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MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER : 
A QUARTO WEEKLY 
Agricultural, Literary and Family Newspaper. 
CONDUCTED BY D, D. T. MOORE 
WITH AX ABLE CORPS OK 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 last page. 
,\ml Jlefo 
Progress and Improvement. 
harrow, to any new portion of the field it 
springs into life, and becomes the nucleus of 
a new colony. 
The Canada Thistle will thrive in almost 
any soil that is not saturated with water, 
though rich clay loams and alluvial inter¬ 
vals seem to bo its most favorite soils. In 
such soils its growth and diffusion are al¬ 
most wonderful. It also propagates by its 
seed, which like all the Syngenesious plants I ! nSU F° succoss ’ No P Ian has been ado P ted 
THE CANADA THISTLE. 
Many experiments have been mado, and 
not a little written upon the extirpatiorTof 
this post of the farm, and still it overruns 
many a field, defacing the beauty of the 
landscape, and serriously curtailing the 
profits of the husbandman. That the 
thistle can be eradicated, there is no ques¬ 
tion.—but it requires tact, judgment and an 
unconqurablo perseverance. It is true also 
that experiments that have proved success¬ 
ful for their destruction in tho hands of 
some, have, when attempted by others, 
failed of the desired result. This may bo 
owing to various circumstances. 
Although the agricultural press has for 
many years raised its voico against this foe 
of good husbandry, and though legislative 
enactments havo been passed to stay ks 
progress, yet stealthily has it gone forward 
and invaded new fields and new territory. 
Public sentiment is not sufficiently awaken¬ 
ed to tho magnitude of tho evil, so that the 
slothfulnoss of the easy farmer undoes—so 
far as tho general result is concerned—the 
diligence of the active. An article on tho 
subject in the columns of the Rural we 
havo thought might provo beneficial, especi¬ 
ally to those whero tho thistle has not yet 
appeared, or whero it is just beginning its 
encroachments. Taken in the start a loot- 
hold is easily prevented, and the curse 
stayod from propagation. 
In tho Linnean system the thistle is found 
in the Syngenesious class—a natural order 
of plants very extensively diffused over tho 
globe, and comprising ono-ninth or more of 
all tho flowering plants. As a plant the 
Canada Thistle ( Cirsium Arvense ) is possess¬ 
ed of considerable beauty, being more 
graceful in its figure than any of its sister 
species. It was introduced into this coun¬ 
try from Canada—honco its name. Origi¬ 
nally itcaino from Europe, having time out 
of memory been known in England and 
Scotland, under the name of Cursed Thistle 
— a very significant name. Tho stem 
reaches a height of two or three feet, quito 
branched, the lowor onos when growing in 
open situations being merely leaf branches, 
but in dense patches tho branches aro all 
on the upper part, and support flowers. 
Tho leaves sit close on tho stem, aro fre¬ 
quently six inches in longth, wavy on tho 
margin, and crowned with sharp spines— 
often slightly wooly underneath, Tho 
flower heads aro small, compared with oth- 
or thistles, oval, tho scales of which are closo 
pressed and without prickles, and are there¬ 
fore tho only part of tho flower that can bo 
handled with impunity. Tho flowers are 
palo purple, sometimos whitish. 
The root of the thistle is a great wanderer. 
In loose soil it will descend six feet perpen¬ 
dicularly, or even to a greater depth, send¬ 
ing off horizontal shoots at intervals of two 
to six inches, in every conceivable direction. 
Along these branch roots, at frequent inter¬ 
vals, are numerous eyes, that send up shoots 
to tho surface, that soon become main stems, 
adding vigor to tho plant and increasing its 
proclivity for spreading. The root is very 
tenacious of life, and hence it can bo seen 
how readily it will extend its area, and how 
hard it is to destroy. Whenever ono of 
theso new joints is convoyed, by tho plow or 
is covered by pappus or down. In the 
tribe this down is very prominent, and 
buoys tho seed into the air, whence by 
winds it may be carried to great distances. 
Tho seed is well supplied with oil on the 
carbonaceous principle, which ronders its 
anti-pretrescent powers very great. It is, 
therefore, capable of remaining an indefinite 
time in tho soil uninjured, so that as soon 
as the genial elements act upon it, it springs 
readily into growth. This accounts for the 
appearanco of tho plant in newly cleared 
lands. The second year its horizontal roots 
have spread out, and new shoots aro sent 
up, while tho main plant produces flowers. 
It is now well located and spreads with much 
rapidity. After tho dispersion of the seed 
the flower stems die, while the young plants, 
producing leaves only, hold their greenness 
till tho severo autumn frosts kill them also. 
Tho great difficulty in tho eradication of 
the thistle, lies in tho immense power of 
propagation by tho roots, and its wonderful 
tenacity of life. No plant is more so, and 
all ordinary injury only serves to increase 
its growth and extension. An occasional 
severance only gives vigor, and serves to 
call into existence stalks from tho latont 
eyo buds ol tho root. So will an occasional 
plowing or hoeing servo more the purpose 
of propagation and cultivation, especially in 
rich or alluvial soils. Tho stem, if buried 
beforo tho flower expands, and tho soil be 
somewhat moist, will striko root and send 
up numerous shoots. 
To effectually destroy tho thistle, tho 
operator must be unceasingly vigilant, ac¬ 
tive ; nor must he grudge time, effort or ex¬ 
pense if ho wish to thoroughly rid his lands 
of the pest. The different kinds of soil may 
require different kinds of treatment. The 
great desideratum is to effectually exclude 
tho plant from light and air. This done for 
a length of time, will insure the desired re¬ 
sult. On loose soils this is more difficult, as 
tho root strikes deeper and the air pene¬ 
trates lower down, so that often tho hori¬ 
zontal roots may send up shoots even below 
the roach of the plow. This accounts for 
tho failure that some have met with from 
tho use of the plow. In soils where the 
plow will go below the roots, repeated plow¬ 
ing will not fail to eradicate them, especially 
so in a dry season. But tho plowing must 
bo frequent and effectual, covering the 
plants, and excluding thorn from light, &c. 
In light soils, where the plow will bo in¬ 
effectual, and where a dense sod can bo 
found, seeding heavily to grass will accom¬ 
plish tho desired result. It is not so rapid, 
but may, on bottom lands, bo the only sure 
means. Burning tho ground thoroughly by 
means of log heaps, will also kill them whero 
the roots aro not too deep to he reached by 
the fire. Cutting tho thistles when in bloom 
will ensure the death of those in flower, 
especially if salt bo added; but the leaf 
stems are not so easily killed. Cutting 
them with a hoo, if it be continued as often 
as any new shoots appear, will havo tho de¬ 
sired result in many locations. Salt is also 
tho better to smother the thistle. When 
the plow is used, use it often, and reduce 
the ground to as fine a tilth as possible, and 
plow only tho ground occupied by tho 
thistle. If the scythe bo used, a lowry time 
is preferable. Judgment must be used, 
tho nature of tho plant considered, and tho 
condition of tho soil taken into account, 
and the course taken which seems best to 
but has in instances failed. Courago must 
bo kept up, and the plant allowed no time 
to slumber and recruit its energies. Tho 
war must bo ono of determined extermina¬ 
tion, and it must be “ carried into Africa.” 
It is economical to eradicate the plant, 
and figures might bo given to show how 
enormously it robs tho legitimate crops of 
their sustenanco, and consequently gives 
light returns to tho granary. But it is not 
needed. Wo hope every reader of the 
Rural will watch the foe with a sharp eye, 
and where tho fields are yet free, guard 
them vigilantly. And where it has insidi¬ 
ously crept in, meet it with a hand-to-hand 
conflict. A judicious perseverance will 
surely crown you victor in the end. And 
don’t let the strife bo with the thistle only, 
but with every useless weed and plant that 
would suck out the sustanance of the soil, or 
in any manner injure tho growing crop. 
In the Transactihns of tho N. Y. State 
Agricultural Society for 1846, page 405, is 
a valuable Essay on the extirpation of the 
Canada Thistlo, from which we have drawn 
somewhat in tho preparation of this article. 
lence and famine” post of our great staplo 
production — and that is tho chance that 
the peculiarity of our soil in forwarding 
and developing tho wheat plant, will place 
it so far in advance of the period of the in¬ 
sects ability to deposit its eggs, that its at¬ 
tempts aro harmloss and without effect; 
which, combined with a judicious putting in 
of an early variety of seed, may enable the 
Great West to escape this scourge — a pro¬ 
sumption that another year will confirm or 
overthrow. 
In this champaign country, sparsely 
watered, and unnatural to pasturage, the 
prevalence of this insect and its fearful 
! effects, would be an infliction of almost 
desolation to the owners of the soil—affect¬ 
ing the very foundations of our prosperity 
and social relations, and tho well settled 
viows of tho political economist. 
L. B. Lang worthy. 
Greece, N. Y., 1853. 
A SUGGESTIVE ARTICLE ON MANURES. 
THE WEEVIL, OE WHEAT MIDGE. 
beneficial, and has been found effectual. 
Salt with sheep on stony or stumpy lands, 
with tho scythe and hoo, aro more effectual 
than tho plow. 
Whero new lands aro to bo cleared, and 
it is apprehondod tho thistlo may be abund¬ 
ant, a good plan is to removo tho undor- 
brush, small trees and rubbish, and imme¬ 
diately seed heavily to grass; afterward, 
when a good sod is formed, the remaining 
timber may be removed. Tho thistlo will 
not grow readily in tho shade, and if it does 
appoar, attack it immediately, for in its 
first season it is quite easily destroyed. 
When grass is grown make tho land as 
rich as possiblo to induco a heavy growth, 
Mr. Moore : — Your correspondent, II. II. 
S., makes somo inquiries about tho habits 
and effects of the “ Weevil,” which is a mis¬ 
nomer, for the insect he refers to as the 
creature long known as the Weevil, is a per¬ 
fect insect of the Beetle family, with shell 
cases to its wings —a bug, and only depre¬ 
dates on the ripe kernel in the granary or 
stack; while the insect in question, in com¬ 
mon parlance called Weevil, is the larva of 
a naked winged insect not unlike the mus- 
quito, only of about half the size, which lays 
its eggs at tho period of blossoming, by in¬ 
serting them in the tender bush of the 
berry, and is hatched out into a white 
maggot without legs, soon turning to a 
bright orange color, and commences to prey 
upon tho kernel in its incipent stage of for¬ 
mation. Its proper name is tho Wheat 
Midge, or Wheat Fly, and is supposed by 
naturalists to be identical with the Cecidoma 
tritica of Europe. 
Its first ravages were noticed in 182S in 
ono of the frontier towns of Lower Canada, 
and it has sinco spread over all tho Eastern, 
and is fast progressing over this and tho 
Westorn States. It travels at a rate of 
from ten to fifteen miles a year, and will 
remain as long as the wheat plant is pro¬ 
duced for its sustenance; unless tho inter¬ 
position of some casuality of nature arrests 
its multiplication in some of its stages of 
transformation—an interference not hither¬ 
to observed. 
At the cessation of tho production of its 
proper nidus and pabulum, the insect un¬ 
doubtedly disappears, and ceases to exist 
from tho want of its natural food and means 
to propagato its species. Such, at any rate, 
is the experience in those regions in which 
it has prevailed. 
It is said that the Mediterranean wheat, 
a rather course and red skinned variety, 
when sown in proper time, is nearly proof 
against tho ravages of this insect, solely on 
account of its early ripening. Elevation of 
location has no effect to doter its attacks, 
and the only controling and governing prin¬ 
ciple for escaping its powers of destruction, 
consists in an early variety of seed, early 
souring, and a forivard crop. Late wheat, 
whether from late sowing, or injury from 
wet or frost in low lands, or other casuality, 
is sure to bo affected. 
Thero is a chance, and a chance only in 
our opinion, for this groat wheat growing 
territory to escape tho fate of tho eastern 
region in rolation to this “plague, posti- 
Much has been done, but more said and 
written, within tho past few years, in regard 
to saving and applying Manures. Could 
all that is grown on a farm, after it had un¬ 
dergone the various changes for which it 
was intended, be judiciously saved and re¬ 
turned to the soil, the land would bo rapid¬ 
ly improved and enriched, to an indefinite 
extent. The ammonia and carbonic acid 
from the atmosphere would be deposited in 
the soil, while the phosphates, sulphates, 
and other inorganic substances, which had 
been brought from tho subsoil by the long 
fibrous roots of tho plants, would be incor¬ 
porated with tho surface soil, where they 
could easily be obtained by the growing 
crops. 
But tho farmer does not find it for his 
interest to retain and dispose of all the pro¬ 
ducts of his farm, on his farm, although he 
might to a much greater extont than what 
is now generally practiced. Instead of sel¬ 
ling his coarse grain to bo converted into 
alcohol, he would find it more remunerating, 
at tho pressent price of beef and pork, as 
well as beneficial to community, were ho to 
feed it to his cattle and swine. 
But after fattening his beef and pork, he 
needs but a small proportion of it for his 
own use, tho surplus being driven oft' to be 
disposed of elsewhere, and thus the farm 
sutlers a drain of just so much organic and 
inorganic substanco as was contained in those 
cattle and hogs. Those who live in eitios 
and villages derive their sustenance, which 
is no small proportion of the produce of the 
country, from tho farmer, and for which 
drain he seldom gets any roturn, in tho 
shape of manure applyed to his farm. 
Within the past few years much has been 
done in cities towards saving the manure of 
domestic animals, while that which is far 
more valuable and powerful, is buried in 
vaults or suffered to wash into the streams, 
thickening and poisoning tho water. While 
tho manure of stables is eagerly sought after 
and bought up by farmers at high prices— 
while guano is brought thousands of miles 
at great oxpence, and loads on loads of 
bones aro gathered up and ground for the 
use of the farmer—thero still remains ono 
of tho most valuable manures, nearly equal 
to guano, buried in vaults and almost entire¬ 
ly noglectod. But, although neglected, like 
all other organic compounds, it is not in¬ 
active. Tho noxious gases arising from its 
decomposition are continually dissemminat- 
ing through the atmosphero, poisoning the 
air wo breathe ; while the ground becomes 
saturated with tho soluble parts, which often 
find their way to wells that are in proximity 
to such deposits, and render the water un¬ 
wholesome. 
Is it not time that this manure should be 
appropriated to its legitimate use as food 
for plants, rendering the land fertile, and 
tho atmosphere healthy ? Why should it 
not be more eagerly sought after by far¬ 
mers, than that which is not ono tenth its 
value, and which often contains, in abund¬ 
ance, the seeds of troublesome and tena¬ 
cious weeds ? r. 
Skaneateles, N. Y., July, 1S53. 
That horses may be educated will not appear 
strange to those who have closely observed the 
intelligence often manifested by that noble ani¬ 
mal. The present remarks are designed to give 
some information in relation to the rearing and 
treatment of young horses, not so much however 
with reference to their food and drink, as to their 
quietness and docility. 
1 hat there is a difference in the temper and 
disposition of different horses, is not denied ; but 
at the same time it is averred that where a horse 
is so vicious or unmanageable as to render him un¬ 
safe in the harness, it is chargeable in almost every 
instance to the treatment he has formerly received. 
'lhe training of colts should commence when 
they are about three months old, so as to have 
them become familiar with the family before they 
are taken from the dam. Some colts are inclined 
to use their heels rather too freely ; in such cases 
great care is necessary. They should be ap¬ 
proached carefully, and caressed and curried, and 
they will soon submit to have their feet taken up 
and handled without resistance : and this will aid 
in quieting them while being shod, as the horse 
seldom forgets what he has once learned. 
A common method of weaning colts is to take 
them to some back lot, and place a heavy yoke or 
“poke” on the neck, which they are compelled 
to wear for several weeks until their spirits are 
completely broken, and they become more or 
less “ewe necked,” from which defect they rarely 
wholly recover. Another method, but little less 
objectionable, is to shut them in the stable; but 
this does not learn them to respect a fence in the 
least. Now the better way and the one that the 
writer has practiced with uniform success, is the 
following :—Prepare a yard, (if it contains an acre 
or more, so much the better,) having a strong, 
high fence, so high that the colt cannot possibly 
leap over it—from six to seven feet will be suffi¬ 
cient—and let the materials of which the fence is 
composed be the same as those enclosing the field 
where the colt is in future to be kept—either wall, 
boards, or rails, as the case may be—and place 
him there without attaching any artificial append¬ 
age whatever, and let him understand that it is the 
fence alone that prevents his escape. He should be 
generously fed, and also have a shed to which he 
can retire at pleasure. After he has been subdued 
in this way, he may be turned into any field hav- 
i»il « fence of the same kind, and of ordinary 
height, and he will not attempt to break over._ 
Even the most spirited horse brought up in this 
ay cannot be induced to leap a fence four and a 
half feet high. 
The practical benefits of the above plan are 
great. In passing through the country one is 
pained to see so many noble looking horses shack¬ 
led and hampered in every conceivable way that 
ingenuity can invent, much to their detriment iu 
putting on llesh, to say nothing ot the perplexity 
and trouble to the owner in adjusting the trap¬ 
pings every time the beast is turned out or taken 
up, and all for the want of a little care during the 
first year,—for it is eminently true in this case that 
an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 
There are many horses not “ true ” or reliable, 
in the harness, having the habit to stop, or balk, 
especially at the foot of a hill; this is caused by 
having been at some time overloaded, and per¬ 
haps unmercifully beaten. Neighbor A. has a 
beautiful span of bays three years old, that he 
has been breaking iu the past winter ; he wishes 
to haul some rails from the farther side of the 
tarm, and as the colts have become tolerably 
“handy,” he puts on nearly a full load which 
they manage very well until they come to a “hard 
spot,” and there they stop. The driver looks at 
the load, then looks at the horses : they are nearly 
as large as the old team,—he knows they can draw 
it, and is*determined they shall. So he commen¬ 
ces beating and pounding the poor animals until 
he is nearly worried out, when he throws off his 
load and goes home with loss of both time and 
temper, and the horses damaged to the amount of 
twenty-five dollars each. 
Now it is quite probable that the horses had 
strength enough to draw the load in question, but 
they had not had sufficent practice ; they did not 
know how to apply their strength, and did not 
work in concert. They should have been made 
to draw only light loads for a long time, and then, 
by increasing the weight gradually, as their 
strength and experience increases, they can be 
made to do all the work they are capable of doing, 
and will always work kindly, and may be depend¬ 
ed on under all circumstanes. o. 
For Hovex or bloat caused by eating clover, 
give a teacup hall full of saleratus dissolved iu 
a pint of warm water, and turned down a cow 
from a junk bottle. Perhaps an ox might need a 
larger dose. A few spoonfulls of tar, put in the 
throat by the aid of a smooth stick, will also give 
relief. v „ 
