82 Buffalo St., Rochest 
41 Park Row, New To; 
$8.00 PER YEAR. 
Single Copy, Si* Cents, 
FOD THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, I88B 
half bushel and found twenty-two of these ,/hite 
visitors. I wish some one would tell how we are to 
get rid of them.” 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW YORKER 
AN ORIGINAL WEEKLY 
Agricultural, Literary and Family Newspaper. 
Cutting and Cooking Fodder for Cattle. 
B. 8. B., Portage Co., Ohio, writes: — “I have 
used a horse-power to cut ft d for several years, 
have cut the larger pat t of my corn stalks, but not of 
straw or hay, and think it has paid me well. Have 
also mixed up feed with hot water and let it stand 
from one feeding to another with satisfactory re¬ 
sults. This experience, together with the articles 
in your paper and some in others, have decided me 
to try steaming feed this winter. I want to prepare 
to cook food for a stock equal to thirty or forty 
head of cattle. Now, I would like to ask questions 
of Borne one who has experience. There is no such 
person near here that I know of, and can think of 
no better place than in the Rural Farmers’ Club. 
First. Is it best to cook for two days at one heat¬ 
ing up V If so, how much should my steam box 
hold? Ib it just as well to be deep and narrow, or 
should it be broad and low ? 
Second. If I can bay a second hand steam engine 
of four-horse power for from $300 to $400, will that be 
the cheapest boiler? Should use the engine some, 
but think it is not much more than good exercise 
for the farm team to do the cutting. I have Been a 
farmer's boiler advertised, which is simply a large 
kettle set on a stove so that the Are passes round It. 
Different sizes hold from forty to ninety gallons. 
Would that be sufficient, if so, which size? Would 
sixty gallons be large enough ? If Borne one would 
answer the question, I should be much obliged. I 
think this is the time of year to discuss this subject.” 
We presume our Special Contributor E. W. 8. 
will reply. 
CONDUCTED BY D. D. T. MOORE, 
(PUBLISHER AND PROPRIETOR,) 
With a Corps of Able Associates and Contributors 
Q. F. WILCOX AND A. A. HOPKINS, Associate Editors, 
Hon. HENRY 8. RANDALL, LL. D., 
Editor of the Department of Sheep Husbandry. 
Db. DANIEL LEE, Southern Corresponding Editor. 
HIRAM BUMPHREY and REUBEN D. JONES, 
Assistant and Commercial Editors. 
Terms, In Advance — Three Dollars a Year:— Five 
copies for $14; Seven, and one free to Club Agent, 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 best way to remit is by Draft or 
Post-Office Money Order,—and all Dralta and Orders made 
payable to tbe Publisher may be mailed at ms bisk. 
WHEAT CULTURE. 
Two evenings, during the recent State Fair, were 
devoted to discussions, and a third attempted, with 
but an indifferent result owing to a political demon¬ 
stration outside. The first evening was taken up 
with the subject of wheat, embracing the best mode 
of culture and the comparative value of the differ¬ 
ent varieties. 
The proceedings were opened by the reading of a 
paper on the subject, the main points of which 
wereThat to grow wheat successfully regard 
must he had to the character of the soil. Starva¬ 
tion ofland is as detrimental to the growth of wheat 
as to animals. The seed may he of the most ap. 
proved variety and of the best quality, but, if the 
soil lacks fertilizing power and suitable preparation, 
remunerative harvests will be looked for in vain. A 
lavish expenditure for commercial fertilizers will 
not pay in growing wheat. There are others, less 
expensive and better for the purpose. A rotation 
of crops pays well by keeping up the vigor of the 
Boil. Successive cropping or the same cereal is not 
deemed a paying process. It is true that wheat 
may be grown successively for many years, but it 
will be difficult to keep the yield up to a paying 
point even with costly manuring, and without it no 
profit will be realized. Under circumstances, this 
successive cropping may pay, an instance of which 
was mentioned where wheat had been sown twenty- 
six successive years on the same ground, the last 
yield being fifteen bushels to the acre. But this was 
an exceptional case and should not be regarded as a 
rule, A better plan is not to sow wheat, on the 
same ground., oftsuer than once in three years—four 
is better still. If the soil is properly prepared, good 
seed used, and a suitable rotation followed, a yield 
of forty bushels to the acre, is attainable. 
After the reading of -the paper, a summary of 
"whose points is given above, the diseassion became- 
general, but as we did not succeed in catching all 
the names ot the speakers we are compelled to omit 
the whole, iest partiality should be in forced from 
such omissions as would be necessary. 
One gentleman said that instances were not un¬ 
common where high manuring hud decreased the 
crop of wheat by giving increased vitality to weeds. 
His method was to manure well and plant corn, fol¬ 
lowing with barley, and then wheat. In this way 
he had raised 80 bushels of com to the acre; 50 of 
barley and M) of wheat. Another rotation worked 
well—sowing barley, seeding to clover, pasturing a 
season and then breaking up and sowing to wheat. 
Did not think early sowing essential to early ma¬ 
turity. All the time needed wa3 for the plant to 
root well. Thought that where the seed was drilled 
in, spring cultivation augmented the yield. Imple¬ 
ments for this purpose were yet imperfect, but 
yearly improvement of them was being made and 
would succeed in making spriDg cultivation easy 
and remunerative. 
The succeeding speaker said ho had experimented 
considerably with wheat in the valley of the Sas- 
quohannab, with fair success. The preparation of 
the ground is an important point. Low, wet land, 
must be drained. Without this, a good yield, or in¬ 
deed any one at all, was out of the question. His 
method was generally corn, and then wheat. His 
section is more particularly a dairy one. Practiced 
turning under clover and plantiug corn without ma¬ 
nure. This was followed with oats. As soon as 
harvested, the stubble i5 turned under. The scat¬ 
tered oats soon come up and cover the ground like 
a mat. Pass the cultivator over the ground; apply 
barn yard manure liberally, and sow wheat io Sep 
tember. Had succeeded in this way, in raising 35 
bushels of wheat to the acre — despite of Canada 
thistles, which were uncomfortably plentiful. Had 
succeeded with wheat after potatoes, the ground 
[ having been liberally manured. Tried, as an experi- 
^ meat, mixing a portion of his seed wheat with 
r unslaked lime pulverized, plaster and ashes; drilled 
U jn with the wheat. The yield was somewhat better 
£ than where these were not used. Had experimented 
v some with guano, 100 pounds to the acre, with good 
y results. The straw did not rust. Thought October 
sowing perferable to an earlier one. Late sowing 
N) requires some more seed. 
th, The next gentleman thought there 'was a differ- 
degenerated from the original stock, and become a 
semi-wild race in America, the mild climate of the 
tropics with its abundant perennial herbage afford¬ 
ing them all the food their natures require. There 
they range, propagate and grow with little care, 
congregating in large herds, and known to their 
owners only by the brands they put upon them. 
They are annually gathered for identification, and 
those fit to sell selected and driven to market. They 
are of little value to a civilized farmer; the cows 
give no more milk than will raise a calf till it is old 
enough to graze, and the bullocks, though active, 
are too light for heaw work. 
For the above cut and article we are indebted to 
Allen’s excellent work on American Cattle. 
Our engraving represents a group of steers of 
Texan breed — the one brought so prominently 
before the public as the introducer of the dreaded 
“ cattle disease.” The portraits were taken from a 
herd of bullocks as they stood in a cattle yard on 
arrival at market; the age of the animals was from 
five to seven years, and their average live weight 
1,008 pounds. They were tall, lank and bony; 
coarse-headed with enormous horas; legs long and 
coarse; they had much dewlap and little brisket; 
were fiat sided, swayed In the back, high in the 
flank, with narrow hips and quarters, great offal in 
proportion to their consumable flesh, and coarse all 
over. Their meat must be stringy, tough and of 
coarse quality. 
Great numbers of these cattle are driven from 
Northern Texas and New Mexico, up through the 
Indian Territory into Kansas and Missouri, and so 
on eastward. They 9top little to graze on their 
journeys, as they gain but a small increase of flesh 
in a land of civilization; and the sooner they arrive 
at the shambles the better. They are worth little 
to the butcher or consumer, sud, but that they cost 
little to their breeders, would, as a commercial arti¬ 
cle, be comparatively worthless. Their colors are 
red, dun, yellow, black, brir Me aad blue Toan, ail 
mixed more or less with patch w and Btripes of white. 
They are probably the dorian’‘ants of the early 
Spanish stock introduced km ffftxico in the six 
teenth century. Doubtless Iffiey have somewhat 
[Editorial Correspondence.] 
The N. J. State Ag. Society held its tenth Annual 
Exhibition at Waverly (near Newark) last week. 
On Thursday we took a birds-eye view of the 
grounds and contents. The grounds are amide, 
diversified and picturesque — including rolling land 
and a fine grove on one side, and near the center an 
apparently excellent hall-mile track. The weather 
was cloudy, raw and uncomfortable, yet the Fair 
was well attended, and the exhibition pronounced 
superior for New Jersey—though we confess that 
onr expectations were far from being realized. Our 
first visit was to the large tents,—one comprising 
Fruits, Flowers, Vegetables, Grain, <!fcc., another 
Domestic and Fancy Manufactures and Articles, and 
another Carriages, Harnesses, &c., of Newark man¬ 
ufacture. 
The show of Fruits and Flowers, was meager — 
inferior in both quantity and quality for a State 
Fair; not so good aa the average at a Monroe County 
(N, Y.) Fair. A poor frnit season may account for 
the inferior quality, but certainly the fruit growers 
of New Jersey ought to display a greater variety 
and abundance. We saw but a few well grown 
Jersey pears or apples, and but two varieties of 
peaches worthy of notice—one Crawford’s Late and 
the other a seedling white peach, large, late and 
fine-flavored, which is very promising. The largest 
and best exhibition of pears was made by Ellwangbr 
& Barry of the Mt. Hope Nurseries — and we were 
proud to find Western New York so creditably rep¬ 
resented. The display of Preserved Fruits, Native 
Wines, Ac,, was an attractive feature, but, not being 
on the “tasting committee” (except for a moment 
with Mr. E. Williams of Klttatiany fame, whom 
we met among the good things,) we cannot vouch for 
the quality. 
The display of Vegetables was vevy good, and we 
noticed some fine samples of Grain —especially of 
wheat. Among the vegetables we found the largest 
and best show of Potatoes we ever saw (by one 
party) at any Fair. It was made by Rbisig & Hsx- 
amkk of New Castle, N. Y., and comprised ovei' one 
hundred varieties, (104 we believe,) including all the 
most popular kinds and new seedlings yet -intro¬ 
duced. We did not meet either of the exhibitors, 
but if we had,should have thanked them personally 
for making such a line display of the great domestic 
tuber — an Indispensable staff in every family. 
The tent comprising Domestic Manufactures, Fine 
Arts, «fec. — includirig many fancy as well as useful 
articles, 6uch as photographs, paintings, sewing ma¬ 
chines, musical instruments, hats, caps, furs, etc., 
etc.,—was so attractive that we were literally “left 
out in the cold.” We therefore conclude the dis¬ 
play commendable. 
The building devoted to Machinery in operation 
was also so crowded that we could see but little, yet 
that little proved that inventors and manufacturers 
were “around,” minding their own business and 
incidentally attending to the interests of the public. 
A steam press was rapidly printing the “Daily 
State Fair Record,” a large and handsome quarto, 
and many other machines were operating very satis¬ 
factorily to both owners and spectators. 
The exhibition of Implements and Machinery was 
very good, consisting of the usual assortment of 
leading articles found at all Fairs, and a few novel¬ 
ties. As we had not time to examine, or witness n 
operation, any of the new things, will not even 
enumerate them at present. The Ames Plow Com¬ 
pany was well represented—their exhibition includ¬ 
ing the Perry Mower, American Hay-Tedder, Self- 
Adjusting Horse Rake, &c. While among the 
machines we had the pleasure of meeting Mr. W. 
L. Buckingham of Baltimore, the Southern Agent 
of Bickford & Huffman’s’ Grain Drill, a Western 
New York “institution” which has justly become 
seed ball was from the “ Early Goodrich.” The 
product was 64 potatoes of all sizes, from a pea to a 
good size for the table, the largest one weighing 
ounces. Growers of seedling potatoes will know 
whether this is an unusual size for the'first product 
from the seed; I do not. The vine was green and 
apparently growing till arrested by the frost on the 
night of the 3d inst. Is that an indication of its 
being a late variety? And is a large number of 
tubers in the first product an indication of its being 
a prolific variety when grown from tubers ?” 
ence in favor of drilling in wheat, of fully a half a 
bushel of seed to the acre. The drill sows more 
evenly and covers deeper, hence the plants will 
abide the winter and the spring freezing better than 
when sown broadcast. The increased yield from 
drilling is from five to eight bushels to the acre. It 
also tends to prevent the 6now from blowing off 
better than broadcast sowing. 
A question was here propounded as to whether 
broadcast sowing did not give the plants a better 
chance to grow, as the sun reached them more 
evenly. The response was in the negative, provided 
the drills run north «und south, us in this position, 
the sun would invigorate the plants better than in 
any other way. A gentleman here queried whether 
broadcast did not give more plants to the acre—to 
which we believe no response was made, 
Referring to drilling in wheat, a gentleman re¬ 
marked that if the water was allowed to stand in 
the drills for any considerable time, it was worse, 
for the wheat, than if the ground were left in level 
condition. Aside from this, drilling was the prefer¬ 
able mode of seeding. 
Another member said he had farmed for twenty- 
five years, and had practiced drilling in wheat a con¬ 
siderable portion of that time. If the work is well 
done, drilling pays munificently, but the water must 
be kept off or the reverse will be the case. On well 
prepared ground, drilling saves one-fourth of the 
seed and returns a better crop than broadcast 
sowing. 
As to the quantity of seed to the acre, a gentle¬ 
man gave it as his opinion, that one and a half 
bushels to the acre was better than two. 
Another responded that three pecks to the acre 
of weil cleaned seed was better than six in the con¬ 
dition in which it is too often sown. Wheat, for 
seed, should have all the defective portions removed 
from it before being sown. 
It was suggested by the next speaker, that the 
wheat crop was often much injured by a lack of 
winter protection, especially in localities destitute 
of forest clusters. He had found great benefit, un¬ 
der such circumstances, from mulching with straw. 
It shields the plants while operating at the same 
time as a fertilizer. Thought well of the Wicks 
variety. It is in general request in Tioga and 
Broome counties. Is a hardy white wheat; stands 
the winter well and produces several bushels more 
to the acre than any other in that region. Ripens 
early. 
Another member said it was the favorite in Cayuga 
county, producing five bushels more to the acre 
than the Mediterranean and superior to the Tread¬ 
well or Diehl. 
A Brighton farmer thought well of rolling wheat 
in the spring. It disturbs the wire-worm and 
diminishes its ravages. If the ground is wet rolling 
is not advisable. Had a yield this season of thirty- 
seven bushels to the acre. 
The succeeding speaker said he had tried harrow¬ 
ing a portion of his wheat early in May, with very 
good results. The section thus operated upon was 
much better than that which was not harrowed — 
rolling after harrowing. 
Another gentleman said he had been highly enter¬ 
tained by the interview of the evening, and, as a 
small recompense for the pleasure received, would 
contribute his mite to the general stock of farm 
experience. His crop rotation was corn, then oats 
followed by wheat, applying a coating of manure 
for the last crop. Practiced ooth drilling and 
broadcast sowing with about equal results in both 
cases. His last yield was 35 bushels to the acre. 
Thought harrowing and rolling in the spring bene¬ 
ficial under certain conditions or limitations. 
The closing speech had special reference to the 
difierent varieties of wheat. The gentleman said he 
had grown several kinds in his experience, and 
thought well of the Soules, Hungarian and French 
white chaff Uses barn-yard manure and lime. 
Sows both ways — drill and broadcast, and gets 
about 30 bu&hclB to tbe acre. 
The Chairman here announced the subject for the 
next evening’s discussion,and the meeting adjourned 
Truss Frames for Barns. 
“Young Farmer,” Wayne Co., N. Y., asks: — 
“Has anybody ever built a barn after the ‘Sweet’ 
or First Premium plan, as first published in the 
Rural in 1859?—the * Truss Frame, 1 as shown in 
‘Transverse Section?’ Has anybody built ‘Truss 
Frame ’ bentB ? How do they like them ? Are they 
strong ? any better than the ordinary way of framing ? 
Some of onr best workmen say, ‘ I would not trust so 
great a weight on an iron rod.’ Several large barns 
are about to be erected in this vicinity. 1 for one 
want to build on that plan which is best adapted for 
the end sought. Will every person having truss frame 
bents in use, in large barns, please write the Rural, 
and the Rural please publish?” 
Sick Cattle. 
E. A. H. writes us from Croton, Conn.: —“We 
have in this county very fine herds of Aldemeys, 
Ayrshires and grades. A disease has appeared 
amongst them, causing considerable anxiety. It 
chiefly attacks young animals, as sucking calves, and 
those from six to twelve months old. The symp¬ 
toms are, first, a cough which is quite severe and 
makes them appear as if choked. Start them to 
running, and it brings on a paroxysm, The breath 
is fetid. Glands about the throat slightly swollen. 
Breathing quite hurried and difficult, pulse rapid 
and urine scanty. The appetite is lo6t and general 
prostration is apparent. No one here seems to un¬ 
derstand the disease; can some one give us light 
through the Rural?” 
I>Iowinu loo Close. 
L. D. Snooks, Yates Co., writes: —“The main 
question on thiB point is, does the farmer gain 
thereby ? I answer in the negative, and herewith 
give a few reasons to substantiate this decision. 
First, the cutting of grass before maturity, produces 
a radical change in the remaining portions, by throw¬ 
ing all the sap that was sufficient to keep the stemB 
and branches of the plant in a healthy, growing con¬ 
dition, in a space many times smaller. Second, by 
mowing close, the moisture near the surface of the 
ground is soon evaporated, not only rendering the 
surface of the ground hard and warm, but often 
shriveling up the plant, and if the necessary moist¬ 
ure is not soon supplied by occasional showers or 
heavy dews, the plant withers and dies, or its vital¬ 
ity is so exceedingly reduced that many weeks elapse 
before even a small blade of grass is pushed forth. 
I believe that only meadows naturally supplied with 
the necessary moisture should be mown close.” 
Ravages of White Grubs. 
S. Edson, Chardon, Geauga Co., Ohio, asks: — 
“Can any of your readers furnish me information 
whereby these large white grubs can be 1 prevailed ’ 
upon to cease their alarming ravages in this vicinity ? 
We have read all the season about the destructive¬ 
ness of the curculio, the potato bug, the cucumber 
bug, the caterpillar, the apple worm, Ac., but not a 
word have we seen written about one of the greatest 
pests that ever visited our crops—the white grub — 
which has done more damage to the farming com¬ 
munity here than all the vermin and Insects com¬ 
bined. Not a field of potatoes in Geauga county 
but what is more or less affected by them. My 
neighbor, Mr. J. Beall, planted about ten acres of 
potatoes, looked finely until attacked by the grub, 
but now are scarcely worth digging. Meadows that 
cut heavy grass are now nearly destitute of anything 
green. The sward is loose and can be easily raked 
into heaps. On a dry knoll I removed the dead 
turf from a spot about as large as the bottom of a 
A Powerful Lever. 
The illustration represents a very handy imple¬ 
ment for many farmers. A team drawing on the 
rope around the puily block will start a fast stump 
or heavy stone from their bed in a short tuna. The 
lower end of the lever should be shod and strength¬ 
ened with iron, and a chain may be substituted, if 
desirable, in place of the hook. 
Raising New Varieties of Potatoes. 
I. W. Briggs, West Macedon, N. Y., writes: —“ As 
new varieties of potatoes are among the popular in¬ 
stitutions of the day, my little boy thought to try 
his hand at raising them from seed. He succeeded 
in getting a solitary plant to grow and mature. The 
