................... 
TWO DOLLARS A YEAR.] 
“PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT.” 
[ SINGLE NO. FIVE GENTS. 
YOLUME YII. NO. 18. ( 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.,-SATURRAY, MAY 3, 1856. 
! WHOLE NO. 330. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
AN ORIGINAL WEEKLY 
agricultural, literary and family journai 
whole field rich at one process. A top-dressing 
of ashes and plaster, or of ashes alone, is useful; 
it involves hut little labor, and assists the young 
corn to get a better start, so that it can forage for 
itself through a greater breadth and depth of 
soil. An experiment in mixing a small quanti¬ 
ty of salt, with ashes so applied, resulted in 
quite a noticeable increase in the product. Half 
a teaspoonful of salt is enough for a hill, and 
H. C. WHITE, T. E. WETMORE. , , / . , , ,, 
__ should not touch the young corn, or it will kill 
The Rural New-Yorker is designed to be unique and the leaves. But we have not Space to go into 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
WITH AN ABLE QpRPS OF ASSISTANT EDITORS, 
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS i 
H. T. BROOKS, Prof. C. DEWEY, 
T. C. PETERS, L. B. LANGWORTHY, 
H. C. WHITE, T. E. WETMORE. 
beautiful in Appearance, and unsurpassed in Value, Purity and tb(J su V,; ec t of particular fertilizers. Anything 
Variety of Contents. Its conductors earnestly labor to make it . ... , , , 
a Reliable Guide on the important Practical Subjects connected which will iuahe grass glOW, W ill be acceptable 
with the business of those whose interests it advocates. It (,0 the corn plant. 
embraces more Agricultural, Horticultural, ScientiOc, Meehan- rp he a f lcr . cu l turc should be SUC.h as will keep 
ical, Literary and News Matter, interspersed with many appro- -in _ 1 
priate and beautiful Engravings, than any other paper published the SOll mellow and tree from weeds. oOmC 
In this Country,—rendering it a complete Agricultural, Lit- hoe their corn several times, and make but little 
erary and family Newspaper. account of the job, while others hoe once with a 
*• The postage on the Rural is but 3K cents per quarter, to , , , , 
*_. n „„„„tremendous effort. One old farmer said such 
ERARY AND FAMILY NeW'SPAPER. 
*.* The postage on the Rural is but 3% cents per quarter, to 
any part of the State (except Monroe County, where it goes free,) 
and cents to any other section of the United States—payable I people always “ put him in mind of the boy who 
quarterly in advance at the office where received. 
I3Z* All communications, and business letters, should be ad' 
dressed to II. D. T. MOORE, Rochester, N. Y. 
For Terms, and other particulars, see last page. 
combed his hair once a month, and wondered 
how any one could submit to such an operation 
daily.” Those who keep their corn clean, com¬ 
mence in season, have good implements, and 
straight rows, so that most of the labor is done 
by the horse and cultivator. It is much easier 
to kill weeds just coming up, than after they 
--——- have had a week or two the start of the hoe— 
INDIAN CORN. and corn that has a fresh, mellow soil for the 
- first six weeks of its growth, gets an advance 
Indian Corn, its character, culture and uses, keep it ahead of weeds after that time. 
ftural 
has been frequently remarked upon in our col¬ 
umns, hut the series on the different spring 
crops would be incomplete without one devoted 
Such treatment, too, is just the thing to prevent 
the usual effects of dry weather. 
There are a great many varieties of corn, and 
to this important product. It is now the great b „ rl 
tt , , i • • .1 probably more names than varieties. What is 
crop of the United States, and is rapidly ex- 1 L . . . . , . •. , 
. , , . . , wanted in this section, is one that is hardy, 
tending in amount, and gaming in public esti- , , , . ^ , . , „ 
1 early and productive. One that is not afraid ot 
mation. In the old-r Slates it receives ir.creas- .. , ... . . .. . 
. . , . - a little cold weather, that will ripen before the 
ed attention and prominence, and on the broad , „ 
ed attention and prominence, and on the broad , „ 
. . , , . , , ., . . autumn frosts come on, and yield, in the best 
prairies, fast coming under the plow, it takes, , . , . . J , , , . „, 
1 ° 1 soils, from eighty to one hundred bushels ot 
table vegetable. The period for sowing is about 
one month later than for the Swede. When 
raised as a field crop, from two to three pounds 
of seed is requisite to the acre. The ground 
should be freshly broken and harrowed imme¬ 
diately before sowing. Put in the seed when 
the ground and atmosphere are damp, as mois¬ 
ture promotes germination, and places the 
young plants early beyond the reach of insect 
depredators. A top-dressing of ashes and 
plaster will enhance the prospects for a good 
crop. When they make appearance the hoe or 
cultivator should be used freely, and the ground 
kept loose and free from weeds. 
Where this root is stored for the purpose of 
feeding stock, the process is similar to that 
used for potatoes, with the exception, that they 
do not require to be kept from frost so exclu¬ 
sively as the former. Too much warmth iiij ures 
them. Should they be stored in heaps in the 
field, it is best to leave an opening, covered 
lightly with straw through which the gases 
generated may pass off. When intended for 
the table, one of the best modes, is to pack in 
barrels with alternate layers of leaves or straw 
—giving the leaves the preference provided you 
can obtain them. 
The turnip is subject to visits from numerous 
species of insects, and remedies almost equally 
countless are offered and advised. Recipes 
compounded of nitrates and sulphates, urine, 
soot water, curriers’ and fish oil, diluted sul¬ 
phuric acid, etc., to the end of the catalogue, are 
stamped with the seal of perfection—by those 
introducing them—and yet all fail. The very 
best remedy is to get the earth in the right con¬ 
dition for the growing^) Id at, sow liberally ar.d 
give to the crop, from seed-time to harvest, the 
attention it so richly deserves. 
ATKINS’ SELF-RAKING REAPER AND MOWER. 
REAPING AND MOWING MACHINES. 
every year, possession of its millions of acres. , _ , ... . , . , 
. „ • , ,, „ , . shelled corn to the acre. We like best the yel- 
As an article of animal and human food, it is . , . J , 
WOOD ASHES. 
, , low corn for color, and with proper care in the 
coming into greater use, and also for manutac- . .. . . , .. ,, f-. ... 
. ° ° selection of seed, believe that it will mature m 
turing purposes, and we see no limit to its ex- . T ■ „ 
, , , .’ . „ , . ... . , good season. I he “Improved Iving Philip 
tent and value in the future, for it is only be- . . , ... ., ... . , . , 
. . J impresses us favorably—if it will yield and 
ginning to occupy the prominent position it . 1 ., ... , . , .. 
. , . 1J 1 1 ripen as many aver, it will prove valuable tor 
richly deserves. latc ^ Wd it not be a good 
The soil best suited to corn is that of a deep, plan to get the best kinds gr0 wn in a higher 
nch, loamy character. A rich soil is an essen- latiludc> and try them here ? 
tial requisite to large crops, as corn is a rank The „ corn questi on” is a large one-volumes 
feeder, and possesses large powers of assimila- might be written without exhausting it; but 
ting vegetable aliment. A deep soil gives room are supposed to write here for people who 
for its numerous and far-reaching roots, which know a good deal on all mattera 0 f practical 
extend in proportion to the growth of stalks, farmingj and only ask reminders and Sllgge8 . 
leaves and grain. A tolerably dry soil is re- tions to set them thinking for themselves. 
quired, because corn refuses to flourish in one of _ _ „ 
an opposite charactei. Let the soil he well ROOT OROPS_TURNIPS 
drained, rich and deep, and it is not so essential _ 
whether clay, muck or sand predominates; still, There are many varieties of turnips culti 
There are many varieties of turnips cultivated 
like most of our grain crops, it prefers a mixture by our agriculturists, of which, two species, the 
of the three. 
Swedish or ruta-baga and English or flat, re- 
The preparation for corn should be such as ceive the most attention. Of their utility as 
will best tend to make the soil fertile, deep and provender for stock, it is not our purpose to 
mellow, and, as far as may be, lessen the labor speak, but rather to give a few practical hints 
of hoeing. Manure it well with barn-yard ma- relative to culture, Ac. 
nure, plow this under deeply and perfectly, 
harrow the surface to a fine tilth, and mark for 
In tho-selection of seed for this crop, certain 
questions arise which should have the careful 
planting so as to secure straight rows each way. consideration of the farmer. Which variety will 
A clover ley is a good preparation for corn, and give the largest yield, and at the same time 
if the soil is of fair fertility, will give an aver- furnish the greatest proportion of nutriment for 
age crop without much manure. But this crop the amount of soil under cultivation ? Which, 
is more likely to mature, more certain to give a for the uses intended, will be most economical ? 
paying return, and prove more satisfactory ev- The Swedish turnip is the most valuable to 
ery way upon a properly prepared soil. If one y ie 8 t ock raiser for late feeding, and has this 
can only fit five acies in first-rate order, better grea t advantage over all others—the easiness 
give all the labor to that, than to spread the w:db which it can be preserved. In a rotation 
same work and manure over ten acres. 0 f crops, the best time to sow would be after 
The time of planting corn varies with the wheat or corn—in a new soil or newly turned 
season, but it should not be delayed later than pasture the largest yield might be obtained.— 
the 25th of May, and ten or fifteen days earlier The Swede is a rank feeder and delights in a rich, 
is a still better time. It has been thought that deep soil. To attain perfection, the land must 
in cold, late seasons, it was of little advantage be i n this condition. If the ground be heavy, 
to plant early, as the weather was such that ridge slightly where sown, and deposit the seed 
corn came up, if at all, very slowly, and grew j n chills about two feet apart. Thin succes- 
at the same ratio. If not planted until the sively, as may be deemed requisite, and let the 
ground became warmer, it would then have as space between each be from six to eight inches, 
fair a start as that first mentioned. We have Should vacancies occur, transplant and fill up 
observed instances where this was fairly tried, during damp weather. The seed should be 
and in all cases that first planted came earliest sown early, say from middle of May to same 
to maturity, and often thereby escaped an au- period in June, as in case of failure there would 
tunin frost which injured later corn very mate- be time to “try again.” Many farmers sow as 
rially. Com should he planted as soon as the late as the first of August—between rows oi 
soil can be properly fitted for it, and the farmer corn—but the roots do not mature, and as a con- 
who has much of a spring’s work to do, finds sequence are small. They will answer, how- 
there are no play days in May, at any rate. ever, for early feeding, and should any be too 
Manuring in the hill at the time of planting, diminutive to store, turn in the sheep, so that 
is sometimes practiced. We have recently nothing may he lost. Preparations for soaking 
given a number of letters on the use of hen- the seed are abundant, where there is a desire 
dung for this purpose. Our own opinion of hill to force germination, among which urine, soot 
manuring always has been, that it does not pay ivater and liquid guano are recommended, 
on a large scale—that it is better to make the The English turnip is much esteemed as a 
The virtue of ashes as a dressing for all 
crops, is, we think, not-properly appreciated by 
a great many, who live by tilling the soil. It 
is everywhere and on all crops, except perhaps 
clover, worth as much as plaster, and, on some, 
far exceeds it as a solvent and stimulant of veg¬ 
etation. Its action is palpable to the most care¬ 
less observer in its effects, and the manner in 
which it acts, is of easy explanation, which is 
more than can be said of plaster. 
In the first place, potash is one of the most 
deliquescent salts, or has ability to attract mois¬ 
ture. A lump of potash, when dry, is as solid 
and hard as a well burned brick, but when ex¬ 
posed to a damp, or night air, it nearly doubles 
its weight and becomes a liquid, so great is its 
attraction for watery vapor. This is one of its 
features, but its great and important function 
is the supply of silicate of potash—silex or sand 
dissolved in potash—to form the glazing of 
straw, hay, cornstalks and various other vegeta¬ 
ble structures, without which no cereal crop can 
be perfected. 
Some soils, particularly clays, contain a suf¬ 
ficient portion of this material, until they be¬ 
come worn and effete. Ashes are most beneficial 
on sandy, loamy and gravelly soils, that do not 
contain mineral potash, or its elements. W. en 
compared with plaster, the only objection t > the 
profitable use of ashes is its easy solubility- 
heavy rains dissolve and carry off the potash 
beyond the reach of the plant; while plaster 
being insoluble, its action is not destroyed by 
water. 
In this region, wood ashes an; about eight 
cents per bushel; while the price of plaster at 
the mill is about twelve cents,and the drawing 
it several miles to be added to its cost; which 
it our position is correct as to the value of the 
two manures, it behooves the farmer to make and 
save all the ashes he can ; especially for the corn 
crop, for which it is unanimously admitted to 
be worth more- than plaster. The custom is 
now generally prevailing, to mix I hem together, 
producing a very striking offer.:. It has been 
suggested that broad-cast sowing of ashes is 
equally efficacious with application to the hills, 
and we are disposed, from some experiments ex¬ 
hibited, to give credence to that course, if double 
the quantity is so applied. 
With leached ashes, the effect is uot ns quick, 
nor as apparent on crops as unleached; but 
their action is longer felt when treble the quan¬ 
tity is used. They contain silex in a firm and 
impalpable state, and some potash and lime, 
ready for solution. Silex or 11 iat being artifi¬ 
cially nearly insoluble, except by the fluoric 
acid, a substance very sparingly produced by 
nature, and then in a neutral combined state.— 
Time was—and not many years since either 
—when the oar and the setting pole propelled 
the boats upon lake and river—when wind 
alone moved over ocean waves the sea-going 
ship, and carried on the commerce of the world 
—when the stage-coach was the swiftest pas¬ 
senger conveyance—when water-power was the 
most potent arm of the manufactory—when the 
human hand was the best instrument for sow¬ 
ing seed, and the sickle and the reaping hook 
for gathering in the grain. A few years, how¬ 
ever, have wrought a wonderful change in these 
as well as all other departments of human in¬ 
dustry. The mechanic arts, aided by their pre¬ 
siding Genius, Science, have brought about re¬ 
sults as wonderful as they are potent. 
Agriculture is one of the latest departments 
to which machinery has been applied, and its 
success has been no less decisive in this. No 
reason exists why machinery should be applied 
to propelling ships, weaving cloth, grinding 
grain, drawing cars, and at the same time be 
excluded from performing the manipulations of 
the farm, and community are beginning to see 
the subject in its proper light. Among the 
latest, most scientific, and most successful ap¬ 
plication of machinery to farm purposes, is that 
of cutting grass and grain. Many different pa¬ 
tents have been issued for these machines, 
predicated chiefly on the manner of propelling 
the cutters and gathering and dropping the 
grain, most if not all the cutters working with 
a reciprocating motion, and severing the stand- 
ng straw with a shear stroke. But in the suc¬ 
cessful working of these machines, there seems 
to be a difference, resulting from perfect or im¬ 
perfect construction, and proper management. 
Among those which have met with the most 
general approval, and received the most numer¬ 
ous testimonials of public favor, is Atkin’s Self- 
raking Reaner and Mower, an illustration of 
which heads this article. It is manufactured 
by J. S. Wright & Co., Chicago, Illinois, and 
is used extensively in the grain fields of the 
West. Twelve hundred of these machines were 
in operation last year, and the manufacturers 
are constructing three thousand for the harvest 
of 1856. 
An unlimited field is open in this country for 
really valuable farm machinery, and the man¬ 
ufacturer of such an article will find through¬ 
out the United States an ever increasing de¬ 
mand. In another column will be found an 
advertisement, from which further information 
can be obtained in regard to the Mower and 
Reaper spoken of above. 
That silex is dissolved and taken up by the sap, 
is evident from the fact that canes, bamboos and 
rushes are so strongly covered with this mate¬ 
rial, that they will strike fire with the steel.— 
The leaf of the wheat plant in its earliest stages, 
when burned in the candle carefully, will leave 
an ash that will contract and melt into a glo¬ 
bule of glass, often as perfect as the microscopic 
lens; all which goes to prove the benefit of pot¬ 
ash in the shape of ashes, to produce the silicate 
so imperiously necessary for all the cereals as 
well as the grasses. 
WINTERING STOCK. 
The winter now past has been one ot unex¬ 
ampled severity in all parts of our country, and 
has well put to the test the comparative merits 
of giving stock of all kinds good and comfort¬ 
able quarters, or leaving them exposed to the 
storms and winds of winter. The theory of 
protection and care, in this case is one that is 
most e phatically borne out and substantiated 
by practice. It is a paying practice, too, and 
one which this winter’s experience, we have no 
(mb , will teach not a few to take more heed 
of in future. 
Though in our own procedure we cannot boast 
of any superior facilities, or of tact in our man¬ 
agement, yet we have thought that.a word or 
two might be of some little benefit by way of 
encouragement to others, no better situated.— 
With the opening of the present winter, we had 
nineteen head of neat stock to get through the 
cold .veather, a part of which we had taken to 
keep, besides a few sheep. Our stable room 
could accommodast: 1 it five head, and to let the 
(ge the yard we could not think of, 
though we had low sheds on one side of it 
made by boarding up the back of the fence 
and placing thereon a single roof of fifteen feet 
boards and slabs. Believing from theory and 
our little former expei ience, that protection was 
the cheapest, we went to work, and with a few 
additional hoards and some three days labor, 
extemporized our shed into a stable, by board¬ 
ing up and putting in a range of mangers on 
the front side, leaving folding doors through 
which to put the feed. This, with the cracks 
battened, made quite a comfortable shed, with 
an alley behind to pile up the manure, which, 
when it accumulated so as to become trouble¬ 
some, we removed to the field. 
The soil was light loam, and therefore not 
liable to become muddy, so we put down no 
flooring. This arrangement gave to each animal 
its appropriate stall, where it could readily take 
its apportioned amount of food, without inter¬ 
fering with others or being itself molested. For 
our sheep we fitted another shed, open at one 
end, and gave them a trough and rack for the 
deposite of their food, so that they could take 
the shed or open yard, as bestsuited their tastes. 
We had also provided our yard with a well and 
pump. With the result we have been very 
much pleased. Our creatures, in the cold¬ 
est of the weather, showed themselves comfort¬ 
able, and eat their fodder without waste, and to 
a manifest saving in the amount. When I be¬ 
gan I doubted whether, if the winter should 
prove a severe one, I had enough fodder to carry 
my amount of stock through, and those I took 
to winter were upon condition to be returned 
when I found myself running short. But they 
have all come through thus far in good condition, 
hale and hearty, and 1 have already sold $50 
worth of hay at $12 the ton, and have enough 
left; and this without feeding any thiny but hay 
and coarse fodder. Had I fed in the open yard, 
without shelter or mangers, I have no doubt I 
should have found myself short ere this time, 
and hence can but feel gratified with my expe¬ 
rience, and would most earnestly recommend 
protection and stalls to my brother farmers, who 
winter stock. It will much more than pay the 
cost and trouble. Then again, there is not a 
little saved in the way of engineering, so to 
speak. Those who have had the care of stock, 
will undoubtedly have noticed that some ani¬ 
mals are much more hearty in their appetites 
than others, consuming with avidity and relish 
what others will reject. Sheep will eat much 
that other stock will not; such, as leaves of 
weeds and tender bushes, and hence where such 
occur in the hay field, unless they contain nox¬ 
ious seeds, they should not be thrown out'.— 
Colts and horses too, may eat portions that neat 
