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ROCHESTER, N. Y.-THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1851 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: 
A WEEKLY JOURNAL, DEVOTED TO 
Agriculture, Horticulture, Mechanic Arts and Sci¬ 
ence, Education, Rural and Domestic Economy, 
General Intelligence, the Markets, &c., &c. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
ASSISTED BY 
J. H. BIXBY, L. WETIIERELL, and H. C. WHITE. 
Contributors and Correspondents: 
Chester Dewey, ll. 
J. Clement, 
D. W. Ballou, Jr., 
R. G. Pardee, 
I. Hildreth, 
Jas. II. Watts, 
W. K. Wyckoff, 
W. H. Bristol, 
Wm. Perry Fogg, 
S. Luther, 
L. 1). Whiting. 
L. B. Lanowortiiy, 
William Garbutt, 
S. P. Chapman, 
David Ely, 
Myron Adams, 
II. P. Norton, 
T. C. Peters, 
F. W. Lay, 
T. E. Wetmore, 
R. B. Warren, 
Archibald Stone, 
And numerous others—practical, scientific, and literary 
writers—whose names are necessarily omitted. 
The Rural New-Yorker is designed to be unique and 
beautiful in appearance, and unsurpassed in Value, Purity 
and Variety of Contents. Its conductors earnestly labor 
to make it a Reliable Guide on the important Practical 
Subjects connected with the business of those whose inter¬ 
ests it advocates. It embraces more Agricultural, Horti¬ 
cultural, Scientific, Mechanical, Literary and N(*vs Matter 
—interspersed with many appropriate and handsome en¬ 
gravings—than any other paper published in this Country. 
For Terms, &c.. see last page. 
PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT. 
STATE FAIR-PREMIUMS-THE ADDRESS. 
The Great Fair is over. The noise, con¬ 
fusion and some dust, raised by a hundred 
thousand people and an immense caravan 
hath subsided. The occasion has been one 
of great interest to both citizens and stran¬ 
gers, and the exhibition — unexampled in 
this country —must tell well for our people 
and the good cause. We publish, on other 
pages, the Award of Premiums, Address, 
&c., and shall give additional facts and in¬ 
cidents of the Fair hereafter. 
EARLY SEEDING. 
As wheat growing is becoming rather 
uncertain, from the increasing prevalence 
of the weevil, the farmer should seek eve¬ 
ry possible means for the improvement and 
preservation of this great product of the 
country. The experience and observation 
of two years proves to my satisfaction that 
early seeding is the best, and most likely 
to escape the weevil. By sowing your 
wheat from the first to the fifteenth of Sep¬ 
tember, the crop will get a large growth in 
the fall, (and thus stand the winter better,) 
and will come on early in the spring, and 
ripen before the weevil fairly makes its ap¬ 
pearance. It has been pretty definitely 
ascertained that they first appear about the 
middle of July,—this being the case, wheat, 
if sown about the first or middle of Sep¬ 
tember, would ripen in ordinary seasons 
about the middle of July. In various fields 
of wheat which I have noticed this season, 
I find that the early sown escaped with 
little or no injury, while the late sown wheat 
fell a victim to the devouring ravages of 
this destructive insect. 
It is evident that the weevil works in the 
head of the wheat, while it is in the milk, 
hatching from an egg deposited there by a 
fly. As the head makes its appearance it 
commences its work by sucking the whole 
juice or substance from the kernel. These 
insects never leave the head of wheat and 
go to another—remaining until the grain 
is threshed. This will be seen by any one 
on close observation. After a thorough 
trial of the matter, I have come to the con¬ 
clusion that early sown wheat escapes with 
the least injury as regards the weevil ,— 
aud in fact I am of the opinion that it is 
less liable to be injured by any of the en¬ 
emies to which it is subject. But try the 
experiment and judge for yourselves. 
Yatesville, Sept., 1851. C. W. H. 
LETTERS 0 N 
EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE, ETC. 
BY M. M. RODGERS, M. D. 
The hand and the hoe are the instru¬ 
ments for eradicating weeds, yet if there is 
room enough between the rows for the 
spade, it is well to use it. — Exc. 
BELGIUM. 
This is a highly cultivated, rich and 
beautiful country: it sustains the largest 
population to the square mile, of any in the 
world, and is, in most respects, the best ag¬ 
ricultural country in Europe. It contains 
only 13,000 square miles, and has a popu¬ 
lation of 4,390,196; being more than 376 
to the square mile. Belgium is generally 
nearly level or slightly rolling. The climate 
is much colder, taking the mean tempera¬ 
ture for the year, than that of France; its 
latitude is between 49° 30 min. and 51° 
30 m. north; with this difference of temper¬ 
ature, there is a corresponding difference in 
the agriculture. 
A large portion of this country, as well 
as of Holland is alluvial, and has been re¬ 
claimed from the sea, laid bare by its reces¬ 
sion, or brought down and deposited by its 
rivers along the coast, which in time has 
become arable land. By the debris of riv¬ 
ers also the country through which they 
flow is greatly enriched. Much of the low 
country, or Netherlands, lies below sea level, 
at low water mark, and is protected from 
the encroachment of the waves by immense 
dykes or embankments. 
Before we reach the frontier of Belgium 
in the direction of France, the vine disap¬ 
pears and is replaced by the grains and 
grasses: rich fields and green meadows des¬ 
titute of trees or shrubs in most places, 
spread out before the view in all directions. 
These are relieved at intervals by the small 
but comfortable dwellings of an industrious, 
temperate and happy peasantry; these are 
mostly built of brick, wood being too scarce 
for this purpose. Most of even the agricul¬ 
tural population, are collected in small 
towns, which are exceedingly numerous;— 
and the fields being destitute of fences, the 
whole country appears like one vast garden 
or plantation. In the fields may be seen 
innumerable groups of men, women and 
children, busily employed in cultivating the 
soil. The condition of this class is much 
better here than in France. 
In the absence of enclosures the flocks 
and herds may be seen scattered over the 
broad expanse, quietly feeding, guarded by 
the shepherds and their dogs—they are 
often also watched by children. A very 
large proportion of the milch cows and 
swine are almost constantly stalled or pen¬ 
ned : they are fed upon sliced roots, hay, 
barley and rye. Indian corn is not grown, 
although root crops are much more exten¬ 
sively cultivated than in the United States; 
and either from the superior methods of 
cultivation, or better adaptation of climate 
and soil, they are much suprior in size and 
quality to ours. 
The soil is cultivated here in a manner 
far better, and yields greater returns than 
in the States. Almost every implement 
used however, is comparatively rude in con¬ 
struction and rough in workmanship. It is 
an indisputable fact, that agricultural im¬ 
plements in the States are superior, both in 
finish and adaptation, to any others in the 
world. Almost every square foot of arable 
land in Belgium is cultivated in the be*t 
manner, and made to yield the greatest pos¬ 
sible amount: everything that can be used 
in any manner as a fertilizer, is carefully 
saved and applied to the soil in accordance 
with chemical principles. Tillage is done to 
a very great extent with the spade, which, 
in a country where labor is cheap, may be 
economical, but could not be done at pres¬ 
ent in America. 
If we compare the agriculture of this 
country with our own, assuming as a basis, 
the amount of produce per acre, we shall 
find it far superior; but if we take as a basis, 
the amount of produce returned for a given 
amount of'money, or what is more proper 
still, for a given amount of labor, we shall 
find American agriculture superior to any 
in the world. For I&bor is, and always 
must be, the standard by which everything 
else is valued; a given amount of labor 
must always represent so much money or 
any other commodity: where labor is cheap, 
gold is dear; and where gold is cheap, labor 
is dear. So that the superiority of a sys¬ 
tem of agriculture is not to be determined 
by the amount produced from an acre of 
land, but by the amount produced for a 
day’s work or a dollar. And although there 
may be as much intellect at the handle of 
the spade in Belgium, as at the handle of 
the plow in America,—still there is so great 
a disparity between the relative amount of 
labor and products, that our own system 
must yet be considered better than that of 
Belgium, or any other countrj\ 
SUGAR BEETS.-FEEDING MILCH COWS. 
We have cultivated this useful root for 
a number of years. It produced at the 
rate of about fifty tons to the acre. We 
generally sow the first week in May, in 
rows about 18 inches apart, and never 
spare the seed in the row, but when they 
grow up, sort out the weaker plants, and 
leave the stronger ones about ten inches 
apart. I have uot space to go through a 
description of the after-culture, and I pre¬ 
sume it is unnecessary, as most farmers un¬ 
derstand the culture of this root. 
We generally dig them about the first of 
week in October when the bottom leaves 
begin to fall off; and it is said after this 
they begin to lose their saccharine matter. 
Those required for winter use we carry to 
the cellar, piling the remainder in conical 
heaps on the top of the ground, then cover 
them with straw and dirt. They must not 
have too much covering during the months 
of October and November, lest they fer¬ 
ment or grow; but when the colder weath¬ 
er comes on, throw on more earth and cover 
the whole with straw or something equiv¬ 
alent. 
In regard to the best variety, I think the 
Yellow Siberian preferable to the white 
Sugar Beet, as it appears to grow more 
vigorously and does not seem deficient in 
its nourishing qualities. 
In feeding cows the health of the organ, 
which is the machine used in converting 
and digesting the food which is to give 
vigor and healthfulness to the system, should 
be looked to with particular care. The 
udder and stomach are limited in power, 
consequently great care must be taken not 
to overload the stomach with too much 
food. Feed them liberally, but in small 
quantities and often. In eating small quan¬ 
tities the cow ruminates better and will be 
better able to digest what she eats. And 
if the stomach is overloaded with food it 
becomes inflamed, and as there exists an 
intimate connection between the fourth 
stomach and the udder, the udder is con¬ 
sequently filled with too great a quantity 
of blood, and as a natural consequence be¬ 
comes greatly injured. The time at which 
the greatest care should be taken not to 
overfeed them, is when they are first taken 
from the pasture in the fall. 
Although I have spoken in regard to 
feeding too much, let me tell you, nothing 
is to be gained by stinting your cattle. I 
do not mean to convey the impression that 
they should have a small quantity of food 
in the whole; but, as I have before re¬ 
marked, let them have but small quantities, 
but let that be often, as it is large quanti¬ 
ties and seldom feeding that overreaches 
the mark. 
A writer says: 
“Come, kind man, give the cow her food, 
By little, and often —but let it be good. 
And if this rule be properly attended 
to your cows will amply repay you. 
• Mangel wurtzel, ruta-baga, potatoes, &c., 
if properly mixed up with hay, make ex¬ 
cellent food for milch cows; but in prefer¬ 
ence to all these we use the beet. The 
quantity of butter made while feeding on 
the Sugar Beet is much larger than while 
feeding on chopped corn, oats, &c., and of 
a better quality. 
Some steam or cook the roots, and I do 
not know but that it is of great advantage; 
but if they are not steamed, cut them up 
in small pieces, by means of a root cutter 
or otherwise, and add some bran with a 
little salt. Cut straw and chaff may now 
and then be added. 
Some can feed their cattle in the stalls, 
but as we have a good barn yard—being 
protected from the noith-west, north and 
north-east storms, by the barn and sheds 
— we do not stable our cattle, (and we find 
they do much better than when we did.)— 
We have troughs fixed up against the wall, 
about two feet high, on which their feed is 
placed. 
Cattle should also have access to good 
pure water at all times, and this is one ad¬ 
vantage our cattle have by leaving them in 
the yard. A continual supply is furnished 
by means of a hydraulic ram, a machine 
which every farm should have, when it can 
be applied to good purposes. 
Philadelphia Co., Pa. LEONADE. 
MICE IN BARNS. 
In No. 31 of the current volume of the 
Rural, “A Young Farmer” complains of 
mice in his barn. For one I can sympa¬ 
thize with him, having seen and felt the 
same afflictions. When living with my fa¬ 
ther some years ago, our barn became 
quite overstocked with them. The granary 
seemed their chief delight, and though it 
was thoroughly ceiled, both above and at 
the sides, their sharp teeth made numer¬ 
ous passages of ingress and egress at all 
the corners and sides. After bearing the 
vexation and loss for a year, and failing to 
rout them, we purchased five dollars worth 
of sheet tin. Each sheet we cut in three 
strips, which we nailed upon every joint 
made by the meeting of boards, and in ev¬ 
ery corner and on every place where there 
was the remotest suspicion that a mouse 
could force an entrance. The result was a 
complete restraint against any further en¬ 
croachments of the vermin. It did not of 
course drive them from the barn, though it 
left them more exposed to the watchfulness 
of the cat. The cost was more than saved 
to us in the first year afterward. 
To clear a barn of them, and more es¬ 
pecially of rats, I know of but one sure 
method. That is to prevail upon some 
weasel to make it his quarters. A greater 
enemy to the mouse and rat there is not 
And however thick such nuisances may be 
on one’s premises, let a weasel find his way 
among them, their numbers soon dwindle 
to a minus quantity. 
“A Young Farmer” might have fears 
for his poultry, but I can assure him they 
would be groundless, at least, until the rats 
and mice were disposed of. I have heard 
it remarked that the red squirrel was quite 
as great an enemy to the rat. Of this, how¬ 
ever, I cannot speak from my own knowl¬ 
edge. t. e. w. 
Build sufficiently distant from your 
barn and stack-yard to prevent accidental 
fire. 
EXHAUSTING EFFECT OF MANURES. 
Not long since I read a statement in re¬ 
lation to guano , that it was less used than for¬ 
merly on account of its exhausting effect up¬ 
on the soil. The same objection was made to 
me a few years since, by a young farmer 
against the use of plaster. I am not now 
prepared to discuss this subject, but wifi 
throw out a few thoughts that have occur¬ 
red to me, and leave the matter to be pros¬ 
ecuted by others; (i. e. if it be thought im. 
pqrtant.) 
In considering the subject, I shall notice 
1st, the fact; 2d, the use to be made of it. 
1st. The fact: All manures may be ar¬ 
ranged in two general classes, though some 
may belong alike to both, viz: those that 
merely stimulate the growth of the plant, 
and those that permanently enrich the soil; 
those that both stimulate and enrich, be¬ 
longing alike to both classes. It is evi¬ 
dent from this statement alone, that a mere¬ 
ly stimulating manure must of necessity 
exhaust a soil more than one of different 
character: because, by stimulating the 
growth of a plant it causes it to draw more 
heavily on the soil, extracting not only its 
soluble vegetable matter, but also its solu¬ 
ble mineral salts. Guano, and all animal 
and vegetable manures belong to the first 
or stimulating class; while mineral ma¬ 
nures belong to the second, though produ¬ 
cing also the effects of the first, according 
to their power of absorbing the various nu¬ 
tritive gases from the atmosphere. Plas¬ 
ter is one of these, and hence its exhaust¬ 
ing effect upon the soil. 
2nd. The use to be made of this fact:— 
Shall the use of these manures be discon¬ 
tinued because of their exhausting: effects ? 
Then we must discontinue the use of all 
manures, for all produce the same effect, 
to a greater or less degree, according to 
their power to stimulate; although some, 
on account of their more durable or less 
soluble nature, may leave the soil in an 
apparently less exhausted state than oth¬ 
ers. It is what is left of a manure after a 
crop is removed, that operates towards the 
improvement of a soil; hence, if only a 
sufficient amount of stimulating manure is 
applied to perfect one crop, the richness of 
the soil is diminished by the amount of 
mineral sails abstracted by the crop.— 
Hence, to preserve the natural capabilities 
of a soil, regard is always to be had to this 
circumstance. If the object be an imme¬ 
diate result, apply a stimulating manure; 
if a permanent benefit is desired, manure 
accordingly. 
But if these stimulating manures ex¬ 
haust the soil, they also increase the crop. 
Suppose that by the use of a stimulating 
manure an acre of land be made to pro¬ 
duce as much in one season as it would in 
two seasons without it, the soil being left, 
in both cases, in the same condition, the 
balance would certainly be in favor of the 
double product, by one half the labor add¬ 
ed to the advantage of an immediate over 
a deferred result. h. 
Down East, Sept., 1851. 
Immense Product of Corn. —“ The Soil 
of the South” relates the following. It is 
entirely an extraordinary yield, and we join 
the Editor of that paper in asking, how it 
was produced. He says: “Rev. Leonard 
Rush, of Talbot county, Georgia, sends us 
the yield of a single grain of corn, the pro¬ 
duct of one stalk and the suckers. There 
are seven ears, five of which are of good 
size, and two small. He says there are 
three thousaud five hundred and twenty- 
two grains, making two quarts of shelled 
corn, and whole length of ears is forty-eight 
and a half inches. 
