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VOLUME III. NO. 36. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: 
A WEEKLY HOME NEWSPAPER, 
Designed for both Country and Town Residents. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
ASSISTED BY 
J. II. BIXBY, L. WETHKUELL, AND II. C. WHITE, 
With a numerous corps of able Contributors and 
Correspondents. 
The RrRAf, New-Yorker is designed to be unique and 
beautiful in appearance, aud unsurpassed in Value, Purity 
and Variety of Contenss. Its conductors earnestly labor 
to make it a Reliable Guido on the important Practical Sub¬ 
jects connected with the business of those whose interests 
it advocates. It embraces more Agricultural, .Horticul¬ 
tural, Scientific. Mechanical, Literary and News Matter — 
interspersed with many appropriate and handsome engrav¬ 
ings— than any oilier paper published in this Country. 
t-jgU’ If ,or Terms, &c., see last page. 
Igrimltarol Departnmit. 
I’lMMJUESS AN® IMPROVEMENT. 
GUANO AND ITS APPLICATION. 
Guano should never be applied as a top¬ 
dressing, even if followed by tho barrow, 
except to clayey soils, whoso retentive and 
absorbent powers would have a tendency to 
prevent tho immediate evaporation of tho 
ammoniacal gases. It is recommended by 
the American Farmer, that this manure be 
immediately mixed with plaster, at the rate 
of a peck to every one hundred pounds of 
guano, and then packed in tight hogsheads 
or casks until it is used. A bushel of pow¬ 
dered charcoal answers the same end as a 
peck of plaster. One bushel of powdered 
clay and half a bushel of salt, where char¬ 
coal or piaster are not to be had, will have 
nearly the same effect. Unless the volatile 
gases are thus fixed, a constant waste will 
occur of tho most valuable constituents of 
this fertilizer. The same authority adds, 
that “ guano, if properly managed, is a 
cheap and efficient manure, four hundred 
pounds of it, per acre, being sufficient to 
sustain the crops for an entire rotation; but 
if used without the care necessary to im¬ 
part to it the power of retaining its ammo¬ 
niacal salts, its greatest power will be ex¬ 
pended in tho first crop.” This power is 
given by mixing it with tho absorbents be¬ 
fore mentioned, and by plowing it in imme¬ 
diately on applying it to the soil. 
When guano is applied to the surface or 
only harrowed in, tho action of the earth 
and atmosphere tend to liberato the ammo¬ 
nia faster than it can be used by the plants 
or absorbed by the soil; hence the necessity 
of turning it under to tho full depth of the 
furrow, that its nutritive properties may be 
fully retained, to bo given out only at tho 
demand of the various crops, which may bo 
sown or planted. These are suro to find 
nutrition, if tho soil contains it. 
Lime, especially that freshly slacked, 
should never bo applied to the soil at the 
same time, or allowed in any way to come 
in contact with guano. Its tendency is to 
drive off tho ammonia already formed, and 
to dccomposo and volatilize all the essential 
nutritive elements of this manure. It may 
be applied some time beforo or after guano, 
without injurious effect, especially if char¬ 
coal or plaster have been used with the gu¬ 
ano. Tho action of this manure is much 
less permanent on light sandy soils, unless 
they are rich in mould, than on clays and 
clay loams. The latter seems to possess a 
a power of retention of manure which is 
wholly lacking in the former. This is read¬ 
ily explained by a consideration of tho na- 
turo of tho two soils—tho ono, light, open, 
readily pervious to air and moisture; and 
the other, heavy, active in absorbing, and 
slow in giving out the manureal elements 
which may be applied to it. 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.—THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1852. 
WHOLE NO. 140. 
ME. CAMPBELL'S FRENCH MERINO SHEEP. 
VISITING IN HAYING AND HARVEST TIME j 
BY A FARMER’S WIFE. * 
In a recent number of tho Rural, a cor¬ 
respondent alludes to the inconvenience to 
the common farmer, of having his town and 
city friends visit him during the busy season 
of haying and harvesting. Having had 
some experience in this matter, I feel moved 
to speak in behalf of tho sisterhood who 
are sometimes tho victims of this annoying 
practice. It is a fact that ought to be known 
by all who have the least knowledge of 
country life, that however hospitable and 
social the farmer’s wife may be, thoso are 
times when all available help, indoors as 
well as out, is in requisition to facilitate the 
a labors of the farm. 
It should be, and generally is. a matter of 
principle with the mistress of every farm 
house, that ail the men while engaged in the 
severe labors of the haying and harvest 
field, shall be relieved as much as possible 
! from any chores they may bo in the habit 
„ j of doing at other times, and that every fa- 
] cility shall bo afforded them for rest, that 
! the circumstances will admit. Laborers, 
’ ; while engaged in filling the store houses and 
granaries of the farmer, should bo supplied 
I with abundance of good wholesome food and 
A __ J. ^ -,i • , TT- a I num 0.11 y ouuiuo wiuv iiiov uu m mo iiauu. 
Above, we present our readers with an en- it on the sea voyage. His fleece, tiie pres-: J , • 
, »r, , -A ii- i | of doing at other times, and that every ta¬ 
graving ot a group of r rench Merino Sheep, ent season, with only ordinary keeping, was I 
.- , „ r , „ ,,, , ,, » . . I cility shall be afforded them for rest, that 
tne pioperty of Geo. Campbell, of West 18J lbs., of ton months growth. The ave- I ■* . 
iT-x_ A ,, . , , . , , ! the circumstances will admit. Laborers, 
Westminister, vt., and recently imported rage live weight ot sixty ewes ot this breed, j _ j 
r _ T , . Jr . . ° ... “ , , 1AA «. while engaged in filling the store houses and 
by him trom t rance. It is claimed for this alter shearing, did not much exceed 100lbs. j » ° 
. „ i . .. _, • ... , » granaries ot the farmer, should be supplied 
breed that they combine in a higher degree I ho average weight of fleeces was 12J ids. ° , ’ , , „ 
,i . mi • ., ,, , , , with abundance of good wholesome food and 
than any other, vigor ot constitution, heavy this season the ewes were thoroughly wash- , e 
fleeces of a fair grade, and an easy propen- ed, and after suckling lambs through thoj\ l ' nv 1 U!5 ‘ t0 J ° ^ Ul p’ 1S nece ^ sai 3 a 
sity to fatten. “The buck ‘Matchless,’” winter sheared only a fraction short of 6£ j times, but mot e.paiticu ar ) s ° 5 '' !cr \ t 10S > S 
n __ j. i • r , • ,, , „ ’ “ i tom is undergoing tho exhaustion of severe 
says Mr. C. “represented in iho cut, is three pounds. , T , 
i- i- . , j; n0 n * , , , , . .. , i„ I and protracted labor, those laborers who 
jeats old; Ins live weight upwards of 260 An extended description of thA breed will I 1 , . . , . 
Tr.v , j. , . rr . ,, T . . i take an earlv breakfast, require luncheon at 
pounds. His fleece, of one years growth, bo found m I lie Wool Grower- and .Stock j * , , ’ 1 
__i,)„ i c ~ . . ,, ,, ^ ' ; a stated hour, and it thev remain m the field 
was 20 n>s. 12 oz., after losing a portion of Register, for the present lnontn. I 
vv . _1 _L _ _ _- till night-fall, should have it in the atter- 
turist newspaper, published in that village. SOWING OATS WITH WHEAT. noon; and I presumo it is no new idea to 
Ho says,—“ I had two pieces of corn about . . farmers wives generally, that their hus- 
equal as to quality; about the 18th of Sep- ^' nois correspondent of the Genesee bands’ interests are materially advanced by 
tember I cut tho stalks of one piece, and Fanner **S&he has repeatedly tried the ex- ; a personal attendance to theso matters, and 
saved them in good order. The week ful- P or ‘ ment °* sowing oats with wheat as a ! an evidence that she feels a desire to alle- 
Iowing I cut up the other piece and bound P rotectlon from tho severity of tho winter, j viato their toils—hence there is little time 
it in common size bundles, put seven in a Ho lirst sows 0110 busho1 of oats P er acrc ! left for her to enjoy social visiting in this 
bunch, and bound with two bands. About and tlien P uts tho . USUtl1 T uantit y of "'heat, i most busy of all busy seasons: and it should 
the 10th of October I harvested tho first, and barrows tht ; ni m together. He has this : > oe an established rule that the wants of tho 
and the week following I carried in the other. scason thro ° cllticrent pieces of wheat on the ; laborers should take the precedence of the 
I found tho piece that was cut up to be the Sam0 £ rouncl > a11 prepared alike. On tho i pleasure of visitors. 
heaviest, the brightest, and of course tho firsfc P ieco ll0 sowe(1 Wlth tbc wboafc one ! It may be said, that among wealthy far- 
sweetest. From this I saved my seed, and busbe * ot oats P cr Ii crc; on tho second half merS:i R is no matter how much company 
never had better. There was also a great a busb el; on the third no oats at all. I Pc ( t p CY have, for they always keep help enough 
saving in fodder.” Iio adds that both ex- sa,no b ‘ ni * a ’ u ^ quantity ot wheat was sown , t0 i eave the lady at leisure at all times.— 
perienco and observation convince him that 0U 0:udl- *- bo tirst P‘ ece / S § 00< ^> ! This may bo true to some extent, but to 
the best way is to cut up corn by the root. an ' cdc j ss ‘ bbe see01u ^ piece is a middling I 3 p ow that it is not always tho fact, I will 
Where fodder is likely to be very scarce C10 P* ' v ' tb htUo chess. I ho third pieco is mon tion a case in point. Mr.- and his 
the coming winter, tho paper above named, neaid ^ aF cbess > aiK ^ not vvortli harvesting. | um i a L>lo and hospitable wife occupy a beau- 
recommends tho farmer to remove and save Fbo et Pt or a<-hls tho remark, “that the J tiful and extensive farm in the vicinity of a 
for fodder, all tho suckers and stalks which bict state d is of much value, and the practice populous city, where they have an extensive 
have no ears upon them. Theso can bo sow ‘ n S’ a oa ^ s w ith winter wheat on j circle of friends. By some accident, she 
distinguished long beforo frost comes. He so ^ s <m w hich it is apt to winter-kill, should found herself, soon after the commence- 
remarks : “ We know the objection of many be moro generally adopted. The oats kill j ment of the haying season, without any do- 
to removing suckers, claiming for them out in tho winter and afford protection and j mestic. She being in delicate health, looked 
great utility in causing tho ear to fill to its mamire to the wheat plant. Can any of j forward with dismay to tho doing of her 
extremity, but we think this advantage is °ur Western correspondents give us further work a single day—but day after day tho 
overatod, and wo feel very confident that a cx P er * m onts or information in regard to this cooking must bo done for ten or twelve 
large amount of valuable fodder may be P rac f* ct! ■ It is new to most farmers in this men. Friends arrived from distant cities 
taken from many fields with decided advan- section. 'to spend a few weeks in tho country, till 
tage to tho crop. If the corn is heavy, by “^«<BOOK” AND “ ANTI-BOOK” FARMING her tamil y numbered over twenty persons; 
removing the suckers and stalks which have - * ’ still no proper help could be had. Judy 
no ears, the remaining portion is not de- Passing recently along tho road between and Bridget, Katrina and other raw recruits 
prived of any nutriment, but is left to ap- two farms—the owner of the one an “anti- were tried, hut not one of them could make 
propriate to itself all the advantages both hook farmer,” strong; the other willing to a loaf of bread, or cook a meal of victuals, 
of the earth and the air, the sun and the give information by any available means, j There are Judys and Bridgets who can do 
dew. In the late portion of the season the and a subscriber to tho Rural—I was for- j these things, but they don’t liko to go in 
grain will ripen faster if the crop is relieved cibly impressed by tho difference manifest i tho country to live. Some half dozen 
of every thing not bearing valuable ears.” in tho two. The ono neat, well cared for— friends from tho city, called to see Airs.- 
Where corn is very luxuriant and likely tlie otb er presenting marks of slovenly cul- i a few days since, and finding her thus situ- 
to ripen late, this suggestion may bo worthy ture > not t0 bo mistaken—on tho one side j atod, had tho good sense to refuse hor polito 
of adoption. We second the motion of the tbat P ost > tbo white daisy, was carefully j invitation to stay to tea arid cat of her good 
Culturist, that farmers experiment on this when first in blossom, while on tho op- ; bread, of which she had that day baked 
subject, and noto and report tho results. posito it bloomed undisturbed. ' twenty-seven loaves, and six loaves of gin¬ 
saving in fodder.” Ho adds that both ex¬ 
perience and observation convince him that 
tho best way is to cut up corn by tho root. 
Where fodder is likely to be very scarce 
the coming winter, tho paper above named, 
recommends the farmer to remove and save 
CUTTING UP vs. TOPPING COEN. 
The most of farmers (wo suppose we must 
except our correspondent, Frank,) seem to 
have come to the conclusion, that both grain 
and fodder are better when the stalks are 
cut up at the roots after tiie corn is suffi¬ 
ciently ripe, than when the practice of “ top¬ 
ping” is adopted. To us, this seems tho 
most reasonable conclusion, and many ex¬ 
periments tell strongly in its favor. 
To satisfy himself on this question, Mr. 
Butler, of Pittsfield, Mass., tried an experi¬ 
ment, which he communicates to the Cul- 
subject, and noto and report tho results. posito it bloomed undisturbed. twenty-seven loaves, and six loaves of gin- 
~~....... “Anti-book farmer,” on being asked, a few gerbread. 
Timothy on Wheat Land.—T he Gono- years since, why he did not destroy a small tboi ’° aro c as es where even wealthy 
see Farmer says that except in rare cases patch of thistles, replied with surprise_' farmers cannot receive their friends and en- 
we should never sow Timothy on good wheat “ Wh v, it would take half a dav.” Tho half certain them without adding materially to 
land. “ Being a cereal, it exhausts the soil Jay was not applied to their destruction, j their already severe labors. I am sure the 
of tho sarao elements as wheat, and our an( i a month’s hard labor would scarce de- : Iatl J alluded to, is taxing her energies to an 
wheat soils aro not now any too rich even s t VO y thorn now. He says ho would not give extent that cannot long continue, and yet 
under the best management. If Timothy any more than the postage for tho Genesee some of her city friends who know nothing 
must be grown, let it bo on land not well Farmer, and seems determined to plod along of life on a farm, would prefer visiting her 
adapted to wheat.” As to tho time of sow- j n tho old wav. c.. ° now, because it is the very time they want 
ing it recommends that it bo done in Sep----- most to get away from tho heat and dust of 
tember on dry land ; on low land it should Give a portion of each day to roading and tho city, and vainly think they could help 
bo sown in the spring as it is apt to winter- study. Think not because you are a farmer, her so nicely about hor work, but she is of 
kill. From half a bushel to a bushel of literary acquirements are useless. They aro my opinion, that visitors aro no help in tho 
seed is required — tho larger quantity on necessary to the full attainment of knowl- kitchen, any more that tho citizen Mr. L., 
clay soils, tho lesser on rich mellow loams^, odgo of agriculture, as of any other science. ! was in “Uncle Joe's” harvest field. 
I should bo very sorry to be thought lack¬ 
ing in the virtue of hospitality, and I am 
quite sure none enjoy social intercourse at 
proper seasons mere than tho families of 
farmers generally. If more farmers’ wives 
would manage these matters, as a friend of 
mine is in the habit of doing, it would much 
lessen the fatigue of providing for company, 
and consequently add much to the enjoy¬ 
ment of entertaining friends. When this 
friend commenced housekeeping a few miles 
from a city where sho had many acquaint¬ 
ances, she naturally expected they would 
visit her, as sho certainly wished them to 
do. Knowing that her husband’s circum¬ 
stances required economy of both labor and 
means, sho established the custom of 
setting her tea-table with plain bread and 
butter only. To this rule she still adheres, 
with occasional trifling exceptions, and no 
person ever left her table dissatisfied, after 
partaking of the delicious bread and butter 
she provides from tho products of their 
farm. Just think of the aggregate amount 
of labor, to say nothing of the expense 
saved in some twenty, years, by excluding 
the various kinds of cake from her table. 
I am aware that a great deal of pride ex¬ 
ists in regard to such things, and will freely 
admit that some moral courage is necessary 
to adopt and carry out such a practice in 
these days of luxury and pampered appe¬ 
tites. If people add to the wish of visiting 
their frievids, that of enjoying simplicity 
and purity, in the country, in opposition to 
artificial life and satiated appetites, let them 
have simple and wholesomo food set before 
them, and I am convinced that the enjoy¬ 
ment, would to a rational mind bo much 
greater than in the participation of elabo¬ 
rate and expensive cookery. 
I hope my over-worked and weary sisters 
will consider this subject, and throw off’ the 
bondage inflicted b pride and custom, and 
entertain their friends with cordial welcome 
and plain faro, ratiier than exhibit what 
some foreigner has said he generally found 
at the head of an American table, namely, 
“ a cooked lady.” 
Willow-Doll Farm, August, 1852. 
LETTER FROM STEUBEN COUNTY- 
A lazy day and warm weather, Mr. Edi¬ 
tor ! A drouth seems now to bo resting 
upon us—and Uncle John thinks it lias but 
just commenced. With the want of rain, 
and clouds of grasshoppers, our pastures are 
becoming deplorably scant of herbage. I 
have said it was “a lazy day”—in part it has 
been so, though I have moved about town 
some, and in that way seen something of 
crops, cattle, &c. 
Hay and corn excepted, our crops aro as 
good as usual. In my round to-day, I vis¬ 
ited the extennsive farm of Hon. A. B. 
Dickinson, upon which are to be seen large 
heads of the finest of fat cattle. Ono pair 
of well-matched steors will compare favor¬ 
ably, in size, flesh and docility, with tho 
best in Western New York. But tho sight, 
or as the boys say, “ the critter of all,” was 
Big Dick, a monster among beeves, said to 
bo fivo years old last spring. Ills girth, 
with tapo drawn very tightly, was ten feet 
nine inches : his whole length from root of 
horns to point of rump, eleven feet; from 
top of shoulder to root of tail, seven feet. 
If there are any steers in tho Stato ahead 
of this one, I should liko to hear of them. 
When “Big Dick” is weighed, I will send 
you his weight. 
Query. —Which Ls tho most profitable, to 
make what cattle we keop good ones, or to 
keep all wo can feed enough to save alive, 
with the power to suck wind into their 
“walking shadow” bodies? I should like 
to seo tho profits of tho two systems com¬ 
pared—for if their belief is in accordance 
with their practice, many can bo found to 
defend tho latter view of tho question. 
W. H. Gardner. 
Hornby, Steuben Co., N. Y, Aug. 19, 1852. 
When work season comes, work in earn¬ 
est ; and when the play time comes, enjoy it. 
llavoa time for every thing and every thing 
in its time. 
