

TWO DOLLARS A YEAR.] 



'PKOGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT.' 



[SINQI.K NO. FIVE CENTS. 



VOL. IX. NO. U. 



ROCHESTER, N. Y. -SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1858. 



I WHOLE NO. 460. 



MOORE'S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 



Agricultural, Literary and Family Newspaper. 



CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. H01IRR, 



tote 



NEW YORK STATE FAIR. 



Aitkr the interesting discussion at the State 

 Fair, on barley, which we gave last week, the sub- 

 ject of corn and its culture was taken up. T. C. 

 Petehs ealil he found the best practice to be to 

 spread manure in the fall, plow late In the spring, 

 about four inohes deep, roll, drag and plant imme- 

 diately. Ills land was a gravelly loam. Planted 

 about the 20th of May, four feet each wsy, and ob- 

 tained from ;*i0 to CO bushels an acre, of the eight- 

 rowed variety. 



The Com Hont referred to by Mr. Carpbnter, 

 s presume, is the one published in the Rchal 

 1855, as It has been very generally used, 

 id is well liked. Indeed, since its first pub- 

 lication, correspondents have several times sent 

 descriptions of this Implement, as something 

 v and valuable, not knowing the source from 

 commenced farming when 2! ?w? ' "" ft these recently u 



Had learned that i 



: (I,;,! 



mid I 



Je.'i 



rploi 



,.1,1.1 i 



for all laud. Some light land might not be bene 

 filed by deep plowing, while In other land of c 

 heavier character it was absolutely necessary U 

 secure a good crop. 



E. Cornell., of Tompkins coonty, believed in 

 high manuring and deep cultivation for corn.— 

 Had grown 1,M)0 bushels of shelled corn on four 

 acres In four years. Had grown 123 bushels on an 

 acre, weighing 5f. pounds to the bushel, as the re- 

 sult of manuring and deep and thorough culture. 

 Mr. C. said In answer to a question from Mr. 

 GennES that the crop was measured in the fall. — 

 Mr. G. said that corn will shrink from 15 to 20 per 

 cent between fall aod spring. Ho had been trying 

 all his life to raise a hundred bushels of shelled 

 corn to the acre and had not done it, and would 

 go a long journey to see such a crop. 



J. J. TiiOMis, bad tried some experiments to as- 

 certain the best distance to plant corn tOBecure 

 the largest orop. He found that corn planted three 

 feet by eighteen inches would produce one third 

 more corn than if planted three feet each way. 

 Several other gentlemen agreed with Mr. T. that 

 this way of planting wo -Id give a large yield, 1 

 whether sufficient to pny for the extra labor 

 quired in its culture was a matter of some ques- 

 tion. 



Mr. M *TroriN. of Oneida county, had been taught 



the MMotty of datp plowing, by •zporlmoa,— 

 Had raised 600 bushels of sound 

 acres by plowing from 10 to 13 inches deep, where 

 50 bushels would not have grown by sballowplo 1 

 log. He got rid of the wire worm by using the 

 Michigan plow, turning the sod down deep 

 covering it with the second share, about 10 Inches 

 deep. Preferred to mix seed. Grew a mil 

 Dutton. Yellow. Flint and Red Streak, 



T. C. Pitibs said it had been stated that 

 ricultiirnl products were decreasing, but he thought 

 It a mistake. Our population is becoming more 

 dense along the Railroads and grain culture is less 

 enlug. Ho «poke of the value of agricultural 

 statistics, and thought assessors could dothls work. 

 He sowed a P i t of ground, in drills, with Ohio 

 corn for fodder and obtained at the rate of about 

 40,000 pounds to the acre. 



Gioroi Clark, of Ouogo, believed that Indian 

 com as a basis of feeding animals was of 

 Importance than any or all i oola . Several other 

 geoUcmen expressed the same opinion, though 



Jtof 



John L. Fickiiaji, of Utica, inquired 

 was a profitable crop for the dairymen to j 

 To this thero was a general affirmative ans 



Mr. Bho"N, Of Onondaga, raised coir 

 cheaper now than he did fifteen years ago. 

 m the fall eight or ten inches deep— soli gravelly 

 louu. Mellow It In the spring vii 

 and do most of the cultlvslion wit] 

 plement. Grew near 100 bushels per 

 u>d It wont cost me over 10 ; c. per busheL Think 

 farmers would do well to depend 



Brown, of Madison, said lime bsd been re- 

 commended for killing the wire-worm. He had 

 to the conclusion that it would not do it. Had 



not'kill them. They will live In wet lime,— 



Had tried various modes and preferred to top corn. 



Mr. Olds, of Herkimer, thought there was bnt 



le right way to cure corn, and that was to pull it 



up by the roots. 



6. F. C a isrENTER, of Chemung, says stacks can be 



made over a horse which had been describedin the 



Rural New Yorker, better than any otberway. A 



sample of butter made from sugar-cane feed was 



pronounced very superior. Cows will eat the cane 



when full fed with grass. Prefer to cultivate my 



planted in drills for fodder, dropping very 



close, taking three and a half bushels of seed. Cut 



and fed sorghnm the first of September. 



Prof. Wileok, of Iowa, said, if we caonot grow 



irn with you, we can beat you in growing grass. 



e can make, as an average crop, from four to five 



,ns per acre of good hay from the Hungarian 



grass, and eight tuns per acre has been made. It 



easily cured as timothy. It Is sown In the 



spring, say May, and cut in AuguBt. It is pre- 



to timothy, and it is the most reliable grass 



for the prairie for hay, and the after growth makes 



good pasture. We sow one-third of a bushel per 



It has been mostly grown upon new lands. 



ceived, as it contains a deBoriptloi 



lonstructlon, we give our readers, i 

 have the necessary information, with 



ihai ii 



iveling in Mich- 



utting up corn, 



7 return home I 



be a saving of at least 



igan, I saw an 



called the Com Horn, > 



made one, and found it t 



one-third in time and labor. In 



is nsed a pole of about 12 feet in lenght, being i 



inches In diameter at the large end, in which is 



placed two legs, wide enough apart at the bottom 



i the 



of c 





in length according to theheigth of the corn, say 

 three or four feet, while the other end rests on the 

 ground. About three feet back of the legs Is a 11 

 inch hole, through whioh is placed a rod four or 

 five feet long, that is easily admitted and removed, 

 and is horizontal when the horse is standing, as 

 shown in the engraving. 



The horse is placed In the centre of the number 

 of rows desired to be out, the corn is placed in the 

 four corners around the rod, the shock is then 

 tied, the horizontal rod removed, and the horse 

 drawn ahead. The rod is replaced, when it. is 

 ready for formiDg another shock. All will at once 

 see its utility; at least it will coat nothing to try it. 

 — B., Bktldrakt, Smtca Co., N. Y. 



EUHOPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



Jr puinq from the tone of n 

 the Rural, the authors being practical farmers, 

 the subject of Permanent Pastures seems to be 

 attracting more than ordinary attention — gaining 

 a consideration which would seem likely to lead to 

 their more general adoption by American agricul- 

 turists. In a recent issue of the Royal Ag. Society's 



teristic feature— five eesojs being devoted to this 

 specialty— and we purpose to condense therefrom 

 a few of the leading thoughts and facts presented. 

 Laid Down Grass Laud.— The paper 



I AWKKS S I KA\I PLOW 



of Mr. H. S. Trin-, 

 Committee, d: 

 newly laid down grass for the production of a good 

 permanent pasture. After long experience and 

 repeated failures in the attempt to establish a pas- 

 ture by folding sheep year after year on young 

 grass, Mr. T. became satlafied "that to graze sheep 

 on young seeds intended for permanent pasture 

 was a mistake, and had been. In all probability, the 

 cause of previous failures. Had never succeeded 

 under such course of feeding; but since making a 

 sheep for some years from newly- 

 grais, during the season of active growth, had 

 single instance." The plan of Mr. 

 mow the first year, and as soon as 

 ioved, to give a good dressing of 

 ■re. and then, for some years, t» pas- 

 itle. beginning, for the first year or 



laid 



not failed 



Tbqhp^ok ti 



barn-yard m 

 tore it with 



The essays of Mr. Dixon,— for which the Society 

 awarded a premium, — e*.- -mooed to the effects of 



- ya^A.r j pr^'*'- hoc* A "*i- Liine.e 

 One of the farms inspected by Mr. Dixon, oonsl 

 ing of 98 acres, had been frequently manor 

 boiled bones to the value of $1,250 spread upon 

 but without any apparent increase in vegetatii 

 or change in the quality of the land. At the period 

 of his first visit, (183$) did not believe that 



pounds of hay 

 Draining 

 (1830) the stock o 

 consisted of four 

 dairy stock was : 

 cows, and in the t 

 the land to consi 

 The draining 

 was apparent 



be obtained from an a< 



the year following 

 the farm, which had pievj 

 ows, was doubled. In 1812 the 

 further increased to twenty-fun: 

 lutumn eighty sheep were put oi 

 ame the superabundant grass. — 

 not thorough, for surface 

 many places, yet sufficient facts 



elicited to prove the advantages derivable 

 from a system of water conduits. 



la reference to timmg,Wx, Dixon states that he 

 was employed to bring up several hundred 

 of land, which was completely worn out,— co 

 ing of " a number of small farms, which had 

 purchased by a gentleman who desired to se 

 land of his early days wear a more pleasing ap 

 ance." The soil, for the most part, lay on 

 clay or slats. Rather extensive draining was done 

 on the clay land; and the material thrown ont of 

 the drains, being of a soft and cohesive character, 

 was not returned. This was mixed with lime in 

 equal quantities — the object being to destroy or 

 reduce the nature of the clay — and in stout four- 

 teen days the lime nearly burned the flay. Tou 

 compost was then turned over altogether, and was 

 completely comminuted. In due course it was ap- 

 plied to the land, and lu a fuw weeks there was am 

 pie evidence that the practice was correct. The 

 compost acted sooner than lime alone, and to some 

 extent more elective. The amount of lime used 

 varied from eight to nine tuns per acre. In one 

 year after the lime bad been applied. 10*. to 16s. 



Proper Trim to Pell Tiuder. — An article upon 

 this subject, lu one of oor American Agricultural 



VhroHxU, and the opinions of British foresters 

 were sought upon the Americsn practice of felling 

 oak and other timber trees white the leaf was In 

 full vigor. In response thereto, ffu. Mastbhs, of 

 the "Exotic Nursery," writes to the ChronuU, sop- 

 porting the American theory. In his argument he 

 adverts to pieces of sound oak removed from the 

 tower of the Canterbury Cathedral, which must have 

 been placed there with the building, seven hundred 

 years previous. " It was Impossible," remarks Mr. 

 M, "to state at what precise period of the year 

 this timber was cut; bat, as the bark was still on, 

 It could not have been In June—aa Is now the Eng- 

 lish practice — it might have been in midwinter, or 

 it might have been after the leaves had performed 

 their office in a gTeat measure, and before their 

 fall. I am led to this surmise by the fact that when 

 timber is cut In August and September, it does not 

 pour out its sap, the watery particles being at tbst 

 time in the leaves and smaller branches, and not in 

 the more compact part of the tree, and by severing 

 the branches and leaves from the trunk yon pre 

 vent its return. It is sn indisputable fact, that in 

 ship building it oiten occurs that before the vessel 

 is completed some portions have decayed by dry 

 rot. Now, without 



when It contained the em 



I'e -t portion of sap. such 



a result would have bee 



far less likely to have 



occurred. It has lung he 



n d practice with boild 



era to employ green eln 





the ground Is treacherone 



Why use elm out down 



when In full leaf if it wa< 



not Ifii likely to decay 



PLOWING BY STEAM. 



When chronicling some of the experiments made 

 with Steam Plows in England, we expressed the 

 opinion that, "no land in the world is better 

 adapted to steam plowing than the boundless 

 prairies of the West, In ten years from now, 

 scores of Steam Plows may be engaged lu turning 

 over these rich soils." Creaking up the prairie is 

 a serious and costly work for the new settler. It 

 can be done with no ordinary team which he can 

 keep, therefore he is compelled to employ those 

 who have proper teams and plows, and make this 

 their business. The price paid for this work is 

 generally about three dollars per acre, so that the 

 new settler on the prairie who breaks up one 

 hundred acres, has to invest $300 for plowing, al- 

 though himself and boys may stand idly by and 

 look on. Then fencing on the prairie is costly, as 

 is building, and he will ueed a "tmartpiit" of cash 

 to get a good start. We have seen the crops of 

 the farmer destroyed for want offences and bsrnp, — 

 his cattle unsheltered from the terrible winds that 

 sweep unobstructed over the boundless prairies,— 

 and when we inquired the canse of this, learned 

 that the unexpectedly large outlay for building a 

 cottage and breaking up, bad exhausted the means 

 that was designed to build barn a and fences, Any 

 invention^that will lessen the cost of breaking up 

 and fencing, will he of incalculable benefit to the 

 Prairie States. It is for this reason that we have 

 anxiously looked for and desired the success of 

 the Steam Plow. 



The Executive Board of the Agricultural Society 

 of Illinois seems to have taken the same view 

 the matter, and accordingly offered "a preml 

 of five thousand dollar i for the best steam eng 

 suitable for plowing and other work, the practica- 

 bility to be decided by the Board." In view 

 the encouragement thus offered, Mr. J.W. Fawri 

 of Lancaster, Pa., exhibited and worked a Steam 

 Plow at the late State Fair at Centralis, 

 graving of which we give from finery*! J 

 We copy our description of the machine aud its 

 operation from the Chicago Pntt and other ji 

 no)*, all of which are loud in its praise. 



The engraving shows the general features of the 

 engine and plows, and can hardly be misunder- 

 stood. The large or propelling wheel in the 

 centre Is barrel-shaped, which facilitates turning 

 corners very much; it is abont six feet long, and 

 five feet In diameter, thus presenting a great 

 amount of surface to the ground in traveling; the 

 forward wheels are of about the same diameter 

 and one foot surface, and are the guldiDg wheels, 

 being moved by the operator by a screw gear. The 



there was no stubble field near, It was concluded 

 to make trial on the unbroken prairie. This was 

 now baked so bad by drouth, that the prairie- 

 breaking plows would not run in it, and the trial 

 ofsod plows was abandoned in consequence. Not- 

 withstanding this fact, the inventor was so coofl- 

 Jyde*! of «nr<-««a, 'ba* he gave the order to pnt the 

 plows to work in this almost Impervious soil — 

 Altera little delay in regulating to this brick-like 

 surface, the engine moved forward, when six fur- 

 rows were turned side by side, in the most work- 

 manlike manner. The excitement of the crowd 

 was beyond control, and their shoi 

 huzzas echoed far over the prairie, 

 smiling 1 



urned by a 

 nighty West 





i and wild 



i there be- 



), lay the first farrow 



jod prairies of the 





gine — esch one indepen 

 drawn by separate rods 

 engine. In order to keep 

 work In uneven or irreg' 

 springs are placed on tu 

 the ropes and pulleys, th 

 instantly raised from t 



f thee 

 out of the other, and 

 lacked to resr of the 

 ie plows close to their 

 surfaces, strong coiled 

 suspending rods. With 

 whole gang of plows are 

 e ground and let down 



a six plows, cutting a foot each, attached 

 i frame, and so regulated by spiral springs that 

 y yield to any extraordinary obstruction. As 



Steam had conquered the 

 face of nature, and the Steam Plow had become a 

 fact; it was working over the rich, rolling prairies 

 of "Egypt," and turning up lbs wealth of nutritious 

 elements for the growth of the cereal and pomonal 

 products — self-moving, and containing a power 

 onequaled to turn up the lower strata of soil, so 

 rich in potash, in phosphates, in silica and other 

 essential elements of vegetable growth. The long 

 line of matchless furrows parted the crowd, and' 

 laybetweeu the movingmasses like a line of silver 

 wove In the gray setting of the prairie. Amid the 

 excitement the Inventor remained calm; It was 

 enough for him to heat the glad shouts of victory 

 which rent the air— for this he had toiled— for this 

 bis hands had become hardened, and his face made 

 swarthy over the glowing iron, out of which he 

 forged the muscles of his iron steed ot the prairies. 

 Mr.FAwEBS and others were called out by the 

 crowd, and made brief speeches. Mr, Coleman, a 

 member of the Board, spoke of the success of the 

 Steam I'low now witnessed, as marking a now era 

 in the world's progress, and declared that the 

 great enterprise of Fawkes, may be placed side 

 by side with the steam engine, the steamboat, the 

 locomotive, the cotton gin, and the telegrnph. 

 The engine again moved forward, when the plows 

 turned up the loo.it mud drift of Egypt, laying six 

 furrows aldc-by-sidc, with the most perfect ease 

 and in the most workmanlike manner. The con- 

 sumption of fuel and water was very moderate.— 

 That the engine is a complete suctew, there can 

 be no doubt, and all that is now wantiug, Is to de- 

 monstrate that, taking the whole expense into 

 consideration, it is cheapsr than horse-powor. If 

 this Is answered in the affirmative. It will produce 

 the greatest revolution in agricultural progress 

 that we have yet seen; It will take another wrluklo 

 from the brow of Is b or, and give to the tolling 

 millions lighter talks to perform. 



The inventor, In a recent note, Bays:—- 1 know 

 the good people of the West are in wont of my In- 

 vention, as much as the people of the Old and New 

 World were In want of Fulton's invention. The 

 ne has come when animal power Is not sufficient 

 perform the great work required by this class. 

 Therefore, gentlemen. If God spares my life, It Is 

 my Intention to devote my time and limited means 

 the speedy perfection of steam engines edspted 

 the cultivation of the wide extended prairies.' 1 



Tag Corn Crop n» Kentucky. — The Louisville 

 Journal says that the corn crop has never been so 

 lorge in Kentucky as the present crop promises to 

 u e. It states that there are fields In the blue grass 

 igion estimated at one hundred and seventy-five 

 bushels to the acre, while fields promising aeventy- 

 flve to eighty bushels are quite common. 



