390 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[November, 
MaSerHSil Instiaact.—^Mr. A. G. Coleman, 
of Preble Co., Ohio, sends us the following curious 
and interesling statement: “A short time ago the chil¬ 
dren of Mr. Hapner brought from the barn four little for¬ 
saken cliicks, and put tliem in a box for protection. A 
puilet not yet half grown entered tlie box, and remained 
brooding over them, until it was removed to the hen¬ 
house and the cliicks covered up for tlie niglit. The next 
day the pullet again claimed her little charge, and since 
tlien has remained with tliem constantly, scratching the 
ground, feeding them and clucking in a most pompous 
manner, although the clucking, like the puilet, is on a 
small scale. The pullet in fact is so small, that it can 
scarcely cover its four little chickens when brooding 
them.”—Instances of tlie adoption of the young of oilier 
animals, by males as well as females, and often not of 
file same species, are not very rare. We know no 
similar case to the one reported, but pullets that have 
never laid, and young cocks even, may be made to sit, 
hatch and take care of chickens. 
A Maiaassiotli Sqaias!*, weighing 130 lbs., 
is on exhibition at our office, contributed by Mr. Jas. 
Beveridge, of Flushing, L. I. Like most big things, tlie 
seed was reported to have come from California. Mr. 
B. thinks its size due to a special fertilizer used. 
I®erma3semt Fair Grosasitls. TSae 
Queens County Fair was a great success this 
year, as it could not fail of being when such men as Sam¬ 
uel Taber, President, and John Harold, tlie long time 
Secretary, determined to make it so. After years of 
talk and discussion, a majority vote w.as secured in favor 
of a “ permanent location,” which did not agree willi the 
wishes of some parts of the County, and the feasibility 
of which is still an open question in tlie minds of a large 
number of the leading agriculturists throughout the 
county. The town of Hempstead gave a perpetual lease, 
for exhibition purposes, of 40 acres of land, near the 
Mineola Station, on tlie L. I. Railroad. It was well en¬ 
closed and suitable buildings erected ir. a brief time, in¬ 
cluding a fine central structure in tlie form of a Greek 
cross, covering 8000 square feet. The arrangement of the 
grounds and the buildings are a model well worthy of be¬ 
ing consulted by all who contemplate permanent loca¬ 
tions. We have visited some State Fairs whicli scarcely 
exceeded that of Queens County this year, and so long as 
John Harold and his present coadjutors man,age the So¬ 
ciety, the experiment of a permanent location will be 
successful there. Whether under ordinary circumstances 
and management, the good grounds and buildings always 
ready for use. counterbalance the advantages of competi¬ 
tion among different towns, and of working up an interest, 
often in remote localities where it is most needed, may 
still be discussed pro and con. 
'fi’ise Fairs — CaiSle Slaows — Fruit 
Shows,—We are obliged to refrain from noticing in 
our crowded columns, except in a general way, the va¬ 
rious exliibilions of this .season, many of whicli we had 
the pleasure of attending. The interest and attendance 
upon some lieid during the last week in September, were 
unfavorable affected by a north-east storm, but prevail¬ 
ingly good weather ensured large attendance. Tlie 
Pennsylvania State Fair, at Easton, was famous for the 
wonderfully fine show of hogs maile—the Chester Co. 
breed greatly predominating. We tliink a few such shows 
will indicate their claim to being a distinct breed. The 
Illinois Fair was a success, especially in the classes of 
neat cattle, draught horses, and implements. The Mis¬ 
souri State Fair is reported as very creditable in all de¬ 
partments, and a great pecuniary success. The Cana¬ 
da West exhibition, so far as we can learn, exceeded as 
a cattle show any held in the States. We have numer¬ 
ous reports of successful county and town fairs also, and 
congratulate tlie managers on their successful efforts— 
but cannot record particulars. 
Calves — Rearisig’ witlioat Milk.— 
A subscriber asks for tiie experience of our readers in 
regard to raising calves without milk ? We know it 
may be done, but without great and constant care many 
calves will droop and die. The practical questions really 
are : How may calves taken from (lie cow at birth be best 
raised ? How soon may all milk be safely withheld ? 
Wliat is tlie best substitute for milk? Wliat course of 
feeding or medicine, or treatment (wliicli includes both,) 
Is liest to check the scours or their opposite in young 
calves brought up by the pail ?—Our columns are open 
to valuable liints and experience. 
I6eyM®l«l’s Stove Hook (or “Dexter,” 
as he calls it) is an ingenious arrangement of two pieces 
of iron like a pair of shears, combining a stove-cover 
lifter, kettle lifting hook, pie-tin liOer, a small hammer 
h«ail, and sundry other uses about a cook stove—on the 
"liole a convenient addition to Hie kitc>-<!n furniture. 
'i'lae Moom.—“A great many about here,” 
says a Rootstown subscriber (Stale not given,) “stick to 
the notion that shingles slioiild be put on, garden ‘ truck ’ 
planted, pork killed, sheep slieared, etc., etc., just at such 
a time of the moon. What do you think? ”—We think : 
Do your work when you are re.ady, with the ground pre¬ 
pared, and tlie weather favorable, and let the moon take 
care of her affairs ; she won’t trouble you. Let those 
wait and watch the moon wlio have nothing else to do. 
'I'okacco. — We are often inquired of by 
Farmers and others, as to some method of preparing for 
use the tobacco which they raise. The sailors’ way is 
simplelrnd good. After the curing and drying process is 
complete, select the inner and best outer leaves of the 
tobacco ; sprinkle with pretty sweet molasses and water, 
and lay them together, until they become uniformly 
damp. Tiien twist them into a roll, say 12 or 15 Inches 
long, and 3 inches through. Bind them together tightly 
with twine. The twine should be wound on the tobacco 
in 2 or 3 layers, like thread on a spool, and drawm as 
tiglitly as its strength will allow. After remaining for 2 
or 3 weeks it will be fit to use, although the longer it is 
kept the better it becomes, if not allowed to mould, 
whicli may be prevented by wiping occasionally wiili a 
rag wet in molasses, or liquorice and water. This will 
be found better for smoking and chewing than tlie ordi¬ 
nary tobacco to be had in country stores. 
CiirioBis CrS’owtla of a. ISadlsls. ■— A 
radish from the garden of Mr. Halsey 
Minton, near Dover, N. J., presents such 
a curious form that we have had an en¬ 
graving made of it. It is not unusa! to 
see tlie long radish split up into several 
prongs and twist about in a curious 
manner ; but this appears to be a round 
radish, bent on repeating itself in the 
manner shown in the illustration. A 
friend, who ought to be ashamed of it, 
suggests that it oiiglit to be called a 
“ fourliorse radisli,” certainly it lias one 
cliaraotei islic in common with a tandem 
team. What cii'cumstances induce tliese 
freaks of nature, no one knows. Some¬ 
times tlie influence would seem to affect 
the seed before germination, and at 
others afterward. The investigation of them would be 
difficult, but not less interesting — often instructive. 
Irrig-iatioBi.—“ W. W. O.,” Suffolk Co., N. 
Y., writes: “1 can turn the water of a brook upon my 
ground by laying a pipe 1% miles, with a fall of about 
ten feet. My plan is, to lead it througli the center of ray 
land, and place a faucet every ten rods, to which I can 
attach a hose and use the water as I wish. The grand 
question is, will it pay ? If so, what kind of pipe do I 
want, of what size, and what will it cost?- Answer .— 
There is much land in many parts of the country, where 
it would pay well to irrigate thus. We can hardly decide 
in a particular case without a full examination. Tlie 
best pipe would be galvanized iron, about 2 inches in 
diameter (cost 75c. per foot). Thin sheet iron pipelined 
with cement and laid in and covered with tlie same, would 
do also, at less cost, though not .so durable. 
l®eiB.aiyroysil —“ B. B.,” Wash¬ 
ington Co., Pa., a.sks how to reclaim land that is “ad¬ 
dicted” to Dewberry vines and Pennyroyal. The .soil 
appears rich, but it is a hard matter to get grass started.— 
Try plowing this fall, liarrowing in 100 to 150 bushels of 
lime, planting corn next spring, manuring in the hill with 
a shovelful of good compost or yard manure, and hoe 
well, by horse and by hand. If a good dressing of ma¬ 
nure is spread and plowed in for the corn, with flat cul¬ 
ture, the briars may possibly be so far destroyed that 
grass can be sown among tlie corn in August, and by roll¬ 
ing the ground flat in October, when the crop is off, a 
good sward may be obt.ained witliin the year. 
Fai'cyisi Ilovses.—“J. W. H.,” Franklin 
Co., Mo., and others. Farcy and Glanders are the same 
disease exhibiting itself in different forms. It is incurable, 
and very dangerous. The only safe way is to kill tlie suf¬ 
ferers, and take great care that the disease is not com¬ 
municated to men. In the early stages the disease is not 
conspicuously evident, and unscrupulous persons often 
sell glandered horses. This ought to be a State Prison 
offense. The symptoms and treatment are minutely de¬ 
scribed in our last volume, page 309, (October, 1865). 
A <3oo«l Team marks a farmer as a general 
rule , horses or oxen, it is all the same.—“ Progress” says: 
“ If you see a farmer with a poor team, you may be sure 
there is a screw loose somewhere.” 
IS ill a ITcfir I 
Ad new subscribers to the Agriculturist for 1867, 
whose names are received during livvember, will re¬ 
ceive free ofi' cliarge the December number, which 
will be a very valuable one. This will give 13 
montlss for a year's price. The offer applies to 
all new subscribers, singly, in clubs, in premium lists, 
etc. Extra time allowed f»' the arrival of names from 
the Pacific Coast and other distant points, if started 
soon after this notice is received. All new names must 
be marked liew, in order to receive the extra number. 
The American Agriculturist Annuals. 
We propose soon to issue two Annuals for the year 
1867, the one Agricultural, the otlier Horticultural. 
Tliey will each contain about 120 or more pages, 12 mo., 
and will be in a sense, a continuation of the Rural An¬ 
nual, published by us, and formerly by Mr. Harris of the 
Genesee Farmer. The names “ Rural Annual,’’“ Rural 
Register,” Annual Register,” etc., are so constantly con¬ 
founded that we reluctantly drop tlie old name. These 
Annuals will, W'e hope, be worthy of and will doubtless 
gain a very large circulation. A limited space will be 
allowed for first class advertisements in either or both, 
which must be sent in before December 1st. 
Mie American Agricultural Annual will 
contain a brief review of the past year—notices of im¬ 
portant events, inventions, publications, etc., affecting 
tlie agricultural interests of the country, importations of 
stock, introduction of new crops, etc.; contributed ar¬ 
ticles of an interesting and practical character, fully 
illustrated ; practical hints in regard to work, and ma¬ 
chinery, besides convenient tables, and a full almanac. 
Tlie American Horticultural Annual is 
the first of what we hope to make, a permanent series. 
As it is late in the season, we cannot hope to make it 
entirely what it is ultimately intended to be—a record of 
the years progress in liortienlture, giving positive land 
marks, describing what has been done in the past year, 
and indicating what should be done in the coming one, 
though the first number will be valuable to all. It will 
contain coritribulions from well known horticulturists, 
and embody much useful, practical information. No an¬ 
nual of the kind has before been published in this country. 
- 1 ff M l-- 
The $1,260 Prizes: Prairie and Western 
Farming — Cotton Culture — Timber 
and Fencing for Prairies. 
A.s announced in October Agriculturist, page 344, we 
offer the following Prizes: For the Best Treatise or 
Essay on Prairie and Western Farming. $350, For the 
Second do., $100; For the Third do., $50_For the 
Best Treatise or Essay on Cotton Culture, $400; For 
the Second do., $100... • For the Best Treali.se or Essay 
on Timber and Fencing for Prairies, $150 | For Second 
do., $'75; For Third do., $35.-The manuscript on 
Cotton Cnlture to be ready Jan. 1st ; on Timber and 
Fencing Feb. 1st, and on Prairie Farming March 1st. 
For full particulars, see October Agriculturist and printed 
slip furnished at this Office to those proposing to write. 
$100 Housekeeping Prize. 
For the Best Essay on Housekeeping, to make 20 to 
25 columns in the Agriculturi.st, the Publishers will pay 
a prize of $100 cash. Something after tlie manner of 
“ Walks and Talks on the Farm ” may perhaps come the 
nearest to wliat is wanted, llioiigh we do not limit the 
offer to any particular form or style. What we want, is, 
to get an article to be continued through the year 1867, 
of IK to 2)4 columns in a paper, which shall be in¬ 
teresting and instructive to Housekeepers—one which 
sliall bring in the work and cares of daily life. That 
Essay will be the most valuable which shall in the least 
space convey tlie greatest number of practical hints and 
suggestions in a readable, easy style. The Essays to be 
received on or before Deo. l.'t, or at least enough of 
each to exhibit its general style and ability. Tlie first 
cliapter is desired for the January number. After the 
selection is made, the writer will liave opportunity to 
amend and improve Ihe chapters subsequent to Hie first, 
as the time is limiled for their first presentation. 
