ROCHESTER, N. Y.-FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, JULY 4,1863 
WHOLE NO. 703 
is the work of the farmer. To this end he must 
think, observe, compare and reason. If the 
lower clouds run swiftly one way, he must 
watch if the upper stratum does not run in an 
opposite direction. He must remember that the 
highest spots on his farm are not necessarily the 
dryest; that the hot July sun that makes the 
corn rustle and grow is not of so much advant¬ 
age to the buckwheat; that the warm showers, 
follow'ed by a sultry heat, are blessings only to 
such plants as are in a condition to be blessed, 
and a positive destruction to others. lie must 
learn that there are classes of plants that sustain 
dependent relations — that the shadows of the 
larger and hardier plants are a protection to the 
tender ones — that along side a plant that is 
vitalized by sunlight is auother that is destroyed 
by it in its full strength. 
These under-currents should he studied. The 
child of the farmer should be taught to dlstin- 
tinguish them arid learn something of their ebb 
and flow. The season of vegetable growth aud 
development, and of insect maturity, is at hand. 
The labor of the farm should be almost inci¬ 
dental to the pursuit of these studies of natural 
objects. The season oflabor will bo wonderfully 
shortened if we search for the truths daily de¬ 
veloping before our eyes — for these under¬ 
currents of farm life. 
neglected plans for the convenience and comfort 
of the family—the improvements in house or 
fixtures so many times promised wife or daugh¬ 
ters? We need not particularize. If you have 
a mowing or reaping machine, and various labor- 
saving implements, is not your wife entitled to a 
sewing machine and other improvements in her 
important but very laborious department,? The 
home of the farmer ought to be pleasant and 
happy, and, as a general rule, will be so in pro¬ 
portion as the head of the family is just and 
discriminating. The “rights" of the wife ami 
children should be recognized and established, 
and various privileges, pleasures and comforts 
secured — the extent of the latter depending 
somewhat, of course, upon the means of the 
husband and father. But there are many 
things costing but little attention, time or 
money, that would greatly enhance the plea¬ 
sure and convenience of home and family — 
matters useful as well as ornamental. The 
proper education of sons and daughters is im¬ 
portant, while suitable books and periodicals for 
home study aud pei usal should iu nowise be 
neglected. Nor should those ornamental acces¬ 
sories which increase the attractions of the house 
and its surroundings, and at the same time aid 
in cultivating a taste for ibe beautiful in nature 
and art, lie overlooked. Flowers and ornamental 
shrubs aud trees are uot expensive, and their 
culture or care afford pleasure. How many of 
our readers may, and should, resolve upon im¬ 
provement la regard to some or all of the items 
hereinabove enumerated or alluded to, and ad 
accordingly? 
But how is it iu regard to out-door atfairs — 
among the out-buildings, and in the Field, Or¬ 
chard and Garden? Let us see if there is not 
abundant need of improvement, to be preceded, 
on this ever-memorable day, by suitable resolu- 
How about modes of cul- 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
AN ORIGINAL WEEKLY 
RURAL, LITERARY AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
With u Corps of Able and Contributor*. 
CHA8. D. BRAGDON, Western Corresponding Editor. 
The Rural New-Yorker is designed to be unsurpassed 
in Value. Purity and Variety of Contents, and unique 
and beautiful in Appearance. Its Conductor devotes his 
personal attention to the supervision of its various 
departments, and earnestly labor- to render the ItcKAL an 
eminently Reliable Guide on all the important Practical. 
Scientific, and other Subjects intimately connected with the 
business of those whose interests it zealously advocates. 
As a Family Jocknal it is eminently Instructive and 
Entertaining — being so conducted that it enu be Rifely 
taken to the Homes of people of intelligence, tnsto and 
discrimination. It embrace? more Agricultural. Horticul¬ 
tural, Scientific, Educational, Literary and News Mutter, 
interspersed with appropriate Engravings, than any other 
journal,—rendering it the most complete Agricultural, 
Literary and Family Newspaper m America. 
t'jT* For Terras and other particulars, see last page, 
HINTS AND QUERIES TO FARMERS: 
OK, THE FOURTH RUliALISTTCAiLY DISCUSSED 
WESTERN EDITORIAL NOTES 
On this, the Eighty-Eighth Anniversary of 
American Independence, patriotic orations will 
be pronounced all over tbe loyal portions of the 
United States. Though civil war exists, and has 
already brought grief and lamentation to thou¬ 
sands of famines, yet the Day will be celebrated 
by the firing of cannon and various other demon¬ 
strations of rejoicing. Much will be said and 
done in commemoration of the Nation's Birth- 
Day, and myriads will patriotically resolve to 
stand by the Country and tbe good old Flag—to 
sutler, bleed, and, if need be, die for the preserva¬ 
tion of the dearly-bought Liberty and Union 
bequeathed by our forefathers. Many will 
resolve upon their future course of action, not 
only in regard to the war and the country—the 
preservation of their liberties, homes and fami¬ 
lies—but concerning individual and business 
affairs. Ilosts will declare their independence — 
that they will be,from this day forth, independent of 
this, that or the other sin of omission or commission 
against health, interest, family or community— 
resolving to act well tbeir parts, and to aid in 
rendering “ all the world and the rest of man¬ 
kind" bettor from their future existence and 
efforts. And this will be eminently meet and 
proper for men and women in all situations and 
avocations of life — as none are above or beyond 
the need of improvement 
While the great mass of city and village deni¬ 
zens throughout the land may be celebrating the 
"Glorious Fourth” with more or less ardor— 
some with genuine sentiments of patriotism, and 
others with the aid of unhealthy stimulants or 
excitement — thousands, in both Town and 
Country, will be seriously considering the 
“Signs of the Times," and devising ways and 
means whereby national and individual welfare 
may be promoted. They will mentally resolve, 
according to their associations, reflections and 
conclusions — some to adopt this, others that, 
and still others a different course of action, in 
regard to the war and country, their business, 
or certain habits. Every intelligent, thinking, 
progressive man will be the wiser at the close of 
the day, if not in some essentials decidedly 
better—no matter what his pursuit or pecuniary 
condition. Thinking will induce present resolu¬ 
tion and subsequent action. The Fourth of 
July and New Year’s Day are proverbially 
great occasions upon which to mentally insti¬ 
tute reformatory measures among the enterpris¬ 
ing and right-thinking portions of the “ Universal 
Yankee Nation.” 
The present is a great epoch in our Nation’s 
history, but we do not purpose to discuss 
national affairs in this connection, important as 
they are conceded to be by every lover of the 
country. Let us, rather, talk of matters imme¬ 
diately concerning the home and pecuniary 
interests of Ruralists—that class for the promo¬ 
tion of whose welfare this journal is mainly 
FIGURES. 
Figures elevate and humiliate. They are in 
our favor to-day; n-t us to-morrow. Not 
only their character, but their position or loca¬ 
tion affect our standing and obligations. They 
tell us a great many plain and some unpalatable 
truths. They do' not often lie; when they do 
they are not to bo held responsible for the false¬ 
hood. But, as much as we use them as a people, 
we need to use them more —at least, certain 
classes do. For it is true that the wealthy classes 
are the figure-using classes. The influential are 
those who can demonstrate facts with figures. 
The powerful are those who back their asser¬ 
tions and fortify their positions with them. I 
have been looking over the figures of the last 
census a little, and propose to transfer some of 
the facta there learned to the columns of the 
Rural. Some of them are new to me, and will 
doubtless be so to many readers. I propose to 
include in thia comparison of figures, the States 
of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, "Wiscon¬ 
sin, Iowa, and Minnesota.- 
REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY. 
According to the census of 18G0, the true, ag¬ 
gregate value of real estate and personal prop¬ 
erty in Illinois was §871,800,282 — an increase 
since the census of 1850, of $716,595,276 or 457.93 
per centum ! Indiana’s aggregate wealth is less. 
It ia valued at §528,835,371 — an increase of 
$326,185,107 since the census of 1950, or 100.95 
per centum. This showB wbero emigration goes 
as between these two States. Michigan’s figures 
are still smaller—$257,103,983 —an increase of 
$197,370,728 since tbo census of 1850, or 330.13 
per centum. But that is by uo mean3 a bad 
exhibit. 
Missouri takes rank next to Indiana among 
the States thus far is enumerated in the amount 
of her wealth. Her real estate and personal 
property is valued at $501,211,398 —an advance 
since the census of 1850, of $363,900,091, or 205.- 
18 per centum. She is not increasing in wealth 
as fast as Michigan, but much faster than Indi¬ 
ana; and is far behind Illinois. 
Wisconsin’s real estate and personal property, 
in 1800, was valued at $273,071,008—an increase 
of $231,615,073, or 560.72 per centum since the 
census of 1850. W Bile her aggregate wealth is 
less than Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, she 
leads the older State, Michigan, and walks to the 
head of all thus far enumerated, in the per 
centum of her increase in wealth during the last 
decade. The “ Badger" State is u good State to 
settle in. 
The next one on the slate is Iowa— the Hawk- 
eye State. In 1860 her aggregate wealth was 
valued at $247,338,265 — an increase of $223,- 
023,027, or 942.97 per centum during the decade ! 
This is mainly agricultural advancement in 
wealth, for her immigration is not so largely 
tions, or declarations, 
lure? Is yoms the best that can be adopted? — 
that which inaiutains the fertility of the soil, and 
still proves remunerative? Do farmers in long- 
cultivated sections go down low enough with 
plow and spade, and properly use the manures 
aud fertilizers within their roach and means, 
(even on their own farms,) or allow them to 
waste or remain unavailable through neglect or 
procrastination? And are not many —perhaps 
the great mass—in comparatively new and fertile 
regions pursuing a course calculated to exhaust 
the soils they cultivate? How, also, about un¬ 
derdraining and other items of farm enrichment 
and improvement? Aud what about orchards 
and fences? — evil weeds and foul seeds? Is not 
this a good time to make declarations touching 
reform in these matters? — resolving to plant 
more and better fruit trees, repair old or make 
new fences where necessary, to exterminate the 
thistles, docks, el id omne genus, and plant or sow 
only the best and purest seeds? And what is 
the condition of your domestic animals? Are 
your herds and flocks improving or retrograding? 
Do you breed from the best, and thus secure 
improvement and greater profit? Men and 
brethren, wo submit that these and mauy other 
things are worthy of serious consideration at any 
time, and especially at this juncture, when it is 
the duty of every one to do his utmost in aid of 
the People and Country, as well as to insure his 
own continued prosperity and the present and 
future welfare of those who look to him for pro¬ 
tection and support. Let us, therefore, one and 
all, severally and collectively, on this sacred 
National Birth-Day—while the country is cursed 
with a most wicked internecine war — resolve to 
accelerate the car of Improvement by promptly 
acting in accordance with the unmistakable dic¬ 
tates of Duty and "Wisdom. 
[For description, and remarks on Aquariums, see third page of this number.] 
When at St. Louis last January, attending the 
meeting of the Missouri State Horticultural 
Society, I visited the quarters of an Iowa regi¬ 
ment in which there was not a man enlisted 
under 45; and geveral were over 05 years of age; 
one I was told was 75 years old. This, however, 
in passing. Iowa has a great interest in the solu¬ 
tion of this war. Her people know well the 
value of the Mississippi river to them. It is 
vital to the interests of her agriculturists that it 
be opened; aud they are conscious of it, and 
determined it shall be done. A man, fifty-five 
years old, I should think, belonging to the regi¬ 
ment referred to above, said to the writer, u It is 
no use for us to grow grain at home without a 
market; and as long as this river is closed up we 
shall have none; we old men thought it best, 
therefore, to help the boys open It." Such are 
the men of Iowa. That is why she increases in 
wealth as she does. 
Minnesota reports the value of her real estate 
and personal property to b<3 $52,294,413. But as 
there was no returns in 1850, the per centum of 
increase is unknown. Minnesota is a growing 
State, however, and is well worthy the attention 
of the emigrant and capitalist. 
Perhaps I should not omit the young State, 
Kansas, whose history is a part of the political 
history of the country. She reports her wealth 
to be $31,327,805. in 1860; in 1850, she was 
scarcely known. 
CASH VALUE OF FARMS AND FARM MACHINERY. 
Illinois.— In 1860, tbe cash value of her farms 
is given as $432,531,072 — an increase over their 
cash value in 1850 of 8336,397,782. The value of 
her farm machinery in i960 is $1-,276,100— 
nearly three times as much as it was in 1850. 
Indiana .— The value of the farms of the 
Iloosier State in 1860 are put down at $344,902,- 
770 —an increase over their cash value in 1850 
of $208,517,603. The value of her farm ma¬ 
chinery in 1800 was $10,420,826 — not nearly 
doubled during the decade. 
Iowa .—The farms in Iowa in 1860 were worth 
$118,741,405; in 1950, $16,657,507; and her farm 
machinery is inventoried at $5,190,042— full five 
times more than it was worth in 1850. 
Michtyan .—The value of the farms in Michi¬ 
gan lias more than tripled during the ten years. 
In 1800 they were worth $103,279,087; in 1850, 
$51,872,446. Her farm machinery has a little 
more than doubled, being valued at $5,855,642 
iu 1860. 
Minnesota— Here is where this young State 
shows what she is doing. In 1860 her farms are 
reported worth $19,070,737 —over 117 times as 
much as they were in 1850; and her farm ma¬ 
chinery has increased proportionately, in 1860 
it was worth $15,981; in I860, $1,044,009 I 
Missouri .—The farms of this State in 1850 
were valued at $63,225,543; in I860, at $230,632,- 
126 — not quite quadrupled, but nearly. The 
value of her farm machinery in i860 is nearly 
three times as great as in 1850, being put at 
$8,711,508. 
Wisconsin.—Farms $28,528,503 iu 1850, the 
value of her farms had increased to $131,117,082 
in 1800. And the value of her farm machinery 
was (iu 1860) $5,758,847 —fully live times as 
great as in 1850. 
1 havo given these figures and instituted those 
comparisons in order to show the relative growth 
in wealth of the great States of the North-west; 
and to show also the progress of agriculture as 
Indicated by the figures given in the States 
named. But these figures do not show and can¬ 
not impress the reader with the physical changes 
that have taken place in the country embraced 
in the Stales named. The broad prairies have 
become dotted with groves and orchards, dwel¬ 
lings and barns, and divided by roadways, fences 
and hedges. Corresponding to the agricultural 
growth indicated, is the commercial growth, 
which has built up cities and villages, schools 
and churches, railroads and trade. But 1 am 
not through with figures yet. 
F AitAI STATISTICS. 
In 1859 the Illinois Legislature passed a law 
providing that the Auditor of the State should 
prepare the forms of the assessors books in such 
a manner, and give the necessary instructions by 
which the assessor should ascertain and report 
to him the number of acres in wheats, corn, and 
other field products, at the time of making the 
annual assessments. An. annual report of lire 
breadth of land planted with the different kinds 
of grain and vegetables, respectively, together 
with the number of cattle, horses, sheep and 
swine on hand, so arranged as to show the pro¬ 
duct of each township and county respectively, 
would not only possess great interest, but great 
value. Farmers in States where such a pro¬ 
vision has been made, should not only take pains 
to give accurate and detailed information when 
it is asked of them, but, should see assessors and 
personally urge their attention to this duly, 
and point out to them the advantages which 
may result to all classes by the publication of 
such reports. 1 call attention to this subject now 
because I believe it to be timely. 
UNDER - CURRENTS 
