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VOLUME II. NQ. 18. 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.-THURSDAY, MAY 1, 1851. 
WHOLE NO. 70. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: 
A WEEKLY JOURNAL, DEVOTED TO 
Agriculture, Horticulture, Mechanic Arts and Sci¬ 
ence, Education, itural and Domestic Economy, 
General Intelligence, the Markets, &c., &c. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
ASS1STKD BY 
J. II. BIXBY, L. WETHER ELL, and H. C. WHITE. 
Contributors a 
I. . B. Lanoworthy, 
William Garbut.t, 
S. P. Chapman, 
David Ely, 
Myron Adams, 
II. P. Norton, 
F. W. Lay, 
T. E. Wetmore, 
R. 15. Warren, 
Archibald Stone, 
And numerous others—pr; 
writers—whose names are 
nd Correspondents: 
Chester Dewey, ll. d., 
.(. Clement, 
D. W. Ballou, Jr., 
R. G. Pardee, 
1. Hildreth, 
Jas. H. Watts, 
W. K. Wyckokp, 
W. II. Bristol, 
W. D. Ali.is, 
j L. D. Whiting. 
actical, scientific, and literary 
necessarily omitted. 
I’KOKISCSS Ai\I> IMPROVEMENT. 
BARLEY-ITS CULTURE AND PROFIT. 
Messrs. Editors As the season for 
sowing summer crops is now at hand, I beg 
to say one word in regard to the culture of 
barley. This crop is grown extensively in 
several counties east of us, but very little, 
comparatively, is produced in our own coun¬ 
ty. Now I urge the culture of barley, as 
a market crop. That no great demand for 
it has hitherto existed here, is owing to the 
fact, that but little has generally been raised 
here. There has never failed to be a good 
demand for it, in counties where it has been 
extensively cultivated. It would be diffi¬ 
cult, I think, to find a crop of summer grain 
that would pay better. The ground can be 
plowed late in the fall, and the seed har¬ 
rowed in early in the spring, and if the soil 
and season are favorable, forty bushels per 
acre can be realized. As to value, the price 
at the present time is 80 cents per bushel. 
Boats from the east were here or in this vi¬ 
cinity last fall, to purchase barley for malt¬ 
ing, and paid from 02 to 08 cents per bushel. 
This was twice the price of oats, while the 
amount of labor to produce barley, had been 
only the same as to produce an oat crop.— 
As a general fact, 1 suppose a larger num¬ 
ber of bushels of oats can be raised on an 
acre of land, than of barley. But not 
enough more, to .equal the difference in 
price. Of course, barley as a market crop, 
is most profitable. 
I urge the culture of barley also as a 
crop for domestic use. It is nearly equal 
in value to Indian corn. Good barley will 
weigh from 48 to 52 lbs., and corn 56 lbs. 
to the bushel. I have had 36 lbs. of good 
bolted flour from one bushel of barley—as 
handsome in appearance, as common wheat 
flour ground for farmers ordinary use. Now 
it is produced, with less than half the labor 
needed in producing a crop of com—re¬ 
quires much less time to attain its maturity 
—and there is no use to which corn is ap¬ 
plied, where barley may not also be applied. 
It will make as excellent, and more healthy 
cakes, than buckwheat,—when ground, will 
avail in the fattening of pork, as beneficially 
as corn,—is decidedly preferable to corn or 
oats, jas food for horses and poultry,—and 
considering the cost of producing is, in my 
view, decidedly the most valuable summer 
grain ^that we raise. It requires in some 
respects, a different soil from oats—that is, 
oats ill do well on moist ground, where 
barley will not. It requires the same, but 
no b.-tti-r ground, than corn or spring wheat. 
But it will yield more bushels than spring 
wheat, an d generally about as many as corn, 
and with half the labor. 
There arc certain indications, that the 
demand for barle\ for city use, will Hereaf¬ 
ter be greatly increased. And if it was 
known, that uniformly, every year, a large 
crop of barley was raised in this county, it 
would be purchased for even the Philadel¬ 
phia and Baltimore markets, as it is in coun¬ 
ties not far us. It is, in my view, a 
preferable crop to wheat. For instead of 
requiring the use of land for nearly two 
seasons, it requires it but the half of one, 
and is free from the hazard of winter kill¬ 
ing, and other evils so fatal to the wheat 
crop. The straw also for the use of stock, 
is equalled by no other kind of straw, and 
is but little inferior to common hay. To an 
extensive farmer, this would be an item of 
much value. Farmer D. 
ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES. 
Earliest and best varieties of Indian Corn for 
this climate—Potatoes and the Rot; best varie¬ 
ties, size of seed, and time of planting —Ma¬ 
nuring potatoes—Vitality of various seeds, and 
where obtainable. 
In answer to “ A Learner,” Phelps, On 
tario county, whose communication was un¬ 
fortunately m slaid, we say, that the varie¬ 
ties of Indian corn most sure to ripen, are 
the Dutton 12 rowed, and the Early Can¬ 
ada 8 rowed—each of which withal give 
a good crop. There are two or three 
kinds of large kernel and long eared 8 
rowed, that are greater producers, but con¬ 
siderably later, and can hardly be got off in 
time for following with wheat. 
The earliest potatoes are the Ash-leaf 
Kidney, and the Early June. The Mercer 
is an early variety, and a much better pro¬ 
ducer, and better fleshed, but very liable to 
the rot, as are all fine white fleshed kinds. 
When the parings, and even the cuttings ol 
the tops, suckers and sprouts, without am 
tubers at all, will produce a good yield, it is 
hardly worth speculating on, or laying down 
as a rule, that only large seed will produce 
large again. It holds good in the animal 
kingdom as in the vegetable; a young and 
small animal begets as large progeny as tin- 
large and full aged. We believe small 
seed as good as any, if ripe enough to veg 
etate. Potatoes less in size than a hen’s 
egg, may be planted whole; larger ones 
may have the seed end or about one third 
cut off, and the other part split in two pie¬ 
ces and planted three pieces in a hill; prop¬ 
erly separated with the eyes up—which 
will make a week’s difference in their com 
ing up. Most persons plant too many eyes 
to the hill; it is not uncommon to find from 
twelve to twenty sfems, wiiich causes too 
many and undersized potatoes. 
To avoid the rot, potatoes cannot be 
planted, in this climate, too early; but do 
not give as good a yield as when planted 
from the 1st to the 10th of June. They 
fall oft’ and ripen during the hot summer 
months. 
Manure, while the rot prevails, is almost 
always fatal, especially if fresh and recent¬ 
ly made. Old composts are not as bad, 
when not used to excess. Green-sward and 
light dry soils are safest for the potato crop. 
Most seeds will germinate at two or three 
years old, if kept securely and dry—but 
the melon, pumpkin, and all oily seeds, may 
be kept almost any length of time, and 
grow finely. 
All the new and early kinds of potatoes 
and corn, and in fact, almost every variety 
known of field or garden seeds, may be ob¬ 
tained at the Rochester Seed Stores. 
EARLY POTATOES. 
Tiie following method is often practiced 
for growing early potatoes, and will for¬ 
ward them ten or fifteen days in advance of 
those planted the usual way. 
Spread a peck, or more, as desired, of 
some early variety upon the ground, on the 
sunny side of a building or tight fence, and 
cover them two inches deep with horse sta¬ 
ble manure. Let them remain until the 
sprouts appear, and then plant on a good 
warm soil, with ashes and plaster, and a 
light covering of earth. 
The plan is simple and can be readily 
tested by such as have not a better way. 
WHERE DOES THE CARBON COME FROM ? 
T. — “ Whkrk did the first carbon come from, 
to produce the first vegetation?” 
F. —“ It must have been a part of the original 
creation.”— \i~inter Evenings at Home No. 6, in 
Rural N. Y. 
True, and if we suppose that at the cre¬ 
ation of the world, the elements of which 
the earth is composed, were created in their 
simple, ir e. uncombined state, we shall have 
little difficulty, comparatively, in explaining 
many things that we meet with in the struc¬ 
ture of the earth. 
Many simple or elementary substances 
are so inflammable, that, if brought together, 
immediate combustion is the consequence. 
Suppose this then to have been the case 
at the time of the creation, and what 
would have been the result? The combus¬ 
tion of these would have eaused immediate 
condensation, accompanied by intense heat, 
which would have drawn in all other sub¬ 
stances one after another till the whole 
would have formed an immense mass of 
liquid fire. 
As soon as the combustion and conden¬ 
sation should be completed, the process 
<if cooling would commence, and in course 
of time the exterior of the mass would be¬ 
come so far cooled as to allow of incipient 
crystallization. This would bring together 
kindred substances, and hence the crystal¬ 
line structure of the primitive rocks. There 
would yet be no permanent water on the 
earth’s surface. This substance would ex¬ 
ist only in a state of steam, or heated va¬ 
por, or in uncombined elements, encom¬ 
passing the whole earth, in which would 
be found all the gases that would not com¬ 
bine with the heated mass, or that could 
not remain in combination with it while so 
highly heated. Carbonic acid, (i. e. carbon 
and oxygen,) would be one of these, and 
would exist free in immense quantities, since 
even limestone would yet exist only in the 
state of quick lime. 
Long before the fiery mass should be 
sufficiently cooled to allow of water’s re¬ 
maining on its surface, rains, such as hu¬ 
man eyes have never witnessed, would come 
pouring down, which, being immediately 
converted into vapor,—would cause a rapid 
cooling and breaking up of the outer crust 
or covering of the fiery globe, preparatory 
to the formation of what we called the 
“transition,” or lower “ sedimentary rocks,” 
and eventually, to the formation of a soil. 
As yet the carbonic gas would remain 
in the atmosphere, except what would be 
absorbed by water, and other substances 
with which it would now begin to unite.— 
As soon, however, as a soil should be form¬ 
ed (which continued eruptions, waves, and 
washings would in time effect,) capable of 
sustaining life, animal or vegetable, a race 
of organized beings adapted to such a 
“ state of things” were created, the remains 
of which, both animal and vegetable, are 
now found in the earliest sedimentary rocks. 
The existence and decay of these, united 
with other agencies then in active operation, 
prepared the way for the next higher order 
of organized existences, and so on till we 
come to the time when those vegetables 
grew, which furnished materials for the 
coal-beds. Up to this time the absorption 
of carbonic gas from the atmosphere would 
be comparatively slow, as the limited amount 
of vegetables previously existing seems to 
indicate. Now all is changed. Everything, 
both in the animal and vegetable kingdom, 
starts on a grand scale. Now the marshes, 
which doubtless cover a large portion of 
the land surface of the earth, are covered 
with gigantic reeds, ferns, &c., to which 
those of the present day bear no compari¬ 
son. Animals of proportionate magnitude 
feed and gambol among them. 
Three causes contributed to this enor¬ 
mous growth of vegetables:—1st. A rich 
soil produced by the destruction and de¬ 
composition of previously existing races.— 
2d. The warmth and moisture of the earth 
and consequently of the atmosphere. 3d. 
The great abundance of carbonic and other 
gases in the atmosphere. Causes 2nd 
and 3d, I infer from two considerations: — 
First—that the plants were either aquatic 
or, at least, adapted to a moist soil. Sec¬ 
ond — that the animals in general were 
either marine, or amphibious; and such as 
were capable of living and even thriving in 
such an atmosphere, and were exactly 
adapted to such a “ state of things.” 
Two questions remain to be answered:— 
1st. How were the vegetable materials 
brought together in sufficient quantity to 
form a coal bed? 2nd. Row were they 
carbonized ? 
1st. How were they brought together? 
All Geologists agree that there have been 
numeious submergencies, and subsequent 
elevation , of almost all parts of what is 
now the “ dry land.” Suppose then, that, 
at the time of the deposite of the materials 
which formed the coal-beds of Pennsylva¬ 
nia, that portion of the country consisted of 
immense lakes, gulfs, or arms of the ocean, 
while north, south, east or west, fey an ex¬ 
tensive country covered with luxuriant veg¬ 
etation, through which great rivers had 
been fluwing for ages, carrying down im¬ 
mense quantities of vegetable matter into 
these lakes, as our Western ri vers have long- 
done into the gulf of Mexico. Or suppose, 
(which is more probable,) that vast currents, 
even floods, have at various times, swept 
over the earth —one of which passed over 
New England from NE. to SW. carrying 
with it all the vegetable matter, the whole 
timber of the country, and depositing it in 
these supposed lakes. Three things render 
this supposition plausible:—1st. Fragments 
of rocks like those of New England are 
scattered far to the southwest. 2nd. Both 
the rocks and soil of New England are al¬ 
most wholly primitive. 3d. There is very 
little coal in New England. Such a pro¬ 
cess repeated would form a series of coal 
beds. Hence it seems probable that Penn¬ 
sylvania has been enriched by the products 
of New England soil. 
2nd. How was this vegetable matter car¬ 
bonized ? Pressure has been supposed to 
generate heat I do not attach much im¬ 
portance this theory. It is known that vege¬ 
tation grows luxuriantly on a warm soil, even 
around the very crater of a volcano, around 
hot springs, Ac. Hence I have assigned 
this as one cause of the abundant veueta- 
O 
tion of early Limes. It is also known that 
a heated body, as a cannon ball, may be¬ 
come nearly cold on the surface, while 
the heat within is cousiderable. If now 
the body be covered with a somewhat 
compact substance, the internal heat will 
pervade the whole mass, rendering the out¬ 
side of the covering as warm as the outside 
of the body was before, while the surface 
of the body beneath the covering will be¬ 
come much warmer. A coal-pit will fur¬ 
nish an illustration. When fully charred, 
the hand may be held on the surface of the 
pit with impunity. If now another layer 
of wood be placed over the whole, and this 
again be covered with earth, the heat will 
suon increase so as to char, or carbonize 
the whole; and so on for any number of 
additions that may be made to it. Apply 
this principle to the coal-beds and we have 
a simpfeand natural explanation of the sub¬ 
ject. H. 
Down East, March, 1851. 
The foot of the owner is the best manure 
for land. 
TOWN FARMERS’ AND MECHANICS’ ASSOCI¬ 
ATIONS. 
There is, perhaps, no topic connected 
with the advancement of agriculture more 
really and vitally important than the one 
indicated by our heading. Such an associ¬ 
ation as I now speak of, established on cor¬ 
rect principles and under the guidance of 
sound, practical men—farmers and mechan¬ 
ics—would do more to elevate labor to its 
true position, and advance agriculture and 
the mechanic arts to the dignity of learned 
professions, (we can do very well without 
the titles only give us the substance,) than 
all other means that can be resorted to at 
this time for that purpose. 
Such institutions scattered over our coun¬ 
try would call into activity a mass of mind 
now lying dormant and comparatively use¬ 
less— would direct it into new channels— 
would open rich mines of thought—fresh 
fountains of knowledge to the common 
mind, and serve still further the valuable 
purpose of uniting more firmly the various 
political and social interests of the country. 
The rancor of party and the fell spirit of 
war and conquest would give place to, and 
be lost in devotion to more peaceful, more 
useful, honorable, and ennobling employ¬ 
ments. Tendencies would thus be put in 
operation which would in a short tune 
work a complete revolution in the intellect¬ 
ual, social, and rural aspects of the whole 
community. 
It will be borne in mind that a well or¬ 
ganized and well conducted association is 
now spoken of—one liberally supported, so 
as to call into activity all the talent and re¬ 
sources of its members, and inspiring each 
with a spirit of generous emulation to excel 
in the work of improvement. I might 
enumerate many meliorations in agriculture 
which can only be effected by unitary ef¬ 
forts among farmers. No association of this 
kind should consider itself well organized 
until it has formed the nucleus of a library, 
a cabinet of natural history, geology, Ac., 
and a chemical apparatus. To accomplish 
these objects we will suppose that one hun¬ 
dred men might be found in the town, lib¬ 
eral enough to contribute three to five dol¬ 
lars each, to be appropriated for the purpose, 
and one dollar annually thereafter;—thus 
we should have $3,00 to $5,00 to begin 
with, and $1,00 annually, to promote these 
beneficent objects. Some will call this an 
extravagant estimate; yet what intelligent, 
liberal minded man does not believe tha 
each contributor would be benefited much 
more than the amount of this subscription 
in a pecuniary point of view—by the enhanc¬ 
ed value of his estate—add to this increased 
facilities, intellectual and social, and the con- 
ciousness of having done much by small 
outlay, to promote the good work of human 
progress, and you have satisfactory profits. 
The library should be composed, in ad¬ 
dition to the agricultural and mechanical 
departments, which should be as complete 
as possible, of standard works on science, 
art, history, biography, travel, and the most 
approved works in the department of polite 
literature—together with the leading cur¬ 
rent reviews, American and English, in the 
several departments of science, the mechanic 
arts, and agriculture. 
No compensation should be given to any 
of the officers, except the secretary and 
possibly the treasurer; these, together with 
a president and board of directors should 
constitute the officers of the society. The 
secretary, who should be a permanent offi¬ 
cer, selected for bis eminent abilities and 
devotion to the pursuit of knowledge, should 
be paid for actual services,—through him a 
correspondence should be carried on with 
similar associations abroad, for various ob- 
