ROCHESTER, I. Y.—-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1 , 1855 . 
Ham’s |kntl Stfa-ftrte. 
A QUARTO WEEKLY 
AGRICULTURAL, LITERARY, & FAMILY JOURNAL. 
cal remedies so often relied upon Proportion 
the food, in amount and character, to the na¬ 
ture of the service required, and your team 
will not fail you, but will keep in uniform 
order, and be ready in the spring for the 
steady work then called for, and so important 
to the prosperity of the farmer. 
These hints are intended to apply mainly to 
working horses—to those kept upon the farm 
for the ordinary purposes of the same. Colts 
and horses not in UBe, will not require the 
same amount of care, but their comfort and 
thrift should receive attention, as their fu¬ 
ture value depends largely upon the founda¬ 
tion now laid. 
ing that its frequent recurrence, to a greater 
or less extent, was one of the greatest draw¬ 
backs to a farmer’s success, he set about as¬ 
certaining and devising a remedy for this also. 
Deep plowing, subsoiling, trenching, &c., all 
pointing in the direction of a deep and 
thorough tillage, had begun to be strenuously 
advocated by scientific writers on agriculture. 
If this was a remedy for the drouth, there 
must be a cause for it, and what was it ? 
“ If a sponge was placed upon a board,” he 
reasoned, ‘‘and then water poured upon it, 
the fluid would ha held within its porous 
structure until the point of saturation was 
reached, after which the water would begin 
to filter through.” It was plain that the 
greater the depth of the sponge, its other di¬ 
mensions being the same, the more water 
would remain in suspension, and the loBger 
it would take to evaporate it. Applying this 
principle to the land, calling the porous cul¬ 
tivated soil the sponge, and the solid subsoil 
beneath, the board, the riddle wa3 solved at 
once. Heretofore, like his neighbors, he had 
plowed to the depth of about six inches ; but 
he now boldly drove the share to its utmost 
extent, and followed each furrow with a sub¬ 
soil plow. It took a year or two, and an ad¬ 
ditional quantity of manure, to thoroughly 
pulverize and fertilize the new-turned earth, 
but after it had once been done, the farm was 
improved beyond all precedent. Men said he 
would bankrupt himself and ruin his farm by 
such costly and foolish expenditures ; but his 
land is worth to-day one hundred dollars an 
acre, while his neighbor’s, originally equal to 
it, is worth hut forty. 
The summer of 1854 was one of unusual 
drouth ; crops in all parts of the country suf¬ 
fered immensely from this cause, in many in¬ 
stances to the ruin of the farmer’s hopes. On 
a field of this underdrained and subsoiled 
land was a pieee of corn, that carried its ten- 
derest leaves unwilted through the trying 
season, and yielded sixty bushels of shelled 
corn to the acre. A piece upon its undrain¬ 
ed, unsubsoiled, and unmanured neighbor 
yielded fifteen bushels, and that of an infe¬ 
rior quality. The season last past was one as 
remarkable for flooding as the previous one 
was for drouth. A field of wheat on the first 
named farm yielded twenty-five bushels to 
the acre, although unfortunately the crop was 
damaged by the rain at harvest. It brought 
one dollar and a half per bushel notwith¬ 
standing. A field on the other farm produced 
twelve bushels, a part of which was chess.— 
Let us compare the values of the two farms 
and the products of the two past years, and 
see whether or not money expended in under¬ 
draining and subsoiling is likely to ruin the 
farmer : 
Cash value of an acre of the first named farm, $100,00 
60 bushels corn, S8c.,...... 52 SO 
25 “ wheat, $1,50,... 37.50 
CONDUCTED EY B. D. T. MOORE 
ASSOCIATE EDITORS I 
J H. BIX BY, T. O. PETERS, EDWARD V7EBSTER. 
Special Contributors: 
T E. Wbsmors, 12. C. Whits, E. T. Brooks, L. Wsieekiej 
L adies’ Port-Folio by Azins. 
Thb Rural Nsw-Yorxkr is designed to bo unique and 
oeoutiful in appearance, and unsurpassed in Value, Purity 
and Variety of Contents. Its conductors earnestly labor 
to make it a Reliable Guide on the important Practical 
Subjects connected with the business cf those whose 
interests It advocates. It embraces more Agricultural, 
Horticultural, Scientific. Mechanical. Literary and Nows 
Matter, interspersed with many appropriate and beautiful 
Engravings, than any other paper published in this 
Country,—rendering it a complete AaRiotn.TURAL, Lira- 
hast and Family Newspaper. 
For Terms, and other parties;ars, see News page. 
DROUTH AND FLOODING. 
The faimer who manured and open-ditched 
his fields, as stated in a former paper, was not 
one of that kind of men who rest satisfied 
with a single step of improvement. He held 
to the true doctrine, that progress was eter¬ 
nal ; that ultimate perfection was at an infi¬ 
nite distance in advance, and with an inter¬ 
val between sufficient to engross men’s men¬ 
tal energies to the end of time. He noted 
the beneficial effects upon his fields of what 
had been done already, and he noted also the 
imperfections and the necessity of further im¬ 
provements. 
The open trenches which he had made 
served a good purpose for carrying off the sur¬ 
face water, but there were serious drawbacks 
connected with them, among which were es¬ 
pecially the following. They were obstacles 
in the way of cross-plowing and harrowing, 
and it required a great deal of time and labor 
to keep them clear. Durffig times of excess¬ 
ive rains, the accumulation of a large volume 
of water towards their mouths cut gorges of 
great depth and width, removed much of the 
valuable soil from the field, and carried it 
away into the river. At all times while water 
w r as running from the field, it was turbid with 
earthy, or tinged with organic matter; and 
thus the soluble portions of the manure, just 
those portions which were in condition to be¬ 
come food for plants, were removed and lost. 
He saw the pure waters of springs bubbling 
out of the earth cleansed of every visible 
impurity, and consequently inferred that if 
he could adopt a system of drainage which 
would prevent his fields from flooding as ef¬ 
fectually as the open trenches, and at the same 
time retain the soil and liquid manure, it 
would be a vast improvement. Reasoning 
from the analogy of springs, he concluded 
filtration was the true method ; and hence 
fell naturally into the idea (not at that time 
generally entertained) of underdraining. 
He tried the experiment on a limited scale, 
and was surprised at the results. Where, 
with the open ditches, during heavy rains, 
the water came down in muddy and discolor¬ 
ed torrents, with the covered drains it filtered 
in through their entire length and disem¬ 
bogued almost as limpid as the morning dew. 
The discharge of water was slower, and ex¬ 
tended over a greater length of time, so that 
when the open ditches contained not a single 
drop, the covered drains were each discharg¬ 
ing quite a rill. The fiejd presented a smooth 
surface, and offered no obstructions to the 
working of the plow and harrow. The grand 
preventive of flooding was thus hit upon, and 
the farmer thenceforth entered upon a thor¬ 
ough system of underdraining, which he car¬ 
ried forward for years to the extent of his 
means. On some acres, through which larger 
drains had to he laid for the purpose of dis- 
chaiging both their own surplus water and 
that of contiguous lands, the expense amount¬ 
ed to more than fifty dollars. He purchased 
a level, and laid his ditches with a gradual 
descent so as to equalize the flowage, and not 
by undulations in the bottom to leave water 
standing in any part of the drain. The con¬ 
sequence was that the rains which previously 
fell upon the fields and ran off in torrents, 
now disappeared upon the spot where they 
fell, and the surplus gradually filtering into 
the drains passed off from them into the run, 
in which water was thereafter to be found at 
nearly all seasons of the year. 
Flooding was thus effectually remedied, but 
not so the drouth. It is true this farmer 
raised vastly better crops than his neighbor, 
whose land originally was equal to his own ; 
but the results were not yet satisfactory to 
himself. He maintained that while an obsta¬ 
cle remained to the certain raising of a crop, 
there was something yet to be done ; and 
having his summer’s labor one season nearly 
lost by an unprecedented drouth, and ohserv- 
Fihst among the winter duties of the farmer 
may be placed the care of his domestic animals. 
He must he often in the stable and stock-yard 
—horses, cattle, sheep and swine, look to him 
for sustenance and shelter. A large share of 
the summer is spent in preparations for sup¬ 
plying their wants—in cultivating and gather¬ 
ing a stock of food against the inclement and 
unproductive winter. This season is here— 
now this supply must be given out from day 
to day, and from hour to hour, as their neces¬ 
sities require. They must have shelter from 
the cold and storm—their health and thrift 
need constant looking after, and constant 
labor at his hands. Various considerations 
have already been urged upon our readers, 
hut the subj ect is one of wide scope and hear¬ 
ing, and not easily exhausted. 
The horse is one of the most valuable ser¬ 
vants of the farmer. His health and comfort, 
and consequent ability to labor, are worthy 
of particular attention. Good stables, warm, 
yet light and well ventilated, go far to pro¬ 
mote this end. Proper care and cleanliness, 
and regularity in feeding, are also necessary. 
Hay and oats aro the best and most readily 
available food of the horse, and are mainly de¬ 
pended upon for this purpose. Other grains 
and fodder, also roots and fruit, may some¬ 
times be employed to advantage. Straw, cut 
or chopped, and meal of corn or barley, wet 
and mixed together, are frequently used with 
fair results. Carrots are the best roots for 
horse feed, and are thought to be of great ser¬ 
vice in promoting the health and keeping up 
the appetite. Potatoes and turnips are some¬ 
times used, hut they should first he cooked, 
and then tend rather to fatten than to 
strengthen a horse. Apples are readily eaten, 
and those who have given them to their 
horses speak favorably of their effects. 
As a steady food for the horse, hay and oats 
are the best, but instead of a constant use of 
the latter, the occasional employment of car¬ 
rots, apples, &c., will be relished by the ani¬ 
mal and promote his health and power of 
labor. Instead of grain twice or three times 
a day, give one feeding of these ; if the hay 
runs short, try cut straw and meal, with oats 
or roots occasionally ; for animals like to 
change from one kind of food to another as 
well as human beings. 
Regularity in feeding is always desirable.— 
Plenty of pure water should he supplied at 
least twice each day. When brought in from 
work, warm with exertion, the horse should 
he rubbed down and then blanketed, hut we 
would not blp.nlcet a horse in a good stable as 
a general rule, except in extremely cold 
weather. A sharp-toothed curry-comb is the 
dread of a fine-skinned horse, and the brush 
and straw wisp answer the same purpose much 
better, if used as frequently as they should 
he. Mud should never be suffered to dry 
upon the legs of a horse ; it is the cause of 
half the swelled legs, scratches, and other af¬ 
fections of the feet with which they are afflict¬ 
ed. Want of air, light, and cleanliness ; poor 
hay, and insufficient or indigestible food, are 
all fruitful sour css of disease—and a proper 
attention to these points will be of far greater 
service in restoring and keeping up health 
and vigor, than the thousand and one medi¬ 
We copy from the new edition of Stewart’s long and 2 inches in diameter, standing per- 
Stable Book, the above perspective view of two pendicularly 3 feet from the wall. They have 
stalls in the stable of R. L. Pell, Esq , of round gudgeons at each end fitted into round 
Pelham, N. Y. They are certainly well con- holes in the bottom and ton pieces of the rack, 
txived and convenient, and are described as As the horse pulls on the hay to eat it, these 
lollows : j rollers revolve easily, and he thus gets just 
a Hay-loft. Behind the hoppers b, b, are , what he wants. The bottom of the racks are 
holes in the floor through which the hay is j latticed, so that the hay-seeds can fall below 
put down into the racks e, e, t into the seed-box f.—f, Seed-box. 
b, b, Hoppers.—c, Floor-beam. j g, Door of seed-box to empty it of the seed. 
d • d ’ Conductors which lead from the hop- h, h, Trough running the whole length of 
pers to the manger. Close behind b, b, are j the stalls. 
the grain-bins, so that in feeding the horses, Oak rollers over the edges of the troughs 
it is only necessary to take the requisite j 3 inches in diameter. The horse will not 
quantity of cats from them, and pour into the gnaw this ; for the moment he attempts to 
hoppers. The groom will thus feed a large take hold of it with his teeth, it revolves, and 
number of horses in a short time without the he cannot hold it 
necessity of leaving the hayloft. /, j, Stall divisions 5 feet wide. The posts 
e, e, e, Hayracks, with oak rollers 4 feet at the end of these are of turned oak. 
weeds upon the highway, makes it incumbent 
on those owning the adjacent lands, to at¬ 
tend to them. In many places in this coun¬ 
ty, you can determine the extent of a man’s 
farm along the street, by its cleanliness and 
freedom from these intruders, marking the 
boundaries more plainly than a “ stake and 
stones.” When they aro left undisturbed, you 
will generally find the streets lined with 
brush, logs and old rails, yards about build¬ 
ings ornamented in the same way, with addi¬ 
tions of old implements, lumber, and all the 
paraphernalia of general slovenliness. 
On the agricultural state of the county, the 
Secretary of the Society, W. Ives, Esq., gives 
a concise statement. The dairy is the great 
interest of the county—the amount of butter 
and cheese made in 1854, is estimated at 
3,000,000 of pounds each. Increased atten¬ 
tion is being given to the different tillage 
crops. 
Monroe Co. —Wheat, is as well known, is the 
most prominent product of this county. A 
large share of attention is also given to the 
fruit crop. Farming generally, is rapidly 
improving. 
Niagara Co .—Wheat is the staple of this 
county, also. Mr. Brazse, of Lockport, in 
reply to the circular, reports that scientific 
farming is gradually winning its way to favor 
among the intelligent farmers. The Morgan 
Black Hawk breed of horses is being introdu¬ 
ced, also the Durham breed of cattle, but the 
common breeds are most generally kept and 
used. Draining is carried on to some extent, 
and is of decided aduantage. 
Queens Co .—The Report from the Cor. Sec. 
of this Society, John Harold, Esq., gives 
many interesting items of information.— 
Among them, we find the following, showing 
the benefits of subsoiling : 
“ During the month of August we were in¬ 
vited by one of our members to go over hi3 
growing corn, and take note of his method. 
The land had been subsoiled, and although 
the drouth was severe, the leaves w§re a fine 
dark green, and the silk luxuriant, seeming 
scarcely to suffer front the great heat. In 
and rail fence, the stalk was drying up, and 
the ears small and poorly filled. A spade was 
procured, a hole dug; about eight inches 
deep we came to a hard pan, and with consid¬ 
erable labor broke through it—below, the 
earth was as dry as ashes. The subsoiled lot 
of our friend was then tried, the spade went 
down into a mellow soil, and at two spades’ 
depth it was moist and mellow —- no wonder 
his corn looked flourishing.” 
Wyoming Co .—Speaking of Apples, H. T. 
Brooks, Esq., President of the Society, ex¬ 
presses the opinion that Apples may be to 
American Husbandry what Turnips are to 
that of Great Britain, and his experiments in 
feeding them to his domestic animals, justifies 
a high opinion of their value. They can be 
grown with greater ease and certainty, at any 
rate. 
Total. 
Second do. one acre,.. . 
15 bushels corn, SSc.,_ 
12 *• wheat, $1,58 
Total.. $71,20 
Balance iu favor of the former. $119,10 
Comments upon the above are unnecessary, 
and we dismiss the subject at this time by 
impressing upon our readers the fact that deep 
tillage and underdraining are the true reme¬ 
dies for drouth and flooding besides being 
vastly beneficial in other respects. 
GLEANINGS FROM THE TRANSACTIONS 
We continue our condensed items from the 
N. Y. Transactions : 
Delaware Co .—The President of the Society, 
S. S. Law, Esq., presents an interesting report 
on the agricultural condition of the county. 
Butter-making is the great interest, though 
considerable attention is given to the rearing 
of cattle and sheep. Wheat is beginning to 
be raised, and the culture of corn is steadily 
increasing. Oats and hay are, of course, 
prominent products. ‘ ‘ The Devon breed of 
cattle has been, and still is, a favorite with 
many of the stock raisers. The uniform 
beauty, docility, and fleetress of the oxen, 
make them general favorites, while the cows 
produced by crossing the Devon breed on the 
common stock of the county, have proved 
themselves valuable in the dairy.” 
Jefferson Co .—The annual report from this 
county, contains an interesting paper from 
the viewing committee—from which we glean 
a single sentiment: 
The uniform neglect by road overseers, of 
the law relative to the destruction of noxious 
