VOLUME I. 
IIOCHESTER, iV. Y.-THURSDAY, EEBRUARY 1 i, 1850. 
NUMBER 7. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
PUBI.ISHED WEEKLY. 
OfBco in Burns’ Block, corner of Buffalo and State 
streets, (entrance on State,) Rochester. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOOEE. 
( I.ate Publisher and Associate Editor Gen. Farmer.) 
L . B. LANGWORTHY, A.ssociate Editor. 
Corresponding Editors: 
ELON COMSTOCK, (former Ed. Central N. Y. 
Farmer,) of Oneida County. 
T, C. PETERS, (Editor of the Wool Grower,) 
of Genesee County. 
Educational Department by L. WETHER ELL. 
For Tkrms, &c., see last page. 
P110GRE88 AND im*ROVEMENT. 
SCHOOL LIEEARIES, IN RURAL DISTRICTS. 
An ancient philosopher being asked w hat 
tilings were most proper for boys to learn, 
replied, — “ Those thmg-s which tliey intend 
to practice when they become men.” Apply 
this wise reraai'k to the boys in our rural 
districts—nine-tenths of whom are destined 
. to the agricultural profession — and what 
is its teaching ? Plainly, that a knowledge 
of the occupation which they are to follow 
through life, is of the fii’st importance.— 
And, inasmuch as correct agriculture is 
based upon a proper undei-standing of sev¬ 
eral branches of knowledge, it follows that 
the farmer requires education and discipline 
of mind, as well as members of the learned 
professions. Hence, it is all important that 
the young men of our countiy-, who intend 
to adopt the cultivation of the soil as their 
‘business through life, should early store 
their minds with the various branches of 
knowledge per tuning to rural affairs. Pa¬ 
rents should se% that the means for the ac¬ 
quisition of this information are not wanting 
— and that the many leisure hours of the 
present season are properly emjiloyed in 
the use of those means. 
Among the various means of mental im¬ 
provement within the reach of farmers’ 
sons, at the present day, the School District 
Libraiy is one of the most accessible, and 
should be rendered peculiarly inviting and 
valuable. We fear these libraries do not 
receive the attention their importance de¬ 
mands. In all rural districts they should 
embrace a feir proportion of works on ag- 
ricultui-e and kindred topics. Suitable 
books on these subjects, would not only 
create a taste for agiicultui-al reading in the 
young, which would be lasting, but afford 
useful information to those more advanced 
in years and experience. Farmers may 
profitably bestow some thouglTt and action 
in the direction indicated — for, aside from 
the benefit they may derive from a well se¬ 
lected libraiy, the characters of their chil¬ 
dren are, in a great mcasme, formed from 
the books they read. The SchofYl District 
Library should be stored with works of an 
entertaining, moral, and nseful character, 
selected with care and discrimination by 
men of judgment, Avho have the welfare, of 
the rising (as well as the riseii) generation 
at hcai-t 
In answer to inquiries on the subject Ave 
have, during the past two years, (by letter 
and otherwise,) frequently given lists of 
such Avorks on agTiculture, &c. as we thought 
best adapted to School Libraries; and, with 
due deference, avHI here mention a fcAv 
which Avc consider appropriate mid valua¬ 
ble : “American Agricultui-e,” by Allen — 
“Americtm Shepherd,” by Morrell— 
“Am. Poulterer’s Companion,” by Dement 
—“Johnston’s Agricultural Chemistry”_ 
“DoAvning’s Fruits and Fruit Trees of Amer¬ 
ica”—“Thomas’ American Fruit Culiurist” 
—“Duist’s Kitchen Gardener”—“Youatt 
on the Iloi-se”—“Domestic Animals,” by 
Allen —“Coles’ American Veterinarian”— 
“Youatt on the Pig”—“Catechism of Agi-i- 
cultural Chemistry and Geology.” There 
are many other Avorks Avhich Ave might safe¬ 
ly commend, and may give a more extend¬ 
ed list in a future number. The liibrarics 
in this State Avpuld be enriched by the ad¬ 
dition of bound A'olumes of such periodicals 
as “The Cultivator,” “American AoTicul- 
O 
turist,” “Genesee Farmer,” and “Wool 
GroAver,”— together Avith the Transactions 
of our State Agricultural Society. 
WINTER EVENINGS OF THE FARMER. 
IIoAVEVER it may be Avith the man of com¬ 
merce, or the artisan, Avith the fanner the 
evening is emphatically his only time of leis¬ 
ure. Necessarily engaged as he is, during 
the day, in the superintendence or actual 
dLscharge of the varied and multifarious du¬ 
ties of a tiller of the soil, none, or at least 
few, intervals occur Avhich he may occupy 
in the cultivation of his intellect, or the in¬ 
terchange of the socialities of life, till the 
sun at last sinking beloAv the horizon, com¬ 
pels him at once to desist from his toil and 
accept a time, of rest, even though indigence 
or avarice .should prompt him to still contin¬ 
ue his exertions. Aiub herein is the eve¬ 
ning a peculiar blessing to the farmer, and 
one Avhich fully counterbalances the advan¬ 
tage pos.sessed over him by the manufactu¬ 
rer or mechanic, in the greater facility the}' 
possess for social intercourse. For althougli 
the latter being necessarily associated to¬ 
gether in Avorkshops, have ample time and 
opportunity for free discussion, exchange of 
opinion, and mutual instruction, on tlie va¬ 
rious subjects that come under obsen-ation 
—AA'hereby they are at the same time ad¬ 
ding to their OAvn enjoyment and advancing 
their own interests, both temporal and intel¬ 
lectual — yet, unlike the farmer, to them 
the evening bring's no respite from those 
toils Avhich he from necessity foregoes. 
And pleasant and agreeable though it 
may be to the farmci-, Avhen the duties of 
the day are finished, and all Avithout Avell 
cared for, to assemble Avith his family round 
the cheerful fireside, and listen to the gay 
jest or merry laugh, Avhich there tak^s its 
round; yet, pleasant though it be, time thus 
spent should be the exception, and not the 
general rule for the evenings occupation, 
which should be steadily, resolutely devo¬ 
ted to mental improvement. Indeed one 
Avould almost deem the long evenings of 
winter peculiarly adapted by an all wise and 
beneficent Creator for this particular pur¬ 
pose :—that noAv, Avhilst Avith nature his phy¬ 
sical frame is enjoying a rest from the se- 
' vere toils of summer, and becoming refresh¬ 
ed and invigorated for the'duties of the en¬ 
suing season, he should zealously and vig¬ 
orously push forAvard his intellectual cul¬ 
ture ; that this is the appointed time for gar¬ 
nering up those seeds of knoAvledge, some 
portion of Avhich noAV obtained, shall long- 
after germinate, and produce fruit a hun¬ 
dred fold. 
Long since has the idea exploded that the 
ignorant, and the simple — those unfit for 
aught else, Avere quite adequate to the man¬ 
agement of a farm; and no longer is the 
saying that “ he is nothing but a farmer,” 
considered a sufficient apology for any ig¬ 
norance OK folly such a person might be 
guilty of. And noAv are the farmers, to¬ 
gether Avith the community at large, fully 
aAvake to the dignity and importance of their 
calling, and the necessity of their being ed uca- 
ted,as well as the hiAvyer, or divine, though as 
yet they have feAV institutions Avherein the 
students can at the same time pursue theii- 
scientitic studies and agricultural piusuits, 
and thus progress in both necessary and 
useful knoAvledge. Until such schools be¬ 
come general, the farmer must depend up¬ 
on his own efforts for the acquisition of such 
knowledge; and therefore I say, again, and 
j more especially to the youthful farmer: 
Your evenings must be iniproA'ed; time 
hitherto devoted to listless repose, or idle 
recreation, jnust henceforth be reclaimed, 
and for the future become subservient to 
to the acqui.sition of knoAv ledge. Remem¬ 
ber the Avords of the Poet ; “ Youth is not 
rich in time, it may be poor; pay no mo¬ 
ment but in purcha.se of its AA'orth.” Im¬ 
prove each moment as it llies, and let no 
evening pass but shall tell, and that loudly, 
of Avisdom increased,— of mental culture 
advanced. ; e. 
Wheatland, Feb. 4., UL'iO. 
INDIAN CORN.-ITS PECULIAEITIES. 
There have been observed some singu- 
Icir amomalies, in the hybridization or mix¬ 
ing of difl’erent varieties of corn, that are 
difficult to explain. 
A field of yellow corn, planted in the | 
ncighborh'xid of a Avhite variety, Avdiich 
floAvers at the same period, at the dis-1 
tance of half a mile, or even more, will, 
Avhen ripe, exhibit the mixture in a gi-eater 
or less degree, according to proximity; and 
these grains are not ha// Hoods, but appa¬ 
rently entire yelloAvs and entire Avhite.s.— j 
This change is performed by Avinds alone, 
as the bee and other insects do not meddle 
with the .silk, Avhich is the pistil or female 
organ —for this plant is monoxious, having 
its male and female organs in distinct and 
separate floAvei-s, and not in the same recep- 
hicle. This fact can be easily demonstrated, 
Oy olippiii” .j poi-tof ih - ‘.r-'•overing 'It 
Avith a piece of fine cloth; eveiy fibre des¬ 
troyed, or covered, Avill produce a failure of 
kernel or grain on the cob. 
One of the unexplained circumstances ad¬ 
verted to, is the fact, that an ear of corn, 
having Avhite kernels mixed Avith the yellow, 
when planted promiscuously, the apparently 
pei'fect Avhite kernel, does not produce a 
Avliite eai-, nor a hybrid between the two, 
but yelloAv corn—generally a little mixed, 
the Avhite in no case predominating. The 
same singularity occurs in mixing the Tus- 
carora and SAveet corn, and the red, (or kiss¬ 
ing ears of old times,) that occasionally oc¬ 
cur, do not produce, on planting, the kind 
from Avhich it Avas derived. 
Another singularity in its tendency to 
change, is the fact, that any variety of our 
climate, on being removed to southern Ohio, 
Indiana, or more southern States, changes 
its character and form of kernel — enlon- 
gates and shrinks at the croAvn, and dents — 
runs into an increase of rows, from eight to 
tAventy-four. 
A-Mexican variety, in which every kernel 
is husked, like a common ear of corn, on 
being groAvn in this climate, will the fii-st 
year produce ears one half or more en¬ 
tirely naked; and, on the second or third 
planting, be changed into a common eight 
rowed variety, not distinguishable from some 
of the kinds in common use. There is a 
slow change and mixture of varieties and 
coloi-s, we are aware, affected in time; yet 
the small eight rowed, and the large eight 
roAved — the Dutton tAvelve row’ed—are 
still to be found, intact, and pure, Avhich 
would hardly be expected, Avhere adjoining 
fai-ms groAv often veiy different varieties.— 
According to the well esUiblished doctrine, 
that all .species cross and mix, till strong and 
peculiarly marked varieties ought to run 
into one common character, the joint blood 
of all the races. 
Good Advice.— “ItAvill not do to hoe a 
great field for a little crop, or to mow 20 
acres for five loads of hay. Enrich the land 
and it Avill pay you for it. Better farm 30 
acres well thaiu 50 acres by halves.” 
We endoi-se that advice, unanimously. 
IMPROVED WIRE FENCE. 
Mr. Moore;— In compliance with your 
request in the Kew-Yorker, that those who i 
had experimented in wire fences, Avould fur¬ 
nish plans and results of their experience, 
I herewith send you a drawing and descrip¬ 
tion of what I have an-ived at, as the cheap¬ 
est and most perfect fence that I have as 
yet seen. 
A wire fence looks so nalied, so singular 
and unfinished, that after I had put up 25 
rods, I Avas induced to put a cap on top of 
the posts, which not only greatly helped its 
appearance, but added to its strength. I 
have since been induced to prefer nailing it 
on the side, or face of the fence. It also 
has the tendency to deter animals from at¬ 
tempting a breach, as it is seen much soon¬ 
er than the bai-e wires. 
Those that please may also put on a 4 
inch cap, projecting one inch over the top 
board in front, rihd sloping back, to throw 
the rain from the wires—and breaking 
joints with the top board Avill also add ma¬ 
terially to its strength. If Red Cedar posts i 
are used, they may be as small as three inch- { 
es, tapering j^to two at the top. Four to I 
three inches is better, and so increasino- the 
size, according to the durability of the Avood 
used. Place them firmly in the ground, fil¬ 
ling in one foot of the top with leached ash¬ 
es, if to be procmed. Nail on a strip of 3- 
inch board for the top rail, at 4 feet 0 inch¬ 
es from the ground, being careful to get as 
straight and uniform top line as the nature 
of the ground Avill admit; then a 12 inch 
board at tlie bottom, 2 inches from the 
earth, breaking joints Avith the top board. 
The wire should be No. 9, and heated to 
a dull red heat, not so hot as to start a scale, 
which renders it much tougher and com¬ 
pletely hinders it from rusting. After di¬ 
viding and marking the places for the Avire, 
stretch the first Avire along the posts, to its 
entire leng-th, at 12 inches beloAv the bot¬ 
tom of the top boaid, and tack it lightly 
with the staples to its place; the second at 
12 inches beloAv, and the third and last, at 
9 inches beloAv that, so that the spaces are 
respectiv'ely 4, 9, 12, 12. The staples are 
made of the same sized Avire 1^ inches long, 
not heated, bent, and the ends flattened to 
and edge. The end of the wire is bent at 
right angles, 1^ inch, and driv'en into the 
post, and also one staple, so as to indent the 
wire into the post. 
T’o stiTiin it and give it the proper tension, 
get a hard piece of AA’ood, about tAvo inches 
in diameter, and saAv in it a slit, a little lar¬ 
ger than the Aviie, with a pin through it to 
turn Avith, exactly like the old fashioned bed- 
Avrench, and resting it at the last post the 
Avire Avill reach, turn it up to all it AviUbear; 
while some one drives in the staples smart¬ 
ly, so as to force the Avire a little into the 
post, and the fence is done. In straining 
the Avires, the first m.d last post should be 
firmly braced until thby are all fiistened. 
This fence may be made very fast— 
There is no boring of the posts for the Avires 
— keying or Avedging — every post sustains 
its own strain, and is the cheapest, and best 
fence of this kind that I have seen propos¬ 
ed—costing oniy from 75 cents to $1,00 
per rod, besides labor—is safe against all 
depredators, pigs, geese and cattle — and 
will last as long as the posts Avill, if made of 
any other Avood than Red Cedar. If the 
wood work is painted browm and the wires 
white, as they should be, it has a veiy neat 
and dejhisihle appearance, and is not sub¬ 
ject to that point no point, fence no fence 
aspect that strikes ev'ery one on seeing those 
Avithout capping or bottom board. 
II. N. Langavortha'. 
Irondequoit, N. Y., 1850. 
DOUBLE FURROW PLOWING. 
We saw an experiment in fall plowing 
not long since, in which there is some vir¬ 
tue, that Avill meet the approbation of all 
those Avho prefer deep plowing and deep 
soils, to shallow surface work 
It was in a piece of the most inveterate 
June grass, infected with the wire-worm, and 
entirely worthless for mowing. The modus 
operandi was this: With a good turning 
green-SAvard plow — its roller set to guage 
a fuiTOAv about four inches in depth —a 
land Avas marked out by the ploAv, and the 
first furroAv slice turned over once out of 
the Avay, by hand, with forks. Then an¬ 
other plow of the same Avidth folloAved, set 
to Avork six inches deep in the same furrow, 
with two strong hoi-ses harnessed tandem— 
one before the other. After the first fur- 
roAv Avas completed, the turf slice of the 
first plow Avas turned into a ten inch depth 
of furroAV; and, by the second plow, which 
follows, covered with a furrow of earth six 
inches thick, taken immediately from under 
Avhere the turf came from — so that the 
surfiice of the original SAvard Avas ten inches 
below its former‘place. 
Lids pi'ocess, a .species of subsoiL’ng 
Avas peiforme^—-the gi’ound put in a proper 
situation for manuring, and cross-ploAving for 
spring crops — the June grass and wire- 
AYorm jirobably buried beyond resiuscitation 
—and the earth properly charged Avith veg¬ 
etable nutriment to sustain a heavy crop, 
and resist drouth. 
A three-horse team, abreast, Avould prob¬ 
ably be a better team for the second or sub¬ 
soil furroAV ; and the whole operation a good 
spring proeccs, with or Avithout manuring. . 
“HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY.” 
If the adage that “ Every one’s word 
should be as good :is his bond,” could be 
apphod to all Avho have occasion to pass 
their Avord in the Avay of business, how very 
much difficulty might be avoided, and hoAV 
mucli more honorable it would be to all 
classes. 
We are led to these thoughts in remem¬ 
bering the innumerable cases where the 
honor of men was A'iolated during the late 
few yem-s, Avhen the produce of this great 
country was in such demand for foreigTi ex¬ 
port. Many, ah ! very many, aaRo had pas¬ 
sed as honest men, violated their Avord, and 
did not fulfil contracts made on their honor, 
because advance of prices made it, as they 
thought, to their pecuniary advantage — 
Avhile honest p^rindple was overlooked. 
Does the reader of this knoAv of such per¬ 
sons—farmers or speculator ? Has lie not 
placed a mark upon them as not trustAvorthy ? 
The Avriter of this knew many, and only pens 
tliis to remind all who may read it, that his 
motto isthat, if he has agreed to buy or sell at 
a stated price, nothing could tempt him to 
Avaver from it; and he further admonishes 
j all Avho sell or buy to remember that world¬ 
ly gains, dishonestly obtained, never benefit 
the holder, but are a canker spot in his 
conscience, Avhich “ neither lime or circum¬ 
stance” can i iTace. Honesty in trade is no 
less due than honest}* of purpose in every 
thing. Indi cd, it Avill C'.'er -proA'e true, in 
all transHCtiuns of lifo, that “ Honesty is the 
best policy”—and not merely the best^o/i- 
cy, but the wisest and most profitable for 
all class's and conditions of men. a. 
