1876 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
155 
perienced grower of fruit, he knows the capabilities of 
the vicinity. 
Chaffin,' Staples & Co., Richmond, Va., have a long 
catalogue of lands in various parts of Virginia. 
Wit. P. Moore & Co., Suffolk, Nansemond Co.. Va., 
have also numerous farms, some very cheap. 
Chas. E. Shanahan, Easton, Talbot Co., Md., has an 
attractive list of farms for sale, and information about 
that part of the state. 
IMPLEMENTS. 
Chicago Scraper and Ditcher Co., Chicago, Ill., 
describe their excavator for road-making, ditching, and 
leveling land. 
Chas. D. Pierce, Peru, Ill., makes what he claims to 
he the best well auger in use. 
Rcmsey & Co., Seneca Falls. A large, well illustrated 
catalogue of an immense variety of pumps, fire engines, 
mills, bells, etc. 
Towanda Eureka Mower Co., Towanda, Pa., make 
the Eureka Direct Draft Mower. 
Warrior Mower Co., Little Falls, N. Y., make one 
of the standard and established mowing machines. 
G. B. Weeks & Co., Syracuse, N. Y. Chapman's 
Railway Hay and Straw Pitching and Stacking Appara¬ 
tus. First prize at the New York State Fair. 
MISCELLANEOUS AND POULTRY. 
Beecher Basket Co., Westville, Conn. A great vari¬ 
ety of the popular Beecher baskets and crates. 
W. A. Burpee, Philadelphia. Land and water poultry, 
Southdown sheep, Jersey, Guernsey, and Short-horn 
cattle, and shepherd dogs. 
A. H. Hews & Co., North Cambridge, Mass., produces 
excellent flower-pots and other horticultural pottery of 
excellent quality, as we know by experienee. 
Novelty Shoes, formerly noticed, the catalogue in¬ 
forms us, are still made by the American Novelty Shoe 
Co., Meadville, Pa. 
Shelton Tobacco Curing Co., Asheville, N. C., 
make the Shelton Tobacco Hanger, and set forth its 
merits in a pamphlet, which also gives in detail their 
method of raising and treating the crop. 
EUROPEAN CATALOGUES. 
v Alegatiere, Lyons, France. This horticulturist is 
celebrated for his douMe pelargoniums or geraniums, 
and offers this year 38 entirely new varieties, as well as 
new carnations. 
E. G. Henderson &, Son, London, Eng., have as usual 
an immense catalogue of seeds of all kinds, with many 
novelties, and all admirably classified and illustrated. 
Carl Pabst, Erfurt, Prussia. An extensive stock of 
various seeds, including those of greenhouse plants. 
Sweet Potatoes. — “H.,” Spring Dale, 
Mass. If for market, plant “ Nansemond ” ; for our own 
use we prefer the “ Southern Queen,” which has a very 
pale skin, and not being known iii market, would not 
sell so well. You can get the plants at the proper season 
from the New York seedsmen, and probably in Boston. 
The crop needs potash, hence ashes are excellent for it; 
hut manure should also he used. Your compost might 
answer, but we should prefer to add ammonia to it in 
some form; 200 pounds of guano would he useful. 
ltooks on Carpentry.—“F. H. V.,” 
Henrico Co., Va. Bell’s Carpentry, and Lakey’s Village 
& Country Houses. Had you sent P. O. address, you 
would have had a reply a month ago. 
Snksoiliug.— “E. F. C.,” Huntingdon, 0. 
A heavy clay with a stiff’clay subsoil will be improved by 
subsoiling. By subsoiling is meant breaking and loosen¬ 
ing the subsoil so as to permit water to sink freely 
through it and to admit air and warmth, but not plowing 
it up to the surface to cover or replace the top soil. Sub¬ 
soiling is done by peculiarly shaped plows, which pene¬ 
trate 16 or 18 inches deep,and do not disturb the upper soil. 
The subsoil plow may be run behind the common plow in 
the furrow, or when the field is plowed it may be run in 
lines a foot apart, and both ways across the field. If this is 
done every two years, a gradual deepening of the soil 
will he effected, which will greatly add to its value. 
The Buffalo Live Stock Journal. 
—This journal lias expired, or rather it has blended it¬ 
self with the “ National Live Stock Journal ” of Chicago; 
in its last dying speech and confession, the Buffalo jour¬ 
nal says, and it appears on the first page of the National : 
“When the Buffalo Live Stock Journal was started, nearly 
six years ago, very little attention was given, in the agri¬ 
cultural journals, to the discussion of the live stock in¬ 
terest.”—That is about the coolest we have seen ; in the 
present scarcity of ice, copies of this article might he 
used in a refrigerator as a substitute. “Six years”ago.” 
—on, not even that—“ nearly six years ago ” none of us 
had done anything. It is not to be wondered that a pa¬ 
per which knew so much less than nothing about the 
literature of its own specialty, should fail of success, and 
its poor little snowflake drop into the ocean of the other 
journal. As the National Live Stock Journal is sufficiently 
able to stand without help, we wonder that it published 
such nonsense, and we hope for its readers sake, none of 
the wisdom which dictated the paragraph we have quoted, 
has been transferred with the “entire business, good will, 
and subscription list” of the Buffalo Journal. 
"Wool Pulling; SSaeep.—“L. N. C.,” 
Pierce Co., Wis. Sheep will nibble and pull their own 
wool when their skin is irritated by lice, ticks, or some 
disease, such as scab. The irritation may also be caused 
by too high feeding or a too warm pen. A teaspoonful 
of sulphur with an equal quantity of cream of tartar 
and salt given once a day for a week, may tend to allay 
the irritation. If the sheep will not take it readily, it 
should be placed upon the root of the tongue with a spoon, 
and the mouth held up until it is swallowed. 
Tke Points of a Pure Cotswold 
Sheep.—“ J. XI. S.,” Logan, Ind. The pure Cotswold 
is distinguished by its coat of long wool, which is often 
beautifully waved or curled, its bread loin and square 
form, a forelock of wool upon the forehead, and a white 
broad face and massive head. Some pure-bred sheep 
have brown patches upon the face and forelegs. The 
full-grown rams will weigh 250 lbs. or over, and the ewes 
180 lbs. or over. The wool is 7 to 0 inches in length. 
“Sknjjeiror ’William” Cabfeage.— 
“A. H. R.,” Middletown, Conn., sends us an advertise¬ 
ment of this cabbage, in which it is Claimed to he “ The 
best, largest, hardiest, and most profitable variety 
of Winter Cabbage known in Europe,” and asks if it is 
not a humbug. We have the most recent-catalogues of 
the leading seed-houses In England, France, and Ger¬ 
many, neither of which offer “Emperor William” Cab¬ 
bage. This is offered by a person not known as a seeds¬ 
man, and the “ Bismark” Cabbage, also unknown to the 
trade, was offered in a similar manner last year. Our 
friends may he sure that any cabbage or other seed of 
value will be found in the hands of the regular dealers. 
Pencil Baskets.—It would pay some one 
who makes peach baskets like those figured in the Ameri¬ 
can Agricidtui-ist , in November last, to advertise them. 
Inquiries about them are numerous. We do not know 
where and by whom they are made. The one figured 
came from somewhere in Michigan. 
Florida, State Fair.— Mrs. “A. A. H.” 
sends a detailed account of the Fair held at Jacksonville, 
in Feb. last, for which we cannot make room. We glean 
from it that the fair was a success, not so much as a large 
display, but for the spirit manifested by the producers. 
Among the peculiarly Florida products, was a great vari¬ 
ety of articles made from palmetto leaves; vegetables 
were numerous and fine, and included ripe tomatoes and 
egg plants ; oranges were in great abundance, as were 
lemons and others of the citrus family; pine apples in vari¬ 
ous stages -came from Key Largo, and Col. Molony, of 
Key West, sent a collection, the list of which reads 
like a catalogue of the fruits of the West Indies—cocoa- 
nuts, bananas, guavas, and others, all from his own gar¬ 
den. Roses and other flowers were exhibited, and a bet¬ 
ter display in all departments is promised for next year. 
Salfjictei* for Grass. — “G. F. D.,” 
Lowell Mass. Nitrate of Soda is extensively used as a 
top-dressing for grass. It is often called Chili Saltpeter. 
About 150 lbs. per acre, is the proper quantity to use. It 
should be finely pulverized and evenly spread. For price 
refer to market reports. 
Manure Yard.—“E. B. G.,” Northport, 
L. I. We should think it would pay togo to the expense 
of fifty dollars or more, to make a proper manure shed to 
save 150 loads in yearly. If the value of each load is in¬ 
creased 25 cents, then 75 dollars would be saved in two 
years. Tiiis is the proper way to consider the matter. 
Right of Way.—“ W. G.,” West Troy. A 
deed of real estate if properly expressed, should convey, 
amongst other rights of property, “easements” which 
have belonged to the property; and a right of way or 
access to the property, is an easement. It would be 
proper to consult a lawyer in cases of doubt. 
Charcoal “ Braize ” for Manure. 
—“ J. N. W.,” Marquette, Mich. Charcoal is almost in¬ 
destructible, and therefore of no value -whatever as a fer¬ 
tilizer, If the “ hraize ” is burned into ashes, they would 
be of considerable value; the slower the braize is burned, 
the better the ashes will be. 
Winter Oats.—“ O. J. G.,” Van Buren Co., 
Mich. The winter oats grown in the southern states, 
will not survive a northern winter. For the northern 
states the Probestier, or the New Brunswick oat.s, yield 
the best crops and the heaviest grain of any we have tried. 
Bistillery Manure.— “P. A.,” Welling¬ 
ton Co., Ontario. Solid stable manure at $1.00 a load, 
is preferable to semi-liquid cow manure from a distillery ; 
if the latter could be had for hauling, and there was time 
to draw it, we would he glad to have in on these terms. 
To use this half liquid stuff, we would haul it in a tight 
box, (and if it were not quite tight around the bottom, 
a little solid manure would make it so;) take it directly 
upon a meadow or plowed field, and then raising the tail¬ 
board sufficiently, would let it run out as the wagon was 
driven up and down the field. It would take a good deal 
of this stuff to do any harm to a field. 
Buckwheat for Sheep.—“ G. W. S. H.,” 
Highland Co., Ya. Buckwheat is a good grain for sheep 
as a change from other feed. When given for a long 
period, it causes irritation of the skin, and the sheep are 
apt then to nibble their wool, and pull it out. A pint a 
day is a fair allowance for each sheep. No grain needs 
to be ground for sheep, as they masticate and digest 
their food very thoroughly. 
Hoots for Milch Cows.—“O. B.” Brum¬ 
field Station, Ky. We would rather grow the sugar beet 
for feeding to milk cows, than any other root. The best 
variety is Lane’s Improved Sugar Beet, originated by 
Henry Lane, Cornwall, Vermont. In growing beets, or 
any other roots, the aim should be to produce a thickly 
set crop of moderate sized roots, rather than large, over¬ 
grown ones, which contain less nutriment in proportion 
than the smaller roots. 
Thoroughbred and Fn.il Blood.— 
“ A. J. B.,” Butler Co., Pa. These mean the same thing. 
The usual meaning attached to these terms is, an animal 
that is descended from a line of breeding through ances¬ 
tors which have been accepted by breeders as pure-bred, 
according to the standard generally recognized by some 
association of breeders, such as a herd-hook society or 
one equivalent thereto. The produce of a % bred and a 
full blood is a % bred animal. Thoroughbred is only a 
term of convenience. For instance, we have no domestic 
animal that approaches the purity of blood possessed by 
the wild buffalo (the bison of America), nor any that re¬ 
produces so exactly with a fixed type ; our stock being 
really cross bred from different varieties. But after a 
number of years of close and careful breeding by breeders 
of acknowledged skill, a class of animals becomes accepted 
as pure-bred, just as the Jersey or the Short-horn cattle are. 
Beet Sugar in CaHibrnia.—“ D. R. 
S.,” Augusta, Me. The experment of making beet sugar 
in California has been successful, and we believe tiiat a 
factory has been in operation near Sacramento for three 
or four years. We have not heard, nor can we say, any¬ 
thing as to its operations during tire last season, except 
that contracts for beets were given out last spring. 
Fisk a,s> Manure .—“ H. M. R.,” Oconto, 
Wis. Fish contain much valuable fertilizing matter. A 
good method of making them available is to mix them 
in a heap with earth or swamp muck, and leave it to de¬ 
compose. When the fish is well rotted, the heap should 
he mixed by shoveling it over. It may then be used as a 
top-dressing, or be applied in the hill for corn, potatoes, 
or cabbage. A small shovelful is enough for each hill. 
If plenty of swamp muck, or the top soil from woods is 
mixed with the fish, there will be little danger of injuring 
the land by their use. 
Advice to a Lawyer.— “Subscriber.” 
Hamilton, O. We would advise no person who is suc¬ 
cessful at any business to abandon it with a view to bet¬ 
tering his condition by farming, whether it he upon a 
dairy, stock, or tillage farm. The profession of law is a 
useful and necessary one, and is a much easier business 
than farming, although some people who are more senti¬ 
mental than practical, try to believe that “ beautiful cows, 
sheep, and pigs ” involve no hard or disagreeable work, 
or risk in a business way. “Let the cobbler stick to his 
last,” is a homely proverb, but is not devoid of wisdom. 
Feeding; Linseed.—“M. R. A.,” Everett, 
Pa. Where linseed oil-cake cannot be procured, a sub¬ 
stitute may be provided by grinding linseed mixed with 
an equal quantity of wheat or rye bran, in a common 
grist-mill; oats, or bran and oats together, may be used 
instead of bran alone. Linseed cannot easily he ground 
between mill stones without such admixture. 
Silkworms in ’ Kansas.—S. Crozier, 
Silltville, Franklin Co., Kas., has been for some years en¬ 
gaged in producing silk, and gives in a pamphlet form his 
methods of cultivating the mulberry tree and treating the 
worm and its product. The author thinks that wherever 
the mulberry will thrive, the farmers’ daughters should 
raise their own silk dresses. Those Interested in silk 
culture should consult this treatise, which costs 50 cents. 
