1RURAL UP£ 
ROCHESTER, If. Y.-FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1859, 
I WHOLE NO. 470, 
bio. It is generally the most profitable to procure 
the best of the labor-saving machines in use, as 
they are most reliable, and save most time and 
trouble in the various operations of cultivating, 
seeding, harvesting, &c. If there are any doubts 
in regard to the successful operation of any im¬ 
plement, however, it should be taken on trial or 
warrantee only. See to this matter of implements, 
reader, and not only ascertain what you will be 
likely to want, but where you can best supply that 
want at the proper season. 
Now is the time to make your calculations as to 
Rotation of Crops, a matter sadly neglected by 
many farmers who are considered wise beyond 
their practice. Decide what you will do with this 
and that field—-(a map or plot of your farm, with 
each lot numbered, will be a paying investment, if 
you have none already)—after considering what 
has been grown heretofore, and what can most 
profitably be produced in future without an undue 
exhaustion of the elements of fertility. 
The subject of Manures and Fertilizers is vitally 
important to many of our readers and should be 
carefully considered. Those who have not suffi¬ 
cient on or near their own farms, will of course be 
under the necessity of purchasing elsewhere, or 
dispensing with fertilizers. If any arc procured 
from abroad it is well to ascertain their compara¬ 
tive value, as well as to understand their prepara¬ 
tion for, and adaptation and application to the soil 
to be cultivated. The right principle is to so feed 
the soil that, notwithstanding the crops produced, 
its strength and fertility shall annually be aug¬ 
mented rather than diminished. How this can 
. dmio i v . ,t qjinat; f,\» n-iuL r-’i' 1 fn 
determine for himself, taking the quality of his 
soil, location, and other circumstances into the 
calculation. 
Deep Tillage and Underdraining are not only 
profitable in most localities, but (as a consequence) 
becoming somewhat popular — though we fear 
more in theory than practice. Would it not be well 
for those whose farms might be enriched by these 
processes, to thoroughly inform themselves during 
the present winter, and act (so far as consistent,) 
in accordance with the knowledge acquired? A 
little experimenting will not cost much, and may 
result in great advantage. “ Prove all things,” &c. 
The Improvement of Stock is a matter of great 
importance, yet so proverbially (and we had almost 
said criminally,) neglected in many localities as to 
lead to the conclusion that farmers cannot, or do 
not, read, think and figure for themselves. Though 
it is nearly as easy and cheap to produce an animal 
worth $100 as it is to raise one which will sell for 
only or less than half that amount, the great mass 
of farmers (?) still persist in using scrub sires, 
rather than pay the paltry sum of one, five, or ten 
dollars for the services of a superior animal. If 
“ what is worth doing at all is worth doing well,” 
is a correct maxim, it applies to the breeding and 
care of domestic animals —a branch in which there 
is abundant room for well doing, for on many farms 
AGRICULTURAL BOOKS AND EXPERIMENTS. 
UNDERDRAINING 
ciously placed but a large amount of “chinking” 
should be done. Whoever lets out a ditch to be 
dug and stoned by the lowest bidder, and leaves 
him to himself, is a man of strong faith. 
I never could believe that tile in strong, tena¬ 
cious clay would drain a great distance, but tile 
would seem to be more sure against the mice. I 
have put in tile, and then filled in with small stones. 
Conversing with an intelligent farmer in the 
“Southern Tier,” he said, “we have plenty of land 
that you can’t make dry without ditching every 
four feet,—no, not then; for I will show you ponds 
of water standing right over good stone drains.” 
Our Niagara friend may count the cost of draining 
this land for himself. 
I will only observe further that gentlemen will 
please not assume that I am opposed to ditching. 
I am opposed to ditching some sorts of land. 
H. T. B. 
AH ORIGINAL WEEKL1 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
WITH AN ABLE CORPS OP ASSISTANT EDITORS. 
The Rural New-Yorker is designed to be unsurpassed 
in Value, Purity, Usefulness and Variety of Contents, and 
unique and beautiful in Appearance. Its Conductor de¬ 
votes his personal attention to the supervision of its various 
departments, and earnestly labors to render the Rural an 
eminently Reliable Guide on all the important Practical, 
Scientific and other Subjects intimately connected with the 
business of those whose interests it zealously advocates. It 
embraces more Agricultural, Horticultural, Scientific, Edu¬ 
cational, Literary and News Matter, interspersed with 
appropriate and beautiful Engravings, than any other jour¬ 
nal,—rendering it the most complete Agricultural, Lrr- 
kbaby akd Family Jourhal in America. 
EJ?” All communications, and business letters, should be 
addressed to D. D. T. MOORE, Rochester, N. Y. 
For Terms and other particulars, see last page. 
A GOOD FARM GATE. 
Messrs. Eds.: —In a late number of the Rural a 
correspondent inquired for the best mode of con¬ 
structing a farm gate, and having seen no response 
thereto, I venture to forward my plan. I prefer a 
double gate, which I think the cheapest in the 
long run, as they are so light a child can manage 
them, and the weight being on two posts instead 
of one, they are less liable to sag and rack, thus 
being more durable. The mode of construction is 
plainly shown in the above sketch. The heel 
pieces, a a, are 3 by 4 inch joist. Toes, boards 
same as slats. I take boards, say 9 or 10 inches 
wide, and slit through the middle for slats, toes, 
and braces. .Set the slats in the heel flush, or, if 
preferred, mortice and tenon througn the centre. 
The detached brace b, shows the method of in¬ 
sertion. The jam board c, I put on this side of the 
left gate projecting two inches for the toe of the 
right gate to strike against. This forms an aper¬ 
ture for the end of the bolt or slide d, which, slid 
in, fastens the gate. To fasten the left gate, I put 
a post in the ground just under the toe. 
THE TIME TO THINK AND PLAN. 
Wiv *it is pcC'-Gsrly a sensor. leisure wilb ib..- 
farmer—especially in the North, where the earth 
is frost-bound from three to four months —but 
may be so occupied as to redound greatly to the 
mental improvement of himself and his family, and 
also to the improvement of his estate. The time- 
honored adage which saith “ in time of peace pre¬ 
pare for war” is as applicable to individuals and 
communities as it is to governments and nations, 
and the wise cultivator will, during peaceful Win¬ 
ter, make proper calculations and preparations for 
the active operations—the so-to-speak practical war¬ 
fare— of the ensuing Spring and Summer. There 
are many matters which may properly and profit¬ 
ably occupy his attention, aside from superintend¬ 
ing the education of his children, caring for domes¬ 
tic animals, and the incidental winter business of 
the farm. With the foresight of an experienced 
commander he should consider and mature, while 
at leisure and in winter quarters, the general if not 
detailed plan of the approaching season’s cam¬ 
paign— thus carefully preparing his plans in 
regard to this or that operation, and being enabled 
to bring his forces into action at the earliest prac¬ 
ticable moment, as well as to increase the same 
whenever necessary to secure completion and 
success. He should thoroughly understand his 
position and condition — whether the season’s 
labors have been properly rewarded, and if not, 
the causes of failure, so that he may be enabled to 
profit by past experience. If a change of crops, or 
system of operations, is imperative to advantage¬ 
ous, profitable farming, the question as to what 
shall be done should receive mature consideration 
and induce estimates founded upon unmistakable 
facts and figures. Every change is not an im¬ 
provement, but such an one would be likely to 
prove for the better. And when any particular 
course of action is adopted, let it be entered upon 
with vigor and determination-—for in many cases 
this gives a prestige which insures success. Many 
an important victory (in rural as well as battle¬ 
field) has been achieved by careful planning, 
I he Improvement of the Homestead is a good 
subject for consideration and planning at the pres¬ 
ent time. The repairing and making of fences, the 
planting of fruit and ornamental trees and shrub¬ 
bery, the erection or repair of buildings, and like 
items which tend to render the homestead what it 
should be, are matters worthy of present thought, 
and action in the not distant future. To say noth¬ 
ing of the profit of such investments — in conveni¬ 
ence and enhancement of the value of any farm — 
they pay in tending to render home attractive and 
happy to the young, who might otherwise become 
wanderers and outcasts. 
But our suggestions are becoming numerous, if 
not tedious, and perchance are unnecessary to any 
of our readers—except borrowers of their reading— 
and, though we might make many additions, the 
above must suffice for the present. The subject is 
a fruitful one, and as it is far from being exhausted 
at this brief sitting, wo may recur to it ere long. 
Meantime we trust these hastily penned hints will 
incite many who should do so, to Think and Plan 
in regard to future operations during the season of 
leisure they are now enjoying. 
So low as not to interfere with anything passing 
over it, place two brackets on the gate for the bolt 
to play through, and a staple in the post for the 
end of the bolt to enter. Most any kind of hinge 
will answer, but the best are made of % or %?round 
iron, with thread cut on as shown in the drawing. 
These of the right size to follow a bit tight, will 
hold any gate, and should the gate sag, it is easily 
remedied, by screwing in the top hinges or screw¬ 
ing out the bottom ones. The plan is so simple 
that any man with the least gumption and a few 
tools, can build a pair in a few hours. If one gate 
only is required, I should have the toe piece 2 by 3 
inches, and by putting the hinges in the corner of 
the post, the gate will open both ways oqually well. 
West Bloomfield, N. J., 1S59. E. Williams. 
A HAND PLOW. 
Messrs. Eds. — Most vegetables are greatly bene¬ 
fited by having the ground stirred frequently 
around them. Hoeing is a tedious operation both 
for time and patience. 
CompositioiY to Stop Lealunge. 
A correspondent of the Lynn News gives a 
recipe for a cheap composition with which Teaks in 
roofs may be effectually stopped. Having a lcakv 
“ L, he says:—“I made a composition of four 
pounds of resin, one pint linseed oil, and one ounce 
red lead, applied it hot with a brush to the part 
where the ‘ II was joined to the main house. It 
has never leaked since. I then recommended the 
composition to my neighbor, who had a dormor 
window which leaked badly. He applied it, and 
the leak stopped. I made my water-cask tight by 
this composition, and have recommended it for 
chimneys, windows, etc., and it has always proved 
a cure for a leak.” 
I give a drawing of a small shovel plow with a 
wheel set in the beam, which can be pushed like a 
wheel barrow. Where loosening the soil is the 
object, it is a very expeditious machine. The beam 
is made by screwing together pieces of hard wood 
boards. The wheel should have a “broad tread” 
