TWO DOLLAR9 A YEAIfcJ 



"PKOGRESS -A.7STD IMPROVEMEN'JV 



[SINGLE NO. FOUR CENTS. 



VOL. X. NO. 39. 



ROCHESTER, N. Y..-F0R THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1859. 



{WHOLE NO. 507. 



MOORE'S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 



RURAL, LITERART AXD FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 



CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 



With an Able Corps of Assistants and Contributors. 



INQUIRIES AND NOTES, 

 ho Siphon. " 



i uiiibl feel ,iefp, with a pipe. 



Wh.i kind and eizc of pipe will be moil auttable for 



Tnn Siphon would work uuder the circumstan- 

 ces described. Mute tbe long arm as long as pos- 

 sible. The only difficulty with tbe siphon is that 

 water contains air, and where the pipe is small 

 and long, and the current through it slow, air is 

 apt to collect at the highest part of tbe pipe and 

 stop the force of water. We would not use pipe 

 with less than one ioch bore, and then reduce the 

 orifice at the end where it discharges, leaving it 

 odIjt as large as required for the wants of tbe 

 cattle. Reducing the pipe at this point causes a 

 steady flow of water. Running water will resist 

 a good degree of frost, but in extreme weather it 

 would freeze, no doubt, unless well protected. 



cure by n slop sulphuric or some other acid t— HIT, B., 



It ia difficult lo make bones available us manure 

 without being pulveriied, for sulphuric acid will 

 not act effectually on the bones unless they are first 

 reduced to almost a powder. Bones can be easily 

 reduced to this state by burning, but by this pro- 

 cess their value is lessened, for nearly one-third of 

 the bone is composed of gelatine or glue, which 

 decoys quickly in tbe soil, forming ammonia.— 

 Before many years we shall doubtless have ma- 

 chinery for grinding bones in most towns, and 

 then farmers will begin to learn the value of bones 

 us manure. Perhaps tbe best way at present is to 

 burn the bonei ami convert the asbeB into super- 

 phosphate of lime, by placing 100 pounds in a 

 boghead, then adding &-.; gallons of water and 

 mixing well, and then -■- pounds of sulphuric acid. 

 Btir quickly with a stick, so as to thoroughly mix, 

 udrtwdl froth and foam, and soon become too 

 thick too move. After a fo„ days [. will become 

 dry enough to handle. Bones soften by being 

 boiled id lye, and boding in water mokes them soft 

 while hot, and brittle when cold, when they mav 

 be broken up with a heavy sledge hammer, and 

 nsed iu small pieces. It [should he remembered 

 that the finer the bone is broken the more rapid 

 the decay, and the more immediate the effect. 



» through your columns ■ minute description 

 °* °f the mode of thatching stacks of hay 

 ' """-buildings, Ac, and oblige— A Btoal 



m-mm,, u, „ lulcLil)gi TLo fo]lowi u the 



Utfari recommended by a Western c orre.pondent 

 f tbe O mimm'! Jfe*^ for u^^ out-build- 



call here "slough grass.' This latter materia] is 

 very abundant in Ion prairie lands, and forms a 

 cheap, substantia! and durable roof for out-build- 

 ings, and as timber in scarce, is found to be quite 



In tb at ching, I nail or spike slats or laths to the 

 rafters about one foot apart, allowing the thatch to 

 be about three feet long from the band, more or 

 less, according to the length of the straw. I then 

 prepare the thatch by binding the thatcbiDg mate- 

 rial (the band near the bull) rather loosely in 

 bundles about six inches in diameter, and then 

 dividing it in the middle with the hands, twisting 

 the band, bringing one half clear over, (see tig3. 





having been found in sandy soils i. 



length. Tbe leaflets are iu threes, obovate, 



iong, toothed, the flowers pale blue, violet, 



purple, the fruit iu downj pods, having two 



The 



difficult than that of clover for tbe first year, re- 

 quiring a soil thoroughly mellowed and prepared 

 by cleon and careful tillage; and tbe want of 

 proper attention to this point has led to partial 

 fadures in tbe attempts to raise it in this country. 

 It suffers and languishes in compact clay soils, 

 and does not flourish iu light soils lying over en 

 impermeable subsoil, which prevents the water 

 from running off. It will never succeed well on 

 But in a permeable subsoil, consisting 



,ofl. 



. U ud.. 



i, its r 



with one band. Tbis plan binds the thatch so 

 tightly, that there is no danger of its drawing out, 

 uud also makes it of a flat shape, so as to lap bet- 

 ter. In putting it on, lay the thatch on the lath, 

 butt end up, so that tbe band comes just above the 

 lath or slat, and taking enough straw on one side, 

 shy the left, for a convenient band, twist it, bring 

 it down under and around the lath, and then over 

 the thatch, drawing it tight, and adding from the 

 right side another portion of straw, twisting as 

 before, to make a continuous band; bring it 

 under tbe lath and over tho thatch, as before, and 

 still addiug from each side a portion of the bundle, 

 (see fig. 4,) and thus continue until tbe course is 

 ended. There fasten tbe band as in bindjng grain. 



The first course turn butt downward*, to make the 

 eave. For the ridge,— having a lath spiked on 

 top,— separate tbe thatch in the middle, and stride 

 it across, and with a continuous bund bind it fast, 

 taking cure lo keep it compact as you proceed. 

 Finish by raking well and cutting off tbe ends nt 

 the eave." 



FORAGE AND FERTILIZING PLANTS. 

 1'kbhai-s we could not do our 



service at this time than to call their attention to 

 a few forage plants not generally cultivated in tbis 

 country, but which are found valuable in other 

 parts of the world, and are at least worthy of a 

 trial hero. That the man is a great benefactor, 

 who can make two blades of grass grow where 

 before only one was produced, is become an axiom. 

 To accomplish the same result by the introduction 

 or dissemination of a new plant, is, of course, 

 equally beneficial. 



Lccbbkx— Midkago Saliva. 

 Lucerne has been grown to some extent in this 

 country, though not extensively, and cultivators 

 differ much in opinion in regard to its value, prob- 

 ably from difference of treatment, soil, Ac. Allen 

 says "it is one of the most productive plants for 



rich soil, a dry subsoil, and careful cultivation. 

 It is a perennial plant, and may be cut several 

 times during the season, and is, therefore, very 

 valuable for green fodder, and cases are reported 

 in this country where it has produced over six 

 tuna of dry feed. Flint says there are fields near 

 Boston, in which it is now growing with great 

 luxuriance, and giving good crops, the seed of 

 which was sown in 1S24. From the same author 

 we quote tho following paragraphs : 



It does not endure u climate as severe as red 

 clover, requiring greater beat and sunlight; but 

 in a latitude equally suited to both plants it would 

 be somewhat difficult to say which should have the 

 preference. In some respects it is decidedly supc- 



Hm' n ;!!L.!1™ bel ? g .v Pe^C ° n ' a, ' ond conse <l uent| y 

 soil. Lucerne sends down 

 t soils, to enormous depths, 





to great depths, and being nearly destitute of 

 lateral shoots, provided with numerous fibrous 

 rootlets, or radical off-shoots, imbibe their moist- 

 ure and nutriment in layers of soil furbelow the 

 average of other plants. In this respect it differs 

 materially from clover. For lucerne, a suitable 

 subsoil is of tbe utmost consequence. For tbe 

 short lived red clover, a suitable surface soil is 

 more important ; a want of care and deep tillage, 

 especially a neglect to break through uud loosen 

 up the hard-pan wherever it exists, will inevitably 



suitable, it will produce good and very profitable 

 crops for from five to ten or twelve years, and, of 

 course, it does not belong in the system of short 



But notwithstanding the large quantity of suc- 

 culent forage it produces, its rffect is to ameliorate 

 and improve the soil rather than to exhaust it. 

 Tbis apparent anomaly is explained by tbe fact 

 that all leguminous, broad leaved plants derive a 

 large proportion of their nutritive materials from 

 tbe atmosphere, nnd that a vast quantity of roots 

 are left to decay in the soil when it is at last broken 

 up, varying, of course, with the length of time 

 the plant continues iu the soil, while the luxuriant 

 foliage serves to shade the soil and thus to in- 

 crease its fertility. Much of this rich foliage is 

 scattered and left to decay, as is the case with all 



description. This plant is somewhat crown it 

 Fraoce, but more so in Russia, where it is exten- 

 sively grown for green fodder and bay. lis prin- 

 cipal use in England is in enriching soils too poor 

 to produce clover. There are no soils so poor as 

 not to grow spurry well, and as it is ready to turn 

 under in eight weeks, or for pastuie in six weeks, 

 the most barren soils can be very rapidly improved 



•phn 



f han 



isting, and tb< 



iiiolly very con- 



growlh of the aftermath 

 siderable. The fact that 

 fertility of the soil for other plants, has often been 

 proved and may be regarded as fully established. 

 A soil which would bear only a medium crop of 

 wheat at first, produced a greatly increased quan- 

 tity after being laid down to lucerne a few jean 

 till its roots had enriched tbe soil. 



Lucerne is cultivated in Chili and grows wild in 

 the utmost luxuriance in the pampas of Buenos 

 Ayres, where it is called Alfalfa, whieb is simply 

 the common lucerne, slightly modified by climate, 

 and may he regarded as a variety. 



Tbe seed or lucerne, when fresh and good, is 

 yellow, glossy and heavy. If the seeds are wbite, 

 it is an indication that they are not ripe. If they 

 are brown, we may infer that they have been sub- 

 jected to too strong a heat to separate Ibem from 

 their husks. In either of these cases, it is not safe 

 to purchase or to rely upon them. Tbe same may 

 be said of clover, and it is desirable to try them by 

 j simple method wlin-h will be indicated hereafter 

 in speaking of the selection of seed. 

 of lucerne arc somewhat larger than clover seed 

 and tbe plant tillers less, it is necessary to sot 

 larger quantity per acre. It may be sown in ■ 

 spring along with grain crops, as clover often 

 and not a very large crop should be expected the 

 first year. 



When properly managed, the number of 



lucerne, during the whole season, exceeds I 

 It is no sooner mown than it pushes out fresh 

 shoots; and wonderful as the growth of clover 

 sometimes is, in a field that has been lately mown, 

 that of lucerne is far more rapid. Lucerne wilt 

 last for many years, shooting its roots — tough and 

 fibrous almost as those of liquorice— downwards 

 for nourishment, till they are altogether out of the 

 reach of drouth. In the dryest and most sultry 

 weather, when every blade of grass droops for 

 want of moisture, lucerne holds up its stem, fresh 

 and green, as in the genial spring. 



I am convinced, also, that tbe failures of attempts 

 to cultivate lucerne with us may be ascribed, in 

 nearly every instance, to an improper selection of 

 soils, and am inclined to think that a more accu- 

 rate knowledge of the plant and a more careful 

 observation of its habits of growth would lead to 

 )rc general adoption as an economical forage 



I have procured fine specimens of lucerne in 

 Lrious parts of this State, where it is very suc- 

 cessfully cultivated, but on too limited a scale to 

 determine its comparative value as a farm crop. 



any is an annual plant, and its character is 



by its use. Van Vooht says, "it ia better thau 

 red or wbite clover, the cows give more and better 

 milk when fed on it, aud it improves the land in an 

 extraordinary degree. If the land is to lie several 

 years in pasture, white clover should be sown with 

 it. When sown in the middle of April it is ripe 

 for pasture by the end of May. If eaten off in 

 June tbe land is turned flat and another crop is 

 sown which affords line pasture in August and 

 September. This operation i3 equivalent to a 

 dressing of ten loads of manure per acre. Tbe 

 blessing of Spurry, th< clover of sandy lands, is 

 incredible when rightly employed. By alternat- 

 ing these crops with rye, it will reclaim the worst 

 lands, and yield nearly the same benefits if pas- 

 tured off by cattle, wbde it adds materially to the 

 advantages of other manures applied at the same 

 time." When we have seen clover fields, half 

 hare, particularly on the more sandy knolls, be- 

 cause the clover would not " catch " on account of 

 the poverty of the soil, we have often wished that 

 Spurry might be tried as a fertilizer. For the 

 worn-out lands of the South, we think it would be 

 valuable. 



The White Lupine is not grown in this country 

 as a field crop, that we are aware «f, but like the 

 Spurry, we think it might be introduced to advan- 

 tage. It is much grown in the South of Europe, 

 on fallows, to be plowed in when in flower anc 

 green. It derives its name from lupus, a wolf, ir. 

 allusion to its roracious qualities ; that is to say 

 it exhausts land rapidly of its alkaline constitu- 

 ents. This very circumstance, however, renders 

 it peculiarly useful for the agricultural purpose to 

 which it is applied. Its long tap-roots strike deep 

 the ground, take up whatever they find there, 

 and hence, when the plant is restored to the 

 ground, the alkaline matters absorbed ore left near 

 tho surface, instead of being buried where shallow 

 rooting crops cannot find them. It. moreover, 

 produces a very considerable quantity of mere 

 vegetable matter, the decay of which adds to the 

 fertility of the soil. The bitter seeds arc of little 

 ir Porie this crop is not sown earlier 



iddle of April; U is, in fact, incapable 



of bearing frost; tbe periods of sowing must there- 



seeds, soaked in water, form a gnod cattle food; 

 and tbe youm; plmii is i --.niily cuten by sheep. 

 One of tbe chief advantages of its cultivation con- 

 sists in its thm ing upon very hud land, such as 

 sandy gravels, m-d thm clays, upon which it pro- 

 duced a very profitable effect, 



"WHAT KILLS THE BEES!" 



Messhs. Eomitss,— This question is an important 

 t riad. During the winter 

 • ■ Hirough the 

 Bperai ion of several causes. Theanswer furnished 

 by J- J., in the Rorai of the 2(1 inst., is satisfac- 

 tory, so far as it goes, but as be has substituted an 

 effect for tho cause, be loaves unexplained the re- 

 mote, or antecedent cause. 



What insidiously reduces the numbers of a riob 

 and previously numerous colony of bees and 

 brings them, at the approach of winter, into a 

 condition in which they will perish from cold and 

 starvation, in tbe manner explained in the com- 





pression of cold, but they are not surrounded with 

 an abundance of stores as was tbe ease wit) tbe 

 stocks of R. S,, of Wes'eysville. 



During the early days of bee-culture in Ohio, 

 before the intrusion of the moth, a German re- 

 marked to me, that in autumn he killed, not only 

 bis weak and superannuated colonies, but likewise, 

 all those which abounded with an excess of honey. 

 Surprised at the latter clause of his assertion, I 

 inquired as to bis motive for thus doing. He re- 

 plied that, "Fat sheep and fat bee colonies of 

 autumn are certain to die before spring." Ex- 

 perience and observation have convinced me of the 

 truth of his assertion, but the rationale of it, was, 

 for a long time, not aa dear, till it wa s subs e- 

 quentlyesplaiued by Mr. It. C. Onsof Wisconsin. 

 To many it may still seem a paradox, after his ex- 

 planation is given, yet, there is no doubt of its 



Many a colony of ires ptruhes from antzcuaof 

 jiro-"/« i-jtif. Tins insect is one of the most avari- 

 cious of animated beings, and never fails to im- 

 prove on occasion to collect the largest quantity of 

 honey possible. During seasons peculiarly favor- 

 able, its avidity to accumulate prompts it to fill 

 every cell of tbe combs with honey and bee- bread, 

 and under such circumstances it frequently occu- 

 pies all of the workers' cells, and leaves none for 

 breeding purposes. Of course, few eggs ere laid 

 by the queen, and the necessary recruits of young 

 brood are not produced to supply the rapid 

 diminution of that variety, which takes place at 

 the close of the season. The approach of winter 

 finds the colony reduced in numbers, exhausted in 

 strength, and in a condition to perish in the 





I by J. 



Tour readers will no doubt request tho sugges- 

 tion of a remedy to counteract, in its iipproach, 

 such an unfavorable result. Permit me to antici- 

 pate their request, and point out the only available 

 method of saving such degenerating colonies. — 

 In the first place, to insure complete success in 

 managing bees, it becomes necessary to employ 

 some plan of a hive which will give entire com- 

 mand over its internal structure and ils contents, 

 aud bring them under tbe inspection of the eye, 

 aud within reach of our fingers. Any hive which 

 affords these facilities is well advanced towards 

 perfection in its model. All others, which lack 

 in these particulars, should be rejected as incom- 

 plete, however favorable tbey may appear, 

 other points of v 



otbu 



Havi 



, U.ii- 



s I prefer to all 





-■ il.ui 





,led by the climate of the 

 untry. According to M. Vihiobin, the green 

 auure yielded by the plant is excellent. The 



niu (heir exact condition. 

 The attentive apiarian will ever keep himself ap- 

 prized of it. If, during the period of honey 

 gathering, ho finds the cells too much infringed 

 upon by deposition of honey, he should at once 

 trOOSAn two or more of the cards of comb thna 

 filled, into the upper story of tbe hive — an act 

 which, of course, requires those cards to be mov- 

 able, ond that he Bbould have perfect control over 

 the beehives and comb. The places thus vacated 

 must be supplied with empty frames, iu which the 

 tenants of the hive will at once commence build- 

 ing new comb, some portions of which the queen 

 will occupy with her eggs. But so great will be 

 the avidity of the workers for accumulating stores, 

 that they will sometimes destroy thoso eggs and 

 persist in filling their places with hooey, in the 

 Dewly formed combs. 



tendency may be entirely cor- 

 rected by commencing early in the spring and 

 taking away alt supplies of" surplus ho„M. and 

 pplying boxes or flames in the upper story for 

 ceiving the surplus which shall be collected du- 

 ng the progress of the season. Toil 

 leave the combs in tbe lower story vacant for the 



;2g25fe22 



