■ , 
RURAL LIFE 
rf LRATJU 
ROCHESTER, N. Y. -FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 1860, 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
AS ORIGINAL WEEKLY 
RURAL, LITERARY AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER, 
by such as hater to the intellectual wants of the 
age,—this is the reason why the followers of the 
plow have so few confirmed principles for con¬ 
ducting the labors incident to their vocation. 
There is mrrit in discussion, and this plan of elicit¬ 
ing information must bo used if we desire to make 
advancement, but adopting the mode merely for 
the sake of producing a wordy war, without any 
well-defined conception of what wo are talking 
about, la very apt to befog both speaker and Its 
tenor,—and the result oDly proves that the “blind 
have been leading the blind.” 
Agricultural Schools and Colleges,—If properly 
conducted,—may also be classed among the prom¬ 
inent wants. These arc to develop the minds of 
the youth, and prepare them for the accomplish¬ 
ment of duties peculiar to their chosen occupa¬ 
tion. With the attainment of clearer mental 
vision, and thoroughly awakened faculties, we 
can better separate the chaff from the wheat,— 
better reason from cause to effect,—better perform 
the life-labor allotted to those who have reached 
the full stature of manhood. 
But we need not to put oil' until Corporations 
or Stahls endow Institutions whence shall emanate 
agricultural light and wisdom. Wo must export 
inent for ourselves, and this is the point to which 
we would direct the attention of Ilf UAL readers. 
Will not they, during tho season now about to 
open, originate practical tests upon such subjects 
as are not thoroughly comprehended by them 
selves, or the great body of their co-workers? 
Let it be remembered, also, that to make these 
experiments valuable they must be complete. 
Many who have, heretofore, established a series 
of trials, have failed to record the periods at 
which certain processes wore performed,— tliena 
tore and condition of the soil,— the influences, 
atmospheric, and otherwise, under which tho ex¬ 
periments were conducted—and a score of matters, 
great and minute, hut all of which are necessary, 
and must occupy their proper position, ere wo 
can write “it is finished.” Conducting our search 
in a Imp-hazard manner we will never bo enabled 
to draw correct conclusions, but adopting a sys¬ 
tem, and abiding faithfully thereby, wc will not 
only store onr own minds with eminently useful 
information, but, in addition, become the exemp¬ 
lars of sound doctrine. 
with buyers, especially with those who purchase 
for the Now York market, but it is a mostuuprofit- 
able variety for the farmer. It is only occasion 
ally, and under the most favorable circumstances, 
that a fair crop is produced. It is only the fact, 
that they are eagerly sought by buyers, and are a 
cash article at ail times, that induces farmers to 
plant them. 
'flic Peach Blow is a very good potato, yields 
well, and Is pretty well liked in the eastern mar¬ 
kets. It grows until qnite late in the season, 
which is an objection where early frosts are prev¬ 
alent, and the tubers are so scattered that digging 
is difficult. When in New York, last February, 
wo noticed that it was quite plenty in the market, 
and retailing at ten cents per bushel Iobb than 
Mercers. As a general thing, wu think It can be 
grown at one-half the cost. 
The Fluke has many good qualities, it yields 
well, and when fresh dog from a dry soil, is only 
a little inferior to the Mexican for baking. We 
know of no potato, however, that is so easily in¬ 
jured by exposure. Expose it to the light and 
air for a few days, and it Is ruined. This is a great 
objection with retailers, but need not be. for fam¬ 
ily use, as bins, covered when full, with bod, 
keep them in excellent condition. 
Tho Prince Albert we once thought was the 
same as the Fluke, because wo obtained seed for 
tho Prince Albert several times, which proved 
to bo nothing hut that variety. Last season, 
however, we obtained the genuine Prince Albert, 
aud they are very unity. <Le Fluke in growth. 
The leaves are of a mneh lighter greeu, and the 
haulms louger and lighter colored, more transpa¬ 
rent, weaker, and consequently more drooping. 
Tho tubers arc of about the same form, bat grow 
larger, and have a thicker skin, which is covered 
with a russet coat. They do not, therefore, Buffer 
ub much from exposure. They are more product¬ 
ive than the Fluke, but wo think hardly of quite 
as good qnality. Homo good judges, however, to 
whom we have given them, think they are quite 
as good. 
The Davis Seedling is a favorite variety at 
Boston. Some eight years since the Massachu¬ 
setts Horticultural Society offered their large 
gold medal, worth sixty dollars, for the best 
seedling potato, on condition that the varieties 
offered for tho premium Hhould bo given incharge 
of a committee, who should test them for five 
years, when the award was to be made. A large 
number of seedlings were accordingly tCBted, 
and at the expiration of the time, some three 
years since, Davis' Seedling was awarded the 
prize. Last spring we obtained several bushels 
from tho East, for the purpose of testing them 
here, and we. will give our readers the benefit of 
our experience. Wo alRo wrote to tho Secretary 
of the Society, Elites Winter, Esq., who very 
kindly gave us the facts in regard to this potato, 
stating that “after experience has proved the 
award a just one—Davis' Seedling proves remark¬ 
ably good as a lata keeping variety.” lion. M ar- 
sii am. P. Wildbk about the same time informed 
us that it had greatly improved since the award, 
and from being remarkably good as a late variety, 
it had got to be excellent at any time. 
We planted, about tho first of May, pretty soon 
after the early varieties, about a peck in the gar¬ 
den, so that we could watch them, and were very 
much surprised to find them so good so early in 
the season. During the latter part of August 
and September, they were far superior to any 
variety in our garden, so dry as to render cook¬ 
ing, without breaking them to pieces, difficult, 
and they were used in preference to any others, 
although the tops were perfectly green, and grow¬ 
ing. This was something wc had not been led to 
expect from the description. A few weeks after 
digging the main erop, wc found these potatoes 
were not as good as they were earlier in the sea¬ 
son, and wc felt somowhat disappointed, but now, 
and for some time past, they are the best potato 
wo have for boiling. For baking we always 
grow a few Mexicans, and the bcHt substitute is a 
good Fluke. 
The Davis Seedling is a roundish potato, not 
very regular in form, and sometimes rather flat. 
The color is a beautiful bright crimson, some 
what subdued by the cuticle, or thin outside akin. 
When dug for an early potato, and gently scraped, 
they are perfectly beautiful. Flesh white, dry, 
aud well flavored. The most productive good 
potato grown. This is our opinion, from one 
year’s experience. We will try them again. 
There arc so many Inferior sorts of about the 
same form and color, that it is not likely this 
potato will sell well at once in the New York 
market, if ever. There is a great prejudice 
against red potatoes. We cannot, therefore, 
adviBo farmers who depend on Eastern dealers, 
to plant largely. It ia not best to rely too much 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
With an Able Corps of Assistants and Contributors, 
Tiik Run at. New Vorrjir ia deateued .to be uuxurjiawJ 
in Value, Purity, I - fulncKH and Variety or Contents, and 
unique and beautiful In Appearance. Its Conductor devotes 
hia personal attention to the supervision of its various do* 
partmonta, end earnestly labors to render the Urn\r, an 
eminently Reliable Guido on nil tin- important Practical, 
Scientific and other Subject intimately connected with the 
business of tlioae whore interests It zealously advocates. 
Aa a Family Journal it is eminently Instructive and En 
tortainiiiK -being ao conducted that it Win be safely taken 
to the Hearts and Homos of people of intelligence, taste 
and discrimination. It embraces more Airrlcitltural, Horti¬ 
cultural, Scientific, Educational, l.lt.crary and .News Matter, 
interspersed with appropriate and beautiful Kmfraviatfs, 
than any other journal, —rendering it the most complete 
Agiucoltpkal, LITERARY a.yii Family Nrwsr.uucit In 
America. 
Fob Terms and other particulars, see last puce. 
\VIiri'NEY''S PA/riGM'i' PLOWMAN 
Own engraving represents an invention design¬ 
ed to steady an<l guide tho plow, and tints take 
the place of a live plowman. It wuh patented in 
March, lSf>0, by J. M. Wimtney, of Bolton, Mass., 
and has since been introduced and used with 
much success and satisfaction in various parts of 
New England. Wo recently attended a trial of 
this Plowman, on the farm of Mr. B. B. Grant, near 
Rochester, anil were mnelt pleased with its opera 
tion. Ah we remarked in briefly noticing it, lust 
week, 11 the contrivance is quite simple, may be 
easily attached to any plow, and not only guides 
the plow, but can be ao adjusted aa tr> govern tiic 
width of the farrow.” Several practical farmers 
and others present at the trial were highly pleased 
with this really labor-saving Invention. 
Tho engraving, with the following description, 
will give the reader an Intelligible idea of the 
construction and operation of the Plowman:—“A 
represents an iron bar, two feet long, at right 
anglo with wheel, B, at its end. C is a perpen¬ 
dicular standard, attached to bar, A, by a joint. 
I), is an adjustable rod, extending from bar, A, 
near the wheel, B, to the top of standard, C, where 
it is attached by a lever bolt, E, so as to regulate 
the width of furrow.” 
In noticing this improvement the A We England 
Funner says:—“This Plowman, like most good 
contrivances, is a very simple affair—merely a 
triangle of east iron, with a wheel at. one point. 
It is attached to the beam of the plow by bolts or 
screws, and Is not easily broken or put out of 
place. Hitch it to your motive povVcr, act it in 
place, and your xnen, without heads, or at least, 
heads innocent of much thought, will perform for 
you a good work. In company with tho inventor, 
we took it to tho field ami set it iu motion. When 
onco In place, and properly adjusted, it, kept on 
its way untouched by any one, and did work that 
would do cwdit to the best workmen. Its em¬ 
ployment will save the laborof one hand, in many 
instances, aud a saving may be made in a single 
week sufficient to pay for it. Look at it, and if it 
seems comely to you, test it,” 
— Mr. Gilbert G. Robinson is about introduc¬ 
ing the Plowman into this and the Western 
States, and we refer all desiring further informa¬ 
tion to his advertisement in this paper. 
AGRICULTURAL NEEDS. 
While the inventive minds of our country ap¬ 
pear to fully realize the advantages to be derived 
from a successful application of mechanical skill 
and ingenuity in the varied pursuits intimately 
connected with the culture of the soil, our far¬ 
mers, as a mass, do not seem to possess a clearly 
defined idea of the duties devolving upon them¬ 
selves in the great task of evolving light, and 
disseminating knowledge. The agricultural inven¬ 
tions of tlie past ten years, now performing the 
drudgery of the farm, may bo numbered by thou¬ 
sands,—banish these from the farm and what can 
be said concerning the progress of the tiller of 
the earth? Certainly, many of these aro worth 
less,—worse still, a nuisance, cumbering thespacc 
they occupy,— but does not failure impress upon 
the inquiring, teachable mind, a lesson, as well as 
does success? 
Wc are just entering upou anoLber season of 
active labor,— once again will opportunities be 
afforded us to dive into some of those intricacies 
pertaining to the profession of the agriculturist 
While we have great faith in tho doctrine whose 
advocates persist in “holding last to that which 
is good,” we as firmly believe that any progress 
hitherto made by man was the offspring of an 
energy, willing and anxious to “try all thingB.” 
One class desire no greater success than crowned 
the efforts of their fathers, hence, ancient modes 
of conducting labor, and the customs which 
marked the “olden time,” are studiously sought 
out, (where not entirely understood,) adopted, aud 
lived up to, as the only saving creed. Others are 
ever striking out new paths for their feet, yet, 
finding none which warrant ease, or whose ex¬ 
tremity foreshadows reward. These latter, weary 
in well-doing, and faint ere the sun has reached 
mid-heaven. 
The happy medium between these two classes 
of mcD, is one of the needs of our agriculture at 
the present time. We want such us arc possessed 
of sufficient inquisitiveness to force them out of 
the beaten track; energy to drive onward, and 
firmness to carry out and complete—even to the 
better end, if Buoh should prove the result,—any 
experiment which they may have undertaken. 
Such men are the light of the world,— to them 
arc we indebted for whatever advancement lias 
been made toward a higher standard of civiliza¬ 
tion, and these must solve for Agriculture, if the 
solution ever be obtained, the hitherto hidden 
problems. 
What the agricultural profession of our country 
most ueeds, is the increase and diffusion of sound, 
reliable information. Wo seem to be, if we may 
so speak, a nation of writers. Every farmer, 
nearly, and every farmer’s boy, can take up the 
pen and commit bis views to paper, and we rush 
into print with the same headlong speed that 
marks our career in business, politics, morals,— 
even religiou. Archimedes desired but a stand 
ingpoiut on wbicli to place bis lever, and "he 
would move the world.” 
on the experience of one year. We can safely 
say, however, they aro worthy of a trial. 
The only varieties now bought here for ship 
ping, are the Purple Mercers, White Mercers, 
Peach Blows, und Flukes. The latter are bought 
lor shipping West for seed, and tho other varie¬ 
ties are sent East. Tito White Mercer, a poor 
potato, bcIIb for 5 cents a bushel more than Peach 
Blows, although far inferior, and tho Purplo 
Mercer for 11 cents more. Peach Blows and 
Flukes aro at the same price. The best only 
brings .’id cents. This price will discourage 
planting, anil next season they will doubtless bo 
higher. 
To prevent unnecessary letters of inquiry, wo 
will state that all the varieties named, except the 
Ash-leaved Kidney, cau be obtained In this city. 
Of this sort we know of none that can bo bought. 
Davis’ Seedling and Prince Albert, and true 
Early June, sell for about $ I per bushel tor seed, 
and Buckeye and Fluke for about lid cents. 
The wholesale prices in New York, on Thurs¬ 
day week, were reported as follows:—Buckeyes, 
$1 to $l,2f> per barrel; Rochester Mercers, 
Peach Blows, $1,12 to $1,21; Western Reda, $1. 
all turned to grass. Here I would say a word in 
relation to spreading the manure. I think it very 
important that it be always spread evenly, and not 
leave half of it where It is dropped from the 
wagon or cart, as it is impossible to gmw an even 
crop of grain or grass when; the manure is not 
spread evenly over the surface. [ am aware that 
there is much said about deep and shallow plow¬ 
ing for corn. Deep plowing on some soils, for 
corn, answers a good purpose, and on others, in 
my opinion, it is not as good as a legs depth. I 
havo experimented considerably in preparing 
ground for corn, and from what experience I have 
had, I have conn: to the conclusion that from four 
to six inches, on our soil. Is best for tho crop; hut 
for the next crop, which is generally barley, we 
plow from eight to ten inches, and about the same 
depth for winter wheat, which we generally sow 
after the barley, and seed to clover and timothy. 
After plowing the ground for corn, we try to 
select tho dryest time we have boforo planting, to 
harrow the ground thoroughly, lengthwise the 
furrows llrBt, and lastly we harrow it cornerwise. 
The object of dragging cornerwise iB to prevent 
tho planters from mistaking the drag-inarkw for 
that of the corn-marker, and thereby making the 
rows crooked. A nother advantage is, It does not 
tear up the green sod as bad as to drag crosswise. 
We generally plant eight-rowed yellow corn, three 
and a half feet apart each way, allowing six to 
eight quurts of seed to the acre, and thin it the 
last time of hoeing to four or five stalks to the hill. 
Sometimes the worms, crows, or frost, thin too 
much; If so, plant in some early variety. Plant 
In all the missing hills, and It will make excellent 
fodder, if It docs not ripen. Wo often mix sev¬ 
eral kinds of corn together at planting, when it ia 
designed for feed for stock. I think you can get 
a greater yield per acre than to plant but one 
kind, but It ia bettor, if you are raising It for mur- 
ket, not to mix it. 
If there is the least doubt ahont your seed being 
good, by all means try it before planting. My 
way is to count out a certain nnmbcr of kernels, 
and after the corn is all shelled and mixed up, 
plant them between a couple of sods, and lay 
them in some warm pluce, and the good seed will 
soon sprout. If It does not all grow, plant 
enough more seed to make up for the bad 
seed. Make the hills plain by a spat with 
the hoe, after covering; and ho sure and cover 
with good, loose earth, not more than one Inch 
deep. Havo the ground marked both ways, and 
make the rows as straight as possible. As soou 
as the corn begins to come up, take equal parts 
of lime, ashes, anil plaster, and mix well together, 
and apply about a tablespoonful to each hill, and 
FACTS ABOUT POTATOES. 
The earliest potato wc know of is the Ash- 
leaved Kidney. It is small, white, and of a very 
pcifect kidnoy shape, uniform in size and form. 
In quality it is very good, tho host of the very 
early potatoes, in ordinary seasons this potato 
will be fit to eat the latter part of June, or begin- 
ning of July, and will bo entirely ripe by the 
middle of the latter month, if the soil is not too 
rich or too moist, when it will keep green a little 
later. Next to this in earliness is the Early June, 
a small, white, round potato, skin a little russety, 
but smooth. There arc several varieties called 
by tho same name, but when growing, the true 
Early June can be distinguished by its glossy 
leaves, that look as though they had been var 
Dished. In quality this iB hardly as good as the 
Ash-leaved Kidney, but is a little more product¬ 
ive, and is a fair potato for an early variety. 
Neither of these yields enough to pay for grow¬ 
ing by farmers, except for family use, or where 
they can be Bold at a high price,—say a dollar a 
bushel,—in some neighboring city. 
Next to the above, and very good for a suoces 
sion, is tho Mountain June, a large, white potato, 
yielding well, but not of the best quality, though 
far from being a bad potato for the season, 
especially when grown on dry ground. The 
Buckeye ripens about the same time as Mountain 
June, and is a large potato, giving an excellent 
crop. When grown on dry and rather poor 
ground, it is very good, bui on soil that is rather 
rich, or mqlst, it grows too large, — becomes 
hollow, aud somewhat watery. 
The above four varieties furnish a very good 
succession, and all that will he necessary, until 
the late varieties are fit to dig. Indeed, two of 
them, us the Ash-leaved Kidney and the Mountain 
June, or the Early June and Buckeye, will answer 
a very good purpose. The Six-Weeks Potato is a 
variety that has been grown here to some extent, 
and is offered for sale at tho seed stores. We be¬ 
lieve it was brought from the East, and we have 
seen no evidence that itis a seedling. We planted 
it last year, but as wc did not obtain our seed un¬ 
til some time after our other early varieties were 
up, we had no opportunity to test its earliness in 
comparison. It is represented as being earlier 
than the Mountain June, and from the little expe¬ 
rience we had with it, we judge it to be a good 
yielder, ami of fair quality. 
Of late potatoes, the Mercer is a great favorite 
CORN CULTURE. 
Eos. Rural New-Yorker: —As the season is 
fast approaching in which wo are to prepare the 
Boil for growing corn, perhaps a few remarks on 
this subject may not be out of place iu your val¬ 
uable paper. With your permission, I will now 
state my method of raising this valuable crop, 
not only for the grain, but for the stalkH, as feed 
for stock. In the first place, I almost invariably 
plant on wnat we call soil ground. My practice 
is to top-dress the sod In the fall, with well rotted 
barn-yard manure; that is, as far aa it will go.— 
Here 1 will state that our practice Is to feed our 
stalliR in tho yards, and as we do not make much 
account of straw as feed for stock, we usually 
keep the yards and stables well littered with it, 
during tho feeding season. Therefore, as the 
stalks and straw are not sufficiently rotted to apply 
to the lund in the spring, we heap it under tho 
sheds, to prevent it from leaching away its 
strength through the summer rains, letting it re¬ 
main there till fall, wheu it is nicely rotted. We 
generally heap it alter lire stock is turned out to 
grass in tho spring. Our first plowing in the 
spring,—generally as Boon as the frost is out and 
the ground settled,—is to turn under what manure 
was spread iu the fall, letting the remainder of it 
bo until the stable manure i» all evenly spread out 
on what remains unplowed. This iB generally 
done after the spring grain is sowed, and the stock 
The press is onr lever, 
aud being possessed of an idea that will not let 
us rest until, dad in coat of mall, it leaps forth to 
do combat in the Intellectual arena, our special 
business is to assume its paternity,—to hurl 
thought-javelins at established facts, and long as¬ 
sumed theories. Herein lies the prime cause of 
the exceeding diversity of opinions entertained 
IRVING. N y 
