VOLUME'III. NO. 1. 
ROCHESTER, N. Y-THURSDAY, JANUARY I, 1852. 
WHOLE 1\0. 105. 
Slgrtntifimil Dcgartninit. 
rSIOORi:SS AND JIlPKOVElIFliT. 
A NEW YE AH '3 SALUTATION. 
Readers of the Rural, accept our cordial 
greeting — the compliments of the season 
— on this, the Natal Day of 1852. May it 
not only provo to thee a “Happy New 
Year,” but a precursor of many joyous and 
prosperous months and years, now obscured 
in the dim vista of the far-removed yet 
hopefully anticipated future. On this day 
may “you, and 1, and all of us”—the mem¬ 
bers of every Family Circle in the land — 
taught by the experience and observation of 
the past, turn an unsullied page, and inscribe 
thereon a preface embracing rules of guid¬ 
ance and action which shall lead to such 
performances as will naturally secure the 
essentials of future happiness and prosperity. 
We enter upon the duties yf the new year, 
and send forth the initial number of our 
Third Volume, with renewed hope and in¬ 
creased confidence. Encouraged by the 
large measure of success which has crowned 
our efforts during the two past years, we are 
induced to make a more liberal expenditure, 
and greater exertions, to accomplish the ob¬ 
jects contemplated in tiro establishment of 
♦ the Rural New-Yorker. Without expect¬ 
ing or striving to make a paper which will 
please everybody, wo shall, as heretofore, 
earnestly endeavor to furnish such an one 
as we believe eminently calculated to j>r<>- 
mote the welfare of the great uv'ss of com¬ 
munity— and especially ono which will 
merit the support of those whose counten¬ 
ance is most valuable, the right-thinking and 
pure minded advocates of individual and col¬ 
lective “Progress and Improvement ” who 
are scattered throughout every County and 
State of our Republic. Combining many 
objects in one — its plan being somewhat 
novel, and possessing conceded advantages 
over most of the periodicals of the day—we 
hope to render the Ri ral more and more 
useful and acceptable as an Agricultural 
and Family Encyclopedia, by presenting 
from week to week a well chosen variety of 
reading upon useful and practical, instruc¬ 
tive and entertaining subjects. Claiming 
no superiority to any of’the able contempo¬ 
raries devoted to one or more of the many 
topics embraced in our plan, we concede to 
none more fidelity or earnestness of purpose 
in efforts to advance the productive interests 
of the country, or elevate those engaged in 
industrial occupations. 
The leading object of this publication is 
usefulness — and primarily to the Agricul¬ 
tural Community. In the discussion of all 
practices and theories , in Agriculture and 
kindred matters, we shall endeavor to seek 
and sustain the right, and give condemna¬ 
tory warning of the wrong, from however 
ex ilted source that wrong may emanate.— 
In this matter we would “prove all things, 
. and hold fast that which is good,” however 
much policy or self-interest might dictate a 
different and more temporizing course with 
the schemes of visionaries or speculators. 
Our next object is to make the Rural in¬ 
trinsically valuable and interesting as a 
Family Paper. We hope to render it an in¬ 
valuable weekly messenger to every family 
who may receive its visits. To furnish all 
substantial and entertaining knowledge, 
in the most condensed and availbale form, 
— and yet avoid the utterance of a word or 
thought which shall mislead the mind or 
vitiate the heart,— will continue to be our 
earnest endeavor. Indeed our purpose is 
to present the “kernel of the nut” in each 
department of the Rural —alike under the 
head of Agriculture, the Arts, Education, 
the Sciences, History, Literature, or the 
News of the Day — thus comprising and pre¬ 
senting in one, as many facts, and as much 
information of value, as is given in several 
ordinary journals. 
I bus much to all, but moro particularly 
those who now see the Rural for the first 
time,—or, having seen it merely, are unac¬ 
quainted with its objects and character. To 
its familiar readers we trust it is unneces¬ 
sary to make any pledges whatever. And, in¬ 
stead of commenting upon the attractive¬ 
ness of our now-rigged craft, or the value of 
its cargo, wo prefer to await such decision 
as the reader may award after proper exam¬ 
ination. Wo will add, however, that we 
commence the labors of the new year with 
greater facilities for the prosecution of our 
objects than ever before — and in tho confi¬ 
dent belief that tho Third Volume of the 
Rural New-Yorker will meet with success 
commensurate with its merits. 
THE “MINERAL MANURE” THEORY. 
It is well known that Liebig, after having 
nearly “boxed the compass,” in regard to 
theories of manures, adopted what is called 
tho “ Mineral Theory,” the substance of 
which is that tho ashes of plants com¬ 
prise all the elements which it is necessary 
to apply to soils for the support of crops.— 
In his own language this theory is expressed 
as follows :—“The crops on a field diminish 
or increase in exact proportion to the dim¬ 
inution or increase of tho mineral substances 
conveyed to it in manure.” (SeeAg. Chem¬ 
istry, third edition, p. 211.) In accordance 
with this theory he invented a mineral ma¬ 
nure, which was patented in England, and 
sold there in considerable quantities to the 
farmers. It proved a failure, so far as re¬ 
gards its profitable application, not only in 
Britain, but on tho continent of Europe. 
This theory has been put to several fair 
tests fifth by trials"of tho patent manure, 
and in other ways, the most important of 
which are the experiments made by Messrs. 
Lawks and Gilbert, a synopsis of which is 
given by them in the Journal of the Royal 
Agricultural Society, vol. xii, pp. 1-40.— 
These tests demonstrate, what tho observa¬ 
tion of every practical farmer would lead 
him to believe, that the “Mineral Theory” 
is unsound. 
Tho failure of tho patent manure scheme, 
and the downfall of the “Mineral Theory,” 
have given rise to a curious defence of their 
author. Prof. Mai*es (according to an “of¬ 
ficial ” report of a discussion by tho Ameri¬ 
can Institute Farmers’ Club, of Nov. 18th, 
last, published in The JYeiv-Yorker,) thinks 
“Liebig has been unjustly reproached. Ho 
manufactured manure and sent it to Eng¬ 
land, without a sufficient regard to tho dif¬ 
ference of climate between his country 
and England; consequently it failed. Had 
he added to his manure the proper amount of 
nitrogen, he would have succeeded in Eng¬ 
land. [The italics are not Prof. M.’s.] Ire- 
peat it, Dr. Liebig was not fairly treated in 
England. The English chemists have not 
been fair with him, for ho was right as to 
his own country—faultless; but in England 
and probably some other countries, his plan 
requires some alteration.” 
Prof. Mares also alludes to this subject in 
the Journal of Agriculture of Nov. 19th last, 
and observes, “ if he [Liebig] had directed 
that two pounds of sulphate of ammonia, and 
a barrel of charcoal dust, or decomposed 
peat, be added to each barrel of his manure, 
it would not have failed.” 
This is truly a masterly defence of tho 
great German’s theory ! He asserts that 
mineral manures only are essential. The 
question is simply, is this true or false ?— 
The experiments of tho “ English chemists ” 
alluded to by Prof. M. have settled the 
question; and Prof. M., although he seems 
to will to the contrary, has evidently settled 
it in the samo way, viz., that mineral ma¬ 
nures are not sufficient, and that it is neces¬ 
sary to apply others, which Liebig held 
wore not needed ! With what consistency 
can “ammonia,” “charcoal” and “peat,” be 
“added” to a manure that is perfect with¬ 
out them ? Tho “ Mineral Theory,” must 
he tried on its own basis, and as it is. If it 
is necessary to modify it, either by adding 
or subtracting, that at once proves its falla¬ 
cy. The admission of tho necessity of add¬ 
ing ammonia, is equivalent to an entire 
abandonment of Liebig’s ground! The 
whole controversy began in the outset in 
reference to this point— Liebig contending, 
j in opposition to Mulder, Kuiilmann, Bous- 
siN'q.vuLT and others, that plants could obtain 
their supply of ammonia from the air. The 
following extract shows Liebig’s ' views on 
this point: 
In a letter to the Revue Scientifque ct In- 
dustrielle, a part of which is copied in tho 
London Farmer s Magazine, volume xvi, p. 
511, Liebig says:—“You are aware of the 
great importance which theoretical persons 
attach to the presence of ammonia in ma¬ 
nures ; so much so that in France their val¬ 
ue is estimated by tho quantity of azote or 
ammonia they contain.” Ho then goes on 
to say that, though ho had formerly held 
this idea himself, ho had changed his opinion, 
and had come to tho conclusion that the ap¬ 
plication of ammonia was unnecessary— 
“ that if the soil bo suitable—if it contain a 
sufficient quantity of alkalies, phosphates, 
and sulphates, plants will derive their ammo¬ 
nia from the atmosphere .” 
Prof. Mares says, Liebig “ was right as 
to his own country—faultless.” But he 
(Liebig) claimed that his manure was com¬ 
pounded according to the immutable laws 
which govern tho vegetable kingdom; it was 
not made for a particular country, hut was 
based on a special theory which lie believed 
infallible. ' It is not true however, that ho 
was “faultless” in reference to his “own 
country.” The experiments reported by Dr. 
Weissenborn, of Wiomar, published in tho 
London Farmers Magazine, vol. xv, p. 367- 
373, show that it was almost a total failure 
In many accurate trial? / * 
LARGE AND SMALL POTATOES FOR SEED, 
It has, till within a few years, boon a pre¬ 
vailing conviction and belief that with all 
kinds of seeds, only the largest, fairest and 
best developed portions should be selected 
for producing its like,—and many farmers 
yet carry the principle so far as to shell off 
both ends of tho cars of com intended for 
planting, rejecting all misshapen seeds. It 
is very desirable that this point should bo 
settled beyond simple belief or cavil—as tho 
suckering of corn has been by absolute ex¬ 
periment. 
A correspondent of tho Cultivator gives 
an experiment, apparently conducted with 
great care, in which he planted one square 
rod of ground with ono small and one large 
potato in each hill. They average in grow¬ 
ing, four steins to the large ones and threo 
to the small, and when dug the small seed 
gave 84 lbs. and the large ones 158 lbs., which 
would seem conclusive. Another writer in 
the same work, gives the result of another 
experiment, in which he planted a row across 
his field, with threo snqill potatoes in each 
hill, and one row by tho side of them with 
one large one. The result in size and yield 
was too small to note tho difference. Now 
“ Who sha’.l decide when Doctors disagree ?” 
We have for a long time had doubts of 
this principle; for once, when potatoes were 
scarce and high priced, a poor family pooled 
all their eating potatoes, planted the pare- 
ings, and had as good a crop as their neigh¬ 
bors. Another instance, in which a rare 
and new variety was planted in a flower pot 
in the house; when they had grown six 
inches, and before the time of setting out 
in the ground, tho tops were cut off with 
tho shears, and the slips and the tubers 
planted out, side by side, and at the gather¬ 
ing, the produce of the slips was fully equal 
to that from tho full sized seed. Good 
crops of wheat have been raised from seed 
s*o badly shrunk from rusting, that it could 
hardly be distinguished from chess. 
Now do not these facts, for such they are, 
at least go to throw some doubt upon this 
long received and cherished notion. 
It may bo asked, why docs not tins prin¬ 
ciple apply to vegetables us well as animals. 
It probably does, so far as breed, variety 
and species exists-, hut not to the age or size, 
or accidental deformity, in either case. 
It is of no little importance that this 
question should lie definitely settled ; as in 
some seasons, and even the past, when 
there was such an uncommon quantity of 
small potatoes produced, it would be quite 
a saving to bo able to uso small ones in plant¬ 
ing, with confidence in tho result. The farm¬ 
ing community would be under obligations 
to tho State Society, if they would offer a 
liberal premium for suitable experiments, 
with a variety of seeds, on different soils, for 
two or more years. 
A NEW SUBSTITUTE FOR FENCING. 
A writer in the Ohio Cultivator proposes 
a new method for producing a good and 
lasting fence. A trench of one foot in depth, 
and tho same in width, is to bo sunk in the 
earth and filled with coarse and poor stone. 
Then a casing of two inch plunk, ono foot 
apart, is placed on this foundation and filled 
with small stone, pebbles and gravel, and 
grouted with lime mortar and left till it sets; 
when it is hoisted up or moved along, 
as desirable. This process is continued un¬ 
til a height of 4-J feet is attained, which is 
sufficient. 
Wo think well of this project, and feel a 
good deal of solicitude for the discovery 
of some desirablo process, to take the place 
of tho present ephemeral structures; espe¬ 
cially when wo consider the millions of miles, 
yes, millions of miles, of worm fence now 
protecting and disfiguring tho fields of this 
great agricultural country, and i ho absolute 
inability to renew thorn, from the want of 
material; so profuse and careless have been 
the early settlors of timber suitable for that 
purpose. 
Ill a I'nmiIi'V wlioro lime i« n.hnnp, and prop¬ 
er gravel can bo procured to fill the interstices 
of the stones So that,in the process of grouting 
or filling the walls with liquid mortar, too 
great a quantity of time will not ho con¬ 
sumed—it would bo a cheap substitute; 
and, if made during midsummer, so that tho 
wall shall set and bocomo absolutoty dry, 
in a few years it would become an entire 
rock, if the mortar is well compounded. 
We should like to see this experiment 
tried, as we entertain very little hopes of 
the success of hedges, until some proper 
shrub is discovered that field mice will not 
bark in winter. 
REGULAR FEEDING. 
System and order are highly requisite in 
the care of domestic animals, and it has been 
laid down as an important rule by tho most 
intelligent herdsmen, to feed and water cut- 
tlo at fixed times, and tho same hour and 
minute every day. It is found that Vvhen 
fed thus they learn to expect their fodder 
at the stated time, and remain quiet and un¬ 
complaining until it comes around. “ Com¬ 
plaints from his stock,” says Steriiens in his 
Book of the Farm, “ should he distressing to 
a farmer’s car; for, he may bo sure, they 
will not complain until they feel hunger; and 
if allowed to hunger, they are not only los¬ 
ing condition, but rendering themselves by 
discontent, less capable of acquiring it.” 
This is true of all domestic animals, and 
should bo heeded, by tho farmer. Let him 
so arrange his labors at the barn that every 
operation may*bo performed at a stated time, 
and he will find matters to go on much more 
comfortably and pleasantly than when all is 
left at hap-hazard, without system or regu¬ 
larity. 
Importation op Hereford Cattle. —Mr. 
E. Corning, Jr., of Albany, has recently im¬ 
ported a bull and heifer, purchased by him 
while in England last season, of the noted 
Hereford breeder, Rev. J. It. Smyth ms, of 
Lynch-Court, Herefordshire. They are ex¬ 
cellent animals—the heifer (two years old) 
in particular, « one of tho most perfect 
models of all tho properties and points that 
are desired in a fattening animal. In this 
respect she is indeed a study for breeders, 
and when she recovers from her voyage and 
is brought out in condition, she will create 
a sensation among the “ stock-men.” Those 
who attend the annual meeting of the State 
Ag. Society, will probably have an opportu¬ 
nity to see her. * 
Different plants take different constitu¬ 
ents from the soil, hence tho rotation of 
crops is indispensable. 
AGRICULTURE IN COMMON SCHOOLS. 
BY J. L. BRAKE, D. I). 
I was particularly pleased with the gener¬ 
al idea ofS. Luther in tho Rural New-York¬ 
er of Nov. 27th, under tho head of “Town 
Agricultural Societies.” 'This idea embodies 
tho true secret for a general dissemination 
of scientific knowledge on agriculture. This 
knowledge should bo diffused through tho 
masses and not bo confined to tho few; 
should be imparted in tho common district 
schools as well as in colleges; and should 
he at the instance and under tho patronage 
of the working farmer as well as the scien¬ 
tific professor. Tho thing may not indeed be 
effected with that polish and perfection and 
eclat which would attend it in the other ease; 
but it will be attended with infinitely better 
results. The common district school mas¬ 
ter may not bo able to teach tho philosophy 
ot mathematical science as elaborately and 
as thoroughly as tho university professor; 
but, his teaching upon tho broad communi¬ 
ty—among tho laboring classes — will ho 
worth a thousand times as much. And, tho 
housewife may .not ho ablo to enable her 
daughters, or tho cook, in tho process of 
kneading dough and pastry, to describe that 
process by scientific terms as well as the 
chemist would teach his pupils to do it; but 
no ono will doubt, that oven ho would pro- 
tor that his table should ho supplied with 
bread and its el ceteras from tier counsels 
rather than from his own. It will ho found 
essentially the same in (he matter of which 
we now speak, as much as the idea lias been 
overlooked. 
It. is assumed therefore, as a fact, that in 
the general promotion of scientific agricul¬ 
ture, in tho improvement of all rural cul¬ 
ture, and especially in the general elevation 
of our yeomanry and their families, in each 
township there must bo a spirit of emulation 
and inquiry; in each township there must 
be all tho elements for this progress; and, 
ouch individual in such township must feel 
a personal responsibility and exercise a per¬ 
sonal agency in tho process. When this is 
seen in each township, and there becomes 
a rivalry between tho different townships in 
this good work, tho people themselves, all 
and singular, will put their shoulder to the 
wheel, and will do cheerfully and promptly 
what should be done. If agricultural lec¬ 
tures are needful, they will both provide 
thorn, and attend them. If tho interests of 
agriculture demand that agriculture should 
bo taught in all our universities, or that each 
State should have an agricultural college, 
the requisite funds will bo provided. No 
wearisome days will bo necessary in log-rol¬ 
ling with our legislators to effect it, for they 
are fresh from tho masses of tho people— 
indeed a portion of theso masses, who will 
that it shall ho done. 
Nevertheless, such a consummation is not 
to he expected—cannot he expected, till tho 
peoplo become imbued with the spirit of 
such enterprises. And wo unhesitatingly 
affirm, that they will not generally become 
thus imbued, till agriculture is taught,some¬ 
how or other,—as well as the circumstances 
admit—in all our country district Schools, 
and till agricultural hooks and agricultural 
magazines or newspapers are found general¬ 
ly in the families of all rural locations.' We 
know it has been said, and that it may again 
be Said, that tho time for this has not come, 
that teachers for it cannot be had. In reply 
wo say the time never will have come, till 
a beginning be had; and tho present is as 
favorable for such a beginning as any future 
period. With timid and lukewarm minds 
there always has been, and always will bo, 
“a Lion in the way” to persons in an untrod¬ 
den path; and the slothful and the cowardly 
will never he wanting in excuse for procras¬ 
tination—for a little moro sleep and slum¬ 
ber. Whilst they are dreaming over obsta¬ 
cles, men of vigorous minds and expanding 
hearts will be pressing on to victory, reach¬ 
ing tho goal before their timid advisers aro 
ready to start. Nor is it true, chat teachers 
cannot bo had for this work. Not many 
indeed might at first b< found familiar with 
the details of scientific agriculture. But, 
