VOL XYIDL NO. U.\ ROCHESTER, N. Y.-FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, AUGUST U, 1887. jWHOLE NO. 918. 
ESTABLISHES IN I860. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
AK ORIGINAL WEEKLY 
AGRICULTURAL, LITERARY AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
With an Able Corps of Assistants and Contributors. 
Hok. HENRY S. RANDALL. LL. D., Editor of the. De¬ 
partment of Sheep Husbandry. 
Hok. T. C. PETERS, late President N. Y. State AgT 
Society, Southern Corresponding Editor. 
GLEZEN F. WILCOX, Associate Editor. 
Thk Bubal Nbw-Yokkkb Is designed to be unsur¬ 
passed In Value, Parity, and Variety of Contents. Its 
Conductor earnestly labors to render the Boeal a ReU. 
able Guide on all tbe Important Practical, Scientific and 
other Subjects connected with the business of those 
whose Interests It zealously advocates. As a Family 
JoubkalR Is eminently Instructive and Entertaining— 
being so conducted that It can be safely taken to the 
Homes of people of Intelligence, taste and discrimination. 
It embraces more Agricultural, Horticultural,Scientific, 
Educational, Literary and News Matter, Interspersed 
wltb appropriate engravings, than any other Jonrnal,— 
rendering It by far the most complete Aobicultuhal, 
Liteuaht asd Family Newspaper In America. 
HF" Fob Teems and other particulars see last page. 
MANURING THE WHEAT CROP. 
Manure holds the same relation to the farm 
that steam does to the engine; it is the force 
used to accomplish the desired result. Let the 
one fail in tho engine and tbc whuelo Stop, let 
the other be withdrawn from the soil and its 
nsefui products rapidly and constantly diminish. 
If the farmer cannot manure every crop, then he 
should consider from which he can best afford 
to withhold the fertilizers. If he designed grow¬ 
ing a crop of oats, followed by one of wheat, it 
would not be wise to apply the manure to the 
oat crop and give none to the wheat. It would 
not pay as well; the crop of manure would be 
sold in a cheap market. So, too, it might be in¬ 
judicious to manure a crop of potatoes and have 
none to apply to the succeeding grain. The 
season in which manure should be applied, 
the stage of the crop, and the depth at which it 
should be placed, are also topics which the far¬ 
mer should think much about. Many cousider 
that if manure is only burled in the soil it is 
enough, no mutter whether it be deep or shal¬ 
low, whether the subsoil be firm or leaehy, if the 
manure is in the earth the crops, they argue, will 
get the full benefit of it—some time or another. 
But this is not always true, and it is certainly 
more scientific and profitable farming to apply 
manure—not to increase the general fertility of 
the soil with a view to benefiting several crops 
in succession—but to directly augment the yield 
of a specified crop. This course will bring the 
most profit, for products which command the 
highest prices are thus largely increased. 
Doubtless most farmers will assent to the as¬ 
sertion that the wheat crop needs manure as 
much as any other one, and pays as well for its 
liberal application. But the profits of tills ope¬ 
ration may be greatly varied by the manner in 
which it is done. Plowing in manure' deeply 
will not give as good results as placing it on, or 
just under, the surface. It is less labor for the 
farmer to plow in the manure, for it is easier to 
haul it on a hard surface than over freshly 
plowed ground. And then it is out of the way 
of the harrow and the drill; put when bulled 
deep it does not nourish the young plant in its 
first growth, and impart to it strength and size 
to endure the approaching wimer. Nor does it 
m ulch the surface and protect the tender plants 
from heaving frosts and blighting winds. The 
rains in their descent wash the soluble elements 
downwards and away from the searching roots. 
Surface manuring reverses these processes, and 
is more rational and productive of more imme¬ 
diate and visible results. 
Well fermented farm-yard manure is good 
enough for any crop, and the best manure for 
all, but the trouble is we can’t get enough of it. 
Whether the wheat grower can afford to purchase 
and use fertilizers is a question which he must 
8 ettle by experiment and observation. Lime 
may often be used with great profit; plaster is 
beneficial in some seasons, and salt returns a lib¬ 
eral profit if sown on land rich in humus. Fer¬ 
tilizers for the wheat plant should be applied 
before the seed has germinated, as a general rule, 
at least before the spring growth begins. The 
preferable time i6 just before sowing. 
RYE AS A FARM CROP. 
This grain is little cultivated in regions well 
adapted to those more valuable and of more 
general use. It belongs more properly to cold, 
heavy highlands, where Indiau corn is in yearly 
danger from frosts at both ends of the season, 
and grass is the main crop. If grown exclu¬ 
sively for the grain it is an unpleasant and some¬ 
what expensive crop to handle, on account of 
the bulkiness of straw, and the grain itself does 
not bring a comparatively high price iu the mar¬ 
ket But the straw is far more valuable than 
that of any of the cereals, Tbe farmer has many 
uses for it. For thatching purposes it excels, 
and a roof of this material well put on, will last 
twenty-five or thirty years. Why should not 
farmers use straw roofs in preference to expen¬ 
sive ones, or humbugging patent rights? llyo 
straw is excellent for cutting aud mixing with 
more nutritious food, aud for many purposes 
around the farm it is convenient. It makes 
cheap and good protection for fruit trees. But 
the paper makers will pay the moat money for 
it, and farmers will find it profitable to grow rye 
straw to supply their demands wherever paper 
mills arc in operation within convenient dis¬ 
tances. The Utica Herald gives some informa¬ 
tion respecting the value of rye straw in the cen¬ 
tral part of this State, which wc copy: 
“ The making of white print paper from rye 
straw was commenced at Fort Edward, N. Y., in 
1857. At that time, rye straw could not be pro¬ 
cured in sufficient quantities to keep one mill 
running. It takes two tons of straw for a ton of 
paper. The farmers began to grow the crop in 
Washington aud Saratoga counties, and now ton 
large mills are in operation, usi ng I u the aggregate 
15,000 tons annually. The straw at these mills, 
for the past five years, has averaged less than 
#15 per ton, and $2:35,UOO are brought into these 
counties for straw alone. Then there is the 
value of the grain. It was a poor fanning dis¬ 
trict before the introduction of rye growing, and 
now the farmers arc making good incomes. 
The mills at Herkimer are now using six tons of 
rye straw per day. Matthew Surra of Frank¬ 
fort, grew last year on an acre of land and from 
two bushels of sowing, 47 bushels of rye, for 
which he got $1.20 per bushel, and two tons of 
straw which were sold at $24. This makes 
$80.40 as the yield from one acre, which may be 
considered a very profitable crop. Probably the 
farmers of Herkimer would find it to their ad¬ 
vantage to gTow rye iu connection with the 
dairy. The Herkimer mills are using 2,000 tons 
of straw annually, and are forced to get their 
supply from Schenectady. It comes in bales. 
Rye straw is worth from $24 to ?80 per ton iu 
New York city, and is of ready sale. At the 
mills East they pay $20 per ton for It. The 
business Is confined to the States of New York, 
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Dela¬ 
ware and Illinois. Nine-tenths of the printing 
paper made of straw is produced la New York.” 
ABUSING HORSES, 
It is doubtless true that occasionally a horse 
I may be found so naturally or inherently vicious 
as to try severely even the patience of a saint. 
But as a general thing the horse is the saint and 
his manager the sinner where tronblc occurs be¬ 
tween them. In too many instances the horse 
is abused aud rendered disinclined to work in 
consequence of a la®k of suitable food and proper 
grooming after the day’s labor is performed. 
This results often from carelessness rather than 
from a disposition to maltreat the animal, but in 
too many instances ill-treatment flows from a 
cruel disposition on the part of the manager. 
A morose, fractious person is not fit to have the 
charge of a horse. 
A few days since wc saw a practical illustra¬ 
tion of this. A man was passing aloug the street 
with a loaded wagon. One of the wheels struck 
a stone, causing a portion of the load to topple 
off aud fall to the ground. The horses were not 
to blame for this, yet the driver beat them most 
unmercifully because of the mishap. Such a ; 
man ought not to be intrusted with Jhe control 
and care of horses, nor indeed of any thing else, ; 
except, perhaps, a wheelbarrow with a ball and 
chain attachment. 
The horse is one of the most ambitious and 
useful of the domestic animals. He is possessed 
of great physical power, and equal to the per¬ 
formance of a vast amount of labor provided prop¬ 
er food and care are bestowed upon him. But 
if these are withheld, or, but scantily supplied, 
he soon becomes weak and dispirited and com¬ 
paratively worthless. To make the horse what ! 
ANGORA AND CLASHlMJErtE: GOATS. 
THE AN0ORA GOAT. 
This goat derives its name from a province of puted the most valuable of all the goat family. 
Anatolia, the ancient Coppadoela, in Asia Minor, rt is covered with ringlets of beautiful wavy 
and the principal place where the wool is bought, hair of silvery whiteness with a Ijubo of fine 
sold and manufactured. It is an improved va- downy wool. The most approved breeds have 
rlcty of the Capra hircus , or common goat, and large ears, the limbs slender aud cleanly formed, 
closely allied Lo Llie Cashrsev :t dkiUgobh- the homt not -,.i.uily twisted, umi, utiovo nil, 
able from it, by the size units ears. It is re- tbe fleece being long, straight, fleecy and white. 
Ift: - 
iium^ i * 
THE OASUMEHE GOAT. 
This is sometimes denominated the “Shawl greenish wool, of two or three ounces to each, 
goat,” and is spread over the region of Thibet, which alone constitutes the £ibric from which 
Northern India, and to the coast of the Caspian j the celebrated Cashmere shawls are made. The 
Sea. It is smaller than the Angora and is covered J hair or wool often sweeps to the ground, and Is 
with long, white straight huir, of a silky texture j from five to twelve inches long, especially in the 
and in winter with an under coat of delicate older bucks, but then not so flue. 
he should be, elastic in limb and docile in tera- 
ner, good grooming is indispensable. He should 
be thoroughly cleaned every day, or at the close 
of every exertion of labor or speed which may 
have called into action Lis muscular powers for 
any considerable time. Timely feeding and 
proper food are essential, but next to these in 
importance is proper and seasonable grooming. 
ABOUT REAPERS AND MOWERS.* 
It is not every common farmer’s boy that is 
calculated to run a machine successfully. There 
are many beginners coming on the stage of ac¬ 
tion ; and for such a few words may not be 
amiss as to how they should be used. It is 
presumed every one knows the value of shelter 
for all kinds of implements aud machinery when 
uot in use. One used to running a machine 
should be the one to make the purchase. Select 
the heat, regardless of cost, aud manufactured by 
those who can he relied on to use good materials. 
A machine having two rr.f.in driving wheels I 
• Tire practical hints in tic- article ' U‘ 
cation, although the uiac une.- are m< -.i, 
the present year. 
Its publl- I 
consider the best for all purposes, because in 
reaping they are as good as the best single 
driving wheel, aud in mowing far excel any 
rigid bar machine. lit mowing they save more 
grass on all rough laud; as,*whcn mowing length¬ 
wise of lands In the center, and in the furrows, 
and especially going crosswise of the furrows 
the knives cannot gouge in the dirt as some 
other machines. Of all two main driving wheel 
machines, I cousider Ball’s patent, manufac¬ 
tured by Dodge, Stevenson & Co., Auburn, N. 
Y., the best,—not because they advertise tbc. 
most, but because they do good work in any 
and every place. They stand the wear and tear 
and jams the best, are cosy to oil, readily taken ! 
apart, aud may be stored away for winter in ' 
small t '.unpass, 
Any machine cuts good while new, but to 
keep them doing so is tbe point. It is never 
good policy when there is heavy dew on grass 
or grain to commence cutting until It is nearly , 
dry. It runs harder for the team, and wears 
out the machine very fast. A mass of blades 
and undergrowth collects on the guards, under | 
the knives. To illustrate:—Take the shears j 
.i.d cut a piece of dry paper, and then wet the 
paper and try it When running a maohiuo on 
tho road it should be kept out of the dust or 
mud, as the grit accumulating in the Journal 
boxes soon wears them out. A machlue cutting 
on the right hand should never be turned to tho 
left in gear when in standing grass. Journal 
boxes should be kept well filled with Babbit 
metal. As soon as a journal wears loose a piece 
of copper may be inserted, or something may 
break. A shaft may have play endwise without 
damage. „,Do uot bo stingy of the oil. Each 
end of the pitman should be oiled every half 
hour; other parts according to tho motion und 
work required. If it costB much for repairs, 
you should drive yourself, as it may save a num¬ 
ber of hands considerable delay. When reaping, 
the guards should be fastened in a position so 
that the points may tend a little upward ; In 
mowing, the same position of the guards, only 
that they should be allowed free pluy up and 
down. The tongue when mowing should be 
adjusted to the right, when reaping to tho left. 
The reason Is, the weight of the table is carried 
very easily by tho outer wheel attached, and 
there Is the weight of the extra man to rake off. 
It takes less power to reap than to mow. Tho 
knives should always be so adjusted whether 
reaping or mowing that the point of the knives 
shall play from center to center of the guards. 
This, In Borne machines, may be done better 
by altering the pitman by inserting a piece of 
leather, or taking one out near the brass boxes. 
The knives should bo kept sharp by grinding 
from tbc heel toward the point; do not grind 
against the edge, us it will waste the water, aud 
does not make as good an edge lor cutting, To 
sure the grindstone have plenty of water in a 
trough under; the stone may be very much in¬ 
jured grinding one knife when a little too dry. 
Don’t go to the blacksmith every time you want 
in a new knife. Set the punch on tho rivet on 
the upper side of the knife rod, and with tho 
riveting hammer drive out the old rivet. Insert 
the new ones from the underside of the rod. Do 
the battering on the knife. Peter Wykoff. 
Romulus, N. Y. 
SEED GRAIN-WHEAT. 
Different opinions prevail among farmers 
upon the subject of Beed grain, as also upon 
most other subjects connected with agriculture. 
It is frequently contended that shrunken wheat, 
which is of little value for grinding, will do as 
well for seed as more perfect grain. This posi¬ 
tion is taken by some from what they suppose 
to be the proof of experiment. They have seeu 
good wheat raised from poor seed, and thenee 
I they Infer that any seed that wiU grow Is equally 
| good, whether perfect or imperfect. But let us 
look at the matter In the light of vegetable 
physiology. 
How does the seed grow ? What are the agen¬ 
cies concerned in its growth? Heat, moisture 
and air arc requisite for the germination of a 
seed. Sunlight is also necessary to a healthy 
growth. The seed contains within itself all tho 
elements requisite to form the orgaqs of the 
young plant. These organs must be formed be¬ 
fore any food can be taken up from the air or 
Boil. The elements which form these organs 
consist of nitrogenous substances, and also 
starch, fat, gum, earthy phosphates, Ac. The 
seed will put forth its roots aud leaves In pure 
water, and will grow till the plant lias absorbed 
all the nourishment contained hi the seed. Thus 
it will be seeu that the earth Is not necessary to 
the germination of the seed, but that it depends 
entirely upon its own elements to form the 
young plant. After Its formation the roots ab¬ 
sorb from the soli and the leaves from the air its 
nourishment. The health and vigor of the plant 
depend upon tho proper development of the first 
root, aud It is most evident that this first radia¬ 
tion will depend upon the perfection of the seed. 
A feeble, sickly plant cannot avail itself of the 
abundance of fortuity In the soil any more than 
an invalid eau appreciate the pleasures of a good 
j dinner. What cattle breeder chooses his poorly 
formed calves to rear? Or chooses poorly 
formed animals from which to breed an improved 
stock ? But this would be as good sense as sow¬ 
ing poor grain. Sometimes a scrawny youug 
animal, with great care, becomes well developed, 
and sometimes defective seed, in good soil und 
long and very favorable season, produces a fair 
crop; but these are exceptions and not the rule. 
As a large and well formed young animal devel¬ 
ops more rapidly and gets its growth earlier, so 
vigorous young plants grow more rapidly and 
mature earlier, aud thus escape rust, when later 
