TWO DOI_LAIi9 .i. YEAEO 





"PIlOGnESS AJSTD IMPROVEMENT." 





ISINGLI if. CKNTB. 



VOL. X. NO. 51.1 



ROCHESTER, N. Y., 



-FOR THE WEEK EMHNC SATURDAY, DECEMIiEli 1 



7, 1859. 



: WHOLE NO. 510. 



MOORE'S RURAL KEW-YOIiKER, 



Um PAlLTLY 30WSP1MB. 

 CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE. 



Wild, at Able Corps of Assistants and Contributors. 

 Trni KtnuL HawTuRKHi U otalne-i to be uasurpaisea 



eaainrtiU; BeliaMe Guide on ill :br Important Practical, 



' 



THE PROGRESS OF BUBAL niPROVEMEET. 



All changes ana not improvements l>j any 

 means, noil many things arc misnamed. But, 

 amid the numerous changes arid new tilings id 

 .o and iDiDn- 

 fact. ire, dec ided imp rev ementi are daily developed, 

 the sneers and sighs of old fogies and stoical 

 conservatives to the contrary notwithstanding. 

 The world mores — Agriculturally, Mechanically, 

 Scientifically. Every department of Art, Science 

 and Production is stamped with progress, and 

 improvement is the watchword and endeavor of 

 the great mentality and pby sicali'.y (so to speak) 

 of the age. Many things moy be overdone, but 

 every honest, well-directed effort toward improv. 



i inaugurate 



this vast improvement in our land — John John* 

 stoh— is worthy of all honor, and if not Knighted 

 or Sainted, should be held in eternal remerabram 

 by the Agriculturists of the Western Continent, 

 How about Horticulture! What of the ic 

 provcmenLs in the culture, propagation at 

 introduction of Fruits, Flowers, etc, within the 

 past twenty yeaTr? Look at the results of the 

 brain and band labors of the Downings, Bakhys, 

 WiLDBng, and scares of others, and the answer ii 

 found on every band, in almost every section oi 

 the country. For evidence of the progress ol 

 improvement in this department, sec the nurse- 

 ries, the orchards and the gardens throughout the 



cities and Tillages o* the Eastern and Middle 

 States, but in various parts of the West, Nortb- 

 it and Southwest, where all was waste and 

 wilderness twenty years igo. 



And SO of R-jral Architecture, and many other 

 branches wbicb it is supei (loons to mention in this 

 meetion. Loot where you will and there is 

 .■]•■!)(-- :f decidi-d 'n i_rr'/-s [a liura! Impro ve- 

 in t on every hand and in every department — 

 i l 'ocates and promoters may be (in 

 some localities) surrounded by slothful, non- 

 progressives, who cling to the past, and scout at 

 the improvements of tbe present, will 



', .7 eli:irn*.'!t'rii!:c of dire.", descend- 

 I 

 •Bollnw. 3elweer. i!k . 



bir? conflict" hss long been wuging, and annually 



hasjvictory perched upon the banner of the I'ro- 



11 ■■_ iuDuenceaod 



■ ■ liuTttl Press, rod the Increase 



ten, usefulness and beneficial results ol 



Otis Societies designed to advance Knul 



foproTemenV Let ue rejo.ee in and for what has 



been accomplished in the past, and individually 





effect, and < 

 the great i 

 ■kening, propelling pc 



I reward. Mind 



vldei 



) Agri- 

 culture or Mechanics is sore to lead to successful 

 results. Team ago Stesm Navigation was tbe 

 idea— scouted and derided at first, but now a 

 success end blessing 1 Then, tbe Magnetic Tele- 

 graph—first ridiculed, now triumphant. And so 

 we might enumerate scores of inventions and 

 Improvements, inaugurated with difficulty, which 

 are now indispensable in the prosecution of vari- 

 ous arts and occupations, 



The Rural World moves as well as the Mecban- 

 icni and Sc^uhiir. Witness the improved imple- 

 ment* and labor-saving machinery invented anl 

 adopted within tbe post twenty years, to say 

 nothing of the improvements in Cu'tore, Hus- 

 bandry, Rural Architecture, Ac. Look at the 

 Progress of Improvement in every department 

 of Rural AtLtirel We need not particularize or 

 enter into details. Every intelligent render who 

 has lived forty years, and bas been a casual 

 observer for the pas', twenty, has witnessed 

 enough to satisfy bun tbtt this is a progressive 

 age, without asking for the items in any depart- 

 ment. Within the Icller period tbe sickle and 

 the flail have become classical in many sections 

 of Rural America— for tbey are now only emblems, 

 albeit emblematic of a species of muscular effort 

 and back-ache almost unknown to modern agri- 



The Steam 1'ress la the forerunner of the Steam 

 Plow. The former has long been a successful- 

 ly e. : ■ indiepeaaebh —institution, and the latter 



nnd disbelieve. And with Steam Cultivation, L- 

 With Steam Navigation, will come vast facilities 

 and economics to tbe peop'.e atd a large extent 

 nf our country Who can tall ihc advantages 

 and benefit* that are to accrue from thia improve- 

 ment, and those which will follow as necessary 

 accompaniments. What followed tbe invention 

 W bat will be '-he res ult of the aocceia 

 ol FawklV and bis coadjutors? 11 jqu ken may 

 tat foresee, but time will determine. 



And what of tb* progress of improvement in 

 crop cslture and soil enrichment Look at tbe 

 aingle item of underdruining — a thing almott 

 unheard of when we commenced our career as an 

 agricultural journalist, some fifteen yeiti sgo. 

 Ills aafe to UT font this one item in farm im- 

 provement and •nrichment bas already been wonh 

 .'. landholders and cultiva- 



■<f America, and yet tin grou 

 broken in tbia important mat 

 than nny otbei 



who bas done n 



Stan r 



so[v, 







quota of effort t 

 >untry n 



wfliy ( 



JOHN JOHNSTON ON WINTERING SHEEP. 



farmers nre so very remiss," says Mr. 

 Johnston, "in wintering tbeir cattle and sheep, 

 it would be well if the Agricultural papers would 

 remind them of their duty every autumn, until 

 there would be few formers in the country but 

 would keep their stock improving in winter as 



Weil, that's letting the rogues off pretty easy. 

 It is^evident that Mr. Johnston " leans to tbe Hide 

 of mercy," in that he proposes an annual instead 

 ot_a weekly flagellation of tbese highhanded 

 sianera: Ue E* manifestly conscious that it re- 

 quires a good deal of Cbmlion fortitude not to 

 pinch stock l tilth, when hey is from twelve to 

 twenty dollars a tun, and corn from sis to eight 

 shillings a bushel ! Tbe value thai disappears in 

 the shape of food, is present nod palpable— wc 

 are conscious of the daily drain upon our purses, 

 as we replenish tbe racks with provender— -while 

 tbe profits on the outlay are seen only through 

 faith and hope, if indeed they are seen at all— so 

 we suv( it little to-day, at the risk cf losing it good 

 deal by-and-by, in tbe low condition of qui stockj 



In tbe whole range of agriculture, there if 

 scarce a question of greater interest and import. 

 ance than the one started by Mr. Johnston, ii. 

 the above quotation:— Shall iM"i«p our ttocl 



gltd that a gentleman ot Mr, Johnston's judgment 

 and experience has given his views upon it. High 

 keeping in the winter may be recommended, 



Fir.\t— Because the animal so kept constuntly 

 grows and improves till it arrives at maturity, 

 attaining a much greater size and a belter quality 

 than if it is starved and stunted bv short keeping 

 half tbe year. 



Stcond— Animals .z good condition 

 ally command a far price and a ready sale, whereas 

 frama are only in occasional request.at low pi 



J.'.irJ— While an aa:r.ial in falling away it n 







no return for the food 



Fourth— Mr. JonxsioN, to sho 

 profit every way in high feeding," says, "i 

 of Merino wcthern averaging SS or 90 lb 

 weight, in the fall, is worth 3 cents per lb 

 weighing 120 lbs. average is better worth 

 ? weighing 130 lbs. V{ eta. — f 

 :\ tbe offal of the 80 lb. sheep is 

 than tbe one weighing 120 lbs. 



ssya very truly, 



'^d -ti« 



i igb=i 





hlgbf 



lib make great ravages 



:icuiarly sheep. 



full-blood 



ed," or pretty much so, is always handsoim 

 pays about 10 per cent per. nauum to look at 



Pan Contra — A euctcssful Livingston couuty 

 farmer, largely in the wlewt business, used t 

 steers in "tax times," (January nnd February,) 

 winter tbem through or >tr<"n, put them in good 

 m the following su 



This 



voted nothing except for 

 se lean and bought 

 rould not fall away much 

 Had he bo 



or fall at a good pi 

 was plenty, and 

 manure— the steet 

 low for cash." They woul 

 with plea*y of good stri 

 ftesby cattle and put tbcm on straw, they " 

 have fallen away and involved him in a lo; 

 they would have coit him more money and been 

 very little better in the end. He lout the gain on 

 his cattle in winter, but be fattened them on grtus s 

 the cheapest material by half where land is plen 

 tier than labor. The man got rich, but whether il 

 was on account of his straw policy, or in spilt 

 of it, I cannot tell. If his system would do any 

 where at the present day, it would be at tbe West, 

 where large quantitirs of wheat, barley and oata 

 arc raised, making straw plenty, and where Uncle 

 Samfbl bns plenty o:' pasture all "open to the 



One of the profonndest ideas took this shape. 

 " Circumstances alter ease-." Occasionally grain 

 gets very high, and cattle fed and fattened on it 

 yield small profit*, but I apprehend the general 

 role H that tbe stock which is fed best, pays beat. 

 If Mr. Johnston's pl»*. of making nil our stock 

 gainlhrougb the nwer shall bv adopted gBBer* 

 ry large consumption of 

 , and would doubtless sensibly affect the 

 departments of labor and cotnmer.ee. 

 I inquired of one ot our best farmers why be 

 id notjsell his older sheep. nodJ^J^ambs, 

 hich were a belier qifahtv Jle said, "I wish to 

 sell my lambs, for if I am • ...pelkd to pinch my 

 the older sheep will mnd it best.'' Many 

 • stock growers feed grain liberally to that 

 n of their stock which they intend 



i Jot 







whose teeth are poor— 

 i for them t— not only 

 ta or apples, but they 



I gram 1 



ground. With 

 proper attention, in this way they muy be made 

 for slaughter, whereas with ordinary fare tbey 

 will decline and ultimately die. 



■ewd people never let their animals 

 grow old— I do not refer to those whose horses 

 about the same age for a dozen years or 







spring,' 



(following in tb 



illustriuus fi.-othtep* "1 









en who stop at 



twenty- 



wo)-but I refer 



to people who look at 



tlie teeth of their sheep e 









, if necessary, an 





out tofatforthe 



butcher 



all that give evidence o 



' advanced age. 



It is policy sometimes b 





animals of rart 





long as they will 





Iu general, keep 



such as 



are young, or in t 





oof life. Sheep 





x or seven, and 





oxen after ten 



years of age, are growing 



every y 



ear ofless value, 





get less for the 









when they ore v 



unger. 



Tbey not only 







ig sni 



als do, but tbey 





and if kept to 



uite ■ 





become 



nearly or quite « 





. Some decline 







, Sod 



sheep who have lost all or a part of their teeth 

 and cows that would bo older if there was anj 

 room on their horns for more wriukles. I pro 

 sumc the food given to these animals, if fed tc 

 such as are just arriving at maturity, would yield 

 2-0 per cent, greater profit. There an 

 many horses, and more sheep, wh 

 owners do succeed in wintering tbem, (of which 

 reasonable doubts may be entertained,] 

 bo worth the inevitable cost of their wii 

 Now is tbe time to look the thing squi 

 face, and decide to nurse your old 



-rta- 









ij death, and i 



old Jack bas 

 and served you well, if be 

 fulness," or if he won't be worth from forty 

 fifty dollars in the spring, Jul 

 a good marksman— it is on t 

 ■• natural death," that be bas a right to rcquir 

 your hands. The French, among their brill 



horse flesh is a table delicacy ; when we h 

 "conquered our prejudices" acd adopted their 

 suggestion, horses, like oxen, sboul 

 tered at about ten ; now we moy let them go a few 

 years longer. A very vaJuai 



I don't know as anybody 

 than I can what I have been at, and so I wi 

 explicitly that I rather lean to Mr. Job 

 side of the question started above.— h. r. e 



make out belter 



PLAN OF A SUBURBAN VILLA. 



-This 





apd chamber plau of a Cubical .Suburban Villa and 

 Wing of moderate pretensions, to cost— built ol 

 bavck, in a plain, substantial maimer— about $2,000. 

 The interior arrangement is thought to be in good 

 proportion, economical aud convenient; in fact, is 

 an attempt at something like a guide for a numer- 

 ous class of persons that are erecting houses par- 

 taking much of its character, in every village. 

 The plan is adapted to any building material used 

 in this country, and needs but little explanation. 

 The main building, which is ">Q feet square, should 

 be two full stories in heighc, the first 12, tbe 

 second 11 feet; lighted with large double windows 

 throughout. One of these may be changed to a 

 bay-window, 8 feet wide, with square openings, 

 and placed opposite the drawing room mantle- 

 piece, it preferred— thus adding very prettily to 

 tbe variety and size of that apartment. Tbe 

 cornice and veranda may be finished to mil the 

 taste of the occupant, provided they are made bold 

 in outline, and (especially in elevated sites,) of a 

 gives agreeable] outside effect at a 



, the wood, 

 o a kitchen and bed-room, 



a lines. The present dining-room could 

 occupied as bed-room or library. This 

 angement will comprise six good sleep- 

 3, a large number of commodious npai't- 

 [ miscellaneous uses, a cellar 2i by 2-1 

 it the wing, and a liberal supply ot 

 t most indispensable item in household 



i»tent,— without sacrificing somelhii 

 very-day utility, or home character. 

 Grand Bsplds, Umi , !.-'■.>. 



dweJgbed ibe com and e»bt. The corn 

 havlog lotlfi/Utn pmindt ! II- lalnka 



SOILING AND STEAMING. 



Eds. Hi mi IS'ew-Yobxbr:— Id jour report of 

 the dissussionsntthe State Fair, upon Soiliog, I 

 am represcoted as saying (bat a man can take 

 care of fifty cows, that I had kept that number, 

 Ac. I do not quote the exact words, as I have 

 not tbe paper before me. Now, as the subject of 

 soiling is one of recent discussion, and an impor- 

 tant one lo the farmer, 1 do not wish to be tbe 

 means of diss cminating loose data. Those who 

 ..i that discussion, will remember 

 was put to Mr. 0.1 1 



iany i 



ol ' 



replied, "That is like asking 

 ' how big is n piece of chalk*' That will depend 

 entirely upon circumstances." 



In reference to this question I laid that, like 

 Mr. g., I had not kept that mime- 

 but from my experience in keeping a less number, 

 I had no doubt that a competent man, with proper 

 conveniences, could easily take care of fifty cows, 

 and milk a small number morning and evening. 

 Somo of my neighbors have been curions to know 

 I kept those flflycowal This will explain 



..phe. 



f Ihcii invisibilii 



ird the iubje< 



clear 



tbe very highest imporlocce. If be deserved wall a 



of bis country "who made two Had 



grow where one grew before," will tc not be 



equally deriving who tholl demonsl 



cally, that two animals Can be kepi „ ere I Oi 



- k-ep' before 



i (he i 



d health. Turning my attention to 

 Agriculture, much of it appeared to no an unex- 

 plored region— exact knowledge in it very circum- 

 scribed. That this ancient and most ueeful occu- 

 pation to mankind admitted of further prognfl 

 appeared quite evident. And among sundry forays 



attempted, was soiling.* I tur oed to all the stand- 

 ard agricultural works. Very little attention bad 

 been given to it. Stiphens, in his "Book of tbe 

 Farm,"fsnys of it:— "On a small scale, where 

 only a few^animals of every kind ere kept, J con- 

 ceive that soiling might be practiced with advan- 

 tage, and it behooves all small farmers to make 

 their grass land go as fur as possible." Hut on a 

 large scale be ! pronounces it "impracticable." 

 The philosophy ot this appeared to me out of 

 joint. Whatever is profitable on a email scale, is 

 certainly more profitable on a large scale. This 

 rule may be said to be almost universal. Thus I 

 drew a very different conclusion from his facls. 

 Ij commenced by keeping my work horses in the 

 Stable through tbe summer, as in winter. This 

 was profitable.^! Tben tbe next tesion I fed my 

 cows as well as horses. This was quite as profit- 

 able.!. The rowe "ere in better condition, gave 

 more'milk, and the expense of keeping, as near 

 as I could estimate it, not more than one-fourth 

 of pasturing. For tbe last three years I have 

 soiled all my animals, numbering, generally, nine 

 horses, old and young, and six cows and heifers. 

 They have all been quite as healthy under tho 

 soiling as the pasturing system, and their con- 

 dition has improved. 



Now, as to tho expense of keeping. One half- 

 acre, in good condition, in clover, millet (where 

 the land is favorable for it,) or corn (sown,) will 

 keep a cow from tbe 20th of May to the 20th of 

 November. Of course neither of these should be 

 fed exclusively, but each at different times. Begin 

 with the clover. Feed this till other grasses 

 mature, Hilh feed tbeai till after haying. Then 



feed millet, o 





m of the crop to tho soil. Then for w 

 roots with cut feed, bay, straw or cornstalks, 

 steamed, if jou wish to feed with tbe greatest 

 economy. 



Tho labor Incident to this system boa been the 

 stumbling block. This is more fanciful than real, 

 When the pasture is not very convenient, the 

 labor is not greater, in soiling aix to ten cows, 

 rbau that incident to pasturing. I have been 

 preparing fixtures to keep from fifty to sixty cows, 

 and when all things are ready, I tball be willing 

 to enter into an agreement with tbe tenant, to pay 

 fur nil the labor in feedtDg the animals, for tbe 

 e.vtra product, over cows kept i B the ordinary 

 way. The extra value of the manure, when prop- 

 erly eared for, will pay for the labor. The saving 

 in fences will more than pay for the labor; and 

 the extra production will pay for the labor, four 

 times over. And I have no doubt that, under 

 favorable circumstances, every farmer who intelli- 

 gently adopts this system will d 



of bis farm, wbicb. u 



- ii.iio to double 



lis number of acres. 





Ab a general rule 



the groxiog farmers of tbia 



State use from one-/ 



,. il, | third of the farm 



n grain and mead 



w, and tbe balance of two- 



thirds to tbrce-foort 



is is devoted lo keeping hia 



animals through the 



umtner. It [a qnlt* evident 



SS^C-i 



