18C5.] 
/ AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
365 
brought mine to this place, examined them carefully, 
saw no sign of disease, and put all but two in a pasture 
w ith a mare and coit. I set two to work, and in six days 
the glanders broke out on them in its worst form. This 
was in ten days after I bought them. If an individual 
were to do sucli an act as this, he would be liable to in¬ 
dictment and punishment. Can the government be tol¬ 
erated in selling .animals with a contagious and incurable 
disease, to its own people, and sowing death and de¬ 
struction to animals of private people all over the land. 
In England, the whole administration is engaged in find¬ 
ing preventives and remedies for the cattle plague. Will 
the people of this country allow their government to do 
just the reverse, and put the price of fraud in the public 
treasury? In my case, I have ten thousand dollars 
worth of thorough bred and trotting horses, which I may 
lose by the contagion brought to them through govern¬ 
ment perfidy. Myself and my laborers are liable to con¬ 
tract this disease from the care and handling of these 
glandered mules. Hundreds less; able, f fear, to bear 
the loss than I am, have been cheated in the same way. 
Your ob’t serv’t, Jas. Grant. 
' Animal Traps of All Kinds.—De¬ 
scriptions of rat traps, squirrel traps ; traps for musk¬ 
rats, minks, moles, martins, gophers, foxes, wolves, 
any and all animals which go under the denomination 
of vermin, are wanted. We have constant inquiries for 
them, especially gopher, mole and muskrat traps, and 
would gladly respond to them, by presenting in our col¬ 
umns quite an array of traps of various kinds. Some time 
since, two friends of the Agriculturist at the West, sent 
us two different gopher traps, and both good. The 
drawings were given over to the draughtsman and en¬ 
graver, but the manuscript accompanying each has dis¬ 
appeared—neither do we remember the names of the 
writers. If they will re-write their ietters, we can teli 
their story, and show our readers their traps. 
N. Y. Colleg-e of Veterinary Siiir= 
geons. —The opening exercises of this institution were 
held at the College, No. 179 4th Avenue, on the 6th of 
November. The school opens with an encouraging 
number of students, and the public exercises on the oc¬ 
casion were attended by many of the prominent Physi¬ 
cians, Professors in the Medical Colleges, and the elite 
of New York, both gentlemen and ladies. An address 
was delivered by-Prof. Copeman, from which we make 
a brief extract, after which the guests with the officers, 
the faculty and founders of the institution, partook of a 
collation, enlivened by congratulatory speeches and toasts 
for the success of the college, and to the honor of its 
founders, first among whom is Prof. John Busteed, M. 
D., the President of the college. 
EXTRACT FROM THE ADDRESS OF PROF. COPEMAN. 
“The science of veterinary medicine, as it is now begin¬ 
ning to be understood, is a science that has a far wider 
application and a far nobler mission than the limited duty 
of leading the sick animal back to health. In the present 
day, more than at any previous period in the history of 
our country, domestic animals are brought together in 
immense numbers, under a variety of conditions power¬ 
fully and variously affecting their health. Hundreds of 
cattle and thousands of hogs are closely congregated at 
distilleries. Cows may be counted by the hundred in 
thousands of dairies. Armies of horses encamp and move 
about in enormous masses. The great problem of vete¬ 
rinary medicine is not so much how to cure a particular 
case of pneumonia or of fever, but how to prevent the 
outbreak of pestilence, to discover and to avert all the 
causes of epizootic and enzootic disease ; in a word, how¬ 
to preserve the health of domestic animals and thereby 
increase the wealth of the nation. Regarded in this light, 
the veterinary profession acquires an importance which 
it has never yet challenged in America. There never was 
a period in the history of our country which so much re- 
qiured the establishment of veterinary schools as the 
present. Threatened from abroad with two diseases, the 
cholera, which is already said to be on our shores , and 
the rinderpest or cattle plague of Russia, a low form of 
typhus, which is now making such sad havoc among 
cattle on the European continent, and the milch cows of 
England, I regret to announce the reappearance amongst 
horses at Troy, in this State, and its rapid extension along 
the Erie, Chenango and Black River canals, of a highly 
contagious disease, commonly known as “ black tongue.” 
As one of the consequences of the war, we have also to 
contend against that most loathsome and incurable dis¬ 
ease, glanders, the seeds of which have been sown broad¬ 
cast, by the public sale of diseased army horses, purely, 
then, there never was a time when the aid of judicious 
advice of well educated veterinarians was more needed. 
Sanitary commissioners and boards of health must ere 
long be organized or appointed by competent authority in 
every State, and by the general government to protect us 
from the pending epidemics and epizooties. And this 
gives vise to the most importiint cjueslion, of whoqi or 
what class of persons should the board of health be com¬ 
posed. I answer w ithout hesitation, of such professional 
gentlemen as I have the honor of being surrounded by, 
of our first physicians, of the best veterinarians in the 
country, of which there are, it is to be regretted, but very 
few to be found, owing, doubtless to our want of vete¬ 
rinary schools ; the mayor and other head executive of¬ 
ficer of each city or town, and the police ; a board com¬ 
posed of such material would not only be one of the 
surest, but the best means of protecting the public health, 
and tlie public funds. I am not an alarmist, on the con¬ 
trary, while I recommend, care and prudence, I would 
guard against excitement and fear.” 
Tlte of Prof. Tintlley.—Just as 
we go to press, the announcement reaches us from Eng¬ 
land, of the death of Roct. John Lindley, at the age of 
66. He had a wide i^jimtation as a botanist and horticul¬ 
turist, and left numerous works to commemorate his 
talent and industry. His Theory of Horticulture was 
one of the earliest attempts to explain the opera¬ 
tions of horticulture according to the teachings of vege¬ 
table physiology, and is still a valuable work. Roct. 
Lindley was the long time horticultural editor of the 
London Gardener’s Chronicle, though ill health had for 
some years past prevented him'from active labor. The 
last article in that paper which we recognized as his, 
was a lengthly notice of the life of Sir William Hooker. 
TJte Olilo Pomolog'ical Society.— 
The loth annual meeting will be held at Cincinnati on 
Wednesday, Rec. 6. They invite specimens, and the 
attendance of all amateur aiKl professional fruit growers. 
Fruit ill Minnesota. —Col. D. A. Robert¬ 
son, of Saint Paul, is endeavoring to collect the fruit 
statistics of Minnesota. He desires cultivators to inform 
him when their trees were planted, where from, and 
which have done well, together with particulars of soil, 
aspect, and treatment. When names are lost, he will 
identify specimens if sent by mail. As the object is to 
collect information to be published for the benefit of all, 
fruit growers in Minnesota are requested to aid. 
Catalogues, etc., SSeceived.— Hovey 
& Co., Boston, catalogue of Autumn Bulbs, illustrated. 
. Frost & Co’s Rochester, autumnal catalogue of 
Fruit and Ornamental Trees.. .Bridgeman's, SiS Broad¬ 
way, N. Y., catalogue of Bulbous and Tuberous Roots, 
.E. Y. Teas, Richmond, Ind., Trade catalogue. 
G. E. Meissner, Richmond, Staten Lsland, N. Y., price 
list of Grape Vines.Adolphus Bornemann, Rayton, 
Ohio, descriptive catalogue of Bulbous Flower Roots. 
.Vilmorin, Andrieux & Co., Paris, catalogues of 
Bulbs and Seeds for fall sowing.F. K. Phoenix’s, 
Bloomington, Ill., Re.scriptive Nursery List .R. M. 
Rewey-, Rochester, N. Y., catalogue of colored plates of 
Fruits, Flowers, etc . ...Waite, Burnell & Co., Lon¬ 
don. Eng., catalogue of Seeds. 
Mottier on Wine Malcing.— lu October 
we gave Mr. Mottler’s process for wine making, but 
omitted to state, as w e should have done, that the article 
originally appeared in the Horticulturist in 1862. We do 
not so much regret this, as it gives an opportunity to say 
that wo are glad to learn, that the Horticulturi.st has met 
with a success this year that is very satisfactory to its 
proprietors, who spare no pains to make it acceptable. 
Yinelnntl. —We have been there—so several 
papers say, and without due authority they have pro¬ 
mised a report from us. We did not propose to say 
much .about it, unless we found something specially 
noteworthy. Some people wilt go there and do well. 
Some will stay there and do well. Some will go there 
and come away, or not go at all, and do better. The chief 
advantages of the place are, not in cheap land, not in agri¬ 
cultural and market facilities, not in water power, but in 
the steady, industrious, intelligent and moral po|tulalion 
which, without these advantages, has been draw-n together 
there, and established schools, churches and good laws. 
Preparing Poultry for Market.— 
It is too often done thus : The birds are caught, their 
necks are wrung by holding them by the head and swing¬ 
ing them around once or twice , they are then thrown on 
the ground to “flop” and bruise themselves until dead; 
then are plunged into hot water and the feathers stripped 
off, the skin being often torn, the fat scalded and looking 
oily, and the whole bird presenting a very uninviting ap¬ 
pearance. They are sometimes drawn and mangled in 
the operation; and there are parties who give them a 
good feeding of corn just before killing, so as to sell a 
little corn at 15 to 20 cents per pound. They are not 
bled ; they are often packed warm ; they come to the 
market in poor condition, and sell at the lowest prices. 
The foyvls sbpqlcl be plump ftjul fat, with empty crops. 
Catch them quietly ; hold a bird by both wings and lie 
them ; then tie the legs together and hang them one 
after another on a pole. As .soon as hung up in this way 
take a sharp knife and cut the heads off, cutting close to 
the head, and let them hang until all the blood is out of 
them. While still wartff pluck them dry, removing all 
the-feathers, a few at a time, pulling with a slight jerk 
Ihe way the feathers lie. Thus Ihe skin will not be torn 
The birds should now be hung till cold, anti then be 
wiped off with a damp cloth and packed In tight boxes, 
w ith clean bright straw next the box all round. If the 
lot is extra fine, pull the skin back, cut off an inch of the 
neck, tie the skin over it, trim off the edges and wash off 
the blood. If the poultry is not to be packed, and shipped 
to market by rail or otherwise, they may be dipped in 
scalding water for not over 5 seconds. This shrinks 
llie skin a little, and makes them look plumper ; it melts 
the fat on the surface and gives the birds a clean, yellow 
look, which is attractive. Fowls thus plumped, will not 
keep nor bear packing so well as those plucked dry. 
SLiongj Siatisca-ijilion ff.etters are not 
necessary or desirable. Here is a convenient form : 
Washington, Johnson Co., Iowa, Dec. 1, 1865. 
Messrs. Orange Judd /f Co., New York City: 
Unclosed are Five Dollars for the American Agricul¬ 
turist for four suliscribers, to begin January Ist, 1866, viz,' 
John Doe, Washington, Johnson Co., Iowa, 
Richard Roe, do. do. do. 
Peter Smith, Webster. do. do. 
S, J. Karl, Freeport, Sioux Co., VVi.s. (German), 
Yours, respectfully, John Roe, 
Seal tightly, and address jilainly to Orange Judd cf Co., 
41 Park Row, New York City.—het all matters referring 
to the reading columns only, such as information given, 
notes, queries, etc., (which are always welcomed,) be on 
a separate piece of paper, marked “ for Editors,” and 
containing also the date, name and residence of the writer. 
Frotectiiig Flaists.— O. Moffet, Wapello 
Co., Iowa: Your plan for protecting young plants from 
insects and frost by means of wooden boxes or frames is 
not new, but has been often advised in the Agriculturist. 
We know that it will “succeed,” for w-e have tried it for 
several years; so go ahead and make your frames, and 
you will find them very handy to have in the garden. 
More Potatoes.— The exhibition of potatoes 
at our office has for the past month attracted much at¬ 
tention. Besides those exhibited by Mr. Harrison and 
noticed on page 375, Mr. E. Williams of Montclair, N. J., 
shows quite as many sorts. There are some kinds in the 
coliection of each not contained in the other, and the two 
together make a very interesting display. 
Songs of Seven.— In the collection of 
chaste and beautiful poems by Jean Ingelow, which two 
or three years ago surprised lovers of poetry, and caused 
us to recognize a new star in the small constellation of 
real poets, was one in seven parts, called “ Songs of 
Seven.” The song of a child of 7 years, of a girl of 14, 
of a maiden of 21 ; of four times seven, a mother; of 
five times seven, a widow; of six times seven, and of 
seven times seven. This poem has been most beauti¬ 
fully illustrated by English and American artists and 
engravers, andjirlnted and bound in the most sumptuous 
style of the book-makers’ art, at the University Press, 
Cambi idge, and published by Roberts Brothers, Boston, 
at $5.00. The steel portrait of the author is alone w-orth 
the price. The volume makes one of the most tasteful 
and beautiful gifts that can be found. [It may be had at 
the Agriculturist of&ce, or will be sentby mail, post-paid.] 
ISradlbiiry’s <3old.cn Censer, is a most 
excellent work. Our own Sabbatii School have “sung 
through ” most of Mr. B.’s “ Golden Chain,” and “Golden 
Shower,” and the “Golden Censer” is, if possible, better 
than either of its predecessors, judging from the fifteen or 
twenty tunes we have so far tried. If we had had such 
books when a boy, we should have been a much better 
singer now. perhaps a greater lover of children's singing 
—through this could hardly be possible. 
Fstey’s Musical Instriiments.— Seven¬ 
teen years ago we bought one of Estey’s large melodeons, 
and used it a year, when, at the urgent solicitation of a 
Church Choir, w-e sold it to them, but could not get an¬ 
other. Sundry impropements hav-e since been made in 
tone, power, and structure, and we judge from an exam¬ 
ination of the assortment advertised by Mr. Saxe, the 
general agent, that they are excellent instruments. 
Xlie Fence Questions.-^There have not 
been as many answers received to the questions about 
fences in the Agriculturist for November (page 336), as 
we had anticipated. In the course of the month we hope 
innny will respond. The subject is of general interest. 
