f 186C.] 
AMERICAN AG-RIGULTURIST, 
239 
'File CJamae ofClieckers or Draugiits. 
POSITION NO. Q.—White to play and win. 
Black. 
White. 
GAME NO. 6.—DYKE OPENING.(*) 
Black. 
White. 
Blacky 
White, 
1—11 to 
15 
22 
to 17 
16— 6 
to 
10 
13 
to 6 
2—15 “ 
19 
24 
“ 15 
17— 2 
a 
9 
28 
“ 24 
3—10 “ 
19 
23 
16 
18—10 
it 
15 
25 
“ 21 
4—12 “ 
19 
25 
“ 22 
19— 1 
n 
6 
17 
“ 13 
5— 8 “ 
11 
(a) 27 
“ 23 
20— 6 
oi 
10 
13 
“ 6 
6— 4 “ 
■ 8 
23 
“ 16 
21—15 
it 
19 
24 
“ 15 
7—11 “ 
20 
29 
“ 25 
22—10 
a 
26 
27 
“ 23 
8— 7 “ 
10 
31 
“ 27 
23—26 
‘‘ 
.^0 
6 
“ 2 
9—10 “ 
15 
17 
“ 13 
24—30 
a 
25 
23 
“ 18 
10— 3 “ 
7(6) 
26 
“ 23 
25—16 
19 
2 
“ 7 
11— 8 “ 
12 
(c)21 
“ 17 
26—19 
it 
23 
7 
11 
12— 7 “ 
10(d) 
28 
“ 24 
27—23 
26 
H 
“ 15 
13-15 “ 
!9 
24 
“ 15 
28— 5 
(( 
9 
22 
17 
14—10 “ 
26 
30 
“ 23 
29— 9 
u 
13 
17 
“ 14 
15—12 “ 
16(e) 
32 
“ 2S 
— Drawn. 
(*) Is SO called from its fancied resemblance to a 
“ Dyke,” (Scotch—A. fence or stone-wall) for, at various 
stages of the game the pieces form straight lines. 
(ffl) 30 to 25, draws, 22 to 18, Black wins, (ft) 9 to 14, 
draws, (c) 23 to 18, or 28 to 24, Black wins, (d) 7 to 11 
White wins, (e) 9 to 14. or 6 to 10 draws. 
Solution to Position No. 5. (See May No., page 191.) 
Black. White. Black. White. 
1— 22 to 26 10 to 17 I 3—26 to 31 17 to 26 
2— 18 “ 22 27 “ 18 1 4—31 ” 15 and wins. 
- - -— - -- 
How to Play Base Ball. 
The game of Base Ball may now be fairly called a na¬ 
tional one in this country, just as Cricket is the great out¬ 
door game in England, and Curling in Scotland. Almost 
every city and village has its clubs, and it is becoming a 
custom we desire to see more popular, for men to join the 
^O.F 
boys in this vigorous pastime, which is admirably calcu¬ 
lated to promote health while affording exciting, but in¬ 
nocent amusement. Presuming that all our readers who 
are interested in the matter would be pleased to know 
how to play the game well, we propose to give the prin¬ 
cipal rules and suggestions made by the best ball players. 
If possible, select for the ground a perfectly level, open 
field, 500 to 600 feet square, which should be covered with 
close, smooth turf. Where there are many players meet¬ 
ing frequently, it is well to have the ground kept in order 
by frequent rolling. The diagram shows tlie form and 
dimensions of the space iminediately occupied by the 
players during a game. A square, measuring 30 yards on 
each side. Is first marked out. At the corners of this 
square are the t‘Bases.” M.B., home base , 1 B., first 
base ; 2 B., 2nd base ; and 3 B., 3d base, each of these 
occupies the space of a square foot; on well regulated 
grounds, the ist, 2nd, and 3d bases, are marked by 
stout canvas bags, painted while, and filled with san^ or 
sawdust. At the home base is a circular plate of iron 
painted white. A line drawn through the center of the 
home base and extending 3 feet on each side of it, marks 
the position of the striker. 
The pitcher’s posiiion, P, is marked by two lines par¬ 
allel to the striker’s line, each 12 feet long, the first one 
45 feet, the other 48 feet, from the center of the home 
base. These lines may all be permanently fixed by a 
plank set edgewise into the ground. This size of the 
square and the distance for the pitcher are intended for 
men; boys may reduce the distances about one-sixth. 
The catcher takes his place at C, at such a distance be¬ 
hind the striker, as he may find most convenient to catch 
the ball. The umpire is stationed at U, or, if the striker 
be left handed, he moves to a point directly opposite, 
where he can have the best view of tlie whole game. 
The scorer, S, should be near the umpire so as to readily 
hear and record his decisions. The letters R.F, C.F, 
and L.F, signify right field, center field, and left field ; 
S.S, is for short stop—these points are occupied by the 
“ fielders,” wlio.se duties w'ill be noted hereafter. 
A full game is played by nine on a side, the leader on 
each side being styled Captain. A larger or smaller 
number, however, can conduct the game. In playing, 
one side takes the bat, the other the field ; the first choice 
is decided by lot between the Captains. The fielders, 
are the pitcher (P), catcher (C), 1st baseman (1 B). 2nd 
baseman (2 B), 3d baseman (3 B), short stop (S.S.\ 
right, center, and left fieldsmen (R.F., C.F., and L.F.). 
If more are In the game, they are stationed by the Cap¬ 
tain where he judges they can do best service in catching 
tlie balls. The batsmen or strikers, who have the “in¬ 
nings” take their regular turns upon the home base (H. 
B.), or striker’s line, and the play begins. Having now 
stationed the players, we will next tell them what to do. 
-—•-—» - 
A Little Hoy’s Experience. 
and after breakfast I must go and practice gee-kaio~ 
graphy with the oxen all day again 1 suppose. 
Am lasgrejiioiis Mosilcey. 
An English gentleman relates the following trick of a 
pet monkey, that was kept chained in his yard. About 
three feet beyond his reach, stood a trough in which a 
pig was fed. The monkey was very fond of the barley 
meal which was frequently given to the pig, but how to 
get it, while thus fastened, might puzzle even a wiser ani¬ 
mal. The monkey, however, hit upon the following plan. 
While the pig was feeding, the monkey seized the tail of 
the porker and gave it a sharp pull; the latter turned 
quickly to return a bile, and in so doing let fall a mouth¬ 
ful of the desired barley meal, which his cunning tormen¬ 
tor immediately appropriated ; he repeated the experi¬ 
ment with great satisfaction, until the meal was finished. 
Answers t® I*rol»leiiis and I*iiz*les. 
The following are answers to the puzzles, etc., in the 
May number, page 191; 
No. 206. Enigma.—Pen-knife. One sends us the 
answer, “buttermilk;” another, “bread-pan,” both of 
which meet the conditions of the question_No. 207. 
Illustrated Rebus. — B backward in naught but s a two s I 
in the x p dn c and f ik c o fall ewer under ta kings, or: 
Be backward in naught, but essay to excel in the expedi¬ 
ence and efficacy of-all your undertakings_No. 208. 
Comtndrnms.—\, Wlien they make a league. 2. When 
lie steels a knife in the day-time. 3. Because they have 
long studded (studied) tlie lieavens_No. 209. Supply 
tlie letter £, and it will read: Persevere ye perfect men ; 
ever keep these precepts ten. 
The following have sent correct answer.s up to May 7: 
Alanson Hey, W. Lewis, A. Jackson, Edwin Andrews, 
Ruthanna Stratton, John F. Stratton, I.uman F. Farmenter, 
Amanda E. Still, Madison E. Gustin, J. K. Hallock, A. Me- 
Donald, Henry Krell, Daniel Bolton, James E. Eshleman,E. 
Ellis, Wilson J. Spink, Chas. H. Deatrioh, Jennie Liicas, 
Daniel Frohman, Rudolph Halifax, Doe, Henry E. Mann, 
Sophie E. Mann, Louie Lorillard, L. J. Barton, C. L. Clark, 
Eden Reider, “ Diamond,” Ellen A. Carpenter, Emily J. 
Gregg, M. M. Rand, Thomas H. McMullin. 
April 3ci.—This is my birthday. I am twelve years old. 
Mother says I ought to keep a diary. I asked father 
about it, and he smiled and said it would be a fine thing— 
for a week. I suppose he meant I would get tired of it 
in a week. Perhaps I shall, but I am going to try and 
keep on after I get tired, for mother says tliat is the way 
to get things done. I wish I had written something about 
what liappened every week last year. I can remember 
a good many things. My little brother Freddy was born ; 
grandmother died; Mr. Wilkins’s barn was struck by 
lightning and burned down ; father bought the wood lot 
on the hill; I caught a big pickerel in Weems’s pond; 
my cousin George came from New York, and .staid three 
. weeks, etc. I know a good many things happened that 
I would like to think about again, if I could only remem¬ 
ber them. Once in a wliile something comes to mind 
that liad been forgotten for a long time, and it is almost 
as pleasant as meeting an old friend. Now if I can keep 
a diary for a whole year, then I may call all such friends 
'back again, just when I please. They will be like my 
kite, which sometimes goes away almost up out of sight, 
but I can always pull it in, if the line don’t break. 
I wonder wliat father will give me for a birthday pres¬ 
ent. Last year he gave me my dog Jumper. He’s a real 
wide-awake, lively fellow', and knows more than any 
other animal on the farm. He's a full blooded New¬ 
foundland. Tliere, he is barking now—he’s found some¬ 
thing, and wants me, I’m sure. I hope its the wood, 
chuck I saw in the clover lot yesterday. Jumper onme 
near running him into the wall tlien, but he dodged into 
his burrow. I’ll go and see, and perhaps write some 
more to”niglit, if I get time and am not too sleepy. 
April Mh.—l was too tired and sleepy to write last 
night. Jumper had the woodchuck in the wall. I took 
away a few stones. Jumper dove into tlie hole, gave a 
bite and a few shakes, and that was the end of Mr. Wood¬ 
chuck. I’ll tan his skin to make a whip lash of.—Father 
gave me a pair of young calves for my birthday present. 
He says I may have them for oxen and break them my¬ 
self. He will keep them for the work they will do. until 
they are six years old, and then I may have wliat they 
will bring. Then I can buy a gun and a watch, .and make 
mother a handsome present, and get some nice books. 
I helped father plow the oat field yesterday. I drove 
the oxen. It’s not very hard work, but there’s so much 
of it to do in a day, that it makes rne tired. I mean (o 
break my steers so tliey will plow without any driver. I 
received a letter from cousin George, yesterday. He 
says he is ciphering in Rule of Three. I got almost to 
it last winter, but Ldon’t believe lean remember those 
hard fractions all summer. George is just my age. but I 
am stronger than he is. I hope he will come and see me 
again this summer. There goes the breakfast bell, 
New l*iE*rfes t« l»e Answered. 
No. 210. Illustrated Rebus, —Good advice for the young. 
U.CM 
No. 211. Illustrated French Rebus.—For students. 
UEms 
Illustrated Reftus.-—Much in little ' space. 
Mathematical 
No. 212, 
No. 213. 
■oblem. —A squirrel car- 
3d away nine ears of 
irn from a box, taking 
ree ears away each 
lie. How many times- 
d he go to the box ? 
No. 214. Enigma.—I 
n composed of 21 let- 
rs. My 4, 1, 6, 10, 5, 16, 
17 is cultivated and 
lurishes in China. My 3, 
, 11, 7 occurs on the 
% 
within. 
BELOW 
No. 112. 
Mv 18, 15, 12, 2. 15, 19, 9 is a very sad expression. 
14, 20,13,. 19 leads men to my 5, 14, 1.6, 10, 15, 9, 13, 
3, 8, 18, 21. My whole is celebrated in History. 
i 
