—requiring all kinds of tools used in it to 
be made of steel, and is considered the best 
for all kinds of produce that can be found 
in the country. - Spring wheat, corn, oats, 
potatoes, and all kinds of fruits, with the 
exception of peaches, are considered cer- 
tain crops on this soil. The land border 
..'f* ing on timber is generally covered with 
short, stunted trees and bushes, and is 
called “ barrens,” the soil of which is a 
gplpi© light colored clay, and while not as 
good for other crops, is considered bet- 
ter for wheat than prairie. There is also 
g§pP^ ~ sandy prairie in many parts of the 
State, but is generally avoided by those 
in the soil ail the ammonia it brought with it 
from the clouds. We cannot cite the practice 
of English farmers, therefore, as evidence that 
fall plowing for spring crops is a good practice 
in America. 
A clay soil, properly underdrained, would 
doubtless be much the better for a good, deep 
plowing in the fall. But we think it would al¬ 
so need another plowing in the spring. On 
sandy, undrained soils, fall plowing may be a 
good substitue for spring plowing, so far as 
the mechanical nature of the soil is concerned’ 
but we cannot but think, that the fall and 
spring rains would#wash out a considerable 
quantity of the soluble and most valuable por- 
we furnish food enough, but it i 3 so injudi¬ 
ciously fed out that it is about half wasted. 
A horse comes in from a long journey, and be¬ 
fore his harness is taken off, has half a peck 
of oats or corn thrown into his manger, which, 
in his hurry, he swallows without mastication 
Better far, let him go without grain till you 
have rubbed him down, and then a bran mash 
or moist cut hay and mill feed would be far 
better than raw grain. 
At this season of the year horses need, and 
will repay in greater efficiency next spring, 
more than ordinary attention. Grass is now 
comparatively innutritions, and the nights are 
A QUARTO WEEKLY 
Agricultural, Literary, and Family Newspaper 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
ASSISTED BY 
JOSEPH HARRIS, in the Practical Departments: 
EDWARD WEBSTER, in the Literary and News Dep’tn. 
Corresponding Editors: 
J. H. Bixby,—H. C. White, —T. E. Wetmore. 
Thk Rural New-Yorker 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 Guide on the important Practical 
Subjects connected with the business of those whose in¬ 
terests it advocates. It embraces more Agricultural, Horti¬ 
cultural, Scientific, Mechanical, Literary and News Matter, 
interspersed with many appropriate and handsome engrav- 
VOLUME V. NO. 39.5 
a * aIvv jyv'T* av ♦ Tn rp.owird to rlip.t. wp fl.ro o.rmnllv o.nlnnhlo: 
through the soil lo the drains beneath, leaving 
ings, than any other paper published in this Country,— 
rendering it a complete Agricultural, Literary and 
Family Nhwspapkr. 
fjjf” For Terms, Ac., srk last page. .VO 
loose, light and entirely free from grit, 
Progress and Improvement. 
MIS-MANAGEMENT OF HORSES. 
Is there anything in the go-ahead tempera¬ 
ment of the Anglo-Saxon, which makes him a 
hard horse-master? The fact cannot be de¬ 
nied that, in Great Britain and America, the 
noblest of all domestic animals is heartlessly 
abused. The semi-barbaric Arab admits his 
favorite mare to all the rights and privileges 
of the social circle; the Russian serf makes a 
companion of his horse, talks to him with ' 
more gentleness than the rude Anglo-Saxon 
converses with his brother man. TLev,v;iader- 
ing Tartar instructs his horse with more pa¬ 
tient assiduity than he teaches his children; 
while British and Americans, the inhabitants 
of the two greatest and most enlightened na¬ 
tions on earth, abuse rather than use their 
proud, powerful, and willing slave. In ling- 
land we have seen a collar, hames and appur¬ 
tenances that would weigh at least a hundred 
weight, which, with other harness in like pro¬ 
portion, is of itself a sufficient load for all but 
the most powerful horse. In this country we 
run to the other extreme, and our collars are 
frequently without suilieieut substance to keep 
the hames from galling the neck and shoulders. 
Our horse*, too, are generally not strong 
enough for the heavy work required of them. 
We are not content with doing what in Great 
Britain would be considered heavy work for 
their large horses — turning over a furrow say 
ten inches wide by seven deep—but, forsooth, 
must Jlop over a furrow sixteen to twenty inch¬ 
es wide, and ten to fourteen deep, and this 
sometimes with a single span of horses. After 
a few days of such overstraining, they will 
probably be hitched to a buggy or lumber 
wagon, and driven to the city at the rate of 
ten miles an hour. When arrived there, they 
are tied up to a post in the street, where they 
must remain for several long weary hours ex¬ 
posed to the rays of a scorching midsummer 
sun. They are then driven Jehu-like home 
again, where, balhed in perspiration, the har¬ 
ness is stript off and they are turned into the 
pasture. Is this an exaggerated picture ? 
AVe all know it is not. We would ask, is such 
treatment humane? Is it profitable? 
We like to see horses work, and work hard, 
but let it be steady work, and let every possi¬ 
ble attention be paid to the poor animals’ ease 
and comfort. Wo clean our horses too little. 
If they get curried down twice a week, they 
may think themselves fortunate; while regular 
daily cleaning with comb, brush, or wisp, is 
never thought of, except by some old-country 
fogy, that is altogether in the rear of “ Young 
America.” Horses in their natural state, the 
young gentlemen will tell you, are never 
groomed. True, but horses in their natural 
state are not subject to artificial treatment; 
they have no collars to gall their necks and 
shoulders; they are not forced to labor till 
bathed in perspiration, which, on cooling, con¬ 
verts their hair into a clouted covering, pre¬ 
venting the due exercise of the important 
functions of the skin. The domestic horse is 
in an artificial condition, and needs artificial 
treatment, to keep him in health and in the 
right condition to exercise his utmost power. 
and nutritious food in the stable, they will 
lose in a day more than they will regain in a 
week during the winter months. This year, 
grain, hay and all kinds of fodder will be 
scarce and high, and every farmer will, as he 
should, endeavor to keep his horses as long as 
possible in the pastures. We should, howev¬ 
er, try some method of enabling them to get 
their till of grass, without exposure to the 
night frosts of this season. They will do 
much better, with less food,in a warm stable, 
than with abundance of grass, exposed to the 
inclemency of the weather. A little grain, 
cut fodder, and careful attention in the fall, 
will not be lost. The horses will keep in bet¬ 
ter condition for it during the winter, will con¬ 
sume less hay and grain on the whole, and 
come out more healthy, and in better condi¬ 
tion, the following spring. Avoid new oats, 
new corn, new peas, &c., unless they are well 
seasoned. Any soft, moist grain is very inju¬ 
rious to horsbs, and it would be always better 
to have on hand some old corn or oats for 
horses at this season. Bran is a poor food for 
horses in conjunction with innutritions fall- 
grass. Dry Indian corn meal, with perhaps a 
little oilcake meal, is unquestionably the cheap¬ 
est grain for farm horses in the fall. We 
throw out these hasty remarks more in the 
hope of calling attention to the subject than 
of saving anything for individual adoption by 
our readers. 
FALL PLOWING FOR SPRING CROPS. 
The fact mentioned in the Rural last week, 
that Mr. Emmons obtained over 50 bushels of 
barley per acre, on land plowed in the fall, anil 
simply cultivated and harrowed without plow¬ 
ing in the spring, proves at least, that in some 
cases good crops can be so obtained. If it 
were found to be the ease, as a general tiling, 
much advantage would accrue from the prac¬ 
tice: The fall is the least busy portion of ihe 
farmers’ working season, while the spring is 
the busiest. If any work, therefore, which we 
are aceostomed to do in the spring, can be per¬ 
formed in the fall, without injury to the follow¬ 
ing crop, it cannot but be of advantage to do 
it in the leisure, rather than the busy season 
of the year. Barley is well kuown tq delight 
in a warm, well pulverized, active soil, and if 
fall plowing, as a substitute for spring plowing, 
answers for barley, it would be very likely to 
answer for potatoes, oats, corn, and other spring 
crops. We fear, however, as a general thing, 
land plowed in the fall is not in as good a con¬ 
dition for putting in spring crops, as though it 
had been plowed in the spring. 
It is true, that English farmers plow one- 
fourth of all their arable land in the fall.— 
They do this to expose it as much as possible 
to the meliorating effects of frost, but we are 
under no such necessity, our land gets frozen 
enough without being fall plowed or thrown 
up in ridges for exposure. Then again, 
though according to American travelers at 
least, it rains in England all the time, yet, it 
seldom rains hard enough to wash the land.— 
John Bull knows nothing of those tremen- 
duous rains which deluge our farmers late in 
the fall and early in the spring. If he did, we 
believe fall plowing, on sandy soil, would not 
be so popular with the old gentleman. Again, 
nearly every farm in England is thoroughly 
umlerdrained, and the rain which on an un- 
drained field runs off in surface ditches, carry¬ 
ing in solution and suspension large quantities 
of the elements of plants washed out of the 
soil, on au underdrained farm, filters slowly 
lion of the soil, and more, if fall plowed, than premium south-down ewe. who are acquainted with it, from the fact that 
if the ground were left undisturbed, compact by those who have bred them. We do not it does not wear well. It will produce large 
and smooth. undertake to decide between the different vari- crops of corn while new, but soon needs ma- 
There are those, however, who hold a contra- eties; we are only anxious that the best mutton nuring. Rolling prairie will be found much 
ry opinion, and we believe fall plowing for sheep may become plenty, for we believe that more satisfactory to the farmer, in all seasons 
spring crops is becoming every year more gen- it would be well for the country if this meat and under all circumstances, than any other 
oral. And certainly, no stronger evidence in were generally in use, instead of so much pork description of soil that can be found, for the 
favor of any practice can be adduced than the and beef as is now consumed.—n. reason that it is so well drained as seldom to be 
fact that it is gradually extending among ob- ——--- - affected by the most severe drouth or most 
serving, practical farmers. We should like to INTERESTING LETTER FROM IOWA. protracted freshets. While level prairie is 
have the experience, the experiments, the ob- - parched up through the long dry spell that 
served facts—not the theories—ot our readers Eds. Rural: I noticed in your paper oi often succeeds the spring rains, our beautiful 
on this point. July 15th, inquiries in regard to the kgiicultu- ro i]j n g prairie is almost entirely unaffected, 
ral, manufacturing and education interests of j producing bountiful crops. One reason of tnis 
Iowa ; and as you request some of your read- . j g . our j an( j j 5 ; n tillable order as soou as the 
ers from this State to answer them, I send a frost leaves the ground; and another is, that 
GUANO FOR THE SUGAR CANE. 
The JYew Orleans Delta contains the par- i few facts relating to the subject, which may 
ticulars of some experiments with guano on interest some of your numerous readers who 
the sugar cane. The guanoed part “ turned are turning their thoughts westward. I came 
land well drained seldom suffers from drouth. 
While level prairie is deluged with water, our 
rolling land is receiving its seed in good condi- 
out the largest and heaviest canes in tne field, from the ‘‘Genesee ^ alley neaih three jcais ; a nd crops are getting a start which ena- 
,i i ... j r u. ... _ i _ ) ..i •h.-j .... . ... _.!R -i _ i _ -„<■ ! too 
and produced of first and second clarified su-1 ago with about as indefinite ideas of the west, bleg them to wiLhstaud tbe eeV erities of mid- 
gars 2,500 lbs. per arpent.” J same .ground j and prairie country in particular, as people siunmer q rou th. b. f. g. 
had never before produced “ more than 1,000 brought up in the eastern States generally spring Rock, Scott co., Iowa, sept. 9 , 1854. 
lbs. per arpent.” With guano, the experi- have. I know, consequently, something about ———_--- 
menter is convinced, no rotation of crop is re- what kind of information people need who STOCK ON HIGHWAYS. 
quired to produce the finest and heaviest canes contemplate “coming west.” - 
in Louisiana.” Another planter, who had In looking westward for a future home there The Revised Statutes of this State, 3d edi- 
used guano, says he “ never saw a heavier are several important matters to be considered, tion, page 389, give to the inhabitants of 
stand and higher canes in this State than the some of which are very often overlooked. The towns the right to “ determine the times and 
guano canes.” From the great increase ob- first and most important matter to be consid- manner in which cattle, horses or sheep, shall 
tained from the application of ammonical ma- ered should always be—is it healthy?—its its be permitted to go at large on highways.— 
nures to wheat and other cereal grains, we location such that it will soon become popu- Now, if the statute i3 correct, then swine, le- 
have long been satisfied that they would prove lous, and consequently valuable?—is it likely gaily have no right on highways, because not 
equally beneficial to the cereal sugar cane, to.be settled by people we would like for mentioned by the statute. But may not aui- 
while, from the large quantity of cane obtain- neighbors? 
ed per acre, and the comparatively high price By consulting the map it will be seen that w ith or without a town by-law, permitting 
of the sugar, they would afford a profit which of all the western States, Iowa occupies a sit- them to run at large? Is not the statute in 
wheat-growers could not hope for. uation which is destined at no distant day to conflict with the C onstitutiou, v hich saj-s, (Art. 
--- ■ ♦ - --render it a State of the first importance. It is 1. Sec. 6 ,) “ nor shall private property be taken 
MUTTON SHEEP.—THE SOUTH-DOWNS. on tlrerdirect line of the great'railroad which for public use without just compensation?” Is 
mals be pastured on the highway, lawfully, 
with or without a town by-law, permitting 
MUTTON SHEEP.—THE SOUTH-DOWNS. on the direct line of the great railroad which j fi>r public use without just compensation?” Is 
must soon connect New York with San Fran- ! not the highway private property ? Let us 
There is a vast difference in the quality, as c j sco 0 f a bout one-half is now com- look at the decision of the courts, 
food for man, ot the fle^h of the different breeds pi e { cd; connecting Davenport with New York, Johnson’s Reports, 2, page 363, says—'“The 
of sheep, and that above named stands among and j g now pushing on rapidly towards Coun- general rule is, that the fee of a highway be- 
the best, when mutton is the principal object. c q 31 u ffd. It. lies between the two great riv- longs to the owner of the adjoining ground, 
A writer in the last Patent Office Report de- ers 0 f t j ie continent—the Mississippi and Mis- and that the sovereign has only a right of pas- 
scribes them as follows, “ The South Down is . and thus jt w j|l be connected by rail- sage. It is a servitude or easement, and tres- 
what is known in England as the fine mutton road w ith the Atlantic and Pacific, and by the pass will he for any exclusive appropriation of 
sheep, the quality of which is so famous, the great rivers with every State in the great valley the soil.” Similar decisions maybe found in 
lean and lut being well mixed. The wool is ot f r0U1 Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. With 12 Wendell, page 99; 2 Cow. Reports, page 
medium quality and will always find a ready its numerous navigable rivers extending inland, 78; 12 John. 433; 3 Wen. 142 to 147; also, 
sale at paying prices. The South Downs 111 a- j ts f our or q ve railroads now progressing west- Cowens’ Treatise, Yol. 1, page 423 and 430. 
ture early, keep easy, stand almost any climate, W ard from the Mississippi through different That section of the statute seems to refer to 
and the ewes are great milkers which advances parts of the State, opening a communication such towns ouly as have common lands; the 
their lambs rapidly.” to all parts, it will soon be unsurpassed in fa- property of the town in its corporate capacity, 
The last Volume of the Transactions of the cilities of communication with all parts of the with which, of course, the towu can do as it 
Wisconsin State AgT Society, contains a state- country. Its agricultural advantages are pro- pleases. 
ment made by the exhibitor of the premium portionately great, for no State can offer great- In the case of Holladay vs. Marsh, 3 Wen. 
counts, for this country, I prefer the South on a large or small scale. pose a case where the town has no common 
Down sheep to the Merinos. They are hardi- The whole State is one vast rolling prairie, land and they pass a by-law, permitting cattle 
er, have stronger constitutions, and are better interspersed with groves of timber scattered to run at large—where are they to run? Sure- 
calculated for mutton—averaging at least one- through it at intervals of from three to ten ly not on individual property. Where then? 
third larger size than the fine wool Merinos.— miles, and belts of woodland bordering on all j u the highway? The public have simply a 
third larger size than the fine wool Merinos.— miles, and belts of woodland bordering on all the highway? The public have simply a 
For feeding, they are unsurpassed; producing the large streams and rivers. right of passage over the highway ; they have 
a superior quality and greater weight of flesh In the southern part of the State the gene- no right to depasture the highway. Theown- 
from the same feed than any other sheep. The r al surface of the prairie is level, resembling er 0 f the lands through which the road runs 
ewes are very prolific. The lambs, when young, that of Illinois, and is .consequently more af- is the owner of the soil, and of the timber, ex- 
are stout and healthy—much easier raised in feeted by dry or wet weather than rolling land. ce p$ what is necessary to make bridges, or 
cold weather than fine-wool lambs. Through the middle of the State, westward otherwise aid in making the highway passable, 
I prefer them to the Leicester or Cotswold. from Muscatine, Davenport and Lyons, the and if the owner of the soil owns the timber, 
They cut nearly the same quantity of wool, and surface is gently rolling or undulating—is well why not the grass?” Now, if “ the soil used 
of a finer quality; and with the same feed will drained by sloughs and ravines, which carry off a highway is the private property of the 
produce as much flesh and of a superior qualL all surplus water, rendering the country dry, owner of the adjoining ground, and he may 
tv. They do not. require as much protection pleasant and remarkably healthy. Farther maintain trespass for an injury done to it the 
from the storm, ou account of the compactness of north the surface is more uneven, the sloughs sa me as if it were a part of his enclosed and 
the fleece, They are far superior, in crossing deeper, ravines more abrupt, and the soil more (cultivated field,” then it is not safe, and certain- 
with the fine wool sheep.” liable to wash. There are generally three ly not neighborly, to use the highway as a 
The Cots wolds and New Oxfordshire Downs kinds of soil in a prairie country. Prairie soil pasture-field. B * 
are also warmly recommended as Mutton Sheep proper is ct a dark brown or black color. Gates, N. v., August, 1S54. 
pleases. 
In the case of Holladay vs. Marsh, 3 Wen. 
Middle Wools,” as follows:—“ On several ac- er inducements to the tiller of the soil, whether 142 to 147, Chief Justice Savage says, “Sup- 
{ WHOLE NO. Ml. 
ROCHESTER N. Y. - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1854. 
