I 
WOT 
/iGR' CULTUR F 
ROCHESTER N. Y.-FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1865, 
owners of the South, at whose instigation the 
war was commenced, will be impoverished and 
discredited and their influence forever over¬ 
thrown. The poor whites have been thinned 
oat by the war; the South is still largely unoc¬ 
cupied territory; slavery no longer exists to 
exclude free Industry, and when once peace is 
re-established there will be a rush of emigrants 
from Europe and the Northern States to the fer¬ 
tile fields of the South; a new population 
will thus arise, which will owe everything to 
the North and to the Union, and the spirit of 
treason will die out with the aristocracy of the 
plantation. 
The iuducemf-nts for emigration to the South 
are certainly great, particularly for people in the 
old world, but those who own real estate — im¬ 
proved farms, etc.,—in the Northern States 
Bhould not decide upon a change without due 
deliberation as to the eousequencee. NVe have 
given above, the general, popular view of the 
picture, hut it has a reverse. Those of our 
readers who are looking Southward —especially 
such ns are now located in favored sections, with 
good society, schools, churches, etc., conven¬ 
ient—should “count the cost’’ to themselves 
and families, of a change to a region where they 
will, for awhile at least, be deprived of many of 
the privileges and enjoyments now within their 
reach. The difference in climate and staple 
crops should also be considered. Many sections 
of the South are not adapted to the mixed hus¬ 
bandry of the North — for in one region'eotton 
is the staple, in another sugar, and so on. In 
some localities the cereals, grasses and fruits are 
produced, while in others it Is only profitable to 
Ot course those aceus 
MOOSE'S BUBAL NEW-YOEKEB, 
AJJ ORIGINAL WEEKLY 
RURAL, LITERARY ANI) FAMILY NEWSPAPER, 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE 
HENRY S. RANDALL, LL. D., 
idltor of the Department of Bheep Husbandry. 
SPECIAL CONTBXBTJTORS t 
P. BARRY, C. DEWEY, LL. D., 
H. T. BROOKS, L. B. LANGWORTHY, 
T. 0. PETERS, EDWARD WEBSTER. 
Tub Rural Nrw-Yorkke Is designed to he unsur¬ 
passed tu Value, Purity, and Variety of Contents, and 
unique and heuutlCul In Appearance. It* Conductor 
devotes Lis personal attention to the supervision of Its 
various departments, and earnestly labors to render tbc 
Rural an eminently Reliable Guide on all the Important 
Practical, Scientific and other SnbJectB Intimately 
connected with Urn business of those whose Interests It 
zealously advocates. As a Family Journal It la emi¬ 
nently Instructive and Entertaining—being so conducted 
that It can be safely taken to the Homes of people of 
Intelligence, taste and discrimination, it embraces more 
Horticultural, Scientific, Educational, Literary and Sow* 
Matter, Interspersed with appropriate EuKravtnus, than 
any other Journal.—rendering It far the most complete 
Agricultural, Litkraby and Family Nkwspapkr In 
America. 
*W For Terms and other particulars, see last page. 
THE SOIL OF THE SOUTH: 
ITS FUTURE POSSESSION AND CULTIVATION, 
ends are clap-boarded. The whole is finished 
with three coats of white paint. 
The Carriage Way is on the south side of 
the building, and Is made of easy grade, whilst 
the floor of the barn upon the south side is 
about ten feet from the ground. This makes it 
convenient in stacking straw after thrashing. 
Above we give a perspe'^L view of a Barn 
located in one of .the uehe'^T'/nm of Western. 
New York —a jurtion otVl Genesee Valley I 
long famous fori its supcnl cultivation, pro¬ 
ductive soil, fine ’ irm*t iiildf ci and the intelli¬ 
gence, morality, general good management and 
consequent prosperity of the people. This plan 
was awarded a premium from the large number 
sent in under our offer some years ago, and is 
re-pnblishcd in response to inquiries aud for the 
reason that we think it will meet the wants of 
many who wore not subscribers at the time of 
its former appearance in the Rural. 
Now that the rebellion is over, the Union 
likely to be speedily restored, and pecce to pre, 
vail through on t our borders, the re-population 
of the South Is becoming a question of vital 
The questions involved are very 
grow certain stapl 
lomcd to growing a variety of crops should not,! 
without careful consideration as to the conse¬ 
quences, change to another and different style of 
husbandry, involving particular knowledge and 
perhaps a large outlay. Young men of limited 
means, about to start in life, will make good 
pioneers in the settlement aud improvement of 
the Southern country, and upon them will de¬ 
pend, in a great measure, the progress for the 
next decade of the. semi-tropical region to which 
so many eyes and hearts arc how turning with 
anxiety and solicitude. Many of our bravo vol¬ 
unteers will undoubtedly locate in the South, 
and we trust all such will ere long be enabled to 
thank God that, the cruel war being over, their 
lives have fallen in pleasant places — sitting 
peacefully and happily under their own vines 
aud tig trees. 
The occupation and culture of Southern Soil 
by live, wide-awake, intelligent and enterprising 
Northmen, must eventually affect the interests 
of the Rural Population of the Northern and 
Western States. It may depreciate the value of 
landed property, and affect the prices of some of 
our leading products. For instance, such au 
Impetus may be given to cotton grow'iug as to 
greatly Cheapen cotton goods, aud thus lessen 
the price of woolens — but we do not anticipate 
that such will be the result for some time, if 
ever. We who remain at the North, must await 
the developments of seasons and events, and 
govern ourselves In accordance with the dictates 
of prudence and wisdom. It will be wise, mean¬ 
time, to cultivate and manufacture such articles, 
aud breed such animals, as will be in demand at 
good prices, whatever the result of the re-occu¬ 
pation of Southern territory. But we have 
written euough to accomplish the object in 
view—to enlist the attention and minds of our 
readers to the subject, that each may make such 
investigation, or take such action, as may bo 
deemed necessary to promote his present or 
prospective interests and welfare. 
importance, 
properly attracting much attention, and being 
discussed both in this country and Europe. 
The mutter is one in which the people of the 
North, and especially the producing classes — 
and the agricultural most of all —have and 
should manifest a great interest, for the posses¬ 
sion aud culture of the Southern soil by intelli¬ 
gent, enterprising and loyal Northerners, and 
foreigners friendly to our institutions, will not 
only result in permanently restoring the seceded 
States to the Union, but must eventually affect, 
to some extent, the growth ami prosperity of 
the North and West. 
It is truthfully averred that the capacity of the 
South to receive colonists is almost uulimited, 
and thousands In this country and Europe are 
already preparing to settle in what they believe 
to be the goodly land. And certainly there is 
“ample room and verge enough” for millions 
ot people —for, without reckoning the immense 
losses of population occasioned by the war, and 
Supposing that the inlgibltants still number as 
many as they did in 18(50, it is demonstrated by 
the census of that year that the South is one of 
the most thinly peopled parts of the civilized 
world. “ Its average population is not more 
than ten to the square mile, whilr that of New 
York, for example, la upwards of eighty to the 
square mile, and that of Massachusetts upwards 
of one hundred and fifty. The seceded States 
with their mild climate and fertile soil and val¬ 
uable products, and tbelr immense facilities for 
commerce and navigation, could receive and fur¬ 
nish subsistence and profitable occupation to a 
million of emigrants annually for many years to 
come. They offer to the enterprising and Indus¬ 
trious laborer or mechanic or farmer one of the 
most inviting regions of the world, and to the 
capitalist there is no better field open for the 
profitable investment of money than that uow 
offered by the plantations, the ports atnl the 
towns of the South." 
lhe climate of the South has been a great bug¬ 
bear to many of our people, formerly, but now 
that our armies have traversed and lived for 
years in some of the worst localities, the truth 
is becoming known, even abroad. A late number 
of the Northern Whig, published in Belfast, 
Ireland, has an excellent article upon emigra- 
tioutoour Southern States, it iB supposed to 
bo from the pen of Prod Cauinrs, an ardent 
G on the ground plan. There is a large Root 
Cellar opening into the main hall or carriage 
floor, fifteen by twenty-three feet, convenient to 
both horse and cow stables. A blackboard on 
wall of carriage floor is very convenient for 
writing down amount of feed, Ac. The horse 
stable has conveniences for six horses, with a 
cistern of water holdiug some 500 barrels. All 
stock can be watered without going out of the 
barn in coldest weather of the season. The 
cistern is covered with red cedar, 10 inches 
thick; sides of cistern are stone, and plastered. 
There is also a large Store Room for tools and 
implements, large enough to house all the farm 
implemeuts. 
The Main Floor contains a Granary, large, 
aud conveniently divided and arranged. From 
it are spouts leading to the Carriage Floor of 
basement, so that the contents of the granaries 
can be received Into a wagon below, or used 
otherwise, as may be convenient. There are 
two large bays, and a large barn floor, 14 by 45. 
The Stable* are supplied easily through trap¬ 
doors from the main floor, as shown in the 
plan. The scaffolds are reached by movable 
ladders, which may be changed to auy locality 
desired. 
The windows of basement are supplied with 
pulleys, so as easily to be moved, and ventilate 
the entire lower floor. 
The Outside Finish is with good matched 
stuff, battened to the cave*, aud the gable- 
I’t.AN OF MAIN FLOOR. 
A. Granary, with openings for passing grain below; 
between this and the bay is a hall. The bam floor 
is large, with two openings for passing hay and feed 
below, tor n*o in the stables, and on the right is the 
large Bay, 25 by 45 feet, in which in. be stored an 
immense amount of grain or hay. 
This bam is so arranged that all parts are 
easily accessible, and when once in the building 
yon can get to any part- with ease. There is so 
rnnch room that all the. crops can be housed 
with ease, and with little labor. 
The Y’akd is supplied with water from a well 
about SO rods off, by a syphon. 
The builder was Cormine Martin, of Avon, 
N. Y., and the cost, (when constructed in 1855,) 
about $1,500. 
£3X30 
PLAN OF BASEMENT. 
A. Tool Room; B, Hoot Cellar; C, Cistern; D, Hall; 
E, Horse Stable; F, Cow Stable; G, Open Shed; a. 
Mangers; 6, Feed Box; c. Stains. 
This barn is situated iu the town of Wheat- 
land, Monroe Co., N. Y., on the farm of Ira Arm¬ 
strong, by whom it waa built in the year 1856. 
It i» located upon a level piece of ground, the 
entire building being above the surface. The 
size of the structure is 45 by 60 feet. 
The Basement Story Is built of stone, and 
tieular, in the opinion of the writer who has 
seeu them tried. 
In the foregoing our young friends who referred 
the question of the nativity of the Potato to the 
Editor of the Rural a few weekB since, will find 
a more full answer, which I hope will stimulate 
them to further inquiry as to how the vigor and 
vitality of this plant may be improvJ and con¬ 
tinued; also as to what various uses the potato 
is put aside from food; its chemical properties 
and analysis, etc. W . H. NY hite. 
South Windsor, Conn. 
been the necessary consequence among a large 
per eentage of the people. It would theu seem 
that it should become a matter of much impor¬ 
tance to nourish and cultivate with the nicest 
skill, a plant of such value in the domestic econ¬ 
omy of man. 
It would bo vain in me to attempt to give par¬ 
ticular rules for cultivation which might be uni¬ 
versally correct; for what might be suited to 
one locality, or circumstance might, under dif¬ 
ferent circumstances, in different localities,prove 
entirely unsuitable, A few things are agreed upon 
as applicable and should be followed everywhere. 
Potatoes flourish aud give the best returns on 
high, rather dry ground, in good heart and tilth, 
mellow soil; plaut early; if manured in hill, 
good compost, well rotted and tine, is as good 
as anything and vastly superior to fresh yard 
manure, which is, of the. two, injurious to the 
crop : low instead of high lull culture; no work¬ 
ing among after blossoming; dig when fully 
ripe, uot leave them in the ground through the 
fall rains, allow them to dry so that the dirt will 
fall otl before picking up; store them in a dry 
airy cellar in small instead of large bulks ; keep 
at as low, even temperature, as practicable with¬ 
out freezing. These general rules if followed 
will give results that will satisfy the most par- 
Frora Virginia it was introduced into England 
and Ireland in 1580. It was first planted by Sir 
Walter Rai.eigu on his estate near Cork; its 
first production was cherished and cultivated for 
food in that country before its value was known 
in England. In 15D7 Ghra to had this plant iu 
bis garden under the name of Battata Virginian a, 
and advised it to be eaten as a delicate dish, not 
as common food. In the seventeenth century it 
found its way over the rest of Europe, but its 
fullest reputation was uot obtained till the nine¬ 
teenth century, when its innumerable varieties 
shed their blessings on all the natious of the 
civilized world. 
The potato Is one of the most Important fari¬ 
naceous plants ever given to the world. There 
is uo article of humas diet that enters so gene¬ 
rally into consumption, and from no crop that 
can be grown will the public derive so much 
nourishment as from this esculent. They are 
not ouly nourishing aud healthy, but are relished 
by nearly every one. We can in a measure com¬ 
prehend Its importance as food, when from its 
partial failure through disease or rot, as a few 
years slueo was the case in Ireland, starvation 
stared the inhabitants iu the face, causing untold 
misery aud distress; but for foreign supplies of 
food actual starvation and death would have 
THE POTATO: 
ABOUT ITS HISTORY, VALUE AND CULTURE. 
The Common Potato, (Solatium tuberosum,) is 
ascertained to be a native of South America, it 
having been fouud both in Buenos Ayres and iu 
Chili. It is peculiar to a hilly and rocky soil, 
and flourishes near the sea shore. At the time 
ol the discovery of America it was undoubtedly 
grown in the Andes of S. A., although unknown 
iu Mexico, uud only shortly after In the United 
StutcB, The first colonists seut out to Virginia 
by Sir NV alter Raleigu, in 1584, found it grow¬ 
ing wild in that State. The wild potato bus 
white flowers, its tubers are small, rarely attain¬ 
ing a leugth of two luches, aud have an insipid 
taste. From these, by judicious cultivation, have 
sprung the almost innumerable uumberof varie¬ 
ties at present cultivated, atnl adapted to all 
climates aud sections of the inhabited world. 
Repairing Roads.— A writer in N. E. Farmer 
says there are many places in the highways where 
the ground Is wet, because springy, and almost 
impassable in the spring or fall. Such places 
may be made dry by digging a ditch in the muidle 
of the road, of suitable depth; partly filling the 
same with small atones, then covering them with 
brush, and the brusHi with the earth thrown out. 
The middle of the road is thus raised above its 
former level by the amount of stones aud brush 
used. By extending the ditch thus constructed 
to some place at the side of the road, that will 
admit of it, a permanent improvement will be 
effected. Is not the suggestion a good one for 
other meridians than New England ? 
1 f' “H 
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II Lansing 
