V7) ■^yy'r 
—fVA 
AL MEW' 
oflo^ l ^\j/ >( • £ )* 
WINTERING STOCK. - SHEEP. 
Mr. Moore: —Some time ago I received your 
letter say ing you hud mislaid my article on win¬ 
tering stock, and requesting another. I can say 
little on the subject but what I have often written, 
yet as many farmers are so very remiss in win¬ 
tering their cattle and sheep, it would be well 
if the Agricultural papers would remind them of 
their duty every Autumn, until there would bo 
few farmers in the country but would keep their 
stock improving in winter as well as in summer; 
and well I know that either sheep or cattle turned 
to pasture when nothing but skin and bone, make 
but very little improvement in the pasturing 
season, and often go into another winter in worse 
condition than they ought to be at the time they 
were turned to pasture at the middle of May. I 
think a farmer would be equally excusable, who, 
after raising a crop of grain, should wilfully waste 
one-half of it, as waste the flesh off his sheep and 
cattle for five or six months every year. I trav¬ 
eled through some of the western counties of this 
State lately, and saw many miserably poor ewes 
and lambs, which must be very well cared for the 
coming winter, else they will be food for worthless 
dogs long before spring—and I know that keeping 
sheep in that way never can pay, no matter how 
little the food costs. If every farmer would feed 
each of his sheep one bushel of corn, or 60 lbs. 
of oats, buckwheat or barley, (whichever he found 
cheapest,) during winter, with good straw, even, 
for fodder, they would pay him better for the 
grain, by far, than if he were to carry it to market 
and sell it for cash. But if he would feed each 
sheep 90 lbs. of corn, or other grain, they would 
still pay him better for the grain—they would 
yield him double the wool to what they did when 
he fed no grain—they would raise him double the 
number and much better Iambs. Try it, farmers. 
I have practiced this for over thirty years, and 
think I cannot be mistaken. You no doubt will 
hear farmers say, “ I fed grain to my ewes one 
year, but I will never do so again; they lost their 
wool, the lambs came before their time, and I lost 
nearly all of them.” Now, let me tell you the 
reason of those men’s bad luck. They did not 
begin feeding the grain until their sheep were in 
poverty, and the feed was too strong for them; 
hence it created fever, and bad luck attended 
them. IJut you that will take my advice, begin 
to feed grain whenever your pasture fails in fall, 
so as to keep up the condition of the sheep, and 
if you keep the dogs from them, and give them 
reasonable shelter, I will warrant no bad luck in 
loosing wool, or premature lambs, will befall them. 
There is no animal that will pay better for good 
feeding than sheep, and none, as a general thing, 
is worse fed; if they only got half the care that 
is bestowed on the filthy swine, they would pay 
much better. 
When I tell farmers that they ought to keep 
their sheep much better, they shake their heads 
and say, “ It may pay you to feed grain and linseed 
cake to sheep, but it would not pay us.” Far be 
it from me to advise farmers to run any great risk 
in feeding a large quantity of grain to their sheep 
until they have the best of proof (experience) that 
it will pay them, and that double what they could 
get for the grain in cash; but I do wish I could 
persuade every farmer in the country to feed 
a few sheep in the way I mention, and 1 feel sure 
all who thus practice would feed their whole flocks 
so the next year. No farmer ought to keep 
flock of Merino sheep without shearing at least 
five lbs. of clean wool per head. If they shear 
less he ought either to reduce his flock, or feed 
better, or both, until he gets up to that amount of 
wool or over; and with such feeding as I advocate 
Merino wethers at three years old can be made to 
average (in the fall) from 120 to 130 lbs., live 
weight. As they are now kept it is only a picked 
flock that will average 90 lbs. IJut you must 
breed those that are to weigh from 120 to 130 lbs 
and that from well-f'ed eices, and not expect to take 
little, stunted yearlings or two year olds, and 
think to make them weigh the higher weights. 
Again, if a lot of Merino wothers averaging 88 
or 90 lbs., live weight, in the fall, is worth three 
cents per lb., a lot weighing 120 lbs. average is 
better worth four cents, and those averaging 130 
lbs. four and a quarter cents—for the reason that 
the offal of the 90 lb. sheep is only a trifle less 
than the one weighing 120 lbs. The fact is, there 
is a profit every way in high feeding. It is just like 
high manuring, and the higher you feed the higher 
you manure, the manure being so much richer. 
I had intended to have said something on feed 
ing Cattle, but I have said so much for the poor 
Sheep 1 must stop. Perhaps I have said more 
than will be read by many. Yours, truly, 
Near Geneva, N. Y., 1859. Jons Johnston. 
Remarks. —We hope Mr. «T. will give us an 
article on wintering cattle, for we are confident 
what he may have to say on the subject will be 
read with interest and profit. A man of his 
observation, years, experience, and (we cannot 
refrain from adding) merited reputation, ought 
not to be afraid of writing too much. An allusion, 
in a recent address, to his example and success in 
underdraining and other matters, was received in 
such manner as to assure us that Mr. Johnston’s 
practical teachings were of the right stamp to 
forward farm improvement and enrichment. 
LESSONS OF THE SEASON. 
Readers of the Rural :—As again “ we stand 
among the fallen leaves,” and look over our fields, 
most of them already stripped of their produc¬ 
tions, it seems hardly possible that any intelligent 
cultivator of the soil should fail to call to mind 
many observations which he has made during the 
passing season, of failures or success, and their 
probable causes, both in his own operations and 
those of his neighbors,—observations which may 
hereafter be of great practical importance to him¬ 
self and others. There is no person that thinks 
who does not make such observations. And yet, 
through failure to record them in his journal, or 
in the public prints, they are unknown by others, 
and many of them soon forgotten by himself. In 
many things we perhaps do not trust our memo¬ 
ries enough,—in others, and especially such mat 
ters as have been referred to, we trust them too 
much. Wo need something in black and white, 
which shall be a reminder of them when the 
season returns for using them. 
In many parts of our country, the past season 
has been remarkable for frosts and other calami¬ 
ties to the farmer. The place where the writer 
resides was not only visited, on the 4th and 10th 
of June, by the severest frosts perhaps ever known 
here so late in the season, but was clean swept on 
the 24th of June by a devastating hail, which 
hardly left a green thing. Early peas, in some of I fine size. 
our gardens, were ready for picking, and other 
vegetables proportionately advanced. On the 
morniDg of the 25th our gardens and plowed fields 
were as clean almost as if just harrowed. In 
these circumstances the question “ What shall we 
plant?” was an important one. “What can we 
plant so late and get any return?” Some replied 
many worthless weeds. He who breeds a small 
mare to a thorough-bred stallion, expecting to get 
large draft animals,—or a mare possessing no fine 
gait, expecting to get a good saddle animal or 
fast trotter, will assuredly be disappointed. I ac 
knowledge that we cannot produce stylish, fast 
horses from draft stallions, nor can you do it with 
a thorough-bred horse from common mares, 
have seen it tried too often; four-fifths of the time 
the experiment failed. I have handled more 
thorough-bred stallions than any other one kind 
and have been forced to believe that they are not 
the horse to breed all kind of mares. I would 
much prefer a Cleveland Bay or a large Morga 
to breed to promiscuously. I have neither, so 
am disinterested, as I have no such stock. I have 
been convinced from obseivation that they are the 
best animals that have ever been brought out 
West, for all purposes. If the mares are under 
size, I would prefer breeding to a Cleveland Bay 
stallion; but if my mares were of good size, 
would prefer a fine sized Morgan to all others 
Their colts have fine size, and a great deal more 
style, and move better than all other horses I have 
ever seen. ThcSe thorough-bred men contend that 
“ like begets like,” and, in the same breath, that 
horse that does not trot, (if he does, it is done very 
poorly,) and who cannot pace a lick, and who is 
a small-boned, light-bodied animal, will produce 
animals that will excel in trotting, pacing, and 
Then I contend they must get it from 
their dams. “That thero is no uncertainty in 
nature’s operations, the male confers the external 
structure of the offspring,”—all of which I believe 
Then, where are the offspring to look for those 
traits that the sire does not possess? It is true 
that there are freaks of nature—that the produce 
differs from sire and dam, but it is very seldom 
after the frosts, “You need not plant anything; So I contend that we should first determine what 
the corn will come again, and so will the potatoes.” we desire to raise, and breed with an eye to that 
Others said, “It is too late for corn; put in buck- point. Perfection in no particular point is gained 
wheat, and by- and-by, turnips and corn for fodder.” in one cross, but it takes years to excel or produce 
After the hail they said, “There isn’t time for perfection in stock. Too many expect the sire to 
anything but turnips.” Rather poor prospect, do everything—that all they have to do is to breed 
was it not, for comfortable living for the following to a fine animal,—and that they will get a splendid 
nme months or more? animal out of a scrub. Such persons are doomed 
To these remarks I wish to subjoin a few facts to disappointment, I care not to what they breed 
which have come under my own observation To produce fine stock, you must breed to fine 
during the past season, in hope that they may animals aud keep at It, at the same time taking 
prove of service to some who may read them. good care of the produce. a. m. h. 
1. Corn, where it was frozen below the ground, Saline Co., Mo., October, 1859 
did not“ come again” so as to be worth the cul¬ 
ture. Though every hill started again, and looked 
green for a few days, much of it died ; some of it 
put out small, poor ears, close to the ground; 
and a very little of it yielded good corn 
2. Potatoes, many of them, did come again, and 
gave a fair crop 
THE SORGHUM IN KANSAS. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker: —A correspondent 
wishes to know concerning the Sorghum, and I 
can say, for this vicinity, we are making a good 
Jn some cases, however, they I thing of it. Six mills are in operation within two 
IIow to Kill Woodchucks. —“J. S. M.” of 
Fillmore, N. Y., wishes to know “if there is no 
way of killing woodchucks short of hunting and 
shooting or trapping them ?” To which I reply, 
there is. Take a sweet apple, quarter it, make an 
incision in each quarter, into which insert a small 
quantity of strychnine, or a larger quantity of 
arsenic"; put a piece or two into each hole. In a 
short time the apple will be gone, and the wood 
chuck a “ goner.”— J. S. Tiubets, Nankin, Mich. 
A Good Cow.—Mr. Martin Tymerson, of East 
Bloomfield, Out. Co., states that he has a cow 
(three-fourths Durham,) from which his wife made 
and sold, last summer, from the 2d day of May to 
the 2d day of August, one hundred and one pounds 
(101 lbs.,) of nice, rich butter, besides what was 
required for the use of the family, consisting of 
three grown persons. During the first twenty 
days of June, she gave 58 lbs. of milk each day_ 
26 lbs. in the morning, and 32 lbs. at night. 
were frozen so severely as to make them worthless. 
3. King Philip corn, planted from the 12th to 
the 20th of June, and a few rows in garden soil 
as late as the 27th and 28th of J une, ripened. 
4. Potatoes planted several days after the frosts, 
ripened perfectly, and gave a good crop. Others, 
planted the 29th of June, though still green in 
the tops when the frost came in October, gave the 
largest crop of large potatoes that I have ever 
raised on an equal area of ground. 
5. I have never had better peas than from those 
which I planted the 26th of June, and though 
they came at a time of year when green peas are 
ordinarily only remembered as luxuries long ago 
past, they were declared by all who partook of 
them to be in good time, and a note was made to 
plant some peas late hereafter, frost or no frost. 
Beans planted the 27th and 28th of June, ripened 
a considerable part of the crop. Limas were not 
replanted. 
6. Melons, squashes, &c., did not pay. Tomatoes, 
likewise, except those which have been for some 
miles of me, aud molasses that has given good 
satisfaction has been made, and we think that but 
a small amount of molasses need be brought from 
the South for this vicinity in future. It is an easy 
crop to raise here. As this morniDg was our first 
show of frost it has hai full time to mature.— 
Should I be able, I wiB^tend you figures of the 
amount made here this fall. 
We have raised some wheat, but the same com¬ 
plaint is prevalent here as elsewhere. The yield 
is light, and we have yet to import both wheat and 
apples. Wehavean abundance of corn and potatoes 
-both sweet and common varieties—and we hope 
soon to raise all that our climate will allow.— Jas. 
Williams, Osawatomie, Kansas, Oct., 1859. 
MANURES-SAFE RULES. 
Are there not a few rules iu regard to manures 
which it is safe to rely upon as unalterable? 1st 
All fine or well decomposed fertilizers should be 
applied at or near the surface. 2d. All coarse, in 
time past uuder frames, with glazed covering, and contra-distinction, should be buried beneath the 
additional protection when there is danger of surface at a slight depth. 
frost. These are still affording fine ripened fruit. All manures are better for having been housed, 
7. Sweet potatoes, planted out late, gave no unless we except the very coarse, where moisture 
return. Those which “came again” after frosts 
and hail were little worth. 
8. Turnips are fine, and having been sown in 
more places than usual, are more abundant. The 
old rule, “The 25th of July, wet or dry,” will not 
answer well one year with another, as to time. 
So far as my observation goes, it is too late, except 
upon very quick soils, or in very favorable seasons, 
or with some of the quicker growing varieties. 
may be needed to aid decomposition. For quick 
growing crops, like corn or tobacco, the fertilizing 
matter should (if of proper fineness,) be placed 
near the plant or in the hill. —W. J. Pettee, Lake 
ville, Conn., 1859. 
Raising Turkeys. — In a June number of the 
New-Yorker I made a few inquiries about raising 
turkeys, which were very promptly answered. I 
9. Our meadow's, which were greatly injured by cannot explain my success better than by sayiDg 
the frosts, and wholly cut up by the hail, have that I have raised more turkeys from a litter of 
many of them yielded something worth cutting in ten, this fall, than from seventy young turkeys last 
September and October. spring. Shortly after the advice given in the 
To conclude, I wish to place on record for those Bubal, I bad a litter of ten hatched, which I fed 
who shall look over the back numbers and vol- bread and milk, water, and occasionally a little 
umes of the Rural in time to come for something lobbered milk, for about four W'eeks, according to 
to encourage them, when disasters to their crops tbe instructions, and have raised all except three 
in the early part of the season occur, that that w bich were caught by the hawks. After this 
kind Providence which “tempers the wind to the 
shorn lamb” has crowned our efforts to make up 
as far as possible for our losses by frost and bail, 
with, I believe, even unhoped-for success,—thus 
kindly urging us to trust ourselves confidently to 
His keeping who careth for us, though the peach 
tree should not blossom, neither should there be 
fruit in the vines, though the fruit of the orchard 
should fail, and even the fields yield no meat. n. 
when I wish advice, I know where to get it. Take 
the Rural all.— Subscriber, Cayuga, N. Y, 1859. 
BREEDING HORSES FOR ALL-WORK. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker: — As I am a great 
admirer of fine stock of all kinds, I take pleasure 
in reading all that appears in the Rural on the 
subject; but am forced, from experience and 
observation, to differ with some of your corres¬ 
pondents. I contend that “ like begets like,” and 
that it is impossible to change the laws of nature. 
I therefore contend that no horse is suitable to be 
Good Butter in Winter. —Mrs. H. wishes to 
send you the following method for making butter 
in winter, yellow, aud containing as pleasant flavor 
as in Mayor June. Grate carrots, (the deepest 
oraDge color,) sift through a seive, mix in a little 
milk, (water will answer,) and put into the cream 
when you commence churning. You will be sur¬ 
prised at the great difference it makes with the 
butter. Scores of her neighbors have tendered 
her their sincere thanks for the information.—C. 
A. II., Chicago, III., 1859. 
Seed Corn. —Wm. S. Morgan, of Warren Co., 
writes to the Prairie Farmer that seed from the 
butt end of an ear of corn will ripen its product 
all at the same time, and some three weeks earlier 
than seed from the little end of the same ear. He 
bred to all kinds of mares,To as toTro~d7ce'fine recomracuds farmers alwa J a to break their 8 <* d 
animals from all. And I furthermore contend that C01n CarS ,n tw ° in the middle ' and uso the butt 
no stallion can produce animals suitable for all euds 0Illy for Secd 
kinds of work. 
Rural Spirit of tljc Press 
ITeetling olT I’astviro Ijamla. 
It is certainly advantageous to pastures, says 
InAER, to remove the cattle from them often, in 
order that the grass may have time to recover it 
self. Forthis reason, on the best conducted farms 
the pasture land is divided into separato parts.— 
The animals which require the most succulent and 
nourishing food are first turned to each separate 
division, and as they are removed, the other kinds 
'vhich need a smaller quantity of untriment, are 
fed there. By this means the whole of the grass 
is eaten, those kinds to which the cattle are least 
partial with the rest. The herbage is then left to 
recover itself for a sufficient time, and afterward 
the first herd is again allowed to feed upon it. 
In commenting upon the foregoing, the editor of 
the New England Farmer says :—“ This system 
possesses decided advantages over the practice of 
suffering the cattle to wander over the whole ex 
tent of pasture ground. If the space is large 
great deal of herbage is spoiled or destroyed by 
the trampling of the cattle; the pasturage is never 
uniformly eaten off, but some portions are left to 
grow until it becomes dry and hard. The luxu 
riant but distasteful herbage is constantly increas 
ing, and in time crowds out the finer kinds, already 
lessened by being cropped so closely and continu 
ally. Another advantage is, the stock are more 
quiet, and consequently feed better, and keep in 
better health. The succession of the various kinds 
of stock must be regulated by the circumstances 
of the owner. Tiiaer says that in spring the best 
pasturage is often given to ewes, because it is 
needed to increase their supply of milk, and give 
them strength to nurse their lambs with sheep in 
spring, if not allowed too long, has a tendency to 
thicken the growth of grass. But they cannot be 
followed by cattle immediately, with advantage 
at least three weeks should intervene, to allow the 
smell of their dung to dissipate, and the grass to 
get a fresh start.” 
UNTiglit Soil —Its Value. 
In a recent issue of the Planter’s Fanner the 
editor remarks:—" The best of all manures is the 
one which in our country is the most universally 
wasted. In Belgium, where agriculture is carried 
to great productiveness, they ‘ order things differ¬ 
ently.’ There, the estimate is, by nice calculation 
that it is worth $10 for every individual, man, wo 
man and child. We traverse sea and land, send 
to Africa and South America to bring elements of 
fertility which at home we throw away on every 
farm in the country. What an immense amount 
is wasted in our cities. It must be the most valu¬ 
able, containing the elements of all kinds of food 
consumed by man, and in returning these to the 
soil, we return the identical constituents which 
former crops and animals have taken from the 
land. Night soil contains the phosphate of lime, 
which is indispensable to the growth of animal’s 
bones and to the nutriment of all plants, and which 
is not supplied from the atmosphere like carbonic 
acid and ammonia. All fluid and solid excretions 
should be preserved by mixing with burnt clay, 
saw-dust, ashes, peat or wood charcoal, muck, etc. 
We have a great deal to learn, and, alas, much 
more to practice that we have learned.” 
Horses and Colts. 
A correspondent of the Maine Farmer, says 
he has a five year old horse and a two year old 
colt, and wishes advice in regard to their keep and 
feed. The editor makes the following suggestions 
in reply:—“A warm stable that can be easily ven¬ 
tilated; good water easily come at; good, sweet 
hay in sufficient quantity; a feed of oats or corn 
and cob meal once per day. These are the requi¬ 
sites of good keeping for horses or colts. Some 
think that colts that do no work need no proven¬ 
der, but a moderate allowance daily, will ‘pay,’ as 
the Yankees say. In regard to cutting feed, if 
your hay is clean and sweet, with no mixture of 
coarse grasses, &c., it will be as well to let the 
horse do his own cutting. If you have rough fod 
der, or your hay is coarse, with a mixture of all 
sorts, it will pay to cut it and mix it with your 
meal and a little water in a mash tub.” 
Saving Clover Seed. 
A Canada West farmer writes to the Toronto 
Globe, that many agriculturists are deterred from 
saving clover seed for their own use, from the 
great trouble and expense of hulling and cleaning 
it. 
, ., Y l , h0r0U « b b ™ d stab ‘ ons w ‘ b do I Oswego Co. Ao. Society.— At a recent meeting of 
^ WaS 1 n0 0110 111 tbe b ue £ rass country the Oswego County Ag. Society (the one which held its 
o f Kentucky ? 
last Fair at Fulton,) it was resolved to hold the next 
Some twenty odd years ago, everybody bred to * air al Oswego. The following officers were elected 
thoroughbred stallions; the consequence was that lor tho on8uia S year: — President— Joel Tubbill, 
the horses became too small for everything but the 0swego ’ Vice-Presidents -Orson Titus, Hannibal; 
saddle. Then they resorted to the other extreme, DaVid Nicho ' 8 ’ Ncw IIaVe “" B60 ‘ Secretary-John 
and imported a number of draft stallions. It is 
true they increased the size of their horses, and 
produced many fine animals, and at the same time I 
U. Smith, Oswego Falls. Cor. Secretary— Dudley 
Farling, Oswego. Treasurer— S. G. Morriam, New 
Haven. Executive Committee— Thos. Askew, Seriba 
John Reeves, Granby ; D. C. Buell, Oswogo. 
But in his section it is a common practice to 
sow the seed and chaff together, which is done by 
making a large, deep box of boards, on the top of 
an ordinary wagon box. The chaff is then shovel¬ 
led in and hauled out to the field, and scattered 
over the surface from the wagon, as evenly as pos¬ 
sible, with a straw or dung fork, just thick enough 
to give the ground a dark appearance. It is then 
harrowed in with a light harrow. 
Training Steers. 
At the Maine State Fair, a boy fifteen years 
of age, from the town of Woodstock, had a pair 
of three year old steers which obeyed him as an 
obedient boy will his parents. By a motion of his 
hand they would go forward, halt, and return, go 
to the right or left, kneel down, and perform other 
things much to the surprise of some older farmers 
who are in the habit of putting the brad through 
the hide. At the New York State Fair, there was 
perfect It a re y of an ox turner, who practices 
breaking steers for farmers, who never treats 
them inhumanly, but he soon has them under per¬ 
fect control, and as bidable as well-trained child¬ 
ren. So says the New York Tribune. 
Management of Milk. —The Homestead says:— 
“The milk-room and dairy management have 
something to do with the production of butter, and 
thinks an improved style of milk-room would be 
quite as likely to iEcrease the yield of butter as an 
improved breed of cows. There is much truth in 
this; though there is no reason why we should 
not have improved bleeds of cattle as well as im¬ 
proved dairy-houses and more skillful manage¬ 
ment. In fact, they often go together.” 
One-iiokse Mowino Machines —In reply to an in 
quiry in the Boston Cultivator, a correspondent at 
North Andover, Mass., recommends Kbtohum’s one- 
horse mowing machine, which he says ho has used 
with advantage this year. 
J 
The Oregon Farmer— Progress. —Tho last number 
of this journal comes to us in quarto form, (about tho 
size of tho Bubal,) and changed from a monthly to a 
semi-monthly. This indicates prosperity and the right 
kind of progress. Wo trust it will celebrate its next 
anniversary by changing to a weekly—for every pro¬ 
gressive farmer, wherever located, needs a weekly 
journal which shall advise him in regard to matters 
connected with his occupation, the markets, etc., as 
much as the city business man requires a dally. The 
Farmer is well conducted and handsomely printed. 
Wilson Town Fair.— We learn that the recent Fair 
of the Wilson (Niagara Co.) Town Ag. Society—tho 
first held since its organization—was quite successful. 
In some respects tho exhibition is said to have excelled 
that of the County Society. Wilson sustains a Farmers’ 
Club, and of course its members would not allow an 
exhibition to prove a failure. “ Now is the time to 
organize” Farmers' Clubs—a matter in which men of 
all political parties can and should cordially unite. 
Transactions ok State Ag. Society.— A Subscriber, 
Kalamazoo, Mich., asks—“Can you inform me where 
or to whom I should apply to obtain a copy of the 
Transactions of tho N. Y. Stato Agricultural Society, 
and tho price? Please answer through the Rural.” 
[apply to the Secretary, Col. B. P. Johnson, Albany, 
N. Y. We think the price is $1.] 
“Rural” Letters from tiib People aro quite 
numerous and encouraging of late. We quote from 
two or three of the most seasonable—simply remarking 
that we will cheerfully furnish duplicates lo any of our 
friends who wear out or lose numbers of tho Rural 
while exhibiting them as specimens on Election or any 
other day: 
Election Day Is a good time to ask your friends and 
fellow townsmen to take tho Rural, ns many of our 
friends can attest. Reader, plcaso take a copy wiih 
you, and, after discharging your duty toward “saving 
the nation,” politically, work a little for a paper which 
seeks to promote the best interests of the people and 
the country. Mr. A. N. Hayden, of Caitaraugus Co., 
proposes to do this, for he says:—“ I would like to hare 
you send me a show bill and a number of the Rural if 
you can spare it as soon as possible, as I intend to get 
up a club, and I think Election day will bo a favorable 
time to make some exertion. If you will send in time 
I should like it. I reside in a town where but few of 
your papers are taken, but think some more may bo 
induced to subscribe by a little effort on tho part of its 
friends ; I therefore will see what I can do.” 
Mr. A. J. Rumshy, of Genesee Co.,—a young man 
attending school—also proposes to do a good work on 
Election day, and we trust many of our young friends 
will emulate his examplo. He writes: As the tenth 
volume of the Rural is drawing to a close, I begin to 
look forward with pleasing anticipations to the next, 
and I really hope that its subscription list may far 
exceed the present. I hope to send you a goodly num¬ 
ber of subscribers this fall and next winter; at any 
rate I intend to do the best I, can. If you please I 
would like a show bill—before Election day if con¬ 
venient, as I think that day a favorable one to get 
subscribers. If possible I hope to be of enough service 
to you this ensuing campaign to deserve a Webster’s 
Unabridged Dictionary, a book I have long wished to 
own.” 
— That’s right!—for a Dictionary wiil bo a good 
investment. And, by way of encouragement to our 
young friend, and all other Young Men and Maidens of 
like disposition, we will here make a special offer to 
all Young Rurai.ists— viz., To every minor who remits 
payincut, according to our terms, for Forty Subscribers 
to tho Rural New-Yorker previous to Christmas 
Day (Dec. 25th, 1859,) and competes for no otaer pre¬ 
mium or gratuity, wo will give a copy of Webster’s 
Unabridged Dictionary— the now and splendid Pic¬ 
torial Edition. “ Boys, Do You Hear ThalT” 
The Rural is highly esteemed in Cunada West, and 
gaining in popularity. A Member of Parliament wrote 
us a note not long since that it was worthy of general 
circulation tnroughout tho Province, especially as Can¬ 
ada had no such journal. And a letter just rooeived 
from a gentleman in Brant county (who sent us sixty 
subscribers to present vpluine) says:—“From present 
appearances the Rural’s circulation will be greatly 
increased tho ensuing year. Several who have never 
taken it have already bespoken it, to commence with 
the new year; and several who felt too poor last year, 
acknowledge it very poor economy to do without it, and 
will join the club for 1860. You may be sure I shall do 
my best to secure a large club.” 
Failed, and Closed.— “ If you have tears to shed,” 
•fee. That long-time odious sub-institution known ag 
the “ Agricultural Department of the Patent Office 
so beautifully engineered of lato years by D J. Brownp, 
and formerly by Dr. Daniel Lee, et. a^.-has gone 
into liquidation, the Commissioner of Patents having 
closed the concern, and declined to ask Congress for 
further appropriations. According to rumor there is a 
$100,000 defalcation in this branch of public service (f) 
—but tho facts are not yet patent to the people. The 
“Advisory Board” should be convened and consulted 
—though we are credibly informed that its members 
considered tho “branch” a humbug, and reported 
accordingly, which report was suppressed, perhaps to 
make room for plagiarized matters in the annual volume! 
— Now that this Patent-Offlce-collar nuisance, which 
has been scattering foul seeds and — “ Reports” f or 
years, is abated, it may be well for those interested in 
the progrees and prosperity of the leading interest of 
Rural America to agitato the propriety of establishing 
a distinct Bureau or Department of Agriculture. 
The Agricultural Book Publishers. — It will be 
seen by reference to an announcement in this paper 
that C. M. Saxton, Barker & Co., of New York, have 
purchased the establishment of A. O. Moore & Co., by 
which they unite the stock, copy-rights, <tc , of the latter 
firm, to their already extensive business. It will bo 
remembered that Mr. Saxton was the projector and for 
many years the conductor of Ihe first Agricultural Book 
Publishing Houso in this country, and that ho disposed of 
the business to Mr. Moore. Since then Mr. C. has be¬ 
come publisher of the Horticulturist, as well as of 
many standard and miscellaneous works-and hence tho 
purchase of the old establishment, as now announced, 
with his known enterprise and long experience, will 
give the new firm a commanding position and peculiar 
facilities for transacting an extensive, increasing and 
important branch of tho publishing business. Toe new 
firm will merit, and we doubt not achieve, abundant 
success. 
A Township Ag. Society in Clayton Co., Iowa, 
sends us (per Norman Hamilton, Secretary,) payment 
for thirty-two copies of the Rural, which ii has award¬ 
ed as premiums, a good beginning for an Iowa 
Township Society. By the way, tho Society is entitled 
to a bound volume of tho Rural, or (if preferred) $2 
in Ag. Books, post-paid. Which shall we furnish ? 
*r'3**Z? 
YKki 
