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ROCHESTER, N. Y—SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1855, 
{WHOLE NO. 261. 
AGMCUHOKAL IMPROVEMENT. 
rnents as we believed would enable us to furnish 
the best journal of its class. In this raspect 
we have ever, with a single exception, been pa 
culiarly fortunate, and certainly have cause to 
congratulate our readers upon the ability, talent 
and experience combined in the corps of asso¬ 
ciates and contributors announced at the head 
of this page and in our last number. Retain¬ 
ing the most efficient members of our former 
corps, and securing in addition some of the 
ablest and most experienced writers in the 
Union, we have resolved that the Sixth Vol¬ 
ume of the Rural New-Yorker shall, extra¬ 
ordinaries excepted, surpass either of its pre¬ 
decessors, and prove eminently worthy the 
support and encouragement of the tens of 
thousands to whom we are indebted for its un¬ 
exampled success, and increasing circulation 
and usefulness in all sections of the Country. 
Has there been any marked improvement 
in Agriculture in the United States? 
To auswer the question properly, it would be 
well, perhaps, to come to some understanding as 
to what constitutes agricultural improvement. 
By many it is supposed to be made manifest 
in the thrifty appearance of a country—fine 
buildings, good fences, and well-kept roads. 
These sights meet the view in almost every 
part of our country; and yet they are by no 
means infallible signs that agriculture has im¬ 
proved to any very considerable degree. It is 
quite probable that a person visiting the same 
region some ten or twenty years ago, would 
have pronounced agriculture at a very low ebb. 
Log barns, log houses, ragged-looking fences, 
pole bridges and stumpy fields would have cov¬ 
ered the landscape. And from such an ap¬ 
pearance one might turn away with the con¬ 
viction that the farmers lacked energy and in¬ 
telligence. 
And yet, more money may have been made 
from their land at that time;—it may have 
been better cultivated, and produced better 
crops than at the latter day, when all looks so 
thrifty and prosperous. It is undoubtedly the 
fact, that, for the capital invested, a greater 
return was given at the time when all things 
wore so unpromising an appearance. The 
money to make all these fine improvements has 
been earned long before they were made; and 
it is frequently the case that the cultivation of 
the land is not as well carried od from the fine 
new house and model barns, as from the okl 
house and humble, though substantial, barn. 
What a man does himself upon his farm, he 
is usually apt to do wed. NYhetrtfe s ceases to 
have its entire supervision, and to attend to all 
its details personally, he ceases to cultivate his 
land to the best possible advantage. 
The thrifty look of the country, then, is not 
an evidence that its agriculture is improving. 
The real test, we think, is to be found in the 
increased productiveness of the land—of farms 
individually and generally. In other words, 
the nearer the cultivation of the farm ap¬ 
proaches to that of the garden, the more evi¬ 
dence that there is an improvement. Garden 
culture is the production of the greatest amount 
from the least land—applying capital and labor 
to the best advantage upon the least available 
space. By this kind of culture, market gar¬ 
deners near cities are enabled to realize a net 
profit of from one hundred to two hundred 
dollars per acre, upon land which, a hundred 
miles from that locality, under the usual mode 
of cultivation common to the country, would 
not pay ten dollars. 
Assuming, then, that agricultural improve¬ 
ment is represented by the increased product¬ 
iveness of the land, let us sec whether we are 
making that progress which is properly expect¬ 
ed from us. What farmer among the tens of 
thousands to whom we are now speaking, can 
say that his land has become more fruitful for 
the past ten years ? If there be one in all the 
number, let him speak, and give us the evi¬ 
dence. In particular years he may have done 
something that way, but for a series of years, 
has his whole farm grown more productive ? 
The improvement of our cattle and horses, 
and sheep, and swine, is all very well. At¬ 
tempts arc making to that end all over the 
country. The best blood of foreign herds and 
flocks is brought into our midst and dissemi¬ 
nated among the farmers. But this, after all, 
is not an improvement, but only an effort to 
improve. Unless the earth is made more pro¬ 
lific, it may prove a detriment, for the improv¬ 
ed animals may not be able to procure the food 
necessary for their proper development. 
In some respects, perhaps, the people have 
improved. Agriculture is fast becoming the 
leading employment, and farmers are becoming 
more intelligent, and have a more realizing 
sense of the dignity of their occupation. The 
leading intelligence, the controlling intellect of 
the country, is hereafter to come from the farm 
or the work-shop, rather than, as heretofore, 
from the ranks of the professions. Anything 
that insures intelligence is a gain ; still, we 
fear, the question at the head of this article, for 
the present, at least, must be answered in the 
negative. 
A QUARTO WEEKLY 
AGRICULTURAL, LITERARY, & FAMILY JOURNAL, 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOOBE. 
ASSOCIATE EDITORS : 
J. H. BIXBY, T. C. PETERS, EDWARD WEBSTER. 
Special Contributors : 
T. E. Wbxmoke, H. C. W hits, H. T. Brooks, L. Wetkeeell. 
Ladies’ Port-Folio by Aztle. 
Tire Rural New-Torehr b designed to be unirpio and 
boautiful in appearance, and unsurpassed in Value, Purity 
aud Variety of Contents. Its conductors earnestly labor 
to make it a Reliable Guide on the important Practical 
Subjects connected with the business of those whose 
interests it advocato3. It embraces more Agricultural, 
Horticultural, Scienttac, Mechanical, Literary and News 
Matter, intersporsed with many appropriate and beautiful 
Engravings, than any other paper pub lb hod in this 
Country,—rendering it a complete Agricultural, Literary 
and Family Newspaper. 
For Terms, and othor particulars, see last page. 
WOOD LOTS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. 
WnERE our lumber, fences, aud fuel are to 
be obtained when a few more years have gone 
by, is an interesting question, but one we do 
not here proposo to discuss—desiring rather to 
offer a few hints on the management of our 
remaining wood lots, which are becoming more 
and more precious as they decrease in number 
aud in quality. Wood for all purposes com¬ 
mands high prices, hence the sources and per¬ 
manence of the supply, and the best means of 
its increase and preservation are subjects of 
general interest. 
The season of the year when forests arc cut 
off, has long been known to have an influence 
upon their future growth; and in almost every 
wood lot it may be seen that the trees cut at a 
certain time-—of most varieties of timber— 
sprout up again very freely, while the stumps 
of the same kinds cut at another time, later or 
earlier, send out few or no shoots, and soon 
decay. Carefully conducted experiments made 
purposely to test the matter, show that trees 
cut early in the spring when the sap flows 
freely, almost always sprout again, generally 
sending forth a most flourishing growth. And, 
where this growth is desirable, it is found the 
best plan to cut the trees as near the ground 
as possible, as the shoots then start more 
thriftily, are less liable to be broken off, and 
will more readily take root for themselves. 
The saving in wood is also a noticeable consid¬ 
eration. From these facts it would appear 
that from land which it is desirable to clear, 
the trees should be cut when the sap will not 
flow ; and where their growth again is desired, 
when the sap flows most freely. The influence 
of the season of cutting upon the durability 
and value of the lumber, is not taken into ac¬ 
count in these conclusions. 
The matter of cutting—whether it is best to 
select out only the full-grown and the decaying 
trees, leaving the young and thrifty standing— 
or to make a clean sweep of the whole, has 
not been positively settled. The latter course 
is very generally advised, on the ground that 
as the new trees start up, all will have an equal 
chance, and make a handsomer and thriftier 
growth. The number of trees will be much 
larger than when the plan of selecting is fol¬ 
lowed ; for, when only the young and vigorous 
arc left, the forest is comparatively thin, and 
the most thrifty trees spread their branches 
thick and wide, discouraging all under-growth. 
These seem good arguments, but however the 
question may be decided by those who are to 
make an annual draft on their wood lots, they 
must remember that cattle and sheep, and the 
tire, must be kept from the woods, and multi¬ 
tudes of young trees will spring up in every 
spot thus protected. 
In the older settled parts of the country, 
planting trees in the openings of the forests 
and on broken ground difficult of cultivation, 
is a very proper as well as profitable course of 
management. The steep hillsides which have 
been unthinkingly bared to the sun, and, for 
want of the protection of trees, their richest 
elements washed into the streams and valleys 
below, may thus be clothed in verdure, and j 
instead of remaining barren mid valueless to 
their owners, bear timber worth hundreds of 
( dollars to the acre, and every year increasing 
rapidly in value. We hope that all available 
means will be used for the increase of this great 
staple and prime necessity of the country, at 
least, while ships and houses arc built of wood, 
1 and its use as fuel continued. 
PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT. 
All the rooms are quite large, adequately 
ventilated, and showing a very convenient 
and compact arrangement; one where comfort 
and good effect are combined to a very con¬ 
siderable degree; no flimsy ornamentation 
or fillagree work enters in the slightest degree 
into this composition. All is plain, simple, 
appropriate and expressive, as a cottage always 
should be. 
Header, the initial number of the Sixth 
Volume of the Rural New-Yorker is before 
you for examination. Our desire is that it 
may safely pass the ordeal of your criticism,— 
receiving cordial approval, and enlisting sub¬ 
stantial encouragement. To secure this desira¬ 
ble result we have spared no proper effort or 
expense in any essential item or department. 
In oonsonanco with its motto and objects, we 
commence the new year and volume determined 
that this journal shall not only excel in man¬ 
ner, but exhibit in its matter the essential 
spirit of “ Progress and Improvement.” And 
it will be our endeavor in the future, as it has 
been in the past, to so conduct the work that 
it will ever prove a source of pleasure, enter¬ 
tainment and benefit to all who have access to 
its pages, while its influence shall be promotive 
of the permanent prosperity and advancement 
of the country. 
No former volume of the Rural has been 
commenced under such favorable auspices as 
the present, for we have unmistakable evidence 
that its circulation is widely increasing, and 
hence its means and sphere of usefulness are 
commensurately augmenting. In these partic¬ 
ulars, our anticipations are being greatly ex¬ 
ceeded— having received during the last two 
•weeks of the year just terminated, more sub¬ 
scribers than in any corresponding period 
since the commencement of this publication. 
In this we have the best testimony that our 
former course is approved, and the most posi¬ 
tive encouragement for the future. We shall 
therefore,— us indeed we should under dis¬ 
couragements,— continue to staud and work 
upon the same platform as heretofore. Sensi¬ 
ble of the increased responsibility of our 
position, we shall strive to be even more 
cautious and guarded than heretofore concern¬ 
ing the practices endorsed, or sentiments 
uttered, in the pages of %e Rural. While 
we hope to give nothing in tho Practical 
Departments but what is reliable and in ac¬ 
cordance with good sense and sound reason, 
wo shall endeavor to so fill the other pages 
that they shall Instruct and Entertain, without 
injuring the Taste or Morals, or vitiating the 
Mind or Heart, of the most susceptible reader. 
With an earnest desire that our efforts may 
result in Good only — that the pages of the 
Rural may prove of timely interest and bene¬ 
fit, and sufficiently valuable for preservation as 
a source of future reference and usefulness—we 
shall continue to labor with zeal and earnestness, 
in the hope of rendering each succeeding issue 
of this volume both acceptable and unexcep¬ 
tionable in all the essentials of a complete 
Practical and Entertaining Fireside Journal. 
To conduct a journal comprising so many 
important subjects as are discussed in the sev¬ 
eral departments of the Rural —embracing far 
more variety, and consequently requiring great¬ 
er labor, versatility of talent, and attention than 
has been attempted by any of its contempora¬ 
ries—is both arduous and expensive. Hence, 
in order to accomplish the task satisfactorily 
to our readers and ourselves, and ‘ mprove as 
wc advanced, we have annually engagod such 
associates and assistants in the various depart- 
F ailing to receive in time for this number, 
some original architectural plans designed ex¬ 
pressly for our farming readers, we give one 
more appropriate to village and suburban uses. 
It first appeared in a recent number of the 
Phrenological Journal, where it is contrasted 
with Mr. Fowler’s favorite octagon and spher¬ 
ical-shaped houses. The design is accompa¬ 
nied by the following explanation; 
The design of this cottage is 
simple yet expressive, and is of 
the modified Italian style; a style 
which, with its broad, overhang¬ 
ing, bracketed roofs (sheltering 
thoroughly the walls from the 
weather) and pleasing piazzas, is 
peculiarly adapted to our nor¬ 
thern climate; and while there Y 
is nothing difficult or expensive f 
in the construction of the various / 
details, its bold projecting roofs 4 /-p 
and bay-windows give character J 
to the exterior. 
It is intended 5 II 
to meet the requirements and ex- 
igencies of a small family, and,« 
simple and inexpensive as it is, 
it contains mere of the real e&- >8_ j 
sentials that a house should pos- 1 
sess than many that have cost 
double the sum. 
The plan of the principal floor 
sufficiently explains itself, show¬ 
ing an ample hall, with a hand¬ 
some staircase, (this hall might 
be used as a sitting-room,) abund¬ 
antly lighted, and giving easy 
access to both drawing and din¬ 
ing-rooms, and by means of a 
lower staircase to kitchen and 
other basement apartments. There is also 
a back-door opening to rear of house.— 
Drawing-room, 15 by 20, with a large 
semi-octagonal bay-window, surrounded 
with a piazza, affording an agreeable ac¬ 
companiment. At the end the green- Jp- 
house or conservatory is entered by means |r 
of a sliding-sash door ; and to add to the JL 
effect produced, a fountain of pleasing 
proportions might, with great taste, be in- 
troduced. The dining-room is 15 by 20, 
also provided with a bay-window, and 
contains a good closet. The bay-windows 
(the semi-octagonal being carried up in 
second floor) form very striking features 
in this design, and the result 1 is not alto¬ 
gether unpleasant. 
The basement contains a good-sized 
kitchen, with its several adjuncts of pan¬ 
try, closets, Ac., a cellar, laundry, and 
store room, all sufficiently lighted,—the 
kitchen being almost above grouud, owing to 
the surface on this side falling off sufficiently 
for the purpose. 
The second floor contains three bed-rooms, a 
bath-room, water-closet, and several closets, 
those iudispensab’e attachments to every ccu:> 
try-house. In the att ic we have two bed-rooms, 
large open attic, closets and cistern. 
SECOND Si'ORY. 
As we purpose tu make Rural Architecture 
a more promineri feature of tho Rural than 
it has been hitherto, we invite those interested 
aud versed iu the matter to furnish designs of 
Farm Houses, Cottages, Barns and other out¬ 
buildings, for publication. There arc many 
model buildings, owned by cert am readers, the 
plans of which ought to be given in the Rural 
IIow many of our readers will, as all should, 
keep a Farm Journal, or Diary, this year? 
..*~ 
