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W'^GBICULTURe 
ROCHESTER, N. Y.-FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1862, 
EXCELSIOR "VEGETABLE CUTTER, 
especially by introducing the Rural (o the notice 
antl^iipiijrt Of your friends and acquaintances, and 
by qoutiiputing the results of your observation and 
experience for publication in its pages. A little 
attention j&nd influence, properly directed and ex¬ 
ercised, will aid ur materially at the present time, 
and vo umst every friend of the paper — and it has 
hosts of 1 imds all over the land — will see what, can 
be done ii his or her locality to maintain and aug¬ 
ment its circulation and usefulness. 
In reviewing the history of the Rural New- 
Yorker tor the past thirteen years, we find much 
that is gratifying, and have the satisfaction of 
knowing that the paper has proved beneficial to the 
People and Country. From its commencement, (as 
we have said on a similar occasion,) it has been our 
earnest and constant endeavor to faithfully dis¬ 
charge our duty to all in any wise interested or 
affected—Individuals, Families. Community and the 
Country. Starting with a consciousness of the 
great responsibility assumed, and humbly realizing 
our inability ia many respects, we resolved to make 
a vigorous and persistent effort to establish in the 
heart of the beat cultivated and populated Rural 
District of America a weekly Agricultural and 
Family Journal which should be Honest, Indepen¬ 
dent and Reliable. We had heard much cant about 
the necessity of great genius and talent and science 
and capital in such a sphere of journalism, but 
believed that Pluck, Industry, Principleand Energy 
were the first requisites, and indispensable to a 
success worth achieving in such an enterprise as we 
had undertaken. Comparatively young, aud hence 
sanguine of future success, in benefiting others at 
least—confidently believing that those whose inter¬ 
ests we advocated would eventually appreciate our 
efforts—'we determined, against the advice of our 
best friends, to venture our all, (financially,) and 
devote years of untiring labor iu an endeavor to 
ipon a firm basis, a combined Rural, 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
THB LKADJXG AMXRICAX WEEKLY 
RURAL, LITERARY AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
Our engraving represents a Vegetable Cutter, 
patented in July last by Mr. John R. Robertson 
of Syracuse, N. Y., and which was awarded the 
first premium at the last New Y'ork State Fair. We 
witnessed a trial of this machine a few days ago, 
when it cut turnips, in thin, narrow strips, at the 
rate of one bushel per minute. The knives are ad¬ 
justable, and fastened to a cylinder 11 inches in 
diameter and 14 inches iong. The knives may be so 
arranged as to cut coarse or fine as desired. The 
work is very thoroughly and speedily done; the 
cut-up vegetables dropping inside of the cylinder 
and being delivered at the ends. We regard it as 
a valuable improvement, and worthy the attention 
of farmers and all others who feed roots. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOOSE, 
With an Able Corps of Assistants and Contributors, 
CHAS. D. BHAGDON. Western Corresponding Editor, 
Tub Rubai. New-Yorkeb is designed to he unsurpassed in 
Value, Purity, UeeDiloess and Variety of Contents, and uniciue 
and beautiful in Appearance Its Conductor devotes his per¬ 
sonal attention to the supervision of its various departments, 
and earnestly labors to render the Rural an eminently Reliable 
Guide on all the important Practical. Scientific aud other 
Subjeots iutimately connected with the business of those whose 
interests it zealously advocates. As a Family Journal it ia 
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 embraoes more 
Agricultural. Horticultural. Scientific, Educational, Literal? 
and News Matter, interspersed with appropriate and beautiful 
Engravings, than any other journal,—rendering it the most 
complete Agricultural, Litkrary a .yd Family Newspaper 
in America 
CHAPTER ON DRIVING, 
the horse vihich he is acting upon. Temper and will 
vary as mndh in different horses as in separate individ¬ 
uals of tli- human family; and ft man will be a suc¬ 
cessful drii er in proportion as he gains the mastery 
over the oulties and understanding of his horse. 
It is not sfrays necessary to use force alone, when 
it is desire ij to make a horse mind. Patience, perse¬ 
verance ftiii gentleness, with firmness, will often do 
more towards bringing a refractory animal into sub¬ 
jection to fluir will, and obedience to your com¬ 
mands, thi -vthe mere employment of the whip; and 
if the obi 1 it, required can be attained by gentle 
means, 14 will not, expose you to any risk of break¬ 
ing his fainter or injuring bis mettle. A horse with 
his spirit a fl will once entirely broken dowu by a 
too strong f plication, of the whip, is ever after, or 
until he chtftges owners, a poor, dogged, ill-tem¬ 
pered concern—a mere machine, moving through 
his round T duties without the least animation 
or life. 
Some anmals will hear whipping much better 
than otheri und need the application of the goad 
much ol tent 1 This is owing mostly, ifc is presumed, 
THE RURAL TO ITS READERS: 
RETROSPECTIVE AND PROSPECTIVE 
establish 
Literary and Family Newspaper which should 
excel in merit and usefulness—and from that day to 
this our great aim has been to render this journal 
eminently Instructive, Useful and Entertaining— 
to enhance, so far as in our power, the Physical 
Interests and Home Happiness of all its readers— 
without misleading the judgment, injuring the 
morals, or vitiating the taste of a single individual. 
This was our standard, an elevated and laudable 
one—perhaps too fastidious to suit the popular 
taste—but we resolved to adhere to it, and, if neces¬ 
sary, ‘‘learn to labor and to wait’’ long years for 
that success and reward which we firmly believed 
would eventually crown well-directed and persist¬ 
ent efforts for the achievement of laudable objects. 
And we mere obliged to thus labor and wait for 
years—ignoring ease and pleasure, sacrificing health, 
and sinking thousands of dollars, and even the In fit 
dollar we possessed,— before the Rural New- 
Yorker reached a “paying basis,” though, mean¬ 
time, it paid thousands of its readers, and us in the 
consciousness of benefiting others and promoting a 
noble cause. Though this was a period of trial and 
sacrifice, we never wavered for a moment, or lost 
our faith in the cause espoused, or those to whom 
we looked for support. 
Now, however, our business is materially affected. 
In common with other popular journals which are 
afforded at a low price and circulate widely, the 
Rural baa suffered much from the “paper famine.” 
Indeed the enormous advance in the price of print¬ 
ing paper will probably obliterate our profits on the 
volume now dosing, and cause us to actually lose 
money on every copy furnished at the lowest club 
rate—$1.25. But this is not all. The decrease of 
advertising since the opening of the rebellion, 
added to the advance in price of paper, will leave 
us little or no actual profit for two years—since the 
Rural was enlarged, in tact, we have furnished a 
larger and more costly paper than we could afford 
at the price, and although it was pleasant to excel 
in that regard, we cannut longer indulge in a lux¬ 
ury so expensive. Hence, instead of again increas¬ 
ing the club price, we have concluded to reduce the 
Rural to its former dimensions, making it the same 
size as in I860. This is but a slight reduction, com¬ 
pared with what many of our contemporaries have 
done, or propose doing, but we hope it will enable 
us to survive the “paper famine”—as we contem¬ 
plate no reduction in the quality of any article. 
By condensation, and extra labor, we shall endeavor 
to render the paper as valuable and acceptable as 
formerly. Indeed, our arrangements are such that 
we are confident of making the ensuing volume of 
the Rural equal to either of its predecessors in 
Appearance, and also in value of Contents. To 
accomplish this object we have resolved to labor 
more earnestly and persistently than ever before, 
and make the best possible use of past experience. 
We shall have able and efficient assistance, both in 
and out of the office. Several able contributors and 
correspondents will be introduced to our readers, 
and former ones have promised to stand by the 
good ship Rural in adversity or prosperity. Our 
Western Editor— Chas. D. Bragdox, Esq , of Chi¬ 
cago—whose “ Western Editorial Notes ” have 
attracted much attention and heen widely copied 
during the past eighteen months, will in future 
devote much more time and thought for the benefit 
of the Rural New-Yorker and its readers. His 
interesting Notes will be continued, and he will 
also contribute in other forms to the leading depart¬ 
ments of the paper. 
Friends of the Rural! when prosperous we have 
been most liberal, always fulfilling if not exceeding 
our promises! We now frankly ask you to recipro¬ 
cate. The Rural is not dying, nor does it propose 
to exhibit the least sign thereof, (except in a tempo¬ 
rary reduction of size.) but is bound, with your con¬ 
tinued support and encouragement, to survive the 
rebellion, “paper famine,” and all opposition, and 
come out of the contest with (lying colors. You can 
aid us, in various ways, to accomplish this object— 
This number closes the Thirteenth Year and 
Volume of the Rural Nf.v.-Yorker, and termi¬ 
nates our engagements with most of its supporters, 
(all whose subscriptions now expire.) The cir¬ 
cumstances attending the dose of the year's cares 
and labors, and especially the condition of the 
Country and the Newspaper Press, render the occa¬ 
sion one of no ordinary interest. A brief review of 
the past awakens mingled emotions of gratitude, 
pleasure and pain: of gratitude that we have so 
long been permitted by a kind Providence to labor 
in a field of Usefulness—of pleasure that so many 
intelligent and right-thinking persons have co¬ 
operated with us in efforts which have not proved 
altogether in vain—and of pain that not a few zeal¬ 
ous friends, who have nobly worked and written 
for these pages, are no longer among the living, 
active promoters of mental, moral and physical 
improvement. Alas! what a number of early and 
long-continued friends of this journal have been 
called from earth during the past brief twelve- 
month — many of whose lives have been sacrificed 
in patriotic efforts to save and perpetuate a Union 
and Institutions designed to prove a blessing to 
millions of our race! The thought that so many 
noble lives have heen lost, causing anguish and 
mourning in families and communities all over the 
land, ia indeed sad, and comes home to ua in more 
instances than we can here recapitulate. And yet 
we are not entirely desponding, for there is some 
consolation in knowing that the departed fell or 
died with their armor on, and while in the discharge 
of a sacred duty—that they wpre not traitorous 
rebels but patriotic upholders aud defenders ot' their 
country. This thought relieves the sad picture, yet 
does not restore the manly son, husband or father to 
family and friends, 
Our Western Corresponding Editor examined 
this Cutter at the State Fair, (before any premium 
was awarded it.) and thus voluntarily noticed it in 
his report given in the Rural of Oct. 11 : — “There 
is one little implement here which I commend to 
the attention of western nten. With all our appro¬ 
priation of machinery as a substitute for manual 
labor. I have never yet seen more than one vegeta¬ 
ble cutter on a western farm, or in a western root 
cellar or stable. We are getting to gruw roots con¬ 
siderably, aud there is nothing mot e desirable, as an 
inducement for a more extended culture of roots for 
a feed crop, than something which shall rapidly 
prepare roots for stock. I saw one on exhibition. 
That it is the best one I do not know. That, it does 
the work well and rapidly 1 do know. It is called 
the “ Excelsior Vegetable Cutter,” patented by 
J. R. Robertson, Syracuse, N. Y.” 
— For further particulars relative to the above 
machine, address the patentee as above, who offers 
State Rights for sale, and also furnishes the Cutter 
at ten dollars. 
verts him in > a simple plaything, will, we think, 
always yield ffiedience to his driver more willingly 
and promptl. than one which has been raised under 
treatment ex jtly the reverse. Bring up a colt by 
gentle urging yet always using force as a last 
resort, if hi- fails to mind, and, other Ihiugs 
being favora It. you will have a horse lhat, will 
obey your sir pie word at most times, as well as he 
would any a plication to bis back. On the con¬ 
trary. subjectiim to the sight and feeling of a lash, 
under all cirr Tjstanoes. at all times and places, and 
for the least fi Hires to mind you, from the lime he 
is weaned un ll he is broken to the carriage, and 
you will ever ; ter have to drive him with whip and 
spur. 
As a general ling, in driving, it is best not to use 
force, when pt suasion will do just as well. The 
majority of luies at the present time will not 
take a reasonale gait, and keep it, without the use 
of something tube potent than mere “moral sua¬ 
sion.” It is a i)Cd rule, however, never to strike 
until you have nokem First, let your horse know 
what you wish an to do. then if he does not do it, 
compel him to. 
Whenever ym undertake to make a horse per¬ 
form anything Mat is perfectly proper aud that he is 
able to accomplih, never give up until you have 
succeeded, 
THE NEW HIGHWAY LAW. 
I love to see a tidy farmer, one who keeps things 
picked up about the yards and buildings,—in short, 
has “a place for everything, and everything in its 
place.” His fences are always straight, bis furrows 
the same. Rows of corn, potatoes, beans, apple 
trees,—in fact, everything planted in rows, straight. 
No thistles and brambles growing along the road¬ 
side, in the corners of the fences, in pastures, 
around the garden and elsewhere, but all are 
cut in season. His “line fence'’ is good, con¬ 
sequently he has good neighbors. His garden 
is nice— full of vegetables — melons, fruit and flow¬ 
ers abound —and clear from weeds and chickens. 
Tie plants some trees for profit and some for beauty; 
protects the old trees, and plants some to fill their 
places. 
His cattle and sheep (like their master) have 
enough to eat and a warm place to sleep,—sell read¬ 
ily, because always fat, and briog good prices, too. 
He is always ready to assist his neighbors or any 
one who is in trouble, in short, has a little public 
spirit about him and does not live mainly and solely 
for the Almighty Dollar. Such a man. when asked to 
subscribe for the Rural, will pass out the dimes and 
not shinpladers. Observation. 
Brtwerton, Orion. Co., N. Y., 1 SoH. 
Alas! how many loving hearts 
are lacerated and bleeding in consequence of mortal 
wounds received by dear ones while far away from 
home and kindred! May Heaven heal the wounds 
of the bereaved, and speedily restore peace to our 
unhappy Country. 
But while the year now closing has brought sad¬ 
ness to many — while an internecine war has raged 
over and desolated portions of the country, with 
disastrous results to the Union Cause in notable 
instances—the great mass of the people have been 
vouchsafed the blessings ot health and prosperity, 
and the harvest has been abundant. The husband¬ 
man has gathered bountiful crops—been “blessed 
in basket and in store." Agriculture, the basis of 
material prosperity in peace, is doubly important 
now, and should be fostered and encouraged by all 
who desire the welfare of the people and a success¬ 
ful issue of our national troubles. The rewards of 
Agriculture are two-fold during such a period as 
the present — tor Ihe intelligent cultivator not only 
receives good prices for his products, but has the 
consciousness of contributing materially to the pros¬ 
perity of the country and the cause of the Union. 
It is the duty of the Press, and especially of the 
Agricultural Press, to do all in its power to facili¬ 
tate and cheapen production in such a crisis—to 
herald every improvement in culture and manage¬ 
ment. and advise with caution and judgment. The 
course we have pursued Is known to our readers. 
From the opening of the rebellion we have endeav¬ 
ored io render the Rural more useful to its patrons 
and the country than ever before. We saw but one 
way to crush the hydra-beaded monster, secession, 
boldly proclaimed our position in the outset, and 
have since constantly aimed to strengthen the 
J Union cause, especially by efforts to induce in¬ 
creased productiveness throughout the Loyal States, 
f And we only regret that our efforts and influence 
have been comparatively limited—that we could not 
-■) have written more and better and reached a larger 
'! number of the loyal and industrious producers of the 
;) country. But “ what is writ is writ, would it were 
v.-' worthier,” aud it must pass the ordeal of criticism, 
-J which it is hoped will he lenient —for we are con- 
si scions ot many sins of omission and commission, 
si though none of them were intentional. 
Fvey victory you gain makes him 
more willing to ^knowledge you as master, while 
every time he cat succeed in going counter to your 
wishes confirms 1 m in the disagreeable practice of 
shirkiug. Of cm an. it is not always possible for 
one to do as ho vafaes in this respeot. Some ani¬ 
mals have aequird such balky ways through ill- 
treatment that it lay be best to let them take their 
own time. A littl*- discretion must be used in Rueh 
cases, and some llowanco made for the force of 
habit. 
Another rule wliCh is found to work well, when 
driving, either uu<ly or to the pole, is, at all times, 
to keep the reins dr wn moderately tight, just so that 
the pressure of tbeblt can be felt. Beside holding 
his head in the prper position, this plan has the 
further merit of keniug the horse under command 
if he gels suddenly f ightened, or if he is disposed to 
be fractious. Many person when listlessly driving 
a spirited beast wilht slack line, has been startled 
from his reverie by eeiog Billy bounding away at 
a more than "two-fo ty ” rate, and has felt a sort of 
helplessness when !e found the “ribbons” dan¬ 
gling half-way to hi* heels. Horses, like men, are 
subject to sudden, cpricious starts; therefore, it is 
best to be always p epared to check them at once, 
before they get the aivantage of motion. 
When it is wishel to urge an animal up to his 
greatest speed, or inleed whenever he is going at a 
fast trot, the reins slould be held so as to draw hard 
upun his month. Tiis will make him more man¬ 
ageable. aud will pidvent him from “breaking up.” 
There is a very ccmrnon, and We thiuk duugerous 
aud cruel error in vigue among many drivers—we 
mean that of drivin; last when going down hill. It 
is oftenest seen atuolg those who are drawing heavy 
loads, and pspecialD in winter. It is believed that 
as many lainuesses result from this practice as from 
any other one soune of injury to horseflesh; and 
we will say nothing now of the peril iu which the 
driver or rider is placed by it If people would 
look at the subject a moment, they would see their 
GROUT FLOORS FOR HOG-PENS 
“Observation” of Onondaga county, relates 
(Rural, Dec. 13. IF62,) his experience with a 
grout-floored hoc-t ea. Very probably ihe “some 
time” bo waited before putting the bags upon it was 
too short for the mortar to harden perfectly. Six 
years ago rny father floored a Cellar hog-pen (under 
a side-hill wagon-house,) with small cobble-stone, 
grouted in, and plastered over a half-inch coat of 
water lime. It was months before it became per¬ 
fectly dry, and the winter scaled off part of the last 
coat, but, the floor is stili in good condition; its solid 
as stone—though in nearly constant use. Sleepers 
and plank ate not. very lasting, though good, of 
course, while they answer their purpose. I think 
six months none too !uug time for grout-floors to dry. 
aud the stone should be finely broken and well 
packed before he mortar is put on. b. 
Royalton, N. Y., Dec. 15,1S62. 
