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AGRICULTURE 
FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30 , 1365 , 
MOOEE'S RURAL HEW-TORKEE, 
AN ORIGINAL WEEKLY 
RURAL, LITERARY AND PA .MIL 1 NEWSPAPER. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOOSE. 
HENRY S. RANDALL, LL, D., 
Editor of the Department of Sheep Husbandry. 
SPECIAL CONTRXpCTOKSt 
F. BABRT, C. DEWET, LL, D., 
H. T. BROOKS, L. B. LANOWORTHY, 
T. C. PETERS, EDWARD WEBSTER. 
Tbk Rural Nbw-Yobkkr Is designed to be unsur¬ 
passed lit Value, Parity, atul Variety of Contents, and 
unique and beautiful In Appearance. Its Conductor 
devotes ms personal attention to the Bnpervhdon of Its 
various departments, and earnestly labors to render the 
Rural an eminently Reliable Guide on all the Important 
Practical, Scientific and other Subjects Intimately con¬ 
nected with the business of those whose Interests St 
zealously advocates. As a Family Journal It is emi¬ 
nently Injunctive and Emeriiuntnk—being so conducted 
thfit It can be safely taken to the Homes of people of 
Intelligence, taste and discrimination. It embraces more 
Horticultural, Scientific, Educational, Literary and News 
Matter, Interspersed with appropriate Engravings, than 
any other Journal,—rendering it fBr the most complete 
Agricultural, Literary and Family Nswspafsb 
In America, 
those interested—mainly prominent and intel¬ 
ligent members of the Agricultural Profession- 
can judge properly of the merits and intrinsic 
value of a paper, and do not prefer cheaply 
made or low-priced reprints to an honest, inde¬ 
pendent and expensively conducted journal at a 
fair price. Time was, and that but a few years 
ago, when people judged of a paper by its size 
or price, hut now quality and appropriateness- 
interest, instruction and value—are wisely con¬ 
sidered in making a selection. 
The Rural New-Yorker has been highly 
favored from its start—having kind, earnest and 
substantial advocates and supporters lu all parts 
of the country. Fully appreciating the generous 
support accorded it, we shall in the future earn¬ 
estly endeavor to more than sustain its value 
and standing. All its present departments will 
ho continued, and some of them receive greater 
care and attention. Our arrangements and 
engagements with Assistants and Contributors 
of ability and practical experience are such 
that we can safely promise for the future more 
tLan has been preformed in the past, yet we 
prefer to allow the numbers of the new volume 
to bear testimony in that particular. 
The department of Sheep Husbandry, so 
ably and acceptably conducted by Hon. H. S. 
RaxdaIl, LL. D., for the past two years, will 
lift continued. WU<1 on Djunrannu nf . 
third shrinkage rule ” generally acted on by manu¬ 
facturers. He thought a majority of them would pre¬ 
fer to buy washed wool. It had become the custom 
of the country. Their eyes had been educated to 
judge its relative values better than the unwashed 
article. He did not, however, object to its being 
bronght to market unwashed, if deemed necessary. 
He described the mode In which wool js handled In 
different countries. Far too much twine was nsed in 
tying wool in this country. It often amounted to a 
fraud. The twine should be smooch and glazed, so 
that no particles of it should mix with the wool. 
Where this happened it sometimes required two 
dyings before a uniform color could be obtained. He 
did not think woolen twine necessary. He said the 
rough, miserable article now used was composed of 
jute and ought to be abandoned. To a question, he 
replied that hemp sacks would do were they old and 
smooth—otherwise they should he singed, to remove 
all particles liable to become detached. The subject 
had not been important heretofore, because our wools 
had been manufactured into fabrics not requiring a 
uniform color—now we were making goods that de¬ 
manded that uniformity. 
Mr. Kixgsbubt of Conn., thought manufacturers 
were in the habit of buying wool according to its con¬ 
dition, not by any particular rule, unless in cases 
where there were little parcels of unwashed mixed 
with lots cf washed wool— in that case the one-third 
rule was convenient, and probably operated fairly 
enough. He thought any but woolen twine objec¬ 
tionable on a hue class of wools. He could not agree 
with Mr. Blanchard on this subject. 
or $1 a pound, if the manufacturers wonld cause it 
to be furnished in the market, and wonld agree that 
the grower should not lose by using it. He asked if 
CLOSE OF VOLUME SIXTEEN. 
The celebrated horse B’acA nnrtraved 
auo*e, uus lomcu lu test** Ai»thorite a.% 
agree as to bis sire—gom.e saying be was sired 
by the Shennan Morgan, (in which ease he was 
grandson of the old Justin Morgan,) and others, 
that his sire was a French horse kept in the 
same stable with Sherman Morgan. Much 
evidence has been adduced on both sides, but 
the question is and probably will remain 
unsettled. 
Black Hawk’s dam was bred in New Bruns¬ 
wick, and is said to have* been a half thorough¬ 
bred, black, and of remarkable speed as a 
trotter, for those days. At four years old, he 
was bought by Benjaaiix Thurston of Lowell, 
Mass., ani kept as a family horse till 1S44, when 
be was s..m ru-rm Hn> of Bridport, Vt., 
811,1 there m m= eu=»x*., u. , 1*. 
advanced age of 38 years. 
Black Hawk was a very famous horse in his 
day. In size he was a little less than fifteen 
hands and weighed about a thousand pounds. 
He established a family of horses which proved 
very excellent roadsters, with a quick and ner¬ 
vous style of action, an elastic step, ana a sym- 1 
metrical and muscular form. The “ Black 
Hawk Stock ” is still quite popular in New 
The Sixteenth Year ami volume ur cue 
Rural New-Yorker closes with this number 
—terminating our engagements with all whose 
subscriptions now expire, and also the labors 
and responsibilities of an eventful period, in 
its management. On such an occasion allu¬ 
sions to the past, present and future of the 
paper arc in order, but as our Epace Is limited 
what we have to oiler must correspond. 
Our first thought is one of sincere gratitude 
that Peace and Prosperity again prevail—that 
this Coimtry and People are no longer cursed 
by an internecine war, and that the cause which 
engendered the fearful strife is forever removed. 
The whole Nation is again united and compar¬ 
atively tranquil, and though there may be dis- 
sentions in some sectious it is hoped that a 
kind Providence will ere long so unite the 
hearts and minds of the People that harmony 
shall prevail throughout our broad Republic. 
The past year has certainly been a most event¬ 
ful one in our country’s history—the sudden 
transition from the terrors and devastations of 
war to the pleasant paths of peace appearing 
almost miraculous. As ono of its results, a 
myriad of producers — largely composed of 
patriotic cultivators of the generous and fruit¬ 
ful earth —have returned to their homes and 
former associations, and swords are almost lit¬ 
erally turned into plow-shares and spears into 
pruning hooks. All over the land homes are 
made happy again, and those who have for 
years been consumers are becoming producers 
— thus adding to their own and the nation’s 
wealth and prosperity. 
But our present object Is to discourse some¬ 
what freely about the Rural Nr.w-YoRKF.it, and 
custom allows some latitude of expression ou 
6 uch an occasion. The clostug volume is not 
what we hoped to make it in all respects, yet 
wo trust it will pass the ordeal of criticism 
before its large, appreciative and generous 
audience,-and that each and all of its present 
readers will continue its acquaintance. Though 
the Conducting Editor has labored under great 
and unexpected difficulties during* the year, 
(including an infliction of otfieial honors and 
duties, und illness of some months duration,) 
the aim* and objects of the Rural have not 
been forgotten or neglected,-and of late such 
additional aid has been secured its it l$ believed 
will etiablous to fully muintuin the interest and 
value of the various departments of the paper 
during the publication o 1 the ensuing volume. 
The Present of the Rural New-Yorker is bo 
intimately connected with its Future that we 
will speak of them as one. And it affords us 
unmingled pleasure to be able to announce to 
its numerous ardent friends and supporters all 
over tho land—from Maine to Minnesota and 
Canada to California that the prosperity and 
prospects ol this journal were never so great 
and encouraging as at present. For some 
months the indications have been very favor¬ 
able in regard to the future, avd wo are now 
assured of a largely increased subscription next 
year — for the remittances already received, and 
daily arriving, demonstrate that Volume XVII 
will have a far larger und wider circulation than 
either of its predecessors. This manifests both 
HOW TO ADVANCE RURAL INTERESTS 
It would greatly advance the interests of the 
Rural Population to form an Agricultural and 
Horticultural Society in every town, and per¬ 
haps also iu school districts, holding regular 
meetings throughout the year, wherein all im¬ 
portant subjects pertaining to their meetings 
should be discussed by practical farmers and 
horticulturists. It iB surprising to one in¬ 
experienced, to find how Interesting snch meet¬ 
ings will become, when properly conducted. The 
organization should be simple as possible, and 
the discussions might generally take the form 
of conversations. A chairman is necessary to 
announce the subject for consideration, to re¬ 
mind over-eloquent speakers that they are using 
too much time, and as a center, as it were, 
for the debate to revolve around. Members 
should refrain from all attempts at speech mak¬ 
ing, and make their remarks short aud full of 
Information. Theories may bo discussed aud 
opinions advanced, but fads and ajxrknee are 
the solid things, which will be listened to with 
interest and remembered. 
Such a society could not exist a single winter 
in a town, without all the members who attend¬ 
ed it faithfully receiving valuable information. 
The observation and experience of old men who 
have iollowed one vocation all their lives, would 
instruct beginners; those who gain knowledge 
from reading and observation would impart it, 
aud they would themselves be led to deeper 
study by the new interest excited. One great 
advantage of such an organization would be that 
every one might contribute some knowledge,— 
even it one could not read the alphabet, be might 
he a successful grower of potatoes, or be skilled 
in the work of cutting peat. And when we re¬ 
flect that but a small part of what we know is 
derived lrom our owu experience, wo can more 
readily perceive the importance of farmers com¬ 
paring notes. 
Other benefits to farmers would arise, if such 
organizations were extensively made aud perma¬ 
nently sustained. Through them united cllort 
could more readily be brought to bear lor the ex¬ 
tirpation of noxious weeds aud destructive in¬ 
sects. Other objects which require wide co-oper¬ 
ation to effect—as underdraiuing in level locali¬ 
ties, planting trees aloug the roadsides, raising 
belts of timber for shelter against the cold win¬ 
ter,— could ulore easily ho accomplished. And 
through these meaus, if any, would those efforts 
be made by which farmers aud fruit growers 
could operate successfully against the combina¬ 
tions of speculators and manufacturers. 
VENTILATE THE CATTLE STABLES, 
our farms, it I dare ex cress It thus, are brought r^T' and otner maDQ - 
. ’ ' \ „ , ’ Liuugui facturers, explained the difficulties of such a «v*te.m 
to a perfect state, we shall always be subject to They thought it at present impracticable. 
Basement Stables are too often deficient in thls pressure of extra work. jj, Bost> of uUders . OG . i ^ , ... 
ventilation. When the weather is cold the farmer It is the old story: we run over too much land from previous speakers in regard toffie preralLce of 
Is Induced to shut tight all the doors and win- and employ too little capital in our farming. In- the “ one-third shrinkage rule." ne understood that 
dows, with the idea that t hereby he makes the stead of endeavoring to place money at interest, rnle comci only prevailed among the buyers and set 
cattle most comfortable. It the stable is tight we should first use our capital to pnt our farms in *®rs of American unwashed wool — so much so, that 
aud filled with stock, be makes a great mistake such condition that these extra jobs, of picking in the abseace ot a contract the rule would be tin; 
in thus shutting off the supply of fresh air. 'stone, draining, repairing buildings, makiDg dors:ood '<> prevail as a matter of course 
tattle spoil a great deal of air. Open the doors fences, uprooting stumps, and others of like Mr. Montcomhey of Ohfo, vigorously pointed out 
of such tight, crowded stables iu the morning, character, will not haunt us with the reproach f e !v 3 whlcl ? dad resalted rrom tf iis course, and 
and you can scarcely bear to enter them. A that our work is never done. sT ere be “S any proper discrimination made 
by buyers n regard to either the quality or condition 
of wool. He said those who had struggled long in 
Ohio to keep up both, found themselves so heavily 
the losers, that they were compelled in self-defence to 
raise heavier wools and Lake less pains about their 
condition. 
Mr. Randall of New York, said he had been 
asked to give his opinion on the practices of putting 
unwashed ‘‘tags” into washed fleeces, and “dead 
wool” into either washed or unwashed fleeces. He 
denounced both practices as frauds. On the subject 
of strings, he said a single twine would not hold one 
of our large fleeces together as had been stated to 
be rhe case wiih light German fleeces, but that it 
required three - and that the twine must be largo 
enough not to cut the fingers of the tyer. 
Mr. Blanchard assented to these views, remark- 
To correspondents. —Mr. Randall's address is 
Cortland Village, Cortland Co., N. Y. All communi- 
cations intended for this Department, and all inquiries 
relating to sheep, should be addressed to him as above. 
Annual Meeting op STATfe Wool Growers’ Asso¬ 
ciation. -The Annual Meeting of the N. Y. State 
Sheep Breeders’ and Wool Growers’ Association will 
be held at Syracuse, January 10th, 1 SW, at 10 o’clock 
A. M. Important matters will be bronght before the 
Association, and a fuli attendance Is requested. 
HENRY S. RANDALL President. 
them; and that this course was accordingly pursued 
in some regions of Ohio. 
Mr. Pop* of Ohio said the worst conditioned Ohio 
wools bought by him came from those regions. 
Mr. Blanchard said he regretted to say that Ohio 
wools were depreciating in the condition in which 
they were brought into market. 
Mr. Montgomery defended the wools of his State. 
He claimed that they had not generally depreciated 
either in quality or condition more than was inevita¬ 
ble under the present prices and system of doing busi¬ 
ness, and that they wore still as fairly put up as the 
wools of any other State, 
The Cu.vm announced the fourth topic of discus¬ 
sion : “ Tho wool best adapted to the various manu¬ 
factures, especially that of worsted.’’ 
Mr. Hayes of Mass, spoke at length on this subject, 
submitting many statistics,-and exhibiting samples 
of manufactured goods for inspection. He closed in 
EXTRA WORK 
In Western New York, at least, (writes a cor¬ 
respondent,) tlie autumn and earlier part of 
winter have been uuusually favorable to the 
performance of out-door work. Generally, 
farmers liny- improved their opportunity, and 
gathered thor crops iu good seasou. The leis¬ 
ure time anl flue weather following the proper 
close of tin fall work, has been ol great use in 
enabling tiern to dispose of numberless small 
jobs, improve their premises, fall plow, gather 
stone froa the next year’s meadows, drain a 
little, repilr buildings, haul out manure, and in 
various pays (which occur readily enough to 
the expereuced farmer,) advance the next year’s 
work. I very full I find so much work to do out 
side of tiking care of the stock aud crops, that I 
think it vould pay to have au extra man and 
teams enployed at it all the time. And until 
NATIONAL CONVENTION OF WOOL GROW 
ERS AND MANUFACTURERS. 
Concluded from page pie, last number. 
EVENING SESSION. 
Mk. Hazard of Rhode Island answered the ques¬ 
tion of Mr. Randall in regard to keeping wool in 
the grease. He thought if it was to be retained for 
any considerable period It kept better and received 
dyes better whan used, lie assigned his reasons for 
thinking that wherever it was possible for the owuer 
to wash his shoep it had better be done, as it saved 
the cost of transporting dirt. When it could not con¬ 
veniently bo done he ought not to bo required to do 
it. Unwashed wools ought not to be objected to in 
market, or any arbitrary and fixed rnle of dodnetion 
imposed on them. Mr. H. discussed some other inter¬ 
esting topics. 
Mr. Blanchard denied that he knew of any “ one- 
