1 
86 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Feb. 11 
Catalogue notices, criticisms and extracts 
will be placed before our readers in a four- 
page supplement in a week or so. We shall 
endeavor to call attention to everything 
which may guide our readers in making wise 
seed and plant selections for arujther season. 
The Illinois Experiment Station found 
that 1,000 bushels of medium maturing 1 
corn would lose, upon becoming thor¬ 
oughly air-dried, a weight of water 
equivalent to 115 bushels of shelled corn. 
If these 1,000 bushels of shelled corn could 
be sold for 50 cents when gathered, it 
would be necessary to get 57 cents a 
bushel when thoroughly air-dry in order 
to get the same amount for it. 
Bulletin No. 114 of the Connecticut 
Experiment Station says that the average 
cost (that is dealer’s price) of the nitro¬ 
genous superphosphates, analyzed is 
$35.28. The average valuation made by 
the station is $25.46, and the percentage 
difference 27.8. During 1891 the corres¬ 
ponding figures were : Average cost 
$33 93, average valuation $28.13, percent¬ 
age difference 20 . 6 . The average cost per 
ton of special manures was, for 1892, $38.- 
28, the average valuation, $30.70 and the 
percentage difference 25.0, a little higher 
than in case of the nitrogenous super¬ 
phosphates. For 1891 the corresponding 
figures were: Average cost $38.84, aver¬ 
age valuation $31.64, percentage differ¬ 
ence 22.8. A judicious enterprise on the 
part of fertilizer dealers is not indicated 
by the above figures. 
According to figures gathered by Prof. 
Morrow, the annual production of oats 
for the two decades, 1870-79 and 1880-89 is: 
1870-79. 
Area, acres. 11,000,000 
Yield, bushels.814,000,000 
Value, dollars. 111,000,000 
Value per bushel, dollars 0.35 
Yield per acre, bushels.. 28.4 
Value per acre, dollars .. 10.00 
1880-89. 
22,000,000 
584,000,000 
181,000,000 
0.31 
20.0 
8.22 
While, according to the previous figures 
we have given, the increase in the yield 
of wheat and corn, during the last de¬ 
cade over the previous one was 44 per 
cent, the increase in the yield of oats has 
been 86 per cent. The area sown to this 
crop has doubled. The total value of the 
crop has increased 63 per cent. The value 
per bushel has decreased four cents, and 
the yield per acre less than two bushels. 
These are valuable statistics. 
It has been shown conclusively that 
the short, plump oats like Welcome, 
Clydesdale, etc., are less digestible than 
the long, thinner oats with thinner 
husks or palets. It is also a fact that 
the long oats which weigh less than the 
others per bushel, have heavier kernels 
and are more nutritious than the short 
oats. The market, however, demands 
heavy oats. If, then, we raise oats for 
market, the Welcome class should be se¬ 
lected. If for our own stock, then the 
long, slender oats should be preferred. 
Indian corn, according to Prof. Mor¬ 
row, has been known by the following 
curious names in Europe : Turkish corn, 
Roman wheat, Italian corn, Sicilian 
wheat, Indian wheat, Spanish wheat, 
B irbary wheat, Guinea and Egyptian 
wheat. 
The average annual production of In¬ 
dian corn in the United States for 10 
years, 1870-79, and for 10 years, 1880-89, 
is as follows : 
1870-79. 1880-89. 
Area, acres. 44,000,000 71,000,000 
Yield, bushels.1,184.000.000 1,703,000,000 
Value, dollars. 505,000,000 669,000,000 
Value per bu., dollars... 0.43 0.39 
Yield per acre, busbels.. 27.1 24.1 
Value per acre, dollars.. 11.54 2.48 
The value per bushel has decreased 
four cents, and the yield per acre has 
decreased three bushels. 
Alluding to the benefits derived from 
stirring the soil by checking evaporation, 
“Soils and Crops” lays down the law 
that in any case the evaporation that is 
checked by the stirring of the surface is 
small compared with the quantity of 
water taken from the soil by an ordin¬ 
ary growth of weeds. The killing of 
weeds is, therefore, much more import¬ 
ant in conserving moisture than is stir¬ 
ring the soil. 
In ordinary practice it is essential to 
stir the soil in order to kill the weeds. 
It may be laid down as a rule, therefore, 
that the soil should not be stirred deepor 
than is essential to a thorough eradica¬ 
tion of the weeds. There seems to be 
evidence that the cultivation need not 
be more frequent than is necessary for 
their complete destruction. 
When we give indiscriminately, we 
give from motives of vanity, or, at any 
rate, from some other incentive than 
that of real benevolence. 
Pres. T. T. Lyon, of Michigan, does not 
prize the Japan Wineberry. He says the 
fruit is of no practical value and that the 
plant speads so rapidly by suckers as to 
preclude its use as an ornamental plant 
as has been recommended by The R. 
N.-Y. It may be noted that this Japan 
Wineberry is not hardy at the Rural 
Grounds. Not only the canes but the 
roots are killed during the cold season. 
It seems, according to reports, hardy 
enough in equally trying climates. 
In these days of universal progress 
and rapid movement why is the time of 
schoolgoers wasted on the thousands of 
trivial irregularities allowed to beset 
English spelling ? is an unanswerable 
question asked by a New York Tribune 
correspondent. Only from the mere ped¬ 
antry of teachers and foolish fashion in 
society is the explanation. If such vexa¬ 
tious crookednesses were more disre¬ 
garded, the English language would soon 
become of universal use and English 
pupils could more generally make large 
and useful educational attainments. If 
a logical youth chooses to take up the 
habit of writing wil, shal, hav, tho, enuf, 
plow, bizness, giv, etc., it is a matter for 
commendation and encouragement by all 
sensible elders. The young man can 
show and prove his school accomplish¬ 
ments in a hundred other and better 
ways, and will be a good model for others 
to imitate in his sensible spelling. Only 
in such a gradual way can the greatly 
needed reform of English spelling be 
brought about. Let there, at least, be a 
beginning in this, our day. Publishers 
and others who stand above criticism in 
such matters, can afford to favor it, and 
should be patriotic enough to do so. 
Scott's Winter, the past season, as 
always before since he has had it in full 
(Continued on next page.) 
Ilf you name The B. N.-Y. to our advertisers you 
may be pretty sure of prompt replies and right 
treatment. 
HIGH CLASS 
Our 92ND ANNUAL CATALOGUE is now ready, and will be 
mailed FREE on application. 
It contains the choicest collection in the world of 
Vegetable, Flower and Farm Seeds, 
including every standard variety and every novelty of established 
merit. Beautifully illustrated with hundreds of cuts and a 
splendid full-page colored plate. 
nr We Mall It FREE. 
J.M.THORBURN & Co. 15 JOHN ST. 
{You Have Heard How 
{Burpee’s Seeds Grow! 
0 Have you seen what they grow? If you want the choicest 
J Vegetables and most beautiful Flowers in your Garden, £ 
0 you should read 
* Burpee’s Farm Annual for 1893, 
# which tells all about the Best Seeds that grow. Unlike # 
0 many Catalogues, it tells the plain, unvarnished truth;# 
^ illustrations and colored plates from nature. Many new ^ 
J features for 1893; —original and interesting. A hand- 0 
w some book of 172 pages, it shows the progress of the most j 
0 popular Seeds in America. 
Mailed free if you need Seeds; otherwise for ten cents, 
which is leas than cost. You should study 
Where and How Seeds are Grown, 
and not be misled by the sensational exaggeration 
of the day. 
J W. Atlee Burpee & Co. , seed growers, Philadelphia, Pa. ^ 
There is a certain uncertainty about 
jsome Seeds, but not about RAWSON’S; 
[ they are always certain to grow. We test 
them ourselves; we know their worth, 
land can guarantee them second to 
' none. Our extensive trial grounds, in 
addition to the ten acres under glass, 
r ^ afford us unsurpassed facilities not only 3 
/ ^ } ^ or testing the germinating quality of 3 
gV £ I the Seed, hut of seeingthem come to ma- % 
turity. Our illustrated Catalogue for 1893 3 
| gives the planter the benefit of our expe- 3 
rience, and contains many special offers 3 
in which there is profit for you. Send for 3 
it at once. 
i W.W. RAWSON & CO., Boston, Mass^ 
,2 
A 
Hood’s 
Sarsaparilla 
So promptly and effectu¬ 
ally overcomes THAT 
THIRD FEELING , 
as to conclusively prove 
this medicine “makes 
tho weak strong.” J. 1>- 
Emerton, a well known 
merchant of Auburn, 
Maine, had Dyspepsia 
complicated with Liver 
nil Kidney troubles. He took 1IOOIES 
AKSA PABILLA and it gave relief and 
reat comfort. lie says : “ 11 i* » God-seud 
i any one suffering as I did.”__ 
Hnnn’S PuLS cure Habitual Constipation by 
sstoring peristaltic action of the alimentary canal. 
Ir. J. B. Emerton. 
^ori 
Farm-Poultry 
a practical poultry magazine; 
■ best poultry paper published;! 
sent on trial, six mo’s, 25c., or on 
£ ear 40c., if you mention this paper. Sample free. 
S, Johnson & Co., 22 Custom House St., Boston, Mass. 
Highly concentrated. Dose small. In quantity costs 
less than one-tenth cent a day per hen. Prevents and 
cures all diseases. If you can’t get it, we send by mail 
post-paid. One pack. 25c. Five $1. 2 1-4 lb. can 31.20, 
6 cans §5. Express paid. Testimonials free. Send stamps or 
cash. Farmers’ Poultry Guido (price 25c.) free with $1.00 
orders or more. L S. JOHNSON & CO., Boston, Mass. 
OFFER 
REAL VALUE 
50 CENTS 
Gardening 
Fair 
For the 
Columbian 
Year to dis- __ 
tribute our World’s Fair 
Catalogue, and introduce 
our Seeds, Plants and Bulbs _ 
everywhere, we offer SPECIAL COLLECTION 
“I/” of 5 Choice Vegetables. New Climbing 
s r-riro B v Japanese Cucumber, a rare novelty, saves 
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BL. M • • f all Tomato, it is the earliest, and the winner for 
early market. Edmand’s Early Blood Beet, one 
of the best varieties grown, either for the pri¬ 
vate or market gardener. New Early Champion 
Sweet Corn, produces ears 12 inches long in 60 
days; very sweet. Buttercup Lettuce, large solid 
heads, crisp and delicate flavor. |2/"4S> r ) A CENTS in cash or stamps, 
we will send one packet each | yjl of above Collection “K” 
together with our World’s Fair Edition ohVAlifi HANS 
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than ever, 150 new accurate engravings, 4 grand 11LLU5 1 KA I C.L) 
colored plates of Sweet Peas, Cannas, Pansies, and Callas, hundreds of 
dollars in cash prizes, premiums in books and World’s Fair Souvenir 
Coins for orders of various amounts. 
Our World’s Fair BARGAIN Collection CTi AM/CD CrCHC 
“F” consists of 5 Choice Specialties in J LU fY Ll\ uLLlIj 
LESS THAN 
Write to-day, East *>rWest. 
gW *NEW YORK, 26 Barclay St. 
The 
Complete 
Collection 
with our 
Catalogue 
for 25 cts. 
I his offer will not appear again 
fW~ CHICAGO, 88 State St. 
1 pkt. Sweet Peas, Eckford’s, 10 c, 
1 pkt. Pansy, Imp. German, 15 c. 
1 pkt. Carnation Margaret, 10 c. 
1 pkt. Nasturtium Aurora, 5 c. 
1 pkt. Mignonette Gabriel, 10 c. 
Total value, 50 cents. 
: 
You will have 
the Beat Crop 
Lf you buy 
KANSAS 
Our Novelties: Glass Radish, Jerusalem and Kansas 
King Corn, Denver Lettuce and Kansas Stock Melon. 
Our Specialties: Onion Seed and Sets, Alfalfa, Esper- 
sette, Kaffir Corn, Cane, Millet, Seed Corn, Tree Seeds for 
timber claims and nurseries. Everything in the Beed line. 
Catalogues mailed Free on application. 
KANSAS SEED HOUSE, F. Barteldes & Co., Lawrence, Kan. 
