iTERAXURM 
1 CUT 
[SINGLE JSTO. FOUR CENTS, 
FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, MAY 20, I860, 
which Bhould be deposited in ti shallow vessel, 
and immediately apply it to the wethers on the 
right shoulders, ewes on tho left, or vice versa, 
and tho backs on tho rump. This is practicable, 
If others near by do not adopt the same mark. 
Such marks of ownership are quite necessary, 
with a view to distant or more obvious recogni¬ 
tion, and more especially so If any of the flock aro 
breaeby and disposed to stray. The materials for 
marking should he lampblack and linseed oil, or, 
as a substitute for the latter, hog’s lard. Let tho 
lampblack be “killed,” as painters term it, by 
using a very little of Kpirits of turpentine, before 
the oil is mixed. It will not rub off so easily if 
allowed to stand twenty-four hours before applied. 
It is common to use tar; but this is objectionable 
with the manufacturer, it being difficult to sepa¬ 
rate by the cleansing process. 
Randall gives preference to boiled tar,— the 
boiling continued until it assumes a glassed, hard 
consistency, when cold, and a brilliant black 
color is given by stirring in a little lampblack 
when boiling. It is applied when just, cold 
enough not to burn the sheep’s hide, and it forms 
a bright, conspicuous mark tho year round, boil 
it in ft high-sided iron vessel (to prevent It from 
taking flro,) on a am ill furnace, or chafing-dish, 
near where it is to be used. When cool enough, 
forty or fifty sheeep can be marked before it gets 
too Stiff, It is then warmed from time to time, as 
necessary, on the chafing-dish. The rump is a 
better place to mark than tho side. The mark is 
about as conspicuous on the former, under any 
circumstances, and it is more so wheu the sheep 
aro Ruddled In a pen, or wheu they are running 
away from you. And should any wool be injured 
by the mark, that on the rump is less valuable 
than that, on the sido. 
A correspondent of the Rural, Mr. A. Willson, 
of Marccllus, N. Y., communicated the following 
in onr volume for 1K',9:—“The mode of marking 
sheep in this neighborhood is to imprint the ini¬ 
tials of the owner’s name on tho side of the 
sheep. Boiled linseed oil and lampblack form 
the composition. The letters are made of soft 
wood, in this manner:—Take a piece of soft wood 
two arid one-third by four or live Inches, and three 
inches long; make one end smooth, then mark oat 
the letters and cut away the wood around them 
about half an inch deep. They must be made In 
form of printer's type.” 
It is said that tbe Indiaus called this plant 
“ 77 ie White J fun's Font,'' believing that wherever 
it was found there tiie white man had trod. Be 
to prevent the development of raiiieal leaves, and 
deprive the ihizoma of all connection or com¬ 
munication with the atmosphere.” 
Ci'ktis says,—“Repeated observation has con¬ 
vinced us that many husbandmen are ignorant of 
its economy,—and while they remain so, they will 
not be likely to get rid of one of the greatest 
pests which can affect their corn fields and past¬ 
ures. Of the thistle tribe the greatest partaie 
annual or biennial, and hence easily destroyed. 
Some few aro not mily perennial, but have power¬ 
fully creeping roots,— and none so much as the 
Canada or Cursed 'Hustle. In pulling this plant 
out of the ground, we draw up a long slender 
root, which many arc apt to consider as the whole- 
of it; but if those employed in such business ex¬ 
amine the roots so diawn up, they will find every 
one of them brokeii off at the end: for the root 
passes perpendicularly to a great depth, and then 
branches out horizontally under ground.” 
If every Canada Thistle is chopped down as 
soon as it makes its appearance above ground, it 
will soon perish; but if allowed to grow several 
inches in height before being cut down, the leaves 
will accumulate sufficient of needed air-nourish¬ 
ment iu tho roots to enable them to send out a 
new stock of shoots, and thus the ovil continues 
and increases. Successive plowing produces the 
same effect, but it must be thorough, and done at 
the right, time. They may be destroyed in any 
hoed crop, and for this nothing is hetter than 
corn or potatoes. In some towns there are laws 
against allowing this weed to seed in vacant lots 
and iu the lanes. These should bo enforced. Every 
firmer should consider himself fully empowered, 
by virtue of liis occupation, to wage a continual 
war against this invader, until it is entirely 
subdued. 
Pigeon Weed, or Red Root. 
The Pigeon Weed, {Lithospermum urvense,) is 
known under a variety of names, as Stony Seed, 
Wheal Thief, &c., but under whatever name it is 
known, it is everywhere considered a troublesome 
exotic, and particularly injurious to the wheat 
crop. An indignant farmer, writing about this 
weed, which he had not been successful in eradi¬ 
cating, on account of tho negligence of his 
neighbors, says, it seems to be a peculiar charac¬ 
teristic of this weed, that it appropriates every¬ 
thing that it needs in the soil to perfect itself, 
without reference to anytlnngelse that may claim 
a share with it When growing with wheat, if 
there be food enough for both, then both may be 
perfected; if not, the wheat must suffer. It is not 
so with the Canada thistle; this plant strikes its 
root to a great depth, and brings up food; and 
with the thistle there is a division of the spoils, 
and wheat is often larger in the midst of them 
than where it is free from their presence. But 
this grasping, miserly weed, appropriates every¬ 
thing to itself, until, if wheat follow wheat fori wo 
or three successive crops, it remains in the entire 
possession of the soil. 
When we take into consideration the fact that 
it requires a united and continued effort to de¬ 
stroy it ( united , because if one farmer raises it, 
his neighbor must, as neither the gizzard of a 
fowl nor the stomach of an ox can destroy its 
germinating power; continued, because it will lie 
in the ground for years,) we might almost despair 
of its destruction, were it not that despair is a. 
word not found in the farmer's vocabulary. 
There can bo but one way to get rid of the wide 
spread and growing evil; and though we may 
,theorize upon other subjects, this is, in agricul¬ 
ture, a matter of fact. We may in other cases 
apply scientific knowledge, feeding one plant and 
starving another; but in respect to the weed un¬ 
der consideration, this ia impossible, for when it 
has token all, like the leech, its cry is still, "give, 
give.” If a farmer wishes and determines (for 
wishing will not eifect the object.) to exterminate 
this plant, he must make tip his mind to two 
things: first, never to sow any of the seed; 
secondly, never to allow any that is in the ground 
to arrive at maturity. This may be done by pull¬ 
ing up the weed while in blossom; mowing will 
not accomplish it, because it ripens seed below 
the reach of the scythe. 
The JIny Weed. 
The May Weed, though not particularly 
troublesome in cultivated fields, has become ex¬ 
tensively naturalized, and is to be met with every 
where iu lanes and barn y r ards, from which it is 
not easily expelled. 
Plantain. 
The Plantain is singular and interesting 
though not particularly troublesome. It delights 
in occupying the foot-paths of man, and although 
a native of Europe, and perhaps of Japan, it ac¬ 
companies the white man as he advances toward 
the setting sun, carrying with him civilization 
and its blessings. 
MOORE'S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
AN ORIGINAL WEEKLY 
RURAL, LITERARY AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOOHE, 
With an Able Corps of Assistants and Contributors. 
The Rural New-Yorker i8<l««i(rned to bo nnsurpapsi-il 
in VhIcio, Purity, UaefulB6*s and Variety of Contents, and 
unique and beautiful in Appearance. It* Conductor devote* 
his personal attention to the guperviaion of its various de¬ 
partments, and earnestly labors to render the Rural au 
eminently Reliable Guide on all tlie important Practical, 
Scientific and other Subject* intimately connected with the 
business of those wbo*o interest* it zealously advocates. 
As a Family Jours vl it is emiuently Instructive and Kn- 
tertainimr—being so conducted that it can be safely taken 
to the Hearts and {Tomes of people of iiitellijjnneo, tastu 
and discrimination. It embraces more Agricultural, Horti¬ 
cultural, Scientific, Educational, Literary and News Matter, 
interspersed with appropriate and beautiful Engravings, 
than any other jotUtio), rendering it the most, complete 
Agricultural, Literary and Family Newspaper in 
America. 
For Terms and other particulars, see last page. 
IMPORTED WEEDS AND INSECTS.-NO. II. 
On making our first visit to the Prairies of the 
West, v. ■ were forcibly struck by tbe absence of 
many weeds that are the bane of farmers in this 
section of the country. When the prairie sod is 
turned over, and corn planted, the ground re¬ 
mains bare of all vegetation except that desired 
by the farmer. In older fields we also noticed the 
same .general absence of noxious weeds, and we 
have seen thousands of acres of corn, never 
touched with tho hoe, where scarcely a wild plant 
of any kind could be discovered. In districts 
where the soil has been longer under cultivation, 
foreign weeds have no doubt crept in, and these 
“ squatters,’’ unless looked after, will increase in 
number and variety, and cause trouble to the 
rightful owners of the soil, (.'are op the part of 
farmers and others will do much toward check¬ 
ing this growing evil, and we were pleased to ob¬ 
serve that some, at least, were alive to the impor¬ 
tance of the subject. 
Stopping at a village over one hundred miles 
from Chicago, on the Illinois Central Railroad, we 
observed a merchant burning straw and coarse 
hay in front of his store, as fast as he took it from 
boxes and crates, which he was unpacking. We 
supposed we divined the cause, but being a little 
surprised at such care and forethought, made bold 
to inquire, and wero informed that this was done 
to prevent the introduction of bad weeds,and that 
it was the usual practice with many merchants at 
the West, Such care years ago might have pre¬ 
vented tho introduction of the Canada Thistle, the 
Hessian Fly, and the Wheat Midge, and saved our 
country many millions of dollars. 
The Cnvada Thistle. 
Perhaps the greatest curse we have in the 
way of imported weeds is the Canada Thistle. A 
celebrated botanist was perfectly justifiable in 
naming it the Cursed Thistle. It is so tenacious 
of life that many become discouraged in their ef¬ 
forts to destroy it, while too many mike no at¬ 
tempt at staying the ravages of this invader. 
The roadsides of many farming districts arc lined 
with them, and the vacant lots in the cities and 
villages of this State produce a crop of seeds 
each year sufficient to stock a Continent. 
Dr. DArlington, in American Weeds and Useful 
Plants, says:—“ This is, perhaps, the most execra¬ 
ble weed that ha3 yet invaded the farms of our 
country. The rhizoma or subterranean stem 
(which is perennial and very tenacious of life,) 
lies rather below the usual depth of farrows—and 
hence the plant is not destroyed by common 
plowing. This rhizoma ramifies and extends it¬ 
self horizontally in all directions,—sending up 
branches to the surface, where radical leaves are 
developed the first year, and serial stems the 
second year. The plant appears to die at the end 
of the second summer; but it only dies down to 
the horizontal subterranean stem. The numerous 
branches sent up from the rhizoma soon cover 
BROAD LEAVED PLANTAIN. 
this so or not, it is certain the Plantain delights 
to grow along his foot-paths and around his 
door. 
The Ox-JJyo Daisy. 
This weed is becoming far too common. 
Darlington says this vile intruder is becoming a 
great nuisance in our country. In some districts 
the careless, slovenly farmers, nave permitted it to 
get almost exclusive possession of their pasture 
fields,—rendering them quite white when the plant 
is in bloom. Cows will occasionally corp a por¬ 
tion of the weed in our pastures,— and 1 have 
heard it alleged that it contributes to the making 
of good butter; but my own observations induce 
me to regard it as utterly worthless. It is propa¬ 
gated rapidly, and is, moreover, exceedingly dif¬ 
ficult, to get rid of, when once fully established; 
so that one negligent sloven may be the source of 
a grievous annoyance to a whole community. 
Annual plowing and cropping for a few years, is 
the most effectual remedy for the evil; but then 
the fence-rows and neighboring fields mnat be 
well watched, to prevent t.he formation and intro¬ 
duction of fresh seed. The Corn Marigold {Chry¬ 
santhemum segetiuv, l>; a kindred plant)—which is 
said to he such a pest to the agriculture of Europe 
—does not appear to have found its way, as jet, 
to the United States. 
Most of our troublesome weeds aro of foreign 
origin. Even the Dandelion, found in every 
corner of the laud, for aught we know, is an 
emigrant from Europe. Our object is to draw at¬ 
tention to the subject, so that all may form some- 
idea of the raplcity with which these plants are 
spreading over tho land, and hence feel the neces¬ 
sity of making a vigorous and united effort to 
check the invaders. 
animal to inferior keep, or place in the barn-yard 
and feed very sparingly for a few days. 
Tlie authority before referred to, remarks that 
the farmer would act. judiciously, who, having lost 
one or two sheep by this disease, iu addition to a 
change of pasture, would abstract about one-half 
pound of blood from, and give four ounces of 
salt,* to, every sheep possessed by him that is in 
tolerable condition. He might avert impending 
mischief,—he would improve, rather than dimin¬ 
ish the condition of his iloek, and lie would ren¬ 
der that, condition safe. 
Concerning tlie last mentioned form of disease, 
—Trembling, or Lcaping-ilJ,— we quote from 
Black lock, as follows:—"Several affections are 
included under the name of trembling, or leaping- 
dl, all having, in common, more or less of the 
Bymptoms which these names denote. They may 
be considered as arising from exposure to cold 
and damp, especially on long, fatiguing journeys, 
injuries to the loins, either inflicted by themselves 
in jumping and running, or by others from rough 
usuge in tho fold, are common causes of the dis¬ 
ease; butju this variety the hind quarters only 
arc powerless. Another species ia owing to op¬ 
pression of tbe brain from congestion, in this 
way resembling incipient sturdy, and occurring 
only in very fat sheep. 
The treatment of the first variety is by rest, 
shelter, and a supply of nutritious food. In the 
second kind, no cure can be accomplished, and 
tho animal should be immediately slaughtered. 
Copious blood-letting, and closes of Epsom salts, 
will be fouud of moat advantage in the third 
species; but if the sheep can be disposed of, so 
PRACTICAL AGRICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE. 
Ena. Rural New-Yorker:— It is a consolation 
to realize that we know some tilings in regard to 
agriculture, and we believe the sum total of con¬ 
solation would increase in proportion to the 
increase of tlie knowledge. Perhaps there aro 
those who know it all, and ro have nothing but 
consolation; but, to many of us, there are many 
things unknown, and ours, at least, is a mingled 
cup. When wo attempt to adjust the balance 
between tbe known and tho unknown, in any of 
the varied branches of our industry, wc find 
them very nearly iu equipoise. 
In order to demonstrate this proposition, we 
have only to select some one of the many opera¬ 
tions in which we engage. Take, for instance, 
the rearing of' an animal, tho growing of grain, 
Of the production of fruit, and place to the debit 
side of our account with operation all that we 
know positively iu regurd to tho matter, or think 
we know; then set to the credit side all wc do 
not know, or which wo would like to know. 
Always bearing in mind that the credit side Is the 
unknown, we can approximate the amount. How 
the grand aggregate on the unknown side piles 
up in huge dimensions! Anxious to produce 
the best results, and willing to do ns far as wo 
know, how the bruin is racked, as the mind strains 
in its efforts to discover hidden laws, secret prin¬ 
ciples, and invisible agencies, of which it has a 
conscious existence, but of which it can obtain 
no satisfactory due. 
Then, again, there aro very many propositions 
which wo assume as true, that do not abide the 
test of careful examination, — many practices 
which we adopt, on the supposition that they are 
based in true principles, we find to be decidedly 
unsatisfactory in their results. One farmer pur¬ 
sues a course very decidedly the reverse of his 
HINTS ON SHEEP MANAGEMENT, 
