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MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
THE LEADING AMERICAN WEEKLY 
RURAL, LITERARY AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
With an Able Corps of Assistants and Contributors. 
CHAS. D. BRAGDON, Western Corsesponding Editor. 
The Rural New-Yorker is designed to bo unsurpassed in 
Value, Purity, Usefulness and Variety of Contents, and unique 
and beautiful in Appearance. Its Conductor devotes bis per¬ 
sonal attention to the supervision of its various departments, 
and earnestly labors to render the Rurai. an eminently Reliable 
Guido on all the important Practical. Seientilic and other 
Subjects intimately connected with the business’ of those whose 
interests it zealously advocates. Asa Family .Journal it is 
eminently Instructive and Entertaining—being so conducted 
that it can be safely taken to the Hearts and Homes of people 
of intelligence, taste and discrimination. It embraces more 
Agricultural, Horticultural. Solerrtilic, Educational, Literary 
and News Matter, interspersed with appropriate and beautiful 
Engravings, than any other journal,—rendering it the most 
complete Agricultural, Literary and Family Newspaper 
in America. _ 
Vp~ For Terms aud other particulars, see last page. 
MTOGTOTflM. 
THE WOOL MARKET. 
The Wool Clip of 1*62 will not be ready for 
market as early in the season as usual, the. cold and 
backward spring having retarded the washing and 
shearing of sheep over a wide extent of country. 
The wool will, however, soon be shorn and ready 
for the dealers, and hence producers are naturally 
solicitous as to prices and prospects, llow the 
market will open, and whether prices will advance 
or rerode thereafter, are questions of importance to 
both growers and dealers, and various opinions are 
entertained and expressed on the subject. Manu¬ 
facturers and buyers, and some commercial papers, 
argue (a3 they did last, year) that wool must rule 
low this season, and probably decline in price alter 
the opening of the market. We contess that with 
the light beloro us, and considering the condition 
and prospects of the market and country, we cannot 
concur in this assertion of opinion, or believe it an 
intelligent, serious conviction, it, seems to be the 
old, familiar story—very like the “stereotyped 
edition’’ annually issued by manufacturers, dealers, 
and agents, about shearing time. The reasons 
adduced for low prices at the opening of tha market, 
and a prospective decline, though not in our opinion 
valid, may affect prices on the start — especially if 
buyers combine to open the market at certain figures, 
as is customary. There are, however, in our judg¬ 
ment, good reasons why wool should bring a fair 
price when the clip is ready, and advance within 
two or four weeks thereafter. 
Though dealers and some newspapers speak dis- 
cotiragingly of the prospect, the wool market will 
probably open at much better prices than laid year 
— say from seven to twelve cents higher in this 
section. Money is plenty and easily obtained 
all over the loyal portions of the country. Wool 
dealers are therefore abundantly supplied with 
the sinews of their peaceful warfare, and ready 
to purchase freely and largely, ax we predict 
they will, both here and elsewhere. They will of 
course endeavor to open the market at as low 
rates as possible; but as there is a vast amount 
of money seeking use and investment, others will 
enter the arena, and spirited competition probably 
ensue, thus enhancing prices. The fact that money 
is plenty, and growers not Obliged to sell at once, 
will affect the market favorably, causing rates to 
advance; and we are confident that all having a 
good grade of wool, in the right condition, may 
dispose of it at remunerative prices. 
The dethronement of “ King Cotton ”— tempo¬ 
rarily at least — must materially affect the wool 
market for some years, by stimulating and advanc¬ 
ing prices. The production of cotton in this country 
will be comparatively small for years, and ol course 
the price of the staple must rule high. Wool will 
necessarily be substituted for cotton, to a large 
extent, for the next three or five years, whether the 
war proves of brief or long duration. If the war 
continues a year or more, a large amount of wool 
will be required for army clothing, and if it closes 
in three months, the great mass of soldiers (the 
immense army of volunteers, particularly,) must 
have new suits, in citizens’ style — so that, in either 
case, a more than ordinary supply of wool will be 
needed. In this connection we quote the following 
logical remarks from the last Annual Report of the 
Secretary of the Vermont State Agricultural Society. 
Though written some mouths ago, the statements 
are quite pertinent and timely at the present junc¬ 
ture. The report says: 
L Tho price ol wool for the next few years, reasoning from 
analogy, must be high. The cotton crop will not be planted 
extensively at the South as it has been in years past; anil if 
the blockade is not raised by the first of April next, in many 
Staten it will not be planted at alt. Should the rebellion not 
be suppressed within another year, as very likely it may not 
be, very little of the cotton crop of 1S01 will find its way to 
market for the next eighteen months; and when we eotiFider 
that the people must he clothed; tiiat the use of woolen 
fabrics during the present high price of cotton goods is much 
more economical; that the million of men in the field wear 
and destroy, In weight, a third more of clothing than in the 
peaceful avocations of life; that at the South all the carpets 
have been cut up into blankets, and that very little of the 
worn out stock will be supplied until peace is restored—from 
the fact the South lias not even the raw material to replenish 
with—the whole seceding States not producing as much wool 
as the State of Ohio alone, it can be seen that not only during 
the war, hut at. its dose, when the million of men in the Army 
return to their former employment, discard their military 
clothing, and dress as they were wont in broadcloths and 
doeskins, the price of wool must continue above the average 
price for the last five years In time of war the quality of 
wool is a matter of no small consequence. Vermont has 
limited herself to the production of the finest wools. Hut 
the wool most in demand now, and bringing the highest 
prices, is a coarser grade. The query may well he made 
whether it will not he'equally profitable for us to turn our 
attention to the production of a somewhat coarser staple, and 
at the same time furnish richer and higher priced mutton for 
the market?” 
—Hut the practical question, in which most of our 
readers are interested, is, What will wool be worth 
the present season? This is a difficult matter to 
determine, and one which time alone can solve. Our 
own impression is that the wool of this region. Ohio. 
Michigan, &c,, will bring from thirty-three to forty 
cents on the opening of the market, and probably 
average thirty-seven and a half cents. Two Roches¬ 
ter dealers with whom we conversed last week 
expressed the opinion that prices would range from 
thirty to forty cents, on the .start, but did not 
anticipate any material advance. One was willing 
to buy good, Open wools, at an average of three 
shillings, but thought it would not be safe to hold it 
long. We arc inclined to believe that prices will, 
within a month or two, range from thirty-live lo 
forty-five cents, and that there will not be much 
difference betweeu the quotations of good medium 
and fine fleeces. An average of forty cents will be 
a good price for wool growers, and it is their Interest 
we seek to promote. Ot course each producer will 
watch the reports of the market, from week to week, 
judging for himself us to the prospects, and as to 
when or at what price he will sell his clip. Last 
year (in the Rural of June 15th.) we woro moved to 
advise wool growers to take things calmly, and 
expressed the conviction that prices would u ad¬ 
vance from the opening of the market," and said — 
“ Those who can hold this year’s clip awhile will 
not lie likely to lose, while the prospect is certainly 
favorable for an advance.” Though not as sanguine 
as we were then, our opinion is that there must bo 
some advance from opening rates this season, and 
therefore think a slight delay in selling wool will 
not prove a losing business. Efforts will be made— 
indeed have been already, as wo are advised — to 
open the market at, certain figures in some of the 
best wool growing sections, but with money plenty, 
and a probable demand tor the Important staple, 
prices cannot be easily established. 
TIMELY SUGGESTIONS. 
It is perhaps useless for us to inform our readers 
that this is the season of labor—the time lor making 
good use of the knowledge gained by the last year’s 
reading, experience and observation. Those who 
arc*, not figuratively, but truly, earning their bread 
by the sweat of their brows, need no such informa¬ 
tion. And this fine June morning, after a lew 
hours of earnest labor with the hoe, which we are 
compelled for a time to relinquish for the equally 
useful implement, the pen, we are prepared to 
appreciate the pleasures as well as the toils of the 
farmer. We cannot hope or expect our industrious, 
active friends, at this season, when every moment is 
precious, to read long articles containing informa¬ 
tion that will bo available only a year hence, and 
therefore will endeavor to give a few brief sugges¬ 
tions ot present value, when we shall resume with 
pleasure our agricultural labors, and feel proud to 
class ourselves with the great army who till the soil. 
It is perhaps known to most of our readers that 
the next Fair of this State is to be held in Rochester, 
and we are anxious to grow Rome things worthy of 
exhibition, for at that time we expect a host of 
friends from this and other States, and from Canada, 
who will come not merely as spectators, but as 
exhibitors, bringing with them evidences of skill 
and good culture. But every State has its exhibi¬ 
tion, as well as almost every county, and it is not 
too late to do something worthy ourselves and the 
section of the country in which each has something 
of a local pride. We would give a good deal, and 
go a great way, to see at any ol our State Shows 
such an exhibition of root crops as is almost always 
to be seen at the Upper Canada Fairs. Such 
turnips, ruta bagas, beets, and carrots, we have 
never seen equalled in any three of our State Shows. 
And why is this? Not on account of a more favor¬ 
able climato or soil, certainly, tor we have all 
varieties in this respect, but because our Canadian 
friends appreciate the value of roots and give the 
subject proper attention. Perhaps early associa¬ 
tions have something lo do with the matter. It is 
certainly a disgrace to any of our States to make an 
exhibition of roots, that could be carried oft’ in a 
one-horse wagon or a wheel barrow. The best show 
in this State, by one individual, that we over ob¬ 
served, was made a few years since by Horace 
Grkklet. This is just the time to putin lor root 
crops. A deep, well pulverized, rich soil, aud con¬ 
stant rapid growth, are the main points. 
We might, just as well endeavor to grow premium 
crops pretty generally, for, as a general rule, though 
not always, the larger the crop the greater the profit. 
The corn is up and will very soon need hoeing. 
The soil is in fair condition, and it will bring a 
medium crop. To produce this a certain amount of 
labor will be necessary in hoeing and harvesting. 
Before the first hoeing, and when the plants are. 
quite small, scatter a handful or two of good rich 
compost around the hill, or if you have not this, 
some well rotted manure, seeing that it is well 
broken up and scattered, and at hoeing time, mix 
this well with the soil. Do this with an acre or so, 
and then notice the result — see if it pays for the 
extra labor, and bow much yon earned a day in the 
work. The great point in farming is to make as 
much profitable, labor as possible. If by a day’s 
work of this kind you obtained three dollars worth 
of corn extra, and could have hired a man to do it 
for sevonty-iivo cents, and you value the manure 
used at seventy-five cents, you have made a dollar 
and fifty cents dear profit, and will have learned a 
lesson that will lie valuable another season. It 
would be well to try ashes for corn in place of the 
manure. In some soils it produces a wonderful effect, 
as we know from experience, but just where it is 
best to use ashes we an* not prepared so say. This 
must be learned. 
No crop shows the benefit of proper feeding and 
care more than the potato. We have seen many 
acres dug that yielded but fifty or sixty bushels to 
the acre, and wo have grown six hundred bushels, 
and think wo could do this any time, with a fair soil 
and season; that is, with the use of the necessary 
manures and a good yielding variety. Whatever 
the condition of the soil, we have found manuring 
in the hill to be of very great advantage, and we 
have sometimes thought that this was the more 
necessary where seed was cut. pretty small. It is 
too late now, of course, to ;hink ot manuring in tho 
hill, as potatoes will be pretty much all planted 
before this ia reari, but we would advise a little, tvs 
^ ' 
recommended for corn, before hoeing. In our visits 
among farmers we find that many have yet( June-1) 
great quantifier to plant, some us high as ten or 
fifteen acres. Occasionally there may be a season 
where late planting is of advantage, but our experi¬ 
ence is in favor ol planting as early as possible. 
Ill conclusion, we would say whatever you do, do 
thoroughly. Have no slovenly half-way work. A 
competitor for the premium offered by the Agricul¬ 
tural Society of Ibis State for the best farm, in his 
remarks, says:—-*l came to tho conclusion that 
farming, like all othi t*branchcs of business, in order 
to be successful, requires to be thoroughly attended 
to. I have aimed to procure the best implements to 
work with, the best seeds lo propagate from, put in 
ray crops in the best order and in good season, and 
1 find no reason to complain of' a liberal expendi¬ 
ture on my farm in labor, manure, Ac., as it pays 
back a good interest. 1 am confident my farm has 
more than doubled its products within the last three 
or four years, from what it produced before l bought 
it.” This is the summing up of the whule matter. 
Success always rewards liberal and judicious out¬ 
lays. He who would win must work. 
-- » +»- 
HOADS AND HOAD-MAKING. 
Tins is about tho time that our country roads are 
usually repaired, and I beg leave to drop a word 
respecting that business. There is scarcely any¬ 
thing that concerns more people than road-making, 
and there is scarcely anything that more people are 
determined tu know and care nothing about. 
We have in each town in this State Road Com¬ 
missioners, whose chief business, so far as I know, 
is to make contracts for bridges, and draw their pay; 
but the road3 of the State are to all intents anil pur¬ 
poses under the solo guidance of “ Path-Masters,” 
also known and distinguished as “ Overseers of High¬ 
ways.” Their office, though about as absolute as 
the Czars', is the only one that goes a begging— 
nobody wants it unless to keep out an obnoxious 
neighbor, or to fry some particular fish of his own. 
Near the close of Town Meeting, a member of the 
Town Board announces that. “ Overseers of the High¬ 
ways are. to be appointed.” Immediately a dozen 
or two voters, more or less, who have nothing to do 
at home, and are too indifferent to electioneer for 
the ticket that’s up, gather around the member of 
the Board aforesaid, who calls the several road dis¬ 
tricts, generally corresponding with the school 
districts. A. B. is nominated for Dist. No. 1, proba¬ 
bly by somebody who is afraid of being nominated 
himself, aud so contrives to speak first. Three or 
four hold up their hands, which amounts to an elec¬ 
tion. 
After planting,” the inhabitants are warned out 
to work—more definitely, to stay eight hours on the 
road for each day they are taxed. The only princi¬ 
ple—if any such word has anything to do in the 
matter—which seems to guide them, in tu go through 
the same motions that were gone through with last 
year and year before, or a little more so. 
Now, I can stand the bad roads as well as any of 
you, and the only thing 1 am very anxious about 
is. that you won't think that I expect that any¬ 
thing that T, or anybody else can say, will have 
the least possible effeot upon Path-Masters, All 
the vices of human nature concentrate here, and 
have become constitutional and chronic. Every¬ 
where else there is some way of working reform 
where it is needed, but in road matters nobody will 
begin and nobody will follow. There is no possible 
improvement that you can suggest, hut will be met 
by the reply, “ we have but little work, and we can’t 
do it at present.” 
To “ oversee ” roads properly, a man should be a 
well educated engineer. When, therefore, no quali¬ 
fications are required to be plected to the office, no 
Rervico can he demanded in that office. First of all, 
the roads of every county should be placed under 
the superintendence of a scientific and thoroughly 
qualified engineer, and the work should be done 
substantially under his direction. Road-making is 
a science, and should be studied, like mathematics 
or medicine. 
The same care should be exercised to secure 
proper grades on our comment roads, as Is practiced 
on the railroads. It is true, an engine won’t go up a 
steep hill, and a horse can bo made to; but the big¬ 
ger brute hns no business to abuse the losser one in 
that sort of way. If the hills that wo have tortured 
our animals year after year in going up and down 
don’t rise up in judgment, agaiust us, then nothing 
will be taken notice of hereafter- On properly con¬ 
structed roads, a team can draw a hundred bushels 
of wheat easier than twenty-five bushels can be 
drawn over a great portion of the roads (hat dis¬ 
grace the civilization of our century. Put the bills 
into the hollows, and secure a good easy grade, as 
the first step in improvement. Then if there is any 
tnrnpiking to be done, do it thoroughly and forever. 
1 have often known a road to be graveled for many 
years with £ood material, and then tunipiked, cov¬ 
ering the gravel up with clay find all manner ot filth. 
There are Iwo good things you can do for a road; 
one is to put good material on it. and the other is 
to let it alone. Unfortunately, those who won’t do 
the former, can’t generally be persuaded to do the 
latter. They consider themselves pro-destined to 
create mire for mankind and horse kind to wallow 
in, and so they fill our paths with slate stones, clay, 
muck, sods, and anything that will sink you up to 
the hub. Anything will make a good road in June 
and Jnly, but March and April aro the test. Some 
soils will make fair roads, if kept in proper shape; 
but in general It is necessary lo cart on stones and 
gravel. Where the ground is naturally soft, a foot 
or two of Stones at the bottom, well rounded up and 
filled in with small ones, and then covered with 
coarse gravel and kept covered, will make a good 
road. If you haven’t “ work enough in the district ” 
to make a rod, make a half rod, and when you die 
you will not have lived in vain, which is likely to 
he the case as far as the. roads are concerned, as 
things are going now. Good material can always 
be found somewhere. 
The road power ought to have the same right to 
seise, as the **war power” has. To put bad mate¬ 
rial into a road hasn’t tho lame excuse of being a sin 
of omission; it is deliberate, daylight, premeditated 
wickedness; it often amounts to murder, and ought, 
to be followed up and punished as such. More 
people than any man can number have becu 
killed outright by the colds and consumptions that 
have been brought on by long exposure iu conse¬ 
quence of bad roads—and they were bad just from 
the wanton use of bud material. Having used good 
material, and got them in the right shape, watch 
them close and keep them so. A little depression 
that will hold a quart of water becomes deeper every 
time it rains; whereas, if it had been full, the water 
would have run oft’ and no mud hole been created. 
If it requires, on the start, a larger outlay oflabor 
than we are accustomed to in order to put our roads 
in good condition, let us work cheerfully, for it 
is a profitable investment. When the roads are 
once put in good order, we can have an easier 
time.—u. r. n. 
-> . » . « - 
WESTERN EDITORIAL NOTES. 
CULTIVATION OF THE SUGAR BEET. 
Louis Kocii, of Golconda, Illinois, a German of 
large experience in horticulture both in Europe and 
America—a very successful grape grower, by the 
way —has famished It, W. Bunder, Esq., the 
Chemist of the Chicago Sugar Refinery, with a 
paper on the Culture of the Sugar Beet, of which tho 
following is a condensed translation, made and 
kindly furnished me by Mr. Bender. It will be 
read with interest and profit by Western men, inas¬ 
much as it is fully determined to inaugurate its cul¬ 
ture, and if found profitable, its manufacture into 
sugar here the present season. Every Western 
farmer is interested in this experiment, aud should 
do what he may to aid in the solution of the question 
of the profitable cultivation and manufacture of this 
beet Those who have received seed, not ordered 
hr them, should, if possible, find space to plant and 
time to cultivate it the present season. The follow¬ 
ing is the article: 
Location of the Sugar Beet Plantation.— 
Wherever it is intended to use the fresh and undried 
beet for tho manufacture of sugar, it is a matter of 
importance that the beet fields are loeuted near the 
factory. Otherwise the expenses for transportation 
will sadly interfere with the value ot the beet, for the 
purpose. In locating the first beet sugar factories 
in Germany, the importance of this item was mostly 
overlooked, while more regard was paid to other 
commercial advantages; hence, most of these estab¬ 
lishments had a short life. But the cause of the 
failure was at once discovered, and new establish¬ 
ments put up, in the vicinity of the beet farms, that 
were capable of producing a good beet, and the 
results were highly remunerative. In many in¬ 
stances, the entire capital invested in the works, not 
rarely amounting to $10,000, repaid itself during the 
second year.* 
Character of the Son. and Rotation of 
Croi’S.—T he sugar beet requires a good, deep, and 
rather loose soil. A tolerable wheat soil will also 
produce a tolerably good beet, crop. A soil too wet 
or too dry, ought to be avoided; also such as is 
intermingled with small stones, as the latter cripple 
tho beet, causing afterwards difficulties in waRhing 
and cleansing. 
Although a rich noil is required, yet it must not 
be freshly manured. Manure promotes the forma¬ 
tion of niter salts, which are an impediment to the 
development of the sugar. Most of our Western 
lands will not require any manuring at all, aud will 
even bear the cultivation of beets successfully for sev¬ 
eral years. A deep cultivation will insure new rich¬ 
ness every year. But if an exhaustion be observed, 
a speedy remedy is applied by sowing the field in 
red clover, and plow’rag the last cut under. Every 
farmer who wishes to secure to himHclf the advanta¬ 
ges of the beet, culture, ought to pay attention to this 
sort of a rotation. In Saxony it is already general, 
and the writer can testify as to its great value. lie 
has no doubts that in American agriculture it will 
likewise prove its great utility. The beet on this 
continent must have the same wants as in Europe, 
and though much may have to be learned yet, and 
many discouraging results must bo expected, yet it 
seems as if no serious difficulties could come in our 
way to realize the brightest expectations. 
Prbpaua.tjon of the SOIL.—' To the beet, ought 
to be afforded all facilities to penetrate downward 
in the ground, (which is essential for acquiring a 
good shape,) and the radicles to creep through 
the soil to ab&orb nourishment and add to the 
growth. Hence, tin* soil ought, to be deep and 
well pulverized by repeated plowings and bar- 
rowings. 
1 plowed the field once in the fall, about six or 
eight inches deep. The American deep soil plow is 
well adapted <or that purpose. It remained iu this 
rough condition until spring, when on a dry day a 
harrowing was given. Depending on the soil, 
whether tenucious or loose, weedy or not, I plowed 
and harrowed the field several times; my rather heavy 
soil four times. All these labors have to be exe¬ 
cuted in dry weather only; for even one plowing, 
and still more one harrowing, done during a rain, 
counteracts easily all former preparations. The 
last plowing has to be done with a narrow plow. 
Raising of Seed.— In Europe, the seed from 
Siberia or Sweden is considered best, and even 
French growers provide themselves now with seed 
from the former countries. In my practice, 1 found 
that 21 pounds will suffice for one American acre. 
To bo certain of a good crop, I selected in the late 
fall, belbre frost, in the field, such beets as had all 
the requirements of a good sugar beet, and which are 
the following: 
1. A fair, uniform, conical shape, with no forks, 
if an inclination for forking is observed, it is time to 
procure new seed from other sources. 
2, A medium size; not less than half a pound; not 
more than five pounds. Large beets have too loose 
a texture, spoil more easily, and increase manufac¬ 
turing expenses. Very small beets pass the mash¬ 
ing machines. 
o. A uniform solid flesh, breaking with a cracking 
noise, and sinking quickly in water. 
I. Sweet, pure taste. 
5. A uniform white color; free of pale, reddish 
streaks; the latter indicate a degeneration in the 
beet, and a change of seed is necessary. 
G. The beet should not grow above ground, be¬ 
cause this part is poor in sugar and easily affected by 
frosts. 
The beets possessed of all these requisites, are 
caretully lifted with a spade out of the ground; the 
yellow and withered leaves removed, taking care 
not to injure the heurt leaves, aud then removed to 
a proper place, until planting out in the spring. 
This place must be frost free, hut not too warm. I 
employed small ditches, about two feet deep, four 
feet broad, aud in these the beets in vertical posi¬ 
tion, close to each other, were deposited. The ditch 
was then covered by latha and horse manure or 
leaves. In a warm winter, an occasional airing is 
necessary to prevent the early growth ol the beets. 
In the early part of spring, in Germany, in the 
middle of March, this cover is for a few days 
removed, to accustom the beets to the roughness of 
the season. Then they are planted out, in rich gar¬ 
den land, on a well protected location, about two 
feet apart, and set in as deep as the heart leaf A 
slight frost causes no danger; protect them from a 
strong frost by covering them slightly. The seed 
bed is to be kept clean, which causes only little 
trouble; the seed stem now quickly and vigorously 
drives, and soon shades the ground. Ab soon as 
necessary, these stems are fastened to some lathing 
erected for the purpose. The maturing of the seed 
begins in August, and is known by the yellowish or 
bluish color of the seed. It matures, however, not 
♦The desiccation process, invented by Shutzenbach, is, 
however, now being more generally adopted, and producer 
and consumer need not necessarily be tn an immediate 
neighborhood. By this method tho beet is sliced and dried, 
losing thereby about SO per cent, of its weight, enabling it to 
be transported to distances, and also to be better kept for a 
longer period of time.— b. w. b. 
FRYING Chaut Co N Y 
