FOR THE WEEK ENDIN' 
SATURDAY. MARCH 18 , 186 - 5 , 
MOORE'S RURAL HEW-YORKER, 
AN ORIGINAL WXXKLT 
RURAL, LITERARY AND FASOLY NEWSPAPER 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
CHAS. D. BRAGDON, Associate Editor, 
To Correspondents. —Mr. Randall's address is 
Cortland Village, Cortland Co., N. Y. All communica¬ 
tions intended for this Department, and all inquiries 
relating to sheep, should he addressed to him as above. 
HENRY S. RANDALL, LL. D., 
Editor of the Department of Sheep Husbandry. 
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS 5 
P. BARRY, C. DBWET, LL. D., 
H. T. BROOKS, L. B. LANGWOTHY, 
T. C. PETERS, EDWARD WEBSTER. 
NEW YORK STATE SHEEP BREEDERS’ AND 
WOOL GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION. 
Tun Rural Nkw-Yobkkr la designed to be unsur¬ 
passed la Valne, Purity, and Variety of Contents, and 
unique and beautirul In Appearance. Its Conductor 
devotes ills personal attention to the supervision of Its 
various departments, and earnestly labors to render the 
Rural an eminently Reliable Guido on all the Important 
Practical, Scientific aud other Subjects Intimately 
connected with the business of those whose interests It 
zealously advocates. As a Family Journal it Is emi¬ 
nently LnatrucUve and Entertaining—being so conducted 
that it can be surely taken to the Romes of people of 
intelligence, u«tc and aiecitmlnatlon. It embraces more 
Horticultural, Scientific, Educational, Literary and News 
Matter, interspersed with appropriate Engravings, than 
any other Journal,—rendering is far the most complete 
Agricultural, Literary and Family Newspaper in 
America. 
judgi, was over 200. Prom the commencement 
to thedose of the meeting, the best feeling was 
maiutaried, and at no time during the discus¬ 
sions war there a flagging of interest, all present 
seeming te have an earnest desire to obtain all 
the knowledge possible on the several subjects 
presented fo- consideration. It was in many 
respects one 01 the most satisfactory and profit¬ 
able farmers' gatherings that we ever had ihe 
pleasure of altenliug. 
In eliciting infomation, and in turning the 
discussions to pr act cal account, great praise is 
due to-the Preside* Dr. Randall, who by 
keeping those particljvtlug in the debate from 
wandering from the topics immediately under 
discussion and by timely suggestions, aided iu 
making the matter brought out of more value 
and utility. The meeting, therefore, in this re¬ 
spect was a decided success. 
The Convention assembled at City Hall, at 12 
M., and was called to order by the President 
who briefly stated the object of the meeting, and 
remarked that as there could be but a short 
time before taking a recess for dinner, an op¬ 
portunity would be given for persons present to 
join the Association. Quite a number thereupon 
gave their nntujs to the Treasurer and paid the 
fees of membership. 
On motion the chair appointed the-following 
as a business commutes to select topics for the 
afternoon's discussion;—Hon. B. N. Hunting- 
ton, Oneida; Chas. E. Champlin, Steuben; 
Chas. T allmax, Onondaga; W. R. Pitts, On¬ 
tario; D. W. Percy, Renss-fiaer. 
A motion that the Secretary now read the 
Constitution and By-Laws ot the Society, was 
put and carried, but tbe readinr was waived on 
account of the ringing of bells throughout the 
city aud tiring of eannou, which lommeuced at 
this time, in celebration of tbe ds*s and of the 
fall of Charleston. , 
On motion, a recess was taken until ^ P. M. 
AFTERNOON SESSION. 
The convention assembled promptly at the 
hour, and the Business Committee reported as 
follows; 
1. Bssoh'ed, That it is the duty of this association 
of every variety of sheep 
C3f* For Terms and other particulars, see last page. 
IS FARMING PROFITABLE 1 
MR. PETERS’ SHOUT-nORN BULL 11 HOTSPUR. 
TOR pcuigre 
A Anori of a piscicssicm at the H'Vi Ttoai Fnr- 
» Club, .\lngara Co., N. 11, Feb. 18fA,lS65. 
R. F. Ditcher thought profit a relative term, 
inasmuch as what one class would think profit¬ 
able another would think too trilling to be 
worthy of notice. Farming paid to some extent. 
We see men all over the country who commenced 
either empty handed or with very limited means, 
and by years of Industry and economy they have 
attained to a competence. None ever attain to 
great wealth exclusively by farming. It Se no¬ 
torious that the farmers of Western New York 
who commenced poor are broken down by hard 
labor. Men of forty are really as old as they 
ought to be at sixty, and the question arises do 
they get an ample remuneration for such a waste 
of muscle and life-force, to 6ay nothing of the 
anxiety of mind. 
Had often heard it remarked that farmers 
could not afford to hire, as it oiten took the 
produce of the hired and of the employer, to 
pay the help; and even farm labor is generally 
cheap as compared with that paid by other 
classes. We ninst come to one of two con¬ 
clusions, either farming docs not pay, or else 
the majority do not understand their business. 
Merchants, mechanics, manufacturers, miners, 
lumbermen and boatmen, all can and do hire, 
and at liberal wages, while with farmers it is a 
constant theme that they cannot afford tp hire. 
Since the wur, farmers have done first rate, but 
I don’t want to make money by the sufferings 
of others. 
D. Nye.—H ad thought ho could not hire at a 
profit, but bad hired a good deal — some good 
and some poor help. Thought farming a safe 
business; men in other business ran greater 
risks, and occasionally made great profits, and 
also sustained great losses. Many farmers have 
done well, commencing all In debt and sur¬ 
rounding themselves with broad acres and a 
home of plenty. Could not say it had been 
remarkably profitable for 1dm. When ho com¬ 
menced on his tarm it was ull out of order, and 
what he had made showed for itself. 
J. 8. Woodard thought if Mr. Nyb had put 
on an acre of buildings on his farm, it must have 
been profitable for him. Wo use up more than 
we are aware, very few keeping accurate accounts 
of their income aud expenses. Only one mer 
chant in ten succeeds, manufacturers are but 
little better, While with speculators not one iu a 
hundred retires wealthy. Farmers would be 
surprised if they would keep an accurate 
LETTERS AND PAPERS 
GLEANINGS FRO 
The farmer's life is not surrounded with tempta¬ 
tions, nor his children subjected to such evil 
influences as those in cities and villages. Farm¬ 
ers, on an average, do as well as any other 
bnsine-s, and above all it is a healthy business. 
H. Wyman. — Thought farming paid some¬ 
times and sometimes it did OOL One great thing 
to be taken into account i», that farmers raise 
nearly all their owu supplies, aud they know 
they are good. Just now dairy farming is pay- 
iug well; one of his nephews in Oswego county 
having 30 cows, realized $2,750 from them last 
summer; another having '25 cows, $2,250, Had 
only made a small payment on his place at first, 
but had paid nearly as much interest as the place 
originally cost. Farmers ought to have a little 
mercy on themselves. Had better hire than to 
make slaves of themselves. 
A. F. Ditcher. —A great many mechanics 
work several years at their trades, and having 
accumulated a small capital, invest it in land. 
Many mechanics complain that farmers do the 
best, whereas, a farmer with no capital except 
the same worth of tools as a mechanic, cannot 
realize the wages on an average that mechanics 
do. Most farmers have some capital, whereas, 
those mechanics who are disposed to complain, 
usually have the income of their daily labor 
alone. A. F. Dctcker, Sec’y. 
men about the same, while with farmers nearly 
all do slowly accumulate. Farmers deal with 
nature and get a just return for all they bestow 
upon her. Nature does not cheat, nor will she 
allow herself to be cheated. Farming is health¬ 
ful, and a large 6hare of a farmer's food is used 
while fresh and in perfection, which is quite a 
consideration. 
W. H. Parker.— Said, after listening to the 
remarks, he was almost persuaded that farming 
did pay. But what per cent, does it pay ? Do we 
get pay for all our back aches; working through 
rain aud shine, summer's heat and wiutcr’s cold? 
Look at the residences In our villages, and if we 
except the shanties of foreign laborers, the dwel¬ 
lings of the farmers hold but a sorry comparison. 
In the villages, stone walks about the houses 
and ornamental fences are the rule, while with 
farmers they are the exception; so much so that 
many are glad even to get a slab to walk on. 
Most of his relatives are engaged iu other busi¬ 
ness, aud he is convinced that it is unbounded 
extravagance that makes the share of merchants 
aud tradesmen so small that arc wealthy. Let 
the storekeepers and others live as economically 
as farmers do, and we should not hear so much 
of their breaking down. If farmers hired as 
much help iu their business and in their houses 
and paid such wages and fared as sumptuously, 
there is not oue farmer In a thousand that could 
stand it two years. 
11. Duncan had tried living in villages, and 
was sick of it, and liked farming very much. 
He considered himself rich, yes, independently 
rich, oven on a 6tnall farm. He was contented, 
and a contented mind is a eontiuual feast, lie 
stood on terra tirmu, and was satisfied. 
A. Hamlin.— When a young man, had looked 
about with a view of engaging in other business, 
but was not satisfied with the prospect, and vol¬ 
untarily chose farming. Farming had its bright 
side and its dark side. How much it payed could 
only be determined by keeping a debt and credit 
account. For one item, a farmer should not 
charge for his time as low a rate of wages as he 
can hire unskilled foreign labor for, but in pro¬ 
portion to his skill In Ills business, as merchants, 
bankers and others do. Even the minor jobs 
done by his boys ought to be charged. If this 
rule were adopted, he did not think oue fanner in 
one thousand would make seven per cent, on his 
capital, besides keeping np the necessary repain. 
Farmers do not generally inform themselves as 
they ought. They do not think and plan, but 
strive to make up the deficiency by working like 
brutes. Many are, voluntarily, perfect hacks. 
If farmers would Inform themselves, live within 
their means, and not bo in such a hurry to get 
rich, they need not prematurely break down by 
excessive work. 
Charles 8tarks.— Farmers do not usually 
take into account their living, while mechanics 
frequently barely make a living with all their 
earnings. 
M. Harwood. —All men are not calculated 
lor farmers, uor all for merchants or mechanics. 
Ointment for a Sitdlen Teat. — The following 
is a good ointment for a swollen teat; — One 
ounce of camphor with a little spirits of wine 
and mixed with one ounce of mercurial oint¬ 
ment aud a half pound of cider ointment. 
Hater for Chickens. — Clean water in a clean 
dish should be provided daily; and it is recom¬ 
mended by a writer who has bad considerable 
experience, that a little clean gravel be put in 
the bottom of the dish. The water should be 
changed twice a day. 
Chinese is. Imphee Canes. — “Western New 
York: " — We regard the Chinese sugar cane, if 
you can get pare seed, better for cultivation in 
this locality, with the present knowledge of man¬ 
ufacture, than the Imphee varieties, because it 
makes more, and a better sirup. 
Diarrhoea in Cattle. —J. H. Fitch, a corre¬ 
spondent of tbe Prairie Farmer, cures it in this 
way; — Take half a pail of bran and pour boil¬ 
ing water on it and cover with thick doth until 
nearly cool, then strain and give the tea to the 
afflicted animal. Two or or three doses is very 
sure to cure and can do no hurt. 
Food for Chiekcne. — A writer in Wilkes’ 
Spirit recommends for chickens for the first 
week after hatching, a hard boiled egg, to be 
given, chopped fine, at least twice a day, wheat 
6 teeped in milk, and coarse Indian meal, bread 
crumbs, etc. A change of food is necessary, and 
he advises that it- be changed twice a week, 
substituting cracked corn for wheat. Chickens 
should be fed as long as they will run after food 
at call. 
Tan-bark for Ibtatoes ,—A gardener at Troyes, 
“having observed that everybody living in the 
quarter of the town occupied by tanners escaped 
the cholera, determined to try the virtue of tan 
when planting potatoes. For this purpose he 
placed a shovelful of tan in the trench under 
the seed iu a part of the field, and planted the 
remainder in the ordinary way. Ou digging out 
the potatoes he found that those which were 
planted near the tan were perfectly sound, while 
the others were diseased. He found, further, 
that potatoes were preserved in the winter by 
spending tan on the floor of tbe storehouse. * 
Castor Beans m Missouri. — The St. Joseph 
Union urges the cultivation of the Castor Bean 
iu that State. It says an average crop of 25 
bushels per aeve can be grown, and two hands 
can take care of thirty acres of them, and at the 
same time attend to a small crop of wheat, o*cs, 
and corn. But by far tbe most important asser¬ 
tion made is this — “ Besides the d* fect pecun¬ 
iary profit urisiug from the grn** tl1 ot this crop, 
it pays the farmer i- -'W * u the strength it 
ABOUT HANGING BUCKETS, 
In a communication on making maple sugar 
from a correspondent iu Ohio, in the Rural of 
Feb. 11th, I notice one suggestion regarding 
hanging of buckets which I thiuk could be bet¬ 
tered. Now a much better way is to haug the 
buckets ou the spouts. If a bucket is suitably 
wired it cau be hung ou the spout aud save mar¬ 
ring the tree, and perhaps save some future gen- 
eration from breaking the commandments, when 
chopping off' the points of ten penny nails when 
cutting up the old maples for wood, for you cau 
hardly prevent breaking off the points of nails 
in drawing out, if driven iu far enough to hold a 
pail of sap. I have hung some ‘25U buckets a 
seasou for more thau 30 years ou the spouts, aud 
never kuew one draw out; aud some of my 
buckets held Id quarts. My spouts were made 
of elder or sumac, four or five inches in length; 
cut a notch in the spout and drive in the tree 
snag with the notch on the upper side. Hitch 
ou the bucket and then it is all right. If you 
want to tap over, take tue same bit and bore 
one-fourth inch deeper. Usually there is no 
necessity for that us there is a small chance for 
the wood to dry. I can agree with your corres¬ 
pondent in all of his other suggestions, but don't 
go to driving nails Into maple trees for you can 
do better. I have known 1000 buckets hung up 
iu our bush in a season and never heard of a 
spout pulling out. It can't be done if the spout 
is properly driven in. Make your spouts ratb*“ 
tapering, drive instrongund a bucket cap can¬ 
not pull it out. I used a on j Ut,fl ’ nc ^ kit. 
Trim Mich.. Folv. t S*r. Wu. Conk. 
to encourage the breeding of every variety of sheep 
which is calculated :u meet the wants of any impor¬ 
tant class of American consumers, and thus render 
onr country independent of foreign ones for its supply 
of raw materials. 
y ife-rv !•« /, That wo approve of the present wool 
tariff of the United States. 
3. AY-Wtv./. That wo recommend a higher tax on 
dogs by our State Legislature, and that provision he 
made for its uniform and ri/d enforcement. 
Tories KOR OISCUSSION. 
The subject of wool puUlng; the subject of rheuma¬ 
tism in sheep. Its cause and cure; tUe subject of goitre 
in sheep, its cause and cure; the crossing of diflerent 
breeds of sheep. 
Mr. T allmax of Onondaga, desired to have 
the resolutions and subjects taken up and dis¬ 
cussed separately. 
Mr. Brooks of Wyoming, expressed bis grati¬ 
fication at si* - * 1 a meeting convened hero on this 
occasion Indicating, as it does, a deep interest 
iu ttu» important branch of industry. Ho took 
pleasure iu agreeing most heartily to the first 
resolution which had been offered. The asso¬ 
ciation Is to have a wide influenee on the breed¬ 
ing of sheep. The subjects brought before this 
meeting should not bu left to the decision of 
caprice, they interest every one who eats a 
breakfast or wears a garment. We came to 
advance the great subject of sheep husbandry in 
all its departments. I hold that a pound of 
meat—of mutton— caD be produced as cheaply 
as a pound of any otter animal food, and it is 
the best of all meats for the table. There is 
this advantage also, you get tho wool thrown 
