TERMS, $3.00 PER YEAR.] 
“PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT.” 
[SINCLE NO. TEN CENTS 
VOL XVIII. NO. HU ROCHESTER. N. Y.-FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, MARCH. 9,18C7. IWHOLE NO. m. 
ESTABLISHED IN 1850. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
AN ORIGINAL WEEKLY 
agricultural, literary and family newspaper. 
CONDUCTED BID.D, T. UIOORE, 
With an Able Corps or Assistants and Contributors. 
HENRY S. RANDALL, LL. D., 
Editor or the Department of Sheep Husbandry. 
HON. T. O. PETERS, 
Late Prea’t N. Y. State At*. 8oc'y. Southern Cor. Editor. 
GLEZEN P. WII.COX, Associate Editor. 
Thk Bubal Nkw-Yorkbr is designed to he unsur¬ 
passed in Value, Purity, and Variety of Contents. Its 
Condnotor earnestly labors to render the Hurt a r. a Reli¬ 
able Guide on all the Important Practical, SYlontlllc and 
other Bnbjects connected with the bnslnras o, those 
whose interests It zealously advocates. As a Family 
Journal It is eminently Instructive and KutcrtalnJng— 
being so conducted that It can be safely taVen to the 
Ilomi's of people of intelligence, taste ftud discrimination. 
U embraces more Agrlcnltural, Hortlaaltunil, Scientific, 
Edncattonal, Literary and News Matter, Interspersed 
with appropriate engravings, than any other Journal,— 
rendering it by far the most complete Agricultural, 
Literary and Family Nrwbpapjsr in America. 
Local Club Aqbxts.—W e want a live, wide-awake 
agent for the Rural In every towo where there U none. 
Reader, If yon cannot act as such.pleaae induce your 
P. M. or some influential friend to do so. 
No Tiuviusn Ar.io.TS arc employed by ns, and we 
give no certificates of agency. Any person so disposed 
can act as Local Club Agent, on hla or her own author 
lty, and compete for premiums, etc. 
jy Fob Terms and other particulars see last page. 
AMOTWfMJL 
WAGES OF FARM LABOEEES. 
The question of wages for farm hands is one 
of interest to the employer at this time when it 
is customary to contract for most of the ensuing 
season’s work. The swelling tide of high prices 
in the first years of the war did not lift farm labor 
until nearly every other commodity was afloat; 
nor has it yet felt strongly the influence of the 
receding wave that is setting backward to its 
former level. This, perhaps, is strict justice, 
hut considering the heavy decline of prices to 
which soil products have already been, and in 
the futnre are likely to be subjected, the ques¬ 
tion whether he can and must continue to pay 
these high wages, is one of serious import to 
the farmer. Yet we see no present prospect of 
wages for farm laborers falling much below the 
standard of the past few years. The demand for 
labor is greater than the supply, and so it will 
continue as long as we have cheap land, which 
offers great inducements to laborers to become 
proprietors. In laying their plans, farmers 
should estimate on the basis of dear labor, and 
turn their attention to growing those products 
which yield large protits, or to those which de¬ 
mand little labor or to that which can mostly be 
done by machinery. 
From an article by J. R. Dodge, Esq., in the 
monthly report of the Agricultural Department 
for .January on the rates of wages of farm la¬ 
borers we make some extracts of statistical in¬ 
terest. These statistics were made up from 1,510 
formal statements, each composed of several 
others, usually representing a deflned territory 
or district, and arc from all the States and Terri¬ 
tories. Mr. Dodge observes “that in those 
States it which regular labor is most general 
among the inhabitants, and where it is prose¬ 
cuted in greatest variety, the laborers receive 
Hie highest rate of wages. The rate of wages in 
the several States differs just in proportion to 
the multiplication of separate industries, modi¬ 
fied in new States in process of settlement, by 
the increased demand for consumption occa¬ 
sioned by incoming settlers, or in Die mining 
States and Territories by the employment of the 
majority in mining.” 
The following are average rates of wages per 
month (without board,) of farm laborers em¬ 
ployed for the year in the different sections of 
the countryEastern States, *33.30; Middle 
States, *30.07; Western States, *28.91; Southern 
States, * 10 ; Oregon, *35.75; California, *45.71. 
The average lor white- labor at the present 
Hme is fairly stated at *28 per month, (without 
board,) and the difference in monthly pay on ac¬ 
count of board averages *6.26 for the Southern 
States, and *12.51 for the other States. The 
rates of labor average higher when the engage¬ 
ment of the laborer is only for the season. 
n 
I 
HPiAT irs iLvrrcisrr improved' ditchino machine. 
The above engraving represents a ditching 
machine invented, and recently patented, (in 
October last,) by Edward Heath of Fowlcr- 
ville, Livingston Co., N. Y. This machine was 
exhibited on the grounds of the Monroe County 
Ag’l Society, near this city, at its last Fair, 
aud was highly approved by experienced prac¬ 
tical fanners, nurserymen and others. From 
what wo then saw of it wc formed a very favor¬ 
able opinion in regard to its utility. Since then 
the machine has been materially improved and 
thoroughly tested, and we shall he surprised it 
it docs not prove to be what progressive farm¬ 
ers have long wanted. The machine is thus 
described by its inventor: 
RURAL FARMERS’ CLUB. 
Land* and Localities in the South. 
From some communications received on the 
lands and farming capabilities of various local¬ 
ities in the South, we extract and print the 
chief points ol interest to our readers. 
L. D. Sara, Fairfield, Va., writes: — “Aside 
from the Shenaudoa Valley, the lands of Fau¬ 
quier and Loudon counties are the most fertile 
and the best watered of any In this section. 
They are first-class grazing lands, prime corn 
and very good wheat lands. The average crop 
of wheat per acre Is from fifteen to twenty bush¬ 
els; of corn, thirty-five to forty bushels, and 
oats, from forty-live to fifty bushels. They can 
be purchased, according to improvements, for 
fifteeu dollars per acre up to twenty-five dollars, 
and the best of lands, with what are called here 
good improvements, can be bought for forty aud 
fifty dollars per acre. Before the war these 
iuudd were largely devoted to cattle grazing, but 
since its close, cattle being so scarce aud high, 
many of the planters have gone entirely into 
sheep grazing. 
“ The natural sod is Kentucky bine grass; a 
piece planted to com will, when the com is 
gathered, run into a strong blue grass 6od. Clo¬ 
ver and timothy are rarely, if ever, used, except 
on meadow lauds or wheat lands. Under our 
Nothern system of farming these lands, now so 
backward, but naturally kind, would grow luxu¬ 
riantly all kinds of products. There is a line 
opportunity lor those at the North, who have 
capibil, to invest in these cheaper lands aud 
graze them with cattle or sheep. Sheep can be 
grazed, with rare exceptions, the whole year 
without being fed grain or fodder. These graz¬ 
ing lands can be bought for fifteen and twenty 
doUare per acre, and there can be grazed to a 
certainty three sheep to the acre, and some well 
posted farmers say eight sheep to the acre. 
There is also an opportunity for those who have 
capital to sell sheep on credit to responsible 
parties or let them on shares. I have seven 
hundred ewes let out for three years on shares. 
The gentleman taking the sheep furuiehea ail 
necessary food aud shelter aud stands half of all 
expenses, and half of all losses by dogs, aud I 
give half of the wool and half the increase. 
This machine, when in operation, is placed 
upon a light movable track, for the purpose of 
keeping the bottom of the ditch smooth and 
level. The horses are attached to the sweeps, 
and move around the machine and over a small 
bridge in the rear, attached to the machine. 
The excavator and scraper derive their motion 
from the crank on the main shaft through the 
medium of a cross -head. The excavator or 
shovel, wbeu digging, begins to cut at the bot¬ 
tom of the ditch, and throws the earth to the 
surface, where it is removed to cither side of 
the ditch by the scraper. The feeding works 
also get their motion from the main shaft. The 
machine is moved forward by means of a chain 
Stock is being brought in rapidly, and it is cal¬ 
culated that in Fauquier and Loudon counties 
there are upwards of thirty thousand Merino 
sheep. 
“ No Northern man need fear for his safety if 
he wishes to settle here. It would be injurious 
to the best interests of the people to disturb any 
one, and as far as my observation extends they 
have no disposition to do so. And while there 
may be one here and there who is ultra, the 
majority of the people want peace, and a lasting 
peace.” 
Poll Evil. 
In answer to a correspondent, inquiring on the 
above subject, Mr. E. Mink, Vet. Surgeon, Ly¬ 
ons, N. Y., sends us the following:—“ Poll Evil is 
Fistula, which signifies a pipe or canal, of great¬ 
er or less depth, having a narrow opening, <&c. 
A fistula, or pipe, is lined in its entire course by 
a biembra.no similar to a mucous membrane. 
The disease is kept up by altered texture of the 
parts, which consequently arc not disposed to 
heal, necrosis, caries or ulceration of bone, 
concrete or hardened matter, purulent cavities, 
extraneous bodies or substances, cither of which 
irritate the parts and keep up the discharges. 
Treatment .— While there is no diseased bone 
or concrete matter within, and the internal cav¬ 
ity is not larger than the external opening, the 
disease may be curable by injecting medicines 
that are stimulating, astringent and caustic in 
their action. On the other hand, if the bone is 
diseased, or there is concrete matter within, all 
medicines are worse than useless, until the dis¬ 
eased bone or hardened matter is removed by an 
operation. The horse should be cast and chloro¬ 
form administered; a probe should be inserted 
into the canal or opening, aud with a strong 
probe pointed bistoury follow up and slit the en¬ 
tire length and depth of the pipe or pipes, 
empty out all hardened matter, examine the 
houe, and if diseased scrape off the entire dis¬ 
eased portion. Then be sure and make a pend¬ 
ent outlet by means of a seton, or a free opening 
with the knife, for all matter that may form 
thereafter while the parts are healing. The only 
treatment required after an operation is to daily 
clean the parts, and dress or wet the sore with a 
solution of chloride of zino, 1 scruplo to a pint 
of rain water. In from three to six weeks the 
anchored ahead of the machine by a stake; the 
chain, as the machino advances, winds over a 
toothed wheel into a box on the machine. 
It is claimed that in ordinary ground this ma¬ 
chine will cut a tile ditcli at the rate of from 
four to six rods per; hour. It- requires one man, 
With a boy to drive, and two horses to operate 
it. The depth of the ditch can he varied from 
eighteen inches to three feet. The machine, by 
once passing over the, ground, leaves the ditch 
complete and'ready for the tile. 
Persons who desire to obtain more particular 
information as to this valuable improvement, or 
Becnre territorial rights of the same, should ad¬ 
dress the patentee as above. 
cure will be complete if the operation has been 
thoroughly performed.” 
Description of a CJood Farm (fate. 
“ONCE a Year” sends us this from Wiscon¬ 
sin “ Take 2 by 4 scantling four feet long, nail 
on boards any length you wish, one on each side 
at the top tuuf bottom, and two in the middle on 
one side; then Like two-inch plank and saw out 
wheels twelve inches In diameter, (if smaller 
they will not turn easily,) bore a hole through 
the bottom boards at each end of the gate, put 
the wheels In between the bottom boards and 
insert pins though them and your gate is done. 
Set two posts for the gate to roll between, and 
one for it to strike against; it will roll very 
easily if a plauk is laid down for it to run on. 
A nice gate can ho made by mortising cross 
pieces into the ends and nailing pickets on them.” 
Smut iu Wheat. 
David Hill, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., sends 
us his method of preparing seed wheat to pre¬ 
vent, its smutting, and gives an instructive expe¬ 
rience. He says: —“ Soaking the seed wheat in 
chamber-lie that has been kept Beveral weeks 
and become quite offensive to smell, and after¬ 
wards coating with lime, will prove an unfailing 
remedy. My method of preparation is to clean 
a space on the barn floor and {dace, the wheat to 
bo sown in a pile thereon. Then pour the liquid 
on, being sure to wet every kernel. Then sift, 
quick-lime over the pile and thoroughly mix 
with the shovel. Use quick-lime enough to dry 
all the dampness and the seed is ready to sow. 
“In 18321 sowed a field of nine, acres. I pre¬ 
pared the seed in the above manner, and on 
sowing found that I had not quite seed enough, 
so I went to the granary and got a little unpre¬ 
pared wheat and sowed one “rigg” and a half 
with it. Not a particle of smut appeared in any 
other part of ths field, but this portion, (which 
by the way lay directly in the middle of the 
field,) was considerably affected with it. I have 
known others to have a similar experience.” 
Sprint* vs. Full Rolliu* of Wheat. 
Ocr correspondent from St. Lawrence Co., N. 
Y., also writes: — “ I would like the opinion of 
the Robal on the propriety of rolling winter 
wheat in the fall at the time of sowing or after 
it is up a little. 1 hold that this practice la en¬ 
tirely wrong, though 1 am aware that it is prac¬ 
ticed to a considerable extent by those who are 
called good farmers. My experience has taught 
me that the proper time for rolling ia in the 
spring. My reason for this is that the jdant 
needs new nourishment at this hcubou to Btart 
it into a vigorous growth, and rolling forces 
new particles of soil over and among the roots; 
and the soil which is pulverized and spread 
among the roots 1 b that which has lain most ex¬ 
posed to the frosts of winter, and thereby be¬ 
come richer and fuller of nourishment.” 
Remarks :—We have many times expressed 
our opinion that wheat should not be rolled in 
the fall, as a general thing, hut should be in the 
spring. In many Instances harrowing In the 
spring would also be highly beneficial. 
HOW TO GROW A LARGE CROP OF CORN. 
I have often been asked why I always suc¬ 
ceeded in raising a first-rate crop of corn. I 
will give my modus operandi , for the benefit of 
Rural readers. (Select your prospective corn 
field iu summer, and clear It of all stumps, 
brush and large atones. Immediately after corn 
cutting, say Sept. 20th to Sept. 30th, haul on 
and spread all your long manure. Oct. 15th to 
20th, put iu a plow and turn it as deep as a 
strong team can do it—never less than eight 
inches.... If there are places where water stands, 
drain them. The fall plowing will exterminate 
wire worms, grul)B and cut worms. Ab soon an 
the snow disappears, haul on and spread all your 
short manure. In April, gather together all the 
leached and nnlcached ashes, and the droppings 
of the poultry house, and, under cover, mix and 
thoroughly incorporate, ready for ubp. About 
the 86th of April or 1st of May, drag the ground 
all to. pieces, and then dray it over again. May 
7th.to 10th, drag again, and mark the towb four 
feet apart each way May 10th to 14tb, plant 
seven or nine grains in a hill. With two hoys 
or"girls to drop .the seed at the iuterseetion of 
the rows, one man can plant three to four acres 
per day. Cover one inch deep. 
Immediately after planting, before the corn 
sprouts, out with your compost of ashes and 
home-made guano, aud drop from two to lour 
spoonfuls on each hill. As soon aa yon can fol¬ 
low .the rowB nicely, go in and cultivate both 
ways. . All the scare croui you want in the field 
is—y ourself. _ Thin out to live plants in a hill. 
When the corn iB four to five inches high culti¬ 
vate, and weed and hoe faithfully with hand 
hoes.^_Then cultivate as often as once in ten 
daysmantiljtoo large lo.drive a horse among. 
Never hill your corn up. Its roots need all the 
heat of the sun to perfect its growth. As soon 
as it is in tassel, go through It with the com 
knife, and cut all weeds close to the ground, so 
as to let in the air and sunshine to mature the 
crop. Sept. 10th to 20th, cut up, and put about 
twenty hills iu a stoolc. Oct. 1st to 15th, husk 
and crib. 
I have in this way raised 1,750 bushels of 
sound ears on lll£ acres, and heavier crops per 
acre on smaller pieces. Try my method, and 
report progress in the Rural. 
A Western Pennsylvania Farmer. 
GAIN BY FALL PLOWING A CLAYEY SOIL. 
There is an advantage arising from plowing 
or ridging a clayey soil beyond the mechanical 
aid of winter freezing; the potash in the soil 
thus exposed to atmospheric action has power 
to decompose to a certain extent the nitrogen of 
the atmosphere, and to fix nitric acid in the soil. 
It is owing to this lonnation of nitric acid that 
old heaps of leached ashes are so rich in this 
element, whereas fresh leached ashes contain no 
nitrogenous matter. Although nitrogen com¬ 
poses so large a part of the atmosphere, the op¬ 
position of its chemical reactions is such that 
chemists have failed to combine It with hydro¬ 
gen so as to form ammonia. But it has long been 
known that potash In the surface soil will to a 
certain extent collect, nitric acid from the atmos¬ 
phere ; and Bousingaclt has learned from ex¬ 
periment that plants assimilate nitrogen as well 
from nitric acid as from ammonia. Here is a 
farmer from the prairies ol’ South Wisconsin who 
has plowed 350 acres In fall and early winter for 
spring wheat to be sown in April. He is of the 
opinion that spring wheat would succeed better 
here if the laud was fall-plowed and planted 
early in the spring. lxxvi. 
