Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1886 — "Bohemian Oats.” [ARTICLE]

"Bohemian Oats.”

Farmers in several parts of the country inquire as to the so-called “Bohemian Oats,” and about the “Co.” engaged in selling them.— The old “Skinless” oat, was some years ago sold under the name of “Bohemian,” and we are informed that the grain no v sold is similar. The Skinless oat is a very old variety, that is valued in Europe, but has not met with marked success in this country. The present interest in these Bohemian oats, is not so much in their intrinsic value as a farm crop, as in the manner in which they are sold. The agents who go about the country selling these oats at ten dollars a bushel, induce farmers to purchase by a promise to sail for them, from their (thefarmer’s) crop, twice as as many bushels as they purchased, at the same price—ten dollars. The farmer is induced to buy ten bushels of the oats for one hundred dollars, by the hope of selling twenty bushels for two hundred dollars, and he thinks that this is guaranteed to him by a “bond,” given him by the seller. This bond in spite of its abundance of green and red inks, its very broad seal (intended to look like gold, but is only Dutch metal), and the bold signature of a secretary, this “bond,” so-called, has no more binding effect than a mere memorandum.—American Agriculturist for March.

The following allusion by Senator Spooner, in his eulogy, to the tender regard and esteem of Mr. Hendricks for the men who stood up manfully in the trying time for the Union, the Constitution, the laws, and principle, is beautiful: He had a tender feeling in his heart for the men who for twentyfour years, in sunshine and in storm, had led his party again and agdn to oertam defeat, who had kept alive its organization in every state and county and town, and who had, by unwavering allegiance and effort, made possible its ultimate sucoess, and he should not brook with any degree of patience, the suggestion, in the hour of his partv’s triumph, that such men sho’d be reproachfully termed “politicians” and denied recognition lest some political aesthete should say, " l *i‘ .» a reward for party srrvice.” “Want of ling,” says the head of the coin department in the New York sub-treasury “does not always mean that a coin is bad; many good coins lack ring, and many bad ones have it. A coin made of lead, zinc and powdered glass, has a Hug, but it is always larger than a genuine dollar. Ring therefore means but littl ■. The absence of ring is easily eiplained. Silver doll irs are stamped from long strips, the ends of which strip are apt to get curled in such a manner ms to break thefl minae of the metal, i- »that the coins cut from it have flaws which destroy ths ring.”