6 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[January, 
Inflammation of the Brain.—D. 
Ward,Waterville, Kansas,wants a remedy for wliat lie calls 
“grub in the head ” in his cattle, but which is certainly 
inflammation of the brain. A wiki stare, frothing at the 
nose (suppuration of the membranes), and death in 
twelve hours, are the symptoms and effect. For this 
disease copious bleeding—until fainting—from the jugu¬ 
lar vein is necessary, followed by a blister at the back of 
the horns, and turpentine rubbed on the back of the 
neck, to induce surface inflammation. 
Refuse of Glue Factories. —“ Sub¬ 
scriber,” Lancaster C»., Fa., should compost this valu¬ 
able material in his manure pile, or with swamp-muck, 
or earth. It is too stimulating for grape-vines. 
Warts on Cattle.— “8. H.,” Washington, 
D. C. The cause is unknown. The cure is to remove 
them by excision and cauterize the wound to stop the 
bleeding. Generally they are better left alo-ne. Ulcers 
often result from interference with them. 
Swinney.- “ Dr. W. S.,” Austin, Texas, has 
a mare which was strained and she recovered. A neigh¬ 
bor tells him his mare has had swinney, or sweeny, and 
will die unless taken care of. What shall he do for her ? 
Swinney is altogether an imaginary disease. If the mare 
eats and works well, and shows no sign of lameness or 
any other ailment, she is all right. 
Cracked Heel. — Amzi Jones, Smyrna, 
Tenn., wants a cure for cracked heel. Cause, low condi¬ 
tion. Cura: Rest; wash with a lotion of two drams of 
chloride of zinc in a pint of water; give laxative food, 
and one ounce of tincture of chloride of iron daily, in 
some water. If the suppuration continues wash with one 
ounce carbolic acid in twenty ounces of water. 
Powerto Drive Sevving-.Hnrliijies. 
—Jas. K. Jones, Washington, Ark., wants a good, cheap 
power to drive sewing-machines. This is a want not yet 
supplied. For information about patents write to some 
patent agency. 
Wants to toe a Tanner.—“G. L. P.,” 
Cedar Mountain, N. C., wants a book to teach him to tan 
hides. The only one we know of is“Dussauce on Tan¬ 
ning,” price $10, but the business can not be learned by 
means of a book—practical experience is necessary. 
Mowed in the Hind Knees.— “ Sub¬ 
scriber,” Latrobe, Pa., has a valuable horse which is 
“ blowed ” in the hind knees. We suppose he refers to 
wind-galls, which are puffy enlargements along the 
course of the tendon of the hind leg, and arc generally 
the result of over-work. Remedy: place on the lumps a 
folded rag wetted, over this place a piece of cork and cov¬ 
er with an india-rubber bandage, which must be constant¬ 
ly worn, except when at work. Rest is absolutely need¬ 
ful. Unless obstinately fixed -this will remove them ; if 
not, recourse must be had to iodine ointment, to cause 
the matter to be absorbed. To puncture these swellings 
would be to destroy the horse. Bog-spavin, blood-spavin, 
and thoroughpin are all varieties of this disease, and 
similar treatment is needed. 
Clutos can at any time be increased by remitting 
for each addition the price paid by the original members; 
or a small club may be increased to a larger one; thus: 
a person having sent 10 subscribeus and $12, may after¬ 
ward send 10 more subscribers with only $8 ; making a 
club of 20 at $1 each ; and so of the other club rates. 
How to Make a Saddle-Cloth.— 
“R. D. S. P.," Kansas Gity., Take a piece of fine horse 
blanket of the size required, lay it on the horse’s back, 
slit it where it lies on the withers so that it fits the horse 
snugly, cut a triangular piece to fit the opening thus 
made; cut two pieces in the shape of a saddle, which sew 
or quilt, one on each side of the?blankct, to form the 
pad. Fine corn-husks maybe shred to furnish the filling. 
Bind with colored braid, and make a hole on each side, 
just beneath tho pad, to pass the surcingl. or girth 
through, and bind the edges with the braid. 
Trees and Ratotoits. —J. W. Allen, Kan¬ 
sas. Tarred paper will answer to prevent rabbits from 
gnawing trees. It is sold in all'large cities for building 
purposes. Sprinkling the trees with blood, or rubbing 
them with bloody meat, will keep off the rabbits. 
Is it ttoe Canada Thistle?— J. Berry, 
Cooper Co., Mo. The specimen is not Canada Thistle, 
but the Wild Teazle. It is a troublesome weed if allowed 
to spread, but is easily subduod. 
Uneven S*ulling'.— Chas. Shrader, Cass- 
ville, Wis., asks if one horse of a team draws ahead of 
the other, is it any disadvantage to either in working? 
Unless the double-tree catches on the frame of the wagon 
or sled, the changing angle makes no difference in the 
draft. But it is a slovenly mode of working. 
Rent Cora at the North. — As a rule, 
the large Dent corn, under ordinary treatment, does not 
mature sufficiently early to render its cultivation profit¬ 
able in New York or in New England. The late Joseph 
Wright, of Seneca Co., N. Y.. has raised this kind of corn 
with success for many years; but he sent to Illinois 
every year for his seed, and was careful to plant it on very 
rich land. His friend and neighbor, S. W., writes us: 
“ The Illinois Dent corn this year was a short crop, from 
lack of more soaking showers. It was planted in rows 
3 feet apart, and S inches apart in the rows. Had I plant¬ 
ed it 15 inches apart in the rows, it would not have curled 
its leaves, and every stalk would have perfected an ear. I 
have proved that the Dent corn will yield one third more 
than any flint variety; but its large stalks exhaust more 
water and require more space.” This is undoubtedly the 
case. And for the same reason it also requires richer land. 
^Fattening; Poultry.— Com is in this 
country the obviously proper feed for fattening fowls. It 
makes flesh of fair quality. Oatmeal gives a better flavor 
but less fat. Corn should predominate, and be fed for 
the most part ground, because more can be digested than 
when it must all be reduced by a slow process in the giz¬ 
zard. The latter is a perfect mill, but if employed too 
much the muscular exertion of working it takes some¬ 
thing from the rate of fattening. The corn-meal should, 
for a few days, be thoroughly cooked, but the mess will 
soon pall upon the appetite, and then the meal may be 
merely scalded and finally fed raw, since fowls like this 
best, and they should be induced to eat as much as possi¬ 
ble. To tempt with variety, give an occasional feed of 
buckwheat corn, and wheat whole, and oats, which last 
should be ground and screened, so as to remove all the 
larger fragments of the hulls. Boiled potatoes and fresh 
cooked meat should be allowed sparingly, and every other 
day a little cayenne and salt must be added to the 
dough. Feed adult poultry, for fattening, three times 
a day, and chickens four. It is especially necessary, 
when the days are short, to give the first food at the 
appearance of light, and the last as late as possible. 
After they have eaten to satiety, always remove what 
is left. Feed at stated hours, and keep the feeding- 
trough clean and sweet. It is best to confine grown 
fowls in rather small coops, as exercise prevents fat¬ 
tening. If, however, individuals unacquainted with 
each other are put together, there is no gain in close quar¬ 
ters, for they become uneasy; and also half-grown chick¬ 
ens ought not to be shut up, but rather induced to eat so 
much that they will roam as little as possible, for if taken 
from their accustomed run they are apt to worry con¬ 
stantly. Shut out light from the coop, excepting at feed¬ 
ing time, to promote quietness. There should be no 
perches. Cover the floor with dried earth, often renewed. 
A Favorable Introduction to more 
than 150,000 persons throughout the United States, with 
a statement to each one of the desirable qualities of the 
articles you wish to sell, would be worth how much ? It 
can be partially secured by sending to each (if yon have 
the addresses) a circular through the mail, costing some¬ 
what! as follows: 
150,000 circulars of cheapest kind. $150 
150,000 envelopes “ “ . 150 
Folding and addressing. 225 
Postage, @2c. each.3,000 
Total cost...$3,525 
Many parties have found even this large outlay a pay¬ 
ing one, by the resulting increase in business. Apart 
from its cost, however, this method is unsatisfactory, 
because few persons will carefully read a common circu¬ 
lar, and not one in a hundred will keep such a document 
—it is glanced at and thrown into the waste-basket. 
Now, a whole pa/je of the American Agriculturist, in 
which a dealer can fully set forth his business, will at 
the regular published rates cost $606. This is less than 
one fifth the expense by the circular method. It has also 
the advantage of being placed before not merely 150,000 
subscribers, but the many others who regularly read 
the paper, which is preserved at least a month, and in 
most cases is kept year by year. But, what is of greater 
value, the readers of this journal have confidence in the 
parties thus introduced; they know the care taken to ex¬ 
clude all who can not be indorsed as reliable parties 
selling good articles. 
Is Lime a Manure Hirectly or In¬ 
directly? — “ A Subscriber.” If by manure is meant a 
substance which contributes anything directly to .the soil 
which plants can appropriate, then lime is a manure in 
the ordinary sense ; for most plants contain lime in larger 
or smaller quantities. But lime does more—it renders 
soluble or decomposes vegetable matter, such as swamp- 
muck, and the roots and refuse of former crops. It also 
neutralizes the acids existing in a free state in the soil, 
and renders hurtful matters innoxious, or liberates fer¬ 
tilizing matter. It also acts mechanically on the soil. 
Brain Tiles or Round Stones.— 
1). C. Faris, Walker Co., Ga., needs to drain h?3 land, 
and can not procure tiles, as there is no manufactory in 
his locality. Can he use stones?—In “Waring’s Draining 
for Profit,” a home-made tile-machine is figured which 
would be found useful. Round stones will make a sub¬ 
stitute. We have prepared an article on their use, with 
drawings, but it will not be in time for this number. 
Bacon without Shippers. —John Mil¬ 
ler, Slackwater, Pa., sends his method of curing bacon 
and hams as follows: For 1000 pounds of meat, take 10 
quarts of salt, 3 pounds of sugar, 1 pound saltpeter, 1 
pound black-pepper (ground). Dissolve the saltpeter in 
a pint of water, and mix it with the other ingredients; 
rub the mixture over the meat on both sides, and keep it 
in a cool place for ten days. Smoke as usual. Then 
place the meat in a box, and keep covered with, dry salt. 
Tile Hlachlue Wanted. —J. B. G., San¬ 
dusky, O., wants a tile-machine, and finds none adver¬ 
tised. I. W. Penfield, Willoughby, O., and F. M. Mattice, 
Cleveland, O., lately advertised their machines in the 
American Agriculturist. Write them. 
Analysis of Soils.—“ E. W.,” Zaleski, O. 
It would be money wasted for farmers to have their soils 
analyzed. It is an exploded notion. Put on a plenty of 
stable manure and you need not go to a chemist to find 
out what your soil needs. 
Hledicinal Plants. —E. Wagner asks why 
farmers do not engage in the cultivation of medicinal 
plants. They will not take requisite care in cultivation. 
Labor is too high, and the market too uncertain. 
Honey-Locust Seeds. —O. Moffef,. The 
seeds, if not too dry. V'ill usually grow readily, but it is 
safest to scald them before sowing in spring: or, if mixed 
with earth and allowed to freeze and thaw, they will grow 
without difficulty. 
The Art of Advertising; so as to make 
it pay is usually acquired only by long experience and 
costly experiment—even by those who have a natural 
tact in this direction, For this reason, those intending 
to do much advertising, generally find it profitable to 
employ an experienced adept—one who has the “ know 
how” of making advertisements tell. There are several 
good advertising agencies, and many very poor ones. 
Among the former we commend to attention Messrs. Fitch 
& Thain, located in the American Agriculturist Building. 
Mr. Fitch has had charge of our own advertising depart¬ 
ment for a dozen years past, and still continues that 
relation. His associate, Mr. Thain, was formerly in 
charge of the advertising department of the Western 
Rural, and recently one of the advertising firm of Messrs. 
Sharp & Thain, of Chicago, until they were burned out. 
While Mr. Fitch wiM continue as hitherto to take charge 
of our own advertising columns, the business of the 
above firm will be wholly independent of any relation to 
this office. They offer tlick services to reliable adver¬ 
tisers, and propose to help them prepare their announce¬ 
ments, and to insert them on favorable terms in the 
newspapers of the country generally, with no charge 
for their services to the advertisers themselves. From 
what we know of their skill in this line and their reli¬ 
ability, we commend them to the confidence of the press 
and of business men who may need their services. 
Marengo Crabs.- We have before had a 
good word to say for these hardy and excellent crab apples. 
If our friends who live up near the North-pole, can raise 
such apples as these, they need not complain. The intro¬ 
ducer of these apples, C. Andrews, is now associated 
with Herendecn & Jones at Geneva, N. Y. The speci¬ 
mens recently sent us were fine tolookatand excellent 
to eat, especially when cooked. 
Almond upon Peach.— A. F. Smith, 
Sierra Co., Cal.—The almond would doubtless grow upon 
the peach stock, but we can not tell how it would last. 
In Europe it is generally budded upon the almond and 
plum, the last named being preferred in a cold, wet soil. 
See Page 37. 
