MOOKE’S KURAL NEW-YOEKER: AN AGRICULTUEAL AND FAMILY JOURNAL. 
THE SOIL AND ITS ORIGINAL PRODUCTION. 
number III. 
In the beginning God created all things. 
The Almighty is from the beginning, and 
that period is beyond our comprehension to 
contemplate. All matter dates from the 
beginning, for then God made all thmgs; 
but it does not follow that the structure of 
this globe is coeval with tliat creation, and 
the matter of which it is composed. 
It is now generally conceded that the col¬ 
lection of matter forming this individual 
planet, was tlie result of known laws, estab¬ 
lished by God himself, and which arc equal 
to all contingencies necessary to fullil his 
will, and perfect his great plan of creating 
the milUons of worlds that occupy space. 
There is n15 well informed theologian, or 
layman, in this enlightened age, who will 
risk his reputation in asserting that the nu¬ 
cleus of the globe is only 5,800 years from 
the hands of the Creator, or that since its in¬ 
cipient congregation of atoms no greater pe¬ 
riod than that has supervened—a position 
that would be at once contradicted by the 
appearances of the sedimentary deposits of 
the slate, lime and sandstone formations; in 
a flat horizontal position, of more than ten 
thousand feet in thickness over the prima- 
tive granite rocks; and which every where 
show the most indisputable evidences of 
mechanical deposition—of deposition from 
water, and consisting of over forty periods 
of the creation of living animals—their mul¬ 
tiplication and dissemination over the whole 
face of the globe—their entire destruction 
and petrifaction—a new creation, and again 
their subsequent destruction, by a new de¬ 
posit of solid matter forming rocks. And 
this is not for once, but as before slated, up¬ 
wards of forty times; and all these periods 
occurred, occupying a period in the eternity 
of time past, which the human mind is lost 
in contemplating. 
After the completion of the deposited 
horizontal strata, a long period of quiet oc¬ 
curred—the rocks hardened, the atmosphere 
became respirable, and the action commenc¬ 
ed that created the soil of the present sur¬ 
face ; when it became inhabitable by verte- 
brated and warm blooded animals and man 
was created. There arc no proofs or pre¬ 
sumptions that warrant the supposition, that 
the advent of man was any earlier than the 
scriptural records announce; nor is there any 
evidence that the surface of the globe has un¬ 
dergone any violent or considerable changes 
since the creation of man and his occupancy 
of the earth. 
The conclusions that the great and inqui¬ 
ring minds “ that look from nature up to 
nature’s God,” have arrived at, as the sup- 
posable routine of tlie powei-s and forces in 
action, which created the diluvial deposits, 
or soil, now every where distributed, may 
be summed up as follows, and every appear- 
c'mee coincides with the theory—there are 
no discrepancies, but what can be explain¬ 
ed, and made to tally with the known laws 
of attraction and motion. 
It is assumed that this globe had a com¬ 
etary infancy, and became consolidated by 
the heat of the sun, or by its own spontane¬ 
ous combustibility, and melted into a fluid 
globule, untiT, by its condensation as vitreous 
matter, it took its place in its present orbit, 
so far away from the sun’s calorific influence 
as to commence cooling and hardening on 
the surface. Conti-actioii of the crust fol¬ 
lowed and produced eruptions of the central 
melted fluid matter—the semi-congealed 
shell bent, rose up, or was indented, form¬ 
ing corrugations and inequalities of surface 
—refrigeration proceeded—the vapors of 
chaos condensed and formed water on the 
surface, and gaining admission into the 
lieated interior, caused tremendous earth¬ 
quakes, by the sudden creation of steam and 
elastic gases, which caused the mountains 
and inequalities of surface; and this action 
continued paroxismaly during the whole pe¬ 
riod of the deposition of the sediraentaiy 
roclvs from the muds and materials thrown 
out of the centre, analagous to the ashes 
and scoria thrown out during the eruptions 
of our present volcanoes. 
During the sedimentary deposit, periods 
of quiet existed—animals of the lowest grade 
were created and came into existence and 
covered the whole earth; when another 
great convulsion or revolution succeeded, 
and deposited another formation of rocks, 
fand so continued, through the whole series, 
up to the tertiary period,) which were con 
solidated and hardened either by a very long 
period of time, or by an atmosphere of great 
height and weight—after wliich commenc¬ 
ed the peculiar combination of forces and 
causes that created om* present soil. The 
presumptions of this great catastrophe will 
be the subject of the next number. r. t. 
BRINING CLOVER SEED, &c. 
Eds. New-Yorker.— In this age of in¬ 
vestigation, we ask, why your correspon¬ 
dent recommends brining clover seed and 
rolling in gypsum ? Now we readily see 
that Plaster of Paris is just the thing for the 
germ of clover, because it finds at its birth 
its appropriate food at the door. But the 
brine, what does that do? The application 
may have the merit of novelity—but cui 
bono ? Salt is destructive of vegetable fife. 
If you doubt it, put a teaspoonful upon a 
burdock, near its root on the stalks of the 
leaf, when there is no dew on the plant— 
I would ask if, instead of brine, the seed was 
swollen by sprinkling stale urine, thereby 
incoporate 23 percent of azote, and of course 
producing a strong, quick and powerful start 
To me, it seems reasonable that this ma¬ 
nure is the very best liquid that any seed 
could be soaked in, and if your scientific 
men agree perhaps a word from you might 
rescue this hquid from its sink of pollution 
and place it in its deserved rank, among the 
most useful fertilizers. Wm. Lvman. 
Moscow, N. F., March, 1850. 
If salt, or stale urine, is a fertilizer of 
clover, there may be some virtue in its use, 
and certainly no harm; but the benefits of 
rolling in plaster must be trifling, as the 
amount that would adhere to seeds as small 
as clover would be immensely small. Seeds 
never imbibe any of the saline compounds 
in sufiicient quantity to injure their gennin- 
ating qualities. Wheat soaked twenty-four 
hours in brine, will grow freely the n^xt 
year, and perhaps for a longer period. The 
experiment of brining and phistering is 
worth trying. 
POTAIOS.-PLANT EARLY. 
Farmers, plant your potatos early. It 
is the best and surest mode of avoiding that 
now prevailing disease called the Potato 
Rot. This opinion I offer as one based up¬ 
on actual experiment. The experiment is 
as follows: In the fore part of the month of 
April, 1849,1 planted a small piece of ground 
in my garden for early potatos. The next 
night after I planted them, the ground froze 
to the depth of three inches. I expected 
my seed potatos were all frozen; but, as it 
afterwards proved, they were not injured in 
the least. Four Aveeks from that time I 
planted my field potatos—a pai’t of them 
in an adjoining field. 
In the month of September I commenc¬ 
ed digging. The garden potatos proved 
to be good and almost entirely clear from 
the rot, Avhile those in the adjoining lot Avere 
nearly all affected—so much so, that after 
sorting them and putting them in the cellar 
a fcAv days, I was obliged to carry them out, 
and throw them away. At that time I 
thought perhaps the atmosphere of the cel¬ 
lar had some effect upon them; but up¬ 
on examining my garden potatos they Avere 
sound and clear from rot. I then conclud¬ 
ed that the field potatos Avere diseased be¬ 
fore they Avere put in the cellar, and that 
they co'uld not be saved. 
To prove Avhat effect the disease had up¬ 
on full-gTQAvn potatos, I thrcAV a foAV of my 
garden potatos in Avith a foAV of the field 
potatos, but they kept good for months; it 
did not effect them in the least. The po¬ 
tatos Avere of the same kind in both plant¬ 
ings. G- w. M. 
Maccdon, N. Y., March, 1850. 
WHAT IS A FAIR RENT FOR DAIRY COWS? 
What is a fair average number of pounds 
of butter per annum to be expected from 
a common lot of dairy cows in this country ? 
A proprietor of land, in Orange county, 
j proposes to rent me his farm next spring, 
Avith fifty coAvs, for Avhich I should engage 
to give him a certain number of pounds of 
butter per head. Can you inform me Avhat 
is a fair rent ? lam satisfied Avith the terms 
of giving one third of the crop for rent, but 
fear to accept his terms for the cows. 
.V STRANGER IN AMERICA. 
The average annual yield of pounds of 
butter per coav is a very uncertain matter. 
.We doubt Avhether it exceeds one hundred 
pounds per coav in Orange county; though 
we believe that two firkins (one hundred 
and sixty pounds) are considered a fair ave¬ 
rage. We knoAV one lot of ten cows that 
average three firkins each, equal to four hun¬ 
dred and eighty pounds per annum. We 
believe the most usual rent is one firkin for 
each cow. We saAv fifty excellent coavs the 
other day, for Avhich the farmer gives the 
proprietor a rent of sixty-seven pounds each 
per annum. In this instance the farm is 
very productive for grass, and the dauy con¬ 
veniences of the best kind. When this is 
not the case, the lessee cannot afford t^ pay 
so high a rent— Am. Agriculturist. 
Im 
'1 
DORKING 
BOOTS AND SHOES. 
Boots and shoes are an important article 
in the house, and more important still out 
of it The boot is the foundation of the 
man; it is important that it be good. Dr. 
Franklin insisted that the feet sliould be 
kept Avarm and the head cool. The first 
part of it is certainly good advice. 
The subjects divides itself into two parts. 
The first to get good and proper covering 
for the feet; and the next to keep them so. 
There are tAvo evils connected with the first, 
growing out of tight shoes and thin shoes. 
People are apt to ask anxiously, what is 
good for corns ? How can I cure my corns ? 
There is one general preventive of corns, and 
one cure in mild cases, and a necessary at¬ 
tendant of cure in all cases. This is shoes 
of sufficient size. With tight shoes there 
will be corns painful and incurable. Neith¬ 
er bean-loaves, corn-plasters, nor egg-yolks 
AAill avail any thing Avith tight shoes. The 
folly of some persons of both sexes, in pre- 
sisting to Avear them is wholly unaccounta- 
ers Avhen the little ones appear. They are 
better adapted than any other foAvl, except 
THE DORKING FOWL. The Dorking breed, more or less crossed, sisting to Avear tnem is wnolly unaccounta- ( 
^- . or at least a race nearly allied to them, is ble on any other supposition, than that van- < 
For those Avho wish to stock their poul- found in Sussex, England, the bodies ify ^ passion, which Avhen she “ sets up,” < 
try yards Avith foAvls of most desirable shape q£ which are more elongated than in the haA'e her OAvn way, cost what it Avill. ^ 
and size, clothed in rich and A'ariegated Dorkings, and many of them have five toes. must save her OAvn toes, whatever be- ^ 
plumage, and, not expecting perfection, are They are represented as A'ery fine, and Avor- comes of the toes belonging to the individ- ^ 
willing to overlook one or two other points, Qf ^ trial in the United States. The Avhose breast she rides. What dif- ( 
the Dorkings arc the breed, above all oth- «Q}(I Sussex,” or Kent variety, is closely re- ference does it make in appearance, whether 
ers to be selected. They are larger-bodied, lated to these, if not absolutely identical. shoe or boot is a hair’s breadth larger or 
and of better proportions, according to their jg ^ question how the A'ariety knoAAUi smaller ? Yet it makes some difference in 
size, than any other variety I have yet seen, England under the name of ‘speckled comfort of Avearing it , 
their bodies being rather long, plump, and Dorkings,’ was first’produced. Some main- The feet of childi'cn of all things should ^ 
well-fleshed; and the breeder, as Avell as ji^at the pure-white Dorkings are the ^® cased in tight shoes. Let their feet ( 
the houscAvife, generally beholds AATth de- original breed with five toes, and that the fi^''® room to grow naturally and soundly. ( 
fight their short legs, full, broad breasts, fit- speckled Dorking is a recent and improved Allied to the ^matter of tight shoes is that ) 
tie waste in offal, and the large quantity of cross, by Avhich the size was much increas- shoes. This error, aa’^c grieve to say, ^ 
good profitable flesh, the flavor and appear- betAveen the original white breed and almost Avholly on the side of the fair and ( 
ance of Avhich is inferior to none. Malay, or some other large foAvd. From f®®ble sex. Of all persons in the world 
The cocks arc magnificent The most £}^[g opinion, I must entirely dissent, on the reasons well knoAvn to them- > 
gorgeous hues are frequently lavished upon ground of strong, though not absolutely con- selves they can least afford to neglect their ^ 
them, which their large size and peculiarly elusive, evidence to the contrary. It seems ^®.®^ And yet, in toAvns particularly, they | 
square-built form display to great adA'antage. to me that Columella’s favorite sort of hen persist in the hazardous and most ab- ^ 
The original Dorkings are said to have been could not differ much from the speckled surd practice of Avearing shoes in cold and 
white, but such are noAV seldom to be seen. Dorkings, as they at present exist lie '''®^ Aveathcr, AAhich are no better fitted foi 
During all my rambles, in A'arious parts of says: ‘Let them be of a reddish or dark protection than a Avirc fence is for a mill-dam. 
the country, only on one or two occasions plumage, and with black Avings. * * * Do they/ooit any better ? One constituent > 
did I meet Avith pure-Avhitc birds. In . all Let the breeding hens, therefore, be of a P^ beauty is the idea of fitness which attends ^ 
howcA^er, as far as my knoAvledge extended, choice color, a robust body, square-built, its subjects. A AA'reath of floAv'crs would not 
Avhen pure-blooded, more or less Avhite pre- full-breasted, with large heads, Avith up- become a horse’s neck; and a trimming of 
vailed; but the cloudings, and markings of i-io-ht and bright-red combs. * * s: fur AA'Ould ill-become a female dress for July ^ 
the plumage Avere unlimited. Many Avere Those are believed to be the best bred P®^ because they are not right and prop- ( 
marked Avith bands, or bars, of ashy-grey, which have five toes.’ Except that there ®^ ^^®“’ pl^®® after their OAvn laAVs; 
running into each other at their paler mar- ig uo mention of speckles, (and he never de- because they are not in fitting circum- ( 
gins. Some had the hackles of the neck scribes minute marking.s,) the Avhole descrip- stances. ^ How ^ can a thin slipper appear ^ 
Avhite, Avith a tinge of yelloAv, and the body tion almost exactly tallies with our birds of graceful in a rain storm or upon earth flood- 
of a darker or brownish-red, intermixed ir- t^e present day. Pliny’s account, also, Avith water ? The thing is preposterous, 
regularly Avith Avhite; Avhile others Avere agrees AAith this: ‘ Superiority of breed in A similar error is committed by sedentary 
beautifully variegated Avith Avhite, black, hens is denoted by an upright comb, some- gentlemen in towns, who persist in Avcaring 
green, and broAvn, or. Avere nearly uniform times double, black Avings, ruddy visage, boots in winter, notAvithstanding they 
in their shades from a light-cream color to and an odd number of toes.’ It appears ^^’® ofilig®^ f® wade through snoAv and Wc^^ 
almost black. that Columella had the Avhite sort, but he f®^’- ^Y® ^'ggw of men Avho have kept off , 
Both tlife cocks and the hens are usually rejected them; for he advises: ‘Let the colds aatui entire success for scA^eral winters ^ 
short-legged, thickly-feathered, having fine, white ones be aA'oided, for they are gener- tpg®ffi®^' simply by casing their feet in coav- ^ 
delicate heads, Avith single, double, or large ally both tender and less vivacious, and al- iu<l® boots. ^ i hose who like tlie colds best ^ 
flat rose-like combs, Avhich, Avhen they are go are not found to be prolific,’ faults Avhich c^® haA'e their choice. . . ^ ^ 
in high health, adds A'ery much to their ap- are still attributed to them by some. I . I o keep the boot or shoe. Ihis isnext < 
pearance, particularly if seen in the bright cannot, therefore, avoid believing, that, from order. We have little to say on this point. ^ 
rays of the sun. Their legs are invariably the robust dark-colored, five-toed foAvl, Avhite ^^® used a paste sold in boxes at 25 ^ 
white, or flesh-colored, each often armed individuals have been from time to time cents per box, and made by one Millei, we ( 
Avith one or more toe-like cIraa's; and, in- produced and propagated, exactly as Ave see think, Avhich meets our a’Icaa'S exactly. ^ Ihe ( 
stead of four toes to each foot, a fifth one in other species of gallinaceous birds that reader Avill please remember- that it is not ^ 
protrudes from the same root as the heel have long been in domestication—peafowls, Sloans rannin Paste, Avhich Ave positively ^ 
toe in the common A'arieties, Avhich is gener- turkeys, and guinea fowls, for instance. I believe to be as good as so much prairie 
ally regarded as a distinguishing mark of think, also, that there is no instance of any People Avill generally use other and ( 
the breed. Avhite species of cocks and hens having been home made articles instead of these muxtures ^ 
The weight of the Dorkings, at maturity, found Avild; Avhich is some argument that of the shop: but Avhen one is to be bought 
varies from five to eight pounds, and full dark and gaudy colors are the hues origi- ^'"® advdse to piocuie a good one. < 
groAvn capons haA'e been known to Aveigh nally characteristic of the genus. .•^® wet boots, hang them up ncai the ? 
ten or twelve. Their eggs are usually of a The first Dorkings brought into the Uni- ceilinginsteadof putting them upon the floor. 
clear AA'hite, but sometimes of an ashy-grey ted States, Avere introduced in about the The Avarm and dry an alvv'aj s uses to the ■ 
color, rather large in size, very much round- year 1840, by L. F. Allen, of Black Rock, ceiling and of cour.se that is the place tor ) 
ed at both ends, and of an excellent flavor. Noav York, and Dr. Eben Wight, of Bos- f® bcAvaimed or dried. I ravne ^ 
The hens are not “ everlasting layers,” al- ton, Massachusetts, both of whom continue Farmer^ __ \ 
though they produce eggs in reasonable to breed them in their utmost purity. Oth- Effect of Raii.ho.-vds on the Market. ) 
abundance, but at due or convenient niter- er importations have since been made by Whether the railroads Icadino- into New ( 
—— farmer’s door. We were struck Avith this 
Management of Hogs. For the last Dinghampton, the other day. The price 
them to attora Avarmth ana sneiter lo me ble. i he Avay i manage is tlus: i take pigs York. Venison used to be a com- 
tui-key poults for a long time. For the same about the middle of March, and Avhenthey tables of the quiet villa- 
reason, spare goose eggs may safely be en- are about one month old, I put them in a o-ers of that once inland tOAvn; but now 
generally broAvnish-yellow, Avith a bioad, turn them in Avith the pigs three times a ij^Qj-ning, and served up for supper the samiL 
broAvn stripe doAvn the middle of the back, day, until some time in July, Avhen I turn _ Agriculturist. 
and a narrow one on each side. my soavs and pigs into my orchard, Avhere *' _ ^ ^_ _ 
Although pure-bred Dorkings are still de- they get the most of their living until Octo- Wheels.— The best 
servedly in high repute, a cross is generally ber; then I feed them on corn-meal and goj^position for greasing cart Avhecls, is 
regarded more profitable than the true mush until some time in January. When recommended by a celebrated French 
breed. A showy, energetic game cock, Avith I kill them, they average from 250 to 2/5 gbgj^ist, viz: eighty parts of grease—say 
Dorking hens, produces chickens, in size pounds; and I am almost conA'inced that (jom'se lard or offal talloAv, or Avhat some 
and beauty little inferior to their^ maternal they are more profitable than Avintered hogs too ' knoAving housewives buy for 
parentage, and more robust, ihis race has weighing 400 pounds; but I stand open to cooMnghutier ”—and tAV'enty parts of black 
the peculiarity in having a supernumerary conviction. Perhaps some of your able cor- (plumbago) reduced to very fine poAv- 
toe on each foot, and, as has already been respondents may convince me otherwise. nnfl intimatelv and comnletelv 
said, often one or more toe-like protusions jgdlar Newsplper. Sh®” This "s led at the 
above their heels resembling claAvs. These - ^ , French Mint, for lock.s, &c., and is surpris- 
characteristics almost always disappear Avitli To ensure the easy fattening of animals, . A very small quantity will 
the first or second cross; and as they are keep them ahvays groAvmg. If a young 
points that can Avell be spared Avithout any animal is stopped in his growth, he forgets '--—«- 
disadvantage, it is now a common practice, 1 where he left off, and does not knoAv hoAv to qqji; better animals are fed, and the more 
in England, thus to breed them off. The I begin again. If he keeps under Avay, the comfortable they can be kept, the more 
blended together. This is used at the 
French Mint, for lodes, &c., and is surpris¬ 
ingly durable. A very small quantity Avill 
i first cross produces a fine bird, Avhich is large, momentum AviU propel him for'.vard. j 
though less prolific; but if the mongrel -^^ 
progeny be crossed Avith each other, they Sheep abhor rains and wet in winter.— 
soon dAvindle to nothing. Therefore, one These injure them more than cold or diy 
has no farther guarantee of the cross breed snoAV. 
being good further than the first result. Good fences make good neighbors. 
profitable they are, and all farmers work 
for profit. 
When you see the fence doAvn put it up; 
if it remains down until to-morroAV the cat¬ 
tle may get over. 
