1866.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
311 
Xlae ISiaaderpest. —The fact that this ter¬ 
rible malatly has abated to a considerable extent in Great 
Britain, (though confessedly not on account of the meas¬ 
ures used by the government to stay its progress, for these 
have been most imperfect and ill advised), should not 
make us less vigilant that it should not be imported here. 
The great danger is from cows used for milk on our pas¬ 
senger ships, and vve hope that now stringent measures 
will be taken in regard to these. The law of the State 
of New York we give in full on page 220. The Commis- 
•sioners appointed are well known and honored through¬ 
out the country. No man in the State is more identified 
with the cattle interest than L. F. Allen, of Black Rock, 
Erie Co., a man of more energetic executiv-e talents 
than Gen. Patrick could hardly have been selected, and 
Mr. Kelly is discreet and conservative, and is identified 
with the agricultural interests of the State. The law re¬ 
quires owners of cattle suspected of having the disease, 
to communicate the facts to the Commissioners, but does 
not give the P. O. address of either. We give Mr. Allen’s 
address above, but are not quite certain where to address 
the other gentlemen. 
Siorse a.n4l datSlc “ Doctoi'ins'.”— 
AVe are constantly in receipt of remedies for horn-ail, 
horse-distemper, fouls, heaves, hog-cholera, worms, etc,, 
etc,, and publish but few. In fact we always dread to 
publish a remedy for any disease v^ithout accurately de- 
scribfng the malady, its nature and symptoms, for com¬ 
mon names are so uncertain, and among the owners of 
cattle of any kind the desire is so strong to do somethings 
that it is an even chance th,at they do not do exactly the 
wrong thing. With regard to ordinary ailments, nature 
is the best nurse and doctor, and in cases of the chronic 
character, especially if the disease be one not thorough¬ 
ly understood, the advice of a good veterinarian is most 
important. There are, however, some acute ailments, 
like Hoove, or Bloat, caused by eating much green food, 
which ferments in the stomach. Colic, Garget, etc., which 
are very properly subjects for anybody’s discreet treat¬ 
ment. And again there are some simple disorders, like 
colds, sores, slight fevers, scours, etc., which all farmers 
should understand, and for which they should have and 
use simple remedies. In all things careful investigation 
of symptoms, and an approximation to certainty in re¬ 
gard to the nature of the distemper should precede any 
other treatment, than,thorough grooming and the removal 
of the animal seen to be “out of sorts” to most com¬ 
fortable and isolated quarters, where it may have the best 
of food and care. 
Tlie Slaeep SUow at Kocliester was 
in some respects a success and in others a failure—a 
success so far as the exhibition of “ American Merinos ” 
was concerned and a failure in respect to other breeds. 
There were a few fair Cotswold and Leicester sheep from 
this State and Canada, and one or two pens of ordinary 
South Dow ns. There was also a splendid lot of Silesian 
Merinos shown bv Mr. Chamberlain ot Red Hook, and 
that was all.' The “ Gas Tar .Merinos ” were out in great 
force, and if one did not know that these twenty-five- 
pound fleeces of which so much was said, were made up 
of four or five pounds of wool and twenty pounds of 
grease, they would be objects of real agricultural inter¬ 
est. But when we think that this grease probably costs 
as much to produce as two or three times as many pounds 
of tallow, or even more of flesh, and that this offensive 
product is absolutely worthless, and furthermore the wool 
is not of first quality, we can but wonder that this 
breed should receive so much favor from intelligent 
men. If this grease growing be persevered in, we fear 
ultimate injury to the great wool producing interest of 
the country. The Silesian sheep were in many respects 
admirable. Good constitution affording a fair carcass and 
fine wool. We hope the breeders of these sheep will 
develop the mutton producing qualities, as far as is con¬ 
sistent with the production of heavy fleeces of pure fine 
wool. Put the tallow inside rather than outside among 
the wool. We feel confident that this can be done. The 
skill and intelligence reqtiired to produce heavy fleeces 
of grease and wool combined, can, if properly directed, 
give us as much wool without the grease and at least an 
equivalent for the grease in the form of good mutton and 
tallow. Success to all efforts in this direction. We ad¬ 
mire the Merino sheep — they are admirably adapted to 
the nature of American agriculture, and if bred with the 
right object, will prove of untold value. 
“I&ev. E«lvrai*d. A. 'WilsotJ.”—The 
man who operates under this name, though often exposed 
and denounced, continues to advertise extensively from 
year to year, and of course finds poor dupes enough to 
pay him for doing so. Indeed the numerous letters of 
inquiry from our new subscribers indicate that his 
plausible statements, his assumed clerical name and 
garb, and his pretended benevolence, are effective with a 
large number of people. Our older readers will re¬ 
member that he claimed to be a minister of the “ New 
Haven Methodist Conference,” until we exposed his 
falsehood by stating that there was no such Conference. 
He then studied up the church documents and claimed to 
have belonged to the N. E. Conference.-Here is a 
copy of his advertisement, to be found in many papers ; 
To Consumptives.— The advertiser, having been restored 
to health in a few weeks by a very simple remedy, after 
having suffered for several years with a severe lung affec¬ 
tion, and that dread disease, Consumption—is anxious to 
make known to his fellow-sufferers the means of cure.- 
To all who desire it, lie will send a copy of tlie prescription 
used (free of charge), with the directions for preparing and 
using the same, which they will find a suisE cuke for Con¬ 
sumption, Asthma, Bronchitis, Coughs, Colds, and all 
Throat and Lung Affections. The only object of the adver¬ 
tiser in sending the Prescription is to benefit the afflicted, 
and spread information which he conceives to be invaluable, 
and he hopes every sufferer will try liis remedy, as it will 
cost them udthing, and may prove a blessing.-Parties 
wishing the prescription, free, by return mail, will please 
address Ret. EDWARD A. WILSON, Williamsburg, Kings 
Co., New York. 
Generous man to pay tens of thousands of dollars a 
year in advertising, and then give away the recipe. 
We wilt publish it free, and do more too. We w ill 
publish also, to our million readers, the Recipe just as 
(Rev.) Wilson furnishes it, and thus we save to all of 
them the expense of postage, and save (Rev.) Wilson Ihe 
expense of printing and mailing his prescription. Here 
it is as (Rev.) AVilson gives it: 
“ Extract Slodgetli 3 os.; Huphophosphites of Lime and 
Soda K oz. ■ Alantin, {Pura) 1 dr.; Meconin, (Para) X »cr.; 
Extract Cinchona, 2 dr.; Loaf Sugar, 1 lb.; Pure Port 
Wine, apt.; Warm Water, 1 qt.—Compound and mix xcell 
all the powders and extracts.place in a bottle, icith apt. 
warm water, shake well; add rest of water, the sugar and 
wine (pr rum or gin); shake well and when cold- it is ready 
for use. Dose.X large tablespoonful 4 times a day, before 
each meal, and on going to bed _” 
There now, are vve not generous, to give all this space 
which others would gladly pay $2 a line for ? But let us 
see about the value of this prescriplion : “ Blodgett!.” 
Nobody knows it, except this (Rev.) AVilson : no regular 
druggist in the country can supply it. So the benevolently 
given prescription of (Rev.) AVilson is useless. “Alantin 
(Pura)”—in other words a starch from elecampagne 
root, no better and no worse than so much potato starch, 
and therefore not made or kept on sale by^uggists. 
“ Meconin (Pura),” a constituent of opium, which no 
druggist finds it worth while to keep. “ Hypophosphites 
of Lime and Soda,” recommended for lung diseases in 
Paris, but not yet proved effective enough to be adopted 
in the United States Phai macopia, and of very doubtful 
utility. The extract of Cinchona, and the Wine are com¬ 
mon, and will often stimulate weak or consumptive 
persons so as to make them “feel better” for a little 
while. There is not a doctor in the land who could not 
give or would not give a prescription quite as safe and 
valuable as the above. But see where the laugh, or the 
humbug, or the “benevolence” of (Rev.) Wilson comes 
in. He knows that his prescription cannot be put up by 
anybody in the world ; so he generously informs his 
dupes, that when they chance to be unable to get it, he 
will condescend from his ministerial duties, and make up 
the package (except the sugar, wine, and water), and 
send it for $3.30 by mail, or in a bottle ready mixed, for 
$4, express unpaid. That’s where he gets money to pay 
for advertisements; that’s where his “benevolence” 
comes in.—Any one calling at “ Ifi.i South 2d St., AVil- 
liamsbiirg,” to see the “ Rev.,” if not frightened away 
by the big dog at the front door, may be informed on 
entering that the " Rev.” is “not in just then’’ AVe 
hope this extended notice will suffice to put all our 
readers, and their friends, on the guard against the as¬ 
sumed piety and benevolence of the self dubbed “(Rev.) 
E. A. AVilson,” and a host of other similar “pious” 
pretenders, for this year at least. 
How Swindlers Oet Aaines.—Cau¬ 
tion to Post-Masters. —In referring to this matter 
last month, we did not particularly speak of the most 
common method, which has been described to us by a 
multitude of Post-AIasters. A party sends out to a thous¬ 
and or ten thousand Post-Masters a circular, in which 
he proposes to have a new implement or other invention 
that he wishes to introduce, and asks the favor of hav¬ 
ing a hundred or so of the names and P. O. addresses of 
farmers and others. In return for the favor he usually 
promises a fine painting, or engraving, or something else. 
The thing looks so plausible, that a great number of 
persons have gathered and forwarded their names, but 
the Post-Masters seldom if ever hear from the swindler 
again, or from the engraving. The men whose names 
are forwarded soon after get the humbug circulars from 
the same party under a different name. Afterwards he 
assumes a still different name and place, and sends out a 
new scheme. Sometimes the lists of names thus pro¬ 
cured are sold to other swindlers. One man by the name 
of Todd, who was the real Hayward & Co., of 229 
Broadway, Hammond & Co., of Brooklyn, etc., has 
privately oper.ated directly and indirectly under a score 
or more of names. Post-Masters will consult their own 
interest, and that of their neighbors, if they cast all these 
applications for names into the waste basket or fire. 
'I’liose Gavtleu l®lots.—It would be grat¬ 
ifying could we know how many profitable, pleasure and 
health yielding garden plots have been developed 
throughout the country, mainly through ihe influence of 
the American Agriculturist, during the past dozen or 
twenty years. AVe are continually hearing of them in 
every direction. Some one, prompted by onr preiiiiiiin 
offers, starts a list, and persuades a number of his or her 
neighbors to try the paper a year, though only clerks or 
mechanics, or )iroTessional men, or day-laborers, and 
having only a house lot or garden plot. AVell, something 
they read sets them to thinking about improving their 
grounds, they go to work, and then read more, think 
more, and work more, and the result is a pleasant gar¬ 
den, beautiful flowers, fine vegetables and fruits, in short, 
an attractive homestead, and better health. We know 
this has been the direct result in thousands of cases. 
This is of course a great satisfaction to us. So our 
work, our premiums, our business efforts pay in more 
ways than one. 
4>mc of tlie C«raii’«leiia l®I©ts—Wleat it 
fields.—The following is one of a largo number of 
similar examples on hand; H. Johnson, AA’indham Co., 
Conn., who is eng.aged in a manufacturing establishment, 
describes his twenty square rods (X acre) garden or 
house-yard. It contains paths, grape-trellises, clothes- 
dryer, pen for pig. compost heap, etc. ; 11 grape vines, 
of w'hich 6 bore fruit, that last year drew 5 prizes and 
gratuities at the county fair ; 5 dwarf pear trees, one of 
which netted $4.35 for one bushel of fruit sold ; 4 peach 
trees; 2 cherry trees ; .32 currant bushes; English rasp¬ 
berries, rhiiharb or pie plants, horse radish, sage-bed, 
plot of sweet corn, early potatoes, and sundry other 
vegetables, plenty of flowers of various kinds, and last 
but not least, strawberry plants that yielded about 5 
bushels of berries, of which 100 boxes returned $23.40 
above expenses of selling. In this garden his one Agri¬ 
culturist strawberry plant, received the previous autumn, 
increased to 250 plants last year. Do not such plots pay 
aside from the healthful pleasure and amusement they 
afford? It was tilled at did morning and evening hours. 
TTlae '’iVeaSliei' tSiic Crops. — AVe 
have had a remarkably dry, cold spring. Never was there 
a better time for getting in spring crops. Low, wet land 
is now drier than it usually is in July and August, and 
thousands of acres have been planted in good season 
that are generally reserved for buckwheat. The wheat 
and grass crops are not promising, but a few .warm 
showers will revive them. 
Crardem ESowers: B5ow to €5row 
Tliem.—.\ treatise on the culture of Hardy Ornamen¬ 
tal Trees, Shrubs, Annuals, Herbaceous and Bedding 
Plants, by Edward Sprague Rand, Jr. Boston : J. E. 
Tilton & Co. In his first work, “ Flowers for the Parlor 
and Garden,” Mr. Rand gave us a very useful hand-book 
on floriculture. In the present work he has taken wider 
scope and attempted to give a florist’s dictionary or refer¬ 
ence book for hardy ornamental plants. The genera are 
arranged in alphabetical order, the faintly to which each 
belongs is indicated, brief remarks upon the culture fol¬ 
low, and then a list is given of those species desirable for 
cultivation. In all that relates to the ciillivation of 
plants the author is clear and to the point, that being a 
subject in which he is evidently at home ; but when he 
touches the botanical names and relationships of the 
plants he describes, we find his botany as loose as that of a 
nurseryman’s catalogue. A work of this kind should 
agree with the present state of botanical science, or, if 
it adopts the peculiar views of some European botanists, 
it should agree with itself; but this work does neither. 
In proof of the justice of this criticism we will cite a few 
instances out of many wc marked during a perusal of 
the work. Leaving out the numerous examples of bad 
spelling and incorrect terminology, we find the author 
quite confused as to the names of natural families. The 
Grass Family, for instance, is called Gramincm in some 
places, and Graminacece in others ; which will the au¬ 
thor have us adopt ? Ai/es. we are told, belongs to the 
Pinacecs, while Pinus itself is referred to Coniferw. 
Only a botanist would know that these were two names 
for the same family. The Alint Family is honored with 
three different names; Labiatre, Labiacew and Lamia- 
cecR. AVhile several of the family are referred to Lnniia- 
cecB, Lamium itself, which has given this name to the 
family, and one which is not used in this country, is given 
as belonging to Labiacece. Surely the amateur with a 
limited botanical knowledge will conclude that hotanyis 
“all a mmldle.” Still worse is the case of Clintonia. 
Under Smilacina, which is properly placed in Liliaceis, 
we find “ S. borealis, more properly called Clintonia 
borealis, is a very pretty, etc.” If it is “ more properly ” 
