WESTERN EDITORIAL NOTES. 
SWEET POTATO CULTURE. 
I do not niton find tetter grown sweet potatoes 
than I found and ate at Mr. Brush’s place. Mr. B. 
is very successful in his culture of them, and his 
mode may be of interest to hundreds of your prairie 
readers, for the culture of this esculent is extending 
annually in the West 
Mr. B. plants the Nansemond variety; he believes 
it the best for this climate. The best way, he says, 
to prepare the ground for sweet potatoes, is to fall 
plow, deep. This kills the gmb; and this he regards 
important, because, be says, be has lost fifty per 
centum of his crop by this post when be has neg¬ 
lected to plow in the fall. In the spring, a day or 
two before planting, make high ridges, by plowing 
four f 11 itows together—two each side. Then Jet the 
boys dibble in the plants eight or nine inches apart 
This is Nansemond culture. It requires less room 
than other varieties, as it grows in clusters. 
The ground is kept clean. When the potatoes are 
dug, they are piled in long, narrow, roof-like heaps, 
and covered two inches deep with dry dirt, and 
allowed to “ sweat” They are then opened, allowed 
to dry perfectly, and are put in boxes—shoe boxes 
are best—or barrels—if barrels, only half filled — 
and stored in a dry, well-ventilated room that is 
kept at a temperature of about 50 r . They must lx* 
kept dry, and in as equable a temperature as 
possible. Many fanners keep them successfully in 
a dry, warm chamber. They do not harm if the 
temperature goes down to 35 u ; but it is better jf 
kept equal. Tie does not store in sand, leaves, or 
any other substance: handles the Inters carefully. 
Mr. B. says, with fair care, it is not a difficult task to 
grow 160 bushels of the Nansemond per acre. lie 
also says that the vines of the’ potato, on most soils, 
are sufficient manure, if plowed under; and the 
condition of his land improves with such culture. 
Light straw manure on uplands may be a benefit, 
but be would not recommend strong stable manure. 
TO WESTERN DROVERS. 
The Rural has so large a circulation in the West 
(hat 1 deem it important to announce in its Columns 
the change which lms been made in the market days 
in this city (Chicago) for the buying and selling of 
live stock, from Saturday and Sunday, as heretofore, 
to Thursday and Friday of each week. The pro¬ 
prietors of the different cattle yards and the principal 
dealers have entered into such an agreement, ( I 
learn by an evening paper,) thereby wiping out a 
disgrace that has long outraged the conscientious 
teef-catingaud mutton-munching people of Chicago. 
It is therefore gratifying to be able to advertise the 
fact that the scales will no longer be opened on the 
Sabbath in Chicago for the weighing of stock. 
t ~ 1 1 * 1 ' 
AN EXPERIMENT IN FEEDING PIGS. 
The 26th of April last I put one pig in pen. and 
on the 14th of May another of the same litter. They 
were of the White Berkshire breed, with a small 
grade of Suffolk. These pigs were fed three times a 
day with sour milk and an addition of six ears of 
corn, until the 22d of August, when I commenced 
feeding with old corn, barley and peas, equal parts, 
mixed together and grouud very fine. The meal 
was mixed with milk and left to sour. They gained 
gradually upon their feed until Sept. 2d. I then settled 
upon two bushels of feed for seven days, making 
9 1-64 quarts of feed per day tor the two. This feed 
was continued until Nov. 8th, when I put them upon 
old corn meal, ground fine and mixed with boiling 
water, and left to scald. They consumed two bush¬ 
els of this feed per week until Dec. 9th, when they 
were butchered and dressed. After hanging ten 
hours, they weighed, respectively, 351 lbs. and 339 
lbs. 
Thus we see the pigs were fed meal 109 days, at 
the rate of 16 lbs. per day for the two, making 1,74-1 
11)8. of meal ill all. This shows that it took a'trifle 
over 24 lbs. of meal (with slops to mix with) to 
make one pound of pork. We also see that 1,744 
lbs. feed worth 50 cts. per bushel, or 9 mills per lb,, 
would amount to $15,694. 690 lbs. pork at 4c, per 
lh. (market price here) is $27.60, -leaving a profit, 
aside from milk and the six ears of corn per day for 
99 days, (and trouble of lending,) which manure 
would balance, and we find S 11.90j the amount. 
These pigs were dropped the 23d of March and 
killed Dec. 9th, making them 261 days old,—show¬ 
ing an average gain of one pound five ounces per 
day. H. A. Wuittemore. 
Fluvanna. N. Y., Doc. 16, 1861. 
Thanks, friend W., for your model article,—so 
many facts, figures and conclusions in so small a 
compass. 
FATTENING HOGS. 
Ens. Rural New-Yorker:— There seems to be a 
diversity of opinion as to what kinds of food arc 
test adapted for fattening this class of stock, and a 
still greater difference of opinion as to how it should 
be prepared. 1, like many other young farmers, 
lack a great amount of experience, and am not 
wholly satisfied to do exactly “as our fathers 
did." or fool duty bound to abide by the old maxim, 
that “ it is best to let well enough alone.” I believe 
that every day should find us taking “advance 
steps ” to the “ march of improvement.” Therefore, 
<l respected seniors,” give me your ideas upon this 
subject, endorsed by a thorough experience and a 
u plain why.” 
Is ground or unground food the best for fattening 
hogs? Should it be cooked or raw? Fermented or 
nan-fermented? May charcoal and ashes be fed to 
good advantage? is a dark or light pen the best? 
Should it be a close peu, or with yard attached? 
Hoping that those “who know” will not soliloquize 
by saying that “at the present prices of pork he 
would risk very little in maldngcxperimentshimself,” 
I anxiously wait for a response. e. m. r. 
Gatos. Dec. 20, 1801. 
ABOUT DESTROYING WIRE WORMS. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:— I am not a scientific 
farmer, but I have teen a farmer's son, and am 
nothing else nair. It so happens that in my pere¬ 
grinations through the world, my communications 
with its obstreperous inhabitants, I “occasionally 
hear” and “frequently sec” some things. For in¬ 
stance, I mot. a few days since, somewhere, a farmer 
who affirmed, with all desired vehemence, that lie 
knew from personal experience in repeated experi¬ 
ments that buckwheat would exterminate wire 
worms. lie says that where they had congregated 
in such vast numbers as to end a wheat crop before 
it began , he has sown buckwheat, which rnct with 
no obstruction from the rebels , and thinks that they 
must have “ died from the want of victuals to keep 
them from starving to death.” I am a little incred¬ 
ulous in reference to this matter. The question is, 
why has it not been made known to u all the world 
and the rest of mankind” before?—or, has it been to 
others, and “I alone blind?” If it be a fact that so 
* great a plague may be so easily- destroyed, is it not 
* worth noting? Let those “in authority” speak — 
3 I forbear. It. W. MgNeal, 
1 Olaranoe, N. Y., Doc., 1861. 
Remarks. —An intelligent and experienced far¬ 
mer, of over seventy, to whom we have just read 
* the above, says the conclusion is sensible-—that the 
' worms die for want of sustenance. The “ varmints” 
will not eat buckwheat, and the latter ‘tends to 
destroy all other vegetation upon which they might 
subsist; bonce they must leave or give up. lie 
further avers that it is a mooted question whether 
the wire worm is the larv® of some insect, or perfect 
within itself It is generally supposed to have a 
period of three years before changing into a winged 
insect 
SHADING THE GROUND-SUGGESTION. 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker: — I am but an occa¬ 
sional reader of the Rural, and therefore cannot 
claim a corner in your useful paper: but 1 will give 
a suggestion by way of answer to an article which 
appeared about a month since, accounting for the 
fact that, shading ground will enrich it. 
The writer of that article says that it is the “red 
worm” perforating the ground, and leaving a slime 
Which enriches. I don’t believe him. Nature has 
common store-houses for everything; one for light, 
the sun; one for water, the ocean, Ac. Now, the 
great store-house for the gases to sustain vegetable 
life is high up in the air, beyond the reach of doing 
harm to animal life; and (he long attenuated fingers 
of evaporation carefully gather the particles of 
water from the ocean, leaving the salt (or the sur¬ 
face of the earth.) and bear them up until they be¬ 
come impregnated with these gases and again return , 
them to earth in the shape of rain drops, which ( 
filter through the soil, leaving these gases, and , 
cause vegetation to grow. The water reappears in ' 
springs, perfectly freed from these gases and re- , 
turns to the ocean. The action of the sun, perhaps . 
the light, causes these gases to rise upwards, and ( 
by shading the ground you only prevent their pass- f 
ing off. Suggestor. i 
- — . — »- 
(North-Western Correspondence! of the Komi New-Yorker.] t 
GEODES FROM MISSISSIPPI BLUFFS. \ 
LOW PRICES. 
This season may be called emphatically one of 
low prices. Corn — the great Western staple — has 
been selling all over Illinois and Iowa for six *] 
months past at prices ranging from eight to twenty 
cents per bushel, the old crop; and now the new | 
crop is coming in at about the same figures. And , 
as the hog-killittg season arrives, it is manifest that j 
the price of pork is going to be correspondingly | 
low. From $2.50 to $3,00 may be regarded as about 
the maximum quotations at most of the points on 
the Upper Mississippi. Farmers may live, to bo j 
sure, at such prices; but bow they may raise money ( 
and pay debts, or even taxes and interest, is a query f ; 
that puzzles many of the most calculating. Corn is ^ 
now going in largo quantities to the distillers in this 
region at thirteen cents per bushel, for the husking t 
of which the owner has to pay from forty to fifty ^ 
cents per day to hands. Counting even a low price v 
for the team to haul it, it will be easily seen that the t] 
margin over expenses for saving the crop is exceed- 
ingly small. The writer of this lately met with a ( 
farmer who was thus engaged, in order to raise ' 
money to pay for a fine team with which he was } 
marketing his load. How long before he will reach t 
the last payment I did not stop to figure. , 
. COHN BREAD. 
Good corn bread is an article of prime necessity 
in most families, and should be in all; hence it 
should be nutritions and wholesome. Will some of 
your intelligent and practical housewives givp, 
through the medium of the Rural, the best mode of 
makiug and baking it? Can it not be made good, 
and sweet, and wholesome, without the use of soda 
or saleratus? 
AN INQUIRY -- FLAX COTTON. 
Much is said lately about the new processes for 
the manufacture of flax fiber, aud its growth is 
strongly recommended by some of t he papers. The 
prairies of the Northwest are supposed to he admira¬ 
bly adapted for the growth of this product; hence 
an article in the Rural directing the inode in which 
it should be grown, and the best means of harvest¬ 
ing and preparing it for market, would be very 
desirable. Flax, as formerly grown, was invariably 
pulled up by the roots with the hand; and the labor 
of so securing even a small crop was very great. 
Now, is not some new agricultural implement 
needed for this work ; or is it not feasible to cut by 
means of reaping or mowing machines already in 
use? 
Another inquiry: Do the new processes of pre¬ 
paring the fiber embrace also that of hemp, or of 
flax only? If the hemp fiber can be cottonised also, 
in the same way, it will add a greatly increased 
impetus to the hemp culture in (ho Western States. 
Now that King Cotton is dethroned, let us use 
every due exertion to prevent his again assuming 
the crown. 
PUMPKIN PIE. 
As this is the season for pumpkin pies—and 
every body likes good ones—will some one tell the 
readere of the Rural what is the very best variety 
of pumpkin for that purpose? A reddish-colored 
autumnal squash I have, makes a better pumpkin pie 
(a misnomer) than any thing else with which I am 
acquainted — not excepting the far-lamed Hubbard. 
Speaking of the latter, reminds me to say that the 
young plants of this variety were very much 
infested the past season with the bug. These insects 
will leave every tiling else for the Hubbards; and it 
is a general complaint throughout this section that 
it was almost impossible to save a plant: hence 
Hubbard squashes are very rare in these parts this 
winter. 
--♦ - 
Farmers suould Grow Flax. —PI ease to recom¬ 
mend all farmers to raise a piece of flax. Linen 
cloth can l)e made as well now as fifty years ago, 
and will answer for over-shirts and over-alls, and 
many other purposes that cotton has been used for. 
Our women will look just as well, and appear a 
little smarter, with checked aprons and dresses made 
of linen. Cotton has risen at such a rapid rate that 
few will be able to buy. The poor class of women 
can make linen cloth themselves, and the little hoys 
and girls can be clothed with it, I would recom¬ 
mend, for ibe benefit of the people, that you tell 
them where they can obtain flax seed if you know. 
Instead of using the seed for oil, it should be saved 
for the greater benefit of the people. — H. Leech, 
Great VaUey, A". Y.. 1862. 
Hjwat spirit of ilte 
‘‘Let Fanner* take Courage.” 
So says the editor of the Massachusetts Pktugh- 
man. The farmer, in times of general trouble, is 
better provided for than ony other class, for he has 
the means of providing for his own wants — he can 
live on his own means better than any class which 
does not produce the necessaries of life, but depends 
1 on purchasing them of others. If prices are rather 
low it is because we have had a more favorable sea- 
1 son for the products of the earth than usual. F;vr- 
- mers, therefore, must not be discouraged at what are 
thought to bo low prices—for money cannot fail to 
be abundant while we send away none to Europe; 
but, on the contrary, we send out farm produce, and 
receive in return a cash balance eack week. 
C'ousnnipiion of Hay. 
The Annual Jiegister says that the hay, Ac., 
consumed by different animals, docs not vary greatly 1 
from three pounds daily for each hundred pounds , 
of the animals. The following table is the result of 
various experiments, by different persons, and will 
he useful lor farmers who wish to determine by cal¬ 
culation beforehand how their hay will hold out for 
the winter, 500 cubic feet of timothy hay, in a full 
bay, being about one tun: 
Pounds. 
Working horses..._...3.08 
Working nxeu .. 2.40 
Milch cows (ltnussingault's) .. 
Milch cows (Lincoln’s).. 2.40 
Steers.. . .3.08 
0(7 COwh ..2.40 
Pigs (estimated). ,3.00 
Sheep. . . _.... ... .8.00 
Klepliant_ ......3,12 
Caution about .Seed Corn. 
We observe this season, remarks the editor of 
the American Farmer, an unusual quantity of corn 
sprouting on the ear. It will be remembered that 
some seasons back there was immense loss to corn- 
growers by the failure of their seed to germinate. 
They should look carefully to this matter now, and 
select their dryest corn, and such as has been least 
affected by the weather. Wo have seen many ears 
of corn just from the shock, the germ of which has 
started and pushed its way through the body of the 
grain, sometimes making half an inch of growth, and 
again scarcely perceptible by a green speck on the 
surface. When cue such grain is apparent, a great 
many may be started hut not yet visible, and almost 
the whole ear is unfitted for seed. This occurs with 
ears otherwise perfectly fair and sound, and much 
loss may result if care he not used iu selection. 
The Potato Trade of Bangor. 
The potato trade seems to bid fair to divide the 
honors with the lumber business of Bangor, Maine. 
A correspondent of the Times furnishes the follow¬ 
ing statement concerning this important branch of 
business: 
“ There has been shipped from our city, of this 
year’s growth, about one hundred and forty-five 
thousand bushels, for which there has been paid to 
the farmers of this eonnty about, fifty-eight thousand 
dollars. The average price paid has been about ' 
forty cents per bushel There were brought to our 
city on tin* 14th of November last, over ten thousand 
bushels of potatoes, one firm taking iii nineteen 
hundred bushels; and counting the teams from 
which they were taken, and allowing an equal 
number for the balance, it required four hundred , 
single and double teams to bring them. The crop i 
this year has been almost entirely free from 1 rot,’ , 
Strong manure, he said, makes diseased potatoes. 
After plowing and harrowing umnanured ground, 
he marh-R out the rows, four at a time. In these 
rows he drops single pieces of cut potatoes eighteen 
inches apart. A medium sized potato is enough for 
four hills, or aboutfcux bushels of seed to the acre. 
Large seed potatoes give about one-fourth more 
product at harvest than small ones. Small potatoes 
have about as many eyes as large ones, but the 
sprouts from those eyes are not as large or vigorous. 
The potatoes are covered about two inches deep. 
The potato vegetates slowly, and usually weeds 
start before the potatoes. When the potatoes have 
sprouted so :w generally to show themselves above 
the ground, a hoeing machine is introduced, which 
covers the potatoes some two inches deeper and 
destroys the weeds tike a plow. Subsequently the 
potatoes art* hoed twice and receive no further care 
till digging. The common yield is about 200 bush¬ 
els per acre. He digs with a hook, and from 30 to 
60 bushels per day to a man. Davis’ Seedlings are 
his favorites. 
racking Butter in Firkins. 
In answer to an inquiry, a correspondent of the 
Country Gentleman thus details his method of pack¬ 
ing butter in firkins, a mode for which he claims the 
merit of success: 
1. In the first place, you ask in regard to churn¬ 
ing. We use dog power, in warm weather about 
53 deg. Fah., which gives the butter a good solid 
consistency. 
2. When the butter comes, it is removed and 
washed with cold ice water until the buttermilk is 
all removed. 
3. Jt is then salted—about one ounce of salt to a 
pound of butter—worked in thoroughly, and set in 
a cool place for twenty-four hours, when itis worked 
just sufficient to remove all the buttermilk. 
4. It is then packed in the firkin and covered 
tight, so as to exclude the air. 
5. When the firkin is filled, we put a cloth over 
the butter, put on a good covering of salt, and 
then put. on water, which makes a brine. We keep 
| U thus covered until it goes to market, it being the 
only way we could ever keep a dairy perfectly 
sweet through the season. 
These rules strictly observed, I will warrant never 
to fail, if the butter is properly made. 
"Vve use good white oak firkins. The manner of 
preparing them before putting in the butter—fill 
them with cold water to soak four days: a handful 
of salt thrown in will make them better. When we 
got ready to put the butter iu the firkin, we mb the 
inside all over thoroughly with salt, which forms a 
brine between the firkin and butter. 
All the salt used about butter in any form should 
be good dairy salt, as there is more or less lime in 
other sail, which renders it unfit lor butter. 
Good soft water is also essential, as hard, limy 
water is very objectionable. 
gmjuimis anrt 
Removing the Scent kiiom Skins,— Seeing tho Rural is 1 
powewed of nil knowledge I would suggest an inquiry in ' 
regard to tie* manner in whieli musk can be removed from the : 
skin of the rwisk rat. A* I have been fortunate enough in 
rupturing several of the varmint*, and vein lung to convert the 
skins into a muffler, nnd not liking so strong a perfumery. J 
would like to know how It ran hr removed— .1. ,I Knight. . 
Tovmp ' vttviile . 8 mm * Co ., N . Y .. 1862. 
Gathering Leaves kor .V a.ntre.— Very heartily do 1 
endorse the Bubal’s advice to gather leaves from the woods ' 
and put them in the barn yard for manure. (1 have done so for 
years past,) but cannot agree with you to haul them on a 
and of the very best quality; and if the balance of wa gun. 1 use a sled with wood rack, and haul when there in 
the crop is kept through the winter free from frost, abo,,to «* tnch ° r snovv aud P rtmnd froz “ n »wd. The leaves 
there will be not less than two hundred thousand ^en be token tip in large Hakes with a manure fork. I 
... . i navt* iilont 4 rmuh'u four largo loads ami dono any chores in a 
bushels to be sold in the spring.” . r . 
leaver were rtlkivl illfrt Iiiluk anil winrnwK uum lifter 
about one inch of'snow and ground frozen hard. The leaves 
can then be taken up in large (lakes with a manure fork. I 
have alone hauled four large loads and done my chores in u 
.lay The leaves were raked- into piles and wiurows soon after 
they fell from the trees, while damp. If loft till winter, they 
Facia lot- Pool* Farmers. are apt to scatter to the four winds.—A t.onzo GREEK, Amboy, 
“TuosEfannerswhohavemostdifficnlty tomake Ohio , 1881. _^ 
Oiids meet, always plow most and keep most stock. B ak* Yak,> m anurk for Wirb wouM«.-in answer to the 
Now thesf? men tuk»* the truo pl&n to ftlwuyt* koop query, I will say one word in regard to manuring com in the 
themselves poor, because their crops and stock are hill for the benefit of those fanners troubled with tee Wire 
always poor and bring little.” Bo writes John Worm in many parts of our country. I found tee past season 
Johnston, in a letter to the Secretary of the N. Y. that common barn-yard manure in (lie hill would prevent tee 
State Society; and he thus illustrates his statement: wir0 H " ru> destroying the corn, t left two rows in the field 
“It is good profit to raise 300 bushels of wheat u ~ redt <> ,,lf ' t^ult in growth and upon the 
. . . , .. . , .... , second tune hoeing, there was more than ouo-holf difference 
tram ten acres: but when it takes thirty acres to , . ... , ... 
• . , . in tec growth I commenced pulling it up to examine the 
raise that amount, it is raised at a loss. So it is with roots, and found them nearly destroyed by the worms, while 
cattle and sheep. You will see the thinking farmer that by its side, which had the manure, was uninjured.—A 
making four-year old steers worth from $60 to $80 StotBosunicK, Huron, I Vai/ne Co. V K, 1862. 
each, and his neighbor’s at the same age not worth 
over $25 to $40." His advice to the latter is, “If „ VKM '? W Bi ™ Winter -Seeing an inquiry in the 
, . . . . . . , i till .1 hura i. m regard to making yellow putter m tho winter, I will 
hts land is exhausted, ho should plow no more than ^ ottJ . mM> , vlli ,„ , x „, rieiiee , ins taught us to be best 
he can thoroughly nianuie. Seed with clover and wo have tried, and at the same time very simple. Our butter 
grass filld let it rest, and that field Will tlOt only pay cannot bo distinguished from fall butter. Of course the first 
well for tillage, hut it will furnish manure (if rightly requisite is that the cows have good, wholesome food, water, 
managed) to make another field of the. same size rich andean When the milk is brought ill, we have ready a kettle 
also.” And then keep it rich; do not run it with with l,0( w “ ltr - ov ” r ,vhi, ' h s,,t ,!|L ' l*ans of milk to heat Wo 
grain until again exhausted, or the ‘.‘latter end of fiU the pan. when we it m. full When it is nearly hot, 
that land will bo worse than the first.” . " . .. ^ 
make it aJl warm enough, then divide the milk into pans, 
. . ~ ~ leaving them about two-thirvlgfuU Our pantry, or milk-room, 
Feed and Sbellcr your Milch Cows Well. w( . kee p warm enough for cream to rise all day. When wo 
The editor of the Boston Cultivator truly chum, scold tec churn, then turn iu the cream, chum ten or 
remarks that there is no domestic animal in regard minutes, and the butter is done. We put nothing into 
to which there is generally so much neglect to pro- *’* ,e <,r< aln ’ onl - tmit butter after it is done as in summer, 
vide properly, as the milch cow. The idea seems to w “ chnrn twioc r4lt h wcek ’- t> ” * r ’ 1861 • 
be too common, that she may give milk for the —----- 
greater part of the year, supporting at the same I \ ' 
time a calf in the fietal state, with no more nor bet- FVltVfll JNl OlCu ClllU ,*,1X1110. 
ter food than is given to animals which have only — ■ - 
then* own bodies to support. The consequence is, Omt Acknowlkdc.mknts arc due and gratefully tendered to 
thut the milch cow is worn down by this unnatural tec numerous friends of the Rm-u. New-Yorker for the very 
tax on her system; her fat is taken away in butter; successful efforts they arc making in iu lictmlf— to maintain 
the substance Of her muscles in choose; and even 0,1,1 augment its oinmlation in their respective localities, and 
her bones are weakened by the phosphate of lime add t0 it8 v(Uae uud iat * rest ( '* v appropriate contributions to 
which the flow of milk carries off. Surely, such a ^ P T „ ,n,,<!h , from ***** ^ 
. , _ '*• flfupSOnberSj but* our untu'ipattons relative to the Opening of 
siiert tee deserves consideration aud recompense, new y«w have been more than realized, the subscription 
W I)1CM if WOUiU I3C profitable to tile farmer to bestow. receipts awl orders for the first week far exceeding our esri- 
It there is any animal Which policy would .dictate mutes. What happened at the Rural OtKce on New Tear 
the good treatment of, it is the milch cow. It .should l»ay, t* thus chronicled by the Daily Union and Advertiser , a 
be remembered that it is only tho food she con- I<> urn « which somehow manages to give all local and other 
sumes, beyond what is required to support the natu- e ' cnW of "m'ortunce: 
Rural Notes anb Stems. 
Omt Acknowledgments are due and gratefully tendered to 
tec numerous friends of the firn.u. Nkw-Yorkbk for the very 
successful efforts they arc making iu its lictmlf—to maintain 
and augment its circulation in their respective localities, nnd 
add to its value and interest by appropriate contributions to 
its pages. We had expected much from agent friends and 
subscriber*, but our anticipations relative to the opening of 
tec new year have been more than realized, the subscription 
receipts and orders for the first week far exceeding our esti¬ 
mates. What happened at the Rural Olfice on New Year 
Day, is thus chronicled by the Daily Union and Advertiser, a 
i ni wastes of (lie system, that can afford a surplus in 
the*, way of milk. Konev, the food which would 
barely support two cows, and leave no tiling lor the 
owner, if eaten by one cow, would unable her to 
return the value of one-half of it in milk. So that 
the advice of a close observer to a dairyman, to sell 
one-half his cows, tu increase his produce of butter 
and cheese, had reason at the bottom of it. Cows 
should be well fed and sheltered; in fact, they 
should he kept in all respects in the condition that 
is well expressed by the word “comfortable.” 
How to Raise Potatoes. 
A report in the Springfield (Mass.) Republi¬ 
can of tlie doings of a Fanner’s Club, recently held 
at a Chicopee farm house, includes the following on 
fhe subject of potato raising: 
One of the party, a large grower of potatoes, and 
who has at present about 1,500 bushels in store, 
gave his experience, as follows:—He prefers com 
ground that has been manured the year previous. 
Phnsant. (md PrufdahU New Year <’nil *.— Many of our 
citizens, ami especially his honor the Mayor, wore favored 
with uuuirrouK pleasant calls ycBtepliiy. receiving therewith 
the usual congratulations of the season. Hut tmr friend 
Moore, of tec literal New- Yorker, was the most popular ami 
fortunate recipient of New Year greetings, for he received 
about two hundred calls before noon. These consisted 
mainly of remittances for the livml fiym almost every loyal 
Slate and the t'anudas. The calls,” though on paper, were 
very pleasant, the opening one (or first one opened,) from 
Lewis county. N. Y., containing u draft for jDX); and numer¬ 
ous others, us we were informed by a credible witness, w ere 
exceedingly mteieating While the greetings from various 
parts of this mill the Western States were very cordial those 
from New England and Canada were not as cold as their 
climate. Cana*la having concluded not lo light just yet, anil 
New England being’compelled to geud to Western New York 
for tee best rural mid family newspaper. The cash ivct-ipts 
and orders aggregated nearly’three thousand dollars, we learn 
—a very good beginning for the new year and about u thou¬ 
sand more than neighbor At had estimated, lftliu Dural is 
not the most popular paper in town, it certainly is “round 
about," as the calls aforenamed, and whieli are eontinued to¬ 
day , abundant ly testify, A ml we are not .surprised at Moore’s 
reply to a leading politician who, on meeting him in the 
street (a year or mure ago. I said lie understood he (M.) was a 
candidate for-Mayor. No. sir, I have no aspirations for that 
position; tint there is one oJJkx j Want and intend to have.” 
“ Why. what is that?” nervously asked the politician. *' The 
Kura! New Yorker OtJUe." said he, pointing to the Union 
Buildings, much to the relief of Ids friend. Judging from its 
receipts even iu war timed, we reckon M. has the best position. 
Canada West Coming !—For some weeks letters and remit¬ 
tances for the Rural from Canada West were few and light, 
compared with last season, and we anticipated that tee excite¬ 
ment relative to war between the U. 8. and Great Britain 
might possibly cause* some thousands of firm friends to 
u recede ” from our subscription list— which would prove far 
more serious than the loss we sustained by tee Southern 
Rebellion, tioite a nunvher who had obtained handfloroe 
lists, wrote us despondingly, fearing to remit the money col 
looted, and stating that many desirous of taking the paper 
were waiting for the war cloud to pass away. But our 
receipts during the past ten days indicate Unit the excitement 
is mainly over—that the people of Canada arc prosperous and 
peaceful and inclined to maintain amicable relations. The 
numerous friendly invitations extended the Rtjhal to visit 
their families are most gratifying, and we shall endeavor to 
“reciprocate" the kindness to the best, of our ability. As 
evidence of the feelings entertained, and kind spirit mani¬ 
fested by Canadians, we quote the conclusion of a letter from 
a gentleman residing in Ontario Co., who remits for some 
thirty copies —* • l should have sent sooner, but. noticing the 
warlike spirit which seemed to be manifested between Great 
liritain and the United States, I was fearful lest it would be of 
no use Trusting, however, that thp.se two nations may long 
work together, band in hand, for the civilization and iinprovn 
ment of mankind, and that our Land and Country, as well as 
your own, may he freed and kept free from that worst of all 
calamities, 1 War.’ J remain, truly yours.” 
Agricultural TransactiokS^ jVew York and, IHincris.— 
An evenings examination of the 11 Transactions of the N. Y. 
State Ag. Society, with an A hstraet of the Uroceedings of foe 
County Societies." (Volume XX, for I860,) has given us a 
most favorable impression as to the value and arrangement of 
its contents. Wo think no preceding volume has boen so well 
edited, or contained (even when more space bus boen occu¬ 
pied.) such a variety and amount of interesting and usoful 
information as is comprised in tee 868 pages of tee present.. 
Were the printing and paper (which are both faulty, and 
embrace a decided variety of quality and shades of oolor,) 
equal to the general manner and mutter of foe volume, the 
whnU- would bear high commendation. Col. Johnson, the 
veteran Secretary, is certainly entitled to much credit for the 
admirable manner in which be has discharged tee onerous 
labor of editing and arranging the work. We shall rocnr to 
the volume again, and make extracts from its pages. 
— We are also in receipt of tlie 11 Transactions of the Illi¬ 
nois State Ag. Society, with Notices and Froeeodings of 
County Societies, and Kindred Associations — Edited by John 
P. Rkynolhs,U orrCEponilingSecretary: VoluinelV—1860-60.’’ 
It is a handsome volume of over "00 pAges, printed on uniform 
white paper (of a quality superior to that above noticed,) and 
appropriately illustrated. Of the contents we shall apeak in 
future—after examination. From a cursory glance, Ixiwever, 
we infer that tlie volume is in ail rcx|iix-tn creditable to the 
Society and State. 
An Agricultural Missionary. —Die Journal d' Agri/ml 
hire Pratique says the Agricultural Society of Flemish, 
Prussia, has created a professorship to carry healthy ideas 
concerning agriculture into tlie villages. The German professor 
is to connueuce his operations by making himself acquainted 
not only with public functionaries, but also with practical 
farmers. He is to gather information on every subject in con¬ 
nection with the details of farming, and with regard to the 
different races of animals in the various departments. This 
agricultural missionary is also charged by the Society to get 
up clubs, schools, etc., etc., and to embody t,he results of liis 
observations in a clear and concise manner iu a daily journal. 
The Rural New-Yorker in Great Bum an.—F or years 
the Rural lias had many appreciative readers in England, 
Scotland, and Ireland — principally persons to whom it was 
ordered by friends in the United States and Canada. Of late, 
and especially during the two past weeks, quite a number of 
copies have been thus ordered, with assurances that the paper 
is highly valued by those who have received it in various parts 
of Europe. Accompanying one order is si request to sond our 
Show Bill, &e„ to facilitate the forming of a club. We chocr- 
full.v comply, without, however, expecting so favorable a 
result as our correspondent anticipates. 
Wiiat tiik Union Army Consumes. — It is stated teat to 
feed tlie 600.000 troops now in tec Union army, there is 
required each month 14,625.000 pounds of pork, or 24,376,000 
pounds of fresh liecf; 130.994 barrels of Hour; 48,750 bushel* 
of beans, or 1,050,000 pounds of rice; 1,950,000 |K>unds of 
coffee; 2,892.000 pounds of sugar; 196.000 gallons of vinegar; 
12,449 bushels of fait; 8,680,000 pounds of potatoes. The 
supply of candles is 292,600 pounds each week, and of soap. 
780,000 pounds. 
-_ — 
Good Ad virus to Farmers. — In a recent address to Cali¬ 
fornia farmers. Rev. T. Starr King pithily and wisely said:— 
“ Farpiers must crop less lavishly, and the Agricultural Socie¬ 
ties must preach—us tee indispensable gospel of economy — 
smaller farms, more labor on them, and reverence for manure.” 
Such advice is worth heeding in other States and Frovinces 
beside California. 
American Plows Abroad.—A correspondent of tee Lon¬ 
don Mark Imuc Express says:—“The Americans bare driven 
our plow-makers out of the Australian, Indian, and Colonial 
markets, owing to their lighter and cheaper articles. Unless 
our makers bestir themselves hero, by using steal instead of 
heavy castings, they will ho likely to be 1 beaten on their own 
ground.’” 
Manual of AGRICULTURE, for the School, the Farm, and the 
Fireside. Boston: Swan, Brewer & Tileston—1862. 
A.v excellent work for this object is of very difficult execu¬ 
tion. Very many attempts of even fine talents and acquire¬ 
ments have proved nearly a failure, The reason is very 
obvious to many a cultivated mind which has shrunk from 
the trial. It is not because there is not the required amount 
of accessible knowledge, or that such a work is not greatly 
demanded, or that it will not accomplish immense good. It 
is because the selection requires peculiar tact and judgment, 
as well as thorough acquaintance with the most urgent intel¬ 
lectual wants of the young in “ the School, tee Fan®, and the 
Fireside,” and an interesting manner of presenting tlie topics 
to miuds in ail these three relations. Tbe author font is thus 
qualified will live over his educational days again, and realize 
what lie needed uud longed for. but could hot obtain in any 
book, and putting himself in the condition of (ho student, 
pour out his treasures of knowledge for the younger mind in 
the way which would once have been a high gratification to 
him. If this is true, it wl)J he easier to form a correct estimate, 
of sueii a work, when executed, than tu make the book itself. 
On this ground we take our stand, and say that, this “Manual 
of Agriculture” has great excellencies, If not perfection. 
From the character and teachings of Gkorob B ISmhrson, 
the author of about half the book. IhU excellence we had 
expected, and arc not disappointed. To cuter into details is 
not necessary for this notice. Read the preface, and take in 
the fundamental facte, which shadow forth the subject and tlie 
execution Then read, as you will with high pleasure, tho 
following chapters, not neglecting in the least the introduc¬ 
tion, and become a voting chemist; then follow tlie touchings 
on the air and foe gases in it; tee atmosphere and tee forces 
acting in it, and tlie instruments to show changes in it; water, 
and all its operations, and uses, aud composition; ami, to say 
no lucre, you will not stop there. 
From the fourteenth chapter, except tne twenty first, tlie 
work is from another pen. that of Cuari.rh L. Flint. The 
high position and writings of Mr Flint do not of course 
prove his qualification for such a work, but they lead us to 
expect it. The reader wilt not he disappointed, but. gratified 
by the tacts and tiro manner of exhitiiting them, A great 
amount of knowledge, on tlie composition and structure of 
plants, on their growth and nutriment, uud tho important 
elements for their perfection, processes in fanning, diseases 
and enemies of plants, products of tlie farm and dairy, and 
economy of household and farm, is presented with clear¬ 
ness. conciseness, and good taste; matter all important to foe 
farming interest, anil valuable to every one teat intends to 
have any education beyond that of tlie most common school 
The work must, find a place in tlie schools over our State and 
country. 
Duly let tlie teacher have a tithe of the knowledge and tact 
properly expected to belong to him, the work will bo invalua¬ 
ble as a text-book for a large elass of pupils. There will be 
such a pleasure and profit that tlie question, we fear, will be, 
Why is there not more We answer, first, make tlie best use 
and application of what is already given.— d. 
