TWO DOLLARS A YEAR.J 
[SINGLE NO. FIVE CENTS. 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.-SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1857 
MOORE'S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
Aft ORIGINAL WEEKLY 
AGRICULTURAL, LITERARY AND FAMILY JOURNAL 
Poultry properly cared for will “commence de. 
daring dividends” this month. Warm houses, 
plenty to eat and drink—grain and water at all 
times, and meat occasionally—will serve to pro¬ 
mote their peculiar labors and atsist in paying for 
their board during the time they have been “liv¬ 
ing in idleness.” We are of the opinion that too 
light an estimate has been placed by fanners upon 
this portion of their live stock, especially by those 
residing In the vicinity of cities. “If they are 
more trouble than they are worth,” as many farm¬ 
ers soeill to think, may it not be attributed to their 
bringing up? If no more attention was given to 
any other portion of farm or domestic economy, 
would not wildness, wickedness, and nuprofitable- 
ness be the result? Eggs are now' worth twenty 
cents per dozen at wholesale in our market, and as 
the season for their more extensive use approaches 
they invariably advance. Dming Lent we have 
frequently seen twenty-five and twenty-eight cents 
readily given. 
The/cnees want lookingafter. Set them in order 
as much as possible while you have leisure. If 
they are of the “worm variety” and you have not 
rails enough on baud to repair them during the 
entire season, muster the forces and to the woods 
immediately. When split, draw and pile away in 
the barn-yard, or in some convenient spot that you 
may easily lay hands upon them when wanted. 
The seeds you intend to use if not already select¬ 
ed should now be chosen, lie particular in your 
choice—obtain the best of every variety—and im¬ 
provement both in the quality and quantity of the 
crops will result. Potatoes, corn, peas, beans, &c.. 
in short, all you wish to plant should receive per¬ 
sonal inspection, in order to avoid the unpleasant 
and disastrous results of the past season. Those 
who were compiled to plant three limes last year 
will, probably, not need a “ hint” on this point, but 
discrimination should always be exercised in pro¬ 
curing the germ of future erops. 
ston, “horse dung heats and begins to suffer loss 
by fermentation.” Dana says, “by the time horse 
manure has fermented so as to be converted into a 
uniform mass of muck, it loses at least nine-tenths 
of its weight, and nearly two-thirds of its nitrogen 
has disappeared.” Tt has been well suggested that 
this is a loss well worth some, care in its preven¬ 
tion, and we shall suggest some means toward that 
end before we conclude. 
Boussinoault’s analysis of the excrements, 
solid and liquid, of a horse fed on hay and oats 
shows that it contained 70 1-0 per cent, of , oisture 
and its composition, in a dry and wet state, is as 
follows: 
Dry. IFet. 
Carbon. 38.6 9.19 
Hydrogen_ 5.0 1.20 
Oxygen_ 36.4 8.66 
Nitrogen_ 2.7 4.13 
Salts and earth. 17.3 4.13 
Water . — 76.17 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
WITH AN ABLE CORPS OF ASSISTANT EDITORS. 
SPECIAL CONTKIRCTOKSi 
I’n OF. C. DEWEY. T. C PETERS. 
Lt. M. P. MAURY. H. T. BROOKS. 
Dk ASA FITCH. EDW. WEBSTER. 
T. S ARTHUR. Mi:a M. J. HOLMES. 
LYMAN B LANGWORTHY. 
Tub Rural Nbw-Yorkrk is designed to he uiiKnrprocted in 
Value, Purity, Usefulness' and Variety of Contents, rind unique 
and beuulifu) in apjHtarance. Its Conductor devote* Ins personal 
attention to the supervision of its various departments, and 
earnestly labors to render the Rural an eminently Reliable 
Guide on the Important Practical, Scienlitlc and oilier Subjects 
intimately connected with the business of those whose Interests 
it tediously advocates It embraces innre Agricultural, Horti¬ 
cultural Scientific, Mechanical, Litomry and News Mutter, 
interspersed with appropriate and beautiful Engrtvinga than 
any other journal,—randarlugit the most complete Agricultu¬ 
ral, Litku.ihy arb Family NtswsrxfKR in America 
ty*All communications, and business letters, should be 
addressed to D. I). T. MOORE, Rochester, N Y. 
For Terms, and other particulars, see last page. 
100.00 100.00 
The organic matter is nearly double that of cow 
dung, and the nitrogen in fresh droppings nearly 
fifty per cent, greater. Yet, as usually treated, it 
is often of the least value of any auimal manure 
made upon the farm. 
“ The warmth of horse dung,” says Johnston, 
“fits its admirably for bringing other substances 
iuto fermentation. With peat (muck) or saw dust, 
it will form a rich compost, and to soils which 
contain much inert vegetable matter it can be 
applied with much advantage.” 
These two sources furnish the great bulk of our 
barn-yard manure; hence we will now slop, and, 
in our next, consider the winter management best 
calculated to prepare them, with as little loss as pos¬ 
sible, for applico ion the soil. This we will 
endeavor to do as concisely and as practically as 
possible. 
1WO-STORY FARM HOUSE 
these projections, and covered by an overhanging 
roof. Many woahl object to the style of window, 
but oftentimes without proper foundation for their 
dislike. Hear a few authorities on this point.— 
Lord Bacon said more than two centuries ago: 
•‘For inbowed windows, I hold them of good use, 
* * * for they be pretty retiring places for con¬ 
ference." And Buskin thus talks to the good people 
of Edinburgh:—“You surely must all of you feel 
and admit the delightfulness of a bay window. 1 
can hardly fancy a room can te perfect with cat 
one. Now you have nothing to do but to resolve 
that every one of your principal rooms shall have 
a bow window, either large or small.” And so, 
too, Henry Ward Beecher, to the countless 
readers of the Star Papers:—* Our common, small, 
frequent windows in country dwellings are con¬ 
temptible. We love rather the generous old Eng¬ 
lish windows, large as the whole side of a room, 
many-angled, or circular; but of whatever shape, 
they should he recessed—glorious nooks of light, 
the very antitheses of those shady coverts which 
we search uut. in forests, in hot summer days.— 
These little chambers of light into which a group 
may gather, and be both iu doors uud out. of doors 
at the same time; where in storms, or in winter, 
we may have full access to the elements without 
chill, wet, or exposure — these arc the glory of a 
dwelling.” 
Among the many styles selected in the erection 
of a home, the square two-story house seems to 
have a large number of admirers,— and, notwith¬ 
standing every city and village throughout the 
country is possessed of edifices of-this description, 
there is frequently a great df taste in their 
surroundings, as well as inappropriateness in 
choice of locaiily. The work entitled Village and 
Farm Cottages, by Cleaveland & Backus Bros.. 
to which we are indebted (or the beautiful design 
above represented, in speaking ’lpon the subject, 
says: 
Although but little can be done by the farmer 
during the present month in this latitude, that lit¬ 
tle has its full bearing upon the entire season,— 
Much of the progress made when the period of 
activity is upon us will be owing to the incipient 
preparations taken in hand now. 
The wheat field, will need your strictest scrutiny 
during portions of both February and March.— 
When the weather is mild and thawing, see that 
the surface water is provided with the means of 
escaping. Proper attention to this will he bushels 
iu the granary afler harvest. No more fruitful 
source of winter-killing is there than standing 
water. If your system of drainage is what it 
should be, the late winter and early spring months 
is the time when it proves the wisdom of a gener¬ 
ous outlay in this direction. With well construct¬ 
ed drains and deep tillage there is but little dan¬ 
ger of loss from this cause. 
Take good care of the workers. The animal loco¬ 
motive that is to assist you iu your labors daring 
the bustle and driving of the summer mouths 
needs kindly offices at your bands. Have them in 
in good condition. To accomplish this, they must 
be well fed, well groomed and well housed. Nor is 
this ail—there is another point in their treatment 
to which little attention is given, and the many 
farmers who violate the laws of nature and the 
dictates of humanity ought to bo severely dealt 
with. During the present winter and at its great¬ 
est inclemency, we have seen horses—good ones 
too, though if a poor animal it was no excuse— 
standing for hours iu our streets without a blunket 
or any other covering. Driven iuto town in a 
hurry, their owners comfortably seat themselves 
by the side of some stove while the horse,—faith¬ 
ful servant—was fastened at some corner, exposed 
to the biting winds, left to furnish animal heat as 
best he might with the thermometer below zero,— 
We place a very low estimate upon the professed 
Christianity of the individual who will not be more 
thoughtful—and were we to establish a mission it 
would be to those in our own land who tfcus abuse 
dumb animals. 
As horses have comparatively little labor during 
the winter months, their skin becomes tender and 
if put to constant work they are soon galled, it 
would ho well for each one possessing them to 
take means to prevent such an occurrence. This 
can he done by using whisky and alum. Keep a 
bottle of this in the stable and bathe frequently 
the parts liable to become affected—under the 
liames or the breast collar and on the back. A 
friend has used horses thus treated lor years with¬ 
out any apparent soreness. This mixture will also 
enable a sore to heal, though the animal be kept iu 
use. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound 
of cure"—and iu no place will the triteness of this 
saying have so good an opportunity of being test¬ 
ed as in the cure of the animal economy. 
At 'at Cattle require special attention during the 
present month. Cows about lo calve should have 
good fodder. If you want fat and thrifty calves 
they need as much care before being brought into 
the world as after if. If the time is near at baud 
when any cow iu tiro herd is about to “come in,” 
separate her from the rest and give her good quar¬ 
ters—free from confinement of the neck or head. 
Where cows ar c stabled accidents in the process 
of parturition are frequent, and even when at lib¬ 
erty watchfulness should be exercised on the part 
oi the tamer. We have oftentimes been struck 
with tlie policy of those, who, having fodder to 
sell, permit these animals to become poor and 
haggard. The only use in keeping cows is for 
their yield of milk and butter, and they will he 
remunerating just in proportion as they are well 
provided with the right kind of food. 
BY no.v. A. B. DICKINSON. 
MANAGEMENT OP MANUEE 
[njiuence of the Color of the Skin upon Potatoes—White 
or l'clloio cs. Red — Crops from Seed-Palls not less 
liable to disease—Experiments in Culture, tec., tf-c. 
Mr. Moore: —With your consent I will review 
through the Rural New-Yorker some of the 
statements of the late Patent Office Report in ref¬ 
erence to Agricultural Experiments in Europe, as 
well as this country, and will commence with the 
results of some of these experiments in the culti¬ 
vation of the potato, by Director-General Lenni 
of Prussia. 
The Report states:—“Among other highly in¬ 
teresting and very remarkable results, may be 
mentioned the influence of the color of the skin 
ot the tuber in predisposing it to disease. For a 
long period, without the guidance of comparative 
experiments, an opinion was prevalent that pota¬ 
toes which had a colored skin resisted the disease 
better than those which were yellow or white. The 
result of the experiments in this respect was as 
follows: 
In 1S52, out of 72 white or yellow skinned var., 23 diseased. 
In 1853, “ 110 “ *« “ >* 16 « 
In 1854, “ 117 “ “ 11 »“ 5 “ 
Thus, from an average of three years, about one- 
sixth of the white or yellow skinned varieties w ere 
found to be affected. 
In 1852, out of 15 red skinned varieties, 1 diseased. 
In 1853, “ 37 “ “ “ 7 *« 
In 1854, « 40 “ « « 2 « 
These tigures show that from an average of 
three years, about one-tenth of the red-skinned 
varieties became diseased. 
That General Lenni has more skill, and is much 
better qualified to make experiments than myself, 
I do not eutertain a doubt, and had he made as 
many as 1 have with his great advantages, l should 
have hesitated before attempting to give publicity 
to mine, although having much confidence in 
them. With fourteen years’ experience I do not 
hesitate to say, that the color of the skin has no¬ 
thing to do with the disease or is it iu any way a 
preventive. 
The solidity or the weight of the potato is the 
ouly preventive I have discovered, as having auy 
controlling influence on the kind ot potatoes for 
seed. I think I get at the weight with some de¬ 
gree of accuracy, by making as many pails of 
brine as I have varieties of potatoes, (whether it 
be 20 or 30 kinds,) each pail being sufficiently 
strong to bear each kind up. Test by trying sev¬ 
eral potatoes of the same family iu the same pail, 
to get a fair trial. By placing the heavier potatoes 
in the weaker brine, some kinds would sink as 
quick as though it was water, while others would 
float. Some kinds of potatoes will sink iu water 
nearly as quick as a stone, aud these are the ones 
that will stand the racket best without regard to 
color. I have been thus particular with my stand¬ 
ard of weight, that the scientific scales, or the 
chemical instruments of the “Trial-field of the 
Royal State Nursery,” may test their accuracy. I 
have made these experiments ou more than one 
hundred and fifty kinds of potatoes for fourteen 
years, and it never has varied but iu one instance, 
and that was with the variety called by many the 
How shall we secure the greatest benefit to the fat m 
from its available resources for manure 7 is a ques¬ 
tion of no small importance to the farmer—one to 
which he should give careful consideration and 
practical attention. We purpose to offer some 
suggestions on the subject, and shall preface them 
by quoting a fewchemieal authoritieson the char¬ 
acteristics of the staple fertilizers forming our 
barn-yard manure. 
Cow Manure. —“This,” says Johnston, “forms 
by far the largest proportion of the auimal manure 
which, iu modern agriculture, is at the disposal of 
the farmer. It ferments slowly, which arises chief¬ 
ly from the smaller quantity of nitrogen, or of 
substances containing nitrogen, present therein; 
but, in part, also, from au imperfect mastication of 
the food." In addition to this, Stockuardt re¬ 
marks, “the mass of these excrements do not 
crumble by lying or desiccation, but becomes sapo¬ 
naceous aud compact; for which reason its dis¬ 
tribution iu the soil, as also its decomposition and 
liquefaction, is rendered more difficult. The slow 
but. persistent action of this manure is thus 
explained at once.” 
Notwithstanding this slowness of action, Uaz- 
zkki says, “that by exposure to the air a sensible 
loss is undergone, amounting iu 40 days to one- 
fifth of the whole solid matter which recent cow- 
dung contains.” Hence it is important to mix it 
with absorbent litter, and place it in heaps, or at 
least covered from the wind and rain. 
According to Boussingault, the excrement, 
solid aud liquid, of cows fed on hay and raw’pota¬ 
toes, iu a dry and moist state, contains: 
Dry. Moist. 
Carbon.39.8 5.39 
Hydrogen. 4.7 -04 
Oxygen.35.6 4.81 
Nitrogen___.... 2.6 .36 
Ash (salts aud earth) __ .17.4 2.36 
Water. _ 86.44 
GROUND ULAN. 
“The two-story dwelling has important advan¬ 
tages, which make it the best form for a great 
majority of village houses. The choice between 
this and a lower style of building should rest on 
clear grounds. There must be a certain relation 
between the breadth and the height of a building 
to give it a satisfactory look of stability. To effect 
this, the house must cover more ground, and the 
expense is t hus carried beyond the reach of many. 
We do, indeed, see many high thin houses, aud 
miserable spectacles they are. Sometimes we 
behold one of respectable proportions, but with a 
meanly finished exterior.— the resources of the 
builder uot having been sufficient to give him a 
large house, and a good one too. In such cases, 
eve think it would he well to compromise, 
W bile the low cottage seems modest and retiring 
the high, square built lionse, has a more forward 
and assured look. When houses, or men. boldly 
claim our regards, we have a right to expect that 
they will give proot of their worth. Such struc¬ 
tures clearly need a nice finish, and more of orna¬ 
ment, than those of n less ambitious expression." 
The exterior appearance of this dwelling is 
prepossessing. There are two large bay windows 
on the front, one in the parlor and the other in 
the hall. The main entrance is at the side of the 
latter. This is from a porch partly inclosed by 
CHAMBER PLAN. 
There are four good oh imbers on the second 
fioor. Ot these three have clothes-presses attach¬ 
ed. The front windows of this story are double,— 
two in one. This makes the rooms more valuable, 
while it gives dignity to the exterior. 
The roof is low and has a bold cornice. The 
back verandah is plain with solid posts and visible 
framework. There should be a rear building, the 
roofs joining. In winter, the middle part of the 
verandah may he inclosed, making an entry to the 
kitchen and wood-room. 
The regular form of this building makes it suit¬ 
able for a spot where it may he seen from several 
points. The lot on which it is to stand should be 
open and smooth, rather above than below the 
grounds about it. Height of each story, 9 feet. 
Estimated cost, SI,200. 
100.00 100.00 
The measure of value as different manures may 
be placed in the amount of nitrogen they contain, 
this, iu cow dung, according to Dana, is oue-balf 
of one per cent, of the whole weight, less or more 
according to the food and condition of the aui¬ 
mal. Fat cuttle yield the best manure, particu¬ 
larly if fed ou rich food, like oil cake, corn 
meal, etc. 
Horse Manure.— From the peculiar character 
of the digestion of this animal, horse dung is of a 
warm, active nature—being richer in nitrogen th in 
that of any other farm stock. “ The gastric juice of 
the horse,” says Browne, “differs from that of 
most other domestic animals, in cOntaing a larger 
proportion of bile, which is secreted directly from 
the liver in the absence of a gall bladder, an ap- 
peudage that the horse, and other animals of the 
same natural family do not possess. Hence the 
admixture of the finely comminuted, strong and 
hearty food ho devours, together with these pecu¬ 
liar animal juices, arc the cause of the remarka¬ 
ble active properties of this species of rnauure.” 
“In the short period of 24 hours,” says John¬ 
beenworn and not manured. The Red Meshan- 
nock, or Kelsey Reds, were the most subject to the 
disease, and have long since ceased to be cultiva¬ 
ted. They were the lightest potatoes of the time. 
Again, the Director-Generat says:—“Varieties 
recently produced from seed, are uot exempt from 
disease. Soon after the first appearance of the 
potato disease, it was believed by many that a new 
generation produced from the seed-ball, would be 
exempt, at least for a time, from attack. The ex¬ 
periments in this respect proved the reverse to be 
the case. Out of forty-one varieties cultivated in 
1852—originated from seed four years before— 
sixteen were diseased, while the same year, there 
were cultivated, in all, uiuety-two old and new 
varieties, and of which twenty-four were attacked. 
The fact, however, that new varieties mature some¬ 
what later than others, may account for this pre¬ 
disposition to disease.” 
Trish enp. They are known by that name in Ire¬ 
land. They are a red and quite a heavy potato, 
above the average, and more liable to disease 
than any other kind of the same weight l have 
tried, which includes every sort that 1 have ever 
seem 
The round, yellow skinned potato, which is 
heavier than auy other, is the least liable to dis¬ 
ease. It is known by the uauto of “Old Heu aud 
Chickens,” from the peculiar way they grow, ouly 
one being large iu a hill, all of the rest quite 
small. It is not a good yielder, nor is it a good 
eating potato. To make a fair test. I planted them 
with all others, row about, and then mixed tip 
equally with twenty-three or four different kiu Is. 
and plauted them in the manner mentioned, until 
they nearly run all the rest out, all the others be¬ 
ing more or less diseased, whilst scarcely one of 
these were affected, and none where the land had 
iBii'ii'u'Lniiianiiiiiiiniiitiiu'u'iiiqi'ii'iau'iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiqa'iiii^iHiqi'iiHiiLniiiiiqi'iiiLiiuiii'uaiainiiiuqiqi'iiiiiniiqiiuqiiiiiiiaiiqiaaiiiqiMiai’biiiiqi'uaiitiiiiiia'ii'u'ii’uiqaiiMiihiiiaiiia'i: 
'Ve& 
ft \ ~~'A 
- 
