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MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
AN ORIGINAL WEEKLY 
AGRICULTURAL, LITERARY AND FAMILY JOURNAL. 
off in threshing like wheat, after thorough trial in 
England, has nearly gone out of cultivation. The 
beardless barley (II. yeacriton) is little known, 
having been recently introduced into this section. 
In choosing seed barley, select that which is of 
a lively color, free from blackness at the germ end, 
and with a thin skin. It is advisable to change for 
that grown at a distance and on different soil occa¬ 
sionally— as without attention to these cautions, 
harley often deteriorates, becoming coarser and 
coarser,—the skin thick and the flour light,—from 
year to year. 
We have not the least doubt that every farmer 
will find it more profitable to apply the ashes 
made in his household tires to the different crops 
grown upon the farm, than to sell them to manu¬ 
facturers even at one shilling per bushel. They 
are often parted with at lower prices, but not when 
their value as a manure is understood and appre¬ 
ciated. 
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS I 
Prot C. DFAVEY. T. C PETERS. 
Lt. M. F. MAURY. H. T. BROOKS. 
Dr ASA FITCH. EDW. WEBSTER 
T. 8 ARTHUR Mrs. M. J. HOLMES. 
LYMAN B LANGWORTHY. 
Tim Rural Nkw-Yorkkk Is designed to be nnstirpassed in 
Value, Purity, Csefnlncss and Variety of Content*, and mvi<ino 
and beantirnl in appeariince. 1te Conductor devotee bin personal 
attention to the supervision ot its vnrions departments, and 
earnestly labors to render the Rural an eminently Reliable 
Outdo on the Important i'raetlrnl, Scientific and other Subjects 
Intimately connected with the business of those whose interest* 
it tcalonsly ndvoenton. It embraces more Agricultural, Hortl- 
cnltnral. Scientific, Mechanical, Literary and News Matter, 
intorspi reed with appropriate and beautiful Engravings than 
any other Journal.—rendering it the most complete Agricultu¬ 
ral. Liiekaky and Family Newsi-aper in America. 
I3T- All comrannications, and business letters, should be 
addressed lo D. D. T. MOORE, Booh ester, N Y. 
For Terms, and other particulars, sco lest page. 
ASHES AS A MANURE 
Thu use of ashes as a fertilizer of the soil may be 
traced hack to a very early age. The ancient Jew's 
burned their stubble as a preparation for the folio w- 
iug crop, as did also the Romans and Btitons. Cato 
recommends the use of wood ashes as a manure 
for land,— and a German treatise on husbandry, 
published in 1570, tells us that, “ in Lombardy they 
like the use of ashes so well, as to esteem it far 
above any dung,—thinking dung not meet to he 
used for its unwholesomeness.” In modern days, 
considerable use is made of the different kinds of 
ashes, yet they hardly take that rank among stim¬ 
ulants aud ameliorators of the soil, which is prop¬ 
erly their due. 
The ashes of wool burned in the open air, con¬ 
sists of a mixture in variable proportions, of 
carbonates, silicates, sulphates and phosphates of 
potash, soda, lime and magnesia, with certain 
other substances present in smaller quantity, yet 
stiil important to vegetable growth, 
has been reduced to small pieces. A word or two, 
however. Mr. Talcott says, “lam sorry Mr. B. 
should think me ‘insane’ in my passion for big 
animals.” 
After remarking that Mr. Talcott should have 
scouted the “complaint" which he intimated 
people were making about the “size” of Suffolk 
pigs, I said—“Men, sane in other respects, often 
manifest a passion for big animals, which they 
seem unable to restrain or govern, in any decent 
degree.” This I did not intend for Mr. Talcott. 
I trust I shall never so far forget the proprieties 
of controversy,as to cjiarge insanity on any body in 
particular. Of course it is always “ parliamentary” 
and even moral and religious, to charge the other 
party or sect, with being villains, liars, thieves, 
and very disagreeable—“ thou art the man,’' is quite 
another thing. Mr. Talcott will do me the favor 
to pass that imputation, such as it is, over to “the 
rest of mankind.” 
I noticed Mr. Talcott's communication because 
I feared, and still do fear, that breeders will get 
np a rivalry and competition in the matter of size, 
loa’ng sight, in some lj i&nreat least, of points of 
greater importance. Indeed, 1 am forced to the 
1. Origin Unknown — History—Wide Acclimation. 
Barley has been cultivated from remote anti¬ 
quity, being mentioned as a bread crop both in 
sacred and profane history, but its original nativity 
and earliest use is lost in obscurity. It has been 
grown iu Egypt and Judea, and used as food by 
the inhabit ants for more than three thousand years, 
and it was not until after the Romans adopted the 
use of wheat bread that they employed barley for 
other purposes— feeding it to horses and Othyr 
farm stock, as most Eastern nations do at, the pres¬ 
ent day. Though evidently a native of warm cli¬ 
mates, it will grow in very cold one?, and is one of 
the few grains which can he produced in high lati¬ 
tudes and on elevated ranges of mountains — ma¬ 
turing in favoraldo seasons as far north as 77 ’, and 
in the Himalayas at an elevation of from ten to 
thirteen thousand feet above the 6ea. Watson, in 
his Survey of Essex Co., in high valleys among the 
Adirondacs, found luxuriant cropa of barley where 
corn was never planted, the seasons being too 
short ami subject to frequent frosts. 
2. Introduction to the U. S .— Products and Uses, 
In this country, Bailey was first sown in 1602, on 
Martha’s Vineyard, by Gosnold, who introduced 
this and other English grains into New England. 
In 1611, itw'as raised in Virginia, and the crop was 
a prominent one in that Colony until superseded 
by the more profitable cultivation of Tobacco.— 
In 1626, samples of barley harvested that year, 
were sent by the Colonists of Manhattan Island to 
Holland, aud in 1629 it was first introduced into 
Massachusetts. In 1796 it was the chief agricultu¬ 
ral product of Rhode Island. 
In the United States, according to the Census of 
1840, the amount of barley raised the year preced¬ 
ing, was 1,161,500 bushels; by the Census of 1850, 
5,Ui7,000, and estimating at the same rate of in¬ 
crease, the barley crop of the Uuited States the 
past year, would amount to 7,038,600 bushels, worth 
at least $1 per bushel. Of the amount grow n in 
1850, more than three and one-half million bush¬ 
els were grown in New York, and taking the in¬ 
creased attention given to this grain into account, 
we are warranted in estimating the crop of the 
whole country for 1856 at nearly ten million of 
bushels. 
This grain has never entered very extensively 
into our foreign commerce,— among the exports 
from New York city for 1855, it is not mentioned. 
The whole product seems to be consumed at home, 
chiefly for malting and dietillutiou—the amount 
nseil for that purpose in the United States, in 1830, 
was .1,780,000 bushels—some part for feeding Block, 
and a considerable quantity in the form of hailed 
or pearl barley. For horses and for fattening pork 
it possesses high value, aud could bo profitably 
raised for theso objects—though not at its present 
market price, which Is founded on the demand for 
malting. 
3. Varieties— Selection of Seed. 
Harley ( Uordeum) belongs in the natural order 
ORAMiNE.i, and has many varieties, not differing 
essentially in Character. The most common clas¬ 
sification, by the ear, makes three varieties known 
as the two-rowed ( Hordium UistichonJ the four- 
rowed ( li. tetrastichonJ and the six-rowed ( H. he.fr 
astivhyn) —the last the most hardy, the (list the 
least so, but the heaviest and handsomest grain.— 
The fonr and six-rowed, however, arc most popular 
with the brewers, from their malting more readily. 
Other sub varieties are numerous, and some of 
them are prized in their respective localities. A 
six-rowed winter barley is grown in some sections, 
hut It fails In severe seasons on soils where wheat 
is liable to heave out or wiutei-kill Naked liar- 
ley, (II. nudea,) a variety in which the chaff comes 
A SYMMETRICAL COTTAGE 
From tables 
of analysis made by Prof. Emmons, we extract the 
following: 
Item- iniit Hick- 
lock. Ehn. ory. Jktch. 
Potash.. a ...19 23 15-85 20.19 1213 
Foil* and chlorine...0.56 8.38 0.18 i.i 63 
Sul, hi tic acid.... 303 32 4.0} 0.47 
Carbonic add. 7.81 29 51 21 40 2439 
Lime. 10.11 20.0S 27 70 31.56 
Magnesia_ 2.48 4 72 8.60 5 44 
Phosphates iron, lime, magnesia, 29.27 16.35 11.45 19 (U 
Organic matter...1.71 1.45 - 1.S6 
Silica, soluble and insoluble._ 5.28 2-00 616 1.45 
88.72 98.46 100 33 111.99 
This table shows the composition of the ash of 
the sap-wood, which varies considerably from that 
of the heart-wood, as well as of the twigs, bark and 
leaves. Different woods have a very different pro¬ 
portion of mineral constituents, hence their value ns 
manure is variable. 
In England, according to Johnston, wood ashes 
are largely employed in many districts, mixed 
with bone dust, as a manure for turnips, aud often 
with great success. Fif.ceu bushels of each are 
drilled in on an acre, and they have been applied 
with equal benefit on other rootcrops, such as po¬ 
tatoes, carrots, Ac. They are used with advantage 
to almost every class of crops, hut especially as a 
dressing for grass, grain aud Indian corn—though 
their immediate effects are most perceptible upon 
leguminous plants, such as clover, peaB, beans, Ac. 
Mossy meadows aud pastures may often be reno¬ 
vated by the use of ashes, a fine growth of white 
clover often springs up after their application — 
Upon red clover, their effects will be more certain 
if previously mixed with one-fourth their weight 
in gypsum. Indian corn is materially benefited 
by a top dressing of ashes, applied in the early 
stages of its growth. 
Ashes, like lime, have a tendency to make clayey 
soils mellow, and to give consistency to those 
which are light, aud rather suit moist than dry soils, 
though nearly useless on the former unless the 
land be drained. From lour to six bushels per 
acre may he applied to thin, almost sterile soils, 
wiih good effect—larger quantities would be too 
exhausting, and are allowable only on soils rich in 
vegetable matter, or in connection whh a good 
dressing of baru-yard manures. 
It is confirmed by experience, that tlic more at¬ 
traction ashes have for acids, the sooner they lose 
their virtue—hence the first crop alter land is ma¬ 
nured with ashes is generally very luxuriant, while 
the second one almost exhausts their active prop¬ 
erties. It is better, therefore, to apply them in 
moderate quantities, say fifteen or twenty bushels 
per acre, as a dressing for a single crop of grain. 
On clayey soils, ushes generally produce the most, 
rapid effect. They should not be applied after 
lime or marl Las stimulated the land to the ut¬ 
most, nor year after year save in connection with 
other manures, supplying organic matter to the soil. 
The action of ashes, chemists remark, is two¬ 
fold, and due partly 10 the soluble aud partly to 
the Insoluble constituents. The chloride of sodi¬ 
um, the carbonate and sulphate of potash are solu¬ 
ble, and produce immediate effects on the crop; 
but the phosphates ami silicates, as well as carbo¬ 
nate of lime, require considerable time to dissolve. 
Hence in those soils which already contain much 
alkali, the soluble parts of ashes will be of little 
moment; and the leached re mu ins may be alto¬ 
gether superior; for few soils contain so much 
phosphoric acid as not to be Improved by its addi¬ 
tion as manure. 
M e give our readers, this week, a design tor a j in., having an ample pantry, sink room, Ac. The 
Symmetrical Cottage. The plans and engravings ) back stairs ascend from the sink room, which is a 
were furnished lor the Horticulturist by Austin 1 great convenience, a 3 slops, Ac., from the second 
A V« abneb, Architects, of this city. The ground | story can he brought down these stairs without 
plan is well arranged for convenience; but the j being Been from any of the principal rooms. En- 
or h> of cost, we fw, is too low. ■ trsnee to the cellar from the kitchen. In the hall 
WASH r 
tx s 
KITCH EN 
13.6X12. S 
PANTRY 
AX G 
CINtNG R 
15.6 X 14 
NURSERY 
14X12.6 
SECOND FLOOR 
is the principal stairs leading t,o second story 
which is divided into bedrooms having closets 
attached: also inclosed stairs to attic, in which 
there are three large sleeping rooms, with store 
rooms, Ac. The little front room in second story 
would make a bedroom if required, or a dressing 
room attached to the large front bedroom. 
First story 9 ft 6 in. high, second story 8 ft. high. 
The superstructure is framed, sheathed ou the out¬ 
side with lj in. boards about 9 iu. wide, put on 
horizontally, and rebated to imitate block work, 
and painted three good coats, the last two to he 
sanded; thus making the budding appear like a 
stone one, with very Utile expense. To be plaster¬ 
ed on the inside two coats (browning and white 
finish.) The inside finish is to l>e plain and neat. 
Architraves in principal story to be 7 in. wide, 
bevelled bands; those in the second story, 6 in. 
The building finished complete, will cost about 
$2,500. 
GROUND FLOOR. 
Whoever loves symmetry and the simpler kinds 
of cottage beauty, including good proportion, 
tasteful form, and chasteness of ornament, we 
think cannot but like this design, since it unites 
all these requisites, lt is an illustration of a cot¬ 
tage made ornamental at a very trifling expense, 
and •without sacrificing truthfulness to tbatkind of 
tasteful simplicity which is the true touchstone of 
cottage beauty. 
This cottage is entered by means of an ample 
hall, off which is the parlor, 15 ft. by 15 ft. 6 in. 
The dining and living room is entered from either 
the hall or parlor, and is 15 ft 6 in. by 14 ft., hav¬ 
ing closets, also a closet under stairs. Adjacent 
to the dining-room is the nursery, 14 ft. by 12 ft. 
6 iu., haviug a bathing-room and closet. Off from 
dining-room is the kitchen, 15 ft. 6 in. by 12 ft 6 
ARCHITECTURE FOR THE WEST, 
In the first nmuber of the Rural for the present 
year, we made some remarks on the peculiarities 
of the Western climate, as affecting the architec¬ 
ture of that section of our country. We intimated, 
also, that we might resume the subject We do 
so now, for the purpose of stating some further 
facta about the West, which should never be for¬ 
gotten iu building houses aud barns, with their 
surroundings. 
Oue of these facts is that, except in a few dis¬ 
tricts, spt'ings are scarce. There is not a sufficient 
supply of running water, which can be relied upon 
for the whole year. Another is, that when wells 
arc dug, they frequently furnish water that is not 
healthy, and are also liable to go dry during the 
severe drouths of the summer months. A uother,— 
aud the last which we will meuiiou la this connec¬ 
tion,—is, that fuel is very scarce even now, over a 
large portion of the West, In a few years it, will 
be far more so. Unless the forest trees are pre¬ 
served, or new plantations are extensively made, 
the people, eveu in the “rural districts,” must de¬ 
pend on coal to keep them warm, aud to cook 
their food. Ten years hence fuel will be scarcer 
and dearer iu the wide regions of the West, than 
in New England. 
Our readers will wonder, perhaps, what these 
facts have to do with architecture. We will pro¬ 
ceed straightway to explain : 
1st. Because the supply of springs is so 
limited, and the water iu the wells so shallow, 
aud so poor, provision should be made for cis¬ 
terns of the best t/nalily and largest size, to receive 
the rain from the roofs of houses and barns, 
almost without exception. Cisterns, at the West, 
should be thought of and arranged for in the plan 
of hnilding, as certainly as tire-places. Whether 
they shall cost little- or much, be convenient or 
inconvenient, will depend ou the question whether 
or not they have entered into the original plan of 
the building. They are needed, too, almost as 
much for burns as for houses. 
2d. For almost the same reasons, good filters 
should form part of the fixtures of nearly every 
Western home. By a simple adjustment, a filter 
may be so constructed that it shall purify the 
water before it enters the cistern, and a supply of 
soft, pure, clean water be at hand for all uses 
during the entire year. 
3d. We are tempted to say a word on Ice Houses 
in this connection. But we only mention the 
topic, for our Western friends to think upon. If 
.. . .. 
TWO DOLLARS A YEAR.J 
“PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT.” 
[SINGLE NO. FIVE CENTS. 
Y0LUMEYM. NO. 10.1 
1 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.-SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1857. 
1 1 - 
I WHOLE NO. m. 
