ROCHESTER, N. Y..-FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1862. 
I WHOLE NO. 659. 
TWO DOLLARS A. YEAR.] 
“PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT.” 
[SINGLE NO. FOUR CENTS. 
YOL. Xm. NO. 35.} 
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. BHAGDON, Western Corresponding Editor. 
The Rural New-Yorker ia designed to be unsurpassed in 
Value. Purity, Usefulness and Variety of Contents, and unique 
and beautiful in Appearance. Its Conductor devotes his per¬ 
sona) attention to the supervision of its various departments, 
and earnestly labors to render the RpraL a« eminently Reliable 
Guide on all the important Practical. Scientific, and other 
Subjects Intimately connected with the business of those whose 
interests it jealously advocates. As a Family Journal it is 
emmeutly Instructive and Entertaining —being so conducted 
that It can be safely taken to the Hearts and Homps of people 
of Intelligence, taste and discrimination. It embraces more 
Agricultural, Horticultural, Scientific, Educational, Literary 
and News Matter, interspersed with appropriate and beautiful 
Engravings, than auy other journal,—rendering it the most 
complete agricultural. Literary and Family Newspaper 
in America. 
“GOOD AND BAD CROPS” 
The following article ia from a correspondent 
who, for more than a score of years, has labored 
most industriously to arouse fanners to the impor¬ 
tance of their calling, and with whose timely and 
practical suggestions we have often favored our 
readers: 
Eds. Rural New-Yorker:— In an article in a 
late Rural, headed, “ Good and Bad Crops," you 
have well remarked that, ‘‘In any department of 
industry, extra care is always repaid; but in farm¬ 
ing, this care always brings a greater proportional 
bandit." For the very reason, that in mechanical 
operations labor and skill produce the results, but 
in farming they only prepare the great laboratory 
wherein Nature is to work out her unerring combi¬ 
nation for the production of the crop. Nature also 
visits the well-prepared amended soil with her 
atmospheric plant food nightly, while she shuns 
a poor, arid, half-tilled surface, as she does a vacuum. 
As you say, “in passing through the country we 
cannot fail to see the great difference in the yield ol 
the same crops in different fields, ranging from one- 
third to one-halt and even more.” This may, in 
some instances, be owing to the discrepancy in the 
soil; but nine times out of ten it may be referred to 
good or bad farming. I have often thought it a pity 
that some men had such large farms; but I have 
learned at length that 50-acre farms are quite as 
much neglected as larger farms. It is the intelli¬ 
gence and industry of the man, and his passion for 
making his own calling respectable, that makes two 
blades of grass grow where one grew before; as the 
French say, a man with bo conscience in his art can 
never succeed. 
I have often noticed that the best farmers are the 
slowest to complain of the season. Their clover is 
generally fit to cut before the summer drouth com¬ 
mences; and their well-manured, early-planted corn 
is just forward enough to need a drouth to force the 
juices of the plant into its cereal ears. Indian corn 
rarely fills its ears to the tip end until the leaves roll 
in the hot midday sun. Yet a summer drouth is 
fatal to late-planted corn on a poor soil. 
After all the croaking, the hay crop will be good 
on well-managed farms. I cut a heavy growth of 
June grass and clover lrom my little patch on the 
20th of June; now it is densely covered with red clo¬ 
ver alone in full bloom. We often hear of June grass 
running out timothy, but here clover has over¬ 
whelmed the June grass; so much for letting the 
second crop of clover go to seed. But eveu legn- 
minous clover, which receives so much of its aliment 
from the atmosphere, to give two cuttings, must be 
treated with something more than a sprinkling of 
plaster. Liquid manure is better than a top dress¬ 
ing of Btable dung, as it leaves no dock or thistle 
seeds to become a growing plague. An economical 
way to ubtuiu the best of liquid manure for a grass 
plot, is to spout wafer from the roof conductors to 
the privy. Sink a salt barrel at the buck of the vault 
with a tube to connect, and the supply will be con¬ 
siderable during raiuy weather. Then also it is the 
best time to remove the noisome liquid to the plot, 
where it will be immediately deodorized. 
Although I got ears of sweet corn for boiling, full 
eight inches long, from my garden on the last day of 
July. I would willingly swap every foot of the well 
amended soil for the same space of Long Island’s 
sandy scrub oak plains. Of potatoes I get mon¬ 
strous vines, but only a few poor, watery tubers, and 
those two weeks later than they grow on a sandy 
soil,—then the trouble of forking and Uoeiug to 
keep the soil loose. That which is black and friable 
by manure in early spring, becomes so hard as to 
crack in the hot sun the second day after a rain; 
then to attempt to loosen it with the hoe is about the 
same as it would be to loosen a metallic surface. 
Verily, he who has a sandy garden has a treasure. 
True, it cries aloud continually for manure; but a 
little clay on top would help save the manure; and 
any one can get manure enough for his garden if he 
wiil only save and compost that within his reach, 
instead of wasting it. 
If I wanted to get a premium crop from a sandy 
soil, I would apply to it manure in a liquid form in 
July and August. I find that a highly manured clay 
loam just begins to give out its chemical wealth to 
the plants in the hottest of the season; but in sand 
it is distributed much earlier, so as often to need a 
further supply in hot weather, for a maximum yield. 
With such au application, sand would beat clay 
as much in the end of the race as it does in the 
beginning. 
Our wheat crop is large this season. In spite of 
the harvest showers, it was generally hauled in in 
good condition. Much more white, wheat was grown 
this season than before, since the disappearance of 
the midge; but it yields much better than the Medi¬ 
terranean red. This is, after all, a glorious corn 
season. The plants bad to struggle in a cold drouth, 
but they got strong roots, and the late hot weather 
has given them a rapidity of growth that promises 
an early ripening of ponderous ears. Joseph 
Wright will have a monster crop of Dent corn; his 
Beed is yearly grown west purposely for seed, and the 
largest ears selected. What a pity the same pains are 
not taken to improve the status of the wheat plant. 
Our farmers will probably get better prices for 
grain than they would were it not for the inflation 
of the war currency; and when shipped as a remit¬ 
tance to Europe, the exchange there in our favor 
will much more than pay the Atlantic freight. But 
this foul rebellion will be effectually squelched 
when the North is as earnest to save this Continent 
from the burning disgrace of an oligarchy, founded 
on human slavery, as the Southrons are to save, 
extend, and perpetuate slavery. 'Tia sad to see the 
British Government ever ready to condemn our 
rulers, and to sympathize with the purjured traitors 
of the South. But for the aid of England, the rebel 
Government never could have attained its present 
status and power for mischief, s. w. 
Seneca Co., N. Y., Aug., 1862. 
It is with the soil as with other things. We sel¬ 
dom appreciate tho blessings we have; and instead 
of enjoying and improving the advantages in our 
possession, are constantly craving those beyond our 
reach. The farmer or gardener, with a Stiff clay 
soil, complains of its lateness, the difficulty with 
which it is worked, and Us disposition to bake and 
crack; while he who has sandy ground would pre¬ 
fer that which is richer, that requires less ma¬ 
nure, and has some “ heart.” He is tired ot culti¬ 
vating 6and banks. There are advantages and 
disadvantages in both cases, and there are crops 
much better adapted to the one than the other. 
Each, too, requires different treatment. Could we 
have a soil just to our liking, we would not choose 
a heavy clay nor a sandy plain, but a light or sandy 
loam, though we would not object to a very sandy 
field nor one of heavy clay for special purposes. As 
we have bad considerable experience with both 
heavy and light soils, a few suggestions from our 
practice may not be unprofitable. A heavy soil is 
not the most desirable for the germination of small 
seeds or for small plants, as the baking prevents 
their coming up aud retards their growth when 
small. In this condition they are apt to suffer from 
the. attacks of insects. But, when the plants get 
strong and their roots spread out, they find abund¬ 
ance of food and make a fine growth late in the 
season, at a time when, in a light soil, they are apt 
to fail. The main point in the cultivation of heavy 
soils, is to keep them friable. Draining and deep 
culture will aid in this work; but after every heavy 
rain the surface is found baked and hard. The only 
remedy for this that we know of is unremitting cul¬ 
ture. The favorable time for working a hard soil is 
from ten to twenty hours after a heavy shower, and 
sooner after a light one, just at the favorable mo¬ 
ment when it will all break to pieces with the 
smallest touch, without disturbing the roots of the 
tenderest plants. We know of a field of beets about 
destroyed this season, when just out of the ground, 
because a set of clumsy hands were set to loosen the 
earth around them when dry and hard; when, if it 
had been done two days before, and soon after rain, 
half tho labor and all the loss would have been 
saved. This caro is necessary only when the plants 
are young; at other times the ground may be stirred 
at auy time except when wet and sticky; and the 
more the better. Many persons get discouraged 
with a clay Boil because they lail to give the extra 
attention plants require when young, when perhaps 
it is, on the whole, the best adapted to their wants. 
Our present garden is a very stiff clay, and 
though it looks rather hard in the spring, and every¬ 
body is ready to say what a miserable soil for a 
garden, by midsummer the tune is changed, and 
what a splendid garden spot you have, is the general 
cry. Ail know that.the Lima bean requires a long 
season and a warm soil, and often rots in the. ground 
in wet, cold weather, It is the last thing we would 
choose to put in a cold clay, and yet we never fail 
in growing a splendid crop in this way. Make 
drills, or holes for the hills, if planted in that way, 
about two inches deep, set the beans with the eyes 
down, and cover with sand about an inch higher 
than the surface. Whoever cultivates a garden of 
clay, should procure, early in the spring, a load of 
Band for such special purposes. It will be found 
invaluable for covering small seeds, and the farmer 
on heavy land would do well to make a compost of 
half sandy loam and half manure, to be applied in 
the hills with corn, potatoes, &c., to help them along 
when young. Its application would cost some labor, 
but it is such labor that would pay a large profit. 
The potato is the worst possible crop that can be 
grown on a heavy soil. Our experience accords 
with that of “S. W.” in this respect exactly. A 
sandy soil, well manured in the hill, is what we like 
for a large crop of eatable potatoes. 
For certain and immediate effect, there is nothing 
like liquid manure on any soil. The difficulty of ap¬ 
plying istheonly objection. But for agarden, Ibis is 
hardly worth consideration, and the great lesson we 
have to learn is, that the more profitable labor that 
can be put upon the soil the better. We always 
keep a barrel of guano water in the garden, ready 
for use; but the farmer could make plenty of liquid 
manure from material produced on the farm. 
FARM GATES. 
All admit the importance of good farm gates; 
even those who use bars and other make-shifts, 
acknowledge them to be intolerable nuisances, con¬ 
suming more.time and patience than, if rightly 
employed, would furnish every field with a good 
and durable gate. Some of the gates we see around 
the country are excellent, real ornaments, but these 
are too expensive for general use, while others are 
badly constructed, frail, and ill calculated to 
answer the purpose for which they were designed. 
What is needed is a gate that farmers, with the tools 
that every one should keep, and an ordinary me¬ 
chanical skill, can make at leisure times and in the 
winter. The following article gives a plan for a 
very simple and cheap gate, that is at least worthy 
of attention: 
THE CHEAPEST FARM GATE. 
The reason farmers do not use gates instead of 
bars, is on account of the expense of building and 
hanging the same. Gates ns usually made and hung 
on the side of a post, cost from three to five dollars. 
Few fanners will go to the expanse of half a dozen 
gates at the above rate; but a gate that costs com¬ 
paratively nothing, and is made in less time than it 
takes to make a pair of bars, can be made by every 
farmer and bung at the entrance of every field, and 
as it will at the same time look neat, should take 
the place of all the bars on the farm. The following 
cut represents the gate in its proper position. 
The top rail, if oak, should be about li inches 
thick; it soft timber, 2 or 2j would be better, and 1 
foot longer than the gate. The slats to nail boards 
to, about 4 feet in length, or any length which may 
be desirable. The gate is held in position by iron 
bolts driven through a small auger hole in the top 
rail into the post, so that the gate can be lifted off 
one bolt, or pin, and held by the other while carry¬ 
ing it around or opening. This gate is the inven¬ 
tion of D. T. Campbell, a well known Union man 
of this town, and you are at liberty to give it to your 
readers. A, D. Coe. 
Couesus Center, N. Y., 1862. 
Among the many plans for gates which we have 
published, none have given such general satisfac¬ 
tion as oue given by one of our well-known con¬ 
tributors a few years since, and called the A r e Plus 
Ultra Gate. It seems to possess all the good quali¬ 
ties of a farm gate—simplicity, (so that any ordinary 
farmer or mechanic can make it,) strength and 
durability. With the exception of the timber, the 
cost is comparatively nothing, aud where economy 
is an object, it can be well hung at an outlay of ten 
cents for iron. This gate we have known for over 
twenty years, and during that time it has been 
repaired but once, and it still swings as well as 
when first constructed. The following is the de¬ 
scription : 
THE NE PLUS ULTRA GATE. 
The cut exhibits a Farm Gate, combining all the 
qualities required—simplicity, strength aud dura¬ 
bility. A is a catch for a gate opening both ways; 
B is a wedge to drive over the dovetail of the top 
rail. To suit our column, the drawing is shortened 
a little in length, in proportion to its height, but 
fairly represents all the peculiarities of the article 
we wish to present and describe. 
There is nothing too much, nor anything lacking 
in its form and construction, to meet every want 
in this desirable and much neglected article; and, 
as we think, cannot he improved—for our opinion 
is based upon many years’ use of Ibis plnn, as agang- 
way gate for cattle and teams, to the barn and wood 
yard. One in particular has been tested in the 
roost searching manner, by the swinging of boys 
and tho slamming of winds, and it never has 
changed half an inch. Every addition of braces, or 
at a different angle, is a positive detriment to the 
gate—it is unique. 
We recommend the following dimensions and 
manner of construction: — The frame work to bo 
made of good, slraighl-graiued oak, 3 by 4 scant¬ 
ling, as long as a 12 foot stick will make it, or not 
less than 11 feet at any rate. The hinge-post or 
stile, 5 feet long, 3 by 4; the latch-stile, 4 feet 6 
inches, 3 by 3, and the center-stile the required 
length, 3 by 4 
The slats, or bars of seasoned pine—the two 
lower ones 5 inches wide, and the Ihree upper ones 
4 inches. They are framed through the stiles, will) 
a nice and tight fit, nr, the following distances apart : 
The lower ones 34 inches, aud so on, 4, 5, G and 7 
inches. It is important that all the bars fit and 
mortise tightly on the edges, a great part of the 
strength of the gate depending upon it. 
The top rail is tapered, lrom the center-stile to 
the latch-stile on the under side, to 3 inches square, 
and is framed into the hinge-stile with a dove-iail of 
one inch gain, (see dotted lines.) The mortise 
must bo laid out 1 inch higher, to allow the drop, 
and the spice left in the mortise tilled with a lopg, 
slim, iron wedge, with a head turned, and fitted 
with holes, and spiked to the rail. There is a brace 
on each side of the gate, toed in at. the foot and 
shouldered at the top, and a large wrought nail put 
through alternately both Yvnys and clinched. 
There are various ways of hanging this gate, 
costing from three dollars to ten cents. The cheap¬ 
est method, and all-sufficient for field use, is to take 
12 inches of | round bolt irou; cut off 4 inches for 
the bottom, leaving 8 for the top,—bore in with a J 
auger, and drive in the pins, leaving out li inches 
at the bottom and 5 inches at the tup. The ends of 
the stile may be banded, if thought best The bot¬ 
tom of the hinge-stile is sometimes brought to a point, 
and the top rounded to 3 inches and let through the 
cap for a hanging. 
The great secret of keeping gates in position is, 
to have a large post set very deep and firm into the 
ground, or it will lean and sag the gate; indeed, it 
cannot be set too firmly, and, as a further security, 
fill the hole half way with stone, and the rest with 
leached ashes. 
At the proper height for the bottom of the gate, 
mortise in a piece of three-inch oak scantling, and 
on the top spike firmly a piece of two-inch plank, 
as a cap, of height to allow the gate to be lifted up 
and out of its place, which is sometimes convenient 
in deep snows. 
For fastening, a long iron latch may be used, or a 
round wood bolt, with a spiral spring, and an iron 
pin through to keep it, which springB into a mortise 
in the post, with the sides beveled off, to cause the 
gate to shut with a push. There should always be 
a strong pin bored into the post, to slain against 
when not opening both ways. 
These gates can be made, and painted red or 
brown, for two dollars each, and less by the quan¬ 
tity. We have been thus particular that every one 
who wishes can have a good Farm Gate,—the result 
of long trial and experience. 
-- 
WESTERN EDITORIAL NOTES. 
WHO 13 ISAAC NEWTON? 
Failing to get an answer to the above question, 
asked in the Rural some weeks since, I have used 
other mediums of inquiry, with only indifferent 
success. I have determined to give the farmers of 
the country all the information I can gather on the 
subject. I have the pleasure of announcing ihe first 
installment. It is with great gratification I do so, 
inasmuch as the agriculturists are anxious to know 
whether the great Agricultural Bureau,—which has 
so long been asked fur by them, and which has at 
last been established for them,—has a chief who 
will faithfully represent their interest, .and reflect 
their intelligence, enterprise and patriotism. I 
leave it with the farmers who may read this evi¬ 
dence, to decide whether the. political power which 
has given Isaac Newton this p^ition, has or has 
not selected such a person. It is a question I am 
seeking to solve, or at least aid others in the solu¬ 
tion. 
Here follows a copy of a note written by Isaac 
Newton. I have it from a source which I deem 
reliable, from gentlemen who do not assert what 
they cannot establish. I publish it verbatim et 
literatim, «fcc., Ac., in order that Sir Isaac may 
receive all the credit that belongs to him, aud that 
the country may properly appreciate the originality 
of the roan who presides over the agricultural 
interests of the country: 
“ Mr. Stevenson — Sur :—Let the baror have one 
of those trees wat bars those large leaves. It’s tor 
1 Henry Willard.” 
I judge this to be an order on one of the Govern¬ 
ment gardeners for a tree. The gentleman who 
furnishes me with the above original orthographical 
epistle, has also given me the following specimens 
of orthography from the writings of Sir Isaac:— 
“ Leltis,” “shooggar," “inans,” (onions,) “sausgee,” 
(sausage.) «fco. 
Now, my amiable friend of the farmers profes¬ 
sion, aren't you proud of your country—of your 
representative in one of the departments of our 
Government—that the world has moved sufficiently 
to turn up a man so eminently distinguished, to fill 
the high position now occupied by “ Sir Isaac!” 
I have been informed by a member of the present 
Congress, that. Ibis same Isaac Newton, when 
occupying a position in the Patent Office, prior to 
his appointment as Chief of the Agricultural 
Bureau, proposed to provide him (said Congress¬ 
man) with seeds, &c., above his quota, if be would 
exert his influence to secure bis (Newton's) ap¬ 
pointment to the place he has since secured. 
f have no disposition to prejudge this gentleman, 
so eminent in orlbngraphy and modern wire-pulling, 
hence 1 do not publish the opinions of men who have 
bad to do with him. But I do propose to place to 
his credit all evidences I can acquire of his accom¬ 
plishments and eminent qualifications to look after 
the interests of agriculturists. I am anxious the 
farmers of the country should better know him, 
and how carefully their interests are looked after 
by the political tradesmen, called Congressmen. I 
propose to record all evidence I can obtain going to 
show how we are esteemed by the men who repre¬ 
sent us, and how we are insulted by men who live 
and move and have their being only to promote their 
own selfish and often hellish ends. 
MANURE. 
We are glad to acknowledge our increased obli¬ 
gations to S. Punk ins. Esq., for another of his valu¬ 
able reports. We congratulate the Club on having 
so aide and attentive a Secretary, to record tbeir 
very valuable discussions. The important conclu¬ 
sion arrived at by the Club we have no doubt will 
be sanctioned by our readers generally.—E d. 
Slabbtole, Aug. 1, 1862. 
Mr. Editor:—I inclose you herewith a report of 
the discussions of our Club, at their last Monthly 
Meeting. The subject is one of such general im¬ 
portance, that 1 thought the facts thus brought out 
might be of interest to your numerous readers. 
Yours, Sum Punkins, Secretary. 
July 30,1862.—The Slabbvillc Farmers’ Club met 
according to adjournment, Mr. Slimkorn in the 
chair. 
The Chairman —The question which has been 
adopted for discussion this afternoon was not such 
an one as he thought ought to occupy the attention 
of this Club. It was of altogether too little conse¬ 
quence to take up their valuable lime. He must 
say if he had been to have stated it, he should have 
put it in an affirmative proposition at once, instead 
of making it interrogatory; and he believed that all 
intelligent farmers had long since come to the same 
conclusion that, he had. The question was, “7s n’t 
manure a humbwj?” and he should call on neighbor 
Skimitt to open the discussion. 
Mr, Skmitt — Had rather some other person had 
been selected, tor tile subject was not one that he 
thought much ofl However, he would give his ex¬ 
perience, which the Club might take for what it was 
worth. The farm which he now occupied be had 
taken lrom the wilderness. When the land was 
first cleared up, and for a few years after, he bad 
been a good deal bothered by the rankness of his 
crops. His wheat bad been so very heavy that it 
gave him a great deal of trouble to harvest it, and 
his corn crops were often so large that he found it 
impossible to secure them before the winter set in. 
Latterly he had not been troubled in that way. He 
found no trouble now in gathering his crops in good 
season. 
The Chairman — Would like to know if Mr. Skim- 
itt had used any manure on his land. 
Mr. Skimttt —The hauling out of manure, spring 
and fall, had always seemed a great waste of time, 
and he had therefore never wasted his time and 
strength in that kind of business. 
Mr. Bokefrmr —Will the gentleman tell us how 
he gets rid of his manure? 
Mr. Skimitt— When the manure gets so trouble¬ 
some that I can't stand it auy longer, I move my 
barn ! I have already moved it three times, and 
shall have to move it again, unless some man will 
be fool enough to come and draw the manure away. 
And he would stale a fact now. lest it might slip his 
mind, which be thought conclusively proved ma¬ 
nure to be a nuisance. His barn bad formerly stood 
on the opposite side of the road, and in front of his 
house; and the weeds had grown so large on the 
manure piles, and had looked so bad, that bis wife 
would give him no peace till he mowed them down. 
The fact was that all his experience had convinced 
him that manure was a nuisance — a regular hum¬ 
bug. Du had been compelled to move his barn 
three times on account of its accumulation, and each 
time had had to put new sills to it, as the others had 
been rotted out by the tnaunre. And he had heard 
so much cattermauling from his wife and daughters, 
about the disgusting appearance of the weeds and 
IRVING Chant Co N Y 
