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VOLUME IV. NO. 37. Y 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.- SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1853. 
-(WHOLE NO. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: Tf „,;n , „ . , , , 
It will be apparent to even a casual ob- 
A QUARTO WEEKLY 1 
Agricultural, Literary and Family Newspaper. SC1 ' VOr ’ that Gl,an0 is a compound of diffei- 
« rt -»TTXTT«m T .-r» ent materials, differing in value. One kind 
m , ra .„ ,„ T „ would bo valuable on a certain kind of soil, 
WITH AN ABLE COUPS OF ASSISTANT EDITORS. . . . ’ 
--- while upon a different soil it would not bo 
n « w - Yo «kkr 18 denned to be unique and WOrth the application. Its relative worth 
beautiful m appearance, and unsurpassed m Value, Purity * * 
and Variety of Contents. Its conductors earnestly labor ocpoilUS Upon tho timmoilicl, Of compounds 
to make it a Reliable Guide on the important Practical Sub- Capable of forming that and the phosphates, 
jects connected with the business of. those whose interests t 0 which may bo added potash. Hence an 
it advocates. It embraces more Agricultural, Horticul- ..... J 1 
tural, Scientific, Mechanical, Literary and News Matter- lnc HscnminatO USO of Ouauo, Without a 
interspersed with many appropriate and lisndsome engrav- knowledge of its value ill ammonia and 
fags-than any other paper published in this Country. other useful properties, will bo akin to 
rgr For Terms, &c., see last page . ,jg\ wasting monoy for naught. Skill and 
knowledgo are requisite to its proper appli- 
If YI 4 'T fH*' cation. If a soil has tho capacity to absorb 
(-vilitul QVKw~TlJ \}\ ill| ♦ a good quantity of ammonia, and is defi- 
. ____cient in phosphates, tho Mexican or Pata- 
Progress and Improvement. § onian Guano may bo used to advantage, 
■ — as they are rich in just the properties of 
GUANO.-PROPERTIES AND APPLICATION, which tho soil contains tho least. If any 
WrniiiV a foiv yeafftte attention of farm- 60i ' d °“ BOt . 'TT , this absorb , en ,‘ ca I> acit >'> 
or, ha, boon called to a now fertilizer which “? " al ?° ,W,C T‘“ ,ron “ d c,a ?' “ 
is cl-iimn,l „ Aoonoo .. ~ not obtain ammonia from the usual source, 
is Claimed to possess properties of more . ’ 
than ordinary value, strongly commending h ! ° T*, W * 
it to popular favor. Wo are aware of no ‘ h ° US ° ( °‘“ t,!rt,l “ 0r COntamm * th » lal gcst 
lei tiiuei that has been so readilv introduced 
into uso, none for which so mu‘ch has been The a PP lication of Teruvian Guano may 
claimod, or ono about which so little is bo mado to 8tliF ’ heav y soils in a la rge 
ll!#' . 
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_Progress and Improvement. 
GUANO.-PROPERTIES AND APPLICATION. 
umm v I 
if 
-— a a y luiuv/UUOOU # 
into uso, none for which so mu‘ch has been Ihe a PP llcatl0n of Peruvian Guano may 
claimod, or ono about which so little is bo mado to stliF ’ heav y soils in a la rge 
really known by the mass of farmers. Con- qUantity at a timo ’ becauso into this kind of 
suiting all tho authorities to which wo have Sod ’ water and a!r do not easily onter, con- 
access, we propose, at tho risk of saying se< l uentl y they wi!l bo deficient in ammonia, 
things which have been bettor said before, , which > wi11 bo supplied from tho Guano, 
to offer such facts and suggestions as, to tho rains will decompose tho manure, and 
our apprehension, shall provo valuablo to a portion of tho ammonia and phosphates 
tho readers of tho Rubal. wil1 be readil y taken up by tho growing crop, 
Peruvian Guano has boon most favorably wbdo tbo cIa y wid absorb tho remainder 
known. The host is said to be obtained For futuro uso - In g ravell y> sand y» tow and 
from tho Chincha Islands, some twolvo light soiIs ’ tbo air and water entor freel L 
miles distant from tho coast of Peru. The but sucb sods ^ acb; tbo P owor to arrest a 
islands, three in number, five to six miles larg0 P ortion of the ammonia, and to this 
... „ oloca rvf e/\t 1 a +V./, L_If. .1 x- I 
IMPROVED MIDDLESEX PIGS.-ERED BY MR. BAR3ER, UXBRIDGE, ENGLAND. 
For which the First Prize ok $50 was awarded, and the Silver Medal, at the Smitiifield Cattle Show. 
■i 1 
* .. vkj cua. umca 1 _ 
each in circumferonce, aro covered in some cIasS ° f SOlls the manure can be a PP Hed to 
places to tho depth of two hundred feet, in advanta S e 5 but as tho soil cannot retain the 
successive layers of a few inches, varying in g0od qualitios > and tb o growing crop will 
color. For centuries have the birds on tho nCd consumo them as fast as thoy aro libe- 
coast been depositing guano, only a few la, tod by decomposition, it should 
inches each year, until tho mass has becorno P bod bl small quantities, and repo 
almost inexhaustible. In many places no occa ® ion ma y require, for if a full q 
rated by decomposition, it should be ap¬ 
plied in small quantities, and repeated as 
occasion may require, for if a full quota be 
iiuou moAiiauoMuio. jlu many places no * 1 7 - 
earthy matter is mixed with tho deposit, a PP bod afc onco tbo plants wdll bo burned 
and it has become so hard as to requiro and dostr oycd. Another consequenco will 
blasting, liko rocks, to effect its removal. bo ’ tbo aminon > a being liberated too fast to 
Guano is also obtained from the coast of bo uscd b y tbo cr0 P. passes into the air, or 
YVe are often asked respecting the advantage of 
keeping this or that particular breed of hogs.— 
Would that w T e could give a satisfactory answer. 
We arc not only unable to decide, from conclusive 
experiments, which is the best breed, but we are 
unable to say which class of breeds yield most 
profit. Many suppose that the small breeds will 
yield more pork on a given amount of food than 
the large breeds. Yet this is mere assumption 
and is not supported by analogy : the large breeds 
of sheep and cattle yielding ..ion; increase on a 
given amount of food. Even if we were in pos¬ 
session of this desirable knowledge, we should 
not be able to decide which was the most profita¬ 
ble breed ; for it is not the absolute, but the cir¬ 
cumstantial value, determined by taste, fashion, 
and demand, that makes this or that kind of pork 
or pigs most sought for. Where bacon and large 
hams are required, the large breeds must be kept. 
In the vicinity of large cities, where fresh pork is 
in demand, the small breeds are most profitable. 
In such circumstances we know of no breed 
; that we should prefer to keep than the Middlesex 
—an admirable engraving of specimens of which 
is given on the opposite page. The writer saw 
the pigs here represented when they were on ex¬ 
hibition at the Smithfield Show, and can testify 
to the truth of the subjoined account of their 
enormous fatness, small bones and general beauty. 
There was nothing on exhibition that attracted 
more attention and admiration : 
“ They were farrowed on the 18th of June, and 
were fed, from 6 weeks old, on middlings, boiled 
potatoes, and peas, up to eleven weeks old, when 
they had barley and pea-meal, and boiled pota¬ 
toes, mixed with water. T hey consumed in thir¬ 
teen weeks, twenty-eight bushels of meal and 
four bushels of potatoes. They were tried on 
milk, but did not thrive so well on it as on water. 
In consequence of their great propensity to fatten, 
they wore blind with fat at sixteen weeks old, 
and when exhibited their eyes were buried two 
inches in fat, which came over their forehead and 
lay on the top of their noses full three inches. 
Date. 
Weeks old. 
First. 
Second. 
Third. 
July,.22 
5 
24 lbs. 
24 llis. 
20 lbs. 
August,... 13 
8 
52 “ 
41 « 
September, 3 
11 
80 « 
72 « . 
64 « 
Ditto,.... 24 
14 
104 “ 
96 “ 
88 “ 
October,.. 15 
17 
152 « 
144 « 
132 « 
November, 5 
20 
200 « 
192 « 
192 « 
Ditto,.... 26 
23 
232 « 
224 « 
224 « 
December, 6 
24 and 3 days. 
232 “ 
224 “ 
224 « 
Pufagonia, from Africa, and from Mexico, as 
well as from othor places. It has been ex¬ 
tensively usod in England, and in some 
is filtered by the soil; tho crop will bo over 
fod at first, and as a consoquonco bo starved 
afterward. It requires a knowledge of soils, 
J uuuu 1U Iiu, dUU III faUIIlO -1--V. 
parts of tho United States, but its great cost and wbat is equally important, a knowledge 
has thus far deterred many, except garden- oF tbe ldcbness and valuo of tho Guano, to 
ors, from testing its valuo by a practical enab ^ e the husbandman to make a judicious 
application to their gardens or fields. Tho and P robta ble uso of such a powerful fertil- 
most that is known concerning it is the izor ' Ever . Y cargo of guano, oven from tho 
most that is known concerning it, is the 
knowledge of its constituent properties as 
same bed, contains different proportions of 
ivuuruuugu ut ilo uuiidwiuum properties as 7 -— vi 
shown by tho analysis of different chemists, vall, able properties, so that no person can 
such men as Liebig, Uke, Johnson, Way, doterm ' no bs value, or how much may be 
and others—from which wo learn tlxat sadtd y applied, without in some measure an 
Peruvian Guano is rich in ammonia, and in ana ^Y s ^ s the guano ho buys and uses, 
phosphates — combinations of lime, magno- ^ bde some ©ruvian guano contains 18 per 
eia, potash or soda, with phosporic acid— cent of ammonia > otber samples have boen 
substances which aro essential as food for t cs t° d ^ bat d * d n °t contain over 10 per cent 
, _ rm* _ • _ .1 __ i i "i i * 
©uuoiaiitGa wuiuu aro essential as IOOU ior . . . -- 
plants and grain, and without which soils difference in valuo has led to tho adop 
1,1,1 L„ - _X , tion of n. Rvst.nni of insnaolirvn in Dn^lonfl 
would bo shorn of most of their valuo._ 
Plants derive a largo supply of ammonia 
from tho atmosphere, being absorbed by 
tion of a system of inspection in England, 
and somo places in the United States, which 
enablos the purchaser to judge more cor- 
jium uio atmospnero, Doing absorbed by -^ 
soils. If the soil so absorbing tho ammonia 10c dy °f tho valuo of the guano he is using, 
contains iron and clay, they combine and and to know hotter how it should bo applied, 
form a valuablo salt, which is readily solvent It is important that a fertilizer that is so 
and oasily appropriated as food for plants, powerful, and so easily available to tho 
Several specimens of Peruvian Guano, in an growing grain, should bo properly applied, 
undamaged and unadulterated state, were T bos © who have givon tho subject most at- 
found to possoss — of Ammonia, 17.41 per ten tion, adopt the rule of placing it always 
cent.; phosphate of limo, 24.12, and of pot- as near ^ ie seed as possible. With wheat it 
ash, 3.50. It is sold in England and war- sb ould bo covored as deop as tho wheat, and 
ranted to contain 16 per cent, of ammonia. no dcopor; so with other crops. Tho 
Patagonia Guano contains loss ammonia, guano and tho sood may bo sown together 
from tho fact of its raining much of tho or separately, the ono after tho othor.— 
timo, causing decomposition, by which Where a drill is used to sow tho grain, it 
means tho ammonia, being volatile, passes has boon recommended to sow tho guano 
off into tho air, leaving tho phosphates in and harrow it in boforo drilling the wheat, 
greater proportional quantities than would On gravelly or light sandy soils it is benefi- 
otherwise appear. In several analyses made cial to uso plaster with tho guano, as the 
of Patagonian Guano, tho highest per cent, gypsum has tho power of absorbing the 
of ammonia was 4.68, and tho lowest 1.60; ammonia, to bo afterwards given off fo» tho 
whilo of phosphates the highest per benefit of tho crop. Ammonia always ben- 
contago was 65.5, and the lowost 29.3.— efits plants most in the early period of their 
Mexican Guano has boen ascertained to growth, hence tho propriety of placing tho 
contain only one and two per cent, of am- guano as near tho seed as practicable. It 
monia, and an average of sixty per cent, of aids it when aid is most nooded, and thus 
phosphates. enablos it early to help itsolf. 
Another important consideration in tho 
application of a manure which is expensive, 
is to have it in a fine state of division, that 
it may tho moro easily reach every part of 
tho soil. To give one grain to each squaro 
inch of surface, requires about 900 lbs. to 
the acre, and by tho use of 200 lbs., if equal¬ 
ly distributed, not moro than one-fourth 
of a grain will bo given to each squaro inch. 
If the guano is in lumps somo places will 
receive 10 or 20 grains, moro than can bo 
used, whilo other places will bo left desti¬ 
tute. It should bo broken and sifted, and 
will be tho better for being mixed with an 
equal weight of plaster, if to bo sown on 
light soil; and less than equal weight, if to 
be used on land that is stiff and clayey. 
For a crop of wheat, to be followed by 
clover or corn without other manure, if the 
farmer has no knowledgo of the quantity of 
phosphates in tho soil, it is recommended 
to tako 50 to 100 pounds Peruvian Guano 
and 200 pounds of Mexican; lay it on a floor 
in a heap, and gradually add twenty-five to 
thirty pounds of sulphuric acid. Stir tho 
mass well with tho spado, and after it has 
laid for a week, add the Peruvian and mix 
them woll together. This will prove an 
excellent top dressing for grass land, and if 
mado still stronger, for turnips. Frequent¬ 
ly othor substances aro added, so that no 
part of tho fertilizing properties may bo lost. 
It will bo necessary fully to understand ono 
other important requisite in the use of 
guano : it should never bo applied to land 
that is not thoroughly drained, as wot soils 
destroy its valuo. 
There aro many othor valuablo hints 
which might bo given. Very little atten¬ 
tion has been bestowed upon the subject.— 
The Stato of Maryland has appointed a 
chemist, from whoso labors and reports 
many of tho views here given have been 
drawn. Wo may recur to the subject again, 
presenting other facts and phases deemed 
valuablo to our readers. + 
OXEN vs. HORSES. 
One would bo lod to suppose, from being 
in tho daily habit, as wo aro, of observing 
tho large droves and tho immense long 
trains loaded with oxen, that tho entire 
farming population had abandoned their 
uso, and such a thing as a bullock broke to 
the yoke was to become extinct—a contin¬ 
gency most essentially to bo deprecated.— 
We aro becoming a fast peoplo; nothing 
short of a 2.40 horso can now be tolerated, 
and wo shall soon require tho steam horso 
and locomotive plow. 
It is all wrong; wo are getting ahead of 
sound and economical policy. Every far- 
mor should have a span or three good 
horses, and if a largo farm, doublo that 
number, but tho balanco of tho labor sho’d 
be performed with oxen. 
Tho horse is costly, of dolicato constitu¬ 
tion, subject to as many ills and diseases as 
the human animal,—oxponsivo in its food, 
rigging, clothing and shoeing, and of no 
value when worn out; while tho ox is easily 
kept, easily housod, his rigging and out-fit 
cost nothing — pationt and enduring, and 
when old is worth as much for beef as at 
any other period of his life. Every horso 
costs tho owner annually from $50 to $75 
for his keep; whilo tho ox may bo carried 
round for less than half that sum, and will 
turn over as many cubic feet of earth with 
tho plow, and draw as many heavy loads of 
grain, hay or wood, as tho averago of horses. 
Wo admit that our girls, rigged out in 
city mockery, would not appear well toting 
about in an ox cart; but wo do glory in 
seeing a befrockod farmer, walking beside 
an up-headed, quick-walking, sturdy-necked 
pair of oxen. We love to hear “ who-haw 
goe-up,” rather than “ g’lang” on a spring 
seat with three-minute horses. 
Perhaps while wo aro sitting plodding 
over tho avalanche of papers that shower I 
on us daily, we aro getting behind tho times, j 
If so our readers must mako proper allow- 
RED ROOT, AND HOW TO DESTROY IT. 
This is tho most troublesome weod that 
the wheat growor has to encountor, not oven 
excepting tho Canada thistle, as its seed 
remains for many years dormant in the soil, 
and is taken in the straw that is converted 
into manure to every field. Seed wheat 
grown on land infested with this post can¬ 
not by any process of tho fan bo cleaned of 
it, as the stem almost invariably breaks 
above and below tho seed, leaving a bulk 
that will not pass the last, or cockle screen, 
and therefore is deposited along with tho 
wheat. 
Fields now in stubble that are badly in¬ 
fested with this plant, should immediately 
bo thoroughly harrowed both ways, that all 
tho seed deposited on the surface may bo 
covered with earth and grow this fall, as it 
is a biennial plant, and by turning it undor 
in the spring it is entirely destroyed, except 
such seeds as have been deeply buried and 
not yet germinated. Two or three pro¬ 
cesses of this kind will thoroughly eradicate 
this plague. 
Straw and chaff known to contain Red 
Root should be distributed about tho fiolds 
in small heaps and burned; tho ashos aro 
worth nearly as much as tho straw in a rot¬ 
ted state. It is the only euro for it, as tho 
ordinary process of composting doos not 
destroy it. Nothing short of tho strong 
! heating process of horso manure will effect 
its vitality, through the strong woody cori¬ 
aceous covering that nature (the mischiev¬ 
ous witch,) has endowed it with. 
Farms that aro overrun with tho nui¬ 
sance, must bo subjected to this or somo 
■ other process, or tho owners had bettor load 
up some dark night, and cut their sticks for 
somo other region, where thieves como not, 
and tho wicked cease from troubling — for 
this pest truly belongs to that category. . 
The following is a statement of their weight 
and age while fattening: 
o-wv. uuau i neciv WCOK, t IDiJ. ! 
2d, ; 3d, 8; 4th, \o}4 ; 5th, 17X; 6th, 10%. 
This breed of pigs has been much improved by 
Mr. Barker (the exibitor) in the last seven years. 
They are of a pure white color, of great substance 
and propensity to fatten. They keep in excellent 
condition while stores on grass, turnips, offal from 
i the barns or garden, and when put up to fat. in 
two or three weeks make excellent porkers. They 
are fine in the bone and head; small, upright earn, 
which point a little forward. They arc of a small 
i size, have good litters, varying from seven to 
fourteen in number, being very fat while sucking, 
1 and thus making very good roasters.” 
ances and take our cogitations for what they 
are worth. 
