1874.1 
369 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
lowed a better inspection of the horses, than one can 
usually make at a fair. Swine and sheep were not in 
large numbers, but good animals of their kinds were 
shown, and while the poultry was not so numerous, as all 
New England ought to show, there were some excellent 
coops. In the poultry-tent we observed an instance of 
great cruelty to animals ; right in the midst of the fowls 
was a coop containing a pair of foxes, the mental distress 
of these animals thus surrounded, must have equalled 
that of Tantalus, and is recommended to the attention of 
Mr. Bergh. The halls attached to the grand stand af¬ 
forded room for the display of manufactured articles, 
sewing machines, and the like, while other machinery 
and agricultural implements were shown in an enormous 
tent near by. The display in all departments in this tent 
was very full, and was largely enhanced by the contribu¬ 
tions of Messrs. W. E. Barrett & Co., of Providence, one 
of the heaviest houses in this line in New England. The 
horticultural portion of the exhibition was held in the 
city, at Howard Hall, a spacious room, which was well 
filled, though largely by Rhode Island growers ; Ilovey & 
Co., of Boston, had a large show of pears, and Vick, of 
Rochester, was represented by a good display of annu¬ 
als. The time was rather too early for the best display 
of fruit, and the R. I. Horticultural Society, at their exhi¬ 
bition some weeks later, propose to excel this in excel¬ 
lence. The vegetables were remarkably good, though 
not so numerous as they should have been. 
We have not yet heard the pecuniary results of the 
fair, but if it did not pay expenses, it should have done 
so, for the arrangements for exhibitors, spectator-, and 
the press, were in all respects admirable, and if we mis¬ 
take not, credit for these is largely due to the labors of 
Col. Pitman, Secreti ry of the R. I. Society. While we 
record high praise to the fair as a whole, we are obliged 
to point out some faults. The exhibitions of the N. E. 
Society have more than any others been of the horse, 
horsey, and the present was no exception ; we believe 
strongly in the utility of “ that noble animal, the horse,” 
but can not see what agricultural bearing there is in the 
fact, that a certain gray mare went round the track in two 
seconds less time than a certain brown gelding. There 
is no getting over the fact that this was an agricultural 
horse-trot, with other matters as appendages. The N. E. 
Society is; i important one, and its influence in degrading 
fairs into horse races has not been for good.; we have, 
however, reason to hope for better things, as Col. Need¬ 
ham, the secretary, stated at one of the evening meetings, 
that he hoped the time was not far distant, when the So¬ 
ciety could hold a fair without depending upon horse- 
raeing—or words to that effect. Another glaring fault at 
this fair was the admission of all sorts of side-shows 
within the grounds. If armless, under-lean, and over-fat 
humanities must exhibit their deformities, pray keep the 
disgusting things outside of the fair-grounds. Quackery 
of all kinds, that should have been kicked outside of the 
gate, was rampant within the enclosure. The President 
of the N. E. Society bears, and we doubt not rightfully, the 
title of Doctor , yet within hearing of bis tent there stood 
a mountebank, all decked with gold-lace and other finery, 
in his gaudy barouche, with a servant in showy livery, 
and this arrant quack was allowed to cry out the virtues 
of his viie compounds without hindrance. Gentlemen, 
who manage the N. E. Society, we have a right to expect 
better things of you. We do not like to find fault where 
there was so much to praise, and we trust that the tolera¬ 
tion of these nuisances was an accident that may not 
again occur. 
— . — 0 «—--- — 
Our Patent Department. 
In so large a circle as the readers of the Agriculturist , 
there will, of course, be many inventors, and probably 
many times more among our readers than in the same 
number of persons who do not take the paper. In years 
past a considerable share of our correspondence has 
been in relation to inventions, and we have been fre¬ 
quently consulted as to the advisability of patenting this 
or that invention, and often asked to put the inventor in 
the way of procuring a patent. In all this correspondence, 
complaints were not wanting of enormous fees charged 
by patent-agents—fees, which seemed to us out of all pro¬ 
portion to the service rendered. As the Patent Office is 
a department of the government, and is presumably for 
the benefit of the people, we could not see why persons 
wishing a patent should not deal directly with head¬ 
quarters and dispense with patent-agents altogether. 
With our then knowledge of the subject, it seemed that 
the people should have direct access to, and deal directly 
with, the officers placed in the Department for the express 
purpose of attending to the very business, which inventors 
pay the agents for doing. Having excellent friends in 
the Patent Office, we consulted with these, as well as the 
Commissioner himself, as to the propriety of advising in¬ 
ventors to have nothing to do with agents, but to deal 
directly with the office. The result of these interviews 
quite changed our notions. In an ordinary court of law j 
a man may manage his own case, and may possibly sue- ' 
ceed; the probabilities, however, are that he will fail, 
and his failure is likely to be due to a want of knowledge j 
of the law. While those who wish to manage their own 
cases at the Patent Office, will find the officers ready to 
offer them every facility, they must take the risk of the 
mistakes into which they must fall from not knowing the 
laws. The patent laws are so many, and have been so 
modified and variously complicated—by the law-makers 
and not by the officers of the Department—that it is 
hardly possible for one not versed in patent laws to 
manage his own case to the best advantage. So, while 
here and there an inventor may be able to get along with¬ 
out the aid of an attorney or agent, we were quite con¬ 
vinced that it is, as the laws now are, better for the in¬ 
ventors, as a class, to engage competent advice and aid. 
We are well aware—and we are quite sure that the 
officers of the Department agree with us—that there is 
much about the existing laws that is absurd and useless, 
and that they should be greatly simplified, but as long as 
the laws exist, they must be complied with, and until the 
whole code is revised, it becomes a necessity for inventors 
to seek the advice of those who have given special study 
to the laws as they now stand. In order to offer inventors 
intelligent aid in this respect, we some months ago as¬ 
sociated with ourselves a gentleman, who has made a 
specialty of patent matters, and one who stands very 
high in the esteem of the officers in the Department at 
Washington, and are thus able to offer the best possible 
services at reasonable rates. Though we have not an¬ 
nounced this department of our business otherwise than 
through these columns, the number of patents it has se¬ 
cured has been very encouraging, and the letters of those 
who have obtained patents through its aid. express the 
greatest satisfaction with the manner in which it is con¬ 
ducted. It is hardly necessary to ask our subscribers to 
send their patent business to this office, but we do ask 
them to do us the favor to mention our patent depart¬ 
ment among their inventing friends, and assure them 
that their patent business will be attended to promptly, 
and that they will be dealt with fairly.—Circulars may 
be had on application. 
“Walks and Talks” Correspondence. 
Age op Breeding Sows. —“D. F. C.,” Scott Co., 
Iowa, writes that the general custom there is to breed 
from young sows. They aim to have the sows farrow 
in April and May ; they are then fattened for market the 
next fall. This plan is very convenient, but it will not do 
to breed the sows top young. I seldom let my sows 
breed until they are 15 or IS months old. Breeding con¬ 
tinuously from such young sows only, the breed would 
degenerate. It would be better to wait 6 months longer. 
The pigs intended for breeders should be fed liberally 
until 5 or G months old, after that they should have plenty 
exercise, and less nutritious food. During the following 
summer and autumn they will need nothing but pasture, 
and the run of the stubbles after harvest. The sows will 
be strong and fully matured, and will probably prove 
good sucklers, and will soon recuperate after the young 
pigs are weaned, and can easily be fattened early the 
next fall. 
Essex or Berkshire.— “D. F. C.” further says: “I 
have a cross of Berkshire on Poland-China sows. The 
pigs are fine enough in the bone ; but the Berkshires are 
a little too wild to suit me. Would the Essex be better 
than the Berkshire in this respect?”—The Essex are 
distinguished for being remarkably quiet. But much de¬ 
pends on how they have been bred and managed. A 
well-bred Essex boar, with a good grade Poland-China 
sow, would make a capital cross. I can think of nothing 
more likely to give perfect pigs, unless it is one or two 
more crosses of Essex blood. If white pigs are preferred, 
I would select good grade Chester White sows, and cross 
them with a well-bred Suffolk. I think the handsomest 
litter of pigs I ever raised, was from a large grade York¬ 
shire sow and a pure-bred Prince Albert Suffolk boar. 
About Fertilizers.— “ A. J. C.,” Fairfield Co , Ohio, 
writes: “Much is said in the papers about superphos¬ 
phate of lime, salt, plaster, etc., but I do not know of 
any being applied in this neighborhood, and I would 
like to make some experiments with them.”—That is 
right. Try them on a small scale. I have never seen 
any decided benefit from the use of superphosphate on 
wheat. I have always seen it applied broadcast to wheat. 
For turnips, it is a well ascertained fact, that it is best to 
sow it in the drills with the seed. It has an almost 
magical effect on the young plants, causing a great de- 
velopement of roots, and a rapid growth of leaves. When 
superphosphate is sown broadcast on turnips, it has ul¬ 
timately a beneficial effect, but you do not perceive such 
a marked result in the growth of the young plants, as 
■when it is drilled in with the seed. 
Superphosphate on Wheat.— I have always said that 
it would not pay us to use superphosphate on wheat. 
But some, in this section, have been using it. for a year or 
two past. One of iny neighbors ns'-d it last year on part 
of his wheat field, and I could see little or no difference 
in the crop. Another state* that he also used it, and 
could see no benefit. Both applied it broadcast. On the 
other hand, several farmers who have drilled it in with 
the seed, report a very decided benefit from its use. In 
this section very few of our drills have a fertilizer at¬ 
tachment, and I am not sure but that these reports of the 
great advantages of drilling the superphosphate with the 
seed are made in the interest of the makers and agents 
of the drills with fertilizer attachments. Drilling in the 
superphosphate with the seed is worth trying. But it 
will require more evidence than I have yet seen to con¬ 
vince me that superphosphate is a profitable manure for 
wheat at present prices. 
Plaster on Wheat.— “ A. J. C.” furtherasks: “Will 
it benefit the wheat crop to sow gypsum or plaster in the 
drills with the seed ? Will it be better alone, or will it 
add something to sow salt with it?”—I would drill in 
the plaster with the seed—say two bushels per acre, more 
or less. More will do no harm, and it is said that one 
bushel is enough. Here, when plaster is cheap, I fre¬ 
quently sow four bushels per acre on clover. I would 
not mix the salt with the plaster. There is nothing to 
be gained by it, and the salt, when drilled in with the 
seed, might be injurious. Sow from three to five bushels 
per acre broadcast on the land before or immediately 
after sowing the seed. 
Salt as a Fertilizer.— Occasionally great benefit is 
derived from an application of salt to wheat, and still 
more frequently to barley and mangel-wurzel. The 
Onondago Salt Co. sell an impure salt for manure at a 
mere nomical price. 
Using Lime.— “Will the wheat crop be benefited,” 
asks the same correspondent, “by sowing lime on the 
plowed land, and if so, how much per acre ? ”—Lime al¬ 
most invariably proves beneficial on drained land, but 
not on land that, is wet. Whether it will pay or not de¬ 
pends somewhat on the price. If I could get it. for 15 
cents per bushel, I would use it freely. In regard to the 
quantity per acre there is much difference of opinion. 
I would put on 80 bushels per acre, or half a bushel to a 
square rod. The land will show the effect of the lime 
for many years. 
Wheat from Oregon.— James Aitkens, Marion Co s 
Oregon, sends me several heads of Chili Club Wheat. 
His crop was sown in the fall. Usually this wheat is 
there sown in the spring. I think I never saw larger or 
handsomer heads of wheat. I counted 126 kernels in one 
head. I suppose it would be claimed as an “amber” 
wheat, or from that to white. Mr. A. thinks it would be 
too tender for our climate. He says, parts of his field 
this year would yield 45 bushels per acre, and the only 
reason why the other parts do not yield so well is 
“simply owing to poor cultivation.” “This field,” he 
says, “and it is only a type of hundreds of others, has 
been in cultivation, wheat, and oats, about. 2f) years with¬ 
out anything being returned to the soil. Last year it was 
poorly summer-fallowed, and some manure hauled on to 
it in places. There was a larger growth of straw where 
the manure was applied, but I think there was no more 
grain.”—Probably another twenty years will change all 
this. I presume even now the average yield of wheat in 
Marion County falls very far below these figures. I do 
not mean by this that the land is becoming “ exhausted.” 
I think it is quite probable that the crops are as good as 
they were 20 years ago. But I presume that then, as 
now, there were a good many poor spots that pulled 
down the general average. Is it not so ? 
Bse Notes. 
BY M. QUINBY. 
If you failed to notice the condition of your bees las? 
month, do not put it off another day. If the suggestions 
then given were carried out, the main thing now is to 
ascertain the amount of winter stores. It is best to 
weigh them. Old combs are often well supplied with 
bee bread, and are heavier than new combs that have 
more honey ; 25 lbs. of clover honey is the least that is 
safe, 30 lbs. is safer, 60 lbs. is more than is necessary, and 
unless properly stored, would make wintering very 
hazardous. If you have no means of weighing, without 
more trouble than the bees are worth, let me try and give 
a rule for guessing at the quantity of honey. If you pur¬ 
chase bees before winter, you may want to feel sure that 
they have honey enough. Say the hive has eight combs, 
each containing 160 square inches, these eight combs 
will average half full of sealed stores, not far from 4 lbs. 
each. If everything has been cared for in the regular 
course, the outside ones will be nearly fall, while those 
