[ SINGLE NO. FIVE CENTS}]* 
PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT 
WHOLE NO. 405.,I" 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.-SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1857 
NO. 41. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
AN ORIGINAL WEEKLY 
ed^ift of that fearful folly, under the influence of | pliahments — our sacces^a anl ocr defeats— °nr 
which rational beings had directed their whole I joys and our sorrows—each viewed separately, is 
Agricultural, Literary and Family Newspaper. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOOKE, 
WITH AN ABLE CORPS OP ASSISTANT EDITORS. 
SPECIAL CONTItIHLTOKSI 
Prof. O. DEWEY, T. 0. PETERS 
Lt. M. F. MABRY, H. T. BROOKS 
Dr. ASA FITCH, KWD. WEBSTER, 
T. 8. ARTHUR, Mbs. M J. HOLMES, 
LYMAN B LANOW0KTHY 
Tns Kcual New-Yorker is deeijmed to be unsurpassed in 
Value, Purity, Usefulness and Variety of Contents, and unique 
and beautiful in Appearance, Its Conductor devotes his per¬ 
sonal attention to the supervision of its various departments, 
nnd earnestly labors to render the Rural sti eminently Reliable 
Guide on tho Important Practical, Scientific mid other Subjects 
intimately connected with the bnsiness ol those whose Interests 
It tediously advocates. It embraces more Agricultural, Ilorti- 
culloral, Scientific. Mechanical, Literary and News Matter, 
Interspersed with appioprlate arid beautiful Engravings, than 
any other Journal,— rendering it tho tnn-t complete Agriccltc- 
ral Literary arc Family Jocritai. in America 
ty All communications, and business letters, should be 
addressed to I). D. T. MOORE, Rochester, N. Y. 
For Terms and other particulars, see last page. 
flral Jtfo-Jircfctt. 
THE POTATO—ITS HISTORY, &e. 
A correspondent asks why the Potato is called 
the Irish Potato. To answer this question it will 1 
be necessary, and perhaps not unprofitable, to give 
something of its history. The first potatoes ever 
grown in Europe were raised on Sir Walter Ra¬ 
leigh's estate In Ireland, the seed being taken by 
him from Yirginia about 1602. For many year*, 
although eaten, they were grown more aa objects 
of wirioeHy than for profit Their culture, however, 
continued to Increase, and, during the wars that 
devastated Ireland towards the end of the seven 
teenth centnry, when the growing grain was de¬ 
stroyed by the BOldicry, the potato crop served to 
keep the inhabitants from starvation. It could not 
he destroyed by fire, and, in f.tot, nothing hut. dig¬ 
ging up the crop could destroy it, which was alto¬ 
gether too much like work for Boldiers, and too 
long a job, and so the potatoes weie left to the 
hungry people, for which, they were, no doubt, 
very thankful. After this the potato became very 
popular in Ireland, and about the year 1604 was 
introduced into the county of Lancashire, Eng¬ 
land, when it gradually Bpread over other adjoin¬ 
ing counties, and through all England; but it was 
not until about the middle of the seventeenth cen¬ 
tury that tho Scotoh gave it a trial. Previous to I 
this date in England potatoes were grown princi 
pally in vegetable gardens, and occupied no prom¬ 
inent place in field culture. During the latter end 
of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nine¬ 
teenth centnry the potato iuoreased in popularity, 
and there was a consequent increase in its cultare. 
But, even np to 1812 the limited extent of the 
crop may he judged from the fact that during that 
year, when breadstuff's were extremely dear and 
scarce, the British Parliament were urged by agri¬ 
cultural and political economists and the press to 
recommend, or pass some law requiring, that every 
farmer should grow one acre of potatoes for every 
hundred acres occupied. 
What the original variety first taken from Vir¬ 
ginia was, or whether more than one variety, is not 
known, and it was not until about the year 1800 
that we find much said of different sorts. Atthat 
time Donaldson, in his Modem Agriculture, enu¬ 
merated thirty-seven varieties as being cultivated 
in England. 
No plant has exercised so great an influence up¬ 
on the world, and particularly upon the people of 
Europe, as the potato. On this point wc give an 
extract from the Encyclopedia of Agriculture :— 
" While the English and Scotch laborer were ben¬ 
efited by the introduction of potatoes into their 
dietary, aud slowly improving in worldly comforts, 
by this new addition to their daily food, the IriBb 
peasant was making uo progress, in consequence 
of his entire dependence on one particular kindof 
food; which, however excellent as an accompani¬ 
ment or supplement to other articles of diet, can 
never he wholly employed as a substitute, without 
producing those fearful evils which tho exclusive 
cultivation aud use of the potato have occasioned 
in Ireland. From being the hope and strength of 
industry." 
From this brief history of Fie potf'i in Btitaiu. 
we may learn some useful lessons. Alter it had 
been known and cultivated for 200 yens, it was 
thought necessary by some of the wiss-mc and best 
men to encourage or enforce its growth by parlia¬ 
mentary action. In twenty yearB after this ques¬ 
tion waH agitated, so popular bad it beoouie, and 
so general its use, that no root could compare with 
it, either In the quantity raised, or in the esteem 
in which it was held by the peopie The fact 
tberelore, that a plant gains but slowly o popular 
favor, is no certain evidence that it, m dot valuable, 
and we should be careful how we cry out " humbug 1 ’ 
at everything ne w because of apparent failure at 
first Some of the new plants lately Introduced 
may ultimately effect as great a moral, social and 
political revolution in this country as did tne po¬ 
tato in Europe. If the Chinese Sugar Cane shall 
enable the farmers of the north to manufacture 
sugar and molasses so as to supply our markets at 
a cheap rare, who can calculate the mighty moral 
and social change that will be peacefully effected 
by if, compared with which the greatest political 
revolution will sink into insigtillcance. We may 
learn also the folly of growing one crop so exclu¬ 
sively ns to make its success or failure a matter of 
such serious importance, almost a question of life 
aud death, instead of a mere matter of profit or 
loss ior a season. We have always urged our 
farmers to grow a diversity of crops, even whete 
one or two seemed for a time to be the most profit¬ 
able, aDd the failure of the wheat crop in the Gen¬ 
esee Valley has proved the wisdom of the advice. 
The potato with us is an important crop. It is 
found every day ol the year npon the tables of 
infinitesimal when placed by the Bide of the 
workiugs of the great mass of humanity. Minute 
and insignificant as these may seem, they are not 
only necessary, hut are in fact, the very foundation 
to 'hat superstructure which is, as yet, merely the 
creation of th- hnln. We must secure here—at 
the base — or the entire fabric will topple to de¬ 
struction, burying aroid its ruins, not alone hopes 
of triumph and the glory cf success, hut its origi¬ 
nator and buil dors. It is the practice of economy 
in little things that makes ua rich—the applying 
of the small streams of fertility that invigorates 
our soil—the proper use of all the means within 
our reach that will enlighten our minds, while on 
the other hand, it is the little waste that makes 
want — scattering the enriching sources that cre¬ 
ates barrenness o ( ' both soil and brain — in short, 
the passenger upm the stream of time must fear 
the little leaks -.r t.is ship will founder as surely 
as though the water poured into her in torrents.— 
Having premised thus much, we purpose to direct 
the attentien of our leaders to some of those mat¬ 
ters connected with the farmer's calling, which we 
are too opt to Loutider ss of BmaU account. 
The home of the farmer and his family might 
receive much more attention—be benefited by a 
more profuse expenditure—and, at the same time, 
there would be no danger of incurring the envy 
of the weak-minded nor the name of the spend¬ 
thrift. We are fearful that a msjority of those 
places where we ear, drink and sleep are too much 
dignified by the title of Home. To be sure it is 
the spot where we reside—the place we mean 
when we speak of home—but has it any hallowed 
associations?—is there that about it, which, -ere 
we to leave it to-morrow would cause the tear of 
regret? Does your sou talk of the charms of the 
]VIO K.G.A-TV HORSE “ GENERAL GIFFORD, 
The fine Morgan Stallion above represented is 
the property of Eliab Yeomans, Esq., of Wal¬ 
worth, N. Y. Ills color is chestnut, with no white. 
He was got by old General Gifford; grand sire, 
h s general form, (althcog* he >s but three years 
old,; he pufsenses the most important requisites in 
a stallion, viz,, ‘as much goodness as could possi¬ 
bly he condensed in a small spice.' His head is 
Gifford; great grand sire, Woodbury; g. g. grand fine, eyes lively and prominent, his chest capacious, 
the rich and poor, aud is at once a luxury and a | regret? Does your sou talk of the charms ot tne 
necessity. In no part of the country is it grown | city, and tho dn’iue** an‘jnosiaese of th e country? 
s> extensively, we think, »& around RooRester.— Js bo in.iHm-l to Mrs Ac : £4T. : amrseek a fWM* 
' r I .... . « f . i;/. 2 
Immense quantities are shipped every year to New 
York, as far west as Chicago, and to most of the 
large cities of Canada West. No crop (excepting 
fruit) pay8 as well. In 1854 they averaged one 
dollar per bushel; in 1855, fitly cents; in 1850, one 
dollar; and at the present time are selling at from 
three to four shillings. Those who grow largely 
for shipping, generally keep their crop over until 
spring, when the demand is greater and the price 
higher than in the fall. For keeping potatoes 
nothing equals a good root cellar, and some of 
our potato larmeTS have very fine ones. This is 
much better aud more economical thau burying 
in the ground. For several years the potato rot 
has not been very serious, though every wet sum¬ 
mer the crop i3 more or less injured. In 1855 the 
summer was very wet, and probably full one-tbitd 
hood amid the wear and teir of commercial life.' 
Depend upon it, iu nine casta out of ter, the trou¬ 
ble is to be found at the doors of your “home.” 
We are not finding fault with the style of archi 
toctnre, the newness or the oldness of the material, 
or the color of the outward .vb ruing — not these 
complete a home. Art—though guided by tie pow¬ 
ers of an arch-angel; though new Golcondaa sprang 
into being with the wish; though furnished with 
all that earth can give or the spirit of man can 
long for,—if the dew of affection be gone, cannot 
erect a habitation worthy of the name. It is not 
so much the external appearance hut the seem not, 
be of the interior. And yet, who can doubt the 
influence of u neat dwelling. Wheeler. in his 
Rural Hornes, says:—“Perhaps the house has a 
quiet simplicity about it that shames the lovers of 
of the potatoes were destroyed. In 1856 we had a gaudy carpeting and showy upholstery into a bet- 
dry season, aud saw not the slightest sign of rot ter taate; perhaps Us arrangement of rooms sog- 
The present summer has been wet, and rather cold gests an emonded an 1 more refined adjustment of 
and backward, and we have heard much com- domestic economy; a little plant cabinet has per- 
dry season, aud saw not the slightest sign of rot- 
The present summer has been wet, and rather cold 
and backward, and we have heard much com¬ 
plaint of tbia disease, aud observed unmistakable 
signs of mischief on the vines. We have seen 
several lots dug, on high, sandy grouud, and not 
two per cent, were affected. On heavy, moistlaud 
the evil is much more serious. Indeed, wc would 
not try to grow potatoes on a heavy soil. As 100 
or 150 bushels is not a large crop, our readers will 
have no difficulty in figuring np a good profitfrem 
growing potato**, at the prices wc have named, 
even though the crop ahuuld be injured some¬ 
what in wet seasons, as daring the past five years. 
What wc have not been able to account for on 
auy principles creditable to the sagacity of the 
farmers of some parts of the country, is tho fact 
that speculators can pay one dollar or one dollar 
and twenty-five ceuts for poiato. s in this city, 
pack them, aud ship to the cities ot the Wes*, sur¬ 
rounded by a country as fertile and beautiful as 
any the sun i ver shone npon, and make money by 
the operation. This fact alone indicates t hat even 
at this late day more attention should be given by 
farmers in some localities to this crop. 
-- 
THE LITTLE THINGS. 
Some men there are who pass through life with- 
[ out impressing even the knowledge of their having 
existed upon the memories of the intelligences by 
which they were surrounded. They have depar ted 
—the fretted marble marks not their last resting 
place—they left no “letters of gold" recounting 
kindly offices performed —their good Jeeoa (it they 
ever did anything worthy) lie in the duut with 
them—they icere and are not, is their entire hia- 
book-rooai, if merely, perhaps, from the pleasant 
view commanded from its windows, has tempted 
occupancy in an unbusy hour, and the mind, calm 
and unhindered by household carts, has found 
time to strengthen itself by inwaid contemplation 
or the study of books. Numberless are the meth¬ 
ods by which a wholesome influence will work — 
lusting and limitless are its c-ffecia. The young 
girl, that, finding no intrinsic pleasure at home, 
nor regarding it otherwise than the sphere of her 
domestic duties, would seek away from its shelter, 
and with companions other than those cf the 
household; pleasures ftud excitements neither so 
who esome nor refining as a fond parent could 
wish, would find in a well ordered home so much 
to attach her heart aud give food to her mind that 
the inducement to wander would be without allure¬ 
ment.” 
The long evenings are fast comiDg on, and it 
would be well for the head of every family to ask 
himself the question—What shall 1 do to dissemi¬ 
nate knowledge among those surrouuding my 
hearthstone during the winter now about setting 
in? Book* are silent teachers—they laugh not at 
our ignorance, nor chide us fer our errors, but 
noiselessly impart information to those who seek 
therefor. The labors of the day being over do not 
on ill pel your children to sit listlessly about ihe 
room, or to seek associations foreign to home in¬ 
terests, for the purpose of dispelling what Is so 
often termed “ dull care.” The mind has its desert 
places as well as the soil — places which demand 
sire, Justin Morgan. Dam, a beautiful, clean limb, barrel round, loin broad, back short, quarters long 
ed and very active animal, of Messenger descent and muscular, flanks deep and full, limbs short- 
“General Gifford, Jr.,” was awarded the first jointed, flat and sinewy; a lively, quick action, 
premium in his class at the late Horse'Show at with head up, and an intelligent and docile temper 
Palmyra. The Palmyra Courier pronounces him and spirit.” General Gifford, Jr., was to be ex- 
" • u - - - t.- *• **♦ (?aaw, SfAildsio. tUifct 
SURFACE AND FOREST DRAINING. I ing land too wet, as level land, and in most in- 
- ] stances from the onflowing of foreign surface 
Dkaining has been written cf until it would water. Wet or too moist upland Is generally fully 
seem the sut ject must be drained of valuable ma- j as worthy of being drained as lower land, and its 
terial for added essays. Farmeis have read until I necessities should be more closely studied fcy the 
they feel little promise of reward tor further read- ) practical farmer. 
ing. Yet the subject has lost none of its impor- j Few farmers but have noted the good effects of 
tance, for it underlies eve-y improvement in agti- a well raised turnpike, along the brow of some 
cultural advancement | gradually sloping field, and yet this is naught but 
One feature of draining we have never seen the action of draining. Since this subject has 
descaDted upon. We refer to the influence of the been presented to me in its present light, I have ob- 
forest upon cultivated adjoining fields. It is not served many instances in which forest water was 
slight—it is not occasional—lt is not periodical:— injurious to cultivated fields — indeed few wood- 
it is perpetual—:! is destructive to vegetation—it iota but have a banefol effect upon some bordering 
is susceptible of remedy. From forest laud there field. In stiff clayey soils this is most apparent, 
is continually oozing cold, unfertilizing water, but I saw several marked instances during are- 
saturating greater or less breadth of Lower land ceE ^ short walk in Livingston Co. 
and rendering it frigid, sterile and unproductive. The drain which we should prefer in cutting off 
We were first led to observe the baueful effect forest, spring or surface water, would be open 
of forest water in the draining of a bit of thin flitches — especially for hard But in 
soiled clay land, by cutting a ditch to catch the case the water was needed tor n-flEj&d blind 
water of tv certain spring. The ditch was about ditch would bo preferable. In ch^HHfa point 
one-eighth of a mile in length, and ran parallel at which to mm the water gatheredu*§-a ditch 
with and close by the adge of a piece of woodland, from it, as high ground ss possible suSuld select- 
uot with, but across the fail of the land, in such e fl aU( j this kept in meadow, as the vegetation of 
manner as to cut, off the chiL btg water which had high and naturally dry land, is less injured by 
hitherto soaked through the poverty stricken soiL wa ter than low land, and meadow, less than pasture 
No sooner was the ditch completed, than the land or grain land. Jno. Sanfibld. 
below dryed by if, gave evidence of change, and Homer, N. Y., 1857. 
influence of a neat dwelling. Wjixbt.xr. in his it * perpetual-it is destructive to vegetation-it i ota but have a banefol effect upon s 
Rural Homes says:-" Perhaps the hour* has a is susceptible of remedy. From forest laud there field. In stiff clayey soils this is i 
quiet simplicity about it that shames the lovers of ™ continually oozing cold, anfertihzing water b ut I saw several marked instance 
gaudy carpeting and showy upholstery into a bet- saturating greater or less breadth of lower land cent short walk in Livingston Co. 
ter taste: perhaps Ha arrangement of rooms sag- and rendering it (rigid, sterile and unproductive. The drain which we shonid prefei 
gests an amended and rnoro refined adjnstment of We were first led to o .serve the baneful effect forest, spring or surface water, w 
domestic economy; a little plant cabinet has per- of forest water in the draining ot a bit of thm ditches - especially for hard clay 
heps forced the love and attention necessary for soiled clay Und, by cutting a ditch to catch the ca&e ^ wattr wa3 needed tor us| 
the cultare of a few flowers; a retired, quiet little water of a certain spring. The ditch was about i ditch would bo preferable. In ch 
book-room, if merely, nerhaps, from tbe pleasant one-eighth of a mile in length, and ran parallel j at which to tern the water gathe 
the country in times of famines, arising from the tory. And why? They lacked not opportunity; 
.. -- * - - - -- ... A 11 _ _. - _ il_ __ 
with and close by the edge of » piece of woodland, [ 
not with, but aoross the fall of the land, in such 
manner as to cut off the chili? ;g water which had 
hitherto soaked through the poverty stricken soiL 
No sooner *aa the ditch completed, than the land 
below dryed by it, gave evidence of change, and 
apparently underwent, in a short time, an entire 
chemical transformation. The soil, before a blue, 
hard clay, which atr, frost, nor sun, could change, 
now became a light, f.-iab-e, dark, fertile looking 
loam, procucing abundantly. This was loosed 
npon as a wonderful transformation. 
Thc-usands of farmers are tilling soil saturated 
by forest amt spring water soaking continually 
through it, which a few dollars would largely in¬ 
crease in fertility. In early spring the snow of 
the woods melts slowiy, und continues running 
across or Boaking through lower Lnd. This sup¬ 
ply is kep: up through the summer by occasional 
rains, so that a continual los3 ot water is soaking 
from woodland upon lower lands. In this manner 
the vegetation of many naturally fertile fields is 
held in check throughout the summer. The lea- 
son is obvious—a d nse growth of forest prevents 
evaporation, and all superabundant water seeks a 
lower levek 
Level lauds are more injured in this manner 
than broken or undulating. Hence in hilly or un¬ 
even districts, the forest soil retaius much less 
water thau in comparatively level ones, so that 
| less necessity exists lbr ditch draining in the 
former. Any farmer who will observo his fields 
THE ILLINOIS STATE FAIR. 
Fbi 3 np Moore The East looks Westward with 
increasing interest these days. Her children are 
here, “trying for themselves,” and there is some 
anxiety to ka-w me result. The indiscriminate 
“ pitching in” to western lands, corner lots, &c., is 
expected to result in ft “ pitching out ” or “ going 
np” of credit, and confidence in Western men.— 
Well, it Is a hard theme to dwell upon—bard, be¬ 
cause whatever may be the fatalities here, they 
seem equally numerous and disastrous among the 
“Old folks at home;” hence jour correspondent 
proposes to let each day record its doings, without 
venturing to predict “ who next!” 
Bat our young people held <i Fair at Peoria, last 
week. Suckerdom was out in gala dress. The 
writer arrived on the grounds, (which were beau¬ 
tifully located on a bluff one and a half miles from 
the city,) Wednesday morning, Sept. 23d. That 
day there was a crowd. Over four thousand dol¬ 
lars were received by the society. 
The Grounds .—We said before they were beau¬ 
tifully located. They were also finely fitted np, 
being the grounds of the Peoria Co. Ag. Society, 
failure of the cereal crops in the earlier part of the 
present ocutury.uml always exercising an influence 
in keeping down the prices of corn in times of 
scarcity, the potato itself, more recently, became 
the cause of tho dircBt iiuuine ever known iu Ire¬ 
land for in 1845 came that dreadful scourge which 
destroyed tho food of a whole people, and threw 
them for support upon tho charity of the govern¬ 
ment and liberality of tho benevolent. Thu extent 
to which the people of Ireland had depended upon 
the potato crop was never even guessed at, until 
this period; and then came, too late, the knowl- 
uor power to labor or endure; nor the moans 
for the promotion of righteous euda. They only 
forgot that life is made up of little things—they 
waited lor the privilege of accomplishing a great 
task—a task that Bhould give unto them pre-emi¬ 
nence among their fellows— aud while idling, the 
grave opened, the mortal disappeared “like the 
baseless fabric of a vision, and left not a wreck 
behind.” 
To no class of workers do the little things wear 
a greater import than to the tillers of the soil. As 
our life so our labor—our projects and our accom- 
the invigorating properties of powerful fertilizers, former. Any rarmer wno wm ooservo u.» uciu» uc 7. '' 
Give ample opportunities lor the acquirement of subject to a flow of forest water for one year, will enlarged, and furnished with permanent Luildmgs. 
knowledge, aud by influence and example create a not fail to discover cause for complaint. In clear- Stalls for cattle and houses encircled tho whole 
desire, on the part of the young, for the accnmu- ing a farm of the forest growth, care should be area, and were more than lull, 
lationof such ideas as will benefit and elevate.— taken that the woodland be not left upon the Horses. — This department of the show was 
We have, heretofore, given it as our belief, that if height of laud or whore it can throw its leaching splendid. 
such a course were pursued, the next decennial oen- water upon the cultivated fields. Cattle .—Here also our State pride was gratified 
aus would exhibit an increase in the ranks of those We hold the following to be the first proper step by an exhibition which would do honor to oldei 
following rural avocations—that tillers of the eo 11, ia all efforts at draining. To cut ditches so that btates. 
instead of being the conservators of crude prin- water cannot leach or ran on from the sur ace of Sheep .—'The number was small, but the speci- 
ciples, would be men of reflection, decision aud 
character, and we are impressed that this belief of 
the past is the spirit of to-day. 
Stalls for cattle and houses encircled the whole 
area, aud were more than lull. 
Horses. — This department of the show was 
splendid. 
Cattle .—Here also our State pride was gratified 
by an exhibition which would do honor to older 
States. 
Sheep .—The number was small, but the speci- 
other farms or fields. It i 3 a great mistake that mens of Spanish aud French Merinoes, South 
only level lauds need draining. All wet lands Downs, Bakewclls, Ac, were unsurpassed m quality, 
need it, and we almost as frequently find undolat- Swine .—Our ideal of a real hog, both in eh'arac- 
