VOLUME IV. NO. 7. Y 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.-SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1853. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: 
A QUARTO WEEKLY 
Agricultural, Literary and Family Newspaper. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
WITH AX ABLE CORPS OF ASSISTANT EDITORS. 
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 Sub¬ 
jects connected with the business of those whose interests 
it advocates. It embraces more Agricultural, Horticul¬ 
tural, Scientific, Mechanical, Literary and News Matter — 
interspersed with many appropriate and handsome engrav¬ 
ings— than any other paper published in this Country. 
For Terms, &c., see bust page. 
Progress and Improvement. 
DRAINING AND CLEARING MARSHES 
In most sections of tho country are found 
frequont portions of boggy land, covered 
for a whole or a part of tho year with water, 
and producing little or nothing of value to 
tho farmer. Theso tracts vary in size from 
less than ono, to thousands of acres, and tho 
character of their vegetation is also varied. 
Some aro covered with coarse ferns, flags 
or grasses, others with small hushes, others 
still, with alders and willows and an occa¬ 
sional elm, birch, soft maple, or black ash 
sapling. They aro characterized alike, 
however, by a deposit of muck of greater or 
less depth, and by tho presence of sluggish 
or standing water for a large portion of tho 
year. To render such lands of tho highest 
valuo for agricultural purposes, draining and 
clearing are necessary, and it is of these 
operations that wo propose to speak in tho 
parapraphs which follow. 
The supply of water in these marshes 
sometimes arises from springs, which break 
out in a comparatively levol spot, and form 
a sluggish stream, which overspreads and 
saturates a wide surface ; in other cases tho 
water seems to flow principally from tho 
higher surrounding lands — tho marsh oc¬ 
cupying a natural depression or basin. In 
most cases the subsoil is of a retentive 
character — often a pure blue clay, through 
which water penetrates but with tho greatest 
difficulty, and in almost inappreciable quan¬ 
tities. 
In tho first of theso instances — whero 
springs supply tho water — good and suffi¬ 
cient drains should he opened, to carry it 
freely away. If several springs exist, each 
ono must thus ho tapped, and if possible 
the general outlet should bo of depth suffi- 
ciet to lower the springs two or throe feet 
below the surrounding surfaco. If tho 
springs aro numerous, and, as in some in¬ 
stances wo have known, do not come to the 
surface, such ditches as aro recommended 
in tho second caso are nee'ded. 
Whore tho supply of water comes from 
higher lands, aided by tho retentive charac¬ 
ter of tho soil, a different treatment seems 
necessary. The sources of supply must bo 
headed back or cut off by ditches at tho 
tho point whero upland ceases, and swamp 
or marsh begins. Theso will divert and 
carry away tho surplus water, and, with 
other drains proportioned to tho extent of 
tho marsh, will soon chango tho character 
and value of tho land. Tho stagnant pond, 
the miry slough, and tho boggy marsh, will 
soon become firm ground to the foot of man 
and beast, and when cleared, will yield most 
ample and surprising returns for the ex¬ 
penses of so dcsirablo an improvement. 
Wo have so recently given a complote 
treatise on tho subject of Drainage, that 
particulars aro scarcely needed in the pres¬ 
ent instance. Tho great object is to con¬ 
struct and keep open proper and sufficient 
channels to carry off speedily tho surplus 
water in the soil, from whatever source de¬ 
rived ; and the modo of accomplishing this 
each farmer may choose for himself. We 
recently copied an instance whero brush 
drains were employed for all save tho main 
ditches, and for many years have well and 
cheaply answered this purpose. 
Ditching may, in most instances, best bo 
performed in autumn, but the work of clear¬ 
ing can, in great part, bo accomplished in 
winter while the ground is frozen, as boggy 
and springy places can be reached nearly as 
well in that case, before, as after clearing. 
The bushes will cut easier also — the tim¬ 
ber of shrubs growing in-such places, gener¬ 
ally proving more brittlo when frozen. Con¬ 
siderable/uel may bo saved, especially in a 
black-alder swamp, and the flno brush may 
ho burned at once, with propor attention to 
starting and supplying the fire, or may be 
left to dry until early summer. As soon as 
drained and cleared, most farmers sow to 
oats, and stock with Timothy or other 
grass, with no other cultivation than a 
thorough harrowing. A fine sod will soon 
bo formed, either for meadow or for pasture, 
or, tho land may bo cultivated in various 
spring crops, winter wheat generally not 
succeeding perfectly where the muck is of 
much depth. 
The draining and clearing of marshes is 
a matter of much importance to tboso whose 
farms aro disfigured by them. They are not 
liko wood-lots, constantly increasing in 
value, but are wholly useless, and often the 
source of uuhealty malaria, to the injury of 
all within its influenco. And, when cleared 
and drained, they become tho most easily 
cultivated and productive part of the farm, 
often paying in a single year the whole ex¬ 
pense of bringing them into condition for 
cropping. 
A CHAPTER ABOUT DOGS. 
Messrs. Editors : — I have just paid my 
taxes, and among the items of the samo, 
was 50 cts. for being an “ able bodied man, 
and liablo to military duty,” and 50 cts. for 
my two dogs, “ Bose ” and “ Trip.” At the 
first thought it seemed rather mortifying 
that two dogs were of equal value in com¬ 
munity with the “ noblest work of creation,” 
to wit, a private in the Militia of the State 
of Now York; but when I think of the vast 
bonofk they are in tho world, and especially 
the luxury of their society I think our Leg¬ 
islators were correct in making two of them 
equal to a man. Think of this, ye unwise souls 
who have nono of tho delightful creatures. 
You know not how much ploasuro you lose 
in this way. They aro such loving, social 
beings, they leap upon you, leaving the 
marks of their attachment upon your gar¬ 
ments—they follow you into the parlor, and 
floors and carpets prove that they have been 
that way. Even your little girl — in her 
now prink dress—is not left without some¬ 
thing to remind you of tho depth of their 
attachment. 
But their friendship is but one of many 
of their useful qualities. Thoy aro great 
promoters of health in a community. All 
physicians agree that too much sleep is in¬ 
jurious to mankind. And who doos not 
know how nicely dogs keep tho community 
from too groat indulgence in somniferous 
pleasures, especially in country villages ?— 
Something disturbs tho slumbors of old 
Towsor ” at one end of tho stroet, and 
with a hoarso base ho begins to “ bay the 
moon;” “Pink” at tho next house strikes in 
a treble, “ Carlo ” across the street now joins 
with a tenor, and soon the whole troop, 
“ Mongrel, Whelp, and Hound, 
And curs of low degree,” 
put in their notes, each adding to tho music. 
Ah, sirs ! this is delicious ; shades of Jenny 
Bind or Ole Bull rest on your laurels and 
listen to this concert of vocal music in a 
country village ! No fear of a superabund¬ 
ance of sleep thore. Is not this one roason 
that peoplo in country villages aro so much 
healthier than in large cities, where, in con- 
sequenco of tho stringent ordinances about 
dogs and the quantities of sausages manu¬ 
factured, dogs aro not as plenty ? Think of 
this, ye health officers. 
Again, dogs are such useful assistants.— 
Does a cow or a hog get into tho corn or po¬ 
tato field, how handy to have a dog to set 
upon them to drive them out. If thoy run 
to tho extreme end of tho field, and you 
have to follow and drivo thorn back again, 
don’t, by any moans, supposo that tho dog 
DARK-COLORED ROUEN DUCKS: 
THE FIRST PRIZE AT THE RECENT BIRMINGHAM (ENGLAND.) POULTRY SHOW. 
Ducks, in the height of the “ Chicken 
fever” now prevailing, are rather over¬ 
looked, so we have thought it best to call 
attention to the subject by procuring the 
above fine engraving of a pair of Rouen 
Ducks,—the First Prize at the roccnt Birm¬ 
ingham, (England,) Poultry Show. “ The 
variety of tame Ducks most in request,” 
says Browne, “is the Dark-colored Rouen, 
or Rhone Duck; originally from Franco, 
but common both in England and in this 
country.” To those who are suitably situa- 
tod for tho purpose, the keeping of Ducks 
is at once a pleasant and profitable business. 
They require access to water, and cannot 
bear confinement; a pasture, an orchard, 
or a green lane, and a pond or placid 
brook, clear, yet abounding in animal life, 
is to blame. It is only because the cow or 
the hog is too contrary to go out, where 
they came in. No blame should be attach¬ 
ed to the dog—he did not drive them there 
— they ran ahead and he only followed af¬ 
ter. 
It is said that under tho old Blue Laws of 
Connecticut, a person that was supported 
by tho town was not allowed to keep more 
than three dogs. This unjust and tyranni¬ 
cal law, I presume, our Puritanical ances¬ 
tors retained from their aristocratic fore¬ 
fathers, the English, and it shows how old 
prejudices will stick to an enlightened peo¬ 
plo. But, I am happy to say, this law has 
long since been repealed, and at the prosont 
time, a person, though so unfortunate as to 
ho dependent upon public charity, may 
keop as many dogs as ho pleases. At least 
I supposo this to be tho case, from tho in¬ 
stances which I have seen; why should tho 
poor be deprived of this privilege ?—it is all 
the stock they have; not a cow or a hog can 
be seen around their premises,—then why 
deprivo them of the right of keeping half a 
score of dogs ? Why, Mr. Editor, do we nev- 
er see any thing in your valuablo papor 
about the improvement of the canine raco ? 
While tho Short-horn is loudly praised, no 
meed of praise is bestowed upon my favor¬ 
ite, old “ Bose.” While almost every paper 
has descriptions of celebrated bulls, not a 
word is said of tho celebrated bull-dog.— 
While portraits of valuable horses, with 
arched neck and flowing tail, aro frequently 
seen, tho valuable dog may arch his neck 
and curl his tail, in the most approved stylo, 
but no artist deigns to notice him. While 
the most judicious and successful methods 
of crossing the different breeds of cattle, 
sheep and horses are explained, we hear 
nothing of improving the breed of dogs,— 
is it because they have already been bro’t 
to perfection ? 
Givo us a few touchos on Dog-ology, 
Messrs. Editors, and oblige some of tho 
Tax Payers. 
Greece, N. Y., Jan., 1853. 
A true farinor is a philanthropist. He 
labors not only to provide for his own wants, 
but ho is urged by a constant desire to leavo 
tho world better and moro beautiful than 
ho found it, and add to the stock of human 
comforts. 
CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE. 
Byfield Swine. 
Eds. Rural : — In answer to the inquiry 
respecting Byfield swine, I would say there 
has been in this vicinity for the last fifteen 
years, a breed of hogs remarkable for their 
fineness of bono, early maturity and despo- 
sition to take on fat,—but from what breed 
they originated I am unable to state. They 
are now known as a cross of the Leicester 
and Grass breeds. They aro pure white, 
short legs, small and short head, thin ears 
which lop over the eyes, very peaceable and 
quiet disposition, fat enough to butcher at 
any time from six weeks to eighteen months 
old, at which last time they are about ma¬ 
ture. I havo had them dress at sixteen 
months old, 365 lbs. I sold a pig tho other 
day a little less than five months old, whose 
live woight was 198 lbs. 
I have two pigs, now two weeks old, and 
a sow and harrow, each of the latter weigh¬ 
ing about 300 lbs. The sow will have pigs 
about tho first of May. If friend C. wishes 
any of those I can accommodate him, or 
will save him a pair from tho noxt litter.— 
John C. Roys, Alloivay, Wayne Co., JY. Y., 
Jan., 1S53. 
The Sub-Sod Cultivator. 
This is a now invention, and I am not 
aware that it has ever been tested. I shall 
therefore, give only a partial description of 
it, by way of announcement. As its name 
indicates, it is designed to loosen, and pul- 
verizo the soil under the sod ,— without dis¬ 
turbing tho surface moro than to make 
small holes through it, which will serve to 
lot in air and rain-water. Its principal use 
and object is, to obviato tho necessity of 
breaking up such meadows and pastures as 
havo becomo unproductive, on account of 
the soil becoming too compact, or sward- 
bound. Tho incredulous. I supposo, will be 
anxiously inquiring for the inventor, and 
“ how it is done.” 
I will explain by saying that the imple¬ 
ment consists, (prospectively.) of a series of 
cast iron wheels, about sixteen inches in di¬ 
ameter; all on ono shaft,— each wheel turn¬ 
ing on tho shaft independent of tho rest— 
oach hub occupying a space of four to six 
inches on tho shaft. Those wheels, with tho 
shaft, will form a sort of compound roller, 
to bo used after the manner of a common 
field roller. The number of wheels will de¬ 
pend on the ability of team to manage 
them. Each wheel should have six or eight 
arms, each arm a vibrating tooth, three- 
fourths of an inch square, fastened with a 
bolt, four inches from the rim— the tooth 
extending outward through (and free to vi¬ 
brate in) a slit in tho rim of the •wheel.— 
The teeth, I think, should project about six 
inches, making the length ten inches. Each 
tooth should occupy a slit in the rim, four 
inches long—extending from tho arm for¬ 
ward, i. e. when the arm is upward — so 
that when a tooth passes over the centre, 
the point will fall forward and be ready to 
enter the ground point foremost. 
I have written more than I intended to, 
but I could not give an intelligible descrip¬ 
tion in less space.—N. Caiiey, Westfield, JY. 
Y., Jan., 1853. 
Sowing Clover Seed. 
Eds. Rural :—Every article I have read 
on the sowing of clover seed reccommends 
using a large quantity of seed : this I think 
not always the best policy, and I will state 
the reasons for differing in some instances. 
If tho ground is intended to be laid down 
to meadow or pasture, plenty of seed should 
be sown, but if it is to bo plowed under for 
manure, I consider six pounds per acre 
enough. My reason for this opinion I find 
in the fact, that the plants acquire a stronger 
root when standing thinly than when they 
cover the ground, and the stronger the root 
the deeper it penetrates the subsoil, which I 
consider of more importance to enrich the 
soil, than a thick bushy top with small roots. 
—Wm. Niciiol, Alabama, JY. I’., Jan., 1S53. 
Pumpkin Seeds Poison to Geese. 
Messrs. Eds.: —Having observed in the 
Rural an article or two on the effect of 
pumpkin soeds on fowls, I will state the 
following fact: 
I have for many years, formerly, been in 
the habit of feeding pumpkins to cattle by 
breaking them up on the ground where geese 
and other feathered bipeds had freo access 
to the soeds. Tho effect on tho geese was 
invariably to ronder them, after a few days, 
extremely talkative, weak and staggering, 
tipping about and steadying themselves with 
their tail, beak, or wings, as occasion re¬ 
quired,—in short, exhibiting nearly all the 
i Mil OLE NO. 163. 
are localities in which ducks delight, and 
in which they are kept at little expense. 
They are no graziers, yet they are hearty 
feeders, and excellent “ snappers-up of un¬ 
considered trifles ;” nothing comes amiss to 
them — they are not at all fastidious, and 
will well repay their owners, by keeping 
thomsolves in first rate condition if the 
chance is afforded. 
