126 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[April, 
letter ? And why did you send it to people in Indiana 
and other places as well as to the man in Illinois. We 
have actually lost faith in that silk story, all because a 
prying microscope told us that the sweet letter was 
lithographed, , and probably printed by the ream. 
Here are Romaine, Muller & Co., of Broadway, New' 
York, who address lovingly confidential letters to people, 
trying to induce them to buy their woolen goods at a 
very low rate. These goods are all from fraudulent 
bankrupt firms, strictest secrecy enjoined. Ungrateful 
people, instead of complying with the request to burn 
the letters, will send them to us. It is very remarkable 
that Romainc, Muller & Co.’s circular should be in the 
precise “ hand of write” as that of the aforesaid David 
W. Engle who is sick and has silk instead of woolen 
goods. 
UNSATISFACTORY EVIDENCE. 
There are cases brought to our notice which we are 
morally certain deserve a place in the humbug column, 
but we forbear to mention them, as the evidence in re¬ 
gard to them is not clear. Thus, one who makes great 
flourish in offering teas has a small office over a regular 
tea-store ; in the door of his office is a hole for the recep¬ 
tion of letters, and that is all we can learn about him. 
We can only say that this is not the way in which people 
doing a fair business operate.Last month we stated 
that complaints were made of a dealer in a New England 
city. One person has written to know if he is the one 
alluded to, and disowns the intention of doing anything 
wrong knowingly. He may be sure if he is not the one 
his name will not be mentioned. 
ABOUT THIS TIME LOOK OUT FOR LAWSUITS. 
It is a very easy matter to institute a libel suit. It 
costs but a few dollars. If parties think that because 
they have done so they will get some gratuitous adver¬ 
tising, they make a great mistake. We only publish the 
results. For further particulars, see the Byrne trial. 
MEDICAL MATTERS. 
It makes us almost despond when we turn over the 
stuff that accumulates under this head. Really, are 
there any fools foolish enough to be taken with this 
“ Seventh Book of Moses,” by one “ Doct.” F. E. An¬ 
drews, and the “ Spirit of Science,” and a whole string 
of so-called ‘’Specific Remedies,” “University Medi¬ 
cines,” leaving out things that we do not care to even 
name ? If any one intelligent enough to read can be 
caught by such stuff, of what use is our boasted general 
education? In all this loathsome file of “medical” 
trash we find only one documentor sufficient importance 
to merit especial notice. This is the “ National Surgical 
Institute, Indianapolis, Indiana.” Why “National”? 
That is too modest by half. Why not Continental or Uni¬ 
versal ? That would be a name something in keeping 
with its pretensions! This Institute in its circular 
claims, among other things, to cure cases cheaper 
and to do it quicker than any other institution in the 
United States, and is filled with all sorts of startling ap¬ 
peals to the lame, halt, and blind, and is embellished 
with engravings of a lot of formidable apparatus and of 
some of the most revolting cases of human deformity. 
This precious circular bears the names of those who 
sign themselves M.D. If they are really Doctors of 
Medicine, they are just now in very disreputable busi¬ 
ness. The concern makes reference to various State? 
County, Bank, and other officers. If these references be 
authorized—but we have too much respect for Indiana to 
believe it.Even the “Isles of the Sea” are not free 
from this all-pervading quackery. A chap in Bermuda, 
who appropriately lives at “ The Flats,” informs us that 
“ Baunscheidtismus, known all over the world, restores 
health when all else seems lost." The uneducated mind 
might ask, Of what use is health “when all else seems 
lost” ? But we are content to know from our intelligent 
correspondent at Bermuda that Baunscheidtismus is a 
very roundabout way of spelling “ humbug.”... If people 
will treat their own eyes by the use of “ eye-cups,” or 
any other appliances, they do so at their own risk. How 
many people know anything about that most wonderful 
organ, the eye ? Yet persons who would not under¬ 
take to repair their own watches think they are com¬ 
petent to tinker their own eyes. 
THE “ QUEER” 
or pretended counterfeit business must he fearfully dull, 
as we arc able to make out only the following meager 
list of names: Alexander Lord, F. A. Olmstead, G. C. 
Orton, J. K. Randall, Abram Wilcox, and John Ward 
date simply from New York. E. B. Deoil, J. Ward 
Emerson, J.W. Ensign, C. B. Mills, and N. C. Strong are 
to he addressed at 71 Bleecker street. II. I. Jenness Is 
the solitary one from 34 Amity street; and that good old 
number 609 Broadway seems to be deserted by all but 
E. L. Hopper. One of these “ Queer ” chaps writes to a 
correspondent, in Mississippi that if lie betrayed him be 
would find some means to punish the Mississippian. 
The last-named says that although he never saw a Krt- 
Klux-Klan, if Mr. “Queer” wiil come down there, ho 
will get up a K. K. K. for his especial benefit. 
Peas in iSontliem Ktllmois.— !< W.W.,” 
West Salem, Ill. It is not likely that peas would be a 
profitable farm crop in comparison with corn in Southern 
Illinois. A fair yield would bo 30 bushels per acre on 
land that would produce 50 bushels of shelled corn. The 
crop is injured by the weevil, and new seed would have 
to he procured each year. 
An Original Fence.—“S.J.H.,” Tuscum- 
bia, Ala., desires to build a plank fence on a plan which 
he has originated. The panels are made by nailing the 
planks to end pieces three inches wide and one and a 
half inch thick, with the edges beveled. . One panel is 
fastened to another by hooks and staples, and sufficient 
“ worm ” is given to make the fence self-sustaining. Ho 
asks if such a fence is patented, and where he can get 
the hooks and staples made ?—We do not know of any 
patent fence with which tills would interfere. Probably 
the best way to procure the hooks and staples would he 
to purchase a bundle or two of Norway nail-rod, and let a 
blacksmith make them. 
Greenhouse Queries.—“ J. T.,” Ct., 
asks: “ (1.) Would muck, after being properly mixed 
with lime, sand, and rotten manure, make a good potting 
soil for plants in a greenhouse ? (2.) Would an ordinary 
base-burner stove with a 6-inch pipe warm sufficiently 
a cool greenhouse 30x18 feet, 14 feet high at ridge-pole, 
if said pipe was taken under one front bench and across 
one end, where the thermometer is liable to get down 
10 or 13 ? ”—(1.) It depends altogether upon the kind of 
muck. If very fibrous, yes. If of the “ cheesy ” kind, 
no. Stack up sods and let them decay a year, and von 
■will have something better. Mix with sand and manure 
as needed. (2.) A long iron stove-pipe would soon make 
trouble in a greenhouse by rusting from condensed pro¬ 
ducts of combustion and leaking. Besides, it does not 
retain heat long enough. The stove might answer with 
a brick flue for the first six feet or so, and cement pipe 
for the rest of the length. 
Money in tlie I*oiilti*y-Yar«t.—“ C. 
M. B.,” Plantsville, Ct., sends his experience with poul¬ 
try. 26 Brahma pullets, produced 700 eggs, from the 1st 
Nov. up to the 20th January. 56 dozen of these were 
sold at 40 to 45 cents a dozen. The feed was corn, scraps 
of meat, and whey. 
Harrowing Wheat in Spring.— 
“ D. E. S.,” Stark Co., Iowa, wishes to try harrowing his 
wheat in spring, and wants information about it.—We 
do not think lie will be disappointed in the result of the 
experiment. The “Thomas harrow” is the best imple¬ 
ment for this purpose, or that one figured in the Agricul¬ 
turist of January last. It should be done as soon as the 
ground is in good condition in spring, and the clover- 
seed may be sown immediately before or immediately 
after it; it is immaterial which. The Thomas harrow 
may be ordered through any dealer in implements. 
Lampas.— “F. C. L.,” Timmonsville, S. C., 
has some mules whose gums are swollen, so as to inter¬ 
fere with their eating. He asks how to treat them.— 
Take a sharp knife and scarify the gums in a few places 
until they bleed. The operation is painless. For a few 
nights give soft feed, with half an ounce of saltpeter. 
Culture of* the Persian Cyclamen. 
—Thos. Handley, St. Louis, Mo. The small bulbs raised 
from seed last year must be allowed to grow as long as 
they will. Sometimes they will grow until the next 
spring. As soon as they cease to put out new leaves, 
gradually withhold water, and in a month or six weeks 
the bulbs will be thoroughly ripe, when they should be 
put, still in the pots, in a cool place, and he left until the 
first of September. Then repot the bulbs in a compost 
of equal parts of loam, leaf-mould, and sand, not cover¬ 
ing the bulbs with earth, but simply placing them on tho 
surface. Water sparingly at first, and when they com¬ 
mence to show their leaves, place them in a window 
where they will receive plenty of air and sun. Old bulbs 
after flowering should he treated in tlie same way. 
Seeding an Orchard.—“R. W.,” Au¬ 
rora, Wis.—In seeding down an orchard to grass, we 
would prefer to plow it lightly and harrow before sow¬ 
ing, and then brush the seed in with a brush or bush- 
liarrow. A bushel and a half of orchard grass (14 pounds 
to the bushel) and six quarts of clover is what we have 
sown with satisfactory results. 
■Seeding a Meadow.—“ R. J. B.,” York 
Co., Pa., wishes to seed a meadow that has been rooted 
by hogs without plowing it, and desires t'o know the 
best grass for it. It should be harrowed early in spring 
with a heavy, sharp-toothed harrow, and sown with 
twelve quarts of timothy, after which it should be gone 
over with a brush harrow. If the season is favorable, it 
may be mowed, but it would pay better to leave the 
mowing until next year. 
Bitter Milk.—“ J. R. K.,” Phoenix (!), 
writes that he lias a cow whose milk and cream become 
bitter after standing twelve hours. The cow is fed on 
good upland hay and two quarts of corn-meal per day. 
She is to come in again in April. He asks, What is the 
reason ?—There may be many causes for such an effect. 
There may be weeds in the hay, the cow’s health may be 
affected by her condition, or the milk may be affected by 
the odors from roots, or an ill-ventilated cellar, all of 
which are capable of producing the flavor complained 
of. If nothing in the hay or cellar can he found, it 
probably rests with the cow ; let her go dry. 
About Burley and Sleets.—“ J. B.,” 
Wellsville, Pa., asks, What is the proper season for sow¬ 
ing barley 1 Is it a paying crop ? and How can beet-seed 
he sown without a drill ?—Barley should be sown from 
the 1st to the 10th of May. It is a paying crop only on 
light and rich soils, and when properly managed. An 
inexperienced farmer should avoid sowing barley, and 
sow oats instead. Beet-seed may be sown by hand, by 
opening a light furrow and scattering the seed therein, 
and covering with a harrow drawn on its back, or by 
drawing between the rows by a book fastened at the point, 
two short planks, fastened together like a letter V. See 
“ Sidney Seed-Sower,” on page 103, last month, and 
contrive something similar. 
Best Clover for Hay. —H. E. Lee, Guil¬ 
ford, Ct.—The common red clover makes the best hay. 
The large or mammoth variety is too coarse and makes 
very poor hay, although it is well adapted for using 
green for soiling purposes or for green manuring. 
Braining 1 Salt Marshes.—“ W. W. L.,” 
Charleston, S. C., desires to drain a flat covered a foot in 
depth at each tide.—It will be necessary to throw up an 
embankment (with a ditch inside) sufficiently high and 
long enough to prevent the flooding, then to cut sub¬ 
ordinate ditches to empty into tlie main ditch. Where 
tlie main ditch empties through tho hank, self-acting 
flood-gates must be built, to allow the drainage to escape 
at low water and to prevent access of the flood-tide. 
Tile drains are not suitable for draining land of this char¬ 
acter. In the Agriculturist of February, 1S66, page 57,' 
there were given drawings illustrative of the draining of 
similar marshes in New Jersey which would be applica¬ 
ble to this case. 
Clover Huy or Bye and Outs.—“ W.” 
—For high-colored sweet-flavored butter we have found 
clover hay cut when in early blossom and cured in the 
cock Without much exposure to the sun the best feed. The 
next in value is oats cut when in the milk and carefully 
cured. Rye cut green and cured we do not value very 
much. We have found peas and oats sown together cut 
in flower and cured, to be excellent feed for milch-cows 
during winter. It is also a prolific crop. 
Becoming u Veterinary Surgeon. 
—“ D. D.,” Cass Co., Neb.—A ship-load of hooks would 
he insufficient to educate a veterinary surgeon without 
practical acquaintance with the anatomy of the horse, and 
a large experience with both well and sick animals under 
a great variety of circumstances. Send for the prospec¬ 
tus of the New York College of Veterinary Surgeons. 
Fisli>Guano.—“ G. M.,” Harbor Grace, N. 
F. — Fish-guano, as made in the United States, is a 
residua! product from the manufacture of fish-oil. The 
fish are steamed, pressed, and freed from the oil. The 
scrap is til on dried, and broken up by a machine with 
rapidly rotating arms confined in a drum, and is then 
packed in bags or barrels for sale. In the case of G. M., 
the fish might be put in heaps until partly decomposed, 
then dried by exposure on platforms to the sun heat, and 
if occasionally watered with a solution of sulphuric 
acid the escaping ammonia might he fixed. They might 
then he pulverized as above and packed for sale. The 
fish-guano is worth $25 and upwards per ton of 2,000 lbs., 
in this market; bnt it would doubtless find a ready mar¬ 
ket also in England. 
Preparing Butter for Market.—“ L. 
G. D.,” New Haven, Ct.—It always injures the quality 
of good butter to repack.it; its grain is injured and the 
flavor is deteriorated. There would be nothing gained, 
for it is not the shape in which butter is put up that 
makes it salable at extreme prices. The shape is only 
for convenience—the quality is what brings the price. 
