170 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
[Mat, 
[Only for May and June, 1866,] 
Special... Extra 
PREMIUMS 
FOR 
One Subscriber. 
Everyljody can get one of These. 
One Hundred Thousand Subscribers was, until recently, 
our highest aim, but that point was easily secured some¬ 
time ago, and we are going so rapidly towards 150,000 
that we have set that down as tlie figure for this 
Quarter Century Volume. We intended to 
make it a superior volume, and the general testimony of 
our readers is, that this is being splendidly accomplished. 
The first five numbers contain 204 pages, instead of the 
standard 160, and the* engravings are certainly large, 
beautiful and instructive, while so far they count up near¬ 
ly 200, large and small. The character and style of many 
of these engravings is scarcely equaled by any of the 
Illustrated Journals in the Country. Well, why should 
not tlie cultivators of our country have a beautiful and 
tasteful journal, as well as a practical one.—We tliink our 
readers will agree that the reading matter has been 
valuable so far.—We mean to make the rest rf the 
volume at least equally valuable. Do we say too much 
then, in asserting by advertisement or otherwise, that this 
25th volume will be abundantly worth the small subscrip¬ 
tion price to every one who can be informed of its char¬ 
acter and persuaded to subscribe for it ? 
But about the 150,000 subscribers. A single name 
more from each of a small part of our present readers 
will do tlie work. The paper will pay those induced to 
take it. 'Will the reader please send one of these names ? 
■ As an acknowledgement of any such favors, we propose 
to send one of the following books (whichever may be de¬ 
sired) to any one who will forward the name and pay of 
one subscriber for this volume. (Tins is only for names 
received between May Island June 30th—none before or 
after—and we can only send to those who specify which 
book is wanted for each name.) The books, one for each 
subscriber, will be delivered at our office, or sent free 
(post-paid) wlierever desired. Of course two names will 
be acknowledged by any two books desired, three books 
for three names, and so on. These names can not count 
in the general premium iist (on page 169). That list will 
also be continued to June 30. 
******* 
Premiums (Post-paid.) Forallo/]866 —$1.50. 
A —The Rural Annual for 1866.For One Subscriber 
B —The Rural Register for 1866. ..For One Subscriber 
C —American Bird Fancier.For One Subscriber 
D —American Rose Culturist.For One Subscribro 
E —Bement’s Ralibit Fancier.For One Subscriber 
E —Dog and Gun (Hooper’s).For One Subscriber 
G —Fuller’s Strawberry Culturist.. .For One Subscriber 
H—Flax Culture, Complete.For One Subscriber 
I —Hop Culture, Complete.For One Subscriber 
K.—Onion Culture, Complete.For One Subscriber 
E —Our Farm of Four Acres.For One Subscriber 
M—Richardson on the Dog.For One Subscriber 
N —Tobacco Culture, Comi)lete.For One Subscriber 
********** 
The above are all neatly bound in colored paper covers. 
The Rural Annual and Rural Register are wanted in 
every family. Tlie eleven others are each wanted by a 
large cl.ass. The books on Flax, Hops, Onion, and 
Tobacco Culture, are the best works on these several sub¬ 
jects that ever have been produced, and are very valuable 
to every one growing the smallest quantity of any one of 
these crops. See further descriptions of the above books, 
in the list on pages 201, 202, 203. We have electrotype 
and stereotype plates of all these works, and can supply 
all copies c.alled for. 
Here then is an opportunity for everybody wlio desires 
one or more of these to get them without expense, by 
simply soliciting the subscription of a neiglibor or ac¬ 
quaintance. The back numbers of tliis volume of the 
Agriculturist, of whicli new editions are how in iiress, 
will be sent to all subscribers, as soon as the names are 
received, and the premium books will be promptly sent to 
the address given for them. 
IXew Yorlf Live Stock Slarkefs.— 
Beef Cattle.— The supply, though variable, has been 
about an average one, and prices are just about the same 
as a month ago. or equivalent to 15c(316c per lb. dressed 
weight for good cattle, and from that down to 12c'5)13c 
for poor grades. Some very good, 17c(5iI8 .. . Rlilcli 
Coivs still lend downward ; few are willing to pay $70 
for a good cow, with the high price of feed and danger of 
the Rinderpest. Prices r,ange from $30(a)$40 for poorest 
to fair; $50(n)$65 for medium to pretty good ; $65(3$80 
for really good milkers with calf by llieir sides, and a 
few extras at higher rates.... Veal Calves are coming 
in very freely, and prices are down to 6c,(Sllc per lb. live 
weight for poor to very good. “Bobs” are only sold on 
the sly.... Slieep and liambs have been in full sup¬ 
ply and are lower ; shorn 6)^cf<i)8c per lb. live weight, ac¬ 
cording to quality ; wooled .sheep lc(a)l)Ac higher. Spring 
Lambs bring $5 to $8 each, according to size and quality. 
... .I,ive Hogs are in excess of the demand ; prices, 
9c(3lOXc per ft. live weight, according to quality. 
For other Jlarkels and Prices, see page 191. 
Containing a great variety of Items, including many 
good Nulls and Suggestions which we throw into small 
type and condensed form, for want of space elsewhere. 
Xlte “One Sul»scril>ei* Premiums,” 
on this page, are worthy the attention of every one. A 
book or two, or more, can be obtained without expense, 
wliile doing a good thing for others—for any one led to 
become a reader of a journal like this will surely be 
benefited. If we had the money in subscriptions, which 
has been sent to swindlers the present year, and which 
would not have been sent had the swindled been readers 
of this journal, we should now be printing at least 
250,000 copies. 
ISeware ojFStrang'er “ Agents ” for 
tlie Agriculturist. —We hear from a few distant 
towns that certain strangers have appeared in some local¬ 
ities, representing themselves as the employed “ travel¬ 
ing agents ” of this and other journals, and exhibiting 
forged certificates and receipts from the publishers, giv¬ 
ing them authority to act. They exhibit samples of the 
papers obtained through news agencies.— We send out no 
traveling or other agents, and autliorise no one to sign 
receipts outside of the office, and allow no one to take 
subscribers under the regular rates.—Whenever any sucli 
swindler appears, he should be promptly arrested and 
brought to account. Our only agents are those who 
voluntarily raise premium clubs where they are known so 
well as to be trusted. Our premiums are open to all alike. 
Soiling Cattle. — The best treatise that has 
ever been published on this subject in this country, is the 
Essay of Hon. .Tosiah Quincy. It has been for some¬ 
time out of print, b\it we are happy now to have it in our 
power to recommend it to our readers and to supply them 
too. It is neatly bound together with a biographical 
sketch of the author by Edmund Quincy. Price $1.25. 
IBook on Mamires.— Prof. S. W. Johnson, 
as Chemist to the Connecticut State Agricultural Society, 
thoroughly investigated the variouscommercial fertilizers 
offered in the markets of that Stale. He gave in his re¬ 
ports very clear and succinct statements of the theory 
of manures, and rules for judging of the quality of those 
offered for sale, and of the quality of articles of manuria! 
value which an agriculturist may be able to obtain. 
These reports are published in an octave volume of 178 
pages, and contain a great amount of valuable informa¬ 
tion on manures, peat, muck, etc., which can be obtained 
from no other source. Price $1..50. 
Valiialile l.ist of IBookt^. — A nearly 
complete list of all the books published in this country, on 
Agriculture and Horticulture, and some others, will be 
found on pages 200 to 203 of this paper, with brief descrip¬ 
tions of a part of them. (This has been in type for sever¬ 
al months, but set aside to make room for the advertise¬ 
ments of others.) The list will not only be a valuable 
aid in selecting books for present use, but ahso worthy of 
preservation for future reference.-The prices are not 
nearly so high as the cost of paper and labor would de- 
m.and, these being at least double former rales, while the 
average advance on the books in the list referred to is not 
25 percent., or one-quarter, above the lowest old prices, 
—One can hardly make a better investment than to place 
before his family a stock of good books referring to his 
own business. Five, ten, twenty-five, or fifty dollars worth 
of books put into a boy’s hands will fill his liead with 
ideas, set him to thinking, and do more toward his future 
success in life, than a thousand dollars laid up on interest 
for him. The latter may give him more capital to starton, 
but with a good stock of ideas and a developed mind, he 
will do far better in life with a much smaller money cap¬ 
ital to begin with. “It is the mind that makes the man," 
and the store of thoughts, and the exercise of the think¬ 
ing .and reasoning powers, are wffiat make the mind. 
Whal would be the effect upon the great farming and 
gardening and fruit growing Interests of this country, if 
every cultivator had one acre less, and its value laid out 
in a library of books about his business. Would it not 
often keep his boys out of bad company, and tend to their 
refinement ? Would it not dignify the calling in the eyes 
of his family and of liimself, furni.sh food for thought 
while engaged in daily toil, and by the hints and sugges¬ 
tions derived, ^promote the profit of his labors ? The 
subject is worthy of consideration. 
IXew IBook oat Teat.—Peat is exciting 
mucli interest, both in-regard to its use as fuel, and to its 
great value as a manure, for an amendment to soiis, and 
as an ingredient in composts ; and wo are happy to an¬ 
nounce as in press a compact, practical and popularly 
scientific treatise covering this whole subject, by Prof. 
Samuel W. Johnson, of the Sheffield Scientific School, 
Yale College. It will probably be ready June 1. 
Coiaittry Eifc, bj' Robert Morris Copeland. 
This is a handsome volume of over 900 pages, printed on 
fine paper and well illustrated. Its scope includes farm¬ 
ing, gardening, green-house and grapery culture, window 
gardening, and in short there seems to be scarcely a sub¬ 
ject connected with rural life that is not treated upon. It 
is valuable as a work of reference for any of these sub¬ 
jects, and so far as we liave examined it, its teachings 
appear to be plain and sound. Tlie present is the fifth, 
and greatly enlarged edition. Price by mail $5. 
ISonrs at Homo. — This valuable mtigazine, 
valuable because instructive, interesting, and at the same 
time a safe one for every family, has added to its already 
long list of first class contributors, the names of “Ik 
Marvel,” (Donald G. Mitchel), “Timothy Titcomb,” 
(Dr. J. G. Holland), and Rev-. Dr. Bushnell See p. 199. 
Hy Vineyard at EakoTiew.— This is 
tlie title of a new work upon Grape Culture, and gives 
an account of the failures and successes of a novice in 
grape growing. Works that give us the personal ex¬ 
perience of tile writer have a charm about them that no 
abstract treatise can possess, and wliile In this work 
personal matters are not given an undue prominence, 
there is sufficient of narrative to be interesting. The 
author has no pet theories or systems, but gives a straight¬ 
forward account of what he did and how he did it, and 
tells the whole in a stj’le which is at the same time clear 
and pleasing. The author withholds his name in order 
to avoid the annoyance of correspondence, to which every 
one is subjected who allows his name to appear in print 
as the raiser or cultivator of anything. We may stale 
that lie is a cultivator of experience, and is perfectly fa¬ 
miliar with the manner in which grapes are grown in the 
successful vineyards of the West. He gives us a clear 
account of the methods actually practised in those local¬ 
ities where vines are grown for their fruit. The method 
of pruning and training is illustrated by engravings. We 
predict a wide popularity for this little work, as it is just 
the book many have been looking for. Price $1.35. 
Siimlry Humlmg's. — Here again wc have 
a fresh lot of hundreds of letters, from all parts of the 
country, especially the distant West, detailing the loss of 
money, enclosing circulars, “ confidential ” letters, gr.and 
lottery schemes, tickets for magnificient prizes, etc., 
etc. The req\iests for answers are so numerous that it is 
Utterly impossible to write to a quarter of those who ask 
us to do so, and they will please accept this excuse. The 
tickets drawing splendid prizes, sent to us for collection, 
usually for our own benefit, w’ould, if genuine, give us a 
profit of a clear hundred thousand dollars. Suffice it to 
say that after repeated trials we have not found a single 
one of these “ tickets," or “ certificates ” worth paying 
for. Take an example : A subscriber sends us $5.25 with 
a ticket that calls for a splendid “ English Patent Time 
Keeper.” We call again and again on the operator, but 
the “boss” is never in—“lias stepped out a minute or 
two, but will soon lie in.” We wait an hour at a time 
but he never comes,—rather the real swindler, with whom 
we are really talking, never acknowledges himserf the 
party. But by a little subterfuge we ascertain that this 
“ time-keeper” Is a little card with figures and lines, etc. 
The thing may cost a dime, and is worth nothing.— 
Another ticket calls for a “sewing machine" on pay¬ 
ment of $5.25. After repeated calls, as before, we find It 
a little, almost or quite worthless thing, offered by another 
dealer for $2,50.—Another $5.25 ticket calls for a “ large 
