THE AURAL NEW-YORKER 
Ant man who says, “Put tarred paper 
around young trees," doesn’tknow his business. 
I can kill more trees with tarred paper than all 
the mice or rabbits in the country can kill. 
Ashtabula Co., Ohio. J. H. m. 
It is well to kill all venomous snakes, but all 
the innocent species should be spared, pro¬ 
tected and classed among the friends of farm¬ 
ers and fruit growers. Such snakes live 
wholly on small animals, insects, slugs, bugs 
and worms. Their size and activity enable 
them to consume more of these than birds or 
toads can manage. Where snakes are driven 
entirely away, insects, bugs and worms will 
surely multiply. Why not call the attention 
of entomologists, societies for the prevention 
of cruelty to animals and all others to this 
subject? Is it not time that the traditional 
hatred between the races of man and of ser¬ 
pents should have an end? The harmless 
snakes show their willingness to drop hostil 
ities by fighting our insect enemies. Shall 
man be behind them ? s. w. h. 
Madison Co., Ind. 
My ducks at one year old, with free access 
to a pond of water, did not lay as well as they 
did at two years, confined with 20 hens, in a 
medium-sized yard, and given only a milk- 
pan of water. A small flock of ducks will 
pay far better than a pig. They will eat any¬ 
thing and make little trouble, subscriber. 
Steuben Co., N. Y. 
A house lined with tarred paper is the near¬ 
est insect-proof of anything I have found in 
20 years' work. The odor from the tar is con¬ 
ducive to the health of the fowls. Tar is 
called “healthy’’ for human beings. Why 
should it not be so for fowls? A lining of tarred 
paper on the house will surely help to line the 
egg basket with winter eggs. Try it. 
Clearfield Co., Pa. H. f. s. 
Our bed-room opens into the dining-room. 
It takes a tremendous fire to keep both rooms 
hot in Winter. We can’t afford to keep the 
door open all the time. My wife has invented 
a way of warming both rooms, that works like 
a charm. She suggested sawing off the top 
of the door about one-third down from the 
top. I did this and put another hinge on the 
lower part, thus making two doors out of the 
old one. A wooden button on the lower part 
holds them in place. Iu the afternoon we can 
open the upper door by turning the button 
and swinging the door on its hinges. The hot 
air at the top of the room passes into the bed¬ 
room just fast enough to keep both rooms 
comfortable. Try it. rt is better than trying 
to keep the door ajar. H. M. c. G. 
Orange C’o., N. Y. 
That Dakota furnace strikes me like a good 
thing. We have lots of old brush and chips 
every Winter, that could be used up iu that 
way. Old stumps and roots have to be all 
hacked up before we can get them into any of 
our stoves. If we bad such a furnace we 
could put them in whole. I have an idea that 
I can have a big tank made in the form of a 
“drum,” so fixed that the last act of the heat 
before passing away will be to keep water hot. 
Then, by nieuns of pipes, I can have hot and 
cold water with any of them. c. p. 
Plymouth Co., Mass. 
In spite of all that has been said against 
carp, I think it pays to keep them. My carp 
pond pays me well. 1 would not be without it. 
You can’t have good carp with poor cooking. 
Bucks (.'n., Pa. u. 
Two things on my farm have always 
troubled my eyes—numberless small stones 
and a bad “cat hole.” One dry Summer I dug 
a well down through the “cat hole” till I came 
to gravel. Then 1 hired some ooys to pick up 
stones, and dumped all we could pick up into 
that well. Thou I put a dozen loads more at 
the bottom of the hole uud scraped dirt over 
them. I can plow over the boh' now without 
any trouble at all. 1 kept picking up stones 
at odd times and dumped them aloug on the 
road aud put gravel on them. I have now 
got the best piece of road iu this township iu 
frout of my farm. J. s. 
Oakland Co., Michigan. 
In this southern portion of Illinois, land is 
literally “tired.” Thirty years ago it pro¬ 
duced (50 or hu bushels of corn per acre; now 
the average is but 20 or 25 bushels. For years 
fanners have taken all they could from the 
laud and returned nothing—not even rest. 
Farmers are too much iu the old ruts where 
their fathers worked so contentedly. The 
fathers had but few wauts which were inex¬ 
pensive and easily supplied. The present gen¬ 
eration have many wants more costly and 
difficult to supply. Hence it is that so many 
boys leave the farm and seek other employ¬ 
ment, and in after life regret the change. 
Marion Co., Ills. J. L, h. 
The best roosting poles that I have come 
across are iron rods wrapped about with thick 
woolen cloth. This cloth is saturated with 
kerosene with a small addition of oil of sassa¬ 
fras. No chance for lice there, “buford.” 
Caldwell, Ky. 
Orchards are white with bloom, and promise 
much this season, peaches alone excepted. 
Small fm its in good condition. Have tried 
keeping peach pits for use the second year by 
burying them three feet under the surface; it 
is a success. 
Hero is an explanation of the growth of 
weed seeds, such as morning glory, etc., year 
after year, on clean cultivated ground:—they 
are, part of them, buried at each plowing be¬ 
low their proper depth for germinating, and 
lie dormant. B. B. 
Saugamon Co., Ill. 
CATALOGUES, ETC., RECEIVED. 
“Rustless” Iron. —Catalogue from the 
Wells Rustless Iron Works, 9 Cliff Street, New 
York. The “Rustless” iron-work has been in 
the Americau market for about four years, 
though it has been in use for a much longer 
period in Europe. By means of treatment, 
first with superheated steam and then with 
highly heated air and carbonic oxide gas, the 
outer surface of the iron is converted into 
magnetic oxide of iron. This oxide is known 
in its natural state as magnetic iron ore. It 
has withstood centuries of exposure to both 
fresh and salt water. The cost is less than 
that of galvanizing or enameling. The rust¬ 
less iron pipe is excellent for conducting 
water. Lead pipe is poisonous and many of 
the preparations used in preventing the rust¬ 
ing of iron contain lead or zinc, both of which 
are slightly acted upon by water. The “rust¬ 
less” iron is free from all poisonous compounds, 
and as the work is done by heat, gas and steam, 
every crevice is reached. The “rustless” hol¬ 
low-ware seems destined to come into very 
genera] use. We advise our friends to send 
for this exceedingly' interesting catalogue. 
The Buckeye Force Pump. —Catalogue 
from Mast, Foos & Co., Springfield, Ohio. 
The value of a pump depends upon its durabil¬ 
ity, simplicity, ease of operation, and safety 
from frost in Whiter. It is claimed that the 
Buekey'e pump possesses these valuable quali¬ 
ties in the highest degree. It is said that there 
are 100,000 of them iu use in all parts of the 
country. The cylinders of the Buckeye are 
made of brass or of iron, lined with porcelain. 
The leather for the valves is of the very best 
quality, in fact, all material used is calculated 
to last for years. The stuffiug or packing box 
found in most force pumps is not used in the 
Buckeye. The pump is easy to work, the flow 
starts at the first or second motion of the 
handle, and stops the moment the pumping 
ceases, thus leaving no ilripping water to freeze 
on the platform. To learn the superiority of 
this implement more fully as well as to study the 
mechanism of pumps iu geueral our renders 
should send for the catalogue. 
Michigan Horticultural Society.— Fif¬ 
teenth annual report of the Secretary, Charles 
W. Garfield, Grand Rapids, Mich. Horticul¬ 
turists and pomoli'gists will find much to in¬ 
terest them in this volume. Michigan is 
becoming famous as a fruit and vegetable 
State. Secretary Garfield is one of the hard¬ 
est workers iu the profession. Readers of the 
present volume will be disappointed to learn 
that the usual Secretary’s Portfolio has been 
omitted. The bright aud condensed dip¬ 
pings that made up this portion of former 
volumes will lie missed. The loss is well made 
up by a report of the last meeting of the 
American Pomological Society. This report 
is the best we have seen. The volume is so toll 
of sensible hints aud sound facts that we most 
heartily commend it to our readers. Every 
Michigan horticulturist who understands liis 
busiuess will secure one, 
Kellogg’s Royal Salt. —Circular from 
the Butter Preservation Salt. Co., 884 W. 11th 
St., New York. The trade-mark of this new 
company beam a motto which should be dear 
to the hearts of the dairymen: “No more rau- 
cid butter!” This salt has received the very 
highest testimonials from chemists, business 
men and practical dairymen. Col. Wm. Cro- 
zier, an authority on dairy matters, considers 
this salt the best of all the brands he Ims’over 
tried. He rightly says that impure salt is a 
curse to butter-makers. It is certain that no 
inferior article could secure the testimonials 
which are printed in this circular. Our friends 
will do well to investigate the merits of this 
preservative. Address the company, as above, 
for the circular. 
Missouri State Board of Agriculture. 
—Eighteenth annual report of the Secretary, 
J. W. Sanborn. It is unfortunate that the 
addresses of the secretary and the office of pub¬ 
lication of the report have been almost 
omitted, They should be plainly printed on the 
title page. We also criticize the economy 
which necessitates the printing of such a 
volume in paper covers. The present volume 
is one of the best of the series. Every Missouri 
farmer should procure the book. The bulletins 
by Prof. Sanborn, The Grasses of Missouri by 
B. T. Galloway, and Stock Improvement by 
Prof. Shelton of Kansas, are worth the price 
of many a volume on agriculture. 
Seneca Lake Grape-Growers’ Associa¬ 
tion. —Proceedings of the second annual 
meeting held at Watkins, N. Y. There is a 
great deal of interesting information to be 
found in this little pamphlet. One thing is 
certain—the men whose thoughts are given 
were practical grape-growers who spoke from 
experience. Among other articles we note a 
History and Progress of Grape Culture, Alum¬ 
ina as a Fertilizer, and The Vineyard from the 
Beginning to its Maturity. The Secretary dis¬ 
cusses the shipping and handling of grapes. 
The pamphlet will be of interest to all who 
cultivate the vine. It will be sent on receipt 
of a stamp by the Secretary, C. N. Wixon, Penn 
Yan, N. Y. 
King of the Hay Field.— Catalogue of 
the Mallory Trackless Hay Elevator, manu¬ 
factured by Herbert Baker, Toledo, Ohio. It 
is claimed that this is the best known device 
for filling a barn with hay. It is said to be the 
only hay elevator on the market that will de¬ 
liver the hay at the sides aud cornel’s as well 
as at the end of a large mow. Fewer bands 
are required for pitching the hay into place 
on the mow than when the track elevators are 
used. The reasons why these elevators should 
be used are well stated in the catalogue. They 
should be read by all who desire to procure 
such implements. 
Insects Affecting the Orange.— A gov¬ 
ernment pamphlet of 225 pages by H. G. Hub¬ 
bard. The insect enemies of the orange are 
exhaustively and practically treated. The 
pamphlet is beautifully illustrated, the insects 
and their effects being well showu. A neces¬ 
sity to orange growers. Sent out by the U. S. 
Department of Agriculture, 
Thoroughbred Poultry.— Circular from 
Philander Williams, Taunton, Mass. Light 
Brahmas, Wyandottes and Plymouth Rocks. 
We saw specimens of birds from Mr. Williams’ 
Yards at the New York Poultry Show. They 
were well worthy the prizes which were 
awarded them. 
WHENTTexas became par* of the Union after 
the war of ’45, she retained all the public 
lands, so that ever since the United States have 
owned no land in the Lone Star State except 
a few smalbaroas ceded for military posts, etc. 
Great and notorious as the corruption has 
been in the illegal appropriations, and dishon¬ 
est cessions of the public lands of the United 
States, scandals have been still more outrage¬ 
ous and flagrant with regard to the public 
lands of Texas. Those have been ceded and 
appropriated in the most unscrupulous and 
eurrapt fashion, until now there remains no 
public domain iujToxas. The large tracts still 
not owned by private parties are set aside for 
school and university purposes, or ore asylum 
lauds or belong to railroads. There are still a 
great number of old land certificates out, how¬ 
ever, and as there is no land which they can 
cover, the holders, unable to sell, have in many 
cases illegally placed them upon lands spec¬ 
ially granted for the above purposes, with the 
hope that at some future time the Legislature 
may be induced to make the certificates valid. 
There are several thousands of them outstand¬ 
ing, nearly all bearing date of about 100 veal’s 
ago, when Texas belonged to Mexico. There 
are few of them in Texas, most of them hav¬ 
ing lately been sent for sale into the Northern 
States. It would lie well to be careful about 
investing in Texas land certificates. 
Blake and Riley are the names given by a 
pair of lottery swindlers arrested the other 
day in Milwaukee, Wis., for using the United 
States mails for fraudulent purposes. Thous¬ 
ands of letters were mailed by them to persons 
in all parts of the conutry, but especially in 
the West, inviting the recipients to invest. 
Each coutaiued a fac-simile of the Louisiana 
Lottery scheme and a four-page circular 
giving a description of the lottery, with the 
name M. Huber & Co., General Agents. 
Accompanying ttie circular was a “eonflden- 
tiol,” type-written letter from “Huber & Co., 
Bankers aud Brokers, 481 Milwaukee Street, 
Milwaukee,” stating that although the busi¬ 
ness was perfectly legitimate, yet as many 
doubted this, the writers, upon the receipt of 
$9, would send a ticket for the lottery, and if 
the ticket did not draw a $50 prize, they would 
send one each month until a prize was drawn; 
or upon receipt of $20 they would send four 
tickets, and if a prize was not drawn, then 
they would send 10 tickets a mouth until a 
prize was drawn. Thousands not being able 
to resist the tempting offer, sent on their 
money; but few of them ever received even a 
ticket, and not one of them ever got a prize 
Why waste space in mentioning this swindle, 
after it has been suppressed—in carefully 
locking the door after the horse has been 
stolen? Because similar swindles have been 
flourishing for yeai-s, and will flourish for 
years to come, but not henceforth, it is to be 
hoped, on money enticed out of your pocket. 
Complaints come from several parts of the 
country of a wolf iu sheep’s clothing. The 
beast dresses as au itinerant clergyman, and 
professes to be on a Bible-distributing tour. 
He asks for meals and lodgings, generally at 
farm-houses, talks a little pious clap-trap; but 
insists on paying for his meals and other ac¬ 
commodations, on the plea that the Board that 
has sent him on his travels requires him to do 
so and to show vouchers for the cost. He 
pays his entertainer a quarter, gets him to 
sign a receipt, and benignantly departs. 
Later that receipt turns up at a bank, or in 
the hands of some other “innocent holder,” as 
a note for #100,25. 
John Crawford, Marshall County, Ind., 
agreed to accept a sickle-grinder from an agent, 
and signed a postal card to that effect. In a 
few days he was notified that 80 sickle-grind¬ 
ers had been shipped to him as per written 
order—bill $216. He compromised by giving 
his note fox’ $175. John Crawford won’t in 
future be so ready to sign his name, even by 
way of accepting a gift from a canvassing 
agent, however sleek and glib-tongued. 
A plausible rascal is selling Plymouth Rock 
eggs in Michigan for #75 a dozen, guaranteeing 
to buy all the chickens hatched therefrom at 
$100 each. The eggs are boiled. He or an¬ 
other member of the same tribe may turn up 
in your neighborhood to-morrow with this or 
a kindred swindle. 
The Eye-opener's notes show that this little 
trick has been practiced successfully in 
different parts of the country four times with¬ 
in three months, and attempted thrice more, 
and the Eye-opener’s notes and clippings can’t 
cover a tithe of the cases that actually occur; 
—A glib-tongued, well-dressed, solid-looking 
swindler comes along, and after more or less 
bargaining and bantering agi’ees to buy a far¬ 
mer’s place. depositing from $25 up, to bind the 
bargain. Shortly a confedex-ate makes his ap¬ 
pearance, and is very anxious to buy that par¬ 
ticular farm, for which he is ready to pay, 
say, $500 more than the price offered by No. 
1. He generally manages to work on the 
farmer so effectually that the latter agrees to 
let him have the farm, if he can get No. 1 to 
surrender his claim. On his re-api>earanee. No. 
1 is ready to do so for, say. $200, in addition to 
his deposit, which the farmer pays him. and 
waits anxiously for the appearance of No. 2. 
No. 2, however, of course, never appears, and 
the fanner has paid $200 for the experience 
here given to you for nothing. 
for Women. 
CONDUCTED BY MISS RAY CLARK. 
ELIAKIM GRAVES’S WOOING. 
PART n. 
When Deacon Gi’aves emex-ged from the 
woods and entered the wide meadow which 
was a part of the Drake homestead, he sat 
down and put on his stockings and shoes. 
And now unaccountable and hitherto un¬ 
known sensatious began to creep over him. 
He felt weak and faint. "What if Desix-e her¬ 
self should come to the door? What should 
he say to her? Where would he find words 
to convey his meaning ? And as he walked 
slowly up the lilac-bordex-ed path to the front 
door, his knees trembled aud he gi’asped his 
red silk liandkei’chief as though it wei-e a x'ope 
to save him from dx'owning. 
There was uo light iu the house. Iu those 
days people were in the habit of “sitting in 
the gloaming” on short, summer evenings. 
Eliakim knocked faintly, half hoping no one 
would hear him. There was a sound within 
as of some ponderous weight striking the 
floor. Then heavy footsteps, and the door 
opened disclosing the shoi’t, fat figui-e of 
Bi-other Drake, robed iu his night-shirt. 
“Good-evening:’’ said Eliakim. 
“Good evenin’, good evenin’, good e-v-e-u- 
in\” quacked Drake in a hesitating monotone, 
which became more assured as he slowly 
recognized his visitor. 
“How are you pi’ospering, brother? how are 
