1893 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
767 
Rurallsms — Continued. 
Forest a novel and seemingly, a simply 
effective way of exterminating Canada 
thistles. He had some three acres of 
neglected land that had been turned to 
pasture. It had formerly been neglected 
and used for burning brush piles, so that 
Canada thistles took possession, as they 
always do on burned land, and that after 
it was planted v\ it’n corn or potatoes, so 
that two years ago it was literally cov¬ 
ered with a rank growth of these weeds. 
As an experiment he took a clod crusher, 
made of two-inch plank, loaded it with 
as much stone as the horses could draw 
and broke the thistles down flat and then 
plowed them deeply under. Theoplan 
succeeded perfectly. It seems that their 
entire vigor, vitality and substance were 
then in their tops, as they were ready 
for scattering the seeds. They were 
entirely destroyed, and a market gar¬ 
dener raised vegetables on the land the 
next season. Not a sign of Canada thistle 
has been seen on the ground to this day. 
Another interesting item of a very 
different nature is copied from the Visalia 
Times. A vineyardist of that part of 
California has found that he can fatten 
100 hogs on the second crop of grapes in 
his 50-acre vineyard. The grapes are not 
picked for the swine, but the swine are 
turned in among them and allowed to 
pick for themselves, which they do with¬ 
out injuring the vines, and in 60 days 
they gain an average of 100 pounds each. 
The approved plan is to fence off a few 
acres until the swine have picked the 
grapes in the enclosure, and then to 
move the fence to another portion of the 
vineyard. 
Landreth & Sons say that it is the 
practice with some seedsmen to pur¬ 
chase their potatoes in full-sized barrels 
and, transferring to small barrels, sell 
at double profit. A barrel of potatoes 
that does not weigh, when put up, 160 
pounds, is a fraud, unless sold as a small 
barrel. 
It is growing more and more the fash¬ 
ion—and a good fashion it is—not to 
swallow the seeds of grapes. Appendi¬ 
citis is more and more feared as a result 
of swallowing grape seeds. The seeds 
lodge in the vermiform appendix and the 
alnust incurable disease follows. That 
appendicitis is more common nowadays 
than in times past may be owing to the 
fact that more grapes are eaten, as pro¬ 
duction is greater and the price reduced 
accordingly. He this as it may, as peo¬ 
ple learn to expectorate the seeds they 
will demand grapes that are not acid 
about the seeds. The Concord, for ex¬ 
ample, when swallowed without break¬ 
ing the flesh or pulp, is to most persons 
an agreeable grape. But when the pulp 
is broken so that the seeds may be sep¬ 
arated, it is not so pleasant by a long 
shot. In fact, most persons, we fancy, 
would prefer to go without Concords 
rather than to eat them and reject the 
seeds. 
It is the same with many other pop¬ 
ular varieties, the favorite Delaware and 
Catawba among them. The seeds of 
what are called foreign grapes are not 
readily separated from the close-grained, 
meaty flesh—neither is the skin easily 
separated from the flesh. We eat them, 
therefore, skins and all, grinding up the 
seeds more or less as may be. But we 
may not eat native grapes in this way. 
The skins are always rejected and peo¬ 
ple, as we have said, are being educated 
up to rejecting the seeds. The popular, 
hardy grape of the future must be, there¬ 
fore, one without a decided acidity of 
the flesh next to or about the seeds, 
which are generally larger than those of 
Vinifera. 
We were led to these thoughts by a 
seedling grape which originated with 
our respected friend, George W. Camp¬ 
bell. Of this grape we shall have more 
to say in the near future. At present 
we may say that the berries, while re¬ 
sembling Concords in every way, are bet¬ 
ter in every way without a trace of acidity 
about the seeds. 
W. J. Beal, has been connected with 
the Michigan Agricultural College, as 
professor of horticulture or botany or 
both since 1870. He has been one of the 
most tenacious to uphold the practical 
side of the agricultural course. But 
nothing, he positively asserts, has been 
the cause of so much trouble as the com¬ 
pulsory paid labor system. In support 
of this opinion he gives many cogent 
reasons. 
One reason for requiring some manual 
labor in connection with a course of study 
is this : If a student performs no labor 
during his college course, he is not likely 
to return to labor when he leaves the 
college. The young man who can har¬ 
ness a team properly, turn a straight and 
even furrow, shear a sheep to perfection, 
build a gcod hay-stack, mark out the 
land for corn, and iun a cultivator so 
near the straight rows that scarcely a 
line is left uncultivated, will be proud of 
his achievement, while he who lacks 
training in manual operations dislikes 
the work, A course in an agricultural 
college is to fit a man for farming ; but 
no matter how well he understands the 
theories of the subject, he is not likely 
to engage in the business unless he also 
possesses a knowledge of most kinds of 
manual operations pertaining thereto ; 
and if he ventures to engage in the busi¬ 
ness without this manual dexterity, he 
will have a hard row to hoe and very 
likely become discouraged, beci use his 
training was unsymmetrical and incom¬ 
plete. 
To make the most of manual labor in 
an agricultural course, it should be per¬ 
formed with a view to acquiring skill, 
and not to the immediate returns. Skill 
in most farm and garden operations may 
usually be acquired in many directions 
if instruction is given and accompanied 
by practice. This practice is as much a 
necessary part of an agricultural educa¬ 
tion as are clinics for the young surgeon, 
or practice with test tube and reagents 
for the chemist. The hand is trained 
with the eye and the mind, each helping 
the other. 
We may conclude that Professor Beal’s 
plan would be to exact of every student 
who enters the agricultural course, with¬ 
out exception, to pass a rigid examina¬ 
tion in the various parts of farm and 
garden work, not expecting him to re¬ 
ceive pay for work while learning how 
to perform it. 
It will be remembered that The 
Rural’s endeavors to get seeds of the 
R. N.-Y. potato No. 2 were unavailing 
until a lot was kindly sent by a friend in 
Ghent, Belgium, where it seeds freely. 
These were planted and grown in the 
usual way, and harvested September 29. 
Some of the vines died early ; some later, 
while others were still green and grow¬ 
ing. There was a general resemblance 
in the color of the leaves and stems and 
habit of the plants. All the tubers have 
light buff skins, few eyes and are shapely 
in form. In one hill there were 60 tubers 
from the size of a pea to that of a small 
hen-egg. 
A few potatoes from each hill were se¬ 
lected for seed next year. Each tuber 
will be planted separately, and further 
selection when harvested next season 
will be made only from such hills as 
yield well of handsome tubers. We are 
convinced from long experience that new 
varieties ought always to be started from 
a single tuber—not from all or several, 
or even two from the same seedling hill, 
for the reason that as the shape of the 
tubers of the seedling hill varies greatly, 
the potatoes of succeeding crops will 
have nearly the shape of the seed 
planted. Hence it is, as we believed and 
stated years ago, that there is so little 
uniformity in the size, shape, prominence 
and depth of eyes of many of the new 
kinds introduced from time to time. 
They were started from more than one seed¬ 
ling tuber. 
A pamphlet issued gratis by Landreth 
& Sons, of Philadelphia, Pa,, to all ap¬ 
plicants, tells all the cultivator needs to 
know about the egg plant—history, soil 
and location, preparation of the land, 
manures, sowing the seed, transplanting, 
cultivation, market prices, the egg plant 
for winter use, choice of seed, notes on 
cooking and variet'es. Some canning 
factories are now preparing this delicious 
vegetable for winter use by grating the 
fruit and placing it in cans and glass 
bottles. Thus, like the tomatoes, the 
egg plant is now being brought into gen¬ 
eral use at all seasons, and has been 
kept in cans in perfect condition for two 
years. 
Prof. W. W. Tracy has never yet 
found a tomato of the purple tint of the 
old Fiji, which v as not of a sharp, hard, 
metallic-like acid, very much less pleas¬ 
ant than the mild, fruit-like acid of the 
true red or scarlet tomato; and he is 
quite certain that, were we to select 10 
of the best varieties, quality to rule, 
eight at least would be found to be clear, 
bright red, with little trace of purple. 
Abstracts. 
-Harper’s Bazar : “ Beauty in later 
life, in either man or woman, is depend¬ 
ent upon character far more than upon 
form or color.” 
“ Unselfishness, sincerity, thought¬ 
fulness, refinement—all of those graces 
of character which are worth so much 
more than mere outward shape and color 
—lend their charm to those who have 
consistently cherished them, until at 50 
they may really become beautiful.” 
‘‘Conversely, mean traits of character 
—selfishness, parsimony, irritab ; lity, ig¬ 
noble curiosity, envy, jealousy—shadow 
the face of their owner more and more 
as time goes on, reminding one of the 
old man in Evangeline, whose ‘ thoughts 
were congealed into lines on his face, as 
they freeze in fantastic vapor shapes on 
the window-panes in the winter.’ ” 
“An old person who possesses low 
qualities, no matter how handsome he 
may have been in his prime, becomes re¬ 
pulsive in his age.” 
-Farm Journal : “ An orderly con¬ 
ducted singing school deserves the en¬ 
couragement of parents, for it accom¬ 
plishes two good purposes : it affords the 
young people an opportunity for harm¬ 
less social enjoyment, and fits them to 
bring into the home one of its purest i 
happinesses.” 
-Ohio Farmer: “Mixed farming is 
commendable when it doesn’t get too 
mixed.” 
-Ellwanger & Barry : “ For a long 
time the idea was quite prevalent that 
fall planting was not advantageous. Ex¬ 
perience has proved that this opinion is 
erroneous. The spring planting season 
in most localities is so short that intend¬ 
ing planters do not have the time to 
properly consider and put into execution 
the plans which have been made, and 
the result is that every spring much im¬ 
portant work is necessarily left undone. 
In the autumn the soil is even in better 
condition for planting than in the spring, 
and the season being much longer, all 
who contemplate planting have a much 
more favorable opportunity to consider 
and mature plans, and to carry them out. 
We, therefore, urge upon our patrons 
the importance of fall planting wherever 
it is possible, and this is the case gen¬ 
erally, except in regions where the 
winters are extremely severe, or in ex¬ 
posed situations. Under such circum¬ 
stances spring planting is absolutely 
necessary. Evergreens, too, should be 
planted in the spring.” 
-Recorder: “About the only thing 
in this country that there is an over¬ 
production of is politics and dogs.” 
-Von Moltke : “ But the beauties of 
nature are noticed only by quiet minds. 
They delight the happy man and console 
the sad one.” 
If you name The Rural New-Yorker to our 
advertisers, you may be pretty sure of prompt 
replies and right treatment 
IT'S RATHER TOO MUCH FOR YOU 
— the ordinary, bulky 
pill. Too big to take, 
and too much disturb¬ 
ance for your poor sys¬ 
tem. The smallest, 
easiest to take, and best 
are Dr. Pierce’s Pleas¬ 
ant Pellets. They leave 
out all the disturbance, 
but yet do you more 
good. Their help lasts. 
Constipation, Indiges¬ 
tion, Bilious Attacks, 
Sick or Bilious Head¬ 
aches, and all derange¬ 
ments of the liver, 
stomach, and bowols are prevented, relieved, 
and permanently cured. They’re guaran¬ 
teed to give satisfaction, or your money is 
returned. 
If you’re suffering from 
Catarrh, the proprietors 
of Doctor Sage’s Catarrh 
Remedy ask you to try 
their medicine. Then, if 
you can’t be cured, they’ll 
pay you $500 in cash. 
That? 
That’s the mark by which you 
can always distinguish the 
good from the bad in Horse 
Blankets. It’s a guarantee of 
quality, durability—absolute 
perfection. The % Blankets 
are made with a view to good 
looks as well as good service. 
They make a horse feel better, 
look better and do better. Ask 
the dealer for the 5 / A Blankets, 
and don’t accept any of the so- 
called “just as good” kind. 
^ Blankets are made in 250 
styles and you 
can easily get 
one to suit 
you. Always 
look for this 
trade mark. 
Made only by 
WM. AYRES & SONS, Philadelphia. 
Diuro ronuT cioiio - 163 acres > ® 2 - 00 °; m 
mltn rnUNI rAnmO acres, $3,000; farms, 
$000 to $2,000. Book free. 
H. P. CHAMBERS, Federalsburg, Md. 
r 1|ri|1 m («| A —On account of 111 health, 
laliTI TOl wdlCl I will sell my farm, con¬ 
taining 150 acres of bottom land on Skagit River, one 
mile from Sedro. I will sell ail together, or will di¬ 
vide into parcels of live to forty acres each The 
soli Is the best for fruits and vegetables of a l 
kinds, hops, hay or grain. For further particulars, 
call on or address, JOHN W. BENSON, Sedro, 
Skagit County, Washington. 
Fertilizers Unprofitable 
Very often on account of a deficiency of Potash. 
Farmers, avoid these and secure paying yields by 
selecting brands containing high percentages of 
Potash, or apply Potash Salts, such as Muriate of 
Potash, Sulphate of Potash and Kalnlt. For In¬ 
formation and pamphlet address 
GERMAN KALI WORKS, 93 Nassau St., N. Y. City 
CLAREMONT Land Association, s C u^y e co.°va., 
Offers BOO choice farms; 3,000 handsome town lots 
on James River, with terms to suit purchasers. 
Free circular 
O I I U O Revolvers, Seines, Nets,Tents, Ammunition, 
If I I ll\ Tools. Btfj Send stamp for Catalogue to 
U U llW Great Western Gun Works, Pittsburgh, Pa. 
CUnDTUAiin Penmanship and Spanish taught by 
dnUlf I nADU) Mail. W. Q. CHAFFEE.O.wego,«. X. 
Morphine Habit cured In 10 to 
20 days. No pay till cured. 
Du. J STEPHENS, Lebanon c. 
