I 
I 
[SINGLE NO. TEN CENTS 
** PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT 
ROCHESTER, N. Y-FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, JAN. 13,1807 
El CRUDE vs. CONCENTRATED MANURE, 
AMERICAN FARMING: 
RETROSPECTIVE AND PROSPECTIVE 
ESTABLISHED IN 1850, 
“Abator,” in the Albany Cultivator, eayB:— 
“An interesting experiment would consist in 
attempting to raise the largest possible crop by 
means of, first, guano; second, barnyard ma¬ 
nure; third, both combined—the amount of ma¬ 
nure being in each rase unlimited, and the 
culture in all cases the same,” I have tried 
these ex periments.often, on a well drained, cal¬ 
careous clay, loam, substituting well pulverized 
hen dung forfguano; but 1 could never see any 
difference, il' the yard manure was worked in ia 
the fall." It, is true that as old, dry hen dung, 
like; Peruvian'guano, holds its nitrogen In the 
state ol urea, it is much more soluble than ordi¬ 
nary stall manure; but my soil was rich, both in 
nitrogen and phosphoric acid, and only needed 
that mechanical porosity which makes a heavy 
soil absorptive and retentive of moisture, so a a 
not to crack open in hot, dry weather. 
There can be no doubt but concentrated ma¬ 
nures, like guano and superphosphate, are worth 
much more on a gravelly or sandy soil, than on 
a tenacious elay loam, us clay needs the mechan¬ 
ical action of course farm*.yard manure, and hav¬ 
ing a strong chemical affinity for nitrogen, it ifl 
not so soon exhausted of ammonia salts aa the 
more BilieiouB soils. 8. w.‘ 
MOORE'S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
AN ORIGINAL WEEKLY 
AGRICULTURAL, UTERARY AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER 
CONDUCTED BY D, D. T. MOOBB, 
With an Able Corps of Assistants and Contributors 
HON. T. O. PETERS, 
Late Pres’t IT. Y. State Ag. Soe’y. Southern Cor. Editor. 
CJLEZEN F. WILCOX, Associate Editor. 
low apply to our ease. The farmer who moved 
into the woods Pity years ago, without means 
and without markets, had to make his ends 
meet by a process utterly heterodox in 1867. 
He may have been a very nice roan indeed, and 
what is very greatly to his credit, our grand¬ 
father 1 — but he has no more business to guide 
ns in farming, than Feejee jurisprudence has to 
govern onr courts. 
It may safely be put down as the groat mis¬ 
fortune of American farming that it follows 
methods that have outlived their usefulness. 
When it lirst took shape, fertilizers were as 
superfluous os a bag of extra huir on the hack 
of a lady’s head. A very little scratching iu the 
early days insured a crop. Subsoils were of 
small account, odds and ends were not worth 
gathering up, the cheapest way was considered 
the best, and the. breed that could endure the 
most, was the most popular. This gave rise to 
the Amcrican, or slip-shop method of fanning. It 
does not require a very acute physiognomist to 
trace a strong family likeness between wluit I 
what I have described and the present method 
of farming. 
We need to be cautioned againat the dominion 
—the almost absolute dominion—of habit. In 
fanning more than in other departments of busi¬ 
ness, we persevere iu practices that would be 
regarded as utterly absurd if they were not more, 
than a year old The new programme for 1867 
must secure—First: A careful revision of our 
Tipt Rural New-Yorker la designed to bo unsnr- 
paasod In Value, Parity, and Variety of Contents. It* 
Conductor earnestly laborB to render tbe Rural a Reli¬ 
able Godde on all the Important Practical, Scientific, and 
other Subjects connected with tliu business of those 
whose Interest* It zealously advocates. As a Family 
Journal It la eminently Instructive and Entertaining— 
t)cln£ so conducted that It can be.safely taken to the 
Home* of people of in tellifjcncc, taste anil discrimination. 
It embrace* more Agricultural, Horticultural, Sclcntlrtc., 
Educational, l.Uo.rary and Nows Matter, interspersed 
wllh appropriate engravings, than any other Journal,— 
rendering it hy fur thu most complete agricultural, 
Li r Hilary axu Family Nrwsi-ai-kr In America. 
XtT For Term* and other particulars see. last page, 
FAIL PLOWING.-MOVING STONE IN 
WINTER. 
ORIGINAL PLAN OF ICE-HOUSE — ELEVATION, 
the space filled with the non-conducting mute- 
rial similar to the walls. It should also bo 
well shingled, or what would bo far superior, 
thatched with straw alter the fushion of “yo 
olden time.” The lost condition required, viz., 
to render the interior cosily accessible for filling 
and packing the loo, la obtained In a uovcl yet 
simplo manner by hanging one side of the honso 
upon large hinges at the bottom, so that It may 
be lowered down to a level with the ground, 
thus’openiug the entire side of the building «b 
shown in Fig. 2, and in Fig. 1 partially open, 
showing also the lee stored therein. 
thirty; a complete assortment of plows; culti¬ 
vators, and tools of all kinds needed on a farm, 
would absorb all the profits of a small place; 
you can market a ton of produce about as cheap 
as yon can five hundred pounds. 
This suggests the mpriety of being less rmV 
odlancous in our farming, giving more attention 
to fewer tilings; it also NUggests the possibility 
of conducting fiirming through joint-stock com¬ 
panies, or some form of combination. Very 
much may be accomplished by a judicious ar¬ 
rangement of farm buildings so as to facilitate 
the. unloading of hay, grain, and vegetables, and 
the convenient distribution of them to the stock. 
Second—The New Programme should provide 
for bringing every part of the farm to the high¬ 
est Btate of productiveness by means of drainage, 
the removal of stones, logs, brash and briars. 
Third—It must provide for saving and apply¬ 
ing mantire with the most scrupulous economy. 
Fourth—More thorough and cleaner tillage. 
Fifth —Increased attention to household conven¬ 
iences, so as to do away with the outrageous asper¬ 
sion that American farmers are more thoughtful 
for their cattle than for their wives arid children! 
Under this head the home may be made pleasant 
and attractive, and farm-life raised from drudgery 
and too much dust to pastime and pleasure. 
Too much cannot be said in favor of full plow¬ 
ing. It can be done iu fine, cool weather when 
the ground is moist and the plow does not re¬ 
quire otic-half the points that it would in the 
spring or summer. I have made it my practice 
to use the points that have been laid away alter 
summer plowing, ns worn out, and they answer 
the purpose just as well as new ones. The days 
being short and generally cool, and the horsea 
having hud a long rest after seeding, they have 
got fleshy again, and may do the fall plowing, if 
they have plenty of hay, without any grain. In 
the spring there are many things crowding, such 
as drawing manure, repairing fences, preparing 
summer’s wood, trimming fruit trees, planting 
garden, and w hundred other things, all to be 
done in a short space of time. The teams, also, 
have been idle all winter, and their muscles have 
become soft flabby and weak, and much care will 
be necessary In putting them to work or they 
may be injured for the whole summer. The 
weather is sultry and warm, and both team and 
driver arc taint, and oppressed by the sudden ap¬ 
proach of hot weather. 
But these are not the only reasons why I am 
in favor of fall plowing. If it bus been done in 
the fail clay spots have been pulverized by the 
lrosta of winter, and by harrowing and gauging 
the soil is made line and friable to receive the 
seed’early, instead of having to wait to do the 
plowing when, the seed should be in the ground. 
The seed bed is much finer than It can be made, 
I cure not how much you use roller and harrow 
on the spring plowing. I have found it an ex¬ 
cellent time to remove ail stones in the rea^h of 
the plow. In plowing a field last fall, which ap- 
jioared on the surface to be entirely free irom 
stones, I found them in great abundai&e from 
about the size of a lbur-quart measure to that of 
a good sized waah-tub. I carried a light crow¬ 
bar on my plow, and whenever it struck a stoao 
l would stop the team and remove it, which I 
could often do without taking the lines from my 
The ground being soft it did not rc- 
ARE AGRICULTURISTS BENEFITED BY 
ASSOCIATION 1 
Yes, most eertaiuly, if the objects of such 
association arc legitimate and practical. And 
we are glad to see farmers as a class taking hold 
of this work, and combining In earnest, thought¬ 
ful, straight-forward efforts to advance and pro¬ 
tect the interests of the most, important branches 
of Agriculture. We arc glad to see the indica¬ 
tions presented by forming and stoutly uphold¬ 
ing Societies, Conventions and Associations; 
they mean that agriculturists are abandoning 
the “ dog-in-the-manger ” policy, and have 
learned that by well directed, persistent, asso¬ 
ciated effort alone, can they hope to wield the 
influence and command the attention and re¬ 
spect of the legislative bodies ot the land, which 
arc due to their interests in consideration of their 
extent and importance. At present the great 
interest of wool growing Is threatened with a 
most serious blow, by the possible failure of 
Congress to impose a sufficient duty on low- 
priced foreign wools. To counteract this, the 
wool growers, through their organizations, are 
bringing an influence to bear stronger than they 
possibly could have done at any previous time. 
And if the Association was as strong and perfect 
as it might be, and as the value and extent of 
the wool growing interest would warrant it in ness operations, baa got to stand tne test or uie 
being, they might support their juBt demands closest and most uncompromising competition, 
with on influence which gentlemen In Congress wtieu tht3 North, the South, the East, the 
would not dare to disregard. Wool growers * Wcflt) the gr( . at Mississippi Valley, shall be re- 
it is possible you may fail this winter, but if ( j acc( j cultivation by the teeming population 
yon will strengthen your Association, aa you w jjj BO on pervade all our borders — when 
are capable of strengthening it, the ultimate cvcr y rood of ground rijxins an abundant har- 
compliance ol Congress with your demands is V( . s ^—when capital, which is rapidly increasing, 
certain. flnda employment in agriculture, and labor-sav- 
The dairy interest shows u marked example of j n g machinery lends its utmost aid—then farm 
what may be accomplished by farmers through products will be produced in great abundance, 
practical, well-directed, associated effort. Prob- and sold lower than the slip-shod farmer can 
ably no single Agricultural interest iu the United afford to sell them—he will have to wind up his 
States ever advanced so rapidly and reached such business, or mend his ways. Let us illustrate: 
importance in an equal length of time, as has A farmer who carries unground uud uncooked 
this since the idea of associated effort in maim- com, several rods, in a basket, ou his back, and 
faeturing batter and cheese was first put in prac- poors it down in the mud to poorly lodged 
tiee. The uniformity of the product, and the iu- swine, will find his pork costing twice as much 
creased amount resulting from the factory sys- as the tanner svho keeps twenty hogs in a warm, 
tern, huve created, and enabled the producers to dean pen, with good accommodations for stor- 
supply, a large foreign demand. There is no ' ing, Btcaming, and feeding meal and vegetables, 
agricultural interest in the country that is more I Adopting rotation to a necessary extent, farmers 
prosperous, or has better prospects before it, at must still confine themselves to a few things, 
present, than the dairy interest; and tliiB pros- They must select some branch of business for 
perity results frpin associated effort, skillfully which they, and their soil, climate, and location 
directed. are specially adapted, uud pursue it to such an 
The aim among formers in associating together extent X will justify the introduction of im- 
6 hould be to make progress—not for offensive or plements, machinery, <ftc., to economize pro¬ 
defensive purposes solely, although these are duetion. Large manufacturing establishments 
lawful to a certain extent. By association can undersell small ones, and the Bame principle 
strength is gained and progress is more rapid, will extend to farming. Room in a large build- 
and there is no neighborhood where association ing costa less tiian in a small one; one hundred 
for purposes of common interest should not cows or sheep can be fed at Ii-sb Gian double the 
exist among tbe farmers. Let Farmers’ Clubs, cost of feeding fifty; the farmer who keeps a 
Societies, Associations, Conventions, and like team to plow and cultivate twenty acres, pays 
mutaally beneficial organizations, increase and more lor team work, per acre, than the man 
prosper,—and that they may we should all unite who has business for his horses all the season; 
in efforts for their proper formation and efficient a mowing machine runs you in debt with ten 
action and maintenance. acres ol meadow, and pays you largely with 
PLAN OF AN ICE-HOUSE 
Figure 2 . 
The floor is composed of a series ot two or 
three inch planks set up edgewise, between each 
of which is placed two of the angular pieces of 
the same thickness to Berve a* conductors of the 
melted ice to the trough and pipe in the center. 
This pipe terminates In what is called a “trap,” 
shown in Fig. 3, which is simply 3 double bend 
iu the pipe, which will always remain tilled with 
water and thus effectually prevent the admis¬ 
sion of air. [The pipe, Fig. 2, is given inside of 
Fig. 3 to save the space that would be required 
for a separate engraving. | 
To fill the ica - house, first cover the tops of 
the planks forming the floor with straw to the 
depth of eight or ten inches, and proceed to 
build up a solid cube oi ice, leaving a space of at 
least twelve inches between itand tbe side walls. 
Close up the hinged side and fasten it setiirely 
in any suitable manner. Then enter through 
the door at the end, and fill the twelve Indies 
space left around between the ice and walls 
witli sawdust or straw, and cover the top to the 
depth of two feet. The ventilating cupato should 
be in free communication with the interior of 
the building and provided with a small Venetian 
blind on each side. 
it is preferable to build the ice - house upon 
the north side ot other buildings, or under a 
group of trees, to protect it as much as possible 
from the sun in summer. It should be painted 
of some light, modest tint, and may be orna¬ 
mented to any desired extent, and thus be made 
the means not only ol furnishing one of the great¬ 
est luxuries of summer, but also a pleasing and 
attractive feature of the farm. 
Syracuse, N. Y., Jun„ 1867. .W*. R. Bbookb. 
In the construction of an ice-house three 
things are necessary and indispensable. First, 
so constructing the walls as to render them 
non-conductors of licat. Second, to provide 
for thorough drainage from and beneath the 
whole body ol ice, nml at. the same time abso¬ 
lutely to exclude all currents of air. Third, to 
provide for tbe introduction ot currents of air 
around, about and above the packing which 
encloses the body bf ice. Another -important 
feature in its construction should be to render 
the interior- easily accessible for storing the 
chrystal boulders. To meet this lust require¬ 
ment, and to combine all others, in the most 
satisfactory manner, is the object of the accom¬ 
panying plans. 
The ice-house may be built of any desired size 
from eight to twenty feet square. A. floor of 
masonry is first laid, upou which is erected the 
walls of the building, commencing with a water 
tabic of fifteen indies in height. The entire 
thickness ot the walls is fifteen inches. The 
outside, consisting ol one-inch pine boards, in a 
vertical position, well matched and battened; 
then a space- of three inches to a partition one 
inch thick, then a space of nine inches to the 
inside lining similar to the first. The nine-inch 
space is to receive the non-conducting material, 
which may he either sawdust, spent tan-bark or 
straw. The three-inch space is an air space. 
shoulders, 
quire one-quarter of the time to remove them 
that it does when the ground is March 1 was sur¬ 
prised to find how large a stone I was able to 
remove on account of the sof tuess of the subsoil. 
I consider it by far the boat time there is in the 
whole season to remove such stones, and when 
they are once out of the way, there ia no more 
danger of the plow bouncing out, and no neces¬ 
sity of backing up and drugging the heavy plow 
back to get It to its place again, which requires 
almost as much time aa it would to remove the 
stone, uud is far more labor. 
• Then when the ground is frozen it is the best 
time to remove the stone from the land. Two 
horses can draw ail the stones that can be put 
upon an ordinary stone-boat. The best weather 
for drawing ia when the thermometer stands a , 
little below freezing; then it will not be muddy } 
nor too cold to handle them. I 
I recollect some twenty-five years ago, or 
thereabout, my father bought the firet reaping L 
machine that was ever used successfully in Mory 
roe county, and using it we found that the l*ige 
stones on the surface of the ground were the Iff 
