[SINGLE NO. FOUlt CENTS, 
ROCHESTER. N. Y.-FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1861 
[WHOLE NO. Oil 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
A.V ORIGINAL WEEKLY 
AGRICULTURAL, LITERARY AND FAMILY JOURNAL, 
tion. The thickness of the wall will lie governed, in 
a degree, by the size of the dwelling to be erected 
upon it, out it should never be less than fifteen 
inches. Drainage is another important item in the 
construction of a cellar. If the soil is a compact 
one, and possessed of a tendency to hold water — 
strike a atom; drain from the lowest, corner of it — 
using small, or flat atones, well set in cement, for its 
base. Again, it should be rat proof; and if the 
pro nor means are used — for instance, permitting the 
bottom course of stone in the foundation to project 
six or eight inches—it will be well protected from the 
outside. Finally, a large, roomy external entrance 
should he made to it and a strong pair of steps lead¬ 
ing therein. 
When once in possession of ttie cellar, and the 
Surplus roots are pitted, we would urge upon farmers 
the importance of making the pits long and trench- 
like instead of round. The principal advantage of 
aneh a course consists in the ease with which it may 
be closed should the weather suddenly become in¬ 
clement. Surround the pits with a drain consider¬ 
ably lower than the base of the heap, and thus 
conduct away water from rains or molting snows. 
The temperature required is known to farmers, but 
it may be Weil to state that turnips ought to bo kept 
cooler than potatoes and with a greater circulation 
of air, ortlmy will soon become pithy and compara¬ 
tively worthless. A correspondent of the Ritual, 
whose success in keeping this root has been very 
satisfactory, gives us his experience, as follows: 
“A dry part of the field is selected, the ground 
excavated to the depth of about six inches, three 
feet wide, and as long us may be needed. In this 
the turnips are placed, as high as the width of the 
narrow trench will admit, the pile being about two 
feet in the middle. Over the mass a good layer of 
fully and compactly 1 neipc'i'i'fip to a slmrp r pi i tc'fe, cl lu t R 
well beaten with the flat of the spade. 
“At the distauce of every fifteen or twenty feet, 
a vent hole is left, the .size of a common stove pipe, 
in which a roll of straw is firmly twisted. This has 
the effect of exhausting the pit, of the heated, impure 
atmosphere by which it naturally becomes filled, 
producing decomposition. Ily this simple, easy 
mode of pitting, English turnips have been pre¬ 
served throughout the winter in good condition.” 
Carrots and beets maybe preserved in like manner. 
For the carrot, however, it would be well to surround 
each root with earth; a certain degree of freshness 
is thus imparted, which is not attainable if they 
touch each other. 
characterizing agricultural Improvements available 
by the tenant farmer, with the sluggish advance of 
those more permanent amelioration^ confined t,® the 
owners of laud as, for instance, the spread of steam¬ 
threshing, which has created many great factories 
within a few years, compared with the stagnation of 
land drainage and river reform, which in a long 
course of time have not dried a tenth of the wet 
grounds of England—it is uot at all extravagant to 
anticipate the certain and early substitution of steam 
for horse power in one-third to one-half of our tillage 
operations. That is, some £12,000,000 worth of 
teams will probably be replaced liy a force eating 
coal and wearing away metal, instead of consuming 
for mere motive-power the oats itud provender that 
should make mutton and beef.” 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
With an Able Corps of Assistants and Contributors, 
CHAS. D. BKAGDON. Western Corresponding Editor. 
The Rural Nkw-Yorkkr is designed to be unsurpassed in 
Vain*, Purity. TTsefnlnetffl and Variety of Content*, and unique 
and beautiful In Appearance. Its Conductor devotee his per¬ 
sonal attention to the supervision of it* various departments, 
and earnestly labors to render th« Rural an eminently 
Reliablo Guide on all the important Practical. .Scientific’ and 
other Subjects intimately connected with the business of those 
whose interests it zealously advocates. As n Family .forme u. 
it is eminently Instructive and Entertaining— being to con¬ 
ducted that it can be safely taken to the Hearts and Homes Of 
people of lutelligMuce. taste and discrimination It embraces 
more .Agricultural, Horticultural, Scientific, Educational, 
Litemrv and News Hatter, interspersed with appropriate and 
beautiful Engravings, than any other journal,—rendering 
it the most complete Agricultural, Literary amp Family 
Newspaper in America. 
Care of C'ntile in Switzerland. 
Miss Johnson, in her “Cottages of the Alps,”— 
a volume we have heretofore commended,—says if 
there is one thing in which the Argovian takes par¬ 
ticular pride, and In which he particularly excels, it 
is in the care of his cattle. They are elephants in 
size, and their glossy hides betoken some peculiar 
art on the part of their masters. Not a particle of 
dust or straw is allowed to cling to them, and they 
are combed and washed as only horses are elsewhere, 
not with a currycomb, but with old cards, which, 
being finer and softer, are more agreeable to the 
animal, and improve the fineness of the hair. This 
receives un additional lustre b. being rubbed with 
old flannel. They actually shine; and the gentle 
creatures have an evident consciousness of their 
beauty, for they nr© careful not to soil their ashy 
gray and chestnut robes by lying in tho rand when 
allowed to take a walk. Animals can acquire, if 
they have not by nature, a fine sensibility; and when 
they have once ©xpeyiiue' d Mn pleasant sensation 
Not only do they exercise tL.’seW for the person <>t 
tlm animal, but are at the pains of removing every 
feather and unpaltuble substance from their food; 
and the water troughs from which they drink are 
kept as clean as if human beings resorted to them. 
If anybody doubts the efficacy of these means, let 
him come and see not only how large, hut how 
intelligent these dumb animals look; how they watch 
every motion of those who talk to them, and listen 
to all they Buy. What an all'eetionate moan they will 
utter to welcome the milkers, who are always men, 
as they say “women tickle the cow, and never take 
all the milk from the udders, so that they give less 
and less.” It is said of them that an Argovian will 
send for the doctor for his cow a great deal quicker 
than for his wife; hut we did not see any evidence 
that he was not sufficiently attentive to both. 
INQUIRIES AND NOTES, 
GROUP OP’ WEIill SOUTH - DOWN KYVKS 
How Slinll we Drain ? 
E»!j, Rural New-Yorker: —Reading your paper has 
incited me to the performance of many experiment*, and I 
am pleased to add that the mnjority have turiied out profita¬ 
bly, pecuniarily and otherwise, dust now I am disposed to 
try til# draining, but would like some plain and practical 
direction* before proceeding to the work. You know what 
information an inexperienced person needs, and wish vou 
would give the same in your columns. The principal feature 
■ uUI i.* .. vour v>#w< Tit’fin i# >u , 
the drains.—A YOUNG Farmer, Athfafatla Co., Ohio, 1861. 
In laying out drains, no question has been oftener 
discussed, or with more vigor by the disputants, than 
that propounded by “Young Farmer.” When Eng¬ 
lish agriculturists were in the height of draining 
operations, the contestants waxed exceedingly warm 
in favor of the theories each had espoused, and to 
such an extent did 'they urge their views that while 
one parly won the sonriquet of “Shallow Drainers,” 
the other boro the equally charming title of “ Deep 
Drainers.” The fact is, no fixed rule can bo given. 
Drains should be constructed witli a view to benefit 
the particular locality in which they are placed, and, 
as a consequence, the topography and character of 
the soil must govern. If the out-fall will admit, and 
the noil is of a porous nature, greater depth and 
fewer lineB of draining material will obtain the end 
sought, than in a clayey, tenacious earth, with slight 
descent. In the controversy among our English 
brethren, one party preferred a depth of about thirty 
inches, while the other considered it waste of 
material and means to lay tile at less than 1 four feet. 
Practical men now-a-days look upon these opinions 
as the extremes, and generally adopt a medium 
course — say three feet, or thereabout*. This is 
thought to fully combine the two essential features of 
usefulness and economy. 
In assuming a definite rule for the frequency of 
drains, we find the same controlling agency encount¬ 
ered while endeavoring to fix upon the proper depth. 
There have been those who maintained that they 
should occur as often as every ten feet in a clay soil, 
while sixty-six feet apart would givo sufficient drain¬ 
age where the soil is light. Others argue that a rod 
for every foot of depth is the necessity, he the soil 
what it may. We cannot conceive of a soil requiring 
an outlet for surplus water every ten feet, and sixty- 
six may be the other extreme. Experiment and 
observation, on the part of onr inquirer, will give 
him more accurate information in regard to the needs 
of his own farm, than can any journalist or profes¬ 
sional drainer not acquainted with the characteristics 
of his 80 iL A very valuable work on Laud Drainage 
has been published by John H. Ki.ipp.vrt, of Ohio, 
and we would recommend its perusal by “ Young 
Farmer,” and all others who may be in the dark upon 
this important branch of agricultural labor. 
The above group of Improved South-Down Ewes 
from the celebrated flock of .Jonas Wkub, of England, 
were imported by Mr. J. C. Tavior, of Ho I in del, 
New Jersey, who is becoming favorably known as a 
beeder and importer of sheep. Tile South Down has 
long been the favorite mutton sheep in England, and 
fchoBe bred by Mr. Wkuk have become the most 
famous, selling and renting for almost fahulous 
prices. The Improved South-Downs are. also be- 
breCtlenYin tllWubnOWy. *Mi*J -ouIU nmmlor aril,.un- 
Hooks Is that of Mr. Taylor, who has devoted nearly 
twelve years to its establishment, and paid extra¬ 
ordinary prices for stock animals— his aim being to 
obtain the best of Mr. W ecu’s selected stock. East 
year he purchased “Reserve,” Mr. W.’s best ram, 
and lias a fine lot of lambs from this celebrated 
animal. Previous to Mr. tV eiib’s recent great sale, 
Mr. T. applied to him for hi- best yearling and two 
year old buck — expressing a desire for such as Mr. 
W. would keep for his own flock, it lie were to con¬ 
tinue breeding. Mr. Webb selected No. 89, which 
w:.s v..,w-koH ,Wn tn Mr Taylor, in the public sale, 
perhaps the largest price ever pant on u. 
Down buck in England. 
thrive. The practice must have originated in the 
dark ages and has nearly become extinct, as not 
one in twenty, or I might say fifty, bleeds his cattle 
now unless sick, while forty years ago a vast 
majority did. I think they must also have given 
up that practice in both England and Scotland, as 
I hear nothing of it from the latest importations 
from my native country. 
Yours respectfully, John Johnston. 
August 24th, ,1801. 
also much attention in improving on the action of 
the weather, by breaking, harrowing and rolling. 
The effects of marl have been much the greatest 
on dry, sandy grounds, that have been converted 
from a comparative waste into arable cultivation, 
and on light loams. On raw, damp loams, reports 
have been unfavorable. The marl attracts moisture, 
and thus increases the poachy looseness of the land. 
Clays are sometimes much improved by the applica¬ 
tion of marl, but the soil should be dried, and the 
clay well pulverized, in order to facilitate tlio incor¬ 
poration with the sandy substance. Practice directs 
the use of clayey marls on all light lands, and the 
application of sandy and shelly marls to heavier 
soils; but all these substances have been found useful 
on any soil, when judiciously applied. 
Marls are often made into composts with earth 
and farm-yard dung, cither in layers or in heaps, or 
in the bottoms of the cattle yards, where it will be 
soaked with the urinary fames, and afterward mixed 
with the heap. It is thought that such a preparation 
is more effectual than marl by itself. Frequency of 
marling may produce a hurtful looseness in the land, 
which is very easily removed by pasturing the land 
in rest for a number of years. Tbe avaricious use 
of tbe plow has produced the trivial, hurtful effects 
that have sometimes been observed from the use of 
marls. 
ABOUT SHEEP HUSBANDRY 
EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE 
Mh. Moore: — Sir, I beg pardon for not writing a 
little for the good of the farming community, as I 
am ft practical agriculturist, and have found enough 
in your paper the past five years to make it interest¬ 
ing ami profitable. All farmers who take it should 
try to instruct one another Concerning matters they 
have tested. My contribution is on sheep. 
Last summer wool sold for a high price, so I 
thought I would try the speculation, and bought 
eighty culls of sheep, and sold down to fifty-six — 
selling the poorest out of the lot -which left my 
fifty-six at SI. 12. This my neighbors considered a 
poor speculation, and even sneered and said I 
“fooled away my money;” and 1 began to think so 
myself when 1 was offered eighteen cents per ponnd 
for my wool this last, spring; but I had the sheep 
paid for, 
feelings to myself 
An Order of Agriculture. 
A new order of chivalry for farmers Is in con¬ 
templation by France. The MeUaille Agricole is to 
figure on the smock frock or blouse of the best 
operative agriculturist in each canton, and the grand 
jury of each department is to have the appointment 
of these knights of the plow. A government grant 
of one hundred francs annually is attached to the 
medal, and as there are 2,800 cantons in France, this 
will be no small item in future budgets. 
Marl it* a Manure. 
Mauls are well suited as a top-dressing to grass¬ 
lands, as the substance crumbles by exposure, and 
tlio particles become minutely divided. The most 
profitable application, observes the Mark Lane Ex¬ 
press, consists in laying it on grass leys in the end 
of autumn, or beginning of winter, when the herbage 
will be of little value, ami when the changes of 
weather will accomplish the decomposition of the 
marl by the time the grass shoots in the spring. It 
will thus secure an even spreading over the surface; 
ami the bush harrow and the roller being afterward 
employed, *thc particles will be well reduced and 
pressed into the soil. The crop of grass is greatly 
improved; and the land is plowed for a grain crop 
in the following years. The marl will be thoroughly 
matted in the turf, and the vegetable sward which it 
has raised will most, materially promote, by its de¬ 
composition, the subsequent fertility of the land. 
This mode affords time for the crumbling of the 
marl, and it raises a close vegetable growth, on the 
decay of which the future crops of grass or grain 
depend for nutriment. The substance that is used 
for top-dressing cannot be incorporated with the soil 
from want of arable culture, and consequently the 
effects depend ou tho influence which, it is able to 
exert on tbe materials with which it comes into con¬ 
tact. Hy raising ft large quantity of grassy herbage 
in the shape of roots, leaves and culms, it affords, 
by the decomposition of these substances, when the 
land is plowed, a vegetable “pabulum” to the grow¬ 
ing crop, to which no manure yet known is superior, 
if any be equal to it, either in power or durability. 
Consequently all top-dressing of an earthy nature 
should be used with the view of producing this 
growth for the benefit of future crops. The quantity 
of marls used in this way on grass lands may be 
stated at an average of forty to sixty two-horse cart 
loads per acre. 
The use of marls on fallows for barley and turnips 
in the spring, admits of the better mixing with the 
soil, provided the suitable reduction of tho marl be 
accomplished; which may be done by exposure, if 
tbe weather be favorable, before the last plowing of 
the land, and when the nature of tbe marl favors the 
distribution. The weather i* the best operator in 
Importation of drain. 
The Mark Lane Express says the aggregate value 
of grain Imported by Great Britain for the first half 
of the present year may be estimated at £21,000,000 
against £9,600,000 In 1800. Of this total about 
£14,.500,000 represent wheat and flour, our importa¬ 
tions of which in the same period of 1860 were 
below £9,000,000. The question next in importance 
is us to the sources whence these supplies have been 
derived, and the results in that, respect continue to 
present some remarkable features, which must have 
led to singular variations in the general course of 
trade, In 1859 France sent us our chief supplies, 
ami contributed about as much as Russia, Prussia, 
and the United States combined, while from America 
the amount was merely nominal. In 1800 Prussia 
took the lead, Russia was second, and the quantity 
from France was insignificant. This year America 
has distanced all other countries, and has sent us 
nearly as much as Prussia, Russia and France com¬ 
bined, the quantity from the latter being less even 
than in 1800. 
so I put tho wool up and kept my good 
A few days ago Mr.-asked 
me what I intended to get for my wuo|. 1 said thirty 
cents, or have it worked for the family use. " Well,” 
says he, “ I’ll give your price.” But 1 was not ready 
to sell, Ac. On the whole ho offered thirty-two cents, 
and off it went. In all it amounted to $70.25, beside 
Stocking yarn, about eight pounds, for borne con¬ 
sumption. 
Now for the cost and profit on sheep. 
Font of 56 sheep, $112; $2 for driving home, $114 00 
Lambs come iu April and 1 st of May,.. 88.00 
Wool sold in August,.. . 70.26 
Wool for stocking yarn,.. 2.56 
$274 81 
The expense of keeping, Ac., was as follows: 
Four acre* of corn-stalks,- $12.00 
Two rims Tirnothv, fed on farm—worth more " 
than (f sold,..... . 12.00 
Summer pasture...-*T- 50.00 
Oat#— loo bushel*, . 26.00 
Corn — 50 bushels,.-- 25.00 
Washing and shearing,.... 7 00 
Salting,.,. 1-00 
< $132.00 
Taking these figures as they stand, there is $142.81 
for my trouble, saying nothing of one old ewe and 
four lambs killed hy dogs, and the weeds and stuff con¬ 
verted into manure. Taking out the cost price, leaves 
$0.81 to pay the interest. Last spring, when they were 
doing the best, some one in your paper scared me on 
oats, or 1 would have sold twenty-live bushel* iu the 
same way. Now, if farmers can feed their grain aud 
hay at home and not lose any more than 1 have, my 
advice is to try. The land will produce better, and 
pay surer. Another advice is to begin early in the 
fall, feed light at first and increase as the weather 
grows cold, so that in spring they look a little better 
than in t.hc fall, for the lambs will pay. 
A neighbor fed his sheep on chess. They looked 
well, bat shed their wool badly. His lambs died 
without any apparent cause. They were kept under 
shed In bad weather. Could it be laid to the chess? 
Another fed rye, and cared well for his flock. He 
BLEEDING CATTLE IN SPRING, 
Steam Husbandry in Great Britain. 
English papers contain long reports of the 
proceedings of the Royal Ag. Society in its length¬ 
ened experiments with different inventions for saving 
labor in agriculture. Only of lute years have tbe 
makers of farm implements applied steam to tillage, 
yet, says the London Tunes, “Not only is the station¬ 
ary or barn-work machinery of agriculture actuated 
by steam power, but the fundamental labor of tillage 
is now fairly mastered; a steam engine can distribute 
the application of its motive force over every point 
of a Avlde irregular area, like that of an ordinary 
field, and plow, trench, delve aud scuffle, no matter 
how hilly and uneven may be the surface, how un¬ 
kind the temper or foul the condition of the soil. 
Not merely as a practical problem solved by unbuHi- 
ncss-like inventions in cases of partial experiment, 
but steam husbandry has assumed such extensive 
proportions, and excited such unprecedented interest 
in the agricultural mind, that we have many com¬ 
peting systems of steam culture, aud rival firms 
doing a large trade in steam-driven implements. 
And, when we contrast, the rapidity of extension 
