MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL, LITERARY AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER 
WHliir A3 AX ALlTtCLB OF HUMAN FOOD. 
Eds. Ritual New-Yorker: — In a late 
number of the Scientific American, I observed 
an article on the preparation of wheat tor 
human food, which l perused with much in¬ 
terest, My attention tor a number of years 
has been directed to this subject, and the in 
vest ignitions which I have made have long 
since established in my mind the conclusion, 
that the present mode of preparing wheat as 
an article of food is mainly conducive to the 
many diseases with which humanity is afflict 
ed, and at war with a full and healthy devel¬ 
opment of the physical system. 
The great prevalence of indigestion through¬ 
out our country, aud which has literal y made 
us a nation of dysyeptics,—and in fact nearly 
all the functional diseases of the stomach aud 
liver, which abound iu every community,— 
may be traced directly or indirectly to the use 
of superfine and extra-superfine wheat flour. 
And these diseases will be found to prevail in 
their most aggravated form among those who 
make use of such flour as a staple article of 
their diet Toe degeneracy, in a physical 
point of view, of the preseut generation from 
that which has preceded it, may also truly, in 
a great measure, be attributed to the same 
cause. During the last century, when the 
dimiautive grist mill, with its rude machinery 
and coarse bolting-cloth, was the best ar¬ 
rangement the inhabitants could boast of for 
the preparation of their bread stuff-i; and 
when from necessity the people were com¬ 
pelled to vise the coarser qualities of bread, 
dyspepsia, liver complaint aud constipation 
were unknown, and man in his physical de¬ 
velopment approached in a much greater de¬ 
gree than at the present day, ihat staudard 
which his Creator designed for him. 
But iu the present age refinement and fash¬ 
ion have made sad iuroais upon the good old 
customs of former time3. The story-and a-half 
gristmill of our ancestors has disappeared, 
and iu its place stauds the stately granite 
flouring-mill, with its seven stories ; instead 
of the single run of home-made mill-stones 
which grouud out the staff of life for the 
whole commuuity, we see a dozen pairs ol 
imported French burrs ; and the little coarse 
bolter, which produced flour of a quality per 
fectly satisfactory to the palates of our fore¬ 
fathers, is supplanted by a mammoth successor 
of a texture the finest that the ingenuity of 
man could possibly devise : all must be put 
in requisition to minister to the depraved ap 
petites of the present generation ; and th ■ 
inevitable results now visible to au alarming 
extent on every hand, ani stamped iudelibly 
upon the whole community as the character¬ 
istic of the age, are a weak physical orgauiza 
tioD, degenerate o Jspring, dise ase, a IK * U r c ii .a- 
ture death. 
The article in the Scientific American to 
which I refer, stauds accredited to Prof. 
•Brainard, of Cleveland, Ohio, and the gist of 
that artic'e is, that wheat is not a proper 
food for the human stomach unless “ all the 
indigestible matter” contained iu it is first 
removed. And in ihe editorial remarks ap¬ 
pended to that article, the theory advanced 
therein is not only approved aud advocated, 
but certain machinery recently invented ex¬ 
pressly for the purpose of removing “ all the 
indigestible matter” from wheat, is recom¬ 
mended to the public as deserving of their 
attention aud patronage. 
A condition of sound, perfect health, and a 
natural and vigorous acti m of the digestive 
organs, cannot be maintained in the human 
system, unless there is a due proportion of “ in¬ 
digestible matter ’ contained in the food which 
is supplied to those organs. A grain of wheat 
in its natural state contains all the ingredients 
necessary to the sustainment of perfect health 
and the full development of the physical sys¬ 
tem; and these constituent elements have been 
arranged in the exact proportion to accom¬ 
plish that ertd, by Him “ who doeth all things 
well.” And any change of that exact pro¬ 
portion, whether by addition or subtraction 
of any of these ingredients, deteriorates the 
quality of the grain as an article of human 
food, and destroys that harmony which was 
intended to exist, and which should exist be¬ 
tween the food and those organs which are to 
convert that food into living tissue. 
Experiments that have heretofore been insti. 
tuted, have established the fact, that animals 
when confined strictly to food composed ex¬ 
clusively of extra-superfine wheat flour, have 
sosa paid the forfeit with their lives; while, 
on the other hand, animals fed on wheat meal, 
from which nothing had been taken, but which 
contained all the constituent elements of the 
grain, not only lived but actually thrived dm. 
iug the experiment. 
Now, wiih all due deference to the Profes¬ 
sor’s acknowledged abilities, I would respect¬ 
fully inquire of him wbat causes the death of 
an animal when'fed on wheat from which lied 
been removed “ all the indigestible matter ?” 
And why does another animal improve in it3 
physical coaditioa when fed upon wheat which 
contained “ all its indigestible matter ?” 
J. L. Hosford. 
Mouat Morris, Wisconsin, 1855. 
LIME AND rrs APPLICATION. 
Mr. Moore— One of your correspondents 
on the subject of the uses of lime, as an exci¬ 
tant, or fertilizer of soils, doubts the book 
theories generally received as to its mode of ac¬ 
tion, but admits its value when used on old 
and worn out soils. 
In some of iny readings I have been taught 
that lime in some shape composes more than 
three quarters of the 30 or 40,000 feet of rock 
that lies above the granite or primitive for¬ 
mation, and as soils were mostly made from 
their decomposition, they must necessarily con¬ 
tain a great deal of that material in their com¬ 
position ; and as water can only dissolve about 
l-500th part of its weight of quick lime, and 
probably not 1-1000th part of common lime 
stone, soils that ever contained any great por¬ 
tion, must therefore be old and worn indeed, to 
require artificial replenishing, but such seems 
to be the fact, or it is a popular fallacy on the 
continent of Europe. 
I have for several years experimented with 
lime on my soil in various shapes and quanti¬ 
ties. I have used it from the kiln, air slacked, 
old plaster rubbish, at d burned oyster and 
clam shells. My soil is ordinarily too light, 
say sandy loam and sandy, and as far as my 
experience and judgment teaches, l cannot say 
that. I have ever seen any effects, good or bad, 
from its use in a series of years; aod I ft el 
quite certain that on my laud one bushel of 
plaster or uoleached ashes for grass, is worth 
a wagon load of lime. 
From an analysis that 1 have seen of good 
grain soil, it seems that a very smalt {>er cent- 
age ooly is necessary to constitute a good 
wheat soil, and the cause that, I realize no ben¬ 
efit, from its use, may be attributed to the fact 
that the earth natura'ly posse-ses all that is 
necessary or required I have often observed 
about lime kilns and where lime has been pro¬ 
fusely scattered, that vegetation was no more 
luxuriant, but rather the contrary; in fact the 
adage that “ enough is as good as a feast,” may 
be applied to vegetation as well as to the ani¬ 
mal creation, for too much manure—too much 
water—excess of any of the stimulants, or food 
of plants, is as fatal or more so than too little. 
It may, I think, be fairly presumed, that iu 
all countries where the water is hard from con¬ 
taining lime, the soil, while it produces 
such water, must have enough of that material 
fir all the purposes of vegetable use and pro¬ 
duction, so far as it is concerned. 
I have thus, Mr. Editor, as the boy said to 
the clock when it struck twelve—told all I 
know on the subject, and as there is some im¬ 
portance attached to a proper appreciation of 
the value of an active material, composing so 
great a portion of the surface of the globe, I 
hope farmers who have any experience on the 
subject,, will communicate the same for the 
benefit of their fellow laborers. L. Mani.v. 
Orleans County, Feb., 1865. 
LETTERS ABOUT MINNESOTA—No. i. 
The great and crowning advantages which 
Minnesota has over other portions of the Great 
West, is the extreme healthfulness of the cli¬ 
mate ; the dryness, freshness and purity of the 
air; the good quality of the water, and the 
general pleasantness and ogreeableness of the 
cuuntry. Besides these, the farmer and the 
mechanic have advantages not found in other 
locations which I have visited. The former 
has a soil rich in productions, easy to till, and 
a good market for all he produces. The latter 
has plenty of work, and great wages, which is 
just what all mechanics want, as far as 1 have 
been acquainted with them. 
With professional men we are well supplied, 
except Ministers of the Gospel. Yet there 
are church societies and church edifices spring¬ 
ing up in nearly all the young aud thriving 
towns of our Territory. May their Dumber 
continue to increase until all shall enjoy the 
privileges which we have left in our former 
eastern homes. 
Another important item in the advantages 
of Minnesota, is the perfect condition of the 
roads, nearly at all seasons of the year. To 
one who has been accustomed to the rough, 
stony roads of New York and New England, 
or the muddy “ corduroy” roads of some of the 
Western States, this is truly an important 
item. The general convenience of timber is 
another advantage, which Minnesota has over 
other parts of the west, 6ome portions of Wis¬ 
consin probably being an exception. Naviga¬ 
ble rivers form a very cheap and easy mode of 
transporting wood, lumber, and all goods, 
from one part of the Territory to another.— 
Congress has been very liberal in appropriating 
money for the construction of roads, bridges 
and other improvements, which furnishes arare 
chance to jobbers, contractors. &c. Minne¬ 
sota, like all new countries, presents rare op¬ 
portunities for speculators; but we prefer to 
keep that as still as may be, as it will be known 
quite soon enough. Having given but an im¬ 
perfect sketch of some of the advantages of 
Minnesota, I here lay down my pen, in praise 
of this new country, and ask those who can, 
to come to Benton Co , where they will find a 
hearty welcome in the house of their friend. 
W. W. Payne. 
Anoka, Mouth of Rum River, Min., April, 1865. 
CONDENSED CORRESPONDENCE. 
SCIENCE SHOULD BE PRACTICAL. 
I notice your call for aid from the fanner 
iu the solution of important practical ques- £ 
tions in agriculture. I believe there is ho i 
class of men more heartily willing to aid in 1 
rolling onward the ball of progess than the * 
farmers—at least so it ought to be, (though it ( 
was not always.) for they are representative, 
as it were, of the great laboriag cla-is ou 
which rests, and in whose prosperity is em¬ 
bodied, the happiness of the race. 
In our professional capaci y we feel the 
need of all the light that can be shed ou our 
path—for we kuow that however hard we 
work, ualess we work with nature we can do 
nothing. Still we conceive that, as a whole, 
it i 3 much safer to trust to experience than 
theory ; so tint while we are grateful to the 
chemists for the many valuable principles, 
hints and suggestions evolved by their labors, 
we think that after al there is no great room 
for them to boast over us, for if we have been 
slow to believe, slow to adopt, in short what 
they call plodding and even stupid, it has been 
iu self defense, while they have beeu often pre¬ 
sumptuous, d igmatical, aud overbearing in 
their attempts to force down our throats their 
doses of “science”, falsely so called. We 
kuow we have ofieu been their dupes, and 
that unless we are carefully guarded we are 
liable to be so cheated again and again. 
As a class, farmers are earnestly, and I trust 
revereutly, seeking for sound docriue to guide 
ihem iu their lives aud labors; also knowing 
that the knowledge so acquired and dissemi¬ 
nated iu the spirit, of truth aud love, will never 
cease to exert a healthful aud beneficent influ¬ 
ence at all times aud in all places to which it 
is permitted to penetrate. Our intellects will 
be strengthened aod our hearts made better 
by the glimpses we shall thereby attain of the 
beneficence aud order evinc d in all the works 
of God. —S. L., Mcndon Centre, 1854. 
SALT, PLASTER AND ASHES FOR CORN. 
Eds. Rural :—Having recently seen seve¬ 
ral allasious in the Rural to the ase of salt 
as a manure for corn, I will briefly give a lit¬ 
tle of my experience, as I have not raised a 
crop of corn in eight or ten years without ap¬ 
plying it When I first commenced the use 
of it, I experimented for several years by 
dressing a portion with it and leaving a por¬ 
tion undressed, till I became satisfied that the 
profit was fully equal to twenty-five per cent. 
and my example has been followed by many 
of my neighbors. I use aud apply it as 
follows : 
Take a half bushel salt, 1 bushel plaster, 2 
bushels leached or unfeached ashes ; mix thor¬ 
oughly with a shovel upon the barn floor, and 
apply to the corn as soon as mixed, aud as 
soon as the com is planted, the same day if 
possible. I direct my hauds to press the earth 
over the corn with the back of the hoe ou cover¬ 
ing it, so thatits exact position may be known, 
and have boys to follow immediately after and 
scatter a small handful of. the composition 
over the print of the hoe. I usually apply 
about three bushels of the mixture to the acre. 
If by any accident any of the hills do not get 
their share, the color of the corn on coming 
up reveals the fact, being usually rather yel¬ 
low, while all that receives the dressing is of 
a very dark green, and grows rapidly from the 
start,—being little if any retarded by chilly, 
backward weather, which frequently occurs af¬ 
ter corn plautiug, and very seldom “ rolling ” 
in the most severe drouths. For two years 
past I have commenced hoeing on the four¬ 
teenth day after planting. 
I apply the same mixture, in the same man¬ 
ner to potatoes, and with marked benefit.— 
Wm. I). Cook, Sodus, N. Y, May, 1855. 
SOWING CORN FOR FODDER. 
Eds. Rural :—I notice an article in your 
last paper on the subject of sowing corn for 
fodder, which I think it would be well for the 
farmers of this State, at least, to take into 
consideration both for green food and winter 
fodder. And having had a little experience 
and some observation in its culture for that 
purpose, I wish to iuform the farmers through 
your paper, what I think the best manner of 
putting the 6eed into the ground, as it has been 
tried in this vicinity, and found, in my judg¬ 
ment at least, the best way. 
Take a corn planter that is used wilh a 
horse, aud which drops five or six kernels in a 
hill at 12 to 18 inches apart, and after the 
ground is fitted, begin on one side of the piece 
and plant a row of the above distance, then 
back as close to the first row as you can run 
the planter, and so on back and f >rth till all 
is finished. It will save seed, distribute it 
more evenly, and a greater crop, with more 
uniformity is the result, than any other way I 
ever saw it cultivated,—and it has been sown 
broadcast, drilled in in furrows fur the purpose, 
and planted as above stated, all under my ob¬ 
servation aud experience. 
Farmers, who have access to a planter as 
above stated, please try this mode, and re 
port the result.—J. T., Rome, N. Y. t May 14, 
1855. 
Agricultural ®isccllaiw. CLAY A A^ NURR ' 
... We have long believed that the application 
WANT^-throughout Western Ne» York f cl.,, soil of a loose texture won Id he very 
° beneficial. We have heretofore, cited mstan- 
and the Western States, at least Fdt,y Ifiou- <;eg 0 f ^ | ia v|ng beeu used with tIns re-ult.— 
sand Farm Laborers, to whom “ good wages Mr. D. D. T. More,near Albany, N. Y., who 
aud steady emp oyment will bo given.” The has brought a tract of rather light, worn-out 
surplus thousands in large cities and towns soil to a state ot great productiveness, says 
are requested to note this want, and supply blue clay to produce more last 
1 ,, j mg benefit on this laud than stable manure, 
it as a remedy for the “ hard times and j ,- ()r , oa(1 
“starvation prices” from which they are now S ome striking facts in regard to 
suffering. The farmers of this region ought the use of blue clay in Virginia, reported to 
to nearly double the labor now bestowed the Executive Committee ol the Stale Agri- 
upon the acres they have under cultivation, culluial ^' )CU!, y by Robert llar- 
1 , „ , J , , . r rison, and published in the Southern Blunter, 
and many of them are only prevented from / haL hc a plicg it at the ra , e of 150 
doing so for want of help. Within five miles t0 200 bushels to the acre. It greatly in- 
of this city there is much need of and no little crea-es the production of Indian corn, c over, 
inquiry for farm laborers — the present and beaus, peas, &c. But notwithstanding its 
prospective high prices of grain and provis Value >» reference to these crops, Mr. II. states 
T 1 , . . . . . , , . , 1 hat, ou his land, it causes the growth of sor- 
ions rendering it judicious for farmers to cul- ^ ^ lhig (act c , mstUuted the greatest ob- 
tivate in the most thorough manner. And otion to the use of the clay. It is inlet red 
as to the West — especially in Il.innis, Wis from th s fact that “acidity is not opposed to 
cousin, Iowa and Minnesota—it will be utter- fertility.’ We do not see that it is necessary 
ly impossible to harvest the wheat and other 'o infer that the sod is particularly acid be- 
-.1 .1 *, ,, 4 , „ eau-e it produces sorrelbut it would certain- 
crops, even with the aid ol all the machmeiy bB ^ l(J ^ tbe „„„ eu „„ HllCe 
that can be obtained, ( { or we learn that the w hieh makes sorrel grow, w in a so make c«nn 
manufacturers of Reapers iu Chicago will be and other crops uientionel, flourish with iu- 
uuable to supply the greatly increased de- creased luxuriance. Mr. Ii. says: 
mand.) without a large accession of laborers. . “ On m Y an example m,y be seen of a 
' piece of lain) in which all vegetation was de- 
City papers will subserve the cau«e of hu- 8tl ., oed mou |d, & c , gone, and the land pie- 
manity, and promote the public interest, by seated the appearance of worthless sand, winch 
calling special attention to this subject. has beeu restored to comparative produetive- 
_...... w _ ness Uy no other manure than this blue clay. 
„ T „ , n rp. This day is usually hauled upon the land after 
Wool Growers Convention.-^ papers . fc ^ ' utrm . d to ‘ retniilu U( „ii it 
and people of Ohio are agitating the question lm . aks U( , jlltu fl akea 0 r becomes somewhat 
of holding a Wool Growers’State Convention, pulverized, wheu it is scattered.— Bost. Cult. 
The idea is a good one, particularly for Ohio, 
as no State in the Uuiou is more largely en¬ 
gaged or deeply interested in the production 
of wool. It is said that many of the most ex- 
as no State in the Uuiou is more largely en- F 0 T A T 0 E S . 
gnged or deeply interested in the production - 
of wool. It is said that many of the most ex- A large quantity of European potatoes 
teusive wool growers are decidedly in tavor ot wete sold a fe>v dajs since by auction, in New 
1 1 ,, a- a r, v„n. n York, and at a price which would pay ihe 
the proposed Convention, and we presume some .... 1 , r , . 1 \ 
1 ” ’ 1 loreigu tar mer a very large profit bejolid the 
active aud definite measures will sooxi >e. Coa j. 0 f freight, etc., and this 100 , in a country 
adopted in furtherance of the movement. L’he where they might be produced at less than the 
discussions and deliberations of such a Con- freight paid t>y the foreign farnur. Every 
vention, composed of intelligent and expe- year siuce our childhood, we have beard farm- 
rienced wool growers from all parts of the tnat they feared potat.es would be 
0 ... , , , low next year, as every body would be raising 
State, could not fail of eliciting 111 uc 1 use u {j iem consequence of the high prices ; and 
information on the various branches of sheep thus far has prevented a full supply being 
husbandry, besides furthering the monetary in- grown, piiriicularly during the last lew jears, 
terests of the large number of Ohio farmers when the extra crop required each year for 
t . ,1 , • „ „ the consumption of the half million emigrants, 
engaged in the bu-iness. baa beell al , d „ lialf of b „ tl ? els 
yond the requirement of the previous tear, 
The Mowing Match, or Trial of Mowing aIu i which, at the average crop of 100 bushels 
Machines, by the Monroe Co. Ag. Society, per acre, would require 15,000 acres of land 
will be held on Wendesday, the 21th of June for their culture. This is not only true of 
instant, (instead of 5th July, as before an- potatoes but of other roots, thecoesumption 
' , „ T . ,1 of which is not Only increased trom the same 
nouuced.) at the farm of Judge Buel, one caU8Ct but fl . 0U1 our own citiEen8 becoming 
mile west ol this city. Luis change has been convinced that a large appropriation of vege- 
made in order to enable farmers to procure table diet is conducive to heahh. The farm- 
machines after the trial, and in time for the ers and livery-stable keepers are also feeding 
regular haying season. The competition will r00, s morc liberally to cattle and horses, and 
. ,, , r 1 asa consequence, carrots are now sold readily 
be open to all, aud we can safely assure dis- ju , he Ne ‘ v Y(irk market at fifr . y cen , s ,,/ r 
taut inventors and manufacturers that they bushel; aud even parsnips and ruta 
will receive a cordial we'corne and handsome turnips bring prices equally large, ascompar- 
treatment from the officers of the Society. ed with those of former years.— Working Far. 
The Poultry Business.— A correspondent 
sends us a long string of questions about the 
raising and keeping of hens for their eggs and 
for market. He will find them answered in 
Bennett’s or Miner’s Poultry Book—some 
of them at least,— others, by the time he has 
been in the business for a year or two. will be 
settled to his satisfaction. No one who has 
undertaken to keep a large number of liens 
together has ever made it profitable in the 
long run. 
Olay as a Manure.— The Oxford (Me.) 
Democrat gives two cases of the use of clay as 
a manure for corn. In each the land was 
sandy, the clay was applied in the hill — a 
shovel full to each — and covered with soil, 
and corn planted. The effect was very good; 
in one case equal to that of hog manure ap¬ 
plied iu the same mauner. This mixing of 
soils—applying clay to sand and sand to clay 
—often has a very ameliorating effect. 
Address at TnE State Fair. —It is now 
said that Gov. Wright, of Indiana, has ac¬ 
cepted the invitation tendered him by the 
President of the N. Y. State Ag. Society, to 
deliver the Address at the Fair at Elmira in 
October next,—aud not Gen. Cass, as hereto¬ 
fore announced. Gov. W. has taken consid¬ 
erable interest in Agricultural improvement 
for some jears past, and hence there is pro¬ 
priety in this selection. 
A Farm School of Reform for the boys 
of the city of Salem, Mass., is to be establish¬ 
ed, the money for the purpose, about $23,000, 
having been bequeathed by the late Miss 
Caroline Plummer. The Common Council 
of Salem have passed resolutions to aid in the 
accomplishment of the enterprise, by appro¬ 
priating such sums of money as may be neces¬ 
sary to establish the school as an incorporated 
institution. 
Plowing Match. — The Livingston Co. 
Ag'l Society will hold a Plowing Match at 
Geueseo on the 5th of June. Two classes, of 
four premiums each are offered, also a S weep- 
stakes of three silver cups. 
The Plowing Match of the Henrietta Ag. 
Society is to be at West Ileurietta, June 9lh. 
To Wash Sheep.— As many of our read¬ 
ers have not yet washed their sheep, the fol¬ 
lowing mode of washing, os stated by a cor¬ 
respondent of the Ohio Cultivator, may prove 
useful: 
“ I take a hogshead, with one head out, 
water-tight', or a large meat tub, and sink it iu 
the stream whrre there is considerable cur¬ 
rent and place a few rocks in the bottom of 
the hogshead. I take four stakes, with forks 
on oue end, and drive them down until the 
forks come over the top of the hogshead to 
secure it from corning up. After this is done 
l dip out the water, get into the hogshead, 
and have a man to hand the sh *ep to me, aud 
I can wash oue hundred in a very short tune, 
and be perfectly dry, except my arms.” 
Drainage —I may be asked why I attach so 
murh importance to drainage. Why, you 
might as well ask me why I attach so much 
importance to circulation, vital or mone'aiy. 
Stagnant water, or stagnant air, are as ruinous 
to plants as they would be to our own vitality. 
Fix a cork in the draiuagehole of your flower 
pot, and you will soon have a practical illus¬ 
tration of my meaning. The sallow and bil- 
lious plants (like many tnrnip crops l know 
of on uud'-ained land) will show by their ex¬ 
pression what is dented to them in speech.— 
This is not the occasion to euter into subter¬ 
ranean examination of gravity, capillary at¬ 
traction, aeration, or filtration, much less of 
all those affectionate or repulsive interchanges 
that turn air, water and earth into food for 
man aud beast; but be assured, circula'iou is 
vitality—stagnation, death and ruin.— Mechi. 
A Wholesale Western Farmer. — A 
friend from Indiana informs the New York 
Tribune that he met Michael L. Sullivaut, 
who sold his land ou the Scioto, last, year on 
his way to his new home in Illinois with a 
force of one hundred men, and teams ami tools 
sufficient to put iu ten thousand acres of corn 
this spring. It will be remembered that Mr. 
Sullivaut was one of the largest farmers in the 
State of Ohio for many years. We have 
heard that he could ride in a direct course fif¬ 
teen miles through his own c >rn field. We 
hope he will be equally successful in Illinois. 
The reason he gave for moving was, that, he 
wanted more room to expand his operations, 
and he found t he Grand Prairie just suited to 
his notions of fanning on a magnificent scale. 
Mr. French, of Braintree, Mass., said at 
one of the Agricultural Meetings in Boston, 
that he had made many experiments as to the 
cost of keeping stock. His horses cost him 
53 ceutd a day, aud his oxen $1 per yoke. 
