■ <».>'>■■ ......... . . ■>, r^ru-x, m.mwuk,,, r>.n.,.w., .... 
VOLUME VI. NO, 26.. 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.-SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1855. 
{WHOLE NO. 286, 
Uloflrn |kral fltfe-forlter: 
A QDAHTO WEEKLY 
AGRICULTURAL, LIT ERARY, & FAMILY JOURNAL. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE. 
ASSOCIATE EDITORS : 
J. H. BIXBY, T. 0. PETERS, EDWARD WEBSTER. 
Special Contributors : 
T. E. Wetborb, H. C. WnrrB, H. T. Brooks, L. WmjKRai. 
Ladios’ Port-Folio by Atti.k. 
Thk Rural Nkw-Yorkkk 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 Guido on tlio important Practical 
Subjects connected with tho business of thoso who 3 o 
interests it advocates. It embraces more Agricultural, 
Horticultural, Scientific, Mechanical, Literary and News 
Matter, interspersed with many appropriate and beautiful 
Engravings, than any other paper published in this 
Country,—rendering it a complete Agricultural, Lityrary 
and Family Newspaper. 
For Tkrmh, and othor particulars, see News page. 
-faker. 
the sixty-fourth degree of latitude. In some 
countries it is the slaple article of food for the 
inhabitants. The Edinburgh Encyclopedia 
states that hardly a dinner is served up in any 
part of the United Kingdom without the pota 
to forming a part of the feast. We all have 
very vivid recollections of the terrible suffer¬ 
ings experienced a few years since by the in¬ 
habitants of Ireland, in consequence of the 
potato crop having been cut off by the blight; 
and we remember also the inconvenience ex¬ 
perienced by ourselves from the same cause, 
for a succession of years. It is true that 
plenty smiled upon us in other respects, but 
the loss of the potato was regarded universal- 
y as a public calamity. 
The analysis of the potato shows its com¬ 
position to be about as follows, viz: 
Water.,. 75 per cent. 
Starch. 8 to 12 per cent 
Albumen. to 1 
Caseine, Dextrine, Sugar, each. 3 “ 
Fibre. 8 “ 
PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT. 
HISTORY AND USES OF THE POTATO. 
It is singular how the natural products of 
any country will become disseminated over 
the world, and be at length produced in every 
locality where soil and climate are adapted to 
their growth. This universal distribution 
seems to have attended the potato, a produc¬ 
tion first found in American soil. It was dis¬ 
covered growing wild in the mountains of 
Peru and Chili, by the Spanish adventurers 
who visited those regions in search of gold.— 
It was sent home by them more as a matter 
of curiosity than from any idea of its value 
as an article of food. Nor did it in" the In¬ 
digenous state possess those rare qualities in 
any considerable degree which develop them¬ 
selves as the results of cultivation. In the 
wild state they are mere ground nuts in size 
—tubercula which perish with the season, and 
are reproduced by the seed balls of the plants. 
They grow to this day in the original wild 
state, not only in South America, but also 
throughout the wilds of our own South West¬ 
ern territories and in Mexico. Surgeon Lang¬ 
worthy, who has been for several years past 
attached to the section of the U. S. army sta¬ 
tioned in the Indian territories, sent, a year 
ago, in a letter to his father, Lyman B. Lang¬ 
worthy, Esq., residing in Greece, near this 
city, a small quantity of seeds of the genuine 
wild potato in its native state. lie gathered 
them in the mountains of the Sierra Madre, 
New Mexico, where they grow abundantly 
and are gathered by the Indians as an article 
of food. 
Our readers must not imagine that the poor 
savages of those wild regions have only to 
thrust a sharp stick into the virgin soil and 
pry out a tuber the size of a paving stone, for, 
in fact, they range from the size of a small 
pea to that of a walnut, and half a hundred 
of them can be held in the hand. The soldiers 
call them ground nuts ; and Surgeon Lang- 
worthy, who was recently here on furlough, 
assured us they had not the least suspicion 
that these diminutive tubers claimed any fam¬ 
ily relation, however remote, to our noble cul¬ 
tivated potato. Ilis own knowledge of botany 
and a careful analysis of the plant fixed its 
genuineness beyond a doubt. The seeds sent, 
home by him were carefully planted. The 
product has been as extensively distributed as 
the limited amount would permit, and the 
writer has three hills of them growing at the 
present time. The vine is green and vigorous, 
but extremely attenuated, and the tubers will 
undoubtedly be “small potatoes.” It is pos¬ 
sible that out of the lot planted hero and else¬ 
where some valuable varieties may be ob¬ 
tained. 
The potato is first mentioned in Europe by 
Clusius in the year 1588, or near a century 
after the discovery of America. It spread 
very" slowly, and like all other valuable discov¬ 
eries was a long time coming into favor. It 
was cultivated in Switzcrlai d in the year 1730, 
but met with great opposition on its introduc¬ 
tion into France. Indeed it was not cultiva¬ 
ted to any considerable extent in that country 
until alter the Revolution. It is now dissem- 
inaled all over Europe and other parts of the 
world, growing in Swcdeueveuasfar north as 
These ingredients vary considerably iu the 
different varieties, as well as under the influ¬ 
ences of atmosphere, soil and climate. The 
analysis shows the potato to be a compara¬ 
tively bulky and innutritions production, but 
it is on that very account highly valuable as 
an accompaniment to a meal of animal and 
other concentrated food. So loDg as men, 
like the Americans and English, indulge their 
appetites in the consumption of such immense 
quantities of meat, and remove, by means of 
the bolt, all the cruder portions of the grain 
from their bread and pastry, the potato, or 
something of a similar character, must be 
called upon to play an important part as a 
dietic, and restore the equilibrium which a 
vitiated appetite labors to destroy. 
But notwithstanding the potato, as com¬ 
pared with the cereals, is bulk for bulk infe¬ 
rior as an article of food, yet the immense 
yield more than compensates for this inferior¬ 
ity ; and it is regarded by the political econo¬ 
mist next to wheat in value as a staple pro¬ 
duction. It admits of demonstration (hat. 
double the amount of nutritious food can be 
obtained from an acre of potatoes than from 
an acre of wheat. 
The potato is of great value also in the 
arts, iu consequence of the amount of starch 
in its composition. Alcohol in many places 
is manufactured from it, and all over the rural 
districts of New England especially, starch 
factories are erected, where immense quanti¬ 
ties of potatoes are consumed. The process 
is a very simple one, and is conducted as fol¬ 
lows. On the bank of a clear stream that 
furnishes sufficient power to drive the necessa¬ 
ry machinery, the starch mill is built. The 
potatoes arc washed in a gig mill composed 
of an upright shaft with arms revolving in a 
box, which stir the roots while a stream of 
water running through carries off the dirt.— 
From the washer, the potatoes are transferred 
to the grating machine, which is similar iu its 
constrnctiou to the grater of a modern cider 
mill. A small stream of water rims iuto the 
hopper and mingles with the pulp as it falls 
beneath upon a vibrating sieve, and washes 
out the starch, which passes iu a fluid state 
through the interstices, while the woody fibre, 
Ac., is passed off over the end of the sieve like 
grain headings from a fanning mill. The 
starch water is pumped by machinery into 
huge vats and allowed to settle, after which 
the clear water is drained off and the starch- 
cake, at the bottom, is shoveled upon trays, 
dried iu a kiln, and then barreled for the mar¬ 
ket. Potato starch is used in many ways, 
but especially by the cotton mills and print 
works, in sizing the yarns and stiffening and 
glossmg.tlie manufactured fabrics. 
The bulky nature of the potato forbade its 
trausportation to great distances until after 
tho building of railroads. Since that time, 
however, farmers located remote from cities 
find profitable employment in this branch of 
husbandry, and potato culture is reckoned one 
of the essential sources of many a farmer’s 
Turinps may be sown soon, and those whose 
meadows are short, and indeed all who are in¬ 
terested iu feeding stock should raise them 
abundantly. 
PREPARE FOR HAYING AND HARVESTING. 
Tiie period is at hand when the majority 
of our readers must enter upon the two great 
campaigns of the season—Haying and Har¬ 
vesting. In order that each of these impor¬ 
tant operations may be promptly and proper¬ 
ly performed, those who are not already 
equipped for action, should lose no time in 
making suitable preparation,—for it is of the 
first consequence that there should be no de¬ 
lays or drawbacks when the season for cut¬ 
ting, curing and securing actually arrives.— 
And wc need not add that this season or pe¬ 
riod—the time when grass and grain can be 
most profitably and advantageously gathered 
—arrives before many farmers commence op¬ 
erations ; and hence those who defer cutting 
either crop until very nearly or fully ripe, suf¬ 
fer more or less damage in consequence. An 
immense loss is annually sustained by farmer’s 
who allow their hay and wheat to get too 
ripe,—and yet the practice is adhered to in 
many sections of the country, notwithstanding 
the frequent publication of the results of care¬ 
fully conducted experiments, proving conclu¬ 
sively the advantages of early cutting. How¬ 
ever, as this point has often been discussed in 
the Rural, we need not enter into particu¬ 
lars in this connection. 
But, whatever stage of either crop may be 
selected for cutting, it is all-important to be 
fully prepared, before-hand, to prosecute the 
labor vigorously and thoroughly when once 
commenced. Of late years much inconven¬ 
ience and loss have not unfrequently resulted 
from the lack of sufficient and efficient labor¬ 
ers during haying and harvesting. Those who 
have suffered from this cause— and aii others 
in localities where help is scarce, and wages 
high—should lose no time in securing the ser¬ 
vices of a sufficient number of laborers ; and 
of course such as attend to the matter early 
cau engage the most experienced and capable 
hands obtainable. But we fear that in many 
sections, especially at the West, it will be im¬ 
possible to procure sufficient help to secure 
either the hay or grain crop in season, if at 
all. The unusual amount of grain to be har¬ 
vested in many districts, calls for a largely in¬ 
creased force of both laborers and machinerv, 
as well as an early commencement of cutting 
and the most systematic and energetic man¬ 
agement. 
And this brings us to another important 
item—the use of n achinery. Many of our 
readers, both here and at the West, will be 
obliged to use Mowing and Reaping machines. 
The largeness of the crops, and scarcity of 
laborers, renders this imperative, and those 
who require and have not yet secured ma¬ 
chines must necessarily give the matter imme¬ 
diate atteution. And, moreover, the demand 
is so great this season, that no one who needs 
ether a grass or grain cutter has any time to 
spare in obtaining a good machine. The aim 
should be to get the best obtainable, if possi¬ 
ble,—for if there is any advantage iu usine 
machinery at all. there is greater in procuring 
the most approved and reliable. In haying 
and harvesting, more than at any other sea¬ 
son, “ time is money” to the farmer, and he 
has none to spend in bothering with poor im¬ 
plements and machines—such as are liable to 
break, or fail to perform satisfactorily when 
most wanted. Hence, it is of the first im¬ 
portance to secure well constructed ltiachines- 
of the best patterns, and to thoroughly un¬ 
derstand their operation and management. 
In many neighborhoods two, three or more 
farmers can advantageously unite iu the pur¬ 
chase and use of mowers, reapers, horse-rakes, 
threshers, Arc. Even some who might get 
along without expensive machinery, would 
fiud it economical to thus join hands,—for by 
using mowers, reapers, Arc., and “ changing 
works,” the labor of each party would be 
greatly facilitated. But we presume our 
friends understand, or can easily reckon, the 
benefits derivable from the union of capital 
and labor in such matters, and therefore need 
no reminders on the subject. Be that as it 
may, we trust our readers will be favored with 
such abundant yields of both grass and grain 
as to require early and extra efforts in securing 
the crops,—and that they may receive therefor 
ample remuneration. 
©ur SnrasI Contributors. 1 » ci3 rig 1 > t ‘‘ 1 >»>>‘u>ehai,and m ami,to/< ! o S ™ 
ww.Avsr.Xv..... tfie ear th- The cultivator should take care of 
j the rest, but in no case let weeds go to seed. 
HOY SHALL Y E HOE ? x am not in favor of much hilling. 
My mind has been greatly exercised of late ^ )as ^ e ’ H ' Tl Rl 
about hoeing in general and “corn-hoeing” "T*’* ~~ ( 
in particular. If this is not too late please ^ 1 LAPS. 
and a place for it in your nest issue. The Tub use of covers for cocks of hay or stocks 
cold vreatber Ike crows and the cut-worm of ^ wMe curi , he M4 a(Ws 
have already deposed of our surplus corn, and sma!1 itcm t0 , he proa(s of , bo r . lmi , r y 
it becomes ns to make the most of what is left. cbc ap ones ore made of sheeting. Seleet the 
M hat do we hoe for ? Stop and answer widest and strongest and make them square, 
that question before you strike another blow ! hemming the torn edges and doubling the 
Speak out if you think so—it is as well to corners to give strength to the eyelet holes, 
say it as to act it. Because we have got into that should be worked in each corner for the 
that habit, and public sentiment seems to re- insertion of small smooth pegs. These caps 
quire we should go through with certain mo- wid last for years, with care, and may save 
tions. I hat s honest. Now what should we their cost many times over even in one season, 
hoe.for. Hay may k e t j n cock j n a f resb 
Erst -1 o^ mellow the ground. state, and thus covered ^ a cap> gtand 
Second lo kill the weeds. uninjured in very severe storms and come out 
To mellow the ground,—this in the main is better cured than though wholly sxm -dried.— 
the work of the cultivator, and perhaps the The tex ture of tbe cloth readily pa££es offthe 
plow. If the ground was well prepared for a evaporation of the cock, while it wards off 
crop by deep and thorough tillage, the culti- the falling moisture. Their use in the harvest 
vator is probably all that is required, but if a field? especially in catching weather, would 
man has been shallow enough to plow only six gave many bHshe]g 0 f grain, oats, &c., and 
inches deep, it may be best to put in a plow leave the straw inbe tt er condition. To secure 
the second hoeing and force it down to a good thcm to the cock> pins are thrust thr0 h the 
depth, and then perhaps follow with a cultiva- eyelet holes in tbe coraer8 ob]; e] * rd 
tor. In any case the cultivator is the main _ no wind will } hen blcw tbem 
instrument to ne used among corn, beans, A:c. T . . , , . , , , 
Tf , r , , . . ’ , Large savings might be made by having 
It should be a good, first rate instrument, kept • ..... . ,, , ° 
• t , , 71 , i similar coverings for stacks, especially where 
in good order, and should be passed once a . , , ° 
7 , . „ - one wants to be several days in the building 
week each way through every field of corn from P ,, T , ./ ® 
. .. . , J , ,•,, ., . . ot them. In such case, it would be a good 
the time it is out of the ground till it is knee , , . ,, , , „ 
,. , , . , , f , , „ „ ., plan to give the covers a good coat of oil— 
high—care being taken to brush off from the , . . - , .. , 
k m. , .. making, m fact, oil cloth coverings, 
young planta the dirt That may be thrown up- ° 
on them. This is the least allowance that i3 ... ...,. . (> ' v ' 
admissable, and if it does not suffice to kill all " ~ , t 
the weeds and make the ground perfectly mel- (wramintuaiiotts. 
low, let it go through oftener. .... 
How should we hoe? As soon as the corn MTUML SCIENCE IN T AGRICULTURE- 
is four inches high, or sooner, we should go into _ 
the field with hoes and meilow the ground per- j T bas 0 f ] a | e become a little fashionable 
fectly about the hill by striking the hoe in ^vith some to depreciate the value of any sort 
deep. Fo do thi3 well and expeditiously, re- of chemical examination of soils. Those who 
quires profound thought. I ake men as they in a case of some difficulty, procure an aualy- 
run, and half their motions are false and per- s i S; are frequently ridiculed with the name of 
fectly useless, and the other half are only half “ boo k farmers,” « paper farmers ’ — as though 
as effective as they might be. Let every em- a man ought not to possess a knowledge of 
plover adopt some system for hoeing a hill of the elements which compose the very store- 
corn—and he should not adopt it hastily, but house of his riches! He cannot till the earth 
with proper counsel and deliberation—and in any manner, either by plowing, draining, 
then insist upon adherence to that system. The or manuring, without producing chemical 
common way is to brush lightly about the transformations iu the various forms of mat- 
hill, provided there is no strife or excitement ter of which it is composed, and having a di- 
about getting along last, making about six dis- rect influence upon the growth of vegetation, 
tinct motions to get away some harmless I think farmers often labor under great disad- 
1 limps or stones on top of the ground, or per- vantages from not possessing a knowledge of 
haps to remove a portion of the weeds, and the constituents of their soils, and also of their 
then draw ap a little fresh dirt which is nicely crops. Astonishing results have frequently 
adjusted about the hill; (hen pass along leav- been attained in the growing of crops by those 
ing the earth hard about the corn, and a good who have taken advantage of the profound 
supply of weeds, just fixed to grow well ; re- researches of Liebig, Schleiden, Sir Huii- 
peat the process iu two or three weeks, and phrey Davy, and others. Ought the most 
blame the “ season the rest of the year for powerful, numerous and wealthy class iu the 
©urnmnniratians. 
NATURAL SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE. 
spoiling the crop. 
community to discourage the efforts of this 
But how should we hoe ? If the ground is class of men who are laboring so earnestly for 
not particularly hard or grassy, strike the hoe the advancement of practical knowledge, and 
in deep on the opposite side of the hill and for the inestimable benefits they have conferred 
with a brisk motion draw it through the earth upon humanity, return indifference and in- 
near to the hill as you can without injury, to gratitude ? As for ridicule, that is impotent, 
the side next you ; repeat this three times on I do not deny but that analyses of soils are 
each side, so managing your hoe as to bring frequently made iu a manner to be of not much 
the earth up about the hill—you have now practical utility to the farmer; but I think that 
made six motions, but much depends on hold- this is so, not because they have not been in 
ing your instrument skillfully. My opinion is one sense, correctly made, bn t because they 
that the commou hoe is not the most suitable may not exhibit the combination of those ele- 
for the business. Perhaps a pronged instru- ments which possess the most importance in 
ment like a potato-digger would be better. A an agricultural point of view—for a certain 
hoe that has been worn off on the blade, held constituent necessary to the vigorous growth 
with the blade from the hill and the side forced of a plant may be so united with another as 
into the ground does well. Having loosened to resist the decomposing influences of cultiva- 
tlie earth and brought it up slightly about the tion. Thus, potash may be contained in the 
hill, use your fingers to disturb the earth soil in such quantity, that were it uncombined 
among the stalks, and remove all weeds of any with some other element, it'would be hurtful 
size. The mere agitation of the earth will kill to vegetation ; yet in combination with silica 
small weeds, and if “ the agitation is kept up,” and other substances, it may be so firmly 
there will never be any large ones. locked up, as not to be attainable by the 
After all, the most that I wish is, to ask iii growing crop in sufficient quantity. AgricuL 
behalf of hungry men, women and babes, that tural chemists ought to take into considera- 
you will not stop where you are. but cultivate tion the mineral and physical, as well as the 
and hoc once more and more thoroughly. Poor chemical character of the soil. They should 
land and dry seasons will give a fair return examine large portions of it to ascertain 
with thorough culture. The province of the what kinds of rock enter into its formation. 
. . . 
