The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-02-14
NUMBER a.

|
great 10 be prac,ised by miscreants like those
villanous devices are to some extent exposed
in these pages.
THE ONION SEED TRICK.
IF you have tears, prepare 10 shed them
now"
The next ingenious "dodge" TO which I
would call the attention OF my readers, is
one which might be styled double barreled,
iuasmuoh as il brought down both editors
and farmers simultaneously.
The agricultural portion of the community
has been much exercised OF late years on
the subject of seed. Astounding stories have
circulated through the newspapers from time
TO time, concerning the wonderful prolific
powers of certain kinds of seed, and prices
have in some instances been demanded for
these choice varieties, which remind one of
the times when laying hen of the right
breed would earn more per day for her own
e. than an ordinarily smart negro. 1t really
seemed TO be the belief of many enthusias-
tic persons, that seed could be brought, by
careful cnture, 10 pitch of perfection that
would almost render it independent of the
assistance Of mother eart1, save as place
TO stand on The improved seed was TO do
il all. However desirable il might be to OBJ
tain seed which could be warranted under
all circumstances 10 produce heavy crops,
(Which of course can always be done after a
certain fashion, by feeding il Out TO fowls,)
this 'good time coming" will not be hasten
ed, we apprehend, BY the pub!ic-spiri,ed ef.
forts Of "Mr. Joab S. Sargent" Withstand.
ing The glowing prospects held out in the
following advertisement. -,
FARMERS AND GARDESERs.-ArrEN
Spanish Onion Seeds.
The subscriber will senl 10 any part of the
United States and Canada, a paper of The
seeds OF the above superior Onion, un the
| receipt OF ten cents Zone dime.) sH-. .sa
Farmers and Gardeners, see to il that you
procure the besi of seeds. For mere trife
now, you can pnt money in your pockets
and fal on your ribs.
Address, JoAB S. SARGENT,
266 Hicks St, Cor. of State,
Brooklyn, N. Y. ,--
p 5. Publishers Of newspapers giving
the above and this notice three Insertions,
calling attention edtorially thereto, and send
ing marked copies 10 the subscriber, will re-
ceive by return mail three dollars worth of
The above seeds, or copy of Barnes notes
on the Gospel, valued al three dollars and
fifty cents, or two dollars cash Address
plainly as above. --4....
April ], 1855.
Observe how adroilly the cunning Josb
aims his thrusts at the most vulnerable spot
in both classes Of his victims. "Publishers
of newspapers in the plenitude of Joab's
generosity, are TO have their choice between
The onion seeds, the Gospel, and the ready
cash, if they will but make known 10 the
world tho Incompatible qualities OF the gen.
uine Spanish article. And many of these
publishers SCALED attention to the same"
with will, as the following copy of one of
those notices will show -
"SoMETHING New FOR FARMERS AND GAR
DENERs.-See our advertising columns. II
you want large onions get the real Spanish
seed--a change in The seed works wonders.
We have seen bushels of onions imported
from Spain, OF half pound weight each,
and as large as saucers."
1t may be well 10 say here that no onion
seeds, "Spanish" or other, were sent n COM
plance with the many orders which poured
in upon the successful Sargent from all parts
of the country, excepting that few Of those
first received were supposed 10 have been
! answered by The sending of few seeds. of
some kind, whether onion or grass, no one
knew, Perhaps the recipen:s will discover
in the course OF time. The editors were
equally unfortunate. Many of them select
ed the "Noies on the Gospels" in preference
10 the seed or the money, yet their wishes
were not destined 10 be graiified.
Let US see how this tempting advertise
ment worked on The farmers and gardeners
Here is farmer Johnson, whose boy has
just brought In his weekly paper from The
office, and who is proceeding to refresh him :
self after the labors of the week, with the
record OF what the world al large has been
doing IN the same time. He deliberately PEI
ruses the columns OF his hebdomadai, dwell r.,
ing with solemni,y on the more weighty ar
licles, and endeavoring to laugh over The
funny ones, till, after having exhausted the
''reading" department, his eye goes on in
search oi new advertisements, which he
can distinguish at glance, for he knows all
the old ones by heart. His attention is ar.
rested by the conspicuous heading, "SpANIsH
ONoN SEEDS" He reads il over ca.ofully.
and studies every word, that he riay be sure ?
that he fully and correctly understands il
and then comparing il with the editorial no. z
.ice OF the same thing, he rapidly becomes
convinced that Spanish onions must be great
things, and that ten cents may be safely in
vested in the specuia,iop Visions of sau-
cerlIke oLions rise before him; Of prizes in
Agricultural Exhibiious; and if he is an in 4
saoi,ant Of Connecticut, he fancies he sees
the former renown ofthe ancienttow OF Ply.
quang, or Wetbersfeld, growing dim before
the lusure of Spanish onions. Accordingly
he sends the required dime to Joab, who
proved to be like the elephant which had
been trained 70 pick up coin from the ground
and pitce it on lofty shelf. Upon certain
occasion, young gentleman was gratifed