$8.00 PER YEAR. 
Single Copy, Six Cents. 
FOR THK WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, OCTORER 3, 1868 
ease attacks us personally, or the stock which i 
care for, and which we have remembrance of re* 
ing a prescription for its cure, we have forgotten 
just what, and therefore have to send for the Doc¬ 
tor. To obviate this, I have been in practice of 
cutting out each recipe proscription for disease, 
cookery, etc., that I find in the papers, and at once 
paste them in a scrap book, arranging them under 
their proper hearts,—as for instance all about bread 
making uuder the head of Bread, all about cuts and 
bruises under such head, and so on, separating dis¬ 
eases under their appropriate names. The result is 
that now when any direction for cookery or remedy 
for disease, etc., is wanted I have it at immediate 
command.” 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW YORKER 
AN ORIGIN All WEEELT 
Agricultural, Literary and Family Newspaper. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
(PUBLISHER AND PROPRIETOR,) 
With a Corps of Able Associates and Contributors. 
G. F . WILCOX AND A. A. HOPKINS, Associate Editors, 
HON. HENRY S. RANH ALL, LL. D., 
Editor of the Department of Sheep Husbandry. 
Db. DANIEL LEE, Southern Corresponding Editor. 
HIRAM BT7MPHRET AND REUBEN D. JONES, 
Assistant and Commercial Editors. 
Special Contributors. 
P. BARRY, F. R. ELLIOTT, E. W. STEWART, 
H. T. BROOKS, JOHN B. SWEET, JAMES VICK, 
MBS. MARY J. HOLMES, MBS. L. E. LYMAN. 
ASHES. 
Coal ashes are becoming so abnndant in cities 
that it is important to know whether they possess 
any manorial valne. The early statements were 
very unfavorable to their use; but more careful ex¬ 
periment has proved them to be of considerable 
value as an application to many crops. The fol¬ 
lowing analysis of coal asheB, by Prof, Norton does 
noj; show a very large amount of soluble substances, 
and, if a fair representation of their average quality, 
would not lead us to place a very high estimate 
upon them: 
While Ash. Bed Ash. 
Matter insoluble in acids. BS CS 85.65 
Soluble silica (sand). 
Alumina. 3.JC i-M 
Magnesia::;..:... ..19 201 
Potash.10 -21 
Phosphoric acid. 
Snlphnric acid.....™ 
Chlorine. •<» ^ 
100.00 100.00 
Here appears to be only about eleven per cent, of 
soluble matter, and we are not informed of what 
the insoluble portion consists, but, no doubt, much 
of it may gradually become soluble and food for 
plants DJ the action of water, air and frost. Nearly 
all geologists agree that coal la a vegetable produc¬ 
tion, and therefore, as its elements become soluble, 
must enter into and reproduce vegetables. 
An analysis by M. Classroth makes coal ashes 
to consist largely of sulphate of lime (gypsum) and 
lime with considerable soluble silica; and the effect 
of their application appears to agree with this 
analysis. They have been found in England an ex¬ 
cellent top dressing for clover and other grasses, 
and are often sold for seven shillings per ton. Mr. 
I. G. Bergen stated in the Farmers' Club that his 
father used coal ashes in spring upon wheat and 
oats and found the yield much increased, but he 
had used them and could see no benefit. Mr. L. 
W. O. Beam of Croxton, Ohio, found his experi¬ 
ence very favorable to the use of these ashes. He 
6ays: — “la the spring of ’62 I plowed up an old 
meadow, somewhat of a clay soil, afterwards spread 
on a part of it coal ashes, planted it with corn, and 
found where I used coal ashes I had at least double 
the amount of corn ; in '63 had the Barne result in 
wheat; in '011 cut a crop of clover from it in June 
and still it doubled, but in the fall of 'I.V4 which (in 
the beginning) was very wet the difference was 
most marked. On this second crop I had five-fold, 
Terms, In Advance — Three Dollars a Year:— Five 
copies for $14; Seven, and one free to CIuOAsent, for $19; 
Ten, and one free, for $25 - only $2.50 per copy. As we pre¬ 
pay American postage, $2.70 Is the lowest Club rate to Canada 
and $3.50 to Europe. The beat way to remit la by Draft or 
Poat-Offlce Money Order.-and all Drafta and Orders made 
payable to the Publisher mat be mailed at ma risk. 
SHORT-KORN 
BRED BY THOMAS BATES, HATTON CASTLE, NOR 
Slaughtered at six years of age; girth, 9 feet %% inches; weight of two fore-quarters, 737 p 
October is a season of harvest scarcely less boun¬ 
tiful to the provident farmer than the one of mid¬ 
summer. The com crop, with its store of grain and 
fodder, is to he secured, potatoes dug, and fruit 
gathered. The farmer should employ plenty of 
help, so as to secure all crops in season and in 
good order. 
Animals . — All fatting stock should have some 
extra food this month, even if the pasture be flush. 
Grain fed on grass, in the cool autumn weather, will 
produce very satisfactory results. Remember it is 
easier to put fat on stock now than In mid-winter. 
Hogs should be pushed ahead, as fast as possible. 
Cooked food is economical, and no extensive feeder 
can afford to do without it. It will pay to stable 
cow6 nights, and give them food in the manger. 
Cabbages, roots, and com fodder are excellent, and 
a little meal or oil cake is indispensable. Work 
horses should be in the stable when not in the har¬ 
ness, and all stock ought to have the shelter of a 
straw stack, or a shed, accessible on frosty nights 
and rainy days. 
Corn .—'The bent, twisted or fallen shocks ought 
to he first husked to save the fodder and grain. It 
pays to secure the stalks in good order; if they are 
set up in compact, round bunches, and bound tight¬ 
ly at the top, they will stand a great deal of rain un¬ 
injured. But it is a good plan to draw the stalks 
when dry, especially if they are to he housed. It i6 
a good plan to fill a shed or barn floor with com, to 
be husked in rainy weather. 
Grass Seed. — Many farmers sow timothy seed 
when they do wheat,—but it is apt to grow so large 
next summer as to injure the grain. This may be 
prevented by sowing the grass eeed in October, and 
it will alBO be surer to catch than if sown in the 
spring. 
Manure .—By keeping the hog pens and stables 
well littered with straw, leaves, or dry muck, a 
great deal of manure can he made and the comfort 
of the animals promoted. 
Painting .—It is a good season of the year to paint 
buildings, as the paint will harden slowly and not 
dry so quick as to powder. 
Poultry .—The farmer should fatten his poultry for 
market, by placing a dozen fowls in a coop and 
Do not sell lean poultry; the 
Pipe,’ who asserts that ‘galvanic action between 
the two metals by access of water will cause their 
disintegration and occasion lead poisoning,’ and 
that ‘simple lead pipe is less dangerous for the 
above reasons.’ As this statement is totally un¬ 
warranted, in fact, calculated to mislead the pub¬ 
lic, and t,o do us great injury, we request the use of 
your columns in reply. 1 
A glaticp at the scale of metals arranged in their 
electrical order will show that lead imd tin approach 
very nearly to each other in their electrical condi¬ 
tions. Careful experiments with the galvauometer 
have proved that the currents excited when lead 
and tin are placed in juxtaposition with access of 
water are so feeble as to be practically unworthy of 
consideration. Further, a carefnl analysis of the 
water so exposed will show that the simple pres¬ 
et tin haa prevented corrosion of the lead, and 
plows, <Ssc., you would be surprised. We use no 
machinery, no improved implements of culture; as 
in the days of slavery, we do our work by main 
strength, as our unlettered daddies taught us; and 
our prejudices against the Yankees and book-farm¬ 
ing are strong and promise to be everlasting. 8ome 
of ns have thought of i.rying to effect some im¬ 
provements in the in trail action of improved agri¬ 
cultural implements, aten'e ,":c R.t Ih,- Alabama 
River is monopolized bj^Die 1 510bile trade Com¬ 
pany,’ who own all the steamboats now plying the 
River, and freights are so high that we canuot pur¬ 
chase the implements, — they would more tbau 
double, in some instances, the original cost. With¬ 
out cheap and certain transportation no commu¬ 
nity, however rich in soil and natural resources, can 
prosper. Mobile is our emporium, and there we 
have any amount of business men, Buch as commis¬ 
sion merchants, tfcc., to divide with ns the little our 
produce may bring; but there is no house in Mo¬ 
bile where a farmer can obtain, at a reasonable 
price, any of the innumerable improvements of the 
day in agricultural implements.” 
It is hardly a safe operation for you to attempt 
cranberry culture. Are they indigenous to your 
soil? Will they succeed in your climate? Have 
you a good market and plenty of labor? The 
ponds would require draining, leveling, and per¬ 
haps clay carted on then. It would not do to let 
stagnant water remain on the plants at all. Better 
get the Improved farm tools and cultivate standard 
crops. Raise grass and Btock, mules, cattle, horses, 
and sheep and wool. _ 
Top Dressing Wheat with Straw. 
In a late number of the Rural “A Constant 
Reader" asked if straw can be spread on newly 
winter sown wheat with good results. We called 
for practical information, and have received several 
responses, thw majority of which tell against the 
practice. However, we should like to'hoar more 
from farmers on this subject. We give some of the 
letters. L. E. W altman, this State, writes“ The 
fall of ISM I plowed an eight acre lot for wheat, 
thinking I had barn-yard manure sufficient to top 
dress the whole field. But it fell short about one- 
third, and as I could not obtain any of my neigh¬ 
bors, I drilled in the wheat aud immediately drew 
out what dry straw I had on hand and spread it thiu 
aud nice over half of the remaining third. The 
wheat came up alike,—think the color of the straw- 
ed portion a little pale, but it all looked well when 
winter set in. Spring came, and in looking over the 
field I saw at once that the top dressed promised a 
good crop; where it had no dressing at all a fair 
yield, and where it was strawed the wheat stood 
thin and looked sickly. At harvest time the straw- 
ed portion was hardly worth the trouble of reaping, 
whilst the balance of the field gave a fine crop, that 
portion manured yielding the greatest number of 
bn&bels per acre. Soil, gravelly loam, in good con¬ 
dition for cropping; wheat sowed the first week in 
ence 
effectually prevented lead poisoning of the water. 
It is well known that the salts of tin are harmless, 
while those of lead are exceedingly dangerous; and 
with regard to the alloy formed by the union of the 
two metals it is an undoubted fact that the addi¬ 
tion of a small quantity of tin to lead considerably 
diminishes the corrosion aud solution of the lead 
by pure soft waters. Are not lead and tin in juxta¬ 
position with access of water in every soldered 
joint of simple lead pipe?—and in every soldered 
seam of leaden tanks Y Does any galvanic action 
reveal itself there ? Is it not well known to plumb- 
ere, and other experts in water pipes, that the 
vicinity of joints In lead pipes and cisterns are the 
last parts to corrode instead of the first, as would 
be the case were your correspondent correct in his 
theory? Again, every house plumbed in the ordi¬ 
nary maimer has not only 1 lead and tin in juxtapo¬ 
sition with accesB of water,’ but also lead and iron, 
lead and brass, and other metals much more likely 
to induce galvanic action at every faucet, and at the 
connections with mains, water backs, boilers, Ac. 
“ In conclusion we claim that our Lead Encased 
Block Tin Pipe completely and effectually isolates 
the lead from the water, and prevents the possi¬ 
bility of lead poisoning. The union of the two 
metals is perfect; they can only he separated by 
fusion; the alloy formed in the process of manu¬ 
facture upon their surfaces imparts strength and 
additional security against any galvanic action 
taking place; in fine, it forms a homogenous pipe, 
unequalled in strength and for general efficiency.” 
On this second crop I had five-fold, 
as it was lodged on that part, while on the other, 
not five feet distant, there was scarcely anything, it 
being dry after the first crop was cut.”—Am. Insti¬ 
tute, 65. 
The testimony is somewhat contradictory, but 
the great majority of careful experiments are de¬ 
cidedly favorable to the use of coal ashes. They 
certainly are an excellent application to a clay soil, 
mechanically destroying Us cohesion. They are so 
easily obtained by farmers living near cities that 
they should be scrupulously saved aud applied at 
the rate of two or three loads per acre as a top 
dressing for grass and grain. 
WOOD ASHES. 
The virtues of wood asheB have been often ex¬ 
tolled, but the farmer is still too careless of selling or 
wasting them. They are sometimes compared with 
limp, or plaster (gypsum) as if their virtues were 
parallel, but this comparison is made in ignorance 
of the composition of ashes. The ashes of our 
forest trees contain all the inorganic elements that 
make up vegetable and animal bodies, including of 
conrse the elements of lime and gypsum. 
finishing them off. 
least profits are the greatest. 
Jbfttteet—WhtiA this crop is grown for market, it 
is the main work of the month to harvest it. As yet 
farmers derive bnt little aid from horse power ap¬ 
plied to potato digging. The potato hook, with 
round, steel tines, is the best hand implement. In 
many cases it pays to run a cultivator along the 
rows, to level the earth and draw some from the 
hills. The crop is first stored in piles on the surface 
of the ground and covered with straw and a light 
coat of dirt, or under the cover of a roof, where it 
remains until the potatoes sweat and the skin be¬ 
comes tight. They are then ready for handling, 
and may be barreled or taken to market in bulk. 
AYc/nf—Should be picked from the fields which the 
mower and reaper will pass over next year. Autumn 
is a better time than spring for this work. 
Pouts grow well through this month, and the har¬ 
vesting of them should be delayed as long as it is 
safe to do so. 
Fall Plowing .—There is not enough of this done. 
5Ve believe in plowing barley and oat ground inva¬ 
riably in the autumn. If it could he subsoiled at 
Harvesting Buckwheat. 
Buckwheat iB the most peculiar of the grain 
family iu.the manner of its ripening — a considera¬ 
ble portion being in the milk state when another 
will be fully matured. The point ia to cut it in that 
stage which will save the most, and this is when 
about half of the gTain has turned brown. If the 
straw were less sensitive to colli than it iB, harvest- I 
ing might be delayed longer, but when stricken by 
frost the growth is entirely airested and the straw 
disposed to an early decay, preventing any further 
maturing of the grain. Bat, ent when a portion is 
in the milk and set up in bunches ia the field, the 
juice of the straw, in which it is peculiarly rich, will 
cause the immature portions to ripen and little will 
be lost by over ripeness or a lack of it. The com¬ 
mon grain cradle will be found the best implement 
for harvesting this grain as it leaves the straw in a 
condition to be easily gathered in hunches for set¬ 
ting up for drying. 
Ashes 
are, therefore, a fertilizer for all our crops. They 
contain from ten to twenty-five per cent, of phos¬ 
phate of lime, besides, potash, soda, maguesia, sul¬ 
phuric and carbonic acids, lime and silica. The 
sulphate of lime in ashes is not, probably, as val¬ 
uable per w{fight as that from bones, because the 
animal is advanced beyond the vegetable, aad all its 
constituents have a greater power or a greater ^en¬ 
ergy in entering anew into vegetation,—that is, are 
more easily assimilated by the plant. 
The use of ashes as a manure is very ancient, 
Cato recommends the ashes from branches and 
twigs of trees to be spread over the land. Talla- 
dius says that an application or ashes will tender 
other manure unnecessary for five years. The Jews 
and freezing nights come, 
wheat kills out.” 
Letter trom Alabama, 
F. A. Dulany writes from Camden, Wilcox Co., 
Ala., as follows: — “ In the middle of my farm are 
four ponds or small lakes. The largest is about 150 
yards long by 40 yards wide, and it hsu been known 
to dry up in summer but once in eight years. The 
others dry up every summer, but there is alway- 
moi&ture in the surface. The land is rich and very 
productive, and 1 intend to make them available in 
the production of some valuable crop, — Indian 
corn, if nothing else, — as the land round about 
them is failing. I want to know your opinion of 
the culture of cranberries in this latitude? Would 
it do to plant where the roots are covered in water 
all winter and more or less dry in summer ? 
“We plant nothing of consequence here except 
corn and cotton. Small grain is so liable to rust as 
to be unprofitable. Our people here—farmers—are 
far behind the age iu agricultural pursuits. There 
is vast room for ‘progress and improvement.’ If 
you could see the poor implements we use — the 
