Mature 
^ T/Tg r i c u l tur f 
[SINGLE NO. BOTJJt, CENTS, 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.-FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, MARCH 2 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
AN ORIGINAL WEEKL7 
AGRICULTURAL, LITERARY AND FAMILY JOURNAL. 
into the creeks, and rivers, and the ocean, who can 
calculate the immense advantage that will accrue to 
the farmers and their families, in the removal of the 
cause of so much disease and death. This, at least, 
is worthy of a thought. 
The season of active labor is at haud. The sure 
harbinger of spring, the robin, has made its appear¬ 
ance, and sings gayly among our trees. Before the 
work of cultivation commences, a good deal may 
need to be done. The ice-king has a strong arm, and 
in the exercise of his power sometimes does consider¬ 
able mischief, which tiie farmer should repair just ns 
soon as he resigns his scepter. The fence and gate 
posts will be found lifted up and thrown out of the 
perpendicular, particularly if standing in low places, 
and they should be righted before the ground settles, 
or the work will be more troublesome. Some of the 
rails may have fallen 1‘roln the fences, and these 
should he replaced, or in time of pasture these low 
places will tempt your cattle to had habits, besides 
permitting them to do mischief. The door-yard does 
not look very well, for as we always expect it in the 
spring it is littered with chips, <tc., and although 
this does not appear particularly had now, it will in 
the bright fine weather when all is pleasant and beau¬ 
tiful around. Rake up the refuse and place it on the 
manure heap. The tools, implements, Ac., of course 
were repaired during the winter, but it is well to look 
them over now so that nothing be omitted that will 
cause trouble and annoyance in the busy season. We 
almost feel as though we owed an apology for men¬ 
tioning these things, as they may seem to some like 
a reflection upon the habits of our readers. But, we 
are all forgetful, and a few hints in this direction will, 
at least, do no harm. No good general would com¬ 
mence a campaign without having thoroughly sur¬ 
veyed the ground, and marked out his line of opera¬ 
tions. The farmer should show equal wisdom, for he 
lias a host of enemies and adverse circumstances to 
contend against and on the wisdom of his plans in a 
great meaautf tn«#t depot>.3 nm .. KcoaIh, an da 
fi»< . 'fcryt.hirj; > rp-rixrg tntuf.A) 
should be On hand, so that there may be no disap¬ 
pointment or delay when needed. 
Of the prospects of the coming season we may have 
something to say hereafter. Whatever adversea may 
come upon us as a nation through the folly of men, 
we have the satisfaction of knowing that the earth 
will continue to yield her increase regardless of their 
wanton caprice, and the world will need food and 
Clothes, which it is the business of the farmer to 
supply. 
suppuration, there is a chance LV-onvery; 
whereas, should they become stationary, or 
go back and disappear, death is the inevitable 
result. The medicinal treatment Of raurraiu 
has been unsatisfactory, from the fact that the ^ 
patient has not been taken In charge at as 
early n period us the nature of 'be malady JSsSjl 
demands. It runs its course with such a 
rapidity, that, when the stock-owner lias, at 
length, become alarmed at the condition of •■r&Sgg 
his animals,— before any of the remedial N \ 
agencies administered can materially affect 
the system, death closes the scene, If the * Y 
caution sounded in the congh would alwayB : 
strike upon quick ears, and cause a system Of 
watchfulness and care to be instituted, and a jSB 
thorough dose of physic administered when 
the cough is noticed as increasing in fre- 
queney and virulence, the probabilities are 
that the discus© would be- arrested, or, at 
least, its violence abated. Yocatt recom- 
mends bleeding in the early stages. Physic 
should be cautiously, yet not' t :-orously 
resorted to. Small doses of purgative medi¬ 
cine, ivith more of the aromatic tbar, we gen¬ 
erally add, will be serviceable/not hastening 
or increasing the debility which generally is at hand; 
but If the bowels be sufficiently open, or diarrhoea 
should threaten, and yet symptoms of fever should be 
apparent, uo purgative must be given, but sedatives 
should be mingled with some vegetable tonics. The 
peculiar fetid diarrhoea must be met with astringents, 
mingled also with vegetable tonics In combating 
the pustular and sloughing gangrenous stage, the 
the chloride of lime will be the h< ,-t external appli¬ 
cation; while a little or it administered with the 
other medicines' inwardly may po- ibly lessen the 
tendency to general dceoinposltJm. The external 
application of it should notlj: con; • d to the ulcer¬ 
ated itails alime, bet it Miot ! At plentifully 
Hprinklo.i over mol p i n i>cted 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
With an Able Corps of Assistants and Contributors, 
Thk Rural New-Yorki;r is designed to be unsturpa'^ed in 
Value, Runty, Usefulness and Variety of Content*, and unique 
and beautiful in Appearance- Its Conductor devotes his per¬ 
sonal attention to the supervision of its various departments, 
and earnestly labors to render the Rckal un eminently 
Reliable Guide on all the important Practical, Scientific and 
other Subjects intimately connected with the badness of 
those whose interest* It realouely advocates As a Pa milt 
Journal it Is eminently Instructive and Entertaining-—Wing 
so conducted that it ran be safely taken to the Heart* and 
Homes of people of intelligence, taste and discrimination. It 
embraces more Agricultural, Horticultural. Scientific, Educa¬ 
tional, Literary and News Matter, interspersed with appropriate 
and beautiful Engravings, than any other journal,—rendering 
it the most complete Agricultural, Literary and Family 
Newspaper in America. 
For Terms and other particulars, see last page. 
EnterRLi according to net of Congress, in the ye.tr 1881, by 
D. D. T. MoOior, m the Office of the Clerk ol Urn District 
Court for the Northern District of New York. 
ry Our only object in copyrighting this paper is to secure 
what every honorable journalist will freely grant proper 
credit for articles selected from its pages. Any and every 
journal in at liberty, and invited, to copy freely, by crediting 
each original article or Illustration to Rural .Vein- Yorker. 
BEARDSLEY’S FLA Y ELEVATOR, OR FIORSK POWER FORK 
The most valuable labor and time saving imple¬ 
ments to the farmer, are those adapted to operations 
which must be performed In a brief period and at a 
busy season. Such are seed planters, reapers and 
mowers, horse rakes, hay elevators, Ac., which sub¬ 
stitute mechanical and animal powers for human 
muscles at times when the demand for the latter is 
often far greater than the supply. Indeed, but for 
the use of such mac blues, the immense crops of last 
year —especially those of the west could not have 
been secured without immense loss, and in many 
instances it would have been impossible to harvest 
even half the product of large farms in proper 
season, lienee it is that every now invention which 
V ■ Or l"-"'ini:,i,, ft;,. !. y,„ , ,1 ,r Ci „ 
", V ' ' '■ 1 ■ •• ' - ' .. , ,i ) U bom n'yi 
the great mass of cul'.i 
We havo often described and commended machines 
for the prominent operations of the seasons alluded 
to, and now have the pleasure of introducing to the 
notice of ItuHAL readers a new and apparently very 
valuable apparatus for elevating hay. This elevator, 
or horse-power pitchfork, was perfected last season, 
wo believe, and is the invention of Mr. Lkvi A. 
Beardsley, of South Edmeston, Otsego Co., N. Y. 
T he Bmail illustration shows the fork, and the large 
one the manner of arranging the pulleys for its 
operation. The inventor claims that his two-horse 
fork can lift hay at the rate of one-sixth to one-fourth 
of a load to the fork-full, which must be a great 
saving of time and human muscle—it being a vast 
deal easier to drive a team or guide a fork-full, as 
above represented, than to go through the back- 
acliing process of hand-pitching. Three pulleys are 
used in operating the fork, one of which is fastened 
to a rafter, or to the purlin plate over the mow — 
being so made that it can be unhooked by a pole, 
and hooked to another rafter or to another part of 
the purlin plate. 
The patentee thus describes the manner of using 
this fork:— “ Place the fork on the load, length-wise 
f * with it, and by stepping 
\ upon the rods that brace 
X • the lines, they will readily 
jjl enter the hay. Set the 
.Ajjv, hook and fasten the lifting 
chain to it by lte ring. 
\ yV i ne hi.rscH can then elevate 
\V- Die fcrk-fun <nc 
' /y 4 Wlfl-thc luglifc'pi>... te]i- 
dropped, the man on the 
load pulls the catch cord, 
X which he keeps in his 
VLhand, when the fork will 
'vy 'A drop a little, and by means 
\\ of the side ropes, the tines 
\\ II are drawn wide open, and 
VuJ the hay is discharged. The 
JjV spring on the upper end 
J' keeps the fork open, so that 
—"7 it is ready to enter the hay 
on the load when lowered by the backing of the team.” 
The fork figured above has four tines, as will he 
seen, and is worked by two horses. Mr. B. also 
makes a two-tined fork, for one horse. The hitter, 
full rigged, costs $12; other $16. 
•'he winter is about passing away. Its white robe 
is to-n and soiled; but here and there, in some,shady 
ravine or upon the northern hill side, may bo seen a 
stray fold retaining its original purity. The winter 
wheat and rye are uow exposed, and we can judge of 
l hc present prospect for a cron. The meltimr snow 
Buy- "TW .AmV .Tnc we ijmeowM ,. . re. i, 
or a drain would have been of great advantage, if 
made in the autumn — and even now will be of 
service. Now we need no level, no engineer to point 
out the low portions of our fields, those that need 
surface drainage, for the rising sun converts every 
hollow into a bright mirror or a pool of fire that daz¬ 
zles and blinds the eyes. Wo hardly knew before 
why certain portions of our lands remunerated us so 
poorly — why they refused to return even ten-fold for 
our labor—but the cause is revealed in colors of 
living light. During every thaw in the winter, and 
all the spring, the water lies hero and the soil becomes 
Beared and unable to furnish the roots of plants 
sweet, healthy food. Even in the summer, during 
hard showers, these low places are, for a season, 
flooded, while, if the soil is heavy, it becomes pasty 
when wet: and when dry, as hard as unburnt brick, 
almost impervious to the air and the moisture of dews 
and gentle rains. 
The American spring is thought to he peculiarly 
unpleasant, with little to interest and please, while 
travelers from all lands praise our beautiful autumns. 
But even in the spring-time, the observing farmer can 
find plenty of food for thought — many valuable les¬ 
sons to be treasured up. The effects of drainage are 
seen to great advantage during the wet, muddy 
weather of the present season. Every drain can 
be traced the whole length of the field by the color 
of the soil, resulting from its dryness. The soil over 
the drain, and for a few feet each side, will be per¬ 
fectly dry, so as to make walking easy aud pleasant, 
while in the center of the space between the drains, 
if a couple of rods apart, the pedestrian will sink in 
the soft mud up to the ankles. Prom this may we 
not learn the advantage of draining, and also another 
important fact, that we usually put our drains too far 
apart to secure thorough drainage? If the drains in 
the field which wo now have in our mind had been 
placed one rod apart instead of two, it would have 
been, when we visited it a few days since, dry enough 
for plowing and planting, as the soil over them and 
for several feet each side, was mellow and friable, 
while ten or fifteen feet distant it was wet, and from 
appearance will not be lit to work for several weeks, 
ihe idea that a small drain tile with a bore a couple 
of inches in diameter, aud sunk two or three feet in 
the ground, can carry water from the surface and 
eight or ten feet on each side, and make the soil dry 
and mellow, seems rather ridiculous to those unac¬ 
quainted with the practical operation of draining, 
but an examination of its effects at this season of the 
year, will convince the most skeptical. 
In oar attempts to ripen wheat so early as to cheat 
the midge, it is well, of course, to seek varieties that 
mature early, but in thorough drainage we have the 
best prospect of success. Not only is soil thoroughly 
drained in condition to be worked earlier than that 
which is undrained, but it is several degrees warmer, 
particularly in the early part of the season, when 
warmth is needed, as any one can ascertain by exper¬ 
iment. The effect of this in the early growth and 
maturity of crops will be realized by all. 
One great and general good we think will result 
from draining when it shall become universal, or, at 
least, common —and yet it is seldom taken into the 
account ol those who drain, or those who advocate 
the practice. It is known that the malaria arising 
from stagnant water causes most of the diseases to 
which the dwellers in the country are subjected. 
Y hen our lands are generally provided with the 
necessary means for carrying off the water quickly 
sound ones. For a di ink, u €<■ swci, *). Y i. of nitre, 
half an ounce; laudanum, half an oifncc; chloride of 
lime, in powder, two ounces; prepared chalk, an 
ounce. Rub well together, aud give with a pint of 
warm gruel. This may be repeated every six hours, 
until the purging is considerably abated; but should 
not be continued until it has quite stopped. The 
purging abated, we must give something to recall the 
appetite and recruit the strength. For this purpose 
atonic drink Is recommended, compounded «.s fol¬ 
lows:—Colombo root, two drachms; Canella bark, 
two drachms; ginger, one drachm; sweet spirit of 
nitre, half an ounce. Rub together, and give iu a 
pint of thick gruel. 
In addition to the foregoing mode of treatment, we 
also have the Homeopathic, and this has met with 
considerable success. J>r. Dadii says the indications 
to be observed are, first, to preserve th» system from 
putrescence, which can be done by the use of the 
following drink:—Powdered capsicum, one teaspoon 
ful; powdered charcoal, two ounces; lime water, 
four ounces; sulphur, one tcaspoonlul. Add to the 
capsicum, charcoal, and sulphur, a small quantity of 
gruel; lastly, add the lime water. A second und 
similar dose maybe given six hours after the first, 
provided, however, the symptoms are not so alarm¬ 
ing. The uexi indication is, to break down the mor¬ 
bid action of the nervous and vascular systems; for 
which the following may be given freely:—Thorough- 
wort tea, two quarts; powdered assafu-tida, two 
drachms. Aid the action of these remedies by the 
use of one of the following injections; Powdered 
lobelia, two ounces; oil peppermint, twenty drops; 
warm water, two quarts. Another, — infusion of 
camomile, two quarts; common salt, four ounces. 
In all cases of malignant fever, efforts should he 
made to supply the system with caloric, ( by the aid 
of stimulants,) promote the secretions, and rid the 
system of morbific materials. 
DISEASES OP gATTLE.-MUB.BAIN 
It would seem that this dreadful disease was visit¬ 
ing some portions of the West, for we have recently 
received from Michigan and Wisconsin several inqui¬ 
ries as to its symptoms and manner of treatment. 
Although some of our most experienced veterinarians 
contend that the herds of American farmers enjoy 
special immunity from this scourge, it is evident that 
the malady, though deprived of many of the horrors 
attendant upon it in Europe, occasionally exhibits 
itself in our stock. Nor is the fatality which marks 
its course in the Old World materially lessened in 
our country, for we annually lose large numbers of 
cattle. 
Murrain is classed among the diseases of the respi¬ 
ratory system. It makes its first lodgment here, and 
for longer or shorter period,— as the disease is pacific 
or violent,— this portion of the animal economy is 
alone affected, ft is a complete puzzle to the novice, 
as it assumes a greater variety of forms, both in its 
earlier ami later stages, hut it can generally lie dis¬ 
tinguished by some of the following symptoms: 
A cough, constantly recurring and painful. This 
oftentimes precedes the disease a week or longer, 
and is frequently unattended by other signs that 
would indicate anything more than a simple but 
severe cold. After a few days, heaving of the flanks 
will be added to the cough; the pulse quick, hard, 
and small, with irregularities; the mouth hot; the 
root of the horns cold; thu- excrements hard and 
black, sometimes liquid, with the sume dark color, 
and in the latter ease very fetid. Extreme soreness, 
or tenderness, is now observable along the spine, 
while the center of al! pain would seem to be directly 
over the loins. The cough constantly increases and 
becomes convulsive; aud matter, brown or bloodv. 
To prevent this, Borne throw up a bank of earth on 
each side. This answers the purpose in a measure, 
hut it is objectiouable on account, of the facility it 
affords for sheep and other animals to run over the 
wall. My plan is to dig down and lay the foundation 
on the subsoil. This secures it effectually against 
the action of the frost, and at the Hame time allows 
you to leave the ground level ou both sides of the 
wall. A good plan is to plow and throw out, with 
the shovel or scraper, a trench from six inches to a 
foot deep, or more, according to the nature of the 
soil, and a little wider than your wall, before you 
draw the stone* Then, when the wall iH finished, 
plow eight or ten furrows toward the wall on each 
side, throwing not more than oue against it, leaving 
it smooth and level, and your work is done iu a neat 
and substantial manner. Some will, perhaps, object 
to this, on account of the cost, but it is the cheapest 
way in the end. I have seen men lay a wall on the 
surface as cheaply as possible, and in less than five 
years have to take it down and lay it over, while an 
extra outlay of ten per cent, on the original cost 
would have made it a permanent thing at first. 
A pattern may be made by any one who can handle 
a saw and hammer. Take two strips of board of the 
required leugth, set them at a proper angle, and uail 
two or three short pieces acrosB, as iu figure 1. This 
will answer, though it is better to have a frame of 
light scantling. For a wall four and a hall' feet high, 
two feet and a half wide at the bottom, and one foot 
at the top, is a good proportion. It may be varied, 
of course, according to the size and quality of the 
stone. For large, round boulders, it may be made 
wider,—if the stone are Binall and square, it may be 
narrower at the bottom. 
A wall of such stone as we have in thi« section, 
requires from two to three rows of boards, cut aud 
laid crosswise, to bind it. Split timber, or stave 
culls, will answer, and are cheaper. Set up your 
pattern, and stretch a line on each side three or four 
rods long, and as high as the -first row of boards, or 
Lower, if convenient, and you are ready to go to 
work. You must exercise your own judgment as to 
the best way to lay every particular stoue, and a 
quick eye and some practice is necessary, in order to 
be able to place every stone just where it should be, 
without taking it up more than once. Only some 
general directions can be given, as, perhaps, no two 
stones are exactly alike in form. 
Lay the foundation with the largest stones you have, 
carefully filling up all the spaces between them with 
smaller stones. Make It up level as high us the first 
course of hoards, and be especially careful not to get 
the center higher than the outsides. After you have 
put on the boards, lay on each side a course of the 
largest stone you have left, and proceed in the same 
manner. Finish with a flat stone as wide as the top 
of the wall, or if you can get them wide enough, let 
them project over two or three inches on each side, 
as in figure 2. If you have no flat stone, you may 
finish with a round one, as seen in figure 3, by laying 
a course of boards immediately below. 
Murray. N. Y., 1801. James A. McMastkk. 
LAYING STONE WALL, 
Ah the time is approaching when many farmers in 
this section will engage, more or less extensively, in 
ibis business, a few hints ou the subject would not 
be unseasonable. If fences of any kind arc only to 
be tolerated a» necessary evils, then a poor fence 
must be a great evil; and of all poor fences, a poor 
stone wall is, iu my estimation, the poorest. As 
long, however, as farmers raise both grain aud stock, 
a good wall is a good thing. It is an ornament as 
well as a protection to the farm, and where there are 
stone on the fields that must be got off in order to 
clear the land, it is about as cheap as any other good 
fence. When laid as it should be, it is a permanent 
fence, and if it ever does tumble down, the materials 
are there on the spot to put it up again. Having 
been engaged in the business for the last five years, 
aud having seen hundreds of dollars fairly thrown 
away for want of a little practical knowledge on the 
Hnbject, I will try to give a few hints that may he 
useful to the inexperienced. 
The first consideration should be to get a good 
foundation. If the foundation gives way, you need 
not expect the wall to stand. There are some soils 
where you may lay the foundation on the surface, 
and it will stand; but wherever it will settle much, 
this will not answer. Where the soil is much 
affected by the frost, it becomes very soft in the 
spring, aud the foundation settles downward and 
outward, thus bringing down the whole superstructure. 
Fig. 3. Fig. 1, Fig. 2. 
Having decided on a plan, the next thing to be 
considered is drawing the stone. The best way is to 
draw yonr largest stone’first, enough for the founda¬ 
tion, right on the line where you wish the wall,—in 
the trench, if you have one,—and the remainder at a 
convenient distance on both sides. A little attention 
at this stage of the business will save a great deal of 
labor. Where the stone have been thrown indis¬ 
criminately in the corners of a crooked rail fence, 
and a thrifty crop of briers and thistles has grown 
up among them, as I have seen sometimes, it is very 
disagreeable work to “clear the track.” Nearly all 
the stone have to be handled over before yon are 
ready to commence building. 
SOAPING COBN, DOCKING LAMBS, &c. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:— The following excel¬ 
lent letter from Judge Marshall, of Steuben county, 
though not intended for publication, has so many 
excellent suggestions that I venture to send it to you 
for the Rural.— l*. 
On the first evening’s discussion at the State Fair, 
I was requested to make no me remarks relative to 
growing corn. If 1 recollect right, Mr. Robinson 
was the only reporter on the first evening. As I have 
been informed, the published accounts in the several 
jiUte’lUFJ ]| 
