VOLUME I. 1- 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
PUBLISHED WEEKLY. 
Office in Burns’ Block, comer of Buflalo anti State 
streets, (entrance on State,) Rochester. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE. 
(Laie Pid/islier and Associate Editor Gen. Farmer.) 
L. B. LANGWORTHY, Associate Editor. 
Corresponding Editors: 
ELON COMSTOCK, (former Ed. Central N. Y. 
Farmer,) of Oneida County. 
T. C. PETERS, (Editor of tho Wool Grower,) 
of Genesee County. 
Educational Department by L. WETIIERELL. 
[Cr For Terms, &c., see last page. cO 
PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT. 
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN COMMON 
SCHOOLS. 
Much has been said and written on the 
subject of Agricultural Schools, or rather 
Colleges, which it is proposed to establish 
in this State. The measiu*e is one of un¬ 
doubted utility, so far as it goes, but subject 
to an objection of considerable prevalence 
—to wit: that it is appropriating the public 
money to xises which cannot be made avail¬ 
able to the whole community. In other 
words, that it is not possible for the sons of 
farmer who only possess moderate means 
to avail themselves of the advantages prof- j 
fered by these institutions, although they 1 
are, through the taxing power, made to con- j 
tribute to their supports Similar objections \ 
may be, and frequently are, urged against I 
a great many institutions of conceded utility, 
yet where it is feasible they should be obvia¬ 
ted or rendered as little imposing as possible. | 
It has occui-red to us that, without in the j 
least impairing the institution proposed to be I 
established in this State, or those now in 
operation, a great advance in improvement 
may be made by a judicious preparation of 
books for the most ad vanced students in our 
Common Schools. It is not easy to con¬ 
ceive wliy such books should not be adopt¬ 
ed, provided they ai-e prepared by men xvho, 
to the theoretical, join a practical knowledge 
of the great and important science of Agri¬ 
culture. 
The only feasible objection to this plan is 
the want of qualified instructors. This ob¬ 
jection, we apprehend, need not long remain 
a valied one, hiasmuch as teachers may be 
prepared, as well as books, in a compara¬ 
tively brief period— and many of those now 
engaged in this responsible calling, ai-e ca¬ 
pable, with the aid of suitable books, of im¬ 
parting the rudiments, at least, of the sciences 
necessary to be taught. 
There can scarcely be a contrariety of 
opmion as to the propriety and importance 
of introducing the study of Agiiculture in 
our Common Schools; and, should tlie plan 
so far commend itself as to secure a general 
and fmr trial, it is luu-dly possible that the 
results should not be all that the best friends 
of rural progress and improvement coidd 
require. It would give the young, during 
their xvinter hours, a theoretical knoxvledge 
of what they would be cidled to practice 
during the seasons of spring, summer mid 
autumn; thus most happily combining the¬ 
ory and demo»sti-ation—a union without 
which the highest possible attixiniacnts can¬ 
not be reached in any department of hu¬ 
man learning. Our State has been careful 
in its anxiety for the public good, to codify 
and systematize our law books, thereby 
bringing all that Ls really necessary xvithin 
the reacli of the great mass of the people; 
why, then, should not the laws of Agricul¬ 
ture be an object of equal concernment^ and 
lead to equally favorable action for tlieir 
simplification ? It is true that the many ex¬ 
cellent journals devoted to nu-al affaii-s are 
doing much towai’ds familiarizing farmers . 
with the more important principles of tlieir 
oalling—yet, with all die advantage^ tliese 
ROCHESTER, N.* Y.-THURSUAY, EEBRJIARY 7, 1850. 
1 HUMBER €. 
hold out, few (perhaps not one in twenty, or 
even thitiy,) are induced to avail themselves 
of the information thus offered to them and 
their children. 
To supply this lack—to induce an early 
thii-st for agricultural knowledge and litera¬ 
ture—it is proposed that the acquirement of 
such information be made a part of our com¬ 
mon school education—tlius creating a taste 
for that without W'hich no person can be a 
faT’mer in the higher and more elevated 
signification of the tenn. The adoption of 
this or a similar plan would obviate the ir¬ 
regularity complained of, as regards a free 
and fair participation in the benefits of ex- 
i.sting or proposed institutions, wliile such an 
impulse would be given to rural improve¬ 
ment as would redound alike to the dignity 
and lasting prosperity of the agricultural in¬ 
terest of the Empire State. 
A SMALL FARM. 
As AX illiLStration liow small a portion of 
this terrene footstool, (not our last sad pre¬ 
emption right,) will answer the necessities, 
and even luxuries of life, look on this pic¬ 
ture. We state facts. Some forty years 
ago, a lady and one young daughter, lived 
in the city of Nexv York, whose husband 
and fiither, was of the first stondino- and re- 
spectability — apparently rich and indepen¬ 
dent. He died, and on the winding up of 
his estate, of all their possessions, a house 
and lot was barely left As necessity laid 
^lis iron finger on her, she parted from time 
to time, with many articles of valuable fui-- 
j ifiture, to supply lier with tho comforts of 
j life. She saw lizard faced poverty, peering 
from the places where formerly hung her 
mantle clock, and looking glasse.s, imd the 
blessed sun was not permitted to look into 
her rooms, because the curtains and carpets 
w'ere gone—gone to buy bread. Did she 
sell out, and rush into the battle of life, un¬ 
armed with the knowledge and experience of 
this grasping, jostling world, and invest her 
little all in millinery, fancy goods, silks and 
satins? Not at all—she had an inkling of 
the chances and uncertointies, toils and 
wakeful hom-s of business life. She dream¬ 
ed she had a gold mine in her allotment of 
06 feet by 200, mid that she had not fiir to 
dig to find it; and so it proved, for it was a 
placer that made her rich. 
In the rear of her house was a plot of 
gi’ound four rods square; heretofore used 
as a flower garden. This she dug and plant¬ 
ed with radishes and lettuce in early spring, 
and she never drew a plant, but ivhat she 
planted another, giving a constant succes¬ 
sion till late in autumn. She found a con¬ 
stant demand, and her former acquaintances, 
who knew her in her better days, patronized 
and encouraged her. She and her daugh¬ 
ter not only existed on the products of this 
little farm,^but lived in ease and comfort; 
and brought up her beautiful child, with a 
good education, and all the fiishionable ac¬ 
complishments of that age. The daughter 
afterwards married a man who distinguish¬ 
ed himself at the bar, and became a cele¬ 
brated judge. He is long since deceased. 
Reader—you that fann at one hundred 
or peradventure two hundred acres of land, 
what do you think you would do, if restrict¬ 
ed to a plantation, the square of the high¬ 
way in front of yoiu- house. We fear you 
would turn editor, or merchant, or study 
law, or commit some other de,sperate act . 
What a glorious world tliis would be, if 
all its inhabitants could say, with Shaks- 
peare’s Shepherd, “Sir, I am a true labor¬ 
er ; I earn that I get; get that I weai*; owe 
no man ha^b; envy no man’s happiness; 
glad of other men’s good; content witli my 
farm.’* 
■mT=^ 
FARM GATE. —THE NE PLUS ULTRA. 
The above cut exhibits a Fann Gate, 
combining all the qualities required—sim¬ 
plicity, strength and durability. A is a 
catch for a gate opening both ways; B is a 
wedge to drive over the dovehoil of the top 
rail. To suit our column the drawing is 
shortened a little in length, in proportion 
to its height, but fairly represents all the 
peculiarities of the article wc wish to pre¬ 
sent and describe. 
There is nothing too much, nor any thing 
lacking in its form and construction, to meet 
eveiy want in this desirable and much neg¬ 
lected article; and, as we think, cannot be 
improved, for our opinion is based u^x»n a 
twelve years use of this plan, as a gang-way 
gate for cattle and teams, to the barn and 
wood-yard. One in particular, has been 
tested in the most searching manner, by the 
swinging of boys and the sh.V'iri.ng of winds, 
and it never has changed an inch.— 
Every addition of braces, or at a different 
angle, is a positive detriment to the gate— 
it is unique; and so thoroughly are we con- 
rinced of these facts, and so earnestly in fa¬ 
vor of introducing gates, in the place of 
those devil’s toarpmy bars in common use, 
as they have been called, that we intend 
getting our cut stereotyped, for the gratui¬ 
tous use of all agricultural publishers who 
appreciate its importance and construction. 
Wc recommend the following dimensions 
and manner of construction:—The frame 
work to be made of good, straight grained 
oak, 3 by 4 scantling, as long as a 12 foot 
stick will make it, or not less than 11 feet 
at any rate. The hinge post or stile, 5 feet 
long, 3 by 4; the latch stile, 4 feet 0 indies, 
3 by 3, and the centre stile the required 
length, 3 by 4. 
The slats, or bai's of seasoned pine—the 
tivo lower ones 5 inches wide, and the three 
upper ones 4 inches. They are framed 
through the stiles, with a nice and tight tit, 
at the following distances apai-t: the lower 
ones 3-^ inches, and so on, 4,5,0 and 7 inches. 
It is important that all the bai-s fit the mor¬ 
tice tightly on the edges, a great part of the 
strength of the gate depending upon it 
The top rml is tapered from the centre 
stile to the latch stile on the under side, to 
3 inches square, and is framed into the hinge 
stile with a dove-tail of one inch gain, (see 
dotted lines.) The mortice must be laid out 
1 inch higher, to allow tlie drop, and the 
space left in the mortice, filled with a long, 
slim iron wedge, with a head turned, and 
fitted with holes, and spiked to the rail.— 
There is a brace on each side of the gate, 
toed in at the foot, and shouldered at the 
op, and a large wrought nail put tlirough al¬ 
ternately, both ways and clinched. 
There are various ways of hanging this 
gate—costing from three dollars, to ten 
cents. The cheapest method, and all suf¬ 
ficient for field use, is to take 12 inches of f 
round bolt iron; cut off 4 inches for the bot¬ 
tom, leaving 8 for the top — bore in with a 
•| qr. augur, and drive in tlie pins, leaiang 
out 1-J inches at the bottom, and 5 inches 
at tlie top. The ends of the stile may be 
banded if thought best The b ; of tlie 
hinge stile, is sometimes brought to a point, 
and the top rounded to 3 inches, and let 
througli tlie cap for a hanging. 
The great secret of keeping gates in po¬ 
sition is, to have a laige post, set veiy deep 
and firm into the ground, or it will lean and 
sag the gate;—indeed it cannot be set too 
firmly, and, as a further security, fill the 
hole half way with stone, and the rest with 
leached ashes. 
At the proper height for the bottom of 
the gate, mortice in a piece of three inch 
oak scantling, and on the top, spike firmly a 
piece of two inch plank as a cap, of a height 
to allow tlie gate to be lifted up, and out of 
its place, which is sometimes convenient in 
deep snow.s. 
For fastening, a long iron latch may be 
used, or a round wood bolt, with a spiral 
spring, and an iron pin through to keep it, 
which springs into a mortice in the post, 
with the .sides bevehid off, to cause the gate 
to shut with a push. There should always 
be a strong pin bored into the post, to slam 
against wdien not opening both ways. 
These gates can be made, and pain ted red 
or broivn for two dollars each, and less by 
tlie quantity. We have been thus particu¬ 
lar that every one who wishes can have a 
good Farm Gate, — the result of long trial 
and experience. ’ 
FISH AND FISH PONDS. 
The Board of Supervisors, in all the 
Counties of this State, are now endow’ed 
with powers to regulate the periods of kil¬ 
ling game, and of taking fish; and in this 
County at their last session, our Board en¬ 
acted some valuable provisions on this sub¬ 
ject. Persons or neighborhood.s, who are 
interested in the increase and presiwvation 
of fish in pond.s, or lakes and streams, may 
now, without any expense or trouble, pro¬ 
cure all the protection and other provisions 
required. 
The only two fish of our fresh waters, 
that bear transplanting well, are the Pick¬ 
erel and Trout, and they do not thrive well 
together, as the Pickerel has a little too much 
of the Shark about him; he is too voracious 
to be trusted with the simple, harmless 
Trout It is not all waters, that are conge¬ 
nial to the Trout, .while the Pickerel will 
thrii'c in any water where there is an out¬ 
let and change—ivlucli is the important se¬ 
cret of success in artificial ponds, for where 
evaporation exceeds or equals the supply, 
no fish wiU live. 
The manner of stocking watem with fish, 
in the winter, is so easy and sure, that it 
may prove an adi antage to those who me 
not already aware of the fact, to know how 
to perform it Fish taken by a net, or the 
hook, if immediately put intoa vessel of wa¬ 
ter, in w hich pounded ice or snow, in large 
quantities, is constantly kept, and renewed 
as it melts, (by wdilch the w'ater is constantly 
kept at 32 ■^, or the freezing point,) may be 
carried a thousand miles, or as long as there 
is any unmelted snow in tlie vessel, without 
changing the w\ater, as the fish are torpid, 
and the functions of life an-ested. They in¬ 
stantly revive, on being put into water above 
that point 
Pickerel m-e freely caught in our lakes, 
bays, and ponds. Oui- friend Darrow, on 
the big ridge, with one assistant, last ivcek, 
in three hours, took with hooks, 78 lars:e 
O 
ones from Buck Pond, through the ice. A 
pretty afternoon’s sport as any one could 
wish. 
The Pickerel spawns in April, sticking her' 
eggs to the rushes and grass stems in 
mai-shea The Trout spawns in October, lay¬ 
ing her eggs in the .sand and gi-avel of nm- 
ning streanES, if to be found. 
CANADA THISTLES.—DOING RIGHT THINGS 
AT THE PROPER TIME. 
Of all the mistakes and eirors in busi¬ 
ness of any kind, there are none more fatal 
to tliat of the fanner, than the too prevalent 
idea that his occupation, less than any otlier, 
needs constant, unremitting care and atten¬ 
tion. On the contraiy, no occupation of 
civilized man actually calls for more perse¬ 
vering exactness in doing the riyht things 
at tlie right time, in order to secure useful 
and profitable results. 
This simple fact could be illustrated by 
numerous cases, but the follow ing may suf¬ 
fice for the pre.sent Farmer A has a good 
wheat lot which lie designs to fallow 
next season—but his land, like that of thou¬ 
sands of others, is completely under the do¬ 
minion of the common pest, Canada thistles. 
Time, labor and long yem-s of cultivation 
have removed from his field all obstructionr. 
to a complete breaking up of every inch of 
the soil, and this operation he performs sea¬ 
sonably and in the best manner. But lierc 
he leaves it, to attend to other matters till 
seeding tim<', when he enters upon the pro¬ 
cess of cross jilowing, and the vain endeavor 
to bury a rank giowth of thistles, now in. 
full bloom, and apparently ten in number 
wdiere there wais one before; he proceeds in 
season, and sow'S his wheat. 
Now mark the management of Farmer B, 
under precisely the same circumsuinces. In 
a short time after breaking up he finds the 
thistles, obedient to the kuvs of nature, pre¬ 
senting a surface beautifully green and vig- 
{ orous, fis n;^nch iis to say in derision of his 
labor, “here w^e are, only more so.” 
farmer B don’t say I will attend to you to¬ 
morrow or ne.U week; on the contrary, he 
is one of those who have found out the se¬ 
cret ot successful fanning, which is simply 
doing the right things at the right time. In 
this case he lays aside all excuses, except 
rain, (and the operation is useless in w'ct 
weathei-,) and forthwith lets in his plow% 
leaving not a tlustle in sight; this time will 
do the job for some paj'ts of the field, prc:- 
vided the plowing is w'ell done, and in hot 
or dry weather. 
But Fanner B. is notone of your “guess- 
this-will-do” sort of men. He watches care¬ 
fully for the re-appeai-ance of his old ene¬ 
mies, the thistles; and just as soon as they 
show their whereabouts, he is again and 
again busy among them with his plow—not 
one is suffered to attain a foot in height, or 
show^ a blossom, and unless in a wet season, 
by seeding time they fire among the missing. 
Now' look at the result Fai-mer A, with 
a little less of care and labor wre admit, raises 
an abundant crop of thistles, with perhaps 
here and thoie a patcdi of middling sort of 
wdieat—full as good probably as he expec¬ 
ted from his ex'perience in former years, 
wdth similar management, based on the er¬ 
roneous idea that there was no w'ay to pre¬ 
vent thistles from materially injuring ^his 
wheat crop. Farmer B, on the other side 
of the w'uy, upon cutting his wheat, finds 
scm-cely a thistle, and so far as they are con- 
cenied no impediment to a first rate crop 
If those whose wheat lands are infested 
with this evil w'ced, will fairly try the ex¬ 
periment of a free use of the plow, at the 
right time, it is believed they will be fully 
satisfied ^ its utility as a preventive of in- 
juiy to t^ wheat crop by thistles. l. 
Tompkins Co., N. Y., Jan., 1850. 
Planning a Farm. —The characteristics 
which made Wfisliington a good general, 
made him also a good farmer, and foremost 
of these w'ere energy and forethought — 
the head to plan, the arm to execute.— 
Plans for improvements on the farm sho’d 
not only be devised in the season of leisure, 
but committed to paper — considered, re¬ 
considered, and placed in the order of time 
at which they will have to be executed. 
