18G6.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
9 
iDiide to hold the pails and so keep them clean, although 
his cows are littered as well as his horses. 
ItSaliited’s Hayoibrilc Traveller.— 
I:ycurgus Dunnaux, Lawrence Co., Ind., writes that from 
the description we published on page 212, he had-one of 
H.ilsteds’ Hay-fork Travelicrs made and put in opera- 
tii.n, and adds ; “The result is, it has inaugurated a new 
era in lifting and conveying hay in this community. 
Witliout specifications for the construction, we could 
not make all the parts so perfectly as we now ctin ; 
but it works well enough, so that now the great difficulty 
is in keeping a supply of hay to pitch; formerly it was 
to get the hay pitched. A partinular excellence is, that 
a man of light muscle can work the fork, if he has brains 
enough, just as well as any other.’’ 
liicc oa Cattle. —W. G. Wai-denliall, Jef¬ 
ferson Co., Pa., says, that “knowing larkspur seed would 
destroy lice on human beings, he collected a quart of 
seed, ground it fine, soaked it a week in one gallon of 
strong vinegar, and then applied it with a sponge to all 
parts of the animals . .has never seen louse or nit since.” 
T. F. Haynes, Hartford Co., Conn., writes to the Agri- 
cxdturist: “ I keep lice off my cattle bykeepiflg sulphur 
and salt in winter where (hey can lick it w'hen they 
choose ; my cattle have had none since I practised this,” 
Hemedy lor Warts ©m Cows’ Teats. 
—-Andrew Burfarst, Lewis Co., N. Y., inquires “what is 
the best remedy for warts on tiie teats of a cow ?” 
Warts on cow's teats usually extend no deeper than the 
{kin. They should not be removed while the cow gives 
milk. The most effectual way is to take hold of the end 
of a wart with pliers and cut it off with sharp shears. 
The cut should not be deeper than the skin. This rem¬ 
edy will not hurt a cow as much as clipping the skin does 
iheep when they are being sheared; or apiece of small 
wire may be twisted around a large wart sufficiently 
tight to obstruct the circulation of the blood, and left on 
till the wart drops off, leaving the surface smooth. 
Mow to ITlalce Manure of* '^Veeds, 
witll no Pigs.— “ H. M. B.” New Haven Co., Conn. 
Work over your pile of weeds, potato vines, bean vines, 
lawn trimmings, any thing of the kind, adding a quantity 
of soil to amount to one-fourth or one-third the weight of 
the whole. Then let the housemaid pour over it all the 
chamber ley and wash slops, with the dish water and 
scraps from the kitchen which you can not profitably 
dispose of otherwise. The weeds, etc., ought to be cut 
up with a sharp spade before putting into the heap, and 
the heap ought to be worked every month or two, ex¬ 
cept in very cold weather, mixing in some more dirt. 
Agricultural Papers. —“ Bob Skinflint,” 
(who has chosen a forlorn non de plume) asks us to re¬ 
commend to him a first rate agricultural paper. (He takes 
the Agriculturist, of course). Take one published in 
your own State. One who lives in .Maine should, by all 
means, take the Maine Farmer, (Augusta) which is a 
weekly family newspaper, and teaches sound agriculture 
as well, which, by the way, appears in new type, an 
evidence of prosperity we are glad to notice. The same 
is true of three excellent papers published in Boston, 
the N. E. Farmer, Ploughman and Boston Cultivator. 
New Yorkers have quite a choice. There is the Coun¬ 
try Gentleman and Cultivator, (Albany) a quarto-week¬ 
ly, famous for its excellent correspondence, and emi¬ 
nently the gentleman farmer's paper. Moore’s Rural 
New-Yorker (Rochester) is another weekly. It is a fam¬ 
ily- and news-paper, with a large and good agricultural 
attachment, in which the American i erinos are of late 
made a specialty. We might go on and mention the 
Ohio Farmer, (agricultural and family. Cleveland), the 
Prairie Farmer, (agricultuiaal. Chic,ago), both well man¬ 
aged and first rate of their respective classes, and so in 
almost every western State, at least one good monthly or 
-weekly paper, which ought to be vveil sustained by the 
reading farmers. We have always found that the farmer 
who reads one agricultural paper will crave more. 
Farmer’s Scrap-Boolc.— On the study 
table of a very studious farmer of Westchester Co., N. 
Y., we examined a system of keeping and classifying all 
kinds of information gathered from his re,ading, which is 
worth copying. He has numerous sheets of stiff brown 
paper folded once, for use as port-folios, and considerably 
larger than large letter paper. In these are numerous 
Other half-sheets. The port-folios or paper-covers have 
written upon them the various subjects which most 
demand his interest and attention. For instance, one is 
probably labeled “Sheep,” and in this he places ail 
valuable items about sheep, cut out of newspapers which 
ne does not keep whole for binding, even advertisements, 
hand-bills, circulars, etc. These are pasted neatly upon 
the half-sheets, and at the same time classified still 
further if possible. Then, also, upon writing paper he 
makes memoranda of fads, or where to find important 
articles whUdi he meets with in his reading in books or in 
journals, which he preserves. In the same way he has 
a cover devoted to each class of stock, to the prominent 
classes of fruits, vegetables, and other crops, as “ Slone 
Fruits,” “Small Fruits,” “Apples and Pears,” “Roots,” 
“ Indian Corn,” “ Small Grains,” “ Grass and Hay,” etc., 
and so has always ready for immediate reference a vast 
amount ol valuable information, which would otherwise 
not be found when most needed. 
ILiig’l&tuin"' Mod. Swindler.®.— A Sub¬ 
scriber in Onondaga Co., N. Y., writes strongly of the 
operations of certain parlies, w ho by plausible statements 
induce fanners to employ them to put up lightidng rods 
at so much per foot, to be paid in notes. They then con¬ 
trive to use a great amount of rods, and badger their 
victims into paying the bills to save further trouble. The 
notes are sold at the best terms that can be got. In one 
case $300 was collected for the rods put on a hog pen ! 
Over Sixty Thousand dollars have been taken in this way 
by a single firm of operators. The victims shouid com¬ 
bine and arrest the swdndlers—a collection of the 
testimony would establish fraud very clearly we think. 
We have had several goo.l rods put up by professional 
men, strangers often, but always htive had a clear state¬ 
ment and agreement of just what was to be done, and 
the exact price agreed upon. Twenty-five dollars, and 
usually a less sum, will pay for ample protection on any 
ordinary house or barn. If out of business, we would be 
glad to undertake to supply a thousand dwellings with 
rods, and warrant tliem against lightning for ten years, 
at an average price of twenty dollars each. 
Oaliioi’UiiiMs, lioolt out.—\v e learn 
that a set of sharpers upon the Isthmus are engaged in 
seliing to passengers “ Greenbacks ” at a considerable 
discount. The seller always has a few dollars left, and 
as he is going where they will be of no use he is willing 
to sell them for gold at a great sacrifice. Several who 
have bought in this way, found upon their arrival at New 
York that they had bought well executed counterfeits. 
A I>Ovlge—Jewelry Swindle.— 
For some time past, sundry parties have sent out circulars 
offering chances for large prizes in watches, jewelry, etc., 
to any one sending 25 cents for a ticket. In return for 
this they sent prize-tickets offering for $5, or $5.24 
watches, etc., worth $25 to $50, alleging that these tickets 
were drawn. Of course any one remitting the money 
would hear nothing furlher from it, except in some rare 
cases, where a further and larger swindle was in view. 
A Brooklyn concern, and we know not how many others, 
are taking a shorter method to get the $5.24. Thus ; They 
address the same ietter to each of ten thousand or more 
persons at a distance, enclosing ready drawn Prize Cer- 
tific,ates, ostensibly for “ Patent Hunling Case Watches,” 
“know-n as the Army and Navy Watch, beautifully en¬ 
graved, patent adjusted balance, warranted a perfect 
time-keeper, etc., and worth S.iO-”—Another ticket en¬ 
titles (lie holder to a “Gold Vest Chain, the latest ana 
most fashionable style, valued at $25.” The letter ac 
companying these tickets says: “Your letter with 50 
cents enclosed is received, for which we send you two 
certificates. The amount of $5 24 lot each certificate 
must be returned with the certificates, within 15 days, 
etc.,” and the article called for by the ticket will be sent 
by mail or express. Of course, the parties receiving 
these plausible letters have never sent the'50 cents, but 
the supposition (too often true) is, that the recipient will 
consider it a capital mistake in his behalf, and will for¬ 
ward the money to secure the prize intended lor some 
one else. The parties sending these tickets can not be 
found. They get their letters through the P. 0. and 
pocket the money, until they suspect they are watched, 
and then hide, and reappear under some new name. 
luotferics Ag)ain.—“ Yo'urs Sincerel}-, Tho¬ 
mas Boult & Co., Box 5713 New York City,” though 
shown up in these columns, are still pestering the people 
all over the country with their swindling circulars, offer¬ 
ing a “ private and confidential ” good chance for at least 
$1200, in the Covington, Ky., Lottery, by sending to them 
merely $10 for a ticket sure to draw a prize. They pre¬ 
tend to make this offer to get the influence of the one ad¬ 
dressed, who is expected to show his prize money and tell 
through whom he got it, so as to bring them a large 
business. This is of course the sheerest lying. They 
make the same offer to every other man in the same tow n 
whose name they can get. Of course ho one ever heard 
from his money after sending it to Box 5713. A great 
number of Post-masters have sent us samples ot these 
circulars, of which sometimes as many as a hundred or 
more have come to the same office addressed to as many 
different parties, but each one is addressed as if he was 
die only favored one in the county.—Before this reaches 
the reader, we hope to have the Police succeed in catch¬ 
ing “Yours Sincerely, Thomas Boult & Co.,” or who¬ 
ever calls for the letters in Box 5713; yet, he knows 
none of his dupes will acknowledge their greenness and 
appear as witnesses, and so he will probably be set at 
liberty to reappear under some new name and guise. We 
have h:id many of these fellows arrested and their business 
broken up, but often with the above result. The best we 
c:in do is to keep on showing them up in the Agriculturist 
as we have for years past. If everybody read this journal, 
these swimllers would soon be upon short rations. Let 
us all try to get as many to reading the paper, as possible. 
<jJreasin 5 ^ Boot®, etc,— Cliarles Booth, of 
Erie Co., 0., takes exception to the item on this topic in 
the December Agriculturist. He infers we have not worn 
cowhide boots, in w hich he is mistaken. We “grew” up in 
them on the farm and greased them too much. He says 
they will become as hard as woo l without frequent greas¬ 
ing. which is the case with poorly tanued leather con- 
tinually exposed to wetting and drying. But we did ad¬ 
vise a “surface coat of oil (or grease) when the 
feet, are likely to be exposed to much water,” and we 
might have added a frequent one, but not so heavy as to 
enlirelv saturate and close up the pores. Stout boots of 
well tanned cowhide, with thick bottoms, are the best for 
those constantly exposed to water or the damp ground, 
and pretty free application of grease are useful when 
one works much on wet ground. 
Light sandals, that is, rubber shoes with open tops, hav 
ing oidv rubber straps across the top of the feet to hold 
them on, so as to leave the leather open as much as pos¬ 
sible, are preferable to full rubbers. Those silting still, 
as in writing, for part of the day, will do well to use 
these, but only while out on the wet ground. In all cases 
give the perspiration from the feet opportunity to escape. 
j.i dry pair of socks in the hatter part of the day, especiaily 
when sitting down for the evening, or when going our for 
evening riding, or work, adds greatly to one’s comfort 
and health.—Mr. B. says he finds our mixture of lard and 
resin an excellent application to boots. 
CJunpowder BSeii«Icre«l — 
One of the company of English capitalists, who have 
been travelling in this country, not long since demon¬ 
strated the practical character of a recent English dis¬ 
covery oelore a company of scientific ami practical men, 
in -Tersev City, After taking a quantity of common gun¬ 
powder and proving its genuineness, he mixed with it 
three times its weight of powdered glass. He then thrust 
a red hot poker into the mixture, which caused it to burn 
up slowly without the least explosion or harm to any¬ 
thing. The effect of the ground glass is purely mechan¬ 
ical, separating the grains of powder and thus preventing 
a rapid combustion. Mixed with four times its weight of 
glass, the powder was burned with great difficulty, those 
grains only burning which were in direct contact with 
the poker. By the use of a siev-e the powder was again 
separated, in a condition of efficiency—apparently as 
pood as ever. The value of the invention consists in the 
prevention of accidental explosion, tlius securing per¬ 
sonal safety and greatly reducing the cost of storage. 
Some apprehensions have been expressed that the pow¬ 
der, after being thus mixed with the glass, will foul the 
guns in which it is used : that nothing is said about this, 
gives ground for the suspicion that it is true. 
Measuring Hay.— There is no rule that 
will prove at all reliable for measuring fine and coarse, 
loose and well-packed hay. Some kinds of hay, after 
being pressed beneath a heavy mow. wl.l weigh a ton per 
1000 cubic feet. In a hay loft, it would .-cqiiire 2000 cubic 
feet of the same kind of hay for one ton. 
How nmclt is a Barrel.—“ J. M. P.” A 
barrel of cider, vinegar, and wine, molasses, .syrup and 
milk, is 31)^ gallons. A barrel must be made to hold 193 
lbs. of flour, or 280 lbs. of salt—the lalter larger than for 
flour. Apple barrels are made the size of flour barrels, 
though salt barrels well cleansed are used for apples, 
pears and potatoes. Salt barrels hold more than is re¬ 
quired ol apple barrels. A barrel should contain not less 
than bushels of fruit, or vegetables, sealed measure. 
Xo Mcep Mats fj-oiii Eating I5n.r« 
ncs.— “ Philomen,” of Champaisn Co., writes ; “ I have 
a remedy that has never failed with me. It is simnly 
salting the rats regularly. I do this by laving sait on the 
sills and ties of the stable, if that is the place they most 
frequent; but in f.act, they will hunt for it. It will occur 
, to any farmer that sees this reme.Iy, that harness is mos: 
cut where the greatest amount of sw-eat has dried, an 
indication that salt contained in it is what they want.” 
•Tan n/id Ton,—J. M. Porter, Rosa Co., 0. 
Tun U never properly used to express weight, but i: r> 
