VOLUME I. 
EOCHESTER, N. Y.-THURSDAY, VOVEMEER 21, 1850 
NUMBER 47. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
PUBLISHED WEEKLY. 
Office in Burns’ Block, corner of Buffalo and State 
streets, (entrance on State,) Rochester. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE. 
(Late Publisher and Associate Editor Gen. Farmer .) 
L. B. LANGWORTITY, Associate Editor. 
Corresponding Editors: 
ELON COMSTO CK an d II. C. WHITE. 
Educational Deportment by L. WETHERELL. 
O’ For Terms, &c., see last page. 
PROGRESS AND IlttPROVEHIENT. 
FARMER’S CLUBS. 
Though the farmer is never completely 
at leisure, yet winter, intermitting the culti¬ 
vation of his farm, ofiPers a very favorable 
opportunity for domestic and social improve¬ 
ment and enjoyment. The fatigues of the 
more active seasons leave little leisure or 
inclination for reading or conversation, but 
after a day of bracing exercise in tvinter, 
ho is ready to employ his mental faculties 
in study, writing or discussion. Stores of 
useful knowledge, plans for future opera¬ 
tions, and all matters of general interest, 
may now profitably and pleasantly occupy 
his attention. 
To awaken and encourage the spirit of 
improvement, and bring into active opera¬ 
tion the friendly feelings of a neighborhood, 
there can be no happier Avay, than by uni¬ 
ting in the advancement of their common 
interests through the formation of Farmer’s 
Clubs, which have been heretorc described 
in this paper. Such associations, meeting 
once in a week or fortnight at the houses 
of the different members to pass an even¬ 
ing together, and to discuss subjects of mu¬ 
tual concernment—to compare views and 
opinions, and suggest plans of mental im¬ 
provement—will undoubtedly prove bene¬ 
ficial to any neighborhood. The proceed¬ 
ings might be varied by the reading of ex¬ 
tracts from standard agricultural works, of 
which a small contribution from each mem¬ 
ber would procure a valuable collection, 
perhaps not otherwise availableto be fol¬ 
lowed by remarks from those present, giv¬ 
ing their views and experience upon the 
subject suggested. 
Different minds will of course look differ¬ 
ently upon Ihe same subject, and have va¬ 
rious modes of arriving at the same conclu¬ 
sions; but we believe that for plain farmers 
the less formality and attempt at adherence 
to parliamentary rules, the more pleasant 
and profitable will prove the result. A 
spirit familiar, yet gentlemanly, should char¬ 
acterize alt their intercourse, and experience 
would doubtless suggest the best manner of 
conducting the proceedings. 
Let those of our subscribers who think 
favorably of these suggestions, in each 
school or road district, or larger teiritory if 
thought advisable, invite on some designa¬ 
ted evening, the neighboring farmers to a 
social interview, with the object of mutual 
improvement by . the statement of facts and 
comparison and discussion of opinions, and 
they will have a Farmer’s Club started, 
which requires only the adoption of some 
few simple rules, and a subject or subjects 
for the next meeting, and an adjournment 
from time to time, and place to place, to 
keep it in constant and beneficial operation. 
And, to extend throughout the land the 
good influences of these societies, we hope 
there will be found in each one, persons 
willing and competent to select and prepare 
for publication in our own or other papers, 
the most important facts elicited. In this 
way tens of tliousands may share in the 
benefits of the discoveries, or the experi¬ 
ence of a single neighborhood, and the 
range of discussion and comparison be ex¬ 
tended among “ the million ” who are now 
readers of agricultural periodicals. n. 
SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 
There are two leading objects in keeping 
sheep, one is, profit from the butcher’s stall; 
the other, profit from the fleece. I propose 
to speak only of the latter; and in view of 
this object, to give an opinion, as to the 
character and relative value of the different 
breeds of fine wool sheep, the Saxon and 
the Merino. 
In reading the recent account of the Liv¬ 
ingston County Cattle Show, I noticed the 
remark, that the exhibition of Merinos was 
extensive and fine—more so than that of 
the Saxons. And that the public sentiment 
seemed inclining towards a preference for 
the Merino blood. This is but one, of the 
many indications now presenting themselves, 
that farmers are leaning towards the Meri¬ 
no, and losing their partiality for the Saxon. 
I regret this. I do not consider it, as a 
general thing, a wise policy. There must 
be a reason for it; for intelligent and calcu¬ 
lating farmers do not abandon an object, 
known to be good, except in expectation of 
a better. It is, to be sure, of little conse¬ 
quence, what kind of sheep a careless, slov¬ 
enly farmer keeps. Any thing, that does 
not of necessity hold its own, must deteri¬ 
orate in the charge of such a man. But to 
the farmer who feels an ambition to excel, 
and who is willing to appropriate time, mo¬ 
ney, and labor for this purpose—who culti¬ 
vates fine wool sheep, for the pleasure and 
the profit of sheep liucbundry— I beg to 
submit a few remarks. 
Now I cannot assume to decide for every 
individual, what kind or breed of sheep will 
be most desirable for him to keep. Very 
much must depend upon his location, his 
taste, inclination and judgment If satisfi¬ 
ed with a fair medium quality of fine wool 
sheep, that will maintain their standing with 
little care and attention, perhaps the Meri¬ 
no might be advisable. Although they 
might not, as a flock, improve in quality, 
still if reasonable attention should be paid 
to the selection and use of bucks, they would 
not become coarse wool sheep. But if de¬ 
sirous to have something superior in all re¬ 
spects, then I think the Saxon should be 
his mark. 
Now I consider it unnecessai-y to enter 
into any estimate, of the comparative ex¬ 
pense of keeping a fine wool flock, whether 
of Merino or of Saxon blood. If there is 
any difference, it must be small, and to an 
able farmer of little or no consequence. But 
it is important to investigate, and under¬ 
stand the reasons, if substantial reasons ex¬ 
ist, why the Merino should be preferred to 
the Saxon blood. 
I suppose, therefore, the claim to this 
preference rests, upon three assumed posi¬ 
tions. First, that the Merino is sujpposed to 
possess the best constitution; second, to be 
most easily and cheaply sustained—and 
third, to produce as fine, and a heavier fleece. 
I am not sure, that 20 or 25 years ago, 
there might not have been some ostensible 
reason, for such an opinion. But at the 
present time, in my own view, no such rea¬ 
sons in reality exist. Experience and facts 
must decide this point, and experience and 
facts must correct any erroneous impressions- 
I have been interested in sheep husband¬ 
ry, more or less, for a long period—not less 
than 40 years. Have had in my ownership 
imported Saxons and Merinos of the differ¬ 
ent breeds, and of the best qualities—have 
cultivated each with care—have blended 
them, and have kept them separate for 
jears. They have received the same sup¬ 
port, and the same attention—have experi¬ 
enced the same exposures, and the same 
protection. And I liave found the consti¬ 
tution of the Saxons, ultimately, when per¬ 
fectly acclimated, as strong and sound as 
the Merino—their size as large—their forms 
rather superior—their fleeces as large, and 
decidedly finer and more beautiful than the 
Merino. Of course, in all respects fully 
equal to them, and in some decidedly supe¬ 
rior. I have sold the fleeces, of both kinds, 
at the same time, to the yvooI factor—have 
also sold both kinds to the same manufac¬ 
turer, but in no single instance have I ever 
obtained as high a price for the Merino as 
for the Saxon. An experience, large and 
long continued, has therefore conclusively 
settled the fact in my own mind, that the 
three positions assumed above, have at the 
present day, no real foundation. That the 
Saxon, now become to all intents and pur¬ 
poses, a native of the country, is as hardy in 
constitution, and as easily and cheaply sus¬ 
tained, as any other breed of fine wool sheep; 
and tliiit his fleece is superior to all others. 
November, 1850. A Farmer. 
[ To be concluded in our next number.'\ 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, &c,, 
Made at Laphamville, Kent Co., Michigan. 
Friend Moore :—I send you the follow¬ 
ing Thermometric observations. If you 
think them worth insertion, for the purpose 
of comparison or otherwise by your many 
readers—they are at your service, and may 
be followed up at the expiration of each 
month by similar ones. I commenced ob¬ 
servations with the middle of the month, 
hence the incompleteness of the table. 
Oct. 
1850. 
6. a.m. I 2. p. M. 
1 9. P. M. 
1 AV. WIND. 
16 
60 
78 
1 66 
68.00 S. S W. 
17 
46 
58 
45 
49.66 s w. 
18 
44 
51 
40 
45.00 s w. 
19 
38 
48 
1 47 
44.33 w. N w. 
20 
34 
46 
r 32 j 
37.33 N w. 
21 
36 
63 
1 45 
48.00 s. 
22 
31 
67 
54 
50.66 s. w. 
23 
42 • 
51 
34 
I 42.33 w. 
24 
36 
45 
30 
37.00 AV. N w. 
25 
34 
45 
28 1 
.35.66 N w. 
26 
28 
56 
33 
39.00 N w. 
27 
21 
53 
36 
36,66 N w. 
28 
27 
60 
41 
42.66 w. 
29 
i 25 
52 
30 
35.66 w. 
30 
25 
1 58 
44 
42.33 i s. K. 
31 
1 39 
1 58 
52 
49.66 1 E. s. 
REMARKS. 
The Ifitli was 
! cloudy, with thunder and lijrht 
showers. 
17th. Hazy in the forenoon and pleasant in the 
after part of the day. 
18th. Cloudy, with showers and sunshine al¬ 
ternating. 
19th. Quite showery. 
20th. Sunshine prevailed, giving a lovely sun¬ 
set, succeeded by a bright evening. 
The 2lst, 22nd, and 23d, were pleasant days 
with that dreamy atmosphere peculiar to the pe¬ 
riod of Indian Summer. 
The 24th and 25th. Broken clouds with light 
squalls in the afternoon of the 24th. 
The remainder of the month up to the afternoon 
of the last day was very pleasant, and real bona 
fide Indian Summer in all its loveliness.* That 
afternoon we had strong south wind with light 
showers, which, after nightfall, became quite 
heavy. The wind has been light and fair. Ice 
was formed in shallow vessels to the thickne.ss of 
one-fourth of an inch several mornings. 
Our situation is but a trifle above the 
43d parallel—probably very nearly, if not 
quite in a line with Rochester, and inland 
from Lake Michigan some fifty miles. We 
have a good and productive soil, that well 
remunerates the faithful cultivator of it. In 
this vicinity however it is new, and the in¬ 
habitants though industrious, are of that 
class mostly who have to struggle with small 
means against the many vicissitudes oT life 
— and their farming therefore has to be 
carried forward against great odds. 
The future wdll see this an admirable as:- 
ricultural region—possessed as it is, of its 
crystal streams and springs that give health 
and comfort to both man and beast. All 
crops this season are rather below a full 
yield, but not surpassed for quality. Our 
Potatoes have escaped that scourge, the rot. 
For the delicious flavor of its “ flap-jacks,” 
Michigan Buckwheat is perhaps unrivaled 
in the world. Certainly it is far superior to 
that grown in the Empire State. Large 
quantities are produced. Corn is excellent 
But my article is too rambling. t. e. w. 
Laphamville, Mich., Nov. 7, 1850* 
AGRICULTURE AN ART, 
Let every farmer who has a son to educate, be¬ 
lieve and remember that science lays the founda¬ 
tion of everything valuable in agriculture.— Ex¬ 
change paper. 
Science, i. e. knowledge, is just as valuable to 
a farmer as to a lawyer, a clergyman, or a phj’si- 
cian. Ignorant men practice law and physic, and 
preach—after a fashion. Sometimes they make 
monej'. The same thing may be said of ignorant 
agriculturists. Nevertheless it is quite true that 
knowledge—education—learning, if you please— 
contributes as much to the elevation, prosperity 
and happiness of him who directs the plow, as of 
any other man.— Rochester American. 
That knowledge is necessary to him who 
would succeed in business of any kind, none 
can or will deny. That the same kind and 
amount of knowledge and mental discipline 
are requisite for success in the several call¬ 
ings enumerated above by the editor of the 
American, few, if any will claim. 
It is a popular notion at the present day 
to urge that everybody must know some¬ 
thing about every thing. If any one un¬ 
dertakes to follow out this notion, he will 
find in the end that he knows but little of 
any thing. It requires no little time and ef¬ 
fort to know every thing about any thing, 
even the most limited subject. 
What folly then to urge, as is not unfre- 
quently done at the present day, that a far¬ 
mer needs to master the sciences of Chem¬ 
istry, Geology, Mineralogy, Botany, &c., <fec., 
with vegetable and animal Physiology,— 
Latin and Greek and Mathematics, and oth¬ 
er specific branches of science too numer¬ 
ous to name, in order that he may practice 
farming succe.'jsfull}'. 
That knowledge is a good thing and is 
desirable for all, who will question ? That 
a knowledge of the science-of Chemistry is 
absolutely necessary to the successful prac¬ 
tice of the Art of Agriculture, we deny.— 
To acqurie a knowledge of agricultural 
chemistry and vegetable and animal anato¬ 
my and physiology, in a sufficient degree to 
enable a farmer to conduct his labor in strict 
harmony with the laws of Nature, as de¬ 
veloped and demonstrated by these sciences, 
would require close study and experiment¬ 
ing for many years—more than are ordina¬ 
rily allotted to man in these latter ages of 
the world, and stronger mental powers than 
the majority of mankind possess. Dr. Lie¬ 
big, with the unusual natural capacity which 
he possesses for, and his undying enthusi¬ 
asm in the study of the science of chemis¬ 
try, has not yet, according to his own views, 
mastered the elements of this branch of 
science to which he has thus far devoted 
his life. And Avith all his theoretical and 
scientific knowledge of agriculture, we doubt 
very much whether Dr. Liebig would sue 
ceed in practical farming, as well as some of 
our Monroe county fiirmers, who never look¬ 
ed into a chemistry and perhaps have 
pledged themselves never to do such a book¬ 
ish act Here, then, we have two men, each 
successful in his vocation, eminently so.— 
The one is devoting his life to the science 
of agriculture, and the other to the art 
The knowledge of science is one thing— 
one kind of knowledge—the knowledge of 
art is another and a different sort of 
knowledge. 
Art is the application of knoAvledge to ef¬ 
fect a desired purpose. Music, for example, 
is both a science and an art And there 
are multitudes of excellent singers Avho are 
as ignorant of the science of music as many 
of our best farmers are of the science of 
chemistry. And, on the other hand, there 
are those who are deeply read and skilled 
in the science of music, to whom, should 
they attempt to sing, Dodd’s epigram Avould 
apply with great force; 
“ Swans sing before they die: ’twere no bad thing, 
Should certain persons die before they sing.” 
The art of fitrming, and consequently the 
success, depend more on personal observa¬ 
tion and experience than on books; not that 
we discard books—no, by no means—nei¬ 
ther would we substitute them for observa¬ 
tion and experience. 
Your success as a farmer depends vastly 
more upon the knowledge of the art of ag¬ 
riculture, than of the science ^— the one is 
Avithin the reach of all — the other can be 
enjoyed only by your Liebig’s, your Nor¬ 
ton’s and your Emmons’s. These doctors 
are ever willing to instruct you in the man¬ 
ipulations of yours, the noblest of Arts. 
In what we have written here we are not 
to be understood as opposing the most tho¬ 
rough liberal course of agricultural educa¬ 
tion;—but as opposing the notion that no 
man can succeed as a farmer without being 
an agricultural chemist. There is but one 
Liebig among the Germans'—but one 
Boussingault in France—but one John¬ 
ston in England, and but one - in 
America. Every farmer should, and may, 
without the knowledge of these distinguish¬ 
ed savans, derive aid in the practice of his 
useful art, from their excellent writings.— 
Let all do so—and no one would rejoice 
more than we, to see every farmer a good 
practical chemist—but as this is entirely 
impracticable, Ave have sought in what we 
have written, to demonstrate that a man 
may be a good, thorough, and successful 
farmer, without being a learned chemist. 
w. 
Remarks. —Without fully endorsing the 
above article, we must admit that it con- 
tjiins much truth. There is no doubt that 
some writers on chemistry claim too much 
for their favorite topic—thus taking the op¬ 
posite extreme of those avIio reject all sci¬ 
ence in farming. They depend too much 
upon science alone—Avhic , our correspon¬ 
dent, Avho properly represents a numerous 
class of strong minded farmers, is as far 
Avrong in depending exclusively upon the 
results of observation and experience. We 
hold that science and art should be combi¬ 
ned — that farmers should not only observe 
and experiment, but avail themselves of the 
knowledge to be obtained from the investi¬ 
gations of others. The subject is a suggest¬ 
ive one, and we may hereafter take occasion 
to discuss it more fully.—E d. 
NOTES FROM THE MOHAWK VALLEY. 
We have been faA'ored in the Valley of 
the Mohawk Avith a most delightful season 
O 
of autumn weather, which our farmers have 
most industriously improved. The past 
summer has been marked ^having more 
hilling weather than any sea^K in the mem¬ 
ory of the “ oldest inhabitant.” The Mo- 
haAvk river has been at full bank nearly the 
entire summer, and repeatedly overflowed 
the extensive flats, to the serious injuiy of 
the crops of hay, corn and potatoes. 
Broom corn, for Avhich great fears were 
entertained early in the season, has, despite 
the adverse circumstances, yielded a most 
abundant crop of unusual excellence. 
The crop of fruit is by no means abundant, 
and such as has groAvn is deficient in the 
fine flavor peculiar to apples of Western 
New York. 
Potatoes, Avhich promised fair, have suf¬ 
fered from the disease, making our supply 
very scanty—and, as every one hoards what 
he has, prices rule high. 
Butter and cheese, the great staple of 
our county, have been produced in usual 
abundance, and, as we have some reason to 
know, of improA’cd quality. Cheese is now 
selling at 85,25 to $6,00 per hundred, ac¬ 
cording to quality and the previous reputa¬ 
tion of the dairy, Avhile butter ranges from 
12 to 15 cents. Most of our cheese finds a 
market in New York, though some buyers 
are sending to Philadelphia, where, in some 
instances, better prices are obtained. 
