86 
AMEJRICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[March, 
Livingstone; Richard Church, of Alleghany ; Correspond¬ 
ing Secretary—Thos. L. Harrison of Lawrence. Record¬ 
ing Secretary—John Haven, of New York. Treasurer— 
Luther Tucker, of Albany. Executive Committee—Wm. 
Chamberlain, of Dutchess; Robt. J. Swan, of Seneca ; 
Fordham Morris, of New York ; Miles Ingoidsbee ; W. H. 
Watson, of Orleans ; Edwin Thorne, of Dutchess ; Joseph 
Julian and James W. Wadsworth. The next State Fair 
is to be held at Utica, A resolution was passed, favoring 
the repeal of 20 per cent duty on animals imported for 
breeding purposes. Prof. Law gave an address on the 
diseases of Cattle. 
Staple Sugar Items. —Mr. Chamberlain, 
author of the articles on Maple Sugar Making in the pres¬ 
ent and last months’ issue 6ays : “ In the first sentence of 
the third paragraph of the article in January, the last 
clause should read “ and two sheets of 12x12 inch tin.” 
Recently a patented metalic sap spout has been brought 
to my notice, manufactured at Chagrin Falls, Ohio. I 
think it will prove superior in several respects to the 
wooden one described in my January article. I shall 
give 200 of them a careful and exact test through the en¬ 
tire season of 1870, and if they prove as I think they will, 
shall use them exclusively. I forgot to say, that maple 
syrup may be canned like fruit, and retain its flavor per¬ 
fectly any length of time. Fruit cans in plenty are empty 
in time to can the syrup.” 
Uiiiinitwcred letters. —The large num¬ 
ber of letters to Mr. Judd, requiring his personal atten¬ 
tion, have recently become so numerous, that he finds it 
absolutely impossible to give them prompt considera¬ 
tion, and on this account he begs his friends and corres¬ 
pondents to excuse what might seem to be discourtesy 
or inattention. The hours in a day, and the days in a 
week are limited, as arc human strength and endurance. 
IVortliern Ramie. — Mr. Samuel Miller, of 
Bluffton, Mo., thinks that one of the Western nettles. 
Urtica chamxEdryOkies, or U. purpurascens, will prove 
valuable as a fiber producing plant. The Ramie is a close 
relative of the nettle, but will not flourish at the North. 
Mr. M. sends us some seeds, and says that he will supply 
with a few seeds those wishing to make a trial of it, 
who will send a stamped and directed envelope. 
The Blaiichs&r«l Butter Essays.— 
Competitors should remember to mail their essays previ¬ 
ous to the 10th of this month, that they may be received 
on or before that date. See notice in February, page 50. 
Sundry Huniltugs.—Our labors in this 
department are not without some humorous features, as 
witness: A Vermont woman, whose name we omit 
now, as her case is “ under consideration,” tried her 
prettiest to extract sundry greenbacks from the writer’s 
pocket, by a plaintive story, pretty well told, concerning 
her loss of a husband in the war, and the crippling of a 
“ dear boy,” bearing o-ti-r n-a-m-e ! Said boy could bo 
restored if his board could be paid for three months ($40), 
while with the doctor. Could weresistthe appeal to savo 
the boy to his mother—a boy with our own name, too? 
Not much. Our “flying detective” sped away to the Green 
Mountain State on a message of mercy, perchance—per¬ 
chance not. What a fall to our vanity 1 The boy wouldn’t 
answer to our name—“didn’t know nothing about it” 
—wasn't hurt at all. Oh, dear ! A name lost—but our 
greenbacks are safe, Mrs. W!.Here come two circu¬ 
lars—one frbm Virginia—one from “out West”—both 
wanting a little help—just a little—to save a church. 
The Virginia appeal all right—the other a downright 
swindling scheme. Mem. IV.—Those sending such cir¬ 
culars must take more care to establish their reliability 
and identity. Mem. 2 d .—It don’t do to respond to every 
letter or circular calling for help for churches or other 
enterprises, when from unknown persons!.A Michi¬ 
gan swindler advertises, by circulars, a superior six- 
shooter Revolver for $1.25. Such a thing is not made at 
any such price. Several correspondents sent the money 
for them long since, and have written for them time and 
again, but can get no reply. A look at the man’s circu¬ 
lar, in which be offers also “bedroom pictures,” etc., is 
enough to condemn him ns an unmitigated villain, lie that 
will steal purity and good morals, will not hesitate a mo¬ 
ment at stealing money. A similar “Revolver” is advertis¬ 
ed at Chicago for $2.In reply to many inquiries about 
a vnriety of “ doctors.” we say positively, for the fortieth 
time, that not one of the doctors for eyes, ears, private 
diseases, consumption—and everything else—who adver¬ 
tise themselves, is worthy of a moment’s confidence. 
Write a letter to them, or let them get hold of your case 
in any way, and it will be “ your money or your life ”— 
very often both. They are great ndepts at working upon 
people's imaginations when they can get a clue to them. 
This, and the following, must answer a score or more to 
whom we can not respond by letter, for want of time. 
The notorious “ Rev." Edward Wilson still finds poor 
dupes, enough to pay for extensive advertising, and exten¬ 
sive profits on his so-called medicine. Jno. B. Ogden 
still keeps on confessing the “ errors of his youth,” but 
don’t confess the errors lie is leading all those into who 
send their money to him for advice or medicine. Joseph 
T. Inman is in the same category, with the sanctimoni¬ 
ous addition of a “ Bible House Station ” to his persua¬ 
siveness. When the fools all die, these men will seek 
other business, and professedly “ religious papers,” ad¬ 
vertising their cards, will have less sins going on to the 
record, for wicked advertising .Wakefield & Co., 
(merely a new name,) are practising the same cheat as 
was described by us last month under Watson, Graff <fe 
Co., and narrison & Co. What a swarm of “ Receivers” 
must have been appointed to settle up Reed & Co.’s 
Riverside scheme, making it, if possible, a worse swin¬ 
dle in the end than in the beginning.Of the Spuri¬ 
ous Money (fac-simile) dealers, we have said enough in 
previous articles, in referring to Wogan & Co., Waters & 
Co., Lotz & Co., Porter & Co., Clement & Co., Noyes & 
Co., “ Fourth Street National Bank,” etc., etc. Among 
the new swindling names in this line, wo notice Arm¬ 
strong & Co., F. Porter, etc.The Cheap Sewing Ma¬ 
chine swindle crops out in a new place every month or 
so. Now we have its “ Apex ” towering over the top 
rooms of 203 Broadway—the attic of which (with Nos. 
204 and 206) is a pot resort of swindlers, to the great 
disgust of respectable business establishments in the 
same building.—After looking into the matter frequently, 
we advise our readers that they will, in the end, have 
cause for regret if they send any money to any parties, 
anywhere, offering good sewing machines for $5, or $10, 
or $15, whether as special inducements to act as 
“agents” or not.The “ Barnegat Beach Wrecking 
Company’s Prize Checks,” and accompanying “Trivelio” 
recipes aro swindles, and the traveling operators should 
be arrested wherever they show themselves. To 
Georgia Lady: The Parlor Steam-Engine “bust up” 
some time ago, and carried with it all the dollars sent in. 
Nothing remains to tell where it was, or ■where it has 
gone to—so wo can’t collect, that $1.... . .Meredith, 
Halstead & Co.’s Great Distribution is a myth. .. 
Several “Music Box" swindlers are at work in differ¬ 
ent parts of the country. It is now unsafe to buy without 
first seeing, hearing, and having in your hands, what you 
are to pay for, nnless it is to come from well-known relia¬ 
ble dealers. Thousands of ten cent mouth-reeds have 
been sent as $3 to $5 music boxes. (See our Jan. No.)... 
Several correspondents think they get bit by an “Adder,” 
in trying to buy a 75c. adding machine. They think it is a 
capital instrument to subtract people’s money, and never 
add anything to their in-come. Quite likely. We believe 
there arc good adding machines, and good people selling 
them, and also, some of both not so good as they might 
be.One of the vilest of the vile scourges of the earth 
is the one calling himself the “American Purchasing 
Agency,” who offers to supply impure books, pictures, 
etc. He is only to be reached by letter, but scatters the 
poison broadcast,corrupting and polluting the youth of our 
land. Well may a father write us, “ with tears in his eyes, 
and agony in his heart,” on finding in his son’s room some 
of the vile articles this Satanic being sends out for the 
lucre it brings him. It behooves parents to look well to 
what their children receive “ sent carefully sealed through 
the mails,” or get from others who do receive them thus. 
.A very “ Sympathizing Friend” is the Nassait-st- 
man, who wants all young men, 50,000 he says, who are 
“ ruined by youthful excesses,” to send him $3 each for a 
positive cure. We say, keep your $3 out of this fellow's 
hands.Clifford & Rightor, by a great show (on paper) 
of respectability and large, responsible business, as manu¬ 
facturer’s agents, etc., have succeeded in swindling several 
people. We can’t find them at home in Vesey street. 
A batch of other humbugs must wait for next paper. 
CircnlJirs Wanted.— Will our readers 
please send us any circulars issued by any parties at 
Hinsdale, Mew Hampshire? A variety of business firms 
advertise at that point, and we would like to get copies 
of all circulars issued by these various parties during the 
present, and half a dozen years past. Wo have many, 
but desire a complete list, if wo have not one already. 
Ycrbcnus and Bowes in Winter.— 
The trouble that. “C. N., Ridgefield, Cl:.,” has with these 
plants is mainly in consequence of keeping too high a 
temperature in her room ; it makes but little difference 
whether the high temperature is produced by a coal or a 
wood fire. The plants, in their comparatively dormant 
condition during the winter season, require a temperature 
never to exceed 50 degrees on an average, Florists who 
make a special business of growing these plants never 
allow their green-houses to get higher than 40 degrees by 
fire-heat, at night when tiro plants are dormant,. The curl¬ 
ing up and dropping off of the leaves are attributable to 
too high a temperature. It is exceedingly difficult to grow 
Verbenas well in a common sitting-room ; at least ono- 
lialf of the professional florists fail with them in their 
green-houses, mainly from the same cause, viz.: the 
high temperature which they arc obliged to keep to ac¬ 
commodate other kinds of flowers. 
California, Grape-Vines. —Here is a 
horticultural humbug of the worst kind. A chap in 
Indiana offers California grape-vines, with a certificate 
from sundry people that “ they grow and do better than 
any other grape that has been tried in this country.” 
We have no doubt that the man sells California vines, 
but he has no right to try to make people think they will 
do well in Indiana. Here is where the humbug comes in. 
Why do these chaps who have wonderful plants for sale, 
present certificates of sheriffs, merchants, and repre¬ 
sentatives, but never the name of a horticulturist ? 
To Get Kiel of the Ox-eye Maisy.-- 
“ T. B. R.,” Alexandria, Va., asks: “ Do you know any 
method (other than repeated cultivation) by which the 
‘ Ox-eye Daisy ’ may be destroyed ? It spreads very rap¬ 
idly, threatening serious injury to grass fields that many 
of our people wish to continue in grass. This weed was 
much introduced during the late war in the hay used by 
the troops of the general government.”—One of the 
minor results of war is the weeds that it carries in its 
train. There is probably no way to get rid of this weed 
except clean culture, and early cutting before it blos¬ 
soms, so that no mature seeds shall get into the manure. 
“ Black-lea - ” in Cuttle. —“ E. B. C.,” 
La Porte, Col. With reference to black-leg, Dr. Liantard 
refers us to Professor Gamgee’s statement that Black- 
quarter, which is probably the same thing, has been suc¬ 
cessfully prevented by proper drainage, by keeping up 
the condition with oil-cake, and the use of purgatives 
and setons. The administration of half an ounce to an 
ounce of nitre in food is of great benefit. Purgatives 
and stimulants ajso should be freely administered. 
Brewers’ Grains Bad lor Fowls.— 
The experience of “ J. F. C.,” Wrentham, Mass., indi¬ 
cates that, brewers’ grains fed freely to fowls, induces 
disease. Are not the fowls which run at large about 
breweries, healthy ? 
HIesa-j»ls«cl4:e<l Boosters.—“ B. F. H.,” 
Natick, Mass., found that his hens plucked off the feath¬ 
ers from the neck of a favorite Black Cochin cock. He 
applied castdr oil to the bare neck, and to the feathers, 
and it proved a complete remedy. 
The Hsitcliing- of Eg'gs can not be ex¬ 
pedited by artificial means. It. can only be accomplished 
in the regular time, or a little longer, if at all. 
Keeping' Eggs. —“ II. R. D.,” of Belmont, 
N. Y., has, for forty years, been in the habit of keeping 
eggs by taking them fresh from the nest and greasing 
them with good lard or butter, and setting them in a 
cool, dry place, handling them over once in a while, to 
keep the yolks from settling down to the shell. With 
him they keep six or eight months. Wo have had best, in 
fact, perfect success, by plunging the fresh eggs, a few at a 
time, held in a wire ladle, into a kettle of boiling wafer, 
and keeping them there long enough to count 10—say 
five seconds. The water must not stop boiling. 
Potato 1-iitera.tsiro.— There lias been a 
potato excitement and we are now about to have a potato 
literature. Best’s Potato Book has an introduction by 
Henry Ward Beecher and contains the accounts of the 
competitors for Mr. Best’s prizes for the methods by 
which they raised the greatest number of potatoes from 
a given quantity of seed. Price 50 cents....The $100 
Prize Essay, which took the premium offered by Sir. 
Wylie is in press by Orange Judd & Co. Besides the Es¬ 
say there are other matters of inlerest to potato growers. 
An illustrated pamphlet of about 60 pages; price 25 cts. 
Kosipy Fowls. —Roup is a name which 
really covers half a dozen diseases, and perhaps more, 
which, so far as we can judge, have but few common 
symptoms. Following a cold in the head, a change oc¬ 
curs, the breath smells very bad, and there is an offensive 
secretion about either the mouth, eyes, or nostrils. The 
earliest stages of the disease arc indicated by a twitch¬ 
ing of the head to one side, accompanied by a “ quitt,”— 
then a rattling of the breath, heard best at night. This 
continues until the disease is well advanced. It may pass 
into a profuse accumulation of frothy, viscid mucus, fill¬ 
ing the beak, gumming up the nostrils, closing the eyes, 
preventing eating, and destroying the bird by hunger, 
thirst, and suffocation. It may pass into canker of the 
mouth and throat, which gradually extends, inflaming and 
destroying the tissues, or into a diseased condition of the 
