VOLUME III. NO. 52. y 
ROCHESTER, N. Y .-THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1 852. 
i WHOLE NO. 156. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: 
A WEEKLY HOME NEWSPAPER, 
Designed for both Country and Town Residents. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T., MOORE, 
ASSISTED BY 
or. IT. BIXBY, D. WETUERELL, AND H. C. WHITE, 
With a numerous corps of able Contributors and 
Correspondents. 
The Rural New-Yorker is designed to be unique and 
beautiful in appearance, and unsurpassed in Value, Purity 
and Variety of Contents. Its conductors earnestly labor 
to make it a Reliable Guide 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 other paper published in this Country. 
Fo r Terms, &c., see last page. 
Igrituliiiral Department. 
P5ta«atESS AND IMPROVEMENT. 
THE RURAL TO ITS READERS. 
^ Reader kind, in making our last weekly 
visit for the year—adding finis to the third 
volumo of the Rural New-Yorker — we 
extend cordial greeting, and claim the right 
of conversing somewhat familiarly. Our 
acquaintance, if not of long standing, is 
sufficient to entitle us to the privileges of 
the initiated, on such an occasion. Having 
made you fifty-two visits, in regular success¬ 
ion—whether ill or well, joyous or sorrowful, 
hopeful or desponding — each timo laden 
with a full cargo, carefully selected and 
designed for tho special benefit of the vari¬ 
ous members of your household, wc may be 
permitted to speak without formality. You 
bid us welcome, and lend your attention ? 
The favor is gratefully accepted, and we will 
not weary you with a studied or prolix 
dissertation. 
In terminating our labors for tho year, 
and closing another volume bearing evidence 
of their value or worthlessness—a volume 
now in the hands of thousands of good 
judges of both tho law and tho testimony— 
we naturally experience varied emotions. 
Not over confident of our ability to instruct 
and entertain aright, and r. al'zing, to some 
extent, the duties and responsibilities of our 
position, we submit the result of tho year’s 
labors with no ordinary timidity. Our 
emotions arc certainly not altogether pleas¬ 
ant, but wo believe they are the offspring of 
a sincere desire, not only to secure esteem, 
but to prove eminently servicable to all 
whom wo have addressed. In reviewing 
the past, under such circumstances, we nat¬ 
urally observe omissions and short-comings, 
—yet wo are sustained by the consciousness 
of having earnestly endeavored to discharge 
aright our obligations to readers and the 
public generally. Whether that duty has 
been performed in the manner best calcula¬ 
ted to promote tho welfare of individuals 
and community, is not a question for us to 
determine, and is, somewhat falteringly we 
■confess, submitted to a rnoro wise and im¬ 
partial ordeal—the reader's judgment. Fox- 
errors and omissions, wo can only present 
tho plea of human frailty in extenuation. 
Our constant aim has been to advance the 
best interests of emr readei-s—to improve 
the mind, better tho heart, and enhance 
the prosperity of individuals, families and 
community. That all who have perused 
the Rural, have been particularly instruct¬ 
ed or greatly benefited, we are far from 
assuming,— yet fool confident that those 
who have read its pages attentively, are not, 
on that account, the worse or poorer—if 
indeed they are not, as wo would fain believe, 
better, wiser and wealthier. If the great 
majority of our readers have not been far 
moi-e than repaid for their investment of 
timo and money, tho conductors of this 
journal have failed in their designs and hon¬ 
est intentions. 
During some portions of the year unfor- 
eeen circumstances prevented that strict 
attention to the paper, which the editors 
hope to bestow upon its future management. 
True we have kept up, and endeavored to 
sustain if not improve each department, but 
in order to attain our standard, there is yet 
much room for improvement. To make 
each numbor of a paper treating upon such 
a variety of important subjects, perfect in 
all its pax-ts, is next to impossible—almost 
an Herculean task. In tho outset many 
considoi-ed tho attempt to combine in one 
journal—and that issued weokly—subjects 
which usually occupy three or four papers 
hazardous on account of the increased labor 
and expense over ordinax-y newspapers.— 
But tho onterpriso has thus far been accord¬ 
ed so largo a measure of appi-oval and sup¬ 
port, that wo shall continue the Rural as 
heretofore, with tho addition of such im¬ 
provements as time and expex'ience, and a 
desire to excel, may suggest. 
In conclusion, briefly of the futuro. Our 
arrangements for tho ensuing year are com¬ 
plete, and though wo promise nothing brill¬ 
iant or extraordinary, wo caix safely assure 
all interested that the Fourth Volume of 
tho Rural New-Yorker will at least equal 
in all i-espects, either of its predecessors, 
and we hope to render it far superior. The 
facilities at our command are greater than 
at any former period, and to uso them to 
the best advantage is our firm determination. 
Sevei-al new contributors—gentlemen of 
experience and acknowledged ability — will 
furnish essays and articles for tho Agricultu¬ 
ral and other leading departments, while tho 
editors will strive to rendor tho entire pa¬ 
per nxox-e readable and valuable than here¬ 
tofore. In our efforts to excel, we hope 
to exhibit additional evidence of fidelity to 
tho original and continued objocts of tho 
paper, “ Progress and Improvement.” And 
if wo fail of making, as wo intend, tho very 
best Agricultural, Literary, and Family, 
Newspaper, it shall not bo for lack of using 
to tho best of our judgment and ability, all 
tho essential requisites within our i-oach and 
possession. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, AND A REQUEST. 
Among tho essential requisites in making 
a good and useful journal devoted to Agri¬ 
culture and kindred affairs, perhaps the most 
important is a corps of practical and experi¬ 
enced Correspondents. For a groat portion 
of tho reputation and success of tho Rural 
New Yorker, tho public and ourselves are 
no doubt indebted to those who have volun¬ 
tarily cqntributed to its pages tho results of 
their experience, accurate experiments, and 
varied observation. In this respect wo have 
been peculiarly fortunate, having been fa¬ 
vored with articles on practical, subjects, 
from a largo number of tho best farmers 
and horticulturists in the country—men 
who combine theory with practice, and thus 
demoxxstrate the true science of tillage and 
husbandry. And we cannot close our pi-es- 
ent volumo, without tendering our grateful 
acknowledgements to each and all who have 
added to the interest and intrinsic value of 
its pages by their contributions. Wo lxopo 
they will increase our indebtedness during 
tho ensuing year, by communicating such 
facts and suggestions as will bo likely to 
prove serviceable to tho rui-al community. 
And wo cordially invito those who have not 
horetoforo written for tho Rural to impart, 
through its pages, any approprirte informa¬ 
tion in their possession. This invitation is 
addressed to all interested in promoting tho 
objocts of the paper, and wo trust will bo 
x-esponded to by hundreds of our readers.— 
No matter if you aro unaccustomed to wri¬ 
ting for the pi-ess. Only give us straght- 
forward statements, and actual resuls—the 
gist of your oxpei-ience and observation— 
and we will see to style, &c., if necessary. 
Aitle Trees near Stone Walls. —A 
writer in tho Journal of Agriculture, says 
he has seen orchards iix which a row of trees 
nearest a stone wall, producod mox-o than 
two rows in the middle of the orchard. Ho 
recommends bordering walls with trees, 
whei'O it may bo convenient and desirable, 
as their roots will extend under them, and 
use the nourishment which accumulates 
there, and which is not available to other 
crops. This plan would bo ornamental as 
well as useful along many of tho broad walls 
on Now England farms. 
EXPERIMENTS IN BUTTER MAKING. 
RAISING PEAS. 
PUMPKIN SEEDS NOT POISON TO FOWLS. 
Five experiments in making butter from 
milk and cream under different conditions, 
were tried, some years since, by Prof. Traill, 
of Scotland. A condensed account of the 
same will not be without value to our read¬ 
ers. 
The milk in each experiment was that ob¬ 
tained fi*om four cows, and three quarts of the 
same, set in each of five earthen vessels, for 
39 hours. No. 1, was the cream from one 
of these portions, still sweet, which, with 
the addition of half a pint of cold water, 
was churned for 27 minutes, raising the 
temperature from G2 to 70 degrees, and pro¬ 
ducing 1,38G grains of good colored, well 
flavored butter. No. 2, sweet milk and its 
cream, at the same time, were churned to¬ 
gether for 3 hours, with occasional additions 
of cold water, but no butter was produced. 
No. 3, was skimmed and tho cream kept two 
days longer, and then with tho same addi¬ 
tion of cold water as No. 1, churned for 20 
minutes, raising tho tomporaturo from 54 to 
63 degrees, and producing of well washed 
butter, 1,7564 grains of good taste and color. 
No. 4, sour milk and its cream — at the 
same time with No. 3, and with the same 
addition of cold water, was churned 1 hour 
50 minutes, producing 1,9(58 gi-ains of but- 
toi’, paler than the last but of good flavor. 
No. 5 was prepared as follows: — After 
standing with the x - est 39 hours, the vessel 
was placed in another containing warm wa¬ 
ter, and heated until the temperature of the 
milk rose to 156 degrees. The cream was 
then taken off and on the following day 
churned, and produced 1,8158 grains of rich, 
yellow, agreeablo flavored butter. Tho milk 
remaining was very poor, and no butter 
could be churned from it. 
The general i-esult of these experiments, 
confirmed by many similar trials, show that 
most butter is produced from the scalded or 
Devonshiro cream; tho next in quantity 
from churning the milk and cream together, 
when they have become slightly acid ; tho 
third quantity is given by cream kept until 
it is slightly sour; and the least is obtained 
from the sweet cream. Tho experimenter 
was unable to obtain butter from sweet milk 
and cream churned together. The quality 
of keeping fresh when exposed to the air 
was found by trial to be in inverse propor¬ 
tion as to quantity,—No. 1 keeping the lon¬ 
gest, and No. 5 tho shortest time. The ca¬ 
sein or curdy matter of each sample follow¬ 
ed the same rule. Over churning added 
largely to the quantity of butter, but de¬ 
tracted more from tho quality. Tho addi¬ 
tion of hot water had a similar, though 
less perceptible, effect. 
The principal conclusions derived from 
the full course of experiments were, 1st. 
That tho addition of some cold water while 
churning, facilitates the pi’oeess, especially 
in cold weather or when the cream is very 
thick. 2d. That cream alone is more easi¬ 
ly churned than cream and milk together. 
3d. That butter produced from fresh cream 
has tho finest flavor when fresh, and will 
keep longest without becoming rancid.— 
4th. That scalding the ci’eam, yields the lar¬ 
gest quantity of butter, which, if intended 
for immediato use, is agreeable to tho pal¬ 
ate and readily saleable, but by keeping is 
most liable to acquire a rancid flavor. 5th. 
That the keeping qualities of butter appear 
to depend on its being obtained as free from 
uncombined albumen, or caseine and water, 
as it can be by washing and working the 
butter when it is taken from the churn. 
The experience of our best butter ma¬ 
kers coincides with these results, proving 
that it does not depend altogether upon tho 
churning and working, but also upon the 
state of the milk and cream from which the 
butter is produced. 
Mixing Soils. —The benefits derived from 
the application of clay to very light, sandy 
soils aro often most remarkable. Clays 
may also bo much improved by the applica¬ 
tion of sand, and those whose “garden 
spots ” clxanco to bo in need of either 
amendment, will find winter the best time 
to attend to it. 
Messrs. Editors :—I observed in the 
Rural, recently, an articlo from the Indi¬ 
ana Farmer on raising peas. The writer is 
correct in somo of his conclusions, and in 
error in others. Having raised considerable 
many peas for many years, I propose to give 
your readers tho benefit of my experience. 
The writer is correct in his assertion that 
peas sown late will be free from bugs ; so 
will any peas which from any cause have 
their growth retarded. In Canada the pea 
bug is never seen seen in tho field varieties, 
simply because tho season is so much later 
than hero. This would doubtless also be 
the case in the counties south of us—the 
higher land making the season colder. I 
have generally sown my peas early, because 
I wanted them for early feeding to hogs, 
but have sometimes left a small piece till 
late in the season for seed the following 
year—though most farmers hero, buy seed 
imported from Canada and have uniformly 
found those sown late, free from bugs, and 
the others full of them. 
A diversity of opinion prevails among 
farmers, whether buggy peas will germinate 
or not. Somo assert that they will not, and 
others that they grow as well as those en¬ 
tirely free from them. The truth lies be¬ 
tween the two. A pea, though it may have 
a hole in it, will grow, provided the hole is 
not near enough to tho germ to injure it, 
and most of them are not, as far as I have 
noticed. About three-fourths of them will 
grow, but somo produce sickly plants, and 
in ordinary cases it would not be profitable 
to sow such seed. Tho writer is also in 
error as to the amount of seed per acre, 
lie sows three bushels per acre, and intends 
sowing four, because ho has observed that 
they stood up better and looked finer.— 
Had ho observed closely, ho would have 
found that his peas that looked so thick and 
fmo were nearly all vines, and but few peas 
upon them. When I first began to raise 
peas I sowed from three to throe and a half 
bushels per aero, and have kept decreasing 
the seed, till now I sow only from ono and 
a half to two bushels per aci’e. 
Some years ago, I had a field which was 
was sown very thick, and came up thick, 
but a long storm, with cold weather after¬ 
wards, killed a largo proportion of the 
plants, so that I thought of plowing them 
up, but did not, and left them to grow.— 
Whon I came to harvest, I had a first rate 
crop—considerable more than an ordinary 
yield. Though they looked thin all summer, 
they were covered thick with pods. I am 
told that in Canada, many of tho best far¬ 
mers do not sow more than one bushel per 
acre. Peas are a crop that, like turnips, 
require elbow room, or they will all run to 
vines. 
Many farmers in feeding their peas are 
not as economical as they should be; they 
cut them up and throw into the pen vines 
and all, and let the hogs thresh them for 
themselves. For young pigs, or those that 
are only growing, this may do very well, but 
hogs designed for tho pork barrel, will not 
fat in this way; they have to wox'k too hard 
for their food. To fatten kindly, a liog 
should eat his food in as short a timo as 
possible, and then lie down and sleep, and 
so “accumulate his grease.” This they can¬ 
not do if they have to search over half a 
load of pea vines for their meals. 
In regard to their use and value as a crop, 
in this section, I have no doubts. They are 
one of the best crops to precede wheat that 
we can raise. In many respects I prefer 
them to a naked fallow, and they aro so 
well adapted to early feeding of hogs, that 
1 am surprised that more farmers do not 
raise them. They require somewhat differ¬ 
ent season from corn to do well. A cool, wet 
season is the best, instead of a hot one, sui - 
ing corn. I think that the farmers in the 
southern counties of this State, and the 
northern counties of Pennsylvania, where 
corn does not usually l’ipon, would find it 
profitable to raise large quantities of them 
to fatten tho immense number of bogs they 
might raise in their extensive dairy districts. 
Greece, N, Y., Nov. 2t>, 1832. F. \Y. L. 
Editors Rural New-Yorker: — In No. 
49 of tho Rural is an articlo from the Pitts¬ 
field Culturist, in which the writer attri¬ 
butes tho loss of fowls to their eating tho 
seeds of pumpkins. Tho idea that they 
are injurious, and that fowls will not eat 
them, I am aware is quite common; but for 
years tho reverse has been true with us.— 
They havo eaten a lai’ge proportion of tho 
seeds that were scattered in feeding pump¬ 
kins to cows, and chopping, or breaking 
them to boil as food for bogs, though the 
fowls were fed daily with some kind of grain- 
Having a larger number of fowls and a less 
quantity of feed this season than usual, 
somo pains were taken in cutting up pump¬ 
kins, to shake out, and scatter most of tho 
seeds on the ground, expressly for the hens. 
Wlion boiling for hogs nearly a load of 
pumpkins were broken up during the day; 
and days wo did not boil, pumpkins were 
broken open to supply them with seeds.— 
In this way some 60 or 70 hens havo dis¬ 
posed of a largo proportion of the seeds of 
25 loads of pumpkins, (two horse wagon 
loads.) I have not soon any bad effects 
from their eating them, either this or form¬ 
er seasons. On the contrary they have done 
well on them—have become fat. Now if I 
were possessed of any of the popular breed 
of fowls, valued from $80 to $100 per pair, 
I might hesitate in feeding them with pump¬ 
kin seeds; but with our common fowls I 
should as soon hesitate in feeding corn, from 
fear of any injurious effects that might fol¬ 
low. A Subscriber. 
Pavilion, Dec. 10th, 1852. 
MANAGEMENT OF SOILS. 
We find a short article bearing the above 
title in the Cottage Gardener. The sug¬ 
gestions which it contains are important.— 
The writer says: 
“A soil would never get exhausted if man¬ 
aged with skill, but would continue to im¬ 
prove in depth and fertility in proportion to 
the industry bestowed upon it. The food of 
plants, it is true, may be exhausted from the 
soil by a repetition of cropping with any 
family of plants, if we neglect the applica¬ 
tion of such fertilizers as may have been ta¬ 
ken from the soil by that family; but no 
part of tho growing timo is required for the 
soil to rest, or bo fallow, if judiciously man¬ 
aged by a successive varying of the crops, 
or by supplying to them such food as may 
be a compensation for what has been taken 
off by tho previous crop. Tho first object 
to be attained for securing a profitable re¬ 
turn of produce from the soil must be thor¬ 
ough drainage; the next object is breakage 
into the subsoil to the desired depth — not 
without fix-st considering whether it is proper 
and profitable to shift or turn up the sub¬ 
soil at once to the influence of the atmos- 
phei‘ 0 , or whether it be best to break it well 
at first, by shifting the surface soil and al¬ 
lowing the subsoil to remain and receive first 
tho beneficial influence of the atmosphere, 
and then, at tho trenching, a portion of the 
subsoil may be safely stirred up and mixed 
with the surface soil; this practice, continued 
for every succeeding crop, will establish a 
healthy, fertilizing surface soil to any desired 
depth. 
By constantly scarifying, hoeing and fork¬ 
ing the surface soil, not only obnoxious iix- 
sects and their larva? are expellod, but weeds 
would never make their appearance, ixxueh 
less have a chanco of committing their ac- 
costomed robbery of the soil and crops. Be¬ 
sides by such repeated stirring, the soil is 
always prepared for succeeding crops. The 
application of manure is most essential, axxd 
may be applied most beneficially whexx tho 
soil is establised iix a healthy condition, and 
maintained thus by a constant attention to 
surfaco stirring. Yet tho application of ma¬ 
nure is a secondary consideration; for tho’ 
it may be very liberally applied, and with 
considerable expense, yet without first in¬ 
suring tho healthiness of the soil, much 
property and labor is thus sacrificed. 
Hunt Russet. —Take it all in all, for pro¬ 
ductiveness, for the dessert, kitchen, for the 
home market and for exportation, and for 
its beauty of form and coloring, the Hunt 
Russet excels any other apple in New Eng¬ 
land,. and stands ai the bead of them all!— 
We say this considerately, after all the op- 
portunities we have had of testing apples, 
and believe this to bo tho opinion of somo 
excellent judges of fruit who havo had occa¬ 
sion to compare this with many other vari¬ 
eties.—J Vew England Farmer. 
