 
tion. (Why did not H. H. M. & Co, stay in England and 
Ireland, if they found “ over 10,000 ” fools there ?) Also, 
any one in New-York who offers $20 to $100 a week for 
selling sewing machines, if you will first send them $5 to 
$15 for a “sample.” Also, “ Rev.” Edward A. Wilson, 
o'f Williamsburgh (whom we can never catch “at home”). 
Also, his aliases in New-York and Brooklyn, who offer 
cures of consumption free. Also, sellers of Japanese 
Wheat. More hereafter. 
Corn Meal—To Make it Keep 
Sweet. —In a letter just at hand from Mrs. O’Brien, 
who received the first premium for Corn Bread, she 
says: “ If you take corn meal when purchased at the 
market or grocery store, and put it in a pan and leave it 
warm in a warm stove-oven over night, it will keep bet¬ 
ter, will acquire a sweetish taste, and will rise and bake 
better. The little trouble to do this will be amply repaid. 
... .1 do not like scalding meal before using, as it tends 
to make it clammy, and can do little if any good ; drying 
the meal is safer and better.” 
Ckeap “Wringers” worse than 
Useless.— Just now there is no little excitement about 
wringing machines, and since -a good article is found to 
be useful, the country is being flooded with all sorts of 
cheap affairs, irom $1 upward. We must caution the 
readers of the Agriculturist at least, that as yet there is 
no wringer before the public worth buying which has not 
two cylinders, thickly coated with India Rubber, (at least 
half an inch thick all round;) and that these cylinders 
must be made to turn together by connecting cog-wheels. 
Without the cog-wheels the rollers are liable to slip and 
tear the cloth, no matter how strongly it may be asserted 
to the contrary. Without the thick rubber, the instrument 
will not do its work well. No good wringer can be sold 
at retail for $5, at the present price of India rubber. 
dome Mound Itigfht at Last—Tke 
Tribune on Premiums. —Years ago, the Publisher 
of the Agriculturist acted upon the idea that it would be 
just, and more pleasing all round, to offer pay, in the form 
of good articles, to those who took the no small trouble 
of getting up and forwarding large lists of names, instead 
of making begging appeals to them, to “work for the 
good of the cause.” He also thought to do a good work 
for the country by sending out new or desirable seeds for 
propagation and a wider diffusion. But what a hue and 
cry was made ! “ Humbug” was the quite common slur 
of the press. We remember the Tribune gently hinted 
that the Agriculturist was not intrinsically worth the price 
asked for it, but needed a little of something else “ thrown 
in ” to make it worth a dollar a year.—But what a change ! 
Now, nearly all enterprising journals, religious, scientific, 
agricultural, news, etc., are offering premiums (pay) to 
canvassers. Many of them have “ stolen our thunder,” and 
doubled it; and, tell-it not in Gotham, even the Tribune 
has come round right at last, for it now pays agents for 
services rendered, by supplying them with writing appa¬ 
ratus (pens.) Very good, Mr. Tribune. Now, having 
had more experience than you, let us advise you tp add 
some white paper and a bottle of ink, and then put in some 
good seeds as we do, to complete your agricultural de¬ 
partment, and you will make your paper, with the extras, 
worth its price_[Are we “ square ” now, Mr. Tribune ?] 
Hogs—Cost of BriaRgimg - to N. Y.— 
Jan. 9, Messrs. Zeublin & Hardy, of Pendleton, Madison 
Co., Ind., (28 miles Northeast of Indianapolis, on the Bel-. 
fontaine Railroad,) shipped 465 liye hogs on that road. The 
average weight was 261 lbs., and they occupied 8 single¬ 
decked cars. The lighter hogs went 65 to 68, the heavier 
ones 51 to 53 to the car. The cars went through to Buf¬ 
falo, taking the Columbus and Cleveland road at Galion. 
The freight from Pendleton, Ind., to Buffalo, was $72 a 
car, which included return passes for three men accom¬ 
panying the hogs. Average freight per hog, $1.24 to Buf¬ 
falo. Time to Buffalo, 52 hours. Two hogs died and 
were sold at Buffalo for IK cents per lb. Cost of feed 
and hotel bills, during 2 days detention at Buffalo, $25.— 
From Buffalo to New-York, by Central and Hudson River 
Railroads, five double decked cars were required. 
Time through about 40 hours. Freight through, 47K cents 
per 100 lbs. They were called 108,616 lbs., and the fi eight 
$515.92, or $1.11 per hog. Free passes were given to the 
three men while with the hogs, bnt no free passes 
to return to Buffalo. Whole cost from home for 465 
hogs, $1,116.92, or $2.40 per hog—a trifle less than one 
cent per pound, on home weight. To this is to be added 
in New-York, 3 cents each for yardage, 1 cent each for 
weighing, cost of the feed, and IK per cent commission for 
selling. The shrinkage will be about 20 lbs. per hog, or 
8 lbs. to the 100 lbs. These were larger than the average 
run of hogs, making the freight a little higher for each. 
Farmers’ Tricks of Trade.— The fol¬ 
lowing from a correspondent needs no comment; “Of two 
Long Island farmers, one warmly contended that cus¬ 
tom sanctioned putting the largest and finest potatoes, ap¬ 
ples, pears, peaches, etc., on top of the basket or bar¬ 
rel, for if this is not done, they bring lower prices. 
The other, who was more , conscientious, said he could 
not do it, notwithstanding custom sanctioned it, and he 
was aware that he got less for his fruit and vegetables 
than his neighbor did. As a buyer for family use, I listen¬ 
ed attentively, and regretted to find that the majority of 
buyers, or market men, at least, are thus paid a premium 
for what I should term deception, if not dishonesty. For 
a long time I have observed this tendency to make the 
finest show upon the outside ; and when I wish to buy a 
basket of apples or peaches, I have to ask the dealer to 
pour them out, to see how the bottom compares with the 
top. What says the Agriculturist to so glaring an evil ? 
Shall we not rather encourage uprightness in all our deal¬ 
ings, than countenance deception in any way ? I know 
of parties who have bought what they supposed to be fine 
baskets of fruit, judging from the outside appearance, 
and finding them so very inferior generally, they have 
resolved never to deal with such sellers again. As it 
now is, a person is certainly liable to be deceived, unless 
he overhauls every package of fruit or vegetables coming 
to market. As far as one purchaser is concerned, I am 
resolved to purchase of such persons as the conscientious 
dealer referred to, when I can thus encourage honesty 
rather than duplicity.” 
Cotton Speculation in England.— 
It is stated in English papers that almost every body in 
that country is infected with the mania for speculating in 
Cotton. Clergymen, doctors, lawyers, and even ladies 
are investing, in hopes of speedy fortunes. The effect 
will be ioZe-ful, when the bubble bursts. 
Vermont Farm Scene Wanted.— 
Honestus Stearns, Windsor Co., Vt.—Good. We endorse 
your criticisms on the November Agriculturist. Can’t 
you give us a real genuine Vermont Scene ?—a picture 
Tke IPatrlor Gardener.— A very neat 
concise little book, on the House Culture of Ornamental 
Plants, full of suggestions, iii. the main reliable, and ex¬ 
pressed in a playful style. Translated from the French 
and adapted to American use, by Cornelia J. Randolph, 
of Virginia. Published by J. E. Tilton & Co. There are 
several fine cuts of table ornaments, in the plant line, and 
the book is well worth the price (65 cents). Sent post-paid. 
To Onion Growers.— We have a neat 
pamphlet of 32 pages, containing the condensed but plain 
directions given by Seventeen practical Onion Growers, 
residing in different parts of the country : and embracing 
full directions for every item of labor, from selecting seed 
and preparing ground, to harvesting and marketing crop. 
Nowhere else can so full, complete, and useful informa¬ 
tion on this subject be found. Sent post-paid on receipt 
of 21 cents (or seven 3-cent stamps). Address the Pub¬ 
lisher of American Agriculturist. 
Of Stationery, Blank Books;, etc., 
Francis & Loutrell, No. 45 Maiden-lane, manufacture a 
large assortment. We acknowledge the receipt of a very 
fine Pocket Memorandum and Daily Diary for 1862, 
which we are turning to practical account, daily. 
Books on Trees and Skrnks.— W. H. 
Baker, Racine' Co., Wis.—Meehan’s Hand Book of Orna¬ 
mental Trees (75c.) is the best American work, for a 
cheap popular book giving descriptions and methods of 
propagating, condensed in a small compass. 
Iowa College Farm.— Nearly the whole 
of the $10,000 appropriated by the Legislature of Iowa for 
agricultural purposes, was expended in the purchase of 
a farm, in the erection of farm buildings, and in setting 
out trees and otherwise commencing farm operations. 
An Iowa correspondent of the Agriculturist says, that 
little or nothing is now doing, but that the college farm 
interests are secured against loss, and will probably so 
remain till peace returns.—A wise arrangement. 
American Bornological Society.— 
Ninth Biennial Meeting, at Boston, Sept. 17th, 1862. We 
learn by a note from the President, Hon. Marshall P. 
Wilder, that the next meeting of this association will 
open as above. Previous meetings have been held at 
New-York, Boston, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Ro¬ 
chester. This is the only National Society, devoted to 
horticulture or agriculture, which has deserved and en¬ 
joyed a successful career. It has eschewed all financial 
speculations, and money raising dodges, and thus kept 
free from a class of harpies who invariably attach them 
selves to every national enterprise, when there is and 
money to be made, and if not shaken off bring it to dis¬ 
grace if not ruin. The friendly meeting of fruit lovers, for 
a calm discussion of the real merits and demerits of the 
different varielies of fruits, is productive of good to them¬ 
selves and to the country at large. We can but hope that 
before next September, our National troubles will be so 
far settled that, as in the past, the Pomological Meeting 
will be a National one.— 1 The Massachusetts Horticultur¬ 
al Society has ordered its Annual Exhibition for the same 
week. 
Conn, drape Growers’ Association. 
—The Annual Meeting was held at Hartford, Jan. 7Hi. 
The election was deferred to an adjourned meeting to 
be called by the Executive Committee. Present officers : 
President, D. S. Dewey, Hartford; Vice Presidents, C. S. 
Middlebrook, Bridgeport, and E. A. Holcomb, Granby ; 
Secretary, Mason C. Weld, (now) N. Y. City.; Treas. 
W. H. Risley, Berlin. 
Tke Bach lucky Agr. Society.— Held 
its annual meeting early in Dec., and re-elected Col. L. 
J. Bradford, of Bracken Co., for President, and chose foi 
Vice Presidents— P. Swigert, Franklin Co., 1st District, 
J. B. O’Bannon, Jefferson Co., 2d Dist.; Jno. G. Holloway, 
3d Dist., with 5 directors for each district. The Presi¬ 
dent in his address stated that the Annual Tobacco Fair, 
at Louisville, had added (annually ?) $2,000,000, to the 
value of that staple in that State. 
Conn. State Agr. Society.— At the 
Annual Meeting, at Hartford, Jan. 8th., the following 
officers were elected for 1862 : President, E. II. Hyde, 
of Stafford ; V. Presidents, R. Battell, of Norfolk, and D. 
F. Gulliver, of Norwich Town ; Cor. Sec. Henry A. Dyer, 
of Brooklyn, Windham Co.; Rec. Sec. T. S. Gold, ol 
West Cornwall ; Treas. F. A. Brown, Hartford ; Chem¬ 
ist, Prof. S. W. Johnson, Yale College, New-Haven; 
Directors, (appointed by Society, one for each County).— 
Chas. M. Pond, Hartford ; Randolph Lindsley, New- 
Haven ; James A. Bill, New-London ; E. Hough, Fair- 
field ; Levi Cowles, Middlesex ; Lemuel Hurlburt, Litch¬ 
field ; Benj. Sumner, Windham ; R. B. Chamberlin, Tol¬ 
land. Directors (appointed by County Societies)—J. A. 
Hemmenway, Hartford; N. A. Bacon, New-Haven; Henry 
Bill, New-London ; G. W. Seymour, Litchfield; Ezra 
Dean, Windham ; Stephen Hoyt, Fairfield ; J. S: Yeo¬ 
mans, Tolland ; no one yet nominated from Middlesex. 
