TWO DOLLARS A YEAR.] 
VOLUME VII. NO. V 
PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT.’ 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.-SATURDAY, JANUARY IS, 1856. 
[SINGLE NO. FIVE CENTS. 
! WHOLE N0.3R. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, b » s , ki » in llK ; ( for "'°” th 7 
with water, which has drained and evai orated 
AX ORIGINAL WEEKLY . 
AGRICULTURAL, literary AND FAMILY JOURNAL, avra y nearly its whole soluble value. 
- Other sources of unprofitable farming might 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, readily be referred to, such as shallow culture, 
with an able corps op assistant ebitors. ne l ec ted weeds, want of care in adapting the 
SPECIAL contributors: crop to the soil, late planting or sowing, Ac., 
SPECIAL CONTRIBCTORS: 
H. T. BROOKS, prop. C. BEAYEY, Ac., but the subject is not a pleasant one, and 
T. C. PETERS, L. B. LANG WORTHY, vve ;u'e glad to leave it. Still we would com- 
H. c. WHITE, T. E. WETMORE. mend it to the consideration of our readers. A 
few onlv liavc occasion to ask, “ what more can 
The Rural Nkw-Yorkkr is designer! to be unique and , f„ in o, 1 i a .1 
...... , ,. wo do ? and all may profilably rcilect on the 
beautiful m appearance, and unsurpassed in A alue, runty J 1 . J 
and Variety of Contents. • Its conductors earnestly labor causes of unprofitable farming, 
to make it a Reliable Guide on the important Practical —*—+ 
Subjects connected with the business of those whose inter- PREPARING EIRE-WOOD. 
est3 it advocates. It embraces more Agricultural, Ilorticul- . . . 
tural. Scientific, Mechanical, Literary and News Matter, Great diversity of opinion exists a > to the 
interspersed with many appropriate and beautiful Engrav- best and most proper season for cutting and 
ings, than any other paper published in this Country,— preparing fire-wood; but we apprehend that 
rendering it a complete Agricultural, Literary and (p e seas0I1 most convenient for the farmer, and 
Family Newspaper. ,, . . , . , ,, . , , c , ... 
PREPARING FIRE-WOOD, 
Great diversity of opinion exists as to the 
teal 
UNPROFITABLE FARMING. 
the one during which this branch of labor will 
For Terms, and other particulars, see last page. , ,, 
least interfere with the ordinary business ot the 
^ ~ farm, is the one when fire-wood will be cut, 
J(|{ 1tT/T | ‘ iff t> m ^ JfT UPD P1Y whether or not it is intrinsically the best for the 
CfX YvUCvv (vJjpY w ^ ^ + wood or for the timber. 
- - -- • • •' — - " .... That season, every one will say, is during the 
UNPROFITABLE FARMING. winter, and it is at that time most of our fire- 
•- wood is cut and hauled throughout the country. 
It is pleasanter to read articles headed as T p ere are Yery many reasons why this is the 
above minus the “un, no doubt; ii is certainly k es j; season, aside from its being a time of leis¬ 
ure agreeable to think and write of enterprise ur6j among which may be mentioned the follow- 
and labor that pay, than of those which prove a j n g. The snow, which usually fills the forest, 
losing business. Still, while there is so much ena bl es the farmer to use a sled for hauling the 
farming of this character, it is worth while to wood, and the greater ease and rapidity with 
search out “the reason of the thing”—to call which it can be loaded and unloaded, and the 
attention to the sources from whence spring ] ar ger burthen which a team can haul upon it, 
this unhandsome prefix to so pleasant a word, 
especially in its application to farming. 
are of great advantage. The simple construc¬ 
tion of a sled renders it cheaper, much less lia- 
Leaving out of the question all failures from iq e |- 0 break, and more easily repaired than any 
the want of better knowledge, and regarding other vehicle—and the lowness of the load, corn- 
only those which have their rise in the neglect p are d with the size of the base, brings the cen- 
of known rules and ‘precautions , we still have a i er 0 f gr a vity so near the ground that it is not 
long catalogue — one which should shame us eas ily overturned. Upon uneven and hilly 
into more careful — more thoughtful action for g r0 und therefore, a cord of wood can be loaded 
the future. A list of the practices common U p 0n a sled and drawn off in perfect security, 
among farmers, though generally acknowledged where a wagon or cart would inevitably be 
to be unprofitable, would surprise the majority overset. 
of our readers. To give such an one is not our Wood lands are not unfrequently so wet and 
present purpose, we would simply recall a few m i ry a g to forbid the passage of a heavy load 
items of miscalculation and neglect, such as are unless the ground is frozen, and there is in such 
most frequently noticed, and for which the cases no alternative but to take advantage of the 
farmer who makes them would not, we dare say, winter season. A better market, and iii many 
accept the excuse that he knew no better, how- pl a ces the only market, for wood is afforded at 
ever young he may be in practical Agriculture, this time. The notorious propensity of men to 
Of all unprofitable farming, the least satisfac- pufc 0 ff the purchase of any article, even of 
tory is that of cultivating an impoverished, p r ] me necessity, until the time it must be had 
badly worn soil, without manure. Especially is a t a ]] events, is a sufficient explanation of the 
this true unless the cultivation be very thorough ca use. 
— unless it be such as to bring out some latent 
fertility, like subsoiling, for instance, after shal- 
Wood ought to be well seasoned before it is 
burned, and in most instances before it is haul- 
PRINDLE’S PATENT SELF-SUSTAINING AND HURDLE FENCE. 
low plowing for a long series of years. Try corn e( j also> The great amount of water contained 
on such land the crop will be a meagre one, ] n green wood renders it uneconomical as fuel, 
both from the want of strength in the soil to f or q le following reason. In the conversion of 
grow it, and that the season will prove too short water into steam, one hundred and forty degrees 
to mature it. A rich or well-manured soil, will of h ea t are absorbed, and become latent, so as 
ripen the crops sown upon it earlier than a poor p e utterly ^inappreciable. This, of course, is 
one. That this is true of most kinds of grain, abstracted from the burning fuel, and is entirely 
and especially corn, is well known, yet it is fo st as a means of warmth. The idea that green 
often planted on a poor soil without manure, or wood is much the best for making a warm and 
with a totally inadequate supply of the same, cheerful fire in cold weather, is a common and 
This, and all other crops grown on such land, popular error which ought to be exploded as 
cannot come under the head of profitable farm- soon as possible. It is also, as a general rule, 
ing, save with the disagreeable prefix already uneconomical to haul green wood to market, 
noticed. It is a capital rule to cultivate no both on account of the unnecessary weight to be 
more land than you can put into productive carried and because of the less price usually 
condition, and give it the care and attention it obtained. A well seasoned, bright load of hard 
requires. wood, that shows no rot in the sap, will gene- 
It is equally futile to attempt to make money rally command twenty per cent, more in the 
by farming land which needs — more than any market than the same kind of wood freshly cut. 
fifing else — either surface or under-draining. It is therefore profitable for the farmer who sells 
A soil which has no escape or outlet, save wood to have it cut one year in advance, by 
evaporation, for the water which falls upon it, which he makes a double saving, viz., in price J 
cannot be made to produce a paying crop. In an d in labor of hauling. 
a dry season it is baked by the drouth, in a wet Wood should never be piled upon wet ground, 
one it is flooded with stagnant surface water— if it grows in such a situation, let it be hauled 
and manure can have little beneficial effect in 0 ff and piled upon a dry spot, moderately snug, 
either case. This is a well-known fact, yet but so as to admit of a free circulation of the 
thousands oi dollars are lost from the want of air around and through it, and sticks should be 
attention to the same. placed beneath so as to elevate the pile a few 
Another source of loss to the farmer, arises inches above the ground. Special care ought to 
from the exposure of the manure of his stock be observed that eveiy stick of size sufficient 
and refuse straw to the weather, in spring and to admit it should be split; for it seasons much 
summer. Rain and sun carry off a large share more readily and perfectly by so doing. Beach 
of their value—leaching and exhalation are free wood in particular will rot in the sap and great- 
to act upon them — both of which might be ly deteriorate unless this course is adopted, and 
prevented in greater part by proper care at the other kinds are greatly improved by the process 
hand of the farmer. We have heretofore spoken of splitting when green. A covering of boards 
of sheds and cellars for manure, but the subject or slabs over the pile while undergoing the pro- 
is by no means exhausted. At least it demands cess of seasoning, will be found of great advan- 
greater attention on the part of those interested, tage, and attended with very little trouble or 
though it would seem to need no argument cost. 
to prove waste unprofitable, or that manure From experiments made upon various kinds 
properly sheltered is worth double that which of wood, it is ascertained that, on an average, 
The accompanying engraving gives a perspec- > 
tive view of an improvement in fences recently 
patented by D. R, Prindle, of East Betbany, | 
Genesee Co., N. Y., and of which we gave some 
description in an early number of our last vol¬ 
ume. Tbe cut represents three kinds, each dif¬ 
ferently constructed, but all- combining the 
same principle as patented. We are informed j 
that the patentee has made several improve- j 
ments within the past year in the manner of 
sawing the posts, and in arriving at the most 
expeditious modes of making, so that the whole 
cost of labor in manufacturing the same is now 
ascertained to be from 15 to 20 cents per rod, 
according to the kind made. 
This fence, we are informed, has received 
awards at the New York and other State Fairs 
where exhibited. The great advantage of this 
about forty per cent, of its weight when first 
cut is water. One hundred parts of green wal¬ 
nut wood, when dried at 212° Fahrenheit, lost 
37.5 per cent., white oak 41, and white maple 
48 per centt A cord of green beech wood 
weighs about three tons, and the ordinary sea¬ 
soning of a year will reduce its weight nearly 
one ton. Under these circumstances it is easily 
seen that every facility ought to be given for 
the evaporation of a constituent which, although 
of vital importance to the growth of wood, is 
worse than useless after the tree is cut. It adds 
to the weight, facilitates decay, and absorbs 
the caloric during the process of combustion. 
-- 
BARN-YARD MANURE. 
The term barn-yard manure, as generally 
applied, means the dung of the farm stock, 
which is dropped or thrown into the barn-yard, 
mixed more or less with vegetable matter, and 
there left until partially decomposed, before 
being applied to the soil. Its value depends (1) 
upon the animal which makes it, (2) upon the 
food with which that animal is supplied, (3) 
upon the vegetable and other matter mingled 
with it in the yard, (4) and upon the state in 
which it is kept while it remains there. These 
things are all worthy of attentive consideration, 
and we propose to bring them plainly and prac¬ 
tically before our readers. 
(1.) The dung of different domestic animals 
varies in manorial value. This agrees with the 
experience of every practical fanner, and accords 
with the teachings of chemical science. Prof. 
Dana makes fresh cow-dung the type of ma¬ 
nures, the standard in the estimate and com¬ 
parison of value. His analysis of 100 lbs. gives 
the following proportions: 
Organic matter, [hay, bile, &c., and albumen] .. .15.45 
Salts, [potash, lime and soda].81 
Silica, [sometimes included in salts].14 
Water.83.60 
100.00 
Boussingault furnishes the following analysis, 
showing some variation from the above : 
Carbon. 5.39 
Hydrogen.64 
Oxygen.4.81 
Nitrogen. .-36 
Ash [salts and earth].2.36 
Water......86.44 
: invention, (which is perfectly simple,) consists 
i in making a peculiar shaped post or standard 
i for the ends of the panels, which are so com¬ 
bined with a simple and cheap metallic fastening 
that the fence will sustain itself without the 
posts being set in the ground—consequently are 
above rot, and can be made from many kinds of 
timber not generally used for such purposes.— 
' By using this kind of posts the builder will be 
able to make almost any kind of fence, either of 
boards, bars, rails, or small poles, or mostly of 
wire or picket, if desired. All kinds made 
on this plan are portable, being easily and 
quickly removed from place to place if desired 
—a fact of importance to every owner of land. 
This fence may be made indoors, or in the winter 
season,— a great convenience to the farmer, and 
an advantage which must be appreciated by all. 
All manures are found to be serviceable to 
growing vegetation in proportion to the amount 
of Nitrogen they contain, though this does not 
constitute their only fertilizing elements. The 
organic matter and salts are needed in a perfect 
manure, but nitrogen which is the basis, both of 
the production of ammonia and the formation of 
nitrates, is the great, first cause of the enrich¬ 
ing power of dung. 
Dana’s ultimate analysis gives the proportion 
of organic elements as follows : 
Carbon. 204 
Hydrogen .824 
Oxygen..4.818 
Nitrogen.505 
and we shall take his estimate of the amount of 
nitrogen as the basis of our comparison. It is 
one-half of one per cent, of the whole weight. 
The dung of a horse contains, according to 
Dana, the following constituents: 
Organic matter, [hay, bile and slime].27. 
Salts, [lime, magnesia and soda].96 
Silica.-.64 
Water, [loss 0.20].71.40 
100.00 
Fed on hay and oats, Boussingault finds the 
constituents as follows: 
Hydrogen. h^6 
Oxygen .. 
Nitrogen. 
Salts. 
AYater..., 
The organic matter is nearly double that of 
cow-dung, and the nitrogen in fresh droppings 
nearly fifty per cent, greater. It is estimated 
by Dana at three-fourths of one per cent, of the 
weight. This would make it one-fourth more 
valuable than cow-dung, which it is not found 
to be practically, in the state in which it is usually 
applied. 
The analysis by Sprengel, of the dung of 
sheep fed on hay alone, gives the following table : 
Organic matter, [hay, bile and slime,].22.5 
Salts, [lime, soda, &c.]. 3.6 
Silica. 6 - 
AVater.67.9 
100.00 
Girardin gives the following analysis : 
AYater. 68.71 
Azotized [or organic] matter.23.61 
S Salts. 8 - 13 
The fence, it is further claimed, is not affected 
by the frost like those having posts set in the . 
ground. With a slight alteration (costing not 
over 25 cents,) it is accessible at any point as a 
gate,—thereby dispensing, in a great measure, 
with expensive gates, posts, bars, and the letting 
down of gaps, Ac., an item of no small account. 
The fencing of stacks, folding of sheep, Ac., is 
but the work of a few moments with this fence. 
We understand this fence is now being manu¬ 
factured at Batavia, Genesee Co., N Y., and at 
many places in the West. Persons wishing to 
see or examine it can call at the Ag. Warehouse 
of Messrs. Brinkerhoof A Co., Batavia, or on 
the Patentee. Arrangements are being made to 
place this patent within the reach of all who 
may desire it. For further information, see 
announcement in our advertising department. 
According to Boussingault, it gives 1.11 of 
nitrogen in one hundred parts, making sheep 
manure nearly three-fifths more valuable than 
that of cattle. 
The dung of the hog, as analyzed by Girar¬ 
din, gives: 
Water.75.00 
Azotized matter. 20.15 
Salts. 4,85 
100.00 
and its nitrogenous value is about the same as 
that of fresh horse dung. 
The different manures have been character¬ 
ized according to their quickness of action, Ac., as 
follows: Cow dung is cold and inactive at first, 
that of the horse is the most rapid and violent, that 
of sheep of a medium quickness, while that of 
the hog yields its virtue at once, but is less 
heating than that of the horse or sheep. 
We shall next speak of the influence of the 
food which an animal receives upon the manure 
which it produces, and shall endeavor to treat 
the subject in a more popular manner. 
WESTWARD ! — TRADE AND MANU¬ 
FACTURES. 
“ Starch Making. —The Syracuse (N. Y.) Standard re¬ 
marks that the Oswego Starch Company went into operation 
about seven years ago, with a cash capital of $75,000 ; it ha3 
paid its stockholders over 25 per cent, annual cash dividends, 
and more than doubled its original capital from its earnings. 
Besides being very profitable, it furnishes work for a large 
number of men.” 
The above paragraph is calculated to awaken 
reflections upon the general subject of Trade 
and Manufactures. Scarcely any secular mat¬ 
ter has been involved in a denser fog than this. 
Communities have been agitated and kingdoms 
convulsed with questions growing out of this; 
branch of domestic policy. Why “rav/mate¬ 
rials,” which are neither sick nor sentimental, 
should be such great travelers, is a puzzle to com¬ 
mon people. Cotton and wool grown in Texas 
and Wisconsin, go to New England or Old Eng¬ 
land to be made up, and home again to be con¬ 
sumed, subject to considerable friction all of the 
way. A good water-power in Connecticut or 
Massachusetts, is pretty sure to be set to work 
to grind out some “Yankee notion,” its rocky 
environs are sold by the foot, and a busy, bust¬ 
ling, populous town, makes a market for the 
neighborhood. The water-powers of Western 
W W >< - . - . . ... * ■ ■■■■ ■ 
