MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER 
A NEW AND FINE SWEET APPLE 
Messrs. Eds. :—I wish to introduce to the read¬ 
ers of the Rural and the public, an apple which 
is u every way worthy of a place in the orchard, or 
garden of every person who plants an apple tree. 
It is a sweet apple, of large, to very large Bize, 
shaped very much like a Rhode Island GreeniDg 
apple, only in size, a little larger; in shape more 
flattened, in color, it resembles the Bartlett pear 
very much when fnlly ripe. Skio, yellow, with 
white and green spots; one Bide often red, next, 
the sun; flesh, white, fine grained, tender, rich and 
sugary; with a good spicy flavor. It originated 
in this (Dutchess county,) New York, and is called 
by some, “ Sweet Ox ” apple, bnt is has not the 
shape tor qualities of the “Ox” apple. I think a 
more appropriate name will be the “ Dntchesa Co. 
Sweeting,” by which name ( shall cultivate it in 
the Nursery. 
I have tasted a great many sweet apples, hut 
there are none, in my opinion, that will compare 
with this. Many sweet apples have a taste slight¬ 
ly bitter, bnt thiB is very sugary. It needs no 
sweetening in baking, as a thick syrup bakes out 
of them, when ripe. In an orchard of 100 trees 
in bearing, we have, of this variety, one half.— 
They ripen and are in eating from October to 
April. Mr. Charles Downing, of Newburg, has 
tasted this apple, or, I may say, had them for table 
use, sent from here, for two years past. He pro¬ 
nounces them the best of sweet apples, but knows 
ao name by which to designate it. Mr. Downing, 
no doubt, will give any person information re¬ 
garding the value of this apple. —B. Snyder, 
Rhinebtck, A. Y. 
THE LAST FLOWER'S OF AUTUMN 
It would almost seem that science, in its rapid 
march, would finally procnre for the great whales 
of the deep, a respite from the tormenting and 
deadly assaults of the harpoon. Artificially made 
oils and fluids are steadily displacing animal pro¬ 
ducts for purposes of illumination, ami now by a 
somewhat recent discovery the bone of the whale 
iB no longer needed to supply onr umbrella and 
skirt-makers with skeleton frames. In 1855, Jo¬ 
seph KJeeman, of Meissen, Germany, obtained a 
patient for a mode of preparing a substitute for 
whalebone. The process has been put into prac¬ 
tice by a firm in New York city, who are taming 
out about twenty thousand nmbrella frames every 
week! It consists in taking sticks of the common 
ratan, and soaking them in a liquid extract, for 
about four dayB, after which they are immersed in 
a solution of any of the iron salts, which gives 
the ratan a deep black dye. Snbsquently the 
sticks are exposed in a close vessel, for the space 
of about one hour, to the action of steam of about 
three or four atmospheres' pressure, and then 
thoroughly dried in a furnace or drying room at 
a temperature of about 180 degrees Fahrenheit, 
when they become ready for the impregnating 
process. 
The sticks are then placed into an iron cyl¬ 
inder, (capable of standing the pressure of at least 
ten atmospheres) connected by a pipe with an 
open vessel, containing a varnish made by dissolv¬ 
ing 120 parts of shellac, and 200 partB of Bargun- 
dy pitch, in 90 parts of absolute alcohoL The air 
having been exhausted from the cylinder, the 
cock connecting it with the vessel containing the 
varnish is opened, when the atmospheric pressure 
will force the varniBh into the cylinder and into 
the pores of the ratan. 
The impregnation of the Tatan is rendered more 
perfect by the use of a pump for forcing the solu¬ 
tion into the cylinder. The ratan has now chang¬ 
ed its character aud become hardly distignisbable 
from the best quality of whalebone, except that it 
is somewhat more elastic and It-ss liable to splin¬ 
ter and break. It has gained one hundred per 
cent in weight by impregnation. After being re¬ 
moved from the cylinders, or impregnators, bnt 
little remains to be done In the way of drying 
polishing, and fitting the ends, Ac., to prepare it 
for use for umbrellas, parasols, Ac., and various 
otter purposes.— Scientific American. 
Wb welcome with delight the first flowers of 
Spring, the heraldB of the comiDg Bummer, the 
beautiful season of buds and blossoms. Not less 
interesting are the last flowers of Autumn; yet 
this interest Is associated with a shade of melan¬ 
choly, as wo realize, how soou their glory will de¬ 
part—that they are with us for only a day or two 
more—that even in the coming night an icy hand 
may be laid upon them, and the! r short lives of love- 
liness ended. Every evening we look at the sky, 
and judge of the chanceB of a frost, and in the 
morning we visit onr garden, sometimes almost 
hoping against hope, that the flowers have been 
spared ns another day. We have been favored the 
present season. To the present time (Oct. 19tb,) 
nothing has been injured by froBt, in this section, 
except, perhaps in a few situations very much ex¬ 
posed. 
Among the flowors that make the garden bril¬ 
liant at this season of the year, nothing equals the 
Dahi.ia. They are of every shade of color, from 
the pure white, to the darkest imaginable reddish 
pnrplo, almost black. Some of the fancy varieties 
are very singularly and very finely mottled. They 
bloom very freely, auo a well grown plant at this 
season of the year will be covered with flowers.— 
Most of the newest varieties, are very fine, many 
of them very large, almost perfect globes. 
The Salvias, pirti ularly the variety called 
Splendens, with fiery scarlet flowers, at this time 
is exceedingly brilliant—nothing can look gayer. 
AtEi.LWANUsa A Baukt’s we saw twoplantssome 
six feet high, and every way in proportion. Those 
who are not acquainted with it can imagine a 
plant of this size, with large dark green thick, 
glossy leaves, wrinkled something like the sage 
leaf; and these leaves about half hid with pendant 
brilliant scarlet flowers. The Lilarina is a blue 
variety rather pretty, but not equal to the Splen¬ 
dent. The Salvias are bedding plants, like the 
Verbena, Ac., and can be procured at almost any 
numry or gretn-hou6e, very cheaply in the spring 
in pots. 
The Herbaceous Phloxes are now very fine, 
and that favorite annual, Phlox Drummondii, is 
still showing its flowers, and exhibits a fine variety 
of colors. 
We find the Larkspurs still showing their blue 
flowers, and a variety called Bybridum is very fine. 
The Acomtcm we also find among the bine flowers. 
The Pansies are now flowering finely, and every 
body loves this modest pretty flower. The child¬ 
ren love the Pansy and will freely select it from 
among its more showy neighb'ra, if allowed their 
choice. 
GATHERING AND SAVING GRAPES, 
Ab the proper gathering of grapes has much to 
do with good preservation for winter nae, with all 
the qnalitiea retained as when first gathered, it 
may be well to consider some of the provisions ol 
nature in their growth and maturity. When the 
stem at first puts forth next to the vine it is tender 
and brittle—as it now is near the bunch of grapes 
— hot as it matures it becomes harder and quite 
unyielding even to the sharp blade of the kuife, 
and as the grapes become ripe, near the viDe it 
Bhrinks and becomes nearly or quite dry, while 
the portion at and near the grapes is much larger, 
extremely brittle aud jaicy. And now, in eeveriDg 
the Btem, shall we take it off near the grapes where 
it is usually and easily done, or near the vine, 
where nature baring given to the luscious fruit all 
the supplies necessary to ics full perfection, has 
nearly or quite barred its doors, in order that none 
of its qualities may escape? My belief aud prac¬ 
tice is, not to oppose, but to assist in carrying out 
the design of nature. Cut the stem near the vine 
with care, and having lain them in boxes or tubs 
between layers of the best white cotton batting, to 
avoid all scent fromthe cotton, storq in a cool place. 
By pursuing this method, I have heretofore, in 
winter, found the stems with the grapes perfectly 
sound, not even wilted; and they richly contribute 
to the delicacies of the table.— 8. N. Holmes, Sy¬ 
racuse. 
the sunny side, some slightly bronzed, and others 
without any color. Flesh — remarkably melting 
and juicy, sugary and rich, with a sprightly and 
peculiar flavor. It ripens and keeps remarkably 
well in the house. Tree—erect in its habit, with 
yellowish shoots and prominent bads.” 
The Sbeldon seems to succeed, and become a 
favorite wherever known. We have never heard a 
word of complaint in regard to it from any section. 
At the last meeting of the American Pomological 
Society, it was unanimously adopted for general 
cultivation, the highest honor that could be awarded. 
The following were the opinions of the gentlemen 
who spoke upon the question, and no one dissented 
from these favorable expressions : 
Mb. Hookeb said—we think this one of the best 
pearB grown, hut, as it originated in this neighbor¬ 
hood, we would like to have the opinion of our 
friends from the East. Mr. Hovky said that he 
had fruited this pear Bix years; one of the best; 
at the head of onr native pears. Thinks no for¬ 
eign pear superior’to it. It b^ars young, produces 
large crope, and tire trt • :.s a good grower. Con¬ 
siders it the beet pear in America. Mr. H. E. 
Hooker said he knew no pesr tqual to it. Mr. 
BABBYsaid it was a pear ot the highest excellence 
in every respect. Mr. J. .1. Thomas had the very 
highest opinion of this pear. 
Edb. Rural: — It would be very gratifying to 
one of your readers to see a description of the fine 
Sheldon Pear in your next issue.—A. J. McClabb, 
Palmyra, Oct., 1857. 
The Sheldon is at least one of onr very best 
pears. It is of exceedingly high flavor and very 
juicy. We once heard a gentleman remark on 
tasting it that a smaller piece of the Sheldon pear 
would make a mouthful than of ariy variety he had 
ever eaten. And this is true. All the finest flavors 
of all the best pears seem to be concentrated in 
this fruit This pear was raised from seed brought 
from the east, by Mr. Sheldon, of Wayne Co., after 
whom it is named. It does not succeed on the 
quince, bnt double-worked, or on the pear stock, it 
should have a place la every collection, no matter 
how small. Our engraving is a very good portrait 
of a specimen rather under average size. 
“Fruit—medium, or rather above medium size. 
Form — generally roundish, hut varying much; 
sometimes quite round, others obovate or inclin¬ 
ing to oval; some taper to a point at the stalk, 
and others are as broad at the stalk as at th© 
eje. Stalk — short, sometimes set on the surface, 
but generally sunk slightly, as in the engraving. 
Calyx—medium size, in a smooth, round, rather 
shallow basin. Skin—smooth, usually of a green¬ 
ish russet; some spocimena are tinted with red on 
Cranberries and Sweet Potatoes. — I wish | with th© largest possible absorbing and radiating 
you would give some instruction about setting out metallic surface, so that the iron iu contact with 
cranberrits—which is the beat time, and how the the air may not be overheated, but give out its 
ground should be fitted? And if you can give me warmth at a low temperature, 
some information in regard to raising sweet pota- Large stoves, moderately heated, are therefore 
toes—the best time to plant and how to manage mos t desirable. The cooler the surface of the 
them t Please give the instruction through your 8 tove, or the nearer it is in temperature to the air 
columns, so that others may be benefited as well 0 f room, the more agreeable and salubrious 
as myself.—W, H. J., KnowlesvilU, iV. Y. w jU be its influence. This desirable result is to be 
Remarks. — Che sprin we consider . the best obtained only by exposing the greatest quantity of 
time for planting cranberries. The ground should heating surface to the least quantity of fuel—a 
first be pared, taking off the turf, weeds, Ac., as condition almost reversed in modern stoves. In 
the growth of weeds is very injurious to the plants, Germany snd Russia, stoves are commonly made 
and makes their culture very troublesome. If an 0 f brick, earthen-ware and porcelain. They are 
inch or two of clear sand is thrown over the soil generally made to project into the room from one 
before planting, it helps to smother the weeds, side, like a chest of drawers or a side-board, the 
without affeoting the plants. Water and air seems door for the fire being sometimes in an adjoining 
to be the principal sustenance of the cranberry, apartment. These stoves heat more slowly, and 
and we have seen them flourishing in apparently consequently give out their warmth for a longer 
pure, wet sand. time than those made of iron. 
Swbkt Potatoes must he started in a hot-bed, -- 
early in the spring, and the plants removed to the FIRE BRICK. 
ground as soon as all danger from the frost is | - 
past. Three feet apart iB about the right distance The materials requisite for the manufacture of 
for the hills. The sweet potato plant is a vine, good fire brick are very plentiful in the United 
running on the ground, and will take root very States. There is an abundance of fire clay, also 
readily at almost any point This must be pre- | kaolin, the result of the decomposition of feld- 
vented by occasionally hoeing, or the growth ot spathic rock, which is very common between the 
tubers will be injured. About a week since we Alleghany mountains and the shores of the Atlan- 
dng some very fair sweet potatoes that we planted | tic; and it is more abundant in the Southern than 
on the first of June. in the Eastern and Northern States. In the region 
- — . . .. J Western coal deposits, an abundance of 
in', I- rf-A rtrnv slaty clay of good quality is found; and fire clay, 
i^l 011 U Sill vU CO It OUT IK in one or other lorm, abounds also iu the Western 
____ Stales. Iu this connection it may he remarked 
" that when Are brick of a finer composition are re- 
To Harden Tallow. W. B. P. sends us a quired, it is necessary tha : the materials should be 
The quartz sand used to increase 
stance is so sure a guaranty of life to a green or live 
plant, through the perilous trip, as green, fresh moBs. 
Since my first experiment, i have received thou¬ 
sands on thousands of trees and plants with scarce 
a loss of one per cent. Whereas with any or all 
other modes, I lost on average more than ninety 
per ceDt. 
Should any of your nursery readers profit by 
these suggestions, and thus onr purchasers be ben¬ 
efited, I shall bs amply repaid for writing and they 
for reading. For surely, few circumstances pro¬ 
dace sadder thoughts or more gloomy reflections 
than the sight of a case of dry sticks, which were 
30 days previous fine, healthy plants. Purchase 
money, express charges, time, (for we must wait an 
entire year,) hopes all gone! Sadness and gloom 
Eds. Rural:— By the time this reaches your 
readers the season for patting up trees for trans¬ 
portation will be approaching. Having Buffered 
many and heavy losses in my importations from a 
want of proper packing, I have concluded to give 
you the result of several years experience, at great 
expense. Having ordered my trees without any 
other direction than tbis.poei m the most approved 
manner, and fonnd that it would not do, 1 consult¬ 
ed books. Horticultural Journals, Ac., and then, 
gave successively, specific directions according to 
nearly all the approved methods. Yet, my failures 
were the rule, my successes the exception. Having 
followed all the " old pathB" to no purpose but 
discouragement and discomfiture, I had almost de¬ 
termined never to attempt another importation — 
At length, (“never give up,” having long been a 
motto of mine.) I had a box made and packed in 
the following manner:—In the first place the box 
was made of rough inch boards. The two end 
pieces each two inches longer than the width of 
the sides. The side pieces are then Dailed (with 
10’s or 12's,) to the edges of the ends, so that when 
the box is upon its bottom, the ends are perpen¬ 
dicular, projecting one inch above and below, thru 
the boards for the bottom and top are cut so as to 
go across the box and nail upon the edges of the 
side pieces, while the projections of the end pieces 
are nailed to lire edges of those cross boards. I 
am thus minute in describing the box, because 
they are seldom made thu*, but when they are, all 
hooping and binding is dispensed with. Across 
the bottom, and up and down the sides and ends 
ot the box, on the inside, strips ot Inch hoard, one 
inch wide and six inches apart, are tacked. Then 
take Moss, entirely green, directly from the swamp, 
and iu as tresh a state as possible, till the spaces 
between the strips on the bottom tight and cover 
over to the thickness of one inch, then lay iu a 
layer of trees or plants, keeping the spaces at the 
sides and ends filled tight with the moss. Then 
cover the layer of plants with a lajerof moss, and 
then another layer of plants aud so on, till the box 
is fall to within one tuch. Having tacked the 
The Plumbago Larpent.k, or Lead-wort, is very 
desirable with its wealth of dark blue flowers. It 
should have a little protection of leaves in the 
winter, in this latitude. The engraving gives a 
very good representation of the leaf and flower. 
The India Pinks are still in flower, and the Af- 
rioan Marigolds, though trnly not very sweet, 
m»ke a fine show in the garden, aud as yellow 
flowers are scarce at this season, are very desirable. 
The Gladiolus is one of the finest of fall flowers, 
though a little difficult of culture. The Ama¬ 
ranths are now grown of so many colors that 
they are not only very desirable for the garden, 
but indispensable for winter bouquettes. Several 
varieties of the Michaelmas Aster we noticed as 
being quite showy in the bed. 
We might mention some others, though we 
have named most of the flowers that adorn the 
garden aa late as the middle of October. 
PLANTING BULBS, TUBERS, Ac 
ground fine. 
the refractory nature of the brick should be pure. 
The clay thus mixed with quartz, or pure, is sub¬ 
jected to grinding, which should be done carefully 
and thoroughly, that the brick may be compact 
Carbon, in the form of graphite or anthracite dust, 
or coke dust, is often mixed with the clay from 
which crucibles are made. M. Overman states, in 
his work on MetaTnrgv, that fire bricks which are 
manufactured and used on the spot do notreqaire 
baking, bnt only those which are to be transport¬ 
ed.— Scientific American. 
Best Peaches for Market. —At the meetingof 
Horticulturists at Buffalo, during the State Pair, 
the varieties of peaches most worthy of cultivation 
for market came before the meeting, and A. Pin- 
nny, of Clarkson, said that among the fifty varie¬ 
ties cultivated in Western New York, he consid¬ 
ered only three first rate for market—the Serrate 
Early York, the Early Crawford, and Old Mixon 
Free. Dr. Sylvester, of Lyons, would add to the 
list recommended by Mr. Pinnky, the Large Early 
York, a very fine peach, though tender, and diffi¬ 
cult. to transport in good condition, and Hill’s 
Chill, which bore uniformly good crops, and fol¬ 
lowed the Early Crawford. 
Spiced Apple Tarts.— Rub stewed or baked ap¬ 
ples through a sieve, sweeten them, and add pow¬ 
dered mace and cinnamon sufllcient to flavor them. 
If the apples are not very tart, sqneeze in the juice 
of a lemon. Some persons like the peel of the 
id descrip- lemon gra'ed into it Line soup dishes with a 
inth. light crast, doable on the rim, and fill them and 
1 P.eonies th em antil the crust is done. Little bars of 
d is ready. crug ^ a quarter of an inch in width, crossed on 
and cover ^ 0 p 0 f jjj e tart before it is baked, are orna- 
tthebalbs mental. 
This must - 
Apple Custard. —Take half a dozen very tart 
apples and remove the skin and cores. Cook them 
mltivation until they begin to be soft, in half a teacup of 
mainesa in water. Then put them in a padding dish and 
id that the sugar them. Then beat eight eggs with four 
They are also subject to such extremes of climate citizens of that county will market one hundred spoonfuls of sugar, mix it with tbree pints of 
that nothing less than inch boards is a sufficient and fifty thousand gallons of wine, which at pres- milk ; pour it over the apples and bake for half 
protection. And I firmly believe that no other sub 
Labor. —The value of an industrial population 
cannot be too highly estimated, as however much 
capital may he at, command, it is of no use until 
the true material, the hara working laborer or 
skillful mechanic, are at hand to expend it and 
produce in its stead a road, a canal, a steam engine 
or a ship. Mnney is really worthless except in 
the relation it bears to the laborer; and tbe two 
are each dependent on the other, so the capitalist 
is entitled to the respect of the laborer, who in his 
tarn has a right to the same from the moneyed 
man. 
Horticultural Engraving.— Much improve¬ 
ment haa been made during the last few years in 
this country in drawing, engraving aud coloring 
fruits, flowers and plants. A. Frost A Co., nurse¬ 
rymen of this city, has presented us with a show 
card, lithographed by Bouakdi s A Lewis, of Buf¬ 
falo, which is well worthy of notice for the natural 
and life like rnanuer in which the work is executed. 
The portraits of fruits, and the drawings of trees, 
flowers, Ac., are done in a manner quite creditable 
to the artists. 
ent rates will amount to $200,000, 
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