CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. 
Itni'fil Architecture.—Description of a Circular 
Man ion. v. itli Engraved Elevation and Plan; 
Our Di*»igns and Desires.,... 5 
Field Culture. Howto .Manure Beat with Clo¬ 
ver; The i ii in Workshop: Cotton Culture in the 
Houlh; Wheat Itv Present and Future Pro¬ 
duction Premium Potato Crop.. 6 
Fanu Economy*—Cattle Racks and Feed Boxes. 
(Illil-lratod :l Crain Hewers; Hilhsoil Plow : Cheap 
Oemenl Wanted...... C 
Sheep Tlnsbnndry.-New York Woo) Growers’ 
Assi.Tiiition : Change In the Wool Market; Cotn'r 
of Agriculture oh Reciprocity; Hcwoireil Fleeces; 
The Winter; Sheep Literature. . .. 7 
Dairy 11 11 slm miry. Dairy Products; A Review 
of toe Dairy Interest Mild Present and Future 
Prospects: Making Butter in Winter; How But¬ 
ter Is Flavored; Tin? Country ( house Market; 
Dairyman's Association... . 7 
Pmnolopidut. A Ciiuptct on Crab Apples—Ftwlt 
for Hmrenc .Northern l.ut llartes, (illustrated :) 
The < 'atanba Crape ; Table Grapes — 1?. tlndr Cul¬ 
ture Overdone - Whin I del During the Week in 
my Orchard and Gordon ; lilinols Crape Grower*' 
and Wine Makers' .Society...fj 
Revlon nl Hu; N. A". City Grape Market for Hits’; 
l’oni.logical Gossip, including Hybridizing 
Fruits. Croenhou-sc.-. A New Crape. Pour on 
Tirtirn, Origin of IN ach, Fciirs Roeominunded Iiy 
Alton Horticultural Hociety, Uroleotlng Htraw- 
berries. Tin* AI ton Nut Meg Melon, Trouble About 
Ripening Fruit, Wild Goose Plum. 9 
Floriculture.—The Pansy (Illustrated.) ..... 0 
Arboriculture. Trees in the City A Kemefly 
i-ugg '-.i 1 . 1 : i iiici pillars; The Rveamore lie- 
coin mended for Shade and the Allan til US De¬ 
nounced ; About ciieslmits... . 9 
Jiorlieullttrnl Notes. Missouri Horticultural 
SOCH I '. 1 , tiled.- : Bean Planter; Tim Export- 
"•‘•ntal Carden at Washington; Adams Countv 
(III.) Iionli'tilturul Society.... 9 
The Poultry Yard. This Department: Model 
Poultry House 1 Illustrated;) Common vs. Im¬ 
proved Fowls; Pigeon and Poultry Show The 
I'lrst exhibition of the CohimhiirlfLn Society: 
Snow for Poultry; Pennsylvania poultry Bo* 
elety.... 10 
The A pinrinn. Bee Culture -Improved Honey 
erupting Machine (Iihistmted jl Singular .Migra¬ 
tion Of Bees. .10 
Fulomoloorleal. -The Heed-Corn Maggot (IlluM.).in 
Hygienic Information. Physiology and Hy¬ 
giene seasoiiuhlc S|ig«c -ijoi|s To Prevent and 
Cure couKbk, Colds, etc.,., . 11 
Scleiltlfic find I srt'ul. Popular Scientific lec¬ 
tures Tin■ 'clcs, opeand its Revelations; I so¬ 
lid and Setenidie Notes.U 
Domewtir Economy. IToUmltmry Table Talk,. .It 
Edi to rials. Are. Vol. XX Prefatory; Kxplnrm- 
tory ; C 001 I Morrow: The Press and the Uuml ; 
New Vork Far.is'Club. Including the following 
topics S.veet Corn. Keeping Cow- Clean in the 
Stable. smving Evergreen and Kuropean I,arch 
Seed, 1 Itiuesc \aia. A Tree .Valued. Winns, I 'so 
ol Pla-lor, t - 1 - id Mine, Ox. Yokes. Planting 
Chestnuts, M 11 U long Trees with Kb mo. Grinding 
Axes, Value,If ll-h Cnaiio. Pencil Pits Wanted..12 
Rural Notes ontl tjitrilr-. A Special Notice to 
Contributors: Inforunilion anom Lands Want¬ 
ed; Restraining L'ni'uly I torsos ; An Honest Hfctid 
Merclianl Wanted: Convention of Presidents of 
Agricultural Societies; Hivllie Breeders'Conven¬ 
tion; Book-Ki-eplng; Missouri State Board ol 
Agriculture; Ohio Ag'l Convention; Hatching 
FJggs |iy Sie.'im. ... pj 
Tile Reviewer. New Publications Reviewed...13 
11 isl orienl. The Mnrmoua (Illui»l rated).)H 
Stories for RnralihtH -The Vincents; Or The 
Mystery mi the Blue Springs.. j;j 
Art and Artlstn. The I .a test Art Gossip.H 
I-iidies' Port-Polio. Madame dr. Htael; Gossipy 
Paragraphs . . . 
Modes and Mitiinera. The I,utest Stylos; Skat¬ 
ing Costumes. ..If, 
Snhbnth Rinding. Religion nt Home and 
Abroad ; A Tennessee Sunday School.. 
News Department. Domestic and Foreign 
..-.’.“.Hi 
The marketn. Reports of latest, Live Stock 
'•rain, Provision, Fruit, Wind mid Other Mar¬ 
kets__, .... ..... J 7 
Personal I teiua. Fifty-four Paragraphs.18 
The News Condenser.-Sixty-one News Items..19 
For Young People. Rending for Frimerg’Son*, 
Susie s New Roll. Tim Rural Four-Year Olds ,. ,20 
The Puzzler. Miscellaneous enigma ; Anagram- 
Prohluiu: illustrated Prize Bobus; Charade..'20 
Poetry. Woman's Aspiration, page If '"'m Sun¬ 
set Jama, page IN; The Old Year's W: 1 Testa¬ 
ment, page U: Disposing ol' People, I a; ,• . ... , JQ 
SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 1869. 
VOLUME XX —PREFATORY. 
For the twentieth time it becomes our 
duty to indite an introductory article for a 
new Year and Volume of the Rural New- 
Yorker —to greet its numerous long-time 
friends, and extend a cordial welcome to the 
thousands who are now for the first time 
enrolled in its legion of readers and sup¬ 
porters. We do t his with alacrity, though 
amid the vexation and fatigue resulting from 
changes in the paper, the location of its 
principal office, and business arrangements— 
changes which have involved much labor in 
organization, and subjected us to an ordeal 
not the most agreeable. But, now that the 
preliminary work is nearly accomplished — 
all save writing this article — we “ breat he 
freer,” g and feel like wishing, as we do, a 
right “Merry Christmas” and “ Happy New 
Year” to all Rural ists from the Atlantic to 
the Pacific and Alaska to the Gulf. 
Our first duty, in presenting No. 1 of Vol. 
XX., is to tender sincere and grateful ac 
knowledgments to all who have in any man¬ 
ner contributed to the notable success and 
prosperity of this Journal, thereby encour¬ 
aging us to execute a long-cherislied plan 
for its enlargement and improvement—a 
plan designed to vastly augment its Influence, 
Usefulness and Power for Good throughout 
the Country. Bending under a weight of 
obligation to ardent friends of the paper and 
its objects all over this broad Union, the 
Canadas, and even oilier and more distant 
lands, we resolved to acknowledge our in¬ 
ti) at the future of this Journal will be worthy 
of its past, and we believe far more satisfac¬ 
tory. The list of our Associate and Cor¬ 
responding Editors and Special Contributors, 
and the Contents of ibis paper, render any 
talk about talent, ability, experience, etc., 
<)Uite superfluous—for the staff comprises 
all that is requisite to furnish the Best Jour¬ 
nal of its Class in the World. With Editors 
and Contributors of superior practical knowl¬ 
edge and rare attainments, who are familiar 
with the condition and wants of the whole 
people—and having subscribers in every 
section of the Union, Canadas, Ac.,—the 
Rural may, without arrogance or preten¬ 
sion, assume to represent the Rand Popula¬ 
tion of the Nation and Continent. 
In conclusion, we reiterate our acknowl¬ 
edgments to ail who have seconded our 
efforts to augment the usefulness and circu¬ 
lation of the Rural New-Yorker — to the 
thousands of Contributors, Correspondents 
and Agent-Friends, without whose generous 
aid it could never have attained a tithe of its 
present popularity. We trust that such 
friends, near and distant, are disposed to 
continue their favors, and that hosts of new 
readers will do what they may in behalf of 
tbe paper, by communicating the gist, of their 
experience for publication in its pages and by 
efforts to increase and widen ils circulation 
in return for all which we not only tender 
thanks in advance, hut promise that (D. V.) 
the Rural New-Yorker for I860 shall 
greatly excel in its Important and Useful 
Sphere of Journalism. 
• -- 
GOOD MORROW! 
We wake the echoes from Atlantic to 
Pacific, and from North of the Lakes to the 
Gulf, with our glad greeting to old and new 
friends this happy season of holiday pleasure 
and merry-making. It is the jolly season. 
Hope over-rules apprehension. Joy dances 
minuets. The Old Year hows itself out ; 
NEW YORK FARMERS' CLUB. | comparative value of fish and Peruvian guano. 
Mr. Carpenter said he had had experience with 
Iiie farmers Club of the American Insti- tmano. it is made by extracting the oil 
tute is in many respects a remarkable organi- from the nsh > 'caving the bones and muscles. It 
station. It. discuses and disposes of all subjects 18 ®?!‘ 5 ttt ^ p ? r ton »' »* uuiok in its effects 
and does not affect, the soil unfavorably ns is the 
charm- ease with Peru viun guano, which ts loo exhaust- 
mg dogmatism. I ts facetious pronuneia- lug in its effoetto be profitable. The demand for 
memos only fail to kill some people because ,llis <istl imano is so great that it eon only be ab¬ 
ility cannot understand the humor thereof t f 1 ” e . < ! ln !**? tnv, n state ' in w,1 'ch condition it 
should not be used. It. should lie mixed with 
earth (he did not say !n what proportion) before 
applying it to the soil. 
Peach Pit# It autrrt .—A Southern correspondent 
asks where he can obtain peach pits for planting. 
A member suggested the Washing!on Market; 
but Dr. Trim 111 , 1 ; replied, no; ho did not want to 
recommend pits from diseased trees. He wanted 
seedling pits. Another member said they could 
be obtained of Lukens Pierce, Krcildown, 
Chester Co., Pa. 
IS 
i",! 1 !! n )10Sl S ‘ PP ^ PriaU ' ! 11amier ’ the New Year bows itself in. And yet. we 
‘ i,ii aj, ant ,m J ,r tmng it in ( | 0 , )()t jrjve our greetings thoughtlessly. 
We abjure levity. The work of the year 
dawning upon us, though undertaken with 
confidence, involves responsibilities whose 
Its wisdom only litils to regenerate our soils 
and establish the agricultural millcnium, be 
cause it is not so profoundly appreciated as it. 
ought to be. It is doing a great work. It 
helps the manufacturers of wines, the prop¬ 
agators of grapes and other fruits, the owners 
of new varieties of grains and vegetables, 
the venders of patents, and other equally 
disinterested philanthropists, to reach the 
open-mouthed and listening public through 
its agency. It is a gay place—this Farmer’s 
(’lull room on a Tuesday afternoon. One 
does not. sleep there. One learns much that 
is not taught in hooks—except in very old 
books. The oracular utterances of the sa- 
vans are us refreshing to a plebeian’s ear as 
the perftnned breath of spring to the society- 
jaded patrician’s nostrils. The shafts of 
light from the western sun which illumlnati 
the room, pale beside the scintillations ol 
M'if which concentrate there from the rural 
districts hereabout. It is far better than the 
New I ork Circus or Barnuni’s old Museum 
this entertainment, Tt should he the goal 
of all good rural people who visit the city. 
After the instruction there obtained, safety 
in this wicked world is insured. Here are 
some notes on the last meeting: 
Ihtnrl dlotcs aub (Oucrics. 
A Kpccinl Notice 10 Contributor*. Wo beseech 
you do not send us manuscript written with 
pencil. Write with pen mid ink. Take pains to 
write plainly. Do not send us scrawls with the 
foolish idea Unit we reward abominable chirog- 
rttphyan infallible index of great genius! We 
are pretty sure to think quite the reverse. We 
prefer that you write only on one side of the 
paper. Send items intended for publication 
detached, (or so w ritten 1 li.it (hey may he easily 
separated,) from business communications. We 
are glad to get information, In concise form, on 
all subjects appropriate to our pages; but we 
want it to come in a shape available l'or use. 
The mime and address of the contributor should 
always accompany manuscript. 
•o 
c publishers -pesl;. 
NOTICES, REQUESTS, &c. 
To Agent* and Oilier Frienda. For the In¬ 
formation ol Hie tens nt thousands who fool nn 
interest In t he matt er, wo take pleasure in stating 
that the prospect* of Volume XX of the Ritual an- 
most fhuterlnj-'. Never were we *0 cordially nod sub¬ 
stantially eneouraimd hv liotll People mid Press. 
The areetluKK we uro daily receiving from all pnrti- 
of the land stinoilale u* to renewed elforts, and We 
assure am its t'tmi.vns that Die Ri kai. for lrtt;:* 
shall lie worthy ot the efforts and Influence they are 
so kindly arid generously exerting in tts behalf. 
Those forming eluhs, or disposed to aid us In that 
manner, arc referred to the Items below. 
Address to No. 11 Park Ilow, New York.- 
Tlpnifih the HUKAI. Is published In both New Vork 
< ity and Rochester, X, Y., (lie principal printintr amt 
maillnp ofllees are in New Vork, and hence all apents 
are requested to 11 ddress 
It. It. T. . 11 o o /;/;, 
No. 41 Park How, New York. 
Send IIS Nnines !— Subijerihera and others fre- 1 
fluently apply for copies of the Rural to send to 
distant friends as specimens, if those who wish 
their friends to see the paper, and thus aid in extend- 
hiK its tdrculatioli, will send 11 s the names and post- 
<>niee addresses ol such friends, near and distant., 
"'e will mail each •» wpcoimen of the enlarged and 
Improved volume. Give us the names and we will 
cheerfully respond. 
Additions to riubaaroalways In order, whether 
in ones, twos, lives, len*, or Olty other number. Many 
agents after sending one olub, form others, and thus 
secure additional or larger premiums. A host of 
people are dropping other papers about these days - 
ninny have already changed to the IU:rai.— and our 
Agent-Frietuls should Improve every occasion to 
secure such as recruits for the " Rural Brigade.” 
(/’ontentB, Style and Appearance. Tlie result 
of this resolve is herewith submitted. How 
well we have succeeded, others must; deter¬ 
mine. YY e would lain hope that each issue 
I of the volume now so .auspiciously begun will 
speak for itself; and that, though ample in its 
dimensions, it. will not be necessary for us to 
occupy half the paper in dilating upon what, 
the other half contains,—a custom “more 
honored in the breach Ilian the observance.” 
In no selfish spirit, hut with an earnest 
desire and determination to excel in efforts 
to Improve the Mind and the Soil—to 
elevate Man and enhance, the value of his 
Possessions—we enter upon the labors of 
our Twentieth Volume. Though our marked 
success may have created envy stud jealousy 
in the breasts of some, we extend kindly 
greetings to all and bear malice toward none. 
As there is “ample room and verge enough” 
for till who desire to promote I he good cause 
gravity we ftflly appreciate. But we cannot 
refuse to recognize the auspicious promises 
that, come to us in the shape of kindly and 
substantial good wishes, from those whose 
applause we most desire. Hence wu are 
cheerful. We set. about working our ship 
through the coming voyage, confident in her 
staunchness, and in the strength, reliability, 
vigilance, and skill of officers and crew, ami 
determined to carry our freight of passen¬ 
gers willt safety htni pleasure to themselves, 
and honor to Hie craft. 
Here, then, is our (fledge of devotion to 
the interests of our readers, and to their 
entertainment. We hope to make their and 
our interests mutual, and thus secure their 
cordial co-operation. We purpose to recog¬ 
nise truth wherever we find it—fill truths 
ioi which we labor, each mid every lionora- bearing upon the material, social and moral 
hie contemporary has our best wishes, and 
may the most deserving receive the most 
abundant reward. 
All familiar with the Rural Nf.w-Yorkkr 
understand ils rharaelcr and objects. They 
need not he told that, with “ Excelmr” as 
its inspiring Motto, and “ Progrm and J,n- 
jmmncnt” for its laudable Objects, this 
Journal has from ils first issue zealously 
sought to advance Ihe best interests of the 
great Industrial and Producing Classes, and 
especially ol the Rural Population — never, 
through either “fear, favor or ihe hope of 
reward” proving false to those interests, or 
failing to speak plainly and independently 
in regard to matters coming within its 
province. And the many thousands of new 
subscribers from all sections of the land, 
whom \ve now have the pleasure of ad¬ 
dressing, Will find the Rural .New-Yorker 
condition of the people. It shall not he 
from lack of effort on our part, if our read¬ 
ers are not both wiser and better for em¬ 
barking with us in this voyage for 1869. 
-- 
THE PRESS AND THE RURAL. 
The Press of these Stales and 1 lie Can¬ 
adas has annually placed us under obligations 
for most kind and complimentary notices. 
From its start our brethren have been both 
appreciative and generous in perceiving and 
heralding the merits of the Rural, and 
hence probably no journal in the land has 
been more st rongly and generally commended 
to the public — voluntarily and by the best 
judges of newspaper-making. We grate¬ 
fully acknowledge our indebtedness to both 
the Country and City Press, and shall strive 
Hound Yoluuicii, Uutul*<unoly bound copies of 
Dm Rural tor istl 8 will bo ready In a few days, 
I'rice We e;tn also furnish bound copies of most 
ot the last ton volume*. IT Ice $1 per volume, for 
any later than 1S80 - (we have norm of 18C2 or istit)— 
amt .;> for l«i or uny procediuu volume which we 
can furnish. 
tl«nvlo Help the It urn!.-There are numerous 
ways in which its friends can aid In cireuhiUm: the 
Rural. First, show the paper, or talk to your 
friends about, n, nr both. Get up a olub, or aid some 
friend to do so- or Induce your l>. M. to aet us agent. 
Our premiums nrc libera] and sure. 
How to Jtemit.— The best way to remit for clubs, 
as we have often stated, is by Draft. If $20 or over, 
send >by draft, ns there is no risk. For smaller 
amounts it Is best to send by P. O. Money Order,- but 
it you cannot do tlml, send in Registered letters. 
The Rural is Nor n Monthly. -In presenting 
Hie claim* of the Re UAL, do not forget to say It. I* 
notamo,m,/, / of only 12 Issue* a year, but a Large 
and Handsome Week i y of Fifty-Two Numbers. 
No Traveling Agents are employed by us hut 
any person so disposed can act as Local Agent, on his 
oi her own authority, and secure premiums, etc. 
f l eef'Ti| Bi,, u' Numbers, Ac., sent 
. ee t all applicant*. Jf you want such documents, 
let us know and they will be forwarded. 
ill the future, as in the past, to deserve t he 
as outspoken and unflinching, as earnest in encomiums bestowed upon our enterprise, 
maintaining the Right and condemning the we trust our contemporaries will see in 
tltis number more t han mere indications of a 
determination to do good and honor Ihe 
profession of Journalism. Having no other 
business to promote through its pages —- in 
vulgar parlance, no “ ax to grind,” or special 
favors to bestow—we must rely mainly upon 
the merits of the paper for recognition from 
the Press and t he support of the People. 
-- 
Wrong, ill the future as.it has been in the 
past. We believe in the Producing People 
(>1 thisJand — that they are the foundation 
of the'Ntilion, and should be the peers of 
any in intelligence, refinement and inde¬ 
pendence, instead ot living so ignorant as to 
be easily cajoled, fluttered and swindled by 
demagogues and speculators. And (as we 
said last week) our aim will continuously be 
to aid them in their twocutirmfi, and instruct 
them in their homes. While practical and 
scientific topics Avill la? thoroughly discussed, 
ornamental embellishment, and intellectual 
entertainment and culture, will by no means 
be neglected. Indeed, we hope to render 
the Rt HAL, more than ever before, a most 
acceptable visitor to every fireside, whether 
urban, suburban or country. 
Our promises in regard to the Run At, for 
1869 have been made in good faith, and with 
a determination to redeem them as fully as 
have been all our pledges during a connection 
of twenty-five years with the Agricultural 
Press. AY itJi unequaletl advantages a; a 
facilities—including Offices and Managers 
in the great Commercial Metropolis amUhc 
Heart of Western New York—and a dis¬ 
position to spare neither effort nor expense 
to render them available, we are confident 
EXPLANATORY. 
Issuing this number of ihe Rural almost 
simultaneously with the last issue of Vol. 
XIX., it lias been necessary to set up much 
of the matter of both at the same time—one 
in New York City anti the other in Roches¬ 
ter. Pains have been taken, so far as possi¬ 
ble, not. to duplicate articles. In this we 
have not been altogether successful; but onr 
readers will not be likely to mistake this 
issue for the other. We have necessarily 
been eon .etled to abridge some of the de- 
partir. . nia, especially the Nows and Markets. 
V. c aim to make these more complete :..... 
comiwellensivc hereafter. 
We are also obliged to defer several col¬ 
umns of advertisements intended for this. 
number,— not including eight to ten columns 
declined on account of their objectionable 
or questionable character. 
•S Hficct < urn. A jrentlernun who lias a,most ex- 
ui Dent ; Uriel j of sweet, com asked permission 
to call it the “ Fartnora' Club Sweet.Corn." This 
wua prompt ly and decidedly refused and he was 
imtnutcd to call it after his own name! We 
hope he wtll. and he will jf he is wise! 
Keeping rows Clean in Utc Stable, E. W. Cox, 
o! Cayuga < 'o„ n. V., elevates the floors of stalls 
lor Ills cuttle live or six inches above the stable 
floor and then, to prevent tows voiding their 
excrement upon the stall floor, makes a sharp 
incline in front ol them to prevent them step¬ 
ping forward, us they naturally do during the 
process. 
Sousing ICvcrgrccn ami Puri mean Larch Seed.- 
In answer to an Inquiry by Mr. Blodgett, Cass 
Co.. Neb., some one asserted that lhe best way to 
grow evergreens from seed la to row the 
seed with wheat or rye. in order that plants 
of the grain may protect them during the 
first season. (A better way. and one very 
successfull> adopted by extensive propagators 
is to sow the seed in beds covered with I mines of 
lath elevated a few inches above the ground.| 
The larch, ihe speaker said, is not liable to the 
same difficulty aa the Com I env, and the plants 
maybe grown us readily as those of any other 
deciduous trees. 
Chinese IVmi, A Pennsylvania farmer asked 
about tills esculent. It was asserted that the 
first year s product of the yarn does not develop 
— is not so good tor food as the product of the 
third year. The only objection made to the 
yam by those who had tested it thoroughly was, 
that it grows deep in the ground with the large 
end down, and involves in digging it, too much 
labor to render it profitable with the present 
supply of the latter article, requiring I he trench¬ 
ing of the ground three foot deep to obtain it. 
A Tree Named.— Nathaniel Pierce of 
asked the name oi a I rev. i fie twigs and leaves of 
which lie sent and the fruit of which he de¬ 
scribed. It waa pronounced tbo American 
Nettle Tree. 
Vflties—SoincChautauqtm Co. wines had been 
distributed at a previous meet ing and reports 
were called for. The reports were favorable gen¬ 
erally, but the best judges declared i he wines too 
sweet. The emb laid ticon criticised for its wine 
distribution: and there was n lively discussion 
developed on temperance, which waa about as 
profitable as the discussion of two men as to the 
color ol' a sign—one standing one side of it. de¬ 
claring it black; the other cm (he other side 
declaring it win to--each declaring the other 
Wrong and both being rigid.! 
Use of Plaster.— E. L. Holmes, Dnnsvilie, N. 
V., asked if it would pay to use plaster on any 
kind ot land at a cost ol' &-’() to $2, r * per ton. One 
wise man said that the only way for Mr. Holmes 
to decide the question waste try it. Another, 
that it would pay on high, dry grounds, but not 
on low, wet lands. 
Use of IAme .—The same party asks if it will 
pay to use lime at $15 per bbl. lie was answered 
that it would on wet cold and sour lands,—not 
because lime is a manure, but. because of its mo- 
ehantecU effect upon the soil. 
Ox Yokes .—There was a talk on lids topic In 
winch the tact seemed established by testimony, 
that the common ox-yoke, if the bows lit the 
breast, are broad enough, and if the yoke is 
properly shaped, is the best device lor a yoke 
yet invented ; but oxen should not be worked in 
wet weat her. One gentleman recommended the 
English collar as an excellent substitute for a 
yoke: but nobody seemed to know what was 
meant by an English collar, and the suggestor 
tailed to explain it intelligibly. 
7 Hanting Chestnuts.—J. O keen leak, of Ohio, 
who has land suited to the chestnut asks huw to 
plant and cultivate. He was answered, plant 
just as you would a pencil pit in the fall, where 
you want the tree to grow, or bury in sand 
during the winter where the nuts will freeze, and 
then plant in t he spring. It was recommended 
to plant where they may be kept clear of weeds, 
and the next spring, take up, cut off the tap 
root and transplant again. Thereafter the tree 
can be transplanted with as much safety as a 
plum or pear tree. By treating it in this man¬ 
ner more surface roots are developed, the growth 
is raoro' .J and the fruit larger and better. 
■Lioetiing Trees with Slone —Two or three gen¬ 
tlemen gave testimony as to the good effects of 
mulching trees with stone, especially on light, soil. 
“ Orinding Axes.”—A man with a ventilating 
apparatus consumed the time of this very digni¬ 
fied body by sharpening his axe on the Club’s 
grindstone. 
Value of Fish Guano, —Mr. Hammond of Au¬ 
gusta, Ga., asks the opinion of the Club as to the 
Information About Land* Wanted.— A New 
York City correspondent asks for Information 
which will enable a party of twelve or lifteen 
Irish emigrants, (farmer’s) who have « little 
money capital, to decide as to which State they 
had better select for homes: the prices of lands 
there; the comparative advantage of buying 
from railway companies or from the general 
government, near or remote from a market; on 
Jand cleared or uncleared; and with which iiffieial 
of government, or mil way* they should commu¬ 
nicate. The best way to got this information in 
a satisfactory manner is to select the man or two 
or three men of the best judgment tn the party 
and send him or them out to investigate these 
matters. Communicate with the “ General Land 
Commissioner," Washington, D. C., and with the 
Secretaries of State of the States of Missouri, 
Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska or uny other 
Western State, respectively, who can put you in 
direct communication with part ies who cangive 
you t he information desired. 
♦H - 
Hcstralnliig t uruly llorac*. An Ontario Co., 
N. Y., correspondent writes : - “ Perhaps you, 
or some of your correspondent-, will give a 
safe, simple and effectual way of keeping an 
unruly horse inside of a good fair fence, and 
thereby oblige, &e.” Ans.—lt a post and hoard 
fence, a wire stretched tight through staples 
driven in (or holes bored through) the top of 
each post in place of the top board, will resrrain 
any horse we ever saw. If the wire is passed 
through holes iff the posts, after it Is drawn tight 
the strain should be divided by driving pine 
plugs (after dipping them in oil) in the holes 
over the Wire. If a Virginia rail fence, staked nt 
Ihe corners, the wire is often drawn on the cor¬ 
ners of the pasture side of the fence in the same 
way. Few horses go near it more than once. 
An Holiest Iseeil Me reliant Wntilcd. it is very 
common for correspondents to ask the names of 
honest seed merchants —asserting by implica¬ 
tion that they are exceptions to the rule. Wo 
believe that there is many careful, honest seed 
dealers, proportionally as caretul, Intelligent 
and honest seed planters. Nine-tenths of the 
complaints concerning the non-germination ul 
seeds, grow out of the Ignorance or carelessness 
of planters. Men who do not know when seed 
should be planted, nor how it should be planted, 
nor the conditions and temperature of the soil 
essential to its germination, should neve de¬ 
nounce seed dealers. 
-- — 
('monition of President* of Agricultural bo- 
ciellc*.— It is proposed to hold a Convention of 
the Presidents of the Agricultural Societies of 
Illinois at Bloomington, in that State, at an early 
day. The object of the convention la to discuss 
the best mode of management of these organ¬ 
izations. Then- are good reasons why such a 
convention may be made profitable to the coun¬ 
try; but the elianees an* that fairs will continue 
to be conducted according to Individual notions 
of the officers of agricultural sneielleg, ami with 
the purpose of paying premiums mid expenses. 
hwiia* Breeders’ Convention,— The proposition 
to call a/swine Breeders’ Convention in Illinois, 
is meeting with approval by those representing 
Mils extensive and important interest. Thusare 
the different specialties in husbandry resolving 
themselves Into individual organizations. This 
is the natural and most effective means Of pro¬ 
moting these distinct though related Interests. 
•»«- 
Book - Keeping.—(W m. E. Fobd, Mass.)—MA- 
nmv’s Book-Keeping is In one volume and 
includas double and single entry. It sells at 90 
cents, but a set of blank books goes with the 
volume (when desired,) which are sold at the 
additional price of $1.25. 
-*♦«- 
Mixsimri btnte Board of Agriculture, —Thefol¬ 
lowing are the officers ol’t lie new Board Presi¬ 
dent, H. T. Mood; Vice President, W. S. Dyer, 
Recording Secretary, J. H. Tice; Corresponding 
Secretary, C. W. Murlfeldt; Treasurer, Win. T. 
Essex. 
-*♦*- 
Ohio Agricultural Convention. —The Ohio State 
Board of Agriculture and delegates from the 
County Agricultural Societies of that State meet 
at Columbus, O., Wednesday, Jan. 6. Five new 
members of the State Board are to be chosen. 
Hatching Eggs by Steam.—Can you inform me 
where and how 1 '*ini vet the most reliable in¬ 
formation in regam u> inucm.. f4 chickens by 
steam, and description of machinery and mode 
of treating the hatching eggs V—E. 51. Stoeber, 
Columbia, S. C. 
5Iany Rural Notes and Queries, in type for this 
number, are necessarily deferred. 
