MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER 
Elk Breeding in Cattaraugus. —Maiay of our 
readers will remember seeing iu a former volume 
of the Rural an engraving and description of 
several Elk owned by Mr. Stratton of Little Val¬ 
ley, Cat Co., N, Y., and will therefore be interested 
in this item from a Cattaraagns paper:—“We paid 
a flying visit to the Elk Park of L. D. Stratton, 
in Little Valley, last week. We perambulated the 
park, containing a hundred acres, with a strip of 
some four or six rods of clearing round the entire 
park, the centre being in the original forest state, 
in pnrsuit of the elk, in company with several 
gentlemen, and came up with a drove of nine 
which was really an interesting sight They were 
quite tame, so mnch 90 that Mr. Stratton conld 
call them np to him, and they eat salt from his 
hand These nine are from the original pair of 
elk brought to Little Valley from the Sooth-west. 
Mr. Stratton took Mb original pair of elk to the 
recent State Pair at Buffalo, procured a canvas, 
and exhibited them. He cleared $700 over and 
above the expenses, having actually taken a little 
over $l,oriO: and, at the cloae of the S’a’e Fair, 
Mr. Stratton sold his pair of elk for $1,000, to 
some Canadian gentlemen, who made the purchase 
for the purpose of exhibiting, And are to take 
them to Eaglapd.’’ 
Portuguese Cattle, — The King of Portugal 
has recently sent over to England a present of cat¬ 
tle of a very peculiar breed, to Q teen Victoria, 
consisting of a boll, two heifers ant a bull cal!'.— 
The animals are of the most perfect symmetry, 
and very diminutive, standing scarcely 40 inches 
high. They are of a dan color, and in fine condi¬ 
tion. The cows are very docile; but the ball, on 
being driven fruni the Btfttlon to Prince Albert’s 
model farm at Frogmore, where they are now in¬ 
stalled, exhibited a disposition rather the reverie 
of that of his companion", by tossing an unfortun¬ 
ate donkey abont. his own size, which happened to 
come in his way. These Lilliputian animals much 
resemble the Alderney or Jersey breed, but appear 
to be scarcely more than half the size.— Ex. 
-- - — — 
IIorsb-Chbbtnuts for Starch. —It is said that 
horse-chestnuts command, this year, in France, a 
price equal to that paid last season for potatoes, 
by the manufacturers of starch. These nuts are 
now bought np for a starch factory at Nanterre, 
near Paris. It is well that so good a nse for the 
horse chestnut has been found practicable, since in 
replacing the starch derived hitherto from cereals, 
the product of this fruit, till now deemed useless, 
will leave the corn and potato, so large and in¬ 
creasing a portion of which baa been devoted to 
industrial purposes, free for human consumption. 
receipts amounted to over $400—an amount alto¬ 
gether beyond our most sanguine expectations, 
and telling well for a county twenty miles from 
railroads or canals, and only a few years rescued 
from the dominion of the savage Pottawottomiea 
and crafty Miamis. But, Messrs. Editors, let me 
tell yon what I think contributed mnch, very 
much, towards all this success. It was that such 
papers as the Rural New-Yorker were freely 
circulated among onr people. And if I am not 
mistaken the Rural and other Agricultural and 
Horticultural paperB, will figure largely among the 
premiums for our next year’s meeting, instead ot 
the diplomas and cash premiums which are of tri¬ 
fling benefit compared with that that obtains from 
a free dissemination of knowledge among men, 
“ Youth it tnfirructa, old age delight*, 
Adorns prosperity, and when 
Of adverse fAtes we feel the blights, 
’ Twill comfort and solace us then." 
Charles Brackett. 
Rochester, Fulton Co., Indiana, Nov, 8,1857. 
decided that there were sixteen hundred pounds 
of squash growing upon the same vine that bore 
tbiB. The seed is known as the Camanche varie¬ 
ty, native of Northern Mexico; was planted in 
April, and palled 17th September. Soil sandy 
loam, fourteen feet deep to subsoil, and watered by 
irrigation.’ ” In addition to the foregoing, beets 
were shown weighing 90 pounds; potatoes 20 
pounds; Corn stalks 20 feet in length, etc. In the 
culture and growth of Fruit the Californian is fast 
coming up to the spirit of the age, as is evi¬ 
denced by the list of Apples, Pears, Native and 
Foreign Grapes, Ac., exhibited. Of the former of 
these (Apples and Pears) many specimens weigh¬ 
ing 28 and 30 ounces were shown; and not only 
were 'hey superior in size bntin quality. The ex¬ 
hibition was well attended, $13,000 being the 
amount of the receipts. At the close of the Fair 
a meeting ot the Society was held for the election 
of officers, for ti e ensuing year, and also for the 
purpose of fixing place of next Annual Exhibition. 
The following gentlemen were unanimously elec¬ 
ted:— President— John C. Fall, of Ynba county; 
Vice Presidents— G N. Sweezy, of Yuba, George C. 
Young of Napa Co., John Bid well, of Butte Co., 
Dr, C. M. Hitohcock, of San Francisco Co,, H. W. 
Carpenter, of Alameda Co., P, B. Reading, of 
Sha 9 ta Co., J. M. Covarrubias, of Sants Barbara 
Co., J. D. Morely, of Stanislaus Co. Correspond¬ 
ing Secretary- O. C. Wheeler, of Sacramento. Re 
cording Secretary —George H. Beach, of Yuba 
Treasurer—J. A. Paxton, of Yuba. Wilson Flint, 
of Alameda was appointed the representative of 
this Society, hi the meetings of the United States 
Agricu'taral Society, the American Pomologies) 
Society, the Agricultural Societies of the States ot 
New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and any 
other kindred Societies, that he may be able to 
visit during the current year. Marysville was se¬ 
lected as the point at which the next Exhibition 
will be held. 
— Before closing our brief notice we must men¬ 
tion one or two matters worthy of commendation 
and imitation. The producers of California seem 
to be seekers after knowledge. A correspondent of 
the State Journal writes:—"The outside attrac¬ 
tions to-day were so many that the Fair was not 
particularly well Attended until night. At 8 
o’clock one of the most interesting discussions I 
have heard for years took place, in the Committee 
rooms. It was a meeting of that portion of the 
members who are engaged in Horticulture. Be¬ 
fore they adjourned it was resolved that 100 parties 
should subscribe $30 each to establish a magazine 
devoted to the interests of the farmer in all that 
relates to the cultivation of the soil.” Three 
thousand dollars subscribed atone meeting; and, 
it must be remembered, bat few of the agricultu¬ 
rists and horticulturists of California have realized 
anything from their labors as yet—they are, in 
their Western homes at least, new hands at the 
plow, but. the spirit they exhibit is worthy of vete¬ 
rans. When Individuals thus boldly strike out in 
noble enterprises, the sympathies of all true men 
are with them, and will bid them a hearty God 
speed! 
Messrs. Eds. :—Having been for some years an 
attentive reader of your valuable Rural, I thought 
in common with other correspondents to send yon 
my experiments in the culture of the Chinese Su¬ 
gar Cane, its uses, and manufacture into syrup. 
I and my brother planted together about ten 
acres, the greater part of it the 28th and 29th of 
May—the remainder the 3d of June. Shortly after, 
it commenced raining and continued almost every 
day for two or three weeks, accompanied by cold 
winds, and in consequence only about one-third 
of it grew, and a part of that made its appearance 
above ground after being planted four and some of 
it five weeks. For the first two months it grew 
very slowly, insomuoh that observers would make 
the remark that we would have to winter our 
Sugar Cane over; hat now it has attained a growth 
of stalk equal to that of good corn. 
Horses, cattle and hogs eat it more greedily than 
anything else that grows, grain excepted. The 
seed is not, sufficiently matured to fairly compare 
its relative value with other grain, but the green 
seed is eaten about as readily as the stalk or leaf. 
We have erected a mill for the manufacture of 
the eyrup by water power, at an expense of abont 
$150, which will make a barrel and a half of syrup 
in a day. We have been unable to form an exact 
estimate of the amount that it will make to the 
acre of good canes, iu oonsequence of onr having 
but two rollers to do the crashing with, rs the 
general estimate is that we leave one-foarth part 
still in the stalk; yet with this imperfect crushing 
we have been able to make from 80 to 120 gallons 
of syrup per acre, and an article which is superior 
to that of the Strath. 
With au unfavorable season for its growth, and 
imperfect machinery and inexperienced operators 
in its manufacture, we can say no less than that 
we feel pleased with onr snccess in producing an 
article which is next to the sugar maple as one of 
the luxuries of life. Charles A. Fbttibonk. 
Girard, Pa., Oct. 26, 1867. 
An Open Winter is predicted by our exchan¬ 
ges, both East and West. Some aver that the 
appearance of robins in large numbers during 
the recent warm days, indicates an open, mild 
winter. A Chicago paper says that Nature has 
demonstrated the fact that the coming winter will 
be mild, by covering the ears of Indian corn with 
very thin huBks this year—famishing them, in¬ 
deed, nearly “nothing to wear"—whereas they 
were abundantly clothed the two preceding sea¬ 
sons! Well, we trust the augury is correct—for a 
mild winter will not only prove a god-seud to the 
suffering poor of our cities and villages, but an 
oasis to the farmers and their flocks and herds over 
a large extent of country. The present warm 
weather certainly augurs favorably for a “good 
time coming”—albeit this, and the indications 
before cited, may not be considered good author¬ 
ity by the Lieut Maubys and Prof. Deweys who 
are vemed in matters pertaining to weatherology 
and climatology. 
New Agricultural Papers. — We are prond 
of the Agricultural Press of this Country, not 
only for its ability and wide usefulness in the past, 
but for the greater good it promises in the future. 
And, though the present is generally considered 
an unfavorable time to start any literary enter¬ 
prise, it appears that several new agricultural 
papers are issued or in embryo—all of which we 
trust will receive a cordial welcome from the pub¬ 
lic, and achieve merited success. Two have just 
reached our table, which we briefly notice, with¬ 
out time for critical examination. 
Emery's Journal of Agriculture is a neat 16 page 
quarto sheet, hailing from Chicago, and “ devoted 
to General Farm and Home Interests, News, Mar¬ 
kets, Ac.” The advance specimen number makes 
a creditable appearance, and U apparently well 
filled. The prospectus of the Journal has been 
given in'bur advertising department, to which we 
refer for particulars. 
Granite State Farmer is the title of a paper re¬ 
cently commenced in the ordinary newspaper 
form at. Manchester, N. H., a number of which has 
just come t.o hand. It is published by J. C.Mbk- 
riam & Co,, edited by J. O. Adams, and “devoted 
to the Interests of the New Hampshire Farmer.” 
We truBt it will prove more successful than its 
predecessor. ^ _ 
Receipts at New York State Fairs. — A late 
namher of the Country Gent, gives the annexed 
table showing the receipts and attendance at each 
Fair of o ar State Ag. Society for the past thirteen 
years,—by which it wilt be seen that the last one 
produced the largest sum of money, although two 
others have been attended by more people: 
Year. Place. Receipt*. Attendance. 
1*13.Utica.*4,S7U18 34,962 
1846.. ....Auburn. 4,33317 34,666 
1847.Saratoga. 4,634 22 32,274 
1843.Buffalo. 6,272 86 50,183 
1819.Syracuse. 8,144 65 65,157 
1860.. ....Albany.. 10,465 61 85,725 
WAYNE COUNTY PAIR, 
The Wayne Co. Ag. 8ooiety held Its Annual ex¬ 
hibition at Lyons Sept. 16—18. The first day was 
pleasant. The entries of stock exceeded our 
expectations, and the animals exhibited were of 
superior quality. The Durhams seem to take the 
lead in this county, and the zeal manifested by the 
owners iu exhibiting their fine stock is noteworthy. 
The Devons were on hand, and their beautiful form 
and color made a bright spot in oar Fair. The 
grade cattle were much better thau usual, being 
crossed up a'most to full blood—many only lack¬ 
ing a pedigree to compete in those classes. The 
oxen and steers would have done honor to any 
State Fair. The fleet trotters and carriage horses, 
and the superior farm horses, grade Sampsons, Ac., 
together with the colts on exhibition, made a fine 
show. 
In Sheep, specimens of all the improved breeds 
were on exhibition. Of Swine, the Suffolk and 
their grades seemed to take the lead, and were on 
hand. 
Floral Hall was finely decorated with Fruits, 
Flowers, Paintings, and domestic manufactured 
goods, showing that tho ladies of Wayne connty 
are not forgetful of the best interests of the Agri¬ 
cultural Society. 
The exhibition of Vegetables and Roots was 
very superior; and, to let the “rest of mankind” 
know that we are “ some Punkins,” Mr. Albaugh 
exhibited one vine which had 14 fine pumpkins. 
The entries were about 400 more thau last year, 
but the exceeding bad weather the two last days 
of the Fair kept the people away, consequently cut 
off onr receipts. E. N. Thomas. 
Rose, N. Y., Oct, 1857. 
A Weighty Calf.— A correspondent writing 
from Five Corners, Cayuga Co., says:— “Ezra 
Wagbr, of this place, is raising (from a two year 
old heifer, 1 a calf that weighed one hundred and 
twenty tbs. before it was a day old! It lays no 
claim to high blood or pedigree. I think this does 
very well for onr common breed of cattle.” 
RAIN AND THE SEASON 
rained the past soason. Rain has been the order 
of the day, and of the night too, from March to 
Oct 20th Vernal showers and vernal floods, and 
vernal inundations, were the all absorbing theme, 
when friends and neighbors met each other. In 
consequence of the rain, the work of the farm was 
necessarily delayed, in some instances, for several 
week* We were obliged to perform almost every 
thing in the rain. We did our plowing in the 
spring, in the rain, and our planting in the mad 
and water. We sowed our seed in the rain, and 
harrowed it. in in the rain. We hoed in the rain 
and mowed in the rain. We made our hay in the 
rain, and harvested in the rain. If the sun shone 
brightly for one hour, it was sure to be succeeded 
by two hoars of rain and lowery weather. We 
planted onr potatoes in the mud, and cultivated 
and hoed them in the mud, and now we are digging 
them in the mud and rain. If we husk corn I ap¬ 
prehend it will have to be done in the rain—for 
we cut it up in the rain, and the stalks have not 
had a chance to dry since. It rains now, furiously; 
and has rained, almost constantly, for three suc¬ 
cessive days and nights. Our fields are almost in¬ 
undated; and our ditches are crowded to their 
utmost capacity, with flood water. 
In consequence of such a superabundance of 
water, grass grew rapidly, but was flashy stuff; an¬ 
imals did not thrive well on it, and cows yielded 
a diminished quantity of milk, of inferior quality. 
bushels 
Rochester 
. Eds. Rural: —Abont twenty years since, Fulton 
county was organized. At that time, and for some 
years after, the Pottawottomies and Miamis ha cl 
possession of all this region; and within the past 
12 years I have ehai^d with them the Buffalo skin at 
the Are of onr hunting camp, a seat In the dng-out 
when fire-butting on the Tippecanoe river, and 
partaker, with them of bisk and snesee at their 
Bcantily supplied though hospitable boards. And 
on the 22d and 23d nit, I-attended the first Fair of 
the Fulton Co. Agricultural and Horticultural So¬ 
ciety organized last August 
Patting this and that together has resulted in 
my deterainatio i to let you hear something of 
o ar Fair, which we think wag quite a trinmph it 
self, and showed in a marked manner, by the 
variety and excellence of articles exhibited, the 
improvement which civilization is spreading with 
magical celerity over the whole Northwest.— 
Here were horses shown which an old citizen of 
Albany county, New York, said he never saw 
equalled there,—cattle such as would have com¬ 
pared favorably with those shown at any of the 
fairs in New York — sheep of prime quality; and 
hogs of such size and beauty as we did not think 
Hoosierdom could boast, although she is considered 
some in the hog Hoe, and has done much towards 
enhancing the growth of Hogojiolis away down in 
the Southern part of Ohio, on the Ohio Creek. 
Dennis McMahon drove in one of his pigs (weigh¬ 
ing six hundred,) from the woods, saying he 
“heard there want agoing to be any hogs in, and 
he thought he would fill one pen;” in the hog line 
“ex hoc tmo (tirce omnes .” 
There was also a very fair Bbow of Equestrian¬ 
ism, by both male and female riders. Miss L. 
Heimbach took the red ribbon. Time, two minutes 
and fifteen seconds. If any of your female Eques¬ 
trians can beat that we want to hear from you. 
We had com from William Carter’s that was 
eighteen feet in height, rata bagas four feet in 
circumference, and pumpkins of such size that I 
heard of one man tryiog to hny one for the purpose 
of wintering a half dozen pigs in it, as be thought 
it would he cheaper than a board pen! 
Of Agricultural Implements there were the best 
of all sorts that are made in this or the adjoining 
States. Ladies' ornamental work was also Bhown 
in elegant profusion,—as well as ornamental ladies. 
Bread, cheese, jams, jellies, pastries, cakes, and 
all that sort of thing, were shown of such beauti¬ 
ful appearance and proportions, and such delicious 
flavor and taste, as we are well satisfied conld not 
be excelled anywhere with the same material. 
Not the least interesting of the sights on the 
trotting course were the two moles just in from 
California, with their riders, the Messrs. Trimble, 
dressed in fall California costume. The boys had 
but a few days previously returned from California 
overland, whither they went some five yearB since. 
Many of the company with whom they started 
are no more — some having been killed by Indi¬ 
ans in California and Oregon, and others having 
died from disease. The animals and riders both 
appeared not the least injured by the trip of twen¬ 
ty-seven hundred miles, just finished, bat rode 
with much spirit and mettle. 
The efficient, energetic- and hard-working Secre¬ 
tary, D. R. Pbsbhikg, Esq., informed me that the 
Eds. Rural: —As this season has been my first 
attempt at farming, I shall refrain from giving any 
experiments of my own, but as neighbor J. is an 
old practical and experienced farmer, I will give 
a few bints derived fioin observation of his man¬ 
agement and success. 
This neighbor has the bPBt. of horses, cattle and 
sheep, and no poor exonse tor porkers, as all have 
the kindest care. His wheat is of excellent quali¬ 
ty and the greatest product in this vicinity, and 
oats, too, a good orop, come by having the ground 
well tilled and highly renovated with the glean¬ 
ings of the barnyard. His corn by the culture it 
had, and the fine appearance of the shocks with 
tbeir majestic ears, will prove to him a beautiful 
yield. Potatoes and vegetables are also par with 
hia neighbors. His fall plowing is mostly done, 
and hay and grain nicely Btored uway for his stock 
the coming winter, while his helpmate and the 
dear ones oy the fireside are not forgotten. 
Now, it'you want any oi “filthy luore,” or to 
buy fine horses or cattle, or get the first quality 
seed grain and relish a meal of the good tilings— 
besides receiving a kind welcome, seeing a pleas¬ 
ant countenance and having a social chat—please 
call on the independent farmers who are well to 
do like neighbor J., whose sustenance, as well as 
that of the mechanic and Millionare, comes from 
the hoe handle. Young Farmer. 
Geauga Co-, Ohio, 1857. 
toung buhalists taking phizes at faibs. 
Oats, in many instances, are very light 
and bushels of them being destitute of any kernel 
and germ. Barley, as a general thing, was very 
much injured by too much rain. Wheat, both 
spring and winter varieties, was poor enough, with 
a very few exceptions ; and the yield per acre 
falls far short of tho most sanguine expectations 
of farmers; In most instances, it is also very infe¬ 
rior in quality, in consequence of too much rain. 
We never before remember of seeing so mnch rain, 
in such a short period of time, aud such vast quan¬ 
tities of water on the ground, as we saw last week. 
We are all longing for the “ Indian Summer,” so 
that we will be able to wind up oar farming oper¬ 
ations for autumn, before dreary Winter oomes, 
cheerless and Bad, to rale the changing year. 
S. Edwards Todd. 
Lake Ridge, Tompkins Co., N. YOct., 1857. 
Remarks. —In New York city there is, we be¬ 
lieve, a military company known as the “ Tomp¬ 
kins Blnea,” bat we reckon there must be people 
worthy a simitar cognomen in our correspondent's 
neighborhood. He evidently has the "bines” bad 
enough for commander of Bueh a corpB—and with 
reason. Onr sympathies are extended, for the 
weather has been so decidedly hydropathic in thiB 
region, lor the past six weeks, that we can to some 
extent appreciate our friend’s position and diffi¬ 
culties. But is’nt It consoling to reflect that per¬ 
chance so mnch rain has fallen that there’s noth¬ 
ing left to make snow, and hence that the winter 
may prove very favorable? 
Mr. Editor: —I am a farmers bov, twelve years 
old. I attended onr County Fair, which was held 
at Owego, our county seat. I took some South 
Down sheep which my father bought for me, and 
received two premiums—$3 for the best buck, and 
a book for the three best lambs. My hrother also 
received $1 premium for the best Brahma’s. I 
could not see all I wanted to the first day. Their 
vegetables were allowed to be superior by all who 
saw them, it rained so hard the last day they 
could not do anything, so they had to pat off their 
riding match for two weeks, when there came an¬ 
other steady rain, and it had to be put off another 
week. There was bat one lady who rode on horse¬ 
back, who of course received the prize. Several 
ladles drove and received prizes. 
We have bat a lew apples this year, and the po¬ 
tatoes decay badly; but we have quantities of nuts 
and are very busy a gathering them. My lather 
haa taken the Rural ever since it was published, 
and we children think a great deal of reading it; 
we have several volumes bound. 
Yours. Besp’y Richmond T Coryell. 
Hooper’s Valley, Tioga Co., N. Y., 1857. 
fetches up on Market Gardening! The value of 
her horticultural producta was $357,503. Kings 
County stood next in Vegetable raising, sending to 
market $273,525 worth. The human stomach not 
consenting to receive hemlocks aa an esculent diet, 
Hamilton County had no more than ten dollars 
worth of vegetables to show the Census takers.— 
We suspect that a great many of these officials did 
their duty in a somnambulic Btate or other abnor¬ 
mal condition of the intellect For Schoharie has 
credit for only one market garden, and thut half 
an acre in extent; and Chenango’s cultivation of 
vegetables for market is limited by this Census to 
one acre. 
St. Lawrence has the sweet distinction of being 
the largest Sugar producer—her make being 513,- 
913 pounds. The total product ot Maple Sugar in 
the State, was worth $4,985,815. New York made 
Wine, too, in the year 1855, not out of Ohio whiB- 
key, bat of honest grapes, currants and raspber¬ 
ries. Her total product of the “juice ” was 18,181 
gallons. Orange County made the moBt—2,173 
gallons; and Onondaga next most, 1,583 gallons. 
Oneida has the greatest number of Honey Bees 
working for her; but WeBtcbester saves the most 
Wax. Wayne County has the houor of raising 
the mostSilk. Her produce in 1855 web 70 pounds. 
In tho whole State 2674 pounds were produced.— 
More power to the Silk Worms! 
Of the quadrupedal and bipedal products of 
New York Farming, and of its Fruits and Berries, 
space falls ub to speak to-day. 
Threshino Buckwheat. —Having noticed an 
article iu a late Rural on buokwbeat; I thought 
some improvement in harvesting would be of use 
to the growers of pancakes. After the grain is 
cut, I take a fork und bunch it in rows flftocn feet 
apart. For threshing I use a sled or truck wagon 
with threshing-floor on it, and drive through the 
field threshing and spreading the straw over the 
field to rot. Having fanniug-mill, bags, and wagon 
at a convenient place for chaffing, the grain is 
safely housed at night I found by this a labor- 
saving of nearly one-half over the old style. The 
floor should he made with sides of sheeting or sid¬ 
ing abont two feet high.—B. F. W., Erie Co., Ohio 
An Ttkm for the Girls.— At the State Fair at 
Stockton, California, among tho prizes offered was 
a fifty dollar drcBs for the best loaf of domestic 
broad, made by an unmarried lady. As many as 
a huudrod delicious looking loavea were sent in, 
made principally by young girls. A committee of 
housewives made the award, giving the premium 
to Miss Anna Vanvalkenburo, of Stockton,— 
ThiB young girl is but eleven years old. If she 
were four years older, that dress would be her 
bridal garment. 
Black Leo in Cattle.— In answer to your cor¬ 
responded, J. Y. M., of Mercer Co., Pa., in reference 
to a disease called Black Leg among young cattle, 
1 would say that if he will bleed them in the neck 
in the latter psrt ot August or first of Sept., he need 
not fear of losing any of Mb calves or young cattle. 
I speak from personal knowledge, having seen it 
practiced by my neighbors and alBO practiced it 
myBelf for several years in Delaware Co., N. Y., 
and have never known it to fail— A. Reader, 
Durani, low J Oct., 1657. 
