34 : 4 . 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[October, 
cover too early. Better keep the covering off until the 
ground is slightly crusted -with frost, than to cover 
earlier. Straw, leaves, or corn stalks may bo used. 
Flower CSarden smd ILawii. 
This month we usually have grand weather for 
work, and it should be devoted to making improve¬ 
ments in the ground, laying drains, road and path 
making, etc. Those who enjoy the rich tints of the 
autumn foliage, should plant trees with a view, in 
part to the autumn effect, of their changing colors. 
Annuals. —Sow hardy kinds, such as Larkspurs, 
Gilias, and all those that do best when self-sown. 
Bedding Plants .—Make cuttings at this time of 
all such plants as are not intended to be taken up. 
Chrysanthemums. —Pot for blooming in-doors, and 
when in flower, mark those desirable to propagate. 
Dahlias.—When. the frost has blackened the 
plants, cut them down. Lift on a fine day and 
allow to dry off in the sun before being housed. 
Gladiolus is to be treated the same as the Dahlias. 
Lawns may be laid down this month. Drain¬ 
ing, deep plowing, and thorough pulverizing 
of the soil, should be attended to. Roll after seed¬ 
ing, and just before the ground freezes, roll again. 
Rremiials. —Even the hardiest do all the better 
with a winter covering. Divide and re-set clumps. 
Pinks a7id Carnations .—Pot rooted layers and set 
in cold frame, where they can be kept rather dry. 
Pansies and Violets. —Put roots in a cold frame 
for winter blooming, as was directed last month. 
Roses. —See article given on page 32.3, last month. 
Tuberoses, not done blooming, may be lifted with 
aball of earth into pots or boxes. If they are set in a 
green house or room, they will continue flowering. 
Transplant all kinds of deciduous hardy shrubs. 
CfE’ee*! aiifl — Take 
in tender plants before the cool nights check 
their growth. Have all the pots clean, and renew 
the top soil; remove dead leave.s, cob-webs, and 
prune and stake where needed. The change from 
free air to tlie confinement of the house should not 
be too sudden, and abundant ^'entilation must be 
given whenever the weather is fine. Bring no in¬ 
sects into the house with the plants, but have evciy- 
thing free from these pests before it is brought in. 
Near cities a large business is done in forcing 
hardy herbaceous plants and shrubs, such as Dicen- 
tr.as, Lily of the Vallej', Deutzia gracilis, Weigelas, 
etc. Pot now and keep dormant until near spring. 
Annuals may be sown in pots for winter bloom¬ 
ing, and bulbs may be potted. Towards the end of 
the month some fire will be needed on cool days and 
nights, and its management will require caution. 
Cold Cri’apery*—Tiie wood should be 
thoroughly ripened, and so leaves should be left on 
until they fall spontaneously. Avoid sudden 
Ciianges of temperature, and as cooler w'eather 
comeson, keep only the upper ventilators open. 
Shut up entirely in cold and stormy weather. 
Mead tlie MresmlaiiM. Mescrijptlosis. 
—Explanation.—We adii several extra pages this 
tnontli, to make room for our Premium List and descrip¬ 
tions. Tliis wiil be found worth looking llirougli, for 
thongli a business document mainiy, there are numerous 
items of information scattered through the Descriptions, 
wliicli wiii be intere-ting and often nsefiii.-Tlie list is 
quite extensive, and the articles ofl'ered of so great value, 
and so easily obtained, tiiat we doubt not there will be 
one or more persons in every neigliborliood, wlio can get 
some very desirable thing by the little effort required to 
raise a chib of subscribers. We believe and know the 
AgriculturUt is doing a good work of itself, and we aim 
to get it introduced into tens of Ihonsand.s of families, 
wliere it will not chance to find its way unless it is 
brought directly to their attention by some one who will 
be well paid for his or her trouble, by tlie fine premiums 
here offered. The enlarged circulation tliiis obtained, 
so increases the value of our advertising department that 
the loss on subscription money is amply made up.—Many 
have already (Sept. 20) sent in clubs of new and old 
subscribers for 1867 and secured valuable premiums. 
$1,250.00 IW JPItIZMS. 
I—Prairie and Western Parming. 
$500 IM FMZE§. 
The immense Western regions brought under culture 
in recent years, and yet to be occupied, give great im¬ 
portance to that section. In order to call out and 
systematize as much practical information as possible, 
which shall be useful not only to those already at tlie- 
West, but also to a vast multitude yet to go thither from 
the Eastern Slates and from the Old World, the Editors 
and Publishers of the American Agriculturist offer a 
1st Prize of $350, for the best practical Treatise 
or Essay upon Western Farming in general, and espec¬ 
ially upon Prairie Farming, including the various par¬ 
ticulars of selecting land, getting on to it, bringing it 
under Culture, Fencing, Crops, Animals and Fruits, 
their kinds and treatment, etc. In short to give a Clear 
Guide to-beginners as well as to old cultivators ; to tell 
what to do, and how, and when to do it best—in plain, 
simple language, just as one w'ould talk from day to day 
to a new'-comer who needed to learn all about farming. 
2d Prize of $100, for the Second Best Treatise. 
3d Prize of $60, for the Third Best Treatise. 
The manuscripts to be ready March 1st, 1S67, and at 
least 200 pages of Foolscap. See General Remarks below, 
II—Tke Cultivation of Cotton. 
Tlie great imporiance of tlie Cotton crop, the general 
Interest in its improved culture, both among Northern 
and Southern men, and the little comparatively that is 
recorded in books or otherwise on the subject, induces 
the Publishers of Ihe American Agriculturist to oSex a, 
Ist Prize of $400, for tlie best Treatise or Essay 
giving full, i>lain, practical directions, all about Cotton 
Culture, from the soil and ils preparation and cultivation, 
to the gathering, packing, and marketing of the crop— 
all so plainly stated as to aid not only the old routine cul¬ 
tivator, but also to be a guide to the new cotton grower. 
2d Prize of $100 for llie Second Best Treatise. 
The manuscript to be at least 200 foolscap pages, to be 
ready by J.anuary 1st, 1867, See General Remarks below. 
Ill—Timber and Fencing for Prairies. 
$25® IW 
The great imporiance of this subject to millions of 
Western cultivators, induces the Publishers of the 
American Agriculturist to offer the following : 
1st Prize of $150 for the best Treatise or Essay 
on the securing of Timber and Fencing material, for 
Ihe tirnberless prairie regions of the West, including 
also Hedges, Wind breaks, etc. 
2d Prize, $75 for the Second best Essay or Treatise. 
3d Prize, $25 for the Tliird best Essay or Treatise. 
The manuscript to be ready by or before February ist, 
1867, and contain at least 150 pages of foolscap. See 
General Remarks below. 
General Remarlcs.—The above prizes are offered 
for the purpose of calling out more general and systematic 
informalion tlian can now be found in books or papers. 
The first and most important aim is to gather informalion 
useful in preptiring the pages of tlie American Agricul¬ 
turist, but it is the expectation that at least one of each 
class of Treatises will be worthy of issuing in a more 
compendious or complete book form. 
The lowest number of pages in each case is named 
above. No maximum limit is fixed. Those essays 
will be most valuable which give the greatest amount of 
really practical information without useless dilution in 
wordy or high flown phrases and sentences. Compila¬ 
tions of other men’s writings, or a rehash from Patent 
Oifice or other Documents, are not what is aimed at.— 
Drawings and Sketches will give additional value. 
The several Essays will be submitted to Committees of 
the best Judges that can be obtained, among those 
who are practically acquainted with the several subjects. 
The Essays receiving the prizes will be the exclusive 
property of the Publishers of the American AgricuUurisL 
Should there be nothing offered at all worthy of any 
one or more of these prizes, in the opinion of Competent 
and Impartial Judges, tlie prize will of course be witli- 
held. Any one proposing to write for tliem, is requested 
to send for a printed slip, giving more full information 
than we have room for liere. All communications of this 
kind will of course be strictly confidential. 
About “Harris Sr others,” Boston. 
During the summer, a letter frem Boston asked the 
terms for 10,000 to 50,000 subscriptions, to the American 
Agriculturist, to be used iu building a Home for Dis¬ 
abled Soldiers. Our reply was, that we could give no an¬ 
swer until we knew something of the enterprise. After¬ 
wards, two men called on Ihe same business, giving their 
names as “ Harris Brothers.” Great inducements were 
held out to give us a splendid Increase of circulation. 
The answer again was, that we could not do anything to 
forward any enterprise not known to be legitimate and 
proper, however it might benefit us. In answer to the 
question wliat our terms were, etc., the remark was made 
that we received subscriptions from any one, on our regu¬ 
lar terms, wlien accompanied by the money. Nothing 
more was lieardofit, until the following correspondence. 
(The letter was accompanied by proof-sheets of a circular 
and newspaper orders, such as have been recently dis¬ 
tributed by Harris Brothers.) 
Boston, Mass., July 19th. 
Mr. Chase, care American Agriculturist) 
Office, New York. J 
Sir a little over a month ago we called on you, and 
liad some conversation in reference to an enterprise we 
•were then starting. We have so far completed our plans, 
as to be able to submit for your inspection our documents 
and papers. We propose'to carryout all vve promise, 
and all me expect of you is, that you will furnislj the 
"Agriculturist" to those who may order it, and we will 
pay the orders upon presentation, or will deposit an 
amount with you sufficient to cover what orders you 
might recieve in a given lime. We do not ask you to'ere- 
dorse our enterprise, but simply ask you to furnisli the 
papers at as low a rate as you can ; at any rale we e.x- 
pect to get the papers at tlie Club rates.—You are of 
course at liberty to investigate, and after you have perus¬ 
ed, please write us, and tell us if a deposit is necessary, 
in order that our orders may be recognized when received 
by you. We shall advertise extensively, and certainly 
your subscription list will be largely increased.— het Us 
hear from you at your leisure, and any suggestions that 
you may make will be carefully considered. 
Yours in haste Harris Bkotheks. 
[reply.] 
2^ew York, July 27, 1856. 
Messrs. Harris Bros., 50 School-st., Boston. 
Returning to-diiy from a iveek’s absence, we find yours 
of 19lh.—We do not see any essential difference between 
your proposed " National Distribution,” and any other 
Lottery; and vi’e must protest against your issuing tick¬ 
ets, etc., that give even the quasi endorsement of the 
Agriculturist, as your tickets and bills appear to do.— 
We cannot consent to receive the “Newspaper Orders” 
on any conditions, or to receive any deposit for them. 
The only answer given you by our Partner,-Mr. Chase, 
was, that we received subscriptions sent in with the 
money, and at club rates from those wlio sent in enough 
to make up ,a club, lie also objected to being in any 
way mixed up with your proposed plans, at least unlit we 
sliould examine and approve them—which has not been 
done.-Further, we shall deem it our duly to the public, 
to show up your scheme in its true colors, and warn peo¬ 
ple against it. We warn you not to issue any circulars, 
announcing that yon have “ made ” any “ arrangements ” 
with us, for supplying copies of our paper, on any terms, 
to forward your enterprise. Yours respectfully, 
[Signed] Orange Judd & Co. 
We supposed the above letter had ended the matter, so 
far as 'we were concerned, and we heard notliing more 
of it, until just after the the September Agriculturist iiad 
got well to press, wlien we began to receive from all 
over the country, copies of a flaming Circular, Orders for 
the Agriculturist, etc. Tlie circular announces tre¬ 
mendous prizes, and, among other things, says: 
“ Every Person vi-ho invests Five Dollars in the Na¬ 
tional Distribution, receives, in addition to a chance 
in the Grand Dividends, one year’s subscription to either 
tlie 'American Agriculturist,’ published in New York 
City, the ‘ Rural American,’ published at Utica, N. Y., or 
‘ Ballou’s Literary Magazine,’ published at Boston, Mass. 
The Managers of the Distribution have made sncli ar¬ 
rangements with llie publishers of these celebrated Rural, 
Agricultural, Horticultural, Floral and Literary publica¬ 
tions, tliat they can give, as a gratuity lo each purchaser 
of a Cerlificate, one year’s subscription as above. Thus, 
every investment of ’$5 entitles the investor to a chance 
in tile Dividends, ranging from $5 lo $:!0,00(), a year's sub¬ 
scription to the I.eauing Agricultural and Liierary Pa¬ 
pers of America, and lastly, aid and encouragement to 
one of the most noble, patriotic and benevolent Institu¬ 
tions ever devised by man.” 
Any one can see, by reference to our above letter, that 
this is a downriglit Imposition. Harris Brolliers “En¬ 
terprise” is, neither more nor less, a liOttery Sclseme, 
and we shall ■wonder if it is allowed to continue in 
Boston. We refuse all “cerlifioates” coming from Har¬ 
ris Brothers. We find it impossible to answer olherwise 
than by this notice, the letters of Inquiry about the con¬ 
cern, as tliey aj-e so numerous. 
AdcMO-^vletl^Mieiats.—The nnusual pres¬ 
sure upon our columns, notwithstanding we have added 
extra pages, crowds out a number of acknowledgments 
already in type. Those who have sent documents, cat¬ 
alogues, specimens of fruits, flowers, vegetables, etc., 
will understand that their favors ate not unappreciated 
nor overlooked, but we are not able at this time lo make 
a separate notice of them, simply for want of room. 
