I 
r 
ft?;5^LCULTURE 
AGRICULTURE 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.,—FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1861 
1st, Let barn-yards be as small _ 
as tho size of yonr UockB and 
herds will admit. It is common 
to see a desolate and irregular 
Held, of a fourth of au acre or WAS 
more, with sundry sharp corners *gi£ ' 
and angles, muddy, and encum- » ? | '• 
berod with tnbbisb, occupied at J , 
intervals by a dozcu cattle or fifty v'^r^r 1 -/;. -*--t 
sheep — misnamed a “ barn- • / ';’rffl 
yard,” If it includes a stream > 
to which Its surface inclines, f 
ami about which some poverty- 
stricken Oaltlo congrcgato dur- * P""™' 
ing the day, waiting in cold f 
weather for an opening in tho Wj —— \ 
ice that they may get a “ cooling_w 
beverage,” the accessories are fj' 
complete. It is impossiblo to . .. AT - 
litter it all, and the droppings 
are too far apart to make it proba¬ 
ble they will ever be gathered up. 
Rather have a small, well-fenced 
yard, with a water trough in it, and keep it well littered 
with leaves, straw, or coarse grass or weeds. 2d, 
Let eaves* troughs be put up go that no water shall fall 
from the buildings. 3d, Clean the yards early iu tho 
spring, and plow in the manure before warm, weather 
dries it up. 
No farmer is at liberty to forget that horse manure 
anil sheep manuro are subject to rapid decomposi¬ 
tion. in which almost their entire value is lost. 
Prof. Norton says:—” Horse manure, particularly, 
should not bo left exposed at ail; it begins to heat 
and to lose nitrogen almost immediately, as may be 
perceived by the Bmcli. It should be mixed with 
* Other manures, or covered by some absorbent earth 
ifs ifbon as possible.” Speaking of the value of 
nitrogen which escapes so largely from urine and 
tnamiTCftf Mr, Nhutuw - 4i Mart'iYfltv con- 
tainhig nitrogen in large quantity arc so exceedingly 
valuable because this gas is required to form gluten, 
and bodies of that class, in tho plant; this is partic- 
larly in the seed, and sometimes also in the fruit. 
Plants can easily obtain an abundance of carbon, 
oxygen and hydrogen from the air, the soil and 
manures. Not so with nitrogen. They cannot get it 
from the air — there is little of It in most soils; and 
hence manures which contain much of it produce 
such a marked effect.” 
Bear In mind, fellow-farmers, that this nitrogen, 
the manure of all manures, is just what you drive 
out of your dung when you suffer it to flre-fang or 
burn. Mix it liberally with muck or earth, and you 
may prevent this, if trodden hard without much litter 
in it, manure will not waste; at any rate, cover it 
liberally with plaster, and that will absorb the gasses. 
A liberal application of soil or sods will doubly pay— 
first, iu the preservation of the volatile portion of 
the manures; and second, iu what those snbBtanccs 
contain for tho renovation of the soil. Science 
unites with common sense in asserting that we must 
in some way restore to the soil the elements taken 
from it by the crops, or we shall in the end arrive at 
utter barrenness. Now, farmers, you are very clever 
fellows—very, very, very; won't you draw a few loads 
of muck or earth from the road-side to your yards, 
cover so it won’t freeze, and mix it with your sheep 
and horse manure during the winter?—n. t. a. 
ent have these little experiments or none. We have 
made experiments with so much care and involving 
so much labor, that tho crops even with the best 
success would uot pay for the labor. The same is 
doubtless true of others. 
The great difficulty has been not with the extent of 
the experiments, but witli the manner iu which they 
have been conducted. There has doubtless been too 
much baste, and too little ulte— too much jumping at 
conclusions- but even then an experiment, although 
not reliable in all respects, is better than nothing, 
as it excites interest, and makes the question one of 
thought and discussion among practical men. For¬ 
tunately we are pretty much all possessed with the 
little weakness of thinking we can do a thing about, 
us well as the next man, or a little better, and if 
results are reported different from what we think 
are ready to make the trial to dis- 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
XX ORIGINAL WKKKI.Y 
AGRICULTURAL, LITERARY AND FAMILY JOURNAL 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
With an Able Corps of Assistants and Contributors. 
CHAS. D. BRAODON, Western Correspondlnu Editor. 
Tub Rural Nkw-Yorkhr is designed to be unsurpassed in 
Value, Purity, Usefulness and Variety of Contents, and unique 
and beautiful in Appearance Its Coudactor devotes his per¬ 
son at attention to the supervision of its various departments, 
and earnestly labors to render the RURAL au eminently 
Reliable (inide on all the important Practical. ScientOic and 
other Subjects intimately connected with the business of those 
whose interests it zealously advocates As a Family Jocknal 
it ia eminently Instructive and Rntertaintng — Twin* so con¬ 
ducted that it can he safely taken to the Hearts and Homes ot 
people of intelll«ence. tasta and discrimination. It embraces 
more Agricultural, Horticultural, Scientific, Educational. 
Literary and Notvs Matter, interspersed with appropriate and 
beautiful Engravings, than any other journal, —rendering 
H the most complete AgrioCLti-rai., Litkkaky am> Family 
Nrwspapkr in America. 
137“ For Terms and other particulars, see last page. 
peetH of thousands at the North as well as South, they should bo, 
especially iu our cities and villages. Yet amid the prove tbo theory that wo consider false, or the state¬ 
wide-spread disaster, one class suffers comparatively aicnt. of facts that we deem incorrect, and thus 
little. The owners and cultivators of the soil are now knowledge is increased, aud after repeated trials the 
the fortunate and envied people of the land, and ought truth is made to appear, and prevails. While adrait- 
to appreciate the fact we have so long and often ting this, we urge upon all the necessity of exact- 
reiterated, that Agriculture is the surest and safest, nc88 j,i operations designed to teach facts, for upon 
as well as most useful and honorable pursuit of Man. it 8 precision, more than upon its extent, tho value of 
Wo have often, lu public addresses and print, urged an experiment, depends. The truth and the whole 
farmers’sons to make agriculture their profession for truth, and nothing but the truth should be given, 
life,—yet bow many who have left the farm for the anc j a8 a general rule it ia best to leave each reader 
merchant’s desk, physio or law, are to-day lamenting fc 0 d raw his own inferences, and form his own opin- 
their mistake! jons from the facta stated. 
— In common with many other business interests, There is no more Interesting Held ot discovery 
the Newspaper Press has suffered severely from the open to the thoughtful than‘that of agriculture, 
effects of the war, and several agricultural journals We want to know how many bushels ol corn or 
have been obliged to suspend or materially lessen wheat, and how much hay can be manufactured out 
their expenses. But, though tho Rural was for of a cord of manure; how the manure can be made, 
months seriously affected, its expenses were increased saved, and applied, so as to produce the best results ; 
rather than diminished. In the darkest days of the how the corn, hay, Ac., can bo turned into beei, 
rebellion, we engaged our present able Western Cor- pork, butter, and cheeBo at e least cost per pound. 
m _ » - - n»..srt vuo l Vttno i* v>•»•**. i.t .At • ’ h>(»iir*su»L Alov.* <1 
•■">\o'igh the war and consequent bard rim idstion. The • r requires no exten- 
tlmes and depreciation of currency have for awhile b'ivc laboratory,.no exp oaeWlcals, or only such 
materially lessened our receipts, wo believe that us ave provided in the great laboratory of natoro. 
Agriculture, which feeds and clothes all, is the main Care and patience are the ingredients that will do 
dependence of the country in this great emergency much towards solving those problems, and lie who 
and that those journals which best foster and promote applies himself to the work and adds to the stock of 
it, will deserve, and should receive, continued and general knowledge, is worthy of all honor as a bene- 
increaaed support. Hence it is that, without looking factor of the race. 
CLOSE OF THE YEAR AND VOLUME. 
For the twelfth time it becomes our duty to indite 
the closing article for a Year and Volume of the 
Rural New-Yorker. The occasion is one of no 
little importance to us, and we trust not devoid* of 
interest to the reader. Our emotions are mingled, 
but tho most prominent thought is one of gratitude — 
an acknowledgment of indebtedness to Providence 
for the blessings of health and strength, which have 
enabled us to labor so long, and with comparative 
men, women and children who are directly or indi¬ 
rectly influenced by reading this journal — and for 
living to witness the fruition of our hopes in regard 
to the usefulness of an enterprise which ba3 ever 
honestly endeavored to maintain Right and dethrone 
Wrong, with little regard to consequences. 
It seems but yesterday that wc commenced the 
Rural, yet how great have been the changes daring 
its publication!—how vast in many things affecting 
individual and national interests, prospects and 
prosperity! Brief as the period seems to those in 
the meridian of life, and absorbed in the cares aud 
competitions of a utilitarian and progressive age, it 
ia crowded with events of the utmost Importance,— 
which have already had a powerful effect, and mast 
continue to influence the action and destiny of mil¬ 
lions of the human race. The most prominent of 
these will readily occur to the intelligent reader, who 
can, on reflection, recall the great improvements in 
various branches of Art, Science and Production— 
as well aa some changes which huve not been 
improvements or of tlie progressive order. That the 
world has moved, however, and generally in a direc¬ 
tion beneficial to mankind, is evident from the efforts 
of Mind, and the resulting influences upon the Men¬ 
tal, Moral and Material interests of individuals, com¬ 
munities and nations. Though this is not au age of 
miracles, many of the inventions and improvements 
introduced or perfected within the past decade are 
truly wonderful. For yxample —but we will not 
attempt to particularize or enumerate, for either 
would require more space than we can now command. 
Daring the whole period of its publication, the 
Rural New-Yorker has labored zealously to fulfill 
the purposes and promote the objects announced in 
its first number, some of which we may appropriately 
repeat in this connection. After remarking that 
“the importance aud responsibility of the position 
assumed were fully realized,” we added: 
“The pages of this Journal are dedicated to Progress and 
Imfrovement. We use the exprefsion not lightly, but in its 
fullest and broadest acceptation — mentally, morally, and 
physically. It does not confine ns to narrow limits, bat gives 
MANURE AND HOW TO SAVE IT 
There has been a great deal said about manure, but 
unless mankind behr.ve themselves better, a great 
deal more has got to bo said about it,. Turn up your 
nose, if you will, It is a “staple” article, and is 
entitled to, and will receive, the growing confidence 
and respect of good men. It Is directly connected 
with the growth and expansion of the human race. 
If manure runs out, man must run out, too: it is the 
fountain of our material prosperity. Why, then, is it 
heedlessly trodden under tho feet of men and beasts? 
Why is there in America no systematic and scientific 
treatment of it? Smaller interests are persistently 
and vociferously cared for. More doubtful matters 
are promoted by conventions, combinations and 
associations—are nursed by motherly legislatures, 
and honored by public confidence and approval. 
Manure, ignored by the bar, the pulpit and the 
benevolent societies, is left “to waste its fragrance 
on the—air,” an outcast and an offense. Men emi¬ 
nent for economy, who think Ben Franklin a greater 
roan thau St. 1'aul because he was tire author of the 
maxim “Take care of the pence and the pounds will 
take care of themselves”—men who crosa-mko their 
stubbles for a few straws—even such men waste 
t li kir manure. You could not persuade them to 
let a bushel of corn go to loss, but they will waste 
the manure that would make titty ViukIk-Ib of corn, and 
think nothing about it. If they lose a cow, they talk 
mournfully of her virtues for a whole year; but half 
tho profit of keeping her they threw away without 
regret. 
It is especially necessary that we should be re¬ 
minded of our failings in this respect at the present 
season of the year. Now is the time to save food for 
the next year’s crops. The two great sources of loss 
are leaching and burning. Half our stable and barn¬ 
yard manure is thoroughly washed before it goes to 
the field. Whatever else needs washing, manure 
doeB not—the dirtiest of it is clean enough for all 
practical purposes. What goes out in this washing 
is precisely what ought to stay in. Prof. Norton, of 
Yale College, says:—“In all places whpre manure is 
protected from the sun. and from much washing by 
rain, its value is greatly increased. * * * While the 
liquid manure is actually in many cases almost^ntirely 
lost, the solid part is often allowed to drain and hlea. h 
until nearly every thing soluble has washed away. 
* * * The liquid which runs from barn-yards and 
from manure heaps, is shown by analysis to consist of 
the most fertilizing substances; and it is calculated 
that where this is all allowed to wash away, aa Is the 
case in many instances, tho manure is often reduced 
nearly one-half in its value. I have seen yards where 
it was almost worthless, owing to long exposure. In 
Flanders, where every thing of the kind is saved with 
the greatest care, the liquid manure of a single cow 
fora year is valued at $10; here it is too often allowed 
to escape entirely.” 
Those who would remedy the evil here spoken of 
will, bo far as possible, keep their manure under 
sheds or in manure cellars; but yards must be used, 
to some extent, in which case the following direc¬ 
tions should be observed: 
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS 
In other countries there are experimental farms, 
and wealthy men who devote their time and means 
to the developement of agricultural truths. Here 
we are entirely destitute of the former, and we have 
few farmers who are willing or able to make experi¬ 
ments, tho failure of which would involve great 
pecuniary loss; aud experiments even when success¬ 
ful are not profitable usually to those who make 
them. It is apparent, therefore, that we must profit 
by the results of small experiments, or be content to 
do without this, the very best means of testing theo¬ 
ries, developing truth and advancing agricultural 
knowledge. This state of things, though unfortu¬ 
nate in some respects, is not without redeeming fea¬ 
tures. It shonld encourage every intelligent farmer, 
indeed, wc think it makes it the duty of every one 
to test new plauts, new modes of culture, and report 
the result to tbeir neighbors and the brotherhood of 
farmers, through the agricultural press. Under 
these circumstances they have no need to fear that 
their small experiments will be overshadowed by 
those of any great institution, or by the labors of 
those more wealthy, and to whom the public ear is 
more open. 
Much ridicule has been cast upon the published 
reports of small experiments, and the calculations 
founded upon them. It has been by many considered 
unjust and fanciful to grow a rod or two of roots or 
grain, by a particular course of culture or manuring, 
and’from this calculate tho cost and product of an 
acre. Experiments on so small a scale are not quite 
so satisfactory as though they were of larger extent, 
but if made with care, we know not why they 
may not tell a true tale. If the extent, nature, 
and condition of the soil, manure, time employed in 
culture, Ac., is stated, aud the crop measured or 
weighed carefully, we know not why these experi¬ 
ments may not prove exceedingly valuable. If 75 
bushels of carrots are grown on one-eighth of an 
acre, at a cost of five cents a bushel, wo cannot see 
why COO bushels cannot be grown on an acre by the 
same treatment, and perhaps at a little less cost. 
Then, as we have before observed, we must at prea- 
In our last we gave Borne remarks on the fattening, 
killing and marketing of Poultry. A correspondent 
suggests that, a little information about Poultry 
Houses, both useful and ornamental, would be very 
acceptable to many of our readers, as for the want of 
proper arrangements for keeping, many are not much 
troubled about either fattening or killing. Wc would 
never advise the erection of a Poultry House for 
mere ornament, as the beauty of such buildings con¬ 
sists principally in their convenience and adaptation 
to the use for which they are designed. Still they 
may be made quite neat.; and when built on small vil¬ 
lage lots, or even on alarm, when near the house, this 
is necessary. A year or two ago we made a call at 
Springside, the residence of Mr. Vaskab, near Pough¬ 
keepsie, ami there we saw one of the prettiest houses 
it was ever our good fortune to look upon. The place 
was then iu charge of 0. N. Bemknt, Esq., well known 
to our readers as the author of a valuable Poultry 
Book, and as a correspondent of the Rural. This 
house wa3 designed and built by Mr. B., who fur¬ 
nished us with the design and description. It iB 
built in a sequestered nook, on the sunny side of a 
high bank, surmounted by rocks covered with shrub¬ 
bery. 
“ This location was selected for the purpose of pro¬ 
tection from the cold northern blasts, and receiving 
the warmth and benefit of the winter’s Bun. The 
deciduous trees in front being deprived of their 
foliage in winter, admit the full influence of the sun, 
and, when in full leaf, shade and ward off bis 
searching rays in summer. 
“ The elevation, as will be seen in the figure accom¬ 
panying this article, is a rather pretty affair. The 
center building, with the gable to the front, is twelve 
feet square; eight feet posts. The roof is very steep 
audsurmountedwith a kind of cupola, for the pur¬ 
pose of ventilation and ornament; in the bottom of 
this are two «mall swing doors, to close np when 
necessary. Tho roof is of one and a quarter inch 
plank, tongued and grooved, the joints painted with 
A Vote ok Thanks. — Before adding “Finis” to 
the Twelfth Year and Volume of the Rural New- 
Yokkbr, we are conetrained to express our sincere 
acknowledgments to each and all who have in any 
manner contributed to Its success. To Contributors 
and Correspondents, Agents and hosts of friendly 
Subscribers all over the land, we are under obliga¬ 
tions for special and innumerable favors. While 
many have increased the value and interest of its 
pages by furnishing therefor the results of their obser¬ 
vation and experience, others have kindly introduced 
the Rural in new localities, and in various ways 
aided in extending its circulation and usefulness. 
Truly, as wo have said on a similar occasion, the con¬ 
ductor of a journal having friends so numerous, 
kiud and generous, may be excused for entertaining 
some little pride —even while bcudiDg under a weight 
of obligation to them—and would be ungrateful 
were ho not to acknowledge the indebtedness and 
also resolve to more than ever merit such manifesta¬ 
tions of approval. Appreciating, to some extent, 
our obligations to both Individuals aud Community, 
we shall strive to repay the indebtedness iu an appro¬ 
priate manner — and meantime wish one and all 
herein addressed a “Happy New Year” and many 
joyous returns of the same to themselves and their 
(we trust always happy) families. 
— Thanks, also, to the numerous friends who are 
already successfully recruiting for our next volume, 
a3 their substantial remittances attest. 
